City Council — August 7, 2025 FINAL

Alan Clendenin

9:05:18AM Mr. Shelby, could you please read the rules for Tampa City Council?

Martin Shelby

9:05:24AM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning. Martin Shelby, City Council attorney. These are the rules of decorum for the conduct of today's meeting. Members of the public are allowed a reasonable opportunity at the beginning of today's meeting to address any item on the agenda before the City Council takes official action on an item. A three-minute time limit applies to all speakers providing public comment. Now, if you're here to speak at general public comment, which begins after the ceremonial items this morning on the agenda, please fill out a speaker card and place it in the box that's outside the chambers. One card per speaker. Cards will be accepted until the start of general public comment. Each person submitting a card will be recognized by name to approach and speak. Names that cannot be read will not be called. Please print legibly. Now, if you are here to speak at a public hearing, those are marked on the agenda as such, public hearing. You don't use the speaker card. You use the sign-in sheet by the podium outside instead. If you need assistance, please see the City staff. Speakers and members of the public are also reminded that they are to refrain from disruptive behavior, including making vulgar or threatening remarks or making or causing disruptive noises or sounds or displaying signs or graphics. The Chair Will rule out of order any person who speaks without being recognized or attempts to address the City Council from outside the speaker area at the podium. Now, persons failing to comply with the council's rules may also be ruled out of order and at the discretion of the chair may be removed from the chambers for the remainder of today's meeting. Now, please know that if it is something on the agenda that is listed as a consent item or for staff reports, the time to speak on those items is going to be at the start of the meeting during general public comment. Finally, City Council members should refrain from engaging a speaker under public comment and the public should be aware that the City Council does not take questions or have a dialogue with you during general public comment. This is your opportunity to express your position. Thank you. [ sounding gavel ]

Alan Clendenin

9:07:36AM Sir, in the white and black t-shirt against the wall, I rule that you are out of order. I'll give you an opportunity to leave the chambers and reverse your t-shirt and then you can reenter the chamber. If you do not wish to take that opportunity, I'll rule your behavior out of order and ask to you leave the chambers.

Martin Shelby

9:07:54AM Mr. Chairman, Martin Shelby, City Council attorney. Have you done roll call?

Alan Clendenin

9:08:00AM Clerk, can you call the roll?

Charlie Miranda

9:08:04AM Here.

Guido Maniscalco

9:08:04AM Here.

Lynn Hurtak

9:08:06AM Here.

Luis Viera

9:08:07AM Here.

Bill Carlson

9:08:08AM Here.

Alan Clendenin

9:08:09AM Here. Thank you. Sir, I'm sorry, once again, I'll give you an opportunity to leave the chambers, reverse your shirt and then come back in. If not, I'll rule you out of order. [ sounding gavel ] sir, you are out of order. Please leave council chambers. Sir, may I direct the officer to remove the gentleman from the chambers for the remainder of today's proceedings? Thank you. I would like to call a ten-minute recess. I ask City staff, clerk, attorney, City Council to leave the chambers for ten minutes, and we will return and resume operations. I'm sorry for the folks here waiting for this. We will see you all in ten minutes. Thank you. [Recess]

9:19:50AM I call this Tampa City Council to order. Roll call vote, please.

Charlie Miranda

9:19:54AM Here.

Guido Maniscalco

9:19:55AM Here.

Lynn Hurtak

9:19:56AM Here.

Luis Viera

9:19:56AM Here.

Bill Carlson

9:19:57AM Here.

Alan Clendenin

9:19:58AM Here. I would like Councilman Viera --

Luis Viera

9:20:02AM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is my great pleasure to introduce the gentleman doing the invocation. Lieutenant colonel will atkins. Retired air force lieutenant colonel who served 22 years as c 130 navigator and political military advisor, six deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Teaching american government and national security at the U.S. air force academy, colonel atkins now lives in New Tampa with his wife and daughter and remains committed to public service. Serves on board of YMCA. Currently in training to serve as a mentor for veterans treatment court here in Hillsborough county supporting fellow veterans and their path to healing. He will do the pledge. Remain standing. God, we gather today in service to the people of Tampa. A city rich in culture, full of promise and driven by the spirit of community. Grant this council wisdom in its deliberations, compassion in its decisions and the courage to lead with integrity and purpose. May each choice made here serve the greater good of every neighborhood, every voice, and every family. Lord, since we know that all things are possible through you, perhaps you could send a little love to the Tampa Bay Rays. Bless this city, our leaders, and all who call it home. Amen. [Pledge of allegiance]

Alan Clendenin

9:21:47AM How about a little love for the buccaneers. Their first preseason game this Saturday night.

Charlie Miranda

9:21:53AM I understand you got cut.

Alan Clendenin

9:21:56AM Yeah. My bones aren't up for that these days. Are we online? We're not seeing it on the monitors. The overhead displays, can you all -- CCTV, the overhead displays in the council chambers, if you could get the live stream up there, we would appreciate it. Thank you so much. I would like to hear a motion to receive and file minutes from the regular session held July 31st, 2025. Motion from Councilman Miranda. A second from Councilman Maniscalco. Councilman Viera. Second from Maniscalco. All in favor, aye? Opposed? Ayes have it. Agenda review, please. We've got several items.

Luis Viera

9:22:43AM I didn't send a memo on this. I have an event in Plant City for an organization. I've served on the board over 15 years. I'll probably need to leave around 11:25. Just fyi. There may be items. I don't think there will be.

Alan Clendenin

9:23:00AM You will be gone for the rest of the day?

Luis Viera

9:23:02AM No, I'll be back.

Alan Clendenin

9:23:04AM One item, Chief Bennett would like to do the administrative update immediately following the commendations to ATU. Unanimous consent? Thank you very much. I need a motion to accept the resolution for item number 15. There was a scrivener's error. Motion from Miranda, second from Maniscalco. All in favor, aye? Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you.

Lynn Hurtak

9:23:38AM I already sent a memo to pull item 20. I want that heard first on staff reports. I do want staff. Fire and lam and preferably chief of staff.

Alan Clendenin

9:23:54AM We have a motion from Councilman Hurtak, second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. I think that is -- can we continue an item that was in public hearing at this time?

Martin Shelby

9:24:11AM Public hearing, no.

Alan Clendenin

9:24:12AM I didn't think so. Making sure. Staff reports. Administrative update.

Lynn Hurtak

9:24:21AM Yes on 52.

Alan Clendenin

9:24:22AM 52, yes.

Martin Shelby

9:24:24AM Staff on 52?

Alan Clendenin

9:24:26AM Yes. 53.

Luis Viera

9:24:30AM If I may, Mr. Chair, yes. I would request obviously that I be here for this one on Returning Citizens and the office of and obviously an in-person report, if I may.

Alan Clendenin

9:24:40AM Viera needs to be there. Okay. 54.

9:24:45AM 55?

Guido Maniscalco

9:24:48AM Move to continue to September 25, 2025.

Lynn Hurtak

9:24:51AM Let me just speak quickly on this because this is my motion. The reason we're continuing it is because there are some issues with sb 180. We're kind of tieing it into the workshop we already agreed to do on sb 180. That is the reason for the continuance.

Alan Clendenin

9:25:07AM Motion from Maniscalco, second from Councilwoman Hurtak. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Item 56, Councilman Viera.

Luis Viera

9:25:15AM I would like that in person. I spoke to Ms. McKenzie on it yesterday. I would request to be here for that.

Alan Clendenin

9:25:23AM Item number 57.

Lynn Hurtak

9:25:26AM Yes. And goes with 58.

Alan Clendenin

9:25:28AM 58 is a yes as well.

Lynn Hurtak

9:25:32AM Item 59 to be continued.

Alan Clendenin

9:25:33AM We need to do 58 before 57, fyi.

Lynn Hurtak

9:25:38AM Okay. Move to continue item 59 to September 4th. There is no update because they are still in the middle of writing the land development code.

Alan Clendenin

9:25:52AM Second from Councilman Miranda. All in favor, aye? Opposed? Ayes have it. 60, motion to continue to October 23. Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Guido Maniscalco

9:26:04AM Move to receive and file 61 through 65.

Alan Clendenin

9:26:08AM We have a motion to receive and file items 61 through 65. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. That I believe is finished on the agenda review.

Guido Maniscalco

9:26:28AM Move to approve the agenda.

Alan Clendenin

9:26:29AM Motion to approve the agenda from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilwoman Hurtak. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Councilman Viera, please.

Luis Viera

9:26:51AM Good to see everybody again. We're here for officer of the month. I will let Chief Bercaw talk about this individual, whoever he or she may be. It is a unique officer of the month. We always do this to reflect the values of the community we serve that always support our first responders, including police officers and cops. Chief.

Chief Bercaw

9:27:13AM Chief Bercaw. Honor to be here to present our officer of the month. Today, we are recognizing officer curtis briles as Tampa Police Department officer of the month for August 2025. Since he is still in his undercover role and operations are still ongoing, here to accept on his behalf is Sergeant Matt zelansky. Earlier this year as part of efforts to address drug activity in key areas of the city, officer briles volunteered for one of the most challenging roles in the operation by conducting undercover narcotic buys. This high-risk assignment required exceptional courage, vigilance and quick judgment. From February through April of this year, officer briles successfully completed more than 45 narcotic purchases from 29 different individuals. These efforts resulted in warrants and arrests for each of them. Many of these offenses occurred near schools, churches, and other protected locations. The individuals he targeted were not minor offenders. 19 of them had previously served time in the Florida state prison totaling over a hundred years of incarceration for serious crimes, including drug trafficking, armed robbery, firearm violations and aggravated assaults. Several were also serving active probation or community control at our time. Officer briles work -- his efforts contributed directly to improving public safety and removing dangerous repeat offenders from our streets. His actions reflect the highest standards of professionalism, dedication, and service to our community. For somebody to do this, put their life on the line to make the community safer and take dangerous felons off the street, we are proud to recognize officer curtis briles as officer of the month for August 2025. [ applause ]

Luis Viera

9:29:15AM We have a lot of folks here, starting with the pba, to honor this officer who is here in spirit. We want to present this plaque to the officer for a job well done. [ applause ] thank you.

Alan Clendenin

9:29:47AM Just so you know, the microphone is inside the podium. If you can face the podium. I'm grace gonzalez. I'm here on behalf of the gonzmart family and 1905 family of restaurants. Please thank your team. Thank officer briles for us. This is a gift card for him to enjoy a night with his family, flamenco show, ulele, thank you for your commitment and his commitment to our city. Thank you for being here. [ applause ] my name is lori osborne. I'm with the Florida orchestra. On behalf of the Florida orchestra, we'd like to thank both you and officer briles for his heroism and keeping our city safer. We really appreciate it. And we would like to invite he and his family to an upcoming performance for the orchestra during our season. Please give that to him and thank you again. [ applause ] mary dillon from straz center. Thank you for nominating the officer on behalf of the straz center, tickets to an upcoming performance. Thank you so much. Convey our congratulations. Thank you. [ applause ] I'm here representing the zoo today. I'm not new on the board. And this is for the officer of the month. This is a year membership for the officer and officer's family. And the animal is the Florida panther because they are stealthy. [ applause ] Leo geary with bill currie ford. Curtis, congratulations. Just let him know we say thank you so much from bill currie ford. I've met him multiple times, so I know who he is. This is a handwritten letter from Jennifer curry herself with a gift card. Full free maintenance on his personal vehicle certificate. Other goodies. Like I say every time I'm up here --

9:32:05AM Remember, we can't hear you. On the uniform every single day. It's truly an honor for me to be here every single month to do this.

9:32:17AM I know it's awkward to face forward when addressing people in the back, but they can hear when it is booming out if you face forward. Mr. Ford. I left something up there. Thank you. It is our 50th season. Good morning, chief. On behalf of the glazer family, you know the tradition we have. You've been part of that. Anybody that goes over and above gets a game ball. Your partner, hearing his story and what you guys do each and every day to keep our community safe, the sacrifice that your family, unparalleled. If anybody deserves a game ball, it is you and your partner. Please pass that along. On behalf of the glazer family and our entire organization, thank you for what you do. Appreciate it. [ applause ] we would like to congratulate officer briles with a gift card and have dinner out, a night out on stepp's towing. Let him know we appreciate everything he does for the city. Thank you. City staff. MaryBeth Williams. Executive director of Friends of the Riverwalk. We would like to express our appreciation to officer briles and present him with a personalized granite paver along the Tampa riverwalk. Should be ready 30, 60 days. We'll let you know when it is ready. In addition, we have a few items from some of our board member organizations. Gift certificate to Florida Avenue brewing. Gift certificate to an adult party at splitsville, two dinner for two yacht star SHIP. Pirate water taxi two all day passes. Lost pearl, two complimentary entrances. Again. Thank you so much. [ applause ] would like to honor the officer. I can tell you these are no nonsense folks. I've seen them in action. I greatly appreciate and sure everybody else does what they do to keep us safe. Behalf of the businesses, meat market old Hyde Park, providing a gift certificate. Jackson bistro on Harbour Island. Ciccio restaurant group up and down Howard, take your pick. Yummy house china bistro. We greatly appreciate all that's being done for our community. Get the bad boys off the street. Thanks.

9:35:05AM Good to see you, Steve Michelini. Glad you are out and about. Good to see you.

Luis Viera

9:35:12AM Sir, we always end with the red tie. Honor your colleague who you are here for, for all of his hard work, determination and courage. [ applause ] a man of humility.

Alan Clendenin

9:35:37AM Councilman Miranda first. Out for the officer risking his life, he or she. Over a thousand officers, hundredth of a second to make a decision. I can imagine the position what this officer is in. Goes out, finds them, locates them and then makes a buy. I don't know what is wrong with the world. More drug dealers because we have more drug users. No drug users, you wouldn't have any drug dealers or say it the other way around. It is a two-way street. Thank the officer, the whole Police Department, chief, second in command, looking at her, thank you for the job you do, without being recognized, you have taken this responsibility to help the citizens of whatever city you serve. God bless all of you.

Guido Maniscalco

9:36:27AM Congratulations to the officer, your colleague, for keeping us safe. We appreciate the sacrifice and what this officer is doing and the community has done and continues to do. Congratulations. Thank you, sir.

Alan Clendenin

9:36:41AM On behalf of the Tampa City Council, City Council supports you and your sisters and brothers that wear the badge. We're very appreciative of what you do for the City of Tampa. Thank you so much. [ applause ] brief pause to let the folks leave. Councilwoman Hurtak. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

9:37:52AM Good morning, everyone. I am here for the ATU employee of the month. Very excited.

Alan Clendenin

9:38:01AM Face the podium, please. [ laughter ]

Lynn Hurtak

9:38:06AM Just waiting for everybody to come on up. Who is taking the lead today? Okay.

Alan Clendenin

9:38:42AM Good morning, Mr. President. And good morning City of Tampa. I'm Steve simon. I'm the president of the amalgamated transit union local 1464. We keep the City of Tampa running. I'm happy to be here this morning to introduce to you the ATU employee of the month, Ms. April grant. [ applause ] April is a customer service representative within the Water department, and has been an invaluable asset to her team. Her consistent willingness to support both her immediate team members and colleagues across departments has made a significant impact on our operations. She approaches each challenge with a strong eagerness to learn and proactive attitude in applying newly acquired knowledge to enhance work flows. April has demonstrated a strong commitment to collaboration and problem solving. She frequently goes the extra mile to help uncover and address the missing pieces needed to move forward. Her efforts have made her a reliable and respected resource throughout the operation. Notably, April played a major role in cleaning and vetting records and streamlining the chamber replacement program scheduling process, efforts that helped us reach our annual goals. Her dedication continues to enhance efficiency and strengthen teamwork across all levels of the operation. And we thank you, April. We appreciate your participation in doing what you do to keep the City of Tampa running. So, therefore, on behalf of ATU local 1464, I would like to present you with this award. [ applause ] I'd also like to say thank you, councilwoman. I would like to turn it over to Water department director of operations, elie franco, to say a few words. Good morning, council. When I think of April, the word that comes to mind is sponge. Someone that is always not only focused on the task at hand, but what's next. What else can I learn? How else can I contribute? She joined the water team about five years ago. Started out in the call center. That's not an easy assignment to break into the biz, but she handled it very well. An opportunity came up within the last year to move into the operations side of our business. She moved over there and brought the same spirit of I want to learn and I want to learn more. So on behalf of Rory Jones, the department director who could not be here this morning, but who handpicked everything that's in this bag, and all the members of the water team, congratulations for being nominated and selected and keep up the great work. [ applause ]

Lynn Hurtak

9:42:03AM Now we have some people in the community who would like to honor you with some things. I'm the zoo today, too. I'm double duty. So this is for you for the zoo. This is six passes to enjoy the day at the zoo and your animal is a manatee, of course. [ applause ] congratulations, Ms. Grant, on your award. This is my business card. I will be sending you tickets very shortly, working through kelly scharf from councilwoman Hurtak's office. You'll receive two tickets for upcoming performance on behalf of the straz. Thank you very much. [ applause ] Brian ford, apologized he had to leave. Training camp was calling. You received today's game ball. Congratulations on behalf of the Tampa Bay buccaneers. [ applause ] and also, on behalf of Todd stepp, we find it very fitting to get a go local Tampa gift card for you. Enjoy it. Thank you for everything you do for the City of Tampa. [ applause ] congratulations on your achievement. Thank you for keeping the water going and keeping Tampa running. I'm lori osborne. I am with the Florida orchestra. On behalf of the Florida orchestra, we would like to invite you and your family to an upcoming performance in our new season. They are here, and we thank you so much. I'll give it to you. [ applause ] good morning, Ms. April. Grace gonzalez here on behalf of the gonzmart family and 1905 family of restaurants. We want to thank you for being here in Tampa and committing yourself to helping us here thrive as a city. We would like you to enjoy yourself at any of our restaurants across the State of Florida. Please have a night off and enjoy yourself. Thank you again and congratulations. [ applause ] not quite in the picture.

Alan Clendenin

9:44:42AM Who is the politician? [ laughter ] Steve Michelini. Here on behalf of a couple of different folks. We would like to offer you a gift certificate to Jackson's bistro on Harbour Island. Gift certificate to ciccio's restaurant group on South Howard. The yummy house china bistro and the meat market in old Hyde Park. Some of these certificates I'll have to get to you. Been a little preoccupied the last few days. Anyway, there is a gift certificate for you. Congratulations. There are different levels of safety. I would think that water is right up there. I had a call yesterday about some water issues and they got right on it with Rory Jones and trying to resolve that. We appreciate you keeping us healthy. Thank you. [ applause ]

Lynn Hurtak

9:45:35AM And from a grateful City Council, we are presenting you with this commendation. We really appreciate you and what you have done. [ applause ] and my team that helped move me. It's like a puzzle. Everybody plays a part. If it wasn't for my team, I wouldn't be who I am because they are always there helping me and there for me. My supervisors and directors, if I need something, can I always go to them and talk to them and there's no issue. Having a great team helped motivate me to be a better person and better person for the department. I just enjoy working for the city and keeping it going well. I thank you for the opportunity. [ applause ]

Alan Clendenin

9:46:30AM Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

9:46:34AM Thank you, April. We as citizens and as elected officials, we turn on the water, it's for granted it's there. Day in and day out, 365 days a year for many years. The water quality is there. The clearness is there and the price is right. That's all tv shows. So what you do on a daily basis makes the City of Tampa not run but stay in place and produce the quality, the quantity within the 85 million -- thank you and the staff members that work with you. The director of water. The super department heads. Everybody, including Mr. Franco, all of you. And the ATU should be very proud of you like they are. Congratulations on being the employee of the year.

Guido Maniscalco

9:47:29AM Congratulations. You have a really wonderful department. I get a lot of great feedback. The feedback from the community. You have a great department head and a wonderful team. Everybody that's here, and you are very special and integral part of that, and we want you to know, this is a small token of our appreciation, but what you do does not go unnoticed. Again, I get a lot of positive feedback in my office for the level of service and quality, so people do great work. You make us proud every day and this is well deserved.

Bill Carlson

9:48:02AM First, I want to apologize to the officer, we have a rule that we're not supposed to say anything in these sections, so we try not to. Since everybody else is weighing in, I'll weigh in and thank the officer before, too. Thank you for what you do in the department as my colleague Councilman Maniscalco said. I get a lot of compliments on the Water department. You are proactive and work with people. It's outstanding service. I don't know where it comes from, come from rory? Come from the other managers? I also never had any complaints about this department. Whatever you all are doing, please keep it up. Please keep up the great service because the constituents appreciate it.

Alan Clendenin

9:48:49AM Thank you very much on behalf of Tampa City Council. You represent the department and ATU very well. Thank you. Have a beautiful day. [ applause ]

9:49:20AM Where are all my friends from the church that were on the bus in the parking lot? Good morning again. Chief Bennett.

John Bennett

9:49:41AM John Bennett, chief of staff. Good morning to our public. I just wanted to seize the moment and thank council for moving up the short administrative update. It was relevant because I had two union presidents here, both Steve simon and Brandon barclay from the ATU and pba. Just a little forecasting for council, since the beginning of April this year, all the way to just yesterday, we had been negotiating and then yesterday was the final ratification for three of our four bargaining agreements. Yesterday, the pba ratified both the lieutenants and officer through sergeant agreement and ATU ratified theirs just recently before that. So I just wanted to thank both unions for their professionalism during the negotiations and announce to council that of the three of the four bargaining agreements that have now been ratified, we will be reaching out to your offices, if you want to have any conversation with the staff and, of course, you are obviously always welcome to talk to the unions. We negotiated in front of hundreds of employees in the sunshine. Again, since April. We're looking forward to closing out the remaining one. As council and the public probably know, 3800 of our 5,000 employees are in our bargaining units between the ATU, pba and iaff. Again, we welcome conversation with council and, of course, council with the unions between now and when the contracts come through onbase. I wanted to share that with council and appreciate all the hard work of staff, especially legal, HR, and the department heads. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

9:51:15AM Thank you. Council have any questions? Very good. Thank you. We'll move on to public comment. I believe we have one online person. Is that Michael randolph? Is he online? Mr. Randolph. Good morning. My name is Michael randolph. Good morning, City Council. Today I bring you two urgent issues impacting african americans. Those who have passed and those striving. First, the past, we ask your support for the design geological research center. Build, design and related community programs. This initiative is more than cultural in its transformation. Design -- design center will serve as historic and cultural anchor offering geological services, educational programs and more. It is an income model generating revenue through open space, rental space program, social and economic return for the city. The memorial park is more than a public space. It is a reflection, education, and reconciliation. Now the present. Since 1990, the West Tampa population has decreased by 50%. This is not a statistic. This is a warning. Displacement, cultural erasure -- of reshaping the neighborhood. This is why we are launching the black agenda, a conversation with West Tampa preacher tied to the upcoming district 5 special election. This is a virtual meeting bringing in residents, nonprofits, candidates to discuss real solutions on August 27 at 4 p.m. again, online. This will be streamed live, voices from the bottom up to talk about strategy to protect our community. It is our moment to listen, lead, and act. Thank you so much. Appreciate you.

