1
CAPTIONING
MARCH 28, 2014
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
***This is not an official, verbatim transcript of the ***following meeting. It should be used for informational ***purposes only. This document has not been edited; ***therefore, there may be additions, deletions, or words ***that did not translate.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH 28 MEETING OF THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WE WILL HAVE MS. KIMBER READ THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
> KIMBER WILLIAMS: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: THANKFULLY KIMBER DIDN'T HAVE TO READ IT, AS WE ALL KNOW THAT.
[LAUGHTER]
AND DEBORAH, WOULD YOU READ THE MISSION STATEMENT?
> DEBORAH COPE: SURE.
THE PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS COMMITTEE SHALL BE THE FOLLOWING: TO REVIEW AND EVALUATE COUNTY ISSUES AS REQUESTED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND TO INITIATE PROPOSALS AND FORWARD THEM TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: THANK YOU, AND NOW I THINK WE WILL GO AROUND THE ROOM INTRODUCING OURSELVES AND WHO APPOINTED US.
SPENCER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START?
> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY, SPENCER KASS, APPOINTED BY COMMISSIONER SANDRA MURMAN.
> WENDELL DUGAN, APPOINTED BY COMMISSIONER LES MILLER.
> DEBORAH COPE, APPOINTED BY COMMISSIONER KEVIN BECKNER.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD, APPOINTED BY COMMISSIONER KEVIN BECKNER.
> CRISTAN FADAL, APPOINTED BY COMMISSIONER SANDRA MURMAN.
> LINDA PORTER, APPOINTED BY COMMISSIONER LES MILLER.
> KIMBER WILLIAMS, APPOINTED BY COMMISSIONER KEN HAGAN.
> JOSEPH WICKER, APPOINTED BY COMMISSIONER AL HIGGINBOTHAM.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: THANK YOU, AND I'D LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD FROM KAY DOUGHTY THAT SHE SAID, "I WILL BE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING ON MARCH 28.
MY SUPERVISOR HAS ASKED THAT I ATTEND THE MEETING AT THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT DEALS WITH CHILD WELFARE ISSUES."
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT AND SEEING NONE, WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE REVIEW OF OUR MEETING RECAP.
EVERYBODY TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THAT, IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES.
> MOVE TO APPROVE.
> SECOND.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: THANK YOU.
AND NEXT UP IS AGRIBUSINESS, BUT MR. BOLLIN ISN'T HERE.
IS THERE ANOTHER -- OH, YOU'RE RIGHT THERE.
OH.
WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE RECAP.
ALL IN FAVOR.
> AYE.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: UNANIMOUSLY.
> AYE.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: AND WE DO HAVE MR. BOLLIN HERE.
THERE HE IS.
WELCOME.
-- MR. BOLLIN HERE.
THERE HE IS, WELCOME.
> I'M SIMON BOLLIN.
I'M THE AGRIBUSINESS DIRECTOR -- OR MANAGER, SORRY.
GOT AHEAD OF MYSELF THERE, AGRIBUSINESS MANAGER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
AND I GUESS I WAS TOLD TO SHOW UP AND ANSWER QUESTIONS, SO IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'D BE HAPPY TO --
> TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES JUST ON WHAT YOU ALL DO.
[LAUGHTER]
> I GUESS I SERVE TWO PURPOSES.
I'M A LIAISON BETWEEN FARMERS AND AGRIBUSINESSES IN THE COUNTY, AND COUNTY AND STATE GOVERNMENT BEING REGULATORS AND LEGISLATORS.
IF A FARMER CALLS ME UP AND SAYS, "I WANT TO EXPAND MY BLUEBERRY FIELD, I KNOW I NEED A PERMIT TO DO THIS, WHO DO I NEED TO TALK TO, HOW DO I NEED TO GO ABOUT IT?"
I'LL PUT THEM IN TOUCH WITH THE CORRECT PERSON TO GET THAT DONE EFFICIENTLY AND EXPEDIENTLY.
SINCE I'M ALSO IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT I LOOK TO HELP, PROMOTE, EXPAND AND DEVELOP NEW OR EXISTING AGRIBUSINESSES IN THE COUNTY.
