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CSC Establishment BCC 04/10/1990 Transcripts Children ' s Services Council of Collier County Establishment at the BCC Meeting Transcripts PAGE (1) 14//D IOW GOODNIGHT: I've got a suggestion. I don't have a problem with the need. I know that the need is there. I want to do something and I want to do it today, but my problem is with the way the ordinance is written or the State Law is written. . . .and the compromise that I could very much live with as Dudley has submitted to you. . . .would be the five members that the ordinance reads. . . .one member from the board, school board, whatever. . . .and then the other five members. . . .instead of them being appointed by the Governor. . . .I'd like to take a list of the organizations here in Collier County that deal specifically with children. . . .for example, Naples Alliance for Children . .and have them listed in the ordinance as providing us either one or two members that would be accepted by this board. . . .no hands down. . . .I mean all we'd do is that the names would be submitted and they would be appointed automatically. And then I'd like to place this taxing. . . .this thing on the ballot after the needs assessment is made. . . .because I know the need is there . . . .but we've got to prove it to the voters of the county before we can do this. . . .and set it up exactly the same way as what the pollution control ordinance and taxing district was set up to where there was a certain milleage that was there. . . . it comes before this board. . . .the board reviews it. . . .we do not reduce the milleage. . ./ because the milleage is there. .we accept whatever it is. . . and in this case staff recommends. . . .or set it up very similar to the lighting and beautification districts to where that the board tells us what the need is. . . .and it's passed with no hands. . . .I mean there is no discussion on it as far as just approving what has been presented there. That will leave it completely in control of the people of Collier County. . . .not the elected officials. . . .but the people of Collier County. And I think that sitting here for the last seven years there have been so many times that the Governors have made appointments that were strictly political because they were paying off some campaign worker or somebody like that. . . .that it was not in the best interest of this county was, , , ,and I've got a real problem with that because I thihk that this is one of the most important things, if not the most important, that this county has ever done. And I just hate to see it being placed in the hands, and takes his money back to Tallahassee. SHANAHAN: (Laughing) I couldn't agree with you more. HASSE: I'd like to verify exactly what Commissioner Goodnight is saying. She's saying exactly the same thing as I did. . . . except that I said take it out of the political hands. That's what I said. GOODLETTE: I would submit to you that by not doing what we're asking you to do today, you're leaving it in political hands. Let me say this, if I may Commissioner Goodnight because I think it is an important corner that maybe we are about to turn with respect to these Children's Services Councils. Page (2) GOODLETTE : The bill is pending before the legislature today as we (continued) speak. One important amendment. . . .there are several amendments to it. . . .to the existing statute, but one important one and I think the one that focuses specifically on your question is that the Governor is limited in his ability to appoint the five people based upon three peoples' names who are submitted to him by the Board of County Commissioners. So that for each vacancy that he is able to fill, you would submit three names. . . .for each vacancy. Then he could select any one of those three. I know that there are 15. . . .at least 15. . . .very capable people in this comunity whose names you could submit to him. I would ask that your motion be that you establish the council under the statute. . . . and contemplate that the recommendtions to the Governor must come based upon him selecting on of three people for each slot. That would morror the pending legislation. It is prudent legislation. I would endorse that personally and I am very familiar with the Statute and the process, but I think that it needs to be. . . .everything that the statute contemplates that it will be which is an independent district. HASSE: Commissioner Saunders? SAUNDERS: Mr. Chairman, I am going to try to do this without being overly repetitive. I would like to make more comment relative to taking this out of political hands by keeping it here with the commission. And I don't say this in a negative way. . . .there is no politicial body. . . .in Collier County that is more political than the County Commission. Obviously we're elected. . . .everything we do is driven by political considerations, so I think leaving the issue here certainly is not going to take it out of political hands. I don't think there is anything wrong with having an issue addressed in a political manner, but this is not a way