>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: IT'S 9:30 A.M.
TODAY IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 
3rd.
MY NAME IS BRYAN ZUMWALT.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNTY'S
OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY AND 
INNOVATION.
I'LL BE PLAYING THE ROLE OF 
TECHNOLOGY MODERATOR FOR TODAY'S
VIRTUAL MEETING.
ON THE PANEL WITH ME IS DON 
CROWELL FROM THE COUNTY 
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
BEFORE I START THE MEETING I'D 
LIKE TO DO A QUICK ROLL CALL AND
MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT 
COMMUNICATIONS FOR EACH 
COMMISSIONER.
LET'S START WITH COMMISSIONER 
EGGERS TODAY.
>> DAVE EGGERS: GOOD MORNING, 
BRYAN I'M HERE.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: GOOD MORNING, 
SIR.
THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER SEEL?
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: GOOD 
MORNING.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: GOOD MORNING, 
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
COMMISSIONER WELCH?
>> KENNETH WELCH: GOOD MORNING, 
BRYAN.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: GOOD MORNING, 
SIR.
COMMISSIONER LONG?
I SEE COMMISSIONER LONG IS ON 
THE PHONE.
COMMISSIONER LONG CAN YOU HEAR 
ME OKAY?
>> JANET LONG: YES, I'M HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: ALL RIGHT, 
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> JANET LONG: I'M TALKING TO 
THE TECHNOLOGY GUYS.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: COMMISSIONER 
JUSTICE?
>> CHARLIE JUSTICE: GOOD 
MORNING, BRYAN.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: GOOD MORNING.
COMMISSIONER PETERS?
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: GOOD 
MORNING, BRYAN.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: AND 
COMMISSIONER GERARD.
>> PAT GERARD: GOOD MORNING, 
ALL.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: ALL RIGHT.
>> PAT GERARD: THIS IS A REGULAR
WORK SESSION.
BUT WE HAVE AN ITEM THAT WE NEED
TO VOTE ON THIS MORNING.
SO, WE WILL HAVE CITIZENS 
COMMENT FOR BOTH -- JUST GENERAL
TOPICS AND THE FIRST ITEM ON THE
AGENDA, WHICH IS THE LOCAL STATE
OF EMERGENCY.
WE WILL NOT TAKE COMMENT ON THE 
OTHER TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, 
BECAUSE THIS IS A WORK SESSION.
SO, BRYAN, WHAT DO WE HAVE?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: AT THIS TIME, 
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE 
PUBLIC THAT WISH TO BE HEARD 
THIS MORNING, PLEASE GO AHEAD 
AND RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY IN
THE ZOOM MEETING, OR HIT STAR-9 
IF YOU'RE ON THE TELEPHONE.
MADAM CHAIR, IT APPEARS WE HAVE 
ABOUT NINE PEOPLE THAT WISH TO 
BE HEARD THIS MORNING.
WE'LL START WITH DAWN BOHLER.
IF YOU'LL UNMUTE YOURSELF, AND 
GIVE US YOUR SPELLING AND 
ADDRESS, YOU'LL HAVE THREE 
MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING, DAWN 
BOHLER B-O-H-L-E-R, DRESS IS 
6678 54th AVENUE NORTH, 
ST. PETERSBURG.
LAST WEEK, FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
WE HAD 494 CASES, AVERAGING 70 
PER DAY.
0.05% PER POPULATION AND 0.25% 
OF THOSE TESTED AT 197,002, AND 
ONLY 27% OF THE POPULATION.
LAST WEEK DR. JAMESON STATED 
THAT THE HOSPITALIZED NUMBER -- 
WE HAVE 141 ADMITTED, 40 IN ICU,
25 ON VENTILATORS, DOWN FROM 330
ADMITTED, 68 IN ICU AND 31 ON 
VENTILATORS FROM DR. CHOE'S 
STATEMENT.
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL OR STATE 
SET CRITERIA?
AND I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING 
NOT FEELINGS OR WANTS.
DR. CHOE, SPEAKING OF SCIENCE.
SPELL IT OUT.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE YOU'VE NOT USED 
YOUR TIME ON SPECIFIC STUDIES 
OTHER THAN SAYING THERE ARE.
PLEASE USE STUDIES PRIOR TO 
2019, SOMETHING NOT COOKED UP TO
FIT THE NARRATIVE.
ALSO YOUR 3.3% -- OH, NO.
HANG ON.
HAVING TECHNICAL ISSUE HERE.
YOUR 3.3 FATALITY RATE IS 
EXTENSIVE.
THAT'S BASED ON ACCUMULATIVE 
DEATHS.
THAT PERCENT WILL NEVER SEEM TO 
GO DOWN.
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PLAN TO GET
3.3% DOWN BY HALF BY YOUR 
CALCULATION WE WOULD NEED TO 
HAVE 39,650 POSITIVE CASES 
DOUBLE FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW 
WITH NO MORE DEATHS.
YOU'VE CREATED AN IMPOSSIBLE 
SITUATION AND A PLATEAU.
COMMISSIONER WELCH YOUR VOTE 
BASED ON THE FEW CALLS LAST WEEK
WAS RATHER IMPROPER.
SO I CREATED A FOLDER I E-MAILED
TO YOU THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FOR
THREE DAYS.
I COME TO YOU WITH THE VOICE OF 
557 FELLOW CONSTITUENTS AGAINST 
YOUR MANDATE, TO 137 THAT ARE 
FOR IT.
WAITING THREE TO FOUR INCUBATION
PERIODS DUE TO THE START OF 
SCHOOL PROVES THERE'S NO SCIENCE
TO THE MASKS.
WAITING CONTRADICTS THE 
EFFECTIVENESS YOU ALSO STRONGLY 
CLAIM.
COMMISSIONER LONG GRANDPARENTS 
INFLUENCE, BUT MOMS, THERE'S A 
REASON WE'RE REFERRED TO AS MAMA
BEAR.
THE STATEMENT OF YOUR GRAND 
CHILD IS A RESPONSE AND TO PUT A
PERCEIVED THREAT OF DEATH IS 
CHILD ABUSE.
FORCING THEM TO WEAR MASKS DOES 
NOT ALLOW THEM TO SET THEIR 
FEELINGS, BECAUSE THEY KNOW 
WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SAID 
BECAUSE THEY SAY IT TO SATISFY, 
NOT FROM UNDERSTANDING.
IT'S A RESULT OF CONDITIONING TO
THE DESIRED RESPONSE.
THIS IS PART OF WHAT MY EIGHTH 
GRADE DAUGHTER'S RESPONSE WAS TO
AN INTRODUCTION ASSIGNMENT.
I USED TO LOVE GOING TO SCHOOL, 
RUNNING AROUND, HANGING OUT WITH
FRIENDS.
NOW WE'RE FORCED TO WEAR MASKS 
AND STAY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER 
FOR OUR OWN SAFETY.
I TRIED TWO DAYS OF WEARING THAT
MASK AND GOING TO SCHOOL TO BE A
KID BUT I COULDN'T HANDLE IT, SO
I HAD TO SWITCH TO VIRTUAL 
ONLINE.
IT WAS A TOUGH AND LONELY 
DECISION.
BUT IT HAD TO BE MADE.
DO YOU NOT REALIZE OUR CHILDREN 
ARE TOO YOUNG TO BEAR THIS 
BURDEN?
AND I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE 
JURISDICTION OVER THE SCHOOL 
BOARD, BUT DR. CHOE DIRECTLY 
ADVISES THEM, AS WELL.
FINALLY, THE LOCAL STATE OF 
EMERGENCY ALLOWS YOU TO RECEIVE 
FEDERAL FUNDS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THE ORDINANCE IS ONLY 
CONNECTED TO THE STATE OF 
EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF YOU.
IT'S TIME TO TAKE YOUR HEEL OFF 
YOUR THROATS, GIVE US THE 
FREEDOM TO MANAGE OURSELVES, AND
REMEMBER, AS MY DEAR FRIEND SO 
ELOQUENTLY SAID IT THE ROAD TO 
HEL IS PAVED WITH INTENTIONS.
WHETHER GOOD OR BAD.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AIDAN 
BARNES.
MR. BARNES, IF YOU GO AHEAD AND 
UNMUTE YOURSELF AND GIVE US YOUR
SPELLING AND ADDRESS YOU'LL HAVE
THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE 
BOARD.
>> HI THERE.
MY NAME IS AIDAN BARNES, AND 
A-D-E-N, B-A-R-N-E-S.
10240 127th AVENUE IN LARGO.
I HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON AGENDA 
TWO.
AS A RESIDENT OF LARGO FOR 
NEARLY A DECADE, I'M PROUD TO 
HAVE CURTIS HOLMES AS MY LOCAL 
COMMISSIONER.
LARGO IS A GREAT COMMUNITY.
FIRST I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS 
IN-PERSON MEETINGS FOR THE 
COMMISSIONERS.
THERE WERE MORE CALLERS AGAINST 
THE MASK MANDATE ON THE LINES 
LAST WEEK.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE LINES WERE 
CAUGHT OFF, I BELIEVE IT WAS BY 
PAT GERARD, BEFORE SOME OF THOSE
CALLERS WERE ABLE TO SPEAK, AND 
THEN COMMISSIONER WELCH COUNTED 
THE CALLERS FOR AND AGAINST THE 
MASK MANDATE.
BUT THOSE WERE NOT EVEN ACCURATE
NUMBERS, BECAUSE SO MANY WERE 
NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK.
AND I FELT LIKE THAT MEETING WAS
VERY HURRIED.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET ON THE
LINES JUST IN TIME, BUT I JUST 
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT 
HAPPENED.
IF THERE WERE IN-PERSON 
MEETINGS, I FEEL LIKE THE 
CITIZENS OF PINELLAS COULD EACH 
HAVE A VOICE TO SPEAK AT THESE 
MEETINGS IF THEY WANTED TO 
SPEAK.
THE SCHOOL BOARD IS MEETING IN 
PERSON.
I'VE WATCHED LAST WEEK'S 
MEETING, THEY'RE TAKING 
NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS, SOCIAL 
DISTANCING.
I'D LIKE TO ASK WHEN WILL THE 
COMMISSIONERS START MEETING IN 
PERSON, TOO?
I MEAN SCHOOLS ARE OPEN.
OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES ARE 
HAVING IN-PERSON MEETINGS.
I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD, TOO.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M 
ASKING, PLEASE DO NOT RENEW THE 
FACE COVERING ORDINANCE.
IT HAS BEEN OVER TWO MONTHS 
SINCE THE ORIGINAL ORDER TOOK 
EFFECT.
AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS, HOW 
LONG WILL THE ORDER STAY IN 
PLACE, AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING 
FOR TO END THE ORDER?
THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY HAVE A
RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT CRITERIA THE 
BOARD IS WAITING FOR TO REPEAL 
THIS MASK ORDINANCE.
IS IT HOSPITAL BED AVAILABILITY?
OR A COMBINATION OF FACTORS SUCH
AS LOW RATES OF POSITIVE CASE 
NUMBERS?
THE NUMBER OF CASES CONTINUE TO 
DROP.
AND I WAS STUDYING THE DASHBOARD
THIS MORNING.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS ONE 
DEATH IN ALL OF PINELLAS THIS 
WEEK.
I COULD BE WRONG.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, 
THAT THIS DROPPED SO LOW.
LAST WEEK THE BOARD MENTIONED 
WAITING TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN 
WHEN SCHOOLS REOPENED.
NOW THAT SCHOOLS HAVE REOPENED 
WHAT FACTORS SPECIFICALLY ARE 
YOU LOOKING FOR TO RESCIND THE 
MASK ORDERS?
THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS IN 
THIS COUNTY DO CHOOSE TO WEAR 
MASKS OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL BUT
WE WOULD LIKE THAT FREEDOM BACK 
TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICE FOR OUR 
SFLGS AND OUR FAMILY.
MANY STUDIES THAT I'VE 
RESEARCHED POINT TO INFORMATION 
THAT ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE ARE NOT
SPREADING THIS VIRUS AS 
FREQUENTLY, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN 
THEY'RE SOCIAL DISTANCING, WHICH
MASKS DOES NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF
SOCIAL DISTANCING.
AND, ACCORDING TO THE CDC, THE 
DEATH RATE IN MY AGE GROUP OF 30
TO 39, WHICH ARE LABELED COVID, 
WE KNOW NOT ALL ARE, BUT IT'S 
ONLY ABOUT CLOSE TO 1%.
THAT MEANS CLOSE TO 99% OF 
PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 40 WILL 
RECOVER FROM CORONAVIRUS.
AND THAT NUMBER GOES UP 
SUBSTANTIALLY THE YOUNGER A 
PERSON IS.
ACCORDING TO DEATH RATES LABELED
COVID AGES 18 TO 29 HAVE A HALF 
PERCENT CHANCE OF DEATH FROM 
COVID.
CHILDREN UNDER 18, HAVE SUCH A 
SLIM PERCENTAGE IT'S LESS THAN 
0.1%.
BUT YET THEY'RE WEARING MASKS IN
SCHOOL.
I WANT TO ADDRESS EVERY LISTENER
UNDER THE AGE OF 40.
WHY ARE WE ALLOWING MASKS TO BE 
FORCED ON US?
THE VIRUS IS -- 
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MS. BARNES I'M
SORRY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID HAPPE.
MR. HAPPE IF YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF
AND GIVE US YOUR SPELLING AND 
ADDRESS, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> DAVID HAPPE, SPELLING 
H-A-P-P-E AT 903 CYPRESS COVE 
WAY IN TARPON SPRINGS.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: THANK YOU, 
SIR.
>> I OWE AN APOLOGY TO THE 
PINELLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
FOR THE PAST FOUR WEEKS I'VE 
BEEN ASKING YOU THE SAME 
QUESTION, WHICH IS WHAT IS THE 
SPECIFIC CRITERIA YOU ARE USING 
TO MAKE THE MASK ORDINANCE IN 
PINELLAS COUNTY OPTIONAL?
WHAT METRICS ARE YOU USING TO 
MODIFY OR REPEAL YOUR ORDINANCE?
AND I OWE YOU ALL AN APOLOGY.
I'VE BEEN ASKING YOU A QUESTION 
THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU 
COULDN'T ANSWER.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE 
CRITERIA IS, BECAUSE YOU PUT THE
MANDATE IN PLACE WITHOUT HAVING 
ANY SPECIFIC EXPECTATION OF HOW 
YOU WOULD REMOVE IT.
AND YOU'VE INDICATED NOW THAT 
THE DECISION IS NOT YOURS, BUT 
YOU'RE WAITING ON YOUR MEDICAL 
EXPERTS TO MAKE THE DECISION.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, 
BECAUSE YOU NEVER ASKED THE 
QUESTION.
AND YOU TALK PAST COMMISSIONER 
PETERS AND COMMISSIONER EGGERS 
WHEN THEY DID ASK THE QUESTION.
AND YOU'RE WAITING ON SOMEONE 
ELSE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THIS 
ANSWER.
IN THE FUTURE I WOULD SUGGEST 
YOU NEVER ENACT AN EMERGENCY 
ORDINANCE UNLESS YOU KNOW HOW 
YOU'RE GOING TO REMOVE IT.
SO, DR. CHOE, YOUR 
COMMISSIONERS, WHO ALONG WITH 
THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, GET 
PAID A COLLECTIVE MILLION 
DOLLARS PER YEAR OF TAXPAYER 
MONEY, PUT IN A FACE MASK 
ORDINANCE IN JUNE AT YOUR 
RECOMMENDATION, MONTHS AFTER 
YOUR SUGGESTION TO FLATTEN THE 
CURVE FOR 15 DAYS AT THE END OF 
MARCH.
177 DAYS LATER, NOW, AND 
APPARENTLY WE'RE STILL 
FLATTENING THE CURVE.
OUR MILLION DOLLAR COMMISSION 
DOESN'T HAVE THE FORESIGHT AS TO
HOW THEY'D REMOVE THE ORDINANCE 
THEY PASSED, REQUIRING CITIZES 
TO WEAR MEDICAL DEVICES.
THEY'RE WAITING ON YOU.
SO WHAT SPECIFIC CRITERIA, 
DR. CHOE, ARE YOU WAITING ON?
YOU WERE ORIGINALLY LOOKING TO 
FLATTEN THE CURVE AND OUR 
HOSPITALS ARE CLOSING THE COVID 
CAPACITY THEY NEVER USED.
DEATH TOLL WAS YOUR NEXT METRIC,
BUT THE CATASTROPHIC DEATH TOLL 
NEVER MATERIALIZED.
YOU TOLD US TO FLATTEN THE CURVE
FOR HOSPITAL CAPACITY.
BUT HOSPITALS LAID OFF STAFF.
YOU TOLD US TO STAY HOME AND WE 
DID.
YOU TOLD US TO CLOSE BUSINESSES,
AND SADLY WE DID.
YOU TOLD US TO WEAR MASKS, AND 
WE DID.
YOU TOLD US TO LOOK FOR 
POSITIVITY DECREASES BELOW 5%, 
AND THEY'RE WAY BELOW THAT.
ALTHOUGH PINELLAS FOR SOME 
REASON CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE 
CURRENT CDC RECOMMENDATIONS, 
STILL TRYING TO KEEP THIS ALIVE 
BY USING TAXPAYER MONEY TO TEST 
NONSYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE.
THE OPPOSITE, LITERALLY THE 
OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE CDC IS 
TELLING YOU TO DO.
SEEMS LIKE SOMEONE HERE HAS AN 
INTEREST IN KEEPING THIS GOING.
WE DON'T EVEN CARE IF YOU 
RESCIND THE MANDATE COMPLETELY, 
MAKE IT OPTIONAL.
WE DON'T CARE IF YOU KEEP FACE 
MASKS IN PLACE FOR THE REST OF 
YOUR LIFE.
IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO WEAR A 
MASK, LET THEM WEAR A MASK.
PLEASE GIVE US YOUR CRITERIA, 
DR. CHOE, AS THE BUCK ULTIMATELY
RESTS WITH YOU, APPARENTLY NOT 
OUR COMMISSIONERS.
AS TO HOW WE MAKE THIS OPTIONAL.
AND TO THE PINELLAS COUNTY 
COMMISSION THAT CEDED YOUR 
DECISION MAKING WITH NO 
CRITERIA, NO DATA, NO METRICS, 
NO ACCOUNTABILITY, PLEASE NEVER 
PUT YOUR CITIZENS IN THIS 
POSITION AGAIN.
THIS IS GOVERNANCE 101.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
OUR NEXT SPEAK IS DAVE WADDELL.
MR. WADDELL, IF YOU GO AHEAD AND
UNMUTE YOURSELF, GIVE US YOUR 
SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR THE 
RECORD, YOU'LL HAVE THREE 
MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
>> GOOD MORNING, FOLKS.
HONORABLE CHAIR, BOARD, AND 
STAFF.
REGARDING COMBINING CITIZENS TO 
BE HEARD WITH AGENDA ITEMS, 
I'M -- ALL OF MY YEARS OF 
EXPERIENCE, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF 
THIS.
SO I EXPECT TO SPEAK ON THE 
EMERGENCY ORDER, AND ON UNDER 
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD TODAY.
THIS MEETING PROCESS NEEDS TO BE
DEFINED.
COMBINING WORKSHOPS WITH ACTUAL 
MEETINGS, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF 
THAT, EITHER.
BUT AS I REQUESTED LAST WEEK, 
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS 250 
ACRES WE WANTED TO SET ASIDE, 
AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU'D GIVE 
ME AN UPDATE ON WHEN WE'RE GOING
TO BRING THAT AS AN AGENDA ITEM.
I WAS HOPING I DIDN'T HAVE TO 
BRING THIS UP, BUT I'M GOING TO 
BRING IT UP.
UNDERNEATH THE GOVERNMENT 
ORGANIZATIONAL FLOW CHART, 
YOU'LL ALL LOOK THAT UP, I'M 
SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF IT, 
CITIZENS ARE AT THE VERY TOP.
BELOW US IS THE BOARD OF COUNTY 
COMMISSIONERS.
YOU WORK FOR US.
WE PAY YOUR SALARY.
WE PAY OUR TAXES.
AND MY GOSH, WE'VE BEEN REALLY, 
REALLY UNDERSTANDING THERE'S NO 
QUESTION ABOUT THE MASK ORDER.
WE'RE NOT OUT OF THIS YET.
IT'S TIME TO ACCELERATE AND KEEP
THE FOOT ON THE GAS.
NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES
HERE BUT WHEN SOMEONE TELLS ME, 
FROM THE BOARD, THAT I GET ONE 
SHOT TO BE HEARD, THAT'S 
RIDICULOUS.
I CAN SPEAK ON EVERY AGENDA 
ITEM, AND THEN I DIDN'T EVEN GET
A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT MY GOOD 
FRIEND COMMISSIONER JOHN 
MORRONI.
THAT WAS AN OUTSTANDING 
INDIVIDUAL.
LIKE MANY OTHERS WE'VE BEEN 
BLESSED WITH THROUGHOUT THE 
YEARS, DAVID NEELY, JOHN CUEVO.
I WANT COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY 
HERE AND I THINK OUR CITIZENS 
SHOULD BE HEARD.
AS THE WOMAN SAID EARLIER, THEY 
CUT PEOPLE OFF.
NO.
YOUR JOB IS TO SIT THERE AND 
HEAR US OUT.
ALL RIGHT?
PERIOD.
IF WE FILL OUT CARDS -- I USED 
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FIVE PEOPLE 
FILL OUT A CARD SO I COULD SPEAK
FOR TEN MINUTES.
I CAN'T DO THAT NOW ANYMORE, BUT
I DO WANT TO KEEP THIS ZOOM 
THING GOING, BECAUSE I WANT TO 
TALK TO YOU, AND I WANT TO HEAR 
YOU.
YOU'RE OUR LEADERS.
ALL RIGHT?
AND WE EXPECT NOTHING BUT THE 
PEOPLE FROM YOU, AND THAT YOU 
HAVE PROVIDED.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THAT.
I WOULDN'T WANT YOUR JOB.
YOU COULDN'T PAY ME ENOUGH.
BUT I DO WANT TO SPEAK ON THE 
EMERGENCY ORDER NEXT.
ROLLING THESE THINGS TOGETHER --
I ONLY GET THREE MINUTES!
HEY, I WANT ANOTHER THREE 
MINUTES.
OKAY?
I PAY GOOD MONEY AND I MAKE THE 
TIME TO RESPECT YOU.
PLEASE, RESPECT US AS YOUR 
CITIZENS.
MY GOD.
WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT YOUR 
EFFORTS.
AND I KNOW YOUR HANDS ARE TIED.
BUT THE REASON I WANT TO TALK 
ABOUT THINGS IN THIS EMERGENCY 
ORDER IS, THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS 
VENTILATION.
NOW I MENTIONED THIS TWO MONTHS 
AGO.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MR. WADDELL 
YOUR THREE MINUTES HAS EXPIRED, 
SIR.
>> I'M GOING TO GET THREE 
MINUTES ON THE EMERGENCY ORDER, 
CORRECT?
>> PAT GERARD: NO.
>> WHAT?
>> PAT GERARD: NO, SIR, YOU'RE 
NOT IN. 
>> WHY AM I NOT, PAT?
>> PAT GERARD: BECAUSE THIS IS A
WORK SESSION, DAVE, AND I TOLD 
YOU BEFORE THAT THIS -- THAT 
YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT, YOU
JUST USED UP COMPLAINING -- 
>> ONE SHOT AS YOU SAID, RIGHT?
IS THAT IT?
>> PAT GERARD: THAT'S RIGHT.
BECAUSE THIS IS A WORK SESSION.
>> WELL, IT'S NOT LISTED AS A 
WORK SESSION ON THE AGENDA.
>> PAT GERARD: WELL, ACTUALLY IT
IS.
>> OH, IS IT?
WELL WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A LOOK, 
UNLESS YOU CHANGED IT ALREADY.
>> PAT GERARD: WE WILL HAVE A 
REGULAR MEETING NEXT WEEK.
>> OH.
THEN WE'LL HAVE MORE THAN THREE 
MINUTES TO SPEAK?
WELL, BETWEEN NOW AND THEN YOU 
BETTER START LOOKING INTO 
VENTILATIONS, AND HAVING AT 
LEAST -- 
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR --
>> PAT GERARD: YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: ALL RIGHT.
MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE 13 
REMAINING SPEAKERS ON THE AGENDA
HERE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VICKY LOVE.
IF YOU'LL UNMUTE YOURSELF AND 
GIVE US YOUR SPELLING AND 
ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU'LL 
HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> HI, I'M VICKY LOVE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: YES, MA'AM.
>> OKAY.
I'M A REGISTERED PINELLAS COUNTY
VOTER.
I LIVE AT 1185 NELSON STREET IN 
DUNEDIN.
AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE 
DOUGLAS HATHAWAY PROPERTY.
A HOME DEVELOPMENT WOULD 
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THIS AREA.
IT WOULD DESTROY HABITAT, SOME 
OF WHICH ARE THREATENED, AND IT 
INCLUDES ECOSYSTEMS LIKE THE 
ROSEMARY SCRUB THAT'S BEEN 
DECIMATED ACROSS FLORIDA BY 
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
GIVEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL 
SENSITIVITY OF THE AREA, AND THE
FACT THAT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 
AREN'T CONSTRAINED BY PROPERTY 
LINES, THEY AFFECT A MUCH, MUCH 
LARGER AREA, NOT ONLY WILL 
ALLOWING THIS DEVELOPMENT TO GO 
FORWARD WREAK HAVOC ON THE 
LARGEST UNDEVELOPED TRACT IN 
PINELLAS COUNTY, THE RIPPLE 
EFFECTS WILL BE FELT FAR WIDER 
THAN THAT AREA.
I KNOW THAT PROPERTY IS UNDER 
CONTRACT, BUT I THINK WE STILL 
HAVE A CHANCE AT THIS.
AND UNDERSTAND THE AREA IS 
ELIGIBLE FOR A MATCHING FLORIDA 
FOREVER GRANT, THAT COUPLED WITH
COUNTY DOLLARS, SHOULD PUT US 
WITHIN THE PURCHASE PRICE POINT 
FOR THE PROPERTY.
WE'RE SO LUCKY THAT A GRANT 
EXISTS THAT ALLOWS US TO HELP 
STRUCTURE BUDGETS TO BE ABLE TO 
PURCHASE AND ACQUIRE AND 
PRESERVE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE
OF PROPERTY.
SO I WANT THE COMMISSIONERS TO 
PLEASE FIND A WAY TO FUND THE 
PURCHASE OF THIS PRECIOUS LAND.
IT'S FAR TOO UNIQUE TO LET IT 
SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS, AND 
WE'RE ALREADY THE MOST DENSELY 
POPULATED COUNTY IN FLORIDA.
WE NEED MORE GREEN SPACE.
SO, BE INNOVATIVE, FORM 
PARTNERSHIPS, FIND A WAY TO MAKE
IT HAPPEN.
PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR, 
WE HAVE 12 REMAINING SPEAKERS 
WITH THEIR HANDS UP.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEVON WAITE.
IF YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF AND GIVE 
US YOUR SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR
THE RECORD YOU'LL HAVE THREE 
MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
>> DEVON WAITE, D-E-V-Y-N, 
W-A-I-T-T, 925, OLDSMAR, 
FLORIDA.
I'M ALSO CALLING ABOUT THE 
DOUGLAS HAPPWORTH PROPERTY.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM 
COMMISSIONER BURTON.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT HE 
WAS LEADING THE COUNTY EFFORT ON
THIS PROJECT.
PRIMARILY I WANT TO KNOW IF 
THERE ARE ANY EFFORTS BEING PUT 
FORTH TO FIND WAYS TO PERSUADE 
PULTE TO DROP OUT OF THIS SALE 
DURING THIS DUE DILIGENCE 
PERIOD.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE 
HOPEFUL ABOUT WE WOULD LOVE TO 
HEAR IT.
AS OPPOSED TO HELPLESSLY WAITING
AS THIS HAND RESTS IN THE HANDS 
OF THE DEVELOPER.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO UNDERSTAND 
HOW AND WHY THIS HAPPENED.
IT SEEMS THERE ARE NO SHORTAGE 
OF WAYS THAT FUNDING FOR THIS 
COULD HAVE BEEN ARRANGED AND 
OBVIOUSLY THIS LAND IS IMPORTANT
TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY.
IT'S SOMEWHAT BEFUDDLING THAT 
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE 
UNABLE TO GET IT TOGETHER TO 
MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THE 
MESSAGING FROM BOTH THE COUNTY 
AND THE CITY ON THIS ISSUE HAS 
BEEN GROSSLY MISLEADING.
THEY'RE TRYING TO SPIN THE STORY
TO MAKE IT OUT LIKE THE ESTATE 
WENT FOR A HIGHER OFFER WHEN THE
TRUTH IS THAT THE COUNTY NEVER 
MADE THE ESTATE AN OFFER.
WHEN I CONGRANTED COMMISSIONER 
GERARD'S OFFICE FROM THIS FACT I
HEARD BACK PEDALING ABOUT HOW 
THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF 
CREATING A LIST OF PROPERTIES 
AND HADN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO 
MAKING AN OFFER YET.
WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT THE STORY 
THEY'RE TELLING PUBLIC.
THE FACT THE SALE TO PULTE WAS 
NEWS TO THE COUNTY AND CITY IS 
AN OUTRIGHT LIE.
THE ESTATE NOTIFIED THE LAND 
THAT THEY WOULD BE LISTING THE 
LAND WITH A BROKER ON JULY 1st, 
ESSENTIALLY GIVING THEM A SPEAK 
NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE 
MOMENT.
THE COUNTY DIDN'T ACT.
WHY?
DID THIS JUST FALL THROUGH THE 
CRACKS, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY 
BAFFLING GIVEN ITS IMPORTANCE, 
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
THERE IS A LOT OF TALK AT THE 
CITY MEETING ON TUESDAY ABOUT 
NOT POINTING FINGERS, AND I FEEL
JUST THE OPPOSITE.
I WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHO WAS 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
THIS IS NO SMALL ISSUE.
THIS IS DESTRUCTION AND 
DEVASTATION OF SOMETHING CRUCIAL
AND VERY DEAR TO PINELLAS 
COUNTY.
AND IT'S FOREVER.
ONCE THIS IS GONE, WE DON'T GET 
IT BACK.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR WE
HAVE 11 REMAINING SPEAKERS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ON THE 
TELEPHONE LINE, LAST FOUR DIGITS
1419.
IF YOU CAN GIVE US YOUR NAME, 
ADDRESS, SPELLING AND YOU'LL 
HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS 
THE BOARD.
AND YOU'LL HAVE TOWN MUTE, BY 
THE WAY.
LAST FOUR DIGITS 1419 IF YOU'LL 
UNMUTE YOURSELF, YOU'LL HAVE 
THREE MINUTES.
MADAM CHAIR, WE MIGHT HAVE TO GO
BACK TO THIS ONE.
IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT HE OR SHE
SUN MUTING THE LINE.
I'LL GO TO OUR NEXT SPEAKER 
WHICH IS VIRGINIA.
I DON'T HAVE A LAST NAME.
GIVE US YOUR FIRST, LAST NAME, 
SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR THE 
RECORD YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES
TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS VIRGINIA 
FRIZZLE, 14956 CROWN DRIVE, 
LARGO, FLORIDA, 33774.
I'M CALLING FOR THE MASK FACE 
COVERING MANDATE TO VOTE NO.
AGAIN, IT'S BEEN QUITE SOME TIME
NOW THAT YOU MANDATED THIS, AND 
IT'S EVIDENT THAT THE NUMBERS 
ARE COMING DOWN.
YOU ARE AWARE THAT EVEN THE CDC 
HAS TAKEN THE DEATH TOLL FROM 
153,000 DEATHS TO CONFIRMED 
DEATHS OF 9,210, OPPOSED TO 
153,000.
SO THEY ARE SEEING THE CHANGES.
AND THEY ARE MAKING NOTE OF IT.
MAYBE YOU DON'T SEE IT SO MUCH, 
BUT WHAT IF THAT IS THE TRUTH, 
AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT IS THE 
TRUTH, UNDER THE RADAR.
AS FAR AS THE POTUS GOES, IT WAS
PROPOSED, STATE OR REGIONAL 
GATING CRITERIA, SYMPTOMS, 
DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY OF 
INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESS, REPORTED
WITHIN 14 DAYS, OR DOW
DOWNCOVID-LIKE SYMPTOMS FOR 14 
DAYS.