AND THE DEFINITION OF AGRIBUSINESS IS BROAD SPECTRUM, EVERYTHING FROM A STRAWBERRY FARMER IN PLANT CITY TO A MICROBREWER IN YBOR AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
SO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS BLESSED WITH A DIVERSE RANGE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS THAT ARE PRODUCED SO IT LENDS ITSELF VERY WELL TO BREWERIES, FOOD PROCESSING OPERATIONS, FLAVORINGS AND SUCH.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: MICROBREWER IS CONSIDERED AGRIBUSINESS?
> WELL, DEPENDS ON YOUR DEFINITION, BUT IT IS A PROCESSED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT, YOU KNOW, BEING OF BARLEY AND MALTED BARLEY AND WHEAT, SO YES, YOU KNOW, THE RAW INGREDIENTS THAT GO INTO A MICROBREWERY OR A DISTILLERY ARE JUST CONSIDERED A PROCESSED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT LIKE A BAG OF CHIPS OR, YOU KNOW, CAM'S TUNA.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: SPENCER?
> SPENCER KASS: HAVE YOU GUYS TAKEN A POSITION ON IF THEY DECIDE TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AND WHERE THIS IS GOING TO GO AND HOW THIS IS --
> WE DO NOT HAVE A POSITION ON THAT, NO.
> SPENCER KASS: BUT IF THEY DO, THAT WILL BE HANDLED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT, I TAKE IT?
> POTENTIALLY.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: I WENT TO A SYMPOSIUM ABOUT A MONTH AGO ON GROWING OLIVE TREES, IT WAS OVER IN DELAND.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS LOOKING TO DO?
AND SOME OF THE INFORMATION I GOT FROM IT IS WITH ALL THE CITRUS GREENING THAT IS HAPPENING IN AND AROUND THE COUNTY -- THE STATE, THAT PERHAPS GROWING OLIVE TREES WOULD BE A SUBSTITUTE, IF YOU WOULD.
> THAT IS A POTENTIAL.
IT HAS NOT BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AS OF YET, BEING THAT, YOU KNOW, AN AREA OF FARMERS HAVE NOT SAID, HEY, I WANT TO DO THIS, GROW OLIVE TREES, BUT I COULD SEE THE CLIMATE AND THE SOIL CONDITIONS, THAT WOULD BE CONDUCIVE FOR GROWING OLIVE TREES.
A LOT OF THE -- THE -- WHERE CITRUS GREENING IS TAKING PLACE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, SOME OF IT IS GOING TO BACK TO CITRUS.
PROBABLY A MAJORITY OF IT IS GOING TO BLUEBERRIES OR STRAWBERRIES, AND THEN PEACHES TO A CERTAIN EXTENT IS A GROWING MARKET IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE OLIVE TREES TAKE LESS WATER THAN, SAY, THE BLUEBERRIES DO, SO I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN EVEN LOOKING AT.
BROOKSVILLE I KNOW HAS SEVERAL OLIVE TREE GROWERS, BUT THE CHALLENGE IS ONCE YOU GROW THE OLIVES, IS WHEN YOU HARVEST THEM, WHERE YOU GO TO GET THEM PRESSED.
BECAUSE THERE IS -- THE CLOSEST ONE THAT I KNOW OF IS IN GEORGIA.
> RIGHT.
IT'S A DEVELOPING MARKET, NO, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET -- YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET AN OLIVE PRESS OPERATION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR THAT MARKET IF IT'S A GROWING MARKET.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: OF COURSE I HAVE VISIONS OF LUCILLE BALL IN THE PRESS WITH THE WINE.
[LAUGHTER]
> GOOD MORNING.
HOW ARE YOU?
> GOOD, AND YOURSELF?
> COULD YOU EXPLAIN SOME OF THE MORE INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT YOU HAVE DONE THIS WINTER TO KEEP THE STRAWBERRY FIELDS WARM VERSUS GROUNDWATER PUMPING?
> BEING THAT I'M STILL RELATIVELY NEW TO THE POSITION, YOU KNOW, THE TRADITIONAL WAY IS THROUGH OVERHEAD SPRINKLERS.
SWFWMD DOES PROVIDE SOME FUNDING FOR TARPS THROUGH -- AND THROUGH LOW-EMITTING SPRINKLER HEADS THAT USE CONSIDERABLY LESS WATER THAN A TRADITIONAL SPRINKLER HEAD.
