Federal legislative platform and funding

1:23:27Okay, next item we're gonna get to our federal platform.

1:23:33Good morning, Commissioner. It's Ralph Lair, Intergovernmental Affairs Officer. So today our objective uh is to gather your input and direction to establish our legislative platform, federal legislative platform, set goals, priorities, that will be the basis of our advocacy efforts with Congress and federal agencies going forward. We have with us today Tracy Pugh. Um she's with our lobby team, uh a federal lobby team, Ballard Partners joining us today. We're gonna so

1:24:04she'll chime in and we'll we'll do like a tag team going forward uh during the presentation. So, what we're going to go over, uh federal grant funding that we have received for FYs 23 through 25, community project funding, which are earmarks, uh for years 23-25, active funding requests for this year, 26, um, future funding objectives. Regulation language currently being addressed and future concerns that we

1:24:34could address and then next steps uh on how we can uh better advocate in Washington and work with our federal lobbyist Ballard partners.

1:24:48So Before I we jump to the slide, let me just tell you federal funding opportunities. How do we get those? Uh we get those through major competitive grants and programs. Several key federal departments offer competitive grant opportunities like DOT's RAISE Grant, formerly the BILD grant. DOT's Bridge Investment Program, EPA Water Infrastructural Finance Innovation Act. And we also get those through community projects funding and earmarks, which

1:25:18are requests submitted by individual members in the House of Representatives for specific projects and purposes. Funding also goes through major legislation, such as the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill, which Congress is currently working on reauthorizing in 2026. The legislation authors authorizes billions of federal aids for highways, public transit, highway safety, and rail. And finally, we get this type

1:25:48of funding from our federal aid. It's through dida disaster recovery. So looking at the first slide, Pasco has received $694 million of Federal Grant Awards over the last three fiscal years. This includes $585 million. Of C D B G D R funding Ninety one million is state path pass through programs. So majority of the m uh money that comes out of the feds, it's sent down to the state uh to um push out to

1:26:18the local governments uh through grant programs. Uh eighteen million comes directly from the federal programs. Of that uh funding that we've received over those years, 37 million uh is recurring grants, 72 million are non-recurring grants.

1:26:37Federal appropriations. How we done over the uh past twenty uh three uh uh for for years twenty-three, twenty-five. These are again our earmarks. These are submitted by our congressional members in the House. Pasco has received $15.5 uh $55 million of federal appropriations over the last three fiscal years through community project funding. Notable appropriations include Wilton Way Connector Road on Spear's campus. which

1:27:07was actually money passed through to another entity, but it had to come through our county. three million for design of a consolidated public safety facility. two million for an affordable supportive housing for seniors, and three point three million for a Livingston Road sidewalk.

1:27:27Are are are these are earmarks from uh co Congressman Bilarakis and many.

1:27:33Manly.

1:27:35Um so Last year, FY twenty twenty five. Uh Congress did not accept community project funding. So the projects, which a lot of times we just move forward from previous years to continue to get the funding until we reach the final goal, those were moved forward to this year. We resubmitted those if you remember.

1:27:58So Congressman Bill Arakis resubmitted our projects for 25 and Congressman. Congresswoman Lee did the same thing. So our uh current community project funding requests for FY26 are those list there. Yeah and I have some good news. So

1:28:20As you remember, the federal government shut down toward the end of last year. So going into this year They move quickly. They have a deadline of January 30th that they had to get the budget completed to make sure to avoid another shutdown. So they have been addressing and funding these in small rollout bills. And so last Thursday they passed three spending bills hitting the halfway mark and its push

1:28:50to fund government for fiscal 2026. Ahead the shutdown. Uh those bills were sent to the president. The package included measures to fund the commerce, justice, energy, and uh interior departments through the end of September. Uh these included uh the energy and water appropriations bills. So

1:29:13Mr. Starkey.

1:29:14Thank you. So these these did not have not passed.

