CRA — August 21, 2025 FINAL
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Luis Viera
9:06:35AM CRA is in session. We'll begin with our prayer, if we may. We have here chaplain Jason sowell who has been a chaplain with our Tampa Police Department for seven years and founder of current initiatives, which is a Tampa-Based nonprofit organization, leading local mission initiatives such as the laundry project, hope for homes project, and affordable Christmas. He has been a minister in the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years. Reverend, come forward, sir, and let's proceed. Stand if you are able to and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. You have given us. Thank you for the great city that we get to live in and participate in, be community members a part of. We thank you for our city leaders. We ask that you give them wisdom and honor as they lead our city and they make the decisions that take us into the future of our city. May our decisions and our choices as a city be equitable for all of our citizens, that we don't forget those, the least of us in our communities that need the most help. May we lift up everyone within our city the best that we can to be the most successful and best city that we can be. May we be more than just a random city, but may we be a shining light of hope and purpose and what the future looks like for not only our state but our nation as well. Thank you for these voices that are here to express their concerns for our communities. May they be heard. May they be compelling. God, may we honor you in all of our choices and decisions as we go forward into our future as a great community. We love you and thank you for loving us for who we are. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen. [Pledge of allegiance]
9:08:41AM Roll call, please.
Charlie Miranda
9:08:47AM Here.
Guido Maniscalco
9:08:48AM Here.
Lynn Hurtak
9:08:49AM Here.
Alan Clendenin
9:08:50AM Here.
Bill Carlson
9:08:51AM Here.
Luis Viera
9:08:52AM Here.
The clerk
9:08:54AM We have a physical quorum.
Luis Viera
9:08:55AM Thank you very much. Before we begin with anything, I know Ms. Feeley Wanted to come forward with an introduction before we go over the agenda for purposes of time. Go ahead, guys.
Abbye Feeley
9:09:05AM Good morning, CRA Board. A lot of times I'm not here at CRA Board. Good morning, CRA Board. Abbye Feeley, administrator of development and economic opportunity. First, I want to thank you for allowing me to jump the agenda this morning. I'm headed to tallahassee to take my daughter, so I'm going to cruise out of here and listen to you in the car, which I normally do. But I'm honored today to introduce our new deputy administrator of development and economic opportunity, Geri Lopez. Many of you have had an opportunity to meet with Geri individually. But I'm thrilled to welcome her this morning in this setting. Geri is a true rock star in the field of economic development. She brings with her more than 25 years of experience and track record of impact and leadership. She is a proud Jefferson dragon, which I know many of you are aware of and raised in the heart of West Tampa. Her journey has taken her through some very respected institutions and organizations. She's a graduate of yale and m.i.t. And she held a long-standing leadership roles with the city of clearwater as their director of economic development and housing as well as a manatee county. Most recently, she was right across the street from us at Ernst & young helping local governments devise strategic plans all over the nation. She brings a lot of best practices with her. What excites me most is Geri really has the heart for the City of Tampa and our community. She understands the challenges and the opportunities that are in front of us. If you would join me in welcoming Geri Lopez. [ applause ] good morning. I am just so thrilled and honored to be here working with --
Luis Viera
9:10:51AM If we may, your name, ma'am. Geri Lopez, deputy administrator for development and economic opportunity. So thank you so much for the opportunity to be here. Looking forward to working with you as we work on some really important projects together. I'm at your disposal for whatever questions and service that I may offer. Thank you so much. An honor to be here.
9:11:19AM Thank you, ma'am.
Lynn Hurtak
9:11:21AM Thank you so much. Welcome to the city. We already had a conversation, but you sat in on several meetings I've had. So really appreciated that, diving right in. And we look forward to working with you. But thank you so much for coming and introducing yourself this morning for the public. Thank you.
Luis Viera
9:11:41AM Anyone else? Welcome to you, ma'am. We wish you well. We know you'll do a great job. Ms. Feeley, Congratulations on fsu. Wonderful school. Big deal. I know you're proud. Thank you.
9:11:54AM Thank you very much. Okay, council. So we're going to begin, if I may -- yes, ma'am.
Lynn Hurtak
9:11:58AM Can I move to approve the July 24 minutes?
Luis Viera
9:12:02AM Yes, ma'am. Motion by board member Hurtak. Seconded by board member Maniscalco. All in favor? Any opposed? Thank you very much for that. Let's go over the agenda, if I may. For staff reports, we have Mr. Robinson coming, obviously, for number 2 we have CRA. Any comments or anything on items 1 through 5?
Bill Carlson
9:12:28AM Number 4, I spoke to staff. I spoke to the union. I would appreciate it if we could receive and file the report, but continue it until the February meeting just so we can get an update.
Luis Viera
9:12:39AM Yes, sir. Okay. We have a motion by board member Carlson. Second by board member Miranda. Any discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Thank you very much. Any other comments on these items?
Lynn Hurtak
9:12:51AM Same for item number 5. I have spoken with parks and rec and other parts of that department, and they have -- there is a plan for redoing the park in '27 imagining and then something for '28. What I asked for was for Ms. McGregor and Mr. Ruggiero to do a community meeting to talk about things that we can do with little amounts of money right now in the park. I'm hosting a community meeting to talk about that. They said they will do so. So I will share that information when I get it, but that is the goal short term as we look to long-term renovation of the park.
Luis Viera
9:13:44AM Great. Do you wish to continue that?
Lynn Hurtak
9:13:47AM No. right now I just wish to receive and file but to let folks know that we are expecting a community meeting. And if that doesn't happen, I'll probably bring it up next month.
Luis Viera
9:13:57AM We have a motion by board member Hurtak with a second by board member Miranda. Any further comments?
Alan Clendenin
9:14:03AM I say we add item 4 because we have the written report on that already to receive and file. Oh, we did that already. Sorry.
Luis Viera
9:14:10AM All in favor? Any opposed? Anything else, board members? If I may, on item number 3, we're going to have former state attorney and second district court of appeals judge e.j. Salcines come at about 10:00 or so, I believe. We'll wait on that one for when Judge Salcines comes. Following that I'll have to go with him. Take 20 minutes. I will be outside about 20 minutes. Board member Hurtak, if you don't mind at that time. Regarding required approvals. Any comments regarding these before going forward with public comment? Thank you very much. There being none further -- yes, ma'am.
Lynn Hurtak
9:14:55AM Do you think -- never mind.
Bill Carlson
9:15:01AM If you are including number 9, I recommend based on community feedback and the importance of this that we have a discussion today, but that we approve it in the next meeting so that we have two discussions on it. If something is a high dollar amount, we usually will have a couple of discussions on it.
Lynn Hurtak
9:15:19AM 9 has no dollars attached.
Bill Carlson
9:15:22AM No, no. but my point is, all the dollars have to flow through there. The staff previously in good faith put together a format, a decision-making format, and it would be helpful to listen to the public's comments, our comments today and then have them come back with maybe a revised version next month and then review it then and approve it.
Lynn Hurtak
9:15:46AM I have no problem pulling it off from the required approvals. But I think we need to talk about it. If that is a motion, I'll second it. To take it off.
Bill Carlson
9:15:57AM A motion to take it off required approvals.
Lynn Hurtak
9:16:00AM Second.
Luis Viera
9:16:01AM Board member Clendenin, go ahead, sir.
Alan Clendenin
9:16:03AM I'm sure there are people here. I think we should have public comment and then take action.
Luis Viera
9:16:10AM Mr. McCray, do you all have any comments on this, on number 9? None. Okay. Great. How about this, guys, just out of abundance of caution, I'll support the motion. Can we vote on it after public comment?
Lynn Hurtak
9:16:24AM We're voting to move it --
Luis Viera
9:16:30AM Then I'm fine with that. Board member Clendenin, does that satisfy you? Great. We have a motion by board member Hurtak -- sorry, board member Carlson. Seconded by board member Hurtak. All in favor? Any opposed? Thank you very much, CRA Board. Next we go forward with our public comment. Attorney shephard, I believe you read a statement before public comment.
Cliff Shepard
9:16:55AM Members of the public are allowed reasonable opportunity at the beginning of the CRA meeting to address any item on the agenda before the CRA takes official action on the item. However, a three-minute time limit applies to all public speakers unless modified by a vote of the CRA Board. 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. Speakers are also reminded to refrain from launching personal attacks. The Chair Will rule out of order any person who speaks without being recognized or attempts to address the CRA from outside the speaker area at the podium. Persons failing to comply with the CRA's rules may be also ruled out of order and at the discretion of the chair may be removed from the chambers for the remainder of that day's CRA meeting. Finally, CRA Board members are reminded that they should refrain from engaging a speaker under public comment. The City Council rules as revised June 6, 2024, are now in effect for the CRA Board unless otherwise exempted or overridden by the CRA Board bylaws.
Luis Viera
9:18:15AM Thank you, Mr. Shephard. We appreciate you, sir. We go forward with public comment. I have three who are virtually registered. One of whom I see here, Ms. Bullock. We'll hear from you live, ma'am. We have first Michael randolph and then adrianne Rodriguez. Mr. Randolph, have at it. My name is Michael randolph. Since the last conversation we had about the West Tampa technology wealth building and job creation system, interest has surged nationwide. Here's what we are telling them, nationwide, with what we're doing. Starting off with empowering underserved communities through artificial intelligence. The West Tampa CDC wealth building and job creation center is a game changer for our community. Powered by the West Tampa CDC, this resident-led uses artificial intelligence to drive economic mobility, workforce development, and entrepreneurship, especially for those left behind. Social security, next steps, no skills, or criminal record, we're there for you. Our main resident model uses artificial intelligences to power 80% of our operation, cutting costs and exemplifying impact. The systems manage data communication and curriculum delivery. Through targeted training, we are creating 80 artificial powered jobs for low-income residents and we're creating 30 home-based businesses. We're also integrating technology, new financial tools and income streams, especially ownership and intervention and communities often -- traditional systems. 60% of our funding will be coming from tech communities and lenders. Our return on investment strategy encompasses both the reimbursement of services, providing -- and stabilize our operation. When the business becomes successful, this model was integrated to our current income approach, designed to ensure long-term financial sustainability for the West Tampa center. Through the framework, generate reoccurring revenue while reinvesting in our local workforce and generational wealth. In this time of rapid development and gentrification, the center is strategic to the safety net and a launch of a new of West Tampa productivity. Thank you very much. We're honored to be in the spotlight.
9:21:36AM Thank you very much, Mr. Randolph. We appreciate you. Ms. Rodriguez, You're next, ma'am.
Guido Maniscalco
9:21:43AM Mr. Chairman, I know at least one person asked about being sent a link. Did everybody get the link sent for virtual public comment?
Luis Viera
9:21:57AM If she wants to come on later, she may. Ms. Rodriguez, You're apparently not on. If you're watching, log on, and if you don't mind keeping an eye out for her. Once she gets on, we'll stop whoever is live and she can go. Next we move forward to in-person public comment. If you wish to speak, please, if you're able to do so, stand and line up against the wall so we know how many folks are going to be speaking. Whoever wants to go first, whether Mr. Daniels, reverend or whoever wants to go first, you may. My name is ashley morrow. I want to go on record to share Tampa's black history. So I want to kind of go in a story format because where you all with dates and a lot of people don't remember. Fort mose north of st. augustine where there was one of the first documented black settlements. I will not say it was the first. I'm talking about things documented for the purpose of this presentation. They were destroyed by the british. Spanish, the spanish allowed black people to come to Florida because it was the first promised land and people from the southern states were running from the plantations to Florida for freedom. To either stay in fort mose or to stay amongst the seminoles as somewhat freed people, but the seminoles did enslave the black people. But not the same chattel slavery that we saw the europeans doing. Fast forward, after it's destroyed, there are a bunch of different skirmishes and battles in Florida. And I'm simplifying this. A man named benjamin hotkins comes down here during a skirmish in alachua, and he sees black settlements as well as native americans living in Florida free. And this is something that was -- he probably had never seen anything like that. He says you guys need to go down to Florida and break this up. So we see Andrew Jackson and his people coming to the negro fort in July of 1816 and they bomb -- they basically shoot into a magazine which has all the ammunition. Big bomb. It kills a lot of negro people and the ones that survived and get away, they run to the suwannee river. Andrew Jackson goes over there. Andrew Jackson and his people go over there in 1818 and break up a lot of black settlements and Native American villages and enslave -- free those people. And there was a place down here called Angola in bradenton, just south of Tampa. We see James gadsen and -- gadsen point. Gadsen point. The part of the story we hear, he came and designated where Tampa should be or fort brooke at the time. But we don't see the part of the story where he explains how -- bay of Tampa is one of the finest harbors in the gulf. Interest is bold and emitting of four fathoms. It is the last rallying spot for disaffected negroes and indians and only favorable point from whence a communication can be had with the spanish and european emissaries. Nicholas, a british man, reported to established in that neighborhood and negroes and indians directed their march to that quarter, which was over in bradenton. This is 1818. We then see the treaty in 1819 and then I think it is called the -- I can't remember the name of it, they go inward and then you see the establishment of Tampa, fort brooke.
9:26:02AM Thank you. As much as I'm enjoying it and would love to listen to more, time. I'll be back next week.
Alan Clendenin
9:26:13AM If she wanted to coordinate with my office, maybe we could arrange for more time.
Lynn Hurtak
9:26:19AM I think her point is something every week. Do you have a social media presence?
