City Council — December 18, 2025 FINAL

Alan Clendenin

9:05:49AM Good morning, and welcome to the season finale of Tampa City Council! Merry Christmas. Happy holidays. Happy Hanukkah, everybody. I would like to call this meeting to order. Roll call, please. Let's do an invocation first. Charlie.

Charlie Miranda

9:06:07AM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is my honor this morning to present an individual that really everyone knows. He is an individual who has really dedicated his life to public service. Harry cohen is a member of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners representing district one, a position elected to in November of 2020 and reelected in 2022. Harry cohen dedicated his life to a career in public service. A lawyer by profession. He served as chief deputy clerk from 2005 to 2011 and elected member of Tampa City Council from 2011 to 2019 and general counsel to the clerk's office from 2019 to 2020. Elected presently with the different areas. He's chairman of the board of Tampa Bay Water. Very important position. He's also a member of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority at the international airport. County commissioner for the environmental protection. He is vice-chair and also serves performing arts David straz center. Past immediate chair of transportation Planning organization. Member of the Tampa Bay regional Planning council and Florida Association of Counties. Besides that, he served board member Port of Tampa Bay and Florida orchestra, Florida Aquarium, the community of Tampa Bay, and I don't know what else to tell you, but he served more than I have and maybe the total City Council together. Mr. Chairman, This morning, I would like to present Mr. Harry Cohen, a distinguished individual who serves very highly on the county commission.

Alan Clendenin

9:07:34AM Good morning. You make me sound very, very busy. I did want to start off this morning by mentioning that the Board of County Commissioners loves the City of Tampa. We hold the city in the highest possible esteem. I'm really glad to be able to come here and tell you all that as we say this prayer on the eve of a new year. Heavenly father, as we step into 2026, thank you for the gift of a new year. We ask for your wisdom to guide our decisions, your strength, to face challenges with faith and your grace to overcome obstacles. God bless our first responders and all who endeavor to make our community better. Help us trust your plan and walk in your light. Amen.

9:08:28AM Councilman Miranda, would you lead us in the pledge? [Pledge of allegiance]

9:08:44AM Welcome back to Tampa City Council Chambers, commissioner cohen. It is a pleasure seeing you here. I see somebody else in the audience. We have the president of NAACP yvette lewis in the audience. Welcome, yvette. Let's do a roll call.

Charlie Miranda

9:09:01AM Here.

Guido Maniscalco

9:09:02AM Here.

Lynn Hurtak

9:09:03AM Here.

Naya Young

9:09:04AM Here.

Luis Viera

9:09:05AM Here.

Bill Carlson

9:09:07AM Here.

Alan Clendenin

9:09:08AM Here.

The clerk

9:09:09AM We have a physical quorum.

Alan Clendenin

9:09:11AM Can I get a motion to adopt the minutes from the December 4, 2025 day session and evening session held on December 11, 2025. Motion from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Miranda. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you so much. Approval of the agenda. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

9:09:26AM I would like to remove items 2 and 3 from the agenda because that will be -- I'm sorry. Item 2 we're taking off for this quarter. Make motion to take off item 2.

Alan Clendenin

9:09:42AM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak, second from Maniscalco. All in favor? Aye.

Lynn Hurtak

9:09:48AM I move to move item 3 to February 19, 2026.

Alan Clendenin

9:09:52AM Motion to continue item 3 to February 19, 2026 from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. I would also like to make a suggestion. We have to do the Charter Review Committee -- I would like to deal with two issues immediately following public comment. One is to add after public comment the discussion and selection of City Council alternative for the Charter Review Committee. The second item would be for the chair to walk on the appointments to the crc and hiring the facilitator and attorney. Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Mr. Shelby.

Martin Shelby

9:10:36AM Mr. Chairman, I've just been handed a resolution approving an agreement for the service of Mr. Kenneth tinkler as the attorney for the crc and the agreement to next with it. I would like that if council wishes to take it up today, it would be timely to get that passed.

Lynn Hurtak

9:10:59AM That's what we just did.

Martin Shelby

9:11:00AM What you did is you appointed them. This is the actual agreement --

Alan Clendenin

9:11:06AM No. after public comment --

Martin Shelby

9:11:09AM Take the whole kit and caboodle. Understood. I'll hand this to the clerk, please.

Alan Clendenin

9:11:15AM Let's go through the agenda. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

9:11:20AM I would like to continue item 52. It is the tree conversation around refunding the $334,000 from the tree trust fund. The whole point of this was to ride with what we're getting back from FY '25 to see if we could fund it through that instead of the tree trust fund. I have talked to the Water department. They understand. And we've gotten quite a bit of comment asking us to move this.

Bill Carlson

9:11:57AM I can second that. Number 65 is about interdepartmental agreements. I talked to chief of staff. I don't think it is enough to just have the General Fund move money over to replace. I think there has to be an agreement. We'll talk about that in 65. But there needs to be an agreement in advance to set expectations, not just an open wallet to pay.

Alan Clendenin

9:12:19AM Deal with the issue on the table first. Motion to continue item 52 to --

Lynn Hurtak

9:12:25AM January 8, 2026.

Alan Clendenin

9:12:26AM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

9:12:31AM Thank you very much. This Water department is an enterprise fund. Somehow they worked an agreement with the administration to fund the project because I guess they were short of cash somewhere else. And now we're holding back the money that they need. I'm going to caution myself by saying when you start dealing with monies that are in the enterprise fund, especially when it is only one of five water departments in the country, got a aaa bond rating, you're facing a problem. I don't know what the Water department agreed to. I wasn't privy to those conversations, but I'm not going to try to embarrass anybody. They are here now. If they want to talk on their behalf, they are welcome to come up but I'm not going to ask them to come up. The tree fund, whatever they planted, rightly or wrongly, was planted. I don't know when it was planted. I have no idea what the percentage of the trees that lived on. I have no information to go on on that. I don't know exactly how it was done or what was done and how many trees were planted and how many are still living, but I need some information before I say yea or nay.

Lynn Hurtak

9:13:42AM That's kind of the point. I had set this to ride with knowing how much we have left in FY '25 so we can fund it through that if possible. That is the only reason we're continuing it so we can have the discussion at the same time.

Charlie Miranda

9:13:58AM Later on, make a motion that no enterprise fund can loan money somewhere else. That will solve that problem.

Alan Clendenin

9:14:06AM We have a motion on the floor. We have a second to continue this item. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it.

Bill Carlson

9:14:17AM What are we going to do about 41, the community has asked us to put it in a workshop or something. Do we have to wait until this comes up?

Lynn Hurtak

9:14:25AM Yes. We need to wait for the ordinance to be open. Sorry. You let me be chair last time and now I'm just like -- sorry.

Bill Carlson

9:14:35AM We have to wait until 10 to talk about that.

Martin Shelby

9:14:39AM Or when the chair calls up the item.

Alan Clendenin

9:14:42AM Let's continue through the agenda review.

Bill Carlson

9:14:45AM For the purposes of the people here for public comment, should we indicate whether we're going to continue this to a workshop At 10 so they know?

Martin Shelby

9:14:57AM My recommendation is if they want to -- if council is willing to take it up today, my concern is if you get into a policy discussion during whether or not you're going to continue it or not, that's going to take time. My suggestion is to work through the agenda and continue it when the public hearing comes up.

Alan Clendenin

9:15:18AM Thank you. I concur. Let's work through the agenda review now and we'll get to that item when we get to that item. Councilwoman Young, you had a request to pull item 18 for discussion. We have a motion from Councilwoman Young to pull item 18 and there was a second from Councilman Viera. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. You also had a request, Councilwoman Young, to continue item 35 to January 8. She wants to continue it to January 8.

Naya Young

9:16:12AM I thought it was continued to January 8.

Lynn Hurtak

9:16:16AM We have to make a motion.

Martin Shelby

9:16:18AM If I can, Martin Shelby, City Council attorney. Requests for changes to the agenda can be made by memo, either by the council member or the staff, but the actual changes only take effect at the meeting at the direction of council. It's council's agenda. Councilwoman Young, what is your pleasure with regard to item 38? 35. What is your intention.

Alan Clendenin

9:16:46AM To continue it to January 8.

Naya Young

9:16:48AM To continue it to January 8.

Martin Shelby

9:16:50AM To not take it today and continue to January 8.

Alan Clendenin

9:16:53AM We have a motion from Councilwoman Young to continue item 35 to January 8. Second from Councilman Carlson. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

9:17:02AM Yes. I actually went ahead and talked to real estate about this already. I think it would be great if they could come and tell us what's going on. Honestly, her real estate explanation made a lot of sense.

Alan Clendenin

9:17:17AM I think the issue is also the county wants to be here to talk about it. So the county wanted to have the opportunity to talk about it.

Lynn Hurtak

9:17:24AM Okay.

Martin Shelby

9:17:25AM I was going to ask whether that was a motion to reconsider and then have it pulled for discussion.

Alan Clendenin

9:17:30AM No, it wasn't.

Martin Shelby

9:17:32AM I just want to be clear.

Alan Clendenin

9:17:34AM We have a motion on the floor to continue item 35 to January 8. We have a second from Councilman Carlson. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you.

Bill Carlson

9:17:49AM Turns out 65 chief of staff requested to move it.

Guido Maniscalco

9:18:02AM [Inaudible]

Martin Shelby

9:18:06AM Are you working through the staff reports now or no?

Alan Clendenin

9:18:13AM No. we're still doing agenda review.

Martin Shelby

9:18:15AM That's what I'm saying. Are you working through the staff reports on agenda review?

Alan Clendenin

9:18:20AM We may be there but I don't know that yet. You saw the memo that I had placed about items 50 and 51. If we can move items 53 -- sorry, 55 and 56 to the first staff report, and then we will entertain after that a motion to remove the other two items. Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. 61. We have a motion from Councilwoman Hurtak -- Councilwoman Young to continue to February 19, 2026. We have a motion from Councilwoman Young. A second from Councilwoman Hurtak. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you.

Naya Young

9:19:28AM Just so the public knows, the reason for doing that is because we want to be sure -- that we have the meeting, the listening session first so everybody can attend. It's in the memo, but there were some conflicts with the date, so we want to have another date where everybody can attend and then have time for TPD and mobility to take the information from that and have in a presentation back in February so we have a full presentation.

Alan Clendenin

9:19:54AM Thank you. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

9:19:55AM Is there a date set for the public meeting?

Naya Young

9:20:00AM I don't think so. Not yet. Not yet. But I am working with them. We are working through a date so we'll have it.

Bill Carlson

9:20:07AM I want to thank you and staff for moving that ybor discussion because one ybor had a holiday party that night which many of us attended. It was unfair to them. Several neighborhoods put in a lot of work to put that together. It's good this will be a separate discussion on a separate day. Thank you.

Naya Young

9:20:25AM We want to be sure everybody can attend. That's why we changed it.

Alan Clendenin

9:20:29AM We have a request from staff to continue item 63 to January 8. Motion from Councilman Viera. Second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. 64, staff will be present. Councilman Viera, you have the two that you would like to move up.

Luis Viera

9:20:44AM For item 62, I have, unfortunately, something that is totally out of my hands at 12:00 in my private sector obligations which came sort of last minute. So that may preclude me from being here potentially for 62. Therefore, I would request, please, that after the two items on the appointments that we hear 62 -- sorry, strike that. 66. It shouldn't take more than 45 seconds, frankly.

Alan Clendenin

9:21:10AM We did have a staff report for 62.

Luis Viera

9:21:14AM I'm sorry. 66. I misspoke.

Alan Clendenin

9:21:17AM Do we need staff for 62?

Luis Viera

9:21:19AM Yes. My request is, if I'm not here for 62 when it comes up naturally in the course of events that it be continued to the next meeting at the top of the agenda.

Alan Clendenin

9:21:34AM Thank you. 66, trying to get -- third after --

Luis Viera

9:21:39AM Yes, sir.

Alan Clendenin

9:21:41AM That would be the third staff report. 66 will come today --

Lynn Hurtak

9:21:47AM What date did you want 62?

Luis Viera

9:21:50AM If I'm not here. Next meeting, which would be January 8.

Lynn Hurtak

9:21:54AM We're completely full.

Luis Viera

9:21:58AM It will take ten minutes. It will be a waiver of the rules just because we had it continued twice. Thank you very much.

Alan Clendenin

9:22:05AM A motion to move item 66 to the third staff report. We have a motion from Councilman Viera, a second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye.

Lynn Hurtak

9:22:17AM I'm confused. You said third staff report.

Alan Clendenin

9:22:21AM This one I was going to do after the third staff report. Move it all the way up?

Luis Viera

9:22:28AM As third, in other words -- yes, sir, again, 45 seconds. I don't think we need a staff report for that.

Alan Clendenin

9:22:35AM We have a motion to move item 66 after the Charter Review Commission discussions. Motion from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. This is the second week in a ROW that we've had crazy agenda reviews. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

9:22:56AM I just think it's because we have a very involved council and very involved public.

Alan Clendenin

9:23:11AM We need a motion to continue item 65 to January 22, 2026 per staff request. Can I get a motion? Motion from Councilman Miranda. Second from Councilman Viera. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. Let's go through staff reports and see what we need.

Lynn Hurtak

9:23:34AM Still have 67 and 68 also asking to be -- that's Viera's motion. 67.

Alan Clendenin

9:23:44AM Councilman Viera. 67 and 68, we have a request to continue -- request to continue 67 to January 8, 2026.

Luis Viera

9:23:54AM No objection to that.

Alan Clendenin

9:23:56AM Request to continue item 68 to March 5, 2026.

Luis Viera

9:24:01AM So move 67.

The clerk

9:24:06AM [Inaudible]

Luis Viera

9:24:08AM Motion to remove in favor of the --

Alan Clendenin

9:24:11AM Motion to remove 67 from Councilman Viera. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. 68, request to continue to March 5, 2026. Motion from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Viera. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Aye have it. Thank you. Let's talk about what we need staff for. There is no administrative update. John Bennett is not here today. He has a conflict. 49 yes. We're going to end up hopefully removing 50 and 51. Continue 52. 53 and 54, yes. Yes on 53. No staff on 54. 55 and 56 staff will be here for those. 57 no. 58 no. 59? 60? Yes on 62.

Guido Maniscalco

9:25:34AM [Inaudible]

Alan Clendenin

9:25:36AM We did, yes. 64.

Guido Maniscalco

9:25:46AM [Inaudible]

Alan Clendenin

9:25:47AM Yeah.

Martin Shelby

9:25:48AM Draft ordinance.

Alan Clendenin

9:25:49AM It is a draft ordinance. Everybody have an opportunity to read the draft ordinance? So no staff on that.

Martin Shelby

9:25:54AM If it's no staff, then what is your direction.

Lynn Hurtak

9:25:57AM Actually, we have to talk about it.

Alan Clendenin

9:25:59AM So, yes.

Guido Maniscalco

9:26:02AM [Inaudible]

Alan Clendenin

9:26:05AM No staff. Okay.

Martin Shelby

9:26:09AM Mr. Chairman, Martin Shelby, City Council attorney, a reminder, please, I'll ask the clerk to assist, if we can. Getting into the habit of when we have these very big ticket items placed under staff reports -- she's wonderful -- numbers 54, 57, 58, 59, 60 to move them after the consent docket. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Alan Clendenin

9:26:39AM We have a motion from Councilman Maniscalco to approve the very altered agenda and the addendum. We have a second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you.

Bill Carlson

9:26:49AM Did we move 65? I want to double check. We did. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

9:26:56AM Councilwoman Hurtak, would you like to do the motion -- we are now moving to commendations and presentations. We have Tampa Bay Water here. Good morning, sir. Sorry you have to endure all that.

9:27:25AM Neither did I.

9:27:32AM It's there. I would like to introduce myself. I'm Chuck Carden, general manager at Tampa Bay Water. I have been with the agency since 1993, and I have been the general manager going on five years. So the last five years. I want to thank you for having me here today to provide you an update on Tampa Bay Water, thanking council member Charlie Miranda. He serves on our board on behalf of the city. And also it was a nice surprise to see commissioner cohen today. He is actually our chair of Tampa Bay Water. I'm assuming he's here for something else, but maybe he's checking on me to make sure I get it right. Tampa Bay Water was formed in 1998 by the member governments that we serve. So it is the three counties and three cities in the region, Hillsborough, pasco, and pinellas counties and the city of st. pete, City of Tampa and city of new port richey. Our mission is very simple. We are going to reliably provide clean, safe water to the Tampa Bay region now and also for future generations. The year that beer currently in, the water year, we are supplying our members, six members an average of about 209 million gallons a day. The City of Tampa purchases water from Tampa Bay Water on an as-needed basis. So it varies year to year, but we usually budget around 4 million gallons a day for the city. Our distribution system is shown in this graphic, and it includes 13 well fields. We have a reservoir, 15.5 billion. Very large reservoir. We also have a desalination plant and two surface water intakes as well as a surface water treatment plant. Very similar to your plant, tippin plant. We maintain the network and supply water to the six member governments at a cost of $2.64 per thousand gallons, which just a little more than a quarter of a penny per gallon. Our system is very complex. Every day we deliver a blend of treated water. We are the only water supply system in the country that blends seawater, river water, and groundwater. These sources all vary in cost so the blending keeps that wholesale rate very affordable at the 2.64 per thousand. The pie chart that you see here is what we expect to average by each of the sources. Prior to 1998 when we were west coast regional water supply authority, we were hundred percent groundwater and it is about 60% groundwater now and 40% alternative supplies. Over the years at Tampa Bay Water, we have gone through cycles of growth and cycles of maintenance. As you can guess, we're currently in a growth cycle. And the chart really tells the story, if you are comparing the year 2025, actual demands that we delivered to the projections that go out 20 years, you can see Hillsborough county and pasco, you can see the comparisons. A lot of growth that we're expecting as well as the City of Tampa there on the very end. We do have enough water to meet the region's needs over the next few years, but we're working hard at expanding our system to meet the demands in the year 2028, the years 2033 and beyond is when we think we'll be needing new supplies. Right now, majority of our active capital improvement budget will be spent on expanding our surface water treatment plant, and we're also starting a new well field called the south Hillsborough well field and also we're going to be expanding our distribution system with the south Hillsborough pipeline. The surface water treatment plant design capacity is going to be expanded to 145 million gallons a day. Once the expansion is complete, we are going to be able to yield another 10 to 12 million gallons a day from the plant. The plant is the workhorse of our system. It's located not far from the tippin plant but right down the road from the fairgrounds. We have finished all the design work and the permitting, and they are just starting the construction. Projects to be completed by the year 2028. Just recently, actually, at the November board, the board approved a new project called the south Hillsborough well field. This project is located in the balm area. Using credits from Hillsborough county. We're still trying to get to an agreement with them as they are treating and putting highly treated reclaimed water into Wells on the coast, it is providing a credit for us to take fresh groundwater inland. So the deal we're working with them now is if they put the 10 MGD of reclaimed water down, we can pull 6 million gallons of freshwater. We also acquired permits from other permit holders in the area, and we're trying to get another six, making that plan to be a 12 million gallon today well field when all said and done. The well field will be in phases. We are scheduling the design to start in early next spring of next year. We're also just started construction of new south Hillsborough pipeline. You might have heard it. We're taking 26 miles of 60-inch pipe from our surface water treatment plant in Brandon and go all the way down to south of the reservoir. It will also connect the two Hillsborough county water treatment plants together and the pipeline is being funded by not only Tampa Bay Water, but the district S.W.F.W.M.D. And also Hillsborough county. The pipeline is scheduled to be in service by the year 2028. We also continue to look at projects for the implementation in the years 2033 and beyond. We are conducting feasibility studies for the project shown on the map. The plan is to finish the studies and then have a recommendation to our board in the year 2027. And as you can see, we're exploring both surface and groundwater supplies all across the region. Regardless of the source of your drinking water, all the water provided by Tampa Bay Water meets or surpasses all the local, state and federal standards. As those standards change, we have to take proactive steps to ensure we always meet those regulations. The last time, last year I presented to you, we were studying the pfos chemicals, also known as the forever chemicals. They make their way into our raw water supplies. The EPA issued new pfos regulations to take effect by the year 2031. The new limits have been challenged in court by others. So we are watching very closely, but we're proceeding as though the new regulations will not change. We continue to sample the system along with the members. We do meet the standards with the exception of three connection points in Hillsborough county that are slightly above the new regulations. You can see them in the orange stars on the map. We do have a plan to address these locations. Based on our water quality study that we started a couple of years ago, that study was started looking at removal of total organic carbon. Now we married the pfos recommendations into that study and that will be going in front of our board next year, early in the year next year. We are looking at -- surface water is the big star there. Similar to your plant here in Tampa. The city is working on a solution called, suspended ionic exchange as you might have heard at the chambers. We're looking at piloting that at the plant as well. That is the end of my slides. I would like to thank you. At this time, happy to take any questions you have.

9:36:13AM Council have any questions?

Lynn Hurtak

9:36:17AM I want to say thank you so much for the presentation. Our Water department, we are incredibly proud of what they do, but it's nice that we have a great partner who can help out when necessary. We really appreciate this update.

Charlie Miranda

9:36:29AM I want to thank you and your staff for the work you do. This is not easy. It looks easy on paper. But when you have pipelines through people's property and buy the property and do negotiated deal and looking now at new water sources by buying permits that already exist, easy way. Thank you and staff for doing that. As we keep growing, we have to keep building. We cannot stay still. If not, you will run out of water, just like the rest of us. Thank you very much you and your staff. Thank you for the job you do.

Bill Carlson

9:37:02AM I just want to personally thank you, chuck, for your leadership on water and the regional water issues. You said 1993, and you are one of the architects of the master water plan and Tampa Bay Water behind the scenes, and now you have been a leader in bringing the City of Tampa and Tampa Bay Water together. Tampa Bay Water is arguably one of the best regional cooperatives in the world. It's been lauded in water conferences all over the world. In the Tampa Bay region, it is the primary only example of true regional cooperation in our region. The transportation and other initiatives for regional cooperation have been attempted but have not worked and have not gone together. That's because of a lot of really SMART people like you, jerry maxwell, ed turanchik, Steve seibert, many, many others who helped put that together 30 years ago. I want to thank them but thank you personally. Also, not that many years ago, the City of Tampa was practically at war with Tampa Bay Water and was trying to pull out and even as far as change legislation at the state to pull out. You and I think chief of staff and rory and others have worked to bring cooperation back. I think it's really important that we maintain this cooperative effort that has worked and supplied water. It's important to continue that. So thank you.

Alan Clendenin

9:38:37AM Thank you. [Microphone not on] -- appreciate his input and his voice on City Council. Very appreciative. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. Shelby. You are on.

Martin Shelby

9:39:01AM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, City Council, members of the public. Martin Shelby, City Council attorney, here to speak with you briefly about the rules of decorum for public comment in today's meeting. Members of the public are allowed a reasonable opportunity at the beginning of today's council meeting to address any item on the agenda before City Council takes official action on an item. Per council's rules, preference is given to those who are here to speak on agenda items first. People to speak on agenda items get preference at the start of public comment. Speakers and members of the public are also reminded that you are to refrain, please, from disruptive behavior, including making vulgar or threatening remarks or making or causing disruptive noises or sounds or displaying signs or graphics. The Chair Will rule out of order any person who speaks without being recognized or attempts to address the council from outside the speaker area at the podium. Now, if you wish to speak to general public comment, please fill out a speaker card and place it in the box outside the chambers. One card per speaker. Cards are accepted until the start of general public comment. Each person submitting a card will be recognized by name by the chair to approach and speak. A three-minute time limit applies. Please print legibly. Names that cannot be read will not be called. If you are here to speak at a public hearing, they are designated as public hearings on the agenda. The time to speak to those will be heard later on in the agenda when each item is called up. Please do not speak during general public comment on items that are set for public hearing.

Alan Clendenin

9:40:56AM Please silence your telephones, please.

Martin Shelby

9:40:59AM I thought that one was done. And for you to be able to follow along on the agenda, items numbers 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 are public hearings. The time to speak to those are when the items are called and actually, frankly, I'm going to recommend to the chair that if somebody is here to speak at a public comment, general public comment that begins talking about an item set for a public hearing, that they be asked to talk later. Otherwise, be ruled out of order, please. Now, the persons failing to comply with the council's rules may be ruled out of order by the chair. And at the discretion of the chair, may be removed from the chamber for the remainder of today's meeting. Finally, council members should refrain from engaging a speaker under public comment and the public should be aware that City Council does not take questions or have a dialogue during general public comment. This is your opportunity to express your position to the Tampa City Council. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Alan Clendenin

9:42:11AM Thank you, Mr. Shelby. Here we go. Elizabeth Thomas followed by katherine michaels. Elizabeth Thomas. I live South of Gandy. I'm here to ask for focused attention on gadsden park located on Macdill Avenue just outside MacDill Air Force Base. Gadsden park is a large, beautiful piece of land with tremendous potential. Unfortunately has been neglected for years. I'm not here with a single complaint but to share why this park matters and why small one-off repairs are no longer enough. First, I'll start with the little league area. This part of the park is heavily used year-round by Interbay little league, including fall and spring seasons, winter classic that just finished up and challenger league for children with disabilities. Despite that use, flooding after even minor rainfall cancels games and practices, takes a long time for it to dry up. Actually, the ducks end up moving in. There are no continuous sidewalks connecting parking fields or bathrooms and uneven grounds creates real safety issues for elderly family members and even players. Several years ago, a port-a-potty was installed as a temporary ADA bathroom solution. A month is temporary. A year is not. Importantly, an ADA audit was completed and provided to the city a few years ago. Secondly, the main park area and pavilion, on the park map, the area labeled as having a playground. I assure you there is no playground there. Instead, a few outdated pavilions and large dirt field essentially unusable. Last year, this area was used to store city hurricane debris that piled nearly ten feet high. Many in the community believe that once this was cleared, the park would be made whole again and even better but that never happened. Today, it remains dirt, often used for truck parking and wasted as greenspace it once was. This could be a gathering space, soccer field, playground or all of the above but it is none of those things today. Across the rest of the park, fencing, especially around the dog park, is damaged. The small playground that does exist near the dog park desperately needs upgrades. Safe walking paths, especially ADA accessible routes connecting park areas are missing. This is what long-term neglect looks like. I understand there are discussions about funding some immediate repairs and I truly hope that those move forward. But what the community does not want is one-time investment followed by another decade or two of inaction. This park should be a destination. It could be a community anchor, but right now it's not because of neglect, not lack of opportunity. So my ask is to address the known safety and ADA issues now and commit to a plan going forward so that gadsden park isn't forgotten again. The land is there. What's needed now is follow-through. Thank you for your time.

9:45:06AM Thank you. I went through the forms and I've got -- katherine Richards, president yvette lewis, connie burton and Emily hinsdale. Requires you are requesting to speak on item 41 which will not be called until the item will be heard, which is part of the 10:00 hearings. Unless there is something else on the agenda that you wish to speak early, if you would like to raise your hand, I will call you. This is just for the four people I called. Connie. Okay. Connie burton, come on up. And then followed by Tarah Bluma. Connie burton. I would just like to say, first of all, the rules is constantly changing based on how the agenda is set and based on the people that's in the audience. Because two weeks ago when you wanted to talk about stormwater, before we even talked about public comment, you rushed that first to the agenda because there were too many people from certain neighborhoods. We got to stop that. Item number 18, I know it was pulled, but I did want to touch on the fact that fair oaks was a 40 some plus million dollar park. When we look at who and how did the community benefit, we see the beautiful -- fair oaks, in terms of the construction, the cost associated with building that park, it would have been such a good idea, more than an idea, that if our community could help economically benefit it as well. So when you're doing item number 18 and who is going to do that wonderful artwork, I hope it reflects that people in our community have the ability to participate in that resource as well. Item number 66, I want to appreciate the way in which the councilman has really dug into bringing humanity and consciousness and a source of human respect. People shouldn't be just talked against, looked down on. So now the call is saying for this council, This city, and the citizens to repudiate such harsh words. I also want to remind but resolution that this black community, this african community tried to move and with the stroke of the pen, the thought of coming down something from the administration, it was all dismissed. The issues of african people has not been resolved, irregardless of what that president says and the way that this council and this city cower to pressure, that we still have ongoing underlying issues as it deals with lack of economic opportunities, children, young people being excluded from opportunity, Returning Citizens. On and on and on. You cannot just make this city great with beautiful structure. We have to have a way in which inclusion of all people are allowed to participate. And it is not reflected in this agenda week after week. We need you all to be creative, that if you are afraid of some form of retaliation coming from the administration, that you find a way in saying that if you are giving out $24 million projects, then how do the least of this community is able to benefit economically. Thank you.

9:48:58AM Thank you, Ms. Burton. Tarah Bluma followed by Stephanie poynor. Good morning. I'm Tarah Bluma. I'm also here to speak about parks there South Tampa. I appreciate that many of you over the last several weeks and months have given some additional attention to our parks. I know some of you have been in the area looking around. I'm sure as you've seen, they are in disrepair. While most other areas of this city have benefited from CRA funding to build and improve parks, ours, obviously has not and they have deteriorated. This is frustrating as we have simultaneously been burdened with the brunt of new development. I am very, very happy that many of you would like to direct some of the excess funding from this year to parks in Non-Cra areas. I echo elizabeth that gadsden park is a prime location for significant park investment. There's tons of room there, and it is very busy with sports teams, but has almost nothing in terms of playground equipment. To say that it's underutilized is an understatement. It's very close to macdill in a neighborhood with lots of military families and South of Gandy, we've had explosive growth. Our traffic has tripled. We've dealt with the brunt of the growing pains down there without receiving a lot of benefit from the city in return. People that are paying a lot of money in taxes would like a nice park to take their kids. To add insult to injury, gadsden was piled a mile high with hurricane debris for six plus months. This was not a nice park before, but contractors did not even put the park back to the way that they found it. It was used like a dump and still looks like it. Apparently, a requirement to restore the park after it was used was missing from that contract. So we should make sure that that never happens again. Before you, you have a request for 700,000 to help with the ADA bathrooms at that park. And that is an excellent beginning as we have a special needs team that uses that park as its home field. So I'm shocked this hasn't been done prior to this. I fully support this. However, we would like to see so much more. There is no way for people in wheelchairs or walkers to even get to the fields, which is a travesty. Gadsden is the perfect location to make a first-class, all abilities park. Finally, in the memo from Mr. Fowler, he stated there is an RFQ out for CRA areas and citywide to improve accessibility. The motion was for Non-Cra areas. So let's keep this conversation focused on that. Improved accessibility can also be interpreted as sidewalks and bathrooms, but the motion was about playgrounds, so let's follow up about that. He stated it's standard practice to include inclusive play equipment at all parks.