WE'VE BEEN WITH YOU FOR 14 DAYS 
NOW AND OVER 14 DAYS WE HAVE 
DEFINITELY CLARIFIED THAT OUR 
NUMBERS ARE COMING DOWN AND HAVE
AT LEAST PLATEAUED FOR NOW.
CASES.
DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY OF 
DOCUMENTED CASES WITHIN A 14-DAY
PERIOD.
CASES, DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY OF A 
POSITIVE TEST, AS PERCENT OF 
TOTAL TESTS WITHIN A 14-DAY 
PERIOD.
AS WE KNOW, THEY'RE COMING DOWN.
AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY CDC THAT 
ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE DON'T 
NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE TESTED 
ANYWAY RIGHT NOW.
WHICH YOU'RE USING MONEY TO DO 
ANYWAY.
SO, THEREFORE, THOSE CASES ARE 
NOT GOING TO BE NECESSARILY 
ACCURATE.
HOSPITALS.
TREAT ALL PATIENTS WITH CRISIS 
CARE.
BIG TIME.
TREAT ALL PATIENTS WITHOUT 
CRISIS CARE.
ROBUST TESTING PROGRAM IN PLACE.
AT-RISK HEALTH CARE WORKERS, 
INCLUDING EMERGING ANTIBODY 
TESTING.
ALL DONE.
AND OUR HOSPITALS ARE NOT 
OVERLOADED.
WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR PUBLIC TO 
VISIT HOSPITALS EVERY DAY AND 
MAKE KNOWN?
DO YOU WANT US TO BECOME YOUR 
MEDIA AND CHECK ON THESE THINGS 
THAT YOU'RE TELLING US THAT WE 
OBVIOUSLY KNOW ARE NOT 
NECESSARILY TRUE, THE HOSPITALS 
ARE NOT FULL.
THEY'RE NOT FULL OF COVID 
PATIENTS.
THANK YOU, GOD, THAT PEOPLE ARE 
NOT DYING.
THANK YOU, GOD THAT 99.66 PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO LIVE FROM THIS.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND, I'M A NATO 
PATHIC DOCTOR FOR OVER 20 YEARS 
AND THIS COUNTY, I DO NOT 
UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN MAKE US 
WEARING MASKS AND YOU CAN AT 
LEAST CUT IT DOWN.
ANOTHER NOTE, IF YOU GO TO 
MIAMI-DADE -- 
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: YOUR -- 
>> THEY AT LEAST TOLD US WHAT TO
DO.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE DRIVING IN CARS 
WITH MASKS ON.
WE HAVE A VERY -- PEOPLE ARE -- 
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: YOUR TIME HAS 
EXPIRED MA'AM.
>> YOU NEED TO POINT OUT WHAT 
NOT TO DO.
LACK AT THE MANDATE THAT AT 
LEAST TOLD THEM NOT TO DRIVE IN 
CARS WITH MASKS ON.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ON THE 
TELEPHONE LINE, LAST FOUR DIGITS
5195.
IF YOU'LL UNMUTE YOURSELF AND 
GIVE US YOUR FIRST, LAST NAME, 
SPELLING AND ADDRESS YOU'LL HAVE
THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE 
BOARD.
HELLO?
>> YES, MY NAME IS DAWN ELECTRIC
IN YOUR D-A-W-N, L-E-C-H-N-E-R, 
MY ADDRESS IS 1511 LEMON STREET 
IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA.
I JUST WANTED TO CALL IN TO YOU.
I THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE HAVING 
THIS MEETING.
I WANTED TO AGREE WITH 
MRS. BARNES, MS. BOWLER, AND 
MR. HAPPE.
I THINK THEY'VE BEEN VERY 
THOROUGH SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO 
THROUGH ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY
DID, THE RESEARCH IS WELL KNOWN.
BUT, THEY'RE ASKING YOU TO DO 
YOUR JOB.
AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR SOME 
SPECIFIC CRITERIA TO END THIS 
MASK MANDATE, YET YOU DON'T 
SUPPLY IT FOR US.
AND SO A JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU 
TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND TO
SUPPLY THESE THINGS FOR US.
IT JUST SEEMS ENDLESS.
AND IT ALSO SEEMS AS THOUGH, YOU
KNOW, WE JUST KEEP MOVING 
FORWARD WITHOUT ANY 
UNDERSTANDING OR ANY CRITERIA, 
OR ANY HOPE.
AND SO, THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE
TO SAY TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, I DON'T HAVE A
FIRST OR LAST NAME FOR SAYS 
CVARTS.
UNMUTE YOURSELF, GIVE US YOUR 
FIRST, LAST NAME, SPELLING AND 
ADDRESS.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> GOOD MORNING, CAN YOU HEAR 
ME?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: YES, MA'AM.
>> OKAY.
MY NAME IS CHERYL EVERTZ.
707, 107 AVENUE EAST REDINGTON 
SHORES.
FIRST I WANT TO START -- THIS 
SHOULD BE BRIEF.
I JUST WANT TO START OFF BY 
CONGRATULATING MY FELLOW 
CITIZENS WHO ARE SPEAKING OUT 
ABOUT THE FACE COVERING MANDATE.
I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS MANDATE.
I THINK IT'S TIME TO LIFT THIS 
EMERGENCY ORDER.
AND RESTORE OUR LIBERTY TO US.
AND IF YOU DON'T, I'M AFRAID 
THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE GOING
TO START DEMANDING IT, I WANT TO
SAY WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR FROM 
THIS PANEL THAT I KEEP A COUPLE 
OF DESPOTS THAT SIT HERE LIKE 
THEY'RE OUR PARENTS, TRYING TO 
RULE OVER THEIR DISOBEDIENT 
CHILDREN.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR
CONSTITUENTS ARE WAKING UP.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION 
UPCOMING ELECTIONS, AND I KNOW 
SOME OF YOU ARE RUNNING.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
CITIZENS ARE NOW MORE INFORMED 
ABOUT THIS PANEL OF 
COMMISSIONERS, AND WHAT'S 
HAPPENING HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT 
YOU HOLD MEETINGS OUTSIDE OF 
BUSINESS HOURS, BECAUSE LIKE ME,
I HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF OF WORK 
TO ATTEND TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE 
DOING.
AND I THINK FOR THE BENEFIT OF 
TRANSPARENCY, IT MIGHT BE 
BENEFICIAL THAT YOU HOLD THESE 
MEETINGS OUTSIDE OF HOURS SO 
THAT OTHER CONSTITUENTS WHO WORK
FOR A LIVING CAN ATTEND, CAN 
LISTEN, CAN SUPPLY THEIR 
COMMENTS, AS WELL.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HEAR FROM 
YOU REGARDING THE EMERGENCY 
ORDER.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOUR --
WHAT YOUR CRITERIA IS FOR 
CONTINUING ON WITH THIS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FACTS.
NOT CORRELATIONS TO ARTICLES 
WITH AGENDA DRIVEN DRIVEL.
ACTUAL FACTS.
AND WHAT FACTS YOU ARE USING AS 
CRITERIA TO LIFT THIS ORDER.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR WE
HAVE TEN SPEAKERS REMAINING.
OUR NEXT IS KAREN MULLINS.
IF YOU GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE 
YOURSELF, GIVE US SPELLING AND 
ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU'LL 
HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS 
THE BOARD.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
THIS IS KAREN MULLINS, 
M-U-L-L-I-N-S, DUNEDIN, FLORIDA.
THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME THIS 
MORNING.
I AM THOROUGHLY FOR FACE MASKS 
WITH THE OBVIOUS DATA THAT'S 
COMING OUT.
THEY'RE WORKING.
THANK YOU.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTY 
ALVAREZ.
IF YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, GIVE US 
YOUR SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR 
THE RECORD, YOU'LL HAVE THREE 
MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: YES, MA'AM.
>> MY NAME IS CHRISTY ALVAREZ, 
A-L-V-A-R-E-Z.
I LIVE IN LARGO, FLORIDA, AND 
UNLIKE THE KAREN BEFORE ME, I 
STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THIS MASK
MANDATE.
FOR THREE MONTHS I HAVE LISTENED
TO THESE MEETINGS SILENTLY FROM 
THE SIDELINES.
I'VE HEARD RESIDENTS PLEADING 
FOR YOU TO PUT ASIDE EMOTION AND
POLITICS AND END THIS RIDICULOUS
MANDATE.
TODAY I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T BE 
SILENT ANYMORE.
AND AS MUCH AS MANY OF YOU DON'T
WANT TO HEAR US, OUR VOICES WILL
NOT BE SILENCED.
SINCE YOU PUT THIS MASK MANDATE 
INTO EFFECT, YOU HAVE REPEATEDLY
FAILED TO ANSWER SIMPLE 
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC 
REGARDING WHAT THE CRITERIA IS 
FOR ENDING IT.
WEEK AFTER WEEK WE HEAR FROM THE
SAME SO-CALLED EXPERTS, SPEAKING
TO NUMBERS THAT ARE SKEWED AT 
BEST.
NEVER ONCE HEARING FROM ANOTHER 
PROFESSIONAL WHO MIGHT CHALLENGE
YOUR BIASED AGENDA.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
THE PEOPLE OF PINELLAS COUNTY 
AREN'T AS STUPID AS YOUR 
CONTINUOUS SMIRKS AND EYE ROLLS 
WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE.
WE ARE BANDING TOGETHER, IN 
GROUPS LARGE AND LOUD, AND IT'S 
NOT GOING TO END WELL FOR THIS 
POWER HUNGRY, OVERREACHING 
COMMISSION.
YOU SHOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE
POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR 
ABILITY TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT
YOU'RE DOING.
I FOR ONE STARTED PAYING 
ATTENTION WHEN YOU TRIED TO PASS
THE RIDICULOUS BUNCE'S PASS 
LAGOON ISSUE QUIETLY UNDER OUR 
NOSES.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME OF 
THAT WAS, BECAUSE WE SPOKE UP 
AND YOU WERE FORCED TO LISTEN.
THAT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
BECAUSE NOW WE ARE AWAKE AND 
WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU 
WORK FOR US.
THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.
END THIS RIDICULOUS MASK MANDATE
AND LET PEOPLE BE RESPONSIBLE 
FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS AND 
HEALTH.
IF ANYTHING GOOD HAS COME FROM 
COVID, IT'S THAT THERE ARE MORE 
EYES ON THIS COMMISSION NOW THAN
EVER BEFORE.
COME NOVEMBER, THERE ARE A 
COUPLE OF YOU WHO SHOULD BE 
PREPARED TO RETIRE, BECAUSE YOU 
WILL BE VOTED OUT.
AND SINCE I HAVE A FEW SECONDS 
TO SPARE, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY 
THIS TO MY FRIENDS AND PEOPLE 
LISTENING AT HOME, VOTE FOR 
TAMMY VASQUEZ AND LARRY AHERN ON
NOVEMBER 3rd.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR WE
HAVE 12 PEOPLE THAT HAVE THEIR 
HANDS UP, STILL.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NICOLE M
MATTHEWS.
IF YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, YOU'LL 
HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> GOOD MORNING.
NICOLE MATTHEWS, 
M-A-T-T-H-E-U-S, I'M CALLING 
FROM DUNEDIN, FLORIDA.
I WANTED TO SPEAK ON TWO TOPICS,
THE FIRST ONE WAS THE MASK 
MANDATE.
I DO SUPPORT THIS.
AND THANK YOU FOR MANDATING 
THAT.
IT IS A FACT THAT THEY'RE 
WORKING, THAT'S WHY THE NUMBERS 
ARE COMING DOWN.
SO THANK YOU.
THE SECOND TOPIC I WAS HOPING TO
SPEAK ABOUT REALLY IS JUST KIND 
OF REITERATING WHAT SOME OTHER 
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT 
WITH THE DOUGLAS PROPERTY.
SO I KNOW GENERALLY AND A FEW 
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT 
IT SO FAR, JUST WONDERING WHY 
THIS IS STILL NOT A AGENDA ITEM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO 
HAPPEN TO MAKE IT A MORE ACTIVE 
AGENDA ITEM.
I KNOW WE HAD A WORKING MEETING 
THE OTHER DAY PIP AM WAITING TO 
HEAR WHEN OUR NEXT UPDATE ON 
THIS PROCESS WILL BE FOR GAINING
A PLAN, AN ACTUAL FINANCIAL PLAN
TO ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY, IF THE
PULTE HOMES CONTRACT DOES NOT GO
THROUGH.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT, YOU 
KNOW, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED 
FINDING OUT, AS DEVYN POINTED 
OUT, VERY DISAPPOINTED FINDING 
OUT THAT THE COMMISSION, OR 
CERTAIN PEOPLE ON THE 
COMMISSION, WERE ACTUALLY TOLD 
JULY 1st THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS 
EITHER MAKE AN OFFER ON THE 
PROPERTY OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR 
PEACE, AND WE WERE TOLD THE 
OPPOSITE OF THAT.
WE WERE TOLD THAT THE COMMISSION
WAS NOT AWARE THAT IT WAS GOING 
TO BE GOING UNDER CONTRACT.
SO I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THIS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WE
CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM 
HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE, TO 
PREVENT SUCH PURCHASE OF LAND TO
BE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.
IF THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED, THAT
WOULD BE -- I'D BE VERY THANKFUL
FOR THAT.
AND THAT'S IT.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
THAT ARE 11 SPEAKERS THAT REMAIN
TO BE HEARD.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS YVETTE GAUGE
G-A-U-G-H.
IF YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR 
SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR THE 
RECORD.
>> HI, YVETTE GAUGH, ST. PETE 
BEACH.
I DID WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF 
THE CALLERS THAT STATED THAT THE
NUMBERS ARE DOWN AND THE MASKS 
ARE WORKING.
THAT IS A FALSE STATEMENT AND I 
DIDN'T WANT TO MISLEAD ANY 
CALLER THAT ARE ON THE LINE.
AS YOUR DOCTORS KNOW THAT IS THE
NATURAL COURSE OF THE VIRUS.
I HAVE RECENTLY SENT IN A LETTER
AND I'M GOING TO READ THAT IN 
CASE SOME OF YOU HAPPENED TO 
MISS IT.
I'M ESPECIALLY ASKING THAT YOU 
PLEASE REVIEW THE NUMBERS IN THE
UNITED STATES, AS WELL AS THE 
STATE OF FLORIDA.
I ATTACHED TO MY LETTER TWO 
SNAPSHOTS FROM THE CDC WHICH 
SHOWS THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN.
THAT WE'VE NOT ONLY FLATTENED 
THE CURVE YOU'RE UPDIED DOWN AND
THEN SOME.
WE HAVE TO STOP PERPETUATING 
FEAR.
THE AVERAGE MORTALITY RATE IN 
THE U.S. IS 78.
THE AVERAGE MORTALITY DEATH RATE
FOR COVID IS 78.
THE AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL WHO DIES 
HAS 2.5 COMORE BIDTIES.
OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING ABUSED.
BY MANDATING THEM TO WEAR MASKS 
IN SCHOOL.
COMMON SENSE TELLS YOU THEY ARE 
NOT A THREAT TO THEMSELVES, OR 
TO THEIR TEACHERS.
THE SCIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT.
THE RAMIFICATIONS WILL BE 
IMMEDIATE, NOT JUST -- WILL NOT 
BE IMMEDIATE, BUT LONG-TERM, AND
UNFORTUNATELY OUR CHILDREN ARE 
THE GUINEA PIGS.
THEY HAVE A NEUROLOICAL 
CONNECTION TO DESENSITIZATION.
IT'S CREATING A LOSS OF EMPATHY,
AND IT'S DEVELOPING A COLD 
GENERATION.
MY HEART HURTS IN PAIN FOR THESE
CHILDREN, TELLING THEM TO STAY 
AWAY.
I RECENTLY SAW AN ANNOUNCEMENT 
BY FAUCI TELLING THE KIDS TO 
WEAR THEIR MASKS, BEING A GOOD 
LITTLE BOY, GOOD LITTLE GIRL, 
STAY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
THAT IS NOT HOW WE GROW AS 
INDIVIDUALS.
AND IT IS IRONIC THAT THE VERY 
THING YOU ALL ARE CLAIMING TO DO
IS TO PROTECT US, THINKING THAT 
WE DON'T HAVE BRAINS FOR 
OURSELVES.
THIS IS NOT WHAT THEY THOUGHT IT
WAS, AND THE NUMBERS PROVE IT ON
A DAILY BASIS.
I'M AN INDIVIDUAL HAVING A VERY 
DIFFICULT TIME GRIEVING, THEY 
HAVE HEADACHES AND MORE.
PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO WALK DOWN 
THE STREET NEXT TO PEOPLE 
BECAUSE OF THE FEAR THAT HAS 
BEEN INSTILLED IN THEM.
AND IF THEY REALLY THINK THE 
MASK IS WHAT IS PROTECTING THEM,
THEN WE HAVE A VERY 
UNINTELLIGENT SPECIES WALKING 
AROUND THIS PLANET.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY STUDIES 
SHOWING THE INEFFICACY OF 
WEARING A MASK.
AND I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TWO 
DOCTORS ON THE BOARD.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF 
DOCTORS THAT DISAGREE WITH THEM.
I WOULD HAVE MORE RESPECT IF 
THEY WOULD HAVE EVEN ONE TIME 
MENTIONED TO BUILD YOUR IMMUNE 
SYSTEM, TO GET OUTSIDE AND GET 
FRESH AIR, AND PROCLAIMING THAT 
A MASK IS PROTECTING THEM.
AND ACTUALLY, BE HONEST, THEY 
ABSOLUTELY KNOW BETTER.
MAYBE I NEED TO EDUCATE THEM.
SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MASKS.
CARBON DIE OOX AID, WASTE -- 
DIOXIDE WASTE GAS IS TRAPPED IN 
THE MASK AND YOU REBREATHE IT 
BACK IN WHICH IS HARMFUL.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEALTH 
CHALLENGES, AND THEY WEAR A 
MASK, IT'S EXASPERATING THEIR 
HEALTH CONDITION.
AND IF THEY DON'T WEAR A MASK 
THEY'RE YELLED AT OR THEY'RE 
SCARED TO GO IN A STORE, EVEN IF
THEY HAVE COPD AND I MET SOMEONE
JUST LIKE THAT, THEY'RE FEARFUL 
OF SOMEONE YELLING AT THEM.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: I'M SORRY, 
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, MA'AM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS A DR. LEVINE
PIP DON'T HAVE A FIRST AND LAST 
NAME.
SO MR. OR MRS. LEVINE, IF YOU'LL
UNMUTE YOURSELF AND GIVE US YOUR
SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR THE 
RECORD.
>> YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: YES, MA'AM.
>> IT'S DR. ELENA LEVINE, 
E-L-E-N-A, L-E-V-I-N-E, 936 -- 
DUNEDIN.
THANK YOU.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR 
DOCTORS AND EXPERTS AT THE LAST 
MEETING I SPOKE AT, SENT IN AN 
E-MAIL AND SPOKE THEN.
THE SAME IS STILL TRUE, ONLY 
MORE SO NOW.
I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS HAS
BECOME POLITICIZED AND THAT I'M 
HEARING PEOPLE QUOTE FALSE 
SCIENCE.
WE NEED ACTUAL FACTS, NOT 
ALTERNATE FACTS.
AT LEAST APPROXIMATELY 40% OF 
THE PEOPLE WITH COVID ARE 
WALKING AROUND WITH NO SYMPTOMS 
AT ALL.
AND DON'T EVER GET A SYMPTOM.
THERE ARE CLEAR SCIENTIFIC 
DEMONSTRATIONS OF PARTICLE 
DISPERSION, WITHOUT AND WITH 
MASKS, AND WITH FACE SHIELDS, 
AND WHAT THE DIFFERENCES ARE.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED GOOD PUBLIC 
HEALTH TO BASE THIS ON, AND I 
HOPE YOU WILL AGAIN LISTEN TO 
YOUR EXPERTS AND YOUR 
PHYSICIANS, AND NOT JUST THE 
PUBLIC, WHO HAS FEELINGS ABOUT 
THIS.
WE NEED SCIENCE, NOT FEELINGS.
WHO HAVE INFLUENZA COMING.
IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT 
TO DISTINGUISH SYMPTOMS.
MOST PEOPLE WITH NO SYMPTOMS WHO
ARE 40% AGAIN ASYMPTOMATIC WITH 
THIS ARE STILL WALKING AROUND 
SPREADING THIS.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN WHEN SCHOOLS 
HAVE OPENED UP, COLLEGES, AND 
OTHER GATHERINGS, THERE ARE 
THESE SUPER SPREADER EVENTS.
AND THAT THE NUMBERS HAVE MADE 
SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS HAVE TO 
SHUT DOWN.
YOU CAN LOOK AT ALL THE DATA 
FROM OTHER COUNTRIES THAT DIDN'T
HAVE THE CARNAGE THAT WE HAVE IN
THIS COUNTRY FROM THIS BECAUSE 
THEY HAVE A CULTURE OF 
PROTECTING EACH OTHER.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
I'M DELIGHTED THAT YOU PROTECTED
US AS WELL AS YOU DID AT THE 
LAST MEETING ON THIS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOWHERE 
NEAR ENOUGH ENFORCEMENT, AS WE 
SEE GROUPS OF PEOPLE GATHERING 
WITH NO MASKS EVERYWHERE.
IT'S NOT JUST DEATH RATES YOU 
NEED TO LOOK AT.
WE HAVE PEOPLE, AND I KNOW SOME,
WHO HAVE TREMENDOUS POST-COVID 
HOSPITAL STAYS WITH ENORMOUS 
HEALTH ISSUES GOING ON YN GOING 
THAT WILL LIKELY BE FOR THE REST
OF THEIR LIVES.
WE NEED EXPERTS, NOT JUST RANDOM
POLITICS TO DECIDE THIS.
AND YOU CAN'T JUST LOOK AT DEATH
RATES.
YOU HAVE TO ASSUME THAT FOR 
EVERY REPORTED CASE THERE ARE AT
LEAST TEN TIMES MORE WALKING 
AROUND WITHOUT MASKS, SPREADING
THIS.
THIS IS A CRUCIAL CASE OF 
NEEDING TO LOOK AT OTHER 
COUNTRIES' DATA AND OUR OWN.
AND THE ONLY REASON THAT I CAN 
SEE THAT WE ARE LOWERING 
NUMBERS, AND THE NUMBERS AREN'T 
ACCURATE ANYWAY, ARE BECAUSE 
WE'RE DOING AS MUCH AS WE'RE 
DOING.
WE HAVE TO DO MORE, NOT LESS.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE SCHOOLS 
REOPENING HERE, INFLUENZA COMING
TO MAKE THIS HARDER TO 
DISTINGUISH, AND NO EASY 
TREATMENT OR CURES OR HERD 
IMMUNITY IN SIGHT, EVEN WHEN A 
VACCINE COMES, MANY WILL NOT 
RECEIVE IT AND IT'S NOT GOING TO
BE 100%.
THIS IS NOT INFLUENZA.
THIS IS -- AND EVEN THAT KILLS 
OVER 50,000 PEOPLE -- I'M NOT 
SURE OF THE NUMBERS IN THE 
COUNTRY.
THIS IS A -- A MASS DEATH AND 
DISABILITY EVENT THAT'S GOING TO
BE WITH US FOR GENERATIONS.
WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN 
TO STOP MORE OF THIS SPREAD.
THE MASK IS THE LEAST OF IT.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: DR. LEVINE 
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, MA'AM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DIANE, IF 
YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF AND GIVE US 
YOUR SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR 
THE RECORD.
>> GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND 
GENTLEMEN, DIANE 
L-E-B-E-D-E-F-F, SAFETY HARBOR.
I'M SO GLAD I FOLLOWED 
DR. LEVINE, BECAUSE I WOULD 
REALLY UNDERSCORE EVERYTHING 
THAT SHE HAD TO SAY.
I'D LIKE TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON 
EXTENDING THE MASK MANDATE FOR 
ONE WEEK LAST WEEK.
TO SEE WHAT THE DATA WAS GOING 
TO BE COMING FORWARD IN RELATION
TO SCHOOL OPENING.
I THINK WE'VE SEEN EVEN IN 
UNIVERSITIES WHERE THE PEOPLE 
SHOULD BE OLD ENOUGH AND 
SENSIBLE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO 
KEEP ON A MASK.
UNLIKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, FOR 
EXAMPLE, THERE ARE BEEN 
EXPLOSIONS OF RATES OF INFECTION
FROM COVID.
AND WE REALLY, I THINK, YOU HAVE
TO TAKE THOSE INTO ACCOUNT, AS 
WELL AS ALMOST EVERY AREA, 
INCLUDING FLORIDA, IF YOU 
REMEMBER THE GOVERNOR FROM 
MARCH, WHERE THE COVID RATE HAS 
GONE DOWN, IT IS COMMON FOR IT 
TO EXPLODE.
IT'S NO TIME TO STOP BEING 
VIGILANT.
I KNOW PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING.
I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, I DON'T 
ENJOY WEARING A MASK.
I HAVE COPD, I HAVE WORLD TRADE 
CENTER EXPOSURE.
I WEAR A MASK.
I WANT TO PROTECT OTHERS, AND TO
THE EXTENT THAT IT PROTECTS ME, 
I WANT TO PROTECT MYSELF.
FOR PROTECTING MYSELF THE MASK 
ORDINANCE IS THE THING THAT 
PROTECTS ME, AND OTHER PINELLAS 
CITIZENS.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ALSO MENTION, 
PEOPLE HAVE ASKED THAT YOU HAVE 
SOME CRITERIA.
AND AS WE CAN SEE FROM THE 
NUMBERS GOING UP, AND THE 
NUMBERS GOING DOWN, AND THIS HAS
HAPPENED ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHAT 
THE FUTURE HOLDS.
AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY, I 
WOULD ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO 
JUST ADOPT A MASK ORDINANCE FOR 
THE NEXT MONTH, AND BECAUSE 
THAT'S THE MINIMUM OF WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO NEED.
AND THE OTHER THING IS FINALLY 
THERE WAS A COMMENT THAT THERE 
WAS EYE ROLLING BY MEMBERS OF 
THE COMMISSION.
I MUST SAY I'VE WATCHED A NUMBER
OF THESE HEARINGS, AND I WOULD 
LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR 
DILIGENT LISTENING, AND YOUR 
FINE DISPLAY OF PROPER CONDUCT 
FOR A PUBLIC SERVANT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I YIELD MY TIME, AS IT WERE.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR WE
HAVE EIGHT REMAINING SPEAKERS 
THAT WISH TO BE HEARD.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, I DON'T 
HAVE A FIRST NAME, LAST NAME 
MACK.
IF YOU'LL UNMUTE YOURSELF AND 
GIVE US YOUR FIRST NAME, LAST 
NAME, SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR 
THE RECORD YOU'LL HAVE THREE 
MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
>> HI.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: YES, MA'AM.
>> MY NAME IS SUSAN MACK.
I'M FROM NORTH REDINGTON BEACH.
ON JULY 16th, I INITIALLY CALLED
IN AND ASKED THE BOARD WHAT THE 
DETERMINING FACTORS WERE FOR 
KEEPING THE MASK MANDATE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU KEEPING SCORE, 
COMMISSIONER WELCH, THAT WAS 
SEVEN WEEKS AGO.
I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY DATA 
INVOLVED IN YOUR DECISION.
NO ONE HAD AN ANSWER.
IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK'S MEETING 
THERE WERE MANY, MANY MEMBERS OF
OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE CALLED 
IN AND ASKED ABOUT THE METRICS.
YOU HAVE YET TO ANSWER THESE 
QUESTIONS.
OR PROVIDE THE LOGIC BEHIND 
THEM.
AS DAVE MENTIONED EARLIER, IF 
THERE WAS A NUMBER THAT 
DETERMINED THE CASES TO 
INSTITUTE THIS MANDATE, THERE 
SHOULD BE A NUMBER TO DETERMINE 
TO END IT.
SEEMS PRETTY SIMPLE.
RIGHT?
AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO QUIT 
SAYING, LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS 
AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY.
AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
AFTER LABOR DAY.
OR IS THE BIG QUESTION, ARE WE 
WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS 
UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION IN 
NOVEMBER?
ONE OF THE STATEMENTS IN THE 
PINELLAS COUNTY VALUES IS, WE 
WILL PROVIDE AN OPEN AND 
ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT.
I BELIEVE MANY OF YOU ON THIS 
BOARD IMMEDIATE TO REREAD THAT 
STATEMENT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, AS A 
REMINDER, YOU WORK FOR US.
WE DON'T WORK FOR YOU.
WE AREN'T YOUR SUBJECTS.
YOU NEED TO REPEAL THIS MASK 
MANDATE, AND LET US GET BACK TO 
LIVING OUR LIVES.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR, 
THERE ARE SIX REMAINING SPEAKERS
THAT WISH TO BE HEARD.
OUR NEXT IS BETH WEINSTEIN.
IF YOU'LL UNMUTE YOURSELF AND 
GIVE US YOUR SPELLING AND 
ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU'LL 
HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS 
THE BOARD.
>> BETH WEINSTEIN, 
W-E-I-N-S-T-E-I-N, 1012 GREEN 
LEAF WAY TARPON SPRINGS, 
FLORIDA.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE 
TIME TO HEAR OUR CONCERNS.
I BELIEVE THAT THE MASK MANDATE 
HAS WORKED.
I AM A RESIDENT OF PINELLAS.
I HAVE CHILDREN TO GO TO SCHOOL,
AND MY HUSBAND IS ALSO 
IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.
THE SCIENCE IS VERY CLEAR, AND I
SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE ON THESE 
CALLS HAVE HAD A -- ARE 
EXHIBITING AN EFFECT, I DON'T 
BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE 
POLITICIZED.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, MASK 
WEARING DOES SAVE LIVES.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE 
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WEARING A 
MASK WHEN OUR CHILDREN HAVE TO 
GO THROUGH ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS
IN SCHOOLS.
I MEAN, REALISTICALLY, WE KNOW 
THAT COUNTRIES WHERE MASK 
MANDATING WAS TAKEN ON EARLY, 
THAT THEY ARE NOW OPENING THEIR 
SOCIETIES, AND OPENING THEIR 
SCHOOLS.
AND I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE 
AN ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE IF WE 
REMOVE THE MASK MANDATE.
I MYSELF WILL NO LONGER GO TO 
RESTAURANTS AND OTHER 
ESTABLISHMENTS WITHOUT A MASK 
MANDATE IN PLACE.
I WAS NOT GOING OUT PRIOR TO THE
MASK MANDATE.
AND I SEE OVERWHELMINGLY LOOK AT
POLLS AND OPINIONS OF PEOPLE, 
THE MAJORITY OF US WANT A 
CONTINUING MASK MANDATE.
AND WITHOUT THAT WE WILL NOT 
FEEL SAFE LEAVING OUR HOMES WITH
A VIRUS THAT IS AIRBORNE, THAT 
HAS NO ADEQUATE TREATMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE EFFECTIVE RAPID 
TESTING.
AND WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO 
TRACING.
AND AS OTHER CALLERS HAVE 
MENTIONED, FLU SEASON IS SOON TO
BE UPON US.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE 
IS SUCH A CHALLENGE WITH PEOPLE 
WANTING TO PROTECT OTHERS, BOTH 
OURSELVES, AND THOSE WHO ARE THE
MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR 
COMMUNITY.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU KEEP THE 
MASK MANDATE IN PLACE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LUCINDA 
JOHNSON.
IF YOU'LL UNMUTE YOURSELF AND 
GIVE US YOUR SPELLING AND 
ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD WE'LL 
HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS 
THE BOARD.
>> GOOD MORNING, CAN YOU HEAR 
ME?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: YES, MA'AM.
>> MY NAME IS LUCINDA JOHNSTON I
RESIDE AT 348 11th AVENUE 
NEITHER IN ST. PETERSBURG.
AND I WEAR A MASK.
I APPRECIATE THE MASK MANDATE.
I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE 
WHO HAVE CALLED IN REFERRING TO 
PEOPLE THAT ARE DYING FROM THIS 
DISEASE LIKE THEY WERE 
COLLATERAL DAMAGE.
MY HUSBAND IS 72 YEARS OLD.
HE HAS FIVE COMORE BIDTY 
FACTORS, BUT HE ALSO WORKS FULL 
TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH 
FLORIDA AS A PROFESSOR AND 
SERVES ON 41 DOCTORAL 
COMMITTEES.
I BELIEVE HE WOULD BE MISSED IF 
HE DIED FROM COVID-19 OR 
ANYTHING ELSE.
