MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE CONVOCATION OF GOVERNMENTS OF THE SARASOTA BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE CITY COMMISSIONS OF THE CITIES OF NORTH PORT AND SARASOTA, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VENICE, THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD OF SARASOTA COUNTY OF JANUARY 17, 2014 PRESENT: School Board of Sarasota County Chair Jane Goodwin, Vice Mayor Frank Kovach, and Members Shirley Brown, and Caroline Zucker, Administrative Assistant Zoe Marshall, and Superintendent Lori White Sarasota Board of County Commissioners Chair Charles Hines, Vice Chair Christine Robinson, and Commissioners Joseph Barbetta, Carolyn Mason, and Nora Patterson, Deputy Clerk Claudia Goodson, and iInterim County Administrator Thomas Harmer Town of Longboat Key Mayor Jim Brown, Vice-Mayor David Brenner, and Commissioners Jack Duncan, Terry Gans, Lynn Larson, and Patricia Zunz, Deputy Clerk JoAnn Mixon, and Town Manager Dave Bullock City of North Port Mayor Linda Yates, Vice Mayor Jim Blucher, and Commissioners Cheryl Cook and Rhonda DiFranco, City Clerk Helen Raimbeau, and City Manager Jonathan Lewis City of Sarasota Vice Mayor Willie Shaw and Commissioners Suzanne Atwell, Paul Caragiulo, and Susan Chapman, Deputy City Attorney Michael Connolly, Deputy City Auditor and Clerk Karen McGowan, and City Manager Thomas Barwin City of Venice Mayor John Holic, and Council Members Jim Bennett, Emilio Carlesimo, Jeanette Gates, Kit McKeon, and David Sherman, City Clerk Lori Stelzer, and City Manager Ed Lavallee ABSENT: School Board of Sarasota County: Member Carol Todd Town of Longboat Key: Commissioner Phillip Younger City of North Port Commissioner: Commissioner Tom Jones City of Sarasota: Mayor Shannon Snyder City of Venice: Vice Mayor Robert Daniels SBSC Ghair Goodwin called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. 1. WELCOME/INTRODUCTIONS (AGENDA ITEM I) SBSC Chair Goodwin welcomed the attendees. Book 62 Page 35157 01/17/14 9:15 A.M. Book 62 Page 35158 01/17/14 9:15 A.M. 2. CONVOCATION GOALS AND AGENDA (AGENDA ITEM II) Dr. Todd Bowden, SBSC Executive Director, Career, Technical and Adult Education, came before the Boards and stated that the program will include: Overall Outcomes Communitywide Plan Timeline Impact Analysis Impact on Regional Economy Sustainability and Closing 3. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (AGENDA ITEM III) Dr. Todd Bowden, SBSC Executive Director, Career, Technical and Adult Education and Mireya Eavey, SBSC Executive Director, Career Edge, came before the Boards. Dr. Bowden displayed and referenced from a PowerPoint presentation, and stated that the following will be presented concerning the Sarasota County Technical Institute (SCTI): An update on precision machining at SCTI Manufacturing Milestones The road ahead An overview of Florida's Public Technical Center Systems Proposed changes for 2014 and beyond Ms. Eavey stated that Career Edge offers special thanks to the collaborators including the Career Edge investors and partners; that Career Edge has served 2,115 individuals; that 66 percent of participants have earned raises, 20 percent have received promotions, and 75 percent of job seekers have been placed into employment; that Career Edge has contributed to the creation of 450 new jobs and $5.63 million in value-added income to the local economy through 2012; that SCTI created a one-year Precision Machining curriculum with the first class of students seated in August 2013 with a $330,000 investment by Sarasota County in new machining equipment; that the first class will graduate in June 2014; that in June 2013, Career Edge was presented with the 2013 Exemplary Collaborative Award by the National Fund for Workforce Solutions (NFWS) and in October 2013 with the Excellence in Economic Development Award in Human Capital by the International Economic Development Council; that Career Edge is a Community-wide Plan with participation by: Sarasota County Government Sarasota County Technical Institute School Board of Sarasota County Sarasota Economic Development Council Employers Suncoast Workforce Development Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Dr. Bowden stated that SCTI has a fully functioning Precision Machining Lab designated as a HAAS Technical Education Center (HTEC); that an instructor was hired on August 26, 2013, the first class was seated on September 3, 2013, and will graduate on June 26, 2014; that support was received from Sarasota County, the Gulfcoast Community Foundation, and manufacturers; that the next class begins August 18, 2014; that students will receive National Incident Management System (NIMS) certification, an evening program will be established, and a future welding program will be explored. Dr. Bowden continued that currently 48 technical institutions are governed by local School Boards operating in 30 counties throughout Florida; that each institution offers a wide range of rigorous echnicaloperational education programs; that 243,000 students were served through 56,846,640 instructional hours resulting in the