Guido Maniscalco

9:52:16AM With item 41, because we have people here, I know that we talk about the Charter Review Commission quickly and then another item, is there any way to move item 41 --

Alan Clendenin

9:52:27AM It is a noticed proximate cause.

Guido Maniscalco

9:52:30AM It's 9:53.

Lynn Hurtak

9:52:35AM Before consent, I'll second that.

Alan Clendenin

9:52:37AM I'll call it out of order. After we get done with public comment, I'll entertain the motion. Stephanie poynor, followed by edward briggs. Stephanie poynor. I have handed you each a copy of this. It's long and drawn out, but the very back page says that a gentleman at a contracting company counts how many sidewalk panels need to be replaced on Bayshore, between bay to bay and platt. 147. At no point during all the e-mail changes, anybody from staff said, yeah, I went out and counted. That's right. When did we allow contractors to define a contract? Define the scope of work? I don't know about you, but last I heard that wasn't the case around here. Back on the very front page, it says with other staff members, I want you guys to see this, because this is a million dollar contract and yet broke down in four pieces so it doesn't have to come in front of council. My first question is, folks, I heard in the past that there is a TIF or something like that, that pays for a lot of the maintenance on Bayshore. My big problem is, we spent a million dollars without bringing it in front of council on sidewalks, and last I heard it was $229 a foot for us to replace sidewalks in the city. And is that the only -- was that the highest and best use of our city dollars? Why would the contractor be defining the scope of work? I don't see it in here. Mr. Adair, when he pulled public records. So you guys can figure it out. Riddle me this, why is this going on? I don't know. Doesn't make any sense to me. It is confirmed there was an additional e-mail from Revenue and Finance that did confirm that they were going to do four contracts. But I couldn't find it this morning. Number 68, yes, it's been continued, but we need the documents now. The fee studies are really, really important. This mobility fee study that everybody says is a big surprise that I've had since 2023 because somebody told me about it, and I pulled public records on it, and here we are two years later just getting down the road on it. You guys didn't see it forever until I sent it to you. But then we paid another hundred thousand dollars. Instead of paying $100,000 for a fee study for mobility, we ended up paying two. Ask for the documents. There's no reason the citizens of Tampa have paid for that fee study. So it needs to be published. I don't need anybody to read it for me. I'm a big girl. If I have questions, then we'll worry about questions later. Mobility fees. I don't know why anybody vote against them. Why, what policy is it that you get 12 weeks paid vacation before you get fired in the City of Tampa for doing something illegal? Where is the policy? I agree with the ladies about gadsden park. Also, ask where the $2 million that THEA gave to the City of Tampa in 2021 to upgrade aj palonis park which they have done nothing on. Where does all this money go? Oh, wait, it went to the riverwalk, I think. Maybe. Who knows.

9:56:10AM Thank you, Ms. Poynor. Mr. Briggs Followed by victor dimaio. I can wait.

9:56:23AM Victor dimaio followed by Jason reekmans. My name is victor dimaio, 1205 North Franklin Street. I'm here to talk about the South Howard stormwater project. I'm here representing bern's steak house and epicurean hotel on South Howard, concerning the flood relief projects and all the detrimental effects it will have on the businesses. I've enclosed -- I've given you all a packet with a letter that was sent that I'm giving to you now. I will follow up with an e-mail. It was sent to the city attorney's office this morning concerning a couple of things that we've done in the last couple of days. One is retain an attorney, local attorney named ed de la parte. He is one of the leading stormwater and water experts, not in the state, State of Florida, the country. Over 48 years of experience in stormwater issues. One of the things that we learned through him is that the city has been saying they don't need to do an economic impact statement. According to Mr. De la parte, they do. As a result of that, we started our own economic impact statement. It's about 90 pages long. We just started it. We identified about $35 million of economic losses that's going to be suffered by the people in South Howard if the project goes forward. As a little note, Mr. De la parte has been very successful in the city of west palm beach in holding up a project for the last ten years. And the reason he's done it is because -- and this is what's going on now with South Howard -- they have not yet applied for the permits. There are several state and federal agencies that have to be -- that the city has to apply for permits to do this forward. Again, the economic impact statement is one of the things that they require. So what we were going to do -- forced to do it, as intervenors applying to the agencies as the city applies for the permits to oppose the permit being issued. Until we can reach an agreement. I just want to let you all know this is all taking place and to give you all a heads up about it. We also contracted with a gentleman with about 30 some years of experience in stormwater. He's been here before with us. Mr. David Deloach from Orlando. He is the one working on the economic impact study. He also identified several alternative issues, projects that can be done on South Howard. All of them which do not have to entail tearing up Howard Avenue for the next three or four years, but will be able to incorporate the stormwater issues that are being faced there now in South Tampa. I'm available for questions later on if you wish to speak. I appreciate the time you have given me today. Thank you.

9:59:56AM Thank you, Mr. Dimaio. Jason reekmans followed by Pamela cannella. I live in district 5. Following up on affordable housing. So this is a presentation that was done a while ago. Says adopt the missing middle. This is a duplex on 4th avenue. Not in the corridor. I think that we can build stuff like this in East Tampa. Another page from the presentation, it says allow for duplexes, triplexes, four plexes in the missing middle overlay, eliminate minimum lot sizes and square foot requirements, reduce and eliminate parking requirements. So we can resolve a lot of this affordable housing stuff. For instance, these are two one 500-square-foot house. One 750-square-foot house in ybor. If we were allowed to go to zoning and request for a 3,000-square-foot lot, we can build two-story properties where your first responders, even people that work for the city, can actually live in the city. If we could build quadruplexes. Two quads, side by side in a residential neighborhood. It's not in a corridor. A lot of people in East Tampa, they own land. They can do this if zoning would allow it. Fha would allow them to qualify for one unit and be able to build four units and provide housing for people that need housing in the neighborhood. This is a duplex in Tampa Heights. If I were allowed to build stuff like this, a person, all they have to do with fha is qualify for one side and be able to rent out the other units, somebody in the community that needs a place to live. Another quad. Tampa Heights, same thing. I just want the council to assist me. If you guys get behind me, we can accomplish this. That's really it. Thank you for your time.

10:02:34AM Thank you very much. Pam, followed by ashley morrow. Good morning. My name is pam cannella. I recently asked a city stormwater engineer, why did you approve this application? This property is located in our coastal high hazard flood area. He said, I don't know what that is. My job is based only on conceptual. I'm only given information that I know that I need to know. Need to know. Conceptual. It's based on abstract ideas versus concrete facts. Decisions on major improvement projects such as the Howard project, needs to be based on more than conceptual. For any project to be successful, they need to be based on facts, research, and firsthand knowledge such as residents can give. Because they are concerned and invested in their neighborhood. We know when there is asphalt in the drains or debris and trash. We know when pumps are not working. We know about cave-ins. Newly paved roads. New development. We know which way stormwater flows along the streets. These are the inconsistencies that alter stormwater runoff flow and affect stormwater drainage. I do know the solution to Palma Ceia Pines flooding has to be within the Palma Ceia Pines area, not Howard. Starting with cleaning or replacing pipes with asphalt, clean the two ponds and address the hospital pump system. The flooding relief projects needs to begin with Palma Ceia Pines. These residents need relief from flooding. Their fears are real. That area has had flooding problems for decades. In 1988, the cleveland street basin drainage study addressed Palma Ceia Pines flooding. The preferred solution according to the cleveland study was a stormwater retention pond to be used for management of stormwater quality and quantity. Important for quality because of a hospital and the control of pollutants. Permit report due in February, this might be a good time to address this issue. City of Tampa's vulnerability assessment 2025 addresses Palma Ceia Pines. Vulnerability to heavy rainfall and heavily reliant on pumps, but it has no backup pump, the one over there in the hospital. The pump, who knows if it is working. This area is vulnerable to flooding and needs a pump for drainage.

10:05:44AM Thank you, pam. Merry Christmas.

10:05:49AM Merry Christmas to you as well. Ashley morrow followed by mentesnot. Good morning, ashley. My name is ashley morrow. I will be sharing Tampa's black history. Last week we were talking about the second infantry regiment that was here down in Tampa. Shout-out to the veterans in the room. There were over 140 black union soldiers during the emancipation of Tampa. If you would like to see that list, there is a qr code. The freedman's bureau office was here. It was formed to help the enslaved individuals as well as white refugees. Established on March 3, 1865 and provided essential services like education, legal aid and economic support. We'll talk about the schools, land and also the location of the office. The office was located -- come on now -- it was located on Washington Street and monroe, which is Florida Avenue at the southeast corner, don't quote me. And it was a two-story building. They were in the front room that was 16 by 24 feet or 24 by 16 feet and had a fireplace. The school that was established was established in the summer of 1868 and it had a tuition of $25 and it was owned by a white man named Mr. Abe grant. I don't know who this man is. The instructor was James Robert. It was the first established in brooksville and got moved to Tampa. Tampa had the military fort so there was more protection here than in brooksville. It was initially called -- like this African American negro school but eventually renamed to african union. That was the name of the freedmen's bureau school. Then harlem academy 1871. This was a private school. Harlem academy was the first public school, African American public school. Land. So in order to get land, you had to occupy it for five years, cultivate it and couldn't bear arms against the U.S. in order to acquire land. That's how a lot of black people acquired land with the homestead act. Locating agent was a white man named William apthorp. You'll see a Charles -- cyrus Charles and Thomas Jackson, both black men that owned a significant amount of land. I'll show a map in a little bit. Here is a map. You know fortune Taylor. Cyrus Charles also owned land and Thomas Jackson also owned land near downtown. Other black landowners. See homestead records, this is the qr code for that. Here is a map on top of a City of Tampa map. The straz is here. Hotel is right here. This is the original village of City of Tampa. Also Thomas Jackson that owned this land. This is where the scrub is or was today. This was a white man named sam mitchell. But black people started owning this area in mount sinai, ame zion church located at the corner I believe in this area initially, the first location. Here is a lighter map so you guys can see on top of this map where things were located.

10:09:09AM Thank you, ashley. Love it. Mentesnot followed by John green. Good morning.

10:09:18AM Merry Christmas. We as african people should always be thinking about freedom. When I look in the mirror and see my black face and black skin, I see ignorant negro. I tell my kids, say you so ignorant, so dumb, you'll never be nothing. I inspire them to be nothing because the black skin make you ignorant. If we think of ourselves like that, what do you think other people think of us like. What do you think in this city, listen to this, in this city, mayor poe, mayor greco, Mayor Martinez, mayor greco, mayor freedman, mayor freedman, mayor iorio, mayor buckhorn, mayor buckhorn. The new Mayor, Castor and castor and the whole time, not one of them has ever endorsed an african person to run for mayor. Because they think we're that dumb. The white folks had their chances. The spanish people, other minorities had their chances. But they have never raised an african up other than otis Anthony and that went nowhere. And right now, we got buckhorn trying to get another turn and nobody is saying let's put a black person out there to govern the city and show that we are progressive. St. pete have a black mayor. Plant City have a black mayor. Sarasota had a black mayor, decades ago. Tampa nothing. Absolutely, positively nothing. It's 2026. That's not the only problem. For 50 years I've been complaining about flooding in South Tampa, flooding Henderson Boulevard, flooding on dale mabry and Henderson. Flooding on Bayshore Boulevard. You can't even get into your yard 50% of the time when it rains. Bayshore Boulevard is a mess. Nothing is being done about it. Housing in East Tampa. Nothing is being done about it. It's a do-nothing City Council. Plain and simple. They talk, talk, talk. They got a dictatorial process that comes from the mayor's office and whatever direction the mayor want to go, the cowards right here, cowards, straight cowards, nothing more, nothing less. You have a big bully coward sitting in the center. Cowards. Nothing is being done. Anything we talk, about reparations, we're 26 percent of the population. We get nothing from this city. East Tampa gives nothing. West Tampa gives nothing. Build a bunch of high-rises. Looks like a damn prison. And that's what they want african people to accept.

10:12:21AM Thank you. Merry Christmas. John green followed by surgret doss. The NAACP is a national organization that collects millions of dollars but yet they come to ask you for a hundred thousand dollars. The Tampa NAACP branch who this city contracts with agreed to fund for specific training, workshops, collaboration to help the people become productive in the community in which they live but usually never gets implemented because the lack of communication, organizational skills, and improper documentation based on my opinion. However, there are representatives that come from the NAACP organization, comes to this City Council with the grievances telling you what to do, but yet you never hold them accountable to come to this podium so that they can give an account for what they are doing with your money, the taxpayers' money, to explain to the public which they have zero credibility in this black community anymore, right? Some people. This is unacceptable. The tax people would like to know what they are doing with their money. I'm asking that you call them to this podium to give a full presentation of what they are doing with their workshops, who they are contracting, payrolls and the full audit. You have the paper here. The president has signed the agreement, and they are to hold it for six years and you have the authorization to call them to do this at any time up to six years. Hold them accountable. It's about accountability. It's not about degrading or being condescending. We just want them to be accountable to the people who they are requesting a hundred thousand dollars from and which they get millions from their national organization. That's all we are asking for. And just like they can come down here with their grievances and tell you all what to do, you all need to hold them accountable or else take this hundred thousand dollars and find other organizations who can come down here, give a pitch, and make it equal opportunity for every other organization, just like you all do with the Police Department, other departments from this organization and go on. That's what you hear, bullies back there.

10:15:17AM Anybody in the audience, there's no peanut gallery. We can't respond like that. Respect for everybody, please. Mr. Doss Followed by Robin Lockett. I'm surgret doss. There are people who ask me why I come down here and call you all kinds of names. I tell them, I say to your all faces what I know you said about me in the 7,000 e-mails I still haven't been able to get. You all know that I'm not afraid of you all. I want to make sure I make that clear. I apply the same kind of logic that that pos Gregory holder when he was a sitting judge over there applied when he called Michael victor to allege that I committed a crime that we know I didn't commit. Called City of Tampa henchman by the name of Michael victor. I look at bigots and hypocrites the same. Ain't no curve in my vertebrae, shout-out to my son. I like to tell the devil what I think about him. Malcolm X, he said sometimes they get black folks to kill other blacks folks just so they can say a black person did it. So contrary to the rumors that may be circulating on the internet, all you know I won several cases over there self-represented. You all can google me. For the people who want to know where money went, I know where a lot of money went because fortunately for me I didn't have to suffer the same outcome of Mr. Hops or dubose who gave a combined 60 years of their life in prison because the City of Tampa endorsed bad police reports with no evidence to support their convictions. I know you all gave them 7.5 million, Mr. Hops. Probably not enough. You gave Mr. Dubose 14 million. Damn sure not enough because that man had to be commuted from death ROW because you all said he bit a woman but it was actually the bite mark of a dog. Now, surgret doss, me, I was fortunate enough to have to suffer going to prison for the five years that Greg holder, Michael victor, mark kaiser who recused himself, mike wolf, ficarrotta who knew what was going on. Christopher nash, who somehow is my judge now on a case, which he know he should be recusing himself because he was disqualified then. Took the supreme court chief judge to send in a visiting judge from pinellas county I believe it was to do something in a little bit more than an hour that for seven months they were trying to put me in prison for five years because I knew you all were stealing houses to include four of my houses. I'll calibrate and not call you all what I want to call you all. I'll say this, black folks are afraid to come down here. When you come down here, you step up and stand up for black folks or the marginalized, I'll help anybody, they retaliate against you. They cast false aspersions. That being said, you all know I can't stand you. But shout-out to the greatest institution of higher learning in the City of Tampa, the university of Thomas Jefferson high school.

10:18:36AM Thank you. Robin Lockett, followed by Dr. Lauren huff. Dr. Lauren huff followed by daryl hych. Good morning.

10:18:58AM Good morning, doctor. City of Tampa resident for about three years. I've been coming here for several months, and I heard people make comments about Tampa is a racist city. I'm from atlanta, and I don't know any city in the south that is not racist. Black people in Tampa make up about 20% of the population compared to where I am from, about almost half of the population. I do see the difference. I'm not here to talk about racism. I'm here to talk about classism. I don't think the City of Tampa is racist, but I do think you all don't like poor people. I live off dale mabry and cypress. I see the homeless people there and they are laid out on the grass. When I walk by, I don't know if they need medical care. Other people walk by like it's common. It makes me sad to see that. I go to the dunkin' donuts off west cypress and dale mabry. There are homeless people there asking me to feed them. I do give them my breakfast. I go back in line and get something else. I do have the heart for the homeless. Back in October, I went to a community meeting. It was in the borrell park. And there was a city employee talking about how can he improve the park. One of the city employees said we can bring food trucks. But my concern is what about the homeless? I understand this park is right off Nebraska, and there are homeless people that are there. I think that we really need to address dealing with the homeless before we talk about bringing food trucks or bringing a playground -- or building a playground. I'm here today asking because I really would like to learn more about what the city is going to do to help the homeless population. Thank you.

10:20:57AM Janelle -- I was going to ask the same thing. Before you leave, Janelle, she's going to talk to you about it. Darryl. Good morning. Good morning, everyone. Daryl hych. If I can have the little thing up there. All right. I did this exercise several years ago at a college, and it was asked of all the students to write the word trust on the piece of paper. So we wrote the word trust on the piece of paper. As you can see, you all have one. It's up there. When we wrote the word trust on the piece of paper, it was then asked of us all to ball it up. And when we balled it up, the question was then asked to unravel it. So we unraveled it. What we learned was that once you destroy someone's trust, you can't get it back to its original state. Currently, that's what we feel in the black community. We don't trust what you say from your daises. For several months, colleagues and I sat in a room in an office over in Tampa and we developed this document. Many pages, the last page said May 13, 2025. And we have asked a question after this meeting was, where do we go from here? I had a conversation with one of the City Council members, one of the attorneys, and an aide. And I said, hey, listen, you either don't want to improve upon this situation with resolution 568 or you are taking it personal in some category because I offered a solution. I did research again today, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm bass-ackwards with this. I asked chatgpt, hey, chatgpt, perplexity, much better. I said, perplexity, does resolution of 568 and state statute 163, chapter 3 of the CRA, are they synonymous. And it said, hell yeah. Both of them meet slum and blight. You have to be taking it personal to say, okay, the federal government said we can't do this. But the same federal government says the CRA. So which rule do you want to -- you don't want to stand by. It has to be personal in some regards. I watched the guy last night on facebook, and he said america and white people are synonymous. So you're not an american if you're not white. So I stand before you to tell you, try to figure out how to get this back. It will never get back in the original text because you had us standing here for a year and six months and we got nothing. Thank you.

10:24:26AM Thank you. Clerk, the online speakers, is there anybody online?

The clerk

10:24:32AM [Inaudible]

Alan Clendenin

10:24:33AM Rick hernandez. Good morning, sir. Unmute yourself, please. Rick? Michael randolph, are you online? Good morning.

10:24:56AM Good morning, Michael. Schedule for February the 25th at 7 p.m. from the streets to the boardroom, generation z leadership training. This program young voices from East Tampa, West Tampa, progress village, Grant Park, and Sulphur Springs demanding to become neighborhood change makers. Housing security, economic disinvestment and political -- require bold solutions. Our four week course shifts from what is to what if. From serving marginalized communities to building with transformation strategy. Focused on 17 to 28. First program, affordable housing development. Ownership, and assets. And back door policies and findings. Strategies for housing justice would be focused on anti-gentrification that protect legacy residents and -- displacement. Program and project design for the community. Initiatives shape by lived life experience guided by evidence-based thinking and accountability. Community mobilizing and organizing. Building tactics, coalition work and -- impact critical thinking exercise that challenge assumptions that shape strategies. Economic and community development, entrepreneurship, collaborative -- cooperative and reclaiming local ownership. Negotiations. Empowering young people to negotiate with institutions by gaining political insights into political -- critical thinking and evidence-based leadership, problem solving, data analyst, decision making rooted in facts. Anti-gentrification strategies and political insight. Understanding policy, zoning, and development to resist displacement. In 2026, we will witness the rise of a new school of thought, a generation of -- next generation thinkers, stepping into key roles across organizations in the political arena. Unlike other training programs, teach from the top down, our approach is to teach from the bottom up. In other words, from the streets to the boardroom. This generation will create its own reparations. Thank you.

10:28:18AM Thank you, Michael. Let's try rick hernandez one more time. Rick, try to unmute yourself. Or enter your audio pin. Councilman Maniscalco, what I would like to entertain, we also have people for four and five, if we could have a motion to amend the agenda to hear four, five, then 41 followed by 66 and the Charter Review Commission. We have a motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Aye? Opposed. Ayes have it. We are moving to item number 4 for the Code Enforcement public nuisance abatement board. Our wonderful clerk, Shirley Foxx-Knowles. Shirley Foxx-Knowles, city clerk. Council, there are two applicants for the public nuisance abatement board and the Code Enforcement board. Mr. Randy Jackson and Jason Valkenburg.

10:29:34AM Good morning, randy. Two spots, two applicants.

10:29:50AM Good morning. Would you like to speak or available for questions? Serving on the board since 2018. I'm here for my reapplication.

10:30:02AM Start with your name first, please. I've been on the board since 2018. I would like to continue serving on the board. If you have any questions for me, more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

10:30:13AM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

10:30:15AM Yes, I appreciate you all coming forward for reapplication. I heard that you have pretty much transformed the board somewhat. I would like to hear a little bit about that. And knowing that we have two empty seats right now as well, what do you think we need -- what kind of qualifications would someone possess that would be best for us to fill these two spots? First of all, I want to make it public that we have two more spots on the nuisance abatement board that City Council does choose. I just wanted to, again, hear a little bit about what you're doing and what you think some of the qualifications might be, who would be a good fit for this board. Anything personally to transform the board. Mr. Smith, he's done a lot to help transform the board and big thing the City of Tampa has done and he's done is to make sure the Tampa Police Department and the community is aware of the public nuisance and abatement board and how to get cases in front of us. When I first started in 2018, probably had one to two cases a year. Now I see over the time on there, more and more cases that are coming on. We're there and want it, we want to actually help the community. What he's been doing, that has been a great transformation as far as getting more cases in front of us. The more that he can continue doing that and the more that the Tampa Police Department knows about it and the community knows about it, the better, because we'll get more cases in front of us and we're able to help the community. As far as qualifications for people being on the board, people who want to help out the community. The big thing is commitment, because I think Mr. Jackson will agree, sometimes we do sometimes have difficulty. Sometimes getting a quorum. And every once in a while we come and I think we only need four members for a quorum and sometimes have difficulty having four members come. Commitment is the big thing. I know Mr. Jackson is there pretty much all the time. I'm there all the time. There are four that continually show up. The commitment is the big thing. Want to make sure people are committed in helping a community. It's once a month. It's about four hours once a month and very rewarding. Only thing I might add, Jason as always speaks very well. It's a collaborative effort. The city clerk's office, the city attorney's office, TPD and the great residents that we serve come together once a month to work out a resolution for what is perceived to be a nuisance. I have been a board member since 2016, so coming up on my 10th year. Four of the years was as chairperson. The board is definitely needed. I think the council Will agree to that. But you're right, ma'am. Getting people who are committed, as Jason just mentioned, sometimes is tough. I often think that if more residents of this city understood what the board was doing for the city and for the individuals that live here, there would be more participation. There hasn't been in a time in the past ten years that we have not resolved an issue that everyone agreed with. But I can't thank TPD enough for trusting in us to bring us issues that, again, that we can collaborate and to resolve.

Alan Clendenin

10:34:02AM Thank you.

Lynn Hurtak

10:34:03AM Thank you very much. I really was hoping, again, to hear about what you're doing, to make sure you got a moment in the public to share. Again, to let folks know some of these -- some of you who show up every week to talk at public comment and do things like that might be perfect for this board. I'm going to recommend that if you're interested, you can look up the boards and commissions and apply. I want to say thank you very much. I know I have others, but I'm willing to move to accept these two applications.

Alan Clendenin

10:34:32AM We have a motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from Councilman Viera. Councilman Maniscalco.

Martin Shelby

10:34:40AM I have a resolution. You can move the resolution.

Guido Maniscalco

10:34:42AM Thank you. Until I was elected I was on that board 2012 to '15. It was a wonderful board. I was an alternate. There were issues back then about getting a quorum. I believe I was called every time there was a meeting. It wasn't every month back then, but I surely participated. And it was a wonderful experience because it gave -- it gave me a completely different perspective into the community. More of the day-to-day operations when it came to specifically Code Enforcement. Code Enforcement issues and whatnot. So if anybody is listening, as council member Hurtak said, there are a lot of great people in the audience today that want to apply. You say it's four hours a month, sometimes we would be done in an hour. Three hours. It's a volunteer position, but it gave me a lot of experience and a tremendous new perception into how certain operations took place. I encourage people to apply. It was a great experience for me. I thank both of you for your service because you dedicated a lot of time to this. Mr. Schmidt back there, he was there when I was there. He's really done a lot. Thank you very much.

Alan Clendenin

10:35:55AM Councilman Viera.

Luis Viera

10:35:55AM I want to salute the two folks up there. Mr. Jackson, almost ten years, that's awesome. And just wonderful public servant in that regard. Jason, obviously, we go back a long time. We're fortunate to have the both of you all, but I wanted to highlight as well Mr. Valkenburg's work as civil and criminal litigator that I think comes so invaluable in a position like this. This is something that lawyers, I think especially lawyers maybe new to the community, want experience and so forth, it would be amenable to that. I just want to salute the both of you all, including, again, Jason, his litigation experience I think comes in unique in a position like this. Thank you for the both of you all.

Alan Clendenin

10:36:41AM We have a motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from Councilman Viera accepting the reappointment resolution reappointing both randy Jackson and Jason Valkenburg. Any further discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Congratulations. Condolences. I don't know which. Thank you for your service. Happy holidays.

Lynn Hurtak

10:37:04AM Hope to get you a couple of new folks soon.

Alan Clendenin

10:37:07AM I would like to introduce Andrea Zelman, our current city attorney, first. If you would like to make an introduction.

Andrea Zelman

10:37:19AM I would. Good morning. Andrea Zelman, city attorney. Until January 9. This is not my last meeting. I'm very happy today to bring you the resolution appointing, which hopefully you'll pass, Scott Steady as the new city attorney with an effective date in January. I've already told all of you, but just briefly will tell the public, I really think he's such a great choice for this position. He has years of experience in areas relating to city work, including some actual city work. He started his career interning here at the city attorney's office and he's looking forward to finishing his career at the city attorney's office. He's just -- his last name is perfect. He has a steady demeanor. He's SMART. He's calm. He's not a firebrand. I just think he'll do an excellent job for the city and he's got his family here today. I'll let him introduce them. Without further ado, I'm happy to introduce Scott Steady as my potential replacement. Now, as I get ready to retire. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

10:38:40AM Mr. Steady, give me one second. Ms. Zelman, stay there for a second. I kind of asked you to come up to introduce, chair point of privilege, I think this will be your last meeting.

Andrea Zelman

10:38:50AM No, no. January.

Alan Clendenin

10:38:52AM I want to say we've known each other for a long time. I've been here a little over three years and I've really enjoyed working with you.

Andrea Zelman

10:39:02AM I don't want to steal from Scott's thunder.

Alan Clendenin

10:39:04AM I thought this would be the last one.

Andrea Zelman

10:39:07AM Thank you. I appreciate that. My home address is 3006 south schiller. That was a nice intro. I appreciate that. She commented about my family, if I could introduce them briefly. My wife, Mercedes, is playing hooky from West Tampa elementary. She is a speech pathologist, but her principal knows she is here. My daughter, monica and my son Alex, they are both here. I talked briefly with the chair. I'll be brief. You have a long agenda. I have spoken to all of you. I appreciate the opportunity. I'm here to answer questions. I would be happy to go through my background and history. I did start with the city attorneys way back in 1985. Mary Bryant was there busting my chops, actually. There is a story about a trick she played on me which I have never forgotten, but I'm not going to share it with you today. Anyway, I started with the city attorney's office. Joe spicola was the city attorney. Governor Martinez was the mayor. It was a great experience. I've had other involvement with the city, both representing developers but also representing the city. And just kind of bring it forward, I'm currently the public nuisance abatement board's counsel. I'm actually, until you hire me, I am still their counsel. That's why I shook their hand because I represent that board. Actually, of all the corporate work I do, I've really learned a lot on the public nuisance abatement board because it opened my eyes to really issues of homelessness and things that I think I need to know as the city attorney, which I'm not usually exposed to. By the way, those guys do a great job and the staff does a great job. With that, I appreciate Andrea Zelman, Cate Wells, and Morris Massey. I think their confidence in me is the reason I'm here. And I appreciate that. I thank the mayor for nominating me, and that's just wonderful. Mostly, I'm honored and I take it very seriously to be representing the residents, the corporate, the municipal corporation, the City of Tampa, this council, the mayor, and I look forward to working with a great staff and attorneys with the city attorney's office. I would appreciate your consideration.

Alan Clendenin

10:41:34AM Thank you. Councilman Viera.

Luis Viera

10:41:37AM I'm going to be proud to support you, sir. As an attorney, member of the Florida bar for 22 years -- time goes by fast -- your name is open and obvious for being a pillar of the community, pillar of the bar, pillar of the legal practice. With you and not just your public sector experience but private sector experience, come from a long line of attorneys who go from the private sector to the public sector for public service. Some have a mixture. Mrs. Zelman is obviously a prime example of that. Gina grimes, Hill Ward Henderson, my dear friend, chip fletcher and many others. I know you'll do an amazing job. Again, just, you are going from the private sector to serve the public in this role is something that is stellar. Like I told folks who disclosed your name to me, I said we're very lucky to have you. Again, just my professional and civic honor to support you. I've always gotten along with our city attorneys and assistant city attorneys. You're going to I think have a good group of people to work with. A lot of good people who are wonderful public servants who work really hard. I know you'll do a great job. Looking forward.

Guido Maniscalco

10:42:54AM Thank you very much, sir. And thank you to your family for their support and allowing you to do this. I talk to my wife, you talk to your wife and family is above all things, other than god, the most important thing, in my opinion. We had a great conversation the other day. I really enjoyed it. We had quite a few things in common. My wife is from West Virginia. Your wife has a connection. My mother is from Cuba. Your wife has a connection. Well connected. I think your reputation speaks for itself. I've always heard of you. It's always been something positive. I know the work you have done with the city. What I like is your foundation. In 1985 you got hired on with the city. You know the city, live in the city, there's no issue. You basically grew up here essentially. If you look at the decades of service. Very important thing is the team that you get to work with, Morris Massey, Cate Wells, Susan Johnson-Velez. I think Rebecca Johns. All the attorneys that we have. I don't think there is a better team and better group of people. You get to lead and work with and collaborate with people that are second to none. I'm very happy to support you. One of the most important things in looking at you, your background and reputation, you have no dog in the fight. You don't have to do this. You were asked to do this. It's a matter of you love Tampa. You care and its service. You've had a very long, illustrious career. I think you'll do a great job and I'm very happy to support you.