TO REFER TO ANYONE WITH THIS 
DISEASE AND PASSES AWAY AS JUST 
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS 
RIDICULOUS.
WE'VE BEEN ON LOCK DOWN FOR 175 
DAYS TODAY.
WE USED TO DREAM OF GOING TO 
PARIS ON VACATION AND NOW WE 
DREAM ABOUT GETTING A HAMBURGER.
THAT THAT WOULD JUST BE THE BEST
THING WE COULD EVER DO.
AND I DID -- I WILL APOLOGIZE 
FOR ROLLING MY EYES AT THE 
PERSON WHO SAID THAT WAITING 
UNTIL AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY 
WAS RIDICULOU, WHEN AFTER THE 
FOURTH OF JULY, TWO WEEKS LATER,
WHEN WE SAW THAT HUGE SPIKE MID 
JULY.
SO, SHE SORT OF CONTRADICTED 
HERSELF.
LASTLY I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO 
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE POLITICIZING 
THIS ISSUE AND TELL THEM THE 
IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE ON PEOPLE 
WHO ARE SUPPORTING OTHER 
CANDIDATES, LIKE CHARLIE JUSTICE
AND JANET LONG, WE DON'T GO ON 
FACEBOOK TO CAMPAIGN.
WE PICK UP THE TELEPHONE, AND WE
MAKE THOUSANDS OF CALLS.
AND WE DROP LITERATURE ON DOORS.
SO IF THEY THINK THAT THEY'RE 
GOING TO BE ABLE TO BEAT CHARLIE
AND JANET, THEY NEED TO GET OFF 
OF FACEBOOK, AND GO OUT AND 
START WORKING FOR IT.
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO 
KEEP TWO PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN 
SCIENCE ON OUR COUNTY 
COMMISSION.
THANK YOU AND I WON'T TAKE ANY 
MORE OF YOUR TIME.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
WILL ARE STILL SIX HANDS IN THE 
AIR THAT WISH TO BE HEARD.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JEREMY 
REYNOLDS.
IF YOU GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE 
YOURSELF AND GIVE US YOUR 
SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR THE 
RECORD, YOU'LL HAVE THREE 
MINUTES.
>> JEREMY REYNOLDS, J-E-R-E-M-Y,
R-E-Y-N-O-L-D-S, QUICK SHOUT-OUT
COMMISSIONER EGGERS, HOWDY.
FOUR THINGS TODAY.
GUYS, NUMBER ONE, THANK YOU FOR 
REMOVING THE CHAT OPTION ON YOUR
ZOOM.
THAT WAS REALLY ANNOYING, AND 
WAS FULL OF SO MUCH ABHORRENT 
SPAM IT WASN'T EVEN FUNNY.
SECONDLY, ON THE MASK MANDATE.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE MASK 
MANDATE IN PLACE.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM 
DR. CHOE AND DR. JAMESON JUST 
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN 
HOSPITALIZED, AND HOW MANY 
FATALITIES WE'VE SEEN FOR PEOPLE
WEARING MASKS, AND I THINK IT 
WILL SPEAK FOR ITSELF.
SECONDLY, ON THE PROPERTY, 
PLEASE HOLD YOUR COUNTY 
ADMINISTRATOR TO ACCOUNT FOR 
MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, 
AND WHEN YOU'RE A MUNICIPALITY 
IN PINELLAS COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO
GET THE COUNTY TO WORK FAST 
ENOUGH TO MAKE THINGS HAPPENING.
YOU'VE GOT A VERY UNIQUE 
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO 
CAPTURE AND PRESERVE AN 
ECOLOGICAL JEWEL HERE.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST ONE OF THE 
PREVIOUS SPEAKERS SPOKE ABOUT 
THE ARBITRARY THREE MINUTE TIME 
LIMIT ON PUBLIC INPUT.
I UNDERSTAND IT IS A VERY COMMON
PRACTICE THROUGHOUT PINELLAS 
COUNTY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT, 
YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT OF THAT 
REASONABLE THRESHOLD STEMS FROM 
A JOEBS V. HEYMANN CASE OUT OF 
1989, AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO 
KNOW IS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT 
FLORIDA STATUTE 286.0114 SUB 
SECTION 4, PASSED IN 2013, IT 
ALLOWS THE COMMISSION TO SET 
RULES AROUND ITS PROCEDURALS, 
AND TIME LIMITS.
BUT THAT WOULD STILL HAVE TO 
SATISFY THE OTHER CLAUSE OF THAT
SAME STATUTE, THAT SAYS THE 
PUBLIC MUST BE AFFORDED A 
REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE 
HEARD.
pSO MY QUESTION IS, HOW C 
ARBITRARY THREE MINUTE LIMIT 
SATISFY A PURPOSEFULLY AMBIGUOUS
STANDARD OF REASONABLENESS?
THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU GUYS.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: NEXT SPEAKER 
ON THE TELEPHONE, IF YOU'LL 
UNMUTE YOURSELF, GIVE US YOUR 
FIRST, LAST NAME, SPELLING AND 
ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD YOU'LL 
HAVE THREE MINUTES.
7233, YOU'LL HAVE TO UNMUTE YOUR
LINE.
HELLO?
MADAM CHAIR, WE'LL TRY TO GO 
BACK TO 7233.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHARON 
HERMAN.
IF YOU CAN UNMUTE YOURSELF, GIVE
US YOUR SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR
THE RECORD YOU'LL HAVE THREE 
MINUTES.
>> SHARON HERMAN, S-H-A-R-O-N, 
H-E-R-M-A-N, IN DUNEDIN, 
FLORIDA.
AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU 
FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, AND I 
WANTED TO JUST PIPE IN AND AGREE
WITH DR. LEVINE AND EVERYTHING 
SHE SAID.
WE STILL DON'T HAVE A CURE FOR 
COVID, OBVIOUSLY, AND RIGHT NOW 
WE STILL NEED TO UTILIZE 
WHATEVER MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO 
TRY AND CONTROL THIS MASKS ARE 
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE 
CAN DO, ESPECIALLY SINCE SCHOOL 
HAS STARTED AND WE HAVE 
INCREASED CONTACT WITH MOST 
PEOPLE.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO TAKE 
YOUR FOOT OFF THE PEDAL OF THE 
GAS.
WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE
CAN, AND FLU SEASON IS UPON US.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE 
WITH MORE COMPROMISED IMMUNE 
SYSTEMS.
IF FOLKS GET THE FLU, THEY'RE 
GOING TO BE WEAKER, RECOVERING 
FROM THAT, AND WE STILL HAVE 
COVID OUT THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WITH OVER 180,000 
PEOPLE DEAD, I DON'T THINK THIS 
IS A TIME TO JUST START RUNNING 
AROUND WITH A HOLIDAY WEEKEND 
AND NOT WEAR YOUR MASK.
THAT'S ALL.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLA 
RUDOLPH.
IF YOU'LL UNMUTE YOURSELF, GIVE 
US YOUR SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR
THE RECORD YOU'LL HAVE THREE 
MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
>> CARLA RUDOLPH, I LIVE IN 
ST. PETERSBURG.
I CALLED IN LAST WEEK.
I DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH WEARING 
A MASK.
AND I FEEL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO 
WANT TO WEAR THE MASK, AND 
THAT'S OKAY.
BUT THERE ARE THOSE WHO EITHER 
THEY CHOOSE NOT TO OR THEY HAVE 
AN ISSUE WITH WEARING A MASK, 
AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO 
REITERATE WHAT I SAID LAST WEEK,
MAKE IT OPTIONAL!
IF PEOPLE WANT TO TRUST IN THE 
MASK, LET THEM TRUST IN THE 
MASK.
BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE AN 
ISSUE WITH IT, OR THOSE WHO 
CHOOSE NOT TO, MAKE IT AN 
OPTIONAL THING.
THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON, AND I 
THINK THAT THERE'S -- THERE'S --
I MEAN THERE'S JUST SO MUCH LIES
AND DECEPTION I THINK ALL OVER 
THE PLACE, JUST FLYING AROUND.
NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE TRUTH IS 
ANYMORE, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
THERE ARE DOCTORS SAYING OH, YOU
GOT TO WEAR THE MASKS AND THEN 
THERE'S DOCTORS SAYING THAT THE 
MASKS DON'T DO ANY GOOD.
PICK YOUR SIDE, WHICH YOU WANT 
TO TRUST IN THE MASK OR NOT.
BUT TO FORCE EVERYBODY TO DO THE
SAME THING, IT DOES NOT MAKE 
SENSE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THIS THAT JUST 
DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
WE SEE NUMBERS ON BOTH SIDES, 
AND IT'S HARD FOR ONE SIDE TO 
CONVINCE THE OTHER SIDE OF 
WHAT'S GOING ON, BECAUSE IN 
REALITY, I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF 
US KNOW THE WHOLE TRUTH.
MAKE IT OPTIONAL.
PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR 
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IT KATIE GREEN.
IF YOU'LL UNMUTE YOURSELF, GIVE 
US YOUR SPELLING AND ADDRESS FOR
THE RECORD YOU'LL HAVE THREE 
MINUTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
>> KATIE GREEN, I LIVE AT 335 
BUENA VISTA DRIVE SOUTH HERE IN 
DUNEDIN.
AND I'M CALLING BECAUSE I REALLY
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP 
THIS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
THIS HAS BECOME A POLITICAL 
ISSUE AND IS USED BY POLITICIANS
TO KEEP US DIVIDED, TO KEEP US 
CONFUSED, BECAUSE AS LONG AS 
PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED, THEY ARE 
MUCH EASIER TO CONTROL.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE 
SCIENTISTS, BELIEVE THE 
SCIENTISTS, LOOK WHAT OTHER 
COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN DOING, AND 
JUST, YOU KNOW, BE AWARE OF HOW 
MANY SCHOOLS HAVE TRIED TO OPEN.
AND HAVE HAD TO SHUT DOWN.
THIS IS -- REALLY NEED TO KEEP 
THE MASK THING GOING.
I WENT THROUGH DUNEDIN THE OTHER
DAY, AND DOWNTOWN YOU THINK THAT
COVID WAS COMPLETELY OVER WITH 
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WAITING TO 
GET INTO PUBS AND I REALLY THINK
THAT STAYING MASKS AND BEING 
HEALTHY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN 
LIVING, YOU KNOW -- LETTING IT 
JUST BE RELAXED.
THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: OUR NEXT 
SPEAKER IS TOMMY FRAIN, IF YOU 
UNMUTE YOURSELF, YOU'LL HAVE 
THREE MINUTES.
>> TOMMY T-O-M-M-Y, FRAIN 
F-R-A-I-N, TASHEN SPRINGS, 
FLORIDA.
I'LL BE VERY QUICK.
OBVIOUSLY FULLY SUPPORT 
CONTINUING THE MASK MANDATE.
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER A COUPLE 
AGO SPOKE ABOUT NOT KNOWING WHAT
THE TRUTH IS.
YOU REQUEST FIND AN OPINION, YOU
CAN FIND SUPPORT FOR ANY KIND OF
OPINION ON THE INTERNET IF YOU'D
LIKE.
WHAT YOU DESCRIBED WAS 
CONFIRMATION BIAS.
WE SHOULD NOT BE LOOKING FOR 
SUPPORT FOR A CERTAIN OPINION, 
YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT 
EVIDENCE, AND THEN COMING UP 
WITH AN OPINION AFTER THAT.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE 
THAT.
THIS IS A SCIENTIFIC ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, I RELY VERY HEAVILY ON
MY PARENTS AND MY IN-LAWS TO 
ALLOW ME AND MY WIFE TO SUPPORT 
OUR THREE CHILDREN, TO WORK.
IF I FELT IT'S NOT SAFE, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO.
I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ALL MY KIDS
HERE.
MY WIFE MAY HAVE TO QUIT HER 
JOB.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO MAINTAIN 
THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC 
SAFETY, AND NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT 
RELINQUISH TOO SOON NOW THAT 
WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE NUMBERS 
ARE COMING DOWN.
SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME 
AND SAY BLACK LIVES STILL 
MATTER.
WE'RE STILL MARCHING OUT EVERY 
DAY.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR WE
HAVE TWO SPEAKERS REMAINING.
BOTH OF THEM ARE ON THE PHONE 
LINES.
THE ONES THAT WE TRIED BEFORE.
LAST FOUR DIGITS 1419.
IF YOU'LL UNMUTE YOURSELF, GIVE 
US YOUR FIRST, LAST NAME, 
SPELLING AND ADDRESS, YOU'LL 
HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS 
THE BOARD.
IF YOU'RE CALLING ON 1419 YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO UNMUTE 
YOURSELF.
HELLO?
MADAM CHAIR, APPEARS THEY'RE 
HAVING DIFFICULTY ON THEIR SIDE.
I'M GOING TO GO TO LAST FOUR 
DIGITS 7233.
IF YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TRY TO 
UNMUTE AND GIVE US YOUR FIRST, 
LAST NAME, SPELLING AND ADDRESS,
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO 
ADDRESS THE BOARD.
>> HELLO.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: HELLO.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS JOELLEN MURPHY, I'M 
CALLING FROM DUNEDIN, FLORIDA.
I AM A FIRSTLINE WORKER, I WORK 
FOR THE BUS COMPANY HERE IN 
DUNEDIN.
AND I FEEL EVERYONE SHOULD WEAR 
A MASK.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOUR 
POLITICIAN IS, WHAT KIND OF SIDE
OF THE ROPE YOU'RE ON, IT 
DOESN'T MATTER.
EVERYONE MUST WEAR A MASK.
I PUT MY LIFE ON THE LINE EVERY 
DAY.
I HAVE ILLNESSES THAT I SHOULD 
NOT BE WORKING.
BUT I HAVE TO GO TO WORK TO 
SUPPORT MY FAMILY.
AND THE ONLY THING WE'RE ASKING 
IS FOR YOU TO PUT A MASK ON.
IT'S NOT A LOT.
I LIVE RIGHT UP THE STREET FROM 
DOWNTOWN DUNEDIN AND I WATCH 
EVERY DAY, ALL THESE PEOPLE 
WALKING AROUND WITH NO MASK.
THEY ALL NEED TO PUT A MASK ON.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT YOU.
IT'S TO SAVE LIVES.
I JUST LOST A 26-YEAR-OLD 
DAUGHTER BECAUSE OF THIS.
IS THAT OKAY?
BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T PUT A MASK 
ON?
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MUCH.
PUT A MASK ON.
AND I THINK THIS MANDATORY MASK 
SHOULD STAY IN EFFECT UNTIL WE 
CAN GET THIS BETTER.
AND IF IT TAKES A YEAR, WELL 
THEN YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK FOR
A YEAR.
GET OVER IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU 
GUYS DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR WE
HAVE ONE REMAINING SPEAKER, LIZ 
DREAER.
IF YOU'LL UNMUTE YOURSELF AND 
GIVE US YOUR SPELLING AND 
ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, YOU'LL 
HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> I'M LIZ D-R-A-Y-E-R, I LIVE 
IN CLEARWATER, 3175 5 PARK 
DRIVE.
I WANT TO ENDORSE THE COMMENTS 
OF DR. ELENA LEVINE, WHO SUMMED 
UP VERY NEATLY WHY WE NEED TO 
CONTINUE THIS MASK MANDATE.
THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY SHOULD 
BE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH?
PLEASE MAKE THAT YOUR PROPERTY 
AND CONTINUE THE MASK MANDATE.
AND WITH RESPECT TO THE DOUGLAS 
PROPERTY, I'M HUGELY 
DISAPPOINTED THE COUNTY DID NOT 
ACQUIRE THAT WHEN IT HAD THE 
OPPORTUNITY.
AND I HOPE THAT TO THE EXTENT 
POSSIBLE, NOW THAT THE PROPERTY 
IS UNDER CONTRACT, YOU PULL OUT 
ALL THE STOPS, AND DO EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO GET A HOLD OF THAT 
PROPERTY.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR 
TIME.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: AND MADAM 
CHAIR, THERE ARE NO OTHER NEW 
CITIZENS THAT WISH TO BE HEARD.
>> PAT GERARD: OKAY.
WELL, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC 
COMMENT THEN.
LET'S HAVE AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE
ARE.
>> BARRY BURTON: FOR THE STATE 
OF EMERGENCY?
>> PAT GERARD: YES.
>> BARRY BURTON: OKAY.
SO, WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU 
EXTEND THE ORDER FROM SEPTEMBER 
4th TO SEPTEMBER 11th.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF 
DISCUSSION, OBVIOUSLY, ABOUT THE
NUMBERS.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM DR. CHOE, 
DR. JAMESON, WE ALSO HAVE 
DR. THOGMARTIN ON THE LINE TO 
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS 
SPECIFICALLY TO CONCERNS THAT 
ARE RAISED.
WE ARE SEEING BETTER NUMBERS.
WE SAW BETTER NUMBERS IN MAY 
RIGHT BEFORE WE SAW A SPIKE THAT
CONSUMED US ALL SUMMER.
FOR THAT TO GET UNDER CONTROL.
WE HAVE 70,000 STUDENTS AND 
TEACHERS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.
THAT WILL TAKE TIME TO SEE THE 
IMPACT OF THAT.
DR. GRECO SUPPORTS US CONTINUING
THE MASK MANDATE.
UNTIL WE HAVE A BETTER AND 
CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT'S 
OCCURRING IN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS, IN MY OPINION, I'M SURE
THE OTHER DOCTORS WILL CONFIRM, 
A MINIMUM STEP THAT WE CAN DO 
THAT DOES HELP PREVENT THE 
SPREAD WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE ARE ASKING FOR THAT 
EXTENSION.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
OR YOU CAN ASK ANY OF THE 
DOCTORS ON THE LINE ANY SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS.
>> PAT GERARD: YEAH, ACTUALLY I 
ASKED FOR DR. THOGMARTIN TO BE 
WHAT WAS IN THE NATIONAL NEWS 
ABOUT THE CDC, AND THE CAUSE OF 
DEATH.
WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN WHEN 
THEY SAY THAT ONLY 6% HAD A 
SINGLE CAUSE OF DEATH OF 
COVID-19?
DOES THAT CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT 
WHAT WE'RE DOING?
>> DR. JON THOGMARTIN: GREAT 
QUESTION.
LOOK, ALL I'D SAY IS, THIS IS 
NOT UNEXPECTED.
I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THEY SHOULD 
HAVE PUT AN EDITORIAL COMMENT IN
ABOUT THAT.
COVID DOES NOT REALLY KILL 
HEALTHY PEOPLE.
IT WILL.
BUT NOT TYPICALLY.
SO WHEN I SAW THAT DATA I WAS 
GOING, OKAY, 6% OF COVID-19 ARE 
COVID ALONE.
WE'VE SEEN ABOUT THAT NUMBER.
I CAN TOTALLY -- I CAN TOTALLY 
BELIEVE IT.
BUT WHAT I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO 
WRAP THEIR MIND AROUND THIS, 
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IN 
PINELLAS, PASCO, FLORIDA, THE 
UNITED STATES, WHAT PERCENTAGE 
OF PEOPLE THAT JUST LIVE EVERY 
DAY WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS.
THAT WOULD PUT THEM AT RISK.
AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE 
UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO, IT COMES UP WHERE YOU HAVE A
CAUSE OF DEATH, BUT YOU ALSO 
HAVE CONTRIBUTORY CONDITIONS AND
IF YOU'RE ABOVE THE AGE OF 40, 
YOU MAY HAVE A CASE OF 
HYPERTENSION.
YOU MAY HAVE THE MIDDLE AGE 
SPREAD.
YOU MAY HAVE SUCH A MIDDLE AGE 
SPREAD THAT YOU'RE NOW PUSHING 
INTO THE REALM OF TYPE TWO 
DIABETES, AND THEN YOU GET A 
LITTLE HYPERTENSION TO GO ALONG 
WITH THAT.
AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST 
CARDIAC STENT.
LET'S THROW IN A LITTLE 
CIGARETTE SMOKING.
YOU'RE 40, YOU'VE BEEN A 
CIGARETTE SMOKER FOR 20 YEARS.
ALL THESE THINGS ADD UP.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE, I WAS TRYING 
TO EXPLAIN THIS TO A LAWYER 
FRIEND OF MINE, AND I EXPLAINED 
IT THIS WAY.
HAVING COVID IS LIKE SWIMMING IN
DEEP WATER.
IF YOU'RE A GOOD SWIMMER, YOU'RE
YOUNG AND HEALTHY, YOU'LL BE 
FINE.
BUT LET'S THROW SOMETHING IN 
THERE.
I SEE PEOPLE DROWN.
AND THEY'RE SWIMMING IN DEEP 
WATER.
LET'S THROW IN ALCOHOL INTAX 
INDICATION.
SO A NORMAL PERSON THAT SWIMS IN
DEEP WATER IS A GOOD SWIMMER 
WON'T DROWN.
THEY'RE IN NO DANGER, REALLY.
BUT YOU GIVE THEM AN ALCOHOL 
LEVEL OF 0.3 GRAMS PERCENT AND 
SUDDENLY YOU'VE GOT A DROWNING.
SO ALCOHOL WOULD BE A 
CONTRIBUTOR.
HAVING COVID-19 IS KIND OF LIKE 
SWIMMING IN DEEP WATER.
YOU'RE 25 YEARS OLD, YOU'RE A 
GOOD SWIMMER.
IT'S GOING TO MAKE YOUR PULSE 
RATE GO UP.
IT WILL MAKE YOU MAYBE SHORT OF 
BREATH WITH THE EFFORT.
AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT.
FOR AWHILE.
BUT LET'S ADD IN -- LET'S SAY 
YOU'RE DECONDITIONED.
YOU'RE A 25-YEAR-OLD THAT'S IN 
VERY POOR PHYSICAL CONDITION.
OR YOU'RE HEAVY.
OR LET'S MAKE YOU 40 YEARS OLD, 
AND YOU'VE GOT SMOKING IN YOUR 
HISTORY FOR 20 YEARS.
LET'S MAKE YOU 60 YEARS OLD, AND
YOU'VE GOT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, 
HYPERTENSION, AND YOU HAD A 
STENT IN ONE OF YOUR CORONARY 
ARTERIES.
NOW YOU'RE SWIMMING.
THE ARTERY GETS MORE AND MORE 
DANGEROUS AS WE ADD AGE AND AS 
WE ADD COMORBIDITY.
IF YOU TOOK ANY AVERAGE 99 OR 
100 YEAR OLD PERSON AND PUT THEM
IN WATER ABOVE THEIR HEADS AND 
TOLD THEM TO SWIM, THEY WOULDN'T
MAKE IT.
IT'S THE SAME THING WITH COVID.
MAYBE NOT SO GREAT, MOST OF OUR 
CASES I SEE, AND I'VE BEEN 
CERTIFYING MOST OF THEM, HAVE 
SIGNIFICANT COMORBIDITIES.
ABOUT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 40% TO 
60% OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION 
HAS A CHRONIC ILLNESS.
I'VE SEEN NUMBERS OF 12% HAVE 
FIVE OR MORE.
I WOULD BET THAT PINELLAS COUNTY
WITH OUR AVERAGE AGE, I'LL BET 
YOU IT'S CLOSE TO 20% OF PEOPLE 
HAVE FIVE OR MORE CHRONIC 
CONDITIONS.
SO, YES, YES, COVID IS NOT A 
DANGER TO YOU IF I HAVE A CLEAN 
HEALTH RECORD.
GENERALLY IT WON'T BE, UNLESS 
YOU'RE UNLUCKY.
JUST LIKE SWIMMING IN DEEP 
WATER, YOU MAY GET A CRAMP AND 
DROWN BUT IT'S UNLIKELY.
BUT IF YOU HAVE MEDICAL 
CONDITIONS AND YOU'RE FORCED TO 
GO THROUGH THIS, IT CAN REALLY 
HURT YOU AND KILL YOU.
OUR NUMBERS TOTALLY REFLECT WHAT
THE CDC IS PUTTING OUT.
BUT, YOU CAN'T WRITE OFF PEOPLE 
WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS.
THEY'RE THINKING IT'S REALLY, 
REALLY BAD HEALTH CONDITIONS.
NO, IF YOU'RE ON ANY 
HYPERTENSIVE MED AND YOUR BODY 
MASS INDEX, LET'S SAY IS 30, I 
WOULDN'T WANT TO GET COVID.
STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
THAT'S VERY GOOD.
EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW.
>> DR. JON THOGMARTIN: ONE OTHER
THING, THOUGH.
OUR NUMBERS, AS FAR AS DEATHS 
GO, SEEM TO HAVE PEAKED.
WE HAD END OF JULY, EARLY 
AUGUST, OUR DISTRICT WAS 125.
THAT WAS OUR TOTAL NUMBER OF 
DEATHS DURING THAT WEEK.
94 FOR PINELLAS.
WE CAME DOWN, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU
THE PINELLAS NUMBERS.
IT WENT TO 58 THE NEXT WEEK, 48,
44, AND NOW THE LAST WEEK THAT 
WE HAVE A COMPLETE WEEK, AND 
ASSUMING ALL THE CASES THAT HAVE
BEEN REPORTED HAVE BEEN 
REPORTED, WE ARE AT 22.
AND THAT'S FROM STARTING FROM, 
YOU KNOW, ZERO AT END OF MARCH.
IT JUST KIND OF RAMPED UP, AND 
THEN IT KIND OF DISAPPEARED A 
LITTLE BIT WITH THE LOCKDOWN, 
AND THEN WHEN WE OPENED UP AGAIN
YOU END UP WITH IT COINCIDED 
WITH THE DELAY TO OUR PEAK AT 
THE END OF JULY.
BUT DEFINITELY WE FELT THE 
RELIEF LATELY WITH THE DEATHS.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK GOODNESS.
THANK YOU.
QUESTIONS?
QUESTION, COMMISSIONER LONG?
>> JANET LONG: THANK YOU, MADAM 
CHAIR.
AS I SAT HERE THIS MORNING AND 
LISTENED TO SOME OF THE FOLKS 
THAT WERE CALLING IN, IT BROUGHT
ME BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN I USED 
TO BE ON THE DEBATE CLUB IN 
COLLEGE.
AND THAT IDEA MADE ME WONDER, 
AND I'M THROWING THIS OUT THERE 
FOR JUST DISCUSSION WITH MY 
COLLEAGUES, TO SEE WHAT YOU 
MIGHT THINK, I REACHED OUT TO 
DR. FINEMAN, THE CHIEF MEDICAL 
OFFICER FOR HCA HOSPITAL, YOU 
MAY REMEMBER HE HAS SPOKEN TO US
A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND I ASKED 
HIM IF HE COULD FIND OUT THROUGH
THEIR VERY LARGE ORGANIZATION IF
THERE WERE ANY BOARD CERTIFIED 
PHYSICIANS WHO SPECIALIZED IN 
INFECTIOUS DISEASE THAT DID NOT 
BELIEVE THAT MASKS AND SOCIAL 
DISTANCING, ET CETERA, ET 
CETERA, WERE THE ANSWERS TO 
GETTING THIS THING UNDER 
CONTROL.
JUST SO THAT WE COULD PERHAPS 
HEAR FROM THAT PERSON AS SO MANY
PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED THAT WE'RE
JUST LISTENING TO FAKE SCIENCE 
AND FAKE NEWS.
I'D LIKE TO JUST SEE IF ANY OF 
THE REST OF YOU HAVE ANY 
INTEREST IN THAT.
BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE 
GOING THROUGH THE FLUORIDE 
ISSUE, WHICH A LOT OF THIS 
REMINDS ME OF, IN THE WAY IN 
WHICH PEOPLE ARE FORMING THEIR 
MESSAGING AND TALKING TO US, I 
DO REMEMBER HEARING FROM A 
PHYSICIAN WHO HAD AN OPPOSING 
VIEW AND AS A RESULT OF THAT 
CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH HIM, IT
CAUSED US TO BE FIRMLY ROOTED IN
THE DECISIONS WE WERE ABOUT TO 
MAKE.
SO I JUST SAY THAT NOT TO CAUSE 
ANOTHER KERFUFFLE BUT JUST AS AN
IDEA.
SO, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME 
SHARE THAT.
>> PAT GERARD: COMMISSIONER 
EGGERS?
>> DAVE EGGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR.
TO COMMISSIONER LONG'S POINT, 
AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING 
ABOUT THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WE 
NEED TO BE CONTINUING TO HAVE 
DIALOGUE.
YOU KNOW, WE EACH ARE DOING OUR 
OWN RESEARCH.
WE'RE EACH DOING OUR OWN 
READING.
WE'RE LISTENING TO THE DOCTORS.
WE'RE LISTENING TO OTHER 
DOCTORS.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN BRING 
A DOCTOR IN WITH A COUNTERPOINT,
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US 
TO HEAR FROM FOLKS, BECAUSE WE 
ULTIMATELY ARE MAKING THOSE 
DECISIONS.
SO AGAIN THERE WILL BE A POINT 
IN TIME WHEN THOSE MASKS -- THAT
MASK ORDINANCE COMES OUT, OFF 
THE BOARD, SO TO SPEAK, AND THE 
EFFORTS, AGAIN THAT WE'RE MAKING
NOW, AND AFTER THAT ACTION IS 
TAKEN AT SOME POINT IN THE 
FUTURE, AREN'T GOING TO CHANGE.
AND THEN IF THE NUMBERS GET BAD 
AGAIN, THE MASKS MAY GO BACK ON 
AGAIN.
AND THE EFFORT WILL NOT CHANGE.
WE CONTINUE TO DO THE RESEARCH.
WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO TRY TO 
LISTEN TO THE SCIENCE.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO TRY TO 
LISTEN TO OUR RESIDENTS.
THE ONES THAT CALLED IN WITH 
PASSION TODAY, I RESPECT THEM 
GREATLY.
THERE'S OTHERS THAT DIDN'T CALL 
N WITH THE OPPOSING VIEWS, SOME
OF THEM DID CALL IN AS WELL.
SO I THINK THIS IS AN ONGOING 
EFFORT.
I DO LIKE SOME OF THE COMMENTS 
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OVER THE 
LAST EIGHT WEEKS THAT WE'VE BEEN
HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT MAYBE 
WE SHOULD BE TAKING THIS 
OPPORTUNITY FROM OUR DOCTORS TO 
ADDRESS WELLNESS AND NUTRITION 
AS KIND OF A PARALLEL EFFORT.
TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE 
CAN BE DOING FROM AN EXERCISE 
STANDPOINT, EATING BETTER, 
MAYBE -- AND WE'VE ALL HEARD IT 
BEFORE.
BUT JUST BRING IT BACK INTO 
CONTEXT, BECAUSE CLEARLY, THAT'S
AN ISSUE THAT WE CAN ALL BENEFIT
FROM.
AND IF THIS IS A TIME WHEN 
PEOPLE CAN REFLECT A LITTLE BIT 
MORE, MAYBE ONE OR TWO MORE 
PEOPLE GET OUT AND EXERCISE MORE
AND EAT A LITTLE BETTER AND 
MAYBE EAT BETTER THIS WEEK, NOT 
SO GOOD NEXT WEEK, BUT AT LEAST 
HAVE IT IN THE BACK OF THEIR 
MINDS, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO 
BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION, I 
THINK IS GOOD.
AND SO THAT REALLY IS ALL I HAD 
TO SAY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THIS ISSUE 
CONTINUES TO HAVE A LOT OF 
DIALOGUE.
I DID LIKE WHAT I HEARD A COUPLE
PEOPLE SAY THIS MORNING, I LIKED
WHAT EVERYBODY WAS SAYING, JUST 
TO HEAR FROM DIFFERENT FOLKS, 
BUT THE PART ABOUT TRYING TO GET
BACK TO WORK.
NEEDING SUPPORT FROM THEIR 
FAMILIES TO TAKE CARE OF KIDS 
THAT MAY NOT BE IN SCHOOL AGE 
YET AND HAVING TO GET BACK TO 
WORK AND WANTING TO BE AS SAFE 
AS POSSIBLE SO WHEN THEY CAME 
HOME THEY'RE NOT EXPOSING THEIR 
PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS OR 
WHOEVER IS TAKING CARE OF THEIR 
KIDS.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN WE'RE 
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER THING THAT 
PEOPLE ARE CRITIQUING THAT 
STATEMENT.
BUT IT'S TRUE.
WE'RE ALL KIND OF HAVING TO WORK
OUR WAY THROUGH THIS THING.
THE SOONER THAT WE CAN GET BACK 
TO NORMAL, I CAN TELL YOU IT 
WILL BE A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
EVERYBODY WANTS BACK TO NORMAL.
