Christy Sims twenty years service recognition

45:33I forget that. I must take that myself. What'd you chuckle at there, Cabal? Okay. Um our other um resolution is a time certain and we have a walk on. So Oh we have a walk on. Do you want to do the walk-on now? Sure. Okay.

45:48Uh, can Miss Christy Sims come up to the podium please?

45:55Ha ha.

46:06I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Resolution number 23-004, resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, commending Christy Sims, Senior Assistant County Attorney for 20 years of dedicated service to the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners and the citizens of Pasco County. Whereas in 2002, Catherine Christy Sims became an assistant county attorney for Pasco County after previously being an assistant district attorney

46:36for the Turrent County District Attorney's Office in Fort Worth, Texas. And whereas as an attorney for Pasco County, Christy was promoted to Senior Assistant County Attorney. Anne Raz Christie is the county's most senior municipal prosecutor and represents the county in general civil litigation and appeals in the state and federal courts and is a highly experienced, well-regarded attorney. And whereas, while Christy specialized in prosecuting and enforcing county and state laws

47:06throughout her time with Pasco County, she served as an important academic resource for the attorneys in the County Attorney's Office on many other subjects, ranging from constitutional issues in emergency management and emergency management issues. And Raz, despite juggling thousands of local ordinance violation citation trials in County Court.

47:28Hmm.

47:29That was a million.

47:32Advising various county departments on a myriad of legal issues and litigating other complex civil matters in state and federal court, Christie led the creation of laws and task forces which were successfully used to make Pasco County a safer place, including the creation of the first local government ordinance in Florida to address spice synthetic drug based on deficiencies in packaging labels. The creation of the county's demolition ordinance to require demolition

48:02or repair of slum, blighted, or dangerous structures. Propose the creation of the county's high return enforcement task force to the Board of County Commissioners using personnel from multiple agencies to apply creative, atypical strategies to complex enforcement matters, such as filing nuisance lawsuits under state law or petitioning. for a guardian to be appointed in hoarding situations, among other creative, investigative and l and legal approaches to enforce the law and protect the s county

48:33citizens. Anne Raz, no matter how busy Christy was, she served many years as counsel for the Pasco County Construction Board, the Pasco County Cam Canvassing Board, drafted all orders issued during local states of emergency and responded to all activations, and has been a resource to other attorneys in the County Attorney's Office for her legal knowledge and historical knowledge of the County's laws and past litigation. And Raz over the past twenty years, Christie has been instrumental in eliminating and abating

49:03unlawful uses and activities, nuisances in the And slum and blight throughout the county. Despite not seeking recognition for such impactful achievements, Christy has accomplished the following just a small number of her many successes. Successfully enforcing the SPICE Ordinance and eliminating the unlawful use and distribution of synthetic drugs in the county, successfully defending the constitutionality of Pasco County's sex offender ordinance. The removal of blighted structures in U.S. Highway 19 often requires

49:35Follow Fallujah, thank you. I didn't even

49:39know that. Fallujah. That's known as Falli Square.

49:45Okay. Which is actually on the agenda this afternoon. Demolition of USA flea market after discovering extensive, imminent, and unreparable life, health, and safety violations, successfully litigating against a mobile home. Park known as Lazy Breeze, requiring either replacement or removal of every mobile home after discovering extensive, imminent, and ir unrepairable life. health and safety violations, eliminating elimination of several unlawful sexual

50:15oriented businesses, effectively eliminating unpermitted and unlawful placement of large donation bins around the county. And Raz, in addition to Christy's intellect, legal skills, and tenacity both in and out of the courtroom, Christy has shown great dedication and care for the welfare of this county and has worked tirelessly to make Pasco County a safer place to live. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said Board hereby commends and extends its appreciation

50:46to Christy Sims for her twenty years of dedicated service to Pasco County. Done and resolved in regular session with a quorum present and voting this eleventh day of October, twenty

50:57For approval. Second. All in favor? Aye. It's a a sad day. Yes it is. That's all I can say. It's a very sad day.

51:03Christy Sims, Senior Assistant County Attorney for the Pasco County Attorney's Office. I just wanted to say that one more time.

