BCC Minutes 12/06/2005 W (w/Collier County Sheriff)
December 6, 2005
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - COLLIER
COUNTY SHERIFF WORKSHOP
Naples, Florida, December 6, 2005
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Board of County Commissioners/
Sheriff Workshop in and for the County of Collier, having conducted
business herein, met on this date at 1 :00 P.M. in Building "F" of the Collier
County Government Center, 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, Naples, Florida, with
the following members present:
CHAIRMAN: Commissioner Fred Coyle
Commissioner Donna Fiala
Commissioner Frank Halas
Commissioner Tom Henning
Commissioner Jim Coletta - Absent
COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE:
Don Hunter, Collier County Sheriff
Greg Smith, Chief of Administration
Kevin Rambosk, Chief of Operations
Jim Williams, Captain CCSO
Mike Hedberg, Captain CCSO
Jill Beckos, CCSO
ALSO PRESENT:
Dan Summers, Director of Emergency Services
Jim Mudd, County Manager
Leo Ochs, Deputy County Manager
Sgt. Tray Radford, CCSO
December 6, 2005
Call to Order
The Workshop was called to order by Commissioner Fred Coyle at 1 :05 P.M.
Pledge of Allegiance
Commissioner Coyle gave the floor to Sheriff Don Hunter. Sheriff Hunter thanked
the Commissioners for arranging the Workshop. H e expressed the critical situation in
regard to the recruiting and retaining members of the Sheriff s Office and the opportunity
to bring these concerns before the Commissioners.
(Handout) Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) report
Sheriff Hunter pointed out that the Florida Price Level Index School Personnel tables, in
the BEBR, showed Collier County to be number 1 in Florida, on the Cost of Living Index
for 2003 and 2004, number 5 in 2002. Report reflects county by county comparisons.
Underpinning and basis of discussion: Not only County offices, but schools, hospitals and
other private sector employers face extreme difficulties in attracting qualified members
and retaining seasoned and skilled members.
Nationwide shortfall in Law Enforcement Officers, Corrections and Dispatch applications.
Slide presentation: Current challenges:
o Nationwide competition for applicants
o Existing agencies competing for same applicants
o Retain experienced members familiar with county
o Once had many applicants waiting in line. That has not happened for at least a year.
Resignations at rate of 2.1 per week
o Need for hyper-agressive recruiting and ways retain seasoned members.
o Quality of applicants declining ( driving liabilities, poor work history, drug problems)
o Limited housing options
o Cost of Living
o Continued impact of growth
o Increased demand for more and faster services
o Demand for urban versus rural resources and response time
Sheriff Hunter gave some examples of the problems of staffing in just one weekend in
December:
Approximately 20,000 people attended either the Snow Fest, Swamp Buggy races, a car
show and 2 real estate auctions. There was also a gas leak, holiday shopping crowds
needing protection. Routine calls and 3,550 calls on weekend for services average
650,000 a year. With a short staff, there is more burnout, more work, more overtime,
limited pool of people to draw from especially areas that require special training such as
court house security, bailiff services (trained by U.S. Marshall Services), communications
and the jail. These tend to be the trained seasoned and more costly employees. Just in
2005 alone, 103 members have left, representing 524 years of service.
Reasons for Departure: better positions, better benefits, housing lottery, homesick,
aging parents, portability of benefits, equal pay-lower housing costs.
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December 6, 2005
Sheriff Hunter also cited the fact that the educated and experienced are in demand all
over the state. Some other reasons were, the use of COBRA, military deployment,
pension portability and FMLA (new parent & immediate family leave)
Community Implications:
o Quality of Life
o Crime Rates
o Response Time
o Impersonalization of Service-(Automation Technology)
o Increased costs to taxpayers:
1. Loss of members at the 3 to 5 year mark
2. Loss of experienced
3. Break even on training investment
4. Overtime
Frank Halas Private sectors experiencing same problems all over Florida. Coast line
areas growth population staggering. Estimates are for potential 34 million State build-
out. Collier has over 1 million now. Need to work together to solve problem.
