Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Okay, we're going to go ahead and get started. And first of all, I wanted to welcome everybody here. We've got some good looking people over there in the audience. We're looking forward to celebrating some awards today. Also, good looking people here to staff and others that are here today. So look forward to working with you. And before we get started with the invocation, I wanted to thank Deputy Mike Winnick, Deputy Kevin McSweeney, two Boston Red Sox fans who finished below the Rays at the end of the season. Just saying. Now, that's at the risk of when the playoffs come, they might come bac

Good afternoon, everybody. Full house. The Heavenly Father, we just thank and praise you for safe travel and grace and mercy. We thank you for each and every person that is seated here on today. We thank you for our firefighters who are representative of just a small portion of the concerns that are. Citizens have throughout Pinellas County. They provide a yeoman service and they do a yeoman's job. We thank and praise you for the staff of Pinellas County government. You have brought us so far. We've not had to worry about hurricanes or storms, but when we did, you made sure that the staff had

So just in case I wasn't clear, the deputies that I was mentioning were avid Red Sox fans, and we've been going back and forth all year. Two of the three. Two of the three, okay.

Did you get the accent? See where he's from. But anyway, we'll see how things develop over the next few weeks. All right. We have a really exciting day today to award some folks for doing amazing, amazing work in our community. So today we honor the recipients of the 2026 Pinellas County Fire Professional of the Year Awards. The awards are given to those who go above and beyond the call of duty when providing professional fire services to our community and to the members of the fire service. I would like to play a brief video that gives you a description of the type of work that is performed b

Each of the groups, we're going to talk individually. We'll present the award. you'll present a check, and then we'll take some pictures with the commission, and then if they're family members or colleagues that they'd like to have a separate picture, we'll do that as well, and then we'll move on to the second and the third, okay? So we'll do that in order. So first of all, I'd like to call up Kenneth Smith, Public Safety Telecommunicator Lead with Pinellas County Region 911.

Lead telecommunicator Kenneth Smith is known for his skill, leadership, and commitment to public safety. He stays calm under pressure, pays close attention to detail, and is always willing to help and guide his coworkers. And if you had a chance to meet his coworkers, many of them, just like this young man, they're all first-rate people that do great work. Whether handling a complex emergency, supporting crews in the field, or helping a caller through a difficult moment, Ken can be counted on to get the job done. His dedication to his team, first responders, and the citizens of Pinellas County

Good grief. Again, thank you. Thank you, my friend. All right, see if I mess this one up too. All right, next I'd like to call Zachary Tarameh with the Pinellas Park Fire Department up here, please. Come on up. Zachary Terrameri is known for his dedication to training, leadership, and helping others grow. He serves as a field training officer, new hire instructor, CPR program lead, CME instructor, and acting lieutenant with Pinellas Park Fire Department. From a new employee's first days on the ongoing training of experienced providers, Zach plays an important role in preparing his team to prov

Finally, I'd like to call up the Special Operations Professional Team with Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue. That would be Firefighter Paramedic Mary Miller, Lieutenant Joshua Coley, Firefighter Paramedic Christopher Hussain, and Firefighter Paramedic Garrett Lunn, and the Fire Chief. Fire Chief still here? Come on up, Fire Chief. Good to have all of you here.

This team showed great teamwork, skill, and courage during a water rescue near Three Rooker Island. In dangerous weather, with strong winds, heavy rain, lightning, and rough seas, the crew worked together to rescue 10 stranded people, including several young children after the boat capsized. Their focus, communication, and commitment to keeping others safe are a true example of special operations at their best. and why they have been chosen the 2026 Special Operations Professionals of the Year. Again, I'd like to thank each one of you for everything you do for all of us every single day. Your

Great. Picture time. Just get in the middle here. Wait a minute. Hold on. Before we do that, somebody would like to say a few words on your team's behalf. I know the fire chief's here, but Lieutenant.

And again, Yariel, thank you and your company for continuing to support this effort year in and year out. Thank you. Okay. So we are going to go on to item two, which is our National Fire Prevention Week proclamation. It's kind of nice that we have some firefighters in the room. And so I'd like to ask Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue District Chief to come back up, if you can, Chief Grimes, and then Brett Schlatterer, the Director of EMS and Fire Administration. Come on up and join me again.

They will be accepting the Fire Prevention Proclamation. Pinellas County is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all who live and work in and visit our community. Fires continue to pose a significant threat to lives, property, and the environment, making fire prevention education and preparedness essential to protecting our community. Fire Prevention Week, observed annually, serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of fire safety. The 2026 Fire Prevention Week campaign is, this is a mouthful, but here we go. Charge into fire safety. Safe charging is a superpower. Emphasizin

Thank you, guys. Thank you again. And for all the award winners, thank you for being here and your families and your colleagues. It's great to have you here today. And congratulations to everybody. Thanks. And I was told that Jeff Atkinson's birthday was yesterday, so something like 5-5 or something or other. But happy birthday, this guy right up front, front and center. So happy birthday to you, young man. Now, I wouldn't have known that without the knowledge from your colleagues. All right. We're gonna go on to citizens to be heard. And first up will be Vivian Haken, H-A-I-C-K-E-N, Haken wil

Okay, thank you for that. And let me see. Okay, I'll check back at the end and see if she's there. Shakina Reese. Hi, welcome.

