♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I AM VANNESSA ROWSE, LEADERSHIP TALLAHASSEE CLASS 33 GRADUATE AND ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VILLAGE SQUARE.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE 11TH ANNUAL TALLAHASSEE OWN THE HALL.

TOWN HALL.

WE ARE SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

AND THE WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA STUDIO, AND ALSO WELCOME TO THOSE OF YOU STREAMING ONLINE ON ZOOM AND FACEBOOK.

WE'RE SO GLAD TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU.

I'D LIKE TO THE THANK OUR PARTNERS THAT A MADE THIS POSSIBLE, THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE LEON COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, LEADERSHIP TALLAHASSEE AND WFSU, OF COURSE.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US MANY YOUR SPACE FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL EVENING.

ALSO A BIG, HUGE THANK YOU TO TOM FLANIGAN FOR MODERATING TONIGHT AND GUIDING US THROUGH THESE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.

A QUICK NOTE ABOUT TONIGHT'S FORMAT.

WE ARE DIVIDING TONIGHT INTO TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS.

FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO THE HEAR FROM OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A VERY SHORT BREAK, AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL ALLOW MORE TIME FOR US TO GET INTO THE TOPICS AND HEAR FROM ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL COMMISSIONERS.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED, WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP.

PLEASE, THIS EVENING HELP MAKE, HELP MAKE THIS A CIVIL AND RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION LIKE WE DO AT THE VILLAGE SQUARE.

PLEASE RESIST THE URGE FOR TEAM CLAPPING, THAT THAT'S WHEN SOMEONE ON YOUR SIDE OR SOMEBODY YOU AGREE WITH SAYS SOMETHING YOU LIKE AND YOU CLAP.

WE'D LIKE YOU TO THE, WE'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO GIVE THEM A MENTAL HIGH-FIVE INSTEAD, MAYBE SIT ON YOUR HANDS A LITTLE BIT.

AND THEN IN THE OPPOSITE CORRECTION, ON THE FLIPSIDE, IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING YOU DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH, PLEASE, RESIST THE URGE TO TO GROAN AND GRUMBLE.

THAT WILL HELP US KEEP THIS CONVERSATION CIVIL AND RESPECTFUL.

THE VILLAGE SQUARE BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF DIALOGUE AND DISAGREEMENT.

WE THINK BOTH ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY.

AND WE KNOW THAT CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS CAN BE DONE CIVILLY, SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION IN THAT.

IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO TURN IT OVER TO KIM KELLING OF WFSU.

SHE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR PANEL AND MODERATOR FOR THIS EVENING.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PROGRAM.

KIM?

[LAUGHTER] >> THANKS.

AS I SAID EARLIER, I'M KIM KELLING, I'M A LEADERSHIP TALLAHASSEE GRADUATE, CLASS 28, AND I'M DIRECTOR OF CONTENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS HERE AT WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE ANNUAL TALLAHASSEE TOWN HALL.

THE MAYOR AND CITY, THE MAYOR AND ALL THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE AND LEON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WERE INVADED TO TONIGHT'S EVENT.

INVITED TO TONIGHT'S EVENT.

AND WE'D LIKE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT ARE ACTUALLY HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.

SO HANG THE FOR MAKING TIME TO BE HERE.

-- THANK YOU FOR MAKING TIME TO BE HERE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMISSIONERS AND YOU ARE HERE IN THE STUDIO AUDIENCE, YOU CAN WRITE YOUR QUESTION ON THE AUDIENCE QUESTION SHEET ON YOUR CHAIR OR RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU DIDN'T GET A FORM AND YOU'D LIKE TO FILL ONE OUT, WE'LL HAVE A VOLUNTEER BRING IT TO YOU X.

THEN THEY'LL COME AND PICK IT UP FOR YOU AS WELL.

IF YOU'RE JOINING US ON ONE OF OUR LIVE STREAMS, YOU CAN ASK YOUR QUESTION ON THE ZOOM Q&A OR THROUGH THE FACEBOOK COMMENT AREA, AND WE WILL BE CHECKING THOSE.

YOU CAN ALSO USE TWITTER, HASHTAG TALLY TOWN HALL, AND WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE MONITORING THAT HASHTAG FOR QUESTIONS.

WE WILL DO OUR BEST AS TIME ALLOWS TO GET TO YOUR QUESTIONS TOWARDS THE END OF EACH SEGMENT.

IT'S MY PLEASURE NOW TO INTRODUCE OUR DISTINGUISHED PANEL FOR THE FIRST PORTION OF THIS EVENING'S PROGRAM.

STARTING WITH CITY COMMISSIONER ZACK PORTER.

NEXT WE HAVE MAYOR PRO TEM DIANNE WILLIAMS-COX AND LAST, CITY CITY COMMISSIONER CURTIS RICHARDSON.

WE DID HAVE JEREMY MATLOW DID RESPOND THAT HE WAS COMING AND THEN, UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOT FEELING WELL TONIGHT, SO HE WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US.

AND OUR MAYOR IS TRAVELING.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

AND NOW I'M DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE AND MODERATOR FOR THE EVENING, TOM FLANIGAN.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE IN THE ROOM DOESN'T KNOW WHO TOM FLANIGAN IS.

[LAUGHTER] IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO TOM PLAN BEGAN IS, WELL, THEN YOU HAVE A TREAT TONIGHT TO GET TO KNOW HIM.

HE IS A OLD SCHOOL JOURNALIST WHO BELIEVES IN LISTENING TO PEOPLE AND9 GETTING THEIR STORIES.

I -- MY JOB REALLY IS TO KEEP TOM FROM GOING TO WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

THAT'S REALLY THE BIGGEST JOB I HAVE.

HE IS OUT EVERY WEEKEND TRYING TO COVER LOCAL EVENTS TO TELL THE STORY OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN TALLAHASSEE.

SO, TOM, THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR MODERATOR TONIGHT.

HE'S BEEN WITH WFSU FOR 17 YEARS, AND HE IS DEFINITELY A WONDERFUL PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

I'M TURNING IT OVER TO YOU, TOM.

GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU, KIM.

AND NEED I TELL YOU I HAVE A WONDERFUL BOSS?

[LAUGHTER] GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND BEING PA PART OF OUR CITY HALL TONIGHT.

AS KIM ALREADY SAID, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR MEMBERS OF THE TALLAHASSEE CITY COMMISSION.

WE ARE GOING TO DELVE INTO SOME REALLY HOT AND FROTHY ISSUES THIS EVENING.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT I'M SURE ARE TOP OF MIND WHEN IT COMES TO EVERYBODY, PARTICULARLY NOW WITH THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IN FULL HUE AND CRY, MUCH OF WHICH THEY'RE DOING ALSO IMPACTING THE FOLKS HERE IN THE CITY AND ALSO THE COUNTY FOLKS WHO WE'LL HEAR FROM SHORTLY.

BUT I DO HAVE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THAT I WANT TO IMPOSE ON THESE FOLKS JUST TO KIND OF GET THINGS STARTED.

WE'RE GOING TO DRILL DOWN INTO SOME HEAVY STUFF HERE.

COMMISSIONER PORTER, WHAT SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU WANT, AND WHICH SUPER CURSE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR ARCH ENEMIESOME.

>> OH, WOW.

>> OH, MY -- >> WHAT SUPER CURSE?

I THINK THAT MY SUPERPOWER WOULD BE UNLIMITED ENERGY, AND I THINK MY SUPER CURSE WOULD BE NEVER ENDING DROWSINESS.

[LAUGHTER] >> I LIKE THAT.

NICE RESPONSE.

COMMISSIONER DIANNE WILLIAMS-COX, OUR HOT DOG SANDWICHES -- [LAUGHTER] >> ABSOLUTELY.

KETCHUP, MUSTARD THE, RELISH, ABSOLUTELY.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL CUTS THAT FURTHER THE NEXT TIME I RUN INTO YOU AT VILLAGE INN.

