--------- this meeting into session at 3:01 p.m. Commissioners, great to see you all. Mr. County Administrator, Madam Attorney, great to see you all. Um, we have a lengthy agenda today with uh several items pulled from We have several items
pulled from consent. And so before we start with our before we start with our traditional agenda, I would like to request a motion. What I intend to do is there are six items pulled from consent commissioners. What I would like to do
is request a motion to move those items to the end of general business. So we'll pick up those six items right after item number 20. Is there a motion? >> So moved. Second. >> We have a motion moved by uh Mr. Media pass chair. Second by Commissioner Maddox. Any discussion?
>> Seeing none. Passes unanimously. Thank you commissioners. Um we will now continue on with our agenda and I will acknowledge our Mr. Vice Chairman O'Keefe for the invocation. >> Thank you. Um, I'd like to introduce Rabbi Paul Sidowski of Temple Israel to
do our invocation. >> Thank you, Commissioner O'Keefe, for your kind invitation and everyone for the honor of delivering the invitation at this meeting. As we join together today, may we, the leaders of our county, celebrate our
diversity, seeing it as a path toward learning, and growth for all. May we also conduct our business this afternoon with an appreciation of what unites us through the shared spirit of love, caring, and humanity.
We ask for guidance in working together for the betterment of our citizens, including those most in need of our help. May we be blessed with courage and compassion, wisdom and humility. In these troubled and challenging times,
let us be steadfast in our desire to continue building a community where all are able proudly and successfully to live and thrive according to the rich fabric we sew together. Through this blessing, may we and
everyone we serve know wholeness and peace. Amen. Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under
God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Next on the agenda, we have a proclamation recognizing March 2026 as Women's History Month. >> Mr. Chair.
>> Yes, ma'am. >> I have asked Commissioner Proctor. I'm having some dental issues. I will go down with him, but he's going to read. Great. Commissioner Proctor, you're recognized. >> Yes, sir. All right. Those persons who are the
recipients of this proclamation, y'all. >> Good afternoon. How you doing? Hello. Mr. Chairman, I'm well honored that um Commissioner Cummings has uh asked if I would stand in and read this uh
proclamation and uh to you all to do so. It reads, "Whereas women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our nation in
Lyon County in countless recorded and unrecorded ways. And whereas women have played and continue to play critical economic, cultural, and social roles in every sphere of the life of our nation. And
our county is a significant portion of the labor force working outside and inside the home. And whereas women have served our nation courageously in every branch of the
military. And whereas women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions in our nation and county. And whereas women of every race,
class, and ethnic background have been leaders not only in securing their own rights to vote and equal rights, but also in the civil rights movement and the labor movement, which helped to create a more fair and just society for
all. And whereas despite these contributions, the role of women in history has consistently been overlooked and undervalued in literature, teaching, and in the history of America.
And whereas now more than ever, the Oasis Center for Women and Girls, the Tallahassee Lean County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and many other organizations work locally to make the invisible history of women and girls
more visible. And whereas this year, in honor of all the women who have worked to make our community great, we're giving special recognition to the contributions of our 2026 Trailblazer
honores Martha Barnett, Vicky Bradley, Hannah Kronic, Joanne Gallagher, Macy Hartman, Paige Cubic, Dialin Lawson, Gracia A Marquina
Gloria Pew and Alawan Mu Dup all of yade day. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the Board of County Commissioners of Leyon County, Florida, hereby join in the celebration of March, being designated
as Women's History Month in recognition of March 8th as International Women's Day, dated this 10th day of March, 20 and 26. And this proclamation is signed by all seven Lyon County Commissioners
and it is attested to by our county administrator, Mr. Vince Long. You we say congratulations. God be the glory. >> Come on. >> Hi, my name is Kimmy Hogan. I'm the president of the board of directors for
the Oasis Center and I just want to say thank you so much. It means so much that you stand with women and girls. We appreciate all that you do. Thank you. >> No, it's okay. >> Good afternoon. I'm Dr. Jasmine Bryan, chair of the Tallahassee Leon County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. And on behalf of the CSWG, we
thank you all for this recognition for your continued support. Um, this month is obviously an opportunity to recognize all the contributions that women have made to our community, our economy, and so much more. And so, we thank you all for this recognition, and we look forward to the progress ahead and your continued support of the CSWG. Thank
you. >> Well, Mr. chairman, I had in mind to say that uh among the um nature's creatures, mammals in particular, that every human being ever that's come to our planet has come by way of a woman. And for that,
I'm very, very glad and we should all be. Let's give these women a great big hand. >> Commissioner Mon, you're recognized. Come up. Come up. Come up. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks everybody. Commissioner Cummings, thank you very much for bringing up the uh the proclamation. Happy Women's
History Month everybody. Um you know last Friday I attended the Oasis Trailblazers lunchon and um it was incredible. Uh the energy in that room among the women leaders in this community was was extraordinary. And I
was thinking there I was sitting there thinking to myself, I really wish I had brought my two daughters to be there and to meet and be inspired by these incredible women that are in our community. So I'm I I talked to my wife when I got home. We're going to do that next year. And so for anyone out there
who might be watching, if you have daughters at home, mark your calendars for March. You have the date for next year yet? >> Uh, no, but it's usually that first week of March. >> Okay. Mark your calendars for March because you have to take your daughters
to the Oasis Trailblazers lunchon next year. Um, it it was a missed opportunity for me, but I will not miss it again. Congratulations for everything you do. Thank you for everything you do for this community. Uh, we're grateful for you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
>> Keith, Mr. Vice Chair, >> thank you. Just congratulations and thank you. Uh I wasn't going to say anything, but um I was just thinking how great it is to know so many of you standing there personally. Um and I want to thank all of you because part of the
work you do is necessary because there is more of a burden placed on women uh in almost all areas of society. And so I appreciate you taking on the additional burden of addressing those um in this in leadership in this community. So thank you and I look forward to the day when
you can report that we have made it equal. >> Thank you all so much and congratulations. Next, we have a proclamation recognizing the 10th anniversary of Conversations with Nicole. Commissioner Maddox, you are recognized.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Congratulations. Proclamation reads, "Whereas conversations with Nicole host Nicole Everett is a Miami native who who metriculated to Tallahassee to attend the Florida&M University where she
obtained bis her degree in business administration and business economics from FAMU. And whereas for approximately three decades, Nicole has primarily served in the affordable housing arena locally and statewide through steadfast commitment, leadership, and advocacy,
working tirelessly to expand access to safe, stable, and affordable housing for individuals and families in our community. And whereas embarking on a new chapter, Conversations with Nicole broadcast its first show on March 2nd,
2016 with host Nicole Everett and Nefertiti Fine Cuisine with restaurant owner Dr. Dana and Sharon Dinard. And whereas Conversations with Nicole's mission is to com uh curate cultural
relevant experiences to foster community awareness and inspire people to control their personal narrative because their stories matter. And whereas CWN live streams twice weekly on Facebook,
LinkedIn, and YouTube and airs weekly on 96.1 Jams radio station and Spotify. The show has produced 14 seasons and more than 700 videos and more than 100 radio shows since its inception. And whereas
Conversations with Nicole has featured the following notable notable guests. Librarian uh librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, rapper and actor common, broadcaster, solad O'Brien, rapper and
recording producer Daryl DMC McDaniels, civil engineer Cheryl McKisik, uh comedian and actor Joe Tory, actress and singer Cheryl Lee Ralph, comedian and TV host Ricky Smiley, singer Anthony
Hamilton, attorney Benjamin Crump, reflecting the continued dedication to uplifting voices, uh, building connections and serving the public in innovation in impactful ways. And whereas one of Nicole's mantras is that
we all have gifts and talents that the world is waiting on and we should not be waiting on these gifts. We should be sharing them. Nicole believes conversations with Nicole is a platform for people to share their
gifts, talents, and passions and purpose. Now, therefore, it be proclaimed by the board of Leon County Commissioners in Leon County, Florida. We do hereby recognize the 10-year anniversary of conversations with Nicole on this day. This is signed by the chair's res commission and tested by
administrator. Congratulations. >> Wow. Thank y'all so much. Um it's so just special to be recognized in the place that you you live, work, and play. And um I've had several uh folks in this
room on my show. I I think our stories are so important and uh I just want to continue sharing y'all's stories, y'all's gifts, y'all's talents with the world. So I'm so honored and appreciative and I I just thank you so
much. Can we do a picture? >> Yes, I'd love to. Um, Commissioner Cummings, you're recognized. >> Nicole, while you all getting together for the picture, I just want to thank uh Commissioner Maddox
for recognizing you for your contributions to the community. If anybody has heard those conversations on the radio on the radio, they're just truly remarkable. So, we thank you for all you do for the community and may God bless you and may you continue to have
many, many more conversations on the media, on the air. >> So, thank you. Thank you, Nicole. >> All right. Now, representatives from the North Florida Fair Association, please come forward.
>> Commissioners, we're on the next item, the proclamation recognizing the North Florida Fair Association for their long-term success of hosting the annual North Florida Fair. >> All right. >> Do we get any um candy apples or something? >> I I prefer elephant ears, sir. All
right. Proclamation. The proclamation reads, "Whereas originally founded as Leyon County Fair Association, the first fair was held in November of 1939, establishing a long-standing tradition of celebrating agriculture, education,
and community in Leyon County and the surrounding region. And whereas in 1949, the North Florida Fair Association purchased 142 acres of land and permanently dedicated the property to the promotion of agriculture and the education of youth and the advancement
of the community. Over the decades, this commitment has supported the development of major community assets including and now known as Jean Jeancock Stadium, the UFAS Leyon County Extension Agricultural Center, agricultural center and Capitol
Park. And whereas for more than eight decades, the North Florida Fair has served as its region's largest annual event, providing a venue of agricultural uh exhibits, live stock shows, youth competitions, educational programs,
cultural showcases, and family entertainment. The fair remains deeply rooted in its mission to preserve agricultural heritage while preparing future generations for success. And whereas since 1985, the North Florida
Fair Association has rewarded uh educational scholarships to uh area youth and investing in students uh who demonstrated leadership, dedication, and excellence through participation in fair programs. And whereas the association
provides more than 75,000 annual annually in direct support of community organizations including 4 and FFA programs, livestock shows, and youth development initiatives through competitions, exhibits, and skill-based
events. you young, I'm sorry, young participants gain uh invaluable experience in hard work, responsibility, communication, and organizational skills. And whereas events hosted at the North Florida Fair contribute more than
$79 million annually to the local economy, supporting tourism, small businesses, agriculture, and workforce development throughout the region. And whereas for more than 85 years, the North Florida Fair Association has remained a steward of community
tradition, economic vitality, and youth development. Now, therefore, be a proclaimed by the board of county commissioners in Lyon County, Florida. Do we hereby recognize and commend the North Florida Fair Association continuing its mission to serve the citizens of Lyon County and North
Florida for generations to come. This is signed by the chair and the board and attested to by the county administrator. Sure. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you so much, Commissioner Proctor and to the entire Deis. We are very very grateful for this recognition today. Uh
we are grateful to be intertwined into the very fabric of this community and we look forward to serving it and being a part of it into perpetuity. Thank you all so much again. I'm sorry. Thank you for those proclamations. Um,
Commissioner Cummings, Commissioner Proctor, and Commissioner Maddox. Commissioners, we are now on consent. And before I entertain a motion to to move consent, um I do just want to point out the memo that I sent to the board yesterday afternoon, early evening. Um
again, we have a lengthy agenda. Um most importantly, I want to make sure that we cover all items of business. I want to make sure every commissioner has the opportunity to make their points and if there is a debate necessary, we will allow for a robust debate and
conversation. I do want to try and I you know we can have this meeting wrapped up by 11:00. Commissioner Proctor thinks seems to think we'll be done by 8. I'll remember that around 7:45. So um all right commissioners. Do I have a motion for consent? >> Thank you.
>> Mr. Chairman, I I move consent with the exception of the items that have been pulled. In my understanding those are items number four, 5, 8, 10, 12, and 14. >> Four, five, eight, 10, 12, and 14. You are correct. We have a motion moved by Commissioner Miners, second by who? Who seconded over here?
>> I made the motion and he seconded. That's okay. Um, sorry. >> Moved by Commissioner Welch, second by Commissioner Maddox. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes, sir. >> Yes, Commissioner. >> The the items that were pulled, which one which one related were related to
procurement? Mr. Administrator, these >> ones that are pulled by your commissioner. Eight. >> Yes. Number eight. >> Mr. Chair, could I ask that we go ahead and take up eight cuz I think that might be just a simple
procurement one. >> Yes sir. >> Um if the commissioner who pulled it commissioner, >> can we take up eight? >> If we have a motion on the floor, so I think we have to per policy. You want to make the motion? I'll second. >> Yeah, I'll make a motion. >> I'll second that. Any commissioners? Any discussion?
Seeing none, they'll pass unanimously. We are on agenda item eight. Commissioner Maddox, you're recognized. >> Uh, Commissioner Proctor, I'll yield to you. >> Yeah, Commissioner Proctor, you're recognized. Mr. >> Chairman, thank you. Commissioners, as I looked at this item, uh page two of the item, uh it indicated that as we're
looking uh for a uh structural engineering continuing service contract that um the respondents of for this contract um identified a 8% minority business enterprise and six% for women
business enterprise and were awarded 10 points, two points respectively. um and that they had agreed to utilize an apprentice um uh an extern uh program on this particular project. My question
simply is um what is the future status of this kind of language uh with respect to our contracting and while I read this I was aware that I believe last week um staff informed us of um bill >> I don't need to interrupt you but we got
to have a motion on the floor. Oh. Um, I don't have a motion. I hadformational asked. >> You want to move staff recommendation? >> Yeah, I want to move staff recommendation. Okay. Staff op recommendation option one move by Commissioner Proctor. Second by Commissioner Cummings. You're still
recognized, Commissioner Proctor. >> Okay. Thank you. Commissioners, I simply wanted to know from our staff, what is the future status of this type of language? uh the second paragraph under the analysis and with um I think the bill was 11:34
uh I want to know is this something that we're going to continue to see going forward in the future uh is this uh like a dinosaur this type of language uh is becoming extinct and with respect to uh
us being told that we could not uh lift up anything that was MBish any longer. I'm confused. So that's why I pulled this. I need to know where are we? >> Go ahead, Mr. County Administrator. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, commissioners.
Uh well, when we convene just a few minutes ago, uh the Senate version of the bill was on the uh House floor going through the amendment process. Uh so uh when the dust settles, we'll do an analysis and we will follow the law in
terms of um what happens ultimately. But that amendment process has been pretty significant. It's been pretty substantial. So we'll have to wait and it should be um passed in its final form uh this afternoon, I would expect. Right now, if we adopt this particular bill,
would we and and something is captured by the legislature similar to what we were informed last week, would this contract be considered illegal? As currently written about three hours ago, under Senate Bill 1134, if it's
passed by both chambers and approved by the governor, uh the board would no longer be able to fund uh these sorts of contracts uh that have any sort of DEI initiative in them as of January 1 of 2027.
>> With respect to uh these occurrences, Mr. Chairman, I think it's very important that critically that our board understand uh that our staff gives us some analysis of how deep uh how farreaching uh this language uh would would would
declare and and potentially impact many contracts which are out on the street. And um I could not read this and not reflect on uh future possibilities as well as um whether or not um uh
contracts would be would be terminated based on this. Uh you all read, I hope, the paper today and you saw that because the federal government has turned it back on DEI that a $3 million contract was uh terminated uh by the federal
government because it it no longer recognizes DEI and um a number of entities in our community um are impacted by uh this change of policy. And I think that it's just um we need to
take uh an assessment of how far ranging uh this will impact uh existing contracts and whether or not uh what the legislature is proposing uh will nullify uh existing contracts. That's my ask m
Mr. uh Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. Mr. County Commissioner, I assume if this bill is passed, it would be top priority from staff to bring us an agenda item laying out how that impacts Leon County. >> Absolutely. >> Okay, great. >> Thank you very much.
>> You all good, Commissioner Proctor? I'm >> good. >> Are you Are you raising your hand? Oh, okay. Um All right, Commissioners, we have a motion moved by Commissioner Proctor, second by Commissioner Cummings. All those in favor signify the motion signify by saying I. I. >> Don't see any opposed. Passes unanimously. All right, commissioners.
>> No problem. We are on uh number 17 of general business. So for those uh in the audience or watching at home, we are on general business. Item number 17. We will coming to the we will come to the remaining pulled consent items at the end of general business. Mr. County
administrator. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, commissioners. Pursuant to the county's uh discretionary funding ordinance and the board's fiscal policy fiscal planning policy, this item presents one of the early considerations for the board's uh consideration in the budget development process uh with the establishment of
maximum discretionary funding levels for outside agencies including the CHSP agencies, dedicated homeless shelters, special events, uh commission office budgets. Uh options one through five recommend maintaining uh funding levels
at the existing uh level for for all of the line items. Uh despite the extreme caution that we've noted throughout the item, commissioners, uh we are um uh due to the considerable uncertainty in the process. We believe this recommendation
is still viable at this time although things could certainly change uh very quickly. Uh with that uh commissioners again we are recommending uh options one through five. We're happy to answer any questions you might have and I have no speakers on this item.
>> Second uh commissioners I have I have Mr. Mr. Vice Chairman in the queue. Mr. Vice Chairman >> I have a question on point of order. >> I'm sorry. >> No was >> wait commissioners commissioners. One second. >> Forgive me if you already addressed it. Did we miss public comments on
non-aggenda or >> Oh, thank you for pulling that up. >> Oh, there was there was none. Thank you. Thank you for pointing that out. Um, are you are you looking to make a motion? Okay. Um, let me clarify. >> Okay. Go ahead, >> M. Mr. Chair. Thank you, Madam Attorney. I'm going to recuse myself from item
number one as um my organization, Family Promise Big Ben, receives funding in item number one. >> Option number one. >> Option number one. Yeah. So, I'm going to make the motion for the remaining options, option >> two through five, and I'll and I'll
recuse from number one. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Um, any any requested comment from that? >> Any other comments? >> No, sir. Okay. >> Any other discussion on that? >> Commissioner Proctor. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. uh chairman uh asked to make of the motion to consider
that on option four of the one through five that um uh I guess a price point of about um um $24,500 that we increase um establish commission office budgets at 20 27,000 and um I ask
you to modify that for a collective total of I think 24,500 um relative to the price increases uh which we are all experiencing and what
we were able to to to do for last year um it's it's it's tight out there and I'll just ask if we would u modify that um to correspond to the realities of of the inaffordability
uh crisis. I have a I have a comment relative to office uh to office budgets, but I'll you want to >> I was ask to modify option four to to add an additional to 27 >> for for the sake of us creating a
maximum budget which I know um we can modify after but not >> uh we can't go we can't go up can't go down. I I'll accept that modification. >> All right, commissioner. >> Um Mr. Chair, I I want to resend my second on that then. I I don't
>> Okay, I I'll I'll second the motion. Um, Commissioner Cummings, I see you and Q. I have a comment relative to office budgets, but >> I just wanted some clarification. I thought we had a motion on the floor and so what Commissioner Proctor did was >> you made a second amendment and you
accepted it amendment. >> Okay. And it's been >> as well. Okay. >> I second it. Yes, ma'am. So, >> commissioners, real quick, relative to the the the point of of office budgets, I um in my briefing, I spoke to the county administrator relative to office budgets, and I was going to actually
bring this up to the board prior to Commissioner Proctor bringing it up, but um I know everyone uses their office budgets completely different. Um some folks use it more for travel or going to educational ceremonies. 90% I don't want to you know give or
take of of how we use our office budget in district 2 is to communicate with residents in our district mo most of whom um don't have internet don't have really other ways to stay in TV don't really have ways to stay informed of what's going on in their local
government and we're doing that by sending newsletters via mail and the price of mail has gone up significantly we don't even have enough money in our office budget to send a piece of mail once a year to everyone in our commission district. And so when I was
speaking with the county administrator of a way to where we we keep our our office budgets fluid in a way to where we have enough money to communicate efficiently with our constituents. I just brought up the idea of what if we set a small, you know, we have staff
give staff direction in our policy to where every year when we have our office, they tie it to an inflationary measure. So it comes back to us and say, "Hey, if if they do a calculation that with travel or communication, they they think it's 3%." Then every year would come back to us at a 3% or give or take.
I don't know how much it would be. I'm just throwing numbers out there. So that way we we all have the ability to communicate and then we don't have to come and say, "Hey, let's increase it by 10,000 or 15 or 5,000, whatever it may be." I think it's a fluid way based on a formula. I think it's also a fair method
in in regards to being fiscally responsible for taxpayers. So, I say that just to kind of open the floor for conversation to see if any other commissioners have any any thoughts to that. Um, I see Commissioner Cummings, are you still in the queue? >> Well, I I I'll just comment to your proposal. I think that's reasonable. I
think it's not arbitrary. ical preachers because we're tying it to an index and we're tying it into what we do to our for our constituents in the community in our various various districts. So I think it's reasonable um
and probably necessary otherwise some of the communication will go lacking. >> Yes ma'am. >> So I I like that uh I like that proposal uh Mr. Chair. >> Okay. Thank you commissioner project in point. I do have the vice chair in queue. >> Okay. Yes, sir.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, um I oppose I'm going to oppose an increase in our office budget. Um because we are talking about hard decisions when it comes >> on on point. I'm going to modify my motion. Commissioner Proter, we can take
that up after we get through two through five. Can we do that? >> I understand that. But if we want to take out separately the piece that talks about the office budget, does it have to be a part of four? >> No, we can I think we can pull it out.
Have a separate motion. >> Okay. So two through five. Pulling out the office budget piece >> minus four minus. No, we can still do four. >> Okay. Okay. We'll pull out four. So two through two, three, and five. We'll discuss four after.
>> That's motion. >> But you also have option one with your recusal in that. Okay. >> Okay. So that's I second that motion. Everyone clear the motion on the floor. >> Repeat one more time. >> Two two three and five. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> I second the motion. All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. >> Okay. Can I see a motion for option one? >> So move. >> Second. >> Okay. Moved by Commissioner Welch. Second by Commissioner Proctor. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Great. Now we're on the discussion of office budgets.
>> Oh yeah. I was in recusal. Recusal. I think the record's already been the record's already been reflected on that. >> So, um, Commissioner Money, you want to talk to office? Well, we need a motion on the floor for office budget. So, >> move option four, Mr. Chair. >> Okay. Option four has been moved. >> Do we have a second? >> Second.
>> Second by Commissioner Miner. Commissioner Miner, you're recognized. >> The motion is basically recommendation. >> Correct. Correct. >> No. >> Yeah, that's what option four is. Commissioner Proctor. Um, option four and what I'd ask Commissioner Maddox to
um, consider and which he I guess we're through >> uh, is that we look at that at 27,000 to accommodate uh, uh, rising prices and most of our conferences now is $1,000 just to go to sign your name. Um,
the conference registration is a is a grant. Um, it's just gone up and our money's uh >> All right, Commissioner Commissioner Proctor. So, we have Commissioner Proctor's motion to move it to 27,500. That's the motion on the floor. Is there a second?
>> I'll second the motion on the floor. So, we have a motion on the floor to have office budget set at 27,500. Commission Miner, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, Mr. sentiment here in >> I think I think your microphone's not
on. >> Commissioner Proctor, I understand the the sentiment of this. I mean, prices are increasing everywhere. Um, as you're describing this and proposing those this, I'm thinking, well, so are the prices of the costs of the nonprofits
that we're supporting by this agenda item. Uh, everyone is feeling the same cost pressures. Um, we just increased the the office budget a couple years ago um to 235 and um I feel like I can work within that budget level. Um I'm going
to vote against the motion on the floor because I I think uh the $27,000 I understand the need, sir, but but um I believe I can work within my means at 235. Um the the $3,500 increase is a 10% increase, which is more than the cost of
inflation over the past year. So, um, I I'm voting against the motion and, uh, I urge my colleagues to vote to to keep the 235 as our budget amount. Thank you. >> Information. >> One second. One second. Commissioner Proctor, uh, Commissioner Miner, would you support a concept of having an inflationary measure rolled back to us
every single year that staff has the authority to basically look at the inflation amongst our office budgets and bring us back a recommended number? >> I would support that in lie of the 27,000. >> Okay. Commissioner Proctor, will you amend your motion to reflect that? >> No. Let me uh ask Mr. Chairman, uh is it
required uh if we put 27,000 as Commissioner U Miners indicated, he he don't need that much. He he may not need to spend, but 7,000, but he doesn't get penalized because he didn't spend any money, did he? I mean, he leaves it there, but the place if he needed or
wanted to, he had 27, but he's not mandated to spend all of it. All right. How does that work? Does the money go to Vince Long for his, you know, you know, bonus or what happens with the money if you don't spend it, no pun intended.
>> Commissioner O'Keefe, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm going to oppose this increase and I'll keep it simple. We like so many local governments are going to be facing incredibly difficult budgetary challenges facing us. And I think that a lot of the information we're receiving in some of our community health
assessment reports and other reports are that any dollar we can spend on community improvement is where it ought to be. I'm comfortable with the current office budget and I'm just not comfortable at a time when so many citizens are asking us to um be ready
for tough decisions on budgets and to put what our community needs first. Not comfortable with an increase. Thank you. >> Yeah. Real quick point of information. Remember guys, this is a maximum level threshold. So we can always scale it back. This is the maximum number we're discussing. So pending what happens in
the legislature in our budget, I'm assuming we would all be like scale back the office budget. So, Commissioner Proctor, I'm going to ask you again. Will you amend your motion to reflect the idea of um rolling it with inflation and giving staff the authority to do so? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. So, we have them uh the motion
amended by Commissioner Proctor to direct staff to come up with an inflationary measure every budget cycle and come back to us. Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. I'll second that motion. I think that's very collegial of you. Um Commissioner Cummings, you're she pulled herself out of queue. Commissioner Maddox, you're in queue.
