T H E C A B I N E T
S T A T E O F F L O R I D A
Representing:
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION OF BOND FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION
FLORIDA LAND AND WATER ADJUDICATORY COMMISSION
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SITING BOARD
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
VOLUME I
Pages 1 through 104
The above agencies came to be heard before
THE FLORIDA CABINET, Honorable Governor Bush
presiding, in the Cabinet Meeting Room, LL-03,
The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida, on Tuesday,
February 22, 2000, commencing at approximately
9:08 a.m.
Reported by:
LAURIE L. GILBERT
Registered Professional Reporter
Certified Court Reporter
Certified Realtime Reporter
Registered Merit Reporter
Notary Public in and for
the State of Florida at Large
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
100 SALEM COURT
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32301
850/878-2221
2
APPEARANCES:
Representing the Florida Cabinet:
JEB BUSH
Governor
BOB CRAWFORD
Commissioner of Agriculture
KATHERINE HARRIS
Secretary of State
BOB BUTTERWORTH
Attorney General
BILL NELSON
Treasurer
TOM GALLAGHER
Commissioner of Education
* * *
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
3
February 22, 2000
I N D E X
ITEM ACTION PAGE
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION:
(Presented by Tom Herndon,
Executive Director)
1 Approved 7
2 Approved 7
3 Approved 9
4 Approved 9
5 Approved 14
6 Approved 16
7 Approved 16
DIVISION OF BOND FINANCE:
(Presented by J. Ben Watkins, III,
Director)
1 Approved 18
2 Approved 18
3 Approved 19
4 Approved 19
5 Approved 19
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE:
(Presented by James A. Zingale, Ph.D.,
Executive Director)
1 Approved 20
2 Approved 21
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS:
(Presented by Robin Higgins,
Executive Director)
1 Approved 22
2 Approved 22
3 Approved 28
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
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February 22, 2000
I N D E X
(Continued)
ITEM ACTION PAGE
ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION:
(Presented by Sandra Sartin,
Policy Coordinator)
1 Approved 29
2 Approved 29
3 Approved 29
4 Approved 30
5 Approved 30
6 Approved 30
7 Approved 31
8 Approved 31
9 Approved 31
FLORIDA LAND AND WATER
ADJUDICATORY COMMISSION:
(Presented by Teresa Tinker,
Secretary)
1 Approved 32
2 Approved 32
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT
TRUST FUND:
(Presented David B. Struhs,
Secretary)
1 Approved 33
Substitute 2 Approved 35
Substitute 3 Deferred 36
Substitute 4 Approved 41
5 Approved 41
Substitute 6 Withdrawn 42
7 Approved 42
Substitute 8 Deferred 42
9 Approved 42
Substitute 10 Approved 43
11 Approved 99
Additional
Item 12 Approved 100
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
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February 22, 2000
I N D E X
(Continued)
ITEM ACTION PAGE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
SITING BOARD:
(Presented by David B. Struhs,
Secretary)
1 Approved 102
2 Approved 103
CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER 104
* * *
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 6
February 22, 2000
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 (The agenda items commenced at 9:40 a.m.)
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Now, we'll begin the
4 agenda.
5 But before we do, I wanted to announce that
6 anybody who wants to speak at the -- for the
7 Board rule related to the Board of Regents, if
8 they could sign up with Lynn Abbott.
9 I'm not sure anybody is here. But if they
10 are to sign up, it would be useful so that we
11 can organize the conversation around the rule.
12 All right. State Board of Administration.
13 Tom, how are you doing?
14 MR. HERNDON: Fine.
15 Thank you, Governor. How are you this
16 morning?
17 Item Number 1 is approval of the minutes of
18 the meeting held January 25th, 2000.
19 (Commissioner Crawford exited the room.)
20 TREASURER NELSON: And I move the minutes.
21 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded by
22 anybody?
23 TREASURER NELSON: By you.
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: Oh, that's right.
25 Where's the General?
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 7
February 22, 2000
1 MR. HERNDON: You and Treasurer Nelson --
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
3 Without --
4 I'm seconding it.
5 Now it's -- without objection, it's
6 approved.
7 Thank you.
8 MR. HERNDON: Item Number 2 is --
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: Little slow.
10 MR. HERNDON: -- is approval of a fiscal
11 sufficiency of an amount not exceeding
12 15 million dollars, State of Florida,
13 Department of Management Services, Florida
14 Facilities Pool Revenue Bond, Series 2000A.
15 TREASURER NELSON: And I move the item.
16 GOVERNOR BUSH: I second it.
17 Moved and seconded.
18 Without objection, it's approved.
19 MR. HERNDON: Item Number 3 is a series of
20 three recommendations submitted to you for your
21 consideration by the staff of the SBA.
22 Pursuant to Section 121.0312, the Trustees
23 are obligated to review the methodology that
24 the actuaries and the Estimating Conference
25 have put together for contribution rate
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 8
February 22, 2000
1 analysis for the pension fund.
2 We basically endorse the conclusions that
3 the actuaries reached with respect to the
4 actual dollar amounts --
5 (Commissioner Crawford entered the room.)
6 MR. HERNDON: -- and the percentages of
7 payroll. But we do recommend, as we have
8 recommended, and as the Unfunded Actuarial
9 Liability Working Group recommended two years
10 ago, that a mechanism be adopted by the various
11 parties to stabilize rates. We've chosen to
12 call that a stabilization reserve mechanism.
13 And so essentially we're recommending to
14 you, and if you're so inclined to endorse that
15 recommendation, then we would forward that on
16 to the Legislature to discharge your statutory
17 obligation.
18 TREASURER NELSON: And I move the item.
19 GOVERNOR BUSH: And I second it.
20 Do we have -- just a question.
21 Is there any thought about the size of the
22 reserve?
23 MR. HERNDON: Well, what we were going to
24 suggest is that we try and get a couple of
25 actuaries, and a couple of investment finance
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 9
February 22, 2000
1 professionals, take a look at what we see
2 around the country in some other pension funds
3 where they are experiencing this.
4 As you know, this is a phenomenon that's
5 relatively new, because we've gone from
6 deficits to surpluses in the last three or four
7 years, and see if we can't come up with a
8 couple of suggestions and bring them back to
9 you a little bit later on.
10 So --
11 GOVERNOR BUSH: Okay.
12 Commissioner, any other questions or
13 comments?
14 Moved and seconded.
15 Without objection, it's approved.
16 MR. HERNDON: Item Number 4 is a report of
17 the Special Disability Trust Fund Privatization
18 Commission submitted for information.
19 But Ms. Castille is here, and can make any
20 comments, if you'd like, as Chair of that study
21 commission, Governor.
22 GOVERNOR BUSH: Ms. Castille, would you
23 like to say something?
24 MS. CASTILLE: Sure.
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: It is so tempting.
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 10
February 22, 2000
1 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: That is some
2 purple outfit there.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: But I'm going to be on my
4 best behavior.
5 MS. CASTILLE: Good morning, Governor Bush,
6 Treasurer Nelson.
7 My name is Colleen Castille, and I'm the
8 Chairman of the Special Disability Trust Fund
9 Privatization Commission.
10 In 1998, the Legislature created
11 legislation to establish the Commission to
12 evaluate the -- the possibility of privatizing
13 the Trust Fund.
14 We -- this -- the legislation mandated that
15 we were to determine the liability of the
16 Special Disability Trust Fund, and we were to
17 determine the State of Florida's costs to
18 administer the Trust Fund.
19 Additionally, we took on the task of
20 evaluating the revenue stream that would be
21 necessary for paying off debt -- paying debt
22 service for any bonds that we financed as a
23 result of our actions.
24 The -- the legislation additionally allowed
25 the Commission to contract to transfer the
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 11
February 22, 2000
1 liabilities of the Trust Fund to a qualified
2 entity if we determined that such an
3 arrangement would substantially reduce the
4 costs and be more effective than the current
5 administration of the Trust Fund.
6 The Commission ultimately decided to send
7 out RFPs for evaluating -- for getting
8 proposals on evaluating the administration of
9 the Trust Fund, and also on qual-- on the
10 qualified entity.
11 The -- under the administration, we
12 evaluate -- we anticipated that we would get
13 bids lower than the $528 cost per claim that it
14 currently costs the Trust Fund to -- to
15 administer claims.
16 We also found through a -- an actuary, that
17 the cost would -- would decrease over the
18 years. The rea-- the sole -- we had one
19 respondent to the -- to the RFP. And the --
20 and the RFP came back with a $488 cost to
21 administer the claim. And then -- and then the
22 cost would rise over the next ten to
23 fifteen years.
24 So we anticipated that -- that the costs
25 would -- would need to be reduced over the
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 12
February 22, 2000
1 years; and additionally, we anticipated that we
2 would have an idea of what the -- what the
3 proposer would be able to do in terms of
4 workers' comp.
5 In the RFP, we were not comfortable with
6 the information we got that they were
7 knowledgeable on -- on second injury fund
8 disability claims. So we determined that we
9 would not contract with that -- with that
10 proposer.
11 Additionally, on the qualified entity, we
12 sent out RFPs, got two responses back to -- to
13 that: A group consisting of AIG, and a
14 consortium of AIG/Swiss Re, Lehman -- and
15 Lehman Brothers.
16 We had a -- a second proposer who consisted
17 of -- Zurich Re -- Guy Carpenter, and
18 First Union Capital Markets. In -- in
19 attempting to evaluate the proposals that we
20 got back from those two respondents, we had to
21 determine the -- the revenue sources into the
22 Fund.
23 Currently the revenue sources into the Fund
24 are -- are established through a 4.56 percent
25 assessment rate on workers' compensation
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 13
February 22, 2000
1 premiums. That rate was capped in 1998, and
2 has since resulted in a reduction in income to
3 the State Disability Trust Fund.
4 In 1996, we had 176 million dollar income;
5 and in the last estimate, we had 119 million
6 dollars.
7 All of the respondents -- all of the
8 proposals that we got back from the respondents
9 had a minimum debt service level of a hundred
10 and-- a 132 million.
11 So we determined that at this point in
12 time, the revenue stream into the -- into the
13 Trust Fund had to be stabilized before we could
14 go forward with any type of a privatization.
15 As you're -- as you are both familiar,
16 the -- the revenue stream is currently under --
17 I don't want to say under attack, but it is
18 currently being evaluated in the Legislature
19 under the -- under the seeded premium issue,
20 and the large deductible issue.
21 And the Legislature is -- is -- had -- had
22 a committee yesterday to deal with some of
23 those issues. And there will be further --
24 further committee meetings on that.
25 Any questions?
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 14
February 22, 2000
1 GOVERNOR BUSH: You did that very well,
2 Colleen.
3 MS. CASTILLE: Thank you, sir.
4 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Can she do
5 it again?
6 GOVERNOR BUSH: No.
7 MS. CASTILLE: And so we're currently
8 recommending not privatizing at this point in
9 time.
10 And additionally, we are recommending
11 getting rid of the Privatization Commission.
12 Any further privatization efforts could
13 be -- could be done through laws that we
14 currently have in place. And we would have to
15 have some change in legislation to issue bonds
16 though.
17 Okay?
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
19 MS. CASTILLE: Thank you.
20 TREASURER NELSON: Thank you.
21 GOVERNOR BUSH: Item 6. Or is that --
22 MR. HERNDON: Item 5, Governor --
23 GOVERNOR BUSH: Excuse me.
24 MR. HERNDON: -- if you would, which is
25 simply a -- an information item on pension
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 15
February 22, 2000
1 reform activities, bringing you up to date on
2 the most recent activities.
3 We will have another update for you after
4 this week's activities as well.
5 Item Number 6 are three separate proposals
6 that we're submitting for your review and
7 consideration that comprise our legislative
8 package, if you will.
9 And I want to be sure and put quotation
10 marks around that legislative package. It's
11 not our intention to prepare a bill and
12 introduce it with any grand fanfare.
13 Instead, these are all three relatively
14 minor amendments that we think are appropriate,
15 and we would just suggest, if you're in
16 approval, we would attempt to amend legislation
17 during the course of the process to accomplish
18 these.
19 The first seeks to clarify some technical
20 oversight in last year's hurricane catastrophe
21 legislation, the second is to repeal the
22 current statutory language relating to
23 Northern Ireland, and the final item is to try
24 and streamline the reporting process on the
25 Lawton Chiles Endowment Fund.
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 16
February 22, 2000
1 I would just point out that we're very
2 cognizant of the fact that the peace process in
3 Northern Ireland appears to have hit a few
4 roadblocks.
5 We would not recommend moving forward with
6 that if, in fact, it does seem to be continuing
7 to deteriorate.
8 But if you're in agreement, we would
9 prepare the amendment, and just keep an eye on
10 what's going on in Northern Ireland, and offer
11 it if it seems timely during the legislative
12 process.
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is there a motion?
14 Do we have to accept --
15 TREASURER NELSON: No, it's just a report.
16 MR. HERNDON: No, actually, this one, we do
17 need your approval, Commissioner.
18 TREASURER NELSON: Okay. Well then, I will
19 move it.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: I second it.
21 Moved and seconded.
22 Without objection, it's approved.
23 MR. HERNDON: And final item, Number 7, is
24 the information -- for information review is
25 the fund activity analysis report for the month
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STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION 17
February 22, 2000
1 of December 1999.
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, Tom.
3 MR. HERNDON: Thank you, Governor.
4 (The State Board of Administration Agenda
5 was concluded.)
6 * * *
7
8
9
10
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12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
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25
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DIVISION OF BOND FINANCE 18
February 22, 2000
1 GOVERNOR BUSH: Division of Bond Finance.
2 MR. WATKINS: Good morning.
3 Item Number 1 is approval of the minutes of
4 the January 25th meeting.
5 (Treasurer Nelson exited the room.)
6 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on minutes.
7 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
8 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
9 Without objection, it's approved.
10 MR. WATKINS: Item Number 2 is a resolution
11 authorizing the competitive sale of up to
12 15 million dollars in facilities revenue bonds
13 for Department of Management Services in the
14 FDLE Regional Service Center in Duval County.
15 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on 2.
16 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
18 Without objection, it's approved.
19 MR. WATKINS: Item Number 3 is a resolution
20 authorizing the issuance of up to
21 sixteen million six hundred forty-five thousand
22 in housing revenue bonds for Florida
23 International University.
24 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Motion --
25 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on 3.
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
DIVISION OF BOND FINANCE 19
February 22, 2000
1 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
3 Without objection, it's approved.
4 MR. WATKINS: Item Number 4 is a resolution
5 authorizing the issuance of up to
6 thirty-two million dollars in housing revenue
7 bonds for the University of Florida.
8 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion.
9 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
11 Without objection, it's approved.
12 MR. WATKINS: Item Number 5 is a report of
13 award on the competitive sale of 100 million
14 dollars in lottery revenue bonds for school
15 construction. The bonds were awarded to the
16 low bidder at a true interest cost of
17 5.65 percent.
18 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on 5.
19 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
21 Without objection, it's approved.
22 Thank you.
23 MR. WATKINS: Thank you.
24 (The Division of Bond Finance Agenda was
25 concluded.)
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE 20
February 22, 2000
1 GOVERNOR BUSH: Department of Revenue.
2 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on the
3 minutes.
4 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
6 Without objection, it's approved.
7 DR. ZINGALE: Item Number 2,
8 Rule 12A-1.051, sales to or by contractors.
9 This item corrects a previous noticing
10 requirement.
11 The second item under 2, Rule 12A-1.001,
12 specific exemption. This allows certain youth
13 organizations to sell items tax exempt.
14 And the final element in Item 2, the
15 remaining rule amendments under this item
16 delete obsolete language and incorporate 1999
17 legislative changes, including a reduction in
18 the interest rate charged on delinquent taxes,
19 12 to 8 percent; reduction of the statute of
20 limitations, five to three years; and the new
21 provision to pay interest on refunds owed by
22 the State.
23 Request approval.
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is there a motion?
25 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Motion.
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE 21
February 22, 2000
1 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Second.
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
3 Without objection, it's approved.
4 DR. ZINGALE: Thank you.
5 (The Department of Revenue Agenda was
6 concluded.)
7 * * *
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS 22
February 22, 2000
1 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on the
2 minutes.
3 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
4 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
5 Without objection, it's approved.
6 Item 2.
7 MS. HIGGINS: Item 2 is the approval of our
8 Department's quarterly report for the second
9 quarter of 1999-2000 fiscal year.
10 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on 2.
11 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is there a second?
13 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
15 Without objection, it's approved.
16 MS. HIGGINS: Thanks to your support, and
17 the support of the Legislature, almost
18 ten years ago, Florida embarked on a -- upon a
19 construction program to build with significant
20 Federal support, a set of five State veterans'
21 nursing homes.
22 Today I am recommending State veterans'
23 nursing homes number 4 and number 5 be placed
24 in Bay County, and in Charlotte County, as set
25 forth in the report you have before you.
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS 23
February 22, 2000
1 These two homes, along with our current
2 facilities, will allow the State to provide
3 access to long-term nursing care that
4 encompasses --
5 (Treasurer Nelson entered the room.)
6 MS. HIGGINS: -- the greatest veterans
7 population, the greatest need, and the most
8 suitable site.
9 My recommendation results from my personal
10 review of the attached report of the
11 Site Selection Committee that I appointed last
12 year. This is the first time that the
13 Site Selection Committee for one of our State
14 veterans' nursing homes was composed of others
15 outside of our department. And one, in fact,
16 outside of State government.
17 I took this step in order to enhance
18 experience, expertise, and focus; while at the
19 same time, going further than ever to ensure
20 total fairness.
21 I would like to introduce and publicly
22 thank each member of this committee. They had
23 no vested interest in doing anything but the
24 very best for the veterans of this state, and I
25 feel confident that they achieved that.
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS 24
February 22, 2000
1 Rocky McPherson -- if you'll stand
2 please -- Rocky McPherson is my Director of
3 Administration, served as the committee
4 chairman. Rocky served 30 years in the
5 United States Marine Corps, retiring as a
6 Colonel.
7 John Venable, Senior Management Analyst
8 from the Department of Elder Affairs, who also
9 served -- who served four years in the Army,
10 including a tour in Vietnam.
11 Dyke Shannon with the American Legion in
12 Florida for about 30 years, and now the
13 State Adjutant of the American Legion, served
14 four years in the Army, also including a tour
15 in Vietnam.
16 Two members were not able to make it today:
17 Mel Lyons, who's my Plans Officer who retired
18 from the Navy as a commander after 23 years;
19 and Richard Arcuri, who's the project manager,
20 Division of Building Construction, Department
21 of Management Services, who actually finished
22 up the Land O'Lakes project -- nursing home
23 project, and is now the project manager for our
24 current nursing home that's being built in
25 Broward County.
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS 25
February 22, 2000
1 And I'd be remiss if I didn't introduce
2 also our legal advisor and administrative
3 person -- or my paralegal, Lyndette Aquirre,
4 whose father and grandfather were veterans.
5 The committee visited each of ten sites in
6 north Florida, and three sites in southwest
7 Florida during two weeks in December.
8 They then conducted a public meeting in
9 Tallahassee on January 11th, at which each
10 county and city was provided the opportunity to
11 listen, to speak regarding their sites, and to
12 add new material.
13 Finally, in compliance with the Sunshine
14 laws, the committee held a public meeting in
15 St. Petersburg on February 10th, at which the
16 committee members held final public
17 discussions, and recorded individual
18 evaluations of each site.
19 I would also like to thank each and every
20 community that participated in this process.
21 The projects and presenters were professional
22 and sincere.
23 This has not been an easy selection. If I
24 could put one of these fine nursing homes in
25 every county, I would.
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS 26
February 22, 2000
1 But I am satisfied that we identified the
2 right combination of the best sites in areas of
3 high density veterans population centers
4 currently underserved by existing facilities.
5 The site selection criteria approved by you
6 at your August 24th, 1999, Cabinet meeting
7 were -- were carefully and strictly adhered to.
8 There still will be some sites -- some
9 areas that are underserved and are still not
10 covered within about 75 miles of one of our
11 homes. Specifically, the western-most area of
12 the panhandle, and the southern-most part of
13 the state south of Miami.
14 We will need to look at other ways to serve
15 these veterans population -- populations.
16 You have my word that I will continue to
17 work with our Federal partners to find
18 alternative solutions to the needs for
19 long-term healthcare for all of our veterans.
20 I'm not aware -- there's only one person
21 I'd like to introduce and have come up to speak
22 that I know of. Representative Allan Bense is
23 here with a very large delegation from
24 Bay County.
25 And I'd like to -- before I ask for your
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS 27
February 22, 2000
1 approval, I'd like to ask him to come up and
2 say a few words.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Sure.
4 Welcome, Representative.
5 MR. BENSE: Governor, distinguished
6 members.
7 I'm here today to try to talk you folks
8 into selecting Bay County as one of those
9 sites. Bay County last month had the third
10 highest unemployment rate in the state, and
11 this will be a -- a really good boon to our
12 economy.
13 The city within which it will be located,
14 if we're successful, is one of the poorest
15 communities within Bay County. And I went to
16 high school and junior high school there, so I
17 can tell you, they could sure use this.
18 I would appreciate your support.
19 We have a bunch of folks from Bay County.
20 Stand up, folks.
21 GOVERNOR BUSH: Welcome.
22 MR. BENSE: Thanks.
23 We would appreciate your support.
24 Thank you very much.
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, Allan.
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS 28
February 22, 2000
1 MS. HIGGINS: I recommend Governor Bush and
2 the Cabinet approve the sites for the next two
3 nursing homes as Bay County and
4 Charlotte County, as set forth in the report of
5 the Site Selection Committee.
6 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion to approve.
7 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Second.
8 GOVERNOR BUSH: There's a motion and a
9 second.
10 Any discussion?
11 Without objection, it's approved.
12 MS. HIGGINS: Thank you very much.
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Are you going to get
14 Representative Bense to appropriate the money
15 so that --
16 MS. HIGGINS: That's my next move. We're
17 going to talk right there in the -- in the
18 lobby.
19 Thank you.
20 (The Department of Veterans' Affairs Agenda
21 was concluded.)
22 * * *
23
24
25
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION 29
February 22, 2000
1 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on the
2 minutes, Administration Commission.
3 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
4 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
5 Without objection, it's approved.
6 Item 2.
7 MS. SARTIN: Item 2 is approval of a
8 transfer of appropriation for the Department of
9 Agriculture and Consumer Services.
10 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion.
11 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Second.
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
13 Without objection, it's approved.
14 MS. SARTIN: Item 3 is approval of a
15 information resource technology project for the
16 Departments of Children and Families, and
17 Revenue.
18 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion.
19 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
21 Without objection, it's approved.
22 MS. SARTIN: Item 4 is approval of transfer
23 of appropriations for Department of Children
24 and Families.
25 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion.
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION 30
February 22, 2000
1 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
2 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
4 Without objection, it's approved.
5 MS. SARTIN: Item 5 is approval of a
6 transfer of appropriations for the Department
7 of Community Affairs.
8 SECRETARY HARRIS: Motion.
9 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Second.
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
11 Without objection, it's approved.
12 MS. SARTIN: Item 6, approval of a transfer
13 of appropriation for Department of Education.
14 SECRETARY HARRIS: Motion.
15 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion.
16 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
18 Without objection, it's approved.
19 (Attorney General Butterworth exited the
20 room.)
21 MS. SARTIN: Item 7 is approval of a
22 transfer of appropriations for Department of
23 Juvenile Justice.
24 SECRETARY HARRIS: Motion.
25 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Second.
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION 31
February 22, 2000
1 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
2 Without objection, it's approved.
3 MS. SARTIN: Item 8 is also approval of a
4 transfer of appropriation for Department of
5 Juvenile Justice.
6 SECRETARY HARRIS: Motion.
7 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Second.
8 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
10 Without objection, it's approved.
11 MS. SARTIN: Item 9, approval of a transfer
12 of appropriation for Department of State.
13 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion.
14 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
15 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
16 Without objection, it's approved.
17 MS. SARTIN: Thank you.
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
19 (The Administration Commission Agenda was
20 concluded.)
21 * * *
22
23
24
25
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FLORIDA LAND AND WATER ADJUDICATORY COMMISSION 32
February 22, 2000
1 GOVERNOR BUSH: Theresa, how are you doing?
2 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on the
3 minutes for Land and Water.
4 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
6 Without objection, it's approved.
7 Item 2.
8 MS. TINKER: Item 2, recommend approval of
9 the draft final order.
10 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion.
11 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
13 Without objection, it's approved.
14 Thank you.
15 (The Florida Land and Water Adjudicatory
16 Commission Agenda was concluded.)
17 * * *
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
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February 22, 2000
1 GOVERNOR BUSH: What have we got next?
2 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Next, Board of
3 Trustees?
4 GOVERNOR BUSH: Trustees.
5 Secretary Struhs. Good morning.
6 MR. STRUHS: Good morning.
7 Item 1 is approval of the minutes.
8 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: I don't think we
9 have any minutes, do we?
10 MR. STRUHS: There are no minutes to
11 approve? I'm sorry.
12 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Nice try though.
13 MR. STRUHS: I just --
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Just seeing if we're --
15 MR. STRUHS: Just testing you.
16 No, Item 1 is actually Brevard County Beach
17 Erosion Control Project.
18 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion.
19 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
21 Without objection, it's approved.
22 Secretary Struhs, I would ask you, just on
23 this issue, if there's a way that we can work
24 with Patrick Air Force Base to -- realizing
25 that, you know, it's a Federal responsibility
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February 22, 2000
1 to maintain beaches, but it also is -- there's
2 great potential of erosion of the -- the road
3 that goes through the beach that is our
4 responsibility.
5 And we're making efforts to stay hospitable
6 to these bases in case there are -- there's a
7 new BRAC. So I bring that from the base
8 commander at our last Military Affairs meeting.
9 MR. STRUHS: Yes, sir.
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
11 MR. STRUHS: I -- well, I would -- I
12 would -- I'd agree with that completely,
13 of course.
14 And when we -- when we -- when we began
15 this project, we actually approached the -- the
16 base commanders. At that point in time, they
17 declined to participate in this overall
18 project, instead wanting to rely on their own
19 military construction funds.
20 But we will make sure that as we work
21 together in the future, that we're coordinated.
22 GOVERNOR BUSH: If we can help, great;
23 if --
24 MR. STRUHS: Absolutely.
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- if we can't, we can't.
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February 22, 2000
1 But --
2 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Have you been
3 recruited for the press kits?
4 Just wondering. That's --
5 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: I think that was a
6 compliment actually.
7 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: It was.
8 GOVERNOR BUSH: I think.
9 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: I think.
10 MR. STRUHS: Item Number -- Item Number 2,
11 we're recommending an approval.
12 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion.
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is there a second?
14 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
15 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
16 Without objection, it's approved.
17 The Panam-- the Bay County folks have left,
18 I guess. They didn't get to --
19 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: They got that --
20 that cemetery, man, they're moving -- or the
21 nursing home. They're moving --
22 GOVERNOR BUSH: Nursing home --
23 SECRETARY HARRIS: Nursing home.
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- Commissioner.
25 SECRETARY HARRIS: Oh, gosh.
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February 22, 2000
1 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Cemetery was the
2 last time. Sorry.
3 Wrong --
4 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Got to get that --
5 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Got to put the
6 right thing in the right order here. Yeah.
7 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moving along.
8 Item 3.
9 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: I'm going be in
10 the press kits, too, now. I --
11 MR. STRUHS: Item 3, we're recommending a
12 deferral.
13 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion to defer.
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is there a second?
15 Motion to --
16 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Motion to defer has been
18 moved and seconded.
19 Without objection, it's approved.
20 MR. STRUHS: Substitute Item 4 is -- it's a
21 fairly complex issue. But essentially what it
22 is is taking an existing dedication of
23 sovereign submerged land, and allowing them to
24 do some environmental improvements and build a
25 small docking facility near the causeway that
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February 22, 2000
1 serves Sanibel Island.
2 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion to
3 approve 4.
4 SECRETARY HARRIS: Governor, I just --
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yes.
6 SECRETARY HARRIS: -- have a question for
7 the Secretary.
8 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yes.
9 SECRETARY HARRIS: It seems that whenever
10 we're looking at these issues, in hindsight,
11 we're finding these things that have occurred.
12 What is DEP specifically doing to make
13 certain that, for example, this -- in
14 Lake County, it was back in 1977 where they're
15 doing the --
16 MR. STRUHS: Yes.
17 SECRETARY HARRIS: -- boat ramp without
18 authorization.
19 MR. STRUHS: Right.
20 SECRETARY HARRIS: And I realize that we
21 don't have the people that are looking for
22 these -- you know, have the kind of staff to
23 look all the time.
24 MR. STRUHS: Right.
25 SECRETARY HARRIS: But what are you doing
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February 22, 2000
1 to specifically address this so that in 2005,
2 we're not going to come back and say this was
3 done in 2000?
