BCC Minutes 06/07/2007 S (Proposed Annexation - Collier Park of Commerce)
June 7, 2007
COLLIER COUNTY GOVERNMENT
CITY OF NAPLES GOVERNMENT
EAST NAPLES FIRE CONTROL & RESCUE DISTRICT
Naples, Florida, June 7, 2007
Public meeting to discuss the Interlocal Service Boundary
Agreement relative to the proposed annexation of the Collier Park of
Commerce by the City of Naples, pursuant to Chapter 171, Florida
Statutes on June 7, 2007, at 3:30 p.m., City Hall, Second Floor,
Multi-media Room, Naples, Florida.
PRESENT:
Jim Mudd, County Manager
David Weigel, County Attorney
Mike Pettit, Chief Assistant County Attorney
Michael Sheffield, County Manager's Office
Dr. Bob Lee, City of Naples
Robert D. Pritt, Attorney, City of Naples
Liz Rogers, City of Naples, Records
Leo Salvatori, Attorney, CPOC
Laura Donaldson, Attorney, East Naples Fire Dis.
Angela Davis, East Naples Fire Commissioner
ALSO PRESENT:
Judith Chirgwin, Citizen
Jack Pointer, Citizen
C. M. Abbott, Citizen
David Aldrich, CBrA
Jim McEvoy, Naples Fire
Michael Brown, North Naples Fire
Eric Staats, Naples Daily News
Page 1
June 7, 2007
DR. LEE: Why don't we go ahead and open the meeting. Good
afternoon. For the record my name is Bob Lee. I'm the city manager
here in Naples. Welcome to the Naples City Hall. Once again,
another meeting of the -- to discuss the interlocal service boundary
agreement for the Collier Park of Commerce annexation.
As I understand it, and I was not here at the last meeting, but as I
understand it the proposed agreement was prepared and was
distributed and there was some discussion on it. Our city attorney has
prepared some changes which what I'd like to do is refer to him to
review those changes to the document and open that up for some
questions and discussion.
Jim, I don't know. Is there anything you want to say before we --
MR. MUDD: Yeah. What we did last meeting just to bring
everybody up to speed is we went over the draft agreement, the inter --
the interlocal service boundary agreement. And we -- and we talked
about -- we talked about some issues that -- that -- that needed to be
resolved or firmed up one of which was fire service. There was some
-- there was some additional language that was added to paragraph 6
which was public road maintenance. The concurrency issue on
paragraph 8, there was lots of language changing and some things like
that. But -- but in essence, we needed to make sure that Norm Feder
and his crew met with George Archibald and his crew or -- and -- and
got through and made sure that they could all agree to that language,
and I believe that happened.
And -- and then the last piece had to do with terms,
renegotiations and challenges. And I believe Mr. Pritt was going to
take that one on. And I did notice that in the new agreement there is --
there is a part for term in there. And a five-year issue was one of the
things that were brought up. But that brings everybody up to speed on
what we talked about last time and what we were challenged to do to
come back to this meeting and firm it up.
DR. LEE: Thank you.
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June 7, 2007
Mr. Pritt, would you mind providing an overview of what we --
we have here before us today?
MR. PRITT: Not at all. The draft that I have prepared I had just
a little while ago. Unfortunately, I'm not real good at doing the
tracking changes especially since I did it from two different computers
and two different places. So I gave you a final copy.
There aren't that many changes. They're not that hard to find
from the previous draft that Mike Pettit had provided. So if you want
to, if you have Mike's, you might want to go by his and then I'll just
go over the changes.
Obviously, I'm on page 1. We changed it to June 7th. But I
think you did it in your draft, too, didn't you, Mike?
MR. PETTIT: Correct.
MR. PRITT: And the first change that I would like to highlight
was on -- hold on one second. Let me make sure real quick here.
Okay.
The first change I think I have is on page 2. If you see one
before that, let me know. I just don't have the notation for it.
We went into fire service under No.2. And I have a fairly long
section under two that is all new. And that should go over to page --
the end of page 4. And that is something that we will have to discuss
with the fire control district. The idea there was to try to come up
with at least the outline for a -- an agreement with the fire control
district as opposed to just leaving it out there and leaving it for the
four-year period that's provided by 171093.
Before we get into the details of that, because I'm sure that's
going to take a little while to talk about it, I'd like to go over and see
what else we have. On page 5, paragraph 3, at the top, we changed the
language. It says -- where it said, The City acknowledges that it will
be expanding its fire station, we thought that ought to be changed to,
plans to expanding -- plans to expand. I'm not sure we got that right,
but it should say -- yes, plans to expand.
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June 7, 2007
Mike, I'm not sure if that was in your draft or in ours.
MR. PETTIT: I'm having a hard time following you because we
just -- we didn't -- this is the first time I've ever seen this.
MR. PRITT: Okay. On page --
MR. PETTIT: I mean, this is the first time I've ever seen the
draft was five minutes ago.
MR. PRITT: Okay. Paragraph 3. (As read): In its urban
services report for the annexation of Collier Park of Commerce dated
October 17,2006, the City acknowledges that it plans to expand the
fire station.
MR. PETTIT: Is that -- that's an exact quote out of the urban
services report? Is that where I'm going to make the change?
DR. LEE: Take a look. No. I think that's just back. I can't say
we are. I mean, that is our plan. I don't know that it actually says
"plan."
MR. PRITT: Well, I saw that as pretty minor, but--
MR. PETTIT: I just -- just wondered. I mean, I don't have the
urban services report in front of me. (Inaudible).
THE COURT REPORTER: I'm sorry. I can't hear you.
MR. PETTIT: I didn't -- I didn't bring the urban services report
with me today. I had it the last time. I was trying to make it
consistent with that.
DR. LEE: I don't think it's inconsistent. It's just that I don't think
-- I don't think it says that exact. It doesn't quote that.
MR. PRITT: Bob, after that the next one that I see is on No.4,
recycling. And the last sentence should read, The City -- this is a new
sentence -- the City is in the process of considering for adoption its
own nonresidential recycling ordinance. And upon adoption, the
City's ordinance will be followed.
I think that's what would happen, anyhow.
MR. MUDD: Yeah. I don't have a problem with that one.
MR. PETTIT: I don't either.
Page 4
June 7, 2007
MR. PRITT: On page -- well, I can't go by page numbers, I
guess.
On No.7, utility taxes, communications taxes, we're
recommending deletion of franchise fees. And we would add, The
parties acknowledge -- I think that -- I think it said the City
acknowledges -- but the parties acknowledge that the County as a
property owner and the CPOC is immune from and shall not be
subject to any utility tax or communication tax levied by the City.
Oh, I know. We said -- it had said the parties acknowledge and
agree.
MR. PETTIT: Uh-huh.
MR. PRITT: I think that this -- that more appropriately it should
be an acknowledgment. We believe -- we all believe around the table,
I think, that these -- that these things are true. But I am suggesting
also that we add the language, The fire district -- well, I think we
already added the language. The fire district was also immune from,
et cetera.
And then last sentence, The parties acknowledge that immunity
from taxation is created, conditioned and/or abolished by operation of
state law and not local enactment. And I think that's actually
underlined in this draft. And I don't know why, but -- anyhow, that
would be an added recommended statement. I think that's a true
statement.
MR. PETTIT: And you want to delete the reference to the
rebate?
MR. PRITT: Yes. Yeah. I continue to have a problem with that.
Did you happen to get my e-mail?
MR. PETTIT: I got that, although I don't know that that's
dispositive, Bob, because I agree that FP&L can't treat folks
differently, that this is an agreement with the City for purposes of
affecting an interlocal service boundary agreement. I'm not sure that
you're bound to treat us any particular way for purposes of this
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June 7, 2007
agreement by statute.
MR. PRITT: I understand that. That's a place I don't want to go.
And we'll recommend that the City not under any circumstances agree
to that. I know the County has other ways of dealing with matters
concerning the City. I don't think that we need to get involved in
something that -- that is that much of a potential problem.
MR. PETTIT: My recommendation, Mr. Mudd, is we take that
under advisement.
MR. MUDD: Okay.
MR. PRITT: Does anybody have a clue as to how much we're
talking about?
MR. PETTIT: Pardon me?
MR. PRITT: Anybody have a clue as to how much money we're
talking about per year? I don't know if it's a $5,000 item or $50,000
item or half-million-dollar item, but that might be something worth
knowing.
MR. PETTIT: I don't know.
DR. LEE: That's a good point.
MR. PRITT: Yeah. We pay it. We can't get ourselves out of it
that I know how. And it seems to me that FPL would have a problem
with it and I don't want to go there.
Okay. On concurrency, paragraph 8, some of this language
might be yours, Mike, the underlying strike-through. I don't know. If
it isn't, then it must be mine.