Um, I I hear I hear Commissioner Proer's um conversation about conferences, but I think the bigger concern is when uh and I don't know how many of you do this. I don't think I don't know if my office has done it, but uh when we're sending out mail and commissioner command, as
you said, you can't you can't get a piece of mail out to your whole district if you wanted to. And it made me think, you know, the uses that we've had for our our budgets usually our office budgets usually have been related to travel in the past. But when you think about if we're if we're talking about
mail and other other communications we may want to send out, you know, do we talk about cuz there are commissioners who don't travel. Well, if you don't travel, then you just using it for mail. Then I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm I'm a little bit I'm okay with the
inflationary inflationary measure there, but I'm also trying to trying to wrap my mind around this thought of how do we if you if you want to send out some from me, I guess you have to just manage it yourself. M mr chair, I I'll uh I'll
I'll I'll support the motion on the floor. >> Commissioner Walsh. >> Yeah. Just a question, Mr. Chairman. So, have we removed the increasing it to 27,000? We're back to like a staff discretionary adjusted based on a calculation of of simply inflation.
>> Correct. >> Gotcha. Okay. I can support that. >> Okay. >> Awesome. I think we're in a good place. Commissioner Cumins. >> Yes. Just for clarification, um, if we're looking at inflationary measures, we want staff to bring something back. When would this be
effective? >> Administrator effective date. >> Sure. Well, going forward is certainly if the board would like that inflationary um adjustment to um consider this year. We could I mean that would be something that you you may want
to specify in the motion, but going forward it we we would assign the right inflationary index given the nature of your spending. We would come up with an inflationary index based on the nature of of your budgets. We could that wouldn't be a problem for us to do. And each year, if it's okay with the board,
again, we we might have a little ordinance cleanup to do relative to this since we wouldn't be bringing this back necessarily for you to establish this budget each year. Again, it would be like other uh budgetary items that that have an inflationary index assigned to
them and we would just um uh present that as a part of the overall budget for you each year to uh to approve. >> Awesome. Good. All right, commissioners. Let's let's vote on the question on the floor. We have a motion moved by Commissioner Proctor, second by Commissioner Cummings, I believe. All
those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Nay. >> Nay. Passes 61. Um, Mr. County Minister, do we have any business left on this item? Is that is that it? I think that's it, right? >> That is all, Mr. Chairman. >> Awesome. Commissioners, thanks so much.
We are now on item 18. But before we start number 18, I would like to recognize we do have uh former commissioner Maryanne Lenley in the building. Hi Commissioner, great to see you. Thanks for joining us. >> So um we are on number 18. Mr. County
Minister, will you will you introduce this item for us? >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, this item seeks the board's consideration for a placing a non-binding countywide advisory referendum on the November 3rd general election ballot to gauge voter sentiment on the potential consolidation
of Lyon County and the city of Tallahassee governments. Consistent with the board's direction from your December 9th meeting, the item provides two resolution alternatives with ballot titles and summary language for board's consideration. The item also summarizes implementation steps should the board
wish to pursue the spraw the straw ballot referendum on consolidation by placing the referendum on the November uh general election ballot. Both uh resolution alternatives uh commissioners place uh the same uh underlining uh
underlying non-binding uh straw ballot question before the voter voters. Alternative one seeks uh uh the voters um uh to um uh vote on whether or not to explore consolidation generally. Option two asks the same
question but frames that um under the Lyon County governmental structure and uh leadership. Uh again commissioners the proposed refereum would be advisory only and would not in and of itself uh consolidate Lyon County and the city of
Tallahassee uh governments. Just a reminder, the state constitution requires a consolidation plan to be approved by a special act of the legislature and then approved by the electors in a subsequent referendum. Uh the straw ballot, however, can be used by the board to gauge voter sentiment
and to inform the board of any future decisions you'd like to make. With that, commissioners, we're we're seeking your direction on options uh one, two, uh three, or four, and and happy to answer any questions you might have. I have no speakers on this item.
Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. You're recognized. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, me members of uh our board. Um, I found it interesting and I see >> you want to make a motion, Commissioner Proer. >> Yeah, I want to make option two, Mr. Sherman. >> We have a motion on option two, second
by Commissioner Cummings. Um, Commissioner Potter, you're recognized. >> Mr. Chairman, thank you. I apologize for just jumping the gun, but I saw uh the chair person and other members of the CSSE, the charter review uh committee, and um it was very interesting when this
came up in front of the charter review. I attended um maybe three or four of its sessions. Um and it was very interesting that when this measure came up that it passed the charter review um uh committee was seeking additional
information on consolidation. It was 17-2 vote and um that was one of the largest margins of voting that I observed u as I watched uh deliberations this session of charter review and um there's no doubt
that momentum um is inclination uh toward um uh I learned um some other antidote things uh relative to NEBA uh meeting recently which uh though a different question but no doubt
confidence of the public in in our county's government. Um I'm going to listen to other commissioners. I'm just very happy for the option that we have and um pray that for nonbinding merely a
straw ballot um to give our community uh the democratic process and that was something that many people wanted to decide about. hospital and um it was just the community was just denied that
access to voted and I think that um this is not an issue that we want but the question is is this an issue that we're willing to allow the public to um participate in and so for those reasons um that I'm totally uh a democratic
based person and as often as is possible to afford the public, the community, uh their voice, their input um in November's uh election means a lot to our community. So, for those reasons, I've offered this motion. Encourage uh
your strong support of this measure as well. >> Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. I have Commissioner Welch, Commissioner Cummings, and Commissioner Miner in that order. Mr. Mediate past Chairman. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll be brief. Um, you know, when when we first broached this item months ago, I I I
believe I said something to the effect of like, you know, the details matter uh in this regard. Um, and I think a straw ballot with no detail as option one would provide doesn't accomplish much. And so, you know, I know this might ruffle feathers across the street of the
city, but it does provide some level of detail to voters about what they want in terms of uh city or county structure. So in that regard, I will wholeheartedly support the non-binding resol or non-binding
question on the ballot. I think it will inform us all as elected officials very well about what folks want. And then if people talk to us in the community and ask what that what this is all about, we can say, you know, which do you prefer in terms of a governmental structure? Or do you prefer seven elected officials,
five representing districts and two representing uh the entire county or you know at large five at large um commissioners? You know, who do you think should run the fire department? Who do you think should run law enforcement? You know, it it gives us an
opportunity to answer those questions with some level of specificity. So, uh I I'm going to support the motion on the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Mr. Media Pass Chairman. Commissioner Cummings. Thank you, Mr. Chair. When this was first brought before us, can you hear
me? Do you understand? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Uh, I made it clear that I have never been in favor of consolidation city in in the county. Uh, when it when it came up on the referendum, I believe
in the '9s, uh, the very last one that we had, I I voted against it. I I just don't believe it would be cost effective. I believe people would lose their jobs. I don't believe it would result in efficient
efficient services uh to the constituents. Uh I believe over time we have shown that the city and the county has worked together very well and we've got evidences of it. We've got sheriff's department, we got the police, they work, they work
together. We have consolidated dispatch other instances of the city working with the county working together cooperatively. I think what has happened uh the last few months uh is the controversy with
the city over the firefighter fee. Other than that I I don't believe we have had any major dispute with the city and I think we've just always worked together. But I voted for this agenda item to come back and I appreciate
um the information on the agenda item. I looked back on the information that was presented to us a couple of months ago and I appreciate um the county administrator and his staff because they gave us the history of um efforts in the
entire state of Florida trying to consolidate city and county. We only have one example and that's Jacksonville Duvall >> Duvall >> Duvall. Uh however uh Mr. Chair, I also believe
in the voters uh I believe that if we put this to the voters that they would look at it seriously and and give us their opinion. So, I will support uh a referendum on the ballot trusting
uh the citizens to weigh in on it, but my underlying notion is is against consolidation. So, thank thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you so much for those comments, Commissioner Cummings, Commissioner Miner. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, at a high level, consolidation seems like it
uh could be a really good idea. uh common sense would s suggest that it would be more efficient and more cost-effective, but as Commissioner Welch said, the the devil's in the details. Um, for example, Lyon County has two very distinct parts, rural and
urban. Uh, and the people living in these areas have very different expectations of level of service. How do we ensure that rural residents aren't paying more for services they don't want? and how can we ensure that rural residents continue to receive the level
of representation that they deserve? Now, these are the types of questions we'll have to answer. Um, if we can find a consolidation approach that is more efficient, more cost-effective, and more responsive for both the rural and urban areas, I think that consolidation could
be the right approach. Now, if voters support consolidation on the straw ballot in November, we'll all get to work. will collaborate with Lyon County residents and we'll develop the best p plan possible. Then we'll go back to the voters and see whether or not they want
to proceed with consolidation. So, I support a referendum on the ballot. What I want to talk with you all about though is whether it's alternative one versus alternative two. Alternative one, for those of you that haven't had a chance to read the agenda item, alternative one basically asks to
the people of Lyon County, do you want to develop a consolidation plan for your approval at a later date? Alternative two says, and I'm paraphrasing a bit, do you want to develop a a consolidation plan with us with us here at the Deis to be the ones
at the top of local government? To me, option alternative two seems a little self- serving. Um, let's, in my mind, we should keep the question pure. Let's stick with alternative one. If voters approve of it in November, we'll then have a clean slate and we can work
with the public to come up with the best proposal. And when we work with the public to develop a consolidation plan, they may tell us that they want Lyon County government uh, as the government structure, but let's not force that option on them now before they've even had a chance to tell us what they want.
So, I support the referendum being on the ballot. I prefer to have alternative number one. So, with respect to the the the person who made the motion, I'd like to have a a substitute motion for option one, which would replace alternative 2's language with alternative number one.
Basically, it's a neutral question, a pure question to the voters of Lyon County. Do you want us to consider developing you want us to develop a consolidation plan for your approval later? That's my motion. Motion on the floor by Commissioner Miner for a
substitute to move to substitute motion for option one. Is there a second? >> All right. If I had to give it a go. >> Motion fails. >> Motion fails. >> Yeah. Commission, I'm going to go to Commissioner O'Keeffe next. Commissioner Miner. >> Yeah, that's fine. Thank you very much for uh for listening. Appreciate it. >> Yes, sir. Commissioner O'Keefe. Mr. Vice Chairman.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have some questions for you to direct to the appropriate person as as you wish. >> You can speak freely. >> Okay. >> I'm not sure what you're trying to edit. I take that back. >> I'll have you know Siri is not a district five vote.
>> Um >> who's running district five then? the uh so the the question on this very serious issue um is the process I want to make sure I understand the process and everybody understands the process
actually moving forward with consolidation is totally separate from this straw poll right this straw poll is get an opinion to get um people's thoughts okay then that happens let's let's go to 2027 after 2026 whatever the
results of this this referendum are come The process to consider consolidation is someone has to go to the legislature and the legislature has to pass a bill that structures how consolidation is going to be considered. And I believe they have
to create a committee and that helps decide what the structure will be proposed. And then that structure is what will go on a final referendum in front of the voters after that time period. and then if it passes then the consolidation moves
forward. Is that an accurate understanding generally of the steps? Mr. >> Chairman ju just commissioner that um I wouldn't say that it's it's um explicit that there has to be a committee. It's just that the legislative delegation has to approve a plan and they have some
broad discretion on how that plan is developed. >> Okay. So I have a question about the legislative discretion on it because one of the biggest issues we face is local control and home rule. Um, we spend most of our session and our lobbying efforts defending our local control. And so my
concern is and I want to know to the extent we pursue a consolidation and have to get something from the legislature, what kind of influence might that open the door to our local government structure from the legislature?
>> Mr. Mr. Chairman, it commissioner to answer your question. It the our our legislative delegation because it has to be a special act really has the discretion. They may accept a plan from the county. They may make a suggestion that before you bring us a plan, you do
something in terms of community feedback or a committee process, but there is a lot of discretion and we wouldn't know what that would be until we approached our legislative delegation about it. >> Now, our delegation would would theoretically bring the idea to the House and the Senate, but ultimately it's like any other legislative act. the
majority um of the both bodies which generally those their general values have not always been in line with what our community's values are. I'm not asking you to opine on that part, but the majority still has the final say on what comes out of it. >> Correct. And then um if this if the one
if the motion that's on the floor theoretically passes which is Leyon County government takes over and the city folds in since this is non-binding this theoretically the city might not join our effort with our local delegation to
get things a structure or a plan from the legislature. You may see where they lobby our their delegation opposite, right? Anybody could any government could lobby to get the plan approved from the legislature that they prefer. Is that sort of an open possibility?
>> Yes, I couldn't really speculate um on what would happen, but certainly that would be part of the process. >> Okay, those are my questions. Thank you. >> Thank you, commissioners. Uh I don't see one else in the queue, so before we take it to a vote, I'll say this. Um, Commissioner Miner, before you I thought
95% of what you said as you were talking, I was nodding my head agreeing cuz I think what you said was so eloquently how you laid out the steps and the thought process behind that and I really do believe that is the spirit of what we're trying to accomplish. However, I do think that option two is
the the better option and I plan to support the motion. The reason for that is because this has come to the ballot in the past, but from my understanding, it's never been asked in this way. And to me, you know, I've heard the
arguments about, you know, this may infringe on our rural communities. And my position on this is the opposite. I think this protects our rural communities because when you look at
when you look at a city annexation map which shows year over year over year the city expanding its boundary. I mean they're pushing on Bannerman Road. Um I mean they're pushing west on Highway 90
soon to be past Capitol Circle. Um, Commissioner O'Keefe, it's only a matter of time before they start infringing east. And I think there's no one better to legislate for our rural communities than our Leyon County commissioners. And
ultimately, this is about democracy and asking the voters what they want. If this comes back and the voters don't want it, well, I think it's pretty clear that this is a dead conversation. If this comes back with an overwhelming majority, then I
think it's worth us pursuing the conversation and and moving forward with what voters asked for. If it comes back and it's 50/50, well, I think that's a conversation this board is going to have to have. But from my from my opinion,
from where we stand today, this is a straw poll to gauge voter interest. And I think this is putting the ultimate decision at the hands of the voters. And that's why I fullheartedly support option two. So with that being said,
commissioners, I'm going to I'm going to ask I'm going to um ask for a vote on Commissioner Proctor's motion, which is seconded by Commissioner Cummings, um to move staff recommendation option two. All those in favor sign All those in
favor approval of the motion signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? >> Nay. >> Passes 61 with Commissioner O'Keeffe in descent. Commissioners, great conversation. We are now on item number 19.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioners has requested by the board. This item seeks consideration of a proposed board uh initiated charter amendment to remove uh outdated statutory references in the Lyon County Charter and specifies procedures for amending the charter in
the future. It's mostly a cleanup item that we've discussed with the board in the past. Uh again, the item uh rep or recommends option one and we have no speakers on this. >> Sure. >> I move option one. Second, Mr. Chair. Motion moved by Commissioner Proctor for
option one, seconded by Commissioner Cummings. Commissioners, any discussion? Seeing none, passes unanimously. Next item. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioners, I'll take just a little more time with this one. Uh again, this is a status report on the 202526
Lyon County Citizen Charter Review Committee. Uh the item provides that status report uh and the process and seeks board consideration of the committee's recommendations. The charter review um process commissioners takes place uh every eight years and the board
appointed uh 21 member CRCC um uh convened in September and um and uh we're providing the committee with um uh or the board rather provided the committee as you will recall call with broad discretion uh to re review any and
all relevant issues. The uh committee conducted nine regular meetings uh from October through February uh which began with a full overview of Lyanna County uh charter, the process to amend the charter, the history of charter county government in Florida, uh their bylaws
uh and guidance on the uh charter appropriate uh uh subject matter. Uh charter amendments commissioners are generally as the board is aware uh reserved for uh broad issues of governmental authority and structure and
powers and generally not uh operational detail or program specific policy. Um uh however the CRCC or the CCRC sought to explore uh areas um uh outside of the charter to make policy recommendations
to the board as well. So, we have a couple of charter policy recommendations uh from the committee. Uh policy recommendations generally concern matters uh that are more appropriately addressed uh through the board's uh strategic planning process, your budgetary process, of course, your
legislative uh process through the establishment of policy and ordinance adoption. Uh commissioners, uh the charter committee approved two policy recommendations and three proposed charter amendments for the board's consideration. Uh the number of charter
recommendations um um isn't surprising at all. It's it's consistent. If you'll recall uh back in our first uh charter review committee, uh the committee uh recommended uh seven amendments. Uh most recently uh eight years later in in in
2017, the committee recommended two. In both cases, the board refined the number of the committee recommendations to be placed on the ballot. Uh this status report provides the board with options for each of the proposed policy recommendations and the proposed charter amendments commissioners. Importantly,
the board may accept, reject, or modify any of the proposed charter recommendations advanced by the committee. Modifying a charter recommendation. However, uh commissioners will make it a board initiated amendment which requires a separate uh statutory
requirements including uh public hearings and and and and associated timelines uh based on the board's direction on the proposed charter recommendations. There are two paths to proceed with placing uh the the is recommended charter amendments on the
November ballot. Again, one path calls for the board uh to take up uh the charter amendments uh that you accept from the committee as board initiated charter amendments. Uh even if the board doesn't make modifications, again, you can accept these as board initiated charter amendments and schedule public
hearings in May to adopt the ordinance and place the charter amendments on the November ballot. The other path would um continue to leave it with the CR the CCRC the committee to proceed with their public hearings uh in June and July to be followed by board public hearings in
August uh to place the charter amendments on the ballot. Uh the item details the requirements and limitations of both paths. Mr. Chairman, staff is prepared to uh provide a presentation on each of the recommendations uh if the board so desires. Uh however uh I
recognize that the agenda agenda materials are extensive and the board may wish to jump right in and of course we're happy to answer any questions you might have. So uh with that um as always we are uh available to answer any questions and I'm sure uh the
commissioners there'll be a lot of um accolades going to the to the charter u committee but let us uh as your staff add our voices to that. We really appreciate all their hard work with that. Mr. Chairman, you have several speakers on this item and at your direction I could go to the speakers.
>> Thank you. Before we go to the speakers, may I ask anyone who participated was a a member of the charter review committee, will you please stand? >> Awesome. I just want to say thank you all for your service. I know it was a lot of time and a lot of meetings. So, thank you all to each of you. Let's give
him a round of applause for Mr. Let's go to our speakers. Mr. County Administrator Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The first speaker, Ernie Payne. Thank you. I'm Ernie Payne from 2006 East Indian Head Drive.
Last fall, I submitted a proposal to the CCRC for a charter amendment to create an Office of Inspector General or OIG. The committee voted unanimously to direct staff to bring back analysis for consideration.
The analysis that staff staff wrote back brought back, however, was not of the original proposal. The staff offered for comparison four of the largest counties in Florida, all with budgets much larger than Lyon's.
discussion emphasized the potential for duplication to the financial auditing services provided by the clerk of court according to constitutional mandate. The CCRC voted on a misleading image of an overblown and duplicative office.
Without fully hearing a response to the staff report, the CCRC voted against passing this proposal on to you. Given the arguments as presented, I would have voted against it as well. The initial proposal was actually for a
much smaller Leyon County o provided with subpoena power and whistleblower authority which can take advantage of, not replace the clerk's financial auditing services already provided and budgeted for. It would focus instead on investigations into
ethics violations, fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct, investigative services that the clerk does not provide. This role would only be possible for a fully independent office with whistleblower authority since those people in a position to be aware of
improper activities are also reluctant to report them without a guarantee of protection from retaliation. Staff discussion at the CRCC or the CCRC indicated a current non-entralized
approach for whistleblower complaints with these responsibilities when they arise being divided between the county administrator, the county attorney, and HR. All of these people do a good job of protecting county assets, but they lack
the independence required to pro process whistleblower complaints properly. My proposal creates a structure to establish this independence and creates a single point of contact for reporting issues. Leyon County government has historically
been free of the kind of corruption that has been seen in Tallahassee government in recent years, but we can't allow this to blind us to the fact that corruption does exist in the world and even in this town. Please reconsider this charter amendment. Thank you.
Thank you. >> Next speaker, uh, Katherine Bayer. >> Hi, my name is Katherine Bayer and I live in the Woodgate subdivision here in Tallahassee. Chair and board, I speaking as one of the representatives of Citizens for
Ethics Reform. I'm sure you guys have all heard about us and the work that we've done on the city level and we are asking you guys to reconsider the charter review committee recommendation establishing an independent officer office of inspector general with real
whistleblower protections. The committee dismissed it. We believe it was based on incomplete information. We are asking you to take a look into this before you vote. Leyon County has an internal audit division inside the clerk's office. It
reviews finances. It has a comp it is a competent function, but it's not whistleblower protection. There is no named inspector general, no confidential reporting channel, no single source for uh county employees to go to, no independent person standing
behind or between a whistleblower and the people that they are reporting. Florida's whistleblower actor act only provides a remedy after retaliation has already happened and it directs employees to report through the very chain of command that may be the
problem. A county employee who sees something wrong is asking one question. If if I come forward, who's going to protect me? And who does this person answer to? Leon County has no good answer for this. Miami Dade and Broward are definitely
the gold standard. and Miami Dade is the national model. Yes, their budgets reflect this, but the committee used them to argue Lyon County cannot afford an OIG as well. And that is the wrong conclusion. St. John's County,
comparable to Lyon County in size, has a named accredited inspector general under a formal charter. Right now, it is not the gold standard, but it proves the concept is affordable and is achievable as a starting point. independence, a named o uh oi,
confidentiality by default, separation from chain of command. It costs nothing extra. These are design choices. St. John's made them. Leyon County has not. We know that the board's concerned about being targeted by unfounded complaints.
A well-designed OIG solved that. Investigations are confidential. An unfounded complaint that gets screened and closed never becomes a headline. A professional IG, not a political actor, screens every filing before a case
opens. The current structure has no filter at all between bad faith complaint and public attention. So we are asking you to direct the county attorney to study what the properly structured independent OIG would require for Lyon County and report
back within 90 days with St. John's as a near-term model and Broward as the standard to build on. We ask that you represent Leyon County's employees because they deserve better. Thank you.
>> The next speaker, Ben Wilcox, to be followed by the final speaker on this item, Bruce Stroble Jr. >> Good afternoon, members of the Lyon County Commission. I'm Ben Wilcox. I'm also a member of the group Citizens for
Ethics Reform and I am here today in support of a proposed charter amendment to create an office of inspector general for Lyon County. Inspector Generals exist across every level of government in Florida for
detecting, investigating, and preventing matters of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, and misconduct within government organizations. The citizens of Lyon County deserve to have their voices heard on this issue. In my
experience, anytime an issue dealing with ethical and honest government is put before the voters, it enjoys overwhelming support. Please reconsider the decision of the charter review committee not to
recommend including this charter amendment on the ballot. Thank you. final speaker on this item, Bruce Strobble Jr. >> Um, good afternoon, commissioners. Um, again, my name is Dr. Bruce Stroble and I live in District 3 here in Leyon
County and I had the honor of serving on the citizens charter review committee. It was an opportunity to engage in a critical level of the democratic process. And I'm here because I wanted to speak on one of the proposals that tie 99 in a vote. It was a Well, before
I do that, I do want to acknowledge the work that has already been done by the county. Uh they've invested in housing, healthcare access, infrastructure improvements, human services, and communities that have experienced persistent hardships. But what I want to discuss now is not necessarily whether
the county has acted in good faith, but the question of whether Lyon County should have a consistent and transparent framework for evaluating long-term impacts of historic public policy decisions and integrating those findings into future planning. The proposal that
came out of the charter review process did not seek to create any spending mandates. It does not create any race-based programs and it does not override or conflict with federal or state law. What it does establish is a governance structure and it requires the
county to conduct periodic historical impact audits so that we can understand how past public policy decisions affect us today. Uh we discussed this at length. Uh we got feedback from staff um and the the committee split nine. uh
with that level of support and even some of the people who voted against it saying they did so reluctantly. We think it's something that would be in the best interest of our local democracy to pass that on to voters. So I think Commissioner Kaban said earlier this is about democracy. I second that sentiment
that we should uh reconsider this and pass it on to the voters. Thank you very much. >> Mr. Vice Chairman, that concludes our speakers. Let me just say too that I I failed to to recognize Maryanne Lley who is the chair of the committee. Again, the committee did a great job
throughout. We thank them for that, but but especially our our chairman uh Commissioner Lley. It was great working with her again. She jumped right on the the bike like uh like there was no time since she'd been chairman of a county commission. So, with that, Mr. Vice Chairman, I'll hand it back to you. >> Thank you, Mr. County Administrator. I
think it would be most orderly if we go option by option on this one. Option one. >> It's poor direction. >> Do we have a second? >> Yeah. No, I want to speak on it. >> We have a motion for option one. Do we have a second?
>> Well, it's board direction. >> Okay. >> So, you want to provide that direction? >> Yeah. Option one was um Okay. AB with the uh direct staff to prepare the board initiated charter amendment
providing unifor uniform uh community street naming and also accept the CRC's recommendation encouraging the county to work with the city on it. So I'll start there. >> Commissioner Max, repeat your motion on the floor right now. >> Um >> you going for the first one? >> Yeah, the first one. I'm just going to
take that up real quick. >> So we're on 2 A. >> Yeah. One A and B. 18 and B. >> It's only You got to pick one of the >> Okay. 18. >> Mine Mine is an >> page 18 of the report.
>> Uh 994 in your book is what I got. >> Uh what what's the sheet of paper? I don't have the sheet of paper. Can I get some paper, please? >> 94. >> Yes, ma'am. Page of 994. >> I don't have that, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to get some. >> Mr. Chairman, I I could >> Yeah, I'm looking at my office are looking a little different, so I'm
trying to see where my issue is. One second. The CRC, you got the CCRC's board. >> Gotcha. Options. Okay, I see where we're at. >> Happy to help out on that one if you'd like any clarification. >> One second. Commissioners.
>> Yeah. >> All right. So, I see it right now. >> I'll move I'll move item eight. >> Commissioners, one second, please. Commissioners, please. Let's keep the on topic. All right. So, Commissioner Maddox, you're recognized. You're going to move >> move option A >> 1 A. >> Yes. >> Okay. We have um >> Mr. Chairman on readiness.
>> Okay. One sec. We have a motion on We have Okay, we're on we're on option We're on general business number 20. >> We're going through the options one by one. Commissioner Maddox moved option 1A. Is there a second? >> I'll second that.