[LAUGHTER] AND COMMISSIONER CURTIS RICHARDSON, YOU HAVE TWO LOVELY YOUNG LADIES AS DAUGHTERS, BUT THEY'RE KIND OF ABOVE THE TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC FOR THIS QUESTION.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOB TO A 5-YEAR-OLD?

>> TO A 5-YEAR-OLD.

TO MAKE THE RULES FOR THEM TO LIVE BY.

[LAUGHTER] >> THESE GUYS CAME PREPARED.

[LAUGHTER] CONGRATULATIONS.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE REALLY GOING TO GET INTO SOME OTHER ISSUES RIGHT NOW, AND LET'S SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE ALL CAN AGREE ON.

THERE'S PLENTY THAT WE CAN FIND THAT PUT DIFFERENCES AMONGST US.

BUT LET'S START OFF WITH AN EASY ONE HERE.

TRUST AND CIVILITY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ALL OF YOU CAN AGREE ON, EVEN YOUR TWO COLLEAGUES WHO AREN'T HERE TONIGHT, AND HOW ARE YOU SIMILAR TO YOUR COLLEAGUES?

AND, COMMISSIONER DIANNE WILLIAMS-COX, LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> OKAY.

I THINK THAT OUR SIMILAR IS ARE THAT THAT WE WANT TO DO A GREAT JOB, WE WANT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE.

NOT ONLY THE CITY, BUT THE WORLD.

TALLAHASSEE THE CAPITAL OF THE THIRD LARGEST STATE IN THE UNION, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE A LIGHT THAT SHINES UPON THE HILL.

SO I THINK WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT.

WHERE IS DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE IN THE OPINION ON HOW ANOTHER THAT.

AND OF COURSE WE WOULD.

WE'RE OPERATING WITH DIFFERENT BRAINS.

WE'RE COMING TOGETHER WITH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.

AND SO HOSE DIFFERENCES ARE WHERE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND RESPECT THE FACT THAT WE ARE DIFFERENT.

BUT WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES.

>> OKAY, SAME QUESTION FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, PLEASE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, I THINK, TOM, WHAT WE ALL HAVE IN COMMON, AND IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN TRUE FOR ME OVER LAST OVER 20 YEARS IS A DESIRE, A SUN SERE DETHE SIRE TO SERVE -- SINCERE DESIRE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THIS COMMUNITY WHEREVER THEY LIVE.

A TALLAHASSEE HAS BEEN TWICE DESIGNATED AN ALL-AMERICAN CITY.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY CURL THOSE TWO DESIGNATIONS, NOT EVERYBODY, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE, FELT LIKE THEY LIVED IN AN ALL-AMERICAN CITY.

SO I THINK ALL OF US ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WHEREVER AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY ARE A PART OF THAT ALL-AMERICAN CITY.

THAT'S WHAT WE SHARE IN COMMON.

AGAIN, AS COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS COX SAID, WE MAY DIFFER ON OUR OPINIONS ON HOW TO GET THERE, BUT I THINK WE ALL HAVE THAT SINCERE DESIRE TO THE MAKE THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

>> APPRECIATES THAT.

COMMISSIONER PORTER.

>> I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

I THINK WHAT WE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT WE LOVE TALLAHASSEE.

WE LOVE TALLAHASSEE, WE LOVE THE PEOPLE, WE LOVE THE NATURALLAL BEAUTY, AND WE WANT TO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.

SO, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT IN COMMON, AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KIND OF MOVING IN THE SAME ORBIT IF WE COULD HERE, THE NEXT ONE, SINCE THIS IS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE VILLAGE SQUARE AND, AGAIN, WE THANK THOSE FOLKS SO MUCH FOR BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO FIND SOME OF THOSE COMMONALITIES AND THINGS THAT, YES, WE CAN AGREE ON BUT ALSO HOW DO WE INTERPRET OUR DIFFERENCES AND MAYBE COME TO A GREAT OR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THOSE DIFFERENCES ARE.

SO THE VILLAGE SQUARE CERTAINLY BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF DIALOGUE AND DISAGREEMENT AND ALSO GROWING CIVIL DISCOURSE ON ALL OF THESE DIVISIVE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.

WAYS TO INCREASE CIVILITY INCLUDE LISTENING TO OTHERS WITH AN OPEN MIND, UNDERSTANDING ISSUES THAT ARE SELDOM BLACK AND WHITE AND ARE OFTEN ON A REALLY LONG CONTINUE CONTINUUM -- CONTINUUM AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT PEOPLE ARE COMPLICATED.

WE AREN'T SIMPLE BEASTS, WE AREN'T.

AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT VALUES AND PRIORITIES.

SO WHAT CAN BE CONE AS A COMMUNITY AND, MAYBE MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO PERSONALLY TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF CIVIL I IN OUR COMMUNITY WHICH SOMETIMES HAS SLIPPED PARTICULARLY IN RECENT YEARSESOME COMMISSIONER PORTER, LET'S START WITH YOU AND WORK BACK DOWN.

>> I THINK THAT IT STARTS ESPECIALLY AS A COMMISSIONER IN SETTING THE TONE, IN MAKING SURE THAT I AM REFLECTIVE, THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I'M CONSTANTLY ASKING MYSELF -- I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PERFECTLY BE A COMMISSIONER.

I'M STILL NEW TO THIS.

AND EVEN IF I WEREN'T NEW TO THIS, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO GROW.

I THINK THAT LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC, GETTING INTO THE WEEDS, NOT BEING AFRAID TO HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.

YOU KNOW, CONFLICT IS NOT FUN FOR ANYONE, AND I DIDN'T RUN TO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO FIGHT WITH PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME.

I WANT TO SERVE COMMUNITY.

I WANT, AND WE ALL WANT THAT.

SO I THINK STARTING LOOKING WITHIN AND NOT BEING AFRAID TO HAVE THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.

>> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX.

>> I THINK THAT WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WHAT I TRY TO DO IS TO BE A GOOD EXAMPLE.

NOW, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IN THESE POSITIONS WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS, AND WORDS COMATTER AND WORDS DO HURT.

AND ACTIONS DO THE AS WELL.

AND I CANNOT PRETEND THAT SOMETHING THAT IS SAID DOES NOT HURT.

SO MY JOB SO THE FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT.

AND I TRY TO BE VERY HONEST.

I'M AT THE AGE NOW WHERE I CAN BE VERY HONEST.

I DON'T APPRECIATE THE WAY I WAS DEALT WITH, I HAVE TO LET YOU KNOW.

BUT I HAVE TO LEARN TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT WE CAN GROW FROM IT AND NOT JUST BE DIVIDED FROM IT.

BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR AND BE TRANSPARENT BECAUSE I THINK THAT PEOPLE TREAT YOU HOW YOU ALLOW THEM TO TREAT YOU.

AND MANY TIMES IN THESE POSITIONS, WE SUFFER QUITE A BIT OF ABUSE AT MEETINGS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU KNOW?

Y'ALL SEE IT SO WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAK.

AND I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

>> OKAY.

AND WE'LL END IT UP WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

>> THANK YOU.

CIVILITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO ME PERSONALLY AND TO MY FAMILY.

WE'VE TAUGHT THAT TO MY DAUGHTERS.

MY WIFE PREACHES THAT AND LIVES THAT ON A DAILY BASIS.

BUT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T WORK WITH OTHERS IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO BE CIVIL.

THE COMMUNITY HAS BLESSED ME TO SERVE IT IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, AS A STATE LEGISLATOR AND NOW AS A CITY COMMISSIONER.

AND IN ORDER TO GET ANYTHING DONE IN EITHER OF THOSE CAPACITIES, YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE TO OTHERS AND BE CIVIL, UNDERSTAND THEIR ISSUES.

YOU MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE, BUT YOU UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE FACING, AND YOU TRY TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO COME TO SOLUTIONS TO THOSE ISSUES THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE HAPPY WITH AND SATISFIED WITH.

AND IT MOVES OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD.

YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN THOSE ROLES OR IN ROLES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

I MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE WHEREVER AND WHENEVER I CAN TO HEAR WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO THE SAY AND TO PROCESS WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY AND MAKE IT A PART OF MY AGENDA TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE FOR US ALL.

AND THAT'S, I THINK, WHAT CIVILITY IS ALL ABOUT.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, NOT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS AS CIVIL AS WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE.

>> YES.

>> AND IF YOU AMP A THAT UP TO KIND OF AN ULTIMATE LEVEL, YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN 2022.

WE HAD 108 SHOOTINGS RESULTING IN 19 DEATHS, 91 INJURIES, AND IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS THIS YEAR ALONE THERE HAVE BEEN 19 SHOOTINGS, AND THAT RESULTED IN 0 DEATHS, 13 INJURIES -- 2 DEATHS, 13 INJURIES.

TWO WEEKS AGO A TALLAHASSEE PHARMACIST WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITH A TOTAL OF 25 GUNS, HUNDREDS OF ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION, BULLETPROOF VESTS, EXPLOSIVES IN HIS CAR.

>> SURE.

>> NOT A VERY TALL HAS SEE APPROACH TO LIFE, I THINK WE ALL COULD AGREE.

SO CAN WE SAY OUR SITUATION IN TALLAHASSEE WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME IS IMPROVING, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MOVE THAT BALL FURTHER DOWN FIELD?

AND, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU, TOM.

AND IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY ARE IMPACTED BY IT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD 25 YARDS FROM MY FRONT DOOR.

A 16-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON THE CHURCH GROUND IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

HE WAS A PERSONAL FRIEND OF MY 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, AND HE WAS KILLED BY ONE OF OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS.

WE WERE DEVASTATED BY THAT EXPERIENCE.

AND I VOWED THEN PERSONALLY, BUT CERTAINLY AS A CITY COMMISSIONER, TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF VIOLENT CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'VE SEEN OTHER CRIMES, THE SHERIFF AND POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOW THAT THOSE CRIMES ARE ACTUALLY BEING REDUCED.

BUT VIOLENT CRIME IS ONE -- AND AND WE'RE NOT AS BAD AS SOME OTHER PLACES.

BUT ONE UNNECESSARY OR SENSELESS KILLING IS ONE TOO MANY.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE OUR FUTURE.

AND SO WE'VE COMMITTED OUR DOLLARS, WE'VE COMMITTED OUR TIME, WE'VE COMMITTED OUR RESOURCES TO ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE AS A COMMUNITY.

IF AND IT'S GOING TO BE A COMMUNITY SOLUTION.

IT WON'T, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO POLICE OURSELVES OUT OF THIS PROBLEM.

THIS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND COMBINE ITS RESOURCES AND TALENTS AND DESIRES TO MAKE THAT A REALITY.

>> OKAY.

DIANE WILL WITH YAMS COX.

DIANNE WILLIAMS-COX.

>> I THINK THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE, AND AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, WE'VE MADE PUBLIC SAFETY OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

AND WHEN IT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THE, YOU'RE KEENLY FOCUSED ON A MAKING SURE -- I LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE JUST LIKE COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON DOES.

AND SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN SOMETIMES ON THE SOUTH SIDE THAT THAT FOLKS DON'T THINK HAPPEN IN OTHER PLACES.

BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE ANYMORE.

THEY'RE HAPPENING ALL OVER OUR CITY.

AND SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AMPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, FOLKS WHO SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

WE'VE INCREASED OUR CONTRIBUTION TO CRIMESTOPPERS SO THAT FOLKS WILL UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE TO SAY SNITCHES GET STITCHES, I LIKE TO SAY SNITCHES GET RICHES BECAUSE NOW WE'VE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING SO THAT CRIMESTOPPERS CAN PAY MORE TO REPORT THESE CRIMES AND THINGS WHEN THEY HAPPEN.

WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS OURSELVES.

WE CAN'T EXPECT SOMEONE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE TO DO THIS FOR US.

AND SO WE'VE GOT TO THE SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING AND MAKE SURE THAT WE FIX WHAT OUR ISSUES ARE.

WHEN WE SEE A CRIME OCCUR OR WE KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT A CRIME, WE'VE GOT TO REPORT IT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN FOLKS ARE ON THE STREET READY TO DO IT AGAIN BECAUSE THEY GOT AWAY WITH IT.

SO I IT'S UP TO US.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT OURSELVES.

>> THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER IMPORTANTER.

>> THANK YOU, TOM.

I THINK THAT WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN, LIKE OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE DURING COVID GUN VIOLENCE SHOT UP, AND IT HAS NOT GONE DOWN.

SO THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO THIS.

WE'VE TAKEN CERTAIN STEPS.

I SEE COLLABORATION THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HAS BEEN THERE BEFORE WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL BOARD, WORKING WITH OUR SHERIFF, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING SERVICES.

BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, AND WE ARE DOING THIS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US COEVEN MORE OF SEEING IT, OF COURSE, AS THE ENTIRE UMBRELLA OF QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.

THE NUMBER OF EVICTIONS, THE NUMBER OF EXPULSIONS.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ALL PLAY A PART INTO IN THIS THE, AND SO HAVING THAT 40 LUSTIC VISION IS REALLY -- HOLISTIC VISION IS REALLY CRITICAL.

>> YEAH, TOM THE, MIGHT I ADD -- >> SURE.

>> -- I HOPE THAT THE SITUATION IS NOT EXACERBATED NOW BY THIS OPEN CARRY LAW THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SIGNED.

YOU KNOW, I PRAY THAT IT DOESN'T, BUT THERE IS A CHANCE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE TO HAVE TO REDOUBLE, ALL OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REDOUBLE THE OUR EFFORTS UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T SEE AN'S CHANGES IN VIOLENT CRIME, PARTICULARLY GUN CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT.

AND BEFORE WE LEAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARENA, THIS CERTAINLY DOESN'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF MALFEASANCE THAT WE'VE JUST BEEN ADDRESSING, BUT THE OTHER NIGHT A DEMONSTRATION AROUND TALLAHASSEE CITY HALL, TWO LEADERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF FLORIDA INCLUDING A SITTING FLORIDA SENATOR TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

I WANTED TO GET JUST YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT INCIDENT AND ANY FOLLOW-UP YOU MIGHT HAVE.

COMMISSIONER IMPORTANTER?

IF.

>> -- PORTER?

>> THANK YOU, TOM.

I THINK FOR ME, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE, WE DON'T ARREST PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.

THAT'S MY VIEW.

>> OKAY -- >> I DON'T THINK SERVICE THE PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY.

THEY WERE NOT DISRUPTING ANY GOVERNMENT FUNCTION, THEY WEREN'T A DANGER TO OTHERS OR TO THEMSELVES.

I WISH IT HAD BEEN HANDLED DIFFERENTLY.

I'VE SPOKEN TO PEOPLE WHO I KNOW IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHO ARE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO TOLD ME THAT'S NOT HOW THEY WOULD HAVE HANDLED IT.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY AS THE CAPITAL CITY NOT ONLY TO RESIDENTS OF TALLAHASSEE, BUT ALSO TO ALL OF FLORIDA WHO COME HERE, AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS PEACEFULLY, AND I WISH THAT THE IT HAD HAPPENED DIFFERENTLY.

>> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS COX.

>> TORCHES AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, NONE.

I'VE PARTICIPATED IN PROTESTS MYSELF.

BUT THAT FIGHT IS NOT AT CITY HALL.

IT WAS ACROSS THE STREET AT THE CAPITOL.

AND ALL DAY LONG OUR FOLKS HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THE PROTEST DEERS, AND THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN, THEY'D BEEN TOLD WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO.

BARRICADES WERE PUT UP, BUT THEY WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BARRICADE.

AND I'M TOLD -- I TALKED CORRECTLY TO POLICE OFFICERS, I'M TOLD THAT SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE MAKING THE DECISION TO BE ARRESTED.

