City Council — September 17, 2026 FINAL

Alan Clendenin

9:04:41AM Good morning, everybody. [ sounding gavel ] welcome to Tampa City Council. Why are you guys all here? I would like to welcome you to Tampa City Council This morning and recognize Councilman Charlie Miranda for our invocation.

Charlie Miranda

9:04:55AM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is my deep honor to present Pastor Alan m. Harris, a native of saint Louis, Missouri. Began preaching at age 19, serving full-time ministry since age 22. Holds degrees in biblical study, theology, and executive mba. He currently leads the servant of the history of beulah baptist institutional church. If you haven't been there, go there. Wonderful place to be on cypress. Serving since beulah -- serving since arriving at beulah in December of 2022, Pastor Harris expand the ministries and outreach, including social justice, health and wellness, financial stewardship, education, community, support initiatives. Devoted husband and father, Pastor Harris has been married to his high school sweetheart for more than 20 years, guided by his faith, commitment to serving others, he continues to make a meaningful impact at the church and our community. Please rise for the invocation and remain for the pledge of allegiance. Our Father and our god, how we do thank you for another day that you have allowed us to see. God, as we acknowledge that this is a day that we have never seen before and a day that we will never see again, we pray, god, that you would not only teach to us rejoice and be glad in this day, but help us, father, to make the most of every moment that you give unto us. And on this morning, god, we pray a special prayer for our City Council, for our elected officials. Father, we ask that you would continue to lead them, continue, father, to guide them. God, give them your wisdom, give them your insight, that they might lead in a way that is pleasing to you. Not only, god, pray for elected officials but pray for our city as well and pray, god, that you would continue to keep your hand upon this great city as we, lord, seek to honor you in all that we do. This is our prayer that we pray in my lord's name and all those in agreement say, amen. [Pledge of allegiance]

Alan Clendenin

9:07:13AM Thank you, pastor. Clerk, would you please call the roll?

Charlie Miranda

9:07:18AM Here.

Guido Maniscalco

9:07:19AM Here.

Lynn Hurtak

9:07:20AM Here.

Naya Young

9:07:21AM Here.

Luis Viera

9:07:22AM Here.

Bill Carlson

9:07:23AM Here.

Alan Clendenin

9:07:23AM Here.

The clerk

9:07:25AM We have a physical quorum.

Alan Clendenin

9:07:27AM Can I get a motion to adopt the minutes of the regular session of September 3, 2026 and the evening session held on September 10, 2026. Motion from Councilman Miranda. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Approval of the agenda. There is a request to continue item number 70 to October 1st, 2026. I have a motion from Councilman Miranda. A second from Councilwoman Young. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Request to continue item 73 to December 17, 2026. I have a motion from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. A motion to continue item number 74 to February 4th, 2027. Motion from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. Anything else? Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

9:08:15AM Yes. I want to pull items 12 and 13 for a separate vote.

Alan Clendenin

9:08:28AM Okay. We will do that. Anything else? Let's go to staff reports. We are being too efficient this morning. Let's look. We have an administrative update. Item 66. I think something we were going to talk about that. 66, 67, 68, 69, we'll have staff here for that. Item 70 you said yes?

Lynn Hurtak

9:09:00AM 70 we already continued.

Alan Clendenin

9:09:02AM We did. Sorry about that. 71, yes.

Lynn Hurtak

9:09:07AM Well, because they are coming --

Alan Clendenin

9:09:08AM Okay. Very good.

Lynn Hurtak

9:09:12AM [Inaudible]

Alan Clendenin

9:09:13AM We didn't have one last time. That's good. That's it for that. Anything else?

Guido Maniscalco

9:09:18AM Move to approve the agenda.

Luis Viera

9:09:19AM Second.

Alan Clendenin

9:09:20AM Mr. Shelby.

Martin Shelby

9:09:21AM With regard to the addendum, I'll ask if you can take this up at the end of the meeting to receive and file and talk about next week's workshop.

Alan Clendenin

9:09:28AM Okay. You want to do that now? Okay. At the end. Very good. Just remind me. Motion to approve the agenda from Councilman Maniscalco and the addendum. Second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you so much. Zipping right along ... Councilwoman Young, you are recognized.

Naya Young

9:10:15AM Good morning, council. So it gives me great pleasure to recognize these two wonderful young men standing next to me. We have Mr. Bryan Hunter and Mr. Stanley junior who we will be presenting a commendation to today. Tampa City Council proudly honors Bryan hunter and russell stanley junior for their roles as positive change makers and young leaders in the Tampa community. This commendation recognizes these young men for their outstanding contribution to Planning, coordinating, and executing positive teen take-overs throughout the Tampa Bay area. I had the opportunity to attend all but one of them, and we had a very good time. Alongside -- well, together, they cofounded Tampa mentality, a program dedicated to empowering young people in the community. In June of 2026, Tampa mentality organized a prime turf take-over, a football tournament that brought together 14 teams from across Tampa Bay and more than 137 young participants. Through these and similar efforts, Bryan and russell have worked to redefine how teen takeovers can benefit a community, turning teen takeovers into powerful opportunities for connection and positive changes. Mr. Hunter and Mr. Russell have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating constructive opportunities and safe spaces for young people in our community. Their dedication to uplifting Tampa Bay's youth is highly commendable. It is with great pleasure and gratitude that Tampa City Council presents this commendation on this 17th day of September 2026 to Bryan hunter and russell stanley junior. [ applause ] we have these two extraordinary young men. They do have some people here with them. Would you stand up who want to be here to congratulate them. Also, people you may know have gifts for you. They want to congratulate you as well.

Alan Clendenin

9:12:36AM They are sneaking up behind you. When you come up, if -- you can introduce yourselves. I'm Dr. Lisa smith. My son actually participated in three on three, and it was the best experience ever. So thank you for your leadership. Gary hartfield. I am a sponsor of what these young men have put together, and also I'm a candidate for mayor here in the City of Tampa.

9:13:19AM Thank you, Gary. My name is Melissa moore with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. On behalf of sheriff Chad Chronister and 4,000 members of the sheriff's office, we would like to congratulate these young men. We're thankful for their partnership and their leadership in a time during the summer when we needed someone to step up and lead our youth, these young men did that. And we are very proud of them and thankful for their partnership. Thank you. My name is Dr. Pansy Houghton. I work with Hillsborough County Public Schools. I'm here representing the district to honor the boys. I'm tracy brown. I'm with Hillsborough County Public Schools. I'm the chief of student support and federal programs. Very excited today for the recognition for these young men who are Hillsborough county. One is a graduate of middleton high school. And russell here is at -- middleton high school and russell is at Hillsborough. Great leaders. This is our future. So thank you. [ laughter ] Steve Michelini on behalf of ciccio restaurant group and 600 employees, we're providing you each with a gift certificate for $50 so you can go enjoy yourself over there. Are you russell? Congratulations and thank you for your work. Youth is the future, and we really appreciate your dedication. Hillsborough. So proud to have young leaders like Bryan and russell to take part in this. Already given them a token of appreciation on behalf of the community, but we're happy to announce, russell is a senior. Bryan recently graduated. We are giving them $1,000 scholarships to continue their education and support them. Congratulations. [ applause ] I was here a couple of weeks ago and talked about the good work. This is a product of the work that we're doing in Tampa parks and rec. Russell and Bryan are products of the yet center. I see a lot of myself in them. This is the future. We always talk about the future and the next generation. These are future leaders. They already now how I feel about them. Don't need to get emotional. [ laughter ] I'm super proud of them. Both of you all, continue to do the good work. One day when I retire, you can have my job. [ applause ]

Naya Young

9:16:12AM Thank you very much. The mom is here. Did you want to say something? I just want to say thank you to everyone who has poured into my boys. As a single mom, it is not easy. It does take a village. I am so happy to see that their village showed up today to support them. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

9:16:39AM Hey, mom. [ applause ] mom is the best title you can have, but for the record, could you state your name?

9:16:49AM Thank you.

Naya Young

9:16:55AM Do either of you want to say something? I want to thank everybody that supported us. Like my mom said, it takes a village. Thank you for supporting us.

Alan Clendenin

9:17:05AM Thank you, russell. [ applause ] I want to thank everyone who acknowledged us today to show that anything is possible and we can make a change in the community and that our voices are heard.

9:17:21AM Thank you. [ applause ]

Naya Young

9:17:26AM Thank you very much, council. You all know I'm a huge supporter of youth and supporting our youth. Thank you for giving me the opportunity this morning to recognize these two young men who are our future. Thank you all very much. [ applause ]

Alan Clendenin

9:17:42AM Councilman Viera.

Luis Viera

9:17:42AM Yes, sir. Thank you, Chairman Clendenin and thank you, Councilwoman Young, for putting this forward. I want to salute everybody. It's poignant and relevant to have Pastor Harris with us, great advocate for youth and see good people like earlishia oates, Gary hartfield, freddy barton, so many other good folks. We're meeting next Tuesday, right?

9:18:06AM There you go. You all are awesome. I quoted something yesterday from father edward flanagan, which is there is no such thing as a bad boy. No such thing as a bad girl. There's just bad environments and irresponsible and uncaring societies. It's important for us to invest in our youth. God bless you guys. Good job, mom. [ applause ]

Charlie Miranda

9:18:30AM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks again, russell, and Bryan. A leader leads the way and the follower follows the leader. You guys have set the tone for hundreds of thousands of kids to come behind you that never had the opportunity of meeting you. But because of your attitude and what you've done, they'll have future leaders to follow. Thank you all very much. [ applause ]

Lynn Hurtak

9:18:57AM Congratulations to both of you doing amazing work. You know what? When your mom came up, I was like, well, of course, because earlishia oates is known for her activism in the community. You have been a big part of that. You've been raised in a way to want to help others. I can only imagine your pride about what your boys have done. So congratulations for raising wonderful children. And also, congratulations for the two of you for coming up with an idea and rolling with it. It's really, really important that others see that they can do what you've accomplished. And what you've accomplished is so large. I really just can't wait to see what you do next. So congratulations. [ applause ]

Alan Clendenin

9:19:51AM Thank you all so much on behalf of Tampa City Council and the mayor -- oh, Councilman Maniscalco, would you like to say something?

Guido Maniscalco

9:19:57AM Real quick. Having you here today, I can say with total confidence that the future of the community is in good hands. Thank you for what you do and thank you for making us proud.

Alan Clendenin

9:20:05AM Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

9:20:07AM Yeah, just thank you to you and your families and all the people that were involved in this. It was an important time in our community. You all acted fast and did something positive. The most important thing I can say is you all turned a bit of negativity to positivity in the community. I hope that others will follow that lead and continue to push positivity in the community. Thank you. [ applause ]

Alan Clendenin

9:20:30AM Once again, on behalf of the Tampa City Council and the City of Tampa, thank you for everything that you've done. I would also like to say -- do it real quick.

9:20:44AM Absolutely. On behalf of Tampa City Council. Hold on one second. Let me say what I want to say. It's not just about the two of you. Councilwoman Hurtak hinted into this, making good adults and good citizens starts at home, and it starts in the classroom and on the athletic fields. I also want to thank all of your teachers, your parents, your family, and everyone that has influenced you to get you to the point you are today. Hopefully you will follow that example so when you have children, you will be able to set that same standard for the next generation. Thank you so much. Come on up for the picture. [ applause ]

9:21:26AM For those of you standing against the wall, as seats open up, would you please take a seat. Then we'll backfill your positions. If you are standing and a seat comes available, please take a seat. Thank you so much. I have the pleasure to introduce two friends of mine that are really doing incredible work from the City of Tampa. Paula nu EZ and Nicole Lancaster on behalf of the Tampa City Ballet. Good morning, paula.

9:22:56AM Good to see you.

9:23:03AM Do you want your presentation up?

9:23:06AM CCTV, can we get the presentation up? When you start, start with your name. Thank you for having us. I am paula nu EZ, founder and executive director of Tampa City Ballet. Joining me is Nicole Lancaster, our director of marketing.

