2013-0226 Captioner's Notes

CAPTIONERS NOTES FEBRUARY 26, 2013
MAYOR JACOBS: GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO BROWARD COUNTY'S FEBRUARY 26, 2013, COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING. I'D ASK YOU ALL TO NOW PLEASE RISE AS WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND PRIOR TO THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. IT'S TRADITIONAL FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED ON AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES THAT WISHES TO MENTION ANYONE. OKAY. THIS IS A GOOD DAY WHEN WE'RE NOT HAVING TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE, BUT AS ALWAYS IN O OF MOMENT OF SILENCE, LET'S -COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THE PLEDGE. MAYOR JACOBS: THE PLEDGE AND THEN OUR MOTION OF SILENCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. (IN OUR). MAYOR JACOBS: NOW IF YOU'LL REMAIN STANDING, WE WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING IN OUR ARMED FORCES, THOSE WHO ARE HERE AND ABROAD AS THEY RISK THEIR LIVES FOR FREEDOM IN OUR COUNTRY EVERY DAY, AND, COMMISSIONER HOLNESS, YOU HAVE SOMEONE YOU'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: YES, DR. FIDEL GOALSON, A CHIROPRACTOR IN THE CITY OF PLANTATION, STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORTER, ONE YOU COULD ALWAYS GO TO TO GET SUPPORT FOR
ANYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY PASSED AWAY LAST FRIDAY OF A HEART ATTACK AT 54 YEARS OLD. SO IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS, HIS FAMILY. IT'S A HUGE LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY. MAYOR JACOBS: IT CERTAINLY IS. THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, A MOMENT OF SILENCE. (MOMENT OF SILENCE.) MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, EVERYONE. YOU MAY BE SEATED. WELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF BIG ITEMS BEFORE THIS BOARD TODAY, AND A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WANT TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS. BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY SPEAKERS AND WE HAVE SO MUCH BUSINESS BEFORE THIS BOARD, WE'RE GOING TO ASK ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SIGN UP FOR AN ITEM, PLEASE DO SO NOW. IF THE ITEM HAS BEEN CALLED AND WE ARE ACTUALLY ON THE ITEM, WE WILL TAKE NO MORE SPEAKERS. SO I REMINDER, IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP FOR AN ITEMED AND YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SEE OUR MINUTES SECRETARY. SHE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE SLIP. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS. FROM THE FLOOR: I CAN'T HEAR. MAYOR JACOBS: YOU CAN'T HEAR? FROM THE FLOOR: NO, WE CAN'T HEAR. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. OH, MY GOODNESS. OKAY. THAT WAS A BIT MUCH. CAN WE TAKE THAT DOWN JUST A BIT? OKAY. THAT'S BETTER. IS THAT BETTER? FROM THE FLOOR: YES. MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. LET ME REPEAT IT JUST IN
CASE YOU DIDN'T HEAR. THERE'S THESE LITTLE FORMS TO SIGN UP IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM. YOU CAN SEE OUR MINUTES SECRETARY. YOU CAN FILL IT OUT. PLEASE DO IT LEGIBLY SO I DON'T MUFF YOUR NAME. WE WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO FILL OUT ONE OUT IF WE HAVE TAKEN THE ITEM UP. SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SIGN UP NOW IF YOU HAVE AN ITEM YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON. ALSO SINCE WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE PROBABLY VISITING US FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU MAY NOT KNOW IN THESE CHAMBERS, WE DO NOT ALLOW SLAPPING, HOOTING, HOLLERING OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. IF YOU AGREE WITH A SPEAKER, THAT'S TERRIFIC. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH A SPEAK, THAT'S TERRIFIC. WE WOULD STILL ASK YOU TO GIVE THE CONSIDERATION AND RESPECT TO EVERY OPINION AS THEY'RE ALL VALUED HERE IN THESE CHAMBERS, AND FINALLY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE SPEAKING, IF SOMEONE HAS SAID SOMETHING THAT YOU AGREE WITH, RATHER THAN REPEAT THE WHOLE THING OVER AGAIN, IF YOU COULD SIMPLY SAY I AGREE WITH X OR Y, WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP MOVE OUR SPEAKERS THROUGH SO WE CAN GET TO THE DELIBERATIONS OF THIS BOARD. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, LET'S TAKE UP THE MONDAY NIGHT MEMO. UNDER WITHDRAWALS AND DEFERRALS, THERE IS A WITHDRAWAL OR DEFERRAL. IT IS -- MS. HENRY, THERE WAS AN ITEM PULLED. TOM HUTKA WAS GOING TO PUT IT THROUGH, BUT I DO NOT HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME. I BELIEVE IT WAS 37, BUT I'M GOING OFF MEMORY AND IT'S NO THE HERE ON THE MONDAY NIGHT MEMO, TUESDAY MORNING MEMO. MS. HENRY: MR. HUTKA. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. I'M NOT SEEING IT ON THE
TUESDAY MORNING -MS. HENRY: HE'S -MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. WHAT IS THE ITEM. FROM THE FLOOR: IT'S 37. MAYOR JACOBS: OH, I'M SORRY, MY AIDE INFORMED ME THAT SHE MISSPOKE. I WAS GOING TO PULL IT. OKAY. SO -MS. HENRY: NEVER MIND. MAYOR JACOBS: IT IS ITEM 37 TO DEFER. IT IS 37, CORRECT, MARCIA? ITEM 37 I WISH TO DEFER. THAT IS THE ONLY DEFERRAL FOR TODAY. ALL RIGHT. UNDER SCRIVENER'S ERRORS, ITEM 16, THE SPONSORING LANGUAGE FOR ALL DOCUMENTS SHOULD READ, GOES: SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER WEXLER AND COMMISSIONER LAMARCA, END QUOTE. ITEM 25, IN THE MOTION, THE PROJECT NUMBER SHOULD BE 9127, NOT 9122. ITEM NUMBER 26, UNDER THE FISCAL IMPACT, THE FUND NUMBER SHOULD BE 4620-126-9130-6500, NOT 4620-126-9127-6500. THERE IS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON ITEM 7. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER IS REQUESTING TO BE A CO-SPONSOR OF THAT ITEM. WITHOUT OBJECTION, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ITEMS 47 AND 48 TO CONSENT, AND YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL MATERIAL ON ITEMS 1 J AND 1 L, BOARD APPOINTMENTS. ITEM NUMBER 13, A REPLACEMENT EXHIBIT FOR ONE. ITEM 32, A MEMO TO THE BOARD FROM THE OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. ITEMS 35 AND 36, A MEMO TO THE BOARD FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. ITEM 40, A MEMO TO THE BOARD FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT. ITEM NUMBER 40-2, AN E-MAIL SUBMITTED BY EPD. ITEM NUMBER 49, A
LETTER TO THE BOARD SUBMITTED BY MYSELF. ITEM 51, MEMO TO THE BOARD FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. ITEM 52, A MEMO TO THE BOARD FROM VICE MAYOR BARBARA SHARIEF. ITEM 52-2 ARTICLE FROM THE PsACs SUBMITTED BY XHIP LAMARCA, ITEM 52-3, AN E-MAIL SUBMITTED BY VICE MAYOR. ITEM 52-4, LETTER FROM CITY OF HOLLYWOOD TO VICE MAYOR. ITEM 52A A MEMO TO THE BOARD FROM VICE MAYOR BARBARA SHARIEF, ITEM 5 H, A LETTER FROM THE CITY OF (54) PLANTATION TO COMMISSIONER WEXLER. ITEM 54-2, AN E-MAIL TO THE BOARD SUBMITTED BY COMMISSIONER WEXLER. THERE ARE ALSO E-MAILS FROM COMMISSIONER WEXLER SUBMITTED ON ITEMS 54, 3, 4, AND 5. SO THOSE ARE ALL THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED. ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS ITEMS 1 THROUGH 45 PLUS 47 AND 48. ARE THERE ANY PULLS? I'LL START TO MY LEFT WITH COMMISSIONER RYAN. COMMISSIONER RYAN: NO PULLS. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER HOLNESS? COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: NONE. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER? COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: JUST NUMBER 29, I HAVE A COMMENT TO MAKE ON IT. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. COMMISSIONER RITTER? COMMISSIONER RITTER: NUMBER 4. MAYOR JACOBS: VICE MAYOR SHARIEF? VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: NONE. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER WEXLER.
COMMISSIONER WEXLER: 4, 19, AND 43. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER LAMARCA? COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: 7 AND 20. MAYOR JACOBS: AND FINALLY, COMMISSIONER KIAR? COMMISSIONER KIAR: 13, MADAM MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: 13. IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO PULL AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: YES. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE ALSO PULLED ITEM 7. IS THERE ANOTHER ONE, VICE MAYOR? VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: (INAUDIBLE). MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. COMMISSIONER RITTER: MOVE IT. MAYOR JACOBS: -- AS ENUMERATED. THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. FIRST ITEM UP IS ITEM 4, COMMISSIONER RITTER AND COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I CAN'T SUPPORT IT TODAY. I'M SURE THAT'S NO SURPRISE TO THE MEMBERS, TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DAIS. I CONTINUE TO BE DISTURBED THAT THIS COMMISSION WISHES TO PROP UP THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES WHICH DOESN'T SEEM TO BE CHANGING ITS WAY OF BUSINESS. IF THIS WERE A PRIVATE SECTOR ITEM, THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS WOULD BE LENDING THIS
VENDOR MONEY TIME AFTER TIME WITH NO MOVEMENT OR PROGRESS IN ITS ABILITY TO REPAY ITS DEBTS. AS A RESULT AND SINCE I LIKE TO RUN -- I LIKE TO THINK THAT GOVERNMENT CAN RUN LIKE A BUSINESS WHEN IT WANTS TO, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS ITEM TODAY. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RITTER. AT LEAST YOU ARE CONSISTENT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: AND I'M GOING TO BE AS BRIEF AS COMMISSIONER RITTER ON THIS ITEM. I AM GOING TO SUPPORT -- I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION. I DO SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF THE ITEM, AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND MOVING THIS FORWARD. MY OBJECTION IS THE EIGHT-MONTH PERIOD. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO FUND THIS THROUGH THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. I'M OKAY WITH FOUR MONTHS CONSIDERING THEY'VE ALREADY PAID THEIR MARCH DEBT TO THE COUNTY, AND BECAUSE THE INVOICE COMES IN AND THE BILL COMES IN MONTHLY FROM LAUDERDALE LAKES TO THE -- TO BSO, WE'VE ALREADY FOUND OURSELF NOT IN A VERY GOOD POSITION WITH TWO CITIES IN BROWARD COUNTY, AND SO I WOULD PREFER, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE KEPT THEIR WORD. THEY HAVE BEEN ON TIME. THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY -- NO, I ADJUST THAT WORD. THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY PAID DOWN THEIR DEBT WHICH MAKES US HEALTHIER THAN WE WERE 18 MONTHS AGO, AND THE NEXT DEBT BASEMENT I BELIEVE IS DUE IN JUNE (PAVEMENT PAY. ) AND THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE HOLE. SO I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE THE (PAYMENT) FORWARD TIME TO FOUR MONTHS INSTEAD OF EIGHT MONTHS WHICH TAKES IT TO FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, MAY, JUNE OF 2013.
COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: I'D SECOND THAT. MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. IS THERE COMMENTS ON THE MOTION? COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER KIAR: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, AND, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE OF COURSE THE PRUDENT WAY THAT COMMISSIONER WEXLER IS HANDLING THIS BUT, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR MATTER, OOHY ACTUALLY AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER RITTER, AND THE REASON (I) BEING IS I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE PAID THEIR BILLS ON TIME AND IT APPEARS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT THEIR FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. I AM PERSONALLY SOMEWHAT DISCOURAGED WITH LAUDERDALE LAKES, AND THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST FOR A STATE AUDIT FROM THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDITING COMMITTEE. COMMISSIONER RITTER SENT A VERY WELL WORDED LETTER ASKING THAT THAT HAPPEN. SENATOR RING HAS ALSO REQUESTED AND FORWARDED COMMISSIONER RITTER'S LETTER TO THEM AND IT APPEARS THAT THEY'RE FIGHTING IT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND SO FOR MYSELF, I ACTUALLY FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE VOTING TO GIVE LAUDERDALE LAKES ANYTHING AT THIS TIME SOLELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE ACTING IN GOOD FAITH. I THINK THEY SHOULD COOPERATE AND HAVE THE AUDIT DONE SO THAT WE COULD -- YOU KNOW, HAVE A FULL AND TRANSPARENT UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHERE THEIR FINANCES ARE AND IF EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER. SO AT THIS TIME I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE SUPPORTING IT. SO I'M GOING TO VOTE NO AS WELL. THANK YOU.
MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: YES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. I DON'T. THIS CITY FOUND ITSELF IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. SURE, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED ALONG THE WAY, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE CITY, YOU'LL FIND THAT THEIR TAX BASE HAS BEEN DAMAGED MORE THAN PROBABLY ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THEY DEPEND PRIMARILY ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY FOR THEIR AD VALOREM INCOME FOR TAXES. OUR AUDITOR HAS BEEN ON THIS CASE LOOKING AT IT FROM EVERY ANGLE AND I'D LIKE FOR HIM TO TELL US WHAT HIS TAKE IS ON THIS. AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE UP TO SOMETHING WE'RE DEMANDING OF THEM. THEY'VE GIVEN US THEIR WORD. THEY'VE LIVED TO IT. THEY'VE PAID DOWN THE DEBT THEY THEY HAVE. THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE ASKED THAT POSSIBLY COULD BE DONE AND NOW WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE PROBABLY THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS TO DECLARE BANKRUPTCY, IF THE AUDITOR WOULD TAKE US WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN SO FAR. MAYOR JACOBS: MR. LUKIC. MR. LUKIC: IF I MAY. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG-TERM ISSUE, THE CITY HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AS HAS BEEN PUBLICIZED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, THEY WERE NOT PAYING FOR SHARE OF SERVICES IN SOME PRIOR YEARS, AND THEY RAN UP A BILL WITH THE SHERIFF TO THE TUNE OF A LITTLE OVER $9 MILLION. SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM
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OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. THEY'VE REDUCED THE AMOUNT THAT THEY OWE BSO BY APPROXIMATELY A MILLION SIX. THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR SERVICES ON AN ADVANCED BASIS. THEY PAY BEFORE THE MONTH OF THE SERVICE TO BE RENDERED. THE BOARD HAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THE APPROPRIATIONS, FIRST FOR A FOUR-MONTH PERIOD WHERE WE HAD SECURITY AND THEN ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS. THEY HAVE COMPLIED WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE'VE PUT UPON THEM AT THIS POINT. THIS ISSUE OF HAVING A STATE AUDIT IS SOMETHING THAT I JUST BECAME AWARE OF IN TERMS OF THE LOBBYING EFFORT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT CHANGES THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE'RE NOT PROVIDING SERVICES IN ADVANCE. WE'RE NOT LENDING THEM MONEY. THE COUNTY IS SIMPLY PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE SHERIFF TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE ONCE THE CITY HAS PAID FOR THE SERVICES. SO THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES RIGHT NOW. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER HOLNESS, YOU STILL HAVE THE FLOOR. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: WELL, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS MORE PUNITIVE THAN ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE IF, IN FACT, THEY'RE PAYING IN ADVANCE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THEY'VE ALREADY PAID MARCH'S PAYMENT, THEY'RE PAYING IN ADVANCE FOR THE SERVICES. THEY MADE AN AGREEMENT TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT BY X DOLLARS. THEY'VE COMPLIED WITH THAT, ACTUALLY BEYOND WHAT THEY'VE ASKED. A MILLION SIX THEY'VE PAID OFF THAT DEBT. WHAT ELSE ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO AT THIS POINT IN TIME? THEY'VE CUT EVERYTHING THAT THEY POSSIBLY COULD FROM MY KNOWLEDGE. UNLESS SOMEONE WANTS
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TO GO IN AND SHOW THEM WHAT ELSE, THEY ARE TRYING TO RIGHT THE SHIP. THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS IN THAT CITY OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR WITH PROPERTY VALUES AGAIN ON THE REBOUND, HOPEFULLY THEY WILL. LAST YEAR THEY ACTUALLY HAD A DOWNTURN, WHEREAS MOST OTHER CITIES DIDN'T HAVE ANY DOWNTURN LAST YEAR, THEY HAD A DEPRECIATION IN PROPERTY VALUES CAUSING THEM TO LOSE AD VALOREM DOLLARS AGAIN, AND EVEN WITH THAT, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO COMPLY WITH WHAT WE'VE PUT ON THEM. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER HOLNESS, I HAVE OTHER MEMBERS ON THE QUEUE THAT WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM, AND WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN. SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU WOULD HOLD YOUR COMMENTS IN RESERVE SO WE CAN GET THROUGH THE OTHER SPEAKERS ON OUR DAIS. COMMISSIONER RITTER, FOLLOWED BY COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU. I DON'T REALLY WANT TO DEBATE THIS AD NAUSEAM. I EXPECT IT WILL PASS TODAY AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO DEBATE IT AD NAUSEAM. THE ENTIRE COUNTY HAD AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. BROWARD COUNTY WAS IN DESPERATE AND DIRE STRAIGHTER AND WE DIDN'T RAISE TAXES FORDS THROUGH COMPENSATE FOR SERVICES WE COULD NO LONGER AFFORD. WE CUT SERVICES. OTHER CITIES HAD THE SAME ECONOMIC ISSUES. IN FACT, THE WHOLE COUNTY HAD THESE ISSUES. EVERYBODY LOST AD VALOREM TAXES. WE DID THE PRUDENT THING. WE HAD RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP. WE HAD RESPONSIBLE ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF, AND
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THEY TOOK THE BUDGET AND THEY DECIDED WHAT WE NEEDED TOO U DO IN ORDER TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. WE DIDN'T RAISE TAXES UP TO ALMOST THE CAP LIKE THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES DID. IN ADDITION WHILE I CERTAINLY DO -- I AM PLEASED TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE PAYING IN ADVANCE. BY THE WAY, THEY'RE PAYING IN ADVANCE. WE ARE GIVING THEM SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT GIVING ANY OTHER CITY. SO I'M SORRY, I WOULD EXPECT A THANK YOU FROM THEM, NOT A: GEE, YOU KNOW, WE EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN. THEY'RE QUESTIONABLE CRa PRACTICES CONTINUE TO DOG THEM, AND UNTIL THE STATE AUDITING COMMITTEE CAN OPINE THAT THIS CITY USED ITS CRa DOLLARS ACCORDING TO STATE STATUTE AND NOT IN VIOLATION OF STATE STATUTE, I CAN'T SUPPORT THEIR REQUEST. IN ADDITION, IF THIS WERE A BUSINESS RUNNING LIKE THIS, THEY WOULD HAVE CHANGED THEIR LEADERSHIP WHEN THINGS STARTED TO GO SOUTH, AND THE SAME PEOPLE ARE IN CHARGE OF LAUDERDALE LAKES AS WERE IN CHARGE OF THIS WHEN EVERYTHING STARTED TO GO DOWN. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY CAN SAVE MONEY, COMMISSIONER HOLNESS? THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GIVE THEIR CITY MANAGER A RAISE, AN EGREGIOUS, RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY IN A TIME WHEN EVERYONE ELSE WAS CUTTING, THEY GAVE THEIR CITY MANAGER A RAISE. THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THEY STILL COULD DO TO RIGHT THEIR SHIP AND I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING, SO THAT'S WHY I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS OR ANY OTHER ITEM DEALING WITH LAUDERDALE LAKES UNTIL WE GET ANSWERS FROM THE STATE. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RITTER.
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COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: PERHAPS A COMPROMISE TO WHAT COMMISSIONER WEXLER OFFERED WOULD BE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS ON A MONTHLY BASIS RATHER THAN FOUR MONTHS OUT OR FIVE MONTHS OUT. IF THEY HAVE PREPAID, THEN WE ACCEPT IT AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT MONTH RATHER THAN JUST VOTING -- MAYBE THAT WOULD BE ONE AFTER WE VOTE EITHER FOR OR AGAINST. IF IT GOES DOWN, THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT COMPROMISE THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT AFTERWARDS. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. SO THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR IS TO BASICALLY DO WHAT WE DID BEFORE, WHICH IS EXTEND FOUR MONTHS. THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO PAY MONTH TO MONTH, BUT THEY ARE EXTENDED THAT GRACE FOR FOUR MONTHS. SPEAKING FROM ME, I HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CRITIC OF THE PROCESSES THAT BROUGHT US TO THIS PLACE, AND I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHER CITIES, THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE, WITH THEIR DISPATCH, THAT HAVE SIMILAR -- ARE SIMILARLY SITUATED AND THOSE ISSUES ARE YET TO BE RESOLVED. WITH THAT IN MIND, SINCE THE CITY HAS CONTINUED TO HOLD UP ITS END OF THE BARGAIN, I AM HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE AMENDED MOTION PROFFERED BY COMMISSIONER WEXLER AND SECONDED BY A GUESS COMMISSIONER LAMARCA. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: IF I MAY GET THE CITY MANAGER'S INPUT BEFORE. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER HOLNESS, I BELIEVE THIS ITEM IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE SUPPORTED. SO IN THE INTEREST OF
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TIME, WOULD YOU PLEASE HOLD THAT? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? COMMISSIONER RITTER: NO. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: NO. COMMISSIONER KIAR: NO. MAYOR JACOBS: LET THE RECORD SHOW THREE NOES. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. AMENDED MOTION PASSES. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM UP IS ITEM NUMBER 7. THAT IS MY ITEM. I WANTED TO JUST LAY OUT A COUPLE OF POINTS ON ITEM 7 WHICH IS IN 2011, THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AMENDED FLORIDA STATUTE 790.33 WHICH GAVE COUNTIES BROAD HOME RULE POWERS AND INSTEAD PREEMPTED THOSE LOCAL HOME RULE POWERS PREVENTING US AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM ENACTING ORDINANCES AS RELATES TO FIREARMS. THE STATUTE WENT A STEP FURTHER. NOT ONLY DID IT TELL US THAT IT WAS GOING TO PREEMPT AND TAKE AWAY OUR HOME RULE, BUT IT ALSO PUT IN PLACE FINES. FOR THE FIRST TIME I CAN'T RECALL A LAW PASSING THAT DID THIS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS. IF YOU ARE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN YOUR JOB AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, YOU WERE TO VOTE FOR ANYTHING THAT RELATED TO GUNS AND WHERE THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE USED, YOU WOULD BE FINED PERSONALLY, NOT AS A COUNTY, BUT PERSONALLY $5,000 AND REMOVED FROM OFFICE IF YOU DON'T COMPLY. AND I APPRECIATE THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS, BUT I THINK THE STATE WENT TOO FAR HERE. THERE IS NO GOOD REASON FOR A PERSON TO BE CARRYING A GUN INTO A GOVERNMENTAL CENTER, CERTAINLY INTO THESE CHAMBERS, OR TO BE HANDLING ONE ON A PLAYGROUND WHERE THERE ARE
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CHILDREN NEAR BUY. THERE ARE ENOUGH TRAGEDIES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THIS COUNTRY. SO THIS RESOLUTION SIMPLY ASKS THE LEGISLATURE, BECAUSE THEY LISTEN TO US SO WELL UP THERE, TO READDRESS THIS ISSUE AND GIVE US AND THE OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA BACK OUR HOME RULE POWER. MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY PASSED THIS, COLLEAGUES, IN BROWARD COUNTY, THERE ARE MANY THROUGHOUT THE STATE, BUT IN BROWARD COUNTY, WESTON, DANIA BEACH, SUNRISE, FORT LAUDERDALE, WILTON MANORS, AND THERE ARE MANY MORE THAT I KNOW THAT ARE STILL COMING. OKAY. SO THAT IS THE ITEM THAT I SPONSORED. IT WAS PULLED BY COMMISSIONER LAMARCA AND WE ALSO HAVE TWO ITEMS IN THE PUBLIC, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISH -- ACTUALLY THREE THAT WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM. SO I'LL START WITH CHRISTINE Timmonds, DO YOU WANT TO COME ON UP (Timmonds). BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF SPEAKERS WE HAVE TODAY, I'M GOING TO GIVE ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS TWO MINUTES. SO, MS. TIM MONDAYS, YOU ARE FIRST FOLLOWED BY ED BENDER, AND THE THIRD SPEAKER, I APOLOGIZE, I CANNOT READ YOUR FIRST NAME, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE CORNSTRATEG IS YOUR LAST NAME. GOOD MORNING, MS. Timmonds. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. FROM THE FLOOR: A WELL REGULATED MA LISH SHA BEING NECESSARY TO THE SECURITY OF A FREE STATE, THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. I THINK THAT MEANS BY THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT MEANS BY COUNTY COMMISSIONS, IT MEANS BY CITY COMMISSIONS. IT MEANS BY ANYBODY. IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO BY THIS CONSTITUTION, YOU CANNOT
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HAVE YOUR OWN COUNTY RULES ABOUT: WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE A GUN HERE. YOU CAN'T HAVE A GUN THERE. I JUST DON'T SEE IT BECAUSE IT SCRIVENER'S ERROR SAID THESE RIGHTS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. BUT I KNOW HOW YOU GUYS ARE, YOU LOVE TO INFRINGE ON CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. THIS IS ONE I CAN'T SUPPORT YOU ON BECAUSE I'M A COMPLETE CONSTITUTIONALIST. I LIKE TO DO EVERYTHING IT SAYS BECAUSE WHEN YOU DON'T DO WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAY, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE DIRE, EXTREMELY DIRE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR ANYBODY ELSE MAKING UP ANY HOME RULES THAT'S GOING TO TAKE AWAY PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS, AND AS IT SAYS HERE, THIS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. NOW IF YOU CAN SHOW ME SOMETHING IN THIS CONSTITUTION THAT SAY THAT COUNTIES AND CITIES AND WHOEVER IT IS HAS THE RIGHT TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN'T HAVE A WEAPON IN A PARTICULAR AREA, IF YOU SEE THAT IN THE CONSTITUTION, CALL ME AT 954-356-9989 BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY SEE THAT. YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T SEE THAT, AND ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, MOST OF IT IS REALLY BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWING THE CONSTITUTION ON OTHER ISSUES, AND A LOT OF AMERICANS ARE VERY, VERY FRUSTRATED. THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE FRUSTRATED. ALL THEY KNOW IS THEY'RE FRUSTRATED AND YOU SEE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY THAT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING IF PEOPLE LIKE YOU GUYS WOULD NOT TRY TO MESS AND MICROMANAGE EVERYTHING FROM YOUR LITTLE STATION AND JUST DO WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS. YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT WHAT WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY IF YOU
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PEOPLE WOULD DO THAT, BUT YOU JUST DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THE MIND OR THE COMMON SENSE TO REALIZE THAT YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT, AND THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS TELL AT PUBLIC, LEGISLATORS ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS. THEY DON'T CARE ANYTHING ABOUT YOU. THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THEMSELVES. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, MS. Timmonds. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. I'M GOING TO REMIND THOSE OF YOU THAT -- MAYBE YOU CAME IN AFTER THE MEETING STARTED. WE DO NOT APPLAUD IN THESE CHAMBERS. THESE CHAMBERS ARE TO BE CONSIDERED ALMOST AS IF YOU WERE IN A COURTROOM. WE DON'T CLAP IN A COURTROOM. YOU WILL NOT BE CLAPPING HERE. FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO IGNORE THE PROCESSES OF THIS BOARD, YOU WILL BE REMOVED. SO I ASK YOU AGAIN TO PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE. WE UNDERSTAND YOU MAY AGREE WITH SOME SPEAKERS. YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH THEMENT. THERE WILL BE NO BOOING OR NO CLAPPING IN THE COUNTY COMMISSION CLAIMS BERS. WITH THAT, GOORPG, MR. BENDER, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING, MADAM MAYOR. A WELL REGULATED MA LISH SHA BEING NECESSARY TO THE SECURITY OF A FREE STATE, THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED: FOUNDERS, THEY WROTE THIS BOOK, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THEY WROTE IT FOR ME. THEY WROTE IT FOR ME TO PROTECT MY RIGHTS. THEY WROTE THE SECOND AMENDMENT FOR ME.
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FOR WHAT PURPOSE? THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT ELOQUENCE. IT IS NOT REASON. IT IS FORCE. LIKE FIRE, IT IS AN UNRULY SERVANT AND A FEARFUL MASTER. GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS WARNING US ABOUT BODIES LIKE THIS. THIS YEAR, THE ONE MILLIONTH CONCEALED WEAPONS LICENSE WAS ISSUED IN FLORIDA. SO I'M NOT ALONE ON THIS SUBJECT. I COME HEAVILY ARMED TODAY WITH INFORMATION. FLORIDA FIREARMS, 301 PAGES, IS DEVOTED TO FLORIDA FIREARMS LAWS. HAVE ANY OF YOU READ IT, HUH? HAVE YOU READ IT? HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY LEGALLY OWN AND CARRY A FIREARM IN FLORIDA? AS IF THIS WASN'T ENOUGH -- OH, AND, BY THE WAY, THIS ALSO INCLUDES OVERLAPPING FEDERAL LAWS THAT RESTRICT US. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SAFELY AND LEGALLY OWN AND TRANSPORT A FIREARM IN THIS STATE AND MOST OTHERS. AS IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, THIS SAME THING TAKES PLACE IN 50 STATES. THE HYPOCRISY OF YOUR COMMENTS, MADAM MAYOR, ARE AMAZING. YOU STAND HERE PROTECTED BY ARMED GUARDS ON EITHER SIDE OF YOU, AND YET YOU EXPECT ME TO DISARM. WELL, MY CONSTITUTION TELLS ME OTHERWISE. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, MR. BENDS. YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, MR. BENDER. THANK YOU. OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER -FROM THE FLOOR: YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS. MAYOR JACOBS: MR. OR MS. KOONS STRA IS OUR FINAL SPEAKER. IS IT MR. ? I CAN'T READ THE FIRST NAME, SO MY APOLOGIES. CAN YOU TELL ME YOUR FIRST NAME? FROM THE FLOOR: IT IS HANK.
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MAYOR JACOBS: GOOD MORNING, SIR. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. FROM THE FLOOR: THANK YOU. AS A NATURALIZED CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, WHICH YOU HAVE SWORN TO UPHOLD AND PROTECT AND WHICH IS THE REASON THAT OUR COUNTRY IS GREATEST IN THE WORLD. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT RESOLUTION 2013 BE DEFEATED IN LIGHT OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN 2011 CLARIFYING AND RECONFIRMING THE EXCEPTION OF THE REGULATION OF FIREARMS WITHIN THE HOME RULE POWERS. IN ADDITION, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT RESOLUTION BE DEFEATED IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT A MASS SHOOTER ILLEGALLY ENTERING A GUN-FREE ZONE CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY A PERSON WHO POSSESSES A LEGAL FIREARM. THE JUSTIFICATION FOR YOUR VOTE TODAY, AS IS DESCRIBED IN THE RESOLUTION, IS BASED ON SHOOTINGS WHICH OCCURRED IN AREAS WHERE IT WAS ILLEGAL TO CARRY A GUN. AS YOU ARE AWARE, LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO BE FIRST NOTIFIED THAT A MASS SHOOTING IS HAPPENING AND THEN NEEDS TO TRAVEL TO THE SITE TO STOP THE SHOOTER. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, THE COMMISSION MAY ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO CARRY ILLEGAL FIREARMS WHICH WILL BE A MAJOR DE DEFER ENTER FOR MASS SHOOTERS TO EVEN START THE CAR NAGE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ANY BABY STEPS TAKEN IN INFRINGING ON OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS MAY LEAD TO A CHICAGO STYLE ENVIRONMENT, WHERE THE EQUIVALENT OF SEVERAL SHOOTINGS OCCUR EVERY YEAR. LET US NOT GO DOWN THAT PATH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
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MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA, YOU WERE NEXT ON THE QUEUE. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DID OVERHEAR YOU, AND, YES, I AM GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS. THE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO BRING GUNS IN THIS CHAMBER. I'M LOOKING TO CHANGE THAT. I CANNOT SUPPORT -COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: NOT TRUE. THAT'S NOT TRUE. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA HAS THE FLOOR. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: LET ME TALK SO I CAN VOTE AGAINST IT AND YOU ALL CAN VOTE THE OTHER WAY. I'M A STRONG SUPPORT R OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND WITHOUT OUR SECOND AMENDMENT, WE WOULD NOT HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT IN THIS COUNTRY. I DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE HERE ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICIZE THE ISSUE OF GUNS. I MERELY PULLED THE ITEM TO VOTE AGAINST IT TO KEEP ME FROM HAVING ANY RIGHTS INFRINGED JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE. I HAVE -- I OVERHEARD MY COLLEAGUE TO THE RIGHT TO SAY HOW TERRIBLE IT THAT WE HAVE THESE CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMITS. YOU HAVE TO TAKE A TEST AND PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK BEFORE YOU ARE ISSUED. ALTHOUGH I DON'T HAVE IT ON ME, IF ANY OF YOU ARE AT LUNCH WITH ME, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY A WEAPON TO PROTECT YOU, MYSELF, AND MY FAMILY. SO I'LL BE
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PULLING 7 TO VOTE AGAINST IT AND LET'S MOVE ON. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LAMARCA. I'M NOT GOING TO ASK AGAIN. AFTER THIS, IF ANYONE IS CAUGHT CLAPPING IN THIS AUDIENCE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REMOVED. COMMISSIONER RITTER. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, MR. BENDER, LAST WEEK YOU WERE IN A SUIT. TODAY YOU'RE IN JEANS AND A POLO SHIRT. WHAT UP WITH THAT? YOU LOOKED SO NICE LAST WEEK. FROM THE FLOOR: I HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING WHEN YOU'RE NOT MESSING UP MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. COMMISSIONER RITTER: WELL, AGAIN ACCORDING YOU TO I GUESS YOU'RE NOT MAKING ANY LIVING SINCE ALL WE DO HERE IS MESS UP YOUR RIGHTS. YOU SPEND MORE TIME HERE I THINK YOU YOU DO AT WORK. SOMETIMES YOU WAKE UP AND YOU THINK YOU'RE IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE, RIGHT, DO YOU NOT? SOMETIMES YOU WAKE UP AND YOU GO: WOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS. I SUPPORT THE SECOND AMENDMENT. I DO, HOWEVER, UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT CAN MAKE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT RESTRICT AN ABILITY TO OWN OR CARRY A WEAPON. IT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST. SO TO TELL ME THAT I'M NOT FOLLOWING THE CONSTITUTION IS ON SUSH. THERE ARE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION WHICH HAVE CHANGED THE CONSTITUTION. THERE ARE RULES AND REGULATIONS. IS IT HARD TO
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GET A GUN? NO, IT'S NOT HARD TO GET A GUN. ANYONE WHO THINKS IT IS HASN'T GONE TO A GUN SHOW, FILLED OUT AN APPLICATION TO A VENDOR AND PICKED UP A GUN THAT VERY SAME DAY. THE GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE SHOULD BE CLOSED. YOU WANT TO FOLLOW THE SECOND AMENDMENT? I ABSOLUTELY APPLAUD YOUR RIGHT TO GO OUT AND BUY A MUST KIT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, BUT I DO NOT THINK THE FOUNDING FATHERS ANTICIPATED WHAT AN ASSAULT RIFLE WAS OR EVEN THAT THERE COULD BE ONE. BY THE WAY, MS. TIM MONDAY, YOU LOOK FABULOUS TODAY. I KNOW LAST WEEK YOU WERE UPSET THAT WE DIDN'T TELL YOU U HOW FABULOUS YOU LOOK. YOU LOOK FABULOUS TODAY. IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE TODAY. YOU CANNOT CARRY A GUN EVERYWHERE. YOU CAN'T CARRY A GUN -FROM THE FLOOR: (INAUDIBLE). MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. I'M GOING TO -- PLEASE. FROM THE FLOOR: (INAUDIBLE). MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER RITTER AND TO THE AUDIENCE, I AM GOING TO ASK THAT -COMMISSIONER RITTER: GOSH, I DON'T THINK I LOOK LIKE I TIE RAID. MAYOR JACOBS: I WOULD LIKE TO RESTORE SOME DECORUM. THIS IS TURNING INTO A CIRCUS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS. WE DO HAVE A TIME CERTAIN ITEM THAT WE ARE NOW TEN MINUTES BEHIND.
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COMMISSIONER RITTER: THIS IS GOING TO PASS. IT ASKS THE LEGISLATURE TO GIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE WHERE AND WHEN YOU CAN HAVE A WEAPON. AS THE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN, TWO HUMAN CHILDREN. I HAVE DOGS. WHEN I TOOK MY CHILDREN TO A PARK, IT WAS COMFORTING FOR ME TO KNOW THAT YOU COULD NOT HAVE A WEAPON IN THAT PARK. ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THE STATE ALLOW US TO REGULATE WHERE AND WHEN YOU CAN AND WHAT'S SO HYPOCRITICAL ABOUT WHAT THE STATE DID IS THIS, JUST ONE LITTLE TIDBIT. IN FLORIDA, YOU CANNOT CARRY A GUN INTO A HOSPITAL. IT IS ILLEGAL TO DO SO ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE, BUT YOU CAN CARRY A GUN INTO, FOR EXAMPLE, A SEXUAL ASSAULT TREATMENT CENTER. THAT IS A HYPOCRISY THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, AND IT'S THIS LEGISLATURE THAT HAS CREATED THAT HYPOCRISY AND ALL WE'RE ASKING TO DO IS TO BE ABLE TO REGULATE IT SO THAT THE LAWS ARE EVEN AND EVENLY APPLIED HERE IN THE COUNTY AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IT. I'M AFRAID IT WON'T PASS BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURES CLEARLY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN BROWARD COUNTY BUT I HOPE IT DOES. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RITTER. AS STATED, THERE'S BEEN PERHAPS SOME MISCONCEPTIONS IN THE AUDIENCE ABOUT WHAT THIS ITEM DOES. IT IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT NO OTHER ACTION OTHER THAN PERMITTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HAVE WHAT WE HAD PRIOR TO 2011 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND THAT IS THAT YOU CANNOT CARRY A FIREARM INTO A LOCAL GOVERNMENT-OWNED FACILITY NOR INTO A PUBLIC PARK, AND WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION.
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COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: I'LL MOVE IT. COMMISSIONER RYAN: SO MOVED. MAYOR JACOBS: ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: NAY. MAYOR JACOBS: LET THE RECORD SHOW IT PASSES 8 TO 1. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NOW TO THE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE AND TO MY COLLEAGUES, COMMISSIONER SHARIEF HAS BEEN KEEPING TRACK FOR ME. WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN. WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND, ON ITEM 52 -- NO, I'M SORRY, WE'RE NOT DOING 52 NEXT. WE ARE DOING 54 IS NEXT, TIME CERTAIN. TO THOSE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO ITEM 52, IF YOU ARE HERE FOR 52, WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 45 SPEAKERS. EACH SPEAKER, INSTEAD OF THREE MINUTES WILL HAVE TWO TODAY. WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS WHO WERE HERE FOR THE E 911 CONVERSATION, AND SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE ON ANY OTHER, THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED OFF OF CONSENT, FOR THOSE ITEMS, 13, 19, 20, 29, OR 43, THEY MOST LIKELY WILL NOT BE -- OR ANY OTHER ITEM ON OUR AGENDA WILL MOST LIKELY NOT BE TAKEN UP UNTIL AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE 2:00 PUBLIC HEARING THIS AFTERNOON. SO IF YOU ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE FOR THOSE ITEMS, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS AND A LONG DAY AND THOSE ITEMS MOST LIKELY WILL NOT COME UNTIL THEY ARE TAKEN UP AT THE END OF 2:00 PUBLIC HEARING. I DON'T WANT TO SAY POSITIVELY IN CASE SOMETHING MIRACLE HAPPENS. OKAY. SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE 18 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP ON ITEM 54. THEY ARE NOT IN
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ANY PARTICULAR ORDER, AND I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WANTED OR MS. HENRY TO TEE OF THIS ITEM BEFORE WE TAKE UP THE SPEAKERS. COMMISSIONER WEXLER? OKAY. PLEASE DO. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I PROMISE YOU, MAYOR, I WILL TAKE BUT A MOMENT TO DO THAT. THIS EFFORT BEGAN SOME 13 YEARS AGO, BUT IT BEGAN ANEW ON OCTOBER 25TH, 2011, WHEN THIS BOARD ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED THE CONSOLIDATED COURT COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE OR THE THREE C COMMITTEE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEAGUE OF CITIES. WE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY TO CREATE THE REPORT THAT THIS BOARD UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPTED THAT CREATED THE I BOARD. THE I BOARD WORKED VERY, VERY HARD, AND ITS DRAFT REPORT APPEARED BEFORE US TWO MONTHS AGO, AND NOW WE HAVE THE FINAL REPORT BEFORE US. I WANTED TO SHARE ONE THING WITH YOU BEFORE YOU HEAR THE SPEAKERS HERE THIS MORNING, AND I THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME, AND I'M GOING TO OWN IT, IS THE FACT THAT I ABSOLUTELY WAS IN ERROR AND WRONG, AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT SERVED WITH ME ON THE CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE KNOW VERY, VERY WELL HOW I ARGUED WITH THEM FOR ALMOST A YEAR THAT I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT THE COUNTY HAVING AD VALOREM TO FUND THIS THING. I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THIS. I HAVE ANALYZED IT. I HAVE LOOKED AT OPTIONS A, B, C, AND D, AND I'M GOING TO, THIS AFTERNOON -- NO, NOT THIS AFTERNOON, THIS MORNING, OH, MY GOD, THIS MORNING BE ABLE TO OFFER -- I HOPE YOU EMBRACE THE REPORT. I FULLY SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S FUNDING IN THE AD VALOREM. IT IS A STABLE, RELIABLE FUNDING SOURCE, AND I WANTED TO OWN THE FACT
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THAT I WAS WRONG AND THAT I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE AS POLITICIANS TYPICALLY DON'T DO IS WHEN WE MAKE A MISTAKE SAY: I MADE A MISTAKE. I DID MAKE A MISTAKE, BUT I'M GOING TO OWN THAT MISTAKE, AND I'M GOING TO CORRECT -- AND I'VE CORRECTED IT HERE TODAY, AND THOSE FOLKS THAT GAVE ME UGLY LOOKS AND CALLED ME ALL KINDS OF NAMES, AND WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE, IT WAS IN A SMALL ROOM THOUGH SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM THEM, YES, HE SAW IT -MAYOR JACOBS: AT LEAST YOU WEREN'T TURNED INTO A CARTOON, COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I WASN'T. I WASN'T, BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY LIVELY DISCUSSION ALSO ON ITEM NUMBER 52 A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD HERE. I WISH THAT THERE WAS AS MUCH PASSION IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR REGIONALIZING 911 AS THERE IS FOR BAN SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. FROM THE FLOOR: OH, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: OH, PLEASE. MAYOR JACOBS: AUDIENCE -COMMISSIONER RITTER: WOULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? I HONESTLY DID NOT -COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I WISH THERE WAS AS MUCH PASSION IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR REGIONALIZING E 911 SERVICES AS THEIR IS FOR NOT HAVING BAN SPECIFIC DOG LEGISLATION. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ALL SITTING OUT HERE FOR. MAYOR JACOBS: THERE ARE MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES WE
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TAKE UP. IF WE HAD THIS TURNOUT TO ADDRESS THINGS. AND WITH THAT, OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JOHN FLINT FOLLOWED BY MIKE RYAN, FOLLOWED BY DAN STERMER. GOOD MORNING, MR. FLINT. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING, MADAM MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING. MY NAME IS JOHN FLINT. I'M THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF WESTON AND I'M BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING AS CHAIR OF THE I BOARD AS APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSION. FIRST, LET ME THANK COMMISSIONER WEXLER AND SUNRISE MAYOR RYAN FOR FOLLOWING THE PROCESS THROUGH FROM THE FOUR C TO THE I BOARD. WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THANKS TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND HER STAFF, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND HER STAFF AND ALSO THE PUBLIC WORKS STAFF WHO WORKED ON THE OPERATIONS SIDE. THE REPORT STANDS ON ITS OWN. IT HAS SIX RECOMMENDATIONS IN IT WHICH I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF. YOU ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE BROWARD COUNTY CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION, THE SHERIFF OF BROWARD COUNTY AND THE BROWARD COUNTY COUNCIL OF PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS IN SUPPORT OF THE FINAL REPORT. THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS THAT THE CITY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY. IN FACT, THE CITIES ARE PAYING. ALL 31 CITIES IN BROWARD COUNTY ARE ALREADY PAYING. THEY'RE PAYING $19 MILLION WHICH IS WHERE THE COUNTY GOT THE $19 MILLION FROM. TWENTY-FOUR MUNICIPAL BODIES REPRESENTING 87 PERCENT OF THE COUNTY'S POPULATION HAVE ASKED YOU TO FINISH THE JOB TO CONTINUE TO TAX FOR THE SERVICE THROUGH THE COUNTY AD VALOREM WHICH COMES TO ANOTHER $17 MILLION. IN ADDITION, THE
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LEAGUE OF CITIES IS HAS ALSO PASSED A SIMILAR RESOLUTION. CONSIDER THAT WE USE THE SAME FUNDING FOR BOTH PARKS AND LIBRARIES, ONE THING THAT E 911 HAS IN COMMON WITH PARKS AND LIBRARIES IS THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME USER BASE. IT'S ALL THE SAME RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF BROWARD COUNTY THAT HAVE ACCESS TO THE PARKS, TO THE LIBRARIES, AND TO THE 911 SYSTEM. AS FAR AS THE DOUBLE TAXATION ISSUE WHICH I'M SURE SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO RAISE TODAY, THAT'S BEEN SETTLED IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. WE BELIEVE THAT'S A DONE ISSUE AND ENABLES YOU TO TAX THROUGH THE AD VALOREM. THE BENEFITS OF THE CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM, WE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE MISDIRECTED CALLS. WE CAN SAVE OVER $100 MILLION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. WE CAN PROVIDE A STABLE AND PREDICTABLE FUNDING SOURCE LONG INTO THE FUTURE. THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS FOR ANYONE EXCEPT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BROWARD COUNTY. THERE'S NO CONTRACTS TO LET. THERE'S NO FINANCIAL GAIN FOR EVERYONE. IT'S JUST A BENEFIT FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO LEAD, TO ENABLE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLOSEST UNIT RESPONSE AND TO NOT LETDOWN THE NEXT CALLER OF 911 WHICH COULD BE YOU OR ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. AND, MR. FLINT, BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE PODIUM, AND I FORGOT, I'M GOING TO ASK EACH OF OUR SPEAKERS FOR MY OWN EDIFICATION, IF YOU'RE REPRESENTING A CITY, CAN HELP DEFINE FOR ME THE SAVINGS THAT THE CITY WILL HAVE AS A RESULT OF THE COUNTY TO COVER DISPATCH AND IF YOU DO
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UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE SAVINGS ARE HOW YOU PLAN TO USE THOSE SAVINGS, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT, THAT'S FANTASTIC. FROM THE FLOOR: MADAM MAYOR, WERE YOU LOOKING FOR ME TO RESPOND TO THAT? MAYOR JACOBS: I'M GOING TO BE ASKING FOR EVERY CITY REPRESENT TF TO DEFINE WHAT THEIR SAVINGS ARE AS A QUESTION. SO RATHER THAN ME ASK EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL OR CITY MANAGER AS THEY COME TO THE PODIUM, IF THEY CAN INCORPORATE IT IN THEIR COMMENTS BUT AS YOU WERE FINISHED, I WOULD ASK YOU JUST TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION IF YOU DO HAVE AN ANSWER. FROM THE FLOOR: I DO HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THERE ARE NO DIRECT SAVINGS TO THE CITY OF WESTON. ACTUALLY THE DISPATCHING IS DONE THROUGH THE BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WE CONTRACT WITH THE BROWARD SHERIFF, AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE $19 MILLION THAT ALL 31 CITIES ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE COUNTY. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT THE SAVINGS WILL OCCUR ON THOSE CITIES THAT CURRENTLY OPERATE THEIR OWN PsAP, AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK YOU'LL FIND A DIFFERENT ANSWER THAN I GAVE YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. FLINT. ALL RIGHT. NEXT MAYOR MIKE RYAN. GOOD MORNING. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING. TWELVE YEARS AGO, A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY RECOMMENDED TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT EMERGENCY 911 SERVICES BE REGIONALIZED AND CONSOLIDATED. MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, THE STUDIED USED WORDS
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ALL TOO FAMILIAR NOW, TOO MANY DISPATCH CENTERS, NOT A NOVEL CONCEPT, PROBLEMS WITH MISDIRECTED CALLS, IMPROVED PUBLIC SAFETY, AND SAVINGS TO THE TAXPAYERS. TODAY, REGIONALIZING 911 WILL FACILITATE CLOSEST UNIT RESPONSE, ADDRESS MISDIRECTED 911 CALLS, ACHIEVE BETTER RESPONSE TIMES, BUT FAILING TO DEVELOP A REGIONAL SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE WITH CHAOS, COST PRECIOUS MINUTES AND POSSIBLY LIVES. THE ONLY ISSUE REMAINING IS, CAN WE GENERATE AND CREATE A LONG-TERM, PREDICTABLE, STABLE FUNDING MECHANISM TO ENSURE REGIONAL 911 IS NOT SUBJECT TO POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL INSTABILITY. RELYING ON FAITH THAT EACH AND EVERY PARTICIPATING MUNICIPALITY WILL SEND THEIR CHECKS ON OCTOBER 1ST EVERY YEAR IS NOT A STABLE AND PREDICTABLE LONG-TERM FUNDING SOLUTION. THE FIRST FINANCIAL RAINY DAY AN INSTABILITY WILL TAKE OVER. BUDGETARY IMPACT WILL BE LESS TODAY. THERE'S NO COST TO THE COUNTY IN BUILDING REGIONAL CENTERS BECAUSE THE CITIES HAVE BUILT THOSE. REGIONALIZING WILL REDUCE THE SIZE AND FOOTPRINT OF GOVERNMENT, ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY AND UNWANTED REDUND SEES AND REDUCE COSTS TO THE TAXPAYERS OVERALL, INCLUDING TO THIS COUNTY COMMISSION WHO HAS THE OBLIGATION TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE IN ALL 11 P SAPS IF WE DON'T SOLVE THIS. FAILING TO REGIONALIZE WILL RESULT IN GREATER TAX IMPACT ON SOME RESIDENTS, PERPETUATE FINANCIAL CHAOS, AND CONTINUE MISDIRECTED CALLS. SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE CITIES SHOULD BE BILLED OR SHOULD BE PAYING DIFFERENTLY. IT NATURALLY LEADS TO A DIALOGUE ABOUT WHICH RESIDENTS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PAYING MORE TO THEIR FAIR SHARE TO SUBSIDIZE
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COMMUNICATIONS IN SOME CITIES? THAT'S NOT A PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION. TODAY IS ABOUT LEGACY. TODAY IS ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN A DECADE IN COMING AND TODAY IS ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS, AND I WANT TO MAKE IT ABOUT SOMETHING POSITIVE AND YOUR PROFOUND IMPACT AND YOUR LEGACY ON PUBLIC SAFETY. PLEASE VOTE YES FOR ALL THE I BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. NEXT -FROM THE FLOOR: MAYOR, IF YOU WANTED ME TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED. MAYOR JACOBS: YES. FROM THE FLOOR: FIRST IMPACT ON SAVINGS WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY THE GREAT SAVINGS THAT WOULD OCCUR COUNTYWIDE BY REGIONALIZING. AS WE KNOW COUNTYWIDE THAT COULD BE AS MUCH AS -MAYOR JACOBS: MY QUESTION WAS SPECIFIC TO THE CITY. FROM THE FLOOR: YES, I NEED TO GO THROUGH. IN ADDITION, RIGHT NOW WE ARE PAYING HIGHER TAXES TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO THE SUBS TOO DIES SOME CENTERS AROUND THE COUNTY TO PAY FOR OTHER CITIES. SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TELL WHAT THE FULL IMPACT UNTIL I KNOW THE EXCESS. HOWEVER, THE GOAL WOULD BE HAVING ALREADY BUILT THE SENTENCE IS THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CONSERVE THROUGH CONSOLIDATION OF EMPLOYEES AND CONSOLIDATION OF THE CENTER AND INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES, WHAT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNOWS AND I DON'T KNOW OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME.
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MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU (SUBSIDIZE). OKAY. NEXT UP, DAN STERMER, FOLLOWED BY JERRY BLUE, FOLLOWED BY KATHY SWANSON. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING, DANIEL STERMER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WESTON, AND, COMMISSIONER WEXLER, YOU TOOK A BOLD STEP THIS MORNING. TO SIT IN A PUBLIC DAIS AND ADMIT A MISTAKE YOU MADE AND TO OWN IT IS INTEGRAL TO BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT, AND I ASK THIS BOARD, OWN THE ISSUE. THIS IS YOUR COUNTY. WE ARE RESIDENTS HERE. WE ARE BUSINESS OWNERS HERE. WE HAVE GUESTS HERE. THEY DESERVE NOTHING LESS THAN A FULLY INTEGRATED AND PAID FOR 911 SYSTEM. WE ALL REMEMBER TRAGICALLY A FEW MONTHS AGO, A MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION SUFFERED A LOSS. WAS THE UNIT THAT RESPONDED THE CLOSEST UNIT? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT GOD FORBID IT HAPPENS TO YOU, YOU WANT THAT CLOSEST UNIT THERE. EVERY SECOND IS PRECIOUS, AND THE LONGER WE DON'T DO THIS, MORE INCIDENTS LIKE STEVE WEXLER MAY HAPPEN. WE'RE LUCKY IN WESTON. WE'VE GOT THE PREMIER PARTY EX CENTER AROUND BUT EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE THE CLOSEST UNIT AROUND TO GET THEM TO A HOSPITAL. TO NOT HAVE THAT IS A TRAVESTY AND IT'S A TRAVESTY THAT'S ON YOU THIS MORNING BECAUSE YOU CAN FIX IT. EIGHTY SEVEN PERCENT OF THE RESIDENCE THROUGH THEIR DAISES SUPPORT THIS ISSUE. I SUGGEST THIS MORNING YOU SHOULD SUPPORT THIS ISSUE. . YOU TOOK A LEADERSHIP ROLE ON ITEM NUMBER 7 THIS MORNING. TAKE ANOTHER LEADERSHIP ROLE ON THIS ONE, AND, MADAM MAYOR, IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, MY CITY MANAGER ANSWERED IT, THERE
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IS NO SAVINGS TO THE CITY OF WESTON BECAUSE WE PAY FOR IT THROUGH OUR CONTRACT AND OUR RESIDENTS CURRENTLY PAY FOR IT THROUGH THEIR AD VALOREM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR JACOBS: YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, JERRY BLUE, FOLLOWED BY KATHY SWANSON, FOLLOWED BY MIKE BRITAIN. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: CAN I JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT? MAYOR JACOBS: SURE. A COMMENT OR A QUESTION. WE'RE NOT DOING COMMENTS. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR A SPEAKER. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MAYOR STERMER, KNOWS I'M A FAN, BUT PLEASE NOT USE COMMISSIONER WEXLER'S HUSBAND AS AN EXAMPLE WITH ANY OF THIS TALK. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. GOOD MORNING.
FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: YOUR TIME IS OVER. YOU MAY HAVE A SEAT. FROM THE FLOOR: THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: GOOD MORNING. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IM THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF MARGATE. ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, THE VICE MAYOR AND
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THE CITY OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CITY OF MARGATE WHOM BY RESOLUTION AND WHO REPRESENT 55,000 RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY, WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS VE YEAH AD VALOREM FUNDING. AS A 39-YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADER -I'LL WAIT. AS A 39-YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADER HAVING SERVED AS CHIEF OF POLICE IN TWO PROGRESSIVE MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES BOTH OF WHICH OPERATED INDEPENDENT DISPATCH CENTERS OR P SAPS IN BROWARD COUNTY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LONG OVERDUE COURSE OF ACTION AND LEAVE AV LASTING LEGACY BY ADOPTING ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE I BOARD. HAVING SERVED ON THE I BOARD IN 2012 AND 2013 IN THE CAPACITY OF CITY MANAGER AND PREVIOUSLY SERVING AS CHIEF OF POLICE AND PAST PRESIDENT OF THE BROWARD COUNTY CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION, MY HISTORICAL AND WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF E 911 COMMUNICATIONS IS QUITE BROAD. BORN AND RAISED IN BROWARD COUNTY, I ASK THAT EACH OF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COUNTY AND SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. WE HAVE THE VISION. WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY. WE HAVE THE PERSONNEL. WE HAVE THE FACILITIES, AND NOW WHAT WE NEED IS THE BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. ON BEHALF OF MY CITY IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, ALTHOUGH I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS BEFORE ME, I BELIEVE WE'RE ABOUT $700,000 IN SAVINGS THAT WE DO ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. I COULD ALSO SHARE WITH YOU THE FACT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WOULD WE DO WITH THOSE FUNDS, IT WOULD TAKE ME ALL AFTERNOON TO TELL YOU. WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES IN OUR
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COMMUNITY THAT WE'VE HAD TO CUT OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING SERVICES TO OUR SENIORS, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, BUSSING ISSUES AND QUITE HONESTLY OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS OVER 50,000 YEARS OLD. OUR CAPITAL EQUIPMENT IS DETERIORATING AS WELL. SO I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THE FACT THAT WE COULD OBVIOUSLY USE THAT MONEY FOR A LOT OF GOOD THINGS, AND WE URGE YOU ONCE AGAIN TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, AND AS TO THE QUESTION OF SAVINGS. COMMISSIONER RITTER: HE JUST DID. FROM THE FLOOR: I JUST SAID IT, MA'AM, ABOUT $700,000. MAYOR JACOBS: $700,000, I'M SORRY, I MISSED THE NUMBER. OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHY SWANSON, FOLLOWED BY MIKE BRITAIN, FOLLOWED BY JOHN STUNSON. FROM THE FLOOR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BEFORE HERE ON BEHALF OF HOLLYWOOD CITY COMMISSION. I HAVE WITH ME OUR FIRE CHIEF, CHIEF FERNANDEZ AS POLICE CHIEF, CHIEF AVENUE NOT TOE. WE'RE HERE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE 911 REPORT. WE FULLY SUPPORT NOT ONLY REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS BUT HOLLYWOOD WILL BE ABSORBED INTO THIS SYSTEM. WE CURRENTLY OPERATE OUR OWN. WE RECOGNIZE THAT. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR UNIONS BECAUSE WE SO BELIEVE IN A FULL REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS OPERATION FOR ALL OF BROWARD. AS TO SAVINGS, WE WILL SAVE APPROXIMATELY $500,000 ANNUALLY, BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW TO DELIVER THE MOST EFFICIENT,
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BEST SERVICE NOT ONLY FOR THE CITIZENS OF HOLLYWOOD BUT ALL OF BROWARD COUNTY. IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, OUR CHIEFS CAN ANSWER THEM, BUT WE REMAIN IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE REPORT AS PRESENTED. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, AND TO THE SAVINGS. COMMISSIONER RITTER: SHE SAID $500,000. FROM THE FLOOR: YES, MA'AM, $500,000. MAYOR JACOBS: BOY, TWICE I'VE MISSED THAT.
FROM THE FLOOR: NOT A PROBLEM. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU FOR YOUR BREVITY. OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE BRITAIN, FOLLOWED BY JOHN STUNSON, FOLLOWED BY ALAN COHEN. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS MIKE BURTON. I'M THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND WHILE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS FOR THE PAST YEAR, I WANTED TO STRESS MY COMMENTS ARE IN THE CAPACITY OF TAMARAC FIRE CHIEF AND BEFORE YOU TODAY YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW GREAT LEADERSHIP. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, RESIDENTS, AND BUSINESSES. YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD, AND I. A. YOU TO DO JUST THAT (AND I URGE). I'LL REMIND YOU THAT THIS
COMMISSION APPOINTED THE FOUR C GROUP AND THE I AB. IN THIS GROUP OF POLICE PROFESSIONALS, FIRE PROFESSIONALS, MANAGEMENT
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PROFESSIONALS, AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONALS ALONG WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR A YEAR TO BRING THIS MATTER FORWARD. THEY REPRESENTED VERY DIFFERENT INTERESTS YET THEY CAME TO CONSENSUS. YOU APPOINTED THESE GROUPS AND I URGE YOU TO TAKE HEED OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. AS TO THE FUNDING THAT CONTINUES TO SURFACE IN CIRCLES, THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY DEBATE AS TO THE QUESTION OF WHO PAYS BECAUSE THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY ASKED AND ANSWERED. WE ALL PAY. WE ALL PAY NOW. WE WILL ALL PAY IN THE FUTURE. THE MORE ACCURATE QUESTION AT HAND IS WHO COLLECTS RATHER THAN WHO PAYS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT OVER THE PAST DECADE TO PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE FOR A REGIONAL SYSTEM, BUT IT'S TIME TO TAKE THAT COMMITMENT TO THE NEXT LOGICAL LEVEL AND BUILD THE REMAINDER OF THE REGIONAL SYSTEM. IT'S TIME TO STITCH AGAINST THIS PATCHWORK OF SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE. IT'S TIME FOR BROWARD COUNTY TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A REGIONAL 911 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM THAT IS SECOND TO NONE AND MATCHES THE BROWARD COUNTY MOTTO OF: OUR BEST, NOTHING LESS. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, MIKE BRITAIN, FOLLOWED BY -- I'M SORRY, JOHN STUNSON AND ALAN COHEN. FROM THE FLOOR: THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION. I'M JOHN STUNSON, CITY MANAGER AT OAKLAND PARK. OUR CITY COMMISSION PASSES A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE I BOARD
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RECOMMENDATIONS. I SERVED ON BOTH THE CONSOLIDATIONS COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE. I SERVED ON THE I BOARD AND WAS RESPONSIBLE ON THE CONSOLIDATED COMMITTEE AS A SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR TO LOOK AT VARIOUS ITERATIONS OF FUNDING. THERE WAS STUDIED THOROUGHLY. IT WAS STUDIED THOROUGHLY IN THE I BOARD, AND THE SOLUTION THAT COMES UP TO FUND IT WITH COUNTY AD VALOREM TAXES IS THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, WE BELIEVE. CAN YOU IMAGINE THOUGH HISTORICALLY IF THE COUNTY COMMISSION HAD ELECTED TO FUND YOUR AWARD WINNING LIBRARY ON SOMETHING BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PATRONS OR THE NUMBER OF BOOKS CHECKED OUT. SO IT WOULD APPEAR THAT WE'VE GOT AN AWARD WINNING LIBRARY. WE CAN HAVE AWARD WINNING, LIFE SAVING E 911 SYSTEM IF YOU FOLLOWED THE I BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WE URGE YOU. THANK YOU. AND THE SAVINGS AT THE CITY OF OAKLAND PARK, WE ARE A PART OF REGIONAL SYSTEM AT THIS TIME. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, MR. STUNSON. ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, ALAN COHEN, FOLLOWED BY SUZANNE BOYS VENUE AND PAUL KUNL. FROM THE FLOOR: YOUR HONOR, MY POINTS HAVE BEEN COVERED BY OTHERS. SO I'M GOING TO SEED THE FLOOR TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. MAYOR JACOBS: BLESS YOU. NEXT IS ALAN COHEN -- NO, I'M SORRY, SUZANNE BOYS VENUE FOLLOWED BY PAUL KUNL, FOLLOWED BY HOWARD HARRISON. FROM THE FLOOR: MY NAME IS SUZANNE BOYS VENUE. I'M
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A COMMISSIONER IN THE CITY OF OAKLAND PARK. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS TODAY AS A HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONAL WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE OF WORKING IN E Rs, AMBULANCES AND OTHER AREAS. THERE'S NO DOUBT A DELAY IN CARE, A PERSON WHO NEEDS OXYGEN MAY NOT MAKE IT, MAY HAVE PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE. I SUPPORT THIS, BUT I NOT ONLY SUPPORT IT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, WE HAVE TO DO THIS. IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND IN WEIGHING ALL THE OPTIONS, BASICALLY THERE'S TWO, TO DO IT OR NOT TO DO IT. AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT. BUT LET ME JUST GIVE YOU AN ANALOGY. WE PAY FOR A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT LIFE SAVING. I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE THAT HAS DIED FROM NOT READING A BOOK. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. NEXT SPEAKER, PAUL KUNL. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS PAUL O'CONNELL. I'M CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OF WILTON MANORS BUT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, I'VE SERVED THE STREETS OF BROWARD COUNTY SINCE 1978 AS A POLICE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF POMPANO BEACH, BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND NOW THE CITY OF WILTON MANORS. I SERVED ON THE FOUR C'S COMMITTEE WITH COMMISSIONER WEXLER, COMMISSIONER LAMARCA, AND MANY OTHER LEADERS IN THE POLICE, FIRE, AND CITY, AND WE CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION. WE THINK THIS SOLUTION IS THE RIGHT SOLUTION. IN FACT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S THE ONLY SOLUTION. TO DO OTHERWISE LEADS US DOWN THE PATH TO CONFUSION AND INEFFICIENCY. WE'RE EXPERIENCING INEFFICIENCY AS WE SPEAK. THIS CONCEPT MAKES IT
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EFFICIENT, MAKES IT MORE EFFECTIVE, AND IT DOES MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE. YOU HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO GET TO THAT POINT. I'M ASKING YOU TO ENTERTAIN THE CONCEPT OF COMMON SENSE. THIS IS THE ISSUE THAT'S BEFORE US, COMMON SENSE. TO DO OTHERWISE SIMPLY IGNORES THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, CHIEF. OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HOWARD HARRISON, FOLLOWED BY CHURCH FLORIDA RAN DA -- CHUCK FUR RAN DA, FOLLOWED BY VINCENT BOWCARD. FROM THE FLOOR: HI, GOOD MORNING. AS YOU CAN SEE THAT I'M NOT HOWARD HARRISON. MAYOR JACOBS: NO. FROM THE FLOOR: BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT MY CHIEF OF POLICE IS HOWARD HARRISON AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE HIM. I'M DIANE BENDEKOVIC AND I'M HONORED TO BE THE MAYOR OF PLANTATION BUT I HAVE CHIEF HARRISON WITH ME. I HAVE DEPUTY CHIEF MIKE DA LEO AND I HAVE FIRE CHIEF LANY STERNS WITH US. FROM THE ONSET OF THE E 911 COUNTYWIDE DISCUSSIONS, THE CITY OF PLANTATION HAS REMAINED CONSTANT IN STATING OUR POSITION AND FORTHCOMING WITH THE REASONS WHY PLANTATION DOES NOT APPROVE OF AND, THEREFORE, DOESN'T WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION OF THE E 911 COMMUNITY SYSTEM, COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM. WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET PERSONALLY WITH COMMISSIONER WEXLER, COMMISSIONER KIAR, AND COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BERTHA HENRY AND SUNRISE MAYOR
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MIKE RYAN TO SHARE OUR CONCERNS AND PROVIDE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR POSITION FOR WHICH WE THANK EACH OF YOU. . PLANTATION TAKES PRIDE IN THE QUALITY AND PERSONALIZATION OF THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY BOTH OUR FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS MAYOR AND ALONG WITH FIRE CHIEF STERNS AND POLICE CHIEF HARRISON, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF SERVICE BY SUPPORTING THE E 911 -- BY SUPPORTING THE E 911 REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS CENTER AS PROPOSED. WE WOULD BE REMISS IN THAT RESPONSIBILITY. THE E 911 CONSOLIDATION COMMUNICATIONS CENTER WOULD JEOPARDIZE OUR PLANTATION FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WE KNOW IT DOWN. IT WOULD DOWNGRADE OUR INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITED COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, AND ALSO HAVE A POSSIBLE IMPACT ON OUR. IssO RATING OF TWO WHICH PROVIDES OUR HOMEOWNERS A REDUCTION IN INSURANCE RATES, NOT TO MENTION CREATE AN ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL BURDEN WITH DOUBLE TAXATION ON OUR CITY AND RESIDENTS WITHOUT ANY BENEFITS. WE ALSO TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE MEASUREMENT OPTIONS ON RESPONSE TIME AND PLANTATION'S ACTUAL RESPONSE TIME COMPARED TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. IN SHORT, WHEN MAKING THE DECISION TO PARTICIPATE OR NOT TO PARTICIPATE, THE NEGATIVES OUTWEIGHED THE POSITIVES FOR PLANTATION. HOWEVER, WE DO RESPECT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND THEIR DECISION TO SUPPORT THE I BOARD RECOMMENDATION AND THE EFFORTS OF THE I BOARD. IT JUST ISN'T PRUDENT, NOR DOES PLANTATION BENEFIT AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE TIME TO SHARE OUR POSITION AND HOPEFULLY
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PROVIDE CLARITY TO YOU AND UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE SUCH A UNIQUE SITUATION IN THE CITY OF PLANTATION, AND YOU WANTED TO KNOW OUR POSITION, IT WON'T SAVE US ANY MONEY AT ALL BECAUSE 74 PERCENT OF OUR CALLS ARE NONEMERGENCY CALLS WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE HANDLED AT OUR DISPATCH AND YOU ALSO DID NOT ADDRESS HOW TO PAGE OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND IF OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ISN'T BEING ABLE TO BE PAID, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE'D HAVE TO GO TO A PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT WHICH WOULD COST US A TOTAL OF $31 MILLION. SO IT'S NOT SAVING US ANY MONEY. IT'S GOING TO COST US MONEY. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHUCK FER RAN DA, FOLLOWED BY THEN SPO CARD, FOLLOWED BY LISA ARONSON. CHUCK, ARE YOU HERE? NO. OKAY. VINCE, YOU'RE NEXT (VINCE). FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COMMISSION. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING TODAY? THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND I HAVE A BRIEF STATEMENT ON THE CITY OF CORAL SPRINGS' POSITION. WHILE THE CITY OF CORAL SPRINGS APPRECIATES THE EFFORTS OF THE I BOARD AND THE COUNTY COMMISSION ON THIS ISSUE, I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO REAFFIRM THE CITY OF CORAL SPRINGS' OPPOSITION TO THE CREATE OF A COUNTYWIDE E 911 COMMUNICATIONS AN DISPATCH SYSTEM WHOLLY FUNDED THROUGH AD VALOREM TAXES. FOR A VARIETY OF OPERATIONAL REASONS, OUR CITY HAS CHOSEN NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS INITIAL CREATION OF A CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM. AS SUCH, WE BELIEVE THAT MUNICIPAL PARTICIPATION IN THE SYSTEM
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SHOULD BE VOLUNTARY AND THROUGH MUNICIPAL SERVICE TAX UNITS, THE MsTUs. AS PREVIOUSLY SUPPORTED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSION, TO ENSURE THAT EACH PARTICIPATING MUNICIPALITY PAYS ITS FAIR SHARE. THIS METHOD ALLOWS RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES THAT ELECT NOT TO INITIALLY PARTICIPATE TO AVOID A DOUBLE TAXATION. WE URGE THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO REAFFIRM ITS POSITION REGARDING FUNDING THE SYSTEM THROUGH THE MsTUs RATHER THAN COUNTYWIDE AND AD VALOREM TAXES AND WE HOPE THAT OUR DECISION NOT TO JOIN AT THIS TIME IS RESPECTED. THANK YOU AGAIN. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. LISA ARONSON, YOU'RE NEXT. GOOD MORNING. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING MAYOR JACOBS, VICE MAYOR, AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS LISA ARONSON, AND I'M A CITY COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF COCONUT CREEK. BACK IN 2000 TO 2002, I WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BROWARD COUNTY CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION. I WORKED WITH A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF CITIZENS, COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS, BUSINESS LEADERS, ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS TO STUDY VARIOUS ASPECTS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT INCLUDING A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNDING OF A COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. AT THAT TIME IN 2002, A COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENT WENT TO THE VOTERS AND RECEIVED 81 PERCENT FAVORABLE SUPPORT TO ESTABLISH SECTION 5.03. SECTION A STATES: THE COUNTY COMMISSION, WITH COOPERATION FROM MUNICIPALITIES, SHALL ESTABLISH A COUNTYWIDE
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COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FIRE AND EMS. THE COUNTY SHALL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALL SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL UTILIZE THE ELEMENTS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE. THE COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE SHALL FACILITATE CLOSEST UNIT RESPONSE FOR LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES AND SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL SPECIALTY TEAMS. SINCE 2002, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF CITY ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING FIRE AND POLICE CHIEFS, HAVE COME TOGETHER WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION IN RECOGNITION OF POLICE COMMUNICATIONS AS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT. THE CITY OF COCONUT CREEK HAS PASSED A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT WHICH YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF. PLEASE SUPPORT THE I BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE COUNTYWIDE AD VALOREM FUNDING OF THIS COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE. AND IN RESPONSE TO MAYOR JACOB'S QUESTION, EARLIER I CANNOT DEFINE WHAT, IF ANY SAVINGS WOULD BE TO THE CITY OF COCONUT CREEK AT THE MOMENT, BUT I DID E-MAIL OUR CITY MANAGER AND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE MADE AN INVESTMENT TO BUILD A SAFE CATEGORY 5 BUILDING FOR OTHER MUNICIPAL PURPOSES, AND THIS BUILDING CAN ALSO ACCOMMODATE ONE OF THREE REGIONAL P SAP SITES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND YOUR IMPORTANT VOTE TODAY. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. OKAY. NEXT UP, LANY STEVENS, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL DA LEO. FROM THE FLOOR: (INAUDIBLE).
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MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MICHAEL DA LEO. FROM THE FLOOR: SAME THING. MAYOR JACOBS: SAME THING, AND TINA RATCLIFF. GOOD MORNING. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I'M NOT HERE TO DISCUSS FUNDING. I'M A CITIZEN OF BROWARD COUNTY, AND I EXPERIENCED THE 911 SYSTEM APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE IN OUR VAN VICTIMS OF AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT IN WHICH A MAN WHO I GUESS WAS EXPERIENCING SOME TYPE OF ROAD RAGE TRIED TO RUN US OFF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES, TRIED TO STRIKE AT MY HUSBAND WITH I BELIEVE A CROWBAR. IT WAS A LONG METAL, IRON OBJECT, AND EVENTUALLY DID STRIKE THE CAR AND LEFT A DENT IN IT. DURING THAT TIME, WHICH SEEMED LIKE FOREVER, I GOT ON MY CELL PHONE AND I CALLED 911, AND THE EXPERIENCE WAS HORRIFIC. I AM LEARNING THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS IF THE TOWER IS BUSY, THE 911 CALL GETS SENT TO THE NEXT AVAILABLE TOWER, WHICH MEANS THAT DURING THIS WHOLE INCIDENT WHICH LASTED SIX OR SEVEN MINUTES, I GOT TRANSFERRED THREE TIMES, AND THERE WAS NO CONTINUATION OF WHAT WAS GOING ON, MY LOCATION, THE HELP THAT WE NEEDED. I HAD TO START ALL OVER AGAIN WITH EVERY TRANSFER. IT WAS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING, AND I AM HERE TO PLEAD WITH YOU NOT SO MUCH FOR FUNDING BUT FOR PROTECTION OF THE CITIZENS OF BROWARD COUNTY THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE ANTIQUATED TO ME AND JUST A LITTLE ASIDE, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE OVER 60 YEARS OF LAW
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ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE. WE ARE BOTH RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTY. SO WE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THIS SYSTEM THAT WAS NOT WORKING FOR US, AND IT TOOK SIX OR SEVEN MINUTES WHERE WE FINALLY COULD LOSE THIS MAN OR HE BACKED OFF AND WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD, AND THEN THE UNIFORMED OFFICERS THAT ARRIVED WERE FROM TWO DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS AND THEY WERE VERY POLITE AND THEY TRIED TO BE VERY HELPFUL BUT THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED. SO WE HAD TO START ALL OVER AGAIN. I AM PLEADING WITH YOU PLEASE TO FIX THIS FOR THE CITIZENS. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, MS. RATCLIFF. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. SO I'M NOT SURE WHO WANTS TO START OUT. I GUESS I SAW -COMMISSIONER LAMARCA, I'LL GO WITH YOU FIRST, FOLLOWED BY COMMISSIONER RYAN. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO FIRST STATE THAT, COMMISSIONER WEXLER, I DISAGREE THAT YOU DIDN'T -- THAT YOU MADE A MISTAKE. YOU SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME ON THIS ISSUE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK YOU SPENT MORE TIME ON THIS ISSUE THAN ANYONE UP HERE. I SPENT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WITH YOU ON THE CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF SPIRITED DEBATE, BUT YOU STUDYING THE ISSUE AND DOING MORE RESEARCH AND TALKING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRE EMS PROFESSIONALS, ENCOURAGING YOU TO CHANGE YOUR OPINION OR YOUR MIND I DON'T THINK IS MAKING A MISTAKE, AND IF ANYBODY IS TOO AFRAID TO CHANGE
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INTERESTING THING IS THE IN EQUITIES OF 31 CITIES. I LIVE IN A CITY THAT WAS LABELED AS GETTING IT FOR FREE. THAT'S LIGHTHOUSE POINT. THERE ARE OTHER CITIES, I THINK HALF THE CITIES ARE ALSO LABELED AS GETTING IT FOR FREE. IF YOU WERE IN THAT CITY, I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE THAT YOUR 5.553 MILLS TO THE COUNTY, THAT 19 MILLION THAT THE DO YOU KNOW IS PUTTING IN RIGHT NOW IS THE TAX PAYING DOLLARS AND CERTAINLY THAT'S NOT GETTING IT FOR FREE, BUT THE IN EQUITY IS THE OTHER CITIES THAT HAD DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS, AGREEMENTS. THEY HAD THEIR OWN PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY, POMPANO BEACH, OAKLAND PARK, DIFFERENT CITIES WHO ARE PAYING ADDITIONAL. SO THAT WAS WHERE THAT CAME FROM. BUT THE IN EQUITIES WAS THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT. WHERE WE LEFT THE CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEES MEETINGS, WE SUNSETTED THAT. MAYOR RYAN AND COMMISSIONER WEXLER WERE THE CHAIRS AND WE AGREED THAT THE FUNDING MECHANISM THAT WE GOING TO SUPPORT WAS AN MsTU. LATER ON THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, THE I BOARD MEETINGS WHICH I WAS NOT APART OF, THE MsTU BECAME A MIXED FORMULA, AND THE CONCERN WAS SOME CITIES HAVE GREATER POPULATION THAN OTHERS. SOME CITIES HAVE GREATER CALLS FOR SERVICE, AND THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY HAVE GREATER POP LAGSZ, AND SOME CITIES HAVE HIGHER AD VALOREM VALUES AND PROPERTY VALUES AND THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY AT THAT POINT. SO THEY CAME UP WITH A THREE-WAY SYSTEM WHERE CALLS FOR SERVICE, POPULATION, AND AD VALOREM, AND THAT WOULD ENCAPSULATE THAT MsTU. NOW IF YOU HAVE LOOKED AT YOUR PROPERTY
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TAX BILL, IF YOU HAVE LOOKED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF IT, THERE ARE SOME SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS. THERE'S THE HILL BURL INLET DISTRICT THAT SEVEN CITIES PAY INTO TO MANAGE THE DEPTH OF THE CHANNEL COMING INTO HILLSBORO INLET. THERE ARE WATER BOARDS. THERE'S SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE CHARGED SEPARATE ON YOUR BILL AND YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. MY CONCERN OR MY SUPPORT WAS THAT EVERYBODY WOULD LOOK AT THEIR TAX BILL AND REALIZE THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS WOMAN WHO JUST SPOKE BEFORE US SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO ANYBODY. WITH THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY, I THINK 80 PERCENT OF THE CALLS ARE COMING IN ON CELL PHONES. SO THERE DOES NEED TO BE THE TECHNOLOGY BACKBONE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE CELL PHONE CALLS AND GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON THE CALL. JUST AS A METHOD OF BACKGROUND ALSO, THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE INVESTING SOMEWHERE AROUND THE AREA OF $50 MILLION IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE FUTURE FOR THE ACTUAL SYSTEM. THE COUNTY HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO PUT IN THAT $19 MILLION INTO THE PROCESS, AND I AM AWARE, AS IS ANYONE, AND IT WAS BROUGHT UP TO US BY ONE OF THE CITY MANAGERS THAT THAT'S NOT THE COUNTY'S MONEY. THAT'S THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY. SO I UNDERSTAND YOU PAY YOUR TAXES AND IT GOES DIFFERENT PLACES BUT YOU PAID IT, AND I REALIZE THAT. WHERE I AM AND WHERE MY CONCERN IS IS THAT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE NEED TO DO THIS. WE NEED TO DELIVER THIS SERVICE, AND WE NEED TO STOP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE SOME SIMILAR CONCERNS AS THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR FROM CORAL SPRINGS HAD BROUGHT UP AS WELL AS
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SOME OTHER CITIES, AND THAT IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ABILITY FOR EVERY TAXPAYER TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR THIS. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PAY ADDITIONAL TO GET E 911 SERVICES CONSOLIDATED AND ULTIMATELY WHEN THE EFFICIENCIES COME INTO PLAY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, THE AVERAGE SAVINGS IS ABOUT $10 MILLION A YEAR. SO THERE IS A SAVINGS ULTIMATELY WITH THIS. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT MOVING THIS FORWARD TODAY, AND I AM HOPING THAT WE CAN COME TO A WAY THAT WE CAN ENABLE EVERY TAXPAYER TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR EMERGENCY 911 SERVICES RATHER THAN IT FALLING INTO THE GENERAL FUND AT THE BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION. THE OTHER ISSUE I HAD WAS THAT THE CITIES WHO ARE CHARGING THEIR RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW, AND THAT WAS WHAT THE MAYOR, AND MAYOR, I GIVE YOU A LOT OF CREDIT FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION, AND I GIVE THE MEMBERS OF THE CITIES THE CREDIT FOR THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY HAD THE ANSWER, TO WHAT YOU'LL BE SAVING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY -- AND IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT IF WE'RE CONSOLIDATING, THEY'LL ULTIMATELY SPEND LESS AND GET A BETTER SERVICE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE TO HEAR ON THIS, BUT THE CRITICAL ISSUE IS WE MUST DELIVER THIS SERVICE. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LAMARCA. COMMISSIONER RYAN. COMMISSIONER RYAN: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I WANT TO BEGIN BY EXTENDING MY GRATITUDE TO THE I BOARD MEMBERS
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TO -COMMISSIONER RITTER: PUT YOUR MICROPHONE ON. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RYAN: -- FOR THE EFFORT. I BEGAN BY EXTENDING MY THANKS TO THE I BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE EFFORTS THAT THEY HAVE EXPENDED IN THE LAST YEAR IN COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION ON THE GOVERNANCE AND A SOLUTION WITH REGARD TO THE OPERATIONS. I THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS COMMISSION IS IN AGREEMENT THAT A REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY CALLS IS LONG OVERDUE. IT'S BEEN IN THE COUNTY CHARTER FOR OVER TEN YEARS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT WHAT THE CHARTER LANGUAGE STATES, WHICH IS THE COUNTY HAS FULL RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE EXPENSE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF A REGIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM. BY THE WORDS OF INCLUSION THAT THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS, THAT'S ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT, THE PURCHASE OF THE EQUIPMENT, THE REPAIR, THE REPLACEMENT, THE SERVICING OF THE EQUIPMENT, WHICH I BELIEVE IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $19 MILLION PER YEAR. THE LARGER EXPENSE IS THE OPERATIONS, AND THAT EXPENSE IS APPROXIMATELY $37 MILLION ANNUALLY, EACH YEAR. OF THAT EXPENSE, THE COUNTY'S POSITION, THE LONGSTANDING COUNTY POSITION WAS THAT BROWARD COUNTY WOULD PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF THE OPERATIONS COST, AND THE BALANCE WOULD BE PAID AMONG THE CITIES. THAT POSITION WAS CHANGED IN APPARENTLY THE LAST MONTH OR SO, AND IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WAS AWARE OF, OF ANY PUBLIC
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DISCUSSION AMONG THE BOARD MEMBERS AS TO ANY CHANGE IN A POSITION. OBVIOUSLY AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER VOTES HIS OR HER CONSCIENCE, FOLLOWS POLICY AS BEST EXPECTED, B OF THE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT REALLY I THINK ARE TWO ISSUES. NUMBER ONE, WHAT IS THE SERVICE BEING PROVIDED? WE WANT TO HAVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY REGIONAL SYSTEM. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT COST-EFFECTIVE, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE FIRST RESPONDERS THERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. NOW WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT POLICE SERVICES, YOU TALK ABOUT FIRE RESCUE SERVICES, THESE ARE TRADITIONALLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES. MUNICIPALITIES HAVE, OVER THE YEARS, PROVIDED POLICE AND FIRE RESCUE SERVICES. CITIES CAN CONTRACT OUT WITH THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. IT'S DONE THROUGH BSO, AND CITIES CAN CONTRACT OUT WITH BSO OR SOME OTHER PROVIDER FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS, BUT IN THE PAST, IT SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THAT EACH CITY PAY ITS FAIR SHARE. UNFORTUNATELY OVER THE YEARS, THERE WAS A VERY INEQUITABLE MANNER IN WHICH SOME CITIES WERE PAYING MORE THAN OTHERS, AND THAT LED TO PART OF A PROBLEM, NOT A SOLUTION, BUT REALLY I THINK A SOLUTION IS TO HAVE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. YOU KNOW, THIS AGREEMENT IS STATED THAT IT IS A COOPERATIVE CONSOLIDATION. WHEN I READ COOPERATIVE CONSOLIDATION, I WOULD CONSIDER SOME SHARED RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN THE CITIES AND THE COUNTY. AND IT'S A VERY GOOD REASON TO DO THAT, BECAUSE IF WE WANT TO HAVE THE MOST EFFICIENT SYSTEM, IF WE WANT TO HAVE THE MOST EFFECTIVE SYSTEM, WE WANT TO HAVE
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THE INPUT OF EACH ENTITY THAT HAS SOME SKIN IN THE GAME, AND IF THE CITIES HAVE TO PAY A PORTION OF THE OPERATIONAL COST, THEN THE CITIES ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING THE BOTTOM LINE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING IN EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE THIS THE BEST SYSTEM POSSIBLE, AND SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD WITH THE COUNTY PAYING THE MAJORITY OF THE OPERATIONAL COST AND OF COURSE PAYING FOR ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT, AND I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE A COMPROMISED POSITION WHERE THE COUNTY PAYS 60 PERCENT OF THE OPERATIONAL COSTS AND THE COUNTY PAYS 60 PERCENT AND THE CITIES PAY 40 PERCENT. WITH THAT, IT'S ABOUT 15 -- MY NUMBERS ARE ABOUT $15 MILLION A YEAR WOULD BE THE EXPENSE FOR THE CITIES. THE COUNTY WOULD UP IT A LITTLE BIT HIGHER TO ABOUT $22 MILLION A YEAR, AND THE NUMBERS DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE EXACT PROPORTION, BUT THE MAIN THEME IS THAT THERE'S PARTICIPATION BY BOTH THE CITIES AND THE COUNTY. IF WE DON'T DO THAT, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL OF OUR PRIORITIES, WHETHER IT'S A PRIORITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR A PRIORITY FOR TRANSPORTATION, A PRIORITY FOR ARTS AND CULTURE, A PRIORITY FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ALL OF THE IMPORTANT PRIORITIES, THE PASSIONS OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE COMPROMISED IN ORDER TO PAY ALL OF THE EXPENSE FOR OPERATIONS AND ALL OF THE EXPENSE FOR EQUIPMENT. SO I JUST WANT THE MEMBERS TO BE CERTAIN THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT VOTE, AN IMPORTANT DECISION ON THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET, AND I ASK THAT WE TAKE SOME CARE IN TRYING TO
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FIND A COMPROMISE, A SOLUTION WHERE THERE'S PARTICIPATION BY ALL INVOLVED. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS, YOU'RE NEXT ON THE QUEUE, FOLLOWED BY COMMISSIONER RITTER. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: YES, LET ME THANK COMMISSIONER WEXLER, COMMISSIONER LAMARCA, AND ALL THOSE WHO SERVED TO COME UP WITH THIS SOLUTION. SOMEONE EARLIER SAID IT'S COMMON SENSE TO SUPPORT IT. IT IS COMMON SENSE TO SUPPORT THIS, NOTWITHSTANDING PLANTATION'S UNIQUENESS, AND I HOPE WE CAN ADDRESS THEIR ISSUE AS TO HOW WE DEAL WITH THEIR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, ENSURING THAT THEY TOO WILL JOIN THE SYSTEM. I MET WITH THE FOLKS FROM CORAL SPRINGS, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY'VE INVESTED IN THEIR SYSTEM AND HOW WELL THEY THINK IT'S WORKING. HOPEFULLY THEY TOO WILL JOIN IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, THE CONSOLIDATION OF SERVICE WILL CREATE ECONOMY OF SCALE. IT WILL CREATE GREATER EFFICIENCY, AND IT WILL DELIVER BETTER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AT A LOWER COST. SO OUR TAXPAYERS WILL BE SAVING MONEY BY UTILIZING THIS METHOD AND HAVING IT CENTRALIZED IN A CENTRALIZED COLLECTION SYSTEM WILL ALTER SAVE AND I BELIEVE (ALSO) BETTER HANDLE THE SITUATION. SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, THE GREAT WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY SO MANY OF YOU, AND I WILL SUPPORT THIS. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HOLNESS.
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COMMISSIONER RITTER, YOU'RE NEXT ON THE QUEUE, FOLLOWED BY COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU. THIS IS NOT AN EASY DECISION TO MAKE, AND WHILE I RECOGNIZE NOTWITHSTANDING WHAT THE CHARTER SAYS, THERE'S I THINK -- I THINK THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THE CHARTER REQUIRES THE COUNTY TO DO AND NOT TO DO. THAT'S WHY WE ALL HAVE LAWYERS JUST IN CASE. IT'S ALSO REALLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A DECISION WHEN NOT ALL THE CITIES AGREE ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND YOU ASK THIS BOARD TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTY AND ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITIES, BUT THE CITIES AREN'T IN AGREEMENT ABOUT HOW OR WHEN OR WHY OR IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN, AND I THINK THAT PUTS SOME OF US IN A DIFFICULT POSITION. IT'S INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE SPEAKERS. YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE THIS CONVERSATION LATER TODAY, BUT I AM NOW THE -- ON THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD, AND LAST WEEK WE HAD A MEETING, AND WHILE I WON'T GO INTO WHAT HAPPENED FOR THIS ITEM, I WILL LATER ON TODAY, TODAY THE COMMENTS WERE: WE'RE ALL THE SAME RESIDENTS. THEY'RE YOUR RESIDENTS. YOU NEED TO DO THIS, COUNTY. AND THEN LAST WEEK AT THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD, I HEARD A LOT OF: YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER RITTER, THESE ARE OUR RESIDENTS, NOT YOURS. THIS IS OUR MONEY, NOT YOURS. SO I GUESS DEPENDING ON THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION WILL DEPEND ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ACTUALLY OUR RESIDENTS OR YOURS. THERE'S ALSO IN THE CHARTER A PART OF IT THAT READS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THIS IN
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COOPERATION WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES, BUT, AGAIN, THAT MAKES IT REALLY HARD WHEN THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE NOT ALL IN AGREEMENT ON WHERE WE SHOULD GO WITH THIS. I ALSO REALLY THINK IT'S INTERESTING WHEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY OF SUNRISE COME TO TALK TO US TO TELL US THAT WE NEED TO TAX RESIDENTS FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. YOU KNOW, I SPENT EIGHT YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE PRIOR TO HAVING THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION, AND FOR THE EIGHT YEARS I WAS THERE, AND YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER THIS, COMMISSIONERS RYAN AND KIAR, FOR EIGHT YEARS, THE CITY OF SUNRISE, WHICH PROVIDES WATER TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DAVIE FOR A 25 PERCENT SURCHARGE, FOR YEARS, THE REPRESENTATIVES OF SUNRISE FOUGHT NOT TO HAVE THAT SURCHARGE EITHER REPEALED OR REDUCED. IN EFFECT, DAVIE RESIDENTS ARE PAYING TO USE SUNRISE WATER, AND WHILE ONE MIGHT EXPECT THAT THOSE SURCHARGE FEES WOULD BE USED LIKE AN ENTERPRISE FUND WHERE WHEN YOU COLLECT THE FEE YOU ACTUALLY USE THAT MONEY FOR THE BENEFIT OF, FOR EXAMPLE, DAVIE'S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, SUNRISE ACTUALLY PUTS THAT REVENUE INTO THEIR GENERAL REVENUE FUND, AND THEN THEY GO AHEAD AND PAY FOR STUFF FOR THEIR RESIDENTS ON THE BACKS OF DAVIE TAXPAYERS. SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A CITY LIKE SUNRISE ALREADY HAS A REVENUE STREAM FOR 911. IT'S THE DAVIE TAXPAYERS. THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO DO WHAT YOU WANT US TO DO TODAY. I SUPPORT DISSOLVING THE I BOARD SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN SPEAK. I UNDERSTAND THAT -- WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS OF THE SUNSHINE LAW AS IT RELATES TO
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ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING. I HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN AGREEING THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD RAISE TAXES. I'M NOT SURE, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW THE RESIDENTS OF LAUDERDALE LAKES ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT SINCE THEY'RE ALREADY WAY UP THERE AT NINE AND A HALF MILLS AT THE CITY LEVEL. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT. I GROW CONCERNED THAT THERE WILL BE SAVINGS TO SOME CITIES AND NOT TO OTHERS AND THAT THOSE SAVINGS WILL BE POCKETED BY THOSE CITIES POTENTIALLY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE COUNTY OR OTHER CITIES. I'M JUST NOT READY TODAY TO SAY THAT I'M WILLING TO RAISE TAXES TO DO THIS. I'M JUST NOT WILLING TO DO THAT TODAY. I THOUGHT WE HAD AN ANSWER WITH THE MsTU. APPARENTLY NOT. NOW THEY WANT COUNTY AD VALOREM, AND I WOULD -- IT IS SO EASY FOR -- DO I LOOK LIKE I'M IN PAIN? I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HERE. IT IS SO EASY FOR OTHERS TO SAY: YOU RAISE TAXES. WE DON'T WANT TO. WELL, NOBODY WANTS TO RAISE TAXES OBVIOUSLY. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO. WE NEVER WANT TO. I DON'T THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHERE WE HAVE TO. I THINK, IN EFFECT, THE COUNTY IS FULFILLING ITS CHARTER OBLIGATIONS. WE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS, BUT FOR TODAY, THE ONE PART OF THE I BOARD RECOMMENDATION THAT I CAN'T SUPPORT IS A COUNTY AD VALOREM FUNDING STREAM. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RITTER. NEXT ON THE QUEUE I HAVE COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER KIAR: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, AND UNFORTUNATELY, COMMISSIONER RITTER, I'M ONE OF THOSE DAVIE RESIDENT THAT PAYS THAT 25 PERCENT SUR CHANNELING, SO, MAYOR
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RYAN, YOU'RE TAKING MONEY OUT OF MY DAUGHTER'S MOUTH. NO, I'M KIDDING. JUST KIDDING. JUST KIDDING. ACTUALLY MAYOR RYAN IS A TREMENDOUS MAYOR AND A GREAT FRIEND, BUT I'LL JUST TELL YOU MY POSITION ON THIS MATTER. AS I WAS LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT CITIES THAT CURRENTLY PAY AND THAT DON'T PAY, THERE IS ABOUT 23 CITIES WHERE I GUESS BSO DISPATCHED SOME FUNDS WHICH FROM MY UNDERSTANDING FROM STAFF IS THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY PAYING FOR DISPATCH FOR THOSE 23 CITIES. THERE IS ALSO FIVE CITIES THAT BSO DISPATCHES AND CHARGES. SO THEY'RE TREATED SOMEWHAT DIFFERENTLY THAN THE 23 CITIES. YOU KNOW, AND THAT WOULD BE -- AND THAT INCLUDES AVIATION AS WELL. SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY PAYING FOR IT'S THEMSELVES, AND THEN THERE'S ABOUT NINE CITIES WHICH IS SUNRISE, PLANTATION, AND OTHERS WHICH ARE SELF- DISPATCHED AND SELF- FUNDED. SO THERE IS RIGHT NOW A BIG -- THERE'S A LOT OF DISPARITY IN THE SYSTEM. I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR BOTH PLANTATION AND CORAL SPRINGS, AND I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT IT IS THEIR DECISION, THEIR LOCAL DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO JOIN THE CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM. I HOPE THAT ONE DAY THAT IF THEY DO DETERMINE IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR RESIDENTS THAT THEY DO JOIN, BUT RIGHT NOW I DEFINITELY RESPECT THEIR POSITION AND I'M NOT GOING TO CRITICIZE THEM ONE BIT. I LISTENED TO THE WORDS OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND THEY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE. I THOUGHT COMMISSIONER RYAN MADE A LOT OF SENSE WHEN HE BELIEVES THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF COOPERATION. I ALSO THINK THAT DMR MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT THE
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MsTU, SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD. I BELIEVE THAT THOSE WOULD BE VERY GOOD FOR THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COUNTY. HOWEVER, I HAVE A CONCERN, AND MY CONCERN IS, I PERSONALLY AM GOING TO SUPPORT THE I BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. EVEN THOUGH I BELIEVE WHAT COMMISSIONER RYAN HAD STATED AND COMMISSIONER RITTER STATED WOULD PROBABLY BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COUNTY, MY PROBLEM IS AFTER SPEAKING TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MAYORS AND CITIES MANAGERS, IT ALMOST APPEARS THAT IF THE COUNTY DOESN'T FUND IT ON ITS OWN, THEN EVERYBODY IS JUST GOING TO WALK AWAY AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS SYSTEM, AND I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE'LL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, TO THE BEGINNING WITHOUT A CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM, AND THEN ONCE AGAIN OUR RESIDENTS WILL BE IN JEOPARDY. OUT OF ALL THE FOLKS THAT TESTIFIED, THE YOUNG LADY THAT SPOKE AT THE END THAT WAS NOT A CITY MANAGER OR A MAYOR, I ACTUALLY READ THAT STORY IN THE NEWSPAPER AS WELL, FOR ME, WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT, AND THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER IF SHE WAS IN PLANTATION OR SUNRISE. SHE MADE A CALL -MAYOR JACOBS: PLANTATION ACRES. COMMISSIONER KIAR: PLANTATION ACRES. SHE MADE A CALL FROM HER CELL PHONE. IT THEN WAS SENT OVER TO SUNRISE. IT SHOULD HAVE WENT TO PLANTATION. IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND MY CONCERN IS EVERY SINGLE MINUTE THAT SOMEBODY WHO HAS AN EMERGENCY HAS TO WAIT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED JEOPARDIZES THEM AND AS YOU KNOW IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
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WHEN SOMEBODY IS HAVING A HEART ATTACK OR THEY'RE HAVING A SEIZURE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE THERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. SO MY CONCERN, MY GRAVE CONCERN IS THAT IF WE DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE I BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THAT THE CITIES ARE GOING TO WALK AWAY AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK HERE IN ANOTHER DECADE FROM NOW DISCUSSING THIS ONCE AGAIN, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. SO I WOULD SUPPORT THE I BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: YOU'RE WELCOME, COMMISSIONER. NEXT ON THE QUEUE I HAVE COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION FIRST FOR MS. HENRY. MS. HENRY, THERE ARE TWO CITIES THAT HAVE SAID THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF THIS SYSTEM, CORAL SPRINGS AND PLANTATION. IF THIS BOARD CHOOSES TO TAKE THE I BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I REALLY RESPECT ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE PUT IN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, BUT I'M NOT QUITE THERE AND I'LL EXPLAIN WHY LATER, WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO JOIN LATER IF THEY DECIDE THAT IT'S IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO DO SO? MS. HENRY: YES. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: OKAY. THAT WAS ONE QUESTION. THANK YOU. I REALLY THOUGHT THAT COMMISSIONER RYAN HAD A VERY PROFOUND AND GOOD SUGGESTION. I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT ALL THE CITIES WANT THE COUNTY TO TAKE OVER THE FUNCTION JUST SO THAT THE TAX BILL IS WITH OUR SIGNATURE RATHER THAN WITH THE
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CITY'S SIGNATURES, AND WE ALSO TALK ABOUT HAVING SOME SKIN IN THE GAME, AND THEY WON'T IF WE'RE DOING THE BILLING AND IF WE'RE COLLECTING THE TAXES, AND IT ISN'T FAIR TO THOSE THAT DON'T REALLY PARTICIPATE. I THINK THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE IN A UNIFORM SYSTEM BECAUSE EVEN IN THE CITIES OF CORAL SPRINGS AND PLANTATION, UNLESS THEY BUILD A WALL AROUND THEIR CITIES, WHEN THEIR CITIZENS HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND THEY'VE DRIVEN TO FORT LAUDERDALE FOR SOME EVENT OVER TO WORK OR THEY'VE DRIVEN EVEN DOWN TO ANY OTHER CITY, COME DONE TO THE BEACHES OUTSIDE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT IS PAYING FOR THE 911, BUT THEY NEED TO USE IT. SO I REALLY FEEL THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE PARTNERS TOGETHER, BUT WE NEED TO BE PARTNERS WHERE WE ALL PROVIDE SOMETHING TO THE WHOLE SYSTEM RATHER THAN PUT THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE COUNTY AND HAVE US SIGN THAT TAX BILL. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER. VICE MAYOR, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE NO COMMENTS BEFORE I SPEAK? VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: NO, I'M NOT GOING TO PROLONG THIS ITEM. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR COMMISSIONER WEXLER'S MOTION. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. AS THE LAST ONE ON THE QUEUE, YOU HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BEING THE LAST ONE TO LISTEN TO ALL THE RATIONALE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS ALL OF THE SPEAKERS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND THE ONE THING THAT STRIKES ME MOST ABOUT EVERY BIT OF TESTIMONY HERE TODAY IS FROM EVERY MAYOR, EVERY CITY
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MAYOR, EVERY CITY COMMISSIONER FROM CITY MANAGERS AND FROM MY COLLEAGUES ALL EXPRESSING THE SAME CONCERN, THAT THE CITIES HAVE FAILED TO DO IT, THAT IF WE DON'T DO IT, THE CITIES WON'T, WHICH I FIND ASTONISHING GIVEN THE WORDS THAT WERE USED TODAY ABOUT OUR HEALTH AND OUR SAFETY, THE JEOPARDY OF THE CITIZENS. CERTAINLY ALL OF THE CONCERN IN THIS ROOM WOULD CAUSE EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THIS ROOM TO NOT WALK AWAY FROM THIS RESPONSIBILITY, TO TACKLE IT, TO PASS IT ON THEIR OWN. THE REASON WHY IT'S HERE TODAY IS THE CITIES COULDN'T DO THAT. THE CITIES COULDN'T HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HAVING TAXES RAISED WITHIN THEIR CITY BUDGETS IN ORDER TO CREATE AN MsTU. WHEN COMMISSIONER RYAN SPEAKS ABOUT SKIN IN THE GAME, I THINK IT'S AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT THAT'S MISSING HERE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY COMPONENT THAT'S MISSING BEFORE US TODAY, COMMISSIONERS, FOR OUR VOTE, BECAUSE ITEM B TODAY, IF WE VOTE TO RAISE TAXES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY SERVICES AND TAKE THIS OVER FOR THEM, THERE ARE A MYRIAD OTHER ELEMENTS THAT WE HAVE YET TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S GOING TO SHAKE OUT. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE P SAPS ARE GOING TO BE. WE HAVE A GENERAL IDEA, BUT THAT ISN'T WORKED OUT FOR SURE. IT'S NOT A PART OF OUR MOTION TODAY. WE ALSO DON'T KNOW HOW IN THE WORLD, AND I STILL CAN'T FIGURE THIS OUT, HOW WE GET THIS ALL OPERATIONAL BY OCTOBER 1ST WHICH IS THE GOAL. WE TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COORDINATING ALL OF THE CITIES WHO COULDN'T COME TOGETHER ON THEIR OWN WITH THE COUNTY AT THE TABLE TO FIGURE THIS OUT FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO. WE NOW
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HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO COORDINATE AND GET THEM ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AS TO WHAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD BE, WHAT THE CADILLAC SYSTEM OUGHT TO BE, WHETHER IT IS A CADILLAC SYSTEM AND WHO THINKS IT'S NOT AND WHO ISN'T GOING TO PARTICIPATE AFTER WE'VE AGREED TO DO THIS. THESE ISSUES TO ME SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT BEFORE IT GOT TO THIS DAIS. WE SHOULD HAVE A VERY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING IF WE'RE GOING TO RAISE TAXES FROM THIS BOARD EXACTLY HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT, WHAT THAT WHOLE PICTURE LOOKS LIKE. INSTEAD, THE MOTION TODAY, MOTION B, DIRECTS US TO ALLOW OUR COUNTY MANAGER TO THEN GO AND WORK WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS OUT THERE TO ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND HOPE THAT THAT CAN BE DONE IN SATISFACTION BY 31 CITIES BY THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF OCTOBER 31ST. I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THAT POSSIBLY HAPPENS. THE OTHER ISSUE THAT IS UP TO THE COUNTY TO DECIDE IS TO DEVELOP A METHODOLOGY TO FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY COMPENSATE THE OWNERS OF THE P SAPS. WHAT DOES FAIR AND EQUITABLE MEAN AND WHAT DOES COMPENSATION MEAN TO THOSE CITIES THAT WERE CHOSEN OR THOSE CITIES THAT WERE NOT CHOSEN, BECAUSE THERE ARE CITIES THAT HAVE HAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO NEED IF WE'RE HAVING A DIFFERENT SYSTEM IN PLACE. NONE OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT, AND WHILE I THINK IT IS SUPREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THIS COUNTY TAKE ON A REGIONAL SYSTEM, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS COOKED YET. I DON'T THINK IT IS READY FOR OUR VOTE, AND THE TILL SUCH TIME AS IT CAN BE COMPLETELY LAID OUT TO ME HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK, UNTIL SUCH
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TIME AS ALL OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN FINALIZED WITH THE CITIES AT THE TABLE, I CAN'T GIVE IT MY SUPPORT. WITH THAT, COMMISSIONER WEXLER, I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING LONG AND HARD THAT YOU HAVE WORKED FOR. SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO ANSWER A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO CLOSE. LET ME START WITH THE ISSUES THAT YOU RAISED, PARTICULARLY THE FACT THAT SOME ISSUES ARE NOT THOROUGHLY FINALIZED, AND THAT'S CORRECT, BUT THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT HAS TO BE IDENTIFIED HERE TODAY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IS THE FUNDING SOURCE, AND I THINK I HEARD EVERY ONE OF YOU SAY YOU SUPPORT REGIONALIZATION. I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU SAID YOU DON'T SUPPORT REGIONALIZATION. WAS I CORRECT IN THAT, RIGHT? YOU DO SUPPORT IT, BUT HOW WE FUND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY DEBATABLE, AND THE BIG ISSUE FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REALLY IS TIMING. MAYOR, YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT OCTOBER OF 2013. I'M WITH YOU. THERE IS NO WAY ON EARTH THAT WE CAN SAY HELLO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY, BUT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THIS COUNTY, THROUGH SOME VERY PASSIONATE PARTICIPANTS, HAS MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS TOWARDS REGIONALIZATION. SO THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, THE BIG ISSUE IN THE ROOM REALLY IS THE FUNDING STREAM. WE COMMITTED AND I SAT REPRESENTING YOU-ALL THIS PAST SUMMER WITH THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE AT THE CHAPTER 164, 164, 167, ONE OF THOSE CHAPTER HEARINGS FOR TWO MONTHS, AND I LEARNED A LOT, AND THAT THAT I
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LEARNED WAS AND IS CRITICAL TO OUR DECISION HERE TODAY. FORT LAUDERDALE, POMPANO, COMMISSIONER KIAR, YOU MADE REFERENCE TO THIS SHEET THAT WAS HANDED TO ALL OF US WHICH SHOWS THE DISPARITIES OF THOSE THAT PAY, THOSE THAT DON'T PAY. WE CAN'T SAY THOSE THAT DON'T PAY ANY LONGER. WE REALLY HAVE TO STOP THAT BECAUSE EVERYBODY PAYS THROUGH THE $19 MILLION THAT THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTES TO -- BUDGETS TO BSO FOR THE OPERATION. THE CITIES THAT WERE GREEN DO NOT HAVE A SEPARATE LINE ITEM IN THEIR CONTRACT. ONE OF THE THINGS IN MY MEETING WITH THE SHERIFF LAST WEEK, AND I SHARED IT WITH HIM IN WRITING, WAS CONTRACTUAL LANGUAGE, AND THE LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT THAT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT IF THE COMMISSION WAS NOT TO CONTINUE THAT $19 MILLION, THAT THAT WAS OPEN FOR RENEGOTIATION. SO OUR HOPE HERE TODAY IS THAT WE AT LEAST GIVE OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SOME KIND OF FISCAL DIRECTION, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT FULLY COOKED, BUT THAT PIECE HAS TO BE, BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF HOW WE DO BUSINESS. THERE'S THREE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO -- AND I'M GOING TO PUT OUT THREE DIFFERENT MOTIONS HERE TODAY. I HOPE THE FIRST ONE PASSES. THAT WOULD BE FABULOUS. AND I TRIED TO MAKE LITTLE HASH MARKS WITH WHAT I THINK YOUR POSITION IS FROM WHAT YOU SAID, BUT I'M NOT POSITIVE. SO THE FIRST MOTION WOULD BE TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE I BOARD, WHICH WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE COUNTY'S STABLE FUNDING SOURCE OF A TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL FUNDING STREAM FOR REGIONAL 911 SERVICES. BOARD MEMBER: SECOND.
