Commissioner reports on trails and FAC meetings

1:44:31Great. Thank you everybody. Thank you, Commissioner Starkey. Okay, unless something snuck up on me. I think that does it for the regular agenda. Okay. We will go to Commissioner Oakley, we have 15 minutes. So we'll start with Commissioner Oakley and whoever we did not get to, we will go come back to you at the end of the day.

1:44:50I have a couple items. Um first thing I have is um I have a I've received a letter from Thomas Dobies.

1:45:00Yep.

1:45:00Um With his thanks and appreciation of Sally Sherman and our building department that she's done such a great job. In his, I'll repeat it and quote it in his words, she is a shining star in our county. Sally assisted with several issues relating to a crematory project in Hudson. And So I I personally thank you and I Thomas uh really feels great about the help you gave him in securing that crematory

1:45:31in in the west side of the county. So it's very good that you reach out and and touch the lives of the businesses that we need. uh to move things through and actually um streamline things to to get it done the right way. So I appreciate you, Sally, for all that you've done. Thank you. Um that I'd like to uh show you a picture. I've I've ki kept a promise that I said when uh Commissioner Weight was leaving.

1:46:01That's why he was in Georgia.

1:46:04He got his deer. Oh that's funny. He's happy bad, so um look for good things out of him as a property appraiser in the future. So with that, that's all I have to say.

1:46:16Thank you, Commissioner Oakley. Uh Commissioner Starkey.

1:46:19Yes, um first I uh would like to reappoint Andy Getz to the V OPH Planning and Policy Committee. So I make that motion.

1:46:27I have a motion, I need a second. Second. A motion by Commissioner Starkey, a second by Commissioner Oakley. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

1:46:37It's starting to do it. Hi.

1:46:47Hi.

1:46:48Quick to the Chairman

1:46:49Mariano. I motion passes five zero. Go ahead, Commissioner Starkey.

1:46:53Um, you know, I was gonna talk about section eight housing, but I think I'm gonna wait on that one. Um but but suffice it to say that I I'm gonna be working with FAC and NACO to try and change federal rules on Section 8 housing vouchers. And I'm not gonna go into more detail right now because they asked me not to. I'm just remembering that. But something's wrong there, and I'm gonna try and fix it in the next few years. Um I did um Want to uh talk about the

1:47:23Starkey Gap dedication. I believe we have some photos that are supposed to be up, so if we can get those up. Um I want to thank uh Ralph Lair and the staff for um putting on um our our Starkey Gap so trail dedication. This was originally scheduled for the spring, but because of COVID and the inability of state uh uh workers to trail Travel we uh postponed it until last week. Um In this photo, if you looked, I'm

1:47:53in the middle. Next to me is Steve Diaz, who's the head of MPO for Hernando County, and he's very big trails guy. We have Secretary Gwynne, but there's our honorary speaker of the day. That's former Senate President Andy Garner. And it's Andy who started the program when he was Senate president to annually fund um the Sun Trail program to the I believe it's to $25 million a year, although this year they may be taking a hiatus. So um But um we're we were really uh happy that

1:48:23he drove over from Orlando to to speak um to this this trail dedic at this trail dedication and I wanted to be sure you saw um Uh Commissioner Eggers is in that photo. Many members of the State Greenways and Trails Council are in here. And of course you see our Kathy Pearson and Sam Bennett, the trail, the project manager. We have former Commissioner, well, the Chairman of the Sarasota County Commission, Betsy Bennett, is there. Or Manit Manatee County. And um So

1:48:54thank you to everyone who came out. Commissioner Mariano is there as well. That trail. Is a is a much loved trail and um And uh This the dedication was long overdue, but I'm glad we got it done. We also did a virtual uh celebration of the Um Coastal Encloat Trail. Kathy was also with that one and Sam. And I had so many neighbors from Gulf Harbors. As you know, we don't have a park anywhere around

1:49:24there, anywhere to ride. So I couldn't believe how many of my neighbors put cars or dogs in their car and drove over there to take their dog for a walk, including Barbara Wilhite. Um and um just gave rave reviews on the Coastal Enclove Trail. And um actually the project manager for uh the uh trail that will be the extension of the Penellus Trail was at our dedication. for the Starkey Trail. And so he's very excited and

1:49:54they're blowing and going on their end of the trail. And next year we will have another dedication with Pinellas County when those two trails meet. So um Very excited about what's happening there. Wanted to uh oh by the way I talked to um Secretary Gwynn about the divergent diamond um Back up um while we were there and they are trying to w work with the contractor to allow for subcontractors to try and get them back on track. And

