Jul 22, 2021 BCC Workshop

[GAVEL] GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU FOR

[00:00:03]

[CALL TO ORDER]

THE MEETING IS INFORMATIONAL IN NATURE AND REVIEWING BUDGET MEMOS AND CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND REVIEWING THEIR BUDGETS AS WELL. WE WILL NOT BE TAKING VOTES THOUGH THE BOARD MAY GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF OF THE DOCUMENTATION AND NUMBERS DISCUSSED AND PRESENTED.

THE WORKSHOP THAT IS HELD TODAY TO HELP MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR THE MEETING ON JULY 27, FOR SETTING OF RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR.

WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF THE AGENDA AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THAT, I SUGGEST THAT YOU HAND A CARD TO CHRISTINE OR STACEY AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU GET TO THE PODIUM. ONCE YOU ARE THERE, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.

AND I ASK EVERYBODY TO SET THEIR CELL PHONES TO EITHER VIBRATE OR SILENCE BEFORE WE GET STARTED. AND ALSO I SEE MOST EVERYONE IS DOING THE SOCIALLY DISTANT THING AND HAVE SHARPER RISE IN CLAY COUNTY AND THE STATE AND TO GIVE YOU ROOM TO SOCIALLY DISTANT.

AND START WITH THE INVOCATION, COMMISSIONER BURKE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JOIN ME IN PRAYER.

DEAR LORD THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND OUR WONDERFUL COUNTY AND GIVE US THE INFORMATION AND WISDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE PEOPLE AND WATCH THE COUNTRY. THE MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND WE HAVE A GREAT REST OF OUR DAY IN JESUS NAME I PRAY, AMEN. JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE...

>> LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT COMMISSIONER BOLLA IS NOT HERE TODAY WITH US, ALL THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ARE IN PLACE.

AND AS WE WOULD MOVE DOWN OUR AGENDA TO ITEM 1 IS GOING TO BE

[1.  Overview of Revenues (D. Sileo)]

WITH HELP US WITH THAT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, DEBBIE SILEO, OMV DIRECTOR, TO BEGIN WITH, OUR GENERAL FUND IS SUPPORTED BY SEVERAL REVENUE STREAMS. WHICH IS OUR MAJOR SOURCE OF TAXES -- OR REVENUE. WE ALSO RECEIVE TAXES WHICH INCLUDE UTILITY TAX, COMMUNICATION SERVICE TAX.

AND THEN WE GO INTO INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES AND FINES AND FORTURES AND MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE. AND WE HAVE A COMPARISON OF CURRENT BUDGET AND PROJECTED BUDGET THAT IS DIFFERENCE OF $5.9 MILLION WHICH IS INCREASE FROM THE CURRENT YEAR.

AND WE ALSO HAVE LISTED FIRE AND EMS/TU BELOW.

THAT SHOWS INCREASE OF 1.9 MILLION AND THE TOTAL TOGETHER IS $7.9 MILLION. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> ANY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR DEBBIE IN THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS OR HOW THE NUMBERS DERIVED. HOWARD MAYBE YOU CAN HELP US WITH HOW SOME NUMBERS COME FROM THE STATE AND NUMBERS THEY ARE

PROJECTING. >> YES, SIR, MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR BIGGEST IMPACT TO THE BUDGET IS AD VALOREM, AND RECEIVE THE ESTIMATED PROPERTY TAXES AND THAT INCREASE ACROSS CLAY COUNTY WENT TO $13 BILLION. AND WITH THAT NUMBER AND VALUE WE USE THE RATE TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF TAX THAT PARSE -- PARCEL WOULD HAVE AND HAVE SEEN INCREASE OF 4-7% AND SEEING 6% INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR IN THE VALUES OF THE PROPERTIES AND THAT'S WHAT IS REFLECTED IN THE NUMBERS.

AND THAT 6% EQUALS 6 MILLION. AND AS YOU LOOK AT OTHER TWO

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SO WITH THIS WE FOCUSED ON THE GENERAL FUND, AND THEN WE'VE ALSO TAKEN A LOOK AT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE AND EMSTU AND THOSE VALUES AGAIN ARE PROJECTED AND PREDICTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE WHEN IT COMES FROM TAXES.

AND YOU HAVE 2 MILLION TO INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR TO 7.9 MILLION AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH YEAR OVER YEAR.

>> OKAY, ANYTHING ELSE FOR DEBBIE?

>> YEAH, UTILITY TAX, COMMUNICATION TAX, I'M FAMILIAR WITH A CAP ON THOSE TYPE TAXES. WHAT ARE THE UTILITY TAXES AND

WHERE DO WE STAND? >> THE UTILITY TAX -- THE UTILITY TAX COULD GO UP, WE'RE AT 4% AS FAR AS WHAT WE COLLECT AND THAT CAN GO UP TO I BELIEVE 10%.

WE ALSO IN THAT GROUP PARAMUTUAL TAX THAT IS YOUR DOG TRACK AND ELECTRONIC GAMES AND THAT IS $250,230 PER YEAR.

>> 4% UTILITY? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND CAP OF 10. THAT'S WHAT WE HAD IN ORANGE

PARK, JA CAPPED US AT 10. >> RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU. >> WELCOME.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU DEBBIE.

[2.  Overview of Constitutional Budgets (Individual Elected Officials)]

WE HAVE EACH OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS HERE TODAY. HERE'S A LOOK IF YOU WOULD AT THOSE NUMBERS. JUST A LEAD OFF AND THE CONSTITUTIONALS HAVE A BRIEF. AND WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED.

OVERALL THE NUMBER OF $7.7 MILLION IS LISTED THERE.

WITH THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES YEAR OVER YEAR LISTED IN THE OUTER COLUMN. OTHER THAN THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND MR. CHAIRMAN, IF WE START AT THE TOP AND KIND OF GO DOWN

THE LINE FROM THERE. >> YEAH.

>> AND THAT WILL GIVE TERESA SOME TIME TO BRING UP THEIR BRIEF AS WE GO FROM TOP-TO-BOTTOM.

>> ALL RIGHT, START WITH CLERK OF COURT AND CONTROLLER, TARA

GREEN OR RICK? >> HE'S GOING TO TAKE THE

ARROWS. >> RICK, IF YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF, SHE'S LOOKING OVER HER SHOULDER.

>> I'M ON THE HOT SEAT HERE. RICK DENGEL, CHIEF OFFICER, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I WILL SHORT AND SWEET BECAUSE TROY THREATENED ME TO. I HAVE TWO SLIDES AND SHOW YOU HOW WE BROKE IT DOWN. AND AS COUNTY MANAGER STATED EARLIER, I BROKE THIS IN TWO SEPARATE WAYS OF WHERE THE GENERAL FUND, THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

AND THEN WE HAVE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.

WE HAVE TOTAL OF SIX BUDGETS THAT WE SUBMIT TO YOU GUYS.

AND FIRST IS COMPTROLLER THAT YOU ARE MOST FAMILIAR WITH WHICH USED TO BE UNDER THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND RECENTLY MOVED TO THE CLERK. AND WE ALSO HAD THE LOCAL RESPONSIBILITIES. THE LOCAL RESPONSIBILITIES IS A BUDGET THAT WE SUBMIT FOR THE BRANCH OFFICE LEASE.

THE INTERNET FOR THE COURTHOUSE. ANY OF THOSE TYPE OF OPERATIONAL THINGS. THAT'S WHAT THAT BUDGET CONSISTS OF AND YOU KNOW ABOUT CLERK TO THE BOARD AND DMV.

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AND MY I.T. STAFF SUPPORT THE JUDICIARY, AND SOME SALARIES COME OUT OF THERE BUT MOSTLY HARDWARE RELATED ITEMS. AND TEEN COURT THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, $2.85 OF EVERY CIVIL/TRAFFIC AND CRIMINAL COURT COST FUNDS THAT.

AND PROBATION THAT IS $60 CHARGE AGAINST THE FUND THAT SUPPORTS THE PROBATION FUND AS WELL. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> WHY THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY?

28% THAT'S A LOT. >> YEAH, SO WITH THE LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY I FIGURED YOU WOULD BE THE ONE TO ASK --

SO -- >> I PAY FOR THAT.

>> THE LOCAL RESPONSIBILITIES, THERE IS QUITE A BIG COST THAT IS INCREASING IN THAT, ABOUT $35,000.

OF THAT IS SECURITY THAT WE PAY FOR FOR ORANGE PARK BRANCH, IT'S INCREASED. WE USED TO HAVE A COST SHARE WITH OUR TAX COLLECTOR, USED TO HAVE A DEPUTY THAT GOES BETWEEN EACH BUILDING AND SHARE THAT COST.

I THINK THEY ARE PLANNING TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WITH THEIR SECURITY. SO WE'RE GOING AHEAD AND WE

WON'T BE ALLOCATING THEIR HALF. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

>> WE USED TO AND DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TAX COLLECTOR IS CHOOSING TO DO, BUT WE'RE STILL PLANNING TO KEEP THE ORANGE PARK POLICE SECURITY FOR OUR BRANCH OFFICE. WE USED TO SPLIT THAT COST, ABOUT $70,000 A YEAR, THEY PAID 35, WE PAID 35.

YOU HAVE TO DEFER TO THE TAX COLLECTOR ON WHAT THEY ARE PLANNING TO DO. BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT ON.

SO -- THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGER INCREASES. WE ALSO DID SOME SALARY ALLOCATION SHIFTS. WE HAD A SORT OF FACILITIES SPECIALIST THAT WE HAVE THAT KIND OF DOES OUR, YOU KNOW OUR EVENTS THAT WE HAVE WITH ARCHIVES AND WHAT WE DO WITH TEEN COURT AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE AS WELL AND DOING COMMUNICATION EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S WHERE THAT INCREASE IS. >> THANK YOU.

>> DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> WHY IS THERE A DECREASE IN

PROBATION, WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? >> THE DECREASE IN PROBATION, IT CAN VARY. I KNOW THAT WE WERE IMPLEMENTING -- WE DID IMPLEMENT A CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TWO YEARS AGO.

SO THERE WERE SOME START-UP COSTS FOR THAT.

THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE. SO NOW THEY JUST PAY A PORTION OF THE MAINTENANCE. BUT THEY USE OUR SAME CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AS THE CLERK'S OFFICE AS THE CLERKS DO.

NEXT SLIDE. AND THEN I WAS ALSO ASKED TO PRODUCE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT PROJECT.

THESE PROJECTS WILL ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO HOST VIRTUAL COURTS.

JURY CHECKS IN AND PUSH A LOT OF THINGS ONLINE IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER COVID OUTBREAK. A LOT OF COURT IS CHANGING RIGHT NOW. SOME OF WHICH WENT TO ZOOM, SOME COURT IS STAYING ZOOM. SO WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR THAT AND NOT PREPARED WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

SO WE HAD TO DUCT TAPE AND MAKE THINGS WORK.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS NOW, AND A LOT MORE NETWORK TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH OUR VPN WITH PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME.

AND IN DOING VIRTUAL COURTS AND THINGS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE PUT TOGETHER AND IT WOULD ALLOW US

TO GET THERE. >> EXPLAIN WORKDAY, IT'S

SOFTWARE SYSTEM I ASSUME? >> YES, SIR, WORKDAY IS A SYSTEM THAT THE BOARD IS IMPLEMENTING AND THE COMPTROLLER AND THE BUDGET OFFICE WILL BE ON THE SAME SYSTEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE CLERK SIDE OF THAT, THE CLERK FINANCE SIDE OF THAT AS WELL. I SEE BENEFITS IN THE CLERK AND COMPTROLLER BEING ON THE SAME FINANCE SYSTEM.

AND TROY AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS AND NICE TO GET ALL CONSTITUTIONALS ONE DAY MOVE THERE AND ALL ON THE SAME SYSTEM. JUST TRYING TO GET THERE.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR.

>> COMMISSION ER CONDON? >> IF WE GO BACK TO THE FIRST

[00:15:01]

>> I LOOK AT HISTORIC TRENDS. >> IT COULD BE MORE OR LESS DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC IN COURT.

>> IT COULD, FOR INSTANCE, TEEN COURT IS DRIVEN BY COURT COSTS.

SO THAT'S DEPENDENT ON WHETHER THE JUDGE IMPLEMENTS COURT COSTS AND DEPENDS ON HOW MANY TICKETS WE GET.

MORE TICKETS AND MORE REVENUE. A MYRIAD OF THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THAT AND $2 TECHNOLOGY FUND IS RECORDING FEES AND WE ARE DOING WELL IN RECORDING FEES.

I SUSPECT THAT GOING UP. AND PROBATION AGAIN IS DEPENDENT ON HOW MUCH CRIME PEOPLE COMMIT. SO --

>> HOW MANY BAD PEOPLE THE SHERIFF DRAGS IN.

>> IT KEEPS ME EMPLOYED SO -- >> ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR RICK AT THIS TIME? I GUESS NOT, VERY GOOD.

>> APPRECIATE YOU. >> APPRECIATE IT.

MOVE AHEAD TO OUR SUPERVISOR ELECTIONS.

CHRIS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHRIS CHAMPLIS, CLAY COUNTY OFFICER SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND WHILE TERESA LOADS, I HAVE 365 PAGE SLIDE DECK -- TALKING ABOUT OUR 2021-22 HIGHLIGHTS, ERIC IS IN PHASE 2 IN FLORIDA.

AS YOU KNOW THAT IS A NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DATABASE.

DURING PHASE 1 FLORIDA SENT A MAILER TO 2.4 MILLION ELIGIBLE BUT UNREGISTERED CITIZENS, AND CLAY COUNTY WILL CERTAINLY BENEFIT FROM THE DATA GLEANED BY COMPARING DATA FROM OTHER STATES. THERE IS 30 STATES PLUS D.C.

THAT ARE PART OF ERIC. AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IDENTIFIES CROSS STATE MOVERS AS WELL AS OUT OF STATE DUPLICATES. AND DECEASED.

WHICH IS REALLY DRIVING OUR CURRENT REGISTRATION ACTIVITIES.

VOTER REGISTRATION IS ALWAYS BUSY, SO FAR THIS YEAR WE PROCESSED 6,081 INSTATE MOVES AND 10,397 NEW VOTERS.

800 PREREGISTERED STUDENTS TURNING 18 RECEIVED THEIR VOTER INFORMATION CARD. 67,355 CHANGES THAT COULD BE ADDRESS, COULD BE NAME, PARTY, ETC.

SPEAKING OF PARTY CHANGES, 3,572 THUS FAR.

1,240 MOVED TO REPUBLICAN. 1,195 MOVED TO NPA.

683 MOVED TO DEMOCRAT. REAPPORTIONMENT WILL BEGIN IN EARNEST WITH RELEASE OF THE INITIAL SUMMARY DATA SET NEXT MONTH. REAPPORTIONMENT MUST BE COMPLETED IN ODD NUMBERED YEARS, THIS WILL BE A BUSY TIME FOR ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS TO GET THIS DONE.

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE PRIOR TO THE END OF THIS YEAR, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL MAKE CANDIDATE QUALIFY IN A SEAMLESS PROCESS FOR THE CANDIDATES OF NEXT YEAR. OF COURSE IN REAPPORTIONMENT YEARS THEY HAVE THE BENEFIT IF YOU RUN IN DISTRICT TO GET A PETITION SIGNATURE ACROSS ANY ONE OF THE DISTRICTS.

AND OF COURSE OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE IT A SEAMLESS PROCESS, CULMINATING IN REDISTRICTING AND POTENTIALLY NEW PRECINCTS WITH EVERY VOTER RECEIVING A NEW VOTER INFORMATION CARD.

LOOKING AT THE OVERALL BUDGET, OUR BUDGET IS DECREASING BY APPROXIMATELY 1%. PERSONNEL SERVICES IS DECREASING BY 11.85%. THIS IS DUE TO PRIMARILY BECAUSE THIS YEAR'S BUDGET CONTAINS A PRIMARY ELECTION VERSUS A GENERAL ELECTION. WE ALSO HAD OUR VOTER SERVICES

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OPERATING IS INCREASING 32.26%. POSTAGE WILL BE INCREASING TO 60.35%. AND PRINTING WILL BE INCREASING TO 36.07, AGAIN THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR US TO PRODUCE A NEW VOTER INFORMATION CARD FOR EACH ONE OF NEARLY 170,000 VOTERS ALONG WITH THAT POSTAGE.

I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO YOU, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, BECAUSE LAST YEAR'S ACQUISITION TO BALLOT ON DEMAND.