9:23:29AM Thank you. It will come up. There we go. In Tampa. It was created right here in our city. Today, we want to share what we have built and where we believe this company can go next. That starts with a mission that has guided our work from the beginning. Our work is collaborative, innovative, accessible, and professional. But at the center of everything we do is Tampa -- its people, its history and its future. We want to be part of what makes Tampa Tampa. For me, that mission is personal because it goes back to why I started teaching in Tampa in the first place. My story here began in 2002 when my husband and I opened the ballet school with just three students. From the beginning, I have believed talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not. Our students went on to careers with companies including american ballet theater, hamburg ballet, houston ballet, Orlando ballet and balletx. We keep seeing talented artists leave Tampa when they were ready for professional careers. In 2018, six dancers came together to change that. And Tampa City Ballet was born. That need for professional opportunity is really what Tampa City Ballet was created to address. Today, we create original contemporary ballet while building professional opportunities for emerging artists. We want artists to be able to train here, create here, perform here, and build a career here. What's been exciting is seeing how Tampa has responded as the company has grown. We now produce more than 20 performances each season, across more than 15 venues and community spaces and more than 30% of our performances are free and open to the public. But growing our audience is only part of what access means to us. Through programs like on your feet, we bring free dance programming directly into the community. We believe the best training shouldn't be reserved only for families who can afford it. Talent has not to do with a family's income or zip code. We believe that we are also expanding that work through our collaboration with a project cultural arts program to bring free after-school ballet classes directly into title one schools. Our goal is to have 300 students in the Hillsborough county public school system enrolled in free ballet classes within the next two years. It is a great example of what kind of access can lead to. Anderson is from Ybor City and was recruited through our on your feet program. He received more than $43,000 in scholarship support. Attended Indiana university on a full scholarship. And today dances professionally with balletx in philadelphia, one of the top ballet companies in the united states. That's what access can do. We want more young people from underserved communities to have that same opportunity. And that commitment to Tampa goes beyond access. It also shapes the work we create. Nicole is going to share one of the best examples of that. My name is Nicole Lancaster. As a Tampa native, I might be a little biased toward the production I'm about to share with you. And that is septima. That's making sure that we don't lose our old stories. Paula spent years researching the people and communities that built Tampa and Ybor City in the late 1800s to early 1930s. Through historical archives, personal diaries, oral histories, photograph, newspaper, and firsthand accounts. That research became the foundation for the stories that you see inside of la septima onstage. From immigrant families, cigar workers, lectors, segregation, labor movements and Charlie wall in the underworld of early Tampa. Ballet, live music, film, immersive story telling, we're giving people a new way to experience our history. While la septima looks back at the history that shaped Tampa, we're also thinking about the artists that shape its future. We're proud to share that Tampa City Ballet will be the artist in residence at the University of South Florida for the next three years. So paula and our ballet master, montano, teach within USF dance program. Six professional dancers are alumni of USF. 12 are working with tcb this season. This creates a direct bridge from the university training to professional experience. We are also attracting talent from all over the world. We currently have 200 professional dancers' resum s who are interested in working with the Tampa City Ballet. That professional pipeline is just one of the larger impact we believe a ballet company can have here. It means access to the arts, opportunities for Tampa's youth, preserving our history through work like la septima, and economic activity that extends beyond the theater. As the company has grown, we're beginning to see the impact on a larger scale. We produced more than 220 performances, reached more than 10 million social media views annually and engage more than 50 local artists and creative professionals per production which creates jobs. And a single tcb production represents an investment of approximately 60 to 100 thousand dollars. That growth in our community and reach has also been reflected financially. Tampa City Ballet's revenue has grown seven times since 2018, reaching more than $543,000 in annual revenue in 2025. The growth we're talking about is already happening, and when you look at where that revenue comes from, you'll get a clear picture of how the company operates. So more than half of our revenue comes from ticketed performances and programs, but we're still largely operating by projects, which means we raise the money, we hire the artists, we produce the work, and then begin again for the next production. The next step is going to be on that cycle so we can plan further ahead and provide more consistent professional work. As we think about the next stage, it's helpful to look at what established professional ballet companies across Florida have built over time. Now, these companies give us a sense of what's possible right here at home, but many of these have had decades to build their audiences, partnerships, infrastructure, and philanthropy. Tampa City Ballet is much earlier in the journey and we've already grown more than sevenfold since 2018. Getting to that level of stability doesn't happen through just one source of support. It takes a diversified model, earned revenue, individual giving, corporate and foundation support, grants and public partnerships. And we see the city as an important partner in that growth. So we bring it all together, where we started, how quickly we have grown, the partnerships we're building, you can see the direction the company is moving. We started with just six dancers in 2018. Today we're producing more than 20 performances a season, expanding community access and scholarships, building a professional pipeline is USF, attracting artists from around the world. What we're building towards is a sustainable ballet company with more year round opportunities, greater access for our community, more pathway for Tampa youth, more original work about our city and ultimately a permanent home for ballet in Tampa. We would love for the City of Tampa to be part of the growth. The company is here, and now we're building its future. Thank you.

9:31:59AM Thank you, Nicole. Thank you, paula. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

9:32:02AM I was honored to be able to attend a performance this last season that was the contemporary performance that was just, I mean, just blew our socks off. It was truly amazing. If you haven't had the opportunity to see a Tampa ballet performance, I highly recommend it. We're thrilled you're here. Just a wonderful part of our community. But -- thank you so much for the time you took afterwards talking to me about what you've been working on. We're really excited to see what comes next. Thank you so much for this update.

Alan Clendenin

9:32:34AM Councilman Viera.

Luis Viera

9:32:36AM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Great presentation for you all. We're so happy to have you guys in New Tampa in a world where maybe I spent too much time at panera bread, but I think ballet is a good escape. I think that's important. One thing I did want to point out, paula, you said you started this effort in 2002, correct, with the school? I started in 2002, just with a very small studio in New Tampa. My husband passed away in few years, so I was very lucky that University of South Florida offered me a job as full-time faculty. So I keep a small studio and I was working at the USF at the same time.

9:33:19AM What year did you come here from Venezuela?

9:33:25AM What year?

9:33:29AM That's what I remember you saying. Folks, you want to talk about the kind of work immigrants do in our country, comes here as immigrant, refugee from Venezuela that year she starts that. Gracias. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

9:33:43AM You already know where my heart is at. I love what you do for the community. I love what you do for the youth. I love the development that you provide for folks that may never have an opportunity to see this type of a performance. I think it's so important to be able to open up the eyes of folks. Again, we talked earlier with the presentation Councilwoman Young brought, how important it is for us to bring up the next generations of people and provide these opportunities and having this asset in our community is so invaluable. I concur with Councilwoman Hurtak. La septima was an amazing performance. I know you guys will do it again.

Lynn Hurtak

9:34:22AM No, it wasn't --

9:34:26AM It was immersive. So phenomenal.

Alan Clendenin

9:34:31AM I'll have to hit that if they do it again. The story of Tampa that you guys do, if you guys have not gone to see -- I took my granddaughter to see sleeping beauty. My six-year-old granddaughter. She just loved it so much. It was incredible. She met the dancers. It was amazing. Really good work. I look forward to your growth. I love the trajectory that you're on. Hopefully one day we will rival miami in the City of Tampa. I never want to be miami, but in this case, I do. We want to be better than miami. Once again, thank you guys for coming today. For those of you out there listening to this, do not walk. Run to see their performances this next season. When does your season start? October 2 and 3rd. New Tampa performing arts center, la septima, and then at the cuban club, the four floors of the cuban club will be an incredible experience of history and many surprises with la septima.

9:35:39AM Very nice. Looking forward to seeing that production again. I could see it over and over and over again. It's that good. Thank you so much.

9:35:48AM Okay. I would like to recognize Councilman Miranda. Catholic Charities. Item number 3. Microphone.

Charlie Miranda

9:36:02AM -- provide an update on services that are here. What they do is just something that the people really, really need. And that's to eat every day. It's an honor that we have this opportunity today to recognize who they are and what they do. Start with your name, please.

Alan Clendenin

9:36:27AM Do you have a presentation?

9:36:36AM Cttv, can we get their presentation? Thank you so much. I am asked to speak all over the country about our ability to do mass sheltering. The one thing I start out with, it is not possible without the support of folks like you. So much thank you. If you can go to the next slide. Oh, there is a clicker. As you know, back in 2020, we did a pilot project, North Florida Avenue, knowing it would only be temporary, 60 days. During those 60 days, we moved 210 folks through what we called at that time Hillsborough hope and 97 to apartments. We know what we're doing on housing. Flash forward, November of 21, we closed on a property just east of ybor. 5.49 acres. A month later we opened. We realized quickly from doing this at pinellas hope for 20 years, that our success is built off of our partnerships. What makes Mr. Mance and I a phenomenal partner, we count on him every single day to feed our clients. In the first 16 months, we had over 600 folks come through Tampa hope. Again it started out as mass sheltering. 50 tents on platforms. The following year, we increased to 100 tents up on platforms. And during phase two, we then started bringing in our pallet shelters. We started out with a hundred. Brought in medical services. We have USF street medicine that comes on-site. And all of our other wraparound services. Case management, housing. But, of course, when your population is growing to 200, 300 folks every single day, you count on your partners to feed them. So right now, we are standing at 116 tents. 215 cottages. We are the largest cottage facility in the country. Some tell me that we are the largest single site shelter in the State of Florida and that we're ranked fifth in the country for single site services. And we currently have 345 beds every single night. So we depend on our partners. We work closely with the City of Tampa outreach team, City of Tampa Police Department. We have our own internal outreach team. We're out on the streets every single day providing services. We can't do it without Thomas. So I think what maggie says is an important place to start. We have folks in our community who are unhoused, transitionally housed and have other challenges. The question for us as a group of people today is to figure out how to best take care of immediate need of shelter and basic care and also provide other resources so we can move folks through and to a better outcome. What we love about maggie's program is that it is housing folks in a thoughtful and dignified way. On campus services are offering resources to move folks forward. We're providing good, healthy meals to make sure folks can move into the community thoughtfully. Our partnership also allows us to connect folks that are in maggie's world to our world, so job training, other resources. We're -- partnership creates both a short term, how do we take care of folks, and long-term challenge or opportunity. The second part that we would mention is as one of the things we have focused on together is understanding the data of who is seeing us, why they are seeing us, how often they are seeing us, how long they are staying in our care. We want to look at and understand the population of folks and figure out what the longer term outcomes are. I think you would expect of us, particularly because we are grateful for the resources you all provide to our work, we're making sure that we're doing good data collection and understand how much folks need and what they want. You can see from our work, we do a lot of research with USF to understand what folks are going through, what's happening in their world. What we do collectively is build partnership resources around those. Either we offer them ourselves or we use a variety of other partners. We have some 25 other partners in our network and maggie has just as many to make sure that folks have what they need. Platforms, we had our disaster shower trucks, laundry trucks. We had one building. The back part of the property was a blank slate and then expanding to the tents, expanding the number of those, opening up 215 cottages that have ac, heat, electric. We also built with a donation of one partner, $1.5 million community center that has a full cooking kitchen, dining area, restrooms, laundry, barbershop, clothing closet, vending machine room as well as a classroom. But where we're headed next is we will be adding additional 70 cottages. Hope our bed count goes up to 488 when we are maxed out, as well as bringing in three additional buildings. Welcome center where volunteers will go through as well as our intake process will move over to that room. Adding another building for offices as well as classrooms and then on-site medical clinic so that our clients will be able to see doctors there on-site. Also, because we have on-med, it is the doc in the box. While it does provide a very needed service, we've reduced 911 calls by 50%. We obviously want to keep our clients out of the hospital as much as possible. Clients do want to be able to access medical care and see a doctor. Having the medical clinic on-site, that will give them the opportunity. If you were to look at our budget over the last several years, when we started out in 2021, we purchased that property, Catholic Charities did for $2.1 million. With your assistance, we were able to facilitate the operations. Our current year, just around $3 million for operations. I expect that it will continue to increase because, of course, our numbers are continuing to increase those that we serve. We serve over 2600 folks since we have opened up. Over 800 have moved to housing. That's nearly 40%. It fluctuates between 36 and 43%. We are above national standards. If you were to look at an average per night, it usually fluctuates between 25 and 28 dollars per night. Keep in mind that is including all of our wraparound services as well as our in-kind. So that's counting the donation that we count from him for food. It's also the mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, case management, all of the medical services, all of the housing assistance that we're able to provide there. Really when you look at it from a cost perspective, you can't put a homeless person in the hotel with all the wraparound services for that amount of money. That's it. Thank you. About, which maggie has said, what we need are positive solutions and thoughtful approaches. We want to make sure that you all understand, because you're making an investment. You have funds you are responsible for. What we would like to make sure you understand is that you get that. We're grateful for it. We also consider ourselves thoughtful stewards of how we build programming and long-term solutions and resources for this particular group of folks in our community that we both value and esteem very much.

9:44:17AM Thank you.

Lynn Hurtak

9:44:20AM Thank you so much. What you've done for this community is nothing short of a miracle. As you started with your presentation, you mentioned that you have people coming here from all over the country to see what we're doing. I know I'm incredibly proud of that, and you should be as well. I do have a question, though, because I did see an article recently that the people who build our cottages shut down. Do we have another place that we can get them? Interviewed about five other companies. There's one that I'm leaning towards. They are out of California. So I'll be looking into -- there is an alternative. Very similar. Same size. What we love about pallet is the product you are able to open the doors, power wash it, and start all over. Just leave the windows and doors open. Mold resistant. We've been looking for something that is pretty much the same. We think we found something.

9:45:24AM Wonderful, wonderful. That's really important. The partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay also critical. We were able to give a little more money to you all in the last budget. Hopefully we can continue to do that. Just as we were talking about the importance of youth, the importance of making sure our community has people who are housed and receive the services they need is so important. The fact that you've been able to house over 800 people is just absolutely phenomenal. I'm going to put this out into the world, because this is something that I talk about constantly. We really need to get our partners at the county to develop a Hillsborough hope. Because right now, we're being overloaded with not just people from the City of Tampa, I mean, all of our neighbors are doing it. Pinellas has it. Pasco is starting theirs. I heard citrus is starting theirs. I'm really putting it out into the universe that Hillsborough should be our next stop. But thank you for everything you do. You're just amazing.

Alan Clendenin

9:46:24AM If we can keep our comments brief because we are running out of time and we have a lot of public comment. Miranda followed by Maniscalco.

Charlie Miranda

9:46:31AM I want to say thank you on behalf of all the citizens. Back in the days when you started, it was John Bennett from the administration that worked with Tampa Catholic Charities. Then they started building and look what you have, an area there -- is that the bell already?

Alan Clendenin

9:46:47AM Bell on the presentation totally.

Charlie Miranda

9:46:50AM I thought I was at the ballet again. I got it. I got the hammer. Anyway, Feeding Tampa Bay, how many do you feed every day? I don't think that was said enough? $300,000 a year, $4.58 a meal. If your population is -- on what they need.

9:47:17AM Opportunity to say no one in this chambers understands, including us, what you guys do. We want to thank you sincerely for what you do every day.

Alan Clendenin

9:47:26AM Councilman Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

9:47:27AM Thank you very much. I was at your event a few months ago when we were all out there. And you were showcasing what you do. It's amazing how many people's lives you affect. You're taking people off the streets and at least temporarily giving them shelter they need as they transition to more permanent housing and, of course, Feeding Tampa Bay, an amazing community partner that helps on a daily basis. I know my personal hero, John Bennett with his experience from I believe pinellas hope. We have so many great partners and people involved in this. Everybody should go out there and see what is being done. Because when I saw it, I was amazed. We met residents there. We saw firsthand, people's lives that you're touching and lifting up. Best of luck to you. Again, thank you for all that you do.