MR. PETTIT: Some of it -- some of the underlying and
strike-throughs you have is -- is mine.
MR. PRITT: Yeah.
MR. PETTIT: And in addition, in the draft I sent out this
morning and that I brought here today, it's kind of -- it came out faint.
We were trying to get it to come out in red. It didn't. We have some
language that we think tracks agreements or understanding between
County and City transportation issues.
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June 7, 2007
MR. PRITT: Okay. Well, let me just go through this just -- just
for purposes of going through the one draft and highlighting
everything that we have. And then we'll go through whatever you
have.
What the thought was here was -- ours came out faint, also, rather
than color. But it said, The City acknowledges and agrees -- about
halfway down -- that it shall contribute or require contribution of the
proportionate fair share occasioned by such increase toward the
necessary improvement as determined by the City and the County at
Horseshoe Drive.
I have no idea if that's consistent with any discussions that our
departments are having. And that's only a very tentative subject of
what -- what understanding they may have.
And then further on down, The City further agrees that the
needed, I would say, contributions toward the proportionate fair share
would be made within six months. I'm not sure about that date, but I
kind of left it alone for now. I just put a question mark above it.
After a post -annexation zoning or other land use approvals
increasing density or intensity of uses within the CPOC.
And then beyond that currently authorized by the County GMP
and Land Development Code which -- which I think is about the same
thing that you had said in your draft. And, again, maybe that was your
change.
This does not apply to the extent that any increases in density or
intensity are attributable to County operations as a property owner in
the area to be annexed. And this particular annexation, we all know
that the County is a, I guess, an owner of a pretty intensive use portion
of property within the district. And we wouldn't want to be penalized
by something that the County's actually doing.
And then I had asked at the last meeting where -- where is the
County's agreement? What is the County going to do, the fire district
going to do? And I think it was left as I was supposed to come up
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June 7, 2007
with some language, but I did anyhow. And it would say, The County
-- a new No.9 -- the County and the fire district agree that they will
forego objection and challenge to the CPOC annexation which is the
subject of this agreement. If any of their agents, employees, unions,
or any other person who may be acting in concert with or at the behest
of either agency shall challenge the annexation, this agreement shall
be void.
MR. PETTIT: Okay. Just, Mr. Pritt, let me -- let me go back to
eight. I -- I don't think we're going to get -- I hate to say this, but I
don't think we're going to get that finalized today because I -- on the
language I sent you, there were changes that I understood were the
result of the discussions. I just got it this morning and I sent it out to
you.
It doesn't necessarily track what's in your draft. I don't think I'd
be prepared to advise Mr. Mudd to go forward until we can compare it
and maybe have some more discussion.
MR. PRITT: Well, and then going to No. 12.
MS. DONALDSON: Oh, also, can I ask a question on No.9? I
don't mean to interrupt. Do you want me to wait until we're at the
end?
MR. PRITT: Oh, sure. No. Go ahead.
MS. DONALDSON: Okay. Laura Donaldson on behalf of East
Naples Fire Control District.
My question to you is this last sentence, No.9, If any other
agents, employees, unions, or persons who may be acting in concert
with or at the behest. I just want to make sure, you know, if we can
make it very clear what "in concert with or at the behest." Because
obviously our unions can do whatever it wants to do. And I don't
know if we provide information regarding the annexation, are we then
considered acting in concert with? So I would just like that somewhat
clarified.
We can't control our unions just like you can't control your own
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June 7, 2007
employees. If they want to challenge the annexation, they want to
challenge the annexation. I'm just a little uncomfortable agreeing to
something that deals with our unions and employees that we have no
control over.
MR. PRITT: Well, if that happens and the agreement should be
void, that's all we're agreeing to.
MS. DONALDSON: All right. It just seems like a lot of time's
been spent on trying to get an agreement that could be voided because
someone's employee challenges the annexation, but, okay.
MR. PETTIT: I just -- you know, I mean, the only thing I would
say is that I don't think the County's affected by nine. Just at first
blush, I don't see why we have a problem with it, but Laura may have.
That's absolutely true. We spent, I don't know how many -- it seems
like we've been in a meeting a lot and we've got drafts going back and
forth. I agree. I don't know how the fire district necessarily controls
the union. I mean, there's just -- and -- and so, therefore, actions that
they can't control, you would have -- basically undo all this work
we've done.
MR. PRITT: I understand everything you-all are saying. I'm just
saying if that happens, then the agreement's void. If you can't control
them, you can't control them.
MR. PETTIT: You know, I wouldn't -- I recommend we agree to
that.
MR. PRITT: Okay. Why should -- why should they go through
-- the City go through another six months of hearings only to have
somebody from one of the districts come in and the district come in
there and innocently say, Well, gee. We can't control them. All -- all
I'm saying is, hey, if that happens, then the deal's off. The deal should
be off.
MS. DONALDSON: I think you misunderstood. I said I'd like
clarifying language what you mean by "in concert with and at the
behest." I didn't say delete the provision. Because my concern is, you
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June 7, 2007
know, the City of Naples finds out that they don't like a provision and,
you know, someone in the union files a challenge and because we
provide information. Which we're a public agency so we have to
provide information any ways, that's deemed to be in concert with. I
would just like that clarified.
MR. PRITT: There are two separate sentences. Let me try to
clarify it one more time; two separate sentences.
MS. DONALDSON: I think we can just move on from that one.
I mean, I think we're just not going to be able to come up with
anything.
MR. PETTIT: The only thing -- let me -- what about if it said --
MR. PRITT: Well, do you want me to clarify it or not?
MR. PETTIT: Well, why don't you clarify it and see if we
understand your clarification?
MR. PRITT: Two separate sentences. The County and the fire
district agree that they will forego objection and challenge to the
CPOC annexation, which is the subject of this agreement. That's one
sentence.
The other sentence is, If any of their agents, employees, unions or
any other person who may be acting in concert with or at the behest of
either agency shall challenge the annexation, this agreement shall be
void.
MR. PETTIT: Well, my problem is with the word "may." May.
Who determines that? Somebody may be acting at the behest. I
mean, even if you have the word "is," that would have to be something
definitive.
Here it says "may." "May" is in the eye of the beholder in this
set of circumstances. And I think you gave an example for about
potential for people asking for public records and then using those and
turning around and using those records to put together a challenge.
DR. LEE: Why don't we -- anything else? In this particular
case, why don't we -- we move on. I think there's been -- I think if we
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June 7, 2007
can get through the contract and at least understand what's being
presented and then we could probably go back to where there's still a
question. How's that sound?
MR. PRITT: Dispute resolution, No. 12. Should any disputes or
alleged breaches arise with this agreement, the City, the County and
fire district agree that such disputes shall be resolved in accordance
with -- and I think it's just recitation that it's the Florida Interlocal
Service Boundary Agreement Act, Section 171.212.
And then I would recommend adding, However, nothing in this
agreement shall prohibit the parties from attempting to resolve or to
resolve any disputes under this agreement by any alternative dispute
resolution means in the most expeditious and least expensive means
possible, and alternate dispute resolution is encouraged. The
procedures in paragraph 2-G will be employed in those matters under
that paragraph and may, with the consent of the parties, be employed
herein.
You have to go back to -- to G. And, again, that's a matter of the
fire control district. And what would happen -- what could happen
there is there might be some fairly minor intramural disputes about an
amount of this or that or the other thing. And I was trying to do
something that was cheap and quick and expeditious as possible to
resolve those issues so that we're not going to do 164 proceedings and
all of those types of proceedings for matters that could easily be
resolved quickly and cheaply. And not -- so that's what that sentence
does. It refers back to that.
It would not only be for 2-G, but would be at least a thought for
all of us rather than running off to the formalized proceedings, one
formalized proceeding. Let's see if we can take a shot at getting
together and getting it taken care of through ultimate dispute
resolution.
I think that's it. We did -- well, the term, the initial terms would
be for five years following the effective date. Renegotiation shall
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June 7, 2007
commence not later than 18 months before the date of expiration. And
renegotiation shall be governed by the initial negotiation procedures as
set forth in the act. And I think that was your language, Mike, or it
was out of the -- I think we agreed that was out of the statute.
And have I covered everything that was of interest too?
MS. DONALDSON: Can I make a comment on 15?
Depending on what's decided on Section 2, I would like the term
to kind of mirror how long the fire service, because that seems to be
the one issue, that's kind of an ongoing. I know you proposed four
years and however many months. But depending on what ends up
being that final thing, if it's changed, I don't want to have an
agreement that expires when we're still providing service or whatever
is agreed to in Section 2.
MR. PRITT: That's a valid point.
DR. LEE: I would agree.
MR. PRITT: Okay. I'm looking to see in missed anything other
than -- I believe that's it. If not, is there anything on this? And if not,
do we want to go to talk about No.2, Laura, or do we want to talk
about Mike's draft first? What do you guys want to do?