AND THE FACT THAT IS MOVING OUT TO THE PRECINCTS AND NOT JUST EARLY VOTING IS A HUGE GAME CHANGER.

YEAR AFTER YEAR WE DESTROY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UNUSED BALLOTS EVERY YEAR. SO WE PURCHASE THE BALLOTS.

WE DON'T USE THE BALLOTS AND THEN WE PAY FOR THEM TO BE DESTROYED. NOT VERY SMART.

SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WE DEPLOYED BALLOT ON DEMAND AS WE HAVE FOR MANY YEARS IN EARLY VOTING OUT TO ALL PRECINCTS AFTER THE VOTER COMES IN AND VERIFIED.

THEN AT THAT TIME PRODUCE THE BALLOT AND THE BLANK PAPER WE DON'T USE IN THE PRIMARY WE CAN USE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

HUGE SAVINGS. OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY IS DECREASING 53.7%. AND SO TO SUMMARIZE, THE EFFECTS OF ERIC ON THE REGISTRATION ROLL CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

REAPPORTIONMENT REDISTRICTING WILL BE A HUGE LIFT FOR BOTH YOUR TEAM AND MY TEAM TO GET IT ALL DONE THIS YEAR.

AND ULTIMATELY THE 2022 ELECTION SEASON WILL BE A VERY HOT CONTEST. AND THAT IS WHAT IS DIRECTLY IMPACTING YOUR SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS BUDGET, ANY QUESTIONS?

>> ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING? GO AHEAD.

>> I HAVE A COMMENT, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH NPA REGISTRATIONS AND HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU AND WE THAT THEY ARE DOING THAT WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THEIR LACK OF ABILITY TO VOTE IN PRIMARIES. FOR INSTANCE, WITH NPA

REGISTRATION. >> WELL, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT FLORIDA IS A CLOSED PRIMARY STATE HAS BEEN HASHED AND REHASHED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

I WOULD THINK THAT IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY IT'S CERTAINLY THE MAJORITY HERE IN THE UNION FOR CLOSED PRIMARY STATES.

I THINK THAT THE KNOWLEDGE OR AWARENESS THAT NO PARTY AFFILIATION FOR SOMEONE THAT COMES FROM OHIO THAT TYPICALLY REGISTERS WITHOUT PARTY AFFILIATION.

BUT THEN CLARIFIES OR STATES THEIR PARTY WHEN THEY GET TO THE POLLING LOCATION, FOR THAT I THINK THAT THE EDUCATION IS THERE. WHETHER THE VOTER TAKES THE TIME TO GLEAN THAT INFORMATION. OF COURSE OUR MOTTO WHERE TWO OR MORE ARE GATHERED THERE YOUR ELECTION OFFICE WILL BE ALSO.

AS WE HAVE A HUGE OUTREACH THAT GOES OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IT REQUIRES INDIVIDUALS TO PAY

ATTENTION. >> SO YOU'RE LIKE ME, I'M UNCERTAIN THEY ARE FULLY EDUCATED AS TO REGISTRATION.

WHAT IT REALLY MEANS. >> I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD SAY FULLY UNEDUCATED. I THINK THERE IS MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THROUGH THEIR OWN SOCIAL GROUPS TO FIND OUT THAT NO PARTY AFFILIATION MEANS THEY CAN'T CAST A BALLOT IN A PRIMARY ONLY FOR A PARTISAN RACE.

OF COURSE THERE IS ALWAYS NONPARTISAN ISSUES ON THE BALLOT DURING THE PRIMARY. AND I THINK AS YOU SEE GOING TO ANOTHER THING WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE USING THE LOOPHOLES WITH REGARDS TO WRITE-IN CANDIDATES TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE THOSE VOTING UP TO THE PARTY ANYWAY. I THINK THAT THERE IS ENOUGH IN THE PRESS THAT PEOPLE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD GRASP OF THAT.

>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER CONDON.

>> MY QUESTION IS, DURING THE PANDEMIC IN 2020 ELECTION CYCLE YOU KIND OF HAD TO MAKE A SHIFT FOR SIGNATURE VERIFICATIONS FROM EVERYTHING TO PETITIONS TO ACTUALLY WHEN VOTERS SHOWED UP.

AND USE THE PEN CAP TO SIGN AND DIDN'T NECESSARILY LOOK THE SAME. ARE THERE ANY MOVEMENTS ACROSS

[00:25:02]

>> WITH REGARDS TO BETTER SIGNATURE VERIFICATION A LOT OF ENTITIES THAT USE AUTOGRAPH SIGNATURE VERIFICATIONS AT THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS DO. AND WE PUT OUR EYES ON 80,000 SIGNATURES WITH 11 FULL-TIME STAFF.

I PREFER THAT WE CONTINUE THAT WITH REGARDS TO PROVISIONS.

IF YOU MIGHT RECALL THEY WERE ALLOWING CANDIDATES TO USE ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES. I DON'T NECESSARILY THAT IS GOING TO BE THE CASE ANYMORE. I DON'T THINK -- I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY MOVEMENT TO MAKE THAT A STANDARD PRACTICE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT FLORIDA STILL DIDN'T RECOGNIZE AN ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE, I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING ANY TIME SOON, COMMISSIONER.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> I WAS ABLE A COUPLE OF TIMES TO BE A PART OF THE CANVASSING BOARD AT CHRIS'S OFFICE AND THEY GO THROUGH ARDUOUS PROCESS TO BE SURE THAT EVERYONE SIGNED WHO THEY ARE, AND RECHECKING AND HAVING PEOPLE COME BACK IF THEY QUESTION AND RESIGNING TO VERIFY WHO THEY ARE.

IT'S QUITE A SECURE PROCESS IN MAKING SURE THAT PERSON'S VOTE COUNTS AND THAT IS THE PERSON THAT DID CAST THE BALLOT.

THAT'S KUDOS TO YOUR CREW, IT'S NOT EASY TO TRACK DOWN 80,000 BALLOTS AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE SIGNED IT.

>> COMMISSIONER, THAT'S A GREAT POINT, OF COURSE WITH INDIVIDUALS NOW THAT CAN COME BACK AND VERIFY THEIR SIGNATURE BEFORE THE ELECTION IS HELD DURING CANVASSING.

GIVES THE INDIVIDUALS A GREAT LEEWAY.

AND I ANTICIPATE THAT VOTE BY MAIL DECREASES IN THE NEWS ABOUT THE INSECURITY AND FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY BY VOTING BY MAIL.

THAT'S A SHAME, BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT CLAY COUNTY OR FLORIDA IN GENERAL COULD GO BACK TO A SYSTEM THAT ONLY ALLOWED FOR ELECTION-DAY VOTING OR MAYBE ELECTION DAY AND EARLY VOTING.

IT'S A VERY SECURE PROCESS AND LIKE THE COMMISSIONER SAYS, WE TRY TO GIVE A GREAT DEAL OF GRACE.

WE DON'T WILLY-NILLY JUST A FEW SIGNATURES, WE PUT A LOT OF

EFFORT INTO IT. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHRIS.

THANK YOU. AHEAD TO TRACY DRAKE, OUR

PROPERTY APPRAISER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, TRACY.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, TRACY DRAKE, CLAY COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER.

THERE WE GO -- HOPE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THAT.

THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S CURRENT BUDGET IS 2.9.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET SUBMITTED TO DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE ON MAY 28.

THEY APPROVED OUR BUDGET OF 3,703,661.

THAT IS INCREASE OF 137,565. THE INCREASE IS DUE TO 2% COLA AND FICA AND RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION RATES.

AND OPERATING EXPENSES ARE PROPOSED TO BE LESS THAN CURRENT BUDGET DUE TO CONTRACTS THAT EXPIRED AND CONSOLIDATED OTHER CONTRACTS. REGARDING STAFFING.

INDUSTRY STANDARDS INDICATE THAT CLAY COUNTY SIZE SHOULD HAVE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE FOR EVERY 3600 PARCELS.

THAT INDICATE THAT WE NEED 38 EMPLOYEES AND OUR OFFICE HAS 33 EMPLOYEES AND REMAINED THAT STAFFING LEVEL SINCE 2008.

MY PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT REQUEST AN INCREASE IN STAFFING.

BUT GIVEN THE COUNTY'S POPULATION AND PARCEL PROJECTIONS AND INCREASE MAY BE NECESSARY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

AND BUDGET ANALYSIS ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE ASSESSMENT IN FLORIDA LAST YEAR WAS $35 PER PARCEL OR $98,000 PER EMPLOYEE. THE FIVE COUNTIES RANGE BETWEEN 28 AND $59 PER PARCEL AND 87,000 TO 160,000 PER EMPLOYEE.

OUR OFFICE PRODUCED 2020 ASSESSMENT ROLL OF $873 PER

[00:30:06]

AND WITH THAT I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

>> ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS FOR THE PROPERTY APPRAISER AT THIS TIME?

COMMISSIONER REN -- RENINGER. >> I HAVE ONE FOR DOR IN YOUR

BUDGET AND WHY DOES THAT OCCUR? >> THEY WANT US TO BE INDEPENDENT FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE TAXING DISTRICTS AND FOR US AND THE TAX COLLECTOR I SUBMIT MY BUDGET ON JUNE 1. THEY HAVE 45 DAYS TO REVIEW AND IN MY CASE THEY DID AND REDUCED MY BUDGET OF WHAT WAS SUBMITTED OF $10,000. WE GO LINE BY LINE TO THE BUDGET AND I SUBMIT TO THE BCC ON JUNE 1 AS WELL A COPY OF THE BUDGET AND BEGIN THAT PROCESS ON JULY 15 AND TO ASSESS WHAT DOR APPROVED AND MY UNDERSTANDING TO KEEP IT SEPARATE.

>> MAKES SENSE. AND A QUESTION, VERIFICATION OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION YOU PUT OUT RFP AND MY MIND IS BLANK WHERE

WE STAND IN THAT PROCESS. >> WE -- SHORT ANSWER, CONTRACT WAS WRITTEN. WE REVISED, IT WAS SENT BACK TO THE VENDOR. I RECEIVED THEIR REVISIONS YESTERDAY. SO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE WITHIN A WEEK OF FINALIZING THE CONTRACT.

WE WILL GIVEN AS SOON AS WE SIGN.

SO THE CONTRACT, BECAUSE THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE CANNOT BE CARVED OUT. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, YOU CAN HAVE A MUNICIPALITY THAT MAY DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE. WE WILL HAVE A SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH THEM. AND THE TAX COLLECTOR AND ME WILL ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT PRESUMABLY WITH THIS VENDOR.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN, THE AGREEMENT COME BACK AND I SPEAK WITH THE TAX COLLECTOR AND THEY ARE OKAY IN THE WORDING AND NEXT FEW

WEEKS UP AND RUNNING. >> AND WE EXECUTE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS CONTRACT WITHIN?

>> SOON, THEY TOLD US AS SOON AS WE EXECUTE THE CONTRACT THEY

WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS. >> THAT'S MY QUESTION, HOW LONG DO YOU EXPECT THE PROCESS TO TAKE?

>> I THINK AND I'M ASSUMING THIS, THEY DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY UNTIL THEY COMPLETE THEIR AUDIT AND LIENS ARE FILED.

I THINK THEY WANT TO DO THIS AS SOON AS THEY CAN.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE ANTICIPATE WITHIN 12

MONTHS. >> THANK YOU.

>> VERY GOOD. ANYTHING ELSE?

THANK YOU TRACY. >> ALL RIGHT, MOVE TO TAX COLLECTOR. I AM ADDRESSING THE QUESTIONS.

AND WE ARE ADDRESSING THE MINIMUM WAGE AND DON'T HAVE CONCERNS TO BE IN COMPLIANCE IN 2026, OKAY.

WE WILL BE DOING THAT. WE'VE PUT INTO OUR BUDGET THE SAME COST OF REVENUE AND IN LOCK STEP WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION ON THAT. IN LOOKING AT THE COST OF LABOR, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE INCREASE OF THE MINIMUM WAGE.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE DOING, WE GOT SOME POSITIONS, MOSTLY RECEPTIONIST POSITIONS THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO PART TIMERS AND LOSE THE LEGACY COST AND WASH IT OUT AS FAR AS GOING TO THE MINIMUM WAGE. WE ARE NOT REMOVING ANY OF OUR CURRENT RECEPTISTS BUT WE HAD ONE RETIRE RECENTLY AND REPLACED HER WITH TWO PART TIMERS. AND THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY SOMEBODY OUT AND THEY TRY US OUT AND IF A POSITION COMES UP FULL TIME GIVE THEM THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY. KIND OF A WAY TO ADDRESS TWO PROBLEMS, RECRUITING PEOPLE AND AS WELL AS REDUCING OUR COSTS.

WE ALSO LOOKED IN THE AREA OF GROWTH AND DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICES WITHIN THE COUNTY. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT IT'S A LITTLE DAUNTING TO BE REAMED OUT ON FACEBOOK BECAUSE MY OFFICE AT BEAR RUN IS SO HORRIBLE.

I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER AND WE KIND OF LIKE TO KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE. I DON'T HAVE AN ADDRESS IN

[00:35:05]

BUT THIS PROPERTY IS A PLACE TO BE HOUSED AND HAVE GROWTH FOR THE NEXT 10-20 YEARS, ACTUALLY AT LEAST 20 YEARS.

I HAD INVITED THE OTHER CONSTITUTIONALS TO PARTICIPATE IF THEY WANTED SPACE IN THIS OFFICE.

AND THE PROPERTY APPRAISER AND I WILL BE TOGETHER IN THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION. THAT WILL ADD TO HIS FOOTPRINT IN TERMS OF SERVING PEOPLE IN THAT AREA AS WELL AS SOUTH ORANGE PARK. THAT IS AN AREA THAT WE SEE A LOT OF SOUTHWESTERN GROWTH COME THAT WAY, I THINK IT'S A GREAT LOCATION. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN SOFTWARE. WE HAVE A SOFTWARE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW THAT'S OVER 15 YEARS OLD. WE HAVE HAD IT.

IT HAS BECOME SO AWFUL IN TERMS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.

WHEN I HAVE AN EMPLOYEE CALL TO ASK HOW TO DO SOMETHING, THEY GIVE THEM THE INSTRUCTION, CALL ST. JOHN'S COUNTY BECAUSE THEY USE IT AND TELL YOU HOW TO DO IT.

IT'S AWFUL. IT GOES DOWN.

IT'S NOT CONSISTENT. IT MAKES US WORK LONGER AND TAKE MORE TIME WITH OUR CUSTOMERS. BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A POOR SYSTEM.

SO OVER HALF THE COUNTIES IN FLORIDA ARE USING A SYSTEM BY A COMPANY CALLED GRANT STREET. WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH THEM.

IT TAKES ABOUT A YEAR TO PUT THE SOFTWARE IN PLACE.

AND DO THE MIGRATION. WE HAVE STARTED THAT, AND WE'LL BE DOING A NEW PAY PROGRAM LATE AUGUST, JUST THE BEGINNING OF SWITCHING OVER. IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY MORE IN COST BUT I HAD THEM DO A STUDY ALACHUA COUNTY AND THERE 10 YEARS AND THEY PULLED THE SOFTWARE FROM 10 YEARS TO TODAY AND SHOWED THAT THEY SAVED 2.8 MILLION BY GOING TO THIS NEW SYSTEM. SO WHAT I AM LOOKING AT ISN'T SO MUCH THROUGH ATTRITION THAT I WANT TO REDUCE MY STAFF.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD AND THE COUNTY GROWS, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ADD TO MY STAFF. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE THIS SOFTWARE PROGRAM AND SERVE MORE PEOPLE WITH LESS EMPLOYEES IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S THE LONG STORY OF HOW WE ADDRESS THE GROWTH IN THE COUNTY FOR THE FUTURE.

WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT A PLAN TO -- I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT BEAR RUN. WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT WE SERVE. AND SOME OF THE AGENCIES PAY US BETTER THAN OTHERS, AND BEING A CAPITALIST I HAVE TAKEN A REAL CLOSE LOOK AT THAT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT RELATED WE WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MOVED THE CONCEALED WEAPONS PROGRAM TO THE GREEN COVE OFFICE AND ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THREE AREAS THAN MIDDLEBURG AT BEAR RUN. THAT PAYS WELL AND AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, THAT'S ONE THING THAT I FOCUS ON.