Sheriff Hunter: Cited:
o Training costs - $100,000 each invested in training.
o Growth mostly from Orange County, south- due to its desirable amenities.
o CCSO members-currently 211 live out of the county due to housing issue.
o Difficulties of this situation are:
a. recall times in emergencies
b. highway congestion -getting in & out of county
c. reduction in safety-commute time
d. increased maintenance and response time
e. members concerns are in county of residence
Limited availability of homes: Recent auctions of 200 lots at one million each for less
than an acre lot. Survey of available homes showed 21 houses under $181,950, most less
than 800 square feet. Some were mobile homes with under age 55 restrictions.
Temporary housing and rentals survey resulted in 4 under $10,000 annual, and with only
2 bedrooms, no pets. Rental apartment complexes are becoming condo conversions at
$170 plus per unit.
Provide Public Safety: Sheriffs office is under constitutional requirements to provide
services in a fiscal responsible manner. Efforts are directed to work with local entities to
develop strategies to recruit and retain sufficient staff to maintain quality of life. And, to
compete with local, state & US agencies with competitive wages and benefits relative to
housing and transportation costs.
Commissioner Henning: inquired if situation has reached crisis level; recognizes rising
costs of permits, impact fees and shortage of homes in certain price range. Housing
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workshop on the 9th is a start. Despite media comments on overtime, hopes Sheriffs
office is to continue to provide same level of services.
Sheriff Hunter: responded that it is fast approaching crisis level with an average of 2
members a week leaving, the struggle with recruitment and retention, some member in
DROP program. To avert crisis, dramatic action needed.
Regarding overtime, lack of sufficient staff results in some overtime. Special duty
contracts help with some overtime for many public and non-profit organizations. Trying
to keep overtime to a minimum but will continue to provide services even if some
overtime is necessary.
Commissioner Halas: referred to permitting taking too long due to staff shortage and
the number of permits needing processing. Housing issues not just a government
problem. All need to be involved, both public and private sector. Need to garner
partnerships with developers. Developers need to cooperate-- build, not for windfall
profits, but for long term gains to bring people back into community to service whole
infrastructure. Come together; compromise, to control cost of housing. Maybe create a
land trust. Takes a community wide effort and will benefit everyone.
Commissioner Fiala asked if it was felt that main reason for leaving area was the
financial benefit of selling high priced homes with large equity to pay cash elsewhere or
was there other reasons of equal importance.
Sheriff Hunter responded in the affirmative. To attract and to keep people, whether first
time homebuyer or renter, housing has to be there. Keeping seasoned members whose
homes have increased to a tempting amount to sell, buy elsewhere and have same level of
quality of life is a struggle. He noted the statewide problem in other counties but is
encouraged that together with the enlightened Board in this county, they will drive this
effort to help solve the problem.
Commissioner Coyle- noted a convergence of many factors:
o Aging population
o Baby boomers retiring here with lot of both money and demands
o Tremendous growth in both rural and urban areas
o Security requirements in domestic security creates a short supply of experienced staff
o Desirable and popular place to live- is not going to end.
o Solve housing problems together
Some ideas put forth:
1. young age of retirement for law enforcement members may require change in
philosophy
2. if retiring at young age, bring back into work force with some incentives
3. retired military and law enforcement personnel can help out, part time, to provide relief
4. encourage them to stay employed longer
5. encourage high-schoolers to work in law enforcement field upon graduation
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December 6, 2005
Commissioner Coyle offered further suggestion with respect to training provided to
personnel. With each step of training you obligate yourselfto provide that service you
have been trained for. May need to rethink leaving process. Recognize the value ofthe
training received. If you leave, cost of training must be paid back.
He also stated that the housing problem is way too big a problem to solve alone.
Community must get involved. Government may have to provide homes for public
servants at entry level for younger employees. Cited there are some problems in this
also.
