Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. All right, commissioners, ladies and gentlemen, I will call this meeting into order at 3:02 Again, Commissioner Proctor, will you lead us with the invocation to pledge?
>> Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, of the public, uh, it gives me great honor to present the Reverend Ernest Lane, the pastor of the Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church, uh, citizen resident of this community, all of his life. And, uh, Reverend Lane, we invite you at this time to lead us in
invocation, following for which we ask that you would all stand for the pledge of allegiance. No. Following following you are >> re you got him standing on the feet already. >> Thank you for that ovation. I appreciate
it. Good afternoon to this commission and to the a to the audience. Let us humble ourselves by bowing our heads before the mighty hand of God. For in due season we will reap if we faint not.
Heavenly Father, we come before you today with grateful hearts for this community and the freedoms we enjoy. Your word tells us that where there is no counsel, the people fall. But where there is a multitude of
counselors, there is safety. We ask for your divine guidance over this commission. Grant these leaders a spirit of wisdom and understanding. Give them the discernment to make decisions that promote justice. the courage to act with
integrity and the compassion to remember the least among us. We pray this commission's purpose is greater than position. May their work this day bring peace and prosperity to our county. Jesus, in your name we pray. Amen.
>> Amen. >> Let us recite together the pledge of allegiance. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Mr. Chairman, I turn this back over to you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. We are now on awards and and presentations. Mr. County Administrator, will you introduce the proclamation? >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Your first
proclamation is recognizing the Florida Tax Watch 202526 Principal Leadership Award. Uh, Commissioner Maddox. Commissioner Maddox, you recognize. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have the distinct honor of recognizing two of our all-star principles today. Uh
the first principal I'll be representing uh uh recognizing will be Delana Jackson. I would like to ask for school board member Jones to come up as I believe both of these are title one schools uh to help me present this proclamation. As he comes up, the proclamation reads,
"Whereas Delshana Jackson is an accomplished educator with over 25 years of experience in student success in school improvement and well whereas Delshana Jackson began her career as a reading teacher before transitioning
into school administration where she had led multiple schools to academic excellence. And whereas through her leadership role as principal, she maintained an A rating at the Gaston Elementary magnet for two years and achieved an A at at Gretina Elementary
for four consecutive years. And whereas Dashana Jackson later oversaw the merging of Havana Elementary and Middle Schools from Havana Magnet School where she supported supported academic growth across preK through 8th grade and
maintain a school grade of B or higher during her principal ship there. And whereas since joining Bun Elementary in 2019, Delshana Jackson transformed the school from a double D to a C then a
consistent B rating for four consecutive years. And whereas Miss Miss Jackson has developed impactful instruction instructional frameworks, championed student centered learning and mentored countless educators while promoting
literacy and high standards across the district. And whereas her dedication and influence has earned her numerous honors, including the National Title One Distinguished School Award, F LOE, uh principal achievement for outstanding
leadership award twice, exceeding expectation award, Greta Elementary and Bond Elementary, the te the Florida tax principal leadership award, February 2026, and recognition as one of Tallahassy's dem Tallahassee Democrats
25 women you need to know. Now therefore, be a proclaimed by the board of county commissioners of Leon County, Florida, that we do hereby honor and commend Delshana Jackson, Florida's Tax Watch best principal for 2026 for her
outstanding leadership, enduring contribution to public education, and unwavering commitment to elevating students success throughout our community. Her work exemplifies excellence and inspires all. This is signed by the commission, the chairman, and attested to by the county
administrator. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you to the Leyon County Board of County Commissioners for recognizing me through this procatch principal leadership award. I am truly grateful for your support of public education and for valuing leadership
that centers around students and community. I love my career in education because it allows me to serve children every day, helping them grow, believe in themselves, and realize what is possible. Our students are my greatest
inspiration, and they are the reason this work is just not a profession. It is a calling. None of this would be possible without the incredible faculty, the staff, and students of Bond Elementary whose dedication, resilience, curiosity, and determination inspire me
every day. A special thank you to Commissioner Nickmatics for nominating me to receive this proclamation. And finally, a very special thank you to my school board member, Mr. Dear Jones, for your continued support of our efforts at
Bond Elementary School. Thank you. Mr. Proctor, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm very delighted to indicate that Bond Elementary uh is a school located inside of District 1. Um
>> congratulations. I um went over to the school racial when we went down there in February, Miss Jackson talking about your school and you and um you said and uh we went down there to your school in
February and um I believe I was reading for Mrs. Pie class. What's that third grade ratio? What? Mrs. Pie's class. The little reading class. I brought a couple classes. So, I
want everybody to know that I feel like I had a little part to play in it, you know, often, you know, a little bit and that. But I don't like to go over to the school cuz school board member Daryl Jones gets very jealous if you interfere, interrupt, go by, check on,
see about his schools. So, I I I never come over there much though. I told you last year if you need me, but Jones, he he has it covered. But what I did learn that day was we walked in the room and calculated the
number of students and I said, "My god, Rachel went and got and over ordered too much pizza. Uh, these little kids can't eat all these boxes of pizza." And what I found out that day that um them
chilling, Brother Jones could eat. And we had way more pizza than I thought. But what I found out was that we didn't have any to take to the principal's office uh once we finished. We had a great time. We commend you. Congratulations. In front of Mr. Jones,
I say if you need me, let us know. Thank you. >> Commissioner Madison is still recognized. >> Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. >> Next proclamation, Mr. County Administrator. >> Next, I have the opportunity to present the pro a proclamation to a mentee of a well-known person in this room. uh
mentee of of com commissioner uh Jimbo Jackson. So, it's a special moment for me to be able to do that. Lisa Mir, >> whereas Dr. Sorry, doc, >> you're good. >> Take to the principal's office. Uh whereas Dr. Dr. Lisa Mir is an
accomplished educator with over 32 years of experience in student success in school improvement. And whereas Dr. Lisa Mir began her career as a math teacher before transitioning into school administration where she has led multiple schools including RAW Middle
School and Fort Braen K through 8 school to academic excellence. And whereas through her leadership her leadership roles as principal, she maintained high grade ratings at Woodville Elementary School eight for eight years and at Gilrest Elementary School since 2025.
And whereas under Dr. Premier's leadership, the Woodville K through8 school launched and expanded an agricultural program that aimed to give students the opportunity to earn certifications and certificates, credits
throughout their schooling. And whereas Dr. Premier has developed impactful instructional frameworks, championed uh student champion student centered learning and mentored countless educators while promoting
literacy and high standards across the district. And whereas as an educator educational leader, Dr. Lisa Mir has adopted her man her mantra of children don't care what you know until they know
that you care which was taught to her by a former principal her mentor and all of our friends the late county commissioner Jimbo Jackson and whereas her dedication and influence has earned her the the recognition of teacher of the year
during her time at Woodville K through8 school and Florida Tech Watch Principal Leadership Award. Now, therefore, be a proclaimed by the Board of County Commissioners of Leyon County, Florida, that we do hereby honor and commend Dr. Lisa Mir, Florida Tax Watch best
principles for 2026 for her outstanding leadership, enduring contribution to public education, and unwavering commitment to elevating student success throughout our community. Her work exemplifies excellence and again inspires all. This is signed by the
commission, the chairman and attested to by the county administrator. Congratulations. >> Thank you to the board of county commissioners for taking the time to recognize educators who do work so hard every single day to make sure they're changing and helping our students. I
want to make sure I thank of course Commissioner Maddox for initiating this recognition alongside the one and only Leyon County School Board Vice Chair Daryl Jones. I must take a minute and thank Commissioner Caban who was very
very supportive during my time at Woodville, maybe even gave a vaccine to some goats to help us out. And of course, no matter what, this award would not be possible without the hard work of our Woodville staff, several of whom are
here today. Raise your hands. I want to sincerely thank them. You know, they must love me a little bit when they came in the torrential downpour. So, I want to sincerely thank them for their hard work, dedication to our students, and support of myself as
well. I have to make sure I thank my husband, my rock, Mr. Chuck Mir, who also spent a lot of time at the school pressure washing, mowing the grass, or anything else his wife may or may not have asked him to do to help us out. Um, and most of all, I just want to thank
all of you and everyone that has been supportive of education. It is so important. We love our jobs. And thank you very much, Dr. Mayor. It's been a a a pleasure getting to know you and uh seeing your heart uh in service to to our children
in Lyon County. And for those of you watching at home or in in in the crowd, if you haven't, you should go check out the agriculture program down in Woodville. It's incredible what they're doing down there and the kids love it. So, thank you and thank you for all that
you continue to do. All right, I believe that concludes our proclamations. We are now on citizens to be heard on consent and non-aggenda items. Mr. K administrator. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have several uh speaker cards in under citizens to be heard on consent and non-aggended items.
First is a virtual speaker, Tiffany McCascal. >> Mr. County Minister, briefly, real quick, you know, those of you who put in a speaker card, I do want to make sure that this is for you understand that this is for consent and non-aggenda
items. I know a lot of folks here are looking to speak on item number >> 13 >> 13. So, if you're looking to speak specifically on the KOKA item, this is not the time to speak on that item. That will come later in this meeting just so
everyone is on the same page. Thank you, Mr. K. Commissioner, >> first speaker, Tiffany McKascal, joining us uh via Zoom. >> Hi, good evening. Thank you, Mr. County Administrator. I hope that I am unmuted.
Um but uh good afternoon to the chair and the uh county commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight regarding the status report on Lyon County's uh complete streets policy. I also want to thank Commissioner O'Keefe for bringing this important issue
forward for discussion. I appreciate the planning department staff, specifically Michael, Arty, Susan, and Marcus for the time they spent meeting with stakeholders for the thorough analysis included in the agenda item tonight. After reviewing the report and meeting with staff, the American Heart
Association supports option number one to accept the status report, which recognizes the complete streets policies that already exist throughout the land use and mobility element of the 2050 Tallahassee Leyon County comprehensive plan. While staff does not recommend
adopting a standalone complete streets ordinance at this time, um we do appreciate their willingness to strengthen and enhance existing complete streets elements where there may be opportunities for improvement. I believe this collaborative approach allows the county to continue advancing safer and
more connected transportation options for all users while building on the policies already in place. As the county moves forward, I encourage the board to maintain a strong commitment to project prioritization as a guiding principle in decision-making. A thoughtful and
consistent prioritization framework helps ensure that limited transportation resources are directed toward areas with the greatest safety concerns, the most significant mobility barriers, and communities that have historically seen fewer infrastructure investments.
Remaining committed to these priorities over time will help promote equitable implementation and ensure improvements reach the residents who depend most on safe, accessible, and connected transportation options. By continuing to apply strong prioritization standards, the board can ensure the complete
streets principles are reflected not only in policy, but in everyday transportation decisions that shape our community. I also want to emphasize the importance of public engagement and transparency as mobility projects move forward. Residents should have meaningful opportunities to provide
input, understand proposed projects, and stay informed throughout the planning and implementation process. I am encouraged that staff has agreed to work toward improving the county's website so it can serve as a central hub for mobility planning and community engagement.
Um, and I look forward to seeing that because as we know, Lyon County is innovative um, in that approach. So, um, we look forward to that. Complete streets is about creating safer, healthier, and more accessible communities for everyone, whether people
walk, bike, drive, use transit, or have mobility challenges. Thank you again for your time, leadership, and continued commitment to this important conversation. Thank you. Next speaker under non-aggended items, Irwin Jackson.
Irwin Jackson. Mr. Jackson, great to see you. >> I know he's got some Irwin Jackson, Tallahassee, Florida. I'm a little bit confused today. I'm usually have to wait till the very end of a meeting to speak. So, this is quite
an honor. I'm passing out a book, a book that I wrote. It's called the Fighting the Commission of Corruption. Now, this was directed at the city commission, not my interaction with the
county commission. For the past 14 years, between 2008 and about 2022, I went before the city commission speaking about corruption next door. No
one wanted to listen to me, so I had to be a little persistent. I spoke 160 times over that 14-year period. The end result most of us know I wrote the book. Oh and one good thing I want
to say is not a person up here in the communodas is in my book. Congratulations. Hey give him another minute. Actually somebody called me cuz they read the book and they said Nick your name is in
there. >> Whose name's in there? He said my name was in there, but my name was in there because I had met with the FBI agents. >> Oh, okay. I'm glad. But I also I'm glad you pointed that out. I missed that part. But I have also point out that
there was someone u that was in there and I want to recognize and that was our commissioner, Bill Proctor. And he was in there for a different reason. When I first went out and spoke uh against a biomass plant they wanted
to build on the south side of town next to my office, some of my students, some of my tenants, next to the football stadium, it was a done deal. No one cared. When you speak out against the city commission for a few years and you're
calling several of them crooks, dishonest, self-serving, not many people want to stand beside you. One person who did right off the bat the very first time I met was Bill Proctor. So I want to publicly thank him for his effort in supporting me to make our community a
little bit better. >> The the purpose the the purpose of the book is a lot of people say we don't want to remember. Well, you have to remember. we have to talk about it because by remembering
that helps us prevent this from happening again. So we just want to take a quick minute. Thank you very much and I hope you enjoy the uh book. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Jackson. >> Next speaker Lorie Roberts on item
number two to be followed by Chris Dulan on item number three. >> Okay, got it. Okay. and Lori Roberts on two 13 as well. >> Got it. Uh Jonathan Gardner on item
number six. All right. Uh, thank you very much. Uh, the report that I'm passing around, I sent to all of your emails yesterday, a much longer version of it. It is a preliminary report on the use of flock safety system cameras. These are license
plate readers. The item number six is discussing public surveillance systems that are currently used in our county. And I just want to make some quick notes to kind of inspire you to look in there. If you only look at one thing, look at the cover letter. It'll give you an overview of exactly kind of what is in
the report and what it means for our county. So, uh I argue uh for option number two on the report, the main reason is that it does not go into enough detail about this flock safety system. It is mentioned only twice in
the report and only two sentences of it. Uh these are all over our county with maybe 100 to 200 of them already placed. Uh and just to make it clear, these are not just license plate readers. They are enabled by uh AI systems to grab
uniquely identifiable features uh of a vehicle. And this feeds into a searchable database that law enforcement can use to search with just a license plate number and a one-word keyword uh for every time that a vehicle, any vehicle, regardless of speeding or any
other factor, passes by one of these. Uh these have been critiqued nationwide uh for several examples of convictions of officers using them for stalking. Uh they have been used to search for protesters or harass critics of an agency. Uh they also have provided
backdoor access to federal agencies like ICE. And these are just a few examples of which I also explore in the report. The main thing is that we need to call these systems exactly what they are. They are the involuntary collection of personal vehicle and bodily data by a
third-party for-profit company. 30 of these cameras were obtained under the false pretense of the city school zone speed camera program. They are not mentioned in the city ordinance. I go into detail on that in the report. Uh I believe to the best of my knowledge the
accountability and democratic process of this commission and the city commission by implementing these without telling anyone. There is only one public comment uh in the Tallahass Democrat from December at one of the city commissions. Uh the main concern that I have is that
the public sees these cameras going up around the county. They look them up on the internet. They see news articles about their abuse and there is no public policy guidelines or anything addressing uh reassurances of safeguards or audits from our law enforcement agencies. uh in
order to make people trust these and our law enforcement agencies, especially in uh a declining era of public trust in our institutions, we need more transparency. I provide some solutions for that in that report. Uh specifically the end page with a pathway to
transparency. Uh please consider rejecting option number two. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next speaker, Jonathan Gardner to be followed by Alex Okonnell. Jonathan Gardner to be followed. Oh, Jonathan, thank you. Alex Okonnell,
Alex Okonnell, if he comes in, we'll we'll I'll put him back in rotation. Terry Ryan, item seven. >> Mr. Ryan, great to see you. Please take your name and address for the record. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon, commissioners.
As many of you as many of you know from reading Tre's I'm sorry Terry Ryan with the Tallahassee region environmental group president. As many of you know from reading Tre's by monthly newsletter, we have been following the tragic flooding of the
Mkasuki Greenway, including flood flood waters going through the Lafayette Oaks, its storm water pond, Pedrick Pond, followed by the county pumping waters from Pedrick Delore Lake Lafayette. Our investigation, however, found evidence of storm water barriers being
knocked down from Canopy's Ardmore Drive area to the greenway. pictures are available. Also, Trafield's flood waters followed historical water flows from northeast of the greenway. Surprisingly,
public records requests from the city, the Canopy uh the Canopy Community Development District and the Northeast Water Florida Water Management District found Canopy's Dove Dove Pond Dam is rated nationally as a
high-risk dam, meaning if breached, there is a risk to human life. As I'm sure you know from the development of the latest emergency management plan, the Dove Pond Dam is one of five ranked as high-risisk in Lyon County. Although the city has a
permit, I'm sorry, although the city has a permit, the main regulatory agency for the dams in Florida is the water management district and has been since 2012 with its construction and maintenance permit. At that time, an
operations and management agreement was made part of that permit and included a provision. The valves within the dam structure should be inspected on a set schedule at least yearly. However, the permittee currently
the canopy district unbelievably is not required by statute or rule, Florida statute or rule to send copies of these inspections to the water management district. The city in late 2024, a few months after the flooding occurred,
communicated to the Canopy District the need to perform these instru these inspections, excuse me. In contracting the service, the Canopy District declined inspections of the valve system in its contract with the
contractor, which Tre continues to be concerned. Tre expressed this to the water management district in a recent meeting with its staff during which Tre was promised they would be meeting with the Canopy District very soon and review the inspection files that Canopy
District maintains. Lastly, Tre is concerned whether other high-risisk dams are being inspected appropriately and will continue to follow up with water management district in our area. Tre's recommendations to you, the commissioners. First of all,
meet with the permittes on all five high-risisk dams in Lyon County and review their inspection reports. If if any are deemed deficient, meet with the water management district on the next course of action. we should
take. Last of all, review county ordinances to determine the need for any changes to require the permitting send copies of inspection reports to the public your public works department yearly or is required by the water management district.
>> Mr. Mr. Ryan, I think your time has concluded. >> I'm sorry, >> Mr. Ryan. I believe your time has concluded. >> I said, Mr. Ryan, I believe your time has concluded. Yeah. Thank you so much. >> Next speaker. Mr. Chairman, thanks. Next speaker, Alex Okonnell.
>> Uh, hello. My name is Alex Okonnell. I live in Tallahassee, Florida. Uh, I just want to speak briefly about the use of block cameras in our community. Um the previous speaker nailed a lot more um fine points than I'm going to say, but as a citizen, I just find that
uh wide use of these um especially for a relatively nent technology um feels a lot like an invasion of privacy. I don't see a lot of checks for abuse of this power. uh would like a clear um discussion with the community about how we make these
technologies um accountable and continue to do so as they change, which they seem to be doing rapidly in other communities. Um I'd also like the county to consider the financial requirements for keeping these um safe and up to date. Um we face lots of cyber attacks
all the time. I believe that's even happened to Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare um in recent years multiple times. Um these are public pieces of infrastructure that could be wielded against people and have been notably used against women. Um so please
consider if not from the point of privacy and community concern the logistical hurdles of financially keeping these up to date and secure for the public. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. Next speaker, Stanley Sims. My name is Stanley Sims. I'm still
residing at 1320 Aenddale Way. Last month I wore white standing in Saladair with my good friend and commissioner Carolyn Cumins.
Tonight I order me a black soup. And you say why? I saw very into very important people from prominent churches came to this podium
and shared the hurt from the county attorney's letter and she treated them like she was Pam Bondi. What do you mean? never looked up.
Never looked up. Totally disrespected each one of these god-fearing church members that came up here to express their hurt. >> Stanley, Mr. Sims.
>> Uhhuh. These are my three minutes. Mr. >> I was good last week. I'm going to be good this week. Mr. Mr. These are my three minutes unaggender >> and I still have time and I'm reclaiming my time. >> Mr. Sims, >> I'm reclaiming my time.
>> Mr. Sims, if you want to direct comments to the county commission, you can. I do not do not direct personal attacks on our staff. >> This is not a personal attack. This is what happened, Commissioner. >> And I wish you would had some words that night, and this is not a personal attack, Mr. Sam.
>> This is not a personal attack. This is what occurred. >> Mr. Sims, if you don't get your comments in order, I'm going to ask you to leave. >> You can ask, but it's a violation of my freedom of speech. >> No, no, it is not. >> I wish you would have had these kind of words the last month, but I am entitled
to tell how I feel when a a a government employee is being paid by a salary that I contribute to. I have a right to talk about that, >> S. And I and and I think that you are really wrong. And again, I am reclaiming
my time, >> Mr. Sims. We have We have decorum in these chambers. >> And we do. And that's why I respected you last week. And I And I I did not respect you last week, Mr. >> Yes, I did. You never had to say anything to me. And she had no right to
disrespect each one of these people that came up to this podium. >> And that's my feeling. And in America, we can say that. I can even talk about President Trump. So I can You say I can talk about President Trump, but I can't talk about a county attorney. Break that
down to me as if I'm a 9-year-old. >> Mr. Sims, we have decorum in these chambers. Do not direct personal attacks on our >> That's not a personal attack, Mr. Mr. Chairman. >> It is. I'm not going to get to argue with you. >> Okay. Then may I finish my comment? >> Yes, you may. But do not attack here. Again, Mr. Mr. Chairman, I think that
the inequity of how we treat our community, our county employees, preferably our county attorneys, is not consistent. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And I I'm not finished. You You took a lot more of my time than 15 seconds. I'm
reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, you took more than 15 seconds of my time and I'm asking for 30 more seconds. Mr. May I have 30 more seconds? >> I'm giving you one last warning before
you are asked to leave the chambers. Your time is concluded. >> Next speaker, please. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The final >> I wish you would stand up like like that for um Susan. >> Terry Ryan, you attack Susan, but you won't stand up for her. Okay. >> Thank you,
>> Terry Ryan. Item number eight. That will conclude after Mr. Ryan. That will conclude your speakers on consent and non-aggenda items. >> Mr. Simpson, >> I'm going to go. >> Okay. Thank you, M. Mr. Ryan.
>> Mr. Ryan. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Good afternoon, Terry Ryan, president of the Tallahassy Region Environmental Group. Good afternoon. The elephant in the room today is in our is our recent discovery of an 1992 EPA
funded late Mson study not provided to Mson residents and us Tre in 2022. The study identified numerous environmental concerns and provide the recommendations that should have been considered in your 2022 remediation
plan. For example, the study recognized removal of phosphorus in the sediment was needed before mudson could be restored. Lake sediments contribute to harmful algolooms and impact aquatic life. Lake
lakes sediments also contain pesticides and metal con concentrations 10 to 100 times greater than lakes mkasiki, ammonia, and Jackson. Fish surveys found fish size and weight had
dropped by 75% in 1992. Buildup of organic material on the bottom of the lake had reduced the lake depth by 2 and 1/2 ft. Again, this was in 1992. The study's recommendations
were remove the bottom sediments of Lake Mson to improve the lake health. I'm sorry, improve the lake depth, nutrient reductions, and improve the fish health. Remove phosphorus and nitrogen to reduce algo growth and increase weight fish
weight and size. results predicted if these things were done first would be restore Lake Mson as a prime recreational area for growing the city and county population. Economic diversity would be increased in
South Tallahassee. Increased property values of homes around the lake. Wildlife population would be improved and flood and mosquito control would occur. commissioners and staff. Saturday, I took numerous pictures of the of the
pear green look of the lake. Numerous fishermen were catching undersized fish. Statewide is a growing concern for spraying herbicides, especially in recreational lakes when removal of nutrientrich sediment would alleviate
many problems. Lastly, we continue to recommend hydraulically dredging Lake Mson as a safe and economical way to remove harmful algoloom nutrients and toxic contaminants.
Tre stands ready to provide information on this process. Thanks a lot for listening. Thank you, Mr. Ryan. Next speaker. >> Mr. Chairman, that concludes your speakers on this section of the agenda. >> Thank you, commissioners. Here's what I'd like to do. We have an abundant amount of speakers and I believe are
here in one particular item. So out of respect of of their time, what I would like to do is ask for a motion for um an agenda modification. So that way we could push our consent items to the after our pulled consent items after
general business. And then I would like to also move item number 13 to the first general business item. >> So move Mr. Chair. >> Second, Mr. ask for an amendment to that. >> Sure. >> Can we um dispense of 12?
>> Yeah. Dispense 12, Mr. Chair. >> I'm sorry. >> Uh can we dispense can we dispense of 12 and anything having to do with I think number number four was pulled. Can we take up
four um from that from that uh consent item agenda and then move the rest until after? >> So you want to move can you can you uh articulate how you like to >> Okay. So I I would make I would I would make the motion that the the chairman has requested to modify the agenda to
push all all consent items except for four to the after general business. >> The pulled consent. >> Yes. Pull consent except for four into after general business. >> 12. Do we have a >> uh four and 12? >> Could we add nine? Um, >> no, no. Commissioners, commissioners, I want to I want to I want to deal with,
please. >> I just I just wanted four. >> Four. Okay. So, we have >> 13 first. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Yes, ma'am. So, we have a motion by Commissioner Maddox. I'll second the motion. Any any discussion? >> Okay. >> Okay. Great. Awesome. Thank you. >> Could we add nine to that, Mr. Mr.
Chairman? >> Commissioner, let's come back. Let's come back to nine after. We're going to do a four, then we'll go to item number 13, and then we'll just go in order. Mr. Potter. All right, commissioners. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Any opposed? Passes unanimously. So, uh, right now, commissioners, we are on, um, looking for a motion to for consent. That's not been pulled. >> We have a motion to move consent. Moved by Commissioner Maddox, second by Commissioner, uh, Miner. All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. >> I. Okay, we are now on item pulled consent number four, and then we're going to go to item number 13. So on item number four, Mr. County Administrator. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Item number four seeks the board's approval to schedule the first and only public hearing on June 9th at 6 p.m. to repeal
chapter 2, article 9 of the uh Leyon County Code of Laws uh uh entitled purchasing minority uh women business enterprise program policy. The repeal is necessary to initiate efforts to comply with the passage of 1134 in which in part prohibits uh local governments from
funding promoting directly or indirectly taking official actions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This would allow us to uh deal with our contracts that the board may enter into which may continue into the next fiscal year or the next calendar year when the
at which time the law would become effective. Again, we were intending to get into all of that at the public hearing. This item is simply to schedule the public hearing, but happy to answer any questions you might have. >> Thank you, Mr. County. Mr. Commissioners, do we have a motion? Item number four, >> move staff recommendation.
>> We have a motion to move staff recommendation on item number four. Is there a second? >> A second, Mr. Chair. >> Second by Commissioner Cummings. We're in discussion. >> Thank you, pulled the item. >> I approve the item. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, ladies and gentlemen, today is a very low moment in history of
Leyon County. Um the Saturday that again marked uh celebrations for emancipation of Africans uh which took effect legally u January 1st 1863.
Um but for the most part freedom came to Africans uh at the end of the civil war 1865. uh 163 years ago and uh 2 years ago we celebrated the 200th anniversary of Leon County. And just for the record, um, on
this issue of the WMBBE policy, um, I need for, uh, our scriveners to capture that, uh, Leyon County has not crucified and buried WMBBE policy.
But the Confederate-minded Florida legislature has volunttoled us to take this step. I want to make sure you get that. that history records what we're doing to repeal our our our policy is not this
commission's acts. It's the valitional steps of our legislative uh councils across the street that forces us to take this direction. This is a sad day. And um in this county, nearly 40% of its
citizens are um racially diverse, non-white in this county. And yet the legislature desires that 100% of public dollars, funding, engagement goes to white males, women,
minorities, mm- the rest, Asians, nothing. So, we're removing a policy which years we have worked to stand up, to upstand, to at least to acknowledge uh on on paper. I'm disappointed today
and I also want scriers to capture that the WMBBE policy was not lost on Bill Proctor's watch and that the county commission voted Bill Proctor and WME down. And I want the record to show today that there has not been a
commissioner in the history of this community who's taken more votes, who's taken more voice, who has advocated more strongly, solidly, continuously for WMBBE than I. So I don't want history to say Proctor lost it. That's a lie. The
legislature killed it and told us to kill it. That's what's occurring here. So, I want my name bismerched because I fought a good fight, have kept the faith on this policy. And um I'm not sure what's laid up for me. I don't
know. But it bothers me that um we have a legislature that would act against people uh who have supported America, fought in wars, uh worked in I can't even tell you uh how painful this is,
but both of my grandmothers were domestics in white people's homes uh working in fields from can't see morning to can't see night. um uh running footballs up and down the field for
schools that are not H.B.CU, uh entertaining folk that you couldn't even go to the restaurant. Uh I can't even tell you. I can't even tell you what it is to be the loneliest and the loneliest person uh in a classroom at
Boston University. Um and and everybody is in that special great world. But this policy today to the effort to send uh and to resend my grandchildren back into
dark yesterday years pisses me off. And I want everybody to know it pisses me off. And this is a sorry low moment in the history of this county that is hard as colored folk, black folk, negroes,
African-Americans, afroamericans, and everything else that refers to black folk. What we have given it don't deserve to come to this kind of end. And I want this commission to know that um while I
recognize um it's very easy to just flow on and to go on, but there's not been a more painful moment that goes all the way down to my grandmothers, my grandfathers. And you're saying no to everything that they've stood for. And
all that black folk have ever given to America are yeses. Yes, we support the war. Yes, we'll die for the war. Yes, we'll work like hell. Yes. Yes. Yes. But in this era of anti-dei,
we're getting slapped in the face, kicked in the butt, and a big fat no. Sad day. I'm voting against this. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. We have uh the vice chairman. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Commissioner Proctor. Um
this let me start with just a couple questions. Um the law is not effective until January 1st. So can we get an explanation of why we need to schedule a hearing um so early this year
when we have 6 months? >> Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Mr. Chairman, uh we are engaging in contracts year round. uh and uh this it would allow us to suspend the use of our aspirational goals that are included in
contracts. So if we enter into a contract at your next meeting without the suspension of this, those contractual goals will be included in those contracts and those contracts may extend well beyond the passage uh uh or the enactment of the new law. So it would require us so that we're not in
violation in those contracts once they're affectuated to uh suspend uh the policy. >> Thank you. >> Is that it? >> That that's the question. I'm collected myself. >> Okay. You want me to come back to you? >> Nope. >> Okay.
>> I'm collected. Um uh I support everything Commissioner Proctor said. Certainly, I can't come from the same place um as he has, but I don't want this moment to pass as a an
agenda item that on its face can sound so normal and administrative and not to acknowledge how harmful, how cruel, how hateful this is. In the committee hearing for SP 1134, I went and spoke against it. And I will
tell you it shook me being over in that committee hearing room over at the the uh Capitol. I don't usually go over there. And even as someone who is used to being on this dis, I was shook because the proponents of this hateful
bill spoke in such a benal administrative uh tone. And it was almost extra cruel that they're able to just act like this is moving a couple of pages of notes
forward or back and not um a real hateful attack um on um women, on minorities, on and outside of this this particular item on um all really everyone in our community
in some way can identify with one of the marginal groups that are being attacked by this SB134. And so I understand staff is doing what they need to to to prepare for this. Um but I
I don't know what else to say about it, but I will say this. I will have uh I will have an an agenda. I will have a motion come back later in my discussion time about dealing with SB 1134, but on a more global perspective. Um and that's all I'll say for this item. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Commissioner Maddox. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, though the the conversations they have been grim, I think we all agree in Leon County on how we feel about uh the bill that that has forced us in this position. But I would like to to reframe
the the conversation a little bit to say thank you uh to those Lyon County citizens who make up Lyon County for the support that you've given to MWBE for how many years now, Mr. Administrator? I don't know how long we have in the program.