WHENEVER THAT HAPPENS, WE'LL BE 
RIGHT THERE WITH EVERYBODY 
TRYING TO DO THAT.
BUT I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE 
KEEPING THE STATUS QUO RIGHT 
NOW.
CONTINUING TO REFLECT ON OUR OWN
CRITERIA FOR THE -- FOR CHANGING
OUR POSITIONS, LISTENING TO OUR 
DOCTORS, AND ALSO STARTING TO 
THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, I KNOW
IT'S ALWAYS ONE EVENT TO THE 
NEXT.
IT WAS JULY FOURTH, NOW IT'S 
LABOR DAY, IT'S THE SCHOOL 
OPENING.
THERE IS GROWING CONCERN.
I SIT ON THE BAY PINES BOARD -- 
THE VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD -- 
NOT A VALUE ADJUSTMENT BOARD BUT
VALUE BOARD FROM THE RESIDENT 
STANDPOINT AND THEY'RE TALKING 
ABOUT COMING UP WITH A -- THEY 
HAVE A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT 
THEY'RE TESTING NOW THAT WILL BE
ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE 
BETWEEN FLU AND COVID, AND OTHER
INFECTIOUS DISEASES WITH ONE 
TEST.
AND SO, THAT'S COMING.
THEY'RE NOT READY FOR THAT YET.
SOME OF OUR HOSPITALS ARE 
LOOKING AND TRYING TO FIND OUT 
IF THEY HAVE THAT ABILITY, AS 
WELL.
SO AGAIN A LOT GOING ON.
I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO THINK 
LONG AND HARD ABOUT THE FLU SHOT
THIS YEAR SO WE CAN KIND OF TRY 
TO RULE OUT THAT PIECE WHILE WE 
STILL WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THIS 
COVID THING.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MAYBE STEP 
THAT EFFORT UP AND MAYBE STEP 
THAT MESSAGING UP.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME RAMBLE.
APPRECIATE THE TIME.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER WELCH?
>> KENNETH WELCH: THANK YOU, 
MADAM CHAIR.
I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT 
COMMISSIONER EGGERS SAID.
AND I THINK THE PATH BACK TO 
NORMALCY INVOLVES MAINTAINING 
WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.
I MEAN THE REASON THAT WE 
IMPLEMENTED THE MASKS WAS TO GET
THE TRENDS DOWN SO THAT WE 
WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO A 
SHUTDOWN.
SO THIS IS THE WAY WE KEEP OUR 
ECONOMY OPEN, BY DOING THE 
THINGS WE NEED TO DO.
I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON A 
COUPLE THINGS THAT WERE SAID 
JUST FOR THE RECORD.
MISS BOWLER MADE THE COMMENT 
THAT I STATED THAT MY VOTE WAS 
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CALLS, 
AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.
I SIMPLY NOTED THAT THE NUMBER 
OF CALLS THAT CAME IN, AND OF 
COURSE THAT'S NONSCIENTIFIC IN A
COUNTY OF ALMOST A MILLION 
PEOPLE, 20 PEOPLE CALLING IN OR 
100 E-MAILS IS NOT SCIENTIFIC.
WE WANT THE INPUT.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S
NOT WHAT WE BASE OUR DECISION 
ON, JUST THE PEOPLE WHO HAPPEN 
TO CALL IN THAT DAY.
AND FOR THE RECORD, SINCE MY 
FRIENDS NOTE THAT I'M KEEPING 
RECORD THERE WERE 13 CALLS IN 
FAVOR OF MAINTAINING THE MASK 
ORDINANCE TODAY, AND 10 AGAINST.
AGAIN, NONSCIENTIFIC.
THAT'S JUST THE FOLKS WHO 
HAPPENED TO CALL IN.
I WANTED TO, AGAIN, WE'RE 
RELYING ON THE SCIENCE.
WE'RE NOT -- IT IS SAD THAT THIS
HAS BECOME POLITICIZED.
BUT THIS COMMISSION HAS NOT MADE
THIS POLITICAL.
WE'VE LISTENED TO THE SCIENCE 
AND THE HEALTH CARE 
PROFESSIONALS FROM DAY ONE.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK 
DR. CHOE AND DR. JAMESON FOR THE
JOB THEY DO.
AND THE ADVICE THEY GIVE US.
BUT LET'S JUST, YOU KNOW, 
THERE'S A SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS A 
PROPHET IS NEVER KNOWN IN THEIR 
HOMETOWN.
DR. JAMESON AND CEO WE'RE GOING 
TO PULL YOU OUT FROM THAT AND 
JUST GO TO THE CDC AND SEE WHAT 
THEY'RE SAYING.
I DON'T KNOW, BRYAN, IF YOU CAN 
PULL THAT UP.
BUT THIS IS ON THE CDC WEBSITE 
RIGHT NOW.
AS WE SPEAK.
BRYAN CAN PULL UP THAT FIRST 
BULLET FOR MY 56-YEAR-OLD EYES, 
I'LL LOOK OVER TO THE SIDE.
THE FIRST BULLET, THIS IS THE 
CDC RECOMMENDATION.
THE CDC RECOMMENDS THAT PEOPLE 
WEAR MASKS IN PUBLIC SETTINGS, 
AND WHEN AROUND PEOPLE WHO DON'T
LIVE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, 
ESPECIALLY WHEN OTHER SOCIAL 
DISTANCING MEASURES ARE 
DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN.
THANK YOU, BRYAN.
THAT'S WORD FOR WORD WHAT OUR 
ORDINANCE SAYS.
SOOND THIS IS FROM THE TOP.
FROM THE CDC, AND THEN FROM ALL 
OF OUR HEALTH CARE 
PROFESSIONALS, FIVE CEOs WE'VE 
HEARD FROM OF LOCAL HOSPITALS, 
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS SAY 
THIS IS IMPORTANT, THIS IS THE 
SCIENCE THAT WORKS, THIS IS WHY 
OUR NUMBERS ARE TRENDING IN THE 
RIGHT FASHION.
AND SO I, LIKE COMMISSIONER 
EGGERS, SUPPORT THE STATUS QUO 
AT THIS TIME.
THIS IS HOW WE LIVE WITH COVID.
UNTIL WE HAVE A VACCINE.
AND SO, AGAIN, IT'S A SUCCESS 
STORY FOR OUR COUNTY.
LET'S NOT MAKE IT POLITICAL TO 
THE FOLKS WHO JUST HAVE A 
PASSIONATE DISAGREEMENT.
JUST KNOW THAT ON CERTAIN ISSUES
WE'RE GOING TO DISAGREE ON THE 
FACTS.
AND IN MY CASE, I'M GOING TO 
VOTE WITH THE HEALTH CARE 
PROFESSIONALS FROM THE CDC ON 
DOWN WHO SAY MASKS WORK, AND 
UNTIL THERE'S A VACCINE, THAT'S 
ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN 
COMBAT THE SPREAD OF COVID.
SO THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE?
YES, COMMISSIONER PETERS?
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: YES, MADAM 
CHAIR.
I HAVE A QUESTION, AND THEN SOME
COMMENTS, PLEASE.
AND THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ANY 
OF THE DOCTORS ON THE LINE, 
BECAUSE SOMEONE HAPPENED TO ASK 
IT.
HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE WITH 
COMORBIDITIES THAT WILL 
ULTIMATELY SUCCUMB TO THE FLU.
ANY OF THE DOCTORS WANT TO 
ANSWER THAT?
AND I KNOW WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT 
DEATH RATE EVERY YEAR ON THE 
FLU.
>> DR. ULYEE CHOE: I'M SORRY.
THE MORTALITY RATES AS IT 
PERTAINS TO FLU, COMMISSIONER 
PETERS?
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: WELL IF 
THEY'RE LIVING WITH 
COMORBIDITIES.
SO LET'S SAY WE HAVE SOMEONE 
WITH TWO COMORBIDITIES AND THEY 
GET THE FLU, WHAT'S THE -- 
WHAT'S THAT RATE?
>> DR. ULYEE CHOE: OH, FOR 
REALLY EVEN BEYOND THE FLU, 
GENERALLY, ANYONE WITH 
UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, 
THERE ARE HIGHER RISK OF A 
NUMBER OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 
WHETHER IT'S THE FLU OR 
RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS, 
BACTERIAL INFECTIONS.
AND CERTAINLY -- CHRONIC DISEASE
AD IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET SOME 
NUMBERS, I COULD PROVIDE THAT TO
YOU.
IN TERMS OF [INAUDIBLE] AND I 
DON'T KNOW IF DR. THOGMARTIN IS 
ON.
I THINK SOME OF THE CONFUSION 
PEOPLE HAD WITH THAT PARTICULAR 
ARTICLE WAS THAT THAT HAVING 
FILLED OUT A NUMBER OF DEATH 
CERTIFICATES, BEING THE LOCAL 
REGISTER OF DEATH CERTIFICATES 
HERE, I THINK THERE'S A 
MISUNDERSTANDING AS TO THE -- 
FACTORS, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T 
[INAUDIBLE] CHRONIC 
COMORBIDITIES, IT'S SOMETHING 
LIKE -- THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH 
SOME OF THE INFORMATION -- 
THERE'S SOME BACKGROUND NOISE.
SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS
OUT THERE, THEN IF YOU USE THE 
SAME LOGIC FOR EXAMPLE OF A 
CANCER DEATH OR AIDE DE-- AIDS 
DEATH, YOU DON'T REALLY DIE OF 
AIDS ITSELF, YOU DIE OF AN 
INFECTION OR CANCERS RELATED TO 
IT.
EVEN CANCERS YOU DIE OF 
RESPIRATORY FAILURE OR SEPSIS 
BECAUSE YOU'VE BECOME 
COMPROMISED.
I THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF
THE CONFUSION OF THAT ARTICLE.
AND IN GENERAL, BACK TO YOUR 
POINT, PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC 
CONDITIONS ARE UNFORTUNATELY AT 
A HIGHER RISK FOR INFECTIONS.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: COMMISSIONER 
PETERS JUST SO YOU KNOW I MUTED 
YOU.
WHEN YOU WANT TO SPEAK UNMUTE 
YOURSELF.
YOU'RE GETTING SOME FEEDBACK 
FROM YOUR DEVICE.
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: I'M SORRY.
OKAY.
THANK YOU, DR. CHOE, I 
APPRECIATE IT.
AND THE PERSON WHO SENT THE 
QUESTION IN, I HOPE THAT ANSWERS
YOUR QUESTION.
I'VE GOT LOTS OF THOUGHTS ON 
THIS, BUT FIRST FROM THE CALLERS
THAT TALKED ABOUT SCIENCE.
WHEN I BROUGHT THIS UP MANY 
TIMES BEFORE, AND I'M GOING TO 
REITERATE IT AGAIN, BECAUSE 
THERE'S A LOT OF SCIENCE, 
DEPENDING ON WHICH SCIENCE 
YOU'RE GOING READ, EVEN IF YOU 
LOOK AT CDC AND OSHA, IT DOES 
STATE THAT IF YOUR MASK IS WET 
THAT IT'S A DANGER TO YOU.
AND I DON'T THINK WE PUBLICLY 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER LONG SAID WE
SHOULD BE DOING PSAs ABOUT THAT,
BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS, AND IT 
CAN CAUSE OTHER RESPIRATORY 
ILLNESSES.
OSHA AND THE CDC WEBSITE ALSO 
STATED YES, YOU CAN HAVE AN 
OVERDOSE OF CARBON MONOXIDE IF 
YOU WEAR A MASK.
SO THE CALLERS THAT CALL IN ARE 
BEING DISCREDITED BECAUSE 
THEY'RE QUOTING SCIENCE AND 
SAYING THEY'RE NOT READING 
SCIENCE WHEN, IN FACT, THEY 
REALLY ARE READING SCIENCE AND 
I'M CERTAIN THAT OSHA AND THE 
CDC HAVE GOOD SCIENCE WHEN THEY 
MAKE THOSE CLAIMS THAT YES, 
THESE THINGS CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE 
WEAR MASKS.
SO I DO TAKE OFFENSE WHEN PEOPLE
ASSUME THAT PEOPLE THAT SAY THAT
THESE THINGS ARE REAL ARE 
DISMISSED SAYING IT ISN'T 
SCIENCE.
IT IS, IN FACT, SCIENCE.
AND SO, I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO 
DO A BETTER JOB ABOUT LETTING 
PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF YOU START TO
GET A HEADACHE, BECAUSE YOU CAN 
GET A HEADACHE FROM WEARING A 
MASK, IF IT DOESN'T HAVE GOOD 
AIR FLOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE 
NEED TO DO BETTER TALKING POINTS
ABOUT YES, THIS STUFF CAN 
HAPPEN, AND YES YOU NEED TO WASH
YOUR MASK EVERY DAY, AND YOU 
SHOULDN'T WEAR A WET MASK OR YOU
CAN GET SICK, OR IF YOU WORK IN 
A RESTAURANT OR SOME PLACE 
OUTSIDE AND YOU SWEAT YOU NEED 
TO CHANGE THAT MASK.
I DON'T WANT TO DISCREDIT THE 
SCIENCE THERE, THAT'S REAL 
SCIENCE, AND IT'S GOOD SCIENCE.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT COMING OUT
ABOUT THIS VIRUS AND WE REALLY 
AREN'T TALKING ABOUT, THERE'S A 
COUPLE ARTICLES, AND IF YOU'RE 
REALLY DIGGING AND READING I 
THINK YOU KNOW.
WHEN THIS VIRUS FIRST APPEARED 
WE THOUGHT IT WAS RESPIRATORY 
AND NOW WE'RE FINDING OUT IT'S 
VASCULAR.
IT IS A REAL SERIOUS VIRUS AND 
IF ANYONE THINKS IT'S NOT, THEN 
THEY'RE REALLY MISGUIDED ON THAT
DECISION.
THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS VIRUS AND
ANYONE WHO HAS IT KNOWS HOW 
DANGEROUS IT CAN BE, OR HOW 
SERIOUS IT CAN BE WHETHER IT'S A
MILD CASE OR A SEVERE CASE.
BUT I THINK WHAT'S REALLY GOOD 
IS BASED ON SCIENCE, IS WHAT 
WE'RE GOING TO TREAT.
SO WHEN THE FIRST WAVE CAME WE 
WERE TREATING WITH VENTILATORS 
AND WE'VE NOW LEARNED THAT 
VENTILATORS ARE NOT THE BEST 
ACTION IN WHICH TO TREAT PEOPLE 
THAT HAVE SERIOUS CASES.
AND SO I THINK THE MORE, WHEN WE
HAVE DOCTORS ON HERE, THE MORE 
THAT THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT IT IS,
AND THAT STICKY BLOOD IS A REAL 
DEAL, AND IT REALLY IS MORE OF A
VASCULAR DISEASE THAN A 
RESPIRATORY DISEASE, I THINK THE
MORE PEOPLE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND 
THE DISEASE, AND EVERYTHING 
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT IT.
BECAUSE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT
WE'VE LEARNED.
WE DON'T TALK ABOUT NOW THAT 
WE'RE TREATING AND THAT WE HAVE 
TO US ECHO MACHINES, AND BLOOD 
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T REALLY TALK ABOUT THE 
VIRUS SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW 
SERIOUS IT IS.
SO PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T 
EXPERIENCED IT OR HAVEN'T HAD 
SOMEONE THAT EXPERIENCED MAY NOT
UNDERSTAND AND KNOW WHAT PEOPLE 
ARE GOING THROUGH WHEN THEY GET 
IT.
BUT I DO BELIEVE, ALL THAT SAID,
I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS 
FATIGUE.
I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS A LOT 
OF FATIGUE, AND I THINK THE 
COMMUNITY WANTS TO KNOW THAT 
THERE'S AN END IN SIGHT.
AND I'VE ASKED TWO WEEKS IN A 
ROW, MAYBE THREE WEEKS IN A ROW,
OUR CITIZENS HAVE ASKED MANY 
TIMES, JUST TO GIVE THEM SOME 
KIND OF CRITERIA SO THEY KNOW.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO MUCH 
TO ASK FOR US TO PUBLICLY STATE 
WHAT THAT CRITERIA IS, BUT FOR 
SOME REASON THIS COMMISSION 
DOESN'T WANT TO GO THERE.
THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE A 
COMMITMENT TO IT, I KNOW BARRY 
SAID ON THE PHONE THAT MAYBE 
IT'S TIME TO START TALKING ABOUT
IT.
BUT I THINK IT'S TIME WE START 
TALKING ABOUT IT AND WE START 
TALKING ABOUT IT PUBLICLY WITH 
TRANSPARENCY SO PEOPLE 
UNDERSTAND AND THEY KNOW THAT 
THERE'S SOME DEADLINE, SOME END 
IN SIGHT.
NOW WE'VE GONE THREE WEEKS WITH 
VERY LOW NUMBERS, AND YOU ALL 
MIGHT SAY OH, WELL GIVE IT A 
MONTH.
WELL IS IT A MONTH FROM THE 
THREE WEEKS IT STARTED OR IS IT 
A MONTH FROM NOW?
OR A MONTH FROM WHEN YOU FINALLY
COME UP WITH A DECISION TO TAKE 
A MONTH?
I THINK IF WE GO ANOTHER TWO 
WEEKS WITH LOW NUMBERS I THINK 
WE GIVE PEOPLE A BREAK.
RIGHT NOW THIS EMERGENCY ORDER 
WE'RE NOT GETTING FEDERAL FUNDS 
RIGHT NOW.
WE DON'T NEED FEDERAL FUNDS 
RIGHT NOW.
WHAT ARE WE GETTING 
REIMBURSEMENTS FOR IN THE LAST 
THREE WEEKS WITH OUR NUMBERS 
DOWN?
WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED IT.
NOW WHEN WE SPIKE AGAIN, WE'RE 
GOING TO NEED IT.
IS THERE GOING TO BE A SPIKE?
I BELIEVE THERE'S GOING TO BE 
ANOTHER SFIEK?
OR DO WE GIVE PEOPLE A BREAK OR 
A DEADLINE?
DO WE NEED THIS EMERGENCY ACTION
RIGHT NOW OR DO WE NEED IT IN A 
WEEK OR TWO OR THREE WEEKS?
AND LET PEOPLE HAVE SOME KIND OF
REST OR SOME KIND OF ANYTHING, 
OR JUST LET THEM KNOW, YOU WANT 
TO KEEP THE MASK IN PLACE, 
THAT'S FINE, KEEP THE MASK IN 
PLACE BUT GIVE THEM A DEADLINE.
GIVE THEM SOME KIND OF CRITERIA 
SO AT LEAST THEY'VE GOT 
SOMETHING TO HANG ONTO.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'VE GOT 
FATIGUE AND FEAR, AND THERE'S 
NOTHING FOR THEM TO HANG ONTO.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S 
GOING TO HURT US TOO MUCH TO 
GIVE THEM SOME KIND OF CRITERIA.
I THINK WE'VE DONE A DISSERVICE 
TO THE CITIZENS NOT GIVING THEM 
SOME KIND OF END DATE OR ANY 
CRITERIA SO THAT THEY KNOW.
I THINK IT'S UNFAIR AND I THINK 
WE SHOULD DO IT.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS 19,000 PEOPLE
HAVE HAD THE DISEASE SO WE KNOW 
THAT 19,000 PEOPLE HAVE 
ANTIBODIES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT A LARGE 
POPULATION HAS THE T-CELLS WHICH
IS THE MEMORY CELL FROM ANY 
OTHER COVID, WHETHER IT'S THE 
COMMON COLD OR ANYTHING ELSE, 
THEY HAVE THEMRY CELLS CALLED 
T-CELLS, WHICH I THINK I'M THE 
ONLY ONE WHO TALKED ABOUT THOSE,
WHICH ALSO SERVE AS AN ANTIBODY 
TO PROTECT ANY OF US.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW FAR AWAY WE 
ARE FROM HERD IMMUNITY BASED ON 
T-CELLS.
THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE READING
SCIENCE THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING 
DISMISSIVE ABOUT THE SCIENCE 
THEY'RE READING.
AND I THINK THAT THE LEAST WE 
COULD DO IS FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE 
THAT WE DO NEED CLEANER MASKS, 
AND IF YOU GET A HEADACHE PLEASE
GET SOME MORE OXYGEN.
AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED 
TO GIVE THEM A MANDATE.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
I HOPE YOU'LL ALL AGREE AND 
WE'LL PUSH HARDER ON GETTING 
SOME CRITERIA.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO DO 
MORE EDUCATION OR SOME EDUCATION
ABOUT PROPER USE OF MASKS, AND, 
YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD.
I'M NOT SURE WHO WOULD DO THAT.
>> BARRY BURTON: COMMISSIONERS, 
WE HAVE PUT THAT OUT THROUGH OUR
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, AND 
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT 
INFORMATION OUT ABOUT CLEANING 
THE MASK.
>> PAT GERARD: GREAT.
>> BARRY BURTON: IF IT IS WET, 
AND THOSE VARIOUS THINGS.
THEY'RE WELL AWARE OF THAT.
AND THEY'VE TRIED TO DO THAT, 
OBVIOUSLY, BUT INFORMATION, YOU 
KNOW, IS HARD TO GET OUT 
SOMETIMES BUT YES THEY CONTINUE 
TO PUSH THAT.
>> PAT GERARD: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> BARRY BURTON: THE ONLY OTHER 
THING I DID WANT TO CLARIFY, WE 
DO LIKE RUNNING OUR TESTING 
SITES, AND PEOPLE THAT ARE 
INVOLVED IN OUR EMERGENCY 
OPERATIONS, BUYING PPE AND 
STUFF, THESE ARE ALL FEMA 
ELIGIBLE, REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES.
SO THE EMERGENCY ALLOWS US TO 
APPLY FOR FEMA.
THAT'S SEPARATE FROM THE MASK 
ISSUE.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THE
PURPOSE OF THE EMERGENCY ORDER.
THERE ARE REIMBURSABLES THAT WE 
WILL, DEPENDING ON HOW THE CARES
ACT MONEY IS SPENT, WE MAY, IN 
FACT, SEEK FEMA REIMBURSEMENT 
FOR ELIGIBLE EXPERIENCES.
AND WE'RE TRACKING THOSE.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER LONG?
>> JANET LONG: THANK YOU, MADAM 
CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
I WOULD JUST FOR A MOMENT LIKE 
TO ADDRESS A FEW OF THE COMMENTS
OF COMMISSIONER PETERS HAS MADE,
ESPECIALLY SINCE SO MANY OF THE 
CITIZENS CALLING IN TODAY, AND 
IN THE PAST MEETINGS WE'VE BEEN 
IN, HAVE ALLUDED TO IT, AS WELL.
THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT WE DON'T
HAVE A PLAN, AND THAT WE'RE NOT 
HAVING OUR LEADERSHIP 
DISCUSSIONS TO GIVE OUR 
POPULATION AN IDEA OF WHEN WE 
WILL BE DONE WITH ALL OF THIS.
AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO, AND 
THIS IS JUST ME AS AN 
INDIVIDUAL, I MEAN, WE'RE 
ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE.
WE'RE NOT MAGICIANS.
FOR EVERY ONE THAT HAS TALKED 
ABOUT THIS VIRUS HAS RECOGNIZED 
AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT'S NEW.
IT'S EVOLVING.
WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT IT 
ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND SO, TO BE ABLE TO PREDICT 
HOW IT'S GOING TO END IS 
SOMETHING THAT IS JUST HUMANLY 
IMPOSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE 
REALLY WORRIED ABOUT, AT LEAST I
AM, IS THAT WE MAKE A HORRIFIC 
MISTAKE, AND THAT WE GO BACK TO 
LIFE AS WE USED TO KNOW IT, 
BEFORE WE'RE REALLY READY.
WE HAVE EXAMPLES ALL OVER THE 
COUNTRY OF COMMUNITIES AND 
STATES, AND EVEN COUNTRIES WHO 
HAVE DONE THAT.
AND IT HAS BEEN AN ENORMOUS, 
LIFE-ALTERING MISTAKE.
AND SO, THE WAY IN WHICH WE'RE 
PROGRESSING AND MOVING FORWARD 
IS TO BE THOUGHTFUL, AND TO BE 
KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND TO MAKE THE 
VERY BEST DECISIONS THAT WE 
POSSIBLY AND HUMANLY CAN.
SO, IT'S PAINFUL.
I MEAN, I THINK WE ALL STRUGGLE 
DEEPLY WITH THESE DECISIONS, AND
HOW IT'S AFFECTING OUR CITIZENS,
AND OUR CHILDREN, AND OUR GRAND 
KIDS AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND THE ONE THING I REALLY WANT 
TO STRESS, COMMISSIONER WELCH 
MENTIONED IT, IS WE DON'T WANT 
TO MAKE A MISTAKE THAT FORCES US
TO SHUT DOWN THE WHOLE COMMUNITY
AGAIN.
THAT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC.
SO WHAT OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE IS 
ON HOW DO WE ASSIST AND HELP 
GOING FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT WE 
DO NOT HAVE TO DO THAT, AND I --
WE HAVEN'T HAD A DISCUSSION 
ABOUT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT 
OUR YOUNG PARENTS FACE WITH 
HAVING TO GO BACK TO WORK AND 
NOT HAVING PROPER, COST 
EFFECTIVE CHILD CARE, WHERE THEY
CAN KNOW THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE
SAFE.
AND MAYBE MOVING ON FORWARD, WE 
COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT 
THAT.
SO THAT IF THERE'S A WAY TO THE 
DIFFERENT GRANTS THAT WE 
RECEIVE, OR THAT WE ARE PUTTING 
OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, TO HELP 
OUR CITIZENS, I THINK THAT WOULD
BE A GOOD CONVERSATION TO HAVE, 
AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
WE ARE FUNDING CHILD CARE 
CENTERS WITH OUR CARES ACT 
MONEY.
COMMISSIONER EGGERS?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: COMMISSIONER 
EGGERS, YOU'RE MUTED, SIR.
>> DAVE EGGERS: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: OF COURSE.
>> DAVE EGGERS: NOW JUST, YOU 
KNOW, WE LISTEN TO FOLKS EVERY 
WEEK AND WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO
OUR CONVERSATION HERE, AND, YOU 
KNOW, I DO THINK WE HAVE AN 
OPPORTUNITY AT THESE MEETINGS, 
WE'RE MEETING EVERY WEEK.
SOMETIMES IT'S COMMISSION 
MEETINGS, AND SOMETIMES IT'S 
WE'RE GETTING TOGETHER TO EXTEND
THE EMERGENCY ORDER, THAT WE 
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK 
ABOUT THE UPCOMING FLU SEASON 
AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT MASK ISSUES 
THAT COME UP.
I THINK COMMISSIONER PETERS 
SPOKE TO THAT.
I THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE CAN HAVE A, YOU KNOW, FOR 
LACK OF A BETTER THING, CALL IT 
A NUTRITION OR A HEALTH CORNER 
THAT WE BRING UP EVERY MEETING.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT NUTRITION.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT EXERCISE.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF 
THOSE THINGS TO OUR RESIDENTS.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE GETTING 
BACK TO WORK PIECE, WHICH IS SO 
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
PEOPLE I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE 
UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS ARE THIS 
WEEK.
BUT OBVIOUSLY IT GOT VERY HIGH, 
COMING DOWN SLIGHTLY ALONG THE 
WAY.
WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, GETTING 
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
SO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT 
WE'RE ALL DOING WHAT WE CAN SO 
WE CAN CONTINUE THAT MARCH 
FORWARD.
I THINK WE'RE IN PHASE TWO RIGHT
NOW OF THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION.
WE'RE NOT IN PHASE THREE YET.
SO, BUT I THINK WE CAN START TO 
DO SOME OF THAT AT EVERY 
MEETING.
INSTEAD OF -- AND BE KIND OF 
THAT PROACTIVE THING.
WHAT CONCERNS ME A LITTLE BIT, 
AND I, YOU KNOW, IS THAT, YOU 
KNOW, IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING, YOU 
KNOW, I'M HEARING REVOLVES 
AROUND WHETHER YOU HAVE THE 
RIGHT TO WEAR A MASK OR IF -- OR
YOU DON'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK.
THERE'S SO MUCH ELSE GOING ON IN
THIS WHOLE EQUATION.
OF THIS ALL DISCUSSION ABOUT 
WHERE WE ARE.
AND WHAT OUR ECONOMIC ISSUES 
ARE.
WHAT OUR HEALTH ISSUES ARE.
WHAT'S COMING.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I 
WAS TRYING TO SAY EARLIER.
IF WE TOOK THE MASK ORDER OFF 
TOMORROW, NOTHING CHANGES.
WE'RE STILL AT IT FULL TIME 
TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS 
AND TRYING TO GIVE FOLKS MORE 
INFORMATION ABOUT DOING THINGS 
IN A MORE HEALTHY WAY.
AND SO, YEAH, THERE'S FATIGUE.
IT'S PROBABLY SOME PEOPLE FROM 
MASKS.
BUT IT'S JUST THE WHOLE PROCESS 
IS FATIGUING.
NOT BEING ABLE TO BE SOCIAL WITH
EACH OTHER IS FATIGUING.
OUR KIDS NOT BEING ABLE TO BE 
SOCIAL IS FATIGUING.
BUT LET'S POINT TO THINGS THAT 
WE CAN DO TO HELP MINIMIZE OR 
TRY TO IMPROVE ON THAT FATIGUE 
ISSUE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MASKS.
I MEAN WE CAN SAY IT IS.
SOME PEOPLE ARE VERY PASSIONATE 
ABOUT THAT.
I GET IT.
BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO 
THIS.
AND I THINK WE AS A -- I KNOW 
WE'RE PUTTING SOME OF THAT 
INFORMATION OUT, BARRY, ON THE 
WEBSITE.
BUT I THINK US HAVING THAT 
DISCUSSION OR OUR EXPERTS COMING
ON BOARD AND TALKING A LITTLE 
BIT ABOUT AT EACH OF THESE 
MEETINGS, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN 
HOUR OR TWO, JUST A LITTLE 15 
MINUTE SEGMENT ON ANYTHING, 
SPEAKS, I THINK, EVEN STRONGER.
SO, ANYWAY.
I'M SORRY.
PROBABLY SAID THE SAME THINGS I 
SAID A MINUTE AGO BUT I WANTED 
TO EMPHASIZE THE PART, I THINK 
COMMISSIONER PETERS TOUCHED ON A
COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT HOW DO 
WE -- HOW DO WE DO THIS BETTER 
TOGETHER?
HOW DO WE EDUCATE?
HOW DO WE DO THINGS IN A LITTLE 
BIT BETTER MANNER?
SO I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE BARRY 
TO TRY TO DEVELOP THAT EACH 
WEEK, SOME OTHER THING THAT WE 
CAN LEARN ABOUT.
SO THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO 
HAVE SOMETHING, PARTICULARLY 
ABOUT FLU SEASON COMING UP, AND 
HEAVEN KNOWS YOU DON'T WANT TO 
HAVE BOTH THESE THINGS AT THE 
SAME TIME.
>> DR. ULYEE CHOE: COMMISSIONER.
>> PAT GERARD: YES, PLEASE.
>> DR. ULYEE CHOE: OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE 
FLU SHOT.
I WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY MENTION 
IT, AS WELL.
I THINK THIS YEAR MORE THAN ANY 
OTHER YEAR, GETTING THE FLU SHOT
IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
I KNOW NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY WE
DON'T DO A GREAT JOB WITH THE 
FLU SHOT.
THE UPTAKE OF THE FLU SHOTS AND 
IN ADULTS NATIONALLY IT'S LESS 
THAN 50%.
I THINK WE'RE LOWER HERE, EVEN 
MORE SO.
AND KEEP IN MIND THAT A LOT OF 
THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF COVID IS 
VERY SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE FLU.
AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO 
INSTITUTIONS, GOING TO SCHOOLS, 
THAT DO THE SYMPTOM SCREENINGS, 
IT CAN CAUSE A LOT OF 
DISRUPTIONS.
SO I DO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO 
GET THEIR FLU SHOT THIS YEAR.
THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
YOU CAN GET THEM ANYWHERE IN 
STORES, DOCTOR'S OFFICES, CVS, 
PUBLIX, ET CETERA.
>> PAT GERARD: WHEN DOES FLU 
SEASON ACTUALLY START?
I MEAN, ARE WE IN IT NOW?
>> DR. ULYEE CHOE: WE GENERALLY,
A LITTLE BIT LATER IS MORE THE 
HIGH, OCTOBER TO EARLY SPRING.