Alan Clendenin

10:44:37AM Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

10:44:38AM Yeah. Thank you for the conversation we had, too. I look forward to supporting you in this effort and look forward to working with you. I want to thank Ms. Zelman for finding you so quickly. We'll talk more maybe at the next meeting. She and clay deserve all the best in whatever fun things they are going to do next. A sign of her dedication to the city is she made sure she found you right away to serve this, and you seem to have the perfect background. Also, Ms. Zelman brought a steadiness to the position. The public sees what happens here in the dais and in public. But there are a lot of things that Ms. Zelman and I worked on behind the scenes that brought peace to the community, brought collaboration to the community and all kinds of stuff. She'll never get public credit for any of that. Thank you to her for working on that. I think you echoed that you have the same personality and style in doing that. My -- infamously, I asked Ms. Zelman to read part of the charter the last time when she was confirmed. I won't do that today. We had this discussion off-line. But people talk about the strong mayor form of government. This charter doesn't say strong mayor anywhere in it. But I think the power in the city is really with the city attorney's office. As we start the Charter Review Commission, we'll be looking at that carefully. I think there's some built-in conflicts in the charter in that the City Council and mayor, both clients of the city attorney. I think prior city attorneys have wrestled with that. After we confirm you, in effect you report to the mayor. But by bar rules, you also report to us. I think you will uphold -- my ask to you is to uphold the law, uphold the charter and uphold the bar rules, and you have committed to doing that. I look forward to working with you.

Alan Clendenin

10:46:34AM Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

10:46:34AM I want to say thank you for saying yes to the mayor. You are here before us now. I've known you for some time. I think your last name says it all. We need a steady guy in a steady position as city attorney. In the past they have all been good, in your case, I know you have the same resum that you started with in 1985. Always been straight, down the line. You say it the way the law follows, not what you feel, but what the law is, and there is a difference in doing that. I think steady is steady being a city attorney, with steady.

Alan Clendenin

10:47:12AM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

10:47:13AM I just wanted to say thank you so much for our conversation. I really enjoyed getting to know your background. We do have a lot of passions in commons. Mainly land use and those type of things. I'm very excited about that. I don't know if we'll have a chance, hopefully Ms. Zelman will come back on January 8, but -- because I wanted to make sure that I had a chance to tell her how much I've enjoyed working with her. Thank you so much. I look forward to saying that on January 8. Glad to support you.

Alan Clendenin

10:47:49AM It looks like you will be a shoo-in. You'll take over a Legal Department highly functional and in good shape. Your predecessor will have left you in a really good position for successful. Some of the folks in the Legal Department, and I've known several of the city attorneys in the past, I don't have an opportunity very government, thankfully in my life to associate with attorneys, but since I've gotten elected I find a spend a lot of time with them now. Most of my days seem to be consulting with attorneys which is, I don't know, interesting. No pressure. I appreciate it.

10:48:27AM We have a motion from Councilman Maniscalco to move the resolution approving the appointment of Scott Steady as the city attorney and department head of the City of Tampa Legal Department. We have a second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Congratulations. [ applause ] you can go away now. [ laughter ]

10:49:01AM Very good. As per our discussion on changing the agenda, we'll move on to item 41 and recognize Councilwoman Hurtak. We need a motion to open the public hearings. We have a motion from Councilman Maniscalco and second from Councilman Viera to open up the public hearings. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Lynn Hurtak

10:49:26AM Ms. Scharf.

Alan Clendenin

10:49:27AM We'll pause for a second to let the room -- all public hearings. I said all.

Lynn Hurtak

10:49:34AM I'm sorry. 10 and 10:30. I'll amend.

Alan Clendenin

10:49:47AM Just for clarification, we are opening the 10 and 10:30 public hearings.

Luis Viera

10:49:52AM Are we also nominating our members --

Alan Clendenin

10:50:05AM We'll do 41 and 66 for you. 41, 66, and then CAC.

Lynn Hurtak

10:50:25AM This ordinance, I worked with City Legal staff for quite some time with this ordinance. We've heard from the public that this is something that people have a lot of concern about. Ms. Scharf and I rode our bikes to work on Tuesday just to ride the riverwalk. So this is what we found. Right now, the rule on the riverwalk is for cyclists to go five miles an hour. So with this law, we would be increasing it to ten miles an hour. But what I found is when we actually rode it, I took one of the speedometers and kelly and I who are not like tour de France type folks, we had computers, we had everything with us, clothes to change into. We averaged 6.5 miles an hour on the riverwalk just going at a leisurely pace.

Bill Carlson

10:51:27AM You are admitting a misdemeanor.

Lynn Hurtak

10:51:29AM I am admitting a misdemeanor. But the whole point of leading with this beginning debate is I don't feel like this is fully set. We do have a lot of people from the community here that want to talk about this. After we talk about it, I have a motion to move this forward to something -- to a workshop to really discuss what the community, what we need to do. The riverwalk, I've said this before, we are a victim of our own success, and there is a bigger conversation that needs to be had about this. I greatly appreciate both TPD and the Legal Department for bringing this forward because otherwise this would have been simply ignored and I don't think that's what anyone wants. We have to figure out a way for our bikes, our pedestrians, our scooter riders, our skateboarders and everyone else, folks with mobility issues to all coexist in the same space while knowing that since this riverwalk was paid for with federal funds, it is a multiuse path that we cannot take bikes off of the riverwalk legally. So we need to talk about what that next step is. That is what I hope that this conversation can turn into instead of approving this ordinance as written today.

Alan Clendenin

10:52:54AM I see a lot of lights. I don't necessarily want to workshop this. Let's go to staff and then questions from the council.

Carl Brody

10:53:03AM Carl Brody, Legal Department. We're here today to present second reading on the bicycle safety ordinance. I'll nutshell the first part. The ordinance has been brought forth to address three issues that we were concerned with. First, wanted electronic bikes and other electronic vehicles to be included so that they would be part of the ordinance subject to the regulation. Second, when you have large groups of cyclists or other vehicle operators on the riverwalk that they would respect the rest of the participants on the riverwalk by riding two abreast, safety issues. Third, we wanted to address the problem with folks out there doing tricks and wheelies and other things which are creating dangerous conditions, colliding with walkers, cyclists, anybody else on the riverwalk, by putting in provisions that would prohibit that kind of activity. And the purpose of this is to give law enforcement the tools to be able to address the public safety issue. I think last time we talked about what are the requirements for being able to do an ordinance like this. You have to show that you have an important government interest. We have that important government interest. We know you know there are problems out on the riverwalk. Received the complaints. Tampa connect has received the complaints, and TPD has observed these dangerous conditions out on the riverwalk. We know there is a problem that addresses our important government interest. We put together an ordinance along with discussion with I think each one of you when we were drafting it that would specifically have a connection. So we're connecting the problem with the solution. The ordinance is a solution. If I can quickly address the letter that you received from I think bike walk Tampa -- walk bike Tampa. Walk bike Tampa. I want to address it because there are some inaccuracies in there, and there's some honestly flawed legal analysis. I want to walk through that with you really quickly. First up, a concern about the ten miles per hour speed limit and a reference that it's an equipment standard. There's no change in the law that we have right now except we're moving from 15 down to 10 and that was at the suggestion of discussions with some of you guys. There is no interpretation that would suggest that this ordinance or the speed limit is instead an equipment standard. Equipment standard suggests that means that any vehicle that would go over that speed limit would be prohibited from the riverwalk or any of our multimodal trails. Clearly, that's not how it's been interpreted since 2009, and that's not how it will be. It would be a ridiculous outcome for a law enforcement officer to go out and cite somebody for riding a bicycle on a riverwalk or any of our other multimodal trails. So that's not the interpretation. Not an accurate legal interpretation of how this would apply. It's really more of a red herring to throw you off of what the purpose of this ordinance is. Next we talk about the different trails. We want all the trails to be protected. It is a public safety issue. All the trails should be protected. Pretty straightforward. Nothing in this ordinance would end up resulting in us losing any federal funding that we receive for the construction and maintenance of the riverwalk. Why? Because there's no change in what the purpose is. All we're doing is regulating that purpose. Nothing in the federal grants received on this prohibits or even addresses our regulation of the purpose for which we receive the funds. Obviously, we're still going to allow bikes on the riverwalk and any other multimodal vehicles and pedestrians on the riverwalk. That's just another issue that's not accurate in terms of the presentation that you received. The problem with wheelies, I think this is -- I'm just going to say it is another inaccurate statement. It suggests that prohibiting wheelies and other tricks on the riverwalk is going to disproportionately affect youth of color. We have TPD here. They'll walk you through, that is not an accurate statement. I'll just stop there. Unrealistic braking requirements. Braking requirements we had 25 feet At 10 miles per hour. Note the 10 miles per hour again being consistent with the safety of the ordinance, that is identical to what the state law requires. That is nothing that is distinct. It's really already in place. It's just that we wanted to move those state law requirements onto the riverwalk to be consistent. Again, for the safety of everybody who is using the riverwalk. Educational policy, I have already talked with and I think I provided some of you the information. Marketing and communications team is ready to go. They have their whole team ready to go and have plans to have TPD officers who are enforcing this to have interviews with local news media. They are going to do a full social media blitz. They are going to contact all the schools. Make sure flyers are out so that everybody will be noticed of it. I'll probably call Ms. Janelle to give out to the community to make them aware of the changes. What's important to note about that is, we did something that I think is almost unheralded. We said that we're not going to enforce this ordinance for 90 days. That's 90 days of just pure education. Just pure communications and everybody else getting out there, inform the public and the youth of what the requirements are to stay in compliance. That's the first 90 days, there's no enforcement. After that, the ordinance has been changed. This is our normal practice and patterns in terms of penalties. We've changed that just for this ordinance. The first violation is a warning. Anybody who is concerned about the education on this should take heed that we are going to do more than sufficient notification to make anybody in the city aware of what the requirements are to be in compliance. Even if they are not, the first time they get cited after 90 days, they still will only receive a warning. There will be no citation. Finally, dangers and unclear potential of enforcement, this one kind of annoys me just because it tells you don't trust law enforcement. Now, once a month, what do we do? We have law enforcement come forward and we acknowledge that these folks have integrity and that they enforce the laws as they are written and for a public purpose because they have that connection to the community in terms of wanting to keep us safe and wanting to use the law not as a cudgel, but as something to help benefit all of us so that we live in society and in this situation have access to and use of facilities without worry and without having to deal with these dangerous conditions. We have to at some point acknowledge that law enforcement, their purpose is to address issues that you are concerned with. That you receive constituent responses from to address. They do that in a manner, like I said, with integrity and consistent and not for any purpose other than achieving your goals. That all being said, I think what we put together as an ordinance is very limited. It focuses strictly on the trails. It's not going to be used out on the streets. It has very clear designations for what's allowed and what's prohibited. And it addresses concerns that you have received, that TPD has reserved and have been levied and informed to the city through Tampa connect over the last extended period of time. We've had the issue here in place for at least a couple of years. Not addressing it is allowing a dangerous condition it continue to be in place. What we received from Councilwoman Hurtak, I think that's pretty accurate. 10 miles per hour is going to allow folks to use the riverwalk for the purpose it's intended. Because we're really just stopping excesses. We would just request that you have the discussion and approve this ordinance because it does address the concerns you've raised without creating any of the problems that have been suggested by some of the outside agencies. I'm available for any questions.

Alan Clendenin

11:03:45AM Does council have questions of staff? Just questions, not pontification. Councilman Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

11:03:51AM It was suggested -- suggested about moving this to a workshop. I don't know when. But if it does go to a workshop and this is not read and approved today, but you talked about a robust education campaign for the next 90 days, even without an ordinance, can't we move forward with this educational component and go out to the schools and perhaps just by talking and communicating we can improve the situation without going straight to the ordinance? Since you say it is unheard of and robust, the communications team is ready to go.

Carl Brody

11:04:28AM The problem with taking that route is that first vote, it kind of kicks the can down the road. The folks who were concerned, who were committing some of the violations, they are aware that their actions are creating dangerous condition. If we do an educational campaign, we kind of need to know exactly what we're educating them on. If we don't have an ordinance in place, then we're really kind of being prospective in trying to figure out what exactly the education piece would be.

Guido Maniscalco

11:05:08AM So the specific complaints that I received over the last several years are strictly on the riverwalk and only on the riverwalk, near the Convention Center, curtis hixon. As a matter of fact, when we read it the other day, somebody told me that the next night which I believe is when the whole curtis hixon winter setup, where the ice skating rink is at, a friend of mine and his girlfriend were down there and he said a group of kids on bikes were popping wheelies, like they intentionally wanted to hit people. We go from reading this on Thursday and Friday night, I wasn't there, he's telling me this. I asked him what time. Around 7:00, I think, if I recall. So they are out there. The complaints that I've been getting, getting back to the point, are strictly on the riverwalk. Not on other trails and whatnot. Not streets, neighborhoods, sidewalks, anything else. I'm on the riverwalk all the time and the police officers are there on bikes and then we have security, individuals in the golf CARTs and then parks and rec, they are doing their own thing cleaning, but the educational component on the riverwalk, if a police officer is on a bike and they see a group of young people, a group of kids popping wheelies, can't we say in the meantime, hey, we want to make sure everybody is safe, not citing them. But just talking. I think a lot is lost in the lack of communication, and if in these next 90 days we say, hey, slow down, hey, there are kids. We want you to be safe. We want families to be safe. Individuals to be safe walking. Can we start with that? It's not kicking the can down the road. I think you don't always have to have a law and enforcement. I think a lot can be settled in communication and just talking. Other than my friend and his girlfriend yelling at these kids going, hey, get out of here, what are you doing? You're going to hurt somebody. If a police officer or security individual says we patrol the riverwalk. We want to make sure that everybody is safe. And do that. And talk and say, hey, people are looking. People are noticing. This is a problem. We have laws and people break them all the time. But in the meantime, because it's young kids. It's teenagers. We were all teenagers once, whatever. But just talking and warning and say, hey, this is unsafe, perhaps that can help improve the situation before going right into the ordinance.

Carl Brody

11:07:39AM I think that is the purpose of providing the 90 days. By providing 90 days, you have that education but you have something at the end of it. If you just -- if you don't have an ordinance at the end, that means that, yes, law enforcement can go out and inform of what we think the ordinance is going to be, what we think is going to be prohibited, and then at the end of whatever that time period is, end up doing a workshop and figuring out from there, six months from now, what the outcome is.

Guido Maniscalco

11:08:16AM March, April, may, we went out there, we communicated, nothing is changing. Then we have the discussion at the workshop. What's interesting is at first, you know, we moved this forward and I'm basing it off of, I've been getting years of complaints from people on the riverwalk. But in the meantime, I've heard from people in the community, some are here. It's a cross-section of the community. Walk bike Tampa, they had their concerns, and I know you had picked out certain items, may have been inaccuracies but you clarified that. Walk bike Tampa. Mr. Pete Edwards is here. NAACP is here. Now we're getting the community response, not people complaining of folks on the riverwalk and popping wheelies and we'll get hit. Now people with concerns moving forward. That's what I'm trying to balance where we try and improve the situation and try to address the concerns of folks who have legitimate concerns and thoughts moving forward.

Carl Brody

11:09:15AM Corporal flanagan is here. If he can talk to you about the education piece.

Alan Clendenin

11:09:19AM Hold on. I think we're finished with this part of it. This is what I've got down. Councilman Miranda. Councilman Viera. Councilwoman Young and Councilman Carlson wish to speak. I want to be mindful of the clock. We have a hard stop -- we have a couple of items we have to get to before 11:55. Fyi in reference to our pontification. Questions only of staff and the timer is on.

Charlie Miranda

11:09:51AM I was listening to you very intensely. The riverwalk was designed for people walking. Everything changes. It's not only for us locally who enjoy it, but for the tens of thousands of people that come to the City of Tampa, and there's nothing almost like anywhere else. There's riverwalk in chicago and different areas of the United States of America.

Alan Clendenin

11:10:18AM Questions only. We'll have a chance to talk after the presentation is done.

Charlie Miranda

11:10:22AM Oh, questions only. I'll recuse myself.

Alan Clendenin

11:10:26AM Councilman Viera followed by Councilwoman Young.

Luis Viera

11:10:29AM I have no questions.

Alan Clendenin

11:10:30AM Councilwoman Young.

Naya Young

11:10:35AM Hello. How are you? I have a question. Councilman Maniscalco said could we do the education component, you know, right now? And then I think your response was we would need something to be educating the public on, correct?

11:10:58AM Would the signs that were shown earlier that Councilwoman Hurtak took a picture of, would that not be information that we could be educating the public on already if the signs are already there?

Carl Brody

11:11:15AM The signs are a little bit different. Like I say, we have corporal flanagan here. He can talk about some of the enforcement and how that impacts what you're suggesting, which is there's already sufficient support in place for enforcement of concerns that are out there on the riverwalk. We've been warning and communicating with people for years on this issue, and that is our goal is to educate. What we experience after that, though, is that the problem continues with a few, and we have no reasonable means to enforce the actual problem at that point. The complaints have just been nonstop on the real problem, people within the groups that do this, but we have no means to actually enforce it and that's where our hands are tied. So we have the citizens coming up to us on the riverwalk, business owners, tourists that are making these complaints, but we have no means to actually do anything about it. When we speak to the groups, which we have done for a long time, we still have a few that know we can't do anything about it and the problem continues. That's where our hands are kind of tied. And we're looking for something to be able to do, should we have to enforce it with someone, sure, we need something for that, we do. The large purpose of this is to educate and make sure that people know these rules are in place and something could be done. That's not our goal. We want everybody to enjoy the riverwalk safely together. But just like every day out here on the streets, some people choose not to follow the law but something can happen to them at that point. Out there, nothing can happen right now.

Naya Young

11:12:57AM This is just -- I do not doubt that you all do receive complaints. But do we have any like data or numbers to say since we've had riverwalk or a time period to say from this time to this time, we received this many TPD complaints, we received this many Tampa connect complaints, specifically with bikers that are doing wheelies or almost hitting people. Do we have any type of like data for that or numbers for that? If we pulled all the complaints you have received through our e-mails, we don't keep track of the ones on the riverwalk, who we're talking to about the specific complaint. Through e-mail, we can find that information. Just don't have it today.

Carl Brody

11:13:53AM Members on the dais have the information. You have been receiving the complaints. Two or three of you have received multiple. I say large numbers, I don't want to put a number on it because it might not be accurate. I would say easily hundreds of complaints by members on the dais.

Alan Clendenin

11:14:13AM Thank you. Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

11:14:16AM Thank you, Mr. Brody. Excellent review. I appreciate you preemptively going through some of the feedback we got so we didn't have to ask you all those questions. I don't know if TPD has more in the staff presentation before we get to public comment, but if they do, it might be good to hear from them. But I'll hit you with a couple of questions first. The biggest complaint I get by far is electric bikes. On Bayshore, there is a bicycle lane that's adjacent to the road that's not in the sidewalk. Electric bikes can ride in that, but they ride on the sidewalk and go way too fast. As I'm getting older now, I find I am not as agile as I used to be and there are a lot of folks who aren't. If somebody is coming up 30 miles an hour behind them and says on your left, they can't move fast enough and they feel like they are in danger with that happening. Ideally, we would have somebody mentioned last time lanes and arrows going each way so people would know. My question to you also in the letter, I think it says or implies that the legislature is going to try to preempt us from limiting electric bikes on sidewalks. Do you know about that?

Carl Brody

11:15:33AM I do know that the legislature is looking into it. I can't guarantee anything. They are looking at modifying some of the settings and standards on them. It wouldn't address a specific issue of concern that you're talking about electric bikes riding down Bayshore and going at high speeds, no, it wouldn't address that.

Bill Carlson

11:15:56AM Whatever we do, there are several different pieces. To me, the really urgent part is electric bikes going too fast on sidewalks in pedestrian areas. I get a lot, a lot of complaints about that. The second thing is, I understand hearing from Ms. Burton and others in the community about wheelies or tricks kids do. To me, same conversation a couple of years ago about skateboarding, some of us skateboarded and we said why aren't we regulating that. So we took it out. I don't remember exactly what the language says, but is it possible to take out the word wheelies and just put intimidating behavior? I don't know how TPD would describe it. What happens is, groups of people get around an individual and they do wheelies in front of them to intimidate them. That's different than a kid playing in a park or playing in the riverwalk or something. Is it possible to change the language so that it's not going to punish kids who are just having fun?

Carl Brody

11:17:03AM There is a specific purpose for this, and it's really focused on safety on the multimodal trails, including, of course, the riverwalk and Bayshore. Where you're talking about kids -- talking about intimidating behavior, the biggest concern with that is language in the ordinance is very important. We don't want it to be too broad or too vague where we can't be very specific about how it's going to be enforced. By putting in wheelies and tricks, that is very specific, very narrow. Allows TPD to know exactly what the violation is and not have to deal with too much interpretation on their side.

Bill Carlson

11:17:56AM Don't you think it is too broad?

Carl Brody

11:18:06AM No. it's important for us to keep it narrow. If we go broader --

Bill Carlson

11:18:12AM Seems like it needs to be narrower.

Carl Brody

11:18:15AM I think it's very narrow now.

Bill Carlson

11:18:17AM Isn't there a difference if somebody shoots a bird from a distance versus right in your face? Isn't there a difference in the way that would be described?

Carl Brody

11:18:28AM In terms of drafting language for an ordinance or law, there are distinctions to be made. What you run into is -- because we would get challenged if we have language that is not very clear. If we just use the term threatening, that's not as objective as what we have in place now. What we have in place now is very clear, very narrow in terms of its language.

Alan Clendenin

11:18:55AM My observation of actually living adjacent to Bayshore, be able to see it every day from my windows and walking Bayshore nearly every day is the speed, yes. It is a question. Is the speed. We have bicyclists that are really -- I mean not just cyclists, they are cyclists, they are down, helmets, buzzing along probably 35 miles an hour if I were to guess. I've almost gotten run over many times. Without this ordinance, is there a way for Tampa PD to enforce that type of behavior on Bayshore?

Carl Brody

11:19:34AM On the speed issue, we're lowering the speed limit. So, yes, they could because we already have a speed limit in place.

Alan Clendenin

11:19:43AM Is that in ordinance?

Carl Brody

11:19:44AM The ordinance does have a speed limit already.

Alan Clendenin

11:19:47AM What I'm still seeing on the riverwalk guidelines, with the no fishing, bikers slow down to five miles an hour, all the -- are these institutionalized in ordinance?

Carl Brody

11:19:59AM No. these are just kind of courtesy directions given except for the alcohol. That's in ordinance. Otherwise, no, they are not in the ordinance right now.

Alan Clendenin

11:20:11AM Tampa PD can't cite or enforce any of these rules?

Carl Brody

11:20:16AM No. except the alcohol.

Alan Clendenin

11:20:25AM Okay. Very good. If that's it, I think we're ready for public comment. What I'm going to do is several people signed up ahead of time. I'm going to call them first and then we'll come up with people who did not sign up and ask for that public comment as well. Katherine michaels followed by -- sorry, katherine Richards. Katherine Richards, are you here? President yvette lewis. I'll let this gentleman go in front of me because he was here before I was.

11:20:58AM Actually, I'll make that call. They gave us two different lists outside.

11:21:05AM Let me go through this first. Emily hinsdale first.

11:21:14AM You don't have to. I'll get you in a second. You will be introduced in a moment. Emily hinsdale followed by David nyham. No, you are out of order. [ sounding gavel ] Emily hinsdale followed by David nyham. Thank you. Emily hinsdale here to speak on item 41. Over a hundred people have died on Hillsborough county roads so far in 2025. 18% of those on City of Tampa owned roads. Today, we are here to prohibit wheelies. I'm asking to you vote to oppose this ordinance and reconsider it with a lot more workshopping, a lot more details and a lot more public input. It is important, very important to prevent potentially harmful conflicts among different types of users on some of Tampa's most popular trails. However, this ordinance as written is focused more on punishing a target group than in addressing the causes of these conflicts. This ordinance raises more questions than answers than these questions need definitive and detailed answers going forward. How will this ordinance be enforced? Are bikers to be chased down the riverwalk? Are bikers to be tasked with presenting ID? These are things that we would like to know before this ordinance is put in place. What kind of statistics and resulting news headlines will we see coming out of this effort? Is the City Council prepared to defend this ordinance if a certain age, race, or economic group receives an outsized number of tickets? Will this ordinance mesh or conflict with state e bike laws before the state legislature in this upcoming legislative session. Until the City Council is confident this ordinance cannot be interpreted in ways contrary to the city's interest, this action needs to be paused for further reflection. It would be helpful to include the city mobility staff to make sure the ordinance addresses these trails designations as transportation corridors. It would be helpful to include input from people who do bike and e-bike on these corridors, not just those who oppose biking and e-biking in these corridors. I also would like to note as I mentioned at the beginning that we do have a crisis, not a complaint, when it comes to safety for bikers and e-bikers on our roads. That's something the City Council can address more definitively right away. We can direct the city mobility staff to explore lowering speed limits on roads. We can direct more budget money to providing sidewalks, bike lanes and safe intersections so bikes and e-bikes have a safe alternative to using the riverwalk and Bayshore. And we can insist on progress with the school zone speed cameras. That law was passed in 2023 and still not put in place in 2025 in the City of Tampa. Thank you for your consideration. Please take this to a workshop and look at it more closely rather than a yea or nay vote today. Thanks.

11:24:31AM Thank you. David nyham. No. sir, you are next. And then yvette lewis after that. Start with your name, please. I've been monitoring the City Council for 54 years. If you go through this ordinance like it is, it's malpractice. I feel sorry for the lawyer that was just here. He didn't do his history work. Similar incidents regarding the bicycles and all actually started, Charlie, when we first got riverfront park. Get your ordinance sheet out and I'll point out the issues. Page 2 of 7, number 1 through 7 line where it talks about law enforcement notice an increase in whatever that is a racial red herring. Give a good example, if Bill Carlson had a group of people that dressed in all red and was predominantly white and went down Bayshore, nobody won't say a thing. If I had a group of kids all dressed in red, went down Bayshore the same way and all, the cops would be all over the place accusing us of being in gangs. And they do profile from time to time. I've seen it with bicycles in parks forever. That's one reason. Now, you go down here where it goes to between 8 and 11, where it talks about wheeling and whatever, they excluded the age limit. Parents come down all the time. I'm in the riverwalk area at least 20 times a week. They don't say who they are going to give the citation to, none of that. Go down further where it talks about the state statutes and all of that. I think the attorney misled us a little bit that it was restricted and at the same time it was broad enough. That's why you need to rewrite it again. Further on page 2, line 37, duly noticed. That's where we made a big mistake. Should have had at least two workshops. Considering all the issues with biking and biking while black and all this other kind of stuff, we just didn't do it right in the beginning in setting this up. I don't know who came up with this ordinance, but it needs to be restructured all over again. Go to page 4 of seven and it talks about, again, the wheeling and all. We know what they are talking about, what happened to kids that the museum didn't want to do even when they be quiet in their own circles can wheelies, nobody around. It is discriminatory. We'll lose it litigation-wise and lose it economic-wise. Anybody black or brown, not going to come here when the coding and all is already in the ordinance. I'm 75 years old. I've seen it all. We're making a mistake. Just tear it up right then and there. Make sure the city attorney do historical home work, I will help him. What's going to happen? Same thing, setup for Ms. Young. If she votes for the ordinance the way it is now, enabler of racial policy. If she vote against it the cops and some of the other people are going to accuse of --

11:27:52AM What's happening right now, we're under the gun. We've got to complete a couple of things in 25 minutes. I would like to after we hear from yvette lewis, I would like to pause this public hearing, take up the Charter Review Commission appointments so we can get those done, and then we can continue because we're going to lose Councilman Viera at 11:55.

Lynn Hurtak

11:28:14AM I'm sorry. I understand that you have to go, but this is a City Council meeting. I don't agree with that. These people have come here. I'm sorry he has to go but that's not our problem. We have to continue. I don't mean this in any disrespect.

Bill Carlson

11:28:29AM Can we move it to later in the day?

Alan Clendenin

11:28:35AM No. it has to come back with the appointment. Actually, is there any reason why we can't do it without Councilman Viera with a vote, the Charter Review Commission?

Martin Shelby

11:28:46AM Just the fact that he won't be able to make a nomination and participate.

Alan Clendenin

11:28:50AM We have his nomination already.

Martin Shelby

11:28:52AM No, no. for the alternate.

Lynn Hurtak

11:28:55AM He can leave it with one of us.

Luis Viera

11:28:57AM If I may, I don't want to waste further time on this. I know what I'm going to do with this here today. So long as my concern can be nominated who we know who it is from my position, that's fine. We can get it in before, by the way, if we move forward.

Alan Clendenin

11:29:13AM How many people are here for public comment on this item?

Martin Shelby

11:29:18AM At three minutes apiece.

Alan Clendenin

11:29:22AM Can you please pass your nomination to someone else?

Martin Shelby

11:29:34AM Let me take 30 seconds. A reso --

Alan Clendenin

11:29:37AM That we have.

Luis Viera

11:29:38AM Jason marlow.