SO WE HAVE LAWS, WE HAVE RULES THAT WE MUST ABIDE BY.

WE HAVE A HOMELESS POPULATION DOWN OWN THE, AND IF WE -- DOWNTOWN, AND IF WE ALLOW FOLKS TO COME FROM OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE ARRESTED WERE FROM OUT OF TOWN.

IF WE ALLOW THEM TO COME FROM OUT OF TOWN AND SET UP CAMPS, THEN ONCE THEY'RE GONE, THE NEXT GROUP OF SOMEONE COULD BE HOMELESS OR WHOMEVER, DECIDES TO SET UP CAMP.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING?

WE'VE RELINQUISHED CITY HALL, AND WE CANNOT DO THAT.

S THE NOT SAFED TO DO THAT FOR EVERYONE.

AND IF WE ALLOWED THEM TO SLEEP THERE THE OTHER NIGHT, THAT'S ANOTHER LIABILITY.

SO THE RULES WERE CLEAR.

THEY WERE EXPELLED OUT, THEY WERE WARNED MANY TIMES, SEVERAL TIMES.

AND THE LAW, YOU BROKE THE LAW, YOU HAVE TO ABIDE BY IT, AS WE'VE HEARD.

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

AND I THINK BACK TO WHEN C. KING AND OTHERS -- DR. KING AND OTHERS DID THIS, THEY WERE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE REGISTER THED TO VOTE.

THEY WERE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

AND THEY DIDN'T DO THIS TO GET ARRESTED, BUT THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE.

SO I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE'RE SHOCKED.

IF YOU BREAK THE LAW, THEN YOU CAN BE ARRESTED.

AND YOU WERE TOLD THAT MANY TIMES.

SO, UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENED.

AND I HOPE WE LEARN AND GROW FROM IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FINAL WORD, COMMISSIONER RICH OR ARDSON.

>> YEAH.

JUST TO CONTINUE PART OF COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX'S CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, WE COVET, AS AFRICAN-AMERICANS WE WE COVET THAT RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST.

BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT,S COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX NOR I WOULD BE SITTING ON THE DAIS.

MY PARENTS WEREN'T ABLE TO VOTE AS I WAS GROWING UP PRIOR TO THE 1965 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.

IT WAS OUT OF PROTEST, PEACEFUL PROTESTS, THAT THOSE RIGHTS WERE EXEND THED TO PEOPLE LIKE ME IN THIS COUNTRY.

IF WITH WE CAN'T TAKE THAT FOR -- WE CAN'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.

SO I'M GOING TO CHAMPION THAT RIGHT FOR OTHERS WHO CHOOSE TO DO THAT IN A PEACEFUL AND LAWFUL, LEGAL MANNER.

I WOULD CHAMPION THAT.

BUT IT HAS TO BE LEGAL, IT HAS TO BE LAWFUL.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENED HERE RECENTLY, UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE DISOBEYEDED OUR ORDINANCES.

WE HAVE ORDINANCES HERE IN TALLAHASSEE HARD OUR RULES AND LAWS -- THAT ARE OUR RULES AND LAWS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO OBEY.

THE DISCUSSION STARTED LAST FRIDAY WHEN THEY GOT A PERMIT.

THEY BLASTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT, OH, BRING YOUR TENTS AND YOUR SLEEPING BAGS, WE'RE GOING CAMP OUT IN FRONT OF CITY HALL.

WELL, OUR ORDINANCE SAYS THAT THAT'S NOT LAWFUL.

OUR CITY HALL IS OPERATED BY OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND WE HAVE CLEAR ORDINANCES, A CLEAR ORDINANCE ABOUT WHAT CAN AND CANNOT HAPPEN IN OUR PARKS.

AND PART OFS IT IS WHAT COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX SAID.

WE HAVE A HOMELESS POPULATION THAT HAVE JUST TAKEN OVER OUR BEAUTIFUL LAKE ELLA, OUR DOWNTOWN CHAIN OF PARKS, AND SO WE HAD TO RECTIFY THAT SITUATION BY ENFORCING OUR ORDINANCE.

AND SO THEY'RE THERE THE DURING THE DAY, YOU SEE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN OUR PARKS DURING THE DAY, BUT AT NIGHT WE TRY TO FIND A PLACE FOR THEM TO BE HOUSED, OR THEY FIND A PLACE FOR THEMSELVES.

SO, AND I CHAMPIONED ALSO THE CAUSE THAT WAS BEING PROTESTED.

I AM 100% AS A LEGISLATE OR THE, I WAS ONE OF THE TOP CHAMPIONS IN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE ON A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

I HAVE A WIFE OF AND TWO DAUGHTERS, AND I WANT THEM TO ALWAYS BE IN CONTROL OF WHAT THEIR HEALTH CARE WILL BE LIKE.

AND SO I CHAMPIONED THAT CAUSE AS WELL.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WERE THOSE WHO CHOSE TO DISOBEY THE LAW.

AND WHEN YOU DISOBEY THE LAW, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO THAT.

>> OKAY.

FOLKS, WE'LL HAVE TO MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE HERE.

A LITTLE BIT MORE POSITIVE, IF YOU WILL.

RIGHT NOW OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE TALLAHASSEE METRO IS AT 2.7%.

THAT WAS FOR FEBRUARY.

IT IS BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 3.5%, AND MANY EMPLOYERS ARE STILL HAVING A PRETTY TOUGH TIME RECRUITING AND FINDING EMPLOYEES.

SO WITH CONCERNS ONGOING THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY EVEN GET WORSE WITH AMAZON NOW COMING ONLINE AND NEEDING TO FILL 1,000 POSITIONS OUT THERE IN THE WAREHOUSE, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT PROJECTIONS FOR THE JOB MARKET IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW YOU CAN HELP MAINTAIN A HEALTHY SUPPLY-DEMAND BALANCE WHEN IT COME TOSS THAT THE.

COMMISSIONER PORTER?

>> YOU KNOW, ONE THING IS, THAT IS A PASSION OF MINE IS WALK ABOUT AND CONNECTIVITY.

AND WE'VEN SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT A WALKABLE COMMUNITY IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE GREATESTS SOURCES OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

IT GIVES PEOPLE ACCESS TO JOBS, ACCESS TOINGS EDUCATION, ACCESS TO TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S A ROLE THAT THE CITY CAN STEP INTO.

WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR BUS SYSTEM IS OPTIMIZED.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE WHOLE THING, BUT I THINK SUPPORTING OUR SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.

I THINK WE NEED TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THE CITY CAN DO FOR PRIVATE BUSINESSES, OF COURSE, COST OF LIVING -- THE WAGES ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING.

IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

BUT SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WHERE WE KNOW THE MONEY STAYS LOCAL, SUPPORTS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY FORWARD.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, THEN BACK TO YOU, DIANNE.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU.

WHEN I FIRST CAME TO TALLAHASSEE, THIS WAS A GOVERNMENT AND COLLEGE OWN THE.

AND THOSE WERE THE JOBS THAT YOU GOT, AND YOU STAYED ON ONE OF HOSE JOBS OR IN A POSITION IN ONE OF THOSE STATE DEPARTMENTS FOR 30 YEARS, AND YOU RETIRED WITH A PRETTY DECENT RETIREMENT PENSION.

BUT THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE.

AND SO ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES HAS BEEN TO, EXPAND OUR PRIVATE SECTOR THE EMPLOYMENT BASE IN THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE.

AND I THINK WE'VE CONE A GOOD JOB OF THAT.

WE JUST RECENTLY EXTENDED OUR PENNY SALES TAX FOR ANOTHER 20 THE YEARS, AND PART OF THAT, 12% OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THAT, ARE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT SO TO BRING THE AMAZONS AND THE HERB A CORES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR THE BUSINESSES BOTH SMALL AND LARGE.

WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR MOM AND POP BUSINESSES HERE IN TOWN AS WELL SO THAT THEY CAN HIRE INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE JOBS, TOM.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M PROUD OF, I AM A MEMBER OF WOMEN WEDNESDAY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT WE'RE DOING NEXT WEEK, IF WOMEN ARE INTERESTED, WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO GO INTO THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES.

THERE ARE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES.

I RETIRED FROM LIVELY TECHNICAL COLLEGE, AND I CAN TELL YOU I'M A DISCIPLE OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AS A RESULT.

A PERSON WITH THREE COLLEGE DEGREES.

AND SO WE'RE, NEXT WEDNESDAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GROUP OF WOMEN COME TOUR THE FACILITIES AT TCC AND, HOPEFULLY, PIQUE THEIR INTEREST IN TRADES, IN JOBS IN THE TRADES AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL FIELDS AND GET THEM TRAINED TO TAKE THOSE JOBS, TOM.

BUT IT'S -- I DON'T KNOW, AFTER COVID IT JUST SEEMS LIKE ALL OF OUR EMPLOYERS HAVING A HARD TIME RECRUITING QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES.

AND SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IDENTIFY THEM, GET THEM TRAINED AND THEN, OF COURSE, GET THEM EMPLOYED.

AND I THINK THAT UNDERGIRDS PART OF THE CRIME PROBLEM THAT WE'RE SEEING.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE WORKING AND BEING GAINFULLY EMPLOYED AND PROVIDING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR A FAMILY, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

>> VERY FINE.

COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS COX.

>> I THINK THE KEY IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PAYING LIVABLE WAGES AND PROVIDING BENEFITS SO THAT PARENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO EARN A GOOD LIVING AND KNOW HOW TO EARN MONEY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AT THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE IS WE HAVE A TALLAHASSEE FUTURE LEADERS ACADEMY.

AND WHAT WE DO WITH THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE IS DURING THE SUMMERTIME WE PROVIDE MONEY FOR THEM.

YOU KNOW, THEY WORK.

THEY'RE TRAINED AND THEY'RE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY GET PAID.

I REMEMBER A FEW YEARSING AGO, PRE-COVID, I ASKED WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOUR FIRST PAYCHECK?

MOST OF THEM SAID THEY WERE GOING TO THE BUY FOOD.

I KNOW GROWING UP IN GADSDEN COUNTY, I WORKED IN THE TOBACCO FIELDS TO EARN MONEY, TO BUY SCHOOL CLOTHES, TO HELP OUT MY FAMILY.

AND SO I THINK THAT WHAT WE CAN DO IS MAKE WAY TO PROVIDE A LIVABLE WAGES, HEALTH BENEFITS BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO BE HEALTHY TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND PROVIDE A GOOD ACADEMIC SYSTEM SO THAT FOLKS CAN RECEIVE THE TRAINING.

AS COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON MENTIONED, THE LIVELY CAREER AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMMING IS EXCELLENT, YOU KNOW?

I, TOO, HAVE SEVERAL DEGREES, BUT A WELDER COMING OUT OF LIVELY IS GOING TO THE MAKE A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY THAN I'VE EVER MADE.

[LAUGHTER] SO WE CAN'T SLEEP ON THAT.

SO ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND PAYING PEOPLE LIVABLE WAGES AND GOOD HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AND HOUSING.

BECAUSE IF THEY'RE ABLE TO WORK AND ABLE TO AFFORD HOUSING AS WELL.

>> SPEAK OF JOBS, YOU GUYS HAVE A JOB TOO AND THAT IS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO THE WEIGH IN ON THE CONVERSATION, WE DO HAVE PIECES OF PAPER THAT ARE SCATTERED AROUND HERE.

YOU CAN POSE YOUR QUESTION ON THAT, AND WE WILL BE PICKING IT UP AND GETTING IT INTO THE MIX IF HERE.

WE'RE LESS THAN 15 MINUTES AWAY FROM YOUR Q&A, AS WE TRY TO LEAVEN IN SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS INTO OUR CONVERSATION WITH MEMBERS OF THE TALLAHASSEE CITY COMMISSION.

LET'S GET INTO DEVELOPMENT, ALWAYS A NONCONTROVERSIAL, EASYGOING KIND OF TOPIC -- [LAUGHTER] HERE IN THIS TOWN.

IT CONTINUES TO STIR OR DEBATE AND CONTROVERSY AND OFTEN CAUSES KIND OF UNCIVIL DISCUSSIONS IN THE COMMUNITY AS THESE GUYS CAN ATTEST FROM THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS.

CAN YOU SAY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?

[LAUGHTER] WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ASSESSMENT OF THE BALANCE BETWEEN GROWTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE PRESERVATION?

AND IS THE COMMUNITY IN A BETTER OR A WORSE POSTURE NOW THAN MAYBE IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO?

AND IF I DARE OR TO ASK, HAS DIALOGUE IMPROVED OR DECLINED IN THAT TIME?

COMMISSIONER PORTER AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK THIS WAY.

>> THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT WE ARE GROWING, WE ARE OBVIOUSLY GROWING, AND I THINK THAT REVIEWING OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THAT WE ARE GROWING.

NOT THAT WE ARE GROWRKS BUT THE WAY THAT WE'RE GROWING.

I THINK THAT WHEN WE SEE VALUES OF OUR RESIDENTS, THE THINGS THAT THEY HOLD DEAR ABOUT WHY THEY CALL TALLAHASSEE HOME HAS BEEN THREATENED, IS BEING THREATENED.

THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE REVISIONS, TO UPDATE OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND TO HAVE REALLY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO GROW.

BECAUSE, ULTIMATELY, YOU EITHER GROW OUT OR YOU GROW UP, AND NOT EVERYONE WANTS THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DIG INTO THOSE DETAILS, BUT I'M EXCITED FOR THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE COMING UP.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

I DO THINK THE I'VE EXPRESSED BEFORE I'VE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT UNDUE INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN DEVELOPERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN TALLAHASSEE, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO THE NIP THAT IN THE BUD WITH OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

OR COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR CONVERSATIONS WE HEAR OFTEN AT COMMISSION MEETINGS, IT'S LIKE BEING A DEVELOPER IS A DIRTY WORD.

BUT WE WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

HOW ARE WE GOING ANOTHER THE IT IF WE DON'T HAVE DEVELOPERS?

I'M NOT BUILDING A HOUSE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO DO IT.

MY SON JUST PURCHASED A HOME RECENTLY.

DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS FOR HIM TO FIND A HOUSE TO BUY THAT HE COULD AFFORD?

AS THE GOVERNOR'S TELLING EVERYBODY MOVE TO FLORIDA IT'S FREE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GROW SMARTLY, HOW TO GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE, NOT WAIT UNTIL THIS TIME WHEN WE'VE GOT TO LOOK OUT INTO THE FUTURE AS FAR AS WE CAN AND TRY TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT SOME INDICATORS FROM WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE'VE COME FROM TO A TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE MIGHT BE GOING.

AND I'M NO EXPERT ON COMPREHENSIVE PLANS.

I SAT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS A CITIZEN, BUT THAT COUNT MAKE ME AN EXPERT.

MY EARS ARE OPEN, I'M LEARNING, AND AND I'M TRYING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I'M HEARING IN MY COMMUNITY AS WELL AS MY LIVED EXPERIENCE WHERE I LIVE AND OTHER PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY AHEAD OF OUR GROWING CURVE.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU STOP BURSTING AT THE SEAMS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE, THEN WE LOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND HOUSING.

I ATTENDED AN EVENT RECENTLY WITH REAL ORSES, AND IT HAS BEEN SAID WE HAVE 2,000 REALTORS AND 200 HOMES.

HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO GET OURSELVES OUT OF THAT UNLESS WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO YOU AND BUILD HOMES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE, THAT ARE WORK FORCE HOUSING OR LOW INCOME OR LOW RENT HOUSING SO THAT FOLKS CAN HAVE SOMEWHERE TO TO STAY?

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE AT THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE ARE DOING.

THE ORANGE AVENUE APARTMENTS ARE GOING UP.

YOU DRIVE BY THERE EVERY DAY, YOU TO SEE THAT'S HAPPENING AS WELL AS OTHER PARTS, HABITAT, WE PARTNERED WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND THE APARTMENTS OVER ON MAGNOLIA DRIVE, WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN, BEING SMART, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO USE THEIR MONEY TO DO IT.

AND SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE MUCH MORE TO LEARN AND MUCH MORE TO DO.

>> OKAY.

AND COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

>> THANK YOU, TOM.

IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS AGO WE HAD TO ASK OURSELVES AS A CITY HOW WERE WE GOING TO GROW, WHERE WE WERE GOING TO GROW.

WE WERE GROWING.

WE DIDN'T HAVE CAN -- >> A QUESTION?

>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.

>> OKAY, I THOUGHT HE WAS -- OKAY.

SO WE FORMED A COMMITTEE THAT WE CALLED BLUEPRINT 2000, AND WE LAID OUT A PLAN FOR HOW WE WERE GOING TO YOU AS A CITY.

IT WASN'T THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THAT'S A REQUIRED DOCUMENT FOR HOW COMMUNITIES ARE TO GROW, WHERE THINGS CAN GO, HOW THEY CAN BE BUILT AND THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT WE WERE GROWING, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THAT GROWTH.

AND SO WE CAME TOGETHER AS A COMMITTEE, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, DEVELOPERS AND OTHERS, CHAMBER REPRESENTATIVES, AND WE DEVELOPED BLUEPRINT 2000 WHICH LAID OUT A 20-YEAR PLAN FOR CREASING THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.

YOU CAN'T GROW WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT.

AS I MENTIONED, WE EXTENDED THAT PENNY SALES TAX ANOTHER 20 YEARS.

WE IDENTIFIED INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WERE NEEDED.

I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT OF THE 32 THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WILL BE COMPLETED OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS, 18 WILL BE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN FOR A TOTAL OF $270 MILLION.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME AND COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX WHO LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN AND HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THAT PART OF OUR CITY.

SO WE, WE ARE GROWING OUT.

WE'VE GOT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF ROOM TO GROW IN TALLAHASSEE AND LEON COUNTY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT INFIELD DEVELOPMENT, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT INFIELD DEVELOPMENT, WE'VE GOT TO KEEP GENERAL IS TRYIFICATION IN MIND, THE G-WORD, IF WE'RE GOING TO BUILD IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE TRADITIONAL WILY PARTICULARLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY.

WE'RE WORKING JOINTLY WITH THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO GROWTH AND WHERE WE WILL GROW, HOW WE WILL GROW.

COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR HOUSING.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND HOW WE ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND WHERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE.

SO WE HAVE GOT TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES, AND WE'RE JUGGLING A LOT OF BALLS IN THE AIR.

BUT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO THE PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, WE ARE PROUD TO SAY WE'VE GOT MORE OF A TREE CANOPY NOW THAN WE KID 50 YEARS AGO.

WE LOVE OUR TREES, AND WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT THEM.

SO IT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT WE HAVE TO GROW BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO NEED THE RESOURCES IN ORDER TO MAKE TALLAHASSEE THE KIND OF COMMUNITY THAT BROUGHT US HERE AND HAS KEPT US ALL HERE ALL THIS TIME.

THANK YOU, TOM.

>> FOLKS, BEFORE WE TURN THIS OVER TO OUR AUDIENCE QUESTIONS, I HAVE ONE FINAL ONE.

AND SINCE WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE THE SESSION, WE ARE STILL HEARING MORE AND MORE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING PREEMPTED BY STATE LAWMAKERS -- >> YES.

>> -- AND BEING PULLED OUT OF THE PURVIEW OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

STARTING WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, THEN COMING BACK TO COMMISSIONER PORTER, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THAT GOING FORWARD WHETHER IT'S PERMITLESS CARRY OR LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONSHIPS?

>> SURE.

>> THERE'S A HOST OF THEM.

>> SURE.

>> SO WHAT DOES A CITY LIKE THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE DO PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG CHUNK POTENTIALLY OF YOUR ELECTORATE REVENUE BEING THREATENED BY WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT -- >> SHH, DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.

[LAUGHTER] >> RIGHT.

THAT'S A TREMENDOUS ISSUE.

OF AND, TOM, THAT FIRST CAME -- EVEN THOUGH I SERVED EIGHT YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE, THAT CAME TO MY ATTENTION WHEN I HAD NEIGHBORS OF MINE COME TO ME AND TELL ME THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE.

WELL, IT TURNS OUT THEY WERE LIVING IN A GROUP HOME.

THE STATE HAD BOUGHT PROPERTY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ESTABLISHED A GROUP HOME FOR PEOPLE WITH CAPABILITIES, RETURNING CITIZENS, AND THEY CAN'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE.

WELL, WHEN WE DID THE RESEARCH, WE FOUND OUT THAT THOSE WERE NOT REGULATED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THAT WE HAD BEEN PREEMPTEDTY BY THE STATE IN TERMS OF THAT REGULATION.

AND WE SEE THAT HAPPENING MORE AND MORE EVERY YEAR.

MORE AND MORE OF THE AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE BEING PREEMPTED BY THE STATE.

GOVERNMENT HAS THAT IS CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE, TO ME, IS THE BEST GOVERNMENT.

AND IT IS OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

I CAN TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN BOTH PLACES.

AND SO WITH THE ELECTRIC YOU ITS THEY'RE TRYING TO TELL US NOW THAT WE CAN'T CONCERN WE OWN OUR OWN YOU -- UTILITY HERE IN THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN TRANSFER FROM THE YOU IT THE GENERAL FUND TO OUR CITY'S OPERATING GENERAL FUND.

THAT COULD BE UPWARDS OF A $10 MILLION GIFT FOR OUR GENERAL FUND IN THE CITY IF THAT BILL IS PASSED.

WHICH COULD MEAN IF THAT HAPPENED, AN INCREASE IN YOUR PROPERTY TAX OR SOME OTHER ASSESSMENT.

WE ARE FIGHTING LIKE HELL TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES IS ON TOP OF IT BECAUSE WE SEE THIS PATTERN, AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT STOPS.

>> OKAY.

ANY OTHER IDEAS, COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX?

>> I SAID, DON'T TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE LAST I CHECKED, IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN.

BUT WE DON'T WANT TO REMIND THEM THAT IT'S STILL ON THE TABLE.

[LAUGHTER] BUT WE, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON MENTIONED THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES.

THE IT'S A GROUP OF ALL THE CITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, 411 IS CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES, AND WE JUST HAD OUR LEGISLATIVE DAYS THIS WEEK AT THE CAPITOL.

AND WHAT WE ARE -- OUR THEME IS LOCAL VOICES, LOCAL CHOICES.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND THIS YEAR'S PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE, HER THEME IS KIND OF POUND SIGN COMMON GROUND.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR LOCAL DELEGATION AND OTHERS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW WE FEEL AND RELATE TO HOW WE KNOW THEY FEEL AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE IT TO THEIR DINNER TABLE, TAKE THE IT TO THEIR GROCERY STORE, TAKE THE IT TO THEIR COMMUNITY TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND LOCALLY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE BETTER CHOICES BECAUSE WE ARE RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE AND BREATHE.

AND THAT WILL HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

SO WE'VE JUST GOT TO CONTINUE TO FOSTER GOOD RELATIONSHIPS HERE IN OUR, WITH OUR LOCAL DELL BASE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME CHANGES, AND SO WHAT A I'VE BEEN DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT I HAVE A GOOD, POSITIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL DELEGATION BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CARRY THE WATER FOR US ACROSS THE STREET.

AND GO OVER AND TESTIFY, OUCH, IT'S HURTING, PLEASE HELP.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

AND, COMMISSIONER PORTER, YOU GET THE LAST WORD ON THAT.

>> WE SUE.

WE SUE.

WE HAVE BEFORE AND SOMETIMES THAT'S AN OPTION THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE TAKE OUR POSITION SERIOUSLY AS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF OUR CITY.

WE DON'T JUST SUE FOR NO REASON.

BUT HOME RULE IS ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

IT'S IMPORTANT.

CAN AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD EASILY GIVE UP.

I KNOW THAT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AGREE ON.

AND THIS IS THIS IS GOING TO HAVE MAJOR CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR CITY.

WE NEED TO DO THE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FIGHT BACK EXISTENCE IT.

>> STILL HAVE ABOUT FOUR WEEKS TO GO IN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WATCH THIS SPACE.

WE'LL TRY TO KEEP YOU FOLKS FILLED IN DAY-TO-DAY ON CAPITOL REPORT AND THROUGH OTHER MEANS OF WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE.

YOUR TURN, FOLKS, WHEN IT COMES TO QUESTIONS FOR OUR ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE TALLAHASSEE CITY COMMISSION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS.

LET'S TRY THIS ONE.

WHAT SHORT AND LONG TERMS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WOULD YOU SUGGEST PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE RISE IN THE INCIDENCE OF THE UNHOUSED AND PANHANDLING IN OUR COMMUNITY?

START WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER PORTER.

>> JUST SO I UNDERSTAND, SO WHAT ARE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS?

>> UH-HUH, TO HOMELESSNESS.

AND WE CAN FOLD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THERE TOO.

WE'VE ALREADY OUCH THED ON IT, BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE A SALIENT POINT IN THIS DISCUSSION.

>> YEAH.

HOPEFULLY THAT OUR LOCAL ABILITY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES ISN'T PREEMPTED, BUT THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO.

I THINK WE NEED TO START WITH A HOUSING FIRST MODEL WHICH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THAT MEANS GETTING PEOPLE INTO HOUSING AND PROVIDING THEM SERVICES THAT THEY NEED E TO LEAD STABLE, INDEPENDENT LIVES.

RENTER PROTECTIONS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO AS A SHORT-TERM INTERVENTION.

BUILDING UNITS, WHICH WE KNOW WE NEED ANOTHER THE, TAKES TIME AND MONEY THAT WE DON'T THE ALWAYS HAVE.

BUT THERE ARE THE ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

DIVERSION PROGRAMS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.

SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, SO IF YOU MAKE -- IF YOUR INCOME IS SOCIAL SECURITY, YOU CAN'T BE DENIED A PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR SOURCE OF INCOME.

THINGS THAT CAN KEEP PEOPLE THIS THEIR HOME.

THINGS AS SIMPLE AS A HELP LINE, AS FUNDING OUR LEGAL SERVICES.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THREE THE-QUARTERS CONCERN IT'S SOMETHING INSANE.

YOU ARE 70% MORE LIKELY TO AVOID EVICTION IF YOU HAVE LEGAL COUNSEL.

THESE ARE AFFORDABLE INTERVENTIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.

>> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX.

>> SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CHANGED OUR ORDINANCES TO ALLOW FOR OLD HOTELS TO BE REFURBISHED TO CREATE HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS, WORK FORCE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

OLD OFFICE COMPLEXES AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE CONE, BECAUSE WE SEE THE NEED -- YOU SEE THESE VACANT BUILDINGS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE FOLKS WHO WANT TO COME IN AND PURCHASE THOSE.

WE PROVIDE THOSE INCENTIVES TO ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO REFURBISH THOSE AND TURN THOSE INTO EITHER WORK FORCE HOUSING OR SOME TYPE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GREAT DEBATE ON WHAT IS AFFORDABLE.

WELL, THERE IS A FEDERAL DEFINITION OF WHAT AFFORDABLE IS, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO EVEN AFFORD THAT, THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SOMETHING MORE LOW RENT.

SO SHORT TERM, THOSE ARE CONCERN THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

LONG TERM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO YOU AND CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.

IT MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GROW OUT OR UP AND DO IT WITH INFIELDING.

>> OKAY.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

>> THANK YOU, TOM.

AND, WELL, IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORK FORCE HOUSING, LOW INCOME HOUSING, AND LET ME TELL YOU WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS AFFORDABLE, THAT DOESN'T -- THERE ARE LOTS OF DEFINITIONS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD GOLDEN EAGLE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD ORANGE AVENUE.

AND IT'S THE WELL RANGE FROM THERE -- THE WHOLE RANGE FROM THERE.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S HOUSING AVAILABLE IF FOR PEOPLE IN ALL OF THOSE INCOME RANGES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M PROUD OF IS WHEN I CAME TO THE COMMISSION, I FOUGHT -- IT TOOK ME FOUR YEARS TO DO IT -- TO GET SOUTH CITY INCLUDED IN THE FRENCHTOWN/SOUTH DAKOTA SIDE CRA.

BEEN SOUTH SIDE CRA.

BECAUSE THAT HAPPENED, WE WERE ABLE TO REVITALIZE THE ORANGE A AVENUE APARTMENTS.

IT'S NEAR JIM LEE ROAD.

THAT WILL BE ALMOST 300 LOW INCOME HOUSING UNITS ADMINISTERED BY THE TALLAHASSEE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

HOUSING IS OUR SECOND HIGHEST PRIORITY AS A CITY.

THERE ARE LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS, AS COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX HAS MENTIONED.

WE'VE GOT THE KEARNEY CENTER, FUNDED LARGELY BY RICK KEARNEY AND DONATIONS WHO HOUSES THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS.

WE'VE GOT THE HOPE COMMUNITY.

I WAS JUST AT A MEETING WITH LIZA McFADDEN AND HOLLY YESTERDAY TALKING ABOUT THEIR DESIRE TO PURCHASE SOME LAND FOR THE CITY TO BUILD 72 UNITS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF TOWN.

AS COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX MENTIONED, WE HAVE CHANGED ORDINANCES TO REPURPOSE THESE OLD HOTELS AND MOTELS AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOT BEING USED BECAUSE THE STUDENTS ARE MOVING CLOSER IN TO THE CAMPUSSINGS.

CAMPUSES.

OUR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY DOES A LOT TO THE GIVE MONEY TO INDIVIDUALS TO REFURBISH AND REDEVELOP THEIR HOME SO THAT THEY CAN STAY IN THOSE HOMES A LOT OF TIMES IN DISTRESSED NEIGHBORHOODS.

I SERVE ON THE TALLAHASSEE LENDERS' CONSORTIUM BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHICH LOOKS AT HOUSING IT'S ONE OF OUR PART NEHRS.

I'M ON THE -- PARTNERS.

I'M ALSO ON THE CONCERN I REPRESENT THE CITY ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

IT'S, WE HAVE AN INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND WE ALSO WORK JOINTLY TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING ISSUES THAT AFFECT US IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT WHOLE RANGE OF HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.

SO IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING ON OUR RADAR SCREEN, AND WE'RE DEVOTING TIME, ENERGY AND EFFORT EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO WANT TO BE HOUSED ARE HOUSED.

>> WE HAVE A QUESTION HERE THAT RELATES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND MOST LIKELY THE MORE IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON A CITY LIKE TALLAHASSEE IS AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER AND POTENTIALLY THE SEVERITY OF HURRICANES WHICH, AS WE HAVE SEEN, NO LONGER BATTEN THEMSELVES TO DEATH AGAINST THE SHORELINE, BUT NOW HAVE A TENDENCY TO COME FURTHER INLAND AND WREAK CONSTRUCTION THERE.

DESTRUCTION THERE.

SO HAS THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE MADE ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS WITHIN ITS BUDGET TEAR STRUCTURE OR PREPAREDNESS -- BUDGETARY STRUCTURE OR PREPAREDNESS MODELS TO HANDLE MORE SEVERE STORMS PARTICULARLY SINCE THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR CASUALTIES IN ANY CASE WHEN WE HAVE A STORM LIKE THAT?

COMMISSIONER PORTER?

>> THANK YOU, TOM.