AS MY OFFICE BRINGS IN MORE REVENUE AND THAT BENEFITS AND NO COST TO US AND RENOVATED AN AREA THAT HADN'T IN 30 YEARS AND DUE AND THE SOFTWARE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

WE ARE PLEASED WITH THAT AND THAT'S THE ONE SERVICE BECAUSE IT PAYS AND TO HAVE CONCEALED WEAPON AND COMPETING WITH FLAGLER COUNTY AND MY FRIEND IS TOP OF THE STATE AND WE HAVE A FRIENDLY COMPETITION GOING ON. AS FAR AS THE EARLIER COMMENT ON AN OFFICER AT OUR PARK AVENUE OFFICE OF THE .

-- OFFICE. WE LOOKED AT SOMETHING SOMEONE FULL TIME AND REQUEST OF AN EMPLOYEE TO LOOK AT THAT.

INITIALLY WHAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE GO TO PRIVATE FIRM TO HAVE FULL-TIME COVERAGE AND THE COST 10,000 MORE THAN THIS PART-TIME PERSON. THE STAFF CHANGED THEIR MIND AND THE PART-TIME PERSON.Y TO HAVE - AND NOW THAT I HEAR IT WILL BE CHANGING, WE'LL PROBABLY JUST GO TO AN AGENCY TO KEEP OUR COSTS DOWN. I CAN HAVE AN AGENCY PERSON THAT IS ARMED, A GUARD FOR ABOUT $40,000 A YEAR.

[00:40:04]

BUT WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT AND SHOULDN'T BE A BIG INCREASE TO THE BUDGET. ANY QUESTIONS?

OF COURSE MR. MANAGER. >> BEAR RUN, DO WE LEASE OR OWN

IT? >> WE OWN IT -- OR YOU OWN IT.

YES, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED IT, YOU SHOULD.

>> THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR ANIMALS.

>> WHEN THE TIME COMES. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SO IN THAT AREA THERE IS AN ELEVATION CHANGE FROM WHERE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS AND HIGHER ELEVATION WHERE THE TAX COLLECTOR IS LOCATED A LITTLE LESSER IN ELEVATION THERE.

IT FLOODED DURING IRMA AND DEFINITELY HAS CHALLENGES ACROSS THE BOARD IN THAT AREA FOR FLOODING.

AND IN PARKING. AND THAT GETTING INTO THAT AREA ALSO. BUT IF WE KEEP EVERYTHING OBVIOUSLY AS AN OPTION BUT YES, SIR, UNDERSTOOD.

>> IT DOES HAVE INGRESS AND EGRESS PROBLEMS AND VERY DANGEROUS RIGHT THERE. AND THE SEWER HAS PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING. SO IT'S KIND OF THE SAME PROBLEMS YOU HAVE AT ANIMAL CONTROL RIGHT NOW.

>> MAYBE NOT A GOOD ONE. >> KEEP THINKING.

>> I HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT AND THAT'S JUST FOR INFO FOR YOU.

THE ONLY PHONE CALL I HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT TAX COLLECTOR IS CONCEALED WEAPON AND SERVICE, TO GET A CONCEALED WEAPON PERMIT.

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO THERE MIGHT ELIMINATED THE ONE PHONE CALL I

GOT. >> IT PROBABLY ALREADY HAS, WE HAVE A THREE-MONTH WAITING LIST AND DOWN TO ONE WEEK OR TWO WEEKS. I THINK I SOLVED THAT PROBLEM.

AND WORKING WITH HOWIE AND THE STAFF HAS BEEN JUST PHENOMENAL.

ALL I HAVE TO DO IS MAKE A QUICK PHONE CALL.

WE WANTED OUR OFFICES TREATED LAST NIGHT FOR GERMS. AND SO ONE QUICK PHONE CALL AND THEY WERE THERE BY 6:30.

IT WAS FINISHED AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT A GREAT PARTNER YOU ARE AND APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

SO THANK YOU. >> VERY GOOD, THANK YOU DIANE.

MOVE TO SHERIFF. SHERIFF COOKE.

THERE SHE IS. I DON'T KNOW WHO IS COMING UP TO REPRESENT. EVERYBODY? FOLLOWING THE SHERIFF'S PRESENTATION WE WILL MOVE INTO PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET WITH CHIEF MOTES.

>> TALK ABOUT BACK UP. >> I BROUGHT THE EXPERTS HERE.

GOOD AFTERNOON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, I KNOW OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ALL OF YOU HAVE MADE THE TIME TO COME SEE US AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND DO A WALK THROUGH OF OUR JAIL.

AND MEET WITH US AT THE STATION. AND THAT MEANS A LOT.

SO THANK YOU AND AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON TO WHAT MRS. HUTCHINGS SAID ABOUT THE COUNTY STAFF FABULOUS AND PHONE CALLS AND TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.

HO HOWARD, THANK YOU AND THE BUDGET STAFF FOR BEING COOPERATIVE. I WILL GET INTO MY BUDGET ASK FOR THE COMING YEAR AND TOUCH ON A FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

WE GOT SOME THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO. MY THREE PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR IS RETAIN CURRENT STAFF AND HIRED QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES TO MEET THE GROWING DEMANDS IN THE GROWTH IN THE COUNTY AND TO PROVIDE EQUIPMENT FOR PEOPLE TO SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY DO THEIR JOB. OKAY, WHERE ARE WE AT? OKAY. SO -- I'M SORRY.

>> YOU'RE GOOD. >> IF YOU DON'T MIND, THANK YOU.

YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. WE TOOK A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

IN 3.25 YEARS IN '18, 19 AND FIRST PART OF 20.

WE LOST 180 FIRST RESPONDERS, THESE ARE CRITICAL EMPLOYEES.

1 DEPUTIES AND 42 DETENTION DEPUTYS AND 38 DISPATCHERS, AND THA WITH THESE THREE JOB CLASSIFICATIONS WE LOST 6.1 MILLION THAT WE LOST IN HIRING

[00:45:03]

SO PART OF WHAT WE LOOKED AT IS AND PART OF TALKING TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE LEAVING US. IT BOILED DOWN IN A LOT OF WAYS TO MONEY. AND SO WE TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT THE SURROUNDING AGENCIES IN OUR REGION WERE PAYING.

AND THIS IS JUST DEPUTIES. ALL OF THE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN OUR COUNTY PAY MORE THAN WE DO.

THE ONLY ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A SECURE PAY IS THE SCHOOL BOARD. WE ARE BEHIND COMPARED TO OTHER AGENCIES IN OUR REGION. IN FACT WE ONLY MAKE $500 A YEAR MORE THAN PUTNAM AND ALL OF THESE AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT VERY LARGE PAY RAISES FOR DEPUTIES NEXT YEAR.

AND ST. JOHNS IS NOT TRUE, GOING TO 51.

AND JACKSONVILLE IS LOOKING AT 14% PAY RAISE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. WE ARE ALREADY BEHIND AND FALLING FURTHER BEHIND. SO AS I STATED THE CHALLENGE IS THAT 37% AT THE TIME THAT WE LOOKED AT OUR NUMBERS AND SUBMITTED OUR BUDGET BEGINNING OF APRIL/MAY.

37% PAID BELOW MARKET MINIMUM AND I ASKED STAFF TO LOOK AND 42% OF OUR EMPLOYEES BELOW MARKET MINIMUM.

AND OUR SOLUTION IS A PHASED APPROACH.

FIRST YEAR BRINGING ALL OF OUR MEMBERS THAT MAKE BELOW MARKET MINIMUM TO MARKET MINIMUM. BRING THEM UP TO THE BASELINE.

AND THE FEW YEARS AFTER THAT BRING ALL MEMBERS IN LINE WITH A PAY RANGE AND DEVELOPING A CAREER SERVICE PLAN.

SO WHEN A MEMBER STARTS WITH OUR AGENCY AND THEY CAN LOOK AT A PIECE OF PAPER AND HAVE A GENERAL IDEA OF HOW MUCH MONEY THEY WILL MAKE OVER A CAREER THERE.

AND AGAIN ASKING FOR A MODEST PAY PLAN, SOMETHING THAT KEEPS THE EMPLOYEE AND ALSO SUSTAINABLE BY THE COUNTY.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS HOW LONG IT TAKES US TO HIRE AND TRAIN FIRST RESPONDERS. AND UNLIKE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS A SIMILAR SITUATION. BUT UNLIKE MOST JOBS WE BRING PEOPLE IN AND THEY'RE IN TRAINING FOR A WHILE.

AND YOU KNOW WE WANT THAT OUT OF FIRST RESPONDERS.

WE DON'T WANT TO SPEEDUP TRAINING, IN FACT WE CAN'T SPEEDUP TRAINING. OUR TRAINING GUIDELINES FOLLOW POLICIES BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARD COMMISSION.

AND FOR US, AND AFTER SOMEONE IS CERTIFIED TO HIRE THEM.

IF WE ADDED THE TIME TO CERTIFY THEM, ADD ANOTHER YEAR TO ALL OF THESE POSITIONS. FOR US TO HIRE AND TRAIN A DEPUTY BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THEM ON THE STREET BY THEMSELVES IS 38 WEEKS. FOR SOMEBODY TO WORK IN THE JAIL, THAT'S 38 WEEKS TO HIRE AND TRAIN BEFORE IN THE JAIL AND FOR DISPATCHERS OVER A YEAR TO HIRE THEM AND TRAIN FOR A CERTIFIED DISPATCHER TO HANDLE YOUR 9-1-1 CALLS BY THEMSELVES.

PART OF OUR SOLUTION TO THAT, IMPLEMENT A DEDICATED CADET TRAINING PROGRAM WHERE WE SPONSOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GO INTO THE ACADEMY. AND BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH HIGH TURNOVER AND BECAUSE SO LARGE WE HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE POOL. AND NOW WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY LEAVE AND HIRE AND TRAIN. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE POOL TO SHORTEN THAT HIRE AND TRAIN TIME AND GET THEM ON THE STREET FASTER.

ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN THAT WE HAVE IS LOW STAFFING.

YOU KNOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT DOES IT TAKE, WHAT IS THE NUMBER, WHAT IS THE MAGIC FORMULA TO STAFF ELELAW ENFORCEMENT. A LOT OF THINGS IN THAT NUMBER AND ONE BIG ONE IS DEPUTIES PER 1,000.

AND WE HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE THAT SPELLS OUT.

AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO PRIORITY 1 CALL.

THAT'S AN EMERGENCY CALL. A ROUTINE CALL IS TAKING 40-50 MINUTES AND PRIORITY 1 CALL IS 10 MINUTES.

AND SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS IS HALF OF THAT TO LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT IT TAKES US TO GET THERE.

AND STAFFING NEEDS LOOKING AT RESPONSE TIME TO PRIORITY 1 CALLS. AND LOOK AT WORKLOAD, DO OUR FOLKS HAVE TIME TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT DURING THEIR SHIFT.

DO THEY HAVE TIME TO DO PROACTIVE POLICE WORK OR JUST RESPONDING TO CALLS. AND WE LOOK AT CRIME PATTERNS

[00:50:03]

WHAT IS THEIR CASE LOAD, IF SOMEONE HAS A CASE LOAD OF 60 AND NOT GOOD DETECTIVE OR POLICE WORK GOING ON.

AND WE LOOK AT THE QUANTITY AND CASES.

AND WE LOOK AT THE CLEARANCE RATES AND THE SERVICES THAT OUR COMMUNITY ASKS US TO PROVIDE. SUCH AS THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SUCH AS CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THESE KIDS WITH OFFICER FRIENDLY AND STRANGER DANGER.

ALL THE THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS FROM US.

AND DEAL WITH LEGAL MANDATES FROM STAFFING AND THAT IS TRUE IF DETENTION FACILITY WHERE WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PERSONNEL FOR INMATES. AND WE LOOK AT OTHER INDICATORS AND GEOGRAPHIC AND OTHER THINGS. WHERE IS THE NEW POPULAION COMING IN AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT.

SO THIS IS THE POPULATION GROWTH PROJECTIONS.

I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION, I BELIEVE THIS NUMBER IS PRETTY MODEST BASED ON WHAT I AM SEEING.

BUT THAT'S THE SOURCE THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING WITH, AND THAT'S THE SOURCE WE'RE USING. SO OUR SOLUTION AS FAR AS STAFFING FOR NEXT YEAR INCLUDES THIS, AND AGAIN WE LOOKED AT THE GROWTH PROJECTIONS. THE FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY COMING THROUGH WITH MORE TRAFFIC AND CRASHES.

AND CRIME TRENDS AND INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE IN SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS AND THE CRIME CREEP WE ARE SEEING IN ORANGE PARK AND OAKLEAF AREAS AND WHAT WE ARE ASKING IF IN STAFFING...

TWO INTERNET CRIMES CHILDREN DETECTIVES AND THERE IS UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF PEOPLE PREYING ON CHILDREN.

AND FOUR CONTROL SERGEANTS AND TWO HUMAN TRAFFICKING DETECTIVES. AND A CRIME SCREEN SUPERVISOR, LICENSED MENTAL COUNSELOR, AND PART TIME MAIL CLERK AND PART TIME CRIME CIVILIAN SPECIALISTS AND PART TIME DEPUTY PROGRAM.

WE ARE LOOKING TO USE PART TIMERS AND WHERE IT'S APPROPRIATE AND MAKES SENSE TO UTILIZE PART-TIME STAFFING IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE DOLLARS. SO THAT WAS OUR STAFFING REQUESTS, THIS IS OUR OPERATING CHALLENGES.

SO OUR OPERATING CHALLENGES IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT WE OPERATE 14 DIFFERENT BUILDINGS. RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND SO WE HAVE A LOT TO MAINTAIN AND THERE ARE COSTS THAT OCCUR THAT ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL. THE CUSTODY AND CARE OF INMATES AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, THAT WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER COST OF FUEL, COST OF AMMUNITION.

AND THE COST OF HIRING AND TRAINING AND EQUIPPING NEW EMPLOYEES. THE INCREASED COST OF SOFTWARE AND LICENSING THAT GOES WITH THE JOB WE HAVE TO DO.

AND INCREASED COST WITH COLLEGE TUITION PROGRAM, THAT IS A BENEFIT THAT WE OFFER. THAT PORTION IS NOT A HUGE INCREASE BUT IT IS AN INCREASE. OUR ADDITIONAL MO MONIES FOR 21-22, AND YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, INMATE FOOD SERVICES AND INMATE MEDICAL AND DEPUTIES RESPONDING TO PEOPLE HAVING HEART ATTACKS AND WE HAVE THE ADE'S.

AND OUR CLOTHING AND BEDDING AND AS OUR POPULATION INCREASES AND JAIL POPULATION INCREASES AND WE EXPECT THE COST OF THOSE ITEMS TO GO UP. AND AS WELL AS THE NATURAL COST OF DOING BUSINESS. IN FACT OUR JAIL AS YOU KNOW IS OVER CAPACITY DAILY. LOTS GOING ON.

SO CONTINUING NOW WITH CAPITAL. THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CUSTODY AND CARE OF INMATE POPULATION.

WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT OUR DEPUTIES HAVE ADDITIONAL NONLETHAL METHODS OR TOOLS TO HANDLE VIOLENT INMATES.

THE USE, WE CURRENTLY USE OUTDATED I.T. EQUIPMENT AND THEN OUR GROWING STORAGE NEEDS FOR CYBER CRIME.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CRIME PATTERNS AND TRENDS AND CYBER

[00:55:02]

LET -- THE LESS YOU MOVE INMATES AROUND IN THE FACILITY THE SAFER . WE WOULD LIKE TO DO MEDICAL ON EACH FLOOR TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE ISSUING DETENTION DEPUTY'S TASERS. THE USE OF A TASER IS MUCH SAFER AND CLEANER THAN HANDS ON WHEN YOU PHYSICALLY FIGHT PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU PHYSICALLY FIGHT PEOPLE, PEOPLE GET HURT.

AND UPDATE LAPTOP COMPUTERS AND EXPECTATION THAT FOLKS BE ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR WORK FROM HOME AND ALL THEY HAVE IS DESK TOPS AND I NEED THEM TO HAVE LAPTOPS IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY AND WORK FROM HOME. WE WANT TO BUILD OUR REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER. I THINK THAT'S A BENCHMARK CAPABILITY FOR US AND A LOT OF SCUTTLEBUTT IN THE REGION ABOUT THE GREAT WORK DONE IN OUR REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER AND CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT OUT. THE PATH FORWARD IS FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY CARRY OUT MY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE SHERIFF AND TO HAVE THE FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE GOALS.

SO NOW I WANT TO GET INTO THE MONEY.