MS. DONALDSON: You know, I -- I think we should address
Mike's draft first. I'd like for you to go through all of Section 2 and
then what I'll probably recommend is that we break since we just got
this. And this is a first time we've seen this proposal.
And it's extremely substantive and very different than what we've
ever seen before. But we can -- I think Mike -- if you're okay with
going next.
DR. LEE: Is this Mike's draft? I'm not sure which one's Mike's
draft. I'm sorry. I wasn't here last meeting.
MR. PETTIT: My draft is the one in red with the red "June 7th"
on it.
DR. LEE: Okay. I don't -- I don't have one in red.
MR. PETTIT: We have 10 or 12 copies.
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June 7, 2007
MR. PRITT: Do you have one for each of us?
MR. SALVATORI: You can borrow mine, if you like.
MR. PETTIT: I -- I sent that out this morning.
MR. PRITT: I was -- yeah. You know, I was in --
DR. LEE: Does anyone not have a copy? We can run a quick
copy.
CHIEF MCEVOY: I'd like to get a copy.
DR. LEE: Laura, if we could just take a couple moments to
make some copies.
MR. PETTIT: That's fine.
(Short recess was taken.)
DR. LEE: Okay. We're back. Was Mike going to cover the
agreement?
MR. PETTIT: I'm just going to move it into paragraph 3. We
have a change that the City's proposed some language that says, The
City acknowledges that it will expand its fire station. That's our
language. The City wants, the City acknowledges the plans to expand
its fire station. I've just got a "maybe" by that. That's probably
something we can agree to, but I -- I really, frankly, want to look at
the back of the (inaudible).
I think Mr. Mudd and I have already agreed that the City's
additional sentence in paragraph 4 is okay on recycling. I don't think
there were any changes in paragraph 5.
When we get to paragraph 6 -- I sent these changes several weeks
ago now. You can see the changes there. One of the things I think we
changed was to make it clear that we weren't going to be dealing with
widening. That came out of the last discussion at the last meeting.
I'm going to seven and comparing the two. I think we're -- we're
not quite there yet on the rebate. W e'lllook at that some more. I
heard what, Bob, you said and what your recommendation is. So I
want to put that one to a side, but I don't think we object to the
sentence about immunity from taxation. So I think we can -- we could
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June 7, 2007
add that in. But I think we're still maybe a little bit at odds on -- on
the rebate issue.
Paragraph 8 is where we had changes that we only sent out this
morning and I apologize for that. As I -- as -- again, as I understand it,
a lot of this language captures what the transportation officials
discussed. And it may be that because it is different and it's -- it's
brand new today, I don't know how much we can get done with that
today . You may not be prepared to -- to work through that, but
obviously there is some differences.
MR. PRITT: Mike?
MR. MUDD: I just -- can I just --
MR. PRITT: Oh, I'm sorry. How do you see -- how do you
think we're really far off on that? I'm kind of skimming through as we
go in here. Because I see you have "fair share" in here and
"coordination" which is kind of what we're asking for, I think.
MR. PETTIT: In that -- well, let's -- let's walk through it. I
know --
MR. MUDD: Mike, I just want to make one issue on -- on
paragraph 6 real quick because we've already gone through it.
MR. PETTIT: Okay.
MR. MUDD: There -- there is one -- there is one sentence that's
new. Okay. And -- and I'm -- and I'm trying to -- it's at the bottom of
five on -- on Bob Pritt's draft that says, The repairs needed shall be
determined by the City. Okay. I don't know if you caught that. I'm
just trying to --
MR. PRITT: I'm sorry. Paragraph what?
MR. MUDD: Paragraph 6 --
MR. PRITT: Paragraph six.
MR. MUDD: -- bottom of page 5. There's only one sentence
that's inclusive in the bottom line. It says, The repairs needed shall be
determined by the City. And that's not in Mike's draft. So I just want
to make sure --
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June 7, 2007
MR. PETTIT: I didn't see it.
MR. MUDD: Do you see it?
MR. PETTIT: I see it now.
MR. MUDD: Okay.
DR. LEE: You want to cover that, Bob?
MR. PRITT: Okay.
MR. MUDD: I don't think I disagreed with the line being added.
DR. LEE: I don't know. I thought that might have been covered.
MR. MUDD: I just want to -- I just want to -- I just want to
make sure --
DR. LEE: Absolutely.
MR. MUDD: -- that -- that we know that that line's been added
and it's different than the draft that you have, Mike.
DR. LEE: That's correct.
MS. DONALDSON: Do we know when the actual amount will
be determined? I mean, is it going to be part of the annexation -- part
of the annexation agreement with the -- or the property owners?
DR. LEE: We have some consent with the property owners. I
think the purpose of this was just stating that they're in agreement to
pay up to 175,000. It could be something less than that or it could be
something more, but we'll have a separate annexation agreement to
cover that.
MR. PETTIT: Well, I think, Jim, the key piece for us is the next
sentence. We're not obligated.
MR. MUDD: Yup. That's -- that's still -- that's the same
sentence as I believe what you've got in yours.
MR. PETTIT: I think as to public roadways is that I don't see a
problem. That sounds good. Decide what the standard is you want to
bring those roadways up to.
MR. MUDD: I'm sorry? I'm back to you.
MR. PETTIT: Let's go back to paragraph 8. I mean, we could--
we can go through these and compare these side by side if you want,
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June 7, 2007
because I'm not sure. There was some changes in what we sent to you
earlier and now there are more changes what I sent out today. I'm not
sure they're all (inaudible).
In our draft we have -- I think one of the things we're trying to
make clear is that there are two types of development that did occur
here. One is that we could have development that expands intensity
beyond what is allowed today. That's one kind of development.
Another kind of development may be development of what's already
there in accordance with that intensity, but still may have an impact on
the roadways. I think we're trying to -- trying to deal with both
circumstances. I think that's the best way I can describe it.
And Jim Mudd has suggested -- and I see -- see the reason for the
suggestion. In the sentence that begins with the word "accordingly,"
the second sentence and paragraph. If you follow along there it says,
The City acknowledges and agrees that it shall coordinate the review
of the development to assess the impacts and collect any fair share.
We should add the word "contributions" there or "contribution."
And then I think that tracks one of the changes in your draft,
Bob, farther down where it says, The City further agrees that needed
contribution -- I put this language in -- needed contribution toward
proportionate fair share shall be made within six months after any
post-annexation, zoning or approvals increasing density or intensity.
Now, that one I don't know that we can agree with. It does track that
language of contribution. I think we need to look at that one.
MR. PRITT: Just conceptually -- and I apologize ifI'd forgotten
since we went over it, but certainly Dr. Lee wasn't here. Conceptually
on these improvements that we're talking about, wasn't it four
intersection improvements? But conceptually these are County
intersections, are they not? And this -- I think it originally had said
that we were going to make the improvements. And I don't think you
want us to make improvements to your County intersection.
And, of course, we would object to paying -- I think where we
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June 7, 2007
were and maybe we would object to paying all the money to make
improvements to County intersections. And I think that's what we
were sending everybody back, the traffic people back. And I don't see
our traffic people here. Are they here to talk about -- and I don't know
what they came up with. So maybe this is it.
MR. MUDD: Let me -- let me -- let me put it this way. Okay.
When I -- when I plan to leave here, I will get Norm and his crew and
say, Go on over to the City with their group and beat out language on
eight that everybody can live with. Okay? And let them come back
with that -- with that language.
And I'd expect your guys, Bob, to come back up to you or Bob.
And -- and -- and Norm to come back up to Mike and -- and relay that.
And then hopefully when they swap their thing, that it's there. And
they've got that concurrency piece down pat. Okay? But I'm not
going to sit there and try to smith over that. I'm going to let those guys
work it out. That's what they get paid for.
MR. PETTIT: I -- I think we're pretty close to that.
MR. MUDD: Yeah. I don't think we're that far -- I don't think
we're that far away.
MR. PETTIT: We're almost there.
DR. LEE: One suggestion maybe, too, it appears that we're
going to be meeting again, is if we can work off one document at a
time. The City's proposal, this date and then you'll come back with
some amendment if that need be. I'm following it, but it's not the
easiest way.
MR. MUDD: Well, I'm following. I'm trying to do three
documents. Okay? This isn't fun at all.
MR. PETTIT: And I -- and I totally agree with you. I think
what's -- what's got to happen, we've -- we've narrowed this down now
to the point that really Bob and I need to create a unified document to
distribute next time. So we just have to get it out in sufficient time tocdo that.
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June 7, 2007
DR. LEE: Okay.
MR. SALVA TORI: Can I raise one more point so -- I agree with
Jim's suggestion about word-smithing it out, but you've introduced a
new concept that's not in the City's that we haven't seen before, Mike,
and that's in the first change that you had in paragraph 8 about ifthere
should be any additional development or redevelopment.