1:29:18So I'm about to tell you that we're about to get there, so We did get m um partial funding for the Inline chlorine booster. Um let me see if I can see the very first one there. We had asked for six point eight million. We got seven hundred and fifty thousand. And for the Congresswoman Lee's Crystal Springs. Uh let's see if I can do it. I'm gonna go back. There we go. So the uh bottom one there, the two million as for Crystal

1:29:48Springs chlorine booster station, we re uh received one million dollars. And this morning Summer called me to tell me that uh from congresswoman or Congressman Billerakis's office informed me that the T Hud bill which contain the majority of uh our our projects that are on that list. Uh that rolled out today. And so we got For that s uh three million dollars additional uh road expansion

1:30:19for uh Spiro's campus for Moffitt. Um we received five hundred thousand dollars. And for under Congresswoman Lee, the three point three million dollars for the Collier Parkway. I'm not good at this. Um we received one million dollars. In addition, good news, Kathy, you like this. Uh four million second. Yes, Mr.

1:30:43Go ahead, I'll wait till you're done with all your numbers.

1:30:45Okay. Uh in addition, uh we received I'll say we, Pasco County, uh four million dollars for the Area Agency on Aging and Affordable Housing for Seniors. Yeah. Um and also uh the bill contained uh language reverting funds uh for uh cares that were uh previously funded in twenty three, those monies have now been reverted and will come back to Pasco County. So you've been waiting

1:31:15for that one too, Kathy. So great news. Unfortunately, um, and we're gonna get to that slide shortly. We did submit committee language that was submitted uh for a C D B G DR exception to the Transportation Housing Um Committee. Um what we were trying to do there, if you'll remember, this language was allow uh would have allowed us to uh use C D B G DR funds to be used for a construction of an emergency

1:31:45operations center. Yeah. Unfortunately, they did not put that in there, but speaking with Tracy earlier, this is something we can go back in now and and go talk to the committees to say, let's go over our projects. So you partially funded it. What can we do better? Uh let's look at that language, because I think we still can go back and address it this yeah going forward. um and say it it's a need. Uh the EOC um uh helps our community a great

1:32:15deal and there should be an exception for those funds and and and and go toward partial funding. In fact when we were in Washington, if you remember, uh last year, um there were other counties from other states and in the state of Florida that really weren't aware of that. And so they too were beginning to advocate for uh for such a request going forward.

1:32:40Okay, now I can have my question.

1:32:42Yes you can. Mr.

1:32:43Sharkey. Thank you. Uh are they still at the ten million dollar annual Level. For funding?

1:32:52For capping. It's it what we normally say is usually five million dollars for a uh community uh budget uh funding request. Oh go ahead, ten million for

1:33:02Congressman in the past had A ten they could get earmarks up to ten million dollars. That's what they had annually.

1:33:11Well now they're five million dollars. Go ahead, come on up.

1:33:15Mm-hmm.

1:33:17Good morning, Commissioner. It's good to see you again, those of you that were in Washington last year. Two things I want to point out. One on T HUD, congratulations. Those projects are in the House Bill. By the

1:33:28way, just so everyone can have the record, just your name.

1:33:31Oh, good morning again. I'm Tracy Pugh with Balor Partners. I want to say with T HUD, congratulations. Those projects are in the House bill. The House is Scheduled to vote on those this week. The Senate is not in session. They will be back on the twenty-sixth. And so We are halfway through the process on T-HUD, but on energy and water, those projects were passed through the House and the Senate. So those numbers that Ralph reported back to you those are going

1:34:01to the president in the final bill to be signed. So I want to point that out. The each member can establish a cap. The committee will decide at the end of the day how much they're willing to provide for the particular the community project. project. So for instance, um when you said ten million, that may be a a figure that was set by Congressman Bilarakis or Congresswoman Lee's office. But there are offices that request

1:34:32more than that. Um I recommend that um counties stay around the five to ten million range because that usually um is a number that tends to get funded. Um there are some that come in, you know, a hundred, hundred fifty million, those types of projects are not likely to get fully, fully funded.

1:34:55Yeah.

1:34:56Question Chairman

1:34:57Uh Commissioner Weightman.