WE DO GENERALLY SEE PEAKS HERE 
IN PINELLAS COUNTY ABOUT LATE 
JANUARY, EARLY FEBRUARY.
LATE JANUARY MORE SO.
>> PAT GERARD: OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> DAVE EGGERS: ONE FINAL 
QUESTION?
>> PAT GERARD: GO AHEAD.
>> DAVE EGGERS: JUST, BABARRY,  
WERE GOING TO TRY TO GET -- I 
THINK WE GOT THE INFORMATION ON 
THE COUNTIES THAT HAVE 
IMPLEMENTED A MASK ORDINANCE, 
AND IF SO, MAYBE WE CAN BRING 
FORWARD AT THE NEXT MEETING LIKE
SOME OF THE COUNTIES THAT ARE 
NOT DOING A MASK ORDINANCE, KIND
OF WHAT THEIR NUMBERS ARE, KIND 
OF WHAT THEY'RE SEEING THEIR 
CHALLENGES BEING.
I THINK, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE 
DON'T HAVE TO BE THAT TEST -- WE
CAN LOOK TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
I THINK THE NEIGHBORS AROUND US 
ALL HAVE MASK ORDINANCES.
BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
COUNTIES OR ONE OR TWO THAT ARE 
SIMILAR TO OURS THAT DON'T HAVE 
IT AND JUST TRYING TO GET A 
SENSE OF WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW 
THEY'RE DEALING WIT AND THE 
CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE.
>> BARRY BURTON: WE ARE GOING TO
BE DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THAT.
AND FOR THE PUBLIC, THERE'S 21 
MANDATORY MASK ORDINANCES IN 
EFFECT.
AND THAT INCLUDES VIRTUALLY ALL,
YOU KNOW, WITH JUST A COUPLE OF 
EXCEPTIONS, THAT ARE URBAN 
COUNTIES.
AND THAT DOES INCLUDE PASCO, 
HILLSBOROUGH, MANATEE.
SO, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE 
NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, HAVE A 
MASK ORDINANCE.
BUT WE WILL BE DOING RESEARCH 
AND BRINGING THAT BACK TO YOU.
>> DAVE EGGERS: THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: AND WE ARE BY FAR
THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED 
COUNTY IN THE STATE.
SO JUST SAYING.
ANYTHING ELSE?
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS 
ORDINANCE THEN.
.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: I MOVE 
APPROVAL.
>> KENNETH WELCH: SECOND.
>> PAT GERARD: WE HAVE A MOTION 
FROM SML, SECOND FROM 
COMMISSIONER WELCH.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR 
HANDS.
THANK YOU.
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
OKAY.
STATUS REPORT ON THE PROJECT TO 
IMPROVE THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
SYSTEM.
AND BARRY, AFTER YOU DO THAT, 
COULD WE HEAR ABOUT THE DOUGLAS 
POPERTY AGAIN AND WHERE WE ARE?
>> BARRY BURTON: WELL, I CAN DO 
THAT FIRST.
>> PAT GERARD: OKAY.
>> BARRY BURTON: CALLERS ON THE 
LINE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT 
THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU 
HEARD FROM DUNEDIN CITY 
COMMISSION HAD A DISCUSSION 
REGARDING THAT AND ASKED STAFF 
TO WORK.
WE'RE ACTUALLY MEETING WITH THEM
TOMORROW AGAIN, THE CITY STAFF, 
TO REVIEW THE PROPERTY.
SO TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF 
HISTORY.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE 
ESTATE FOR SOME TIME, AND YES 
THERE WERE SOME DEADLINES, AND 
THINGS THAT WERE PUT OUT, BUT I 
WILL TELL YOU THIS, THE ISSUE 
COMES DOWN TO, WE DO NOT HAVE 
THE FUNDS TO GO OUT EVERY TIME 
SOMEBODY OFFICE A PROPERTY SALE 
AT COMMERCIAL VALUE AND BUY IT.
SO WE WERE LOOKING FOR A WAY IN 
WHICH TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING 
THAT IS BOTH AFFORDABLE, AND 
THAT WOULD PRESERVE PROPERTY.
THAT'S WHERE WE WERE WORKING IN 
THE SPRING WITH THE CITY.
WE ALSO HAD TO LOOK TO SEE IF 
THE FOREVER FUNDS OUT OF THE 
STATE WERE GOING TO BE RENEWED.
AND, IN FACT, IF THOSE FUNDS 
WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
BUT I IT HE -- I WILL TELL YOU 
THERE'S ONLY $10 MILLION FROM 
THE ENTIRE STATE.
FOR MATCHING FUNDS THERE ARE 
LIMITED POTS OF MONEY.
WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT AND HAVE 
PAUL COZZIE EXPLAIN THAT.
WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE
GRANTING SOURCES AT A STATE AND 
FEDERAL LEVEL.
WE MADE OUR INTENTIONS TO THE 
ESTATE, WE DID BEFORE, THAT WE 
WANT TO WORK WITH THEM IF 
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO 
THAT.
I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THE 
DEVELOPER, OR THE REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE DEVELOPER IS GOING TO BE 
CONTACTING ME.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, I'LL EXPRESS
OUR INTENT.
HOWEVER, THERE'S LIMITATIONS 
THAT CAN OCCUR WHEN YOU HAVE A 
CONTRACT FOR SALE AND THERE ARE 
LEGAL ISSUES THERE REGARDING 
WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE WORK WITH OUR COUNTY 
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO COMPLY WITH
THAT,ING BUT WE ARE GOING TO 
WORK WITH THE CITY AND CONTINUE 
TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE 
ESTATE TO, IN FACT, IF THERE'S 
AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT SOMETHING 
TOGETHER, THEN WE WILL ACT ON 
THAT.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE TO 
COME.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS IS 
GOING TO TAKE TIME.
THAT 60-DAY WINDOW DOESN'T END 
UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER.
SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.
SO THAT WILL TAKE TIME.
BUT RAES INSURED, WE ARE 
MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO BE 
DISCUSSING WITH ALL PARTIES 
INVOLVED, TO SEE IF THERE'S AN 
OPPORTUNITY, AND THERE'S 
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT IS
AFFORDABLE, WITHIN OUR BUDGETARY
CONSTRAINTS, THEN WE WOULD BRING
THAT FORWARD FOR YOU AS A 
RECOMMENDATION.
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU 
UPDATED ON OUR ONE-ON-ONES.
THIS WILL TAKE TIME.
BUT MORE TO COME BUT THAT'S A 
BRIEF UPDATE.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER PETERS?
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: I PROBABLY 
SHOULDN'T BRING THIS UP, BUT IN 
THAT REGARD, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE
THEY WANT TO SAVE THAT LAND, 
WHAT ABOUT TIDES?
IS THAT SOMETHING WE WOULD EVEN 
CONSIDER WITH THE TIDES?
SOUTH COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A ONE 
OR TWO ACRE LOT, ANYTHING.
SOUTH COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A LOT 
OF NATURAL PRESERVES.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS YOU'RE 
THROWING THAT ONE OUT, THERE'S A
LOT MORE TO THROW OUT.
BUT WE GET A LOT OF 
COMMUNICATIONS ON TIDES AND I 
DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THAT'S AN 
OPTION.
BECAUSE IT ISN'T LIKE A PRIVATE 
OWNER THAT'S GIVING YOU THAT 
OPTION.
BUT -- 
>> BARRY BURTON: THE TIDES IS 
NOT FOR SALE.
AND SO THERE'S NOTHING TO ACT 
ON.
I WILL BE COMMUNICATING WITH YOU
IN THE FUTURE REGARDING THE 
STATUS OF THE TIDES.
AND I WANT TO GET WITH OUR 
STAFF.
WE DID HAVE SOME JUST RECENT 
COMMUNICATION.
BUT I WILL BE GETTING WITH YOU 
ON THAT.
BUT THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE, 
THOUGH.
WHERE THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA
WANT.
I THINK LESS THAN TWO YEARS.
TWO YEARS NEXT MONTH.
I HAVE HAD FOUR INQUIRIES WHERE 
THE RESIDENTS, IN A CERTAIN 
AREA, WANTED US TO PURCHASE THAT
PROPERTY.
THAT WOULD HAVE EXCEEDED OUR 
ENTIRE TEN-YEAR PERIOD OF 
FUNDING.
FOR THOSE PROPERTIES.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT PASSION.
I DO.
SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY JUDICIOUS,
AND WE HAVE TO ANALYZE OPTIONS, 
ALTERNATIVES, AS THESE COME 
ABOUT.
WE ANALYZED 60 DIFFERENT IDEAS 
OF HOW TO USE THOSE FUNDS.
SOMEBODY SAYS THAT THERE'S NO 
PROPERTY FOR SALE.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE.
EITHER FOR SALE OR MAYBE WOULD 
BE FOR SALE IF SOMETHING 
OCCURRED.
MAYBE THEY'RE NOT FOR SALE TODAY
BUT THERE MIGHT BE FIVE OR SIX 
YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
WE HAVE AREAS WHERE OUR 
RESIDENTS HAVE NO RECREATION 
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE IMMEDIATE 
AREA.
OR THEY HAVE NO PRESERVATION 
AREAS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.
BUT YET THERE MAY BE AN 
OPPORTUNITY.
SO THAT'S THE BALANCING ACT 
THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE TO 
GO THROUGH AND ANALYZING EACH 
TIME THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
AND, WE HAVE TO TRY TO PUT SOME 
OBJECTIVE CRITERIA IN DOING 
THAT.
BUT WE ARE DEALING WITH A 
LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDING.
AND THAT'S THE REASON IT'S 
CRITICAL.
THIS IS A GREAT PIECE OF 
PROPERTY.
IT DID RANK HIGH FOR 
ENVIRONMENTAL.
IT RANKED REALLY LOW FOR COST 
EFFECTIVENESS.
AND THAT HAS TO BE CRITERIA THAT
WE INCORPORATE.
IT ALSO RANKED REALLY LOW WHEN 
YOU APPLY IT BETWEEN THE 
RECREATION, AND THE 
ENVIRONMENTAL.
IT ACTUALLY RANKED I THINK 
NUMBER 10th AND 12th.
YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE WAY WE
LOOK AT THE PROPERTY.
SO, IT'S NOT THE NUMBER ONE THAT
EVERYBODY SAYS.
IT IS FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL 
STANDPOINT.
SO BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT 
WE'RE NOT INTERESTED.
WE'RE VERY INTERESTED.
BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL 
BENEFIT FOR THE AREA.
SO, AND GIVE US ACCESS TO JERRY 
LAKE AND PRESERVE THE ROSEMARY 
SCRUB.
SO THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO 
IT.
WE ARE INTERESTED.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO WORK WITH 
THE STATE AND WITH THE CITY ON 
THIS PROPERTY.
BUT THERE'S -- I JUST WANT YOU 
TO BE A FLAVOR FOR THE MANY 
COMPETING FACTORS THAT WE HAVE 
TO GO THROUGH AS WE TRY TO MAKE 
THESE DECISIONS.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER JUSTICE?
>> CHARLIE JUSTICE: THANK YOU, 
MADAM CHAIR.
AND, BARRY, YOU AND I TALKED 
ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY, I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEAM 
HAS A ROLODEX, A PORTFOLIO, A 
LIST OF OPTIONS OF THE DIFFERENT
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT
FOUNDATIONS THAT EXIST OUT IN 
THE WORLD THAT WE CAN GO TO AND 
SAY, HERE'S PROJECT "X," IS THIS
YOUR FUNDING FORMULA?
THERE'S A LOT OF GROUPS OUT 
THERE THAT HELP WITH THESE KIND 
OF PROJECTS.
PINELLAS COUNTY HAS UTILIZED 
SOME OF THESE IN THE PAST TO 
PURCHASE LAND WHETHER IT'S FOR 
THE TRAIL OR OTHER THINGS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT 
OUR TEAM IS VERSED IN THAT.
THAT IT'S NOT KIND OF COMING 
FROM BEHIND.
WHEN SOMETHING COMES UP, IT'S 
NOT JUST WE HAVE "X" MILLION 
DOLLARS, THE PRICE IS 1 MILLION,
WE CAN'T DO IT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY OPTION OF
EVERY FUNDING AVENUE OF EVERY 
RESOURCE POSSIBLY OUT THERE, AND
BE AGGRESSIVE WHEN THERE'S THESE
KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES.
JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> BARRY BURTON: APPRECIATE IT.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER EGGERS?
>> DAVE EGGERS: YEAH, GREAT 
POINT, COMMISSIONER JUSTICE.
IN FACT, ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT 
THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, THERE 
ARE INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS THAT ARE 
BEING MADE BY OUR RESIDENTS.
SO THERE'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY 
AS AN EXAMPLE UP IN NORTH 
COUNTY, YOU KNOW, OFF ONE OF THE
MAIN ROADS UP THERE THAT THE 
COMMUNITY'S ALSO GOT AN EFFORT 
GOING TO RAISE SOME FUNDS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO DO 
THIS.
AND I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, 
MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THAT 
CONVERSATION, BARRY, ABOUT, YOU 
KNOW, THE KIND OF THE APPROACH 
THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED, THAT 
YOU'VE DEVELOPED WITH STAFF OVER
THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF TO TRY 
TO GIVE SOME CRITERIA.
BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT IS THAT 
PERSPECTIVE OF THE PENNY.
BECAUSE WHEN WE WENT TO THE -- 
FOR THE PENNY VOTE FOR THE 
RESIDENTS, WE HAD PROMISES MADE 
TO THE RESIDENTS TO DELIVER ON A
WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.
I MEAN, THERE WERE, YOU KNOW, 
LARGE CATEGORIES, NOT SPECIFIC 
THINGS, BUT, A LOT OF THOSE 
PENNY DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SET 
ASIDE FOR ROADS, THEY'VE BEEN 
SET ASIDE FOR STORMWATER.
SOME OF THE LANDS THAT WE'RE 
LOOKING TO BUY AREN'T IN THAT 
ENVIRONMENTAL PIECE.
THEY'RE SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR 
STORMWATER, FOR INSTANCE.
WE MAY HAVE, EVEN THOUGH ONE 
MIGHT ARGUE 15 MILLION DOLLARS 
OVER TEN YEARS ISN'T ENOUGH FOR 
ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS AND IT 
SHOULD BE 30 MILLION, JUST AS AN
EXAMPLE, THERE ARE OTHER DOLLARS
THAT ARE IN OUR BUDGET, IN OUR 
TEN-YEAR FORECAST THAT ADDRESS 
OTHER THINGS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE 
CONTINUE HEARING ABOUT IS 
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHETHER IT'S -- WHETHER IT'S 
THAT 60% AMI OR EVEN THE 
WORKFORCE HOUSING, THAT 
OBVIOUSLY NEEDS SOME LAND.
SO THAT OUR WORKERS, OUR 
TEACHERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR 
POLICEMEN DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN 
PASCO COUNTY.
SO FINDING PLACES HERE.
IF THEY GO UP THERE AND THEN 
THEY DECIDE TO STAY UP THERE AND
WORK UP THERE, WE'RE GOING TO 
HAVE A HARDER, HARDER TIME 
FILLING THOSE POSITIONS HERE.
SO IT'S A CONSTANT EFFORT TO TRY
TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SOME
OF THE LAND THAT'S OUT THERE.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THE GLADYS 
DOUGLAS HACKWORTH PIECE IS THE 
ONE.
I'M SAYING IN GENERAL.
THERE'S A LOT OF DEMANDS FOR 
LAND IN THIS COUNTY.
SOME ENVIRONMENTAL.
SOME RECREATIONAL.
SOME STORMWATER.
SOME THAT I JUST SPOKE ABOUT.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 
HAVING A PERSPECTIVE 
CONVERSATION LIKE THAT ABOUT THE
PENNY, AND NOT ALL THE DETAILS, 
BUT KIND OF WHERE IT GOES, MIGHT
BE HELPFUL.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY 
HELPFUL FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO 
UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY, BUT 
ALSO, GOSH, HOW MUCH THOSE $90 
MILLION ROUGHLY A YEAR THAT THE 
COUNTY GETS, EXCLUSIVELY, WHAT 
WE DO WITH IT.
AND I THINK AT LEAST IT PUTS 
CONTEXT AROUND IT.
>> BARRY BURTON: WE CAN 
CERTAINLY DO THAT.
BUT TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR POINT, 
WE -- I HAVE TALKED WITH THE 
CITY MANAGER, YOU KNOW, SINCE 
THEIR MEETING.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING BEN 
TOMORROW.
WE -- WE'RE ALL IN IN TERMS OF 
TRYING TO GET CREATIVE AND FIND 
A WAY, YOU KNOW, TO BRING 
SOMETHING FORWARD.
THOSE WILL BE NEGOTIATIONS, NOT 
NECESSARILY AT THIS MEETING.
BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRY AND 
DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN WITHIN
THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 
PROPERTY?
OKAY.
>> BARRY BURTON: ON A POSITIVE 
NOTE, A VERY POSITIVE NOTE, YOUR
TEAM AND GEORGE REMUS WHO IS OUR
CONSULTANT, HE'S A CHEERLEADER 
BUT HE HAS A LOT OF TECHNICAL 
KNOWLEDGE.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER AND 
BRING HIM ON, HAS LOOKED REALLY 
HARD AT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN 
IMPROVE OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
SYSTEM.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, I'VE GOT TO
GIVE A REAL SHOUT-OUT TO STAFF 
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN BOUGHT IN
TO THIS.
THEY'VE LED DIFFERENT GROUPS.
WE HAVE A CITIZENS ADVISORY 
GROUP THAT IS PROVIDED AND BEEN 
A SOUNDING BOARD FOR US.
BUT THEY'RE VERY, VERY COMMITTED
AND WORKING AS A TEAM TO FIGURE 
OUT WAYS TO MAKE OUR PROCESS 
BETTER.
AND I HAVE THE REPORTS THAT I 
SEE AND THEY'RE COMING UP WITH 
IDEAS AND SHARING IDEAS AND 
GEORGE IS HELPING, YOU KNOW, 
BRINGING THEM TOGETHER AND 
FIGURE OUT THE STRATEGIES TO DO 
IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH
YOU TODAY, YOU KNOW, PROCESS 
IMPROVEMENTS.
REGULATORY CHANGES.
AND A WHOLE VARIETY OF ISSUES IN
TERMS OF HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN 
THIS AREA.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THEY TOOK 
THIS ON AND HAVE DONE THIS WHILE
IMPLEMENTING ACCELA.
WHILE HAVING THE BUSIEST YEAR 
THAT I THINK THEY'VE EVER HAD.
AND HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED AT 
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
THEN WE BRING IN THE PANDEMIC.
SO A REAL SHOUT-OUT TO STAFF IN 
TERMS OF GETTING THIS FAR DURING
A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
BUT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THEY'RE
COMMITTED TO DOING THIS.
WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING OUR 
PERMIT PROCESS AS SEAMLESS AND 
AS EASY TO NAVIGATE AS POSSIBLE,
AND SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO 
GEORGE FIRST, OR TOM?
>> LET ME JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF 
REMARKS, BARRY.
>> BARRY BURTON: TOM ALMONTE, 
ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTADMINI.
>> THANK YOU, BARRY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND 
COMMISSIONERS FOR THE 
OPPORTUNITY.
THIS MORNING YOU'RE GOING TO SEE
AN OVERVIEW, A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF
THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AND 
HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE 
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
JOE COME TO US AS BARRY 
MENTIONED WITH OVER 40 YEARS IN 
THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR.
HE HAS DONE THIS KIND OF WORK.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS VERY 
APPEALING TO ME, HE'S A CIVIL 
ENGINEER, SO HE BRINGS THAT 
UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE 
TECHNICAL AREA, ESPECIALLY AS WE
GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF 
REVIEWING CODES AND RE CREATE S 
SUSTAINABLE.
WITH THAT, GEORGE?
>> SURE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
MADAM CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.
BRYAN IF YOU COULD BRING UP THE 
PRESENTATION, I WOULD APPRECIATE
IT.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: GO AHEAD, 
GEORGE, I CAN ADVANCE IT FOR 
YOU.
CAN YOU GUYS SEE IT OKAY?
>> I DON'T SEE IT.
I'M NOT SEEING IT, BRYAN.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: CAN EVERYBODY 
ELSE SEE IT?
>> YES.
>> BARRY BURTON: JUST FLIP 
THROUGH AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE ON 
THE SAME PAGE, GEORGE.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: GEORGE WE HAVE
IT UP RIGHT NOW FOR EVERYBODY.
I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU'RE NOT 
SEEING IT.
>> LET'S GO.
I GUESS IF YOU COULD FLIP TO THE
AGENDA, BRYAN, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: SURE.
>> SO BASICALLY, WE WANT TO KIND
OF FOCUS ON THREE AREAS TODAY.
THE FIRST IS GETTING OVER VIEW 
OF THE PROCESS THAT BARRY AND 
TOM SPOKE OF.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR 
PROGRESS -- 
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: OH, THERE WE 
GO.
>> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR 
PROGRESS AND THEN SOME NEXT 
STEPS AND KIND OF COMING 
REQUESTS FROM THE BOARD.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO THE PROCESS THAT WE UNDERTOOK
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THERE'S
THREE BASIC PARTS.
AND THE PARTS, PART ONE IS JUST 
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE CURRENT 
SYSTEM IS ABOUT.
THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, ALL 
THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, THE 
PROCESSES, THE FLOW.
THE SECOND PART IS REALLY 
FOCUSING ON WHAT SOME OF THE 
ISSUES ARE FROM THE CUSTOMER'S 
PERSPECTIVE, THE STAFF'S 
PERSPECTIVE, AND TRY TO 
UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE SOME BASIC 
IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES.
AND SO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IS
BASICALLY IN PART THREE, WHICH 
IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT NOW 
BASED ON THE ISSUES I'LL GO 
THROUGH BRIEFLY, HOW DO WE GO 
ABOUT DESIGNING IMPROVEMENTS 
THAT WILL MAKE CUSTOMERS SERVICE
EVEN BETTER THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
NEXT SLIDE, BRYAN.
THE SYSTEM BASICALLY IS MADE UP 
OF KIND OF SIX BUILDING BLOCKS, 
AND WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT JUST 
PROCESS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT PROCESS, THE 
STEPS THAT THE CUSTOMERS GO 
THROUGH, THE STAFF GO THROUGH, 
BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE 
CULTURE.
AND THAT'S THE KIND OF MIDDLE 
BLOCK THERE.
WHICH IS HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE,
HOW PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER, AND, 
YOU KNOW, WHERE THE 
ACCOUNTABILITY IS FOR PUSHING 
PROJECTS THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
AND THEN THE REGULATION, OF 
COURSE, MAKE UP BASICALLY THE 
BOTTOM THREE BLOCKS.
THE IMPORTANT FACTOR HERE IS 
THAT THE TOOLS THAT STAFF USES, 
TECHNOLOGY, SPACE, AND THEN HOW 
THINGS ARE ORGANIZED, REALLY ALL
WORK TOGETHER INTO ONE BASIC 
SYSTEM, AND SO WE'RE NOT JUST 
LOOKING AT ONE AREA.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL AREAS AND 
TRY TO BE VERY COMPREHENSIVE AS 
POSSIBLE.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO, THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL PART OF
THIS ARE THE CORE BUSINESS 
PROCESSES.
THESE ARE WHAT THE CUSTOMERS 
ACTUALLY GO THROUGH TO GET 
INFORMATION, AND INTERPRETATION.
HOW THEY GET INTO THE SYSTEM.
ONCE THEY'RE IN THE SYSTEM, THEY
APPLY, AND THEN THEY BASICALLY, 
A BIG CHALLENGE IS TO GET 
THROUGH A DECISION POINT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR 
ASPECTS OF TRYING TO GET THE 
PROCESS IMPROVED.
BUT THEN THEY HAVE TO GO OUT AND
BUILD THE PROJECT.
SO THERE'S ONGOING CONSTRUCTION 
INSPECTION AND THEN MAINTENANCE 
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY IN 
COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE PROJECT
WAS APPROVED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO THE PROCESS THAT TOM TALKED 
ABOUT AND BARRY TALKED ABOUT IS 
THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GATHER
PERSPECTIVES FROM THREE AREAS.
FROM THE CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVE,
THE STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE, AND 
THEN MY PERSPECTIVE FROM JUST 
THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN 
OTHER COMMUNITIES OVER THE LAST 
40 YEARS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE WAY WE'VE STRUCTURED THIS IS
THAT BARRY AND TOM HAD BEEN 
PROVIDING THE OVERSIGHT AND 
SPONSORSHIP.
WE HAVE THREE BASIC ELEMENTS.
THE CUSTOMER ADVISORY GROUP, AND
YOU CAN SEE THE NAMES OF THE 
MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP.
WE'VE BEEN MEETING ON A MONTHLY 
BASIS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING 
WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT 
ISSUES.
WE HAVE A STAFF STEERING 
COMMITTEE WHICH IS BASICALLY THE
DIRECTORS AND MOST OF THE 
MANAGERS IN EACH OF THE 
DEPARTMENTS.
AND THEN THE THIRD GROUP IS THE 
LINE STAFF THAT ACTUALLY WORK ON
A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS WITH 
CUSTOMERS.
WE'VE GOT THESE THREE GROUPS TO 
HELP PUSH THIS FORWARD AND GET 
OWNERSHIP AND BUY-IN TO THE 
PROCESS AND KIND OF WHERE WE'RE 
GOING.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO THE PROJECT TO DATE, WE'VE 
EVALUATED AND DOCUMENTED THE 
CURRENT PROCESS FROM THE 
BUILDING BLOCK PERSPECTIVE.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND WE'VE 
DONE FOCUS GROUPS, AND -- A 
CUSTOMER SURVEY AND STAFF 
INTERVIEWS TO IDENTIFY SOME OF 
THE PERFORMANCE ISSUES AND ALSO 
SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'LL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE GONE THROUGH 
THOROUGHLY AND LOOKED AT ALL 
CODE CHAPTERS AND REGULATIONS 
RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT 
SERVICES, AND I'LL MENTION THAT 
A LITTLE BIT LATER, AS WELL.
TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY
TO SIMPLIFY, AND TO REMOVE 
OBSTACLES THAT ARE UNWARRANTED.
AND THEN WE'VE ALSO FOCUSED ON 
SOME SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENT 
PROCESSES, SPECIFICALLY, EXCUSE 
ME, FOR PREAPPLICATION 
DOCUMENTATION, AND LOOKING AT 
SOME PERFORMANCE METRICS.
WE'RE IN THE STAGE RIGHT NOW 
WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO DEVELOP 
THOSE STRATEGIES AS I MENTIONED.
AND WE WILL PUSH FORWARD WITH 
THAT, WITH THOSE STAFF GROUPS 
AND THE CUSTOMER GROUP.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE ONE THING IN MY 20 YEARS IN 
CONSULTING, WITH COMMUNITIES, 
I'VE LOOKED AT A LOT OF 
ORGANIZATIONS, AND I FIND THAT 
PINELLAS COUNTY'S PROBABLY ONE 
OF THE BETTER ORGANIZATIONS THAT
I'VE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF GOOD 
THINGS, A LOT OF RIGHT THINGS, 
YOU'VE GOT AN ORGANIZATION IN 
THE BDRS ORGANIZATION THAT KIND 
OF BRINGS TOGETHER ALL THE 
TALENT FROM MOST OF THE 
DEPARTMENTS.
YOU ALSO HAVE VERY PROFESSIONAL 
AND DEDICATED STAFF.
I'VE COME ACROSS A LOT OF STAFF 
THAT, YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE 
WEREN'T QUALIFIED, AND IN THIS 
CASE, YOU'VE GOT SOME EXCELLENT 
STAFF IN YOUR ORGANIZATION.
YOU'VE DEVELOPED A PERMIT CENTER
WHICH DOES CO-LOCATE A LOT OF 
THE STAFF AND YOU'RE USING A LOT
OF THE LATEST CONTECHNOLOGIES,  
YOU HAVE SOME PROCESSES IN PLACE
THAT HELP MOVE PROJECTS THROUGH 
FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT.
AND THEN YOU DO HAVE THE 
RECENTLY ADOPTED LAND 
DEVELOPMENT CODE AND STORMWATER 
MANUAL.
SO YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF GOOD 
THINGS.
AND THE QUESTION NOW BECOMES, 
HOW DO WE IMPROVE THAT FROM THE 
CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE ONE THING THAT WE DID DO TO 
UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE ISSUES 
WHICH I'LL BRIEFLY GO OVER IS WE
HAD ABOUT 38 ONE-ON-ONE 
INTERVIEWS WITH SPECIFIC 
CUSTOMERS IN THOSE GROUPS THAT 
YOU SEE THERE.
WE ALSO HAD A CUSTOMER SURVEY 
RESPONSE, ABOUT 190 RESPONSES.
MOST OF THE RESPONSES ON THE 
CUSTOMER SURVEY WERE AROUND THE 
BUILDING PERMIT AND SOME OF THE 
PERMITTING AREAS.
THE 38 INTERVIEWS, A LOT WERE 
ABOUT MORE OF THE MORE COMPLEX 
PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE 
SYSTEM.
AND THEN WE'VE ALSO HAD THIS 
ONGOING CUSTOMER ADVISORY GROUP 
WHICH HAS BEEN MEETING MONTHLY 
TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE 
INFORMATION ABOUT ISSUES IN THE 
SYSTEM.
SO, IT WAS A VERY THOROUGH 
PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH.
AND IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT 
SLIDE.
I JUST WANT TO HIT ON A FEW OF 
THE KEY ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED 
THAT WE HAVE NOW BEGUN TO 
ADDRESS.
FIRSTLY, MANY CUSTOMERS FEEL 
LIKE THE PROCESS IS WORKING VERY
WELL BUT THEY DO SEE THAT 
THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THE REGULATIONS THEY FEEL ARE 
OVERLY COMPLEX, ESPECIALLY THE 
STORMWATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL 
REQUIREMENTS.
THE TIME LINES, I GUESS BARRY 
MENTIONED THE FACT THAT THERE'S 
QUITE A BIT OF WORKLOAD IN THE 
SYSTEM.
THEY'RE FEELING LIKE THAT THE 
TIME LINES COULD BE SHORTER.
SHOULD BE SHORTER, IN THE 
PROCESS.
AND THEN THE OVERALL CULTURE IS 
GIVEN THE COMPLEX REGULATIONS, 
CUSTOMERS FELT LIKE THAT THERE 
SHOULD BE MORE PRACTICALITY AND 
MORE FLEXIBILITY IN SOME OF THE 
INTERPRETATIONS OF THE CODE -- 
CODES THAT YOU HAVE.
AND YOU DO HAVE VERY SIGNIFICANT
REGULATIONS.
NEXT SLIDE.
CUSTOMERS ALSO FELT LIKE THAT 
THERE'S NOT A REAL CLEAR AND 
CONSISTENT PROCESS FOR RESOLVING
ISSUES AND MAKING DECISIONS.
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THEIR 
PROJECTS.
THEY REALLY DO LIKE THE 
PREAPPLICATION MEETINGS BUT THEY
HAVE WANTED MORE DOCUMENTATION 
SO THAT THEY CAN GO FORWARD WITH
THEIR PROJECT AND HAVE SOME 
CERTAINTY.
WE HAVE MADE A SHORT-TERM 
IMPROVEMENT TO THAT PROCESS, AND
THE STAFF IS DOCUMENTING, 
PROVIDING MEETING NOTES AND 
MINUTES.
AND SO CUSTOMERS ARE PRETTY 
HAPPY WITH THAT PROCESS.
STAFFING LEVELS, BARRY MENTIONED
THIS.
BASICALLY STAFFING LEVELS ARE 
INADEQUATE FROM THE CUSTOMER'S 
PERSPECTIVE TO ACTUALLY DEAL 
WITH THE BACKLOG AND THE WORK 
LOAD.
AND TECHNOLOGY, THERE ARE SOME 
TECHNOLOGIES THAT THEY HAVE THAT
ACTUALLY CUE THE CUSTOMERS 
THROUGH THE PERMIT CENTER BUT 
THE CUSTOMERS STILL HAVE TO KIND
OF REPEAT INFORMATION.
SO THOSE HAVE JUST SOME OF THE 
HIGHLIGHTS THAT WAS BROUGHT OUT 
THROUGH THE INTERVIEWS AND 
THROUGH OUR CUSTOMER GROUP.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
 BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE ASK
THE CUSTOMERS IN GENERAL WHAT DO
THEY SEE AS A SUCCESSFUL
SYSTEM.