9:53:34AM Thank you. Next speaker is fred hearns followed by Ron weaver. My name is fred hearns. I'm president of the zion cemetery, preservation and maintenance society. I have appeared before you in the past. Just to reiterate the request for $8 million. That's what it will take to bring together the property that is needed to create this memorial site at the zion cemetery. Several of our board members are here today along with some others I believe who will be speaking. People who have ties to the neighborhood, the old Robles park public housing development in Tampa Heights. This project has been on our radar for the last six years. We would like to think we've made some progress, but today, as of today, we're still waiting for things to come together so we can accumulate the property under our nonprofit and then begin to move forward with what Michael randolph just talked about, the memorial site for we believe some 850 graves. Pretty much all of them african americans who died at a time when, of course, things were segregated, but Richard doby, you may have heard that name before. Dobyville, purchased this land for a cemetery for black people. So today we're asking that the right thing be done. I also serve at your pleasure on the Racial Reconciliation Committee. Our chairperson, connie burton, is here. Other members of that committee are here. I was charged with looking at forgotten and ignored history. That was my assignment on the Racial Reconciliation Committee. This is example number one. The zion cemetery. It's time for us to do the right thing. I know that you're going to take steps in that direction. We've been told here and there that the City Administration is making progress. It's sort of a complicated matter but we've been able to figure out things before. This is in the heart of the City of Tampa. It's also in district 5. And it's one of the first projects I spoke with councilwoman gwen Henderson about. And she was very supportive. We now have a historic marker on Florida Avenue that the thousands of cars that drive north on Florida see every day, along with a banner that lists the names of some of those 850 people buried at zion. Again, this is an $8 million ask. It's not a big number for this city, but it's needed for us to do the right thing at the zion cemetery site. Thank you so much for your consideration. I also want to thank you for the perry Harvey park band shell. We're making progress on that.

9:56:46AM Thank you. Ron weaver, followed by connie burton. I'm Ron weaver, 4403 West Dale Avenue. I rise on the occasion of item 54, which is to name street preferably in the neighborhood of Tampa stadium for George and leonard levy. I spoke to leonard levy a week or two okay. His identical brother born in 1933, looking at those two perfect twins and wondering what will they do for the city? What kind of men will they become? Well, George Levy was a u.s. sports writer after a great career at plant high school. He will be on April 3, 1974, drake hotel in New York city trying to get Tampa a team. They only had three strikes against them. Number one, insufficient seats in the big sombrero. Number two, insufficient hotel rooms and number three, no owner. April 3, 1974 in the brake hotel and original levy and his brother leonard and the team of chuck smith and the leaders of Tampa were able to convince the nfl to allow an expansion franchise to Tampa. Get us the Tampa Bay bucs. Saving of the Tampa Bay bucs also involved keeping the bucs here which involved a stadium, which involved a trip by George Levy into mayor dick greco's office with a half a penny. He has a trophy company, very successful nationally recognized 30,000-square-foot trophy company and George with his machinery cuts a penny in half. In 1995, takes it into the office of dick greco in this building and hands him a half penny. We need a half cents sales tax. We need it for things like keeping the bucs. More importantly, 89% won't go through bucs stadium. Go through schools which save them. Roads, which saved they will. Drainage, which saved them. Water department, April and her team this morning recognized. This man, George Levy and his brother leonard levy deserve something named in their honor near Tampa stadium because they were able to instill in this community the confidence of getting us the bucs. Together, they got us not one but two different super bowls and finally I'll close with this, David Kennedy, one of the most distinguished philanthropists in this town, as swim Coach, George Levy said I'm not just going to teach you how to swim, I'm going to make men of you. George Levy made men and women of character and values out of hundreds of Tampa's leaders. George and leonard levy, I stand in their honor. Thank you.

9:59:43AM Thank you, Mr. Weaver. No clapping no finger snapping. Connie burton. Connie burton. August is recognized within the black community as a time to reflect on those that help fought for freedom and justice, liberation officers and warriors in our community. It also reflect based on the ongoing struggle of incarceration. When I hear people talk about the hundreds of thousands of people in a time that just a handful have accumulated based on criminal history, I wonder and say what did our political leadership do to help turn the circle around? So I want to recognize this morning a young man that put out a book called the dark web. Back in California, Gary -- can't think of his name right now -- but he talked about how cocaine and crack cocaine enter into the black community. It didn't walk its way here. It was brought to our community. And even after the number of so-called hundred plus arrests, we still dealing with issue of cocaine and dope in our community. You know why? We don't have political relationship to turn the wheel for economic development in our community. How do we give voices to the energy of african people that constantly come here and say these are the things we need to rectify the harm done by political leaders. So, yes, we do need to have a reckoning for zion. Yes, we do. Yes, you can find $8 million. Yes, you do have it. I also want to speak this morning about how we was able to, despite the scrawl in some ways the not wanting to do a successful summer program, we was able to do that. The City staff, Ms. Rugina Castillo and her staff was able to help a few young people, not the 72 that requested, not the 142 that we get next year, 144 or more, but we do have voices in this chamber this morning that want to talk about how that program was able to bring some light into their lives. How that program, and those young people will be able to serve as examples in our community, that if they are just given a mere opportunity, if young people are given a mere opportunity to transform their lives, you know what we don't have anymore? Missing in action based on the long history of incarceration. Mr. Miranda got it right this morning. If we didn't have dope users, we wouldn't have dope sellers. We want to kill it off. We don't want no more dope sellers and we don't want no more dope users.

10:02:52AM Thank you, Ms. Burton. Ashley, followed by -- ashley, going once? Ashley? Good morning. I wanted to give thank you to Ms. Rugina Castillo and Mr. Huntley. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be in the program. This internship is valuable and important to students. It gives us hands-on experience and opens a lot of doors. Toward the careers that we want to be and going into. Not only have they helped us with a job, but they helped us filling out our resum . They helped us with our body language, how we should speak to people, how to apply for a credit card. How to fill out a w-4 form. How to present yourself. How to have home skills that maybe you weren't taught. You get to meet a lot of new people. I met a lot of people that I never -- I met the mayor. It is very great that we get to have an experience with people so I get to decide if I really want to do this now that I'm getting to do this hands-on. This is a very great experience. Not only that, I just graduated. They are going out of their way to see if they can hire me full on with the city. And other opportunities that I get to -- they are just doing a lot for me right now. I thank you all for having this program. This has helped a lot of kids, a lot of young kids. It opens their eyes, like, they get to mature a little faster and learn what to do with their money. I thank everyone for having me.

10:05:15AM I'll break council rules because we are not supposed to respond. Syip.

10:05:23AM Other people may not know what it means. How many months were you in it?

10:05:30AM Very good. Thank you so much. Thank you for coming out to City Council today. [ applause ] we'll allow the clapping for that one. Byron. Doesn't want to speak. Okay. Marty green? Hiding in the back. The next one, geraldine Williams after marty. My name is marty green. I'm with the Mobility department, City of Tampa. This is my supervisor, Michael brown. I'll go to this. If you look at this, I was forcefully -- say it again -- forcefully. I had to pay Michael brown to work over-time. Again, I look, he say he was in a meeting. He took the money, then I go back up. He say, stick with me, never lead you astray. He wanted me to set guys up. I refused to set those guys up. I go down to this part, parks, I don't want to go down there. I had to forcibly set the employees up and I refused to set the employees up. I took it to Mayor Jane Castor and wrote her an e-mail which she never did anything about it. She turned it over. I wrote her a letter and I explained to her, I told her mike brown asked me on several different occasions for money and everything is going under unethical practices. Also, I refused to buy him lunch again and I refused to let him borrow $10,000. As of right now, like I told two years ago -- year ago, his wife -- he asked me for money to buy a land rover for his wife. What does his wife have now, land rover. Guess city employees gave him money for it. Also contacted the chief of staff sitting to my left. He told you all he had an open door policy, which that is a lie. He told me I have to go through the same people I was talking about. I called him and text him. The texts, he didn't respond. I went to Bryan rodger. Bryan rodger is the modern kkk. Therefore, every day you can catch him at dewey's because they got these stupid prices. Cut -- that's where you can catch him at. He's an alcoholic. So he don't know what's going on. Therefore I contacted Jean Duncan. No response from Jean Duncan, not at all. Saying that to say this is, if this going to keep going on, why we here speaking for the simple fact I'm forcefully having to give money to a supervisor. This is very unethical. Therefore, if nobody don't take care of it, it will go down. I'll speak on the union contract. None of us signed that contract. Not even executive board signed the contract. Steve simon doctored that contract up. We did not want that. Why would we take a pay cut for him to get 24%. No, we didn't do that. Took it upon himself and gave us a contract that was boo-boo. How does TPD get 6% all the way across and we only get 12. That's not right. We didn't sign up for that.

10:09:33AM Geraldine Williams followed by reva iman. I am here as the daughter of Mr. Judge and Ms. Mildred of Ybor City. I'm also the mother of walter lee smith the second and grandmother of walter lee smith the third. I am here to say that I am a direct descendant of one of the bodies that has been interred at zion cemetery. I come to you with a very emotional, very substantial presentation, and I'm just saying to you that I don't like the fact that you aren't doing anything. Because I don't like it, I wanted to come to you to say, let me help you out. I did some research because I'm thinking that perhaps you just don't know, and you don't appreciate what we are going through. Those are people whom we have had in our families, and ours is ana Rebecca wyche, w-y-c-h-e. She is listed. And I found her -- they didn't find me -- I found her because of family research. And I want to say to you that it was a black man, you heard of him, Richard doby, in 1894 who purchased the land and doby gave that land to the city for blacks who lived in dobyville to be buried. And the city -- and this is why I want you to understand -- we are not just coming to you because we're just coming to you, but the city was involved in the actions that were illegal. They taxed the cemetery after they weren't paid. Then an individual who was really high in the confederate army and high in the city and county here, he was the tax collector, and he was the one who was assigning the taxes. Then he said he paid the taxes, so it was his land. Well, he wasn't able to keep it at that time, but later on he was able to keep it. And then he sold it to the white man from whom -- to whom -- from whom doby had purchased it. What I'm saying is, while you individually and collectively at this time did not engage in the activities, they did exist. And we're asking you to do something about it. Fred has said at least two times, and others have said, what we would like for you to do. One little deviation in that, that is, we want you to --

10:12:48AM Thank you, Ms. Williams. Your time is up. I'm so sorry. You can e-mail us anytime, all of us. E-mail the council. Thank you.

10:12:56AM Reva iman. I'm reva iman. I'm here speaking not for myself. I'm here speaking for those who lie there and my ancestors. When I say my ancestors, when they built these businesses and the housing on top of them, they disturbed the resting. They disturbed the resting. I'm speaking for my ancestors because now we have the opportunity to give them peace. We have the opportunity to give them grace. We have the opportunity to raise our hands and say thank you. This day and time that they can rest in peace if we can do the right things to bring that peace to my ancestors. Once again, I'm not speaking for me. I'm speaking for those who lie there. And when we ask for $8 million just to think I was there because I was staying there, and when they were examining going across there, I was able to walk with those individuals and see the light up of those bodies. I was there when they went down to certain things to verify that these people were there. It was disturbing, but we have the opportunity today to bring peace. We ask that you do the right thing. I said last week it wasn't your fault. You can make history. You can be a part of history. Just to think the city is growing, getting bigger, things are changing. Put trolleys going down Florida Avenue. What a wonderful thing. Visitors come and say zion, first African American cemetery that people can see passing. There's some plus to this, but there's some hurt to it as well. And it hurts me more because I was a resident staying there. Seeing what was going on, hearing what was going on and just to see it. I really wish you had the opportunity to come and observe what was going on at that time. I think it will put clarity in your heart to do the right thing. So we're asking as a whole that you please not for me, but for my ancestors, do the right thing. Thank you.

10:15:51AM Thank you very much. Leroy. Let me say this. Please do not use the tone of my voice as aggressive.

10:16:16AM Start with your name. Put this on record, please do not judge me by the tone of my voice because it is what it is. I'm claiming it. I'm not down here to cause a problem. I'm down here to start a solution to our pickup garbage and it's wrong. They have been doing this completely wrong for ten or more years. It's not a black thing. It's not a white thing. It ain't no racist thing. It's all about doing the right thing for every citizen in the City of Tampa limits. About this garbage pickup. On holidays, when the holiday fall on a Monday, I ain't going to put it out like this, but East Tampa -- more holidays on Monday rather than Tuesday, which down south get picked up. It's ridiculous. On a holiday week, we already short when we come in because we are on ten-hour shifts. Back in the day, they used to change our shift to four days because the city only paying us eight hours for the holiday. So 10, 10, 10, 8, only 38 hours. They were using people annual time to make up the two hours. That's not right. That's illegal. Then they get clever and try to make up a 12 hour day. How you make a 12 hour day out of a ten hour day? This contract. B 281 a policy, purpose, the city recognize that the interest of the community and the job security of its employees depends upon city success in providing proper and effective service to the community. We are not doing that. We are not doing that. I don't care if somebody house on fire on a Monday, oh, we'll come back on the next scheduled day. No, they'll come and put the fire out. While the customer -- you all just went up on the rates. On June 6, you adopted a five-year rate increase for the residents of Tampa. Didn't increase the rates but ain't giving them the service they are paying for. That's not right. Back in the days how we used to do it when I first started and this was before I started in 1993, if a holiday fall on a Monday, we come on a Tuesday to pick up Monday route. Wednesday on off day, we pick up Tuesday's route and Thursday and Friday, we back on track.

10:19:17AM Thank you very much.

10:19:18AM Bishop Tom Scott followed by surgret doss. Thank you so very much for the opportunity to be able to address you. [ sounding gavel ]

10:19:36AM Can you take the conversation outside, please. If you are going to speak. Can you reset the time? This was going to be in order in terms of speakers. Evidently got out of line where Mrs. Williams was going to speak and Mr. Wilson and then Mr. Hearns and myself so there would be continuity and consistency as opposed to being broken up the way it is. That didn't happen. I noticed as you listen to all of the persons who spoke on zion cemetery -- did I state my name? Thomas Scott. In case I didn't, Thomas Scott, pastor of 34th street church of god. I noticed your expression. I think your expression said this is a horrific issue. This issue is terrible. This issue should not have ever happened. While you did not allow it to happen, there was those that did allow it to happen some years ago, and I would say all of us should be appalled at what has happened and taken place at the zion cemetery. I had the pleasure of going there with Mrs. Williams and being there at the memorial service and visiting the various grave sites they identified. In my own mind, I could hardly imagine how could anybody of consciousness allow this kind of thing to happen, to disturb the grave site, human beings, people who have died. So you have an opportunity to be involved. I know as your role, the mayor and her administration are in that part of associations. Perhaps you can request a briefing to see where this is and how it's being dealt with and how it's being handled because in talking with Mrs. Williams, they are very much concerned, seem to be a delay, not being a movement. So I stand today with Mrs. Williams and the board and the zion cemetery to support them in this effort to try to get resolution to it. It is also my understanding that Mr. Richard Gonzmart and Mr. Creed have also agreed to work with the city and the transition, or the transfer of the property so they can correct this issue and make this community, the African American community whole. I would urge you to see where we are in this process and try to help it to move forward so we can bring peace to those who have died and they have been disturbed by the building and construction of houses and other things on this cemetery. Thank you for your time and thank you for all that you do and have a great day.

10:22:40AM Hold on.

Guido Maniscalco

10:22:41AM I was going to speak to the chief of staff after lunch, whatever, and ask -- and if it is possible, a motion at the end of this meeting that we get a written update on zion at a future meeting.

Alan Clendenin

10:22:52AM That would be in order. Thank you, sir. Surgret, go ahead. Really, I don't care how anybody takes it. Regardless of the status, white folks in Tampa have no problem reminding black people that see us anything other than n-ers. In Tampa when I talk about white folks, those crackers across the street in the 13th judicial circuit, they can't stand black men like me. Part of the problem is, they love compliant negroes. Especially the ones who love to mimic talking points and smile nice and shuffle and boot lick and even let -- for a pat on the head, some crumbs off the table or even a couple of trinkets of silver or gold. Naturally, you all know I don't fit that mold. All you have to do is google me. I know a lot of crackers across the street hate it. I have a problem -- [ sounding gavel ]

10:23:55AM Mr. Surgret, I'm sorry, I know a couple went by. But the racial epithets, I would appreciate it if you paraphrase those to keep the chambers in order.

10:24:10AM We have kids in the chamber.

10:24:14AM You can add one minute? Interesting, again. Part of the problem is in the fact that I live in a county, by the way, I don't know if you all drive or move around, there is a 90-foot confederate flag out there. Using certain racial epithets, which is funny. When you say n-er, that's okay --

10:24:45AM No, no, no. this is called what it is. I live in a county with a 90-foot confederate flag at i-4. They actually change it from time to time. I may disagree with the flag, but I do remember I took that oath to support and defend the constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. Remember. You can look at my 214 also. Keep that in mind. What I asked your attorney to do the other week was to look into my allegations about these people. Again, I don't soft step. I speak the law, and they hate it. I'm unwavering. I'll stay that way. As a veteran, I know that I've earned mine. Like moses in the book that you all thump a lot, despite what the truth was, harden your heart. I'm not liking myself to moses or any of the great people that may have been depicted in that book but I've walked these steps on my own. I'm clear with what I say. I'm the same guy that took on the department of revenue for violations in child support area. I whipped your judge and cop who falsely accused me of perjury. I've taken on recently law firms like Austin baskle, banker, Lopez, butler, katz and craig. They are so unethical. Like petty fogger. They use dubious tactics to try to get by but they get help from white judges like Judge Emily ann peacock and paul healy. Of course, we know what Greg holder tried to do to me but unsuccessful. How many black folks that didn't have my wherewithal that they sent up the road falsely. That being said, I had to go off a little bit because of the councilman's suggestion to me, although I do find it disrespectful considering. Talk about that flag, don't talk about words. We don't have to agree with what people say from time to time. I'm not saying that I agree with everything that I've seen people wear on their shirts or on their clothing, but I respect their right to use the first amendment. We like to pick and choose when the constitution applies, especially when black folks are the ones who want to use it. That being said, shout-out to the greatest institution of higher learning in the city, the university of Thomas Jefferson high school. You all take care.

10:27:21AM Thank you. Robin Lockett followed by isley irvin. Robin. Robin Lockett. I have several things I want to discuss today. First of all, I am a board member of zion cemetery. I was a resident of Robles park. Actually, the cemetery was right under the apartment that we lived in, 212 east Kentucky. So it is disturbing that residency was built on top of the cemetery. It's been years since something has been -- promises have been made and they haven't been kept. So we look forward to you finding it in the budget. The asking amount is $8 million to make zion cemetery whole, right, because we're all about reparations and making everybody whole. So I look forward to that conversation when it starts to happen. I had an opportunity to attend the meetings for love, grow, thrive 2045. The Planning department came out. They came out for a special meeting for Sulphur Springs and then their regular scheduled meeting for East Tampa. I applaud those women -- the department for what they did. They gave great information. If I had any concerns, it would be that when they come out to the community, because they kept identifying that they are going 35,000 feet high in regards to how they are looking at that plan. That they address in regards to speaking, explain what they are talking about because a lot of people don't know what density is. A lot of people don't know what a transportation corridor is. Just explain as they go to help the community and give examples to help the community be able to understand it. That would be my only concern about them putting that meeting on. I applaud -- I really applaud the employees for coming out and speaking their truth in regards to what's going on in the department they work in. Being brave enough to do that, because if you keep it just within that department, nobody can hear it. With them coming to council, everybody can hear it. It's up to somebody to move some. People can't keep complaining about the same thing and not get rectified. So I would hope that whoever is listening to these individuals, that the employees coming out and brave enough to speak their truth, that they do something about it.

10:30:44AM The next speaker will be dc goutoufas followed by --

Bill Carlson

10:30:53AM Dc has an interpreter. So he said usually we accommodate him with an extra two minutes for his interpreter to translate. I would make a motion to add two more minutes.

Alan Clendenin

10:31:04AM Motion from Carlson, second from Hurtak. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Good morning. Welcome, dc. My name is jessica. I will be interpreting for dc today. Okay. Good morning, council members and everyone here today. My name is dc goutoufas. I'm here in connection with item 54, which I firmly submitted March 25th with the support of Councilman Maniscalco requesting an honorary street renaming for J. Leonard Levy and George Levy, preferably near the Raymond James Stadium. I'm grateful to the council member Miranda, Carlson for initiating the motion on June 5, 2025, and to the city and staff for preparing today's presentation. I submitted the formal request for this renaming earlier this year after working closely with Councilman Guido on it for over a year. The motion is now scheduled to come before the council and the proposed location is near the Raymond James Stadium, where the levy brothers legacy is deeply felt. This marks the third initiative that I have had the privilege to lead with our city. Beginning with the government access television captioning during the 1990s, followed by the honorary street renaming for the James urbanski near downtown Tampa a couple of years ago. George Levy, the brothers were more successful businessmen, they were -- I don't know why I'm so nervous reading this. They were the civic visionaries and proud sons of Tampa who dedicated their lives to elevating the city's national profile. Beginning in the 1970s, levy brothers played the crucial role in bringing the nfl to Tampa. They joined a small but determined group that worked tirelessly with commissioner pete roselle and the team owners to advocate for a franchise. Their efforts were instrumental in Tampa being awarded the buccaneers in 1974, which was a milestone in changing the trajectory of our city forever. Their leadership did not stop there. The levy brothers helped push through the construction of the original Tampa stadium and later navigated the politics that led to the Raymond James Stadium. They were the key players in securing the five super bowls for Tampa, along with ncaa men's final four and the college football playoff and the national championships. They championed the USF and University of Tampa athletics, and they supported the Tampa Bay lightning, and they had helped great the sports and infrastructure. In 2021, the super bowl generated more than 570 million for the region and each year. The buccaneers alone contributed more than 100 million in the local economic activity. These are not just numbers, but they reflect a legacy that continues to benefit every corner of our community. As a fourth generation tampanian, I carry a deep sense of pride and responsibility for the city's past, present, and future. My great grandfather was the first greek to settle in Tampa in 1887. In 1990, I became the first deaf graduate to graduate from the University of Tampa. I grew up hearing stories about the levy brothers from my late father who knew them as childhood neighbors. Their story is Tampa's story, and it deserves to be remembered. An honorary street renaming is fitting and a lasting tribute to two men whose vision helped build the Tampa Bay we know and love today. I respectfully ask for your support in moving forward, and thank you for your time and consideration.