Luis Viera

9:48:18AM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm glad you mentioned Chief John Bennett. This is a work that's right after his heart and that he has done so much on and he shows that being a cop who is a protector isn't just about fighting crime. It's also about preventing crime. Our hat is off, I mentioned father flanagan, the great bleeding heart catholic. Maggie and tom, you all do great work. You can put your faith in action through this. You read your Bible. Jesus didn't talk much about volvos -- he talked about communities and giving people voice. Catholic Charities, I don't know if still the slogan, used to be we help people, not because they are catholic but because we're catholic.

9:49:08AM Good. From my childhood. You are awesome. Tom, no springsteen quotes this time. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

9:49:14AM Councilwoman Young.

Naya Young

9:49:16AM I've had the opportunity to visit both facilities. I toured Feeding Tampa Bay and also been to a few events that we had at Tampa hope. I want to thank you both for the work you're doing in the community. Excited to see the new things happening with Feeding Tampa Bay and providing that wraparound service to everybody. Thank you all for your work.

Alan Clendenin

9:49:38AM We're running short on time. I'll say thank you.

9:49:44AM We are going to move on to public comment. [Microphone not on] right now, we have about three hours of public comment -- [inaudible] -- a couple of things. Do you want to consider reducing it to two minutes? Anybody?

Luis Viera

9:50:07AM I would look at some sort of a modified compromise on that. If you are out there proposing and sticking yourself out there, I'll back you on it.

Alan Clendenin

9:50:22AM I'm throwing it out there. I'll sit here and listen to everybody. If there's no appetite for it, just say no appetite for it.

Bill Carlson

9:50:29AM I think it's worked before when you suggested to people if they don't need the whole three minutes.

Alan Clendenin

9:50:34AM I'll do that.

Luis Viera

9:50:35AM That's good for me.

Alan Clendenin

9:50:36AM I'm not hearing a market for this, so we'll keep going. Here we go. Public comment. We have rules. There is a qr code posted outside. We have hard copies if you need it for the rules. If you don't know those, please review them. Every time you come to the podium, you start with your name. That's for our public record. Start with your name. The microphone is at the podium. You face and you talk to us. You don't turn around. You talk to us the whole time, 100% of the time. Start with your name and face forward. Because we have so many, remember that you don't have to repeat what everybody else has said. If you want to come up and take ten seconds and state your position, that's perfectly fine. Don't feel like just because you have a green light and three minutes that you have to use all three minutes. We hear you. We're hearing everybody at the same time. We're up here listening. We can just register your points that you're trying to make, and this is not to mean that you can't use your three minutes if you choose to, but in the interest of getting everybody in and having all the voices heard, please consider that you don't have to use all three minutes. When you come to the podium, I know there are a lot of new people here. There are lights. It will turn green when you say your name. That means you have a three-minute timer on. When it turns yellow, you have 30 seconds left. When it turns red, even mid syllable, stop where you are at. Once you are finished, please leave council chambers. If you want to continue to listen, on the second floor we have overflow. Most everybody is down there now waiting for a seat up here. Or you can go home and watch us on youtube. Please leave council chambers so we can get everybody else. I don't know where everybody is on this list. I'll call about five names at a time. If you are downstairs listening, hopefully not so loud that you are hearing what I'm saying, if you hear your name, please immediately come up to council chambers because you have to clear security to get in. I'll call about five people at a time in case people are downstairs and are listening and want to come upstairs. That being said, we'll move on to public comment. Mr. Shelby, did you have anything you want to say?

Martin Shelby

9:52:56AM Sorry I was late. I was outside. Did you address the fact that this is only for on-agenda numbered items?

Alan Clendenin

9:53:04AM Let's talk about that. If you are here to speak to on-agenda items, you should have filled out one of these forms, one of these cards. If you didn't fill out a card, if you are on the second floor or here in the council and didn't fill out a card, please see one of the staff out in the lobby. They'll assist you in filling it out. This is for on-agenda items that are not public hearings. That are not public hearings. On-agenda items are not public hearings. We will have an opportunity after we do the first parts of business in the morning to be able to hear off-agenda items for 30 minutes and 30 minutes only. The first five folks are linda misner, chloe Diaz, tom mulrooney, shawn routten. Natalie rougie. If I called your name, if you would stand over there against the wall and line up against the wall, I will call you up one at a time. Hello, linda. Come on up. Say your name. You have three minutes. I am body by design. Our family-owned small business on west dekle is feet from South Howard and will be severely impacted for years by the South Howard flood project. City staff will not meet with us and cannot tell us how to access our business during the project. They have no answer for how our clients or employees will reach the business or where everyone will park when they can't reach our own parking. When I asked Mr. Campbell these questions, he pointed to a marketing campaign poster that wasn't even remotely helpful. The city has not studied the economic impact to businesses because they do not want to admit the impact will be disastrous. Both the city and kimmins staff repeatedly refused to answer questions what happens if the 100 year bungalow is damaged by the vibrations of digging massive trenches nearby. They have said we will need to get an inspection before the project and another after the project at our own expense to prove that we have damage. That is ridiculous. It was recently suggested to me that maybe we could pause our business for a few months while we can't reach our own building, and that is unacceptable. We are a business. It is our livelihood. It is our employees' livelihood, it is not a hobby. We deserve better. I am especially concerned about the lack of the CSX permitting and how the new restrictions change the project. The city's own memo, which I just provided, states the current box has root intrusion and failing mortar at the joints. Instead of a new ten by ten culvert, the CSX crossing will utilize the failing five by ten box and a new 60-inch pipe. How will that work with extensive length of ten by ten culvert dividing and pushing massive amounts of stormwater into significantly less space? Creating a bottleneck at the tracks. Where is the certified model showing this change will actually provide the projected flood relief and not just a new fail point? I don't appreciate that the city was so late in applying for the CSX permit last Friday that they wasted more money to expedite it. They should already have that permit in hand. No one living or working in Historic Hyde Park wants this project. We are against the long-term destruction, detours, building damage, business loss, and the possible creation of new flooding issues for our area. I know firsthand the devastation that flooding causes since our home on Davis island flooded with helene, and it would be great to provide flood relief to both Parkland Estates and Palma Ceia Pines, but not with a big price tag and not with this kind of inconvenience. We cannot fix years of delayed stormwater maintenance with overbuilding and inadequate Planning by throwing a ridiculous amount of taxpayer money. Please stop. Thank you.

9:57:12AM Chloe Diaz, followed by tom, shawn, natalie rougie and John lister. My name is chloe Diaz. I'm a tampanian. Moved almost a year ago today from los angeles for better life and work opportunity and landed at the restaurant on 717 South Howard. The road closure would greatly affect mine and livelihood of others who have grown and known to call friends. Greatly benefit mine and lives of others that the city come up with a better plan so we do not have our street closed down in the inevitable future. Thank you for your time and attention to the matter.

9:57:54AM Thank you for the brevity. Tom mulrooney followed by shawn. Thank you for your service, council members. I'm a South Tampa owner and South Tampa office owner for 16 years. I do not have any small business implications personally and will not be negatively impacted other than traffic inconvenience and emergency response slowdowns that the project would cause. I say this because I'm relatively impartial. I am only here to see the improvement of the whole South Tampa community, which I am significantly invested in. Deal with risk reward and cost benefit on a daily basis in my career and trying to view the project through that lens. I appreciate your focus to this attention. I do appreciate your service. Upon my review of this, there is no way this project can move forward. The costs both in city funds and eventual loss to small businesses and tax revenues that they provide does not meet a cost benefit threshold as the cold lens of free market. South Howard community would be bearing an unfair burden to the benefit of a few. I sympathize. I genuinely sympathize with the flooding concerns of the community. Impact into a market that came with risk. The risk was built into the market price of those structures. Others, including South Howard structures and business owners invested in properties without flooding issues and hence paid a premium for it. This project shifts a small neighborhood risk that they willingly entered into on to that of an entire community. That is not how the free market works unless all other projects have been fully assessed. I am here to plead to pause the decision until all other options that have been proposed have been completed vetted. If after that, if no other option is available, we look at the project as proposed, because if it does, our South Tampa community will go backwards significantly before it goes forward. Thank you for your time.

10:00:04AM Thank you, tom. Shawn, followed by natalie. After this group of folks, I didn't see mark abdoney. Mark, if you are downstairs, come up to City Council. Anthony -- I'll destroy the last name -- chicklowski. Shawn routten. I'm the general manager of the epicurean. Also a member of the soho alliance. Obviously, we understand there is a flooding issue in parkland and in a number of areas. That needs to be addressed. We agree with that. What we don't agree with is going down straight through family businesses in the heart entertainment district of our area when there is another plausible solution. This whole thing is, quite frankly, a little bit disheartening. I feel like the city transparency is lacking. We just now are fighting against our neighbors. Like, it should not be this way. I spoke with a young lady, very nice lady from parkland in this building this morning, and she says, never visit your place again. I used to send wedding groups and I will not send those people to you. Our revenue loss is already happening and we haven't started the project. It's coming from our neighbors. The people that we work with, live with. I got friends in parkland. You don't realize, kimmins understanding, we will help guide through the process. The mobility Director Will help you guide through this. What you don't understand is we're losing money now. Bride called last week looking for a future date. I could not guarantee her that that date, because I'm unsure of the project. So I've lost that business. I have a $2.2 million airline contract business a year that states they cannot have construction within half a mile where they stay. They need safe sleep. What happens, my employee goes away. I'm now losing weddings and losing that contract. I have 11 professional sports teams spend over a million dollars a year for us. Every year since we've opened, none of them will support us again. They are not going to come into a war zone in gaza and look at this and realize they can stay here or stay downtown closer to the arena and not have to fight this. All this talk has been about saving parkland. We have employees that are going to be laid off. Estimated 1200. No one did an economic impact study. It was a very big number. Honestly, when you look at this, if I remove myself from the situation as a decision maker and manager in roles I played, how much is this going to support and affect parkland and how much is it going to damage and cause revenue loss for the city and businesses. The cost analysis to benefit is clearly not fair. So we hope that we've proposed a solution that allows quicker resolution for parkland. That's the number one thing. Five years before we get there, and we know this is going to exceed a hundred million dollars. Change orders, we've already mentioned expediting --

10:03:25AM Thank you, shawn. Natalie, followed by John. My name is Dr. Natalie Rougie. My practice is located within one of the century old bungalows of South Howard located dekle. 15 feet where the proposed construction will occur. Asking to you vote no to pause the current flood relief plan down Howard and implore the city to find a faster more economically sound solution that helps more people fix the infrastructure issues like the cleveland street basin and fully maintain our storm drains. I come to you today as one of roughly a hundred businesses down Howard. Some of which are women owned small businesses that are not hobbies but real businesses that provide help for real families. In my case, caring for members of our community who are fighting cancer, having pregnancy issues, dealing with complex health issues and managing chronic pain with an alternative to opioids. Here are reasons I'm asking to you vote no and look at alternatives. Potential damage to the property. Building owners like myself will have to go out-of-pocket to hire engineers to document before and after construction conditions, to be able to claim any damage repairs, business closure. 60 percent of businesses fail when a long-term project ties up the entire street. I spoke to five business owners from Seminole Heights and all told stories of lost revenue, one with 150,000 while some closed. Longer construction times than originally planned and both the city and contractor did not work well with the business owners. Currently, on manhattan, small businesses had to close from that construction flooding project. One of the small businesses was in operation for 26 years. This is concerning. The marketing concept the city speaks of won't work for businesses like mine. I'm a referral-based business. Nor will it help if customers can't access the business. The effectiveness of a nebulous golf CART plan is laughable. What about when it rains? Where will cars be parked and how efficient is that for businesses that operate on scheduled times? Documented environmental concerns, potential water contamination during construction, structural issues with current culverts under the railroad made by the city's own engineers coupled with the fact that the tracks lifted and culverts won't be replaced to the ten by ten size. No economic impact or structural studies on Howard. Mayor and staff have done nothing productive but to pit residents who want the project to move forward against business owners who are concerned about losing their livelihood. To help many will be affecting a few is plainly despicable and wildly untrue. There are roughly a hundred businesses on Howard that will be affected and that's not a few. Please vote no and demand a better plan to help residents but not at the expense of the businesses. Thank you.

10:06:26AM Thank you, Doctor. John lister, followed by mark abdoney. If you want to line up against the wall. David -- I'm the executive chef of a ava on South Howard Avenue. I'm going to keep this short. I'm a Tampa native. I'm a fourth generation Tampa native. I want what is best for this town, but this is not it. Like they have all said, there are multiple businesses that will fail. We will fail. We won't survive this. This is too difficult. Thank you.

10:06:59AM Thank you. Thanks for your brevity. Dr. Abdoney. Elizabeth dinwiddie. Council members, thank you for putting this together for us to discuss this issue of importance. This project -- I'm sorry. Dr. Mark Abdoney. 2714 West Azeele Street, Tampa, Florida, 33609. My surgical facility has flooded twice in nine years. First in 2015, second time during milten in 2024. This project, if it does not go through, is going to leave the city with a potential health crisis of epic proportions should during a hurricane or some other flood event hca hospital shut down, not to mention ambulance access to the hospital during floods. We've already had four floods this year just I think in the month of August. We need to address this definitively. There is no other option. I worry that we have our priorities mixed up here. We've taken well over ten years to figure out what to do with this issue. We've wrestled over it. We've studied it. And we're still discussing it, yet when it comes to the rays' baseball stadium, we got that deal done in less than nine months. Look, I love sports. I'm about as probusiness as it gets. I love bern's. My dad has taken us to bern's so many times. He's died in bern's three times. And he's 95. [ laughter ] it's true. Anyways, miraculous recovery. Bottom line is, they are not going to shut down. They are not going to shut down. They are going to be open. We've shut down completely twice. I did it twice for a month. I paid my employees the whole time. If these restaurants, as great as they are -- and they are -- don't have access to things like bridge funding or lines of credit, then I don't know what else to say except thank you.

