[MUSIC] GOOD EVENING I AM CHRISTINE COX DIRECTOR OF THE VILLAGE SQUARE IF I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE 13TH ANNUAL TALLAHASSEE TOWN HALL WE ARE THRILLED TO BE HERE ONCE AGAIN WITH OUR PARTNERS HOSTING US HERE LIVE AT WFSU.

OUR OTHER PARTNERS THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP TALLAHASSEE THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE AND OUR LIEN-THE GOVERNMENT WE THANK THEM SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING PARTNERS WITH US.

WE HAVE LOTS OF WAYS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THIS PROGRAM WE ARE STREAMING LIVE CURRENTLY@WFSU.ORG/LIVE AS WELL AS ON WFSU FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE ACCOUNT WEARE ALSO ON ZOOM WELCOME TO OUR .

[LISTING NAMES] OUT THERE.

WFSU 88.9 FM WILL BROADCAST TONIGHT WHEN OUR PROGRAM THIS FRIDAY THAT IS TOMORROW.

MAY 2 AT 7 PM.

AND THAT THE PROGRAM WILL BE TELEVISED AT WFSU TV ON MAY 3 THIS SATURDAY AT 4 PM.

AND FINALLY THE PROGRAM REMAINS FOREVER AND EVER OUT THERE ONLINE ON THE VILLAGE SQUARE'S WEBSITE AT TOH FOREVER AND EVER OUT THERE ONLINE ON THE VILLAGE SQUARE'S WEBSITE@TOH.VILLAGES QUARE.US WE ARE ALSO DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO A GENEROUS SPONSOR OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

[LISTING NAMES] IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TONIGHT OUR ESTEEMED PANEL WHO IS SEATED IN REVERSE ALPHABETICAL ORDER FROM LEFT TO RIGHT DIANNE WILLIAMS-COX FALLACY MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COMMISSIONER FOR SEAT NUMBER FIVE BRIAN WELCH CHAIR OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND HOLDS DISTRICT SEAT NUMBER FOUR CURTIS RICHARDSON CITY COMMISSIONER FOR SEATS TO BILL PROCTOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT 1.

DAVID O'KEEFE COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT 5.

RICK MINOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT 3.

JEREMY MATLOW CITY COMMISSIONER FOR SEAT NUMBER THREE AND CAROLYN CUMMINGS COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHO HOLDS ONE OF OUR AT-LARGE SEATS.

YOU'LL NOTICE THE SIGN THEREFORE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER CABAN WHO MAY BE ABLE TO JOIN US BUT IS COMING FROM ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT YOU MAY SEEM POP AND LATER HE IS COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT 2.

NOW BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE EVENING AN IMPORTANT WORD ABOUT THE TONE AND FRAMEWORK FOR THIS EVENING.

THE VILLAGE SQUARE NOW 18-YEAR-OLD MISSION IS TO BUILD CIVIC TRUST BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO DON'T LOOK OR THINK ALIKE IN AMERICAN HOMETOWNS.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT BROAD IDEAS BIG THINKING AND TO HELP US ALL STAY ON THIS PATH AS ALWAYS WE WILL FOLLOW IN ENFORCING OUR RULES FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE DURING THIS PROGRAM.

ALL VILLAGE SQUARE PROGRAMS OR FORMS FOR CIVIL CONVERSATION TO USTHIS MEANS NO CATCALLS WHISTLES OR YELLING TEAM CLAPPING OR OTHER INTENTIONALLY DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS TOLERATED FOR THIS REHAB OUR DISABILITY BELL .

THANK YOU SO MUCH THE BELT WILL BE WRONG IF THE OUTSIDE DRUM OF CIVILITY SIGNALING THE NEED TO MOVE SUCH BEHAVIOR ONLY ONE RING ALLOWED REPEAT OFFENDERS WILL BE KINDLY ASKED TO LEAVE OR ESCORTED FROM THE EVENT SIGNS AND BANNERS ARE NOT ALLOWED AT THESE EVENTS.

AUDIENCE QUESTIONS ARE ACCEPTED DURING THE DESIGNATED Q&A PORTION OF THE PROGRAM VIA WRITTEN SUBMISSION ONLY.

PENS AND PAPER ARE PROVIDED FOR OUR FOLKS IN THE ROOM AND OUR LIVE ZOOM PARTICIPANTS ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS AS WELL VIA THE Q&A TOOL.

OUR MODERATOR WILL DO HIS VERY BEST TO ADDRESS AS MANY QUESTIONS AS TIME PERMITS DURING THE FINAL PORTION OF THE EVENING.

AND SPEAKING OF AT THIS TIME IT IS MY MOST ESTEEMED HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR MODERATOR WFSU PUBLIC METER PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR NEWS TOM FLANIGAN ONCE AGAIN TAKE IT AWAY TOM.

THANK YOU CHRISTINE.

[APPLAUSE] LET'S START OVER HERE IF WE CAN THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING UP REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND TO THE ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF OUR CITY AND BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION COMMISSIONERS THAT YOU GUYS FOR COMING AS WELL.

AS A CHRISTINE ALREADY NOTED WE HAVE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.

IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THE SITUATION SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ONE QUESTION GOING AMONGST A DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND GET A BIT LONG-WINDED.

WHEN WE DO THAT.

HOW ABOUT I WILL THROW OUT A QUESTION AND I WILL TRY TO MAKE IT AS TARGETED TO CITY OR COUNTY AS I POSSIBLY CAN.

IF ONE MEMBER OF EACH OF THOSE BODIES CAN KIND OF BEAT THE DESIGNATED ANSWER OR SIDE QUESTION YOU CAN ALL TALK AMONGST YOURSELF IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE ALSO.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON WHO IS THE MOST UP ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE IS THE ONE WILL ACTUALLY BE RESPONDING TO IT.

USUALLY YOU GUYS KNOW WHO THAT IS ON EACH OF YOUR BODIES.

WHY DON'T WE DO THAT.

WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF QUESTIONS WE WILL BE RUNNING BY YOU FOLKS TONIGHT AND THE FIRST ONE APPROPRIATELY ENOUGH WITH JUST ONE MORE MONTH TO GO BEFORE WE KICK OFF THE 2025 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON IS NATURAL DISASTERS.

OF WHICH WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST 13 MONTHS OR SO.

LET'S START HERE.

THIS PAST YEAR OF COURSE NEW THREATS TO TALLAHASSEE WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT TORNADOES AND SNOW .

[LAUGHTER] ONLY IN TALLAHASSEE.

HOW HAS OUR RESPONSE TO WEATHER CHANGED IN THE WAKE OF THESE NEW AND EMERGING WEATHER SITUATIONS WHAT IS DIFFERENT?

WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT THE RESPONSE AND LET'S START HERE WITH THE TALLAHASSEE CITY COMMISSION.

WHO ON THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO HANDLE THAT WHAT DID WE LEARN AND WHAT CAN WE INCORPORATE FROM THAT LEARNING INTO OUR GOING FORWARD SITUATION?

>> TOM I CAN TELL YOU WHAT WE'VE LEARNED QUITE A BIT WITH YEARS OF BEEN ON THE COMMISSION AND I'VE SEEN THESE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING WHAT WE'VE DONE AS A CITY OF COURSE WE HAVE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTER BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS A CITY IS EACH YEAR PROVIDE FOR OUR RESIDENTS PREPARATION ACTIVITIES.

AT THE CIVIC CENTER I THINK WE HAVE ONE COMING UP SOON I ALSO SERVED ON THE TALLAHASSEE LENDERS CONSORTIUM BOARD THERE IS ALSO A PREPARATION EVENT THAT WILL BE COMING UP ON MAY MAY 31 I BELIEVE IS THE DATE FOR THAT THAT IS WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS ENCOURAGE OUR PRESIDENTS OR PROPERTY OWNERS TO BE PREPARED AND AT THE EVENT OF THOSE CASES PUTTING YOUR BUCKET TOGETHER OF THOSE ESSENTIAL ITEMS THAT YOU WILL NEED IN AT THE EVENT OF A RAINSTORM OR TORNADO AS WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST.