Luis Viera
9:26:26AM Instagram. I don't have all of this in there. It's in my binder. I'll be sharing more. Thank you.
9:26:37AM You're awesome. Thank you. Next, sir. Go ahead. I want to say uhuru. Uhuru means freedom in swahili. The last 825 years, we african people haven't been free. That's 52 generations of no freedom. You never hear african talk about fort mose. Never. We don't know about it. We're not woke. The fact of the matter is approximately two weeks ago, I was rudely drug out, forced out of this City Council Chambers by the ku klux klan and grand wizard to turned the city cameras off while I was being drug out of City Council. Rudely arrested, charged with some fake crimes, some fake crimes because of what, being black. Nothing more, nothing less. You understand. White people can do that, if it is the white police officer, white person walking down the street. White person want to confront you because white people have what is called qualified immunity. That's what the ruling class gives them to do what they want to do to african people and get away with it. The white City Council chairman ruled me something. Caused me to be rudely arrested, disrupted, disrupt my life and put fake charges on me. But guess what, I've been arrested 85 times in my life. Have never committed one single crime in my entire life. Live a good clean life. Don't drink, don't smoke, don't participate in homosexuality. Don't have sex with little children. Don't do none of that. Always been clean. Always good heart, good brain and good mind. Always know to resist white power and white tyranny. When I say you see african people are scared of white folks. African people are scared of white folks. A bunch of negroes sat right here in this room. A bunch of negroes sat right here in this room and watched them drag a black man out for wearing a shirt. A bunch of police officers stood right against that wall, law enforcement officers, and watched them drag a black man for wearing a shirt. The police officer right here participated in it. How do you go home to your family after doing something like that and put fake charge with a bunch of lies on it about an individual who come here on a weekly basis. It don't faze me. I'm a black revolutionary. And I'll continue to be a black revolutionary until the day I die. City Council, white people, ku klux klan or who so far, I ain't feeling it. They don't scare me. They don't do nothing for me. When I go to bed at night, 45 minutes, I believe in a 24-hour period, I'm 100% happy. 70 years of age and 100% happy.
9:29:47AM Thank you very much, sir. Next, please. I'm here today in regards to item number 9. Jason rickman. I'm a local rehabber and developer here in the City of Tampa. I heard the prayer before the proceedings started about wanting what is best for Tampa and wishing well on Tampa and stuff like that. My concern is about the limiting of commercial grants to half a million dollars. The reason why I'm concerned about that is because currently -- well, East Tampa needs density. That's simple and plain. You go everywhere throughout the city and you have multifamily. You also have some affordable housing, but East Tampa doesn't have any of that. And I put forth a project where it's going to be majority 30% units, mixed use with a grocery store, which East Tampa desperately needs. Item 9 would stifle that. I feel like East Tampa really needs a chance. I would like you guys to not vote on limiting grants in that area. That is all.
9:31:22AM Thank you, sir. I like your hat.
9:31:26AM Next, please. Kella mccaskill. What does it take for you to listen to the voices of people that look like me? To the marginalized, to the seniors that own key parcels of dirt in East Tampa. And not only listen, but to respond as if you heard what we're saying. These people have paid taxes from 20 to 50 years plus. Anytime we put a project forward, particularly putting projects forward to help individuals like these taxpayers, it's at a halt. We sat back and watched all of you have big energy for a white wealthy male to receive $5 million to build 20 units and I support it. But this limitation on number 9 will prohibit my client who has paid taxes 25 years versus his two. Ms. Jackson, 50 years of paying taxes. The jeffersons, 20 plus years of paying taxes and servicing the homeless population. People most of us wouldn't even want to be around. These grant limitations that were put together by the most experienced team you've ever had in the City of Tampa. Nicole Travis, alis drumgo put it together. Here we are today reviewing scratch-throughs and limitations from an inexperienced staff. I mean exactly what I said. Inexperienced. Inexperienced staff, part-time attorney. You'll in one setting approve some limitations. You didn't see the before and the grants that the staff that was experienced proposed. I'm sure you didn't read all those documents before you going to rule on a decision today. I watched the EDC come here, and they only had that property for a year and a half, maybe two. They have not vested in this community. They don't buy a piece of gum in East Tampa and you skip through $9 million. It should have been an outcry. Should have been an outcry for them to receive $9 million from the poorest people in this district. And all they going to get is hundred and something units and USF is going to benefit from it because they want to apply for a grant. You all skipped through and said yes. It's despicable. I like most of you up here. But it is despicable, what will it take? Do we have to scream? Do we have to put a white face in front of it? What does it take? Number 9, approving it today would be disrespectful. It feels very disrespectful. You want to know why people don't want to vote because they pay taxes, come down here do their civic engagement and get absolutely nothing. Today, I'm saying don't say yes, period. Thank you.
9:34:28AM Thank you, ma'am. Next, please. If I may, ma'am, before you begin, reverend, whenever you want to go, just raise your hand. I'm tara Bluma. I want to talk about debt today and how alarmed I am at the amount of debt that the city is taking on. I'm a mom of two small children, and every new dollar that we spend without a clear way to pay for it is nothing more than a bill that we're handing to our children. I find that completely unacceptable. Too often the administration tells you the merits of a project and gets you to agree on the merits without telling you how you're going to pay for it. And then we're left holding the bag and we don't have the money. Or we hear some other entity will pay a large percentage of it or the feds will pay for 20% of it. But as you know, the project costs continue to balloon and that percentage that they are kicking in gets smaller and smaller as the projects get more expensive. It's not a good deal if someone says to me, I'll pay for half of a ferrari for you if you pay for the other half of the ferrari. I still can't afford half of the ferrari. So stop pretending that we can. Finally, we can't presume that our children are going to share the same spending priorities or priorities for our city that we have. It's not their job to fund our wish list. It is our job right now to protect their financial future. On that note, I really urge you to reconsider the South Howard flood relief project. If we are going to put something on the credit card, let's get the most bang for our buck for the most amount of people and do the most good we can. That project is not going to help very many people in South Tampa. Thank you.
9:36:46AM Thank you, ma'am. We appreciate you. Ms. Bullock. Go ahead, ma'am. Valerie bullock. I'm here to talk about item number 9. I'm also here to talk about legacy homeowners in East Tampa for the CRA program. This been going on for a long time and it's not going to be cleared up overnight, but it's just different standards. When the business owners come in, we give them loans, don't ask that many questions and they have it for like 10 years, 20 years. But when the homeowner want their house remodeled, they want my -- if you have a hundred thousand dollars, it is a 30-year lien. If you get 50,000, it is a 15-year lien. For me, that is disrespect. The legacy homeowners who have been in the neighborhood 20, 30, 40 years, they already have equity in the neighborhood. So they shouldn't have a lien on their house like that. Maybe five years the max. All I'm saying is we need consistency. Don't make it easy for the business people on the backs of the homeowners who have been in East Tampa ever since East Tampa was started. And on number 9, it seems like we wasn't wise with our spending. We're just letting them come in and get millions and millions and millions. And now in the middle of the game, because we gave away so much money, we want to change the rules now. But people have business and they have their plans already in the pipeline, so what rules are they going under? The old rules or number 9 rules? I don't think it need to be changed. What we need to look at is why do we keep giving money to the same people over and over and over again? Just like the East Tampa CRA. You can see three top names. They keep getting the money over, over, over again. Let's do it like the city by vehicles. Go to four one year, chevy one year and then ram the next year. Don't let certain organizations keep coming repeatedly getting the bulk of the money. Let's spread the wealth. Just like the man said, he got a project going on. But now you all want to change the rules. We should have had consistency all along. This Tuesday, I was at East Tampa CRA meeting and Grant Park, I really like her. I talked to her a couple of times. She wanted 1.2 million. Guess what they say, no, let's give her 2.4. Things like that that got us where we are at at this point. Number 9, you all should not change that. Just be more careful that you're not giving it to the same people over and over again. Let's spread the wealth.
9:39:37AM Thank you, ma'am. We appreciate you. Next, please. Mimi Martinez. I am a current East Tampa CAC committee member. Agenda item number 5. I live in Ybor City, so borrell park is in my neighborhood. So is ragan park. You can see the difference between the two parks. Shout-out to Janelle McGregor because she and the late Gwendolyn Henderson, they really took the lead on finally getting that park the recognition it needs to be redeveloped. Janelle did reach out to me about a month or two ago to let me know the next outreach meeting will be in the fall. We had the first one in February. Tony Mulkey has left us. Now we are scrambling to get parks and rec up to speed. Some people didn't even know that borrell park was going to be a project that we are working on redeveloping. It is a very complicated situation because the Nebraska Avenue corridor has so many multifaceted issues that it is making it very hard to untangle now. The reality is it's been like that for decades. Getting borrell park redeveloped is going to take two phases in my opinion. First, we have to stabilize it and then you can work on redeveloping it. Stabilization is going to mean what are we going to do with services that are available for those that are lost and broken because that park has become a hub for those people. The City of Tampa has turned a blind eye and they have actually funneled people to go there, nonprofit organizations to provide free goods and food there to them because they know people congregate there. The people are not going to leave because they know they can get free food and goods on a routine basis. I have asked the city parks and rec, why can't we put a sign up at the park that redirects them to Tampa hope, to metropolitan ministries, to stepping stones, to the lighthouse, to the spring, because those sources are going to go to people in need. Why can't we tell the people, hey, this is where you can go. I never see mobile outreach at borrell park. Are we talking to the people who go to the park and see what they need and why they keep coming to the park? There is a drug house right around the corner on and 26th Nebraska Avenue. And there's creative women. I met with loralene. She is an angel because she is there to help those women who are sex trafficked. When she finds clients who are serious about changing their life, she removes them immediately to another county. I met her. Me and bobby met her. My point is, we have cluster sexual predators on there. We have a head start that the county is building that is beautiful. And that playground abuts right up next to the jay hawk motel which is a sex motel. The bird's-eye view is borrell park. How is that a head start for those kids? What are they seeing? Blight and slum. This is going to take all departments to come together. I really advocate that we need to have more outreach out there to talk to those people and to provide services. Thank you.
9:42:46AM Thank you, ma'am. We appreciate you. Beforehand, Ms. Rodriguez is not logged on, correct? Reverend, do you wish to go next? I appreciate -- thank you very much. My name is Pastor Williams. Located at 1112 East Scott Street. Used to be, but you all let the white folks take everything away from black folks. I see the sign here that says City Legal staff. I wonder what they doing. They don't do nothing for frank Williams and don't do nothing for people of color but take, take, take. Basically what I wanted to talk about, Jackson Heights. Got to let god tear it down before you do anything about it.
9:44:00AM Whenever you speak, if you could speak to us, sir, if you don't mind. One that listen to me.
9:44:07AM I hear you. Thank you, sir. [ laughter ] I thank god for that. I pray to you all. Why you don't call me up to pray? Tell you why. They know I am a pastor. But the reason they don't want me to pray, because I use the name Jesus Christ, my lord and savior. But if god, read the Quran, read almost the whole book of Quran and that's when they start giving comment. We got to talk about certain things. No, that ain't the way you are going to control Pastor Williams. I'm going to talk about what I need to talk about. Talk about the truth. That's what life is all about. I used to come up here many years ago. Some of you all, maybe not you all, but if people walk out when I stood up here. Now they are not able to walk out no more because they are all dead, I guess. We have to understand. Treat people like people. Don't treat people like they are animals. Treat them like they are human beings and that's what life is all about. You know what? We'll have to give god the glory and everything that happens to us because god is a good god. Like I tell you all, rather talk to you all because I think you all get something done for me. You all are standing up there, you all don't get nothing done for me. I've been coming here complaining year after year after year, but they don't do nothing. They are calling the white folks up here. Come here, come here. We got to vote on it. Frank Williams, they don't vote on nothing I said. City leader staff don't want to do nothing I want them to do. Talking about I had -- my son paid $18,000 for me to stay where I've been living all the while.
9:46:29AM Thank you, pastor. Your time is up, unfortunately. We appreciate you. Right now, so much on my mind.
9:46:45AM Thank you. Bobby creighton. I also live in ybor heights. Came to speak on borrell park this morning. I don't think I can really add anything that wasn't said earlier by mimi. I think she hit the nail on the head. Shout-out to the Tampa monitor. Michael bishop. He does fabulous work. Provides very, very valuable insight into what's happening in the city and City Council. If people don't know about what he does, tampamonitor.com. Donate. He's doing really great work. I think he was exactly right in the commentary in his article. The item on the agenda was do we tear down the structure or not? From what I see, doesn't really make a difference. You tear it down, leave it there, people are going to congregate at that park no matter what. That's just where they go because they have nowhere else to go. I think that is a shame. There was an item a couple of weeks back about giving more funding to Tampa hope, more beds. Where are we at with that? Are they full? What is the status. If the tampa/hillsborough homeless initiative that allocates funding to different organizations, what are they doing? Can we understand what this problem looks like? Can we get numbers? Can we get figures? I never really see them come to council to give any updates. We think about the history of the park, back in the very beginning, 1970s, when the city bought the park, they threw a bunch of money at it and couldn't get the ball rolling on the park. The structure was never done. No tables there, no chairs. People sit on the floor on the concrete with their back against one of the pillars where people throw cigarette butts and spit on the ground, that's not fair to anybody. However you slice it, it's not a good situation for anybody, for the people who live around the park, the people that have to go to that park because they have nowhere else to go. I don't really know what you do. This is a mess of an issue. It's because the city for generations, literally for 60, 70 years neglected to do anything with the park. It's been sitting there like basically an open field with a playground in the corner that nobody goes to because there's somebody sleeping under the slide. There was a survey for the park, we had a meeting back in February to go over some updates, to have the conversation with the community about improvements, start that engagement process. Six months later, like we should kind of already know what we want to do with that. I would imagine. I know the park staff is busy and have limited time and budget. The fact that we're having this conversation right now, it's just adding to that terrible legacy of neglect and disregard for the neighborhood. I appreciate council member -- board member Hurtak picking up the rope now that Councilwoman Henderson is gone. She was pushing this along with Tony Mulkey who also happens to be gone. Right now, residents feel in limbo. Lost two key drivers. Hopefully we can get back on track and good outcomes for everybody in the area.