>> Mr. Chair, what is 1 A? >> We don't have a 1A. CCRC policy recommendation or potential board initiated amendment. >> Board initiated. >> The difference is the board the potential board initiated amendment would allow the county to establish
street renaming standards as opposed to working with the city to establish. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> Correct. Yes. >> So that's been moved by Commissioner Maddox. I second it real quick. Um, do we have someone that can talk about the his the backstory on how that I guess it
was talked about public safety related to that item? >> Sure. Happy happy to do that and I could be backed up by any of our staff. Mr. Chairman, I I'll give the quick overview and then and be happy to answer any questions that you might have in first. Let me start with the what the charter committee did first. And again, I think
it's it's clear there. The charter committee decided, at least in their um uh consideration, that they did not wish to make a recommendation to you to advance a charter u uh um amendment recommendation on this item, but rather
a policy recommendation uh which just encourages you to work with the city of Tallahassee to address this issue. That notwithstanding, your staff made a recommendation or or made provided another option to you from a timing standpoint that if the board did wish to
pursue a board initiated charter amendment on this issue, then now was the time to give us that direction. Go into what uh the chairman asked about in terms of of of why uh this issue. Obviously, I think the board's very well aware that street naming issues are um
very critical. oftentimes they do not really recognize jurisdictional boundaries. We have streets that go from inside the city into the county and sometimes segments of streets change names many times. Um that creates an issue for uh first responders in terms
of responding to uh different uh sounding names and that sort of thing. Also, the sequencing of numbers is very important with addressing. And for that reason, the process that the county uh goes through is one where we have an addressing committee that we that we um
that looks at all of the street renamings and makes a recommendation based on sequencing and duplication of names and public safety to avoid any of those issues. Uh I think as the as the item points out uh I think the the city um recently has has gone through a
number maybe a dozen or so street renamings very recently. Um and so the issue was elevated to your consideration with whether or not you wished for there to be a charter amendment that provides that to the extent that there's a conflict in a uniform street renaming
process that the county's uh process um would prevail. And just to make sure I didn't say anything wrong, of course, I'll always defer to our county attorney. So, but with that, happy to answer any more questions you might have. >> Thank you, Commissioner O'Keefe. You're recognized. Mr. Vice Chairman. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm I'm not
going to make any substitute motion for anything, but I'm going to oppose uh the motion here because I want to reserve our what will be an already very full and long ballot in 2026 with our our referendums and
amendments, state referendum amendments for things that are significantly structural structural. And while this isn't not important, I think this is the type of thing we ought to be working with the city on um and not it just doesn't rise to the level of um charter
amendment for me. So that's just my explanation, but I'm not going to try to shake it up by any substitute motions. >> Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Commissioner Walsh. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I mean, it's it's and correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. administrator, but my recollection of this issue, Commissioner Proctor, if you recall, was the city changed its
ordinances to totally leave us out of the involvement in street naming. Um, and hence you've seen several street namings in the last year or so without any consent from us. >> We had one right by the building last week. >> Correct. And so, uh, the board initiated
amendment as opposed to the CCRC recommendation, the potential board initiated amendment, which in this case is option B in our colloquial terminology here. If the first one is A, then this one's B.
Direct staff to prepare a board initiated charter amendment providing for uniform countywide street naming, renaming, and property numbering addressing standards to be established by county ordinance which shall prevail in the event of a conflict. So this is a should county
ordinances prevail or city ordinances prevail issue question about street renaming. And given that information, I will support option B as opposed to option A. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> There's a motion on the floor.
>> Option A. >> All right, Commissioner Cummings, you're recognized. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, I'm concerned about this as well. Uh, if and I'm concerned about the motion motion on the
floor. Um, and I'll say this and I may substitute Commissioner uh Maddox. >> I motion, >> but we're talking about >> ultimately >> I I'll resend it. >> Okay. >> So, >> Mr. Maddox rescended his motion. >> It's not his motion.
>> I'll resend on point. I mean, I honestly the street naming thing I I could go either way with it. I just wanted to get us started on something. I respended your motion. >> Whatever y'all want to do with it. Street name is Well, Mr. Chair, I move on this item option
1B. >> Okay. Second by Commissioner, Mr. Vice Chairman, um discussion. Commissioner Cummings, you're recognized. >> Uh yeah. Uh yes, we are talking about health, safety, welfare. We heard the county administrator talking about some
streets having two, three different names. There does need to be some uniformity. And I think for the expediency of it, uh it would be best if we could work with the city. The the uh charter review committee is recommending
that we try to work with the city. Now, we can do the referendum, but it's not guaranteed that it would even pass anyway if we, you know, uh to give the county authority if there is a conflict. That might not might not even even pass.
And so we're right back where we are. We've worked with the city. We've had a good working relationship with the city on other issues. On this one, I just don't see why we can't. So, um, hence my motion to accept uh the
recommendation from the committee. >> Commissioner A. >> Yeah, the the recommendation was A. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Well, what is B? Except I'm sorry. Let me put my glasses on. >> Commissioners, commissioners, real quick. >> Commissioners, real quick. Um, so I have
two other speakers related to this item, this option on one. To me, this is about initiative that asks us to work the county to work with the city to align street naming policies. Right?
>> My question is this. Why does this need to be why does this need to go as a charter amendment? Why don't we just direct staff to do that now? >> Because whether we put it as a charter amendment or not. >> Yeah, but what I'm But why put it on the
ballot and not just make a motion? >> Happy to clarify. I'll make this very clear. >> Obviously, A is a is a charter amendment. B is a policy recommendation. Gotcha. >> The reason that the the reason that the board may wish to consider the charter amendment is because there's no other
way to compel the city other than a charter amendment to abide by a uniform standard of street renaming. No other way. They've exercised their existing authority to say we shall determine the city our street renaming process within the city limits.
The option B is a good recommendation, but it's one that that you've tried for lack of a better term. Please >> A and B, right? >> Yes. >> A is the policy recommendation is the board initiative >> in your options. This is
>> No, A is the charter initi. >> A is the charter amendment. B A is the charter amendment. So that's why I was confused by >> Okay. Right here they're switched. >> Right. Right. I I just noticed that on page 18 on scrgers error. >> They're in the right order. Yeah. Within the document. I think they're they're
>> Gotcha. Makes sense because that when that's what I thought cuz when I was looking at this, I was confused when we first started the item. I was confused myself. >> So on on the under options uh on your final page, the first one is is a board initiated charter amendment uh which is
a 1. A would be a board initiated charter amendment. Correct. >> B would be just to accept the policy recommendation to continue to work. >> So commissioner, >> my apologies. I was looking at the wrong thing, but it was the right thing but in the wrong place. My apologies. You're right. 1A is the one I would support. Commissioner, sorry, I'm done.
>> Correct. Yeah. So, I'm going to I'm going to back guys. Listen, listen. Let's settle. Let's Let's been a little out of order this meeting. >> 1A is a charter amendment that gives the county basically the authority
to name to to to manage all street naming countywide in Leon County. That will go on the ballot. Option B1B is a policy recommendation that does not go on the ballot that directs staff to work with the city to come up with a
joint county city uh street renaming policy. We had that in the past is what we we had that okay we had be already. Then what happened was we voted no on a street naming
Commissioner Proctor's Mama's Road. Okay. And the city vote changed their policy to keep the county out of it so that they could name roads without our approval. Okay, that is the history of
what has happened I think in the last 18 months. So, and I know we got two other people in the queue, but I think there was confusion. I was confused myself because it was listed different in the agenda. My the motion on the floor for Commissioner Cummings is for option B.
That's been seconded by Commissioner O'Keefe. We've already done that before in the past. I just want to say that so we're all clear. >> B is the status quo. >> Option A puts it on the ballot to put the county in the driver's seat on that issue. My I personally would like to
support option A. Okay. So now that the record's all clear and I believe Commissioner Welch wanted to support option A as well. Okay, >> Mr. Mr. Chair, I withdraw my motion. >> Okay, she withdraws her motion. Do we have a motion for option B? >> I move option A. >> Proctor moves option B. Commissioner
Welch, will you A B >> A? >> Second. >> Move. Option 1B moved by Commissioner Proctor. >> 1 A 1 A >> 1 A seconded by Commissioner Welch. I apologize. Um that so right now we have
Commissioner Pro Commissioner Proctor's motion 1A seconded by Commissioner Welch. Is the motion on the floor? >> Yes, >> Mr. Chairman, I think that uh >> I'm going to call the vote on this item right now because we're all clear. Okay. So, all those in favor of option 1 A
moved by Commissioner Proctor, seconded by Commissioner Welch, signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Nay. >> Nay. So I mean so passes 61. >> All right. >> I'm not I'm in affirmative. I apologize on that. We're on option number two now. Food and security recommendation.
>> Point of information, Mr. Chairman. >> Yes. >> As these are uh abab. Uh is a are we to presume that a is what the charter review commission they recommended and b is what? >> That's a county question for the county administrator.
>> You know, you just got to read it. It's not consistent. They I I want to know what see what we should have had here was what did the charter review committee approve what they considered what they approved >> commissioner let's get a motion on the floor let's get let's keep these going mr county missionary let's get a motion on the floor
>> I'll make a motion for option 2 a with the added uh I would like to add an annual report in the annual plan to the um recommendation >> second one >> motion on the floor one second commissioner proctor moved by 2A moved
by commissioner Maddox by Commissioner Welch. You have a point of order, >> Mr. Point of >> There's a point of order right now by Commissioner Welch. >> We we um gave a uh citizen review committee uh to deliberate these. I like to know what is their recommendation and what is not.
>> Well, it's in the item, I believe. >> Yeah. So, we're very clear in the item on every issue you have in bold letters staff recommendation versus charter committee recommendation throughout the item consistently same format. When you get under options, you've got all of the
issues represented and A either represents uh board direction or recommends staff recommendation. B generally follows the format of of this was the CRC's recommendation if we're not recommending it. In some cases, we're recommending the CRC's
recommendation. In some cases, we're not. So, one, in this case, 2 A represents the the staff recommendation. 2B represents the uh recommendation of the u the CRC.
>> Mr. Chairman, what this board asked I didn't know that um and I think it should be distinguished. We asked the CRC committee to give us their recommendation. We didn't ask staff to give their recommendation on the committee's recommendation. Uh that's confusing to me. I wanted to hear from
what the citizens charter review had to say. And then I need it to be delivered in a way that is clear on what the citizens review charter committee had to say. And we didn't tell staff to make recommendations. We told the charter
people to make a recommendation. And and then and then and then and then and then and then and then and then and then and then and then if if it's not the charter view when staff is overriding them nullifying uh of making this thing offuscated then hell we need to be told the difference. I I want to support what our char review commission people said
first. And if they say something dumb or don't make sense, tell me why. >> One second. One second. We have a motion moved by one motion on the floor. >> Okay. >> Each one of these needs commissioner the commissioner Maddox modifying. >> We don't wasted these people.
>> Now that I understand the format, thank you Mr. Administrator for the for the understanding modification. I want to make my motion for item uh 2B. And what is that? 2B is to accept the CRC's policy recommendation encouraging the county to establish a division of food
systems under Leyon County Office of Human Service and Community Partnerships. And along with that, I would like to add an annual plan and an annual report come from the office that's going to be created uh for food systems. >> Second.
>> Okay. Motion move uh to be as amended by Commissioner Maddox. Move move moved by second by Commissioner O'Keeffe, second by Commissioner O'Keefe. Discussion Commissioner Maddox. >> Um, first of all, I I I did I did get to watch the discussion on this and I
appreciated uh the the robust conversation and even the places when we landed on this being a policy issue as it was originally um going in the charter. I do think uh that this does reach the level of policy. I do like the idea of the fact that staff is already
doing a lot of things within the office of uh our health and human services office, but to pull this out as a specific office itself given the nature of the seriousness of the food insecurity and food deserts we have in Leon County is not a bad thing. And then
to add that annual plan and annual annual report also uh takes it a step further. I know FAMU is working on some stuff. You know, we can get involved in that. And so I I I I just think this is the right framework to be in. I appreciate the uh the CRC for bringing it to us. So uh I'm going to fully
support that option B with the annual report in the annual plan. >> Thank you, Commissioner Maddox. Commissioner Cummings. >> Yes. Yes. Thank you, uh Mr. Chair. I think looking at uh number two, I think
um if the county wasn't already intricately involved in addressing food insecurity in so many different ways and especially through um our nonprofits in our
community, um I would see how that policy recommendation could make a major major difference in what we do here on the county level, but we are already addressing uh food insecurity
um with the funds that we allocate. We we just approved an agenda item um that included um many nonprofits that address
food, the lack of food um in a in our community. So, I think we're already doing a a a great job. I'm not sure if we need to label it as a division uh of of food services. And I think Mr.
County uh administrator, can uh can you or can somebody from your staff indicate just the level of uh financial involvement that we that we contribute to address food insecurity on an annual
basis? >> Sure, happy to do so. And I see Shington making his way there. Uh but commissioners in some cases there's there's just a a minor difference between the CRC's recommendation and and the uh and staff's recommendation. Staff of course would not abdicate our
responsibility to weigh in on issues of legal issues, policy issues, financial issues. There's all kinds of issues that the board still needs to be advised of which are reflected in staff's recommendations. So but but it's also very clear what the CRC's recommendations are. And so in this
case, yes, we recommended that um that the county continue as a policy statement, not as a charter amendment, but as a policy statement our long-standing commitment to reducing food insecurity in the community through our existing structure, through our partnerships, through engagement, through our critical programming and
partnership throughout the community that differed. So, and because we have staff assigned to that currently and that's their responsibility, um we made the recommendation that we did. The CRC's proposal went a little further and said to establish specifically, namely a
division of food systems because we don't control the entire problem. We rely on our partners that kind of centralized structure. We believe that the the structure that we have in place currently is a more effective structure. uh and it's one that you would not have
to take on additional uh you know financial obligation for and that sort of thing. But again, I've got Shankton here, the expert at the podium and I'm sure he'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. Any other firm thr? >> Yes. I I I wanted staff if he could just
give us a general idea of the amount of uh revenue that we put toward uh addressing food insecurity in, you know, in the county and especially in our marginalized community. >> Yeah. Um commissioner, I'll say, Mr.
Chair, that um we do extensive work in this area of food insecurity. As you may remember, commissioners, just very, very recently, you adopted during your board retreat a strategic initiative in supporting what FAMU what FAMU is doing right now with establishing a food
council. And we have been part of that conversation. The food council that doesn't just include the county, includes the city, includes Second Harvest, it includes good news outreach, includes Lyon County Schools, includes our partners here in our community in addressing the need of of um food and
food access in our community. In addition, commissioners, you did establish a position within the Office of Human Service and Community Partnerships a few years ago, specifically following the level of work that we did in reaching out to the neighborhoods with the highest food and
security rates in the community. And because of that, what we learned from there is from those uh neighborhoods is that it's bigger than food. There's an issue of a need of knowing where are the resources are available in our community. And that what led us to establishing that position as well as
establishing a committee the trusted people committee that has represents from those neighborhoods and it's from those neighborhoods that we are able to work with them to address food access as well as issues regarding housing and human services. In addition to that, commissioners, just very recently, you
also um established a more formal partnership with farm share and we recently started that process of having food distribution events in our rural communities so that way we provide those abilities so that way they can get access to food. Um I can go on some more
just while I add one more. One of the things that also came out in addressing the need for food access and working through the office that we have already exist existing and working with the partnerships that we have, we established a partnership and expand our partnership with 211 Big Ben and their lift program so people can have free
transportation to food pantries to supermarkets in addition to doctor's appointments and other things like that. So this is something that we on the streets commissioners working on every single day. >> Oh, thank you. Thank you Shankton. And so my my other question uh I guess Mr.
County Administrator, whomever, what is involved from a monetary standpoint, from a fiscal standpoint to establish a division of food system that would be different from what we're already doing just to establish that
division. Is it statutory in in the statute of what what's required to establish a division? >> No, it was a Mr. Mr. Chairman and Commissioner, it was part of a proposal that was advanced uh from a member of the committee and by the committee in terms of what was involved. Should the
board adopt that um policy recommendation to establish a division of food systems? That would be something that would have to come back to you as a budget discussion item. >> Okay, that that's all I have. >> Thank you. Uh I have Commissioner Proctor and then Commissioner Miner in
the queue. >> Mr. Chairman, uh I wanted to Dr. Stro had had been so passionate with this issue and I don't know what the the ultimate vote was this you know 21 to zero or what but um Mr.
Chairman we didn't this we don't have a workshop we're just getting this report but Dr. Stro is here and um in the final form in which this is coming to us in A and B uh
have we reflected may I ask Dr. Strobble question >> of course >> Dr. Stroble um related to Commissioner Cummings question uh was I think uh what what
brings this and your passion um in the meetings that I saw you in speaking to our need to elevate this that food itself is just a basic human right in our community. Does what is recommended tonight um reflect uh y'all's board?
What where you resolved and where you settled at, sir? >> Yes, Commissioner Proctor. The current CCR recommendation uh it went through a lot of deliberation. I originally was moving for a charter amendment um at the advisement of other members on the committee. We actually voted to simply give you all the policy recommendation
to create the division due to the extreme food insecurity that is being across the the country and that affects Leyon County as well. Uh recent reports will put that in times of severe uh food insecurity, we could have as many as 30,000 residents in the county who are uh food insecure. That fluctuates when
things get better, but we would like to see the county serve as that coordinating agent. Okay, Chington, how do we reconcile their policy recommendation with where we are and what y'all re recommending? How do we reconcile or is it already uh such?
>> So the things that um Dr. Stro mentioned is the stack exactly what's being discussed every single month monthly as part of the food council that FAMU has put together in addressing the issues of policy and putting together a plan. That
is something that is we're working that is being done right now to work to develop that in coordination with our partners including the city including um second harvest including our other nonprofit partners commissioner. So that work is happening right now motion.
>> So what is what is >> yeah please restrict the motion. The motion is for to accept the CRC's re policy recommendation and to add to that an uh annual report in an annual plan.
>> Um Shinkington, can you mind? >> That was 2B. That was 2B, right? 2B is amended. Yeah. >> Can I ask? Yeah, you can. Commissioner, >> the annual plan and annual report as you said is being worked on right now. Who's who's in charge of that? >> FAMU. >> FAMU. Do they have do they have an
office? What what what part of FAMU or >> it's their office of >> center for >> hydroecology. >> Center for hydrocology. So do they they don't have anybody specifically dealing with
>> Yeah. Dr. Senu. >> Okay. Senu. Okay. Cool. Um Commissioner, thank you for that on point. Um, I I'll reserve the rest of my comments to after Commissioner Miner, but I wanted to make I wanted to ask that question. Thank you, >> Commissioner Miner. Before I'm going to take a quick moment of personal
privilege. Commissioners, I think this is just my opinion. This is such a big in my opinion issue in our comm community relative to food insecurity that I personally think that this should be its own agenda item. Um,
come back to us in a in a later meeting. We still have so much time to make our decision relative to charter amendments. Um I think that we should just hearing all the comments and questions from the commissioners. I myself have so many questions. I mean Fort Braden and
Woodville are both two food deserts and I know food insecurity. Anyone who's been to my back to school event, we had a thousand people show up um both times. So, you know, I almost feel like this should be we give staff direction to come back with this as its own agenda
item coming with with policy and language and and give this more options to discuss. That's just my personal opinion. I think we can still bring back a staff recommendation with Commissioner Maddox's motion here at the next meeting, but you know, Commissioners, I have so many thoughts relative to food
insecurity that I think it maybe warrant its own agenda item in the future. Commissioner Miner, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Appreciate it. Well, first of all, I'd like to thank Dr. Bruce Stroble, um, and Mr. Serenity Williams and the CCRC and everyone who
worked on this issue. It's, as we've said, and as you all have said during the u during the meetings, it's it's very important. Um, I previously served as the CEO of Second Harvest, the Big Bend, and while there, we we worked with 135 local partners. These were churches,
nonprofits, soup kitchens >> to deliver over 12 million pounds of food >> to people in need. >> That was a record amount of food at the time. >> Um, so I know firsthand how well our our our regional food bank works within the
community and with its partners. Uh there's always room for improvement, but but Second Harvest and its partners are very effective and very nimble at responding to the needs of of people that are food insecure. And they do a good job collecting data and they're
happy to share that data with whomever requests it. And in 2022, um, Leyon County, this this commission, uh, voted on a new strategic initiative to identify the 10 most food insecure
neighborhood block groups. And that's basically it's a it's a it's a part of land that's smaller than a census tract. It's a very granular uh, area. It's like an apartment complex. We identified with Second Harvest and Feeding Florida's help the 10 most food insecure, the
hungriest portions of our county and Shington led the effort with his team. Uh we met in every single one of those 10 areas, those 10 neighborhoods, reached out to the neighbors, asked them what barriers they had on food insecurity, had conversations with them
about what they needed in order of to uh receive the nutritious food they needed for themselves and their families. We did that in 2022 and the work that stemmed from that strategic initiative that that you all voted for has led to where we are today.
There is great work going on uh with our with regard to food insecurity. Lyon County though is not leading that effort because Lyon County should not lead that effort. You have Second Harvest of the Big Bend. You have FarmShare. You have a whole host of other entities that are
out there. 135 partners. I talked with you about the churches, the nonprofits, they all are all working with Second Harvest and Farm Share to identify where the need is and to make sure that those folks get the right food that they need. Now, is there room for improvement? Of
course. Dr. Strobel and I, uh, Miss Williams and I, we talked about that and part of the findings from that effort in 2022 identified just what you all talked about. there are people out there that are not fully aware of the resources available to them with regard to food
but also regard to other services too. That's one of the things that we found from that effort in 2022. So that brings us to this agenda item. Um after reviewing this proposal, I I called the current CEO of the Second Harvest of Big Bend and spoke with her
and she corroborated what my feelings were about this agenda item. You know, I I really do respect the time and effort from the CCRC, but because of my background on this issue, I feel like I know a thing or two about about this. I'm not convinced that
creating a new Leyon County Division of Food Systems is the best way to improve the food system that we have at this time. I'm open to the idea in the future, but we need to work with Second Harvest. I spoke to Monique Ellsworth. She corroborates what I what I believe.
Uh a a whole new division within Lyon County government to oversee something that we don't have control over directly does not lead me to believe that's going to be more efficient. Instead, what we need to do is continue working with the partners that are on the field on the
ground every single day working to get food into people's hands. Uh we can work with them. We have been working with them well. But what I would like to do is have a substitute motion for 2A with emphasis on increasing exactly what Dr. Strobble and I talked about, increasing
the emphasis on reaching out to people who may not be fully aware of the resources that we have available within this community and presenting that annual plan back to the county commission when it's ready. That accommodates Commissioner Maddox's uh statement from before. >> Listen,
>> is that a motion for 2A? >> That's my motion. Substitute motion on the floor for 2A as amended by Commissioner Miner, >> seconded by Commissioner Cummings. Any discussion on the substitute? >> Commissioner, let me finish real quickly. Listen, food insecurity is >> Commission Miner. I I I Commissioner,
>> I'll Commissioner Miner. >> Thank you. Food insec is very serious in the Big Bend. When I was at Second Harvest, uh Leon County, Madison County, Gasson County were up at the very top of the counties with the most food insecurity. It's a serious issue here.
And I know we all want to respond and do the best we can. The the step to take is not to create a new office in Lyon County as a way to show how we care. The way to address it is to continue working in a good in a good strong way with the partnership
that Shankton has been leading in Lyon County with the community partners. As someone who works who has worked in that field, that's the right way to go. as someone who spoke to the CEO of Second Harvest yesterday, she believes the same. So, I I know it feel, you know,
creating a new office in our county government feels like it's a it's a solid step to show how much we care, but it's not the right step. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Commissioner Welch. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll just real quickly say I I'm kind of in between on this issue, but you convince me.
Honestly, I think you're uh spot on, Commissioner Miner. I agree with you wholeheartedly. We're doing a lot. We do it better than most and we work really well with our partners who are doing the most. And so I just don't think that
that the recommendation B is necessary. I know it feels good and it and it sort of scratches the itch that our CCRC wanted to get at in emphasizing the issue, but I think this very conversation we're having emphasizes the issue. And so I agree with Commissioner Miner and I will support the substitute
motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Alex, >> Mr. Chair, um, can I ask staff questions? >> Of course. >> Thank you. Um, Mr. Administrator Shington probably be the best one. Shan, you said we we do a lot of this work
already, right? And you said that um about a year ago we hired was a year we hired someone to kind of coordinate some efforts around um >> No, it's been three years now. Three years ago, we did hire somebody and they looked into a lot of things. And what
came back was there were multiple things uh that that we needed to that we needed to look into uh that folks were saying we were having that they were having problems with. It wasn't just it wasn't just food insecurity per se, but there were other things that that that that person who we hired began to see as
problems and issues and coordinate around. >> No. So what we did was when we held those meetings in the communities and we and we determined that the highest need was the fact that people didn't know the resources that are available to communities. >> Yeah. >> That led to the board based on um staff
recommendation establishing a position within the office of human human service community partnership that is the office of neighborhood and community engagements coordinator >> um Mr. Marcus West is in that position right now. How much of that how much of that office is focused on food
insecurity? How much has that office done in the way of food insecurity? >> I mean all of it because because because at the end of the day what it's doing is it's specifically addressing the need of what focuses around the issue of food.
So, in addition to um meeting with neighbors in the neighborhoods with the highest food insecurity rates and identifying ways that we can make sure and working with also our partners at Second Harvest that they are connected to the food pantries that are in in those communities as well as also
connecting them with holding events like our taste bud explorers events that we have as well as um working with currently with um Farm Share so that way we can identify areas where we can hold our distribution events now that we have something informal with farm share and
then also ensuring that they have access to those resources that also impacts them. So, in addition to those events, commissioners, we're also holding events in the areas of issues like um housing. We're addressing issues of healthcare
because it's a larger issue of them knowing where some of those resources are. And of course, the other piece is transportation and ensuring that they're connected and being aware of the lift program that we work with 21on to provide them access to the pantries, the grocery stores. >> You mentioned housing, right?