10:34:42AM I don't think we got both of your names. State both of the names for us please. Both names. Jessica prevada.

10:35:00AM Thank you very much.

10:35:08AM Thank you. Curtis Wilson, followed by jarvis. Curtis Wilson. Good morning.

10:35:45AM Get by with a little help from your friends. [ laughter ] I am curtis walker Wilson. I am here as the voice for those from my era who are no longer here to speak for themselves. The ones who were there when the cemetery, zion cemetery was taken from them. I am 96 years old. If I live to see next Wednesday, I will be 97. [ applause ] I am the voice for those people this morning. The ones who were there, they were seen but not heard. Their voices meant nothing when they tried to save the cemetery. So I am here to support this zion cemetery committee in their efforts to bring this cemetery back to life. I know that's an oxymoron, but that's how I talk. [ laughter ] we want to bring it back to life. We waited long enough. We don't want to wait until that morning to bring it back. Right now -- I am entertaining positive vibes about it because the committee, they have been asking you for quite some time now to move forward on this. So that's why I'm standing here. I am the voice for a community, a vibrant community, rather, of families, homeowners. They were homeowners, modest homes, but they were homeowners. Robles pond, that's what it was called back then, was a vibrant community of homeowners and many of them, they had large families and most of them went on and did well for themselves. The wilsons, the dennards, the James family, the sutton family, the Simmons family, Williams families, two sets of Williams out there. Myers family. Logan, patterson, thompson, flukier, stone. There was a school, Robles pond elementary school. Three churches, two baptist churches and an african methodist episcopal church. I am accompanied by my pastor today. We stand here in support with this committee trying to get this cemetery restored. To me, it is sacred. It's sacred. I'm asking for a vote of yea on this so we can move forward expeditiously, get this cemetery back where it was. Thank you very much.

10:38:57AM Thank you, Ms. Wilson. Mr. Hearns, I hope you have her testimony on video. Point of order.

Bill Carlson

10:39:07AM I now council member Maniscalco is talking about getting the chief of staff to come up some other time, but he's here, and the people are here. Shouldn't we give him a minute to respond or two minutes to respond? Can you say anything in response to what they have been talking about with zion? They are just asking for an update on zion. I was just thinking since everybody is here, you could address them now.

Guido Maniscalco

10:39:34AM I stepped in the back real quick to ask Lisa to call you, but you are here. At the end of the meeting, if it would be proper to make a motion for a written update for September 18 or October 9 just to get an update of what's going on with the property owners. I know there was a news story about a month ago that progress was being made with private property owners and figuring that situation out.

Bill Carlson

10:40:01AM Should we give him a minute if --

Alan Clendenin

10:40:03AM Motion from Councilman Carlson to give Chief Bennett a minute to response. Second from Viera. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Chief Bennett.

John Bennett

10:40:14AM Good morning. John Bennett, chief of staff. Thank you for this great representation of something near and dear to my heart because I served the community for 40 years, I know we built the rich out, resources community home for the community to flourish. We watched the journey as administration. I know they are working on the memorial. As a matter of fact, I remember nurturing that idea when everything came to light about having the memorial. I know there is a lot of complexity between land and the memorial and the design and, of course, the financing. But I can assure you that based on the motion that was just drafted to be formalized, the city will give a full-throated update as soon as the motion lands and make sure everybody is fully aware. I can tell you there is nothing that I'm aware of with our staff that is doing anything but supporting this to -- how it's supposed to be. Thank you for being here today and we'll get you more specifics as we journey on. Thank you for the opportunity, council.

Alan Clendenin

10:41:17AM Thank you all for turning out today. Very nice to see you all and all my friends on the bus. We'll give a minute for everybody to clear out. Jarvis, you will be next to speak.

Guido Maniscalco

10:41:29AM Mr. Chairman, when my mom and my grandparents came from Cuba and came to Tampa, they lived at Robles park at the beginning, before they rented a house. I have a picture of my mother in the doorway.

Luis Viera

10:41:47AM Can I say, if I may? Walter, I love that shirt. I think that every day. [ sounding gavel ]

Alan Clendenin

10:42:11AM Council, come to order. Jarvis el-amin. Jarvis el-amin, Tampa, 4818 east 99th avenue. I also sit on the reconciliation commission, too. I'm here because I was invited here by Ms. Geraldine Williams and her son walter good friend of mine. Bishop Thomas Scott. I want to say this to you for real. I think about the zion cemetery, I think about black Wall Street. I think about bombing 900 businesses, just destroying the land. I think about how people felt that was jewish when they got reparations for what was done to them. I think about the japanese and what happened in reparation. I think about us as African American black people that have been slavery, suffering, and death for 438 years. I remember growing up in Georgia when the cemeteries were segregated. I can't even imagine the kind of hate that people could have in their heart. Disturb the dead. My faith, tradition says that the dead can hear you talk, but they can't talk back to you. I go to the graveyard and talk to jimmy bell, my mama, and talk to her because I know she hear me. I'm thinking if jimmy bell was in that grave, zion, I can imagine this woman that raised me so well, how she would feel if they start building on top of her grave. Jimmy bell would talk about. She would have been mad, start rattling the grave. Understand what I'm saying to you? This is amazing. They didn't put the time on me. They started late. It's okay. All I had to do was inject jimmy bell name and all happens good for me. It's on you, too, chairman. What --

10:44:17AM I can't confirm or deny the time that it started because I have three really good friends up there. Each one of you all ran for office. You have to have the political will. The political will to take politics out of it. I hate when politicians say public servants. No, you are politician. If you are a public servant, these kind of issues that come before you, pull at your heartstrings. It would pull at your heartstrings. When you have to look at people, you know, we are created that we may know each other, not despise each other. We're keeping our duty to god. This lady -- 38 years ago, get them to support events I was doing. Always wrote me a check and she was there. I never know what happened to her. She's 90 some years old now. Council, I'm saying to you, please, find the political will, find it in your heart, Mr. Chairman, all of your City Council. We know all of you all. Let's make it happen. Are you serious? Are you curious? If you are curious, be serious about this and make it happen.

10:45:40AM Thank you, jarvis. Isley followed by Steve byrd. We have four more speakers, fyi. Mr. Irvin. Isley irvin going once, going twice, gone. Steve byrd followed by ashley morrow. I'm Steve byrd. I live at 810 east skagway right in the thick of things. I'm here to talk about the pool today. I know there's been a lot done and a lot of promises made and so forth. I'm just getting up to speed on it. It almost seems like you guys don't want input. It was hard to figure out when -- it moves along really fast. I'm afraid the people that have represented the neighborhood have accepted that there are too many promises, too many studies. Any other area of the town, the city, it would be done now. And it's pathetic. I hear things like, well, people in this neighborhood don't swim. They don't swim because they don't have a pool. They'll drown when it rains. They need to swim. Thank you.

10:47:07AM Thank you, sir. Ashley morrow, followed by Stephanie poynor. My name is ashley morrow. I'm a fifth generation tampanian, and I love black history. Since I see that people come up and say anything, I can come up and talk about black history and put it on record. I say I'm a fifth generation tampanian. I'm the great, great granddaughter of willie mae lunsford, who had lucille lunsford, who had karl morrow, senior, who had karl morrow, junior, who had myself. My family has been here in Tampa for a very long time. And I am invested in learning and sharing all of Tampa's black history. My father's uncle, my great uncle's name was norris morrow. He was a white hat during the 1967 Tampa riots. That riot happened after martin chambers was shot in the back by the Tampa Police Department. I'm not here to rail against the Tampa Police Department. This is something that happened. It is something I did not learn in school and something very important that happened in Tampa's black history. After that, there was a reckoning along Central Avenue, belmont heights. Also my family came out of belmont heights, along emma street. All those things make me and is a part of me and my legacy. Back to my uncle. He goes to d.c. And he speaks during a hearing. This is on tv. I remember my father probably told me this ten years ago. Didn't really pay attention to it. It wasn't until I spoke to Mr. Hearns and he shared this history with me. He said, no, this is actually important. I feel like Tampa doesn't share. It doesn't elevate its black history because when people know who they are, they start to put value on their lives. For me, I felt like a more important person just because of who this man was. And I did not know. Knew everything else about the man but didn't know about this. Something I learned a few years ago through a book called Tampa history, I believe by cantor brown, about the reconstruction period. He talks about a Tampa militia led by a Thomas mcknight who was one of the starters of the harlem academy. This is a list of black people that were on a black militia here in 1870. Five years after slavery ends here -- six years, actually, 1864. So these people's names are just as important. And there are people and citizens here still in Tampa, and their legacy is important. One name that you might recognize and I was looking it up, Bryant horton, Dr. Sam Horton building located on 40th and 21st. Big pic building. He is his descendant, and there are other names. Andrew stilling who has a subdivision here in Tampa. I will stop right there. I'll be here next week. That's my time.

10:50:28AM Thank you very much. Stephanie poynor. Valerie, I don't have a speaker card for you. Did you fill one out? Ms. Poynor, state your name. Stephanie poynor. You know, on Monday, we had a budget meeting and about five minutes I calculated $8 million that we could be using for a cemetery. Oh, my gosh. This is our list from 2023. I would love to know how many of these fees have actually been raised since 2023. I'm thinking the answer is zero. The only fee I know of that I've seen that's been changed since the list we received in 2023 at the budget committee was for the sidewalk funds. I don't think it's even on that list. So that's my only knowledge. Now, I want to talk about the budget because you know I love the budget. I was looking at growth and development last night. This was in a meeting. I was noticing that we're bringing in less money over time. Now, when Ms. Feeley came before the budget committee in March of 2024, she said that there was a fee study being done for land development. Where is it? It's my understanding it's done. There is also a fee study -- there was also a fee study being done for construction services. I think it's interesting that we have these charges for services on both of these, and they don't really seem to match up. You would think they would be in alignment with one another. What I'm trying to figure out for land development is, we got charges for services, which is a pittance. $600,000. Where this intergovernmental money is that the money we were supplementing these fees? Because I remember, if I remember correctly, there was a big chunk of money that we weren't covering. So if a service cost, if a service is being charged a hundred dollars it actually costs the city a thousand dollars to do that service. Who is paying the difference? Everybody who pays taxes in the City of Tampa is paying the difference between the $100 and thousand dollars. $900 is coming out of our pockets. I'll give you another department where I see this issue. This is neighborhood enhancement. They came in January of 2023. I don't think these fees have been changed. We were losing money on our business tax. If you look at the sheet I gave you, that business tax has not been increased since 1991. 1991. Oh, my god. I was 20 years old. Anyway, the personnel cost, this list is huge. Bottom line, first one, losing $541,000 that we lost that year. Another big chunk of money, we lost $75,000 on these fees. We've got a bunch of money that the city could have to pay taxes. And what made me dig into this is because you guys kept talk, like scope creep about a millage increase. Let's charge what the services cost for the services. And the citizens of Tampa should not be offsetting those fees. I also want to ask you about the Convention Center, we projected $700,000 and spent 11 million. How do you miss 10.3 million.

10:54:03AM Your time has expired.

10:54:06AM Last but not least, Valerie bullock. Valerie bullock from ponce de leon. This has been a good meeting for me today because you have all seen the people who helped mold me and made me into who I am. Ms. Curtis Wilson, you might not know her, but we know her because they had Wilson funeral home. And in the '60s, if your shoes were raggedy, her brothers would call you over there and ask who your parents was and they would buy you shoes. They did a lot for the community. When we think about building some apartments, let's put her name on them. I want to talk about housing. The Jackson house, to be specific, I had came down here I guess Tuesday when it was all on the news. Thought I would get piece of wood, scared to get close to it. But we need to get with Mrs. Colins, we need an update, when are you going to start. Everything you wanted fell into place. Now, put your money where your mouth is, let's get it going. Another thing I want to talk about was housing. And how housing is tied into resolution 568 and 344. We used to have red lining. We used to have the houses down there behind blue ribbon in the bottom. They were substandard housing. Urban renewal came through, told you the house wasn't fit for living, so they built you a house and you got funding. What I'm seeing going on in East Tampa, I was at CRA. I'm just going to say it. I talked to CDC. You all putting in those 79 unit apartments there, why are they all two bedrooms. Why aren't there three bedrooms. Not always the perfect family. Boy and girl. Some have four and five children. Everybody focusing in on two bedroom and one bath. What about the people that have three, four, five kids. Where are they supposed to go? Anybody think about that? We need some three-bedroom apartments. Only ones I know about, the old fun-lan put 6 in there. The cuban guy who I don't know, they got those right there on street and 22nd Columbus Drive. We need more apartments, bigger than two bedroom. We need some three-bedroom apartments. I really feel like me and the public got bamboozled. Everybody is pushing affordable housing, affordable housing. Yes, affordable, but hundred, hundred, 120 percent of the AMI, what about the 30 and 50 percent, the people being left behind. They can't afford it. We start building houses and apartments, we need to split them. Half for 30 and 50 percent. Half for 80 and 120 percent, because it's not right to build ten apartments, two 30% income, the rest of them is for high income. So we are still being left behind. Thank you all very much.

10:57:22AM Mr. Hearns, I don't think you heard me earlier, I hope you got Ms. Curtis' history on tape. Sounds like she has a lot of information about her life in those neighborhoods. That would be great. We'll move on to the consent agenda. Public safety, Councilman Viera.

Luis Viera

10:57:38AM Move items 3-5.

Alan Clendenin

10:57:40AM Motion from Councilman Viera. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Neighborhood, community affairs committee, Councilwoman Hurtak.

Bill Carlson

10:57:51AM I would like to have a separate vote for number 9.

Alan Clendenin

10:57:54AM Pull 9 for separate vote.

Lynn Hurtak

10:57:59AM Before we do this, I actually wanted to speak. One of our public commenters talked about the Sulphur Springs restoration. I wanted to give an update. This $1.8 million goes to renovate or to fix the seawall and to do some of the injections of they call it mortar to go under the pool to help stabilize it to see where we are. That's what this is going for. This will get started. And we will see where we are after that. But it is absolutely moving along. Engineers take a while. I just wanted to let you know about that. Also, there is a Sulphur Springs pool committee to definitely search for them. If I could get Ms. Scharf to come out. My aide will meet you and let you know who is in charge so you can get in contact with them. I move items 6 through 14 but not 9.

Alan Clendenin

10:58:55AM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Lynn Hurtak

10:59:01AM Now I move item 9.

Alan Clendenin

10:59:04AM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak to move item 9. Second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye? Opposed?

Bill Carlson

10:59:13AM Nay.

Alan Clendenin

10:59:15AM Clerk, can you read that vote?

The clerk

10:59:19AM The item passes with council member Carlson voting no.

Alan Clendenin

10:59:26AM We are moving on to infrastructure. Councilman Maniscalco. Pulled item 20.

Guido Maniscalco

10:59:30AM I move items -- I make a motion to move items 15 through 21, minus 20 because it was pulled and for 15, that is a beaut.

Alan Clendenin

10:59:48AM We have a motion from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Hear item 20 as first staff report. Finance committee.

Charlie Miranda

10:59:58AM Move items 22-25.

Alan Clendenin

11:00:00AM Motion from Councilman Miranda. Second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Development and economic opportunity committee.

Bill Carlson

11:00:09AM I need to recuse myself for number 33 and file a form later. My company works with a company that's related to this. I'll recuse myself. I move 26 through 32 and then 34 through 35.

Alan Clendenin

11:00:26AM Motion from Councilman Carlson, second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. For item 33, we are pulling that separately. That would be Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

11:00:39AM I move item 33.

Alan Clendenin

11:00:41AM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak moving item 33. Second from Viera. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Mobility asset management committee --

The clerk

11:00:53AM Motion carried unanimously with Carlson abstaining.

Alan Clendenin

11:00:55AM File the form later. Mobility asset committee, Councilwoman Hurtak, 36-43.

Lynn Hurtak

11:01:05AM I move items 36-43.

Alan Clendenin

11:01:09AM We have a motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Councilwoman. Like a motion to open public hearings. We have a motion to open the 10 and 10:30 public hearings. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. I had a second on that as well. I think it was Councilwoman Hurtak. 10:00 public hearings. Here we are. Item number 44. Vac-24-12, for second reading and adoption. I'm available if you have any questions.

11:01:59AM Any questions? I am the applicant and owner of the property.

11:02:12AM Anybody have questions for the applicant? Motion to close from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? The automated system is out. We'll have to do a verbal roll call vote. Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

11:02:32AM Item 44. [Inaudible] -- subdivision recorded in book 4169, page 1044, of the official records of Hillsborough county, Florida, o.r., and a portion of Green Avenue right-of-way that lies in the plat of Brobston-Fending Company's halfway addition as recorded in o.r. Plat book 2 at page 78, and a portion of the unnamed and unplatted right-of-way that abuts Interbay Boulevard in Tampa, Florida, all of which are located of North Interbay Boulevard, of South Thornton Avenue, east of 1st street, and of West Elkins Avenue and are more fully described in section 2 hereof, subject to certain covenants, conditions and restrictions as more particularly set forth herein, providing for enforcement and penalties for violations, providing for definitions, interpretations, and repealing conflicts, providing for severability, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

11:03:50AM We have a motion from Councilman Miranda. A second from Councilman Viera. Clerk, call the roll, please.

Charlie Miranda

11:03:57AM Yes.

Guido Maniscalco

11:03:58AM Yes.

Lynn Hurtak

11:04:02AM Yes.

Luis Viera

11:04:04AM Yes.

Bill Carlson

11:04:05AM Yes.

Alan Clendenin

11:04:06AM Yes.

The clerk

11:04:08AM Motion carried unanimously.

Alan Clendenin

11:04:09AM Thank you. Item 45.

Ross Samons

11:04:13AM Ross Samons, Development Coordination, presenting file VAC 25-07 for second reading and adoption. I am available if you have any questions.

Alan Clendenin

11:04:24AM Council have any questions?

Charlie Miranda

11:04:31AM It's on because I left it on. If we take a vote, need another council member. Looking and two noes on this one.

Alan Clendenin

11:04:44AM Let's take a strategic jeopardy pause. Applicant? I respectfully request your approval.

11:04:55AM Does council have questions of the applicant? Hearing no questions, anybody in the public that is here to speak to item 45? Hearing none, is there a motion to close? Motion from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Miranda. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Councilman Maniscalco, would you like to read item 45?

Guido Maniscalco

11:05:11AM Yes. File number vac-25-07, ordinance being presented for second reading and adoption, an ordinance of the City of Tampa, Florida, vacating, closing, discontinuing, and abandoning the alleyway located of North Abdella Street, of South Dewey Street and of East Matanzas Avenue, and of West Macdill Avenue within the plat of John H. Drew's first extension in the City of Tampa, Hillsborough county, Florida, as more fully described in section 2, hereof, subject to certain covenants, conditions and restrictions as more particularly set forth herein, providing for enforcement and penalties for violations, providing for definitions, interpretations and repealing conflict, providing for severability, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

11:05:49AM We have a motion from Councilman Maniscalco, a second from Councilman Viera. Roll call vote, please.

Charlie Miranda

11:05:50AM Yes.

Guido Maniscalco

11:05:51AM Yes.

Lynn Hurtak

11:05:52AM No.

Luis Viera

11:05:53AM Yes.

Bill Carlson

11:05:55AM Yes.

Alan Clendenin

11:05:56AM No.

The clerk

11:05:57AM The motion carried with Hurtak and Clendenin voting no.

Steve Michelini

11:06:01AM Thank you, council.

Alan Clendenin

11:06:03AM Very good. Item 46. Just for the record, I was absent at this vote, but I reviewed the record and I'm ready to vote. Agenda item 46 is the second reading for the honorary naming of the multisport field at Forest Hills park in honor of Roland paz, senior.

11:06:31AM Anybody have questions? Anybody in the public who wishes to speak to item 46? Motion to close from Hurtak, second by Maniscalco. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Councilwoman Hurtak, would you like to read this one?

Lynn Hurtak

11:06:43AM As a councilwoman, yes, I will. File hn25-15718, ordinance being presented for second reading and adoption, an ordinance of the City of Tampa, Florida, approving the name of the multi-sports field at Forest Hills park in Tampa, Florida, to honor Roland paz senior, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

11:07:08AM We have a motion from Councilwoman Hurtak, second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Councilwoman Hurtak. Thank you very much for reading that motion. Roll call vote, please.

Charlie Miranda

11:07:28AM Yes.

Guido Maniscalco

11:07:28AM Yes.

Lynn Hurtak

11:07:29AM Yes.

Luis Viera

11:07:30AM Yes.

Bill Carlson

11:07:31AM Yes.

Alan Clendenin

11:07:32AM Yes.

The clerk

11:07:33AM Motion carried unanimously.

Guido Maniscalco

11:07:36AM Move to continue item 47 to November 6, 2025, 10:30 a.m., 315 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida, 33602.

Alan Clendenin

11:07:44AM Motion to continue from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Item 48. McLane Evans, assistant city attorney. Item 48 on today's agenda is the public hearing for the adoption of the city's annual non-ad valorem stormwater service assessment roll. The purpose of the assessment is to generate funds to be utilized by the city's Stormwater Utility in the provision of stormwater management services. To develop properties located within incorporated boundaries of the City of Tampa otherwise known as the city's stormwater service area. As you may recall, this assessment was originally adopted in 2003. The service assessment rate this year is $82 per esu, equivalent stormwater unit, and has remained the same since 2015. No written objections or general public comment have been received on this item. As with all non-ad valorem hearings, please recall that the vote needs to occur while the hearing is still open. Staff and I are here if you have any questions. Please also remember to take public comment.

11:09:03AM Thank you. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

11:09:05AM I just want to ask again, is there any change in the rate?

McLane Evans

11:09:12AM No, there is no change in the rate. It has been the same since 2015.

Lynn Hurtak

11:09:17AM Okay. I like to put that on the record.

