Michael Tentnowski, Director of Entrepreneurship at Innovation Park, was invited to speak to the business group about how the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory is positioned to drive economic growth.

One of the questions posed by the NEBA moderator addressed the impact of the local political climate/corruption/FBI investigation on recruiting businesses to Tallahassee.

Dozier and Richardson, who were invited by NEBA as guests, weighed in on the question.

Ms. Dozier said she believed that the corruption investigation was having a negative impact on business recruitment.

However, Commissioner Richardson stated, in a defiant tone, “there is not a corruption problem at city hall.” Richardson noted there is one FBI investigation of one city commissioner and there has been no indictments.

Several NEBA members voiced concern about Richardson ignoring media reports about questionable activities by city officials.

For example, over the last 18 months Tallahassee City Manager Rick Fernandez has resigned, Mayor Andrew Gillum reimbursed the city $5,000 for the campaign use of city resources, a city audit found an appearance of conflict related to contracts awarded to members of Commissioner Nancy Miller’s family, and a recent investigation found city employees took skybox football tickets from Mr. Fernandez.

Also, reporting on the FBI investigation revealed that at least two members of the city commission have traveled to vacation destinations with city vendors, city lobbyists, and undercover FBI agents posing as developers seeking to do business in Tallahassee.

A mobility fee, which is under consideration in Leon County, replaces impact and concurrency fees as a source for funding transportation projects. The fee would be paid by developers based on the parameters of specific projects.

Debbie Dantin, a Professional Engineer based in Tallahassee with experience in transportation concurrency and traffic impact studies, told NEBA members that a mobility fee would allow developers to know up front what fees are required for projects.

This is in contrast to the impact and concurrency process where fees were often determined through negotiations based on various factors.

Dantin voiced concern about the impact of higher mobility fees on small businesses.

Dantin was also critical of the recent City of Tallahassee reorganization which did away with the public works department and placed responsibilities with different utility departments. Noting that most other cities have public work departments, Dantin said the reorganization has resulted in communication problems in the process that addresses transportation issues.

Dantin said that a popular critique from developers about the impact and concurrency process was that fees where seldom allocated to specific projects and would sometimes go unspent while transportation needs went unaddressed.

She argued that the mobility fee structure should include a process to allocate funds to specific projects identified to address transportation problems.

Jonathan B. Paul, a transportation planning expert with more than 18 years of experience working in the government, university, and private sectors, explained that mobility fees could be used for transportation options that go beyond road construction.

As examples, he spoke of mobility fees subsidizing Uber and Lyft services in Altamonte Springs, Florida and autonomous transit vehicles, which are being considered in Gainesville.

Mr. Paul is currently working on developing a proposed mobility fee plan for Leon County.

Mr. Paul also addressed the concerns about a mobility fee impact on small businesses by stating that an efficient transportation system would benefit all businesses.

When asked about the number one traffic issue in Leon County, Paul said that more could be done with a number of intersections around town.

Ms. Dantin agreed, and said that minor improvements at intersections can have an immediate impact on traffic flow. But Dantin said it takes too long to get the projects through the approval process.

NEBA held a forum addressing the current and future status of air and rail transportation in Tallahassee which featured Aviation Director Chris Curry and City Commissioner Scott Maddox. Maddox, who has a long history of trying to improve air service in Tallahassee, spoke first and addressed both air and rail transportation issues.

The two issues air travelers have consistently complained about are ticket prices and flight availability. Reports show that approximately 30% of residents in the Tallahassee area choose to fly out of other cities, such as Atlanta and Orlando, because of price and non-stop flights.

Maddox could offer no concrete solutions, and with a hint of resignation, he explained why the current situation is probably not going to change in the near future.

Maddox said, “we are 4 1/2 hours from a major hub. We are a fly over designation.” He said this geographic reality does not appeal to air carriers.