Sheriff Hunter credited the Board in thinking outside the box. He commented on the
Academy for Career Education program, which exposes seniors going to college to come
into law enforcement. However, they found that most could not qualify because of life
choices they had made. Military has less stringent qualifications in driving records,
communications abilities and background checks. Trying to get to middle school and
younger kids with information on consequences of poor life choices, through Youth
Relations Deputy. Also need reserve corps, maybe even pay for some benefits, to help
with cold cases. Most retired qualified people are either not interested in getting back in
to dealing with victims' grief or have retired for a quieter lifestyle or for psychological
reasons.
Commissioner Henning commented on the housing problem stating that 80% of land in
county is owned by the government; could be used for government housing depending on
how much is usable.
Sheriff Hunter cited rural areas like Orangetree and Golden Gate Estates converting to
urban demands, wanting more services, rapid response, more suppression of crime, row
houses taken apart, greater protection.
Commissioner Henning stated the addition of a sub-station in that area as addressing
that need. Golden Gate Estates is seeking urban service even in rural setting.
Sheriff Hunter stated that even though the Board has authorized additional services, they
cannot provide urban style service with current available staff. Through this workshop it
will be on the record of where Collier County Sheriff Office is, at this point.
Commissioner Fiala: Requested Sheriffs Human Resource Dept. figure how many
members would qualify for affordable and GAP housing, percentage wise.
County Manager Jim Mudd provided information on requirements of what constitutes
GAP housing. The range is designated as between 80% and 150% of median income
level, which is $63.3 thousand for a family. This figures out to $50,000 to $90,000.
$35,000 for single employee.
Commissioner Coyle Requested details regarding identifying costs to law enforcement
of border and of immigration. Since the State is pushing costs to the Counties or
removing in-place funding, County should be able to have information of these costs
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December 6, 2005
He also requested the number jobs offered, but not accepted because of salary/ housing
costs.
Commissioner Halas requested information on how much revenue sharing lost and cost
to taxpayers to train average 5, 10, 15 and 20 yr. members. How much is lost in that
investment when they leave, losing both the experience and the investment.
Sheriff Hunter According to Human Resources figures there are currently 235 members
earning under $35,000 and 573 in the $50,000 to $70,000 range employed. Will provide
what figures he can and some information on illegal and non-immigrant, held at the jail,
and costs involved in arrests, background checks, booking process etc. He can also
provide general salary figures and information on required training/ continuing education,
(which is 40 hrs over 4yrs) and can give cost ofthat. Will shoot for Friday with some of
the information, but more in depth can be provided later.
Dan Summers asked to go on record to say that the same workforce dynamics discussed
today are present in Fire Service and EMS. Public safety employees see same housing
problems. His office will lend support to partnership in any solutions that area.
Commissioner Fiala: Regarding the GAP housing issue;
o Possibly having a land trust buy land for GAP housing
o Deed restricted.
o Will own house not land.
o Less incentive to sell for quick profit
o Housing stock stays with county
o No investor buying
o More encouragement to stay in area.
Regarding the immigration! border patrol issue: Information ftom a recent meeting
revealed that under a special dispensation, $7500 to 10,000 cash is given to Cuban
Nationals upon entering country. In effect, paying smugglers to bring illegal Cuban
nationals into the country.
Sheriff Hunter: Issue needs to be addressed by Congress
Commissioner Coyle: Thanked everyone for their participation. BCC and Public Safety
agencies will continue to discuss and try to solve some ofthe problems, starting with the
GAP Housing workshop scheduled for December 9th.
Sheriff Hunter: Will continue to provide the talent within agency and working with the
BCC and other agencies to aid in solutions
Commissioner Halas added, in closing, that $450,000 is the going price for homes built
in1960's for the blue collar and young professional workers, who can no longer afford to
live in or buy in their own neighborhood. The county is losing the people we need. Find
a way to work together with building industry and other employers.
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December 6, 2005
Commissioner Fiala thanked all for their input and discussion. Will keep up efforts with
help of all concerned.
Workshop ended at 2.29P.M.
There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned
by the order of the Chair at 2:29 P.M.
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COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AND SHERIFF WORKSHOP
ATTEST: .. .
DWJ~~t:~.B~OCK, CLERK
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By:
These minutes appßoved by the Board on ( - l 0 --~ , as
presented ~ or as corrected
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