Alan Clendenin

11:09:21AM Anybody in the public who wishes to speak on item 48? Please come forward and state your name. Stephanie poynor. I want to ensure that these funds are only spent on stormwater services. I was informed by somebody in the Stormwater Department that she said that the fees really haven't changed since whatever year it was, but the bottom line is, that they didn't take into account for salary increases. So maybe that needs to be something we look at in putting that into place. I actually had a really nice lady who came to me yesterday, and she asked me if she had a ROW of townhomes. Some of them paid two assessments. There were seven townhomes. Some of them paid two assessments and the other five only paid one. I was curious as to why that would be. We'll dig further. But I want to make sure that our stormwater people are working only on stormwater. That's the most important part. And that stormwater is only paying for stormwater people because last year we found out that there were people who were in the Mobility department who were being paid with stormwater. I'm all for this. If we have to raise it to help people's houses not get flooded, then maybe that's something we should look into. But we need to make sure that stormwater is being spent for stormwater and nothing else. Thank you.

11:10:45AM Thank you, Ms. Poynor. State your name. First, thanks to Hagar for doing the deep dive into the stormwater funding issues and allocations. It's apparent that maintenance is a serious and continuing issue, and we've avoided it for a long time, and it's important going forward to have a work program that focuses on maintenance first before we start undertaking major construction projects. It's extremely important and appears through the research that a whole group of teams of neighbors and businesses have conducted that some of the stormwater facilities are not functioning, haven't functioned, and won't function without serious maintenance being conducted. It's something we'll be looking at going forward, and hopefully the council Will continue to weigh in on this and thank you, councilwoman for setting up a separate meeting on Monday. I'm sure you'll have an overflowing crowd. Anyway, appreciate council's action. As I say, going forward, an understandable work program regarding maintenance should be the first priority and having the specific manpower and equipment to conduct that maintenance is the second part of that. Anyway, thank you very much for your time.

11:12:11AM Thank you. Anybody else to speak to this item? We're not going to close this one yet. We keep this one open because we need to move the resolution. I have a motion from Councilwoman Hurtak to move the resolution associated with item 48. A second from Councilman Viera. Roll call vote, please.

Bill Carlson

11:12:28AM Yes.

Charlie Miranda

11:12:29AM Yes.

Guido Maniscalco

11:12:31AM Yes.

Lynn Hurtak

11:12:31AM Yes.

Luis Viera

11:12:32AM Yes.

Alan Clendenin

11:12:33AM Yes.

The clerk

11:12:34AM Motion carried unanimously.

Alan Clendenin

11:12:35AM Thank you. Item 49.

Martin Shelby

11:12:38AM Now a motion to close the public hearing, please.

Alan Clendenin

11:12:40AM We need a motion to close the public hearing. Motion from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilwoman Hurtak to close the public hearing. All in favor aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. We can reopen the public hearing. Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak to reopen public hearing and second from Councilman Miranda --

Martin Shelby

11:12:58AM It's already been opened by motion.

Alan Clendenin

11:13:01AM A motion from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

McLane Evans

11:13:08AM McLane Evans, assistant city attorney again. Item 49 on your agenda is the hearing to adopt the annual roll for the stormwater capital improvement assessment. As you may recall, this assessment was adopted in 2019 for the purpose of funding capital improvement projects within the central and lower basin area. It was implemented with a scaled tier approach until the full rate of $89.55 per esu was reached in 2021. It has not changed since that time. The rate for this year is still $89.55 per esu. No written objections or general public comment were received on this item. Again, please remember to vote while the hearing is still open. Staff and I are available if you have any questions.

Alan Clendenin

11:13:53AM Thank you. Any questions?

Lynn Hurtak

11:13:55AM She stated it twice.

Alan Clendenin

11:13:58AM Anybody in the public that wishes to speak to item 49? State your name. Stephanie poynor. It's funny that Mr. Michelini and I rarely agree but in this particular situation, I think it's important to point out that we could fix the window that doesn't roll up and down. We can fix the belt squeaking on our car. We can fix the little bump in the bumper for a reasonable price. But that South Howard Avenue project, that's us going out and buying a new Mercedes without really thinking about it first. If you actually clean out the ditches, make sure the pumping stations work the way they are supposed to, maybe build a new pumping station or two, we have not seen any true evidence that this is going to work. Mr. Bhide was not a stormwater expert. We have some stormwater experts, but we haven't seen them testify that it's absolutely necessary. If it was really and truly the best project for the City of Tampa, you know I would be down for it. But it stinks. It stinks to high heaven. Who wants it? Why do they want it? Whose pocketbooks is getting filled up? Whose isn't? I don't know. But to fix the window on the car, instead of going and buying a Mercedes, we need to fix it for everybody. And the problem is the people who live there don't want a new car. The people who live there don't want the new car. Now, you have some who did. Some who didn't buy flood insurance even though they live on a peninsula in a storm prone area. I live on a peninsula in a storm prone area and I have flood insurance since the day I bought my house. I would never live here without flood insurance. But we have to look at the big picture. We're going to spend all this money on one project that nobody can definitively show is a perfect project that would fix anything. Let's spread the love and spread the capital improvement money and fix the small pockets where it could be fixed. As a matter of fact, somebody came in here and named three streets in my community a month or so ago. I saw on next door this morning that one of the neighbors has put in for those stormwater drains down there to be cleaned three different times and they haven't been done yet. So let's look at the practicality of let's spend all our money, put all our eggs in one basket or spread it out and help everybody, not just one little neighborhood.

11:16:43AM Thank you.

11:16:45AM State your name. Again, the capital projects need to be divided up into achievable pockets. A massive project does not solve the problem. All it does is transfer it to a bigger project that probably will not solve any of the problems. You're still going to have stormwater flooding. I agree with Stephanie poynor. The issue is fix the areas that flood and design projects that specifically address those areas. You don't need a massive project, as she pointed out, that's not just the homeowners, it's all of the businesses and all of the associated industries that cannot sustain a massive project. They will not survive. So if it means putting in smaller projects with the pumps and redundant backup systems, then have it. But, again, as I said, the research has already shown they have pumps that haven't been inspected or maintained for 14 years, I have sump pumps in my yard. I'm not in a flood zone, but I have to maintain them every six months. I have to call for maintenance. If we don't have the staff to do it, well, then, get people under contract. I know council has been sensitive to that, but get a permanent contract. You already heard from stormwater that they are going to engage in a service that's going to provide backup generators, that they are supposed to be delivered when there is a storm. Well, I hope that is an ironclad contract and we're not competing with other areas that also need generators or pumps. The system needs to be looked at. Again, maintenance first, construction second. Thank you.

11:18:38AM Thank you. Anybody else in the public wishing to speak on item 49? Motion to move the resolution?

Guido Maniscalco

11:18:45AM Before I move it, I want to put on record that I have never agreed more with Stephanie poynor than at 11:16 a.m., August 7.

Alan Clendenin

11:18:54AM I think you need Jesus.

Guido Maniscalco

11:18:56AM I just want the record to show. I'd like to go ahead and move the resolution.

Alan Clendenin

11:19:01AM We have a motion from Councilman Maniscalco, a second from Councilwoman Hurtak.

Bill Carlson

11:19:06AM I agree as well. We need to stop that boondoggle project. There's been a lot of misinformation pushed out by the administration justifying the stupid project. It is a waste of money. It's not going to work. It's going to disrupt neighborhoods and businesses. And the nastiness and dirty politics that's been pushed by the administration and a few of the homeowners is just disgusting. Proper maintenance would have solved the problem in those neighborhoods, and proper maintenance going forward will solve it. We still need to get in there and fix those drains and other problems. I went to those neighborhoods the day after the hurricanes with the neighbors and saw what was happening. When the mayor's people went in, suddenly they had all kinds of conspiracy theories and other problems. We need to fix the real problems going on and stop people's houses from flooding, not waste money on a stupid project.

Alan Clendenin

11:19:53AM Thank you, Councilman Carlson. Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

11:19:55AM I'm here not to defend myself but to say this administration or no other administration that I've ever worked with has ever told me what the hell to do with my vote. Because if they did, I would tell them to go to hell, period. Let me clear that up for me. I take none and I give less. I'm voting for it because the project as I saw it designed, alleviates the problems that we have in most of this area. Is it going to be all of it? There is never going to be a problem that can be solved in the City of Tampa for all of anything regarding stormwater. You know why? Because the bay that we have next to us, and the sea level that we're at, that's number one. Number two, the amount of heat taken this year, about 3% higher than last year, the bay, the water is. What am I to expect? A couple of drops? Or full-blown hurricane? We're lucky that that hurricane, both that hit last time, did not hit us direct because the water went out instead of coming in. If it was to come in, you and I wouldn't be speaking here today. We would all be flooded. The life is what it is. Where I live is what it is. I'm trying to fix it as best I can. Sometimes nothing is hundred percent proof.

Bill Carlson

11:21:20AM I want to say, I'm voting for this because it is for renewal of the money that's coming in. This money, we're not voting for that project or against it. When that comes up, I'll vote against it. Today we are just voting for the money so they can find solutions.

Alan Clendenin

11:21:34AM We have a motion to approve the resolution from Councilman Maniscalco. A second from Councilwoman Hurtak. I need a roll call vote please.

Luis Viera

11:21:41AM Yes.

Bill Carlson

11:21:42AM Yes.

Charlie Miranda

11:21:43AM Yes.

Guido Maniscalco

11:21:43AM Yes.

Lynn Hurtak

11:21:44AM Yes.

Alan Clendenin

11:21:46AM Yes.

The clerk

11:21:46AM Motion carried unanimously.

Alan Clendenin

11:21:51AM We have a motion to close from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Mr. Michelini.

Martin Shelby

11:22:05AM Mr. Michelini.

Alan Clendenin

11:22:06AM Come to the podium, please. At 1:30 --

Martin Shelby

11:22:11AM You have a 1:30 public hearing that the agenda states will not be heard. It is a request to withdraw. Is that your request?

Steve Michelini

11:22:19AM Yes, it is.

Martin Shelby

11:22:21AM I don't think we have to wait until 1:30. We can remove it from the agenda to accept the withdrawal.

Alan Clendenin

11:22:26AM We have a motion to accept the withdrawal from Steve Michelini from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Steve Michelini

11:22:35AM Thank you for your indulgence.

Alan Clendenin

11:22:39AM Item 20 is the first staff report that we are going to hear today. Councilwoman Hurtak, would you like to lead this off?

Lynn Hurtak

11:22:46AM Yes. Thank you. Item 20, on Monday, we had a discussion about Tampa Fire Rescue's fleet and supply, the land we want to buy on Hillsborough Avenue. I asked at that time what else did you want to put on the property, and they wouldn't say exactly what it was. But because we didn't have the supporting documents available over the weekend and we didn't get them until Monday, I hadn't read it yet. But I found it. Ms. Scharf, if you could put that on. The other thing, in the scope of work, they want to find is the Lowry Park neighborhood enhancement staffing vehicles and trailers and the Lowry Park fueling assets. A part of the site analysis is spacial requirements. We found what it is they also want to put there. Problem is, we have heard that Chief Tripp asked for ten acres. This new plot is only 6.4 acres. If it does fit -- this contract right now that we're approving, item number 20, is simply approving $140,000, I believe, contract to just -- $141,825 contract to see if this is plausible. But what they did, the RFQ only talked about fire rescue. Only talked about fleet and supply. The scope of work that they put into onbase this week includes this. Lowry Park neighborhood enhancement staffing vehicles and trailers. I will tell you what this is. This is the extra piece of land of East North Boulevard where currently we have these vehicles, and it is slated for where -- Zoo Tampa wants to expand. I have no problem with looking for land to move these vehicles, but I do not want us as council to be stuck in another Hanna Avenue, another Howard Avenue, one of the problems of, oh, well, maybe this one isn't going to be right for fire rescue, but this will be perfect for this. I have no problem buying the land either way. What I have a problem with is saying that we'll look at this for Lowry Park fueling and staffing vehicles and trailers. I believe we should take this line out of the scope of work. I have been told by our lawyer that that is not possible. So in order to do that, I believe we should work behind the scenes and get this removed from this. I am not at all saying -- let me finish -- I am not at all saying that I have a problem with us moving this. In fact, when I talked to chief of staff about it, I gave him a location that he could look for to put these trailers and vehicles on. I think it's very important. I think we should get this stuff off of something that leads into the river. It's critical. But it is not what we asked for. It is not what we're looking for. Additionally, this morning, we got an e-mail from the president of the Tampa firefighters union that clearly states, this was sent at 9:16 this morning. This land needs to remain 100% for fire and fire only. I urge you to protect this intent and reject any effort to dilute its purpose. We owe it to Tampa fire to focus only on this. Again, this is a six-month study. Ms. Feeley came up to us and said that we're going to close on this property in a month. I have no problem buying the property, but we are focused on fire right now. And if we agree to this, my fear is that we will then move and have this property only possibly for the Lowry Park and we will be stuck at ground zero and have to start all over again for land for fleet and supply. This is my concern. This administration talks about transparency. When I asked on Monday what else could be put on it, we were not told this. I had to find it and read it in documentation. That to me is not transparency, and that is not this council's stated goal of focusing on fire and finding a place for fleet and supply. I understand that the Lowry Park needs land. I get it. Again, I have no problem with it. We can keep looking. We can buy another piece of land. It doesn't have to be this piece of land. I think it's disingenuous to the fire, fire administration, firefighters who are counting on us to find them a place for fleet and supplies so we can fix their stations.

Alan Clendenin

11:27:45AM Some of that was addressed to me. Background information, this is something we've been working on for over two years. I want to restate what this language says. It says that the site analysis and spatial requirements. It's not saying -- maybe Chief Bennett would be able to provide more clarification -- it's just an analysis and space requirements and evaluating this. They are not saying this is what is going to happen. Without some of that in there, it won't happen. Maybe Chief Bennett can provide that clarification before we go on.

Luis Viera

11:28:17AM Mr. Chairman, I have to leave in two minutes. I did want to speak to this to support it. Just whenever chief, if I may.

John Bennett

11:28:26AM John Bennett, chief of staff. I'll try to keep it to 15 seconds. This is 100% on me. When that property came available for evaluation for fire fleet and warehousing, I asked the team through CAD, I said just look at the feasibility as you go through to see if we could get off that property. Then I went back into a secondary meeting and I made sure that everybody working on this project knew that, number one was fire fleet and the warehouse. And only if, with a tear line, if Lowry Park can't go there, we'll figure something else out. No idea how many acres it was. It was a very simple feasibility request that worked its way into the scope. But 1,000% -- I say this in front of the Fire Chief, in front of CAD, in front of lam -- that is only for fire fleet and fire warehousing as a primary focus. For some reason we have room, including some other things that are being looked at that are contiguous to this, let us know. And that's as far as it went. How it got formalized from there is the project side of the equation. I agree, I think we all have the common theme of the highest best use of property for lowry. And we can look for other things if it doesn't fit. But it was a genuine opportunity to do more with less. That's all.

Lynn Hurtak

11:29:45AM Would you be willing to take it out of the scope of work?

John Bennett

11:29:51AM Only if it's not feasible, of course, I would. Because the priority is fire and fire warehousing. But if for some reason through value engineering -- I mean, I look at the city as a team sport trying to make sure land use is available for its highest and best use, but I'm not the end state. I'm not subject matter expert. All I asked for is feasibility. If I take it out or we ask to take it out, it will automatically get taken out if it doesn't work. It was really, before they had a project manager, it was CAD that I asked to see the feasibility. If they came back and said no, even in the preliminary, it would have been over. Always we were trying to do is see if there was enough room to free up that property. If not, then we will look for something else. We knew Lowry Park for history was not the highest and best use of the land for whatever we end up doing with it.

Lynn Hurtak

11:30:43AM And I don't disagree. The point is, I asked about this Monday and no one would give me a straight answer.

John Bennett

11:30:50AM That's unfortunate. Because there was no hidden agenda here. It was part of the discussion from day one internally. I don't know why it wasn't brought up. That's why I'm here right now telling you, this was on me. I asked for it from day one to be studied as a feasibility only. But the priority was, hopefully the chief would come up because I was talking to her face to face about number one fire fleet. Number two, warehousing. Only if there is room we'll consider moving the functions. Staff has been looking at -- but also a good exercise, even without this property, to take a look at the property and see if other opportunities, to your point of there or somewhere else. We're all about it, but the focus and the intent was to have the highest and best use for the lowry property park.

Luis Viera

11:31:35AM I apologize. I got to go to turkey creek middle school I think it in Plant City for special needs thing. Really fast, Councilwoman Hurtak, obviously I want to support you on this. A couple of things really fast with regards to the history of this, this came about after 2023. Some of these issues were in the budget. Couldn't get the additional revenue for it. Then we moved to bond for it. If there's any chance that we're going to be bonding for Lowry Park -- again, nothing against Lowry Park, they are wonderful. I grew up going there, took my son there. Special place in my heart. But shouldn't be bonding for that and all that kind of good stuff. And then just again, it's something that we have to pay extra close attention to. Obviously, Chief Bennett and everybody is very, very honest, but having lived through the apocalypse now with fire stations, fire station 24, make sure that it's done hundred percent. This provides the key to freeing up station 9. Council, I literally have to go. If there is a vote on this where I'm needed, I can be back at 1:30 or whatever. But I have to go. My apologies sincerely.

Alan Clendenin

11:32:43AM Chief Bennett.

John Bennett

11:32:44AM Two commitments to council, number one, there was never an intention to bond anything out of the scope of what we're talking about. Number two, I can tell you that the minute this is not feasible, it's over. It was just -- it was really a strong curiosity to see if we could find an add that wasn't to displace. I went out to station 9. I walked through there. Walked through the rehab. I'm very ground zero kind of person. All I did when this started, see if it will work. That was the extent of it. It became a scope. A part of the plot plan if you will. No intention to bond, and if it doesn't -- if it's not able to be handled within its compartmentalized portfolio, either financing, space, whatever else, then it comes off. It was just an idea to make sure we have the highest and best use of our land. That's it.

Alan Clendenin

11:33:43AM I've been involved. There is misinformation here. A couple of things happening. This is not about the zoo. This is about the public land, the recreation land along the river that is Lowry Park, in a neglected neighborhood, area not seen any investment, that some decisions decades and decades ago decided to use it basically as a dumping ground in somebody's neighborhood park. I don't know if anybody has walked there, there is a beautiful, natural spring right there by this thing. It could be a wonderful crown jewel for the City of Tampa this park. Again, it's in one of these neglected neighborhoods that the City of Tampa is not invested in. There is coincidentally, something the zoo as a proposal that possibly somewhere in the future, not moving forward as far as I know right now, but they are looking at that property as expansion property. But just taking into fact right now we have a dump, and really heavy, heavy utilization in a spectacular area of town along the Hillsborough River, refueling vehicles around Hillsborough River. It's environmentally just ridiculous. What this proposal was, is all about fleet and fire maintenance. When they procured the property, all they have in the language, I want to right-set this. The language is just about an analysis of the property. It's not committing to build anything. It is just looking at the scope and scale. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Fleet and fire maintenance is number one. Number one, number two, number three, number four, number five. When they do the analysis, if it works, it works, if it doesn't, it doesn't. We'll look else where to take this stuff off of Lowry Park. This is nothing more than keep your options open. You know what? Shame on the city if we didn't keep our options open because then we have blinders on looking at something. If you have an opportunity and adjacent properties, you have a scope of the project, you've got to keep the scope as broad as possible so that you can possibly expand it if you need to. If you narrow it out the gate, there's no going back. So this is just keeping your option open. Thank you. Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

11:36:04AM The issue is transparency. Even though the mayor has talked about transparency, it is a cover for the fact that this administration has never been transparent. That's why the public doesn't trust them, and they blame us for it to a certain extent. But look at this item, it says -- I'm looking at number 20, it's about new fire fleet maintenance building. It doesn't say anything about the zoo or moving anything else around. So the public looking at this would have no idea that's what it is. We know that all the time. The other day, we were talking about the budget. I asked the CFO and other folks basic questions, like how much is our total debt, and they didn't know. I haven't researched that, but typically when they say we don't know, we find out they did know but didn't want to tell us or they were told not to tell us. This is not how we build trust with the public. We need to work with the public. There are, I think, maybe two or three spring heads in that area. I've taken a walk through there. One of the things we know is the river is heavily polluted. We need to fix that. The zoo or the city, somebody can work to better clear those spring heads so that we can add more freshwater there. But the issue here is that we need to teach the administration a lesson about how they need to be transparent for the public and for us. I think we should vote no. by the way, only five of us here. If two of us vote no, we don't have the votes anyway, so we can go quickly. The other thing I want to say, I object strongly to this concept of highest and best use. Government agency that serves the public, we're not a commercial real estate company. This is the excuse that the development community uses to try to get rid of the cruise industry or the port industry. If you use the highest and best use that the commercial property people use, then you would convert all our parks to condos because that's what the few people want to do. They want inside deals so they can convert everything to condos. Our economy is multifaceted. It's not just based on condos. Condos are important but one part. How best does it serve the public? Sure, condos will generate more ad valorem taxes, but would we rather have Curtis Hixon Park or rather have condos there? We can get more money. Highest and best use is putting condos in Curtis Hixon Park. How to best serve the public is keep it as a park. We should never say highest and best use again. That is a term to not represent the community's interest. I think we should vote no and have the administration come back. They need to be more transparent on this, not just this, they hide information from us all the time. Many things we know about the Howard Avenue project, for example, and other boondoggle projects, the public is doing public records and they find all the conflicts of interest, the insider dealing, dirty politics, staff texting and e-mailing community members, riling them up against us. It is horrible the things going on. We need to say no and we need to bring good government back to the city for the next year and a half. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

11:38:53AM Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

11:38:55AM I understand what you said, Mr. Chairman, is correct. That area there is being used for refueling and dumping and picking up from one or two city divisions for at least 60 years. As far as I can remember, that's been going on at that location. It's got to be somewhere along the line cleaned up before you do anything. But I'm just there to listen. If I thought that somebody in this city had done all the violations I just heard, I would ask for complete investigation by the Florida department, FDLE or any other outside source because if that is the case, bring them all in. Let's investigate everything. Because I don't like to be heard, talked about, not that it's me, I don't like any innuendos against my government. If all that is true, I'm asking for an investigation. If they have the guts to say it, they have the guts to prove it. I want a complete investigation of what I just heard.

Alan Clendenin

11:40:02AM Councilman Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

11:40:03AM Thank you. In supporting this, it keeps our options open and doesn't bind our hands. From what I'm understanding. I know that property very well on the east side of boulevard. It is a dump and is going to need major environmental remediation and who knows what else. On the other side, it used to be ferry land. Now it's a parking lot. Like an employee entrance for the zoo. It used to be a nice area. Now it is underutilized. And that specific parcel, we're talking about fire rescue here at the end of the day and Hillsborough Avenue and whatnot. This has come up. Access to the river, access to the park, access to the community. We keep our option open. If it doesn't work like you said, we don't move forward with it. At least we're looking at this.

Alan Clendenin

11:40:57AM Ms. Colina came online -- no. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

11:41:05AM I did get an e-mail from Ms. Colina. Again, we're talking about 6.4-acre site. I believe, Chief Bennett, you told me 1.5 acres is unusable because of stormwater?

John Bennett

11:41:17AM I didn't give you a number. I know the plot plan involves the initial feedback I got from CAD was that because of the lay of the land, the parking and stormwater management, that it probably would not be feasible.

Lynn Hurtak

11:41:28AM Okay. No, no, no. but you said there was a portion that would have to be for stormwater.

John Bennett

11:41:34AM Correct.

Lynn Hurtak

11:41:36AM We're talking a 6.4-acre piece of land which is smaller. She asked for 10. Then these are the Lowry Park assets. Office trailer, lawn mower canopy, dale shop, dale open cages. All of this stuff, we have 12, 15 -- 33, 34, 35, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43 -- 44 vehicles. In addition. So what I'm saying, it doesn't seem like there's even enough room to put fire. And then you want to say, well, let's look at it for 44 additional vehicles plus buildings. And that's what this is about. This isn't saying, hey, you know, we'll see what's there because, quite frankly, I don't think it's going to be enough for fire, but it might be enough just for this. That's what we don't want. We want to know that this is enough for fire. We need to move on fire. Yes, do we want to take stuff off the Lowry Park river? Absolutely. But that's not the primary goal here. The primary goal is to get fleet and supply moved. So what it sounds like to me is, quite frankly, that we're going to add this in and, oh, we're just looking, but if we're just looking, we're going to be another year without having started fleet and supply.

Alan Clendenin

11:43:18AM Ms. Colina. Thank you, council. If I could, I would actually like to take you a little down memory lane how we got here. In September of 2024, Contract Administration Department issued an RFQ. The RFQ was titled, related associated and subsequent work for the new fire support service --

11:43:43AM Can you speak a little closer to your microphone, Ms. Colina? We're having a hard time hearing you? Can you hear me now?

11:43:50AM Yes, much better. Would you like me to start from the --

11:43:57AM We're good. Associated facility assessment. Submissions were due for that RFQ on October 31 of '24. It went through the CCNA process. Three firms presented on December 20 of '24. Wilder and associates was selected. They were the one selected during that. The agreement that is before you today is simply allowing them, the subject matter experts, to do the programming for building and site and seeing what the required space is for fleet that services fire and supply. I will also say and Councilwoman Hurtak, I've heard you say a couple of times that the Fire Chief asked for ten acres. With all due respect, that is not her area of expertise. Wilder and associates has a demonstrated track record. They did a similar facility. They designed and constructed a similar facility in charlotte county. We are not the subject matter experts. So we are leaning on the subject matter experts to tell us what we truly need to service our fleet based on the number of their vehicles to provide ample storage for them based on what they have. So we are leaning to the experts or on the experts, rather, to let us know what we can or can't do on the site. As Chief Bennett mentioned, we are looking -- Councilman Carlson has said multiple times, master plan, do your homework, and that's what we're doing. We're looking to see what do we really need. As I mentioned Monday, right out of the gate, you'll have two departments on-site. Because I want everyone to remember, the fleet maintenance team, logistics and assets management. That is my department service fire. We're going to be there with fire. Fire currently shares space with the Police Department for supply and at the fleet site, we share with the Fire Department. The city does that citywide. Old city hall -- I can go on and on. Big blue, t & I was located there. We try to optimize space where possible. Honestly, this is not a decision the administration is making. We'll lean to our experts. All we're doing is taking this RFQ that went through the CCNA process, getting the agreement -- wilder and associates in line so we can move forward. That's all we're asking for today.

11:46:28AM Thank you, Ms. Colina. Mr. Bennett, anything to add? Address a few things. One, I want to make sure I clarify what highest and best use. That park and lay down equipment, logistics and fuel is at risk near the river regardless of where it ends up. When you have 30,000 gallons of fuel there, we haven't been hit yet. If that river crests, it becomes a logistical problem. It's not just what it can be used for, it is the functions that are there that are at risk. That is my version of highest best use is for service. I'm not a real estate expert nor do I plan on being one. That's part of it. The second part of it is I want to make sure everybody understands the focus is fire fleet and warehousing. If 100% of what you're voting on today goes to that, I'm fine with that because that's what really mattered. That's how it got started. That's how the assessment and -- this was simply a feasibility question. Wherever that tear line happens, whether before, during, after, we will figure out Lowry Park. That is not the focus. I said it in the internal meetings, I'm saying it to the public, it was just an ancillary request to see, because we don't often come across acreage in the city. So it's very simple to figure this out another way to make sure that these two priorities happen. That's it. I'm done.

11:47:52AM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

11:47:53AM Thank you. I think we should wait until Councilman Viera comes back to vote on it because he asked. So move to postpone this item 20 until after Councilman Viera returns after lunch.

Alan Clendenin

11:48:04AM We have a motion to move item 20 until after Councilman Viera comes back from lunch. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Guido Maniscalco

11:48:18AM Do you want to break for lunch and come back?

Alan Clendenin

11:48:20AM I see Tampa PD is here.

Lynn Hurtak

11:48:23AM That is a pretty quick one overall.

Alan Clendenin

11:48:33AM Do you want to say it when we bring it back up? Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

11:48:37AM Wilder architects is the company. It is a great firm. Ms. Colina was talking about their expertise. Great firm. Larry wilder was a fantastic person. Nothing I question has anything to do with wilder or their reputation. Great firm.

Alan Clendenin

11:48:51AM Thank you. I would suggest we move on to item 52.

Lynn Hurtak

11:48:54AM I think we can do 52.

Alan Clendenin

11:48:58AM 52.

Lynn Hurtak

11:48:59AM I wanted to just kick this off by saying that we had a robust discussion on Monday about funding for this. That is not what this asks for. This motion is just a progress report on where we are, the types of things that are going to go in it. We are not talking about funding this or that is not the intent of this staff report. I just wanted to set the table.

Alan Clendenin

11:49:24AM Good morning. Start with your name, please. I'm assistant Chief Ruth kate with the Tampa Police Department. I have with me today major patrick messmer also from the Tampa Police Department and legal advisor Michael schmidt, should you have questions for him. Thank you for having us here today to update you on the project. Current approved capital budget is $41,296,000. That's where we are at right now. What have we spent on the project so far? $6.2 million. That has been used for the purchase of the property at 5005 North Howard Avenue. The design plans and creation of the project, permitting, the tree study, the pond study, engineering, and the project manager, which we are also using wilder architecture to help us. I would like to show you a display of our parking spaces. There was a question on what will the parking spaces be at the new facility. I'll put that on the elmo for you. Currently, the parking will be for 84 vehicles, which includes employee parking, large high vehicle storage, and charging stations for EVs and bicycle spaces. There will be 30 additional tandem spaces for vehicle storage, which I'm going to show you a color one, which may help a little bit more. But this is the overall plan so far. Where we will help save some money, which is for the tandem vehicles right there, that will be gravel. That will actually not be paved. The employee parking, the main employee parking will be here, and there will be employee parking here, but these are overflow of vehicles that we already have that employees don't normally drive, like our command posts, the high water vehicles, those vehicles will go there. We also have EV chargers and we will accommodate ADA parking. The general public will park in this area here. That was for the parking. The square footage assumption for the entire project is 47,594 square foot. This is the overall site plan of the entire project. This is the pond and all of the parking, and this is the overall building there. Updated construction costs, this is currently a design-build bid, which is unique. We will not know the exact costs until the bid is accepted. The estimated costs still remain around the $40 million is where we are at. Before I go further, I would like major messmer to talk about a list of positions that would be moving for TPD headquarters and the temporary impound lot at crockett's. I initially took lead on this project back in 2021 when I was in a previous assignment when I learned that we were being moved out of our existing impound lot due to Solid Waste relocation which I think everybody knows about. There was a list of positions requested of who is going to be moving from headquarters and the impound lot over to this new facility. There will be about 51 employees. That's going to be our national integrated ballistics network technicians fingerprint technicians, forensic personnel and all of our evidence and impound lot personnel. And we have always staffed two facilities for evidence. Currently, we have a temporary impound lot. Previously we staffed the 34th street impound lot. One of the things that I did back in 2021 was conduct a cost benefit analysis about this as well. So we staff between 8 and 9 positions at the secondary location. By centralizing this to one location, we'll be able to eliminate through attrition or reclassified positions, move them into other positions where we have vacancies, eight positions. So if we assume it's going to be a 40-year lifetime of the structure, which is not unreasonable considering the age of our headquarters building, the age of the training facility that's undergoing some construction in the future down to 34th street, that savings over that 40-year period is going to be about 42, $43 million when you factor in about a 4% increase in employee costs and benefits annually if we can eliminate those eight positions. Potentially, it will be a cost neutral project at the end of the life of the structure. I have discussed where we are at in the permitting progress with Abbye Feeley. And she assures me, we reviewed all the permits that are outstanding, that the final permit should be approved by the end of August, at which time we can put the project out to bid. Once we accept a bid and we're ready to break ground, it will be approximately 16 months for completion of the project.

11:54:56AM Councilman Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

11:54:58AM Thank you very much, assistant chief kate. I like saying that, because you do a great job. This is a major responsibility because it is a historic project. I'm glad to see the investment in West Tampa, Wells wood because it is in an underutilized area. That little corridor. But it's a great project. It's needed. I understand, I've toured what is right down the street on the 7th floor. For a city like Tampa, it's outdated. My concern is how we fund it. And you mentioned it is around the 40 million. You mentioned around the $42 million in savings. The thing is, when you bond something, what you pay in interest, it just defeats that entire purpose. I had a brief conversation with our CFO, Mr. Rogero, to look at how can we not bond this. Looking at the CIT, looking at what's coming in the renewal, just to be good stewards of taxpayer funding, because I want to see this happen. I want to save as much money as possible. When we looked at the hanna building, some departments were moving in and saying we're not paying rent in these other places, but the cost of that facility plus what was bonded and the interest it defeated that argument. Oh, paying a million dollars a year in rent, but how much paying the banks in the lifetime of the financing. Moving forward with this, I know this is not a vote, this is a status update, my questions are going to be and the scrutiny I'll put is how can we save money and be financially responsible in getting this done? I spoke to the Chief of Police. I know with the CIT there are renewals for the police -- the new police cars coming in. The concern was, you know, if -- with what is done with the CIT money and if we look at funding this with the revenue that we get, will that affect how we replace the new police cars? I know the vehicles that the police have, they have a life span. Those things run all day. They are not regular cars. They are racing and high mileage and all sorts of stuff. Moving forward in the next discussion when this does come from a vote, when it does come up for a vote, I want to look at how we can utilize CIT, what other funding sources. At the last resort, if we have to bond, to bond the least -- I want to avoid bonding altogether. I asked a question or made the comment about the greco administration with the original CIT post 1996, '97, how the police substations like on Tampa Bay and other -- how they were funded. I'll call mayor greco and ask him. I think they were paid with CIT money. CIT is a blessing. I know it is a 15-year renewal. But if we can do the most good with it because it is dedicated funding source and we can pay for this, the chief mentioned a new police headquarters, $400 million. I don't even want to think about that discussion. It's an old building but I'd rather renovate big blue because it is historically significant. I had a conversation about this yesterday with our arts council, but in moving this forward, again, I want to avoid bonding and try to fund it with general revenue, with CIT, with anything -- the last resort is giving money to the banks because it defeats the $42 million in savings when we're just going to pay it in interest. Thank you very much.

Alan Clendenin

11:58:29AM Thank you, Councilman Maniscalco. Any questions? Thank you for the report.

Lynn Hurtak

11:58:35AM I want to say thank you so much for providing this information and for chatting with me ahead of time. I agree with Councilman Maniscalco, but I do appreciate the update, the information, where we're going with it. I just want to say one last remark. Remember, we are a growing city. And we were just recently ranked the sixth safest of our size across the nation. And that's because of the hard work that the police officers do. When we think our evidence and property room, we need to consider post conviction relief. It's very important that these defendants have this evidence available to them until the expiration of their sentence. That's why we have such the volume. As we continue to grow, we owe it to the community not to have one case lost. So very important. Once we move evidence and forensics, that is the bulk of what is at headquarters. The rest of us can probably hotel anywhere. You're talking about detectives and administrative staff, the cost of building a police headquarters goes down tremendously. And we would not rebuild this part. This would be separate. It helps with ventilation. We don't have the outside storage like we used to have at what we formerly used as the impound lot. We are getting out of the impound lot business. A lot of the statutes have changed on impounding of cars. That's why the parking lot is not as big. We were very conservative on the tree study and the pond mitigation. We want to be good neighbors in Wells wood. We have spoken to them also which would be our neighbors. We are very proud of the entire project and how it's going.

Alan Clendenin

12:00:19PM Thank you very much. Councilman Carlson, I believe you have a ceremonial thing you would like to do. I'm sorry. Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

12:00:27PM Two cents to the conversation, it's not what you buy today and spend today. It's that you have to realize another 20 years from now, 30 years from now, what is that going to cost. That's never been said. No one has addressed that. No one says what if nothing happens, where are you going to go? A lot of important questions that have not been answered. Yeah, bonding is what, I don't know what the market is today, 4.5, 4.75, whatever it is. You think the interest rate will stay that way for the next 20 years? I don't think so. But more importantly, I don't want 20 years from now a guilty person to be set free because the evidence was not there.

12:01:12PM I understand that. That's what I'm getting at. I've said that before. Just one person. One person. I said that before. I'm not afraid to understand what's going on. I may not like it personally, but I understand that big business, general motors and everybody is big business, they also have a credit line, when they can make a bargain, they take it and run with it, because sometimes even big, big business needs immediate cash. That's all I'm going to say.

Alan Clendenin

12:01:44PM Thank you, councilman.

12:01:46PM Thank you all. Enjoy your afternoon. Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

12:01:50PM Just quickly, Adam, this is his last meeting because he has to go back to fsu, as his future running mate mentioned last week. He came the beginning of the summer as intern. My aide had health issues. He stepped right in and been working as a temp for a couple of months now and has been doing a great job. I want to personally thank him and wish him well. Stay in touch. He knows that anything we can do to help him in the future, we will.

Lynn Hurtak

12:02:33PM What are your plans? What are you studying? And what year are you? Thank you for having me, council. I'm going to be an accounting major. I'm going into my sophomore year. I am also doing a minor in political science. As I started working here over the summer, I've grown very invested in politics. I do think there is a future for me, not necessarily in city work, but definitely government related. I am also very finance interested. I do want to do something with money. So that comes into the accounting part.

Alan Clendenin

12:03:27PM You want to make money. Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

12:03:30PM It's like the old saying it, go to school, make straight-as, become lawyers, become judges. Those that go to college, make a c in law, they become millionaires. Accounting same way in a way with numbers. You have no problem ahead of your life. Just keep doing what you've got to do and enjoy. It will be hard now that you've got all that, one player play for you one year, then he's gone. It's getting to the point, not a team anymore. It's who you can buy to play for you anymore. That's how it is in sports. What am I going to say, do I like it? Absolutely not.

Alan Clendenin

12:04:06PM Does that saying go on to say those who flunk go on to be politicians?

Guido Maniscalco

12:04:11PM Those who get CS become City Council --

Bill Carlson

12:04:15PM Charlie, which were you?

Guido Maniscalco

12:04:22PM I was going to ask. Now I know.

Alan Clendenin

12:04:24PM Councilman Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

12:04:31PM That's great. I was 20 the other day. I'm 41 now. But the most important thing is your education and to learn about money. I have a couple of friends of mine from when they were young, one is in finance and one is not in finance. But everything is about understanding how money works, saving and investing for your future because time flies, number one. Your education, your future, retirement, finances, I wanted to be an attorney and the goal was -- I even applied to go to law school -- goal to be an attorney and run for public office. Always had my sights on city local because I was inspired by mayor greco, former mayor, City Council member Charlie Miranda, because those are who I knew growing up. But anything is possible. Again, build that foundation, focus on yourself because it will be a better future for you. So you talked about finance, talked about government. There are so many opportunities, and never be scared. Never be scared. Don't hesitate. Because what is it, fortune favors the bold. Even if you may fail, don't be too scared that you don't take that first step. Best of luck to you, sir. Thank you for joining us here. Thank you.

Charlie Miranda

12:05:50PM Advice I'll give, failure is only for those who do not get up and run and try again.

Alan Clendenin

12:05:56PM Thank you, Councilman Miranda. Adam, it's been a pleasure having you back there. You always have a smile on your face. Always so friendly. We actually are going to miss You. Been a lot of fun. Hopefully we'll see you again.

12:06:11PM Take care. Enjoy your lunch. Me. This has been an incredibly valuable experience. I've learned so many, so many great things from countless e-mails and scheduling, it's truly been one of the most valuable experiences of my life. Thank you very much.

12:06:31PM Just don't take advice from him about movies.

Bill Carlson

12:06:36PM By the way, he doesn't talk about it, so you might not know, he lived in Singapore for four years. You can get a second opinion. Thank you very much.

Alan Clendenin

12:06:52PM We are in recess. [ sounding gavel ]

01:34:57PM Can we have a roll call please?

Charlie Miranda

01:34:59PM Here.

Guido Maniscalco

01:35:01PM Here.

Lynn Hurtak

01:35:02PM Here.

Luis Viera

01:35:03PM Here.

Bill Carlson

01:35:05PM Here.

Alan Clendenin

01:35:05PM Here.

Clerk

01:35:07PM We have a physical quorum.

Alan Clendenin

01:35:13PM We will pause for a minute and move on to 53. In-person staff report. Ocea. Is Ocea online? Okay. Is staff online for 53? No coat Thursday.

Luis Viera

01:35:38PM I have been outside. I never not worn a tie to City Council.

Alan Clendenin

01:35:45PM I just dropped my coat in the office because it was hot out here. Going once, going twice for anyone on item 53. Okay, who is available?

Lynn Hurtak

01:36:08PM Let's do 54.

Alan Clendenin

01:36:10PM How about 54. Going once. Going twice. 54. We have a bidder. I'm here for a presentation of a honoring street naming of George and leonard levy. If you can pull up the presentation.

01:36:45PM It's up.

01:36:51PM Should be a clicker there somewhere.

01:36:56PM Somebody from CCTV come and provide some assistance? Are you able to see it on the overhead above you? I think it is rebooting. There we go. All right. Leonard levy and George Levy were Tampa natives and twins that dedicated their lives of building a stronger and more dynamic tampam and their belief in its potential shaped the city for a recognized destination in the world of sports and civic pride. In the early 1970s, George and leonard were part of a pioneerin group of leaders that saw what Tampa could come. They worked tirelessly to bring football to the region meeting with commissioner rosell. And the vision came a reality in 1974 when the team was awarded the first nfl franchise, the Tampa Bay buccaneers. Transformative moment of Tampa's rise as premiere sports city. Leonard levy was a graduate of plant high school and earned a journalism degree from the university of Florida. He proudly served as a captain in the U.S. marines before building a successful career at Hillsborough printing company. His true presence with Tampa was on the national stage. Beyond helping to secure the nfl franchise. And was co-chair for super bowl 25 in 1991, and ultimately, his influence of Tampa hosting additional super bowls in 2001, 2009 and 2021. His leadership was instrumental of putting Tampa in the global spotlight of a sports organization. Leonard served on several organizations including the Tampa Bay sports foundation, greater Tampa chamber of commerce, Tampa General Hospital foundation, the outback bowl and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Among his many honors, leonard received the key to the City of Tampa, the university of distinguished alumnus award and inducted in the USF and Tampa sports hall of fame. City of Tampa proclaimed in 2021 Leonard Levy Way, that shaped the city's modern identity. Mr. Levy Passed away in 2022 at the age of 89. Brother George Levy graduated from plant high school and the University of South Florida. And served in the army before founding the George a. Levy awards. He served as chairman of the Board of Trustees at Hillsborough community college and was appointed to the 13th judicial nominating committee. He was a member and president of the Tampa sports club and served the Tampa Sports Authority, health bowl and the sunshine state games. His efforts extended beyond sports with education, youth and special needs causes. He was a lifetime member of the boys and girls club of Tampa Bay, vice president of the gold shield foundation, and supporter of the jay Clifford macdonald center. His legacy include founding the swimming association where he also coached young athletes. Recognized for leadership in generosity, George was named Tampa citizen of the year, small business person of the year and received numerous honors from the university of Florida, the boys and girls club and local civic organizations. Mr. Levy Passed away in 2016 at the age of 83. Together, leonard and George Levy embodied spirit and community building. Influence brought national sports, major events and brought civic institutions to Tampa. Helped transform Tampa not only better place to live but a city with global reach and hometown pride. For our due diligence, the Mobility department recommends the installation of a honorary street naming sign at north himes at West Ohio Avenue. This location is adjacent to a high-volume pedestrian crosswalk that leads directly into Raymond James Stadium. Ensures that the sign will be seen by countless fans, visitors and members of the community for many years to come. If council chooses to move forward with this honorary street naming, we ask a first reading for September 18 or some time thereafter. And I am available if you guys have any questions.

01:41:55PM Does council have any questions? Council member Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

01:41:59PM Thank you. Great presentation. Learned things about the levy brothers. And not only was leonard levy -- I don't remember what it was -- what the occasion was, but you would hear about him growing up. How instrumental they were. You said it all. With the bucs, with sports, with giving back to the community, you know. Their names are well recognized. And I think this is very fitting because even though they are no longer with us, their impact is still felt. So I am happy to make a motion to set this for September 18 for a first reading.

Alan Clendenin

01:42:35PM A motion from council member Maniscalco. A second from council member Viera. Council member Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

01:42:41PM Thank you. I believe this is happening because dc goutofas is the one that asked for it. Came to my office through mary and maybe it was your -- I don't know. We did it and the best we could with your help and others help. I have known both of the brothers for many years, they were nice, nice people. And they were quite able to get under your skin. They had do. What you did was 100% correct. They were very nice and very close friends with mayor greco also.

Guido Maniscalco

01:43:18PM It was d.c. Goutoufas that spoke this morning. Reached out to me and other members. But he has been a driving force behind this.

Alan Clendenin

01:43:31PM A motion from council member Maniscalco. A second from council member Viera. And council member Carlson?

Bill Carlson

01:43:36PM I just want to add real fast. I knew both of them. I knew some of the family members. I didn't know them as well as probably council member Miranda did. But in the '90s and 2000s, they were huge leaders. And the great thing about them is that, as far as I could tell, they didn't seek publicity. They didn't seek recognition. But they moves mountains of making positive things happen in this community. And I think it is great to recognize people who didn't really ask for recognition during their heyday.