And the way I'm reading that is that if somebody comes in and
wants to build an industrial use on properties zoned industrial, they
pay their impact fees. But potentially could have to pay additional
costs for some of these infrastructure improvements that we're talking
about.
And to me fair share should be the impact fees that are being
assessed and nothing more if you're really consistent with the current
zoning that you have on the property.
I could see additional monies being paid if there is intentional --
more intentional development, commercial use of that front piece, for
example. That makes sense to me. But if they're -- if they're building
something already zoned for, they should probably be paying only
their impact fees. I'm not sure how you feel about that, but from a
property owner's perspective, that -- that's --
MR. MUDD: And I don't -- and I don't disagree with you on that
one. Okay? And I think that's part of the hammering out that they
need to do.
MR. SALVATORI: Y eah. You could kind of keep that in mind,
you know.
DR. LEE: Good point.
MR. MUDD: Ours -- ours -- our -- mine was -- mine was always
intensity and density.
MR. PETTIT: Right. And I agree. That's what we started out
with that I will tell you that there was a concept that I know there's
some vacant property back there.
MR. SALVATORI: Yeah.
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June 7, 2007
MR. PETTIT: And the concept was you have an allowed
intensity now, but that can cause -- that could throw one of these
intersections into failure also.
MR. SALVA TORI: But it just strikes me as a property owner
that that would be disproportionally borne by that particular property
as opposed to something zoned for. That's what his impact fees would
be for. That's -- that's --
MR. PETTIT: As well as transportation.
MR. PRITT: You know, as you might guess, I would jump in
and agree with Leo's point of view, but I -- I -- because I do think
conceptually we are talking about something that's over and above
what the County would be permitting. And the County would already
be permitting --
MR. SAL V A TORI: Industrial.
MR. PRITT: -- development of that park. And so, anyhow, if
we can keep the concept of anything over and above, then I think that
we're getting pretty close to it.
DR. LEE: Okay.
MR. PETTIT: I don't think on the next series of paragraphs after
eight there was much. The only two questions I have -- really the
question, we debated a little bit about -- about the second sentence in
the additional paragraph 9.
Because, again, I just -- I'm troubled that all this goes down the
tubes because somebody may be acting. I mean, this doesn't make
sense to me. We may need to discuss that more. And then dispute
resolution.
DR. LEE: Do you -- do you have a question? Do you have any
problem with the first sentence?
MR. PETTIT: The first sentence in nine, no.
DR. LEE: Right. Because that's -- okay.
MR. PETTIT: No. In fact, that's what I thought it was going to
be. That's what I thought it was going to be. I thought Bob was one
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June 7, 2007
going to add that. That's fine.
MS. DONALDSON: And the district doesn't have a problem
with the first sentence either.
MR. PETTIT: We just need to deal with the second sentence.
And maybe there's a way we can assuage Bob's concerns and our
concerns with reasonable additional language.
And then, Bob, I -- you got me on 12. I mean, the dispute
resolution process, and I don't have the statute in front of me, I thought
maybe required Chapter 164. If the statute could be read to be
flexible, I agree with you. I just don't -- I need to go back and look at
it.
MR. PRITT: Yeah. And I'm not saying we wouldn't go through
164. I'm trying to put in a pre-164 provision in there so that we could
take care of kind of rinky-dink disputes. Primarily if it had to do with
something to do with something -- some numbers crunching between
the City and the fire control district that -- because 164 is pretty --
MR. PETTIT: Ifwe lawfully can do that, that's fine with me
because I find that procedure to be unduly cumbersome. And a lot of
times it prolongs disputes. And I just want to check the statute. I
think we probably -- we can probably get that one fixed pretty
quickly.
MR. PRITT: Laura, conceptually, do you have a problem with
that as long as we're not going to legal.
MS. DONALDSON: Conceptually, no.
MR. PRITT: A pre-164, let's see if we can find it, then. Get
something -- get the chief judge to appoint somebody which he'll
usually go through. I've -- I've done that in the past. It's always been
successful in resolving disputes. I can't think of one that didn't get
resolved.
And the -- normally what they do is appoint somebody who --
who does arbitrations or mediations. And the only -- the only reason
for asking the chief judge to have that done is that then nobody can
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June 7, 2007
complain that it's -- that somebody's trying to monkey with the
process. It takes away that argument really. There might be a better
way of doing it, but I just -- let's do it as cheap as we can.
MR. PETTIT: I think it's worth exploring definitely because I
agree with you. You don't want to be in 164 unless we absolutely
have to.
MR. PRITT: Right.
MR. PETTIT: That would be my recommendation to my client.
But that's getting the board together and the County manager and the
City manager together and it's a pretty time-consuming process.
The only other change I had was on the term which we've already
talked about. And you guys talked about -- you and Laura talked
about something just now, I'm not sure I caught it on the term. I
wasn't sure what you were saying.
MS. DONALDSON: Depending on what the final conclusion is
of the interlocal -- of the fire service section, it may actually be more
than four years and six months. For example, if we go under the
statute, say it goes for four years six months, it would go under the
statute, it actually goes until 2000 -- October 1,2012. So depending
on when it was signed -- I just want to make sure that --
MR. PETTIT: We could have five -- five years or --
MS. DONALDSON: Exactly.
MR. PETTIT: -- whichever is longer.
MS. DONALDSON: Yeah. That's -- that's all. I just didn't want
to have an agreement expire midway through whatever the fire service
prOVISiOn.
DR. LEE: I would agree.
MR. PETTIT: That's -- that's no problem.
MR. PRITT: I think lawyers can come up with the language that
covers that. And there are a couple ways of doing it. We may not
want to have the whole agreement go the same amount of time.
Let's say the agreement's longer than the -- than the agreement
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June 7, 2007
between the City and the fire district, but you could still have
provisions that survive the length of one agreement or the other. So I
think we can work with the language on that.
MS. DONALDSON: And I just want to point out going back to
the dispute resolution. The statute does say "shall" but, obviously, we
have to review what your lot equipment and interlocal agreement.
And maybe they'll allow us to not follow Section 171.212, but it says
if there's a dispute, a local agreement shall initiate under Chapter 164.
MR. PETTIT: What I -- what I can't remember sitting here
without looking at the statute is whether 164 itself contemplates some
alternative to 164 before you get to 164. I think it might. And I think
we ought to look at it because that's just such a cumbersome
procedure. That would make sense particularly in a small -- some sort
of small issue.
I think that takes us back to the fire service piece which is, I
guess, between you two.
MR. PRITT: Okay. On the fire service issue, I'll speak for
myself, I tried to come up with something that would track 171.093
and have it as part of this -- this agreement. I don't know that anything
is cast in concrete, at least not in my mind, but the district has been
asking for some type of an offer.
And we know what 171.093 says. I know it's got some
ambiguities in it, in my opinion. But I'll try to come up with
something that would at least be the springboard for a -- for
discussion. And I realize that maybe it's a lot to -- to try to figure out.
Not to figure out, but try to digest at one time. And I don't have any
problem if you want to caucus for a while or if we need to come back
and talk about it again. But I'll just try and go through it and lay it out
for you.
The transition with -- under 2-A would be 90 days after
annexation and that the City would become the provider of the
services. The fire district and the City would provide for transfer of
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June 7, 2007
service responsibilities, equipment and personnel to the City within
that period -- within such period. The fire district shall within the
90-day transition period provide first responder services. So that
would be clear as to who would provide the services during that
transition period.
B, the City would be responsible for plan, review and approval
upon annexation. New applications filed after the annexation date will
be reviewed by the City. The fire district would turn over to the City
all pending applications and plans for plan review within 30 days after
annexation. Fees for plan review and permitting will be charged by
the reviewing agency in accordance with the City's fee schedule. And
the fire district shall cooperate in the transition and provide a plan
review for briefing and training if requested by the City. The City will
reimburse the fire district for the actual cost of the reviewer. The
boundary would contract to delete the annexed area on the date of the
-- and that should not say by the time and date of annexation.
Employees, any employee of the fire district that may be
displaced by the transition will be considered for employment by the
City in the same capacity or in as equivalent a capacity as may be
available within -- within the City.
This was written without any knowledge on my part as to
whether or not there would be any contracts, union contracts that
might -- or policies that might impinge -- impinge on that. And I
recognize that there mayor may not be. But it seems to me that an
employee would have the right to see if he could or she could be
employed by the City regardless of any contracts, but, then, again,
maybe somebody could show otherwise.
Equipment and equipment that may be deemed surplus by
operation of this agreement will be considered for purchase or
assumption of the lease or other obligation by the City and its then fair
value. I don't know if that's even relevant, but I tried to put something
in there that would at least cover that.