THEY KIND OF ORGANIZED AROUND
THREE BASIC CONCEPTS IN THAT THE
CUSTOMER HAS THE BEST POSSIBLE
EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY COME TO THE
COUNTY AND THAT THE CUSTOMER'S
REQUEST IS COMPLETED IN A TIMELY
AND PREDICTABLE MANNER.
TIME IS MONEY.
THIRDLY IS THAT THERE'S MORE OF
A PARTNERSHIP CULTURE BETWEEN
THE STAFF AND THE CUSTOMERS TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS AND MOVE PROJECTS
FORWARD.
AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THAT WHOLE CULTURE IN THE NEXT
COUPLE SLIDES HERE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WHAT WE FEEL IS MISSING AND WHAT
WE'RE WORKING ON IS HOW WE CAN
MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE PROJECT
ORIENTED AND UNDERSTAND THE
CUSTOMER'S IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE.
AND THEN ASSIGN A POINT PERSON
THAT'S GOING TO FOSTER THE
PROJECT ALL THE WAY FROM THE
BEGINNING THROUGH THE END.
THAT'S A MAJOR ASPECT THAT WE'RE
GOING TO LOOK AT OVER THE COURSE
OF THE NEXT MONTHS.
WE WANT TO FOCUS ON MORE
COORDINATION AND EFFICIENT ISSUE
RESOLUTION WITH CUSTOMERS AND
THAT POINT OF CONTACT WE FEEL
WILL BE CENTRAL TO MAKING THINGS
RUN SMOOTHLY.
WE WANT TO EXPAND THE
PERFORMANCE PHURPLT
MEASUREMENT PROGRAM THAT EXISTS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
IF WE DO LOOK AT THE PROJECT,
PROJECT ORIENTED SYSTEM, WE'RE
GOING TO WANT TO LOOK AT THE
PHYSICAL SPACE.
WITH COVID IT'S NOT AS CRITICAL,
BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
PROVIDING THE EASIEST ACCESS FOR
CUSTOMERS TO THE COUNTY'S
PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT ALL RESOURCES
THAT THE CUSTOMER GETS,
INCLUDING PUBLICATIONS AND
LOOKING AT THE WEBSITE TO SEE IF
IT'S USER FRIENDLY AND PROVIDES
THE INFORMATION THAT CUSTOMERS
ACTUALLY WILL NEED.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE
OPPORTUNITY AREA IS TO GAIN SOME
BENEFITS FROM THE PROGRAM WHICH
BARRY MENTIONED THAT WILL
IMPROVE TRACKING.
NEXT SLIDE.
THE ACCELA PROVIDES CITIZEN
ACCESS TO CITIZENS CAN ACCESS
THE SYSTEM AND PROJECTS MORE.
APPLICATION TRACKING WILL BE
MUCH MORE EFFICIENT THAN IT IS
TODAY.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF
SEFRG-SERVI
SELF-SERVICE AND MORE ACCESSIBLE
BY THE COMMUNITY.
IN THE FUTURE, NEAR FUTURE,
THEY'LL BE ADDING MOBILE
APPLICATIONS FOR INSPECTORS AND
THE ONLINE PLAN REVIEW SYSTEM.
THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED RIGHT
NOW.
STAFF IS GOING THROUGH A FULL
TRAINING AND THEY EXPECT THAT TO
BE IMPLEMENTED AND LIVE IN THE
MIDDLE OF OCTOBER.
SOME NEXT STEPS IN CONCLUSION,
WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD SOME
SHORT-TERM CODE AND REGULATION
FIXES AND SIMPLIFICATIONS AND
WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL THE CHAPTERS
RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
FROM 138 ALL THE WAY THROUGH
166.
THOSE WILL BE COMING FORWARD
THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WE'VE COMMITTED THAT THE
CUSTOMER ADVISORY GROUP, WHICH
WE SET UP, THEY HAVE ALREADY
REVIEWED A LOT OF THE CHANGES
FROM A HIGH LEVEL AND NOW AS
THESE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS ARE
GOING TO COME THROUGH, THEY'RE
GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
THE STAFF DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
COMMITTEE HAS TO LOOK AT THOSE
AND, OF COURSE, THE LPA FOR MOST
OF THOSE HAVE TO GO BEFORE
THEM.
WE'RE EXPECTING THE FIRST BATCH
OF THOSE CHANGES TO GO THROUGH
THIS FALL, THROUGH THAT PROCESS,
AND LPA BEFORE CHRISTMAS WITH
THE EXPECTATION THAT THE FIRST
GROUP OF THOSE CHANGES WILL COME
FORWARD TO YOU AFTER THE FIRST
OF THE YEAR.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE DESIGNING
THAT PROJECT ORIENTED SYSTEM.
THAT'S BEING DONE THROUGH THE
STAFF COMMITTEE'S.
CONTINUE THOSE MONTHLY MEETINGS
WITH THE CUSTOMER GROUP.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, GO LIVE
WITH THE ACCELA PROCESS IN MID
OCTOBER.
SO IF I COULD INTRODUCE THE NEXT
TWO SPEAKERS, WE HAVE A COUPLE
MEMBERS OF OUR CUSTOMER ADVISORY
GROUP THAT WILL WANT TO SPEAK
TODAY.
ROBERT AND JOE WILL SPEAK.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE YOU WANT
TO GO FIRST.
EITHER ONE OF YOU CAN TAKE A
LEAD.
WE WANTED THEM TO GIVE YOU A
PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT THEY'VE SEEN
THROUGH THIS PROCESS THUS FAR.
>> HI.
THIS IS ROBERT.
AM I UNMUTED?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: YOU ARE, SIR.
>> IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL
AGAIN.
AS GEORGE MENTIONED, WE STARTED
THIS PROCESS LATE LAST YEAR.
WE'VE BEEN GOING TO MONTHLY
MEETINGS ON THE FOURTH MONDAY OF
THE MONTH.
THE PROCESS HAS GENERALLY BEEN
GOOD AND WE ARE BEING HEARD.
WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS
REGARDING SOME DESIGN ELEMENTS
OF CUL-DE-SAC AND KEY
TURNAROUNDS DESIGNED TO HELP
PROMOTE INFILL SINCE THAT'S
PRETTY MUCH ALL WE HAVE LEFT
HERE IN PINELLAS COUNTY.
WE'VE MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON
ACCESS MANAGEMENT STANDARDS AND
REWRITTEN PORTIONS OF THE
TRANSPORTATION DESIGN MANUAL.
THERE'S STILL SOME WORK TO DO
REGARDING WAIVERS AND THE
PROCESS, BUT WE KNOW TOM WILL BE
PROACTIVE IN DOING THAT.
HE'S BEEN GREAT.
THE PREAPPLICATION MEETING
PROCESS HAS BEEN IMPROVED.
WE'RE GETTING WRITTEN RESULTS
FROM STAFF.
WITHIN A FEW HOURS AFTER THE
PREAPPLICATION PHAO
MEETING ENDS AND UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS ARE BEING ANSWERED
TIMELY BY STAFF.
I HAD A PRE-AP ON AUGUST 11th.
I GOT MY WRITTEN NOTES LATER
THAT AFTERNOON.
AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF
UNFINISHED ITEMS, UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS AND STAFF WAS ABLE TO
GET BACK TO ME WITH ANSWERS BY
LATER THAT WEEK, LITERALLY
WITHIN THREE DAYS.
THE DELAYS THAT WE'RE
EXPERIENCING IN SITE PLAN
REVIEWS HAS TAKEN SIX TO EIGHT
WEEKS TO GET COMMENTS ON A
COMMITTED SITE PLAN.
I THINK THAT'S MOSTLY DUE TO THE
LACK OF STAFF.
WE HOPE THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE
TO HAVE MORE STAFF ON BOARD TO
REDUCE REVIEW TIMES IN THE
FUTURE.
FINALLY, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR
NEXT DCAD MEETING LATER THIS
MONTH AND LOOK FORWARD TO
ADOPTION OF CODE CHANGES AT THE
LPA AND THE DOCC LATER THIS
YEAR.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: WE CAN'T HEAR
YOU AT ALL.
YOU'RE NOT MUTED.
I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
AUDIO SOURCE SELECTED.
YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN TO THE MUTE
BUTTON.
THERE IS AN UP ARROW.
YOU HAVE TO SELECT A DIFFERENT
MICROPHONE, SIR.
>> HOW ABOUT NOW?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: THAT'S
BETTER.
>> WONDERFUL.
WELL, GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THIS
MEETING FOR THE LAST THREE
HOURS, SO I SINCERELY WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND
FOR KEEPING US ALL SAFE.
I THINK GEORGE'S PRESENTATION
SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND ROBERT'S
COMMENTS AS FAR AS THE TECHNICAL
IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE
TO THE PROCESSES AND THE
DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ENGINEERING
DISCIPLINES AND THE COUNTY AND
FROM MY END OF IT AS A
CONTRACTOR AND A PROPERTY OWNER
IS THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE
CULTURE.
I THINK THAT STARTS FROM THE
TOP.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION.
I WANT TO THANK, YOU KNOW, THE
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR EMPOWERING TOM, THE
ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
AND GEORGE AND CHERYL FOR
KEEPING US ALL ON TRACK, BECAUSE
ULTIMATELY CERTAINTY AND CULTURE
AND A CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM
AND IN THE PROCESSES AND HOW
THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED CREATE
VALUE.
AND THAT VALUE -- I'M A
BENEFICIARY OF IT AS A PROPERTY
OWNER AND THE ENTIRE COUNTY
BENEFITS FROM IT.
SO I THINK OVERALL THE CHANGES
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE HAVE -- WILL
HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON
EVERY DEVELOPMENT, EVERY
PROPERTY OWNER, AND STAFF,
BECAUSE THE CULTURE IT ALREADY
IS EVIDENT HAS BEEN IMPROVED AND
THE WORKINGS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH
THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
FROM THE ATTORNEYS TO THE
ENGINEERS TO THE CONTRACTORS TO
THE DEVELOPERS HAS IMPROVED AND
HAS BEEN STREAMLINED.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR THE EFFORT.
I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK STAFF
FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAKING
THIS CHANGE.
CHANGING A CULTURE IS HARD.
AGAIN, IT STARTS AT THE TOP.
SO I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU ALL FOR
TAKING THE INITIATIVE.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BARRY BURTON: WE JUST WANTED
TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
I APPRECIATE GEORGE'S
PRESENTATION.
THERE'S A LOT MORE TO COME.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME
REGULATORY CHANGES AND PROCESS
IMPROVEMENT.
THE TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO
IMPLEMENT.
ULTIMATELY YOU SAW WHERE WE
BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, SO YOU'LL
SEE SOME DESIGN ISSUES ABOUT
WHETHER GROUPS NEED TO BE
CO-LOCATED.
THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THEM TO
GET TOGETHER TO RESOLVE ISSUES.
I USE GEORGE'S TERM.
IT'S OPTIONS THINKING BECAUSE WE
HAVE SO MANY SITES THAT ARE
GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
STRAIGHTFORWARD.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO THINK
THROUGH HOW TO WORK WITH THEM TO
WHERE WE ARE PAYING A REASONABLE
STANDARD TO A DIFFICULT
SITUATION.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN RELAXING OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, BUT
WORKING WITH THEM TO FIND A WAY
TO GET THEM THERE VERSUS JUST
READING THE REGULATION AND SAY
IT DOESN'T APPLY.
AND SO I APPRECIATE STAFF'S WORK
ON THIS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
IMPLEMENTATION PHASE OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER EGGERS, YOU LOOK
LIKE YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP
BEFORE.
>> DAVE EGGERS: I DID.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANTED TO
ECHO SOME OF THE COMMENTS.
ONE, KUDOS TO STAFF AND WHAT
THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH.
EVEN WHEN YOU DO KIND OF A
SELF-EVALUATION BUT ALSO AN
OUTSIDE EVALUATION, IT'S NOT
ALWAYS EASY.
BUT CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE
ATTITUDE THAT THEY'VE BROUGHT TO
THE TABLE.
I THINK ULTIMATELY WHEN YOU
THINK WE'RE DOING THIS FOR OUR
BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE TRYING
TO DO BUSINESS WITH US, BUT
THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS ARE
WORKING ON BEHALF OF OUR
RESIDENTS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE
TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER AND
BETTER FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
JOE, YOU TALKED ABOUT CERTAINTY,
CULTURE AND CONFIDENCE.
I THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT
WE'RE WORKING IN.
SO I JUST REALLY WANTED TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I'M SO GLAD WE'VE GOTTEN SOME
EXTERNAL INPUT.
I WOULD LIKE THE EXTERNAL INPUT
FROM OUR CONSULTANT, BUT ALSO
FROM OUR FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING
OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND
TO ME, YOU KNOW, I TALK TO A LOT
OF PEOPLE.
BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOME
FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF CODE
INTERPRETATION ON THE -- IN THE
FIELD, ON THE SPOT, TO ME I KEEP
HEARING THAT OVER AND OVER.
IT'S, LIKE, WELL, OUR CODE SAYS
THIS.
BUT THERE'S SOME OTHER -- IT
REALLY LOOKS GOOD.
IT WORKED OUT REALLY WELL.
HOW DO WE BRING A LITTLE CODE
FLEXIBILITY.
JUST REALLY QUICKLY, ROBERT AND
JOE, IF YOU COULD POINT TO JUST
ONE THING THAT YOU THINK WE'RE
STILL GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT.
ALL THIS EFFORT, WE'RE STILL
GOING TO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME
CHANGING FROM YOUR ALL'S
PERSPECTIVE.
WHAT WOULD YOU IDENTIFY IS THAT
SPOT THAT WELL, THIS IS
GOVERNMENT, SO WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO PROBABLY DEAL WITH IT,
BUT WHAT'S AN AREA THAT WE CAN
REALLY HONE IN ON?
IT MAY TAKE US A COUPLE YEARS TO
GET THERE, BUT CAN YOU THINK OF
ANYTHING THAT JUMPS OUT AT YOU?
>> I THINK NOT IN THE TEXT
NATECHNICAL END,
BUT THE HARDEST PART FOR STAFF
IS TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF
THE REGULATIONS AND SYSTEMS.
YOU WANT TO BE SOLUTIONS BASED.
YOU WANT TO WORK WITH THE
DEVELOPERS AND ENGINEERS TO
RESOLVE WHATEVER ISSUES COME
ABOUT WITHOUT COMPROMISING, YOU
KNOW, YOUR STANDARDS.
NOT EVERY DEVELOPMENT SHOULD GET
BUILT.
NOT EVERY DEVELOPER SHOULD GET
EVERYTHING HE ASKS FOR AND STAFF
NEEDS TO, WHILE MAINTAINING
FLEXIBILITY, HOLD THE LINE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE HARDEST
THING TO EXECUTE IN MY OPINION
TO ENSURE THAT THE RULES ARE
ENFORCED BUT MANAGED.
>> I WOULD SAY WHAT I THINK IS
GOING TO BE THE HARDEST IS
PROBABLY REDUCING YOUR REVIEW
TIMES.
I THINK IT'S BECAUSE IT'S GOING
TO PROBABLY TAKE MORE STAFF TO
DO THAT AND IT'S NOT EASY TO
FIND RIGHT NOW.
>> DAVE EGGERS: I'M DONE.
GO AHEAD.
>> PAT GERARD: ARE THERE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS?
COMMISSIONER LONG.
>> JANET LONG: THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR.
MY QUESTION TO BOTH OF YOU, IF
YOU DON'T MIND, IS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT -- IN THE BIG
DEVELOPMENTS THAT I HAVE BEEN
INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH, EITHER
BECAUSE I KNOW THE FOLKS OR I'M
PART OF THEIR GROUP IS THE
CONSTANT REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
THAT YOU'VE ALREADY SUBMITTED
NOT JUST ONCE, BUT MAYBE TWICE
AND MAYBE THREE TIMES.
I GUESS I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM
BOTH OF YOU SINCE YOU'VE BEEN
HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE
PROCESS.
HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO ZERO IN ON
EXACTLY WHY THAT IS THAT WE
CAN'T SEEM TO JUST LOOK AT
THINGS AND KNOW THAT WE ALREADY
HAVE THE INFORMATION IN SOME
MANNER, SHAPE, OR FORM?
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO -- WHY DO
THEY HAVE TO KEEP ONGOING BACK
TO THE DEVELOPER AND GOING BACK
AND GOING BACK AND GOING BACK?
THAT HAS BEEN SO FRUSTRATING FOR
SO MANY PEOPLE.
>> WE HAVE SEEN THAT AND WE
SHARE YOUR FRUSTRATION,
COMMISSIONER.
WE ATTEMPT TO MAKE COMPLETE
SUBMIT ALSATALS AND
SOMETIMES WE GET REQUEST FOR
DIGITAL INFORMATION AND PROVIDE
THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF KEEPING IN
TOUCH WITH STAFF AND CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION
THAT'S GOING TO ELIMINATE THAT
SHOULD I SAY RE-REQUEST FOR
SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN
SUBMITTED.
I TEND TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND
CONTACT PEOPLE AND SAY IS THERE
ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED FROM ME
AFTER I'VE MADE --
>> DAVE EGGERS: EXCUSE ME, LET
ME ADD INTO THAT, WORKING WITH
THE STAFF, AND I THINK BARRY AND
TOM, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO IS CREATE
ADVOCACY FOR THE CUSTOMER AND
OUR POINT OF CONTACT OR PROJECT
MANAGEMENT IS GOING TO BE THAT
VEHICLE.
IT'S NOT THAT STAFF IS TRYING TO
DALLY THINGS.
I THINK HAVING CUSTOMER RESPOND
AND HAVING THE STAFF LOOK AT
THINGS, WE NEED TO HAVE A FOCUS
ON SOMEONE BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR
KEEPING TRACK OF WHERE THINGS
ARE GETTING BLOCKED AND MAKING
SURE THAT DECISIONS GET MADE.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING
THROUGH THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF
DESIGNING THAT.
I THINK THAT WILL BE THE VEHICLE
IN MY OPINION THAT WILL HELP
WITH WHAT ROBERT'S TALKING
ABOUT.
IN ADDITION, YOU KNOW, IT'S A
VERY COMPLEX PROCESS.
PROJECTS ARE VERY COMPLEX IN THE
COUNTY.
THE REGULATIONS ARE COMPLEX.
BUT THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR
IMPROVEMENT TO MAKE THAT
FACILITATION GO SMOOTHER.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
>> I WAS MOST AMAZED GOING
THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT NOTES
WEREN'T KEPT AND CIRCULATED
AFTER MEETINGS WITH STAFF.
SO THAT SIMPLE CHANGE THAT WILL
COME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THIS GROUP
I THINK WILL MAKE, YOU KNOW, A
TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN JUST
COMMUNICATING AND ENSURING THAT
STAFF'S COMMENTS ARE ADDRESSED
AND THEN GIVING CERTAINTY TO THE
ENGINEERS THAT ARE WORKING ON
ALL THIS STUFF, YOU KNOW, THAT
THERE IS A CHECKLIST AND THAT IF
THEY COMPLY AND THEY MEET THOSE
REQUESTS  THE PROJECT MOVES
FORWARD AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF
BACK AND FORTH AFTER THAT.
>> JANET LONG: I REALLY VALUE
VERY MUCH YOUR INPUT AND I KNOW
THAT THAT CHECKLIST IS SOMETHING
THAT WE, YOU KNOW, TRIED TO
IMPLEMENT FOR QUITE A LONG TIME
NOW.
I CERTAINLY HOPE IT'S A
COMPREHENSIVE ONE.
MY LAST QUESTION IF YOU DON'T
MIND IS OVER AND OVER AGAIN I
ALSO HEAR WELL, IT'S A RESULT OF
THE ENGINEERS NOT REALLY KNOWING
WHAT THEY ARE DOING OR WHAT THE
RULES ARE.
DO YOU FIND THAT ON YOUR END,
THAT THAT'S THE CASE?
JUST ASKING.
>> LET ME TAKE THAT ONE.
>> JANET LONG: PLEASE DO.
>> THAT WAS ALSO MY BIGGEST
COMMENT.
I FELT THAT ENGINEERS HAVE A
DEGREE.
THEY HAVE INSURANCE.
I THINK ONE OF MY BIGGEST COME
AWAYS IS I FELT STAFF DIDN'T
APPRECIATE OR RESPECT THEIR
DISCIPLINE AND THEIR TRAINING
AND THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SKIN
A CAT, ESPECIALLY ENGINEERING
FIRM.
I'M NOT AN ENGINEER.
I FEEL THAT A SUBMISSION NEEDS
TO BE REVIEWED IN LIGHT OF THEIR
EXPERTISE AND THEN COMPARED WITH
THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE ON THE
BOOKS FOR COMPLIANCE.
IT MAY NOT BE EXACTLY THE WAY
STAFF THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE DONE,
BUT YOU HAVE TO RELY ON AND
VALUE THEIR TRAINING.
>> SO ONE MORE QUESTION.
MY LAST QUESTION, MADAM CHAIR.
HIS COMMENTS MADE ME THINK THAT
IS THERE A -- I'M NOT SURE
EXACTLY HOW TO WORD THIS.
IS THERE A DISCREPANCY OR A
CONFLICT BETWEEN WHAT THE
ENGINEERS KNOW IS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO AND MAYBE WHAT OUR
REGULATIONS OR RULES ARE ASKING
FOR?
>> I'LL LET ROBERT TAKE THAT
ONE.
>> AS A PLANNER WHO OWNS A CIVIL
ENGINEERING COMPANY, WE LIKE TO
THINK WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DESIGN
SOMETHING THAT IS INHERENTLY
UNSAFE.
WITH THAT SAID, THERE ARE
MULTIPLE WAYS TO DESIGN A
PROJECT, ALL OF WHICH MEET THE
INTENT OF THE CODE AND WILL
RESOLVE IN A QUALITY PROJECT.
IT'S JUST HAVING A MEETING OF
THE MINDS WITH STAFF.
WE THINK WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY
THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO COME TO
THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT ALTHOUGH
THERE MAY BE A SLIGHT DEVIATION
TO WHAT YOUR CODE SAYS, WE ARE
MEETING THE INTENT OF THE CODE
AND WE CAN HAVE A RESULT THAT'S
A WIN WIN AND MOVE THE PROJECT
FORWARD.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU
BOTH FOR YOUR TIME BEING HERE
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK ON THIS PROJECT.
IT REALLY HELPS HAVING THAT KIND
OF INPUT.
COMMISSIONER EGGERS.
>> DAVE EGGERS: I JUST WANTED TO
EMPHASIZE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, I CERTAINLY LIKE
ALL THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MORE
RESPECT FOR ENGINEERS.
I THINK THAT'S JUST GREAT.
NOT BEING A PRACTICING ENGINEER,
BUT BEING ONE BY EDUCATION.
REALLY I THINK THE PART THAT
YOU'VE TOUCHED ON A LITTLE BIT
IS THAT WE HAVE GOOD PEOPLE.
MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN THE RIGHT
PLACE IN THE ORGANIZATION.
MAYBE THEY GET SHIFTED AROUND TO
DIFFERENT SPOTS WITHIN THAT
ORGANIZATION.
MAYBE WE NEED A FEW MORE
PEOPLE.
BUT I THINK THE PART ABOUT BEING
AN ADVOCATE FOR THE CUSTOMER IS
REALLY AN IMPORTANT CULTURE
CHANGE.
I THINK YOU GUYS WERE TALKING
ABOUT THAT CULTURE CHANGE SO
THAT YOU CAN -- IF YOU HAVE THAT
CULTURE CHANGE, JUST BY
DEFINITION YOU BUILD CONFIDENCE
WITH OUR CUSTOMERS SO THAT WE
KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW
THE CODE.
THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES.
ALL OF THAT.
LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S A
BALANCE, RIGHT?
BUT IF THEY HAVE THAT ATTITUDE
OF LIKE A CAN DO, LIKE, HOW DO I
MAKE THIS HAPPEN, OH, WELL I
CAN'T BECAUSE OF THIS AS OPPOSED
TO THE OTHER WAY WHICH IS ALL
THESE REASONS THEY CAN'T DO IT.
I THINK IT'S A SUBTLE
DIFFERENCE, BUT IT ALL COMES
BACK DOWN TO HELPING CUSTOMERS
GET THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR OUR
RESIDENTS, BUT DOING IT SAFELY
AND WITHIN THE RULES THAT WE
HAVE IN PLACE.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS.
AND HOPEFULLY -- AND I KNOW OUR
EMPLOYEES ARE PROBABLY VERY
EXCITED ABOUT IT AND VERY
EXCITED ABOUT BEING EVEN MORE
AGAIN, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
YES, COMMISSIONER WELCH.
>> KENNETH WELCH: THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR.
I NEVER KNEW COMMISSIONER EGGERS
WAS AN ENGINEER, BUT THAT FILLS
IN SO MANY BLANKS OF THE WAY YOU
THINK AND ANALYZE THINGS.
THAT'S A COMPLIMENT.
I WANT TO THANK JOSEPH AND
ROBERT AS WELL AND THE ENTIRE
TEAM FOR THE WORK THEY'RE DOING
ON THIS.
I HAD A QUESTION ON THE PRE-AP
MEETING THAT ROBERT MENTIONED.
HOW ARE WE TRACKING IT?
I KNOW WE'RE UPGRADING PERMITS
PLUS, RIGHT?
>> AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE
APPLY FOR A PRE-APPLICATION
MEETING ONLINE.
YOUR STAFF MEMBER KAREN IS THE
COORDINATOR OF THOSE.
WE SUBMIT INFORMATION.
WE SUBMIT A PLAN IF WE HAVE ONE,
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH.
AND THEN THE PRE-APPLICATION
MEETING, AGAIN, BECAUSE OF
COVID, IS HELD ONLINE.
THEY USED TO BE HELD IN PERSON.
AND WE GO THROUGH EACH OF THE
COMMENTS OR REVIEW INPUT FROM
DIFFERENT STAFF MEMBERS FROM
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
AT THE END OF THAT KAREN IS
TAKING VERY DETAILED NOTES RIGHT
NOW AND SHE EMAILS THEM BACK TO
ME.
IN FACT, ON THE CASE IN POINT
THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER THIS
MONTH I GOT THE EMAIL BACK
WITHIN A FEW HOURS OR MAYBE THE
FOLLOWING MORNING.
AND THEY WERE VERY DETAILED AND
VERY ACCURATE.
>> OKAY.
>> KENNETH WELCH: OKAY.
I WASN'T SURE IT WAS PART OF
PERMIT PLUS OR IF WE'RE DOING
SOME KIND OF MANUAL PROCESS WITH
THE EMAILS.
IF THAT'S CAPTURED WITHIN
PERMITS PLUS I GUESS IS THE
QUESTION I'M ASKING.
>> CURRENTLY IT'S MANUAL,
HOWEVER, THE ACCELA PROGRAM WILL
ADVANCE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO
KEEP MORE OF THOSE ONLINE.
THAT'S A DISCUSSION POINT
THEY'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT
NOW.
IN ANY CASE, TRYING TO KEEP
INFORMATION DOCUMENTED ABOUT A
PARTICULAR MEETING LIKE THAT IS
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE A CUSTOMER
WANTS TO WALK AWAY WITH SOME
CERTAINTY.
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS HAVE EXACT
CERTAINTY AT THE PRE PRE-AP
STAGE.
THEY WANT TO WALK AWAY WITH
AGREEMENTS SO THEY CAN TAKE THE
PROJECT FORWARD WITH CERTAINTY.
THAT'S WHAT THE STAFF HAS BEEN
WORKING ON AND I THINK THAT HAS
IMPROVED DRASTICALLY OVER THE
LAST MONTHS.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
>> KENNETH WELCH: NO PROBLEM.
THANK YOU.
THE LAST QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW
IF THIS IS FOR BRYAN OR BARRY,
ARE WE ON TARGET FOR THE ACCELA
UPGRADE?
STKPWHR
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: YES, SIR.
OCTOBER 12th ON OUR LAUNCH
DATE AND WE EXPECT IN THE NEXT
SIX WEEKS WE'LL BE GOING LIVE
FOR AC ACCELA.
WE'VE DONE THREE YEARS OF
PLANNING AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT
NOT ONLY THE DEVELOPMENT STAFF,
THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY OUT IN
THE PUBLIC, THE PROPERTY
APPRAISER, FINANCE, THERE HAVE
BEEN SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN
THIS THING, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE
LOOKING AT OCTOBER 12th IS OUR
LAUNCH DATE.
>> KENNETH WELCH: AWESOME.
THANK YOU.
>> DAVE EGGERS: ONE LAST
QUESTION.
>> PAT GERARD: YES.
GO AHEAD.
>> DAVE EGGERS: ANY CONVERSATION
IN ALL THESE INTERVIEWS OR
SURVEYOR ANY PUSH FOR, LIKE, A
LOCATION OF THE FACILITY, LIKE,
YOU KNOW, HOW THEY HAVE TO COME
DOWNTOWN, FIND A PARKING PLACE?
ANY OF THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION
THAT WAS BROUGHT UP DURING THE
PROCESSOR WAS IT MORE ON THE
REST OF IT?
>> FROM THE INTERVIEW
STANDPOINT, I THINK THERE NEEDS
TO BE AN EXPANDED AMOUNT OF
SPACE FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR
PRE-APPLICATION MEETINGS AND
THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, WE
HAVE LOOKED AT -- WE WILL BE
LOOKING AT THAT SPACE NEEDS.
I KNOW BARRY IS DOING A COUNTY
WIDE SP SPACE EVALUATION.
MOST OF THE STAFF ARE IN THE 440
COURT STREET BUILDING.
CLEARLY ONE OF THE THINGS WE
WANT TO HAVE IS MORE PUBLIC
SPACE SO THAT STAFF CAN SIT DOWN
WITH THE CUSTOMER IN A SMALL
CONFERENCE ROOM AND BRING A FEW
STAFF MEMBERS IN AND TRY TO GET
THROUGH THE PROJECT VERSUS
HAVING THEM STAND AT A SINGLE
COUNTER AND HAVE TO GO THROUGH
COUNTER TO COUNTER.
THE PROCESS WORKS PRETTY WELL
NOW, BUT I THINK HAVING MORE
PEOPLE CO-LOCATED I THINK THE
CONTINUED USE OF THE TEAMS AND
THE ZOOM TYPE INTERACTIONS WILL
HELP, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S
NO SECOND TO HAVING PEOPLE IN
THE SAME ROOM AND BE ABLE TO
LOOK AT EACH SKP-RGT T
OTHER AND TALK ABOUT THINGS.
WE WILL BE EVALUATING THE SPACE
AS WE GO FORWARD, BUT IT WILL BE
BASED UPON HOW THIS PROJECT
ORIENTED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WILL
START TO LOOK AND WHO NEEDS TO
BE IN WHAT LOCATION.
>> DAVE EGGERS: THANK YOU.
>> BARRY BURTON: YOU REALLY NEED
TO DESIGN YOUR PROCESS AND THEN
WE ORGANIZE OURSELF TO DETERMINE
IF WE HAVE A PERMIT STRUCTURE IN
THE SAME DEPARTMENTS THE WAY WE
HAVE IT TODAY.
BEFORE WE THEN LOOK AT THE BEST
SPACE AND HOW TO ACCOMPLISH
THAT.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT
PROCESS, BUT THOSE TWO
EVALUATIONS WILL OCCUR.
THEY'RE GOING TO OCCUR AT THE
BACK END OF THE PROCESS.
>> DAVE EGGERS: THANKS.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> PAT GERARD: ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: WE LOOK FORWARD
TO THE LAUNCH.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: GO AHEAD.
SO MY QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO
TAKE A LUNCH BREAK OR DO WE WANT
TO GO AHEAD THROUGH THE AGENDA?
>> JANET LONG: IT'S A PRETTY
LONG AGENDA.
>> YOUR CALL, MADAM CHAIR.
>> PAT GERARD: NO, IT'S NOT.
OKAY.
LET'S TAKE A BREAK.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE LIKE BREAKS.
LET'S COME BACK AT 12:30.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: LET'S WAIT 30
SECONDS.
LET'S GO AHEAD, BRYAN.
OKAY.
WE ARE HERE TO REVIEW NEXT
WEEK'S AGENDA.
BARRY.
>> BARRY BURTON: ALL RIGHT.