9:49:59AM Thank you. Appreciate you. I see other folks coming in. If you're sitting down and speaking in public comment, can you raise your hand? Two folks. Okay. Go ahead, sir. My name is daryl hych. From last year's budget to this budget, the CRA funding is currently -- would be proposed at roughly $60 million. The CRA was created, my timeline might be off, but 1969 to settle slum and blight. Slum and blight in the communities. In 2020, this council, plus or minus some persons, wrote resolution number 568. You fast-forward from 1969 to 2020 where the city made an apology for the wrongs that they done against black citizens of the City of Tampa. You apologized for the wrong against housing, economic opportunity, fairness, and the various injustices and you even stated in that resolution that there were overt and covert things that were done to make sure in so many words metaphorically speaking that you kept your needs on the necks of African American citizens in the City of Tampa. Now we move all the way over to your agenda item number 9, where you're looking at and saying, okay, the same people we apologize for doing a wrong, we're now about to do the same thing over again with the lack or limited consideration to what may or -- happen with the individuals. If I have a business in ybor, business in East Tampa and I'm looking to grow my business and all of a sudden I find out that the game has been changed. The goalpost has been moved further down the road and now I can't open my business, I can't continue to do business the way I used to do business, which then leads us back to the problem of slum and blight. The very thing that the CRA, chapter 163 is supposed to cure, we're making it come back to pass. We use terms like, what was this term? Hold on. This term is amazing, because I was like, how do you even make this term up? Unintended consequences. What is unintended consequences? An unintended consequence was you intended to move on resolution number 568, but the consequences are Angela crist sending me an e-mail three weeks ago saying we want to have a discussion on why we haven't met since June. That is an unintended consequence. If we continue to have these unintended consequences, how do we know our businesses are going to succeed? How do we know what you're proposing is going to succeed? I'll tell you this, if you're paying me $203,000 a year, I wouldn't buck the system either. I would ride with whatever is told of me. Thank you very much.
9:53:31AM Thank you, sir. We appreciate you. Yes, ma'am. Go ahead. Connie burton. 568 is real. It's not going to go anywhere. If you are Planning on moving forward political, it will follow you. Legacy and red-lining. The switching of words but the consequences are still the same. Red-lining, denying black people value for their property then and now with your item number 9 will also be denying black people or others the ability to move forward. The reason you're doing it, because coming through the door, it's going to be another developer that's going to get a hundred free properties again. What we see happening now in all of East Tampa is housing -- houses that cost over $600,000. I don't know what your salaries say, but most people in our community cannot move in those communities. All of the beautiful pictures that people are going to propose in their political portfolio of things they did as they was in administration, it didn't help us. And we are not going to let that drop. It is not helping us. We believe that the CAC made consideration that those in our community that could not get in the game, like you all always lifting up some of these areas that was economically depressed and had a lot of blight, what themself able to do before you passed this proposal, this agenda item, themself able to come and get all the money. It ain't no money trees out here. How was they able to redevelop all of downtown if they didn't get special taxing and special credits. How able to go through West Tampa and do all that they have done? Special consideration. So what we are saying is that since none of you all represent the true interest of district 5, it's a vacant seat up there. Slow this train down. Let us have somebody up there that we can continue to dialogue with to say this is the interest of the majority. While you do not have people from channelside never coming down to this podium and saying they represent district 5. You know why? Because they know financial backers will have the ability to do everything they need to do. They don't have to come here and say they are from the downtown housing community. You know why? Because even though they are a part of district 5, they know in daylight, sunlight on the golf course, they are going to get their issues taken care of. What we're saying is that in spite of the manager of East Tampa being black, he do not speak for the whole sum of us. No. we need our representative there to speak in our interests. I know you don't.
9:56:46AM Thank you. Next, please. Alison hewitt, third generation East Tampa resident and business owner. Item number 9 would eventually say East Tampa for sale. It is significantly challenging that we started working on these grants in 2018. 2018 we proposed to you the predevelopment program. The City Council approved it. Then Nicole Travis and her team took it back to be able to make sure they created a process for city government. Here we are, 2025, hard as our heart that we're asking to you slow down, even though it's been seven years. It takes seven years to get a program that's going to help the community. One, the new proposal, if you are concerned because they say the interior grants need to make sure we're not getting the attention of tallahassee, so we need to only do it to address Code Enforcement issues, well, if you want to not get tallahassee interest, then we have to limit all development to a million dollars. Anything over million dollars are city initiated. The city and the CRA has owned property for the last 10 years. It has weeds growing on it now. They may mow the lawn, but the building has weeds. I talked to Chief Bennett and said, okay, then Code Enforcement needs to stop citing our businesses if the city-owned businesses you cannot maintain. Understand, there's money in the budget to be able to do that but we don't even clean the buildings that the city owns. To be able to not attract the attention to say now in East Tampa, having the grants roll out, small businesses, you've got to have a hundred percent of your money to get 50% back. Again, East Tampa for sale because who can? Someone who comes up with the money. You have businesses here struggling to make sure this they are -- that they are able to feed their employees. If you had the money. If you had the hundred thousand dollars or $500,000, why would they go through the headache of working with the city to get half the money back? What you are doing is putting in places, tying the arms. Like I said, East Tampa is now for sale because if you have money and you can invest, we'll give you some incentives and give you your money back. But the people who have been there, invested, taken care of their families, they can't get a shot at the table. The way that they have changed the legacy credit to reduce it to almost zero, if you've been there less than five years, you understand they have existed for five years, what a tremendous amount of work that takes. I'm sorry that we have to ask you to defer this because yet again, here we are adding years to another process to get something done. District five is bigger than East Tampa, but these grants right here, we're energizing development for local developers, property owners to develop their property. We cannot take away that and accelerate gentrification in East Tampa. Please defer number 9.
9:59:56AM Thank you. We appreciate you. Next speaker. Is Ms. Rodriguez Online? Okay. She may not make it. Dr. Angela sky, vice-chair of the Jackson foundation. I want to come up here and say thank you for voting yes on number 10. At this time, we'll say thank you. We know there has been some time of negotiation with the easement. So we want to thank the city mayor. Thank her administration team and thank you all on the City Council members who have voted to move forward with amendment 4 for us to move forward with our project. The Jackson House Foundation board of directors have gone through the RFP process. We have selected the firm and if this is approved today, number 10, we can move forward with public announcement of who that firm is. We want to make sure that you say yes today to number 10 so that we can notify that firm. I want to publicly say that we stand as the Jackson house board with number 10 to move forward with the easement so that we can reserve and preserve the history, the black history with the Jackson historic house downtown. Thank you.
10:01:12AM Thank you, ma'am. Next, please. Robin Lockett. Just quickly, with this type of outcry about item number 9, hopefully you guys find your way to create a workshop so that -- or have the community input to really take into consideration about this item. Yeah, it's needed. It's needed. In regards to a workshop or something of that nature. I support number 10. If Jackson house supports it I support it in approving this developer. Thank you.
10:01:53AM Thank you. Happy belated birthday.
10:01:57AM Yes, ma'am. God bless you. Next. Go ahead, ma'am. Before, doctor, if I may, after this gentleman here is there anybody else speaking for public comment? Mr. Robinson, anybody else? We have three more speakers. Go ahead, ma'am. Dr. Carolyn collins, chair for the Jackson House Foundation. I think our vice-chair indicated where we are in the process. I just wanted to make sure that we were here. We were present, and that you know that we support the resolution that's listed at number 10, which would afford us opportunity as indicated to move forward. With the breach, what we called it, with the failure that occurred in the east upper corner of the house, we actually just submit a press release. I like to make sure when we come before you, we leave you something. That was a press release from not just the breach, but we decided to have it after we actually spoke with the three firms down at the house having completed that full process. Thank you for -- and I want to say thank you to the mayor and administrative team for working with the accardis and removing the Jackson house. I want to say thank you to the City Council for approving it a few thursdays ago. I'm going to say thank you in hopes that you would approve this today so that we can move forward. This will allow us, which we currently working with the City staff to do emergency repair, emergency repair for safety. We do not want to put a considerable amount of money in it, but we know the contractors need to go in, so it was mandated that we do that. I saw comments from different individuals in particular with council who was making comments about the housing, wanting to do it. We received a number of calls from a number of individuals who actually want to support in what they want to contribute. We are pleased and happy that we have finally reached this point, and we were removed out of the equation. Do we support what's in it? Whether we really are looking at what is actually in there, there is a piece that we never said we wanted to do but we know what we need to do in order to save the house. Let me close the Jackson house off now and make a comment with number 9. It would be less than human of me to stand here and hear comments about whatever is going on with number 9 that I'm not aware of. But there have been too many public concerns that have been expressed about number 9 and whatever is happening with it. Not sure what is the best process, but I know I can say, like I said, please support number 10. I would ask that you delay and not support number 9. Thank you.
10:05:13AM Thank you, ma'am. We appreciate you. Next, sir. Go ahead. And although I did really want to give you all maximum pressure today because of present company. One of the doctors in my family, I forgot to mention the last time I was up here. I'll tailor this again to be nice. I wanted to give a little context to this picture. You can't get the full screen, anyway, this picture was taken a year before I was born. So this is March of 1967. So the little girl in this picture would be around 60 years old, which is about the age of many people I have listed on this document. Anyway, look, it's been about a week since I sent every one of you all allegations, proof of judicial medical doctor and attorney misconduct. I know a couple of you all are attorneys, so you have an obligation and a duty to respond to it. I know that delusional, entitled, incompetent, racist people hate unilateral black happiness and hate any kind of black push-back. I know every one of you know exactly what I'm talking about. The law is akin to a coloring book. It has the outlines and you are supposed to color inside the lines. Do what you want to do, get a sketch book and kind of go off as you wish. The people here don't know how to color within the lines. If you want to color outside the lines, hell, you could have done something as a public official. Every one of us took an oath at some point in time. Some of us actually did it with the naive expectation that those around us who do the same thing would be at least adherent to that obligation. Not in this damn city at all. Apologize. Anyway, I'm feeling like job from the Bible. I went to the va a couple of saturdays ago. They say I have a nabisco bump on my back like he did job. That nabisco bump is kind of like, well, actually it is a cyst. I watch way too many high-seeded nabiscos steal from the people without you being the fulcrum of justice that balances is that you are supposed to be. I hope I did a good job for the person who asked me to behave. By the way, I'm not suicidal. I plan to see this thing through to the end. I want to let everybody know that everybody needs to hold these kind of people accountable. We'll all be famous eventually. Actually, what I sent you all had nothing to do with my current lawsuit and appeal in the federal court against the City of Tampa. You all had a duty to respond. That being said, shout-out to the greatest institution of higher learning in City of Tampa. Thomas Jefferson high school and class of '59.
10:08:27AM Thank you, sir. Appreciate you. Mr. Robinson I believe is our last speaker for public comment. Joe Robinson. The phrase to sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards out of men. It is a powerful statement about the importance of speaking out against injustice. While often attributed to Abraham Lincoln, it actually originates from a poem by ella wheeler wilcox. The quote emphasizes that remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing is in itself a form of moral failure suggesting that taking a stand is a necessary act of courage. That's why I'm up here. Listen, I'm on the west side. I wasn't going to say nothing. The people that just spoke about number 9 are absolutely correct. I got a problem with number 9. On the west side. Legacy status, don't give legacy status for commercial. Got to be residential. Got to be this. C'mon, this legacy thing, legacy, not a legacy, office space, can't run a house that's not a business. I'm sick of it. We're going backwards. The people are right. Number 9 needs to be driven off the track. Number 19 a problem for me. I've been owning property in this city in every location, Ybor City, West Tampa, Tampa Heights, over in Jackson Heights, belmont heights. Not North Ybor. Litigating with the city for decades and decades on Code Enforcement and two people in federal prison. You guys are going back to this. Sorry, my mama rolling over in her grave this morning knowing that we're going to be jacked around in West Tampa, the property that I worked hard for, cleaning up the right-of-way for the city every other week. I got a serious medical condition. Tired of it. Number 9 is not right. It's not fair. It is not equitable distribution of city taxpayer funds that are derived from slum and blighted area. Litigated. By certain property owners. It's not fair. I'm saying it because I don't want to put up the headaches. I done talk to Abbye. Done talk to Cedric. All of them. Number 19 a problem for the legacy thing. Some people get it. Some people don't. If you are a commercial business, you can get a legacy -- residential, you can't get it. What the hell am I? Rent businesses, rent property. That ain't commercial use. I'll leave it at that. It's wrong. Don't need to pass it today. If so, I may have to go back to being radical person, I don't want to be, but I have money now to fight the system.