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VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: THIRD. MAYOR JACOBS: SO YOUR MOTION IS MOTION A. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THAT'S THE FIRST ONE. MAYOR JACOBS: I WANTED TO CLARIFY. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: AND I HOPE IT PASSES. MS. ARMSTRONG COFFEY: MAYOR, THERE'S A CLARIFICATION. I BELIEVE THAT'S ON MOTION B TO APPROVE. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. THAT WAS MY CONCERN. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: MOTION B. MAYOR JACOBS: MOTION B HAS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ITEMS. SO LET'S -- AT LEAST LET'S -COMMISSIONER WEXLER: WELL, MOTION A -MAYOR JACOBS: MOTION A IS SIMPLY TO ACCEPT THE REPORT. COMMISSIONER RYAN, IF YOU'LL HOLD YOUR COMMENTS. COMMISSIONER, WILL YOU MAKE THAT MOTION. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: OF COURSE. MOVING MOTION A WHICH IS ACCEPTING THE ACTUAL I BOARD REPORT. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: SECOND. MAYOR JACOBS: THERE IS A MOTION MADE FOR 54A AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AS TO THE SIX RECOMMENDATIONS IN ALL OR PART FOR MOTION B, YOUR MOTION IS FOR ALL SIX RECOMMENDATIONS. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: YES, BUT I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO START WITH THE ONE THAT CAUSES US THE MOST AGITA,
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WHICH IS THE FUNDING STREAM. SO MY MOTION IS FOR NUMBER 1 B. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: SECOND TO THAT. MAYOR JACOBS: SO YOU'RE SEPARATING OUT 1 B, BROWARD COUNTY WHOLLY FUNDED THROUGH BROWARD COUNTY. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I AM. MAYOR JACOBS: SO THAT HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. COMMISSIONER RYAN, YOU'RE ON THE QUEUE. COMMISSIONER RYAN: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I WISH TO AMEND THE MOTION OF COMMISSIONER WEXLER WITH RESPECT TO SUBSECTION 1 ON MOTION B, WHICH STATES THAT THE FUNDING WILL BE WHOLLY PAID BY THE COUNTY. I WISH TO AMEND THAT PARTICULAR SUBSECTION TO STATE THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS WILL BE PAID 100 PERCENT BY THE COUNTY AND THE OPERATIONAL EXPENSE WILL BE PAID 60 PERCENT BY THE COUNTY AND 40 PERCENT AMONG THE VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: POINT OF ORDER. FIRST OF ALL, THE INTRASTRUCTURE COSTS ARE IN THE CHARTER. SO THAT'S A TOTALLY SEPARATE ISSUE. WE ARE ON THE HOOK FOR THAT NO MATTER WHAT. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONERS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. COMMISSIONER RYAN'S MOTION IS DONE ON A PERCENTAGE, BUT THE MILL THAT WAS A PART -- THAT WAS NOT STATED, BUT I BELIEVE INHERENTLY IS TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL IS A PART OF THE MOTION. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THAT'S CORRECT. MAYOR JACOBS: MOTION 1, SO, COMMISSIONER RYAN, TO
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BE MORE CLEAR -COMMISSIONER RYAN: MADAM MAYOR, THE REASON THAT I MENTION THE OPERATIONAL VERSUS THE INFRASTRUCTURE COST IS BECAUSE OF THE OBLIGATION OF THIS BOARD THROUGH THE CHARTER THAT WE MUST PAY FOR ALL OF THE EXPENSES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT. SO IF I'M GOING TO HAVE ANY FORMULA TO DIVIDE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAT, IT MUST BE BASED UPON THE EXPENSES AND THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING A 60/40 SPLIT WHICH ENDS OF BEING ABOUT 14 OR $15 MILLION FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES, AND THAT ENDS OF BEING -COMMISSIONER WEXLER: YOUR NUMBERS WEREN'T CORRECT THAT YOU SAID BEFORE. THE TOTAL COST OF THE SYSTEM, A FULLY FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM WOULD BE $42 MILLION. I THINK YOU THREW OUT 35. COMMISSIONER RYAN: WELL, I'M BASING IT UPON THE I BOARD REPORT WHICH STATES THAT THE EXPENSE THAT THE COUNTY WAS PROPOSING WAS $19.7 MILLION AND THE EXPENSE OF THE MUNICIPALITIES WAS 17.6, AND SO THAT ADDS UP TO $37.3 MILLION TOTAL OPERATION. THAT'S ON PAGE 5 OF THE I BOARD FINAL REPORT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I UNDERSTAND. THE CURRENT COST OF THE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW IS SOMEWHERE AROUND $53 MILLION. THE TRANSITION YEARS WHICH IS YEARS ONE THROUGH THREE WOULD BE UPWARDS OF $45 MILLION, AND THEN WE WERE HOPING TO SAVE $10 MILLION A YEAR WHICH WOULD GET IT DOWN TO $42 MILLION. UNLESS NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR
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THAT CLARIFICATION FROM STAFF. COMMISSIONER RYAN: AND I DON'T KNOW KWHETS YOU'RE SPEAKING OF OPERATIONAL OR INFRASTRUCTURE. IF YOU'RE #1350EKING ABOUT -COMMISSIONER WEXLER: ONLY OPERATIONAL. COMMISSIONER RYAN: IF YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT OPERATIONAL (SPEAKING), THEN THAT'S WHY MY PROPOSAL IS A DIVISION BY PERCENTAGE AS OPPOSED TO SOME EXACT NUMBER. I'M USING A NUMBER FOR THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY JUST BY WAY OF EXAMPLE. SO IT MAY, IN THE BEGINNING YEARS, BE SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 15 MILLION. IT MAY BE 16 AND THE COUNTY'S EXPENSE MAY BE MORE THAN 22. PERHAPS 24. THE TOTAL COST OF JOINING INTO THIS CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM NOW BECOMES FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES LESS THAN 25 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL EXPENSE TO DELIVER THE EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE. SO WHY WOULD ANY CITY STEP AWAY FROM THAT TYPE OF A PROPOSAL BECAUSE HOW COULD ANY CITY DELIVER THAT SERVICE AT THAT PRICE? AND SO IT'S AN INCENTIVE FOR THE CITIES TO COME INTO THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING OFFERED SUCH A FINE DIVISION OF TOTAL EXPENSE. MAYOR JACOBS: SO TO THE MAKER OF THE MOTION, DO YOU ACCEPT THAT AMENDMENT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THAT'S NOT A FRIENDLY -- THAT'S A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. MAYOR JACOBS: YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT OUT LOUD. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: WHAT I COULD OFFER YOU --
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WHAT I COULD OFFER YOU, COMMISSIONER, IS I'M PREPARED TO GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF MOTIONS, YOU KNOW, ONE AT A TIME STARTING WITH THE TWO MILL ONE WHICH IS THE FIRST ONE THAT I PROPOSED. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ITERATIONS THAT I KNOW THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HAS ANALYZED AND WORKED THROUGH. WHAT YOU'VE OFFERED I DON'T THINK IS ONE OF THEM. COMMISSIONER RYAN: MADAM MAYOR, YOUR PROPOSAL, I THINK YOU MEAN TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: TWO-TENTHS. COMMISSIONER RYAN: TWO-TENTHS, AND HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT THAT IS GOING TO FULLY FUND THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: MAY THE ADMINISTRATOR RESPOND TO THAT? MAYOR JACOBS: MS. HENRY. MS. HENRY: YES, THE TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL WILL GENERATE ABOUT 23 MILLION, 24, SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WHAT WE ULTIMATELY NEED WHEN THE SYSTEM IS FULLY INTEGRATED AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE TRANSITION IS AROUND 19 IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, 18 THEREABOUTS IN TODAY'S DOLLARS. SO OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, THAT'S GOING TO INFLATE A LITTLE BIT OBVIOUSLY AS EVERYTHING ELSE DOES, BUT THE TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL WOULD BE ENOUGH TO ALLOW US TO GET THROUGH THAT TRANSITION AND THEN GET TO THE ULTIMATE FUNDING OF THE SYSTEM. COMMISSIONER RYAN: SO, AS I UNDERSTAND IT THEN,
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MADAM MAYOR, IS THAT THE TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL DOES NOT PAY THE ENTIRE OPERATIONAL EXPENSES. IT PAYS ABOUT $22 MILLION OF AN EXPENSE THAT MAY BE 38, 42 MILLION DOLLARS, AND SO IF YOU COULD CLARIFY -COMMISSIONER WEXLER: IT'S AN ADDITIONAL -MS. HENRY: YES, THE TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL IS WHAT WOULD FUND THE GAP WE IF WE WERE TO PAY 100 PERCENT. 19 MILLION IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR DISPATCH SERVICES (GAP IF). SO THAT'S IN THE -- IT'S BUILT INTO THE COUNTY'S AD VALOREM ALREADY. TO BE ABLE TO FUND THE ULTIMATE GAP IS WHAT THAT TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL WAS DESIGNED TO DO. MAYOR JACOBS: SO I THINK, COMMISSIONER RYAN, WHAT YOU MAY BE ASKING IS AT WHAT POINT AND WHERE IS ASURETY THAT THAT $19 MILLION IS YANKED BACK OUT OF THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET WHEN THE COUNTY TAKES OVER DISPATCH AND ADDED TO OUR SIDE OF THE LEDGER (ASSURE TEE) TO GET TO FULLY OPERATIONAL COSTS THREE YEARS FROM NOW. MS. HENRY: I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD TO DATE WITH THE CURRENT SHERIFF AND THE PRIOR SHERIFF HAS DEALT WITH THE FACT THAT THESE DOLLARS THAT ARE IN THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET TODAY FOR DISPATCH, THAT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WAS AVAILABLE AND THAT IN A CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM, THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE USED FOR THE CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY SPEND TODAY.
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MAYOR JACOBS: AND I'VE JUST BEEN TOLD BY VICE MAYOR THAT OUR SHERIFF IS IN THE AUDIENCE. I DON'T SEE HIM. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: HIS REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE. MAYOR JACOBS: OH, HIS REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE. FROM THE FLOOR: I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. MAYOR JACOBS: IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME JUST TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION. COMMISSIONER RYAN: AND, MADAM MAYOR, AS THE SPEAKER IS COMING UP, IF I MIGHT JUST ASK OUR LEGAL COUNSEL BASED UPON THE FRAMEWORK WITH RESPECT TO OPERATIONS AND GOVERNANCE SINCE YOU'LL HAVE THE COUNTY BEING IN CONTROL BASICALLY OF THE GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS, WOULD THAT MEAN THAT THE COUNTY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUNDING AS OPPOSED TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? MAYOR JACOBS: MS. HENRY, DID YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT ON? COMMISSIONER RYAN: I POSED TO COUNSEL, TO LEGAL COUNSEL. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. MR. GUNZBURGER, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT.
FROM THE FLOOR: AUD AS TO THE QUESTION, I BELIEVE YOU DID STATE IT CORRECTLY AS TO OUR POSITION, AS THE $19 MILLION IS DEDICATED TO THE SYSTEM. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. SO, COMMISSIONER RYAN, I'M
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SORRY, DID THAT ANSWER YOUR -COMMISSIONER WEXLER: NO, IT DIDN'T ANSWER HIS QUESTION. I THINK I KNOW WHAT -MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THE OPERATIONS PART OF IT, IF THE COUNTY IS TO FUND THE ENTIRE THING THROUGH AD VALOREM TAXES, THE TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL IS THE GAP FUNDING. THE $19 MILLION IS ALREADY IN THERE. TOGETHER IT'S ABOUT $42 MILLION. OPERATIONALLY, IT HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED WHO WILL OPERATE IT. THE SHERIFF HAS ALREADY PUT IN WRITING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE THE OPERATOR OF IT. IT IS GOING TO BE A NUMBER OF THE CURRENT P SAP OPERATORS ARE GOING TO PROPOSE TO THE COUNTY STAFF WHAT THEY CAN GIVE US FOR THE BEST PRICE. COMMISSIONER RYAN: SO HAS THE SHERIFF GIVEN YOU ASSURANCES THAT IN THE OUT YEARS, IN THE FUTURE YEARS THAT THE SHERIFF WILL CONTINUE TO FUND I GUESS THE LARGEST COMPONENT OF THE OPERATIONAL EXPENSE. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: NO, THE SHERIFF DOESN'T FUND IT. WE FUND IT. MAYOR JACOBS: MS. HENRY. THE CLARIFICATION IS THE DIVISION OF THE LEDGER, THOSE DOLLARS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE SHERIFF'S SIDE, I.E., THE $19 MILLION THAT AFTER THAT GAP IS FILLED AND WE MOVE TOWARDS FULL IMPLEMENTATION LEAVES THE SHERIFF'S SIDE OF THE LEDGER AND IS NOW ON OUR SIDE OF THE LEDGER. FROM THE FLOOR: THAT'S CORRECT, MADAM MAYOR.
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THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING TOO. MAYOR JACOBS: AGREEING WITH THAT IS WHAT THE SHERIFF AGREED TO. FROM THE FLOOR: AND AS TO WHAT YOU STATED WE HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST AS I BELIEVE THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WAS NOT WILLING TO DO THAT WE ARE WILLING TO ENTER INTO AN ACTUAL CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY TO OPERATE IT, WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH WHATEVER P SAPS. WE DON'T CARE WHERE THEY ARE. MAYOR JACOBS: BUT THAT DECISION AGAIN IS NOT A PART OF TODAY. THAT IS A DECISION THAT WILL BE MADE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. MS. HENRY. MS. HENRY: PART OF THE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAVE COMING FROM THE I BOARD, THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED OR ARE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION ON WHERE THE P SAPS SHOULD BE LOCATED. THREE P SAPS THAT ARE PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION ARE COCONUT CREEK, PEMBROKE PINES, AND THE CITY OF SUNRISE. THOSE THREE P SAPS WERE SELECTED AMONGST A REVIEW OF FIVE, AND THEY WERE RECOMMENDED, AND WITHOUT GOING INTO A WHOLE LOT OF DETAIL, FOR A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS, BUT PRIMARILY THEY ARE THE MOST CURRENT IN THEIR -- WITH RESPECT TO SECURITY AND REDUNDANCY AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER SPECIFICS THAT ULTIMATELY WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE IN A SYSTEM LIKE THAT. SO THERE IS A SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION WHERE THESE FACILITIES ARE TO BE HELD. MAYOR JACOBS: MS. HENRY, I'M LOOKING AT THE REPORT AND THERE ARE SIX VERY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS AN NONE OF
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THEM IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC P SAP. SO CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE IN THESE SIX RECOMMENDATIONS THIS FALLS, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT NARROWING THREE, BUT THE ITEM BEFORE US TODAY AND THE BOARD'S REPORT, I BOARD'S REPORT CONCLUDES A SERIES OF ACTUALLY SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS, THE FIRST SIX OF WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN MOTION B. OKAY. UNFORTUNATELY MY COMPUTER IS NOT OPENING, SO I'M ON A PAPER COPY, WHICH IS -- THAT IS NOT THERE ON THIS PARTICULAR PAPER COPY. MS. HENRY: ITEM NUMBER 5 -- ACTUALLY I'M SORRY, IT'S ITEM NUMBER 4 TOUCHES ON IT. IT TALKS ABOUT THE COUNTY DEVELOPING THE METHODOLOGY TO FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY COMPENSATE THE OWNERS OF THE THREE PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINTS, SITES RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD. SO THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED THREE SITES. THE INITIAL FORECAST WITH RESPECT TO WHAT IT WOULD COST TO HAVE A CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM MADE SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT THOSE FACILITIES YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY SOME PORTION OF THOSE COSTS BECAUSE THEY'RE SHARED. ALL THREE OF THOSE FACILITIES WOULD BE SHARED. THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT AS MR. GUNZBURGER HAS POINTED OUT, YES, THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ULTIMATE WHO WOULD ACTUALLY PERFORM THE SERVICES, AND WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT. THEY HAVE CERTAINLY INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY. AS I RECALL, THIS WAS A DISCUSSION AT ONE OF OUR I BOARD MEETINGS, AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE I BOARD GROUP FELT PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT AS LONG AS THE COUNTY ULTIMATELY
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HAS A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. THERE WERE SOME ISSUES THAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE IN SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SHERIFF ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES THAT WERE ULTIMATELY -THAT COULD ULTIMATELY BE AFFECTED, AND I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD NOT BE PART OF THE THREE THAT ARE RECOMMENDED THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM, AND ULTIMATELY BE BELIEVE THAT THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT CAN BE SOLVED AND THE UNIONS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT. FROM THE FLOOR: WE MET WITH THE UNIONS, WE'VE MET WITH THE COUNTIES AND THE CITIES AND I BELIEVE THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE RESOLVED LARGELY. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, MR. GUNZBURGER. COMMISSIONER RYAN, YOU HAD A QUESTION FOR COMMISSIONER WEXLER FOR AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTED. SO THE AMENDMENT STANDS NOW AS CLEARLY ARTICULATED FOR THE LAST PORTION OF THIS DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER RYAN, DID YOU WISH TO MAKE A SEPARATE MOTION? COMMISSIONER RYAN: ARE YOU TELLING ME THE AMENDMENT FAILS BECAUSE IT'S NOT ACCEPTED BY THE SPONSOR OF THE MOTION? MAYOR JACOBS: YOU HAVE ASKED FOR -- OF THE MOTION THAT COMMISSIONER WEXLER MADE TO BE AMENDED, AND THE MAKER OF MOTION HAS NOT ACCEPTED YOUR AMENDMENT. COMMISSIONER RYAN: RIGHT.
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MAYOR JACOBS: SO YOU'RE AT LIBERTY TO MAKE A SECOND MOTION IF YOU HAVE A SECOND ON THAT ISSUE. THEN THAT VOTE WOULD GO FIRST AND THEN COMMISSIONER WEXLER'S MOTION WOULD GO SECOND. COMMISSIONER RYAN: ALL RIGHT. THEN IF IT'S IN ORDER UNDER OUR RULES THAT I MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO HAVE THE OPERATIONAL COMPONENT OF THE FUNDING FOR THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM BE PAID 60 PERCENT FROM THE AD VALOREM TAXES AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, 40 PERCENT PAID FOR BY THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE JOINING INTO THE REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: SECOND. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. SO A MOTION, A SUBSTITUTE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION AND THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION. COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. THE 60 PERCENT, MS. HENRY, WOULD BE WHAT PERCENT INCREASE IN MILLAGE? COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: AT 1.2. THAT'S WHAT 60 PERCENT -- 60 PERCENT OF TWO MILLS IS 1.2. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: NO. MAYOR JACOBS: IT'S .2 TO BEGIN WITH. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: IT'S .2 TO BEGIN WITH, EXACTLY. MAYOR JACOBS: MS. HENRY. MS. HENRY: WELL, YOU HAVE -- THE SYSTEM AS IT IS
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TODAY WHICH IS NOT WHERE WE ULTIMATELY WILL NEED TO GET TO, AND THEN THERE IS THE SYSTEM WHEN IT'S AT ITS ULTIMATE BUILD-OUT. SO AT A 60/40 SPLIT IF WE GET TO OUR ULTIMATE SYSTEM NET, NET OF ALL THE OTHER RESOURCES, IT'S ABOUT ANOTHER -- IT'S ABOUT -- AGAIN, THE $19 MILLION OR $38 MILLION TOTAL. SO WHEN YOU START TALKING -- IF -- AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. ARE YOU REFERRING TO 60 PERCENT OF THE 38 MILLION OR JUST ANY 60 PERCENT AT WHATEVER -- WHATEVER STAGE THAT WE'RE IN? COMMISSIONER RYAN: MADAM MAYOR, IT'S 60 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL OPERATIONAL COSTS WHICH ARE APPROXIMATELY $38 MILLION. SO RIGHT NOW UNDER -MS. HENRY: IN THE FINAL BUILD-OUT. IT'S NOT THAT TODAY. MAYOR JACOBS: IT'S NOT TODAY. COMMISSIONER RYAN: RIGHT. NOW THE POSITION THAT YOU HELD FOR MANY MONTHS AS A MEMBER OF THE I BOARD WAS THAT $19 WOULD BE PAID BY THE COUNTY AND $17 MILLION WOULD BE PAID BY THE CITY. SO THAT'S ABOUT 54 PERCENT OF OPERATIONAL COSTS PAID BY THE COUNTY. (INAUDIBLE) LARGER PERCENTAGE UNDER THIS SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT AND THE CITIES ARE PAYING LESS, RATHER THAN 46 PERCENT, THEY'RE PAYING ABOUT 40 PERCENT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T NEED AN ANSWER TO THAT. IT WOULD BE A SLIGHT. COULD WE AGREE IT WOULD BE A SLIGHT MILLAGE INCREASE? COMMISSIONER RYAN: IT WOULD BE PROBABLY A COUPLE
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MILLION DOLLARS, 2 OR $3 MILLION. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: BUT THE BIGGER QUESTION IS THE 40 PERCENT WOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH WHAT KIND OF A MECHANISM THROUGH THE CITIES? COMMISSIONER RYAN: IT WOULD BE FUNDED THE SAME WAY THAT UNDER YOUR PROPOSAL, ALL OF THE EXPENSES PAID BY AD VALOREM TAXES. UNDER THIS SUBSTITUTE MIAMI, THE 60 PERCENT PAID BY THE COUNTY WOULD BE AD VALOREM AND THE 40 PERCENT WOULD BE AD VALOREM. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I'M GOING TO WAIT FOR THE CHECK TO COME IN THE MAIL? SO I'M GOING TO BE IN THE SAME SITUATION LIKE FORT LAUDERDALE AND LAUDERDALE LAKES. COMMISSIONER RYAN: WELL, IN ORDER -MAYOR JACOBS: FIRST, LET'S TRY TO GO AS THERE ARE A LOT OF HANDS STARTING TO COME UP. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: OKAY. MAYOR JACOBS: AND I WOULD JUST SAY EVERY ONE OF THE CITIES THAT TESTIFIED TODAY ALL TESTIFIED TO THE INCREDIBLE URGENT NEED OF THE SYSTEM. SO FOR A CITY TO SAY THEN THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY ANYTHING TOWARDS THIS IN CREDIBLY NECESSARY SYSTEM WOULD BE QUITE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE TESTIMONY HERE WAS TODAY. COMMISSIONER RYAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, BUT THERE ARE OTHER SPEAKERS, SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU -COMMISSIONER RYAN: I WILL BE BRIEF. MAYOR JACOBS: SO WE CAN TAKE A VOTE.
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COMMISSIONER RYAN: THERE'S ONLY TWO REASONS WHY YOU HAVE A CITY THAT DOES PARTICIPATE OR DOESN'T PARTICIPATE. ONE WAS UNDER PROTEST. THEY HAVE THE AVAILABLE FUNDS TO PAY THEIR SHARE BUT HAD OBJECTED AND THEIR ARGUMENTS CAN BE DECIDED ANOTHER DAY. THE SECOND IS IF YOU HAVE A CITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL ABILITY TO MAKE THE PAYMENT. NOW THAT MAY COME TO PASS, AND IF IT DID, IT WOULD BE WHAT WAS EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST THE SMALLEST OF THE CITIES AND THE IMPACT I THINK THAT THIS COUNTY, IF YOU PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO INCREASE YOUR PERCENTAGE BECAUSE SOME CITY FAILS ON ITS OBLIGATION. I THINK IT'S REMOTE THAT IT WOULD OCCUR AND IF IT DID, THEN WE COULD CERTAINLY FIND SOME MECHANISM TO HOLD HARMLESS THE CITIES IF THEY ONLY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. NEXT ON THE QUEUE, I HAVE COMMISSIONER HOLNESS, FOLLOWED BY COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: THE QUESTION BECOMES, HOW DO WE FAIRLY APPORTION THESE COSTS? WHAT IS THE MECHANISM THAT WE'LL USE TO DETERMINE WHAT EACH CITY PAYS TOWARDS THIS COST? NOT ALL CITIES HAVE EQUAL POPULATION. NOT ALL CITIES HAVE EQUAL NUMBER OF CALLS. HOW DO YOU THEN -- AND THIS WAS A BIG PART OF THE ISSUE THAT WAS DEBATED ON THE I BOARD. WHY WE CAME UP TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND THAT IS, HOW DO WE FAIRLY BUILD THESE CITIES OR CHARGE THEM? AND THAT'S A BIG ISSUE. AND I BELIEVE -- I BELIEVE THAT (INAUDIBLE) WHEN WE GO OUT AND WE SAY: THIS IS THE WAY -- THAT'S NOT FAIR FOR US. WHY SHOULD WE BE IN THAT. WE CAN DO
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IT AND NOT HAVE TO PAY THAT WAY. WE'LL DO IT OURSELVES, AON THEN IT GOES BACK TO NOT HAVING THE ECONOMY OF SCALE, NOT HAVING THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF BROWARD COUNTY AND THE VISITORS THAT COME HERE. SO IF WE GO DOWN THAT ROAD, I THINK WE'RE GOING BACK TO WHERE WE WERE AND WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER KIAR: MADAM MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: AND THEN I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO URGE MY COLLEAGUES, WE NEED TO BRING THIS ON HOME. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS BEFORE US TODAY. COMMISSIONER KIAR: I'LL GO VERY QUICK. WITH ALL RESPECT, I HAVE TO DISAGREE. EVEN THOUGH YOU MAKE A LOT OF SENSE AND EVEN THOUGH HAVING A PARTNERSHIP WOULD BE -- COULD BE FAIREST, I JUST DON'T BELIEVE IT'S PRACTICAL UNDER THIS SITUATION, AND THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE, AS I SAID BEFORE, IF THE COUNTY DOESN'T PAY THE WHOLE THING, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT MANY CITIES WILL WALK AWAY AND WE'LL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, AND I'M GOING TO USE LAUDERDALE LAKE AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE AS TO WHY IT WOULD AGAIN MAKE IT -- YOU'D HAVE ANOTHER SITUATION LIKE THIS WHERE SOME PAY AND SOME DON'T. LAUDERDALE LAKES IS ALMOST AT ITS CAP. I BELIEVE IT'S AT 9.5 MILLS. IT'S ALMOST AT THE 10 MILL CAP, AND THEY PROBABLY AT ONE POINT WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT, AND THEN IF THEY CAN'T PAY FOR IT, WE STILL HAVE TO PROVIDE THEIR
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RESIDENTS DISPATCH, AND THEN THEY WON'T BE PAYING, OTHER CITIES WILL BE PAYING, AND THE CITIES WILL ONCE AGAIN LOOK AT THAT AS A DISPARITY. AND I THINK THAT'S ONE REASON WHY IT JUST WOULDN'T WORK. I THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS WORKS, THE ONLY WAY THAT THE CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM WORKS IS IF THE COUNTY TAKES A LEADERSHIP ROLE AND IT FUNDS THE ENTIRE THING. IF IT DOESN'T, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND IN TEN YEARS FROM NOW WHOEVER THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS AT THE TIME WILL BE ADDRESSING THIS ONCE AGAIN, AND THAT'S MY POSITION. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KIAR. AND AS A PERSON WHO HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS AND NECESSITIES IN LIFE, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH MORE THAN YOUR APPETITE AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THIS MOTION DOES. IT DOESN'T SAY HOW, BUT MANY OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE HERE AND THE MOTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ACCEPT TODAY ALSO DON'T SAY HOW. IT HASN'T BEEN DETERMINED HOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR CERTAINLY HOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BY THE TIME. SO WE TAKE THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST BEFORE THE MAIN MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER RITTER, MUST YOU? OKAY. COMMISSIONER RITTER TO THE MOTION, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER RITTER: YOU'RE MAKING A MOTION THAT THE CITIES HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON, AND WHILE I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS ALL OVER AGAIN AND I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT THEY WOULD ALL BE OPPOSED TO IT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S ABOUT
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MONEY AND WHO PAYS FOR IT, I HAVE A HARD TIME SUPPORTING SOMETHING WHERE I DON'T KNOW -- I MEAN JUST BECAUSE WE PASS IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT, AND FOR CITIES LIKE CORAL SPRINGS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE, YOU'RE GOING TO FORCE THEM TO NOT ONLY PAY AN INCREASE IN COUNTY AD VALOREM TAXES BUT AN INCREASE IN CITY AD VALOREM TAXES FOR A SYSTEM THAT THEY'RE NOT EVEN INVOLVED IN. JUST I CAN'T SUPPORT IT BECAUSE OF THAT. IT'S JUST TOO UNKNOWN A QUANTITY. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER RYAN: UNDER THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION, THEY WOULDN'T PAY THE CITY AD VALOREM TAX IF THEY DIDN'T JOIN INTO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BUT THEY STILL WOULD BE PAYING THE COUNTY TAX REGARDLESS BECAUSE THAT WAS THE DECISION THAT WAS SPOKEN TO EARLIER REGARDING DOUBLE TAXATION. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. I THINK WE'VE HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE ANYBODY'S MIND. SO TO THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER RYAN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED? LET THE RECORD SHOW IT FAILS. TO THE MAIN MOTION, COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THE MAIN MOTION IS THE TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL COUNTY FUNDED, STABLE SOURCE, MOTION B 1. IT HAD BEEN MOVED -MAYOR JACOBS: INCLUDING THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE SPECIFIC THREE P SAPS.
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COMMISSIONER WEXLER: YES. MAYOR JACOBS: VERY GOOD. OTHER CONVERSATION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION BEFORE US SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, NO. LET THE RECORD SHOW IT PASSES 5/4. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: WAIT. MAYOR JACOBS: DID I COUNT WRONG? COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: YEAH, YOU COUNTED WRONG. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. SHOW OF HANDS FOR YES. 1, 2, 3, 4. SO IT FAILS 5/4. YOU'RE RIGHT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I'D LIKE TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION. OKAY. I'M PREPARED WITH A NUMBER OF MOTIONS HERE TODAY, FOLKS. MAYOR JACOBS: I'M SORRY, THAT ONE TOTALLY SURPRISED ME. I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: WAIT A MINUTE. THE HEART OF THAT MOTION WAS A TWO-TENTHS MILL INCREASE. I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A ONE MILL INCREASE FOR THE -- ONE MILL INCREASE -- I'M SORRY, NO, NO, NO, NO ONE MILL. NO ONE MILL. A ONE TENTHS OF A MILL WHICH EQUALS BETWEEN $10 AND $12 TO THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER FOR THE YEAR FOR 2014. THE SECOND YEAR, 2015, WOULD BE THE SECOND MILL INCREASE WHICH WOULD GET US TO THE TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL, I'M SORRY, TWO-TENTHS OF A MILL BUT IT WOULD BE INCREMENTAL AND THAT WOULD GET US WHERE WE NEED TO IN A TRANSITION PERIOD BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN GO LIVE.
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MAYOR JACOBS: SO, COMMISSIONER, THAT ANTICIPATES THAT THE OCTOBER 1, 2013, DEADLINE IS NOW 2014 BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T RAISE THE FUNDS THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HAS SOME DOLLARS TO PUT WITH THE ONE MILL IN ORDER TO -ONE-TENTHS OF A MILL. I KNOW, IT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE. NOBODY IS PAYING ATTENTION TO ME OUT THERE ANYWAY. SO -- THEY'RE NOT. NO, NO, NO, THE DOGS NEED TO BE WALKED. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. MS. HENRY. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I'M JOKING. MAYOR JACOBS: MS. HENRY, THIS IS VERY EDGING VERY CLOSE TO ALMOST THE MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RYAN. SO I'M HOPING IF YOU CAN HELP US UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE. MS. HENRY: YEAH, THE DIFFERENCE IS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'VE HAD TWO CHAPTER 164 PROCEEDINGS, ONE WITH THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE, ONE WITH THE CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES, AND THAT CHAPTER 164 PROCEEDING WAS ABOUT HAVING SOME DOLLARS TO HELP WITH A TRANSITION YEAR FOR THE CURRENT YEAR THAT WE'RE IN. SO WE DID SET ASIDE FROM MONEY AS PART OF THAT TO BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE MUNICIPALITIES GET THROUGH THAT TRANSITION -- THAT -- TO GET TRUE THIS YEAR. IF WE'RE GOING TO (THROUGH) USE -- WE WOULD END UP USING THOSE DOLLARS FOR THE OVERALL TRANSITION OF THE REGIONAL SYSTEM WHICH WOULD MEAN IT WOULDN'T NEED AS MUCH MONEY IN THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE SECOND YEAR WOULD COME ABOUT, BUT THAT
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WOULD MEAN THAT WE DON'T HAVE DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST SPECIFIC MUNICIPALITIES. THOSE DOLLARS WOULD GO FOR THE TRANSITION OF THE FULL SYSTEM. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. AND IN THIS MOTION AND THIS EXAMPLE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS ONE AND THAT WHICH WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER RYAN IS THAT, IN FACT, THE CITIES STILL DO NOT PARTICIPATE. MS. HENRY: THAT'S CORRECT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THIS IS A FULLY FUNDED COUNTY INITIATIVE REGIONALIZATION RIESHGS RIGHT, WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU'RE RAISING IT A TENTH OF A MILL THIS YEAR AND TWO-TENTHS NEXT YEAR. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: CORRECT (. MAYOR JACOBS: ) MS. HENRY: NO. MAYOR JACOBS: NO? MS. HENRY: FOR THE BUDGET YEAR OF 20- -- BEGINNING OCTOBER '13 WHICH IS FISCAL YEAR 2014 (INAUDIBLE). COMMISSIONER KIAR: RAISE IT A .1, A TENTH OF A MILL, AND UTILIZE IT WITH THE OTHER FUNDS THAT YOU COLLECTED. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING IT WOULD HAVE COST THE COUNTY THE .20 TENTHS OF A MILL I GUESS IN ORDER TO PAY FOR IT. SO DOES THAT MEAN IF WE DO IT THIS WAY THAT WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR US TO LOOK AT OUR BUDGET, BASED ON THIS THERE WILL BE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR IT AND THEN WE WON'T HAVE TO CUT, WE DON'T HAVE FURLOUGH DAYS. WHAT DOES
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THAT MEAN TO US? IF WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH MORE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS, I'M ASKING WILL THIS ACTUALLY COVER IT? MS. HENRY: WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT YOU WOULD RAISE THE MILLAGE RATE.1 OR ONE-TENTH OF A PERCENT FOR THE COMING BUDGET YEAR, AND WE WOULD USE THOSE DOLLARS PLUS THE MONEY THAT WE SET ASIDE TO ASSIST IN A TRANSITION YEAR WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. WE WOULD USE THOSE DOLLARS FOR THE TRANSITION OF THE FULL SYSTEM. COMMISSIONER KIAR: AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, JUST SO I UNDERSTAND THIS, SO IF WE DO IT THAT WAY, WILL THAT MEAN THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE TO COME UP WITH ANY MORE MONEY TO GET WHERE WE NEED TO BE FOR THE OCTOBER 2014 BUDGET YEAR? MS. HENRY: CORRECT. YOU WOULD NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR 2015 OR OCTOBER 2014. COMMISSIONER KIAR: GOT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. COMMISSIONER WEXLER HAS A NEW MOTION ON THE FLOOR. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: I SECOND THE MOTION. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. IT WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE -- DID YOU HAVE DISCUSSION? NO. NO. OKAY. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: IF I MAY ON THAT THOUGH. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: IF I MAY SPEAK TO IT, 83
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PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE IN BROWARD COUNTY VOTED, 83 PERCENT VOTED FOR US TO DO THIS. NOW WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO BACK ON WHAT THEY ASKED US TO DO. OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T TELL US HOW TO PAY FOR IT, BUT IF THEY SAY DO IT, IT MEANT THAT WE DO WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO GET IT DONE. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. LET'S BRING THIS ONE HOME. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: AS SOMEBODY WHO PROBABLY VERY -- WELL, I THINK COMMISSIONER KNOWS I VERY RARELY DISAGREE AND I CERTAINLY APPLAUD HIS PASSION, BUT THE CITIZENS OF BROWARD COUNTY VOTED FOR CLOSEST UNIT RESPONSE OR FIRE RESCUE. WE'RE PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER, AS IT SHOULD BE PROPERLY, COMMUNICATION FOR EVERYTHING IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE FOR ALL UNITS OF COMMUNICATION, BUT THEY DIDN'T VOTE FOR EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE VOTING HERE. THEY VOTED FOR CLOSEST UNIT RESPONSE OR FIRE RESCUE, JUST TO CLARIFY. MAYOR JACOBS: WE DID NOT ASK THE CITIZENS DID THEY WANT TO RAISE THEIR TAXES IN ORDER TO PAY FOR A COMPLETE SYSTEM. THAT WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF QUESTION AND THAT WAS NOT POSED TO THE VOTERS. OKAY. THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE NEW MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AND PLEASE SHOW YOUR HANDS. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. FIVE. MOTION FAILS 5/4. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I HAVE A THIRD MOTION. I DO AND THE THIRD MOTION IS THAT THE -- EXCUSE ME, THAT THE -- EXCUSE
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ME, SHH, WE'RE ALMOST DONE, THAT THE THIRD MOTION BE FUNDED THROUGH THE MsTU MECHANISM. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: SECOND. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THE THIRD MOTION BE FUNDED THROUGH -- THE GAP BE FUNDED THROUGH THAT, MsTU MECHANISM. MAYOR JACOBS: SO TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND, COMMISSIONER, YOUR MOTION IS TO TAKE US RIGHT BACK TO THE BEGINNING AND ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL RECENT DISCUSSIONS AND THE ACTUAL REPORT ITSELF WHICH WAS TO FUND IT THROUGH AN MsTU. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: MAYOR, THE CONSOLIDATION COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION WAS AN MsTU. IT WAS THE I BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION TO THIS BODY THAT IT BE THE AD VALOREM MODEL, OKAY, SO I'M TAKING YOU BACK TO THE ORIGINAL. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. AND THERE WAS A SECOND TO THAT MOTION, COMMISSIONER LAMARCA? COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: THERE WAS, AND JUST TO DIRECT US ALL ON SCENARIO NUMBER ONE, THERE IS A TOTAL COST TO MUNICIPALITY WITH CORAL SPRINGS AND PLANTATION AND WITHOUT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I'M PROFFERING. I'M PROFFERING THE MsTU MODEL THAT IS THE EFFICIENT SYSTEM MODEL. IT HAS A THREE-PRONGED COM PEWLATION FOR FUNDING, POPULATION, AD VALOREM TAXES, AND NUMBER OF CALLS (COMPILATION). MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER RYAN. COMMISSIONER RYAN: JUST TO CLARIFY, SO UNDER THE
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MsTU, IT'S A BLENDED FUNDING FORMULA, BUT, AGAIN, ALL PAID BY THE COUNTY. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: NO, SIR. MAYOR JACOBS: NO, NO, IT'S THE MsTU MODEL PAID FOR BY THE CITIES. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: JUST WHAT YOU ASKED FOR, SKIN IN THE GAME BY THE CITIES. COMMISSIONER RYAN: AND WHAT PERCENTAGE IS PAID BY THE CITIES? ARE YOU ABLE TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THE GAP FUNDING. COMMISSIONER RYAN: OKAY. MAYOR JACOBS: SO THE COUNTY'S FUNDING STAYS FOR THE TRANSITION YEARS JUST AS ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED. IN YOUR BACKUP SOMEWHERE IS THE THREE ITEMS THAT DISCUSSES BY POPULATION, THE VERY ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED EARLIER, EITHER BY POPULATION SO THAT IT WASN'T JUST ALL BY PROPERTY VALUES. OKAY. SO MOTION -- A THIRD MOTION, GOOD JOB, COMMISSIONER WEXLER, HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS THIRD MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED? ONE. IT PASSES 8 TO 1. THANK YOU. OKAY. NOW TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR AUDIENCE THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING SO PATIENTLY -MS. ARMSTRONG COFFEY: MAYOR, MAYOR, MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: I'M SORRY, DO WE HAVE -MS. ARMSTRONG COFFEY: JUST TO CLARIFY -MAYOR JACOBS: THAT IS MOTION B. THAT WAS MOTION B.
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MS. HENRY: MOTION C. MAYOR JACOBS: OH, YEAH, TO SUNSET THE BOARD. LET ME ASK A QUESTION, THERE IS NO -- THE MOTION TO SUNSET THE BOARD WAS UNDER THE IDEA THAT THIS WOULD WHOLLY BE PAID FOR BY THE COUNTY. NOW THAT YOU'RE BACK TO LOOKING AT THE AN MsTU MODEL, DO WE STILL BELIEVE THAT THE I BOARD DOES NO LONGER NEED TO EXIST. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: MAYOR, THE MsTU WILL HAVE TO BE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE CRAFTED AND BROUGHT BEFORE THIS BODY BY THE ADMINISTRATOR AND THE VARIOUS CITIES INVOLVED. I MEAN THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME. SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THE -- I THINK THAT YOU'RE BETTER OFF WAITING, I DO, TO NOT SUNSET. MAYOR JACOBS: MY THOUGHT WAS MOTION C BASICALLY GOES AWAY WITH THE NEW MOTION B BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS COORDINATION THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN PLACE AND SOME INPUT BY THE CITIES AND THE CITY MANAGERS. SO I THINK WE'RE BETTER OFF LEAVING THIS I BOARD IN PLACE. THERE IS ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY SHOULD THE CITIES REQUEST IT TO SUNSET IT AT A LATER DATE. OKAY. SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM 54 C. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. NOW TO THE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, WE HAVE ITEM 52 THAT IS BEFORE US. IT IS TRADITIONAL THAT THE COUNTY TAKES A BREAK AT 12:30 FOR LUNCH BEFORE WE GET TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. TO REMIND YOU, WE HAVE -- THE MORE YOU SPEAK, THE LESS WE CAN MOVE THIS MEETING ALONG, THE MORE DISRUPTIVE IT IS. THE THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS AND IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT DOGS. THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES
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BEFORE THIS BOARD, TAXES IMPORTANT AS WELL. ITEM 52 HAS 59 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP. SO EACH OF YOU ARE WANTING TO SPEAK. NO, WE'RE ON ITEM 52 NOW. THERE WILL BE NO NEW SPEAKERS. FROM THE FLOOR: (INAUDIBLE). MAYOR JACOBS: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO INTERRUPT ME, MS. TIM NONDZ. ITEM 52 IS A TIME CERTAIN. SO WE HAVE 59 #1350KERS. WE ARE NOT ADDING ANYMORE SPEAKERS TO THIS. I DON'T THINK THERE IS A SINGLE NEW SPEAKER THAT COULD ANYTHING THAT THE 59 HAVE ALREADY SAID. WE HAVE A 2:00 PUBLIC HEARING THAT WILL FOLLOW THE BREAK THAT BEGINS AT 2. ALL THE REST OF THE COMMISSION BUSINESS WILL BE TAKEN UP FOLLOWING THE 2:00 PUBLIC HEARING, AND I'M SORRY TO TELL YOU THAT THIS IS -- THIS COMMISSION -- (SPEAKERS). WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL 2:00. WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING, I'M SORRY. (12:27 P.M.) Timmonds (2:07 P.M.) MAYOR JACOBS: I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ALL TO TAKE YOUR SEATS AND FINISH UP YOUR CONVERSATION -- HOW'S THAT? WHEN WE ALL STOP TALKING, WE CAN HEAR. SO IF YOU'D ALL RISE AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. WELCOME TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING OF FEBRUARY 26, 2013, AND, VICE MAYOR, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: SURE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
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MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MIGHT HAVE HEARD SOME SOUNDS WAFTING IN FROM THE HALLWAY, EACH WEEK A DIFFERENT COMMISSIONER -FROM THE FLOOR: WE CAN'T HEAR YOU AGAIN. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. STAFF, THOSE IN THE CONTROL ROOM, HOW IS THAT? IS THAT BETTER. FROM THE FLOOR: YOUR MIKE IS NOT ON. MAYOR JACOBS: IT'S NOT A MATTER OF CLOSENESS. IT'S A MATTER OF -- CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? FROM THE FLOOR: (INAUDIBLE). MAYOR JACOBS: HOW ABOUT NOW? FOR ANYONE THAT MIGHT HAVE HEARD MUSIC WAFTING IN FROM THE HALLWAY, EVERY TUESDAY WE HAVE A TRADITION WHERE EACH COMMISSIONER EACH DIFFERENT WEEK A DIFFERENT COMMISSIONER PICKS OUT A SONG. SO TODAY'S MUSIC WAS FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONER RYAN, AND HIS SONG WAS "TAKE FIVE" BY DAVE BREWBECK THIS MORNING IF YOU MISSED IT. YEAH, GOOD CHOICE. AND THEN THE SECOND WAS "BLUE RON DOUGH A LA TURK" BY THE SAME ARTIST. SO IF YOU HEARD IT, IT WAS A NICE WAY TO START OUR MEETINGS. NOW FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE FROM OUR REGULAR MEETING THIS MORNING, WE'VE KIND OF DISPENSED WITH A FEW THINGS TO MAKE TODAY WORK A LITTLE BETTER. FOR ANYBODY WHO WAS HERE FOR A PROCLAMATION OR AN EMPLOYEE WHO WAS HERE FOR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION DAY, WE ARE CHANGING THOSE EVENT TO A DIFFERENT DAY RATHER THAN OPENING THIS MORNING'S MEETING WITH
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THEM. SO IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT AND YOU ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, YOU ARE NOW AS VIEFD AS WELL AS WE ARE GOING TO (ADVISED) -- WE HAVE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING. I AM NOW GOING TO RECESS THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE BACK TO THIS MORNING'S REGULAR AGENDA AND PICK UP ITEM 52 WHICH WAS OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. SO ANYBODY WHO IS HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL HOURS UNTIL WE GET BACK TO YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE 60 SPEAKERS. YES, WE LEFT WITH 59, BUT THERE WAS ONE HIDING UNDER THE PILE. SO WE HAVE 60 SPEAKERS. YOU EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES. I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF TIME. SO IF THERE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS SAID SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL IS SAME TO HELP US MOVE THROUGH AND GET TO THE PLACE WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION OF THE BOARD AND TAKE A VOTE AND PUT YOUR MINDS AT EASE OR NOT DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS TODAY AND HO U YOU FEEL ABOUT IT, THEN THE BETTER WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE ALONG. SO WITH THAT, FIRST I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT NO ONE OBJECTS TO RECESSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVING TO ITEM 52 ON THE REGULAR HEARING. OKAY. THE NEXT -THEN OUR NEXT STEP IS FOR ME TO RECOGNIZE MY COLLEAGUE, VICE MAYOR SHARIEF, TO KIND OF SET THIS STAGE FOR THIS ITEM, HOW IT CAME HERE AND WHAT IT IS SHE'S HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH. VICE MAYOR. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES, FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTRODUCE MY ITEM. IF POSSIBLE, I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS AND INTRODUCE THESE ITEMS TOGETHER AND TAKE TWO SEPARATE VOTES AS BOTH ITEMS, MOTION A AND B, ARE CRITICALLY
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IMPORTANT. FOR RESIDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, I RECOGNIZE MANY ARE PASSIONATE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE. SO I WOULD REQUEST UP FRONT THAT WE ALL REMAIN COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER'S OPINION. YOU CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE AND YOU CAN BE SUPPORTIVE WITHOUT BASHING THE OTHER SIDE. I ALSO WILL TAKE THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES, TO CLEAR UP A LOT OF THE MISINFORMATION IN AGENDA ITEMS THAT I'VE PRESENTED. FIRST OF ALL, I'M THE MOTHER OF FIVE YOUNG KIDS AGES 14, 13, 12, 11, AND 5. I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED FOR THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY AND FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL RESIDENTS IN BROWARD COUNTY. A RECENT STUDY BY THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FOUND THAT 94 PERCENT OF THE ATTACKS ON CHILDREN BY PIT BULLS WERE UNPROVOKED COMPARED TO 43 BY OTHER BREEDS. THEY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER HOSPITAL CHARGES AND HIGHER RISK OF DEATH BY OTHER DOGS. STRICT REGULATION OF PIT BULLS MAY SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE U.S. MORTALITY RATES RELATED TO DOG BITES. I HAVE BEEN ON A COUNTYWIDE LISTENING TOUR FOR MORE THAN A YEAR HEARING FROM RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT THEIR STORIES FROM PIT BULL ATTACKS AND THE LACK OF COUNTY PENALTIES AGAINST THESE DOG OWNERS. SEVERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND VICTIMS ARE PRESENT THIS AFTERNOON, INCLUDING COMMISSIONER SHARON FIVE WHO WAS A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE OF THE BROWARD COUNTY ANIMAL CARE AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SHE IS REPRESENTING SAMANTHA SHOEBERT AS WELL WHO WAS A RECENT VICTIM OF AN ATTACK. I APPRECIATE MANY OF
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OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS ACTION AND WHO ARE PRESENT THIS MORNING. IN MOTION A, I AM PROPOSING THE COUNTY COMMISSION ADD A PIT BULL BAN TO THE COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. THIS IS A MAJOR PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE FOR RESIDENTS. THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF REPORTED PIT BULL ATTACKS IN BROWARD COUNTY ON HUMANS AND OTHER DOGS, AND MANY HAVE GONE UNREPORTED. THIS IS NOT ONLY A PROBLEM IN SOUTH COUNTY BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTED CASES IN DEERFIELD BEACH, DAVIE, WEST PARK, HOLLYWOOD, SUNRISE, MIRAMAR, TAMARAC, FORT LAUDERDALE, AND COCONUT CREEK TO NAME A FEW. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF 270 ROAMING PIT BULLS IN BROWARD COUNTY DUE TO THE PIT BULL BAN IN DADE COUNTY. WE HAVE SEEN MANY OF THESE DOGS BREAD AND MAKE SURE WAY INTO BROWARD (BRED). PIT BULL BITES ITS PREY AND IT DOESN'T RELEASE UNLIKE OTHER DOGS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP -(LAUGHTER.) VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: AND I THINK YOU SHOULD SIT DOWN AND WAIT A MINUTE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM YOU. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP IN MIND THE NUMBERS OF COUNTIES, ANIMAL CARE, AND ADOPTION DIVISION ONLY PROVIDE A SMALL SNAPSHOT OF THE LARGER ISSUE BECAUSE MANY CASES GO UNREPORTED, BUT WE SEE THESE INNOCENT VICTIMS ON THE EVENING NEWS AND WE SHARE IN THEIR STORIES. COLLEAGUES, I AM VERY OPEN TO COMPROMISE AND FLEXIBLE LANGUAGE ON SENDING THIS TO THE LEGISLATURE. SEVERAL MAYORS AND COMMISSIONERS HAVE CALLED ME OVER THE WEEKEND ASKING FOR
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FLEXIBILITY TO LIFT THE BAN AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT ALSO ALLOWING A FINAL VOTE BY LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES ON A PIT BULL BAN. I CAN SUPPORT THIS FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE RECOMMENDATION IN FRONT OF YOU. I HOPE THAT THIS MIDDLE GROUND CAN ATTRACT AT LEAST FOUR OTHER VOTES ASKING FOR HOME RULE AUTHORITY FOR EACH CITY OR COUNTY COMMISSION TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION. THIS IS ALSO THE POSITION SUPPORTED BY THE CITY OF HOLLYWOOD. I BELIEVE EACH OF YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THIS UPDATE LATE YESTERDAY BECAUSE THEY SENT INFORMATION. IF THE STATE LEGISLATURE ACTS, MY INTENT IS TO ALLOW EXISTING PIT BULLS THAT ARE PROPERLY LICENSED AND VACCINATED TO BE GRANDFATHERED IN AND ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE AUTHORITY TO ENACT THEIR OWN REMEDY FOR PIT BULLS. LET ME REPEAT, MOTION A DOES NOT IMPACT CURRENT PIT BULLS AS MISREPORTED IN SEVERAL MEDIA OUTLETS. IN MOTION B, I AM RECOMMENDING THE COUNTY STRENGTHEN ITS PENALTIES FOR TEACHING A DOG TO FIGHT AND FOR FIGHTING DOGS. AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIERS CONSTITUTE THE MAJORITY OF THE DOGS USED FOR ILLEGAL FIGHTING IN THE UNITED STATES. CURRENTLY IN BROWARD COUNTY, THERE IS A SLIDING SCALE FOR PENALTIES. I AM PROPOSING A STANDARD FEE OF $500 FOR EACH OCCURRENCE WHICH IS THE HIGHEST PERMISSIBLE BY LAW. THE CURRENT COST STRUCTURE IS $362.50 FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE, INCLUDING A $12.50 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR PROCESSING. MY PROPOSAL WOULD INCREASE THE PENALTY. THE CURRENT PENALTY ON OWNERS IS VERY WEAK AND I'M ASKING FOR SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN THESE PENALTIES. ALSO CURRENTLY THERE IS A SLIDING SCALE FOR
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NONLICENSED AND NONVACCINATED DOGS. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE IS A FEE OF $67.50. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IS A FEE OF $87.50. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE IS A FEE OF $162.50. THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE FEE IS $300. I AM PROPOSING A $300 STANDARD FEE. THE GOAL IS NOT TO MAKE THIS PENALTY AS SEVERE AS TEACHING DOGS TO FIGHT AND FIGHTING DOGS BECAUSE MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS. HOWEVER, WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE COUNTY'S POSITION ON ENCOURAGING GETTING ALL DOGS LICENSED AND VACCINATED. IN CLOSING, I'M AN ANIMAL LOVER AND HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF SUPPORTING RESPONSIBLE LAWS. IN THE CITY OF MIRAMAR IN 2010, I CO-SPONSORED A TETHERING ORDINANCE TO WORK WITH LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS EVEN BEING FEATURED ON THE COVER OF PAUSE PRINTS WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF BROWARD. NOT ALL DOGS ARE BAD, BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PIT BULLS WHO HARM PEOPLE AND OTHER ANIMALS. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OWNERS WHO TEACH THEIR DOGS TO FIGHT AND WHO FIGHT DOGS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL SAYS THAT DOG FIGHTS ARE NATIONAL HEALTH CARE RISKS AND AS THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSIONER, THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I AM HOPING AND ASKING THAT EACH OF YOU SUPPORT ON EACH ITEM AND THE COMPROMISE FOR MOTION A ALLOWING LIFTING THE BAN WITH FINAL HOME RULE AUTHORITY BY THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY AND/OR COUNTY COMMISSION WHICH ALLOWS EACH RESPECTIVE MUNICIPALITY TO DECIDE WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. WHAT'S GOOD FOR FORT LAUDERDALE AND HOLLYWOOD MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM
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WHAT'S GOOD FOR POMPANO BEACH OR DAVIE. LASTLY, COLLEAGUES, SIMILAR TO THE DISCUSSION WE JUST HAD ON ITEM 7 WHICH PASSED BY AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY VOTE ALLOWING HOME RULE AUTHORITY AND DECISION-MAKING BY OUR CITIES, I HOPE WE CAN BE CONSISTENT IN SUPPORTING BOTH ITEMS AND ALLOW OUR LOCAL LEADERS THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEIR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A VERY POSITIVE DISCUSSION HERE TODAY. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. OKAY. SO WE HAVE LOTS OF SPEAKERS, AND I HAVE -- I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THIS ITEM UP, SO IF ANYONE COMES IN TO SIGN A FORM, WE CANNOT TAKE ANY MORE FORMS. WHAT WE HAVE IS WHAT WE HAVE. ALL RIGHT. SO THEY ARE NOT IN ANY ORDER OTHER THAN THE ORDER IN WHICH PEOPLE CAME IN. SO THERE'S BEEN SOME REQUESTS FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE THINGS OUT OF ORDER. THEY'RE IN THE ORDER THAT PEOPLE TURNED THEM IN TO GIVE RESPECT TO THOSE WHO WERE HERE FIRST. SO OUR VERY FIRST SPEAKER IS PEMBROKE PINES COMMISSIONER ANGELO CASTILLO. COMMISSIONER, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY. HE MIGHT BE GONE. IF I CALL YOUR NAME, BY THE WAY, AND YOU'RE NOT HERE, I'M GOING TO SLIDE YOU TO THE BACK END OF THE PILE IN CASE THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT'S STILL OUT TO LUNCH THAT'S ON THEIR WAY BACK AND WE'LL TRY THEM AGAIN. IF SOMEONE HAPPENS TO KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT SOMEONE IS NOT HERE, NOT COMING BACK, IF YOU WOULD LET ME KNOW, THAT'S GOOD. THEN WE WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH READING THEIR NAME. OKAY. SO NEXT IS WEST PARK
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COMMISSIONER SHARON FIFE. OKAY. MOVING RIGHT ALONG, THOMAS DORSETT. THERE YOU ARE. OKAY. FOLLOWED BY PEMBROKE PINES MAYOR ASHEER RA MOHAMMED AND RHONDA DONE DID. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS THOMAS DORSETT. I'M COMMISSIONER IN THE CITY OF WEST PARK. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE OF OUR COMMISSIONER TO HAVE THIS ISSUE BRING TO A HEAD. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE SERIOUS FEELINGS ABOUT THE ANIMAL. I DO TOO, BUT WE MUST PLACE HUMAN ABOVE ANIMAL IN ALL CASES. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMISSIONER BECAUSE OF THE BAN IN DADE COUNTY. WE, IN WEST PARK, BECOME THE HOLDING PLACE FOR A PIT BULL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T KEEP THEM IN DADE COUNTY. I AM OF THE OPINION IF WE HAVE HOME RULE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RULE OUR HOME. I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, TO TAKE IT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND LET THEM MAKE THE DECISION TO ALLOW US TO OPERATE IN OUR HOME BY CALLING OUR CITY OUR HOME, AND I'M EXPECTING ALL IF YOU COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE MY FRIENDS WHO I KNOW FOR YEARS AND YEARS EVEN BEFORE YOU BECOME COMMISSIONERS TO HELP SUPPORT OUR COMMISSIONER IN THIS EFFORT. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RHONDA -- IS THE CUNDy, RAN DA, OH, RHONDA. FROM THE FLOOR: RANDA. MAYOR JACOBS: RANDA. OKAY. RANDA, FOLLOWED BY DONNA BEATERMAN, FOLLOWED BY SHARON CARMICHAEL.
