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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final February 20, 2024 <br />Attachments: Operation Green Light <br />Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Ryan Butler announced the start of <br />Operation Green Light which would run from March 8th through March 22nd. The <br />event would offer drivers the opportunity to reinstate their driver's license and save <br />money by having court fees waived. Mr. Butler informed the event would held be in <br />several locations throughout the County, including a weekend event. He reported that <br />last year more than 90 drivers had their licenses reinstated while avoiding court costs. <br />No Action Taken or Required <br />10. PUBLIC ITEMS <br />A. PUBLIC HEARINGS <br />PROOF OF PUBLICATION FOR THIS HEARING IS ON FILE IN THE <br />OFFICE OF THE CLERK TO THE BOARD. <br />10.A.1. 24-0151 Charging Criminal Defendants Additional Fees and Eliminating Costs for Indigent <br />Defendants [LEGISLATIVE] <br />Recommended Action: Staff recommends the Board conduct the necessary Public Hearing and after <br />taking testimony from interested parties, approve the ordinance amendment and <br />authorize the chairman to sign the amendment on behalf of the Board. <br />Attachments: Staff Report <br />Proposed Ordinance Amendment <br />Deputy County Attorney Susan Prado provided details of the code amendment <br />which would allow the Court to impose court costs of $65 for each count a <br />defendant was found guilty of, rather than a flat fee per arrest. Attorney Prado <br />noted that defendants who qualified for indigent status would still be exempt from <br />paying these court costs. This item was previously before the Board for discussion <br />on December 12, 2023. <br />Commissioner Loar received information regarding the process the Clerk of <br />Court used to declare a defendant indigent. Attorney Prado also provided <br />confirmation this amendment was allowable under State Statutes. <br />The Chairman opened the public hearing. There being no comments, the <br />Chairman closed the public hearing. <br />A motion was made by Vice Chairman Flescher, seconded by Commissioner <br />Earman, to approve staff's recommendation, and adopt Ordinance 2024-005, <br />amending Indian River County Code §305.11, Imposition of Additional Court <br />Costs in Criminal Cases pursuant to Section 939.185, Florida Statutes (2004), <br />as amended; providing for codification, severability, repeal of conflicting <br />Indian River County Florida Page 8 <br />