Thanks, Shagaina. Appreciate your being here. Okay. Greg Gardner.

Thank you, Greg. Appreciate it. John, I'm going to say your name wrong. I apologize. Lisione?

You can leave them with the lady there, please. And thank you for being here. Thank you very much to all. Okay, David Ballard Geddes, Jr.?

Thanks. Appreciate it. Michael Atterd? Atterd?

Thank you. I'm going to go back to either Vivian Haken or Jim Shumate or either one of them online.

Okay. I think that's all I had. Nothing else over there, right?

Yep. Thank you. Okay. We are moving on to the consent agenda. Do we have anybody that wants to pull anything or do we have a motion? Motion by Commissioner Wicke, second by Commissioner Flowers. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay, motion carries unanimously. On to item 14.

You know, the FAA barred any sort of, I think, you know, like DBE rating. And this is an old contract that it went out from 2024. And so I didn't know, you know, if they had any input on the email I sent them. I know it was kind of last minute, but, you know, I got an anonymous email last minute. So I just kind of forwarded it off. So I don't know if they had any thoughts that if we moved forward with this today, if it would be a reason for protest from another bidder based on how it was scored.

So I think it went out to bid in 24 and then the FAA under President Trump issued an executive order in 2025 after this went out to bid. And so I think, again.

Okay. It says minority business status. Point D on the special conditions, 25 points.

and the faa in that executive order said it should be based on merit and not based on minority status so considering the second bidder was only a few points behind this bitter i think it could be reason for protest well let me just ask a question this is obviously something we've

we've we've tracked and we've used as a part of our bidding process uh... not just at the airport but in all of our contracts that we go out to find out about different companies that they'll be using a subcontractors and what their background is so

Okay. So is this time sensitive or can we look at this at the next meeting and let you guys have time to do your due diligence?

All right. Mr. Chair. Yeah, Commissioner Flowers.

I just want to remind everyone that when this executive order did come down, Barry took it upon himself to review policy language, contract language, anything that would be indicative of an adversarial communication based on what did come down when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which is really what we're talking about here. So, you know, I don't have a problem with you delaying it, but I really don't believe that based on what other contracts we've approved for the airport or other renovations and improvements, this language has been in place. It's never been an issue before. Y

um you know if you want to waste your time money continue to do so but i think it's absolutely ridiculous um but like there you have it and i appreciate commissioner flowers's point i think what i agree with our administrator is that this went out in 2024 two years ago and was scored then And then this FAA guideline came out a year later, 2025, and what we're being brought was scored two years ago in a two-year-old contract, not after the FAA issued the executive order. I think that's...

Like I said, I don't have a problem with moving forward. I just wanted to make sure, for the record, that it was shared what this is really all about, number one, and number two, that the county has gone through and assured or made sure that we were in compliance with what it is that Donald Trump put forth, him and his administration. And no one has raised this as an issue, and we have sat here and approved other contracts as it relates to the airport. That is simply my comment. So, you know, feel free to bring it back. But again, like I said, it's ridiculous. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't really like not moving forward with business. I don't like holding up business. I don't like delaying business. If we've got a recommendation from staff and we properly scored it and we feel we're on solid ground, I mean, if we award this and we get a protest, what happens? I mean, I...

of a protest for a contract with a county government system, the person that's protesting has to put up a bond because you're holding up business. And I can't remember what the percentage of the bond is for the contract that you would have to put up. And then you take it through the process. So if they want to take it through a legal challenge or whatever, you hold that bond so that if they lose, you get to keep that money because it pays for your costs and whatnot. And then if you don't win, then whatever it is that the judge or the magistrate decides, that's how you move forward.

I would make a motion that we move forward and approve this. Motion by Commissioner Scott, second by Commissioner Peters. Commissioner Lett-Vallon, did you have a comment?

Sure. I was going to say that if there is a question, that I'm fine with delaying it to make sure that we get it right. And as for the... anonymity part of it. I'm fine with that too. People have the right to do anonymous public records requests. I've had three anonymous public records requests in the last couple months along with three or four where people put their names on it. I think if people have an issue, they can choose to put their names on it or not put their names on it. That's certainly their right.

Anybody else? Yes, Chair. This has been three years, so I don't have a problem making sure it's right. The attorney just got a chance to look it over and Mark, will you look it over and make sure we're not violating any executive order or laws passed by since the bid process took place? I think it's reasonable to wait two weeks to our next meeting or one, three, whenever it is.

And based on what you've heard, you don't have any issues moving forward on this? Or do you? I do not.

So if we were to pause this, I don't think it's a pause where you just decide that maybe that one isn't right and we go with the second one. If you got a problem with it being undone two years ago, then you scrap it and you start over. So where does that lead us? That's what I want to know.