>> Uh we don't have the exact number, but 30, 40, 50 years. Um, it took legislative action for Lyon County to get rid of or to move in a different direction than MWBE. I think that needs to be said and I
think you all need to be amended that you are open-minded enough to think of it as being fair that we have a MWBE program. So, um, though we talk a lot about how much we protest and we don't
like what happened across the street and we got to take a moment to recognize who we are as a community and and what we've done right in the past 50, 60, 100 years that we've been a community. And so, I wanted to take a moment to u articulate
that. Next, I want to say that this is this is one of those issues and uh Mr. to do and knows a lot about it that that we talk about all the time but with a different word that most people don't understand. Home rule. Home rule. You
all should be able to tell us what you would like for to happen in Lyon County and we have a different and and and more solidified uh opportunity to give you those things so that Lyon County doesn't look like Miami date or or or
county or even uh Escambia County because we are unique in being Leyon County. And when bills like this come down the line, what it does is that it takes that ability away. I would I would venture to say that the majority of Leyon County citizens don't mind us having the MWBE program and probably
support it. Uh but but because uh the state has told us that we can't uh and probably trending down from the federal government, we're in a position now where your words, your thoughts don't matter because the state has said that
Leyon County cannot have a MWBE program. And so I I I I I ask that we look a little bit broader at the at the big issue that's on the table. Not just this us having to get rid of a MWBE program,
but the fact of our home rule rights being violated by the state to tell us that we cannot have a MWBE program. And I would venture to say I would ask that in the in in the future if you didn't go over this time that when these types of
things come up at state legislature that you go over and you fight for your home room ability to govern how you want Leyon County to look. Else years from now we will look like Miami
day. We will look like Orlando. we will look like something else that we don't even recognize in Lyon County because our home rule has been chipped at over and over and over and over to where we are cookie cut to look like everybody else. So, um, in your mind, say it with
me, home rule. Home rule. That's what we want. We want home rule. We want to be respected. We want it to be thought of. And we want our opportunity to govern the way we need to govern here in Leyon County. F. Last but not least, uh I want to thank staff for the hard work that
they put into this. Every MWBE is an SBE. And so those those small businesses that are MWBE, they will still have an opportunity to participate in our SBE program and they will still have an opportunity to prosper in Leyon County. And so I know staff will build something
that's going to be great. Uh we were at this point years ago when we were trying to decide between an MWBE and SBE program. and I fought hard for us to have an MWBE program, but now that we can't have the abil we don't have the ability to have it anymore, I know staff will do everything in their power to
make sure that our SBE program is just as good as our SB program has been. Final final finals as Commissioner Proctor say when he preaches um there will be other things and other programs and other um granted programs
that Leyon County has that will be affected by what has happened across the street with this legislation. And I would ask that those folks who receive money from us understand that we are clear. We are just doing the job that we have to do uh in order for us to keep
the funding uh in place that we've gotten for so long and we're asking you to work with us. I want to thank staff again for extending themselves to reach out to organizations that may have to make adjustments because of what has happened at the state. and we look forward to continuing to work with our
partners in any way we see in any way we can to make sure that everybody every single citizen of Lyon County is served. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. On this particular
agenda item, um Commissioner Proctor, uh I want to first of all thank office of OV Keith Bowers and Daryl Jones, you know, over the years and county administrator as well
for uh all of their hard work in making sure that the county purchasing uh policy was inclusive. Uh they established aspir aspirational goals of
course and not quotas but aspirational goals. uh to support womenowned businesses and to support minority owned businesses and they've done a stellar job. But at the same time, Mr. Chair,
staff has done a stellar job on this particular agenda item as well because what we have um done and accomplished over the years has been uh nullified with the stroke of a pen and with the vote of the of the legislators. And it
sort of flies in the face of what I felt a couple of months ago when I uh congratulated the county administrator and just overall county staff are just having um a concept of respecting everybody,
respecting humanity. And I think we as a board have agreed to put it on the ballot that we would amend the preamble uh for Leyon County saying that we continue uh to uphold and respect the humanity of
every person. And this particular particular legislation that is telling us we have to uh nullify all of our policies uh and ordinances and procedures that tried to
give some special attention to those groups or individuals that have been historically uh ignored. Uh it does hurt Commissioner Proctor. It is a sad day in my opinion. Commissioner a Proctor. However, staff
has done what they've had to do from a legal standpoint and they have done it uh they have done it uh done it very well. But I would hope and even in and of course I'll I'll vote for the
recommended option. Uh but even in this board doing what it has to do legally as far as removing those specific areas of inclusion that we have tried to do over the years.
That that does not mean that we can't continue to rec to recognize the dignity, the worth, the rights of of everybody. And while it might not be on paper in this particular ordinance, I think that
we should have a sense of what's right, a a sense of uh what's equitable, a sense of again respecting all humanity. And I think if we do that, whether we have this on the books or
not, Leyon County will continue to be the face of inclusiveness. And that's certainly uh what what I will strive to make sure we maintain, Mr. Chair. So, thank you uh for giving us the opportunity to just speak on this. It is
sort of sad, Commissioner Proctor, but this two will pass. We will succeed. We will we will overcome. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. Uh Commissioner Miner, then Commissioner Proctor. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I want to
thank my colleagues for this discussion and the comments. I can't I can't say it any better than you all have. One thing I wanted to point out uh which I don't think it's repeated often enough is that our Tallahassee MSA is ranked 14th in
the nation in terms of the percentage of blackowned businesses. 14th in the nation in the entire country. That doesn't happen by accident. Uh as Commissioner Cummings said, you know, really want to thank the Office of Economic Vitality, Daryl Jones and the rest of the team. um the
chambers that work so hard to make that happen. And of course the business owners, there are 7,282 blackowned businesses in Lyon County. 7,282. Um and as Commissioner Maddox said, those businesses that are certified as
minority owned are automatically under this under the evolution of the program already considered small businesses. So my colleagues were very eloquent in describing the situation that we're in. um there is a transition that will
accommodate these these businesses under this program and we're going to do everything we can uh to help these businesses continue to thrive. Uh just wanted to point that out. Um the the percent of blackowned businesses is 14th nationally. That's also twice the
national average. So, we've been doing some some pretty amazing things here in Lyon County for uh our blackowned businesses and um with this new evolution, we're going to continue to help our our small businesses going forward. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Miner. Commissioner Proctor, close us out and we'll vote on this item. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. um that citizens here who are not reading uh the information that we've been presented as agenda item four in the statement of the issue. There are two sentences which I think capture um
what we're we're addressing. Uh it indicates that this repeal is necessary to initiate efforts to comply with the passage of Senate Bill 1134, which in part prohibits local governments from funding, promoting
directly or indirectly or taking official action related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Second sentence. Any existing ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, program, or policy
that conflicts with the bill will be void as of January 1, 2027 with the effective date of the legislation. And what is not indicated here, ladies and gentlemen, uh are the um are the um
prohibitive measures of uh any elected official from trying to lift, promote uh promagate uh DEI, uh diverse, equity, inclusion. And to do so, um, our our council will tell you that we, uh, sit
here under threat of, uh, being removed from office, um, by, uh, the governor of our state. Um, very few things that we can do. Um, I think, uh, if we touch shooting a gun across the road into a park or something, um, we can't touch
guns and stuff. And this becomes the second idea to me for which is a removable fence to pass a policies to try and include and make our government spending uh reflect the diversity of our
of our community. This is a dangerous time. Uh we saw last week uh here in our city uh another travesty where uh without a US census being taken which uh constitution requires for the
redistricting or the reortionment of a population um reortionment occurs uh by a denial of every 10 years a count is taken uh an accounting is taken uh initially when
this count was taken taken. Native Americans did not count and uh initially Africans uh in America counted as 3-fifth for every 100 black men. Um 60 of them were to be counted for the
purposes of drawing congressional lines. Uh last week, no count has been taken. We're in 2026. um and four seats were flipped to majority uh Republican registered districts. And we saw uh not the
equalization, but we saw a party that holds less than 50% of the registered voters in our state. Uh Republicans hold 5.5 million registered voters. Um, Democrats are four million and no party
affiliates are 3.3 million and less than 50% of the voters of registered voters party holding down 80ome percent of congressional seats. I think you call that gerrymandering. Ladies and gentlemen, we're in a volatile time. I
ask you, I appeal to you to not allow your hearts uh your minds to become intractably aligned with thoughts which we've outgrown as a nation. Uh certainly as a community local and I'm asking your
best angels of thought. uh your highest angels of spirit will continue to shine to radiate uh your highest selves, the best voices of our times, uh Barack Obama,
uh Martin Luther King, uh many other great people who have talked to the splendor of what our nation is when its diverse voices are allowed to flourish and to pour into the tributaries of the
mainstream of our society to stagnate and to stop the flow of the tributaries of voices like mine Carolyn Nicks uh is to uh not allow for the perhaps the highest and the best ideals of America
to to and so we want to continue for you to put your shines on the line that our community will be the highest and best place that we can be. I thank you too for the love uh for the growth, for the
maturity and the evolution of where our county has come from, Mr. Chairman, into where we are today. And I hope that we will not be turned around by people who
think um less noly than we do about the Christian idea of brotherhood, about the Constitution's idea of equality, and about our own home training and values, about the horizontal placement of
mankind as equal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. Commissioners, we have a motion moved by Commissioner Maddox. Uh, who second the motion? >> Was it >> Commissioner? >> Commissioner who? No, >> Commissioner. >> Commissioner Cummings. Okay. Motion moved by Commissioner Maddox. Seconded
by Commissioner Cummings. All those in favor of the motion on the floor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All those opposed. >> I. >> Passes 52 with Commissioner Maddox and the vice chairman in descent. We are now I'm sorry, Commissioner Proctor and uh
Commissioner the Vice Chairman in Descent. My apologies. We are now on item number 13. Mr. County Administrator. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh commissioners, item number 13, um seeks your direction on how county TDT,
tourism development taxes, uh funds dedicated to arts and culture are administered. I'll keep my introduction a high level. Matt Cavell and Carrie Post will follow with a short presentation. To start though, commissioners, I I'll note the timely nature of the item before you. It comes
to you as scheduled prior to your budget deliberations of this year and per your direction of September 2025. At that time, you may recall, commissioners, uh the board extended the Kokus Koka's contract for one year. That one-year uh extension expires September 30th. Uh
this review uh timing also aligns with the upcoming update of the county strategic plan as well as division of tourism strategic plan. I should note that the board has periodically reviewed uh this structure of uh cultural grant funding since 2012 with prior
considerations in 2014 18 and 20. However, for a bit of context, commissioners, this item comes to you um today as we are entering perhaps a new more complex era of county budgeting. uh in general where margins, efficiencies,
and the regeneration of this of these tax dollars will be more important uh than ever. Uh and as you know, commissioners, you will be having very similar conversations uh with comprehensive reviews on numerous items throughout your budget process this summer. Um okay, so uh as I
very clearly, uh we acknowledge uh KOKA and the long-standing role they continue to play uh in our arts community. The question before the board is structural. Uh, and this item uh is important for the board's consideration because the current structure while it's done uh
many very good things in the community um is very uh unique and it's limited in terms of the board's typical role as a fiduciary. Let me explain uh by hitting just a few highlights. Commissioners, the current structure uh limits the board's ability to set the amount of
this funding uh uh through your annual budget process and therefore precludes your ability to evaluate performance in deter in determining that level of funding. Uh it similarly pre precludes your ability to evaluate performance uh to establish community or
strategic priorities for these dollars or to identify efficiencies through your uh budget development process. Under the current structure, the county's investment of cultural programming is tied to whatever one penny of TDC of TDT generates. That penny has grown
significantly to $2 million annually uh today. And under the current model, these revenues go directly to KOKA mostly for regranting. Uh this amount represents more than two and a half times the funding level of all other TDT grant programs which includes special
events, sports funding, legacy, and signature events grants. uh but in this unique case without the board's consideration through the annual budget process. Perhaps as important commissioners as we detail in this item the current structure limits our ability
to fully align how we fund culture and arts in our community uh with the significant uh capabilities and resources of Lyon County tourism which is an opportunity and an option for the board to consider. This would align culture and arts funding with tourism's other grant processes, their
professional administrative oversight and infrastructure, uh, their significant marketing and advertising efforts, as well as our ability to align more closely with the organizational and operational capacities of the broader Lyon County organization. Uh again, the
intent of which would be maximizing the impacts of these dollars in the community and to realize approximately $213,000 in annual operating cost savings, including $150,000 in general revenue relief annually. Commissioners, we saw
recently with the World Cross Country Championships and with the county bsentennial events what's possible when we leverage the strength of our county tourism with all of the resources of the county organization. And this can't be overstated. Those are the two highlevel
issues for the board to consider commissioners again the one the board's ability as a fiduciary to evaluate and establish the amount of this funding on an annual basis and two to consider the benefits cost savings and potential impacts of leveraging the full resources
of the county organization by bringing this regranting function inhouse through the Lyon County Division of Tourism Commission. Let me just say quickly yes we made observations uh in our analysis about kokus reserves. Let me hit that very quickly. I would suggest that this
uh is not a high level issue for today's discussion but it is something that we look at to ensure that funds are not accumulating uh in reserves um but are deployed as soon as possible in fulfilling their mission. Those observations led to an amendment of our KOKA contract in 2026 that you remember
and produced significant uh cost savings this year. I do want to acknowledge that Kok has done a much better job in drawing down these reserves recently. And uh that said, commissioners uh we do not intend to spend much time on accounting today as it would simply
distract from the much more important higher level structural policy and budgetary issues uh that I've discussed. But we're happy to answer any questions you might have. Commissioners, finally, I'm going to hand it off to to Matt Cavell and Carrie Post here in just a moment for a quick presentation and
again to be available to answer any questions that you might have. But let me just wrap up by saying that the county's commitment to funding arts and culture in the community speaks for itself. The county dedicates uh among the highest percentage of county TDT of any county for this important purpose.
And again, should the board wish uh to bring uh administr bring this administration of cultural grants programs in house, we've provided the option for the board to utilize accumulating uh unobligated TDT funds to provide a consistent level of funding of
$2.1 million in the upcoming year and to provide support for arts and cultural organizations through a transition. again if that is the direction of the board today. With that as a overview, commissioners, I'd now like to hand it off to Matt and Carrie uh for a brief presentation. Of course, they'll be happy to answer you any questions you
might have. M. >> Mr. Mr. K. Administrator, actually, I want to make a pivot here. >> Sure. What I would like to do, I would like to go to the public speakers, do the presentation, then we'll go into commissioner deliberation. So, let's start with the public speakers, and then after the public speakers, we can have
staff uh do their presentation. other first. How many speakers total? >> Over 50. >> Okay. All right, ladies and gentlemen, we have over 50 speakers. Here's what I would like. One, I want to make sure during public speakers, I want to make I want to maintain a level of decorum that
we have in these chambers. Two, I see some folks have some signs at the county. We don't mind your signs. You're welcome to have them. Just just please be respectful while people are speaking. um with 50 speakers with three minutes a speaker that puts us over two hours in
public speaking comments. We have a handful of other very important and equally as important agenda items such as this one. So I ask if any speaker would like to wave in support or wave in disscent, please do so so that way we
can have adequate time to debate this item as I I fully expect this to be a very robust conversation. Most importantly, I want to make sure everyone's heard and has the opportunity to speak. And so, if you if you can keep your comments brief to allow more time for more speakers, we would greatly appreciate that. With that being said,
Mr. Can administrator, first speaker. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The first speaker, Kathleen Speedhard, to be followed by Dan Taylor. Good afternoon, commissioners. I'm here to talk about Koka, the Council on Culture and Arts 40-year partnership with Leanne County. I want to walk you I want you to walk out of the room today
knowing three things. What actually we do, what return on investment looks like, and where the staff report does not match our records. Next slide. Kok is so much more than grants. Art across Leanne County, public murals, the jazz sculpture and family way, art in the city hall and the and the airport where
visitors and and start and end their trips. Our weekly newsletters reach 13,000 subscribers and also also every uh tableabling event. Most common thing we hear is I found out about this from the Koka newsletter. Uh growing artists and audiences, we help artists navigate and build businesses regrow future arts
lovers. funding the cultural economy, grant administration, art visa support, the partnerships that bring national endowment for the arts, levitate of Florida dollars and we champion the sector marketing, uh, cultural planning, advocacy. We connect every part of the community and lead through tough times
of the pandemic, tornadoes, state funding cuts. We rallied. So, strip any of these out and you do not have a local arts agency. You have a grants pipeline. And over the last 40 years, we've delivered more than a grants pipeline. We've built artists, arts lovers, and the fabric of the community, a large
economic engine. Next slide. Before we get into our numbers, I want to be clear about methodology. The economic impact figures on the slide use arts and economic impact six. That is Americans for the arts methodology, a national standard accepted by visit Florida, the Florida division of arts and culture,
and the county tourism office statewide. So, let's look at the national tocounty view. Nationally, nonprofit organizations um nonprofit arts and culture is 151 billion industry. In Florida, 5.8 billion with 9 91,270
full-time jobs. Now, apply that same methodology to just our grantees who reported 585,000 attendees from the last year. That is 22.5 million in economic impact. Our 2022 AP a6 actuals show um
over two 200 million right here in Lan County. The national data shows 77% of non-residents say that cultural events was their primary reason for travel and 65% of Americans include the arts events on their last vacation. So arts and tourism are not a the same thing, but
the arts does drive both tourism and economic development. Residents, visitors, and businesses alike want Lean County to be a place where people want to live, work, and play. Next slide. So, this is what $2 million brought you. It brought you tourism at work. Over half a million attendees. Almost 130,000 from
outside Lean County. That is more one in five attendees are driving here from out of town. It brought you jobs and community engagement. 1.42 million in in donations. And it brought you arts education. 105,400 youth and adults reached through arts education supplements by outside funding
through the through Duke Energy and it brought you ROI over 190 over 90 uh 19 million in grants uh grantee cash spending. Add just a grantee visitor impact and you're looking at 20 times return in the county's investment. So Kok brought you real impact success by
the numbers and we delivered these counties um twice a year. >> Thank you. The next speaker, the next speaker is Dan Taylor to be followed by Michelle Mccclure. Mr. Chairman, is any of that data captured
on paper? >> We have an issue and all good. You need slide four. >> Okay. >> Slide four. >> Good afternoon, commissioners. I'm Dan Taylor. I live at 1224 Mitchell Avenue here in Tallahassee. Uh the slide you're looking at now is uh a 7-month snapshot
of our 365 days of programming. Uh it represents 131 events across 23 of our uh grantees. Um it we believe that single events and year-round programming compound each other. Uh they don't substitute for each other and we need
both to build the vibrant infrastructure that drives local economic development and outofcount visitors. And the next slide please. Um and that trae trajectory is up for out of county visitors. As you can see over the last five years it's increased 47%. Um Koka
of course can't take credit for all of that. Uh but our grantees are driving a meaningful share of that growth. 19.7 million in local grantee spending uh on just $2 million in grants out to them and that's representing uh results
in $22.5 million in our grantees reported archreated economic impact. U this is a program that is working. It's not about it. It's it's about investing and not restructuring. In the next slide, um, Koka is leveraging your dollars to
bring in ever more funding resources sources for our arts community. For every dollar that the county puts into our contract, we bring back $1.73 in outside funding or more. This year, doing another during another potential state funding loss, we brought in $259,000 from the National Endowment for
the Arts, the Levit found family foundation, the Knight Foundation, the Community Foundation of North Florida, the Tallahassee CRA, and others. Five of seven of those are repeat funders. 78% of that money that we received is restricted to 501c3 recipients. A a
county touring tourism agency cannot apply for it. And our NEA award alone grew from $25,000 to $90,000 in three years. That growth reflects NEA's confidence in KOKA's fiscal management and community impact. KOKA is building
in places the county cannot. And that growth doesn't happen easily in arts funding or if visitors are growing or additional funding is growing. That is meaningful progress. Thank you. >> Michelle Mccclure to be followed by John Grayson. >> Good afternoon commissioners. Michelle
Mccclure, 427 McDaniel Street and current COCA chair. I want to address the staff report directly on reserves. Last year's audit completed in January shows an operating reserve of less than $900,000, roughly four months of operating funds squarely within the 3 to
sixmonth range any nonprofit or our size needs. We run a grants program on a cycle. Distributions go out throughout the fiscal year based on milestones. This is industry best practice on ROI reporting. Cultural GL grants do produce
return on investment data. We just shared much of it with you here. It's delivered to our partners at the county twice a year. On the peer comparison, the staff report frames Lyon as an outlier. Our research and conversations with our peers shows that the that
across Florida, the Cocoa model is widely adopted. Four of the nine pier counties cited administer cultural grants programs through 5013C. Palm Beach, not listed, has done it exactly the same way as Koka since 1982, and all others have a separate art and cultural department. Only one county
named in the report runs cultural funding through tourism alone and that arrangement is six months old and the touris tourism agency just subcontracted back the work to the 501c3 it defunded on the TD Tenny comparison. This is also
framed as outlier as the outlier using only percentages instead of looking at actual dollars. But when you look at the actual dollars, Leon's $2 million is the smallest absolute investment in the named peers. Miami Dade, $30 million to the arts. Palm Beach, $7 million to the
arts. St. John's three and a half million to the arts. Jacksonville, $2.5 million out of generating operating. This reads as a really clear investment in the arts. The other note to make here is that this report reads as we're just rolling arts granting under a granting
portfolio, yet there is also too much money going to the arts. These are distinctly different and our arts organizations deserve more than four working days to understand the direction that this point is recommending on tourism oversight and absorbing the
program. Our county partners already review and approve all grants in partnership with KOKA. Tourism grants and arts grants are different areas of expertise. With our frozen contract, KOKA is now delivering 10 statutory functions on roughly 65 cents to every dollar and 93 at 93% program efficiency.
That means that every dollar that we bring in, we send out 93 cents to arts organizations. That is amazing. Three independent firms have audited Koka over the past 10 years. Every forensic audit unmodified, which is the
highest level you can achieve. The concerns in the staff report are just not supported by the audited record. Koka is asking the board to vote for option two. Thank you so much. >> Next speaker, >> John Grayson to be followed by Giovanna
Williams. >> Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. Commissioners, my name is John Grayson, 1741 St. Augustine Road. I'm the um owner of Grayson Accounting and Consulting. I've performed a financial statement audit for Koka for the last three years. as I rise before you today
to talk about the operational effectiveness, efficiency, financial management. They have a great um administrative expense ratio. Um won't take up too much time, but internal controls are good. Have a high level functioning board of directors and I um
asked you to go with option two on this. Thank you Williams to be followed by Holly McFale. Good evening. I'm Joanna Williams, um business owner here in Tallahassee and I also live in Leyon County. I am speaking um tonight just as a board member of
Koka, but as someone who deeply believes in what KOKA does. Um as a business owner whose main service is providing creative and also someone who has brought artists like Project Pat, famous rapper Twista, uh country artists like Wayey Jennings and many more to Tallahassee. The arts have not only provided me a pathway to my career, but
it's a large part of who I am. I'm a creative and I am for cultural experiences. I know you guys have gotten a lot of data crunching, so I'm speaking more from the heart today. For 40 years, Koko has quietly done the work of building culture, opportunity, education, and connection across Leyon
County. And while budgets and contracts can sometimes reduce organizations to numbers on a page, I want to remind us tonight that Koka's impact is ultimately about the people in our community. It's about the child who discovers confidence through an arts program. It's about a
local nonprofit that finally gets the support needed to bring an idea to life. It's about the small theaters, the galleries, musicians, dancers, and educators who help make Tallahassee feel vibrant, welcoming, and alive. Arts and cultures are not just extras.
And by putting numbers on them, I feel like that's what how we're treating it. They are part of the identity and heartbeat of our thriving community. What concerns me most about this proposed cut is not simply the dollars involved. It's the message it sends. A message that after a decades of
partnership, proven stewardship, and a measurable impact, the value of this work is suddenly in question. Koka has operated responsibly. Independent audits support that. The organization has stretched resources, adapted through changing times, and continued to deliver
results for this county year after year. And you just saw some of those numbers. But beyond reports and statistics, there is also trust, relationships, and institutional knowledge that cannot easily be replaced once it's lost. And I think that matters. I also believe we should be careful not to make short-term
decisions that create long-term damage to our cultural ecosystem. Once programs disappear, once organizations lose support, once momentum is broken, rebuilding is a lot harder than preserving it. This community deserves thoughtful collaboration, not rushed
dismantling. So tonight, I simply ask that you consider the human impact behind this decision. Consider the generations of artists, educators, nonprofits, families, and community members who have benefited from Kok's work, often without ever realizing the infrastructure behind
it. Lastly, I will state I've been told by a few of you that the goal is to maximize the ROI of the bed tax. Well, I'm not also involved in the arts here. I've also been involved in the tourism part as well. I'm the founder of Talis Bikefest and I could honestly excuse me
say for the three years we did it, we brought back over a million dollars in economic value to this community with between restaurants, bars, hotels, and shopping. So, I'm saying this because I'm familiar with both sides. Um, so
Koka does maximize ROI and I hope that we can go for option two. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker, >> Holly McFale to be followed by Elizabeth Huchimora. >> Hi, good evening commissioners. Thank you so much um for bringing this agenda
up um this item up on the agenda. Um before I dive into item 13, I just want to commend the commission for their deliberate discussion on agenda item number four. Um specifically the conversation about home rule. It is very very clear to me as a resident um of
this great community that you take your jobs seriously and that when you are confronted with an issue, you are deliberate about that discussion. And I also recall um last September when the city was very very rushed to remove
public artwork on our crosswalks that instead of jumping onto that bandwagon, this commission met residents at those crosswalks and had deep discussion and meaningful debate about why it's important for the public to engage. So,
as your delegate um to the KOKA board, um I've been there for almost two years and I have observed an organization that is financially um sound, it's efficient, the governance is on par. Um and most
importantly, the team that is delivering these services has the community's trust. And I want to underscore what my colleague G just shared about that community trust. We're not just talking about small businesses. We're not just talking about arts and cultures
organizations. We're not just talking about residents. We're talking about all of them. And until you have stood there at one of the tables and had community members come up with their little ones painting, discussing, sharing their dreams and aspirations, I'm able to
reflect and see all of the great work that this organization has done. whether it is saying yes they read that newsletter and that's the only reason why they know about the great event that is happening um but more importantly the trust that they have in the in KOKA to
deliver and continue to deliver that ROI that you have seen you were going to hear countless numbers and people speaking about the impact of this organization and what the message truly is is that for a 40year relationship does it not deserve more than a week of
preparation does it not als also deserve the time and deliberation of a public hearing that you are going to be giving to agenda item number four. Does it not also deserve that debate amongst you more than just a week's notice? So, I implore this commission to please
continue to lead and represent this community um holding those tenants of home rule close to your chest, but respect the relationship that you've built with Koka over the last 40 years and choose option two. Thank you. Elizabeth Elizabeth Uchimura to be
followed by Alan Hanskin. Hello commissioners. I'm Elizabeth Uchimura. I'm a Tallahassee resident and I'm speaking uh for option two. I serve on the KOKA executive board in the city seat. I am also the project lead and co-founder of the Tallahassee Regional
Music Collection, which preserves, documents, and promotes local and regional music in this area. As someone who regularly engages with local artists, I can attest to the consistent impact that KOKA has in our county and city, not only through financial
metrics, but also through the meaningful, productive relationships they create with community members and partners. Not only are the KOKA staff and executive board passionate about the arts, we are active participants and leaders in the local arts communities
which drive the cultural makeup of our area. There is no substitute for strong relationships built on a foundation of subject expertise and demonstrated commitment to arts in this community. County tourism has outlined their accomplishments in this report as a reason to revoke funding from KOKA. In
reality, this is a reason that county tourism should continue its current operations at such a high level and allow Koka to continue to do the same. There is a clear lack of research presented in this report. No definition of what peer counties are, no complete list of which counties were researched
and why, incorrect assertions about Koka's finances, and absolutely no allocation comparisons on sports and special events in other counties. Are the commissioners truly ready to approve this measure without more due diligence from both the county and KOKA? Is the
commission prepared to take an action which will telegraph to constituents that they don't value this beloved organization enough to spend the appropriate amount of time to review structural changes. County Tourism has raised appropriate or reasonable points about funding allocation, but the
solution they have proposed is absolutely not viable for sustaining arts and culture in our community. I implore you all to vote for option two so that KOKA and the county can leverage their long-standing partnership to sustain the excellent work that both entities do for our population. Thank
you. >> Uh next, >> thank you Alan Hansen 32348. Uh thank you and good afternoon Mr. chair out here, acting chairs and uh commissioners. Thank you. And uh
administrator Long is out there. Um as a beneficiary of the cultural and marketing grants administered by KOKA, I've seen firsthand the incredible breadth of programs that these grants support. Many of those organizations uh that have benefited from the grants are
in this room today, and we've collaborated with many of them. Uh, I've also seen firsthand how hard the KOKA staff works to promote grant opportunities, vet grant panelists, and support applicants throughout the entire process. I believe option one discounts much of that hard work, and I would ask
you to consider option two today. Thank you. >> Next speaker, Miss Aurora Hansen. Uh Terry Galloway. >> Good afternoon, commissioners, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to let you know that we need to support KOKA
because I always speak I I'm with the Asian Coalition of Tallahassee and the Big Ben Filipino American Association. This past year, we had 15,000 come to our event, one day event. We had a group of dancers from Korea who
paid for their own way to stay in Tallahassee for 10 days and perform. >> Wow. >> So, and then we had the Tao drummers that come every year. We have a lot of international recognition. The Asian uh
newspapers the some of them uh some of the activities are that we did were live streamed to the Philippines where I'm from and my sister said you did a good job. So anyway, please support option
two. Thank you. Next speaker is Terry Galloway to be followed by Summer Callahan. >> Hey guys. Uh my name is Carrie Galloway. I live in uh Southside on 1402 South Meridian. Can you hear me?
>> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay, wonderful. Uh, first of all, I was so glad to hear that you you also were feeling besieged by government. I was really happy to hear that about the DEI, but because I am too because
every day it feels like there's some federal, state, and now county, you know, kind of interference. every morning seems to be bringing news of another public institution or community organization under attack. Often in the
name of margins and efficiency and often the very organizations that make life better for the people who live there like our beloved Coco. Now, I've got nothing against Visit Tallahassee. I really like Carrie. I I
love her. But they have an important job promoting Tallahassee to visitors, bringing in conventions, sporting events, concerts, tourism dollars that support local business. That work matters. But that's also the problem before us today because large sporting
events, major entertainment attractions are enjoyable experiences, especially for visitors. But they're largely passive experiences. They are commodities to be consumed. KOKA serves a different purpose. Koka encourages the
people who actually live in this county not simply to observe culture but to create it. >> Visit Tallahassee is primarily dedicated to creating spectators.
Koka is primarily dedicated to creating community and that community is not built is built not only through the large visible art institutions but through the smaller organizations that often work quiet.
Smaller groups don't fill stadiums or convention centers. But they are where many sen citizens first discover their voice their creativity. their connection to one another. They nurture local
artists and young people, seniors, disabled communities, countless others who might otherwise feel invisible. And for decades, >> Koka has supported the art community in all of its forms, helping make
Tallahassee a vibrant destination for visitors by making it a creative, thriving, and meaningful place for its own citizens.
Some of the people have left the room that I really wish could have heard it, but I'm asking you all to please vote option two on item 13. Please vote to continue your support for this vibrant community of this pretty little city we all love.
Thank you, Terry. Next speaker. Next speaker is Summer Callahan to be followed by Robbie Brunger. >> Hello, my name is Summer Callahan. I'm at 6846 Donell Trail. Um, I'd like to repeat some points that were made
earlier. So, first regarding the concern about funds pooling at KOKA, those are grant funds. They are not unused resources. Koka regrants between 90 and 95% of the TDT funds that we receive. Uh in comparison, visit Tallahassee
regrants about 9%. Uh and under Visit Tallahassee, grantees would also have to front their own costs and wait for reimbursement, which would be devastating for small and underserved arts organizations. Um Kokus Reserve also allows us to attract
outside funding uh like the National Endowment for the Arts, uh the Knight Foundation, the Levit Foundation, and others. and those national dollars far exceed the $150,000 investment that was referenced in the agenda. So if KOKA loses this structure, then Lyon County
will lose that outside money. Uh Koka also produces detailed economic impact reports twice a year. Uh in addition to what you heard, I want to add that in 2023, Americans for the Arts found that nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Lyon County, which is Koka's grantee base, uh generated over
$6 million in city and county tax revenue. Uh considering Koka gets a little over $2 million from the county, that is a very strong return on investment. And if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Uh I'd like to share an anecdotal example
as well. So, my family actually came from Jacksonville for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships so that my younger brother could race. Uh my parents are very frugal. My dad's a retired cancer survivor. My mom's a life home lifelong stay-at-home parent. They're very frugal. They were going to eat sandwiches in a cooler and drive
home. Um, but because of the variety of cultural offerings that we have here, they stayed overnight. They grabbed lunch and dinner. They saw 76 days of drift at the Challenger Learning Center and they watched Hot Tamalei perform at Railroad Square. So those those heads in
beds happened because we have a diverse tourist ecosystem that offers something for everyone. So option two preserves that ecosystem and the support structure that our arts community relies upon. I urge you to support option two. >> Next speaker, Robbie Brunger to be
followed by Ben Gunter. >> Good afternoon. I'm Robbie Brunger. I'm representing the Capitol Cordsman of Tallahassee. We are a barbershop harmony chorus celebrating our 60th year in Tallahassee this year and we recently
opened our ranks to women. So, if you want to talk about those things with me later, please do. But what I want to say today, right now, is this. Koka staff is all in a stew. Commissioners are unsure what to do,
but we, for our part, represent local art. We recommend vote option two. >> County Attorney who has to follow that. >> Next speaker, Ben Gunter to be followed by Carrie Gadio.
>> Now, what are you going to sing? >> I wish. >> My name is Ben Gunter. I live at 516 Mikasuki Road in Tallahassee. I'm the artistic director for Theater with a Mission. And I'm here to remind you, commissioners, that two is better than
one. It says it in the Bible, Ecclesiastes, two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. It's also true right here. Theater with a mission dramatizes Lyon County's history. We put it on stage in free
family-friendly festivals that invite visitors from literally all over the world. We've received grant support from Visit Tallahassee and we deeply appreciate that. And from Koka, we deeply appreciate that as well. Because
of that support, we are attracting international attention. Visitors are coming from England, from Germany, from Canada and publications are going out. How does that happen? Two things. Number one, staff. Staff with specialties. When
we need to book hotels, we go to visit Tallahassee and they help us find exactly the right place for our guests. When we need to know how to find grants that are going to support our artistic endeavors, we go to Koka
>> and they dig those grant sources up for us. Number two, synergy. We love going to visit Tallahassee Grant Reports because we meet people from athletics and we're talking with the Scottish Highlanding Games about right now about
bringing some big rock carriers to the time travel into Florida 1776 festival that we're doing at Goodwood on May 29th, 30th, and 31st so that everybody in the whole world can see Leyon
County's contributions to American history >> synergy when we want to meet Tallahassee Community Chorus so we can collaborate on an event that celebrates the 200th
anniversary of Lyon County. We go to Koka County Commissioners. Two are better than one and option two is much better than option one. Thank you. Next speaker, Carrie Gadio. Uh to be
followed by Carrie Danielson. And I'm sorry if I mispronouncing your names. Sorry. >> You did fine. Commissioners, uh thank you for the opportunity to speak. Um as a lifelong participant and patron of the arts in Tallahassee and lifelong Leyon County resident. I've been privileged to
serve uh the last couple of years and as administrator um at le moine arts. I'm here in strong support of option two, maintaining the current agreement structure and keeping the cultural grant process administered independently through the KOKA uh program. You know,
this conversation has been framed as an administrative restructuring, but for the arts community, this is really a question of trust, expertise, and whether arts funding remains communitydriven or becomes consolidated under a tourism department whose primary
mission, while important, is not arts and culture. Koko was created specifically to serve this role. It is not simply a pass through agency. It is a cultural infrastructure organization built through decades of expertise,
relationships, artist engagement, peerreview processes and public accountability. Independent grant review matters because artists and cultural organizations deserve to be evaluated by people who understand the work and the community and long-term community impact. We know
that the commission is committed to measurable return on investment and the arts most assuredly provide communities with strong and tangible ROI as you have seen. But arts value cannot be reduced only to hotel stays and tourism metrics. The arts build workforce retention,
youth opportunity, downtown vitality, neighborhood retention, civic pride, identity. They make Tallahassee a place people choose to stay in like me. invest in, raise families in.