10:09:49AM Thank you, doctor. Anthony -- I won't try the last name. David laxer, elizabeth dinwiddie. Anthony first, then David. The next one is beth slimly. Good morning. Anthony chicklowski. I'm representing crg group and local brands. I'll be short and sweet myself today. We have 600 employees. We've been on that street for 30 years, our restaurant business. The most important part to me is that I have an event called noodles and network that I've raised over a hundred thousand dollars for people in this community who are less fortunate. We're getting ready to do pediatric cancer on a national level, crg group and local brands, to help people, Fire Department, Police Department. I have this and these employees are important to us. But what's most important to me is the community to raise awareness, raise money to help less fortunate people. And we're out there every day helping people. There are a lot of restaurants out there, right? But we're doing community work. I do community work. Look me up. Look what I do for crg and local brands. I'm very passionate about this. And this cannot happen. We have too many employees. We have too much to lose. Most of all, for me personally, we've been on that street 30 years doing business. I'm here for jimmy lanza, the family and all of our employees. This is very personal to me. It really is. Please vote no on this so we continue to strive, grow our businesses and help people in the community. If you remember anything today, remember who I am and that I am a community guy, and I do it every single day. If this stops, I'm not able to do my events. That's all I want to do is help people. That's what I've learned. And that's what I want to do. Thank you so much.

10:11:57AM Thank you, Anthony. David, followed by elizabeth, beth, and then giovanni and bill kolega. My name is David laxer. I and my wife christina are residents of South Tampa and business owners of bern's steak house, bern's fine wine and spirits. We can all agree that stormwater mitigation issues need to be addressed. The debate is how to do this while achieving desired results with as little negative impact or damage. However, a plan that potentially fixes one problem but causes extended hardship on other members in our community, defunds existing stormwater projects throughout our city and drains our stormwater budget so no other project can happen for three to five years is not a good idea. We as a community can do better, but this requires thinking outside the box and, yes, actually having honest and transparent discussions. As you all are well aware, this did not happen. And this is one of the reasons this project is so polarizing. We as a business employ close to 300 people, many of which have been with us for over 20, 30, 40 years. We are a family business that prides itself on providing a great opportunity for people to provide for themselves and their families. This project in its current form will impact every one of our employees and their families, not to mention the many vendors that rely on our business as well. You will be looking at 25% to 50% drop in income depending on if you are tipped employee or hourly employee. This can be said for every other business on Howard Avenue. And this would go on for three to four years. To be told by City staff and administrators that everything will be fine, we'll have robust marketing plan, your guests will still continue to come to your business and shuttle your guests from off-site remote parking lots just demonstrates how out of touch and the lack of awareness or caring the city has. No one knows their business like a business owner, and to tell them otherwise is disrespectful. Also, to state that the plan -- sorry. Also to state that the pain will end after construction is complete and is also false. As our customers develop new dining patterns and group business will settle into other restaurants, other hotels and all those years of goodwill will be lost. To say I'm disheartened by all this is an understatement. What I'm feeling is betrayed by the city and by this council if this passes. I and many others are asking that you vote no on this project. Have the city and staff engineers consider other alternative routes and/or solutions that are less expensive and provides relief for Palma Ceia Pines and Parkland Estates on a much faster timeline. Thank you.

Lynn Hurtak

10:14:51AM Thank you very much. Next we have elizabeth dinwiddie. Beth giovanni, bill, patrick cimino. Please continue to move this project forward. We can all win if we, the people of Tampa choose to support these businesses while these pipes go in the ground. It's the people that have to support the businesses. It's the city that has to fix this problem. It's years, decades that this project has been studied. It's not a coincidence that all of the projects point to Howard. We will support Howard. We love Howard. I love the macadamia ice cream at bern's. If you haven't tried it you must try it. It's incredible. I will always throughout this project order my pizza from sally o'neill's. Okay. We have to consciously choose to support these businesses. They have been there for us all these years. They have been our happy places. We love these businesses. The people of Palma Ceia Pines and Parkland Estates love the businesses that have been our happy places. We need flood relief. We trust the engineers. We know that we will get through this project, and we will all walk down those sidewalks and say we got through this together as a city. We all love your businesses. Please know that we will support you throughout this project. We do not want anything bad to happen to your businesses. Please give us pipes so that we can go to bed feeling safe at night. Thank you.

10:17:07AM Thank you very much. Beth, giovanni, bill, patrick, julie magill. My name is beth steinle. I'm a professional engineer, and I live in Palma Ceia Pines. I'm here today not only as an engineer but as a resident who personally experienced the flooding this project is intended to address. When my home flooded I was recovering from my final surgery for breast cancer. I mention that because it changed what flooding meant to me. At the time I needed my home to be a safe place to recover, it wasn't. Those of us in Palma Ceia Pines and Parkland Estates, this is not an abstract infrastructure project. We know the destruction that comes and anxiety every time a major storm in the forecast. People in the neighborhoods older caring for children, dealing with illness, recovering from surgery or caring for aging parents. They should not have to wonder whether the home will flood or can safely get where they need to go. It also affects the area around the hospital medical offices. For someone who needs medical care, that access matters. I understand this is a significant investment and that there are legitimate questions about cost, construction impacts, businesses and funding. Those questions should be asked. But this problem has been modeled. The flooding has been documented, and there is a project in front of you to address it. This is an opportunity for you to do the right thing by your constituents. Not because a project is expensive. It isn't. Not because construction is easy, it's not. It is a known problem and continuing to live with it has a cost, too. Residences and businesses have already been paying the cost. I cannot change what happened to my home but you have the opportunity today to help prevent another family from going through the same thing. I respectfully ask that you support the South Howard flood relief project today. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

10:19:02AM Thank you, beth. Giovanni, followed by bill kolega. My name is giovanni aracadi. Again, I apologize for my accent. Thank you for all you do. Tell you one thing. You are going to hear a lot of people today, the stress on the businesses is the end of the world. If they need to shut down the businesses to remodel, knock down a building to rebuild and fix their businesses for their own interest, there's no problem, going to last two months, two years or even more. So the time wise is not like a problem. I ask you to move forward and vote yes for the project. So far the people that pay the bills, it's us and we need to move forward. Thank you.

10:19:54AM For council's information, I went ahead and ordered pizza for lunch. We'll have a short lunch break. You won't eat healthy today. We'll do a short lunch break. Just fyi so we can have a short break so we can hear from all the public speakers. Bill, go ahead. The next speaker after this will be David Adams. Bill kolega, Palma Ceia Pines. My wife and I have a three-year-old and a five-month-old. Milton put a foot of water throughout our townhome. I'm asking you to vote yes on the South Howard flood relief project. Here's the downside of a no vote today and its impact on the entire city. $7.7 million of design already spent in cost. 10 million state grant awarded specifically to this project is canceled. Potential 25 million grant abandoned. These neighborhoods will still need funding to fix flooding issues regardless. Is it the best thing for the people of Tampa to walk away from this, a locked in price and multiple grants for an area that will need to be fixed knowing that uncontrollable factors are popping up every month, locally and globally like the fuel crisis. Twice in August, rain put the roads in front of our house under water. Each time less than two inches. There were actual fish swimming in the street 20 feet above sea level. My kid loved it, but -- afternoon storms like this can cut parents off from mitchell elementary. Children's nest and branch academy preschools. At least eight other schools within a mile from swann and audubon. Happens to be a couple more inches of rain, the water would start to enter our homes. I created this petition a week ago asking to you approve this. More than 500 people have signed from dozens of neighborhoods throughout Tampa, mostly by word of mouth. It's not just the people in the impacted area who want this project approved. We have all paid our taxes and the stormwater fees. Stormwater systems are one of the most fundamental services a government should provide. I'm asking you to please vote yes on the South Howard flood relief project, for my family, for my neighbors, and for Tampa's future. Thank you.

10:22:15AM Thank you, bill. Patrick, followed by ashley morrow. No. julie magill. Ashley morrow, you will be the last speaker up there. You can line up. Patrick, followed by julie. I've spoken to you many times about this. I'm patrick cimino. Historic Hyde Park neighborhood association land use chair. The city has not addressed major concerns, as David has pointed out and many others. We sincerely sympathize with those who suffered from flood, many in our neighborhood got flooded at the same time. We cover the east half of Howard south of the selmon. We remain concerned Tampa does not maintain its existing stormwater infrastructure. We've asked for comprehensive plan. It's never been presented. Some repairs have been made but many deficits remain and there has been no organized proposal to address repair and maintenance on a global level. The community has pleaded for this. If the above isn't addressed, avoidable seasonal funding is going to continue. The plans to dedicate so much stormwater funding will postpone or cancel other projects throughout the city. Two years have already been wasted on looking at a comprehensive plan for flooding. The logistics are daunting. Howard would close down for four years. Structures will be at risk of damage. Neighborhoods will be gridlocked with detours. We know how much water it takes to put in an elevator shaft. Six months of pumping. This is a huge culvert. I don't know how they'll manage the water that goes down Howard now. It's legally going down Howard when they are pumping and de soto for an elevator shaft. The board of hppna remains opposed to this problematic project and recommends the council reject it. Please demand a comprehensive stormwater plan. We do not have it. And pam has explained it. She's our expert on the land use committee. Thank you.

10:24:37AM Julie magill, followed by Michael. After all the evidence you have been shown, are you still voting yes on this? Engineers, your own City staff, depositions, numerous other suggestions that could help this area without carving up Howard. Consider this. If this project were to happen, during the next four or five years, what are we going to do if we have another massive hurricane? Can you just imagine the rivers of mud flowing into all those businesses on South Howard? It's a real possibility. The solutions are out there, though. Three or four retention ponds in that area that if they would just clear them out, there's about three to four feet of sludge. We could capture about 10 million gallons of stormwater just there. That's a lot of water. Another thing, there was no bid on this. So how were other solutions given to the city? This started as a water distribution bid that was awarded to kimmins, and then it morphed into this huge disaster of a project. It was just handed to them. I want to know why. What about CSX railroad issue. You know what will happen there? A change order. More money. What about the possibility of hitting limestone ten feet down. Change order. More money. Palma Ceia Pines, stop lying to them. This will not help them in the first round. It won't. If you vote yes, we'll be watching closely. If you vote yes, we can only consider that maybe you have an ulterior motive that none of us are privy to. If you vote yes, it means you are not considering what the experts are telling you. Do the right thing and vote no. and look at an alternative plan of collection in the ponds and release plan that makes sense. Thank you.

10:26:23AM Next two people to queue up will be Michael stewart and linda stewart. Sorry, lindsay stewart. Michael -- I have six kind of random yet relevant angles in this matter. One, I suffered a loss -- monetary loss at the corner of audubon and swann in the storms. The building has been renovated, repaired, but another storm hits, it will happen again as part of owning real estate in that area. Two, my ex-wife lives in Parkland Estates. I have two young girls. When my girls stay with their mom, I don't worry about them if a storm hits. She's at 2711 west fountain. Number 3, I owned -- I lived in Parkland Estates. I own 2804 West Parkland Boulevard. It sold a year ago, 13 months ago. It set a record for sales. The new owner is putting an additional $3 million in the house. That's Parkland Estates. Not anyone that lives in Parkland Estates represents Parkland Estates. I since moved to jeton. But that house didn't flood. It's probably the highest valued house in Parkland Estates. Number four, I sold that house to buy more commercial real estate on South Howard Avenue. I own 410 South Howard, 402 South Howard, 301 South Howard, 302, 304, 306, 308 South Howard. I own 305 south westland, which is residential. 311 -- 301 -- 311 south westland. 2205 west azeele. Combined real estate value of about $24 million. This is north of the project, but impacts me significantly because people that go to epicurean, go to bern's, go to ava, go to whatever, then trickle up the street to my businesses. I represent 162 employees. So I more than anyone in this room, as far as people, obviously, bigger corporations, bigger landowners than myself, but this is significant to myself and my family. Lastly, people that live in Parkland Estates that are impacted or flooded can sell. No one is losing property value because of this. They can sell for more than they probably own -- or owe on it. Businesses can't just sell randomly. It is a closed small market to buy businesses like us, restaurants, bars, hotels, doctors' offices. So, obviously, I can ask you to vote no, but I think there's more to the story than being told by certain people. Thank you.

10:29:07AM David Adams followed by the other ashley. I live in Parkland Estates. Look, the flooding in Parkland Estates and Palma Ceia Pines is unbearable. It's two to three feet of water at the street level. And it's happened four times in the last 40 days. It's not a hurricane problem. This flooding problem must be fixed. Managing a stormwater system is a core government function. This project provides a solution to the flooding. You have signed and sealed engineering drawings that prove that the solution works. The city has a contract with Kimmins Contracting with the performance bond which requires kimmins to complete the project. The only solution, the solution not only fixes Palma Ceia Pines and Parkland Estates, but this is a generational project. It's going to have multiple neighborhoods tied into it and will provide benefits to the city and the neighborhoods around it for years to come. I know the project will be inconvenient. As many people have said, we will do our very best to support the businesses during construction and so will kimmins. The alternative suggested by the opposition is not effective and will include laying pipes through Parkland Estates and through New Suburb Beautiful. Council already denied a solution that goes through the neighborhoods. This is a commercial project that needs to go down commercial roads and through commercial districts. The City Council doesn't vote to begin this project, then the price freeze and the kimmins guaranteed maximum project will expire I believe in October. Again, the $7.7 million of engineering fees will be wasted and the $21 million pledged by FDEP and the crosstown expressway will also be wasted. The next solution undoubtedly will be more expensive. More homes and businesses will flood. The residents will not receive the medical care they deserve, and the problem is not going away. I trust these engineers over here. They have done their job and homework. I have faith this council Will do the right thing and PA is this project. We've been waiting for 11 years. There is no plan b. This is it. Thank you.

10:31:19AM Thank you, David. Ashley and then the next in the queue is carissa stephenson and Michelle Mastrototaro. Please vote yes today. Our one-story home not in a flood zone where I have lived for 26 years and raised my family flooded completely in milton. I was trapped with my elderly in-laws and dogs for nine hours. I don't want to have to sell my little home. I don't want that to be my only solution. I know there are competing views in the room. I know hard decisions will leave someone unhappy. We just want the chance to live safely in our homes. Please trust the engineering and evidence and vote yes today. Thank you.