10:11:25AM Thank you, sir. Okay. That would appear to be the end of public comment. We go next to item -- by the way, before we go forward, I also wanted to say that I believe the next CRA meeting will fall on September 11. Therefore, I'm having that meeting begin At 10:15 so we can go to the September 11 memorial by Tampa Fire Rescue.
Lynn Hurtak
10:11:51AM Motion by board Chair Viera. A second by board member Maniscalco. All in favor to start next month's CRA meeting At 10:15. All in favor? Any opposed.
Luis Viera
10:12:07AM Thank you, madam. Appreciate you very much. Now for purposes of number 1, what is the time limit for Mr. Robinson on this? I'm trying to gauge time.
10:12:21AM Okay. Good. Judge Salcines, are you good waiting another 10, 15 minutes? I would assume so. Just want to make sure. We'll do item number 1. Go ahead. Brenda Thrower. I'm the West Tampa development manager. And I am here to introduce Mr. Joe Robinson who will be giving you an update of the activities happening in the West Tampa CRA. The nice guy. Joe Robinson, 2338 -- West Tampa, the Scaglione house. In five minutes, I want to thank Cedric McCray, Brenda Thrower and bee parks for making and giving us and keeping us moving forward with all of the other people that came before them to get West Tampa to be a premier CRA. We know what we're doing. We know how to do it and we know how to collaborate with others like the Housing Authority, the developers, and everybody else. But when it comes to these other things, we've got to be careful. For example, some of our achievements are major improvements. West Tampa CAC has been engaged in many West Tampa parks. Include Salcines park. Salcines park. Groundbreaking ceremony last April. Construction under way with ribbon cutting coming in early 2026. Rey park, ex-mayor of West Tampa. 90% complete in June. Site plan permitting in process and groundbreaking in the fall of 2025. Freedom park. Environmental is complete. Permit pending and work -- Planning and design to be announced. Fremont Avenue grid, reestablish our streets again. Someone to study that. We'll do that. West riverfront project, very controversial but economic engine for us. CRA is a partner with the project with contribution of over 10 million out of our funds economic generator. Main street, resurfacing, four way stop at main and albany, looking good through there. New business opening, cohatch. Come in and put several million dollars on main street. West Tampa chamber has moved into the CRA. New restaurants, barbeque king, lucky tiger. New publix that won't meet with us, but publix on North Boulevard to open up providing economic development. West River apartments. West Tampa housing project. The housing rehabilitation, renovation program. HRRP has benefited new and returning residents to West Tampa. People coming back and supporting their dreams of home ownership. The program gives a hundred thousand dollars to homeowners, to the Tampa CRA and helps bring homes into compliance with city of Florida's building code. Two houses under construction. Preconstruction and 12 applications distributed with one -- land acquisition. Land is not going down cheap in West Tampa. We're trying to buy what we can. Last month, CRA acquired three contiguous West Tampa, approximately 1.1 acres on -- between Howard and Armenia for affordable housing. Site prep and demolition Planning underway. We look forward to participating in the future community vision. Any property we buy we must go to the community and ask what you want to do with it. Thank you up there. 30 years ago, radical again. The CAC has also recommended historic property acquisition located on main street commercial district. On the agenda today. Please approve it. Mixed use project. Vision to acquire future affordable attainable housing and possible commercial development. West Tampa commercial grants, controversial with me. Commercial grants team briefed West Tampa on updates. Got it on 9. Needs to be stopped on the tracks. West Tampa is one of the most active districts. 15 applications. People in there, made application. Now we have new rules. Shut it down. Paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes last 60 years, no benefits. Sitting helping West Tampa. That is a shame. Public art. Look around, you'll see a wrap. Very beautifully done. F.D.O.T. Isn't messing with them. Our art came from our money -- bottom line, rey park mural being re-created. Put it inside the building. Brand-new building named after man West Tampa. Brand-new for the students, for the children and all that. We keep that history of what happened about the kids that burned up in the fire across the street. In closing, not going to say nothing about Rome yard, Abbye before she went to tallahassee. Little delay because of the environmental land cleanup. It's getting back on schedule. They will be breaking ground in the next month. Rome yard and people asking me what's going on. Finally, been a pleasure to serve on the West Tampa CAC. As the chair. But if you guys want to start the fight that I fought for 15 years in court, in federal court, with the FBI and everybody else around here, don't start it. Get this number 9 straight. I'm telling you.
10:18:43AM Thank you, sir. We appreciate you. Council members, board member Hurtak.
Lynn Hurtak
10:18:49AM Mr. Robinson, thank you so much. It's really a pleasure to see West Tampa starting to purchase properties and create their -- starting to figure out what to do with it. I want to say congratulations to your CAC for starting to see what East Tampa is doing and starting to do the same. I think it is a really, really good thing. I just want to say thank you for all the work you are doing. I think the acquisition will be able to make some real change. I'm also happy to say that you all get to decide what you want to do with that. I'm glad you made that point because I think that's really important. So thank you.
Luis Viera
10:19:36AM Thank you, sir. Anybody else? Thank you very much. Next, I'll pass this out, if I may. I may have to go up there with this, here with Judge Salcines. Tampa CRA. I'm here today to provide an update on item 3 for the lieutenant baldomero Lopez monument. CRA Staff have collaborated with City departments and board member Viera and Judge Salcines to identify a suitable location for this monument after a few different locations were looked into for this project, the current selected location is water works park adjacent to where lieutenant baldomero has been recognized with an existing plaque. Thank you for allowing me to appear before you today. It's most significant that the day after tomorrow will be the 100 birthday of the birth of our hero from Tampa, lieutenant baldomero Lopez. On September 15 of this year, just two weeks away, will be the 75th anniversary of his death. Most important from u.s. history, September 15 will be the 75th anniversary of the historic invasion of inchon in korea that changed the Korean War from a losing proposition to a winning proposition. It was the day of September 15, 1950, 75 years ago coming up this September 15 that our Tampa-Hillsborough county high school graduate and graduate of the U.S. naval academy, first lieutenant baldomero Lopez, the son of a spanish immigrant and an italian sicilian mother, gave his life to save his platoon and his officers were so impressed that they wrote to general MacArthur recommending that this latin boy from Tampa, Florida, a graduate of the annapolis naval academy, receive the congressional medal of honor. Whatever you do, you're doing it in a most timely manner, especially with his 100 birthday the day after tomorrow. September 15 being the 75th anniversary of his heroic death. I urge you on behalf of the citizenry to do this good recognition for this Tampa hero. Thank you very much. [ applause ]
10:23:24AM I wanted to introduce Judge Salcines because he is a couple of things. Just an amazing person. For me, he is Mr. Hispanic here in Tampa. He is Mr. Latino here in Tampa. I remember years ago, judge, when I heard you speak on baldomero Lopez, I was in private practice hundred percent of the time. Said will take you on a tour of baldomero Lopez. Picked me up in his cadillac at my old law firm and took me around all the sites. You know about this gentleman's background, but I wanted to let the public know about the amazing man that we have here helping lead this charge. Judge Salcines is our former state attorney here, longtime state attorney for Hillsborough county. Also appointed to the second district court of appeals, governor lawton chiles. His family is originally from Spain. Late father like Judge Salcines was a patriot who sold war Bonds for the country in World War II to support the war effort. He went to the south Texas college of law over in Texas which since then has become an institution for so many attorneys, especially Hispanic judges and attorneys to go to. He suffered from great discrimination as an Hispanic early on, including stetson college of law where I would go 40 years later, by the way, ironically. He would go to south Texas. He would be an amazing, just a bridge builder for people in the State Attorney's Office hiring among many, many others, judge Virginia covington, the first African American state attorney who would become our first African American Judge. George edgecomb among so many others. Just such an historic man. Knighted by king Carlos of Spain for the royal order of queen ysabella. That among many, many other honors. He became a member of the Florida bar November of 1963, seven days before president Kennedy was murdered. In closing, when you take a look at this man's public service and career, it is what president Kennedy talked about, about giving back in public service. That's what this guy does. I wanted to speak very briefly on a couple of things. Number one, as Judge Salcines noted on September 15 of 1950, it was the death of lieutenant baldomero Lopez who willingly gave his life in inchon, korea. This is why I wanted to come up here. Is it on the screen? Lieutenant baldomero Lopez, very famous photograph literally seconds before his death. That's an iconic photograph. So we're working together. I motioned to have City staff and City staff has been wonderful to work with on a statue for baldomero Lopez. These are informal renderings that I wanted to show the public and the community here. These are very informal, but this will show you what we're looking at. Something that will be majestic and life size to honor this great american who, by the way, was the son of immigrants, patriot and very relevant in the year 2023 as son of immigrants. Informal rendering of what we'll be looking at. Obviously subject to change. Another one here. That's what we're looking at. That's why I wanted to come up here, council. I am going to be motioning for a written report on the status of the timeline of the lieutenant baldomero Lopez monument, exact location in water works and final cost estimate to be brought back to CRA for the --
Guido Maniscalco
10:27:06AM Second.
Luis Viera
10:27:07AM There you go. October 16 meeting. I'm doing that because we're looking at a budget. We think we can get most of it within the CRA, Mr. McCray, if you need to speak to that.
Lynn Hurtak
10:27:18AM We're not having a meeting in October. It will probably have to be November.
Luis Viera
10:27:22AM Let's do November.
Lynn Hurtak
10:27:25AM November the 13th.
Luis Viera
10:27:27AM Have this done by the September 15 of next year. I think that god willing we can do that. Go up there to make the motion, if I may. I wanted to make those.
Lynn Hurtak
10:27:39AM All those in favor? Aye. So we had a motion and a second by board member Maniscalco.
Guido Maniscalco
10:27:49AM Board member Viera, thank you for bringing this up, and thank you, judge, for being here with us. This is a great american hero. The first medal of honor recipient born in Tampa. We have others at woodlawn off boulevard. They are from the Civil War. I know there are two over there. But with baldomero Lopez, this is recent history. I knew a gentleman who died about five years ago who graduated Hillsborough high school '43. And baldomero Lopez was his rotc commander. He knew him personally. That gentleman passed away. His brother is 102 years old, all navy guys. He went into the marines after in korea. I'm going to ask the living brother, who is 102, to see if he knew him. He graduated I believe in '42 from Hillsborough. If we can bring him down, World War II veteran, served in the pacific. Again, this is something that 1920, a hundred years ago. This is my grandparents' generation. Your father, judge, I would hear stories and, of course, his business on Howard and main street, which we're redoing the store, that same gentleman who was a commander here that went to Hillsborough, he would tell me stories about -- they call it cno, casualty notification officer, but when a soldier was killed -- was your father involved in delivering the news to the parents and the family members when a soldier was killed in World War II? For all the war Bonds that he had sold with some other gentleman here in Tampa, a record number of war Bonds that were sold to finance the Second World War. But the Korean War came up very quickly and unfortunately baldomero gave his life. A lot of people served, but some give their best. And baldomero did that.
10:30:10AM Yep. And having the statue here on a very -- in a very prominent location, as was mentioned is great. I go through there every morning. People need to know the name. Where he is buried -- I've been to the grave many times. Again, this is one of Tampa's most important, favorite sons and a true american hero. This is the least we can do for the sacrifice he made. Of course, you showed the photograph. I know you have it in your office. That photo has been everywhere. I'm so happy to support this and I'm glad this was brought up. Thank you.
Lynn Hurtak
10:30:55AM Thank you so much. Board member Miranda.
Charlie Miranda
10:30:58AM I want to echo what Mr. Maniscalco said. Just this morning we're having a casual conversation on the way to the room. We were talking, this guy to my left, he knows where everybody is buried. He was even telling me where I was going to be buried. He named everybody's grave within a block and a half of where I'll be located at. I don't allow visitors, by the way. What I'm trying to say is I'm not ever going to debate Guido Maniscalco when it comes to history. Yourself and your family, what you've done for West Tampa, your service, came up the hard way, you and another former Judge Martinez were asked to leave in a way from a college, I won't mention the college name and all of a sudden you were accepted at south -- what they call it now West Tampa and Tampa e.j. University, the real name of it in our community, how many people you've helped get not only law degrees but employment when you were a civil servant for many years and became a judge under lawton chiles. It's historical what you've done and what your family has done to make Tampa a much better place to live. Baldomero Lopez knew he was going to die. Once he did that, he knew he was not going to come out. When you know that, that really makes you a hero. What Maniscalco said is all factual and what you have done, just unbelievably important to the history of Tampa. Thank you and your family.
Bill Carlson
10:32:43AM I want to thank Chair Viera, Cory and others for providing a tribute, Tampa and american hero. Also thank Judge Salcines. I know you are in more demand than places you can show up. Every time I hear you speak, I'm reminded that you are the voice of Tampa history and you are the voice of telling stories of Tampa. This is a crazy idea, but I just thought of it. When James earl Jones died, another iconic voice, disney worked with an a.i. Company to record his voice to use it in the future for various characters. Somehow we need to preserve not just what you know, which is impossible, you have a huge computer bank in your head, but we need to somehow remember your voice. My kids, my grandkids should be able to hear Tampa's history in your voice. I hope we can work with you to do that somehow.
Luis Viera
10:33:49AM I always like to mention the other I know of. There is Ronald ray, medal of honor recipient from Vietnam, who is still with us. I think he lives in Georgia. And then paul ray smith, who went to Tampa Bay tech, who is in arlington and died in Iraq. But I wanted to say in closing that when I motioned for this to not have this man lead the charge would be a grave injustice because everyone's since day one, that marker for baldomero Lopez, he got that. Making Hillsborough high school the school known for baldomero Lopez, he did that. He is the champion of baldomero Lopez. As Hispanic attorney, I get teary eyed saying this, we're angered that hispanics crying. That's me.