1:50:24so we are very hopeful that we'll be um successful and that that they can speed it up. Um The uh Holiday Lake Estates cleanup is November 22nd from eight to two. And uh looking forward to that. Um I understand we have an out the alcohol ordinance has uh been moving along and I'm hoping we're gonna be voting on that on December, is it eight that it that is our next meeting? We are

1:50:53going

1:50:54to try

1:50:54and get it advertised for your meeting on the eighth,

1:50:56yes. Yes. So uh I know there'll be a lot of happy people. Um in the county that can uh Do their shopping early. And um, I had a meeting yesterday with um actually the gentleman I've known for a long time who has the property across from our former ranch office. And it's the second or third time I've had someone come in and talk about redevelopment in that Odessa area that encompasses all a lot of that industrial. um

1:51:26area that is around Gun Highway between 54 and the county line and the cemetery of of Trinity and Gun Highway. And and beyond Gun Highway. So There's there is a lot of incorrect zoning that we have out we have ROR which we don't even have anymore. Um res nine within surrounded by industrial and I had hoped that we could um do

1:51:56some kind of change there that would be a blanket for that community that people didn't have to come in individually and go through a lot of time and hassle because we all know we want jobs in that area. And so um Um, Mr. Biles, I don't know if we can oh Terry's here. Yeah, Terry's who I spoke with. So Terry, do we have to wait for the full comp plan revision or is there anything that we can do as a first step in that area?

1:52:24Uh good morning again, Commissioner. Um Nictorio Spito's Planning and Development. No, we don't have to wait for the comprehensive plan to Update itself. Um We are currently working on The E C uh flu If you recall a few months ago, um the Employment Center Future Land Use designation was brought up, I believe, by Commissioner Mariano. So we've been looking at adjusting the proportions that are identified in the EC flu. It's

1:52:55the proportions within the flu that made it difficult to Um manage the existing land uses within that area and still get the industrial uh scope that you're that you're referring to. Um but with the potential adjustment to those proportions, um similar to what Commissioner Oriano had brought up in a previous BCC meeting. That might open up some flexibility within the EC flu, that then we can expand the EC flu over

1:53:25the whole area with at Gun Highway in 54 and still make sure that the land uses that are there today remain um. con uh conforming to the comprehensive plan, uh and then also enable that area to redevelop itself in a uh in a new way.

1:53:46Does E C allow for light industrial N C three?

1:53:51It allows for some types of light industrial. Not all of what is in C three is allowed within E C but it it does have some availability for light industrial.

1:54:01It's just if if it's our intention, you know, to bring jobs here and we know that that's an area where we want those kind of um businesses to move to, I hope we can make it as easy as possible, as quick as possible.

1:54:16Yeah, we're we're working on the EC flooper, the board's direction. Back in August, I think it was. Uh so we should be able to bring that forward and that that should be a little bit of a game changer for the EC flu itself.

1:54:28Okay. And you know what? That was not brought up in my meeting with them yesterday because that you know they were said they were told, Well, maybe you need to do uh go for an MPUD. I mean it's five acres, and that that's expensive for five acres. Acres and um and would take a lot of time and and so it seems like we're hurting ourselves. So um God speed really.

1:54:53Yeah. Once we have that EC flu calibrated a little bit, fixed, whatever word you want to use, um, I think it'll open up some opportunities for that area in particular. And we can look at look at that area for the discussions that we've previously had with regard to EC.

1:55:08Okay, wonderful. That's it for me.

1:55:10Thank you, Commissioner Starkey. Um Commissioner Fitzpatrick. Do you have anything for us today?

1:55:18Um well, I would like to just say thank you because I have met I know today is technically my first day, but I would like to say thank you to all the county administrator, attorneys, all the assistant county administrators for briefing with me, even though it was one hour, it was two to three and a half hours. Until late nights. And I would like to have a thank the other commissioners for the warm welcome. And I'm looking forward to working with them over the next two years and hopefully the next four

1:55:48years after that. I do know I I'm looking forward to declaring the month of November as national hospice. And I will be speaking at Saint Vincent de Paul. So I am hitting the ground running and ready to go. And then I'm looking to start some additional programs within the community. And I will let you know more about that next time. And I'm sure I'll have more to address later on. Thank you.