Alan Clendenin

11:29:43AM I'm sorry, madam president. I've been under the gun with the timing on this. Start with your name. President of NAACP. First of all, my mother taught me how to be respectful. This gentleman asked me could he go in front of me and I did that. I was trying to get clarification with you. That's it. Let me explain this to you. I watched City Council a couple of weeks ago where they moved a whole agenda way before public comments. This right here has been pushed back. That right there says what everybody has been saying in this room. Racism still exists in the City of Tampa. I have had enough of this. There is definitely something that you all need to do to understand where this whole biking while black come in. We didn't create this. The whole biking while black started with a light on a bicycle to make it safe for people, and we get it. We want them to be safe. Tampa Police Department turn it into a weapon to attack us, to police us and over-police us. My concern is with this, if it starts here on the riverwalk and Bayshore, how do I know or how can I trust you all that it won't continue over into my neighborhood? Because the trust, the gentleman showed you trust. Let me tell you, as the president of the NAACP, I have been working diligently with Tampa Police Department and this city to build trust back between the African American community and them. But you all keep erasing or eroding it based on these knee-jerk reactions. Give it some time. Think about it, because the NAACP want everybody to be safe. But you can't continue to treat people this way because, oh, I want to put a fine on a child for riding a bicycle. That don't even look right on the headlines. When they say organizations want to come here, they call us and ask us. Come on now. I get what TPD is wanting to do. Trust me, I would not want to walk down Bayshore and pop wheelies. How do we educate the people, like educate the kids like we need to beforehand and utilize us? That's what we're here for. But nobody came to talk to us. Okay. We have a meeting every third Thursday of the month. You all are welcome. But this is a shameful god that you all acting like this. Councilwoman Naya Young. No reflection. You just got there, baby. You all fix this SH --

11:32:54AM Okay. Anybody else that wishes to speak to the item, please go up against the wall. Ms. Burton, would you like to speak to this item? Connie burton. I don't know how they came about having enough courage in Australia to say young children, young people under a certain age, we're going to take social media away from them until they are mature enough, the minds formed and therefore not influenced by negative impact. Here we have in our community, like they always say, policies and ordinances that made with good intentions somehow comes back to the african community that means something totally different. If you want Bayshore Boulevard to be just for white people and tourists, say that. But I could tell you the problem you will have, if we see the data reflects that it is underprivileged children, black children, then you know what you have to add to the ordinance, you don't want black women down there with megaphones saying that this city is racist. We got to find a way, like I'm driving my car, you know what I have to learn to do? Share the road. People that's on the cell phone not paying attention have to learn to share the road. Bicyclists have to learn to share the road. People on e-bike, share the road. We have to share Bayshore and the riverwalk. It has to be shared. We have to educate young people. We do. We don't have to be at odds with young people. Where in the hell do people go when you know for yourself we don't even have sidewalks in our own community? If young people every now and then want to come to Bayshore, you know what people should say? We done build something that everybody could share. I had the opportunity the other night to take my grandchildren down to the aquarium. Had never been in that part of town since they built all of that. Outside restaurants on the sidewalks, grandchildren just in awe of seeing what downtown Tampa looked like because they know it don't look like nothing they come from. You know what I had to explain to them, people have to share. We have to live together. We have to learn all of that. So if you build this ordinance, if you move it forward and don't want to do no workshop, what it tells me and what I report to my community is that we have people that is bias against past policies, that has hurt this black community, and if this ordinance again reflects that the data then show that a disproportionate number of black children and black youth is being impacted, it says that this city is not willing to share. Thank you.

11:36:01AM Thank you. Next speaker, please. Start with your name. Karen kress, representing the Tampa Downtown Partnership. We brought copies of the presentation. I'll be quick and you'll hear some common themes today. The partnership has -- sorry. The partnership has a long history of developing programs to encourage safer conditions for people walking and biking. For context, we know the Mobility department plans to create a connected network of protected bike infrastructure, at least in the downtown area. Help us find the funding to get this done faster as there is ample evidence this will be the game changer. Next you'll hear from our intern audrey everett who did great research on best practices and trends from other cities, but first, here are our high-level recommendations at this time. So enforcement. Not all trails serve the same function. Riverwalk and Bayshore trails are destinations serving as recreation, fitness, and commuting corridor, maybe different from some of the other trails in the city. Education and encouragement. Let's utilize our local experts, advocates, and technology to strike a balance that accomplishes our goals. Engineering and SMART design. Using the riverwalk as an example, this is a floating dock, let's narrow and widen the trails to give people that space to linger so they are not kind of in the way of more of the through traffic. And then in conclusion, we still have work to do. Let's focus on data collection, developing a common language and definitions, placing visual cues to slow people done. In order for the ordinance to be done in an intentional way, more thorough plan must be developed with the help of the community and the Tampa Police Department. Next you'll hear audrey about some of the national trends that we've learned. Audrey. I have been conducting research specifically on e micromobility. Those e-bikes, and e-scooters, and the best safety practices nationally. Our key ingredient that we're seeing here is that separated and protected space, spaces for bikes is also helping alleviate issues with e-bikes and also risky behavior. This is really Tampa's opportunity to be forward thinking and provide solutions that balance needs for everyone. Next slide. So these e-bikes have come in recently. Cities across the nation are now having to deal with what do we do with them and where do they belong? This is an important piece of the conversation as well as we do have control over our shared program, which is -- we also need to look at what people are doing with their personal vehicles. Next slide. The approaches across Florida and across the nation are not consistent. So this is really our chance to be the leaders here. Something that somebody else was talking on before was data. We really do need to get more data on this to learn exactly when, where, and why these incidents are occurring. It's not sufficient enough to just be having e-mails. We need to be tracking this. Something impressive that city of st. petersburg is doing, any crashes involving an e-bike or bike is reported directly to their public safety department, so they actually have a running track record so they can actually know where they need to be targeting safety and what to do. Research across the board shows that if we are dealing with issues in high pedestrian areas of mixed modal trails that are both destinations and transportation corridors in and of themselves, the best thing to do is to also have protected cycle tracks running parallel to those trails. That helps get some of our speedy users off of that trail and it doesn't force them to go into the way of pedestrians to feel safe. So in portland, for example, they saw 45% decrease of those speedy riders on their mixed modal trail just by putting up a cycle path. We saw something similar in atlanta where one in three people beforehand felt safe and preferred to use that mixed modal trail and then after implementing just a pop-up lane just to test it out, 1 in 15 people, it went down. People felt more safe using that instead. It alleviated that space for more pedestrians. Through this research, I can't help but see it everywhere now. I saw a great example of this when I was visiting miami recently. But what I want you guys to take away is that design needs to precedent this enforcement, right? We need to have cues on the riverwalk and on those trails with high pedestrian use that signal to people that they need to slow down. It makes it easier for them to make the behaviors that we want to see and subconsciously discourages the behaviors we don't want to see, whether that is with the two-way indications, something in the middle of the walking path to break up the traffic and to slow people down, it makes it harder to cut across and do wheelies, do whatever places for people to pull off to the side to stare at the water, relax. How can we serve everyone and their needs instead of just standing.

11:41:46AM Thank you very much. Next speaker. Start with your name, please. My name is paula flores. I am an avid bike rider and a board member of walk bike Tampa. On December 15, walk bike Tampa submitted a letter expressing our deep concern about the proposed amendments to the city's park regulations. We are offended by some of the rebuttal from TPD and I urge you to seek other consult on some of those answers. While these changes appear focused on the riverwalk and Bayshore, their impacts would extend far beyond the locations without effectively reducing conflicts where congestion actually occur. So we urge the City Council to oppose this ordinance as written in its current form. Please, workshop it and engage other community members and other advocacy organizations. We do honestly fully support appropriate speed management on our busiest downtown trails. Don't get us wrong. These amendments do not accomplish that goal. Our letter outlined six major issues and concerns. I'll focus on just two. First, the ordinance allows electric bicycles and other devices to not exceed 10 miles. Yes, the way it is written does sound like a manufacturer's requirement. If this is truly a speed limit like it is intended to be, then say so. Be clear. Post consistently along the trails what the speed limit is and not just at the entry points like the signs that we've seen today. And, of course, pair it with education and outreach long before you start enforcing. Second, this ordinance would apply to all City of Tampa trails, not just the riverwalk and Bayshore trail. That includes major multiuse regional corridors designed to function as transportation corridors, not just recreational paths. Applying a blanket ten mile an hour speed limit along for long distance trails is neither reasonable nor practical. Enforcement would also be problematic on trails with on street segments such as the new west riverwalk and green artery and creating unclear boundaries and inconsistent enforcement. Most city trails do not experience high pedestrian congestion. So imposing restrictive citywide speed limits would unfairly impact cyclists, any bike commuters like myself and many others, undermining the mobility purpose for some of these other corridors as they were designated to serve. Regulations do -- that could severely limit bicycle use on the trails could be in conflict with the purpose and the funding mechanisms for these trails. For these reasons, we respectfully ask you to oppose the proposed trail amendments. Let's work on coming up with real solutions that address all the safety issues that we all agree on. Thank you very much.

11:44:54AM Thank you, paula. Next speaker, start with your name. I am city resident, Tampa resident Christine acosta. Small business owner and also on the board of walk bike Tampa. I also echo the request that you workshop this issue so we can do much better than what we have before us. Among the many reasons that this warrants a pause and deeper dive is that the Florida Legislature, house bill 243 and senate bill 382 are related to electric bicycles. And if approved, these bills would go into effect in just 15 months, July 1st, 2027. A couple of points on this prospective legislation that I'll bring to your attention. The shared use pathways, electric riders using shared pathways in Parks and Recreation areas would be required to yield to pedestrians and provide audible signal before passing. This is a best practice that is already in place all over the country. And I teach it as a best practice when I teach bicycle safety and use materials provided by the league of american bicyclists. There is going to be a new definition for electric bikes that have more significant motors. A motor larger than 750 watts and capable of speeds, especially these high speeds that are mentioned on Bayshore in particular, over 28 miles an hour. These would be classified as electric motorcycles. Now, the truth is, we see these all over our community already, and they are misunderstood and misinterpreted as electric bikes. They are not. They are electric motorcycles. And this is why you're getting such feedback, especially on Bayshore. The bill proposes driver education courses that would be revised to include content about sharing the road. What is a sharrow. Some people call it a prayer-o, don't kill me. Exactly what do we need to do to share a road for the modal users. There will be at least 25 questions on the Florida driver's license exams that can pertain to covering safe electric bike operation and would be added to the driver safety course. Lastly but possibly most important, the point I want to share with you is that the new state legislation would require crash reporting. Certain crash reports would be required to include electric bike and electric related vehicles for the data that we need to be more -- have greater knowledge of where our crashes are happening. And to maintain -- the state will maintain crash statistics. So please, let's workshop this and do better. Thank you.

Lynn Hurtak

11:47:55AM Thank you very much. Next. Please state your name. Casey young, friends of the Tampa riverwalk staff. We wanted to be here today to just also echo what everyone is saying about the importance of the workshop for this. We want the riverwalk to be a safe place and think there are a lot of things that need to go into that with this ordinance that need to be discussed. We would like to workshop this as well. Thank you.

11:48:22AM Thank you very much. Next. If there's anybody else who wishes to speak on this item, if you could, please stand now so we make sure we have everyone we need. Okay. Thank you very much. Please state your name. This picture is of the signs that are on the multimodal trail on manhattan. We don't have those, evidently. I don't know. I don't know where they are at. Why they are not on the riverwalk, I don't know. It kind of makes sense. The other painted lines make sense. You know, I find this very, very interesting. Somebody sent me a text and said, why are there no receipts? I'm like, oh, that is really interesting. Because there's no data been presented about this. I've seen it happen. People say, oh, three or four people are really upset about this and everybody gets all up in arms. Three or four people is not a hundred people or a thousand people. How many people have actually been hurt by the situation. The next question I have for you, if kids can't do tricks in a park, because all of this is city parks or county parks, if kids can't do tricks in a park, where are they supposed to do it? Also, I think it's interesting, we're asking for workshops but really and truly what happened here is they brought forth an ordinance without having any public meetings. There have been no public meetings about this anywhere in the city. It came straight to you. Let's do this. I'm going to be honest with you. I worked at job corps between d.c., baltimore, annapolis for two years. I had maybe 4% white kids. Almost everybody else there was African American. I took a busload of students to the dmv every week by myself. I never ever had a problem. One of the counseling statements I gave them before we went, I said you cannot stand together in large groups because it freaks white people out. It is the truth. It is the truth. We have to figure out where the equal balance is. I want to see the data. I'm sorry, but Chief Bennett is a data guy, data guy, data guy, but nobody showed up here with any data. I want kids to learn this. Don't tell me you're going to be on the news, because guess what, my kids see the news come on and they leave. They are like, I don't want to watch this crap. One other matter, my husband has started bicycling. It scares the SH -- out of me. I'm scared to death he will end up dead. He has his bike lit up like a Christmas tree just to ride from the parking lot to where they can actually get to ride. We've got to take all these things into consideration. This isn't about one person or one neighborhood or one community. When you make this rule, it hits everybody. These signs have been on the manhattan trail since I moved here. What's changed? Who is going to enforce it? And where is the line going to be drawn? You haven't even put these other almost free things in place, painting the arrows up there, putting the signs up there. You haven't even put those in place that you want to start punishing kids and grown-ups. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

11:51:42AM Next speaker. Start with your name. This will be the last public speaker on this hearing. I was prepared to come up here and just fight, fight, fight. I love the community. The community has spoken. They want a workshop. I think that is the right thing to do, right? Because all the information, I'm data driven. Where is the data? If council -- this is a pet peeve with me when I hear you guys up here. If you are getting complaints and you are outlining, hey -- because the last meeting, we're getting so many complaints, hundreds is what I heard, why isn't it brought up to the dais to have a conversation saying, hey, other council members, I'm getting a lot of complaints about this before an ordinance is created. So communication is not just key with us, communication is key with you guys also up there. This ordinance goes further out than Bayshore and riverwalk. Goes to copeland park, my community, Rowlett Park, my community. So it is larger than just Bayshore and riverwalk. So I think providing information, data, if you don't have the data, council member Maniscalco, I agree with you. Why can't it be education before? If the workshop is not slated until March, then guess what, create your robust education now on things that they should be doing to get prepared for that possible ordinance. And then track it. If you see there is an improvement, you may not have to do an ordinance. Again, there's no way that -- people should be fined. I don't agree with that. It's not the kids that are going to be fined. It is going to be the parents that are going to be fined. With TECO going up, rent going up, another $75 may break somebody. So I think this has to be well thought out. I love the ideas that the other groups had in regards to how are you testing this and looking in other places? Connie burton said share. We should share. I walk -- used to -- all the time. But didn't understand, because I'm just walking. But I hear somebody coming up behind me saying bike, bike, bike, I'm like, okay, which side am I supposed to go on? Education is very important. Workshop is very important and being very intentional on how we resolve and mold this together to work together. Thank you.

Luis Viera

11:54:29AM Again, this is not dealing with this issue. I wanted to confirm, alan cohen is my nomination. Alternate, Jason marlow, because I may not be here for that. I apologize that I have to leave at this time. I wanted to thank the chairman. I've been chair before in 2019. Being chairman or chairwoman of City Council is very, very difficult. You try to find a way through, and it's hard. It's always hard. I just wanted to thank you, sir.

Alan Clendenin

11:55:01AM I try.

Luis Viera

11:55:01AM Everybody, thank you.

Alan Clendenin

11:55:04AM That concludes public comment. We could have council discussion. I want to frame this issue. This item is the second reading of a proposed ordinance. So right now in front of council, we have the choice. We can vote this up, vote this down, or continue it. Depending on the outcome of the vote, we can have further discussion as insinuated in previous discussions. What is the will of council? Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

11:55:43AM We'll see where this goes. But I motion to vote this down and take this issue to an April 23rd workshop with two public meetings in the interim.

Alan Clendenin

11:55:55AM Is there anybody -- let's start with this. Anybody that wants to read this ordinance? Keep it clean. Anybody who wants to read the ordinance? No. that being said, I have a motion to -- we have a motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from Councilman Carlson to -- what would be the proper reading of that?

Martin Shelby

11:56:21AM My suggestion is you take it step by step. You have three motions rolled into one.

Alan Clendenin

11:56:25AM One at a time. This is a motion to reject or deny --

Lynn Hurtak

11:56:31AM I motion to deny the ordinance.

Martin Shelby

11:56:33AM What is the file number?

Lynn Hurtak

11:56:35AM 2025-8, chapter 16 and 23.5.

Alan Clendenin

11:56:41AM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak to deny file e2025-8 chapter 16 and 23.5. Second from Councilman Carlson. Please record your vote.

Martin Shelby

11:56:56AM Do you want to have discussion on the motion?

Alan Clendenin

11:56:57AM Do you have a discussion to deny? Discussion to deny, Councilman Maniscalco?

Guido Maniscalco

11:57:02AM I have a question. Instead of denying, can we continue it to a date not set until after the workshop kind of thing?

Alan Clendenin

11:57:10AM That would be out of order because the motion on the floor is to deny.

Lynn Hurtak

11:57:17AM Can I answer his question? So the question is, what I would love to do is be able to pull this back in a different form after we have a workshop on it. But our attorney is telling us we have to separate those three things. That's what I'm doing.

Alan Clendenin

11:57:35AM If that is your intent that you rescind that motion and continue this to a future, future --

Martin Shelby

11:57:42AM You cannot do that. It is a noticed public hearing that has to be continued to a date, time and location.

Alan Clendenin

11:57:49AM That's what I'm saying. To a future date. Pick a future date that you know you'll have a workshop before that time.

Lynn Hurtak

11:57:55AM I'm the maker of the motion. I'll say, no, I'm not going to do that. I feel this ordinance needs to be rewritten -- I want it rewritten significantly enough after hearing from the public.

Bill Carlson

11:58:08AM We have to have a first reading on a new document.

Alan Clendenin

11:58:10AM Very good. That is the intent. Everybody understands the intent. Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

11:58:15AM I don't know what rewritten means. I know what that means. But what form after the two workshops and how are you going to write it, in what form?

Guido Maniscalco

11:58:29AM Make suggestions after the workshop sessions. We bring it back for first reading after the workshop, after we have that bigger discussion.

Alan Clendenin

11:58:36AM We're not workshopping it right now. The motion on the floor is to deny this motion. We have a motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. We have a second from Councilman Carlson. All the rest will be subsequent business. All those in favor of the motion say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it unanimously. Okay. This motion has died. Now in new business today, you can bring up a motion to have --

Martin Shelby

11:59:04AM The motion has passed. The ordinance has died.

Alan Clendenin

11:59:07AM The motion has passed. The ordinance has died.

Bill Carlson

11:59:11AM Can we do it now since the public is here?

Alan Clendenin

11:59:15AM No. we'll do it during new business.

Guido Maniscalco

11:59:18AM I will support a workshop so the people know when it comes.

Lynn Hurtak

11:59:21AM I just want to let the public know that the first available workshop date is April 23rd. We will publicly notify you, but April 23rd is what I will motion because that is the first workshop date that has space on it. In the meantime, I would also like to work with staff and TPD to have public meetings. I know the city will do their best to put that information out. And I will share it as well. I know other council members will as well. Look forward to that motion. I will try to snip it after council today and put it on social media.

Alan Clendenin

11:59:55AM Thank you. The reason why I said bring this back in new business, I want to remind council, part of this stuff is order and predictability. Moving things around on the agenda, people have expectations. If we don't stick to business and stick to the pattern, we really need to do a better job of making sure we follow the agenda, follow what is approved because people have expectations. They adjust their schedules to be here. That is the reason why I want -- Councilman Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

12:00:22PM If I may, so you're going to bring up the workshop motion in new business.

Lynn Hurtak

12:00:27PM Yes.

Guido Maniscalco

12:00:28PM Would you consider, if you want to make the motion along with this that in the meantime between now and the workshop that since the communications department is ready to go with this robust educational component, how we word it, we'll figure it out at new business, but in the meantime go out in the community and say we want you to be safe on the riverwalk. I brought up riverwalk concerns.

Alan Clendenin

12:00:49PM Stop for a second. Again, this is all discussion for new business.

Guido Maniscalco

12:00:53PM Just for something to Hurtak to think about.

Alan Clendenin

12:00:56PM Bring that up in new business. [ sounding gavel ] we really are pressed for time. Councilman Viera has left. His item was 66. We had an agenda review to move that item before lunch so he could be a part of the conversation. Can I get a motion to move 66 to after Councilman Viera returns.

Lynn Hurtak

12:01:19PM So moved.

Alan Clendenin

12:01:20PM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All in favor, aye? Opposed? Ayes have it. Before lunch, we need to act on the Charter Review Commission. We have two items of business. One is to adopt the resolution appointing the members of the Charter Review Commission that the council has nominated. Mr. Shelby.

Martin Shelby

12:01:42PM And also designating the facilitator and legal counsel. Have that in front of you. Although before you do that, it is incomplete. If you look down where it says City Council alternate --

Alan Clendenin

12:01:55PM I'm getting there.

Martin Shelby

12:01:56PM I would rather not have it move until you have that decided.

Alan Clendenin

12:02:00PM Do that one first?

Martin Shelby

12:02:01PM Please.

Alan Clendenin

12:02:03PM We have to fill an alternate member of the Charter Review Commission. That is before council. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

12:02:12PM My nomination for alternate is alison hewitt.

Alan Clendenin

12:02:17PM We have a nomination from Councilwoman Hurtak. Don't need a second. Is there another nomination?

Bill Carlson

12:02:23PM I'll make his nomination, Jason marlow.

Alan Clendenin

12:02:26PM Nomination of Jason marlow. Any other nominations? The nominations are closed. [ sounding gavel ] I heard alison hewitt first. All those wishing for alison hewitt, please signify by raising your hand. We have three. All those for Jason marlow, signify by raising your hand.

Bill Carlson

12:03:07PM Can we count Viera's vote?

Martin Shelby

12:03:10PM That's why it would be nice to have him here.

Lynn Hurtak

12:03:12PM The thing is, it was his choice.

Martin Shelby

12:03:14PM It was not his choice. It was his business.

Lynn Hurtak

12:03:17PM Again, that is a choice.

Alan Clendenin

12:03:19PM Water under the bridge. That motion, anybody like to reconsider their vote? Anybody like to reconsider their vote?

Martin Shelby

12:03:35PM By the way, for the purposes of the record and the transcript, I don't know how that vote is recorded, madam clerk, do you know?

Alan Clendenin

12:03:41PM Right now, I will for the record, the vote was alison hewitt 3. That would be Councilman Miranda, Councilman Maniscalco, and Councilwoman Hurtak. Jason marlow three, that would be Alan Clendenin, Councilwoman Young, and Councilman Carlson. Would nine like to reconsider their vote to break the tie? Otherwise we have to wait for Viera to get back to break the tie which we know what that will end up being. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

12:04:10PM I'm just going to say that there is a lot of white men on this. That's the reason. I didn't want another white man. No offense. I think we need extra representation on this. That's specifically why I wanted a woman.

Alan Clendenin

12:04:31PM Any other discussion? That dies. Is there any point to continue this -- Mr. Shelby --

Martin Shelby

12:04:40PM I did not know Councilman Viera was coming back. Do you know what time?

Alan Clendenin

12:04:46PM We don't know what time.

Martin Shelby

12:04:50PM Well, I suggest what we do is let's see where this thing ends up and have it done hopefully before the end of the year, which would be today's meeting.

Alan Clendenin

12:05:04PM That being said, we're going to take lunch. Council is adjourned, and we will reconvene at 1:30. 1:30. [ sounding gavel ] [lunch recess]

01:35:26PM Happy Hanukkah. Merry Christmas. Welcome to City Council. Best show on cable television. I would like to call this meeting to order. Roll call.

Charlie Miranda

01:35:33PM Here.

Guido Maniscalco

01:35:34PM Here.

Lynn Hurtak

01:35:35PM Here.

Naya Young

01:35:38PM Oh, here.

Bill Carlson

01:35:39PM Here.

Alan Clendenin

01:35:41PM Here.

Clerk

01:35:43PM We have a physical quorum.

Alan Clendenin

01:35:47PM Thank you so much. Where we are on the agenda? Any request for legislative matters? Public safety committee. Council member Miranda, move item 6-9.

Charlie Miranda

01:35:59PM I move item 6-9.

Guido Maniscalco

01:36:01PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

01:36:03PM All in favor, say aye.

Lynn Hurtak

01:36:04PM I have something to say.

Alan Clendenin

01:36:06PM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

01:36:07PM Thank you. So where did I even put it. I am going to vote for item 9 today, but I specifically asked for staff to work on finding some information on cost going forward particularly cost for police and other communities. They had issues last year, and they weren't able to get me a lot of data. I think this is a lot of money per person. So I still want some -- oh, there it is. I am going to vote to approve this contract so TFR is not left without a contract of service required, but I asked Miss Kopesky to work with Chief Tripp and DeAnna Faggart for cost and utilization of services and compare costs to other municipalities. I wanted to say that.

Alan Clendenin

01:37:02PM In the future, request to pull the item.

Lynn Hurtak

01:37:06PM Okay.

Alan Clendenin

01:37:09PM Motion and a second. Ayes have it. Neighborhood affairs committee. Council member Young, move items 10-21.

Naya Young

01:37:19PM 10-17, and I pulled 18.

Alan Clendenin

01:37:23PM So sorry.

Naya Young

01:37:25PM And 19-21.

Alan Clendenin

01:37:27PM A motion to move items 10-17. 19, 20 and 21. We have a second from council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed, the ayes have it. Thank you. Infrastructure committee, 22-33.

Guido Maniscalco

01:37:42PM Did we pull anything between those two?

Alan Clendenin

01:37:44PM I don't have any between those two.

Guido Maniscalco

01:37:48PM Item 22-33.

Alan Clendenin

01:37:51PM Motion from council member Maniscalco. A seconded from council member Miranda. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it. Council member Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

01:37:58PM Big item, number 34.

Guido Maniscalco

01:38:00PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

01:38:01PM A motion from council member Miranda. Seconded from council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it unanimously. Council member Carlson, move item 35.

Lynn Hurtak

01:38:10PM He can't.

Naya Young

01:38:11PM It was continued.

Alan Clendenin

01:38:13PM Item 35 was continued? How I did miss That. Never mind, Councilman Carlson. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

01:38:28PM Move 36-39.

Guido Maniscalco

01:38:30PM Second. All in favor, say aye. A motion to set the public hearing.

01:38:38PM Motion to file review hearings to be schedule February 5, 1:30 p.m., 315 e. Kennedy, third floor, Tampa, Florida 33602.

Alan Clendenin

01:38:50PM A second from council member Miranda. All in favor, say aye. Opposed, ayes have it.

Bill Carlson

01:38:55PM Mr. Chair, point of order. Jason marlow said he has withdrawn his name from the charter review. If you want to move that now or wait. Only one candidate -- just in terms of scheduling. Only one candidate now, alison.

Alan Clendenin

01:39:16PM I think what would be appropriate with that information, we have to take the vote, and people can change their vote. We will move this and move that as soon as we finish this. 54, 57, 58, 59 and 60. I need a motion.

Lynn Hurtak

01:39:32PM Motion.

Charlie Miranda

01:39:33PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

01:39:35PM All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it. Thank you. So let's go back to the Charter Review Commission.

Lynn Hurtak

01:39:41PM I move to nominate alison hewitt.

Charlie Miranda

01:39:48PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

01:39:49PM A motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from council member Miranda. All in favor, say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Very good. That is for the alternate position for the Charter Review Committee. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

01:40:02PM With all due respect, we moved this back to the end of the meeting. So I think we should probably get second readings done.

Alan Clendenin

01:40:13PM The issue is, it would be good to have this -- we really needed to get this before lunch for him -- something he needs to do before we close business today. I see other mics down here. Anybody have anything to say on this? We have the resolution -- Mr. Shelby.

Martin Shelby

01:40:30PM Not yet, not until I have a few minutes to put it in the paperwork to get it to the clerk. I just scratched out words to be determined and wrote alison hewitt, and I need to be able to get on my word processor and get a finished --

Alan Clendenin

01:40:47PM We can still vote on that.

Martin Shelby

01:40:49PM Is that okay with you? As long as I give it to you.

Alan Clendenin

01:40:52PM Yeah, okay.

Bill Carlson

01:40:53PM Can you also read out the names? I saw Michael bishop.

Alan Clendenin

01:40:59PM Patience, everybody. Where the council is now, we have a Charter Review Commission. Per our charter, we are establishing this committee to look at the charter for the City of Tampa. For the public, during the next year, coming up in January. Each council member had an opportunity to appoint one person. And then the mayor has an opportunity to appoint two folks. Then the mayor had an opportunity appoint an alternative member. And the council had an alternate member. We passed the alternate by council vote for alison hewitt to be our alternate. The following members have been nominated by members of council for district 12, myself, I nominate garrett greco. District 2, council member Maniscalco, Stephen benson. For district 3, council member Lynn Hurtak, bobby creighton. District 4, Bill Carlson, bill shafino. District 5, council member Naya Young nominated ashley marlow. District 6, council member Charlie Miranda nominated becky kirk. And district 8, nominated alan kohn. And for the mayor's appointments: kathleen shanahan, Ron castille, and the alternate is sue carlton. We have a resolution before us that institutionalized this process and including the facilitator and the attorney that will be working with the committee to evaluate and provide recommendations to council on -- I'm sorry, the commission recommendations to the council to suggest changes to the charter, which will be vetted by this council and then sent to the mayor for signature and things passed will be put on the ballot for the public to be able to vote on. Mr. Shelby, do you have something else to say?

Martin Shelby

01:43:01PM No, sir. Only by passage of this resolution today will institutionalize that and make your nominations -- they will be appointments now.

Alan Clendenin

01:43:12PM Appointments.

Martin Shelby

01:43:14PM Again, the designation. I don't know if you want to -- I think -- that is sufficient. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

01:43:19PM Council member Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

01:43:22PM I want to commend my colleagues. These are amazing picks. Each and every one here. I know all of them. It is a really -- going to be a great commission. I am looking forward to this. Thanks.

Bill Carlson

01:43:35PM Can I say one thing? I mentioned this couple of weeks ago thati picked my person, bill shapino jr., because he's a former bar president. In the past, where there is a dispute between City Council and the mayor, they have gone to a former bar president to intervene and I want to make sure we have the best possible legal -- they are not giving legal advice but legal perspective of how to legally maneuver some of these issues.

Alan Clendenin

01:44:04PM Before we move this resolution, I would like to congratulate Martin Shelby through my office and Hagar Kopesky and amazing our lawyer team with the City of Tampa, Miss Hahn, everybody who had a hand in crafting this. It was quite an undertaking and a lot of work behind the scenes. One moment in time, but people don't realize part of the stress point because we needed to get this done before the meeting concluded because it's the last meeting of the year. And it has been so stressful trying to move the agenda forward. Thank you. We have the resolution before us for the Charter Review Commission. All in favor, say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it unanimously. Thank you. Very good. Mr. Shelby.

Martin Shelby

01:44:56PM I have one more resolution. And that is the process of accepting the limited service agreement for the provision of legal services to the charter review for Attorney Kenneth tinkler of carlton fields.

Lynn Hurtak

01:45:11PM So moved.

Charlie Miranda

01:45:13PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

01:45:13PM All in favor, say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Shelby. Good work.

Martin Shelby

01:45:19PM Thank you, council.

Alan Clendenin

01:45:21PM Very good work. That is like a huge weight off of us. A major weight off the shoulders. Okay. Let's see where are we at. We did 41. Now going to 42. We already opened these public hearings so now we are ready. 42.

