May 12, 2005

The Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, met in special session on May 12, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. in the Government Center Florida Room, Building C, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, Florida. Present were: Chairman Ron Pritchard, D.P.A., Commissioners Truman Scarborough, Helen Voltz, and Susan Carlson, County Manager Peggy Busacca, and County Attorney Scott Knox. Absent was: Commissioner Jackie Colon.

REPORT, RE: INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

County Manager Peggy Busacca advised the Board about the Infrastructure Management System; and provided written documentation to the Board for its review.

PUBLIC COMMENT - DR. MAXWELL KING, RE: FUNDING FOR CROSSWINDS
YOUTH SERVICES

Dr. Maxwell King commented on Crosswinds Youth Services and advised of the fundraiser to raise $2.5 million for Crosswinds to build a youth learning resources center, and matching grant of $500,000. He stated Crosswinds has all but $140,000 of the matching grant; and requested the Board consider making the grant to Crosswinds Youth Services.

A representative of Crosswinds Youth Services advised there is currently $359,500; if the County comes up with $140,000 then Jim Hanley will provide $500.00; Congressmen Weldon and Feeney were instrumental in getting matching grant funds; and foundations and aerospace companies are also involved. He noted if Crosswinds does not make the $500,000 then it does not get anything from the Eckerd Grant; so it has to make the entire $500,000 to get the $500,000 matching grant.

PUBLIC COMMENT - DONN LEVINE, RE: THE CENTER FOR DRUG-FREE LIVING

Donn Levine, representing The Center for Drug-free Living, provided an update on the Grant that The Center for Drug-free Living and the County have had together for the last three years; stated The Center has worked in cooperation with the County in operating the Women and Children Services Program; the Grant has recently come to an end; and The Center has been looking for matching funds to match the Department of Children and Families (DCF) funds, which are in the amount of $500,000. He advised through an anonymous donation, The Center has received $500,000, which will be matching the money it continues to get from the DCF; the family that made the donation hopes The Center can work closely with the County in using the donation to leverage against money that in the future it may be able to receive from the County and other funding sources; and The Center is thrilled to be able to continue this very needed program.

PUBLIC COMMENT - RON MORGAN, RE: PUBLIC GUARDIANSHIP FUNDING TASK
FORCE

Ron Morgan, Chairman of Public Guardianship Funding Task Force, reported to the Board on the Task Force’s progress and restoration of the County’s Public Guardianship funding mechanism by amendment, which failed to pass in the 2005 Legislative Session; and provided information to the Board concerning the report. He advised the impact on the Guardianship Program of not being able to acquire the funding necessary to sustain it is that emergency allocations will have to be considered to maintain commitments; $45,000 currently remains in the County Public Guardianship Reserve Fund; and the Fund will be fully depleted before a new accumulation of funds can commence after July 1, 2006, assuming passage of the Legislation in the 2006 Session. He stated the County agreed to provide funding to the Senior Resource Alliance (SRA) in Orlando, where the SRA will issue the contract and act as the fiscal agent for the County and conduit of funds from the County Reserve Fund to Public Guardianship Services. Mr. Morgan stated the County agreed to provide funding to SRA only if the available funds are depleted; and the Board, Clerk of Court, Tax Collector, Department of Housing and Human Services, Eighteenth Judicial District, and the United Way have been personally notified of the results of the 2005 Session.

DISCUSSION, RE: DEPARTMENT BUDGET REVIEWS

Housing and Human Services Department

Housing and Human Services Director Gay Williams provided an overview of the Housing and Human Services Department’s budget, including mandated services, grants, non-mandated administrative section, budget savings, trends and issues, Community Based Organizations (CBO) funding, Guardian Ad Litem, Emergency Assistance Programs, Juvenile Assessment Center funding, Country Acres Children’s Home, Veterans Services, We Care Program, Title V Grant, increase in construction costs, capital improvement projects, funding for State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), and HOME, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), financial assistance due to hurricanes, privatization, indigent care, increasing costs of Medicaid, community based care, revenue enhancements and opportunities for the Department, and Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) issues.

Discussion ensued concerning pro bono services, communications tax, volunteer services, contract monitoring and project direction, home care services, Community Action Plan, Brevard Alzheimer’s Association, Crosswinds Youth Services, Sterling Project, Mental Health and Community Solutions, Brevard Commission on Aging, Brevard Tomorrow, Baker Act, Circles of Care, reserves and deficits, child welfare services, safety and protection in the community, risk of liability, and limited budgets.

Motion by Commissioner Carlson, seconded by Commissioner Voltz, to authorize staff to include $140,000 in the FY 2005-2006 budget for Crosswinds Youth Services. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Mosquito Control Department

Mosquito Control Director Scott Linkenhoker presented a budget overview of the Mosquito Control Department to the Board and audience; and advised of ground support, management of impoundment lands, aerial support with aircraft, aquatic weed control with main drainage ditches, canals, and lakes within the County, budget savings and efficiencies, telephone communications, purchase of new helicopter, deletion of Special Projects Coordinator, hurricane damage, State and Federal grants, and FEMA funds. He advised the total budget is $6,841,090; approximately $1.2 million of it is debt service and capital equipment; and summarized the revenue enhancement opportunities.