1:56:12Thank you. Commission Mariano? Yes, and I apologize. We if you guys are good with it, we were supposed to take a uh photo anyways, I would like to just continue running through if you guys are good with it. You guys are good? Okay, cool. Go ahead, Commissioner Oakley,

1:56:24thank you, Com Mr. Chairman. Um just like to say the um as Commissioner Starkey was talking about as far as the zonings that we haven't trouble with. Th there was years ago when we did the comp plan we found we had a several conflict zonings that kept on coming in. Uh we took care of them or worked with the people to get it done. So I think along the lines she's talking about if we got other projects that are out there like it the same way, I think staff should actually take a look at trying to let's get those resolved and stand in having people spend months and months of time and tons and tons of money uh that we try to help them through the process to try to make

1:56:54our comp plan work the way it's supposed to work. Um said that the uh Beaconwoods roundabout, uh Commissioner Starkey you'll love it. It's almost done now. Um The other improvements are gonna be done by O D O T who's done a great job out there. And I would like to say we were at uh on Saturday Smile Faith, which is a group That's a a volunteer group, a a a donation group for our veterans. Uh our veterans don't get dental benefits for the primary part. Uh let's say a lot of them don't. Uh

1:57:24and this group provides free dental care for all these people. Uh, the school that they've actually set up now they can actually make dentures, they make f uh Uh all sorts of cleanings that that go on there, other improvements, uh crowns is the word I was looking for, um through the whole process and They operate two different ways. Number one to take care of veterans. There's no charge for the veterans that go there. So it's a great service for Pasco County. Uh I would like to see us promote it within our own county that we kinda refer people down there or just make

1:57:54our citizens aware of it. It might even be good to maybe if I could If I could Mr Chairman Mariano set up a presentation for Smile Faith to talk to us and and kind of give some awareness to what they do because there's a great service for the county and it could be actually something we c might even be able to corporate with our own um

1:58:11uh

1:58:11agreements between having them with their own dental plan that they could set up or even just something to uh flexible spending accounts where we can encourage people to go down there. It'd be a a great help for our veterans. And that's all I have for today.

1:58:26Thank you, Commissioner Oriotto. Okay, again, welcome to Commissioner Fitzpatrick. We're happy to have you here and can give congratulations to all my other fellow commissioners. Thankfully I was the only one that did not have to worry about running this time. So made my life a little bit easier. Just a couple of things, uh tourism. Yeah, our tourism department is just doing outstanding things and they're being recognized for it. Um, they won another major award. Um, they've been named the 2019 Destination Branding and

1:58:56Marketing Campaign of the Year for populations over 500,000. And that's by the Sports Events and Tourism Association. So a huge congratulations to them. Um the award is given in 2020, obviously, for 19. Uh And it includes also includes the brand launch as Florida Sports Coast was kicked off last year. They're gonna be recognized at the Sports Events and Tourism Association Conference, which has been moved to April in Birmingham, Alabama. So this follows up uh the all the telly awards that

1:59:26our tourism department has won. And I tell you what, I've we got a great team there. I I really, really enjoy um chairing that council because it's It's it's better than ever right now. And I think everybody that's on that board will will tell you the same. Great things happening. Um this is even bigger bigger and better news than winning awards. Actually, our collections were up. uh for tourism in September year over year. Which is pretty wild. With the pandemic, our collections up up just under two percent, but they were

1:59:57up. So very positive efforts by our Our team and we had events throughout the county that um accounted for that. So we had five different events, out of town events, um that came a golf tournament, a fishing tournament, a basketball, hockey, and baseball, which brought in thousands of room nights, which accounted for those um those increases in numbers. Um also had another beach volleyball tournament and golf tournament that were canceled. Um, but hopefully they'll be rescheduling and

2:00:27we'll continue to see more great things from Florida Sports Coast. I think it's this Thursday. Let me double check my calendar. I think this Thursday I'll be attending. An awards ceremony. Yes, the Flagler Awards, which actually is are happening here in Tampa this year. I'll be attending that event with Adam Thomas and I think some other folks. I don't know if Kathy, you're going, whoever else is going from tourism, but I'll be attending that. So we'll I will update you on how those go. At the next board meeting. And with that. Look

2:00:58at that. That's pretty good. Twelve oh one.

2:01:01We're gonna take a break, Commissioner Starkey.

2:01:04I I do wanna say um there is uh a FAC meeting in um In Jacksonville, December first through fourth.

2:01:13Okay.

2:01:14So I know I'm going. Commissioner Mariano, are you going to that?

2:01:17I plan to yes.

2:01:19Yeah.

2:01:19So

2:01:21Um and maybe second to the fourth? Yes. Commissioner Fitzpatrick, they're having the uh new commissioner orientation there. And so um Um Ms. Fitzpatrick will be attending that. So that's great. I found that very, very helpful. I went through that whole program and I went through the master one. So Thank you. I look forward to it.