Because if it has something to do with the FAA, then to me, then the whole process is tainted. So it doesn't go to the second scored person. That means the whole process would be tainted. So how long would this process be if we have to start over? How far back does this push the project?

We brought it back to next meeting. We could go ahead and move on that. If we decided to start over, that would be the six-month issue that we just raised. That's correct.

For the scoring on this, the person who was the winner of the bid, is it a minority-owned contractor? A minority-owned business. Minority being women or minority being African-American, Hispanic? A woman. A woman. African-American woman or just a woman?

Okay. So we had a motion and we had a second. Maker of the motion, the second, still comfortable with that position based on conversation?

I mean, I am, Mr. Chairman. I mean, if somebody wants to make an anonymous complaint to Commissioner LaValle's point, they can do that or protest. But if you're going to protest something, you're not going to remain anonymous forever. So if you got a real protest, I think you should put your name on it. Rather, to me, it just seems like a tactic to try to delay us. I just, you know, this has been, our director is comfortable with it. I'm comfortable with it. Commissioner Peters.

um and the other thing that worries me is if this was delayed already are they going to have over costs and overruns because we know inflation has already been really bad so already because it's delayed i anticipate overruns cost overruns if we delay this six more months how much more is it going to cost us as a result of the delay I don't mind a female business owner winning a contract. I don't know that that was the criteria that made her win. I have no idea, all that kind of stuff. But if you're comfortable with the process, I'm definitely comfortable with the process. My concern is if we d

And so I just... Barry, this is for the... pre-construction.

The person that's going to represent us. Correct. The project itself. Still has to be bid. That still has to be bid and all of that.

But we're not starting over with the design of the project itself.

changed in the year from this being bid reviewed and scored 25 wall change. Here we are 26. So again, this isn't delaying the construction. This isn't delaying, uh, I mean, it's, it's an owner's rep. And so I don't want to be sideways with the FAA when we're getting tens of millions of dollars to the airport.

so i mean if we look at this this this project itself is going to end up being about a hundred and fifty million dollar prior forty five million dollar project it hasn't been designed hasn't been bid and nothing else has happened we have two weeks to let the lawyers and procurement figure yeah i suspect what that's got i suspect what's going to happen there so we just have to see where people are comfortable uh...

Yes, Commissioner just want to point out on that the EEOC while those things have changed within the current administration, the EEOC definitions remain the same. I deal with this through the Office for Human Rights because, you know, we had the whole thing going on there and through the EEOC it still reflects. you shall not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Sex would be the woman because she's a minority. So, you know, again, deferring to legal, but EEOC, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission still reflects and designates, despite the current

Yeah. And, Chair, just one last thing, and I'll stop. Go ahead. You know, just to Commissioner Flowers' point, I mean, you have men that are being discriminated against because they couldn't get 25 points just based on their sex. So, you know, men were discriminated against just based on their sex by not getting those extra 25 points that a woman would get just for being a woman. And that was the whole point of discrimination. The executive order was grants that are tied to FAA are based on merit and not someone's sex.

The point of the executive order was for minority people. Yeah. African Americans, Hispanic, Asian, etc.

That's all right. I'm not even sure the number of women in this country or less than the number of men anyway. So in terms of a minority group, I understand the scoring system. I think we've had enough conversation. We've got a motion and a second to move forward. And I'm going to ask all in favor say aye. Aye.

Oh, okay. I guess we'll do it that way. That way it'll be more specific. All right. Go ahead. Please bring up the voting card. I didn't join, so I'm going to have to join. One more. One more vote. So Commissioner Shearer, you're a no? Yes. Okay. So that registered Commissioner Shearer is a no. Motion carries four to three. Moving on to item 15.

So on that, they're going to go to annually instead of five years. Is the lease annually then as well?

Okay. So... Any other questions on this item? Motion by Commissioner Nowicki. Second by Commissioner Latvala. Please bring up the voting card. Motion carries unanimously. Have you gone offline on your computer? Oh, you're using the back. Okay. All right. Can't help you with that. Item 16, please.

Do I have any questions or do I have a motion on item 16? A motion by Commissioner Scott. Second by Commissioner Nowicki. Any other questions, comments? Bring up the voting card, please. And that motion carries unanimously. Item 17.

Okay, thank you. Any questions? Motion by Commissioner Flowers. Second by Commissioner Peters. Bring up the voting card, please. Motion carries unanimously. Item 18.

Motion by Commissioner Latvala. Second by Commissioner Nowicki. Are there any questions?

Motion by Commissioner Peters. Second by Commissioner Scott. Any questions, comments? Bring up the voting card, please. Motion carries unanimously. Item 20.

So I have... Commissioner Peters. And I don't see the full list on here. So I asked for... No, the full list isn't in here. So I apologize, because the list that they gave to me in that workshop is different than what you're seeing in Granicus. I looked at all the funding that we've gotten since 2016 for MSTUs and clearly it's obvious that the communities that receive an additional MSTU are tied into this and so like East Lake and Palm Harbor, every single year, the library, the recreation, their little leagues, they are tuned into this and they get funding every single year since 2016. What i

Is that the Seminole Seahawks for 7,500 and Pinellas County Youth Baseball for 38,000?