to avoid politics. I think that we all accept the fact that taxes are bad politics. I think also perhaps that Governor Martinezx has proven this more than anyone else has been able to. . . .that ignoring problems is also bad politics. And I think we have taken some action today that will benefit children in the community. . . . We've directed our staff to take a look at the creation of a soccor facility. I think we can go a step further and perhaps this commission can go on record as being a commission that has done more for and has taken steps for children than any other prior commission. We are only giving these people a shot at the referendum. We're setting a tax. . . .we're not doing the needs assessment ourselves. . . .we're not doing anything other than giving these people a shot at having a referendum. They're going to have to go out and sell it to the people. If they don't do an objective needs assessment. . . .if they don't do a realistic needs assessment. . . .if they aren't able to establish the need. . . .then the voters in this community are not going to approve a referendum. It will be very difficult in a perfect world to have a taxing issue approved by the voters. If all of were 100% Page (3) SAUNDERS: behind it, it would be very difficult to have it approved. (continued) If this commission reviews the needs assessment and is not in support of a referendum question, then the likelihood of it passing would be miniscule. I don't think any independent board would even conceive of proceeding with that. I think all of have expressed an extreme support for the Naples Alliance for Children. As a matter of fact, I took the liberty of getting some stickers which I am going to put on, and perhaps my fellow commissioners would be interested in wearing one of these if nothing else. . . .to show moral support for the people that have spent a lot of time out there. I just don't see any negative in directing our staff at this point to advertise the ordinance, to establish the independent council. We're obviously not going to have an election in 1990. I think Mr. Goodlette has indicated that that's impossible. This will give the council adequate time to do the needs assessment. If that council does not have the support of this Board, I don't see there being a referendum. I just think that this is giving these people a shot at a referendum. We're not doing anything other than giving them that opportunity. VOLPE: Could I just make one comment? There's been a lot of discussion about politics and the distinction that I draw in my own mind is not much about politics, but accountability. I feel that I am accountable to the people who have elected me, and it is the question of accountability that may be low with the independent taxing authority. . .that is not really accountable to anyone. It is not accountable to anyone. . . .they have the taxing authority up to 1/2 mill which, under the current assessment, would raise six million dollars and they aren't accountable to anyone other than the people whom they're servicing. And I think that the electorate has and should have the opportunity to be able to identify who it is to whom we are accountable. And I think there is a distinction about the accountability issue. GOODLETTE: I think that the electorate will recognize that too, Commissioner Volpe, and I don't think they would empower a people in whom they did not trust who had that taxing authority to spend those monies. VOLPE: They don't have any authority on who those people are. They don't pick those people. Page (4) DICK SHANAHAN: I would like to make a motion and then I think we should vote on it and we can decide where to go. Number 1, I am going to vote to establish the council, direct the ordinance to be advertised and establish Number 1. I think Number 2 we need to get private sector funding for a positive needs assessment. OK? And Number 3. . . .back to the board before any referendum, in fact is established or takes place. BERT SAUNDERS: I'll second that. DICK SHANAHAN: I don't need to go through all the reasons for that but I do believe the lack of services available for children are evident and I think the Collier 2000 study underscored that and I think we need a consolidated effort. I don't think it is going to diminish. . . .I think it is going to get greater. / End of speed ! I made the motion. I think we have a second. MAX HASSE: A motion and a second. Any comments. MIKE VOLPE: Just a question, if Commissioner Shanahan could restate this, would be then the creation of this Council, under Section 125.901 of the State Statute which provides people to be appointed by DICK SHANAHAN: consistent with whatever comes up out of the legislature and I would hope that we could mirror that recommendatic that we are in fact in control of the appointees. BURT SAUNDERS: I think one of the directives to clarify the motion is directing our county attorney to advertise the ordinance so we'll have another public hearing on the passage of that ordinance. Is that correct, Mrs. Wilson? MS. WILSON: That will be the procedure, yea. DUDLEY GOODLETTE: I would