Mr. Curry, explaining why Jet Blue will not commit to serving Tallahassee, said the economic model of air carriers is focused on filling larger planes. This approach, driven by factors which include a shortage of pilots, puts Tallahassee down the list when desirable carriers are looking for new markets.

Maddox admitted that Tallahassee’s economic growth will be stymied “until we have good air service.”

When Mr. Curry was asked about the reason for the airport’s  international designation, he spoke about future trade opportunities with Central America due to the overcrowding at south Florida airports. He also explained how the international designation, coupled with Tallahassee’s ability to obtain a “foreign trade zone” designation from the US Department of Commerce, could help recruit foreign businesses.

Mr. Curry also discussed the $62 million in airport improvements to the runways and the terminal and said the renovations to the security check in process will soon be competed. Mr, Curry said the current carriers are solid and, despite certain challenges, the economic activity through the airport contributed approximately $453 million to the local economy in 2016.

Commissioner Maddox also talked about the possibilities of the return of Amtrak service to north Florida. The service was interrupted during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and now a number of groups are supporting its return. Maddox said a test run from Jacksonville to New Orleans was popular.

Maddox said there is a Gulf Coast Working Group which will report to Congress next month on reopening the section of the Sunset Limited Trail which runs from Tallahassee to New Orleans. However the current Administration’s budget does not include any money for rail anywhere in the country, so he suggested people that support rail to call their members of Congress.

Maddox said the the operational costs of the service is approximately $5.4 million per year, however he also talked about some of the benefits of Amtrak. He said the service would help reduce I-10 congestion, improved labor markets, and the appeal to young people.

Maddox was encouraged by the physical condition of Tallahassee’s train station and also by the growth in the Gaines Street area which will help transition the transportation option with Tallahassee’s urban area.

O’Bryant, who took the reins at TMH in 2003, has had a successful tenure as the CEO. In 2011 he was named an Executive of the Year in the 9th Annual American Business Awards in the category of “Health Products and Services — More than 2,500 Employees.”

And now he embarks on a project, the Mustian Center, that will take the services offered by TMH to a new level.

O’Bryant opened his appearance with a brief presentation that included comments about his choice to come to Tallahassee. He said he took the CEO job because of the potential he saw with TMH and has stayed because of the quality of life in Tallahassee.

He told the crowd that the $260 million Mustian Center will be as “nice as anything in Chicago and New York.” The project will include 32 new operating beds and 72 ICU beds and was described by O’Bryant as an “once in a generation building.”

The expansion will continue to facilitate TMH’s regional appeal to those in need of medical services. Historically, O’Bryant said that the hospital has served patients from 50-60 miles away, but now TMH is a regional player.

The regional appeal is due, in part, to the highly specialized services that TMH now offers. TMH has successfully integrated high technology procedures with services that are focused on cancer treatments, neurosurgery and a heart program.

TMH has the area’s only designated Level II trauma center, neurological intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit, newborn intensive care unit and accredited community hospital cancer program.

O’Bryant said the Mustian Center will enhance the use of technology and will also allow TMH to re-purpose existing space to address other needs.

The construction part of the Mustian Center will be completed in the Fall 2018. There will be approximately three months of training and test runs before patients will be admitted in the beginning of 2019.

O’Bryant said that TMH continues to expand medical research activities through partnerships with Florida State University and the University of Florida.

He added that TMH is “recognized as a leader in telemedicine” which has positive implications given the rural nature of the surrounding areas.

O’Bryant also took the time to discuss how TMH has become an “economic generator” for Tallahassee. He showed a chart (see below, click on image to enlarge) that compared job growth from 2003 to 2015 for Tallahassee’s largest employers. TMH led all employers with approximately 61% growth from 2,850 jobs in 2003 to 4,583 jobs in 2015.

Top Employers in Tallahassee

Q&A

During the question and answer session, O’Bryant fielded inquires about the use of local contractors for the construction of the Mustian Center and the debate over the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

When asked about the use of local contractors, O”Bryant said approximately $41 million of the $260 million project was going to local businesses.