I don't have what you have in front of me. I don't know why I don't have it in front of me. But I know the shade was like seven. Audrey's coming up. She knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Those are the two that are baseball related.

Yeah, there were three total for Seminole that got declined because they have an MSTU now. But it's not, you're comparing apples and oranges when you compare it to Eastlake.

Yeah, again, to say they didn't know about it, they have known about it.

They haven't known about it, but it hasn't been utilized. It's not like it's been promoted and and encourage to use it like it has been in other parts of the county.

So that would be 30, 31, 32,000 and change.

And I have been out there, and shade is so critically important. These kids are getting sunburned, and the babies, the siblings are getting sunburned. I get it. Give them a chance to get built up and strong. Like the other ones have, and I don't see them doing it, but just for correction, Palm Harbor Little League got funding in 24 and 25, so that's not all necessarily true. So and I'm, you know, distinctly different groups. I'm I'm but again, I'm very passionate about these guys. They only just got started.

I'm not arguing your point. I'm just saying they're distinctly different groups that you're talking about.

I would love for you to consider letting these kids have shade. Thank you.

Yeah, I mean, I would be supportive of the shade, but I also feel bad leaving our veterans hanging here, too. I mean, there's a veterans park we're not funding either. So, I mean, for Memorial, you know, what's that Purple Heart Memorial Park? I mean, so I mean, if we're going to start, you know, shade, I mean, I think our veterans are important to them.

And I'm going to be having discussions with that group. There's two or three people that are very involved to bring it forward when they're ready.

They're not ready yet, though. But when they are, they'll bring that application forward. That's good.

commissioner flowers excuse me thank you thank you mr. chair I support because the the blue swoopy swoop shade things they put up I know what you're talking about. Yeah. And it does make it. They do work. They work. But here's my question. Um, because it says, um, funding of this project is not recommended to operational and maintenance responsibilities. So the 7,500, is that just for the installation? Do you know what the ongoing maintenance costs are? Because I just want to make sure that whatever that is, that you get it covered in your ask.

So that maintenance will be something you bring to us annually?

Thank you. So Commissioner Peters is asking for an additional $32,000. Roughly $32,250. Correct. Sending, driving our reserve down to about 60 roughly. Yep. To add on to the recommendation. I need a motion and a second for that. Motion by Commissioner Flowers.

I'll second it. That was supposed to be my motion. Well, you were.

Commissioner Peters on the motion. Commissioner Flowers on the second. I'll second. There we go. All right. I thought you were just arguing, didn't know that it was a promotion. Okay, so we have a motion and a second. Yeah, any other comments or questions?

You're fine. So it's doable. You'll have 20 going into the funding for next year.

So they would lead with the money we would reimburse once they're completed. Okay. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? Bring up the voting card, please.

The motion is to amend the recommendations to include the two shade structures and the two seminal sport complexes for reimbursement purposes for those two.

And yours is the second. Okay. Bring up the voting card, please. Still not there? Okay, and that motion carries unanimously. Thank you, Commissioner Peters. We'll move on to item 21.

Motion by Commissioner Peters, second by Commissioner Nowicki. Are there any questions or comments? Bring up the voting card, please. Motion carries unanimously. Yes, he's in. All right, that motion carries unanimously. Number 22.

Thank you for that. I did have a question. I know Karen's not here, and I don't know if she got with Matt with the answer. My question was, it is an unfunded mandate, and we have to take care of the body if someone passes away. And my question was, what do we do with the body after cremation? I didn't know if we spread it, if we bury it. Well, we do.

Okay. All right. That's what I was curious about.

Okay. And I appreciate the recognition of yet another unfunded mandate. And how much is that usually annually?

Well, what was it? It's about $460,000, they said, on average spend of the $550,000 that they're budgeting.

They said there were 765 services last year, 43 by burial, 722 by cremation.

Okay, so it's about half a million dollars unfunded mandate.

Okay, any other? Okay, Commissioner Peters on the motion? Second. second by Commissioner Nowicki. Any other comments or questions? Bring up the voting card, please. One more, that would be me. Motion carries unanimously.

Right. Move approval, but I also have a, again, I'm sorry, Karen's not here.

But she knew these were coming, so I wasn't surprising her. So what I ask about this and anything else we do with opioid abatement, which is coming up again, is that, and this more some statement, probably not a comment, so thanks, Jennifer. Just like the BP oil spill and many other things that we've done, we always have a dashboard. And we're very transparent on how we spend this money. And we haven't done that yet. And so I'm gonna request that staff put up a dashboard and some kind of transparency online where anyone can look. There's an article just recently on about how we're spending the

I agree with you. I have a motion by Commissioner Peters. Second, but I have a question. Second by Commissioner Scott. Go ahead, Commissioner Scott.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So I agree with everything Commissioner Peters just said. I'm really glad to see this moving off of general fund into opioid abatement funding. You know, I've expressed concerns with the underutilization of the program. But do we have any benchmarks built in contingent upon funding? Do they have to meet any particular benchmarks or anything like that to continue to get funding?