SO WE'LL START OUT BY ITEM
NUMBER ONE IS PUBLIC COMMENT.
ITEM TWOS AITEMS TWO
AND KHRAOE THREE THREE
FOUR, FIVE AND SIX ARE REPORTS
RECEIVED FOR FILING.
QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY OF
THOSE?
ITEM SEVEN IS A WORD OF BID TO
PALMDALE OIL COMPANY.
THIS IS PART OF THE TAMPA BAY
AREA PURCHASING COOPERATIVE
CONTRACT.
WE PURCHASED THIS AS PART OF THE
REGIONAL EFFORT AND A LOT OF
CITIES ALSO PARTICIPATE IN
THIS.
THE AVERAGE IS, AND THIS IS FOR
ALL OF OUR GASOLINE AND DIESEL
FUEL, AVERAGES ABOUT ALMOST
$3.1 MILLION PER YEAR OVER A
FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS AN AWARD OF
BID TO AMERICAN LIGHTING.
SIGNALIZATION FOR THE ATMS
SYSTEM FOR THE 49th AND STATE
ROUTE 60 TO 46th AVENUE
PROJECT.
THIS IS $1.9 MILLION.
AGAIN, THIS IS A 50% MATCH WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
ITEM NUMBER NINE IS AN AWARD OF
BID FOR PREFERRED MATERIALS FOR
THE 2020 COUNTYWIDE RESURFACING
RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION
PROJECT FOR REQUIREMENTS.
AGAIN, IT'S A -- IT'S UP TO AN
AMOUNT AND THEY RECEIVE WORK FOR
RESPONSIVE BIDDERS.
THIS IS $7.5 MILLION.
ITEM NUMBER 10 IS A JOINT
PROJECT AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN
OF KENNETH CITY FOR ROAD WORK
AND STORM WATER IMPROVEMENTS
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FROM
RECREATIONAL ON 46th AVENUE.
THE TOWN WILL BE CONSTRUCTING A
NEW TRAIL DURING THIS AND SO
WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM.
THE COST FOR THE COUNTY'S
INFRASTRUCTURE IS $610,000.
ITEM NUMBER 11 IS RAKING OF
FIRMS.
THIS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR
ROADWAY TRANSPORTATION.
THIS IS ALL OF OUR CIVIL AND
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SERVICES WHO
ARE LISTED WITHIN YOUR AGENDA.
AND AVERAGE ANNUAL SPEND IT HAS
WITHIN HERE $2.5 MILLION --
$2.5 MILLION FOR EACH FIRM,
TOTAL OF  $22.5 MILLION.
IT'S BASED UPON AN AMOUNT THAT'S
ACTUALLY USED.
12 IS AN AWARD OF BID TO ALLIED
UNIVERSITY CORPORATION FOR A
SUPPLY OF LIQUID CHLORINE
CYLINDERS.
THIS IS OUT OF OUR UTILITIES
DEPARTMENT FOR A FIVE YEAR TOTAL
OF ALMOST $2 MILLION.
ITEM NUMBER 13 IS A COUNTYWIDE
MAP AMENDMENT SUBMITTED BY THE
CITY OF CLEARWATER.
THIS IS FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT
1176MANDALAY POINT.
THIS IS REALLY CORRECTING A
MAPPING INCONSISTENCY FROM 1995
WHICH HAD A PRESERVATION
CATEGORY ON SOME BEACH FRONT
PROPERTY.
THEY'RE ASKING TO CLEAN THIS
UP.
IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED
BY BOTH FORWARD PINELLAS AND THE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> DAVE EGGERS: I DID, IF YOU
DON'T MIND.
>> PAT GERARD: GO AHEAD.
>> DAVE EGGERS: YEAH.
I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK JUST
ONE REAL QUICK TO NUMBER 12.
I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT
WHEN LAURA WENT THROUGH AND HIT
ONE OF THE -- A FACILITY THAT
CREATED SOME CHLORINE ISSUES.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TODAY.
I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE
LOCATIONS ARE OR ANYTHING, BUT
WHAT DO WE DO FROM A CLEAR
RAOEPBCHLORINE
ISSUE AND THAT KIND OF THING?
ARE WE USING LIQUID, YOU KNOW,
THAT WHOLE THING?
>> BARRY BURTON: THIS IS LIQUID
CHLORINE CYLINDERS.
I CAN GET YOU MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT WHAT WE USE WHERE, BUT
THIS ONE IS SPECIFICALLY LIQUID
CHLORINE CYLINDERS.  THE STORAGE
IS ALL REGULATED BY ALL OF OUR
HAZMAT RULES, SO WE HAVE SAFETY
PLANS, PRECAUTIONS AND
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES.
>> DAVE EGGERS: I UNDERSTAND.
AGAIN, WITHOUT INDICATING WHERE
THEY ARE, IT WOULD SURE BE NICE
TPO K TO KNOW WHAT THAT
IS, WHAT THOSE POLICIES ARE.
>> BARRY BURTON: I WILL
CERTAINLY FOLLOW-UP ON THAT.
>> DAVE EGGERS: THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: OKAY.
>> BARRY BURTON: ITEM 14, OUR
LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.
ITEM 15 IS A PURCHASE AGREEMENT
WITH FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR AN EASEMENT.
THIS IS PART OF A HIGHWAY NORTH
PROJECT FROM NORTH -- TO COUNTY
ROAD 95.
IT'S PURCHASING A PERPETUAL
MAINTENANCE EASEMENT FOR INGRESS
AND EGRESS AS PART OF THEIR
OVERALL FDOT PROJECT.
>> DAVE EGGERS: BARRY, WHERE DO
THOSE FUNDS GO WHEN WE GET FUNDS
FOR REAL ESTATE LIKE THIS?
WHERE DO THEY RESIDE?
>> BARRY BURTON: MY GUESS IT
WOULD BE GOING BACK INTO OUR
TRANSPORTATION FUND, BUT I WOULD
HAVE TO GET I A SPECIFIC ANSWER
ON THAT.
I'LL FOLLOW-UP.
I'M GOING TO SAY IT AND THEN
STAFF WILL CORRECT ME.
I'LL GET YOU AN ACCURATE --
>> DAVE EGGERS: OKAY.
THANKS.
>> BARRY BURTON: ITEM NUMBER 16
IS REBUILD FLORIDA.
THIS IS RECEIPT OF FUNDS FROM --
FOR -- THIS IS THE REBUILD
M.I.T. GENERAL INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVE PH*PBT GRANT.
MENT GRANT.
THIS WILL BE USED FOR HARDENING
FACILITIES AT THE W LEALMAN
CHANGE, JOE'S CREEK RESTORATION
AND MITIGATION AND ALSO
RESILIENCY PROJECTS FOR OUR
UTILITIES PROGRAM.
THOSE ARE LISTED OUT WITHIN YOUR
PACT, THE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.
ITEM NUMBER 17, FISCAL YEAR 2021
ELITE EVENT FUNDING
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TDC
INCLUDING A WAIVER OF LEAD-IN
FUNDING PROGRAMS, STORING
REQUIREMENTS.
THERE'S 16 ELITE EVENTS
RECOMMENDED TO BE FUNDED.
TOTAL WILL NOT EXCEED $1
MILLION.
STAFF WILL NEGOTIATE THE FINAL
FUNDING AGREEMENTS AND BRING
THOSE BACK TO YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: COMMISSIONER
WELCH?
>> BARRY BURTON: THE SPECIFIC
PROJECTS ARE LISTED WITHIN YOUR
PACT, BUT I CAN SUMMER GO
THROUGH THOSE IF YOU'D LIKE.
>> KENNETH WELCH: THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR.
IT SEEMS LIKE LIFETIMES ON ELITE
EVENTS EVERY TIME, BUT CAN YOU
EXPLAIN WHAT THE WAIVER FOR
LOCAL IS ABOUT AND WHAT THE
RATIONALE OF THE TDC WAS TO
RECOMMEND THAT?
>> PAT GERARD: JUST THAT FALLS
INTO A SPECIAL CATEGORY THAT
DOES NOT HAVE A REQUIREMENT FOR
ROOM NIGHTS LIKE ALL THE REST OF
THEM DO AND IT CAME VERY CLOSE
TO SCORING WELL ENOUGH, YOU
KNOW, AND AT LEAST ONE PERSON ON
THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS SCORING
CHANGED THEIR VOTE BECAUSE THEY
REALIZED THEN THAT THERE WAS NO
ROOM NIGHT.
THE OTHER ONE LEFT IT VERY LOW,
BUT BECAUSE THAT WASN'T PART OF
THE CRITERIA, THEY SHOULD HAVE
SCORED HIGHER THAN THEY DID.
>> KENNETH WELCH: OKAY.
WAS THERE, LIKE, A MINIMUM
SCORE, A THRESHOLD IF THEY DID
NOT MEET AND THAT'S WHY --
>> PAT GERARD: YOU KNOW WHAT, I
DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
THEY JUST BARELY MISSED THE
THRESHOLD.
>> KENNETH WELCH: OKAY.
I'LL LOOK AT IT.
>> PAT GERARD: CERTAINLY WE CAN
TALK ABOUT IT.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT QUITE A BIT
IN TDC.
>> KENNETH WELCH: I'M SURE.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: NOBODY LIKES TO
WAIVE THE RULES.
>> KENNETH WELCH: RIGHT.
>> BARRY BURTON: ITEM NUMBER 18
IS AN AGREEMENT WITH DISTRICT
SIX MEDICAL EXAMINER,
$6.2 MILLION.
>> PAT GERARD: SORRY.
SUBMISSIONER SEEL.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: THANK
YOU.
I WAS ALSO -- COULD YOU PUT THE
TDC APPLICATIONS ON TO
GRANICUS.
I DIDN'T FIND THEM.
I FOUND OTHER INFORMATION, BUT
NOT THE ACTUAL APPLICATIONS.
>> BARRY BURTON: REALLY?
YOU WANT TO SEE THE INDIVIDUAL
APPLICATIONS?
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: I LOOKED
YESTERDAY.
>> PAT GERARD: A LOT OF
PAPERWORK, BUT AS YOU KNOW,
THERE'S PROBABLY 300 PAGES.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: OH.
>> PAT GERARD: JUST SAYING.
WE COULD MAYBE LOAD THAT ONE IF
YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT ONE IN
PARTICULAR.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: YEAH.
WELL, I WAS ALSO CURIOUS ON I
THOUGHT THE CULTURAL AND
HISTORICAL CATEGORY ONLY ALLOWED
25,000.
>> PAT GERARD: IT DOES.
WAIT A MINUTE.
SPECIFIC ALLY, THE MARTIN LUTHER
KING PARADE, 75,000?
>> PAT GERARD: I DON'T THINK WE
FUNDED THEM UNDER THAT
CATEGORY.
THEY PUT IN TWO DIFFERENT
APPLICATIONS.
WE FUNDED ONE AND DID NOT FUND
THE OTHER.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: OKAY.
THEY APPLIED FOR THE ROOM NIGHTS
THEN?
>> PAT GERARD: YES.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
I JUST WAS CURIOUS.
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: DO YOU STILL WANT
COPIES OF THOSE?
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: I'D LIKE
TO SEE IS THERE A SUMMARY PAGE
FOR EACH APPLICATION?
>> PAT GERARD: NO, NOT REALLY.
THEY HAD THE REPORT FROM LAST
YEAR AND THEY HAVE --
>> BARRY BURTON: I HAVE A
SUMMARY.
I'LL SEND THAT OUT TO YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: WE HAVE THE
SCORING, BUT THAT WOULD BE --
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: GET ME
THE SCORING AND THEN THE
SUMMARY.
THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
>> BARRY BURTON: I'LL SEND THAT
OUT TODAY.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: IF I
WANT TO READ IT, I CAN PROBABLY
GO TO THE TDC AGENDA AND IT'S
PROBABLY THERE.
>> PAT GERARD: DEFINITELY.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: THANK
YOU.
>> BARRY BURTON: ITEM NUMBER 19
IS AN AGREEMENT WITH GULF COAST
LEGAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE FREE
LEGAL AID TO ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS
WITHIN THE COUNTY.
THIS AMOUNT IS $385,000 WITH AN
ESTIMATED $238,000 TO BE
COLLECTED FROM COURT FEES.
ITEM NUMBER 20 IS A FIRST OPTION
RENEWAL WITH THE HOMELESS
LEAD LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE
FOR PINELLAS FOR BRIDGE
HOUSING.
THIS AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$300,000.
>> PAT GERARD: COMMISSIONER
SEEL, I HAVE A QUESTION.
YOU'RE NOT ON THERE ANYMORE,
RIGHT?
OKAY.
HOW IS IT BEING UTILIZED THESE
DAYS?
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: I'D
PROBABLY HAVE TO DEFER TO
COMMISSIONER PETERS.
AREN'T YOU ON THE HOMELESS
LEADERSHIP APPLIANCE?
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN
WHERE THEY SERVE 54 FAMILIES
DURING THE LAST YEAR, BUT I
DIDN'T KNOW -- I TRIED TO LOOK
TO SEE, AGAIN, FOR THE BACK-UP
AGENDA ITEM WHETHER THERE WAS
ANYTHING THERE THAT GAVE ME MORE
INFORMATION AND I DIDN'T SEE TOO
MUCH MORE.
>> PAT GERARD: OKAY.
THESE ARE JUST GENERAL FUND
DOLLARS, SO THEY DON'T --
RIGHT?
THEY DON'T GET TIED UP IN ALL
THOSE REGULATIONS.
>> BARRY BURTON: I CAN HAVE --
COMMISSIONER PETERS CERTAINLY
CAN OR I CAN HAVE LOURDES JUMP
ON THE CALL.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: IT WOULD
BE NICE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, I
AGREE.
>> PAT GERARD: YEAH.
SINCE IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR
TOO.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: IT WAS
THE FIRST YEAR.
>> PAT GERARD: WELL -- YEAH.
OKAY.
>> BARRY BURTON: BRYAN, CAN YOU
PROMOTE LOURDES.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: SURE.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: WE DON'T
NEED IT NOW.
>> BARRY BURTON: YOU WANT TO DO
IT NEXT TUESDAY?
>> PAT GERARD: SHE CAN DO IT
NEXT TUESDAY.
>> BARRY BURTON: WE'LL DO IT
THEN.
>> DAVE EGGERS: THURSDAY,
RIGHT?
>> PAT GERARD: IS IT THURSDAY?
>> DAVE EGGERS: SORRY.
NEXT WEEK IT'S THURSDAY.
>> BARRY BURTON: THE FOLLOWING
ONE IS TUESDAY.
THE SECOND BUDGET HEARING IS ON
A TUESDAY.
OKAY.
ITEM 21 IS A FUNDING AGREEMENT
WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
THIS IS FOR PIN PINELLAS
HOPE EMERGENCY SHELTER.
NOTHING ON THAT?
ITEM 22 IS A SECOND OPTION OF
RENEWAL WITH HOME CARE FOR HOME
HEALTH CLIENTS.
THIS IS THEIR HOMELESS PROGRAM.
$550,000.
THE DETAILS ARE PROVIDED BELOW.
23 IS A FIRST AMENDMENT TO A
SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE AND LAND
USE RESTRICTION AGREEMENT WITH
DIRECTIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH,
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT FUNDS.
THESE ARE FOR FACILITY
IMPROVEMENTS.
PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $42,000
FOR THE PURCHASE OFINSLATION OF
INDUSTRIAL BACK-UP GENERATOR.
ITEM 24 IS CORONA RELIEF FUNDS.
THIS IS ADDITIONAL FUNDS WE'LL
BE RECEIVING.
THESE ARE COVID RELATED BUT
THEY'RE THROUGH A SUBRECIPIENT
AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA
HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY FOR
HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
THIS IS THE RECEIPT OF THE
FUNDS.
WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU
WITH A STRATEGY ON HOW TO SPEND
IT AT A LATER POINT.
>> DAVE EGGERS: BARRY, I NOTICE
THAT THAT HAD -- THAT ALSO HAD A
12-31 DEADLINE AS WELL, RIGHT?
IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF THESE
CARES-RELATED FUNDS ARE --
CORONA RELIEF FUND, IT'S ALL GOT
THAT DEADLINE IN IT, RIGHT?
>> BARRY BURTON: THEY DO UNLESS
THE DEADLINE IS EXTENDED.
WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING THAT
BACK TO YOU VERY QUICKLY.
STAFF IS FINAL 
FINALIZING DETAILS.
>> DAVE EGGERS: AND WE'VE GOT A
UNIFIED VOICE GOING OUT THERE TO
CONGRESSMAN BILIRAKIS AND CHRIS
ABOUT THAT EXTENSION.
I KEEP HEARING LITTLE BITS AND
PIECES.
>> BARRY BURTON: WE WILL
CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR AN
EXTENSION OF THAT DEADLINE,
ABSOLUTELY.
>> DAVE EGGERS: WE NEED A LETTER
FROM US, LET US KNOW.
>> BARRY BURTON: OKAY.
ITEM NUMBER 25 IS A CHANGE ORDER
TO A CONTRACT WITH BAY SHORE
CONSTRUCTION FOR THE FORT DE
SOTO DO YOU KNOW PROJECT.
YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE PROJECT.
HOWEVER, HE ADDRESSED -- PAUL
SAW A NUMBER OF SAFETY ISSUES
WITH HANDRAILS, SO HE WANTS TO
EXTEND THOSE TO ADDRESS THOSE
WHILE THE CONTRACTOR IS ON
SITE.
THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS
CHANGE ORDER.
ITEM NUMBER 6 IS A GRANT
APPLICATION WITH THE NATIONAL
FISH AND WILDLIFE FOR OLD TAMPA
BAY SEA WALL ENHANCEMENT
PROJECT.
THIS WILL -- THIS PROJECT WILL
REALLY GIVE US BASELINE WATER
AND WEIGHT ENERGY MONITORING
SITE ASSESSMENT AND 60% DESIGN.
THEY'RE GOING TO USE US AS A
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR THE
IMPACT THAT WOULD HAVE ON OUR
COASTAL PROJECTS.
ITEM NUMBER 27, THIS IS OUR
MPDS.
IT'S COUNTY WIDE STORM WATER.
MOST MUNICIPALITIES PARTICIPATE,
NOT ALL, AND SO IT IS HOW MANY?
ALL BUT THREE, SO 21 OF THE 24
AND THOSE HAVE THEIR OWN.
THEY DO THEIR OWN RESILIENCY
PROGRAM.
ITEM NUMBER 28 IS AN AGREEMENT
WITH GULF STREAM OUTSOURCING
SPECIALIZED BILLING FOR
RELIABILITY CLAIMS.
THIS IS A PILOT PROJECT ON OUR
ANNUAL BILLING WHERE THEY'RE
TAKING A PORTION AND THEY'RE
TRYING TO OUTSOURCE THAT.
THIS IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO
SOME LIABILITY CLAIMS IN THESE
TRANSPORTS THAT WILL TRY -- IF
THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL, THEY COULD
EXPAND THAT.
THE FIRM WILL UTILIZE A
DIFFERENT FIRM THAT WOULD HELP
THEM.
THAT WAY THEY CAN FOCUS ON THEIR
BILLING PRACTICE P
PRACTICES.
THIS IS THEM TRYING TO BE
CREATIVE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: I THINK
COMMISSIONER PETERS HAS A
QUESTION.
>> PAT GERARD: YES, COMMISSIONER
PETERS.
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: I JUST
THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND IT MIGHT
NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO ASK.
IT'S REALLY NOT A QUESTION.
I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU IF YOU
COULD SEND OUT -- DO YOU EVER
SEND OUT HOW MANY MINORITY-OWNED
BUSINESSES WE CONTRACT WITH?
I'M LOOKING AT ALL THESE
CONTRACTS AND I'M JUST
WONDERING -- I'M ASSUMING WE
HAVE A MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS
PROGRAM, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT
WE DO.
IF WE DO, COULD YOU GET US
INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY OUT
OF ALL THE CONTRACTS THAT WE
HAVE?
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE RIGHT AWAY
BECAUSE I KNOW MOST PEOPLE ARE
BUSY.
>> BARRY BURTON: WE ACTUALLY OWE
YOU A REPORT ON THAT, SO WE'RE
GOING TO BE BRINGING THAT BACK.
WE DO HAVE THAT.
THAT WAS LAUNCHED BEFORE I GOT
HERE, RIGHT, COMMISSIONER
WELCH?
AND THE COMMISSIONERS STRESSED
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM
AND OUR STAFF'S REALLY, REALLY
RAMPED THAT UP.
SO WE -- I'LL SAFE YOU THE
PROGRAM DETAILS, BUT IT'S BEEN A
WHILE WITH THE PANDEMIC.
WE HAVEN'T BROUGHT THAT BACK.
I MET WITH STAFF ON THAT NOT TOO
LONG AGO.
WE OWE YOU A REPORT.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: OKAY.
CAN YOU LET US KNOW HOW MANY ARE
FEMALE OWNED.
>> BARRY BURTON: I THINK WE HAVE
THE BREAKDOWN.
WE DON'T -- IT'S NOT -- I DON'T
KNOW IF IT'S GENDER SPECIFIC OR
IT'S SMALL AND EMERGING
BUSINESSES THAT QUALIFIED.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE BREAK IT
DOWN BY RACE OR GENDER.
I'LL HAVE TO CHECK EXACTLY WHAT
TYPE OF DETAIL WE HAVE ON THAT.
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
I KNEW IT WASN'T THE RIGHT TIME,
BUT I APPRECIATE IT.
>> BARRY BURTON: WE'LL FOLLOW-UP
ON THAT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REPORTS THAT
WE NEED TO GET SCHEDULED ON TO
THIS AGENDA.
OKAY.
WHERE WAS I AT?
NEXT IS -- THIS IS AN INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT, ITEM 29 IS H*
HILLSBOROUGH FOR LIMITED SOLID
WASTE PROCESSING.
THIS ENABLES US TO WORK WITH
THEM OR THEM TO WORK WITH US IF
WE HAVE DOWN TIME AT OUR WASTE
ENERGY FACILITY.
ITEM NUMBER 30 IS A RESOLUTION
TO WAIVE THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT
CUSTOMER LAKE FEED CONNECTIONS.
AS YOU KNOW, WE DID A SUSPENSION
FOR NORMAL BILLING PACKAGES
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WE WENT -- RESUMED NORMAL
BILLING PRACTICES
AUGUST 1st.
HOWEVER, THERE'S LATE FEES THAT
ACCUMULATED, $668,000.
THIS WILL WAIVE THE LATE FEES.
WAO*L STILL OWE THE REGULAR
AMOUNT BUT WAIVE THE LATE FEES.
ITEM 31 IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE
PROJECT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY
OF LARGO FOR UTILITY RELOCATIONS
ALONG ROSEMARY ROAD FROM
PINELLAS AND MISSOURI AVENUE,
1,100 FEET.
THE CONDITIONAL COUNTY WORK
COSTS ABOUT $500,000.
ITEM NUMBER 32 ARE APPOINTMENTS
TO THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
33 IS APPOINTMENTS TO THE
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
MEDICAL CONTROL BOARD.
34 IS A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A
RESTATED PLAN DOCUMENT TO AMEND
THE CAFETERIA PLAN.
THIS IS REALLY RELATED -- IT'S
ADJUSTING THE MAXIMUMS ON THE
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FSA
ALLOWABLE SPENDING BOARD
DEFERRED AND MAKING THOSE
CHANGES.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: MADAM CHAIR, I
THINK COMMISSIONER SEEL HAS A
QUESTION ON THAT.
>> PAT GERARD: COMMISSIONER SEEL
STKPWHRAO*EL THANK YOU.
 SEEL.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: THANK
YOU.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, I COULDN'T
FIND IT.
WHAT IS THE AMOUNT INCREASED
TO?
I GUESS IT JUST GOES THROUGH
2020 ONLY.
>> BARRY BURTON: I WOULD HAVE TO
CHECK BACK ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S PART OF THE
ATTACHMENT OR NOT.
I'LL HAVE THAT ANSWER FOR YOU.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: I DIDN'T
SEE IT AS PART OF THE
ATTACHMENT.
SO THANKS.
>> BARRY BURTON: I'LL MAKE SURE
WE LOAD THAT UP.
I DIDN'T LOOK AT THAT TO THE
SPECIFIC AMOUNT.
I'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW-UP ON THAT.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU
STKPWHRA.
>> JEWEL WHITE: THIS IS FROM THE
TAX COLLECTOR.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE
THE EARLY EXTENSION OF THE ROLES
SO THE TAX COLLECTOR CAN GET THE
TAX BILLS OUT PRIOR TO THE
CONCLUSION OF THE VALUE
ADJUSTMENT PROCESS.
UNDER ITEMS 36 AND 37 THESE ARE
BOTH CODE ENFORCEMENT CASES.
WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR AUTHORITY
TO FILE INJUNCTION ACTIONS IN
EACH OF THESE CASES.
AND I DO NOT ANTICIPATE HAVING
ANY REPORTS.
>> BARRY BURTON: ITEM 40 IS AN
APPOINTMENT TO THE SOUND
COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT.
AND 41 IS AMENDMENT TO THE BOARD
OF -- FOR THE YOUTH ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: MADAM CHAIR,
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE, THE
YOUTH HAVE KIND OF REWORKED THE
ORDINANCE.
THEY WANT TO EXTEND THE AMOUNT
OF TIME THAT THEY CAN SPEND ON
THAT BOARD.
CURRENTLY IT'S A SCHOOL YEAR AND
THEY WANT TO DO A FULL YEAR.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT THIS
SUMMER.
THEY WANT TO CONTINUE IT AS A
FULL YEAR SO THAT THE CHAIR
WOULD BE FROM THE DATE THEY GET
AN APPOINTMENT APPOINTED UNTIL
THE DAY SOMEBODY ELSE GETS
APPOINTED.
IT WOULD BE ONE YEAR AND JUST AN
FYI, IF YOU HAVE NOT PAID
ATTENTION TO THEIR FACEBOOK OR
THEIR NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL, THESE
KIDS HAVE DONE AMAZING WORK.
THEY DIDN'T LET COVID STOP
THEM.
THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR LEGAL TO
START MEETING AGAIN ON ZOOM, BUT
WHEN THEY GOT BACK TOGETHER,
THEY PICKED WITHOUT ANY
INFLUENCE OF ME.
I KNOW YOU -- IT'S TRUE, THEY
PICKED MENTAL HEALTH AS THEIR
PRIORITY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T
LIKE THE MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING
THAT WAS BEING PROVIDED IN THE
SCHOOLS.
AND SO WHILE THEY WERE OUT OF
SCHOOL, THEY INVITED
PROFESSIONALS AND THEY HELD A
WEBINAR ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
WITH THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
THEY HELD WEBINARS ON MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES RELATED TO SUICIDE
AND THEN THEY ALSO HELD A
WEBINAR ON SUBSTANCE.
 SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
EVERYONE ONE OF THEM ARE
EXCEPTIONALLY DONE.
THE INFORMATION IS AMAZING.
THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED THEIR
FACEBOOK PAGE OR YOUTUBE, THE
VIDEOS ARE THERE AND IT'S ALL
DONE BY THESE KIDS.
THE QUESTIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT
AND INTENSE QUESTIONS THAT
REALLY IMPACT YOUTH AND THEIR
PERCEPTION AND HOW TO COPE AND
GET RESOURCES TO GET HELP.
IT WAS REALLY AMAZING.
THEY WANT TO KEEP UP THEIR
WORK.
YOU WILL SEE CHANGES THAT THEY
WANT TO AMEND ON MEMBERSHIP AND
THINGS LIKE THAT NEXT MEETING.
THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
THEY WILL BE PRESENTING TO YOU.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE QUITE
IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK THAT
THEY'VE DONE.
I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH THE
VIDEOS.
WHILE I'VE GOT THE MICROPHONE, I
DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT
NEXT WEEK I'LL BE SUBMITTING
SOME MSTU REQUESTS FOR THE
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS, ABOUT
$15,000.
I JUST WANTED TO HEADS UP.
YOU DON'T HAVE IT NOW.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> BARRY BURTON: OKAY,
COMMISSIONERS.
ITEM 44.
THIS IS THE GRAND CANAL.
AND SO THERE'S SEVERAL CHANGES
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, UPDATING
OUR PROCESSES AND THINGS LIKE
THAT.
KELY IS GOING TO WALK THROUGH
THAT WITH YOU.
THIS ENABLES US TO MOVE FORWARD
ON THAT PROJECT AND IT ASSESSES
THE METHOD FOR COLLECTION FOR AN
ASSESSMENT.
AND THE NEXT IS ITEM 45 AND THIS
IS AN ORDINANCE FOR GOLF CARTS
IN THE OZONA AND CRYSTAL BEACH
AREA.
THIS ESTABLISHES THE ZONES.
IT ESTABLISHES THE REGULATION
ASSOCIATED WITH THEM BEING ABLE
TO ACCESS TIES INTO THE DUNEDIN
AREA AND HOW PEOPLE CAN MOVE
AROUND VIA GOLF CARTS.
>> PAT GERARD: OKAY.
>> BARRY BURTON: THEN FINALLY IS
OUR RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE
MILLAGE RATES AND BUDGET FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2021.
>> PAT GERARD: ALL RIGHT.
GO AHEAD, DAVE.
>> DAVE EGGERS: JUST REAL
QUICKLY, I WANTED TO -- I HAD
TALKED TO ONE MEMBER FROM THE
YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND
SHE -- I WANTED TO JUST THANK
YOU, COMMISSIONER PETERS, FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA,
BECAUSE SHE'S SO EXCITED ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON.
SHE TENDS TO BE A LITTLE
QUIETER, BUT SHE WAS REAL
EXCITED ABOUT THE EFFORTS THAT
ARE BEING MADE AND IS LOOKING
FORWARD TO BEING REAPPOINTED
AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AND SAY
THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
>> JANET LONG: MADAM CHAIR, I
WOULD LIKE TO ASK COMMISSIONER
PETERS, IF I MAY, IN THE
PROPOSAL FROM THE STUDENTS,
COMMISSIONER, WANTING TO EXTEND
THEIR LENGTH OF TIME ON THE
BOARD, DOES -- DO THEY WANT TO
STAY PAST THE TIME THAT THEY
GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, DO
YOU KNOW?
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: THEY JUST
AGREE THAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE
THEM ONE-YEAR TERMS.
WE DO GET DROP OFF.
IF THE DROP OFF HAPPENED DURING
THE TWO MONTHS WHILE MAYBE KIDS
WERE GOING TO COLLEGE, I DON'T
THINK THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT
THAT.
THE DROP OFF, EVEN WITH COVID,
WE DIDN'T SEE THE DROP OFF WE
EXPECTED AND THEY JUST FEEL --
MANY OF THE STUDENTS THAT
PARTICIPATE ARE UNDERCLASSMEN
AND SO THEY STRONGLY FEEL THEY
WANT THE EXPERIENCE AND THEY
COULDN'T DO THE TOUR OF
GOVERNMENT FACILITIES THEY
WANTED TO DO AND WE COULDN'T DIG
INTO THE JUSTICE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT LIKE THE SHERIFF AND
THE COURTS.
THEY JUST FEEL THAT 12 MONTHS
WOULD GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO NOT
ONLY DO THE WORK THEY WANT TO
DO, BUT IT WOULD GIVE THEM MORE
TIME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
GOVERNMENT.
IF THAT'S A PATH, A CA RAER PATH
TCAREER PATH
THEY WANTED TO GO INTO, IT IT
WOULD GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO
EXPERIENCE IT.
THEY AREN'T CONCERNED AS SENIORS
THAT ARE LEAVING ABOUT THAT KIND
OF DROP OFF.
>OFF.
>> JANET LONG: THANK YOU.
THIS IS MORE OF A COMMENT.
IT OCCURS TO ME YOU ARE DOING AN
INCREDIBLE JOB WITH THIS PROGRAM
AND ENGAGING THE INTEREST OF
THESE STUDENTS AND GIVEN THAT
IT'S DONE AS WELL AS IT IS, IT
COULD POS POTENTIALLY BE A
BENCH FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT
HUMAN RESOURCES TO HIRE THESE
FOLKS AND APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAMS AS THEY WORK THEIR WAY
THROUGH SCHOOL.
I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN TRYING TO
RAISE UP THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO
GET INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SERVICE,
COUNTY, LOCAL, AND STATE
GOVERNMENT.
I THINK IT'S FASCINATING FOR
THEM.
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: IF IT'S
OKAY, I JUST WANT TO RESPOND TO
COMMISSIONER LONG.