Economically, the arts are already delivering. The arts and economic prosperity six study confirms the arts and culture generate substantial audience spending at local businesses. At Le Moine Arts alone, our annual economic impact exceeds three million each year through exhibitions, events,
education programs, tourism activity, and community partnerships. Arts and culture build tourism, and Le Moine is proud of its role in driving tourism in Lyon County. What concerns many of us is not accountability. We welcome accountability. It is the
centralization of cultural decision-making into a tourism framework that may prioritize short-term measurable visitor metrics over long-term cultural development and community access. Option two preserves an independent review structure while still allowing
for oversight, reporting improvements, and continued collaboration with the county. It protects a system built intentionally over decades and avoids unnecessarily dismantling an infrastructure that is actively working already.
>> So we're asking for things we know this commission is in favor of stability, expertised driven grant making and recognition that culture is a public good. I urge you as stewards of that
public good to support option two and preserve independent cultural funding administration through KOKA. Thank you so much. >> Thank you Carrie. >> Carrie Danielson to be followed by Jan Smith. >> Uh good afternoon. Thank you. Um my name
is Carrie Danielson 412 Taloflow Street. Um, I am also an assistant professor of musiccology and community music at Florida State, though I am representing my own views today. Um, I'm here to express my support um for option two. Um, my research and community engaged
work focus on how music and the arts foster connection, strengthen communities, and create sustainable local infrastructures for participation and engagement in artistic and democratic life. At a time when many people are experiencing isolation and disconnection, we need community-
centered cultural programs more than now more than ever. While tourism is important to economic vitality, county support for the arts matters because it allows this work to happen at a local level. The distribution of grants, professional development, marketing support, community partnership, the list
goes on, helps organizations build long-term sustainable structures for engagement that benefit not only artists, but families, children, educators, and neighborhoods across Non County. Many of us in this room believe that everyone should have opportunities not only to experience the arts, but to
participate in them and create culture within their own communities. That kind of access and participation does not happen automatically. It requires thoughtful investment, infrastructure, and leadership. KOKA is uniquely qualified to do this work. They understand the needs of our local arts
organizations and communities. They have demonstrated an ability to support programs through thoughtfully and effectively. What they do, they do exceptionally well, and I regularly point students towards KOKA's work in my own teaching as a model for community- centered arts engagement. Um, I will
also note I've been watching these boards throughout this meeting and while the Adly Anthater things are amazing and supported, that doesn't happen without local investment in our nonprofits and our smaller organizations that allow
those things to happen in the future. I urge you to support option two and to give KOKA the time needed to work together with the county toward a thoughtful long-term plan for staining sustaining arts in our community. They are after all our experts. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Real quick, I'd be remiss if I didn't stop to recognize the honorable former county commissioner Marjorie Turnbull. >> Jan Smith to be followed by Patrice Floyd Avasia. Good afternoon. I'm Jan Smith. I'm the
president of the Tallahassee Community Chorus, which is a chorus made up of more than 200 members of this community and communities outside this community who travel here to participate every Monday night in chorus rehearsal. They
are a non- audition group of people, all volunteers. We are supported in part by funds through Kokus grant program and without those funds you would not have a large community chorus that is able to present the world's greatest music to
this community and also to live stream it out to folks who watch from as far away as Europe and other countries. Uh this summer the chorus will travel to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall. When when people talk about bringing in
tourism, there's also an effect that happens when an arts organization from this community travels out at its own expense and the expend expense of its individual singers to bring Tallahassee to the rest of the
country. And we have done that over our almost 40 years. Almost every other year, the chorus sings in a coral festival in another country or in another state. And when we do that, people are always asking about Tallahassee and what it's like to live
here. So, we are all ambassadors for Tallahassee in our way. When I look at this proposal, the proposal that the commission is looking at and I look at the information provided by KOKA, I think the thing that stands out to me the most is that there seems to be a a
lack of understanding perhaps of the function of what Koka was meant to do when it was established by the state legislature and how it does what it does. And it seems like if there can't be an understanding of that in a week's
time, that I think sitting down, which is really what's being asked, is that COA be given the opportunity to explain what they're doing and educate the commission a little better as to how those things work and how nonprofits
work and how the funding does help to improve our community, not just for the people who visit us, but for the people who live here. that I think if if that could happen and that is why we would support option two, there needs to be some conversation and some better
understanding of how things are done in the arts in the arts community and in the arts business. And I would I would urge all of you to please support option two. Thank you. Patrice Floyd
Patrice Floyd Javas to be followed by Nicole Sosa. Good afternoon Floyd. I'm related to Rick Kitten, founder of Jace Conservatory. I've spent
nearly 50 years building young people and families through arts education here in Tallahassee. I usually don't come out to speak because I'm too busy. I'm deeply concerned about a proposal to abolish council on cultural culture at
the council of culture and arts. One of the great tragedies in America is cultural ignorance. Not ignorance in intelligence but being culturally unaware of the richness of humanity, history and creativity that God placed
throughout this world. Great cities do not become great by accident. They become great because they invest in people, identity, culture, and imagination. Council on Culture and Arts and Visit
Tallahassee are not competing organizations. That's the mixup today. They serve two different purposes. KOKA helps build culture. Let's say that out loud. Koka helps build culture. Visit Tallahassee
helps market culture. One builds the culture, the other shares it with the world. You cannot successfully market what you refuse to invest in. Through our conservatory and orchestra programs here in Tallahassee,
we have helped develop professors from at Florida State, Florida&M, doctors, Grammy winning artists, educators, and young leaders who whose lives were changed because somebody invested them in them through
the arts. And let me say this clearly, the arts is not they're not a luxury. Nurturing and investing in our children in is a stewardship that creates a better future for families, communities, and the world. My former county, Palm
Beach, gets it really well. That is what the arts help us do. If we want stronger families, safer communities, higher academic achievement, and economic growth, then we must invest in the human spirit intentionally as we invest in roads and buildings. And university town
cannot afford to become culturally shallow. Our children should have access to museums, music, dance, theater, visual art, and creative spaces in every part of this community. And only not only in certain neighborhoods, I should say. Koka helps make that possible. As a
former broker, I understand investment. What you consist consistently invest in it grows. If you starve culture, eventually you'll starve the soul of the city. But if you nurture it, generations benefit. I urge you today, do not weaken
cocoa. Strengthen it. $2 million is just too little money. Let Koka continue helping build the culture co the culture and let visit Tallahassee continue sharing that culture with the world. Tallahassee can become one of the most
vibrant artistic communities in America, but only if we have the wisdom, the good sense, as my mama would say, to invest in what truly makes great sense. Thank you, Dr. Nicole Sosa to be followed by Juliet Yankees.
>> I appreciate it. >> Hi. Um I'm assuming y'all can hear me. Um my name is Nicole Sosa. I live in Lyon County. Commissioner Welsh is my uh commissioner. Um first of all, I'd like to say I'm here
today to ask you to vote for option two on agenda item 13. Not because option two is perfect and not because the public should be forced to accept these county created options as the only possible path, but because option two is
the only option today that does not immediately dismantle a 30-year tourist development tax partnership with KOKA. And I want to be clear about the history. KOKA has served this community for 40 years. It was created by county
resolution in 1985 and became the designated local arts agency for Tallahassee and Lyon County. Before the current TDT structure, Koko was already doing the work, contracting with local government, providing arts expertise,
managing cultural grant grant programs, and helping carry out public arts programming. The TDT agreement did not invent Koka's public role. It recognized it. For about 30 years, Leyon County has
dedicated 20% of the tourist development tax to KOKA so arts, culture, heritage, history, education, performances, festivals, exhibits, and community programming can live here year round. That money does not just sit somewhere gathering dust. It goes back into the
community through grants. Those grants help residents enjoy the place we actually live in. They also bring visitors here and give them reasons to stay longer, come back, eat here, park here, shop here. And remember, Tallahassee is more than
hotels, asphelt parking lots, and legislative session anxiety. >> I like you. >> Thank you. >> The claim that money was pooling at KOKA is misleading. Those were grant funds
waiting to be authorized and distributed by visit Tallahassee. Koka fronts reserves to pay grantees at the start of the grant year. If the county or visit Tallahassee must review and approve tourism eligibility before funds go out, then Koka should not be
blamed when those approvals are delayed by the county. >> So tell the truth about that. That is not transparency. That's a bureaucratic trap. and small arts organizations are the ones who are going to get caught in it.
Koka has the expertise to work with artists, small nonprofits, cultural organizations, and community programs. Visit Tallahassee does important tourism work, but it is not the same work. If these grants move into a reimbursement model, small organizations will be hurt
first. Wealthier institutions may be able to front thousands of dollars. Grassroots groups cannot. A funding system that only works for organizations with cash on hand is not a system that seeks to provide public support to all. >> That's right.
>> The last thing I'd like to say too is at the beginning, Commissioner Kaban said to someone um that personal attacks are not allowed. I'd like to make sure that that's clear to all of the commissioners that that goes both ways. I heard Commissioner
Bill Proctor tell a concerned constituent because, you know, as I also observed, many commissioners have not been listening. They've been going places. I understand y'all got jobs, but 50 people came out here to talk to y'all. You need to listen just like we
get to listen to you, okay? And you do not get to talk to people however you want. You are elected and paid by us. So when someone con is concerned >> is concerned. I'm I'm gonna finish talking. Yes, I am. Yes, I am.
>> No. No. No. We're not doing that. >> You are going to listen to me. >> Excuse me. Excuse me. We're not We're not doing that. I already had someone I already had someone push their way in the back room, >> which is extremely inappropriate, and threaten my colleague. And just so just
so the public knows, there are speakers there are speakers. There are speakers in the back room where we can all hear every single word being said. That's fine. >> So, I'm being clear. I'm not tolerating the personal attacks on my colleagues or staff attacks from me.
>> No, ma'am. I'm not I'm not tolerating it. >> No, sir. >> We we we were extremely respectful. We're not doing that. Mr. County, next speaker. Next speaker. >> Next speaker, Juliet Yakiz to be followed by Anthony Walker.
>> Thank you. you ask other people to do. >> Thank you. Name name and address for the record. >> Uh Juliet Yakz, 1807 Woodgateway. Uh good afternoon. Uh I am the executive director of Making Light Productions, a
performing arts school at in Tallahassee for students of all abilities. And this is my daughter Katie over here, the reason I co-founded MLP. And we are one of the KOKA grantees. I understand that these are TDT funds and I understand why
tourism impact matters, but I hope that the commissioners also realize that arts organizations create value in ways that cannot be measured through visitor counts. At MLP, we serve children, teens, and adults with disabilities and families year round. We provide arts
education, performances, community connection, and inclusive opportunities for people who often struggle to find places where they truly belong. Through the arts, shy children find confidence. Teens find friendship and belonging. Adults find community, purpose, and
acceptance. The arts help make Tallahassee a place where people don't just visit, they stay. They raise families here. They build community here, and they invest their lives here. And that's what this is about, an investment that is multiplied many times over through arts
organizations like us. The timing of this proposal is also especially difficult because many arts organizations are already facing major uncertaintities surrounding arts funding. Many organizations are preparing for the possibility of little or no support that they are accustomed
to receiving will be available. I believe the prudent choice is option two, taking one additional year to allow for collaboration, public input, careful planning, and thoughtful discussion about what the long-term arts future looks like here in Lyon County. I simply
hope that we do not lose sight of the real people behind these programs and the role that the arts play in making Lyon County a stronger, more connected community and the role that Koka plays in making that possible. Thank you for your time. Next speaker,
>> Anthony Walker to be followed by Tian Sanchez Bolato. >> Good evening, commissioners. My name is Anthony Walker, but please call me Tony. I'm new around here. I'm from Baltimore. Please accept please accept my uh apologies. I have a very bad dialect because I'm from a very funny part of
the world, but from B in Baltimore, I'm a I'm a known artist. I'm a celebrated artist there. And I had a year ago, I had a chance to buy a property South Yadston Street. You all know where that is. It's a mile from here. Uh why I hope I didn't make a mistake. I could have
moved to Asheville, North Carolina. >> But I I believe in Cocoa. You know, that's the reason I moved here. I'm a I'm a retired nurse and an artist, and I brought my art and my love of art and and stone here to this town, and I want to share my love of art with this town. And I believe Coco is going to help me.
And I'll tell you this, uh tourism did not bring me here. Oh, I've been here till the south years ago, and I found out this is a very interesting town. that's full of bright uh intelligent, artistic, creative people. Uh and uh the
community has a lot to offer. I I'm glad I'm here, but I hope that Koka doesn't fail me. I hope they can help me. I feel like I'm a a ship at sea just by myself. My name's Tony. I hope to meet you all, but uh I need support. Uh I need an arts
organization. I need I need other contacts. And if if this organization goes away, I'm just, you know, you're not you might not see my art or I might not be able to share it with you. Um, please support uh two. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Next speaker,
>> Tian Sanchez Bolato to be followed by Sarah Roy. >> Good afternoon, chair and commissioners. Thank you for your careful consideration of our voices. I know you are exhausted as you can imagine. So am I after a school year of teaching children with
noise makers or as you might know them orchestral instruments. My name is Dr. Tien Sanchez Paliado. I live at 313 Godfrey Place in Northeast Tallahassee. I'm here in my official capacity as the music director of the
Tallahassee Youth Orchestras on behalf of the young musicians of Lyon County and the Big Bend region and the countless dedicated educators who teach them. The Tallahassee Youth Orchestras serve students across multiple ensembles every week. They come from the public,
private, and home schools across this region and the Big Bend. Some have played for years. Some just picked up an instrument weeks before getting pllopped into my group. Some don't even have feet that reach the floor from their chairs.
TYO is a Koka grantee and in practice KOKA funding helps us put coaches in front of students, secure rehearsal space and keep our program accessible to the families regardless of their ability to pay. Without that infrastructure, the students who need us most, which we are
acutely proud of, as mentioned in earlier discussions on inclusivity, are the first ones we lose. As a first generation Cuban American, I am keenly aware of the singular role the arts played in my life and my education at large. Without Florida public schools,
community organizations like KOKA, and advocates for the arts, a collegiate education would have been impossible for me. scholarships paid my way through every step of my education supported by organizations such as Koka. I want to be
direct about what this proposal will do. I understand the value of tourism and I want to be clear that I'm not here to argue against it. I too love visit Tallahassee. The work and funds brought in through events such as the World Athletics Championships are a real win, which is exactly the kind of win the
tourism division is built to deliver. Visit Tallahassee does crucial needed work. However, the work KOKA does is a different kind of work. Peer-reviewed grants to small arts organizations, technical assistance for first-time applicants, arts education pipelines
that take years to build. That work is cultural infrastructure, as my colleagues, experts in their fields have mentioned, and it belongs to an agency built specifically for it and run by those with specialized expertise in the arts. Cultural amenities consistently rank among the top factors in where
families choose to live and where employers choose to locate. Florida's arts industry generates 5.8 billion in annual economic activities statewide and supports more than 91,000 jobs. The arts are not in competition with tourism. They are the long-term reasons people decide to stay.
The Tallahassee Youth Orchestra respectfully asks the board to vote for option two. Let staff, Koka, and stakeholders work together on a long-term plan that does not put 40 years of cultural infrastructure and the young people who depend on it at risk in a single afternoon, protecting and
sustaining KOKA for decades to come. >> Sarah Roy to be followed by Pam Doc. >> Good afternoon, commissioners. My name is Sarah Roy and I live at 635 Chansy Lane and I am the CEO of Young Actors Theater, a longtime grantee of both Koka
and Leyon County tourism supportive supported initiatives. I am here today to respectfully ask you to support option two on agenda item 13, extending the current contract for one year and allowing additional time for Koka and the county to work collaborate
collaboratively on a long-term engagement. Organizations like ours rely on stable and predictable funding systems to plan programming, staffing, and educational outreach. Through the support of both KOKA and tourism funding, Young Actors
Theater serves thousands of students and countless families annually through performances, camps, and yearround educational programming. These investments are not just about performances. They help develop talent, communication skills, leadership,
collaboration, and confidence in young people across our community. In the past year, our students have performed on Broadway and at Disney World representing Tallahassee. We have hosted four Broadway and West End artists as
directors working with our children for one month each here in Tallahassee. We currently have two current Tony Award nominees, Casey Levy and Shosana Bean, serving as executive producers of a project of ours. They've both traveled
here to Tallahassee to provide concerts for our community. We deeply value Lyon County's long-standing investment in community programming and appreciate the county's support of initiatives that contributed contribute to both the quality of life
and our local economy. We simply believe that a significant change to a long-standing funding structure deserves additional time for analysis, stakeholder engagement, and thoughtful discussion. Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your continued
support of organizations serving the families of Lyon County. >> Thank you. Next speaker, >> Pam Dick, to be followed by Samantha Joselyn Müller. My name is Pam Duffik. I live at 9320 Royal Trune Road here in Tallahassee.
I've been involved closely and tangentially with Koka and the arts for at least the past 17 years. I'm a board member or andor significant committee contributor to two major art
organizations here in town that depend on funding from KOKA. I am also a member of and involved in four other organizations that are KOKA members.
One speaks of the grant making process and the grant allocation process of KOKA. I have seen it improve significantly in my years and in the at least the last 10 years. It is one of
the most ethical, comprehensive, and fair grant processes that there is. >> And tourism and butts and seats are a factor
in every one of those cultural grants. And I agree with the rest of the speakers this afternoon that culture resides here and is more than just tourism.
I appreciate your time and please support option two and a process that is more collaborative. Thank you. Samantha Joselyn Müller to be followed
by Mary Sterner Lawson. >> Good afternoon, commissioners. My name is Sam Joselyn Mueller. My address is 24112 Lonear Road. Uh Mr. Chairman is my commissioner. I'm the I serve as the public art and exhibitions manager at KOKA. And I'm here today to ask you to
support agenda item 13, option two, extending the county's current agreement with KOKA for one year while a long-term plan is developed. collaboratively. I understand and I respect the county's responsibility to evaluate efficiency, accountability, and public investment. Those are goals that we actually share.
But I want to speak plainly about what would actually be lost if this work moved in house. Kok is not simply a pass through funding organization. We are specialized cultural agency that has spent decades building the relationships, systems, expertise, and public trust necessary to support Leyon
County's ultr arts and culture sector effectively. Every day our staff works directly with artists, with nonprofits, with educators, tourism partners, municants, grants administration, marketing support, exhibitions, public art
coordination, professional development, and capacity building services that many organizations could not otherwise access. The infrastructure already exists. It's functioning very well, and it generates measurable economic and community impact. Arts and culture
contribute more than $24 million annually to Lyon County's economic e economy and generate over $85 million in tourism and event related impact. Those outcomes do not happen accidentally. They are supported through sustained
coordination, expertise, and community partnerships. I also want to emphasize that this conversation is also just not about economics as you guys have heard here today. It's about access and identity and quality of life in Lyon County. Cultural programs reach students,
families, seniors, rural communities, veterans, and residents who may not otherwise have opportunities to engage in the arts. As well, as someone who works directly in this field every day, I can say confidently that rebuilding this capacity internally would not be simple, inexpensive, or immediate. The
institutional knowledge, community trust, and sector expertise cannot be replicated easily. I believe there is absolutely room for continued evaluation, accountability, and stronger collaboration between the county and Kok Koka, and I respectfully urge the board to not dismantle an effective
partnership before fully understanding the long-term costs and consequences of doing so. Commissioner Cabain, I've told you several times that I appreciate the way you serve our district. Um, so I'm asking you to continue to do so and to think about the community and the county as a whole in this vote. Thank you.
>> Yes, ma'am. Thank you for >> Mary Mary Sterner Lawson to be followed by Moy Huitt. Hello, I'm Mary Sterner Lawson and I want to thank very much the people here for giving me the opportunity to find out even more things that the arts do
will do are doing for this fair city and this is a splendid way to see it. I also thank you very much for listening to us. I very much appreciate Koka for all it has done in the last nearly 40 years and I appreciate what it has done for me as
a visual artist and appreciate appreciator of the arts of music and culture and I've worked in nonprofits here in the city. I worked on the I'm on the artists series of Tallahassee board and I'm also on the board of artists
across the big bin and I've served on the Le Moy board in the past. I think it is very important to choose option two for so many many reasons and I think they've been voiced better and in greater detail than I could say them.
But I think it's important for our children, our grandchildren, for the city itself, and for the region in ever so many ways. For the musicians, for the visual artists, dramatists, so many organizations. And it will make and
continue to keep this city the very culturally rich place that it is. When I was in Finland for a term sometime a long time ago, a musician uh said in words something like this that a nation is known by its culture and the power of
a culture lies in the arts. Well, I think the power of our culture lies in the arts here and by supporting Coco by supporting action to act portion two that we can end up continuing this level of culture that we have and improve on
it. You can't really calculate the value of the arts on a spreadsheet. It's something that's so much far more than that as those of us involved in the arts know. And it's just a wonderful kind of thing that we that you all offer and that we offer and that our city officer
offers. And I want it to continue. And please therefore choose option two. Thank you very much. >> Moy Hwitt to be followed by Elvie Nichols. Hello. Um, thank you for your time today. My name is Moy Huitt and I'm here
today in two capacities. Um, one as an art a previous art educator and then two as a current working artist. Um, I served as an elementary school art teacher in the southside um, which is where I live. um and my classroom didn't
have access to things that art students need like paint and paper and basic necessities. I believe all students should have access to these things for a rigorous art education. Kok gave that to us. Um thank you. Um with Kok's help, we
were able to have paint and paper and drawing boards. my students were able to experience painting outside um and learning about different art movements that a lot of students don't get to learn about. Um and so I want to urge you to please choose option two. And um
another thing is that I'm also here as a current art student. Um I recently just graduated from FSU's MFA program. >> Thank you. Um and when I was speaking with my cohort, everyone is moving away from Tallahassee. Um, and I think that's
something that's really important to look at because the reason why everybody is moving away is because they want to have opportunities and a future in the art field. But I'm here today because I think that it's important to create what
you want to see in the world. And I want to see Tallahassee have a robust art community. Um, and I think that Koka is something that really supports that. I know when I was making my decision to stay here in Tallahassee, that's what I
was looking at. So, I again um urge you to vote for option two. Thank you, >> Elvie Nichols to be followed by Jennifer Lang. >> Good afternoon, commissioners. My name is Eli Nichols, 3263
North Shannon Lakes Drive, and I am a local artist here in Tallahassee. I began pursuing art seriously in my 60s. And as Hispanic artists with English as my second language,
stepping into the arts community could have felt intimidated. But Koka welcome and support me from the very beginning. >> Because of their encouragement and the
opportunities they created, I found not only confidence in my artwork but also a new sense and purpose and community. So I came here. I feel honored knowing
that one of my main paintings, my delicious mangoes, is currently at the commissioner's room at the city hall. >> Wow. >> Just because Koka opened doors for
artists of all backgrounds and all stages of life. I ask you please support option number two and continue supporting Koka and the
local artists whose lives are changed by their work as my life. Thank you very much. >> Jennifer Lang was supported by to be followed by Christopher Gorsuch. >> See you later, man. Hi, I'm Jennifer
Lang, 1602 Laguna Drive, which means I'm Carrie Post neighbor. >> That's what I just said. I said that's my neighbor. >> I love Carrie. I I love tourism. I'm here to speak on behalf of option two.
Um I'm also a recent past president of the Tallahassee Watercolor Society and I've been chairing the Watercolor Society's brushstroke show for eight to 10, it's going on 10 years now. And I basically just want to speak in terms of our relationship with KOKA. We're not a
gr we don't get grant funds. We don't share any money. What we share is expertise and partnerships. And if we didn't have KOA and Sam and her crew, we would have a real hard time doing not only our brushstroke show, but our big
tri-state show every year and just a lot of the activities we put out there for people who want to work with watercolors. Um, they help us. We share systems. We share expertise. We review each other's works. And I'm being short,
but if we didn't have photofest at the airport, how would anybody see my great photos? >> Christopher Gorsuch to be followed by Echo Gates. >> Thank you, commissioners. Uh I reside at 963 Victory Garden Drive in the near
east side. Um I represent myself and as a board member of the Tallahassee Civic Corral and I am here today to discuss the points raised by Visit Tallahassee. Uh, regarding the reserves, these reserves are essentially a working
capital and serves as front money to grantees such as ourselves who have already dispersed their own funds in being able to afford their programs for that year. This money is released to grantees only when a mid-year and final
reports have been submitted to KOKA, including information on return on investment detailing visitor count expenditure logs, counts of adults of adults and youth on education programs and the numbers of full-time positions.
The ability to attract and retain NEA awards, especially recently, is a key to maintaining KOKA's successful track record of fiscal management and results. It would be nearly impossible for any other agency to continue the current
amount of $150,000 staff funding, which by the way has remained the same amount for nearly 20 years. This would have to be rebuilt from scratch, including the established
record that an independent KOKA has maintained for 40 years. Finally, I would like to thank Koka for its support throughout the years. The corral this year was able to celebrate its 40th anniversary of presenting six three
concerts and serving the public through its six singouts to to uh people who are unable to or able unable to afford or attend our our regular concerts. Other performing arts groups could relate
similar accounts as serving citizens who were once tourists and helped make Leyon County a great place to live. By a 40-year-old partnership merits the time to integrate the audited data, the
program impact metrics and stakeholder input into any structural decision. I respectively ask the board to vote for option two. Thank you. Echo Gates to be followed by Melinda Cohen.
Echo Kid Gates. I reside at 14:30 Lee Avenue. I'm a lifelong resident of Tallahassee. I'm here today as the president-elect of the Tallahassee Watercolor Society. We are a regist we are a regional water
media organization with the goals of providing our membership with quality workshops, general meetings and supporting art education. We host two water media exhibitions a
year. Our regional spring exhibition which is coming up opening on May 28th at the Museum of Fine Arts. We invite you all to come. It's open to members in Florida,
Georgia, and Alabama. We draw artists from three states to come be a participate in our exhibition. In the fall, we have a members exhibition, Brushstrokes, and that focuses on our membership. Both both
exhibitions are presented with the specialized and I underline specialized assistance of Koka. Their ability to curate the Brushstrokes exhibition is invaluable to our organization.
I'm here to voice support for option two and I hope that you will vote accordingly. Thank you. >> Melinda Cowan to be followed by Megan Neely. >> Mr. County Administrator, how many do we have remaining? >> 21. Thank you.
I appreciate everybody's time here and I know this is a long process. I get it. My name is Melinda Cowan and I reside at 65 6765 John'stown Loop and this is the
first time I have ever come to a meeting like this. I've seen a lot on TV, followed a lot, but I've never been to a meeting like this before because this really hit hard. I am the president of Embrace World
Cultures, which brings together people from all over the world. Not just one group that's better than another. Because every group is important. No matter how tiny the tribe,
no ma matter how powerful the state or the country, every group should have their vision shown to the world. Their culture which is unique
needs to be shown outside of where they live. And that's what we do. We are connected to over 35 different countries. We just connected with Immani Mle, a group of Ugandan children who are
the best singer and dancers I've ever seen at the age of five and up. And these kids came to Tallahassee. I was in tears watching these kids. And the first thing
I was I was saying to them is like, I need to film you guys. I will pay the expenses out of my own pocket because we need more people like you here in Tallahassee. Now, I have brought
an event that's very dear to me that was 50 years called Festival on the Nile. It became Crystal Fire here in Tallahassee. I brought it here for the first time after 50 years in Orlando because I believe in Koka.
>> Koka has been there for me when I had questions. I didn't know what to do next. The government is there as a safety net. I get it. I know all the numbers. You know all the numbers. You don't need me to give you the numbers.
When you have the people who have the expertise and the understanding to work with you and to help you develop an institute that was created out of co,
a nonprofit that connects people from around the world. Koka has the knowledge to do that. So I ask don't make it a oneweek thing and obliterate.
Take that time. Do that negotiation. The rest of the world may have problems negotiating but we don't. We are Leyon County. We are filled with people from so many amazing places. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much. Next speaker Megan Neely to be followed by Stanley Simmons. Hi, my name is Megan Neely. I'm at 411 Chapel Drive. I'm a graduate student at Florida State University studying art history. Two years ago, I moved to
Tallahassee for school. Thousand miles away from family, I was often homesick. But in my second year here, I met a friend who happened to work for Koka. Through her experience on the council and the resources they provide, I started to learn about the amazing
events, historic sites, and public art throughout Tallahassee. And more and more every day, the city has become home. To divert funds away from Koka would be to ignore one of its essential functions. They not only provide resources for tourists, but they
build community for our students and locals alike. I'll be staying in Tallahassee this summer. A decision I would have never made a year ago. But because of the resources KOKA provides, I am so excited to continue to explore
this incredible city in Lyon County. Koka makes our community more vibrant, and it makes it home as well. Another decision I wouldn't have made a year ago, I've decided to extend my graduate studies and stay here for another 5 years and become a permanent Florida
resident because I have an arts community now. That's what this has given me. So I urge you vote too. Thank you. >> Stanley Sims to be followed by Lauram Adele. >> Stanley Sims. I'm at 1320 Aenddale Way.
Unless my wife has had a change of heart since I left the house. First off, the Bible says shun the very presence of evil.
And Commissioner Proctor, my grandma, raised me that if you do something wrong, if you did it in the public, you need to clean it up in the public. So to my commissioner David O'Keefe,
my good friend, Commissioner Nick Maddox, and to the chairman. If I have offended you today, then charge it to my head and not my heart because I only did what I saw you do in
blueprint meeting to a black county attorney. So if that is not permissible, I ask you to stop and I'll stop. Now on to Cocoa. I don't know numbers. I didn't even know
much about art. I went down to Miss Kathleen. I said, "And you getting a lot of money cuz we were in competition." And she broke it down to me. Art is about public safety.
Oh, help me today. Graffiti goes down when you see art. Art is about good health. My doctor told me, he said, "Mr. Sims, you do too many activities that strenuous. Won't you find you some nice
art to relax and paint? Art is important. It allows children to express themselves without us telling them what to do. My oldest son, Commissioner Nick, is 32
years old. I know I look 21, but I ain't been 21 a long time. He's in California now. And Commissioner Cummings, and you know I am about my boys, he's painting. Can I tell the truth for one second? I
said, "Boy, you sure you my son cuz you painted >> and people are actually Miss Cummings buying his work. His art didn't just stop right there.
He's into poetry. That's our heart." And so when we have an executive director and she she's just not even all about art. She even called me one time because
there was an artist that needed a car. How many in here would love a dirty running car? But she don't give it that. She called me and asked me to clean that car for her >> so that she could give it in a nice way.
Vote option two. Laura Mell to be followed by Walter Libert. >> Did I do >> Oh, I left my phone. >> Hand me my phone. >> Yes, >> it's a hot bill on there. You don't want >> All right. My name is Lauren Nadell, a
longtime Florida and Tallahassee resident. I am speaking on behalf of my good friend who could not be here due to not being able to get away during business hours at such short notice. They say, "As part of a locallyowned
business, this is in my direct interest. This has been an ongoing and concerted effort to sabotage KOKA. Funds that remain in their account are there because Visit Teleahassee has not released them. Removing KOKA experts in
favor of county employees will not save money nor make good financial sense. Please remove the need for Visit Tallahassee to overview funding to resolve the issue instead. In my own words, Florida State Capital deserves
art and culture that does not need to be paid upfront for 40 years of Koka, hopefully many more. Thank you. All right, ladies and gentlemen, we are going to go on a 15minute recess and we
will pick back up at 6:00 p.m. Thank you. Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Okay, we are going to pick up where we left off. Mr. County Administrator, next speaker. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Next speaker, Walter Liebrich to be followed by Dr. Rhonda Blackwell Flanigan. Hi, good afternoon commission. Thank you
for allowing me to speak today. Uh my name is Wally G and I've been a Tallahassee resident for 25 years and unlike many of the other speakers here today, I am not a board member of KOKA. I am not paid by KOKA and I don't take
any grant money from KOKA. But what I'm here to do today is to deliver a message that art heals our community. And through Koka, Kok provides the platform for healing. We talked about we we heard
today about agenda item number four. And it breaks my heart to hear that we're turning back the clocks on racial advancements in our country. But art heals. Another thing that the Florida legislature has imposed upon our local
governments is House Bill 1217 that says that makes our clean energy plan in the face of climate change illegal. That breaks my heart. But art heals and KOA is that messenger.