>> Yes. Yes, we do have specific uh office that deals with housing within >> We do. Yeah. >> Yes. >> My my my point is is that we are doing a lot of this stuff already and we're talking about establishing an office. Does it mean that we have to establish an office that has a fiscal impact to
our budget? No. Sounds like we're already doing a lot of the stuff that that that they're requiring us to do or they're asking us to to to evaluate. Only thing we don't have is an annual plan and annual report. We could simply just say uh that we have an office of of food
what do we call it food food systems um and we could we could use the existing staff that we have to build around that and the only thing we will be adding from what I understand to the duties that already that have already being done would simply be the annual plan in
the annual report. When I asked the question earlier about who was in charge of that coordinated plan that at FAMU had going on was my my thought behind it was well if we if if if it's done this year and when it's done who's going to take it up next year and who's going to take it up a year after? Who's going to
take is is this committee going to stay together? Who's going to staff this committee? That kind of thing. I don't think it's a bad idea to continue to to want these types of issues to be played out publicly with with a public uh official or someone who's working for
the public as the lead person in charge of it. But I understand exactly where Commissioner Miner is coming from in that uh Second Harvest should have a a pretty robust say in how this goes because they do uh do the majority of our food banking. Um, but I I don't I
don't I still don't think this is a bad idea. Now, we talked about an agenda item. I think this is too big an idea to have within the conversation that we're trying to have it in right now. Maybe we bring it back as a workshop. We're
evaluating the ideas of the the CRC recommendation along with the other partners that we talked about. Hear a little bit more about what FAMU is doing. see if we can find some kind of long-term middle ground there that we can work within. And so, Commissioner
Miner, what I would ask is is that because I I I'm seeing the writing on the wall here is that along with your motion that we would maybe have a a workshop or agenda item come back looking at um what our food systems actually look like in Lyon County and what do we have what what does it look
like long term with the annual plan in the annual report? If I may interject, if I can just maybe try to land this plan in the middle, why don't we just do a food and security workshop like >> I think is what he was asking. That's what I was asking. >> Um, Mr. Chairman, >> of course. >> Uh, Commissioner Maddox, yes, I would
happily add that to my uh to my motion. >> And, you know, when this annual plan is ready, that would be a good trigger for us to have that workshop and review that plan. And also, that will give the the the food policy council at FAMU some time to discuss the issue because right
now, Dr. Strobble told me they're they're setting up their committees right now. So after they have a few months where they get a chance to sit down and talk about what how this food system works and make recommendations, we can we can have that alongside the annual plan and and be in a good position to make some decisions. Thank
you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, commissioners. Um I'm going to speak on this item. One, I agree with both Commissioner Miner and Commissioner Maddox as you both are talking. I think both of you all made
made great points and I I like where the substitute motion landed. Commissioner Miner, I appreciate your collegiality to accept the substitute motion. Food insecurity is wholeheartedly,
in my opinion, a larger issue in Lyon County than what most realize. And if you go to some of our rural communities on the west side of Leyon County and the south side of Leyon County, you know, there are kids that go
to bed at night who don't get dinner and their only source of meals come from school. And so I think that this is this needs to be had this this has we have to have a larger conversation. And I think really
um the sweet spot is incorporating what you said, Commissioner Miner, while also incorporating what Commissioner Maddox said. I don't think there's I don't think there's a problem with creating an office in-house at Lyon County while also working with our nonprofit
partners. And so, however, I do look forward to having this conversation in a workshop format. Yes, sir. Only problem is, Commissioner Miner, I do think this this this type of conversation diver deserves public input. >> Can't have that at a workshop. >> It'll be formalized in an agenda item. So,
>> we can wave the rules. >> Yeah, it'll be formalized agenda item also. So, Commissioner Proctor O'Keefe, I see you both in the queue. Are we at a good spot where we're we can get unanimous on this item? >> No. Okay. Commissioner O'Keefe, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair.
um this I can't support this because I think it should be created um for a number of reasons. One um we are the the recommendation of the CCRC is not even to go onto the ballot.
It's to have us direct staff to and I think it's worth listening to them. Um that's kind of the point of the CCRC. The other thing is I think most of our discussion has been on food insecurity. It has been on food banks. It has been on transportation to
food banks. It has been on to um addressing people who currently are facing food insecurity. And what this initial proposal was was to address the food system and to look more globally because what leads to food insecurity
might be how we what number of businesses we have that provide fresh food. What type of uh all kinds of other systemic things I don't know about yet because we don't have the information on a system. So, I just want to point out the reason I'm opposing this is it goes
against what the CCRC recommended, which represents our citizens. And they weren't even recommending that it go on the ballot. They're recommending that we direct staff and consider it. And I think that their point is well taken that what we currently do is addressing food insecurity, which is important, but
we don't look at the entire system and what might lead to food insecurity. And that's what we're missing. And that was their point. That's why I'll be opposing the substitute motion. Okay. Commissioner Proctor. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chairman, we had a illustrious panel of 21 members.
Uh they didn't suggest to this body a uh amendment charter. They worked as a community advisory board to this to us that we might consider um um formulating a division. I I disagree with
Commissioner Miner um in part two uh that the um Second Harvest is, you know, godfather of all things food and blah blah. Uh the persons charged with providing for health, safety, and welfare for this community is Leyon
County's government, not Second Harvest. um when and I know I'm speaking with great sensitivity to my own district, district 1, 32304 all the way down to Woodville. And when the federal government um
eliminated SNAP benefits, I mean, I know you're good districts and you don't feel that pain. Um and that's a great place to be. It's just wonderful not to feel pain. But district one, we feel pain
when SNAP benefits are eliminated. And second, Harvest just don't have the wherewithal to do if there is an office of food in Lyon County uh that deals with this issue uh in the interest of health, safety, and welfare. And what we
saw when SNAP benefits uh uh dipped, we saw the children's services council step up and aid the schools and said we'll feed them the children. And I believe um Miss Cummings, which I gave to $300,000
to offset the failure of the federal government. I ain't seen Second Harvest step like that. So if second harvest continues their role uh which would be augmenting um an ancillary role but when it comes
to the heavy lifting such as what we have seen in this past fiscal year God knows um you need u I think the recommendation coming from the citizens group to us we should u hear they were
great minds um and they put long hours on this question. The issue of global warming uh creates and fosters even greater food and security potential threats to the existence. It's a global
crisis and I think that we would be ahead of the curve to go with the recommendation and and toward how do we receive it. I think that all of us have chipped in to say that a workshop and looking at the elements of it.
Now, we we should do it. Um, Commissioner Maddox laid it out. He laid it out. And it's not a either or. We can do both of these things and not put it on the for charter vote. That's not what it is. It's food. And most of us in here
in a few minutes going to be wondering about some food. Somewhere between 9:00 in the morning. Food. It's on everybody's mind. Food and it never goes away. It's a consistent human uh concern. Food. Uh the world go to sleep
every night hungry. So I would like to see um as pointed out by Commissioner O'Keefe that a division of food systems uh with an intentionality in a volatile time where the federal government don't
want to give poor people uh food. This is serious. It's like It's like It's like losing a $3 million grant for what? You're black. We don't want to You don't get no money for being black. You
don't get no food for being poor. We We're in volatile times. And and I believe that it strengthens our posture to serve the citizens, to go with the citizens recommendation. And that's why I'll be supporting the um
option the good option um B famu um uh I believe the A stands for agriculture and um the agriculture part should be a broader and and and permeate this
community in a greater way. And I think the word agriculture somehow equals um equals food. And I would love for the county, we've got the IFAS program. Ephas sitting out there on our property by the fairground. Uh Ephas is over
there in Gatson County. Somewhere between EAS, FAMU, and Leyon County. Uh when the SNAP program shut down, it shouldn't fall on Commissioner Cummings uh their organization at the Children's Services Council. It it needs to be um
Yeah. So, I would support um u I'm not going to vote for the motion, not because I don't want people to eat, but I think that um Leon County recognizing the volatility of u the times that we're
in u and what happened to my district when you cut snap and their additional threats to SNAP. Um, we need the county to put on this big boy and big girls unders and stand up like grown men and women and provide for the health, the
safety and the welfare. And that's why my vote is symbolic to say I want more, not less. And this motion is for less. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Miner. Then I'm going to close us out. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, Commissioner Proctor just said voting for this motion is less. you know, as if
as if voting for this motion is doing less for food insecurity. And I want to clear that up. The this agenda item is not about if you if you care more about uh feeding those that are hungry, vote to create a division of food systems.
That's that's not what this motion is about. That's not what this agenda it is about. It's about trying to decide which is the best approach to continue our work on addressing food insecurity. And what this motion, what this agenda item suggests is that should you create
a division of food systems in order to get better at getting food to people in need. That's what this agenda item is about. So I I I got to push back on this idea that if you really care about feeding people, you got to vote for a
new office in Lyon County government. That is false. That is false. We we're better than this. We should be able to get down to the details and understand the merits of the policy we're voting on. And I know we we we know food insecurity is a serious issue. I I lived it at as
the CEO of Second Harvest, the Big Bend, and I know a lot of you have constituents that you hear from all the time. But voting for a division of food systems is not going to show people that you're you're you're making a big bold effort. It's a it's it's the wrong step
at this time. Let's have the Florida the food policy council at at FAMU meet. They're forming committees now. They'll talk about this. I'm sure Dr. Strobble will be there. I'll probably join some meetings. Uh let's let them deliberate on what they need.
>> Um but I'm telling you guys, listen, you know, yes, you had a 21 member CCRC deliberate on this, but you also have Shington who has experience in this field, has worked on it for years. You have Manique Ellsworth who is a CEO of Second Harvest who is doing an outstanding job, one of the best in the
state that I spoke with yesterday about it who agrees with me who also spent three or four years in Second Harvest. Listen to the folks that bring some expertise to the table. Please. >> Thank you, Commissioner. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Commissioner Mer. Commissioners, I'm going to close us out.
>> I hear where Commissioner O'Keefe is. Mr. Vice Chairman, I hear where Commissioner Proctor is. I don't think there's a single doubt amongst anyone in this board that food insecurity is a problem in Lyon County. I am hoping that we can pass this
substitute motion unanimously. Here's why. We're going to have a workshop. Okay, staff is going to come back and I'm prep I'm going to me myself. I'm going to ask a dozen questions. I want to see a map of where the heat spots are
in Lyon County on food insecurity. I want to know everything that Second Harvest is doing to fight insecurity. I want to know what all our nonprofits are doing to fight insecurity. I want to know to the penny how much we're spending to fight food insecurity. And I want to know if we're going to have a a
division of food systems under Leyon County. What is it going to look like? What do the details look like? How much money is it going to fund it? Who's going to run it? And how that partnership looks like with our nonprofits. At that point, I'm gonna make my
decision. I think to get to that decision, I think we need to have a workshop and we need to have the information. And I think that this is needed. Like we there's a lot more we should be doing to fight food insecurity. And if the details come back, I'm probably going to
support it because I think it's important, but I want to have all the information >> to get to that point. And so that's why I think where we are with Commissioner Maddox's amended motion with Commissioner sub with Commissioner Minor substitute I think it's a good landing
pad to carry the conversation forward. Again, I hope it's unanimous and I appreciate all I'm going to take it to a vote. I'm going to take it to a vote and I appreciate all the dialogue that we have had. Um all those in favor of the substitute motion, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? I nay.
>> Okay. So, it passes 43 with uh Commissioner Vice Vice Chairman, Commissioner Proctor and Commissioner Maddox Descent. Um, next item. Mr. County Administrator. Thank you. For the next for the remaining three, Mr. Chairman, I'm happy to walk you through these. There's a couple of moving parts,
but I think I can make it very easy, very straightforward uh for everybody so you know exactly what you're voting on. And again, I just want to emphasize in some cases there's very small difference between staff recommendation and the CRC. and we're happy to implement either. So, the next item, item three
there, entitled Esteemed Humanity Charter Amendment, the the the charter committee voted to advance a proposed charter amendment uh revising the charter's preamble to reflect the esteemed humanity of all citizens in Lyon County. Again, this was a a value
statement that this is how we respect all citizens of Lyon County. The uh preamble is the appropriate place to reflect value statements such as this. The difference between A and B in this case is simply staff's recommending A
which is if the board likes this amendment, adopt it as a board initiated amendment and advance it through that process. It will accelerate the process and it will get the CRCC uh off the hook for their summer public hearings. That's the only difference between the two.
>> Mr. Chairman, I'll hand that one back to you for Mr. >> Chairman. Can I move 3A? >> We have a motion on the floor to move option 3A. >> Did you second it? >> Yes. >> Second. >> I second. >> Okay. Second. Commissioner Cummings, Commissioner Proctor recognized. >> Mr. Mr. Chairman, uh there's no doubt
that the charter uh group again worked diligently back and forth and um I believe that in an era of ICE um citizens of this community have been rounded up, picked up that the charter
committee believe that in this climate uh the regard and respect for the humanity of all people um it it it it doesn't take food off either our tables to um say that we acknowledge and respect the diversity uh the 40% um
non-white people that live in this community even though the federal government um and the anti-dei uh sentiments against people of color diversity um yet there is this struggle and effort by this group to say uh can
we hang on to our ideas of 14th amendment equal protection uh of law as well as just the fundamental uh elements of of of of respect for all humanity alike. So in the spirit and
understanding the context of what worried what troubled um what inspired uh this particular text um I believe u m Mr. chairman and commissioners that um staff takes the effort to
the shortest path of least resistance to put that statement in front of the public and that's why I've asked you to support 3A. >> Commissioner Cummings, I have you in queue. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh Mr. Chair, just very briefly, I certainly uh support
um this particular item and I just want to take this opportunity to also thank all the members. Um I chair, former commissioner Maryanne Lley and all the individuals that uh worked on that committee. I mean since what
October of last year, every other week um you guys did a yman's job. So I I really really appreciate it. But I just love uh this particular provision. I think rightfully so. It should be in the preamble
um because I think it it captures the essence of of who we are. It it's a it's a nobrainer to me. Uh Mr. Chair, so thank you guys for even envisioning that to be in the preamble of our charter.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. All right. I see no one else in the queue. want to vote on this motion. Uh we have option 3A moved by Commissioner Proctor, second by Commissioner Cummings. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed?
>> There's no opposed. Passes unanimously. Mr. County, we're on option four now. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Item number four, very briefly, commissioners, has to do with healthc care access uh as a charter amendment. the CR the CCRC uh proposed a charter amendment to
similarly revise the preamble of of the charter to affirm the county's commitment to healthcare access. Um the we simply and this is kind of a technical thing but but staff's recommendation differs from having it as
a uh as a as a charter amendment to reflect healthc care access because it is rather than being a value statement it is a programspecific area. the board uh the CRCC received information from
the county and praised uh the county for everything we're doing in uninsured healthcare through carnet all of our programs but they said we would like to have it reflected in the preamble that healthc care access uh the county's commitment to healthcare access by doing
so you you sort of exclude everything else Leyon County is doing by putting it in there it's a programspecific area it's not a valuespecific broad like health. It's a specific program area. And for that reason, what staff
presented, which is what we presented to the healthcare committee, was to uh continue the county's long-standing commitment to ensuring healthcare access for low uh low-income residents uh in in all of the ways that we do that. It's a it's again the we were trying to keep
the the CRCC from uh uh getting into the policy issues that the board has the purview to decide and to make everything and rather to stick again to to some of the larger structural authority issues. And again, this differs a little bit from u the previous item because it is a
a program sort of specific issue. Uh and so with that, we'd be happy to take whatever the board's direction is, but we recommend um uh 4A, which is to continue the county's long-standing commitment to providing uh healthcare access to all citizens in Lyon County. M
>> Thank you, Mr. County Administrator. I have Mr. Vice Chair in the queue. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move option 4B to move forward with the recommended option from CCRC to move forward with the charter amendment. >> I'll second it. So, we have 4B moved by
the vice chairman, second by Commissioner Proctor. Mr. Vice Chairman, you're recognized. >> Thank you. Um, this one is another one where we would be following the recommendation of our citizens committee, we we have an item that was pulled from consent, um, TMH's, uh,
community health needs assessment report that we'll we'll talk about later. um and because it was pulled and that report has some devastating information in it that is not news for the people in Lyon County, the 54% of people in Lyon County who said they do not get all the
medical care they need because of lack of affordable access to care. And to me that access to health care is systemic. Um so we'll get into it's unfortunate we didn't get to see the the report before this but I think um the fact that this
comes recommended from the citizens is is a uh should should guide us. The stakeholders in the health report cited economic conditions social conditions mental well-being chronic diseases which are systemic issues not one particular
program. They cite a fragmented health care system and high insurance costs as the biggest barriers. And so that is it being a structural crisis. It actually so when I look at that data, when I look at this access, it's very personal to
me. Um when I was a kid, my dad got a rare neurological disease, handicapped him for quite a long time. And even though he was a full retired veteran with Triricare and everything, it saddled my family with medical debt that
put us in a yearslong cycle of payday loans, car repossessions, bankruptcy, and ultimately losing the house. And that was in the '9s. Medical access is way worse systemically now than it was in the '9s. And so that's why this is so important to me. And I do believe this
is a value statement. We are putting in the primal just like humanity is a value statement. And by letting the voters decide, the voters can tell us if this is a community value. And if they do, it
gives us direction and authority without requirements to take on bold systemic fixes because the reality is this won't be fixed by the next time the next charter amendment committee comes up. And that's what shows that it's
systemic. And so that is why I'm strongly supporting moving forward with the charter amendment being on the ballot till the voters tell us if this is a systemic issue to them along a recommendation from the citizens committee. Thank you, >> Commissioner Proctor. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I um believe
that the comments made by Commissioner O'Keefe are um speak for themselves. I won't replicate, but I understand well what the county administrator is saying. I I really get that. I do.
And yet um the health u um field was well represented on the citizens group and u I think the context of where we are right now as a community we've seen the uh a government local government
abdicate uh its former role as being a overseer or provider of healthc care with with a hospital. they've abdicated and just simply walked away and quick kick, you know, punted the ball to Florida State.
And I think that's disturbing and was disturbing. And I think that in as much as um the community was denied really a voice and I know a decision will be made tomorrow uh with respect to the final final on this application. Somebody's
got to be in charge of health, safety, and welfare. And it's because I do believe that uh there's been a decline in the Leon County um health um uh office services that once upon a time
existed. Um you get pamphlets or brochures uh as a as opposed to medicine. The number of firings and layoffs and of of people who have who've quit in the last two years or three at the Leyon County Health Department uh is
staggering. um over over 25 people uh that's not increasing health. So where do we draw the line? Uh like food, health, all those things are synonymous to quality
of life and in our um goals, objectives, uh that big statement we always say that quality of life is important. Well, how do we do that if we don't emphasize the role of health? We have seen the
state of Florida has abdicated. State of Florida doesn't only want little kids to wear um Commissioner Cumins would be out of out of place if she was in a public school right now. Um cuz she she she wouldn't be allowed to wear face masks. You see, that's what the state of Florida believes about uh covering over
your face and stuff like that. So, hell, who's in charge of health? I think that uh the citizen group again let the public decide if they don't want this to be part of the charter. Um I'm I'm not bright enough to make the decision and
and keep 300,000 people. Um I'm not thinking for 300,000 people. Let them think uh for themsel. And then I I think also that in this community the conversation about healthc care is so lopsided toward Tallahass Memorial. And
I don't understand why HCA is not integrated more into conversations and like HCA u has not been referenced in my understanding it's like a chain of 85
190 hospitals nationwide. I mean outside the United States and all but I don't know why we treat HCA like they got the cooties and don't even talk to them. They're not integrated with nothing. But I think that there's that's lowhanging
fruit that can be added to the equation of health and delivery uh in our community. And we need to go after that as we look at the role of democracy um continuing to um escape from a
responsibility from providing for health of people, safety for people and the welfare of people. I repeat the health of people and the nation has used to have a department of uh I remember HW
Secretary Joseph Calfano department of health education and welfare but I think now it's the department federal department of uh health and human services and I honestly don't know what that mean but um so it is and um I
support um what commissioner O'Keefe said. Commissioner Welch. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, on this one, Commissioners, I would take the same stance as the food insecurity.
I feel like, you know, the humanity thing is a value statement. When you start talking about broad policies like healthcare or food insecurity, those don't belong in the preamble of our of our uh charter. I mean, those are broad policy implications. Commissioner
O'Keefe, you said it yourself. You said it's it's like a value statement, but then you said we're going to take big action on it. Well, you don't take big action on value statements. You take big action on policy statements. This is a policy issue. It belongs in policy. The charter preamble is not that. And so I
think it doesn't need affirmation in the preamble when it's already the long-standing commitment of the county ensuring healthcare access. And so again, I just want to be consistent on that. And with that being said, I would
offer a substitute motion for option uh A. >> I'll second that. So we have a substitute motion on the floor uh brought forth by the immediate past chairman for 4 A. And I second the motion. Commissioner Walter, you're still recognized. >> Uh
that's all I got. Commissioner or Mr. Chairman? >> Commissioner Cummings. >> Oh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Ju just very briefly, I I think we all agree that healthc care is a major concern
uh in our community and our state and our nation. You know, with the the beautiful bill that passed and then many people lost Obamacare and and people's uh healthc care premiums increased 100,
200, 300, 400 uh%. And I think for Lyon County government, I think we are committed uh I think we have a commitment to making sure that all of our citizens receive uh health care, affordable health care, those that can't
afford it, they won't be turned away at TMH or or any other um health care facility. But I'm just I believe we're committed to that, but I don't believe the preamble is the place it should be.
Um the preamble is stated and I buy into the value statement about who we are, what we are uh in this community, but as far as healthc care access, we believe
in that as well, but I I just don't think that's the proper place for it. But I will support Commissioner Welch's substitute motion. >> All right. Thank you, Commissioner Cummings. All right. I see no one else on the queue, so we'll take this to a vote. We have a substitute motion on the
floor moved by the immediate past chairman for staff recommendation, which is 4A, seconded by myself. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? I >> I >> passes 43 with uh commissioner vice
chairman O'Keefe Proctor and Maddox in descent. Uh we're on number five. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bringing us home on number five, the very last one, affordable housing uh trust fund as a charter amendment. the uh CR the CCRC
proposed a charter amendment codifi codifying the county's affordable housing trust fund to be considered as a charter amendment. We're happy to explain everything about what that means in detail. However, you'll see a similar pattern here with with the staff
recommendations in that in many cases we're saying we're doing that. We're doing that. We may be doing it a little differently. We may be doing it in a way that we might think is more effective or less effective. But that's where similarly here we've we've said that yes, we have a trust fund. There's not
necessarily a a need. However, the board always retains the the the the right to determine what the need is and to put something like this out on uh the ballot. But in this case, again, we're saying that we have an affordable housing trust fund. And so, uh, the the
the need to do that, uh, rather than to simply amplify what the county is currently doing and our long-standing commitment to increasing and preserving the stock for affordable housing is what we're recommended. Further on that, the reason that we recommended this is because we believe that the board needs
as much uh latitude as you could possibly if you ever needed it uh more than uh again you you've never needed it more than you need now to have complete flexibility in in funding uh decisions that you make. And so identifying one specific program and saying we're going
to establish a trust fund in the charter for that again it it begs the question of would you say the same for public safety? Would you say the same for parks? Would you say the same for environmental protection? Would you? And the list goes on. And so again, uh that is why we recommended what is before
you. However, if it's something that the board chooses to have as a charter amendment and to have voters uh vote on, of course, we respect that as well. Uh but we recommend uh 5A uh in this regard to continue the board's long-standing commitment um and to uh increasing and
preserving the stock of affordable housing. Happy to answer any questions that you might have. >> Thank you, Mr. County Administrator. Commissioner Maddox, you're recognized. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'll make a motion for 5B. >> Second. >> So, we have a motion on the floor for number 5B.
Moved by Commissioner Maddox. Who second it over here? >> Commissioner, Vice Chair Keef. >> Okay, we have Commissioner Maddox, you're recognized. >> So, listen, this may not this may not pass. I I have uh been on the bottom side of about three of these things so
far and I don't I don't mind uh because today I'm I'm really speaking from lived experience. Um I was the kid who didn't have food. Uh that's why I thought food systems was so important to to provide the service is not the same as
experiencing it. And so I don't I don't I respect Monnique. I respect Rick. Um I don't think they live what I live. Okay, I live where I live. And I think I would have liked to had a office uh that's government ran that um had to care about
whether or not I ate and how much food was on my side of town. So that's why I went there with that on the health piece. Um again, didn't have health insurance. Um, and so
I was a kid with caps on the teeth and I was a kid who didn't go to the doctor as much and and so thinking about again lived experience and how we talked about health, safety, and welfare. Uh, those things work into what we supposed what we're supposed to do as a board, we're
supposed to do as government. I saw that as a a a good language to put in our preamble because it's it literally is what we do, health, safety, and welfare. So, um, I voted against that again because again, lived experience. Uh, and now we come to the trust fund piece of it. And I I battle with this a little
bit because I am a bit of a policy head and I've, you know, been here for a while and um I I set I sat in myself and I thought to myself, well, this is a policy issue, but when housing is doing what it's doing is going to continue to do more.
Why not codify uh within your charter that you have a trust fund for affordable housing? Uh because this is not going to get any better. It's not going to get any better. Only gets worse. So, um I think to give the our
our community the opportunity, not that we're approving these things, none of those things could we approve today, but to give our community the opportunity to say whether or not they wanted to be a part of our charter would have been okay. I mean, it would have been okay.