1:34:59Ralph, we had partial funding on the uh the Coin Booster Station for Aaron Cutoff and partial funding for Crystal Springs. Can we just take there and cut off money and and move it to the Crystal Springs Coin Booster Station and have it paid in full and get it built? It's

1:35:17assuming

1:35:20probably not because in the w when we go into contract, um which will probably be in the uh within the year, um That would the way it was written It specifically has to go there uh go directly to that project. You can't move it around. It's possibility based that they do both the same Um

1:35:43Objective that we may be able to but that's gonna have to come up during um uh when w when we go uh go into signing the agreement with the feds for that money and that's something the department would have to work out if that is so the direction of the board to do that.

1:35:59That that is correct. And I would also add, Commissioner, that what you can do as you think about fiscal year 27 is going back to your members of Congress and maybe requesting additional funding to make up the difference of the portion that you didn't receive.

1:36:17Well, I I say that because then Aaron cut off Coin Booster Station $6.8 billion. And the Crystal Springs project is two million. So we've got the two million bucks. And we can get one of the two built, right? Instead of just having partial funding for each. So that's kinda that was my thought process if that could be com we knocked one out.

1:36:38So again I think hearing you, this is what we need is is the feedback. I think we can then um Um after the meeting, uh in the coming days, get with the department, kind of discuss that possibility as an objective going forward. So when it does come time to go into contract with the feds, uh we can have that discussion.

1:37:00Yeah, I was going to suggest, Commissioner Oakley we talk to utilities and see what the status of those projects are, how shovel ready they are, where they sit and design. And Dolph's here actually. So if if you want he can talk to it real quick.

1:37:13The funding's there for at least one of the two. And You know how I am? We got funding, let's get it done, right? So very simple thought process.

1:37:22So we heard you loud and clear, and I think we'll have that discussion with Adolfa. Uh Commissioner Yeager.

1:37:27Quick question. I was making notes. Did we get one million for Collier Parkway?

1:37:31That is correct.

1:37:32Okay. And did we get any money for that last year?

1:37:35Um no, previously we did not.

1:37:40Mm-hmm. I'm gonna ask a couple of questions. I'm gonna start with Kindline Road. Okay. Um we're trying to get money from the state. Um Again, if it's six years from being built, that's gonna be a long, long time. Sure and Hernando wants it done. They've got some money and different things of a small county to get funding. Is there any way to put something together to look at getting funding for that? Have we done that?

1:38:02And so we have not,

1:38:03but all like I I I believe they were pursuing a build grant for that, if I'm not mistaken. Isn't it true? Nick Over. Yeah.

1:38:13Yeah.

1:38:18Good morning. Uh Nick Uren, County Engineer. We actually have a funding strategy for segments of County Line Road North that shares responsibility between us and Hernando County and allocates some state grants, County incentive grant program funds, which are state dollars and potentially trip funds, also state dollars toward the construction of a wider County Line Road.

1:38:40So if we got more federal money to go along with what we're trying to pa partner with the state, might it be something that might put us over the top to get it done? 'Cause I know it's DOT looks at where the money is coming from to what they can get done and usually it's going to take from something else.

1:38:53Additional funding could potentially accelerate it. We still need to finalize our design and then buy the land to build on. So there's gonna be some hurdles that we have to overcome. To get to construction, uh regardless of whose money we use to pay for construction.

1:39:07Okay. I'm just looking for an extra source.

1:39:09Yeah, sure. And and again, we hear you on the prioritization of that and we're working hard to get it done.

1:39:13And I've got a meeting coming up uh this coming week on Ridge Road with Brantford and the team. Uh so I'm not sure where we are, so Brantford you may jump into this, but I'm gonna throw something out that uh looking at social media f last week. Um I watched a county I believe it was Palm Beach County actually named a road after Trump. Right. Um So I think especially what what we did with Ridge Road. We should look at changing the name and call it Trump Road. Yeah.