IT'S JUST GETTING -- GETTING FARMERS ON BOARD OR ABLE TO APPROVE TECHNOLOGY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INVESTED IN THAT CROP.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SWITCH OVER TO A NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT HASN'T BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY PROVEN THROUGH, YOU KNOW, IFAS AND -- LIKE THE BAUM RESEARCH CENTER DOES A LOT OF THAT RESEARCH.
> WELL, I KNOW A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THE COUNTY WITH THE PLANNING IS PUTTING RESIDENTIAL, PARTICULARLY HEAVY RESIDENTIAL, NEAR AGRICULTURE AS WE HAVE DONE WITH INDUSTRY, AND WE HAD QUITE A PROBLEM WITH ST. [INAUDIBLE] WELLS GOING DRY.
BUT I HEARD THIS YEAR THEY'RE USING A LOT OF THE FROST BLANKETS.
> THEY ARE, THERE ARE FROST BLANKETS THAT ARE USED.
THAT IS A GOOD TECHNOLOGY.
IT'S LABOR INTENSIVE, AND THE BLANKETS HAVE MAYBE A THREE-YEAR LIFE TO THEM, WHERE A SPRINKLER HEAD HAS A MUCH LONGER LIFE SPAN AND DOESN'T REQUIRE THE LABOR THAT BLANKETS DO.
BUT THERE ARE GROWERS THAT DO USE BLANKETS.
> AND THAT THEY'RE GOING INTO -- WE WERE EXPERIMENTING, I DON'T KNOW IF WE STILL ARE, I DID THAT TOUR WITH THE MICROFARMING.
> MM-HMM.
> ARE THEY STILL EXPANDING THAT OR --
> THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPERATIONS AROUND THE COUNTY THAT DO VERTICAL FARMING OR HYDROPONICS AND/OR HYDROPONICS, AND THEY TEND TO BE NEAR OR IN THE CITY OF TAMPA TOO, THE WEST CHASE AREA AND ON THE EAST SIDE OF TAMPA.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF THOSE OPERATIONS.
> AND HAVE YOU DONE YOUR LEGISLATIVE TOUR THIS YEAR?
WE WENT ON IT ONE YEAR, IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.
> THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FARM BUREAU PUT ON THREE LEGISLATIVE TOURS THIS PAST FALL, AND I WAS ON ALL THREE OF THOSE.
> IS THERE ANY COMING UP IN THE SPRING?
> NO, USUALLY THEY DO THOSE ON A TWO-YEAR CYCLE, SO IT WOULD PROBABLY BE FALL OF 2015.
BUT IF -- IF THERE'S A CHANGE IN THAT I CAN LET YOU KNOW.
> WOULD YOU PLEASE?
BECAUSE IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.
WE WENT AND I ENJOYED IT.
THANK YOU.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: THANK YOU.
JOE?
> I WANTED TO KNOW IF YOUR DEPARTMENT WAS INVOLVED AT ALL IN THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND HOUSE BILL 1329 THAT IMPACTED THE -- PRIMARILY THE MICROBREWERIES, WHERE IT BEGAN TO INCREASE SOME REGULATIONS AROUND THAT?
> I WAS LOOKING INTO THAT YESTERDAY.
> OKAY.
I THINK IT'S DEAD NOW BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU ALL TOOK A POSITION ON IT.
> WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION ON IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
I WAS ASKED TO LOOK INTO IT AND SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT -- WHAT SOME OF THE RAMIFICATIONS OF IT WOULD BE, BUT THAT'S -- THAT'S AS FAR AS WE'VE GOT WITH IT.
> OKAY.
> REAL QUICK, ARE THERE ANY TYPES OF SUBSIDIES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AS OPPOSED TO -- I'M ASSUMING THERE'S OBVIOUSLY FEDERAL SUBSIDIES FOR FARMING AND AGRICULTURE, BUT ARE THERE ANY THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ACTUALLY PROVIDES OR INCENTIVES THAT YOU KNOW OF THAT MAYBE GO THROUGH YOUR OFFICE THAT PEOPLE APPLY FOR?
> THERE'S NONE RIGHT NOW THROUGH OUR OFFICE.
THERE ARE SOME FEDERAL PROGRAMS.
THERE ARE SOME STATE PROGRAMS FOR NEW OR BEGINNING FARMERS, ORGANIC FARMERS, BUT NONE THAT GO THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.