THAT IS BEEN VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE YEARS I'VE SERVED HERE ON THE COMMISSION.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON FROM THE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE COMMISSIONER MINOR.

>> Rick Minor,Commissioner: THANK YOU TOM IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR LEON COUNTY STAFF AS IT COMES TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PRACTICE IN LEON COUNTY WITH HURRICANES HELENE HURRICANE MICHAEL OUR EMERGING MANAGEMENT STAFF IS AMONG THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY THAT KEVIN PETERS WHO RUNS OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR HIS WORK IN FACT LEON COUNTY HAS BEEN NAMED HURRICANE STRONG AS A DESIGNATION I THINK WE ARE THE FIRST COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES TO EARN.

THE BIG CONCERN I HAVE GOING FORWARD THOUGH IS A LOT OF THE FEDERAL CUTS THE CUTS ARE EVISCERATING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THEY ARE LIMITING THE HURRICANE RESEARCH CENTER AS WELL THE FEMA CUTS NEARLY $300 MILLION IN FEMA CUTS TO FLORIDA RESILIENCE AND FLOOD MITIGATION.

YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB HERE LOCALLY BOTH THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE AND LEON COUNTY IF THERE IS A HURRICANE MUCH RATHER BE IN LEON COUNTY THAN ANY OTHER PLACE AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE WE GOT SOME THE BEST STAFF IN THE COUNTRY.

UNFORTUNATELY THE NATIONAL CUTS ARE GOING TO AFFECT US LOCALLY AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.

WITH THE HURRICANE SEASON COMING UP THESE CUTS ARE FRANKLY ILL-ADVISED TO PUT IT MILDLY.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE SITUATION WE ARE DEALING WITH.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: ALL RIGHT THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLLOW-UP I DID HAVE THAT QUESTION A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO THE LISTING HERE.

IF WE CAN HANG WITH YOU FOR JUST A SECOND COMMISSIONER MINOR ON THE COUNTY SIDE DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC RESPONSE PLANS OR ALTERNATIVES PLANNED BCDEF TO THE ANTICIPATED CUTS IN FEMA FUNDING WHICH DOES THAT MEAN FOR LEON COUNTY WE WILL CIRCLE BACK AND GET THE CITY'S POSITION IN A MOMENT.

>> Rick Minor,Commissioner: OUR STANCE IS JUST TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AS YOU ALL KNOW THIS CHANGES HOURLY.

WITH WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLANS TO DO TAKE A LOOK AT TARIFF POLICY FOR EXAMPLE RELATED TO THIS WE NEED TO SEE WHETHER THESE CUTS BEING ANNOUNCED ON TWITTER AND X ARE GOING TO COME TO FRUITION IF THEY DO WE HAVE A NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHERE WE WORK TOGETHER AND DEAL WITH THE CUTS.

MAKE THE BEST BASICALLY DO THE BEST WE CAN.

IN THE MEANTIME THOUGH, IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS CUTS THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEM IS TO CONTACT OUR CHIEF SENATORS AND OUR CONGRESSMAN HERE EMAILED THEM AND CALLED THEM CONSTANTLY LET THEM KNOW HOW CONCERNED YOU ARE ABOUT HIS.

BECAUSE CONGRESS W EVENTUALLY HAVE TO APPROVE THESE CUTS IT ALL DEPENDS ON US AS A COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND COUNTRYREACHING OUT TO OUR PEOPLE IN CONGRESS AND ASKING THEM TO BE SENSIBLE ABOUT THESE CUTS.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: FEMA CUTS FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE I'M SORRY COMMISSIONER O'KEEFE .

>> David O'Keefe,Commissioner: THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADDITION TO THAT ONE THING WE DO AT THE COUNTY LIKE MANY OF THE COUNTIES AS WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES THAT WE HIRE AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL TO LOBBY FOR FUNDING AND MAKE SURE THAT WE FIGHT CUTS LIKE THIS WE ARE DOING THAT WE ARE NOT JUST RELYING ON YOUTH ADVOCATES.

THE OTHER THING WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF A LOT OF WHAT ALLOWS LEON COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS TO BE THE BEST IN THE AREA IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE THE BUILDINGS THE FACILITIES THAT WE BUILT.

I THINK WE ARE IN A BETTER POSITION THAN OTHERS SHOULD WE HAVE THIS CATASTROPHIC FUNDING CUTS.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: CITY OF TALLAHASSEE ANY TAKERS ON >> TOM, IT CERTAINLY IS IMPORTANT THAT WE BE PREPARED FOR DISASTERS LIKE THIS AND FUNDING IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT.

BUT DESPITE THE FACT OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS AND GUESTS RIGHT HERE IN TALLAHASSEE.

WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE BEST EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE THAT YOU'LL FIND ANYWHERE AMONGST OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OUR FIRE AND IF SO WE HAVE TO BE READY TO RESPOND WHEN UTILITIES GO OUT AND HAVE MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS AND IN PLACE WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE AN OBJECT UTILITY AS WE DO.

TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION IN PLACE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED WHEN WE HAVE THE FLOODING BECAME THOROUGH WE WERE RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT TO GET THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF THOSE CONDITIONS BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE THEM WITH RELIEF WHEN FLOODING INVADED THEIR HOMES AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

YES, WE CERTAINLY HAVE OUR WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVES LOOKING OUT FOR US .

WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS CONSISTENTLY WITH OUR CONGRESSMAN AND OUR SENATORS WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE.

BUT WE HAVE TO STILL BE READY DESPITE WHAT HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR OUR RESIDENTS RIGHT HERE IN TALLAHASSEE AND LEON COUNTY AND THE BIG BANNED AREA.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: PART OF THAT READINESS INVOLVES SUCH THINGS AS MITIGATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMPACT AND POWER LINES AS SUCH YOUR HAND COME UP BOX I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE COST YOU ASKED ABOUT THE FEMA CUTS.

WE HAVE A GREAT BUDGET STAFF WHO IS ALREADY LOOKING AT POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES FUNDING WE HAD THAT IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE DEALING WITH FEMA CUTS THERE IS TALK IN FLORIDA LEGISLATURE ABOUT GOING AWAY FROM PROPERTY TAXES.

WE ARE HAVING TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO FUND THESE NEEDED RESOURCES THAT WE NEED NOT JUST FOR EMERGENCY IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SENIOR CENTERS PARKS AND RECREATION AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO FINANCE THESE EVENTS I SEE IN THE AUDIENCE WE HAVE OUR TREAS.

CLERK IS IN THE AUDIENCE I'M SURE HE IS WORKING VERY HARD WITH THE BUDGET STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY DOES NOT SUFFER ANY LOSS.

ONE POINT BEFORE WE MOVE OFF THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC WHO CAN ADDRESS THE ONGOING EFFORT THAT JUST GOT UNDERWAY WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HERE WITHIN THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE TO CUT WAY BACK ON ROADSIDE SHRUBBERY AND TREES TO AVOID PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER LINES THE CREWS ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY RIGHT NOW.

HOW BIG IS THAT EFFORT >> TOM IT IS HUGE IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I LIVE THEY USED TO BE A TIME WHEN THE WIND WILL BLOW HARD OUR UTILITIES WE GO OUT WE WOULD BE IN CHURCH SERVICE ON A SUNDAY MORNING THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHAT THEY TOLD US IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE SQUIRRELS WHO WERE IN THE TREES AND RUNNING ALONG THE POWER LINES CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PROMPTED CUTTING BACK TREES THAT HANG OVER OUR UTILITY LINES BECAUSE WHEN THEY FALL ON THE UTILITY LINES OF COURSE CAUSES THE POWER TO BE DISRUPTED.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PROMPTED THAT EFFORT NOW IT IS OF COURSE SPREAD ALL OVER THE CITY.