think, if I may address the issue that Commission Goodnight raised, I would think that you could include in the direction that the Gubernatorial appointees contemplated would be selected from 15 names submitted to him by you. MAX HASSE: We submit the names? DICK SHANAHAN: Let me make that as part of the motion as point 4 of the motion. BERT SAUNDERS: Yes, I'll amend my second. MAX HASSE: Motion and a second. I call for a motion. All those in favor (Shanahan) Aye (Saunders) Aye (Goodnight) Aye (Hasse) Aye Opposed? (Volpe) Aye Four to one. Pag (4) DICK SHANAHAN: I would like to make a motion and then I think we should vote on it and we can decide where to go. Number 1, I am going to vote to establish the council, direct the ordinance to be advertised and establish Number 1. I think Number 2 we need to get private sector funding for a positive needs assessment. OK? And Number 3.. . .back to the board before any referendum, in fact is established or takes place. BERT SAUNDERS: I'll second that. DICK SHANAHAN: I don't need to go through all the reasons for that but I do believe the lack of services available for children are evident and I think the Collier 2000 study underscored that and I think we need a consolidated effort. I don't think it is going to diminish. . . .I think it is going to get greater./ End of speed ! I made the motion. I think we have a second. MAX HASSE: : A motion and a second. Any comments. MIKE VOLPE: Just a question, if Commissioner Shanahan could restate this, would be then the creation of this Council, under Section 125.901 of the State Statute which provides people to be appointed by DICK SHANAHAN: consistent with whatever comes up out of the legislature and I would hope that we could mirror that recommendatic that we are in fact in control of the appointees. BURT SAUNDERS: I think one of the directives to clarify the motion is directing our county attorney to advertise the ordinance so we'll have another public hearing on the passage of that ordinance. Is that correct, Mrs. Wilson? MS. WILSON: That will be the procedure, yea. DUDLEY GOODLETTE: I would think, if I may address the issue that Commission Goodnight raised, I would think that you could include in the direction that the Gubernatorial appointees contemplated would be selected from 15 names submitted to him by you. MAX HASSE: We submit the names? DICK SHANAHAN: Let me make that as part of the motion as point 4 of the motion. BERT SAUNDERS: Yes, I'll amend my second. MAX HASSE: Motion and a second. I call for a motion. All those in favor (Shanahan) Aye (Saunders) Aye (Goodnight) Aye (Hasse) Aye Opposed? (Volpe) Aye Four to one. BENEFITS OF CHILDREN"S SERVICES COUNCIL I. Remove children and their needs from the vagaries of local politics. II. Remove children from competition with roads, garbage and other local pressing problems (each of which has vocal adult constituencies. III. Correct and avoid current fragmentation of services. IV. Create a central focus for children and families. V. Ability to place emphasis on prevention. VI. Ability to evaluate, to document what works. 12A mo. 6A NAPLES DAILY NEWS Mon.,July 30, 1990 imuu NapI % Atli) Nto Ileif SCRIPPS HOWARD CORBIN A.WYANT ALAN M.HORTON President and Publisher Editor 'Give light and the people will PHILIP P.LEWIS JOHN B.LUNSFORD JEFFREY F.LYTLE find their own Managing Editor Assistant to Editor Editorial Page Editor way.' 1076 Central Ave.,Naples,Fla.33940 Ph:813.262-3161 Abig forward step for c n ' outy •s chi•Idren The welfare of our shows that existing programs community's most precious sponsored by state and local asset—its children —stands to agencies are not meeting all the gain Tuesday when Collier needs. Many abused and County officials are asked to disadvantaged children slip make good on their promise to through the cracks—forever. establish a Children's Services Council. The county commissioners, at Wetheir request, will be handed a urge them to take that bold list of at least 15 nominees for gyp. five at-large posts on the Doing so will not commit the advisory panel.The ultimate county financially in any way. selections would be made by the Permission to seek a referendum governor. Following state to give the council modest guidelines,the Children's taxing powers would have to Services Council's other five come later from the Board of members would be a county Collier County Commissioners, commissioner, a School Board upon completion of an appointed member, the superintendent of council's first mission: a detailed schools, a judge who hears analysis of what services are juvenile cases and the area's most needed to help all county chief of state social services. youngsters become solid, healthy,productive adults. Our enlightened, progressive community must move ahead There's no guarantee that a now to tackle child-service taxing-power request would ever shortfalls that will get worse happen.An appointed council with time —and apathy. may decide to follow the private- funding route. Commissioners on Tuesday should enthusiastically endorse A consensus of child advocates a Children's Services Council.