Productivity Committee Minutes 12/05/2001 COLLIER COUNTY GOVERNMENT
PRODUCTIVITY COMMITTEE
Minutes
December 5, 2001
3:00 P.M.
Members Present: James Gibson, William Adams, Donald Campbell, Edward Ferguson, James
Horner, Karl Otto, Jean Ross-Franklin, and Janet Vasey
Members Absent: Thomas Casale and Thomas Grootemaat, with one vacancy
BCC Liaison Present: Commissioner Coletta
Staff: Winona Stone
Introduction: Jim Gibson, Chairman called the meeting to order at 3:00 P.M. Jim welcomed
Commissioner Coletta to the meeting. Winona Stone briefly summarized the items contained in the
agenda packet.
Minutes: The minutes of the October 24, 2001 meeting, as amended, were unanimously approved.
Old Business:
A. Discussion of the Airport Authority's Executive Director's Response to the Productivity
Committee's Report to the Board of County Commissioners on the Review of the Airport
Authority:
On October 25, 2001 the Committee provided the report to the Airport Authority and its Executive
Director in an effort to afford them the opportunity to respond to the Committee's findings and
recommendations. The transmittal to the Airport Authority stated the Committee's intention to
incorporate the Authority's responses in the text of the Committee's report prior to forwarding the final
report to the Board of County Commissioners.
On November 8, 2001, the Airport Authority's Executive Director released his personal observations and
comments regarding the report directly to the Board of County Commissioners, County Manager, Airport
Authority Staff and the Productivity Committee Staff Liaison. The Executive Director's response
included a copy of the unsigned and incomplete Productivity Committee's Report. Several Productivity
Committee members expressed concern and displeasure regarding the manner in which the Executive
Director's responses were presented, which was in direct contravention to the response process outlined
by the Committee.
The Airport Authority has not released a formal response, but per the Authority's Executive Director such
is anticipated to be provided following the Authority's Board meeting on December 10, 2001. Winona
Stone will contact the Airport Authority staff following the Board meeting to obtain any relevant
documents.
The Committee discussed possible courses of action to be taken once the formal response is received.
There was strong consensus that the Committee should respond to the Airport Authority's formal
response rather than the Executive Director's comments.
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It was noted that the Airport Authority and staff were notified by the Productivity Committee's Staff
Liaison that the County Manager intends for the Committee's report and Authority's response to be
presented to the Board of County Commissioners at their regular meeting scheduled on January 22, 2002.
The Executive Director's responses to the report were discussed at some length. During several full
committee and subcommittee meetings with the Executive Director and various Airport Authority Board
members some issues were verbally agreed upon, which appear now to be negated in the Executive
Director's response. His response also includes some statements that the Committee believes to be
misleading.
New Business:
A. Discussion of Work Plan for 2002
A listing of possible topics for consideration by the Committee in developing their 2002 work plan was
included in the agenda packet.
Commissioner Coletta presented his assessment of the current and projected FY 03 funding (revenue)
shortages that necessitate a reduction in appropriated expenditures. He requested that the Committee
consider assisting the County in determining FY 03 budget priorities.
Janet Vasey suggested identifying and eliminating low priority projects, as well as determining re-
organizational efficiencies. Jim Gibson noted that reducing expenses results in reduced or eliminated
services and Don Campbell noted that almost any major reductions would ultimately result in reductions
in staff. Jim also noted that the County has many special revenues that are restricted to expenditures for
specific purposes, which severely limits the County's latitude in moving funding from one area to
another.
The Committee is in agreement that the most serious issue facing the County is the reallocation of
financial resources to meet the highest priority service needs of the community. The Committee also
agreed that a formal request for assistance should come from the Board of County Commissioners and
should clearly specify the scope of the project and define parameters for a satisfactory end product. Jim
Gibson will draft a letter to Commissioner Coletta informing him of such.
B. Committee Vacancies:
Sharon Hanlon, whose term expires February 2003, resigned from the Committee effective December 5,
2001. Six members' terms are to expire in February 2002. Current members of the Committee were
encouraged to reapply. On December 1, 2001, a press release was issued soliciting applications for
membership. Jim Gibson appointed a subcommittee consisting of Don Campbell and Ed Ferguson to
review the applications and make recommendations for appointment at the next meeting.
Comments/Suggestions:
The meeting concluded at 5:43 P.M.
Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Productivity Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, January
16,2002, 3:00 P.M. in the County Manager's Conference Room, 2nd Floor of the W. Harmon Turner
Building(Building F, Administration Building).
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