April 2, 1998
Apr 02 1998
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA
The Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, met in special session on April 2, 1998, at 10:05 a.m. in the Government Center, Third Floor Florida Room, Building C, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, Florida. Present were: Chairman Helen Voltz, Commissioners Truman Scarborough, Randy O'Brien, Nancy Higgs and Mark Cook, County Manager Tom Jenkins, and County Attorney Scott Knox.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Commissioner O'Brien stated he has to leave at 11:30 a.m. to perform a marriage for his sister-in-law.
DISCUSSION, RE: TRANSPORTATION WORKSHOP
Commissioner Scarborough stated the gas tax issue will soon come up; and the Board needs to decide to what extent it wants to do something. He stated the dialogue with the City of Palm Bay was dynamic and divisive; the Board has not wanted to move forward with the tax, which is its prerogative; but there has been discussion that there is no money to do anything.
Commissioner O'Brien stated he was not able to attend the meeting in Palm Bay as he had to give a speech for the Commission on the Status of Women.
Motion by Commissioner Higgs, seconded by Commissioner Scarborough, to approve scheduling a transportation workshop on July 9, 1998. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.
DISCUSSION, RE: PARK EQUITY STUDY
Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Nelson stated staff has updated the Park Equity Study; and presented minor corrections to Attachments 1 and 3 concerning Manatee Hammock Park and Calculations and Comparisons, Total Taxable Values. He clarified there was some question about Attachment 5 related to General Fund support; and the intent is to show that the Beach and Riverfront Program and Environmentally Endangered Lands (EELS) Program are part of the Parks and Recreation Program. He noted although they are referring to General Fund support, it is part and parcel of what his Department does and is a service it provides, which could be considered in terms of equity on a Countywide basis; and neither Beach and Riverfront or the EELS Programs get General Fund support. He noted the issue of park equity began in the 1990's; Special Taxing Districts reduced the General Fund support within those areas; they were picking up a greater portion of the operating costs; and there was a concern by the Board to see that equalized. Mr. Nelson stated the Board attempted to balance the General Fund allocations; it was done on a District basis, with each District getting the same amount of money, within a few thousands dollars; it is an imprecise system because Commission Districts represent different parts of the County; and it does not necessarily relate to how his Department provides the service. He outlined the chart depicting each Commission District; stated Commission District boundaries have changed to meet the population changes; and staff has continued to try and provide the service. Mr. Nelson stated staff has laid out a variety of issues that have led to where the County is today; 20 years ago that picture was much different; one of the issues has been the Block Grant projects; such projects include unincorporated, target, and lower economic areas; and they are designed to improve communities. He noted the projects are some of the County's highest operating cost-type of facilities which include community centers and community-based recreation; the Parks and Recreation budget is comprised of dollars to take care of the existing park system; and staff provides maintenance on a daily basis. He stated the numbers shown in terms of General Fund support go toward those operations; there are no additional General Fund dollars for capital improvements; they have been used for maintenance; and staff has been able to keep cash forward from the previous year for capital projects. Mr. Nelson delineated the charts showing percentages of population and General Fund for the Districts; stated it is based on arbitrary lines; the difficulty is trying to decide what is fair and equitable; and one suggested solution is to look where the needs are. He noted there are soccer fields proposed in Titusville at Brevard Community College; there is money available to start the process; whether or not it is going to be enough to do everything that needs to be done should be addressed; and as design occurs, the County can determine that. He stated another issue in the Titusville area is the baseball and softball field needs, particularly at Sand Point and Marina Parks; there has been a growing need for girls' softball fields; and on Merritt Island, there are facilities stretched to their max. Mr. Nelson noted there is a need for athletic fields; soccer has been the growth sport and the need exists for soccer fields in Cocoa; the City of Rockledge has moved forward with the acquisition of 80 acres to meet its long-range needs; and it is funding the design. He stated it is part of the Special Taxing District; there may be a request for partnership in development since the County is the recreation agency in the Cocoa/Rockledge area; and in Suntree and Viera there is a need for additional facilities. He noted such area has provided many neighborhood facilities; they are short in facilities that support organized activities, including youth sports; and staff is working with Viera as part of its DRI to contribute over 100 acres of park land. Mr. Nelson stated the Greater Melbourne Soccer Club gave the County 25 acres to develop; it has attempted to do fund raising; and there is a need for additional soccer fields in that area. He advised the County has had an ongoing project at Palm Bay Regional Park; soccer fields and a multipurpose field were developed; there is also a restroom/concession facility; and the road was recently paved in cooperation with the City of Palm Bay. He noted staff is looking to continue to develop a loop road within the Park so the PAL group can develop its facilities; there are also bicycle/motor cross and equestrian groups; additional baseball and softball fields are needed at that location; and it will be a multimillion dollar project at completion.
Chairman Voltz inquired if Mr. Nelson has a recommendation on the best way to handle the park equity issue. She stated the County should go by needs rather than what is fair and equitable; and if each District gets the same amount of money and does not have the same amount of needs, the County is not doing what is right.
