Book 59 Page 30929 04/21/08 9:00 A.M. MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT MEETING 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, AND THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LONGBOAT KEY OF APRIL 21, 2008 PRESENT: Sarasota Board of County Commissioners (BCC): Chair Shannon Staub, presiding, Vice Chair Jon Thaxton, Commissioners Joseph Barbetta, Paul Mercier, and Nora Patterson, County Administrator James Ley, and County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh, and Deputy Clerk Spring Dickson Longboat Key Town Council: Mayor Hal Lenobel, Vice Mayor Robert Siekmann, Commissioners Randall Clair, Peter O'Connor, Lee Rothenberg, George Spoll, and Joan M. Webster, Town Manager Bruce St. Denis, and Town Attorney David Persson North Port City Commission: Chair Fred E. Tower III, Vice Chair Vanessa Carusone, Commissioners James Blucher, Barbara Gross, Richard Lockhart, City Manager Steven Crowell, Jr., City Attorney Robert Robinson, and City Clerk Helen Raimbeau Sarasota City Commission: Mayor Lou Ann Palmer, Vice Mayor Ken Shelin, Commissioners Fredd "Glossie" Atkins, Richard Clapp, and Kelly Kirschner, City Manager Robert Bartolotta, City Attorney Robert Fournier, and City Auditor and Clerk Billy Robinson Venice City Council: Mayor Ed Martin, Vice Mayor John Moore, and Council Members Vicki Noren, Sue Lang, John Simmonds, and Ernie Zavodnyik, City Manager Martin Black, City Attorney Bob Robinson, and City Clerk Lori Stelzer ABSENT: Venice City Council Member Rick Tacy The meeting was called to order by BCC Chair Shannon Staub at 9:00 a.m. 1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS (AGENDA ITEM I) Following welcoming comments and introduction of the County, City, and Town CommssionersyCounel Members and administrative officers present, BCC Chair Staub indicated the meeting is to consider Detention Facility Planning in Sarasota County and other matters which may come before the Body; that the hope is for a collaboration between all the local jurisdictions to assure a good decision-making process. 2. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION RE: DETENTION FACILITY PLANNING IN SARASOTA COUNTY (AGENDA ITEM II) Lee Haworth, Chief Judge, Twelfth Judicial Circuit, came before the Commissions and Councils and gave a presentation concerning the current jail capacity, incarceration statistics indicating the overcrowding, the need for the assistance of all the municipalities to assist in developing a new, multi-disciplinary approach to criminal justice, options to divert non-violent offenders to other than a traditional jail setting, the activities of the Criminal Justice Commission concerning detention facility planning in Sarasota County, and the suggested development of a new Community Corrections Center. Wayne Applebee, Criminal Justice Policy Coordinator for Sarasota County, came before the Commissions and Councils and gave a computer-generated presentation concerning the factors influencing the operational capacity of the jail, the average daily population of the jail, the effects of overcrowding, factors influencing jail population, the admission rate, the average length of stay, and trends in the County's population. David Bennett, Criminal Justice Consultant, David Bennett Consulting, came before the Commissions and Councils and continued the computer-generated presentation emphasizing the importance of the jail in the criminal justice system, the need to change the paradigm concerning incarceration and managing the criminal justice system, and the opportunity for a community corrections center to provide for transitioning back to the community and offenders to gain meaningful jobs upon release. Mr. Applebee stated that a new approach is required including: targeting high potential populations with evidence-Dased programs to provide treatment and reduce recidivism, creating a philosophical approach that punishment can come in forms other than traditional jail for certain offenders, developing work as the focus of new forms of punishment, establishing re-entry planning to ensure offenders receive treatment and support upon release, creating an environment where offenders have the opportunity to leave incarceration with aj job, and creating alternatives to jail for those who can benefit. Mr. Applebee continued that if implemented, jail will be only one alternative among many and the least utilized. Dennis Liebert, Jail Planning Consultant, came before the Commissions and Councils and continued the computer-generated presentation by indicating best practices had been reviewed including: Work Release Centers in Orange and Hillsborough Counties, Florida, Washington County, Oregon, Walworth County, Wisconsin, and Olmstead County, Minnesota, Jail Industries at the Pneumensend Creed Regional Jail, Virginia, and the Two Bridges Regional Jail, Maine, and in Strafford County, New Hampshire, Sentenced Defendants' Work Programs in DeSoto County, Florida, Lee County, Florida, and Sagadahoc County, Maine, and In-House Programs and Treatment in Montgomery County, Maryland, and Washington County, Oregon. Mr. Liebert continued by displaying photographs of the interior and exterior of correctional facilities throughout the country; and stated that the detention facility planning structure consists of a Community Partners Work Group, a Sheriff's User Work Group and an Alternative Program Providers Work Group providing input to a Criminal Justice Commission which will report to the BCC. The Presenters and County Administrative Staff responded to questions from the Commissioners and Council Members. BCC Chair Staub stated