So my message here today is very simple. Please, please do not follow in the legislaturator's footsteps and create this create an authoritarian top-down approach to this and vote for option number two. Thank you,
>> Dr. Rhonda Blackwell Flanigan to be followed by ID Codington. >> Good evening, commissioners. My name is Dr. Rhonda Blackwell Flanigan and I am here this evening to speak in opposition to transferring Kokus funding to visit
Tallahassee supporting option two. This decision is not simply about moving dollars from one organization to another. It's about deciding what kind of community we want to be. Organizations such supported through
Koka, they're not luxuries. They're lifelines. Especially for retirees and seniors, students and families and musicians and everyday residents who are searching for connection and purpose and belonging. As
a member of the Tallahassee Community Chorus and the theater community in Tallahassee, I have seen firsthand what participation in the arts does for people. Community choruses bring together individuals from every
background, all generations, retirees who may otherwise experience isolation suddenly and uh and fellowship structure joy and a reason to leave home. Seniors maintain cognitive engagement, emotional wellness, and
social connection through music. Working adults find stress relief and community. Young adults learn discipline and collaboration and confidence. And audiences benefit, too. Concerts and performances create gathering spaces
where people experience beauty together in a world that increasingly feels divided and disconnected. That's right. >> Research consistently shows that participation in the arts improves mental health,
>> reduces loneliness, strengthens civic engagement, and contributes to healthier aging. These programs are preventative care for our community. They are investments in the quality of
life. Tallahassee already struggles with retaining residents, particularly young professionals and families who often say there are limited cultural opportunities and not enough vibrant community experiences. When arts organizations
disappear, people do not suddenly become more connected in their city. They disengage from it. Tourism matters, but visitors are not the only people who deserve
investment. Residents matter, too. Kokus funding reaches artists and organizations directly. It sustains performances, rehearsals, educational outreach, community events, and accessible
programming that many people rely on emotionally, socially, and culturally. If this funding is transferred away, the impact will not be abstract. Fewer concerts, fewer programs, fewer
opportunities for residents to gather, create, perform, heal, and belong. A city without arts investments becomes quieter, less connected, and less alive. I urge you to not just think about what matters
but what matters most and protect Kaucus funding. Thank you. >> Heidi Codington will be followed by Deborah Dissellet. Heidi Codington see you again. Um I'm in Deborah Deslets. I'm a native of Tallahassee
born and raised here. Um, I want to be direct. I've worked with Koka for 15 years off and on as I've been coming in and out of Miami, managing the Morris Lapidus Legacy, which makes me responsible for exporting Miami beaches architecture all over the world. So, I
understand branding and I understand what branding does and what it is and how powerful it is. It's a different side of a coin than what art is. And I want to speak to art. I grew up in Tallahassee. I'm a child of Le Moine. I'm a child of Trinity Catholic Blessed Sacrament School where the nuns taught
me how to, you know, draw with China inc. Um, I'm indebted to everything in Tallahassee for the artist I became and for the person I am and for the ability to even sell art to the world through Mr. Lapidus' legacy. It's different.
Branding is different than art. And I think this idea of restructuring that you're doing, I just wanted to say that we have to see through it as like a sanitized look at restructuring. We're trying to gain control over you. How you
fund arts is um completely unfair to the art product itself. Government shouldn't have any control in how art gets curated. >> That is just something that's simple. Artists should be curating art. Um, and to move money while we do harm
to freedom of speech is an outand-out wrong. >> We're supposed to do no harm as architects, to anybody, so that our buildings are safe. You, as the commissioners, have to do no harm to our arts, so that our culture and our
community is safe. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, we're reminded that our heritage here in Florida is a vibrant tapestry of people who used art as their primary tool to assert their identity and their freedom.
I just walked on the civil on the civil roadwalk. We use art to express something that government cannot ever touch. And that's our ability to have an opinion against government to have it controlled. Funding through government
erases the value of art and the freedom of speech for artists. By seeking to abolish Koka and regulate the art within a city government, you are attempting to transform the creative expression into nothing more than a
branding arm of the government. Art is not a product. It's not a brand. It's not an animal that you can put a brand on and market it and say it's yours. They are necessary. They are two sides of the
same coin. I manufacture imaging of Mr. Lapidus and sell it to Asia. I sell it to the world. The Fountain Blow is still the most recognized building in Florida and I talk about it every day. I understand the difference. Art is not branding.
Please do not try to put branding skins on our artist. >> Thank you. Lisa Waxman waved in support of option two. Uh Gordon McIll is the next speaker to be followed by Dr. Clyde Dao.
Uh good evening. I'm uh Clyde Dio. Uh I was the founder of I I'm the founder of the uh Asian uh coalition of Talahasi which basically sponsors and organizes the one of the largest cultural events in this town. It's the experience Asia.
You know when we started um the community was very very small and I think I remember that time when I came here there were only like three Asian uh restaurants and I said, "Oh, we're very very small. were the minority of all the minorities. Then the population grew
over time and uh so we decided let's get together and uh make sure that we're actually well represented in the community. So we formed the Asian Coalition of Talahasi which was which is the uh organization or the uh umbrella
of all the Asian commu uh communities and organizations in Talahasi. And over the years from we started like okay how do we actually um how do we like promote our culture because Asia if you look at is actually
a bunch of countries. I mean there's a lot of cultures there. So we said okay why don't we organize experience Asia and maybe people in fact like know us better and understand who we are because you know we're here to stay. So I said okay let's do that. So, we started at uh
in a gazebo here, a very small very small gazebo uh like I think at the end of the uh the chain of parks. And I said, well, at the time that was Lucy Ho. He said, well, he encouraged me to actually do it. And I said, well, we'll see if we can get like 300 people
here, and if we can get 300 people, we'll be very happy. And at that time, there were more than 2,000 people who came. And I was really surprised that the food was like gone like before before 12:00. So we were really encouraged to do this. I said, I think
they like something like this. It's unique. And we were dressed up in our own cultural uh attire. And that's that's how it started. But I'm here to actually tell you what Kok has done for us.
Kok has helped us a lot. We would not be in this position right now without Koka. Koka has really supported us all the way for 22 something years and I'm really very thankful to uh Koka to the Leyon County Leyon County as well
as the city of Talahasi because when we started this what I did was to actually approach former mayor Marks I said uh mayor can we do something like this and he said yeah do it if you can do it let's I'm I'll be I'll be there to support you and we did and now the uh
the the uh cultural event which is experience Asia which probably like one of the largest cultural events in town right now. it's still there and it's going and thriving and it's thriving very very well and we draw and we must have drawn more than I mean hundreds of thousands of people over the span of 20
something years but you know I came here to actually like try to convince you that Koka has done a wonderful job for this community it has done a wonderful job for the Asian coalition of Talahasi and please support option two because I think that's the best way to do this you
know we need to work together and develop ways of how we can actually maximize and attain the objectives that we want to attain. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Chris Sche to be followed by Brian Hall.
I'm sorry if I mispronounced your name. >> Good afternoon. My name is Chris Ski and my address is 3311 Remington Run. Uh, I'm speaking in support of option two. I'm the founder of Music Local, a software-driven 501c3 that provides curated live music listings for the
Tallahassee area via a website and mobile applications for iOS and Android. Our goals are to revitalize local music coverage, provide a convenient and ethical alternative to to addictive social media platforms, rebuild social connections by making it easy for people
to discover nearby live music events, and strengthen our local economy by supporting venues, small businesses, musicians, service workers, and other residents. Kathleen and the folks at KOKA have been tremendously supportive of our efforts as a young culture and arts nonprofit. They have helped us grow
and provided guidance to us as we wait into the complex world of nonprofit fundraising. It's great to be able to talk to someone who is leading a large larger nonprofit as a small nonprofit. Um I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful it is as a founder to have a
dedicated arts organization like Koka in your corner. These efforts do not show up in financial statements, but they have had a very meaningful positive impact for us. I want to share a specific example from our data about the tourism overlap of local arts focused services like ours as well as the
difficulty of fully measuring the dollar value of the immense economic impact of local events. In 2025, we listed four over 4,000 live music events happening in the Tallahassee area. We had 29,000 views from Tallahassee, but we also had 4,200 from Jacksonville, 3,600 from
Orlando, 1,600 from Orlando, and thousands more from places like Thomasville and Birmingham. While we know we're having a positive impact, we don't know the dollar value. It's very difficult to measure these things once you get beyond participation. Uh it's very easy to measure hotel rooms and
ticketed large ticketed events, but it's very hard to measure the many small music events that happen around the town that form the fabric of our local arts and culture scene. Um impact measurement is important for good governance and we support uh uh efforts to measure uh to
better measure and understand the economic impact of arts and culture funding in Tallahassee. We applaud the efforts of this tourism staff to document the dollar value of their economic impact, but we should not craft policy solely around activities that are easy to measure, particularly when there are other forms of evidence right in
front of our faces. Uh this coming Thursday, Chicago plays the Civic Center, which is wonderful and easy to measure. But we also have a free music under the oaks concert by Koka. Uh, a jazz jam at the Blue Tavern, a blues jam at the getaway grill, an indie lineup show at the bark, a duo at Kuja's north
side, an opening reception of Funkadelic Visions of at Le Moine Arts with a live band, and a student musician showcase at the recck room. Now, if Chicago were not playing Thursday, it would be a shame. Uh, but if there were no blues jam, no jazz jam, which lay the foundations for
future Tallahassee musicians, and no public and free events, that would be a tragedy. We support Koka and we support option two. Thank you so much for your time. >> Thank you. >> Brian Hall to be followed by Alex Okonnell. >> Thank you, Mr. County Administrator. We
still have quite a few speakers and I want to make sure we have time for us to deliberate. So, when you're on deck, feel free to go ahead and come up um to be ready. >> Brian Hall to be followed by Alex Okonnell, Elise Lee Stanbury.
Oh, there's Alex. please. >> Hi again, Alex Okonnell. I live here in Tallahassee. Um, I have a lot of mixed feelings about the discussion today. Um, and I would love to be wooed a little bit more. As someone that works in arts
and culture, I'm a small business owner. I own Super Cool Awesome Music Studio. I do a lot of programming here in town. We also recently started a nonprofit this year for the Tallahassee Arts, Science, Theater Experience and hope to be eligible for Koka funding in the future. Um, I think that cultural events are
critical for talent retention post college here in Tallahassee. That's a pretty obvious one that we've already discussed today. Um, we need to remain funding our cultural events to offset state and federal funding cuts. Again, a
pretty obvious one. I'd like to reference something that I believe it was Commissioner Maddox said earlier that um we don't want to be another cookie cutter county. So when comparing to other counties, I think we should uh look at that point a little bit closer.
And I think that this is a debate that seems to be coming up um pretty frequently. So if you choose to stay with Koka and use them for funding dispersion, then maybe they should have a longer contract so they have time to work out more of the things that you
might feel are issues or test other ideas instead of being on edge every year if they are going to get funded or not. I think that there are a lot of things that visit Tallahassee does right and a lot of things they do wrong. I don't know if I trust them to support my
business which is based around tourism. It is based around people coming here, but is more importantly based around the people of Tallahassee and supporting them artistically. Um, if you do not choose to go with Koka and you do want to move those things over, um, and to take them in house, which in certain
ways is understandable, uh, I think that it's important to ask a lot of questions before doing that. And I do think that everybody in the room should be aware that this also is an opportunity to, uh, pretend potentially change how our, um, tourism plan is going. um and look at
that as a positive um to have more community input on how we uh go about the future of those things. Um so a couple questions I had were how would we ensure that funds are diversified in their use if they do move inhouse not
just for sports funding um but putting and which one of these options puts more money directly in a programs and programmer's hands? Um, how would we know that um, this funding wouldn't be misused for administrative fees that aren't discussed with the public and are
just covering overhead costs again instead of going into the hand of programmers and therefore back into taxpayers uh, hands. They're not experiencing these events when they're paying for things that they don't see. Um, we'd like to see the option that provides the
most opportunities for those programmers such as myself and for all varieties of small and large events. I think that if you choose to go with the taking it in-house option, um, we should require an expansion of programming and the time supported by the tourism commission,
which are currently pretty restrictive and hard to get into, especially when you're facing larger events with a history inside of the city and the county. So, >> thank you. >> Thank you. >> And we don't direct question answers, but county administrator, if you make a note um, when we do questions, if you
could address those. Thank you. Ely Lee Stanbury to be followed by Melinda Lanigan. >> Hello commissioners. I'm Alice Lee Stansbury. I have lived in Tallahassee for 39 years and uh I can't believe that 39 years. And I've been involved as a
nonprofit professional all all that time and 20 years uh the past 20 years as a consultant to nonprofits throughout Florida and in the Southeast. So there were three points that I wanted to make today. Two of which I think have been well made. one, you and KOKA and the TDC
and all the stakeholders need more time to really make the best decision. Number two, um we have two great organizations. We have a local arts agency and a very effective tourist development council, and that's a good thing, but they each
have their own distinct different missions. There are times where they overlap. the capacity building support that an organization like Koka funds to uh an organization like Le Moine for example builds that organization up and now all these years later the TDC is
investing its resources into the chain of parks festival that's grown into something that's bringing tourists and visitors from outside of our community. I myself had my mother and my family from North Carolina here for the chain of parks this year. This is where the magic is, is where they overlap, which
is what leads me to the third point that I want to make, which is the law of of unintended consequences. When you when you take something that's already a public private partnership, you've already leveraged what a local arts organization can do in in
conjunction with a local government. that brings to the table all the partners, Florida State, Florida&M, Tallahassee State College, all of the community subject matter experts and artists who serve on those panels. That's where the magic is. That's an
asset for our community and an asset to this process. It's also the asset that external funders are going to look for when they make a decision about whether or not they want to invest in Tallahassee. I talk to funders, foundations,
philanthropists, billionaires all the time on behalf of my clients and I can tell you that what they're all looking for whether they have $1,000 to invest or a million dollars to invest is they want to see collaboration.
It's not a buzzword. It is the definition of good practice and good governance. We have that. We're demonstrating that. So to tear that apart and and eliminate that opportunity for your local arts organization to
compete and get National Endowment for the Arts funding, Night Foundation funding. The competition for these funding sources is unimaginable. I hear it all the time. Tears on the phone. Alice Lee, we didn't get the grant. They
had a fabulous proposal, but there's more requests than there are dollars to go out. So when Tallahassee and Leyon County are in a position that we've got something really unique and special that not only we value, but we're attracting external partners, I just don't want to
see us lose that. So I encourage you to consider option two. Thank you. >> Melinda Lanigan to be followed by Paul Erenss. >> Hi there. My name is Melinda Lanigan. I live at 590 Withers Hill Road in Lyon
County. I've been a resident of Tallahassee and Leyon County since 1989 when I moved here to go to Florida State. And I was going to talk about a lovely article that I read uh just this morning uh by Miss Turble who's sitting
behind me. Um but I'm not going to do that because a lot of these things have been addressed already by so many people that have spoken here. I just want to talk about for a second um what it's like to come from an arts desert. I am from Levy County, a title one school.
The only arts that we had were from the parents who decided to put on the school plays from the teachers in the schools who were able to teach piano on the side that I took from the time I was 5 years old. From the arts teachers that were
willing to go the extra mile from kids who happened to be interested in what they were doing outside of school. I was the one who didn't fit in. I was the one whose whose art programs I benefited from those when I moved up here at 17 years old to go to Florida State. Um
this whole area, Leyon County, Tallahassee, I was a really small fish in this gigantic ocean. Wellist had 2,000 people. I think today it has 2,200. Hadn't grown a whole lot. And the arts there, it's still a desert. and it makes a difference for kids like me to
come to some place that has so much more available. Um, I've been a musician here for 34 years. Um, I'm in a cover band. We play originals sometimes, too. It's a lot of fun. And we do attract some people to come here from out of the
Tallahassee area, but I try to enrich this area with what I do. My husband and I have a band, and we just want to contribute to the arts. I feel like Koka does that and hopefully working in conjunction with Visit Tallahassee this
partnership can remain. I strongly encourage you all to really give this some more thought. It affects people not just on a tourism level, not just on a county level, it affects us all on a personal level. What are we without our
art? What are we? And I also want to al also want to consider want you all to consider how does SB134 how is it going to affect this partnership? Will we be able to have programs for the
LGBTQ plus community? Can we have Pridefest? Will we have the Asian festivals? Can we have things that is that celebrate emancipation? Can we have those things? this that that law is just a stepping stone I believe to other
oppression that will come forth. Our arts is how we deal with this. So please I urge you to select uh option two. It's so important for our community and thank you so all so much for your time.
Paul Erands to be followed by Ramona Abernathy Ping. Good afternoon. My name is Paul Erenss. I live at 1706 Beachwood Circle in Tallahassee. I want to thank the commissioners and for everyone here for
remaining and and hearing us all out. Um, obviously people have a lot of passion about Koka and about the arts in this community. I think Tallahassee um actually has culture and arts um more
than proportionate to the size of the community. We have the universities, museums, this is the state capital. I've lived here since 1989 and I really feel that I've been a beneficiary of the environment that's been created by
organizations like KOKA. Um, so and I'm also appalled at the people at the state and federal level that want to tell us all how to think or what to think and
restrict what we can say. Um, I mean I I think that that hopefully things are going to change at least at the state level in November here. there might be a totally uh less retributive, less vindictive atmosphere.
Um, in the interim, I think you have the option to to continue the contract with Koka for another year, let the political dust settle and see what comes next. I certainly would be supportive of of all
of you uh to to take that courageous action. Um, I think it would I think it will insulate potentially it'll insulate um the arts and uh community. It'll
insulate you to continue that that contract. You know, the the the u the old saying is if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Um this is a situation where Koka's not only not broke, I mean it's
functioning wonderfully well. I don't think we should try to to fix it. So, I'd encourage you, I urge you to support option two. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker, Ramona Abernathy Payne to be followed by Matt Burke. Ramona Abernathy Payne, 2006 East Indian
Head Drive, Tallahassee. I have spoken with some of you privately regarding the agenda item 13 restructuring administration of cultural programming. I have written to each of you expressing my opinion on opportunity to speak to you today in person.
I have read the agenda item and all the supporting documentation. I have read editorials in the Tallahassee Democrat. I have consulted with fellow members of KOKA. By all accounts, county staff included, KOKA has been successful over their 40-year history in building our
community through the arts. KOKA has also been successful in bringing additional funding from sources outside of Lyon County. We have no guarantee that the county tourism board will be able to match this success if the commission allows staff's recommendation to change the funding structure as
presented in option one. Don't gamble with success. Choose instead option two, extend the current program funding for another year. Take time to fully evaluate whether change is needed. Thank you. >> Matt Burke to be followed by Lorie
Roberts. >> Good afternoon. My name is Matt Burke. I live at 820 Watt Drive and I own a small artbased business right here in Railroad Square in Tallahassee that celebrates the Tallahassee and North Florida area. I've also been the photographer of Tallahassee magazine, a personal photographer of Andrew Gillum during his
gubernatorial run as well as an entertainment booking agency or booking agent rather at a now closed music venue that has booked several musicians that have spoke in this room today. So my entire life here in the city of Tallahassee has been rooted in the arts. It's no secret that getting anything
done when the city or local governments are involved takes much, much longer and involves many more hoops to jump through than when dealing with nearly any other entity. and that will immediately trickle down to the arts programs that Koka currently oversees. Now, I'm just an artist in a tax bracket, not often
listened to around here, so I can't imagine that my thoughts here today will matter much. But I'm here to say that we don't need Tallahassee's arts future in the direct hands of our government. We've seen what happens when government gets too involved, and it's very rarely a good thing. And I have a very hard
time believing that leaving the future funding of the arts in the city of Tallahassee in the hands of folks who don't have the success of the area's arts community at the top of mind is our best or our best plan moving forward. If this is the overall plan of this commission, please extend the current
contract with Koka for a year at least to work with y'all in the community to find a solution that will artists of this community. I have absolutely nothing against Visit Tallahassee. They sell several of my designs in their store. Absolutely love what they do. I'm
standing here right now. Please, option two, keep this money in the hands of Koka instead of putting it in the hands of our local government. Thank you. >> Lorie Roberts to be followed by Chris Dulan. >> Are you saying? >> I am.
>> First, I want to apologize for my attire. I came straight from the senior center where I teach um fitness to seniors and so normally I would be looking more professional. Um I am as just as impassioned as everyone who's been in this room tonight, but I would
like to go to a couple specifics that I think that we would need to consider. First, I want to say that I believe everyone in this room, including you, um believes in the arts and wants the best for our community. And I believe that
probably this is coming from a place of the tourism has done an outstanding job lately. I was at the lunchon a week, was it a week ago? They're doing a wonderful job and that may be very well why they've brought this up. In my opinion,
there's a huge distinction between tourism and running an organization in Tallahassee. Right now, we are getting our funding from the city and the county through KOKA to be able to fund general
revenue to be able to create programs that are of quality that will bring people to Tallahassee. That does not mean that we are in a position to bring oodles of people to Tallahassee like
Chicago can. But we are in a position to create such professional programming that we get a reputation all over for being an arts community and having really professional arts programs. I um I forgot to tell you my name is Lori
Roberts. I am a private citizen but um I believe in the arts and I'm specifically um engaged in Tallahassee Ballet and Young Actors Theater. I sat in the audience when Young Actors Theater was on Broadway and I got to tell you they
were better than any of the other five people that were invited to do that program. The Tallahassee Ballet is about to go and represent Tallahassee in Key West for a very renowned program um that was they're going to be presenting the Nutcracker down in Key West and really
established programs have been asked to do that. Tallahassee is now being asked to do that. People are coming to Tallahassee to be a part of the ballet. I also want to say one thing. And I remember I've been involved for a long time and when we're not able to get the
funding through our organizations, the arts organizations start to pit against each other because they're so desperate for money. Right now, we get along really, really well. In fact, young actors in the Tallahassee Ballet in September are going to be doing a joint
confer. And we need to continue getting along and supporting each other. So please keep us in a situation where we are able to fund general funding and not just tourism so that we can maintain our
programs and work together. Thank you Chris Dulan to be followed by Carla Peterson. >> Thank you Vince and Mr. Chairman. and I want to compliment you on how you run this meeting. >> Thank you so much. >> I represent over 400 elected officials
through the small counties and the small school districts and I want to tell you all that you do a good job. >> Thank you. >> You do a very good job and I appreciate your service. We have a wonderful community and as a person who was born here, we moved to Miami and I came back
in ' 68, but I've been here for since then and uh you are doing a good job and I appreciate what the county and city have to offer. I served as the director of the division of cultural affairs in the state arts council in the 80s under
George Firestone when we created the mantra Florida state of the arts to expand and brand our state as something that has to offer because we do uh I want to I want to commend Vince for bringing
not necessarily this item but the issue of margins and efficiencies because the bigger picture here is You're setting the tone for what you're going to need to do in the budget process this year and next year when we deal with property
tax reform. What you're doing with this is causing an evaluation of the program. I think the curt is before the horse here. And I think what you need to do is go ahead with option two. Analyze what's going on. Get the stakeholders involved.
Funding of the arts is is very precarious right now. The state has not been reliant up and down, vetoed and this that and the other and uh the action uh today is for oversight and
authority and uh you do want to maximize the efficiency even though it appears that the item does not reduce funding and I don't think it does. I mean, you've committed to two two million dollars. The process that you are
putting in jeopardy is is extremely important. Um, I would for two reasons. One is the impact of on the local community. You have stakeholders involved. You really don't want to get involved in making the decision over young actors or Tallahassee. You have
peer review. You have expertise becoming involved. When I was the director, we dealt with the panels and we took a serious look at what is quality and what is access. And so those were very important things. But the potential impact of property tax, I think
everybody needs to be put on notice. This conversation is going to go along next year because what you're going to have to be faced with when the legislature puts this on the ballot in November, uh the the amount for homestead exemption could be eliminated
for homestead. And you're going to have to make a decision. What are the protected programs? What are the critical programs? And what are those other programs? Whether it's a library, whether it's a road, whether it's a boat ramp, whether it's the arts. So, we're going to go through a deliberative conversation uh around the state. We've
told our counties that what we'd like them to do is put organizations that might fall into the other category or those programs and fund them in 26 27. Let them know that the decision in
November is going to make decisions that you're going to have to make regarding continuing those programs. So, thank you for the time. um and and option two and and thank you for setting the tone for what you need to do not only with this group but uh all of your programs that
may not be considered protected or critical. Thank you very much. >> Thank you >> Carla Peterson to be followed by two callers who are joining us virtually. Carla Peterson. Um, my name is Carla Peterson and I
reside at, sorry, almost lost my voice. 508 Truit Drive, Tallahassee 32303. Um, I'm um, and thank you commissioners for allowing all of us this opportunity to talk. It's
been a long day, but a really important one around this issue. Um, first of all, I just want to say I've been so proud over the last what four hours being in this room with all of these articulate, knowledgeable, even joyful
and diverse KOKA supporters. I would just respectfully ask you all to join us in understanding KOKA's really essential value here in our city. I hope you've paid attention close attention to the
mega love and trust that's been in this room for Koka and for and from so many of the speakers and their important points. I'm not going to I I just want to say I've been behind almost every single thing that people have said here today. Um including at the start Kokus
director and KOKUS board members and their irrefutable datadriven evidence on why you should not pass this. I'm a writer, so I wrote the word damnable and then I edited it out. But proposal for option one, as one board member said,
it's about investing, continuing to invest and not restructuring. And this is me. The next point, it's already working for Pete's sake. Don't fix, somebody else said this too, don't fix what's not broken. Um, my
backgrounds, 45 years in the field of the arts, 25 in New York City running arts organizations and raising public and private funds. My last ten year in Tallahassee as director of an art center called Nancy at FSU. I'm now retired one year, but
I'm not unengaged. I care about the arts um tremendously and I'm learning more and more now about local politics and how it's working here and perhaps maybe how it's not sometimes. Um my question why big in
caps why even think of pulling funding from a county entity Koka that has over the many years and particularly under its current top-notch leadership exhibited so much expertise and institutional knowledge and has earned
critical trust with and from and across our community members which you've seen here today um in forwarding an essential arts and culture agenda that benefits and enriches this county in so many ways. Tourism departments
anywhere, including ours, are driven by very different me missions, important in their own rights, but different in priorities. Importantly, tourism is not driven by the arts first. It's
not driven by arts organizations and artists first and not about foregrounding the needs of our children and diverse residents and communities in this country around creativity first. I could go on but I'm just going to jump
to the thing that is most important and that is I urge you to step away from such a precipice. Be wise, be smart, and even joyous along with us in this audience in joining support behind what
makes a city truly great by understanding what option to and the time it affords KOKA to build a longer term plan is the only beautiful path forward. Thank you. >> Joining us virtually,
uh, speaker Edward Reid. Mr. Reid, are you with us? >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. >> My name is Edward Reid. I live at 2014 West Indian Head Drive. I speak only for myself. I have lived in or near Leyon
County since 1972. I came for education. I stayed for the quality of life, including community, beauty, and the arts. I did not stay for return on investment. That's not a measure of quality of life. Tourism
absolutely has a place in our economy, but I'm frightened sick by the idea of of entrusting our residents quality of life to a tourism marketing plan. To pivot a bit, as a retired systems analyst, I'm professionally appalled by
the imbalances in the analysis presented. I see a lot about what the Division of Tourism proposes, but almost nothing about Kok's 40-year record of success and efficiency. That's not balanced. Growing the tourism economy is heav
heavily prioritized over quality of life for our residents. That's not balanced. Leyon County is compared with other counties, including Disney Disney World County, when we should be striving to be the best rather than average. Commissioners need and deserve a
balanced analysis for decision makingaking. This document does not qualify. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Next speaker. >> Last speaker joining us virtually, Robert Holidayiday. Mr. Holiday, are you with us? >> I am. Can you hear me?
>> Yes, I can. Yes, we can. >> Oh, hi. I'm um I'm Bob Holidayiday, president of the Tallahassee Historical Society. I I just want to take a second to state how important to our mission of educating the public about the history
of this area. Both Visit Tallahassee and Koka have been without visiting Tallahassee. several of our bicesentennial projects including an interactive fifth and sixth grade history that has been set up at our
website um for the use of of local educators would not have happened. Koka is just as important if not more so because it supplies operating expenses
um for administration, for publicity, for our special events. Thanks to Koka, for example, we were able to start our Red Hills history hour podcasts. Ours is an organization which until very
recent years had never considered asking for grants because we kept a very low profile. Um, KOA on a continuing basis has allowed us to raise our visibility and
the result is that our membership is up as is u I hope anyway our influence. I think it would be a mistake to fold Koka into Visit Tallahassee. They are both very important organizations for this
community and and they are both needed. So, uh, thank you all very much. That concludes our speakers. Mr. Chairman, >> thank you. Mr. C administrator, can you uh get to the staff presentation now? >> Ad Cavill.
>> All right, commissioners. I I hope that it was worth the wait for the presentation. Um so one thing I do want to remind us about about 3 hours ago uh the administrator had introduced the item and focused it very much on structure on board authority
oversight and specifically how the penny has grown over time. Going to now walk you through a few of those things you're about to see in this portion of the presentation which is very specifically we're going to look at the penny's growth.
We're going to look where and how Lyon County stands relative to other counties in as it relates to TDT and TDT grants. How the statewide administration of TDT grants and money has changed over the
years. and then how arts and culture compares to the board's funded highest priorities, programs and services, and the direct oversight that you as a board have on those programs and services and not on the penny dedicated to arts and
culture grants. So then I'll address also at the end some important and common questions that I have no doubt that we have heard either very very recently or over the past few days. So I want to look briefly
at the growth of the penny. So if you look and you know that 1 cent of the TDT is dedicated to um not only arts and culture but specifically that that 1 cent over time has grown and specifically been dedicated to going
directly to KOA without again board oversight. >> Matt Matt I'm sorry and Mr. Chair, I don't I know we want to get through the presentation, but I just there's a point that was a couple points that was made. I just want to make sure that we're clear. >> Sure. >> The penny can only be spent for arts and
culture. >> Yes. So, as it is ordinance right now, let me be specific about this. There are laws that determine how TDT money, tourist development tax money can be spent. There's a legal structure by which it can be applied which is there
are a lot of words but generally speaking it is to bring in visitors from out of the community into the community is that application of tourist development tax. In this specific instance, the board had passed an ordinance in 2014 that dedicates 20% of
our five pennies, one penny, um 20% of the total collection of tourist development tax to flow directly towards KOKA's utilization for arts and culture and marketing programming. >> Thank you. >> Okay.
