News Reedy Creek Improvement District and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

[flynnibus]

You mean the incompetent cronies with no experience who have demonstrated that they are in over their heads know about the results in practice?

If they are going to go around the process, they should show their work - demonstrate where the problems are with public data.

They already cited a problem - the manual transfer, and citing that Orange County's pickup rate was below the state standard. - cued up section

If you believe it is critical enough or not - certainly up to your interpretation. But to say "well I never have a problem with 911" and to say "show your work"... Well, those aren't really well founded arguments given the cites we have today.

I already pointed out the District's procurement policy specifically allows this, and pointed out how months ago they laid out the reasoning for an urgent need as well.

 

[castlecake2.0]

I did not edit what you said - I focused it.. and your response actually tries to counter exactly what I was highlighting was wrong with your statement.

Just because that's how YOU use 911 - doesn't mean that is inclusive of all the scenarios THEY actually support and their requirements.. or how your anecdotal evidence aligns with all performance.

Whatever

 

[LAKid53]

But I also think it's fair to say that as a consumer - you probably don't have the visibility into all the scenarios or permutations their system supports. And we can safely assume they know far more about the actual results in practice than we do.

I've been through the merger of 2 state agencies. Sat on several committees formed to study how each agency operated in a particular arena and determine the BMPs for those joint functions.

Also was part of a group to review, acquire and implement a new financial system as part of the university's separation from SAMAS.

I KNOW how the procurement process should work in government. Where's the feasibility study that determined a new emergency system was needed? Where's the cost benefit analysis? Where's the RFP?

CFTOD, in SPITE of what its board members may think, is NOT a private sector entity. It is a unit of government. And thus must conform to state regulations and best practices.

This smacks of cronyism.

 

[flynnibus]

I've been through the merger of 2 state agencies. Sat on several committees formed to study how each agency operated in a particular arena and determine the BMPs for those joint functions.

Also was part of a group to review, acquire and implement a new financial system as part of the university's separation from SAMAS.

That's great - how does that qualify you to counter the statements made about this particular E911 situation and it's performance and needs?

Maybe focus that experience in dissecting how the District can have a written procurement policy that directly contradicts the statue you cited? Maybe they as a municipality are different from a state agency.... Their approval and bidding requirements differ from your cited statute.

I KNOW how the procurement process should work in government. Where's the feasibility study that determined a new emergency system was needed? Where's the cost benefit analysis? Where's the RFP?

They already said this is a byproduct of their movement off the Disney Internet system. What specifics about that vs the phone network is not communicated in that detail. But it's not out of left field... considering the systems are all likely VoIP and thus the design of the IP network is inter-related.

 

[mikejs78]

They already cited a problem - the manual transfer, and citing that Orange County's pickup rate was below the state standard. - cued up section

Given that Gleason has repeatedly made statements in those meetings that are misleading, misdirection, or outright lies, you'll excuse me for not taking his comments at state value. Data should be shown.

I already pointed out the District's procurement policy specifically allows this, and pointed out how months ago they laid out the reasoning for an urgent need as well.

A policy does not override a statute. From the CFTOD enabling act:

Section 61. Construction of district projects.—The Legislature finds and declares that in order to accomplish the purposes of this act, it is essential that the board of supervisors have discretion and authority with respect to the manner in which the construction of the projects of the district, including, but not limited to, projects financed by district bonds, taxes, or assessments, shall be undertaken. The board of supervisors shall have power and authority to acquire, construct, reconstruct, extend, repair, improve, maintain, and operate any of the projects of the district, and to that end to employ contractors, to purchase machinery, to employ machinery operators, and directly to have charge of and construct the projects of the district in such manner as the board may determine. The district may undertake any construction work with its own resources, without public advertisement for bids. However, if the district does not use its own resources to undertake any construction work, the board of supervisors must let contracts for the projects of the district, either as a whole or in sections, with public advertising and the receiving of bids, all on such terms and conditions as the board may deem appropriate. The board of supervisors shall let the contract to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder. However, the board may in its discretion reject any and all bids.
[/QUOTE/

 

[Isamar]

Disney Files Scathing Memos in Fed Lawsuit Blasting DeSantis’ ‘Farcical’ Excuses for ‘Unconstitutional Restructuring’ of Tax District

Attorneys for the Walt Disney Company have filed a pair of legal memoranda opposing the motions to dismiss the complaint it filed against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and the governor's appointees to the board overseeing the special taxing district on Disney property, issuing a scathing...