Lynn Hurtak
10:34:36AM Judge Salcines, thank you so much for coming today and continuing to lead this charge that is so important and important to our city's history. We really appreciate you coming out this morning.
Guido Maniscalco
10:34:52AM One last thing, judge, since you are here. I say this all the time. I met you through my grandmother I don't know 30 years ago and you showed me your cuff link collection. Never seen so many cuff links in my life. Four people, Charlie Miranda, Judge Salcines, dick greco and bob Martinez, governor bob Martinez. After you guys are gone and I hope you all live to 110 years old, that's it. It's a library of information. You're the last of that generation that I remember growing up. You're very special. We always appreciate when you come here. Thank you. Thank you for Councilman Viera for bringing you today. It's always -- you are living history. We appreciate you. Thank you.
Lynn Hurtak
10:35:43AM We do. Thank you. I've been asked by the clerk, for the record, can we have a motion that approves the current agenda for today? We have a motion from board member Maniscalco. A second from board member Clendenin. All in favor?
Cory Robinson
10:36:02AM Arts and cultural coordinator, CRA. I want to close the topic with a few brief updates about this project. After the last meeting about the site with the Parks Department, there were concerns of structural issues that may raise cost at this location. We have a preliminary estimate of cost of 152,000. Due to structural concerns, we cannot be sure of the exact amount today. We are currently meeting with parks and the arts and cultural departments to determine the full amount needed and we will provide that update at the next meeting in November. Thank you.
Lynn Hurtak
10:36:34AM Great. Thank you. The next meeting is in September, but November with the update. Appreciate that.
Cedric McCray
10:36:48AM Cedric McCray, Tampa CRA director. I have the honor of starting the director's report. I want to bring up lauren green. You have received the customary trackers for your review. The next item on the agenda under director's report will be the newsletter. You should have the fresh hot off the press copy at your seat at the dais. We also sent five or six names because we wanted to poll the board as it relates to the naming of the newsletter outside of the quarterly newsletter. Last month we had Mr. Hall who has been active with the summer youth program for the Tampa CRA as well as the City of Tampa and we have a student intern, Ms. Lauren green. I believe she was introduced last week. This is a part of our capstone project for the summer. She will be leaving today or tomorrow, her official last day. We wanted her to shepherd this through. I'll ask Ms. Green to come up. She'll speak to it and you have the information and suggested names and we'll take a quick poll and let us know what your pleasure is.
Lynn Hurtak
10:38:00AM Wonderful. My name is lauren green. I am a second-year graduate student at the university of Florida. I have the -- right, go gators. I have the pleasure of interning with our CRA Board This summer. One of our projects that I'm especially proud of is our newsletter for the summer, which I will present. I authored the feature story of our quarterly newsletter which I titled innovation and technology make a debut in Tampa, which it has with our CRA housing initiative application or the GIS map, which hall presented at our last meeting. What is unique about this application is that it allows viewers and residents to be able to access the application and review all the investments that our wonderful team has invested into community projects such as tree trimming services, roofing repairs, and emergency assistance programs, down payment rehabilitation. And that's really touching to me as an intern and as a resident of Tampa to see how much we care and how invested we are in the community. To add on to that, I'd also like to present one of the several stories we produced in our newsletter. One of which really stands out to me. I'm not sure if you can see. Okay. The Drew Park roadway intersection improvement projects. About a month ago, I attended a walking tour with one of our staff members around different neighborhoods in Drew Park, roadway intersections specifically where many collisions had occurred and several fatalities, too. The reason why that really stood out to me and the project we're doing, safety, connectivity, mobility are the top priorities in reducing the number of fatalities is because I got to thinking, you know, that was someone's parent. That was someone's child or that was someone's friend. Either way, they are all human beings and children of god and they deserve to live. And they deserve to feel safe in their communities, too. I'm really proud of the upgrades, which I discussed in this section, where we're trying to create safer mechanisms to ensure that future collisions and fatalities don't occur. The reason why I think this was a really important project is because it takes a community and a group of people to really care about one another and not just listen to the needs of their community and the citizens in it, but to actually put forth the effort to improve the lives of those around them. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to have authored part of the newsletter and to have worked with our wonderful board This summer. Thank you.
10:40:52AM Wonderful.
Guido Maniscalco
10:40:54AM I want to say thank you for your compassion, the things that you said. Children of god. Thank you. We need more of that. So people watching and people listening, learn from that. Thank you very much. You said it beautifully. Thank you.
Lynn Hurtak
10:41:10AM Board member Miranda.
Charlie Miranda
10:41:12AM No, no. I'm sorry.
Lynn Hurtak
10:41:13AM Okay. I wanted to say thank you so much. I particularly love the really joyful photographs, especially the one on the top. It was just great from last month about having our interns share that space. I love the way that everybody got a little love in the newsletter. Congratulations. You've done a great job.
Cedric McCray
10:41:42AM Because Ms. Green Has done a fabulous job this summer over the last self, eight weeks. We want to provide a certificate of appreciation from the Tampa CRA Staff. She has done a phenomenal job working with us in the second floor of the Tampa municipal office building. Ms. Green, thank you very much. [ applause ]
Cedric McCray
10:42:16AM Whatever the pleasure of the board is at this time. We don't have to do it now. If you want to e-mail to us.
Lynn Hurtak
10:42:22AM Put the names on the wolf for us so we can debate?
Cedric McCray
10:42:53AM We don't have a physical copy, but we can do it via e-mail, and you all can let us know, in the essence of time.
Lynn Hurtak
10:42:58AM That works perfect. Thank you so much. Really appreciate it. Looking forward to seeing what names we choose. Next -- always a teacher. In the interest of time and waiting to see if our Chair Will come back, can we move the required approvals that don't -- that we have not pulled for extra conversation?
Bill Carlson
10:43:31AM I want to make a comment about number 10.
Lynn Hurtak
10:43:35AM Oh, yeah. Go right ahead. Might as well.
Bill Carlson
10:43:40AM I want to remind the public and the Jackson House Foundation that the Jackson house is a project of the CRA, not the city. And to the extent that City staff have been involved, it was under the direction of the CRA and supported by the CRA, not the city. To my knowledge, the mayor was not personally involved in negotiating the deal at all. I talked to the parties involved. Will probably get an e-mail correction from the communication department today. But the point is that -- first of all, it causes political confusion when people say that. The second thing, we have an overall systemic communication problem with the CRA that every time the mayor's officer or communication department try to take credit for a CRA project by the mayor, what happens is that it gets blasted online. Good example coming up in a minute, the bricking of the streets. Almost all the communication that went out was received negatively. If you look at the stories about us finally closing the deal with the CRA the other day, because it went out as a city project instead of CRA project, not clearly defined as a CRA project, the problem is the public gets angry, why aren't you using the money to save a dilapidated house. In the case of the bricks, why you using the money to tear up a perfectly good street to put in bricks? It's very important that we give the CRA credit, not because of us individually but because we need to explain to people where the money is coming from. In the city, there are roads falling apart, parks falling apart and yes, areas, where the stormwater maintenance has not been done because they are on a seven-year schedule and only a year into it. As people's houses are flooding, their tires are popping and parks are falling apart or things are being taken out of parks, they are frustrated. We need to be able to make sure that we say this is CRA money and explain what CRA money is as opposed to city money. Otherwise, we're going to continue, anything that should be a positive announcement, saving the Jackson house or bricks in the street, is going to turn into a negative and unnecessary negative. Thank you.
Lynn Hurtak
10:45:53AM Board member Maniscalco.
Guido Maniscalco
10:45:54AM Thank you very much. First, I want to thank Dr. Colins and her team. The accardis, all the partners involved in finally getting this done. The first thing I told the former mayor before I got sworn in ten years ago, what about the Jackson house? If it was your house or my house, it would have been torn down a long time ago. That was the response. When it came to the bricking of Ybor City, I was at the tropicana on 7th avenue, like 10 people. I said I'd love to see this road rebricked. I'm glad we're using the CRA money, as you said, to do this, because that road was brick until the 1960s. The administration modernized everything and now we're taking it back to what it was. We have two great approvals today and also the memorial park cemetery monument, that hasn't been mentioned. That's very important. Council member Carlson is right. This is a CRA project. There were obstacles in the way, especially for the Jackson house. I would talk to people, oh, the house will fall down. The importance of the structure, considering that so much black history was eliminated because that neighborhood, there is the church, which has been redone. Jackson house, longshoremen's building, kid mason, very few structures from the original neighborhood, and we have to preserve it. The Jackson house is one of the most pivotal and most important. My best of luck to Dr. Colins and her leadership and all the partners involved in making it. It's long overdue. But I know it will get done and it will be a gem in this community. Thank you very much.
Lynn Hurtak
10:47:34AM Board member Clendenin.
Alan Clendenin
10:47:36AM I may be mischaracterizing this, based on a comment I heard from the CRA director, he has suggestions for number 9. Maybe appropriate to continue this until October --
Lynn Hurtak
10:47:48AM We're not there yet. We're dealing with everything --
Alan Clendenin
10:47:51AM I was going to make a motion to continue number 9.
Lynn Hurtak
10:47:54AM We're not there yet. I already made a deal.
Alan Clendenin
10:48:02AM I will back track and wait for further information.
Lynn Hurtak
10:48:18AM I want to say thank you for bringing up the cemetery monument. It's very important. The fact that we'll be able to redo that is wonderful. We talked about the purchase of the West Tampa property off of main street. The bricking project, which, again, very important to ybor, the approval of the Jackson house, which I believe is the final step that gets to us where we need to go. And, of course, number 11, which nobody has mentioned yet, and that is the budget approval. I want to say that we have the rollover amounts in a presentation. I believe that chair -- rather, Director McCray had asked us to approve this. Because nothing has changed. It just shares the rollover amounts. If we have any addition questions, we can reach out to him. I think rollover amounts are very interesting. I will ask that Director McCray add this to the agenda. This wasn't on onbase before. Please make sure it gets into onbase so the general public can see as well what's available. In that interest, if anybody would like to make a motion to move items 6, 7, 8, 10, 11. I have a motion from board member Maniscalco. A second from board member Clendenin. All in favor say aye. Again, just to pick up on number 9, we heard from the community. I talked to Director McCray in the lobby -- we haven't made a motion but Planning to do a workshop next month over housing, correct, in McCray?
Cedric McCray
10:50:05AM Yes, ma'am.
Lynn Hurtak
10:50:07AM I talked to him about the idea of being able to add in this commercial grant conversation into that workshop to have two separate workshops on the same day of that. My only concern, Director McCray is that we will need to move some items off of that agenda.
Cedric McCray
10:50:27AM Yes, it's getting very busy.
Lynn Hurtak
10:50:29AM If everybody could turn to September 11 in their calendar, what can we possibly move to other dates? The reasoning behind director McCray's hope to get this done on September 11 is because we do not have a CRA meeting in October due to the fact that is the same week as the fra conference and all of our staff will be there.
Alan Clendenin
10:50:58AM This is a complex issue. Is it appropriate in a workshop or is this something that we need to be working directly with staff and then bring this back?
Lynn Hurtak
10:51:11AM I think we need to do both. It would be wonderful to have staff brief us about both. I already got a briefing about housing. I don't know that everyone else has gotten one. Yes, to talk about it. A workshop doesn't necessarily mean we have to approve something right away. I think it is -- for me, it is an informational thing to make sure that the public understands it as well.
Alan Clendenin
10:51:35AM What I hate to see, having a team of six convoluted, especially -- this is such a complex and multilayered thing, it's just going to be very difficult to accomplish in a group discussion or workshop discussion.
Bill Carlson
10:52:01AM I don't know if it's possible to add a fifth Thursday. I wish we had an hour or two to discuss among ourselves. I read all of it, as you guys probably did. It's one thing to have a discussion with staff. Unfortunately, staff can't be conduits between us and we can't speak to each other outside of the meetings. It would help. I feel the same way about the contract renewal with the city, the outsource agreement. That is a separate conversation. During or before we move this, I would like to make three quick suggestions. Do it now or wait until --
Lynn Hurtak
10:52:37AM Let's see what board member Maniscalco has to say. We have some time today. There's no reason we can't discuss it more. Yes.
Guido Maniscalco
10:52:45AM I'm glad this has come up. I received multiple phone calls and I don't get a lot of phone calls. I got phone calls from unexpected people. People are paying attention to this. I appreciate Ms. Dee Reed yesterday. She gave me a very -- very in-depth play-by-play on everything. So I appreciate that. But the community has concerns. Mr. Robinson spoke earlier. He had mentioned certain things. We need more time. The community -- East Tampa is the most important CRA. It is the most underserved, most underprivileged, and we have to be careful moving forward. I know that there is state statute that we have to go by. I spoke at length with alison hewitt. E-mails from kella mccaskill. The phone calls, everything. I want to make sure before we move anything that we cover our bases and the community knows what is being proposed and what's happening. In regards to -- I asked a question yesterday, what happens if we postpone this? The people waiting for the funding, can't they just get approval based on the existing policy? Or do we have to -- does everything get postponed?