Then with that that 20% allocation by a rate share is equal to the highest in the state of Florida which is Miami date. We are tied with them when it comes to the fixed percentage application. Now I want to draw your attention to the chart to the side which
is that in the past decade more than $15 million has been generated by the penny. So that arts and culture that flows into Koka. So that's $15 million over the past 10 years that have gone to Koko for arts and culture grants and marketing
that this board has not had authority nor oversight over during that time. Uh that number has nearly doubled in the past 10 years to the chart that you see in front of you which is about $2 million. That $2 million again
established by ordinance in the tourist development plan by this board flows to KOKA to do the things that we've talked about over the night and are outlined in the item which is the regranting to organizations. Now um every other county
TDT funded program that's sports and special events and legacy and signature and all those things that we're very familiar with that we hear so much about put names on them. It's Word of South and chain of parks and Carrie's going to talk a little bit more about that as quickly as we can. All of those
programs, those guidelines, those considerations are brought to this board. That board, this board has authority over the budget established for all of those other county TDT supported programs. The penny is
dedicated to CO. So I want to be clear that during um during this process too while the penny has grown, the structure beneath that application of the penny has not grown. While the
penny has grown, the structure has not. And that's the conversation we're having tonight is about a structure that meets the expectations of the board when it comes to oversight and setting priorities. And it creates an incredible amount of opportunity to amplify the
application of arts and culture by aligning it with county tourism. I want to talk about rate share now. So you can see the rate share across the peer communities. Uh there's a lot more that is underneath the numbers that you see. So we talked about Miami and Lyon
being tied, but the story is yet again under the numbers and it's structural. So the distinction is not about whether a nonprofit is involved. Under the hood of many of these percentages, a nonprofit is involved to some degree to
facilitate a program. How is Lyon County in a class of its own? Lyon County is in a class of its own because it gives that money directly to a named organization by ordinance to administer that program.
and you as a board do not have any application and oversight and authority of that application of the penny. So, and why is that important? Because this board in all those other instances that we've talked about under the hoods with
these pennies, all of those counties retain that TDT. They hold custody to that TDT and then they administer those grants in coordination with those nonprofits. But in this situation, again, Lyon stands
alone out of the counties in Florida. What I also want to draw your attention to is the external nonprofit funding for the county. So if you look at this chart here, out of the top recipients of
county monies, this is not exclusively TDT, but out of county monies, the Council on Culture and Arsoka receives $2 million, there is a gap of about a4 million down to primary healthcare and CARE net. I'll
dive into that a little bit more in specifics in just a second, but just to get you oriented on this CHSP general allocation, 45 more agencies in partnership with the city, medical examiners, statemandated, all of these on this list, you have control and
oversight of those programs. You have the authority over those programs as they're brought to you, except for the topmost bar. Now to be fair, the KOKA does regrant the majority of those
monies provided, but again, you approve the programs on this list in blue. Those amounts, those structures, you determine the outcomes of each of those programs. This is not about should KOKA be funded, but rather should the funding for arts
and c culture operate under the board's authority and oversight. Now I just want to dive into one quick section here which is that second item we talked about number one for Koka number two for primary healthcare. If
you look at them directly, the board funds bond community health, neighborhood medical, appalache center combined at 1.3 million, family pharmacy, we care primary health care when broken out in comparison is this
again this is not to disparage the work of Koka. It is in an effort to show this to the board in a budgetary context that that penny over the past 10 years has grown exceptional. And again, the
structure has not grown with it. And then I do want to move into and address some of those questions that I said that I would do at the beginning. A few of them you see on the screen. I do want to go through them just real quick because again we've heard them tonight. Before I hand it over to Carrie though,
I just want to take that moment want to talk about cultural funding for fiscal year 27. So then in the agenda item is contemplated, it is continued at the current level funding. It would be continued under KOKA's uh current existing grant agreement. We would bring
it in for a landing with KOKA. There would not be a disruption to the grant recipients and then there would be um contracts at the end that the county would enter into under the proposed recommended structural of the county taking this role inhouse. The other
portion is the continued role of Koka. That has obviously been a conversation. That is to say that should there be a change in the penny for arts and culture. What does that mean? I want to be very deliberate about this. I want to address the concern directly because it's serious and it deserves a serious
answer. The decision before the board does not end KOKA. It changes how the county administers one important program of cultural grant and marketing that has been part of Kok's portfolio since 2014 at the establishment of that ordinance
we talked about. Kok was established in 1985 as a joint city and county nonprofit and that status would remain with any structural change the board would consider. Koka's broader work continues under their leadership including public arts and arts education and advocacy and community partnerships
and also technical assistance in the field. While I can't predict Koka's future, I can point to the present in other Florida communities. In counties where cultural grants are administered in house, arts and culture organizations
like Koka and the broader arts advocacy and cultural ecosystem continue to thrive. independent arts, nonprofits, statewide organizations, and community institutions all continue to operate alongside and separate from a county's uh grant administration. Separate from
the TDT reganting function is one role an arts council can hold, not its defining identity. As said, the county's commitment to cultural funding stays at 2.1 for the fiscal year 2027 under the option that's uh staff recommended and that money continues to flow to local
cultural and arts organizations, all of the folks that you'd heard tonight. Whether and how KOKA evolves going forward is the decision for KOKA, its board, and its members. And today's question is structural and it centers on the county's responsibility to the
public's continuous and fixed growing investment in arts and culture as well as the board's oversight of that penny. Now on the culturally funded grants uh so the grantees currently all of those organizations as I mentioned would
maintain in the same process and not experience disruption. Another topic has been the federal and foundation funding. I want to be clear that those like National Endowment for the Arts, the Knight Foundation and the Levit family foundation is awarded based on a range of merits, not just the budgetary
capacity and none specifically on the local arts agency designation which KOKA holds. Those relationships in that designation belong to COP KOKA separate from the board's decision tonight. Now the broader value of arts and culture um
we agree that the real and recognized is that it's beyond its tourism metrics. It is quality of life. It is economy and that is why the alignment with the county's joint not only office of economic vitality but as the administrator had mentioned at the
opening the board's continued development of your upcoming strategic plan aligns with all of those pieces including arts and culture to increase quality of life. And then for the um audited financial information that is
part of a comprehensive review that does um identify accumulating unobligated TDT that creates that bridge for the structural element that we're talking about for option one and this can be used to provide level funding so
that we can continue without interruption to the current existing grantees. Um, now I'd like to turn it over to Carrie to really touch on the opportunities and the alignment and the broader view of tourism. >> Good evening.
Thank you, Matt. Um, I really Oops. Wait a minute. Let me go back one. Oops. Here we go. You know, I mean, I can't disagree with anything that I've heard here today because arts and culture truly is important to our community.
What we are talking about today, as as county administrator Matt talked about, is structure, the funding source, and board oversight. Um, I would like to take a moment to to recognize Michelle Personnet. She is the Leyon County Tourist Development Council Chairman. So, I did want to recognize her for
being here with us today. Um, I think what's also important in this discussion is that tourist development tax funding by statute, Florida statute 125104 is designed specifically to increase
tourism. that is and of the five pennies we talked about the one penny that goes to arts and culture all of the expenditures of that TDT must comply with Florida statute 1250104 to promote tourism to Tallahassee. So again it is
designed to again to specifically to bring in visitors so they bring in new money into the community. TDT is utilized to attract visitors and the spending so again to infuse more dollars into our communities. Local attendees
are not visitors. Economic activity of residents and grantees, local spending is totally different than visitor spending. Again, tourism is all about bringing new dollars into the community and bringing visitors to our community
and that is what is statutoily required for the use of TDT dollars. But I'm I'm really very excited for the opportunity that y'all are considering today to more closely align and integrate arts and culture into tourism because right now
there are bifurcated efforts because as Matt said I mean yes there's granting but there's also arts and cultural tourism marketing that again culture is doing that that we're also doing as well. So the chance to really integrate and to align would just increase the visibility of arts and cultural
organizations in our community and increase visitation a lot to the organizations as well. So, I just I really, like I said, wanted to make that point again about the tourist development tax, the allowable uses in alignment with statute. And this gives
you I'm not going to belabor this here, but because again, it is hopefully y'all can see it up here. The county contracts with KOKA to administer the cultural grant program on the county's behalf. Um as you know we said the board had requested this analysis and and as Matt
had touched on that with 20% of the TDT um be of the full 100% being allocated to KOKA it is that is the most significant absolute percentage allocation in Florida and both tourism grants and cultural grants are both
funded with the TDT and again you can see the tourism in blue on the right and then the cultural in gold. And so tourism event grants, we offer four different tourism grant programs and that is legac sports events, special
events, signature events and legacy events. Those are our really big events. Um we have the annual allocation of 800,000 per year. Um, and we grant um an average of or let me say of the combined
average of the $800,000 total allocation across the four grant programs. Our average grant award is $9,000. $9,000 to generate tourism. Again, we fund 80 organizations out of $800,000.
The cultural grants has 2 million in annual allocation. The funding goes to 35 organizations and the combined awards over their four categories of applicants uh generates about an average of a
$55,000 grant award every year. Again, big difference between the cultural grants and the tourism grants. And again the the the tourism grants again they're all they're event grants and they have required performance measures of
projected number of room nights and outof area marketing and KOKA grants do not include they do not include any types of performance measures other than participation tracking. It is important to note that we do conduct we have a
research firm of record that we do economic impact studies on our larger events. And of the $800,000 in grant allocations of just leaving looking at our just uh economic impact studies of our larger events generated
an economic impact of the $800,000 of $16 million with which is a 20 to1 direct ROI. I also want to share that we you know we do have a lot of already activity in the
arts and cultural space. Um particularly with our grants. Um again what we have here is the um again you can see like springtime and the chain of parks we were just talking about word of south. Again all very very um important events
but we do large events but tourism grants also fund smaller events as well. like we have Shakespeare in the Park. Um again the Florida Emancipation and History the statewide conference they bring in attendees from around the state
the FAU Rambe festival. So you're going to hear or you already heard I guess that you know of Koka's $2 million in grants that they allocated in FY25 it brought in $129,000 out ofount visitors. So for the $2
million in grants, it brought in 129,000 outofcount visitors, but in FY25 or last year, tourism brought in 2.6 million visitors. So again, a big difference in the the impacts of the
grant programs. Um, also wanted to share again, we we already are very much in the arts and culture space with our concerts. Um, again, we implement the county's concert series at the Adderly Amphitheater. Many of y'all have been there, and it's a
terrific venue to see concerts, and many of these events that we do are in partnership with local arts and cultural organizations. So, again, they bring the the concerts bring very much increased visibility, visitation, and quality of
life for our residents. And then of course we've got for this is um during the bsentennial that we had kicked off. So again the bsentennial is a great example of the collaboration and the communication again between arts and culture and tourism and it again it was
a great opportunity there with with a number of concerts. The biggest one of course being the Tayane um having his first performance in his hometown and it was the first time we did a partnership with Le Moine chain of parks um to bring in Wilco and Waxah Hatchee um to extend
the visitors stay during that wonderful event. And then this year of course again we partner with TSoga and they're terrific partners. Um last fall we had a John Williams cinematic celebration. um of course the return engagement of
Earth, Wind and Fire and then of course there's more to come and more collaboration. So again as we know concerts are a very very important part of increasing the visibility and visitation and and to Leyon County but again the collaboration with so many
arts and cultural organizations between our grants and the concerts is is very important. So in closing, I I just want to make sure again there's been a lot of discussion tonight that everyone knows I have long been a big supporter of arts and culture. Absolutely understand the
value. When I moved to Tallahassee nearly 30 years ago for a job at Visit Florida when it was first created as a vice president there, I headed up the arts and cultural tourism for the entire state of Florida for over 11 years. So I
have great experience again working with local arts agencies. I also was the Florida Deputy Secretary of State for about five years where my responsibilities included overseeing both the divisions of both arts and culture and historical resources. I have
and will always continue to strongly advocate for for arts and culture. we have the knowledge and the expertise and and I'm really excited quite frankly about the the potential opportunity here. In my experience, again, very much
statewide as well as here locally, every great destination has a strong local arts agency. But not every local arts agency relies on tourist development tax funding for
over 80% of their annual budget. So aligning the arts and cultural program and marketing into tourism again the tourist development dollars would significantly increase the impact and the momentum I believe for arts and culture in our community. So with that
that concludes my remarks. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is that does that conclude the entire staff presentation? Uh one moment Commissioner uh Miner All right, commissioners. Before we get
in discussion discussion, I um I want to tell you my thoughts briefly and then I'm going to go to I'm going to go to look for a motion. It's my opinion that I think we need to workshop this entire item.
I I spent the last you know those of you who saw me come and come come and going from the dis um Kathleen and I were having a few robust conversations in the back. I I believe that this is a a first let me be in proper posture. Um
I will ask if someone will make a motion for a a for this to come back into one of our June workshops to have a a more deliberate discussion. Yeah. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Thank you. So, motion for a workshop moved by Commissioner Cummings,
second by Commissioner Proctor. Thank you. I I appreciate that. Um this is such an important conversation. It it's clear that this is an very important topic to um dozens of organizations, large handful of individuals. And let me
say thank you to all the speakers who spoke today. Um you know, most speakers were were very respectful. I appreciate the decorum. I know it's here at 7:20 at night and we still have so many people in the chamber. So, thank you. And those who who did not maintain proper decorum,
thank you also for trying and thank you for being here. Um, I know that this is an important issue. I think that this demands a workshop. We're talking $2 million of uh Leyon County tourism budget. And
the the the most prominent slide, Matt, could you put the slide up about funding compared to other agencies, please? >> Sure. This slide right here is is was very eye opening to me. When we talk about issues in each of our community, in each of our
districts, it's it's eye openening to see that we have $2 million that we're just going to vote in an agenda item with a huge structural change. And seeing when we look at what we fund, CHSP, which
includes pretty much all our nonprofits, it's it's eye opening. And so with that being said, you know, I don't want to I don't want to um I don't want to hog the commission time, so I want to hear what other commissioners have to say, but I do believe that this warrants a workshop
for us to continue this conversation further because right now I don't know that I could support option one or two if there was a motion on the floor for that without having more information. So um >> Mr. Chair, just for clarification. Okay, we there's a motion to workshop
it. So are we going to discuss it? >> Yes, ma'am. >> What's the status? Yes, ma'am. So, what I would like for this to come to our June June our June work our June workshop to have >> Okay. So, we're asking staff to schedule a June workshop on this then. >> Yes, sir. Or just include it in one of our already scheduled workshops for us
to have more information. >> Mr. Chairman, we just either we would on June 16th, we would add this as a budget discussion item and we would have ample time. We start at 9:00 a.m. and we have all day. So, if we're doing that, we don't need to do all the discussion tonight, right?
I have a couple commissioners in queue who I'd want to hear what they have to say, but yes, ma'am. That is that is my what I would like to see. Yes, ma'am. >> Uh, Commissioner Miner. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate it. Um,
what I'd like to do, and let me offer this as a friendly amendment because we've had people here for three hours speaking about uh their love for the arts and culture and for their um love for COA. And so what I'd like to do is
offer a friendly amendment to um move option two with the workshop on June 16th so that we can have a discussion about about what this might do. But I I I don't feel like um Koka and the artists and the patrons of
the arts here um got one week's notice on deciding effectively what is the future of a 40-year-old organization that has done a lot to um uh foster the arts and culture in this community. Um
so I would offer that as a friendly amendment. Would you accept that amendment? the motion. >> Yeah. Sorry, ma'am. >> Yes, I would. >> Okay, >> Mr. Chairman, I second the motion and I decline the U amendment. So, someone else needs a second.
>> I'll second. I'll second. So, the reason why I'm moving for option two with the amendment for uh for the workshop. So, that's been accepted as a friendly amendment to the motion on the floor. The reason why I'm doing this is because
um as Marjorie Tumble Trumbull mentioned in her excellent op-ed, Koka has served this community for 40 years and we should take the time to partner with Koka membership, uh its staff, the board, artists, and patrons of the arts
to plan for how it can continue its good work. Um, arts and culture enrich our lives by helping us understand one another, inspiring creativity and new ideas and helping us to see ourselves and our communities in new and meaningful ways. Now, I can't support
option one and um, and this is for the following reasons. Um, and this is a key point. This first point is key. Option one, as uh, Mr. Pavll said wouldn't dissolve KOKA, but it would probably lead to the demise of KOKA.
This may sound like hyperbole, but it's not. Uh the TDT funds currently make up about 85% of KOK's budget. Withdrawing the TDT funds and the $150,000 in operational support from KOK's budget would likely result in the elimination
of two or three KOKA staffers and severely reduced capacity. As such, Koko would probably shut down within a year or two. My second point, option one would likely impact our ability to apply for other nonTDT grants. Should option
one be adopted, Koka's reduced capacity might make our community ineligible for non TDT arts grants such as those from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Leave It Family Foundation. You must be a 501c3 to apply for those types of grants and have a certain amount of capacity in these cases. Last year,
these grants brought in $259,000 for non-ourism related events and cultural programming. Um, my third point, arts and cultural programming shouldn't be a a subsidiary our division of tourism. Tourism ROI is very important and Lyon
County's division of tourism generated a record $1.4 billion in economic impact last year and that's that's worthy of some applause. Car's done a great job and her team. And though TDT funded events are required by law to focus on tourism, we
all know that plenty of Lyon County residents enjoy them, too. All that being said, attracting tourists shouldn't be the driving factor in every decision about our arts and cultural programming. In my view, we must have an organization with the core mission of
promoting arts and culture within our community. Koka is that organization and it's much more than a simple passrough of TDT funds and I have a personal example to illustrate my point. Um I was president of Tallalasy Music Week from
2015 to 2017. It was um it was a KCCI project and we um Talis Music Week was a week-long celebration that we had for three years straight that celebrated local musicians. Each year we featured more than a 100 performances at more
than 50 locations around town. Now Tallahassee Music Week wasn't eligible for TDT funds, but Kok's dedicated staff worked intensely with us uh to pull it off. We were a group of volunteers who didn't know the first thing about a music festival. But Kok staff connected
with us uh with musicians. They promoted all the events and they guided us every step of the way. I'll never forget the expressions on Lyon County residents faces as they walked into a grocery store and saw a string quartet playing
near the cash registers or I'll never forget Chris Skeen and his band jamming uh probably a little too loud at CK Steel Plaza. Um, these types of things are exactly what KOKA is meant to support and
without KOKA's support, Tallahassee Music Week never would have happened. Now, many people have asked us how this agenda item came about. Um, last September, the county commission directed staff to do a comprehensive review of the count of the county's funding of arts and culture. And this
agenda item is a response to that request. So, while I don't agree with staff's recommendation of option one, I did want to point out that I don't fault the county staff for doing their analysis because this board asked them to do that analysis. But with that with all that said, option two in my mind is
the clear choice. Um, we need to take time, talk with a 40-year-old organization that has served this community well, with its artists, with our artists and musicians, with the board, with the with the patrons of the arts here, everyone who loves the arts.
We need to have that discussion about what the future of KOKA should be. Yes, the slide that Matt Cavell showed is compelling and we need to take a look at that. We need to evaluate that. As Mr. Cavl said the structure is is is hasn't
changed in many many years, but the TDT funds going to Koka have. We should take a look at that, but we can't pull the rug out of a 40-year-old or full 40-year-old organization that has served this community well with a week's notice. So, I think I support the motion
on the floor, which is option two, with the workshop coming in June. Let's start that discussion. I don't know if we'll solve the discussion at the June workshop, but that's why option two, passing it today is important. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. Chairman, thank you. I um I'm not
clashing with anyone who's spoken tonight. I'm not clashing either with um um the great words that were offered by Commissioner um Miner. Uh tonight, um the Florida legislature told us you accepted their marching orders um that
we had to disengage the practice of DEI. Uh and we did and um you accepted that and um strange. I think that we should not um commit ourselves to option two
tonight uh because we do not know what the Florida legislature is going to do to propose a uh tax uh referendum. U we may not have no money by the people. We
certainly have no DEI anymore. Um, and maybe white people feel exempt from the wrath of what can happen out of the Florida legisl, but us black folk know damn well what they can do. As a black person, thus knowing what they did do,
um, I'm concerned that we not make a commitment tonight on monies that we honestly just may uh not have. That's why commissioner I concur with the value of the art d and I think the whole day
supports art but god we should not um bind ourselves and I don't want to say funding an unfunded mandate but we should not mandate ourselves to pay money to anybody when we don't know what money we going to get that I'm not
saying that's dumb I'm just saying that I don't see it as very smart I'm asking us to if we workshop this, please let's not go to the workshop going to give away money that we just might not have. We may know that by the end of this week
or maybe another special session, but I have seen enough I have seen enough tonight to know uh this legislature um let's not do that. That's that's all I'm saying. Commissioner Mer the rest of it
I I feel you out but I think not that we're not committed to art but our first responsibility as a fiduciary one to the balanced budget the capacity to pay for this that provide for health safety welfare and the art of the community.
But let us please know what kind of money we gonna have based on what this uh arbitrary and capriccious mind of legislature that might do anything anything include get rid of DEI. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Mr. Chair, on point.
>> Yes, ma'am. >> I was going to comment on point too, but I'll defer to you. >> On point. >> Yes, ma'am. Uh, Commissioner Proctor, if if the motion were just modified to say contingent upon legislative action, we move option two.
Uh, we don't know what the legislator is going to do between now and and the end of that contract. But if something does occur if we clean it up now, uh, except Commissioner Miner's language, but say contingent upon legislative, uh, action.
>> Go ahead, Commissioner Miner. I actually one second. I want to I want to chime in. I'm going to come right back to you. I had it on point there as well. when when we cancelled our June I mean our April budget workshop largely because the
county administrator and I decided that we we didn't want to put items before the board or the public and we don't know what's going to happen happen as the state goes through special sessions to to discuss property taxes. We don't
know what our budget would look like. And so as Commissioner Proctor was talking about, you know, it was just bringing me back to that same conversation that this is a $2 million budget item, right? And I just feel like it's more appropriate to lay everything out in our first budget workshop prior
to telling the public here's what we're going to do. So that's just in the spirit of what Commissioner Proctor said, how I tend to align with his mindset. However, I'll come back to you, Commissioner Miner, as well. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A a couple of points. First of all, um
the $2 million that we're talking about is TDT funds. Those are required by state law to spend on tourism related activities. So regardless what happens with the property tax issue, regardless of how what type of squeeze we're going to be in, uh if that ballot initiative
is placed on the ballot and it passes, those TDT funds are untouchable. They still have to be directed toward tourism related events. uh unless there's some kind of law that's changed by the legislature, but the current law basically says those TDT funds must be
spent on tourism related events. So, in other words, we couldn't take that $2 million to fill in holes that we have in our in our budget because of a lack of property taxes. That's an important point. Um, and I'll go ahead and I'll agree. I'll second the motion, but when
it comes to legislative contingency, that applies to everything on our budget. That applies to CHSP. that applies to general, you know, any to regular expenditures that we have in Lyon County. It applies to our libraries, applies to our our our planning staff. So, the the the issues
that the legislature is going to deal us um not just apply to KOKA and 150,000, which is the part that would come from general revenue, but but that also applies to all the other categories that we're spending money on, too. So, I I agree to the second I'll agree to that
uh um adjusted motion. understanding though that the budget considerations we are going to have on this item apply to everything that we're going to be dealing with regarding our normal expenditures. Thank you, Mr. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioners, just so everyone's clear, the motion on the floor is for um option uh two to
with the amendment to have a workshop scheduled in June, additionally to make it contingent on legislative action. That is the motion on the floor has been moved by Commissioner Cummings, second by Commissioner Miner. Um, I'm gonna go to back to Commissioner Proctor and then
to the vice chairman. >> Matt, please could you put the uh the uh slide the chairman asked for? >> Yeah. Could we just keep that up? Commissioner Proctor, do you have any other comment? >> Sure. Sure. Sure. Um, the purpose of a workshop, as I've understood it for 29 years, is that we
don't go there with a mandate with an option with the trigger already cocked. I I I can't remember that occurring often, but the workshop allows objective flow uh review. Uh
we're neither defending nor there to any kind of point. So the spirit of the motion is violative of a norm with which this board has done over the years. And uh Commissioner Maddox u you have a long
view on this. Um maybe your your your members is better than mine, but I think that the spirit of the workshop is to afford us the open um re uh calibrated decision- making with many of the ideas that have come, but the gentleman
sitting there on the front pew. Uh I'm sorry, not pew. Um, >> sorry. Uh, your comments tonight, his comments tonight, uh, were striking in the sense of the balance that it struck
between governing and the fact that art could not, but I I was I was it was compelling. >> No, no, he's just No, he's >> No, no, no. That was I I do have questions. I can't remember it all, but to Commissioner Miner's point, I thought
you had answered that in your comments uh about and when he he it sounded good. I don't I don't know if statuto the general counsel supports that, but the fact that it sounded good that TDT funds had to be spent with, you know, but KOKA
is not an exclusive uh category that satisfies any statute alone. So to drag that out sounds good, but it it it it's substantially not necessarily. So um I would like to see
commissioners um us not create a precedent of having a workshop uh with the workshop already triggered. Um I ain't coming. I just put it like that. I damn sure ain't coming. So, if that's what you all want to do, and I mean, the
Florida legislature gives us a great example that you ain't got to follow rules. You don't have to go by the US Constitution to have uh the reconfiguration of districts. Uh you can, you know, hold up people's money if you don't. I get that. And if that's who
we are, let me know. But I ain't coming to nothing that's already triggered pre-determined that we're coming to defend. I think that's wrong. and um I'm old and grown and have enough tenure here to um follow my own mind or what I
believe is correct. And then finally, Mr. Chairman, um to the point, um I need to be very very Hey, can I get this on the screen right here? What's on the screen? Can I can y'all show it on my on up close because I can't see that
far. Okay, good. So, when I look at something happening, Commissioner uh Cummings, that we've got to go back and recalibrate numbers. I need to tell you that
I mean the primary healthc care dollars the carnet pool uh I think um county administrator that appalache we are the statute requires and compels us to give them money there's a formula we follow on appalache
that's statutoily um mandate am I right about that >> okay this other money is not statutoily it's what we have uh arrived that over the years to fund. But if we get down to
um um I mean I take the legislature be dumb enough, crazy enough to to hurt all of our counties, but I'm not about to um come here and put primary health care uh if we I don't even make a a hypothesis
about what they might do on property taxes, but I don't think they coming up here to have Bible study. uh on a special session. I just don't think that's going to happen. So, I'm not going to put uh reccalibrate down uh
health care. We can't move on Appalache mental health care, the medical examiner stuff we got to pay for. I think there's going to be a reshuffleling and that's why Commissioner Miner um you need to know my values. uh we're paying art a
whole lot relative to the essential nature viability of life, health, uh existence is uh beneath these things in terms of amount of money we're giving. Um I ain't walking with y'all on I don't
care what you do. I'm tell you what I think, but I am not coming to a meeting that you done already pulled the trigger out before we have a decent workshop. >> Thank you. Um, Commissioner Cummings, were you on point? Do you The vice chairman's been waiting.
>> I I don't think Well, in in reference to the workshop, what were you envisioning were um the service providers? >> Yes, ma'am. >> And and Koko all be involved. Yes, ma'am. >> But but the parameters when we generally have workshops, isn't it just the
commissioners? >> Yes, ma'am. Is it okay to accept? >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you for the question because I feel like I didn't elaborate earlier because I was trying earlier on because I was trying to get to okay >> proper uh posture to have a motion. How I'm looking at it is this agenda item came out within the last week. There has
been abundant folks who have reached out to our office. We heard from over 50 speakers. I think it would be who of us to allow KOKA the opportunity to work with tourism, to work with our staff, to us individually meet with KOKA again, get more community feedback, and then
have this come back to us in one of our already budgeted uh scheduled budget meetings in June. I think it aligns consistently with how we go about budgeting year round is we have a workshop and we talk
about it. And so I I I tend to agree with Commissioner Proctor. I think that we're I don't want to go into a workshop and have predetermined what we're going to do. I want to hear from everybody. I want more time to deliberate the issue. I want Koko to meet with tourism. I want them to figure out where are the where
where are the the friction points and have the opportunity to work through that. >> Hey Clarif. >> Yes ma'am. Can I go to I'm going to go to the vice chair because I know he's been patiently waiting. >> Appreciate your patience, Mr. Vice Chairman. >> Thank you. You're going you're going to regret that. Uh, thank you. I have some
questions. Uh, keep that slide up. Um, there's $2 million up there and it's bigger than all the other numbers. Just want to confirm that money has to be spent on on arts, no matter what that amount is next
year, no matter what the property tax referendums are. O >> only under our current agreement. That money has to be spent on TD TDT eligible expenses. >> It's got to be spent on events. We can't reallocate it for other purposes.
>> Correct. >> Okay. The proposal to extend one year uh under of option two for the current agreement extends and applies for fiscal budget year ending fiscal 27. >> It does.
>> Okay. if a if a property tax referendum, which is the big elephant in the room, is set for the ballot by the legislature and if in November the voters approve property tax cut referendum, what budget
year would the first property tax cut be in place? >> It would be in 28, but I think it's really important to put an asterisk beside there that says you don't start planning for it in 28. >> Okay? But to be clear, we will know in
November if fiscal 2028 will have a drastic property tax change. >> Hopefully, we'll know before that. >> Okay. And then, yes, from your mouth to God's ears. Um, then for this one-year
extension for Koka is for fiscal year 2027. >> Correct. And the only money we're really talking about saving that goes into general revenue is $150,000. Okay. All right. So, we're not talking about saving 2 million out of general revenue. To be clear, we're talking
about saving $150,000 in general revenue. Is that accurate or Okay, >> that is correct. Although, we would also be we would be saving in total 213,000. I'll have to get Matt to come on up and talk about that if you want to. to $213,000
savings after we rebalanced uh the amount of money that we that we discussed in the item. >> Perfect. Okay. Um staff mentioned uh one reason for justifying rolling the arts and culture portion back under the
county is that the stat for the TDT penny there's a statutory requirement that that money be applicable to tourism uh as a reason to bring it into the county. We have been operating for 10
years as this money going through KOKA. Are we have we been in statutory compliance with that requirement currently and in the past? >> Yes. In fact, that speaks to the benefit of some alignment. Again, if should the board wish to do it, it's a little clunky at the moment. Carrie and her team do um check eligibility on these
applications to ensure that we can utilize the TDT funds. And Carrie, you can help me out on that. Add anything to that if you'd like. >> I don't need an attitude. Are we in statutory compliance? >> Yes. >> Okay. Do we have to make a change to stay statutory compliant?
No, this is simply let me just repeat real quick. >> Th whether you're facing a a financial financial cliff or not, this item is about does the board wish to have oversight over this amount of money? A and does the board wish to in a
regranting process utilize efficiencies that we have in place already in a program that already regrants dollars, it computers, HR, um all of the efficiencies or do you continue to wish to pay for that through another organization
>> to an amount of $213,000 deficiencies to a general fund amount of $213,000 >> in the transition year? >> Yes. Okay. >> After that, it would be up to you. >> Okay. Um, when was the last time this change was proposed to the board?
>> I believe the last time we've did an analysis to this extent was 2020. >> 2020. And is this kind of a repeat of what happened then? >> It's remarkably close. >> And and the time before that, when was it? >> In 2018, I believe.
>> Okay. And then, um, we talked about oversight being a concern. Um and we are does does our department uh visit to Tallahassee have to approve grants or contracts that KOKA awards under this
program? >> What was that question again? >> Does does anyone at the county have to approve awards that KO gives out of this money? Well, the TDC reviews the award recommendations from
the KOKA board, but the way the contract is currently structured, all the decision making, all that is done with KOKA. There is no we just review the applications to ensure el that all of the applicants and all the projects are
eligible uses of TDT because there had been an several instance in instances of applications being forwarded to us that were not eligible. So we instituted this verification process but that is the only role that we have in the kokus grant processes.
>> Okay. So, there are eligibility and compliance requirements to make sure that these grants follow all statutory and legal requirements. >> Correct. >> And county staff reviews that as part of the current agreement, >> the one-year agreement, that's correct.
>> Okay. So, to be clear, let's not pretend we don't have any accountability or oversight. It's to my point. Um, the other thing is, let's see. And why do we do we always extend the agreement just one year at a time or did we ever do it for three years or four
years or five years like other programs? >> If it may, it had been for um the only reason it was done for one year this past time it will because it was initially on a 5-year agreement. It was on a five-year agreement prior. The reason last year that it went to a
one-year agreement was last year the legislature took great interest in TDT and at one point there were different proposals floating around to sweep 75% 100% to offset property taxes and it was
prudent not to enter into a multi-year agreement until we knew exactly what was going to shake out with the legislature. >> Okay. Thank you. those. I saw you hit the button. What you got? >> I I was I I was going to go to the next speaker. I thought you were done, but if you you still have the floor.
>> I have comments. I was going to I was taking a break. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> So, this is an incredibly frustrating item for me for a number of reasons because we don't need to be here. We don't need to be doing this. We are not fixing a
problem. We are solving a problem that in 2018 this commission said they didn't want to solve or that what there wasn't a problem and in 2020 this commission said there wasn't a problem to be solved that this is fine and we've got other things to be focusing on that are
problems. I don't think we shouldn't I think we shouldn't change what isn't broken. I don't think we should rush and I don't think we should workshop because I think we ought to make a decision or not. And to the extent that any that staff that that a workshop or delaying
it would give staff time to work with Koka, staff should have worked with KOKA before this ever came to us. That doesn't make any sense to me. So, we don't need another meeting if if it wasn't work together. Now, no, I like claps, but I'm not trying to to
throw shade at the staff. let me get through um because our staff does a great job. But I don't want to waste this commission's time or more of the public's time with a workshop where you have to come and speak again where you're not allowed to speak at a workshop anyways unless we invite a
specific entity. Okay. The reality is that um as far as oversight, there's we look at this this graph and it's made to look like we just write a $2 million check and we get a thank you note and that's it. That's not the case. You
know, if you threw up a graph of what we pay the county sheriff, it's a lot bigger than that. You need a lot more screens and we don't have any oversight of the sheriff near to the extent we have over cocoa awards. So, I don't think that's a fair comparison. Um the
other thing is that um the reality is on its own we're not take we're not killing co the idea is we're not killing cocoa. We're taking 2 million that goes through them and we're putting in the county and taking away 150,000 of general revenue that goes to them to support them. But
the reality is they wouldn't be able to continue without being able to do that. They would not be eligible for the hundreds of thousands of dollars of grants from private organizations and no one in Tallahassee would be eligible if Koko was gone because there
wouldn't be a 501c3 local cultural arts organization. Okay. Um, there was another slide up there that had touted Alabama Shakes. Those big events are fantastic and we need them. And our visit, Tallahassee does a fantastic job. But we need continuous regular local
arts events because when I go on vacation someplace for a big ticket uh concert, I'm not there for one night and I need cool stuff to go look at the day before and the day after. And I got to tell you what, it's not Slim Chickens or the new um Waw Wa, okay? It's got to be
local cultural arts stuff. So, this complements that. There's no need to change it. Okay. At a time when federal and state funding for arts is collapsing, this isn't necessary over $150,000, which would cost our local
economy more than $150,000. Okay. Um on authority and oversight, we're concerned they got too much money or there's not enough control. We just had their audit report and I confirmed with the auditor as a CPA they got an unqualified opinion with no findings.