When asked about some local contractors voicing concerns about not being able to bid on the project, O’Bryant said TMH had required the largest contractors to use local trades when possible.

TR has heard similar concerns about the use of local contractors for the Mustian Center and we will have a follow-up story on this issue.

When asked about the debate over the ACA, O’Bryant said the “best model is what happened in Massachusetts under Mitt Romney.” He said that approach created “very stable insurance rates.”

He views the debate over health care political because of the name “Obamacare” and preferred the ACA be amended to address current problems. Those problems include rising premiums and fewer participating insurance carriers.

He also told the NEBA members that Florida did not receive the full financial benefits of the ACA due to the decision not to expand Medicaid. Reports estimate Florida lost out on $66.1 billion in federal funding over ten years.

When asked about his views after returning from the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce sponsored trip to Nashville, O’Bryant said that “Nashville understands the value of a brand.” Referring to Tallahassee, he said, “we don’t have a brand.”

The forum provided opportunities for three business people, who have interfaced with the permitting process at various levels, to share their experiences with the local permitting process.

Roger Osborne, who has been involved with a number of local projects, including the VA clinic on Mahan Drive, told the crowd of about 110 that permitting is important to the economic growth of a community.

He said Tallahassee has a national reputation of being slow when it comes to getting projects permitted. He said it takes 90 days to get a job permitted in Sarasota compared 6-12 months in Tallahassee.

Rick Moore, a professional engineer and a self-described insider, said the “permitting process is complicated.”

He said the over all climate has become more business friendly when compared to the days of Bob Racliff and Cliff Thael. He applauded the efforts of City leaders including Vince Long, the County Administrator and  Rick Fernandez, the City Manager.

Jeremy Matlow, a local business owner whose ventures include Gaines Street Pies, voiced his frustrations with the permitting process and revealed troubling facts.

He said it took a retail store 30 days to get open on Gaines Street but it took his pizza restaurant 13 months. He talked about how the City bent over backwards to help Whole Foods but has a different approach for small businesses.

Matlow’s frustrations were centered around having to deal with different people at many different steps of the process.

Audience members also shared experiences.

Bill Wert, owner of Orkin Pest Control, said he is looking to expand but was told a building in Leon County would take 12 months to get completed compared to three months in Gadsden County at I-10 and Highway 90.

In the end, the overall sentiment was that Leon County and the City of Tallahassee need a liaison to help guide people through the permitting process and to provide some level of accountability.

City Commissioner Gil Ziffer, who was also joined at the meeting by Commissioner Scott Maddox, said that “what you are doing today is very helpful.”

During election years, NEBA provides candidate forums on political races that include US Congress, state legislature, city and county commission, Constitutional officers, school superintendent and school board races.  NEBA also profiles Constitutional Amendment issues.

NEBA recently created a PAC as a vehicle to help business owners use their collective monies to let others in Leon County know where the business community stands on candidates and issues.

The NEBA PAC endorsements for 2016 are listed below:

2nd Circuit State Attorney Candidate Jack Campbell

Leon Co. School Superintendent Candidate Rocky Hanna

Leon County Commission Seat 2 Candidate Manny Joanos

Senator Bill Montford

Leon Co. Judge Layne Smith

Tallahassee City Commission Seat 2 Candidate Steve Hougland

Leon County Sheriff Mike Wood

The groups involved in the poll included Florida TaxWatch, the Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates (NEBA), the Budget Hawks and Citizens for Responsible Spending (CRS).

In a press conference held on Monday at the Florida Press Center, two leaders of the groups explained the findings.

“Tallahassee is a great city but to continue growing and providing opportunities for everyone to pursue their dreams, there must be a balance between what the government wants and how much people can afford to pay,” said Dominic M. Calabro, president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch.

“This poll is evidence that Tallahassee residents demand relief and demand to be heard,” said Barney Bishop, president of NEBA and founder of CRS.