4 MR. STRUHS: On this -- on this item in
5 particular, one of the things we looked at was
6 the extent of the dedication, compared to the
7 actual amount of land being used for the
8 causeway and related facilities. And there's
9 a -- there's a significant gap.
10 One of the items that was considered was
11 perhaps revisiting the amount of land dedicated
12 for the purpose of the causeway.
13 However, given the -- the small nature of
14 this particular proposal, which is I think
15 one-and-a-half acres for -- for a dock, we felt
16 that it was probably better to take up the
17 larger issues when they actually come back to
18 rebuild the causeway at some point in the
19 future.
20 SECRETARY HARRIS: But specifically on
21 issues that are -- address monitoring and
22 enforcement on these sovereign submerged
23 lands --
24 (Attorney General Butterworth entered the
25 room.)
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February 22, 2000
1 SECRETARY HARRIS: -- the kinds of
2 unauthorized activities, we're seeing these
3 things that come through. And I really
4 appreciate your administration in terms of
5 going back and finding those things.
6 But, I mean, is there a way -- certainly
7 with permits, whenever people are pulling
8 permits, those kinds of things, that we can be
9 more proactive on unauthorized activities.
10 MR. STRUHS: It's -- it's a large question.
11 I mean, we're -- we're committed to being
12 as -- as vigilant as we can to make sure that
13 those unauthorized activities are not
14 occurring. And when we do find them, we try to
15 bring them to your attention as -- as quickly
16 as possible.
17 Given the -- the size of the state,
18 however, it's inevitable that there are going
19 to be some activities that occur, and we
20 discover well after the fact.
21 It -- I -- you know, if you have any advice
22 or suggestions in terms of how we might improve
23 our -- our presence out in the field, I'd --
24 I'd certainly appreciate that.
25 SECRETARY HARRIS: It just seems unusual
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February 22, 2000
1 that we're dealing with these issues that have
2 occurred 20 and 30 years ago that people
3 obviously know these were sovereign submerged
4 lands, and -- and certainly it happens in the
5 private sector, and then --
6 MR. STRUHS: Right.
7 SECRETARY HARRIS: -- they're held
8 accountable; when governments do this, then --
9 then they're not.
10 And, you know, I -- while I understand
11 that, and I understand it's a big state, I
12 appreciate your cleaning up these things that
13 have happened in the past. I just didn't know
14 what type of monitoring system -- enforcement
15 system we had so that it doesn't continue in
16 the present.
17 MR. STRUHS: Let -- let me work on that --
18 SECRETARY HARRIS: Okay.
19 MR. STRUHS: -- Secretary, and -- and maybe
20 we can get back to you with a -- a more
21 comprehensive description of our efforts across
22 the state to -- to identify these unauthorized
23 uses, particularly by governmental entities.
24 SECRETARY HARRIS: Thank you, Secretary.
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is there a motion?
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February 22, 2000
1 SECRETARY HARRIS: Motion.
2 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
4 Without objection, it's approved.
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: Item 5?
6 MR. STRUHS: Item 5, we're recommending
7 approval of a 50-year nonexclusive 25-foot wide
8 private utility easement. And we're also
9 recommending a waiver of compensation to
10 the Board.
11 We're recommending that waiver because,
12 in fact, the company is relocating that utility
13 corridor at the request of another branch of
14 State government, the Department of
15 Transportation.
16 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on 5.
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is there a second?
18 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
19 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
21 Without objection, it's approved.
22 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion to
23 withdraw 6.
24 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded, motion
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February 22, 2000
1 to withdraw.
2 Without objection, it's approved.
3 MR. STRUHS: Item 7, we're recommending
4 approval.
5 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion to approve.
6 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
7 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
8 Without objection, it's approved.
9 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion to defer
10 Number 8.
11 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded, motion
13 to defer.
14 Without objection, it's approved.
15 MR. STRUHS: Item 9, we're recommending
16 approval of an option agreement in the
17 Garcon Ecosystem CARL Project.
18 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion.
19 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
21 Without objection, it's approved.
22 MR. STRUHS: Substitute Item 10, again
23 recommending approval of a purchase agreement
24 to acquire 904 acres, approximately, in the
25 Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area.
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February 22, 2000
1 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion to approve.
2 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
4 Without objection, it's approved.
5 MR. STRUHS: Item Number 11, we're
6 requesting the acceptance by the Board of the
7 2000 -- year 2000 CARL Annual Report, and to
8 approve the year 2000 CARL Annual Priority
9 List.
10 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion for -- for
11 said approval.
12 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
13 MR. STRUHS: There are -- there are some
14 speakers in the audience who would like to
15 raise some specific issues related to that list
16 to the --
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Okay.
18 MR. STRUHS: -- to the Trustees.
19 GOVERNOR BUSH: All right.
20 MR. STRUHS: And specifically, there's --
21 there's an item on that list -- and we've got a
22 number of speakers.
23 I believe the first one up is
24 Mr. Hugh Durham. And he may have some
25 neighbors and colleagues with him representing
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February 22, 2000
1 the River Ranch Hunt Club.
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: Good morning.
3 MR. DURHAM: Good morning.
4 Governor, Cabinet, thanks for hearing us.
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: You bet.
6 MR. DURHAM: I represent River Ranch
7 Property Owners Association down in
8 Polk County. It's a group of privately owned
9 ground which has a large parcel in the -- in
10 the bombing range ridge area that they want to
11 put under the CARL program.
12 Most of us have had the ground since 1969.
13 The ground has already been -- in 1969, when
14 the original agreements were made to purchase
15 the ground, it was made through the Gulf
16 America Group. And at that time, it was stated
17 in there that no one could build a permanent
18 house, it was just for recreation, and that was
19 basically it.
20 Anyone who purchased this ground in there
21 knew it at that time. And any further grounds
22 being purchased in there, know that it is
23 strictly for recreational use.
24 The people that currently use it, it's all
25 basically family owned. There are
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February 22, 2000
1 acre-and-a-half parcels. Sometimes there's one
2 name on the deed, sometimes there's five. And
3 they've been passed on from generation to
4 generation in a lot of cases.
5 The River Ranch Property Owners Association
6 tries to unite everyone there on a common goal
7 where everyone utilizes this facility
8 year-round.
9 Unlike other facilities where we can go,
10 whether it be Big Bend or whether it be
11 Green Swamp area, or something like that, for
12 hunting or fishing or recreation, these aren't
13 open year-round. They're governed by
14 Fish & Game as to when you can have access to
15 them, what you can do, and exactly where you
16 can go.
17 Here, it's owned by individuals.
18 There's -- we fish, we hike, there's camping
19 sites, we hunt, some have dirt bikes, some have
20 four -- four wheelers. It's more or less a --
21 a family. Instead of the Fish & Game -- and
22 there's nothing wrong with Fish & Game, so
23 please don't think for a second I'm throwing
24 the mouth on them, because I am not.
25 The -- here -- usually when you go out and
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February 22, 2000
1 you go hunting in -- in Big Bend, it might be
2 you and your brother-in-law, or something like
3 that, just a bunch of guys that want to get
4 together and go.
5 Unlike that, this unit -- or this club is
6 family. So all the kids come, the moms come,
7 everybody camps, everybody stays, they can
8 either fish, they can hunt, they can do
9 whatever, they can hang around the camp. They
10 have CBs, they chat with each other. It's a --
11 it's a -- pretty much of a tight family unit.
12 We take care of our property. We have our
13 own trash pickup, averages roughly 800 bucks a
14 month. We have cleanups. Everybody gets
15 together and we go throughout that parcel, and
16 we pick up the trash, we make sure everything's
17 maintained.
18 We have three fire trucks, we have a
19 tanker. We don't put out fires for the sake of
20 putting out fires. There are controlled burns
21 which the forest department -- forestry
22 department, we work very close with them.
23 But when there's wild fire, we're the first
24 ones there. We have motor graders, which
25 maintain the roads at no State expense. We
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1 maintain the roads so that if there is a fire,
2 you can get to it.
3 We have our own equipment, and we have our
4 own volunteers, which work arm and arm and
5 shoulder to shoulder with the -- with the
6 professional firefighters that are on scene.
7 We have a year-round feeding program for
8 our wildlife out there. We have multifaceted
9 for the birds, for deer, for everything, we
10 plant, we seed, and we feed year-round.
11 The -- we also -- exotic plants, like the
12 melaleuca, or punk trees, so forth, the pepper
13 trees, all the exotics, we try and -- we get
14 them out. You'll be hard pressed to find them
15 on our ground.
16 I guess what I'm trying to say is, we're
17 caretakers, we take care of what we own, and
18 what we -- and we want to preserve the heritage
19 that was left to us.
20 The ownership in here -- when the light --
21 has ended.
22 I'd better hurry up.
23 Oh, okay.
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: Take your time.
25 MR. DURHAM: All right.
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1 MR. STRUHS: Go ahead.
2 MR. DURHAM: Okay. There's -- it's shotgun
3 owned property.
4 Thank you.
5 Each time I see a red light, I know
6 something's wrong.
7 Thank God it wasn't blue.
8 It's shotgun owned property. It's not like
9 if you -- if you buy from a paper company,
10 you'll have a 10,000 acre parcel. And that's
11 sold off as a block.
12 Unlike that, this is an acre-and-a-quarter
13 here, an acre-and-a-quarter here, an
14 acre-and-a-half here, an acre here. And it's
15 shotgunned, if you know what I'm saying --
16 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yes.
17 MR. DURHAM: -- all over.
18 And at this point, I'd like to have Sandy,
19 if she would -- that's Sandy Edwards. She's
20 done a lot of work on this. And some of our
21 presentations aren't exactly as pretty as they
22 could be. But this is a lot of work.
23 Go ahead. You can explain that, Sandy, if
24 you would.
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: Good morning, Sandy.
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1 MR. DURHAM: I'll hold it.
2 MS. EDWARDS: Good morning, Governor and
3 Cabinet.
4 Basically what I have here is just --
5 this -- this is sections 10, 11, and 12.
6 This is 15, 14, and 13.
7 This is 21, 22, 23, and 24.
8 This is 28, 27, 26, and 25.
9 This is just a small area of River Ranch
10 Acres, which is part of the bombing range
11 ridge.
12 And what I'm trying to say is, basically
13 they say you're going to -- they're interested
14 in the large property owners, they want to buy
15 out the large acreage.
16 Well, one gentleman supposedly owns
17 10,000 acres, but in his 10,000 acres, it's
18 scattered, which is the green -- you can -- as
19 you can see, it's shotgun property.
20 Our members own quite an amount of land,
21 and it's shotgun, just like everybody else's.
22 My concern with the State buying the
23 property is why buy something that basically
24 it's going to take you a long term -- time to
25 control, because of not being able to --
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1 basically when the State buys land, they
2 have -- they control it, and they fence it.
3 How can you fence off land when we own land
4 in between it? Why buy it? Why spend --
5 basically, in my opinion, why spend our money
6 to buy our own land that we're putting all the
7 money into.
8 We put money in this property for -- my
9 husband's owned his land for 30 years, my
10 father's owned his land for 25 years.
11 Why take our money that we put in for all
12 these years, and buy our land, and then --
13 where we lose it.
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: You all are not willing
15 sellers --
16 MS. EDWARDS: No, sir, we do not want to
17 sell. And we've been at every meeting --
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: I don't think you have to,
19 do you?
20 MS. EDWARDS: No, sir. Basically we don't
21 have to.
22 But like I said, as a taxpayer and a voter,
23 and -- in the state of Florida, why take my own
24 money, buy -- buy the land around me, when you
25 can't control it and do anything with it?
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1 Because basically like here -- up here is
2 part of the 10,000 acres in the green, the
3 gentleman that owns the green.
4 Okay. Right in the middle of that little
5 square there, our association owns that square,
6 which is an acre-and-a-quarter.
7 Are you going to deny our -- our access,
8 which is over 2200 people to our property and
9 our families, which when you think about it is
10 a lot of people?
11 We're talking if -- if my husband and I
12 have four children, we have three
13 grandchildren. All of our kids own property in
14 River Ranch. They're all members of
15 River Ranch Property Owners Association.
16 You going to deny my family access to my
17 piece of property?
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: I don't think so.
19 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: I think the
20 problem --
21 MS. EDWARDS: No, s--
22 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- the problem's
23 more -- I don't think you're worried about --
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: Shouldn't do that.
25 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- your
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1 acre-and-a-half, I think you're worried about
2 access to the other property that you've been
3 able to use prior to now.
4 MS. EDWARDS: Yes, sir.
5 But basically if you go back and look up
6 the old information from Gulf American
7 Corporation, it's stated in the paperwork that
8 when you bought your acre-and-a-quarter, you
9 had access to the whole place. If that person
10 did not want you to have access to their
11 property, they were to survey it and fence it.
12 It's in the -- in papers. I -- I probably
13 have it with me.
14 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: So what you're
15 saying is there's a fellow who owns that
16 property and hasn't surveyed it and fenced it,
17 and he wants to sell it to the State, and the
18 State wants to buy it, and you don't want him
19 to sell it to the State, because the State
20 might --
21 MS. EDWARDS: No, sir.
22 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- survey it and
23 fence it.
24 MS. EDWARDS: He has a right to sell to the
25 State. But my concern, again, is why take my
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1 money to buy land with when we're already
2 taking -- can you put the money in the land
3 that we put in the land?
4 Can the State afford to put the money that
5 we put in this land?
6 MR. DURHAM: It's encapsulated, each little
7 section. If, in fact, the State did want to
8 buy that one parcel of ground, buy it.
9 But --
10 MS. EDWARDS: You're more --
11 MR. DURHAM: -- but what are you going to
12 do with all the ground around it that's
13 privately owned? You have to buy that in order
14 to accommodate the one in the middle that you
15 want to buy. Or that is a willing seller.
16 We have a -- we have a few of the members
17 here -- can they stand up for one second, just
18 from River Ranch?
19 -- that are opposed to it. These are
20 property owners, each and every one of them.
21 I don't -- I don't --
22 GOVERNOR BUSH: Welcome.
23 MR. DURHAM: -- have better to --
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: We're happy y'all are here.
25 Thanks for coming.
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1 MR. DURHAM: We work real closely with --
2 with the forestry department, with the
3 Department of Agriculture when -- when they
4 were down in there, we worked with the
5 environmentalists, we worked with numerous
6 groups. Anybody wants to have access to it is
7 welcome.
8 But they've had an ongoing five- to
9 six-year study, wildlife study, to seeing any
10 impact that we've made to it, or, you know,
11 just exactly what's going on with the
12 scrub jay, so forth and so on.
13 And in that whole six years from day 1 till
14 the -- the finalization of it, which is just a
15 short time ago, no impact.
16 So I have Billy here. He represents the
17 fam-- we have family picnics year-round out
18 there. This is a family unit, and Billy can
19 explain that a little bit better.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: Welcome, Billy.
21 MR. FITZPATRICK: Thank you, sir.
22 Good morning, Governor Bush and members of
23 the Cabinet.
24 Make no mistake that these people are here
25 because of their grandkids. Last week I became
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1 a grandfather --
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: Congratulations.
3 MR. FITZPATRICK: -- Vietnam vet, and I
4 appreciate what you're doing about the
5 Veterans' Administration.
6 But these people -- many of these people
7 are Vietnam vets, World War II vets, some of
8 these people out here are three and four tours
9 in Vietnam.
10 Their concern is for their grandchildren.
11 They are here -- they are out there by the
12 thousands, sir. I know, I saw some of the
13 letters that were sent to your office this
14 week.
15 We appreciate your concern. But our
16 concern basically is for our grandkids. And
17 our children.
18 Please do not take this from them.
19 Thank you.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: You bet.
21 Would anybody else like to speak?
22 Maybe Secretary Struhs.
23 MR. SCHWEIZER: Well --
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: Okay.
25 MR. SCHWEIZER: My name's Al Schweizer. I
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1 live -- I live on the property down there. I
2 have a large parcel of land. And I have a
3 house there.
4 And I don't think the State has any
5 business being in there trying to control that
6 land. These -- the homeowners association,
7 they do a hell of a job.
8 Thank you.
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
10 MR. DURHAM: One more, and we'll be out of
11 your hair.
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: Okay. You're not out of --
13 you're not in my hair to begin with.
14 MR. DURHAM: Pete Edwards. He's the
15 President of the -- of the Association. And
16 maybe he could explain a little -- some of the
17 things -- he has attended all the meetings --
18 all the meetings since the program was first
19 initiated.
20 He knows what went on, how many people were
21 there, and the opposition that went on from
22 day 1.
23 Pete.
24 MR. EDWARDS: I don't know too much I can
25 say they haven't already covered.
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1 But I bought my land first from the
2 actual -- original property owner, which was
3 GAC, over 30 years ago, with the intention of
4 primitive camping, hunting, fishing,
5 recreation, and it would never be developed.
6 And the State is coming in now and saying
7 they want to buy out parcels of that property.
8 Throughout the state of Florida, any time
9 that the State buys property up, fence it off,
10 they control it. And this is the last place in
11 the state of Florida that I know of that the
12 State don't own and control.
13 I mean, you have to go in on the State
14 properties, you've got to walk; if you want to
15 camp, you've got to walk or ride a bicycle.
16 Here, we do it any way we want to.
17 We own the majority -- I won't say
18 majority -- a big lump of the property. A lot
19 of the people are retired, they cannot walk in
20 there like they do on the State property.
21 We have worked with the Game Commission;
22 the biologists and bombing range;
23 Mr. Pat Walsh. He has pulled a survey of
24 six years -- the last six years. I have a copy
25 of that survey.
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1 That the endangered species there has not
2 changed, they have not left. We have protected
3 them.
4 We feed the game. So I don't understand
5 why the State wants to buy that property and
6 protect the wildlife or the endangered species
7 when we're already doing it.
8 There's a good or better than what the
9 State is doing in Avon Park Bombing Range
10 today. At no expense to the State whatsoever.
11 And we're working with them. The
12 biologists is in there all the time. We have
13 no objections to it. We go with them, we'll
14 guide them around and help them any way we can.
15 So at this time, we're saying that we're
16 not a willing seller, and we're not objection
17 (sic) to the young man selling his property.
18 I bought my property with no intentions of
19 ever selling it. He bought his property,
20 within 30 days, he wants to sell it and make a
21 big buck off of it. That's his -- that's the
22 American way, sell it and make --
23 GOVERNOR BUSH: Well, I don't like that.
24 MR. EDWARDS: -- a dollar.
25 But --
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1 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is someone flipping --
2 MR. EDWARDS: Sir?
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is the person -- the major
4 seller here is --
5 MR. EDWARDS: The major --
6 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- bought it for X, and
7 selling it to us for higher than X --
8 MR. EDWARDS: Well, I don't know what --
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- after 30 days ownership?
10 MR. EDWARDS: -- he's doing. That's --
11 that's up to him. I don't know what he's doing
12 with that.
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Well, in the absence of --
14 MR. EDWARDS: What I'm saying is --
15 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- General Milligan, I want
16 to have a conversation about that.
17 MR. EDWARDS: What I'm saying is, that we
18 don't want to sell our property. We didn't buy
19 it to sell.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: I understand.
21 MR. EDWARDS: He bought his, knowing that
22 we was there, wanting to sell it and make a
23 dollar off of it.
24 That's his business, that's the American
25 way, to buy and sell -- buy low, sell high.
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1 That's his business.
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: Seen that happen to --
3 MR. EDWARDS: But what --
4 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- the State more often
5 than not though, that's the part I don't like.
6 MR. EDWARDS: That's what I can't
7 understand, why the State wants to pay that
8 kind of money to prot-- buy his property to
9 protect the endangered species when we are
10 already protecting them at no expense to the
11 State whatsoever.
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: Well, maybe we could get --
13 Charles, you -- would you like to speak?
14 Mr. Lee.
15 MR. STRUHS: Actually, if I could --
16 GOVERNOR BUSH: David. Please.
17 MR. STRUHS: Okay.
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: Maybe you could clarify
19 some points --
20 MR. STRUHS: Yes, sir.
21 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- and we may have some
22 questions.
23 MR. STRUHS: Yes, sir.
24 MR. DURHAM: Are we -- I got one more.
25 We just -- one more.
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1 MR. STRUHS: Sure.
2 MR. DURHAM: I lied. There's one more.
3 That's Vic Lovallo. He's the Treasurer.
4 And he can tell you roughly where the money
5 goes, if you know what I mean.
6 MR. LOVALLO: Good morning, Governor and
7 Cabinet. I'm the Treasurer for the club.
8 And all of our officers and directors don't
9 get paid. It's all volunteer. And it's a hard
10 job.
11 We took in in contributions from the people
12 $213,000 this year. And as of the 17 -- our
13 year end ends the 28th. And we put back into
14 the club, out in the field in feed and take --
15 clean up and everything, $205,013.
16 So we're not finished yet. By the time of
17 the end of this year, I might have enough to
18 pay the person who watches the gate.
19 So --
20 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Could --
21 MR. LOVALLO: -- I'm just going to tell
22 you -- sir?
23 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Could I have a
24 question?
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yes, please.
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1 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: The -- the land
2 that you're managing and watching, is this the
3 land that we're buying?
4 MR. LOVALLO: It's -- it's our land and all
5 the land out there. We take care of it all.
6 We clean it up and keep it clean.
7 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Under that sc-- I
8 understand what you do with your land.
9 Are you including the land that we're
10 buying -- I mean -- in other words, if it's
11 just your land you're doing, then you wouldn't
12 be here. You're obviously also doing this
13 other fellow's land included in that --
14 MR. LOVALLO: Yeah.
15 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- is that
16 correct?
17 MR. LOVALLO: Because we don't know where
18 the boundaries are, so we clean -- we keep it
19 all up.
20 MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE: We keep it all --
21 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: So your concern is
22 that the State buys it, we fence it off, and
23 now you'll have your acre-and-a-quarter, but
24 these other 10,000 acres you can't use anymore
25 because they'll be fenced off, is that --
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1 MR. LOVALLO: Well, no. We went about
2 all -- you coming and taking -- controlling our
3 property, because we're in that 10,000 acres.
4 We have property inside --
5 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Well, you'd have
6 to have access to your property. I mean,
7 that -- that would always happen --
8 MR. LOVALLO: Okay. But if you bought that
9 10,000, how are we going to get in if you
10 fenced that off?
11 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Well, we'd have to
12 give you access so that --
13 MR. LOVALLO: Well, then you can't fence it
14 off, because we're all over it.
15 You see what I mean? We're --
16 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Well, I don't --
17 MR. LOVALLO: -- all over it.
18 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- I don't know
19 that we're planning on fencing it off to start
20 with.
21 GOVERNOR BUSH: Why don't we ask
22 Secretary Struhs to come bring a little --
23 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Let me ask you --
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- clarity to what --
25 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- a question.
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1 If we bought it, and we had an agreement
2 with you to manage it for us --
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Maybe not.
4 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- what would be
5 the problem with that?
6 MR. LOVALLO: I can't answer as one person,
7 sir. You understand? I can't answer that as
8 one person. We have to do it as a group.
9 That's what -- we do it.
10 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Okay.
11 MR. LOVALLO: Okay?
12 MR. DAWSON: We approve -- approve the rest
13 of the areas that you've also --
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Sir, if you want to -- if
15 you want to talk, come on up here.
16 MR. DAWSON: I just want to say one thing.
17 -- that 10,000 acres is -- 10,000 acres is
18 scattered everywhere.
19 GOVERNOR BUSH: All right.
20 MR. LOVALLO: I thank you --
21 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
22 MR. LOVALLO: -- very much.
23 GOVERNOR BUSH: Secretary Struhs.
24 MR. STRUHS: Okay.
25 Governor and Cabinet, there are some other
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1 speakers who I think could probably provide
2 another --
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Okay.
4 MR. STRUHS: -- view of it.
5 I'd recommend that you might want to call
6 Mr. Wheeler, who is actually the seller. We're
7 looking at a parcel that totals 8,071 acres,
8 and he is the -- the willing seller who wants
9 to make this --
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Well, can we --
11 MR. STRUHS: -- work.
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- just first -- can you
13 clarify --
14 Eva, would you like to clarify -- or
15 someone clarify -- the land management plan,
16 and how people still will have access to their
17 property if -- if this proceeds, and all that?
18 I mean, just so that there's no --
19 MR. STRUHS: Sure.
20 Eva.
21 MS. ARMSTRONG: Yes, sir.
22 We actually have a larger map.
23 Let me -- let me describe briefly for you.
24 This is a large project, it is not all
25 contiguous, and it is connecting key parks.
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1 In terms of management, it's a willing
2 seller program. We can't -- we can never force
3 them to sell. We -- even if we borrow the --
4 buy the separate --
5 Thanks.
6 -- parcels by themselves, we don't go in
7 and fence in people when we don't own a huge
8 contiguous -- huge contiguous piece.
9 And if they've got access, we can't by
10 buying property deny them access in the future.
11 (Treasurer Nelson exited the room.)
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: What about -- what about
13 the management plan?
14 MS. ARMSTRONG: It's being developed by two
15 different agencies: Forestry and Rec and
16 Parks. So each -- Forestry has the bulk of it,
17 Rec and Parks has a piece. Neither one of
18 those plans though will be developed in detail
19 until we've actually bought the property.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: What about this -- this
21 group being involved in that?
22 MS. ARMSTRONG: Oh, absolutely. It's a
23 very public process. They have --
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: What about being
25 involved --
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1 MS. ARMSTRONG: -- hearings in --
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- in the management --
3 MS. ARMSTRONG: -- the locale --
4 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- not just the hearing.
5 MS. ARMSTRONG: Oh.
6 GOVERNOR BUSH: But -- has anybody told
7 them about --
8 MS. ARMSTRONG: Potentially they could.
9 Normally if you're going to go hire an outside
10 manager, you would do -- you could do an RFP.
11 We've done it with cattle operations.
12 That is a -- that is a potential
13 possibility, yes, sir.
14 SECRETARY HARRIS: Governor --
15 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yes.
16 MS. ARMSTRONG: There's nothing to prohibit
17 it.
18 SECRETARY HARRIS: I have a question.
19 If, indeed, they have access -- and -- and
20 by access, that means a road. Of course, we
21 can't deny it.
22 But my concern was the mentioning that
23 whenever it becomes State land, that they have
24 to walk to their property and -- and so
25 let's say that they're driving now, and there's
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1 not even an official road, but they're just
2 driving to it.
3 Is there a rule that you have to -- I don't
4 understand the walking, that kind of access.
5 And what is specific access?
6 MS. ARMSTRONG: Well, legally you are
7 required to have access. There are two
8 different ways you get it.
9 They have access now. We couldn't fence it
10 off, if they have a parcel, and not allow them
11 the road to get to their -- to their parcel.
12 So it's just not -- it just doesn't work the
13 way they say where they'd be walking.
14 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Well, but --
15 MS. ARMSTRONG: I --
16 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: -- I'm not sure it
17 works exactly that easy either. When -- when
18 we get --
19 MS. ARMSTRONG: Well --
20 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: -- into a
21 management plan, I mean, there -- there is --
22 the State usually puts restrictions on,
23 you know, property they manage.
24 And, in fact, most of the times we don't
25 have the money to properly manage it, which is
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1 one of our biggest problems.
2 MS. ARMSTRONG: Right.
3 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: These people do
4 have the money to manage, and appear to be
5 doing a pretty good job.
6 MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE: That's right.
7 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: I would think --
8 you know, first of all, we're not approving
9 this today; is that correct?
10 MS. ARMSTRONG: Well, you have -- you're
11 approving the -- the 2000 CARL list, and you
12 have three options: You can approve it as is;
13 remove a project, which I think is what they
14 would like you to do on this one; or reject the
15 whole list and send it back.
16 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Uh-hum.
17 MS. ARMSTRONG: And I will tell you that
18 we've been negotiating -- the bombing range
19 ridge project has been on here for several
20 years, it's number 11, high priority.
21 The Nature Conservancy has been negotiating
22 with land owners that are ready to, like,
23 close. Mr. Wheeler, Avatar, these are people
24 that own large chunks of land.
25 I would add that the area they're talking
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1 about is not the first place TNC is focusing
2 its efforts, because it's not the bigger
3 contiguous parcels. We're going after those
4 first.
5 It is no different than we have with
6 Lake Wales Ridge, Golden Gate Estates, you have
7 a number of these what we call mega parcel
8 situations where you've got small acreage that
9 was divided up, and we have to go in and buy it
10 back. It could be years, we may never get near
11 them.
12 But, in the long run, what we wanted to be
13 able to do is buy those bigger pieces, because
14 it's a very important piece that connects a
15 number of different key parcels.
16 GOVERNOR BUSH: Eva, the one thing that I
17 think you've said that gave me a little bit of
18 concern --
19 MS. ARMSTRONG: Uh-hum.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- the only thing I've --
21 that I've heard that gave me a little concern
22 was not dealing with the management issues
23 prior to purchasing the land. It seems like
24 that --
25 (Treasurer Nelson entered the room.)