www.mediaite.com

 

[mikejs78]

Disney Files Scathing Memos in Fed Lawsuit Blasting DeSantis’ ‘Farcical’ Excuses for ‘Unconstitutional Restructuring’ of Tax District

Attorneys for the Walt Disney Company have filed a pair of legal memoranda opposing the motions to dismiss the complaint it filed against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and the governor's appointees to the board overseeing the special taxing district on Disney property, issuing a scathing...

www.mediaite.com

I like how Disney is phrasing this in their response to the motions to dismiss:

The injuries from elimination of its voting rights and the institution of a de facto speech-control board in turn give rise to Disney’s claim challenging the laws reorganizing the District—SB 4C and HB 9B—by replacing the landowner-elected Reedy Creek Improvement District (“RCID”) with the Governor-controlled Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (“CFTOD”)

By referring to CFTOD as a "speech-control board", it bolsters their claim that the legislation itself is unconstitutional, and that striking down the legislation is the only possible remedy...

 

[seascape]

The time has come for the Republican Legislature to pass a new bill restoring the original RCID voting power. Desantis's appointees have proven that he is unable to appoint a Board that knows how to run a tourist area.

 

[JohnD]

The time has come for the Republican Legislature to pass a new bill restoring the original RCID voting power. Desantis's appointees have proven that he is unable to appoint a Board that knows how to run a tourist area.

The 2024 Legislative Session begins in January, so who knows?

 

[flynnibus]

Given that Gleason has repeatedly made statements in those meetings that are misleading, misdirection, or outright lies, you'll excuse me for not taking his comments at state value. Data should be shown.

I'm not saying you have to believe him - I'm pointing out the case they've outlined (from the beginning no less, not in response to some journalist) to lay out their path.

So now we're going to add conspiracy charges to people as well... since they have now convinced the CFO to participate to create a procurement policy, knowing it's violation of decades of law, incorporate it into the budget proposal, strongarm all the disgruntled employees to NOT be whistleblowers, and everything was a master plan to grift less than a million dollar deal to some GOP lackey that Gilzeen alone had a few months overlap on the Ethics committee with?

That's a ton of work for a very little amount of gain.

A policy does not override a statute. From the CFTOD enabling act:

Occam razor here... you think the district staff went out of their way to write a policy (in void of one) and do so knowingly in violation of law they have been bound to for decades? Or is it... the interpretations here may not apply as strongly as some believe?

The "CFO" is not a CFTOD appointee... she's been with the district for a long long time. Your own cite contains enough exceptions to drive a semi through...

" if the district does not use its own resources to undertake any construction work, the board of supervisors must let contracts for the projects of the district, either as a whole or in sections, with public advertising and the receiving of bids, all on such terms and conditions as the board may deem appropriate"

This is only part of a larger deal for one... second.. "all on such terms and conditions as the board may deem appropriate". AKA the 'catch all' for creating exceptions.

Or do you believe the district's head of finance and procurement is a newly unleashed devil just happy to be free to ignore all the rules under the new leaders?

 

[LAKid53]

A policy does not override a statute. From the CFTOD enabling act:

A policy NEVER overrides statute. Per the state constitution and Florida Administrative Code.

 

[mikejs78]

Occam razor here... you think the district staff went out of their way to write a policy (in void of one) and do so knowingly in violation of law they have been bound to for decades? Or is it... the interpretations here may not apply as strongly as some believe?

No, I suspect it's more incompetence than anything else.

Or do you believe the district's head of finance and procurement is a newly unleashed devil just happy to be free to ignore all the rules under the new leaders?

I believe that as a district employee, the head of finance and procurement is doing what they are told to do.

 

[LAKid53]

I'm not saying you have to believe him - I'm pointing out the case they've outlined (from the beginning no less, not in response to some journalist) to lay out their path.

So now we're going to add conspiracy charges to people as well... since they have now convinced the CFO to participate to create a procurement policy, knowing it's violation of decades of law, incorporate it into the budget proposal, strongarm all the disgruntled employees to NOT be whistleblowers, and everything was a master plan to grift less than a million dollar deal to some GOP lackey that Gilzeen alone had a few months overlap on the Ethics committee with?

That's a ton of work for a very little amount of gain.


Occam razor here... you think the district staff went out of their way to write a policy (in void of one) and do so knowingly in violation of law they have been bound to for decades? Or is it... the interpretations here may not apply as strongly as some believe?