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June 7, 2007
And then payments by the City in order -- in order to provide an
orderly transition and to ameliorate loss of fire district. Ad valorem
tax revenues -- I said, "ad valorem." It probably should be "tax
revenues." Ad valorem tax revenues that may be detrimental to
continued operation of the fire district, the City as provider will agree
to have the fire district provide first responder fire service, but not
planned review and inspections over a four-year-and-six-month period
payable in equal installments within 30 days after the end of each
fiscal quarter in according to the following formula.
And then the formula has, too, an amount equal to the ad valorem
taxes or assessments that would have collected had the property
remained in the district reduced by the expense of the City for
personnel cost, purchase of the equipment or assumption of
indebtedness for equipment and for any other expenses incurred by the
City under this -- under the paragraph, which is paragraph 2, or
otherwise as a result of this agreement in each fiscal year.
And, two, an offset against any ad valorem taxes and assessments
that may be levied by the fire district in the fiscal year in which the
boundary contracts. IfI'm correct on that, No.2, just the explanation
is that in the one year -- in the year that it contracts, there may be
some ad valorem taxes and assessments that are levied and collected.
And we would want to have an offset against that. But that's not
relevant. You-all know more about how you do your taxes than I do.
But that's -- that's kind of the concept there, so -- so that you
understand what the thinking is, whether it's valid thinking or not.
And then the dispute resolution clause. Again, I recognize that
there may be other things that would need to be covered. I'm sure
there are other things that need to be covered, but this was an attempt
to at least put into playa concept for you to -- for us to talk about and
for you to take a look at so you have something that you can at least
go by and react to and respond to.
MS. DONALDSON: I -- at first I just wanted to say that I have
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June 7, 2007
some questions to ask and then based on your answers, I think that this
will be something that we're not going to have an agreement on today.
This is very different than what the statute provides for in regards to
boundaries, four years six months, the reduction of revenues.
But, so having said that, I just want to say when the next meeting
is scheduled, I will make sure that you have it well in advance. I
know I did that with the first offer per Dr. Lee's request. He asked me
not to give it to him the day of or the day before. And I think I sent it
to you two weeks before. And I will give the same courtesy this time.
Because if not, it really becomes almost a waste of time.
My Fire Chief is out of town right now. So I'm not in a position
to make decisions on this. Had I received it last week, I might have
had responses to some of the issues. But if I could ask some questions
on page 2 --
MR. PRITT: Before you ask the question, could I respond to one
thing?
MS. DONALDSON: Yes.
MR. PRITT: The -- we probably need to really understand and
agree, if we can, or agree/disagree on the concept as to whether or not
we can do that. Because it's my understanding that that's what the
ISBA statute is designed to allow. If you disagree, then -- then I think
we need to -- at least I do -- hit the books to see whether or not we're
wasting our time on this too. Because I agree with that. I don't want
to waste my time on something that would be not allowed by the
statute.
But I -- but in reading 171.093 and the ISBA statute together, I
think that this is designed for us to be able to do that. So if you don't,
then -- then we probably ought to talk about that as a special issue.
MS. DONALDSON: I don't have a problem with the concepts. I
have taken issue with getting them the minute before the meeting
starting and hoping to have some resolution.
My comment about wasting time is more so getting an agreement
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June 7, 2007
right before a meeting starts and not having the ability to discuss it
through with a client makes it a little bit difficult to really have a very
fruitful meeting and come up with some resolution. That was my only
point.
And I'll just make sure for the next meeting if we have one, that
you'll get a response to this section in advance of the meeting.
DR. LEE: One thing too I might add, the way we've been
approaching this I think has worked very well. But when we get down
to something like this and I think Mr. Pritt mentioned it a little earlier,
there may be some advantage to us having some caucus.
Typical -- typically during negotiations, as you're well aware
even collective bargaining agreements, I mean, that's all open to the
public. But certainly each side's attorney could get together with the
people they represent, take 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and come back.
And maybe we can productively work through some of these issues so
we're not having to -- even if we get that from you ahead of time and
we come back with something at the meeting, it's still begging if
there's anything different yet another meeting.
So I don't know if we could have some agreement that -- that we
will actually try to work it through at that meeting even if it means I
need to take a break to consult with legal counsel and you do the
same. And then we come back.
You get on the public so we can -- not having to wait thirty days
or two weeks or whatever it is. It's not like when we're not having
meetings with our legal counsel. It's not like you're not having any
meetings with your police chief, any ways. This may be a way to
move it more expeditiously as opposed to waiting, you know, till we
get together on it.
Is there any -- anyone have any concerns with that?
MS. DONALDSON: I mean, I think as we saw earlier today, we
were -- there were things that we could agree to right here that didn't
need caucusing. I think when you have something that's really
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June 7, 2007
substantive, though, you know, I mean, you could have a really long
caucus to try to come through it, and it could be a really -- I mean, I'm
fine with it. I think that would be a more efficient use of our time.
But I think we should plan on at least if it's a big substantive
issue, plan on a longer meeting. I don't know if this has got like a --
the meetings that we did is with an end time. Because I think that the
caucusing on something like what we just received would take a very
long time. Because I think it's not only coming up with a response,
but coming up with a counteroffer.
DR. LEE: I think what I was going to -- and I don't disagree with
you on that. There may be some things that take extra long caucuses
and that may not be fair to particularly you.
If one party's -- if we're able to get to some resolution with the
County on the issues that we have, but for them to be sitting through
this, but it maybe just long enough where you can say, If you can give
us some direction as to what you're going to be looking at and what
we should be looking at, again, so we could have some -- the next
time we get together is a little more productive.
At least that's what I'm suggesting. And I understand without the
chief being here, that's certainly a disadvantage for you. But maybe if
we plan on coming next time with the understanding that that's okay,
then that may help us to continue the meeting as well.
MS. DONALDSON: I'm fine with that.
DR. LEE: So--
MS. DONALDSON: Can I finish up my questions?
DR. LEE: Yeah. So if you want to go with your questions --
MS. DONALDSON: Okay. Let me -- and I just want to go on
record, just because I'm not asking questions on some things, it doesn't
mean we won't have an issue with that. I just want clarification on
some points.
You put the fire district and City will provide for transfer of
services, responsibilities, equipment and personnel.
Page 27
June 7, 2007
And I guess my question, and I think you alluded to it through
your comment, what equipment and what personnel? I mean, we just
can't transfer personnel.
MR. PRITT: You can add "if any."
MS. DONALDSON: Okay. In subsection or paragraph B, you
put, The fire district shall cooperate and shall provide a plan reviewer
for briefing and training if requested by the City.
And I guess my question is: What do you envision that be?
Like, how long do you envision that -- I mean, you've got a 90 -- 90
days after -- you know, you've got this 90-day transition period. Does
that mean during the 90 -- all 90 days we're providing a plan reviewer
to the City for training? I guess I'm just trying to figure out what you
want for that provision.
MR. PRITT: In one of our meetings, I think maybe it was in one
of the annexations, I had heard that you have an outside firm.
Everybody shares an outside plan review.
MS. DONALDSON: Angela, Commissioner Davis is saying no.
MR. PRITT: I'm sorry. I didn't hear that.
MS. DONALDSON: No.
MS. DAVIS: No.
MR. PRITT: Well, it may if it's outside or inside, but we would
want to have somebody available to provide any type of training. We
don't want to have somebody to just go turn out the lights and send
something over. And by the same token, we would be willing to
reimburse you for that.
DR. LEE: But we don't -- I don't think with this we're not really
sure to what level we would even need any. But I think the idea was
here that there would be an agreement that if we did need your
assistance over here in an appropriate transition, that we would pay for
that.
But not knowing what, if anything, is on the table, it would be
difficult to -- it would probably be more specific than that, but that
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June 7, 2007
was the intent just so that --
MS. DONALDSON: Okay.
DR. LEE: -- it would be a transition.
MS. DONALDSON: Basically you just don't want us to drop off
all the plans that they might have been in the pipeline for three months
and not telling you what's happened thus far?
DR. LEE: There may be an issue of -- of great importance that
you -- that we should know about.
MS. DONALDSON: Okay. And then for E, There's any
equipment that may be deemed surplus.
And then if you go on by operation, This agreement will be
considered for purchase by the City. It's then marked at fair value.
Who's deeming the equipment surplus? I mean, are we going to sit
down -- if we come up with some agreement to what this section says,
also going to come up with a list of what equipment we deem to be
surplus?
MR. PRITT: I think you have the authority to deem what is
surplus of your own equipment. My guess is that you would be taught
-- that your chief would be would be talking to ours and -- and looking
to see whether or not anything has become surplus.
DR. LEE: Deemed surplus by the district?
MS. DONALDSON: By the district.
