LEON COUNTY

Chairman Tony Grippa and Vice-Chairman Jane Sauls met in a publicly-noticed meeting on December 11, 2002, at the Leon County Courthouse Commission Chambers. Also present were Erin VanSickle, Chairman Grippa’s Commission Aide, and Carol Kio-Green.

The meeting began at 2:15 p.m.

Commissioner Grippa stated the reason for the individual Commissioners’ meetings with him is to get more input regarding which boards the Commissioners want to be appointed to.

Commissioner Sauls stated that she has been appointed to the Innovation Park Board through 2004 and she is fulfilling former Commissioner Host’s un-expired term. She mentioned that she is still interested in serving on the Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Sciences Board, especially since it is in her district. She is also the Chair of the Apalachee Regional Planning Council, which she has enjoyed. She stated that she is also on the Challenger Learning Center Board, and she would like to continue that appointment. Finally, Commissioner Sauls said she does not mind remaining on the Value Adjustment Board, but that she is more excited about those Boards she had previously mentioned.

Commissioner Grippa noted that he was considering eliminating the liaison program between staff and Commissioners and increasing the Commissioners’ responsibilities to particular Constitutional Officers. For example, he noted, Commissioner Sauls has a good relationship with the Clerk of Courts and his staff.

Commissioner Sauls asked about the liaison program to surrounding counties. She stated that she has a lot of contact with Wakulla, Liberty, and Gadsden Counties, but she prefers Wakulla County, as she knows Leon Nettles well. Commissioner Grippa noted that Commissioner Thaell also asked about being the liaison to Wakulla County. Commissioner Sauls said she also represents Woodville, and Commissioner Grippa said that she would be the liaison to Wakulla County, partly because of the close proximity between the Woodville Community and Wakulla County and also because of her knowledge of the County Commissioners there.

Commissioner Grippa asked if there were any new Committees or Boards she was interested in. Commissioner Sauls replied that she would not mind giving up the Public Safety Coordinating Council, and Commissioner Grippa said that Commissioner Proctor had indicated that he was interested in serving on that Board. Commissioner Sauls said she was satisfied with the Boards she is currently serving on.

Next Commissioner Grippa discussed the goals he raised in his Chairman’s Speech, beginning with Consolidation. He stated that the divisions between the City and the County include EMS systems, the Transfer Station, the Sprayfield, and the CRA, to name a few. He said it has reached the point now where the citizens are being affected. Commissioner Grippa noted that he was in favor of an Elected Sheriff and collective bargaining rights for law enforcement personnel, a strong Mayor with veto power, and a Commission of five single-member districts with two or three at-large positions. He also stated his support for a County Manager under the Mayor, with the approval of the Commission. Most importantly, Commissioner Grippa stated, was the fact that Consolidation must save the taxpayers money. Commissioner Grippa said that there is fear in the unincorporated area that Consolidation would result in higher taxes, and it was important to stress to those citizens that there would be no increase in the tax base in the unincorporated area.

Next Commissioner Grippa stated that he firmly believed that every elected Commissioner and Constitutional Officer should serve the four-year term to which he or she was elected, and the Consolidation effort should not interfere with that. He said that the political reality is there are five City Commissioners and seven County Commissioners, but only eight or nine spots in a consolidated Commission. He also noted that all five City Commission seats are up for re-election this year.

Commissioner Sauls said that when the campaign for the Charter began, proponents specifically said that it was not the beginning of Consolidation. Commissioner Grippa answered that the Charter has nothing to do with Consolidation. Both Commissioners agreed that if Consolidation saves money, which, Commissioner Grippa noted, it has not historically, than it would be in the County’s best interest to explore the idea. However, Commissioner Sauls stated, it will probably be a long way away.

Commissioner Sauls went on to say she does not know where she stands yet on the issue. She noted that many rural citizens do not want to be in the city. Commissioner Grippa agreed with her, but stated that Consolidation should result in increased efficiency, not the urbanization of rural areas.

Commissioner Sauls said that it will be a long time before city sewer and water lines reach rural areas. Commissioner Grippa asked why there is no plan to extend city water and sewer, and Commissioner Sauls replied that there is no plan because those areas are outside city limits.