SO WHAT I WILL ASKING FOR IS 70 MILLION FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THAT WILL COVER PERSONNEL, OPERATING AND CAPITAL AND BUILDINGS. AND THEN THE 2.1 IN THE FUND 305, TO REPLACE THE FLEET THAT IS OUT DATED.

AT SOME POINT THE CARS IN YOUR FLEET COST YOU MORE BECAUSE YOU KEEP THEM LONGER AND ROTATE THEM OUT AND ADD THAT 2.1 MILLION TO COVER THE VEHICLES FOR THE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.

MOVING FORWARD AND IDEAS ON WHAT IS ON THE HORIZON FOR US OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. AGAIN IMPLEMENTING A STRATEGIC PLAN. I'M NOT GOING TO STAND HERE AND TELL YOU THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THIS NEXT YEAR OR NEXT WEEK. AND NO EXPECTATION OF THAT.

AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN MOVING FORWARD.

THERE ARE VERY SERIOUS ISSUES THAT LAY AHEAD OF US THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE. SO AS I MENTIONED NEXT YEAR WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING OUR 42% OF OUR MEMBERS UP TO MINIMUM.

PER OF THE EVERGREEN STUDY THAT WAS COMPLETED BY THE COUNTY IN 2020. AND FISCAL YEAR 22-23, START TO BRING OUR MEMBERS INTO A SALARY RANGE THAT MAKES SENSE THAT IS LAID OUT BY EVER GREEN THAT IS PREDICTABLE AND CREATE A SUSTAINABLE CAREER SERVICE PLAN. THAT IS ON OUR FIVE-YEAR HORIZON. AND WE ALSO WANT TO WORK TOWARDS INCOMING OUR SHEER NUMBER OF DEPUTIES.

WE ARE BELOW THE STATE AVERAGE, BELOW, LOWER THAN ANYBODY AROUND US. AND WE WANT TO ADD ADDITIONAL STAFFING EVERY YEAR. SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY REDUCE OUR RESPONSE TIME AND KEEP UP WITH THE GROWING DEMANDS ON THE AGENCY. WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON A BASELINE BUDGET FOR 22-23, 25-26, THAT BASICALLY CONSIDERS A 4% ANNUAL INCREASE OVER THESE FISCAL YEARS.

TO INCLUDE THE PURCHASE OF THE NEW CAD SYSTEM THAT IS ON THE HORIZON AND PART OF OUR INCREASE WILL INCLUDE THAT NEW CAD SYSTEM AND AS I SAID CONTINUE TO ROTATE FLEET OUT THAN REPLACE A WHOLE BUNCH AT ONCE. WE WANT A METHOD EVERY YEAR THAT WE ARE REPLACING THE BOTTOM PERCENTAGE OF THEM TO REFRESH THE FLEET. MAKE IT SAFER AND CHEAPER.

AND THEN ASSUMING THAT THE BUDGET IS MOVING FORWARD, GET APPROVED AS IS. AND THIS TAKES THAT INTO ASSUMPTION. THIS WOULD BE WHAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT OVER THE NEXT FIVE FISCAL YEARS.

MOVING FORWARD AND AGAIN TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT WE ARE BELOW STAFF. AND TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THAT 42% OF OUR PEOPLE UNDERPAID AND THE COUNTY IS GROWING.

WE HAVE TO TAKE SERIOUS STEPS MOVING FORWARD.

AND THE GOOD NEWS ONCE WE TAKE A COUPLE OF STEPS MOVING FORWARD

[01:00:04]

LAST YEAR MY BUDGET WAS FLAT FROM THE YEAR BEFORE, AND THIS YEAR ASKING FOR ALMOST 8 MILLION TO GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS ON THE HORIZON.

WE TOO HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF CONVERSATION PARTNERING WITH CLAY COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AND EVEN EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER FOR SOME DEGREE MAKES SENSE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE HAVE HAD A BUNCH OF -- SEVERAL FORMAL MEETINGS AND INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS AND MEETINGS.

AND SEVERAL AREAS THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO PARTNER.

LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE 14 DIFFERENT BUILDINGS, I DON'T NEED THAT MANY BUILDINGS AND I WANT TO GET RID OF PROPERTY.

AND IT'S COSTLY. AND WE TALKED WITH CLAY COUNTY PARTNERING WITH POLICE AND FIRE AND SHARE A LOBBY AND TRAINING FACILITY. AND SHARE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE CAN SHARE IN A BUILDING SUCH AS THAT.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT SHARING SECURED STORAGE FOR SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT. WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT IN THE ELMENT AND PIECEMEALED AND TUCKED AWAY IN THE COUNTY. IT'S EXPENSIVE AND IT DOESN'T LOGISTICALLY MAKE SENSE AND SHARING A TRAINING FACILITY WITH CLAY COUNTY FIRE RESCUE WOULD WORK.

IN IS WHERE WE WANT TO PUT OUR HARPER MONEY IF APPROVED.

CONSISTENT WITH THE TIME FRAME THAT CLAY COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PAID THEIR FOLKS LAST YEAR FOR HEIGHTENED RISK FOR COVID.

AND WE WERE NOT AFFORDED THAT AND I WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS MONEY TO PAY FOLKS THAT WORKED DURING COVID.

-IT'S A FINITE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT CCFR DID. AND REPLACE THE BOILER AT THE JAIL. CONVERT OUR REREC ROOM -- TO A DORM. AND WE HAVE CYBERATTACKS EVERY DAY AT THE AGENCY AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE'S INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE IS SAFE. WE WANT TO USE SOME ARPA MONEY TO INCREASE OUR CYBERSECURITY. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HIRE AND LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR TO SERVE OUR 700 EMPLOYEES.

AND WE NEED TO REPLACE WOOD DOORS IN OUR JAIL WITH METAL DOORS. AND REPLACE 30 AIR HANDLERS TO IMPROVE THE JAIL'S HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AT CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WE MEET REGULARLY. AND WHEN I SAY REGULARLY, WEEKLY, EVERY OTHER WEEK, MONTHLY.

JUST DIFFERENT MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE WE DOING.

WHAT ARE OUR GAPS AND WHAT IS CRITICAL AND PRIORITIZE.

AND SO YOU KNOW THE ASKS ARE OUR FIRST STEP TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE AND PROTECT THESE CITIZENS OF CLAY COUNTY.

ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER RENNINGER, GO AHEAD.

>> WHO CERTIFIES YOUR -- LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.

>> SURPRISED -- >> DISPATCHERS.

>> WHO CERTIFIES THEM? STATE OF FLORIDA.

>> WHAT AGENCY? >> DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HOLDS THE STATE CERTIFICATION.

IT IS A STATE CERTIFICATION THAT DISPATCHERS HAVE TO HAVE.

AND IT'S THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS THE HOLDING BODY OF

THOSE CERTIFICATIONS. >> [INAUDIBLE] WEEKS?

>> BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS, IT'S NOT JUST A CLASS BUT COMBINE OF HOURS IN SEAT.

THEY GO FROM COMING INTO THE BUILDING AND LEARN HOW TO TAKE NONEMERGENCY CALLS AND THEN GET SIGNED OFF AND ON THEN TAKE 9-1-1 CALLS AND THEN THE HARD PART BEGINS WHERE THEY HAVE TO GET ON THE COMPUTERS AND DISPATCH.

YOU WERE IN THE COMMUNICATION CENTER, IT'S NOT JUST THE PHONE

AND RADIO. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> 62 WEEK SYSTEMSS -- WEEKS I A LONG TIME.

>> NEW POSITIONS. >> YES, SIR.

>> I DON'T SEE A GRANT, A LOT OF THINGS CAN BE MANIPULATED

[01:05:01]

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF GRANTS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY UTILIZING.

AND LET ME SAY THIS GRANTS RIGHT NOW ARE NOT AS LUCRATIVE AND THERE IS MATCHING FUNDS AND YEARS AND YOU TAKE THE REST OF IT. WE HAVE SIX DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOLKS ON THE GRANT. AND COP'S GRANT? YES, WE HAVE A COP'S GRANT AS WELL.

WE HAVE TWO GRANTS FOR PERSONNEL RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING

THROUGH. >> I KNOW YOU WERE HIRING SOMEONE AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU DID OR NOT.

>> YES, WE DID BRING SOMEONE ON FOR GRANTS.

>> ALL RIGHT. SOMETHING TO LOOK AT AND WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECOVERY PLAN COMING DOWN A LOT OF

OPPORTUNITY THERE. >> ABSOLUTELY AND WE ARE.

AND AGAIN WE SIT REGULARLY WITH THE COUNTY AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT PARTNERS AND TALK ABOUT HOW CAN WE COMBINE SOME OF THIS STUFF TO MAKE IT MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THE MONIES WE ARE RECEIVING AND MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE.

>> I WILL ASK A CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION, THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICE, HAVE WE INVESTIGATED THE EFFICIENCY OF THAT DECISION?

>> I WILL STAY OUT OF THE POLITICS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICE. I HAVE SAT WITH ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND WENT THROUGH THE PRO'S AND CON'S.

AND HAVE RUN, I WAS A SUPERVISOR IN THE SCHOOL RESOURCE PROGRAM IN JACKSONVILLE. SO I HAVE A TASTE OF IT.

AND THERE IS PRO'S AND CON'S TO BOTH AND AT THE END OF THE DAY IT NEEDS TO BE PARENTS AND TEACHERS NEED TO LET ADMINISTRATORS AND SCHOOL BOARD REPS KNOW HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT

IT. >> VERY GOOD ANSWER.

>> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTIONS.

>> COMMISSIONER. >> I HAD ONE QUESTION.

SORRY -- NOW I HAVE TWO AND I DIDN'T TURN ONE ON.

SO ON YOUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN YOU LIST THE AIR HANDLERS BUT I THOUGHT THAT WE JUST APPROVED REPLACING SOME OF THEM.

DID WE NOT? >> I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE

CHILLERS. >> JUST THE CHILLER, NOT THE AIR HANDLER. NO, MA'AM.

THAT IS A -- THAT IS AN OLDER BUILDING THAT WAS IGNORED FOR A LONG TIME. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT WE WERE I THINK VERY RESPONSIBLE IN OUR CARES ACT MONEY AND NOW ARPA MONEY IN VIINVESTING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE JAIL FACILITY. I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD BECAUSE WE'RE AT CAPACITY AND THIS MONTH WE HAD TO SEND INMATES TO ANOTHER FACILITY BECAUSE OVER CAPACITY.

MY THOUGHT IS BASED ON A PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY WOULD BE TO GIVE THE JAIL THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF OUR BUILDING AND MOVE US TO A CO-LOCATED BUILDING WITH FIRE AND ADMINISTRATION. WE ARE INVESTING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE JAIL SO THIS IS NOT AN ONGOING ISSUE YEAR AFTER YEAR. WE ARE REALLY SORT OF RIPPING THINGS OUT AND PUTTING NEW STUFF IN THIS THE HOPES THAT IT WILL

LAST FOR YEARS AND YEAR. >> DO YOU EXPECT, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE AT LEAST TOLD ME THAT THE INMATE POPULATION HAS SOMETHING DO WITH GROWTH. BUT I KNOW THAT YOU HAD BACKLOG DUE TO THE COURT SYSTEM TO HAVE BACKLOG BECAUSE OF COVID AND HAD ISSUES WITH DUCT TAPE AND ZOOM. YOU HAD TO MAKE AMENDS TO DO ZOOM FIRST APPEARANCES AND ALL THAT STUFF.

IS THAT BACKLOG GOING AWAY? >> I KNOW THAT JUDGE COLLINS 81 CASES THAT HE HEARD TWO FRIDAY AGO.

WE PICKED 44 FELONS IN THE LAST TWO DAYS.

THE COURT SYSTEM IS OPENING BACK UP.

NOT AS QUICKLY AS I WOULD LIKE; RIGHT.

BUT EVEN WITH THE COURT SYSTEM OPENING BACK UP.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE ARRESTING AND A LOT HAS TO DO WITH THE GROWTH. WE SEE THESE PEOPLE FROM JACKSONVILLE, WE ARE AT CAPACITY.

AND INTERESTING ENOUGH I FOUND A DOCUMENT 12 YEARS AGO WHERE SHERIFF BEESLER WROTE IN A DOCUMENT THAT THE JAIL WOULD BE AT CAPACITY SOON AND SOMETHING NEEDING TO BE DONE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS PART AND NOT SPEAK FOR HIM BUT PART OF HIS IDEA FOR THE ACREAGE NEAR CAMP BLAINE TO PUT SOME PRISON FARM OUT THERE IN THE FUTURE. SO THIS JAIL CAPACITY ISSUE IS

[01:10:05]

>> ARE YOU SEEING AND THESE ARE SOMETIMES QUESTIONS I HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC. AND WILL ASK YOU AND COMMISSIONER RENNINGER, CONTROVERSIAL, BUT CRIME IS UP BECAUSE YOU SAID WE ARE SEEING INCREASE OF POPULATION OR CRIME IS NOT UP. OR SEEING MORE VIOLENT CRIMES OR CRIMES THAT HAVE PEOPLE STAYING IN YOUR JAIL LONGER FOR LONGER

PERIODS OF TIME? >> CRIME RIGHT NOW IS DOWN.

OKAY. DOMESTIC HOMICIDES ARE UP.

CRIME IN GENERAL IS DOWN. THAT IS NOT UNUSUAL THOUGH THE BIG FACTOR BEING COVID. BUT AS PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN OUT AND ABOUT WE SEE MORE ACTIVITY. THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN OUR JAIL, ARE THE BAD PEOPLE. WE GIVE OUR DEPUTIES VERY LIBERAL DISCRETION TO HANDLE THINGS, MISDEMEANORS, ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS AT THE STREET LEVEL WITH ISSUANCE OF A CITATION OR WARNING. SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN OUR JAIL NEED TO BE IN OUR JAIL. AND FORTUNATELY RIGHT NOW CRIME IS DOWN. BUT AS SOON AS THE COVID FOG LIFTS WITH THE INCREASE IN POPULATION AND WITH THE INCREASE OF AMOUNT OF DRUGS IN THIS COUNTY BECAUSE OF OPEN BORDERS AND PHARMACEUTICALS AND THE REASON THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING. 30 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT I TELL YOU THAT THE CRIME RATE WILL CREEP BACK UP.

AND WE'RE ALREADY BEHIND IN STAFFING AND WITH THE CREEP THAT IS GOING TO COME, IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE.

SO WE HAVE TO SORT OF PREPARE AND STAND TO FIGHT THE CRIME.

>> AND ANOTHER QUESTION THAT YOU'VE ANSWERED PRIVATELY FOR ME AND THE PUBLIC HAS ASKED AND TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER IT PUBLICLY. IN YOUR CAPITAL PLANS DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO GO TO BODY WORN CAMERAS OR NOT?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO BO BODY-WORN CARAMMAS CAMERAS AND THE COST, MY PROBLEM I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE LEAVING RIGHT NOW, THE ALLIGATOR CLOSER TO THE CA CANOE, RIGHT HOWARD, HOW YOU SAY IT.

I HAVE SUCH TURNOVER AND SUCH RESIGNATION PAPERS EVERY DAY AND I HAVE TO STOP THAT BEFORE I CAN THINK ABOUT BODY CAMERAS BUT

PHILOSOPHICALLY NOT OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER. >> FIRST OFF, WOW WHAT YOU CAME INTO TO BECOME SHERIFF HERE. WOW.

I'M ASTOUNDED AT WHAT WE'RE LIVING WITH IN OUR COUNTY.

AND JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CHARGE MORE OR, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS TO CHANGE. THIS HAS TO CHANGE.

SO FOR WHOEVER IS LISTENING. WE'RE STUCK IN A POSITION HERE THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT.

AND NEXT WEEK WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

SO YOU KNOW, I JUST GOT E-MAIL AFTER E-MAIL AND I'M SURE THAT

EVERYONE HERE DID -- >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> FOR YOUR BUDGET. AND I MEAN WOW -- BUT OF ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE DO THEY KNOW WHAT GOES INTO THAT? THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ASK. AND YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE I HEAR FROM ANY CITIZEN IN OUR COUNTY.

OH, WE NEED THIS. OH, WE NEED THIS.

OH, BUT -- WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GIVE MORE MONEY FOR IT.

>> SURE. >> THAT'S ALWAYS A PROBLEM BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AS A DECISION MAKER THERE HAS TO BE SOME GIVE. PSO EVERYBODY WHO IS LISTENING O THAT, WE GET BLASTED ON FACEBOOK CONSTANTLY.

AND YES I AM DOING THINGS BY THE WAY.

NOT SITTING HERE DOING NOTHING. BUT I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, SO STORAGE FACILITY I KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ASKED FOR.