MR. PRITT: I don't mind saying that. Because I think they're
the ones who have the legal authority to declare it surplus.
MS. DONALDSON: And then on page 4, your F-1, you put that
the ad valorem taxes payments would be reduced by the expenses to
the City for personnel cost?
MR. PRITT: Yes.
MS. DONALDSON: Is that personnel cost to serve the area?
That basically you're going to take over the plan review. And then
you're going to say, Well, this is how much it costs us to do plan
review. So we're going to decrease how much the payment to you is
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June 7, 2007
by that amount. I'm just trying to figure out what the expense the City
for the personnel costs.
MR. PRITT: I'm sorry. That would be personnel cost
attributable to the -- to the agreement.
MS. DONALDSON: Okay. The personnel cost for that trainer,
that --
MR. PRITT: Sure. Right.
MS. DONALDSON: -- plan reviewer in B?
MR. PRITT: Yes.
MS. DONALDSON: And that's the only one that's what that's
supposed to be for? So basically you're saying that we have to give --
we have to give you someone to train --
(Phone ringing.)
MS. DONALDSON: Oh, I apologize. And that you're going to
pay us, but then on the back end you're going to take it out of the
money you owe us out of the ad valorem?
MR. PRITT: Yes.
MS. DONALDSON: Okay. Well-- okay. So in reality we
could strike out the, if we agreed to this language, that the City would
reimburse the fire district because in reality you're really not. I mean,
it's kind of taking money from one hand and putting it in another.
MR. PRITT: That's your editorial comment that -- if you think
that's a problem, then you can respond to it.
DR. LEE: I think I'd like to see what you folks -- and I
understand what your concerns are. I do.
MS. DONALDSON: I mean, it just seems kind of -- you're
paying us for us to give someone to you to train and then you're
deducting what you have to pay us for that training, but, okay.
DR. LEE: I understand.
MR. PRITT: Let me -- let me go back. It seems like the concept
should be that neither agency gets a windfall or suffers any adverse
consequences as a result of transferring simple services from one
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June 7, 2007
agency to the other.
We've got to keep in mind the taxpayer. And the taxpayer
shouldn't be paying twice. And somebody -- and one governmental
agency should not be able to line its pockets at the expense of the
other or at the expense of the taxpayer.
So how can we as lawyers and as people in different agencies
look out for the interest, mutual interest of the taxpayer? And we're
willing to -- at least I'm willing to take a look at anything that makes
sense.
MS. DONALDSON: I guess my question was just if you're
saying you're paying us for someone that's training, but then you're
deducting the cost later on. I mean, I can understand it's a taxpayer
thing, but it -- I think it could be -- that issue could be simplified. I
just wanted to know what personnel you were talking about.
MR. PRITT: But it seems to me that what you're saying is --
what you seem to be saying, and I apologize if I'm not saying it the
way you mean it, but it seemed like you're saying you pay us for the
personnel cost, and, oh, by the way, we want ad valorem -- the amount
of the ad valorem taxes also. That is a windfall to the fire control
district.
And, so, if we can all focus. I'm not sure that I've captured it, but
I really -- I really think that if we can just kind of focus on how to
make it revenue neutral. I hate to use that word. But -- but for the
benefit of the taxpayers so they're not paying extra for services --
unnecessarily extra for services to simply transfer it from one agency
to the other that -- that that would be a good thing.
MS. DONALDSON: And I think the easy solution to that would
be deleting that you're going to reimburse us for that person. And--
and -- and then -- but, I mean, I understand the windfall, but, you
know, we're looking at it from the statute gives us -- you have this
payment for four years. And I understand the windfall. I just -- I
think dealing with the trainer issue could be addressed differently to
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June 7, 2007
avoid a windfall based on the trainer.
My other--
MR. PRITT: We thought you might want the money up front for
the trainer. That -- I mean, that -- I say "we." That's -- that's what my
thinking was at the time that that's probably something you would
want to have right away and that would be fair for you to want that.
MS. DONALDSON: Because if under the theory that we had
hired someone from the outside so we'd be paying them.
MR. PRITT: Well, yeah. I don't know if it makes any difference
whether you did or didn't. But -- but if you're paying for somebody to
-- to help in the transition of training, then the thought was you
probably would want to get that money up front as opposed to as it
trickles in over the 4.6 years or four and a half year period. So that
was the thought, basically.
MR. SALVATORI: Could these personnel costs, though, also be
if you -- if the City hires any -- I'm not using the right term probably --
"surplus firefighters." If you find that the district doesn't need it and
you hired the East Naples Firefighters under the City, wouldn't that be
MR. PRITT: Yes.
MR. SALVATORI: -- personnel cost--
MR. PRITT: Yes.
MR. SALVATORI: -- listed as well?
MS. DONALDSON: (Inaudible) as well.
(Multiple voices.)
MR. SALVATORI: I'm just guessing.
MR. PRITT: I don't know if there --
MR. SAL VA TORI: I don't know if there will be after that.
MR. PRITT: -- it will be necessary for a single one or not, but --
MR. SALVATORI: I would just guess that would be part of that
same thing.
DR. LEE: If we could define that better, I think it does need
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June 7, 2007
further -- and if you -- if you have kind of a general concept, Laura,
perhaps you could come back with it.
MS. DONALDSON: I wish I did. I'll have to think about this
because this -- this is very different.
And then my next question, any -- what does any other expenses
incurred by the City under this paragraph or otherwise as a result of
this agreement? What -- what expenses? I mean -- I mean, it seems,
you know, I mean, I see what you're getting -- you -- you're trying to
take away a service that we provide. So then you're saying, Well, we
want -- since we're not providing the service, we're not going -- we
want to offset what we're paying you by the cost of that service.
And what ifthere's a dispute about how much we think that is? I
mean, basically we have no control over --
MR. PRITT: That's where G --
MS. DONALDSON: -- that we're -- okay, where G comes in.
And then the -- I want to jump back. So you're going to pay us equal
installments within 30 -- payable in equal installments of 30 at the end
of each fiscal year -- quarter. Technically, each year is a different
amount because it's based on what we would have received. I hate --
I'm sorry to be jumping backwards.
DR. LEE: Which one? Which item are you on?
MS. DONALDSON: At the bottom of3 and F it says, Over a
four year and six month period, payable in equal installments within
30 days with this formula.
MR. PRITT: After the end of each fiscal quarter.
MS. DONALDSON: So basically it's equal installments for each
fiscal quarter.
MR. PRITT: If you want to change that, we're open to that.
DR. LEE: Yeah.
MR. PRITT: I know that the amount of money doesn't come in
at a steady basis. It probably would favor us to have it not be that
way, but we try -- we figured that we need to have something in there
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June 7, 2007
that says how you're going to be paid. And that's not unreasonable for
us to come up with some kind of an agreement as to how it might be
paid.
MS. DONALDSON: I mean, recognizing a majority of the
payments come in November, December and January then it trickles
February, March and April. But -- but that -- I was just wondering
about when I read equal.
MR. PRITT: What accounting are you referring to?
MS. DONALDSON: That's actually talking to the fire districts
here when they get paid. Most people like to pay in November
because of the discounts especially related to a commerce park.
Generally businesses pay --
MR. SALVATORI: November 30th or March 31st and nothing
in between.
MR. PRITT: But the money doesn't come over until quite a bit
later, I don't think. Maybe -- maybe your commissioner knows or is
there anybody here from the district that knows when they --
MS. DAVIS: I'm not sure when the money comes in.
MS. DONALDSON: I think it comes in really quickly since this
was an issue that we looked on for -- but that that's -- that's something
that's -- that's not a big deal.
DR. LEE: Your concern about equal -- your concern about equal
is it does change from year to year --
MS. DONALDSON: Correct.
DR. LEE: -- is what you're saying.
MS. DONALDSON: It is based on what the district would have
received if the property had remained within their boundaries. And so
each year our ad valorem -- obviously, you know, with property taxes,
things are going to change, but --
DR. LEE: Right.
MS. DONALDSON: -- districts will be less hit ifhit at all.
DR. LEE: May I suggest that -- that's language that you could --
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June 7, 2007
MS. DONALDSON: Yeah.
DR. LEE: -- work on.
MS. DONALDSON: I think that's an easy --
MR. PRITT: Okay. And we might want to work on it, too,
because --
DR. LEE: Yeah.
MR. PRITT: Yeah.
DR. LEE: Okay.
MS. DONALDSON: And I guess those are all my questions.
And I'll -- you know, I'll have a response back depending on when the
meeting is, a week -- a week or two before the next meeting.
I can say conceptually we -- we're not going to agree to this. I
mean, the Fire Chief kind of said we're not going to agree to giving up
our permitting and inspection unless we receive some benefit.