Discussion ensued concerning consultants to assist with grant writing, hangar at Valkaria Airport, fixed wing aircraft, lighting systems, contracting services, developing revenue streams, West Nile Virus, and encephalitis.

The meeting recessed at 2:30 p.m. and reconvened at 2:35 p.m.

Utility Services Department

Utility Services Director Richard Martens provided an overview of the Utility Services Department’s budget, including Water Resources and Solid Waste Sections, and four separate Enterprise Funds and five programs. He advised of growth in the Suntree/Viera area, expansion of Suntree/Viera Treatment Plant, constructions costs, aging infrastructure, septage treatment facility, replacement of portion of South Patrick Drive Force Main, budget saving opportunities, elimination of 18 positions in Water Resources Department from 1995 to 2000, efficiency measures, refinancing of bonds, utilizing renewal and replacement funds, prioritizing repairs, outsourcing, reduction in operating expenses, operation and maintenance costs, debt service, insurance and personnel expenses, fuel costs, rate adjustment, revenue options, recovery from hurricanes, budget saving opportunities, and revenue enhancements.

Discussion ensued concerning reclaimed water issues, water consumption units, Growth Management Legislation, water supply and coordinating with St. Johns River Water Management District, consumptive use permitting process in North Brevard with expanded wellfield, use of potable water for irrigation, alternative water supplies, inclining rate structures, storage tanks, sprinkler timers, education, efficiencies, and FEMA reimbursements.

Motion by Commissioner Carlson, seconded by Commissioner Voltz, to approve Option B for a one-year recovery period, which would require an increase of 28.2% or 14.7 cents per collection visit for new rate of $142.33 to rebuild collection reserves depleted by the 2004 storms. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Discussion continued on disposal and collection issues, rate indexing system, private water and sewer utilities, cost-of-living index, increase in base rate and commodity, conservation, and reuse.

Fire Rescue Department

Chief Bill Farmer, Fire Rescue Director, provided an overview of the Fire Rescue Department’s budget, including personnel, 911 calls, operation of fire engine and rescue stations, volunteer only stations, Advanced Life Support (ALS) engines and transport units, management of Dispatch Center, Fire Prevention Bureau, Special Response Team, Fire Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU), firefighter reservists and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) reservists, standby coverage, Beach Rescue Program and Ocean Rescue, IAFF contract negotiations, EMS service availability assessment, training, additional demand on competency, comprehensive training center, future stations, Station 21 in Mims, Station 87 in Valkaria, inventory control project, fleet addition, electronic staffing program, impact fees, revenue enhancements, volunteer coordinator position, Lifeguard City/County Contracts, service availability charge as opposed to flat fee, step plan, Orange County recruiting Brevard County personnel, competitive salaries, return on investment, firefighter support referendum, ongoing negotiations on LIU Contract, and salary and compensation study.

Motion by Commissioner Scarborough, seconded by Commissioner Carlson, to authorize staff to proceed with the salary and compensation study, not to exceed $60,000. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Motion by Commissioner Scarborough, seconded by Commissioner Voltz, to approve incorporation of the Micco Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assessment into the Countywide EMS assessment. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Discussion proceeded concerning 5th Rescue, survey with other State-approved special response teams, life and safety issues, Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU), not having degradation of services, training and orientation, and efficiency at the best price.

Motion by Commissioner Carlson, seconded by Commissioner Voltz, to direct staff to review the development of a Special Response Team (SRT) assessment. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Chief Farmer requested approval to schedule an executive session on May 17, 2005 at 11:30 a.m. to discuss IAFF negotiations relevant to the salary and step plan.

The Board reached consensus to approve scheduling an executive session on May 17, 2005 at 11:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as possible, concerning IAFF negotiations on salary and step plan.

Discussion ensued on operating expenses, capital improvements, aggregate rollback calculation, Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices, and operating and debt service.

The Board reached consensus to exclude voter-approved millages from the rollback calculation.

Parks and Recreation Department

Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Nelson provided an overview of the Parks and Recreation Department’s budget, including referendum projects, regional parks under construction, millage issues, increase in construction costs, community centers, infrastructure and development of athletic facilities, Palm Bay Regional Park site, budget saving opportunities, volunteers for recreation programs, quality and safe facilities, mowing contractors, replacement of equipment, trends and issues, lack of boat ramps and access to Indian River, Manatee Protection Plan, revenue enhancements, and summer programs.

Discussion ensued on park maintenance for north, central, and south areas, fulltime equivalents, F. Burton Smith Park, maintained acreage, timeline update on parks from the referendum, Parks and Recreation Department’s website, dog parks, additional sheltering for hurricane victims and pets, youth programs, visioning process, elimination of redundancy, coordination and cooperation efforts, educational utilization, multiple jurisdictions sharing creative process of tax dollars, infrastructure management system, and mandated expenditures.

Chairman Pritchard commented at the last budget workshop he mentioned the Board is getting to the part where the minutia needs to start filtering to where it has a spreadsheet to understand where it is and what it is looking at to start making decisions as to what it is going to be funding.

County Manager Peggy Busacca advised staff will provide the Board with the spreadsheet.

Upon motion and vote, the meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

ATTEST:
__________________________________
RON PRITCHARD, D.P.A., CHAIRMAN
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA
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SCOTT ELLIS, CLERK

(S E A L)