Cedric McCray
10:54:06AM You have individuals waiting for the revisions to take place because some of the changes will benefit them. And their applications, pending applications. What I would request is that because we have some time, that we be allowed to present. I know there have been a lot of public comment, e-mails, phone calls, some of the problems is misconceptions about some of the changes. I would like us to have an opportunity this morning to speak to that. If that is the case and we still need to have further conversations, then we can set a date and time to do that, if that is the board's pleasure.
Lynn Hurtak
10:54:47AM I think that's fine. But I still think even with the discussion today, there's so much misconception -- misconception is not the right word -- concern, like, we all need to understand it better. The public needs to understand it. Quite frankly, and in this case, I know there are some issues with what we can and can't do based on the legal rulings for the CRA. It might be at this workshop might be a time to invite attorney shephard in person. I think oftentimes a workshop setting works better when people are in person. We might see if Mr. Shephard is available to come on September 11. I think that would be a real benefit. Before we go further with this, I would really like to clear the September agenda so that we can make room for this before we go too much further.
Bill Carlson
10:55:54AM Is there another time to do it besides September 11?
Guido Maniscalco
10:55:59AM Item on September 11 with bee parks.
Lynn Hurtak
10:56:04AM That's why I wanted to ask the director because some of the issues are with the housing workshop might already be encompassed in September 11.
Cedric McCray
10:56:18AM I've been informed there is an option that we can still have conversations about the grants policy, but we've had some conversations with some of the folks.
Lynn Hurtak
10:56:29AM Great. Then we'll wait on figuring it out. But I still believe like -- okay. Is everyone okay with hearing -- I know board member Carlson wanted to talk about three items beforehand. Would you like to do that before or after the presentation?
Bill Carlson
10:56:45AM Either way. I think we definitely should have a separate discussion about it and make it a robust discussion where the public has a chance to weigh in, just like we do with anything else important. Because the public sees it as their money. People that aren't in a CRA district see it as their money. We need to make sure we're good custodians and getting the process right is important. I hope we find another time besides the 11th. Most of the stuff I have on the 11th is related to housing. That is one of the biggest issues that folks are concerned about. As you know, housing is written into chapter 163 as one of the specific things that we're supposed to be funding. So we need to make sure that we are attuned to that. I'll mention my three things afterwards.
Lynn Hurtak
10:57:39AM That is all noted. Let's listen to the presentation and figure out where we want to go.
Cedric McCray
10:57:43AM For the record, also attorney shephard has said he can be here physically on 9/11.
Charlie Miranda
10:57:52AM I echo what you said about the city attorney for the CRA because we need guidance. Thank you very much for that.
Lynn Hurtak
10:58:02AM Take it away.
Cedric McCray
10:58:03AM Cedric McCray, Tampa CRA director. At this time I'll call forward Dee Reed to present the policy revisions being proposed.
Dee Reed
10:58:29AM Good morning. Dee Reed, for the record. As you're aware, we are here to discuss the proposed updates to the policy. I'm going to go through an overview of what the substantial changes are to the policy updates in terms of the policy itself we are updating terminology within the policy that lack clear definition, leads to ambiguity, and the application of those terminologies throughout the grant process. It speaks to new initiatives that currently do not have the same impact that we initiated or that we initially expected. We are removing unintended restrictions, and then we are applying certain updates to some of the individual grants for predevelopment, we are combining the two existing levels into a single-level grant. And then inserting a condition that requires repayment if the project is not constructed or an application for the commercial exterior or interior grant is not submitted within two years. For the commercial exterior grant, the only change that is being proposed to that grant is that any improvements to HVAC have to be reliant to code and that's just for the exterior grant. We have also added some scoring opportunities that would allow applicants that are currently ineligible for the grant to now be eligible. So just an example of that would be some of those properties that come up to the property line and do not have much site. There are points applied to the properties for making improvements to the site. So we have some that are just shy of the number of points they need to be approved, but they don't have the opportunity to get those points from the site. So we built in some bonus point opportunities to kind of allow them to get those points as well. I forgot one other thing. We also have allowed tax-exempt properties to be able to utilize that exterior grant. That is because even though they may not be paying to the tax, the improvements to the year of the buildings still have the same impact on property values that meet the goals of the CRA. With the interior grant, as we discussed back in the June board meeting and the board did vote that in line with the Florida statutes, we would restrict that grant to being specifically code reliant. So we are simply bringing those over into the policy. With the special projects grant, we're establishing or documenting the existing grant maximum of 1 -- sorry, $500,000. And then creating the establishment of the funding request that will address requests from greater than 500,000 up to the $1 million. Then next I would like to address some of the concerns that have been expressed regarding the policy update and just kind of make some clarifications. I did send out an explanation to all of you. If you do have that, you can follow along with me. I think it's important for us to note that all of the revisions that being proposed today are specific to the commercial funding. None of this -- none of these changes impact your residential funding. I'll start with multifamily eligibility. Under the policy that was presented and approved in June of 2024, multifamily -- I'm sorry. Multifamily developments were identified as ineligible under the current policy. That is not changing. They are ineligible for funding under the commercial grants under the update. So that is not changing. They are something that would be addressed under the residential component. That is not something changing. It is not going from being eligible to ineligible with this update. There's no change there. In terms of mixed use buildings, those can be funded under the current policy. They can still be funded under the policy update in terms of their commercial space. The only change that applies is when it comes to new construction. So if it's a rehab, they can receive residential funding for the affordable housing component and they can receive commercial funding for the commercial spaces, if it's a rehab. If it's new construction, they can still receive funding or apply for funding under the affordable funding. Commercial cannot contribute to the new construction of commercial spaces, and that is to align with the Florida statute. That is the only component that is changing with this update. Again, that is specific to just commercial spaces. It does not impact residential funding at all. Legacy credit. This is another item that I believe has been misunderstood. Legacy credit is an initiative that was introduced with the policy approval in June. That is a reduction in the owner's match that is tied specifically to the number of years that the property owner has owned the property. Currently under the policy approved in June of 2024, the amount of their match -- I'm sorry, the amount of their credit is capped by the amount of money that they have paid into the TIF through their ad valorem taxes. The only thing that is changing with this update is that we are removing that cap. So their cap of, let's say they've own -- may have owned the property for 15 years, but if they only paid $3,000 into the TIF, they don't get up to 100,000. They are capped at the $3,000 currently. But with this update, we've removed that cap. Whether they put in 3,000 or they put in 50,000, they can get up to $100,000 cap -- sorry, hundred thousand dollars credit with legacy credit. So this update actually is helping. It's allowing them to get more credit with legacy. Again, this is with the commercial grants. This is the commercial policy. It speaks solely to commercial funding. That is the only change that is taking place when it comes to legacy credit. It's increasing the amount of credit that they can get. In terms of grant payment structure, with most grants across the board, they are all reimbursement grants. However, with the current policy, there is a component that currently exists today in which we allow for direct contractor payment, as long as they are receiving their funding for their portion with a lending institute that has a component that provides for billing and construction management. So many of your banks or lending agencies that issue small business loans, they will have that billing management component. They are managing to make sure that when the contractor submits their invoice, whatever material they are billing for, they will make sure that material has been acquired and is on-site. Any work that they are billing for, they are confirming that that work has been completed. As long as that structure is in place, they can be approved for direct contractor pay. What that does, it allows them to utilize the funds from their CRA grant award, that money can be paid up front, on the front end before they pay their match. The CRA will pay that money directly to the contractor. Not only is that relieving the strain of them having to have that funding up front, it's also delaying the accumulation of interest on their loan because they are not accessing that money as early as they would if they were paying for this from the front end. So again, there is no expectation that they have to fund their projects at hundred percent. That's not going away. Still staying in place under this policy update. The only thing changing with the update is that there was a misprint in the policy that says we could pay 20% deposit on the front end and the contractor had to wait until project completion to get the next payment. What we're allowing in the update is for the contractor to receive monthly progress payments so they can bill us monthly instead of waiting for the project to be completed to get the rest of their payment. The only other --
Lynn Hurtak
11:08:31AM Board member Miranda.
Charlie Miranda
11:08:31AM I'm appreciative of what you're saying. I want to make sure we understand, everybody. You're saying you built the foundation, you get so much.
Dee Reed
11:08:38AM Yes.
Charlie Miranda
11:08:40AM Even though now you can pay your debt. You're saying now we're changing, same way, once you get blocks or second floor, whatever it is, that's done and then you turn it in, get your other grant in advance.
Dee Reed
11:08:55AM The contractor can bill monthly. Whatever he completed in that monthly -- yes, whatever he's done that monthly, we can pay that.
Charlie Miranda
11:09:03AM Or to the whole project to get it done on purpose, on time, and on budget.
Dee Reed
11:09:11AM Exactly.
Charlie Miranda
11:09:12AM -- he or she is the one who is going to say it's done, paid.
Dee Reed
11:09:15AM Exactly. The only other component that we've heard that people are concerned about is the restricting of grants to being code compliant. And that is the changes being proposed to the interior grant. And those are being proposed solely to align with the Florida statute. That's not really much that I can say about that other than the fact that we just escaped the process of trying to get rid of CRAs. We are just trying to stay compliant, stay within the statute so we can continue to do good in the community.
Lynn Hurtak
11:09:57AM Board member Maniscalco.
Guido Maniscalco
11:10:01AM Thank you very much. Again, thank you for the briefing yesterday afternoon. I have your teem that you sent right after we spoke. After 4:00. I know it is a public record, but I'm going to make sure that the folks that shared their concerns that I spoke to that they get a copy of this. Before 9/11, they see these bullet points and there is a total understanding before we get into that next discussion. Thank you again very much.
Dee Reed
11:10:28AM If I may, I would like to say one other thing. If it would help, I am willing to agree if it would help to not delay. I am willing to agree that if you see in the memo we are asking that the policy not be -- the new changes not go into effect until October 1st, I'm willing to commit to doing a workshop prior to that effective date to explain to the public, even if it's something we have in office with a small group of stakeholders that can spread the word to make sure that the community understands what I just explained to you here.
Lynn Hurtak
11:11:15AM Board member Carlson.
Bill Carlson
11:11:16AM I know from the conversations and talking to you all and listening to you now that you've listened to the public and trying to adapt to the public and members of the public have different views. So we have to build consensus, even though everybody might not always agree. Any vote to delay on my part is not a reflection of criticism of you-all. It's just that on something so important to how the money is issued, this is the -- I would like to make sure that the public weighs in. What I was going to propose is exactly what you just said, that we have one or two, not in this session, but staff could have one or two open sessions either in person or electronically that are communicated through the CRA channels to let people give feedback. So you would present it, but if you provide an hour, I would take like 15 minutes to present and then take the rest of it and comment back and listen to the comments and see if there's anything else we need to tweak. I also want to thank you all for including the red lines. There is a clean version of all the documents and a red-lined version that made it really easy to see what the changes were. Anybody who hasn't seen the red lines, they are out there. I think if we have one or two kind of town hall meetings to get -- not just to present but get feedback, that would help to inform whatever final tweaks or changes we would do in the end. What we would do, if we did not attend that, we would do our briefings or updates with you all before the next meeting so we can decide what we'll recommend to change and you all can recommend your changes as well. Thank you.
Lynn Hurtak
11:12:53AM Board member Clendenin.
Alan Clendenin
11:12:54AM It's been so interesting to observe the public input on this. Harken back to 2024 when the CRA Board voted on a lot of these issues. Of course, reading through the documents and the proposed changes, there's definitely a disconnect between the actual policy that's being proposed and then the perception in the community. I think it's been transparent, so I don't understand where this disconnect has occurred because I'm very comfortable and I think everybody on facebook quoted that I was going to support the CRA director's position on the issue. I think, one, we have to protect the CRA. We have to be in klein with the public policy from tallahassee. If you don't like what's happening in tallahassee, change your legislators. It's not the city. It's tallahassee. Change your legislators. We know who is in charge of tallahassee. We know what their agenda is, and it's not necessarily CRA friendly agendas. But that being said, it's what we have to do, a requirement we have to do. I'd say a substantial number of the proposed changes benefit the CRA users and the folks that are trying to do business with the CRA as been outlined by you today. I appreciate the very concise summation of what has been proposed. I think if people really read the document and listen to what you described, I think they would reach a level of comfort than what we heard in public comment today. This is not a wholesale changes. The items that are maybe less popular are not issues that are coming from the city. Again, it's coming from tallahassee. I'll leave it at that. Thank you.
Lynn Hurtak
11:14:34AM I will just say my comments as well. I tend to agree with board member Clendenin. I do believe that these are very -- like, I understood the explanation. I understand and by and large I agree the things we don't like are things we have no power over. My problem with it is that the public does not seem to understand. I think it's one of those that we need to work on how to present it maybe a little more efficiently or clear and not having to read the full red-line document. I think we just need to work a little bit maybe on doing a presentation for the public. I want folks to feel comfortable with it. I'm also not opposed to approve these today and also having a discussion about it in the future because here is the great thing about this. This is policy. This us. We could change it next month if we wanted to. I'm hesitant. Because I do understand it and I do think these are good changes, I'm hesitant to continue it, but I'm also fine with saying, yes, we can approve these but also continuing because they wouldn't go into effect until October. We can have a conversation about it in September. I have no opposition to that. But, again, there are several of us here. Board member Carlson.