Emma Gregory

01:45:49PM Good afternoon, council. Emma Gregory, Legal Department. Today, we are here for item 42, second reading on an ordinance proposing an increase to the multimodal impact fee. For some background, the city held its first reading on December 4, and before that, we held two workshops in September and October. So the city has a multimodal transportation impact fee. This is a type of impact fee that we are authorized to impose under exception 163.31801 Florida statutes. As we discussed before, the fee has not been updated since 1989. So this proposed ordinance adopts the December 2025 impact fee study that makes a finding of extraordinary circumstances and replaces exhibit 1 of chapter 25, which is the fee schedule, with a new fee schedule, which would be phased in over four years. And with an effective date of July 1. So I submitted a substitute ordinance and a memo updating the effective date from June 1 to July 1. In the interim period between first reading and now, there was some legislation introduced that our recommendation was just to kick out that effective date one month. So that would help us administer it more effectively, in our opinion. And it strikes out some out-of-date language in section 25-69. So we are here for any questions that council may have. And the -- the council received some communications yesterday, I believe. And we have our consultant kathryn tellis here to address some of the issues that were raised.

Alan Clendenin

01:47:56PM Thank you. Question? Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

01:48:02PM Miss Poynor Mentioned this morning in public comment that the other fee studies have been done. But somehow, we haven't been given a copy of it. It seems like if that had been done, we should have seen that in this context and understood what fees we may raise up. Is it true that the study is done but we haven't yet gotten it?

Emma Gregory

01:48:26PM I think there was some confusion there. To my recollection, council made a motion in 2022 or 2023 asking for a study to be done, and we have been working on it in that time. There had been draft studies circulated internally for review, but as soon as we have our study, we present it to City Council.

Bill Carlson

01:48:51PM Can we get a copy of the draft as it stands now? We directed the draft study to council before the December 4 hearing on the ordinance.

01:49:08PM The one you have all the fees? Not just this one, but all -- my question is, it seems like we have looked at the other -- the studies of the other fees in context with this so we could see -- the city --

01:49:25PM Or other fees. Apparently almost none of the fees have been raised in years, and based on public input, there was a study that was done on the other fees. And my -- my point is that if we are making a decision on this one, it seems like we would look at the other in context instead of one at a time out of context so we can see what needs to be raised at once.

Dana Crosby Collier

01:49:46PM If I may, Dana Crosby Collier, city attorney's office. The study to which you refer are the land development code and construction fee studies. And those were items 66 on the agenda today, and they have been continued, but that is separate and apart from the impact fee study.

Alan Clendenin

01:50:03PM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

01:50:06PM A different department. I have requested those as well from staff. So hopefully, we will get them.

Bill Carlson

01:50:15PM You all have heard me say -- not you all because I never really dealt with you all, but this administration has a reputation of not being transparent. When information is not given like that -- not by you all, but I am just speaking out. It reinforces the idea they are not transparent. I think whoever is watching that might have it will circulate that so the public can see it.

Alan Clendenin

01:50:40PM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

01:50:41PM If -- Miss Gregory, if I am correct, we need a -- why is the word escaping me. A supermajority for this vote. I am saying we might need to hold this until we have council member Viera based on the first reading. So before we get very far, I wanted to bring that up.

Alan Clendenin

01:51:07PM I will entertain a motion.

Lynn Hurtak

01:51:09PM I move that we move this item further down on the agenda.

Alan Clendenin

01:51:13PM Until the arrival of council member Viera.

Lynn Hurtak

01:51:15PM Until the arrival of council member Viera. A motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Is there a second? A second from Councilman Carlson. All in favor, say aye. Opposed, the ayes have it.

Emma Gregory

01:51:26PM Thank you very much. We will be back.

Alan Clendenin

01:51:28PM I know we have people here to speak to item 42. If you were hear to speak to 42, it will be heard when council member Viera returns. Very good. We are now at 43.

Dana Crosby Collier

01:51:43PM Dana Crosby Collier. City attorney's office. Eric Cotton, our development manager, is on the line. We are on 43 the land development code text amendment regarding the city parking requirements. If you recall, since we have been talking about this since the summer due to recent changes in state law. I have a powerpoint, it is very brief if you would like for me to present it. I also could -- okay, there we are. Okay. So I am not getting cooperation -- next slide, please.

Lynn Hurtak

01:52:24PM You can use --

Dana Crosby Collier

01:52:32PM I can use the elmo. I came prepared. Wolf. Here we go. We will go to wolf.

Lynn Hurtak

01:52:37PM No clicker up there.

Dana Crosby Collier

01:52:39PM It is not working. Okay, so each year, we do our two cycles of publically initiated text amendments. January of 2024, we had in ybor parking standards and security amendment in that cycle; however, it got pulled out through the process. It came back separately from the July -- the January 2024 cycle, and council adopted it September 5 of 2024. Meanwhile, when we were doing all that, the senate adopted 180. The governor signed it, and part of senate bill 180 is we cab bot adopt any land development regulation that is more restrictive or burdensome. We came in settlement to discuss the issues we had discovered with regards to the ybor parking ordinance. We have been made aware of those from a local lawyer. And at that time, you -- in October, you approved a resolution transmitting proposed language to the Planning Commission for consistency review. They did find that our amendment is consistent with the comprehensive plan. Just give you a real quick summary of what is before you today. Essentially, what we are doing is going back to what was in effect August 1, 2024. The ordinance in effect at that time in 2019-54 requires the requirement of parking lots and staff Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and removes the requirement that each lot has a security guard and removes the requirement for principal use parking lot operators for operation and safety plan to the City staff. BLC approvals go back to approval by the administrator rather than the board. And reverted landscape and buffer requirements to previous standards. As Miss Gregory Alluded to, a bill provided in the house, senate bill 840. A bill that is seeking to correct some of the damage of senate bill 180. We are tracking it very closely. It does not have a companion yet. One of the great things it does this year in 2026, it allows us -- the date for no more restrictive or burdensome amendments goes until October of 2027. It brings it back to July of 2026, which is really good. Which means that all the things we put on hold in the last year will be able to pull back out, off the shelves, and bring them back to you including the July 2024 cycle application we held back restoring the ybor parking language and also it will help us with our comp plan amendment update as well. We have our fingers crossed that senate bill 840 gets a companion that passes the house, passes the senate for signature so we can resume business as usual. So today, this is first reading of our Ybor City parking requirements taking them back to what they used to be.

Alan Clendenin

01:55:38PM Council members have any questions?

Lynn Hurtak

01:55:42PM I want to say thank you so much for the update on that. Because this bill was one of the biggest -- ordinance that we are having to where it replaces one of the most important ordinances used be cities to show the legislature that we are impeding on a public safety issue. This was something that I worked with TPD on for a long time. Something that they wanted. And so the fact we had to rescind it was pretty terrible. And makes their job a lot harder. I look forward to being able to put this back in place hopefully in July instead of having to wait another year and a half. But in the meantime, there are no rules so we have to put something in place. I unfortunately understand, but I really do appreciate you bringing this forward.

Alan Clendenin

01:56:34PM No further questions. Anyone in the public wishing to speak to this item? Hearing none. That's right, we had a bailey -- David. Are you online? Thank you. David? Can you hear me?

01:56:55PM We can hear you now. Very good. Go ahead. I understand sb-18 has been a disaster for the public and the private sector and rather litigate and freeze the clock, the city attorney's office decided to -- that it was too expensive and didn't do what a lot of other cities did, which is fight back. As a result, we have 840 headed toward legislature like Miss Dana Crosby Collier mentioned. But with that being said, I think there was an opportunity for us to stand up and not just go along for the ride. I was also disturbed to hear, yet again, the city attorney's office incorrectly state the powers and authorities of Mr. Dennis Fernandez, the BLC administrator, when decide what they call a roll-back text amendment. And we asked the city attorney's office to give clarification to this misstatement. And they sent a section of the code. I really think that they and you should read again because I can understand the difference between the word "review" and the word "approved." So in layman's terms Mr. Fernandez and staff are instructed to review actions, but not approve actions unless they are for nominal things like paint colors or fencing. Only the BLC commission, not staff, has the power to grant variances and improve entire site plans. Think of it this way. If the staff did have those powers, why would you have a commission at all? It pains me to say that Mr. Fernandez Has defied the ybor design guidelines, and the Department of Interior standards and have approved variances without public hearing and the result is without question. If you stop and walk around Historic Ybor, you will see the gashes that have been left in our landmark historic district. Mr. Fernandez is a good man and an advocate, and we can only that a superior has instructed him on what was done. At the end of the day, he is signing off on the site plans that defy the code. What am I asking you to do today? I am asking you to do what has been avoided for way too long, which is to meet with our neighborhood association one on one and see for yourself. Number two, use your power to stop Mr. Fernandez and other staff from approving site plans without a public hearing, which is a violation of code. Number three, I said this so many times, and I have to say it again. Not one good neighbor notice went out to our neighborhood association regarding this process. Not the September meeting, not the Planning Commission meeting, and not this meeting today. And this is shameful. It is absolutely shameful. What we got in response was that we complied with the code, which, as you all know, who sits around and reads every legal notice in the back of the "la gaceta?" Not us. It is very easy to communicate with our neighborhood association and again the city files do so.

02:00:04PM Thank you, David. Appreciate your time. Okay. Hearing nobody else from the public wishing to speak to this item? Hearing none.

Charlie Miranda

02:00:13PM 42, right?

Alan Clendenin

02:00:18PM 43. The parking. Rolling back pending the outcome. Motion to close from council member Maniscalco. A second from -- anybody? Second? If you don't want to close the hearing, what else do you have to say?

Bill Carlson

02:00:31PM Can I -- he just -- he just said that there was not proper notice of the community and areas affected by this.

Alan Clendenin

02:00:40PM I will let staff answer that question of public notice.

Dana Crosby Collier

02:00:45PM Dana Crosby Collier, city attorney's office. With regards to land development code amendments, we do it twice a year. The notice requirement 166.041 of the Florida statutes. That standard notice for adoption of ordinance has it all cities must comply with. Now there are good neighbors -- as Mr. Bailey Mentioned, good neighbor notice provisions in our code, and the code directs our applicants specifically in certain cases to provide good neighbor notice. For example, BLC, ARC, HPC, grand tree removal, hearings, and d.e.s. Standard land development code we do not provide notice individually to all the citizens. We provide it in 1.66041 of the statutes.

Alan Clendenin

02:01:39PM Just to be clear, there is intent to keep us in compliance with Florida statute and law, and our hope is that this going to be changed and roll this back here shortly?

Dana Crosby Collier

02:01:53PM Yes, sir, that's correct. We need to put something back on the senate bill 180, anything restrictive -- void absentia. Void since it was enacted -- since that was enacted, we didn't have anything on the books. And efforts to restore exactly what we had in August 1, 2024.

Alan Clendenin

02:02:16PM Absent this, we have nothing.

Dana Crosby Collier

02:02:19PM We have nothing.

Alan Clendenin

02:02:26PM Do you have something else?

Bill Carlson

02:02:28PM You answered my question. If we don't approve this, there is nothing to regulate it. It is worse if we do nothing.

Alan Clendenin

02:02:36PM This is the best choice of bad. Okay.

Dana Crosby Collier

02:02:41PM For now, this is the best choice.

Alan Clendenin

02:02:43PM A motion to close in council member Maniscalco. Second from council member Miranda. All in favor, say aye. We already did public comment. That came and went. They already an opportunity for that. We had public comment. Then opportunity for public comment online on top of that. And then I actually after that, I called again. I called it twice. Yeah. Okay.

Guido Maniscalco

02:03:10PM We have a motion.

Charlie Miranda

02:03:13PM Leave it at that, but I will withdraw.

Alan Clendenin

02:03:16PM The hearing is closed. I am going -- who would like to read this?

Charlie Miranda

02:03:22PM I will read it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, item number 43, petition number 2025 chapter 8-27. Ordinance being presented for first reading consideration. Ordinance in the City of Tampa, Florida, related to the publicly initiated text amendment make regular visions to the City of Tampa Code of Ordinances amending section 27-178 parking requirements, providing for severabilities; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict therewith; provide an effective date. A motion from council member Miranda. A second from council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Oh, we have to record the vote.

Lynn Hurtak

02:04:03PM For a first reading?

Alan Clendenin

02:04:06PM That was the first reading. I am already confused. I don't need for you to confuse me more.

Charlie Miranda

02:04:13PM 20 some years ago for working on this, thank them.

Alan Clendenin

02:04:18PM All in favor. Opposed? The ayes have it unanimously.

Clerk

02:04:23PM Motion carried unanimously . Second reading is January 8, 2026, old city hall, 315 East Kennedy Boulevard, third into, Tampa, Florida, 33062.

Alan Clendenin

02:04:36PM Thank you. Item number 44.

Rebecca Johns

02:04:46PM Rebecca Johns, the second public hearing for the USF campus redevelopment agreement. First hearing was January 4, 2025. A few refreshers. This amendment is as a result of changes that were made to USF campus master plan approved by the state. This says if the campus master plan amendment added the stadium and some beds to the plan. This amendment to the development agreement only addresses the impact of the development to public facilities and services. This amendment does not approve the uses allowed on the land as that is outside the authority of the city pursuant to Florida statutes. Also, this amendments only addresses the impacts relate $to the stadium and increase in beds. Does not address any proposed future development of other USF land. I won't go through the specifics of the amendment as they were discussed in the first hearing; however, I'm here to answer any questions and USF here to answer any questions that you may have. Since this the second public hearing, a vote is required today.

Alan Clendenin

02:05:52PM So not just for the future to head things off. I want people to under stand what you just described. The authority of Tampa City Council regulating the future lands use at USF. Can you state that again so people -- people in the back can hear.

Rebecca Johns

02:06:12PM A specific statute thought addresses campus master plans. That statute. It specifically states that this process is exempt from chapter 163 which would be lands use. Only portion 163 that is applicable to this process is the notice requirements. This -- the statute goes through to state that the city's only role is to comment on and address the effect of the development to public facilities and services. So that -- that is water, wastewater, sewer, transportation, stuff like that. But we do not have the authority say, yes, we agree with what your proposed improvements are.

Alan Clendenin

02:06:55PM Thank you. Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

02:06:57PM Miss Johns Helped me with the response I sent to some of the constituents that e-mailed. Thank you for that. Just to say it another way, as you said the USF universities have a master plan. Not only the comprehensive plan and not under our code. Instead of coming before City Council, they go to the state and all the decisions and the ones that come -- not by us. And its other thing you said to us in the briefing is that -- like you said, this is just about the infrastructure connectivity and they even provide their own water, right.

Rebecca Johns

02:07:38PM So for this, yes, they use on-campus Wells. There are certain portions of the campus that, I think, have city services. And this is addressed in the original development agreement. For this, it is on-campus Wells.

Bill Carlson

02:07:54PM The other thing you told us in our briefing. If we turn down the provision of services, the state -- I read the law itself. Override this. It would be a wasted effort to turn this down.

Alan Clendenin

02:08:13PM Council member Maniscalco, would you like read the resolution?

Guido Maniscalco

02:08:17PM I just move the resolution for 44.

Lynn Hurtak

02:08:20PM Public comment.

Alan Clendenin

02:08:21PM You are right. That we have public comment for. Anybody in the public wishes to speak to item 44? Your big moment. As far as stormwater, wastewater, blah-blah-blah goes, it is my understanding that this master agreement does not change the flue for the claw. Okay. As long as it doesn't, I am okay with that. Once we start changing the flue for the claw, then we have a problem. Because currently, the folks that live around that golf course get flooded. Currently, the people who live around that golf course get flooded. That was two years ago before we had two hurricanes back to back. No, you don't have to pass this, but I want to make sure that everybody up there understands that and confirming whether or not changing the flue for that particular piece of property. Not only that, my understanding there are native-americans buried under that golf course. And, yes, that might be a little off-base, but you need keep that in the back of your head because personally I have a huge problem with USF becoming a developer, which is exactly what they intend to do eventually. I don't have a problem with the football field, but that is going to impact stormwater and wastewater if we do something there that doesn't belong there anyway. Thank you.

02:09:55PM Anybody else in the public who wishes to speak? Yes, ma'am, would you like to? Applies to the stadium. Does not apply to any other proposed future development.

02:10:09PM Thank you.

Guido Maniscalco

02:10:10PM Move to close.

Charlie Miranda

02:10:11PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

02:10:13PM All in favor. Opposed? Ayes have it. And council member Maniscalco, you moved the resolution. Who is the second? Council member Miranda second it. All in favor, say aye. Opposed, ayes have it. Thank you so much. Item number 45.

Ross Samons

02:10:32PM Ross Samons, and development --

Alan Clendenin

02:10:40PM Hold on. There you go. We got you now.

Ross Samons

02:10:43PM Again, Ross Samons, land Development Coordination, vac-20-06 ordinance with a previously approved vacating ordinance 2021-6 passed in January 14, 2021, vacating ordinance vacate two portions of right-of-way located south of 26th avenue north-of South Plymouth Street and of East Taliaferro Avenue, and of West Nebraska Avenue. Previously approved ordinance had certain conditions and one of those was five-year reverter to -- for the applicant to commit conviction within a five-year time period. This ordinance being presented today is to amend that condition and add an additional five-year reverter with the ordinance today. I am available if you have any questions.

Alan Clendenin

02:11:39PM Does council have any questions? Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

02:11:42PM Five years is a long time. Why hadn't anything been done?

Ross Samons

02:11:51PM I will let the applicant answer that question.

Alan Clendenin

02:11:53PM Told that question for the applicant. Ashley Drive, suite 4100. As ross -- I appreciate his staff report and presentation. It is straightforward, and I will answer your questions, Councilwoman Hurtak. We are seeking to amend that reverter clause to add an additional five years. Subject context, the subject right-of-way has been vacated currently, and we have been working to diligently advance the development of the property. You may recall me being here for a comprehensive planned map amendment and euclidian rezoning to CG this last year, and I believe the end of 2024. Both were approved by City Council. As you know, these process do take time and we separated our comprehensive plan map amendment from the rezoning as council likes as well. That adds additional time. We wanted to redevelop our property in a matter consistent with city codes. Some additional information that may help answer your question is there are property was originally rezoned twice in 2020 and 2021 through a PD process. Obviously, covid hit us in 2020. Things -- the market changed. Things changed. That delayed the process. And then when we got involved, we looked at the property holistically and what are the most flexible uses and this, that, and the other, and the previous PD was approved for multifamily and it opened up the use of this property. Hopefully that answers most of that question. But I can elaborate if you -- if that answers the majority of your questions.

Lynn Hurtak

02:13:37PM Yes. Do you have a map? I can pull -- and also the current property owner has been paying taxes, obviously maintaining this area currently. I know five years seems like a lot. But council, as you know, with the last items, we have LDC updates, comprehensive plan updates. Obviously, senate bill has moved of that around a little bit. But all this put together, five years is not a lot to start vertical construction. Also, I want to point out, I did research just this last year and this reverter clause is not something that is really used anymore. Goes back to the time when I was at the city. And I can tell you at all of 2025, no reverter clause on any development rezonings. I know five years sounds long, but I confirmed with my client that he is ready and willing and will redevelop the property within that time frame.

02:14:58PM Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

02:15:00PM To be clear, it is not five but ten now. It was not five. It was ten.

02:15:11PM Ten years to develop the property is a long time. Rezoning process ace loan through a PD processes talking six, eight months easy, if things goes smoothly, eats away at the five years.

02:15:27PM Irony, you know how we are with alleys and these right-of-ways. I don't know if this council would have approved the vacation. I don't know if you would have approved that. In this case, when it is developed, it is going to be a CG use adjacent to the house that is a nice buffer.

Lynn Hurtak

02:15:56PM Just so you know, if you put the map back up. That section, that is burrell park. This is definitely an area we want to see movement. That is why I wanted to put the map up, to remind people where we are talking about.

Alan Clendenin

02:16:16PM Very good. Any other questions for the applicant? Anyone in the public who wishes to speak to item? Motion to close from council member Miranda. Seconded from Councilwoman Hurtak. All in favor. Opposed? Aye have it. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

02:16:36PM Ordinance present for first reading of the ordinance of the City of Tampa amending order number 2021-6 passed and ordained January 14, 2021 vacated, closed, discontinued or abandoned two rights-of-way of of North Plymouth Street, of East Taliaferro Avenue, and of West Nebraska Avenue as more fully described below to extend the five-year reverter clause, five additional years allow more time to commence vertical construction, repealing conflicts, providing for severabilities and providing an effective date. Motion and a second. Ayes have it unanimously.

Clerk

02:17:21PM Motion carried unanimously with council member Viera absent at vote. January 8, 2026. 315 e. Kennedy, third floor, Tampa, Florida 33602.

Alan Clendenin

02:17:35PM Can I have a motion to open the 1:30 hearings.

Guido ?aniscalco

02:17:39PM Motion.

Charlie Miranda

02:17:41PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

02:17:42PM All in favor, say aye. Opposed. 1:30 public hearings are open. If you were here to speak on items 46 or 47, please stand, raise your right hand and be sworn in by our clerk. [Swearing in]

02:18:05PM Item number 46.

Camaria Pettis-Mackle

02:18:06PM Good afternoon, Camaria Pettis-Mackle from the Legal Department. Item number 46 is a review hearing with regards to the city application SU 1-25-54 for the property at 2901 North Albany Avenue. Petitioner is Miss Seema Patel, and Miss Coyle against of the petitioner. The petition is to have a dwelling multifamily unit. Staff denied the request, the application on October 10, 2025, on the basis that the application does not meet the criteria, the specific criteria in 27-132, part 1, which it does not have the act to an arterial or collector road. City Council, you are reviewing -- your packet right now, I have provided the proposed rules of procedures for City Council in order to conduct this hearing that. A copy of code section 27-61, that governs the review hearing process. And the staff report includes copies of -- or information regarding code section 27-132, which provides the two specific requirements for a multifamily dwelling unit. It also includes code section 27-129, general standards for special uses and code sections 27-130, which is regarding conditions and safeguards that City Council can impose. I also provided on the last page sample motions regarding this matter. As I previously stated, code section 27-61 govern this type of hearing, a review hearing. Specifically, code section 27-61, subsections j-3 states that this hearing is a de novo hearing, which means that you are sitting in the shoes of the Zoning Administrator. You can accept new evidence and new information in order to determine what you would like to do with this application. City staff should be online to provide an overview of the application and the decision of staff and why they denied the application. At the conclusion of the hearing, code section 27-61 states that the City Council can affirm the decision of the Zoning Administrator and deny the su-1 application, or you can overturn the decision of the Zoning Administrator and, therefore, approve the su-1 application. I'm available if you have any questions about the process

Alan Clendenin

02:20:52PM : have council had any ex-parte communication you would like to have received and filed? Hearing none. City staff. Presentation. Well, we can't hear you. You are muted.

Laura Marley

02:21:04PM Good afternoon, City Council.

Alan Clendenin

02:21:15PM We can hear you now. Start with your name.

Laura Marley

02:21:19PM Laura Marley, zoning coordinator. If I can share my screen, please.

Alan Clendenin

02:21:25PM I have no idea what that entails. Oh, it is coming up.

Laura Marley

02:21:47PM Can you see that?

Alan Clendenin

02:21:53PM We can see your screen now, thank you.

Laura Marley

02:21:55PM Petition for review for su-1 25-54. Petitioner and property owner is Seema Patel. Petitioner is Catherine Coyle, boggs engineering. Address 2901 North Albany Avenue and special use for a dwelling. Here is an overview of the property and location. Here is a copy of the site plan. Here a two-story multifamily residential building. It shows the parking and the access off of West St. Joseph street. The property is shown in the blue and the pink outline. And you can see where it is on st. Joseph street and north albany and to the north, the black line, that's west Columbus Drive. And that is an arterial. For the dwelling multifamily, the special use criteria has two. One of them has direct access to an arterial collector. Does not comply with that with the code. Located on the corner of albany and North West St. Joseph street, which are classified as local streets. B, it does meet the dimensional criteria of rm-24. It is in the West Tampa overlay and urban design has review it and found consistent with the overlay standards. If you have any questions, I'm here.

Alan Clendenin

02:23:41PM Does council have any questions? Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

02:23:45PM Yes? A property already existing?

Laura Marley

02:23:48PM Yes, ma'am.

Lynn Hurtak

02:23:49PM Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

02:23:50PM Any other questions? Applicant. Catherine Coyle with boggs engineering, 607 South Alexander Street, Plant City. Before I begin the presentation, I do want to read the opening statement from the property owner from her own words. That is located on the narrative report that was handed out. I purchased this property in December 2024 with the intention of fixing it up and renting it out to working-class people needing affordable housing. It is her intent to meet the definition in 27-43 at 120% of the AMI and 30% of the adjusted monthly gross income. I looked up those numbers if you want to know what they are. I soon discovered that the individual -- I hired the person who sold me the property to do the work of the remodeling of the structure and soon discovered this individual was performing work without permits. Again, she purchased it December of 2024 and received her first citation in February of 2025. It was broughtto us late June, early July of 2025. And then we subsequently filed for the special use and filed try the process. Takes little while to get to council on an appeal -- on a petition for review. Around the same time, I was notified from the city that a prior owner converted from a duplex to a fourplex under the CI zoning district. Based on my research, the building constructed in 1966 with two dwelling units upstairs and one office downstairs. Today it is storefront residential, office commercial. Sometime around 2006, the building began operating as a fourplex. Two units upstairs and two units downstairs. Approximately almost 20 years. My understanding that is how the building has been operated until the time I purchased it. I am seeking approval of the special use one to allow the building to continue to be operated as multifamily in a CI district. This will allow me to continue fixing up its building, operating at a fourplex. My goal to have this property renovated and occupied to provide the needed affordable housing. And comp plan policies and the different code provisions that the property is compliant with. I'll go through the presentation really fast. Just as an overview, cc-35, commercial-35, that is in red. R-35 which is 35 units per acre around it. Area cc-35 to the south as well. Cc-35 allows units per acre by the standard calculation and 35 units per acre with a bonus agreement. Using the standard allows five units on the property. This is only proposing four which is 80% what is allowed under the standard maximum and within the existing building. It also allow as 1.50 f.a.r. That West Tampa is in an urban village and allows using f.a.r. Opposed to the density, 7478 of floor area this building 1342 square feet which is only 28% of the floor area allowed and no bonuses sought. She is simply looking to use the existing structure and renovate it. For reference, a bonus agreement will allow six unions or 14,796 square feet. I did highlight for your way for your reference, the boundary of the West Tampa overlay business core. Under the business core and the overlay, parking is no not required for neighborhoods with eating and drinking establishments up to 3,000 square feet. Zoning in the West Tampa overlay is zoned CI and the red pattern follows the lands use category. For example, permitted uses that give the complex of intensity allowed on its property and the issue really at play before you is the request for the waiver of an access of an arterial collector. As a reestablished property, re-establish this as a commercial use as its lands not be required to access an arterial collector because it only have access to local streets. Professional veterinary, clinic, hotel, motel, small or large kennels, light manufacturing, which is important, and I will explain earlier, vehicle sales and repair, truck rental, retail sales, restaurants and so on. The full list is on the report that I gave. Site needs applicable provisions of East Tampa overlay with the alley access. And the alley is to be paved per the City of Tampa standards and front setback average complies with the block average as required by code. Surrounding uses -- gets back to the light manufacturing. Directly north, which actually used to be connected to this property, there is a 1118-square-foot building, the lot is 1790 square feet. Partial lot across the alley that it has access to. To the east, immediately to the east on the other side, a small parking area. It is a 1500-square-foot building, 4709-square-foot lot. No alley access. Across the street in a church. 294 square feet. Parking from st. Joseph. Access from and along -- not a really defined parking area. Quite frankly, a lot of dirt that goes in the property and broken asphalt. To the south is light manufacturing. A cabinet maker, 7900-square-foot building. 10,550-square-foot lot and parking is located along st. Joseph street which is a local street. Historical use. Built in 1966 according to the property appraiser. Build as a maxed use with two residential units above with office below. 1966 polk directory highlight two people living upstairs. 2901. These two individuals in those two different. 2901-a was a car cleaning business on the first floor. I did give you an example -- obviously, we don't have pictures from a long, long time ago and google street view goes back to 2007. She noted research showed 2006 it was converted. You can see there are four mailboxes on the front of the building all the way -- '07 up to the currents picture way was available 2023. This is the site plan. And you have it before you as well. Existing chance are remain on the property. Exist building built in 66. Two one-bedroom units upstairs and downstairs. 24, 32, two 18-inch oaks and two palms in the rear. Proposed improvements are paving the alley, adding in the four paved spaces with the A.D.A. Space, as well as adding four new type one shade trees and one palm back here. The special use criteria of 137.12 waiver because of access to collector or arterial. And a second criteria meets the standards as required with the West Tampa overlay. Looking at the general standards we know it meets the special use criteria with the use of the access. To and from the alley which is essentially required under West Tampa overlay. The alley will be improved, which is a benefit to the city and the surrounding block. The second one is the use which is listed as special use in the district to be located and complies with all required regulations, which it does. I did note a de-1 filed for the slight parking reduction seven to four as affordable housing. And the staff did approve it with a condition that the special use is approved. It did meet all other standards. The use is compatible and contiguous with surrounding properties. I noted that the existing building is in size and surrounding properties and serves as transition of use of the heavy commercial uses between columbus and the light manufacturing to the south. Transitioning between that and the church and the single-family on the north and west. As far as being in compliance and in conformity with the Tampa Comprehensive Plan, I did cite several policies here under City Planning strategy, urban village, urban neighborhoods, residential redevelopment. All of these speaks to emphasizing a compact of mixed use neighborhood of this environment. And maintain setback from the public right-of-way which members the West Tampa overlay. This one at the bottom in particular, residential development and redevelopment policy 9.257 specifically says emphasis should be on the existing building stock, which this meets that provision. Continuing with number 4, multifamily residential, 9.6.1. Encourage the diverse multifamily housing times and mixed-income residential. Housing development and all 9.91. Within the new downtowns areas of West Tampa, which is specifically called out. Also this -- number 5 is -- will not establish a precedent and encourage more intensive and incompatible use. This building is existing and compatible in size with the surrounding properties as I previously mentioned. It is kind of right in the middle at 2142 square feet is consistent with a single-family house anymore. The proposed use for multifamily units is less intense as the other use allowed mentioned before with the underlying lands use maximum density and intensity. With that, we do believe it meets all of the provisions of the code. And I am available for any questions. We respectfully request your approval and waiver of that requirement.