I think one of the problems that I've seen is there's been a lot of general marketing but when you talk about door to door, organization to organization, church to church and communities, I haven't seen it. I talked to too many people who just don't know about the service. So it's not that they wouldn't use it possibly. They just don't know that it exists and what that means to them. And so it doesn't help to just do general marketing. We have to get out there and talk to people, to organizations that are making those connections with people. I mean... So, you know, we just, you know, you hear

How about high school kids? How are we connecting with them? I mean, how are we getting into these schools or these high school kids? They're getting into their first time in high school. There are all kinds of pressures on them, among other social pressures that happen with all the social media. It's just, again, whether it's our responsibility or not, I don't really care. To me, it's about not losing a young person, and it's criminal if we don't do what we can do. Right.

And chair, you know, I'll bring this up, um, and yak to, um, you know, our youth advisory committee, maybe there's a facility or something, maybe Karen or somebody can come in and talk to, you know, yak about, you know, mental health or care about me, you know, the program to help get into high school.

Get their ideas on how we get the word out to their colleagues. Yeah, I'll work on that. Good. Thank you. I'd like to hear that.

Pinellas County Schools does have a drug-free program that they operate, and then they have the smoke. um, smoke free program for persons who may be smoking or vaping or whatever. Um, and so I know they have like, um, uh, I'm going to call them evening courses where they do things by zoom, but they also have in school, you know, participatory events and things. Maybe that's a place where, um, this can be very, very effective because it's youth who maybe they're through the juvenile justice system because they've had some issues where certain drugs have been detected in their system. And so the

I think there are more and more areas in our communities that are experiencing loss of somebody taking their own life. We're watching college sports this weekend and they talked about college athletes, men and women who are participating in college athletes. The number of suicides in that group alone has been increasing alarmingly. And so it's not just suicide. one level or another, but I just think the more we get out and we just got to make these person-to-person contacts. So look forward to that.

Commissioner Scott. Yeah, just the final thing. I mean, we're spending a million dollars in advertising, so I would definitely like to see some performance metrics. and regular updates on this program to see if we are getting, you know, to your point, we want to make sure we're making the connections and helping people that need to get help for sure. But we have to make sure we're hitting that mark.

We are partners with the school. I just don't know how deep it is, but we are partnering with the schools because when I spoke at a school event, the parents or the teachers that were there already knew about it. Because I brought it up.

So they know about it. So it's just how many teachers are actively using it, encouraging it, and talking about it as another conversation. But I do know that we're making some headway there. We're making headways in the school. And, you know, I've talked at not all the Rotaries, but a whole lot of Rotaries. But when I spoke at the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce, they never heard of it. So the Chamber of Commerce's don't know about it. So I'm probably, I know I'm going back to that one during the holidays because holidays can be troubling. And it's just a lot of business people don't realize how

That's good. Okay. Any other comments? Thank you. Stay there. So do we have a, do we get a motion on this one? Okay. Thank you. All right. Bring up the voting card, please.

Thank you for staying there. Motion carries unanimously. Item 24.

Motion by Commissioner Peters. Second by Commissioner Flowers. Any comments? Voting card, please. Oh. Did you have, hold on, hold on, did you have something? On 24? I don't, I see one on 26. It's okay, rather be safe than sorry, so. Bring up the voting card, please, on 24. Motion carries unanimously.

Motion by Commissioner Peters, second by Commissioner Flowers. Any comments or questions on item 25? Bring up the voting card, please. Motion carries unanimously. Item 26.

We do, but... Motion by Commissioner Peters. Second by Commissioner Scott. I do have... one person, Jim Miller please come forward.

Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, Commissioner Flowers.

Sir, hadn't had a chance to meet you. Hopefully I'll get an opportunity to come out and just see the facilities again. But just wanted to say thank you. I've had my older brother was a guest of the organization some years ago. Um, when Shirley Coletti first started the program as a result of her son, um, and they were out there on 66th street with a little, I call them the cottage homes. That's our village. He, yeah, he and Carl divine actually were two individuals that were the first tenants in there. But I just want to say thank you because my family has had an opportunity to, um, be recipie

Yeah. I got a comment. Oh, commissioner Peters. So, um, I, I, I haven't given updates on this process like I probably should have, but we originally had a bunch bigger contract and I had apprehensive about that bigger contract because it was going to bring in residential. And I just felt that it was going to be extremely expensive and maybe not the best. Not the best process. So anyways, we did move the contract to be smaller just for an urgent care. And I think that urgent care is going to be just fabulous for our county. And if you're going to take a tour of this, if you want to see the mode

Thank you. Commissioner Peters, thanks for all your work on that, too. Appreciate that. Okay, thank you. And we have a motion and a second. Bring up the voting card, please. Motion carries unanimously. And oh, by the way, you were right on 24, but the lady spoke at the early part of the meeting, so. Yeah, it's your quiet. Yes. Thank you.