THE TRUCK TO GET AHEAD OF THAT SO IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AS OFTEN OR HAPPEN AT ALL.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: >> Jeremy Matlow,Commissioner: THANK YOU TOM I THINK WE ARE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT POLICY WE HAD CONVERSATIONS AT THE CITY OF WHAT DISTANCE AND WHAT POWER LINES SHOULD BE OVER A LOT OF THE TIMES IT FEELS MORE LIKE CLEARCUTTING WHERE IT IS DESTROYING THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS I THINK THERE IS A BALANCE WHERE THE LINES ARE MOST LIKELY TO COME DOWN I THINK JUST THE CARTE BLANCHE 12 FOOT ROLL AWAY FROM THE POWER LINES HAS BEEN DETRIMENTAL TO SOME AREAS I THINK THE OTHER PART OF THE ACQUISITION WE HAVE TO HAVE IS HOW QUICKLY CAN WE UNDERGROUND THE MAJORITY OF THE UTILITIES IN OUR AREA OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS WE SET IT AS A PRIORITY AND PUSH IT HARD WE CAN DO IT HERE ALSO.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: ALL RIGHT ONTO THE NEXT BIT OF BUSINESS HERE THAT ENTAILS BUSINESS ALSO DEVELOPMENT WITH WHAT THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH AS FAR AS CHANGING THEIR APPROACH TO LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLANS AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT RULES ETC., HOW MUCH LEEWAY RIGHT NOW AS THINGS STAND WHICH MAY CHANGE WHEN LAWMAKERS COME BACK TO TALLAHASSEE WHENEVER THAT MIGHT BE A MUCH LEEWAY DO CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING GIVEN JUST THE LEGISLATIVE RESTRICTIONS OF THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS?

LET'S START WITH LEON COUNTY.

: THERE IS STILL SIGNIFICANT DISCRETION WHEN WE CREATE AND AMEND OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHICH WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING NOW AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW WE WANT MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT SO WE GET CONTINUED INPUT SO WE BUILD IT THE WAY WE WANTED.

YOU REMEMBER ST. DEVELOPMENT COMES IN THE NEIGHBORS HAVE TO COME IN AND SPEAK AND COMMISSIONERS WILL SAVE LISTEN WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE COMP RULES WE CANNOT OVERRIDE THEM.

WE STILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE WIDE LATITUDE DECISIONS ABOUTWHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS IN THOSE COMP PLANS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE PREEMPTION SOME THINGS LIKE THAT BUT I THINK IT'S A PORN FIRST TO LET CITIZENS KNOW THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE GET TO DECIDE HOW OUR COMMUNITY GROWS.

NOT JUST EVERY YEAR WHEN THE SESSION COMES AROUND.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: FOR THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE .

>> Dianne Williams-Cox,Commiss ioner: I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER O'KEEFE THIS IS THE SEASON WHERE WE ARE WORKING ON THE COMP PLAN BUT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE WILL ALLOW.

WE ARE MAKING PROPOSED CHANGES BUT THOSE CHANGES HAVE TO BE APPROVED WE ARE SEEING THAT LOCAL OUR LOCAL DISCRETION BEING ERODED IN MANY CASES BECAUSE OF WHAT THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IS DOING.

WE ARE DOING OUR LEVEL BEST TO HEAR OUR CITIZENS AND TO PUT FORWARD RECOMMENDATIONS BUT REALIZING THOSE RECOGNITIONS HAVE TO BE APPROVED AT THE STATE LEVEL SO WE WELCOME THE FEEDBACK WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT WE WELCOME THE FEEDBACK WE MUST ADHERE TO WHATEVER THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE COMES BACK WITH AND EITHER APPROVES OR DOES NOT APPROVE OR PREEMPT US FROM DOING.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: PREEMPTION THAT SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY SHOULD WE SAY A REPEATING TOPIC AROUND THE LEGISLATURE COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON .

>> Curtis Richardson,Commissio ner: I WAS GOING TO MENTION PRETTIER IN THE AUDIENCE LIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THE CONFERENCE OF PLAN IS THE BLUEPRINT FOR GROWTH WE CANNOT JUST GO OUT AND WILLY-NILLY GO HERE OR PROVE DEVELOPMENT IN A CERTAIN AREA IT HAS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED WE ARE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF MAKING SOME AMENDMENTS TO THAT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SO WE CAN PROPERLY ACCOMMODATE GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY IT TELLS US WHERE WE CAN DEVELOP EITHER COMMERCIALLY OR WHERE OUR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND HOW THOSE WILL INTERFACE IN CERTAIN AREAS OF OUR CITY.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: SADLY WITHIN THE PAST YEAR MOTHER NATURE DID SOME REDEVELOPMENT MODIFICATIONS OF HER OWN WHEN IT CAME TO A LITTLE ARTS DISTRICT IN TALLAHASSEE CALLED RAILROAD SQUARE FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATION OF THOSE MAY 10TH TORNADOES A TRIPLE HIT ON TALLAHASSEE TO THAT AREA AND IN PARTICULAR.

NOW WITH THE FUTURE OF RAILROAD SQUAREHANGING IN THE BALANCE THE POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER ENTITY COMING IN TO TAKE OVER AT THAT PROPERTY AND DO SOME OTHER THINGS WITH IT, WHAT IS THE THOUGHT OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY COMMISSION WHEN IT COMES TO THAT PARTICULAR AREA?

LET'S START WITH THE CITY .

>> Dianne Williams-Cox,Commiss ioner: ACTING THE CITY IS BEEN VERY CLEAR IN OUR POSITION BECAUSE THAT LAND IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND THEREFORE WE HAVE TO FOLLOW OUR OWN RULES ABOUT PRIVATELY OWNED LAND.

IF IT IS INDEED FOR A GOOD PUBLIC REASON, WE HAVE THROUGH THE CRA AND IT HAS NOT COME BEFORE THE CITY BUT THROUGH THE CRA WE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME NOT TO ADVANCE IN PURCHASING THAT BUT TO WORK WITH THE CITIZENS WHO OWN BUSINESSES THERE TO HELP THEM FIND PRIVATE FINANCING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

TO BE ABLE TO EITHER PURCHASE OR REHAB.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: ANY OTHER IDEAS FROM THE COUNTYSIDE OF THE THING.

IF NOT .

>> Rick Minor,Commissioner: THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DON'T HAVE A VOTE ON WHAT HAPPENS TO RAILROAD SQUARE THE RAILROAD SQUARE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CRA WHICH IS BASICALLY COMPRISED OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSIONERS NEVER THE LESS I WAS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE ARTIST AND SOME OF THE TENETS OF RAILROAD SQUARE TO TRY TO FORMULATE THE VISION OF WHAT THAT OUR DISTRICT COULD BE MOST CITIES THAT ARE THRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN SOME KIND OF PLACE LIKE IN OUR DISTRICT WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO WHERE THEY CAN BRING THEIR FAMILIES AND ENGAGE WITH THE ART COMMUNITY.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT IN TALLAHASSEE.

THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET OUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY HERE IS ACTIVELY WORKING ON TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER THE NEXT STEP.

WHETHER IT'S RAILROAD SQUARE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

RESPECTFULLY I DISAGREE WITH MY CITY COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUES THIS WAS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY I THOUGHT TO BASICALLY EMBRACE THAT PROPERTY AND DEVELOP THAT INTO SOMETHING THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF IT IS SURROUNDED BY STUDENT HOUSING AT THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR THAT TYPE OF AREA FOR CULTIVATING OUR ARTS AND CULTURE IN TALLAHASSEE.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: I SAW A HAND DOWN THERE.