The "CFO" is not a CFTOD appointee... she's been with the district for a long long time. Your own cite contains enough exceptions to drive a semi through...

" if the district does not use its own resources to undertake any construction work, the board of supervisors must let contracts for the projects of the district, either as a whole or in sections, with public advertising and the receiving of bids, all on such terms and conditions as the board may deem appropriate"

This is only part of a larger deal for one... second.. "all on such terms and conditions as the board may deem appropriate". AKA the 'catch all' for creating exceptions.

Or do you believe the district's head of finance and procurement is a newly unleashed devil just happy to be free to ignore all the rules under the new leaders?

My god, the guy accepted a PAID public position while serving as chair of the Florida Ethics Commission. In VIOLATION of Florida Statute. And then lied about getting counsel clearance. Sorry, I tend not to believe a bloody word that comes out of his mouth and few statements from the Board.

 

[LAKid53]

I believe that as a district employee, the head of finance and procurement is doing what they are told to do.

Probably because their employment is "at the pleasure of...". People who have positions like those tend to do what they've been instructed to do.

 

[LAKid53]

That's great - how does that qualify you to counter the statements made about this particular E911 situation and it's performance and needs?

Maybe focus that experience in dissecting how the District can have a written procurement policy that directly contradicts the statue you cited? Maybe they as a municipality are different from a state agency.... Their approval and bidding requirements differ from your cited statute.


They already said this is a byproduct of their movement off the Disney Internet system. What specifics about that vs the phone network is not communicated in that detail. But it's not out of left field... considering the systems are all likely VoIP and thus the design of the IP network is inter-related.

The CFTOD is a quasi state agency that has the powers of a county government.

 

[flynnibus]

My god, the guy accepted a PAID public position while serving as chair of the Florida Ethics Commission. In VIOLATION of Florida Statute. And then lied about getting counsel clearance. Sorry, I tend not to believe a bloody word that comes out of his mouth and few statements from the Board.

Then do you believe WFTv and the cited data from the Sherriffs dept?

Pretty sure none of them have been on the ethics committee

Calls to 911 are going unanswered in Orange County. The sheriffâs office is making changes

Orange County's 911 center is failing to pick up calls in time, if at all.

www.wftv.com

 

[mikejs78]

My god, the guy accepted a PAID public position while serving as chair of the Florida Ethics Commission. In VIOLATION of Florida Statute. And then lied about getting counsel clearance. Sorry, I tend not to believe a bloody word that comes out of his mouth and few statements from the Board.

Not only that, but at another board meeting he flat out lied about the District's paying for off duty police.

 

[flynnibus]

I believe that as a district employee, the head of finance and procurement is doing what they are told to do.

Knowingly committing crimes because she is cowering to her boss, while a licensed professional in the state, in a regulated public gov position, and an executive officer of a public municipality, and doing it only because shes following orderss? Nope… sorry not gonna buy it.

 

[flynnibus]

The CFTOD is a quasi state agency that has the powers of a county government.

So answer it directly? Is it part of the executive branch? I say no

 

[mikejs78]

Knowingly committing crimes because she is cowering to her boss, while a licensed professional in the state, in a regulated public gov position, and an executive officer of a public municipality, and doing it only because shes following orderss? Nope… sorry not gonna buy it.

Ok will you buy that maybe she was accustomed to the law under the old Reedy Creek act, and was possibly unaware that this requirement had changed?

Original Reedy Creek Act:

The Board of Supervisors in its discretion may, but shall not be required to, let contracts for the projects of the District, either as a whole or in sections, with or without public advertising and
the receiving of bids, all on such terms and conditions as the Board of Supervisors may deem appropriate. In the event the Board of Supervisors advertises and receives bids, the Board of Supervisors shall let the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, provided, however, that the Board of Supervisors may in its discretion reject any and all bids.

CFTOD enabling legislation:

However, if the district does not use its own resources to undertake any construction work, the board of supervisors must let contracts for the projects of the district, either as a whole or in sections, with public advertising and the receiving of bids, all on such terms and conditions as the board may deem appropriate. The board of supervisors shall let the contract to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder. However, the board may in its discretion reject any and all bids.

Additionally, the Reedy Creek act basically overrode all elements of FL law that conflicted with it. The CFTOD legislation contains no such provision about overriding conflicting law.