51:15I'm emotional. Um twenty years ago when Bob Sumner introduced me to the board, I gave what is Certainly. the shortest speech I've ever given. Six words. Thank you. I will do my best. I did. We did. Um I would just drop the mic and leave it there. Um but I would be remiss if I did not thank certain people. Who have given me The

51:47Creative freedom. Support, respect. um that allowed me to do all of these things which I find to be

51:59Important. Mm mm and those people specifically Commissioner Oakley, Commissioner Moore, Chairman Starkey. Commissioner Mariano and former Commissioner Operty Appraiser Mike Wells. I I Thank you so much for Five years ago recognizing that there was A path. to do more than what we had been doing. Um

52:32I'm proud of what what was accomplished and I certainly want to thank Um my boss, Jeff Steinschneider. Um I I've worked for Four. lawyers in my career. A state appellate judge, David Richards. A former US attorney. Marvin Collins. Bob Sumner. And Mr. Seinschneider. And all of them have been everything I could ever ask in a boss. And that is tolerating

53:03my sometimes crazy ideas, which have

53:08Sometimes they're just crazy, but sometimes there's a a kernel of good in the crazy. Um and giving me the respect um that has made me um comfortable. With um the time away, um the attention that has been drawn away from my family. Um my one son, my husband Chris is here. Um for the past ten years he has been a rock

53:39I leaned on as well. Um but Times change? Kids grow up? Austin will be in Boise, Idaho, um after this year. And Y'all can come visit us in the Black Hills of South Dakota because we're closing on a house on Monday. Oh wow. That's a state I've never been to yet. So I'm

54:03coming.

54:04We have plenty of test rooms. Other than that, uh I'd ask y'all to keep it between the navigational beacons. Thank you.

54:15Oh Christy, well I'll I'll start down here we'll work, are we? Commissioner

54:20Yeah. It goes without saying you're gonna be missed, probably for a lot of different reasons from different people. But you've done a fantastic job and I certainly appreciate everything you did for Pasco County. You worked very hard. You were very successful in what you do. I wouldn't want your job for anything. So but that you did it well. That's a

54:41common

54:42uh

54:42that's a common feeling.

54:45Yes. But uh it's a hard job and you did a great job at doing it for Pasco County and the citizens of Pasco County. We certainly appreciate all that you did. Thank you.

54:58Yeah. I I was getting a little emotional there for a second. You know, and it listen and all honesty, you know, I I consider you a cogleague. You know, we're we're county commissioners, but um we're on the same team. And I've always thought of you as a colleague. And I know the first time first thing we ever worked on was just a few months after I got here and I proposed uh you know the sexual offender ordinance was thankfully my fellow board members at that time um supported And you defended that thing to the end. And I tell you what, you were strong, you were tough. And I know just sitting

55:28in your office and having these conversations, I'm like, man, if God forbid anybody ever got in trouble around here, that's just why I'd want as my on my side as my as my litigator in that courtroom for sure. And um, you know, we work together on that blight ordinance as well as well, and you see What's transpired since that's happened. You mentioned like Fallujah, but you know when I initially I brought that up we talked about 54 and and uh 19 and and 301 and it's just it's it's it's

55:58grown and it's received the support and I and I thank Jeff obviously for giving yourself and the other uh attorneys within the county the um ability to work you know hand in hand with commissioners. You know, and that that's one of the great things about Jeff and I'll tube his horn too is that we're able to have these conversations, you know, you're able to reach out, which we talk on many occasions. You reach out to me, I'd reach out to you, but we have that ability to do so and we worked just built a very strong working relationship. So wish you nothing,

56:28nothing but the best and with your husband Chris back there and enjoy your new home in in South Dakota. And uh like Chair Starkey said we might have to stop by and say hi sometime because that's one place I have not been to We're in between

56:41Sturgis and Mount Rushmore.

56:43It's a great spot But you will be dearly, dearly missed and there will be a void here.

56:47I I did forget to to mention um my colleagues in the county attorney's office um have been amazing. um particularly my trial partner. uh partner in crime or non-crime, uh Patrick Moore, who is about to become your next county judge. Um And I do appreciate Fire Marshal Frum and Sheriff Nakos. Um enthusiasm in working

57:18with our office in on the issues where our interests cross and Um, it's been amazing. And I also feel like I have to thank the private attorneys in the private sector. that have worked with me for 20 years to solve problems.

57:38Okay,

57:39I'm gonna go last. So Commissioner Fitzpatrick. Or do you want to say something? It's been a brief two years.

57:48And enjoy your next endeavors on your next journey.

57:53Thank you. Christy you've been nothing but amazing. Uh as Mike says as far as litigator goes, none better. Uh your your passion uh has been phenomenal every step of the way, making this county better and you have made a huge difference. Uh you you have helped this county in tremendous ways. Everything you did was important. And uh you know, Chris, wish you guys all the best of luck for your family situation.