In looking at this, we are definitely better off under the statute
than we are under this proposal. So I think what might be is let us
have an opportunity to come up with a counteroffer and get it back to
you so you can review it and I have a chance to talk to my Fire Chief.
And I do understand, Mr. Pritt, that you and I disagree on some
of the provisions and ambiguities and whether or not they are or aren't.
But I just think that you've given us something to look at. We'll
finally be able to discuss it and try to come up with something that
might be more acceptable to us than what's in front of us.
MR. MUDD: Bob, just -- just interject just to make sure because
you weren't here last time.
DR. LEE: Right.
MR. MUDD: As the meeting was ended and we were into the
fire services piece and -- and Chief Schank was there, sitting there,
basically talked about the East Naples Fire District service provider
per 171.095 until 1 October 2008. And they -- and he basically did
state the full -- full service plans and first responder. Okay.
DR. LEE: Right.
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June 7, 2007
MR. MUDD: So I just -- I just want to make sure that what she
just said right now, last meeting was pretty much said when Chief
Schank was sitting there. That's all I'll say about this. I'm sorry.
DR. LEE: I appreciate that. I think there is -- we have a
difference on that. But from a time -- from the standpoint of the next
meeting and having something productive, as you point out, if you
could get something a week ahead of time, would that be sufficient for
you two to incorporate into an agreement or --
MR. PETTIT: Bob, yeah, Mr. Lee, I -- I just don't want to have
another meeting unless there's a unified document. If there's language
that's in dispute or alternative clauses, we've got the technology to
have one of them in red and one of them in blue and one of them in
green. And say this is the fire district. This is the County. But let's
not come here with this again.
DR. LEE: Right.
MR. PETTIT: We got this at 3:30. And it's got lots of
substantive stuff written out.
DR. LEE: Right.
MR. PETTIT: I plead guilty. You got this at 11 :30, but you
actually -- actually had 80 percent of this three weeks ago. Okay. So
it's -- it's really incumbent on the lawyers, okay, to develop one
document. And ifthere's -- if we recognize there's client disagreement
that the clients need to negotiate here and around this table, let's bring
the document and let's figure out a way technologically to identify
alternative clauses and disagreements.
MR. PRITT: I'm sure that we can have a coherent discussion.
DR. LEE: I agree 100 percent. So there's one document and it's
-- you can color code the differences what's in dispute, that would be
great. I think that -- that would enable us all to be working on the
same document, working on the same notes and seeing what
everyone's -- the differences are, as you say, on the one -- one
document. I agree.
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June 7, 2007
MR. PETTIT: I think the differences between the City and the
County are less than between the City and the fire district, I think. I
will undertake -- I'm going to leave paragraph 2 blank. I'm going to
create a document and send it to Bob and Laura and everything else. I
will try to capture all the agreements that we had today.
And then there's going to be some places where I think we're
going to have some alternative language. The two that come to mind
are in paragraph 8 and paragraph 9 as added by you, Bob, to the
agreement, that second sentence. And if we can -- if we can create,
then get some comments back, I can keep the master. And I can do
the color coding. And then I think it's up to you and Laura to figure
out what you want to do in paragraph --
MR. PRITT: Somebody remind me whether or not these have to
be one agreement or is there any reason why they can't be two
agreements? Because what we're dealing with is two entities. You're
really dealing with one, each of you.
Is there anything to keep us from having two interlocal service
boundary agreements?
MR. PETTIT: I don't know the answer to that.
MR. PRITT: That way you can stop worrying about what color
documents are coming to you.
MR. PETTIT: I'm not worried about that. What I'm worried
about is coming in here and trying to read two -- two documents at
one time. And some are underlined and some aren't. I mean, we
really -- we can -- we can cut -- cut those issues down immensely if
we have a document.
I think you and I, for example, are going to agree on all this
language except in a couple places, perhaps. And then we'll come
back and then -- then with the County Manager and the City Manager
and everybody else here we can debate that and see if we can resolve
it right there and it'll be a lot easier.
MR. PRITT: Well, if you're going to do that, I want my
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June 7, 2007
paragraph 2 in there. I don't want to -- I don't want to have my drafts
disrespected either. So put paragraph 2 in there. We'll circulate it
around to all the attorneys and I'll make the changes.
MR. PETTIT: I don't care. I don't care. I can do it either way.
DR. LEE: Let me suggest this. Let me suggest this. I think I
like the approach you're taking where there -- there has been a couple
things that there's -- that there's been agreement upon today.
MR. PETTIT: Right.
DR. LEE: And if you could incorporate that. And then I think
the -- if Laura submits her -- she said she would do it a week or two
ahead of time. If you can get that.
MR. PRITT: And, Bob, I want one document between the three
attorneys. Ifwe can agree on that, let's have one document and
circulate it around.
DR. LEE: Bob, this is not working the way we're doing it. What
I'm suggesting is if we get this from them, that will give us an
opportunity to take that language and there may be something we can
agree upon that she has. So that we get to you what she has submitted
and what we have submitted. I think what you're suggesting is we
have a document. We'll color code what is different.
MR. PETTIT: Or call it, you know, two would be City's
language and there would be another two fire district's language or
something so we can distinguish. And we can do the same with ours.
And, in fact, on the transportation issues, after our transportation
folks speak again, maybe you and I ought to be there to try to capture
what it is if they can come to some kind of agreement. I don't know.
And then bring them back.
MR. PRITT: Well, if we have a document master that thinks that
he or she is able to get all the color coding down and all the
documents and have it come out the same color on everybody else's
machine, I'd like to talk to them. Because we have an IT department.
And we send something -- as a matter of fact, you see in here we have
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June 7, 2007
things that are faded colors. That came from you, I think. And came
from me. I know what color they were when they left your computer,
but mine were a certain color.
MR. PETTIT: Well, color coding is one way to do it. Another
way to do it is to just simply show that there are alternative clauses.
MR. PRITT: All right. Or highlight it.
MS. DONALDSON: I think highlighting comes out on
everyone's computer as the exact same color.
MR. PETTIT: So we can -- we can try to minimize what's left to
debate and then come back.
DR. LEE: I think we can do that. I'm sure we can figure out a
way to show City, County, fire district. And then City, County, then
City fire district and work off the same document with the current
date.
And if we could get that all maybe before the meeting. You
know, like you said not at 3:30 or 11 :30 of the meeting or 3:30 even a
day before. Would that work.
MR. WEIGEL: You know, part of the discussion was, though, if
it's a week before, it's good because it allows the attorneys to interact
with their client ahead of time, as opposed to the day before, you may
not have enough time.
DR. LEE: Uh-huh.
MR. WEIGEL: So obviously time -- earlier time is better time.
DR. LEE: Let's plan on trying to get a draft a week ahead of
time.
MR. PRITT: Sure.
DR. LEE: Would that work?
MR. PETTIT: Yeah. What I'm going to do and maybe. I don't
know if you can e-mail this in Word.
MR. PRITT: Yes.
MR. PETTIT: Do you have your draft in Word?
MR. PRITT: Yes.
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June 7, 2007
MR. PETTIT: If you want to e-mail it to me, I'll get -- for
example, in paragraph 2, obviously we don't have any dog in that
fight, per se. We'll put paragraph 2 in there as you have it. And then
I'll be waiting for your paragraph.
MS. DONALDSON: Right. And I'll just come up with
alternative paragraph 2 and that will be the counteroffer rather than a
letter. I'll use this language.
DR. LEE: Yeah. I'd rather do it that way.
MR. PRITT: I'd like to get back to -- we spent a lot oftime
talking about how to type. I'd like to get back to a substantive issue.
Why is it, Laura, that you say that you don't think that the -- that
-- that you think that this is going to be rejected out of hand.
I don't understand what the concept is or what's so bad about the
concept. I really think we ought to talk substantively so that we're not
sending drafts around that are really going to be a waste of time.
What -- what's wrong with the concept of having no extra taxes,
no -- that having the agencies respond in good faith to the choice of a
property owner who wishes to annex to a municipality as opposed to
being in the County?
I can understand the County maybe being a little upset, but I
don't understand with the district. What's wrong with all this -- with all
of this.
MS. DONALDSON: I -- I think, and it's just like with the
property tax discussion, I mean, when you pick up terms save -- you
know, saving taxes and transition.
I mean, in concept we don't have an issue with that. I think all
along we have stated, even going back to the January 12th meeting I
believe, that the statute allows a process. And I agree that we can
change that process. We can negotiate other things.
But my client has all along stated that they're not going to give up
what's in the statute unless there's something in return. And I know
Dr. Lee and I had this discussion back in January. He said, Well,
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June 7, 2007
yeah, we can't do more than four years because there's a difference
between ad valorem.
And my comment back was there were other issues out there that
could be offered that might make a more willingness to give up
permitting and inspections which is something that we do for all of our
residents in our district. And that was my comment is there are things.