They got a cleaner audit than Leyon County has in 5 years. And yet we are saying, "Oh, now we have to take control because it's accountability." If we're not also saying we have to take control because we're going to save 150 grand in general revenue and lose what's left in
the community. Okay. Um we don't need a workshop and we don't need to do this. And honestly, whatever we decide, if we don't decide this, I don't want to see this come back for years, okay? Um because we've done decided this unless a future board comes up and says, "We want
to re-evaluate this and make every art arts organization take the night off and come out and tell us what matters." Um Alabama Shakes, there was a great concert and the they told us they weren't they told us when they were in high school, they got into music in a
middle of nowhere smaller than a county. I couldn't even think of in Alabama and that's what started them and without that small community art program in their high school there wouldn't be the Alabama Shakes to come here and play the erterly and I can't speak for specifics
on if Tepay used any community organization programs but if he didn't have music locally to support him that wasn't a big concert there's no TIG to come back and do Tallahassee so we're investing together this is not tourism versus this is we don't need them to combine the other and I will tell tell
you this too. Our kids need arts more than ever. And even if this doesn't directly affect our local arts organizations, which it will to um help support programs for kids, we miss that. We're in a we're in a climate where we
are feeling more isolated and divided. And arts and culture and music and beauty are what brings us together and what unites us. And that's what we need more than ever. When I was in high school, the um it was music. I don't know if you believe this, but I was a
very shy, nerdy kid. And it was music that gave me confidence. And it was Koka and their calendar that kept me here to Montreal Shagrin. If you don't agree with my votes, I came here for college. I graduated. And I'm going to tell you
what happened. When I wanted to find out what to do, I went to the Koka Arts. I went to Tallahassee Arts to find out what was going on that weekend before I was married to try and find interesting dates. And um I mean for real, that's what it was. And that is what keeps
people here. I wouldn't have stayed here for that. I wasn't 23 thinking, "Boy, I better stay here cuz I would like to be a county commissioner in 20 years." No, it was because we were unique. As Commissioner Maddox said about something else, we're not cookie cutter. We're unique. And so
I I'm mad we even had to go through this. Um and if we don't decide to go through it, I would hope we don't see this again. And we don't need a workshop to do what we just need to decide or not. Um and so I make a substitute motion for
option two. Second. So we have a substitute motion for option two. Um seconded by Commissioner Miner. Um, commissioners, I'll say this, this board has always had a a very collegial
um sentiment across the DAS and there have been numerous items where a commissioner has requested a workshop to debate an item and passed unanimously because that's typically what we do as a for um
I find it um uncollegial that there are a couple commissioners up here that would like to debate this further and ask for more information, hear from more constituents, work with Koka more directly and try to bridge a
gap between staff and KOKA. I think that is a very fair and collegial posture. I also find it um rather difficult that we spent 30 minutes um debating initial motion and Commissioner
Miner, you asked for amendments and we debated it and Commissioner Cummings came to you on it just to second a substitute motion that removes the workshop. So, um I I just that's a little frustrating. Um,
however, Mr. Vice Chairman, I respect everything you said and um, your voice is just as equal as every single one of us up here. However, I do disagree with multiple of the sentiments that you said for
reference. The sheriff is a dyeleed official who who reports directly to the public and the people. And every single every four years the sheriff has to answer to voters.
Um I I think that what we're talking about here is is is potentially change and I understand that it's uncomfortable, but I think what staff has asked of us to deliberate
is is worthy of a workshop. And to be frank, we report directly to our voters. We we we we have to go to the voters every four years and earn their trust and support. And so I I I don't I
disagree with the sentiment that it does not increase a level of accountability because if that's the case, why do we not delegate out our entire budget to folks across to all these other nonprofits? We don't do that. And so I I think that this has been a good
practice. However, I'm just a little disappointed of where we are currently with the motion in front of us. Um I don't believe that a workshop is that big of an ask. And so uh anyways, that being said, yes, ma'am. >> Yeah, I'm coming to you right now. You
have the floor. Thank you. >> I apologize. Our colleague over here has been patiently waiting. Commissioner Maddox, you're recognized. Uh, Commissioner Turnbull, it's past our bedtime, isn't it? >> Yeah, man. It's 8 o'clock. We We still
got a whole agenda to go. Um, I want to reframe this thing and I think we're missing it. I I do. I think we're missing it. I think uh I think if we thought bigger, we we we we looked a little bit bigger. We would focus on something totally different. Um,
I don't care who you are, what you think. $2 million is a lot of money to u allocate to an organization to delegate to an organization to grant out to anybody and it is the largest amount
that we granted out and with that become comes a lot of trust. Um if you look at I know Katherine I said I was going to speak and I wasn't but I had to. Uh, if you look at if you go back to this, this graph is great, but I want to go back to the penny in 2020. If I can go back to
that graph to show the growth of the penny. What we know is that over the past 10 years, we went from uh that it's been $15 million. That's about 1.5 per year. This year it's 1.9, which is above what it was uh going back to 2022. When we took it
at 2020, it wasn't even a million dollars yet. wasn't even a million dollars. It's doubled since 2020. Now, now, now somebody tell me an a situation where where you have an
agreement with someone and the amount of your agreement doubles and you don't come back to the table to talk about what the agreement looks like and how you move forward. The reason we keep having this conversation over and over again, and the reason we can't get another 5-year agreement going, is
because the money's gotten higher, obviously, right? But we never come back to the table to talk about oversight, who looks at who, what's what, and and all those things are important. So to say we shouldn't we shouldn't be here. Well, why shouldn't we be here? I think
we'd be I think we'd be here if it was any other pot of money or organization, of course we'd be here. We're here every single year talking about budget. Every single year we're here talk we're here talking about budget. It's one of our biggest jobs is to talk about budget and land use. When I got when I first got elected, uh Gary Jordan told me, Nick,
you make sure people's garbage is picked up. You make sure that their that their roles don't have potholes and you make sure that you you you present a budget that they can get through every year and that you know that they know what they can use their land for. You do that,
you'll stay around for a while. So, so to say we shouldn't be here when we've gone when when we've had a pot of money that went from 0.94 million to 1.9 million over a fiveyear period and we've and and we've limped limped our way through trying to say what that looks
like or how we should be talking to each other or how the communication go what the reporting mechanisms are. It's crazy. We we absolutely should be here now. Um Kok didn't start with a penny. We all know that Koka started in 1985 and in
1985 there was no penny with Kok. The penny didn't get there until 2014. Once the penny got to Kok in 2014, it's been there ever since. Now granted, what was the what was the what was the structure like in 2014 when we got when when the penny started to go there? And
then how did it evolve over time? We don't we don't know. I mean, we we kind of know me and me and me and Commissioner Pro were there. But my point is is that we've had a pot of money that's grown and we hadn't come to the table to say
what the new agreement looks like. What we keep doing is extending the old agreement and not being pleased with the old agreement. And we could we could go with option two. I I mean I look I'm not saying anything I didn't say to Katherine in my office. We can go with
option two. But why? If we can go option two today, we can go option two after the workshop. The workshop gives us an opportunity to sit at the table, talk about what a new agreement looks like, craft that new agreement, and put it in place for years. Years.
Why would we agree on one year today when we can go to a workshop and agree for years? Commission Pro, you had it right. We don't traditionally, we don't go to workshop, have bait. We don't go in there and know what we got to do. We're going to stay for a year. I think it's shortsided. And I think it's I think it's I think I think it comes from
a place of fear and a lack of trust. I think the arts community doesn't don't don't believe that we will genuinely come to the table and hear it out and try to and try to come to an agreement that could give us more time. And that's why they're fighting for the year right now. They want the guaranteed year so then we can come to the table and then
after the year maybe maybe we can get another three years next year. I say don't come to the table with that fear. I say come to the table and know that if you got three if you got a year today you're going to get a year year at the workshop and possibly two more years but
I tell you this if you take that year today you going to get a year we're going to have a conversation and next year we could be in the same exact place of trying to get you another year or another three years that workshop really allows us to all to sit at the table have a conversation to talk about what
does oversight look like? What does it look like from here from here on out? If we're going to talk about the agreement, what are the reporting structures that the county would like? Because let's be honest, I mean, we're giving you $2 million to grant out. There should be something that you that that that's
reported back to us. I told I told Katherine and and I'm sorry, the chair, I'm sorry, I'm talking and my mind is going, but what I said to her is, you know, how many times we had an opportunity to clap for the for for the TDC over the past year? How many times
has have have have have Carrie come up here and told us about this great thing that T TDC has done and we've clapped and bowed and told everybody we were great bunch of times this year. >> A lot of times. >> How many times has Koka had the opportunity to tell us what they've done
so we can clap for them too. Can you can you can you count a time? I don't remember a time. Did they I mean over the past 5 years how many times? We need to be able to clap more for Koka. But I I don't I don't know what I'm clapping for when now the stuff that
you presented today, great job. I can clap for that. But I'm this is this is 2025 and we're talking about a budget that we're talking about taking from you and finally I get some numbers I can clap for. I want to be able to clap throughout the year. So So we're not in
this position every single year. So Commissioner uh O'Keeffe, I I hear you. I hear you. But I think it's shortsighted. I think I think we absolutely should be here. I think $2 million and a growth of a million dollar or a double over over a 5year period is
just the reason why we should be here having a conversation about how we look at our agreements, what the oversight needs to look like, and how we continue to partner with the professional arts organization in town that disperses our art funding. I think that's fair. I
think that's fair. And so for us to for us to take and and I forget the young lady's name when she spoke, but you were right. You said you said that you said you know we need to talk about multi-year funding. Why are we going year to year? I think you I think you're absolutely right about that. Um for us and then and then the part about the
debate piece we we've debated the issue here. We could have debated the issue in in a workshop with staff sitting on one side, Koka sitting on one side. We could have asked the questions and not made a decision. And again I believe it's being made out of fear. I believe it's being made because because we don't know that
Kok doesn't know. the community doesn't know that if we don't make this decision to say before a year today that you won't that you that we'll do it when we when that workshop comes on in June. I think I think this is a fear motivated
compromise of option number two. And I don't like it. I'll be honest with you. I don't like it. I think I I I just I really would rather us get to a point where we can we can put something on the table. we can all agree on it and have a multi-year solid deal that we can really
really really dig into with some reporting structures in place. We can understand how Kok comes up with their numbers. We can understand what that audit looks like. You know, it's it's it's okay. It's okay for us to have that kind of partnership. But in order for us to have that kind of partnership, things
in our agreement need to change. And I don't think KO is opposed to it. Are you are you opposed to changing the agreement to have some of those things? If you are, I mean, it's on you. But I would hope not. I would hope not because we could just make the decision to take the money away and then you have nothing. So So I just I think we need to
slow down. I think option two again fear motivated. I don't think it's the right thing to do right now. I think we go to workshop, we have the conversation and we see how we can move forward with an agreement that that can govern us for the next three to five years. So we
we're not having this conversation every year, but we needed to have this conversation every year because the the the money has changed which changed the game. The environment think about what the environment was like 20 in 2020 to compare it to what the environment is like now. We I needed I needed to know
that that that Koka has produced 10 times the 2 million that we gave them cuz I didn't know that. I didn't know that and the community didn't know it because it wasn't presented to them. So today needed to happen and that workshop needs to happen as well. Um now I said
Leo County is the only county with no oversight of of of those of those of that 10 mill of that $2 million. But but to balance that ours organizations do play a role in the process of getting
that money out in other counties. I did hear that. I think I heard that right. Right. So, so even with that, if if that's the case, well then what does it look like there compared to what we have here? And how do we get closer to us all being in a place of harmony? I heard that piece. Um
15 years of So, long long story short, for me, I'm definitely not going with option two. I'm definitely not I'm not going option two because I think option two is shortsighted. I don't want a one-year deal. If I want if I'm going to go with a one-year deal, I'm going with I'm
going to go with a one-year deal after a workshop. So, we can go through the workshop and then after the workshop, if it does not work, then cool. We we'll we'll we'll we'll go with the one-year deal. What I what I what I was actually leaning towards was when Commissioner Miner says option two with uh a
workshop. I was I was kind of thinking about that cuz then I'm like well we give them they get the guaranteed year so they get that that safety that they that they're yearning for because there's some fear there but then we also we also get to dig into it a little bit and and maybe come up with a multi-year
deal the next year but then that got Commissioner O'Keefe with that passion of yours. Man, you got you got everybody on board uh with with option two. I just and again I hope you understand where I'm coming from. I want to support it. I I want to support Kok. I want I really really really want us but I I really
want us to continue with the partnership that we've had in the past, but I I want to do it in with with some kind of structure that allows for us to have multi- a multi-year deal that we so so you're not we're not calling you here every every year and you're not afraid that that that you don't that you're not
operating with the fear that you that I feel like you're operating with today and that lack of trust of of what what we look like long term. So, um Hey, I know you didn't. Anyway, um I really I really I've said what I had to
say, but I I I I caution the commission to think about this from a long-term perspective and not and not just trying to get something in place right now. I think we can do something much better. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Well said. Commissioners, here's what we're going to do. You want
on point? >> No. >> Okay. What I was going to do I think we have I think I don't I think we have actually you haven't talked on the substitute motion yet. Go ahead. Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I s I appreciate the sentiment from uh my colleagues on
this issue and I I made the motion for the workshop and then I also accepted Commissioner Miner's recommendation to amend the motion to include option two and and I did both primarily because
Koko has just done a tremendous job in our community. Uh and I want to commend them for all of the years uh that they have gained expertise in the arts and culture. I mean we have those
performances year round. I looked at their list of grantees and it it's a long spectrum, but it lets me know uh that I think they understand
uh art and and culture all the way from paintings to dancing to to concerts, symphony, orchestras. Uh, and it was interesting that uh that I saw a grant for $500
and that's what the grantees apparently asked for and then they had several 15,000 10,000 and it just depend on the artistry of the the grantees that submitted their applications.
But I didn't want commissioners to throw out the baby with the bath water. I think we recognize uh the worth of Koka. Uh we also recognize
Kerry Post doing a tremendous job with tourism bringing in multi- well billions of dollars, >> billions, >> billions. uh just really doing a great job with the economic
impact in our community. But when I had my agenda review with the county administrator, to me I said, "Mr. County administrator, to me, tourism is on this end, but culture and art to me is a
whole different spectrum on the other end. So, how do we bring the two of them together? When we think about culture and art here in Lyon County, in Tallahassee, it's what we tried to expose our children to when when they
when they were growing up. It is how we grow our community. It's how we try to cultivate our community and our children. Uh, and Koka has helped us has helped us do that. But on the other
hand, I I think we need to recognize that the county has shown strong commitment and dedication to the arts and to culture. Uh and as a result, culture has
enabled the county to do that. So we have we've established a strong relationship count uh Koko has established a strong relationship as well with the artistic entities in the in this community. Um
and that that's something that I don't think we want to throw away. And I think if we transferred the oversight of these funds inhouse, one of our biggest initiatives would be how to capture
that relationship with all with all those entities. It's it's not just a matter of giving money. It's a matter of establishing relationships. You you schedule your performances. you know, there's a certain time of the year when artists
want to perform in certain areas. That's that's the type expertise. It's just a lot of specialization. Uh I believe that we don't want to we don't want to throw it away. I I would like for
there to be some common ground between the county and and Coker and not just totally um transfer everything to the county. And I think Commissioner uh Maddox
was advocating for some type common ground which is what I believe the chair envisioned by a work by a workshop. >> Yes ma'am. And and I know generally um Commissioner Proctor generally with our
workshops we don't have a lot of input it from the community but I think we could structure it in such a way where the entities and Kok could be in could be involved now and I'm not sure madam
county attorney if that's a legal question but I know traditionally our workshops is is us working but couldn't we structure where uh Koka and the entities that they contract with arts and culture could be involved and we
receive their input. >> Yes. >> That's entirely possible. I mean uh I think it's really just a function of um trying to ensure that um there's sufficient time for all of those different groups uh and making sure that
it's manageable. my understanding and again I don't know a lot about Koko and what they do but I think that they have relationships with a lot of different organizations um but certainly the board can dictate and decide how it wants to conduct its workshops absolutely
>> awesome awesome thank you and and one of the things Mr. Chair you know that I'm being on is is notice due process opportunity to be heard and I know uh Mr. county administrator that we don't necessarily
have to give notice pursuant to state law, even pursuant to our own rules, regulations or ordinances. But to me, it just makes for good relationship, good community relationship, good business if people are on notice. Now, I I met with
Miss Speeh, with Kathleen and one of her staff persons, and uh she indicated to me that the first time she was aware of this proposal to transfer the funding from Koka was when she saw this agenda item. And and I know there's no specific
requirement for us to give notice, but when you've got a longterm relationship with an entity like we have with Coker, I I just think that it merits uh a lot more discussion. I think it merits timely notice and I think it
merits an opportunity to be heard. And so, Mr. Chair, I think the workshop >> uh if we >> Thank you. label it like we want. I think that would uh would address that concern. >> Okay. Thank you. Um thank you for the
comments, Commissioner Cummings. Just so you know, the spirit of me bringing up the workshop is exactly as you stated and what Commissioner Maddox stated. So what I'm prepared to do is vote on the substitute motion, but I saw you jumping in queue. U Mr. Vice Chair, do you want to say anything before we vote on the substitute motion?
>> You've convinced me. I cooled off. I'll withdraw and we can go to the motion with the workshop and option two. >> Okay. Um, so are you withdrawing your mo your substitute? Okay, thank you. So you're withdrawing your substitute. I'll have Commissioner Proctor in the queue now. Commissioner Proctor. Mr. Chairman, I
Mr. Chairman, I have a legal question I want answered um at that workshop if it passes. And legal counsel um that we I heard um um I think Matt told us that Leyon
County is in a class of its own because Leyon County relinquishes all decisionmaking to a private entity, Koka. Why are we in this class all alone? And um in my notes uh looking at this item,
I've written the question, is this an improper delegation of um our county's legislative authority? Um, more specifically, is it legal uh that a county government can give uh public
dollars u tax money to a private entity to exercise discretionary uh expenditure and we're not the agency uh that is doing that. Is there such a thing as improper legislative delegation
uh that occurs here and that we're the only county uh that allows us to u be in a class all by ourselves? Maybe we're in the wrong all by ourselves. Can you help us or bring that to our attention between now and workshop? Thank you. Uh
I thought that Commissioner Maddox was going to tell the tell the truth and shame the devil. Um but he he didn't. And um I just all been said I feel this
is not a competition between Koka and um the tourist development and between care and Kathleen but somehow uh we all love everything that they do. We all salute take pride in everything that they do.
Um, I I need to say just for the because it's not been said and Nick walk with me on this, Vince walk with me on this that we had a around 2014 that we did not
have uh one set dedicated before, but uh Commissioner um O'Keefe, you had a u your predecessor, we had a commissioner here whose um stepmother was affiliate with Koker. Um,
and uh I don't I don't think it's nepotism that you was a county commission and your your mother's the head of Koka. I don't know if that's nepotism or not. I don't know. >> Point of my mother is doesn't live here. She's passed. You might be talking about
something else. >> I'm sorry. I didn't mean misstatement. No, I said your predecessor. >> Thank you. Never mind. I knew I knew we weren't on that level. Thank you. >> Yeah, I meant I said your predecessor. I apologize. And what happened uh Commissioner Maddox is that I'm not
saying we had undue influence but that penny got established uh because the doer influence was was very strong. Um we did not want a u the tension. Let's just say this board
capitulated to the desire of the Koka leadership and one of the county commissioners uh your predecessor and um the true truth of the matter is that we went down this road uh as an act of appeasement
uh as a means of taking the tension out from the board of county commission and Koka as an entity and it gathered, you know, steam because we had a commissioner up here whose relatives and
people they knew well was um postured uh with leadership and Koka. If the true truth could be told, that's how um this penny started initiated. That's the energy behind it. I'm not saying it's
right. I'm not saying it's wrong. I'm just saying that's what it was. Um, subsequent to that time, sometimes a long shadow uh is cast and I believe Commissioner Turnbull could appreciate me indicating that sometimes when you've
left the legislature um your influence or the shadow of your smile remains uh resolute and the shadow of your style remains influential and our board uh has been u I think the
spirit of your predecessor has remained part of the consciousness of why Koka has received the nudge and the sense of favor that it's it's got. That's why this is an ordinance. It's not a state statute that that we're
talking about here. We're talking about a board ordinance because a board got behind the idea of what Christian wanted to occur and got behind the idea of what the doers wanted to happen. We just kissed ass and let it roll. So I'm
comfortable tonight because I was sitting here and I know how we got here. But I'm comfortable tonight that we don't owe them nothing. this something we did to appease Koker, but stop all the snot slinging and uh teardropping
and whining. That's how that's what happened. Tell the truth. So, Mr. chairman. Uh whatever this board wants to do, I've shared uh uh I've shared with you the uh butt naked truth about
how all of this occurred and that Kokas gained traction, but it's because we had a weak need and spineless board that didn't want to be bothered with all this whiny whiny and we just said let's just just just that's what happened. So, um
I'm looking forward to uh a workshop. Uh I ain't against nobody, you know, per se, but I do want to know how come 66 counties have retained control, but we've u given our legislative authority away. And you
probably have just answered why we gave it all away cuz we just want nothing to do with this stinky situation. Thank you. >> Thank you, uh Commissioner Proctor. Um, Commissioner Cummings, we still have, excuse me, we still have the um the
motion on the floor I from my understanding was um option two amended to also increase a workshop. The problem with that the posture of that particular motion is that it still it still is we're going into a workshop with a
predetermined with a pre with our minds made up. I would like for it to be postured. Again, this is just my ass. >> I don't see if that was his >> that that was his amendment. I would like just to have a straight workshop going into it. We'll work it out and
because I do believe there may be I've heard so many good points. Um the way the way you just said tourism is here and arts and culture is here. That is exactly how I feel. And so I think there's there are ways for us to look at
this p specifically >> and be able to to to come to the table where I think every group is happy and that's why I don't want to go into a workshop predetermined. I I I think it at that point what's the point of having the workshop? That's kind of my thought process.
>> May I just respond m and I don't disagree with you? I agree that we're limiting ourselves. I I think with that suggestion from Commissioner Miner, we are locking ourselves and Kok to a oneyear agreement. Uh going to the
workshop with an open mind with concessions. Uh hopefully we'll come out with an agreement that's longer than a year. Miss um Mr. County Administrator, prior to this last year, how what was the duration of the contract with Coker?
>> Five years. >> Five. It was a five-year contract and so I think we we are limiting ourselves if we do that. We're talking about a workshop in June. Uh the contract doesn't end with Koker until later in the year. So we're still in that
contractual period. >> Mr. K, >> I'm sorry I didn't catch your full question. >> No, I'm saying we're still in the contractual period with Koka. >> It expires. >> We have a June workshop. We have plenty of time to maneuver. But if we have that
addendum, we're limiting ourselves and KOA to just one year and then we >> be right back here the next year where there's a possibility it could be a longer uh contract if we get some other
parameters in place. >> Of course. Um, so my concern about the workshop on June 16th is that it gives us about three weeks from today because the workshop needs materials put together and post on on on the website and all that. So we
got what's going to happen between now and 3 weeks from now. That is going to be what we've all been saying KOKA should do. To take the time to meet with Kok's board, the leadership, the artists, the public, talk about what the future of KOKA is. You know, I don't
know if we can do that in 3 weeks. Uh, you know, my main concern here is to make sure that KOKA thrives and by extension the arts and culture thrive in this community. not with the TDT tourism
focus, but what can we do to to maintain arts and culture in this community and have it continue and and thrive. Um, we've talked about option one. I I I I think there might be a consensus, a majority here that believes that if option one, you take 85% of their budget
away, KOA is probably going to shut down in a year or two. That's probably this is going to happen, right? If you take away all the budget and you take away the $150,000 of operating support, they don't have any capacity,
which leads to the loss of NEA grants of Leave it Foundation grants and that type of thing. So my I'm okay with the workshop. I've been going back and forth on the workshop. My concern about the workshop is that it's 3 weeks from now and 3 weeks before the materials have to be produced. I don't know that that's
enough time um you know to have a community discussion about what the future of Koka is. >> She's on point. She has to >> Well, no, Commissioner Miner, we're not just relegated to between now and June. Their contract doesn't end until when is the county administration? >> September
>> until December. >> So, September September >> September. So, we could possibly after the June workshop, I'm hoping that staff and the county administrator could along with uh the executive director of
Coker have an agreement after the workshop. So, we're not we're not limited to this three weeks. >> That's a fair point. >> Just think about that. >> That's a fair point. >> Fair point. Fair point. I want to make sure that this board protects KOKA, ensures that it's um going to survive uh
because that is the key to having culture within the community survive. That's an important point. Um I'm okay with doing the workshop. Uh I want to bring up a couple points though. the the chair talked about lack of collegiality on switching emotions. And
I I want to make sure we don't misunder we don't confuse lack of collegiality with just disagreeing with the chair. Right. I'm allowed to disagree with the chair. >> Absolutely. >> We're allowed to talk about comments here. And I can hear what my colleague here talks about and I can change my mind based on what we all say, including
Commissioner O'Keefe or anybody else. So I I don't want to confuse a lack of collegiology with with a disagreement. Right. >> Yeah. that that's >> so so I want to make that very clear, right? You're free to disagree with each other. And because we disagree doesn't mean we're being rude or lacking manners.
>> No, that that wasn't the that wasn't the premise of what I said. I said >> we have had every single person here since I've been elected has requested a workshop. And typically it is a 70 vote, 61 vote. It's very rare that there's
push back when there's a workshop. We disagree all the time. The frustration I had was that we were negotiating an amendment that you wanted to try to come to you, right, to help you feel comfortable and then there was a substitute and you seconded the motion. So I'm like, what was the point
of us just deliberating deliberating that when you could have just made that motion from the very beginning that that was the premise of what I said, but I I I hear you. >> Yeah, I hear and and you know, deliberations on this DAS are are important and we listen to them and and take those into account. So,
I'm okay with the workshop. My concern is that I don't know where we're going to be three weeks from now, but I'm okay with the workshop as a starting point, as a starting point to where we need to go. But one thing I'll tell everybody here and anybody that might be watching at home, um, we need to be very careful
about ensuring the future of KOKA and by extension the future of arts and culture uh, within this community that is not just strictly tourism based. So, I'll agree with the motion. I'll agree with the workshop. One last thing I I had to bring up though is is Commissioner
Proctor brought up um the values between spending on health care or the arts. You know, if you have $1 of TDT funds, um would you spend it on healthcare or the arts? Well, I think most of us would spend it on healthcare to save lives and help people's uh health, right? The only
problem though is you can't spend that dollar on healthare. So, when you when you talk about values, well, how could you possibly spend this money on arts instead of healthcare? we aren't allowed to spend it on healthcare. And so I just want to point that out because I think we all agree that, you know, healthcare
is incredibly important, but we are required by state law to spend these funds on tourism related events. So I just want to point that out to you. So I'll support the motion on the floor, which there's a workshop uh as a starting point for where we need to go. This is a start of a dialogue with not
just KOKA's leadership, but also with the public and the artists and uh patrons of the arts. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Mr. Chairman, this is a decoupled motion from option two. >> Thank you. I I was clarifying. So, Commissioner Cummings has amended her motion to just a workshop scheduled in June.
>> And then, Commissioner Miner, do you maintain your second? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, I'm going to close this out. All right. Commissioners, I like where we're at. Commissioner Miner, thank you for um for
being u negot negotiable here. and I appreciate the sentiment you just said. Um, is there any other comment before we take this to a vote? >> Just confirm the motion for me. >> The motion is Commissioner Cummings, there's a motion on the floor to schedule a workshop to have it come to
to June for to basically hash out this item. Um, and that's been second by Commissioner Miner. Everyone clear the motion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? Nay. The motion passes 51 with uh Commissioner Welch outside the
chambers. Commissioner, we're going to take a a 10-minute recess and pick back up at at 8:40. Thank you. >> That's not 10. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat up here.
Heat. Heat. All right, we're going to call this meeting back into session at 8:42 p.m. Mr. County Administrator, if I am correct, we are now on item number 12 on general business. Um based on an agenda modification earlier in the meeting, we
are going to go through uh general business minus number 13 because we just discussed that and then we will pick up with the remaining pulled consent items. Is that correct? >> That is correct, Mr. Chairman. >> Okay, great. You want to introduce item number 12, please? >> Mr. Chair, move uh cons um staff
recommendation on item number 12. >> Yes. >> Second. So we have a motion for staff recommendation for um >> item number 12. >> Item number 12 and it is uh seconded by
>> the vice chairman. Any discussion? >> 12 12 >> 12. >> Any discussion? >> Mr. Chair, if I can just real fast. >> Yes, ma'am. Go ahead. I just want to commend the superintendent, the school board, and all those involved. We
actually see the benefits of of that one has sent a sales tax in our schools. So many of our schools have been renovated, Rickers, NIMS, you know, just to go down the line. And not only do we see it, the taxpayers see the benefit of it as well.
So, I think this is a a no-brainer and I certainly support uh option one. >> Thank you, Mr. K. Commissioner, this is the this is the half cent penny sales tax, right? >> That is correct. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other discussion? All right, commissioners. All those in favor of staff recommendation moved by Commissioner Maddox, seconded by the
vice chairman signify by saying I. Any oppose? >> Pass unanimously. Item number 14. >> Thank you, commissioners. Uh Mr. Chairman, we have one speaker on this uh item. Again, you've got the analysis before you. As you know, at your April 14th meeting, commissioners, you
requested a framework to address historic harmful public policy decisions that could be provided to the charter review committee as a proposed charter amendment that were based on geographical areas were consistent with state and federal laws, did not jeopardize state or federal funding. We provided the board with an exhausted
list of how we do just that. currently under your existing authority without any authorizing language needed in a county charter. We did should the board however still wish to do something we provided you two options which one of which is preamble language which is included in your item. The other would
be to refer the uh it to the charter committee and we give a timeline for when that would come back and what your um ability would be at that time to uh accept or reject uh that proposed charter amendment if we're if one were to come back to you. Again, we're
recommending option one and we have one speaker on this item. >> Thank you. Speaker, please. >> The uh Bruce Stroble. >> Dr. Strobble, great to see you have three minutes. Please state your name and address for the record. >> Yeah. Um Bruce Stroble, 1935 Saber Drive, District 3. Um good evening,
commissioners. First, I want to say I genuinely appreciate everyone's willingness to continue this discussion. I recognize that we are living in a very anti-home rule era in Florida's history and I respect the caution many have expressed during our feeling around this
issue. But I do want to make a few things clear as we deliberate on how we proceed. I just want to clarify this is not about reparations. And I wanted to make that clear to everyone. And I say that directly because of things that were put into social media um by commissioner um and I've seen I've taken
some attacks from conservative media and so forth. And I just want to remove all the confusion from this. What we are looking for in this proposed amendment would not create any direct payments. We're not asking for any mandated funding. It doesn't create any race-based eligibility. And we're not
trying to establish any preferential treatment. And I recognize that in this political climate where we are seeing attacks on voting rights, DEI, local home rule, that this wouldn't be an opportunity to even debate the merits of reparations right now. So what we're
talking about is something much more narrow and more practical. Leyon County has already acknowledged in 2024 that historic harms occurred. The county's own report now documents long-standing disparities, historic disinvestment, and targeted geographic investments that are
already happening today. So for us, the question is very simple. If we already acknowledge the harm and we already acknowledge the disparities, then what is wrong with creating a transparent and recurring process to assess conditions and evaluate progress over time? This is
not really radical, right? This is accountable governance. This is something that we could easily do. And what we're pursuing is a framework, a process that allows the county to slash the impact of harmful historic policies,
report those findings publicly, and identify best actions to move forward. Um, and I think this is important because respectfully when I'm talking to residents across Lyon County, many of them are not experiencing or at least they are not visualizing that progress that is being reported in these
chambers. The disparity still exists and the disconnect still exists. And if that's true, why wouldn't we want a stronger framework for accountability and transparency? So, I'm not asking you tonight to adopt reparations in any capacity. I'm not asking you tonight to
approve any spending. I'm simply saying let's take this back to the charter review committee. Let's look at it with more detail and give us a chance to come back to some with something that works for everyone. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Dr. Stro. >> Yes.
>> Any more public speakers? There are no other speakers. Okay. Thank you. All right, commissioners. We're in discussion. Looking for a motion. I made a motion for option number three. >> We have a motion for option number three. Um, >> wait, wait, wait, wait. I'm sorry.
>> Three. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I want to send it back to >> We're on 14. >> Yeah, I don't think there is an option three, Commissioner Maddox. Wait, there is. There is an option. >> Wait, wait. I'm sorry. Let me read through it. >> Okay. Yes. Option number three. Direct direct the citizens charter review
committee to consider a proposed charter amendment addressing historic harm public policy decisions based on geographical area in a community rather than race, gender, ethnicity or any protected class complying with state or federal law and does not jeopardize
state and federal funding. >> Second motion. >> Okay, we have a motion moved by Commissioner Maddox for option number three, second by Commissioner Proctor. Any discussion, Mr. Vice Chair? Thank you. Real quick, I just want to um thank staff for bringing
back what we talked about um and making things really clear about how what we're considering is well within the law. >> We have a comment. >> All right, commissioners. Um seeing none, we'll take this to a vote. We have a motion for option number three moved
by Commissioner Maddox, seconded by the vice chair. I'm sorry. Who second? Commissioner Proctor. Yes. >> Commissioner Proctor. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Oppose. >> Opposed. Um, the motion uh passes 42
with uh Commissioner Welch out of the chambers. >> Next item. >> Uh, the next item, Commissioners, item number 15 is a consideration of the solid waste assessment rate increase. Uh, this is the second budgetary item on your agenda today. Should look very
familiar. As you recall from last year, the county engaged at Centure to review the county solid waste programs and expenditures to calculate the assessment rank that reflects the current cost of providing the service. The solid waste assessment commissioners, as you know, is $40 and has been in place since 1996.
Uh again, you have all been briefed. You've all have the analysis before you. We're happy to do a broader uh uh presentation. you have options which would allow you as an enterprise fund to uh to uh charge the the appropriate amount of of dollars to to uh to capture
the cost of running the program. Uh and again, we'd be happy to to walk through those options and uh answer any questions that you might have. We do have uh no speakers on this item. >> Move that recommendation. >> Uh we have a motion for staff recommendation. >> M >> three and four.