Alan Clendenin

01:44:11PM Thank you. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it. Thank you very much. For public comment starting tomorrow, which is August 8 through mondaym August 25.

Lynn Hurtak

01:44:27PM Thank you. I worked on this through lunch with Chief Bennett, and we think we have come to a resolution for item number 20. If you were ready, we can discuss it.

Alan Clendenin

01:44:42PM We will bring item 20 back to the table. Chief Bennett.

Lynn Hurtak

01:44:47PM So let me sort of set the stage. What happened is, the RFQ was very specific about fire rescue and -- I am sorry, about fire fleet and supply. It did not mention any other entity in the RFQ. Where Lowry Park came in was the scope of work. And we have determined that we can take that portion out of the scope of work, but in the same breath what I didn't know, because it haven't come to us yet, is that they have created a separate scope -- or a separate request -- work order, thank you, for the Lowry Park -- for what is at Lowry Park and to look at a -- what's there and where it can go. So that is already happening. It haven't come to us yet, but it will. So I will -- with that said, correct me anything I didn't get right.

John Bennett

01:45:47PM Again, John Bennett, good afternoon, chief of staff. With me is -- we have Dennis Rogero, CFO, richer Mutterback over CAD and the cc&a process, and Justin Vaske from legal to make sure we are doing things appropriately. To go back what Councilwoman Hurtak said. I want to reset the chronology. When the RFQ was sent out, lowry wasn't a thought. That kind of embedded language -- I don't want to say boilerplate but wasn't lowry specifics at all. Lowry came up when we landed the property and the work order came in to see if it will fit or not fit. The scope is accurate by its vagueness, but because lowry came up in the journey when the property came in. The question would be to deconflict those. Because there is no substantive change to the RFQ process and the work order -- sorry, the scope of work includes that language which then became now a work order completely separate and apart to see if it will fit. We already are confident it is not just for the record. That there is not a problem changing it. So the legal process to do that. We have two options. One, that the CAD can go back and strike that language and bring it back to council for the end of the day, or two, I am told there is no risk to bring this back on the 28th with the modified scope. It is council's pleasure from there.

Alan Clendenin

01:47:19PM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

01:47:21PM I have no problem if you want to bring it back by the end of the day, but I wanted both Mr. Mutterback and -- and Chief Tripp is here too, if she has anything else she wants to say. But I -- just to clarify, we kind of already have some preliminary understanding that fleet and supply will fit, but not anything additional.

John Bennett

01:47:47PM Right, that would have been the second phase of when -- remember the initial RFQ was land agnostic. It was, what are the needs analysis, etc., to do this operation. When the property was picked up later on, when the concept, hey, we can fit this and a work order to see if it will go completely separate. What you are voting on today never included lowry as part of that at all. But if it is council's pleasure to make sure there is -- no pun intended -- a firewall in that, that can be easily done without substantively changing the RFQ process. Modify the scope by the end of the day for a formal vote and delay it to the 28th. The same thing either way.

Lynn Hurtak

01:48:34PM I wanted to give anybody else who wanted to have --

John Bennett

01:48:38PM They may want to just validate what I am saying. Just a little bit to add on. When the RFQ was originally posted, part of that scope -- it was anticipated to be $200,000 to $300,000. Part of that scope was assisting with site investigations of various properties. The same week that we selected this firm to carry out this assessment is when this property came about. And then it all kind of changed a little bit. And the work order that both you and John are referring to is always in place. That is why there is -- there has already been work through wilder, the same firm with the assessment, which is why the $200,000 to $300,000 estimate is coming in at $142,000 because he is able to -- he already has been able to accomplish some of that scope that would have been in the original RFQ.

Lynn Hurtak

01:49:31PM Anything else? Chief Tripp would you like to --

Guido Maniscalco

01:49:40PM You want to come back later today.

Lynn Hurtak

01:49:42PM I wanted to give Mr. Rogero a chance to speak.

Alan Clendenin

01:49:47PM Can I ask a question for clarification. From what I heard of Chief Bennett, it doesn't matter. We can pass and come to the end of the day.

Lynn Hurtak

01:49:56PM He is saying at the end of the day he is coming back --

Alan Clendenin

01:50:00PM The language doesn't matter. No real relevance.

Lynn Hurtak

01:50:03PM There is relevance. It matters.

Martin Shelby

01:50:06PM I think -- Martin Shelby, City Council attorney. What I understood is that the administration recognize as that it could come out. And the task that was contemplated in the scope is being handled by a work order. Therefore, it could come out and should come out --

Alan Clendenin

01:50:25PM Stop. Stop. Let me express my opinion what you just described. What he just said is that the language is not relevant to what is in here. We can pass it right now and it has zero consequence on the outcome.

Martin Shelby

01:50:39PM No, sir, it does not.

Alan Clendenin

01:50:40PM How does it have consequence. Mr. Shelby, stop. Mr. Bennett, what I said, is that accurate, if it came out or stayed in have any consequence on the outcome.

John Bennett

01:50:54PM I will ask legal to talk about that because I don't have the language in front of me, but I was explained to me land agnostic nothing to do with lowery when it came out. My understanding that it could be, but we are partnering through this to get to the right outcome. Because there is a separate work order that was property specific instead of agnostic, again, it is an exercise to make council feel confident about the journey we are on. Because the priority has always been fire fleet and fire warehousing.

Alan Clendenin

01:51:26PM Thank you.

John Bennett

01:51:27PM I defer to legal to make sure I am accurate.

Alan Clendenin

01:51:30PM Thank you.

Charlie Miranda

01:51:32PM If I may.

Alan Clendenin

01:51:33PM Council member Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

01:51:34PM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we can resolve this today. If not, give them the opportunity to redraw the contract while we are still here and if another not done by the time we finish, we can always put it for next week or whatever it is next week and get done. We have two shots at the apple. Today or in the future, the 20th.

Justin Vaske

01:51:55PM Justin Vaske, Legal Department. Two scopes, one in the work order and one in the contract. They are similar if not identical. Cleanest route is to clean up the agreement if we are not going to perform that task under that agreement. Clean it up. The question is, when do we do it? Up to City Council's pleasure at that point. We can do the scope this afternoon and run it back here or do it for the 28th and have it cleaned up that way. It is your pleasure.

Alan Clendenin

01:52:28PM Council member Viera.

Luis Viera

01:52:30PM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Couple of things. It is on. Yes. So a couple of things which is, you know, this is the beginning of this -- of this facility. And, you know, we are here for -- between another year and a half or whatever it may be and we want to make that again correct. As an attorney, I had a mediation two days ago where we settled eight cases, and I was joking with another lawyer. I said if there is a 2% chance of something happening and you spend 100% of the next hours, is it likely to happen? No but good to be safe. Whether we do it today or in two weeks, so long as we address that. Me -- I think it is just me. I think it is probably better to wait to make sure we get the language right. And I would obviously defer if Councilwoman Hurtak wants to meet with staff on the language and everything. But I am fine with whatever delay is necessary for it reasonably. I know next week we won't have council, but in two weeks. I think it can be done. 3%, 2% thing.

Alan Clendenin

01:53:38PM Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

01:53:39PM I think we should take Justin's advice and just edit it and bring it back today. But I can ask you one question, Justin, of the relevance of this. The master contract that covers this. Is this one of those open-ended contracts that council approved and does the administration have to get our permission on the approvals but because of the master contracts, can they instruct the contractors to do whatever they want.

Justin Vaske

01:54:09PM In terms of the work order, that is one under $200,000 that you approved in bulk essentially. So that scope will be approved by the administration so -- and then the agreement that you are approving today, although it is under $200,000, that is an actual agreement. Not a work order agreement.

Bill Carlson

01:54:28PM Okay. Yeah, you know the last couple of times I voted against those umbrella agreements because I think there should be more review by council and the public with the interpretation. I will go with having it edited today and approved today.

Alan Clendenin

01:54:44PM I concur with that. My biggest fear is I don't want to derail this project. I don't want to derail the acquisition. I thought this diminimus language in this thing, the risk of it derailing the project was ridiculous. A motion from council member Maniscalco. Seconded from council member Miranda. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

01:55:05PM That is exactly why we worked through lunch to make sure -- the most important thing was moving this forward. Making sure that we can get started for fleet and supply, but before we vote, I did ask if Chief Tripp wanted to say anything. Would you like to say something.

Chief Tripp

01:55:25PM I will keep it brief. Fire Chief for the City of Tampa Fire Rescue. I noticed this morning in the meeting, a lot of conversation was going on as far as what this property is for, what it is going to be used for. But to correspond off of Chief Bennett, when we have -- when we have a couple of meetings, the primary focus for the fire fleet and supply because of the insufficiency of how that is operating now. Addition came on later. Of course, I was not aware of that. When someone said I am not a subject matter expert. That's correct. I am not a subject matter expert when it comes to budget but I am with that department and what it needs and what is going on. Currently, yes, I asked for lamborghini, and I am okay with a ford. The reason I say that, because of how the city suspending -- we are all hazard agency and we provide services throughout the state. I have equipment in other agencies that have been stored. I need to have, like, one central location. By asking for ten acres, yes, because we know the property in the City of Tampa is -- is and gone. So if there is areas where we can put additional facilities in there as well. But I wanting to go with five, five or six to maximize what we are currently working off of now. As you know, Hillsborough county have their big fleet facility. I believe they are on five or six acres and they have outgrown that. Before I even came to ask for additional acreage, I did research, you know, to see, okay, how many vehicles we have. Where are our resources where we are going to store them? And the whole purpose of get additional space for that.

Alan Clendenin

01:57:09PM A motion on the floor -- Mr. Rogero.

Dennis Rogero

01:57:12PM Thank you. Dennis Rogero, chief financial officer. Thank you, council I apologize if this is not the right item. Misstatements were made of me and of my office by council member Carlson that I would like an opportunity to rebut.

Alan Clendenin

01:57:34PM I will deny that opportunity now and do that in the next administrative update, but we need to move on with the agenda today.

Dennis Rogero

01:57:43PM Thank you, sir. Thank you, council.

Alan Clendenin

01:57:46PM A motion and a second to come back at the close of business and you need to go fast. Because we will move part. All in favor, say aye. Ayes have it. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

01:58:01PM No, I -- one other thing. He already left. I wanted to ask Mr. Mutterback -- if you could grab him. Because -- and the only other thing I wanted to ask and possibly Chief Tripp, maybe Chief Bennett can help me with this. I just -- I also wanted to tell the public or talk -- talk about the idea today that once we get this six-month preparation done, that we will be able to do multiple things at once. Mr. Mutterback. I was saying -- one of the things I just wanted to very briefly hit on today is once we get this six-month scope, trying to figure out puzzle piece fitting that we can also do site preparation, any test we go need to do plus a design for the station at the same time. What might -- sorry, not a station, supply and fleet building.

Richard Mutterback

01:59:04PM Richard Mutterback, Contract Administration. Timeline wise, you want the assessment complete before you go into design. Because that will tell you what you need to design.

Lynn Hurtak

01:59:15PM That is what I am saying though. Stakeholders, fire fleet. Looking at the existing stuff. Looking at that -- so we can decide whether we need 35,000 square feet, 10,000 square feet and anywhere in between.

01:59:30PM What I am asking once that is done, once we are done with the assessment, we will be able to do multiple things at once. Testing the soil while we are designing. Out a RFQ to hire the firm doing the design and construction if we go design-build.

01:59:51PM Thank you. I wanted people to know what the next steps and how we will move on it. Will get into design in about a year and 14 months.

02:00:02PM Wonderful. Thank you so much.

Alan Clendenin

02:00:03PM Thank you, sir. Mr. Bennett.

John Bennett

02:00:06PM John Bennett, chief of staff. I want to meet council's expectation of bringing this back. They are going to hustle up the amended scope and get it back. We will be monitoring the time sequence of council.

Alan Clendenin

02:00:19PM When the doors fly open, I will break business. And we will try to get done with the other staff reports. We are on item 53.

Luis Viera

02:00:31PM Miss McKenzie is here.

Alan Clendenin

02:00:34PM Thank you. Good afternoon, council. Brenda McKenzie, director of workforce partnerships with the city. And I am happy to share a little bit the concept of having an office for Returning Citizens. We really worked hard over the last few years to make sure we are inclusive of all of our workforce. And Returning Citizens are those that are just as involved is a significant portion of that. Our estimate is about -- around 2,000 people a year return to our community. And because we are at a point of full employment, it is really important that we are activating all you have our workforce individuals to make sure they have access. We really approached this from a perspective of economic mobility. So working to make sure that we are getting them into, not just jobs, but careers that will service them over a lifetime. Consequently, the program you approved for the Returning Citizens pilot, that was an important part of that. We work with a. Brown ministries with your approval. And we have been able to touch over 1,000 folks so far in just over a year and a half, connecting them to important counseling resources, getting them placed into jobs, and also doing the follow-up. We are hoping -- hopeful that we are able to continue that and the lessons learned from those programs will be able to service other individuals and share that as well. We do know that there are a number of needs that the population has, and there are some stigma associated with the population. So the mayor's workforce council has advised part of our good jobs, great careers plan that we have a whole section that is focused on Returning Citizens and engaging Returning Citizens. We had a task force that was involved with that that helped to inform us you have policies and procedures that we can move forward with in order to really make sure we are activating that population. We also stood up a web site as part of the Tampa wrx web site. There is a landing page for Returning Citizens. That is important because it came from our research that individuals in this category don't necessarily think that all opportunities are for them. So it is important for us to call out specifically, you can come here. We can link you to resources there. So we have started to open the door, if you will, to additional ways to serve the population so they know what is available to them in the city. One thing we are working on now is to make sure that we are not just touching people after they have been incarcerated. But trying to intercept before that happens as well. So we are looking at justice involved or justice-impacted youth. Opening the Reconnection Center in hanna earlier this year in December, we made sure that in our guidelines, all of the agencies that would be servicing that -- that facility have information and know how to work with justice impacted youth so they can be encompassed and have all the benefits from that as well. So in looking at options for official Office of Returning Citizens, there is a number of cities that have done before which gives an extra layer of service from what we are able to do now. D.c. Does one, new orleans, philly. So it has been done before. Just a matter of additional resources. With additional resources other areas we don't cover now that we will be able to address. There are particular legal needs that are specifics to the population that are super important. Housing is another area. As we know, there is certain conditions that make it more difficult for this population to -- to seek housing and peer-to-peer counsel something typically a big component to make sure we have long-term success.

02:05:01PM Thank you. Council member Viera.

Luis Viera

02:05:04PM Thank you very much, and thank you for your very detailed presentation. We spoke yesterday about this. And I am very excited about this. I see this as something we can start it here with this administration and this council and then whoever the next mayor and next City Council can build on it. You mentioned some cities. Most a very robust one as well. And this is important issue. Every year 650,000 folks leave our prison system and been three years, two-thirds of those folks will reoffend. And you know people look at this issue in different ways. I always said that you got to be tough on violent crime and tough on the causes of violent crime. I think that is very important. The two go together. For me an issue of family. I don't give a damn what people say. Every family is affected by this. Every family is affected be this, of different backgrounds and different religious faith and forth. Everybody makes mistakes and a lot of us get caught. I mean "us" as in "me." We all make mistakes. Effort of prevention of crime. You take somebody and they make a big mistake and go back out there. If they want to use their god-given potential to put food on the table for their family. We shouldn't shame people and make them new lepers of our society because you have that. It is an issue of faith. You look at every major faith. Jewish, islamic, Christian, catholic, whatever, have Returning Citizens ministries because it is all about looking at people that society doesn't see. Happen to be a Christian. Jesus always taught us to see people that others don't see. And that is very, very important obviously. And an issue of human decency. Thank you, wes prugh, my former intern. Such a cool young man and all that stuff. I think it is important. Brian stevenson with equal justice better than our worst mistake that we have done. 1% to 2% sorry, too bad. But I think that is very true 100 %. No, nobody up here. I think that is something that is very, very true. I see no conflict on this. For example, I always have been someone who is pro-law enforcement. No conflict in this whatsoever. Nothing to do with supporting -- having good policies on crime. Supports police. If anything this supports lower crime and intervenes and gives people hope. You give somebody a job. You give somebody respect. You give somebody housing like Portico Housing initiative that I want the city to support. That prevents crime and restores a lot of different things. So the way I see this is -- and what we talked about yesterday -- this office which would put the City of Tampa on the map here in the "free" State of Florida. And I say that with quotes. And in the "free" State of Florida for forward-looking compassion. I see it with wrap-around services and to abe brown ministries, like the portico and so forth. I see it for referral and legal assistance. I have been meaning to do this for years and I am going to do it. Call my friends at the George edgecomb association and for women lawyers and Hispanic bar and get groups to petition the court under the massacred amendment 4 from 2018, to have fees and fines to release so people have a right to vote. Biggest stakeholders. Another reason for this issue, people see this issue, I am not touching that. Not a safe issue dealing with criminals and all that stuff. It is a safe issue. If you are a family member, every family has someone who has done a mistake and gotten caught and in need of -- mind you, they paid their debt to society. And they are out in. I am not talking of sex offenders and murderers. I am talking about the folks -- 90% of the people paid their debt to society. So many great groups. The portico, why, Justin de la Rosa. Greatest guy in the world, the Jewish Community Center Federation to help us with the first one. Our friends at the -- what is that, Desmond neal votes group, Florida rights coalition that did so much work for amendment 4 and abe brown ministries. Telling people Jesus is alive on earth he would be volunteering at abe brown ministries. With council's consent is to do a motion to perhaps come back on this -- for an update of where it is going and everything like that. Just tell me how much time again with council's consent. But, again, this is a really good issue that Tampa could have a good footprint on. Issue of compassion and seeing the best in people. So important. Seeing the best in people.

Alan Clendenin

02:10:10PM Thank you, council member Viera. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

02:10:13PM Thank you. This is important discussion and I appreciate it. He was going to ask, what are the next steps? Coming back with an update, but what are the next steps to move this office forward? Constant budget funding in terms of referring services and make sure that we have a laundry list of all that is available so we can share that. But if we want to up the level of service like other cities, we will have to allocate additional funds in order to make sure that happens.

02:10:47PM Thank you. I will let you lead.

Alan Clendenin

02:10:50PM So what is the wish of council? Anybody else?

02:10:55PM Council member Viera.

Luis Viera

02:10:56PM Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. What -- we can talk about this off-line. What dollar amount do we need to get this -- I would hope that the next mayor -- by the way this is part of the racial reconciliation agenda and to tell the board they can make the the issues the part of the next mayor's race. Look them in the eye, what will you do with Returning Citizens and what you will do with this office. What do you think is a good amount for the beginning, so to speak. Perry in the budget office and get a level set before coming back.

02:11:34PM I will work with Hagar, our good friend who does such a great job. And I need to look at my calendar -- let me put it on the calendar. Trust me, I am a very stupid SMART guy. What do you think, in October? Do you think October? Okay. Let's do that. Do we have -- how does that calendar look there? How about October 23? That appears to be --

Alan Clendenin

02:12:04PM Can you put your wishes and desires in the form of a motion?

Luis Viera

02:12:08PM Yes, I know, right. If I may, motion to have City staff including Miss McKenzie return to us October 23 with the update on the formal creation of the Office of Returning Citizens for the City of Tampa. And between then, we will deal with the budget issue.

Alan Clendenin

02:12:25PM A motion from council member Viera. Seconded from council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it unanimously.

02:12:32PM Very good. Thank you. Item 56. Staff and legal to come back want ordinance consistent with state laws. Memo from Justin. Justin, sir.

Justin Vaske

02:12:45PM Justin Vaske, Legal Department. I'm here to answer any questions about the memo that I submitted.

Alan Clendenin

02:12:55PM Council member Viera.

Luis Viera

02:12:58PM Thank you very much for that. Again, Miss McKenzie and I had a lot of cool conversations yesterday. For purposes of history, a couple of years ago, we passed apprenticeship ordinance which I think it was awesome. But we worked together with the contractors and with the labor unions to get. You know we started from the middle. Took off some of the excesses, in my opinion, what st. pete did and went for the middle and had a reasonable mandate. Ultimately, what tallahassee did, looking at things that san francisco did and friends New Tampa, preempted. Our ordinance was more moderate and we survived for three years. We never got sued. That was my number one intent to never get sued on that. Whatever tallahassee was going to do, they were going to do. We looked at the possibility we could not do any sort of a mandate of having incentives. I think that is just lame. The idea you will tell a contractor if you create a certain number of apprenticeships state-certified, we will give you money. I think that will likely do it anyway, or they are not going to do it, whatever, I think that is a soft form of trickle-down economics anyway. What I would suggest that we do and we spoke about this. And you have a good pathway for this is that you use those dollars that we would have potentially use to a degree for that. And also in the enforcement of this ordinance. And to fund existing apprenticeship programs. You talked about -- I believe it was hcc -- what some of our union friends and other trade association do to fund them. Because the idea here isn't necessarily to do a mandate. Do something that works. If tallahassee took away our best tool, that sucks, but we got to look at another way. So, if I may ask Miss McKenzie. Can you talk to us about that budget investment? So our intention was actually have a person-centered aid approach. We really wanted to grow the number of apprentices. The number of individuals getting that type of training. With the state application, we are not able to do the approach we did with the -- with the original ordinance. But we can still work with people. So what we have started to pilot with Hillsborough College is a program and in the trades and mechanics where we -- we pay some of the costs related to the programs. So we are looking atpaying for their books that could be quite substantial. Looking at paying for their tools. Something that could go to the actual participant in the registered apprentice program. We are trying it with mechanics and get out any kinks and scale it with other trades as well. But the intent, again, is really to incent individuals to get in the practice of the skilled trades.

Alan Clendenin

02:15:53PM Council member Viera.

Luis Viera

02:15:55PM What I would suggest, council. Checking in with Hagar. Poor thing. She will be looking for money under couches. But we talked of $100,000. 1,000 to 1500 per apprentice.

02:16:14PM That is awesome. I will suggest, council. I make a motion as follows. I will work with Hagar on this. Motion for -- it will be a written staff report on September 18. If you need more time, please let us know. September 18 for a -- staff to provide a memo on a former -- up to $100,000 apprenticeship investment from the City of Tampa and what that program will formally entail.

Guido Maniscalco

02:16:45PM Second.

Luis Viera

02:16:46PM That's it.

Alan Clendenin

02:16:47PM Anybody else have any questions.

Lynn Hurtak

02:16:51PM It as great program.

Alan Clendenin

02:16:52PM Motion from council member Viera. Second from council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. The ayes have it.

02:17:01PM Thank you very much. Okay. Is Mr. Shelby back? We need him for the next discussions. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

02:17:12PM Mr. Vaske, are you working on what is coming back us to or someone else.