58:19Thank you so much.

58:21Okay, so I I just don't even know how I'm gonna keep doing what I've been doing without you here and Patrick. I just I it's just a huge h it's just a huge hope for me and uh I just wanna thank you for taking my calls um at all hours. And sometimes we were scheming over a glass of wine. Um but uh gosh your dedication to your job. and the challenges that we we face here. uh unmeasurable

58:53and um when you said you were leaving it was really hard to take and I'm very sad this day has come. You really um have left a mark on this county. And I'm really gonna miss you. And uh I'm sure your colleagues are too in your department. But

59:10And I will miss you. And it was all worth it.

59:15Madam Clerk. I tried to get her to stay too.

59:20When she sold her house in Long Leaf, oh she wants to she's really going so uh Mr. Steinsmater.

59:27Madam Chairman Members of the Board, thank you. Um I think I've said this publicly before, but if I I know I've said it individually to to you all. It is highly unusual for a assistant County Attorney to stay in the code enforcement field for their entire career. It is usually a Entry level

59:52They come in, they get into court or they they appear before the a code enforcement board for five years and they burn out can they move on. Pasco County has been very fortunate to have a senior prosecutor to do that work for the county. Um because it It's not just a job, it's an adventure. Um the

1:00:25the skill and

1:00:32Thinking outside the box that comes with being a in this field for as long as it has

1:00:43the commission only reaped those benefits. I mean when when Christy came to me and said that she had talked to Dr. Bellis and She was struggling with the concept of being pulled in various directions by the Sheriff's Office, particularly Vice. Um and uh the fire marshal, the building official, the code

1:01:13enforcement folks. Um and there were certain things that She just couldn't get to. That's one of the reasons that's when and she also talked me into hiring Patrick saying, oh, I'll train him and he'll be my successor.

1:01:34Um

1:01:37that's not my fault.

1:01:41Um but the the whole concept that that Christy brought to the board um s with Dr. Bellis of the uh high re high return enforcement is something that you don't see in other counties um and constitutionals, departments all coming Together and saying, um, this is a problem and we need to devote resources to it, and

1:02:12that's what we think the priority for the county should be, and not the approach of a bunch of different departments all wanting. that that court time. Um and so I wanna thank Christy for for the time that she's put into the office Um the stress and anxiety that the office has caused for her over the last years. um and wish her the best.

1:02:42Thank you. Since he brought it up I ha I have to talk about that fateful meeting because Christy and I had a meeting with the code enforcement and the Sheriff's Office to figure out how to go after the Worst offenders of property in in the county. And um it turned out we didn't keep records of who property uh landlords. Who um had the most calls, but the Sheriff's Office n knew where

1:03:12they were called the most and we brainstormed and Christy said, I know how to go after this. Um we'll use minimum standards and some some other ideas and boom, she came up with a brilliant idea. and right away they went to Dade City. And they closed down that mobile home park. What was the name of that? Do you remember?

1:03:35Lazy Breeze, there was one on three oh one, Pasco R View Park. Um Leisure Lane. Leisure Lane. There is been hundreds, if not nearing a thousand, structures that have been either torn down or repaired and brought up to code. Um And when they said I've tried thousands of county ordinance violations Literally thousands. um almost six thousand um during my career. But Um

1:04:06I do want to set the record straight on Um two things. First, I did not call a defendant a slumlord in court. No, I I called him. No, I merely asked whether he was the head slumlord of Teak Street. Or only one of many. And second, because Ralph's in the room. I did actually care that the guy was naked while mowing his lawn. I just cared that he was mowing his lawn more than

1:04:36I cared that he was naked.

1:04:41But thank you all. It's been quite a ride. Um I also want to thank um Judge William Sustack, who Um You all know him, fabulous judge. Um and uh taught me to be the best litigator in the courtroom I could be.

1:05:02Oh God, I just I don't know how we're gonna keep doing this without you. I just it's gonna be tough. All right, we're all gonna come down, take a picture and give you a hug.

1:05:56Okay, folks, right here.

1:06:00Couple more.

1:06:04Okay. Good. Thank you.

1:06:36Yeah.

1:06:40Hey, um um Christy. Christy, you may not be aware, but this afternoon on on our public hearing is the uh company that's bringing a project to Fullution. Hopefully we are approving it. Yeah, so So we're finally getting some acts in there.

1:06:59I'm certain is here.

1:07:00Yep.

1:07:01Yeah.

1:07:02Okay.