>> Uh yes. Um, moved by Commissioner Maddox. Is there a second? >> Motion moved by Commissioner Maddox, second by Commissioner Miner. Discussion. Um, I like to know. Are you in the queue? >> Clarification. >> You guys in the Commissioner Proctor,
are you in the queue? You in the queue also? Okay, great. Um, is is this scenario number one, Mr. Chairman? Uh um Commissioner Proctor, this is scenario number three, which phases it in um over time every
two years. Um option one FA it takes the the entirety of it, implements the full uh cost recovery at $134 uh uh you'll see option one presented uh on page 13. And again, we've provided
several scenarios for the board to choose from. Uh uh obviously option one would allow you to recapture the whole thing all at once. Uh option three again provides the board to have a graduated uh increase um and it would be fully
implemented in um in uh 2031. >> Thank Commissioner Proctor you recognize. >> Thank you Mr. Chairman. Um, commissioners, I'm I'm pondering what hindereth thou from um let's um increasing this to 134
and where um our staff indicates we need to be for us to be self-sufficient. Um uh tonight I guess this is u considering that this was established this rate in 1996 and the needle has not moved. Um, I
know you all don't want to hear it, but my u fill up the tank the other day and has gone from $55 to $91. And um I don't know how much that is, but uh so much has gone up. I can't understand and
I do understand um Commissioner Maddox why we here and why we've never moved and um the advocacy uh consistent advocacy of late Commissioner Salt. Um she always told this board that we couldn't go up, couldn't go up, couldn't
go up, and that we had to maintain the status quo. and our board um listened to Commissioner Sauls because um she was a gentle lady who um never you know fought and all of that for things and so we
honor um her request that we keep this thing stagnant. Um I'm asking we look at the page 16 that the rate of Madison County is $300, Swany 250, Jefferson
248. uh the bigger counties, Hillsboro 208 and uh here we are, Leyon County, we're down at we're down at um 40 40 and Madison is at $300 and we're trying to
go to 134. What this 134 commissioners represents is like um from what staff has given us like $7.83 $783 cent per month and um that amount may
take food off of some people's tables, but um I'll assure you that the war in Iran is costing all of us a lot more food off our tables. I see no reason why we should dribble around with this. Uh we like to celebrate that our millage
rate, we've held it constant for 13 years in a row and now we're about to uh bump people side the head for the next five years uh with an increase and we're going to get the same blowback as we're going to get this year if we do and ask
people for $7 more a month as we're going to get every year saying the county commission going up. County commission going up on our record going up going up going up. Let's go up one time and not have to hear it the rest of the time. And I offer substitute motion for scenario number one. We set this at
134 that increases to $783 per month. That puts us uh oh lordy u half of what Madison is um asking Swany and these other counties that you see. Um we've not asked
anything from people since 1996. And um um I ask your support. So move. >> We have a substitute motion for option uh staff recommendation option one or option not staff recommendation but option one. Is there a second?
>> Option one goes straight to the increase. I I got some comments, Mr. Chair. >> Okay. Uh the the substitute motion fails for a lack of a second. Um >> never mind. >> I thought Commissioner Maddox second it. >> No, I didn't. I made the main motion.
Oh, you made an amended motion. He made the he made the main motion. Commissioner Proctor proposed a substitute failed for lack of a second. Commissioner Proctor, you're still recognized. >> Well, I miss Mr. Chair, I second it for discussion purpose. Is it too late? >> No, I mean if if you want to bring that
back up then I'll >> 134. >> Yes. So, we have a substitute motion for option one moved by Commissioner Proctor, second by um Commissioner Cummings. Commissioner Cummings, you're recognized. >> Oh, thank you, Mr. Chair. No. Um, I had looked at this, Mr. Chair, and looked at
my notes, but I wanted to uh ask the county administrator doing this incrementally every other year. The county is picking up the tab. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. Uh, so in 2027,
uh, I was trying to see the estimate, uh, that it comes from general revenue, correct? >> Percentage. and then in 20 2029 it will come from general revenue. >> Yes, we just we just draw it down more gradually under these scenarios.
>> Right. But I think Commissioner Proctor made a good point, Mr. Chair, that we're going to catch the the heat from taxpayers three different times by doing it increment doing it incrementally.
Whereas this this would occur on the monthly statement. Am I correct? Monthly divided over 12 months. Okay. Over 12 month period. >> And so >> on tax bill on tax. >> No. No. On the tax bill. Oh, it'll be a
lump sum on the tax bill. >> Yes. >> Yes. Um, Commissioner, it's the um assessment that would be on the annual tax bill. So, it's one charge annually on >> We were just showing you the breakdown of what it would equate to per month. >> Per month. Yeah.
>> Okay. Awesome. Awesome. So, I I think he's got a point. Just do it one time and then that frees up some uh GR from the on the county standpoint. Um
rather than looking at it over a what what is this a fiveyear five six year period just do it one time and get it open. What you mean? You in the queue? Commissioner Maddox, Commissioner Cummings, are you were you done with
your comments? >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I don't mind I don't mind going to full freight. I I just think Commissioner Pro, you said it. You pay $9, >> you got >> probably more than that. You probably using if you was using premium gas like you're supposed to be, it's about $150
to fill up that big truck you got. Um but when you think about that, >> you know, I think we need to be I was trying to be sensitive to the fact that people and you know the cost of living is going up. But you know and and then it is going to be on the tax bill. It comes at the end of the year and it's a
lump sum. I was thinking over months maybe it spread it out and again if we do it over 12 if we have to do a lump sum and we're going up 80 by the time we get to 134. I think it's a 5year period. >> Yes. >> 5-year period. no telling what the economy looks like then, but I bet we're probably in better shape than we are right now. I thought I thought it gave
people a longer time to adjust. So, I I could I could go to full freight. Um, as I understand it, we would have only have to send one letter that would show the full schedule. So, we would have to send out repeated letters every year as the increase happens. People would just be aware and be able to plan with it. We have to send one letter, just one
letter. So, I I thought I thought it was a perfect compromise for us to because of what we're going to be dealing with from the state for us to deal with our enterprise fund, take a 5-year period, get it up to uh it is it's it's uh proper amount in 5 years. And and let's be honest, if we by the time we get
there in 5 years, we'll still be behind. So, so if we're going to do 134 this year, we're trying to we're trying to be on top, you know, we're going to have to think we're going to have to consider another increase probably by the time that 5 years is up. So, this is the way I thought for us to continue to slow
step this thing and get us to a point that we are we're we're more u in a better place with our enterprise fund. But I I could I could go either way. I could go either way, but I I did think the the phasing was was a good attempt by staff to compromise what our economy
is doing right now uh and how our folks may be hurting with uh with us having to really increase and look at our our enterprise funds. >> I know. >> Thank you, Commissioner Maddox. Uh Commissioner M. Mr. Kenner, did you want to opine on this? >> Just just uh a quick note there that
also you need to consider the other side of the equation as well. I know you you do commissioners, but that reduced use of general uh revenue will also be available for you in the budget if you go the full distance. More of that general revenue support will be available to you to address other
issues, other increases, other things. The more you realize now, the more you'll have in the budget to help balance with your budgets. the less you do even though it's both are options for you the less general revenue you'll have available for you as freed up by this uh by the imposition of this non-avore
>> Thank you Mr. Chair Mr. Commissioner Miner >> thank you Mr. Chairman, I appreciate it. Um, yeah, I kind of feel the same way as Commissioner Maddox does. I mean, I I know with u with the property tax issue that we're going to have to be dealing
with uh soon, um, I understand the need for us to have as much GR available as possible. At the same time though, the citizens that we serve, $5 gas, inflation, you know, I I've never seen it this bad. I've never seen during my time as a county commissioner, I've
never seen people having to struggle from one paycheck to another more than they are now. And and and voting for staff recommendation for se for scenario three shows that we're doing everything we possibly can to help them. Even if
it's $40 less or in this case uh $64 less than, you know, by doing it a stage-wise uh approach, it does help them a little bit, right? And it shows that we're doing everything we can to uh to help them during some really tough
times. And as Commissioner Maddox said, in a couple years, the economy hopefully will be improving and people won't be in the same type of situation they're in now. So, you know, I I could uh I could go either way on this. I'm leaning towards scenario three. The current motion on the floor is still for
scenario three. Is that correct? >> Substitute motion for >> a substitute motion. That's right. >> It's a tough one. Um I'd like to hear from other comments, but uh it it's a really tough one for us. Thank >> Thank you. Um I'm going to opine on this item very quickly.
I commissioners, I understand that I may be uh the odd one out here, but I'm going to be voting no on the substitute and the original motion. Um, prior to doing so, I I do want to give, you know, massive kudos to staff and massive kudos
to my predecessors and all the predecessors before us because I do believe that it is incredible that we've been able to maintain the same rate since 1996. If you look at pretty much any local government across Florida, I guarantee
we are probably, you know, the only one, if not in a very small minority of local governments that have been able to keep this fee consistent since 1996. The reason I'm going to be voting against it is even though we are behind,
I am I I can't support a 100% increase on any fees that we as local government impose on residents. I could support a minimal increase that steps up, you know, year-over-year. However, I understand that we'll still be behind
surrounding and neighboring counties. However, >> increase look like for you? >> I'm sorry. >> What's the increase? You said minimum. What can you support? I I don't know that it'll that it'll make a difference, but I could probably support 10%. And so, um, what I'm getting at here is I understand that this is a deficit and we're subsidizing
it. However, folks in our community are struggling. Uh, inflation, I mean, I just read this morning that they're expecting inflation to continue to get worse. Gas is approaching, you know, all-time highs in at least the last couple decades. Um, the the property
taxes, people are feeling it. Um the school board is looking at putting a referendum for uh teacher pay which is going to be what $26 million hit to tax to taxpayers. So even though what we have here is so low compared to
surrounding counties when you stack up fees and taxes that you know our our our our neighbors are having to pay every single year it's hard times. It it's it really is really hard times. And so I I
don't this isn't something where, you know, I'm not I'm not going to, you know, beat the drum on this issue. I just feel like especially folks in my district, you know, this is they care a lot about these fees. And so, um, again, I want to kudos to staff because I think
it's remarkable that we've been able to maintain this fee since 1996. But I just can't support any any fees where we're going to uh double double fees that we impose on taxpayers. However, um again, I do know that this
is also optional. Um but that that's my my two cents on this item. Uh any anyone else want to Commissioner Proctor, I see you and Q. >> Yes, sir. M Mr. Chairman, commissioners, I I respect the theoretic of what you're saying. uh five years from now, four
years, whatever. The length of this uh $134 five years from now is is a lot less painless than u five years uh whatever. long night, but um I can say that um sometimes we it's amazing how we refer
to um $2 million is nothing for culture and arts and got $2 million for the culture and the arts, but we we don't want to charge people $7 more on a fee that has not gone up since 1996. What
what what times on warp are we stuck? Um, I mean, fingernails have gone up, hair has gone up, Nikes have gone up. Uh, city tried to jam my people out of uh 22% uh uh fire fee going up. Um,
everything has um I'm not I think it's almost condescending uh upon our citizens. Our poor little citizens can't take $134, $7. I mean our citizens are grown people at work and of
course we all struggling but we have carried literally carried this category of funds uh on the backs of our county by subsidizing it for 29 years. Um um I
don't know what age your child has to leave home, Chanty, but um you know they say you carry your baby for 18 years and he's got to get up out of here. He got to go but he's got to get up out of here. And we've been carrying our poor little citizens. We've been carrying
them, keeping weight off their backs, not for 18 years, but 29. Dang. But if we need to continue to care and you want to look condescendingly upon them like that, I just have no rules or
at what point do we stop this this you know this small category and it's not um the amount of money uh Mr. Chairman of of which uh will be coming when the halfsent sales tax goes on the ballot
and all the other costs. So I I urge us not to incur u for the next four or five years uh the public's um um rebuttal to us continuously raising raising raising
raising. Don't nickel and dime these people, our people. Charge them. Charge them what the thing costs. And that's our job to govern. And uh there are other counties if they choose to live in over $134, if they can get better than
they get and get mad over $134, then there are other options and counties uh that they might move. But I think that the value of what is provided in Lyon County, someone said tonight, our universities and our great this and
our great arts and our great look of $134, all of that value is going to u um make change your decision, you're not going to make good citizens in Leon County. So I encourage us to please let's get this done and we'll be done. >> Thank you, Commissioner Faulner. All
right, I have no one else in the queue. That being said, >> Miss I'm sorry. Um, my light is on here. Okay. Just very briefly, >> of course. Go ahead. >> Okay. Thank you, U, Mr. Chair. I second Commissioner Proctor's motion, but I I could really go either way. Uh,
I was thinking it was a monthly bill, but this is on their annual tax tax bill. Uh I'm I'm sensitive to uh inflation and to uh high gas prices and everything that we all have to endure
right now. But I I could go either way. Uh if it doesn't this doesn't pass, then option three would be fine as well, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Okay. Great. Thank Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. >> All right, commissioners. We have a substitute motion um moved by
Commissioner uh Proctor, second by Commissioner Cummings. And that was for option one, I believe. And uh everyone understand the motion. That being said, all those in favor of the motion of the substitute motion on the floor signify by saying I sir, >> sorry, just make sure we do also need to
add the uh the tipping. >> Thank you, Commissioner Miner. Yes. So, whatever option you whatever scenario you decide if you can also add four to that, it'll >> Thank you for clarifying. So if >> what was that? >> It's you have to include the the um the tipping and fee resolution option four.
So So will you amend your motion for staff recommendation? >> Yes, sir. >> Option four with included option one. >> Absolutely. So move. >> Will you will you maintain that? >> Okay, great. Commissioners, everyone understand the motion. >> Thank you, Commissioner Miner, for pointing that out. All those in favor of the motion on the floor signify by saying I. >> I.
>> All oppose? Nay. >> Nay. >> Did you were you? >> You were nay. So the mo motion failed 42. We're back on the original motion moved by Commissioner Maddox uh which was for option three. Commissioner Maddox, you need to include option four
as well. >> Yes. >> Okay. So Commissioner Maddox has a mo has staff recommendation basically option three and four. Who second that? >> Miner. Commissioner Miner. >> Yes. >> Minor, do you maintain your second? >> Yes. >> Commissioners, any discussion?
Seeing none, we'll vote on the item. All those in favor of the motion on the floor moved by Commissioner Maddox, second by Commissioner Miner, signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Nay. >> Nay. Motion passes 42 with Commissioner Welch um absent.
>> Commissioners, next item. Where we at, Mr. County Administrator? >> Thank you. >> My technology here. Thank you. >> We're on item number uh 16, I believe. >> 16 commissioners. Uh this these are appointments to the advisory committee on quality growth. The item seeks full
board appointment on three seats. The options are before you and happy to receive your direction. We have no speaker cards on this item. >> All right, commissioners. Um, looking for a motion on option. Let me pull this up. 16.
Any I don't have anyone in the queue. Anyone want to go take a stab at it? See if we can bust them out in one motion. >> Mr. Chair, this for board appointments. >> Yes, ma'am. I move seat five Sean Megan Cisma
seat nine Latifah Muhammed seat 11 Karina White. >> We have um everyone got those? Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay, we have a uh motion. Everyone got the names?
>> Clark, you have the names. Great. Um, all those in favor of the motion moved by Commissioner Cy, second by Commissioner Proctor, signify by saying I >> I. >> Any opposed? Passes unanimously. Any other business related to that item?
Mr. Caner, does that cover it? >> Let me just make sure. I I I saw what you just did on option one and I got the name of Sean Megan Sysma. Did we get option two? One eligible applicant for seat 9, the advisory committee for three. And you have the eligible
applicants listed there. So option two, we're seeking uh your approval of options one, two, and three, but we need uh the board to vote on the eligible applicants for options two and three. They're provided there for you. So under option two, one eligible applicant for
seat nine uh to the advisory committee and the applicants are there before you. >> Mr. Cummings, you you named all three in one motion. >> Right. Three vacancies, seat five, seat 9, seat 11. Great. Thank you. We got it. >> You got it.
>> Appreciate it. >> Thank you, Mr. K. Administrator. All right, commissioners. We are on now. I believe that concludes general business. And now we have items that were pulled for consent. We have already voted on item number
four. So now we are on number six, which commissioners was pulled by myself. Mr. Cer, will you introduce the item? >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, item number six is a status report on the utilization of cameras in public spaces by local government agencies pulled by Commissioner Caban. We're happy to
answer any questions you might have. >> Thank you, Commissioners. For I'm going to ask for um someone to uh make a make a motion on my behalf on this item and I would and then I I'll elaborate in discussion. >> Move that recommendation. >> Okay. Thank you. So, we have a motion
for staff recommendation second by Commissioner Proctor. Um, commissioners, I want to start by saying that um, you know, this we have the real-time crime center and what what sparked me asking for this
status report to come back to us was one, you know, it just driving around town, you see cameras everywhere. You see them in uh neighborhood intersections. You see them on busy intersections. Uh you see them over sidewalks. You see them,
you know, especially over the last few years, they have grown and grown and grown to where now it's pretty much everywhere you go, you see a camera. And I wanted to know what what are these cameras doing? Like what what is their
purpose? And so to cover my bases and to make sure I fully understood, I requested this item. I also uh met with the sheriff's department and I I toured the Real Time Crime Center. First, let me say, commissioners, if anyone up here has not to the Real Time Crime Center, I
highly recommend it. It is um it's uh remarkable the work that that group is doing and it's been remarkable in how it has saved lives, protected lives, allowed law enforcement to respond very quickly to uh what they call I I believe
it was called priority one calls such as you know the FSU uh onampus shooting to uh missing persons to kidnappings. there is an there is a a benefit to the work that they do and I'm thankful for it.
The issue that I have particularly with the cameras and the use of artificial intelligence related to a lot of those cameras is that we as a board have no oversight. Okay. And I have a problem with that. particularly there is data
being collected 24/7 and there are cameras that's running 24/7 and we really don't have a say where those cameras are are going or allowed to go. However, I want to be clear.
I am not looking to get in the day-to-day operations of law enforcement because that's not what what we're intended to do. So what what I would like particularly after reading this item, I would like for this item to come
back to us with options for us to review that and maybe there is no option, but basically lay out what is in our legal purview to have oversight in in and approving relative to where we can put
these cameras across our our community. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to rem uh amend my motion for the item to come back with the chair's recommended uh or um ask for uh items included in
it. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. Point of person privilege, please. >> I'll second the I'll second the amendment, but yes, >> point of personal privilege. Um, and I wanted to uh recognize Maya Sergeant uh who's leaving and packing up. It's been
weeks since I've seen her on television, but I was just glad to see her tonight and I'm pondering about her well-being um employment with ABC affiliate. I apologize, but she's leaving and she's she's been such an integral part of community.
>> She's she's putting in them hours. >> Sergeant, would when you finish packing your bag, would you please stand? >> Yes, ma'am. Was she leaving town? >> She she she's praying. She's saying her knee on her knees praying. Saying a prayer, >> putting them hours tonight. >> Yeah. But I I just glad to see her. Uh
we miss ABC um um channel 7 and I've not seen her in weeks and I don't know what's going on, but I was just glad to see her tonight. I wanted to recognize >> talking about a young lady down on the floor. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> All right. I'm sorry, M. >> Thank you, Commissioner. So, thank you,
uh Commissioner Maddox. Um, and and just to be clear, I don't know if there is anything in our legal purview related to this. I just would like to know if we have the ability to have some oversight. Um, I think we owe it to taxpayers because I I've heard mixed feedback of
Isent who prepared this still here. >> Yeah, great work on this. I I really I think it's very detailed and I appreciate you put time into it. But listen, I think you know the sheriff is an elected official. He does a wonderful job. He reports directly to taxpayers. big fan of our sheriff. Um, and their
job is to their job is to put bad guys away and fight crime. And so for me, I want to make sure that we also have a level of oversight to that allows us to work with them and in regards to making sure that there is some level of
additional oversight as to where these cameras are being placed. So that's the that's the spirit of what I'm looking to do. And maybe the county attorney looks at it and says we have no authority. And that's okay, too. But I just wanted to have that come back to us. But Commissioner Miner's in the queue. I'd like to go to Commissioner Miner. Come back.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I completely agree with what you're saying. Um I I I also have some concerns about it, too. I had a discussion with um someone in law enforcement just today about the violence that we've seen in some of our parking lots, uh Zengali's as well as uh
the Pockets Pool parking lot. Um it I don't think it made the papers, but there was also um five people shooting in a parking lot off of Crowder Road. >> Wow. >> Um Sunday. So, uh I had to I I called this this law enforcement officer to
talk specifically about parking lots. And his answer to me was a lot of it has to do with the technology and and cameras. If we can put high resolution cameras in some of these hotspots where we see that they're prone to violence and then put signs saying you are being
watched, that's a huge deterrent. Now, I I understand Mr. Gardner's points very well. I I share his views on the concerns about privacy. And so, it's it's for any society to try to to to balance the the the our need our right to privacy with the need to save lives.
uh having high resolution cameras in some of those parking lots probably would have saved lives had we had them there. Uh going forward perspectively, if law enforcement puts high resolution cameras there with signs saying you're being watched, I bet you will save lives in those parking lots. At the same time,
I respect what Jonathan Gardner brought up. Um we all have a I believe we have a right to privacy. We should fight for that right to privacy. So, Chairman Caban, it I know we're we're latching on to the amendment here, but if would you accept our friendly amendment to add to this report that comes back to us to
include not just what you brought up, but also talking about what we can do as a county government to protect the privacy rights of our citizens. uh what's within our purview to um um whether it's an ordinance, whether it's something else that we can restrict as
much as possible the use of that data for anything other than um um solving crime specific functions that our law enforcement needs and nothing else. I'd like to have a section on your report come back. >> Uh Commissioner Maddox, will you accept that? >> Yes. I'm so that and I'll maintain my
second but let me just say I'm so happy you brought that up because when I met with the real time crime center that was some of the questions I was asking them about what happens to the data who has access to the data and just they what they said to me is that um they're they
will not and do not are not allowed to share the data with any other group outside of law enforcement unless it's an open investigation. However, if you look up some stuff online, when you see with some of these camera a these camera companies, they claim that they have a right to the data for certain under
certain circumstances. And so I I I'm we're on the same page here. >> Sounds good. Thank you, sir. Appreciate. >> Thank you. Uh uh Mr. Vice Chair, >> thank you, Mr. Chair. And um thank you for bringing this uh last um meeting. Um
first, can you restate the motion? Go ahead. Do it. Yeah. Yeah. The mo the motion that I asked um Commissioner Maddox to make was the basically to bring this back to us to just let us know options what is in our legal purview to have some level of oversight
and with that with the data as well. >> Excellent. Thank you. Just have a couple of questions for staff. Um the the report lists 4,000 or more cameras by far most of which are not Leon County
governments. Um, does the Lyon County government operate any of any of the flock cameras? >> No, to my knowledge, it is Palask Police Department, LCSO. >> Okay. And then the >> law enforcement agencies.
>> Thank you. And then the um uh the connect Tallahassee uh program, people can sign up to opt in to put their Ring cameras on the net and everything. It is it said the pitch was in this agenda
item is that it is to stop graffiti and littering. That was like the whole thing. Stop graffiti and littering and enforce graffiti and littering. When did the So that was coming out of a January 2025 strategic item I believe.
How long has any littering or graffiti monitoring been going on since then? And how many arrests or fines or charges for littering or graffiti have come from those camera programs? >> So the connect Tallahassee program is really just taking off that law
enforcement has just initiated it and it's actually for a broader use of law enforcement um assets for investigations of all natures of criminal offenses which includes graffiti and littering. One of the reasons that we brought back to uh kind of reference back to the
connect Tallahassee is because graffiti and littering is under reportported. Um so one of the things that we can do as a community is to encourage our citizens through connect Tallahassee if they want to, you know, enroll their cameras um and or through the online reporting with
the Leyon County Sheriff's Office to report graffiti and littering so they can start to build that that database and track where those hot spots are. Okay, thank you very much. And the point to my questions was I just want to be clear. I want I would like us to be
clear where it's our purview that a video surveillance program is it really just for graffiti and littering or is it really for all crime and observation? Thank you. >> Thank you. Just to to follow up on that, the the connect Tallahassee program was
something I initially had an issue with and we got a ton of feedback, negative feedback from uh constituents relative to that. When I met with the real time crime center, they they helped ease some of those concerns and um they explained to me that again that they intend to do
some PR related to to follow up on some of the information relative to that. So I I did feel a little bit better. um said, you know, but we can hopefully get that come back in the item. All right, commissioners. Um any other discussion? Seeing none, um we have a motion moved
by Commissioner Maddox, second by myself. Everyone understand the motion on the floor. Great. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? Passes uh 6 with uh the immediate past chairman outside of the chamber. >> Mr. Chair, can you record my vote in
support on the prior item on quality growth important? >> On what number? >> On the item before that, appointing to the quality growth committee. >> Yes, you have. Uh, clerk, you have that. >> Great. Thank you. Um, I believe we are on item number nine.
That's correct. >> Or I believe it was number 10 pulled by Commissioner Proctor on Capitol City Park. Is that the right one? Commissioner Proctor. >> Commissioner Proctor, did you pull nine or 10 or both? Let's see. I thought >> I believe it was the park nine. >> I'm sorry. Um, yeah, nine. I did. Okay,
I pulled nine and 10. >> Okay. So, you p I I have in my notes you pulled nine and 10. >> Okay. Yes, sir. >> Got it. >> Um 10 deals with the naming of the Capital Park and >> correct. We're on number nine. So, we'll stick with nine for now. >> Nine. Okay. Good. Good. Good. Mr. Chairman U Commissioner, this comes
from uh a stack of our department and division. Um big leaders uh all the bigs on this and our lead staff, Susan Poppin, Marcus Tomkins, Charles Woo, and Ryan Co Pepper item has a lot of
information. Can we get to a motion? >> Um chairman, um >> you want to make a motion? >> Hold on, chairman, if I may. Um, so when we pulled items from consent, we only pulled four, six, and 11. So that what that means is that when we approved consent, number nine and number 10 were
approved earlier today or earlier in the meeting. >> Mr. Chairman, I went, >> right, he got it written down. >> Yeah, I had I had that they were pulled. >> Okay. I think we announced at the beginning which items were pulled from
consent. We did it verbally. What's on the sheet is what was pulled prior to to our earlier notice today of items being pulled. >> Mr. Chairman, I'm willing to comply with >> what the board is saying. They didn't hear it. So I can um >> Yeah, Mr. >> I can yield. >> Commissioner, at the beginning of the
meeting, I I No, I'm now I'm second guessing myself that that I read the items that were pulled. We So when I made the mo asked for the motion, but now now I'm second guessing myself. So, um, >> according according to our our our notes that those items were not pulled, but
I'm I'm fine with going ahead with what we >> with the discussion on. >> Well, how can we discuss the item we already voted on? >> Well, we can't do that. We are we are taking so m commissioner manics I um now I don't recall but I believe in the
beginning of the meeting I I I I said which item sorry >> both of our staff independently only have notes that say 4 6 and 11 were pulled from consent. Okay. And you have that from the written notes as well or do you is that from the the what we
could do is we ask we could if Commissioner Pro if you if you really want to discuss these items, we could reconsider. >> Yeah. >> We could reconsider those two items. >> I think that's the cleanest thing. That's the cleanest thing. >> Commissioner Proter, if you if you really want to discuss these items, why don't you just make a motion to reconsider and I'll second the motion
and we can just that way. I think that's the cleanest thing if there is. >> Okay. Well, I moved the motion to reconsider >> items number nine and 10. >> Nine and 10. >> Okay. Okay. Great. Commissioners, everyone good with that? >> All right. A motion to move uh reconsider items 9 and 10. Um seconded
by Commissioner Cummings. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Passes unanimously. Thank you so much. We're back on nine. Uh thank you, Commissioner Miner. Thank you to our our our our clerk team over there as well. >> So we on nine. >> Yes, we're nine.
>> We're on nine. Okay. Um, commissioners, I I I looked this year looks at our complete streets um the city of Talas and Lean County and um I'm I'm I'm I'm desperately desperately pondering what
is it uh that we cannot complete or cannot do u the Woodville Highway from four points of Capitol Circle be widened and why can't we do Adam Street from FAMU to be four lane up to um up up to
um Gain Street. And there's a lot of big words and acronyms in in this um these concepts, but I believe that the state um is not not doing us right um in in the situation with u
uh Crawfordville Road. Diversity has been mentioned here uh on page three at the bottom paragraph. Um, and and I don't know if we're going to need to remove this word diversity out of that out of that out of
that statement. Um, but Walk Color County is our fastest growing county in Florida and they have fixed their road and brought it up to our county. We haven't. And this here is supposed to be about complete streets
and it's not complete. Um on page seven we we talked about plan unit developments and I don't think we can take a bow on um um these PUDs which developers uh were leading the effort
and maybe told by government but done by developers and what I'm trying to point out here is that you can come from 27 um through commissioner miner's district from uh Adapulus, Havana, and
you you ride on a fourlane street, Tallahass State Capital. You come from 319 um from Thomasville, Maltry, Cairo um and you ride in a four-lane street. You come into Tallahassee from um um your
district um Mr. chairman. Um three uh highway 90 west coming from Gatson County across the the bridge and you come into the state capital on a for you come up um through commissioner Keith's district Mayan drive and u you can come
into Tallahass to the state capital on four lane road and do that. Uh you can come from every direction into this county, but if you're coming from Walcol County, you can't we don't have coming into the state's capital a four-lane
road. Um this is amazing. This is a road that connects to the fastest growing county in the state of Florida and yet we come into um this closed situation. And I'm I'm pondering what what what wrong uh have these people committed? uh
what wrong uh has occurred to the extent that um we can't get complete complete streets a complete road and I'm asking uh our body to uh help to make this road
the one road coming in from a county that ain't got no also highway 20 is a two lane m that's your district but our district should be the ones that ain't got no four lane to come into county. It's also the emergency evacuation
route. Uh 319 coming from Walcol County and a lot of money, a lot of talent, a lot of great minds pouring into community every day, but they got to come in more different than anyone else who's their ingress, egress, um ingress
and egress. Um it differs from people going other places. I'm just frustrated. I want the road. I want all these uh great great great um staff persons who um got about seven or eight people put
this together. One, two, three, you know, all of this. And I can't get this road finished. Now, this road was promised some attention um that it would be done when wall color came up to the line and did their part. Wall color have
done their part and we still languishing in the dark ages. Um m Mr. administrator. Um, please help me to understand what must I do? Can I do anything? I've done I've
done a lot. I secured funding for this road to be widened once in my career. Half of my money was stolen, hijacked by city and county commissioners to complete 319 north uh u which is
Thomasville roads to the Georgia line. My money was stolen. I went by my damn self and secured this money by myself all alone from the US Congress designated for 319 South and I've been
left um stranded by the side of the road waiting for this commission to do what they have said. The state of Florida is treating us differently. State of Florida is not caring. State of Florida has emergency evacuation route and the state of Florida is not investing where
they need to put their money uh where people's safety can be improved. Miss Mray, you got any ideas for me? >> Sure. Commissioner Proctor, let us provide you a quick update. Ken, >> sure, >> Mr. Chair. Yes, >> Commissioner Proctor. Not only is the widening of Crawfordville Road a
legislative priority, the FDOT's completed the design of the project. It's two segments to widen it to the county line. Um, last year we requested construction funding in addition to FDOT's work plan, which included 4
million for rightway acquisition. This year, as you know, legislators meeting today. They started for their special session on the budget. Again, we're requesting additional construction funds going through Representative Schae's office. He's chair of the transportation subcommittee for appropriations. Um,
this is a top priority for him, but given the cost of the project, about a $70 million project, it's going to take a couple of years in FDOT's work plan for both uh the rightway acquisition funds and the construction to be fully funded. >> Mr. Chairman, thank you. $28 million
would have done it years ago when I got the money. $28 million would have paid for it. Today it's 70 million. Um you don't do things and present value of money means a lot. Chairman, um I move this item and thank you for allowing me
to u to um say what I did. >> Thank you. All right, commissioners. Who second your motion? >> Nobody. >> Oh, you just you just moved the item. May I let you talk that long with no motion? >> I mean, I wanted to make sure I talked so long I might have needed another
motion to on the back end. Uh we have staff recommendation uh moved by Commissioner Proctor, second by the vice chairman. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? Passes 5 uh O with Commissioner Maddox and Commissioner
Welch outside of the chambers. Uh passes 60 with Commissioner Welch outside the chambers. I got you. And then um we're on item number 10 now. >> Mr. chairman. Quickly, um, as a result, the county does not have authority to
rename Capitol Park. Um, this community's good friend, Mr. Steve Beasley, uh, has keen interest in the renaming of the park. Mr. Administrator, could you please, um, advise this commissioner, this commissioner that we
might be able to share with Mr. Beasley u, what what's running short? >> Um, that a question. Yeah. Yes, we will do that. >> Um, >> I have a question. Are you done? Are you Is that all you wanted for the item?
>> Yeah, I want for Mr. Beasley to hear. >> Yeah, I have I have a question for staff on that item. >> So, from my understanding, um, the county owns Capital Park, the land. >> Is that correct? >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. Um the the land where the park is
located is part of the fairgrounds property. >> So it's part of the lease or the fairgrounds. >> Correct. >> Gotcha. >> Yes. >> Okay. So who who who is the city manages the park though, right? It's a city park. >> That's correct. they uh operate and
maintain the park and they have like a it's it's in writing but it's kind of like a letter agreement with authorization from the fairgrounds to utilize that portion of the fairground property as the park. >> Got it. Commissioners, what I would like to do with your I wouldn't want to do
this without your um blessing, but um as part of our negotiations with the fairgrounds, I would like um your direction to send the fairgrounds a letter act of good out of good faith that they will agree to rename this park
and act in an act of good faith with our negotiations with the fairgrounds and ask them basically to agree to allow us to rename the Um, I move that I make that as a motion that we allow for the chair to um in the
continuation of his designated role to talk with fairground and interact engage that he also adds us on the um bucket list of of things >> on point. I thought I was correct. The we can't the fairground we can't name
it. The fairground can't name it. The city has to name it. the the fair the city has a license agreement with the fairground that says that the city is the only person who can rename that that park. >> Okay. >> So so we can't it doesn't matter negotiation we have it would have to be with the city. >> Yeah. So
>> point of point of information I'm so sorry that's not exactly correct. Okay. Um the issue becomes just like we have given operation and maintenance control of most of the fragrant property to the
fair association. They have basically subliciced that portion of the property to the city. The city has a policy for naming and renaming parks. So arguably the city the city could make
the argument that even if the fair association agrees to rename the park that the city has maintenance and operational control of that park and that they have the right to rename that park. >> Right. That's >> right.