IS THERE -- I'M TOLD THERE IS A STORAGE FACILITY IN HERITAGE HILLS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BEFORE OR OBTAINED BEFORE YOU CAME IN OFFICE, IS THAT TRUE? AND MAY OR MAY NOT.

>> WHAT IS IT? >> SUPPLY.

>> BUT THAT IS STORAGE FOR -- YEAH, OKAY THAT'S THE ONE OVER BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE HAVE SO MUCH STUFF THAT WE HAVE TO HOUSE, AND WE HAD NOWHERE TO HOUSE IT.

UNIFORMS, GUNBELTS, ALL OF STUFF THAT WE ISSUE SOMEBODY.

[01:15:04]

BECAUSE THERE IS NO REASON THAT POLICE UNIFORMS AND FIRE UNIFORMS COULDN'T BE STORED IN THE SAME BUILDING; RIGHT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE PLACES WE HAD TO PUT OUR STUFF SOMEWHERE.

WE LITERALLY HAD NOWHERE TO PUT STUFF.

>> THAT IS USED AND FILLED UP? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE JAIL GOING UPWARDS.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT YET.

>> YOU WANT ME TO TOUCH ON THAT. >> YEAH, SURE, BOTTOM LINE WE HAVE A STUDY AND GET OUTBRIEF ON THAT HERE IN A MATTER OF A WEEK, I THINK I SAW GENE. THERE IT IS.

AND THAT IS A POSSIBILITY AND I THINK THAT THE SHERIFF HAS A

LITTLE MORE DETAILS ON IT. >> SURE, THE JAIL IS AT CAPACITY. SO WHAT DO WE DO? MY FIRST THOUGHT IS LET'S PUT THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE, IN ANOTHER FACILITY. AND THE NUMBERS ARE ABOUT $2 MILLION PER YEAR TO PUT 50 INMATES IN ANOTHER FACILITY, IF THAT FACILITY WILL TAKE THEM. MANY FACILITIES ARE ALREADY AT CAPACITY. AND SOME THAT DO HAVE CAPACITY DON'T HAVE STAFF. LET'S GO BACK, EVEN IF THERE ARE INMATES THERE STILL HAS TO BE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF STAFF PEOPLE THERE TO OVERSEE THEM. THE NUMBER WAS ABOUT 2 MILLION PER YEAR TO HOUSE 50 INMATES AT ANOTHER FACILITY.

AND SO THE QUESTION BECAME, OKAY, HOW MUCH WOULD IT BE TO BUILD A BRAND-NEW JAIL? AND EVERYBODY'S HEADS STARTED SPINNING BECAUSE THAT IS ASTRONOMICAL.

AND THE CONVERSATION WELL OUR CURRENT JAIL IS CONNECTED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF OUR BUILDING.

COULD WE GIVE THE DETENTION CENTER THAT FOOTPRINT AND EXPAND THE CAPACITY ENOUGH TO LAST 20-25 YEARS.

WE HAD A COMPANY COME IN, THEY DID A PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY AND BASICALLY IF THE JAIL TOOK OVER THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND WENT UP A FLOOR.

IT WOULD INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO WHAT WE NEED AND A HECK OF A LOT CHEAPER FROM BUILDING A JAIL FROM THE BOTTOM UP.

AND MY THOUGHT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS TOO, THIS PROPERTY OUT NEAR CAMP BLANDING, THIS 150 ACRES OUT THERE.

AND CARVE OUT A PIECE THAT OF THE ROAD AND A WORKING PRISON - FARM OUT THERE DOWN THE ROAD. BUT RIGHT NOW UNLESS FACTS ARE PRESENTED TO US THAT CHANGE THIS COURSE, THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION BEFORE US APPEARS TO GIFT JAIL THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. I MOVE MY ADMINISTRATIVE FOLKS OUT AND CONSOLIDATE IN THE BUILDINGS THAT I TUCK AWAY AND MAINTAIN INTO A SINGLE POLICE/FIRE ADMINISTRATION

HEADQUARTERS. >>.

AND THE PRISON FARM, THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSE TO GETTING OUT OR PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE ALREADY BE WORKING IN A COMMUNITY. AND OF COURSE THAT IS A TUCKED

AWAY KIND OF AREA. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> AND WOULDN'T KNOW IT'S THERE PRETTY MUCH.

>> YES, MA'AM AND IF DONE CORRECTLY, IF WE BUILD OUT THE CURRENT FACILITY CORRECTLY. WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE TO START TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR ANOTHER 15 YEARS; RIGHT.

BUT YOU KNOW, PART OF WHAT HAS BEEN SO GREAT WORKING WITH THE COUNTY. AND CLAY COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT NEXT YEAR. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE YEAR AFTER, WE ARE TALKING 25 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE HERE AGAIN.

I DON'T WANT A NEXT SHERIFF FOUR OR FIVE TERMS THE JAIL IS AT CAPACITY WHY DIDN'T WE SEE THIS COMING.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING NOW TO BUILD INTO WHAT WE NEED

AND WE'RE GOOD FOR 30-50 YEARS. >> A COUPLE OF THINGS, SHERIFF, AND IF WE GO BACK TO YOUR MARKET MINIMUM.

AND YOU WANT TO BRING ALL OF YOUR MEMBERS TO MARKET MINIMUM FOR 21-22 YEAR. DO YOU HAVE A CAM SON -- COMPARISON FOR NOW AND I ASSUME AVERAGE SALARY.

>> NOT AVERAGE, MINIMUM. >> COULD YOU GIVE US IDEA WHAT NAIS. RIGHT THERE, BRING ALL MEMBERS

TO MINIMUM. >> YES, SIR.

DO YOU WANT THE TOTAL OR PER EMPLOYEE?

>> PER EMPLOYEE IS PROBABLY EASIER TO UNDERSTAND.

>> YEAH, FOR SWORN IT WOULD BE BETWEEN 38-41,000 -- SORRY, 38

[01:20:07]

AND OUR PST'S, WHICH IS THE DISPATCHERS, WOULD GO FROM 30-35. AND THOSE -- THAT'S THE BIG

PORTION OF THOSE NUMBERS. >> OKAY.

>> AND THEN WE DO HAVE A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE THAT MAKE BELOW THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE AND I THINK WE GET ALL BUT SEVEN OF THEM UP TO THAT. YEAH.

SO THAT'S -- IT WOULD START PULLING THEM UP TO THE $15 HOUR

RANGE. >> ALSO YOU MENTIONED YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE CADET TRAINING PROGRAM AND YOU SAID A FEW POSITIONS. BUT IS THAT, LITERALLY 3-5 OR 10 OR 15? YOU HAVE AN IDEA WHAT YOU WOULD

LIKE THAT TO BE? >> WHAT WE WOULD DO, LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE RETIRING, SAY FOR '21.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE SCHEDULED TO RETIRE NEXT YEAR.

AND SAY TWO DISPATCHERS AND 12 DEPUTIES AND SIX IN DETENTION.

WE WOULD MODEL OUR NUMBERS OFF OF WHAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO RETIRE. AND THEN WE HAVE A PERCENTAGE RATE OF UNKNOWN LEAVING THAT WE WOULD BUILD IN EVERY YEAR.

IF OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE HAD ADDITIONAL FIVE DEPUTIES UP AND LEAVE BEFORE RETIREMENT AGE. WE TAKE THE NUMBER OF RETIREES AND ADD A FEW MORE TO CUSHION THE UNKNOWN LEAVING.

AND THE IDEA FOR THE CADET PROGRAM IS WE PAY FOR THEIR CERTIFICATION AND THAT'S ACTUALLY RELATIVELY NOMINAL.

AND THEN WE PAY THEM TO GO GET THEIR CERTIFICATION.

NOT THE RATE OF A DEPUTY, IT WOULD BE A MUCH LOWER RATE BUT A WAGE WHERE THEY COULD GO TO THE ACADEMY.

GET PAID TO BE AT THE ACADEMY. THEY ARE EMPLOYEES OF OURS AND SIGN PAPERWORK, IF YOU LEAVE IN 3-5 YEARS AND YOU HAVE TO PAY THIS MONEY BACK. AND A LOT OF AGENCIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT DO THAT. AND THE OTHER THING IT DOES AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE KIDS RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

AND ALLOW THEM TO SAY YOU WILL MAKE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND RIGHT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND RECRUITING TOOL.

AND PLUS WHEN SOMEBODY LEAVES WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE PIPELINE AND NOT WAITING 40 WEEKS OR YEAR TO ACT IN SOLO STATUS.

>> IS THAT A TEAM TO GET SOMEONE BUILT IN IS SMART.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT CASE LOADS, WHERE ARE WE NOW AND WHERE WE SHOULD BE IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH ONE PERSON CAN ACTUALLY

HANDLE? >> IT REALLY -- IT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF CASE. IT DEPENDS ON YOUR HOMICIDES, OBVIOUSLY YOU WANT THE CASE LOADS LOWER.

YOUR THEFT CASES WHICH OUR DEPUTIES CURRENTLY HANDLE ON THE STREET. THEY COULD PROBABLY HANDLE A FEW. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT CASE LOAD

NUMBERS RIGHT NOW. >> JUST CURIOUS.

>> YOU LOOK AT CASE LOAD AND THE QUALITY OF THE CASES BEING PRESENTED TO THE STATE ATTORNEY. AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT REALLY PLAYS INTO THAT IS THE VICTIM, DOES THE VICTIM FEEL THEY ARE GETTING A QUALITY OR LEVEL OF SERVICE FROM A VICTIM OF CRIME. AND IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING A CALL BACK FROM DETECTIVE AND HOUSE BROKEN INTO AND 90 DAYS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THAT'S WHAT WE KEEP A PULSE CHECK ON TO BE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH DETECTIVES TO GIVE QUALITY INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT AND SERVICE TO THE VICTIM AND

CRIME. >> CAN I ASK A FOLLOW-UP

QUESTION ON THAT. >> SURE.

>> DOESN'T THAT TIE ALSO TO YOUR NUMBERS IN YOUR JAIL? FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE A DETECTIVE WITH A HIGHER CASE LOAD. AND YOU'RE WORKING A HOMICIDE.

THEN AND IT'S TAKING LONGER TO BUILD THESE CASE BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE CASES ON THAT PERSON. WOULDN'T THAT AFFECT YOUR NUMBERS IN YOUR JAIL. IN THE CASE OF A HOMICIDE I'M THINKING IF THEY ARE CONVICTED THEY ARE GOING TO THE PRISON.

>> CORRECT. BUT THEY STAY WITH YOU LONGER

AND AFFECTING. >> NOT AS MUCH AS YOU THINK.

THAT'S NOT SUCH -- I TELL YOU THE BIGGER CONCERN AND YOUR HOUSE GETS BROKEN INTO AND THE DETECTIVE HAS SUCH A HUGE CASE LOAD AND TAKES LONGER TO IDENTIFY A CASE AGAINST THE SUSPECT. THAT SUSPECT IS OUT COMMITTING CRIMES AND A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMMIT THE VAST MAJORITY

[01:25:01]

NUMBERS. >> LET ME ASK A QUESION --

>> THE QUESTION YOU ASKED CASE LOAD AND CLEARANCE RATE AREN'T THEY INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL. HOW DO WE DO CLEARANCE RATE? HOW ARE WE COMPARED TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO CLEARANCE RATE?

>> OUR CLEARANCE RATE IS GOOD, I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER.

>> AND IT APPEARS THAT WITH HIGH CASE LOAD THAT CLEARANCE RATE IS

LOWER. >> AND YOU ARE CORRECT, RIGHT, AS YOUR CASE LOAD, YOU EXPECT AS YOUR CASE LOAD INCREASES YOUR CLEARANCE RATE GOES DOWN BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME.

BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CLAY COUNTY THAT OUR CONTROL DEPUTIES INVESTIGATE CRIMESES THAT WOULD GO TO DETECTIVES.

AND THE PROPOSE DEPUTIES THAN PATROLLING THEY FOLLOW UP THE THEFT CASE THAT WOULD GO TO DETECTIVE.

AND DEATHS ARE EXAMPLE, IN DEATHS STAY IN PATROL FOR INVESTIGATION AND I WOULD LIKE THOSE MOVED OVER TO THE

DETECTIVE SIDE. >> THANK YOU.

>> YES, SIR. >> ALSO AND MAYBE JUST READING THIS THE WRONG WAY OR TOTALLY FAMILIAR WITH YOUR PERSONNEL REQUEST. YOU HAVE A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR AND UNDER THE RESCUE PLAN, IS THAT TWO OR PLANNING TO PAY WITH THAT THE AMERICAN RECOVERY MONIES?

>> YES, SIR, WE NEED ONE FOR THE JAIL AND OUR MEMBERS.

PART OF -- YOU KNOW I'M A REALIST.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THERE OVER NIGHT AND NEVER PAY AS MUCH AS SURROUNDING AGENCIES EVER. THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT KEEP AN EMPLOYEE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. NUMBER ONE IS PAY.

SO AS LONG AS WE'RE SOMEWHAT COMPETITIVE, WE WILL BE FINE.

AND THE OTHER IS ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND THAT'S WHERE I STEP IN AND PROVIDE A CULTURE IN THE ORGANIZATION.

WHERE PEOPLE ENJOY COMING TO WORK AND FEEL APPRECIATED.

AND SOME SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE SOMEWHERE ELSE AND STAY HERE FOR AND HAVING ACCESS TO A LICENSED MENTAL COUNSELOR IS ONE AND STATION DOG IS ANOTHER.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN ADD, SOMEONE SAY I RATHER STAY CARED FOR. FEEL APPRECIATED AND- AND THAT'S ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I CAN DO TO ADD YOU THINK WHETHER A DISPATCHER WHO IS LISTENING TO SOMEBODY SCREAM ON THE PHONE BECAUSE THEY ARE STABBED OR SHOT AND TO THE DEPUTY THAT RESPONDS AND FIGHTING SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY JUST STABBED SOMEBODY AND WRESTLING.

AND THE DRUGS AND PEOPLE FIGHTING US.

AND TAKE TO JAIL, WE HAD SOMEBODY IN THE JAIL YESTERDAY THAT OVERDOSED IN THE JAIL AND HAD TO [INAUDIBLE] THREE TIMES.

OUR EMPLOYEES FACE THAT EVERY DAY.

AND PROVIDING A LITTLE BIT OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IS A HUGE

BENEFIT. >> I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT, OBVIOUSLY EVEN IF WE WERE ABLE TO GET YOU MARKET MINIMUMS AND ALL THE OTHER DOLLAR FIGURES THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT IN FOUR PERSONNEL. NO WAY TO BE COMPETITIVE TO ST.

JOHNS, THEY HAVE MORE MONEY. AND THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE THAT MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO STAY AND BE A MEMBER OF THE CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I AM GLAD THAT YOU SAID THAT AND PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T CHASE THEM DOLLAR PER

DOLLAR. >> IT'S UNREALISTIC.

>> AND IN THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN INCREASE YOUR STAFF FROM 745 TO 845. IS THAT 100 SPECIFICALLY LAW

ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS? >> YES AND NO.

THE REASON I PUT THE WORD STAFF, COMMISSIONER CECECECECECELLA BAT I SEE AND I MAY NEED TO DO 25 DEPUTYS AND NEXT YEAR 15 DEPUTIES AND THREE DISPATCHERS AND SEVEN DETENTION.

I WANTED THE NUMBERS TO -- THE NUMBER 25 WILL GET US WHERE WE NEED TO GO MOVING FORWARD. BUT I NEEDED TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY IN THAT BASED ON THE NEEDS WE ARE SEEING.

>> YOU KNOW THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE, WHY I ASKED.

I KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A NUMBER OF SWORN OFFICERS THAT

YOU HAVE ON THE STAFF. >> YES, SIR.

>> AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT INCLUDED BOTH.

[01:30:01]

>> YES, SIR, THAT'S A PRIORITY. AND FOR EXAMPLE THE POLICE SERVICE AIDES ARE A GREAT MULTIPLIER AND CHEAPER.

AND MAYBE IN LIEU OF A DEPUTY I DO TWO SERVICE AIDES AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE EVALUATE CONSTANTLY.

>> IN TERMS OF VEHICLE PURCHASES THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, APPROXIMATELY 10 MILLION, WHAT DOES AVERAGE

VEHICLE COST? >> DIRECTOR WRIGHT.

COME ON UP. THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT BACK UP.

DIRECTOR WRIGHT IS IN CHARGE OF OUR BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATION SIDE AND HE DEALS WITH THESE NUMBERS EVERY DAY.

NOW WE ARE GETTING AWAY FROM THE CHARGERS, THEY WERE A TERRIBLE CHOICE FOR PATROL. LOW TO THE GROUND AND FLOOD EASY AND BREAK AND HIGH-DOLLAR TO MAINTAIN.

WE ARE MOVING AWAY FROM THE CHARGERS.

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT WE PURCHASE.

>> STEP UP. >> AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

>> AND LEAN DOWN OR PULL THAT MIC UP.

>> WE WANT TO HEAR YOU. >> RICKY WRIGHT, THE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT.

IT DEPENDS WE ARE LOOKING AT BUYING AND PURCHASING TRUCKS AND SUV'S. AND IN A VEHICLE YOU CAN GO 24,000 TO 29,000 AND ADDING THE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND RADIO AND THINGS THAT COME CLOSE TO 35-38 RANGE.

BUT THAT ALSO CHANGES IF YOU HAVE TO BUY A VEHICLE FOR DETENTION, THAT COST GOES UP AND LARGER VEHICLE OR SPECIAL AS AED VEHICLE. NOT JUST THE MARKED PATROL CARS AND UNMARKED AND TRYING TO STAY WITH CHARGERS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAPER BUT CAN'T TAKE THE WEAR AND TEAR.

>> GOT IT. >> AND WHEN WE DO DEADLINE A VEHICLE, ANY OF THE ITEMS WITHIN THE VEHICLE, THE CAGE, THE RADIO MOUNTS, ALL OF THE STUFF THAT WE CAN REUSE, WE ABSOLUTELY PULL IT OUT AND USE IN THE NEW VEHICLES AND HOW WE ARE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE

SOME SAVINGS. >> IN TERMS OF YOUR -- I KNOW THIS IS SORT OF A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION AND DIFFICULT FOR TO YOU ANSWER, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A SINGLE FACILITY FOR YOU.

BUT IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT YOUR DOLLARS, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING MAINTENANCE 2.3 MILLION THIS YEAR AND 2.4 MILLION AFTER THAT. AND WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT IF YOU HAD A SINGLE FACILITY AND ABLE TO DO AWAY WITH ALL OF THOSE.

WHAT KIND OF SAVINGS AND PROJECTION ON YOUR PART, IT'S

DIFFICULT TO KNOW THAT. >> FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE SPENDING 350,000 ON THE ROOF REPLACEMENT. OF MANY BUILDINGS, MORE THAN A DOZEN BUILDINGS WE HAVE, WE HAVE MAINTENANCE ISSUES ON ALL OF THEM. LIKE MOST PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT WE ARE STUCK IN THE OLD BUILDINGS, AND WHETHER IT'S A ROOF REPLACEMENT OR HAVING THE GRASS CUT OR PAYING THE ELECTRICITY OR THE WATER IS LEAKING.

ALL OF THOSE, I CAN'T PUT A NUMBER ON IT.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM EFFICIENCY STANDPOINT IT MAKES SENSE. BECAUSE NOW EVERYBODY HAS TO DRIVE 30 MINUTE TO SEE THE OTHER PERSON AND IN OUR WORLD THAT IS NOT CONDUCIVE AND WASTES A LOT OF TIME.

AND THE OTHER THING I WILL SAY TOO, I AM LOOKING AT NORTH PORT MALL IS A GREAT PARTNER AND WORKING SUBSTATION OF ORANGE PARK MALL. AND OF MORE THAN A DOZEN BUILDINGS THEY DON'T SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TWO ARE NOT FULL SERVICE. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A MAIN CENTRALIZED BUILDING AND SUBSTATIONS WHERE WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH BUSINESSES. WE ARE TALKING TO A CHURCH NOW ABOUT LONG-TERM PLANS IN OAKLEAF AREA AND THEY PAY FOR AND BUILD IT AND WE OCCUPY IT AND PROVIDE FULL SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO CONSOLIDATE VALUE INTO ADMINISTRATIVE DE NO- BUILDING. AND PARTNER WITH BUSINESSES AND CHURCHES TO HAVE FULL-SUBSTATIONS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> IN A PERFECT WORLD WHERE WOULD YOU SEE THE MAIN FACILITY AND HOW MANY SUBSTATIONS DO YOU NEED AFTER THAT?

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON GROWTH. RIGHT.

AND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS A COMMUNITY FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT JUST NEEDS MORE POLICE INTERACTION OR MORE THINGS, WE CAN BE THERE FOR THEM.

AND A LOT OF THESE, THE CHURCH WE'RE TALKING TO, I THINK THAT OAKLEAF IS A GREAT EXAMPLE AND SUCH A LONG DRIVE TO GET POLICE SERVICE AND MAKES SENSE TO HAVE A SUBSTATION IN THAT AREA.

[01:35:01]

DONATING SPACE FOR SUBSTATIONS. >> I ASSUME IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF A CONSOLIDATED FACILITY AND REVERSE TREND AND START PUTTING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND I THINK IN SOME CASE AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT AND PEOPLE IN KEYSTONE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SUBSTATIONS BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE. AND IF WE CAN GET GOOD COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP US PAY FOR THAT.

>> EXACTLY, THAT'S THE KEY. RIGHT NOW ALL OF MY BUILDINGS ARE COUNTY OWNED AND MAINTAINED. AND FOR ME IT'S ABOUT PARTNERING WITH OTHER BUSINESSES AND AGAIN THAT GOES BACK TO THE STAFF TO DO THAT. THOSE ARE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS.

I THINK THE COST SAVINGS, THE EFFICIENCY SAVINGS.

AND THE SMART THING TO DO RIGHT NOW TO CONSOLIDATE AS MANY OF THOSE I CAN. LET THE COUNTY HAVE THOSE PROPERTIES BACK TO DO AND PARTNER WITH THE CLAY COUNTY RESCUE TO A PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING WHERE WE CAN SHARE TRAINING SPACE. WE CAN SHARE STORAGE SPACE.

WE CAN SHARE SO MANY THINGS INSTEAD OF DUPLICATE NEEDS ON

BOTH SIDES. >> THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD.

I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH FIRE AND RESCUE ABOUT CONSOLIDATED 9-1-1 FACILITY. AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HAVING SOME MORE EQUIPMENT FOR THE REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER, WHICH I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO CO-LOCATE THERE.

SO THOSE DOLLARS WERE LOOKING FOR, FOR THAT IN THE FUTURE PROBABLY NEED TO BE MORE SPECIALIZED THAN WHAT IS INCLUDED AS FAR AS CAPITAL IN TERMS OF CAMERAS AND CONNECTIONS

AND THOSE THINGS? >> I'M SORRY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND

YOUR QUESTION. >> WE'VE GOT A BUDGET FOR 9-1-1.

>> CORRECT. >> AND CRIME CENTER AND CO-LOCATED AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT.

THAT EQUIPMENT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN?

>> NO, SIR, THIS IS CAMERAS AROUND THE COUNTY AND ADDS KEY AREAS AND I WAS AT [INAUDIBLE] SPEAKING WITH THEM.

ANOTHER BIG PUSH THAT WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO GET BUSINESSES TO PAY FOR THE CAMERAS AND PROVIDE US THE FEED.

INSTEAD OF US PUTTING UP CAMERAS EVERYWHERE.

AND THERE IS KEY INTERSECTIONS IN THE COUNTY IF WE HAVE KEY AND LICENSE PLATE READERS WE CAN SOLVE CRIMES.

WE KNOW WHEN BAD GUYS ARE COMING IN AND AVERAGING THREE A WEEK OF BAD GUYS AND HIT ON THEIR TAG AND SURROUND THEM AND TAKE INTO CU CUSTODY.

AND IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY THESE KEY INTERSECTIONS AND INVEST IN BUSINESS PARTNERS AND SEND US THE FEED.

AND BY GOAL BY JANUARY TO HAVE THAT.

>> AND AT PTA AND SPEAKING ABOUT COMCAST HAS THAT AND CLAY COUNTY IS STARTING TO GET IN THE SYSTEM WITH THE CAMERAS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, AND PTO TALKING ABOUT AND JACKSONVILLE HAS ALREADY GOT IT. YOU KNOW WHAT?

>> IS IT FLOCK? >> I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME.

>> LIKE MOST TECHNOLOGY IT'S EVOLVING.

AND EVERY YEAR THESE COMPANIES COME INTO BUSINESS AND OFFER STUFF AT CHEAPER PRICE. WE HAVE EVOLVED OUR CAMERAS AND MADE A DECISION TO HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAMERAS INSTEAD OF ONE GOES DOWN OR BUST.

AND ASHLEY BARBER IS OUR REAL-TIME DETECTIVE AND MEETS WITH THOSE DIRECTORS IN THE REGION AND TALK GEEK STUFF AND CAMERAS AND OFF THE STUFF UP HERE.

AND THEN WE COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT WHAT GAPS AND WHAT CAPABILITIES AND THEN WE LOOK AT THE BUSINESS PLAN AND SAY WHAT

WILL MAKE SENSE FOR US. >> YOU PROBABLY WILL DO A PUSH

FOR BUSINESSES SOMEHOW. >> ABSOLUTELY, AND I PUSHED WITH NAFTA YESTERDAY WITH THE NEW BUILDERS.

AND WITH YOU NEW HOMES IN CLAY COUNTY AND WHAT SPIKES? PROPERTY CRIME. AND I APPEALED TO THE NAFTA MEMBERS TO INVEST IN MOBILE CAMERAS AND PUT IN HOMES AND CONSTRUCTION ON TRAILERS. AND THAT WILL HELP DETER SOME

[01:40:07]

WE ARE LEANING ON THE BUSINESS PARTNERS TO ENGAGE WITH US AND OFF SET THE COSTS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH, I WAS THINKING I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET OUT TO BUSINESS, IT'S IMPORTANT, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. .

>> THANK YOU MA'AM. >> ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE SHERIFF. SHERIFF THANK YOU SO MUCH, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU TO THE REST OF YOUR STAFF BEING HERE, WE APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT AND INTEREST IF WHAT IS

HAPPENING. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

>> THAT FINISHES UP OUR CONSTITUTIONAL BUDGETS.

[3.  Overview of Public Safety Budget (Chief Motes)]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, IT'S INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO THE SHERIFF AND CONTRASTING SOME SIMILAR ISSUES THAT WE SEE BOTH IN THE FIRST RESPONDER REALM. DAVE MOTES, ACTING FIRE CHIEF AND PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.

AND GO OVER THE AREAS AND STAFFING TO GET INTO ATTRITION ISSUES AND WHAT OUR CURRENT STAFFING ARE AND FACILITIES TODAY AND THE FUTURE. AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS IN OUR BUDGET. FIRST REGARDING OUR STAFFING.

WE MEASURED OURSELVES LOOKING AT ICMA AND NFP STANDARD, AND ICMA GAVE US AGENT OF WHAT FIREFIGHTERS TO HAVE PER 1,000 IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY SAY AT 1.52 OR 334 FIREFIGHTERS.

CURRENTLY WE HAVE 207 FIREFIGHTERS IN FIELD.

THAT EQUATES TO .94 AREA. SO WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY WANT TO GET OURSELVES TO THAT STANDARD. THAT STAFFING REALLY AFFECTS EVERYTHING IN THE DEPARTMENT. ATTRITION WILL GO INTO THERE AS WELL. AND STAFFING AFFECTS OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN RESPONSE TIMES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND OBVIOUSLY TO HAVE X AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ON A TRUCK AND SO MANY TRUCKS ON CALLS. AND THE CHIEF WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE SEEING CALL VOLUME AT PEAK TIMES.

AND I HAD SEEN A CALL VOLUME ON THE BOARD AND INTERESTING TIMES AND CAN'T SAY WHY, WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT'S COVID.

AND 334 IS TODAY AND NEEDS WE NEAT 127 FIREFIGHTERS.

AND LOOKING AT THE FUTURE AND SAME NUMBERS, 220 AND TAKING US TO 230,000 RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND NEED 60 FIREFIGHTERS AND THAT'S OVER FIVE YEARS OR 31 FIREFIGHTERS A YEAR. AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO ATTRITION BUT GET US WHERE WE NEED TO MEET THE COMMUNITY NEEDS. AND ADMINISTRATIVELY WE FEEL WE ARE LOW IN, AND SHOULD BE 10-15% OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND WE ARE 15.3% AND NEED AN ADDITIONAL 7.5.

AND OVER FIVE YEARS WE ANTICIPATE THAT 2.5 PERSONNEL PER YEAR. GOING DOWN INTO STAFFING.

THE SINGLE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT WE HAVE AND THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT TO ATTACK IN THIS BUDGET BESIDES FACILITIES IS ATTRITION.

SINCE 200009 WE HIRED 285 EMPLOYEES AND LOOKED AT THAT NUMBER AND WHAT DOES IT COST TO PUT A FIREFIGHTER ON, AND MUCH LIKE THE SHERIFF TALKED ABOUT IN THAT TIME FRAME.

AND ALL OF THAT WENT INTO UNIFORMS AND BUNKER GEAR AND THE TRAINING AND ADMINISTRATIVE COST FOR HR TO VET THE PEOPLE.

AND CAME DOWN TO $14,000 FOR FIREFIGHTER OR AVERAGE OF $400,000 PER YEAR. AND THAT WAS JUST DUE TO WHEN BRINGING THOSE INDIVIDUALS ON. IF WE CONTINUE THAT PATH AND WE TRY TO TAKE CARE OF ATTRITION AND NOT TO MENTION TAKE CARE OF THE INCREASE AND MANPOWER TO GET TO THE STANDARD.

WE HAVE TO HIRE 56 FIREFIGHTERS A YEAR AND THAT'S ABOUT FIVE

[01:45:02]

AND WE OPERATE MUCH OF OUR TRAINING AND ANCILLARY FUNCTION AND PROGRAMS OFF OF OVERTIME. AND OTHER FIREFIGHTERS COME IN PERFORM THE DUTIES. AND THEY COME IN AND TRAIN THE NEW FIREFIGHTERS AND THAT INCREASES OVERTIME COSTS AS WELL. AGAIN ATTRITION IS OUR NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THAT JUST GETTING THEM ON THE JOB IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

WE NEED TO GET THEM TO THAT 3-5 YEAR RANGE, WHERE WE TEND TO LOSE THOSE FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR LARGEST GAP AND CHALLENGE IS THE COMPANY OFFICER AREA. THE COMPANY OFFICER IS IN CHARGE OF THE TRUCK AND THEY ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS FOR WHAT THAT, PROTECTING THE PUBLIC. IF WE LOSE THEM IN THAT AREA AND LOST EVERYTHING THAT WE INVESTED, KIND OF PUTS US STARTING OVER AGAIN. AND THAT'S A FINITE RESOURCE, ONLY SO MANY OF THEM AVAILABLE. AND EVEN MORE CHALLENGING ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM TO GO AROUND. THAT PUTS US INTO WHAT I SAY MY EMPLOYEE SAYS WOULD SAY WOULD BE THE OTHER BIG CHALLENGE, MANDATORY OVERTIME. WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE AN EMPLOYEE WORK WHETHER THEY WANT TO OR NOT, FOR A SHIFT.

NOT JUST EIGHT HOURS AND THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF NOTICE WHEN THAT HAPPENS. JUST GETTING OFF A 24-HOUR SHIFT AND MAY HAVE HAD A TOUGH NIGHT AND GO HOME AND TAKE CARE THE KIDS. SO THAT MOM OR DAD CAN GO TO WORK AND FIND OUT HAVING TO WORK ANOTHER 24-HOUR SHIFT.

AND YES, DUE TO COVID WE HAVE SEEN MORE OF THAT, NO QUESTION BUT WE TEND TO SEE THAT BECAUSE STAFFING IS WHAT IT IS, AT BARE MINIMUM. AND ALLOWING THE FIVE PEOPLE OFF SHIFT FOR THE CONTRACT FOR VACATION AND REPLACED AND SICK LEAVE AND WE GET VOLUNTEER. AND IF SOMEONE DOESN'T TAKE IT AND ONLY SO MANY OF THEM TO GO AROUND AND END UP HAVING TO MAKE THE EMPLOYEE WORK. THE NEXT THING I WILL GO OVER IS FACILITIES. FACILITIES.

THE SHERIFF TALKING ABOUT THAT AND AGING FACILITIES.

WE DID GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT OUR FACILITIES ARE AND ARE AWARE DEALING WITH THE FIRE STATIONS YOU ARE DEALING WITH NOW AND STATION 18 AND ORANGE PARK IS STARTING TO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS, AND VERY AGGRESSIVE AND GOING TO GET ON TOP OF THAT.

AND IN OUR BUDGET WE'VE GOT THREE THAT ARE APPROVED, THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING UP ON THE BOARD.

BOTH SOME OF THE APPROVED AND PROPOSED.

THE GREEN FIRE STATIONS THERE ARE PROPOSED FOR THE UPCOMING CIP BUDGET, THAT EQUATES TO $15 MILLION.

AND THEN OUR TOTAL CAPITAL ASK AND THAT INCLUDES EQUIPMENT AND ALSO INCLUDES THE START OF THAT BURN BUILDING THERE.

WOULD BE $44 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.

ANOTHER THING ABOUT THAT BURN BUILDING IS SHERIFF TALKED A LOT ABOUT COMBINEDS USE AND MAXIMIZE THAT AS WE CAN.

AND BURN BUILDING WOULD HAVE PROPELLING AREA OFF OF IT AND MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TOGETHER, WE TRY TO COMBINE THAT. SO NOT JUST BENEFIT US BUT ALSO WOULD BENEFIT THEM. INTERESTINGLY OTHER THAN STATION 11, KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, 25 THAT WAS BUILT BY THE MILITARY, OUR AVERAGE FIRE FACILITY IS 45 YEARS OLD AND THE OLDEST 57 YEARS OLD BUILT BACK IN 1964. FANTASTIC FOR THE SHERIFF

[01:50:40]

AND A LITTLE ON ISO RATING, IT DOES AFFECT US.

WE HAVE TO BE WITHIN THAT FIVE-MILE TRAVEL DISTANCE.

THEY NEED TO BE WITHIN 1,000 FEET OF HYDRANT AND IN THE FUTURE LOOK TOWARDS A WATER CAPABILITY PROGRAM.

THAT CAN EXTEND OUR ISO RATING TO OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT DON'T HAVE THE HYDRANTS. AND THAT IS ANOTHER THING THAT

WE WOULD DO WITH THAT MANPOWER. >> EXCUSE ME, CHIEF,

>> GO AHEAD. >> COULD YOU SPEAK TO WHY THE ISO RATING IS IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC?

>> THE ISO IS INDEPENDENT AGENCY THAT ESTABLISHES AND THE FIRE PROTECTION AT YOUR HOME IS ABLE TO PROVIDE.

IT'S A POOR MAN'S ACCREDITATION THING FOR US AND THEY HAVE ACCREDITATION THAT HOPE TO GET TO ONE DAY.

AND ISO IS THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN THE RIGHT WAY AND SAVE THE PROPERTY THE WAY THEY ENSURE.

IN ORDER TO HAVE A CLASS AND WON'T SAY WHAT THE CHIEF AND CLASS 1-10 AND 1 IS THE BEST AND 10 IS THE WORSE.

WE ARE CURRENTLY A 4 IN THE COUNTY AND THERE IS CLASS 10 AND 10W'S THINGS OF THAT NATURE. IF YOU ARE BEYOND FIVE MILES OF THE STATION OR 300 FEET OF HYDRANT, THEY CONSIDER TO BE INSURED BY FIRE STATION AND INSURANCE RATES GO UP.

AND THERE IS A SECTION OF OATS AND WE HAVE AGREEMENT WITH JACKSONVILLE AND THEY ARE CLOSER AND THEY ARE ABLE TO ENJOY OUR ISO RATING IN THAT AREA. AND LAKE ASBURY AREA THAT OPENED UP AND IT'S CONSIDERED THEY DON'T HAVE A FIRE STATION AND

PAY INORDIANT RATE. >> ON THEIR HOMEOWNERS

INSURANCE. >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> SO --- ON RESPONSE TIME WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE WITHIN 4 MINUTES 90% OF THE TIME. AND CURRENTLY ONLY MAKING THAT 25% OF THE TIME. WE'VE WATCHED THAT DECREASE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND THEN WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FIRST COMPLEMENT OF ALL RESOURCES TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITHIN EIGHT MINUTES. AND IN THE RURAL AREAS IT'S THE NINE-MINUTE CATEGORY AND ONLY MAKING THAT 72% OF THE TIME IN THAT EIGHT-MINUTE TIME FRAME. WHAT GOES INTO THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THAT FIRST CALL GOES OUT.

AS I SAID BEFORE, THE SECOND CALL THAT GOES OUT WE HAVE TO CROSS MULTIPLE DISTRICTS TO GET TO THAT INDIVIDUAL.

SO THAT INCREASES OUR OVER-ALL RESPONSE TIMES AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING. LAST SLIDE THERE.

LASTLY OUR INCREASE FOR OUR NEXT YEAR '21-22 IS 3.5 MILLION OR 14.2%. I MADE THIS ASK ONLY ADDRESSES ATTRITION, NOT ANY INCREASE IN MANPOWER.

ONLY ATTRITION. OUR MAIN ISSUE IS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE AND HIRE PEOPLE BUT IF I TURN THEM OUT THE DOOR AND DOESN'T DO GOOD WITH THAT GAP IN THE MIDDLE.

GET THEM ON AND KEEP THEM ON. >> AND CHIEF, IT COSTS MONEY,

YOU GET THEM ON AND LEAVE. >> WE HAVE BEEN THAT MY ENTIRE CAREER. WE HAVE BEEN.

AND IT'S NOT LIKE MAINTAINING OR LEVELLING OUT, IT CONDITIONS --

[01:55:07]

AND WE ARE READING A BOOK, THE MANAGER'S GUIDE AND MATTIS SAYS BRILLIANCE IN THE BASICS AND WITH OUR TRAINING AND TRAINING THE SAME FIREFIGHTERS OVER AND OVER, IT'S HARD TO GET OFF FIRST BASE. HUGE TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE AND CARES PROGRAM DID GET US SOME AREAS THAT WE DIDN'T THINK WE WOULD GET INTO BUT THAT TAKES TRAINING AS WELL.

AND YOU TEND TO BRING IN OVERTIME TO DO THAT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? >> COMMISSIONER CONDON.

>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION, I KNOW THAT YOUR AGREEMENTS WITH THE EMPLOYEES ARE COLLECTIVE BARGAINED AND I WANT TO BE RESPECTIVELY OF THE FACT OF THAT.

AND LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO DO AN INCREASE AT BASE PAY FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND DIDN'T ADDRESS TO USE THE SHERIFF'S WORDS, KIND OF A PAY PLAN. AT SOME POINT, FIRST OF ALL WHERE WE WERE WITH YOUR INITIAL FIREFIGHTERS AND NOT SURE IF THEY WERE AT $15 AN HOUR, IF MY MATH IS CORRECT AND YOU MAY HAVE HAD A NEED IT GET THEM CLOSER THERE.

AND MY QUESTION IS, ARE YOU SEEING A KIND OF ALMOST THAT COMPRESSION IN PAY WHERE YOU HAVE, ARE YOU LOSING EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE INCREASE AT THE BOTTOM LEVEL BUT WE DIDN'T INCREASE AT THE TOP LEVEL. AT SOME POINT YOU WILL HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WITH A LOT OF YEARS OF SERVICE NOT MAKING MUCH MORE

THAN THE LOWER LEVELS? >> I WOULD SAY IT'S FOR SEVERAL REASONS. OKAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO SAY, MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING. ANYONE THAT HAS ANY DEGREE OF EDUCATION WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU MAKE AT WHERE YOU WORK IS NOT EVERYTHING. THE CULTURE IS A BIG DEAL.

THE FACILITIES THAT THE INDIVIDUALS ARE IN IS A BIG DEAL. HAS A LOT TO DO WITH BEING COMPETITIVE. THERE BECOMES A CERTAIN POINT THAT YOU GET TO WHEN YOU GO OH, MY GOSH, I GOT TO GO HOME AND FEED MY FAMILY. AND WHAT CAN I MAKE OVER HERE AND IN THE FUTURE WHAT I MAKE. AND WE HAVE A PAY PLAN AND NEED TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET.

AND OTHER THING

>> THE LAST FEW CLASSES I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO KEEP ON.

WE WENT BEYOND OUR NORMAL CAP BECAUSE WE ALWAYS KEEP SO MANY OPEN POSITIONS FOR CAUSES THAT OVER TIME AND YOU HAVE SEEN IN MY BUDGET THE LAST FEW YEARS AND IT'S A WHIRLWIND IT'S A PERPETUAL SPIN SO I WOULD SAY YES TO YOUR QUESTION, THAT'S AN ISSUE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE AND THAT IS WHAT THE YOUNGER ONES LOOK AT AND SAY, DO I WANT TO BE YOU AND I GROW UP AND THE OLDER ONES ANSWER THAT AND I WILL TELL YOU ALL OF OUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE RETIRED ARE VERY HAPPY THEY HAVE BEEN AND I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SOME OF THE FINEST FIREFIGHTERS.

>> I AM GLAD YOU REITERATED THAT AND AND AND CERTAIN LEVELS OF PAY AND WE HAVE THINGS THAT WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE WORKING IN CLAY COUNTY. OKAY COMMISSIONER DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?

>> 3 AND A HALF MILLION. THOSE ARE PERSONNEL COSTS CORRECT?

>> THOSE ARE COSTS ACROSS THE BOARD AND SO

>> THE FACILITIES ARE SEPARATED OUT

>> THESE ARE JUST A FIRE RESCUE OUT OF YOUR GENERAL FUND.

THANKS FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT IF YOU COULD, THEY INDICATED YOUR FOLKS WERE PAID A PREMIUM DURING COVID I DON'T REMEMBER THAT IS THAT THE CASE THAT WE PAY PEOPLE EXTRA BECAUSE THEY ARE PAYING PEOPLE OVER TIME.

>> IT'S UP TO YOU.

[02:00:01]

>> WHAT WE DID DURING THAT TIMEFRAME AND THIS GOES BACK TO MANDATORY OVERTIME WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO NOT LOOK BACK AND SAY WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO COVCOVID WHEN WE HAVE 67 FIREFIGHTERS 50 EMPLOYEES, IT HURTS AND DURING THAT TIMEFRAME WE WENT TO TIME AND AND A HALF OR DOUBLE TIME ON ALL THE TIME AND AND A HALF AS I GUESS YOU WOULD WANT TO CALL IT A COMBAT PAY AND WE ARE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

>> IT WAS KEY AND CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE THESE FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS OUT THERE WITH REGARD TO THIS MAN AND WE NEED THE FIREFIGHTERS ON THE STREETS OUT THERE IN THE STATION ABLE TO ANSWER THESE CALLS SO THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS TO OFFER THIS IN THE DOUBLE OVERTIME PA .

>> THEY WERE WORKING 72 HOURS STRAIGHT MANY OF THEM AND IT WAS A WAY TO BASICALLY I THINK THE MANAGER SAID IT WAS COMBAT PAY AND WE WERE FACED WITH THE ENEMY AND WE ARE SEEING UNPRECEDENTED NUMBERS. SOON IT JUST REAL QUICK, A SIDE QUESTION, IMMUNIZATIONS, WHAT RATE WE HAVE?

>> 20 PERCENT OR ABOVE US.

>> 20 PERCENT OR LESS. >> I GUESS I AM DEPUTY COUNTY /FIRE CHIEF WHATEVER IT IS. I HAVE I THINK THE EASIEST WAY TO SAY IT IS WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO KNOW WHAT AN EMPLOYEE CHOSE TO AND DID NOT CHOOSE TO VACCINATE I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S 25 PERCENT AT BEST I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT CLOSE TO 30 A.M. THE FLORIDA FIRE CHIEF ASSOCIATION, THE FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL COMPONENTS FROM THE START OF THE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM IN LATE DECEMBER WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN CONCERT TO ATTEMPT TO EDUCATE THE EMPLOYEES TO ENCOURAGE CHOICE FOR VACCINATION SADLY THAT HAS NOT WORKED VERY WELL AS YOU HEARD HEATHER TALK ABOUT HER FRUSTRATION WITH THAT AND I GIVEN THE VARIABLES OF THE DELTA VERT THAT'S OUT THERE AND HAVE HAD VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS WHO TESTED POSITIVE AND THUS THE SILVER BULLET THAT WOULD HAVE REDUCED IT IT'S NOT THE END-ALL BE-ALL I WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING WE WILL WORK WITH THEM TO GET THEM VACCINATED BECAUSE WE ARE SITTING AT 50 RIGHT NOW IF YOU FIGURE 207 AND YOU DIVIDE THAT INTO THREE SHIFTS WE HAVE LIMITED DUTY PEOPLE HAVE OTHER INJURIES AND ILLNESSES WHICH MAKE STAFFING DIFFICULT AND I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE STAFFING COMPONENTS LOOK LIKE BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE RETURNING UNTIL MONDAY OR TUESDAY WE ARE IN PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STRAITS FOR THE WEEKEND I WOULD LOVE TO TELL YOU THE NUMBER I WOULD LOVE TO TELL YOU I WOULD LOVE TO GO UP TO DATE IS ÃOTHERS DATABASE AND WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO

THAT AND >> THE NEXT VARIANT IS LINDA PERRY I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT I READ.

[02:05:03]

>> WE WILL SAVE YOU ON THAT AS WE WERE THE FIRST TWO IN LINE AND GOT OUR VACCINATION.

>> VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS? LET'S MOVE AHEAD, THANK YOU WE WILL MOVE TO NUMBER FOUR ON THE

[4.  Overview of County Budget - General Fund (R. Kantor)]

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, MY ROLE TODAY IS TO PRESENT A THREE YEAR WAGE ADJUSTMENT PLAN LIKE THE OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS HAVE MENTIONED WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE MINIMUM WAGE ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE VOTED IN A TIMEFRAME FOR THAT TO GET THE FLORIDA TIMEFRAME TO GET SEPTEMBER 2026 THE CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE IN FLORIDA IS $8.56 IT'S IN THE WILL CHANGE TO $10 IN SEPTEMBER IN CONTRAST TO THAT THE COUNTY'S CURRENT MINIMUM PAY IS $9.84 STAFF IS PROPOSING A THREE YEAR WAGE ADJUSTMENT PLAN BEGINNING IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WHICH WILL ADDRESS A COUPLE OF ISSUES WE ARE DEALING WITH WHICH IS THE COUNTY MINIMUM PAY HAVING A GENERAL COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR EMPLOYEES EARNING OVER $15 DOING WORK TO COMBAT PAY COMPRESSION ISSUES A LOT OF THE AGENCIES HAVE ALSO TALKED ABOUT RETENTION AND TURNOVER AND I CAN SAY FOR MY TIME WITH THE COUNTY WE HAVE PROCESSED 11 NEW HIRES IN 15 YEARS AND THIS DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THOSE THEY HAVE IN THE THREE YEAR PLAN THAT TAKES A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH THE FIRST ONE IS MOVING EMPLOYEES EARNING UNDER $15 AN HOUR TO THE MINIMUM OF 15 SO BASED ON YEARS OF SERVICE AND HOURLY RATES 89 EMPLOYEES WILL TRANSITION OVER THE THREE YEARS AND THE SLIDE ABOVE SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN AS IT RELATES TO THE GENERAL FUND, THE TOTAL IS THE COMBINED COST FOR GENERAL FUND AND REVENUE FUNDS ALSO IT SHOWS THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AS THEY WILL TRANSITION OVER THOSE THREE YEARS TO GET TO $15 AN HOUR AND AS WE HAVE VACANCIES COME OPEN WE WILL BE TRANSITIONING THOSE BASED ON THAT SCHEDULE AS WELL. ADDITIONALLY UNDER THE SECOND PART OF IT WE TALKED ABOUT THE AGE ADJUSTMENTS AND OVER THE $15 AN HOUR AND THOSE EMPLOYEES WOULD RECEIVE A GRADUATED PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE HAS SHOWN UP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE SO IT'S FOUR PERCENT, THREE PERCENT, 2 AND A HALF PERCENT, TWO PERCENT AND THOSE WOULD ACCOUNT FOR COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, PAY COMPRESION AND TO COME BACK TO THE RETENTION THAT WE HAVE.

THEY ARE AHEAD OF THE STATE MINIMUM CHANGES WE DO HAVE SOME CRITICAL ISSUES IN ATTRACTING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES SOME OF THE POSITIONS BEING PAID UNDER 15 ARE LABORERS WORKING IN STREETS AND DRAINAGE LIBRARY CLERKS AND THOSE ARE CRITICAL FOR WHAT WE DO AND ALSO OUTSIDE OF THAT WE HAVE DIFFERENT DRIVERS AND WAS CONSTRUCTION GOING VERY STRONGLY WE ARE AFFECTED BY THE INABILITY AND THAT'S OUR PLAN IN A NUTSHELL WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> IF WE HIRE A LIBRARY CLERKS THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR THEY WILL START AT 13 AND THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE TO GET FOUR PERCENT THE NUMBER I HEARD WAS 45,000 IF THEY WERE OVER

[02:10:12]

>> THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS FOR JENNIFER? THANK YOU WE APPRECIATE THAT. RICH?

>> WILL TAKE AT GENERAL FUND OPERATING.

PARKS AND RECORDS AND REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE PUBLIC SAFETY 3 AND A HALF MILLION THE CHIEF HAS DISCUSSED AND 555 IS WHAT JENNIFER JUST DISCUSSED AND AN INCREASE IN NEW PERSONNEL THROUGHOUT GENERAL FUND AND THE TOTAL INCREASE IS 7.6 MILLION THE OVERALL EFFECT IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFERS WE WILL

HAVE $8 MILLION OF THESE 7.4 >> INCREASE OF ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL SOMEONE GIVE ME AN UNDERSTANDING AND WILL WILL BE AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER AND 4 FACILITIES A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER A LEAD ELECTRICIAN A MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN AND ONE FOR A LIBRARY SPECIFICALLY FOR A POP-UP LIBRARY THREE FOR MIS SPECIFICALLY A HELP DESK ADMINISTRATOR AND TECHNICIAN AND ONLINE SERVICES ASSOCIATE AND 2 WITHIN PARKS AND IN PARKS AND RECKLESS FACILITIES MANAGER ONE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY A LOGISTICS OFFICER AND THREE WITHIN PURCHASING A CONTRACT ASSISTANT AND A PURCHASING ASSISTANT AND COMPLIANCE ANALYST THE TOTAL NUMBER IN THE NEW FTES ARE 13 AND THEN OUT OF THOSE THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL RECLASSIFICATIONS AND SOME PAY CHANGES IN THEIR AS JENNIFER MENTIONED BEFORE TO ASSIST US AND HELP US WITH ATTRITION SO FOR A TOTAL OF 19 THAT ARE PART OF THAT $1.3 MILLION. SIMILAR GUY DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT. SO WITH THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSED UNDER A DIFFERENT FUND AND GIVE ME JUST A SECOND.

WE DO HAVE WITHIN ECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERING LANDSCAPE AND ZONING INSPECTOR A BUILDING INSPECTOR A PLANS EXAMINER GOING OVER TO THE CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING ENGINEERING COORDINATOR RESURFACING COMMERCIAL INSPECTOR, SIGN MAKER, INSPECTOR AND SOLID WASTE INSPECTOR AND ALL I MENTIONED,

[02:15:01]

>> THANK YOU.

>> YES.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT? ARE YOU GOING TO STAY WITH US FOR CIP?

>> YES I AM. WE HAVE THREE PAGES OF CIP.

AND ONE IS ALL THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED LAST JANUARY CHANGES I THINK THEY ARE HIGHLIGHTED AND POSSIBLE CANDIDATES FOR ARP FUNDING I'M INTERESTED WHY WE WOUL RECLASSIFY 2021 AND WE ARE THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY THROUGH THE YEAR SO WHY WOULD WE GO BACK AND RECLASSIFY PROJECTS, WHY WOULD WE NOT USE THE MONEY GOING FORWARD? SOME FUTURE IF WE SET A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE IF WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED THE SIDEWALKS ARE FOR WINTER TO DO MORE SIDEWALKS THERE POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF MOVING PEOPLE AROUND AND I JUST HIGHLIGHTED HIM ELIGIBILITY WAS AND THAT WAS MY FAULT.

>> THAT'S WHERE SITTING WITH ADDITIONAL CIP REQUESTS IN APRIL AND ALL OF THOSE $23 MILLION.

THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHT POSSIBLE >> AND THIS IS THE DECISION THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO MAKE WHICH ONES WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT AND DEPENDING ON THE ONES THAT ARE SELECTED I THINK WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO WAS SHOW US THE ABILITY AND EVEN WITH THE

RECOVERY PLAN >> IT'S MISSING PICKLE BALL.

ASSUMING THE VERY BOTTOM LINE IS PARK IMPROVEMENTS

>> YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE IN DISTRICT FOR OUR EXPECTING TO SEE PICKLE BALL ON HERE I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN GO HOME TONIGHT.

>> WE DID HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND I SPECIFICALLY SAID THE WORD PICKLE BALL.

>> I WANT TO BE TEXTED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT PICKLE BALL.

>> LISTEN, PICKLE BALL. I'M NOT SURE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PICKLE BALL TEND TO BE RIGHT THERE TOGETHER.

>> IF WE MAKE SENSE, IF WE KEEP PEOPLE BUSY.

SO IF THAT'S A SOLUTION FOR OUR CRIME ISSUE, SHERIFF.

>> SO SO WHAT HE DID WAS HE WORKED WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE

[5.  Discussion of 5 Year Plan - High Level Budget Planning (H. Wanamaker/T. Nagle)]

[02:20:06]

>> FOR OTHER PROJECTS THOSE PROJECTS WAS WITH THINGS WE CANNOT SPEND THE MONEY ON AND THEY ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO NE'S HOW MUCH MONEY THAT WILL BE LEFT OVER.

>> YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? BEING ONE OF THE NEWEST GUYS ON THE BLOCK I SEE A GREAT NEED IN CLAY COUNTY GREAT UNMET NEEDS SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE NOT TEMPORARY THEIR LONG-TERM COSTS BY THINGS OUT OF OUR CONTROL COST-OF-LIVING AND THE COUNTY

[02:25:03]

>> THANK YOU AND I WANT TO POINT OUT PART OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN CAN BE GOING AWAY SO WE CAN'T DEPEND ON THOSE DOLLARS TO CONTINUE FROM WASHINGTON BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM THEMSELVES.

>> YOU WERE IN THE HOT SEAT BECAUSE YOU'RE AT THE MICROPHONE YOU PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW BUT PUBLIC SAFETY COMES INTO A REALM OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFE ROADS AND SAFE SIDEWALKS ON THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND HE BASICALLY TOLD US THAT IS THEIR WIGGLE ROOM? OUR APPRAISER SAID HE SUBMITS TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND HE TOOK SOME OUT OF THAT AND IT'S A TAX COLLECTOR THAT SUBMITS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND MAYBE IT'S A QUESTION FOR THE COUNTY MANAGER BUT I KNOW THAT NEXT WEEK IT'S NOT PASSING THE BUDGETS THAT NEXT WEEK IS PANG THE FINAL MILLAGE SET IN SEPTEMBER AND THE FINAL BUDGETS WILL BE PASSED AND ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS THE ABILITY FOR THERE TO BE NEGOTIATIONS AROUND THESE BUDGETS.

>> LOOKING AT IT IF WE CAN GO T MOTIVE TO THE MADNESS SO WE STARTED OFF WITH REVENUES WE TOOK AT THE AMOUNTS COMING IN AND 7.9 MILLION AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL INCREASES I ASSUME THE SHERIFF IS STILL HERE THAT'S A MAJOR PART OUT OF THAT AND THE SHERIFF WOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS THE WIGGLE ROOM AND IF YOU GO BACK ONE MORE, A CLOSE LOOK AT THIS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OPERATING COSTS YEAR-OVER-YEAR MAJORITY OF IT IS IN PARKS AND AND THE FUEL FOR PUBLIC WORKS I COULD TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THOSE AREAS WILL NOT MEET WITH THE DEMAND HAS BEEN IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT AMENDMENT TO IF WE DELAY IT IT'S JUST GOING TO GET WORSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BRINGING EMPLOYEES AND TEAM MEMBERS ON I FEEL LIKE WE ARE GOING TO DO ENOUGH AND THERE OTHER COMPANIES OUT THERE OFFERING $15 AN HOUR THE 3.5 FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, HE IS RIGHT AT THE NUMBER AND THERE'S NOT MUCH WIGGLE ROOM IS THE FINAL ONE I PULLED THE REQUESTS I HAD JENNIFER PULL IT SO I COULD SHOW YOU EACH ONE OUT OF THE 13 NEW HIRES AND SIX WEEK CLASSES THAT ARE THERE BUT AGAIN I SPECIFICALLY READ THOSE OUT SO YOU KNOW THERE WOULD BE SOME

[02:30:03]

>> IF YOU WANT TO.

>> SINCE DAY ONE OF COMING INTO OFFICE I HAVE LOOKED AT THAT BUDGET THERE ARE MANY THINGS I CUT FROM THE BUDGET WERE DO WE HAVE ISSUES? IF THEY HAD A 10 MINUTE RESPONSE TIME THAT WE LEAVE IT AS IS BUT AS THE GROWTH CONTINUES THAT RESPONSE TIME WILL GET SLOWER TRAFFIC IS OUR NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT AND I HAVE 4 DEPUTIES WORKING DAY HOURS ONLY IF CITIZENS WANT TRAFFIC COMPLAINTS HANDLE IN A MORE EFFICIENT MANNER I NEED MORE PERSONNEL.

WE ARE LOSING OUR EMPLOYEES AS FAST AS WE ARE HIRING THEM THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE LEAVING TO GO TO AGENCIES TO MAKE MORE MONEY IF THEY ARE CONTENT Ã OKAY WITH THIS CONTINUOUS TURNOVER AND FIRST RESPONDERS WE WILL LEAVE IT AS IS.

MY BUDGET WAS FLAT LAST YEAR AND WHEN I CAME IN AGAIN WE LOOKED AT IT HARD WE DON'T WASTE MONEY WE DON'T HAVE EXTRAS THERE IS NOTHING FANCY WE PROVIDE BASIC POLICE SERVICE AND WE ARE AT A VERY BASIC SERVICE IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ADD ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL MY NEXT STEP IS TO DO AWAY WITH THE TRAFFIC UNIT AND PUT THEM BACK ON THE STREET AND I WOULDN'T EVEN SAY THEIR EXTRA BODIES THEY WORK IN THE TRAFFIC COMPLAINTS AND THERE'S A TOTAL OF EIGHT OF THEM SO WE ARE AT CRITICAL MASS WHEN IT COMES TO STAFFING AND THE AMOUNT OF ATTRITION AND THE AREAS THAT I COULD SAY WE WOULD HAVE WIGGLE ROOM THE CADET PROGRAM WOULD BE VERY NICE TO HAVE I THINK IT IS A NEED BECAUSE IT WOULD SPEED UP GETTING PEOPLE ON THE STREET BUT THAT'S ONE AREA IF WE HAD TO CUT THE CADET PROGRAM AND THE LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR AND IF I HAD TO CUT IT AND IT WOULD GO BACK TO OFFERING THOSE THINGS AND UNDERSTANDING WE WILL NEVER GET PAID AS MUCH AS EVERYONE ELSE WE TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGET EVERY DAY WE DO FORMAL BUDGET MEETINGS AND UNDER MY COMMAND THE DIRECTORS IN CHARGE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE AT TO FIX RESPONSE TIME WHAT IS THE GAP WE ARE SPREAD TOO THIN

[02:35:07]

WE HAVE PEOPLE WE HAVE HEARD LOTS OF EMAILS FROM THE CITIZENS ABOUT WOULD BE INTERESTING IF THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR PROPERTY TAXES THUS THE REAL QUESTION ARE CLAY COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS WILLING TO PAY MORE IN PROPERTY TAXES FOR THESE INCREASES AND IT'S NOT A QUESTION THAT CABE ANSWERED TODAY BUT I WOULD LOVE TO IN IF YOU CAN EMAIL, CALL OR MESSAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

>> WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS HEAR FROM TROY QUICKLY WE HAVE TO BE OUT BY 6 PM FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

TROY, >> JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS DEPENDING ON WHICH GENERAL FUND THAT WE GO INTO AVERAGING THE VALUE AT $250,000 WITH AN EXEMPTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN A $100 INCREASE JUST TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE WE DID A QUICK ANALYSIS 6263 PERCENT OF THE HOMES IN CLAY COUNTY WOULD

FALL IN THAT RANGE >> AND WHEN WAS THAT INCREASED LAST?

>> 2014.

>> WE HAVE HAD THE SAME SINCE P2014?

>> RIGHT.

>> ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARKS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT THE KEY IS PERSONNEL, IT WOULD TAKE TWO YEARS TO IMPLEMENT AND THAT WOULD GENERATE 5 TO 7 MILLION ANNUALLY AND YOU KIND OF ALLUDED TO THAT AND YOU CAN GO UP FROM THERE AND THEN THERE ARE SOME DISCRETIONARY SALES TAXES YOU CAN IMPLEMENT RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT ONE PERCENT BUT MOST ARE FOR SPECIFIC USES. THAT'S IT.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR TROY ON THOSE LAST COUPLE OF SLIDES?

>> YOU CAN ANSWER MY QUESTION WITHOUT ME ASKING IT, THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. WE FINISHED WITH THE PRESENTATIONS. INFORMATION COMING FROM STAFF AND CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS WE HAVE A MOMENT OR TWO FOR PUBLIC

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

>> IF YOU COULD IDENTIFY YOURSELF.

>> KAMALA HENRY SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN CLAY COUNTY.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND FUNDING FOR THAT AND ASK YOU TO NOT ASK THEM FOR WIGGLE ROOM FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO MENTION ABOUT THE GRANTS, I FEEL LIKE

[02:40:08]

FACTS RELATED TO THE NEED, WE ARE NOT COMPETITIVE IN OUR PAY, IT REALLY MAKES ME ROT TO THINK THAT YOU'VE ALL COUNTY MAKES 10,000 MORE A YEAR. I GO THERE EVERY DAY AND I SEE THE CRIME AND I COME ACROSS AND I KNOW I AM IN CLAY COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE PIECE THAT IS HERE AND I WANT THAT TO REMAIN AND ALSO I WANT TO SAY IN RESPONSE, THE THING ABOUT RESPONSE TIME, IF IT TAKES 10 MINUTES FOR THEM TO GET TO AN EMERGENCY HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR THEM TO GET BACK UP AND I WANT TO SEE THE SHERIFF'S PROTECTED BY HAVING BACKUP IN A TIMELY MANNER IN THESE SITUATIONS.

ALSO, THEY ARE UNDERSTAFFED I DON'T KNOW IF THEY MENTIONED IT AT 1.8 DEPUTIES PER WHATEVER THE CITIZEN RANGE IS THAT WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES.

THAT IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE. AND I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT.

AND I WANT TO SAY TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I HOPE YOU ALL DON'T GO TO MANDATORY VACCINES I THINK NOT GETTING VACCINATED IS A SIGN THAT WE HAVE SMART PEOPLE THAT FOLLOW THE SCIENCES AND THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE A STAND AND NOT TAKE A JAB.

>> SO, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, WHAT YOU FEEL ABOUT THE MILLAGE INCREASE?

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> IT'S A WAY FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE WIGGLE ROOM.

>> YOUR PROPERTY TAXES WILL INCREASE

>> I AM A PROPERTY OWNER I HAVE BEEN A PROPERTY OWNER FOR 30 YEARS I AM WILLING TO PAY FOR WHAT IT TAKES TO SEE CLAY COUNTY STAY SAFE SO THAT MEANS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE OR A SALES TAX INCREASE, I FEEL LIKE WE GAVE OUR SCHOOL BOARD A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO DO A CRAPPY JOB AND WE MIGHT BE WILLING TO PAY MORE TAXES TO FUND SAFETY.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?

[COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS]

>> THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE, WE RECEIVE COMPLAINTS EVERY DAY THEY WANT BETTER SERVICE THEY WANT BETTER SECURITY AND ANYONE THAT WRITES THAT IN AN EMAIL HAS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE SERVICES AND THOSE CONVENIENCES ARE NOT FREE.

SO I WILL ASSUME ALL THOSE EMAILS THAT WE RECEIVE ARE ASKING US TO FUND DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AT HIGHER LEVELS FOR BETTER SERVICE AND WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES AND THAT'S WHAT THE DEPARTMENTS DO THAT'S WHAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL'S DO EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

THAT'S MY COMMENT. THANK YOU.

>> NOTHING MORE.

>> KEEP IN MIND FLORIDA TAX WATCH.ORG COMPARES COUNTIES THE AMOUNT OF MONIES THEY TAKE IN AND REVENUE AND SPEND THIS PART OF THE OPERATIONS ON A PER CAPITA BASIS CLAY COUNTY 'S 61ST IN REVENUES OUT OF 67 COUNTIES WE ARE 62 AT PER

[02:45:01]