that all avenues of funding must be explored and asked if the Commissions and Councils would be willing to appoint a representative to serve on a new Work Group to explore funding opportunities for a potential new Community Corrections Center. Sarasota Mayor Palmer noted Sarasota City Commission consensus to appoint a member to serve on a Work Group. North Port Chair Tower noted the support of four of five Commissioners to appoint a member to serve on a Work Group, with Commissioner Lockhart not supporting the proposal as being pre-mature. Venice Mayor Martin stated that the Venice City Council will consider the matter at a Regular Council meeting in the future. Longboat Key Mayor Lenobel stated that the Longboat Key Town Council will consider the matter at a Regular Council meeting in the future. Book 59 Page 30930 04/21/08 9:00 A.M. Book 59 Page 30931 04/21/08 9:00 A.M. BCC Chair Staub requested that representatives of Venice and Longboat Key advise as to their interest in appointing a member of serve on the Work Group. The Commissions and Councils recessed at 11:08 a.m. and reconvened at 11:14 a.m. 3. DISCUSSION RE: THE CITIES PROJECT REPORT (AGENDA ITEM III) County Administrator Ley referred to the report entitled Cities Project Analysis dated February 2008 included in the Agenda backup material and stated that the report is prepared annually to indicate the amount of County ad valorem funds which have been directed to various projects in the municipalities. Discussion ensued about the methodology utilized to calculate the allocations, functional versus census population, regional use of local facilities, and allocation of County ad valorem taxes to services in the local municipalities. Sarasota Commissioner Clapp referred to an April 14, 2008, memorandum received from Timothy Litchet, Interim Assistant to the Sarasota City Manager in response to the report and requested that the memorandum be sent electronically to all the attendees. 4. DISCUSSION RE: OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS BUDGET CONSTRAINTS CREATED BY AMENDMENT 1 AND LEGISLATIVE ROLLBACKS (AGENDA ITEM IV) BCC Chair Staub stated that overlaps of services may exist; that the overall picture should be considered; that the local jurisdictions should be collaborating on services; that the Administrative Staffs of the local jurisdictions should review operations to assure duplication of services is avoided and report back; that the Finance Departments of all the jurisdictions should discuss the methodology utilized in the Cities Project Analysis, providing an analysis of the allocation of funding to the Cities. 5. DISCUSSION RE: REGIONAL FACILITIES (CITY OF SARASOTA) (AGENDA ITEM V) AND 6. DISCUSSION RE: SHERIFF MUNICIPAL SERVICES TAXING UNIT (MSTU) (CITY OF SARASOTA) (AGENDA ITEM VI) Sarasota Mayor Palmer stated that the Item Nos. 5 and 6 were placed on the Agenda at her request; that she would like the Sarasota City Manager to address two issues: regional facilities and duplication of services. BCC Chair Staub recognized the Sarasota City Manager to address the two issues. Sarasota City Manager Bartolotta stated that facilities such as the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (WWPAH) and the Ed Smith Stadium Sports Complex provide a regional benefit; that the WWPAH attracts two-thirds to three-quarters of the patrons from outside the City; that the City has a functional population far in excess of the census population; that the desire is to identify a regional source of revenue to assist in funding the operations of regional facilities; and that the social services agencies are located in the central urban core and provide services to individuals from throughout the County. Sarasota City Manager Bartolotta continued that in some instances a duplication of services results in dual taxation for City residents; that consideration should be given to the development of a Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) to relieve City taxpayers from paying for services not received. BCC Chair Staub stated that the Police Chiefs of the municipalities and the Sheriff should discuss methods to avoid duplication of services and report back; that to conclude, the local jurisdictions decided: 1. The Law Enforcement Staffs of the local jurisdictions should discuss methods to avoid duplication of efforts and consider the creation of a Municipal Service Taxing Unit and report back, 2. The Administrative Staffs of the local jurisdictions should discuss areas of possible consolidation of services such as historical preservation and report back, and 3. The Finance Departments of the local jurisdictions should discuss methodologies to calculate the financial benefits derived from the County's portion of the ad valorem taxes received and report back. 7. OPEN TO PUBLIC (AGENDA ITEM VIII) The following person came before the Commissions and Councils: Nate Richards, representing the Suncoast Concert Band which performs every Sunday at the Payne Park Auditorium, requesting the needs of the Suncoast Concert Band be taken into consideration in planning the renovation of the Payne Park Auditorium and a reduction in the rental rate which increased by 54 percent this year. 8. OTHER MATTERS BCC COMMISSIONER BARBETTA: 1. stated that the School Board of Sarasota County should be invited to future joint meetings of the local jurisdictions. 9. ADJOURNED BCC Chair Shannon Staub adjourned the Special Joint meeting of April 21, 2008, at 12:02 p.m. LOU ANN R. PALMER, MAYOR ATTEST: Be A Re BILLY E. ROBINSON, CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK Book 59 Page 30932 04/21/08 9:00 A.M.