And -- and we've all along been consistent that from the very
beginning we're going to be the -- either we're the service provider
under 179.093 or we come up with some other agreement.
Recognizing the City's position on the different milage rates and not
be able to go, you know, somebody has to be the service provider for
five, six, seven years. And so that's kind of where we are
conceptually.
And I know before Chief Schank left and my only conversation
with Chief Schank before he left was not to give up permitting
inspection unless we received some benefit in return. And based on
this --
MR. PRITT: Weare giving -- we are -- we are offering
something.
MS. DONALDSON: What?
MR. PRITT: Well, you got a half year extra.
MS. DONALDSON: Okay. Sorry. A half a year extra. So we
actually -- that's technically not true.
MR. PRITT: (Inaudible).
MS. DONALDSON: That's technically not true because we
collect revenues for this upcoming fiscal year. Our boundaries change
October 1, 2008. And then it's four years. If I add that up, we're --
technically that's, what, five years, five years and two months, five
years and four months. So not four years and six months.
I mean, if you go under -- and it's a clear reading of the statute
under the schedule of the statute. So I don't -- it never even dawned
on me that four years and six months was a benefit because --
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June 7, 2007
DR. LEE: Yeah. This is intended to be an extra six months of
what was intended.
MS. DONALDSON: Okay.
DR. LEE: Whatever that--
MS. DONALDSON: So it is. Well, that's good to know. So
technically it would be --
DR. LEE: I think what we were looking to do is try to respond to
just what you said. Because I think your position has been -- has been
clear in the past, I think, about wanting to provide all services during
that period of time.
And our position was that first responder fire services, but we
wanted to take over the inspections and plan reviews, et cetera. So I
think that -- that was my understanding as to kind of where we are in
dispute. I don't want to use dispute, but had -- had different points of
VIew on.
And so, you know, ifthere's something we can do to satisfy what
-- what you're asking for, we'd be receptive to a proposal to look at.
Otherwise, as you say, we're going to just follow what the statute
provides.
MS. DONALDSON: Okay. So depending on when we have the
meeting scheduled, I'll give a response. I'll get language out to both of
you, both the City and the County on this.
DR. LEE: This is kind of a difficult season for most people in
terms of schedules, but I still would like to do this within 30 days, if
we could. I think, you know, you know what the key issues are. I
think it won't take much to read it. Just go back and address that. It's
just getting -- getting something over to the County and we will as
well.
MS. DONALDSON: And I agree with that. I know at the last
meeting I said that we were more than fine to meet before 30 days.
Actually, it would be preferable to meet more than -- you know,
quicker than 30 days.
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June 7, 2007
DR. LEE: Okay.
MR. MUDD: Can we meet the first week of July?
MS. DONALDSON: I'm fine with that.
DR. LEE: I'm fine with that.
MR. MUDD: Does that mess up anybody's Fourth of July
weekend?
(No response.)
MR. MUDD: Because if you do 30 days from today, I won't be
here.
DR. LEE: Good. No, not good that you won't be here. Good
that we'll meet in 30 days. We need you here, Jim.
MR. MUDD: Okay. Thank you.
MS. DONALDSON: We can always set it on your birthday.
DR. LEE: But, seriously, I think that -- so which means we're
looking at about three weeks and maybe -- if you get something within
a week and we get something in a week, Bob, let's say the end of next
week, would that be -- I guess Bob and somebody else.
MR. PETTIT: You're going to -- you're going to e-mail me your
draft in Word. I'm going to create a document with these two drafts
where I think we've got agreement between the City and County.
I'm also going to add Bob's paragraph 2. And I'm going to have
two and I'm going to put brackets and say "fire district."
And if -- if Bob and Laura and I can agree that that's where we
have an agreement on, then I guess we're going to have to also try to
capture whether there may still be some disagreement. I'll do my best
to do that within a week because I think I feel like we need to move.
MR. MUDD: When you -- just so you know -- well, I need to
know what your time period, when your last council meeting is?
DR. LEE: Next week.
MR. MUDD: Next week. So -- and I have another one after that
meeting on the 24th of July. So I was hoping that if we had it that first
week of July and if we came here and -- and -- and we couldn't find
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June 7, 2007
something where we needed a day or so in order to get it resolved,
then I could get something drafted and at least get it to my board.
Now, your first meeting after --
DR. LEE: August 15th.
MR. MUDD: Okay. And, see, we don't come back until
September. So at least we could keep it moving.
DR. LEE: Right.
MR. MUDD: Because if we start missing those kinds of dates,
then we're into September.
DR. LEE: Yeah.
MR. PETTIT: The other thought I would have is if we can, we
probably ought to try to schedule it a little earlier in the day so if we
need a few hours, we can get it done.
MR. MUDD: I'll get with Mike and we'll try to get something
locked in.
Now, do you prefer to have it the first part of the week of the
fourth? The fourth is on Wednesday.
So do you want it before the fourth or do you want it after the
fourth of that week? Give me an idea.
DR. LEE: It doesn't matter to me.
MS. DONALDSON: We have no preference. I don't know.
DR. LEE: It's your call.
MR. MUDD: Okay. That's good for everybody. I just want to--
I don't want to mess somebody up. You know, somebody traditionally
spends the third of July doing something. And I mess it up with a
meeting that takes all day long, you can blame yourself. Hold your
peace.
And I know, Eric, you want to be here all day.
MR. PETTIT: It was the second. We could do the second.
MS. DONALDSON: But my one comment is just with the fun
of special session starting -- if we schedule it the first week of July,
then you'll get the offer probably June 25th. I mean, potentially, it just
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June 7, 2007
depends on what happens in Tallahassee. I mean, if it's eight hours a
day dealing with property tax for two weeks, it's going to be difficult
to come up with something, because that's what everyone's focus is
going to be. But that still gives you the language a week before any
meeting is scheduled. I just didn't want to --
MR. MUDD: Okay.
MS. DONALDSON: -- think that you're going to get something
from me.
MR. PRITT: Well, are we going to spend the next meeting
bashing me, then? Am I supposed to give you something back before
July 2nd or 3rd or 4th or --
MR. MUDD: What I'm going to try to do based on what I'm
hearing right now, we're looking for the fifth and sixth. Okay? I'm
just letting you know right now. It is not going to be that Monday or
Tuesday based on what I just heard.
All I'm going to tell you is look it, I almost -- I almost feel like --
this is my last shot. I almost feel like the last meeting we were farther
ahead than we are today. Okay. That's just my opinion. And you
weren't here. And I'm not trying to bash anybody.
But I -- but I will tell you, if we come to this next meeting and
we are where we are today, okay, I got to tell you what, I'm not going
to be a happy camper. Okay?
I'm not -- you're not -- you're not here to please me and I
understand that. But I'm -- I'm always easier to deal with when I'm
halfway smiling. Okay. I'm just -- I got -- I got to tell you.
DR. LEE: Well, Jim--
MR. MUDD: Bob, you and I, I don't want to be here doing this
crap in November. Okay? And -- and --
DR. LEE: Jim, we could have settled this six months ago. I
mean, the City's not the one -- this is -- there's some legislation that
caused us to be here. You know, if the City -- you know--
MR. MUDD: Bob--
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June 7, 2007
DR. LEE: -- bowing to the request to be here.
MR. MUDD: -- Bob -- this is -- this is -- this has everything to
do with -- with, hey, different drafts, different times, all at one time,
got time, 30 days before the meetings. And we are where we are.
Okay.
I'm just -- I will tell you I felt very positive the last meeting we
had as we were leaving that meeting that we would be a whole lot
closer than we are right now and that's just my frustration. And I --
and I shared it with you, just so you know. Okay. Because I don't
want you to be sitting there next time being as frustrated as I am right
now.
DR. LEE: Well, and I'm never frustrated anyway because I
understand the process. But, again, we're here because you-all. If you
want to follow what our urban service report is, we could have had
this done six months ago.
But having said that, I think we're on the right track of at least
having one report that -- that we could work off of. I think that will
ease the frustration, Jim. And I -- and I think from my standpoint, I
think we're very close with the County.
MR. PETTIT: I think we are.
DR. LEE: And -- and I think with the fire district if it's laid out
like that, if we do agree that we can take some caucus if it's something
that can be dealt with rather quickly, then we may be able to make a
lot of headway next -- next meeting. And maybe just -- just a final--
some final fire issues that may involve more and sit down. Hopefully
not.
Any other information for the group? You'll -- you'll have Mike
work out the schedule?
MR. MUDD: Oh, absolutely.
DR. LEE: Okay. Well, thank you all for attending. And we'll
see you on either the fifth or the sixth, then.
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June 7, 2007
(Proceedings concluded at 5:03 p.m.)
TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY COURT
REPORTING SERVICES, INC., BY CAROLYN J. FORD
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