Item M3BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: September 17, 2014 Division: Commissioner Carruthers
Bulk Item: Yes No XX
Staff Contact: Commissioner Carruthers 292-3430
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a resolution supporting legislation that would authorize
members of local government advisory committees to use communications media technology to attend
committee meetings.
ITEM BACKGROUND: Florida law allows state and certain regional agencies to hold meetings
using "communications media technology" such as videoconferencing and teleconferencing, provided
certain procedures are adopted; however, local government advisory committees are not afforded that
same opportunity.
Given the geographic diversity of the Florida Keys, as well as the travel challenges faced by members
of County advisory committees, allowing members to participate in advisory committee meetings using
communications media technology would serve several public purposes including: encouraging greater
participation by citizens through the County, reducing travel time and costs associated with attendance
at such meetings, reducing traffic on US 1 and greenhouse gas emissions.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: N/A
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: N/A
TOTAL COST: N/A
COST TO COUNTY:
INDIRECT COST: N/A BUDGETED: Yes No
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH
APPROVED BY: County Attr"'— OMB/Purchasing Risk Management _
DOCUMENTATION:
DISPOSITION:
Revised 1/09
Included X Not Required
AGENDA ITEM #
Year
Commissioner Carruthers
RESOLUTION NO. - 2014
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
AUTHORIZE ATTENDANCE BY MEMBERS OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEES TO MEET VIA
COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS VIDEO
CONFERENCING AND/OR TELECONFERENCING.
WHEREAS, the populated portion of Monroe County, Florida stretches approximately
120 miles throughout the Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS, the only road running throughout the Keys is U.S. 1, which has only one
lane of traffic in each direction at many points and which is subject to closure during traffic
accidents; and
WHEREAS, there are geographical and cultural differences among the many
communities that compromise the Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Commission has created over twenty (20) advisory
committees each with its own area of expertise and jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Commission benefits by having citizens from all areas
of the Florida Keys participate as members of those advisory committees; and
WHEREAS, due to the geography of Monroe County, participation on advisory
committees can pose unnecessary hardship and expenses on panel members who are required to
travel great distances on U.S. 1; and
WHEREAS, citizens appointed to County advisory committees would benefit from the
use of communications media technology by not having to drive great distances to participate in
advisory committee meetings; and
WHEREAS, allowing members of local government advisory committees to attend
committee meetings via the use of communications media technology would encourage more
small business owners and other time constrained citizens to participate on County advisory
committees by eliminating the bulk of the time spent traveling to and from such committee
meetings; and
WHEREAS, the use of communications media technology for advisory committee
meetings would represent a positive step towards reducing unnecessary carbon emissions as well
as reducing the expenditure of local tax dollars; and
WHEREAS, Florida law 1 authorizes the use of communications media technology for
certain purposes involving state agencies and some regional entities, however, it does not
1 See, e.g., F.S. 120.54(5)(b) (state agency rulemaking hearings); F.S. 163.01(18) (entities with member public
agencies based in at least five counties); F.S. 349.04(8) (Jacksonville Transportation Authority); F.S. 373.079(7)
(Water Management Districts); F.S. 374.983(3) (Florida Inland Navigation District); F.S. 553.75(3) (Florida
Building Commission); and F.A.C. 28-109.004 (Rules for conducting proceedings by Communications Media
Technology);
Page 1 of 2
Res communications media technology (Carruthers)
BOCC 9/17/14 (KP)
Commissioner Carruthers
currently allow local governments and their advisory committees to use communications media
technology except in exceptional circumstances; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida's use of communications media technology has
demonstrated that meetings via communications media technology, such as teleconferencing and
videoconferencing, can be a cost effective way of conducting public meetings while still
allowing for citizen participation in, and observation of, the conduct of the people's business;
and
WHEREAS, attendance at meetings via communications media technology is a well -
established practice in today's world including the business community and in government;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA that:
1. The Florida Legislature is urged to enact legislation that explicitly authorizes
members of local government advisory committees to attend such meetings via
communications media technology such as teleconferencing and/or
videoconferencing. A sample of such proposed legislation is attached hereto as
Exhibit A and incorporated into this Resolution.
2. The Clerk is directed to send copies of this resolution to Governor Rick Scott,
Senator Dwight Bullard and Representative Holly Raschein. .
3. Monroe County staff is hereby authorized to include such legislation in the
County's 2015 legislative priorities and to advocate for adoption of such
legislation on behalf of the County.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners, Monroe County,
Florida at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 17`h of September, 2014.
Mayor Sylvia Murphy
Mayor Pro Tem Danny Kolhage
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner Heather Carruthers
Commissioner David Rice
(Seal)
ATTEST: AMY HEAVILIN, CLERK
By:
Deputy Clerk
Res communications media technology (Carruthers)
BOCC 9/17/14 (KP)
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By:
Mayor/Chairman
MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY
p TO FO .
Page 2 of 2
?OSEIRT .. SHILUNOER, JR.
DCQfJ v A
Proposed Legislation
Communications Media Technology
(1) Definitions: As used in this section, the following terms as defined as stated:
a. "Communications media technology' shall have the same meaning as that
term does in F.S. 120.54(5)(b);
b. "Local Advisory Committee" shall mean a committee created by statute or
by local ordinance or resolution which shall provide advice and
recommendations to the governing body of a county or municipality.
(2) The governing body of a county or municipality is authorized to allow members of
a local advisory committee to meet via use of communications media technology
if that local governing body creates uniform rules allowing the use of
communications media technology by local advisory committees provided that
such rules provide procedures for conducting public meetings, hearings, and
workshops, and for taking evidence, testimony, and argument at such public
meetings, hearings, and workshops, in person and by means of communications
media technology. The rules shall provide that all evidence, testimony, and
argument presented shall be afforded equal consideration, regardless of the
method of communication. If a public meeting, hearing, or workshop of a local
advisory committee is to be conducted by means of communications media
technology, or if attendance may be provided by such means, the notice shall so
state. The notice for public meetings, hearings, and workshops utilizing
communications media technology shall state how persons interested in
attending may do so and shall name locations, if any, where communications
media technology facilities will be available. Nothing in this paragraph shall be
construed to diminish the right to inspect public records under chapter 119.
Limiting points of access to public meetings, hearings, and workshops subject to
the provisions of s. 286.011 to places not normally open to the public shall be
presumed to violate the right of access of the public, and any official action taken
under such circumstances is void and of no effect. Other laws relating to public
meetings, hearings, and workshops, including penal and remedial provisions,
shall apply to public meetings, hearings, and workshops conducted by means of
communications media technology, and shall be liberally construed in their
application to such public meetings, hearings, and workshops.
EXHIBIT A.
TO RESOLUTION
WALegislative Proposal s\teleconferenci ng technology\proposed legislation