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1 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Particularly --
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- that ought to be the
3 first thing that's done to get the kind of
4 buy-in that would allow this to be managed
5 properly.
6 And I'm sure that was done in these other
7 mega parcels, or if it wasn't, it might have
8 been harder to accomplish the public good.
9 MS. ARMSTRONG: Right. Well, it's a --
10 it's a question of do you want to put a lot of
11 resources in at the front end, and then not buy
12 something.
13 Because putting together a management plan
14 requires a lot of staff resources. You've got
15 biologists involved, you've got rec and parks,
16 the forestry people get out there, you do
17 public hearings on the road. It takes months
18 to put together some of these more complex
19 plans.
20 So it's a question of where do you want to
21 put that investment before you actually have it
22 in hand, or afterwards.
23 Now, what we do do is we put together a
24 management prospectus when it's first
25 considered to go on the list that says, hey --
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1 like, forestry's very interested in a lot of
2 this. This would be great forest land, and,
3 yes, we do want it. To manage -- and the idea
4 that we would be managing it is as a State
5 forest.
6 So there is some management work at the
7 front end. But because it -- it really is a
8 huge investment of time and public dollars, we
9 don't do the detail until after we've bought
10 something.
11 MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE: You just want to
12 cut the trees down.
13 SECRETARY HARRIS: But -- Governor --
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yes. Katherine.
15 SECRETARY HARRIS: Eva, what I'd like to --
16 I'd like to address this -- this issue.
17 Obviously we can't deny, and won't deny, access
18 to their property when there's -- you know,
19 there's existing roads to their -- to their
20 property.
21 But since they've been hunting and fishing
22 throughout the area, and maintaining it, what
23 kind of special restrictions will be imposed?
24 Because I'm not familiar with all the
25 issues that we do with State lands, what --
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1 what other type of restrictions -- when they
2 say they'll have to walk to these different
3 places, when maybe, indeed, they would drive an
4 ATV; maybe, indeed, they would do something
5 else that's not specifically on their property,
6 they won't have that same kind of access once
7 it becomes State lands; is that correct?
8 MS. ARMSTRONG: Yeah. The difficulty is
9 not that when we buy land that we would
10 restrict their ability to do what they want on
11 their land. We cannot do that.
12 They will have access, and we can't say you
13 can't -- you can't do this kind of forestry, or
14 you can't build that building.
15 It's on the parcels that they don't own
16 that they have access to now that I think
17 they're most concerned about.
18 SECRETARY HARRIS: Right.
19 Because right now they're hunting and
20 fishing throughout that land, and they're --
21 MS. ARMSTRONG: Right.
22 SECRETARY HARRIS: -- maintaining it.
23 MS. ARMSTRONG: Right.
24 SECRETARY HARRIS: And then that -- that
25 would be restricted.
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1 MS. ARMSTRONG: It would depend, again, on
2 how successful we are in acquiring parcels in
3 that area, and what the ultimate decision is
4 about how to manage it.
5 But -- but we do this. It's a very public
6 process. The people come in, we hold public
7 hearings on the road, they get a lot of input
8 into these, it takes a long time -- long time
9 to put them together.
10 So they'll have full access to that
11 development of that plan.
12 SECRETARY HARRIS: Well, let's say you have
13 8700 acres, and you have small home sites
14 interspersed throughout that. Maybe they're an
15 acre or an acre-and-a-half.
16 MS. ARMSTRONG: Uh-hum.
17 SECRETARY HARRIS: On that acre or
18 acre-and-a-half, maybe they won't be restricted
19 as to what they can do. But they originally
20 purchased it thinking they had that vast arena
21 of land.
22 And so now they're not going to --
23 (Applause.)
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: All right. All right.
25 MS. ARMSTRONG: And -- and this is the crux
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1 of the problem. The difficulty is that there
2 has been a long standing dispute down there
3 between the people that own the land -- own the
4 land that don't want hunting, they want to sell
5 it to the State.
6 And decisions were made by the Hunt Club to
7 fence areas off, they denied those people
8 access to their own property. It has gone
9 through the Court, and the judge has told them
10 you can't have the fences erected.
11 GOVERNOR BUSH: Well --
12 MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE: No.
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Please. Please.
14 MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE: Not true.
15 MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE: Not true.
16 GOVERNOR BUSH: Let's -- we're -- we've
17 allowed -- we've allowed representatives of
18 your group to speak, and --
19 MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE: Sorry.
20 MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE: Sorry.
21 GOVERNOR BUSH: That's all right.
22 MS. ARMSTRONG: It's very contentious.
23 MR. STRUHS: Let me say a couple of things.
24 MS. ARMSTRONG: Uh-hum.
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: David.
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1 MR. STRUHS: A couple of other things.
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: The fact -- let me -- can I
3 ask a question?
4 The fact that it's on the CARL list as a --
5 MR. STRUHS: Yes.
6 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- ecosystem that we're
7 focused on does not mean that purchases have to
8 take place, does it?
9 MR. STRUHS: No. All it does is it means
10 that if you look at all the opportunities in
11 the state, this one was ranked by the State's
12 Land Management agencies as --
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Right.
14 MR. STRUHS: -- the 11th highest priority.
15 Because it's a willing seller program
16 only --
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Right.
18 MR. STRUHS: -- the only purchase that has
19 those opportunities become available.
20 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: And it --
21 MR. STRUHS: I'm sorry.
22 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- still has to
23 come to us --
24 MR. STRUHS: I'm sorry.
25 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- to approve any
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1 purchases off this --
2 MR. STRUHS: Yes, sir.
3 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- list. This is
4 just the list. This is --
5 MR. STRUHS: Right.
6 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- step one.
7 GOVERNOR BUSH: Absolutely.
8 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: This is not buying
9 the land at all.
10 MR. STRUHS: Absolutely not.
11 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: That's another
12 deal down the road.
13 MR. STRUHS: There -- there are no
14 contracts in place.
15 A couple of other points of interest.
16 The -- the Polk County Commission -- this
17 land is in Polk County -- I believe
18 unanimously, a number of years ago, passed a
19 resolution supporting this as an acquisition
20 project on the CARL list.
21 And, in fact, they have already
22 participated in some joint acquisitions in that
23 area, I believe -- somewhere in the
24 neighborhood of 4,000 acres.
25 So the County is -- is -- is expecting to
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1 be in -- looks forward to being a full partner
2 with the State in making this happen, because
3 in the County Commissioners' opinion, this is a
4 regional priority.
5 The other point -- and I can't remember the
6 particular details. But this -- this proposed
7 acquisition actually creates linkages between
8 existing parcels.
9 So it's not a -- it's not a new idea.
10 There are existing State and Federal
11 conservation parcels in this region of the
12 state that this acquisition, if it goes
13 forward, would actually connect.
14 (Treasurer Nelson exited the room.)
15 MR. STRUHS: The -- the other folks who --
16 who would like to be able to speak to you
17 are -- are Mr. Wheeler, who is the seller of
18 the 8,000 plus acres.
19 Also Mr. Keith Fountain from the
20 Nature Conservancy, and -- and Charles Lee from
21 Florida Audubon.
22 And then we'd be happy to take any more
23 questions.
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: All right. Mr. Wheeler.
25 MR. WHEELER: Good morning.
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1 I'm Irving Wheeler. I represent the owners
2 of some 9500 acres, and can speak for many of
3 the other owners in there.
4 There's some 20,000 acres involved in
5 River Ranch. The State's not proposing to buy
6 all of it, they're proposing to buy a
7 substantial portion of it.
8 These gentlemen here represent a small
9 minority of the owners. What percentage, I
10 don't know. But we -- you might inquire if
11 they represent 100 acres or 500 acres.
12 On the other hand, these gentlemen have
13 never disposed -- never disclosed their
14 membership list or their ownership list.
15 Two years -- four years ago when I first
16 got involved in this property, there was a
17 lawsuit pending. These gentlemen on the
18 Hunt Club were keeping the regular owners, the
19 registered owners of this property, from
20 accessing to it.
21 It took us a lawsuit in the
22 Tenth Circuit Court of Polk County, and
23 Judge Cecelia Moore ordered them to take down
24 their 24-hour a gate (sic) guards, and let the
25 people who owned that property go on to it.
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1 Since that time, other entrances have been
2 opened up. From time to time, these folks have
3 put nails, have cut timber across the entrances
4 to guard the entrance to this 20,000 acres
5 because of what they owned.
6 That lawsuit is on record in Polk County
7 now and is available, and has been examined by
8 Mr. Fountain and others.
9 There is -- we -- I -- I don't disagree
10 with these folks. The State should not buy
11 their property, the State has not offered to
12 buy their property, not -- and not forcing them
13 to.
14 The State is coming out and asking whoever
15 wants to sell. Ninety-five percent of us do
16 want to sell. These folks do not want you to
17 let the State buy our property. They're not
18 talking about their property.
19 Since they got here this morning, their
20 property has not been an issue. They have been
21 told consistently that they can keep their
22 property. The State does not want it, they're
23 not forcing them to sell.
24 They are here telling you, don't buy my
25 property, don't buy Avatar's property, don't
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1 buy the other eighteen to twenty thousand
2 owners out there.
3 And we are the owners who have suffered
4 because we don't have access to that property,
5 until the Circuit Court of Polk County gave us
6 that right.
7 Secondly, they have access to all of their
8 property. When GAC subdivided it, they kept
9 easements along every section line. And every
10 owner in here has a right to go on that section
11 line and access his property, and will have
12 after the State buys any of it.
13 Managing that property. The game has long
14 gone. There are no deer on that property,
15 there are no turkey on that property.
16 (Laughing.)
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Please.
18 MR. WHEELER: They go buy quail and turn
19 them loose in the spring, and they go buy
20 wild hog that's -- and put them on it.
21 The management program for game is long
22 gone.
23 The road -- the access that they maintain
24 with the graders, you cannot access that
25 property without a four-wheel vehicle or a
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1 swamp buggy. In the wet weather, you have to
2 have a swamp buggy.
3 These folks would be better off to
4 cooperate with the State. They're going to
5 force the land owners, like me, like Avatar,
6 like the other 20,000 owners -- 20,000 acres,
7 to go in and timber it and get whatever
8 recourse they can from their investment.
9 If the State doesn't buy it, their property
10 is going to be unusable to them anyhow.
11 The State can provide a beautiful resource
12 for the natural environmental agency.
13 MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE: With no trees.
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, sir.
15 MR. WHEELER: The trees will go if the
16 State doesn't buy. If the State buys, the
17 trees will probably stay there.
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
19 MR. FOUNTAIN: Thank you, Governor, Cabinet
20 members.
21 Keith Fountain with the Nature Conservancy.
22 I'm just going to do a brief summary, and
23 I'm going to try to stick to the undisputed
24 facts here.
25 This is a project that's been on the list
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1 for two or three years. The list is up for
2 renewal. This is truly from a resource
3 perspective, it's a landscape project. It's
4 39,000 acres.
5 It links Kissimmee -- Lake Kissimmee State
6 Park with the Kissimmee River lands that the
7 Water Management District has purchased, with
8 the Avon Park Air Force Range, which connects
9 to the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest, and
10 so forth and so on. So this is truly a
11 landscape project.
12 The natural communities are fantastic:
13 Longleaf pine, scrub, cutthroat seed,
14 wet prairie. The species that are out there:
15 Red-cockaded woodpeckers, scrub jays,
16 gopher tortoises, so forth, and so on. And
17 you're also talking about a parcel that has
18 tremendous recreation potential.
19 Again, trying to stick to the facts as I
20 know them.
21 We have spoken -- we being the
22 Nature Conservancy -- have spoken with eight
23 land owners, or their representatives, that
24 together own more than 15,000 acres of this
25 project. These people want it to stay on the
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1 list. They're interested in seeing the State
2 preserve this area, and they're interested in
3 negotiating with the State for the sale of this
4 property.
5 Your conservation partners, Polk County and
6 South Florida Water Management District, have
7 already purchased 4,000 acres out there. We
8 have an offer outstanding to one person right
9 now, and hope to make offers to Mr. Wheeler and
10 Avatar this week, because the appraisals are
11 done.
12 If you look at those numbers, it's more
13 than 15,000 acres in this project where you've
14 got interested land owners.
15 If you listen to Mr. Richard Powell, who's
16 being referenced here today -- he's not here --
17 he says that he represents another 6500 acres,
18 or the CARL assessment determined that.
19 He says his party -- his people are at
20 least interested in listening to offers from
21 the State. You're up over 20,000.
22 So you have a tremendous percentage of this
23 project, like Mr. Wheeler just said, that's
24 interested in selling their property.
25 The other thing, you're not buying all of
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1 River Ranch acres. There's a substantial area
2 that's left, 10,000 or more acres probably.
3 Mr. Wheeler and Avatar have a substantial
4 inventory of property in that area. In the
5 event some of these people don't want to sell
6 their property, as they're saying, but they
7 would like to keep a landowner -- like to keep
8 a land interest out there, would like to remain
9 members of the Hunt Club, you've got that
10 excess inventory that's available to exchange
11 with these people, and consolidate your
12 holdings, and put them outside the project
13 area.
14 If you look at this project, this is one of
15 your mega parcel projects. It's no different,
16 it's no more burdensome, it doesn't look any
17 more horrible when you look at a map than the
18 Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem Project, which is
19 your number 1 ranked project, where we have
20 bought from seven or eight developers in seven
21 or eight subdivisions that are left putting
22 together the pieces of the puzzle.
23 Those are the undisputed facts, as I see
24 them, and I just want to summarize that. And
25 available for questions.
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1 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
2 MR. FOUNTAIN: Thank you.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Charles.
4 MR. LEE: Governor Bush, members of the
5 Cabinet, Charles Lee representing Audubon.
6 I think it's important to understand that
7 what is happening here today is that project
8 number 11 is being proposed to be kept on the
9 CARL list. And we think it should be kept on
10 the land acquisition list.
11 This is a project, to us, that is of a
12 higher order of priority. It has the same kind
13 of ecosystem elements on it that the Lake Wales
14 Ridge, which is the number 1 project on the
15 list, has.
16 The significant thing about this project,
17 Governor, and members of the Cabinet, is we're
18 talking about a project -- and I hope this --
19 this map, or -- in some form is available to
20 you up there.
21 We're talking about a CARL project which is
22 20 miles long, that links Lake Kissimmee State
23 Park with the Avon Park bombing range. There's
24 only a small part of this project that is
25 actually affected by the arguments and disputes
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1 that you've heard from the people in the room
2 today.
3 The largest part of this project is a
4 linkage project that deals with key State
5 resources that we have already bought, we have
6 already made a tremendous investment in,
7 whether that is Polk County, whether that is
8 the Division of Recreation and Parks, whether
9 that's the South Florida Water Management
10 District.
11 What is happening with this project is
12 pulling together a workable corridor, a
13 workable manageable entity of related State
14 resources which we hope will go forward.
15 We believe that this is a very important
16 project. We think that the temporal
17 arguments --
18 (Secretary Harris exited the room.)
19 MR. LEE: -- and disputes that we've heard
20 in the room really relate to the acquisition of
21 particular parcels, which is not what's on your
22 agenda today. And we would hope you would go
23 ahead and approve the list with this project on
24 it.
25 We feel, on behalf of Audubon, that this is
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1 an important part of the list, and we think the
2 State should go forward to include it.
3 Thank you very much.
4 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, Charles.
5 MR. STRUHS: Governor, members of the
6 Cabinet --
7 GOVERNOR BUSH: We have -- there's one
8 gentleman that came back -- wanted to speak --
9 MR. STRUHS: Sorry.
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Just --
11 MR. DAWSON: I would like to --
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: All right. Y'all --
13 everybody else -- I mean, you're -- you can sit
14 down, if you like. I mean, we're --
15 MR. DURHAM: Thank you.
16 MR. DAWSON: Good morning.
17 My name's Bud Dawson. I was -- lived in
18 Dade County all of my life, about -- I was a
19 police officer, 37 years in Dade County. I've
20 hunted and fished and camped and hiked all of
21 my life.
22 I started down by Everglades National Park,
23 I was moved into the Big Cypress, I was moved
24 into the new big part of the Big Cypress, I
25 still have a camp in that part north of
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1 Alligator Alley. It's been closed for over
2 four years now for a study. Nobody can use it
3 for anything.
4 I've been up here about 15 years now at
5 River Ranch. This is my last rah. I'm
6 seventy-three years old. I have no place to go
7 after this.
8 What I think the main point that's being
9 missed here is that all of this land that
10 Mr. Wheeler and these people own are
11 acres-and-a-quarter. They have to be surveyed,
12 they're not together, they're like a
13 checkerboard.
14 And I think that's the main point that's
15 being missed.
16 Thank you.
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, sir.
18 Gentlemen, real brief, if you could.
19 MR. SKIPPER: My name is Dan Skipper. I'm
20 also an owner.
21 Governor, what we've seen happen to us as
22 sportsmen, we're run out of everywhere.
23 (Secretary Harris entered the room.)
24 MR. SKIPPER: We can't go places, you're
25 restricting us. Water management has already
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1 taken a large portion of it, would not allow us
2 on it. And we need help as the taxpayer.
3 We need to be able to have access and not
4 restricted that you can't go here or you can't
5 go there. And that's what's happened to us.
6 We need help to protect the future of our
7 kids that have grown up there.
8 Thank you.
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, sir, for coming.
10 MR. RUDD: Governor Bush, this is my first
11 time of ever being involved in anything.
12 I belong to -- my name is --
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: What's your name, sir?
14 MR. RUDD: -- Doug Rudd from the city of
15 Clewiston. I belong to three different clubs:
16 I belong to Kissimmee Prairie, I belong to the
17 Fisheating Creek, and I belong to River Ranch.
18 And this CARL Act -- and the last time I
19 was at a meeting with Fisheating Creek, I had
20 the opportunity to talk to Greg Holder, Game
21 and Freshwater Fish Commission Director.
22 And the CARL Act was brought up. And
23 basically they've taken everything we've got
24 away from us down south. There's nowhere we
25 can go now. No where. River Ranch is our last
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1 resort.
2 Mr. Butterworth was supposed to showed up
3 at one of our last meetings, and he sent
4 Ms. Monica. And the meeting went off good.
5 And we ended up losing the creek. We was
6 supposed to get the land down south to hunt on,
7 and they told us we couldn't go in there.
8 And a lieutenant with the Game Commission
9 told us that the human feet give off so many
10 particles of something and another. I forgot
11 what he explained to me. So they closed it.
12 Nobody's allowed to go in there.
13 Everybody's got to stay out, they're putting up
14 fences, they're keeping you out of everything.
15 We don't have nothing. River Ranch is our
16 last resort.
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, sir.
18 MR. RUDD: If you take it away from us,
19 it's over.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you for coming.
21 All right.
22 MR. NEEDHAM: Hope I'm the last.
23 Governor Bush --
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: You are the last.
25 MR. NEEDHAM: My name is Bert Needham. I
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1 live in Winter Haven, Florida. I was
2 introduced to River Ranch five years ago.
3 I went to a revival down there.
4 Pastor Danny Williamson that pastors a
5 Primitive Baptist Church in Bartow. I'm a
6 member of the First Baptist Church in
7 Eagle Lake, and I work with the youth groups.
8 And we have been coming down there for the
9 last five years at least once a month at the
10 property I own.
11 And we've been going down and camping. And
12 I've heard a lot about the -- the natural
13 resources and the resources. What about the
14 youth? That's -- that's the resources of our
15 state.
16 What about the youth that I take out there
17 camping, riding swamp buggies? We don't hunt.
18 But we do go out, and we ride across the land,
19 and we ride on the roads. You know, we protect
20 the land.
21 And what I've seen from this organization
22 here, they take good care of the land. And I'd
23 just like to say: Think about the resources,
24 the youth that's coming up.
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
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1 MR. STRUHS: If I might just add my own
2 comments, please.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yes, sir.
4 MR. STRUHS: At -- at the risk of being
5 branded a Yankee --
6 GOVERNOR BUSH: You just blew it.
7 MR. STRUHS: -- let me -- let me --
8 GOVERNOR BUSH: You're going to be branded
9 a Yankee now.
10 MR. STRUHS: -- let me -- let me share with
11 you a vision of -- of another area of the
12 country where we've been able to manage large
13 expanses of recreation and conservation land,
14 with many inholdings.
15 And -- and what I'm thinking of is the
16 Adirondacks up in New York state. That is one
17 of the single largest expanses of State-owned
18 conservation/recreation land anywhere in the
19 country.
20 And if you look at the map, it is to use
21 the phrase rifled with -- with inholdings of --
22 of people who have for generations held
23 inholdings within this larger tract of land.
24 And, in fact, it has been recognized far
25 and wide as one of the -- the best combinations
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1 of ownerships, because there's a mutual respect
2 for property rights, and also for a common
3 conservation and -- and recreation agenda.
4 I'm convinced that if you see fit to
5 approve this list, including that 11th ranked
6 priority, that working together with you, with
7 the current land owners, both willing sellers,
8 and those who aren't, we can come together with
9 a package that will respect all those -- those
10 shared interests, and -- and -- and perhaps
11 make everybody confident that they could enjoy
12 the land well into the future.
13 SECRETARY HARRIS: Governor.
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yes. Bob.
15 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Yes.
16 Governor, I think, you know, hearing --
17 hearing everybody talk, that there's probably
18 some things we shouldn't do, and probably some
19 things we should do here.
20 And -- and, David, I -- if I understand it
21 right, my agency would be one of the managing
22 agencies, and yours --
23 MR. STRUHS: Yes, sir.
24 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: -- would be the
25 other.
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1 I think -- well, as Eva said, we may not
2 have to have a final management plan before you
3 move forward on purchase.
4 I think in this case, we owe it to these --
5 these people, these club members, and all the
6 owners, to come out with more detail of how it
7 could be managed, and see if we can incorporate
8 the club's concerns so they can keep what
9 they've got, and yet the State can acquire
10 those areas that we need to acquire.
11 Because they've got something pretty unique
12 here, and I think they're doing a good job.
13 And if we all kind of take a breath and maybe
14 take our time and get this thing on the table
15 and -- and work it out.
16 And I -- and I know from the Division of
17 Forestry, I can commit to you, we'll -- we'll
18 take the time to -- to find out a way to work
19 it out. And we're not going to cut those trees
20 out there. And -- but let's get that -- that
21 all agreed to ahead of time, and see if we can
22 satisfy their concerns, and maybe some day in
23 the future, we can come back and everybody in
24 agreement.
25 And I -- I see that potential here, and --
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1 and I'd be willing to go ahead and vote to move
2 this list forward with that understanding, that
3 we will make that commitment, and -- and do
4 those extra things to see if we can work this
5 out.
6 GOVERNOR BUSH: Katherine.
7 SECRETARY HARRIS: Governor, I agree
8 with -- with Commissioner Crawford. If we
9 could just take a little bit more of a look.
10 We've certainly heard their concerns.
11 I have two questions remaining though.
12 One was on the issue raised about
13 Fisheating Creek and the hunting camp there.
14 Can you give us any more information as --
15 as to what's going on there? I mean, can we --
16 can we address that issue?
17 Just so that we don't find ourselves in the
18 same situation as we move forward on the
19 details with River Ranch Acres?
20 MR. STRUHS: Yes, ma'am.
21 Madam Secretary, would you like us to --
22 SECRETARY HARRIS: We can get back on --
23 MR. STRUHS: -- to answer that --
24 SECRETARY HARRIS: -- that.
25 MR. STRUHS: -- now, or would --
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1 SECRETARY HARRIS: No.
2 MR. STRUHS: -- you like us to follow up?
3 SECRETARY HARRIS: No. Let's come back to
4 that. I mean, that's fine.
5 MR. STRUHS: Okay.
6 SECRETARY HARRIS: And the second question
7 is: Can you just give us a little more
8 information on the property that was purchased,
9 the reference that this buy low, sell high, and
10 it is the American way, as you said.
11 But the -- the recent purchase, I think it
12 was of 8700 acres, what it was purchased at.
13 We usually discuss those things, and now what
14 we're being asked to -- to buy it.
15 (Treasurer Nelson entered the room.)
16 SECRETARY HARRIS: The -- the Governor
17 mentioned in the interest of
18 Controller Milligan's question.
19 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: But we're not
20 buying --
21 MR. STRUHS: Yeah.
22 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- anything yet.
23 SECRETARY HARRIS: No. I mean, but just
24 the -- exactly.
25 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: -- to consider.
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1 SECRETARY HARRIS: I mean, I just want to
2 know --
3 MR. STRUHS: Right.
4 SECRETARY HARRIS: -- that issue.
5 MR. STRUHS: The -- the fact remains, and
6 will always remain that no acquisition occurs
7 without your approval. And -- and we know full
8 well your shared interest in making sure that
9 any acquisitions occur in a -- in a -- in a
10 market-based price so that we're not overpaying
11 as a state.
12 There are no contracts before you to
13 approve or disapprove. And -- and I can assure
14 you that any proposal that we would bring
15 forward to your consideration would be very
16 sensitive to that, and that we're not going to
17 get into a position where we're proposing
18 acquisitions that are far in excess of the
19 land's actual work.
20 SECRETARY HARRIS: I just wanted that on
21 the record, and clarified it --
22 MR. STRUHS: Abs--
23 SECRETARY HARRIS: -- so it wasn't hanging
24 out there.
25 MR. STRUHS: Absolutely.
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1 SECRETARY HARRIS: Thank you.
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
3 Is there a motion?
4 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: It's already --
5 there is a motion and second pending.
6 GOVERNOR BUSH: There is a motion and a
7 second to accept the 2000 CARL Annual Report,
8 and the approval of the 2000 CARL Annual
9 Priority List.
10 All in favor, say aye?
11 THE CABINET: Aye.
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: All opposed?
13 It passes.
14 But I -- I really think it is important --
15 important to follow the concerns expressed by
16 everybody that this does allow us the
17 opportunity to get the vision -- that Yankee
18 vision you're describing. But I think it needs
19 to be clear for everybody that's participating
20 before we start embarking on this.
21 MR. STRUHS: I -- I agree.
22 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: If -- if this club
23 has done a good job in protecting this
24 property, and -- and having governance over it,
25 it might be worth our while to work a deal with
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1 them where they continue to do that --
2 MR. STRUHS: Correct.
3 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- as we begin --
4 (Applause.)
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: That'd be the --
6 MR. STRUHS: There is a -- an additional
7 item, Number 12.
8 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion for
9 approval.
10 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
11 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
12 Without objection, it's approved.
13 MR. STRUHS: And I'm -- I'm now finished.
14 But I do have a more complete answer to
15 Secretary Harris's question earlier about how
16 do we prevent in the future having situations
17 like we're seeing from the 1970s where there
18 were unauthorized uses of the land that we're
19 only now just discovering.
20 Thanks to Kirby Green, who refreshed my
21 memory, back in 1994, the State of Florida
22 merged together the two programs, the Sovereign
23 Submerged Lease Program and the Environmental
24 Resource Permitting.
25 By putting those into a single operation,
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1 not only does it make it easier for the
2 applicant, but it actually gives us far more
3 direct oversight to know --
4 (Commissioner Crawford exited the room.)
5 MR. STRUHS: -- what's precisely happening
6 on those sovereign submerged lands.
7 So I -- I suspect that in the future, we
8 won't see this kind of problem.
9 SECRETARY HARRIS: It'll probably help us,
10 too, in going back and reviewing where it --
11 where it has occurred now that they're in one
12 location.
13 Thank you, Secretary Struhs.
14 MR. STRUHS: That's correct.
15 (The Board of Trustees of the Internal
16 Improvement Trust Fund Agenda was concluded.)
17 * * *
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February 22, 2000
1 GOVERNOR BUSH: Siting Board.
2 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Environmental
3 Protection?
4 We --
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is there a motion on the --
6 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: I think it comes
7 under Environmental Protection.
8 I'll move the minutes from November 9th.
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: There's a second?
10 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Second.
11 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
12 Without objection, it's approved.
13 Item 2.
14 MR. STRUHS: Item 2, we're recommending
15 approval of consideration of an order executed
16 by the Siting Board adopting the
17 Administrative Law Judge's recommended order
18 finding that the Lansing Smith Unit 3 site to
19 be consistent and compliant with existing
20 State -- existing land use plans and zoning
21 ordinances of Bay County.
22 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on 2 --
23 SECRETARY HARRIS: Second.
24 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- for approval.
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
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1 Without objection, it's approved.
2 MR. STRUHS: Thank you.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, David.
4 (The Department of Environmental Protection
5 Siting Board Agenda was concluded.)
6 * * *
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February 22, 2000
1 CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER
2
3
4
5 STATE OF FLORIDA:
6 COUNTY OF LEON:
7 I, LAURIE L. GILBERT, do hereby certify that
8 the foregoing proceedings were taken before me at the
9 time and place therein designated; that my shorthand
10 notes were thereafter translated; and the foregoing
11 pages numbered 1 through 104 are a true and correct
12 record of the aforesaid proceedings.
13 I FURTHER CERTIFY that I am not a relative,
14 employee, attorney or counsel of any of the parties,
15 nor relative or employee of such attorney or counsel,
16 or financially interested in the foregoing action.
17 DATED THIS 4TH day of MARCH, 2000.
18
19
20 LAURIE L. GILBERT, RPR, CCR, CRR, RMR
100 Salem Court
21 Tallahassee, Florida 32301
850/878-2221
22
23
24
25
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
T H E C A B I N E T
S T A T E O F F L O R I D A
Representing:
STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION OF BOND FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION
FLORIDA LAND AND WATER ADJUDICATORY COMMISSION
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SITING BOARD
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
VOLUME II
Pages 105 through 268
The above agencies came to be heard before
THE FLORIDA CABINET, Honorable Governor Bush
presiding, in the Cabinet Meeting Room, LL-03,
The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida, on Tuesday,
February 22, 2000, commencing at approximately
9:08 a.m.
Reported by:
LAURIE L. GILBERT
Registered Professional Reporter
Certified Court Reporter
Certified Realtime Reporter
Registered Merit Reporter
Notary Public in and for
the State of Florida at Large
ACCURATE STENOTYPE REPORTERS, INC.
100 SALEM COURT
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32301
850/878-2221
106
APPEARANCES:
Representing the Florida Cabinet:
JEB BUSH
Governor
BOB CRAWFORD
Commissioner of Agriculture
KATHERINE HARRIS
Secretary of State
BOB BUTTERWORTH
Attorney General
BILL NELSON
Treasurer
TOM GALLAGHER
Commissioner of Education
* * *
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February 22, 2000
I N D E X
ITEM ACTION PAGE
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION:
(Presented by Wayne V. Pierson,
Deputy Commissioner)
1 Approved 108
2 Approved 109
3 Approved 109
4 Approved 109
5 Approved 110
6 Approved 110
7 Approved 110
8, 9, and 10 Approved 265 266
11 Approved 267
CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER 268
* * *
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February 22, 2000
1 P R O C E E D I N G S
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: State Board of Education.
3 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: State Board of
4 Education.
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: Item 1.
6 There he is.
7 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Item 1 is --
8 Mr. Pierson.
9 (Commissioner Crawford entered the room.)
10 MR. PIERSON: Item 1, Daytona Beach
11 Community College request for a center in
12 Deltona.
13 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: I will say that
14 the President of Daytona Beach Community
15 College is here, and is interested in us
16 approving this.
17 And I'd move approval.
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is there a second?
19 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
21 Without objection, it's approved.
22 MR. PIERSON: Item 2, Manatee Community
23 College's request for a Special Purpose Center.
24 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Again, the same
25 thing. Motion on 2.
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February 22, 2000
1 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
3 Without objection, it's approved.
4 MR. PIERSON: Item 3, identification of
5 Critical Teacher Shortage Areas.
6 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Motion.
7 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on 4.
8 Second.
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
10 Without objection, it's approved.
11 MR. PIERSON: Item 4, High Priority School
12 Locations for Use and Implementation to the
13 Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.
14 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on 4.
15 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
16 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
17 Without objection, it's approved.
18 MR. PIERSON: Item 5, 6, and 7 are -- go
19 back.
20 Item 5 is an amendment to Rule 6A-10.0311,
21 Assessment of Student Attainment of College
22 Level Communication and Computation Skills.
23 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Motion.
24 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on 5.
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
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February 22, 2000
1 Without objection, it's approved.
2 MR. PIERSON: Item 6 is an amendment to
3 Rule 6A-10.0315, College Preparatory Testing,
4 Placement, and Instruction.
5 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Motion on 6.
6 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
7 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
8 Without objection, it's approved.
9 MR. PIERSON: Item 7 is a proposal for a
10 new rule, 6A-16.026, Reporting Information to
11 the State Board of Education.
12 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: This is when we
13 got rid of some rules. The Comptroller brought
14 up some issues that he would like to be brought
15 to the Board, and this is putting those back
16 in, as we promised we'd do.
17 Like to move it.
18 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
19 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
20 Without objection, it's approved.
21 MR. PIERSON: Item 8, 9, and 10 are State
22 University System rules, which we'd like to
23 take as a block.
24 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: I think we're
25 going to have some speakers on that.
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1 MR. PIERSON: We have a few.
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yes, we are.
3 MR. PIERSON: The first presentation is
4 Dr. Adam Herbert, Chancellor, State University
5 System.
6 GOVERNOR BUSH: Good morning, Chancellor.
7 DR. HERBERT: Good morning, Governor.
8 Members of the Board of Education, on
9 behalf of the Board of Regents of the State
10 University System --
11 (Governor Bush exited the room.)
12 DR. HERBERT: -- this morning, I am honored
13 to submit for your consideration three
14 admissions rules which were adopted unanimously
15 at its meeting on Thursday, February 17th.
16 That the Board of Regents' vote was a
17 unanimous one is significant because its
18 members represent all of Florida. They are
19 Democrat and Republican, male and female,
20 Christian and Jew, young and more
21 chronologically mature, white and minority.
22 But they are united in adopting the rules
23 we present to you today, as are our
24 ten Presidents and the Chancellor in support of
25 the Board's actions.
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1 We are united in support of this effort
2 because we believe firmly that the proposed
3 rule changes will allow Florida's universities
4 to enhance educational opportunities for all
5 Floridians regardless of race, national origin,
6 or gender.
7 We're united because we believe these rules
8 changes are in the best interest of all
9 Floridians.
10 In November of last year, Governor Bush
11 proposed the One Florida initiative. One
12 element of the Equity in Education Plan which
13 was contained therein included eliminating
14 race, national origin, and gender as
15 considerations and admissions decisions.
16 Following that announcement, members of
17 the Board of Education -- the Board of Regents
18 requested and had been supplied with detailed
19 information --
20 (Governor Bush entered the room.)
21 DR. HERBERT: -- and also analysis of
22 potential program impacts.
23 Several Regents, members of my staff, and
24 I, attended, monitored, and read transcripts of
25 the three legislative hearings conducted on the
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1 Governor's proposal.
2 In addition, Regents conducted a 3-hour
3 public hearing in Jacksonville in November,
4 they then listened intently to nearly 5 hours
5 of additional testimony presented during
6 another public hearing in Orlando last
7 Thursday.
8 The rules submitted for your consideration
9 were modified to address some of the concerns
10 articulated during these hearings.
11 First, the Board of Regents made even
12 clearer the guiding principal under which
13 students will be admitted into the State
14 University System by adding this very clear
15 statement:
16 The Board affirms its commitment to equal
17 educational opportunity, and to increasing
18 student diversity in each of the State's
19 universities.
20 In addition to this rule provision, the
21 Board of Regents also adopted a related policy
22 which reinforces its intentions.
23 Specifically, it directs the universities
24 to continue to engage in comprehensive and
25 aggressive affirmative action efforts and
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1 programs designed to increase student diversity
2 in each of the State Universities.
3 The Board also affirmed that performance
4 evaluations of each university, and each
5 president shall include the consideration of
6 student diversity.
7 This is the first time that the Florida
8 Board of Regents has ever included such a clear
9 diversity provision within one of its rules,
10 adopted so strong a statement of policy intent
11 relative to diversity, and declared such
12 unambiguous accountability expectations with
13 regard to diversity.
14 Second, the Board attempted to make clear
15 that, in supporting the Equity in Education
16 Plan, it was mending, not ending, affirmative
17 action as suggested by many of the speakers we
18 heard.
19 While the rules before you do eliminate the
20 use of race, national origin, and gender as
21 factors in the university admissions processes,
22 these elements of affirmative action remain:
23 One, University Outreach Programs are
24 expanded.
25 Two, recruitment efforts for students from
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1 minority and low income families will expand.
2 Three, support services for these students
3 will continue.
4 Fourth, retention programs for these same
5 students also will continue.
6 Fifth, partnerships will increase between
7 higher educational institutions and low
8 performing schools, many of which are located
9 in our inner city neighborhoods.
10 Six, expanded mentoring programs will focus
11 on students in low performing schools.
12 Seventh, admission into the State
13 University System is guaranteed for all public
14 high school students who complete the
15 19 required high school units, and graduate in
16 the top 20 percent of their class.
17 Eight, incentives are provided for minority
18 students to prepare for college.
19 And, finally, need-based financial aid is
20 increased to assist Talented 20 students pursue
21 their higher education dreams and aspirations.
22 As you consider the rules we present to you
23 today, I would like to make two final
24 observations:
25 First, five of our ten universities
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1 currently do not use race, national origin, or
2 gender in making admissions decisions. They
3 currently do not use race, national origin, or
4 gender in making admissions decisions.
5 I refer to FIU, the University of
6 North Florida, Florida A&M, Florida State, and
7 the University of Central Florida.
8 The first three of these institutions to
9 take this action were led by minority
10 presidents. Significantly, the enrollment of
11 minorities in those institutions increased
12 rapidly after this admissions policy change was
13 implemented.
14 Moreover, none of the ten universities
15 consider gender in making admissions decisions.
16 And yet women currently constitute a majority
17 of our undergraduate enrollments in all ten
18 universities; a majority of our graduate
19 enrollments in all ten universities; and in
20 enrollments in our health and related
21 profession programs.
22 As President of the University of
23 North Florida, I discovered that the key to
24 increasing minority enrollments was the scope
25 of outreach efforts in inner city public
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1 schools and the establishment of a scholarship
2 fund which now totals over 13 million dollars.
3 That scholarship fund includes a 2 million
4 dollar scholarship endowment for students who
5 live in public or publicly assisted housing.
6 Endowments of 1 million dollars or more
7 also were established in several Jacksonville
8 inner city high schools.
9 Students qualifying for these programs were
10 guaranteed admission into the university. And
11 what happened? Our minority enrollments
12 increased from 12 percent over 20 percent today
13 without using race or national origin as
14 factors in our admissions decision.
15 The critical point in this story is that
16 every student entering the University
17 of North Florida, or any of the other
18 universities currently operating within the
19 spirit of this rule, does so knowing that they
20 were admitted not because of their race,
21 national origin, or gender, but because of
22 their academic performance. And that, we
23 believe, is the way it ought to be.
24 When combined with the other components of
25 the One Florida initiative, these proposed
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1 Board of Regents rules have the power to
2 transform Florida into a state in which
3 learning and opportunity for all of our
4 citizens will become the hallmark of a
5 revitalized educational system.
6 Governor Bush, the Board of Regents
7 respectfully submits these three new admissions
8 rules for the State Board of Education's
9 consideration.
10 On behalf of the Regents, I request your
11 support.
12 Thank you very much.
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, Chancellor.
14 We'll now have people that want to speak
15 for and against the Board rule.
16 Out of courtesy to the members of the
17 Legislature that are here, I would suggest that
18 we start with members of the Legislature.
19 We're going to ask people to keep their
20 remarks to 3 minutes. But have -- we'll --
21 we'll let 5 minutes each for -- for members of
22 the Legislature. And I don't know if they have
23 to go back to committee hearings or not. So --
24 Who's got the list?
25 MR. PIERSON: I have the list, sir.
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1 We had one more speaker before we started
2 with the speakers. General Counsel,
3 Mike Olenick, was going --
4 GOVERNOR BUSH: Oh, I'm sorry.
5 MR. PIERSON: -- to speak on the legality
6 of the issue.
7 GOVERNOR BUSH: Okay. Counselor.
8 MR. OLENICK: Governor, members of the
9 Cabinet. My name is Mike Olenick. I serve as
10 General Counsel to the State Board.
11 I will talk in 3 minutes, and attempt to do
12 what is probably an impossibility, and that is,
13 give an overview of the law and race
14 preferences in 3 minutes.
15 Going back to 1978 in a sharply divided
16 narrow majority, the U.S. Supreme Court
17 determined that a State University System may
18 sometimes claim a, quote, compelling interest,
19 end quote, in maintaining racial diversity as a
20 justification for race -- race conscious
21 university admission -- admission process. And
22 that was the Bakke case.
23 Since then, the composition of the
24 U.S. Supreme Court has changed dramatically;
25 and race conscious, governmental actions have
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1 been repeatedly struck down, or subjected to a
2 searching form review called strict scrutiny.
3 The Supreme Court's strict scrutiny
4 standard requires that courts strike down any
5 race conscious governmental action, unless it
6 serves a, quote, compelling interest,
7 end quote; and, is, quote, narrowly tailored to
8 further the compelling interest.
9 The Courts have justified the
10 strict scrutiny review. And as noted by
11 Justice Brennan, quote, even in the pursuit of
12 remedial objectives, an explicit policy of
13 assignment by race may serve to stimulate our
14 society's latent race consciousness, suggesting
15 utility impropriety of basing decisions on a
16 factor that ideally there is no relationship to
17 an individual's worth or needs, end quote.
18 The leading Supreme Court cases in this
19 regard are known as the Croson case and Adarand
20 case, both of which led to the elimination of
21 race-based contracting programs.
22 In Adarand, Justice Scalia, writing for the
23 majority, stated, quote, individuals who have
24 been wronged by such unlawful racial
25 discrimination should be made whole. But under
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1 our Constitution, there can be no such thing as
2 either a creditor or a debtor race. The
3 concept is alien to the Constitution's focus
4 upon the individual.
5 In the Croson case, Justice Kennedy stated
6 that, quote, the strict scrutiny standard
7 forbids the use, even if narrowly drawn racial
8 classifications, except as a last resort.
9 With that framework, the lower courts,
10 including the Fifth Circuit; Fourth Cir-- the
11 Fourth Circuit; the First Circuit; and our
12 circuit, which is the Eleventh in the
13 Engineering Contractors case, has followed that
14 framework.
15 In the Eleventh Circuit -- the
16 Eleventh Circuit went on to the State
17 Supreme Court, went on to state that state --
18 that the state -- that the U.S. Supreme Court
19 decisions teach that a race conscious remedy
20 is, quote, not merely one of many equally
21 acceptable medications the government may use
22 to treat a race-based problem.
23 Instead, it is the strongest of medicines,
24 with many potentially harmful side effects, and
25 must be reserved for those severe cases that
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1 are highly resistant to conventional treatment.
2 If a race neutral remedy is sufficient to cure
3 a race-based problem, then a race conscious
4 remedy can never be narrowly tailored to that
5 problem.
6 In other words, the courts have told us
7 that we must adopt race neutral policies once
8 we have good reason to believe that these
9 policies can be effectively used to promote
10 diversity.
11 The Regents now believe that they have good
12 reason to switch to race neutrality, given the
13 experience with their race neutral programs at
14 various universities, including the University
15 of North Florida; FIU; FAMU; and most recently,
16 FSU.
17 And given the success of the programs that
18 they have researched such as the Talented Ten
19 Program in Texas.
20 Finally, failure to act will most assuredly
21 expose the State to lawsuits of potential
22 liability. There is the Pistacataway case,
23 which avoided going to the Supreme Court after
24 payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars to
25 avoid adverse decision.
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1 Universities in Georgia and Alabama are
2 currently in litigation over the use of race in
3 their university systems, as well as in the
4 state of Michigan.
5 Win or lose, these lawsuits are very
6 expensive, and have diverted resource from
7 other uses.
8 And that's my 3-minute version, Governor.
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
10 MR. OLENICK: Thank you.
11 MR. PIERSON: The first speaker will be
12 Senate -- Senator Kendrick Meeks.
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Welcome, Senator.
14 MR. MEEK: Good morning, Governor.
15 If I can take advantage of the 5 minutes
16 that you --
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Absolutely.
18 MR. MEEK: -- wanted to allow.
19 Members of the Cabinet, good morning.
20 I guess I'm here for several reasons: One,
21 to share with you that I disagree with
22 Mr. Herbert as it relates to diversity, as it
23 relates to fair play in the state of Florida.
24 And I think it's important that we live up to
25 the realities of what's taking place here
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1 today.
2 I also, Mr. -- Governor, I want to bring up
3 some legal questions as it relates to moving in
4 haste. But I think I need to take us back to
5 reality for a moment.
6 Just want to share a few of the
7 correspondence that I've been receiving and in
8 so, Representative Hill -- so has
9 Representative Hill.
10 Here's a letter to me saying:
11 Senator Meek, why don't you go back to Africa
12 where all your people belong. You just want
13 a piece of the f'ing pie that belongs to us.
14 Why don't you sit back and be a good boy,
15 like all the other f'ing N -- N -- N people.
16 You know who I'm talking about. I'll give you
17 a copy of this.
18 Just got this the other day, a postcard
19 right here in Florida.
20 It said: What is it with you buttheads.
21 Isn't it -- isn't it about time that your
22 people stopped sucking off white people?
23 And why are you doing this? For -- for the
24 last 40 years, we've been supporting you. Get
25 off your lazy black a's, and decide -- and
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1 decide to earn things.
2 Then it goes to say something about going
3 into college and all y'all can play is
4 basketball after graduation. I went to school
5 with a gentleman --
6 Then it goes on to say, 3rd grade and --
7 I mean, he has a 3rd grade education. You
8 expect preference in jobs, in advance -- in
9 advancement, and every other category of human
10 endeavor.
11 Tell your old lady -- speaking of my
12 mother -- to quit mouthing off about this --
13 about this, and start representing all the
14 people in her district.
15 And tell Hill -- I guess talking about
16 Representative Hill -- from Jacksonville the
17 same message. You people have -- have been
18 getting a free ride for 40 years. Start
19 earning it.
20 And then it goes on and on.
21 Even, Governor, someone took an opportunity
22 to take a St. Pete Times thing that I wouldn't
23 dare to read on the record. I'll give you a
24 copy of that also. And also several e-mails
25 that I'll also forward to you.
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1 But I just want to say, Governor, I think
2 it's important. One of the bills that passed
3 last year that was dealing with administrative
4 code talked a little bit about who has the
5 right to do what.
6 I think the Board of Regents need to really
7 reflect on the actions that they took last week
8 as it relates to some of the amendments that
9 I think that violates their own rules by not
10 being properly noticed.
11 I'll give you a copy of that, because I'm
12 pretty sure that you'll see some administrative
13 action within the next 72 hours that's going to
14 be dealing with that, that's going to
15 automatically offset the rule that was passed
16 by the Board of Regents.
17 I think it's also for the Board of Regents
18 to be mindful, Ward Connerly's not doing away
19 with affirmative action. The Federal
20 Supreme Court's not doing away with
21 affirmative action. You are doing away with
22 affirmative action.
23 And I want you to understand that. I want
24 you to know the reason why -- if you vote in
25 the affirmative for this today, that not only
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1 will it give a real blow to affirmative action,
2 but it will also let those in the state of
3 Florida who don't quite understand, Governor,
4 the plan -- that you keep saying that people
5 need to read the plan.
6 I've read the plan. Everybody else has
7 read the plan.
8 I was a little disappointed yest-- this
9 morning when I picked up the
10 Tallahassee Democrat, and you're saying that
11 the leader of the oldest civil rights
12 organization, the largest in the world, he
13 needs to read the plan, Kweisi Mfume.
14 He has read the plan. He understands
15 discrimination. And whenever you start talking
16 about doing away with race and gender without
17 any goals --
18 I must add, Mr. Gallagher said this is
19 affirmative action without goals.
20 If I'm a business owner, and I want to be a
21 half a million dollar corporation in a couple
22 of years, we don't have any goals, we're not
23 going to make it.
24 So the issue is is this: I want you to go
25 back and read -- all of the -- all of the
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1 members of the Cabinet, the January 27th letter
2 that Representative Hill and I sent to the
3 Governor with our recommendations, or issues
4 that we found with One Florida. And it talks
5 about 120.
6 And it also talks about Chapter 228 that
7 encourages diversity in the University System,
8 and also procurement opportunities.
9 But I think it's important that we're
10 mindful, and I want you to understand totally
11 that there are a lot of people that are very,
12 very disappointed in what has been taking place
13 since the Executive Order went out.
14 This is not anything that I take great
15 pleasure in sharing with you. But I want to
16 let you know that it's not the Regents that are
17 just with you on this one. There are some
18 people that are -- you are carrying out the
19 mission that they've been waiting on for years
20 to be able -- this diversity that we talk
21 about, to be convoluted in some sort of plan
22 that's saying that we're -- we're gender blind
23 and we're race blind, and we're going to
24 guarantee diversity.
25 Talented 20 in itself is a quota. And I
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1 think that we're going to find out in the
2 coming days --
3 And I'm glad this is amusing for you,
4 Governor, because it's not amusing for me.
5 That's the reason why people are going to
6 be here on March the 7th is because of how the
7 leaders have had the attitude towards
8 minorities, women, and Hispanics in this state.
9 I don't know how we walked away from
10 the Board of Regents saying now more than ever
11 we're encouraged to move forth with
12 One Florida. I just don't know how that could
13 have happened, because I was there.
14 And I don't know how Dr. King's son, III,
15 can come into Tallahassee and the
16 Press Secretary, Mr. Governor, not you, said,
17 well, the Governor wasn't phased by his visit.
18 These are the people that have been -- has
19 been standing for diversity for years,
20 inclusion for years. And how did they become
21 the status quo? How did they become out of
22 step with where the direction we need to move
23 in?
24 And we said time after time again, please
25 slow down. That's my message. My message is
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1 slow down. My message is rescind the
2 Executive Order from the first day.
3 Representative Hill joins me in that message.
4 The majority of the population that you're
5 trying to help joins me in that message.
6 Because it's the wind behind haste
7 policymaking.
8 And that's the reason why it's going to be
9 challenged. Because while we're trying to
10 carry out the order, we're not paying attention
11 to what we should do.
12 But, General, I would like for you at a
13 later time, and maybe, Governor, even some of
14 your own attorneys, of the substantive changes
15 that were made by amendment that weren't
16 properly noticed. And also as it relates to --
17 under 120 if the Board of Regents even have the
18 authority to make these rule changes without
19 becoming -- coming before the Florida
20 Legislature.
21 But I would tell you this: It is very
22 substantive, and I just want to share this with
23 you.
24 The amendment on page 8, line 238 of
25 Rule --002 concerns the -- concerns the factors
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1 to be provided -- to be -- I'm sorry -- pre--
2 previewed pursuant to the student profile
3 assessment.
4 The assessment especially -- especially
5 deletes the language: Fine, slash, performing
6 arts; talent; and athletic talent; and insert
7 the words: Special talents.
8 This language, in my opinion, is a
9 substantive change.
10 And there are three other things that
11 I think that the Board of Regents, while acting
12 in haste, while trying to build this building
13 on a bad foundation overlooked.
14 And I think it's important, real mind--
15 mindful of the fact that public input has to be
16 allotted on this issue.
17 And I will share this with you, members of
18 the Cabinet: I take no pleasure in coming here
19 today sharing this with you. But I think it
20 will be an injustice to those that believe in
21 true diversity and equal opportunity for women
22 and minorities, for me not to come down and
23 share this very strong testimony with you,
24 regardless of what the Chancellor may say, or
25 the Board of Regents may say.
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1 There are people who have been invested in
2 the civil rights movement for years by standing
3 in the gap.
4 And if the Florida Cabinet, or this
5 Florida One initiative feels that it supersedes
6 all of that, and that we're living in the past,
7 then my name is not Kendrick Meek, and this
8 doesn't end here. This doesn't end here.
9 And I guarantee you -- this is not a
10 threat, it's a promise -- that every piece of
11 legislation that's dealing with -- anything
12 that's dealing with the university system, any
13 bill, any amendment, there's going to be a pile
14 of amendments on it. I'm going to say that
15 right now.
16 The Florida Legislature is going to deal
17 with this this year. Not the Board of Regents,
18 not the Florida Cabinet, the Florida
19 Legislature's going to deal with it.
20 Because I believe that we have to do this
21 in the Sunshine, and that we have to allow
22 individuals to have input in this. And what
23 we're saying is that don't be -- what -- what
24 you may save Ward Connerly or the Federal
25 courts to the punch.
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1 Because right now if you read this
2 January 27th letter that everybody, you know,
3 sees, and heard about, and what have you,
4 it's -- clearly states that it's nothing
5 unconstitutional about what we're doing now.
6 And you heard the Chancellor say, well,
7 you know, we have the Board of Regents, and we
8 have five universities that have brought about
9 diversity, and they did it with affirmative
10 action in place, with race and gender being one
11 of the considerations.
12 So why do we have to scrap that, why do we
13 have to do it?
14 And that's the question.
15 And I -- you know, as it relates to the
16 legal issue, as it relates to the procedural
17 issue, I think it speaks to when we move in
18 haste.
19 And I respect you all. All of you are my
20 Cabinet members.
21 Governor, you're my Governor. You'll
22 continue to be my Governor.
23 And the issue is is this: Is the bottom
24 line is the bottom line. What you do and what
25 you say from this point on speaks to your
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1 leadership. And it's important that you
2 respect everyone.
3 If you want them to read the plan, then
4 keep that to yourself, sir. Do not insult
5 members of the civil rights community as though
6 they haven't read the plan. They've read the
7 plan.
8 And you need to give Kweisi Mfume a call if
9 you don't think that he has.
10 So I thank you respectfully. I thank -- I
11 thank God for using you to bring us to this
12 point.
13 Thank you.
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much,
15 Senator.
16 TREASURER NELSON: Governor, may I ask the
17 Senator a question?
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yeah. Sure.
19 TREASURER NELSON: Tell me something about
20 the perception of what you've said that this
21 process has been rushed.
22 MR. MEEK: Thank you, Commissioner Nelson.
23 May I have some water, please? Want to
24 give me a little water?
25 Thank you.
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1 Commissioner Nelson, number one, we started
2 out November the 9th with an Executive Order.
3 The Governor, I think, had a brief
4 conversation with Mr. Connerly. He made it
5 publicly -- he made a public announcement that
6 he's going to come up with an alternative. To
7 that -- my dismay, and to others' surprise,
8 this alternative was announced on -- on
9 November the 9th.
10 Some members of the Legislature were
11 consulted. Some members of the academic
12 community was consulted. Some lawyers were
13 consulted about this plan.
14 He moved forth with this Executive Order to
15 ask and urge strongly the Board of Regents to
16 act upon it, doing away with race and gender in
17 the state of Florida as it relates to being a
18 consideration to -- for university admissions,
19 and also for procurement and hiring.
20 I think what's wrong here,
21 Mr. Commissioner, is the fact that the Governor
22 didn't get the kind of input to build the right
23 kind of foundation. It was post-injustice in
24 my -- in my -- in my assessment of this.
25 After the plan was unveiled, okay, we're
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1 going to invite some select people to the
2 mansion, or to my office to discuss the plan.
3 The Governor shared with me and
4 Representative Hill, after 21 hours of being in
5 his office, that he felt he had a good plan.
6 And we said, respectfully, sir, we would
7 appreciate it if you would rescind it because
8 it's moving us down the street a little bit too
9 fast.
10 No, we have a good plan; no, we have to
11 diversify. And we're -- we're at this point.
12 And I think the reason why people feel the
13 mistrust that they feel that the Governor is
14 saying, trust me, watch me, is that folks just
15 don't want to sit by post injustice.
16 I really think that the Board of Regents is
17 going to try to do everything they can to find
18 these 400 minority students this year.
19 What happens two years down the road? What
20 happens three years down the road? And what
21 happens to those graduate individuals that are
22 looking -- we have kids right now in the
23 State University System --
24 Thank you so very much.
25 -- State University System that don't know
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1 how they're going to get into graduate school.
2 They just don't know.
3 Right now we're saying we're going to study
4 the graduate program that is much smaller, I
5 must add, than the university program. We're
6 going to study that, but we're going to do the
7 mass Talented 20, we're going to put AP courses
8 in several counties, we're going to do all of
9 that in one year without a study. Without a
10 one-year study.
11 So the issue is, believe me, Mr. -- I mean,
12 Mr. Nelson, Commissioner Nelson, I want to see
13 more women and minorities get an opportunity at
14 the procurement pie; and also since we're
15 speaking on this, university admissions and
16 graduate admissions.
17 We've been -- glad, and we hope that we can
18 put money -- continue to put money into the
19 recruitment programs that went out.
20 And Sandy D'Alemberte, who's a very good
21 friend of mine. And when I look in the
22 dictionary under human being, his picture is
23 there, because that's who he is.
24 He was asked a question in Tampa. He
25 talked about the diversity and what University
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1 of -- I mean, Florida State University has
2 seen.
3 And Chris Smith, State Representative Chris
4 Smith asked him: Mr. D'Alemberte, when did you
5 start?
6 He said, oh, we just started.
7 To say that we have to do away with race
8 and gender -- and also, Commissioner, another
9 thing that is fueling the fire here, and,
10 you know, our good Governor knows, well,
11 you know, Floridians are against quotas,
12 preference, and discrimination.
13 Well, the -- general contractors have a
14 preference, can't build a building or buy
15 materials from anyone else outside of the
16 state, unless you go through them.
17 Veterans have preference as it relates to
18 their children getting an opportunity to get in
19 school. I'm not against that. Okay?
20 The net ban folks have preference.
21 You show me -- I said this yesterday at
22 Tiger Bay. You show me in statute, in policy
23 where there's a quota.
24 And the Governor is saying, well, they're
25 against quotas. Well, see, that sends a
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1 subliminal message, and it confused the Florida
2 public, as it relates to someone pushing them
3 out of line, a woman, or a Hispanic, or an
4 African American.
5 So when we start talking about baiting this
6 thing, I think that the One Florida initiative
7 has baited this issue as a true race issue.
8 And to say that it is not is an injustice to
9 it.
10 So I would say this, Mr. -- Commissioner,
11 in closing, is the fact that people are very
12 concerned about what's taking place here.
13 And trust me doesn't speak well as it
14 relates to recent past, as it relates to folks
15 like the folks that I've read -- and this is
16 just a few of these letters, I just must add.
17 And I know we -- you know, we get these
18 every now and then. But these are very, very
19 personal in the way of kind of saying, well,
20 we're glad we're with the Governor on this.
21 And I don't want the Florida Cabinet to do,
22 you know, move in the direction of not only
23 going against correct procedure. The Board of
24 Regents, we're going to find in coming days
25 that the procedure is not right. And we're
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1 going to have this meeting all over again.
2 You read 120. And if you read the rules of
3 the Board of Regents, also as it relates to the
4 inequities and the feeling of it all, look at
5 the Orlando Sentinel, the -- the front page
6 cover. I put it outside of my office, because
7 I wanted folks to see it.
8 You look at the way the Chairman and the
9 Chancellor is looking in that picture. They
10 don't feel good about this. And I know they
11 don't feel good about it deep down in their
12 heart.
13 And we said, we must do in Florida what's
14 right, not what we can do, but what's right, so
15 everyone can feel that they have a seat at the
16 table.
17 And I would say this also -- I keep saying
18 in closing -- I feel like I'm -- keep saying
19 that. But I just want to say that -- not to
20 you, Commissioner, but I've been personally
21 invited to the mansion for a meeting with the
22 black caucus. The Governor said that we're
23 going to have this meeting.
24 And I'm going to say, if we're not going to
25 talk about the issue of replacing
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1 affirmative action within the One Florida
2 initiative, then I will not eat a biscuit, nor
3 drink a cup of tea in the mansion until the
4 Governor is ready to face up to the fact that
5 the glass ceiling exists for women, that people
6 of color are still discriminated against, and
7 will be discriminated against.
8 And we cannot denounce affirmative action
9 because we're carrying out the very mission
10 that Ward Connerly came to the state of Florida
11 set out to do.
12 The Attorney General said, we have a good
13 case against Mr. Connerly over there as it
14 relates to mis-- misleading language.
15 Why do we have to move in this? Why are we
16 moving so fast? Why are we trying to beat
17 Ward Connerly to the punch?
18 That's the question, Commissioner. And
19 that's the reason why people are so, so
20 concerned.
21 No one is talking about embracing the free
22 initiative that's going to make sure that we
23 have diversity in our State Constitution. No
24 one is saying that.
25 I mean, why don't we pass a joint
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1 resolution through the Florida Legislature
2 putting that on the ballot if we're committed
3 to diversity.
4 So there are many options that we can take
5 here, and have affirmative action in place.
6 You know what the USA Today said after the
7 Board of Regents took their action? State of
8 Florida -- didn't say Kendrick Meek -- the
9 State of Florida took its first step in doing
10 away with affirmative action.
11 That's what the rest of the nation is
12 looking at Florida, and we're going to look
13 like California, we're going to look at --
14 we're going to look like Washington.
15 And the President of the NAACP is going to
16 make -- is going to bring about, because of
17 this haste, action that Florida One is
18 promoting.
19 Going to be just like South Carolina with
20 an economic boycott telling people of color and
21 women to not come to the state of Florida, do
22 not spend money here, and the Governor says he
23 should read the plan.
24 So I think that we need to really slow
25 down, I think we need to take a grip of what
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1 reality is, and I think that we need to work
2 together towards that.
3 But we've first got to deal with the issue
4 of race and gender before we start dealing with
5 some of these other issues. And I think that
6 we'll start dealing with that if we embrace
7 affirmative action, not to call it -- not to
8 call it quotas or preference or discrimination.
9 Against who? That's the question.
10 Sorry --
11 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
12 MR. MEEK: -- Commissioner.
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
14 TREASURER NELSON: Senator Meek, you made
15 reference to the fact of some legislative
16 action.
17 Would you give us some further insight into
18 what that statement was.
19 And -- and I ask the question because there
20 are a number of things in this proposal that
21 are contingent upon the assumption that the
22 Legislature will act in the affirmative, which
23 we are looking at a rule today assuming that
24 those things are going to happen in the
25 Legislature, which is -- which is a question
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1 that I cannot assume.
2 I would like your comments on what you had
3 stated there.
4 MR. MEEK: Well, Commissioner, you remember
5 Dempsey Barron, Senator Dempsey Barron,
6 President of the Senate had on the front of his
7 desk: Assume nothing.
8 And that's what I'm doing in this, I'm
9 assuming nothing. I'm not assuming of the fact
10 that this good will that we're talking about
11 today is going to ring paramount through the
12 appropriation suites here in this Capitol.
13 Not only this year, but the year after, or
14 the year after that. We're in good economic
15 times now. So just maybe some of this will be
16 accomplished.
17 But, Commissioner, what I was speaking of,
18 as long as I have a seat in the Florida Senate,
19 I believe as long as Representative Hill has a
20 seat in the Florida House of Representatives,
21 and I think as long as other members that are
22 very concerned about this issue that are going
23 to speak to you today, we're going to have
24 amendments saying that race and gender should
25 be recognized if these dollars are going to be
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1 spent towards the One Florida plan.
2 And what I think really that by the Cabinet
3 voting in the affirmative of this plan today,
4 not knowing that, not knowing if things are
5 going to be in place, not knowing where these
6 400 students are going to appear from, right
7 before the September, you know, enrollment
8 time, or day of school, or what have you in
9 late August, not knowing -- having all these
10 unanswered questions, look what we've learned
11 since the sit-in.
12 We've learned that One Florida really
13 wasn't what we thought it was.
14 And the Governor has said, well, okay,
15 well, we'll -- you know, we'll do this now.
16 We're still denouncing affirmative action.
17 So we don't know the things that we need to
18 know right now. Time is very revealing.
19 That's the reason why I think folks don't want
20 to slow down.
21 The Sun Sentinel came out with an article
22 saying that Broward and Palm Beach numbers are
23 not what the Governor says they are. Haven't
24 seen an editorial denouncing that. Haven't
25 seen anyone say, well, you know -- well, no one
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1 wants to talk about that.
2 So I think it's important that we allow
3 time to prevail here, and we allow this process
4 to go through the legislative process.
5 We know we have to slow down. I don't know
6 why we are -- you know, some of us -- the
7 Governor's plan, the Board of Regents, that we
8 have to carry out the order, because we set the
9 order out.
10 I -- you know, that's -- that's my answer
11 to that. You will see amendments. The reason
12 why you don't see point legislation filed at
13 this particular time, there are shell bills
14 that are out there that I will not reveal at
15 this particular time.
16 But we're ready to move forward. The
17 Governor has the majority in the Senate, and
18 definitely in the House with his philosophy
19 being carried out. And we're going to take
20 some votes on this issue.
21 So I think that it's important in the light
22 of legislative action, in the light of a
23 possible economic boycott that Mr. Crawford and
24 I talked about this morning, folks talking
25 about we have a canker problem here in Florida.
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1 And because an injustice is being carried
2 out here in Florida, people outside of Florida
3 are saying, we may just very well boycott
4 orange juice, Florida orange juice, just
5 because we want to carry out One Florida. Just
6 because.
7 So I think it's important for us to
8 please -- and I'm saying please -- slow down.
9 Please, Governor, rescind your Executive Order.
10 Please.
11 So you can't say that Kendrick Meek came
12 here and said, do it -- you know, all this
13 threatening and stuff -- please.
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, sir.
15 MR. MEEK: Thank you.
16 GOVERNOR BUSH: Any other questions, or can
17 we move on to --
18 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: I just want -- I
19 don't have a question.
20 But the only thing that I know of that --
21 that is important to this plan that the
22 Legislature needs to do is to approve at least
23 twenty more million dollars for need-based
24 scholarships, which will be of major assistance
25 to -- to this plan.
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1 And I do hope that Senator Meek and others
2 will help make that happen.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, sir.
4 MR. MEEK: Thank you.
5 God bless you.
6 MR. PIERSON: We've been asked if
7 Mr. James Blount, Chief of Staff of the South
8 Florida Water Management District, could speak
9 next. He has to leave.
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: We -- I think we ought to
11 let the members of the Legislature speak first
12 if they've got meetings to do.
13 I see Senator Horne and Senator Holzendorf
14 and Representative Wilson I believe is here.
15 Is that -- I --
16 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Sure.
17 MR. PIERSON: Senator --
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: Senator Horne, would you
19 like to -- are you a supporter?
20 MR. HORNE: Thank you, Governor, and
21 Cabinet. And I -- and I will be -- will be
22 brief.
23 My good colleague, Senator Meek, you're
24 very fortunate. I -- I haven't been invited to
25 the Governor's mansion yet.
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1 So, Governor, I expect my invitation here
2 soon.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Come on down. You've been
4 there.
5 MR. HORNE: Education I think is one of the
6 most critical issues that we face as a
7 legislative body. It's one of the greatest
8 equalizers, I think, across the spectrum, both
9 in -- in races, in economic backgrounds. It is
10 truly the one thing that I think that can
11 create a very positive thing.
12 As a member of the Legislature, I have
13 spent an enormous amount of time and energy
14 committing myself to looking at many of the
15 funding issues that affect our education
16 system.
17 I have proposed many changes to the funding
18 formulas that would ensure fairness.
19 And, Governor, you appointed me recently to
20 your Equity in School Funding. And we're
21 looking at some critical issues involving the
22 funding between individual schools.
23 And quite honestly, we're seeing some
24 discrepancies, as you thought there might be,
25 and asked us to begin to shine the bright light
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1 on it. And we're going to shine the bright
2 light on it.
3 And I think that in time, as we conclude
4 our work, we're going to come forth with a
5 report with some recommendations that certainly
6 can even move us further forward.
7 But also, I have -- as I've gone through
8 this process and looked at how we tackle some
9 of the education issues, I keep coming back to
10 funding. Funding issues are very important.
11 And my motto has always been that money changes
12 behavior, and a lot of money changes a lot of
13 behavior.
14 And I think, as we begin to look at how we
15 deal with these very sensitive issues, we all
16 must come back to money, we come back to
17 education.
18 You know, and I look back, and I think in
19 terms of our country and the progress we've
20 made, I think back to certain things that have
21 created opportunity for people.
22 The GI bill, for example, is clearly a case
23 where we created opportunities for those to
24 seek a university education, to better
25 themselves.
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1 But with that, we created that opportunity.
2 If they would serve their country admirably,
3 and work hard to do the right thing, then we,
4 in turn, would provide opportunity for them.
5 And I -- a few years back, Governor, we
6 began to look at that in terms of the Bright
7 Futures Scholarship. We said, you know, to the
8 young people of Florida, if we will set forth
9 some goals, if you will achieve these kinds of
10 goals, if you will work hard and make good
11 grades, we will reward you with a scholarship
12 to our -- our colleges and our universities.
13 And by all stretches of anybody's way of
14 measuring things, it has been enormously
15 successful.
16 And I think that the Talented 20, Governor,
17 is -- is just an extension of that kind of
18 progress from the GI bill to the Bright Futures
19 Scholarship, to now to a mechanism that would
20 ensure opportunities for all -- all of our
21 young people, regardless of what kind of school
22 environments they would come from, by setting
23 forth this opportunity.
24 If you're in a school that's failing, but
25 if you will achieve at a high level, be in that
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1 top 20 percent, we're going to guarantee you --
2 a guarantee -- a guarantee for university
3 education.
4 It's still a commodity that's very
5 important to a lot of people in this state, and
6 in this country. And it still means a lot in
7 terms of your progress and your ability to earn
8 a living.
9 So I think it's very important as we make
10 this kind of bold commitment, that we set forth
11 this opportunity. It's a good thing. It's a
12 very positive thing. Incentives are good.
13 Setting forth that bar there, and saying, if
14 you will achieve this, then we will do this for
15 you.
16 It's very important. I urge you to support
17 the Talented 20.
18 You know, also I'm a CPA by trade. We
19 don't have any in the Legislature, and maybe we
20 ought to have more, and maybe we ought to have
21 less lawyers as you often say, Governor.
22 But I have looked at this, you know, from
23 the -- the CPA side of this.
24 And with the Talented 20, we're opening up
25 opportunities for at least 1200 minorities that
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1 don't currently have that opportunity. And so
2 from a numbers standpoint, this seems to create
3 the diversity that you have sought to -- to do.
4 You asked me to -- to help with this part.
5 I am helping. I agreed to -- to originally
6 sponsor the bill. I don't know that we will
7 have legislation this year to implement it
8 legislatively. But I will help to make sure
9 that the funding is there.
10 I know you've asked for 20 million
11 additional dollars and to make that a priority.
12 And I'm committed to make that a priority.
13 I'm -- I am committed to make our education
14 system the best in -- in the world. But I'm
15 also committed to make this opportunity for
16 young people, minorities included, to have
17 access to one of the greatest things that you
18 can possess, and that is a university
19 education.
20 So I think this is a good thing. Sometimes
21 it's -- it's hard to take that first step. But
22 creating that opportunity is I think one more
23 extension of what we've previously done from
24 the GI bill to the Bright Futures Scholarship.
25 And I think it's a very good thing.
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1 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, Jim.
2 MR. HORNE: Thank you.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, sir.
4 Senator Holzendorf?
5 (Secretary Harris exited the room.)
6 GOVERNOR BUSH: Good morning.
7 MS. HOLZENDORF: Good morning.
8 Governor, members of the Cabinet, I
9 appreciate having the opportunity to come here
10 today to talk about One Florida, or to talk
11 about the initiative.
12 I have written you a letter that I never
13 sent to you, because I did not want it to be
14 used in a way to give any indication that I
15 wanted to be a participant in this divisiveness
16 that has taken over our state.
17 Our state is now divided. But prior to my
18 remarks, I want you to keep in focus something
19 that's very, very dear to me. This is not
20 pleasant times for those of us who were victims
21 of discrimination.
22 African Americans were brought over here
23 enslaved. They came from a free country, and
24 they were brought here and put into slavery.
25 There are a lot of other minorities here
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1 who escaped slavery in their countries to come
2 here to be free.
3 So as we look at what we're attempting to
4 do for minorities, please keep that in mind,
5 that we did not choose America. We are the
6 descendents of people who by, whatever means,
7 were brought here to be slaves.
8 And with that in mind, think about the fact
9 of how long we were enslaved, and what happened
10 to us after we were free.
11 (Secretary Harris entered the room.)
12 MS. HOLZENDORF: Many of my colleagues have
13 said to me, I'm not responsible for what my
14 ancestors did. I'm not responsible for how
15 they enslaved you and denied you opportunities.
16 That was not me.
17 That is true. But you're the product of
18 that denial. And I'm the product of that
19 slavery.
20 So I have different kinds of feelings than
21 other people.
22 Now, with that in mind, and understanding
23 that in 1954 when I was in the 10th grade, and
24 they announced the Browns versus Kansas
25 decision, how we jumped and shouted and
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1 applauded because finally we were going to get
2 equal access to educational opportunities.
3 And to have to stand here at this podium
4 today, talking about the same thing, is
5 hurtful.
6 And if I get emotional -- I hope I don't.
7 But it hurts in your heart that you were
8 denied the opportunity to go to a university.
9 And yet you made it anyway. And to say today
10 that 80 percent of our kids are going to be
11 denied an opportunity in preference to
12 20 percent.
13 The universities when -- when -- when equal
14 opportunity came, the universities used a
15 screening mechanism of grade points and test
16 scores. And they said, if you didn't have a
17 certain grade, and if you didn't make a certain
18 score on a test, you couldn't get in. That's
19 scre-- that was preference, that was screening
20 people out.
21 I've worked with Dr. Herbert, talking with
22 him, and I know how he hurts inside, just like
23 I do, at what's happening here.
24 And so we have to get back to the issue of
25 how do we get to the point that no child is
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1 left behind. Not that we pull out the good
2 ones, and we pull out the smart ones, and we
3 pull out the ones who can get along in society.
4 We have to help them all.
5 And I don't think One Florida does that
6 alone. Affirmative action did that. We have
7 affirmative action which said, if you use all
8 these things -- if you use all these things,
9 and the color of your population is void of a
10 group, then you must bring in some different
11 kinds of techniques to make that happen.
12 State of Florida has never had a Court
13 ordered affirmative action. It's always been
14 voluntary. And it was voluntary because we
15 needed to have that to change the face of the
16 universities.
17 I feel that a policy, and -- you know, I
18 know we have lawyers. But all of us know how
19 we feel about lawyers.
20 They tell you what they think you want to
21 know, and then they figure out a way that the
22 law supports it.
23 But --
24 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: You broke
25 the code.
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1 You broke the code.
2 MS. HOLZENDORF: But -- but I just -- I --
3 well, I just want to say that we know what --
4 how that happens.
5 But if you have a policy that says you will
6 never use race, then without interpreting that,
7 you're now saying it's all right to use race to
8 discriminate.
9 If it's not -- you cannot use race in the
10 admissions process, and you're going to be void
11 of race, then you can use race to keep people
12 out.
13 That's what's happening in this rule. It's
14 not there. It's not clear. It's -- it's not
15 defined.
16 Diversity is not defined. What is
17 diversity as it relates to the university
18 system, what is diversity as it relates to the
19 contracting piece. That's what's void.
20 I looked at the -- the comments that the
21 Governor made, and I -- I've done a little
22 analysis.
23 Of the eight, nine, ten, eleven -- I can't
24 count -- twelve -- you've got thirteen,
25 fourteen things in your One Florida initiative.
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1 The One Florida initiative doesn't work unless
2 eight of those things are passed by the
3 Legislature. Knowing what happens in the
4 Legislature, I don't know how you can guarantee
5 that those eight things are going to pass.
6 I've been in this process for 12 years.
7 And I know when we get to the budget, there are
8 no Ds, and there are no Rs. It's called
9 hometown and green.
10 And you find people coalescing to get
11 things for their area that have never coalesced
12 before.
13 These items here, in order to work, will
14 have to be funded, and the laws will have to be
15 changed. And if that doesn't happen,
16 One Florida doesn't work.
17 So my concern is that we have a proposed
18 rule that's based on funding, and based on
19 legislation, and the Legislature has not yet
20 convened.
21 How do we pass that rule, how do we put out
22 those directives, and how do we get involved in
23 this process with the universities, with the
24 high school students, and then this does not
25 happen?
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1 How do we get back to where we are right
2 now? And that's the concern I have with this.
3 That's the concern I have with this issue. I
4 have --
5 And I'll give you my letter after this,
6 because I didn't want you to give it to the
7 press and --
8 GOVERNOR BUSH: Well, if you give it to me,
9 it'll be --
10 MS. HOLZENDORF: I know. But it will go to
11 the press after I have --
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: Okay.
13 MS. HOLZENDORF: -- explained it.
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Okay.
15 MS. HOLZENDORF: I don't see why
16 One Florida could not be piloted with the
17 universities, and paralleled with the
18 affirmative action initiatives that we have.
19 And then see which ones fall out, and
20 whether or not this works. Because if you go
21 to the fall and begin selecting students based
22 on the Talented 20 --
23 My kids are all grown. But none of them --
24 well, two of them would have got in the
25 Talented 20, and two would not have. But
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1 they -- I would have wanted them all to go to
2 universities in the state of Florida.
3 We do not have the safety net in place for
4 the State of Florida that will help those kids
5 who can be successful in college, and in the
6 university system, because grades have not been
7 a determinant, nor test scores, to the success
8 of individuals.
9 And so with that, I would think that the
10 Board of Regents has passed their rule. The
11 Cabinet needs to wait. You've all been
12 elected -- most of you have served in the
13 Legislature -- until the Legislature acts.
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, Senator.
15 TREASURER NELSON: Governor, may I ask the
16 Senator a question, please?
17 Senator, I'm curious that you were talking
18 about the 14 points of the plan, and you said
19 that eight were contingent upon the Legislature
20 passing.
21 And then your statement that -- which was
22 really in the form of a question -- why
23 couldn't you have the points approved,
24 including whatever the Legislature decides that
25 it's going to approve, and at the same time,
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1 continue affirmative action.
2 Would you speak to that issue?
3 MS. HOLZENDORF: Yes.
4 My -- what -- what my concern was
5 is that right now, students are putting in
6 their applications to go to the universities.
7 The universities within a month or two are
8 going to determine what their enrollment is
9 going to be.
10 And so as a result of that, I would think
11 that we would not institute the -- whatever,
12 One Florida or 20 Plus plan, but we would have
13 affirmative action intact.
14 And then when we get to the fall, because
15 we have not done the things that have been
16 alluded to in One Florida, such as
17 PSAT classes, such as waivers for the PSAT,
18 such as some of the kinds of things that --
19 that the Governor is -- is requiring in here.
20 Since this class is going to be in the
21 fall, the 11th graders who will now be
22 12th graders, who will then be subjected to --
23 to the 20 percent plan will not have -- have
24 had access to these, then I think there needs
25 to be that delay.
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1 If we start the things in One Florida with
2 the 10th grade, then by the time a student
3 graduates, they'll be prepared to be in that
4 20 percent.
5 Right now, we're going to be -- at this
6 fall, dealing with what's coming out, we're
7 going to be taking 20 percent based on not what
8 the Governor is proposing as a way of helping
9 young people, but based on what they are now
10 engaged in, which could give us the false
11 numbers.
12 Make sense?
13 TREASURER NELSON: (Nodding head.)
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
15 MR. PIERSON: Representative
16 Frederica Wilson.
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Welcome.
18 MS. WILSON: Good morning to the Governor,
19 Cabinet.
20 I've spoken before you many times, and it
21 has always been about safety and schools and
22 how to keep communities safe, et cetera.
23 And today I'm not going to waiver from that
24 particular item. I'm consistent.
25 I'm concerned because I run a mentoring
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1 program, and I have 10,000 boys in that program
2 in Miami-Dade County public schools.
3 These are not all good boys, but they all
4 have hope. We have African American boys,
5 basically, about 80 percent; Hispanic boys; and
6 white boys.
7 And these boys have been given hope, and a
8 vision of themselves in the future. And
9 they're looking forward to going to college.
10 They have not, I'm sure, taken the 19 credit
11 hours for admission under the Talented 20 plan.
12 They will not be in the top 20 percent of their
13 classes.
14 However, they are college bound and college
15 material. My concern is that every at-risk
16 young boy that we leave alone, and not allow
17 entrance into the college of their choice --
18 and I'm not talking about to play football or
19 basketball. I'm talking about academically.
20 -- then we're -- we're putting them at risk
21 of all of the things that we have tried to say
22 in this Legislature that we're going to
23 prevent.
24 I don't want them to become victims of
25 10-20-Life because someone denied them the
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1 opportunity to a college education.
2 So every time we start talking about
3 eliminating affirmative action, or
4 experimenting with our children as it relates
5 to the next level of education for them, I'm
6 afraid and concerned about what is going to
7 happen to that 80 percent as they approach
8 graduation.
9 Some of them have begun to apply to
10 college. And I have a tendency to agree that
11 maybe we need to see how these two plans can
12 coexist, and grandfather in the children who
13 have not had the opportunity to plan their
14 lives and their class schedules in such a way
15 that they will have included the necessary
16 curriculum offerings that are required in the
17 20 percent plan.
18 And that's what I'm looking at. How can we
19 say, let us have One Florida on one end, and
20 also keep affirmative action. Watch it, see
21 what happens to the kids who are not a part of
22 this whole scheme, and have not had the
23 opportunity for a counselor, a parent, or a
24 role model to say, these are the classes you
25 must take in order to be qualified to attend a
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1 university in Florida.
2 So how do we -- what happens to my
3 80 percent that I know are in the 500 role
4 models? They're not in the top 20 percent. No
5 way.
6 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
7 MS. WILSON: That's a question.
8 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
9 MS. WILSON: Who's going to answer it?
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Well, I can answer the
11 question.
12 The -- first of all, there's no change in
13 statute or rule related to the 19 hours of
14 credits that you need to have in high school.
15 There's been -- that's not part of this rule.
16 That was part of the existing statute. So
17 nothing changes in that regard.
18 You have to have those 19 hours to get into
19 college under the current system, and the
20 system that's being proposed.
21 So that's -- that's -- that's a fact.
22 The Talented 20 is over and above a system
23 that first says you have a GPA of 3.0, and an
24 SAT test score of X, depending on the
25 university. Eighty-eight percent of the
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1 students in our university system get into
2 college that way.
3 Approximately 12 percent of the students
4 today get in through the alternative admissions
5 system where race, up till now, has been used
6 as a criteria, in some cases, the determining
7 criteria, to be allowed into the universities.
8 This proposed rule eliminates race as a
9 criteria, but expands the other criteria that
10 exist to include level of income, first time
11 entrance into the university system.
12 In other words, if your -- if your parents
13 didn't go to the university system, you're the
14 first generation that did, that would be given
15 added weight; whether you attended an
16 underperforming school, a D or F rated
17 high school, for example, could be used as part
18 of the criteria.
19 And -- and geography. If you're in an area
20 of -- of the state, for example, in some of the
21 rural areas, those, too, can be used as
22 criteria.
23 The fact is that under that basis -- under
24 the alternative admissions basis, there'll --
25 there'll be a similar number of students
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1 attending who are African American and Hispanic
2 that would be attending when race is used as a
3 criteria.
4 And then over and above that, you have the
5 Talented 20 percent, which all estimations show
6 roughly 400 African American/Hispanic kids will
7 be admitted into the university system.
8 So by September, what you will see is an
9 increased number of students attending our
10 university system, and an increased number of
11 African Americans and Hispanics attending the
12 university system as a freshman.
13 That's about -- that's the synthesis of
14 what this rule is about. It is to expand
15 opportunities for many of the fine young men
16 that hopefully will now be inspired to do even
17 better in your -- in your great program down in
18 Miami-Dade County.
19 MS. WILSON: One other question: Why are
20 you considering eliminating race as a
21 consideration?
22 GOVERNOR BUSH: Why?
23 MS. WILSON: Yes.
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: Because it's --
25 MS. WILSON: Why?
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1 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- not necessary. It's not
2 necessary.
3 It's not necessary to use race to expand --
4 embrace diversity and expand opportunity. And
5 I want to be in a proactive way dealing with
6 this issue, rather than a reactive way.
7 In the states where race was eliminated by
8 court ruling and by initiative, what happened
9 was there was a decrease in the number of
10 African Americans attending university system.
11 Our way will provide for opportunities to
12 expand it.
13 And I think it's important for leaders in
14 public life to lead, not to react, not to wait
15 for some court ruling or some initiative
16 that -- that would create an impact that would
17 see a decrease in diversity in our university
18 systems.
19 Thank you very much, Representative, for
20 coming.
21 MS. WILSON: One -- one other question.
22 If -- if this is --
23 GOVERNOR BUSH: Well, we're --
24 MS. WILSON: -- proven to be wrong --
25 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- we're taking -- we're
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1 taking testimony now. I'm not going to --
2 you know --
3 TREASURER NELSON: Well, Governor, I'd --
4 I'd like to make a statement.
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yeah.
6 TREASURER NELSON: It -- it does concern me
7 that your position is that, with the criteria
8 that you have come forth with to improve the
9 system, that you could not have that criteria
10 and also continue the affirmative action, which
11 is a criteria that would consider women and
12 minorities.
13 I am yet to be persuaded that there is not
14 a reason that you can't do both.
15 GOVERNOR BUSH: I don't think women, by the
16 way, are -- I don't think gender is used in
17 admissions policies.
18 TREASURER NELSON: If -- if you will
19 address at some point in the hearing, and I --
20 I most respectfully ask that question. This
21 is --
22 The question that I'm going to keep asking
23 today is: What is the reason to exclude one
24 for the other to emerge. Why not can both be
25 employed for the betterment of the entire
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1 system, both affirmative action, as well as the
2 criteria that you've developed.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: Well, when we get past
4 the -- the chance of everybody speaking, I --
5 we'll have a -- we'll have a lively discussion
6 about that, I'm sure.
7 TREASURER NELSON: Okay.
8 GOVERNOR BUSH: Who's next?
9 MR. PIERSON: Representative Chris Smith
10 has asked to speak.
11 GOVERNOR BUSH: Representative Smith.
12 Welcome.
13 MR. SMITH: Thank you, sir.
14 Thank you, Governor.
15 I think Commissioner Nelson just basically
16 said what I wanted to say, so I'll be very
17 brief.
18 As one of the people, and I'll admit, one
19 of the people that were part of the discussions
20 of One Florida early on, and I thank you for
21 that opportunity in speaking with members of
22 the Governor's staff in coming to develop the
23 One Florida policy.
24 I was excited and appreciate all of the
25 initiatives that are coming forward with the
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1 One Florida policy, and still agree with those
2 initiatives that are coming forward through the
3 One Florida policy.
4 Except the concern that I bring forth from
5 my district after numerous meetings in my
6 district is to ask for this Commission to place
7 those great initiatives that were mentioned
8 earlier by the Chancellor, and that have been
9 enumerated in your One Florida policy, to place
10 those on top of existing of what we have so
11 that, therefore, if a court ruling comes later,
12 or an initiative is passed later, and then race
13 is taken out, we already have our alternative
14 in place.
15 So I just respectfully ask, on behalf of
16 the people in my district, to take the good
17 points of the initiatives, and all of the good
18 points that were mentioned earlier by
19 Chancellor Herbert, and put those on top of
20 what we have for at least a year or two to get
21 the numbers in.
22 And then if an initiative passes or a court
23 ruling comes, we can take race out, but we've
24 already had a trial period with the great
25 initiatives as put forward to that --
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1 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you -- thank you --
2 MR. SMITH: Thank you.
3 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- sir.
4 Representative Hill, would you like to
5 speak?
6 MR. HILL: Yep.
7 GOVERNOR BUSH: Welcome.
8 MR. HILL: Governor and the Cabinet,
9 I think the last two speakers are trying to
10 move where we want to go in this process. When
11 you have over 10,000 people who have said
12 emphatically, if this is the help, we don't
13 want it.
14 Now I'm hearing the Commissioner, I just
15 heard Representative Chris Smith talk about why
16 can we not run a two-track process here to have
17 some type of measurement.
18 And the reason why we say that, let's take
19 for example the Tampa Tribune article about the
20 drug czar giving out a 1.4 million dollar
21 contract. And we had a minority woman apply
22 for that same contract and was denied,
23 Commissioner.
24 Let's take another one of your appointees,
25 the Florida Housing partnership. This guy
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1 hadn't been on the job one month, came in there
2 and fired ten women, eight were
3 African Americans.
4 Governor, can't you see why we have the
5 concern about the good will? These are the
6 people that you appointed.
7 GOVERNOR BUSH: No, that's not true. I
8 didn't appoint the Executive Director of the
9 Housing Agency.
10 MR. HILL: Hate mail that we're receiving.
11 The same thing. We can't have an open dialogue
12 and disagree.
13 But the message that have been sent out is
14 quotas and preference. You know good and well,
15 Governor, that there is nowhere in law that we
16 have quotas as it relates to minorities and
17 women.
18 What we're trying to say to you, Governor,
19 is there are going to be 10 percent people out
20 there are going to do wrong, no matter what.
21 And those are the people that we're concerned
22 about: The drug czar, this guy over the
23 Housing partnership, and some other folks that
24 are in your Cabinet, that we're concerned about
25 it.
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1 Yes, you might have good will. But the
2 other people, unless we have something codified
3 in law that would hold these people
4 accountable, there's no way that we can move
5 forward in Florida with this One Florida.
6 We need an open dialogue on race in
7 Florida. We seriously need an open dialogue.
8 You can't help but have your heart filled with
9 the type of mail that Senator Meeks just told
10 us about, that I'm getting in my office, that
11 I'm getting on the e-mail: Nigger, sit down,
12 shut up, get off your sorry behind.
13 Those are the type of comments that we're
14 getting because of what you say, One Florida.
15 There's no way it's one Florida.
16 So I respectfully, members of the Cabinet,
17 consider this: We're talking about now this
18 thing has went to a level of talking about a
19 boycott. It's incredible.
20 All we ask you, the Governor, is run your
21 plan, and let the other plan stay in place, and
22 then we'll measure. We can see if we could do
23 that.
24 But to sit here and wait for three and
25 four years where our people lives are left in
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1 the balance.
2 We had a young lady in Miami who had a
3 contract after you did your Executive Order,
4 went back to the same vendors and told them.
5 They didn't even want to talk to her. She had
6 to lay off 15 people. A minority that had that
7 contract because she was a minority woman.
8 Those are the concerns that we have. And
9 we hope that you hear our plea. We hope that
10 you hear our plea.
11 Thank you.
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, sir.
13 MR. PIERSON: Have two members from the
14 Board of Regents, Mr. Steve Uhlfelder; and
15 after him, Dr. James Corbin.
16 (Secretary Harris exited the room.)
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Welcome.
18 MR. UHLFELDER: Thank you.
19 Before I start, I want to answer a question
20 that was asked before that wasn't answered.
21 No university has used gender as -- for a
22 basis of admissions. And in the early days of
23 affirmative action, we did use in engineering
24 to -- because we had a limited amount of
25 engineers that were female.
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1 But without using gender as a criteria in
2 the State University System, we now have
3 54 percent females in our university.
4 This is a difficult issue. It's probably
5 one of the most difficult things I've ever had
6 to deal with in my life, either as a citizen or
7 a public official.
8 And the reason it's difficult is because
9 the way I was raised. And what I was taught to
10 believe in about treating all people fairly and
11 equally.
12 And I grew up in Florida. I grew up as a
13 kid that saw this -- the white and colored
14 water fountains.
15 I remember asking my mom and dad why some
16 people had to sit in the back of the bus, and I
17 didn't.
18 And my dad said, you know, our family came
19 from Germany, and I was the only one to get
20 out. And he said, we should never treat people
21 like we were treated in Germany.
22 And my cousin, who came out of a
23 concentration camp and came to live with us
24 because he had tuberculosis. I was just --
25 just born. He told me this thing about
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1 ten years ago.
2 I said -- I said, Peter, when you came to
3 live with us, having spent four years in a
4 concentration camp, what -- what impact --
5 I mean, when you came to the south, what was it
6 like?
7 He said, it scared me it reminded me so
8 much of Germany.
9 And it stuck with me my whole life the --
10 what my parents went through, my -- my cousins
11 went through. And I swore that I would never
12 do anything in my life that I thought would
13 harm another human being, particularly
14 African Americans that have for so long in this
15 country, as was pointed out by
16 Senator Holzendorf, been discriminated against
17 because of the reason they were brought to this
18 country.
19 And in my heart and soul, I thought this
20 was going to hurt the African American
21 community, I would not have supported it.
22 I trust Adam Herbert. He's one of the
23 finest public servants I've ever worked with,
24 and I've worked with many. I had the honor of
25 working with Governor Askew who I greatly
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1 admired who brought me to Tallahassee.
2 I believe him. I believe our Presidents.
3 I believe Sandy D'Alemberte, who I used to
4 work for, and now works for me. A person that
5 I have great respect for, who believes this
6 will work.
7 I listened to all the Presidents -- we
8 asked each President whether -- from the
9 baseline we're now at, will the -- we have more
10 minorities next year than this year. They all
11 assured me of that.
12 Will we have them in two years? They
13 assured us of that.
14 And I can tell you as a Board of Regent
15 member that has at least five years left as a
16 member -- assuming what happens in
17 governance -- that I will make sure that --
18 that I will make sure that every year -- every
19 year, that the first thing we consider when we
20 evaluate Presidents and this Chancellor is how
21 we did on that baseline.
22 I'll be up there, and I brought it up when
23 we took up salaries last -- the other day, and
24 Commissioner Gallagher knows how much was
25 discussed about this. Almost every Regent sent
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1 that.
2 So I believe this will work. It's an
3 emotional issue. It's a difficult issue.
4 I look in the audience, I was sitting
5 there, and I see Governor Collins's
6 granddaughter. And he was a man that had more
7 influence on my life than anybody other than my
8 parents.
9 And I used to have the -- the great honor
10 of going to lunch with him about once a month.
11 And he told me during the '50s and '60s how
12 hard it was to live in Tallahassee and to have
13 friends who he thought were his friends, come
14 up to him at church and talk to him about how
15 they couldn't accept what he was trying to do.
16 But he knew in his heart that he was doing the
17 right thing.
18 And I learned that from my father who --
19 who stood up as a -- when he was running for
20 City Commission, and said that he was going to
21 fight for integrating the -- the schools in --
22 in Palm Beach County.
23 And I remember what I was called in school.
24 And I remember how he stood up.
25 And I'm not going to back down just because
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1 my friends tell me that I'm not open-minded,
2 that I'm doing the wrong thing.
3 I have looked at the facts, I have looked
4 at what we plan to do, and I believe we will
5 absolutely have more minorities. What we've
6 done in this system -- a university system,
7 51 percent of all the African Americans and
8 Hispanics go to two universities. That's --
9 I'm not proud of. It's FIU and Florida A&M.
10 I'm not proud of my school, the University
11 of Florida, where I spent seven years. They
12 have 7 percent African Americans. That's
13 not -- that's the status quo. That's
14 protecting the status quo.
15 This plan will worry about the at-risk
16 students that Representative Wilson talked
17 about. That's why I co-chair with
18 Alonzo Mourning the Governor's mentoring
19 initiative.
20 That's why for the last ten years, I spent
21 time in the public schools with kids that need
22 help, because the way to change a system is to
23 get in the system, get your hands dirty, go to
24 work, and improve the public schools on a daily
25 basis.
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1 Create a bigger funnel, a funnel of more
2 applicants, a funnel of more people that'll be
3 eligible to work, to go to school.
4 Well, right now, the funnel's small.
5 Everybody's competing for the same kids. This
6 plan will make a difference. It will make a
7 difference at the university level, it will
8 make a difference at the K through 12 level, it
9 will start putting a micro-- a big microscope
10 under the schools in Gadsden County.
11 It's shameful that three kids in one of the
12 high schools in Quincy are qualified under the
13 Talented 20 program that are minorities.
14 What is happening there? What are the
15 teachers doing? What are the counselors doing?
16 We need to start examining what's going on. We
17 can fight over 10 percent or 7 percent. What
18 we should be worried about is the kids that
19 don't have an opportunity.
20 And I believe, in my heart, even though I
21 disagree with my friend, Kendrick Meek, who
22 I believe was one of his first supporters when
23 he ran for -- for the House, and still care
24 deeply about what he thinks -- I respectfully
25 disagree.
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1 But that's no -- any reason to call for
2 economic boycotts. What do you think, they're
3 going to boycott California oranges, too?
4 I mean, California passed a resi-- an
5 initiative, Washington passed an initiative.
6 The Texas and Federal courts in Hopwood said we
7 couldn't do this anymore.
8 I think it would be irresponsible in light
9 of the Federal law, in light of what's happened
10 in other places, to say, we'll stick our head
11 in the sand for a couple of years and go ahead
12 and do something that's been ruled illegal in
13 other states and the Federal courts, and
14 continue down two separate paths.
15 The best path is the path we have chosen, a
16 difficult path, but a worthy path and a path
17 that I believe will open more opportunities for
18 more people in this state than it's ever been
19 offered before.
20 Thank you very much.
21 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
22 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Governor.
23 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yeah. General.
24 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Steve, I
25 thank you very much for your comments. And you
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1 have been a -- a good friend on all these
2 issues to all of the people of the state of
3 Florida, and I've admired you over the years.
4 You -- you -- you mention a comment that --
5 that you do not want to hurt anybody. And that
6 what you are doing is what you personally
7 believe is the best thing for the minority
8 communities in this particular state. And
9 you've dedicated your life to that.
10 You've also mentioned other people also
11 have done the same, and it cost them dearly,
12 elections and otherwise.
13 What concerns me a lot here, Steve, is not
14 that I don't doubt you, or -- or Adam Herbert,
15 who I also admire greatly.
16 I'm just very concerned that when we hear
17 from the people that have been through having
18 to drink out of that water fountain that you
19 and I didn't, who had to ride in back of the
20 bus, who did not have access to the lunch
21 counter, who were not allowed to go to the
22 University of Florida in 1960 when I was there,
23 who I think only when you became student body
24 president at that point in time were there only
25 a few African Americans.
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1 But to hear that they are hurting, Steve,
2 that has to hurt you. It hurts me
3 tremendously. As much as I would like to
4 say -- and I don't doubt for a moment that
5 everyone up here wants to expand and -- and not
6 decrease opportunities for minorities and
7 women. We dedicate ourself to that. Every --
8 every one of us, everyone in this room.
9 But we cannot allow diversity to become
10 divisive. And that's what's happening now.
11 And we hear that's also affecting not only --
12 it's affecting this state; this state's image;
13 this state, who was the modern south; this
14 state who was the first state to come out of
15 slavery.
16 For us to take this type action, which the
17 people you're attempting to help say, Steve,
18 please, please, thank you, but why not just
19 dual track it. Give us a little more time.
20 You know as a leader, in order for
21 something to be accepted, it needs time and it
22 needs a consensus.
23 Unfortunately -- and this is all I think
24 done for the right reasons with Ward Connerly
25 on our backs. But I don't think that's going
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1 to happen now. I think he's already folded his
2 tent, or at least it appears he has. I --
3 hopefully the Supreme Court will fold it for
4 him.
5 But the -- I just think that when we have
6 to worry now about what -- you said a plan --
7 what happens if the Legislature does not
8 appropriate the dollars? Your plan is not --
9 is finished.
10 What happens if it does not expand the
11 opportunity for the people you want to expand?
12 Do you have a fail-safe in that plan? Will it
13 self-destruct, is there a poison pill, do we go
14 back to the old plan?
15 I'm just so concerned that -- what we have
16 to do here, I think, is to -- to do the right
17 thing is to make a second first impression.
18 And we're going down the same road of a bad
19 first impression.
20 And I think that's what we're hearing
21 from -- from Senator Meek, Senator Holzendorf,
22 and the others that spoke.
23 And -- and obviously they're the ones who
24 fought the battles, either through -- either
25 through their own eyes or through the eyes of
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1 their parents, and their grandparents, just as
2 your parents and relatives fought a
3 tremendously terrible, terrible battle.
4 And I think that we have to do this
5 correctly. And that's where I'm coming from.
6 And -- and I would just hope that we can
7 send this back to the Board of Regents. And
8 that we could get the type of input, if
9 necess-- and that we can do dual tracking for a
10 couple of years if that's necessary. If we are
11 going to have one Florida, you must bring all
12 one Florida together.
13 And unfortunately, on the issue we were
14 hoping to put us together, it is now dividing
15 us. And I'm not sure we can get beyond this
16 divide without some time. That's what I'm
17 very, very concerned about.
18 And I -- and I know you must feel it. And
19 I know you think you're doing the right thing.
20 I'm not sure you're not doing the right thing
21 at all.
22 But what -- but what -- but I do see hurt.
23 All of us have felt the hurt. All of us felt
24 the hurt today.
25 Thank you.
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1 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
2 MR. UHLFELDER: I -- we -- we agonized over
3 that. And that's one of the reasons we passed
4 a motion in support of the funding -- full
5 funding, and that we're going to reexamine --
6 we're going to have the Chancellor reexamine
7 the plan after the Legislative session. We --
8 we passed that resolution.
9 We also passed a resolution in support of
10 continuing the -- the efforts or the -- the --
11 what came out of affirmative action, we passed
12 that as a policy.
13 There's no way -- this issue is not going
14 away. We could delay it six months, we could
15 delay it a year. It's just we'll be going back
16 through this again a year from now, and it's --
17 I -- I just -- you know, I wish that was -- it
18 didn't help in Washington, it didn't help in
19 California, it didn't happen in Texas.
20 All of the other major university systems
21 that are reexamining what -- you pick up the
22 Chronicles of Higher Education today,
23 Penn State, Michigan, everybody's in the same
24 situation we're in.
25 The -- and there's never an easy way to do
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1 this. And what the Governor did was step
2 forward and put himself out there, and say I
3 have a plan.
4 And he tried to stop Connerly. I remember
5 before the election -- I mean, right after he
6 got elected, I wrote him a memo. I said, we've
7 got to stop Connerly. There've got to be a
8 plan.
9 And he came forward and -- and had to --
10 and so now we're in a situation. I don't think
11 delay would -- would -- would solve it. If I
12 did, I wouldn't have -- I would have supported
13 that at the Board of Regents meeting.
14 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Governor,
15 I -- I admire what you did at the time you did
16 it.
17 I mean, you -- you took action when -- when
18 no one else would take action, and you took
19 very strong action. And also I do believe the
20 Board of Regents has, too.
21 But I think you have sent a message out to
22 your ten university presidents, and also the --
23 the Chancellor has sent a message out, and also
24 the Board of Regents has sent the message out:
25 If you do not expand on the -- on the
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February 22, 2000
1 number of -- of minorities and woman (sic) in
2 the State University System, well, you might as
3 well go packing, because you're going to be in
4 some other -- in some other job. You're not
5 going to keep your job.
6 I believe the message is out there loud
7 and clear whether or not this goes through,
8 whether or not the Board of Regents addresses
9 it again, whether or not the Legislature even
10 funds the money.
11 And believe me, I don't know how, after all
12 this, the Legislature could not fund the money.
13 But I've been operating with that -- them for
14 over 30 years, and I can never predict what
15 they're going to do.
16 GOVERNOR BUSH: Well, I've been accused of
17 having some dictatorial magical spell over the
18 Legislature --
19 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: I hope it
20 works.
21 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- and while I wish that
22 was the case, I have talked to the leadership
23 of both the Senate and the House, and there is
24 strong support for the financial aid, there is
25 support for the College Board initiatives,
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1 there's support for expanding AP programs,
2 there's support for the -- guaranteeing that
3 every 10th grader takes the practice SAT.
4 I'm -- I'm confident that we can -- we can
5 make that happen.
6 One of the facts about delay --
7 And then we'll allow Mr. Corbin to come.
8 One of the facts about delay is that if
9 there is delay, there won't be
10 400 African American/Hispanic young men and
11 women attending the university system that
12 would -- would not have gone last -- this year
13 if we delay under the current system. And
14 I think that would be a shame.
15 But, again, we'll have a -- a chance to
16 discuss this after the -- everybody has a
17 chance to speak.
18 TREASURER NELSON: Governor --
19 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yes.
20 TREASURER NELSON: -- I just want to say
21 one thing to my friend, Mr. Uhlfelder.
22 Steve, I know you are very touched by this
23 whole thing, and that's obvious in your
24 demeanor. That's obvious in your voice.
25 And my heart aches for you in what you've
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1 gone through.
2 It seems to me that part of you feeling as
3 badly as you do is because you know that people
4 are perceiving that they're being hurt by their
5 perception that they are having equal
6 opportunity taken away from them.
7 And it is my judgment that that should be a
8 major consideration in this deliberation, which
9 would include the dual track process that you
10 are proceeding with just one track.
11 Thank you.
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: Mr. Corbin.
13 Good afternoon.
14 MR. CORBIN: Thank you, Governor, and --
15 and the members of the Cabinet.
16 I'm one of the people who have experienced
17 a lot of the discrimination that people talk
18 about in the state of Florida.
19 I was born in Youngstown. But anybody who
20 knows anything about the panhandle, that's on
21 Highway 231. As you go down Highway 20, you
22 make a left turn, you go to -- if you're going
23 to Panama City, and you -- you pass it. It is
24 a stop in the road; it was a stop in the road
25 when I was born; it's a stop in the road now;
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1 and it will probably be, after I'm gone, a stop
2 in the road.
3 My dad moved here -- moved us here because
4 there was a lynching of two black boys named
5 Smutt (phonetic) in 1936, I believe. I'm not
6 sure. I think my mom and them told me 1936.
7 I also am one of the people who, along with
8 some of my friends, who used to go up
9 Copeland Street from where we lived over on
10 Mosley, after picking a friend up over on
11 St. Augustine Street past FSU down
12 Copeland Street to Leon Theater, which was at
13 the time a black theater.
14 And we were -- we were harassed by the
15 police simply because we went by Florida State
16 University, which obviously then was
17 Florida State College for Women.
18 I personally enjoy great favor with God,
19 because I've been tremendously blessed in my
20 life. I've got five children, a great family,
21 I've got eleven grandchildren, have worked
22 awfully hard and have had a lot of people to
23 help me.
24 I live in -- also live in Gadsden County,
25 between Gretna and Chattahoochee.
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February 22, 2000
1 I also used to teach school in the state of
2 Florida. I taught in Greenville, I taught in
3 Panama City, I taught in St. Lucie County,
4 segregated high schools. Lincoln Park Academy
5 in -- in Fort Pierce, Rosenwald High School,
6 and Greenville Training School in Greenville.
7 The dirty little secret that nobody talks
8 about is that, in all of these high schools
9 where we're talking about kids being put upon,
10 what the counselors are doing is telling
11 African American, Hispanic kids, you don't need
12 this -- to do this stuff, because nobody in
13 your family is ever going to college. Don't
14 worry about that, why don't you get a trade.
15 Well, what kind of trade you going to get,
16 the jobs have moved to the Pacific Rim.
17 What you have now in Chattahoochee, the
18 high school that Steve Uhlfelder talked about
19 in Chattahoochee, that's Chattahoochee High
20 School. You've got a class of primarily all
21 black kids, and only three were qualified.
22 Whose fault is that? It's not the kid's
23 fault. We have to place the blame where it
24 ought to be placed. It is the school
25 administrators.
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February 22, 2000
1 Now, if I didn't think this plan would
2 work -- and, see, everybody ought to have a
3 point of view.
4 I happen to be a Republican. That's my
5 business, that's the great -- that's the thing
6 about -- makes this country a great country.
7 You can do that. And nobody should take out
8 after you about it.
9 I happen to be. I support Democrats, I've
10 supported Senator -- Treasurer Nelson, I've
11 supported Jeb Bush, I've supported
12 Bob Crawford.
13 He may or may not know it. If he goes back
14 a little on -- on his list, he'll find my --
15 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: I know it.
16 MR. CORBIN: -- name someplace.
17 Okay?
18 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Thank you, by the
19 way.
20 MR. CORBIN: So it -- so what I try and do
21 personally, and --
22 And the Attorney General.
23 What I try to do personally is try and
24 support people who I think at least have their
25 hearts in the right place.
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February 22, 2000
1 If I didn't believe this plan would work --
2 because I've got a lot of blood on the floor,
3 because I've been an advocate for the plan, and
4 probably will continue to after today.
5 I've been called puppet --
6 There's nothing that Jeb Bush could do for
7 me, or give me, to have me support this plan if
8 I didn't believe it.
9 Steve talked about Germany. I went to
10 FAMU High when it was very dangerous to go up
11 Gaines Street. Very dangerous to go up
12 Gaines Street.
13 People who went out in Los Robles were
14 black women on buses, 5:30 in the morning. If
15 you went through Los Robles, you'd better have
16 a reason to be there. You were either going to
17 be somebody's domestic, or to cut somebody's
18 yard.
19 I've seen this town change. Nobody in this
20 room, or any place else, has the pedigree to
21 tell me that I don't understand. I understand
22 better than they understand. I'm -- I'm -- I'm
23 over half their ages. So nobody clearly can
24 come from outside of the state and tell me what
25 Florida is like.
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1 I grew up in the panhandle. I didn't grow
2 up -- grow up in Miami or Tampa or
3 Jacksonville, or none of those places. It is
4 here.
5 I happen to think, and start and continue
6 to think that the plan is a good first step, it
7 is -- it is clearly imperfect, there has to
8 be -- there has to be a lot done.
9 What I think we need to be able to do is
10 have reasonable people to come together and sit
11 and see how to make it better.
12 I'm in support of it, I'm going to continue
13 to be in support of it. But I don't believe
14 there's anybody who has one -- a right to
15 question whether or not I'm committed to
16 African Americans. Because I always have been,
17 will continue to.
18 Let me just brag on myself a minute, and
19 this is the only thing I'll say in that regard.
20 I send people to Florida A&M University
21 because I've been blessed that I can afford it,
22 who are no kin to me. Nobody asked me to do
23 that. Because I feel it's an obligation.
24 I used to run that campus as a kid.
25 Certainly couldn't run FSU as a kid.
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February 22, 2000
1 I used to skate from Lee Auditorium to
2 N.B. Young Hall because Coleman Library wasn't
3 there.
4 I went to FAMU High. It is a part and
5 parcel of where I am now. That school, that's
6 what it meant to me.
7 I also care a lot about Tallahassee. It
8 has been divisive, it's very emotional, and it
9 hurts very deeply as an African American to be
10 called a puppet. Never been anybody's puppet.
11 Never have, not now, and not going to be.
12 And nobody has a right to call me that.
13 And I simply objected and -- and -- and turn it
14 away out of hand. Nobody.
15 Thank you.
16 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, sir. Thank you.
17 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Governor,
18 one question if I can.
19 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yeah.
20 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Thank you,
21 sir, for the testimony.
22 You may want to comment, and I'd like you
23 to expand upon, if you can. You said the plan
24 is not perfect, I think everybody agrees with
25 that, and there should be some changes made.
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February 22, 2000
1 What changes do you -- would you make to
2 it?
3 MR. CORBIN: The problematic part is,
4 and -- and I don't know the answer to this,
5 because I -- because I -- I discussed it very
6 briefly the other day with
7 Commissioner Gallagher -- is the 20 million
8 dollars additional that need-based financing.
9 You won't really know what the real number
10 is until you get the number of students,
11 because you -- you know, because it costs so
12 much to go to school.
13 And nobody should be prepared to -- to --
14 I mean, nobody should be denied the opportunity
15 simply because the -- you know, but they don't
16 have the wherewithal to go.
17 That's my only concern about it. But --
18 but -- but -- but given the Governor's
19 commitment -- and, see, I don't believe -- I
20 don't believe, and -- and I'm way past being
21 taken in -- I don't believe that he will lie to
22 me.
23 Because it -- if he would, I'd repudiate
24 it. If I didn't believe it, I would repudiate
25 it. If it works insofar as next year, I'll
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February 22, 2000
1 come back and repudiate.
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
3 MR. CORBIN: I'll absolutely guarantee you
4 that.
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
6 MR. PIERSON: The next two speakers would
7 be Dr. T.K. Wetherell from Tallahassee
8 Community College, and Dr. Neriah Roberts from
9 Polk Community College.
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Welcome.
11 DR. WETHERELL: Thank you very much.
12 I appreciate the invitation to be here.
13 This is a difficult issue. Serving in
14 public office nowadays is extremely
15 challenging, as we all know who have been
16 there.
17 It's been said that there are kind of two
18 people who serve, those who come to stay, and
19 those who come to make a difference. Obviously
20 those of you who are here today --
21 (Governor Bush exited the room.)
22 DR. WETHERELL: -- are here to make a
23 difference. And when you choose to make a
24 difference, you're obviously going to deal with
25 controversial issues.
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February 22, 2000
1 Not because one enjoys it. Certainly in
2 public life, that isn't where you want to go.
3 But if you're going to change the way the State
4 is going to -- to operate and move, you're
5 going to have to deal with those controversial
6 issues. One Florida is one of those.
7 I think in -- my tenure in the Legislature
8 taught me that you can't look at a single item
9 or a single issue, you have to look at it in
10 terms of a broader context. And I would
11 encourage you to look at Florida One in that
12 regards.
13 Certainly it changes the way we are doing
14 things. Some have suggested, well, let's wait.
15 Well, I'm not sure that's the best
16 solution, because no matter what you do when
17 you look at the facts, the facts clearly
18 suggest that access to our university system,
19 and access from our public school system isn't
20 what we want it to be. We can debate whether
21 51 percent or 49 percent, or whatnot.
22 But clearly if you removed the -- the
23 enrollments at Florida A&M, you'd change the
24 African American mix in our university system.
25 Clearly if you removed the Hispanic
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 202
February 22, 2000
1 population at Florida International, you change
2 the Hispanic mix there.
3 We're not getting the students as we need
4 them.
5 Clearly if some people were to pass
6 constitutional amendments, that would embarrass
7 us more --
8 (Governor Bush entered the room.)
9 DR. WETHERELL: -- than the debate we are
10 currently having. And I believe the discussion
11 we're having is good.
12 So I urge you not to wait, but to be
13 proactive and act responsibly.
14 I think the plan that's been put forward
15 does that. But I would also like to point out
16 to you that while 20 percent going to the
17 university system is a great goal -- and I hope
18 they do it. I hope it makes it. In order for
19 that to happen, you need a need-based
20 financial aid program that works.