10:31:56AM Thank you. Thank you for your brevity. Michael. My name is Michael stewart. Owner of ava restaurant and the newly opened landin restaurant on Howard Avenue. I've been on Howard Avenue for over 20 years. My business partner is joe maddon, the former Tampa Bay Rays manager. We were talking about this last night how we do oppose the project. Earlier today you recognized charities that raise money and you were giving out awards. Joe maddon and I have a nationally recognized charity event called thanks-mas. Been do it every year to raise money for the homeless. That event will simply not happen again on Howard Avenue. I'm not being dramatic. I'm speaking the truth. He completely shares my opposition. I just heard a doctor say, hey, why don't you just get a loan? Does he have any idea how hard it is to get a loan when you have no revenue on businesses to borrow money through closures of restaurants? That's not talking about all my employees that are going to lose their job during this. Has nothing to do with money. Unlike other flood projects that I lived through on Westshore and estrella, which did not work during the flood, we are simply different. If you know Howard Avenue, you know we have the crosstown expressway there. We have the railroad tracks. I don't want to be sitting here two years from now going, oh, I told you so. That doesn't make my life any easier. I can tell you now on record, there is absolutely no way that you'll get the traffic through these neighborhoods. I've seen swann close for four hours one day, and I was backed up all the way to Henderson. I ask you, I know I'm not allowed to look behind me, people sitting behind me represent probably a hundred people, that's one restaurant would employ the people behind me. I want you to look at their faces and everybody back there. Some of them actually do work for me. This is the amount of people that if this project goes through affects one restaurant. You want to multiply that by 40 businesses and then their families, we're talking tens of thousands of people. I'll be short and just plead for you to vote no.

10:34:11AM Thank you, Michael. We've got lindsay and then the next in the queue will be tina Adams and pam cannella. I'm lindsey stewart. I'm the owner of landin and ava. He's my partner. A vote for this project is a vote that puts 37 small locally owned businesses and the people they employ at serious risk while large contractors stand to receive millions of dollars. We all support improving Tampa's infrastructure and reducing the flooding in our neighborhoods, but we have not been shown convincing evidence that this plan will deliver the promised results or that every reasonable alternative has been fully explored. Please consider other routes to connect swann pond and maybe make the use of the recreational park. There is always another option besides tearing up Howard Avenue and forcing businesses to close. Businesses along Manhattan Avenue suffer tremendously, even though two lanes remained open. Howard Avenue would be even more vulnerable because it is constrained by the crosstown expressway and has no practical alternative routes. The proposal will use social media campaign to offset lost businesses and an acknowledgment that the city knows this project will hurt revenue and eliminate jobs. Social media posts will not replace lost customers, lost income or lost jobs. If money is available for marketing, why isn't it directed financially to assist available to the businesses and employees being harmed. That question deserves an answer. Please reject this plan and demand a solution that addresses flooding without destroying the small businesses that make Tampa special. Thank you.

10:35:51AM Charissa followed by Michelle. Not you yet. You're back in line. Charissa. Good morning, council. I'm a waitress at ava, the italian restaurant on South Howard Avenue. I've been working at ava and living in Tampa for over a year now. I'm 21 years old supporting myself completely with this job. Howard has well over 800 employees just like me who depend on the job to survive. I'm here to represent all of them. The people my age trying to get through college, the mothers who have to pick up an extra shift after their regular job so they can buy their child new clothes for schools, then the cooks in the back who are just trying to make ends meet. The managers and chefs who have worked their entire lives working towards this career. Joe maddon, the co-owner of ava has been using this restaurant to host our yearly events that raise money for the hungry and the homeless. These are not just businesses on a construction map. These are real people, real families and real livelihoods that will be affected. Please consider the human cost of this project and vote no. thank you. Thank you for brevity. We have Michelle Mastrototaro followed by tina, pam. Next two in the queue are morgan cahill and tony brown. Really grateful. Say hi to everybody.

10:37:35AM Start with your name, Michelle. Home during helene. My name is Michelle Mastrototaro. I am here as a resident, a parent, a taxpayer, a homeowner, asking you to make a responsible decision, one that protects tappan tract. Still waiting for stormwater relief. In 2024, while caring for my sick child, my family lost everything in the flood. We survived but we should not have to live in fear of losing everything again. This is why I fight. I show up. I say no. and I hope that South Howard project does not follow through because it will allocate all the funds and it will not help anybody after that. Tappan tract park is not simply open space. It is a protected natural resource for a critical part of our drainage system. So we have no drainage. That is our drainage. It's being eroded. It's damaged. It's altered, threatening the park's ecosystem, the wildlife. The wildlife is really bad. It's going to. Our neighborhood is in a low-lying area, and we face three interconnected threats. Tidal flooding, stormwater flooding, and wastewater infrastructure failure. The gravity system is not functioning as it should. The drainage connection to tappan tract review nearby developments and stormwater control and requires corrective action. Stabilize the park, vulnerable drainage, features through repair, monitoring, and public emergency response procedures to provide clear, scheduled and funding status. Prescott pump rehabilitation was started and it's still not in effect. It was funded, and it's been delayed a couple of months now. Should have been done in July. That has not been. I just want to say please reconsider other alternatives. I don't want areas that are in need of help, all this money being allocated to one area that everybody else needs assistance. If we don't fight for our future, who do we fight for?

10:40:26AM Thank you, Michelle.

10:40:29AM Tina. Morgan cahill in the room? Tony brown. If you could queue up on the wall, please. Tina, start with your name. You have three minutes. I'm tina Adams. I'm going to play a video from one of my neighbors who wasn't able to be here today.

10:40:55AM It's good.

Video

10:41:08AM I cannot be there because of work. Asked a neighbor to play this. I understand the room may be filled with people who work on South Howard objecting the project because they fear their jobs are in jeopardy. I do not begrudge them that concern. I do want to know about the concern who lose their jobs because they have no building to work in at all because the office is flooded or the people who have no place to live for months because their home is flooded. This project will be staged. Advanced warning and the city is providing resources to support the businesses while construction moves down Howard Avenue. There is no advanced warning and there is no support for us when our homes and our businesses flood. Just like there is no ferry to bring us home or to work or to bring customers or patients or clients to our businesses when a simple thunderstorm makes street impassable on a summer afternoon. The project is not cheap, but a no vote today will have a cost, too. 24 routes have been vetted. This is the least expensive, most efficient option. There is no other plan. You will be telling Palma Ceia businesses that their total closure is less important than South Howard slowdowns. You'll be telling homeowners that you are okay with their homes flooding again. You will be telling every person who takes the artery of Swann Avenue during heavy rain that their safety is not sufficiently important. Just not an acceptable answer. A yes vote today is a recognition that we are on borrowed time. There will never be a route that pleases everyone. There will never be a convenient time or a perfect solution but there will always be a need to effectively manage stormwater to protect lives and businesses. The time is now to begin this project. And to everyone in the room, I would say we are neighbors. Safety should never be something we have to fight for in Tampa. We owe it to each other to come together to ensure the safety and security of our homes and our livelihoods. I ask the council to vote yes and to call for unity. [End of video] I agree with everything she says. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

10:43:14AM Thank you, tina. Thank you for that. The next person in the queue is allison burns. Next speaker is pam cannella. Allison burns, if you would line up against the wall, please. Start with your name, please. You have three minutes. I'm definitely against the Howard project. This is Bayshore. You need to ask yourself where will millions of gallons of stormwater go if all is directed to Bayshore and Howard? We were all devastated by the flooding in 2024. My own family had floodwaters in their home. And sat on the dining room table until the water went down. But this decision, no matter how hard, must be based on facts, not sympathy or personal emotion. The vulnerability assessment 2025 explains outfall can function in reverse. It allows the water to back up into the system and exit at the connected inlets. Drainage systems are designed to disperse stormwater runoff across many systems to different outfalls, like our existing system. Research shows stormwater models produce major errors. How will the city do maintenance? They haven't been able to address our existing ponds, ditches, and drains. There is a plan b. Fix cleveland basin. AMI hospital and zom pond. I want to address the tappan pond -- tappan tract park. The revitalization of tappan tract park needs to be addressed. This is a unique and lesser known park, but it's undeveloped nature, preserved with mangroves, providing a natural barrier for flood control during surges and heavy rains. As long as it remains open and undeveloped, it acts as a natural sponge absorbing stormwater and an asset to controlling flooding for the neighborhoods in that area. The recent 2024 hurricane caused erosion and reshaping of this park, upsetting the natural flow for stormwater drainage and the sanctuary for local wildlife and native plants. Please consider preserving tappan tract park, one of Florida's old native wetlands, and to control flooding for residents of that neighborhood. Thank you.

10:46:16AM Thank you, pam. Next speaker is morgan cahill followed by tony brown, allison burns, harry Coleman, and tom van lloyd. Morgan, start with your name, please. I lived in Tampa my entire life. Fifth generation Tampa native. I lived in channelside since 2017 on top of that. I've seen and experienced a lot of different construction projects that you guys have had throughout our city. I know that Tampa is capable of developing a more creative and thoughtful plan, one that supports not only our residents and hospitals in need while minimizing the negative impacts on the businesses and communities surrounding this project. I'm a restaurant manager at the landing. I'm responsible for providing my employees with a safe and accessible workplace. They need to be able to get in and out safely. Our vendors need access for deliveries, emergency services need to be able to get there if we have an issue there. Our customers need a safe and reasonable way to get to our business. How am I supposed to fill those if access to workplace is significantly limited. Restaurant, access is our livelihood. Restrictive access means fewer customers, operational challenges and potentially fewer jobs. It affects not just one business but the employees and the businesses throughout the area. I'm not asking the city to stop addressing the flooding. I'm asking to make sure solving one problem doesn't cause multiple others. Please work with the local businesses to maintain safe, reliable access throughout the project so we can continue serving our community and be there once the project is finished. Thank you.

10:47:47AM Thank you for your brevity, morgan. Tony. Allison burns, are you in the audience? Allison, if you are on the second floor, please come to council chambers. Harry Coleman. Harry Coleman, would you please line up against the wall? Tom -- I don't know what the last name is. Start with your name. You have three minutes. I am a server in the Hyde Park soho area. I want to say that I vote no on the issue. I do believe there can be some kind of better middle ground to be found from what I know. I do represent the hospitality and wait staff in the area. I do think that the effect will be worse for the businesses. Just voting no on the issue.

10:48:49AM Thank you very much, tony. Thanks for brevity. Allison burns, harry Coleman, and then tom. After that, is Jan mccabe, I think. Harry Coleman, go ahead. Start with your name. You have three minutes.

10:49:16AM There you go. Thank you so much. I please ask that you vote yes for this amendment. Again, I want to thank you, council, for asking the hard questions. I went back through the transcripts. 41 meeting days. 190 remarks from the council members. Pressed the admin on the project about costs, alternatives. Administration, business disruption, maintenance, transparency, and that all matters. It's forced the city, forced the project team to explain assumptions, consider alternatives, change the design, and make commitments about how it will all be managed and that's what the process is supposed to do. But there is a danger in spending years editing something. Soon you only see the edits. Spent an enormous amount of time imagining what might go wrong. The construction, the noise, traffic, inconvenience, the cost, and they are all legitimate. But before this decision is finished, I hope we also spend a moment imagining what could go right. Imagine South Howard 10 or 15 years from now when no one remembers the construction. Stormwater system beneath us is working. Children growing up in the neighborhood today are raising their own families here, benefiting from infrastructure that was built before they were old enough to understand why we needed it. This isn't necessarily the end of the system. The city describe this as a spine for future flood relief. Infrastructure that other areas can connect into rather than starting from scratch like we are now. Aboveground, imagine Howard after the streetscape is rebuilt. Wider sidewalks, landscaping, better places to walk, shop, and eat. These improvements are part of the city's stated project plan. Imagine what follows from that. The vacant lots and the underused properties that we see there today don't remain that way. There are new businesses, new investments, and new customers for businesses that already make South Howard special. None of that means ignoring the disruption required to get there. Simply means when we picture the future, the construction shouldn't be the last picture in our head. We spent years carefully imagining the things that could go wrong. Before this process concludes, I hope you remember to imagine the best case scenario. Please vote yes.

10:51:38AM Tom followed by Jan, followed by tyrae, Robert kelley, and ashley vu. Start with your name, you have three minutes. Secretary of Parkland Estates civic club. The civic club and our neighbors in parkland strongly support this project. The streets of our neighborhood are impassable during a strong thunderstorm. We've had flooding three, four times in the last 60 days. It's unable to pass -- the streets are impassable. Emergency vehicles and cars are unable to move through the streets. Patients in emergency vehicles are unable to leave or enter the hospital. Or doctors offices. I lived in parkland for 28 years. The flooding, we moved there and we were told that we moved from Maryland and we were told there was not flooding in that area. We had no flooding until 2015. The construction north of us has created all this flooding into the neighborhood. We understand that this isn't going to protect us during a hurricane. But we just need flood relief during a strong thunderstorm. Tampa is a large and rapidly growing city and the flood project would work as a starting point for other neighborhoods to tie into this for future flood relief. Please fund this project and keep the neighborhood and the citizens of Tampa safe. Thank you.

10:53:00AM Thank you, tom. Jan followed by tyrae. Jan mccabe. Treasurer of the Parkland Estates civic club. Lived on lakeview road and Parkland Estates for 26 years. During that time we have seen our neighbors and friends lose their cars in flooded areas. Flooded homes outside of hurricane season and have watched several times our lake view road house literally become waterfront property, all within minutes. Then with the last hurricane, we lost both cars. We had our home flooded, but not nearly as bad as our friends and neighbors close by. We were the lucky ones. It was heartbreaking to know that they were contemplating just walking away from their homes. We ask that you please approve this flood relief project. Thank you.