Bill Carlson
11:16:06AM To that point, if you don't mind, I'll go through my three points of feedback. If the public wants to provide input, if it's the same thing, the signal by approving it today, it looks bad, I would rather delay it. If I could mention my three things real fast. Number one, I think in 163 it describes that we can't -- CRA can't pay for city projects that were already going to be paid by the city. And I think -- also, the public wants to make sure that the projects approved and paid for are the public's priorities and not the city's priorities. One of my big concerns in all of this is that the city has a back door where the city can just put in application. I think that there needs to be -- I think we need to tweak this to provide a transparent process for the city to make applications. The perception in the community is some of the community's projects are being delayed, true or not, the community's perception is that the community's projects are being delayed so that the city's priorities can be pushed through. What I would recommend as a tweak is the city not have a back door, but if the city wants to propose a project, that they should first go to the CAC for concept approval, not approval on the project, but concept approval and come to the CRA Board for concept approval and then they would go through the process. I think it needs to be a transparent process because otherwise people think there is a back door that's not fair. Second is, I don't see -- sorry if I missed it, but I don't see that we fixed the problem about the timing of the approval of the applications. Part of the perceptions of some of these housing projects we got through is the perception of the applicant is it is first in, first out. But as we heard in the hearings, staff were considering other projects that had been applied for, even other projects anticipated being applied for. I think we just need to clarify that process and make it transparent --
Lynn Hurtak
11:18:10AM Board member Carlson, that is a housing issue and that we will talk about next month.
Bill Carlson
11:18:16AM On any approval of any grants, I think we ought to set it up on a time basis, like on a quarterly basis or six-month basis and then have a public meeting where the public is invited to attend and listen to the scoring. It sounds like you have done a great job of putting in the numbers and scoring and all that, but in most cases like this, especially when government is giving out a lot of money, there is typically a meeting open to the public where the public can come listen to it. The last thing, you all do have rules about how grantees can communicate. I think we need to strengthen that. I'm a communication professional. It's typical that in contracts from grantors that there would be sight restrictions around when and how they can make announcements and what they need to say. I think we need to make sure that our logo is included, boilerplate, specific language that explains what a CRA is, and even maybe some level of approval of an initial announcement by the staff. And ideally, also that the chair of the CRA would -- and the CRA Board would be invited to any kind of announcement. That is a typical thing that any grantor does. Anybody who gives out grant money will typically require all that. We have some of those requirements but I think we need to make it stricter. Again, the reason is that the public, especially those outside of a CRA, they have the wrong impression about which money is being used. If they knew the money was restricted to only being used in, for example, ybor, then they would understand why roads in South Tampa are not repaired with the money spent on bricking in ybor. Those are three things, removing the backdoor for the city and making that more transparent, making the decision making process clear and transparent and then putting stricter rules around communicating.
Dee Reed
11:20:12AM I don't know if you have the underlined and strike through copy in front of you, but I would like to respond to the statement regarding the back door for the city --
Lynn Hurtak
11:20:21AM Can you put it on the wolf? That way others can see it at the same time.
Dee Reed
11:20:27AM On page 5, right here, we've added, and this is one of the additions to the policy, and it does have an application, currently, the city has, under the policy that's in existence, the city has to submit an application and follow the same special projects process that any of the applicants have to follow. But we also implemented a cap on the amount that the city can request. And there's also specific limits on what can be funded under those requests and the process that they have to follow. There's more details that apply to the city applications than what is outlined.
Bill Carlson
11:21:11AM Elsewhere in the other documents, the red line shows except the city. Except the city.
Dee Reed
11:21:16AM Because the city -- we have a section that outlines specifically what applies to the city.
Bill Carlson
11:21:22AM I think we need to make that clearer. Also, I think we ought to add that, we can debate it at the next meeting, but I think we ought to add that extra level of transparency, that the city has to disclose what they are going to propose. I think they should get a concept approval at the CAC and then at the board before they go through this process.
Dee Reed
11:21:43AM Yes, this does go to the CAC. If follows --
Bill Carlson
11:21:49AM Before they apply, concept approval. Concept approval. By the time they apply, it gets railroaded, oh, now you have to push that through.
Lynn Hurtak
11:21:59AM That happens already.
Bill Carlson
11:22:04AM They make an application and then go to the CAC.
Dee Reed
11:22:09AM The policy requires them to come in at the concept level. Current policy requires them to come in at the concept level and then they have to come back, yes.
Bill Carlson
11:22:20AM We'll talk about it off-line.
Dee Reed
11:22:24AM The other point I wanted to draw out, during the meeting and after public comment, one of the people that you received your letters or your e-mails from, I had a conversation with and we discussed, and she expressed that she would be willing to come up and speak in support of the same recommendation that I made to you. And this is one of the people that e-mailed you.
Lynn Hurtak
11:22:46AM Let's hear from Ms. McCaskill. Thank you. So what happens is, the communication is not clear. If you're applying, you're an applicant, you don't know what is available to you as an individual. Even I have sat multiple times, explanation in the back, it was explained, if you are applying for adaptive reuse, which is a rehab, you can almost stack if you will. I didn't know that. She just told me. She just explained that you can stack. Even -- I don't know how this can happen, but if they can sit down, so that is a commercial project that has retail at the bottom. Classifying commercial. Up stairs, it's housing. It's housing. Initially it was one thing. Now it's two. If there's some type of way we cannot hold up projects, but work through dee with the commercial piece and bee with the housing piece and it's explained. Somehow it needs to be separate but communicated at the same time. We're not getting that communication over here. The people that came before you are not illiterate. We can read. We can read these red lines but it's not clear in the communication. She agreed to do a meeting with anybody that had an issue but she was waiting for a workshop opportunity when she hired staff. We can't wait anymore. She's agreed to do a workshop as it relates to the commercial piece, but we also need it with the housing piece because the communication is not clear. She just made it clear and even still, it's cloudy, if that makes sense. I'm saying, if it's clear, like the piece of the million dollars, cap at a million dollars going forward. We just watched you give away $5 million. That requirement was already there, but you guys ignored it. If it's in this policy, it makes it seem like it is limiting our projects. We need some transparency, some clarity, communication. She broke it down separate. I don't know how we can get the best of both worlds, but we need it. We definitely need the communication piece broken out individually, line by line, project by project for both.
Luis Viera
11:25:16AM Board member Miranda.
Charlie Miranda
11:25:17AM We're both here, so maybe we can answer some of that now.
Lynn Hurtak
11:25:32AM I think, Ms. McCaskill, you encompassed that very well. It's the communication piece that we're lacking. I would have really loved a quick powerpoint today of like the most specific things kind of spelled out, maybe even some visuals. So I don't disagree with you. I think we need to communicate better. If that is in a workshop facility here or a meeting with the public and then a workshop for council, I think that might also be a good way to go. I do not disagree.
Luis Viera
11:26:11AM Board member Clendenin and board member Miranda.
Alan Clendenin
11:26:13AM Based on the information I'm hearing today, I think it is to the benefit of the public to move item 9. What I'm hearing, what probably would be more appropriate on this is to have a community meeting, not necessarily amongst this board, but a community meeting to have an in-depth briefing to make sure people understand the opportunities afforded and I think that would probably attract everybody, including the builders and everybody that is trying to do business with the city and with the CRAs. I would strongly suggest, maybe make the motion, we move item 9 today with a caveat that CRA Staff will organize, coordinate with the CACs and organize a community comprehensive briefing to bring everybody up to speed and have a detailed explanation of what this policy means to the community.
Lynn Hurtak
11:27:07AM I will second that only with the caveat -- I'm only speaking because I'm seconding it. I'm seconding it with the caveat that it happened before the next CRA meeting. Yes, before September 11. Like early September. Then we get a chance to come back and talk about it. Because you all are -- I'm sorry. Can we limit that to commercial then? Because you all are meeting on the --
11:27:44AM Residential on September 11. Yes. I think if you simply clarify that during your meeting, that would help.
Luis Viera
11:27:53AM We have a motion by board member Clendenin. Seconded by board member Hurtak. We'll have further discussion. Board member Miranda and then board member Carlson.
Charlie Miranda
11:28:04AM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Both of you here now. Ms. McCaskill brought up a good point about commercial on the bottom, residential on the top. I don't know about the other members of the board, how many of those have we funded? I don't know.
Dee Reed
11:28:18AM We have not received any applications yet. But basically, how it works --
Charlie Miranda
11:28:24AM Good thing for the future.
Dee Reed
11:28:28AM Correct. It is in existence now. We had several pre-application meetings but haven't received application. Maybe that's because there wasn't clear understanding on the process. But how it would work, if it is a rehab, commercial division could help with funding of the commercial space and housing could address the affordable housing component.
Charlie Miranda
11:28:49AM Within the same building, you save land.
Dee Reed
11:28:52AM Correct. If it is new --
Luis Viera
11:28:54AM Folks talking in the audience, we can hear you. We can hear you all, whoever is talking. I can't see who. But if you could cease the speaking so that we can have the meeting. Go ahead, sir.
Charlie Miranda
11:29:05AM I'm finished. Thank you very much.
Dee Reed
11:29:07AM I would like to clarify. If it is absolute new construction, then commercial cannot contribute. That is the only caveat to that. But that does not prohibit them from applying for funds with the affordable housing component.
Luis Viera
11:29:20AM Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, sir. Board member Carlson.
Bill Carlson
11:29:23AM As I said earlier, I'm in favor of having a workshop, public meeting, whatever, in between now and the next meeting so the public can weigh in. But I'm going to vote no on this motion because I think we shouldn't vote yes today. We should wait and vote yes after we hear from the public in a more robust way. I don't think we should be telling the public. We should be hearing. Also, although you answered one of my questions, I'm not satisfied with the transparency and the explanation of the process first election. One of the most important things. I think we should reverse the process and have the public hearing and then take the input and tweak it and vote on it in a month. I don't think it hurts us to wait a month because this has been in process for several years. Instead of tweaking it again and again and again, we can just tweak it once.
Luis Viera
11:30:18AM Thank you, board member Carlson. Before I go for second round, Councilman Maniscalco, did you want to say anything?
Guido Maniscalco
11:30:24AM Being that council member Hurtak mentioned, it is policy. We can make changes on September 11th. It's not permanent. But we have to meet an October 1st deadline, correct?
Dee Reed
11:30:36AM Yes.
Guido Maniscalco
11:30:38AM We can vote yes today to move it forward and then September 11th we can change our position, but the community at least gets to have some input and you get to meet with them and they can come back and say, look, we completely disagree and we can change it all. This is not permanent today if we move forward. I understand council member Carlson's concerns that the appearance is that we're just moving it, but it's not permanent. On September 11, we can make changes. Again, this room could fill up September 11th and people could say we're totally against all this. We have another bite at the apple on September 11th.
Dee Reed
11:31:19AM Just a reminder, the issues being brought up are not any of the issues that are being addressed in this update. So changing this, whether you approve this update or not, those issues that are being addressed are still going to be their concerns because they are not changing the policy, with the exception of the interior grant, and that is a Florida statute issue. Not approving the policy doesn't take away those concerns because those concerns -- nothing that is changing addresses those or impact those questions.
Luis Viera
11:31:54AM If I may, really fast, when I hear from the public on this, and we have October 1st deadline, meeting September 11th, I do think there is a rational basis at the very least of saying let's have that meeting and let's vote on it then. I think if we vote on something now, there will be a presumption this is what we're doing. That's my only challenge with it is whether or not you admit it, it kind of leads to a presumption. Changing something I think has a higher threshold or standard. Just my thought. Board member Hurtak.
Lynn Hurtak
11:32:29AM Again, I don't disagree. I have no problem with moving this to September 11th vote. I seconded it to have the conversation. I do think that my concerns have been addressed, but my concerns were addressed when we talked about it in our prep meeting. But I do think having a meeting for the public is not a terrible thing to do. But in the context of really being able to explain what it is we're changing and then putting on to the side maybe even just having someone with chart paper to take the questions of the things that are not in here that we can make later, to really talk about the difference of the two and to differentiate them. I think that's where the public is confused. To be quite frank, I'm still a little confused as you mentioned so clearly, the issues that people have are not addressed with this policy, but there is a perception of that. I think that's what we're trying to resolve. I will attend the meeting. I'll tell you right now, I won't speak. I'll just go to listen and I will follow all the rules if other board members, slash, council members attend, but I think it's one of those things that having it, being able to hear the concerns kind of encapsulate it for myself, I would support.
Dee Reed
11:33:55AM We may need to move the effective date if we do it because it will shorten the length of time people will have. The ones waiting to submit applications October 1st, they won't have the opportunity to get their document. They were waiting on hoping to get an approval today. Then they can get application, documents ready. So if we wait until September, now we cut the amount of time that they have to get applications submitted. I'm not saying that -- I'm just letting you know that if we get the approval and still make changes in September, they still have had two months. And if something changes in September, it is a minor tweak as opposed to them having to wait until September to start a process. Get approval on September 11th?
Luis Viera
11:34:44AM For purposes of moving, board member Clendenin, anybody else?
Alan Clendenin
11:34:48AM What she said is what I was going to try to recapture. What happens by the delay is people in the community lose out. Something that would aversely impact people if we delay from the October 1st date. Part of the proposal what we talked about the meeting is going to be that clarification. I think, again, a lot of the concerns that I heard expressed from the community and e-mails I've seen isn't part of the change proposal. It would be addition, so it would be a subsequent proposal down line, if we adopt that anyway. This particular process, by moving this forward today is a step forward for the community and step forward for the CRA. Absolutely, it is.
Luis Viera
11:35:33AM If I may, no statements from the audience.