21 For the last ten years, since I've been in
22 the Legislature, we put a lot of money
23 intentionally into a merit scholarship program,
24 Bright Futures, Academic Scholars, Gold Seals.
25 All of them were tremendous programs.
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February 22, 2000
1 But it was done to the detriment of some
2 need-based programs. The need-based program is
3 necessary, no matter what you do.
4 It is going to make a difference, not how
5 many boxes you can color in on a particular
6 application, or where you go with this
7 statistic, or that.
8 But I would also point out to you, and I
9 don't have the benefit of a -- a degree from
10 the University of Florida. I only have an
11 education from Florida State -- that there's
12 80 percent more students out there that also
13 need that need-based education, possibly more
14 than that top 20 percent that are going to go
15 to the university system.
16 The proposal the Governor has put forward
17 to include part-time students in that will
18 particularly help minority students, women,
19 African Americans, and Hispanic.
20 Because those people in all probability are
21 going to be trying to hold down a job as well
22 as get an education.
23 Work with the Legislature and encourage
24 them to work in that regard.
25 Look at the total program in terms of
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1 Commissioner Gallagher's Blue Ribbon Commission
2 on the whole restructuring of education, not
3 just the university system, the public school
4 system, and the community college system
5 included where you clearly delineate the role
6 and responsibility of the public school system
7 to deal with those grades K through 12 and
8 produce a student and an education that has
9 some level of acceptance regardless of where
10 you choose to pursue your higher education.
11 I think those -- those proposals are
12 excellent. They need to be pursued.
13 I love Betty Holzendorf. She has been a
14 supporter and a friend. And there's absolutely
15 no doubt that what she says is true. Florida
16 Legislature on the last night on the last
17 minute begins to look at those projects. While
18 we all may want to talk about good government,
19 green and hometown cooking mean a lot.
20 But there isn't any difference between
21 need-based scholarships at the local level,
22 whether it's in Opa Locka or Youngstown or
23 Quincy or wherever. That's hometown cooking
24 for everybody in Florida. And I encourage you
25 to do that.
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1 I encourage you to be proactive. I think
2 you've done an excellent job in that regard,
3 Governor. And I think the Cabinet, State Board
4 of Education has done well.
5 Seems to me that everybody's got to have a
6 personal story. When I ran for Florida
7 Legislature, my dad was somewhat apprehensive
8 about getting into that. He had been involved
9 for years.
10 He was one of Leroy Collins's supporters
11 back in the 1950s and '60s. Those were
12 extremely difficult times. But if you look at
13 why the Governor made those decisions back
14 then, what we take for granted today was
15 considered extremely controversial.
16 Where one sat at a lunch counter, where one
17 rides on a bus, where one goes to school, very
18 controversial. Today we wouldn't even dream
19 about going back to there. The solutions of
20 today do not require those issues of the past.
21 My dad was the first person to hire people
22 at Florida -- at -- hire people at
23 Sears Roebuck and put people of color on the
24 floor selling in Daytona Beach, Florida.
25 That took guts, it took courage. What
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1 you're talking about today also takes guts and
2 courage.
3 I encourage you to go forward with
4 Florida One, I encourage you though to work
5 with the Legislature and get the total package.
6 Because without the total package, Florida One
7 will have a difficult time.
8 Thank you very much.
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, Mr. President.
10 Who's next?
11 MR. PIERSON: Dr. Roberts.
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: Good afternoon, sir.
13 DR. ROBERTS: Good afternoon.
14 Governor Bush, and Cabinet, I'm here today
15 by invitation, and I'm here because I feel that
16 I have a horse in this race.
17 I have a credo, and that credo I've lived
18 by for thirty-eight-and-a-half years while I
19 was in the public school system. I've gone
20 through all of that.
21 And that credo is this: Is to never
22 condemn an -- an initiative without giving it
23 the opportunity to succeed.
24 Now, I'd like for each of you to know that
25 I've lived at a time when things were separate
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1 and supposedly equal, and they were not. I've
2 attended a different movie, I eat at a
3 different counter, I went to a different
4 restroom, and I drank at a different water
5 fountain.
6 I've gone through all of that.
7 And I'd like to say to you with all of the
8 passion that I can muster, that in the past and
9 the present, I still support
10 affirmative action. And I've supported it for
11 some good reason, at least in my mind.
12 I've supported it because I've felt that it
13 was a leveling agent in a fight for racial
14 equality and equity. I've supported it because
15 I -- I've thought that it has provided some
16 balance that was much needed.
17 And I've supported it because I've looked
18 at it as an instrument that would provide some
19 measure of racial equality for minorities.
20 However, I also sense that
21 affirmative action, despite its well
22 intentions, has not fulfilled all of its lofty
23 goals.
24 But I also feel that, if you are riding a
25 horse, and that horse dies, then what you've
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1 got to do is take your bridle off of the horse,
2 take your saddle off, and find yourself a new
3 horse.
4 If the handwriting is on the wall for
5 affirmative action, and if the dye has been
6 cast, and if our Federal courts -- and
7 seemingly they are -- if they are rendering
8 decisions that negatively impacts or abandons
9 affirmative action as a means of providing
10 families and diversity to a group of Americans
11 that have historically been discriminated
12 against, then what we need is a new way. And
13 we need to seek that new way very diligently.
14 A new way politically, a new way ethically,
15 a new way legally, a new way morally, a way in
16 which we can provide fearless for those have
17 been disenfranchised.
18 And I believe that One Florida provides us
19 with that new way.
20 As I see it, I see it as an initiative
21 attempting to savage or to retain, or to save
22 some of the vestiges of affirmative action.
23 (Secretary Harris entered the room.)
24 DR. ROBERTS: I see it as a measure in
25 pursuit of equality, equity, and diversity. I
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1 see it as an attempt to create fairness in a
2 government right with institutional
3 discrimination.
4 It will remove some of the obstacles, it
5 will remove some of the roadblocks that have
6 prevented minorities from securing their slice
7 of the American dream.
8 Does One Florida go far enough?
9 Still to be determined.
10 Does it deal with some of the crucial or
11 critical issues facing minorities?
12 I think that it does.
13 I do not know at this juncture whether it's
14 going to achieve all that it wants to achieve.
15 But hopefully the Governor and the
16 Legislatures, if it passes, will continually
17 revisit this initiative, tweet it annually, and
18 come up with some provisions that will continue
19 to propel minorities forward.
20 I think the Governor deserves a chance to
21 prove that he will deliver on his promise. He
22 seems committed, in my opinion. And if he
23 fails to deliver on his promise, his
24 commitments, then he can be held accountable at
25 the polls.
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1 I do not think we should condemn this
2 initiative before giving it an opportunity to
3 succeed.
4 Does the Governor's position, does his
5 stance on affirmative action mean that he has
6 abandoned affirmative action, that he's taking
7 a step back?
8 I perish the thought, and I say, no.
9 Because I feel that he has positioned himself
10 to see the big picture, not short-term, but
11 long-term.
12 Breaking the old mold, and trying something
13 new and different to broaden opportunities to
14 a segment of Floridians that have been
15 disenfranchised is a daunting task.
16 The Governor --
17 (Commissioner Gallagher exited the room.)
18 DR. ROBERTS: -- in order for him to
19 succeed, will need assistance from all of us.
20 He's going to need a vote of confidence from
21 all Floridians for his leap in faith, for his
22 vision for that posture.
23 He would need support from legislators to
24 support the initiative financially.
25 And finally, under One Florida, many of the
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1 goals, as I see it, are the same as those
2 espoused by affirmative action.
3 However, the means of achieving these
4 goals, the same goals that affirmative action
5 has had, those means have changed. And this is
6 the innovative approach that the Governor has
7 taken.
8 For me personally, I applaud the Governor
9 and his efforts.
10 I support you, Governor, with
11 One Florida --
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
13 DR. ROBERTS: -- this year. But we're
14 going to be looking at it from year to year to
15 see whether you're going to tweet it, see
16 whether you're going to continue to improve it.
17 And if you can do that, Governor, we'll
18 continue to support you.
19 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, sir.
20 DR. ROBERTS: Thank you for the opportunity
21 to -- to speak to you.
22 (Attorney General Butterworth exited the
23 room.)
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
25 That's the beauty of a democracy.
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1 MR. PIERSON: The next two speakers will be
2 Mr. Kevin Mayeux, Executive Director of the
3 Florida Student Association; and
4 Donna Callaway, Principal of Raa Middle School.
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: If I could ask you all to
6 really make a major effort to keep it under
7 3 minutes.
8 MR. MAYEUX: No problem.
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
10 MR. PIERSON: The light will come on at
11 3 minutes.
12 MR. MAYEUX: Thank you.
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Oh, there's a light?
14 Oh. Has it not gone on yet?
15 Well, I've -- I've -- the chair's in the
16 way, and I haven't been -- didn't even know
17 there was a light.
18 MR. MAYEUX: Thank you, Governor, members
19 of the Cabinet. It's an honor to be able to
20 address you today.
21 My name is Kevin Mayeux. I serve as
22 Executive Director of the Florida Student
23 Association, which represents the students in
24 the State University System.
25 Since the One Florida initiative was
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1 announced in November, many State University
2 System students have been involved in numerous
3 discussions with the Governor, with the
4 Governor's staff, and with other policy makers,
5 working to make suggestions to make the
6 One Florida initiative be improved as needed
7 to --
8 (Commissioner Gallagher entered the room.)
9 MR. MAYEUX: -- ensure that our collective
10 goal of ensuring diversity in our State
11 University System continues to be a top
12 priority and a reality in this state.
13 I'd also like to thank the Governor and his
14 staff for working with the Florida Student
15 Association to serve as a communication hub to
16 make sure that information gets out to our
17 students so that they may be properly educated
18 as to this plan and its potential impacts on
19 them.
20 And I think we've had a healthy discussion
21 over the past three months with various
22 students and other policymakers which have
23 yielded a greater understanding as to what this
24 proposal will do.
25 All those students have been unable to
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1 reach a consensus on some of the major issues
2 of the plan. They have been able to express
3 their opinions in public hearings and in
4 numerous conversations via phone, e-mail, fax,
5 and one-on-one conversations with many of you,
6 and others.
7 But there are some significant parts of the
8 plan which we think are positive, and that
9 we'll continue to -- to make sure that our
10 mutual goal of ensuring diversity is met in our
11 SUS.
12 (Treasurer Nelson exited the room.)
13 MR. MAYEUX: First we'd like to commend you
14 on the guarantee that the top students in our
15 state will be guaranteed a slot in the State
16 University System.
17 This guarantee will give opportunity to
18 some that may not have been admitted before, as
19 our universities prior to this have solely
20 relied on -- or mainly relied on standardized
21 test scores and grade point averages.
22 As we know, standardized tests have
23 cultural biases that are built into them. And
24 this Talented 20 program should allow some
25 students who may not have had an opportunity to
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1 attend college before, to be able to gain
2 admittance to one of our ten State
3 Universities.
4 Second, I'd like to commend the Governor in
5 proposing a 23 million dollar increase in
6 need-based financial assistance. With the
7 increases in enrollment in the Florida -- in
8 the State University System, based upon not
9 only our standard enrollment growth, but also
10 based upon those that are admitted to the
11 Talented 20 Program will need more funds
12 available to make sure that all Floridians,
13 regardless of their socioeconomic status, have
14 the funds necessary so that they can attain a
15 high quality college education.
16 This 50 percent increase in the Florida
17 Student Assistance Grant Program will go a long
18 way towards ensuring that financial need will
19 not be a barrier towards someone attending
20 college.
21 And third, and very important, is
22 accountability.
23 Put simply, we cannot, and we must not
24 allow any of our institutions to decline with
25 their diversity. With the creation of the
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1 One Florida --
2 I'm working at it.
3 -- One Florida Accountability
4 Commission, chaired by Bishop Cummings, we
5 hope to make improvements to the plan as
6 necessary in the future to make sure that our
7 diversity continues to increase on all ten
8 schools.
9 Put simply, the Florida Student Association
10 of Florida's university students are committed
11 to ensuring access and equal opportunity to
12 all.
13 We want to work with you, Governor, with
14 the Cabinet, and with the Regents and other
15 policy makers to ensure that all ten schools in
16 our SUS continue to improve in their diversity.
17 Thank you for your time.
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
19 And I'd like to thank the students that
20 have participated in this -- in the public
21 hearing process, and in the informal
22 conversations we've had all across the state.
23 They've made some significant contributions,
24 made some great suggestions.
25 Much of what we announced last Wednesday in
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1 terms of adjusting the plan to take into
2 consideration what we've been hearing came from
3 students.
4 And you're to be commended.
5 MR. MAYEUX: Thank you.
6 MS. CALLAWAY: Good afternoon, Governor and
7 Cabinet.
8 I thank you for the opportunity to speak
9 one more time. And I would like to bring this
10 down to the level of the people that it really
11 involves. It's all about kids again.
12 And I want to commend you for giving us
13 some credibility with them.
14 We try to teach them that everybody's
15 equal. We try to teach them that hard work
16 will get you where you want to go.
17 This plan encourages that, and allows us
18 the platform to continue to do that on.
19 I liken this to a situation that I
20 experienced in -- in a school where when I
21 entered the school, the school was leveled high
22 ability, low ability, you knew exactly which
23 kids couldn't learn, they were all in class
24 together, and they were very identifiable.
25 We worked dramatically and very hard at
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1 trying to remove the labels and the categories.
2 And we incorporated what we call
3 heterogeneous grouping. And I liken what
4 you're going through to what I went through.
5 You put yourself on the line, you stand up, and
6 you say, morally, ethically, this is right.
7 It's right for kids, and I can't live with
8 myself unless I do what's right for kids.
9 We went through a year that was incredible.
10 I was questioned, everybody was questioned. We
11 had lawyers, doctors, I don't think there were
12 any politicians, but they probably disguised
13 themselves and I didn't know it.
14 But they were all questioning us on whether
15 this was going to dumb down the curriculum,
16 whether our expectations were going to be high
17 enough for -- for all kids. And what we were
18 going to do about it.
19 We sent all of our resources into the kids
20 who'd needed them most. And we had a parent
21 monitoring group, which I understand will be
22 enlarged a little bit and called something else
23 on this scale, which is very, very practical,
24 and which tells you what you need to know.
25 Those people will watch every move, every
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1 word, every kid, every number, every minority,
2 every thing. You will know more about your
3 plan at the end of this year than you ever
4 thought you knew, I'm sure.
5 But I learned a lot. I learned that those
6 people really wanted the best for kids. Now,
7 I've never met a parent who didn't love their
8 child. And I firmly believe that each of you
9 really like kids.
10 Anyway, we got through this year. Our test
11 scores came out, and they were very high. We
12 analyzed it, and where we put the money, where
13 we put the effort was where the growth
14 occurred.
15 It's the same thing that's going to happen
16 here. It's very -- very likened to that.
17 And to encourage you, Governor Bush, when
18 those test scores came out at the end of that
19 year, I had no more questions.
20 We did what we said we were going to do,
21 and the kids achieved, and everybody went on
22 happy. I hope that that's what happens here.
23 I encourage you.
24 I believe in what you're doing because I --
25 I saw what you were doing long before it was
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1 public knowledge. I know where your heart is.
2 And I know that other members of your Cabinet,
3 your heart is where the kids are. I saw it way
4 early.
5 So just because I believe in you and what
6 you stand for, I can easily say that I support
7 this, and I support the kids that you're going
8 to help by this plan.
9 Thank you.
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, Donna. See you
11 tomorrow.
12 MS. CALLAWAY: Okay.
13 MR. PIERSON: The next two speakers are
14 Joyce Hobson, a former school board member; and
15 the Reverend Richard Bennett, Association of
16 Christian Clergy.
17 MS. HOBSON: Good afternoon, Governor Bush
18 and members of the Cabinet.
19 My name is Joyce Hobson, and I'm a former
20 School Board member from Martin County, and
21 former President of the Florida School Boards
22 Association.
23 I pres-- I am presently employed by the
24 Department of Education.
25 But most importantly, I am a parent, and a
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1 grandparent of five grandsons. I am very proud
2 of my grandchildren. I guess you are wondering
3 why I'm talking about my grandchildren.
4 (Treasurer Nelson entered the room.)
5 MS. HOBSON: Well, it would be my dream
6 that these children, and all other children,
7 come up in a system where they can achieve
8 whatever their goals might be, regardless of
9 their skin color.
10 As we all know, many times
11 African Americans, and other minorities, are
12 not given credit for making accomplishments
13 based on their knowledge, skills, and
14 abilities. It is assumed, because they are
15 minorities, that well-deserved achievements are
16 the result of affirmative action programs.
17 I am here this afternoon to speak in
18 support of this One Florida initiative. This
19 plan will help eliminate that mentality.
20 Specifically, I applaud the Governor's
21 position in providing opportunity allowances
22 which will help elementary, middle, and
23 high school students through a mentoring
24 program to achieve academic success.
25 The collaboration with the college board on
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1 the PSAT and the SAT will also address the
2 major issues of test preparation, which are
3 very important for college admissions.
4 Of equal importance are opportunities for
5 access to advanced placement, dual enrollment,
6 and other higher level preparatory courses,
7 which will also ensure a background for
8 retention in college in obtaining a college
9 degree.
10 Instructional technology funding will
11 enhance these programs.
12 Finally, I believe that One Florida
13 Accountability Commission will enable each of
14 you to examine minority student enrollment, and
15 gauge the progress that is being made in this
16 very significant educational initiative.
17 I ask for your support for this plan, which
18 addresses diversity and equality for all --
19 (Attorney General Butterworth entered the
20 room.)
21 MS. HOBSON: -- students. All students can
22 learn. They just need to be given the equal
23 opportunity and resources to do so.
24 I have had the opportunity to work closely
25 with Lieutenant Governor Brogan for a number of
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1 years, and I find him to be a man of absolute
2 integrity. And if he is supporting this plan,
3 I feel assured it can work, with changes where
4 necessary.
5 Thank you.
6 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
7 Reverend Bennett.
8 Good afternoon, sir.
9 (Commissioner Crawford exited the room.)
10 MR. BENNETT: Thank you, Mr. Governor, and
11 to the Cabinet.
12 Today I'm going to try to be obedient with
13 the 3 minutes limitation.
14 GOVERNOR BUSH: Please.
15 MR. BENNETT: Never give a preacher a
16 pull -- a podium and a microphone for
17 3 minutes. But we'll work on it.
18 I'm here this -- this afternoon,
19 Mr. Governor, to -- really just to address the
20 Talented 20 piece of this One Florida
21 initiative. Education is a very important
22 component of this piece that I would like to
23 address, a special -- with the educational
24 piece that we're living in now in Dade County.
25 As you know, Mr. Governor, Dade County
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1 alone have 26 F performance schools, and a lot
2 of those schools is located in the inner city.
3 I think the Talented 20 program have some
4 components there that I really appreciate.
5 One of the parts that I appreciate,
6 Mr. Governor, is the part-- the partnership
7 with State University along with
8 community colleges.
9 I feel it's very important that our
10 high school and middle schools have a
11 partnership with the university --
12 (Commissioner Crawford entered the room.)
13 MR. BENNETT: -- so that they can prep them
14 ready for colleges.
15 Also, Mr. Governor, another piece of this
16 component is very interesting to me is that now
17 with this Talented 20 piece, and also with the
18 additional admission alternative program, that
19 the kids in low performance schools would have
20 the opportunity now to attend colleges where
21 otherwise they would not have the opportunity.
22 Very briefly, I think that there need to
23 be -- the State Universities, along with the
24 community college need to be held accountable
25 for the actions to make sure that they increase
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1 minority admissions.
2 I praise and thank the Board for this
3 opportunity to share my viewpoints within the
4 3-minute limitations, and hope that we can come
5 together and make sure that the 80 percent of
6 our children -- that we can focus on the
7 80 percent of the children will have an
8 opportunity to enter a State university or
9 community college.
10 It is very important in the state of
11 Florida that we continue working towards higher
12 education for our children, because as
13 you know, 50 percent of our high school
14 students in the state of Florida does not
15 graduate. That's a designation to our state.
16 Thank you.
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
18 You -- you kept it within the 3 minutes
19 and -- and then some.
20 MR. PIERSON: The next two speakers are
21 Dr. Gene Prough, Vice President of Chipola
22 Community College; and Pastor Joseph Wright
23 from the Ministerial Alliance.
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: Welcome, sir.
25 DR. PROUGH: Thank you. Good afternoon.
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1 I am Dr. Gene Prough,
2 Executive Vice President of Chipola Junior
3 College.
4 And I'm here to tell you why I believe that
5 Governor Bush's One Florida plan is good for
6 community college.
7 I've been employed as a teacher,
8 administrator, professional educator in the
9 state of Florida for over 29 years. Prior to
10 that, I was a student in Blountstown
11 High School, graduated from there, attended a
12 community college called Chipola Junior
13 College, and then into our new university
14 system.
15 So I am a product of what we are talking
16 about today.
17 As you know, community colleges have an
18 open door policy that anyone with a high school
19 diploma can enroll in a community college at
20 any time. Our doors are always open.
21 I believe that One Florida plan will open
22 more doors to all of our citizens. From the
23 community college perspective, I see the
24 educational component of One Florida having
25 three parts:
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1 To provide more opportunities for
2 minorities and low income students by
3 increasing resources and partnerships between
4 low performing schools and universities and
5 community colleges.
6 To eliminate race -- to eliminate race as a
7 factor in university admissions by encouraging
8 other factors like income level, geographical
9 diversity; and whether a student is a first
10 generation college applicant; and, third, to
11 guarantee university admission to students who
12 are enrolled in the top 20 percent of their
13 high school classes.
14 Much of the discussion about One Florida is
15 focused on the university system. But I want
16 to tell you why I believe One Florida would be
17 good for our community college systems.
18 As we matriculate through college, we go
19 through four years normally for a
20 B.S./B.A. degree. Our universities statistics
21 will show you that in community college
22 systems, those students who go on to a
23 community college from a -- go on to a
24 university system from a community college will
25 score not only as well, but better than some of
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1 the same students.
2 And for this, we applaud this program to
3 support it.
4 Community colleges are also involved in a
5 number of partnerships with public schools.
6 One of the most successful, the College
7 Reach Out Program, focus relationships with
8 minority students to get them thinking about
9 college at an early age.
10 At Chipola Junior College, our reach out
11 programs not only support this, but we do this
12 with our middle schools.
13 We plant a seed with those students, bring
14 them on campus, and from there, support the
15 university systems.
16 We have a mentoring program, not with just
17 the students at the college, but with our
18 faculty. We support and encourage and demand
19 that they take part in this -- in the mentoring
20 aspect of our minorities, and all students at
21 the middle school level.
22 This is just one example of our successful
23 programs, and how One Florida will support
24 this, and not only support it, but carry on to
25 the fullest extent.
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1 One Florida also proposes to increase
2 dual enrollment.
3 This program allows high school students to
4 earn college credit at no cost to the student
5 while attending a high school.
6 The State University System, as I mentioned
7 earlier, found statistically that our students
8 go on and do as well as any student who begins
9 a four-year program on campus.
10 There are currently 28,000 high school
11 students in dual enrollment courses. Community
12 colleges are in the dual enrollment business,
13 and business is good.
14 Of course, we would like to add a little
15 more funding to this, as you now -- as you now
16 have mentioned.
17 But in closing, One Florida will provide
18 incentive programs for community colleges to
19 increase the number of Associate Arts degrees.
20 Please don't forget our A.S. degrees also
21 as we go into this because work force
22 development is very important to us as we
23 attain the level of economic partnerships that
24 we're now having with our economic industry.
25 Thank you.
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1 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
2 Reverend.
3 MR. WRIGHT: To our distinguished Governor
4 and Cabinet, for the record, my name is
5 Joseph Wright, and, it is, indeed, an honor and
6 a privilege to be with you this morning to
7 share my testimony.
8 In November when we heard that the Governor
9 had signed an Executive Order, we were in
10 Nashville. And we took it kind of personal, my
11 colleagues and I. And -- and when I came back
12 to Tallahassee, we were somewhat angry and
13 offended by the order.
14 And we started a crusade, Governor, against
15 that policy decision.
16 But when I had an opportunity to -- to read
17 your plan and try to understand the spirit by
18 which it was written, and I began to take a
19 different posture, a different position in
20 looking at that.
21 And also when we had an opportunity to talk
22 to you at the Governor's mansion, and you
23 shared that plan with pastors around this
24 state, and that really helped more confirm that
25 a little more to me.
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1 I was wondering in my mind why did it take
2 so long. For the last 20 years, I've been very
3 much involved -- in fact, I come today as a
4 former affirmative action officer, as well as a
5 youth director in south Florida.
6 And for the last 20 years, I've been very
7 much involved, Governor, with trying to recruit
8 more minorities in area -- in education, as
9 well as in employment.
10 And when you go to any elementary school,
11 and any elementary school in south Florida,
12 junior high, or high school, the numbers are
13 staggering. The suspension rosters was getting
14 longer and longer and longer with
15 African American children.
16 Many of those were expelled from
17 elementary, expelled from junior high. And I
18 was wondering again today where -- where were
19 those people then to talk -- trying to rectify
20 the problem which we've suffered so long, and
21 hoping that somebody would address it.
22 Not one politician, not one civil rights
23 group, not one administrator of any kind of
24 anywhere in the last 20 years stood up and
25 said, hey, look, we've got a problem, let's fix
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1 it.
2 Many of those children who were discouraged
3 from the system went to the streets, they
4 became a statistic in the criminal justice
5 system. And -- and that's a sad tale to be
6 told.
7 And so I applaud your decision in trying to
8 rectify a problem that we -- that have existed
9 in this state for such a very long time.
10 And with the issue on the minority
11 contracting, we have spent many, many years --
12 in fact, that 10 percent set aside issue was a
13 sham. And I guess it was a good insight at the
14 time. But it never really served a purpose by
15 which -- and when it was put in place.
16 We understand if we tell the truth,
17 Governor, that many minorities did -- many
18 minorities based on Federal definition, did not
19 benefit, were not the recipients of a
20 10 percent set-aside.
21 Many of those who received the benefits
22 were white females who became a part of the
23 affected class group. They had the insurance,
24 they were able to get bonded. And they were
25 many of the recipients of that.
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1 If you check the record, probably less than
2 1 percent of the African American community
3 actually got any kind, and then they settled to
4 become subcontractors, and not general
5 contractors.
6 So any program is better than anything
7 we've ever had in the past. And it's going to
8 need some work.
9 And give me just one more second.
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yes, sir.
11 MR. WRIGHT: That I understand that you did
12 put in place a Accountability Commission, and
13 I'm looking forward to that Commission working.
14 I'd like to see more of what they intend to do
15 to monitor your plan for the next three years.
16 God bless you.
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, Pastor.
18 How many more people are on the list?
19 MR. PIERSON: Six right now.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: All right.
21 MR. PIERSON: The next two are
22 Mr. Ron Weaver and Mr. Lester Padgett.
23 GOVERNOR BUSH: Hey, Ron.
24 Nice to see you.
25 MR. WEAVER: Nice to see you, Governor.
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1 Commissioners, I come from Tampa this
2 morning as the proud father of a -- the oldest
3 daughter is a fourth grade teacher in the
4 public schools at Tampa Palms Elementary.
5 Our youngest son is eleven. He's in the
6 6th grade at Coleman, a public school in Tampa.
7 The middle son, he's off at Emory
8 graduating this year.
9 I come to you on behalf of the
10 3,000 members of the business community and
11 community leaders who have taken part in the
12 Florida Chamber of Commerce, and in the Florida
13 Chamber Foundation's world class initiative to
14 make a difference in the lives of our children
15 with respect to education; academic excellence,
16 insisting on it and its measurability; teacher
17 training and recruitment.
18 We come today in support of the One Florida
19 initiative for five simple reasons:
20 Number one, it takes our hope and our pride
21 and our children, and in our ability to make
22 this plan work, and gives this administration a
23 chance to work -- the same way we did when we
24 put our 1st graders on that first bus.
25 And rather than riding along with them and
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1 going to that first class with them, we took
2 those children -- we let them go on that bus,
3 and go off, and we trusted that they would do
4 the right things for the right reasons.
5 As this administration has taken the
6 commitment to do the right things for the right
7 reasons, and make sure that our children, all
8 of our children, are given an opportunity to
9 take advantage of additional need-based
10 financing.
11 And we trust that Legislature also in
12 getting off on that school bus, that they, too,
13 will do the right thing to provide their part
14 of this need-based financing.
15 Secondly, we like the way this ties
16 together our great State Universities, and
17 those of our schools that are failing.
18 Because if every single one of the
19 State Universities in this fine program is
20 linked with not one, but two D or F
21 high schools, and they work together on college
22 admittance and college preparation, that works
23 hand-in-glove with the following part of the
24 program.
25 The program requires that all of our
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1 schools provide 10th graders the PSAT head
2 start with respect to a college education.
3 Thirdly, we support this program because it
4 provides an additional 30 million dollars in
5 financing to assure college preparation.