>> Yeah. Okay. So I'll just in the in the in the capacity of of of >> add the city to it. >> Yeah. I'm going to add the city to it and ask them if they if they'll consider renaming it. Yeah. Motion. >> I make a motion that the that the commission has a chair send letter over
requesting that the city rename the park as is as stated in our uh in our agenda item. >> Yeah. You second the motion. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Great. Any discussion on that? >> Great. Thanks. The the person that we're
looking to rename the park after, I believe, is was a beloved member of the entire community and had great relationships with our colleagues at the city commission. So I hope that uh they will they will take that into consideration. So all those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Passes unanimously. Thank
you. We are now um on item 11. The vice chairman. I believe you pulled that. >> Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll start by moving we accept the report from staff. >> Second. >> Second. >> A second. >> Second by uh Commissioner Maddox. You're
you still have the floor. Mr. Vice Chairman, >> thank you very much. Um staff, thank you for pulling this report on the Southwood DRRI roads that um were in dispute that we've talked about and updating us on the legal status where things stand and um that making clear that this is what's
where it's going on and the city's dealing with it. The main thing I wanted to confirm is that and I think I just confirmed this because I think the public could hear it. When it came to the Southwood Road requirement as part of that DRRI, it was
the city planning department that is the appropriate agency to actively monitor that, not the county. >> I'll let Scott defer to that as well. >> Good evening, commissioners. Uh the agency that's responsible for oversight
of that schedule of internal roadway improvements would be the city growth management department. City growth. >> Excellent. And um the that because this is the city thing, but this gets to my
my question. Next question. Part of the reason we're are even in the city is even in any dispute or question or followup about whether there's a storm extension is because the city staff did not proactively monitor and
did not choose to send a compliant non-compliance when this was non-compliant on January 1st. That's in this report. We don't have to confirm that. We don't have to beat up the city. But for Lyon County Planning Department staff, is it our policy and procedure
that we actively monitor all DRIS and agreements like this that are under our purview so that the moment any developer is out of compliance, our staff is initiating it and we don't let it go by until the neighbors tell us. Is that our policy? >> It is.
>> Great job. Keep going. That's very important to not put us in this position. Thank you. That it, Mr. Cummings, >> don't we have to move that item? >> Did you Did we vote on it? >> No, I have you in the queue. >> Okay. No, I'm sorry.
>> My question was answered. >> Okay, great. So, motion moved by the vice chairman, seconded by Commissioner Maddox for staff recommendation. All those in favor of the motion for signify by saying I. >> I. >> Passes unanimously. All right, commissioners. I think we are on uh
commissioner discussion items now. Um, commissioners close to 10 o'clock if we can. Let's keep it, you know, super important business only. Um, I'll start with Queen of the County Commission. Commissioner Cummings, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for um a
great leading. Uh, thank Administrator and staff for great analysis on all the issues that we had to address. I just like to ask for proclamation. Dr. Key Parker is requesting a proclamation as they commemorate 70 years of the
Tallahass bus boycott this week and he doesn't want it read, but it would just be on display at city hall. They're having reception at city hall and I I would move for a proclamation for that commemoration. Second.
>> Okay, we have a proclamation requested by Commissioner Cummings, second by the vice chairman. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Passes unanimously. >> That's all I have. Mr. Chair, thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. Um, Commissioner Miner.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Really quickly, on April 18th, we had uh Honorflight, sponsored by Honorflight Tallahassee. I just wanted to uh I I didn't go this year on the trip, but I was there for the return when they arrived at the hanger. I just wanted to thank Lyon County EMS, our CMR team, and uh Leyon
County in general for lending support to that event. It's really important. It gives veterans the opportunity to see the monuments at uh at Washington DC and Lyon County for many years has been a a strong sponsor of that event. I just want to thank our staff for uh for doing it. And um also just finally, just a
couple weeks ago, we finished the Long Leaf to Lighthouse expedition. That was the the 5-day trek that went from Thomasville through Leyon County and down to the St. Mark's Lighthouse. I'm just about stopping to scratch my bites uh finally after two weeks, but it was a great trip. Um, and
uh, there'll be some video of it released later this year. >> Mr. M, I'm still impressed. I'm still impressed. >> I'm I was surprised I could do it. The first the first day was all mountain biking, 27 miles. I'm not really sure I if I if if the rest of the trip was like that, I wouldn't have made it. But, um, it was a mixture of um, paddling,
hiking, and mountain biking for the rest of the trip. And that was just speed. So, >> congrats. That's baller. >> That's all I got. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. >> Mr. Sure. >> Chair, first um someone went back in the tape and confirmed uh earlier when we
were talking about the koka. Um I m Mr. County Administrator, I'd like to apologize. Um I said I don't need the attitude um when you're answering question. I didn't need the attitude. No, I'm kidding. That was inappropriate and I didn't mean it. So wanted to
apologize for that. >> I didn't even know you said that. >> I didn't either. But Matt Hoffman said I did and then he went back and checked the tape and I said if I said it but so I did. So I'm sorry. >> Um >> catch it. But now I have a problem with it. No, I'm just No, we're good.
>> Good. Thank you. Um I would like to request a proclamation uh honoring June 2026 for Pride Month. >> Second. >> Second. >> Oh, it's 2026. It's all legal. No, I was No,
I was saying like was that part of our our proclamation? Um, was that one of our proclamations in the reoccurring one? >> No, because we can't do it going forward. >> Is that we have is there an issue with that legally? Is that one of the items?
>> Pride. >> It will not be permissible under what will be section 125.595 as of January 1 of 2027. >> Really? >> Correct. >> What is the what what is the language? I'm just cur I didn't know that. I was just Is that part of the the DEI bill?
>> Yes. >> What is What is specifically? I I didn't I didn't realize that. What is it? >> So, I don't mean to put you on the spot and like refer to the bill. I just I I genuinely did not know. >> It only exempts federally recognized um holidays
as as an exclusion to the DIA. So, so there are there are identified listed exceptions uh and they have to be federal or state holidays. Um otherwise it would be promotion
uh of a resolution in this case or a proclamation that relates to diversity, equity, inclusion because it uh references uh gender identity or sexual orientation which is prohibited class. I'm going to get there. >> Yeah.
>> We can't do proclamations. >> Wait, I'm going to get there. >> Okay. >> Yeah, >> that's correct. >> Okay. So, you have a motion. Who second it? >> Who seconded for the Pride Proclamation for this year? >> I did. >> Yep. You're good this year. >> Okay. So, u moved by the vice chair, second by Commissioner Maddox. Did you want to say anything relative to that?
Okay. Um >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry. Just for record on to put on record. So, we cannot make a proclamation. We cannot do a proclamation for sex. We So, Black History Month, we can't do approximation for
>> Oh, it's national holiday. >> That That's a national holiday that's designated. So, yes, for that, but no to a lot of things that we've done in the past. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. Vice Chair. I typically would support it. Typically have no problem with it. Just not going to risk it
myself on this for this one. But don't take it. >> Yeah, I understand. But still, I'm not >> No, I understand. I just I'm not going to I don't want to put myself in that position, but typically I would and I want you to understand that. >> Um just so you know. >> Anybody else? >> All right, >> we need to vote on it. >> Yeah, I'm about to vote. I just wonder
if anyone else wants to say anything. All right, all those in favor of the motion for signify by saying I >> I >> I affirmative or negative. >> Motion >> proclamation for uh Pride >> Pride Month for proclamation for Pride Month. >> I or negative.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. So passes 51 with Commissioner Walton outside the chambers. Next item. >> Perfect. Awesome. >> Yeah, I got you. I was on that was in the name. >> Perfect. This brings me to um the anti- diversity, equity, and inclusion bill.
And I will do my best to not use the term that is abbreviated because it's become used mainly for hateful, isolating, and divisive attacks. So SB1 1134 which is what affected many of the items we talked about and for example
we're going to come back to it but when I checked last week uh or this weekend act women's history month and black history month are not federal holidays and I could not find where they were added back in this bill. I hope they are but my my point is this bill
did a lot more than just attack MWSBE. It is like it it attack it prevents us. You're g you're going to see a lot. It's things like proclamations. It's things like grants, even small grants like is
tourism going to be able to give money to Pride in the Park? Probably not. And so, um, this what I would like to do in cuz this came up because as, um, the county attorney and I were going back
and forth about ways to to oppose to avoid the MWSBE ordinance, withdrawal, stuff like that. It really comes down to this. I think we need to challenge the constitutionality of the law. And so, I move that we direct the Well, actually,
I have a question for the county attorney. Um, at at our discussion, you mentioned specifically section 12595, but if I wanted to have us try to challenge all four sections of the
statute of the of the bill, it would need to include 16604971 and 287139. Could I just put the statutes related to the the diversity equity inclusion bill? Um, you can, although I would tell you
that section two relates to the municipalities and we we definitely would not have standing, >> okay, >> to challenge that one because we're not a municipality. Uh, part of the uh analysis would be whether we would have standing to challenge all or any part of
it, sections one, three, four or five um based on the public officer doctrine. Yep. >> Um, but if the board desires for that analysis, we could retain outside counsel to do that research and bring
something back to the board. >> Thank you. Okay. For the sake of brevity, I won't make my argument by listing all of the impacts this will have. Um, and save that for an analysis. Um, but I move that we direct the county attorney to retain outside counsel to
research whether the county has standing and a good faith basis to challenge the constitutionality of the new statutes coming from SB134 impacting Lyon County. Second,
>> can you repeat the item the the motion? You said you want to direct the county attorney. I want to direct >> to retain outside counsel to research whether the county has standing and a good faith basis to legally challenge the constitutionality of the new
statutes from SB 1134 that impact the county. >> One second, Commissioner Madx. So, um, madame attorney, for for point of order, would that have to be unanimous for it to be passed or would So, he'd have to request an agenda item to come back.
>> If it's unanimous, it passes. If it doesn't pass, he could request an agenda item to come back and that would require a majority vote. >> I I will amend my motion since I can smell the which way the wind's blowing. I will amend my motion to request an agenda item to consider retaining
outside counsel to determine whether we have standing in good faith basis to challenge the constitutionality of these statutes related to SP 1134 that impact our county. I second. >> We have a motion moved by the vice
chairman uh seconded by Commissioner Cummings to hire outside counsel to challenge >> an agenda >> agenda. I apologize agenda item to come back to challenge SB11. >> What do we have standing? >> Gotcha. >> Whatever the standing we we need >> what would be the process on that? So
we'd hire outside council and would they have to file the lawsuit against the state or what would it be? >> No, that's I I know. I'm just curious with that. I get the motion. I'm just curious. I'm asking her a question. What would the process look like? >> Um, if I bring the agenda back and the board, a majority of the board
authorizes moving forward to retain outside counsel, I would do that. They would conduct the research. I would then come back to that research for the board's consideration about whether to move forward with litigation. >> Uhhuh. Can I? >> Yeah. >> All right. Um,
you would have to retain outside counsel to do that. >> There is not capacity in the county attorney's office to handle that. >> Gotcha. Um, can we not do a status report? Here's my thoughts. I I don't I don't want to go down this
road without reading and understanding everything that we can and cannot do and how we do it. So, I guess what I'm saying is if we if we put this as a status report for us to read before an agenda item so we
understand um just some of the analysis from the county attorney's office. Could we can could we two-step it? Meaning, you asked the question of what it looks like. That would be included in
the status report. just a short report on on what how other counties are responding or what they're doing or if there is any I guess you said the legal basis. Could we not do a seg status report that told us whether we whether
gave a short synopsis on whether or not we had legal basis before we went to an agenda item that we talked about it and move forward with it. >> We can retain outside counsel to do that research. I Commissioner O'keefee, here here's here's here's where I am.
>> Yeah, >> here's where I am. I >> We had 50 people in here tonight. We had 50 people in here tonight to speak about Koka. Um, and it was it was well warranted for us to have 50 people tonight to speak about Koka. Um,
before I have 125 people in here to speak about this item, I want a status report to know more about this item. um once we get it to the point that we're at an agenda item that's going to ask that's going to move forward with a lawsuit uh against the state, I just
want to make sure I have all the information. And so I almost want to step it. A status report is a status report. It's not on a regular agenda if somebody wants to pull it and then ask for the agenda item. I I just want to make sure I I got all the information.
Quite frankly, I almost and and I'm pretty sure it's not going to happen. But to me, this the the the gravity of it and in the the depth of it, I almost want a fact or Florida League of Cities to take this on. I'm sure they won't. I'm pretty sure that their their their membership is probably mixed on it. But
before we get to an agenda item, I just want more information because I just feel like once we put it on the agenda item, we're going to get we're going to get the same thing we have from Koka and we get all the information at one time and it's going to get caught. it's going to caught it's going to get caught in the in the wash. So, um I'm willing to
I'm willing to go with it the way you guys want to go with it. I just I just feel like this might be something we want to >> we want to walk our way into instead of running our way into you respond. >> I'm going to let the vice chairman respond to that and I'll come to you. Commissioner,
>> um I'm I'm happy to see what a different step is when I hear from all the colleagues. I do want to be clear. I'm not moving to sue the state. I'm moving to get full analysis if there's any option to defend the values of our communities. Not not we're not
voting to the state. The motion is to just to be clear. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Cumins. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, just point of clarification. I think his motion and based on our discussion was based on whether or not
we have standing to even challenge it in the first place. because if we don't have have standing, then it's out the window anyway. So, I don't know, madam attorney, if you all look at at whether or not the county would have standing,
would you just in general look at other substantive issues as well? I think your report would probably be more inclusive, wouldn't it? Other than that, just that narrow issue. >> Yes, Commissioner Cummings. It would cover not only um standing, that's kind
of the threshold issue, but but if there is standing, it would cover any potential constitutional basis to invalidate the statute because it's got to be constitutional. >> Great. And I think that would satisfy
commission matters your concern. And that's why that's why >> so you want you want to know everything and I think they would >> well that's why I'm asking for it to be as a status report because then we will be able to read it understand that standing and then if we want to ask for the agenda after understanding it all
then the agenda comes because let's be real let's be real about it if there is standing why would we ask if there's standing if we're not going to take the next steps if we're not going to consider taking the next steps. So that's why I said kind of two-step it. You you get the the status report find out if there's standing. And if there is standing, then go ahead and ask for the
agenda item to prepare to move forward if if that's what that's what you choose to do. >> And Mr. Mr. Chair, on point and it's my understanding too that other groups have filed or prepared to file uh against that particular legislation
based on unconstitutionality of it um violation of E protection. So we >> why wouldn't we join in with them? Even even if if other people have already filed, why we filing ourselves? Why not just join in? So just that information would be nice to have in a status report first, >> right? >> In my opinion. >> So I'm sure that's something the counter
attorney's office in providing their report if there is something out there that's already pending. I think we would be advised of that as well. So I feel like we we would get a well-rounded synopsis of it if this motion passes. Yeah.
>> I was going to say Commissioner Max and for the chair I have a procedural question because I want to go with you. I just want to make sure I understand what the process would be because I am worried about timing. Yes, sir. >> Um and you're right, the idea would be
um the idea would be to find out if we have legal basis and then perhaps other entities are pursuing this or not and then we we move forward there. Um, and so if if I change this to a status report that comes back in June
and I wanted to get us to be able to vote to tell the county attorney to move forward at the June meeting, would that still require a unanimous since it was just a status or would I need to get a majority
to bring an actual agenda back in July and then we're not seeing it till September? That's my only concern. Go ahead. point of information. I can try to get outside council to expedite all of this research, but it is
a ve it would be a very quick turnaround to meet the June meeting agenda given that they would be researching not only standing but digging into really meaty weighty constitutional issues. So, I just want to manage the board's
expectations about a timeline to bring something back to the board. Yes. And I did not expect outside council to do their work by June. Right. My that's why my original motion >> motion is for the agenda item for June >> is for that's why my motion is for an agenda item for June because we'll get
general information about the bill and we can decide then if we want then have staff to go set outside counsel to work. Um I don't we I knew I know we want as much information as possible before we move forward. Um, but uh I think we will
need other than a general overview of what the statute says and the impacts um I have a feeling we're going to need work from outside counsel before you get any more information. So that's my thought on it. If there's no if there's no um I'm happy to to to change the
motion in a way that makes the majority comfortable as long as we're moving towards a timely consideration of finding of considering outside counsel. >> All right, Mr. question. I think the board hears where you're at. Um so can you just restate your motion?
>> Sure. Um requesting an agenda item to consider uh having the county attorney retain outside counsel to determine whether we have standing in a good faith basis to challenge the constitutionality of the statutes from SB134
that affect the county. >> Your second one didn't include outside counsel. Remember >> it did. I move that we direct the county attorney to retain outside counsel. >> Can you second the motion >> to an agenda item to consider that? Oh, >> you second the motion.
>> Oh, okay. All right. I'm clearing now. >> Are you maintaining your second? >> Well, the outside counselor, you amended it. Remember you took the outside counselor out so that the county attorney and her staff would look at standing
>> and overall >> well I'll withdraw my second until I get clarification on >> Mr. Vice Chair, cleanly state your motion. Present like it's a fresh motion. >> Correct. The motion is have an agenda item come back to direct the county attorney to get
outside council who will determine and research whether we have standing in a good faith basis to challenge the constitutionality of SP 1134 affecting Lyon County. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Little clarification. The agenda item
comes back and then >> Commissioner Cumins. Mr. Proctor second. >> Oh, he second. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. But I still need clarification. >> Yes, ma'am. Now, I just want to let you know that he second. >> So, you you two can Yeah. Can you explain, but I do want to take this to a vote cuz it's 10:15. >> No, no, no, no, no, no. I need to be
clear. He said outside. >> He's going to explain. >> He said an agenda item to come back. So, we would consider outside council once it came back. Is that what you're saying? >> Yes, ma'am. Okay. I'm good. I'm good. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Great. All right, commissioners. All those in favor of the mo appreciate
you taking the time to clarify Commissioner Cummings. Glad you got it. Um all those in favor of the motion. The floor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? I'm a nay. Commissioner Maddox. >> Um
>> I pick it. >> You said I >> Okay. So passes 51 and descend and um Commissioner Welch also absent. You still have the floor. Mr. Vice Chair. Thank you for walking with me. Um, just to find out if we have legal basis. It's all I have. Thank you.
>> Yes, sir. Thank you so much. >> To consider, >> Commissioner uh Commissioner Pro. >> Yes, sir. >> It's your It's your time. >> I'm going take this away from you so you can't read your notes. >> All right. U chairman, commissioners,
the request uh for um uh uh proclamations recognizing Mr. Miller Knoblin, Mr. Jack Buford. >> Yeah, I'll I'll second. Uh proclamation requested by Commissioner Proctor. Second by myself. All those in favor
signify by saying I. >> The next one, >> Mr. Chairman, proclamations for um uh FAMU's softball women's team for the SWAC champions. >> Second. Um proclamation requested by Commissioner Proctor, second by myself.
All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Uh Mr. chairman of commissioners, a uh proclamation for the FAMU golf team. Uh um I think national champions national HBC >> I think there were the swag champions
but I could be wrong. >> One of them we'll find out. Yes sir. >> Ch we can clarify. >> Yes sir. >> Proclamation requested by Commissioner Proctor second by the vice chair. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I pass unanimously. >> Um Mr. Mr. Chair, I want to pass along this request to staff to um please uh
check into Balkan Road um complaints of excessive speeding on Balkan Road um at the levels of 50 to 60 miles an hour and the request has come in for um some traffic calming uh speed bumps. Gotcha.
>> You say the name of the road again, Commissioner. >> Balkan. B A L K I N. Staff, can you look into that? >> Got it. Great. Okay. M uh chairman want to uh commend the clerk's office for um outstanding
minutes that were captured um in today's uh section one uh item one. Um I failed to mention but the minutes of our proceedings have been exceptional and um these of last meeting was so good that
um I want to give a shout out to the clerk's office for that. Um Mr. Chairman, I want to know does the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce have something to say to OEV? And if the Tallahassy Chamber of Commerce has a
proposal uh that they want to get a contract from Blueprint, then um Mr. Chairman, would you look into that because all this um um um chitter chatter about who's the
point who's going to take up the point. Um if I mean I'm I'm willing to to uh to listen to a proposal. Somebody got something to say. Now this is not county. I know this is a OAV question, but uh it looks like people
are trying to tiptoe up on a contract and um preempt co-op whatever our OE and if there's a basis by which OEV ain't doing something is underperforming uh has ill performance um by what
measure uh is the OEV um not doing their job and if they're not doing their job. Um I mean you know writing about in newspaper I I like to bring something too. So, I want to ask
um this board um to that we endorse for the for the um county u um administrator to reach out to the Tallahassee chamber. um since they clearing their throats to
see what specifically they want to say about partnering collaborating uh their chamber and all three of the chambers helping OEV if OEV is limping and maybe they want to you know it's
kind of like looking at Commissioner Maddox um Koka and Tourist and you know how how do they work together they're not working apart But does this chamber can do something for OEV that OEV can't do for theirel?
Vince, please clarify. This board will permit. What in the world is they talking about and what they want? Uh, thank you, Commissioner. I um met with the chamber recently, representatives of the chamber on this issue. They did not propose any specific program. I know they're working on
something, but they didn't provide the details of the program. We just simply uh noted to them that we were um receptive of any uh assistance. If they would like to uh provide some help, we'd be more than happy to accept it in the area of uh business recruitment.
However, we are um again, you've you've seen our responses and we are uh again very very happy with our work in OEV, but it always continues and we're always working hard to to um to bring in those prospects and we we could talk a lot about that, but as far as the Taliz
Chamber of Commerce specific proposal, we don't have any information on that. >> Yes, sir. All right. Thank you, sir. Um member, who who's our member on the canvasing board? >> I am. >> Okay. Um to our canvasing board member
um I would ask if you would and I've spoke to Mr. Early um that they proceed um elections office proceeds with a citizen uhformational campaign uh about mailing ballots and all kind of
changes that uh occurring to institute voter suppression our state. um whatever changes that are going to affect voters. Um, I've been well impressed with supervisor election in Gaston County and the billboards that they have
encouraging people with u mail and ballots and I like, you know, very much if we make sure that our people two steps ahead of the legislature uh who like the fox in the hen house to um clip the wings, take away the um
congressional districts and all that they can to frustrate um innocent voters. I'd appreciate that, sir. >> Um, I think the way I'd like to do that, Commissioner Faulner, is to
make a motion that we ask the C the Oh, you want a public information campaign. That's what you said. >> Right. Right. Right. >> Okay. >> On the changes in voting laws and rules and this and that. >> Okay. Ma'am, Madam Attorney, you are our our uh attorney for the Cameon board, correct?
>> Not yet. That's under my time. I was going to come and make the request, convey the request. >> The county attorney, our county attorney be the attorney for the canvasing board. >> Second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor?
>> I >> I passes four. Can I count five? Uh O with Commissioner Caban and Commissioner Welch out of chamber. Oh, back in chamber. >> Um Commissioner Commissioner P. I will I will bring that forward to the um the
canvasing board. Madam attorney, I was asking now that you are the official um if you would please Oh, you know what, Jelle, wherever you are, I know you're watching this. Just make sure that I'm reminded to bring that to the board as
they uh ask for public information campaign that Commissioner Partners asked for. Thank you. Now m commissioner um supervisor early and I've spoke spoken. It's just that this is so serious. I want this to be formal. >> Understood. >> Yes sir. All right. Those things um said
Mr. Chairman did a great job running this wonderful meeting. Uh we still not withstanding uh me being on this board. I still think we're outstanding board. So I thank you all for suffering me and allowing me to be your colleague. And uh
I'm looking forward to um the comeback uh with that workshop on um in in June June. June June. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner Maddox. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will make a motion for a proclamation celebrating the FSU girls softball team's 20th ACC
championship. >> Second. >> Uh proclamation requested by Commissioner Maddox, second by Commissioner Miner. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Secondly, Doug Cook, principal of Rickerts High School, is uh retiring
after 35 years at Leon County Schools and 14 years as Rickers High School's principal. I'd like to request a proclamation to be presented for him to him for his years of service. >> Proclamation requested by Commissioner Maddox, second by myself. All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> Passes unanimously. >> Uh I will say tonight, Mr. Chair, you did you did an awesome job of keeping the quorum. uh it got a little heated, but you still get your ground. Uh it made a it made a a real statement about what what the expectation is in in these chambers. Uh and so I appreciate you the
way you handled yourself. >> Thank you. >> I would also like to say that tonight we proved again that Leyon County uh and the county commission is very interested in democratic process. Uh we had 50 speakers here tonight. We spent about four hours on the item. Um we haven't
been here this late in a long time, Vince. Uh but but it was important as chairman said that every person was heard and I think the point we got to was a good point for us to get to and so with that I'm proud I'm proud to be a part of this board because that's who we
are. What happened tonight is who we are. We may not always agree on the same thing but we handle we handle each other with a with a sense of decorum. Even the conversation between Commissioner Miner, Commissioner Proder, Commissioner Miner, you and the chair, it was it was it was
tasteful in the way that we communicate with each other in conflict. And I just >> I'm proud to be a part of this board. I really am proud to be a part of this board. I wanted to articulate that staff. Great job tonight on the MWBE stuff and SBE stuff. Um looking forward
to that when it comes back. But most of all, again, I'm proud to be a Leon County Commissioner. Proud of it. Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. Um, I would have made a motion commission. >> I would have made a motion early in the meeting that we limit um public speakers to 30 minutes, but I didn't think I'd get a second.
>> It would have failed. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Um, >> Mr. County administrator >> commissioners, thank you, Commissioner O'Keefe. Thank you to all kidding aside, the um I wanted to mention just one quick thing uh for the moment. Didn't
want to let the moment pass. I I I we came across a dynamic tonight in that conversation. I thought it was worth taking one second to explain it. I could see where commissioners were scratching their heads a little bit about the partnership thing and staff's engagement with KOKA. I want to provide some clarification there because it is very
unique in our environment. We work in an extremely unique environment. Even our best partners, we will not pre-negotiate before the board. um when staff does that um we necessarily limit your options when we come back to you. So we
bring you back an option say we believe we we we've made some headway with KOKA. They've made some co headway. We bring you back a recommendation that reflects that compromise and the board says I don't want any part of that. Now you're now you're arguing against us and KOKA. We would never do that to you. We do
what we do for a reason. Now that we've got your direction, the good news is we know what to do. We'll bring it back to you with a full discussion and hybrid models uh for your um for your budget discussion item. But I just wanted to explain that a little bit. your expectation is that we're good partners
and I know that your experience with us and we'll always represent you that way, but I just wanted to explain that one part. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Canister and I appreciate the clarification there and I know folks will appreciate that as well. Madam Chair, >> um just as a heads up, I will be
providing a more detailed memo to the board about um kind of what is permissible uh in terms of communications about things that are going to go on the ballot. It can be very nuanced. It can be a little bit tricky, especially as it relates to the
use of social media. Uh so I just wanted to let the board members know that you'll be receiving that memo in the next week or so. And if you receive it, you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call. >> Thank you, Madam Attorney. Commissioners. Sure. Go ahead, Commissioner Miner.
>> Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. I'll be very quick. I forgot to mention this before. Uh Minique Ellsworth, CEO of Second Harvest of the Big Bend, is going to be leaving us uh after six years of serving Second Harvest of the Big Bend and the entire Big Bend area. Just a tremendous job at the food bank. um she
was my successor and has just incredibly transformed that food bank into another level. So, she's going to be she's getting married. She's having a new job up in Wisconsin for Feeding America. Uh so, just wanted to wish her well. She's served us very well here in Lyon County
as well as um uh before that with with her work uh with Rick Carney's uh nonprofit. So, farewell, Manique. We're going to miss you. >> Commissioner M. want to request a farewell proclamation for her? >> Yes, I would. Thank you. Okay, great. I'll second that motion.
>> Well, within that, can we include because she's not just she wasn't just second harvest. She was a nonprofit leader and did and did it well. So, we could if we can include all of her her her accolades as >> contributions to Leon County. A great idea. Thanks for the suggestion. >> Yeah, thanks for making the motion. All
right. All those in favor of a proclamation recognizing her for all her contributions to Leon County signify by saying I. I. passes unanimously. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Um, commissioners, notice 10:20. I I intend to be very brief.
>> First thing I just want to say I I appreciate you all. You know, these meetings, you know, we had like we've had a couple meetings with some high highly contentious and and controversial items. And I I always appreciate uh I have a level of confidence going into these meetings serving alongside of you
guys. And I appreciate that. Commissioner Miner, I know I know we we disagreed earlier on that item. I'm I'm pleased to where we were and I appreciate you and I respect you. So So thank you for coming to a a a medium there. I appreciate that. Um
Commissioner Maddox, I appreciate the compliments um on how I ran this meeting. You know, one thing I will say is that we do have a level of decorum in these chambers and I'm my goal as chair is always going to make sure we maintain that because I
don't want to see what happens across the street happens in these chambers and more than anything is, you know, we're all elected up here and we are we we I welcome and we should welcome scrutiny, but I'm not going to allow personal
attacks at our colleagues. colleagues or or our staff. Um I just don't think that's appropriate. Um additionally, you know, we had a a a constituent um force her way in the back room and made some pretty threatening remarks to
Commissioner Proctor back there. And so, you know, one one thing I want to say is that's unacceptable at all levels. And I I've been thinking about this for a while. But, you know, it may be time um on certain occasions to maybe increase security on the fifth floor. I felt that
a lot. Um especially seeing what's gone on, you know, across the nation, specifically to elected officials. When you look at the level of security that some of our judges have, they have a a much more level of security. And stuff
that we do impacts people's lives. And so just something for us to think about as time moves on um maybe on certain occasions or or permanently looking at increasing security on the fifth floor. >> Yeah, I think that's something we could just have as an email to look at some things that we could do. I'm not sure
how you guys feel about that, but I think maybe an email to review some of the options, but um Commissioner probably his own personal security. >> Yeah. But but in closing, I want to say this, you know, um I do want to comment on the
the the federal investigation into the city of Tallahassy's HUD program um that I saw on the news end of last week. Um to our staff, I want to make this very clear. We need to make sure our our eyes are dotted and teases are crossed.
I'm not saying that we or Leon County would ever do anything unethical. However, you know, I've been saying for quite some time that I've had issues with that the city of Tallahassee has managed certain construction projects. I I've said about it with Blueprint. I've
said about it with the fire services fee related to the fire station. Um I've talked about it on the police station. I' I've said it on several occasions now. And I think it's um it looks poor across all local governments when you
have to have, you know, the federal government come in and audit and call you a high risk. >> And so, um, I think it's not doing a favor to taxpayers. I think it doesn't look good. And so, I just think we need to make sure that any partnership we have with
the city of Tallahassee, I think we should be diving in, dotting our eyes, crossing our tees. We want to make sure, especially to the public, that we have no egg on our face and that we go through proper procurement processes and we value every single dollar of taxpayer
money that comes through Leyon County government. >> Um, one point, Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, sir. >> I wanted to ask um is Leon County uh impacted, affected, or in any way negatively, um, hued as a result of, um,
Tallahass? Does HUD get distinguished at >> That's a great question, Commissioner Proctor, because we do a lot of affordable housing projects together. >> We got the same zip code. The question was, >> I don't think your mic's on. Can we Can we make sure that mic's on?
>> Are we um prejudiced by um the high-risk u assignment to the city? And given that we're Leyon County, they're Tallahassee, we're 32301, they're 32301. uh that's that there's a distinction between the two governments. Are we
lumped in one pool? Um are we are we negatively um affected by uh what the chairman was talking about? Well, no. Not in not in the area of affordable housing because we each receive our own allocations for example of SHIP um
dollars. So those are totally separate and segregate from what the city receives and what the county requirements. So those things are remained segregate at all times. and we have a clean and green reputation and honor and we're not on Absolutely. >> Absolutely. >> Good, good, good. >> Thank you. Yeah. Commissioners, listen,
before I close this out, um when I I think that it's just important that we continue to uh to posture ourselves as the leaders in our community and that we value taxpayer dollars because it doesn't look good that especially what's
gone over the last year with the fire services fee in the city looking to build, you know, a $34 million fire station and then they're going to go charge $8,400 to remove a door. It's just, you know, this just it's a it's it doesn't look good to taxpayers. And so I want to close and just say let's
continue to posture ourselves and just let taxpayers know we value um their support and more than anything we we're going to take care of every single dollar that comes to Leon County government. So that being said, commissioners, we'll stand a journ. Thank you.
safe and you know that speaks volumes about the whole organization. We had hundreds of roads across our community that were impacted uh by debris or power lines that were down. Through the efforts of Leon Countyy's
public works crews, our electric partners, and the sheriff's office, we were able to get out and get the roads cut and cleared to reestablish access uh for all of our emergency respons.