The results show that 57% of poll respondents support splitting the $5 million in savings identified by City of Tallahassee staff between providing property tax relief and infrastructure spending. Also, 60% support property tax relief over the elimination of the business tax which was recently requested by the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce.

On the executive pay raises that hit the news last week, only 17% of respondents felt the raises were deserved.

The results also show the community is less concerned with the pay levels for public safety officials and the 2% raise proposed for city employees. Over 65% of the respondents voiced support for the current salary levels of police officers, firefighters and this year’s proposed 2% raise.

Bishop commented that he had misread the sentiment of the public on the 2% employee raises and encouraged City Commissioners to adopt spending priorities that are responsive to both City employees and the property tax payer.

Other results found that 51% of the respondents believe the City of Tallahassee is on the right track.

TR spent time at both meetings.

Citizens’ Workshop in City Hall

The workshop at City Hall was lead by representatives of the Budget Hawks, Citizens for Responsible Spending (CRS) and the Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates (NEBA). Approximately 110 people were in attendance.

The groups presented their issues with the the City’s budget process and provided independent evidence supporting their concerns about the City’s spending priorities.

And while there was a fair amount of criticism aimed at the City by the presenters and the speakers, at the end of the presentation the groups detailed the “Citizens Budget.”

The “Citizens’ Budget” which was labeled as an alternative to the City of Tallahassee budget, called for putting money back in the pockets of all citizens in the community.

The “Citizens’ Budget” called for refunding $2 million to low income taxpayers, rescinding the 13% percent property tax and allocating $2 million to road improvements.

The group also provided details about where the savings would come from and promised to provide more detail as more information became available.

Walker-Ford Workshop

The City of Tallahassee meeting at Walker-Ford drew about 100 people, of which at least 30 were paid City of Tallahassee staff. There were 19 speakers from various groups seeking funding from the City including, St. Frances Wildlife, the Palmer-Munroe Teen Center, and North Florida Legal Services.

Two members of the Tallahassee Chamber of  Commerce asked the City to repeal the City’s business tax. The business tax puts about $2 million in City coffers each year.

Also, two members of NEBA asked the City to roll back the property tax increase.

The City’s proposal raises close to $5 million in new fees and taxes and does not refund any funds to taxpayers. A detailed review of the FY2017 City budget can be found here.

Commissioner discussion after the speakers and City staff presentation addressed funding the Palmer-Munroe Teen Center ($180,000) and repealing the business tax ($2 million).

Also, Commissioner Ziffer addressed a request from Dr. Ed Holifield who asked the Commission to reduce the rent for the Neighborhood Medical Center since Tallahassee Memorial Hospital gets a property tax break from the City of Tallahassee.

Ziffer indicated he would ask City staff to find the money to implement Holifield’s request.

Next Steps

The City of Tallahassee will hold their next budget meeting on July 13th, 2016. At that meeting City Commissioners will vote on a mileage rate and review new information provided by City staff.

The Citizens’ groups plan on promoting their “Citizens’ Budget” as an alternative to the City’s FY2017 budget. TR was told no future meetings were currently scheduled.

The election for Sheriff will begin with the primary on August 30th and conclude with the general election on November 8th.

The primary will be a contest between Democratic candidates Tommy Mills,who is a former officer with the Leon and Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office’s, Walt McNeil, former City of Tallahassee Police Chief and current Sheriff Mike Wood. The winner of the primary will face Charlie Strickland, a businessman and former lieutenant with Leon County Sheriff’s Office, who is running with no party affiliation.

The forum featured specific questions about concealed weapons on college campuses, unionizing the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Tallahassee’s recent vote to extend closing times for night clubs to 4:00 a.m.

It became clear early on that current Sheriff Mike Wood, who was appointed by Governor Scott after the untimely death of Sheriff Larry Campbell approximately 18 months ago, would be the target of the other three candidates.