And I and I appreciate the committee for uh their work uh and for for them making those recommendations back to us that we give the general public the opportunity to say whether or not it's okay. I think sometimes we we and I'm I'm guilty
myself. I'm guilty myself. um you you you sit here for a while and you you know more than the general public knows and you start to make those distinctions between what's policy and what's what's what's not policy and you know what's what's value and what's this and what's
that. Uh and and you forget what those lived experiences are like, right? And how how much those lived experiences dictate how people feel and what their values are and what they believe should be policy. And so for me, it's it's quite quite frankly I would I would like
the scene when you don't have the advantage of sitting on this board and understanding policy versus value, but you have the opportunity to have lived experiences and you're seeing your family and friends and neighbors and and loved ones go through things that they go through. Do you, the general public,
want these things to be a part of your charter? And that's why I voted the way I voted today. So, uh, my motion is based off again lived experience. This is not off my knowledge is as as much as I have is is as as much as I have pertaining to
policy up here today. Because if I was going based off of my knowledge off of policy today, I probably would go the other way. But I want to hear the general public tell me how they feel about an affordable house trust fund being a part of our charter based off of their lived experience, not necessarily
how much policy experience I have as a county commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Chair. All right, commissioners. Here's what we're going to do. I am going to recess us now. We're at 5:40. I have a bunch of commissioners in the queue. I imagine this is this is I mean this is a very important topic. So, it does um in my opinion require some debate and
conversation. So, I'm going to recess us. We'll come back here at 6:00. We have four public hearings. We'll do the public hearings and we'll continue right here with Commissioner Maddox's that's on the floor. Part: 2
Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. session at 6:02 p.m. We have four public public hearings. >> Our first one is agenda item number 21. Mr. County Administrator. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioners,
this is your first and only public hearing to adopt an ordinance amending chapter 10 of the land development code of laws repealing and replacing division six of article 7 of chapter 10 entitled plat. The item uh request the board conduct the public hearing to adopt the
ordinance. Uh these amendments are necessary to align county code with recent statutory changes and comply with state mandates. Uh, additionally, it updates relevant definitions and replaces platt division of the code in its entirety to ensure full regulatory
alignment. Uh, Mr. Chairman, commissioners, I do not have any speakers on this item. We're recommending option one. Happy to answer any questions you might have. >> Staff recommendation. >> All right, we have staff recommendation moved by the immediate past chairman.
Second by Commissioner Cummings. All those any any this is discussion on this. Uh sorry I have to reset this. >> Commissioner Welch you have any discussion since you made the motion. U madam uh Commissioner Cummings any discussion? You second the motion.
Commissioner Cummings. >> Mr. Vice Chairman. >> I do. >> Go ahead. >> Uh quick question. So this is changing our policies to bring the review for certain things on plats down from a quasi judicial at commission into uh one
of the advisory staff or planning and it's required by statute. Are any of these changes not required by statute? Are we adding anything that is not strictly required by statute? >> There are certain things that we
currently bring to the board that are holding up plat approvals. So, the statutory change that was made and went into effect last year that we already modified the ordinance to address um made that final plat approval
administrative, but because these other things are continuing to come to the board, it's not allowing the plat approval process to be more fast and efficient like the statute requires. So
there's a disconnect and basically there are certain like um agreement approvals that are done right around the time final plat approval is um approved. Um, but we can't do that because they have
to come back to the board and the board only meets like once a month. And so it is slowing the process down and frustrating the whole intent of the statute was passed last year to streamline plat approvals at the administrative level. >> And so talking about the plat approval
process, my main question is just making sure that citizens still get the same notification and opportunity to speak um that are impacted by any changes to this is this change does not affect type uh the big
development type application review process. This is on the end when you're adjusting plats. This doesn't change development reviews that come here. >> Correct. >> You got it. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other comments? Okay. We're seeing none. All those in favor of the motion
see by saying I >> I. >> Any opposed? Passes unanimously. Mr. County Commissioner. Next item. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, commissioners. This item requests the board to conduct the first and only public hearing to consider an ordinance to establish a county advorum property tax exemption
for rental properties that may not be eligible for existing exemptions provided uh by the state. The exemp exemption would only apply to county taxes. Uh it's anticipated uh to result in a nominal reduction. And of course, the board has already considered this
item as a policy item before you and directed that uh uh that this ordinance come to you for first and only public hearing. We have no uh speaker cards on this item and happy to answer any questions you may have. We're recommending option one. >> Mr. Vice Chairman, >> move staff recommendation. >> Second.
>> We have the staff recommendation moved by the vice chairman, second by Commissioner Maddox. Uh >> real quick. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Just thank you staff and everybody for supporting this change. Um, and I asked at the prior one if the city wanted to do something like this related to city taxes, they would have we given them a
heads up that's something they consider that they can consider. >> I believe so. I'd have to verify that for you, but I I'll do that. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. Proer. >> Chairman, who who who called or moved for this particular U item? >> The vice chairman. >> All right. Vice Chairman, what was the
purpose of this in in in the face of property property um property tax uh exemptions and whatnot coming on the ballot? Are we what are we doing here? >> Good question. I'm glad you asked. This is for affordable housing developers. In
the case that triggered this to come up is someone who buys up old hotels and turns them into studio apartments and they rent them out a a large portion of them at 60% income levels or below uh capped rent amounts and some of them are
at 40% income levels below. some of the extreme low rental H properties we need and they depending on the percentage they cap it at which is very low they get a percentage of their property taxes on those affordable units waved and I think that as much as we invest in
affordable housing on the budget side this is a well worth it um cost for directly creating very low and lowincome family housing units I'll say it actually doesn't impact it immediately because most this is only allows it or
50 unit complexes up to 69 units. There's not many of those, but it came up in discussion of someone who has over that amount and I want it to be the book to be open for someone to move forward. >> May I ask the general counsel question? >> Of course, general counsel, this is so specific in
in in terms of tailored to size apartment units. Um, one could misconrue this as being a public policy set specifically for that category but not broad more broadly. You have a problem with that?
>> No, there's actually a state statute and a state law that provides this sort of property tax exemption already. This actually fills a gap in what state law already provides for. >> Very good. Okay. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Commissioner Proctor. Any other discussion, commissioners? All right. Seeing none, we will vote on the motion on the floor. All those in favor of staff recommendation moved by the vice chairman, seconded by Commissioner Maddox, signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? Passes unanimously. Mr.
County Administrator. Next item. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, commissioners. This item provides for the transmitt hearing on the 2026 cycle comprehensive plan amendments to consider the transmitt of three proposed tax amendments to the state land planning agency or Florida Commerce uh and other
required review agencies for review and comment. The item before the board tonight is part of the planning department's annual comprehensive plan amendment cycle which provides for uh the processing mechanism for publicly initiated, board initiated and certain uh private amendments. Uh, approval of
the transmitt authorizes staff to submit the proposed amendments to the state level for consistency review. This action does not constitute final adoption. Rather, it initiates the mandatory 30-day state comment period. With that, uh, commissioners, we're recommending options one through three.
We have no speakers on this item. Happy to answer any questions you might have. >> Mr. Chairman, I move options one to three. >> Second. Motion on the floor moved by Commissioner Miner, seconded by myself. Any discussion? real quick, sir. Um on on um on the the
First Amendment process item there, if you all remember, this is something that we talked about late last year late last year during the comp plan rewrite. We wanted to make sure that uh if there were any expansions to the USA boundary or any changes in in um um
any changes to rural areas and in the unincorporated areas that we had a separate agenda item that was making sure that was distinct. so that uh the public would be aware of it as well as the county commission. So uh thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Yes, sir. Any other discussion?
Seeing none, motion on the floor moved by Commissioner Miner, seconded by myself. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. Any oppose? No. Passes unanimously. Item number 24, Mr. County Administrator. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, commissioners, this is the public
hearing to consider the request for the 12th amendment to the Southwood development of regional impact integrated development order. Uh, commissioners, this item changed in terms of its recommendation and um the, uh, the issues that we presented to you in this item from its original version.
I know you've all been uh, we distributed and you've received additional information for agenda item number 24. Uh essentially what that says and and again the the the county attorney can feel free to jump in and clean this up for me. Uh but that the
dates uh that we we were previously uh pumping the brakes on this item as you know and there was a previous recommendation to remand this item to the to the planning commission um to make a part of their review uh the fact that the current DRRI uh did not meet
certain deadlines that we had for the completion of infrastructure. And so we needed to ensure that we had a full legal review and a consideration of all of those issues. Uh it was uh subsequently requested uh on behalf of the applicant uh to have the those dates
told under an executive order that is currently in place. um uh of the governor that allowed those dates and deadlines similar such dates and deadlines to be told until the end of of um uh well until that 24 uh months after
uh those deadlines to provide additional time uh for those counties impacted under uh the previous uh tornado executive order. Um, commissioners, with that, we are uh recommending uh to you
to um uh conduct the public hearing uh and to approve the 12th amendment to the Southwood development order based on all that. >> And I do have one speaker card uh some guy named Barry Wilcox. >> Mr. Wilcox,
>> just to answer questions, I'm >> just here to answer questions on behalf of the applicant. >> Okay. >> Move that recommendation. >> Okay. We have which option? Two. >> Yes, two. >> Cool. Great. Uh option staff recommendation option two moved by Commissioner Maddox, seconded by
Commissioner Miner. We have uh Do you have a question for Commissioner uh Cummings? >> Yes, I do. >> Uh yes. Yes, I do. >> Okay. Go ahead, >> Mr. Chair. Uh I just want to ask uh in the narrative that we have it said that
a post hearing review identified the gap and I did it was a deficiency in the record. Was that deficiency found by the planning committee or was it staff? Do we know Mr. County administrator? It said a court a post hearing review
identified the the deficiency in the evidentiuary record. Was that >> your staff that found the deficiency or was it the planning commission that found the deficiency? >> Let let me ask the county attorney to clarify. So when the application was
filed and planning staff uh conducted its review and then submitted the materials to the planning commission for consideration, uh the work by staff and the transmitt of the information to the planning commission happened before the deadlines
expired. Uh the planning commission met I think the second working day of January uh right after the transportation deadlines had expired on December 31st. So the planning commission didn't consider uh the
expiration of those um construction deadlines and there was nothing in their findings about it. Um, which is why staff, Diesome staff and county attorney staff uh was also in support of remanding it to the planning commission
so they they could take those uh those missed deadlines for those construction um issues for the transportation into consideration to provide their recommendation the planning commission's recommendation to this board. >> So the post-hering review was done by
staff and not by the planning commission that found the gap. Right. >> Right. Yes. And that was based on um feedback uh of various parties including um residents of Southwood who pointed
out, hey, this was not considered. This was not part of um the application that was submitted for the 12th amendment. Um and so staff looked at it and said, "Yeah, the planning commission's review is incomplete because it didn't consider these issues." And so that's why staff
was recommending the remand. >> Okay. And one other question, uh, Mr. Chair, if it's remanded back to the planning commission to address the gap, do we have an idea how long that review takes?
So, that's no longer the recommendation uh because uh, St. Joe under the chapter 252 emergency statutes um basically Friday, this past Friday, um exercised
its right >> to toll those deadlines uh and extend their deadlines for an additional 24 months after the executive order expires. So, it's kind of wonky the way the statute works, but it effectively means there's no non-compliance and there hasn't been any non-compliance.
Uh, and they're in um they're in compliance currently. So, it it addressed the issue without it having to go back to the planning commission. >> Okay. Thank you. >> This was this was in our inbox. >> Okay. Commissioner O'Keefe, I'm sorry,
Commissioner Cummings, was that it? >> I'm done. Thank you, >> Mr. Vice Chairman. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, and, um, county attorney and county administrator and staff, thank you for working so diligently on this up to the 11th hour. Um, when we vote on this, I do want to at a
high level make it clear that we are voting on an amendment to the plan that is not to do anything for the master developer. This is about some commercial space. Um, another area of the master plan that just got caught up in a
enforcement um, decision on the master developer. And I appreciate staff doing the work to make sure that we understand what the rules are for enforcements and amendments when the master developer may have been out of compliance, not this
applicant. Um, and so, um, that's why I support voting for this. But I do have some questions and because this is the only amendment to the DRRi we have in front of us. Um I I have some questions about the statute and the letter and the change related to the master developer
and the deadline. Um the tornadoes that led to the emergency order were in spring 2024, right? And in was it in June 2024 that the master developer asked us to vote to
amend the DRRi to give them an extra year on the road deadlines. >> I think that's right. >> And they didn't mention this emergency order and the need for the time extension at that time. >> Not at that time. >> Okay. And the um and this is by statute.
We don't have any discretion on that deadline. >> We do not. And we verified 2027 the 24 months is what is is is allowed here. >> That's correct. >> Okay. And then does this I know this is theoretical so you can push it right
back to me but under this statute if there's new na god forbid there's not but if there's new natural disasters and emergency orders that could also be requested by the master developer to extend the time for their road development >> or if and please county attorney or if
or if the existing EO is is expanded is extended >> is extended um so there would have to be an analysis of uh because the statute has a cap of 48 months that they can use under that statute to extend their time frames. But
there are two components. There's a tolling component while the executive order is in effect. Uh and as you point out, that executive order was issued in 2024 and has been extended since then. It's currently uh expected to expire
April 20th of this year, but there's nothing to say that uh the governor can't extend that EO again. So, so that tolling is is going until the EO expires or whatever extension is currently in effect of that EO. That's when that
additional time starts to run again. Um but in this case, what what happened was you basically have to relate back the tolling to when the EO was initially issued in 2024, which is why when you look at the time that's now set, it's
more than 24 months because they basically get credit for that additional time up to December 31st of 2025. Now, to your question about what happens if there's another emergency order issued for like a hurricane, um they can
definitely avail themselves of the tolling. >> It it'll be questionable based on the number of months if they've reached that 48month cap for an extension if they would get any subsequent extensions as well, but certainly yes, they can continue to toll under new EOS going
forward potentially. Yeah. And and last question for the main uh appendix G has two road requirements for the larger road requirement the north south road connecting connecting Sudtor to I think built more um that parallels south plantation road. What
was the original before any amendments or delays was the original due date for that to be construction started? >> You really tested me on that one. And I'd have to ask Scott to come up and see if he can. >> Good evening, commissioners. Thank you,
Scott Brockmire, Diesome. Um, so the schedule of internal roadway improvements that you're referring to, that was added to the DRIO, I believe in 2011. >> 2011. And then the date that was adopted subsequent to then was 2020. That was
changed with the 10th amendment, aka the big fix. Okay. So, just so the microphone can just confirm when the obligation was to build this road by the master developer was first added to the DRRi was in 2011
and at that time the deadline for them to begin construction was 2020. >> Correct. And since then through multiple voluntary extensions that this commission has voted on and now after they were late on the most recent
deadline and we started asking about it. Now we have a request to apply this completely legal statute. Um, perfect. These are the questions I asked and I I appreciate you taking your time on this because this is novel and new. Um, and I appreciate you doing everything within our power to hold people accountable to
the agreements they've made. And I just want our Southwood residents and our Appalachian Parkway residents to know we're doing everything we can to make sure we hold the obligations of others for our necessary infrastructure. Thank you. >> All right, commissioners. I don't see anyone else in the queue for discussion.
So >> is it option two? This >> Yes, ma'am. So we have a a motion moved by uh Commissioner Maddox, seconded by Commissioner Miner, I believe, for um staff recommendation option two. Right. All those in favor of the motion on the floor signify by saying I. >> I.
>> I. >> Any nays? Passes unanimously. Thank you, commissioners. I think that concludes our public hearings, right, Commissioner County Administrator? >> That's correct, Mr. Chairman. We're back on um the uh citizen charter amendment.
>> Correct. So, we're commissioner. So, we're all clear and to uh so there's no confusion. We are back on Uh item number 20 and Commissioner Maddox has a motion on
the floor for option 5B and that is seconded by the vice chairman. Does anyone understand where we are? Everyone understand? Okay, great. Um vice chairman, you are recognized.
>> Thank you. Um, I want to um again emphasize that this motion to advance the proposed charter amendment codifying our trust fund into the charter is the recommendation of the citizens committee. And I believe that
when we talk about values being in a charter amendment that the voters can decide individually, no separation between they vote for commissioners, commissioner votes thing. Individual ballots get to decide what they think should match our values and what's important. Values should drive policy.
Value should drive spending. Values should drive what we carry on with our strategy. That's the basis of it. And so I'm supporting putting this amendment uh charter amendment up for the vote because we need I want to give the voters a
chance to let us know if we need to do more. So there's a benefit to putting it in charter as opposed to just being in policy. I want the voters to tell us if they care about this trust fund so much that they are locking it in that they
don't want any future commission to have the ability to delete or remove the trust fund. I want the voters to be able to decide that they want to prevent any future commission from defunding, taking out, sweeping funds
from that are already in the trust fund for some other use. Let's let the voters tell us. And I'll the reason I was very excited to see this and I was hoping it would come out of it when we appointed all of our um citizens to the committee that recommended this to us is I think
to a certain extent what we're seeing is what the state sees to a very small extent. Don't want anyone don't want to um commission to take it as a um a slight. I think what we've seen as the past couple years as community groups and community groups keep pushing for
more affordable housing is that I think the majority of our citizenry doesn't think we're doing enough. They don't think we're not doing anything, but they think we should be doing more. And I think a direct referendum would be the way for them to tell us. Um the other
reason is and so what I mean by that is you know we have state the state uh we have citizen-led initiatives to be state constitutional amendments and what we've seen is things that ought to be policy at the state level are not put in place
by the legislature contrary to what the vast majority of Florida voters want. And so they the voters have to find a a way around and they have to do it by constitutional amendment. And that's unfortunate. Ideally, we want to follow like theoretically the right government
structure. But when citizens continually elect people and those people are not listening to them on what they want them to do by policy enough that a significant portion will vote or gather signatures to get them on. To me, that tells me that's an
important enough values statement. That's just not a program. And here's the benefit staff. It's been great that we are building on the experience and decisions of prior commissions that have created a trust fund. We're not creating anything new. If we don't vote for this, the trust fund doesn't go away. But if
we're but if we vote for this and we give the citizens the option to enshrine the trust fund and say we want this permanent and we don't want anyone to possibly take it away, it also does not require an annual budget amount. It does not require new departments. It does not
require new audits. It simply requires that we do not sweep funds out of the trust fund once they are in there and that the trust fund stays in operation until the citizens decide it should be removed the charter. And that's why I strongly support us to let the voters
tell us what the citizens have already committee has already told us they want to weigh in on. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Um before I go to Commissioner Wells, Mr. County Administrator, were you time in here? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a real quick one. The motion on the floor I would like just like to bring to the
board's attention reflects uh well is 5B and reflects that the CRC would go to public hearings on this. I just wanted to remind the board that the board has the ability to make this a board initiated amendment too if you'd like to compress that schedule. It's really just a preference thing if you want the CRC
to do their public hearings or if you want to make it a board initiated amendment which would accelerate the process. >> Thank you. And then S just point of clarification we'll have language come back to us right on some of these on all these. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> In your final report
>> majority plus one >> board. >> Yes. For a board initiated amendment. >> Commissioner Walsh recognized. >> Thank you Mr. Chairman. So um Mr. Maddox, I hate to do this again, but >> um
in order to be consistent and again, Commissioner O'Keefe, Mr. Vice Chair, yeah, I think the reason that the legislature wants to make the Constitution hard to amend is because these are policy issues that can go through a policymaking body.
Number one, I think this is again more than a value statement. This is a policy statement and I think we have to be consistently with the other issues. The same logic applies as I have said before we should be very careful about making broad political
statements, policy statements in from the dis that well political statements from the dis but policy statements in a foundational document. Um, and I think the case is even stronger in this one because this is
already codified in our ordinances. This trust fund exists in our ordinances. It is already codified. And if I'm not mistaken from my briefing, how many counties, Mr. Administrator, have this codified in their charter?
>> Believe it's four. >> And of those four, how many have it codified in ordinance? >> I I'm not sure about that that part of it. We we'd have to >> I think you said none. >> Well, it was the I think the point there was some of those charters didn't have a
trusted at that time. >> So that so he has a point of information real quick for Robert Schules. I got to defer to him. >> Thank you. In the CCRC's staff items from staff you gave the example of Orange County which did have an ordinance by policy trust fund and their
voters voted to enshrine it in ordinance. I mean in charter. Thank you. >> Okay. Okay, >> back to Commissioner Wal. >> So, outside of Orange County, we have a codified ordinance that upholds the affordable housing trust fund, which I think we've stated and we
all believe is important to us. I don't envision a world in which that would be voted away uh in any way, shape, or form. So, again, it really is it's about maintaining the integrity of the charter. To the administrator's point,
if you start injecting policy positions into the charter like this, then what's to stop you from injecting every policy position into the charter? If the charter is a foundational document and you keep, you know, uh, drilling pillars into the foundation, you're going to
eventually break the foundation. These are trusses. These are policy is the truss of the house. It's the keeping the rain out. It's not the the foundation is the constitution and it's sort of meant to be a broad firm not easily a targeted
item metaphorically. So um I would in that vein offer for the board's consideration a substitute uh motion for option A 5A. So, we have a substitute motion brought
um brought before the board by the immediate past chairman for staff recommendation option 4A. Do we have a second to the substitute motion? >> 5A. >> I'm sorry. Sorry. 5A. My apologies, commissioners. Uh substitute motion for
5A. Do we have a second to the motion? >> I will second it. >> Okay. Seconded by Commissioner Cummings. You have any other discussion? >> No, sir. >> Okay. Commissioner Cummings. >> No discussion. >> Okay. Commissioners, I don't see anyone else in the queue.
I intend to support the substitute motion. Um, I'm very proud of the work that Lyon County is doing to support affordable housing. I think when it comes to Lyon County and local governments, I think we are the leaders uh for our local community when it comes
to affordable housing. Does that mean that there's always room to improve? Absolutely. Does that mean that we are going to do more? Absolutely. Does that does that mean that we can't embody the spirit of what is trying to happen through this? I agree. We can do it through a policy. Um we can do it as
commissioners. And so I intend that um uh Commissioner Welch, I think we should make sure that we have a a follow-up with staff to come back and and follow up as a policy uh recommendation as well. Um so that being said, I don't see anyone else in the queue. We have a
substitute motion for staff recommendation for option 5A moved by Commissioner Welch, seconded by Commissioner Cummings. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Nay. >> Uh,
>> you are yes. >> Okay. >> Against. Okay. Passes 43 with Commissioner Welch, myself, Commissioner Cummings, and Commissioner Miner in the affirmative. Next item, Mr. County Administrator. Number six.
>> Number six is uh to uh for the board's authorization of a proclamation for the committee. >> Commissioners, I think we can wrap up six and uh through eight and one motion. If someone would like to move them, we have options six through eight moved by Commissioner Proctor, seconded by Commissioner Cummings. Any discussion?
>> Commissioner O'Keefe, I see the queue. >> Six only. >> Go ahead. >> I think we're seeking six only. Oh, I'm sorry. Six >> for the proclamation. >> Got it. Okay, we have number six. So, Commissioner Proctor, will you amend that? Move.
>> Seconded by Commissioner Cummings still. >> Yes. >> Great. Um, yes, Commissioner O'Keefe. >> Quick procedural question. After this, if we have items we want to suggest adding, do you want us to do it at this item or wait till discussion? >> Let's do it in this item. >> Thank you. That's all.
>> All right. All in favor of the for option number six moved by Commissioner Proctor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Passes unanimously. All right, commissioners. At this time, I will entertain um motion to um to bring
up any other items to discuss it before the board relative to the uh charter related or ballot initiative charter amendments. Commissioner O'Keefe. >> Thank you. Um, I'd like to make a motion for a board initiative charter amendment
to uh ask voters to establish an office of inspector general consistent with the principles of standards for office of inspector general by the association of inspectors generals as recommended by some of the speakers. Okay, we have a motion on the floor uh moved by
Commissioner O'Keefe, the vice chairman to um repeat the motion >> to um ask for a commission initiated charter amendment uh vote referendum on establishing a Leyon County Office of Inspector General.
>> Okay. Is there a second? Motion fails for a lack of a second. Um any other items to discuss, Commissioner O'Keefee? >> No. >> Okay. Commissioner Miner. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I didn't
second the motion on on the on the table just now because I I don't know if we're ready for it yet. Um, I I've met with some citizens, the Citizens for Ethics Reform twice. Uh, had some really good discussions about Office of Inspectors General. Um, I think it's worth
exploring. I think it's um uh worth further further discussion particularly along the lines of the whistleblower protections. Um I don't want to put the the county attorney on the spot, but but um one thing I wanted to to ask didn't get a chance to
was under with Florida statutes and and and current county policy. >> Commissioner Miner need a motion. >> Um a motion. >> Yes. Yes, I have a motion. I I move that um we ask the county attorney to provide an
agenda item at a future date um providing information about whistleblower protections within county government under Florida statutes. >> Second. You second it. Okay. Um agenda item requested by uh Commissioner Miner, seconded by the vice chairman. Any
discussion? >> Repeat the motion. So, I move that uh the county attorney's office produce a an agenda item at a future date explaining uh the whistleblower protections that are available to county employees um within our policies here at the county as well
as Florida law. >> Can you expand that to outside of um county employees as well? Just whistleblower protection in general like >> Oh, is there a friendly amendment? Yes, of course. >> Okay, awesome. >> I say that for nonprofits and stuff too that we work with. Yeah. >> Sure. Yes. >> Second by the vice chairman
>> commissioner. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Passes unanimously. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Great. Commissioners, any Commissioner Pro? Go ahead, Mr. >> Sherman. Um, two things. Um, the the 99
vote on the charter. Uh, what was the 99 vote that fell? Restored vote. >> Huh? >> Restorative communities vote. Here's restorative communities vote. restoration um from harmful policies. Uh
harmful policies. Help me. Oh, sorry. Um harmful policies. Uh I'm sorry. I'm I'm >> Okay. Uh no, I just needed the title. Uh
>> yes, restoring. Yeah. I'm sorry. >> It's okay. It's okay. >> I'm sorry. I'm curious about that because uh >> Go ahead, Vince. I >> No, no. I was going to ask you if you could just repeat the question. We're happy to. >> The 99 vote it had. >> Oh, yes. Yeah.
>> And and and and are we able to entertain uh a failed vote, one that didn't get >> Sure. The board is able to entertain any vote that you'd like? Again, we prepared um agenda materials for the for the board to consider if that was an issue that the board wanted to uh you have all
the flexibility. You could accept it. You could eject it, you can modify, you can ask for an item to come back to the order. >> I I was concerned about the 99 vote that failed and I should probably gonna have a motion. >> Um I don't remember what it was. connect. >> It was called it was it it was
addressing historic harm >> is is what and and to develop programs and policies um and investments among the county to address his uh issues of and conduct audits to develop policies and programs and budgeting to
address historic harm in communities that that have experienced historic harm. >> Okay. So now 32304 have a motion. Sorry. um for discussion. I want to take that fail motion and and and u move that we consider the 99 vote.