02:36:03PM Does council have any questions? Hearing none. Staff, do you have anything else to add? Are you there?

Laura Marley

02:36:15PM Yes Laura Marley, zoning coordinator. After you make a motion which will -- I would like to have a chance to ask council a question.

Alan Clendenin

02:36:26PM Okay. I mean -- we are going to hear from the public. I am trying to figure out exactly how that you would fit into this hearing. This would be your last opportunity to provide information, staff.

Laura Marley

02:36:45PM Laura Marley, zoning coordinator. It is not about this application. It is information that I would like to speak this special use one process.

Alan Clendenin

02:36:59PM Very good. Anyone from the public who wishes to speak to this item?

Charlie Miranda

02:37:05PM I have one question I want to ask.

Lynn Hurtak

02:37:06PM Of staff?

Charlie Miranda

02:37:11PM Miss Coyle.

02:37:13PM Are these separate meters or separate water meters? Splits it four ways. Divides the cost up over the four.

Alan Clendenin

02:37:25PM Four electric and one water is what I heard.

02:37:32PM Anybody from the public who wishes to speak? As somebody who own as property almost exactly like this but in Kentucky and kind of the same set-up. I am responsible for the water, and they all have separate electric bills in Michigan. It is kind of discouraging to see -- and I fully sent you guy as tik tok this week with -- talking about these kinds of properties that they -- that they were there. They are missing middle and we are shutting them down. And I understand staff can't -- it just befuddles me. But staff couldn't make the decision to approve something because that would be common sensical and approve things that are absolutely nonsensical. We talked but those kind of things before, but I absolutely think you should approve it. The landlord bought it for the best intentions to provide housing that would be reasonably priced. And do with what the property looks like this should do. And obviously, she got shaken down by somebody who was telling her they were doing everything the way they were supposed to, which this won't last time we talk about that either. But I absolutely think you should approve this project. A property I would have bought thinking I could rent it out. Especially if it has separate electric meters. If it was all on one electric, that would be a different conversation. But you with it being on separate electric meters. That -- that shows you that at some point in time, TECO must have thought it was legal, and they will not punt a separate electric meter on much of anything. Thank you very much.

02:39:10PM "Befuddle" is the word of the day. Okay. I am assuming that do you not have a rebuttal because the only thing that came after your testimony was positive in your light. No, I do not. Thank you.

02:39:25PM Very good. Can I get a motion to close the public hearing? Not about the this item. A motion to close. We have a motion to close from council member Maniscalco. A second from Councilman Miranda. All in favor, say aye. Opposed, ayes have it who would like to read this,council member Maniscalco?

Guido Maniscalco

02:39:45PM I would like to make a motion to overturn the Zoning Administrator's denial. I move to approve the application for SU 1-25-54 for the property located at 2901 North Albany Avenue because the petitioner has competent and substantial evidence of the code that the property has direct access to an arterial and collector street as shown on the street map. Look at the presentation. It was so detailed. I don't know what she -- I don't think she missed anything. I mean everything from tree preservation. Council member Miranda asked about the electric meters and the water meters. The discussion regarding -- the comments of the missing middle. The -- the AMI, which was brought up at the beginning of the presentation. It is addressing housing.

Alan Clendenin

02:40:38PM Land use policy 9.2.5, emphasis on the recycling of the existing building.

Guido Maniscalco

02:40:50PM What was that.

Alan Clendenin

02:40:52PM 9.2.5.

Guido Maniscalco

02:40:54PM 9.2.5. It's true. It is older and being reused and repurposed, specifically addressing the need of house in the City of Tampa. That is my motion.

Alan Clendenin

02:41:04PM A motion from council member Maniscalco. A second from Councilwoman Hurtak. Any further discussion? Okay.

Charlie Miranda

02:41:11PM I just want to echo what Mr. Maniscalco said. Although it does not meet the criteria per SE, that building has been there for a long, long time and has been operating that way for a long, long time. Even before we had those satellites that go by and tell you what you have there. For me to pick this one out -- and although I may not like it 100%. Another ten buildings south that are operating like this today. If you don't believe me, I will take to you them.

Alan Clendenin

02:41:46PM No further discussion, please record your vote.

Guido Maniscalco

02:41:50PM Voice vote.

Alan Clendenin

02:41:53PM All those in favor. Say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Laura, you had a question -- clerk, raise that and then I will get to you, laura.

Clerk

02:42:04PM Motion carried unanimously, second hearing will be on January 8, 2026 City Council Chambers 315 e. Kennedy, third floor, Tampa, Florida 33602. Happy holidays.

Alan Clendenin

02:42:22PM Laura, you had a question for us.

Laura Marley

02:42:26PM Yes, Laura Marley, land Development Coordination. As you know, you hear quite a lot of these special uses for multifamily that don't have access to arterials. And you have overturned quite a few of them. So what staff would like to do with your approval is add it to the 2025 cycle so we can possibly amend the section of the code. We have to follow the code. We can't use our judgment on this. So we have to follow the code. That is why you see many of these petitions for reviews because of this criteria. If you were okay with letting us add that to the cycle, we would like to proceed with that.

Alan Clendenin

02:43:08PM Let's a consensus. We can do something in new business and suggest that. Can I get a consensus of council? Would that be appropriate?

Martin Shelby

02:43:18PM I am sorry, Mr. Chairman. What exactly is the request?

Alan Clendenin

02:43:22PM This council is consistently overturning the decision of the administration on these issues due to lack of access to arterial roads for this type of development. She wants to be able to add it to the cycle.

Martin Shelby

02:43:35PM I thought that was come to council before. I may be mistaken.

Alan Clendenin

02:43:40PM I am seeing a head shake no.

Martin Shelby

02:43:44PM Okay. I think it may warrant discussion.

Alan Clendenin

02:43:47PM A new business item. I wanted to give her solace from this was the will --

Charlie Miranda

02:43:54PM Not taking it personal, I say that.

Guido Maniscalco

02:43:57PM She is saying to include it because we overturn so even if we take out of the --

Alan Clendenin

02:44:03PM If the rules keep getting overturned, why don't we change the rule.

Guido Maniscalco

02:44:07PM That is the thing. Each case is unique, and we should listen to the public. Not every neighborhood is the same. And I would avoid that. I know we overturn a lot, but not 100%.

Alan Clendenin

02:44:19PM Laura, can we take an iou for future discussion. It is noted and if staff wants to go through the process and present that, maybe we can look at that. And, again, this council definitely understands that when staff is making these determination, making the determinations based on the authorities they are given and the council has opportunity interject sometimes more common sense that you guys can't do because of your own restrictions. We understand that. Please don't take this any of this stuff personal.

Laura Marley

02:44:52PM I just want to bring to your attention since I have been near about five years, council has never approved one of these just for your awareness. And Miss Feeley is on the online. I don't know if Miss Feeley Wanted to add something to that before we close the discussion.

Alan Clendenin

02:45:12PM At this point, we will move on in the agenda. This wants to be brought up at another time we can go through the cycle and bring it up for council's attention and discussion.

Laura Marley

02:45:23PM Thank you, council, for listening. I appreciate it.

Clerk

02:45:26PM For clarification. Blame my mind, break time. There is no second reading. A review hearing.

Alan Clendenin

02:45:34PM That confused me. "Befuddled" is the word of the day. Councilwoman Hurtak said that to me. Then again my mind is blown too. Anybody can convince me that anything is true right now.

Martin Shelby

02:45:49PM Again -- the decision is final by City Council. It is subject to court review ultimately, but what was the decision.

Clerk

02:45:59PM Motion by Maniscalco and second by Hurtak that the motion was to overturn the decision of the administrator.

Martin Shelby

02:46:07PM For the public agencies information.

Alan Clendenin

02:46:12PM Unanimous consent.

Luis Viera

02:46:14PM No worries, sir. So I wanted to clarify with towards item 62. I spoke to Parks and Recreation on it. If you would like me to do it now, Mr. Chairman, I can do it when it properly comes up to finance to July 28. They rely --

Alan Clendenin

02:46:33PM We haven't dealt we will it yet, and we will deal with it when it comes up.

Luis Viera

02:46:38PM There one other thing I was going to say and I forgot. I wanted to make sure it Mr. Cohen was put on the charter review.

Alan Clendenin

02:46:46PM Cohen and alison hewitt because Jason withdraw. 47.

Camaria Pettis-Mackle

02:46:53PM Good afternoon, Camaria Pettis-Mackle from the Legal Department. Item number 47 is regarding City Council's consideration of the recommended order from hearing officer for a review hearing regarding FDN 25-87 for the property located at 58 Albermarle Avenue. The review hearing for that matter was held on September 5, 2025. So unlike the previous matter that you just heard, the review hearing already took place. The hearing officer for that matter is derek schroth. Petitioners are edward moore and Angela effinger and represented by Truett gardener and Addie Clark who are present. Petitioner for the matter filed a formal decision application seeking determination regarding proposed re-orientation of the property and lot split. The Zoning Administrator denied the request to the proposed re-orientation of the property and lot split based on the application not meeting the criteria in code section 27-161. At the conclusion of the review hearing that was held by Mr. Schroth, the hearing officer filed a recommended order approving the petition and overturning the decision of Zoning Administrator, therefore, granting the petitioner's request. We are now at the phase according to City of Tampa code section 27-61 for City Council to consider the recommended order. Now I have a couple of slides, and I will put them on the wolf just to explain where we are. According to 27-61 subsections j-1iii. Accept it at final, reject the recommended order, or modify it. Furthermore, the code states City Council may not reject or modify any findings of fact reached by the hearing officer. That gives -- there is more information only the slide regarding further actions that City Council can do. If City Council rejects or modifies the conclusion of law, you must state with particularity its reasons and make a finding that is of the substitution of the finding of law is more reasonable or reject order as modified. As I previously stated, the hearing officer filed a recommended order overturning the Zoning Administrator's position. I provided a recommended order to City Council. Additional step that City Council can take according to code section 27616. Entertaining requests for oral argument if motion for exceptions filed related this matter. City did not file requests for oral argument or exceptions regarding this. So there are no requests for oral arguments. The code does say that City Council may open this hearing on your own motion, but the city has not provide any -- any request for exceptions or oral argument regarding this matter. So essentially not challenging the request for the findings of the hearing officer. So with that, if you have any questions, I am available but you have the recommended order.

Alan Clendenin

02:50:42PM I want to be clear so we understand what the task is without opening everything up for oral arguments. We are to take the findings of facts and conclusions from this document make a determination what we find in this document whether we uphold it or reject it; is that correct?

Camaria Pettis-Mackle

02:50:59PM That will is -- that is correct, but I -- the city has not provided any basis for you to additionally argue against -- to argue against it. Unless you find that on your own.

Alan Clendenin

02:51:10PM Mr. Shelby.

Martin Shelby

02:51:17PM What you have in front of you a recommended order, and it has findings facts and conclusions of law and a recommendation. If you find flaws within it, there are no exceptions to this filed by any party for decision. No someone requesting oral argument. No one is requesting to be heard regarding challenging it. That being said, the code does provide you under your own motion if you find flaws in it, then there are certain things you have to point out as a motion to open it up for oral argument. Then you have to state that on the record, and then you have to then -- after taking public comment be limited to what you can do with regard to findings of fact and conclusions of law which miss Pettis-mackle stated you had to. If you would want, I can read it verbatim so you can follow it, but basically, whether you are challenging a finding of fact or conclusion of law. Again, council, ask for oral argument based on the fact and no exceptions have been filed by any party.

Alan Clendenin

02:52:28PM So I think it will be appropriate to take a five-minute break to let council review the documents. And let's go through and review the documents, review the conclusions of law and findings of fact.

Luis Viera

02:52:42PM Mr. Chairman, may I question something. Nothing to do -- as soon as -- that I would be recognized on a calendar item that -- in the middle of my crazy day, I neglected to do something on. When this hearing is done.

Alan Clendenin

02:52:57PM Fyi when this is done, we will go back to 42. Just fyi. 2:54. Let's go to 3:05. We will reconvene at 3:05. You can sit here or nosy around --

Martin Shelby

02:53:16PM I ask you don't discuss it outside -- or with each other.

Clerk

03:09:30PM Motion carried unanimously with Hurtak absent at vote.

Alan Clendenin

03:09:35PM We are past that. Okay, so -- okay, go ahead because we are waiting for Councilwoman Hurtak.

Luis Viera

03:09:51PM Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. On item 49, this was, again, a lot of things on my mind today, so to speak. This was supposed to come up after lunch. And I don't know what the pleasure of council is. If there is some issue we can hear it now. I believe that the -- the gentleman is waiting online, I believe. I know our friends from Local 754 are here and Fire Chief Tripp, I am sure, is waiting as well. I don't know what the pleasure of council is of this.

Alan Clendenin

03:10:22PM We need to get to 42 first. And then -- I tell you what, I will entertain that, but I also understand there are people here waiting for a long time for 55 and 56. And, I mean, so -- everybody is waiting this whole thing.

Luis Viera

03:10:37PM Just raising it. I didn't bring it up in the beginning.

Alan Clendenin

03:10:43PM Reconvene on 42. I know we started that. Staff.

Emma Gregory

03:10:47PM Good afternoon, council. Emma Gregory, Legal Department. Here for item number 42. I will go over briefly what I spoke about earlier.

Alan Clendenin

03:11:07PM Very briefly here for the second reading. First reading on in 2025. This ordinance adopts the December 2025 impact fee study and making a finding of extraordinary circumstances. Replaces exhibit one of chapter 25 with new fees phasing over four years and makes the effective of the day July 1, 2026 per my substitution ordinance that was sent to you earlier this week. There was some correspondence that council received that our consultant kathryn tellis is prepared to speak on if that is council's pleasure. Otherwise, to adopt the ordinance in this form, we would need a two-thirds vote of council to approve it. So please, if you have any questions, we are here.

03:12:12PM Council have any questions of staff? No? okay. Thank you very much. I think we can all do the math. Very good. Thank you. Anyone in the public to wishes to speak to item 42. Start with your name, please. Thank you for your patience, by the way. Apartment association. Thank you for this opportunity. Let me first off by saying I apologize. On the December 4 public comment period, I came in and I presented a number of calculations I put together based on a 1.4 person trip factor as an alternative of 1.6 trip factor in the reports. The consultant noted there was a mistake there that applied it in one place and a second place and came up with a really different number than I should have. Bottom line is, you know, whether you use the 1.4 or 1.69 person trip factor, you will come out to about the same dollar amount in terms of maximum impact fee amounts. I can't promise I won't ever make a mistake again. But I can promise that I will own up to it and let you know that I own up to it. That was a mistake. I should have caught that and I didn't. I apologize. We did send a letter as well yesterday with a couple of other points related to points we made in the first letter we sent dealing with how that same data point relates to couple other aspects of the Florida impact fee statute, and in particular, language that talks about four years and language that talks about most recent. So I think probably is a chance to take a look that letter, and see the basis grow we think there might be some concern there. And we will leave it at that, unless you have a question for me, I would be happy to answer that.

03:14:14PM Thank you. We appreciate that. Next, start with your name please. I find it hard to believe that anyone would vote against this. I am sorry. These fees haven't been changed since I turned 18. I am much, much, much older than that now. And there is no reason why -- there is absolutely nothing that we can go and buy for the same price we bought for it in 1989. Sorry, but it is ridiculous. It is time to get it together and move forward. And I appreciate Councilman Carlson asking of the construction services and the land development fees. And I appreciate Councilwoman Hurtak has asked for those already as well, because I don't think I need anybody to experiment them, I would just like to see them. Thank you so much and have a good evening.

03:15:10PM A card for edward briggs. I don't see him in the audience him I am assuming he is gone. No other to speak? Motion to close from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second by council member Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. We are taking turns. Council member Viera now.

Luis Viera

03:15:29PM Yes, sir. I read the substitute correct. Substitute ordinance presented for second reading and chapter 25, article 1 already section 25 machine 69. Computation of amount of multimodal transportation impact for repealing and replacing the City of Tampa Code of Ordinances article 1 by increasing the multimodal transportation fee making finds adopting an updated impact fee study providing for adoption and imposition of amending multimodal transportation, providing severability and providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

03:16:11PM All in favor, say aye -- oh, wait. Council member Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

03:16:16PM I understand this is what it is and where it is going. But at the end of the day, buses ain't going to make it. You are going to have light rail. You go the to change the mode of transportation that we use, because this does not work in the city. The streets have so crowded with cars and other vehicles and trucks delivering, you can't even turn around -- you have to turn around and to go some other way. If we don't change the way we do business and go to the an airport model, we will never get transportation in this city. And I am not an expert in transportation, but what I see on the streets and the roads that we have, you can't change the width or doing anything else. But we have to swallow the blood. So I am hoping -- I will change my vote and say yes so a tax is available for something else in case this fails. I will guarantee you, somewhere along the line this is going to fail. You will not have enough transportation because the streets are loaded with cars and to go from point a. You come from New Tampa on a bus to here will take you a week. Or an hour and a half or two or maybe two hours to do so. If do you it by rail, light rail, will take you 15 minutes.

Alan Clendenin

03:17:31PM Councilman Carlson followed by Councilwoman Hurtak.

Bill Carlson

03:17:35PM I was Planning on voting yes last time, and based on public comment that the administration without any rules can spend this any way they want. This administration is not transparent. They play shell games with colors as we saw with station 24 and a lot of other projects. I don't trust them to spend this money correctly. I am in favor of this overall but not with this administration.

Alan Clendenin

03:17:59PM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

03:18:01PM I agree you with council member Miranda for rail, but for this, this is mostly helping mobility challenges like adding stoplights where we need to. I just wanted to make sure the public knows that. Adding -- for me the left-hand turn lane did it. I have never lived in a city with fewer left turn lanes. So I am really excited of adding these types of things can help people move in whatever vehicle, manner they choose. But really cars. That is our majority. So I look forward to what we can do in mobility as city with this, and this is well -- a long time coming. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

03:18:43PM Thank you. Hearing no further discussion, please record your vote.

Clerk

03:18:49PM Motion carried with Carlson voting no.

Alan Clendenin

03:18:57PM Very good. Congratulations.

03:19:03PM I would like to -- kind of see who is in the audience. Anybody here sitting around all day waiting to talk about 55 and 56? That is not getting paid? [Laughter] okay. So -- seeing that it is not overwhelming number majority. We have conflicts with folks from fire. Would council entertain the idea of moving item 49 before 55 and 56 because we have a lot of people here from fire.

03:19:46PM We put 55 and 56 a motion could council member Maniscalco and a second from Councilwoman Hurtak. And hear item number 49 now and then move to 55 and 56. On item number 49, fire station number 24.

Chief Tripp

03:20:10PM Thank you. Good afternoon, council. Barbara Tripp with fire rescue we are here to talk of station 24. And we have someone on the line, and we have a presentation, because this is our time to present the information. The project manager for fire. And we also have the member from kokolakis, the construction company who will give you additional information. If you have questions for them, you know the progress and what can be done, the floor will be open to you all go ahead and put the powerpoint. Ken, if you were available. Say your name. Yes, I am. Good afternoon, counselors, ken guyette, project leader. We are the project managers for the TFR. If I can share my screen. Perfect. Thank you so much. So similar format to how we presented last time. A brief overview of the status of the project as of today. Again, just the corky on who is working on the project. Same group that the City of Tampa -- we have Tampa Fire Rescue, the design-build comprised of agg architect and Kokolakis Contracting. As far as the update is concerned, as of today, we have received, again -- we talked about this the last meeting, but 30% or the schematic design plans completed in September. We received a balance of the deliverable from kokolakis through the end of -- end of December are early okay. We did a memorandum with kokolakis. They and the design team will continue to strive to, again, reduce costs, reduce timing, reduce the schedule. Try to find areas where we can, again, pull some time back. We had the construction estimate. It was higher than expected. It was within budget, but, again, dollars per square foot was higher than we anticipated. This number will likely be revised and, again, will -- will get more and more clear as the design is completed. And more and more of that design is -- becomes a reality. And kokolakis will price things accordingly. Also, the draft schedule that was submitted was longer than originally contemplated and kokolakis talked of pulling back in state as well. We are pushing on the team to better the cost, find areas where we can have efficiencies and be effective in trying to get in done sooner. We are currently several days ahead of schedule right now. We are hoping to lengthen that time of day into weeks, hopefully months as we continue on the process. Recent our design development which is the 60% documents from the architect was delivered on December 10 the City staff has done the review comments and given it back to the design builder. And this is currently where we are at right now. Kokolakis is working on the 60% building cost estimate that will be presented to us in early January for our review and we will go through the same process with the schematic design and go through in great detail and comment back on any concerns that we have. As far as the design itself, as you will see as we keep going through these -- these oversight meetings and summary meetings with council, you will see more and more detail in the documents as we go along. For example, there are was the site plan we had shown last time. The area had much less on it than currently showing. Priced into the project as we continue to go through the process likely with this first floor plan as you can see, there is more information on this floor plan than we originally showed last update and this will continue to be refined as we continue on from design development into the next phase which will be construction documents that will happen after January. The renderings are the same as you have seen previously. So this is the exterior renderings of the building. Nothing has really changed on here. We are looking at the possibility of doing something different with the doors and the bays to get something that is a little bit more robust and little bit less expensive. These doors are extremely expensive, these bi-fold doors and we are asking the design team and the design builder to look at alternatives that may be more cost effective and less maintenance for the city. Again, the rear side of the building and the rear of the building which have the overhead doors for the apparatus bays in the back and the tower, the training tower and the back of the building. This is the same schedule we have been showing with obviously the red current status marker just marching its way down its schedule. So we are currently just about in the middle of design development, which is the 60% here in December. Going to isn't that right earnest the Planning process and get ahead as much as possible and submit things early so we have time for everybody in the documents to review the process and get the answers they are looking for prior to construction starting. It is still anticipated as of today that construction will be starting in September, late September of 2026. Again, we are trying to pull that date back in those areas where that can get -- get pulled back and get some time caught up in there as well. Any questions from the counselors?

Alan Clendenin

03:27:13PM Council member Viera.

Luis Viera

03:27:14PM Thank you very much. Thank you, sir for that. And thank you, Chief Tripp. I didn't see you when you were speaking. Somebody was covering you and you know how that is. I don't think they have anything to add. Local 754. Anything to add or a thumbs up? That's what I thought. Thank you for that. I appreciate this. You know, looking at September 2026 for a groundbreaking. Again, how should I say this, that issue has been addressed in terms of my sentiments on it. My great displeasure on that given the fact that we passed the funding for it in 2023 after the budget. Some bonding programs for that, so it will be three years from the funding source until groundbreaking. And so I know that Local 754 and Chief Tripp shared that, because obviously, everybody support this and everybody wants to get moving on this and so forth. But I -- I think it is important for purposes of today to talk about, again, you know, the timeline of how we got to station 24 and ultimately what the repercussions of that will be on a city, and I think where we need more fire stations in the City of Tampa. We got to take care of our existing fire stations and make monetary investment in that. I think ultimately the end of this will be to slow down significantly to the end of the mayor's term, further discussions on more fire stations and I think that is very unfortunate. Originally, we had a station which was the businest station of the City of Tampa. One out of 23 stations at a time took one out of seven calls. We know that. And so we all work together, the fire unit, then with joe greco and with Chief Tripp when you first got in and we worked together for fire station 25, which was a very quick victory because it was on land. Refurbished station and all this good stuff. The plan was to sort of set aside k-bar ranch for finishing what we started with -- with the North Tampa area, with station 13, with station 24, but ultimately. I would suggest having a three-year delay between the budget in 2023 and where we are at today or the three-year gap, I should say, for groundbreaking that slows down discussion on other things. I printed this article I saw in the "Tampa Bay times" saying that Tampa's water street will get new concert venue and more. From the Tampa Bay times. I asked my aide to bring it out. I did it because we are talking of assistance for downtown fire, right, that we now have with water street, a city within the city. And, you know, there have been talk about having an additional fire station for channelside for that area for some time. And I think because of the delay on this, that burdens the discussion on this. It burdens the discussion on k-bar ranch. And I know with fire station nine, we are working on that. We will get updated with that later on with regards to potential property for fleet maintenance. I think the ultimate effect of this to delay a discussion we should be having as a city of more fire stations. I have been with the opinion for a long time public safety for police and fire that we need a separate revenue source. An additional revenue source that 100% dedicated to public safety. I don't think people are anti-tax, I get that, but I don't think people mind paying a dollar or $2 if it means it will go to comes and fire fighters and go to new stations. I really believe that because every time I ask people, republicans and democrats, and independents, people tend to support that. Ultimately, that's where we got to go and nobody likes to ask more of taxpayers. This discussion with regard to potential fire stations. We will be voting in November 2026 on property tax reform. And ultimately, in one way or the other, what is among the biggest losers will this be if we do significant tax relief, right. It is going to be police and fire. In term of future investment. While potentially the state laws and what not that will preclude folks from cutting present investments, future investments on additional fire station, substations for police, etc. I think it will be burdened. So ultimately, I think this is a big discussion on revenue and the kind of investments we have to make. But, again, I look forward to that having a groundbreaking in September of 2026 or before. And, again, I think your help from this -- if I had a dollar for every discussion we had on this I would be slightly rich and you know how that is. I appreciate you. Thank you, sir, for your patience.

Alan Clendenin

03:32:11PM Councilwoman Hurtak and then Carlson.

Lynn Hurtak

03:32:14PM I have more detailed questions. Thank you very much. What is the u date on the power lines? Will they be undergrounded or not? Has that decision been made? Obviously, the option we prefer would be for them to be underground for resilience purposes. So working with TECO. One initial meeting with them and will have another meeting to have a conversation. Right now, it is factored into the budget that we are bury those lines. That cost is already in the budget, and that is the way we are going to be pushing to get that taken care of you are open that TECO understands wither going to be footing the bill if they will allow us have the lines an and the project.

03:33:03PM Okay. What would the cost of that be? In the budget for that, if I am not mistaken.

03:33:14PM Okay. What is the status on the training tower? It is -- what we have decided to do as a group is show that as a deduct alternate in the event that something catastrophic happens before we go out to bid and bid come in higher. And we can make that assessment at that point in time if the training tower should stay in the project or come out. It means having -- whether we have a building project or not is when we have that conversation. But right now it is in the project.

03:33:51PM Great. What about solar? One of those things was talked about very early on and it was decided at that point in time nat building will be solar ready, but no panels on that -- on the building at this point.

03:34:08PM And a traffic signal. Traffic signal out in front of the building. I believe there is some more study that needs to be done with the engineering group on whether or not there is a requirement for that. And that will be further developed in the design development phase at this point.

03:34:32PM I kind of figured that was sort of a rule.

Chief Tripp

03:34:35PM Barbara Tripp, Fire Chief. Depends exactly where it is located. You look at where the property is, it is more residential. As far as having highway traffic, you know, that -- that is something that will have to be checked but the next busiest road or highway close will be 46th street.

Lynn Hurtak

03:34:55PM Okay. Just curious. What has been done or there compress -- or what has been done since the last time we talked to compress the schedule? Forms of construction. Different ways to construct the building for hopefully reduce the overall schedule and that was during the construction phase. Look at tilt wall construction, for instance, instead of stick build construction for the building that will increase the efficiency of erecting that building and getting it off of the ground much quicker. During the design phase, we are pushing the design team to turn their designs around as quickly as possible and internally, we are getting our internal reviews with the city done very quickly. So that's where we are able to recoup some of that time as well. Constant struggle to get them to compress their time. Because a certain amount of time that they need to just be able to do their work and a constant type of war for us to keep pulling that back to say we need more time and continue to pull as much as we possibly can.

03:36:17PM When do you expect to begin public input session? So we are intending to have those sessions, information sessions, right at the beginning of the year. And have those at the appropriate time with the design development now, and there will be enough information to be able to be conveyed to the public to be able to give them enough information to go on what is being on and how we are able to address all questions and concerns that we have.

03:36:46PM Will those meetings be conducted, like, by internal staff or an external provider. If so, who? Would participate, and give a presentation. I am sure City staff and prf staff will be there to answer any questions but the likelihood with we do most of the presentations with the consultants.

03:37:17PM Thank you. I have more questions.

Alan Clendenin

03:37:19PM Round two. Councilman.

Bill Carlson

03:37:26PM I want to agree and disagree with my council member Viera. And I thank him with his leadership on the issues. Agree -- you first started talking about this six or seven years -- sorry, my kids are laughing are,ing, I said 6-7.

Alan Clendenin

03:37:42PM 6-7. [Laughter]

03:37:50PM I am old, I don't know. [Laughter]

Bill Carlson

03:37:55PM But -- I supported -- I supported the station in council member Viera's district expecting that we would get the stations in my district and others repaired, because -- because there are so many environmental and other problems that we are seeing. Fire fighters come us to and showing us that -- things and conditions they are in. And they are putting their lives on the line and it is up to us to defend them. We should have had this done -- if the west -- if the fair oaks building can be built within a year and hanna built within a year or two, this should have been done five, six years ago. The thing I don't agree with is that it is about money. It is about money in that this administration it you not set fire rescue as a priority. What we need -- the solution is not getting more money. The solution is getting a mayor that cares about fire rescue because we haven't had at least the last seven years and at least a lot longer. If -- if this administration set fire rescue as a priority, wouldn't have spend $220 million on Hanna Avenue and wouldn't have spent that much money on West River. Wouldn't have pushed for ceremony, seven years to pass a $2 billion to $6 billion tap. For a project on Howard Avenue. I know I am talking of different buckets of money, but the point is, you have to set a priority. And the people -- the people that worked with the mayor and people who worked there now told me in staff meetings they haven't been building fire stations. Not without consensus with us. The union wants it we want it. If the mayor doesn't want it, let her come here and see get sal reggiero and the team that made these fast to get the fire installation. It is not going to happen because not in her script or video to for a year and a half. We need to come to the conclusion we need to find leadership and work around her lack of interest in fire rescue. If she doesn't like a probably, she slow walks it. For years, the -- the Legal Department told us we couldn't use cr money on fire rescue. Then we have cliff shepherd, top expert on CRA. And I made a motion to put CRA in it and guess what, the administration stalled. We were looking for location. I went to one location. I talked to all the party members. They all said it was great. And administration came up with a letter saying it is not a good location and not available. The mayor should say I am not setting fire stations as a priority. I don't care of fire rescue and I only care of these pet projects because fire rescue is not in my video. The people of this community that rely on fire rescue to rescue them. They deserve better. The people working in fire rescue deserve better. We need to be able to apply -- the CRA money we control. We put in there. Can't force them to do it. Same with Tampa union station. Tampa union station which is in a beloved building. They won't tent the building to get the termites out. It is illegal not to tent the building. Because it wasn't their idea, they slow walked it. One of the ideas they did steal from us was fair oaks. The mayor was against renovating fair oaks. You can google it and look at the "Tampa times" story at a CRA meet where the be you lick said they wanted to replace the building. We said okay. The mayor had a video who said I decided to put in my budget that I was going to renovate the building. If she said that, then why did she come around and spend $46 million and whatever the number was on that. That money could have been spent on other parts of East Tampa and could have been spent on fire stations. This mayor needs to step up and support fire rescue because our men and women of fire rescue deserve better. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

03:42:16PM Any other discussion. Council member Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

03:42:20PM I want to give you a mayoral speech, but I may run for mayor after I heard that.