Commissioner Grippa said he did not want to push Consolidation through; he wanted a fair hearing to see how citizens felt about the issue. Commissioner Grippa said Commissioner Thaell had mentioned holding Town Hall Meetings to discuss Consolidation. Commissioner Sauls replied that those responsible for holding the meetings need to be able to thoroughly answer questions regarding Consolidation. She stated that Town Hall Meetings do not accomplish much if the peoples’ questions do not get answered.

Commissioner Grippa asked how Commissioner Sauls felt about holding Town Hall Meetings at the very beginning, just to get public input, before having in-depth question/answer sessions. Commissioner Sauls replied that we would have to be able to show from the very beginning the increase in efficiency and monetary gain. Commissioner Grippa said that if the people come back and say under no scenario will they support Consolidation efforts, we will not waste taxpayer time and money to campaign for Consolidation.

Next the Commissioners discussed how City Commissioners do not represent people in the County. Commissioner Grippa asked Commissioner Sauls how much Blueprint 2000 money has been spent in her district. Commissioner Sauls replied that none had been spent in the unincorporated area. Commissioner Grippa stated that none of the money had been spent in his, either. He added that the City Commission had no incentive to vote for Blueprint 2000 money to be spent in the unincorporated area because they do not represent the unincorporated area.

Next the Commissioners discussed Youth Centers. They agreed that a Youth Project with after-school activities should be established on the Southside. Commissioner Sauls noted the programs at Walker-Ford Community Center and Smith-Williams. Commissioner Grippa stated that he was interested in stand-alone facilities and the possibility of setting up a Senior Room at the Library. He also noted the importance of reaching out to Seniors in the unincorporated area.

Commissioner Grippa brought up the issue of University Park and Innovation Park. He noted that FSU had hired Gary Yordon for representation and Innovation Park had hired Lee Vause. He said that both sides were beginning to entrench themselves and he wants to diffuse the situation, which was why he wanted to hold a workshop in January to discuss the issue. Commissioner Grippa stated that he thought University Park was a great concept, but there are a lot of unanswered questions, including whether or not the Innovation Park Board should remain intact or be dissolved.

Commissioner Sauls replied that the FSU/FAMU College of Engineering had specifically been built on a neutral site, and that if FSU took over that site, it would create problems. Commissioner Grippa agreed that it was important to look at the needs of FSU, FAMU, and TCC. He also said that he did not agree with putting the TCC Library at Innovation Park. Commissioner Grippa noted how important it is to stress to FSU that we do not want an extended classroom at University Park.

Commissioner Grippa stated that we need to be careful that Innovation Park’s Board is not staff-driven, or maintained just for employment reasons. Commissioner Sauls replied that they used an employment contract to ease employees’ fear of the unknown.

Next the Commissioners discussed stormwater quality standards. Commissioner Sauls agreed with Commissioner Grippa that we desperately need a joint stormwater utility, plus regional stormwater facilities.

Commissioner Grippa asked Commissioner Sauls for her opinion on how he is chairing the Board of County Commissioners meetings. She replied that they had been very collegial. Commissioner Grippa stated that Commissioner Rackleff had been terrific and had not allowed distractions from the County’s business. Commissioner Grippa asked Commissioner Sauls if she thought the Board Retreat had been helpful. Commissioner Sauls responded that it was her sixth Retreat, and many of the same issues arose. She stated that the Commissioners had to just keep working through these issues.

Commissioner Sauls mentioned the three-minute time rule on citizens who wish to speak during Commission Meetings. She stated that three minutes was not enough time for citizens to speak, and not many people take an undue advantage of the time limit. Commissioner Grippa agreed, but noted that it is unfortunate when one or two citizens dominate a meeting. He agreed that 98% of the people who get up to speak are not trying to dominate the Board of County Commissioners Meetings and they should by all means be allowed to speak for as long as they need to get their point across. He noted that he would only enforce the three-minute time limit on those citizens who take advantage of it.

Carol Kio-Green stated that the reason there is no long-term plan for the extension of water and sewer outside the city limits is because the City will never plan to extend water and sewer as long as Talquin exists. She stated that as long as the 30% surcharge exists, citizens probably will not want the expansion. Commissioner Grippa asked if there were legal grounds for the surcharge. He stated that this should be addressed in the near future. Carol Kio-Green stated that the Commission had eliminated the surcharge in the 1990's by terming it out.

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Tony Grippa Date Jane Sauls Date