>> Second. >> So, I don't know what we're talking about, so I need a little more clarification. >> I I might take a stab at a motion, Commissioner Proctor, if you allow me. >> Yeah. Resend your motion, Commissioner. >> Resend the motion. >> Okay. Commissioner, >> I'd like to make a motion that the uh
commission establish a charter amendment to consider the historic impact of past public policy decisions and with regular audits of it
as described during the CCRC commission. >> Second commissioners, I I'm sorry. Second. >> Yes. Yeah, you you can discuss it. >> I can discuss. Okay. >> Yeah, you're on the floor. You're on the floor.
>> Dr. Stru, if you might tell us what y'all debated and u brought it ended up in a >> n you you're good. 3 minutes. >> Well, he's on the way up though. This would take a supermajority vote. >> That's what I was just going to weigh in and say it would take a store. This this
motion would take a supermajority vote. Majority plus one. But if you wanted the item agenda, that's just a simple majority vote. So just for your consideration >> if it's agenda can we agenda item? >> Yes, >> you have time. >> We have time before then. >> I'll modify my motion to agenda item. >> Okay.
>> Can I can I ask you a six on point? >> Can I ask you to modify the motion to not just agenda the item but to also open it up to also being considered to going back to public hearing for the CRC. understanding that for a
commission-led initiative, it takes a super majority versus a CRC initiative that's going through public hearing and come back to us. It takes a simple majority. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, they would go to a >> Do you maintain your second on the >> Yes, sir. >> Okay.
But point of information, so they would take up a special hearing on we're remanding, not remanding, but >> asking them to to consider that again and therefore reconvening because we have uh we're supposed to
dismiss them with u dissolve the citizen charge number nine, but we're not dissolving them. We're asking them to to go back and take another look. Are we allowed to come to the meetings and talk? I I've been to three, four meetings and but I never talk. Um
because >> I think they'd expect nothing less from I didn't duct tape. >> They don't want you >> duct tape and I didn't say >> I need clarification on on what the motion is. >> What is the motion? >> Mr. Per, please let the vice chairman restate the motion.
>> Thank you. The motion I feel like I'm taking a test. The motion is to have an agenda item come back to consider a charter amendment and directing it back to be considered for
public hearing by the CCRC given that they only require a simple majority to consider a charter amendment accounting for past harms and impacts of past public policy and regular audits and
reports of those impacts to inform our future policy decisions >> on point. >> Rather than us getting to Mr. Stroble's explanation of it, given the fact that it's going to be an agenda item coming back, and I'm pretty sure we all watch some of this, can we just have the
agenda item coming back with a with a narrative that came from CRC as well as as staff's record staff analysis of it that will look similar to what we've already considered here. I I don't want to get into a big drawn out conversation when we're only talking about bringing
it back for an agenda item. It's going to get great >> agenda item to us. >> And I think if we if I'm commissioners, I think it would be also who of us to if we're sending it back to the CCRC to have that agenda item come back after they deliberate it again because it changes whether it's a simple majority
or super majority based on how they vote on it again. >> Correct. So, let's go to the >> the other thing the board could do, not to muddy it, the other thing that the board could do is to simply approve a the the CRC's amendment and to and to
refer it to their public hearings. >> You could do that on a simple majority vote. >> What is the amendment? >> I'm not commissioners. I'm at the I'm at the will of the board on this. So, >> I have Commissioner Cummings right now in the queue. >> No, this was not >> Are you intentionally in the queue? >> No. Okay. Sorry about that. was I just
still need clarification. >> No, I I missed. That's what I thought you >> Commissioner Cummings is in the queue. Commissioner Cummings. >> No, I I just have some uncertainty about what what we're doing. Are we asking for the gender to come back to us or are we sending it back
>> to the C? It's coming to us. >> No, it's coming to us >> first. And if we approve it, then it will go back to them. >> Gotcha. So, so instead of us having a conversation around um the information from it now, not knowing all of the information, all the information will
come back to us. We'll have a robust discussion about it and then we will say whether or not we want it to go back to the C, >> but we're time limited on sending it back to them for their two public hearings. >> Commissioners, let me clean this up a little bit real quick. I think the the move here is to send it to the CCRC simultaneously because if it comes back
to our board, right, without it being passing the CCRC, it's a super majority versus if it passes the CCRC, it's a simple majority. So, it it impacts what happens here versus four votes or five votes. So, I think it needs to go to back to the CCRC and then come back to
our board if the spirit is, you know, that's that's my opinion. Quite frankly, I just I disagree only because if we don't have enough votes to send it back to the CRC, it's no point in us having them meet >> send it back to us. We ain't got enough for we ain't got four votes to send it
back to them. I just I just think I think I want us to be certain about sending it back to them before we we ask them to come back together to meet for something. It's going to be sent back to us and we ain't even got four votes. >> I understand what I get what you're saying with the four votes. I think
we're going to have four votes. I think that it's whether or not there's four votes or five votes. That's kind of what I'm getting at, but I I I hear what you're saying. So, um, commissioners, let's let's let's vote on the motion on the floor, right? I don't want to keep >> real quick. >> Okay. Close this out, Commissioner Miner. >> Yes. Thank you very much. Um, could you
please restate the motion as it currently stands, just so we're all clear because we've talked about a lot of permutations of it. >> Thank you. It is to bring an item agenda item back for our
commission to consider the issue of a charter amendment that takes into account the impact of past policy decisions and regular audits or reports of the impact of those decisions similar to
what was discussed by the CCRC for us to consider. voting on as an agenda item whether to ask the CCRC to reconsider it. Is that what you had in mind, Commissioner? And and Commissioner, >> you just just No, we're not asking.
We're we're asking them to take it to public hearing >> to then for them to take it to public hearing. >> Yes, we're taking we're we will give direction that they would take it to public hearing >> exactly as I go. If it passers, commissioners, commissioners, commissioners, I want to keep it one at a time right now. We're getting too much
point of order. >> Correct. So the board would need to reconvene the CCRC to basically take another vote to determine whether it would go to public hearing for them because again that vote failed before
the CCRC. >> So so so they would it would need to go back to them for basically reconsideration to to vote again whether to advance it and hold the public hearings on this particular. >> It would take two votes. So it would they would have to advance it and then
come back to us and then we send it back to them for public hearing. >> So what I would recommend if if what if you guys want to send this back to the CCRC is not to have an agenda item come back here. Instead say we direct the
CCRC to reconvene and reconsider a vote on this issue. They vote again and if they vote in an affirmative vote, it has to come back to this body anyway. That's what I was saying. Yeah. >> Yeah. That's what I was trying to say by saying it simultaneously. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> Right. >> Mr. Chairman, it was a >> Go ahead, >> Mr. Chairman. It was a 99 vote. Um I don't know where the 19th member was that day, but um among the uh amendments that were taken up,
if I had to get give kudos to staff, uh it was the most exquisit um intellectually and artfully handled um of those um amendments. And I want to compliment u
attorney for her um guidance and you know not telling the committee what to do. But this is a very touchy stuff that members of the committee
in times like these hold great sensitivities and um we want to know that our place is not taking us back to slavery. uh we want to know that just because we black, we don't get a check, uh our
grant runs out just simply because so there's great um um concern with our American place and though we can't speak to the broad strokes of America, but within the county of Lyon, this board
was concerned with um an empathetic government that so much language has been taken away from what we can say and what's not palatable anymore. But I want to compliment um attorney Ostein uh her
admonitions uh and how this particular this this was most perhaps sensitive issue and the way y'all handled this was very beautiful. I this is my favorite issue taken up and how it ended up in a 99 I don't know but
um I think that it's worth uh speaking of values of a community from from my perspective um you know when you start selling people uh dead people in the golf course and um putting them up in a deed um it's
scary. So, it's worth our empathy with the caliber of discussion that occurred that if they could go back and take another bite, it could be helpful uh for us. I didn't know that we could take up a failed amendment, but I know it was
the best deliberated in my opinion. was best of deliberate uh of all of the issues and others may disagree but I felt that chassity u your shiniest moment was on this particular issue and I thought that the way they handled it
and language is a major thing right now commissioner Maddox their words you just can't say but they really chiseled this and I think it has a place I personally believe it has a place somewhere in our charter >> thank you commissioner commissioner Welch Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to ask
staff what would the implications Well, first let me ask just so we're in the right I don't understand the posture. I'm going get confused tonight. I'm sorry. So, what the motion is asking to bring back an item to us. Is that the posture we're in? >> Correct. >> Like an agenda item for us to consider
either putting on the uh this the charter review or on the ballot or not? No, it's to reconvene the it's an agenda item to us, I believe, to reconvene the charter committee to take this back up. Correct. >> And then if we Okay, so hypothetically
then if that happens, >> and they send it, they pass it, then it comes back to us again. >> Correct. >> But then it's only a simple majority vote versus >> they pass it. >> If they pass it, >> can staff tell us what the implications of this would be on the DEI bills that
are in the legislature? By the way, that just I just saw the news that passed. >> It just passed. Yeah, it passed since we've been convened. U passed both houses of legislation. >> Yes. Yes. We we would have to do an analysis on this and but I think a lot of the the the the guidance that was
provided by the county attorney's office to the committee um would would would be consistent with um with with with the bill currently. Again, I don't have to to delve this board. The bill provides
sweeping changes uh in in the area of of what you can and can't do and also comes with with um penalties of misfeasants or malfeasants on local officials relative to um the promotion the investment
um uh programming funding of of issues that are um considered to be um race specific and gender specific and and that sort of thing. Uh again, we'd have to do more analysis. It just passed. It was getting amended um uh at a
feverishly uh in the uh in the waning uh hours of the legislative session. Um and so uh we would have to bring uh that analysis back to you on what but I I think it's safe to say that a lot of the guidance that was provided uh by the county attorney to the to the committee
would be pretty consistent. >> Thank you. Commissioner Welch, are you your comments wrapped up? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Commissioner Maddox, can you posture us in a place to land this plane? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Um, so couple things. First, uh, I I watched I watched that conversation
and Commissioner Proy, you you might have been there. Uh, it was it was very well talked about. A lot of detail came out and and one of the things that that that struck me most was uh the county attorney did speak and
say, "Well, you can't not do it. It'll just be it'll be it'll be very nuanced in the way you do it because you don't you can't create a protected class because of the DEI stuff that's going
on. And and so she she said she would have to be very careful in the way we talked about this thing. And so, um, you know, I I I when I think about it on its face and what it does, what came to mind for me
was was what CRAAS are doing right now in our blighted communities. um uh now it's defined by blight, but if you think about some of the policies that may have uh been enacted that that created the blight that happened within those communities, um you can't deny that
something similar to this could be could be seen as such. And so when I when I thought about it on its face, when I thought about what I wanted to do with it, um I didn't think as much about race. I thought I thought a lot about about, you know, poverty and and class and stuff like that, but I didn't think
as much about race. And so, you know, I I'm I'm I'm I'm battling with it because I do understand that that the the the conversations the county attorney was having. Uh but I also, like I said, know what my lived experiences are, one, but two, know what communities like
Frenchtown, Woodville, other other communities look like that might have been affected by policies that happened far before us um that could have advanced them more. And so, is that an issue of race? Um, even Fort Brady would
be an issue of race if you looked at that area and thought about policies that might have created some of the situations out there. I don't I don't think all those people out there are one race or the other. I think it's an issue of of strictly how policy might have harmed. And so um
I I the other part that had me thinking was that well I might want to take a whack at it today. um at a board, you might have been going down the right road to see if if the board will be willing to make
this a board initiative. Um or do we send it back because, you know, that committee has spoken. Um and I just don't know where I want to be. So, I think I'm going to go down the road of of dealing with the agenda item.
It's it's a bit cumbersome process because I don't I just don't know that we're ready yet cuz I don't think we have as much information as that committee had. But I do want I do want us to understand that no matter how it's framed,
this doesn't have to be about DEI. This doesn't have to be about race. This doesn't have to be about gender. This can be about something else. This can't be about policies that have hurt communities and kept them from being able to thrive. If you look at what
happened in the Smoky Hollow community, if you look what happened, look at our some of our more impoverished communities that that that we that we uh that we deal with um Masiki um uh chairs all around our county, even
within our city, you know, some of the southside areas, you know. So, I I I I don't think this has to be wrapped up in race. I just see another way for us to do this to where if we do it the right way, it could be more about the policies that were created that that harm
communities than it is about studying race related, gender related, DEI, protected class type of things. But as the county attorney said during the meeting and I think you were going down this road, but you stopped. He was like,
"Well, in a way, sometimes by doing the studies, and correct me if I'm wrong, cuz I I was kind of following your thought, you could create a protected glass by by doing it in a way. I don't know, but it to me it just it just it's it's something that we could dig into
more. And I just I'm just not ready to give up on it. So, I'll support the motion on the floor." >> Mr. Chair, >> commissioners, I'm I'm going to I'm going to we're going to vote on the motion on the floor. We're g All right. We've deliberated this a lot. So, um, all right. Sub, was it a motion or
substitute? Motion. Motion. Motion moved by Commissioner, the vice chairman, seconded by Commissioner Proctor. All those in favor of the motion on the floor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? >> No. >> Motion passes 61. Thank you,
commissioners. Any other items related to charter amendments to discuss? >> Mr. Chairman, I thank you for uh allowing me to discuss u commissioners that matter. I have one that I would like to discuss and hopefully um one of my wonderful colleagues will will um
will move this on on my behalf, but um I'm looking for a motion to amend the charter or put forth on the ballot to um update the language so that if there is a um conflict between
ordinances between the city and the county that county ordinances will prevail And so if they anyone willing to make that motion s make the motion that u in the potentuality that there's a conflict uh of of ordinances between
city and county we place for the public uh a charter amendment that would signal that the county's um language prevails uh when there is a conflict on the same ordinance or the same rule. >> I second.
>> Okay. We have the a motion uh moved by Commissioner Proctor, second by Commissioner Cummings. Um uh I'm going to lead the discussion here, Commissioners. Um listen, I know that we deliberated this in the past. I I think
we have I think this aligns with our straw poll uh mentality of asking the voters really who they want to be the leader for our community. The biggest single-handed reason why I think this policy, this ordinance in the charter
needs to change is because of annexation purely. As the city continues to annex more and more property, our boundaries for which we set policy becomes smaller. And I think for all of us across Leyon
County when we look at what's happening, the city is continuing to expand their footprint, you know, we are told that via state law and state statute. We have to approve that. And so I think this also aligns with um there's policies
that empower the city and how they use the utility in unincorporated areas. And so I really think that this is a a a a great cleanup charter amendment and at the end of the day the voters will decide and I think that is the most
important. Um so commissioners uh I see uh I see a few commissioners in discussion. Commissioner Welch, I'll let you go. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um staff, this is for you guys. Um, can you remind me because I know we talked about this, I
think, pretty well when we were contemplating formulating the charter review commission. Um, isn't there already an ordinance or somewhere where the city does this or where isn't is it planning or >> environmental >> environmental permitting? That's right.
Yeah, there is already a very narrow provision in the charter that basically creates a floor for environmental standards. >> The county establishes that and the and the city can exceed those environmental standards. They just can't go below the
floor. >> Gotcha. Okay. Okay. And so this would so this is very similar then to the item about addressing or street changing and it sort of runs as you said parallel to the question the bigger question about consolidation. You
would agree those kind of Okay. So it's in the same vein right? Um and the implications of this would then be that the county whatever floor the county sets for any ordinance the city has to meet or exceed. Is that right?
>> No. So under the Florida constitution in our charter it had there has to be an express provision whether in the event of a conflict our chart our ordinances prevail or the city's ordinances prevail and currently our charter defers to city
ordinances with the sole exception of the floor for environmental standards. So so right now we defer to the city ordinances. >> Okay. Now that begs my next question. Historically, why was that a previous commission charter
uh idea or was that in the original charter? Has that ever been considered by a charter review? >> It has. And just to jump on onto it, it it it has and it it it is so because it reflects existing general law is that city ordinances are in effect within the
city and county ordinances are in effect and and and and have um you know um you know difference uh inside inside the county. So again, it's a reflection of that. But chassity is right in terms of that that the constitution provides that
a charter county can determine to the extent that they conflict where which ordinances prevail. >> So when you say reflects in law, you mean reflects in ordinance or state law >> in in state law. It it is that >> I'm talking about you said it reflects
in law >> city. Yes. Our charter reflects state law >> which is that cities >> Yes. that cities ordinances prevail inside the city. But you just said state law provides that county charter charter counties can reverse that. >> Can they can? >> Correct.
>> Okay. So the state law says that it is but then we can overrule that. I'm a little confused. >> Go ahead, Chie. >> So So it's it can be different here for charter and non-charter counties. >> Okay. >> So if you're a non-charter county, the the default under state law is
>> city ordinances prevail in the event of conflict within city limits. But once Leyon County became a charter county, one of the few requirements in the Florida Constitution, when you come a be when you become a charter county is the charter has to say in the event of a
conflict of an ordinance between a city and a county, the charter has to be clear which prevails. And so just when we became a charter county, there was a vote as part of that process to become a charter county to maintain basically I think what Vince was
responding to is the status quo for non-charter counties and basically defer to the city when their ordinances conflict with ours. >> Gotcha. >> But charter counties get to choose. >> Gotcha. So we're voting now to put this on the charter. Is there do we have any
idea where this applies in charter counties across the state? How many do this versus the other? >> We we did we we provided an analysis for you back back when the board considered this issue. Um I believe there are no charter counties that currently provide the blanket preeemption if you will, but
there are there are counties that do delineate on specific issues like our environmental orders. >> Yeah. Yeah. I got you. All right. So, thank you guys. Um so, my feeling on that is we're we're dad blame Charter County. All right. Um I mean we exist
under the Florida Constitution. Uh the city is an incorporated entity that exists under state policy law, right? So to me the constitution of the state should trump that sort of
like uh whatever the word is giving away that authority to the city. So um I would support putting that before voters to see what they think. I mean it kind again it kind of runs in the same vein. Imagine it'd be interesting to see how those votes line up, right? Like if the
charter if this one is like 5545 and the consolidation one's like 6040, you know, like it'd be interesting to see. So, um and that's I'll support this this uh recommendation. >> Thank you, Commissioner. One thing also can uh can you clarify, Madam Attorney?
So we have it set to where so let's say for example like where the ceiling if we and let's say this passes the on county ordinance would be the ceiling the city can still choose they can go underneath that
theoretically right so like on environmental so like for an example like this is only if there's a conflict they can't go past whatever our policy is but if we set you know something or say anything needs to close at this time or you know we're not going to allow X Y
and Z. They can only go up to that point. Does that make sense? You follow what I'm saying? Like I'm trying to give an example in environmental policy how that would be comparable. Right. >> Yeah. So so again, you know, right now we've set a floor.
>> Correct. Uh and and so we say, "Hey, if you want to set stricter guidelines than this city, you're welcome to, but you cannot go below the minimum environmental standards that we have that we establish as a county." Um and and I know that the history of that was
just to establish some consistency and some minimum again uh related to that specific issue, but but basically uh if this were to pass um staff would have to do an analysis uh and determine where
there are current conflicts and and what to do about those. Uh and then prospectively uh anytime we were going to adopt an ordinance we would have to do basically what we do now anyway which is evaluate whether the city has a different
ordinance. The difference here would be there's currently prevails uh in the city limits and so we always the county has exercised its authority to adopt uh >> unincorporated county ordinances and
just have some regulations apply in the unincorporated area and the city could or the county could continue to do that. I mean we don't have to preempt everything in the city by ordinance. um it it just becomes uh much more discretionary and something that from an
analysis perspective that information would have to be provided by staff to the board. >> So it could give us the option if needed to but we don't have to. What you're saying >> that's correct. >> Correct. Okay. Commissioner Miner. >> Thank you Mr. Chairman. Appreciate it.
>> One thing I don't I don't think we've spent enough time talking about is what are the implications, right? Um if let's say we we do the charter amendment, it's on the ballot, it passes. Um city ordinances that conflict with county
ordinances would be invalidated. Correct. >> No, she said she said we would have the option basically if we wanted to preempt it. But go ahead. I apologize. Well, typically what I think what would need what would practically speaking have to be done is there would have to be some
prospective date by which that provision would become effective to allow time for staff to conduct that analysis and address those existing inconsistencies. >> And we're talking about I mean possibly just an order of magnitude. We could be
talking about hundreds of ordinances. >> We have an extensive code and they have an extensive code. Yeah. Yeah. I just I'm okay with the with the motion on the floor and and having an agenda item come back because we will see the language of what this charter amendment would be before we vote on it a final time.
Correct. We'll do a public hearing of it as well. Um but I I want this agenda item to talk as much as it possibly can about what the implications are. This is not the motion on the floor is not for an agenda item right now because we're on an agenda item below related to
it. So he was basically directing them to come back with ballot language was the motion. >> But it's still going to come back to us with the ballot language. That's what I mean. That's what I mean. >> Correct. >> Because in other words, we're going to see it again. >> Correct. >> Um >> all these items we're going to see again. >> Yep. Yep. But I I want that I want that
agenda item to talk as much as possible about the implications of this because we all represent people that live in the city. uh you could I mean twothirds of the people we represent are are in the city and and so what we do here affects them. It affects those of us who live in
the city and I don't know if any of us here on the deis can mention even one example of what this would do for an ordinance. Can you mention one ordinance that this would affect and how this would how this might affect the city ordinances? I mean, there's a there's a
reason why when the county was chartered that the county commissioners at that time voted to let the city make their own decisions. You know, the city represents vastly the the urban area of this county. And so,
ordinances that apply to the city are fit are fit within an urban model, right? I mean, they've got a different overall they have a different demographic with different conditions, different dynamics. So for us just to blanket have a charter amendment where as in a phased in approach we would take
a look at these ordinances one by one. But I I just I want this agenda item to come back to us with the ballot language but also making sure that we have as good an understanding of pos as possible about what the implications are. I mean it's great to pump out our chest and say we've got the authority. We're going to
put our foot down and we're going to control the city. That feels good to say right? But at the end of the day, we're responsible for running a government reasonably and partnering with our city of which many of us live in to make sure
that the people's lives that we repres, you know, that that we're here to serve are are having a high quality of life. I mean, that's what we're really all here for. Not to see who's got the, you know, the biggest stick to throw around and and and try to throw away our throw around our power. is about helping the
people who live here and have the highest quality of life. And so the agenda item that comes back has to talk as much as possible about the implications of this because my vote on that to when it comes back will be determined on is this going to help out the quality of life of the people who live here, not whether or not county
commission can throw its rate around and act all big and tough. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Commissioner Commissioner Miner, I missed that part. you you said something about percentages of city in the county or something like that like >> well yeah just on point Mr. chairman.
Yeah. So, I mean, we all represent people that live in the city, right? I mean, we all represent people that live in the city. I mean, it's it's so we we have a vested interest in making sure that city residents, >> right, >> have a have a high quality life. I mean, we we we need to get along with the city
governments. I don't agree with a lot of what they do, but we need to get along and coexist with them, >> right? But like my feeling on that, and this is just neither here nor there, right? I think like 75% of my district is in the city, but 100% of my district
is in the county, right? Like that's that's the way I think about that. >> Commissioner Commission, are you done? I'm sorry. >> Yeah, I'm sorry. >> Commissioner Cummings have been waiting in the queue. I accidentally skipped her. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Commissioner Cummings. >> Okay. Thank Thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, I I'm concerned with us keeping
down as much discord as as we can, trying to uh work with the city who represents all of our constituents because all of our constituents are county citizens uh
within the city uh within the city as well. I I I don't have a big problem, Mr. chair about the agenda item coming back and it's for us to decide whether or not we would have um a proposed
uh amended charter saying that ordinances that conflict with city ordinances the county would prevail. Is is that that's in essence what we're asking them to bring back? >> Correct. Only when there's a conflict.
when that's what I'm saying. When it conflicts with the city ordinance, >> the county prevails. Now, let me ask the county attorney. This would go on the ballot if it's an amendment to the charter. So, what happens if it fails?
If if the if our voters don't agree with it, we are back where we are now. Right. >> Correct. >> Correct. It's status quo. It's what you currently have. That's what would continue to be. >> Okay. My my my my concern is Mr. Chair, my
question is this. What is occurring right now that's so bad that's so devastating where we need the county ordinance to take precedent over city ordinance? Do we have any any one example?
>> Sure. There's ordinance right now that allows the city to charge county residences county residents 50% sir charge on their sewer utilities >> on the sewer. >> Correct. my I don't want to I don't want to I don't want to >> Yeah, that's just one example. So, what
we have something in place that will supersede that. >> So, my my issue primarily commissioners and I put this map up several times is this city annexation map. I think I passed it out to you all. Mhm.
>> When you look at where annexation's occurring, Commissioner Welch's district, Commissioner Miner, your district, my district, it's it it the city continues to annex more property, which means our jurisdiction as county commissioners
becomes smaller because of the way the ordinance is. And Commissioner Miner, I don't think this is about who has the biggest stick. Leyon County taxpayers and what they voted in the original ordinance gave the
city of Tallahassee the stick and this the city of Tallahassee takes that stick and beat up county residents with that stick. They did it in Commissioner Welter's district when they increased
the sewer fees. They've they've done it they're they're gonna do it in Woodville when all that sewer is done in Woodville and they control the rates. >> Okay. So, my question is would we have an ordinance or do we have an ordinance that would override what they're doing
or do we envision I guess adopting an ordinance that would counter what we dislike about that? Yeah, I think this is about just us having the ability to legislate countywide because right now when
anytime a city resident I anytime properties annexed by the city, we all have lost our jurisdiction the way the church current charter currently sits. And so the way I look at it is like, you know, in 50 years from now, right, and we're told by state law when a developer
comes and wants to build more properties that we have to approve the annexation, right, by state law if it's a voluntary annexation. So over time, you know, this map is going to get shaded in everywhere pretty much around Lake Jackson. All that's going to get shaded in everywhere
from Centerville Road to Thomasville Road and and is all that all and Murdian Road all that under Bradfordville eventually is going to be annexed in. So when you have this map, it just this is my opinion. I feel like over time we're
going to lose our ability to really be county commissioners and what are we going to sit here vote on a budget to for and not be able to pass policy? That's my opinion. Um, again, this is up to the voters, right? That's I
>> Yeah, I'm just trying to see the the if we had some examples of impact um that's occurring right now of that would be more positive for the citizens if this amendment passed as part of our
charter. >> I think >> would it make the living conditions better for the citizens? >> I think it's a level of safety for them. Um, >> right now there's a there is a government across the street that doesn't listen to their people very
clearly. And so we our hands are tied. Anytime the city wants to say, "No, we're going to you guys can't do anything about it." It's in city limits. >> When it's in the city limits, >> correct? It gives I think the citizens like a, you know, a backup and another government to go to that we can act as a
body and pass ordinance if they don't like what's currently going on at city hall. And so that's why I think it's just important to ask the voters where they stand on amending the charter. Um again, the voters voted on this. I think it was 2006 um somewhere on there
somewhere. We yes some early 2000. So um if the voters want to keep it the same and they're happy, by all means, I think they can they can do so. But >> well, let me just ask one other question, Mr. Chair. Uh if we have the agenda item come back and we vote
unanimously for it to uh be on the the ballot in November, would we have time to have a public hearing and what have you? This is um this is March now. We would have you envision that Mr. Mr. County administrator.