Alan Clendenin

03:42:27PM Charlie cares.

Charlie Miranda

03:42:30PM Let me tell you something. I have been listening for this a while. Long after I am long dead and buried somebody here in State of Florida will be drinking tap water.

Alan Clendenin

03:42:42PM How does that have to do with fire station 24? Mayor Miranda, how does that --

Charlie Miranda

03:42:51PM The gentleman who spoke before me. So I am just here as a guest. Time listening to what else saying. And now he knows where I live. I got to change houses.

Alan Clendenin

03:43:02PM You better move now.

Charlie Miranda

03:43:04PM What I am saying, I love -- I enjoy all this stuff because I don't know what happened. Fire station came -- he gave a lecture of a lot of things.

Alan Clendenin

03:43:13PM We are slap happy giddy.

Charlie Miranda

03:43:15PM You have been here too long already.

Alan Clendenin

03:43:17PM Exactly.

Charlie Miranda

03:43:19PM Everything comes in time. And if they do -- if we here in the city draw a chart of everything that has happened the last four years, you would be amazed what this city has gone through. From a to z, and maybe we should ask for that. And I am -- in fact, I am never hardly make anything motion but I will make three mowing business the time this council is finished tonight. But anyway, thank you for being here and you know what, I never have been against anything or for everything. Thank you very much.

Alan Clendenin

03:43:51PM Councilwoman Hurtak. Round two.

Lynn Hurtak

03:43:54PM A couple of motions I would like to make. So because we are talking about accelerating this, I just want to make a motion. I move to schedule a presentation on February 19, 2026, which is the date of the next written report for the -- for how the team will accelerate the construction completion bea minimum of one month.

Guido Maniscalco

03:44:17PM Second.

Lynn Hurtak

03:44:18PM I will have that be a written report, and it goes along with the other written report.

Alan Clendenin

03:44:23PM Would this be not another item on the agenda, but --

Lynn Hurtak

03:44:28PM A written report it go with the written report. Because now these are bimonthly, so the next report will be at this time in fib, -- in February. And why I asked for it. If we need to talk about it, I can schedule a motioning from there.

Alan Clendenin

03:44:46PM A motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from Councilman Maniscalco. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, say aye. Nay. Opposed nay, nay. That was me. Two of us. Charlie and myself were nays.

Clerk

03:45:07PM Motion carried with Clendenin and Miranda voting no. Miranda I didn't say no.

03:45:15PM Motion carried with Clendenin voting no.

Lynn Hurtak

03:45:17PM Okay. The other thing you node project the macro schedule and that council -- the council approval to be -- that -- that is currently projected for august and September. I want to make a motion for the GMP contract presentation to council to be moved up to July 16, 2026.

Guido Maniscalco

03:45:40PM Second.

Alan Clendenin

03:45:44PM A motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from council member Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

03:45:48PM Is that when the budget is presented?

Lynn Hurtak

03:45:52PM Yes.

Alan Clendenin

03:45:52PM All in favor. Opposed? Motion carries.

Lynn Hurtak

03:45:55PM You are astute. That is exactly why I did it.

Alan Clendenin

03:45:58PM Passed unanimously.

Clerk

03:46:01PM Motion carried unanimously.

Alan Clendenin

03:46:03PM Anything else?

Luis Viera

03:46:06PM Can I say something if I may, sir. It is on fire. Since I am district 7 with regards to downtown Tampa. I don't -- I never like to get in other folks' districts unless I am citywide or obviously Councilwoman Young. So this would be to the city-wide folks with juice induction as well as Councilman Young because -- I say this because we can't talk of this outside of here to maybe start a conversation now on setting some seed money for something for downtown fire. Because, you know, we have got an election a year and a half. We have change in administrations. I would love to see something set up for -- either one of the city rides for Councilman Young. I wouldn't do it. But just to have something like that in the budget. I don't know how much that will cost. Make a priority because when the next mayor -- they could stop it but not much to do to stop it. I would like to see that. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

03:47:17PM I have been consistent on that that fire station 1, the infrastructure there with the plan to move out the admin and enough real estate there to add on and if we had to add a rescue video somewhere, because, you know, I think the information we got that really the real deficit is the south tip of Harbour Island, that's correct, time response as far as services for rescue.

Chief Tripp

03:47:42PM You mean for downtown Tampa?

Alan Clendenin

03:47:45PM Rescue timelines. South Tampa, Harbour Island where we have a definite.

Chief Tripp

03:47:51PM If the units are not available.

Alan Clendenin

03:47:54PM Rescue response time.

Chief Tripp

03:47:56PM Engine 2 has been a challenge. We are trying to add more resources in at area

Alan Clendenin

03:48:02PM Not the channelside and downtown, the south tip of Harbour Island. I don't know what the solution is. We have this huge swath of real estate at fire station 1. If we move the administration out of there and we have the ability to bay there is. We have a lot of potential. I will go one, two, and three. Council member Maniscalco. Up with and two.

Guido Maniscalco

03:48:30PM With Councilman Viera mentioned seed money for the downtown area. A facebook post from a guy named nick stucco. And it said it took an hour and a half -- an hour and a half to get from downtown to, I believe, water street or the Channel District. And I walked there from here. I never drive down there because I know how hectic. I drove down there earlier today because I had to get something, but it is mayhem, right. I walk, but people drive, and a fire truck -- a rescue vehicle needs get down there. If we can look at doing something because it can help with Harbour Island. If we have that deficit on southern tip. Rescue video -- something that will aid. If a vehicle is not available or the unit is not available. What Councilman Viera -- is it a music venue with water street? So there is that density increase. Obviously, we don't want be left empty-handed. Something going in this new budget, set some money aside. Water street going into more density. More hotels. We want to make hour Tampa fire has the equipment necessary without that hour and a half. I believe it. When there is a game. My dad gained the other night Sunday night because he wanted to go down there. I said no, an event at amalie. I was striving to leave here at 8:00, and I couldn't get to Florida Avenue. Took cass to boulevard to get out of the area. The one-way streets don't make it easy. I just want to make sure -- in terms of response time. May be a rescue video. Just so we are prepared.

Alan Clendenin

03:50:21PM Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

03:50:23PM I thought somebody else.

Alan Clendenin

03:50:25PM He decided not too.

Bill Carlson

03:50:27PM I missed part of this. But the study that joe greco did with as a few years old said that the station should go in the start -- the parking lot next to starship. Spp have plans for that. And there is no space in there. I proposed the parking lot across the street. Spp and the port and all of a sudden the mayor government a letter saying it is not fine. She hams to be on the boor of the port. Become go back and get that. That space in that parking garage, the last he checked, was being learned by spp and fine giving it up rather than punting it in that space. If the study show it is should be with other buildings, that is fine. But for a target or a big store inside is what they originally envisioned which is big enough in there and other spaces. We have the money in the CRA. This goes back to us getting control of our own CRA money. I can beg you as the CRA attorney. My version instead of the city else version and put controls only the CRA. One of things get the CRA Staff that floss money left even though we have not allocated money. They are secretly stockpiling for subsidies for developers. We have the money right now in Channel District that we can spend on a fire station. We need to somehow set it aside, and we can't forced a organization in do it, but start -- since it takes six or seven years to build a fire installation to start the process going. The other thing. Traffic. I think traffic is going to add -- I have an item coming up in January. And then I think again in February a different one of traffic downtown. I don't know how emergency vehicles can get in. Last week, I was late because they shut down the roads to bring buses of somebody through, and those buses with emergency sirens going couldn't get through. I don't know how rescue trucks could get through this. And I am going to talk about this in new bills, but we need to stop allowing for any of the roads in downtown to be shutdown accept for emergency purposes. You too I to get out of the parking lot at water street, and for some reason, they essentially you either toward -- won't let you get on the selmon. But back to the arena. Idiotic. They shut down roads. Even Vik Bhide told us before he left, if they let people go with the lights, they can get through. But will affect the public safety vehicles. I don't know how people could get through.

Alan Clendenin

03:53:11PM Ditto.

Naya Young

03:53:13PM I have something to say. I am just being polite.

Alan Clendenin

03:53:20PM You will get over being polite real quick. Councilman Young.

Naya Young

03:53:25PM I wanted to say I know it has been a long time coming with this new fire station, but I am really looking forward to seeing it online. I have my fire station tours coming only soon. And I am looking forward to doing those ride-alongs. I had an opportunity to go to the fire -- the fire -- local fire fighters had their holiday party and seeing all the different fire trucks and the evolution of fire. And so just seeing this come online. And it looks luke it will be really miles to. I am hoping that we are going to get it done sooner rather than later and I am looking forward touring it. So that was all.

Alan Clendenin

03:54:05PM I mean --

Naya Young

03:54:07PM That is all I had to say.

Alan Clendenin

03:54:09PM All good. Just punch me. You are sitting right here. You can punch me. I will kind of double down -- you heard it from me before. I am sure you are just as frustrating. Mind boggling that it took this time to get station 24 out of the ground and going. It is just -- I know you shared that. I know the union back there shares it. I don't understand it. For the life of me, I do not understand how in the world it that you can long to do this. I mean, it's crazy. Just insane. I don't build fire stations, but I think I can do a better job. A group of us -- nerve this room should have started with the design and did it our 70s. We would be done by now. Thank you, chief. Appreciate it. Appreciate those of new the back -- in the back ROW back there listening, thank you, guys for what do you every day. We appreciate it. Okay, we are moving on. On 55 and 56. Unless you want to September there and watch us for the afternoon.

Brad Baird

03:55:21PM Brad Baird, deputy administrator of infrastructure. This goes back to November. Councilman Carlson made a motion that staff be requested to do their best to move of it t to a separate water probably not connected to the South Howard project. We found a way to do that. And the city -- [>>Alan Clendenin: for the purpose. And we will see that. Dotted line is the water line replacements on the -- on the streets of South Howard and something that is there for online.

Bill Carlson

03:57:08PM Angry we are not redoing the roads and make sure we are not pulling close to $1 million out of a budget that can be used of beautiful brick and other neighborhoods rebuild their roads.

Brad Baird

03:57:36PM Yeah, so this was -- originally, we were going -- we were going to propose since we had this soho project we had coming up. And -- but -- so we have separated this out. And it is -- the streets, full notice, they are connected or they are an extension of where the water lines go in. That's where it made sense. If they have a low pci, let's just go ahead and go to the end of the street, full.

Alan Clendenin

03:58:04PM Thank you. Thank you very much. Any further questions of staff? Councilman Hurtak, your light is on. Do you have a question?

Lynn Hurtak

03:58:15PM You know -- yeah -- never mind. I was going to say something. Because I had a question along the same line. But ultimately, we simply asked you to not pay for it with the from under South Howard and you found a way to do it. And --

Brad Baird

03:58:35PM Correct.

Alan Clendenin

03:58:36PM To be move the resolution of 55. A motion to move 55 from Councilman Hurtak. We have to do it separately for the collect. Seconded from Councilman Miranda. All in favor, say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it unanimously. Motion from Councilman Hurtak to move item 56. Second from council member Miranda. All in favor, say aye. Opposed, ayes have it. Thank you so much. Now we need a motion to remove items 50 and 5 is from the of again.

Guido Maniscalco

03:59:04PM So moved.

Charlie Miranda

03:59:05PM Second. Clendenin all in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it.

Brad Baird

03:59:09PM Thank you very much.

Alan Clendenin

03:59:11PM Be patient we are not there yet. Do item 18 any, please. 18. About going backwards. We are moving forward by going backwards. Okay. Item 18. Is staff online for item 18? Are you here? You are here. Right up front. Talk of being patient. Hi Mr. Melissa.

Melissa Davis

03:59:48PM Melissa Davis, arts and cultural affairs.

Alan Clendenin

03:59:51PM Very good. Anything you want to present or talk about this, or just be here for questions.

03:59:58PM Council member Young, you asked to have this item pulled?

Naya Young

04:00:03PM Yes. So we -- I did have a really good conversation with Melissa yesterday. Thank you for speaking with me. I wanted to bring this up just because I just had, you know, some additional thoughts after we spoken. And prior to being on council. I did a lot of work in the community and nonprofit space and I work with a lot of local artists, young, new and up and coming artists and looking at this contract -- this contract and also as we are doing things throughout the city. I want to emphasize, you know, the opportunities for us to engage our local artists. I work young artist who -- a $09,000 contract could change their life. And really help to get the art out there and get their art noticed. So, for me, I understand that there was a specific criteria that went into choosing the artists for this public art contract. But one of the questions that -- one of the things I spoke with Melissa about was, you know, is there a way that we, as a city, you know, how do we help local artists to, you know, be eligible. If they are not eligible now, something that we can to do maybe, you know, partner or have some type -- I don't know what it looks like, but just to those opportunities some of those, you know, up and coming artists or young artists or local artists in the city. You know, so that was really my point of bringing it up. I saw this number and I thought back to some of the artists that I worked with. And I am like, man, this could really change someone's life. And really -- really give an opportunity for us -- for an artist to really be able to showcase their part in this beautiful building. Because I know we all were at the fair oaks ribbon cutting and it was absolutely amazing. I would also like to know for the -- with the contract with Mr. -- with Mr. Ryan McCullough. That is not me. Know there will be like a coloring book component. Is there going to be an opportunity for community input or maybe like some workshops with some of the fair oaks, you know, kids that were displaced. Because they had to go to another center for some time. So was there an opportunity to work with them to do this coloring book or input from community or students, you know, on the artwork that will go into fair oaks. If you look behind us, we have this beautiful art from Community Stepping Stones. And it is -- it is beautiful. And we get to display it. And those were the kids that made it. Is there opportunity for this a test who also happens to be a professor to work with the students. In my nonprofit space for three -- for two summers worked with a local artist what happened she did was teach the students how this paint murals through -- throughout the summer for eight weeks. And at the end, a mural -- two murals on the side of the building that the kids actually painted and they learned how this do mural painting. I want to just emphasize the importance of having the opportunities for our local and our young artists and our students to really -- for us to collaborate and really help those artists. That was really my main reason for wanting to pull it and talk about it.

Alan Clendenin

04:03:50PM Do you have a response to Councilwoman Young. I appreciate those. Yes, a component, and a scope for the artist to work with the community, yes.

Naya Young

04:04:02PM The kids or the community. When you say "community," you mean community and the kids or -- with the -- with the community -- with fair oaks. We will be working with parks and rec on that.

Alan Clendenin

04:04:19PM I saw Councilwoman Hurtak first. Okay, Councilman Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

04:04:24PM I served on the arts board, the City of Tampa arts council, whatever the official title is for that for a while now. And we have had many opportunities where they are local artists and some are young. For example, on Florida Avenue at the wayne pappy center. I remember two candidates. One was, like a local individual who was very talented. How did that work out? The audience who was selected bring another together. That did happen. That was a collaborative effort, and now they are teaming up on other projects.

04:05:05PM What you say somebody local and somebody young. When it is -- let's say $990,000. That is a down payment on a house. That is life-changing. But I think the board has done a good job -- you know some projects are big. Like what we have at the Convention Center. We have an artists. We go internationally and West Tampa and mcfarland park with the mural with the West Tampa icons. Local artists, a local gentleman, and I can go on and on. Perhaps, you know -- for example, fair oaks is a big structure. And there is a lot of opportunity, but, again, a lot of young artists and we should explore. Even as board member and in the future where we have public comment, where people can come to our meetings at hannah. Usually Wednesday at 9:00. Gems come and express their thoughts as well. But thanks for pulling in item and having this discussion.

Alan Clendenin

04:06:02PM Councilwoman Hurtak followed by Councilman Carlson.

Lynn Hurtak

04:06:06PM Thank you. Good to see you outside the dog park. We are neighbors. So, first of all, I had this exact same concern several years ago. And what we were told, also, is that we -- we can't just be local because our folks can't -- like, if we don't -- if we don't pull people from all over the country all over the world, then we can't expect our artists to have the same consideration. I completely understand although I love it when we focus on local any question for the rest of the 200,000. How much does pieces of art do we get for the $110,000 and do we have an idea of what that HART might be? Local artists for fair oaks. And then additional money also be pooled for such things as mate nance and other projects in the region.

04:07:17PM The $200,000 won't necessarily go to isn't that right. Area or at the sites. That is -- that will be like go to the public art committee and be discussed at that point.

04:07:47PM The $200,000 needs to be spent on HART.

04:07:53PM Okay, thank you. Contract a local artist.

Alan Clendenin

04:07:59PM Very good. Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

04:08:05PM First I want to say thank you to staff. You have been waiting all day. You have been there a long time. Thank you for waiting. I respond to my colleague, Councilwoman Young. You are stirring up some ideas. As Councilwoman Hurtak said, the local preference rules -- as someone who has done business with other governments, I didn't do business with City of Tampa even before I was on council, but when other cities have local preference rules, it blocks our companies from getting in there and vice versa. Hopefully, we can find a way to compete. I hope that whatever would commit local artists. At perry Harvey park, a big statue. A lot of criticism. Criticism is the artist was a white artist in a park that is supposed to represent black history. And I don't know if that is it true or not. Especially with the new rules, we can't choose by race, but I would also remind everybody -- I don't know anything about this a test we are looking at right now. We have at least three or four nationally known black artists in Tampa. Dean mitchell that I was at an event of his. He sold $500,000 worth of part in one night. And this is just people that happen to love company. And ya is selling all over the worl,d and hers is $300,000 to $400,000 apiece which I can't afford. A lady anika. She was a student at the University of Tampa and does one or two "time" magazine covers. Do we have any of her stuff.

04:10:05PM Her stuff is phenomenal. Too expensive now. Very expensive. A guy named ferry. He is known as junkyard. Do you know him? I knew him -- he was a USF student years ago and he did an exhibit -- I didn't stay in touch with him. He invited me to an exhibit at the edition. He had 1,000 people at the pool deck at the edition. And the -- the some of the people there were. That was phenomenal. Local artist, music, deejay and everything. He is -- I don't know how old he is. 30 or little bit younger but these folks are incredibly talented and selling all over the place and some I don't even know. One thing that we might want to do is look at the arts ordinances to see how to you broaden the definition of art and make sure we engage the community. Also ,Councilman Young mentioned having the artists a few years ago on an art tour in brooklyn and harlem. In harlem, a public housing building designed as the same person as the African American museum. On the ground floor, they have reading space, a library, art space, creative space for kids, and they also have an artist in residence. An artist derek fodour from memphis. HR is an african-american artist. Phenomenal work and selling on an international level right now. Even if it is not the key artist that -- that is being highlighted as we are buying other art. I don't know if we can do it through the CRA or what, we need to make sure that we have artists in residence and creative play time. To be an example in the future fr the kids who are here now and have to think outside of ai. We have to teach them to think analytically or they won't be successful.

Alan Clendenin

04:12:08PM Only time I see you more excited about art than when you are talking of Jane Castor and bob buckhorn.

Bill Carlson

04:12:20PM Not excited when I'm talking about Charlie.

Alan Clendenin

04:12:22PM Council member Viera.

Luis Viera

04:12:24PM Thank you so much. Councilman Carlson mentioned harlem. I would love to see and how much how discretion we have over it, but when it come to the arts, to be talking of black history. I think that will be so important. And I know I am preach together choir, everybody up here -- oh, all right. And staff and everything. That will be just on some of our local heroes like althea joyner, Ron sanders, delano stewart, francisco Rodriguez and others. When council member Carlson mentioned harlem, gosh, talk of great things like the great migration when six million african-americans fled states like Florida and refugees in their own country going up north fleeing lynching that it happened here in Florida and were talking about that. I love stuff on black history and a chilling effect on that topic. I think that is marvelous. Putting in my two cents.

Alan Clendenin

04:13:34PM Councilwoman Young.

Naya Young

04:13:38PM I want to say one thing. Thank you for bring up that point, Councilman Viera. I agree. I reiterate, when I say "local," it doesn't even mean people from other places can't come. I know having people in your city, but going other places makes it attractive and get other commissions and things. I understand that point. When you have $200,000 and you have the opportunity to have a local artist. Yes, I understand this gentleman is local and a professor. I am talking about local, and you go to a vendor market and see someone selling art and had something happened in life and they are like I picked up a pen since I was 5. I am an artist. That is what I am talking about. When you have an opportunity to put two artists together, maybe one who has done these large scale problems before. One who has not. There is an opportunity there. Some synergy for them to work together. So now you are creating community because you have someone who has done this public art before, and they are working with someone that haven't yet and helping to elevate them and bring community and opportunities. I understand the importance of having art or artists from other places and also having our artists go and commission other areas. But we -- everybody has to start somewhere. And with the new building, the $35 million building in this beautiful space corridor this could be an opportunity for us to help some of our local artists who are still looking for that opportunity. So I just want to make sure we -- that I punt that out there. That I know and understand that. But also, you know, the opportunity for collaboration and synergy there. Just wanted to put that there.

Luis Viera

04:15:26PM One little small thing, if I may. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. You know two things I was going to say that is -- that would be remiss mentioning the great migration. If anyone -- has anyone here read "the warmth of other sons?" Wilkerson is the author. Wrote "caste." I remember speaking about it with Susan Johnson-Velez. Awesome book. I was going to suggest again -- off the dais here. John, what was the name -- I think his last time in was John -- the late councilwoman Henderson's -- it was housman, who was born a slave and died in 1934, and he died being illiterate. Couldn't read. Maybe having somethin for the late Councilwoman Henderson. A lovely tribute for her great grandfather. I can provide you all the information on that.

Alan Clendenin

04:16:32PM Councilwoman Young, would you like move this resolution?

Naya Young

04:16:36PM Yes. I move the resolution.

Alan Clendenin

04:16:38PM Motion c Councilwoman Young and seconded from Councilman Maniscalco. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Ayes have it. Crawling along like a snail. The museum of art of community benefit agreement.

Bill Carlson

04:16:57PM Mr. Chair, my company works with an organization that is related to this, although not directly on it, but related to it. So I am going to recuse myself so not to give a perception of a conflict. Can I please move my form.

Alan Clendenin

04:17:14PM A motion to receive and file by Councilwoman Hurtak. Ayes have it. The City of Tampa and joined by Dr. Bill Fossett with the Tampa Museum of Art and here to answer any questions you have of the community benefits agreement.

04:17:35PM Staff requested, it is just about the community benefits agreement. I see about art. Wonderful thing.

04:17:45PM Council member Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

04:17:49PM If I get to be out of in a reasonable time, I get to the museum of art meeting. And Michael lemore announced his retirement.

Alan Clendenin

04:18:01PM Oh, wow, I didn't know that.

Guido Maniscalco

04:18:06PM I went over the community benefits agreement. You know, I am good with it.

Alan Clendenin

04:18:11PM Just remember if you want to get out for that meeting.

Guido Maniscalco

04:18:16PM Nothing. Just that the museum is truly a gem in this community. And they are looking at the expansion. I was there when they opened the new museum, and I would go there a lot in the previous iteration 20 years ago. I appreciate what is in this -- it is -- it speaks for itself what a community benefit is and reaches out to a lot of parts of the community allowing more people access to they can enjoy it. Not a monetary issue. Not an education issue. Open to everybody. And this speaks to it in the agreement.

If I may, I have been here since 9

04:18:53PM 00. Bill fossett, campaign director for the museum of art. I have been here since 9:00 and heard a couple of points that is right to our project. Parks development. Our project has 80,000 square feet of external development. A sculpture garden covered plaza. It is going possible to fantastic. Importantly, we are redevelop and redesigning the Cass Street area. That is a major artery from west to east into downtown Tampa, and we are going to beautify it. We are incorporating a number of safety features. We are happy about that. Another one increased employment opportunities. It was not too long ago that this was a tiny little museum. And now we have 70 employees on our way to 110 within the next four or five years.

Guido Maniscalco

04:19:47PM Good. A lot of exciting things in the pipeline for the museum. I had to bring it up publicly because I have gotten a few e-mails, and I did reach out to Mr. Temore regarding the trees along the riverwalk and with the expansion of it moving forward, there was a couple of concerns, specifically from one of the tree removal there. But as you have -- talk of the lack of shade. The overhang that provides an adequate amount of shade. Either way, if we can preserve as many trees that we can. I know looking at the design. Some trees will be lost. Another type not grand oaks. They are smaller trees. But whatever can be done. I wanted to mention that.

Alan Clendenin

04:20:33PM Councilman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

04:20:35PM Thank you. I particularly love this community -- we spoke about this earlier, but I particularly love that this community benefit agreement really speaks to our veterans and allows access. I think -- yes. Yeah. Just -- I just wanted to say thank you for that. I think obviously the more that we do with children as well. But particularly for the veteran community. I really like that benefit. And I really look forward to seeing the expansion once -- airport therapy informed programming that speaks directly to problems that veterans may have. Ptsd and other problems. We are anticipating our art-informed programs. We have art therapy-informed programs, and you see that throughout our benefits agreement.

04:21:26PM Yes, thank you.

Alan Clendenin

04:21:27PM I will close it out by saying I am a big supporter of the museum, and I understand the economic impact and -- not just the economic impact on people's lives, art makes the world a better place. Afternoon and great city -- any great city has got to have great art. I appreciate your mission and look forward to the transformation. I look forward the benefit agreement and what that will bring tonight community. And Councilman Maniscalco, since you are on the museum board, do you want to move the resolution?

Guido Maniscalco

04:21:59PM I move item 53.

Alan Clendenin

04:22:01PM Motion by council member Maniscalco. Seconded from council member Viera. All in favor, say aye.

Clerk

04:22:07PM Motion carries unanimously with Carlson abstaining. We opened a exhibition by June caneco, a ceramist. Tampa Bay ballet in the museum for a standing-room-only crowd is what we are aiming for.

Alan Clendenin

04:22:28PM I am a big supporter of the ballet. I love that symbiotic relationship and look forward to other relationships like that.

04:22:39PM We passed it. Yes, we did.

Lynn Hurtak

04:22:48PM We are at 62.

Alan Clendenin

04:22:50PM We are at 62. You are correct, Councilwoman Hurtak. 62.

Luis Viera

04:22:55PM If you all remember, he was going to motion to continue that to January 8. I spoke with staff. And that's it. So I motion to continue that first on the agenda to January 8. Second time we are continuinh this. I don't say that as a complaint. That's why I am doing it first thing on agenda, by the way. I did want to say -- sorry, long day. My brain is taxed. We had folks come and talk of gadsden park. This was talking of south and North Tampa. I want to be clear on this. And Councilman Carlson, I am not make any motions, and if you want to lead on any motion of gadsden park. My sympathies. I spoke to everybody and folks with the challenger league. Challenge league, Greg Jones, along with his wife, laura cupp. Him being involved in the challenges lead him to begin cupp. We have a special place in our heart for this. The intent is we have CRA making investments, and it would appear within CRA areas for accessible parks. And so we are looking outside of the CRA and South Tampa. New in North Tampa. And so, you know, I spoke -- I spoke to folks at parks and rec when I was outside for a little bit, and I said to Mr. Fowler, I said, look, I would love to see something robust in gadsden park. I said, look, I will give you a little bit more time but make it lovely, right. In New Tampa --

Alan Clendenin

04:24:32PM Are we?

Luis Viera

04:24:35PM My intent. In New Tampa, we have the all abilities park. I will talk to them off-line. We are giving them more time and making it real. We appropriated money for this and a big deal and gadsden park is familiar with Councilman Carlson and knows macdill. Let me talk of macdill, no, I am joking. My motion January 8, if I may.

Alan Clendenin

04:24:57PM A motion to continue item 62 to January 8. You want it as a time certain first on the agenda? Is that what I heard? First on staff reports. Is that to okay -- do we have anything else we are told will be first on agenda? Did anybody look at it for me? Is it in conflict with something previously decided? All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. Next item 64. Hurricanes. Mr. Brandon Campbell. You are not Brandon Campbell. Brandon Campbell, director of the Mobility department. Emma Gregory and I have uploaded a staff report in response to this item. And we are here to answer any questions that you might have.

4:25:49PM We had a staff report, but people wanted the staff here. Who wanted staff?

Bill Carlson

4:25:56PM Can you just for the public's sake in case they didn't read it, give them the 30 seconds on what you said in the report?

Brandon Campbell

4:26:04PM Sure. The motion that you all had made for us was to consider reduction of the in lieu fees from the current rate of 220 back to the previous rate of $29 per linear foot. For homes that were affected by the hurricane, damaged at 51% or more and under continuous ownership. So we did some research and worked with the department of development and growth management. We were not able to relate any records specifically to one another between damage and in lieu fee applications. So while we don't know that the number would be zero, in that search we determined that it would be very few. And for that reason, emma had provided some advice. I'll let you speak to that.

Emma Gregory

4:26:59PM Emma Gregory, Legal Department. So given the very small number of potential applications of an ordinance that we were evaluating, when we as the city adopt an ordinance, it should -- it really has to be an official legislative action of a governing body, which action is a regulation of general and permanent nature as enforceable by law. So it really gets kind of to this general nature of what an ordinance really is. It's for everybody. So that was one of the concerns that we had. Another concern is that if we created an administrative appeal process or an administrative waiver process, there would potentially be a lot of applications for waivers. Just opening that up, we were concerned there would be perhaps an arbitrary application of those waivers. We want to make sure that here in the city, everyone gets treated equally under our code. And finally, creating distinctions between -- what exactly did you say? Continuous owners versus redevelopment. We didn't want to create two different classes under our sidewalk in lieu fee ordinance. Those were the concerns outlined in the memo.

Alan Clendenin

4:28:45PM I read the memo. I think it is a point well taken, especially when you found that the universe was either didn't exist or so small that it wouldn't be applicable to create an ordinance for such a small amount -- potential. While I think this idea -- I supported the concept of it thinking it was broader, but I think the idea had merit, but the reality is, we're looking -- I think what ended up happening, this was a solution looking for a problem.