>> Jeremy Matlow,Commissioner: THANK YOU TOM TO MY COLLEAGUES IN THE COUNTY DO NOT SHORTCHANGE YOUR ABILITY TO STEP IN AND HELP SAVE RAILROAD SQUARE AS WELL.

I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE A COMMUNITY PRIORITY IF WE VALUE THE ARTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WE NEED TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.

HE GOES BACK TO INVESTMENT PRIORITIES.

THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE CURRENTLY TO MY OPPOSITION IS EXPANDING CLEARLY IN EXCESS OF $160 MILLION ON A NEW POLICE FACILITY.

I THINK THAT IS EXORBITANT I THINK WE NEED TO SCALE THAT BACK IN LOOK AT WHERE WE INVEST IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE INVEST IN THE ARTS WHERE WE INVEST IN A CULTURE THAT BRINGS PEOPLE OUR COMMUNITY KEEPS PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M TIRED OF SEEING LOCAL ARTISTS MOVED TO OTHER COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY CAN GET A JOB THERE AND DRIVE THERE AND WE SEE THE REMNANTS OF RAILROAD SQUARE CONTINUE TO FADE AWAY.

THE SOLUTION IS NOT EASY BUT I KNOW IF WE COME TOGETHER AND STRATEGIZE WE CAN EXPAND THE ARTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE A THRIVING DISTRICT LIKE WORLD SQUARE IN THE FUTURE.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: VERY GOOD DID YOU EVER THOUGHT COMMISSIONER CUMMINGS.

>> Carolyn Cummings,Commissione r: JUST AN ADDITION OR TO WHAT COMMISSIONER MINOR MENTIONED THE LIEN COUNTY COMMISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE ARTS HERE IN OUR CITY IN OUR COUNTY EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A SAY IN YOUR DISTRICT.

I BELIEVE WE WOULD BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ANY INITIATIVE TO CULTIVATE THAT AREA INTO A THRIVING ARTISTIC AREA.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: ALRIGHT ANDCOMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

>> Curtis Richardson,Commissi ner: TOM ONE THING I WANT TO ADD IT NEEDS TO BE MENTION A LOT OF THE PROPERTY OR ALL OF THE PROPERTY IN RAILROAD SQUARE THAT WAS DAMAGED WAS UNINSURED.

THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER FAILED TO ENSURE THAT PROPERTY WE CANNOT USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND ANOPERATION LIKE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE SUPPORT THE ARTS WE SUPPORT .

[LISTING NAMES] WE SUPPORT MANY AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE WITH THE EVENT THAT THEY HAVE EVERY YEAR.

YES WE HAVE SHOWN TO REDUCE SUPPORT THROUGH OUR INVESTMENT IN THE ARTS THAT WE CARE ABOUT THE ARTS AND WE KNOW IT IS A VALUABLE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY ALL ASPECTS OF THE ARTS , MUSIC, ART, DANCE WE SUPPORT ALL OF THAT THROUGH OUR INVESTMENTS.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: HERE IS AN ACRONYM WE BROUGHT UP EARLIER CRA COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AND WE ALREADY REFERENCE THE FACT THAT THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IS CONTEMPLATING DOING AWAY WITH CRA'S WHICH WE HAVE SEVERAL IN TOWN.

HOW DO THEY WORK FOR US HOW CAN THAT MONEY BE CONSOLIDATED BACK INTO GENERALREVENUE AND USE ELSEWHERE AND HOW MUCH OF A RETURN ON INVESTMENT HAVE WE GOTTEN FROM THE CRA'S THAT WE PRESENTLY HAVE?

WHO WANTS TO TACKLE THAT ONE THAT'S A BIG ONE .

>> Carolyn Cummings,Commissione r: I WILL TAKE IT SERVING AS THE CHAIR TO SHARE OF THE CRA OF COURSE THE CITY WE HAVE A TWO CRA DISTRICTS THE COUNTY NOT INCLUDED IN THE CRA DISTRICTS ANYMORE.

WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH A LOCAL DELEGATION PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE VITALITY OF OUR CRA WE UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE CRA'S AND OTHER PLACES WHERE THERE IS BEEN SOME ABUSE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE WE ARE USING OUR CRA FUNDING TO HELP WITH OUR HOUSING CRISIS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP THE COLUMBIA GARDENS SOUTH CITY LEVERAGE DOLLARS TO BRING THAT AS WELL AS OTHER HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO STOMP OUT BLIGHT WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT WAYS TO REHAB SOME OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THOSE AREAS.

WE'VE USED OUR CRA FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: DO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF WHAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT THROUGH THE CRA WHAT THE COMMUNITY GETS BACK IN TERMS OF A RETURN?

>> Carolyn Cummings,Commissione r: I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IT IS TF LETTER FOR THOSE LABOR TALLAHASSEE YOU SEE WHAT GAINS STREET LOOKS LIKE THAT WAS HANDLED THROUGH THE CRA IN THE PREVIOUS ITERATION.

WE ARE USING THE DOLLARS FOR GOOD AND FOR THE LOCAL DELEGATION AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE WHO MAY BE LISTENING WE ARE HAPPY TO SHOW YOU CAN TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF WHAT WE DONE THE DOLLARS IN THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE >>, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND MUCH OF THE OPPOSITION TO THE CRA'S IS COMING FROM ONE OF TWO AREAS WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CRA.

HOURS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL WE HAVE IDENTIFIED FIVE PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE AND HAVE FUNDED FUNDED THROUGH THE CRA THE OTHER IS FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY GENERAL REVENUE.

THOSE ARE THE NEIGHBOR AT FIRST INITIATIVES WHERE WE HAVE INVESTED $6 MILLION IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WE HAVE ALLOWED THE RESIDENTS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THEIR CITIZEN ACTION COUNCIL TO TELL US WHAT KIND OF IMPROVEMENT THAT THEY WANT TO SEE.

IN THE GRIFFIN HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR EXAMPLE THEY ARE A FOOD DESERT AND SO THEY WANTED THE GROCERY STORE REBUILT.

AND OPERATED OTHERS HAVE ASKED FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO INFRASTRUCTURE.

LANDSCAPING AND STREET SKIPPING.

WE LET THEM TELL US HOW THEY WANT TO SEE THAT $6 MILLION SPENT THAT HAS ALL COME FROM THE CRA AND THE INITIATIVES THAT COME THROUGH THAT ASPECT WHAT WE WILL DO IF THE CRA BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND IT IS A BILL THAT IS IN THE RURAL RENAISSANCE.

THANK YOU.

[LAUGHTER] RURAL RENAISSANCE BILL WHICH OUR SENATOR IS A MAJOR SPONSOR OF AND HE IS REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT BILL IS BEEN AMENDED THE ELIMINATION OF THE CRA'S HAS BEEN AMENDED INTO THAT BILL.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT BILL HITS THE SENATE FLOOR.

WHENEVER THEY GET BACK IN TOWN.

I CAN TELL YOU OUR CRA IS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HE AND HIS STAFF DONE A WONDERFUL JOB HERE.

IN THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: ONE OTHER QUESTION WE HAVE CONCERNING DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER MATLOW YOU ALREADY BROUGHT THIS ONE UP ALTHOUGH IT WAS IN REGARDS TO POWER LINES.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT MORE CLEARCUTTING AND MUCH OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS TAKING PLACE NOW BOTH WITHIN THE CITY AND OUTSIDE THE INCORPORATED AREA.

FOR BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO CLEARCUTTING AND THE CONSISTENCY WITH OUR EXISTING TREE ORDINANCES AND ALL, HOW DO WE PROTECT A GREATER PORTION OF THAT GREENERY THAT IS KIND OF EMBLEMATIC AND ICONIC TO THIS REGION AND YET ALLOW DEVELOPMENT TO MOVE FORWARD AND TAKE PLACE?