>> Yeah, please. So just asking because what the the motion that I heard was for a board initiated charter amendment. So what would come back is actual ballot language but then people have been talking about an agenda item. So are is
is the is the motion for an agenda item or is it for ballot language? I just want to make sure >> it's clear. Go >> ahead. If I if I might, we're trying to um get to ballot language and um that
was the spirit of what I was asking that we allow voters in this community to decide what they would >> and I I believe Commissioner Miner, you were okay with that because it's going to come back to us to vote on. >> Yeah, Mr. Chairman,
>> when I see a when I said agenda item before, I was implying that the ballot language will be part of that agenda item, but then we would also have a a write up of the implications. >> Yeah, that'll that'll come back to us, right? >> Yes. >> Okay, great. I've Commissioner Maddox has been patiently waiting in the queue. Commissioner Cummings, you
>> Thank you. >> Okay, Commissioner Maddox sees his time. Um, Commissioner Proder. >> Um, there there was a couple concerns. But I I want to make sure that people not thinking that we're being hotheaded or
anything like that. Um last year when we were um trying to understand the um out of the blue 22% u increase on county residents.
uh our staff tried hard to say that um it was outside the purview of the agreement fire service agreement and we uh capitulated and I think we decided
to say okay well don't do it to us for 22% but maybe what was it 10% 17%. And we were we had no we we didn't have any um any moxy if you
will. And um and so subsequent to that um I believe the mayor um made public comments that maybe the county the county needs to um create and form their their own fire. >> He said we don't understand the fire services.
>> We said we need to go form our own. Um, subsequent to that discussion, another round of effort on our part to do due diligence to be nice and cuddly, uh, friendly and skinning and grinning to the city. Um, Commissioner Williams Cox
indicated that it was time for the county and the city to get a divorce. Um, I think I know what divorce means. U, but that was his spouse. It was nothing like let's see by ya we were
told it's time to get a divorce. I don't see welcoming cutly relations uh is we we've been pushed away. We've been dissed if you will and um
when those that's the language that we've been treated with. We're just trying to scramble and find our way and to maintain equilibrium for the people that we represent. The difference between a city and a county commissioner is that the county commission represents everybody.
Everybody in the city and everybody in the county. Uh the city does not have that distinction. They merely represent those who abide within their limits. But all of it is the county's limit.
Everyone votes for us. Just the few people who get annexed into the city, which the city cherrypicks who is annexed and therefore who gets a voter's card. They control that territorial expansion.
I don't know, Mr. chairman, you know, Hannibal and Marco Polo and all these people that went to conquer the world, Columbus, uh what was on their mind, but um I am
clear what's on our city's mind and uh cherrypicking who they want to be annexed. uh as Commissioner Welch's great district. Um I think the chairman just outlined how
uh most of that will come city. Um and you know Proctor is struggling to get more of his district included though in the urban services area. It's cherrypicked. So, I'm looking forward and hope that
our board will unanimously understand that when um FAMU requested uh that Althia Gibson's name be placed alongside his campus from Orange Avenue uh on Wishway down to the roundabout on
Family Way. uh the city we supported what family asked for and the city said we hadn't done enough and they changed the rules and said that the county would not be telling them what they could couldn't
do. So they moved Alia Gibson's name from um Beth Church in Wanish and changed Wanish that part of Wanish all the way down to Bragg Drive. So, it affected my mother's um dress. Um I
think my mother was a good tennis player, I understand, but um she didn't go to Wimbledon and win. So, we were um forced by the city and we were told by the city, we run this mofo. That's what we do. We run it. And what we're trying
to do is to have um to forward ourselves not to get pushed around and chumped around. um on issues of which we merely honored FAMU's request and we didn't go beyond the request. So um I hope that we
can if the citizens will arm us to be um our voices to matter our votes to count then possibly if this is passed by the citizens it will give us that impact of voice and effect.
Thank you, Commissioner. Um, Commissioner O'Keefe, I want to take this to a vote. Have you spoke on this item yet? >> I just I just have a question on process. >> Okay, go ahead. >> Uh, is this vote the one since it's commissioned? Is this vote require the supermajority or the public hearing vote require the
super majority? >> It's the public hearing vote because this is going to come back to you. It's not the final vote. >> Thank you. >> All right, commissioners. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. I. Any opposed?
>> Passes 61 with Commissioner Maddox in descent. Commissioners, any discussion at all relative to charter um amendments on this item? I believe it's item what? What item was this? >> Mr. Chairman, I just uh
>> item number item number 20. >> I'd like to compliment, Mr. Chairman um uh our staff that work with the citizens group um hand in hand uh um um um Shington um Vince uh Chassity
our um our um technical staff that broadcast the meetings uh all of them it was an environment where uh there were no dominant players in the room if you will uh it was not lopsided
ed by development interests over environmental interest. Uh it was one of the most level uh uh playing fields and assortment of voices that seem to have been tolerant of u each other's
perspectives and I think our staff set a great um tone and temperament uh through each of those meetings. So kudos to Vince and um Chassley and Shington who were most vocal um in those meetings in
terms of giving um input and to this county commission whose patience uh that we observed didn't jump in and didn't taint the process if you will and chairman we appreciate the way you've um
allowed all of this to um um to um if you will to marinate and come forward. bold and parcel out directions that we will go. So, we appreciate you, too. >> Thank you, Commissioner Bucker. I want to make sure everyone feels heard. That's the goal. Um, all right, Commissioners, we are now on consent and
the pulled item pulled consent items. We are on item number four. Uh, Mr. County Administrator. >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. Item number four uh was pulled by Commissioner Proctor is the Supervisor of Elections proposed
alteration of voting precinct boundaries. Again, we're happy to answer any questions you might have. We did have uh the attendance of uh supervisor elections office here at one point. I'm looking in the audience. I'm not sure if they're still with us, but anyway, we're happy to answer any questions you might have.
>> Uh Commissioner Potter, you pulled this item. >> I pulled this item, Mr. chairman and I was able to um speak with the supervisor and um indicated that I was sufficiently um informed and largely >> you were what
>> informed as to the seven precinct changes that uh he was calling for >> and making a motion. >> So moved. >> Staff recommendation option one. >> Second. >> Great. Moved by Commissioner Proter, second by Commissioner Maddox.
Go ahead, Commissioner Proter. >> Yeah. Which one we on? >> You on number four? Super supervisor of elections. >> Thank you. Supervisor of elections. We had um he presented us with a map um this map indicating in this measure what would be
changed and what would be altered. And I told him that um in terms of these uh seven precincts that are being affected and we had all of the maps he provided, you know, thorough information and I wanted to
know what was occurring and um last week in Texas they held a a strange kind of an election which u numbers of people did not know where the precinct was and they did some swapping up over the precincts. um citizens went to vote. It
had been changed. Had not been notified. It it was just a hot mess. And um supervisor, my question was um you don't have ballot access when you don't know where to go to cast your
ballot. And the supervisor indicated that they will be communicating uh these changes. Uh the precinct numbers are here, the sites of uh from the 2024 polling places to the 2026.
Uh and I thought that the moving from the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church to the FSU Rex Sports Plex that that was one of those traditional FSU uh polling sites that you know might get
a teaspoon of folk to show up. But basically th those polls are um under um attended but he indicated that this would be not the site which I thought so those were my questions commissioners. I'm comfortable with uh
uh Mr. Early that he's going to communicate these changes uh to all of the voters who will be impacted by precinct changes for 2026 polling. So with that information I ask uh that we
adopt uh the motion of staff. That it commissioner prom. Yes sir. Great. All any other discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor of the motion moved by commissioner proctor. Second by who second the motion?
>> Commissioner Maddox or commissioner. >> Um certify by saying I >> I passes unanimously. Commissioners we are now on item five. Mr. County Administrator, will you introduce the item? >> This is a resolution commissioners affirming the county's commitment to treating all individuals with dignity
and respect. It was pulled by Commissioner Cummings. Happy to answer any questions you might have. >> Commissioner Cummings, you have the floor. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I I basically uh pull this and and I really want us to
um table it and have it come back. uh in looking at the looking at the resolution, it there was some areas uh some groups, protected groups that I know that we respect that weren't included and there's some other
uh information, general information there that I don't think um would disagree with. >> Is that a motion to table the item? >> I like Yeah. Yeah. I can move that we table it and have it come back. Mr. County Administrator, >> great. I'll second I'll second that motion.
>> It's really a nomenclature issue if you lay it on the table like it doesn't come back until someone later asked for it to come back. So I think maybe what um Commissioner Cummings is asking for is it to just be continued until uh like a future meeting. >> Oh, okay. Continue.
>> I move that it be continued to a future meeting. >> I'll second that motion. >> Thank you everybody. And could I just get clarification of when it comes back what what it is to include >> and come back next month? >> Well, yeah. >> April meeting.
>> Um I'm not good at telepathy, but I think I understand where the commission is coming from. Um if I might. >> Mhm. >> Um this needs to be enlarged. Um this needs to be augmented and uh the resolution needs to be uh uh
a little broader. uh is what commissioner is saying with with with clearer and um strong stronger lang language. This is this is um generic uh boilerplate u stuff and if it's okay with this commission I I'd submit you
know two or three uh um graphs um to um enhance and this so so so she's asking that it comes back um enlarge enhance and blah blah blah. >> Okay. and it should be open to all commissioners to submit some language to
the county attorney. >> Cool. All right, Commissioner Miner. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate it. I I'll support the motion to to to to table. Um, one thing I wanted to do before I I knew Commissioner Cummings was going to table it. I actually had a
recommendation to to to broaden the the number of protected glasses. >> Awesome. >> So, because right now >> Yes, ma'am. Right now, if you take a look at page one, lines 12 and 13, it says, "Treating all individuals with dignity and respect regardless of age, race, creed, or color." What I wanted to
do, and I actually I've got copies here I can show you just because it's kind of long. It's treating all individuals with dignity and respect regardless of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, or
disability. Now, the reason why I list these protected classes is because it's based on the US EEOC website in terms of protected classes. So, it's it's it's based on what the federal government um has in the past and even to this day
includes as uh its protected classes. So, um Madam County attorney, now that the motion has laid this on the table, could I have a friendly amendment to lay this on the table, but to include this? >> The language we used was continued, not table. continued >> continued
>> to be brought back next month >> because you said a specific >> a specific time period next month. >> Yeah, that's fine. And um if um if this language meets with the approval as direction to staff, this is what would
be included in the resolution to come back. >> Ma'am, would you would you allow that to be a friendly amendment? >> Absolutely. >> All right. Thank you, ma'am. Uh Mr. Chairman, I'm done. Thank you. >> Great. Go ahead. Um uh madame attorney, Mr. Minister, what how does this
mesh with the 1134 that just passed the legislature? >> Um that measure, if it's approved by the governor, does not become effective till January 1 of 2027. So right now, there's no issue or question that the board could adopt this at the next meeting.
>> All right, commissioners, we all good? All right. All those in favor of the motion moved by Commissioner second by myself, signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Passes unanimously. All right, commissioners. We are now Let me find my
my >> number eight. >> No, we already did number eight. We're on number 10. >> Eight. >> We did eight earlier. That was >> Thank you very much. Thank you. Yes. Number 10, commissioners, is your March 2026 quarterly economic dashboard
report. Uh, pulled by Commissioner Proctor. >> Commissioner, you have the floor. Commissioner Proctor. >> Thank you. Um, Commissioner, >> need a motion. >> Um, move the adoption of the report. >> Second. >> Okay. Thank you. I um believe that this is such a very very important uh measure
that it ought to have been u made a part of general business. I'd like to recommend that our quarterly economic report uh which comes out coinciding with the national report in particular with the loss of American jobs that we
not put this on consent but this important economic information um is brought to our awareness for general business. I'd like to also add to the motion that our economic um quarterly report is made a part of
general business um because this is what we um provide a lot of investment to make sure that we have >> Cool. Is that is amendment to the motion? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay, great. I'll second the motion amendment. I'm
happy to accept the amendment. Um any discussion, commissioners? Commissioners, one thing I wanted to point out. I wasn't going to bring this up unless I was pulled. Um, if you look at the table, I don't know what page this is on. It's
a quarter quarterly economic dashboard QED attachment one. It says page one of two. I don't know if you guys see that. But if you look at there's an alarming data point I think that we should all
keep in the in in front of mind, but it says mortgage foreclosures are up 149% in Lyon County in Q4 2025
or 26% higher than 10ear average in Q4 average of 73 during that time. So, I think that we need to just understand what that means locally when it comes to, you know, what some of what some of our residents and families are
experiencing and then relative to our our residential real estate market. So, um it's not a good indicator. All right, commissioners. Um motion on the floor moved by Commissioner Proctor, second by myself. All those in favor signify by saying I. I.
>> Any opposed? Passes unanimously. Uh, commissioners, we are on item number 12. >> Commissioner Proctor, thank >> I'm sorry. Can you introduce item, Mr. K? Administrator. >> Uh, just that it is a status report on Lo Countyy's efforts related to the
Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare 2025 community health needs assessment. This item uh was previously requested uh to appear as a status report on your agenda. >> Okay. Thank you very much, M. >> Go ahead, Mr. Go, Mr. Chairman. Chairman, commissioners, I believe that
um this report um um should be workshopped. Um I know that our co >> motion a motion >> um so move that we workshop uh this
matter number 12 and that we can't that's a motion workshop >> second. >> Okay. May I go ahead? >> All right. It's been a minute since we've had the um health community um leaders around the table and I think
that um to assess where we are uh in the absence of um Obamacare uh the big beautiful bill u the anti-dei standards now applied to Tales Memorial
tomorrow um the passage of Bill 11:30 uh Senate Bill 1134. Uh we're in a completely u post reconstructive era and access. You know,
we had that discussion tonight about uh putting health care in our charter as a as a foremost concern among people. But I believe that we should have a workshop to take an assessment where we are and hopefully to bring um HCA to the table
and all the major players providing for the health, safety and welfare of this community. Uh our charge that we ought to have a more um intricate detailed uh understanding of the players, the new
names, uh what they do. So many doctors have left. So many doctors have gone out of business. I mean, I really don't know the strength of our community's health situation. And I'd like for us to please um take time to review where where are
we? Are we stronger because we have a new owner of the hospital? Uh what does that mean? U because we have new ownership. Those are those are concerns. and like I know we've done that before u but it's been a long time. So that's the
ask. >> Thank you Mr. O'Keefe. >> Thank you Mr. Chair and thank you Commissioner Proctor for that great motion on a workshop. So this report the reason I asked for the status report is this is an incredible source of
information. I got to be a stakeholder as part of it and um the number of responses from the citizens and surveys was greatly expanded by the county staff um putting it at all the libraries and promoting in our communications. One thing that has been made very clear from
this report is as was mentioned earlier is over half of Lyon County residents said they were unable to get the medical care they needed. And when asked what the biggest barrier to health was, they pointed to high cost of medical services and prescriptions.
And then stakeholders ranked social and economic conditions, mental well-being, and chronic disease as the top three most important issues we face right now. And citing a fragmented health care system and costs and and elsewhere in the report, I actually talked about lack of
ability of offices taking new patients. Um, I will say even after this is a one-time thing, but when TPCA closed, a lot of my constituents have struggled to find new primary care providers, and those are people with insurance and
jobs. Um, and so that is why I think a workshop is a fantastic idea. I will skip the historical story of why this is so important to me since we heard it earlier. Um but I have been looking this so what this report shows us is this is
economic this is uh soci this is uh systemic this is all parts of society this is not just doctors and nurses and patients and it infect it impacts everything we do since it impacts over half of our
community's health and so I will just plant a seed here that um one of the things for For a lot of folks that stops them from going to the doctors when they need to is existing medical debt, which is often not their fault. They didn't
buy a boat. They didn't get a car they couldn't afford. They didn't lose their job. They just needed to go to the doctor and um acrew that debt. Other communities have been removing that barrier, including here in Florida, by
working with um organizations who buy medical debt for pennies on the dollar and write them off for citizens under a certain income cap. Um and so I'll be bringing back examples and information about medical debt relief and how that
can help families free up their finances to re-enter the economy um at a future date. I won't add that to here, but um preliminarily based on the example of other communities, the return is 100 to1
where uh perhaps a $500,000 investment by a county can yield up to $50 million in local citizen debt relief to free them up um economically and healthwise. So, it's something worth considering. we would not be the first
um and hopefully would not be the last, but um I'll I'll save that for a possible workshop. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair, Commissioner Cummings. >> Yeah, >> thank thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a
great report. I just want to just emphasize and I look forward to workshop on information, but I just want to emphasize uh the work that the county does on an annual basis and addressing the needs especially of those individuals in our marginalized
communities. Uh we know that the bond community uh uh healthc care and neighborhood uh healthc care health health center and appala appalache as well are three of the major healthcare providers that we
we contract with and I'm proud of the fact that we spend just directly with them you know close to $2 million annually to provide health care services for um for our needs. Yeah. For our needy individuals in our communities.
And uh not only that, we invest uh in helping those individuals that don't have transportation because they have they have mobile units that go to the various uh communities at certain time and pro provide direct services um to
those individuals. So, I think this report is timely, especially in light of, as Commissioner Proctor indicated, the sale of of TMH uh that's going on right now. And I think it's good for us to have a snapshot of where we are as
far as the the needs in the community for health care and for continuing health care and for for the the county to continue to be concerned and involved with providing uh health care to those citizens that would wouldn't otherwise
be able to afford it through bond community and neighborhood healthcare. Not only that, we are concerned with the the mental condition of people in our community, not not just adults, but children as well. So, we um we've
contracted uh with Appalache and they're they're doing a a good job as well and addressing those needs. So we've taken a holistic approach uh from the county to address the the overall needs of of the citizens that in most instances do not
have um do not have healthc care coverage. So I just want to uh thank the diligence of the county and our county county administrator uh and those that those that are involved and concerned about uh healthc care in our
communities. And thank you again for this report. This is a a great eye openener report and I think we will be enlightened even more when we have our workshop. So thank you Mr. Chair. >> Thank you Commissioner Cummings. Uh Commissioner Proctor, my question is um
I guess I'd probably ask you and Commissioner O'Keefe this question, but what is the spirit of the workshop? Is it forformational based or are we looking for uh action? Because if it's for information based, I think we could ask for a status report. If it's going
to be for action, what does that action look like? You know, I I I ask this because listen, if we had an unlimited budget at Leon County, I would want to make sure every every person who needs healthcare had the ability to get it, right? But I think we are limited in our
capacity of what we can do um financially. So that's what you know what is what is the spirit of what we're looking to try and accomplish? >> Well, I think I think that accountability is important and um I
believe that what we've done some previous instances is to understand the scope of uh who bond serves. Is it the uninsured, the indigent? Uh on a on a
sliding scale who comes in the door and pay 50 cent on a sliding scale who pays $2, who pays $3? Accountability. And it's our job to hold entities in particular those that we're funding uh accountable to tell us to report what
our money goes to undergurting in their services. So action is um often times for people to give an account of what they're doing in particular with our money. That's the first thing. Uh the second thing there has been a big huge
discussion among three people in this community uh the mayor uh hospital leader the president of Florida State. I really don't think that health care impacting the entire community should be
uh a closed door uh out of the sunshine conversation. Um hell, I want to know what who else can be talked to, who else can learn? What what is it that three people should know that the rest of us
can't? So the exposure the sunlight on health care it is delivery uh those who are receiving funds public dollars we need to know and they need to account for what they do. So the action is an
accountability session uh that our questions if if we can question if we have that right I don't know what what we can do no more uh if we can still do that um is to do that and then thirdly
and probably maybe not so profound uh a measure is this idea of having a seamless uh healthc care delivery system. Do we still have a seamless healthc care um situation? I stood with
the NAACP last Thursday I believe at a press conference at DelM church and the question was the agreement between the hospital and FSU. It still does not include a
provision that uninsured people and poor people are going to be cared for by the hospital. For some reason, this clause that it was a commitment to include has not been put in ink. So, u Mr. Chairman,
to your question, um accountability uh is a concern. Uh I believe that it ought to be an expanded healthc care decision on the institutional players beyond three men, three white men in this community. Uh I don't think those
three men is we all are going to whatever happens we in the hands of three people. So um and then the the third component I I I just mentioned uh the seamless uness of a healthc care delivery system that has excluded the
voice of HCA alto together. Um I I want to know I think we deserve to know the public and if we don't hold account accountable these entities big and small uh not for profit for profit or whatever
then who will? We know the city won't because that would be a closed door conversation uh led by its mayor and nobody else can say anything and so frustrated Mr. Chairman has a city become uh about people wanting to speak
on healthcare that they've limit the whole meeting to 30 minutes for 300,000 people. So speaking about the county and the city uh Mr. minor at this desk and anybody from the city or from the county can get three
minutes. When you talk about the city, whatever the number of people that live there, the all of them put together get 30 minutes to talk to the city commission. >> Mr. I heard they made that policy because they heard you were coming to to public comment >> um in the morning. Can I get your three
minutes? Um so those are the to answer your question, those were the concerns that I have. I hope that has been efficient. >> All right, Commissioner Ke, you want anything different? You want to take it to a vote? >> Uh, I'll just say Commissioner Proctor and I are coming from a different uh point, so it may die. That's fine. I'm
coming from action separate from any of that, separate from any specific entity. We're following, we're talking about things that are specific to indigent care. And I want us to talk about the global system affecting all of our community, not just once someone becomes
indigent in healthcare. And so it looks like what we'll have to instead of one workshop is I'm going to read this report and every meeting I'll come back with a new agenda item for the new policy that comes out of the report for some part of the system that improves things to think more globally. Thank you. >> All right, commissioners. Thanks to
>> Mr. Chairman, I want to make sure that he understands I'm I may have used the indigent u commission >> because we do fund u care >> but I'm speaking to the universality of >> correct >> the seamless. >> Can you restate your motion? healthare. Yeah. The motion uh would be that we
would workshop uh agenda item number 12 and um secure uh stakeholders of healthcare delivery uh that we might achieve an understanding of where we are with the seamless delivery of healthcare and what is the range of that? Uh
commissioners everyone understand the motion on the floor. All those in favor of the motion moved by commissioner proer second by commissioner Kee signify by saying I. I >> I >> Any opposed? Passes unanimously. Um, Madam Commissioner, I mean, county
administrator, can you introduce us to our last item? >> Sure. Happy to. And and and Mr. Chairman, commissioners, I'm glad this item was pulled because it gives me the opportunity to to thank not only our staff, but also the consultant that work with us on this, Richard Davi, who I see
is here with more bass. Uh, big thanks. This may not seem like the most exciting item in the world, but I can tell you it's one that we've been working on a very long time, and I expect it to uh win all kinds of national awards. But again, this is important because it it does consolidate all the technical
references, all of the code compliance issues, all the various standards for infrastructure into one easy to use uh design manual. Uh and again, it's uh was much needed and and and it it's going to be a big help uh for the community. And uh with that, again, we're just happy to
answer any questions you might have. >> Who who pulled the item? >> Pulled by Commissioner Proctor. >> Mr. Proctor. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioners, I um want to amplify what um county administrators just said. Chairman, I said we'd be out here about 8:00 in hell. I didn't lie. You know, we
gonna get out here about 8 o'clock. >> You did lie. Uh but I'm telling us that this is one of the best um agenda items that I've seen written to us in a long time. Um it it's it's clear. It has
command. Um I like this agenda item and I love um paragraph two under the background and it speaks to consolidation. Okay. It speaks to consolidation
and the uh unifying of uh engineering standards and uh it I love this word uh the development of Leon County for infrastructure engineering standards and guidelines manual originated from the need to consolidate
the various standards code and technical references that guide the design review and public infrastructure projects. And I think that when you look at the various um standards, uh I believe that what we have to look
at with the new bus station down on Orange Avenue are engineering standards that um uh the performance of the engineering standards uh on that bus station got to be done over. Why? Because they don't have a manual like
this. People singing off a different song book. Um, it fell short. >> Mr. Pot, did you move staff recommendation option one? >> I did. >> But I I did so with with glowing bells and whistles attached that uh this was a great this was a great um and every now
and then there's a piece of work that shines. This one did, but most of all it it it speaks to the unifying of standards and that's what we're trying to do with county government. And that's what this is how we this is what we do.
This is what we do. We lift the standard. We raise the bar. And that's what we're going to do in November. Thank you. >> Thank you for preaching that, Commissioner Proctor. I have one question, Mr. County Administrator. Is this item going to clean up any outdated
infrastructure code and make it easier easier for us to get stuff done in Leyon County? >> Yes. >> Okay. It's all I needed to hear. Commissioners, all those in favor of um all those in favor of support of the motion signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Any opposed? Passes unanimously. Wow. Commissioners, we are it's 8:00 and >> it's 8:00. Mr. Chairman, did I say 8:00? I did ask 8:00. >> Yeah, but it's 8 it's 8 on the dot right now. We still have uh >> we have commissioner discussion. Um Mr.
County, do you have any business to discuss? >> Yes. And we have no speakers. Uh Mr. And that's okay. And also for me just a very quick item I'd like to ask if commissioner could make a uh a motion for uh public works week May 17th for pro.