1:39:44I'm throwing it out there. I'm gonna throw one more thing out there with you as well. While we're on the subject. Um Sun Lake Road, we're trying to get funding for that as well, and I'm glad to see it's on the list here. But I'm thinking maybe we should take a look at possibly naming that Charlie Kirk Road. We're trying to get Trump out here for our final cut with Ridge Road as we get this thing built and again I'll wait for the extension one coming up, but I think it would be awesome if he knew was gonna be named, I think he'd be sure to be here. I think it would also be help us with the funding

1:40:14quite a bit with Sun Lake Road if we took a look at doing the rename on that as well. But I know it's a shock for you all, but that's what I'm thinking. Touch.

1:40:26I think I don't know, I just it's kinda funny. Um but you know, Trump Road doesn't sound very majestic. Maybe we'd have to name it like Trump Parkway or something.

1:40:36We can do that. I'm flexible. I'm flexible.

1:40:41I don't know. I don't know.

1:40:43Something to gel on.

1:40:44Yeah.

1:40:47Um last thing. I don't see anything with AMP skills here and I know we're gonna be going up to in February, so I know we're gonna try to look at that. Um in trying to work with getting some help with that for more for creating more jobs and We'll m hear more about that in shortly.

1:41:03Yeah.

1:41:06So well w what are we in discretion on right now?

1:41:09So now I'm talking about uh and we're still on active funding. Uh so in addition to the member projects that we were submitted. Um This year. We were also able to submit projects to surface transportation reauthorization buildup that we'll be doing later on this year for 2026. So uh got with the departments, ran these by you of projects and they're heavy ask. We don't know how this will play out.

1:41:39Um but we submitted projects. Um do not know uh until they get to the bill if they'll be included. Um but we included fifteen million for the intersection improvements for US 41, um 10 million dollars for Bellamy Road. uh uh ex expansion and work. Uh 15 million for Sun Lake Boulevard. uh north of Bexley to Lynn Angeline and two point eight million for a uh bus repeat but transit on US nineteen.

1:42:10Again, they'll be working on that bill later this year and hopefully we can get some of this included into that bill.

1:42:19Mr. Starkey.

1:42:20So are these um are these build grants?

1:42:23No, this was separate funding that goes into. So you remember I told said earlier that um feds put in money into um bills. This is one of those. They put billions and billions of dollars in, and they're allowing the members to pick projects in their communities uh that would be funded from that pot of money. That uh so they'll when they work on the bill, they'll include the amount, it's not a set amount. They'll include the amount uh on that and then they'll start listing out projects

1:42:54that uh will be divvied out uh amongst them. Am

1:42:57I

1:42:57correct there, Tracy?

1:42:58So I um so Are two of these in Bilarak does it matter?

1:43:04They were all in Bilarakis' area. We did not have any in in uh Congresswoman uh Lee's office that staff felt was warranted enough to to move forward.

1:43:14Sun Lake is not in Lee's?

1:43:16No.

1:43:17No. Um Belly Brothers is not in Lees? No. Okay.

1:43:22She really only has Zephyrhills up to uh seventy five.

1:43:26Okay. W um is it customary to list so many projects?

1:43:32Uh again, this was a first time ask that they included, so He uh Commissioner Oak Congresswoman um Bin Bilarakis did not have a set amount or number of projects. It was just like what's your wish list?

1:43:46Well what does our lobbyist say about Doing four different ones. You

1:43:52have to melee. Sorry.

1:43:57Th this is normal. There are communities that list way more than four. So um what about

1:44:04A billet grant. I don't see where we went went for that. So

1:44:08that's a grant. So um that might be a possibility that

1:44:13we're only we're only talking about appropriations, right?

1:44:15Correct. And I'm just about to go into future uh grants. So at this time, what we're aware of out of uh out of grants is that our fire rescue will be submitting uh for a FEMA staffing adequate fire emergency response, a safer grant. We've been successful with those in the past. And at this time, uh the departments have not um found a project, it's something we could talk about when those bill grants do come out uh and

1:44:46they they put out a uh a NOFO, uh uh a notice of funding opportunity that we might be able to apply. But this is again good feedback. Uh again, we'll get with staff to see if there are other opportunities. We we we just got notification from Tracy about some library grants that I know libraries are looking at as a possibility. Again, these are grant opportunities going forward that'll come out this year. And as they come out, uh we will make sure we watch those

1:45:16and see if there's anything we can apply for.

1:45:18Aren't there uh grants for uh trails in that surface transportation bill.

1:45:26Not that I'm aware of. Sometimes there uh i it it may be uh that they uh that there will be, but again, until they start working on that reauthorization bill, don't know how what they'll include in that. It's always as it uh as it's formulated.

1:45:41Ms. Yeager.

1:45:42So Ralph, just a quick question. Do you know if Hillsboro is also trying to put money in for the intersection of US 41?

1:45:50No, I'm not aware of that. No.

1:45:51Could we find that out? I can. Yes. That would be great, like if we got the funding together and just made try to

1:45:57it's always good when we can piggyback with our neighbors. Yes.

1:46:00Then the TMA should be getting able to get letters support because they voted on matter of fact two Penellas County Commission made the motion in the second to get that done as a project for the region. Right. So speaking as region, that's like one of those things we talk about. Yep, no, you're right in the money. Bringing all that together, maybe

1:46:15what do you think?

1:46:15Maybe the uh right steps to go.

1:46:17Exactly.

1:46:17Exactly.

1:46:18I'm pretty sure the city of Tampa has gotten a lot of federal funding to build that trail that goes along the river.

1:46:23And and and I will make sure and our uh definitely our our parks uh and our uh in transportation engineering will keep an eye out for future uh trail funding availabilities.

1:46:36It says uh it I just did uh

1:46:41The RTP Recreational Trails Program, the LWCF Land and Water Conservation Fund, the um IIJA and the um and DOT has grants uh for well safe streets, safe streets. Um but uh I don't know if we've ever applied for a federal grant for trade.

1:47:03So so again, I gotta go back to uh one of our earlier slides. I uh I think we should be applauding our our our our staff. They really are aggressively going out. I think we've heard the uh uh the message loud and clear. We can do better. Um we should go for every opportunity uh when these grants uh go forward uh and they are pushed out. Uh and I think that's what we'll be doing uh and have been doing. Uh going forward.

1:47:29So future funding uh opportunities. So so basically on on this one, getting feedback from our county departments, we've established some projects that we we could uh possibly look at seeking funding for. Um I I have had discussions about some of these projects with our with Tracy uh and our federal team. Um Uh but but just know that you know w um we've gotta look for for funding for the east and west courthouse improvements. We're looking at about two hundred and twenty two

1:47:59million dollars and I'll stop there.

1:48:01I no I just I just wanna make just a note, just on on a sad note. Um yesterday a judge and his wife were shot. Yeah. So I mean, people are crazy. We we really need to make these courthouses the priority. So

1:48:15And hopefully we'll be successful. I think that's a message. Uh I'll be going up to Tallahassee and uh uh tomorrow and the next day. Um I'll make sure that our sponsors are very much aware for the project that we have submitted at the state level uh to board for the Sumner uh courthouse. Okay,

1:48:33good.

1:48:35Um almost. So other ideas, design and construction of a new EOC, uh septic to sewer conversions are a possibility. That's about a $1 billion price tag. And other public infrastructure projects.

1:48:50So now we're into regulations. I'll stop.

1:48:53If you could just um uh see that you work with our team on the canal restoration, we're putting a lot of money in, so there should be a great to get matching funds to go what we have already allocated.

1:49:02Okay.

1:49:10So as I mentioned, what we had currently had uh been addressing with regulation and language, um which unfortunately was not included in the T HUD bill, was uh that C D B G D R language. Um so that's something we can continue on moving forward, um, because as you know, the C D B G D R is gonna take several years to implement. So if that language were to be changed, let's say for the twenty seven year uh or the remainder of twenty-six um and we were successful in getting that language that

1:49:41we may be able uh then to use those funds uh uh i if again that language is adopted. So my recommendation that we we carry that on and continue those efforts. We'll go back in, um meet with committee staff. Uh again, this is something I discussed with Tracy earlier. w what was it that that uh that you all decided not to include that language? What can we do to write language that would be more receptive moving forward?

1:50:12Um uh we also um uh you all put out with your MPO working with Congressman Bill Arrakis, uh, which he is reviewing the letter that was sent to him to do a study of the Davis Bacon wage compliance costs. Again, to do a study, not to address the issues of what we're attempting to do uh with language. Um so we have that going forward, uh, that's still being worked on. Mm-hmm. Um we are also dealing with uh US Army

1:50:42Corps of Engineers. Uh as you know, Doctor Bellos and staff were successful uh in our efforts uh to get um the Congress to reauthorize the Four Rivers Basin project. So where we are at this point today and and Congressman Lorrakis is aware of this, but this is an issue that we could discuss when we go to Washington for NACO. Um The uh Atlanta office is still waiting for a re an actual

1:51:12response, although we verbally have gotten a response that Army Corps will will reauthorize it. A formal letter uh was not uh uh sent to uh Congressman Bill Arrakis and the other two commissioners that signed on to that letter. Part of that I think was your your we were going over the holidays and dealing with the government shutdown. So I I I just think it's just a matter of uh of putting the fire back under them so we can move forward with that. Um and I know that Army Corps of Engineers is

1:51:43really an area that that w is a definitely a federal department that that we work with closely. So some other issues that we've talked with staff about uh that we could uh possibly sit down and meet with them and discuss, um a Maggie Valley storage wetland enhancement project. Um support for fair and responsible sediment uh removal from the hurricane impacts. I know that's important to you, Chairman.

1:52:07Well and

1:52:08others too.

1:52:09Let me just add one word to that. Yes.

1:52:13Because over the years stormwater keeps on going to those into the canals. It affects water quality and make that part of it so it's just not storm related, we've got to tie back to that.

1:52:22And I and I think going forward, you know, we'll we'll work on that uh that language uh before we go. Uh and if we do set up a meeting with Army Corps and again that's something I've been discussing with Tracy so we'll be better prepared when we go up and and have have that discussion with them.

1:52:38Definitely want to meet with them on on when we go up there February.

1:52:40Indeed. Um and then permit approvals. Um so there are are are are some uh things that we have uh had a hold up right now of Army Corps that we can look into, see if we can uh um get that moving along while we're up there and have that discussion. Um

1:53:00So going forward and and knowing this, another thing like the uh reauthorization bill with the transportation, last week we were notified that T Hud uh would be gathering information and input from members of Congress to develop a pass uh and pass a Water Resource Development Act uh a a Werta uh later this Congress. So the Word of provides members of Congress the opportunity to authorize Army Corps of Engineers To work on projects to improve the nation's ports, harbors,

1:53:31inland waterways, navigation network, flood and storm protection, and other water resource infrastructure. So we're currently in the process of gathering feedback. I did receive some feedback from our departments. We've got to review those and see what projects we can submit at the At this point in time, Congress in Villaragas has not given us a deadline, but it's coming up fast. Like I said, the committee chair just rolled it out last week and gave us this uh this

1:54:01opportunity. So again, these would be projects that Congress would direct Army Corps of Engineers to do the actual work and fund uh going forward. So hopefully we'll have some good projects to submit on that. So these I consider this like a new opportunity, kinda like the reauthorization. We've never had this opportunity, so we'll try to see what we can get done. And uh there's no cap or limits at this point in time.

1:54:26Okay. All right. And uh Tracy, uh we are you is that it Ralph? No. Uh one more slide. One more slide. Okay, one more. We're

1:54:33getting there. We're getting there. Okay. Uh then we uh we got feedback on some possible regulation and language uh that we could consider working on with our congressional members, again getting feedback from from departments and staff. So various departments, uh Commissioner uh Starke uh uh addressed um the David Spacon uh act. So we have a requested right now to do a study. We could actually look at possibly doing language that NACO, which is also in their

1:55:03platform, currently has and they will continue to advocate going forward to put a raising the cap of the current $2,000 per project to $50,000 and then put a consumer price index Attach that to it.

1:55:18You're talking about the Davis Bacon.

1:55:19That that's correct. I am talking about Davis Bacon. Uh so so that's something that we could possibly pursue as our own policy because we know what an impact it has just on our county. I know NACO and everybody else in the United States is working on it, but maybe we could try that as a as a possibility to just put in some see if he can submit committee

1:55:37language. I'm so confused by that statement because I don't we You and my committee when this failed last year? And m meeting?

1:55:44With your Davis Bacon? Yeah. No, it

1:55:46was

1:55:46with transportation but we we tried to get it through th them and they said Well we're gonna defer to your committee.

1:55:50Because because the resolution failed. And the CEWD uh policy

1:55:56But a lot of that was carried over from the previous platform which included the the raising of the cap. So in reality he he did respond back to Katie. it w uh the the policy already remains and will continue to remain. What they were discussing during that committee unfortunately did fail. So I think you'll see it be resubmitted again when we uh uh discuss those uh at NACA.

1:56:20Okay, I

1:56:21So additional requirements in in addition to what previously existed, they will add on additional requirements.

1:56:30politically diverse people on that committee. If you could help me. With Nico, good luck.

1:56:35Good luck on that. Yeah So so some other uh issues that that Steph recommended as a possibility. Uh look at the uh Change to Affordable Uh Care Act. Um, this would help um with it's an issue that we've been dealing with uh with social security and with the Affordable Health Care Act. So there could be some of our um visitors at our correction facility that qualify for those funds and rather than the burden we put in put on

1:57:05uh just the residents of Pasco County, uh we'd like to see some of those funds continue on uh with our visitors uh that they were already previously receiving. And then we uh look at possibility to do an update to Section 8 housing requirements surrounding the residency requirements, as you know that was a big issue. That's something we can work on directly. We know how it impacted us. We could work with Sen uh Congresswoman Lee and Congressman Bilaragas to see if they could get language put in to address that. Uh and

1:57:35then as always we'll continue to monitor proposed language that would impact the county. And finally, next steps. Again, getting the feedback. Um Talking with Tracy today uh and Ballard, how we can uh improve our advocacy, uh future funding opportunities, future language and regulation opportunities, and then scheduling and advocacy meetings, especially for the upcoming trip in NACO. I think Tracy and I have been talking and I'm gonna bring her back up

1:58:06here, um, how we effectively utilize that time. So we're

1:58:11Every county from around the United States are doing the same thing we're doing, going up to the hill to advocate and try to meet with people. And so if you remember we piggybacked with several counties last year. So How could we be more effective and and and look at not just NACO but going up on separate times to address just our issues when it's not as busy? So I I'm gonna bring her back up.

1:58:34Thanks, Ralph. Um one thing I would suggest as we think about NACO, as Ralph mentioned, there are all the counties across the United States represented. So um, and of course the 67 counties in Florida, many of them are represented as well. Um it is important to always meet with our delegation, Senator Scott, Senator Moody, um, Congressman Bil Iraq as Congresswoman Lee. However, I would prioritize the agency meetings. I think they are

1:59:04the most important. We should certainly um focus on uh Army Corps. We have a Floridian who worked for uh then Senator Rubio and worked for Senator Um Moody. I believe you all may have met with him last year. He's now at Army Corps and certainly is familiar. With uh Connor Tomlison. Okay. Um certainly familiar with Florida, familiar with a lot of the requests that you all have made over the years. Um HUT seems to be an agency

1:59:35that we definitely need to have a face-to-face with while you all are there, as well as possibly DOT. So again, while the meetings with the uh delegates, are important, I would prioritize the meetings with the agencies.

1:59:52Okay. And Tracy, I'd like to just I are you gonna be around for later on today?

1:59:56Um my flight's at five, so you guys have to tell me what time I need to get back on the road

2:00:02to

2:00:02the right-of-way.

2:00:05We b we've talked about um the work that you do and I've I've always always uh uh thought Highly Ballard, thought you're very well connected as well. And I know there was a negative article that came out through a uh left wing organization that took a shot at you guys and kind of put some doubts out there with uh others and if you want to address that or just tell us your relations are good with the president and just

2:00:25reappear. Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity. I would just say I'm coming up on my one year anniversary at Ballard Partners. As um you and Commissioner Starkey know I was just joining Ballard when you all came up last year. Um After having a 20-plus career in the House of Representatives, very proud to be working for this firm and the leadership of Brian Ballard is stellar and proud to be working for the number one lobbying firm in Washington. Mr. Ballard has

2:00:55enjoyed an illustrious career here in Florida and continues to do that in Washington. as well and has a strong and deep relationship. with um the administration and throughout the federal government.

2:01:11Thank you. Okay. Commissioner Starkey?

2:01:15So uh with our previous uh federal lobbyist, we um received No foes all the time. And especially, you know, some of us have different interests and one of the areas where I was getting a lot of information was in workforce development and that's why I Workforce development, economic development are kind of where I like to be at at the national level. And so I just wanna put a stake

2:01:46in the ground that I'd love to hear whatever NOFOs uh are coming in those areas.

2:01:53Well that's excellent. One one thing that Ralph and I talked about was beg we're uh beginning to um provide a monitoring service of grants that are coming out. That's how you got the information about the library grant. But particularly with Department of Labor, and that may be one of the agencies that we want to do a one-off maybe with just you to do that meeting when you come up. Um they have um an initiative for an apprenticeship they're trying to uh develop about uh

2:02:25a million a million apprenticeships by the end of this year to go visit them yes

2:02:29so we can I think we're stronger when we go in with multiple commissioners. So if we can

2:02:33and I joined you one time.

2:02:34Yeah so if we can And and staff. So we can't. So

2:02:38so I agree with that. So uh so since the uh NACO is just coming up at this point in time, currently you, Commissioner Mariano Uh Mike and myself will be up there. But as I said, as we formulate this, maybe the following month we can go back up there um to meet with not only our federal delegation, but particular issues directly with the department. And this is again the purpose of today is how we can we can improve our our uh uh relationship

2:03:09uh with Washington and be more effective going forward.

2:03:12I'm gonna guess there's not a lot of people going into that office. So I'd like to see if while we're up there on this trip um that we can go in there because that's you know pretty specific little office. Absolutely we'll prioritize did they didn't Mike Carbella please are there people last time we went they didn't have anyone elected.

2:03:32Mike? Yep, thank you, uh Mr. Chair. So I think everything that we have heard today, we've gone over kind of uh what we have done in the past with with the federal with the federal government. Uh we've got legislative and some administrative uh agency type things, projects. We've heard discussions on different types of projects, NOFOs, et cetera. The the goal here is to take all this collec coalescis and information and develop exactly that. It's not just NACO. We're going to be working with Ballard to say, here's probably what we should be doing in

2:04:03June, here's what we should be doing in August, September, October throughout the year as a as part of a targeted approach, as well as prioritize some of these things.

2:04:16So the feedback that we've gotten today I think is good. I've made a lot of notes on things that I think are important to the board, or at least discussions. We'll bring that back at a later date and have you guys sign off on that, much like we do the state state platform and priorities, and then we're gonna go to work on it. So I just thank you all for joining us here on this. And if there's anything else that you want to add to it, we'll see. Certainly take that either now or

2:04:37or after the meeting. So let me say this. I don't I know we we're supposed to try with the uh food policy advisory council. If that can be later today, so be it. But uh while Tracy's here, David Engel had a presentation on ROI for that. I think before we start the one thirty hearings this afternoon, let me have David put a quick presentation on for it. Uh at the right before they do the one thirty meetings, and then we'll Tracy can hear it before she actually has to go back to DC. Okay. All right. So let's we'll adjourn for 130. Thank you.