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FROM THE FLOOR: MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BARBARA, FOR HEARING THIS SUBJECT. I HAVE PRESENTED MYSELF IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION BEFORE WHEN WE HAD THE DANGEROUS AND VICIOUS DOG ACT THAT WAS ENHANCED TO BE LIKE THE STATES. IN JANUARY OF 2011, MY HUSBAND WAS ATTACKED BY A PIT BULL AS HE WAS WALKING OUR DOG IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR DOG IS A 21-POUND COMBINATION DOCUMENTS CENTURY YES, SIR DOG. WHEN MY HUSBAND SAW THE PIT BULL MAKING A BEE LINE FOR OUR DOG, HE REACHED DOWN, PICKED UP OUR DOG, GOT HIM UP AS FAR AS HIS WAIST AND THE DOG LATCHED ONTO MY HUSBAND'S HAND, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH. THANK GOODNESS THE DOG BIT SIDEWAYS ON MY HAND AND NOT THROUGH HIS HAND. SO IT DIDN'T RUPTURE ANY TENDONS IN HIS HAND. THE DOG HAPPENED TO BE OWNED BY A SEXUAL OFFENDER THAT MOVED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN IT GOT OUT OF PRISON AFTER 15 YEARS. HE'S NOT EVEN A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES. SO WE WILL NOT DEPORT HIM BECAUSE HE'S FROM A COMMUNISTIC COUNTRY. SO WE HAVE TO SUPPORT HIM. HE VIOLATED HIS PROBATION BY HAVING HIS DOGS IN THE BACKYARD AND BEING UNSUPERVISED AND THEY GOT OUT. HE ENDED UP HAVING A MONITOR PUT ON HIS ANKLE FOR THE DOG BITE. THE SEXUAL OFFENDER POSITION DIDN'T GET HIM A MONITOR, BUT THE DOG BITE DID. I ENCOURAGE US TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IT ONLY TAKES ONE CHILD TO HAVE THEIR FACE BIT AND THEY'RE SCARRED FOR LIFE. A PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, BUT AN ANIMAL IS NOT PROTECTED ON DISCRIMINATION RIGHTS. THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS PEOPLE, NOT ANIMALS. ANIMALS COME UNDER
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THE JURISDICTION OF POLICE TO BE -- AS A LAW, AND THE POLICE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONFISCATE AN ANIMAL IF IT BRINGS HARM TO A PERSON. I THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. I KNOW IT'S A VERY CONTENTIOUS ISSUE. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE PIT BULLS. I LOVE ANIMALS. I LOVE ALL DOGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. AND TO THE AUDIENCE, TO THE AUDIENCE, I WILL NOT -- UNDERSTAND ME WELL TO EVERY MEMBER OF THIS AUDIENCE. I WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE CATCALLS FROM THE AUDIENCE. YOU WILL GIVE THE SPEAKER THE RESPECT YOU, YOURSELF, WANT OR YOU WILL NOT BE IN THIS ROOM, UNDERSTOOD? I WILL NOT TOLERATE IT. THAT BEHAVIOR JUST NOW WAS UNACCEPTABLE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO RUN A MEETING THIS WAY. ALL RIGHT. SORRY TO BE SO TOUGH ABOUT IT, BUT THAT WAS TOTALLY NOT FAIR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS DONNA BEATERMAN, FOLLOWED BY SHARON CARMICHAEL, FOLLOWED BY SUSAN FISCHER. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST START BY OFFERING MY HEARTFELT RESPECT TO ALL THE VICTIMS THAT HAVE BEEN HURT BY ANYONE, CRIMINAL OR DOG, LARGE DOG, SMALL DOG, OR ANY DOG, BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO -- AND I KNOW RANDA PERSONALLY, AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO RANDA AND HER HUSBAND, BUT I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATION THAT HAS A BAN ON BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. I HOPE THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD NOT OPT FOR HOME RULE ON THIS BECAUSE IT JUST PUTS THE VOICE IN TALLAHASSEE, AND OF COURSE THREE TRIES AT A REPEAL LATER IT
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HASN'T HAPPENED, BUT I ENCOURAGE BROWARD COUNTY TO UPHOLD THE OWNER'S RIGHTS. SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE PREVIOUSLY SUGGESTED THAT THE HUMAN'S FEELINGS SHOULD COME BEFORE THAT OF A DOG. WELL, MY FEELINGS ARE I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN ANY BREED THAT I WANT AS A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER THAT DOESN'T ALLOW MY DOG TO HURT ANYONE ELSE, AND IF I DO, I DESERVE TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR THOSE ACTIONS, AND I WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AS A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER. PLEASE, DON'T BAN THE BREED. PUNISH THE OWNERS THAT ARE IRRESPONSIBLE, PLEASE. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. AUDIENCE, AUDIENCE, COME ON, LET'S PLAY NICE. OKAY. DONNA -- NO, THAT WAS DONNA. SHARON CARMICHAEL, FOLLOWED BY SUSAN FISCHER. FROM THE FLOOR: SHARON IS (INAUDIBLE). MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. SUSAN. WE'LL SET SHARON BACK IN THE PILE. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR JACOBS: GOOD AFTERNOON. FROM THE FLOOR: I'M VERY UPSET AND TAKEN BACK THAT THIS IS EVEN AN ISSUE. MY FATHER FOUGHT FOR THE FREEDOM OF THIS COUNTRY FOR US TO BE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO OWN ANY DOG OR ANIMAL THAT WE WISH TO OWN. AS AN OWNER, THE OWNERS NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ANIMALS. THESE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN AROUND -- I DON'T KNOW OF YOU REALIZE THE
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RICH HISTORY FROM, YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL PATTON TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND LINCOLN AND HELEN KELLER. THESE DOGS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS AND NOBODY -- HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. WHY? BECAUSE THEY'RE GREAT ANIMALS. IT'S THE OWNER. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER. I MEAN THESE ARE OUR CHILDREN. YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN. I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY CHILDREN. I CAN WALK MY DOG VERY RESPONSIBLY AND I HAVE A LITTLE SHIH TZU THAT COMES RUNNING TOWARDS MY DOG AND NOW IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THAT DOG IS A THIRD OF THE SIZE OF MY DOG. IS THAT THE FAIR? NO. DOUGH THE (; IS THAT FAIR) SO THE PEOPLE WITH THE LITTLE DOGS ALSO NEED TO REALIZE THAT IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ANIMALS. IT'S NOT THE PIT BULL BREED. YOU HAVE TO SEE THAT. I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS THESE DOGS HAVE BEEN AROUND, AND THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IN FLORIDA THAN THERE ARE BEING HIT BY PIT BULLS OR HAVE AN INCIDENT WITH PIT BULLS. THE MEDIA HERE, THANKS TO YOU GUYS, WE ONLY HEAR ABOUT PIT PULLS. WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE POSTAL LADY WHO GOT HER ARM RIPPED OFF BY THE ROTTWEILER, OR THE LADY WHO GOT HER FACE RIPPED OFF BY A PIN MIN. WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THE MEDIA DECIDES TO BRAIN WASH EVERYBODY. I'M SORRY. AND THEY ONLY PUBLICIZE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE BEST REACTION FROM, AND THAT'S THE PIT BULLS. YOU GUYS NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND START DOING THE RIGHT THING AND REPORT ALL THE DOG INCIDENCES, NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE PIT
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BULLS. IT'S DISCRIMINATION. THIS IS NOT WHAT MY FATHER WENT TO WAR FOR, AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU WANT TO GIVE UP YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS AS I HUMAN BEING IN THE UNITED STATES. (A) THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, SUSAN. OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RACHEL GRAY FOLLOWED BY CORY, CORY, I CAN'T READ ALL THE LETTERS IN YOUR LAST NAME. FERAGAIN. SO IF THERE'S A CORY HERE OR CARRIE PERHAPS, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY TONY BEONCY. RACHEL, IS RACHEL HERE? OKAY CORY OR CASEY. TONY? HOW ABOUT BRUCE MUNTZ. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: YOU SAID TONY. MAYOR JACOBS: OH, IS TONY HERE. OH, YOU'RE TONY. FROM THE FLOOR: YES. MAYOR JACOBS: HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME. FROM THE FLOOR: BEYOCHY. MAYOR JACOBS: YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES. FROM THE FLOOR: THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY ON BEHALF OF US PEOPLE THAT HAVE PIT BULLS, AMERICAN TEAR YEARS, HAVE BEEN AROUND AND WORKED WITH THEM FOR MANY YEARS. I HAVE AN 11-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN STAFF SHIRE TERRIER MIX. SHE'S BEEN TRAINED WELL BY BOTH VOICE SIGNAL, HAND SIGNAL. SHE'S BEEN AROUND NUMEROUS CHILDREN, DOGS, OTHER ANIMALS FOR YEARS, NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. SHE'S BEEN ATTACKED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BY LITTLE DOGS. I WAS IN A PARK ONE DAY WHERE THREE OF THEM CAME UP TO ME AND I HAD TO PICK UP MY 45, 50-POUND DOG
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BECAUSE THREE OF THEM WERE ALL NIPPING AT HER SAT AT THE SAME TIME. SO I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF AGGRESSION ON LITTLE DOGS. AGAIN, MANY PEOPLE SAID TODAY IT'S ABOUT THE OWNERS, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE PARENTS. IF YOU RAISE YOUR KIDS RIGHT AND YOU TEACH THEM FAIRLY AND YOU SHOW THEM THE RIGHT THING TO DO, THEY WILL MORE THAN LIKELY TURN OUT TO BE WELL BEHAVED. I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS SOME STATISTICS HERE. COMMISSIONER SHARIEF, YOU'RE MENTIONED ABOUT LOCKING -- SHARIEF, I'M SORRY, LOCKING JAWS. YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN ARTICLE HERE AND I CAN PASS THESE OUT TO THE COMMISSION WHICH ACTUALLY CITES A STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA WHERE THE DOCTOR SAID THERE IS NO SUCH THING, THERE'S NO MORE LOGICAL, THERE'S NO ENZYME SPEECH OR SHOW ANYTHING THAT EXISTS IN THESE ANIMALS AND I HAVE THEM RIGHT HERE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WORLD WAR I, THE MOST DECORATED DOG EVER WAS SERGEANT STUB BI, TO THIS DAY, MET THREE PRESIDENTS, IS IN THE SMIS SEWNIAN INSTITUTION, IT WAS A PIT BULL MIX THAT OVER IN THE WAR ASSISTED PEOPLE. IT WASN'T A FIGHTING DOG. IT ASSISTED. IT SAVED LIVES, ANYTHING FROM PEOPLE BEING ATTACKED BY THE (SMITHSONIAN) GERMANS, THE GASES COMING IN, AND AS YOU CAN TELL TODAY, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM A LOT OF EMOTIONAL PEOPLE, AND WE'RE EMOTIONAL JUST AS YOU MIGHT BE EMOTIONAL ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN, AS A PERSON OF COLOR WHO IS PART LATINO, I CAN TELL YOU TREATING ANIMALS AND THE WAY THEY LOOK AND SOUND IS NO DIFFERENT THAN TREATING PEOPLE. SO I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THIS LEGISLATION AND GET THE FACTS.
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MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, TONY. THANK YOU, TONY. OKAY. BRUCE MUNTZ, DID I HEAR YOU ARE HERE? YOU ARE. OKAY. NEXT IS SONYA MULLNARY FOLLOWED BY MY KA MULLTHERERY. FROM THE FLOOR: I'M WITH THE FORT LAUDERDALE DOBERMAN RESCUE LEAGUE. WE'VE BEEN TRAINING DOGS FOR OVER 25 YEARS IN FORT LAUDERDALE. I'VE BEEN WITH THEM FOR SIX YEARS AND WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE PIT BULLS. THEY'RE WONDERFUL DOGS, FAMILY DOGS, AND THIS IS JUST A FORM OF DISCRIMINATION. I'M AFRAID THAT, WHAT'S NEXT? IT'S PIT BULLS NOW. I HAVE A DOBERMAN PINCHER AND THAT WILL BE, WHAT, NEXT ON THE LIST. SO IT'S GOT TO END SOME TIME AND NOW IS THE TIME. SO THINK ABOUT IT AND PLEASE DON'T BAN ANY BREED. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR BREVITY. OKAY. NEXT IS SONYA MULLTHERERY FOLLOWED BY MY KA. HI THERE. FROM THE FLOOR: I'LL TRY NOT TO BE EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I'M VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT. MAYOR JACOBS: IT'S OKAY, YOU'RE WELCOME TO BE EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS. FROM THE FLOOR: YOU GUYS ARE REALLY LUCKY THAT YOU HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE. ALL THE 2200 PEOPLE THAT SIGNED THOSE PETITIONS OR THE 4,000, THESE ARE THE GOOD PEOPLE, PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR THOSE DOGS. IF YOU TAKE THE DOGS AND YOU BAN THEM AND YOU CAN'T ADOPT THEM IN THE SHELTERS AND YOU CAN'T -- THE RESCUE GROUPS CAN'T RESCUE THEM ANYMORE, WHERE DO THEY GO? THEY GO IN THE STREETS. CRIMINALS THERE, DON'T VOTE, THEY'RE NOT THE
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GOOD OWNERS, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THESE DOGS BECAUSE THEY'RE SMART, THEY'RE LOYAL AND THEY'LL FIGHT FOR YOU TO MAKE YOU HAPPY AND IF YOU PUT THAT IN A BAD WAY, CRIMINALS WILL TAKE THEM AND THEY'RE GOING TO FIGHT THEM, THEY'RE GOING ABUSE THEM AND THEY'RE GOING AS ABANDON THEM AND PUT THEM IN THE STREETS IN THE BAD NEIGHBORHOODS. SO IF YOU TAKE THE OPTION FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO OWN THESE DOGS AND TAKE CARE OF THEM, AND TRUST US, TO MAKE THEM INTO GOOD DOGS. I HAVE A FIVE-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN STAFF SHIRE TERRIER. HE'S AMAZING. YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND WANTED TO BRING MY DOG INTO OUR LIFE AND I SAID: A PIT BULL, ARE YOU CRAZY? NO WAY. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT TOOK HIM THREE DAYS FOR THAT DOG TO STEAL MY HEART. HE IS AMAZING. HE WOULD THE HURT A FLY. A HAVE A FRENCH BULLDOG. THEY PLAY TOGETHER. HE WINS MY 65-YEAR-OLD MOTHER-IN-LAW'S HEART. EVERYBODY LOVES THIS DOG. I JUST -- I HOPE YOU GUYS MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO TRY TO GO AFTER THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ABUSING THESE DOGS. MRS. SHARIEF, I ASKED YOU EARLIER, GO TO THE SHELTER, SIT IN A DOG PARK IN FORT LAUDERDALE AND OBSERVE YOUR SURROUNDINGS. I TAKE MY LITTLE DOG THERE ALL THE TIME. ALL THE PIT BULLS ARE PLAYING, THEY'RE HAPPY. IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THIS. IT'S SOMETHING YOU WON'T SEE IN MIAMI-DADE WHICH IS WHY I LEFT AND I WILL NEVER GO BACK AS LONG AS THAT BAN EXISTS, BUT OBSERVE, IT'S ALWAYS THE OTHER DOGS THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. YOU MIGHT GET BIT BY A DOG BUT THAT COULD BE ANY DOG. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: YOU'RE WELCOME. MY KA, FOLLOWED BY
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DARCY BUTKUS FOLLOWED BY BARBARA KENT. FROM THE FLOOR: I JUST WANT TO FIRST OFF SAY, THAT'S MY GIRL. MY WIFE IS THE PERSON BEHIND -- I KNOW THERE'S MANY, BUT JUST SPECIFICALLY THE CHANGE.ORG PETITION AND I WANT TO USE MY TWO MINUTES TO JUST SPECIFICALLY READ A FEW OF THE NOTE THAT SHE GOT OFF THAT PETITION FROM BROWARD COUNTY RESIDENTS AND MIND YOU THERE WAS NOT ONE NEGATIVE NOTE AND SOMETIMES ON POSITIONS YOU GET BOTH POSITIONS. I'M MOVING BACK TO FLORIDA IN MAY AND I'M SICK ENDED THAT BROWARD COUNTY WOULD EVEN CONSIDER THIS KIND OF BAN. IT IS WRONG. HOW MEDIEVAL IS TO THINK THAT BANNING A BREED WILL HELP BROWARD COUNTY. BECAUSE PIT BULLS ARE MY LOVE AND I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT SUCH AN AMAZING BREED NEAR MY SIDE, I SIGN THIS PETITION WITH ALL MY HEART. CARLOS, PEMBROKE PINES, FLORIDA. THIS WILL DETERMINE IF MY FAMILY VACATIONS HERE. I FOR ONE HAVE ADMITTED THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA. IT IS SAD WHEN BANNING A FAMILY PET WHERE WE WILL VACATION. I WILL LET THIS BE A FACTOR. EDDIE FROM DAVENPORT, NEW YORK. LISTEN, GUYS, I HAVE PAGES OF PAGES OF PAGES, CORAL SPRINGS, COOPER CITY, I LIVE IN FORT LAUDERDALE, MY WIFE LIVES IN FORT LAUDERDALE, THANK GOD. ALL OVER THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTY THAT FOR 30 YEARS I HAVE CALLED HOME AND TOOK THIS WOMAN WHO FOR 30 YEARS HERSELF LIVED IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND CONVINCED HER BECAUSE RIGHT AFTER THE BAN HAPPENED IN DADE, I WAS LIKE: LET'S MOVE TO BROWARD. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 30 YEARS. THIS IS A MORE UNDERSTANDING, REALISTIC AND SANE COUNTY. SO, PLEASE, COME TO MY HOME. I BROUGHT HER HERE. SIX MONTHS
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LATER, LOOK WHAT HAPPENS. I'M JUST GOING TO END WITH THIS. LISTEN, YOU CAN HAVE -- BANNING PIT BULLS WAS LIKE SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO BAN A SLEDGEHAMMER BECAUSE IT'S A BIGGER AND A STRONGER TYPE OF HAMMER BUT WITH ANY TYPE OF HAMMER I COULD DO TWO THINGS, I COULD KILL SOMEONE AND I COULD BUILD A HOUSE THAT WOULD SUSTAIN LIFE, BUT IN EACH TYPE OF SCENARIO, IT'S THE PERSON BEHIND THE HAMMER THAT IS WIELDING THE POWER AND MAKING THE DECISION. SO, PLEASE, DON'T BAN MY SLEDGEHAMMER. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. NEXT IS DARCY BUTKaes FOLLOWED BY BARBARA KENT. FROM THE FLOOR: YOU GOT IT RIGHT. MAYOR JACOBS: I DID. OKAY. AUD I HAVE BEEN A BROWARD COUNTY RESIDENT FOR OVER 22 YEARS IN DISTRICT 5. I STAND IN FRONT IF YOU TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY ANIMALS THAT HAVE NO VOICE (FROM THE FLOOR) AND TODAY I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A SPECIFIC BREED, THE PIT BUCHLT I DO NOT OWN ONE PERSONALLY, HOWEVER, I DO OWN THREE DOGS OF MY OWN. MY OBJECTIVE TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU TODAY IS TO SPEAK ABOUT THE STEREOTYPING OF THIS AMAZING BREED. THESE ARE DOGS THAT ARE LOYAL, AIM TO PLEASE THEIR MASTER, AND NO DOUBT EXTREMELY STRONG. JUST LOOKING AT A PIT BULL, ONE MIGHT THINK OF INTIMIDATING AND SCARY LOOKING. YOU ARE LOOKING AT A PERSON THAT ONCE FELT THAT WAY. AS I ENTERED INTO THE WORLD OF DOG RESCUE BACK IN 2010, I REALIZED THAT THIS SPECIFIC BREED, THE PIT BULL, WAS GETTING A BAD RAP. AFTER MEETING
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OTHER DOG LOVERS, I FOUND MYSELF GETTING MORE AND MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE BREED AS WELL AS OTHER BULLY BREEDS. UPON ENTERING INTO THIS NEW FOUND WORLD I WAS HEARING ABOUT DOGS BEING ABUSED, NEGLECTED, DUMPED AND ABANDONED BY THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS MOST BY WAY OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA. THEN WHAT REALLY HIT HOME IS SEEING POSTINGS USING DOGS BEING USED AS BAIT, BAIT DOGS, WHAT THE HECK IS THAT? I HAD NO IDEA. DOG BITING? WHAT TYPE OF PERSON COULD DO THIS TO AN ANIMAL. I ASKED MANY OF THOSE THAT HAD MANY MORE YEARS OF RESCUE THAN I DID. I STARTED LOOKING AT THE OWNER. I GATHERED UP THE COURAGE TO READ THE BOOK BY JIM GURRANT. THE NAME OF THE BOOK IS CALLED "THE LOST DOGS, THE RESCUE AND REDEMPTION OF MICHAEL VIC'S DOGS," VERY DIFFICULT TO READ, BUT I FORGED AHEAD. I READ THE BOOK FROM COVER TO ROFR. THIS BOOK (COVER) CHANGED MY THINKING ON THE PIT BULL BREED. TAKE-ON KNEE JUSTICE, A FIGHTING DOG THAT NOW TURNED INTO A THERAPY DOG. JOHNNY JUSTICE AT THE TIME WHEN THIS BOOK WAS RELEASED WORKS WITH SMALL CHILDREN WHO ARE FEARFUL AND SHY TO READ OUT LOUD. THE PROGRAM IS CALLED "PAWS FOR TAILS PROGRAM." IT WORKS AS A YOUNG CHILD READS TO JOHNNY IN A LOCAL LIBRARY. AFTER THE CHILD CHOOSES TO SIT ON THE FLOOR, THE DOG KNOWS TO SIT BESIDE HIM AND LOOK AT THE DOG LIKE HE IS FOLLOWING. MAYOR JACOBS: DARCY, I'M SORRY, YOU ARE DONE. FROM THE FLOOR: I THOUGHT WE HAD THREE MINUTES. MAYOR JACOBS: TWO MINUTES GOES BY FAST. FROM THE FLOOR: BUT ANYHOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH
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AND PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. BARBARA KENT.
FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION FAILS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE REAL ISSUE WHICH IS IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP. BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION PLACES ALL THE BLAME ON THE DOGS, IGNORING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DOG OWNER. DOG OWNERSHIP IS A RESPONSIBILITY AND DOG OWNERS MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF THEIR DOGS. RESTRICTING BREEDS OF DOGS DOES NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. ONLY WHEN IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DOG'S ACTIONS WILL ADVERSE DOG INCIDENTS BE REDUCED. ACCORDING FOR THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP AS THE KEY FACTOR IN REDUCING DOG BITES. BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION UNFAIRLY PENALIZING THE RESPONSIBLE OWNERS WHO PROPERLY TRAIN, SOCIALIZE, CARE, AND SUPERVISE THEIR DOGS. RESTRICTING BREEDS OF DOGS DOES LITTLE, IF ANYTHING, TO PROTECT CITIZENS. NOT ONLY DO BREED BANS PERPETUATE THE MYTH THAT CERTAIN BREEDS ARE BAD BUT IT ALSO INDEMNIFIES ALL OF THE OTHER BREEDS AS BEING SAFE BY EXCLUSION AND IN DOING SO BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION MISLEADS THE PUBLIC AND PROMOTES A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. IT'S ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE TO IMPLEMENT BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. YOU'LL NEED
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ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ANIMAL CONTROL, SHELTERING FEES, VETTING, AND LITIGATION. I ASK THAT YOU OPPOSE THE PROPOSAL BECAUSE ANY SUCH LAW THAT IS SPECIFIC TO BREED DOES NOT ADDRESS THE REAL PROBLEM WHICH IS THAT OF IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS. I TRUST THAT YOU WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE POSITION OF MANY WELL-KNOWNS, PRESTIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB, THE AMERICAN VETERINARY AND MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL CANINE RESEARCH COUNCIL WHO DO NOT SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT TARGETS ANY SPECIFIC BREED OF DOG. THANK YOU. (WELL KNOWN). MAYOR JACOBS: I'M SORRY, DAL YEAH CANES, FOLLOWED BY RANDY SANDS, FOLLOWED BY SAREL, I THINK, SILVA. HELLO. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, OR GATHER GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR JACOBS: AFTERNOON NOW. FROM THE FLOOR: I'M THE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER FOR THE MIAMI COALITION AGAINST BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS COMMISSION THINKS IT HAS A PIT BULL PROBLEM. LET ME STATE, YOU DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT HAVE A PIT BULL PROBLEM. YOU HAVE A SPAY AND NEUTER PROBLEM, AN ANIMAL ABUSE PROBLEM, A DOGFIGHTING PROBLEM, AND AN IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP PROBLEM, BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE A PIT BULL PROBLEM. EXPLAIN TO US HERE TODAY HOW THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE WHEN, AND I QUOTE MS. KAREN DA LEASE THE AUTH, ANY EVALUATION BASED ON VISUAL IDENTIFICATION IS SPECULATION. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CANNOT EVEN
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IDENTIFY THE BREED. SO HOW IS IT A PROBLEM? IT DOES NOT WORK. THERE ARE NO EXISTING SCIENTIFIC FACTS OR DATA IN SUPPORT OF THIS MYTH. IT HAS NOT WORKED IN ANYPLACE THAT HAS ENACTED IT AND CERTAINLY NOT IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, DURING THE AUGUST 2012 ELECTIONS WHEN THIS MATTER WAS PLACED ON THE BALLOT, FIVE, FIVE COMMISSIONERS ALONG WITH THE MIAMI-DADE ANIMAL SERVICES CODE ENFORCEMENT MANAGER PUBLICLY STATED THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF ITS REMOVAL. WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH MaDD, MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING. NOTICE IT IS MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING, NOT MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNKEN VEHICLES. LOOK AT THE END OF THE LEASH. IT IS NOT THE DOG, FOLKS. A LITTLE EARLIER I NOTICED COMMISSIONER WEXLER PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WHILE DISCUSSING ANOTHER MATTER THAT LEARNING WAS CRITICAL. SINCE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ARE THE KEY TOOLS HERE, I AM FORMALLY INVITING THE ENTIRE COMMISSION AND ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ATTEND A DOG BITE SEMINAR BY JIM CROSS BIWHO IS THE NATION'S LEADING EXPERT ON DOG BITE ATTACKS, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 25TH IN MIAMI. IT IS SPONSORED BY MIAMI COALITION FREE OF CHARGE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REGISTER. THERE COMES A TIME, TWO SECONDS, THERE COMES A TIME ONE MUST TAKE A POSITION THAT IS NEITHER SAFE FOR PLITTIC OR POPULAR BUT ONE MUST TAKE IT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT, MARTIN LUTHER KING. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, DAL YEAH. NEXT SPEAKER, RANDY SANDS, FOLLOWED BY ZARESPONSIBLEHOE, SILVA FOLLOWED BY RICARDO OHLAVARIOSE.
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FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON. I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING MY SONG OF THE DAY IS AIN'T NO STOPPING US NOW BY MCFADDEN AND WHITE HEAD. MAYOR JACOBS: I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE WHO LET THE DOGS OUT. FROM THE FLOOR: MY NAME IS RANDY SANDS. I'M THE OWNER OF ARTISTIC CLIPS MOBILE GROOMING BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT I HAD TO SAY HAS BEEN SAID, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO WELCOME EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO COME AND TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT ME. I'VE GOT TWO HOLES. JACK RUSSELL TERRIER. DECEMBER, I HAD THIS FOREARM LAID OPEN, THIS THUMB LAID OPEN, AS YOU CAN PROBABLY ALL SEE, IT'S STILL NOT GONE. GOLDEN RETRIEVER. HAVE I EVER BEEN BIT BY A PULL BIT? ABSOLUTELY, NOT EVEN CLOSE. I'VE OWNED THEM FOR 40 YEARS. I'M GOING TO BE 50 YEARS IN APRIL. AND I ALSO, IF YOU LOOK AT MY WEBSITE, I SPECIALIZE IN GROOMING AGGRESSIVE DOGS. NOT ONE OF MY AGGRESSIVE CLIENTS IS A PIT BULL. NOW WHAT I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS TO YOU SPECIFICALLY IS THIS BAN IS DISCRIMINATION. I WAS RAISED IN A FAMILY OF 11 BLACK KIDS. TO THIS DAY, WE ALL LOVE EACH OTHER VERY MUCH. YOU WOULDN'T LIKE IT IF WE PROPOSED A BAN TO HAVE BLACK PEOPLE REMOVED FROM BROWARD COUNTY. WHY? BECAUSE IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY WRONG. IT WOULD NOT BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WE CANNOT DISCRIMINATE, AND WITH THAT SAID, I'D LIKE YOUR FIVE KIDS TO COME SPEND AN AFTERNOON WITH ME, AND I GUARANTEE AT THE END OF THAT, YOUR OPINION WOULD BE DIFFERENT.
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VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: MY KIDS WOULDN'T SPEND AN AFTERNOON BECAUSE I DON'T TEACH MY KIDS RACISM. FROM THE FLOOR: IT'S THE SAME ANALOGY. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: WE'RE NOT TOLERATING THAT TODAY. YOU COULD HAVE FOUND SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY. MAYOR JACOBS: I THINK THERE IS OTHER, MORE GRACEFUL ANALOGIES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FOUND. FROM THE FLOOR: THAT MAY BE, BUT THAT'S THE ONE THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: I'M NOT DEALING WITH THAT. FROM THE FLOOR: AND I AM NOT RACIST. LIKE I SAID, I AM STILL VERY CLOSE WITH ALL OF THEM. I'M STILL VERY ACTIVE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, RANDY. THANK YOU, RANDY. ALL RIGHT. ZAREL SILVA, FOLLOWED BY RICARDO OLVARIOSE, FOLLOWED BY MANNER E BALABORYEAH. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SHAREL. MAYOR JACOBS: SAY IT AGAIN. SURE. SORRY, I MESSED THAT ONE UP BIG TIME. FROM THE FLOOR: IT'S OKAY AND I COME FROM BEAUTIFUL DISTRICT 8. I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH WHAT VICE MAYOR SHARIEF IS TRYING TO DO. HER INTENTIONS ARE NOBLE. SHE'S TRYING TO STOP AGGRESSIVE DOG ATTACKS, BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IN THIS LEGISLATURE IS TWO THINGS. ONE, I BELIEVE THAT, A, IT TARGETS A
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SPECIFIC BREED. EXCUSE ME. SORRY. IT'S TARGETING A SPECIFIC BREED WHEN YOUR PURPOSE IS TO STOP AGGRESSIVE DOG ATTACKS. A SPECIFIC BREED IS NOT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, LINKED UP WITH THAT. I BELIEVE THE VOCABULARY IN WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO THE STATE IS WRONG. IF YOU WERE TO PROPOSE A BAN ON AGGRESSIVE DOGS WHERE WE TARGET THEM, WE WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO STOP IT. PART B, WE DO NEED TO INCREASE THE FINES AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD FOCUS OUR ATTENTION. WE SHOULDN'T TRY TO GO SPECIFICALLY AGAINST ONE TYPE OF DOG BECAUSE THAT WILL DISPLACE DOGS THAT ARE IN LOVING HOMES AS SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE EMOTIONALLY CAME OUT AND SAID. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ASK THE STATE OF FLORIDA NOT TO BAN A SPECIFIC BREED BUT TO ALLOW US TO INCREASE THE FINES FOR TEACHING DOGS, YOU KNOW, FOR ATTACKING AND BEING AGGRESSIVE. $500 THOUGH FOR ME IS NOT ENOUGH. $500 FOR A PERSON WHO IS ILLEGALLY GAMBLING ON THESE DOGS, ON THESE ANIMALS, IT'S A SLAP ON THE WRIST. IF WE'RE GOING TO USE OUR EFFORTS, OUR TAXPAYER MONEY TO DO ANYTHING, WE SHOULD ASK FOR A LOT STRICTER PENALTIES ESPECIALLY SINCE AS YOU'VE SAID BEFORE WE'RE KIND OF A DUMPING GROUND FOR THESE ANIMALS WHERE THEY'RE BEING PICKED UP BY OTHER PEOPLE AND PROBABLY USED FOR THE SAME THING. I KNOW I GOT MY DOG, MA'AMBOW FROM THE BROWARD SHELTERS AND AT FIRST I WAS A LITTLE HESITANT, BUT LIKE MOST OF THESE PEOPLE, HE'S WON MY HEART OVER AND MOST OF THE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT ARE SAID ABOUT THESE ANIMALS ARE ACTUALLY NOT TRUE. MOST OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE THESE ANIMALS DANGEROUS ARE ALSO WHAT MAKES THEM GREAT
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ANIMALS. THEY'RE TENACIOUS, PROBABLY WHY YOU BELIEVE IN THE LOCK JAW MYTH, EXTREMELY LOYAL AND EXTREMELY SWEET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: JUST ONE QUESTION FOR YOU. CAN YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF SO THAT YOU CAN HELP US ON THIS AS WELL. I THINK YOU HAD SOME GREAT IDEAS AND YOU BROUGHT SOME SOLUTIONS AND I'M WILLING TO ENTERTAIN THOSE. FROM THE FLOOR: THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: SO MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS RIGHT THERE. COULD YOU PLEASE SEE HIM AND GIVE HIM YOUR INFORMATION? MAYOR JACOBS: NEXT IS RICARDO, MAVRNY, FOLLOWED BY AMY MCMAHON. FROM THE FLOOR: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING WRITTEN DOWN. I DON'T HAVE ANY STATS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I'M A NEW PIT OWNER, DECEMBER 22ND, GOT IT FROM A LOVABLE IN BROWARD OVER HERE. I KNOW THEY'RE HERE SOMEWHERE. CAN'T CHEER. OKAY. I THINK YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THIS IS JUST WRONG. I DON'T HAVE TO LECTURE YOU ABOUT IT. WE'RE ALL GROWN ADULTS, RIGHT? IT'S JUST WRONG. WHY WOULD YOU EVEN BOTHER TO ENTERTAIN SOMETHING LIKE SNIS AND I AGREE WITH EVERYONE ELSE HERE. I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET. THAT'S IT. I JUST WANT TO HAVE MY SAY IN IT. ALL RIGHT. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER MAVRNY BALABOR YEAH. FROM THE FLOOR: BELLVEYEAH. I WORK FOR THE
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BROWARD COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY. I'M THE MANAGER OF THE ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY THERE. IT IS TO TEMPERAMENT DOGS WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO BE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY WORKING IN SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, SENIOR FACILITIES, AND ALL OTHER AREAS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY IS THAT IT'S CRITICAL TO REMEMBER FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT ANY DOG CAN BITE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT BREED THE DOG IS. A DOG IS A DOG IS A DOG. ANY DOG CAN BITE. ANY DOG CAN HILL. ANY DOG CAN HARM SOMEBODY. THE BREED MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER. THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF BROWARD COUNTY'S POSITION IS THAT WE ARE AGAINST DISCRIMINATING AGAINST ANY ONE BREED. INSTEAD, WE ARE IN FAVOR OF MAKING STRICTER LAWS REGARDING IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS. MOST DOG ATTACKS BY BULLY BREEDS AND DOGS IN GENERAL ARE DOGS THAT ARE NOT SPAYED OR NEUTERED. SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE IN THAT ARENA WHERE THAT IS -- PEOPLE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SPAYING AND NEUTERING THEIR PETS. NOT KEPT INSIDE THE HOME AND ARE VERY UNDERSOCIALIZED. ANY ADDITION, MANY PIT BULLS AS WE MENTIONED ARE USED FOR TRAINING AND FIGHTING. WE ARE TOTALLY AGAINST THAT AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT COME TO AN END. YOUR TYPICAL PIT BULL THAT IS BRED AND RAISED PROPERLY IS A FRIENDLY, CLOWN-LIKE DOG WITH VERY SOCIAL, LOVING PERSONALITY. I OWN TWO OF MY OWN ALONG WITH A PIN E AUSSIE, AN AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD, A SHELTIE, A FERRET AND TWO CATS AND AN 11-YEAR-OLD STEPDAUGHTER. WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS SOME EDUCATION WITHIN THE FUNDING FOR THE EDUCATION BECAUSE REALLY I'M NOT AGAINST HOLDING PEOPLE
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ACCOUNTABLE, BUT YOU'RE HOLDING THE WRONG PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS. WE DO THE RIGHT THING WITH OUR DOGS. THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE ARE THE IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS. WE NEED HARSHER PENALTIES AND WE NEED TO HOLD OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE. BREED BANS AFFECT LAW ABIDING RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS LIKE ME AND AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S DISCRIMINATION. BREED BANS DON'T WORK. IT'S PROVEN THAT THEY DON'T. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, MANNY. I THINK YOU HAD ME BEAT. WE HAD 13 DIFFERENT SPECIES AT ONE TIME IN MY HOUSE AND I DON'T MEAN SPECIES OF DOG, I MEAN UNRELATED IN THE SPECIES CHAIN. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: ONE MORE, MAYOR, MANNY, CAN YOU SEE TORI AND GIVE HIM YOUR INFORMATION SO WE CAN GET YOUR -FROM THE FLOOR: I'D BE HAPPY TO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. NEXT IS AMY MCMAHON WITH VERY GOOD HANDWRITING, I MIGHT ADD, FOLLOWED BY CHARLOTTE FEE, ACTUALLY CHARLOTTE FEE AND DON ANTHONY, VERY EASY TO READ YOUR NAMES. WELCOME. FROM THE FLOOR: HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BASE IS AT LEAST IN PART FOR WANTING TO BAN PIT BULLS IN BROWARD COUNTY IS THE ROAMING DOG ISSUE (BASIS) IN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE IS A PROBLEM. I SEE IT OFTEN IN MY LINE OF WORK AS A BROWARD COUNTY TRANSIT BUS OPERATOR. ON SEPTEMBER 10TH OF 2010, I SAW A DOG IN THE MIDDLE OF
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THE STREET IN THE NORTHWEST SECTION OF FORT LAUDERDALE. I PULLED OVER, WENT TO HER. SHE WAS EMACIATED, FILTHY AND SMELLY BUT VERY SWEET. I PICKED HER UP AND I TOOK HER HOME. TODAY SOPHIE IS ALMOST A THREE-YEAR-OLD, BEAUTIFUL, SWEET, AFFECTIONATE DARLING 65-FOUND FEMALE PIT BULL. I ADOPTED ROXY. SHE WAS ALSO FOUND ON THE STREET IN THE SOUTHWEST SECTION OF DIXIE HIGHWAY IN POMPANO. AFTER FIVE MONTHS OF BEING IN MY CARE, SHE WAS TIMID, FRIGHTENED AND SHY. TODAY SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL, SWEET DARLING LOVING PET. NEITHER OF MY DOGS SHOW ANY AGGRESSION WHATSOEVER DESPITE THEIR BEGINNINGS OF BEING OUT ON THE STREET. THE PROBLEM IS THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO BREED THEM FOR FIGHTING OR GUARD DOGS, THE DOGS WHO DO NOT MEET THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS DESIRED BY THOSE WHO INTEND TO USE THEM FOR NO GOOD OR TOSSED OUT LIKE GARBAGE. THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS HAVE PIT BULLS AND BULLY BREED TYPES AS THEIR BELOVED FAMILY PET. WE TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM. WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SECURED, PROPERLY VACCINATED. THEY ARE OUR FAMILY. ADDRESS THE ISSUE, WHICH IS NOT THE DOGS BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ABUSE THEM, OVERBREED THEM, NEGLECT THEM, AND USE THEM FOR THE WRONG THING. I WOULD BE FORCED TO LEAVE BROWARD COUNTY IF YOU ENACTED A BAN BECAUSE I WILL NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP MY GIRLS. SO, PLEASE, DON'T ENFORCE BsO IN BROWARD COUNTY. SO AFTER THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE PROBLEM. IT'S NOT THE DOGS. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE.)
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MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. NEXT IS CHARLOTTE FEE, FOLLOWED BY DON ANTHONY, FOLLOWED BY JASON BORDEN. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU. I'VE BEEN A BROWARD COUNTY RESIDENT FOR 33 YEARS, AND THIS IS MY FIRST CALL TO THE COMMISSION ON A CAUSE. I VOLUNTEERED AT THE BROWARD COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY FOR DECADES AND HAVE OWNED, FOSTERED OR WORKED WITH ALL DOG BREEDS FROM THINK WAWAS FROM CHOW CHOWS. I OWN TWO RESCUED HANDICAPPED DOGS THAT SOME THINK HAVE PIT BULL CHARACTERISTICS, INCLUDING A CERTIFIED THERAPY DOG WITH OVER 400 HOURS SERVICE AT JOE DIMAGGIO'S HOSPITAL. I SPEND IN EXCESS OF $10,000 A YEAR, VETTING, TRAINING, AND DONATING TO FOSTERING, AND PET CAUSES, I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT TYPE OF FUR CHILD I SHOULD LOVE. IT IS A VIOLATION OF OUR RIGHTS, VERY COSTLY TO ENFORCE, PUNISHES THE WRONG END OF LEASH AND IS A PROVEN FAILURE IN EVERY AREA. I ALREADY ENTERED INTO RECORD WITH THE SECRETARY THIS MORNING THE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS FROM GROUPS, 16 GROUPS WHO HAVE DONE MASSIVE STUDIES ON THE TOPIC, WHICH YOU GUYS SHOULD ALL HAVE BECAUSE I GAVE HER 14 COPIES. THESE ORGANIZATIONS ALL HAVE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AGAINST BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION, INCLUDING THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, THE UNITED STATES HUMANE SOCIETY, As PCA AND THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO REVIEW THE TEN PAGES THAT I PROVIDED THIS MORNING. ON ITEM B, HOWEVER, I FULLY SUPPORT STIFFER PENALTIES, PERHAPS REMOVING PEOPLE'S
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DRIVER'S LICENSES IF THEY'RE REPEAT OFFENDERS. NONE OF US HERE THAT LOVE ANIMALS ARE GOING TO BE FOR DOGFIGHTING, BUT YOU MUST PUT MONEY BACK BEHIND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THEM. ANIMAL CONTROL AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDING OR THE TIME TO GO DOOR TO DOOR AND DEAL WITH THESE DOGFIGHTING RINGS. I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU CAN BE A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN AND SUPPORT ANY ASPECT OF DOGFIGHTING. SO I SUPPORT YOUR LEVEL B TODAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, DON ANTHONY, FOLLOWED BY JASON BORDEN, FOLLOWED BY ANNA DAMAGEPOSE. FROM THE FLOOR: I'M DON ANTHONY, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE ANIMAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA. WE'VE GOT 5,000 MEMBERS ALL OVER THE STATE AND WE'RE BASED HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. IT SEEMS LIKE JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I WAS HERE SUPPORTING THE COMMISSION'S BAN ON TETHERING AND GUARD DOGS. NOW ONE OR TWO MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD WANT TO HAVE AT BELT TO ON ACT LAWS THAT EVEN THE STATE SEES AS INAPPROPRIATE, NAMELY THE ABILITY TO ENACT BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. LET'S REMEMBER THAT OUT OF 67 COUNTIES IN THIS STATE, ONLY ONE HAS ENACTED SUCH A THING AND THAT WAS BACK IN THE '80S. DADE COUNTY IN A KNEE-JERK, INAPPROPRIATE REACTIONARY RESPONSE TO DOG BITING OR DOGFIGHTING ENACTED A PIT BULL BAN WHICH ALL ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS AND ALL DOG BEHAVIORAL EXPERTS SAY IS HIGHLY ARBITRARY, DISCRIMINATORY AND INEFFECTIVE. THIS IS NOT DADE COUNTY AND WE
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DON'T WANT IT TO BE BECOME DADE COUNTY. WE DON'T BAN ALL SPORTS CARS BECAUSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE THEM GO 100 MILES THROUGH THE CITY. WE DON'T NEED TO PUNISH THE CAR, BAN THE CAR, BUT RATHER THE DRIVER WHO CREATES THE PROBLEM. SHOULD WE PUNISH OR BAN PIT BALLS BECAUSE THAT'S THE TYPE OF DOG THAT ARROGANT LAWS USE AND ABUSE BY MAKING THEM VICIOUS AND USING THEM FOR FIGHTING? NO. IF PIT BULLS DIDN'T EXIST, THESE SAME PEOPLE WOULD BE ABUSING ROTTWEILERS, DOBERMAN PINCHERS AND ON AND ON. THEY HAVE NO MORE PROPENSITY TO BITE THAN ANY OTHER DOG. THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT ONE TYPE OF DOG WILL BITE MORE THAN ANOTHER DOG SAID THE SPOKESPERSON OF THE NATIONAL CANINE RESEARCH COUNCIL. IN FACT, PIT BULLS HAVE TESTED LESS AGGRESSIVE THAN OTHER DOGS, END QUOTE. ANY DOG COULD BE TAUGHT TO BE AGGRESSIVE. IT'S THE OWNER WHO CREATES THE PROBLEM AND WHO SHOULD SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES. WE SUPPORT ITEM 52 B WHICH PUNISHES THOSE WHO CAUSE THE PROBLEM, NOT 52A, WHICH PUNISHES THE DOGS WHO ARE THE VICTIMS. MAYOR JACOBS: MR. ANTHONY, CAN YOU REPEAT THE NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION? (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. COME ON. MR. ANTHONY, THE NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AGAIN WAS? FROM THE FLOOR: OH, I'M SORRY, WHAT? MAYOR JACOBS: WHAT WAS THE NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION.
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FROM THE FLOOR: I'M COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE ANIMAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA. MAYOR JACOBS: ANIMAL RIGHTS. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: ANIMAL RIGHTS COALITION. ALL RIGHT. MAYOR JACOBS: NEXT IS JASON BORDEN. FROM THE FLOOR: MY NAME IS JASON BORDEN. YOU DON'T KNOW ME. I DON'T KNOW YOU. I'M A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ABUSE AS A CHILD. WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD, I FOUND THESE DOGS. THESE DOGS HAVE GIVEN ME SOMETHING THAT NO ALCOHOL WOULD GIVE ME, NO DRUGS WOULD GIVE ME, NO PHARMACEUTICALS WOULD GIVE ME. YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME. I'VE HELPED MANY DOGS ALONG THE WAY. THEY'VE HELPED ME TOO. MY PROPOSITION TO MS. VICE MAYOR, YOU SPONSOR ANY DOG IN ANY SHELTER WITH ANY ISSUES, AND I WILL SHOW YOU THAT IT'S THE OWNER, NOT THE DOG. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. ANNA DAMAGEPOSE, YOU ARE UP. DIANE RATNER FOLLOWED YOU, AND FRANK MALLICK. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ANNA DAMAGEPOSE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF FORT LAUDERDALE. I'M ALSO A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND I WANT TO BEGIN MY THANKING THOSE OF YOU WHO VOTED TO OVERTURN THE INHUMANE DANGEROUS DOG ORDINANCE THAT WAS RECENTLY ON THE BOOKS HERE IN BROWARD COUNTY AND FOR ALSO PASSING A STRICTER ANTITETHERING ORDINANCE. YOU SEEM TO BE A PRO ANIMAL RIGHTS COMMISSION INTERESTED IN MAINTAINING GOOD
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WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS AND LOCAL ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS, AND FOR ME, I DEEPLY APPRECIATE THAT. WITH REGARD TO ITEM 52 B, I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE EVEN LARGER FINES FOR ANYONE TEACHING OR FORCING DOGS TO FIGHT. I THINK $500 IS WAY TOO LOW, AND ALSO I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE LOWER FINES ON OWNERS WHO HAVE NOT VACCINATED THEIR DOGS AND FOR THE COUNTY TO WORK WITH THEM. PERHAPS THERE IS A FINANCIAL REASON WHY THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO VACCINATE. WITH REGARD TO ITEM 52 A WHICH WAS A REQUEST TO CHANGE A 23-YEAR-OLD LAW I DO NOT SUPPORT ANY BAN ON ANY DOG. IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, I'D LIKE THE COMMISSION TO TAKE A PULSE OF ALL THE RESIDENTS IN BROWARD COUNTY. AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, OVER 4,000 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED A PETITION ON CHANGE.ORG AND 2,000 ON THE PETITION SITE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL. THE SUN-SENTINEL POLLED 20,000 VISITORS TO THEIR SITE AND OVER 60 PERCENT VOTED AGAINST A PIT BULL BAN. YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD WHICH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE CDC AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ARE AGAINST IT BUT ALSO THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THESE BANS SHOULD BE REPEALED. MY FRIEND'S DAUGHTER WAS SERIOUSLY BITTEN BY A CHOW LAST MONTH AND I HAVE ALSO BEEN BITTEN BY SEVERAL ANIMALS, ALL OF IT BEING MY FAULT AND LET WAS ACTUALLY MY FRIEND'S FAULT AS WELL. MAYOR JACOBS WAS CORRECT WHEN HE SAID EARLIER THAT THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES GOING ON THAT A DOG BITE ISSUE CONSIDERING THERE WAS A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING JUST A MILE WEST OF US OR EAST OF US, AND THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH GUN
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VIOLENCE, AND THESE ARE CRITICAL ISSUES IN BROWARD COUNTY AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT A RARE DOG BITE IS. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, ANNA. OKAY. NEXT, DIANE RATNER, FOLLOWED BY FRANK MALIC, FOLLOWED BY ADRIAN, I'LL WORK ON THAT ONE. OKAY. DIANE. FROM THE FLOOR: MAYOR JACOBS, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M DOING THIS, BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT FOR MY DOG AND FOR MY FRIENDS. MY NAME IS DIANE RATNER. I SPOKE UP. I MARCHED, AND I VOTED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE #I6 0S, AND NOW I FIND MYSELF DOING THE SAME THING (60S) IN 2013 FOR THE PET THAT I LOVE. I'M A HOMEOWNER, TAXPAYER, VOTER, AND RESPONSIBLE PIT PULL OWNER IN BROWARD COUNTY. PLEASE LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. ON JULY 4TH, INDEPENDENCE DAY, I ADOPTED WHAT I VIEW TO BE ONE OF GOD'S GREATEST GIFTS TO ME, MY DOG YOGI NAMED AFTER YOGI BERRA FROM BROWARD COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES, AND I REALLY FIND IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE THAT THE SAME COUNTY WOULD NOW TRY TO PASS A DISCRIMINATORY LAW AGAINST THE SAME DOG. A LOT OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE, THAT BSL HAS NOT WORKED ANYWHERE ELSEWHERE IT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED. IT'S COSTLY TO ENFORCE. IT PENALIZES DOG OWNERS AND POTENTIALLY LEADS TO DESTRUCTION OF INNOCENT DOGS FOR NOTHING MORE THAN THEIR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE. THIS IS NOTHING SHORT OF BREEDISM. MANY JURISDICTIONS IN AMERICA HAVE OVERTURNED BSL REALIZING THEY'RE INEFFECTIVE, EXPENSIVE TO ENFORCE, AND INADEQUATE TO PROTECT CITIZENS. BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION IS A BAND-AID THAT ALLOWS
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COMMUNITY DOG PROBLEMS TO FESTER FOCUSING ON BREEDS BY NAME AND IGNORES THE FACT THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF DOG OWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE AND TRAIN AND CONTROL THEIR DOGS. MY DOG CANNOT SPEAK, BUT I CAN. YOGI ISN'T A FIGHTER, BUT I AM. MY DOG CAN'T VOTE, BUT I CAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, DIANE. OKAY. FRANK MALIC, ADRIAN, I SAID I WAS GOING TO WORK ON IT, RINGERSON, RING ELSON, TRYING ROW WA. FROM THE FLOOR: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OKAY, AND I JUST WANT TO START OUT GIVING YOU SOME FACTS. YESTERDAY MY LHASA APSO WAS ATTACKED. HE HAS A BITE IN HIS EAR. HE'S GOT TWO BITES ON THE BACK OF HIS NECK. I WAS BIT TWICE AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE THIS WAS A DALMATIAN/BEAGLE MIX DOG AND IT WAS QUITE A VICIOUS ATTACK. SO LIKE PEOPLE HAVE SAID, ALL DOGS BITE, ALL DOGS ATTACK AND UNFORTUNATELY MY DOG WAS A VICTIM YESTERDAY AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A PIT BULL. AND VERY QUICKLY, IN ADDITION TO OTHER BREEDS THAT ARE AGGRESSIVE, GREYHOUNDS AND DALMATIANS ARE IN THAT, GREYHOUNDS OF ALL THINGS, I NEVER KNEW THAT AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT AS WELL. PITS ARE USED AS THERAPY DOGS BECAUSE OF THEIR INTELLIGENCE AND LOYALTY. THEY'RE USED FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE. THEY'RE BORN WITH NO AGGRESSION TOWARDS HUMAN. THEY'RE TAUGHT IT. THE AMERICAN TEMPERAMENT SOCIETY DID I STUDY ON NONAGGRESSION. GUESS WHO CAME IN FIRST, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOUR PIT BULL WITH 83.4 PERCENT WHICH BEAT
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THE BORDER COLLIE. ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, NO SPAYED OR NEUTERED PIT HAS EVER KILLED A HUMAN. A PERSON IS MORE LIKELY THEY'LL BE KILLED BY A FAMILY MEMBER, A FALLING COCONUT, A BEDROOM SLIPPER INCIDENT, CHOKING ON A MARBLE, DROWNING ON A FIVE--GALLON BUCKET. SO I HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS FOR YOU IF YOU'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT THE PIT BULL PROBLEM. LET'S ENFORCE MUZZLES AND HARNESSES RATHER THAN BAN THE BREED. LET'S COME UP WITH SOME SOURCE OF A SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM BECAUSE, YES, IT IS AN OVERPOPULATED BREED AS ARE MOST DOGS IN THIS COUNTY AND FINALLY WE NEED TOUGHER FINES AND JAIL TIME FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FIGHTING RINGS AND EXPLOIT THIS BREED. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. BUT THEM IN JAIL AND END THIS AND STOP THE CYCLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, FRANK. OKAY. ADRIAN FIGUEROA. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: SIR, SIR -MAYOR JACOBS: CAN YOU SEE TORI? VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: CAN YOU SEE TORI. MAYOR JACOBS: HE CAN SEE YOU. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: CAN YOU SEE HIM. MAYOR JACOBS: SO, ADRIAN, AFTER I MANGLED YOUR NAME, YOU'RE NOT HERE. OKAY. I'LL PUT YOU IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PILE AND WE'LL TRY AT THE END OF THE DANIEL OHCOSYO. FROM THE FLOOR: YES, OHCOSYO. I'M A RESIDENT OF
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BROWARD, SUNRISE IN PARTICULAR. I'M A FATHER OF THREE, AND I HAVE FOUR DOGS, TWO PIT BULLS, AN ENGLISH BULLDOG AND A FRENCH BULLDOG AND I'M A RESPONSIBLE OWNER. MOTION 52A IS INADEQUATE AND UNEDUCATED BAND-AID SOLUTION TO ADDRESSING RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP AND LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY. THERE IS NOT A SINGLE CREDIBLE SOURCE THAT SUPPORTS BSL AS WE HEARD HUMANE SOCIETY, As PCA. THE NATIONAL CANINE RESEARCH COUNCIL STATES THAT EVERY PROPONENT OF BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION RELIES ON A 10--YEAR-OLD STUDY. THE FINDINGS OF THAT STUDY ARE NOT THE BASE OF ARGUMENT FOR BREED LEGISLATION OF ANY KIND. BSL IS CRUEL AND INEFFECTIVE BY AFFECTING RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS AND ACTIONS -- FOR THE ACTIONS OF THE IRRESPONSIBILITY. IT'S COSTING, AS WE HEARD. IT USES MEDIA AS A SOURCE OF DATA WHICH THEY DO SENSATIONALIZE INFORMATION, DRAMATIZE, CHANNEL 7 NEWS, USE MISSING DATA. TO DETERMINE RISK THERE'S NO SCIENCE BEHIND IT. THIS CAUSES MISCATEGORIZATION AND MISIDENTIFICATION. THEY ARE CATEGORIZED AS A DOG OF SHORT FUR AND A BOXY HEAD WHICH THERE ARE OVER 20 BREEDS OF DOGS THAT FIT THIS DESCRIPTION. LET'S GO THROUGH SOME OF THEM. BOXER, AMERICAN BULLDOG, OLD ENGLISH BULLDOG, ARGUE TENO, BULL TERRIER, BULL MASTIFF, I'M NOT TOO GOOD WITH THAT ONE, LEP PERKED DOG, BLACK MOUTH CURE AND SHAR-PEIS ARE SOME OF WHICH THEY ARE ALSO LEGAL IN MIAMI-DADE. IN 2012, THE AKC IDENTIFIED THE LABRADOR RETRIEVER AS ONE, GERMAN SHEPHERD AND GOLDEN RETRIEVER AS THE TOP DOGS WITH THE BEST TEMPERMENTS. THEY PASSED WITH 87.3 PERCENT. PIT BULLS, AMERICAN BULL TEAR YEARS AND STAFFORD TEAR
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YEARS PASSED WITH THAT SAME. THANK YOU FOR YOU'RE TIME AND THIS INFORMATION I LEFT I LEFT WITH STACY. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. OKAY. WENDY KAPLAN, NICOLE MARTIN FOLLOWING WENDY AND JACQUELINE WINKELMAN. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE NOT ONLY AS A LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF BROWARD COUNTY BUT AS AN EMPLOYEE OF BEST FRIENDS ANIMALS SOCIETY AND ON BEHALF OF THE 1,000 OF OUR MEMBERS WHO CALL BROWARD COUNTY HOME. BEST FRIENDS, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS WORKING TO BRING ABOUT A TIME OF NO MORE HOMELESS PETS. YOU MAY ALSO KNOW WE WERE THE ORGANIZATION WHO TOOK IN THE 22 MOST VICIOUS DOGS FROM MICHAEL VIC'S KENNELS. BEST FRIENDS, MYSELF, AND OUR MEMBERS ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH COMMUNITIES THAT NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM DANGEROUS DOGS, AND WE ALSO WANT ABUSED DOGS TO BE PROTECTED FROM RECKLESS OWNERS. OWNERS WHO PERMIT THEIR DOGS TO RUN LOOSE OR ALLOW THEIR DOGS TO INJURE PEOPLE OR OTHER ANIMALS ARE A PROBLEM IN ANY COMMUNITY. AND THESE RECKLESS OWNERS, AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID, SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE HARM THEY CAUSE. HOWEVER, WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT BREED DISCRIMINATORY LAW DOES NOT MAKE COMMUNITIES ANY SAFER. AND THAT IS WHY OUR STATE PASSED LEGISLATION, SECTION 767.14 NEARLY 25 YEARS AGO. IT'S GOOD LAW. WE DO KNOW THAT EVERYONE, PEOPLE AND PETS, BENEFIT FROM SAFER COMMUNITIES, AND WE WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT ENHANCE
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PUBLIC SAFETY. I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO DANGEROUS DOGS BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S BEEN COVERED, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL DOES NOT ADDRESS THE OVER 2.6 MILLION DOLLARS THAT IT WOULD COST BROWARD COUNTY TO IMPLEMENT THIS LAW. INFORMATION ON THAT IS IN THE PACKETS THAT I DISTRIBUTED, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION. IN THIS TIME OF LIMITED RESOURCES, WE REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO SPENDS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUR COUNTY ON LAWS THAT WE KNOW ARE INEFFECTIVE. THIS IS AMERICA, AND EVERY AMERICAN WHO IS RESPONSIBLE AND FOLLOWS SAFETY DESERVES TO OWN THE BREED OF DOG THAT THEY WANT. IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS SHOULD LOSE THEIR PRIVILEGES, AND MOST OF US AGREE WITH THAT. BEST FRIENDS WOULD BE PRIVILEGED TO HELP YOU AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, WENDY. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, NICOLE MARTIN, FOLLOWED BY JACQUELINE WINKELMAN, FOLLOWED BY SUSANLYDALYYEAH. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: WENDY, YOU'VE BEEN ADDED TO OUR LIST. OKAY. THANK YOU.
FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON. I HOPE YOU ALL ARE SITTING UP THERE WITH AN OPEN MIND. DUE TO IGNORANT, IRRESPONSIBLE, AND JUST DOWN RIGHT EVIL PEOPLE, PIT BULLS ARE BEING LABELED AS AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS AND ARE BEING FOUGHT. THOSE
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SAME EVIL PEOPLE ARE LETTING THEIR DOGS ROAM FREE POTENTIALLY BITING AN INNOCENT PERSON. THOSE DOGS THAT ARE RUNNING LOOSE ARE NOT THE MAJORITY OF PIT BULLS. IT'S MEDIA HYPE THAT'S GIVING YOU THAT STEREOTYPE. THE ORIGINAL TYPE OF DOG THAT WAS KNOWN AS A PIT BULL WAS ENGLISH, IRISH, AND SCOTTISH IMMIGRANTS WERE BRINGING THEM TO THIS COUNTRY TO BE WORKING DOGS TO HELP FAMILIES PROTECT THEIR LIVESTOCK. DURING WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II THIS SAME DOG WAS DEPICTED AS BEING COURAGEOUS. NOW PIT BULLS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN KNOWN AS THE NANNY BREED, TAKING CARE OF TODDLERS AND OTHER SMALL CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THEIR ABILITY TO BE SO GENTLE. AND NONE OF THAT HAS CHANGED. NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VICTIMS OF DOG BITES NEED AN ANSWER, BUT BANNING ONE BREED OF DOG IS NOT THE ANSWER, AND YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR THE ANSWER IN THE WRONG PLACE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BLAME A BREED FOR THE BEHAVIORS THAT THEY'RE LEARNING FROM THEIR HUMAN COUNTERPARTS. WE NEED TO BE BLAMING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TEACHING THESE THINGS TO THEM. IF WE ALLOW PEOPLE THAT ARE CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, BATTERY, AND EVEN MURDER A SECOND CHANCE AT DOING RIGHT IN THIS WORLD, THEN WE SHOULD BE ALLOWING AN INNOCENT ANIMAL THAT'S ABUSED BY THESE PEOPLE TO HAVE A SECOND CHANCE TOO. THE ABUSE ON PIT BULLS HAS TO STOP HERE. HOLD PEOPLE MORE ACCOUNTABLE. PROSECUTE ANIMAL ABUSERS, DOG THIEVES AND DOG FIGHTERS AND GIVE US THE FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY OF BROWARD COUNTY THE ABILITY TO LOVE THE ANIMALS THAT THEY'VE LOVED ALL ALONG. THANK YOU.
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MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, NICOLE. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. AUDIENCE, WE'RE STARTING TO WANDER OFF INTO THE, YOU KNOW, THE WRONG DIRECTION. SO LET'S PULL IT BACK. JACQUELINE WINKELMAN. FROM THE FLOOR: YES. MAYOR JACOBS: SUSAN LADOLEYEAH, FOLLOWED BY CHARLES KEEN. FROM THE FLOOR: HI, MAYOR JACOBS AND THE COMMISSION. I APPRECIATE HAVING A MOMENT TO SPEAK. I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT THE ANTIQUATED LAW THAT THEY HAVE IN MIAMI DID NOT WORK FOR MIAMI, AND THAT'S WHY BARBARA SHARIEF IS SO UPSET BECAUSE NOW SHE HAS TO DEAL WITH IT IN HER OWN COMMUNITY. IF YOU MAKE BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION IN BROWARD, PALM BEACH COUNTY WILL DEAL -- IT WILL GO ALL THE WAY UP THE STATE AND I WILL MOVE. I OWN THREE PIT BULLS, OR YOU COULD CALL THEM PIT BULLS BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT A PIT BULL IS. A LOT OF AMERICAN BULLDOGS HAVE BEEN ATTACKING AND PEOPLE CALL THEM PIT BULLS. THEY'RE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR WHAT TYPE OF DOG THEY ARE, AND WE DON'T PUNISH CARS. WE DON'T PUNISH GUNS. IN FACT, WE DON'T PUNISH CHILDREN THAT MURDER. WE PUNISH THEIR OWNERS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO OUTLAW CHILDREN THAT KILL. WE'RE NOT GOING TO OUTLAW A CERTAIN TYPE OF ETHNICITIES THAT FILL UP OUR JAIL SYSTEM JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE A SPECIFIC TYPE. WHY OUTLAW A DOG? I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH YOUR MIKE. WHY OUTLAW A DOG WHEN THEY'RE NOT A
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SPECIFIC TYPE. MAYOR JACOBS: NO, WE'RE HEARING YOU. FROM THE FLOOR: I LOVE WOULD TO REFERR DEFER TO THE WOMAN DAL YEAH CANES, I'M QUITE LOUD WHETHER I HAVE A LOUDSPEAKER OR NOT, I'D WOULD LIKE TO DEFER MY LAST FEW MINUTES BUT SINCE YOU CAN'T DO IT, WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE A BIGOT LAW IN BROWARD COUNTY OR MY MONEY AND MY DOGS WILL BE LEAVING THIS COUNTY. IT IS COSTING OUR COUNTY MORE MONEY NOW BECAUSE OF MIAMI'S BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. NOW WE PAY TO EUTHANIZE DADE COUNTY DOGS. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE WITH THIS LEGISLATION TO NOT COST ANY MORE MONEY? I HEARD YOU FIGHTING ALL MORNING ABOUT MONEY. THIS IS ABOUT MONEY. YOU'RE COSTING OUR STATE MONEY IF YOU ENACT THIS LAW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES IN WHITE COLLARED SHIRTS -MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, JACQUELINE. FROM THE FLOOR: THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. NEXT IS -(APPLAUSE.) FROM THE FLOOR: DON'T CLAP. MAYOR JACOBS: NEXT IS SUSAN LADOLEYEAH, FOLLOWED BY CHARLES KING, FOLLOWED BY REBECCA OR BECKY NULL. HI, SUSAN. HOW WELL DID I DO ON YOUR NAME. FROM THE FLOOR: NO, MY NAME IS SUSAN ELDOLAN. MAYOR JACOBS: OH, THAT'S AN L AND A PERIOD.
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FROM THE FLOOR: YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T WRITE THAT WELL. MAYOR JACOBS: IT LOOKS LIKE LI. ALL RIGHT.
FROM THE FLOOR: I HAVE BEEN A BROWARD COUNTY RESIDENT SINCE 1984. COMMISSIONER WEXLER, YOU ARE MY REPRESENTATIVE. I AM FROM COOPER CITY. I'M AN ATTORNEY, AND I HAVE BEEN AN ATTORNEY SINCE I MOVED TO THIS STATE IN 1984, AND FOR NINE YEARS BEFORE THAT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND IF THERE'S ONE THING I KNOW, IT'S THE LEGALITIES OF BSL AND THE STATISTICS AND THE COST, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TODAY. WHEN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE ENACTED CHAPTER 767, DAMAGES BY DOGS, ENTER LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS THAT ARE AT 760.10 FLORIDA STATUTES, THEY RECOGNIZED THAT WITH BAD DOG OWNERS THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM AND NOT BAD DOGS (THAT) AND AT 767.14, IT IS SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT HOME RULE OR SPECIFIC COUNTIES OR CITIES CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO ENHANCE THE ENFORCEMENT BUT THEY CAN'T BAN BREEDS, AND THAT'S THE WAY IT STANDS. NOW I CAN ALSO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE COMMUNITY POLICE-BASED -- I'M SORRY, COMMUNITY OPERATING POLICE SERVICES, A WHITE PAPER ISSUED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT TALKS ABOUT POLICE AND HOW THEY ENCOUNTER ANIMALS AND HOW RARE BREED BITES ACTUALLY ARE. IT'S GOING TO COST THIS COMMISSION OR THIS COUNTY $2.64 MILLION TO ENHANCE ANY BREED BAN, AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING THE LAWSUITS THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU TO FIGHT THE ISSUE OF HOME RULE WITH
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THE BROWARD STATE LENT SLATETURE -- THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE. IT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SECTION 1983 LAWSUITS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BROUGHT FOR WRONGFUL CONFISCATION OF KILLING OF DOGS THAT YOU CONSIDER DANGEROUS. SO BEFORE YOU SPEND THAT MONEY ON ENFORCING BSL WHICH IS NOT GOING TO WORE, I SUGGEST YOU TAKE THAT MONEY AND YOU PUT IT TOWARD EXHIBIT B -- OR PART B OF YOUR MOTION AND USE IT TO PUNISH THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNSCRUPULOUSLY USING THIS BREED TO FIGHT AND DO HORRIBLE OTHER THINGS TO OTHER ANIMALS. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, SUSAN. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. AUDIENCE. CHARLES KING, FOLLOWED BY BECKY NULL, FOLLOWED BY JUDY GEARIN. FROM THE FLOOR: HELLO. I'M CHARLES KING. I KNOW THE NINE OF YOU UP THERE ARE AWARE THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, YOU KNOW, IS NOT THE AUTHORITY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT IS. IT'S SMALL TOWN RURAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE ARE DOMINATING THE STATE LEGISLATURE. THEY'RE PASSING CRAZY LAWS RIGHT NOW LIKE GLOCKS AND DOCUMENTS OR GLOCKS AND DOCUMENTS AND A GENERATION AGO THEY CALLED THEM ADDICTIONY CRATS. TODAY THEY CALL THEMSELVES REPUBLICANS BUT THEY'VE FORGOTTEN SOME OF THE TENANTS. THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT OF THE OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (TENETS) TO DECIDE WHAT'S BEST FOR US. THEY'RE TRYING TO RUN THE CITIES LIKE THEY'RE LITTLE MAY BEAR TOWNS UP IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU TRY TO TAKE THIS
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SOVEREIGN TEE BACK AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THESE CITIES DOWN HERE WITH PIT BULLS. I'M A REALTOR OVER AT VICTORIA PARK. I LIVE OVER THERE. OUR PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE DOGFIGHTING RINGS. WE HAVE LIKE LOW-END TENANTS THAT RENT A FORECLOSED HOUSE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR A SHORT SALE. THEY PARADE THESE DOGS AROUND LIKE THEY'VE GOT AN A K 47 OVER THEIR SHOULDER. THEY TERRORIZE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY LET THE DOGS LOOSE. COMPARING THEM TO A GUN OR A CAR, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A GUN OR A CAR JUMPING OVER A FENCE AND GOING OUT AND MALLING SOMEBODY. THESE DOGS, IT'S NOT TEACHING THEM TO BE MEAN OR FIGHT. IN THE ABSENCE OF TRAINING, THEY'RE GOING TO REVERT TO WHAT THEY WERE BRED FOR AND ACT LIKE THESE DOGS WERE CREATED -MAYOR JACOBS: I'M SORRY, CHARLES, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO STOP THERE FOR JUST A MOMENT. YOU HAVE HEARD A LOT OF FOLKS THAT AGREE WITH YOU AND ISN'T IT NICE TO BE STANDING UP HERE WHEN THE WORLDS AT YOUR BACK AND THEY AGREE. I DARE EACH ONE OF YOU STAND AND SPEAK YOUR MIND. YOU'RE THE COMMUNITY HERE TODAY. GIVE THIS SPEAKER AND ANY OTHER ONE YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE SAME RESPECT YOU GIVE THOSE WHO YOU DON'T AGREE WITH, PLEASE. (APPLAUSE.) FROM THE FLOOR: I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THEY ACT AS THOUGH DOGFIGHTING WAS SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE CREATED OUT IN LAUDERHILL. THIS WAS ONE IN STAFFORD SHIRE, ENGLAND. SO IT'S NOT THAT SURPRISING THAT THAT MIGHT OCCUR AGAIN WITHOUT
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PROPER -- I MEAN YOU NEED A LOT OF SUPERVISION OF THESE DOGS. THEY SHOULD PROBABLY BE TREATED LIKE WEAPONS, THAT YOU NEED A LICENSE OF SOME SORT. THE BAR ON OWNING THESE THINGS IS WAY TOO LOW RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE TREATED JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DOG. THEY'RE NOT JUST ANY OTHER DOG. THEY'RE AN ORDER ABOVE THAT. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. REBECCA, BECKY NULL, FOLLOWED BY JUDY GEARRIN, FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA LIEDEN OR PJ, I GUESS SHE GOES BY PJ. HI THERE. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. AND PLEASE FORGIVE ME, I AM NOT GOOD AT PUBLIC SPEAKING. IT IS NOT MY FORTE. MAYOR JACOBS: YOU'RE DOING JUST FINE. FROM THE FLOOR: I'M EXTREMELY NERVOUS HERE, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, AT THE DISCRETION OF MY SUPERVISOR, I AM GOING TO DISCLOSE THAT I AM A BROWARD COUNTY EMPLOYEE, BUT I AM HERE TODAY AS A CITIZEN. I LIVE IN BROWARD COUNTY. I PAY MY TAXES IN BROWARD COUNTY. I JUST PURCHASED A HOME IN THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE BACK IN NOVEMBER. I PURCHASED THAT HOME BASED ON ITS YARD AND THE SOLE REASON FOR BASING THAT PURCHASE ON THE YARD WAS FOR MY DOGS. I DON'T HAVE HUMAN CHILDREN. I HAVE FUR KIDS. I HAVE TATTOOS OF THEIR PAW PRINTS ON MY SHOULDERS. EVERYBODY DOES THEIR KIDS' FOOTPRINTS. MY KIDS' FOOTPRINTS ARE ON ME. ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT IS THE ONSHIP OF THESE DOGS. PIT BULLS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. IT IS THE
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OWNERS THAT ARE THE PROBLEM. I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH VICE MAYOR SHARIEF ON THE FACT THAT DOGS ARE BEING DUMPED IN YOUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE BAN IN MIAMI-DADE. I DON'T DOUBT THAT AT ALL BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT OVER THE BORDERLINE. SO I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU, AND I AGREE THAT THAT IS A PROBLEM. NO DOG SHOULD BE DUMPED ANYWHERE. WHERE I SEE A PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE A LACK OF SUPPORT FROM OUR POLICE COMMUNITIES. EVERYBODY IS EXPECTING ANIMAL CARE AND REGULATION TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. YOU JUST CAN'T EXPECT A SHELTER THAT ONLY HOUSES 100 ANIMALS TO PICK UP EVERY SINGLE STRAY DOG THAT'S OUT THERE AND FIND IT A HOME. THERE SIMPLY AREN'T ENOUGH HOMES. SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS ARE TO GET OUR POLICE BACK INVOLVED. BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE USED TO BE HIGHLY, HIGHLY INVOLVED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY, ABUSE, NEGLECT, FIGHTING CASES. THEY USED TO BE VERY, VERY INVOLVED IN THAT. ONCE THEY TOOK POOR MIKE AD VALOREMNULL AND GAVE HIM THE ELDERLY SERVICES, IT TOOK HIM AWAY. HE DOESN'T HAVE TIME ANYMORE. WE NEED TO GET OUR POLICE COMMUNITY BACK INVOLVED WITH PROTECTING OUR DOGS TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: IF IT'S ALL RIGHT, CAN I ADD YOU TO THE LIST? FROM THE FLOOR: ABSOLUTELY. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. JUDY GARYRIN, JUDY GARYRIN. OKAY. PJ LYNDON OR LIEDEN. OKAY. AFTER PJ IS DESLA ATSONNY, FOLLOWED BY HOLIDAY BEACH COMMISSIONER MICHELLE LAS ROW.
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FROM THE FLOOR: I'M A PROFESSIONAL@LOOET, TRACKING THE RACING INDUSTRY FOR 23 YEARS. I'M A BIG TIME ANIMAL ACTIVIST IN EVERY TIME OF KIND -- AT EVERY LEVEL. I UNDERSTAND ANIMALS VERY WELL AS A HANDLE A 50, 100 POUND ANIMAL THAT CAN TOTALLY CRUSH MY BODY AND CRUSH ME AT EVERY MINUTE. I UNDERSTAND ANIMALS VERY THOROUGHLY. I'VE BEEN AIRLIFTED TWO TIMES IN MY LOOICHLT I'VE BEEN IN THE INTENSIVE CARE SIX TIMES AND ANIMALS HAVE HEALED MY LIFE. THE VIBRATION OF ANIMALS IS POWERFUL. WHEN WE'RE ON A COMMUNITY THAT IS GOING TO MAKE A BSL OR BREEDER DIMNARY LEGISLATION, WE'RE ACTUALLY DISCONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE ALL NEED WHICH IS LOVE. WE ALL RECOGNIZE WHAT LOVE IS, WHETHER IT COMES IN A PERSON'S FORM OR AN IN ANIMAL FORM WHICH ANIMALS ARE PURE LOVE. THEY DON'T HAVE THE EGO DEVELOPED TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES, BUT THEY ARE DEFINITELY MIRRORS OF WHO WE ARE. WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IS GOING ON. THE DOG THAT IS BEING BRED IN BACKYARDS THAT DO NOT BELONG THAT WAY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE WHY DOGS ARE ROAMING THE STREET. WE DON'T HAVE THEM REGISTERED WITH THE AKa WHICH IS WHERE THEY SHOULD BE IF THEY'RE ACTUALLY BREEDING. I'M NOT FOR BREEDING SINCE WE HAVE 8 MILLION ANIMALS PUT DOWN A YEAR WHICH IS SO UNFAIR TO ANIMALS. WE ARE THEIR VOICE. WE'RE A GREAT COMMUNITY. WE KNOW HOW TO WORK TOGETHER. WE UNDERSTAND PEOPLE GET HURT AND RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BROKEN MY HEART AND
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BEAT ME UP AND DID HORRIBLE THINGS TO ME BUT I CAN'T BLAME EVERY MAN IN MY LIFE IN THE WORLD FOR ONE MAN THAT I UNFORTUNATELY MADE A BAD DECISION WITH. SO I HOPE YOU REALIZE, BUT I HOPE YOU REALIZE THAT ANIMALS NEED US JUST AS MUCH AS WE NEED THEM MORE. IF WE HAD NO ANIMALS IN THIS WORLD, THIS PLACE WOULD BE VERY UGLY. I HOPE YOU CAN TAKE THIS QUOTE FROM GANDHI, THE GREATNESS OF A NATION AND ITS MORAL PROGRESS CAN BE JUDGED BY HOW ITS ANIMALS ARE TREATED. THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER IS DESLA ATSONNY AND I THINK, PJ, VICE MAYOR SHARIEF WANTS TO ADD YOU TO HER LIST. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: PATRICIA, IS THAT OKAY? FROM THE FLOOR: YES, PLEASE. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: OKAY. MAYOR JACOBS: DESLA, AND MICHELLE LAS ROW AND PHILIPPE SOSA. DESLA, ARE YOU DESLA. FROM THE FLOOR: I'M NOT. I AM THE HAL DIAL BEACH CITY COMMISSIONER. I JUST WANT TO SAY REAL QUICK THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING WHEN THE GENTLEMAN WAS SPEAKING PRO THE ORDINANCE THE MEDIA ALL JUMPED UP TO GRAB THAT SHOT. SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY ATTORNEY. TODAY I'M HERE AS A BROWARD COUNTY RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER, TAXPAYER, AND A LONG-TIME VOLUNTEER OF BROWARD ANIMAL CARE AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU
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ABOUT 52B, THE FEES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED TODAY. I WANT TO PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF THIS INCREASE. WORKING MOTHER, SALLY LEAVES THE GATE HOPE, FIDO GETS OUT, HE'S ADVENTUROUS, AND UNFORTUNATELY HE HAS NO TAG SO A GOOD SAMARITAN DROPS HIM OFF. NEXT MORNING, MOM CALLS IF HE IS THERE. THAT WILL BE $300 AND RARELY DOES NOT REGISTERED GO WITHOUT NOT BEING VACCINATED SO NOW THAT'S $600. BUT WAY, NOT YET MOM. THERE'S ALSO $125 DOG AT LARGE FEE AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE $30 IMPOUNDMENT FEE AND WHAT'S THAT, YOU CAN'T GET HERE UNTIL SERGEANTS DAY AND IT'S THURSDAY, THAT'S $20 SO THAT'S $60. SO LET'S SEE WHAT MOM ACTUALLY OWES FOR FIDO WHO ACTUALLY GOT OUT BY ACCIDENT. $850. DOES THAT SEEM FAIR TO YOU. I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THAT. AS A BROWARD COUNTY WHO HAS WORKED ON PHONES AND I'VE HEARD PEOPLE CRYING FOR $150 IN FINES BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THEIR PETS BACK. SHELTER TOLD ME JUST TELL THEM TO COME DOWN. YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE OR FINE SOMEONE INTO BEING A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER. THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE GAVE YOU A FEE SCHEDULE AND CHAPTER 4 THAT THEY WORKED ON FOR THREE YEARS AND OBVIOUSLY THEY FELT THOSE PENALTIES WERE FAIR AND REALISTIC. LET ME JUST SEE WHERE I AM. BROWARD COUNTY ANIMAL CARE CHANGED ITS NAME FROM ANIMAL CARE AND ADOPTION BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER WANTED TO BE THE BAD DOG CATCHER. THIS INCREASE IS MAKING THEM THAT. THEY SHOULD BE A WELCOME RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT SHOULD BE THERE FOR OUTREACH. IT'S NOT AN AGENCY TO BE FEARED
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AND THATTED AND STATISTICS (SHATED) SHOW THAT THESE FINES WILL BE COLLECTED. WHAT YOU WILL COLLECT IS HUNDREDS OF DOGS WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO CLAIM THEM. COUNT ON IT. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS PHILIPPE SOSA, FOLLOWED BY RICHARD SANDERS, FOLLOWED BY WENDY MARTIN. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M NOT TEXTING. I'M USING MY NOTES ON MY PHONE. MAYOR JACOBS: A MODERN SPEAKER. FROM THE FLOOR: A COUNTYWIDE BAN ON PIT BULLS WILL NOT BOTHER THE CRIMINALS THAT EITHER MISTREAT, ABUSE, NEG COLLECT, OR TRAIN THESE NATURALLY DOS CYCLE ANIMALS TO TURN TOWARDS AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. THIS BAN WILL ONLY EFFECT AND PENALIZE THE RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER THAT HAS DEDICATED THEIR LIVE TOWARDS LOVING AND CARING FOR THEIR COMPANIONS. OUR DADE COUNTY NEIGHBORS ARE PROOF THAT BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION IS INEFFECTIVE BECAUSE THE ISSUES THAT THEIR COUNTY HAS ENCOUNTERED HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THEIR BAN. SO INSTEAD OF PROPOSING A BAN THAT WOULD OUTLAW THE AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER WHICH IN MY OPINION IS THE MOST LOVING AND AFFECTIONATE ANIMAL I HAVE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF RAISING AND ALSO ARE PERHAPS THE QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN DOG BREED AD ARE HISTORICALLY ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE BALD EAGLE, I ASK THE COMMISSION TO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT
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PROTECT OUR BELOVED KAY NAN COMPANIONS AND RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HELP US COMBAT ANIMAL ABUSE, END ILLEGAL DOGFIGHTING RACKETS IN BROWARD COUNTY. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU (CANINE). MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. GOOD JOB. ALL RIGHT. WHO IS NEXT? RICHARD SANDERS, FOLLOWED BY WENDY MARTIN. IS RICHARD HERE? ARE YOU RICHARD? I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE JUST CHANGING SEATS. GOOD AFTERNOON. FROM THE FLOOR: REALLY NOT TOO MUCH MORE I COULD SAY. EVERYBODY SAID EVERYTHING THAT THERE IS TO SAY POSITIVE. I OWN PIT BULLS. I HAVE KIDS. I WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING IN THE WORLD BESIDES PART B. YEAH, AND MAKE HIGHER FINES. DO WHATEVER YOU'VE GOT TO DO THAT WAY. DON'T PUNISH THE DOGS, AND I MEAN THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. I'M SURE EVERYBODY IN HERE LOVES THEIR DOG. IT'S OBVIOUS. YOU KNOW, ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS PLEASE THEIR OWNERS. THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL THEY'RE THERE FOR. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. I MUST SAY FOR ALL OF YOU WHO THINK YOU'RE NOT GREAT SPEAK SERS, YOU'RE ALL DOING JUST FINE. OKAY. WENDY MARTIN, NOT TO SAY THAT YOU WEREN'T A GOOD SPEAKER. WENDY MARTIN, FOLLOWED BY MARIA SCHULTZ, FOLLOWED BY TRICKSCY BA NIL LA. FROM THE FLOOR: HI, MY NAME IS WENDY SUGAR MARTIN. I'M A HOLLYWOOD RESIDENT AND I COME TO HOLLYWOOD AS A RATHER INTERESTING WAY BECAUSE MY ENTIRE FAMILY LIVES IN MIAMI-DADE, BUT I
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RESCUED A PIT BULL AND SO I MOVED TO BROWARD. MY DOG IS THE SWEETEST THING, WOULDN'T HURT -- WOULDN'T HURT A KID. IN MY APARTMENT BUILDING, EVERY KID WOULD HANG ON THIS DOG. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OWNERS. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE. YOU EVEN SAID, VICE MAYOR, THE ISSUE IS IRRESPONSIBLE PEOPLE. LET'S ADDRESS THOSE IRRESPONSIBLE PEOPLE. YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO HURT ME. YOU'RE GOING TO FORCE THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS TO COVERTLY KEEP PIT BULLS IN THEIR HOMES, RIGHT? I MEAN NO ONE IS GOING TO STOP. I ALSO RESCUE THEM. DO YOU THINK I WANT TO RESCUE DOGS? I HAVE A PARVO PUPPY IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE SOMEBODY DIDN'T GET HIM SHOTS. HE CONTRACTED PARVO. HE'S NOW WEIGHING 20 POUNDS AND HE'S FIVE MONTHS OLD. I DON'T WANT OUR DOGS TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF IRRESPONSIBLE HUMANS ANYMORE. I IMPLORE YOU TO CREATE STIFFER FINES, STIFFER PENALTIES FOR THESE PEE WHO DON'T GET VACCINATIONS (PEOPLE). THEY HAVE A SPOT PROGRAM IN BROWARD. YOU CAN GET YOUR DOG NEUTERED FOR $25 I THINK, $20 IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT. LET THEM GET THEIR SHOTS FOR A DISCOUNTED RATES. LET'S PUT THE MONEY INTO AN IDEA THAT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR THE DOGS, ALL THE DOGS IN OUR COUNTY, NOT JUST ONE SPECIFIC BREED. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIA SCHULTZ. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY, VICE MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: GOOD AFTERNOON.
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FROM THE FLOOR: THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH THAT CAN BE SAID BY NOW, SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO A PACKET THAT I SENT EARLIER THIS MORNING WHERE YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SUN-SENTINEL PAID A POLL TODAY, I MEAN DURING THE WEEK AND 65 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE IN BROWARD COUNTY WOULD LIKE NOT TO HAVE A BSL. ON THE NEXT PAGE, YOU ALSO HAVE THE CHAPTER 767 DAMAGE BY DOGS WHERE IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR YOU TO TARGET A SPECIFIC BREED, AND THEN ALSO YOU HAVE A LOVELY PICTURE OF A LITTLE PIT BULL O ON A PETITION THAT WITHIN ONE AND A HALF DAYS, ONE AND A HALF BUSINESS DAYS WE GOT ALMOST 5,000 SIGNATURES. WHEN I POSTED IT THIS MORNING, THERE WERE 4,200 AND SOME BUT RIGHT NOW WE JUST CHECKED, WE HAVE 4,805 SIGNATURES. SO IT IS A PRETTY GOOD CHUNK OF VOTERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE DOGS SAFE (ON A PETITION). UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, BSL IS NOTHING MORE THAN PREJUDICE, AND WE DON'T NEED THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE JUST CAME BACK FROM NORTH CAROLINA WHERE I RESCUED TWO PIT BULLS, AND WHAT NORTH CAROLINA DOES RIGHT NOW, IT GIVES YOU DISCOUNTS ON RENEWING THE LICENSING FOR YOUR DOGS IF THEY'RE NEUTERED, IF THEY'RE MICROCHIPED. LET'S HELP OWNERS BE RESPONSIBLE. LET'S GIVE THEM INCENTIVES. LET'S HAVE A PROGRAM, AND I AM SURE A LOT OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS WOULD HELP WITH COSTS FOR SPAY/NEUTER. THAT SHOULD BE MANDATORY. NOBODY SHOULD BE BREEDING ANY DOGS WITH SO MANY OUT THERE NEEDING HOMES. LET'S MAKE THEM ALL MICROCHIPED AND LET'S MAKE A DATABASE OF DOG ABUSERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER FIGHTS THOSE ANIMALS WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO
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PUT THEIR HANDS ON ANOTHER ANIMAL AGAIN. NO ANIMAL ABUSER SHOULD BE WALKING ON THE STREETS EITHER. SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS -- I THINK IT'S TRICKSCY BANILLA. IT'S SPELLED VERY DIFFERENT. TREaXEy OEA. FROM THE FLOOR: MY NAME IS TRICKS SEE YA AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A STORY. THIS IS HONEY. I'M SURE YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT WHEN WE RESCUED -- I RESCUE HONE, AT THE SAME TIME MY MOM RESCUE A (HONEY)SHIH TZU. THE PEOPLE GAVE HIM HEART ONE POSITIVE, MAMMARY TUMORS, CAME WITH A BROKEN JAW, BROKEN LEG. HER EARS WERE CUT IN HALF, NOT PIT BULL TYPE BUT REALLY CUT LIKE THIS. AND MY MOM'S SHIH TZU CAME WITH A RASH. MY MOM'S SHIH TZU WITH A RASH BIT FOUR PEOPLE. MY PIT BULL, NOT ONE. IT WAS KISSES AND KISSES AND LOVE. NOT ONCE SHE EVER DEMONSTRATED SOME TYPE OF AGGRESSIVENESS EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN. SO IS IT FAIR TO EUTHANIZE THE PIT BULL BECAUSE SHE'S A PIT BULL? NO. THIS HAS TO BE ADDRESSED ON A SINGLE CASE. IT CAN NOT BE CONSIDERED LIKE ALL PIT BULLS ARE BAD JUST BECAUSE WE THINK THEY ARE. NO, THERE ARE A LOT OF LITTLE ONES THAT ARE BAD ALSO, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO EUTHANIZE THEM RIGHT? IT'S JUST THE PIT BULL BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD A BAD RAP BUT THAT'S THE CASE. NOT ALL OF THEM ARE LIKE THAT. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE RESCUE WITH MY FRIEND HERE AND WE'VE HAD FOUR DIFFERENT PIT BULLS. NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER, EVER BITTEN ANYBODY THAT GOES TO
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THE STORE. THE LITTLE ONES HAVE BITTEN LIKE AROUND TEN PEOPLE. SO, YEAH- SHE BIT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY. THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS 12 YEARS OLD AND EVERY TIME WE WOULD SEE HERE, SHE WOULD BIT. SO IT'S NOT NOT FAIR, NOT FAIR THAT WE WOULD JUST CONSIDER (JUST NOT) PASSING THIS LAW BASED ON HOW A DOG LOOKS. IT HAS TO BE ON A DAILY BASIS, AND, AGAIN, LIKE THE REST OF US SAID, LET'S NOT -- LET'S NOT PENALIZE THE DOG. LET'S PENALIZE THE OWNER. THEY'RE THE ONE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE ON HOW TO TAKE CARE AND EDUCATE THEIR PETS. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT IS MICHAEL WARTARARROW, GA WATTRARROW. MICHAEL. I PROBABLY WASN'T EVEN CLOSE. FROM THE FLOOR: YOU WERE. GAWATTRARROW: GOOD EVENING, GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY SIDE OF THIS. I'M NOT REALLY GOOD AT -- I'M REALLY OUTSIDE THE BOX OF MYSELF RIGHT NOW. EVERYBODY BROUGHT UP SOME VERY IMPORTANT FACTS, AND I HAVE THEM WRITTEN DOWN HERE. I'M NOT GOING TO REITERATE THEM JUST IN ORDER TO SAVE TIME. I DO APPLAUD YOU FOR TAKING INFORMATION FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DELIVERING FACTS, NOT JUST FEELINGS. IT'S FACTS. KNEE-JERK LEGISLATION MADE ON FEAR GOES NOWHERE. WE NEED FACTS. WE NEED EDUCATION, AND THEN YOU MAKE LEGISLATION. AND I WOULD IMPLORE YOU TO FAIL THIS MOTION AS IT IS NOW OR TABLE IT, GET TOGETHER WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE FACTS, WANT TO GIVE THE FACTS AND MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND THEN MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE TO THE LEGISLATION IN FLORIDA.
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MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MICHAEL. OKAY. CARLOS RODRIGUEZ FOLLOWED BY LISA SCHILLER, FOLLOWED BY SHARON ATTATHAT'SSEE[YOU|TO]. HI THERE. FROM THE FLOOR: HOW ARE YOU DOING? MAYOR JACOBS: I'M DOING WELL. AND YOU? FROM THE FLOOR: UNITED STATES MARINE. MY FATHER WAS ALSO IN THE MILITARY AND MY GRANDFATHER WAS IN THE MILITARY. I HAVE OWNED PIT BULLS SINCE THE DAY I GOT OUT OF THE MARINE CORPS. WHY? BECAUSE MY DRILL INSTRUCTOR SAID: THIS IS OUR MOTTO. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE. I DON'T BELIEVE -- I'VE TRAINED DOGS IN THE MILITARY. I'VE TRAINED DOGS -- I DON'T BELIEVE EVERYBODY SHOULD OWN A PIT BULL, BUT NOT EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE KIDS EITHER. MAYOR JACOBS: I THINK YOU'RE TOO TALL FOR THE MICROPHONE. FROM THE FLOOR: SORRY ABOUT THAT. I GET 30 MORE SECONDS. MAYOR JACOBS: NICE TRY. WHO WANTS TO GIVE HIM THEIR 30 SECONDS? I'M TEASING. FROM THE FLOOR: I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD OWN A PIT BULL. NOT EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE KIDS. NOT EVERYBODY IS RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH FOR A LOT OF THINGS SINGLING THIS BREED OUT IS A BIG MISTAKE. YEAH, WE'RE DUMPING GROUNDS FOR MIAMI, OF COURSE, BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS THEIR DOGS GETTING KILLED. SO THEY BRING THEM OVER HERE HOPING SOMEBODY WILL PICK THEM UP. IF WE DO THE SAME THING, WE'RE GOING TO PASS THE BUCK UP TO WEST
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PALM. REMEMBER DOGFIGHTING IS A CULTURE. YOU'VE GOT TO GO AFTER THAT. YOU KNOW, IS $500 ENOUGH? NOT WHEN WE'RE MAKING 5 GRAND IF WE WIN. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? SO YOU DO NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT AREA AND GO AFTER THAT MORE SPECIFICALLY. OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S A STEP BACKWARDS IF WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'M FOR STEP B, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT SHOULD BE REFINED BECAUSE NORMAL PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD IT. MAYBE WE SHOULD GET TAX BREAKS OR TAX EXEMPTION OR TAX WHATEVER, I DON'T KNOW, SOMETHING TO HELP PEOPLE WITH VACCINATIONS AND SPAY AND NEUTER, START A PROGRAM LIKE THAT, THAT TYPE OF THING. THANKS. MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER, LISA SCHILLER, FOLLOWED BY FOLLOWED SHARON@NOSYO, FOLLOWED BY NATALIE MARTIN. FROM THE FLOOR: HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, LISA SCHILLER. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY. I AM A RESIDENT IN BROWARD COUNTY. I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A HOME IN BROWARD COUNTY. I AM A PIT BULL OWNER. I BELIEVE I AM A RESPONSIBLE PIT BULL OWNER. I AM A LAWYER. I'M A SHAREHOLDER IN A LAW FIRM. I SUPPORT THE POSITION THAT IS BEING BROUGHT TODAY BY VICE MAYOR. THE POSITION I SUPPORT IS, YES, LET'S FINE BAD PIT PULL OWNERS OR FIGHTING DOGS, ET CETERA. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH BEING A PIT BULL OWNER AND BEING REQUIRED TO BRING MY DOG TO TRAINING AS A RIERLT. I DON'T WANT TO MUZZLE MY DOG. I WILL ALWAYS HAVE MY DOG ON A LEASH. I SUPPORT ANY FINE FOR ANYBODY THAT DOES ANYTHING WRONG
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WITH ANY DOG. I DON'T WANT A PIT BULL RUNNING AT ME ON THE STREET. I ON A PIT BULL AND I'D BE SCARED IF I SAW SOME PIT PULL RUNNING AT ME ON THE STREET. MY DOG IS A 74-POUND DOG. TRUST ME, IF SOMEONE SAW HIM COMING WITHOUT A LEASH, I THINK THEY'D BE SCARED. HE WILL NEVER NOT BE ON A LEASH. SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE INNOVATORS HERE. I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO BE THE COUNTY THAT DOES EVERYTHING EVERY OTHER COUNTY DOES THAT FORCES THE NEXT COUNTY TO DO THE SAME THING AND THE SAME THING TO, WHAT, ELIMINATE THE BREED? IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. SO LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIND WAYS TO DO IT. I'M HAPPY TO HELP IN THAT REGARD. I'M HAPPY TO FIND WAYS TO HELP THE COMMISSION ENFORCE LAWS THAT WILL MAKE US INNOVATORS, THAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY OR THE WORLD ACTUALLY CAN LOOK TO AND GO: WELL, LOOK WHAT THEY DID IN BROWARD COUNTY, AND NOW WE HAVE RESPONSIBLE PIT BULL OWNERS AND NO MORE PIT BULLS RUNNING AROUND ON THE STREETS BITING PEOPLE OR ANY DOGS HOPEFULLY RUNNING AROUND ON THE STREETS BITING PEOPLE. MY POINT IS I'M HAPPY TO GIVE MY NAME AND I'M HAPPY TO HELP AND I JUST HOPE THAT YOU'LL AMEND OR WITHDRAW THE MOTION TODAY AND CONSIDER IT AT A LATER TIME AFTER THE ASSISTANCE FROM THESE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT IS SHARON@THAT'SYOU. FROM THE FLOOR: SHARON HAD TO LEAVE. MAYOR JACOBS: OH, SHE HAD TO LEAVE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. FOLLOWED BY NATALIE MARTIN, FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE
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MONTLIEU, AND TIM SMITH. FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR JACOBS: WE'RE ABOUT 11 AWAY, WELL, CONSIDERING WE STARTED WITH 63, WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD: HI. FROM THE FLOOR: SORRY. GOOD AFTERNOON. BEAR WITH ME. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. BEFORE I START MY LITTLE -- BEFORE I START MY WRITTEN SPEECH, I JUST WANT TO SHARE A PIECE OF MY WEEKEND WITH YOU GUYS. I LEFT MY 19-MONTH-OLD AS A NEW MOTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME OVER THE WEEKEND TO GO TO A BACHELOR LET PARTY FOR A REALLY CLOSE FRIEND. I WAS FREAKING OUT AND I CALLED SATURDAY MORNING TO CHECK HOW SHE WAS, AND THE RESPONSE WAS: SHE'S FINE. SOPHIE IS BY THE DOOR, HASN'T EATEN, HASN'T MOVED FROM THERE. SOPHIE IS MY THREE-YEAR-OLD PIT PULL. MY NAME IS NATALIE MARTIN. I'M A MOTHER OF A 19 MONTH OLD GIRL. ONE OF THEM IS A THREE-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN STAFFORD SHIRE, I RESCUED. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO PLEAD TO YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF BSL IS ENACTED IN BROWARD. THE HUMAN RACE IS ONE THAT CONSISTS OF MANY RACES. JUST LIKE DOGS, CONSIST OF MANY BREEDS. THE ACTION OF ONE DOG OR HUMAN CANNOT BE USED TO DESCRIBE ITS ENTIRE BREED OR RACE. I CURRENTLY DRIVE ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO SIX HOURS A DAY TO LEGALLY MAINTAIN MY DOGS. MY OVER TURNING STATE LAW, YOU WILL BE HURTING PEOPLE LIKE ME. I'M IN MIAMI -- I'M IN BROWARD BECAUSE OF BSL. I WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL FULL TIME IN MIAMI. YOU WILL NOT BE HURTING THE PEOPLE WITH DANGEROUS DOGS. THOSE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THEIR DOGS. I URGE YOU
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TODAY TO DEDICATE YOUR ENERGY TO HELPING ALL BREEDS OF DOGS. ENACT SPAY AND NEUTER, RAISE PUNISHMENT ON THOSE THAT HURT ANY DOGS, AND STOP PEOPLE FROM USING DOGS AS PROTECTION. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE ALARM SYSTEMS. WITH THAT SAID, THERE ARE PROGRAMS RIGHT NOW FOR SPAY AND NEUTER, LIKE THE SPOT PROGRAM. BY ENACTING BSL, YOU MIGHT NOT HURT ME, BUT YOU WILL HURT THOSE PROGRAMS. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, SHARON. FROM THE FLOOR: AND STOP BACKYARD BREEDING, PLEASE. THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM STARTS. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. OKAY. NATALIE MARTIN. FROM THE FLOOR: YES. MAYOR JACOBS: I'M SORRY. WRONG CARD. STEPHANIE MONTLIEUWOW, FOLLOWED BY TIM SMITH, FOLLOWED BY DON HANNA. FROM THE FLOOR: HI, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE MONTOVVO AND I'M A VOTER. I'M ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER IN BROWARD COUNTY. WE MOVED EVERYTHING FROM MIAMI-DADE TO BROWARD COUNTY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS MORE, HOW SHOULD I SAY, EDUCATED AND REALIZED ISSUES IN A DIFFERENT MANNER. I'M ALSO -- I VOLUNTEER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT FOR BROWARD COUNTY. I'M A MASTER NATURAL LIST, HABITAT STEWARD, AND I RESCUE A TON OF CREATURES, SMALL TO GIANT. I HAVE BEEN BIT BY EVERYTHING EXCEPT BULLY BREEDS. I HAVE A BULLY BREED, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT MY DISABLED VETERAN HUSBAND, THAT DOG HAS SAVED HIS LIFE, AND HE THE OTHER WAY. WHEN WE GOT THE BULLY BREED, WE GOT HIM, HE'S PIT PULL MIX, WE GOT HIM
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BECAUSE WE LIVE HERE IN BROWARD AND THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS GOT A TRAINER AND IN WH THE TRAINER SAW HIM, HE SAW HIM IN THE VERY BEGINNING, HE HAD BITE WOUNDS ALL OVER HIS BUTT AND HIS ARMS AND LEGS AND HE SAID THIS DOG WAS PROBLY USED AS A BAIT DOGS SO HE WAS ONE OF THE DOGS THAT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAUGHT TO FIGHT. SO WAS MY HUSBAND. I'M NOT GOING TO BAN HIM. SO HE WAS TAUGHT TO FIGHT. WHAT WE DID WAS WE TRAINED THE DOG AND THE DOG IS FINE. HIS BEST FRIEND IS A TWO AND A HALF POUND RABBIT, A DWARF RABBIT WHICH I HAVE EIGHT OF THEM. HE'S NEVER BIT, BEEN AGGRESSIVE TO ANY OF THEM, NOT TO KIDS, NOT TO BIRDS, NOT TO ANYTHING. IT'S THE PEOPLE AND WHEN I RESCUE ANIMALS OUT OF BACKYARDS I'VE TAKEN DOGS THAT ARE AGGRESSIVE AND WHEN THEY WORK WITH ME, I'VE GIVE THEM TO SOMEBODY ELSE, THEY'RE NOT AGGRESSIVE ANYMORE. IT'S THE PEOPLE. WE JUST STARTED A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND WE GOT OUR 501(C)(3) STATUS AND WE'RE GOING TO PAIR VETERANS WITH DOGS THAT ARE IN SHELTERS. THEY NEED TO COME TOGETHER BECAUSE BOTH OF THEM WERE FOUGHT TO FIGHT AND BOTH OF THEM CAN BE TAUGHT TO NOT FIGHT. THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. OKAY. TIM SMITH. IS TIM SMITH STILL HERE? NO. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: STEPHANIE. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. DON HANNA. FROM THE FLOOR: YEAH, TOTALLY. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. DON HANNA) (HI THERE.
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FROM THE FLOOR: HI THERE. I'M DAWN HANNA, I'M A FORT LAUDERDALE RESIDENT AND I'M A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER. THAT MEANS I DEAL WITH AGGRESSIVE DOGS ON A DAILY BASIS. I'VE READ THROUGH SOME OF THE BACKUP THAT THE VICE MAYOR PROVIDED AND I'M FEELING DEJA VU. I FEEL LIKE PERRY THURSTON DID THIS TWO YEARS AGO AND I'M SO TIRED OF COMING UP HERE AND DEALING WITH UNVETTED SENSATIONAL STORIES THAT WERE MADE UP TO SELL PAPERS, YET WE STILL BELIEVE THIS STUFF, AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU AS A PROFESSIONAL THAT PIT BULLS ARE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DOGS. THEY HAVE TEETH AND THEY WILL BITE, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYBODY, INCLUDING YOU, VICE MAYOR, FELL FOR THE PIT BULL SUPER POWER MAGIC LOCKING JAW THEORY. IT DOESN'T EXIST. SO I EMPATHIZE WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF BITES. I DEAL WITH THEM DAILY. THE BILL THAT SENATOR HILL AND REPRESENTATIVE THURSTON GOT SHOT DOWN. IT'S BECAUSE COOLER HEADS PREVAILED. IF YOU HAD PLAYED BACK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WENT UP TO TALLAHASSEE TO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT PIT BULLS, WE WOULD HAVE AVOIDED ALL OF THIS. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE CAN GO BACK TO RESCUES. WE DO HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO. OUR PROPERTY VALUES ARE AWFUL. WE HAVE LOTS OF HOMELESS AND LOTS OF CRIME, AND WE HAVE ALSO ECONOMIC THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. I NEED TO GET BACK TO SERVING MY CLIENTS. ALL THESE PEOPLE SPENT THE WHOLE DAY HERE, OKAY, SO PLEASE, LET US GO BACK TO OUR FUND-RAISING. LET US GO BACK TO OUR RESCUE WORK, AND PLEASE DON'T BRING THIS UP AGAIN. JUST REWIND THIS AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN. OKAY. THANK YOU.
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(APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. NEXT UP IS TAMARA CHASE FOLLOWED BY BONNIE FLOOR, FOLLOWED BY JOEY WYNN. TIME IS UP ALREADY. FROM THE FLOOR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HI. MY NAME IS TAMARA CHASE. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU PASS ALONG ALL OF THE -- ALL OF THE TESTIMONY YOU'VE HEARD TODAY BECAUSE I NOTICE THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS MISSING THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THE PRESENTATION SO FAR, AND I'M HOPING Y'ALL ARE STILL AWAKE BY THIS POINT TOO. THIS IS AWFULLY LONG, BUT THE REASON IS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN EITHER TOUCHED BY A PIT BULL OR A PIT BULL TYPE BREED. I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH THE BREED-SPECIFIC DISCRIMINATION IS THE WAY IT'S WORDED, IT'S LIKE, WHERE DOES IT END? YOU KNOW, IT DESCRIBES PIT BULL BREED CHARACTERISTICS. I MEAN IT LISTS SEVERAL PIT BULL TYPES. WHERE DOES IT END? AT WHAT POINT IS YOUR DOG SAFE? I HAVE BEEN A BRAURD RESIDENT SINCE 1979. I OWN A HOME HERE. I OWN A COMPANY HERE, AND (BROWARD) I'D HATE TO THINK THAT I COULDN'T RESCUE ANOTHER DOG BECAUSE IT'S PASSED THE TIME OF GRANDFATHERING IN OF OUR PIT BULLS. I ONCE BELIEVED THE HYPE THAT MEDIA HAD PUT IN, AND IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A PIT BULL TYPE. IT'S A BAT OWNER TYPE. WE'VE ALREADY -- I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER EVERYTHING EVERYONE HAS ALREADY MENTIONED TODAY, BUT DISCRIMINATING AGAINST JUST ONE PARTICULAR TYPE ISN'T REALLY HELPING ANYTHING. WE'VE REALLY GOT TO PUT IN SOME BETTER MOTIONS FOR -- GET THESE DOGS NEUTERED AND
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SPAYED AND NOT -- THE DOGFIGHTING IS JUST -- IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE A FINE THAT'S ACCEPTABLE FOR THAT. BUT I DID BELIEVE THE HYPE FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL I MET A PIT BULL THAT STOLE MY HEART AND UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN HE DIED OF CANCER, I -- HE WASN'T MY HOUSE WITH MY 19 AND 21-YEAR-OLD AND TURNED HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE INTO PIT BULL LOVERS AS WELL. THAT'S MY TIME. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, TAMARA. THAT'S YOUR TIME. FROM THE FLOOR: THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. BONNIE, IS IT FLOOR, AND JOEY WYNN AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER, MICHAEL RAINEAR. OKAY. SO, BONNIE, ARE YOU HERE? OH, I THOUGHT THAT WAS BONNIE. OKAY. I GET BONNIE IS NOT HERE. JOEY WYNN. JOEY WYNN. OKAY. AND MICHAEL RAYNEAR. THERE YOU ARE. HI, MICHAEL. FROM THE FLOOR: IT'S LIKE THE PRICE IS RIGHT COMING ALL THE WAY DOWN FROM UP THERE. MAYOR JACOBS: YOU FORGOT THE THEATRICS. FROM THE FLOOR: WELL, I SAVE THAT FOR OTHER THINGS, BUT I QUICKLY WANT TO JUST -- I E-MAILED MANY OF YOU EARLIER. I WANT TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO MOTION A. AMERICAN PIT BULL TEARERS, AMERICAN STAFFORD SHIRE TEAR YEARS, STAR FORD SHIRE BULL TEAR YEARS, THEY'RE REFERRED TO AS BULLIES. I RECENTLY WAS INTRODUCED TO THIS BY A FRIEND OF MINE WHO ACTUALLY ASKED ME ONE TIME TO HELP OUT AND RESCUE A BULLY AND DO A TRANSPORT FROM -- OF THE ORLANDO AREA TO THE PALM BEACH AREA, AND I JUST GOT TO SEE HOW PASSIONATE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS
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WHO REALLY WANT TO RESCUE THESE DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN ABUSED AND GIVE THEM LOVING HOME TO GET THEM INTO MEDICAL CARE, I WAS REALLY OVERWHELMED BY THAT AND I'VE BEEN AROUND PIT BULLS ALL MY LIFE. MY FAMILY HAS HAD ONE AND THEY'RE AMAZING ANIMALS. YOU KNOW, I THINK THESE BULLIES ARE NOT THE KIND OF BULLIES LIKE ALAN WEST. IN THE HOMES, YOU KNOW WHERE I'VE ENCOUNTERED BULLIES, THESE LOVING AND PRECIOUS ANIMALS HAVE OFTEN BEEN RESCUED FROM INHUMANE CONDITIONS. I DO SUPPORT MOTION B WITH MODIFICATIONS. THE FINE SHOULD BE GREATER THAN WHAT IT'S STATED IN THERE AND IT SHOULD INCLUDE PENALTIES TEACHING ONE OF THESE ANIMALS HOW TO FIGHT. I WOULD CERTAINLY STRONGLY IMPLORE THE COUNTY TO CONSIDER PRISON TIME FOR INDIVIDUALS TEACHING THESE DOGS TO FIGHT. IF WE CAN LOCK OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SLEEPING ON A PARK BENCH THAT ARE HOMELESS OR AT ONE TIME I KNOW THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE IN THIS COUNTY, WE CERTAINLY CAN LOOK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY INVITING AND ENDANGERING OUR COMMUNITIES AND GREATER HARM. YOU KNOW, I KNOW, COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER, YOU AND I, WE'RE BOTH SOCIAL WORKERS. WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THESE ISSUES ARE BEHAVIORAL AND BEHAVIORAL IS A LEARNED TRAIT AND I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS GETS DOWN TO. PIT BULLS BY NATURE ARE NOT INHERENTLY EVIL, AWFUL ANIMALS. THEY'RE LOVING, CARING CREATURES, AND IT'S ALL IN THE HOME THAT THEY'RE RAISED IN AND I IMPLORE YOU TO STRIKE DOWN MOTION A AND MAYBE SUPPORT MOTION B WITH SOME RAMPING UP SOME PENALTIES ON THAT. THANK YOU.