>> Thank you very much. That's all I had. I appreciate Thank you commissioners. >> Motion moved by Commissioner Maddox, second by Commissioner Proctor. Those who favor by saying I. >> Any oppose? Pass unanimously. Madam attorney. >> Uh, no. I just wanted to um thank the
members of the commission um and staff who uh were able to come to uh the meeting where I accepted the Martha Barnett Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. I was really um honored that you uh made the time. I know you're all really really busy. Um and so I really
appreciated that. Thank you. >> We're happy to be there to support you, Madam Attorney. Um all right, commissioners. We got commissioner discussion. Commissioner Cummings, you know, I'm always going to start with you every meeting. You have the floor. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I had the pleasure of attending um an awards
ceremony at the Capitol uh last week for the Florida Division of State Fire Marshalss and our own volunteer firefighter uh Carl Hooks that he had been our local firefighter of the year for two
consecutive years, but he was recognized as the state volunteer firefighter of 2025. So I would uh move for a proclamation for him.
>> Second. >> Um proclamation requested by Commissioner Cummings. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Also the count the outlook is celebrating 50 years. It's a local
newspaper and they are having a big celebration uh this week really. So I'd like for proclamation >> second >> to be presented at their function and not not here. >> Is that Thursday or Friday? >> It's Thursday at noon.
>> Okay. >> At the family life center. >> Yeah. >> Proclamation requested by Commissioner Cummings. Second by Commissioner Proctor. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. And then there's one last thing I I want to uh
raise with the commission. And I know you all are aware of the of the memo memos that have been going back and forth between me and the county a county attorney. And I raised this here because
I can't raise it any place else. I can't talk to commissioners because we have to do our business in in the sunshine. But after our meeting last month, I received we all received the memo. It was sent to the board from the uh county attorney
addressing some of the questions that I had asked at our last meeting. I felt that her memorandum was very condescending. I thought it was rude. I thought it was disrespectful. And I responded and I said as much. I thought it was an
attack on me as a commissioner. And in my response, I also indicated to you all that I didn't believe an attack like that would ever have been made to any one of you on these days. But it was made to me for whatever reason because
of questions that I felt that I had the right to ask because it involved expenditure of county funds. But at any rate, you have my response. you have the county attorney's letter uh memo that
was sent to all of us but clearly directed uh directed to me. Uh afterwards I received a letter from the county attorney apologizing but I noticed it didn't come to all of you all. Uh it was a three-page letter
apologizing and explaining uh her position. Um, and for the most part, you know, I accept her apology, but uh, it's just almost impossible to accept an apology for something that, you know, there was
deliberate premeditated attack on you as a person, on your your morals, on your dignity, uh, on your integrity. But at any rate, um, the county attorney asked to meet with me. I agreed. Uh but when
she came to meet, she refused to meet because I wanted to have my aid with me. Uh as a policy, as an elected official, I don't meet with anybody without somebody else in in the room with me. So
we did we didn't meet. Um but I believe as an elected official, I can choose who meets uh who meets with me. Uh I'm raising this now because I believe it's a matter that needs to be advanced before this board. I believe uh being
disrespectful and rude is borderline insubordination. Um and I believe we should it should be addressed. As I said in my response, I had never I've never seen anybody on
this board as long as I've been here attacked like that. And I think Commissioner Proctor and Commissioner Maddox and maybe Commissioner Miner have been here longer than any of us. And I don't believe and I couldn't ask them
out of the sunshine, but I don't believe they've ever seen an attack on any other elected official sitting on this deis. So I believe uh that that level of disrespect needed to
come before this board. I'd like to hear you all. You saw the letter, you saw the communication, and if you hadn't, I asked my aid to make copies for everybody so you can see the flow, the flow back and forth sitting on this
desk. I've never disrespected anybody. I've always commented the county attorney, uh, the county administrator. I've never been rude or nasty to anybody. and I've never asked any questions that I haven't
had the right to ask on behalf of the citizens. So, I'm raising it now because I would like to um get some input from my fellow elected commissioners here on the DS because I
don't believe anything of that level has ever occurred and I just don't believe it would occur to any of you all up here. Mr. Chair, >> commissioners, as as as the chairman during this um during this conflict, I
feel obligated to speak on it. Um I I want to lead the conversation by saying that some a few people have said to me in my days that um sometimes I can say things that maybe um I don't intend to
be uh rude or hurtful and they come off hurtful. I've had actually quite a few people say that to me. Ally tells me that every day. Um, but what's important is it doesn't matter what is the intent of how something is said, it's how someone perceives it or receives the
sentiment. So, what I what I what I mean by that is um, Commissioner Cummings, you you know that you are dearly loved by myself personally and I think every single person up here on this board. And I think that um you are the example to any
professional young woman or young girl out there. And I say that because clearly your feelings and you you feel your feelings have been hurt and you feel disrespected both publicly and privately. And I think that's not okay.
Okay. However, I feel like I know the county attorney. I've gotten to know her very well. Um, and I feel like based on conversations I've had with her as well, that um, there was no ill will intended for
you to feel disrespected. Okay, that does not mean you did not interpret it as disrespectful. And so what I would like I would how I look at this is listen we have a collegial body and every single person
up here is a distinguished leader and I would like for this to be some way somehow resolved privately between you and the county attorney and for it to be worked out. I say that because not bec not saying that it was right or wrong,
but I'm I say that because I want the public to know that this body, we work together and that there's going to be conflict and that we're going to work through it. And so that's that is my
opinion about that. I feel obligated as the chairman to lead the discussion on it. Um, and I'm not saying what was right or wrong. I will defer to the uh the county attorney next if no other commissioner wants to speak on it, but I know your heart very well. And I feel
like I know the county attorney's heart by working with her. And so that doesn't mean it was right. It doesn't mean it was wrong. What matters is how you interpreted what was said. And you interpreted what was said as disrespectful. and you interpreted what
was said as you you did not appreciate it and you felt underm undermined and so I would like some way somehow for the for us to be able to work together and get through this. Now that that's my opinion I'm one commissioner of seven.
Um again if no one commissioner wants to speak I'll defer to the the county attorney. Any commission want like okay great commissioner proctor. >> Um thank you chairman. Um, Commissioner Cummings as I guess the senior member here and probably the one commissioner
in all of Leyon County's history who has irritated and just simply pissed off most people than any commissioner probably ever. Um, I have had said things, you know, that probably hurt
everybody feeling um, the staff and everybody. And I'm so sorry that um you and I wish um it's one of these other fellows up here saying this because um I guess my heart is most tender u
toward these commissioners. I think my heart is most tender to you because I known your family for ever and um respected your work um prior to your being a commissioner and all of those things and um
you know I'm very very guilty of u of u not always being polished and saying things and um and I just somehow but what I'm happy about is that that you have not swallowed what you
felt and how you feel and that's decent. That's good. But what I'm most um optimistic about and hopeful is that the level of um your preparation training as well as um attorney hosting that if
there's any two people on this day who share uh both vertical and horizontal intellect, it's the two of you. you can meet at spaces and places and concepts that we don't we we can't meet at you
all can and I'm optimistic that um you uh maybe through Mr. chairman, I would suggest through your chairman uh the county administrator hole in a sit down between because of great spirit and um
create a mind. Um and I think that we could reach that understanding. Um I am empathetic to everything you say because I know who you are, what you stand for. I know how well you're loved at your
church and how they feel about you. So you you know a saintly lady I believe more than a commissioner but a saintly lady and um I'm hopeful that a sitdown um between you and that's my hope you ask what is the direction of this board
is a sitdown and in this particular building that we're in um people have different sides in this courthouse every day that's what they do they have different sides but y'all lawyers y'all reconcile y'all work things out. Uh
public defendant, state attorney, they try to strike an agreement and that's not what you all are, but we work together and sometimes um words uh words. Um but I believe we can
get past the moment. I'm hopeful and I hope that this moment and how you feel will never occur no more again. And I think that it won't. And if there's one thing about, you know, in our faith tradition, um, the ability to turn
things over, um, to know that there are things that we may not, we can perfect in the future, but things that have happened in the past, we can. And we're not, you and I are not feeling good tonight because of what the state of Florida's taken aim
at. Uh that this anti-Dei uh we're not feeling good in the last several weeks and months and nobody here maybe is sensitive to that. you grew up in Mississippi. Um
um Mississippi and you know and you feel some ways that I have not been um as sensitive to. So I still trust because I know your great spirit um
Commissioner Cummings uh that sometimes um great Jesse Jackson said that we keep hope alive. Uh, the great Jesse Jackson continues to tell us that we may get disrespected, but we are somebody. And
no matter what they said across the street, um, we're somebody. No matter what was said on this day is, we're somebody. and whether the state of Florida's of state of Florida uh with this new law, whether they order me out
the building, you out the building, or Nick Maddox out the building, from the way I'm reading it, we could be ordered out of this building with what I've seen in this bill. Um, and all these black people out here, all of them could get
ordered out if they're interpreted to be some kind of DEI, whatever that is. But if we are, we're still somebody. So, you've persevered and you're carrying the water of generations of people
who've persevered and uh what said ain't going to break you and what you've got to say is not going to break her. But, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to recommend um your leadership to uh foster and get with the county uh administrator to see
if if Commissioner Cumins, if that works with her, um can have a sit down or a series of sit sitdowns um that we can work this out because we're rich. We're we're great commission and um the thing about football practice is that sometime
your own teammate title you like they're an opponent and uh Nick could tell you and you're like man you my teammate we're in practice and they'll ring your bell but we're great commission we um we we we we commission with great velocity
um we're strong all of you are very strong and if something missing and you know so that that's my hope commissioner and I'm holding myself together because I'm painting as you are but I pray that we can get through the
moment chairman work with Vince and get the parties together and two lawyers know what to do in a room they always come up with u um some kind of agreement. Thank you. >> Commissioner Maddox and Commissioner Walsh would like to say a few things.
Commissioner Proctor, you you you said some some great words. Um, I think since we've been here, we've never seen this. And so, the thing that came to mind when I heard
Commissioner Cumins speaking was something my mama taught me a long time ago. She said, "Nick, doesn't matter how you said it and what you meant to say. Everybody's feelings are valid.
And if someone says something that makes you feel as though you've been disrespected or hurt by it, your feelings about it." Commissioner Cummings, I I can't I read the letters
and I I saw the exchange and quite frankly I I I haven't seen it. Um but I know that I know that you care you care very much
about this board, this county, and the job that you do. Um, I've never I've never seen you ask a question that was disingenuous, a question that wasn't well thought out. Um, that wasn't fighting for the people that
you believed in. Um, as I've watched Chasse do her job, and I believe this is your first time being in a position of serving elected board, right? No.
and I did it right out of law school for several years, but it was there was a break while I was in state office work. Yeah. >> Right. >> Um I think she tries to do the best that she can and in the process of doing the best that we
can. Sometimes quite frankly we make mistakes. But another lesson my mom taught me is once words are spoken you can't take them back. You can't take them back. And there's a lot of things
that I wish would have gone different in the way things were handled, but they didn't. And now we sit here having a public conversation about two incredible women that sit on a board. One is elected and one is appointed that
provide a service that we couldn't get from anybody else in this world quite the way they do it. And I think the call for uh a conversation that can lead to a peaceful ending ending to this uh is
warranted uh because I greatly respect you both. Um, but me for myself, if you don't hear from anybody else, I apologize that you felt disrespected in
that moment by the comments that were made and the way things were handled because again, I know your heart and I know what you're trying to do, not only for this board, but for the community that you serve. Um, I just
I do wish that things could have been handled differently, but we're here now. We're here now. And so, um, I hope that we're never in this position again. I I will say that. But
there's got to be a way. There's got to be a way because I know the hearts of the people involved for us all to be able to come together and and get through this without another article that read the way it read in Democrat. There's got to be a way. I think if we
could take a step back, take a deep breath, uh, and really really talk about the issue that we're trying to deal with and a way that
respects each other's professionalism, each other's uh, pedigree. U, the job that that that you that you both must do. Um because I do believe that you're approaching your job the way you should approach it. You asked some
questions that that quite frankly represent the interest of the people who are in your community. Um, I got a call today that that that told me very frankly. Um, a large percentage of the folks in Lyon County
look just like me and that there deserve to be a African-American attorney in uh, our county attorney's office. I'm not going to sit here and say I I disagree with that. But I'm
also not going to sit here and say that I disagree with the fact that if there is an attorney, this African-American that's in our county attorney's office, I want them to be just as qualified and
just as thorough as Leon as Judge Leon Rigggins who left that county attorney's office. Do we need to do more? Is the is the question that we do more to encourage minority talent
to apply? What do we do? Do we do more? Do we do we go out and recruit? Do we what do we do? What do we do? That's the question. But to ask the question is the right is the right thing. Uh if we don't have
anybody, how do we find somebody? And if if we if if if if we don't have, you know, five candidates every time we have a opening, what do we do to produce that? If she didn't have any, if she had one,
out of all the positions that she's had there in the past 3 years, would you say that one candidate, two candidates, three candidates is enough for all the jobs that she's applied that that she's that she's sent out? I wouldn't I wouldn't think so. How many other candidates besides minorities have been
a part of that? I think this conversation could have gone a different way. I wish again I wish it did. But Commissioner Cummings, your feelings are valid. Again, if
nobody else does it publicly, I apologize for any disrespect for that any disrespect that you felt. I apologize for any um anything that you felt was just disingenuous in the way that you were dealt with. And again, I I hope I sincerely hope that we can move
on from this um and that you two can work this out. But more than that, I hope that we can really not lose the issue that you brought up in the midst of what disrespect you may have felt in
that on your side. The question is, do we have any minority attorneys in the county attorney's office? And the answer to that question was no. And even if she misspoke and said that
nobody applied, if we had two people apply, the question is, is that enough for how many applications that have come in for how many positions that have passed through the county attorney's office that could have been filled by
minority candidates? I I say I say I say two or three or anything less than than that would would would would not be enough. I just again I don't know what it takes. I don't know what it takes. I don't know what it takes, but I would
love to find out what it takes to have us uh include more minorities or start some kind of of initiative to recruit more minorities to be interested in our
uh county attorney's office. Finally, I'll say years ago, Commissioner Proctor brought up something similar um to our to our county administrator. You remember that Bill? It was about about five, six years ago. We asked a question of of how of our of our
assistant county managers, how many of them were women, what was a breakdown, minority, women, and all that kind of stuff. And um Vince brought it before us, so we got a chance to look at it. And you know, when we looked at it, we had Wanda, we
had Shington, we had a good bench coming up. We had we had black, white, and different. Um, but I bet you if I ask the county administrator, those folks came to us. They were a part of his classes. They saw the the job openings. They did this,
they did that. There's there's there's there was this pull towards county government in Lyon County. Again, my question is cuz I really want to focus on the issue and again I apologize for what happened and I and I and I hope this apology or whatever needs to happen
happens here is how do we get to a point that we get that same kind of interest in our county attorney's office from our minority and d I would say diverse a diverse group of applicants when it comes to our county attorney's office as
we get when it comes to our county administration our county administration and other areas within our county. So again, I I don't want to prolong it. I just I know I don't want to get lost on the issue, but I did want to I did want to make the make the statement that your
feelings are valid. Your feelings are valid and everything that said in here um needed to be addressed and I apologize. And so uh Mr. Chair, those are my comments. Thank >> Thank you, Commissioner Maddox. Commissioner Welch.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Twister Cummings. Um I, you know, I think we all sort of share the regretful nature of this situation. Um you know, since you and I have been on this board coming in together in 2020, we have had a
fantastic cohesion, I would say, uh amongst ourselves and amongst staff. I think Commissioner Proctor captured it well. I mean, um I've inadvertently hurt his feelings. he's inadvertently hurt my feelings and that but it's different when it comes from staff. Um and so that
is regretful and I think we all share that that um the unfortunateness of the situation. I think that sometimes in families we have conflict, right? But I do think of us on this half
moon das here as family. Um, and I don't think anybody feels worse about this than the county attorney. Um, and I would just ask if you can find it in your heart to forgive her and, you
know, let's reconcile our differences and and move forward as we have successfully. Um, I I think that the arrangement or the the the uh communication is acknowledged. Um, I
just read the apology letter. Um, I think that's a first step in reconciliation in the right direction. Um, I would just ask that you find it in your heart to forgive her and let's move
on professionally. Um, and, you know, do the work that we're supposed to be doing. I mean, at the end of the day, we are here as representatives of the people, all of us really. um they're you know the executive branch the vessels
through which our policy uh becomes effective and enacted and it's incumbent on us to be able to function um as healthfully as we can and so uh I do also want to apologize and I'm sure
everybody wants to say that as well um you know we have tremendous respect for you and uh you know as as a as a high school teacher, I've been called on the carpet a couple times for saying things I probably shouldn't have said in front of students or in class. And there's no
worse feeling um because you feel an obligation to those people to um be the best you can as you be the best support system you can. Uh but you know, sometimes we make mistakes and uh and
sometimes we make the mistakes in front of the microphone and that's unfortunate. So, um, all I would say is, you know, I hope that you and the county attorney can find, um, some place in
which, uh, her contrition can be, uh, received by you and, uh, and then we can all move on productively. Um but uh it is just terribly unfortunate that you have uh felt targeted and uh and I want
to apologize for that um because that is uh unfortunate but um I'm hopeful that we can continue doing the good work that we're doing and uh you know work to better communicate in the future so that this hopefully doesn't happen again. All
right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you uh Mr. media pastrick any other commissioners commissioners you'd like to comment on it? No. Madame Attorney. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um though we have not spoken in person, uh I will
publicly say that uh I very much regret that the memo that I sent offended Commissioner Cummings. I don't play favorites with commissioners, or at least I try not to. Um, but I have always held Commissioner
Cummings in very high regard. She is a true servant leader and she is an esteemed member of this community and that is for a very good reason. She has earned it and
I respect her immensely professionally. She is a wonderful person. She is a wonderful member of this commission and that was definitely not my intent, but I definitely offended you, Commissioner
Cummings, and I sincerely apologize for that. I tried to explain a little bit what my intent was in my apology letter. Um, and that is everything in there is
absolutely true. Um, but I understand that it made you feel targeted and though that was not the intent of the memo, your your questions were a catalyst for sure for the memo. Absolutely. But I deliberately sent it
to the board in its entirety because the qualifications and things that I consider in hiring were not discussed during the meeting. And that is a logical next question to be asked uh by this commission and by
members of the community. Um and I wanted to be proactive and and and very forthcoming about what I consider when I'm hiring people into the county attorney's office. And um I would
say because the county deserves it. I I have very high standards for the people who who work in this office just like Vince does for administrative staff. Um and I try and I
genuinely try to pick the most qualified candidate to fill a particular position based on the candidate pools that I have at any given time. Um, and so I do also want to I have talked
with each of the commissioners individually because I wanted to reach out to each of you individually because if I had offended Commissioner Cummings, I might have offended each of you too. Um, and I wanted to talk with you about that if if I had. Um, and I've closed
all those loops. Um, but I also do want to apologize to the board that this has even become an issue that this has now taken time um from the work and detracted from the work that this commission does. Uh, and
I apologize for for my part in that and my role in that. Um, and I have taken all of your comments to heart. Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Attorney. Uh, Commissioner Cummings, you have anything
else you'd like to say? Okay. Um, Commissioners, I I I do hope, you know, closing that um we can move past from this and we get to a resolution where everyone's in a good place. So, Commissioner Cummings, I hope you I hope you feel heard and I hope that um I hope
that with time that you um you will be forgiving and be a we'll be able to move forward this move forward from this uh from this position right now. Do you have any other business you'd like to discuss? Okay. Um Commissioner Mon, you recognize.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh Matt, would you mind bringing up that safe sense slide? Um I wanted to bring up um some training that um Leyon County staff are working with some local partners about regarding scams. Um in Florida in 2024,
uh Florida was third in the number of um cyber security complaints and we were first number one in the country in the number of um fraud issues per 100,000 people. So, what this training does, and it's free training available to anyone
in Lyon County, lunch is provided on March 26th at 11:30 a.m. at the Lyon County Main Library. This training will help you as um as a as a person in the digital world, u avoid scams. It'll help you avoid identity theft. Uh it'll help
you um learn how to use a AI effectively and safely. Um, with AI, the scams are beginning are becoming ever more sophisticated. In the not in the not too distant future, we will hear of videos made of people using real images
that were then created into videos, real audio that is then changed into fabricating that person's voice and then having that video sent to that person's loved ones asking for money urgently. Uh, that's going to happen soon. That will be common place in the near future. What this training will do is help you
start to be more aware of what's coming and also to identify the the red flags when you see something either on your phone in a text message, an email, um on the web, uh anything like that. It's really important because um there are a lot of people out there that are trying
to uh um scam you and your loved ones out of money. And soon, it's actually happening right now. There's not actually not a person behind that doing it. It's AI doing that for uh and on behalf of people that that want to take your money from you. So, um in addition
to that, it's also going to help you learn how to use AI more effectively. You know, I think many how many of you all have used chat GPT or Claude? A few a few. Yeah. Um it can be very helpful, but there are drawbacks and this training will help you learn what
those drawbacks are. Um, it's a very quickly changing field, but this this training will help you kind of be more aware of what's coming. So, hopefully you can join us. Everyone here in this room, I think, would benefit from the training. Anyone that's watching right now at home would benefit by coming to the training on on March 26th. So, to
sign up, uh, go to the um, what's the URL? It's >> leon county.govsafesense. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Appreciate it. >> Got it, Commissioner. Mr. Vice Chairman. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair and Commissioner Miner. That's very important. I
appreciate you not sending that link in an email to everybody. That would be a trigger for spam. Um, and thank you for that. My act, um, everyone's been touched by that. My aunt actually would have thousands gone if she didn't have cell network at the ATM they were trying
to convert. It's uh, uh, anyways, thank you for doing that. I'm hoping everybody goes. Um, I just have one thing. I'd like to request a proclamation recognizing the work of the Lyon County Humane Society for 65 years of uh promoting the welfare of animals, rescue, rehabilitation, and um providing
lowcost food and animal care for folks who can't do otherwise. >> I'll second that motion move for proclamation requested by the vice chairman, second by myself. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Passes unanimously.
>> Thank you. That it, Mr. Proder. >> Mr. Chairman, I have a heavy heart and um I love Commissioner Cummings and um um and I love u I love your mother, Mother
Davis. I love all your family and um I'm really not in the I have some things, but I don't am not in the spirit of talking right now. Um, I'm regretting the passage of Senate Bill 1134. This is a This is not a great day in the
history of Florida. Um, what has occurred and on that note, love you, Carol, Commissioner Welch. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have nothing tonight. Commissioner Maddox, you got any
business? chair. All right. I got two proclamations. Uh request proclamation for Jerry uh Jarrian P. Moore Mortuary and Cremation Services.
Yeah, they just opened up in Tallahass. Want to request proclamation for him, please? >> Second. Uh proclamation requested by Commissioner Maddox, seconded by myself. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Uh request for proclamation for the Fairview Middle School basketball team
division champions. They were undefeated. Wow. Um Mr. Proctor, if we can get it done fast enough, we No, we The thing we're doing this week is for football specifically or is it for all the >> specifically football?
>> Is it? >> Okay. Okay. Okay. But but but it'll be given off site on the proclamation pro basketball. >> Great. Um, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Um, Mr. Chair, I want to tell you, you navigated a heck of a meeting today and got us out of here before 9:00. Um, and
we we had five, six uh consent items and talked about consolidation and all kind of charter amendments and you led us through it and so for that job well done, sir.
>> Thank you, Commissioner. Listen, I have a lot more respect for those who chair these meetings because there's a lot of stuff moving back and forth and especially in a meeting like today when you have options 1 A, 2 A, 3A, you know, and uh I got, you know, stuff. So, anyways, commissioners, I I appreciate
it's a team effort and this uh having an efficient meeting like this, it's important for me. I really do want to make sure everyone feels heard and feels like if there's something important to them that they have the ability to debate it. I think that what that's what keeps the spirit of our our body very collegial. And so I've been trying
really hard to maintain that. >> I want to thank staff. Um they are here with us till till 8:45 9:00 when we do these things. So I want to thank them for their patience. Uh and the people who came and spoke today and the CRC committee who did a heck of a job sending us back stuff. I want to thank
them as well. And so uh good meeting, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Just on that note, I do need to give a shout out to Shington Lamey who was uh the child's high school principal for a day uh a couple weeks back. He came and visit my classroom. >> Yeah. >> He wanted to know where the paddle was
at. I told him we don't do >> we don't do corporal punishment no more. This ain't the '9s. Uh but he seemed disappointed. So, you know, but hey, you know, I think he got to write some referrals, so it was all good. >> I just want to put on record that Alpha by Alpha is not a hazing organization. I just want to put that on record.
>> Did he give you the day off? >> Yeah. No, he didn't sign my lease slip, bro. I'm going hold that against you. >> Mr. Chair, I did I did forget one thing. Uh, March 2nd was Nicholas Drad Maddox II's birthday. He turned seven. So, happy birthday, Deuce. >> Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Is he a
junior? >> He is a junior. >> Happy birthday, Junior. There we go. Nice. Um, Mr. County Administrator, I noticed on our calendar that we have a workshop scheduled for the 24th. Um, does staff need that workshop? >> We do not. >> Okay, great. So, commissioners, no
workshop on the 24th. Um, I do want to um I forgot to disclose, madame attorney, on the quasi judicial item. I meant to disclose on the record. So, I want to put on the record on the last Thursday, I had a meeting at Sterns Weaver to discuss this item. And then later that day, I believe it was 2:00, I
had a call with St. Joe to discuss this item as well. So, I want the the record to reflect that since it was quasi judicial. I meant to bring that up during the item. Um, want to give a thank you to Commissioner Miner. Um, last Saturday we had the the I don't
know how many annual forest forest cleanup that uh Miss Sharon Gray out in um my district in southwest Leyon. She hosts every year in a Saturday morning and and at the end of February. Great turnout. Commissioner Miner, appreciate you being there. Um I mean they've we've
picked up so much trash every year on this and it's supported by um Leyon County and so many individual partners. So, thank you all and thanks for the support from staff for ma making sure that they have all the items and and trash supplies that are needed. Commissioners, this was uh a a very
robust meeting. We just we we talked about I mean so many different items and I appreciate the collegiality and everyone working together uh moving forward on it. Um any other if there's any other business to discuss, we will stand a journ.
If you have siblings, you know there's that special something you share with each of them. Then my younger sister Shelby, it's Broadway music.