Bill Carlson

4:29:20PM Just quickly, I know I had at least two, maybe three, and they were resolved, I think. Since we first put this on, I have not had any more complaints about it. But just so folks know, when you lose your house, you go through a whole bunch of steps to try to recover. Figure out how you'll pay for it, whether insurance, FEMA and all these things. Then you have to apply for permits. By the time they got to applying for permits sometimes it was just past this date and they had no idea because they were trying to rebuild their house. I think the idea was to provide the opposite of what was stated, which was to provide a uniform ability to measure the things at least outside people's control. But it appears to have been resolved now. So it is what it is. If we get any more, we'll have a conversation about it. My purpose in asking for this is I didn't want the staff to have to make an arbitrary decision. I wanted there to be a rule to back staff up. In the last couple of months, I have not heard anything on these. I assume everybody has kind of figured out what they are going to do. Unfortunately, a lot of people sold their houses at a big loss as teardowns and other people are building now.

Alan Clendenin

4:30:38PM Thank you. Hearing no other questions, thank you. Appreciate your patience.

4:30:42PM We'll move on to Councilman Viera, item 66.

Luis Viera

4:30:53PM Again, no time. I'll move the resolution. This is a very important issue. I've spoken on it a lot, written on it a lot. I am going to say something, Mr. Chairman. I've done a couple of posts on social media on it. I have been very, very, very disappointed morally in some of the cruelty, a lot of the cruelty I've seen out there from people. I'm potentially naive, I am. I don't operate in a naive world as a politician and as a civil litigator, but I am a little naive on some things. You think that cruelty maybe hasn't been put to bed but at least goes down a little bit. What I have seen over the last few weeks, starting from the top, from the man who occupies the office of George Washington going on down is that cruelty never goes out of fashion, it just needs a champion. Right now has a champion and people are following and really pisses me off and disappoints me. If I may, I move item 66.

Alan Clendenin

4:31:51PM Motion to move item 66 second from Councilman Maniscalco. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

4:31:55PM I just wanted to say I appreciate you bringing this forward. I was shocked at the amount of comments on your social media. It was horrific, actually.

Alan Clendenin

4:32:11PM I think we constantly have to be reminded that there is good out there, but there's always people that are going to battle good. Those of us that are trying to strive for a better society have to keep pushing. You can never let your guard down because we see this -- these rights being withdrawn from people. We've seen so much erosion in what I think most people have grown up in our generations, we have several generations here on this council. We thought that society had moved to a certain point, but this is a reminder that you always have to keep -- you have to keep your guard up and you constantly have to be pushing and you have to be vocal on the issue that happened here on council that was directed at me recently. I appreciate council's support on that. It's something you think society moved to a certain point. I can tell you that I know it's not. People in minorities, you know in your day-to-day life, even though we have made great strides. But the moment you let your guard down, they are going to pull us right back into the sewer. I appreciate your initiative on this as well. I hope this council continues to strive for a better world. Thank you.

Luis Viera

4:33:35PM Thank you, sir. I would be remiss if I also didn't mention, I remember a couple of weeks ago we had the tragedy that happened out at USF involving our muslim brothers and sisters. I did a post on that. Again, the responses that I saw to that shocked me. The hatred, the hatred, the religious bigotry that people have. I've done things on anti-semitism and on Hanukkah. Yesterday I responded to a gentleman, I use the term gentleman very liberally, where he put something very adverse about Hanukkah. I said I'm sorry I triggered you by mentioning Hanukkah. Please e-mail me and I'll give you a 24-hour warning the next time I mention Hanukkah. Obviously very sarcastic. The things people used to think about privately, people yell about it. Started with tiki torches in charlottesville in 2017 and all mainstreamed. Breaks my heart and angers me so much. Black history in african americans, with our muslim brothers and sisters, anti-semitism all over. Thank you. I wanted to mention that.

Alan Clendenin

4:34:44PM Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

4:34:45PM I want to thank Councilman Viera for bringing this forward. Just a comment on what you just said, I think what started then was it was stirring feelings that were already there that were hidden and brought them to the surface. The bad news is that they are on the surface and people are using them in all kinds of bad ways. Maybe the good news is that now it can force a dialogue and hopefully change in the next few years will result in us coming together. This country was founded by immigrants and has welcomed people in and driven economically by immigrants and all kinds of folks. We need to be open to people's beliefs and physical attributes and other things. This thing, just for folks that know and before we start getting slammed on this, City Council has no right to cut people's free speech and tell you you can't use certain words. We can't tell you that you can't use this word here. All this is a resolution saying we don't agree with it. Those of us who vote for it agree that is a word that shouldn't be used. I hope we can at least be an example and set an example for other people that we don't agree with it. Even though we get criticized, we'll say that. My colleague, a lawyer and very good at words, as I said several years ago in a resolution, I wish you did half a page instead of three pages. When you start talking about fdr and all this other stuff, it brings in all this other political potential meaning that I wish we could simply say we don't like this word. Finally as I said a minute ago, I hope that the folks that want this city and this country to be better will all focus on lifting each other up instead of tearing each other down. We see our community and our country being held back by all this fighting all the time, and we need to bring everybody together. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

4:36:53PM Thank you. We have a motion to move the resolution from Councilman Viera. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Ayes have it unanimously. Clerk, if I have kept track of this extraordinarily convoluted agenda, I believe we have finished with our regular business, is that correct? Wow. I can't believe I was able to keep track. That was a mess, man. We are at new business. Start to my left. Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

4:37:28PM Sent a memo -- sent around a memo suggesting something. Not going to do it today. We have a new city attorney and I want to talk to him. In January we have the issue, this is like the third time we brought it up, on downtown traffic. We've got to figure out how to resolve it and get the administration to work with us. If any of you have the ability to get the administration to collaborate with us on this, we've got to stop closing down the roads. What I had proposed after I got stuck in traffic -- it's not stuck in traffic for five minutes. You are stuck in traffic going two or three blocks for an hour. That's how bad it is. You are trying to be out of the arena and eventually get to Ybor City and get on the selmon and go back to South Tampa. Because they block the roads under the Convention Center, the traffic is backed up all the way to Rome. All the way to Hyde Park. Bayshore is blocked. This has got to be fixed. We can't continue to add the things like they announced today. How could we have more entertainment in downtown if the city doesn't fix this. The problem is they are shutting down roads. So what I propose today is that we start an ordinance that would prohibit anybody from blocking the streets or shutting down the roads without City Council's approval. I don't know under what authority they are doing it other than emergencies. They don't have enough time to put together a draft before January 8. January 8, I'll talk about this again. If we don't find another solution, I think we'll need an ordinance to prohibit them from doing it without our approval. If a parade wants to block downtown, they need to come talk to us and let the public weigh in on it. Think about the people on Harbour Island. They can't even get to their houses. Discussion and move on from there.

4:39:17PM We're having discussion already on January 8. I was going to make a motion today to start an ordinance, but since there's not enough time before January 8, I'll just delay this and discuss it on January 8.

Alan Clendenin

4:39:28PM January 8, what is the discussion?

Bill Carlson

4:39:30PM It's provide an in-person report on preventing traffic jams in downtown.

Alan Clendenin

4:39:36PM Maybe add legal to that as well.

Bill Carlson

4:39:41PM I'll make a motion to add to that January 8 thing to request legal to talk to us about the legal options for City Council to stop downtown traffic jams.

Alan Clendenin

4:39:53PM We have a motion to amend that request January 8 meeting from Councilman Carlson. Second first from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. Councilman Viera.

Luis Viera

4:40:04PM I have a few. Some came up from some discussions today. Again, we can't talk about this outside. Councilwoman Young, if you wanted to make this motion because it's in your district. Ashley -- I can make it, whatever. Ashley morrow came here and talked about the freedmen's bureau. I talked to fred hearns before. When I saw her talk about it, I go, that's awesome. People should know on Nebraska there was an office of the freedmen's bureau, federal office bureau put in parts of the south after the Civil War and reconstruction to help african americans with voting rights education, creating of public schools, creating of civic institutions. It would all be torn down, many of them after reconstruction. So I would love to do a motion and again, Councilwoman Young, if you want to do this, it's all good, to do a historical marker there advising the public that a freedmen's office was there. Kind of a big deal. Like I said, districts and all that. I'd like a written report on what staff would be doing to help make this happen. To give them time, let's do February 19. Written report. If they need more time, all good.

Alan Clendenin

4:41:31PM Motion from Councilman Viera. A second from Councilwoman Young for a written staff report on February 19, 2026.

Martin Shelby

4:41:43PM Again, for the investigation of a marker to commemorate or acknowledge --

Luis Viera

4:41:48PM Existence of freedmen's bureau office at the location on Nebraska I think it was.

Alan Clendenin

4:41:53PM All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Bill Carlson

4:41:56PM Can I add one thing just real fast? Ashley morrow, she mentioned here one time that her day job is that she is a photographer. It happened that the next day I quickly needed a photographer for my holiday photos. So I called her. Two days later she came and did my holiday photos. She's reasonably priced, excellent and very friendly and knowledgeable. You can talk about black history while getting your pictures taken.

Alan Clendenin

4:42:25PM This paid commercial -- [ laughter ] Councilman Viera.

Luis Viera

4:42:28PM Two quick ones, if I may. I've been talking to a gentleman, very nice gentleman by e-mail who is a retired Tampa fire district Chief, Glen Warner. Some of you all -- yeah, that's what I'm going to talk about. August 4 is going to be 45 years since the murders that happened at the downtown Tampa fire station, August 4 of 1981. Then Fire Chief Franz Warner senior and isaac royal, a young man, a Tampa firefighter were murdered. Won't go into the facts of it, but they were murdered. It's something that Tampa fire marks all the time. I thought it would be just lovely to invite Glen Warner, to invite the family of the late isaac royal, including potentially his Brother, Glen would be taking charge of that. Just to come and talk about for five minutes, whatever it may be about what this day means to them. It's so interesting, glen, of course, he was ten years old when his father was murdered. Glen would become a district chief, recently retired. He and I have interesting comments. We don't agree on politics but agree on music. Really good taste in music. His son is now a Tampa firefighter. There are a lot of great things there, and I'd love to come to invite these folks.

Alan Clendenin

4:43:57PM If he agrees with you on music, I don't think that would be called good taste.

Luis Viera

4:44:05PM July 30th, if I may. We're open. It's way down the line.

Alan Clendenin

4:44:10PM Motion from Councilman Viera. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All in favor, aye. Ayes have it unanimously.

Luis Viera

4:44:17PM Lastly, correct me if I'm wrong, I looked at the agenda. I don't think we have ever invited Local 754 to come and do their presentation on their public safety master plan and their GIS study. We have. When did they do that?

Alan Clendenin

4:44:36PM Probably a year ago.

Luis Viera

4:44:37PM Since it's a living document that gets updated, so this was my thinking. I was going to invite Local 754 and TFR to come talk about response times at k-bar ranch. I think it would be just as wise so we can talk about all of the city to come and invite -- I've already spoken to Mr. Stocco about it; he's amenable to doing that -- on February 19. It's open. February 19 to invite Local 754 to come talk on the updated master plan and GIS. Talk about different parts of City of Tampa. We just talked about downtown. I would love to get the union's impression on that. Talking about k-bar ranch and that's it.

Alan Clendenin

4:45:23PM Motion from Councilman Viera. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Bill Carlson

4:45:33PM I was wondering if you could just add or tweak to ask them to highlight their budget priorities for this year because that way we have something actionable.

Alan Clendenin

4:45:44PM We have a friendly amendment to add a request for them to present on budget priorities for FY '27. Anybody object to that? Unanimous consent. Thank you. Councilwoman Young.

Naya Young

4:46:01PM Okay. [Inaudible] I'll save those comments. I have three motions. You mentioned ashley morrow. She also did the pictures for fair oaks. I don't know if you got your pictures with santa. I did get mine. It is very nice.

Alan Clendenin

4:46:34PM Say you were naughty or good?

Naya Young

4:46:37PM I'm always good. I never get any coal. I'm also very excited to see ashley morrow on our charter. I have three motions here. The first is, one, I want to thank our staff and legal for helping just to do the correct research so we can make sure that we have everything we need so I can make this motion. I'm very excited to do it. G3 life applications, incorporated, which is a part of the skill center collaborative, wishes to apply for a State of Florida community contribution tax credit for a work force development and job readiness program. This program would be located in the skill center at 5107 north 22nd street in Tampa, Florida. In connection with this application for this tax credit, the state requires a resolution from the applicable local government certifying that the project is consistent with local plans and regulations. I, therefore, make a motion to request that the City Legal Department and administration review the community contribution tax credit application of g3 life applications, incorporated, and prepare a resolution for the January 8, 2026 City Council meeting certifying that this proposed program is consistent with local plans and regulations and stating the city's general support of this application. We have done some extensive research, extensive research. A lot of calls and meetings just to make sure we have all the correct information that we needed for this. That is my first motion that is on the floor.

Luis Viera

4:48:14PM [Inaudible]

Naya Young

4:48:16PM Very, very awesome. Staff bring a resolution add it under consent.

4:48:26PM I believe it is staff -- consent yes. We spoke with them for that date and they were okay with that.

Alan Clendenin

4:48:35PM We have a motion from Councilwoman Young. Second from Councilman Viera. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it unanimously.

Naya Young

4:48:43PM My second, which I am very happy to do, I move that Tampa City Council present a commendation on March 5, 2026, under commendation and/or presentations to zeta phi beta sorority, incorporated, beta sigma zeta chapter of Tampa in recognition of its 80th anniversary of being chartered, honoring eight decades of dedicated service, leadership, and community impact. Since its chartering on March 9, 1946, the beta sigma zeta chapter has consistently served the Tampa community through meaningful initiatives focused on scholarships, service, sisterhood and finer womanhood. Over the past 80 years, the chapter has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to uplifting individuals and families through educational support, youth development, health awareness, civic engagement, and community empowerment initiatives. The beta sigma zeta chapter continues to make a lasting impact by advancing the core principles of zeta phi beta sorority, incorporated, of scholarships, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood while fostering partnerships, mentoring future leaders and addressing critical community needs with integrity and purpose. This commendation shall recognize the chapter's historic legacy, continued contributions, and positive influences on the City of Tampa and its residents.

Alan Clendenin

4:50:00PM Motion from Councilwoman Young. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it unanimously.

Naya Young

4:50:07PM Thank you very much. One more. I move to make a motion to present an off-site commendation for toba's 46th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King jr. leadership breakfast on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the jw marriott. The 2026 theme is "our voice our destiny."

Alan Clendenin

4:50:27PM Motion from Councilwoman Young. Second from Councilwoman Hurtak. All in favor, aye. Ayes have it.

Naya Young

4:50:37PM Very happy for that because I did the TOBA Leadership institute, so I'm very happy to be able to now, in this space, be able to do that. Lastly, I don't know if you all saw, there was a story -- I don't know if it was the Tampa Bay times or spectrum, but there is a woman, her name, Christine vickers. She lives in East Tampa right in front of cole's pond. They did a story on her because she over the past 20 years had over a dozen crashes that happened right in front of her house. Darlene and I were out. We went to a birthday party at ragan park. We stopped by and looked like an accident just happened there because you could still see the car parts in front of her house. Big yellow poles knocked over. She came outside and we spoke with her. And she was just saying she is scared. She's even had cars come through her yard. We went by just to talk with her. I want to see if there's anything that, you know, we could do just to help her or help her feel safer. While we were standing there observing the cars, the school zone ends past her house, but the cars were flying by. I know it was not a school zone speed.

Alan Clendenin

4:52:07PM To start, maybe already done this, I would set up a meeting between your office and mobility and also your office and the Tampa PD and see what kind of data they have. They can maybe give you guidance to bring further business to council to discuss that.

Bill Carlson

4:52:28PM I met with a constituent recently that had a similar problem where people were running into his house. He put big boulders up at the turn so when people are turning, if they go straight, they hit the boulders. The city fined him for that. As I've been driving around, I've seen probably hundreds of houses that have big boulders but they are apparently not getting fined.

Alan Clendenin

4:52:51PM You can do it on your property but not on the right-of-way.

Bill Carlson

4:52:57PM I want to research it before I bring it back. People have to have a way to protect their property.

Alan Clendenin

4:53:03PM I have a similar situation at one of my homes where I have to have the same thing but push it back on the property so it can't be on the right-of-way. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

4:53:13PM I move to schedule a workshop on April 23, 2026 to discuss the creation of a bike pedestrian advisory committee and a multimodal and pedestrian safety on roads, parks, and trails. I'm going to work with TPD, mobility staff and community stakeholders to create an agenda for this workshop. I want staff to hold a community meeting in march. I will work with staff to create topics of discussion for the community meeting. I just know we're all at the end of the year. I will bring forward what I create when it's done.

Alan Clendenin

4:53:45PM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Lynn Hurtak

4:53:51PM Okay. So this is a motion for the city attorney to provide City Council with legal memorandum to the following questions. Yes, I already gave this to our new city attorney-elect. What is the law when a building permit is issued or a site plan approved that was based on error or omission or misrepresentation? And what are the legal and administrative remedies that are available to the City of Tampa? I'd like a written report on February 5, 2026.

Alan Clendenin

4:54:21PM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Lynn Hurtak

4:54:28PM Hope everyone has a lovely holiday.

Alan Clendenin

4:54:31PM You have one more. You were going to bring up the issue of the biking.

Lynn Hurtak

4:54:41PM That's what I just did. That was the motion.

Alan Clendenin

4:54:49PM I didn't realize that was that. Did you want to talk about that?

Lynn Hurtak

4:54:55PM April 23rd. Workshop day.

Naya Young

4:54:59PM I think that is a fantastic idea. I think it's great to workshop it. I have lots of comments, but I think they would be great for the workshop. But I said it out there to a couple of people, but I think it will be an awesome opportunity for all of us to work together to create something that everybody can get behind. And the presentation today, I really enjoyed the presentation today by Downtown Partnership in providing examples. The great thing is we have other examples that we can look at and we can see what works, what doesn't work. We have opportunities to work with our biking community, with our walking community, with our youth and really put something together that we can all get behind. I'm really looking forward to workshopping it. I have lots of comments, but I know we are ready to go home. I'll save them for the workshop. Merry Christmas.

Alan Clendenin

4:55:53PM Councilman Maniscalco has a meeting to go to. I know he will keep it brief.

Guido Maniscalco

4:55:58PM Well, I indulge everyone. Like to make a motion for Thomas Mantz, CEO of Feeding Tampa Bay to present their annual report under ceremony and presentations on February 5th, 2026. There is room.

Bill Carlson

4:56:14PM Can we say five minutes?

Guido Maniscalco

4:56:16PM All right. We'll set it to five minutes.

Alan Clendenin

4:56:19PM We have a motion from Councilman Maniscalco for a five-minute presentation. Second from Councilman Miranda. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. Anything else?

Guido Maniscalco

4:56:28PM Yes. Just a friendly reminder, the Tampa theatre is showing a wonderful life I think tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday at the movie theater. I'm probably going to go. I know you can watch it on netflix, but no more beautiful place than Tampa theatre. In regards to what we said earlier regarding the resolution passed by Councilman Viera, I think maybe more people should watch that movie because it is deeper than what you think it is. An angel gets his wings. If you look at the world -- I use social media to communicate and whatnot, but it is like the poison of modern society. We talk about the meanness of people. And we don't realize that, yes, it is the holiday season. I mentioned this the other night. People open their hearts a little bit more. People love a little bit more, and we share cookies and eggnog and holiday music and all that stuff, but it can't be, this might sound silly, but it can't just be a season. It's christmastime. Let's be a little bit nicer. The way things are, you see the news, a professor was assassinated. There was a shooter at brown. Happening in California with specific entertainment individuals. It's chaotic. We're just going down this path where either we start setting better examples and try to be kinder and a little more compassionate, but it's just madness. Every time we wake up and look at the news, it's something crazier. That's it. Thank you. Merry Christmas.

Alan Clendenin

4:58:12PM Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

4:58:13PM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to make a motion for February 26 -- I mean, March 26. Like to see the people in the -- bring out the facts and figures of how much electricity we used in 2024 versus 2025. I think we had a lot of increase in solar during that year and I want to see if there's any difference in the price, even though price changed in electricity, what we pay in 24 and what we pay in 25. Electrical costs for the year.

Alan Clendenin

4:58:46PM The city's. We have a motion from Councilman Miranda. A second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Anything else?

Charlie Miranda

4:59:00PM Things to think about. I haven't seen that in a long time, vacating different properties. Properties abandoned or whatever. It creates hardship between the neighborhood and some people who live there and don't like it. I think we ought to have something maybe sell it to a bidder. I don't know how. I'm just bringing it up for conversation, future date to think about that.

Alan Clendenin

4:59:29PM I'm not particularly fond of giving stuff away.

Charlie Miranda

4:59:34PM Neither am I. That's why I'm bringing it up. Thirdly, the transfer of money from one enterprise fund, there's four of them, I think basically I don't like that at all. But I think we ought to discuss it later on, not today. We're about half worn out. Think what we'll do, if anything, regarding those funds that they use from the enterprise funds to loan it to somebody else and then -- pay it back for whatever reason, for discussion later on.

Alan Clendenin

5:00:08PM Councilwoman Hurtak, would you mind taking the gavel?

Lynn Hurtak

5:00:12PM You are recognized.

Alan Clendenin

5:00:12PM Thank you. I have two items of new business. One item I would like to make a motion to issue a commendation for USF Master of Urban and Regional Planning program on March 26, 2026.

Lynn Hurtak

5:00:26PM I have a motion from Chair Clendenin and a second from board member -- or Councilman Viera. Any comment? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed?

Alan Clendenin

5:00:38PM The next thing is iou that we have, we had accepted responsibility to provide the Charter Review Commission with questions from council to answer and also our own suggestions. In order to do that, we need to schedule a special workshop. My legislative aide worked with your offices. I believe your schedules are clear on this date. January 13, 2026 at the sister city room at 5 p.m. it would not be televised, but it would be officially noticed meeting. January 13. It is a Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Lynn Hurtak

5:01:17PM Not good for me.

Alan Clendenin

5:01:19PM My legislative aide said your legislative aide said it was good.

Lynn Hurtak

5:01:23PM She doesn't have my personal calendar. I'll work around it.

Alan Clendenin

5:01:28PM This council had accepted responsibility to provide questions to the Charter Review Commission of what they wanted to see answered in the charter and also our suggestions and things that we wanted to see, to provide some guidance. This was the workshop for us to discuss that, what we want to see. So that was -- because we already had this discussion. It was an iou. We did not have the meeting scheduled. Thought it was timely to accomplish the task.

Martin Shelby

5:01:59PM The resolution that you passed said that under the scope of work, questions by the Tampa City Council Will be submitted to the crc for commission discussion and recommendation. So you all, from what I understand, each have your own ideas and you're going to discuss them and call them together and put in a format that can be submitted.

Alan Clendenin

5:02:22PM That was something already asked and answered by council. I motion to schedule that January 13 workshop at 5 p.m. in the sister cities room.

Guido Maniscalco

5:02:30PM Second. I'll cancel my flight for you.

Lynn Hurtak

5:02:35PM I don't know that I can come.

Alan Clendenin

5:02:40PM We have a motion and second.

Lynn Hurtak

5:02:46PM So we have a motion from Chair Clendenin and a second from Maniscalco. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Nay.

The clerk

5:03:02PM Motion carried with Hurtak voting no.

Alan Clendenin

5:03:05PM Thank you. Since this is the last meeting of 2026, I would like to take this opportunity to say happy holidays to everybody, merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, whatever holiday you celebrate. Winter solstice. I know everybody that's been up here, we have several people who have been chairs, you don't know until you do one how good our staff is. The legislative aides, council staff, Ms. Kopesky, Mr. Shelby, the clerk and the clerk's staff, the folks that keep, that protect us, the Tampa Police Department and our security personnel that make sure that we're safe, the administration, everybody we work with, it's been a pleasure working with everybody. I really appreciate it, especially in this holiday season, what you bring to the City of Tampa. I know the people that live in the City of Tampa are well served. It's really eye opening to see how much, the level of commitment in every branch of this government and what they bring to the City of Tampa. I wish everybody and their families a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy holidays, happy winter solstice. Thank you.

Guido Maniscalco

5:04:22PM [Inaudible]

Martin Shelby

5:04:25PM May I follow up --

Alan Clendenin

5:04:27PM Except for the lawyers. [ laughter ]

Martin Shelby

5:04:31PM If you can't beat them, join them. Just referring back to the Charter Review Commission, council, it's probably going to be a little bit -- now that you passed the resolutions until the facilitator and the attorney get their act up and running, so I'm going to suggest and recommend perhaps that when you do call your appointee who was appointed today to congratulate them, please do so and remind them that the sunshine law applies to them now from this point forward, that they cannot talk to other members of the same board, the Charter Review Commission. They can certainly talk to council members and talk to you, but that they have -- their obligations have begun today.

Alan Clendenin

5:05:15PM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

5:05:15PM Is there a way that you could send out the list of all the people to all the people so they know who they can't talk to?

The clerk

5:05:26PM My plan was to provide a copy of the resolution and inform them to fill out their form one as well.

Lynn Hurtak

5:05:32PM Great. Thank you so much.

Martin Shelby

5:05:33PM I'll work with the clerk and work with the chair, certainly, but we may have to begin rather quickly to begin setting up communications and e-mail addresses and the like to be able to have everybody so they don't have to use their personal e-mail and have things archived for safety sake. The public records law applies to them as well from this point forward related to their business.

Alan Clendenin

5:05:58PM Councilman Viera.

Luis Viera

5:05:59PM Out of transparency, when it comes to our wonderful budget analyst, Hagar, I don't know if I give her something that I want to work on, if I'm supposed to disclose it. I will. Out of transparency, we had a conversation that right now obviously Local 754 with management are going back and forth on some budget issues. I advise that I may seek her help later on if there are allegations made by management as to budget effects, requests being made by the union so that she can look at it as well because I think that's important. That we have our own budget analyst look at some of these to be potentially made allegations so that we can have a full picture of what's going on. To the extent we need to do that, just out of transparency.

Bill Carlson

5:06:50PM Second. Shouldn't we just support that? I think it's better to give her direction if we support it.

Alan Clendenin

5:06:56PM Actually, this has been my take. And I've gotten push-back from over there. Ms. Kopesky works for all seven of us, but, of course, is directly accountable to the chair as far as a direct report. I have not supported the issues of like going through because, one, we have sunshine issues. I feel as though if individual members have wants, needs, desires, and needs technical assistance of the budget analyst, they should have the freedom to be able to go to the budget analyst independently of either the chair or myself and seek that assistance. So I have really kind of pushed back on this idea of group think on utilizing the staff. Same thing with Mr. Shelby. If you all had something very specific, you don't have to wire the chair and wire the group of us in on that. I think what you've done in my light is appropriate, just to go directly with Ms. Kopesky and have that report out. If there is something bigger or greater need that we need to have that buy-in, I would say yes.

Bill Carlson

5:08:08PM The issue is that if we ask her for a number that might be an innocent sounding or question that might be an innocent sounding question and the administration doesn't want to give it to us, then it puts her in a bad political position where she could be seen as causing problems or whatever with the administration. So if we don't always know what those things might be. It might be an innocent question. Might trigger something. Talking about union negotiations, it sounds like it could be administration wouldn't agree with. My only reason to maybe sometimes get approval and we don't have to today, is just to support her so that the administration knows that she's not doing this on her own. She's doing it with the support of the council.

Alan Clendenin

5:08:54PM Again, the conversations I had with the administration, that is the -- when she is seeking this, seeking it on behalf of either all of council or individual council members when they are talking. And that is part of the role is, why you pay the big bucks. [ laughter ] her agenda is individuals of council or council as a whole. Councilman Viera, as that issue matures, I think that maybe it would, as it becomes more baked, maybe it would be right to come before us. But I think in the preliminary stages, I don't think so. As it becomes more ripe and reaches ahead, yeah, maybe that would be more appropriate to come before the group.

Luis Viera

5:09:41PM Thank you. Again, I was just advising council. Whether we do a motion or not, I assume no one opposes it up here.

Alan Clendenin

5:09:50PM Remember, we also have a role in this, too. We have to be mindful of that role.

Luis Viera

5:09:56PM Put that idea out there, again, to the extent it's necessary. That's all.

Guido Maniscalco

5:10:01PM Move to receive and file.

Alan Clendenin

5:10:02PM We have a motion to receive and file. You know what it is -- we need it to light up in my face so I can see it or tap me.

Naya Young

5:10:17PM Well, one, today is my best friend's birthday. All the way in bronx, New York. I've been in council all day, so I haven't been able to call her. So happy birthday, dakota.

Alan Clendenin

5:10:27PM (Singing) happy birthday to you.

Lynn Hurtak

5:10:34PM That's not a gift. [ laughter ]

Naya Young

5:10:36PM Dakota, don't accept that. I would like to say, I would like to thank you all. It has been awesome being up here. I've had a lot of questions, but I've really had a lot of fun and I've really been having a great time. I thank you all for being open, just kind of opening up and having me up here and allowing me to ask questions and make mistakes if I do and come back. This has been awesome. I'm really looking forward to next year. Thank you, council members, and to all of our staff. And marty and Hagar, and Suling, and darlene is amazing. And I'm just really happy to be up here, even though you're ignoring me sometimes. [ laughter ]

Alan Clendenin

5:11:23PM You say -- good thing I call you by the right name. A lot of fun. Should we check you for a fever?

Naya Young

5:11:34PM It is. I really want to thank you all for embracing me and having me to be up here. I've really enjoyed this. This has been very awesome. I just wanted to thank you.

Guido Maniscalco

5:11:45PM We really appreciate having you here. Really, I don't know you. I mentioned your family several times because your grandmother is very involved. But you have a good heart. I can tell that you are very compassionate and that you care. In politics, there are a lot of different personalities, but you can see when someone is real. That is the first thing I notice. And it's important. It is a big city and you have a very busy district. You might have the second best legislative aide here because I have the best legislative aide, you know, but darlene, I vouch for her with my eyes closed. You have a good team right here. We've welcomed you before, but welcome and we look forward to next year.

Bill Carlson

5:12:32PM Thank you also for your heart for the community. It's evident that you care first about the community but also thank you for your positive energy. As you see, it's long days like this and hard to get through. Having people with lots of positive energy, like Charlie. I always tell people Charlie has more energy than all of us combined. He was dancing in the hallway just a minute ago.

Alan Clendenin

5:13:01PM We need to check you for fever and him for drugs. [ laughter ] we have a motion to receive and file from Councilman Maniscalco. A second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? We're adjourned. Merry Christmas, happy new year. [ 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. © - City of Tampa (813) 274-8211