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(APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, MICHAEL. OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WE HAD, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL WHO WE CALLED THAT WERE NOT HERE, SO I WANT TO RUN THROUGH THIS LIST REAL QUICK TO SEE IF ANY OF YOU WHO WERE NOT HERE EARLIER MIGHT BE HERE NOW. OKAY. WE HAD DESLA ATSONNY, SHARON CARMICHAEL. SHARON CARMICHAEL, COME ON DOWN. YOU'RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT.
FROM THE FLOOR: GOOD AFTERNOON, FOLKS. SHARON CAR MIKE: INE AN INVESTIGATOR WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY FOR 27 YEARS. I DO HAVE (I AM) VERY STRONG BELIEFS IN WHAT THE VICE MAYOR DOES SAY AND PRESENT. OUR SITUATION WITH THAT IS I'VE WALKED THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO CURE IT WITH THIS ANSWER. I WALK THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THIS PAST MONTH WITH POSTAL CARRIERS WHO CAN'T DELIVER MAIL BECAUSE DOGS ARE FREE ROAMING. TWO AND A HALF HOURS OF WALKING DOOR TO DOOR, NOT ONE PIT BULL. I GOT ALMOST BIT BY A COUPLE OF CHI WAU WAS, AND I'M AN OWNER, BUT IT'S A SITUATION THAT CAN BE HELPED AND WE ALWAYS HAVE SUGGESTIONS AND UL OF YOU KNOW SUGGESTIONS COST MONEY AND MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TWO TO THREE MINIMUM ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS MORE IN OUR BUDGET. WE HAVE SOME GREAT OFFICERS OUT THERE. THEY ARE STRETCHED AS FAR AS THEY CAN POSSIBLY BE. THESE PEOPLE DOOR TO DOOR WALKING ISSUING CITATIONS AND A BETTER SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING THOSE FUNDS
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BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, PRETTY MUCH IF YOU DON'T PAY YOUR FINE, THERE'S NO RECOURSE FOR IT. THERE'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUT THERE THAT AREN'T BEING COLLECTED. I WOULD TELL YOU OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO COST MORE TO GET ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS. IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT MORE FOR THIS COUNTY TO INVESTIGATE, TO CONFISCATE, AND TO ERADICATE PIT BULLS FROM A COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. IT HASN'T HAPPENED IN DADE. YOU CAN DRIVE THROUGH THOSE AREAS NOW. THEY ARE THERE, AND GENERALLY ONLY THE BAD FOLKS HAVE THEM. THE RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE LEAVE DADE COUNTY WHEN THEY WANT THEIR DOGS. SO BASICALLY MORE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS WOULD CERTAINLY HELP OUR SITUATION. THEY SHOULDN'T BE THE BAD GUYS ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, SHARON. OKAY. LET'S SEE WHO ELSE WE MIGHT HAVE. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: SHARON, SHARON, CAN I ADD YOU? MAYOR JACOBS: SHE'S ADDING YOU TO THE LIST. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: CAN I ADD YOU TO THE LIST? OKAY. MAYOR JACOBS: NEXT ON THE QUEUE, RACHEL GRAY, STILL NOT HERE. OKAY. AND CARRIE FERAGAIN. NO. OKAY. THIS ONE I KNOW. THIS ONE NO. ADRIAN FIGUEROA I THINK WAS NOT HERE, AND JUDY GEARIN. FROM THE FLOOR: (INAUDIBLE) 9:30. FILLED OUT A SLIP AND HE SAID THAT I CAN SPEAK. I GAVE IT TO THE LADY ALREADY AT 9:30 THIS MORNING.
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MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. WELL, COME ON UP. CAN YOU GIVE HER -- YOU'RE THE LAST ONE. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN SITTING IN YOUR POCKET FOR A WHILE.
FROM THE FLOOR: I GAVE IT TO HER. SHE GAVE IT BACK. MAYOR JACOBS: WE'LL GIVE YOU TWO MINUTES. FROM THE FLOOR: MY NAME IS WILLIAM HEART. I'M BORN AND RAISED HERE FOR THE PAST 52 YEARS. I LIVE IN PLANTATION. WE HAVE A ONE-ACRE WALLED STACY WHICH WE TWO HAVE FIVE PIT PULLS AND THEY ARE VERY FRIENDLY. MAIN (ESTATE)LY WE HAVE THEM FOR SECURITY REASONS. WE WILL DIAL 911 AND PLANTATION DOES HAVE A VERY FAST RESPONSE TIME. THEY'RE THERE WITHIN TWO MINUTES, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT THERE WITHIN TWO MINUTES, WE DO HAVE THE DOGS FOR PROTECTION. I DON'T BELIEVE IN FIGHTING THEM. I DON'T BELIEVE IN BEATING THEN. I SHOW THEM LOTS OF LOVE. THEY SHOW ME LOTS OF LOVE, AND, YOU KNOW, IF ANYONE WOULD TRY TO BREAK INTO YOUR HOME IF THEY WOULD SEE A PIT BULL AT YOUR HOUSE, I'M SURE THEY WOULD GO TO THE NEXT HOUSE. I FEEL THAT THE DOGS ARE GETTING A BAD NAME, THAT THEY'RE REALLY GOOD DOGS, AND I WISH THAT PEOPLE WOULD RECONSIDER, AND THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING TODAY, IT LOOKS LIKE MORE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE ARE FOR THE PIT PULLS. SO HOPEFULLY WHEN THE VOTING GOES THROUGH, THAT'S HOW IT WILL GO. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NOW -NOW IT'S OUR TURN, AND YOU EACH ONLY GET TWO MINUTES. OKAY. SO
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I'M GOING TO START WITH VICE MAYOR SHARIEF, AND THEN WE'LL WORK OUR WAY AROUND THE QUEUE. I'M START WITH COMMISSIONER KIAR FOLLOWED VICE MAYOR SHARIEF AND WE'LL KIND OF WORK OUR WAY AROUND THE DAIS, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED OUT THERE AND IT'S GETTING LATE IN THE DAY. SO I'M GOING TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO PLEASE BE BRIEF IN YOUR COMMENTS. LET'S TRY TO MOVE THIS THING FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN AND RESPECT THE AUDIENCES TIME AS MUCH AS WE CAN. SO THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: WELL, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY THAT CAME TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM HAD THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T ALTER 52A BEFORE YOU HAD YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. BRINGING THIS FORWARD IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LIVELY DISCUSSION AND A POSITIVE DIALOGUE, AND WE'VE HAD THAT FOR THE MOST PART TODAY. THE LIST THAT I'M COMPILING IS OF THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAD BROUGHT SOLUTIONS FORWARD THAT SOUND LIKE THEY COULD WORK OUT AND SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE EXPERTISE IN THE AREA THAT I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, YOU CAN JUST CONTACT MY OFFICE AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET TOGETHER. WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS JUST A RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I AM WILLING TODAY TO SET ASIDE 52A IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SOME GREAT IDEAS FROM THIS AUDIENCE AND FROM THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE,
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AND, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT BEFORE YOU HAD YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS YOURSELVES BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN SITTING HERE ALL DAY LONG, AND WE KNOW THAT COMMISSION MEETINGS DO NOT RUN AS WE ALL PLAN THEM TO, AND SO OUR TIME CERTAIN MAY BE AT 7 INSTEAD OF AT 11:30 BASED ON THE DISCUSSION WITH OUR TOPIC. SO WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE FACT THAT YOU HAD TO TAKE OFF YOUR TIME TO COME HERE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CALLED MY OFFICE AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS THINK THAT THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAT I NEED TO BE DOING WITH MY TIME THAN THIS, AND A RESPECT YOUR OPINION, BUT I DO RESPECT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BITTEN. SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO FIX THAT. I WANT TO DISPEL SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID OUT THERE, JUST LIKE YOU ME BELIEVING THAT THE PIT BULL'S JAW WILL LOCK, BUT SOME OF WHAT YOU GUYS SAID WAS MYTH TOO. I'M LOOKING TO HAVE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS KEEP THEIR PETS. I'M NOT TRYING TO GET ANYBODY TO EUTHANIZE THEIR DOGS OR KILL THEIR DOGS. PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO DO. WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO BAN CURRENT DOGS, AND WHAT IS INACCURATE IS THE 2.6 MILLION DOLLAR COST THAT KEEPS COMING UP BECAUSE WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT EACH CITY COMMISSION WOULD MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION TO VOTE ON LOCAL LAWS THAT WORKS BEST FOR THEIR CITY. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY CITY OUT THERE IS GOING TO BAN PIT PULLS. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO HIDE YOUR DOGS. I'M NOT ASKING ANYBODY TO HIDE THEIR ANIMALS. YOU CAN WALK YOUR PIT BULL. YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO WITH YOUR
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ANIMAL. THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M ASKING. WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS ENGAGE YOU IN A CONVERSATION WHERE RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS COME TO THE TABLE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN ISSUE IN THEIR CITIES AND IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THIS. I THINK WE'VE ACHIEVED THAT TODAY AND HOPEFULLY WHEN YOU COME OUT, THERE WILL BE LESS AGGRESSION, LESS ANGER AND WE CAN GET SOME WORK DONE. IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT, I THINK THAT SOME OF THE SUGGEST SONS THAT WERE MADE WERE GRADE (SUGGESTIONS) GREAT, THEY WERE RIGHT ON AND I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT. IN TERMS OF THE FINES, I HATE TO BREAK IT TO YOU, BUT WHAT I TOOK THE FINES TO IS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE BY STATE. SO IF YOU WANT ME TO TAKE LEGISLATIONP TO TRY TO INCREASE THOSE FINES, YOU-ALL CAN HELP US DO THAT BECAUSE WHAT I TOOK THEM TO IS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE A FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD CHANCE TO HURT SOMEBODY OR HAVE AN IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNER HAVE A PET RUNNING LOOSE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE DISCOUNT PROGRAMS FOR VACCINATION AND REGISTRATION OF ANIMALS AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE SAT IN THE ANIMAL CARE COURT WHERE THEY BITE AND PEOPLE COME, AND THE LARGE MAJORITY OF THOSE DOGS THAT COME UP IN THERE ARE NOT REGISTERED AND NOT VACCINATED. IT COSTS VERY LITTLE AND THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR ANY RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER. IN TERMS OF MY EDUCATION ON THIS ISSUE, I WENT OUT FOR OVER A YEAR TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN MY COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO GET -- ENGAGE MY GROUP OF
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PEOPLE, AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT THAT SUN-SENTINEL POLL, THAT DOES NOT REPRESENT 64 PERCENT OF BROWARD COUNTY. THERE WAS A COUPLE THOUSAND NAMES ON THERE, AND WHILE I RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT THOSE COUPLE THOUSAND PEOPLE'S OPINIONS, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM BROWARD COUNTY ON THIS, AND I RESPECT YOUR OPINION, AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN I WENT OUT IN MY DISTRICT, AND WE REPRESENT -- I REPRESENT NOW JUST UNDER 200,000 PEOPLE, AND MANY OF THEM WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF A AND B. SO WHILE I'M GOING TO SET A ASIDE SO WE CAN STOP DISCUSSING A FOR RIGHT NOW UNTIL WE GET TO OUR MEETING, I AM GOING TO KEEP B ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE IT'S THE MAXIMUM PENALTY ALLOWABLE, AND I THINK THAT BY DOING THAT WE CAN START WITH THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS AND MAKING PEOPLE MORE RESPONSIBLE. SO I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES' CONSIDERATION. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER OR VICE MAYOR SHARIEF. COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER KIAR: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. FIRST I WANT TO THANK VICE MAYOR SHARIEF FOR SETTING ASIDE 52A. I THINK THAT'S A VERY RESPONSIBLE MANNER OF PROCEEDING. YOU'RE AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC SERVANT. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. YOU'VE DEFINITELY LISTENED TO THE FOLKS OUT THERE AND THEIR CONCERNS AND IT SHOWS WHY YOU DO SUCH AN EXCELLENT JOB REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO WITH THAT SAID, I WON'T ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. I'M JUST GOING TO MOVE ON TO B. SO TO LET EVERYBODY OUT THERE KNOW, VICE MAYOR SHARIEF IS SETTING ASIDE
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52A. SO THAT WILL NOT BE VOTED ON TODAY. WE WON'T BE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TODAY TO BAN -- TO ALLOW US TO BAN PIT BULLS. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KIAR, BECAUSE VICE MAYOR SHARIEF JUST SAID ALL OF THAT, FOR THOSE OF YOU -COMMISSIONER KIAR: I DO WANT TO SAY THOUGH I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY WOMEN CHEER FOR ME AT ONCE AND I LOVED IT. SO WITH THAT SAID, SO THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR SHARIEF. MAYOR JACOBS: I JUST THINK IT'S AMUSING THAT THAT APPLAUSE SHOULD HAVE BELONGED TO VICE MAYOR SHARIEF, TO WAKE YOU OUT OF YOUR STUPOR. COMMISSIONER KIAR: WITH REGARD TO ITEM B, I DO BELIEVE THAT ITEM B IS ALSO INCREDIBLY RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE WHAT OUR FOCUS REALLY SHOULD BE AND IT'S BEEN SAID HERE MANY TIMES AND IT'S ALSO WHAT COMMISSIONER SHARIEF IS ALSO TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IS TO GO AFTER BAD DOG OWNERS. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TURNING DOGS VISHGS. I'M A TRUE BELIEVER THAT YOU CAN MAKE A MALTESE VICIOUS. THEY'RE THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO FOCUS ON. I THINK ONE OF THE MOST HEINOUS THINGS ALIVE IS WHEN PEOPLE TEACH THEIR DOGS TO BE FIGHTING DOGS. I THINK IT'S DISGRACEFUL AND I WANT TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER SHARIEF FOR BRINGING ITEM B BECAUSE THAT WILL INCREASE THE FINE FOR TERRIBLE FOLKS WHO TEACH THE DOGS TO FIGHT AND WHO ALSO -- WHICH I ALSO BELIEVE IS ANIMAL ABUSE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL DEFINITELY
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BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: THANK YOU. FIRST I WANT TO SAY THAT ALMOST I MAY DISAGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR AND THIS ISSUE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD, I UNDERSTAND THAT SHE HAS A DIFFERENT ISSUE IN HER DISTRICT THAN SOME OF US HAVE IN OUR DISTRICTS. THIS COULD BE DUE TO PROXIMITY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SETTING ASIDE THE ITEM FOR THE SOMETIME BEING. I THINK WE (TIME) ALL GOT A LOT OF E-MAILS. THIS ISSUE, I SET ASIDE A FOLDER CALLED PIT BULLS AND I PUT FOR AND AGAINST BSL, AND AS OF -- I COULDN'T STOP TO KEEP DRAGGING THEM OVER BECAUSE THEY JUST BEING COMING IN. FROM THE FLOOR: 1,000. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: 1,115 PEOPLE SENT AN E-MAIL THAT WAS AGAINST A BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. 11 PEOPLE WERE IN FAVOR OF IT. (APPLAUSE.) INCIDENTALLY, A LOT OF THESE E-MAILS, PEOPLE INCLUDE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS AS THEY SHOULD (. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: ) BUT A LOT OF THEM CLAIM TO BE PIT BULLS OWNERS AND THEY ALSO INCLUDED THEIR MIAMI-DADE ADDRESS. (LAUGHTER.) COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: HOW ABOUT THE ONES FROM MINNESOTA?
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FROM THE FLOOR: (INAUDIBLE). COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: AT THE END OF THE DAY -MAYOR JACOBS: MA'AM, WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE OUT OF OUR DECORUM HERE BUT WE CERTAINLY CANNOT HAVE THIS COMING FROM THE AUDIENCE. YOUR TIME TO SPEAK HAS PASSED AND NOW IT'S THE COMMISSIONER'S TIME. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: OKAY. AND ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND I THINK WAS BROUGHT UP BY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BREED OF DOG WHO WAS FORMALLY CALLED THE NANNY DOG. MY WIFE AND I HAVE CHOSEN TO SHARE OUR LIVES WITH A PARTICULAR BREED OF DOG AND THAT'S THE BA SEN GEE. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS AND HOW TO SPELL IT AND ASK ME TO REPEAT IT. THEY'RE ABOUT 25 POUNDS AND BOTH OF OUR DOGS ARE RESCUE. BELLA WAS LOST AND FOUND ON THE STREETS OF CLEARWATER AND WAS A VICTIM. HEARTWORM. SHE WAS PREGNANT AND SHE WAS LOST. GIBSON WAS -- REQUIRED BACK SURGERY BEFORE HE CAME TO LIVE WITH US AND LUCKILY THE NATIONAL RESCUE THAT HANDLES THIS BREED SPENT OVER $5,000 GIVING THIS DOG BACK SURGERY. SO WE'RE VERY -- I WAS GRATEFUL TO DRIVE TO JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI TO PICK HIM UP. I'M ALWAYS AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE DOGS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER AND THEY CAN REACT ANYWAY THAT I MAY NOT ANTICIPATE AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE NEVER OFF THEIR LEASH WHEN THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF OUR YARD. I TAKE THEM FOR A WALK NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE BAD DOGS OR I THINK IN ANY WAY THEY'RE AGLES CIV, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW #2345I6789 (AGGRESSIVE) THEY'LL REACT TO
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ANY OTHER DOGS. THEY'RE RUNNERS AND WHEN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THEY RUN FREE IN THE DOG PARK OR IN A FENCED AREA. SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- I THINK WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE BREED, BUT WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS B, AND, AGAIN, COMMISSIONER SHARIEF, THANKS FOR SETTING THAT ASIDE. PART B, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN MADE POPULAR AT LEAST WITH THIS BREED AND THE PROBLEM WAS MADE PUBLIC A FEW YEARS AGO BY A MAN WHO WAS IN MY OPINION THE LOWEST FORM OF HUMAN BEING. I'M NOT JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE HE'S AN EAGLES WATER BACK. MR. VIC SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF NOTHING LESS THAN ANIMAL TRAFFICKING, ANIMAL CRUELTY, ABUSE, AND MURDER. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN JAIL FOR LIFE AND THAT'S ONLY IF THE JUDGE WAS LENIENT. I WOULD HAVE ADVOCATED FOR WORSE. I WOULD SEEK AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE PENALTIES, I WOULD SEEK THE STRICTEST PENALTIES POSSIBLE WITHIN OUR POWER AND ALSO SEEK TO INCREASE THOSE PENALTIES THAT WE ATTACK THE PROBLEM WHICH IS POOR HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND NOT BANNING A BREED. I WILL ENCOURAGE YOU AND I WILL TAKE ONE ISSUE AND HIGHLIGHT THIS AND THAT IS THAT COMMISSIONER KIAR I BELIEVE WAS GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION BUT BECAUSE OF THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AND ANIMAL LOVERS HERE, WE POSTPONED OUR GOOD AND WELFARE, BUT ONE OF THE ITEMS WAS BROWARD COUNTY ANIMAL CARE TO JOIN THE WORLD SPAY DAY. NOW WHAT WE'VE DONE IN BROWARD COUNTY TO HONOR THIS EVENT IS ANIMAL CARE AND ADOPTION HAS TEAMED WITH A LOCAL VET #2345ER CLINICS TO PROVIDE A FREE SPAYING NEUTERING SERVICE FOR 500 PIT BULLS AND PIT BULL MIXES
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WHOSE OWNERS MAY SIGN UP FOR THE SURGERY. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ALL RESIDENTS IN BROWARD COUNTY WHO OWN AN AMERICAN PIT BULL TEAR-E, STAFFORD SHIRE, BULLDOG OR ANY DOG MIXED WITH ANY OF THESE BREEDS, AND WHAT WAS (TERRIER) AND WHAT WAS FROM THIS WAS THE OBVIOUS SITUATION AT ANIMAL DARE WAS WE HAVE (CARE) ARE IN THE BULLY BREED AND WE WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SO WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION AND THE MANY CONTACTS YOU HAVE IN THE DOG WORLD AND IT BULLY BREED WORLD, WE'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BRING THOSE DOGS IN AND START TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND LIKE EVERYONE HERE HAS SAID, YOU CAN'T FIX POOR HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND WE CAN ONLY SET POLICY HERE. IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE IN PART B UP TO ENFORCEMENT AND WE'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY GIVE THE FOLKS WHO DO THAT ALL THE TOOLS NECESSARY. BUT I THINK WE'RE MAKING A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TODAY AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL BEING HERE CLAUSE CLAUSE. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KIAR (SIC). COMMISSIONER WEXLER. I DID, DIDN'T I. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: YEAH, YOU DIDN'T. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER LAMARCA. COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I, TOO, WANT TO THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, FOR LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC HERE TODAY AND FOR AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT -- AND YOU DID TAKE VERY, VERY GOOD NOTES AND TORI TOOK VERY GOOD NOTES TO INCLUDE THE PUBLIC IN FUTURE AND POTENTIAL CONVERSATIONS. I DO WANT TO ADDRESS MOTION A FOR
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JUST A MOMENT EVEN THOUGH IT'S OFF THE TABLE BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'S -- I REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT HOLLYWOOD IS DOING. I THINK THAT WHAT HOLLYWOOD HAS OFFERED AND, BY THE WAY, IT'S BEEN IN THERE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR YEARS WHICH WAS SUPPORTING THE ABILITY TO HAVE BAN-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION OR HOME RULE, AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ABSOLUTELY CONSIDER IS REGIONAL -AGAIN, I'M BACK TO THAT REGIONALIZATION CONVERSATION BECAUSE IF WE WERE EVER TO ALLOW, IF THE STATE WAS EVER TO ALLOW THAT HOME RULE TO LET A CITY HERE OR A CITY THERE, WE'D HAVE THE SAME KIND OF SITUATION OCCURRING IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOWN AS BROWARD THAT HAPPENS IN ALL OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND YOU KNOW THE IMPACT ON US. SO I DON'T EVER WANT TO SAY: JUST LET A CITY DECIDE. I THINK SOMETHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE HAS TO BE REGIONAL IN APPROACH. SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU MY TWO CENTS ON THAT ONE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SECONDLY, THERE WAS A LETTER, AN E-MAIL THAT CAME INTO US, AND I KNOW IT CAME TO ALL OF US, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ALEX BARSELLLEASE WAS HERE TODAY TO SPEAK OR NOT. I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S FROM DADE OR BROWARD OR SOME OTHER PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT, BOY, DID HE MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, AND HE DOES NOT SUPPORT BAN-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION, AND HE IS A PIT BULL AND AN ANIMAL LOVER, BUT HE IS MAKING FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I'M GOING TO HAND THIS TO YOU WHEN I'M DONE. HAVE PIT BULLS BE REGISTERED BY THEIR OWNERS, AND IT'S EVERYTHING WE HEARD HERE TODAY, BY THE WAY. HAVE PIT BULLS BEING REGISTERED BY THEIR OERPZ, MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO HAVE AN UNREGISTERED PIT BULL. IMPOSE HEFTY FINES OR CRIMINAL CHARGES ON
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OWNERS OF PIT BULLS, MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO BREED THEM SINCE THEY ARE SO MANY OFTENTIMES ABANDONED, AND IT GOES ON TO EXPLAIN EACH CATEGORY, AND HAVE REGISTERED PIT BULLS NEUTERED SO THAT THERE WON'T BE ANY RISK OF BREEDING. AND EVERY ONE OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ME AT LEAST FROM WHERE I'M SITTING MAKES SOME SENSE AND I HOPE IS SOMEWHAT CONSIDERED AS TO MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR MOVING IN ON THIS. I WOULD ALSO -MAYOR JACOBS: LET ME JUST ASK THE AUDIENCE. THESE ARE IDEAS. YOU HAD IDEAS. THERE'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION TO COME, AND IT'S NOT ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE IDEAS. IT'S ABOUT SHARING THEM. SOME WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THE PROCESS, SOME WILL NOT, BUT YOU CAN'T CRY OVER EVERY ONE YOU DON'T LIKE. SO CALM DOWN. THERE'S A CONVERSATION YET TO COME AND YOU'LL BE A PART OF THAT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: MOTION B IS ALSO A MOTION TO DIRECT, AND IT MERELY IS TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING AND REVISING THE DEFINITION OF FIGHTING DOGS, AND INCREASING FINES, ET CETERA. I THINK THAT SOME OF THE THINGS WE HEARD TODAY ALSO NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THE ITEM WHEN IT COMES BACK, AND THAT'S WHY IDENTIFIED THOSE FOUR THINGS. I THINK THAT YOU HAVE A LIST OF DIFFERENT THING THAT WERE RECOMMENDED TO US TODAY TO ALSO BE CONSIDERED, AND SOME OF THEM MAKE A GREAT DEAL OF SENSE, AND IF WE DON'T GET SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, THEN SHAME ON US, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS. THE LAST THING, THE LAST THING IS ENFORCEMENT. THERE ARE EXCELLENT RULES ON THE
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BOOKS TODAY. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ENFORCEMENT IS HAPPENING FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT LIKE IT SHOULD. LAW ENFORCEMENT'S ATTITUDE HAS BEEN: IT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM. IT'S ANIMAL CONTROL'S PROBLEM, AND THAT REALLY HAS GOT TO STOP, AND ANIMAL CONTROL PROBABLY NEEDS A WHOLE LOT MORE FOLKS IN THAT DIVISION TO GET OUT THERE AND ENFORCE, AND NUMBER 20 ON TODAY'S AGENDA PUTS ONE MORE PERSON OUT THERE. WE HAVE BUT ONE GUARD DOG COMPANY REGISTERED IN BROWARD COUNTY. I HOPE THAT THAT PERSON WHO IS HIRED IN THAT FUNDING THAT WE'RE DOING TODAY ACTUALLY IS HELPING PATROL YOUR DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR, AND I REALLY HOPE THAT THAT COMES TO FRUITION, AND WITH THAT, THAT'S MY TWO CENTS. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER RITTER. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU. THE GOOD NEWS FOR MOST OF YOU IS YOU GET TO GO HOME WHEN THIS IS OVER. WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME. ONE OF THE SPEAKERS THIS AFTERNOON CAME UP AND SAID TO US, STARTED HER REMARKS WITH: I HOPE THAT THIS COMMISSION COMES WITH AN OPEN MIND. I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT TODAY I WALKED IN WITHOUT AN OPEN MIND. I WAS DETERMINED NOT TO SUPPORT ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO REPEAL ITS BAN ON PIT BULLS AND ASSOCIATED BREEDS. I APOLOGIZE, COMMISSIONER SHARIEF, BUT IT WAS FURTHER THAN I WAS WILLING TO GO TODAY, AND SINCE YOU-ALL YOUR MANY OF YOU SHOWED US YOUR PICTURES TODAY, I'M SHOWING YOU MINE. OKAY? (APPLAUSE.)
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COMMISSIONER RITTER: NOW THEY'RE NOT PIT BULLS. I WILL ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS, MADAM, I PROMISE YOU. NOW THEY'RE NOT PIT BULLS OR RELATED. THEY'RE KING CHARLES CAVALIERS, BUT THEY ARE RESCUED. THEIR NAMES ARE CAGNEY AND LACEY. THEY WERE BREEDERS, AND BY THE AGE OF TWO WHEN I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND THEM, THEY HAD BREAD MULTIPLE LITTERS, AND WHILE THEY WEREN'T BRED TO MIGHT (BRED), THEY WERE (FIGHT, THEY WERE BREAD TO BREED AND THEY CAME WITH ISSUES AS DO DOGS WHEN YOU -- I DON'T CRY ABOUT MY KIDS. IT MUST BE HORMONES TODAY OR LACK. AT MY AGE, IT'S LACK OF HORMONES. THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING. THEY CAME WITH ISSUES. THEY WERE VERY SUSPICIOUS OF MEN BECAUSE, AS THOSE OF US WHO HAVE RESCUED KNOW IT'S USUALLY THE MAN WHO ABUSES THE DOG IN WHATEVER CAPACITY, NOT JUST PHYSICALLY. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: YOU MEAN IT WASN'T RUS? COMMISSIONER RITTER: THEY WEREN'T REAL HAPPY WITH MY HUSBAND. HE'S A -- WELL, I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT. HE'S PROBABLY WATCHING, SO I'LL REFRAME IT. HERE, LOVE YOU HONEY. BUT IT TOOK A LOT OF PATIENCE TO RETEACH THEM WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO LIVE WITH HUMANS, AND THEY ARE THE MOST AMAZING ANIMALS. SO IF ANYBODY TRIES TO BAN MY BREED, WHILE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME MEDIA COVERAGE THAT A PIT BULL DOES, IF ANYBODY TRIED TO BAN MY BREED, I'D PROBABLY BE HERE ALL DAY TODAY TOO SCREAMING BLOODY HELL ABOUT THAT. WHEN I WAS A YOUNGER WOMAN, THE DOBERMAN WAS THE BAD DOG, AND I GREW UP HERE BEING TAUGHT TO FEAR THE DOBERMAN BECAUSE EVERY DOBERMAN WAS A BITER WHEN I WAS A YOUNGER
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WOMAN, AND THEN IT WAS THE ROTTWEILER WHICH WAS THE BAD DOG DE YOU'RE AND THEN IT WAS THE GERMAN SHEPHERD WHICH WAS THE BAD DOG DE YOU'RE AND THERE'S ALWAYS A DOG THAT SPARKS THE ATTENTION OF THE MASSES AS TO WHICH IS THE BAD ONE AND THE TRUTH IS THAT NONE OF THE THREE OF THOSE BREEDS ARE BAD. THEY JUST HAVE BAD EARRINGS, AND IN MY OPINION, IT'S THE SAME WITH THE PIT BULL (OWNERS) AND Y'ALL PROBABLY DON'T LIKE THE WAY I LUMP THEM TOGETHER UNDER ONE LARGE UM BREM LA CALLED PIT BULL AND THE SHAR-PEI, NOBODY WOULD EVEN THINK THAT DOG WAS EVEN CLOSE TO BEING A BITER. OH, MY GOD, I'VE GOT MASCARA. I'VE BEEN A DOG OWNER SINCE I WAS (UMBRELLA) SIX, I THINK. WELL, I WASN'T THE OWNER AT THE TIME. MY MOM AND DAD WERE, BUT HAD DOGS WITH ME MY WHOLE LIFE AND THE MOST VICIOUS DOG AN EVER HAD WAS A KAREN TERRIER, TOTO, REMEMBER TOTO? AND I BLAME MYSELF BECAUSE I NOT NOT ABLE TO TRAIN THAT DOG AND, AS A RESULT, THAT DOG BIT, BUT I DON'T BLAME THE DOG FOR THAT. I BLAME MYSELF, AND NO ONE WOULD EVER HAVE THOUGHT THAT THEY KAREN TERRIER WOULD BITE EVERYBODY AND THIS DOG BIT, BUT THIS DOG DID NOT HAVE A LOCK JAW BECAUSE DOGS DON'T HAVE LOCK JAWS. I'M SORRY, I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND FLIP, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY PARTICULAR BREED HAS. I HAVE TO COMMEND THE OWNERS OF THE PIT BULL BECAUSE YOU COME TO THIS WITH PEOPLE ALREADY BEING PREJUDICED AGAINST YOU BECAUSE OF THE DOGS YOU'VE CHOSEN TO LIVE WITH, AND I THINK IT TAKES A REALLY SPECIAL PERSON TO BE ABLE TO RAISE AND CARE FOR A DOG THAT MOST -- THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF JUST BY LOOKING AT THEM,
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AND I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WITHDRAW 52A AND I'M REALLY PLEASED ABOUT THAT, BUT I MUST TELL YOU THAT IF YOU BRING IT BACK IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM LIKE IT IS TODAY, I WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT. I JUST DO NOT BELIEVE THAT -(APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: OH, MY GOSH. COMMISSIONER RITTER: I'M SORRY, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT, BUT I REALLY JUST WANTED THE MEN TO APPLAUD ME BECAUSE THE WOMEN APPLAUDED MARTY, BUT I'LL TAKE -- AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I'LL TAKE ANY APPLAUSE I CAN GET, I PROMISE YOU. I ALSO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER WEXLER THOUGH THAT THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF ORDINANCE OR LAW THAT YOU WANT TO PASS ON TO CITIES TO COVER. WHILE I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN HOME RULE AND AS A FORMER LEGISLATURE, I CAN TELL YOU LEGISLATORS DO THINGS ALL THE TIME THAT WE WOULD OPPOSE IF IT WERE EVER COVERED IN THE PRESS WHICH IS NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE BUSY COVERING THIS TODAY (LEGISLATOR). THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE CITY-SPECIFIC, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS, IF A CITY BANNED THIS BREED, THEN THE BREED WOULD GET PUSHED TO THE NEXT CITY AND THEN THAT CITY WOULD BAN IT, JUST LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MIAMI-DADE, IT WOULD END UP BEING EVERY OTHER CITY'S PROBLEM. I MUST SAY THAT THIS LEGISLATURE, 20-SOME-ODD YEARS AGO PASSED THIS LAW, HAD THE FORESIGHT TO UNDERSTAND THAT, AND OF COURSE THAT LEGISLATURE WAS CONTROLLED BY A DIFFERENT PARTY THAN TODAY. SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHY IT HAD BETTER FORESIGHT. SORRY,
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COMMISSIONER LAMARCA, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. BUT -COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: NOT NECESSARY. COMMISSIONER RITTER: IT WAS ACTUALLY NECESSARY FOR ME TO SAY THAT. SORRY. SO I CAN'T DO THAT TODAY. TO THE WOMAN WHO IS HOLDING UP THE PICTURE AS HAVING BEEN THE VICTIM OF A VICIOUS BITE, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM -- I THINK EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS SYMPATHY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH OR ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH THE SITUATION WHERE A DOG HAS BEEN BITTEN, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT TO BLAME THE BREED FOR IT, I JUST CAN'T GO THAT FAR BECAUSE, AS I'VE SAID, THE CHI WAU WA IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST VICIOUS DOGS SUPPOSEDLY ON THE PLANET AND NO ONE WOULD EVER LOOK AT A CHI WOW WA AND THINK THAT THAT DOG WOULD BITE. AGAIN, I JUST THINK IT'S ABOUT THE OWNER. NO, YOU'RE RIGHT, I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE JAWS, AND I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL THAT I HAVE NOT, ALTHOUGH I HAVE HAD A DOG THAT HAS BITTEN SOMEBODY AND IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT, BUT AS THE RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER, I TOOK RESPONSIBILITY. I CARED FOR THE PERSON WHO GOT BIT. I PAID FOR THE BILLS. I CONTACTED MY HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE. I DID EVERYTHING I HAD TO DO TO TRY TO MAKE THAT PERSON WHOLE. THAT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. I DID NOT BLAME THE DOG. I MIGHT HAVE BEEN PISSED, BUT I DIDN'T BLAME THE DOG. AND FINALLY LET ME SAY THAT 52B I THINK IS AN INCREDIBLY RESPONSIBLE WAY TO ADDRESS ISSUE. I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG DAY AND YOU PROBABLY WONDER WHY PEOPLE DO WHAT WE DO WHEN THIS IS A NORMAL TUESDAY,
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BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF ISSUES LIKE THIS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF ONCE AND FOR ALL, AND I HOPE THAT FOR TODAY WE HAVE PUT THIS ONE TO BED. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RITTER. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: I REALLY FEEL THAT WE ALL NEED TO MOVE ON WITH THE AGENDA RATHER THAN -- IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL TO GET A LOT OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE I REMEMBER WE USED TO JUST LET THEM DO THIS. MAYOR JACOBS: NO. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: BUT THAT'S NOT YOUR STYLE, BUT I DON'T -- I REALLY WANT TO BE VERY BRIEF SO THAT WE CAN GET ON WITH THE AGENDA. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT BEING BREED-SPECIFIC. I REALLY THINK DANGEROUS DOG SAYS A LOT MORE THAN A SPECIFIC BREED BECAUSE IT MEANS IT WAS MOST TIMES THE OWNER'S FAULT, NOT ALWAYS. I WAS -- WHEN I WAS A CHILD WE HAD A COCKER SPANIEL. WE GOT IT WHEN IT WAS ABOUT TWO OR THREE YEARS OLE. WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP IT LESS THAN ONE YEAR, AND THIS WAS IN A LOVING, CARING FAMILY. WE NEVER LET IT BITE ANYONE OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE. (LAUGHTER.) COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: BUT UNFORTUNATELY WHEN ANYONE CAME TO VISIT US WHO WAS NOT A MEMBER OF OUR
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IMMEDIATE FAMILY, MY PARENTS, MY BROTHER, AND ME, IT BIT THEM. SO AFTER A WHILE, NO MATTER WHAT WE DID COULD WE STOP THIS. WE HAD TO RETURN THE DOG TO THE SHELTER THAT WE HAD ADOPTED IT FROM BECAUSE IT BECAME A DANGEROUS DOG WITHIN THE CONFINES OF OUR HOME, WHICH SAYS THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT TYPE OF BREED IS GOING TO BE DANGEROUS, AND I FOUND OUT SUBSEQUENTLY YEARS LATER THAT THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF COCKER SPANIELS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN INBRED SO MUCH, THIS IS WHY THEY ARE BITERS. WE DID NOT KNOW -- YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK OF DOG IMAGES, PIT BULL, DANGEROUS BITER, COCKER SPANIEL, SWEET, CUDDLY, NOT TRUE. EITHER ONE CAN GO EITHER WAY, AND THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S LIFE, BUT THANK YOU, BARBARA, COMMISSIONER -- VICE MAYOR SHARIEF, FOR WITHDRAWING A. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING B, AND LET'S MOVE ON WITH THE AGENDA. (APPLAUSE.) COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: NO. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: YES. MAYOR JACOBS: THANKS. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: SINCE WE'VE DEBATED THIS AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, LET ME SAY CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR EFFORTS, VICE MAYOR SHARIEF, IN BRINGING THE ITEM FORWARD. YOU IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU REPRESENT THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, AND YOU SEEK TO BRING A SOLUTION TO THAT. SO I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT. AND I SUPPORT YOUR
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DECISION TO GO FORWARD WITH ONE PORTION AND LEAVE THE OTHER. SO THAT'S IT. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER RYAN. COMMISSIONER RYAN: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. LISTENING TO ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION THIS AFTERNOON KIND OF REMINDED ME JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO I HAD FINISHED MY ELECTION AND AS COMMISSIONER KIAR DID, KNOCKED ON THOUSANDS OF DOORS. I MET MORE DOGS THAN PEOPLE, AND I NEVER MET A DOG THAT LIKED ME BEFORE THE OWNER CAME TO THE DOOR. I MEAN THEY WERE JUST DOING THEIR JOB, BUT AFTER THE OWNER WOULD OPEN THE DOOR, THERE WAS NEVER A DOG THAT WASN'T FRIENDLY, AND IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT THE OWNERS, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LEARNED AND IT'S REALLY BEEN REPEATED OVER AND OVER, AND IT'S SOMETHING FOR US TO REMEMBER. SO, MAYOR, IF YOU'RE READY, I MOVE 52B. MAYOR JACOBS: WELL, OOH I THINK WE HAVE TO LEAVE THAT HONOR YOUR VICE MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, AND I DID JUST WANT TO ECHO A COMMENT, VICE MAYOR, THAT SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE SAID EARLIER TODAY WHICH WAS THAT THEY BELIEVED YOUR INTENTIONS WERE NOBLE, AND I WANTED TO ADD TO THAT THAT THERE ARE, ESPECIALLY IN A CROWD LIKE THIS, AND SOME OF THE COMMENTS WERE NOT VERY KIND TO YOU, AND THAT YOU CONDUCTED YOURSELF WITH SUCH GRACE AND TO TAKE AN ITEM LIKE THIS THAT IS SO PASSIONATE TO SO MANY PEOPLE, PULL IT OFF THIS DAIS, GO OUT AND WORK OUT SOME
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OF THE KINKSES AND BRING SOMETHING BACK I THINK IS FANTASTIC AND I JUST LOVE SERVING WITH YOU. I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I HAD, AS COMMISSIONER RITTER SAID, GREAT HEARTACHE OVER MOTION A AND COULD NOT SUPPORT IT, AND I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT COMES BACK WHEN THIS GROUP AND YOUR STAFF AND YOURSELF HAVE AN ENGAGED CONVERSATION TO TAKE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE FOR THE LAST YEAR. YOU DON'T COME TO THIS UNINFORMED AND YOU DON'T TAKE THIS LIGHTLY, I KNOW, BUT WHATEVER YOU BRING BACK I KNOW WILL BE AN INTERESTING THING FOR THIS BOARD TO CONSIDER. THE LAST THING IS THAT NONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED ABOUT ON MOTION B SOMETHING I DO HAVE SOME CONCERN OVER, AND THIS COMPUTER IS DRAFG ME NUTS TODAY. THE ISSUE (DRIVING) OF REOCCURRENCES FOR THE FEES FOR NOT BEING LICENSED OR NOT VACCINATED, THERE WAS ONLY ONE SPEAKER IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ADDRESSED THAT ISSUE FROM THE MOM'S POINT OF VIEW WHOSE CHILD LEAVES THE GATE OPEN AND OUT GOES, I DON'T KNOW, FIDO, SOPHIE, PICK A NAME. THIS HAPPENED IN OUR HOUSE AND IT'S A DISASTER AS EVERYONE RACES OUT MADLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE PET WENT TO AND IT'S HAPPENED FROM THE FERRET TO THE CAT TO DOG. AND WHEN I READ THIS LANGUAGE, I KNOW THERE ARE GREAT, RESPONSIBLE PARENTS OUT THERE, PARENTS OF THEIR DOGS THAT MAY HAVE HAD OTHER ISSUES, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, SINGLE MOMS WAS ONE OF THE EARLIER CAVE
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THAT WAS SUGGESTED, BUT FOR THOSE ISSUES WHERE THEY ARE NOT LICENSED OR NOT VACCINATED AND THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A JOB LOSS OR SOMETHING, THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD TAKE THE FEE TO ITS MAX $300 FOR EVERY OCCURRENCE GIVES ME SOME CONCERN. I LIKE THAT THE SLADING SCALE THAT'S CURRENTLY IN (SLIDING) PLACE IS IN PLACE AND WOULD ASK IF THERE ISN'T SOME ROOM TO LOOK AT A SLIDING SCALE THAT PERHAPS DOESN'T START THAT THE $67.50 RANGE BUT THAT AT LEAST HAS SOME ROOM FOR MOVEMENT. ALL THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF MOTION B I AM COMPLETELY THERE WITH, AND I KNOW THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE WANT TO NEGOTIATE ON THE FLY ON THE DAIS, SO I'M WONDERING IF THAT ONE ELEMENT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE TEASED OUT OR AT LEAST YOU'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT TODAY BECAUSE I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT FOR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES CAN HAVE HUGE IMPACTS TO A FAMILY BUDGET AND I THINK MAY MISS THE DARK THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO WHICH IS TO GO AFTER THE REPEAT OFFENDER WHO THUMBS THEIR NOSE. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: FIRST OF ALL, ON THE SLIDING SCALE FEE FOR THE VACCINATED DOGS, WE HAVE A REDUCED VACCINATION PROGRAM IN BROWARD COUNTY WHERE IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO VACCINATE THEIR DOGS AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE REGISTRATION, THERE ARE PROGRAMS OUT THERE TO HELP THEM TO DO THAT VIRTUALLY FREE OF CHARGE. SO HAVING A LOW INCOME OR NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THAT IS NOT REALLY THE ISSUE IN TERMS OF MY ADDRESSING THIS PARTICULAR PORTION OF IT. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO PURPOSELY DO NOT GO OUT
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AND VACCINATE DOGS AND DO NOT REGISTER THEM, AND THIS IS FOR THEM. SO I TOOK THE FEE TO $300 FOR NONVACCINATED DOGS BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY NO EXCUSE FOR PEOPLE TO NOT VACCINATE THE DOGS WITH THE FREE PROGRAMS AND THE ASSISTANCE WE HAVE BROWARD COUNTY AND THE MAX FEE IS SUPPOSED TO BE $500, BUT I TOOK IT TO $300 JUST IN CASE. THE SECOND THING IS, IS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD. IF YOU MAKE IT TO THE MAGISTRATE AT THE FIRST TIME, YOU SHOULD GO VACCINATE YOUR DOG. SO I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A SLIDING SCALE FOR FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD OCCURRENCE AND THAT'S WHY I ELIMINATED IT AND TOOK IT TO $300 AND THERE'S EACH A FEE FOR THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE WHICH IS TZ $300. I THINK AFTER THE FIRST TIME YOUR DOG BITES OR HAS NOT BEEN VACCINATED, YOU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT. THIS IS ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE MORE RESPONSIBLE AND I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE IF YOU LEAVE THE FINES LOW. IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S A DETERRENT, SOMETHING THAT'S HIGH ENOUGH TO DETER PEOPLE FROM NOT DOING IT AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE FREE PROGRAMS, I THINK PEOPLE CAN GO OUT THERE AND GET THEIR DOGS VACCINATED. SO I GUESS I WOULDN'T WANT TO BIFURCATE THAT. I WOULDN'T WANT TO TAKE THAT DOWN. I THINK I COMPROMISED AT THE $300. I REALLY WANTED IT TO BE 5. FROM THE FLOOR: YEAH. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: BECAUSE THEY REALLY SHOULD BE MORE RESPONSIBLE. WHEN I TOLD YOU THAT ALMOST THE MAJORITY OF THE DOG BITES THAT CAME BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE FOR PEOPLE NOT
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HAVING -- FOR HAVING THEIR DOGS LOOSE AND HAVING THEM BITE, THOSE PEOPLE WERE NOT REGISTERED AND THE DOGS WERE NOT VACCINATED, AND SO IT COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AFTER YOU'RE BITTEN BY A NONVACCINATED DOG TO KIND OF GET HEALED AND GET CORRECTED AND GET THE MEDICATIONS THAT YOU NEED, AND THERE HAS TO BE SOME STIFFER PENALTIES TO MAKE PEOPLE MORE RESPONSIBLE, AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHY I LEFT IT AT 3. I MEAN I REALLY SHOULD HAVE BURNED IT TO 5, BUT I WAS (PUSHED) TRYING TO KIND OF COMPROMISE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. SO I DON'T THINK I WANT TO NECESSARILY BIFURCATE THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT IF YOU HAD OTHER SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU WANTED TO BRING BACK, I'D BE -- I'D HEAR THEM AND I'D BE MORE THAN WILLING TO COMPROMISE. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. I DO SUPPORT MOTION B AND I STRUGGLE WITH THE INCREASE AT THE RATE THAT IT IS AND UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM THAT'S OUT THERE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW ABOUT OUR LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER, OUR ALSO LOW COST OR NO FEE FOR REGISTRATION AND VACCINATION. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW THEY MOVE AROUND THE COUNTY, THEY AREN'T AS OFTEN AS WE WOULD LIKE AND THEY DON'T INCLUDE AS MANY AS THEY WOULD LIKE AND THERE ARE GREAT NUMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO SIMPLY WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. THEY CAN'T GET OUT. THEY'RE WORKING ON JOBS THAT DON'T GIVE THEM WEEKENDS OFF, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN A LOT OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN. SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO APPROACH THIS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, AND I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN A DIRECTION OF HAVING TO VOTE
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AGAINST B AND WONDER IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT JUST TAKE THAT OUT TO ALLOW ME NOT TO VOTE FOR THAT SECTION OF B BECAUSE I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE REST OF IT. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -MAYOR JACOBS: ACTUALLY HERE'S A THOUGHT THAT MIGHT -- IT'S A MOTION TO DIRECT AND SO WHAT WE MIGHT ASK IS IT POSSIBLE THAT STAFF COMES BACK AND LOOKS AT SOME SOLUTION TO THE LOW INCOME PROBLEM, THOSE FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING THEIR DOGS VACCINATED AND LICENSED BUT SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BY VIRTUE OF THE LIMITED RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE FOR SUCH SERVICES, AND MAYBE THERE'S ANOTHER SOLUTION THAT STAFF COULD FIND THAT WOULD MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE PALATABLE TO THOSE LOW INCOME FAMILIES SO THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENS TO THEM THEY AREN'T HIT WITH A FEE THEY COULDN'T PAY IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT DOESN'T TAKE THEM OFF THE HOOK, THE NEED TO BE VACCINATED IS HUGELY IMPORTANT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: WHAT THE MAYOR IS REFERRING INADVERTENT, ACCIDENTAL, LEAVING THE -- THE GATE WAS LEFT OPEN, THE DOG IS GONE. WHAT VICE MAYOR IS TALKING ABOUT IS WHETHER THE DOG IS GONE OR NOT, THAT OWNER STILL HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO VACCINATE. MAYOR JACOBS: NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
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COMMISSIONER WEXLER: AND SO, YOU KNOW, YES, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, IS WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING, BUT WHEN IT COMES BACK, YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO SUBMIT AMENDMENTS AT THAT POINT IN TIME. SO I MEAN YOU NEED -- I WOULD JUST MOVE THE ITEM. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: MOVE IT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: AND LET HIM SECOND IT AND LET'S MOVE ON, AND THEN YOU CAN BRING FORWARD YOUR AMENDMENTS. MAYOR JACOBS: RIGHT, AND AS I SAID, THAT IS A MOTION TO DIRECT THAT COULD ASK STAFF TO LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE INCREASE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM SO THAT THEY HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO VACCINATE AND LICENSE. I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DESIRE TO DO THAT AND NOT BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW. THEY SIMPLY ARE NOT IN THE POSITION TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT AND NOT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: IN AN EFFORT TO MOVE THE MEETING ALONG, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ITEM 52 B AS WRITTEN. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT. (APPLAUSE.) MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. I'M GOING TO ASK ALL OF YOU AS YOU'RE LEAVING OUR CHAMBERS TO PLEASE EXIT QUIETLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE LEAVING. WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS STILL AHEAD OF US.
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COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: AND IT'S WHAT TIME? MAYOR JACOBS: I'M GOING TO NOW RECESS THE REGULAR MEETING AND REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND I GUESS TO -- MADAM, I'M SORRY, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING. THANK YOU. THANKS. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER 1 IS A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION GRANTING A NONEXCLUSIVE RESTRICTED FRANCHISE TO CHOLERRY TRANSPORT. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: TAKE A MINUTE. BOARD MEMBER: YOU HAVE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM. MAYOR JACOBS: I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU-ALL FOR REMINDING ME. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE SPEAKERS, JOHN MILLAGE AND DENNIS MEAL LEON THIS ITEM AS WELL AS -- NO, I'M SORRY, DENNIS MEALY IS ON A DIFFERENT ITEM AND WILLEM COHEN, I BELIEVE YOU WERE ONLY HERE FOR QUESTIONS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MILLAGE. I'M GIVING YOU TWO MINUTES. FROM THE FLOOR: IS THIS ON, IS THIS MIKE ON. JOHN MILLAGE ATTORNEY FOR COCHLEAR RETRANSPORT. I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF. WE'RE HERE ON ITEMS 1, 2, AND 3, THESE ARE APPLICATIONS FOR NEW FRANCHISES IN THE PORT. THIS WAS A REINSTATEMENT OF THE LICENSES THAT COCHLEAR REHAD FOR 18 YEARS. THEY SURRENDERED THOSE IN APRIL OF 2010 DUE TO THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN THAT OCCURRED IN THE END OF THAT DECADE. BILL COLEMAN, THE PRESIDENT IS HERE, AND HE'S READY TO MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WITH HIS BUSINESS, AGAIN, AND HE'S GOT A NEW BUSINESS PLAN AND HE FEELS THESE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE PORT WITH THAT NEW PLAN. I WOULD POINT OUT
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THERE'S NO DBE REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE FRANCHISES, BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE ENTERED INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH MINORITY BUILDERS TO CROSS TRAIN THEIR WORKERS WHO ARE MORE CONSTRUCTION RELATED IN NATURE BUT WE BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH TRAINING THOSE SKILL SETS HAVE SIMILAR, YOU KNOW, LABOR AND EQUIPMENT SKILLS THAT CAN TRANSLATE TO ADDITIONAL PORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WORKERS. SO WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE THEM FOR OUR STAFFING. IN ADDITION TO APPROVING THE FRANCHISES TODAY, WE WOULD ASK ON ITEMS 1 AND 2 THAT YOU WOULD GIVE REASONABLE CONSIDERATION FOR COCHLEAR RE'S 18 YEARS IN THE PORT IN HAVING THOSE SAME LICENSES OVER THAT TIME FRAME. YOU KNOW, WE'RE SPECIFICALLY SUGGESTING THAT THE ONE-YEAR PROBATION PERIOD BE REDUCED TO SIX MONTHS, AND WE FEEL LIKE IMPOSING A ONE-YEAR, YOU KNOW, WOULD NO THE RECOGNIZE -- IT WOULD TREAT COCHLEAR RELIKE THEY WERE A NEW BUSINESS AND WOULD NEVER HAVE -- AS THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD LIST IN THE PORT. SO WE'RE (HISTORY) ASKING YOU IF YOU CAN REDUCE THE ONE YEAR TO SIX MONTHS AND WE'RE HERE OBVIOUSLY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, MR. MILLAGE. QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD. COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER KIAR: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. SO, MR. MILLAGE, YOUR CLIENT HAS BEEN WORKING AT THE PORT -- WAS WORKING AT THE PORT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, TOOK A HIATUS. SO THEY'RE REALLY NOT A NEW BUSINESS SO YOU'RE ASKING BECAUSE
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THEY'RE UNIQUE IN THAT THAT THEY GO FOR ONE YEAR TO SIX MONTHS. FROM THE FLOOR: YEAH, FOR 18 YEARS THEY WERE IN THE PORT UNTIL ABOUT 2007 WHEN THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN REALLY KICKED IN THEIR BUSINESS DRIED UP DUE THAT THE ECONOMY AND THEY SURRENDERED THEIR LICENSE IN 2010 JUST BAYS THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE BUSINESS ACTIVITY. THERE ISN'T A PROCESS IN YOUR CODE FOR REINSTATEMENT SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THE CODE REQUIREMENTS, DEMONSTRATED WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS, BUT WE FEEL IT'S JUST REASONABLE NOT TO MAKE US GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE ONE YEAR, THAT SIX MONTHS, MEET US HALFWAY. SIX MONTHS WOULD BE REASONABLE. COMMISSIONER KIAR: SOUNDS REASONABLE TO ME. THANKS, MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: MS. HENRY, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? MS. HENRY: ACTUALLY WHAT I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE IN THIS PORT ARENA, THERE'S JUST BEEN -- THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY AND A LOT OF BACKDROP TO A LOT OF REASONS WHY SOME OF THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE IN PLACE, AND THIS ONE HAS ITS LITTLE HISTORY AS WELL. SO IT WAS A POLICY DECISION HOTLY DEBATED BY THE BOARD TO HAVE THIS ONE YEAR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS -- IF WE DO THIS, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEN MOST LIKELY THAT BECOMES THE NEW STANDARD BECAUSE IN THIS PARTICULAR ARENA, IT'S -- IT HAS A HISTORY, AND I JUST WANT TO CAUTION YOU OF THAT. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, MS. HENRY. COMMISSIONER
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WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: SOME OF US HAVE LIVED THROUGH THAT HISTORY AND THAT DEBATE, AND THAT LAWSUIT, AND SOME OF THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH THE GENTLEMAN IN MY OFFICE YESTERDAY WAS THAT PORT STAFF ADVISED THEM, AT LEAST THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL, MR. MORRISON, WHO IS SITTING BACK THERE ADVISED THEM THAT THIS IS BOARD POLICY, AND SO THE BOARD NEEDS TO DEBATE THIS AND DECIDE WHAT IT WANTS TO DO. I THINK THAT IT'S -- FOR ME, ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, AND I HAD MY OFFICE DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH ON THE COMPANY, AND THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF HISTORY ON HIS NOW DECEASED FATHER'S HISTORY IN BROWARD COUNTY AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, ET CETERA, BUT NONE FOR YOU THAT I COULD FIND, AND THE COMPANY ITSELF DOES AND DID HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF PORT EVERGLADES EXPERIENCE, AND I THINK THAT UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHICH SOMEONE THEN WOULD NEED TO SHARE WITH THIS BOARD, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING -- I WANT TO DO IT ON A CASE BY CASE. I'M NOT -- IF I WAS TO SUPPORT WHAT COMMISSIONER KIAR IS SUGGESTING, WHICH IS SOME KIND OF CONSIDERATION FOR THAT PRIOR EXPERIENCE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN UNREASONABLE REQUEST, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT MEANS TO PORT STAFF: OKAY. THE BOARD HAS A NEW POLICY, AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO SAY WHAT I'M SAYING. FOR AT LEAST THIS COMMISSIONER, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS FOR ME TO CONSIDER, NOT THAT: OKAY. IF THEY HAD LICENSES AND THEY GAVE THEM UP WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, THEN THAT'S OKAY, PORT STAFF. GO AHEAD AND DO IT. I DON'T
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THINK I WANT TO DO THAT. I DON'T THINK I WANT TO DO THAT AT ALL. SO FOR ME, I COULDN'T SEE A REASON FROM THE RESEARCH THAT I DID NOT TO CONSIDER SHORTENING THE YEAR WINDOW FOR PROBATION, AND UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING YOU KNOW OR PORT STAFF KNOWS REGARDING THIS COMPANY AND THEIR EXPERIENCE, THEN A REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT. MS. HENRY: WELL, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DEFER TO THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BECAUSE MY ISSUE IS THERE IS NOTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT THE COMPANY ITSELF. IT IS -- IT IS JUST IN THE ARENA OF WATERFRONT, THE CASES ABOUT DISPARATE TREATMENT, THERE'S SOME ISSUES THERE. I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE THE ATTORNEYS WEIGH IN ON THAT. IF THEY'RE COMFORTABLE THAT YOU (INAUDIBLE). COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: RULE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE PORT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND HAVE BEEN -- I FINALLY UNDERSTOOD THE WORD YOU WERE SAYING, DORMANT, BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE DORMER TO ME, DORMANT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THEN WANTING TO COME BACK, NOT WANTING TO ABIDE BY THE ONE-YEAR RULE. IF THIS WOULD OPEN UP THE DOOR TO EVERY APPLICANT THEREAFTER, WHETHER THEY HAD BEEN IN THE PORT OR NOT BEEN IN THE PORT BECAUSE OF THE STRICT GUIDELINES FROM THE FEDS, THEN I CAN'T SUPPORT WHAT COMMISSIONER CAR, KIAR, KIAR WAS PROPOSING. I WAS PREPARED TO DO SO BEFORE. I JUST WAS SO TIRED AND WANTED TO GET DONE WITH THE AGENDA WHEN I SAID MOVE IT, BUT I WAS PREPARED TO DO WHAT HE WAS PROPOSING UNTIL I HEARD YOU SPEAK. AND THAT REALLY GIVES ME AGITA, AND I DON'T THINK THAT I COULD DO IT AT THIS
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POINT BECAUSE IT WOULD CHANGE THE RULE FOR ALL FUTURE PEOPLE WANTING TO COME INTO THE PORT. MS. ARMSTRONG COFFEY: I WANT TO BE CAREFUL. THE SIX-MUN, ONE-YEAR IS ENTIRELY YOUR POLICY AND I DON'T WON TO SAY NO ONE COULD IF BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY, I'M JUST SAYING IF THEY'RE DISTINGUISHABLE, THERE IS A LEGAL RISK WITH THIS. IT'S ONE THAT JUST IS DIFFICULT TO ASSESS. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER HOLNESS (WANT). COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: YES, LET ME TRY AND CLARIFY AND MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOU CLEARLY, COUNTY ATTORNEY. THIS COMPANY -- GRANTING THIS OPPORTUNITY, WOULD THAT THEN MAKE IT THAT EVERY NEW APPLICANT, BECAUSE THIS IS I THINK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT SITUATION BECAUSE THERE'S SOME HISTORY THAT THIS COMPANY HAS HAD WITH US BEFORE; AM I CORRECT, SO COULDN'T WE THEN CATEGORIZE THIS AND SAY ANYONE WITHIN THIS CATEGORIZIZATION OF BEING ENGAGED WITH OUR PORT BEFORE, IF THEY COME BACK, THAT NARROW GROUP COULD THEN GET THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ONLY HAVE SIX MONTHS' PROBATION. MS. ARMSTRONG COFFEY: I THINK THAT'S NOT UNREASONABLE EXCEPT THAT YOUR ADMIN CODE ACTUALLY DEFINES FIRST-TIME APPLICANT IN A WAY THAT THIS APPLICANT WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT, THAT WOULD FIT. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER, DOES THAT CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS, NO, COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. HE SOMETIMES TAKES A BREATH AND YOU'RE NOT SURE.
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COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: SO. MAYOR JACOBS: SEE. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE ADMIN CODE, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. MS. ARMSTRONG COFFEY: FIRST OF ALL, YOU COULD CHANGE IT TO SIX MONTHS ACROSS THE BOARD IF YOU WANTED TO. THAT'S TOTALLY YOUR PREROGATIVE. SECOND, IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO, YOU NEED TO BE PERSUADED BY THIS APPLICANT THAT THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY DIFFERENT AND MAYBE YOU ARE AND THERE IS STILL A RISK IN THAT THAT EVERY SUBSEQUENT APPLICANT IS GOING TO SAY: WELL, I'M DIFFERENT TOO, AND I JUST HAVE TO WARN YOU OF THAT. I'M NOT SAYING YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN'T DO IT. I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S A RISK THAT WILL FACE LITIGATION. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: MAYBE THE PORT OR THE ADMINISTRATION MAY ANSWER, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HAD COMPANIES THAT HAVE EXISTED THAT HAVE COME BACK AND WANTED TO RENEW? HOW MANY COMPANIES HAVE WE HAD? WHAT NUMBER IS THAT? MS. HENRY: I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER UNLESS STAFF HAS AN ANSWER FOR ME. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: DOES STAFF HAVE AN ANSWER? MS. HENRY: AND I JUST WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND, SO THE ISSUE FOR US IS, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COMPANY. IT HAS MORE TO DO ABOUT PRIOR LITIGATION, AND WE'RE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER DECISION THAT YOU MAKE THAT THERES A POTENTIAL THAT THERE IS (THERE IS) -- THERE COULD BE AN
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UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE, AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE TRYING TO -- DO THEY HAVE AN ANSWER? MS. ARMSTRONG COFFEY: IT'S ALSO YOUR ADMIN CODE. YOU CAN'T DO IT TODAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT YOU COULD MODIFY YOUR ADMIN CODE TO TALK ABOUT FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS OR REAPPLICANTS, PEOPLE THAT ARE REAPPLYING AFTER A LONG EXPERIENCE WITH THE COUNTY. THAT WAY YOU WOULD HAVE DRAWN A POLICY VERY DISTINCTLY, VERY CLEARLY THAT A SUBSEQUENT APPLICANT, A DIFFERENT APPLICANT COULDN'T CLAIM DISPARATE TREATMENT FROM. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. IT'S NOT SOMEONE BRAND NEW THAT HAS NO HISTORY WITH US THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. IT'S NOT A BRAND NEW APPLICANT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THAT. SURE, THE ADMIN CODE PROBABLY SAYS IF YOU SURRENDERED YOUR LICENSE YESTERDAY, TOMORROW YOU'RE NEW. THAT DOESN'T SEEM REASONABLE TO ME SO I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT EACH SITUATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND TREAT THESE BUSINESSES AS SUCH, INDIVIDUALLY. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER RYAN. COMMISSIONER RYAN: HAVING ONLY SERVED ON THIS COMMISSION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED IS THAT WE SURE DO HAVE A LOT OF LAWSUITS AGAINST BROWARD COUNTY AND I'M PERSONALLY NOT INTERESTED IN HAVING FURTHER EXPOSURE. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME BASED UPON THE ATTORNEY'S OPINION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE
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CODE SOME CLEARLY ARTICULATED STANDARDS FOR WAIVER OF THE ONE-YEAR PERIOD, AND IF YOU GRANT THE EXCEPTION PRIOR TO THE STANDARDS BEING ADOPTED, THEN WE ARE OPEN FOR LAWSUITS. IF THE APPLICANT WANTS TO PAUSE AND WAIT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE TO BE AMENDED, WHICH MAY LAST LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS, THEN PERHAPS WE COULD GO FORWARD IF THAT CRITERIA IS MET, BUT WITHOUT HAVING ANYTHING ESTABLISHED RIGHT NOW, HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT IS A SUBSTANTIAL OR A VALID REASON FOR THE WAIVER, AND I DO BELIEVE IT SETS A PRECEDENT AND THEN THE FIRST ONE THAT WE DENY IS GOING TO BE OUR FIRST LAWSUIT. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER RITTER. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I THINK THAT IF WE DIDN'T DO SOMETHING BECAUSE WE WERE AFRAID OF BEING SUED, WE WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING HERE IN BROWARD COUNTY. YOU'RE A LAWYER. I'M A LAWYER. YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE A COT TIM INDUSTRY TO SUE BROWARD COUNTY, BUT I DO (COTTAGE) UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS, AND THEY ARE WELL FOUNDED. HAVING SAID THAT, BASED ON WHAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS EXPLAINED ABOUT -- I'M SORRY, I'M HAVING A -- IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY -- ABOUT DISTINGUISHING THIS FROM OTHER APPLICANTS, I BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT. I THINK COMMISSIONER HOLNESS IS CORRECT IN HOW WE WOULD TREAT THIS NEW EXISTING FRANCHISEE. I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH REDUCING THE PROBATION PERIOD TO SIX MONTHS AS OPPOSED TO THE ONE YEAR, AND I RECALL, I WAS ON THE BOARD TOO, COMMISSIONER WEXLER, WHEN WE HAD THIS LENGTHY
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DEBATE. WHAT, WERE THERE FOUR OF US WHO WERE ON THE BOARD. MAYOR JACOBS: [YOU|TO] WAS THERE. COMMISSIONER RITTER: GOD, IT'S AMAZING THAT THERE WERE LESS OF US THAN NOT, AND IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THAT WE DID THIS (I WAS) AND I REMEMBER BEING UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT PUTTING THIS IN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE CODE FOR BUSINESSES THAT WERE HERE AND THEY CAME BACK, SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS A BAD THING TO DO AND I'M GOING TO SECOND YOUR AMENDED MOTION WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES, COMMISSIONER MARTY. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. COMMISSIONER KIAR WAS NEXT ON THE QUEUE BUT I WANTED TO WEIGH IN BEFORE HE GOES SECOND AND THAT IS TO SAY THAT I, TOO, WAS HERE DURING THESE LENGTHY CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD AT THE BOARD, AND THEY, LIKE THIS ONE, HAD TO BE VERY CAREFULLY CRAFTED, AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT A COMPANY THAT'S BEEN ACTIVE AT OUR PORT AND FOR WHATEVER REASONS THEY FOLDED, WENT AWAY, THE BUSINESS THAT THEY DID HANDLE WAS THEN DISBURSED THROUGH OTHERS LEFT AT THE PORT, OTHERS STRUGGLING THROUGH. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAD THIS LANGUAGE IN PLACE WAS BECAUSE YOU HAD ISSUES WITH STEVEDORES WANTING TO JUST POP IN AND NOT BRING ANY BUSINESS WITH THEM AND THEREBY BLEED OFF EXISTING BUSINESS AT THE PORT. THIS WAS NOT HEALTHY FOR THE PORT. IT WASN'T HEALTHY FOR COMPETITION AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THAT AND SO THESE RULES CAME INTO PLAY. SO IF YOU NOW LET A COMPANY THAT'S LEFT, IT'S LIKE DROPPING A ROCK IN THE WATER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE RIPPLES
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GO OUT AND THE OGS IS GOING TO SETTLE DOWN AND PRETTY SOON YOU'RE GOING TO DROP ANOTHER ROCK IN. THAT BUSINESS HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE. SO THE IDEA THAT THEY HAVE TO COME BACK AND BRING BACK BUSINESS, I DON'T FIND THAT AN ONEROUS RESTRICTION GIVEN THERE IS NO OTHER EXCEPTION AND THE LANGUAGE THAT I'VE BEEN GIVEN TODAY TO SHOW HOW INCREDIBLY UNIQUE THIS SITUATION IS, HOW IT'S SO DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHERS THAT ARE OUT AT THE PORT (OCEAN), MAYBE OTHERS THAT STRUGGLED AND HUNG UN THERE, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT THAT UNIQUE SITUATION IS TODAY AND THAT THEY WARRANT THAT. THE SUGGESTION THAT AT SOME POINT THE PORT STAFF MIGHT COME BACK WITH A BETTER, POUR CHISELLED AND DEFINED WAY IN WHICH WOULD (MORE) MEET THE -- I WOULDN'T CALL THEM OBJECTIONS BUT CAUTIONARY TONES SET BY THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND BRING BACK SOME ADMIN CHANGES IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I'M WILLING TO TALK A LOOK AT BUT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT'S BEFORE US TODAY. SO BECAUSE IT COMES WITH RECOMMENDATION THAT IT DOES FROM STAFF, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE ITEM THAT'S BEFORE US. COMMISSIONER KIAR, FOLLOWED BY COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER KIAR: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MINE WAS JUST TO MAKE A MOTION. SO I'LL DO THAT AFTER COMMISSIONER WEXLER SPEAKS UNLESS SOMEONE ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THIS IS WHAT I STRUGGLED WITH AND I EXPLAINED IT TO THEM YESTERDAY. I DON'T THINK THAT THE
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CONCEPT OF THE REQUEST IS UNREASONABLE AT ALL OR THE CONCEPT OF YOUR MOTION IS UNREASONABLE. I THINK IT'S BAD TO MAKE PUBLIC POLICY FOR ONE APPLICANT, VERY BAD, BUT THE JOURNEY BEGINS WITH THE FIRST STEP, AND I THINK THAT THE ADMIN CODE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THAT IN THAT, IF YOU'VE DONE BUSINESS IN OUR PORT, HOW LONG OR HOW NEAR IS TOO LONG OR TOO NEAR, AND THAT'S WHAT I ASK YOU, IS IT 18 MONTHS, TWO YEARS? THAT WOULDN'T WORK FOR THEM. THIRTY-SIX MONTHS, THAT WILL WORK FOR THEM. AH, SO HOW I'VE PULLED DOWN A THREE-YEAR TIME FRAME. IF YOU'VE DONE BUSINESS IN PORT EVERGLADES FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS BUT YOU'VE SUSPENDED YOUR LICENSE, THEN YOU CAN ONLY HAVE A SIX-MONTH PROBATION NERVE PERIOD BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT EXPERIENCE IN OUR PORT. IT'S BAD PUBLIC POLICY TO MAKE POLICY BASED ON ONE PERSON OR ONE COMPANY THAT'S BEFORE US TODAY, AND GIVEN WHAT OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS NOW SAID, I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT CHANGING THE ADMIN CODE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE YEARS, THE NUMBER THAT'S GOING TO WORK FOR THIS APPLICANT BECAUSE THREE YEARS HAVING NOT DONE BUSINESS IN THE PORT IS ALMOST A LIFETIME, AND SO MAYBE SOMETHING SHORTER IS MORE REASONABLE FOR GOOD PUBLIC POLICY THAT'S VERY DEFENSIBLE, AND, YES, I DO LOOK FOR DEFENSIBLE PUBLIC POLICY. SO I MEAN I CAME IN HERE THINKING THIS WAS A CAKEWALK, NO PROBLEM. SO THANK YOU, JONI, FOR MUDDYING MY WATER, BUT IT'S NOT SO CLEAR AND IT'S NOT SO EASY AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT IT BEGINS WITH OUR MODIFYING THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY EVENHANDED ACROSS THE
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BOARD FOR EVERYBODY. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WEXLER. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: I GUESS WHAT I'M STRUGGLING A BIT WITH WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM WAS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVEN'T DONE BUSINESS IN THE PORT FOR A BIT, BUT WHEN THEY DID DO BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, DID THEY DO A GOOD JOB? YOU DON'T FORGET WHAT YOU'VE DONE JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOING IT FOR A YEAR OR SO OR TWO YEARS OR HOWEVER LONG IT'S BEEN, THREE. I DON'T FORGET HOW TO SAVE A PERSON BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SAVED THEM IN THREE YEARS. I MEAN I'M A NURSE PRACTITIONER AND I CAN DO THAT. WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I STRUGGLE WITH THIS ONE BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT A NEW COMPANY. I KNOW THAT THEY'VE STILL BEEN DOING OTHER BUSINESS, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE DONE BEFORE AND THAT THEY HAVE DONE A REASONABLY GOOD JOB AT, AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT IT COMES BEFORE US EVERY DAY A COMPANY THAT HAS THIS TYPE OF EXPERIENCE WHO IS ASKING FOR AN EXCEPTION TO START BACK DOING BUSINESS, AND ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT I HAD YESTERDAY WAS: WHY COULDN'T THEY, YOU KNOW, HAVE GOTTEN, YOU KNOW, THE PERMIT OR THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY WERE DOING PREVIOUSLY SINCE THEY DID EVERYTHING? AND I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY OF ADDRESSING IT AND NOT HAVING TO GO THIS ROUTE. WE DON'T GET A COMPANY LIKE THIS EVERY DAY, SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE SETTING PUBLIC POLICY PER SE BY AGREEING TO REDUCE IT TO SIX MONTHS. NOW I MEAN I JUST THINK THAT
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IN TERMS OF REBUILDING AND FOR A COMPANY'S SURVIVAL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND TRYING TO DO MORE BUSINESS WITH SMALL BUSINESS IN BROWARD COUNTY, SO I'M A BIT TORN ON THIS ONE BECAUSE OF THAT REASON. FOR WHATEVER MY TWO CENTS IS WORTH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER KIAR: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT SURE IF THE VOTES ARE THERE, I'M GOING TO TRY IT ANY WAYS. I JUST WANT TO ADD BEFORE I DO IT THAT I DEFINITELY RESPECT MS. COFFEY'S OPINION, BUT IF THERE WAS A LAWSUIT, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE HOW A COURT WOULD RULE. IT APPEARS THE LAW IS GRAY, AND, YOU KNOW, AND IF THERE WAS A CHALLENGE, ONE JUDGE COULD SAY ONE THING, ONE JUDGE COULD SAY SOMETHING ELSE AND IF WE DICTATED WHAT WE DO BASED UPON WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO GET SUED WE WOULDN'T GET ANYTHING DONE AND I JUST BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DISTINCTION HERE. THIS IS A COMPANY THAT WAS PRACTICING FOR 18 YEARS. BECAUSE OF THE DOWNTURN, THEY HAD TO I GUESS CLOSE SHOP HERE IN BROWARD COUNTY AND NOW THEY WANT TO COME BACK AND THEY ARE DISTINGUISHABLE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE. SO WITH THAT SAID, I MOVE THE ITEM WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT THE ONE-YEAR PROVISION BE BROUGHT DOWN NOW SIX MONTHS AND THAT IS MY MOTION, MADAM MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KIAR. IS THERE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN
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FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. HANDS. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. YOUR HAND IS UP. OPPOSED? OKAY. I WASN'T SURE. SO YOUR HAND WAS UP. SO IT WAS FIVE FOR YESES. MOTION PASSES 5/4. THANK YOU. NEXT TIME WHEN I SAY HANDS, CAN YOU GUYS LIKE REALLY GIVE ME YOUR HANDS? I KNOW IT'S THE END OF DAY AND OUR HANDS CAN'T GO AS HIGH. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER 2 IS A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION GRANTING A NONEXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TO COCHLEAR RETRANSPORT FOR CARGO HANDLING SERVICES. THE SAME MOTION IS MADE BY COMMISSIONER KIAR, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LAMARCA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED? NAY. LET THE RECORD SHOW 5/4, OH AND THIS WAS A PUBLIC HEARING. WAS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC? SORRY. Y'ALL HAVE THE SAME STORY. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER 3 IS A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION FOR THE SAME COMPANY FOR STEAMSHIP AGENT SERVICES. IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, PUBLIC IS CLOSED. A MOTION. COMMISSIONER KIAR: SAME MOTION. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER KIAR MAKES A MOTION SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR SHARIEF. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: (INAUDIBLE). MAYOR JACOBS: OH, OKAY. SO YOU'RE JUST MOVING THE ITEM. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: DO YOU WANT A SEAT UP HERE? MAYOR JACOBS: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU.
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SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THAT. MOTION TO CONSIDER A MARINE TERMINAL LICENSE AND OPERATING AGREEMENT BETWEEN CONTINENTAL FLORIDA MATERIALS, ITEM NUMBER 4. IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ITEM 4? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE ITEM NUMBER 4? OH, THIS IS SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING, NO ACTION ON THE MOTION IS REQUIRED. ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER 4 IS A MOTION TO ENACT -COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: YOU JUST DID 4. MAYOR JACOBS: DID I SAY 4? I MEAN 5. IT'S A LONG DAY. MOTION 5 TO ENACT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COMP PLAN, A SMALL SCALE LAND USE AMENDMENT IN THE CITY OF POMPANO BEACH. IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER 5? FROM THE FLOOR: ONLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. THEN PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO MAKE A MOTION ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT 2? THANK YOU. THE ITEM IS MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM NUMBER 6 IS A MOTION TO ENACT A SMALL SCALE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT IN THE CITY OF PARKLAND. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, DENNIS MEALY MEAL MEAL ONLY IF QUESTIONS. MAYOR JACOBS: IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER 6? SEEING NONE, PUBLIC IS CLOSED. COMMISSION DELIBERATION. COMMISSIONER RITTER.
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COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR, COULD I ASK MR. MEALY SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. MAYOR JACOBS: UH-HUH. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MEALY MEAL MEAL GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE MEAL MEAL THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RITTER: ON PAGE 4, ROMAN NUMERAL IV OF THE BROWARD COUNTY REPORT, UNDER PARAGRAPH 3, UNDER NATURAL RESOURCES, IT ENCOURAGES YOUR CLIENT, THE DEVELOPER, TO REMOVE OR RELOCATE AS FEW TREES AS POSSIBLE. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COMMITTING TO MINIMIZING TREE REMOVAL ON THE RECORD TODAY MEAL MEAL YES. COMMISSIONER RITTER: YES, YOU WILL AGREE TO MINIMIZE MEAL MEAL YES, WE WILL DO WHAT YOU SAID. COMMISSIONER RITTER: OKAY. AND, SECONDLY, UNDER THE NATURESCAPE PROGRAM, AGAIN, YOUR CLIENT, THE DEVELOPER, IS ENCOURAGED TO USE THE NATURESCAPE BROWARD PROGRAM. WILL YOUR CLIENT, THE DEVELOPER, COMMIT TO USING THE NATURESCAPE PROGRAM TODAY WITH THAT DEVELOPMENT? MEAL MEAL YES, WE WILL. COMMISSIONER RITTER: AND BECAUSE I HEAR SHADES OF COMMISSIONER LIEBERMAN IN MY HEAD, YOU DO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BIND YOUR CLIENT; IS THAT CORRECT? MEAL MEAL YES, I DO. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL MOVE IT.
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COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: SECOND. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM NUMBER 7 IS A MOTION TO ENACT A LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT IN THE TOWN OF DAVIE. IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ITEM 7? SEEING NONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR MOVING ITEM 7? OKAY. ITEM 7 HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM NUMBER 8 IS AY MOTION TO CONSIDER THE ENACTMENT OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 9 OF THE BROWARD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING CONTRACTORS. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ITEM 8? SEEING NONE, THE ITEM -- THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER 8. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM NUMBER 9 IS A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE ENACTMENT OF AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2012. IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS US ON ITEM 9? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. DO I HAVE A MOTION? THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM NUMBER 10 IS A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE ENACTMENT OF AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO STORAGE TANKS. IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES
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TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER 10? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. DO I HAVE A MOTION? COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: QUICK COMMENT, MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. AND COMMENT, COMMISSIONER LAMARCA. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: I WANTED TO -- I RECOGNIZE A FAMILIAR FACE OUT THERE, MR. ALFRED REID FROM THE STORAGE TANK DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL. I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE CALL IT THESE DAYS, BUT I'VE WORKED WITH ALFRED FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 25 YEARS AND I WANTED TO COMMEND HIM ON HIS VERY QUIET BUT GOOD LEADERSHIP IN BROWARD COUNTY AND GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE. MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM NUMBER 11 IS A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PERTAINING TO THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER AND TRAUMA SERVICES. IS THERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ITEM 11? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM NUMBER 12 IS A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO REINSTATE THE BROWARD COUNTY LAND USE PLAN'S COMMERCIAL FLEXIBILITY FIVE PERCENT AND RESERVE UNITS. IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON THAT ITEM? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. ITEM 12 IS MOVED AND
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SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE WE GO TO THE BALANCE OF THE REGULAR AGENDA, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT RECESS TO ALLOW MINUTES A MOMENT TO CATCH HER BREATH AND ANY OF THE OTHER UTILITIES OR FACILITIES THAT MIGHT WANT TO BE USED BY ANY OF US HERE. I MEANT TO SAY FACILITIES. AND WE WILL BE BACK IN FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. (RECESS 5:15 P.M.) ( MAYOR JACOBS: WHEN WE LEFT THE MEETING THIS MORNING, WE STILL HAD SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT HAD BEEN PULLED. THE NEXT ITEM UP, PULLED ITEM 13 PULLED BY COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER KIAR: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THIS WILL BE VERY, VERY QUICK. I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE -- I GUESS THE FEES FOR THE ANIMAL CARE FEES AND THERE'S ONLY ONE THAT I WAS HOPING TO CHANGE AND THAT WAS -- IT DEALT WITH CRUELTY TO ANIMALS WHICH IS OF COURSE THE WORST AND THE FIRST OFFENSE WAS $350 AND THE SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES WERE $500. SO ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS JUST CHANGE THE FIRST OFFENSE AND ALL SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE TO EACH $500 JUST TO RAISE IT TO THE MAX. IF YOU'RE FOUND GUILTY OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, YOU SHOULD PAY THE MAX AND THAT'S TO -- MY MOTION WOULD BE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND?
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COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: SECOND. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. ITEM HAS BEEN SECONDED. FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ITEM 13 IS MOVED AS AMENDED BY COMMISSIONER KIAR. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 19, COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. I DON'T THINK I WAS HAPPY WITH THE ANSWER. I KNOW I WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE ANSWER. NORMALLY WHEN I DO A PBMI QUESTION, IF THE ANSWER WAS COMPLETE AND THOROUGH, I'M HAPPY AS COULD BE. PART B THAT I ASKED, I ASKED THE FOLLOWING: PLEASE PROVIDE A DETAILED STATUS OF EACH OF THE 16 HOMES PREVIOUSLY AWARDED TO EACH CONTRACTOR. THEY KIND OF DID THAT, ALTHOUGH IT'S IN VERBIAGE SO IT'S VERY HARD TO TRACK THE 16 HOMES. THE ANSWER WAS A LOT MORE COMPLETE ON THE QUESTION THAT COMMISSIONER HOLNESS ASKED, BUT THE SECOND PART OF THAT QUESTION WAS THAT MOTION C, IS THAT THE AUTHORIZATION BEING REQUESTED FOR THE 16 HOMES THAT WERE GIVEN A YEAR AGO AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL FIVE HOMES, AND I DON'T SEE ANY ANSWER ON HERE FOR THAT, THAT WAS THE CHANGE ORDER, THE CHANGE ORDER AUTHORITY UP TO TEN PERCENT. MS. HENRY: MR. STONE, IF YOU WANT TO COME TO THE PODIUM. WHAT THE COMMISSIONER IS TRYING TO ASCERTAIN IS THAT WE HAVE A STANDARD CHANGE ORDER ALLOWANCE OF FIVE PERCENT. THIS IS MOVING IT UP TO TEN PERCENT AND IT WASN'T CLEAR IF THIS REQUEST IS FOR ALL OF THE HOMES, THE ONES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY LET AND THE
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NEW ONES OR JUST FOR THE NEW ONES. FROM THE FLOOR: IT'S FOR BOTH. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: SO IT'S FOR THE 16 HOMES THAT WERE LET A YEAR AGO STONE STONE YES. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: SO YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE CHANGE ORDERS THAT ARE AT LEAST TEN PERCENT STONE STONE WE DON'T THOUGH WHAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS. WE'VE HAD CHANGE ORDERS SUBMITTED. WE HAVE NOT PROCESSED THEM. WE TOLD THEM THAT WE COULD NOT PROCESS THEM UNLESS THE BOARD AUTHORIZED. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THEN WHY WOULD YOU ASK FOR DOUBLE THE AMOUNT THAT'S THE NORMAL AUTHORITY. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S FIVE AND I'VE SEEN THAT ON OTHER THINGS HERE. ANYTHING ABOVE IT COMES BACK TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND NOT THAT I REALLY WANT THESE SMALL PROJECTS TO COME BACK, BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT, FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S MANY HOUSES AND I WISH EVAN WAS HERE BECAUSE YOU REMEMBER ALL OF THIS CONVERSATION THAT WENT ON AND ON AND ON. THE PROBLEM WAS FOR THOSE COMMISSIONERS THAT WEREN'T A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION OVER A YEAR AGO OR ACTUALLY IT DID START OVER A YEAR AGO WAS THE STATE AND THE TIME PERIOD AND IN WHICH THE HOUSES SUPPOSEDLY HAD TO BE BUILT. OBVIOUSLY, AND I KNOW YOU HAD INFORMED THE BOARD IN WRITING, I WANT TO SAY IT WAS PROBABLY AROUND DECEMBER OR SO, THAT THERE WERE -- THERE WAS AN EXTENSION STONE STONE YES, MA'AM.
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COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THAT WAS GRANTED, AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS, BUT IF YOU REMEMBER ALSO, THESE COMPANIES, THE TWO COMPANIES WERE GOING TO BUILD THESE HOUSES, WHAT WAS IT, IN FOUR MONTHS STONE STONE FIVE. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: FIVE MONTHS. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? YEAH, REMEMBER HOW UGLY THAT WAS? IT WAS UGLY UP HERE, AND A FEW OF US KIND OF SAID: OH, THAT'S NOT GOING TO -COME ON, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THE AUDITOR GOT INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AND YADDA, YADDA, YADDA. IT WAS NOT A PRETTY SIGHT. AND SO HERE WE ARE NOW AND THE ONE THING I HAVE INTACT AT LEAST SEEMS TO BE MY MEMORY AND ONE OF THINGS THAT REALLY THEN CAME -AND OF COURSE YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THESE ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS TO THESE TWO COMPANIES THAT HAVE NOT COMPLETED THESE HOUSES A YEAR LATER, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE IN FIVE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS, YOU KNOW, IT'S APRIL, AND I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT GIVING THE CHANGE ORDER AUTHORITY TO THAT AMOUNT FOR HOUSES THAT WE LET AND CONTRACTS THAT WE LET IN APRIL OF 2012 OR AWARDED IN 2012 STONE STONE RIGHT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: IT REALLY CONCERNS ME, AND I -- YOU KNOW, I JUST -- I REALLY -- YOU HAVEN'T CONVINCED ME OTHERWISE STONE STONE LET ME ADDRESS BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. THE DEADLINE WAS A SEVERE ONE, AND THE STATE INSISTED THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE FIVE MONTHS, AND WE QUESTIONED THAT WHEN WE LET OUT THE BIDS. WE MADE IT CLEAR TO THE CONTRACTOR THAT WERE BIDDING
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NOT JUST THREE TWO, THAT IT WAS FIVE MONTHS AND AS FAR AS WE WERE CONCERNING WITH THE STATE THEY WERE TELLING US IT WAS A HARD DEADLINE. NOW IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, THEY SAID: WE LIKE THIS PROJECT. YOU GET IT GOING. WE SEE THAT IT'S COMING ALONG, WE'LL CONSIDER AN EXTENSION AND THEY DID THAT. AND THEY CAME DOWN AND DID A MONITORING PROBABLY ABOUT TWO MONTHS IN THE CONTRACT, LIKED WHAT THEY SAW AND SAID: YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO EXTEND. IN OUR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, WE PUT IN PLACE SOME PROTECTIONS FOR OURSELVES IN THE CASE THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE THAT FIVE-MONTH DEADLINE, AND WE WOULD HAVE EXECUTED ON THOSE PROTECTIONS HAD WE NEEDED TO. I ALSO THINK HAD THEY NOT SEEN THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENSION, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD MORE CREWS ON BOARD AND THEY THINK THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN PUSHING HARDER. THERE WERE A COUPLE OTHER MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES. ONE WAS THAT BY THE TIME WE GOT IT APPROVED AND THEY GOT THEIR PLANS IN FOR PERMITTING, IT WAS RIGHT ON TOP OF THE STATE BUILDING CODE CHANGING. SO THEY HAD TO BACK UP AND REDO THEIR PLANS TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW STATE BUILDING CODE. THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED IS BECAUSE WE WERE MOVING SO FAST, WE WERE PROPOSING LOTS IN OUR INVENTORY IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA PARTICULARLY SOME THAT WE TOOK BACK FROM ANOTHER INFILL PROGRAM WHICH, AS IT TURNED OUT, THERE WAS ANOTHER STEP TO MAKE THOSE -- THE LIENS ON THOSE PROPERTIES CLEAR. SO WE HAD TO TAKE BACK ABOUT FOUR PROPERTIES AND EXCHANGE THOSE. SOME OF THOSE REQUIRED MORE SIGNIFICANT CUT AND FILL AND COMPACTING THAN THE BIDS ANTICIPATED,
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AND THAT'S PART OF THE CHANGE ORDER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THAT'S THE CHANGE ORDER STONE STONE SO IN THE CHANGE ORDERS, WE MADE IT CLEAR TO THEM -AND I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE CURRENT DEADLINE IN JUST A SECOND -THAT THEY DID A PROJECT THAT HAD NO CHANGE ORDERS. THEY WERE BRINGING IN CHANGE ORDERS THAT I THINK ARE LEGITIMATE. WE SAID: THAT'S UP TO THE BOARD TO AUTHORIZE THAT, AND OF THE WE WILL DO AS WE INDICATED IN THE (AND WHAT WE) ITEM IS WE'LL COMPARE THEIR BID SPECS, LIKE CUT AND FILL AND COMPACTING AND WHAT THEY RAN INTO AND WE WILL ONLY PAY THE INCREMENTS THAT WERE UNINTENDED. NOW IN TERMS OF THE NEW DEADLINE, I DID MEET WITH BOTH OF THE CONTRACTORS. I EXPLAINED TO BOTH OF THEM THAT WE'VE GOT NOW UNTIL JUNE. IT'S ANOTHER FIVE-MONTH DEADLINE. THEY FEEL ALL RIGHT NOW THAT THEY'RE KIND OF ROLLING ON THESE THINGS. THEY'VE GOT THEIR CREWS. THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE THEM LOTS THAT ARE FREE AND CLEAR OF ANY THAT THEY CAN MAKE THE FIVE-MONTH DEADLINE. WE'LL STILL HAVE THE SAME PROTECTIONS AS FAR AS NONPERFORMANCE IN THERE THAT WE HAD IN THE FIRST CONTRACT. SO WE FEEL NOT COMFORTABLE ABOUT IT, BUT WE FEEL LIKE IT'S DOABLE. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: OKAY. SO THE HOUSES THAT -THE 16 HOUSES THAT WE AWARDED LAST YEAR, LAST APRIL, STILL AREN'T DONE, AND PARTICULARLY THE ONES IN DAVIE? STONE STONE THE ONES IN DAVIE ARE STILL IN THE PERMIT PROCESS. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: RIGHT STONE STONE THE 16 IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA --
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COMMISSIONER WEXLER: ARE WELL UNDERWAY STONE STONE SEVEN TO NINE FOR ONE VENDOR ARE DONE BUT FOR LANDSCAPING, I THINK FOUR -COMMISSIONER WEXLER: IT WAS VERY HARD TO FOLLOW THE RAMBLING WORDS VERSUS A MATRIX THAT SHOWED 16 HOUSES FROM THIS CONTRACTOR, THAT CONTRACTOR WHERE IT IS. IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD IN THE DIFFERENT GROUPS, BUT IT SEEMED TO READ THAT MOST OF THE HOUSES EXCEPT FOR THE ONES IN DAVIE ARE WELL UNDERWAY WITH THEIR EXTERIOR; IS THAT RIGHT? STONE STONE MOST OF THE HOUSES ARE COMPLETED BUT FOR LANDSCAPING AND FENCING AND IRRIGATION. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: OKAY. AND IT TOOK THAT LONG TO GET TO THIS POINT, AND SO ONCE AGAIN, I REALLY FEEL LIKE DEJA VU, THERE'S NO WAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT ANY ONE OF THESE CONTRACTORS ARE GOING TO COMPLETE THIS HOUSE -- THESE FIVE ADDITIONAL HOUSES IN FIVE MONTHS STONE STONE IF THEY DO NOT, WE'LL EXECUTE -COMMISSIONER WEXLER: MORE EXTENSIONS STONE- THE PERFORMANCE BONDS ON IT AND WE'LL COLLECT AGAINST THAT BOND TO FINISH THE HOUSES. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE. YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN HERE WE BE WITH A MILLION DOLLARS, AND WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE CONTRACTORS IN PLACE, BUT IT JUST MAKES ME SO CONCERNED OF IF THEY DIDN'T COMPLETE IT IN 11 MONTHS, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO COMPLETE IT IN FIVE MONTHS, AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GO WITH THE PERFORMANCE BOND. I WANT THE HOUSES STONE STONE YEAH, AND I
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CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT RELATIVELY SPEAKING, OUR LEADERSHIP WITH THE STATE ON THIS GRANT HAS IMPROVED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE COMFORTABLE GRANTING THESE EXTENSIONS. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THEY'VE DONE IT TWICE, [YOU| TO] THINK, RIGHT, THE EXTENSIONS STONE STONE YES. WHY THEY WON'T PUT IT OUT NINE MONTHS INSTEAD OF FIVE AND MAKE IT A COMFORTABLE PROCESS, I CAN'T ARTICULATE FOR YOU. WE'VE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM AND THEY'VE SAID: THIS IS WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: YEAH, YEAH, WE'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE. OKAY. BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE TEN PERCENT, BUT NOW THAT YOU'VE EXPLAINED, I GUESS WHAT I'D LIKE -- IN ORDER FOR ME TO SUPPORT THIS TODAY WITH THE TEN PERCENT CHANGE ORDER, COULD YOU DO AS A FOLLOW-UP, GET INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL, AT LEAST ON THOSE 16 HOUSES THAT ARE -- AND PROBABLY, WHAT, 11 OF THEM ARE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED STONE STONE UH-HUH. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED AND WHAT PERCENTAGE THAT'S GOING TO BE BECAUSE I SUSPECT THAT YOU WENT FOR THE TEN PERCENT BECAUSE MANY OF THE CHANGES ARE JUST WITHIN THAT THRESHOLD STONE STONE YEAH, MY RECOLLECTION, AND DON'T HOLD ME TO THIS, WAS THE LAST I LOOKED IT WAS AROUND 80,000 AND IT REPRESENTED REALLY TWO THINGS. ONE WAS THE LOTS THAT NEEDED ADDITIONAL CUT AND FILL AND COMPACTING AND SOME EXCAVATION BECAUSE THE SOILS WEREN'T STABLE ENOUGH TO BUILD ON AND THE OTHER WAS THE CHANGE IN THE BUILDING CODE PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO LANDSCAPING. LITERALLY
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AND I MEAN LITERALLY IT WENT FROM 30 PLANTS TO 300 PLANTS PER LOT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: WHICH INCREASED THE COST OF COURSE STONE STONE YEAH, IF YOU COULD JUST AS A FOLLOW-UP FOR THAT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC. YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO MOVE THIS ALONG AND KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY THE STATE WILL ALSO GIVE US ANOTHER EXTENSION AS WE COME UPON THE DEADLINE OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR, BUT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY MORE TO SAY OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, IT DID HAVE A VERY RICH CONVERSATION UP HERE, AND WENT ON AND ON AND ON STONE STONE YES, WE DID. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: YES, WE DID. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: YES, IF I MAY, SO A GOOD PORTION OF THE DELAY WASN'T THE CONTRACTOR'S FAULT; IT WAS THE PROCESS THAT THEY NEEDED TO GO THROUGH? STONE STONE IT WAS A COMBINATION OF THE CHANGE IN THE BUILDING CODE, THE CHANGE OF SOME OF THE LOTS AND THEN FINALLY SOME OF THOSE OF LOTS NEEDED MORE COMPACTING AND FILL THAN WE ANTICIPATED. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: I'VE DRIVEN BY QUITE A FEW OF THESE HOUSES, AND EXCEPT FOR THE EXTERIOR, I THINK THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE -- MANY OF THEM ALREADY HAVE HURRICANE AWNINGS ON THEM. PREVIOUSLY I DROVE BY, THEY HAD THE WINDOWS IN. IT SEEMS ALMOST COMPLETE EXCEPT FOR THE LANDSCAPING AND FOR THE EXTERIOR. SO THAT I THINK FOR MOST OF
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THEM THEY WILL BE DONE QUICKLY AND THE OTHER THING IS THIS, ONCE THEY'VE MOBILIZED THEIR CREW AND THE CREW IS IN FULL SWING AND AT WORK, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MUCH SPEED YES, SIR FOR THEM TO GET THE OTHER HOMES FINISHED BECAUSE THEY'LL JUST MOVE THE CREWS FROM WHERE THEY ARE NOW TO THE NOEKS ONES (SPEEDIER) AND IN TERMS OF TEN PERCENT, WE DON'T WANT TO COME BACK HERE AGAIN AND DELAY THE PROCESS BY GRANTING THE WAIVERS THAT NEEDS TO BE GRANTED BECAUSE THOSE LOTS ARE NEEDED TO BE FURTHER DEVELOPED THAN THEY WERE WHEN WE GAVE IT TO THEM. THE ONES THAT THE WE GAVE HAD TO BE CHANGED ALONG THE WAY. SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS. AND ALSO I'VE GOT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WHERE THESE HOUSES ARE LOCATED, THE IMPACT IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY IS ALREADY BEING SEEN. 27TH AVENUE, SEVERAL OF THEM ARE THERE. YOU DRIVE DOWN 27TH AVENUE NOW, AND YOU'LL SEE AND FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER GOING THROUGH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAN YOU DID BEFORE WITH THOSE EMPTY LOTS THAT WERE THERE OFTEN OVERGROWN AND NOT KEPT. SO IT'S A TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT TO THE COMMUNITY WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONER WEXLER, IF YOU COULD HOLD IT, PLEASE, I HAVE OTHERS ON THE QUEUE. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: SORRY. MAYOR JACOBS: AND I KNOW YOU HAD A LOT OF TIME ON THIS SUBJECT ALREADY. COMMISSIONER RYAN. COMMISSIONER RYAN: THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. AS I
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WAS READING THE BACKUP, I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF I COULD UNDERSTAND THIS COUNTY'S POLICY WITH RESPECT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS $1 MILLION FOR I GUESS THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIVE HOMES, THAT'S NOT ANY PORTION OF THAT $1 MILLION IS FOR LAND ACQUISITION; THAT'S ALL JUST FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE RESIDENCES STONE STONE YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER RYAN: AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE AN EVER DIMINISHING SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOW IS IT THAT THESE HOMES COST $200,000 EACH TO BUILD? STONE STONE THESE WERE COMPETITIVELY BID, AND THE TWO BIDDERS, AND IT WAS NOT ONLY PRICE BUT OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, AND THE TWO VENDORS THAT CAME IN FIRST AND SECOND I THINK ONE VENDOR CAME IN AT AROUND 175 PLUS PROFIT. THE OTHER CAME IN AROUND 182 PLUS PROFIT, AND THAT'S WHAT THE MARKET BROUGHT US. COMMISSIONER RYAN: SO DOES THE COUNTY HAVE SOME KIND OF A BLUEPRINT OR A FLOOR PLAN THAT YOU PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE HOMES STONE STONE NO, SIR, BUT WE DID PROVIDE THEM IN EFFECT A SCOPE FOR THE HOMES. WE SAID THREE- OR FOUR-BEDROOMS, TWO- CAR GARAGE, TWO BATHS. ONE OF THE HOMES WE SPEC'D OUT IS FULLY ADa ACCESSIBLE, AND THERE ARE IN ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS SOME NEIGHBORHOOD STANDARDS RELATED TO ROOF TREATMENT AND OTHER EXTERIOR AMENITIES. SO WE PROVIDED THEM THAT. COMMISSIONER RYAN: WELL PERHAPS THEN AT A LATER DATE WE COULD DISCUSS THE WHOLE POLICY BEHIND IT. I MEAN DO YOU
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WANT TO CONSTRUCT HOMES THAT SEEM TO BE THE NICEST HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY AND UPGRADE THE COMMUNITY WITH A LIMITED NUMBER OF HOMES, O R DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES WITH HOPES THAT ARE PERHAPS $100,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION THAT ARE GOING TO BE OBVIOUSLY SMALLER, LESS SQUARE FOOTAGE BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT MORE FAMILIES INTO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POLICY DISCUSSION FOR THE BOARD FOR A LATER DATE OF COURSE. WE'RE LATE IN THE HOUR STONE STONE OKAY. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER, WE'RE GOING AROUND AGAIN. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT POLICY DISCUSSION OF BARREL TILE ROOFS AND TWO-CAR GARAGE AND SIGNIFICANT NICE REQUIREMENTS AND I THINK WE WILL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT DO YOU WANT TO MOVE THE -- I WAS GOING TO SAY TO YOU, COMMISSIONER: THOSE HOUSES IN DAVIE HAPPEN TO BE IN YOUR DISTRICT. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE IN DAVIE IF WE CAN HELP IN DAVIE, WHY DON'T YOU ASK COMMISSIONER RYAN AND MYSELF. AT LEAST I KNOW THEY'RE TALKING TO ME IN DAVIE TODAY. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE TALKING TO HIM IN DAVIE TODAY. MAYOR JACOBS: NEITHER DO I. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: BUT AT LEAST IF WE NEED HELP EXPEDITING ANY OF THIS PERMITTING -- STONE STONE DAVIE WAS INTERESTING. YOU WILL RECALL THAT THEIR CRa HAD PLANS FOR THESE HOMES. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I KNOW. I REMEMBER THAT
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STONE STONE BUT THEY DON'T OWN THEM. THEY HAD TO BUY THEM FROM THE ARCHITECT. THE BUILDING CODE CHANGED AND THEY HAD TO GIVE THEM BACK TO THE ARCHITECT PER THE BUILDING CODE, AND IT'S BEEN VERY SLOW THERE. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: ALL RIGHT. SO IF WE CAN -- I THINK WE'RE OFFERING OUR ASSISTANCE TO EXPEDITE ANYTHING BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE COULD ASSIST YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER RYAN, TO THE POINT AS TO BUILDING HOUSES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE, THE COMMUNITY WHERE THESE ARE BEING PUT IN IS THE MOST AFFORDABLE PLACES TO BUY HOUSES IN BROWARD COUNTY. IN FACT, IT'S SO AFFORDABLE THAT MANY OF US WON'T BUY THERE. SO PUTTING SOMETHING IN THAT'S SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED THE STOCK OF HOMES IN THAT AREA IS A TOTAL ENHANCEMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. IT WOULD ALSO INCREASE THE PROPERTY VALUE OF THOSE HOUSES THAT ARE CLOSEST TO IT. IT WILL GIVE AN ADDITIONAL VALUE OF ENSURING THAT WE HAVE MORE OWNER OCCUPANT RESIDENCEDANTS THERE. YES, THEY'RE BARREL TILES. THEY'RE TWO-CAR GARAGE AND THEY HAVE STAMPED CONCRETE PAVERS, BUT TO DO ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT, I DON'T BELIEVE WOULD DO JUSTICE TO THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT WHAT IS BEING DONE WITH THIS IS SERVING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GOOD, AND WITH THE INTEREST RATE WHERE THEY ARE, THESE PROPERTIES ARE WITHIN THE AFFORDABLE RANGE AND I'M SURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND SOME DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE OR SOME OTHER PROGRAM
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SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE TO HELP TO MAKE SURE THESE ARE EVEN MORE AFFORDABLE. WITH THAT, I MOVE THE ITEM. MAYOR JACOBS: ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 20, COMMISSIONER LAMARCA. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: I'VE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: YEAH, HE'S NOT VOTING NO. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: I'VE HAD SOME ABUSE FROM MY FRIEND UP HERE. I APPLAUD WHAT WE DID ON SOME OF THE MONITORING REGULATION OF THE GUARD DOG ISSUE AND THOSE FOLKS, BUT I HAD SOME HEARTBURN AT $170,000 NUMBER AND TIE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH (I) ADDING SOMEBODY TO DO THE ENFORCEMENT OUT IN THE FIELD WHERE WE HAVE A BIT OF AN ISSUE WHEN WE EXPAND THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF THINGS BECAUSE THE OFFICE DOESN'T CHANGE THAT GREATLY, BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I'LL MOVE THE ITEM. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM NUMBER 29, COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. I SAID I JUST HAD A COMMENT TO MAKE. WHEN I WAS READING THE BACKUP, I FELT IT WAS CONFUSING WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT -- WAIT, IS THIS THE RIGHT ONE? OH, YES, THIS VENDOR RECEIVED AN OVERALL SCORE OF 2.59 OR BETTER AND SAID THAT THEY HAD
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PERFORMED IN SOME INSTANCES AT 2 OR LESS. THEIR OVERALL SCORE WAS 3.55. WE APPROVE ANYONE OVER 3, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS LISTED IN THE BACKUP THAT IT SAYS OF 2.59 RATHER THAN OVER 3, AND I THINK IN THE FUTURE IT WOULD BE MORE HELPFUL IF WE WOULD SHOW THE ACTUAL SCORE THAT THE VENDOR HAD RECEIVED FROM BROWARD COUNTY, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE BACKUP MATERIAL. AM I MAKING MYSELF AT ALL CLEAR? MS. HENRY: YES. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: OKAY. WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE IT. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER MOVES ITEM NUMBER 29. IT HAS BEEN SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN GAVE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, LAST I TELL ON OUR CONSENT, ITEM 43, COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: SPEAKER ON 43, THERE IS? MAYOR JACOBS: THERE IS, TUCKED WAY ON THE BACK BURNER, WE HAD SO MANY SPEAKERS. TRICIA HOESEEN. FROM THE FLOOR: ONLY IF THERE'S A QUESTION. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. COMMISSIONER WEXLER, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, YOU HAVE A WILLING PERSON TO ANSWER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: THANK YOU. MY QUESTION -- I'M GOING TO START WITH C FIRST. MEETING WITH LEGAL YESTERDAY, I THOUGHT THAT, MS. COFFEY, YOU HAD INDICATED THAT THE CONTRACT WAS CLOSE TO READY, THE NEW CONTRACT WITH THE NEW LANGUAGE.
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THE ANSWER THAT I GOT FROM STAFF IS THAT IT WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR USE UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST, 2013. MS. ARMSTRONG COFFEY: I BELIEVE THAT'S -- I'M TOLD BY OUR OFFICE THAT WE'RE MEETING WITH STAFF TOMORROW TO FINALIZE THE CONTRACT ENTIRELY. STAFF HAS ACTUALLY ASKED THAT THE NEW FORM NOT BE INTRODUCED UNTIL THE NEW FISCAL YEAR. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: OKAY. SO EVEN THOUGH THE CONTRACTUAL BE FINALIZED, WE DON'T WANT TO ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THE NEW LANGUAGE UNTIL -- GOT IT. THAT'S FINE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF THAT IS, INDEED, THE CASE, BUT THE DOLLARS, THE DOLLARS ON MOTION A AND B I ALSO HAD ASKED WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM, WHERE THEY WERE BEING DIRECTED, REDIRECTED FROM, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I'M GETTING THE RIGHT ANSWER, THAT I'M GETTING A GOOD ANSWER FOR ME ON THAT. IT MAY BE THE RIGHT ANSWER, BUT THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAD AN EXPIRED CONTRACT FROM SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2012, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, SIX MONTHS AGO, AND NOW WE'RE EXTENDING THE CONTRACT THAT EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012? HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT. MS. HENRY: IS MANDY IN THE AUDIENCE? FROM THE FLOOR: MANDY WELLS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP'S DIVISION DIRECTOR. COMMISSIONER, WE HAD FOUR, PREVIOUSLY WE HAD FOUR CONTRACTS FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS WE HAD MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR PERFORMANCE, AND AFTER A REVIEW WITH COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
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THEN WE TOOK IT UNDER ADVISEMENT IN THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS A BUSINESS DECISION MADE AS SUPPORTED BY THE HIP BOARD NOT TO RENEW ONE OF THOSE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING CONTRACTS. WE THEN LOOKED AT THE REMAINING THREE CONTRACTORS, TWO OF WHICH ARE PART OF THE MOTION, TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD ABSORB AS FAR AS THE ADDITIONAL NEED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE MONITORED THAT CLOSELY. AFTER REVIEWING THOSE CONTRACTORS AND THEIR ABILITY TO ABSORB THE EXTRA CLIENTS, IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS, INDEED, A NEED TO INCREASE THE CONTRACTS BEYOND THE THRESHOLD WHICH IS FIVE PERCENT, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE COMING BEFORE YOU BECAUSE THEY'RE SERVING ADDITIONAL CLIENTS? A. I UNDERSTAND THAT. THE POINT IS IS THAT IT'S BEEN SINCE THE
END OF SEPTEMBER (. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: ) FROM THE FLOOR: YES. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: AND YOU PROBABLY KNEW LONG BEFORE THAT THAT THE NONPERFORMING CONTRACT WAS NOT PERFORMING, AND I GUESS IT'S WHAT TOOK SO LONG TO MODIFY THESE TWO CONTRACTS THAT ARE BEFORE ME TO GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL DOLLARS WHICH WERE FROM THAT EXPIRED CONTRACT TO EXPAND THEIR SERVICES? THAT'S WHAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH. FROM THE FLOOR: UNDERSTAND. THE DECISION TO NOT RENEW WAS MADE ACTUALLY AT THE END OF AUGUST, THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER, AND IT WAS DUE TO A NUMBER OF CIRCUMSTANCES. SO IT
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WAS DECIDED PRIOR TO OBVIOUSLY THE END OF THAT CONTRACT. SO THE DECISION WAS MADE BASED ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS. SO AT THAT POINT THEN WHAT WE LOOKED AT IS WE MONITORED THE REMAINING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROVIDERS, MONITORED THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS, LOOKED AT THEIR CAPACITY, LOOKED AT THE ABILITY FOR FOLKS NOT TO BE IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, TO MAYBE MOVE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT WAS CLEAR IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A NEED, THAT'S WHEN WE MOVED FORWARD ON THE AMENDMENT FOR THE TWO OF THE PROVIDERS. THEY ARE THE ONES, THE TWO PROVIDERS IN THE MOTION, WHICH IS SALVATION ARMY AND KEYSTONE, ARE THE TWO PROVIDES THAT COULD ASSUME THE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: YOU KNOW WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. MS. HENRY: I UNDERSTAND. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: AND SHE KNOWS HOW MUCH I ADORE HER, I DO. YOU KNOW THAT, AND I JUST -- I'M NOT GETTING THE TIME PERIOD. WHY WHEN YOU KNEW IN AUGUST AND YOU HAVE TWO GOOD PROVIDERS THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO AND IT WAS COMING FROM THE THIRD PROVIDER, WHY IT WOULD TAKE SIX MONTHS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD FOR THAT ACTION TO HAPPEN. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT THAT NEGOTIATION AND EXPANSION OF THEIR EXISTING CONTRACTS AT LEAST A AND B, YEAH, SALVATION ARMY AND KEYSTONE, WOULD HAVE HAPPENED LAST YEAR. FROM THE FLOOR: ACTUALLY IT HAPPENED IN THE WINTER -- THE FALL OF LAST YEAR WHICH IS NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, AND
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THEN WE WORKED ON NEGOTIATING WITH THEM AND THEN BROUGHT IT TO YOU-ALL AT THIS POINT AS FAR AS GETTING IT THROUGH THE AGENDA REVIEW PROCESS. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: ARE WE THAT -- IS IT THAT HARD TO GET IT THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET IT TO THE COMMISSION? MS. HENRY: NO, IT'S NOT. I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, OOHY CAN'T SAY WHAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE (I) NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE TWO ENTITIES. THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN GENERAL BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE EVERY YEAR DOLLARS ARE RETURNED OR FOR WHATEVER REASON NOT USED AND THERE HAVE BILLION A NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS MIDYEAR TO DO THOSE REALLOCATIONS. WE'RE GOING THROUGH DISCUSSIONS NOW WITH A DIFFERENT PROCESS SO THAT WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES IN THIS SITUATION, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: AND IF THE LANGUAGE HERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MOTION TO -- YOU'VE ALREADY DONE IT, BUT WHATEVER THAT LANGUAGE IS -MS. HENRY: RETROACTIVELY. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: RIGHT, RETROACTIVELY APPROVE AND IT HAD ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED UNDERWAY, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE ROCKING AND ROLLING, BUT THIS IS NOT IT, AND SO THAT'S WHAT GAVE ME SOME PAUSE IN THAT: WOW, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAD TO HAVE KNOWN IT BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30TH WHICH MEANS YOUR TYPICAL BEHAVIOR, YOU'RE IN CONVERSATION WITH WHOEVER YOU WANT AND THEN -- TOO LONG. SORRY.