Alan Clendenin
11:35:36AM Nothing bad about this proposal. It actually expands opportunities for people that will go into place on October 1st. If there's any deficiencies, we can address those some other date or additions that need to be made or whatever, people want to propose and have it hashed out future dates. Nothing in this proposal that is adverse. Only thing may be stuff we don't have control over. Again, talk to your legislators. Talk to your people in tallahassee. Elect better representatives and then we won't have to deal with this stuff.
Luis Viera
11:36:11AM Unless any further discussion from CRA or staff, anything further from staff? We have a motion by board member Clendenin. Seconded by board member Hurtak. The motion is to pass item 9 and to have a community meeting between now and September 11 for this to be updated to us on September 11, correct? Let's have a roll call vote, please.
Charlie Miranda
11:36:49AM Yes.
Guido Maniscalco
11:36:53AM No.
Lynn Hurtak
11:36:56AM I'm still concerned about the community. I'll have to vote no.
Alan Clendenin
11:37:03AM Yes.
Bill Carlson
11:37:06AM No.
Luis Viera
11:37:11AM No. okay, council.
The clerk
11:37:16AM Motion fails.
Luis Viera
11:37:17AM Thank you. Since that failed, what should we do?
Lynn Hurtak
11:37:22AM I'm going to motion that the staff hold a workshop preferably within the community -- before September 11th, preferably the week before so people have a little bit more time to understand. With the new date being November 1st for application input.
Luis Viera
11:37:55AM We have a motion by board member Hurtak. Seconded by board member Clendenin. Mr. McCray, do you have any comment on that? Board member Carlson, whichever one of you want to go first.
Cedric McCray
11:38:05AM Thank you for the opportunity to have the discussion. There was one comment that was made related to the applications. There have been a few that involve mixed use development. So I just want to put that on the record. Thank you. We will move forward accordingly.
Bill Carlson
11:38:26AM Could I suggest you adding two words for the public workshop to present and to get feedback so that --
Lynn Hurtak
11:38:38AM Sure. Present and get feedback. I'll accept that substitute.
Bill Carlson
11:38:48AM A lot of government agencies, if they have an hour, they'll present for 55 minutes and then say, oh, we're out of time. We need to make sure there's sufficient time to get feedback. Second, I want to say thank you to the staff. You all are working with us, and we're between the community and you trying to negotiate this. I think as I said earlier, a month delay is no signal that you all did anything wrong or we don't appreciate your work. We're trying to make sure the community is satisfied because the more they are, the better we know that this will be.
Luis Viera
11:39:22AM Guys, if I may, conversations in the audience, please cease so that we can proceed with the meeting. Thank you very much for your cooperation. We have a motion by board member Hurtak. Seconded by board member Clendenin. All in favor? Any opposed? Since I was out, did we pass all the required approvals? Great, great. Do we have any motions? Board member Miranda.
Charlie Miranda
11:39:44AM No, none, sir.
Luis Viera
11:39:46AM Maniscalco? Hurtak? Clendenin? Board member Carlson.
Bill Carlson
11:39:49AM I think the outsource agreement is coming up next month. I would ask all of you, we changed it a lot in six, seven years ago and we've tweaked it since then, but we really ought to make sure that we fix any of the issues that we may have experienced so that we can make sure that everyone works together well. I'll be coming back with some suggestions next month or whenever it is presented. Thank you.
Luis Viera
11:40:15AM I wasn't here for this, the World War I memorial marker, that is so critical for us to preserve that. Something done in 1923 by the red cross for African American soldiers killed in action in World War I. And in slight of comments made by the president on the smithsonian, so important to highlight black history, especially African American heroes who gave everything for the country. Mr. McCray.
Cedric McCray
11:40:39AM Thank you for the highlight. We want to make sure that we were the next step. Last year was the fencing, and this is the next component. So we've been working with the -- between the East Tampa CAC and the Cemetery Society to bring that into fruition and Parks and Recreation as well. I would like to highlight one item that I omitted from the director's report. You all approved the hundred thousand dollars for the tree trimming program, and I've been informed by Ms. Parks that all the monies are encumbered. We've received that level of application thus far. I just wanted to make sure that you all were aware of that.
Luis Viera
11:41:16AM Thank you, sir. We have a motion by board member Maniscalco, seconded by board member Miranda. All in favor? Any opposed? Thank you, board. Thank you, audience and public. [ sounding gavel ] 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 community Redevelopment agency - 08/21/25published: August 21, 2025▶ watch on youtube 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
Agenda
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1. CRA24-2242
West Tampa CAC Chair, Joseph Robinson, to appear and provide a verbal report outlining activities and/or concerns of said CAC. - (Original Motion, requesting said monthly report, initiated by Saul-Sena/Miranda on December 11, 2008)
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2. CRA24-2241
CRA Director's Monthly Report Memorandum from Cedric McCray, CRA Director, transmitting August Projects Tracking Report and Commercial Grants Tracking Report for said agenda item. (To be R/F)
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3. CRA25-12420
Cory Robinson, CRA Arts and Cultural Project Coordinator, to work with Robin Nigh, Arts and Cultural Affairs Director, and Judge Emiliano Jose Salcines on a perspective monument within the CRA to honor the late Lt. Baldomero Lopez and provide update. (Original motion initiated by Viera-Maniscalco on February 13, 2025)(Continued from June 12, 2025) Memorandum from Cory Robinson, CRA Arts and Cultural Project Coordinator, transmitting a written report for said agenda item. (To be R/F)
Supporting Documents:
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4. CRA25-12421
CRA Staff to speak with Barbara Tripp, Fire Chief, and the Firefighter’s Union to determine a proposed estimate budget for a Downtown fire station and/or the renovation of Station 1 and necessary equipment. Also, to ask CRA staff to work with Clifford Shepard, CRA Attorney, on a proposed amendment that could be presented to the county; further, for approval of the amendment and budget to be presented to the county for approval. (Original motion initiated by Carlson-Maniscalco on February 13, 2024)(Continued from March 13, 2025 and June 12, 2025) Memorandum from Courtney Orr, CRA Development Manager, transmitting a written report for said agenda item. (To be R/F)
Supporting Documents:
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5. CRA25-15386
CRA Staff to work with the Parks and Recreation Department on the demolition of the structures at Borrell Park. (Original motion initiated by Hurtak-Maniscalco on June 12, 2025) Memorandum from Cedric McCray, CRA Director, transmitting a written report for said agenda item. (To be R/F)
Supporting Documents:
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6. CRA25-16610
East Tampa CRA Memorial Park Cemetery Monument Memorandum from Cory Robinson, CRA Arts and Cultural Project Coordinator, transmitting additional information for said agenda item. (To be R/F)
Supporting Documents:
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7. CRA25-16602
Resolution of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Tampa, Florida, approving the purchase of real property in the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Area located at 1712 N. Albany Avenue, Tampa, Florida, for community redevelopment purposes at a purchase price of $460,000 together with closing costs in the approximate amount of $10,000, Pursuant to a contract for sale and purchase between the city of Tampa, as Purchaser, and JPAC Trust, as Seller; authorizing payment of the purchase price and closing costs associated with the purchase of said parcel of real property with proceeds from the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency Fund; providing an effective date. Memorandum from Brenda Thrower, CRA Development Manager, and Belix Parks, CRA Community Development Coordinator, transmitting additional information for said agenda item. (To be R/F)
Background Details
Staff respectfully request Tampa CRA Board’s approval to purchase 1712 N. Albany for the purchase price of $460,000, together with closing costs in the approximate amount of $10,000 for the future development of mixed use (residential/commercial) or neighborhood commercial use. The West Tampa CRA budget has funds to support this property acquisition in their Affordable Housing Strategic Acquisition Land Assemblage budget line item.Supporting Documents:
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8. CRA25-16599
Ybor City CRA 1 Program Change - 7th Ave. Bricking Project Memorandum from Brenda Thrower, CRA Development Manager, transmitting additional information for said agenda item. (To be R/F)
Supporting Documents:
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9. CRA25-16665
Proposed Grants and Funding Policy Update - At the March 21, 2024, meeting, the CRA Board approved the discontinuation of all existing commercial grants. Subsequently, at the June 13, 2024, meeting, the Board adopted a new Commercial Grants Policy and portfolio of grants. As with the implementation of any new process, staff began identifying several areas for improvement during the initial rollout. Staff maintained a comprehensive list of identified deficiencies throughout the implementation process and developed the proposed updates to address the unintended consequences. Memorandum from Dee Reed, Economic Development Coordinator, transmitting additional information for said agenda item. (To be R/F)
Supporting Documents:
- Summary Sheet- COVER SHEET (opens in new tab)
- GRANTFUNDINGPOLICYUPDATE(FILENO.CRA25-16665.FILENO.16665).PDF (opens in new tab)
- FUNDING REQUEST DESCRIPTIONS.PDF (opens in new tab)
- PRE-DEVELOPMENT GRANT DESCRIPTION.PDF (opens in new tab)
- GRANTS & FUNDING POLICY.PDF (opens in new tab)
- COMMERCIAL EXTERIOR GRANT DESCRIPTION.PDF (opens in new tab)
- COMMERCIAL INTERIOR GRANT DESCRIPTION.PDF (opens in new tab)
- SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANT DESCRIPTIONS.PDF (opens in new tab)
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10. CRA25-16778
Resolution of the Community Redevelopment agency of the City of Tampa, Florida, approving the execution by the Chair of the CRA to execute a joinder to a Fourth amendment to Agreement (Jackson House) between the City of Tampa and Accardi Properties, LLC; providing for the conveyance to the City of Tampa by Accardi Properties, LLC of a portion of property located adjacent to 851 E Zack Street, and the potential vacation by the City of Tampa of property located at Nebraska avenue at the corner of Nebraska Avenue and Twiggs Street, and the alley located to the west of Nebraska avenue and between Twiggs Street and Zack Street; amending the conditions of closing to provide for a payment of $1,200,000.00 by the City or the CRA in the event that the Nebraska rights of way cannot be vacated; providing an effective date.
Background Details
The Jackson House, which is located at 851 E. Zack Street (“Jackson House”) is a historic property, and is in need of repairs and maintenance in order to be preserved. Adjacent property needs to be acquired so it can be utilized for such repairs and maintenance and to provide a side yard for the Jackson House in order to protect the health and safety of the Jackson House, surrounding properties, and the public. The City has entered into an agreement with Accardi Properties, LLC to obtain 10-foot strips adjacent to the Jackson House. The closing on the 10-foot strips is contingent upon the vacation of certain rights of way, including rights of way at the intersection of Twiggs Street and Nebraska Avenue, which requires FDOT approval. Accardi Properties has agreed to extend the Outside Closing Date in order to give the City additional time to get the vacation, and also has agreed to provide an alternative in the event that the City cannot obtain FDOT approval of the Nebraska Rights of Way (subject to approval by the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency). The CRA has allocated $1.2 million for improvements to the Nebraska Ave./Twiggs St. intersection. If those improvements are not approved by FDOT or not made by August 1, 2027, this Amendment provides that the $1.2 million will be paid to Accardi Properties as additional consideration for the conveyance of the two-parcels of land adjacent to the Jackson House. The 4th Amendment was approved by City Council on July 31, 2025 as Resolution No. 2025-671.Supporting Documents:
- Summary Sheet- COVER SHEET (opens in new tab)
- 4TH AMENDMENT TO JACKSON HOUSE CRA RESO & AGMT.PDF (opens in new tab)
- CC RESO 2025-671 - 4TH AMENDMENT TO JACKSON HOUSE.PDF (opens in new tab)
- RESO 2023-979 ORG. AGMT JACKSON HOUSE.PDF (opens in new tab)
- FULLY_EXECUTED_FIRST_AMENDMENT_-_JH.PDF.PDF (opens in new tab)
- RESO 2024-255 2ND AGMT JACKSON HOUSE.PDF (opens in new tab)
- RESO 2024-646 3RD AGMT JACKSON HOUSE.PDF (opens in new tab)
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11. CRA25-16848
Resolution of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Tampa, Florida, adopting a budget for the 2026 fiscal year, beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026, for said Community Redevelopment Agency; providing funding for the separate redevelopment trust funds administered by the Community Redevelopment Agency; recommending to Tampa City Council that said 2026 fiscal year Community Redevelopment Agency budget be included in the City of Tampa 2026 fiscal year general operating budget; approving the supplementary material received relating to said 2026 fiscal year Community Redevelopment Agency budget; making findings; requiring that the 2026 fiscal year community redevelopment agency budget together with the approved supplementary material be submitted to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners within 10-days after the final adoption of the 2026 fiscal year Community Redevelopment Agency budget; authorizing adjustments for the carry-over 2025 tax increment revenues consistent with the adopted budget; providing an effective date.
Background Details
In accordance with Part III of Chapter 163, Florida Statutes (the “Community Redevelopment Act”), Tampa City Council created the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Tampa, Florida (the “Agency”), and then appointed the members of Tampa City Council as the governing body of the Agency pursuant to Tampa City Council Resolution No. 2119-H adopted by Tampa City Council on or about September 9, 1982. The Agency is required to adopt a budget in compliance with both the Community Redevelopment Act and the Special Districts Act each fiscal year by resolution and recommend to Tampa City Council that said Agency budget be included in the City of Tampa “General” or “Operating” Budget for the upcoming fiscal year to be adopted by Tampa City Council.Supporting Documents: