The Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, met in special session on January 18, 1996, at 2:05 p.m. in the Government Center Multipurpose Room, Building C, 2725 St. Johns Street, Melbourne, Florida. Present were: Chairman Mark Cook, Commissioners Truman Scarborough, Randy O?Brien, Nancy Higgs, and Scott Ellis, County Manager Tom Jenkins, and County Attorney Scott Knox.

PERMISSION TO RECEIVE FUNDING DONATIONS, RE: ART IN JUSTICE CENTER

Motion by Commissioner Scarborough, seconded by Commissioner O?Brien, to grant permission for staff to receive funding donations from individuals and place it in a special account for a non-profit group to raise money for art in the new Justice Center. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

REPORT, RE: BEACH RESTORATION

Commissioner O?Brien advised he met with Congressman Weldon to discuss beach restoration; Congressman Weldon is trying to form a coalition of coastal congressional members; he is also attempting to get funding for Brevard County to save its beaches; Senator Graham has access to the President; and the President said zero funds for this kind of project. He noted the erosion is caused directly by Port Canaveral and the jetties; the federal government caused the problem; and he may need approval from the Board to travel to Jacksonville or Washington about this problem.

County Manager Tom Jenkins stated Commissioner O?Brien has approval to travel wherever he needs to go for beach renourishment according to the Board?s previous action.

REPORT, RE: MOVING AMBULANCE FROM PORT CANAVERAL TO CAPE CANAVERAL HOSPITAL

Commissioner O?Brien stated an ambulance is being moved from Port Canaveral to Cape Canaveral Hospital; the Port Commissioners are trying to lobby the Port to purchase another ambulance; and it would stay either in the City or at Port Canaveral. He noted there have been various ambulance transport problems; and staff is trying to solve them.

REPORT, RE: PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO REMOVE PUBLIC HOSPITALS

Commissioner O?Brien advised there is new legislation, which hospitals are trying to push through, removing public hospitals from being public any longer; and suggested staff review the issue. Commissioner Scarborough stated the County Attorney could review the legislation and report back to the Board.

DISCUSSION, RE: 1996 LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE

Chairman Cook advised he sent a letter to Bill Posey, Chairman of the Legislative Delegation, expressing appreciation for consideration of Brevard County?s 1996 Legislative Package; it is the County?s responsibility to advertise the change in the Special Taxing District Ordinance; and it also pays for the advertisement.

PRESENTATION, RE: PHH FANTUS CONSULTING

Robert Farley, PHH Fantus Consulting, stated there is an interest in seeing additional activity happen in Brevard County due to the down-sizing and sluggishness in the economy; PHH Fantus has existed for 75 years; his Company?s primary business is corporate relocation; and two-thirds of it is working with companies to choose alternate locations or decide whether expanding where they are is the appropriate solution. He advised the Company reviews projects and objectives, and looks at the entire country for possible locations; it helps negotiate with various firms; it does not do real estate transactions; but it does socio-economic work associated with trying to figure out whether a particular place to go is appropriate. He stated the Company has worked with states, communities, and chambers; it does an independent assessment of the area; and it advises firms to working closely with the team to help them structure ways to go after particular opportunities. Mr. Farley advised PHH Fantus has developed an account management system; provided examples of the organizations it has worked with; stated there are a lot of different things the Company can do and have done on behalf of clients; and it has over 1,000 public sector clients and has had about 8,000 corporate location assignments. He gave an overview of PHH Fantus; and provided information on a marketing program and a brochure on public sector services which the Company offers.

Commissioner Scarborough inquired does PHH Fantus do an analysis for a community on what the Company sees emerging as opportunities; with Mr. Farley responding affirmatively. Commissioner O?Brien inquired what information would the Company require from Brevard County if it has an interest in using it. Mr. Farley responded PHH Fantus can work with staff to review materials it has compiled to see if there are gaps or different ways of packaging the information that might be more attractive; one common thing the Company sees is a lot of unsolicited marketing materials from all over the country; and there is a tendency to overdue the initial information that comes in for certain inquiries. Commissioner Scarborough inquired if any of the 1,000 clients who are public entities associated with the defense aerospace industry; with Mr. Farley responding affirmatively. Chairman Cook inquired does PHH Fantus have any examples of businesses or industries it has relocated to a community; with Mr. Farley responding affirmatively. Mr. Farley advised approximately 30% or 40% of PHH Fantus? clients are the manufacturing sector; and examples of projects include United Parcel Service and BMW. Commissioner Scarborough stated he would like to see the end product that was completed by the Company for Orange County. Mr. Farley responded the clients and public sectors do not mind giving their reports, but there are a lot of differences in terms of what is done for various clients.