10:53:58AM Tyrae, followed by Robert, ashley. Next people in the queue, jarrod dyer and Stephen Michelini. My name is tyrae vay, single mother, South Tampa resident. I'm here in moving the South Howard project forward. For me, flooding in South Tampa isn't something I just read about in reports. Recently, I was driving home on Bayshore Boulevard during heavy rain, and I genuinely became afraid that I wasn't going to make it home. Bayshore was submerged. Water was over the curb. Cars around me had hazard flashing lights on. As I continued driving, I became increasingly anxious because I didn't know how deep the water was getting or whether my SUV would make it through. My first thought was to get off of Bayshore. As I started looking for a residential street I could turn onto, I could not find a way home. That's when I realized there really wasn't a way out. Residential streets leading away from Bayshore were deeply flooded, too. I felt trapped. That experience changed the way I think about stormwater infrastructure. This isn't simply about inconvenience or having water in the street. It's about whether residents can safely get home. It's about emergency access. It's about protecting our neighborhoods and making sure our infrastructure can handle the realities we're facing and experiencing. The city identified flooding relief, water quality improvements, upgrade utilities, repaved roads and reimagined street escape among the benefits of this project. So today I'm asking that you continue and invest in solutions that address the problems and to support partners who can help deliver them. I support moving the project forward. Please vote yes. South Tampa residents shouldn't have to wonder whether we're going to make it home safely. Thank you.

10:56:03AM Thank you. Robert kelley followed by ashley. Robert kelley. 2603 West Fountain Boulevard. I've been a resident of Parkland Estates for 40 years. Last 32 of which on fountain. I back up to swann. As other speakers have said, when we bought our property, we didn't have a flooding problem there. It only started happening about ten years ago. This project doesn't just benefit a few hundred houses and businesses. It's vital to protect the Swann Avenue east-west corridor that's traversed by thousands of vehicles a day, and provides critical access to the hospital and other health care providers. Metaphorically speaking, I and the other affected residents feel like we are castaways adrift in the gulf on a life raft, waiting for someone to come get us. That someone is you. On the horizon, we see a helicopter heading our way, and all of a sudden our spirits are uplifted. Help is coming. That helicopter hovers over us. And the basket is dropped but it stops before it gets to us. That represents the money you've invested already in this project. We can't understand why the basket is not being lowered all the way to the raft to rescue us. That's where we are today. By your vote, you either choose to abandon us or to save us. I hope it's the latter. Thank you.

10:57:35AM Thank you for brevity. Ashley, followed by jarrod. The next folks to queue are Stephanie poynor and marty millburg. Ashley vu. The owner of the nail salon on 2511 Swann Avenue. I get this year, I get to witness the rising water to the sidewalk, the building, just from the summer rain. I live in fear. I'm terrified thinking of the next storm coming. Please vote yes. Please save my business and the neighborhood homes. Thank you.

10:58:16AM Thank you, ashley. Jarrod. Followed by steven. My name is jarrod dyer. I'm a business owner on South Howard. The city and the proponents of this project keep saying there's no our option, but that's -- no other option. That's inaccurate. Every option or route they studied were all huge trenches. All huge trenches through different parts of the city and various reasons they can't all work, got that. But how can the residents and the city not be even remotely interested in exploring a vault solution. It would be faster, more localized, and less expensive. There's no risk of damaging structures along Howard Avenue. There's no business losses. No mitigating FDEP contamination sites, et cetera. I've heard criticisms that the vault construction would mean construction in Palma Ceia Pines and Parkland Estates. But why is that bad? The whole project is for them. They are the ones who need the relief and the ones that get all of the benefit. That is where the construction should be, not forced on another section of town that has nothing to do with the flooding and gets no benefit. Few minutes ago, someone said this is a commercial project. Yes, there are some businesses that we helped, but let's be clear, this project is overwhelmingly meant to provide relief to the homeowners. In what universe could a project whose entire existence is to help two fairly wealthy neighborhoods possibly be considered a commercial project. I hate that Parkland Estates and Palma Ceia Pines endure the flooding that they do. It's terrible. I've seen the things for the last two years since the hurricanes. First meeting about this was four years ago in 2022. It's so obvious that a solution needs to be done. But if I can end with a weak analogy. If I need a root canal, I can't have you sit in the chair for me. I have to go through the process myself. It's not something you can put on someone else and be, I feel so much better. I'm not worried about what happened to them. It's not right. I urge you to please vote no today.

11:00:22AM Thank you, jarrod. Steven. Stephanie poynor, you are in the queue. David deloach. Good morning, council. You're being asked to do a number of things, all of which are suspect. You're being asked to ignore the millions of dollars of exclusions in the GMP. Those exclusions must be paid for by the city. You have ignored the -- you're being asked to ignore the fact that you're taking stormwater assessment fees and you're shifting them from citywide to one specific project which is not allowed. You're ignoring the false promises, the ones regarding Palma Ceia Pines. These people have been told they will be serviced and helped. They will not be helped under phase one at all, and there's no funding for phase two. You've been asked to ignore the e-mails between the City staff where they deliberately have said they are trying to mislead the council and withhold information from you. We have the e-mails. You've been asked to ignore the fact that the city and the stormwater fees for five years would be diverted 100% to this project. No other funding will be available for the rest of the city. You've been asked to ignore the fact that 13 funded projects will be removed and that money will be shifted to this project. You've been asked to ignore the fact that the real costs come in at more than 150 million, and that price tag is going up. You've been asked to ignore the fact that the documents that were withheld from us under public information have been withheld for over six months since January, and the ability to analyze what's going on with this project is compromised because of that. You've been asked to ignore the fact that the CSX railway crossing is in-- I mean, is insufficient and is too small will require additional permitting and the fact is, they probably are going to abandon. The whole reason they were going down Howard in the first place was the culvert in South Howard. You've been asked to ignore the fact that flooding will still occur. This is not hurricane flooding. Normal rainwater flooding will still occur. You've been asked to ignore the fact that the cleveland basin fails, and that's really the origin of the flooding on swann. You've been asked to ignore the fact that there are no parallel streets for access to any of this and there's no significant substitute for providing access to any of these businesses. You've been asked to ignore the fact that there were $50 million in state grants were denied because they didn't prove the cost and the need and they didn't prove the fact that any benefit was going to occur for that amount of money. You've been asked to ignore the fact that environmental contamination exists, and there's no plan for that except the city to pay for it. You've been asked to ignore the fact that they have been given false hopes, false dreams, broken promises and here we stand. Please deny this and move forward. Let us come up with a reasonable solution.

11:03:36AM Stephanie poynor. Marty millburg. Hank fishkind. First of all, I want to give a shout-out to Chief Bennett because I know that Feeding Tampa Bay would not have gotten as far as they have with Tampa hope had it not been for him pushing for it and his genuine need for the homeless. I'll talk about the things on the agenda first. Number 10 and number 3, I wonder why they don't go together. One is a grant for high incident issues where TPD would be able to pay overtime for officers to be there. I can tell you right now that I could speak to many folks and tell you that I hadn't seen many of those folks hanging out doing overtime, issuing traffic tickets in our community. I would like to see it overlap. 33 through 35 is for legal services through 2029. Why are we spending money we don't have yet and haven't set the budget for it? What legal services are these three firms providing for us? We'll get back to the item at hand, which I think everybody is wasting their time and their breath talking about. If anybody up there hasn't made a decision already, I'd fall out on the floor. I thought it was interesting that somebody said that you're telling the homeowners who flooded last time that they should do out and don't care if they flood. What about the other thousands of people -- and I don't have those numbers from the city. I have requested them about two weeks ago to know the numbers and addresses and make a little chart that looks like the county's, about where the flooding was and where the damages were. And we've gotten nothing back from the city on that. This Howard Avenue project, what concerns me about this is all the time I've been hanging out down here and coming around, I've never seen robbing peter to pay paul before. But yet, South Howard is going to rob peter to pay paul. We're going to rob other communities of projects in order to pay for this. Then on top of that, this week, we've got swann park, which is two blocks away From Howard Avenue. And there was a list circulated by Revenue and Finance to rob peter to pay paul. This is on the agenda. Next, last but not least, you know, if those lines are broken for CSX, when staff came up here over and over and over and over and over and over and over again and said we have to go down Howard because that's the path of least resistance, was that a lie? I don't know.

11:06:20AM Thank you, Stephanie. Marty millburg, followed by hank fishkind, followed by David, Susan Fernandez and Steve gerrish. Experience in technical engineering. Live on West Watrous Avenue, block or two from the project. I talked to you a couple of times before. I haven't been hired by the South Howard community. I'm here as a neighbor. I do soil borings for a living. You were told that this is a typical job. It's not. This is not a typical five to ten foot deep excavation. This is a 20-foot deep trench. 19 feet to be specific. It is going to be below the water table. Water table is about two or three feet deep. 10 or 15 feet away from buildings. It is a major infrastructure project. Contractor has represented that he would be able to do this with a trench box. That's absolutely not accurate. The biggest trench box I've ever seen is maybe six feet. How are you going to get a 12-foot wide object inside a six foot wide. I say 12-foot wide, 10-foot square box culvert with one foot wall, that's 12 feet. You won't get inside a trench box. This issue has been ignored -- hasn't been addressed by the contractor or the design team. There are over 600 sheets in the 60% design, and that has not -- protecting this excavation on one sheet. Mentioned earlier signed and sealed plans, no there's not. There are no plans for the shoring. I can absolutely assure you with certainty, 100% certainty you will need to shore this. I'm a professional engineer, if I'm misrepresenting this intentionally, I'm subject to civil penalties for this. I have a vested interest in being right. At the very minimum, it will cost another $25 million to shore this project. Probably more on the order of 50. I came up with maybe 108 million for something that will certainly work. This $92 million guaranteed maximum price excludes that. It excludes any contamination. So the dewatering when you hit limestone, not in there. One other thing I wanted to talk about, been mentioned that there is no other solution. Well, there are other solutions and they have been misrepresented by the city. Here is the center of the flooding in the neighborhood. You pipe it over. Put a pump here. Costs about 25 -- the city of st. petersburg has four active pumping stations. Two more on the books. Say it costs between 20 and 33 million. I have 25 million in the budget for that. $4 million to run the pipe from the pump station to Howard Avenue. I've got $6 million, and these are could et cetera from contractors to do a horizontal drill, $40 million to do this project. There is an alternative. The city has misrepresented that. Thank you. [ applause ]

11:09:34AM No, no. [ sounding gavel ] no clapping. I'll call you out of order and ask you to leave the chambers. Hank, David, carroll ann Bennett. Dr. Hank Fishkind, fish kind consulting. I was retained by the South Howard business alliance to conduct an economic analysis and cost benefit review of the project. Let me share with you my findings. The first thing I did was to look at the cost benefit analysis and engineering preliminary designs. I noticed a glaring omission. There was no analysis of the loss of business sales during the conduct of construction along South Howard. The professional literature is very extensive, very clear that construction like this has significant construction effects and causes loss of sales for adjacent businesses. I analyzed what this would cost here looking at each business. Business by business, what did they sell, how long would the trench be in front of their business, how long would the disruption occur. Based on the professional literature and the analysis of each and every business during the 43 months of duration of this project, going to lose almost a hundred million dollars of sales. That loss of hundred million dollars of sales translates into additional economic impacts. I use what is called the -- input and output model used professionally by the State of Florida and economists to determine and translate how much does a loss of sales of hundred million dollars mean in terms of employment and lost economic output. 1100 jobs are likely at risk here from this alone. Furthermore, the next step was to look at the calendar and to look at the costs of the project. As the gentleman before me just mentioned, the cost of the project is estimated now at $100 million. There are a number of items that were not included in that budget, including the Bayshore outfall, dealing with contaminated sites along the route of the project, the CSX Bayshore outfall, shoring, et cetera. Those would take the costs from a hundred million to about 150 million. Each one of those six missions increased the length of time it takes to build the thing. It goes from 43 months to 67 months. That's additional time that would generate additional loss of sales. Of over 154 million. Finally, I put it all together to get the cost and the benefits. On the left is the city's plan. The cost of the city's plan is over $300 million. It's 150 million for the project itself. It's over 150 million of lost sales. The benefits, if we accept the city's benefits, the benefits being 118 million. Cost benefit analysis is .38, minus $189 million for the project as planned. Thank you very much.

11:12:58AM Please make sure your phones are muted. David, start with your name. Good morning. Professional engineer with deloach engineering science out of Orlando. I've been retained by the soho business alliance. I have modeled these neighborhoods in the same model framework that the city's consultant has used. Flooding in Parkland Estates and Palma Ceia Pines has two causes. The first is local. The bowl has nowhere to put water. The second is regional. The city's engineering report says that when the cleveland street outfall is overwhelmed, water backs up. It's actually diverted into the AMI pond and floods Palma Ceia Pines. It then flows over land to Parkland Estates, and this is in the same five-year storm project that the project is designed for. Staff told you on September 3rd that the cleveland system is undersized and overburdened. But that there was no plan to fix it. Instead the city's plan builds a 6,000-foot trunk line out of the basin down South Howard leaving the source untouched. Our concept does the opposite. Put storage where the flooding is. Three underground vaults. 46-acre feet of AMI pond, Parkland Estates open space and zom pond. With pumps that empty within just a couple of days, flowing by gravity through the existing parkland outfall, and fix cleveland street. This is the needed correction that the city's own studies have recommended over and over again since 1983. The existing railroad crossing, nothing needed at selah Bayshore outfall and no trench on South Howard. We ran this in the city's model framework for the city's design storm. Both results are shown here on the city's own map. Purple is flooding removed. City's phase one clears Parkland Estates but leaves most of Palma Ceia Pines blue. City's report assigns those flooded streets to unfunded future phase. From the map, only 65% of flooding is removed. A cleveland fix plus three local vaults turns both neighborhoods purple, roughly 90% of today's flood area would be removed. These are Planning level results, but that's 65% removal against 90%. Get the local vaults operating quickly in about 16 to 18 months, not 2030. Work in three discrete sites, not along a 19-foot canyon between a mile of occupied buildings. And Palma Ceia Pines gets relief in the first module, not in a phase two with no money and no date. It's roughly $86 million with no contingency. 104 if you assign a 20% contingency. That's comparable to the hundred million dollar package in front of you before all the other exclusions that have been mentioned. Please vote no. there is one alternative that does more.

11:16:04AM Thank you. Suzanne Fernandez followed by Steve. I'm a small business owner in Palma Ceia Pines. I'm here to ask you to please vote yes for the South Howard flood relief project. The proposed plan is not perfect. There is no perfect plan. The problem is the current flooding threatens our safety and actually the safety of citizens in far-reaching communities that have to commute into our area for work. The flooding occurs after a typical summer rainstorm. We're not talking about extraordinary events like hurricanes helene and milton. The plan on the table today will keep over 90% of the structural flooding from happening in Parkland Estates and Palma Ceia Pines. Do you realize what this means for the residents and the businesses in the area? It means we don't have to face months of reconstruction. It doesn't mean that -- it means we don't lose the items in our homes that aren't covered by flood insurance, which the federal flood insurance plan actually covers very little of the damage caused by flooding. It's on a depreciated schedule instead of a replacement schedule. It means that the people that work in the area can still come to work and get a paycheck. Otherwise, they are not going to get a paycheck for months. Under the current plan, Howard Avenue at the most is going to be closed for any one particular business at a time not to exceed six weeks. We've heard from business owners at dale mabry, morrison and Henderson where a similar plan was built. They were able to remain open during the construction, and their intersections no longer flood. This plan will move the drainage from the ama pond, which is part of the cleveland basin now, to the South Howard basin. The cleveland system is overburdened. The water actually flows backwards in our area in the Palma Ceia Pines area into the ama pond which causes additional flooding. This will take the ama pond and now move it to the Howard Avenue flood relief so that the backflow will no longer occur. This is particularly important to me because I have a property at the corner of the ama pond. This plan is also expandable, allowing other neighborhoods that are experiencing flooding to be added to the system with no large infrastructure needed. Please vote yes for the flood relief plan.

11:19:04AM Thank you, suzanne. Steve. In the queue behind carroll ann Bennett against the wall, brad Dixon, ed de la parte and alison date. Steve gerrish. I first wanted to start this off by just saying thank you to all of you. I feel like over the last two years we've developed some kind of kinship. No matter which way you are voting or plan to vote on this topic, each and every one of you has spent an incredible amount of your personal time outside these chambers researching and deliberating about this issue. It's truly impressive. I say thank you to all of you. Moving on from that, one thing I don't understand, and I would invite any Howard business owner to please educate me, because I'm not a business owner. I don't know the answer to this. But it seems that if you are able to close your business completely for renovations or rebuilding for months or years, and be just fine, why is it that six months -- I'm sorry, misspoke -- six weeks of street closure alone in front of your business would be catastrophic. That just doesn't make sense to me. And telling employees that they are going to be fired seems very disingenuous. If I was an employee of the business, I would be questioning the motives of my employer. Please educate me if you are speaking after me. Over the last two years, council, you know obviously where I stand with the flooding in the neighborhood. It needs to be fixed. This is a huge project. If this gets voted down two years, four years, ten years from now, the next project that comes up is going to have problems and issues. There's going to be new people up here telling you why it's wrong. There's going to be familiar faces telling you why it's wrong because they seem to have an issue with every City Council agenda item. You know, there's always going to be problems, but we need help. We need a solution. We need something to happen now. It's been ten years and we need something to happen now. Thank you.

Lynn Hurtak

11:21:23AM Thank you very much. Carroll ann Bennett followed by brad Dixon. Carroll ann Bennett here to speak on item 64, the change of the tree ordinance. There are some good things in it. The privately owned property front yards and side yards. That's great. The list of additional things that the money can be used for in the one section, that's good, too. But there are a couple of things that we as t-tag, I'm a founding member, would like for you to consider. We sent you an e-mail yesterday. It's very informative and conclusive. In one section, we would like to you add the words primarily type one and two. It's primarily. It's not exclusively or only. Just primarily one or two. And we feel this is necessary because even though they say their priority is type ones and twos, we don't see that in action. We only hear it in words. Years ago, the -- finally begged you to put live oaks in front of fire stations. Seen bus stops in the blazing sun with no power lines. Retention ponds, acres of retention ponds, live oaks, not one has been planted yet we can see all these plants for planting, bottle brushes and crape myrtle. We need to add primarily type one and two to reinforce that. There's also a section where it says, where it adds these good items, but says not limited to. We don't like that language because honestly we feel like it needs to be reinforced how the funds are being used. $151,000 of the fund was used to come up with plans. The code expressly prohibits that. It expressly says what it can be used for. It's solely for the selection, acquisition, installation and maintenance. Nowhere does that include plans, yet they spend $151,000 for plans. It didn't come to you all. You all didn't approve it. Honestly, I don't know who approved that transfer of money for plans because that's not part of the tree fund. So we feel like the fund has to be a little stronger in emphasizing that. So the thing where it has a list of items that are okay, but it says "but not limited to." But not limited to is a giant hole that you can drive a semitruck through which will end up with funds being spent that you all never even know about on things that it shouldn't be spent on. Lastly, the section where it says the tree trust fund may be used for funding department requests upon City Council motion and approval, again, it encourages spending it on other things. It's also unnecessary. You already have that power. You can do that anytime you want. So we don't need to put it in the tree code to encourage the inappropriate expenditure of the funds. Thank you for your time.

Alan Clendenin

11:24:23AM Thank you very much.

11:24:33AM Me, too. Brad Dixon. Here to talk about the South Tampa flood project. I am a resident of Virginia Park for 17 years. I've also been working in the hospitality industry for about 25 years on South Tampa. The plan you're voting on today is simply financially devastating to my fellow hospitality workers. Being where I work and where I live, I've seen what's happening in these neighborhoods. It obviously needs to be addressed. The plan you're voting on is simply not fair. There are a lot of SMART people that have given you some alternatives today. I hope that you can consider them. On behalf of all my hospitality workers, friends, up and down Howard, please vote no today. Thank you very much.

11:25:26AM Thank you, sir. Ed, followed by allison. Next three in the queue, Fran Tate, shina mccoy and Pamela Jackson Haney. If I called your name, please line up against the wall. I think it's morning. Edward de la parte. I represent the soho business alliance. What I want to talk to you about today is about the contract, the GMP, the CSX railroad and the impact that that will have. Two weeks ago, the chairman asked, is the city protected from change orders? The contract answers that question. It isn't. Exhibit e to the GMP excludes, in had writing, contaminated soil and water, the land at Parkland Estates and swann, utility relocations and the AMI pond work the permit requires. There is nothing priced in the GMP regarding shoring or bracing for the excavation. You heard from an engineer, Mr. Millburg over here, 40 years of experience, that is going to be necessary. And every exclusion that comes back as a change order carries an 8.5% fee. The reason that's important is because under the executive order, 2023-7, if the estimated cost of the original solicitation is double of what it was, and that was originally 65 million, if it reaches more than 130 million, this project has to be reprocured. Can you imagine this project midway in completion? You have to stop because the change orders now have carried it above 130 million and then you have to go back and resolicit someone to finish the project. The next thing is the CSX railroad. I can't imagine why this issue has not been resolved. According to our records, the City staff new 17 months ago that that 5 by 10 culvert was going to be inadequate to meet the needs of the project when they size the project to 10 by 12 and then later to 10 by 10. They had 17 months to get some sort of approval from CSX. Now I hear that on Friday -- on Friday they go ahead and apply for a permit for CSX for the first time. That was not a surprise to them. They knew that was a problem. Their current plan, according to our engineer, does not meet the requirements for CSX, whether it is the excavation for the 10 by 10 culvert or whether a 60-inch microtunnel. What does this all mean in terms of the length of the project. 43 months is what they are estimating. If you don't have to rebid the project and you have to go and fix all of these other items that are listed, that's going to make this project 67 months to complete. That's over five years. That's five years of damage to the soho business alliance. That's five years that parkland is not going to get relief. Vote no on the project.

11:28:48AM -- followed by Fran Tate. Again, we appreciate brevity so we can get out of here and have lunch and get through with the business and get a vote on this. I'll try and be brief. Alison date. I'm talking about the tree trust fund. I'm a member of the Tampa tree advocacy group. In here, actually on this form, it says it's providing for annual distribution of the tree trust fund monies for the benefit of the tree-mendous Tampa. Tree tree-mendous Tampa. That's only one thing that the fund has been used for. If it was only used for that that would be fine and make all your jobs very easy. Unfortunately, the money is not only used for the one project, it's used for other things. That's what we're concerned about as carroll ann mentioned, and our canopy was reduced in the 2022 urban report to 30%. And now we've actually had another 5% that we know about since the hurricanes in 2024. So we are losing our canopy, and there's not going to be much left. We need to try and do everything. We can save it and these funds are important for protecting it. And they need to be limited to planting, maintaining, and maintaining the canopy. Not other things that the city might need because they don't have other funds. I am asking you to be sure that you remove the words as carroll ann mentioned that it not be limited to something or that other departments can use the funding that you don't even know about. I already sent you an e-mail about that, too. So the funds may be used for funding department requests, but this doesn't mean it's not meant for subsidizing the department, the department needs. That's contrary to the intention of the document. So, please, remove the wording from the document so that the fund is used as intended to plant and maintain our canopy before it disappears. Thank you very much.

11:31:15AM Thank you very much.

Lynn Hurtak

11:31:18AM Someone has a phone that keeps dinging for messages. Please mute that phone or we're going to ask you to leave.

Alan Clendenin

11:31:35AM I should have another person against the paul. Pamela Jackson Haney, queued up against the wall. If you are in the room or downstairs, please come to council chambers. Jaime Jones and Dana jasper. Jaime Jones and Dana jasper, please line up against the wall. Fran, thank you. I am Fran Tate, East Tampa resident, founder and president of the Jackson Heights neighborhood association, fourth year East Tampa CRA community advisory committee member, recently appointed to the public nuisance abatement board. Elections have consequences. My voter registration card allows me to vote in districts one, two, three, and five races.

11:32:23AM Remember, this is about on-agenda items. Mobility director presented the stormwater budget and the projects, I noticed district 5 East Tampa stormwater project on Broadway Avenue and 56th street was canceled. No one notified the community. Of this in a town hall meeting that could have taken place during a Tuesday town hall meeting that was recently occurring. We could have applied pressure then. My questions during public comment, do we get another project in East Tampa? Or where does that money go? No one answered because all of you voted to cancel the project and allocate the funding to the South Howard project. We're the most underserved community in Tampa, along with Sulphur Springs. This is unfair. Find another route to alleviate the flooding and stop blaming the lack of easement. It's a public and safety environmental issue on that highway, on that street. Mosquitoes are out there breeding in the standing water. They cause dengue fever now. One death has already occurred in Hillsborough county. Elections have consequences. Do the right thing. Enjoy your day.

11:33:54AM Thank you, Fran. If you are downstairs on floor two, we have plenty of capacity up here. Come up to the third floor council chambers please. Clear security, if you are waiting to speak. Ms. McCoy Followed by Pamela Jackson Haney, followed by Jaime Jones, followed by Dana casper. Jamie or Dana in the room? Valerie bullock, if you are downstairs, please come up. Surgret doss will be after that. Go ahead, Ms. McCoy. Council people, Chairman Clendenin.

11:34:37AM Start with your name please. I'm a resident here, mom, homeowner in Sulphur Springs, also sit on the board. I'm commenting on lines 66 through 68. First, I want to remind you that you committed to being on the front line of change. As you admitted in resolution 568. You know East Tampa has a highly underserved we always here area and you all come to us sometimes with a little bit of change. And to make a big difference in an area that you know is very underdeserved anyway -- underserved, I'm sorry. I want to say, do not take our money from our stormwater flooding project and give it to South Tampa Avenue. You all are wrong for voting for that. As residents, we are working very hard to make sure that the 2027 election will be a record-breaking turnout. East Tampa, along with a lot of outstanding issues, they are all fighting, and we all coming to you asking for help, and you all are always looking for money to help us. We want to make a real difference. We're hoping you will stand to your word and make a difference. You can redeem yourselves in a good way, but we don't want any more gas lighting. Stop blaming easement issues and the like. We plainly just don't take our money and give it to South Tampa Avenue. Don't think we don't see you all playing in our faces. Stop it. We want real change. We're holding you all accountable. We're watching. I implore you to watch the beauty in real community. Thank you.

11:36:28AM Thank you very much. Pamela Jackson, are you here? Pamela Jackson Haney. Going once, going twice, gone. Jaime Jones. Jaime Jones. If you hear me and you come into the room, please make your presence known and I'll call you up. Dana jasper. Start with your name, please. You have three minutes. Start with your name, please. Start with your name please. Dana jasper. Thank you for the opportunity to speak this morning. I want to focus on one issue that has to do with council is being asked to approve $92.7 million contract while issues remain unresolved at the CSX railroad crossing. I understand that CSX requires designs to be far enough along before it will do a permit review. Last council meeting, John zemina from kimmins told council our design is ready to go to them and CSX requires 25,000 to begin its review. Kimmins was awarded a $7.7 million contract in 2024 with permitting assistance that included submitting permit applications. The design fees specify nearly 50,000 for permitting assistance plus more than 1.8 million in allowances and incidentals. The submittal schedule shows that permit applications are to be complete at the 60% design stage. Despite the design being ready to go and despite a contract with funds designated for permit applications, the CSX permit application apparently was only turned in last Friday. Council, This is more than a minor permitting issue. In 2024, former director of mobility vick Bhide told council that CSX coordination is a critical factor and warned it could delay any project by several years and it has happened before. There are significant unanswered questions. One adjusted approach is use the existing smaller box culvert and add a microtunnel next to it. Information obtained by subpoena indicates the culvert has holes in the slabs and groundwater is flowing in. It is unrealistic to assume CSX will approve the use of a damaged 50-year-old culvert beneath its active railroad. The other approach is open-cut construction for a new larger box culvert, which council was told could save approximately $3 million. CSX specification manual states that open cut is not readily accepted practice. Proceeding with construction at Bayshore and moving toward the railroad crossing before knowing what CSX may or may not allow or what additional requirements it may impose could literally send this project off the rails. On a crazy train. Council needs answers before committing $92.7 million, not after construction is already underway. I ask council to deny the $92.7 million contract. They already applied for the permit, but please, first determine what CSX will or will not allow. Then bring the project back to council with the answers, including impacts on cost and schedule. Thank you.