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FROM THE FLOOR: GOT IT. UNDERSTAND. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I'M VERY HAPPY TO MOVE THE ITEM BUT I JUST WASN'T SATISFIED WITH THE ANSWER. FROM THE FLOOR: UNDERSTAND. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WEXLER. THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY. THIS BRINGS US TO THE REST OF OUR REGULAR AGENDA, AND OUR NEXT ITEM IS A DELEGATION REQUEST FOR CHRISTINE TIMMONDS, AND I'M NOT SURE IF SHE IS STILL HERE. NO. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE MOVE ON. OKAY. SO THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 49, MOTION TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE LANDLORD REGISTRATION RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY INSPECTIONS PROGRAM. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? COMMISSIONER RYAN, FOLLOWED BY COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. COMMISSIONER RYAN: I'VE SPOKEN WITH STAFF ON THIS ORDINANCE, AND MY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN THE ORDINANCE IS CREATED I DON'T WANT IT TO BE KIND OF A TRAP FOR LANDLORDS THAT COME FORWARD AND REGISTER, GET THE BTR, THE BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT, PAY THE FEE, GET THE LICENSE. THE CONCERN IS THE INSPECTION PROGRAM. IF THE COUNTY IS GOING TO GO AND LOOK AT EACH OF THESE PROPERTIES, YOU COULD GO ON TO ANYBODY'S PROPERTY AND YOU COULD FIND A CODE VIOLATION AND IT SHOULDN'T BE A SITUATION THAT IT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LANDLORDS THAT
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ARE FOLLOWING THIS NEW LAW TO BE DRAGGED INTO CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS. I THINK IT SHOULD NOT BE AN ACTIVE INSPECTION PROGRAM THAT MAKES IT LESS THAN AN INCENTIVE FOR THE LANDLORDS TO REGISTER IN THE PROGRAM. SO I JUST WAS HOPING I COULD GET SOME ASSURANCES THAT IN THE DRAFTING OF THE ORDINANCE THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE COUNTY'S POSITION. MS. HENRY: I'M SORRY, I'M NOT QUITE SURE I UNDERSTAND. WHAT WE WERE INTENDING TO DO HERE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MULTIFAMILY, TRIPLEXES, DUPLEXES AND IN SOME INSTANCES, SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THAT ARE IN VERY VISIBLE DISREPAIR AND THEY'RE BLYTH ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO IF WE -- AS PART OF OUR EFFORT TO KEEP UP THE COMMUNITY, IF WE SEE IT, WE WOULD ADDRESS THAT PROPERTY OWNER. SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. COMMISSIONER RYAN: WHEN (BLIGHT) THE LANDLORD GETS THE LICENSE, APPLIES, THE LANDLORD IS GOING TO RECEIVE A LIST FROM THE COUNTY AS TO WHAT TYPES OF CONCERNS THERE ARE FOR MAKING SURE THAT YOU'VE CUT THE GRASS, NO TRASH AND DEBRIS, YOU KNOW, NOT A DETERIORATED EXTERIOR SURFACE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, BUT IF A CODE OFFICER STARTS LOOKING AROUND AND WALKING IN THE BACKYARD OR GOING INSIDE, THERE IS ALWAYS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PICK UP A LOT OF TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS AND WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF LANDLORDS THAT ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE HOUSING, WHEN YOU DO THIS, SOME OF THEM MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A GO OF IT, MAY WALK AWAY FROM SOME PROPERTIES, AND IT MAY HAVE AN UNINTENDED
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CONSEQUENCE THAT IT MIGHT EVEN FURTHER SOME BLIGHT. MS. HENRY: I THINK I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT. WHEN WE ARE OUT DOING INSPECTIONS, WE ALWAYS GIVE WARNINGS. SO THE FIRST IN STIPTH IS NOT TO JUST GO IN AND DO THE GOTCHA. WE SEND OUT NOTICES (INSTINCT) AND TELL THEM CODE VIOLATIONS IN GENERAL, INSPECTIONS. WE GIVE THEM A NOTICE AND WE ASK THEM TO ADDRESS WHATEVER THE ISSUES MAY HAVE BEEN THAT CAUSED US TO DO THAT. SO IT'S NOT THE FIRST THING THAT WE DO, HERE'S A HAMMER. WE GIVE THEM A NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND GIVE THEM TIME TO CURE. IN THIS INSTANCE, WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO, THERE ARE SOME SEVERELY DILAPIDATED FACILITIES THAT WE KNOW -- YOU CAN SEE VISIBLY THAT THEY ARE -- THEY POSE A DANGER, AND WE WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DEAL WITH THOSE PRETTY QUICKLY. I'M NOT AWARE THAT OUR CODE INSPECTORS ACTUALLY GO ON PEOPLE'S PROPERTY AND START GOING AROUND THEIR HOME. IT'S THE THINGS THAT THEY VISIBLY SEE THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING CAUSE US TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THAT PROPERTY OWNER. COMMISSIONER RYAN: BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU DON'T NEED THIS ORDINANCE TO GO AFTER THOSE PEOPLE. YOU HAVE EXISTING MECHANISMS TO ENFORCE THE CODE. SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER THOSE. I JUST DON'T WANT THERE TO BE A SITUATION WHERE, AS PART OF THE LICENSURE, THAT A CODE OFFICER, YOU KNOW, GAINS ACCESS TO THE INSIDE OF A UNIT AND WALKS AROUND AND: I DON'T LIKE THIS ELECTRIC SOCKET AND I DON'T LIKE PLUMBING AND ON AND ON. MS. HENRY: WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS INTENDED TO
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DO. IF WE SEE SOME LIFE SAFETY FROM AN EXTERIOR, LIKE SOME ROOFS, YOU CAN LOOK AND SEE THEY'RE ABOUT TO CAVE IN IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T DO SOMETHING. SO IT'S THOSE VISIBLES. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE OWNER IS SO THE REGISTRY IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW TOO. MAYOR JACOBS: COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: YES, I KNOW THAT THE REALTOR ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN SEEKING DIALOGUE AND THAT WE'RE IN DIALOGUE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK THROUGH THIS WITH THEM AND THEY'RE AT THE TABLE. I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WANT TO SEE SOMETHING DONE. SO WE HOPE TO FIND A GOOD BALANCE TO BRING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM. OKAY. COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: I ACTUALLY HAD ASKED A PBMI ON IT AND I DID READ WHAT THE REALTORS HAD PUT IN, AND LOOKING AT THE MATRIX THAT STAFF HAD PROVIDED, I WOULD THINK THAT AND I FULLY SUPPORT THE ITEM AND I WAS READY TO VOTE ON IT IN JANUARY WHEN WE DEFERRED IT. I WOULD THINK THAT EXACTLY WHAT CITIES DO, WE SHOULD BE DOING FOR OUR UNINCORPORATED AREA WHICH IS CREATE THIS KIND OF A MATRIX OR REGISTRY FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES, BUT THE ISSUE WAS, AND WHAT I THOUGHT I GOT OUT OF IT WAS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN PARTICULAR, AND FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, AND IT WAS EITHER THE FORT LAUDERDALE BOARD OR ONE OF THE REALTOR ASSOCIATIONS HAD MADE REFERENCE TO PROPERTY MANAGERS
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OR A PROPERTY AGENT, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT OWN SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AND DON'T LIVE IN THE AREA, MAY LIVE OUT OF THE AREA, THAT THERE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE ANY KIND OF A REQUIREMENT FOR THAT, AND IN LOOKING AT THE MATRIX THAT WAS PROVIDED, YOU CAN SEE THAT SOME CITIES HAVE SOMETHING LAKE THAT AND OTHERS, LIKE LAUDERHILL, ARE VERY FLEXIBLE WITH THEIR LOCAL AGENT REQUIRED AND IT'S NO. SO I WOULD THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE THE ABILITY TO CONTACT SOMEBODY PHONEWISE, BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO IMPOSE AN ADDED COST TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO OWNS A HOME LOCALLY AND RENTS IT OUT, IF THAT COULD BE -- BECAUSE WHAT THIS IS IS A MOTION TO DIRECT. AND SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK IS SOME KIND OF A FRAMEWORK OF HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, AND AT LEAST FROM THIS COMMISSIONER, I THINK THAT WE KNEAD TO BE COGNIZANT OF THOSE SINGLE-FAMILY HOME OWNERS THAT RENT, PARTICULARLY THAT ARE OUT OF THE AREA. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. I THINK THAT'S THE END OF THE QUEUE. JUST TO WEIGH IN -- OH, COMMISSIONER LAMARCA. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. JONI, WERE YOU COPIED ON ANY OF THE E-MAIL OR CONCERNS WITH PREEMPTION? MS. ARMSTRONG COFFEY: I WAS. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: ARE WE WITHIN OUR RIGHTS TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING? MS. ARMSTRONG COFFEY: I THINK YOU CERTAINLY ARE.
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COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. THE QUESTION I HAD WAS -AND IT KIND OF DOVETAILS ON WHAT COMMISSIONER WEXLER SAID AND THAT IS THAT OFTEN FOR RENTERS, IT IS SKEWED TOWARD THE LANDLORD AND NOT THE RENTER. SO SUBSTANDARD HOUSING IS A REAL PROBLEM. SO WHILE I DON'T WANT TO ADD AN UNDUE BURDEN PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE CITED BY COMMISSIONER WEXLER ABOUT AN ABSENTEE LANDLORD THAT MAY LIVE IN ANOTHER STATE AND RENTS OUT THEIR AHOME, THE TRUTH IS THINGS GO WRONG WITH HOMES ALL THE TIME AND SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE RENTER WHEN THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE HOME. AND SO JUST AS WE'RE GIVING DIRECTION HERE AND STAFF IS GOING TO COME BACK WITH AN ORDINANCE, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT NOTHING COMES BACK THAT GETS A HOMEOWNER OFF THE HOOK THAT IS RENTING A PROPERTY TO NOT HAVE SOMEBODY AVAILABLE AS ISSUES ARISE ON A GIVEN PROPERTY AND NEED TO BE DEALT WITH. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ATTEMPT TO FIND OUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROPERTY THAT CAN BE RESPONSIVE IN THE EVENT THERE IS SOMETHING IN NEED OF REPAIR OR ANY OTHER UNSAFE SITUATION AT A HOME THAT SOMEBODY IS RENTING. MS. HENRY: I UNDERSTAND. I THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS -- I GUESS THERE IS A SPECIFIC -- WHEN YOU SAY A PROPERTY AGENT, I GUESS TECHNICALLY THERE IS SUCH AN INDIVIDUAL WITH SPECIALIZED -BOARD MEMBER: PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. MS. HENRY: EXACTLY, AND SO WE WERE SENSITIVE TO THAT IN LIKE THE INSTANCES WITH THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THAT WE
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GET, BUT WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WHO TO TALK TO. SO WE CONCUR THAT WE CAN BE FLEXIBLE WITH THAT. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. VERY GOOD. WAS THERE A MOTION? COMMISSIONER, DID YOU MOVE IT? COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: SECOND. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. COLLEAGUES, WE NEED TO REOPEN ITEM NUMBER 40 WHICH WAS A QUASI-JUDICIAL. WE HAD SOME SPEAKERS THAT SIGNED UP THAT I DON'T BELIEVE ARE HERE THAT SIGNED UP NO R QUESTIONS ONLY. THIS WAS NOT AN ITEM THAT WAS PULLED BY THE BOARD AND THEIR COMMENT CARD SAYS THEY WANT TO SPEAK ONLY IF THE ITEM WAS PULLED BUT THERE IS ONE SPEAKER LISTED (THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM 40 IS NOW BEFORE US. IS LEONARDO AVILLA HERE AND WISHING TO SPEAK ON ITEM 40. OKAY. SEEING NONE, LINDA KAPLAN AND SHAMON BUHONDA, OKAY, THEY ARE NOT HERE. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: I WILL MOVE IT. IT'S MY DISTRICT. MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: I READ ALL THE STUFF. MAYOR JACOBS: MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU.
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COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: THANK YOU FOR GIVING US REALLY GOOD BACKUP, MR. SNIEZEK. MR. SNIEZEK: YOU'RE WELCOME. MAYOR JACOBS: AS USUAL. HE'S THOROUGH. OKAY. ITEM 50 IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DISTRIBUTION OF A LOT OF MONEY IN ENCUMBERED FUNDS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ASPECTS OF THIS. SO I AM ASSUMING -COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: SECOND. MAYOR JACOBS: WOW. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON 50 OR 51. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. 51. OKAY. WELL, I'M NOT ENCOURAGING DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: THIS IS THE ONE THAT STAFF APPROVED. MAYOR JACOBS: THIS IS THE ONE RECOMMENDED BY STAFF. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: AND I WANT TO -MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. COMMISSIONER RITTER SERVES ON THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD. COMMISSIONER RITTER: NO, DON'T THANK ME BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I'M VOTING FOR THIS. MAYOR JACOBS: SO, COMMISSIONER RITTER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
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COMMISSIONER RITTER: WE'LL TALK MORE IN THE NEXT ITEM, BUT JUST SO TO KNOW THAT I AM NOW THE COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD AND I MUST SAY THAT AFTER HAVING BEEN HERE FOR SIX YEARS, LAST WEEK'S MEETING WAS AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING -- I WISH WE HAD DONE THESE IN THE OPPOSITE -- I WISH WE HAD TAKEN THE SECOND ONE FIRST BUT -BOARD MEMBER: WANT TO DO THE OTHER ONE SNIRS. COMMISSIONER RITTER: CAN WE TAKE (FIRST) TOGETHER -- ANYWAY, WE HAD THIS MAJOR DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS OTHER ITEM AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF CHAIRING THE MEETING LAST WEEK BECAUSE THE CHAIR WAS NOT IN ATTENDANCE AND I'M THE VICE MAYOR. SO AS WE WERE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH WE DID AGAIN FIRST LAST WEEK, MR. HUTKA CAME AND WHISPERED IN MY EAR THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA TO DISTRIBUTE $15 MILLION OF THE REQUESTED $25 MILLION THAT THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD HAD REQUESTED $25 MILLION FROM US: THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN AGENDA ITEM TO DISTRIBUTE $15 MILLION AND IT WOULD DISTRIBUTE TO RECIPIENTS. BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FIRST ITEM WAS PRETTY HEATED WHEN I TOLD THE MEMBERS OF THE RRB ABOUT THAT, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONER'S RESPONSE TO ME WAS: OH, SO NOW YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO THROW US A BONE AND MAKE US SATISFIED. I SAY THAT NOT BECAUSE -- CLEARLY IT'S UP TO THE BOARD WHETHER TO ACCEPT THIS OR REJECT THIS, BUT THE ATTITUDE WAS SO -- OH, GOSH, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE WORD IS. WELL,
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ARROGANT. THERE WAS SO MUCH ARROGANCE THAT I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW AS A BODY THAT, YES, THE ASSETS HAVE TO BE DISTRIBUTED. YES, THAT IS TRUE. THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD DOES DO THE DISTRIBUTION, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD DO IT ON A COLLEGIAL, COLLABORATIVE WAY OF THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD RATHER THAN WHAT IT'S BECOMING, A COMBATIVE EXPERIENCE. MAYOR JACOBS: WELL, PERHAPS IT MIGHT HELP TO REMIND THEM THAT THINK IS NOT JUST ASSETS THAT ARE TO BE DISTRIBUTED BUT LIABILITIES AND THAT THE COUNTY HAS RELEASED OVER $90 MILLION TO OUR CITIES. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THEY DON'T CARE. MAYOR JACOBS: SO WE'RE GIVING ANOTHER 15.4 AND HOLDING ONTO 10 AND WE HAVE ALL THE LIABILITY. SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD DEAL FOR THE CITIES, EXCEPT THE I LIMITED. COMMISSIONER RITTER: I DON'T THINK THEY ADMIT THAT THERE ARE ANY. THEY WANT THE ENTIRE $25 MILLION AND THEY WANT IT WHEN THEY WANT IT AND THEY WANTED IT A WHILE AGO. SO WHY IT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY, I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT I FOUND THE ATTITUDE VERY -COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: DISCONCERTING. COMMISSIONER RITTER: YES, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THE ISSUES. WHEN WE BROUGHT UP THE ISSUES OF ALL OF THE ASSETS IN GENERAL, THE COMMENTS WERE: WELL, THESE ARE -- FROM THE CITY PEOPLE: THESE ARE OUR RESIDENTS. AND IT'S ALL OURS. IT'S ALL OURS AND WHEN I
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EXPRESSED TO THEM THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS MORE THAN WILLING TO NEGOTIATE AS TO HOW THE DISTRIBUTION WOULD OCCUR, THE RESPONSE WAS: WE DON'T NEED TO NEGOTIATE. ALL THE ASSETS BELONG TO US. SO I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT WHILE I'M SURE THIS WILL PASS TODAY, IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET US ANY BROWNIE POINTS. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. SO WHEN YOU VOTE TODAY, KEEP THAT IN MIND, COLLEAGUES, NO BROWNIE POINTS FOR YOU. WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 50 AS REPRESENTED. SO, YEAH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM 51 IS A MOTION TO APPROVE OR REJECT. SO WE CAN'T JUST MOVE IT. YOU HAVE TO MOVE APPROVAL OR REJECTION. COMMISSIONER RITTER: SO MAY I? MAYOR JACOBS: YES. COMMISSIONER RITTER: I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT WE REJECT THIS, AND CAN I TELL YOU WHY. I KNOW IT'S LATE, BUT I HAVE BEEN CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED AT THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: I JUST REMEMBERED I DON'T WANT TO MOVE IT. COMMISSIONER RITTER: I MOVE TO REJECT. LAST MONTH WHICH WAS MY FIRST MEETING AT THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD, AN ITEM CAME UP TO HIRE THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE'S AUDITOR AND THE CITY OF MIRAMAR'S ATTORNEY TO DO A LIST OF ASSETS FOR
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ULTIMATE DISTRIBUTION. WHEN IT CAME BACK TO US LAST WEEK TO APPROVE, I TOLD THEM THAT AS THE COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVE THAT IT WOULDN'T BE MY POSITION TO APPROVE THAT BECAUSE THERE WERE A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES RELATED TO GIVING MONEY TO FORT LAUDERDALE AND MIRAMAR THAT COULD INCLUDE THEM ACTUALLY END OF SUING US AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND IT'S NOT AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY, GO ON AND ON, AND THE CONVERSATION GOES BACK AND FORTH AND THEN I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT THIS WAS A DIFFERENT POSITION THAN HAD BEEN TAKEN BY MY PREDECESSOR ON THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD AND MY RESPONSE WAS: AIN'T TERM LIMITS WONDERFUL? AND THEN -COMMISSIONER RYAN: I'LL SECOND THAT. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THEY CAN BE, RIGHT? THEY CAN BE. AND THEN I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS NO BETTER THAN ANY OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS ON THAT BOARD, THAT THERE WAS NO HIERARCHY, THAT BEING A COUNTY COMMISSIONER DIDN'T MAKE ME BETTER AND THAT THEY WERE REALLY PLEASED -- AND I'M LIKE: NO, YOU KNOW WHAT, NO FILL IN THE BLANK, FOUR-LETTER WORD, AND THAT THEY WERE REALLY PLEASED THAT THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD HAD BEEN RECONFIGURED SO THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE COUNTY COMMISSIONER ON IT SO THEY COULD OUTVOTE ME AT ANY MEETING AND MY RESPONSE WAS OF THE. WELL, THAT'S WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT CHECKS AND BALANCES BECAUSE I CAN OUTVOTE YOU NEXT TUESDAY. WELL, I'M SURE THAT MY ATTITUDE DIDN'T NECESSARILY ACHIEVE THE COLLABORATION ONE WOULD HAVE LIKED, I MUST TELL YOU THAT TO GIVE THEM $250,000 TO HIRE INTERESTED
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PARTIES WHO MAY END UP SUING US IS JUST ABSURD. HAVING SAID THAT, THEY PASSED A MOTION ON THURSDAY THAT THEY WERE HIRING THE FORT LAUDERDALE AUDITOR AND ATTORNEY AE WAY. THEY DECIDED #3450ER MARCH REALLY DID HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST SO MAYBE WE WANT TO SAY AWAY FROM THAT (STAY) MIRAMAR) AND THEY APPROVED I CONTRACT DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO FUNDING. THERE WAS AN OFFER OF -- THERE WAS AN OFFER FROM THE CITY COMMISSIONER OF HOLLYWOOD, COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ WHO WAS A REALLY REASONABLE GUY I HAVE TO SAY WHO SAID THAT MAYBE ALL OF THE ENTITIES MAKING UP THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD COULD PUT UP A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TOWARD HIRING THESE PEOPLE, AND I'M SURE IF THAT EVER COMES BACK, THEN THIS BOARD WILL ADVISE ME NOT TO PUT IN THE COUNTY'S PORTION. BUT -- SO THERE'S NO FUNDING TODAY EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE APPROVED AN AGREEMENT IN CONCEPT AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS BOARD WOULD NOT GIVE THEM THE FUNDING TO DO IT, AND I'LL COME BACK NEXT MONTH AND I'LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT WHAT HAS BECOME THE NEW PAYTON PLACE, THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. SO I THINK WE HAD MULTIPLE MOTIONS TO REJECT THE REQUEST OF THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD. ALL IN FAVOR OF REJECTING THE RESOURCE RECOVERY BOARD'S REQUEST SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THE LOUDER YOU SAY IT, THE MORE EMPHATIC IT IS. OKAY. I BELIEVE THAT LEAVES US WITH ITEM 53, WHICH IS, COMMISSIONERS, I'VE TALKED TO YOU A WHILE ABOUT THE EFFORT TO
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BRING THREE COUNTIES TOGETHER. THIS IS OUR FIRST EFFORT TO LOOK AT ISSUES. WE BELIEVE THERE IS MANY MORE AND WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED FEDERAL ISSUES YET THAT THE THREE COUNTIES HAD IN COMMON. THE WORK WAS CARRIED OUT BY ALL THREE COUNTY STAFFS, ALL THREE LEGISLATIVE TEAMS AS WELL AS THE CITY MANAGERS FROM MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD, AND PALM BEACH COUNTY AND I PUT IT TO YOU TODAY FOR YOUR APPROVAL. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: I'LL MOVE IT ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU. THE ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR CIGARETTE CITY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN. I'M SORRY, WE'RE JUST ROLLING ALONG. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: I'LL BE VERY BRIEF. I WAS TRYING TO GET SOME BACKUP ON WHAT THE ISSUES WERE AND WHAT THEIR LEGISLATIVE -COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: STREAM WEATHER RESILIENCY. MAYOR JACOBS: WELL, NO, THAT'S REALLY ONLY ONE ELEMENT. THE ISSUE IS ENUMERATED IN THE -- CLIMATE CHANGE HAS A COMPACT ALL OF ITS OWN. THIS WAS -- IT WAS REITERATED HERE BUT IT WAS MOSTLY ISSUES OF TRANSPORTATION. THEY'RE ALL LISTED IN THE RESOLUTION IN YOUR BACKUP. IT WAS ELECTION REFORM, TRANSPORTATION, NOW I'M GOING FROM MEMORY, BEACH RENOURISHMENT. IT MAY BE -- AT SOME POINT WE MAY BE ADDING OCEAN
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OUTFALL AS ALL THREE COUNTIES DEAL WITH THAT AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER ISSUE ON JAILS BUT THAT ISSUE SEEMS TO HAVE DIED. THAT BILL HAS GONE AWAY EVEN SINCE THAT FIRST DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER GUNZBURGER: IT'S OKAY. OUR VOTE STAYS. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. DID YOU SAY NAY? OH, I'M SORRY, 8 TO 1. COMMISSIONER RYAN: I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE THREE MONTHS AND I'M HAVING SO MUCH FUN. MAYOR JACOBS: SO THAT BRINGS US TO THE MAYOR'S REPORT. I'LL TRY TO BE VERY BRIEF. LAST WEDNESDAY I WAS VERY HONORED TO SIT WITH HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY JANET NA POLICY TON KNOW ON ISSUES REGARDING OUR SEAPORT AND AIRPORT WHICH BY HOMELAND SECURITY STANDARDS IS CONSIDERED A SINGLE PORT EVEN THOUGH IN MIAMI-DADE THEY ARE LOOKED AT AIRPORT AND SEAPORT AND THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT STATUS. WE WERE SEEKING 24-HOUR CUSTOMS AT OUR AIRPORT AND ADDITIONAL CUSTOMS AGENTS AT OUR SEAPORT. THE SECRETARY WAS VERY WELL INFORMED ON THE ISSUES FACING US. THIS WAS HER SECOND VISIT IN ABOUT AS MANY YEARS AND IT WAS QUITE A LIVELY DISCUSSION. WE HAD MEMBERS OF THE PORT, BUSINESSES FROM THE AIRPORT AND SEAPORT THERE TO KIND OF FILL HER EAR WITH WHAT THE REALITIES OF TRYING TO HAVE YOUR SHIPS EXIT ALL OF THESE PASSENGERS IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND
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WHY THERE ARE SOME SHIPS THAT HAVE SIMPLY -- THAT HAVE A DAY TO STOP IN BROWARD COUNTY AND OTHER PORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE SIMPLY DECIDED NOT TO DO SO BECAUSE GETTING THROUGH CUSTOMS TAKES SO LONG THAT IT EATS UP THE DAY AND THEY'VE CHOSEN NOT TO STOP HERE. SO THEY WERE A VARIETY OF SOLUTIONS BROUGHT FORWARD AND WE WILL SEE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD HOW THIS KIND OF SHAKES ITSELF OUT. THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, I WENT TO MY FIRST MEETING THERE IN MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS. I THINK SINCE '05 WAS THE LAST MEETING. I WAS THERE LAST THURSDAY AND HAD AN INCREDIBLE PRESENTATION ON THE HELLO SUNNY CAMPAIGN AND AT SOME POINT I WILL BE BRINGING IT BACK TO YOU SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT OUR AMAZING CVB STAFF HAS BEEN DOING IN CHICAGO GOSHGS NOR, AND LONDON (NEW YORK) TO BRING BUSINESS BACK HERE. FOR EVERY 85 VISITORS THAT COME TO BROWARD COUNTY, WE CREATE ONE JOB AND WE'VE HAD 12 MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR. SO WE'RE DOING PRETTY WELL THERE. THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL, OR SOME QUESTIONS WONDERING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH, AND I LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS BOARD WOULD BE TAKING THOSE ISSUES UP SHORTLY BUT THAT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION TO THOSE ISSUES AT THAT SINGLE TIME. THE TEN CITY MAYORS HAVE SIGNED ON TO THE MAYOR'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS IS CONTINUING TO GARNER SUPPORT THROUGH OUR COUNTY. OUR GOAL IS TO GET ALL 31 CITIES TO ADOPT THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. THUS FAR OF THE TEN BROWARD COMMUNITIES, THEY REPRESENT MORE THAN 681,000 RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NOW TAKEN FORMAL BOARD ACTIONS O
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THOSE CITIES TO SUPPORT THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN WHICH IS NOT JUST THE PLAN OF COURSE OF BROWARD COUNTY BUT OF MIAMI-DADE, PALM BEACH, AND MONROE AND MANY OF THE SAME ELEMENTS THAT WE FIND ALL THE WAY UP TO MARTIN COUNTY AND THE 750 PROGRAM. THE POPULATION BY THE WAY REPRESENTS ABOUT 42 PERCENT OF THE COUNTY'S ENTIRE POPULATION. AND ALSO I MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY THAT I HAD PULLED ITEM 37, AND I WANTED TO BRING IT JUST TO YOUR ATTENTION. MS. HENRY, WHEN 37 CAME BEFORE US, ALL THE LANGUAGE THAT, IN FACT, MY COLLEAGUE TO MY LEFT, COMMISSIONER RITTER INCLUDED IN HER LAND DEVELOPMENT CHANGE TODAY AND THE APPROVAL PROCESS AND THAT WAS FLORIDA FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES AND IRRIGATION AND ALL OF THOSE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN LONG LONG ADOPTED BY THIS BOARD AND A PART OF OUR CULTURE WERE COMPLETELY MISSING IN ITEM 37 FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEERING WHEN THEY BROUGHT THAT CONTRACT FORWARD FOR A LANDSCAPING PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF MARGATE. IT WAS VERY SURPRISING FOR ME TO SEE THE RIBBON -- BE AT A RIBBON CUTTING FOR WILES ROAD ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO FIND THAT SAME ENVIRONMENT HAPPENING, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU FORMALLY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE POLICIES THAT THE COUNTY HAS IN PLACE THAT SEEM TO BE SITTING UP HERE ON A POLICY LEVEL THAT WE HAVE PASSED AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE FILTERING DOWN TO, IN THIS CASE, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING. THOSE ARE BOTH ROADWAY PROJECTS AND THEY WENT VERY, VERY FAR THROUGH THE PIPELINE, WENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH CONSTRUCTION, ONE TO A CONTRACT THAT HAD MULTIPLE PAGES ADDRESSING EVERYTHING YOU
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CAN THINK OF EXCEPT THE COUNTY POLICIES THAT WE HAVE LONG FOLLOWED. SO THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST, IS TO LOOK INTO THAT AND BRING THAT BACK. OKAY. AND WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES THE MAYOR'S REPORT. WE HAVE NONAGENDA. I'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER KIAR: NONE TODAY, MADAM MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: SORRY, I'LL USE YOUR TIME. I WANTED TO GO OVER A COUPLE QUICK THINGS. WE HAD -- OUR PORT HOSTED THE STATE'S INTERMODAL LOGISTICS CONFERENCE. RICHARD BITER FROM FDOT WAS THERE AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM MANY OF THE STATE'S 15 PORTS. SO AS WE TALK ABOUT GOODS COMING IN AND GOING OUT, HOW DO WE GET THEM LOGISTICALLY AROUND OUR STATE AND WE HAD SOME PARTNERS FROM OUR DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AROUND THE STATE. NEXT, LET'S SEE, I WAS HONORED TO PARTICIPATE IN A WHITE HOUSE BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING WITH THE DEPUTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATOR -- YES, I DID SAY THE WHITE HOUSE BUSINESS COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE COMMISSION FOR SUPPORTING ITEM 6 WHICH ALLOWS OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN FOR FLEET WEEK TO RIDE ON OUR BROWARD COUNTY TRANSIT BUSES. I WANT TO THANK CHERYL RASKIN FOR PROMOTING THE TAKE FIVE TO STAY ALIVE, DON'T TEXT PROGRAM. WE HAVE A JUMBOTRON AT PANTHERS ARENA AND THE JAMES THAT THEY ACTUALLY STARTED (GAMES) PROMOTING TAKE FIVE MESSAGE AND ALSO GOOD YEAR IS PROMOTING THE MESSAGE NOW
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ON THEIR MESSAGE BOARD AT THE BLIMP AND THEY PROMOTED IT ALL WEEK AT DAYTONA 500 RACE. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE BARBARA SHARIEF AND DALE HOLNESS AS WELL AS BERTHA HENRY AND YOUR HUSBAND FOR ALL BEING HONORED AT THE 2013 BROWARD BLACK ELECTED OFFICIALS EVENT AND LET'S SEE, I WAS HONORED TO OPEN THE FIRST SMASH BURGER ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOUVENLT I CAN TELL YOU ALL ABOUT (TOWN) ABOUT MAKING A HAMBURGER. MARTY TOLD ME I HAD TO TAKE THE JACKET OFF NEXT TIME. KUDOS TO OUR OWN JUDGE WEINSTEIN AND JUDGE ED MAYORAGAIN FOR BEING WRITTEN UP ABOUT OUR VETERANS PROGRAM. SOME OF THE OTHER STATES AND COUNTIES ARE EMBARKING ON THE SAME PROGRAM AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR DOING THAT, AND ONE OTHER THING, IN THE BUSINESS FRONT, I KNOW THINGS ARE BOOMING HERE IN BROWARD COUNTY WITH THE PROJECTS THAT THE COUNTY IS DOING ON THE PUBLIC SIDE, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE MENTION THAT CONSTRUCTION, THE FINAL QUARTER OF LAST YEAR AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR IN THE COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS STILL IN A VERY STAGNANT STATE. SO KEEP THAT IN MIND, AND FINALLY, THERE MAY BE SOME WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE BROWARD COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL CENTER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HEARD BUT MY COMMISSION AIDE RYAN SANDERS WILL BE LEAVING MY OFFICE FOR A HIGHER CALLING (SAUNDERS). I KNOW THAT NOBODY WOULD THINK THERE'S A HIGHER CALLING THAN WORKING WITH ME, NOTICE I SAID WITH, BUT RYAN WILL BE -- WAS THAT YOU? HE'LL BE FOLLOWING ONE -- HIS TWO DEEP INTERESTS IN LIFE ARE POLITICS AND RELIGION. SO HE'S DONE ONE OF
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THEM AND HE'S GOING TO BE ENTERING THE SEMINARY TO BECOME A ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST. SO CONGRATULATIONS. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: AND HE COULD BLESS US. MAYOR JACOBS: THAT IS GREAT. COMMISSIONER WEXLER. COMMISSIONER WEXLER: AND SOMEDAY WE MAY SEE THE WHITE SMOKE. WHO KNOWS. I JUST WANTED TO SEND KUDOS TO MS. HENRY AND HER STAFF PARTICULARLY FOR THEIR SUCCESS OVER OUR PROPERTY INSURANCE PROGRAM. THERE WAS A MEMO THAT CAME OUT NOT LONG AGO, JUST SOME TIME LAST WEEK, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY SAW IT, BUT IF NOT, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. IT WAS -IT WAS A REAL CHANGE TO GET A NEW INSURANCE BROKER INTO BROWARD COUNTY GOVERNMENT SOME PROBABLY FOUR YEARS AGO OR SO, AND AS SUCH, OUR -- WE'VE SAVED A LOT OF MONEY. I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING NOT NICE. YEAH, IT WAS SOMETHING -- A BOATLOAD OF MONEY, THAT'S RIGHT. JUST THIS PAST YEAR MOVING FORWARD, THE INCREASE OF $5 AND A HALF MILLION SAVINGS IS A 21 PERCENT SAVINGS IN OUR PLACEMENT THROUGH AUTHOR JAY GALLAGHER FOR THE (PROPERTY INSURANCE FOR BROWARD COUNTY AND I THINK YOUR STAFF, YOU, AND WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT (ARTHUR) BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY INSURANCE CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN THE MARKETPLACE. THAT'S IT. NICE TO SAY NICE THINGS. MAYOR JACOBS: IT IS. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF? VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: WOOF. SORRY. I HAD TO DO IT. IT'S 5:00 ALREADY -- ACTUALLY IT'S -- WELL, IT'S 6:30, BUT I MEAN IT'S AFTER 5. I MEAN I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE DONE BY NOW, BUT I GUESS NOT. I
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WANTED TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR A GOOD DISCUSSION ON HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THE PIT BULL PROBLEM IN BROWARD COUNTY AND THE PENALTIES FOR DOG OWNERS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE REVISED LANGUAGE COMING BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND YOUR POSITIVE COMMENTS. THIS WEEK I WAS PROUD TO MAKE THE MOTION TO NOMINATE COMMISSIONER RITTER AS CHAIR OF THE VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD. SORRY. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER AND THE ENTIRE BOARD. SORRY. OKAY. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE NOW -- BROWARD HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER OPENED UP THE FIU FACILITY GROUP PRACTICE TO TRAIN MEDICAL STUDENTS AND I WAS THERE FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING AND THE GRAND OPENING, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS WAS A LONG TIME COMING, AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT BROWARD COUNTY NEEDED BECAUSE WE HAVE LONG BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING TO KIND OF PUT US ON THE MAP AND THAT AREA WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ON THE MAP FOR SOME TIME AND HAVEN'T BEEN RECOGNIZED. JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. I ATTENDED THE PROJECT ADVISORY MEETING FOR HOLLYWOOD AND THE PEMBROKE PINES CORRIDOR CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROCESS YESTERDAY AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A VISIONING WORKSHOP ON MARCH THE 20TH AND ALSO ON MARCH THE 21ST FROM 5:30 TO 8:30 P.M. THE WORKSHOP IS GOING TO DISCUSS THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE HOLLYWOOD AND PEMBROKE PINES BOULEVARD CORRIDOR AND FOR MORE DETAILS IF RESIDENTS ARE
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LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED, 954-876-0038. LAST WEEK I ATTENDED THE 12TH ANNUAL RED AND WHITE CULINARY DELIGHT BY THE UNITED WAY, GREAT EVENT AND EXCELLENT PARTICIPATION. ALSO I ATTEND THE THE 211 BROWARD NON-FOR-PROFIT ACADEMY AWARDS WHICH WAS REALLY AMAZING, SUGAR HILL GANG, OKAY, TOOK US BACK, YEAH, I THINK I WAS FOUR WHEN THEY MADE THEIR FIRST BIG HIT, BUT, ANYWAY, SORRY. I'M JUST KIDDING. IT WAS GREAT. IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE ALL OF THE NON-FOR-PROFITS IN ONE ROOM AND BEING RECOGNIZED FOR ALL OF WHAT THEY DO IN BROWARD COUNTY, AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO MENTION THAT THE SERVICES OF 211 IN BROWARD TO ALL RESIDENTS WATCHING THIS MEETING TODAY BECAUSE THEY OFFER A HOST OF SERVICES INCLUDING HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS OR LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHO ARE ALREADY HOMELESS AND IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED, LONELY, SUICIDAL OR HAVE FAMILY PROBLEMS OR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS OR RELATIONSHIP ISSUES, HEALTH NEEDS OR ABUSE ISSUES, 211 BROWARD CAN HELP YOU, AND I JUST WANTED TO STRESS THAT BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, THE STATISTICS WERE RELEASED ON SUICIDE IN BROWARD COUNTY. WE HAVE THE HIGHEST SUICIDE RATE FOR WHITE MALES AGES 30 TO 55, AH-HA, NATIONALLY. NO, SERIOUSLY. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: I'M SERIOUS TOO. VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING THIS UP. SO WE HAVE QUITE A FEW WHITE MALES OUT THERE THAT ARE SUICIDAL AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET HELP THROUGH 211 BROWARD. AND THEY PROVIDE FREE CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE 24
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HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. CALL 211 OR VISIT 211BROWARD.ORG. OH, ALSO ON THAT AWARD THAT I'M RECEIVING, I WILL NOT BE HERE BECAUSE YOU ARE SENDING ME TO NACO. SO MY SCHEDULE CONFLICTS, BUT MY DAUGHTER AND MY HUSBAND WILL ACCEPT ON MY BEHALF. SO THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER LAMARCA: (INAUDIBLE). VICE MAYOR SHARIEF: YEAH, SHE TOLD ME LAST NIGHT WHAT IT WAS. MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD IS GOING TO SAY: THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MY MOMMY. SHE LOVES YOU ALL AND HUGS AND KISSES AND MY 14-YEAR-OLD WILL READ THE REST. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONER RITTER. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND, COMMISSIONER BARBARA SHARIEF FOR NOMINATING ME TO BE CHAIR OF THE VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD. I'M DELIGHTED TO SERVE WITH YOU. FOR REAL HERE, NOW FOR REAL, I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO TAKE A POSITION AGAINST HOUSE BILL 655 BY REPRESENTATIVE PRECOURT WHICH IS THE LIVING WAGE PREEMPTION AND HOPE THAT WE WOULD DO THAT, TO NOT ALLOW THE STATE TO PREEMPT, AND, BY THE WAY, IT MIGHT BE -- WE DID? MAYOR JACOBS: I WANT TO WEIGH IN HERE BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING FORMAL, AND THAT IS THAT -COMMISSIONER RITTER: CAN WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA THEN? MAYOR JACOBS: -- THE LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN
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MASSAGED NOW THROUGH HIS OFFICE -- AS YOU KNOW OF YOU FOLLOWED THIS ISSUE THAT THAT WAGE BILL CAME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH VACATION DAYS BEING REQUIRED IN THE CITY OF ORLANDO, AND SO OTHER THINGS WERE ADDED WHICH WILL NOW BE TAKEN BACK OUT WHICH IS -- IT'S NOT JUST CARVING OUT BROWARD. IT IS ANY LIVING WAGE THAT AFFECTS -- THAT IS PUT IN PLACE BY A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT STATEWIDE. SO ALL OF THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH BROWARD COUNTY'S LIVING WAGE ARE COMPLETELY NOW IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REMOVED OUT. SO MY CONCERN IS THAT WHILE THAT IS STILL ALL BEING DISCUSSED, WE MAY BE A BIT PREMATURE TO JUMP IN BEFORE THESE ISSUES ARE COMPLETELY CARRIED OUT OR WORKED OUT UP THERE, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO HOLD THAT IN ABAY ENCE UNTIL AT LEAST NEXT TUESDAY AS THESE COMMITTEES ARE CONTINUING TO MEET AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NOTHING -- THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE NOW, THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT IN THAT BILL THAT WILL AFFECT BROWARD COUNTY OR ANY OTHER SIMILARLY SITUATED COUNTY OR CITY IN THE STATE. COMMISSIONER RITTER: OKAY. THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT I THINK THE WHOLE IDEA OF BEING A COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND ADVOCATING IN TALLAHASSEE IS NOT JUST TO DO IT ON BEHALF OF YOUR OWN COUNTY BUT ON COUNTIES IN GENERAL, AND IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE A POSITION BECAUSE IT NO LONGER AFFECTS BROWARD COUNTY, THEN I WOULD ASK THAT WE ASK THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES TO TAKE A POSITION -MAYOR JACOBS: MIGHT I INTERRUPT YOU.
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COMMISSIONER RITTER: NO, HOLD ON. MAYOR JACOBS: IT IS NOT BROWARD COUNTY. IT IS ALL COUNTIES. THIS LANGUAGE WOULD EFFECT NO COUNTY AND NO CITY. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THEN I DON'T THINK IT'S A BILL. MAYOR JACOBS: WELL, REMEMBER, THAT THERE'S TWO ISSUES HERE. THE ISSUE OF LIVING WAGE GOT CAUGHT UP BECAUSE HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT LIVING WAGE DOES AND WHAT IT DID. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT THERE'S SOMEONE IN TALLAHASSEE DRAFTING A BILL THAT DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE BILL. AMAZING THAT THAT HAPPENS, AND SO WHAT THE DESIRE WAS WAS TO GO AFTER THE ISSUE OF REQUIRING BUSINESSES, THIRD-PARTY BUSINESSES, PRIVATE BUSINESSES IN A COMMUNITY TO COMPLY WITH SICK LEAVE AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF -THAT DO NOT -- ARE NOT CONSIDERED A PART OF BROWARD COUNTY'S LIVING WAGE. WE DO NOT REQUIRE PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY'RE CONTRACTING WITHIN THE COUNTY. SO ALL THAT LANGUAGE HAS BEEN CHANGED. COMMISSIONER RITTER: HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE BILL AS PROPOSED AND YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME FOR NOT ACCEPTING THAT -- I BELIEVE THAT YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT I BELIEVE WHAT THEY'RE TELLING YOU THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE BILL OR NOT DO WITH THE BILL. WE'VE ALL BEEN TOLD: WE'LL TAKE IT OUT. JUST PASS IT OUT AND WE'LL TAKE IT OUT LATER AND THEN IT NEVER GETS TAKEN OUT LATER. THE BOTTOM LINE IS -- JUST PASS IT NOW. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE BILL -- THE CONCEPT OF A BILL IMPACTS HOME
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RULE. MAYOR JACOBS: ABSOLUTELY. COMMISSIONER RITTER: AND AT THE VERY LEAST, WE SHOULD BE TAKING A POSITION AGAINST A BILL LIKE THIS THAT IMPACTS HOME RULE AND ASKING THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES TO DO THE SAME. I WANT TO SEE IF THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THAT. MAYOR JACOBS: AND I DON'T KNOW -COMMISSIONER RITTER: BUT I'LL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK. MS. MADISON: WE ACTUALLY HAVE HEY GENERAL PREEMPTION AND HOME RULE STATEMENT IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE WHERE WE TAKE POSITIONS AGAINST ANY BILL -COMMISSIONER RITTER: THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WORKING FOR ME RIGHT NOW. THIS GENERALIZATION IS NOT WORKING. I'M HAPPY TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK BECAUSE THIS WAS A COMMITTEE WEEK. MS. MADISON: AND I BELIEVE FaC HAS THOSE SAME -MAYOR JACOBS: FaC IS ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTIES AND THE HOME RULE LANGUAGE. AGAIN, THE DEALS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED NOW TAKE ALL COUNTIES AND CITIES -- THERE ARE MULTIPLE CITIES AND COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT HAVE PASSED LIVING WAGE. COMMISSIONER RITTER: HOW ABOUT WE GET A COPY OF THE BILL, EDDIE. EDDIE, HOW ABOUT YOU GET US A COPY OF THE BILL AT THE END OF THE WEEK.
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MAYOR JACOBS: AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER KIAR: MADAM MAYOR. MAYOR JACOBS: I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN TREAD A LITTLE CAREFULLY IN OUR CONVERSATION TONIGHT UNTIL -COMMISSIONER RITTER: IF HE CAN GET THAT TO ME, BY THE TIME OUR AGENDA IS PRINTED THURSDAY, IF YOU CAN GET ME A COPY OF THAT BILL AND I CAN SEE EXACTLY WHERE IT IS TODAY, THEN I'LL KNOW WHETHER OR NOT I'M GOING TO STICK IT ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK. MAYOR JACOBS: OKAY. AND WE WILL DO THAT. AND, COMMISSIONER, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU NEXT. COMMISSIONER RITTER: THANK YOU. MAYOR JACOBS: THIS ISSUE, AS YOU KNOW, IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR ME TO BE ON THIS BOARD OVER 14 YEARS NOW AND SEE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE WORKED SO HARD TO KEEP IN PLACE AND ACTUALLY TO CELEBRATE THE PLACE THAT WE ARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE COMMISSIONER SHARIEF AND HOLNESS JOINED THIS BOARD WERE THE FIRST BUDGET YOUERS THATTIZE DIDN'T HAVE TO FIGHT TO TRY TO KEEP LIVING WAGE FROM BEING CROSSED OFF THE LIST AS WE WENT THROUGH VERY DIFFICULT BUDGET YEARS, AND SO I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND HOW STRONGLY I FEEL ABOUT THIS BILL AND I HAVE BEEN MADE TO FEEL INFINITELY MORE COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT THEY WERE GOING AFTER AND WHAT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF THAT WAS AND THE RECOGNITION BY TALLAHASSEE AND WE WILL STAY ON TOP OF IT TO MAKE SURE THAT
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THOSE DEALS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED ACTUALLY HAPPEN. COMMISSIONER KIAR. COMMISSIONER KIAR: I JUST WANTED TO ADD I HAD AN AGENDA ITEM PREPARED TODAY AND A RESOLUTION TAKING A STANCE AGAINST IT. I PULLED IT AFTER DISCUSSING IT WITH STAFF SOLELY BECAUSE THEY HAD INFORMED ME THAT THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE CHANGES COMING. AND SO WHAT I HAD TOLD STAFF WAS THAT I WOULD PULL IT THIS WEEK, AND AS SOON AS IT HITS ITS NEXT IF THE CHANGES WERE NOT MADE, IT'S STILL IN THE SAME FORM AS IT WAS BEFORE, THEN I SAID I WOULD BRING IT BACK. HOWEVER, I'LL GLADLY NOT BRING IT BACK AND LET COMMISSIONER RITTER IF YOU'D LIKE TO DO IT. COMMISSIONER RITTER: WE'LL JUST DO IT TOGETHER. COMMISSIONER KIAR: SOUNDS GOOD. MAYOR JACOBS: FOLKS, IF WE'RE DOING IT, I'M DOING IT WITH YOU. IF THAT LANGUAGE IS NO THE THERE, THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE AND IT ISN'T JUST A HUGE ISSUE. I WOULD NOT AGREE TO A CARVE-OUT THAT JUST CARVED OUT BROWARD COUNTY BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS SOME INITIAL CARVE-OUT LANGUAGE FROM MIAMI-DADE BUT YOU HAVE JACKSONVILLE, GAINESVILLE, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CITIES AND OTHER COUNTIES THAT HAVE LIVING WAGES IN PLACE. SO IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT CARVING US OUT. COMMISSIONER KIAR: AND MADAM MAYOR, IF I JUST MIGHT ADD, I KNOW THE BILL SPONSOR PRETTY WELL. WE WERE ELECTED TOGETHER AND HE'S NOW THE MAJORITY LEADER AND HE'S ABOUT AS FAR TO THE RIGHT AS YOU CAN COME AND HE'S VERY BRIGHT AND THE
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PROBLEM IS IT'S HIS -- IT'S HIS -- BUT THE PROBLEM IS IT'S HIS -- IT'S THE ONLY BILL THAT HE'S FILED THIS YEAR. GENERALLY A MAJORITY LEADER DOESN'T FILE ANY BILLS AND THEY ONLY FILE SOMETHING IF THEY BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO PASS AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT AND SO I BELIEVE IF THEY DON'T MAKE THE CHANGES BY THE NEXT COMMITTEE STOP THEN IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO STAY IN ITS SAME FORM WHICH IS A VERY BAD FORM AS IT GOES TO THE FLOOR. MAYOR JACOBS: IT IS, AND I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT THE COMPANION BILL IN THE SENATE HAS NONE OF THE LIVING WAGE LANGUAGE IN IT. IT DEALS SOLELY WITH THE ISSUE OF SICK DAYS FOR PRIVATE COMPANIES, AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT -- SO THE TRUE-UP OF THOSE TWO BILLS, EVEN IF IT SALES THROUGH THE HOUSE AND IT DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH EVERY COMMITTEE, IT STILL HAS TROUBLE ON THE OTHER SIDE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONER? NOTHING. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. COMMISSIONER HOLNESS: YES. THIS FRIDAY, THE LAUDERHILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILL HAVE ITS MONTHLY BREAKFAST MEETING AT THE INVERRARY COUNTRY CLUB AT 8 A.M. AND AT THAT MEETING, OUR OUTREACH PERSON FROM SMALL BUSINESS, MS. JASMINE JONES WILL BE DISCUSSING HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH BROWARD COUNTY. I'LL ALSO BE IN ATTENDANCE, AND FROM HAL TAN THEN BECOME OF THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM, HERE'S A MESSAGE: THE SEVENTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM IS IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF CHURN WHO ARE ALLEGED TO BE (CHILDREN) ABUSED, NEGLECTED OR
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ABANDONED. VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED AND APPOINTED BY THE DEPENDENCY COURT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF CHILDREN, GUARDIAN AD LITEM VOLUNTEERS SPEND TIME COMMUNICATING WITH THE ADULTS IN THE CHILD'S LIFE SUCH AS TEACHERS, THERAPISTS, CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY SPEND TIME WITH THE CHILD. DURING THE COURT PROCEEDING, THE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDES THE JUDGE WITH VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHILD AND PROVIDES AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHILD'S WISHES. IT TAKES AN AVERAGE OF 10 TO 20 HOURS OF YOUR TIME PER MONTH TO CHANGE A CHILD'S LIFE FOREVER. TRAINING AND SUPPORT IS PROVIDED FOR FREE. IF YOU HAVE SOME TIME AND YOU'RE LOOKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, PLEASE CALL HAL TAN THEN BECOME AT 954-831-7590 TO GET MORE INFORMATION. THAT'S HAL TAN THEN BECOME AT 954-831-7590. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MANY OF YOU THIS FRIDAY AT THE BLACK ELECTED OFFICIAL EVENT. SEE YOU THERE. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HOLNESS. COMMISSIONER RYAN. COMMISSIONER RYAN: VERY BRIEFLY, I HOPE TO HAVE A VERY SPECIAL TREAT AT OUR NEXT MEETING. THERE'S A RESIDENT IN MY DISTRICT WHO IS A PEARL HARBOR COMBAT SURVIVOR, AND I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THE VETERANS IN BROWARD COUNTY, AND I'M HOPING THAT -- AND HE'S IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. I'M HOPING TO HAVE HIM HERE AND HAVE SOME TYPE OF PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING HIM AFTER HE'S BEEN FULLY VETTED BY THE COUNTY'S VERSION OF THE
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SECRET SERVICE. THAT'S IT. MAYOR JACOBS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. OKAY. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, YOUR REPORT OR NONAGENDA? MS. HENRY: I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 1ST, IS EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY. SO WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, HUG YOUR EMPLOYEES. OKAY. DON'T HUG YOUR EMPLOYEES. TELL THEM HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE THEM, AND I'D LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGE ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. HE IS OUR BUS BCT DRIVER, RANDALL WITIN, AND HE IS LIKE A MINI -- HE'S THE RODEO. HE'S THE RODEO WINNER. HE'S WON THE RODEO CONTEST HERE 14 TIMES. HE'S WON THE STATE CONTEST NINE TIMES AND HE WAS THE 2010 INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION. SO HE'S HEADED BACK TO THE STATE. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ROOTING HIM ON AND IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AS WELL. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANKS. MAYOR JACOBS: GREAT. THANK YOU, MS. HENRY. MR. LUKIC? NOTHING. MS. COFFEY? NOTHING. I KNOW. YOU GUYS HARDLY SAID A WORD TODAY. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. (6:47 P.M.)

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