Chairman Cook stated the taxpayers have adopted a Tax Abatement Ordinance through referendum because they see the need to become competitive to attract clean businesses and industries to Brevard County; and inquired if relocations have been diminishing from the national trend. Mr. Farley responded the basic project list stays about the same year in and year out. Commissioner Higgs stated Brevard County needs to look at the labor market issues. Commissioner O?Brien stated the priorities in the County are trying to retain the people and their jobs; the Board is aware of the economic fallout if it does not start taking positive leaps; and it is in competition with the rest of the Nation. Chairman Cook stated his concern is the County spending additional monies if the Economic Development Council (EDC) is doing the job; and he does not want to duplicate something. Commissioner Scarborough stated Brevard County needs to make sure that PHH Fantus is in tune with the EDC; and the EDC needs to be funded to contract with the Company. He suggested the EDC review the Company?s product with Orange County and other agencies; and the Board look at the information also to make sure that the contract with the Company is usable.

Commissioner Higgs stated the Board needs to communicate with the EDC in regard to a scope of work that might be useful; and it cannot enter into a relationship with a company without a competitive process. Chairman Cook stated the Board needs to get a sense of how the EDC feels about this issue. Commissioner O?Brien stated what would be purchased is a higher level of expertise than what presently exists in Brevard County. Chairman Cook stated when the information comes back to the Board, he can take it to the EDC to get its feelings on the issue and to better assist it with what it is doing; the Board can receive comments from the EDC; if it wants to proceed beyond that, it has to be a competitive process; and that would be the proper sequence to follow. Commissioner Higgs stated what is presented is an additional level of expertise that may be valuable to the EDC; and the Board is willing to consider some assistance. Commissioner O?Brien stated Brevard County should reach out for as much expertise and information it can to help it start resolving the problems it is going to face in the future. Commissioner Ellis inquired where does the Board want to go for the next step. Chairman Cook responded the additional information requested by Commissioner Scarborough from the Company can be received; he will approach the EDC; and it can provide input to the Board. Commissioner Higgs stated the Board is concerned about jobs and needs the EDC?s input on the best way to maximize bringing jobs to Brevard County.

Mr. Farley advised he will include copies of Requests For Proposals (RFP) with the information he is going to provide to the Board; no two studies ever turn out the same as every particular location is unique; and one of the fundamental things the County needs is the right strategic approach to what it wants to get done for economic development in Brevard County.

Commissioner O?Brien stated the Board?s priorities have been emergency vehicles, landfills, and Palm Bay beltway; that is its normal tasks; but the priority of looking at the future of Brevard County for employment has not been the top of the priority list where it belongs. Chairman Cook responded it has been at the top; the impact fee abatement and other things the Board has done have been very proactive; this Board has been proactive in trying to recruit jobs as a high priority; and it needs to continue that. Commissioner Scarborough requested a response come back to the Board from the EDC in a timely manner.