> SO I MEAN, IF SOMEONE WAS LOOKING FOR THAT, TO FIND THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION, THEY DON'T COME THERE, THEY --
> YEAH, I -- ON OUR -- ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEB SITE THERE'S THE AGRICULTURAL SECTION, AND IN THAT I'VE ESTABLISHED A PERMITS AND PROGRAMS SECTION, SO IF A FARMER OR A NEW AGRIBUSINESS IS LOOKING FOR THE MOST COMMON PERMITS OR SOME PROGRAMS FOR FUNDING OR GRANTS OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, THAT'S POPULATED WITH LINKS TO THOSE SITES, USDA, FDACS, SWFWMD SITES THAT WOULD HAVE THOSE EITHER PERMITS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE FARMING OPERATION OR IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOME SPECIFIC TYPE OF FUNDING, THAT'S -- THAT'S IN THERE.
AND IT'S A CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED PROCESS, BECAUSE IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO THE USDA WEB SITE YOU CAN SPEND THE ENTIRE DAY ON THERE AND NEVER GO TO THE SAME PAGE TWICE.
IT'S PRETTY EXTENSIVE WEB SITE.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
> JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IN DOLLARS IN AGRIBUSINESS THERE IS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY?
I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
> YEAH, THE LAST HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CENSUS WAS DONE IN 2011.
AT THAT TIME IT WAS $832 MILLION.
FARM GATE SALES FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
THE 2012 NUMBERS SHOULD BE COMING OUT SHORTLY.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS NO. 4 IN THE STATE FOR SALES, SO IT'S A STRONG -- AND THIS YEAR SHOULD BE A GOOD YEAR.
SO....
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: NO. 1 CROP?
> VALUE-WISE OR VOLUME-WISE?
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: YES.
[LAUGHTER]
GIVE US ONE AND THE OTHER.
> STRAWBERRIES IS A VERY STRONG LEADER.
AQUACULTURE, TROPICAL FISH IS ALSO UP THERE ON THE TOP.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: NOT TOMATOES?
> TOMATOES -- VEGETABLES --
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: THAT'S ALL GROUPED AS A VEGETABLE?
> YES, TOMATOES, CUCUMBERS.
> DID THIS COUNTY RECEIVE SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT CAME OUT OF WASHINGTON FOR THE STUDIES OF THAT CRITTER, THAT BUG THAT'S DESTROYING THE ORANGE TREES?
> THE PSYLLID THAT TRANSMITS THE GREEN DISEASE?
I DON'T KNOW.
FDACS HAS CONTRIBUTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE STUDY OF THE GREENING DISEASE, BUT AS FAR AS THIS COUNTY SPECIFICALLY, I'M NOT SURE ON THAT.
> BECAUSE I KNOW OBAMA SIGNED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION OR BILLS OR -- TO GIVE THE STUDY TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA, MONEY, AND TO ALSO HELP THEM REPLANT.
IT WAS BECAUSE OF THAT BUG.
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY ORANGE TREES IN YOUR YARD YOU'LL SEE THEY'RE ALL DYING, AND IT'S FROM THAT LITTLE BUG.
AND I KNEW THERE WAS MONEY GIVEN TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE WERE RECEIVING ANY OF IT.
> I DON'T KNOW.
> I WOULD HOPE SO.
IF NOT, LET US KNOW AND I'LL WRITE A LETTER.
> I CAN FIND OUT FOR YOU.
> THANK YOU.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: AND WHEN GAYE WRITES THE LETTER, THEY RESPOND.
[LAUGHTER]
ANY QUESTIONS?
NO?
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING, AND I HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK AND GIVE US A GREAT REPORT ON OLIVE TREES, MAYBE, THE NEXT TIME BEING THE NUMBER ONE CROP.
> OKAY, WILL DO.
THANK YOU.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: THANK YOU.
WELL, IT WOULDN'T BE A CAC MEETING UNLESS WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON STREETLIGHTING.
> DON'T LOOK AT ME.
[LAUGHTER]
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: WELL, WE ARE ALL LOOKING AT YOU, SPENCER.
[LAUGHTER]
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT AWAY?
> SPENCER KASS: NO, LET HIM DO IT.
IT'S HIS BABY.
> BARBARA ADERHOLD: WE DON'T GET TO COMMENT ON YOUR COMMENT, GAYE?