I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THE
KIDS HAVE DETERMINED THAT THEY
WANT TO SURVEY ANY KIDS THAT ARE
PARTICIPATING IN MEETINGS AND
WEBINARS.
THE QUESTIONS THEY'RE ASKING ARE
GREAT.
BUT THE REASON THEY'RE JOINING
OR THE REASON THEY WANT TO JOIN,
WE JUST HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY
ON THE OPEN HOUSE TO RE-UP.
ONE OF THE HIGHEST MARKS WAS
LEARNING MORE ABOUT GOVERNMENT.
AND I THINK THIS PANDEMIC HAS
REALLY GENERATED A LOT OF
INTEREST IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND
WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED.
I MEAN, I'M REALLIED ABOUT THESE
KIDS.
IT IS NOT ADULT DRIVEN AT ALL.
WE'VE REALLY EMPOWERED THEM TO
TAKE OVER AND RUN IT AND THEY
HAVE FAR EXCEEDED ANY OF OUR
EXPECTATIONS AND THEIR
EXPECTATIONS ARE PRETTY HIGH.
THESE KIDS ARE AMAZING.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO THE
PRESENTATION.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
WE HAVE GOTTEN SEVERAL REQUESTS
TO HAVE A MEETING THAT'S IN THE
EVENING SO THAT WE CAN TAKE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
NORMALLY WE WOULDN'T DO THAT AT
6:00 ON OUR REGULAR PUBLIC
HEARING NIGHT.
BUT I'M WONDERING IF WE WANT TO
DO THAT SINCE WE'RE ONLY HAVING
PUBLIC HEARINGS ONCE A MONTH OR
SO, DO WE WANT TO TAKE PUBLIC
COMMENT BOTH AT 2:00 AND AT
6:00?
>> BARRY BURTON: BEFORE YOU
ANSWER, THAT DOW HAVE TWO PUBLIC
HEARINGS JUST FOR
CLARIFICATION.
ONE DOES START AT 2:00.
THE NEXT ONE ON THE 22nd
ST DOESN'T START UNTIL --
I'M SORRY, I LOOKED AT IT
WRONG.
NEVER MIND.
>> PAT GERARD: OKAY.
COMMISSIONER PETERS?
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: I HAVE NO
PROBLEM DOING PUBLIC HEARING AT
6:00.
I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY NOW AND
ESPECIALLY FOR THE PEOPLE TO
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
THEIR VOICE HEARD.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD IMPACT US
IF WE HAVE TO EXTEND OUR MEETING
AN EXTRA 30 TO 40 OR 50 MINUTES
I WOULD SUPPORT DOING THAT.
>> PAT GERARD: RIGHT.
MY ONLY CONCERN WOULD BE IF WE
HAD A LOT, IT WOULD BE PUSHING
BACK THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS FROM
A TIME CERTAIN.
BUT COMMISSIONER SEEL.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: I WOULD
AGREE.
I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT
PROBABLY PEOPLE CAN COMMENT ON
ANY AGENDA ITEM ANYWAY, SO WE
HAVE A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
AND THEN I WAS LOOKING TO SEE
FOR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD WAS ON
THE AFTERNOON AGENDA.
I DIDN'T QUITE FIND IT YET.
>> PAT GERARD: IT'S THE VERY
FIRST THING.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: OKAY.
SORRY.
SO I THINK THAT WE -- VIA ZOOM
THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HEAR
PEOPLE AND THERE ARE GOOD POINTS
MADE.
ONE REASON WHY WE DO THE BUDGET
IN THE EVENING IS SO THAT PEOPLE
CAN BE HEARD.
SO GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I
COMPLETELY AGREE.
>> PAT GERARD: OKAY.
COMMISSIONER LONG.
>> JANET LONG: THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR.
I TOTALLY AGREE.
I DON'T WANT TO BE REDUNDANT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, THOUGH,
THAT PERHAPS WE ASK OUR CITIZENS
IF THEY SPEAK IN THE MORNING TO
NOT, YOU KNOW, CALL BACK IN THE
AFTERNOON, BECAUSE WE TEND TO
HEAR OVER AND OVER FROM THE SAME
FOLKS AND IT REDUCES THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW PEOPLE TO
GET IN THE QUEUE.
>> JEWEL WHITE: TO THAT POINT, I
WOULD RECOMMEND YOU ONLY HAVE
ONE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON THE
AGENDA.
YOU DO HAVE A LOCAL STATE OF
EMERGENCY ON DURING THE
DAYTIME.
WELL, THE EARLIER PORTION OF THE
MEETING WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
IF YOU PUT IT TWICE ON YOUR
AGENDA, YOU'RE CREATING TWO
OPPORTUNITIES AND GIVING PEOPLE
OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK AND THE
SAME PERSON WOULD HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
>> PAT GERARD: SO THEY WOULD
ANYWAY.
>> JEWEL WHITE: THEY'RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THE LOCAL
STATE OF EMERGENCY ON THAT
REGULAR AGENDA ITEM WHICH IS
EARLIER ON YOUR AGENDA.
I THINK IT'S 13 OR 14, SO THAT'S
GOING TO BE DURING THE
2:00 PORTION.
IF YOU WANTED TO MOVE CITIZENS
TO BE HEARD, I RECOMMEND YOU PUT
IT, YOU KNOW, INITIALLY AT THE
6:00 PORTION IF YOU WANT TO HAVE
IT IN THE EVENING.
BUT KEEP IN MIND YOU WILL HAVE
ACTED ON THE LOCAL STATE OF
EMERGENCY, BUT PEOPLE WILL STILL
BE ABLE TO EXPRESS COMMENTS ON
MATTERS OF A GENERAL NATURE.
>> BARRY BURTON: OR IF YOU
WANTED TO KEEP THEM TOGETHER, WE
COULD PUSH THE LOCAL STATE OF
EMERGENCY TO THE EVENING.
JUST A THOUGHT.
>> PAT GERARD: THINK ABOUT
THIS.
COMMISSIONER EGGERS.
>> DAVE EGGERS: YOU MADE THE
COMMENT ABOUT OUR PUBLIC
HEARINGS.
WE DO HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE TO
THAT.
WE DO HAVE, FOR INSTANCE, IN
THIS MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, I'M NOT
SURE HOW MANY WEEKS.
THE FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS THAT ARE
COVERED, WE PROBABLY HAVE TWO
MEETINGS OR THREE MEETINGS THAT
AREN'T PUBLIC -- THAT AREN'T
KPH COMMISSION MEETINGS.
WE COULD MOVE ONE OF THOSE TO
THE EVENING, INSTEAD OF HAVING
IT AT THE TIME WE DID TODAY.
WE COULD HAVE IT AT 6:00 AND
JUST DO WHAT WE'RE DOING
TONIGHT.
NOT IN THE COMMISSION MEETING
WITH THE NORMAL BUSINESS TAKES
CARE OF IT, WHAT WE'RE DOING
LIKE TODAY.
JUST AN ALTERNATIVE SO WE DON'T
AFFECT THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS,
PUSHING THEM BACK TOO LATE.
>> PAT GERARD: I THINK NOW THAT
IT'S -- NOW THAT IT'S BEEN
PROPOSED, IT'S PROBABLY TOO LATE
TO DO THAT, BUT I'M OKAY WITH
PUSHING THE LOCAL STATE OF
EMERGENCY TO 6:00.
I MEAN, THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT
TO TALK ABOUT.
>> BARRY BURTON: WE'LL CHANGE
THE AGENDA AND PUT THE LOCAL
STATE OF EMERGENCY AT 6:00 AND
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD RIGHT
BEFORE THAT.
>> PAT GERARD: RIGHT.
WE SHOULD ALL TAKE A NAP IN THE
AFTERNOON.
OKAY.
COMMISSIONER JUSTICE.
>> CHARLIE JUSTICE: IF YOU WANT
THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD AT THE
2:00 AND THE STATE OF EMERGENCY
AT 6:00 SO THAT YOU GET THE
GENERAL COMMENTS AT 2:00 AND
THEN THE COMMENTS THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT REALLY AT THE
6:00 PORTION OF THE MEETING.
IF SOMEONE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT
COVID GENERAL, THEY CAN TALK
ABOUT IT DURING CITIZENS TO BE
HEARD AT 2:00.
IT WOULD BE TWO OPPORTUNITIES
FOR FOLKS TO PUT IT ON THEIR
SCHEDULES.
>> PAT GERARD: WELL, IT'S NOT
WHAT I WANT.
IT'S WHAT WE WANT.
SO WE COULD PROBABLY CUT OUT THE
CITIZENS COMMENT AT 2:00 SINCE
WE DO THAT WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER
WEEK IN THE MORNING AND THEY CAN
STILL TALK ON ANY ITEM WE'RE
VOTING ON, INCLUDING EVERYTHING
ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND THEN HAVE GENERAL CITIZEN
COMMENT AT 6:00.
I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE FEEL
ABOUT THAT.
>> DAVE EGGERS: SO IS THE IDEA
TO DO ONE MEETING A MONTH SO
THEY CAN SPEAK AT 6:00 OR
LATER?
OR ARE WE GOING TO DO IT, LIKE,
MORE OFTEN THAN THAT?
BECAUSE WE DO MEET FOUR OR FIVE
TIMES A MONTH NOW.
>> PAT GERARD: RIGHT.
>> DAVE EGGERS: WE HAVE FOUR OR
FIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ALTER OUR
SCHEDULE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST COMMISSION
MEETINGS.
>> PAT GERARD: THE QUESTION WAS
DO TWA WE WANT TO ALLOW
PUBLIC COMMENT AT NIGHT, GENERAL
PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE DON'T USUALLY DO THAT IN OUR
6:00 PART OF THE MEETING.
SO WE HAVE BEEN ASKED AND I
THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING
TO DO.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A SEPARATE
PUBLIC COMMENT AT 2:00.
I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK WE DO,
BUT COMMISSIONER PETERS?
>> KATHLEEN PETERS: SO THE ONLY
REASON WHY WE WANT TO TAKE AWAY
FROM 2:00 IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE
PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCUSTOMED TO
THAT.
WHEN WE CHANGE IT AND KEEP
CHANGING IT, I THINK YOU STAY
WITH WHAT WE ALWAYS DO AT 2:00.
AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO GIVE AN
OPPORTUNITY AT 6:00, I THINK YOU
GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY AT
6:00.
I THINK EVERY WEEK FOR THE LAST
SEVERAL WEEKS WE'VE EXPECTED A
COUPLE HOURS OF TESTIMONY AND
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN AS LONG AS WE
THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO BE.
WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IT'S NOT THAT MANY.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THIS.
IT MIGHT BE A LONG TIME.
IT MIGHT NOT BE.
I WOULD HESITATE TO CHANGE WHAT
IS THE NORM, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
ALREADY USED TO THE NORM.
THEY'RE USED TO IT IN THE
BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
I THINK IF YOU TAKE THAT AWAY
AND THE NEXT WEEK IT'S THERE AND
THERE'S NOT CONSISTENCY AND
CONTINUITY, I THINK YOU KEEP IT
IN THE BEGINNING.
IF YOU WANT TO ADD IT AT 6:00, I
HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH LETTING
PEOPLE TALK, EVEN IF IT'S A
SECOND TIME.
THEY'RE OUR BOSS.
THEY ELECTED US.
WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THEM.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S A PROBLEM
IF OUR 6:00 MEETING RUNS A
LITTLE LONG.
BUT I WOULD HESITATE TO CHANGE
WHAT WE NORMALLY DO IN THE
BEGINNING OF ANY MEETING BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE USED TO
AND WE SHOULD KEEP CONTINUITY
AND CONSISTENCY.
>> DAVE EGGERS: SO DOES THAT
MEAN --
>> PAT GERARD: GO AHEAD.
>> DAVE EGGERS: SORRY.
DOES THAT MEAN, AND I KIND OF
AGREE WITH HAVING A PUBLIC
COMMENT IN THE BEGINNING, AND
THEN AT 6:00 HAVING PUBLIC
COMMENT AND STATE OF EMERGENCY
BOTH SO THAT WE CONTINUE WITH
OUR PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE
AFTERNOON IN LIEU OF THE STATE
OF EMERGENCY?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHY THEY'RE
CALLING.
IT WOULD BE KIND OF SILLY TO
HAVE THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN
THE AFTERNOON AND THEY'RE
CALLING TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE
OF EMERGENCY IN THE EVENING
WHILE WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN THAT
ACTION.
>> PAT GERARD: RIGHT.
THAT'S WHY I SUGGESTED WE PUT IT
AT OF.
>> DAVE EGGERS: YEAH.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
>> PAT GERARD: WE'VE ONLY BEEN
DOING THIS ONCE A MONTH.
ACTUALLY, IN OUR NORMAL LIFE, IF
WE CAN REMEMBER WHAT THAT WAS
LIKE, WE ONLY HAD ONE EVENING
MEETING A MONTH.
SO I THINK ONE OF THEM SHOULD BE
OPEN AT 6:00 FOR COMMENT.
ALL RIGHT.
SO WE CAN DO THAT, UNLESS
SOMEBODY HAS A HUGE OBJECTION TO
THAT.
HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE
BEGINNING AT 2:00 AND AT 6:00.
>> DAVE EGGERS: YEP.
>> PAT GERARD: AND MOVE STATE OF
EMERGENCY TO 6:00 AFTER PUBLIC
COMMENT.
HOWEVER, I WILL CONSOLIDATE IF I
CAN, MADAM ATTORNEY, IF I HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN
IMMEDIATELY AFTER I HAVE STATE
OF EMERGENCY, DO I HAVE TO HAVE
TWO COMMENT PERIODS FOR THIS
ITEM?
>> JEWEL WHITE: I THINK IT
DEPENDS ON WHAT THE EXPECTATION
IS.
I FEEL LIKE IF YOU GIVE PEOPLE
ADVANCE NOTICE THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO OPEN IT UP FOR BOTH PURPOSES
THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AT
THE MEETING TODAY AND THEN THE
LAST MEETING ON SOME OTHERS, I
THINK YOU'RE FINE.
BUT DOW NEED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW
THAT ONCE YOU OPEN UP THAT
GENERAL COMMENT PERIOD AT
6:00 THAT IT IS GOING TO BE FOR
BOTH THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD
AND THE LOCAL STATE OF
EMERGENCY.
BECAUSE FROM A LEGAL
PERSPECTIVE, WHAT YOU'RE
REQUIRED TO DO IS GIVE PEOPLE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE
ITEMS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE
VOTING ON PRIOR TO TAKING
ACTION.
THE CITIZEN COMMENT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE LEGALLY
REQUIRED TO DO, BUT IT IS
SOMETHING THAT'S VERY COMMON
WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
OBVIOUSLY WE'VE DONE IT FOR A
VERY LONG TIME.
LEGALLY YOU HAVE TO GIVE PEOPLE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON
THE EXTENSION.
SO YEAH, I THINK IT IS
LEGITIMATE TO PUT THOSE TWO
THINGS TOGETHER, BUT ALSO AS YOU
HAVE BEEN DOING, ADVISE PEOPLE
BEFORE THAT OPEN COMMENT PERIOD
STARTS THAT IT IS TO COVER
BOTH.
BOTH THE CITIZEN COMMENT AND THE
LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER SEEL.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: COMMISSIONER
SEEL, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
I THINK YOUR AUDIO SOURCE MIGHT
HAVE CHANGED.
DO YOU HAVE A BLUETOOTH OR
SOMETHING?
>> PAT GERARD: STILL CAN'T HEAR
YOU.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: HOW
ABOUT NOW?
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: THAT'S
BETTER.
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: OKAY.
SORRY.
I JUST TURNED IT OFF.
SOMETHING WENT HAYWIRE.
I JUST HAD A CITIZEN TEXT ME
ASKING IF THEY HAVE FIVE CARDS
WHETHER THEY CAN GET TEN MINUTES
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD
HANDLE THAT, BRYAN, WITH THIS
ZOOM TECHNIQUE, BUT I WAS ASKED
TO ASK THE QUESTION.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: IF THEY HAVE
FIVE COMMENT CARDS?
>> KAREN WILLIAMS SEEL: YES.
WHICH TYPICALLY IN OUR AGENDA
ALLOWS SOMEBODY 10 MINUTES TO
SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A GROUP.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU HANDLE THAT
WITH ZOOM BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: I'D HAVE TO
DEFER TO JEWEL.
>> JEWEL WHITE: I WOULD HAVE TO
DOUBLE CHECK AND SEE IF THE
PROCEDURES YOU ADOPTED IN THESE
VIRTUAL MEETINGS HAS ANY, YOU
KNOW, GUIDELINE IN THAT REGARD,
BUT I AGREE, IT WOULD BE NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE AND WOULD
NOTE THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING TWO
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZEN
COMMENT AND, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ENFORCE IT.
YOU ALL ARE VERY PRETTY -- YOU
KNOW, PRETTY RIG RIGID IN
ENFORCING FIVE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE
THERE IN PERSON SO THAT YOU CAN
VERIFY THEY ARE ACTUALLY
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A GROUP.
I'VE SEEN DON TURN HIS VIDEO
ON.
HE WROTE YOUR PROCEDURES FOR
THESE VIRTUAL MEETINGS, SO I'M
GOING TO DEFER TO HIM TO SEE IF
HE HAS ANYTHING TO ADD.
>> WE DISCUSSED IN A LOT IN
TRYING TO COME UP WITH A
LOGISTICAL PRACTICAL WAY TO DEAL
WITH THAT INITIALLY.
FOR THE TIME BEING, THAT HAD
BEEN REMOVED FROM THE PROCESS
BECAUSE OF THE VIRTUAL NATURE
AND EXACTLY THE POINT JEWEL JUST
MADE IS IT'S VIRTUALLY
IMPOSSIBLE TO TIE THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE PHYSICALLY THERE AGAIN,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE PHONE
NUMBERS AND ALL THAT KIND OF
THING WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE NAMES,
YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S WHAT.
SO WE HAD SIMPLY REMOVED THAT
FOR THE MOMENT.
AGAIN, WITH EACH OF THE PEOPLE
HAVING -- AGAIN, TO JEWEL'S
POINT EARLIER, THERE'S NOT A LAW
THAT REQUIRES THAT AT ALL.
IT'S PURELY AN ACCOMMODATION
THAT THE BOARD HAS HISTORICALLY
MADE, BUT FRANKLY WE WERE
BUILDING THE AIRPLANE AS WE WERE
TRYING TO FLY IT TO TRY AND GET
THIS TOGETHER AND HAVE THESE
MEETINGS UP AND RUNNING, SO THAT
WAS ONE THING THAT FELL BY THE
WAYSIDE.
IF YOU'D LIKE, WE CAN LOOK AT --
SEE IF THERE'S SOME OTHER WAY TO
DO IT.
THE REFERENCE TO CARDS OBVIOUSLY
VIRTUALLY WE DON'T HAVE CARDS,
SO WE'D HAVE TO COME UP WITH
SOME OTHER MECHANISM.
THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS
THAT WE TRY TO MANAGE AND BRYAN
DOES A GREAT JOB OF DEALING WITH
IT ALONG WITH THE CLERK AND
OTHERS INVOLVED.
SO TPRARPBG FRANKLY
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE JUST
COULDN'T FIND A GOOD WAY TO DEAL
WITH AT THE MOMENT, BUT WE CAN
LOOK AGAIN.
>> PAT GERARD: THAT'S WHAT I WAS
GOING TO SAY.
BRYAN AND COMPANY HAVE DONE AN
INCREDIBLE JOB KEEPING THE
MEETINGS MOVING.
& DEALING WITH THIS WHOLE PUBLIC
INPUT THING, IT SEEMS LIKE FROM
A CLERK STANDPOINT YOU'D HAVE TO
HAVE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF FIVE
OF THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY
HAVE TO GO ON THE RECORD.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE PRESENT
ONLINE AT THE TIME THAT THE
PERSON THAT WAS REPRESENTING
THEM, SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T
THINK -- YES?
>> JUST COMPLICATING THAT, WHEN
BRYAN HAS 80 PEOPLE SHOWING UP
AS PARTICIPANTS AND THEY'RE
TRYING TO FIND THOSE THROUGH THE
LIST, IT'S JUST VERY, VERY
LOGISTICALLY PROBLEMATIC.
>> PAT GERARD: I THINK HE HAS
PLENTY TO PAY ATTENTION TO
DURING OUR MEETINGS.
YES, COMMISSIONER WELCH?
>> KENNETH WELCH: I JUST WANTED
TO NOTE, DON, IF YOU CAN PUT
YOUR CAMERA BACK ON.
YOU DID SAY VIRTUALLY
IMPOSSIBLE.
YOU'RE TAKING ON THE MARKER.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> PAT GERARD: ALL RIGHT.
SO LET'S NOT DO THAT FOR NOW.
ANYTHING ELSE?
YES?
COMMISSIONER JUSTICE.
>> CHARLIE JUSTICE: ON A
COMPLETELY SEPARATE TOPIC, IS
THAT ALL RIGHT?
>> PAT GERARD: YEP.
>> CHARLIE JUSTICE: WE RECEIVED
OR I RECEIVED PICTURES FROM
RESIDENTS IN SAFETY HARBOR ABOUT
FILL L PHILLIP PARK ABOUT
THE TREATMENT OF WEEDS.
I KNOW WE GET BACK FROM PARKS
THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING ALL THE
PRACTICES BY THE CHEMICALS AND
ALL OF THOSE KIND OF THINGS, BUT
A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE TALKED
ABOUT TAKING EXAMINATION OF HOW
WE USE THESE THROUGHOUT OUR
FACILITIES AND WHETHER OR NOT IT
WAS, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE FOLLOWING
ALL THE PROCEDURES, WHETHER OR
NOT IT WAS THE APPROPRIATE WAY
TO CONTROL THE WEEDS, TO CONTROL
THE GROWTH THERE, OR WHETHER
THERE WAS -R OTHER OPTIONS.
I KNOW OUR PARKS WAS LOOKING AT
IT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD THAT
REPORT COME BACK TO US AND HAVE
A REAL DISCUSSION ON IT.
I WANTED TO BRING THAT UP FOR
THE ADMINISTRATOR.
BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVE GOTTEN
SOME KPRAOUBGZ ON IT.
>> BARRY BURTON: I CAN ANSWER
THAT.
IT IS GOING THROUGH A REVIEW
PERIOD.
JENNIFER FROM THE CITY OF
DUNEDIN AND I CO-CHAIRED THIS
TASK FORCE WHERE WE BROUGHT ALL
OF THE PARKS AND RECS AND FOLKS
FROM THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE
MUNICIPALITIES TOGETHER AND PUT
TOGETHER A MODEL ORDINANCE THAT
EVERYBODY COULD USE.
IT'S NOT MANDATORY OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT.
AND SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT THOSE
TYPES OF PRACTICES.
WE LEARNED A LOT.
WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHEN YOU
HAVE ALTERNATIVE CHEMICALS HOW
PEOPLE ARE APPLYING THEM OR
BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS EFFECTIVE,
ARE YOUR CREWS ACTUALLY PUTTING
ON THREE TIMES AS MUCH TO BE
ABLE TO CONTROL THE WEEDS OR
WHATEVER.
AND SO THEY WENT THROUGH A VERY
LENGTHY PROCESS TO BRING
TOGETHER A REPORT THAT NOW WE'RE
HAVING VETTED AND WE'RE TAKING
THAT OUT TO ENVIRONMENTAL
GROUPS.
WE'RE TAKING THAT OUT TO OTHERS
TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERYBODY'S
INPUT AS PART OF THAT.
WE ARE THEN GOING TO BRING THAT
OUT AND ROLL THAT OUT
SIMULTANEOUSLY TO THE CITIES AND
TO THE COMMISSION AND, AGAIN,
IT'S A BEST PRACTICES DOCUMENT.
IT'S A GUIDE.
THAT IS WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY
FOLLOWING, BUT WE WILL BE
BRINGING THAT TO YOU SOON, AS
SOON AS THAT VETTING PROCESS IS
OVER.
>> CHARLIE JUSTICE: DOES THAT
INCLUDE A CONVERSATION OF IT
COSTS US "X" DOLLARS TO DO THE
CHEMICAL AND IT COSTS US "Y"
DOLLARS TO OBVIOUSLY MORE TO DO
IT MANUALLY AND THOSE KIND OF
OPTIONS?
>> BARRY BURTON: IT DOES.
THERE IS' A PRACTICALITY TO BE
ABLE TO GET IN AREAS AND SIMPLY
PULL BY HAND WEEDS.
THERE'S ALSO LIMITATIONS WHEN
YOU USE CERTAIN TYPES OF
ALTERNATIVE CHEMICALS.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A PROFESSOR COME
IN TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU
APPLY -- IF YOUR CREW WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE OUT THERE, SEPARATE
FROM THE DIRECTOR WHO IS
ACTUALLY OUT TRYING TO WORK IN
THE PARKS AND HE APPLIES DOUBLE
THE AMOUNT OF THE
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE, IT
ACTUALLY HAS A -- IT'S MORE
ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING THAN IF
YOU WERE JUST TO USE THE
ROUND-UP TO BEGIN WITH OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THEY WENT THROUGH A LOT OF
DIFFERENT ITERATIONS AND
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE
PRACTICALITY OF HOW TO APPLY
IT.
AGAIN, IT'S A GUIDE, NOT A
MANDATE OR ANYTHING, BUT I THINK
IT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE US MORE
UNIFORM IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE
APPLYING DIFFERENT PRACTICES IN
THE DIFFERENT AREAS, WHETHER
IT'S CLOSE TO OUR BODY OF WATER
OR NOT AND OTHER THINGS LIKE
THAT.
WE'RE WORKING ON IT.
WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO BE ABLE TO
BRING IT BACK TO YOU.
>> CHARLIE JUSTICE: OKAY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
PINELLAS IS THE LEADER ON HOW WE
TREAT OUR ENVIRONMENT, HOW WE --
WITH THE FERTILIZER ORDINANCE
AND THOSE KIND OF ISSUES OVER
THE YEARS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
PRACTICING WHAT WE PREACH.
I APPRECIATE THAT IT'S COMING
FORWARD.
>> PAT GERARD: THANK YOU.
ANYTHING ELSE?
YES, COMMISSIONER LONG.
>> BRYAN ZUMWALT: COMMISSIONER
LONG, YOU'RE MUTED.
>> JANET LONG: SO AT THE RISK OF
BRINGING UP AND OPENING UP A
WOUND HERE WITH SEVERAL OF OUR
CITIZENS, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE
COULD HAVE A QUICK DISCUSSION OR
SUMMARY, BARRY, IF YOU KNOW IT,
ABOUT THE NOISE ABATEMENT ISSUES
AT OUR PIE AIRPORT.
I'VE HAD ON AND OFF DISCUSSIONS
VIA EMAIL FOR THE LAST WEEK OR
MORE WITH ONE OF OUR FAVORITE
CITIZENS FROM AROUND THAT AREA
WHO HAVE A BIG ISSUE WITH THE
NOISE, NUMBER ONE.
AND SO I ALSO HAVE CHATTED WITH
MR. TOM -- I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S
LISTENING IN OR ABLE TO SPEAK TO
THE ISSUE.
I DID TALK TO OUR YOUTH IN
SAFETY HARBOR TO FIND OUT IF
THERE WAS A GROWING NUMBER OF
COMPLAINTS FROM THE OTHER
CITIZENS IN SAFETY HARBOR ABOUT
THE FLIGHT PATH.
I DID FIND OUT THAT THE FLIGHT
PATTERN HAS CHANGED A BIT AS A
RESULT OF THE CONSTRUCTION GOING
ON IN AND AROUND THE AIRPORT.
IT'S NOT FOREVER.
YET THIS CONTINUES TO BE AN
ISSUE.
I KIND OF SORT OF FEEL THAT HIS
ANXIETY A BIT, BECAUSE OUR HOME
IS ALSO IN THE FLIGHT PATTERN.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS A LEAGUE ANT.
SOMETIMES IT'S SOUTHWEST.
A LOT OF TIMES IT'S MILITARY
AIRCRAFT AND THEY ARE REALLY
LOUD TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'LL
OFTEN SHAKE THE WINDOWS IN THE
ROOMS UPSTAIRS.
BUT THAT SAID, I KNOW WE'RE NOT
GOING TO MOVE.
AND SO I'LL LET MY COMMENTS
LINGER HERE.
BARRY, IF YOU CAN WEIGH IN.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER EGGERS HAS
HAD SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS
AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU.
>> I DEFER TO COMMISSIONER
EGGERS.
I WOULD REALLY WANT TO HAVE TO
TOM HERE TO DISCUSS IT.
IT'S REALLY A QUESTION OF THE
PATTERNS BUT ALSO THE
LIMITATIONS THAT WE HAVE
REGARDING CONTROLLING THAT.
AND SO I THINK TO HAVE A
FRUITFUL DISCUSSION, I WOULD
NEED TOM WOULD BE -- TO WEIGH IN
ON THAT.
>> JANET LONG: SO COULD WE
INVITE HIM TO COME TO OUR NEXT
MEETING AND GIVE US AN UN DATE
SO THE WHOLE BOARD IS AWARE AS
WELL?
>> BARRY BURTON: SURE.
>> JANET LONG: THANK YOU.
>> PAT GERARD: COMMISSIONER
EGGERS.
>> DAVE EGGERS: YOU KNOW THAT
THEY'RE USING THE CROSS RUNWAY
RIGHT NOW.
THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON ON THE
MAIN RUNWAY.
SO I KNOW THAT, FOR INSTANCE,
THEY WERE GIVEN PERMISSION AS
THEY TAKE OFF INTO THE
NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION TO COME
BACK TO A CERTAIN DEGREE AND
THEY HAD TO GO THAT FAR AWAY
FROM THE TAMPA AIRPORT.
AND TOM, BECAUSE OF HIS
CONNECTIONS, AND THEY APPEALED
IT TO THE TAMPA AIRPORT AREA AND
THEY DECLINED IT.
BECAUSE OF HIS CONNECTIONS, HE'S
TRYING TO GET SOME LEEWAY ON
THAT SO THAT WHEN THEY TURN TO
THE NORTH THAT THEY DON'T HAVE
TO TURN QUITE AS FAR, YOU KNOW,
AND MAKE IT OVER SAFETY HARBOR.
HE'S ACTUALLY GOING AROUND THE
SYSTEM A LITTLE BIT TO TRY TO
GET -- I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT
STANDS.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO GET
THAT TAKE.
THE REASON I MENTION THAT IS I
REALLY FEEL THAT THE AIRPORT
GUYS DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF
PUSHING THE ENVELOPE.
I CAN SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN
TELL -- PUSH IT HARDER WITH A
L ALLEGIANT.
THEY'VE BEEN USING THE ATTITUDE
OF COVID SO WE HAVE TO CLEAN
LONGER SO OUR PLANES ARE BACKED
UP AND ALL THAT.
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY'RE IN
ADDITION TO SOME OF THOSE LATE
ARRIVALS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY
SCHEDULED NOW LATE INTO THE
EVENING OR EARLY MORNING INSTEAD
OF JUST BEING PUSHED BACK.
SO I DO KNOW THAT OUR GUYS THERE
ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO IT.
WE CONTINUE TO PUSH THEM A
LITTLE BIT.
EVEN WHEN SOMEBODY MIGHT, AFTER
A WHILE, DOW IT SO MUCH YOU
PROBABLY GET A ROUTINE AND YOU
FORGET TO DO IT FOR A WHILE.
WE ALWAYS REMIND THEM, PLEASE
KEEP ALLEGIANT ON THEIR TOWS.
IT'S NOT JUST THEM.
IT'S OTHERS TOO.
THAT'S THE ONE WE HAVE
COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH.
I FEEL GOOD ABOUT OUR GROUP
PUSHING THE ENVELOPE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WANT TO
HAVE AN AIRPORT IN THE COUNTY.
WE WANT TO HAVE ALLEGIANT HERE.
WE PUSH THEM
EARLIER THAN 11:00.
HE'S TRYING TO GET THAT TURNED
AWAY FROM SAFETY HARBOR A LITTLE
MORE.
LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM HIM
AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> BARRY BURTON: IF I CAN, I'LL
PUT THAT ON FOR SEPTEMBER THE 1.
THAT GIVES US A LITTLE TIME FOR
US TO SEE WHAT HE'S GOING TO
RESOLVE IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> PAT GERARD: OKAY.
ANYTHING ELSE?
IF NOT, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU ALL.