Justin Vaske

02:17:20PM Justin Vaske, assistant attorney. I can't be two place at once but staff is working on the amendment and he will be back.

Lynn Hurtak

02:17:29PM We have two items left. Not just to --

Justin Vaske

02:17:32PM I know.

Lynn Hurtak

02:17:33PM There will be some discussion. Oh, here you are. Yes, we were.

Alan Clendenin

02:17:44PM We need to hear item 58 first. You want to do them together -- we will do 58 and 57 together. Mr. Shelby, would you like kick this off.

Martin Shelby

02:17:57PM Sure. Council, I am passing around for your information, this has been sent to you previously, and it is also in the back-up material. This the resolution that ultimately the steering device for the 2017 Charter Review Commission, which was the first of its kind in the city since 1974. A couple things that that committee did was recommend putting periodic review into the chart that came back to council. Council put it in the form of an ordinance. Put it on the ballot. And the voters approved it. Now of the charter section that they get in 2025, and every seven years thereafter. You establish a Charter Review Commission and then you do what it takes to be able to have it commence, and have it come back -- I believe it is the council's intention to have the charter questions on the March 2027 ballot. Working backwards from that, tim heberline has been informed by the supervisor of election that for the state to get things through the ballot ordinances passed and adopted to the supervisor of election has to be before the first day of qualifying, the first day of January in 2027.

Alan Clendenin

02:19:38PM Mr. Shelby, since this is internal council stuff and staff that we already taken this time, do you mind if I pause this discussion and go back to item 20.

Justin Vaske

02:19:52PM Justin Vaske, Legal Department, for item 20. Can I have the wolf? That is what we are striking through. I will ask City Council to substitute the agreement in the scope with this revised agreement.

Lynn Hurtak

02:20:11PM I make a motion to approve the substitute scope for item 20.

Alan Clendenin

02:20:24PM A motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. A seconded from council member Maniscalco.

Martin Shelby

02:20:27PM Has been filed with the clerk.

Justin Vaske

02:20:31PM I am getting ready to do that.

Alan Clendenin

02:20:33PM Make a motion to receive and file.

Martin Shelby

02:20:36PM Your motion is to accept the substitute.

Lynn Hurtak

02:20:40PM My motion is to accept the substitute. Adopting the substitute resolution that in two shakes will be in your hands.

Martin Shelby

02:20:48PM If I can, Mr. Vaske. You sent -- this is actually a complete final.

Justin Vaske

02:20:54PM Just separate the agreement.

Martin Shelby

02:20:57PM I have to give it to the clerk.

Lynn Hurtak

02:21:00PM We have a whole brand-new packet. Substitute scope.

Alan Clendenin

02:21:04PM A motion from Councilwoman Hurtak to adopt the substitute scope of work in item 20, and there is second from council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it unanimously.

Lynn Hurtak

02:21:16PM One more quick question. Can we -- are we going to be looking at the work order for Lowry Park or just an internal?

Richard Mutterback

02:21:25PM Richard Mutterback, Contract Administration. As far as a separate work order to deal with Lowry Park, that will be something separate. Work included here is only if any of that stuff would fit on the same property. And can I make one clarifying statement? Because I am always looking to educate. As far as the work order questions earlier and if that would come before you, the 200,000 threshold, anything under 200,000 at department level with the exception we work last year on and made a revision that cumulatively over $200,000 would come before you. The threshold is there to be made.

Lynn Hurtak

02:22:08PM As a courtesy, because this is on our radar, nice to know when that starts so we can kind of have an idea and see any land and think of anything, we know what you are looking for.

Alan Clendenin

02:22:18PM Mr. Shelby.

Bill Carlson

02:22:21PM Can I say one thing about this.

Martin Shelby

02:22:23PM Before you conclude, what would be in order would be a motion to move the substitute resolution.

Lynn Hurtak

02:22:29PM Okay. I move the substitution resolution.

Alan Clendenin

02:22:32PM Mr. Carlson, would you like to speak first.

Bill Carlson

02:22:37PM Following up on what Councilwoman Hurtak said. I would like to thank Mr. Mutterback, who you have only been here a couple of years, but you changed the process dramatically, and the reason we are seeing this is because you put in the new rules that you put in place. Thank you for that.

Alan Clendenin

02:22:54PM Council member Viera.

Luis Viera

02:22:56PM I want to state something that Councilman Carlson said of Mr. Mutterback. You were here for Friday, you are like no more fire stuff, man, because you have been in the thick of it. And stuff that you had nothing to do with. And you go the to answer the questions just know that I see that.

Alan Clendenin

02:23:16PM Thank you, guys. I would have lost the money but you would have it back quick. Thank you for doing such quick work. A motion from Councilwoman Hurtak to adopt a substitute resolution. Is there a second?

Guido Maniscalco

02:23:30PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

02:23:30PM All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it. Okay, Mr. Shelby, pick back up on 57 and 58. Sorry for the introduction.

Lynn Hurtak

02:23:41PM We are working backwards.

Martin Shelby

02:23:44PM Begin with the end in mind and work backwards. Every eight years after 2025. Every eight years should a chart review commission per the charter. I was about to tell council that Mr. Heberline, the aide to the chair, received words from thesupervisor of elections that what I see here -- everything has to be signed, sealed and delivered to the supervisor of election by January 11.

Alan Clendenin

02:24:28PM Translated or not translated.

Martin Shelby

02:24:31PM Said with spanish translations. If you get it to the Supervisor of Elections early, they have done the spanish translation through hair office.

Lynn Hurtak

02:24:41PM January of '27. So basically, what I am suggesting council is, you have an option and I gave it to you in what I sent you. The ordinance has the language basically from the charter itself. And I plug it in where it would be. You have an option. You can either mimic what is in this resolution that I provided you as a guide. I am not suggesting that it can't be revised or substituted. But those are the kind of things that this previous City Council looked at and delivered to the Charter Review Commission. This time around, it is a little bit more complicated in the sense that you have the funding provided for full transparency in the charter review process. So your option is to workshop this today or another day in the special call and find out exactly what language more than what is already in here for the charter -- excuse me, in the ordinance or what you do is merely bring this to life through your ordinance and say any additional direction will be provided via resolution. So that will buy you time to do that.

Alan Clendenin

02:26:31PM Mr. Shelby Knows I have been involved in these discussions behind the scenes.

Martin Shelby

02:26:36PM Yes.

Alan Clendenin

02:26:37PM My gut tells me just to frame the issue, we have a couple of subject matter experts on charter review on council. Charlie, did you ever serve on charter review.

Lynn Hurtak

02:26:54PM That was the only one.

Bill Carlson

02:26:55PM Other three appointed us and we had to vote on the results you have it.

Alan Clendenin

02:26:59PM We are sitting in a really good position. Because you saw the good, the bad and the ugly of the last.

Martin Shelby

02:27:05PM Two other members of the charter remember view commission are on the eighth floor in the city attorney's office.

Alan Clendenin

02:27:13PM A lot of energy around the governance. My gut tells me that we need do some homework and our subject matter experts and those who have an opinion on this. You know I threw out proposal for charter changes not too long ago that I would like to see wrapped into this. And I think there are other people who have similar types of ideas. I don't know what the scope of these changes will ultimately be, but I think y'all should come back to us with some proposals of how this ordinance will look like. What you think this should look like. Where you see some gaps, where you see some of this. This will be a resolution, not an ordinance.

Martin Shelby

02:27:55PM Actually an ordinance. I didn't print out the draft ordinance, and that is in your back-up. Language that and in the whereas clause was taken in section 10-10 of the charter. That relevant language is put in the sections. The only language that really tracks is language that is required by the charter. I also added language -- I don't have it in front of me. The last session, councilwoman, about the third -- the third section up before "effective date." Before "conflicts." What is the second -- the third from the last section 18 additional for the Charter Review Commission must is be by resolution. What it is saying we can pass an ordinance today to create --

02:28:47PM The next date.

Lynn Hurtak

02:28:49PM On the 28th. Create an ordinance and set a time to create resolutions where we can provide more direction. And so give us some time, but this at least gets the process started. It is my understanding. Did I understand that clearly?

Martin Shelby

02:29:07PM Yes. The concern that I have is working backwards I look at it, you have to determine that there is nothing in the chart of how you make your appointments. A council member made their appointments and placed in the resolution by the City Council. But the question is, does City Council wish to have the other members of your board see the application of that person so they know who you are voting on. Or do it as a group. Do it differently or the same. You are not bound by what the previous Charter Review Commission did and how it did it.

Alan Clendenin

02:29:50PM Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

02:29:52PM I think we -- the process you describe is fine. We each nominate somebody and then we vote on it been.

Alan Clendenin

02:30:01PM I think we have to create -- we need to create the process to do that. So -- but that has to be in the form -- a formal resolution.

Martin Shelby

02:30:11PM Could be in the form of a motion. Other thing I think time is of the essence from. You could have the people on board but don't have a legal counsel or a facilitator unless you start that process.

Alan Clendenin

02:30:26PM Privy to this conversation, earmark of $126,000 in the 2026 budget. I am still feeling that -- how much money have we spent on the racial reconciliation facilitator?

Luis Viera

02:30:39PM You know how much that is, $60,000?

Hagar Kopesk

02:30:45PM Hagar Kopesky, City Council budget analyst. Right around $75,000.

Alan Clendenin

02:30:51PM We only have $150,000 for an attorney and a facilitator and depends on how big the scope and scale of this charter review process is going to be. Is that going to be sufficient to be able to fund any other expenses we should be concerned about?

Martin Shelby

02:31:16PM Administrative report. In 2017, it was to be provided by the clerk. But no discussion of the clerk's office what that will entail. Certainly, the clerk has to be brought in the process early on. The other thing I should tell you, if your goal is to -- let's say by the beginning of November -- have that board be complete so you can actually review what their recommendations, you have to put them in the form of ordinances which requires two readings and the time there. You don't want to be late getting this to the Supervisor of Elections. Your scope is limited to how often you will give the committee to function. You haven't decided monthly, biweekly or weekly. And depending on what the scope is, you need to be able to get the time to accomplish that.

Alan Clendenin

02:32:11PM Just kind of like -- you and I had these kind of discussions and you back it up, it appears that council was able to appoint the representatives by this November. And they would be able to start their work rolling into the first of -- you know, the first of the year, that would give them, say, ten-plus months to be able to accomplish the work. I think it depends on what we anticipate the scope and the scale of this process will be. How much of the charter will we reopen. What are we looking at? Council member Maniscalco, your light was on.

Guido Maniscalco

02:32:44PM Us three, Viera, Miranda and myself. Because the charter haven't been looked at since '75, I think. I think the way it was set up worked. I don't know about the time period exactly, but they had quite a few meetings. It was a very, very good board, you know, a lot of good -- I mean, you saw who came out you have there. A lot of elected came out of there or city attorneys. Assistant city attorney. I like how we appointed our one person. I appointed Councilman Carlson. He was the only person that asked me, and I appointed him the next day. But we will see -- look, see, making magic happen.

Charlie Miranda

02:33:36PM Won by unanimous vote.

Guido Maniscalco

02:33:39PM You were my appointee. There was no issues. We make a motion to bring this back at the August 28 meeting for the ordinance establishing the creation this commission, number one. And I guess, by November, as was mentioned or sooner, each appoint our person going by the same set-up as it did before and give the commission ten months whatever it is to work and make it to the deadline of January of '27.

Alan Clendenin

02:34:12PM Council member Viera.

Luis Viera

02:34:15PM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My view of this, I go back with the last election vote on charter amendments. A lot proposed. I voted for probably 10% of them. The ones I voted for, I stuck with, and when the mayor vetoed them. I chose to override the veto on four or five of them. Folks that say don't touch the charter, it is the constitution. It is not the 66 books of the Bible, whatever. It is not. It is just not. That is just silly. On the other hand, I don't support radical or extreme changes or anything of that nature. If you have things are more moderate changes on like we did. Subject in the charter amendment attempts. Things I can support. But radical changes of the charter, I don't support. Potential moderate to conservative, of course, I am fine with that. I have a question in terms of last time council-wide appointees.

02:35:25PM Councilman Gudes was by a 4-3 vote. It just seven?

Martin Shelby

02:35:34PM The alternates. The question. By the way, the 28th will be a very full day. To bring back an ordinance would not be a problem on the 28. Any long discussion, remember we have a big meeting that night. We could set -- if it is council's pleasure. Put this on for the 28th to come back with the ordinance to establish the committee. And authorize the use of resolution to continue the work of the council rather than having to do it ordinance. Okay. The meantime, I can work with the chair and frankly, this means we will encompass the work of the clerk's office and the Legal Department as certainly their own questions as to whether there are things they may want to recommend to the City Council to give to the charter in terms of cleaning up the charter. They are the subject matter experts of cleaning it up to the like. And the administration, what we have to do between now and the 28th, Mr. Chairman, is to begin the process of how council Will ultimately sign an agreement for legal council and sign an agreement for facilitator.

Alan Clendenin

02:36:56PM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

02:36:58PM No, Councilman Carlson.

Alan Clendenin

02:37:00PM Councilman Carlson. Sorry.

Bill Carlson

02:37:03PM All of us have been involved in this before. But this is different than the last couple of times council have recommended charter changes, because that was specific language that was proposed. All we are going to be doing -- you anniversary this list from last time, there are some guidelines. And I suggest whatever we put in there and anything else that they want to recommend. What had to happen was that the committee had to have a consensus to recommend back to council and council had to discuss on it and vote on it. Council has the you will the map approval to put it on the charter, the community doesn't. My point is we are no not recommending language to them. We might have questions for them like the board did last time. You see if you look through the list, some of the questions aren't really solved still. The other thing that the committee will be a filter. They can take the time that we can't to go through new detail to talk about the issues and debate them and come back to us with at that recommendation. We can still debate them and discuss. Them don't put anything right in the chart. Other thing in the motion is to set rules for how they would operate. Last time I felt like the consultant had too much power. And started coming in giving advice that was not in the motion and was not in the set-up of it. But one of the things that the consultant said is instead of having a chair, the consultant will just lead it. I thought we missed out by having Chair. Lynn stepped up afterwards and was kind of the spokesperson for the group, but there was no official chair. Hard to run a discussion wouldn't somebody being chair. The other thing the consultant at beginning -- in the first meeting recommended supermajority vote because it is coming to council. Supermajority meant the mayor had veto power. Anything that the sitting mayor didn't like wouldn't go through. Didn't mean that the group didn't agree with it but gave too much power to one person. I think a majority will be fine. Having Chair Will be a good idea. I want -- the other thing is, we need a list. Really a list of questions. Other thing to the point of, don't touch the charter. That came up by this administration when they didn't like what we are proposing. Three out of four passed. And the last time they wanted a charter change. And didn't bring a line of people saying that charter change was a bad idea like the first because they wanted the charter change, which means disingenuous all the time. The charter has to be updated. Even the U.S. constitution has the ability to be modified time after time. And this charter wasn't written how it was purchase. We voted to have it gender neutral because said "he" everywhere. And specific language of departments that didn't exist anymore. Anyway, shop suggestions.

Alan Clendenin

02:40:23PM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

02:40:25PM I agree. I think a chair would be very useful, and council member Carlson right, supermajority cut the conversation. It was constantly a 5-4 -- no supermajority would have been seven instead of six.

Bill Carlson

02:40:48PM Six would have to be.

Lynn Hurtak

02:40:52PM Because they are a recommending body. We are the ones that decide what actually goes forward. And so we need a supermajority to actually get anything through. Because if the mayor were to veto, we would need that. I really think because the quote, unquote, heavy lift was done by the previous charter and we had 18 amendments. Sim simple. Take the departments. Making it gender neutral. We had something -- print in the newspaper and didn't mention the internet where now we are putting stuff on the internet. Just trying to neutralize a lot of that language from age. I think we did the very heavy lift. This is the first time we are able -- that this commission is going to be able to kind of look at other things other than that. We had to devote so much time to those small yet mighty heavy lifts that this would -- this will be interesting. So I do agree with both of those things. But going backward and you may or may not remember not don't, only did we have to approve it and council had to approve, then it had to go the city attorney where they figured out language and then approve that again. Ten months -- we don't have ten months. They are not going to have ten mondays. We need to have this in front of us for first consideration probably no later than October 1.

Guido Maniscalco

02:42:34PM That is ten months.

Lynn Hurtak

02:42:35PM Nine months.

Guido Maniscalco

02:42:37PM You start from January -- if we appoint the people by November --

Martin Shelby

02:42:43PM May be council's decision to decide it is going to be -- this is very because you raised the issue of the chair. Multiple resolutions that this council passed and this 588 if you look at the back of the strike-throughs of what council agreed upon and passed and the recommendation of the Charter Review Commission and council itself. Section 6 on page two of the exhibit actually struck the decision that council had previously made to select a chairperson. And a vice chairperson. Other thing in terms of the Legal Department, I had this opportunity to talk to Andrea Zelman, the stye -- the city attorney about this. It turns out systemic issues need to be addressed in the charter not with policy but housekeeping. All the special acts of what part b of the charter is, which creates a lot of confusion because you have to reference two separate parts of the charter. Heavy lifting, you might want to ask the Legal Department to do that kind of housekeeping, because they offered to do it.

Alan Clendenin

02:43:57PM Structural changes.

Lynn Hurtak

02:43:58PM Can we ask for their suggestions on structural changes so we can put that in the scope?

Martin Shelby

02:44:04PM Absolutely.

Lynn Hurtak

02:44:05PM So I would -- that is a motion I would like to make today and then after we approve this, I am going to do it right now before I forget. I make a motion to ask the Legal Department -- sorry, it has been a really long week. Ask the Legal Department to submit their suggestions scope of review for the city's chart by focusing on structural changes by -- give me a date, y'all.

Guido Maniscalco

02:44:43PM October 9. You want sooner --

Lynn Hurtak

02:44:48PM October 2 --

Alan Clendenin

02:44:52PM Of this year?

Lynn Hurtak

02:44:54PM We need to get this started.

Alan Clendenin

02:44:56PM Committee won't be put together until November and it must be January and February.

Lynn Hurtak

02:45:02PM But we need to put it in.

Guido Maniscalco

02:45:05PM September 18 or October 9.

Lynn Hurtak

02:45:08PM October 9 as a written staff report.

Alan Clendenin

02:45:10PM A motion to from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it unanimously.

Lynn Hurtak

02:45:19PM Additionally, I would love -- I kept all my books. I have all of my giant books from that. Is there a way that we can get a strike-through changes that the 2018 charter commission did to the -- to the actual charter? I think that will be very beneficial. If we were able to see what actually was changed.

Alan Clendenin

02:45:43PM The document must live in the archives for sure.

Lynn Hurtak

02:45:47PM It does. I am just not sure where. I will make a motion to ask staff -- I am assuming that will be the clerk's department, but I am not positive, to provide City Council with a copy of a copy of the strike-through language of the charter approval of 2019 by that same date -- again, as staff report.

Guido Maniscalco

02:46:17PM A written staff report.

Lynn Hurtak

02:46:19PM Written staff report.

Alan Clendenin

02:46:20PM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Seconded by council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it.

Bill Carlson

02:46:27PM Maybe I was going to say this -- were you going to ask the mayor's office to give a list.

Lynn Hurtak

02:46:34PM That is the Legal Department.

Bill Carlson

02:46:35PM One of the problems we have to clear up in the charter because the Legal Department technically represents both of us.

Lynn Hurtak

02:46:44PM I will close the loop and make a motion to ask the administration to commit their list of --

Bill Carlson

02:46:53PM Recommended changes to the charter.

Lynn Hurtak

02:46:55PM Recommended -- they are their recommendations of the charter by the same date which is October 9, also as written report.

Guido Maniscalco

02:47:10PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

02:47:12PM A motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed.

Bill Carlson

02:47:18PM Remember they have to debate it, and we have to debate. Not changing it but recommending a question.

Alan Clendenin

02:47:25PM Mr. Shelby.

Martin Shelby

02:47:27PM A discussion what will be going in the scope that gets presented for the review -- not the actual.

Alan Clendenin

02:47:34PM On October 9 with the scope.

Martin Shelby

02:47:37PM By that point. If I can finish -- close the loop on this. On the 28th, we still have to make that motion, madam clerk, to come back on the 28th or was that done?

Guido Maniscalco

02:47:48PM I haven't done it yet.

Martin Shelby

02:47:49PM Here is the thing. By the October date, that ordinance will already have been adopted, and that committee will be in existence, and we can move forward.

Lynn Hurtak

02:47:59PM What I also want to -- while I am on the same tangent, I would like to make a motion to -- do we want to do this at a workshop to discuss these or work these -- talk about it during regular session.

02:48:13PM Regular session.

Martin Shelby

02:48:16PM I am just reminding council This is the time of day will get to it.

Lynn Hurtak

02:48:21PM Make a motion on October 23 that we discuss this, because it will be right after we get that. We will have that information and will be able to research it. If you give it us to for too long, we will forget about it. So we will have a conversation on the 23rd, that will be the fifth staff report and add no more staff reports.

Guido Maniscalco

02:48:42PM Second.

Lynn Hurtak

02:48:43PM Six in someone else added? Oh, that was a written. Okay. But that could be pretty quick. That will be the sixth and final staff report of the day.

Alan Clendenin

02:49:06PM A motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from council member Maniscalco. Okay Mr. Shelby.

Martin Shelby

02:49:15PM We may have to come back sooner.

Alan Clendenin

02:49:17PM That's what I was thinking.

Martin Shelby

02:49:20PM Because we have to -- we can not wait through this whole process. We still have to come back -- maybe come back on that, but we may have to come back -- and work with the chair to do it.

Lynn Hurtak

02:49:31PM That's not what I am saying. Come back to talk of this specific thing which is the scope of review.

Martin Shelby

02:49:37PM So we can begin the process of selecting the members and also the facilitator and the legal.

Lynn Hurtak

02:49:46PM I will specify my motion on October 23, their City Council Will discuss the scope of review including everybody else's option -- or recommendations. That is when we will bring our recommendations. We will look at everyone's recommendations, and we will have a conversation just about the scope of review.

Guido Maniscalco

02:50:05PM Second.

Bill Carlson

02:50:07PM Can I make a suggestion or modification?

Alan Clendenin

02:50:11PM Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

02:50:12PM Instead of "scope of review," call it "recommended issues to discuss."

Lynn Hurtak

02:50:17PM Recommended issues to discuss.

Guido Maniscalco

02:50:19PM Second.

Martin Shelby

02:50:20PM Direction for the upcoming charter --

Lynn Hurtak

02:50:26PM Recommended -- say that again?