Commissioner O'Brien stated the Parks and Recreation Department may be under funded for the needs it presently has; one of the solutions may be to start reviewing the budgetary process now and how much the County will have available at that time without having to increase taxes; and such Department has been facing this problem for an extended period of time without much attention being paid to the critical need. He recommended the Board start approaching its budgetary process long before June or July; and stated the County Manager and Budget Director can try to find solutions to the budget, including the Sheriff's Office, Parks and Recreation Department, and Public Safety Department.
Chairman Voltz stated the County needs to do something for the youth in the community as it may help with juvenile crime.
Commissioner O'Brien stated the Sheriff, working with Health First, has done a great job; he concurs with Chairman Voltz's comments; the County needs to give the young people an outlook for their energy; and it may reduce juvenile crime significantly.
Commissioner Higgs stated the impetus for the Youth Coordinator goes back to 1993 when she first brought up the juvenile curfew issue; the Board funded a position to deal with youth activities; and it has been very positive in getting things done.
Commissioner Cook inquired what is the total budget for Parks and Recreation Department; with Mr. Nelson responding $19 million, including the EELS Program.
County Manager Tom Jenkins advised over the past 10 years, the County has added over 30 new facilities; Parks and Recreation has absorbed them without any tax increases; it has expanded and improved many other existing facilities; and it has done so without significant increases. He noted development costs for the Off-road Vehicle site, which is going to be athletic facilities, is approximately $3 million; and it is very expensive to build a new facility.
Commissioner Scarborough stated the money came from a separate vote; the people are paying substantially more in taxes to have it built; and it is a new tax on those individuals in the Port St. John/Canaveral Groves areas. He noted the County has increased facilities because the citizens have voted for them; and it has had to maintain them because the people are going through the referendum process and saying they want such facilities.
Commissioner Cook stated there seems to be a problem in the time span it takes to get anything going; and there should be a way to expedite the projects.
Discussion ensued regarding Bourbeau, Provost, Manatee, Stosberg, and Palm Bay Regional Parks, and Mullet Creek, Rocky Point, Castaway Point, and the South Beaches Community Center. Commissioner Higgs stated the County needs to identify the needs, and focus on finding ways to do them.
Commissioner O'Brien reiterated the Board needs to decide early in the process where the priorities are in the budget. Chairman Voltz reiterated the County's priorities need to be with the youth as they are the future generation.
Commissioner Higgs requested information on the County's camping fees and how they compare to other sites in the County and surrounding areas.
Commissioner O'Brien requested staff provide a report on daily attendance figures at Lori Wilson and Rotary Parks Nature Centers.
DISCUSSION, RE: GOLF VOLUNTEERS
Mr. Nelson stated the County has used volunteers to clean golf carts, act as rangers, and do other tasks around the golf course; it has been determined there is going to be a fiscal impact to having volunteers; and the value of the service by volunteers has to be reported to IRS as a compensation.
Chairman Voltz expressed concern as there are volunteers that work at the hospitals; and stated hospitals could not function without volunteers.
Mr. Nelson stated the difference is that the County gives something of value to the volunteers as they get to play golf and get a credit of $5.00 per hour for volunteer time; the question is are they truly volunteers if the County is compensating them; and the total cost of the program is $126,000.
Mr. Jenkins stated hospital volunteers do not get anything in return and only give their services; if something is not done, the County is vulnerable for not only current and future, but past services; and it needs to be resolved as it is a financial liability.
Commissioner O'Brien stated under the tax code individuals are allowed to give a $10,000 gift, whether in money or value; the volunteers could receive a gift from the County, provided the value is $10,000 or less; and the County does not have to keep track of how much volunteer time is given.
Mr. Jenkins stated every other golf course in Brevard County that uses individuals has them as employees because they have to report it as compensation.
Commissioner Cook stated if the volunteers are playing at peak time, it can be restricted; and there are ways to control it which would have less impact on revenue.
Commissioner Higgs stated volunteers have been valuable on the golf courses; she is not ready to say the County should not have the program; it is still cost effective; the County needs to manage it right and expect from those individuals the services they are being compensated for; and the program needs to continue.
Mr. Jenkins stated if the Board wants to keep the volunteer program, staff will proceed that way; however, it would like to begin reporting it to be in compliance with IRS.
Commissioner O'Brien requested the County Attorney research what can be done to alleviate the problem.
County Attorney Scott Knox stated his Office provided an opinion concerning golf volunteers; if the County provides payments which reimburses them for expenses incurred, that is fine; if they receive anything beyond that, it is treated as income; and it may be advisable to contact the County's Bond Counsel.
Commissioner Cook stated the Board needs to receive a firm opinion if it is reportable to the IRS.
Motion by Commissioner Scarborough, seconded by Commissioner Higgs, to not abandon the golf course volunteer program. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.
Upon motion and vote, the meeting adjourned at 11:30 p.m.
HELEN VOLTZ, CHAIRMAN
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA
ATTEST:
SANDY CRAWFORD, CLERK
(S E A L)