The three challengers all repeated various comments centered around recent reports on high crime rates buttressed by the theme that “what we are doing is not working.”

However Strickland and McNeil were the most aggressive.

Strickland said that “Sheriff Wood had one and half years and it is not working.”

McNeil criticized Sheriff Wood for not having a plan to work with the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) and said “we are in a bad place” and “Mike does not get it.’

McNeil told TR after the forum, the Sheriff must address City crime through more leadership and in tangible actions that go beyond public relations.

Sheriff Wood responded by telling the audience that “collaboration is our strong point” and that the Sheriff’s Office works well with TPD. He cited anti-gang initiatives with TPD and state agencies as examples.

Sheriff Wood also spoke enthusiastically about the recent decision by the Sheriff’s Office to roll out body cameras.

Strickland, who is the owner of the Talon Range, used his business experience to distinguish himself from the other candidates.

Mills, who narrowly lost to Sheriff Campbell during the last election cycle, spoke of his disappointment in the current crime rate and said it was “time to roll your sleeves up” and “do things differently.”

Questions

None of the candidates said they supported unionizing the Sheriff’s Office or consolidation. However, Walt McNeil said the question is about working together versus consolidation and if we can’t work together then we need to consolidate.

All the candidates, but Charlie Strickland, were against allowing concealed weapons on college campuses.

Walt McNeil and Sheriff Wood spoke against the City of Tallahassee’s 3-2 decision to extend bar hours to 4 a.m.. McNeil labeled the decision “wrong headed.” Strickland and Mills did not speak against the City’s decision.

Wood won the straw poll of NEBA members. Strickland came in second, McNeil in third and Mills in fourth.

The current State Attorney, Willie Meggs, is retiring after 32 years.

The State Attorney processes all criminal cases presented by law enforcement officers who have charged persons with felonies, misdemeanors, traffic crimes like DUI or reckless driving, acts of juvenile delinquency, and some violations of county or municipal ordinances.  The State Attorney leads a staff of over 42 attorneys.

The race for State Attorney is a partisan election which means that Democrat Party candidates, Jack Campbell and Sean Desmond, will face off in the primary to be held in August.

The third candidate, Republican Pete Williams, will forego a primary and face the winner of the Democrat primary if no other Republicans enter the race.

Jack Campbell, who has worked in the State Attorney’s Office for the last fifteen years, told the crowd of about 100 that “public service is in my heart” and his goal is to make the office more approachable for regular citizens.

Mr. Campbell spoke about how he plans to use technology to make the office more efficient and expressed the need for good relationships with the community to do the job in the most effective manner.

Mr. Campbell acknowledged the local crime situation and said we have a “major gang problem.” He acknowledged the problem demands the focus of his office and is one of the reasons he  serves on the Community Leadership Council on Gun Violence.

Mr. Desmond said he will bring a fresh leadership perspective to the State Attorney’s Office and indicated it was time to break with the past and to forge new relationships.

He said the biggest problem in our community is violent crime and he planned to address the issue with better relationships with all law enforcement agencies and community outreach.

He also commented about the high turnover of lawyers at the State Attorney’s Office and promised to require new hires to stay for at least three years.

Mr. Desmond who has experience working for the State Attorney’s office and in the private sector as a defense attorney, said he has “seen the legal system from both sides.”

Pete Williams, who lost a close race to Mr. Meggs four years ago, said the State Attorney position is very important because of the power to arrest and to the power to choose not to arrest.

Mr. Williams argued that the State Attorney’s Office is unfair to minorities when it comes to the decision to prosecute and he believes he could do a better job deciding when and when not to pursue a conviction.

Mr. Williams also said the he would install a code of ethics for the State Attorney’s Office if elected and said it was troublesome that someone currently employed by the State Attorney’s Office could take contributions from attorneys that may have dealings with the State Attorney’s Office.

The straw poll held after the forum was won by Jack Campbell. Only NEBA members could vote and final tallies were not revealed.