I'll bring up the voting card for 27 One more. One more.

Thank you. Motion by Commissioner Peters. Second. Second by Commissioner Scott. Any other comments or questions? Please bring up the voting card. One more.

Motion by Commissioner Scott. Second by Commissioner Peters. Comments or questions on item 29? Bring up the voting card, please. Motion carries unanimously.

Motion by Commissioner Peters. Second by Commissioner Scott on item 30. Any questions, comments? Yeah, the only question I'd had, Barry, and I don't know if I missed the detailed answer, was on the number of miles that we're using the paving program from the local group 213 and 216. Are those mostly just repaving? Are they reconstruction? They're repavings. Yeah, these are all repaving. All repaving. Correct. Okay. So some of the good ones that we've seen pictures of recently, those would probably qualify for reconstruction. Yes. Okay. I'm just guessing. Yeah. Okay. I'll leave it at that. All

I got you. All right. We have a motion for item 31. Move approval from Commissioner Scott. Second. second by Commissioner Peters. Again, it looks like we're using penny money for the bigger roads and those three.

Yeah, okay. All right, any other comments or questions? Voting card for 31, please. Motion carries unanimously. Item 32.

Motion by Commissioner Peters, second by Commissioner Scott. Any questions or comments on 32? Bring up the voting card, please.

Motion by Commissioner Peters. Second by Commissioner Scott. Any questions or comments? We can see the voting card, please.

Motion. Motion by Commissioner Peters. Second by Commissioner Scott. comments or questions on thirty four voting card please motion carries unanimously thirty five

Motion by Commissioner Peters. Second by Commissioner Scott. Any comments or questions on 35? Bring up the voting card, please.

Motion by Commissioner Peters. Second by Commissioner Scott. Comments or questions on 36? Bring up the voting card, please.

Motion by Commissioner Peters. Second. Second by Commissioner Flowers. I'm not saying it's not the right amount, it's just a lot of money. It's a lot of money. A lot of money for that service for sure.

All right. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any other comments that are actually worthwhile other than mine? Bring up the voting card please for item 37. One more. Sheer. Yep, Commissioner Seer got us. Motion carries unanimously. Item 38.

You could if that's what the motion maker in this right, okay Motion by Commissioner Peters on 38 and 39 second by Commissioner flowers Any questions or comments on 38 or 39? We'll bring up the voting card Motion carries unanimously for items 38 and 39 Item 40.

Do I have a motion? Move approval. Motion by Commissioner Letvala, second by Commissioner Peters. On that item requested, all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Go ahead.

And we don't have any when we have talked about regional issues, we always talk about nobody caring about. county lines i'm sure the mosquitoes don't either so i'm guessing they qualify in the same category that you know they don't stop at the county line commissioner scott did you have a comment just a quick question how long does the declarations last for

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Has Pinellas County had any fatalities?

Yeah, thank you, Chair. First of all, the mosquito truck went through my neighborhood the other day, so I do appreciate that. We got about 3 o'clock in the morning, but I'm glad they were out there. This is a state of emergency. A lot of times states of emergencies... changes of tolling time and timing on time-sensitive contracts. Is that going to affect any of the contracts we have?

I know we don't, but our contractors might say, oh, I got more time now since you passed the state of emergency.

I understand. I just sometimes it has a different unintended effect is on contracts that we have with other people.

Any other questions or comments? Do I have a motion? Motion by Commissioner Scott. Second by Commissioner Flowers. All in favor say aye. Aye. Anybody opposed? Motion carries unanimously.

Okay. On to county commission items. We have a Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board.

There's only one that has two, and the one that has two is one of the 12 votes.

So I move to approve the slate of those that qualify. And the one that did not qualify, I'm sorry, I had it up and I closed it.

She did, she did. Here it is. So the one that didn't qualify was Jacob Knighton. He's the only one on here that did not qualify. So therefore, there's one person for each category. So there's really no point in doing a ballot.

One for licensed electrical, one for registered architect, one for consumer representative.

Second by Commissioner Nowicki. Bring up the voting card. Oh, any questions? I'm sorry. Bring up the voting card, please. Item 42.

And that motion carries unanimously. Item 43.

I move to approve Chris Shearer to continue serving on PSTA.

A motion by Commissioner Peters second by Commissioner Nowicki and with a smile Commissioner Scheer is glad to take up take it on. Okay. All right. Thank you Item 43 bring up the voting card, please Okay motion carries unanimously and we will move on to County Commission new business and we'll start with Commissioner Scheer I Thank you, Chair.

Did we vote on that resolution? Oh, data centers.

We haven't taken that up yet. That would be at the end of our... We'll just do it, yeah. I was going to do it at the end. No big deal. But thank you for reminding me because I'm likely to have forgotten about it. Commissioner Shearer, go ahead.