>> David O'Keefe,Commissioner: I WAS GOING TO COUNT TO THREE SO I DON'T TAKE ALL THE QUESTIONS.

THIS IS CRITICAL THE REASON DEVELOPERS ARE ALLOWED TO DO A LOT OF BACK CLEARCUTTING EVEN AGAINST OPPOSITION WHEN A COMMISSION MIGHT OPPOSE THAT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE CURRENT RULES ALLOW THAT IS WHY THINK WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN THE CURRENT CHANGES TO OUR COMPANY HAS A PLAN WE NEED TO ADD MORE STRINGENT RESTRICTIONS ON 21 CONSTITUTES CLEARCUTTING WHICH OUR COMMUNITY HAS MADE PRETTY LOUD AND CLEAR WE ARE NOT INSUPPORTABLE WHICH IS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR STORM WATER AND FLOODING AROUND IT.

TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NEED TO BUILD HOUSES PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORKAND LIVE HERE BUT WE DON'T LIKE THE WAY IT IS BEEN GOING AND SLOWING DOWN OUR COMP PLAN CHANGES NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT THE RULES AND SO WOULD LIKE WHERE WE GO IN THE FUTURE .

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: >> Dianne Williams-Cox,Commiss ioner: I WAS GOING TO ADMIT THAT TWO THINGS CAN HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE SAYING THAT WE NOTE THIS TO BE TRUE WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS IN ORDER TO BUILD HOMES WITH GOT OUT OF PLACES TO BUILD HOMES.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE HAVE THE CLEAR-CUT EVERYTHING TO BUILD HOMES BUT WE DO HAVE TO DO IT VERY SMART BUT WE CANNOT BUILD HOMES IF WE DON'T HAVE PLACES TO BUILD THEM WHICH MEANS WHERE OUR HOUSES I'M ASSUMING TREES WERE ONCE THERE.

WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY IS WHEN WE TAKE DOWN TREES AND PLANT MORE TREES IN OTHER PLACES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE TREES WE ARE A TREE COUNTY.

WE DO HAVE A LOT OF TREES THEY ARE GOOD TO HAVE.

STORMS COME, THEY ARE NOT SO GOOD TO HAVE BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME IN TO HOMES OR WHAT HAVE YOU WE WANT THE TREES OUT.

IT'S A BALANCE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE THIS THING OUT WE HAVE TO HAVE HOUSING I'M NOT SAYING WE NEED TO CLEAR-CUT LAND BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE RESPECT THE PRIVATE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN THIS PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT THEY ARE DEVELOPING ON.

>> Brian Welch,Commissioner: THANK YOU TOM I THINK HAS SET A RECORD WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING AT ONE OF THE TEMPLES THANK YOU FOR GIVE ME A CHANCE EVERYBODY.

TOM I THINK THAT CONTRARY TO COMMISSIONER O'KEEFE!

I DON'T THINK OUR RULES ALLOW US TO CLEAR-CUT IT TREES I THINK OUR ROLES ARE VERY STRONG WHEN IT COMES TO PRESERVING OUR TREE CANOPY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT BUILDERS MITIGATE FOR TREE LOSS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU SEE A CLEAR-CUT OPERATE THOSE ARE DONE UNDER STATE AGRICULTURAL PERMITS BECAUSE THOSE PROPERTIES ARE OFTEN ZONED AGRICULTURAL BEFORE THEY GO INTO A PUD.

OR INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERMANENT PROCESS THERE IS LITERALLY NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT STATE AGRICULTURAL PERMITS ON PROPERTIES THAT ARE FULL OF HARVESTABLE TREES I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX POINT IS WELL TAKEN AND THAT I THINK WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF PERMITTING LEON COUNTY ABOUT AN OPINION PIECE ABOUT THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO.

I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE WOULD TELL YOU WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST RIGOROUS PERMITTING PROCESSES OF ANY COUNTY IN THE STATE WHO DO A VERY GOOD JOB ABOUT IT I THINK IN FACT WE DO SUCH A GOOD JOB OF IT THAT MIGHT BE INVITING SOME OF THE PREEMPTION SPECIE FROM THE STATE WHO CLEARLY HAVE A MOTIVATION TO PROMOTE MORE DEVELOPMENTS.

WHETHER IT'S HERE OR AROUND THE STATE.

I THINK THERE IS A BALANCING ACT IT'S A MEASUREMENT IT'S A MEASURED APPROACH WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE REALITIES WE DON'T PERMIT CLEARCUTTING OF FOREST TO BUILD HOUSES BUT WE DO HAVE TO BUILD HOUSES AND OFTEN TIMES THOSE PROCESSES ARE MULTIPLE YEAR-LONG PROCESSES IN WHICH THE ORIGINAL CLEARING OF THAT LAND IS DONE UNDER AGRICULTURAL PERMITS THAT ARE NOT LOCAL PERMITS.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: QUICKLY WALKS TOM VERY QUICKLY I JUST WANT TO BRING TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE BEEN NAMED THE TREE CITY USA.

THAT IS BECAUSE OF OUR PROTECTION OF OUR TREES HERE IN THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: PUBLIC SAFETY.

CITY HAS REPORTED THE CRIME IS DOWN DO YOU THINK IN THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU GET FROM FOLKS THAT CITIZENS ARE FEELING BETTER ABOUT THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW AND ONE RESIDENT GOES ON TO ASK WHAT HE WOULD DO THIS YEAR TO PROTECT CITIZENS FROM GUN VIOLENCE WHICH CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM?

WHO WANTS TO HANDLE THAT?

>> Curtis Richardson,Commissio ner: TOM I CAN TELL YOU MY FAMILY HAS BEEN PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY THAT WE HAD A YOUNG 16-YEAR-OLD WAS KILLED IN A CHURCH GROUNDS WHICH IS JUST YARDS FROM OUR HOUSE.

IT TURNED OUT THE PERPETRATOR WAS A 17-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOR OF OURS.

THAT KIND OF GUN VIOLENCE HAS BEEN PERSONAL FOR ME I'VE EXPERIENCED IT.

PERSONALLY THE KID THAT WAS KILLED WAS A FRIEND OF MINE MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AT THE TIME HERE IN TOWN.

WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN AND I'M SURE THERE IS MORE THAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

I WAS JUST TALKING TO THE CITY MANAGER TODAY ABOUT THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST YEAR A 20% REDUCTION INVIOLENT CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE INVESTED IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE TEMPO , POLICY FUTURE LEADERS ACADEMY AND OTHERS WE MADE THE TOUGH DECISION TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES.

AND INVESTED IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HIRE ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS TO GIVE THEM THE TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO SOLVE CRIMES THAT ARE OCCURRING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO GIVE THEM A RAISE KEEP THEM COMPETITIVE FOR THE STATE AND OTHER LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

WE ARE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY AS MUCH IS AT 40% REDUCTION THAT CRIME COME ALOUD AND STOP THERE WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT 53% OF THE VIOLENT CRIMES THAT ARE COMMITTED IN THIS COMMUNITY WERE COMMITTED BY GUNS TAKEN OR STOLEN FROM ON LOCKED CARS.

WE HAVE MARKETING PROGRAM THROUGH THE TALLASSEE URBAN LEAGUE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IF YOU WILL LEAVE YOUR GUN IN YOUR CAR MAKE SURE THAT IT IS UNLOADED THE CAR IS LOCKED OR TAKE IT IN THE HOUSE.

WHERE IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE ANYWAY.