Chairman Cook expressed appreciation to Mr. Farley for the presentation.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Larry Nye, Interim Executive Director for Space Coast Development Commission, provided a brochure to the Board; stated it represents a unique organization in Brevard County called the National Data Center located at Patrick Air Force Base; it is not in a military application or military operation; and the money that went away from the Pentagon in terms of weapon development is now being rechanneled to a new growth industry in Brevard County called the Treaty Compliance Industry. He explained the purpose of the National Data Center; noted one contract is for $6 million for the Logistics Depo Center; four Brevard County firms are bidders on it; and the second one is for $60 million which is the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Mr. Nye advised country representatives must come to Brevard County to pick up their equipment, learn how to use it, and how to be in compliance with the rules and regulations of the CTBT; the National Data Center gathers this information from all over the world; and the activity that is involved is getting the highest attention in Washington. He stated he is receiving calls from all over the country and internationally from parties who have heard about this and are interested in coming here to learn more about it; Harris Corporation has also played a role; and the data security and transmission issues is a growth industry that will allow the County to become a center of excellence for data security, both classified and non-classified. Mr. Nye explained Avtec; stated he has a customer and vendor on a pilot program basis; and they need approximately $100,000 to bring that to fruition in July or August, 1996. He noted all the data base is there; and they are putting it on a very sophisticated software system that will allow them to do a series of scenarios and assessments.

Commissioner Ellis inquired who needs $100,000. Mr. Nye responded the money would go to the Avtec organization to be distributed between three and four Brevard County firms that have the capability of data security. Commissioner Ellis inquired does money come from Avtec; with Mr. Nye responding they are trying to obtain money from Avtec; they have been held up by the 1996 budget problems; and Kelly Air Force Base will probably be issuing those funds, but no one knows when. Mr. Nye stated from an economic development viewpoint, funds should be set aside specifically to underwrite a pilot program that will determine the viability of creating the capability of information security within Brevard County and the creation of jobs; the money that was appropriated on the original $30 million for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty did not take into consideration risk assessment; that money is already allocated; there must be money in addition to that; they have gone back to the well to ask for that; but it is in a delay process. Chairman Cook stated it would have to be considered in the budget process; he appreciates the information; and he is excited about it. Mr. Nye stated Dr. David O?Brien, Chief Scientist for Air Force Technical Application Center, would like to hold a non-classified briefing with the Board if it would be interested in seeing it. Chairman Cook reiterated funding should come through the normal budget process; but he is happy to look at it.

Commissioner Scarborough stated the Board spends time discussing remote things such as how much noise comes from exotic birds; but when it talks about the viability of Brevard County, it says it does not have enough time; there are citizens wondering where the County is going; and inquired when is the Board going to talk about where Brevard County is going. He noted he is interested in Mr. Nye?s issue; and this is where his constituents want him to spend his time. Chairman Cook stated that is absolutely true, but it is a total mischaracterization to say the Board has not been interested in economic development. Commissioner Scarborough stated the Board has put an inordinate amount of time in things that are of much less concern to the general population. Chairman Cook advised there is a budget process; with Commissioner Scarborough responding there is no need for the Board to wait until such process to discuss these decisions. Commissioner Cook responded he concurs, but that is part of being on a county commission. Commissioner Scarborough stated he has people who are leaving their homes and losing their jobs; that is horrible in comparison to listening to a macaw sing in the morning; he cannot be a good Commissioner and sit on the Board if he has to say it is just as important that he has to spend so much time on a bird that he cannot listen to when a person and family are uprooted from the community; and one is a human tragedy and the other is a matter of inconvenience. Chairman Cook inquired when has the Board turned down listening or talking about anything; with Commissioner Scarborough responding Chairman Cook is saying not listen to this issue because it is a budget decision. Chairman Cook stated he is not saying that and is talking about the funding process of it. Commissioner O?Brien stated Commissioner Scarborough makes a very good point. Commissioner Scarborough stated he does not want to wait until the budget to talk about this; if this is the way the Board is going to act, he is resigning; he is not going to talk about birds and let jobs leave; and he will not be a part of the County Commission. Chairman Cook stated he agrees.

Commissioner Scarborough?s absence was noted at this time.

Commissioner O?Brien expressed appreciation to Mr. Nye for his presentation. Chairman Cook stated the Board will be discussing this issue again. Commissioner Higgs requested Mr. Nye provide the Board with concise information and what actions may be required. Mr. Nye responded he will provide a summary, he is not asking for any commitments today, but is requesting the Board consider investing economic development funds to help assess the feasibility. Commissioner O?Brien stated the Board will review the information provided by Mr. Nye.

Upon motion and vote, the meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.

ATTEST:

SANDY CRAWFORD, CLERK

(S E A L)

MARK COOK

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

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