Yeah, thank you, Chair. As with last month, I spent most of my time working on budgets. And so I don't have too much report, but on 9-11, I did attend two memorials, one at the Curlew Hills, and one at the OCC Roadhouse, very well attended by our congressional delegation, congressional representative Luna and Donald and our state senators. For me, it was like an opportunity to do what I've always promised to do, never forget what happened, and then also to really think about and focus on the debt and the appreciation we have for our first responders who are always the first to rush in, and I s

Thank you, and thank you for agreeing to continue to serve on PSTA. Commissioner Flowers.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Before I begin, just a question, Barry, before I make a comment. Our code enforcement officers don't carry guns, do they? Okay, so I know what our policy is, you know, not to go back and forth, but I didn't want that to go unaddressed that code enforcement officers are showing up with weapons because that could get out of control in this environment. I know, but in this environment that could get out of control.

Thanks for the clarification. It did strike me as...

Yeah, I pay attention, but I just didn't want I don't want anyone to think that they still code enforcement officer. They think that they have a weapon on them and and all of that good stuff. So thank you for clarifying that. I just wanted to make sure we're not using guns to enforce our rules. Exactly. Exactly. So I had I had an opportunity on on the 12th of the sorority of which I'm a member of. We have a nonprofit arm called the Youth Development Foundation and we hold different activities to raise money to put money back into the community. And so we were able to give checks. They weren't

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Flowers, I grew up in Jacksonville and I'm a graduate of Duval County Public Schools, and I can tell you with 100% certainty that Pinellas County is a lot better than Duval County. But as for my report... I too attended the 9-11 Remembrance event at OCC with several of you, along with Congressman Donald and some of our legislative delegation. And I also attended the Changemakers Breakfast yesterday, hosted by the Pinellas Education Foundation. And I wanted to congratulate the champion of education award, which was presented to Kay Dillinger and her husband

I wouldn't want to guess who's closest to 100, or I would be very unprofessional.

But anywho, that's my report, Mr. Chairman. And on that note, I wanted to wish you an early happy 70th birthday, because that's coming up.

That's next June, by the way. Thank you, Commissioner Valla. Commissioner Scott. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let's have a conversation.

I gathered. All right. So since our last meeting, I've had meetings with Historic Preservation, the Golf Consortium, and PSDA. And I want to thank my colleagues, Commissioner Scheer, Commissioner Wicke, and Commissioner Peters. We did a full rollback at PSDA last night. Amazing, right? god these are the days right so uh yeah so that was great great milestone there and uh with a with a complete bus system redesign this year so um yeah good stuff good stuff uh community events i have attended um with many of my colleagues here the 25th anniversary of 9 11 at occ roadhouse attended two events thi

Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Scott. Commissioner Nowicki?

No new business really to introduce, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to give a brief shout out. I've been working a lot with Mr. Tom Amante and Matt Spohr. I've been helping out. I'm getting some requests from residents with different programs and stuff. Those two gentlemen and their staff have been working very diligently and on the spot to really help the residents when they reach out to me and get them in contact and they've just been doing a stellar job so i want to thank uh mr sport mr amante and their staff for their hard work thank you thank you guys yeah so thank you thank you commissioner

Thank you. Well, one thing I'm really excited about is this Saturday, we're partnering with the extension and with Madeira Beach to host a vertical oyster garden on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Patriot Park in Madeira Beach. And this is a really great opportunity for any resident that lives on the water that owns a dock to help. preserve our water quality and maintain a good water quality. The amount of oysters that we have in Tampa Bay and Bogosiaga Bay have really declined. And by just hanging a string of oyster shells on your dock gives an opportunity for oysters and shrimp and other

Thank you, Commissioner Peters. Just a few things. Was able to attend the grand reopening of the Fire Marshal Dick Brock Pier in Safety Harbor. And the only reason I bring it up is the place was packed. So it's like a cultural mecca for people to have their piers. We've been talking about it at the TDC about making some funding available and getting piers reestablished in some of these communities. But it was packed, it was really all excitement and the community really received it well. I had a chance to meet with Ashley Roberts from Tunnel to Towers a couple weeks ago. They have over 500 emp

graduated from Palm Harbor University that was in TOTA is on The Voice. Sorry that I forgot her name. She's supposed to be on the show tonight. She's been on this week. If she was the one that sang at the end? No, she's like wherever The Voice is being filmed.

Anyway, great, great, great voices there for sure. And And the last thing I wanted to bring up was I found out that we were going to do a dog shoot at the Dog Eden Wall in Dunedin. So we went there and we got to work hard for Rolo. Actually, yeah. Oh, there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. ah, actually it doesn't look too bad. He looks great. I'm talking about the dog. But yeah, he was beautiful. And the owner of the restaurant there, Skip's, she said he looks more like a Ralph than a Rolo. So... Whoever adopts him, you know, obviously you can pick your own name, but he was beautiful. Also, because we

Okay, thank you. Second. Motion by Commissioner Peters, second by Commissioner Letvala. Any conversation, comments? All in favor of that resolution, please vote aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously.

And that will go to Forward Pinellas. I know they're working on their own. We can certainly get a copy to them. Please, thank you.