FRANKLY, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE THE ANSWER THE THAT QUESTION.

I HAVE THE UTMOST FAITH IN OUR UTILITY COUNTY THE TO BE ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES.

I KNOW THAT WE ARE UNDERGOING AN EVALUATION IN OUR CLEAN ENERGY PLAN, AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I KNOW WE ARE ACTIVELY REVIEWING AND ADDRESSING.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE HAVE A STRATEGY AT THIS TIME, BUT IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND SOMETHING THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP ON.

>> OKAY.

LET'S GET SOME INPUT FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE.

COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX.

>> WE HAVE A GROUP OF VERY SMART INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEALING WITH OUR CLIMATE MODEL AS WELL AS STORMS INCLUDED.

BUT REALLY IT'S LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR RENEWABLE ENERGY PLAN AS WELL AS WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR CLIMATE CONTROL.

THEY'VE BEEN WORKING, THEY WORK WITH THE GROUP OF YOUNG INDIVIDUALS WHO MET WITH THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

WE DO HAVE A SECTION OF THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE,S THAT IS THEIR JOB TO DO THAT.

I CAN'T THINK OF THEIR NAMES RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT THEY PRESENT TO US AT COMMISSION MEETINGS ON WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE RENEWABLE ENERGY PLAN AS WELL AS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLIMATE ARENA.

I, TOO, SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND US.

WE'VE JUST BEEN REALLY BLESSED THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD WHAT'S HAPPENING JUST NORTH OF US AND JUST TO THE WEST OF US.

WE'VE JUST BEEN REMARKABLY BLESSED THAT IT HAS NOT HAPPENED, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS READY TO GO AND HELP IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

BUT SOONER OR LATER WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN A POSITION TO RECOVER WHEN IT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW?

WHEN MICHAEL HIT, I WASN'T ON THE COMMISSION AT THAT TIME, BUT THE PLAN WAS GET TALLAHASSEE RESTORED SO THAT TALLAHASSEE COULD FEED THE REGION.

SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S A PLAN FOR THAT TO KEEP THINGS GOING.

SO AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, WE CAN GET YOU SOME MORE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION, BUT WE HAVE SOME VERY SMART PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN THAT ARENA.

>> OKAY, VERY GOOD.

AND ANY INSIGHTS YOU HAVE, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

>> THANK YOU, TOM.

YEAH.

ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I LIVE AT ONE POINT IF THE WIND BLEW TOO HARD, OUR LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF.

AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, WOULD CALL THE CITY.

WE WERE IN CHURCH ONE SUNDAY MORNING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN THE CHURCH.

SO WE KEPT CALLING THE CITY X THEY'D SEND SOMEBODY OUT AND RESTORE THE UTILITIESES.

WHAT IT TURNED OUT TO BE WAS WE HAD TREE LIMBS GROWING OVER THE ELECTRIC LINE.

AND WHEN THE TREE LIMB WOULD FALL, THEY WOULD SNAP THE ELECTRICAL LINE.

SO THE CITY DEVELOPED A TREE-TRIMMING PROGRAM WHICH WE HAVE TO THIS DAY, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE HAD A PROBLEM IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE ELECTRICITY GOING OUT.

I USED TO GET THOSE CALLS ALL THE TIME, AND I DON'T GET THEM LIKE I USED TO.

BUT THE CITY IS VERY AGGRESSIVE.

TOM, WE PASSED IN TERMS OF CLEAN ENERGY AND PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT, I MENTIONED WE HIRED AN ARBORIST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING OUR TREES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY ABSORB MOST OF THE CARBON THAT WE EMIT FROM OURSELVES, FROM AUTOMOBILINGS.

AND SO WE WANT THE PROTECT THEM.

WE ARE OUT, IN THE MEETING THAT I AEND THED LAST NIGHT THAT WAS PUT ON BY OUR HOUSING D., WE TALK ABOUT HARDENING OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS SO THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED LIKE A HURRICANE, GOD FORBID, OR TORNADO, WE HAVE THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN GO TO AND BE PROTECTED.

SO WE'RE DOING THAT.

WE ARE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN OUR BUS FLEET.

WE JUST, WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND I THINK WE JUST PURCHASED EITHER 8 OR 11 ELECTRIC BUSES THAT THEY'RE USING NOW IN THEIR FLEET.

AND WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT INCLUDING THE EV -- I BELIEVE IT IS WHERE YOU CAN PLUG YOUR CAR IN AND RECHARGE IT IN HOMES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE THE USE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES OVER THE TRADITIONAL CARS THAT WE'RE USING.

AND, AGAIN, AS COMMISSIONER PORTER TALKED ABOUT, OUR BUS SYSTEM.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE OUR BUS SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT, IF YOU WILL.

PEOPLE ARE MORE APT IN TALLAHASSEE TO GET THIS THEIR CAR AND DRIVE TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO BECAUSE OUR BUS SYSTEM IS NOT AS EFFICIENT AS IT SHOULD BE.

TO GET PEOPLE WHERE THEY WANT TO GO WHEN HAY NEED TO BE THERE -- THEY NEED TO BE THERE.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US, I THANK ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH US TO PUT TOGETHER OUR CLIMATE PLAN TO BE CARBON-NEUTRAL BY 20 THE 50.

WE'RE AGGRESSIVELY TRYING TO BEAT THAT CANDIDATE, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> ONE LAST THING.

I CALL IT THE 30-SECOND WISH LIST.

ONE THING YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO WHILE YOU'RE STILL ON THE COMMISSION THAT YOU HAVEN'T TOUCHED YET WITH.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

>> TOM THE, I WANT TO SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TALLAHASSEE.

I MOVED THERE 30 YEARS AGO.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE BUILT OUR HOME 27 YEARS AGO AND HAVE RAISED TO OUR CHILDREN THERE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST HAD HAPPEN THAT WAS DISTRESSING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, MY FAMILY INCLUDED, WAS THE CDS -- CVS CLOSED.

AND IT'S A DENSITY ISSUE.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER, THAT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE WERE PURCHASING GOODS FROM THAT CVS.

AND SO WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN INCREASE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS LIKE THAT.

CERTAINLY THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE WILL HELP, BUT THEN WE CAN ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO THE AREA TO CREATE JOBS AND HOUSING AND ADDRESS THE CRIME ISSUE IN A LOT OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU.

30 SECONDS, COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS-COX, YOUR WISH LIST.

>> 30 SECONDS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL ISSUES BEING EVERYONE'S ISSUES.

WHEN I SAY THE COMMISSION IS -- IF IT'S THIS TYPE OF ISSUE, THE ROOM IS PACKED WITH THESE KIND OF FOLKS, THIS THIS ISSUE, THESE KINDS OF FOLKS.

AT SOME POINT, WE'VE GOT TO COME TOGETHER TO WORK TOGETHER ON OUR ISSUES.

SO I'M HOPING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BRING THOSE GROUPS TOGETHER TO DEAL WITH ISSUES REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE OR HOW YOU LIVE.

COME TOGETHER BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> THANK YOU.

AND YOU GET E THE LAST WORD, COMMISSIONER PORTER.

>> THANK YOU.

I THINK MY WISH LIST WOULD BE, IT'S AMBITIOUS BUT DOABLE, THAT EVERYONE IN TALLAHASSEE COULD HAVE A PLACE THEY COULD CALL HOME, AND I THINK THE FIRST STEP TO THAT WOULD BE HIRING A SOCIAL WORKER.

>> THERE WE GO.

AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING IT ON TIME.

>> GOOD JOB, TOM.

>> FOLKS, THANK YOU TO CURTIS RICHARDSON, DIANNE WILLIAMS-COX WHO IS THE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND JACK PORTER FOR JOINING US FOR THE TALLAHASSEE TOWN HALL.

ALSO THANK YOU TO OUR STUDIO AND DIGITAL AUDIENCE FOR THEIR QUESTIONS AND FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SEGMENT FEATURES OUR -- FEATURING OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

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