BUT THOSE ARE SOME THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE TO ADDRESS THE VIOLENT CRIME ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT IS WORKING.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: >> Brian Welch,Commissioner: TOM THANK YOU FROM THE COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE I THINK WHEN WE WERE HERE FOUR YEARS AGO WE WERE HAVING A MUCH DIFFERENT CONVERSATION I THINK WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE MADE AS LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND AS COMMUNITIES AND NONPROFITS IN OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY HAVE HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR VIOLENT CRIME RATES WE CREATED REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER WE'VE INVESTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IF NOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THAT AS WELL AS INCREASING THE SALARIES OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ADDING TO THE NUMBERS ABOUT TBD.

THE CITY'S TEMPLE PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE LEADERS ACADEMY IS ALWAYS BEEN GREAT AND HAS CONTINUED TO BE EFFECTIVE AND SO I THINK BETWEEN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTMENT IN THOSE ISSUES OUR GREAT SHERIFF'S OFFICE THE HOMICIDE PROJECT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED AS WE'VE COME OUT OF COVID SINCE 2021 WE SAW HUGE SPIKES IN THESE PROBLEMS HAVE RESULTED IN IMPROVEMENTS I THINK WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEN SECONDARILY, IT IS A PROBLEM YOU WILL NEVER GO TO ULTIMATELY SOLVE YOU JUST HAVE TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN TO REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AGAIN THROUGH EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF FOLKS WHO WANT TO DO BAD THINGS AND ALSO JUST LIFT UP YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: GO >> Rick Minor,Commissioner: THANK YOU TOM.

THROUGHOUT THE EFFORTS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CRIME HAS BEEN COMING DOWN THE NUMBERS BEAR THIS OUT.

IN 2024.

24 MURDERS IN TALLAHASSEE.

THAT'S 11% DECREASE .

WHICH SHOWS SOME IMPROVEMENT WE ARE MAKING SOME IMPROVEMENT OVER A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN AS COMMISSIONER WELCH SAID WE WERE IN MUCH WORSE SHAPE.

EVEN BETTER NEWS IS THAT TBD IS A 94.7 CLEARANCE RATE WHEN IT COMES TO HOMICIDE WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE INVESTIGATIONS LEAD TO ARRESTS.

94.7% OF THE CASES.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT AND KUDOS TO TBD HOMICIDE UNIT FOR DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB ON THE CLEARANCE RATE THE NATIONAL CLEARANCE RATE IS 57% THAT SHOWS YOU HOW WELL TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING WHEN IT COMES TO CLOSING THESE CASES.

SHERIFF McNEIL SAYS THAT ABOUT 40-50% OF THE CRIMES COMMITTED LEON COUNTY OR INVOLVING SOME TYPE OF OUT-OF-TOWN PEOPLE.

TALLAHASSEE RUNNING ALONGSIDE I 10 WE BECOME A MAGNET FOR GUN TRAFFICKING AND DRUG TRAFFICKING.

FORTUNATELY OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT KNOW THIS.

THEY ARE TAKING STEPS AND USING THE STRATEGY TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT TYPE OF CRIME THAT COMES INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: NEXT WANT TO MAKE SURE JUST A SECOND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PRETTY CONTROVERSIAL CONTENTIOUS ISSUES I HAVE A FEELING THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN ONE RESPONSE ON OF THESE.

I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME WHAT ARE THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND THE CITY PLANS IN DEALING WITH DEMANDS AND REQUESTS BY ICE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE CURRENT AGREEMENTS IN PLACE BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION WITH THE SIGNED AGREEMENTS TO PARTICIPATE OPTIONAL OR HOW MUCH FORCE ORCOMPULSION TO THINK WAS INVOLVED THERE .

>> Dianne Williams-Cox,Commiss ioner: THANK YOU I KNOW THIS IS A VERY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.

WHILE WE ARE A VERY INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE CLIMATE OF OUR GOVERNOR AND OUR LEGISLATURE WHERE WE STAND.

AS MUCH AS WE PROBABLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY WE ARE REALLY THE DECISION LIES WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE IN THE CITY MANAGER DECISION HAS BEEN MADE THAT THEY WOULD COMPLY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER AND WE LATER LEARNED FROM OUR LEGAL CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT WE MUST COMPLY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.

THEREFORE, WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH OUR CHIEF IS DONE VERY APTLY IS INCLUDED ONE INDIVIDUAL ONE RESOURCE THAT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THIS PURPOSE AS NEEDED, FOR THIS.

WE MUST COMPLY WITH THE ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR OR WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER PLACES WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO NOT COMPLY.

GIVEN THIS CLIMATE WE ARE HAVING TO DO THAT BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN AS OF LATELY AT THE STATE ATTORNEY HAS STEPPED IN WITH SOME ORDERS TO RELAX OR NOT DO SIMILAR THINGS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DONE IN OTHER PLACES IN REGARDS TO DEALING WITH ICE IN DEALING WITH IMMIGRATION ISSUES.

WE MUST COMPLY WITH THE LAW OF THE LAND THAT IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

LET'S GET TO LEON COUNTY BEFORE WE GET BACK TO COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

LEON COUNTY 2.

>> David O'Keefe,Commissioner: AVOLD JUMPING ON THIS IN A TRADE COMING BACK TO GUN VIOLENCE WE CANNOT LEAVE THAT ALONE.

I WANT TO BE REAL CLEAR HERE.

WE KNOW WE NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT PART OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT LAW.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO USE OUR RESOURCES OR SHOULD NOT TRY TO PREVENT OUR RESOURCES BEING USED FOR THINGS THAT DON'T MATCH WITH OUR VALUES.

WE HAVE A DUTY TO SPEAK UP WHEN BASIC FAIRNESS IS BEING IGNORED.

JUST IN THE LAST MONTH WE'VE HAD US CITIZEN BORN IN GEORGIA ARRESTED AND DETAINED.

WE HAVE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY PEOPLE NOT GIVING THEIR DUE PROCESS.

MOTHERS AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT GETTING CANCER TREATMENT SUPPORTED WITH NO CONSENT NO MEDICINE AND NO PLAN TO CONTINUE THEIR TREATMENT.

WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN LEGALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WERE NOT HARMING ANYBODY ARE NOT AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOL.

AFRAID TO GO TO THE DOCTOR AFRAID TO CALL THE POLICE WHEN A CRIME IS BEING COMMITTED.

THIS IS ABOUT CRUEL OUTSIDE OF ACTUALLY MAKING PEOPLE SAFER ACTIONS ARE ABOUT FEAR THEY ARE NOT ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR LEGAL AUTHORITY TO PROTECT THE VALUES AND IF THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT INCLUDES FAIRNESS DIVERSITYAND FEELING SAFE.

ALL RIGHT.

WHO ELSE WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THEIR .

>> Curtis Richardson,Commissio ner: JUST BRIEFLY TOM.

THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE.

I WORK IN THE SPEC FOR 20 YEARS WHERE THERE IS A HUGE HISPANIC POPULATION AND MANY OF THEM BECAME A FRIEND OF MINE I'VE TALKED WITH THEM DURING THIS PERIOD OF WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WIFE'S JUDICIAL ASSISTANT IS A HISPANIC AND SHE TELLS US ABOUT THE STORIES HAPPENING THERE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

GOTO THE GROCERY STORE .

WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THAT AS A CITY.

AS COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX MENTIONED OUR MAYOR PRO TEM WE HAVE ALLOCATED ONE POLICE OFFICER TO THAT EFFORT, ONE, YOU'RE NOT FINDING DEPOSITION IT WILL DEPEND ON FEDERAL FUNDING.

AND TRAINING THE TRAINING WILL BE A 40 HOUR ON LINE TRAINING.

WE WILL NOT GO TO PEOPLE'S HOMES THEIR CHURCHES THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS PICKING UP PEOPLE OFF THE STREET ARRESTING THEM AND SENDING THEM PLACES THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING .

WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO DO THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE.

WE DON'T CONDONE IT.