And before we adjourn, is there anything else that maybe I've forgotten or that somebody... Did you say you had something? Anybody? Okay, well then this meeting is adjourned. We'll be back here at 6 o'clock.

Wanted to take the opportunity to welcome everybody back for our evening meeting, which is obviously our budget hearing, and we are here for item 45. Madam Clerk? From the script? Yeah. Did you have anything you wanted to?

All right. You ready? Yep. Ready. Good evening, everyone. This is the public hearing for the adoption of the fiscal year 27 final millages and final budgets. Has any correspondence been received regarding the final millages and final budgets to be heard tonight?

Okay, good evening. Tonight's public hearing is the second and final public millage and budget hearing for the consideration and adoption of the fiscal year 27 final millages and final budgets. Before we get started, I'll walk through the sequence of events for tonight. We will accept public comment on the following property tax levies and budgets by the following tax authorities classification. The BCC countywide levy for the Pinellas County General Fund and the county levy supporting the Health Department Fund. The levies for the dependent special districts and municipal service taxing units

Okay. So if no one is requesting a separate discussion, adoption of tax levy or budget, I guess we're going to go ahead and continue with this section. Item 17. Right. Since we have not heard from anyone requesting separate discussions and separate adoption of the dependent special districts and MSTUs, we will proceed with the adoption of the dependent special district and MSTU millages and budgets by single unanimous vote. We will now open the second official public hearing on the final 27 millage rates and budgets.

Thank you. We, the Board of County Commissioners, as taxing authority for the BCC countywide, dependent special districts, and MSTUs, as previously referenced, will now proceed with the public hearings. In accordance with Florida statutes, I want to publicly note that the percentage increase in the millage rate for all budgets over the rollback rate, based on the maximum... Mr.

Thank you, Mr. Administrator. We will now continue this public hearing as taxing authority for the BCC countywide dependent special districts and MSTU levies by taking public comment from citizens who wish to be heard regarding our FY27 budget. Do I have all the cards for public comment? I do not have any now. And we have no cards either online or in person.

Okay. At this time, we will take public comment from those who have preregistered. Now that we have heard all the public comments from citizens, does any member of the board recommend any changes to these final millage rates or final budgets?

I would like to make a motion to adopt the 4.4989 millage rate. We have a motion and a second. I'd also like to thank the Feather Sound MSTU group. When they came and presented, we talked about maybe them considering rolling back their millage rate, and they went to a full millage rate, and that community was devastated by the storms. And I was really impressed with them really looking to after everything the residents have been through to lower their millage rate and make sure that those residents were paying more. So I'm really impressed with that. So I just want to thank them. Thank you, Mr

You're welcome. So the board must now consider resolutions to set the final millage rates and budgets. As stated earlier, We will adopt the final mid rights and budgets in the following sections. BCC countywide to include the general health fund, general fund and health department, and the dependent special districts and MSTU. The resolutions adopting the millages and budgets for the dependent special districts and MSTUs require a unanimous vote. If a unanimous vote is not received for the dependent special districts and MSTUs, we will need to adopt each separately. I will now ask the county a

And that's the one that we just got the motion and the second. Did you get the motion on both? Or would you want to take individually?

So you would like me to change that to include the general fund millage at 4.4989 and the aggregate millage rate of the Schedule A of- No, the health department, just the health department.

And the county level for the health department. Thank you, so I don't make the wrong number. Thank you. Thank you. And that is my motion, and I'm certain my colleague will second that.

Second motion by Commissioner Peters, second by Commissioner Flowers. We want to go ahead and take that one by itself, right? All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Opposed. The motion carries six to one.

Now it's the budget. So move approval. Second.

A motion by Commissioner Peters, second by Commissioner Flowers. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Opposed. Motion carries six to one.

Second. Motion to approve by Commissioner Nowicki and a second by Commissioner Peters. on the millage rates for the dependent special districts in MSDU. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously.

Move approval. I have a motion by Commissioner Peters, second by Commissioner Flowers. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously.

Second. Motion by Commissioner Flowers, second by Commissioner Peters. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. You're all done, right? Yep. So with that, Unless the board members have any further comments, this final public hearing for the fiscal year 27 budget is closed.

I want to congratulate our staff. Can we just take time to congratulate our staff? You guys have done an outstanding, outstanding job. Really, all of you. You've just done such a great job. And I know that in every meeting you're going, oh God, I gotta go back to the, oh, I gotta do that. And I know we gave you a lot of uncertainty and a lot of, you know, last minute things to do, but you did an outstanding job. You always do, but I just think you all, I commend you all, you've done a great, great job. Chris, you've got an awesome team, and thank you. And thank you to my colleagues. This was p

The air of Budget Amendment 3 that's on the ballot this fall is clearly in front of us. And I think the message has been whether it passes or not, we've got a strong message to us to make sure that we're doing things effectively, efficiently in as small a government as we can. And so we'll see. That's work ahead. But for this day, I think congratulations to everybody. With that, any other comments? Okay, this meeting is adjourned.