Martin Shelby

02:50:29PM I am sorry.

Alan Clendenin

02:50:30PM Mr. Shelby, what we are going to create is a resolution defining --

Martin Shelby

02:50:40PM If you see what is in the present resolution in 2017, there are several areas.

Lynn Hurtak

02:50:46PM All we are talking about.

Alan Clendenin

02:50:47PM Council say on the 23rd of October, council Will address the scope of the -- the scope for the resolution or the creation of the --

Lynn Hurtak

02:50:58PM No. it is the scope of what we are asking the charter review to review.

Guido Maniscalco

02:51:05PM The main topics.

Lynn Hurtak

02:51:08PM You had a better -- instead of scope --

Bill Carlson

02:51:13PM Recommended issues to discuss.

Lynn Hurtak

02:51:15PM On October 23, we will discuss the recommended issues using input from all of the areas we have.

Alan Clendenin

02:51:24PM I don't think issue is the word. I think scope is the appropriate word.

Bill Carlson

02:51:29PM Scope is really narrowly defined. With the caliber of the people that we hope to put on the committee. We should allow them to discuss it. I want to put one thing on the floor. One thing that wasted a lot of time brought an example of another charter and made us go line by line. Maybe it was necessary at that time. They don't have to go line by line. They can start with the issues and discuss them and maybe even the agenda the first few meetings can discuss our issues and the last couple, discuss their own.

Alan Clendenin

02:52:03PM Same horrible facilitator at the CRA meeting?

Lynn Hurtak

02:52:10PM She was great. She was phenomenal. But we desperately -- it was antiquated.

Bill Carlson

02:52:15PM We got bogged down going line by line. Taking the pronouns out, we had to go line by line. Next time they don't have to go line by line. And discuss the questions. They lead it and have other recommendations, they don't have to waste time to go line by line.

Alan Clendenin

02:52:33PM Council member Viera and authenticity council member Maniscalco.

Luis Viera

02:52:36PM I want to talk about, supermajority to get something to City Council. Upon first impression, a simple majority will do well, upon first impression, but if they come back with whatever, some obscene number of charter amendments to look like it is part of some political agenda or whatever, it will not be well taken. In other words, I -- I am favorable to what y'all are talking about so long -- I will give you a double and stretch it to a triple. That is all I am saying.

Lynn Hurtak

02:53:05PM Majority is 5-4. A supermajority.

Alan Clendenin

02:53:11PM Council member Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

02:53:14PM I am going to support her motion and make a motion after that for Mr. Shelby to come back with an ordinance establishing the Charter Review Commission.

Alan Clendenin

02:53:24PM Councilwoman Hurtak, please restate your motion.

Lynn Hurtak

02:53:33PM Yes, I motion that City Council has a discussion about our --

Guido Maniscalco

02:53:40PM Goals and objectives.

Lynn Hurtak

02:53:43PM -- goals and objecting objectives/scope for the Charter Review Commission to consider, including all you have the information we are receiving via staff report at our October 23 meeting in addition to --

Guido Maniscalco

02:54:03PM Second.

Lynn Hurtak

02:54:04PM -- do you want me to do that separately? To limit the number of staff reports? That is my motion.

Guido Maniscalco

02:54:10PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

02:54:11PM I like that. A motion by Councilwoman Hurtak. Seconded from council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it.

Lynn Hurtak

02:54:18PM Very quickly to limit the staff reports -- no more staff reports for October 23.

Guido Maniscalco

02:54:23PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

02:54:24PM A motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Seconded from council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it unanimously.

Lynn Hurtak

02:54:32PM Let him make his motion first.

Martin Shelby

02:54:35PM I ask for --

Guido Maniscalco

02:54:38PM To set it for first reading.

Alan Clendenin

02:54:40PM Council member Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

02:54:42PM Thank you. I make a motion for Mr. Shelby to come back for an ordinance of first reading at the August 28 regular meeting to establish the City of Tampa Charter Review Commission.

02:54:57PM And I think, you know, the word -- the term "heavy lifting" was mentioned earlier and I think the commission from 2018, being that it haven't been touched since the '70s. A lot of the heavy lift will be done and more of a streamlined process because, you know, it is fresher. But if we -- this is for later discussion, get our appointments in by November, I think the commission begins in January right after Christmas. And they will get -- they will hit the ground running. We will be on schedule and will give us ten months. If there are issue, another month or two before we have to take it to the supervisor of election and qualifying and on the ballot. I think the kinks were worked out in the previous one. That supply motion.

Alan Clendenin

02:55:46PM Knock on wood. Motioning from council member Maniscalco. Seconded from council member Miranda. All in favor, say aye, opposed? The ayes have it unanimous. Mr. Shelby.

Martin Shelby

02:55:56PM Thank you, council.

Alan Clendenin

02:55:58PM Thing is good. We are being proactive ahead. I encourage you how are subject matter experts to keep that going. That's it. Last item of business, Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

02:56:11PM Well, I do want to punt on council's radar. And I am not sure how to -- how to you keep this -- these ideas of -- and is this something that we will talk about next week -- sorry, the 28th to approve this. Things like the chair, the no supermajority. We need to start -- we had an e-mail, I want to say, before that was dedicated just to suggestions or if we didn't, we need have one, that is focused on the charter review for this year.

Alan Clendenin

02:56:49PM The of two you guys on it. I think your input will be invaluable and because to work with the nuts and bolts and bumps. So maybe when you guys come to the --

Lynn Hurtak

02:57:04PM I hate to wait until --

Martin Shelby

02:57:06PM My suggestion is, we can start that discussion on August 28, because I am going. By the way, I am going to ask all of your please, to take a look -- rely on what was decided but at the kind of things that were given. Kind of things, for instance, there says they shall meet at least once a month or more if they desire depending on what your scope is. If you recruit people, you may have to meet twice a week or twice a Monday with the. Please take look at those. Don't -- look at what they are talking about. And see what your own input is and come to a consensus so I can come back on the 28th to of the people you are recruiting or recommending and solicit and ask to be appointed so you can tell them what they are signing up for.

Alan Clendenin

02:58:04PM Thank you, Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

02:58:05PM I remember the last time we talked about this, you reminded me. This is not this administration, but a prior administration. They refused to advertise it at all. We even made a motion which we approved unanimously to ask them to put it on the facebook page as an event and they refused to do that. As a result, we had two meetings that had anybody from the public. In each case, one person who had a specific agenda organized people to show up and propose those items. Ended up that two applications were on there that the administration didn't want. Had they advertised it, more diversity of people showing how to do input. I don't know how to solve that problem. I don't think that the administration would do that.

Alan Clendenin

02:58:58PM Remind me.

Lynn Hurtak

02:59:00PM Last week of October.

Alan Clendenin

02:59:03PM To have an opportunity to get their person. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

02:59:07PM The only thing I did want to say. I completely agree not only the advertising but the social media. So what we need to do for that -- I am taking note. I will keep these. But I do believe when you talk to your folks, you should talk about them about twice a month. And only because when off month between, it is really hard to remember. And that way if they end early, wahoo. If they don't, they really have time. I am terrified of the time here. So if we do twice a month, then they -- they might just be done.

Martin Shelby

02:59:46PM If council is willing to put it into the ordinance, I can put that in the ordinance when to comes back.

Alan Clendenin

02:59:55PM Looking at this, we have look at the facilitator, attorney, other expenses, lunch.

Lynn Hurtak

03:00:01PM They were evening meetings.

Martin Shelby

03:00:06PM If I can, to follow. You and I want you to know and for the public to know. The charter does state -- and necessary funding should be provided to provide full transparency and citizen participation in the charter review process. That is in the charter.

Alan Clendenin

03:00:22PM Council member Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

03:00:24PM You already had one person contacted me interested in being appointed. Last time, Councilman Carlson called me the night before eating french toast on Fowler Avenue.

Alan Clendenin

03:00:35PM Plain french toast.

Guido Maniscalco

03:00:38PM Plain french toast. Not 2018 anymore as -- I wish it were. Public meetings are very, very busy. I would think more public participation. Advertising. Why? Because we want people inquiring. This a big deal, the City of Tampa constitution. We didn't address from since the 1970s. And council member capin that brought thumb. It was outdated. It needed a refreshing. That we do it on a regular basis, we won't have these -- like I said it might shall more con cease and that heavy lift something out of the way. And a much smoother process.

Martin Shelby

03:01:26PM If you like, you can give more consideration individually of how you want to solicit participation for membership. And if you have direction and a consensus of council. I can put that in a resolution.

Alan Clendenin

03:01:38PM Council member Carlson.

Bill Carlson

03:01:42PM Just within more thing. We will won't go through the issues we suggest now. I hire lawyers to look at contracts, for example, a contract -- I don't know if you agree with this. But the contract, you may have a good relationship on the way in, but you have to write it to exit. The most important thing do you who you solve conflicted and how do you exit. A lot of the conflict over the last 16 or so years some of it is ill defined. Fixes some of those problems without going into detail. Also putting limits like not allowing a City Council member to win the karaoke contest two years in a ROW. [Laughter]

Alan Clendenin

03:02:30PM I think somebody should be disqualified from the competition because of professional training. She is not an amateur. She is now a professional. She is not an amateur. I call for disqualification.

Luis Viera

03:02:42PM If I may, sir.

Alan Clendenin

03:02:45PM I call for a urine test. Council member Viera.

Lynn Hurtak

03:02:52PM Can I ask miss Sharp to bring me my motions folder. I forgot.

Luis Viera

03:02:59PM Councilman Carlson said, something reasonably unforeseeable. In my cases, 15 pages. They are awful and brutal. Something like as long as it is reasonably foreseeable, yeah, I think that is fine.

Alan Clendenin

03:03:16PM Okay. Is that it. Are we done with this?

Lynn Hurtak

03:03:21PM What a great conversation.

Alan Clendenin

03:03:22PM It was great conversation. New business. Start on this side. Mr. Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

03:03:29PM Make a motion off-site commendation for baptist institution church in celebration of 160th birthday.

Bill Carlson

03:03:38PM A motion by council member Miranda. A second from Councilwoman Hurtak. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it. Is that all? Council member Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

03:03:49PM I started to sing with the City of Tampa choir. Where it all began.

Alan Clendenin

03:03:55PM Where it all began. Didn't serve you very well at Forest Hills, did it?

Guido Maniscalco

03:04:00PM I would like make a motion. I already spoke some of the attorneys and Chief Bennett. Make a motion for a written report on zion cemetery at the September 18 regular session meeting to give us an update and status on what is happening. Again, I already talked to some of them.

Alan Clendenin

03:04:22PM Very good motion. Council member Viera.

Luis Viera

03:04:24PM I was going to say out of funding, I speak this out of purely ignorance. Again, $8 million. Is the county looking at helping at that?

Guido Maniscalco

03:04:40PM My question. I was reach to Mr. Hearns. Is that a master plan and with the Housing Authority, do they start demolishing those and say this is sacred ground?

Alan Clendenin

03:04:56PM The last I saw that was the plan.

Guido Maniscalco

03:04:58PM What does that $8 million entail.

Luis Viera

03:05:03PM We can get different buckets.

Alan Clendenin

03:05:06PM Last I sawm they will take those buildings and not build on it.

Luis Viera

03:05:10PM We all agree if that is the panel will and the plan that the community wants. I was touch by everybody. Jarvis, he really touched me. But, yeah, I am funded, man, however. I don't care.

Alan Clendenin

03:05:22PM A motion from council member Maniscalco. A second from council member Miranda. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it. Is that paul? Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

03:05:32PM With -- [ laughter ] --

Alan Clendenin

03:05:36PM Look at the trophy I got.

Lynn Hurtak

03:05:40PM Forest Hills trophy.

Martin Shelby

03:05:42PM What is the picture?

Lynn Hurtak

03:05:43PM A picture of all of us singing. Our album cover. This will be the cover of next year's poster to encourage all of us to go.

Martin Shelby

03:05:52PM Who produced that?

Lynn Hurtak

03:05:59PM Forest Hills

Martin Shelby

03:06:01PM Where is it available?

Lynn Hurtak

03:06:03PM You would like to see us sing, go to Luis Viera's facebook. He had the video up and others may have it up as well. A really fun time.

Alan Clendenin

03:06:14PM It wasn't about the contest.

Lynn Hurtak

03:06:16PM No. but I was just saying to people I don't know of any city our size where all of us can get together and be -- and do something that quite frankly was -- I mean, we just -- I mean -- it was a fun activity. And it was -- it was self-deprecating, but it was out there just to have fun. I wanted to say how much I really do appreciate that and enjoy working with everyone. Because it is just -- that is the kind of stuff that makes this fun. And particularly, you know, Forest Hills, they are always out for a great time. A wonderful space. If you like karaoke. They do it the first Friday of every month at 6 p.m., does it begin? 6 p.m. don't be a stranger.

Martin Shelby

03:07:04PM What location is that?

Lynn Hurtak

03:07:07PM The golf course, their clubhouse.

Martin Shelby

03:07:11PM Thank you.

Bill Carlson

03:07:12PM Fun to look at the different kinds of people that showed up. People with different issues. Showed up to see how funny.

Alan Clendenin

03:07:21PM Half of public comment was there.

Lynn Hurtak

03:07:24PM That made it fun.

Alan Clendenin

03:07:27PM They saw us in different light. Not just sitting up here.

03:07:31PM They got to see my legs.

Lynn Hurtak

03:07:34PM Somebody made the comment. I never seen you in shorts. Well, it was really hot because it was outside. It was nice. Under fans and wonderful at times. I am going to apologize because I have a very long motion. From Director Feeley.

Alan Clendenin

03:07:49PM Good lord.

Lynn Hurtak

03:07:51PM Talked of doing the City of Tampa workshop. I move to revise the agenda for the Tampa City Council scheduled for settlement 25, 2025 at 9 a.m. to center around land development and plan regulated topics allowing us to focus on key matters that have updates and potential closure. To that end, I move for the following adjustments. Item number one, retain item one, the mayor's Hispanic heritage as scheduled given short duration and importance in recognizing Hispanic heritage month. Item number two, defer item number two, the biannual capital improvement project report and presentation to a workshop in January or February of '26. Since the strengths already included in a FY '26 budget process and new fiscal year begins October 1, 2025. Next, combine item three -- excuse me, combine item three to item five as they will address part of the broader July cycle land development code text application. These items issue should be presented under item five. Next, remove item three -- this is the one we weren't age to confirm. Seawall and dock usage in residential uses as the matter apples to be resolved. We don't know. That has been resolved.

Bill Carlson

03:09:21PM Leave that one out right now. I need to talk to Ron Wigginton.

Lynn Hurtak

03:09:26PM Leave that in for right now?

Bill Carlson

03:09:30PM He will see if that possible.

Lynn Hurtak

03:09:31PM Add the following presentation to the settlement 2025 agenda to support the focus. Ten-minute presentation on the housing needs assessment. Ten-minute presentation on the coastal action plan. We have been waiting for that. The Tampa hope report previously requested by a motion but not yet scheduled. And that for that. Take up item 6, discussion on senate 180 as first item of the workshop. Given the time sensitive nature of last brief update on the live-local act paced only modifications. This motion will streamline the agenda, close out open items and provide with several critical Planning and development initiatives. This is all good but makes my head hurt.

03:10:33PM I think it is the actual panel. Before that was sort of the draft plan. This one apparently the plan is done.

Bill Carlson

03:10:41PM Mr. Shelby.

Martin Shelby

03:10:46PM You talked of moved biannual report to January or February, but you didn't give specific direction to that yet. That is hanging out thereto as part of your motion. It will fall off -- if your motion is to remove it, it would be wise if you want to place it some place as a placeholder.

Lynn Hurtak

03:11:10PM I will put it somewhere in here. Lucas Harris, I will change that to the January 29 workshop. Clendenin we have a motion to amend from Councilwoman Hurtak. And second from council member Miranda. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. The ayes have it. Motion to adopt the amended resolution. All nose favor, say aye. Opposed, the ayes have it. Okay. Council member Viera.

Luis Viera

03:11:48PM Yes, sir. A couple of quick once. And funny by way, speaking of karaoke. I never have planned songs but I was going to sing "I am a rock" by simon and garfunkel and "talk dirty to me."

Alan Clendenin

03:12:07PM Only reason you didn't win.

Luis Viera

03:12:09PM CC picked up the guitar. Councilwoman Hurtak did a great job.

Alan Clendenin

03:12:16PM Like being at a Lynn Hurtak concert. I sat there with is a smile on my face the whole time. I can't believe that I sit next to this woman and she sings like this. Crazy. It was beautiful. So beautiful.

Luis Viera

03:12:30PM Forest Hills, they are great, great people here. We started a couple of years ago. I would go there for karaoke, and I invited Guido, to come out and we had this lame karaoke and Councilman Clendenin came. And it was cool and everybody comes and hans great time. Council member Henderson was looking forward to going and gold rest her soul. I have a quick question. Understanding that a park bench -- if we put a name on a park bench. Not a property renaming, right? That is what I thought. So I -- I am not going to make a motion. A young man, Gabe, god rest his soul. He passed on about two and a half years ago. An eagle scout. His family have very active, and I worked with his parents. Wonderful, wonderful people and they do a blood drive at ats mosque and different things. I wanted a park bench renaming. No motion yet, I will do it next week so you can have the full information. That is important even though it is not -- and then, I will do a motion for a written report on the status k-bar ranch to Tampa fire with the response times.

Alan Clendenin

03:13:55PM Didn't we have that?

Luis Viera

03:13:58PM They are telling two and a half years. It is going to be like a long time. I want to -- want to punt that on our radar and man in person report. And I would have that on -- yeah, it will be like two years which is obscene, I hear. You know what, let's do it -- let's -- September 4. Again it is a written report, if I may. Miranda second Clendenin a motion from council member Viera and is second from council member Miranda.

Alan Clendenin

03:14:32PM All in favor, say aye, and ayes have it.

Luis Viera

03:14:37PM Moving its disability apprentice with results in fiduciary oversight within the human resources similar to the college internship. Contact Miss Wynn. If I am not missing something, it is not a yes or no. continue into the next council meeting August 28 for a motion for a better response on this.

Alan Clendenin

03:15:05PM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

03:15:11PM When I read it, it sounded like they would just put there. I tread as, okay, we can just slide it on in there.

Luis Viera

03:15:22PM I will thread it in the most optimistic way, and I will meet with Miss Wynn and just come firm.

Martin Shelby

03:15:32PM Mr. Viera, that would be something you have to takeup at a budget public hearing an the time to confirm that, and I will talk to Mr. Vaske. And is that something that council needs to take action on.

Alan Clendenin

03:15:51PM If funding is available to in the requested budget.

Lynn Hurtak

03:15:55PM I think you already funded it.

Luis Viera

03:15:58PM This is the messed up thing. Funded through social action whatever, right. And then the administration tells us that you are carped at $100,000 for each person. That includes the special needs internship. That is why among a lot of the reasons I am not, because that rule in effect gets rid of the funding but then the question may be asked, why fund it if they are not going to hire interns. That is the US from rehabilitation. Layered sandwich of frustration.

Alan Clendenin

03:16:26PM Meet with Miss Copesky and to inform her in on this issue.

Luis Viera

03:16:34PM And motion, graham hampton. I remember going to a candidate forum years ago.

Alan Clendenin

03:16:40PM I felt like I was in atlanta by the time -- its edge of pasco county.

Luis Viera

03:16:45PM It is. You have pasco county.

Alan Clendenin

03:16:51PM Go into pasco to get into there.

Luis Viera

03:16:56PM They have a charter school being built. North wood charter school built up next year. And a lot of concern from hampton residents on the traffic will be associated with that and the need to potentially have after traffic light at county 517 Line Road. I already sent information to get in touch with laura malloy and Chris haynes at Grand Hampton with the potential of a light at this location. My understanding it is city. For the city to work with the government entity pasco, Hillsborough, Alabama or whoever to get a light there. This is relatively easy. Not to get the light, but efforts made to report back to us. And I have this coming back to us, please, on -- September 11 written report.

Guido Maniscalco

03:17:55PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

03:17:56PM A motion from council member Viera. Seconded from council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. September 11 is a -- a CRA for the day.

Luis Viera

03:18:10PM Thank you very much. September 18.

Alan Clendenin

03:18:13PM Motion to amend the previously adopted motion for the date of September 18. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. The ayes have it. Councilman Carlson.

Charlie Miranda

03:18:24PM Thank god. [Laughter]

Alan Clendenin

03:18:27PM I think we all got three years older.

Guido Maniscalco

03:18:30PM Exactly.

Charlie Miranda

03:18:31PM Every ten years with this kind of talk.

Bill Carlson

03:18:35PM I would like to make a motion to accept my form for number 33 today.

Alan Clendenin

03:18:39PM A motion from council member Carlson. A second from council member Maniscalco. Ayes have it.

Bill Carlson

03:18:46PM I would like state the karaoke contest was unfair because Charlie was telling to many jokes that I couldn't sing. I was laugh too were.

Alan Clendenin

03:18:56PM That is your excuse. That is a lie, because I never heard Charlie Miranda tell a joke that I actually laughed at. [Laughter]

Bill Carlson

03:19:10PM Charlie was making me laugh so much my face was sore when I left.

Alan Clendenin

03:19:14PM Oh, my word. He uses the same material on me. Councilwoman Hurtak, please. Can I get recognized?

Lynn Hurtak

03:19:23PM Recognize you, chair.

Alan Clendenin

03:19:25PM Okay. You just reminded me of one. I would like to make a motion for mobility to provide a written report on September 18 about moving the crosswalk on Bayshore Boulevard and two brevard and swann. I want to emphasize there was a rumor of putting a traffic light there, which will be chaotic for the traffic at that the intersection.

Guido Maniscalco

03:19:54PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

03:19:55PM Thank you. You are up.

Lynn Hurtak

03:19:58PM I have to say this. Can this be something that can be answered in a phone call. You tried? I get it. Motion by Chair Clendenin. Second by council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Any opposed? Ayes have it.

Alan Clendenin

03:20:15PM We have a motion to receive and file from council member Maniscalco. Seconded from council member Miranda. All in favor. [Gavel sounding] disclaimer: this file represents an unedited version of realtime captioning which should neither be relied upon for complete accuracy nor used as a verbatim transcript. Any person who needs a verbatim transcript of the proceedings may need to hire a court reporter. ▶ meeting video the information contained in these pages represents an unedited version of realtime captioning which should neither be relied upon for complete accuracy nor used as a verbatim transcript. Persons requiring a verbatim transcript may need to hire a court reporter. © - City of Tampa (813) 274-8211