WE CERTAINLY ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN BUT WE STILL HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF WHAT IS HAPPENED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WE HAD A CITY COMMISSION IN FORT MYERS, THAT VOTED AGAINST THE RELATIONSHIP OR THE MOU WITH ICE AND THREE OF THOSE MEMBERS WERE THREATENED TO BE INVESTIGATED AND POSSIBLY PUT IN JAIL AND A WEEK LATER THEY REVERSED THAT DECISION IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE TO HAVE THAT CITY APPROVE THAT MOU.

WITH ICE.

WE DON'T WANT TO FIND OURSELVES IN THAT POSITION EITHER.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO HAVE HIMSELF INVESTIGATED THEM AND THEIR MINIMALLY WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US IN THAT REGARD.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING YOU MAY BE PICKING UP FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO MAY BE VOICING THEIR OPINION ON THIS COMMISSIONER PROCTOR I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM YOU TONIGHT WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROMTHE FOLKS THAT YOU TALK TO IS THERE ANY CONCERN ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY: THIS IS NOT GOING TO AFFECT ME WHAT YOU HEARING .

>> Bill Proctor,Commissioner: THE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY OFTEN PICKED UP FOR BEING BLACK.

PEOPLE BEEN PICKED UP FOR BEING HISPANIC IS IT SORT OF A NEW TWIST.

ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS HAVE BEEN WRONGLY DETAINED PICKED UP FOR LOOKING CULTURALLY IT IS SOMETHING VERY FAMILIAR IF THAT IS AN EXPERIENCE WHICH MUCH TOO OFTEN YOUR COMMUNITY GRAPPLES WITH SOMETIMES YOUR EMPATHY IS NOT AS KEEN AS MIGHT BE IF YOU ARE TOTALLY UNAWARE OF THAT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTANGLEMENTS BEING PICKED UP AND DETAINED LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE, THOSE ARE COMMON PLACES ACROSS THE >> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK ON THAT SIR.

WE CANNOT LET THIS GO WITHOUT GETTING INTO A LITTLE ISSUE THAT HAS RUFFLED A COUPLE OF FEATHERS IN TOWN.

RECENTLY.

LOOKING AT THE PROS AND CONS WHO SHOULD OWN POLICIES ONLY SAFETY NET HOSPITAL.

IS THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CAPITAL CITY HEALTHCARE BEING CONDUCTED IN THE RIGHT WAY?

>> David O'Keefe,Commissioner: TOM I'M GOING TO CASH IN ON THAT DEAL WE MADE HAVE SOMETHING NEW ON NONVIOLENCE I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT GETS IN THERE.

WE KNOW THAT THE STATE HAS PREEMPTED US AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES FROM ENACTING GUN SAFETY ORDINANCES.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS MORE THAT WE CAN DO.

WE CAN ADVOCATE AT THE FEDERAL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL AS PART OF OUR COUNTY LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR GUN SAFETY LAWS THAT ARE COMMON SENSE.

WE HAVE GROUPS LIKE EVERY TOWN STUDENTS DEMAND ACTION MARCH FOR OUR LIVES MOMS DEMAND ACTION MAY HAVE CLEAR COMMON SENSE GOLD THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR THAT IS UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS RED FLAG LAWS SAFE STORAGE LAWS AND LAWS TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF VIOLENT PEOPLE.

WHILE WE CANNOT MAKE ORDINANCES FOR THAT HERE WE SHOULD NOT NOT USE THE VOICE THAT WE HAVE THAT IS THROUGH OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

I WILL BE ASKING THAT WE ADD TO OUR COUNTY LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE POLICIES TO IMPROVE GUN VIOLENCE SAFETY AT THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE LEVEL.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT I THINK EVERY FAMILY EVERY STUDENT EVERY PERSON SHOULD NOT BE LIVING IN FEAR.

I WANT TO ASK FOR A COMMITMENT FROM MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT ADDING THOSE PRIORITIES TO OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY LIST?

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: ANY COMMITMENTS?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DETAILS I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT IN SPIRIT IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE THE WAY YOU DESCRIBED IT SOUNDS LIKE THE KIND OF THING THAT ONLY LEON COUNTY AND TALLAHASSEE NEEDS BUT THE NATION I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: WE WILL CIRCLE BACK TO THE HOSPITAL AND SECOND FOLKS WE ARE COMING UP ON THE PORTION OF THE PROGRAM WHERE WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU AND SEE WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS ON YOUR MIND AND SEE WHAT KIND OF CONCERNS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR ESTEEMED ELECTED OFFICIALS IS MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THOSE PUT TOGETHER WE WILL COLLECT THOSE AND LEVERAGE THAT INTO THE REST OF THE CONVERSATION FOR THE FINAL HALF HOUR.

COMMISSIONER MATLOW YOU WANT TO TALK HOSPITAL SELF THE REDHEAD.

>> Jeremy Matlow,Commissioner: THANK YOU.

THE BEST OUTCOME FOR HEALTHCARE AND OUR COMMUNITY IS KEEPING OUR HOSPITAL LOCALLY OWNED IT IS OWNED BY THE RESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO CHART THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'VE BEEN SOME THERE I SAY SHADY BACK ROOM AND TAKES LOOKING FOR A SALE OF THE HOSPITAL OR A GIVEAWAY OF THE HOSPITAL.

THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY.

DON'T SUPPORT THAT I CANNOT SUPPORT THAT.

I THINK THERE IS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CRAFT A PARTNERSHIP AND BRING EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE SO WE CAN FOCUS ON ACADEMIC MEDICINE SO WE CAN FOCUS ON THE HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES.

THAT WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY WE CAN DO ALL OF THAT UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM BUT AS SOON AS WE GIVE OUR HOSPITAL AWAY AS SOON AS WE SELL OUR HOSPITAL AWAY YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NO LONGER HAVE A SAY IN HEALTHCARE AND IN OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD FORFEIT FORNO APPARENT REASON I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW THAT CONVERSATION GOT STARTED I'M NOT SURE WHO'S PUSHING IT IT'S A CONVERSATION WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING IN THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE AT ALL I'M THANKFUL FOR OUR PARTNERS AT TMH AND THEREFORE FOR THE MEDICAL ACADEMIC MEDICINE COMING OUT OF YOUR ESTATE BUT LET'S PACKAGE THAT UP TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER AND WHATEVER IS GOING ON LET'S JUST STOP IT LET'S GET BACK TO THE BASICS AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOROUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND THERE WAS SOMETHING BROUGHT UP I THINK IT WAS BY .

[LISTING NAMES] AT A RECENT COMMUNITY FORUM.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: HE TALKED ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA IT IS LIKE A PARTNERSHIP A CONSORTIUM THERE STILL IS COMMUNITY INPUT AND CONTROL WITH THE BOARD OF GOVERNANCE THAT IS COMMUNITY-BASED IS THAT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT WORK HERE?

>> Dianne Williams-Cox,Commiss ioner: I'M GOING TO REPEAT WHAT I WAS QUOTED IN SAYING THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT , IT IS NOT IN MY WHEELHOUSE TO BE AN EXPERT IN HEALTHCARE.

BUT THIS IS WHAT I DO KNOW.

THAT WE NEED TO HAVE HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR ANYONE WHERE THEY CAN AFFORD IT OR NOT.

I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN INVESTED IN THE TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MANY TIMES LIKE I SAID HAS BEEN RETIRED FROM HOSPITAL HIS MOTHER WORKED THERE HIS BROTHER WORKED HERE MY CHILDREN WORKED THERE OUR GRANDCHILDREN WERE THERE HOWEVER WHEN MY HUSBAND NEEDED A LIVER TRANSPLANT WITH THE GOAL SIMPLY SELLS MY CHIEF OF STAFF NEED CANCER TREATMENT WITH TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE WHAT I WANT IS TO NOT TO HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE I WANT IT TO HAPPEN HERE IN TALLASSEE HIGH-QUALITY CARE I DON'T CARE WHO DOES IT WHOEVER THE BEST FIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WHEN YOU HAVE AN ASSET YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOOKING AT HOW TO LEVERAGE THAT ASSET TO THE BEST OF THE ABILITY FOR THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO OWN IT WE DON'T HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHETHER TO SELL A BANK OR NOT BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO STATE THE WAY IT WAS IN 1979.