6 Fourth, we support this program because it
7 contains within it the accountability of that
8 Bishop Cummings Commission that will look hard
9 at this system, and see that this program,
10 indeed, works.
11 That our fine Chancellor will take a look
12 at each one of those Presidents of our
13 State Universities, and at time of evaluation
14 and pay increase, make sure that this program
15 is working, that we're achieving our mission.
16 A few years ago, Nelson Mandela came out of
17 a South African prison. And he looked about
18 him at what was about him, and all the
19 challenges and the opportunities and the
20 controversies.
21 And he looked at those challenges and those
22 controversies, and he said the following:
23 Our greatest fear is not that we are
24 powerless. Our greatest fear is that we're
25 powerful beyond all measure. That by shining
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1 our light, we unconsciously grant other people
2 permission to shine theirs.
3 Our greatest fear is not that we're
4 powerless. Our greatest fear is that we're
5 powerful beyond all measure.
6 If we take the doing of the right thing the
7 way we did when we put that 1st grader on that
8 school bus, and don't ride with them, we let
9 him do the right thing, we hope for him, and we
10 reach for him, and we pray for him.
11 And we let him go in the system and do the
12 things that are right for the right reasons.
13 The same is true for this plan, for the right
14 reasons, that we trust it.
15 And if it isn't working out, then I'm sure
16 that those who have committed their fortunes,
17 and have committed their fates with respect to
18 this plan will make sure that it does work.
19 On behalf of those 3,000, and the world
20 class initiative, I'd like to thank you for
21 this time, Governor --
22 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you, sir.
23 MR. WEAVER: -- Commissioners.
24 MR. PADGETT: Governor, members of the
25 Cabinet, it's, indeed, a pleasure to be here
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1 today to speak for Florida One.
2 I've lived in Florida almost 50 years.
3 Thirty-two of those years I spent in education
4 as a teacher, as a guidance counselor, and a
5 superintendent of schools.
6 I began my career when integration was
7 first starting. And I still remember that
8 first year when a young black student came up
9 to me, and he said, Mr. Padgett, I'd like to go
10 to church with you, but that's not possible, is
11 it?
12 Well, to my knowledge, there were no
13 integrated churches in our community at that
14 time.
15 But the next Sunday morning, my wife and I
16 picked that young man up, and three or four of
17 his friends, and we went to church.
18 Needless to say, in 1960s, that was not a
19 popular decision. Members of the church left.
20 My family was threatened. People would not
21 speak to us, relatives and friends.
22 But over the next couple of years, I saw
23 something really miraculous happen in that
24 church, and that is that people began to treat
25 each other the same.
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1 And one thing that I learned through all
2 this is that people do want to be equal.
3 But I learned something more important is
4 that you cannot be my equal, and I cannot be
5 your equal, unless we're treated equally.
6 It is time that we start doing this in our
7 hiring practices, and in our admission
8 practices. We do it in every day life.
9 When I go to McDonald's or I go to a food
10 store or I go to the theater, I never hear
11 anyone say, can I get ahead of you because I'm
12 black? Can I get ahead of you because I am
13 white?
14 Now our Governor has come before us, and
15 he's asked us to endorse the plan that will
16 treat everyone the same. It is time that we
17 start asking a different set of questions.
18 I think the time has long since gone that
19 we ask: What color are you?
20 We need to ask: What have you done to
21 prepare yourself? Have you studied hard in
22 school, have you developed work ethics that
23 will make you a valuable member of our team?
24 I think it's time that we quit worrying
25 about the threats of boycott, quit worrying
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1 about first impressions. It's time that we
2 stand up for something.
3 It's time that we do like
4 Martin Luther King asked us to do back in 1963:
5 And that's to join hands, and walk together to
6 make sure this plan does work. To make sure
7 that every citizen in this great state of ours
8 is treated equally, regardless of race or
9 gender.
10 Thank you.
11 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
12 MR. PIERSON: The next two speakers are
13 Dr. Mark Pritchett, Vice President of
14 Collins Center for Public Policy; and
15 Ms. Lynette Brown.
16 DR. PRITCHETT: Thank you, Governor,
17 distinguished members of the Cabinet.
18 My name is Mark Pritchett. I'm
19 Vice President with the Collins Center.
20 We're named after Governor Leroy Collins,
21 whose name's been invoked quite reverently
22 today. And we're here to speak on behalf of
23 the One Florida initiative plan.
24 The Collins Center prides itself as an
25 independent, non-partisan organization. We
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1 don't get any State funds, so we can make our
2 decisions independently, without any kind of
3 political pressure.
4 And we also have a bipartisan board.
5 Secretary Jim -- Jim Smith was one of our
6 members, former Governors Rubin Askew,
7 Governor Bob Martinez. And it's been an
8 interesting debate among our boards about how
9 to -- how to come out to support or not support
10 this plan.
11 And as many of you all know,
12 Commissioner Nelson, we've helped you with the
13 hurricane insurance industry. When
14 Hurricane Andrew hit, we brought back some of
15 the insurers in this state with our -- our
16 major plan. And also we've helped those
17 consumers in Florida that have been churned by
18 providing a mediation policy.
19 But the Collins Center here today is to
20 support the Governor's plan that all students,
21 regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender,
22 economic circumstances, or zip code should have
23 the opportunity to reach their highest
24 educational aspirations.
25 And the Collins Center realizes during the
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1 past several weeks that the debate providing
2 these opportunities has been intense;
3 emotional; and for the most part, civil.
4 We recognize that there are strongly held
5 differences about how to provide these
6 opportunities, how quickly they should be
7 enacted.
8 And we believe the debate should continue.
9 But the Collins shares the Governor's sense of
10 urgency to act. And we support the Governor's
11 plans to expand educational opportunities for
12 all Florida's children.
13 And the Governor's eight-point plan has a
14 lot of strategies that we also are doing on the
15 ground right now in south Florida.
16 Currently, we're working with inner city
17 schools in two D -- two D schools and one
18 C school. And we're teaching civic education.
19 And we're bringing 30 of those kids up in a
20 month to see you and members of the Cabinet,
21 and to talk about an experiential education of
22 how State government can work.
23 And they're going to take part in this with
24 the reality that the One Florida initiative
25 could begin to implement similar programs
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1 throughout the state.
2 So, Governor, these civic education
3 students also wanted me to let you know that on
4 their list of topics to discuss with you will
5 be the One Florida initiative. The second is
6 the A+ plan. And third is, they want to know
7 how this Cabinet system works.
8 So there is a sense of urgency to help our
9 low performing schools. And while no plan is
10 perfect, including the One Florida initiative,
11 the plan has appropriately refocused the
12 education debate to helping our students who
13 need it most.
14 And the Collins Center would like to be a
15 partner, and to help you reach out to these
16 students.
17 Thank you.
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
19 When are they coming? When are the
20 students coming?
21 MR. PRITCHETT: March 13th.
22 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
23 Is it on my schedule, or are you --
24 MR. PRITCHETT: We're trying to get it
25 there.
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1 GOVERNOR BUSH: All right. That's why I
2 want to write it down.
3 MR. PRITCHETT: Thank you.
4 MS. BROWN: Good afternoon.
5 Governor Bush, Secretary Harris,
6 Commissioner Crawford, Treasurer Nelson,
7 Commissioner Gallagher, thank you for the
8 opportunity --
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: What about
10 General Butterworth?
11 MS. BROWN: General Butterworth, I'm so
12 sorry.
13 Thank you, sir, for the opportunity to
14 speak here this afternoon.
15 I must confess when I first asked for the
16 opportunity to speak, I said to myself,
17 Lynette, what in the world are you doing?
18 You're just a regular, every day mom;
19 you're a student at FSU, relatively old, I must
20 say; you're a State worker; you're the wife of
21 a businessman who happens to be black. He
22 doesn't have a black business, I want to
23 emphasize that. He's a businessman, he happens
24 to be black.
25 I'm here because about 13 years ago, I
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1 worked at the Department of Commerce. I was
2 appointed as the first State advocate for small
3 and minority business under a Democratic
4 administration. And I will admit to you, prior
5 to -- some things that happened subsequent to
6 that, I had never given much thought to the
7 political process, Democrats, Republicans -- I
8 was a Democrat because my mom and dad was a
9 Democrat. I never gave it a second thought.
10 Immediately after getting appointed to that
11 position, the administration changed, and the
12 Republicans came in.
13 And I thought, oh, geez, this is different.
14 But I'm going to just keep going forward.
15 And I'll never forget, I was called into
16 the office of the Secretary at some point when
17 Secretary Bush came over.
18 And he says, gee whiz, Lynette, you know,
19 we're going to be taking a look at what you
20 guys are doing over here.
21 But I will say this -- this is
22 Governor Bush, who was then Secretary, may not
23 ever remember this. But he made an impression
24 on me that day.
25 We were talking about the minority business
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1 program and the fact that the Legislature gave
2 us the authority to, quote, set-aside and
3 so forth.
4 The Governor said something like, you know,
5 it's kind of interesting that we believe that
6 people that are blacks -- he used that bad word
7 back then when it wasn't popular to say it.
8 But he was bold enough to say it.
9 -- and women, and other minorities are not
10 capable of being successful business people.
11 I don't believe in set-asides. I believe
12 that people have the ability to achieve
13 whatever goals and dreams that they have in
14 life.
15 And guess what, folks? Now, he's the new
16 kid on the block, you know. We're going to
17 achieve the goal that the Legislature has set,
18 and we're not going to have any set-asides
19 based on race and gender and any of the above.
20 Golly gee whittakers, I almost fell off my
21 seat. And I'm, like, well, how in the world is
22 that going to happen? Well, guess what? He
23 had me, the minority business advocate in
24 there; he had the director of purchasing; he
25 had our division directors.
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1 He started us all to thinking, well,
2 gee-whiz, you can do this thing, and you don't
3 have to be, quote, racist about it or gender
4 conscious about it. Because he came in with a
5 belief that people have the ability to do
6 things, regardless of your race, regardless of
7 your agenda.
8 And I thought, oh, yeah, that's --
9 conversation sounds good to me. Those folks
10 are going -- he'll -- he was Secretary, then
11 we'll be busy doing other stuff, and they'll
12 continue to do the same thing.
13 Well, lo and behold, he was very serious.
14 He put some mechanisms in place.
15 Accountability, the thing that we're talking
16 about right now.
17 And if nothing else, I would like to ask
18 each of you, and members of the Legislature, to
19 please work with the Governor. Yes, the plan
20 is a great start. And I will stop.
21 Martin Luther King said let us move ahead
22 despite our race and gender. That's what
23 I believe the Governor is trying to do.
24 I don't want to be here because I'm black.
25 I want to be here because I have several
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1 degrees. I'm a very competent, qualified human
2 being.
3 Let's move away from the race thing. Let's
4 give us -- this plan a chance, please. I ask
5 you.
6 Thank you.
7 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you.
8 MR. PIERSON: The -- the next two, and I
9 think the last two speakers are,
10 Mr. Peter Schorsch, University of South Florida
11 student; and Mr. Tony Robinson, Opa Locka
12 City Manager.
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Are they here?
14 MR. ROBINSON: Good morning, Governor, and
15 Cabinet members.
16 My name is Tony Robinson. I'm the City
17 Manager of the City of Opa Locka.
18 Today I'm not here in an official capacity.
19 I came up here to talk about One Florida.
20 First of all, let me say, I believe in
21 affirmative action. It's great in its intent,
22 but I think the problem is that it's become
23 politicized.
24 And a lot of folks are using it, and it's
25 loopholes to get around the -- the entire
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1 process.
2 I want to commend you, Governor, and the
3 members of your staff for the stance you're
4 taking on One Florida.
5 I want to commend you for taking it on
6 heads on. There's a lot of problems here in
7 this state with our procurement systems, with
8 our educational systems, so on and so forth.
9 In terms of the educational component in
10 the top 20 percent, I like that because you're
11 setting a goal for students, and you're giving
12 them something that they can achieve to -- or
13 aspire to achieve.
14 But I think we also need to concentrate on
15 that other 80 percent such that they don't feel
16 left behind and out of the process.
17 In terms of your contracting component, I
18 think the Accountability Commission is key in
19 order to make this a success.
20 Several years ago, before -- I'm -- my real
21 job is I have a trucking and waste paper
22 company on the side.
23 But several years ago before I got into
24 that, I was a partner with the All Pro and now
25 Hall of Famer Dwight Stephenson in general
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1 con-- construction. And we had a GC company
2 down in Miami.
3 And even with Dwight's great name and his
4 great reputation, we were still jacked around
5 by the procurement officers, by the prime
6 contractors, and by other folks claiming to,
7 quote, unquote, help us secure contracts
8 throughout the state.
9 It's a travesty, I think, that out of a
10 13 billion dollar budget, only 4/10 of
11 1 percent go to black companies. Black --
12 black folks in this state comprise 15 percent.
13 And yet we get less than 1 percent of the
14 business.
15 So I just hope that you all will move this
16 plan forward. And -- and I understand that the
17 plan is still fluid. I mean, no plan is
18 perfect on the first outing.
19 But the fact of the matter remains that, if
20 we work together, this plan can help achieve
21 some of the goals that it aspires to.
22 Thank you.
23 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
24 I think that concludes the --
25 MR. PIERSON: Excuse me, sir. We had --
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1 GOVERNOR BUSH: It doesn't conclude --
2 MR. PIERSON: Well, I thought it did.
3 Mr. Peter Strickland has requested to
4 speak.
5 GOVERNOR BUSH: Okay.
6 Welcome, Mr. Strickland.
7 MR. STRICKLAND: Thank you.
8 That's Paul Strickland.
9 MR. PIERSON: Oh, you're right.
10 MR. STRICKLAND: Governor, members of the
11 Cabinet --
12 GOVERNOR BUSH: I hope he's right.
13 I mean --
14 MR. STRICKLAND: -- thank you for -- for
15 allowing me to speak.
16 I find the Governor's One Florida
17 initiative to be personally intriguing to me.
18 Being a seventh generation native of this
19 state, I'm from what some of y'all might call
20 the other Florida.
21 And I'm old enough -- I'm an old enough
22 native to remember when the law of the land and
23 the prevailing mood of society encouraged, even
24 demanded, not One Florida, but separate and
25 unequal Floridas, all according to race and
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1 gender.
2 But in my lifetime, through God's grace,
3 changes have come. Sometimes breathtakingly
4 fast, other times unconscionably slow, but
5 always due to the efforts of people, ordinary
6 and extraordinary, who are willing to risk it
7 all in order to lay down -- lay bear an
8 undeniable truth that we are, indeed, created
9 equal, a God-given status that cannot morally
10 be compromised by the laws of government.
11 Since then, various efforts have been made
12 to ensure that all Floridians are granted the
13 rights due them. Some have worked; of course,
14 many have failed.
15 Governor and Cabinet members, that's why
16 I'm here. I've read the One Florida
17 initiative, and I'm -- I'm very impressed
18 particularly with two things:
19 First, as regards outreach and recruitment
20 in admissions that targets and recognizes
21 tangible factors that define that need.
22 It does not rely merely on ethnicity, but
23 ensures that those most in need can grasp an
24 available helping hand.
25 Secondly, it's a program whose success or
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1 failure will not ultimately be measured in
2 numbers of admissions, but in the number and
3 quality of graduations. Therein I believe lies
4 its real genius.
5 There are kids out there who feel like
6 they've been set up for failure. Maybe they're
7 right. But the One Florida initiative,
8 I believe, invests in their success.
9 My father grew up in a segregated
10 Polk County. I grew up in a Leon County
11 actively struggling to change and to grow.
12 I want my daughters, Florida's eighth
13 generation of Stricklands, to not only continue
14 toward that goal, but to enjoy wholeheartedly a
15 true -- a truly accepting, a truly diverse, a
16 truly unified one Florida.
17 I've studied and struggled over the issue,
18 like I hope most thinking people have. And
19 I've embraced the One Florida initiative and
20 what it stands for.
21 And I ask you to do the same.
22 Thank you.
23 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
24 That ends the public discussion. We have
25 in front of us Items 8, 9, and 10 to take up
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1 together.
2 And as you know, we have the ability to
3 either approve or deny the Board rule, not --
4 not to amend it.
5 Is there a motion?
6 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: I'll move 8, 9,
7 and 10.
8 GOVERNOR BUSH: Is there a second?
9 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Okay. Discussion.
11 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Governor, I
12 have a substitute motion -- I have a substitute
13 motion based on what we heard here today.
14 I think it will improve the situation
15 basically I heard from T.K. Wetherell and
16 others about the -- if it's not actively
17 funded, it's not going to make it.
18 And also it -- that leaves the two people
19 on the Board of Regents have stated that if
20 this does not work, they will -- they'll be out
21 there to repeal it.
22 See if I'm -- my motion is very short.
23 I move that -- that we return this proposal
24 to the Board of Regents and direct the Board to
25 amend the rules to provide for the repeal of
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February 22, 2000
1 proposed amendments, unless, one, adequately
2 funded by the Legislature; and, two, there is
3 increased diversity among students, faculty,
4 and staff achieved to the satisfaction of the
5 State Board of Education.
6 TREASURER NELSON: And I second the motion.
7 GOVERNOR BUSH: Discussion.
8 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: I -- as a member
9 of the Board of Regents, I will tell you that
10 those two issues were -- were of concern to the
11 Board, they were discussed, and I believe
12 without this -- without sending it back, both
13 of these will happen.
14 If, in fact, the additional funding is
15 there, there is a problem with -- with having
16 many of these students be able to attend, even
17 though they may have the academic quality,
18 because they do have need-based problems.
19 And -- and I really do not think it's
20 necessary to send it back, because they
21 recognized this coming in. And I will
22 guarantee you that the majority of that
23 Board of Regents, if not all -- I don't want to
24 ever speak for all, but I can certainly speak
25 to the majority -- will, in fact, turn these
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 256
February 22, 2000
1 rules around if, in fact, the outcome that was
2 told to us by every single university president
3 of increased diversity would happen.
4 And so I would recommend against this,
5 because we did discuss it at the Regents, and
6 we do expect this, and we would certainly
7 change it if, in fact, the outcome did not come
8 out the way it was.
9 GOVERNOR BUSH: Any other discussion?
10 So we have in front of us a substitute
11 amendment.
12 All in favor?
13 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Aye.
14 TREASURER NELSON: Aye.
15 GOVERNOR BUSH: All opposed?
16 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: No.
17 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: No.
18 GOVERNOR BUSH: No.
19 The nos have it.
20 So we're back to the -- the Board rule.
21 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Governor,
22 I -- I don't know the procedure. I'd like to
23 amend it, but not really amend the rule.
24 It's a -- this would be a motion that will
25 require the Board of Regents to do something.
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1 Maybe I should make it after -- after your
2 vote on this.
3 But what my -- the motion I will be making
4 will be that I'll -- I move that the
5 Board of Regents provide a biannual report to
6 the State Board of Education detailing the
7 results of each institution in admitting and
8 retaining minority students, faculty, and staff
9 beginning October 1 of 2000.
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Can we take this up as a
11 second --
12 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Yeah. There's a
13 motion on the floor right now. So you have
14 to --
15 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Yeah. But I
16 thought -- I just want a procedure on that,
17 because this is a difficult issue insofar as
18 only up or down, and you can't amend.
19 GOVERNOR BUSH: Right.
20 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: But it's not
21 really an amendment, it's just a requirement.
22 So --
23 GOVERNOR BUSH: I want to -- first of all,
24 I want to make sure that we comply with the law
25 first and foremost.
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February 22, 2000
1 There are 410 minority students that will
2 be attending our university systems based on
3 the data the Board of Regents has given us if
4 the Talented 20 is passed this year.
5 And I don't want to have delays based on
6 some procedural matter that I don't fully
7 understand. But I think if it's separate --
8 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: No. I
9 don't -- I don't want to make that a problem,
10 Governor. That's why I -- I'll do it --
11 GOVERNOR BUSH: Okay.
12 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: -- next.
13 GOVERNOR BUSH: Any discussion on the Board
14 rule?
15 TREASURER NELSON: Discussion on the
16 motion?
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: On the motion.
18 Are we finish-- yeah. Please.
19 TREASURER NELSON: May I?
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: Yeah. Sure.
21 TREASURER NELSON: Governor, I've been
22 hearing from people all over this state, and
23 I'm convinced that this is no time to dismantle
24 policies that protect women and minorities
25 seeking admission to Florida's universities.
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February 22, 2000
1 The One Florida debate is producing two
2 Floridas, divided by race along increasingly
3 polarized lines.
4 And that's because it began with a -- too
5 few people at the table, as Senator Meek has
6 just explained.
7 The belief is that you're taking away
8 something that has been hard-won over time for
9 women and minorities. You cannot build
10 consensus in a democracy if something valuable
11 is perceived as being taken away.
12 Governor, I don't question your motives in
13 pursuing these initiatives. But I believe we
14 must build one Florida, not just in name, but
15 in fact by supporting policies that truly
16 promote equal opportunities for women,
17 minorities, and everyone.
18 I will not vote to replace protections
19 already in place with promises that may or may
20 not be fulfilled. And if we can strengthen
21 those protections, let's work on that with
22 everybody at the table.
23 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Governor,
24 I'll -- I'll echo the comments of -- of the
25 Commissioner, and say that -- that what would
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February 22, 2000
1 happen here I think was we need a second and
2 first impression in order to bring all Florida
3 behind this Florida One.
4 GOVERNOR BUSH: Any other comments?
5 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Governor, I just --
6 I think that what will bring people together on
7 this issue are positive results from this plan.
8 And that's why we need not to delay it. We
9 need to make it work, and I believe it will
10 work.
11 GOVERNOR BUSH: I'd like to just -- if --
12 anybody else have any comments?
13 Since this plan has accurately been
14 associated with me, and I'm very proud of it,
15 I'd like to just say a few things based on what
16 I've heard over the last few months.
17 This has been very difficult for me
18 personally, but it also, I think, has created
19 an incredibly important opportunity for our
20 state.
21 I -- I got a call from Governor
22 Gaston Caperton last week, who is the head of
23 the college board, and an integral part of this
24 that we've not talked about today, which is how
25 do we focus on the fact that too many of our
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February 22, 2000
1 children are not even getting the 19 hours of
2 college ready credits to be able to go to
3 college.
4 Some of them are in the Tal-- in the top
5 20 percent of their -- of their high schools.
6 A lot of them are part of the 80 percent that
7 many people have talked about being -- need --
8 where we need to focus our efforts.
9 There are whole counties in this -- in this
10 state that don't have AP classes given to them.
11 We have two Floridas today. We have two
12 Floridas today: One of low expectations, and
13 one of high expectations. The tragedy is that
14 we have not confronted this issue to the extent
15 that we have to.
16 I do not believe that waiting for the
17 courts or waiting for a ballot initiative that
18 says we're going to wipe the slate clean
19 completely of affirmative action is the way to
20 go.
21 I got elected, I believe, to lead. And
22 change is hard. Governor Caperton pointed out
23 to me that in his second year, first month in
24 office, there was a teacher strike, statewide
25 teacher strike in West Virginia. And here was
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February 22, 2000
1 a guy that was riding pretty high. He was the
2 catalyst, for some reason, of this teacher
3 strike.
4 He said -- and I don't know exactly what
5 the -- what the controversy was. But he stood
6 his ground.
7 And over time, people began to focus on the
8 fact that education was the highest priority in
9 West Virginia, it needed to be. And there was
10 a period of renaissance and focus on
11 public education, because there was a command
12 focus at that moment on a subject that's -- was
13 controversial. But he had the courage to stand
14 by his -- his principles and his beliefs.
15 He weathered the storm, and there are more
16 opportunities now in West Virginia because of
17 that.
18 We're in a similar situation right now.
19 This is not easy. But we have a dismal record
20 as it relates to providing opportunities for
21 African American and Hispanic businesses in
22 this state, and women. And we have a dismal
23 record as it -- as it relates to higher
24 education.
25 There have been good strides made, but we
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February 22, 2000
1 can do a lot better. And we're focused on that
2 now for the first time.
3 And I'm -- I'm kind of excited about that.
4 I hope that there will be an ongoing debate
5 about how we can enhance opportunities for
6 people.
7 There are no guarantees being taken away.
8 We're not moving one step back on the fight
9 against racism and discrimination. There's not
10 one single law that is being taken away here.
11 What we're doing is expanding
12 opportunities. And while I respect and
13 appreciate perceptions, perceptions are
14 important in politics -- boy, are they -- I'm
15 focused on reality.
16 And the reality is that this
17 administration, that this State government will
18 never take a step back as it relates to
19 discrimination.
20 In fact, the only -- one of the only things
21 that we're going to the Legislature with is a
22 law that -- that will increase the powers of
23 State government to enforce the laws against
24 discrimination.
25 This -- this will -- this will in
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 264
February 22, 2000
1 September, this September when -- when kids
2 start going to their freshman classes, there'll
3 be more African Americans and Hispanics
4 attending our university system.
5 It's a fact. It's a fact. Every
6 university president has committed to this.
7 They're absolutely confident it's the case.
8 The Chancellor of our university system,
9 one of the finest men I know, has committed to
10 it. We've looked at the numbers. The
11 Legislature is focused on this.
12 Our critics on our plan I'm sure will be
13 supportive of the funding arrangements that
14 will increase opportunities. The leadership of
15 the Florida House and Senate will do the same.
16 We're going to make this a high priority; and
17 in the end, there'll be more opportunities.
18 I wish that we could do this in a way that
19 didn't create economic sanctions. But that is
20 not up to me. That is not my decision.
21 My decision is to do what's right. It is
22 wrong to use race as a criteria for admissions.
23 It does not redress generations of
24 discrimination and racism, it has -- it does
25 not do that.
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February 22, 2000
1 We have to come to grips with those basic
2 facts, and hold them up high for people to see
3 so that as we move into the future, we never --
4 we never take a step back on discrimination.
5 But we can create a better Florida by
6 expanding opportunities for people in a race
7 conscious, but race neutral way. And we'll
8 lead the nation in that regard.
9 I'm very proud of this plan and I'm proud
10 of the people that have stood by us, in fact,
11 with a lot of courage. A lot of people who
12 have been called a lot of things, have taken a
13 lot of grief because of this.
14 And I'm proud of their friendship and their
15 support.
16 And I will vote to support this amendment,
17 and I urge my Cabinet members to do the same.
18 Any other discussion?
19 All in favor?
20 THE CABINET: Aye.
21 GOVERNOR BUSH: All opposed?
22 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: No.
23 TREASURER NELSON: No.
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: The aye's have it.
25 Now, General Butterworth --
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February 22, 2000
1 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: I think --
2 GOVERNOR BUSH: -- would you like to --
3 ATTORNEY GENERAL BUTTERWORTH: Yes,
4 Governor. Thank you very much.
5 Obviously over the next few months, we'll
6 probably have a -- a public records request
7 from every single media and everything else on
8 this issue.
9 So in order to make sure that we're doing
10 what -- what everybody wants to do, I move that
11 the Board of Regents provide a biannual report
12 to the State Board of Education detailing the
13 results of each institution in admitting and
14 retaining minority students, faculty, and staff
15 beginning October 1 of 2000.
16 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: I'll second it.
17 GOVERNOR BUSH: All in favor of this, say
18 aye.
19 THE CABINET: Aye.
20 GOVERNOR BUSH: All opposed?
21 Very good.
22 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: We do have one
23 more --
24 GOVERNOR BUSH: We have one more item.
25 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: -- one more item,
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February 22, 2000
1 Governor. I don't think it's controversial.
2 MR. PIERSON: Item 11 is amendment to ten
3 rules of the State Board of Independent
4 Colleges and Universities.
5 COMMISSIONER GALLAGHER: Move adoption.
6 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Second.
7 GOVERNOR BUSH: Moved and seconded.
8 Without objection, it's approved.
9 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: Move out.
10 GOVERNOR BUSH: Thank you very much.
11 COMMISSIONER CRAWFORD: All right.
12 (The State Board of Education Agenda was
13 concluded.)
14 * * *
15 (The Cabinet meeting was concluded at
16 1:49 p.m.)
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February 22, 2000
1 CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER
2
3
4
5 STATE OF FLORIDA:
6 COUNTY OF LEON:
7 I, LAURIE L. GILBERT, do hereby certify that
8 the foregoing proceedings were taken before me at the
9 time and place therein designated; that my shorthand
10 notes were thereafter translated; and the foregoing
11 pages numbered 106 through 267 are a true and correct
12 record of the aforesaid proceedings.
13 I FURTHER CERTIFY that I am not a relative,
14 employee, attorney or counsel of any of the parties,
15 nor relative or employee of such attorney or counsel,
16 or financially interested in the foregoing action.
17 DATED THIS 4TH day of MARCH, 2000.
18
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20 LAURIE L. GILBERT, RPR, CCR, CRR, RMR
100 Salem Court
21 Tallahassee, Florida 32301
850/878-2221
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