awarding of 7,755 industry credentials; that the following changes are anticipated for technical education in Florida: Development of a State Student Information System State Funding Model Changes to Student Financial Aid Expansion of Targeted Areas Move from Clock to Credit Hours Awarding of AAS Degrees Technical College Name Change Discussion ensued concerning the number of job seekers who obtained employment, the tuition for the programs, maintenance of precision machinery, and the positive efforts of SCTI. 4. TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR NORTH PORT, WITH A POSSIBLE JOINT-USE PUBLIC LIBRARY (AGENDA ITEM IV) Ken Marsh, SBSC Director Long Range Planning, Dr. Todd Bowden, SBSC Executive Director, Career, Technical and Adult Education, Sarabeth Kalajian, Sarasota County Director, Libraries and Historical Resources, came before the Boards. Mr. Marsh displayed a PowerPoint presentation and stated that a SWOT (Strengths, Opportunities, Weaknesses, and Threats) Analysis was conducted as part of the City of North Port's Economic Development Strategic Plan 2013-2018. Dr. Bowden stated that Sarasota County Technical Institute (SCTI) has campus locations in Sarasota, Newtown and Venice; that SCTI began part-time evening classes on the campus of North Port High School on January 13, 2014; that potential career development in North Port includes: Automotive Service Technology Business Technical Construction Technology Cosmetology Culinary Arts Dental Assisting EMS (EMT and Paramedic) Book 62 Page 35159 01/17/14 9:15 A.M. Book 62 Page 35160 01/17/14 9:15 A.M. Manufacturing Nursing (CNA and LPN) Ms. Kalajian stated that a County Library is being considered for North Port and the following has been discussed: The concept of a combined School Media Center/Public Library has been discussed. The service model has been successfully implemented in other jurisdictions. - The highest priority for new library service is in East North Port. The location of a proposed site and funding options are the primary factors for consideration. Discussion ensued concerning tax revenues, legislative priorities for funding for library and school facilities, the opportunities presented for library facilities, working together to accomplish the objectives, the next steps in collaboration, use of school impact fees for site acquisition, availability of capital funding, possible funding sources, careful examination of funding, sales tax revenues, operational costs for a library of approximately $1 million annually, a library in North Port as a priority, the availability of governmentalyowned property for the library site, opportunities for forwarding lease- back funds, timeframe for the use of State funds, construction costs for a library facility, development of a Phase I and build-out plans, a phased approach, a piece of property which can accommodate the library and SCTI proposals, the growth potential of the City of North Port, centers of employment, nurturing of children and changing lives through education, the support of Venice for the education tax, the roles of elected officials in serving the greater community, the support of the City of Sarasota for the proposed projects, the emerging demographics in North Port, ignoring jurisdictional lines, development of a plan to accomplish the proposals, the possibility of scheduling of a Convocation of Governments in September 2014, reinstatement of school taxes from 1.5 to 2.0 mills for capital funding. 5. OTHER BUSINESS (AGENDA ITEM VI Venice Council Member Jeanette Gates stated that traffic turn signals should be installed at the schools in Venice for the safety of the children. SBSC Chair Goodwin stated that the hope is the issue of odor at Lamarque Elementary School has been resolved. SBSC Superintendent White stated that a comprehensive air quality analysis has been conducted to address health issues which have since arisen; that problematic dry wall has not been identified as a contributing factor; that University of South Florida (USF) toxicologists are evaluating the environmental air quality; that the health of the school children is of paramount concern. SBSC Member Brown stated that the desire is to identify any problems causing the health problems; that the dry wall has been eliminated as a possibility. SBSC Chair Goodwin stated that the health and safety of the children is of utmost importance. 6. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (AGENDA ITEM VI) The following persons came before the Boards: Mireya Eavey indicating travel time to technical programs is important, the location of training facilities is important to employers in providing jobs. Peter Straw indicating approximately 600 manufacturing and manufacturing-related employers are represented in the training program offered by the Sarasota County Technical Institute (SCTI) and a key ingredient of economic growth is training. 7. ADJOURN SBSC Chair Goodwin adjourned the meeting at 10:51 a.m. t CSRs VICE MAYOR WILLIE SHAW ATTEST: KAREN D. MCGOVVAN DEPUTY CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK Book 62 Page 35161 01/17/14 9:15 A.M.