WE ALLOW THOSE DECISIONS TO BE MADE I'M COUNTING ON THE CITY REPRESENTATIVE THE TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL REPRESENTATIVE IN THE FLORIDA STATE REPRESENTATIVE THE IN THE TALLASSEE STATE COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE TO COME TOGETHER AND DECIDE AND PROPOSE A SOLUTION THATWILL PROVIDE US WITH TOP-QUALITY CARE RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: OKAY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON .

>> Curtis Richardson,Commissio ner: THANK YOU TOM FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE THE CITY STARTED THE HOSPITAL REALIZING WE NEED HEALTHCARE IN THIS AREA IN 1949.

IN 1979 AN MOU WAS SIGNED WITH WHAT IS NOW TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL TMH.

TO OPERATE THAT HOSPITAL.

SO THE CITY OF TALLASSEE STILL OWNS THE HOSPITAL THE LAND THE BUILDINGS THE EQUIPMENT WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION OF THAT FACILITY.

SO THE CITY IS NOT IN HEALTHCARE THE ONLY THING WE DO IS APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SEATS ON THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHICH IS OUR LOCAL PEOPLE SERVING ON THAT BOARD.

THERE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY ZERO DISCUSSION OF SELLING TMH.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM IT GET OUT THERE IT HAS NEVER NEVER COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION THAT WE ENTERTAINED THE NOTION OF SELLING TMH.

OR THE HOSPITAL.

BUT WHAT WE DO WANT AS OUR MAYOR PRO TEM HAS SAID IS FOR THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING HEALTHCARE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THE TOP-QUALITY HEALTHCARE THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND GUESTS REQUIRE AND THAT IT BE THERE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNINSURED, OR CANNOT AFFORD INSURANCE FOR HEALTHCARE .

THAT IS A NUMBER OF OUR RESIDENTS AND GUESTS RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE.

I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT MY VOTE WILL BE.

BUT BUT I AM HOPING IS THAT REASONABLE PEOPLE WILL GET TOGETHER THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CITIZENS AND GUESTS AND THE HEALTH CARE THEY RECEIVE WILL COME TOGETHER AS THEY HAVE BEEN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS NOW, TO DETERMINE WHAT WILL BE THE BEST WAY TO OPERATE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMIN THIS COMMUNITY AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT .

[LISTING NAMES] THE CEO MARK O'BRIEN IN HER CITY MANAGER AND AT THEIR APPROPRIATE STAFF WILL GET TOGETHER AND BRING SOMETHING BACK TO US THAT WE CAN CONSIDER AND THAT THE TIME HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE IN A POSITION TO VOTE ON WHAT HEALTHCARE WILL LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: ONE MORE QUESTION TO GO AGAIN THANK YOU ALL FOR SHOWING UP AND FOR BEING GRILLED WITH ALL OF THESE CONCERNS AND ISSUES THAT ARE OF SUCH IMPORTANCE TO ALL OF US HERE IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY BUT AS WE SIT HERE ON OUT THIS THURSDAY THE FIRST DAY OF MAY WE MAKE NOTE OF THE FACT THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE HAS ALREADY NOT PULLED THE PLUG ON THE SESSION BUT THEY HAVE SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING THEY ARE GOING HOME THEY WILL BE GONE FOR ONE WEEK THEY MAY COME BACK EVENTUALLY WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY HAVE NOT TOLD US YET.

BUT THEY MAY BE DOING SOMETHING WITH PROPERTY TAXES THEY MAY BE DOING SOMETHING WITH SALES TAXES THEREIS ALL KINDS OF POSSIBILITIES OUT THERE.

WHAT KIND OF DISCUSSIONS HAS THAT LED YOU FOLKS ON THE CITY AND COUNTY COMMISSION TO BE TALKING AMONGST YOURSELVES AND WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ABOUT WHAT WE DO IF A WE DO IF ABC .

>> Brian Welch,Commissioner: THANK YOU TOM IT IS CAUSED QUITE A BIT OF CONVERSATION OBVIOUSLY PROPERTY TAXES ARE HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

I THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS KIND OF PAINTED ITSELF INTO A CORNER BECAUSE THEY ARE STARTING TO REALIZE THAT WITHOUT PROPERTY TAXES YOU CANNOT PROVIDE SERVICES AND NOW THERE IS THIS EFFORT TO PUSH IS TO ADOPT THE ROLLBACK RATE .

I APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT I THINK THAT WE AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND VERY CONSERVATIVE WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS I THINK BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE SOME OF THE SMALLEST BUDGETS TO LIKE SIZED CITY AND COUNTY IN THE STATES.

I THINK IS VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS NOT ADOPTED A ROLLBACK RATE IN 30 YEARS THERE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE HAS GONE UP YEAR-OVER-YEAR FOR LIKE 30 YEARS.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE FAIR AND HONEST CONVERSATIONS WHEN YOU DISCUSS THOSE KIND OF THINGS IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY MAKE THEM EFFECTIVE.

I INVITE THE LEGISLATURE TO HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION I THINK THE HOUSE SPEAKER CONVENED SOME KIND OF COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THESE ISSUES NEXT YEAR AND THAT THE NEXT SESSION THINK OF TO HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION TO LOOK AT HOW DO CITIES AND COUNTIES ACTUALLY PROVIDE SERVICES A LOT OF THE REVENUE GROWTH WE'VE SEEN IN LEON COUNTY IS A RESULT OF REALLY GOOD BUSINESS INVESTMENT AMAZON ALONE PROVIDED $3 MILLION INCREASE TAX REVENUE TO LEON COUNTY IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATIONS .

THERE IS ALREADY A STATUTORY LIMIT ON HOW MUCH PROPERTY TAX HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX CAN GO UP ON A YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS.

WE ARE VERY RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR PROPERTY TAXES I WELCOME THE CONVERSATION I THINK IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION TO ROB BUT IF YOU DON'T PROPOSE HOW TO REPLACE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, YOU WILL HAVE SOME REAL DIRE STRAITS IN THE COMMUNITIES I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WILL HAVE TO BE HAD.

>> Tom Flanigan,Moderator: I THINK THIS CONVERSATION WILL BE CONTINUED ON FOR QUITE A WHILE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JOINING US EITHER ON BROADCAST TV RADIO ONLINE WE ARE GETTING READY TO CLOSE OUT THIS SEGMENT OF OUR TOWN PRESENTED BY THE VILLAGE SQUARE AND GREAT HELP COMING FROM THE TALLASSEE DEMOCRAT AND PUTTING TOGETHER A LONG LIST OF QUESTIONS YOU GUYS ARE LUCKY WE ONLY HAVE ONE THIRD OF THEM HERE TONIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] WE CAN KEEP THIS UP ALL NIGHT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.

WE ARE ALSO BE ENTERTAINING THE GROUP THAT IS HERE WITH US IN PERSON AT THE WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA STUDIOS AND WILL CARRY THIS ON FOR ABOUT ANOTHER HALF HOUR OR SO TO GET YOUR CONCERNS AND YOUR TAKE ON THE ISSUES COMMUNICATED TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN JOIN US AGAIN NEXT YEAR FOR ANOTHER TOWN HALL MEETING OUR TOWN RESENTED BY WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA THE VILLAGE SQUARE AND OUR LONG LIST OF PARTNERS WE THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF IT AND WE WILL HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.

THANK YOU ALL.