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Item L3 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: June 18.2001 Division: County Administrator Bulk Item: Yes..X- No Department: County Administrator AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of request to be submitted to the State Representative for presentation in next year's State legislative session. ITEM BACKGROUND: The State Representative has identified that for the coming year the various legislative committees will be reviewing proposals early. The Board of County Commissioners must submit to the State Representative its legislative proposals prior to August 1,2001 to be sure of consideration. PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: The BOCC discussed the process and instructed that proposals be submitted to the Administrator's office for inclusion in an agenda item at the July BOCC meeting. CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval. TOTAL COST: -0- BUDGETED: Yes No COST TO COUNTY: -0- REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNTPERMONTH_ Year ~ DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL: OMB/Purchasing _ Risk Management -/' -c;,?Il- d James L. Roberts APPROVED BY: County Arty _ DOCUMENTATION: Included X To Follow_ Not Required_ AGENDA ITEM #~J..3 DISPOSITION: PROPOSALS FOR SUBMISSION FOR THE FORTHCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION 1. Funding for a Dedicated Emergency Operations Center. For some time, there has been discussion concerning the necessity of having a dedicated Emergency Operations Center in the County. Monroe is one of the few Counties in the State that does not have such a dedicated Emergency Operations Center. Cost to develop a high-tech facility that could be utilized on very short notice has been estimated in the millions of dollars. On the advice of the State Representative, it is suggested that the County request $1.5 million for this purpose. 2. Development of a Medical Examiner Facility. The Board of County Commissioners has recognized the long-standing need for a permanent, free standing medical examiner facility in the County. The law enforcement community has also recently renewed their request for a state of the art facility. This is especially appropriate at this time since the State and County are attempting to attract a new medical examiner to replace the doctor who has retired. Estimates for this facility are up to $2 million. 3. Implementation for Big Coppitt Wastewater Program. With the completion of the Wastewater Master Plan and the expressed wishes of the citizens of Big Coppitt who have requested a centralized, cost effective sewer system, the Big Coppitt system has not been identified as one of the priority projects to be included within the authorized federal funding and promised State funding programs. There is a small amount of money that has been granted to pursue this, but more is needed to make this a reality at a reasonable cost to the citizens. The amount recommended to be requested for the coming legislative session is $4,094,000. 4. Funding for Additional Wastewater Projects to Implement Monroe County's Adopted Wastewater Master Plan. As with item #3 above, there are various proposed projects that need to be implemented in order to meet the requirements of Monroe County's Comprehensive Plan, Monroe County's Wastewater Master Plan, and the State of Florida's Year 2010 deadline for A WT wastewater treatment in the Keys. The following is a list of projects, their estimated costs, and the request for State assistance: (Chart on Next Page) Service Area EDU's Capital Cost State Fundin2 ReQuese Bi2 Coppitt Wastewater Project Big Coppitt 1,693 $20,470,000 $4,094,000 Sub-Total 1,693 $20,470,000 $4,094,000 Other Centralized Wastewater Pro.iects Stock Island 988 $3,842,000 $768,400 Lower Sugarloaf 657 $9,349,000 $1,869,800 Upper Sugarloaf/Cudjoe/Summerland 2,473 $34,339,000 $6,867,800 Big Pine Regional 4,260 $55,880,000 $11,176,000 Duck Key 674 $7,100,000 $1,420,000 Long Key/Layton 296 $3,540,000 $708,000 Tavernier/Key Largo ,/. 12,435 $62,000,000 $12,400,000 Sub-Total 21,783 $176,050,000 $35,210,000 Phase II - Coldspots - Permitted Wastewater System Up2rade OWNRS Upgrade - 2010 944 $12,744,000 $2,548,800 Sub-Total 944 $12,744,000 $2,548,800 Grand Total 24,420 $209,264,000 $41,852,800 1- Assumes State Share @ 20 % 2- Assumes Ogden Bid Cost - $62,000,000 Source: Monroe County Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan 5. (" Financial Assistance to Provide a Fixed Route Transit System from Marathon to Key West. Monroe County has been successful in obtaining funds through the South Florida Employment & Training Council for the extension of a fixed route transit system from Key Largo to Marathon. This is a system that extends the service from Florida City to the Keys. It is anticipated that this extension will be of great benefit to employers, employees, and those living and visiting in the Keys from Key Largo to Marathon. This proposal is to extend that service from Marathon to Key West and to determine the long-term viability of such a system. It is estimated that the cost will be $180,000 per year. Because there will be some fares paid by the riders, the request for the State to assist with this project is $150,000. P<<.v.J'-:) fOl.- S.<:"o"( s k. D", ~ ~,I C(~1PS~ F<<>> ~ IUt 'T"#<M.O I' {;... \), s ~ .l v.... t~..J #'8 ? 9' ~C."""V"D~ 7. Requested items for support for Legislative Action re: Land Acquisition . Amend the Gas Tax legislation to allow funds to be utilized for the purchase of vacant land for the retirement of development rights in Areas of Critical State Concern, as development of those properties would have impacts on the roads; . Amend the Forever Florida Legislation to provide an annual allocation of five million dollars per year for the Monroe County Areas of Critical State Concern or provide a basis for allocating at least 25 points for applications from an Area of Critical State concern within the Florida Forever Rule; . Request that the Division of State Lands, Department of Environmental Protection, dedicate the current Florida Keys land acquisition agent to acquisition efforts exclusively for Monroe County and its municipalities; . Request that, should the citizenry of the Keys vote ~( referendum to add an additional cent to the bed tax, that the acquisition o~ retirement of development rights be an allowed use for such funds in Areas of Critical State ConcernJ~s ...,.J\ o.s fr ~,-~ho~~) ~('tY\~ t wc'-~~, CAREER SERVICE COUNCIL The Career Service Council was created by special act of the state legislature and has provided an appeal opportunity for employees who are dismissed or severely disciplined. Presently, those agencies under its jurisdiction are Monroe County (under the Board of County Commissioners, not the Constitutional Officers), the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, City Electric System, and the Mosquito Control District. Each one of the four appoints a member to the Board and a fifth member at large is selected by those four. Over the years, the laws have changed to provide employees with more protection through the courts. The Career Service Council proceedings have continued to be time consuming and expensive and rarely result in a decision in a timely fashion. This is unfair to both the citizens of the County and to the employees who have brought the appeals. A number of the agencies involved have discussed the possibility of not being covered by the Career Service Council. The Administrator has been informed that at least one other agency will definitely pursue that course. It is proposed that Monroe County request that the State Representative introduces legislation to remove Monroe County from the jurisdiction of the Career Service Council. In the event that sufficient other agencies take similar action, there is the possibility that the Career Service Council could be discontinued. Since there will be a perception that the employees are closing protection, it is suggested that the Board of County Commissioners consider the utilization of a Hearing Officer for employees to appeal significant disciplinary actions. A single Hearing Officer L,3 should allow for more rapid consideration of issues and decisions, at a more economical level for both the employees and the County.