11:40:19AM Thank you. Valerie followed by surgret, followed by Tarah Bluma and cal. Good morning, Valerie. Valerie bullock. Good morning, everybody. I want to talk about number 16, the software subscription. $5.4 million it look like to me that is a lot of money for TPD to request for software subscription. When they already get 60% of the budget. Number 30, I don't understand why the city want to pay another million dollars for another study. Everybody is talking about, we don't know which way to homestead taxes going to go. Is it going to pass or fail? We continue to spend million dollars on studies. Can't we put some of that stuff on pause that would make us good stewards of the money that we've gotten? 33, 34, 35, that's where the city want to hire outside legal counsel. We already have legal counsel. So if the people can't do the job, we might want to hire somebody else. This right here is what makes me so mad. The city always crying broke. We don't have money for this or can't do that project. We got to do just one project, but this right here is frivolous spending. And on 67 through 69, please say no to the Howard Street project. I understand we live in an iphone world where everything is about me, me, me and self. This is the most selfish project that the City of Tampa could ever endeavor on. How can everybody else flood, we have to sit back because Parkland Estates, we got to stop the flooding right now. That is not the correct way to do business. I understand their pipes are 75 years old. Have anybody did a study on the whole City of Tampa? How old are my pipes? They do need flooding. They do need help, but I don't think it should be like a casino, all or nothing. We have to use common sense. This right here is what polarizes people. Number 72, I see the economic development corporation, going to meet with Abbye Feeley. Let's do it like Parkland Estates. Let's get all the money from there and put it into East Tampa. Because we need the economic engine and we don't care about the other sides of town either.

11:43:11AM Thank you, Valerie. Surgret followed by Tarah Bluma. Army discharged, service connected, disabled american veteran, and litigant against the city and former judge in a case before the united states supreme court. Items 12, 13, 14, 16.

11:43:32AM You can only go to the items. It actually covers that. Go through that all the time. I'm not just talking to the council. Talk to everybody out there, especially the apathetic people out there. We're paying for software, 5.4 million in police software subscriptions going on the books as a debt under the governmental accounting standards. That's not new spending. You all know this. That is the city writing down what it already pays every year to collect and store information on people in Tampa. Personally speaking now, and it does tie in, for my own case, that software collected quoting at roughly $10,000 to get them back. I'm already paying for them. There is a special fee. But if actual cost already paid, shouldn't pass them back on to me. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me. This thing about $600,000 at TPD, who owns the data? It ain't you all. It's us. What's the retention schedule on it and can a citizen get their own records out of it without a five-figure bill? Remember that name. Pelegrine. Ask for name anyway. I'm talking to the hood. 600 bands for outside counsel. What the hell am I paying the people litigating against me for right now. 600 -- are you serious? Do they help us? What are they there to do? We have a right to know what they are doing and how they are billing the city and turning back around and billing us. This agenda was posted online. Talking to the apathetic ones and the ones loud on social media, the ones real bright about things when it comes to approaching people to look like you and the people who won't necessarily fight back. Time to stop being lazy. Time to confront in the positive way your public officials because they work for us. I'm really interested to know where all this money -- how all this money is being allocated and the taxpayers aren't getting the proper answers. That being said as always in closing, shout-out to the greatest institution of higher learning in the city, the university of Thomas Jefferson high school.

11:46:08AM Thank you. Because this is a newer type of process, I saw on the off-agenda item sign-up. That's only city business we can talk about on -- I'm saying in the next round. I saw you put scotus, which is not city business. Tarah Bluma, are you in the room? No. okay. Cal. Start with your name, please. You have three minutes. Council members, I am the operating partner at the landing on South Howard. I want to begin by saying we recognizing the flooding in South Tampa and it's real. We absolutely support finding a solution. We're not here asking the city to ignore the residents who have experienced the flooding. What we're asking for is a solution that is solving one serious problem that does not create another serious problem. We don't want to jeopardize the businesses and livelihood of anyone on Howard. This project is expected to impact the corridor for years and the city's own Planning acknowledges periods when both lanes of Howard may need to be completely closed. For a restaurant, access isn't a convenience. It's our lifeline. People sometimes look at a restaurant and see a building, dining or business. I see people behind it. Servers, bartenders, cooks, dishwashers, managers, all the support staff. I know their names, families and I know they depend on us to pay for their rent, mortgages, groceries and take care of their children. There are hundreds of more people just like them working in the businesses up and down Howard Avenue. We can plan around construction. Plan around us inconvenience. Work with the city through difficult circumstances. What we cannot plan around us is losing meaningful access to our front doors for weeks at a time. Shuttle or temporary walkway may temporarily provide access. That doesn't mean customers still come. When sales disappear, eventually jobs disappear with them. I respectfully ask the council before moving forward, please make sure there is a plan that protects both the residents who need flood relief and the employees of local businesses on Howard Avenue. To the gentleman who asked what is the difference between closing for restaurant renovation or closing because of this project. The difference is control and duration. A renovation is planned by the business, scheduled during least damaging time and completed within a defined period. This project could disrupt the entire Howard Avenue corridor for up to four years. We cannot have that and control that. Thank you.

11:48:42AM Last call for Pamela Jackson Haney and Jaime Jones. Not here. Very good. Michael Suarez online for on agenda item speaker. Michael -- Matthew Suarez, please start with your name, you have three minutes. Matthew, unmute yourself. Start with your name. Just wanted to read something. It's titled: impact. The South Howard district took decades to build. Vote yes for Mayor Jane Castor's South Howard stormwater project, and you will see this district from tiny pool shops to the legacy of Bert and gert, it is the South Howard owner, staff, resident, and patron you will ultimately hurt. From Parkland Estates to Palma Ceia Pines, flooding must adequately be addressed. But this plan before you will leave the district of South Howard both deeply distressed and economically depressed. With Mayor Castor refusing to assess the project built, human and economic impacts and you cast a vote for this project without these crucial environmental impacts. Ask the tiny tap bartender whose tips will be reduced night and day. Ask the soho square apartment residents who have to carry groceries from blocks away. Ask the memory care patient why they are startled by the constant pounding of sheet piles during construction. Ask the bern's staff where they are to park, when the epicurean parking garage faces a more than 60 day obstruction. Ask the lobster family what construction vibration will do to the world's largest private collection of wine. Ask the ciccio restaurant group how the purveyor is to deliver an ingredient to be used for those who dine. Ask the pizza delivery driver how traditional South Howard routes are to be run. Ask the bella's italian cafe how their view from the restaurant's patio will be when soil is being excavated by the ton. Have these audiences been considered as part of the mayor's plan? Have they been spoken with about her project's estimated four-year span? Are these impacts not being weighed against the project's current hundred plus million dollars quote? Are the seven of you taking these impacts into account before casting your final vote? Therefore, the soho business alliance stormwater design alternative must be seriously considered as four underground vaults and side street culvert will ensure South Howard is spared and neighborhood flood relief can be delivered. As the voting members of Tampa City Council, you must vote no to this castor stormwater contract. As mayor she has failed to assess the cost of such noted environmental impacts. Thank you. Matthew Suarez.

11:52:10AM Thank you, Matthew. That concludes public comment for on-agenda items today. We're going to move on. We'll wait for our clerk of the court to come in. If I could get a motion to approve items 5 --

Lynn Hurtak

11:52:26AM I move items 5 through 8.

Alan Clendenin

11:52:28AM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Any requests from public for reconsideration of legislative matters? Hearing none, let's go to the consent agenda. Councilman Viera, would you move items 9 through 11 and 14 through 17.

Luis Viera

11:52:47AM I move 9 through 11 and 14 through 17.

Alan Clendenin

11:52:51AM Motion from Viera, second from Miranda. All in favor, aye. Ayes have it.

Lynn Hurtak

11:52:54AM I want a separate vote on this because this is for more cameras. This is exactly what the community is asking us not to approve. I don't want to approve this grant. I'm just not going to do it. The contract comes to us in a couple of weeks but I'll vote no on this and vote no on the contract. I wanted to start by voting no.

Alan Clendenin

11:53:20AM We'll consider that when we bring it up on the agenda item. It is. 12 and 13. I didn't ask -- I just asked for separate vote. No, I didn't want to discuss it.

Bill Carlson

11:53:31AM Can I make a motion to ask staff to come and answer questions on this later?

Alan Clendenin

11:53:35AM We'll pull that item for discussion. If you would be prepared to come in and discuss 12 and 13 when appropriate on the agenda. Under staff reports. Thank you. I see our clerk is here. Clerk, would you like to present item 4, please?

Shirley Foxx-Knowles

11:53:56AM Good morning, council and chair or chair and council. Item 4 is appointing peter fertig. He is the only applicant for the architect member position for the Barrio Latino Commission.

Alan Clendenin

11:54:26AM Thank you. Peter, are you in the room? Hi, peter. If you would like to say something, you don't have to, but if you would like to say something, come to the podium, state your name and introduce yourself. Almost good afternoon, council. After this morning, public service doesn't sound as wonderful as I thought it might otherwise have. [ laughter ] but I am still excited and available and interested in participating on the barrio.

11:54:58AM Just as a rule from now on, I am the only one who can be funny. I have a motion to approve peter's appointment from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Miranda. Mr. Shelby.

Martin Shelby

11:55:10AM Could you amend that to move the resolution making the appointment that has been approved. The clerk has it in her possession.

Alan Clendenin

11:55:18AM I have a motion to approve the resolution making the appointment from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Miranda. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Congratulations. Welcome to the wonderful world of public service. We'll continue on to the consent agenda. Councilwoman Young, would you please move items 18 through 26?

Naya Young

11:55:38AM I move items 18 through 26.

Alan Clendenin

11:55:41AM Motion from Councilwoman Young. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All in favor aye. Aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Councilman Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

11:55:47AM Motion to approve 27 through 31.

Alan Clendenin

11:55:50AM Motion from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Miranda. All in favor aye. Aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Councilman Miranda, would you move items 32 through 36.

Charlie Miranda

11:55:59AM Move items 32 through 36.

Alan Clendenin

11:56:01AM Motion from Councilman Miranda. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All in favor aye. Aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. Councilman Carlson, would you move 37 through 42.

Bill Carlson

11:56:09AM Yes, first abstain on 39. My company has a client that may be tangentially connected but we don't do business with anything like this. Out of abundance of caution, file form 8b.

Alan Clendenin

11:56:23AM Motion and second. All in favor, aye. Would you move 37, 38, 40 through 42.

Bill Carlson

11:56:30AM So moved.

Alan Clendenin

11:56:31AM Motion from Councilman Carlson. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All in favor aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Councilwoman Young would you move item 39.

Naya Young

11:56:39AM Move 39.

Alan Clendenin

11:56:40AM Motion from Councilwoman Young, second from Councilman Maniscalco to move 39. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? The ayes have it with Councilman Carlson abstaining. Councilwoman Hurtak, would you move 43 through 50.

Lynn Hurtak

11:56:55AM So moved.

Alan Clendenin

11:56:56AM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Lynn Hurtak

11:57:01AM Move to set item 51.

Alan Clendenin

11:57:04AM Motion to set the public hearing for item 51 from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. Opposed? Ayes have it. Item 52 -- 52 is non-quasi-judicial hearing.

Lynn Hurtak

11:57:24AM Motion to open all public hearings.

Alan Clendenin

11:57:27AM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Miranda. All in favor aye. Opposed? Ayes have IT. Staff, 52.

Ross Samons

11:57:34AM Ross Samons Development Coordination, presenting file vac-26-15 for second reading and adoption. I'm available if you have any questions.

Alan Clendenin

11:57:41AM Council have any questions? Hearing none is there an applicant? Seeing none, anybody in the public wishing to speak to this item? You wish to speak to this item? Speak now or forever hold your peace. I have pizza waiting.

Guido Maniscalco

11:58:04AM From where?

Alan Clendenin

11:58:09AM [Indiscernible] Stephanie poynor. We'll give away this huge slice of land for $573 that the applicant has already built on the property. I mean, look at the pictures. Why does the applicant get to build on the property and then get to buy it for $573? We have got to stop giving away city property. We have another item on the agenda that we're paying like 450,000, $600,000 for. We will overpay every single time, but yet we're giving away these easements, these right-of-ways for $573. We've got to look at this raftelis report and get it fixed. If you look at the aerials included with the staff report, they show that the applicant has built on this property already. How does that work? I just go ahead and build whatever the hell I want on my next-door neighbor's yard.

11:59:11AM Are you prepared to vote on this? Is the applicant in the audience? Do you wish to rebut that?

Ross Samons

11:59:20AM Ross Samons, Development Coordination. I wanted to speak on that. I think she may be referring to a vacating on down the agenda later. On behalf of the applicant. I think that was related to a separate project.

Alan Clendenin

11:59:37AM Not applicable. Thank you very much. Anybody else in the public wishing to speak to this item? Hearing none, can I get a motion to close? Motion to close from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilwoman Hurtak. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Councilman Carlson, would you like to read this.

Bill Carlson

11:59:51AM Move item 52, vac-26-15, ordinance being presented for second reading and adoption. An ordinance of the City of Tampa, Florida, vacating, closing, discontinuing and abandoning that alleyway located north of 4th avenue, south of 5th avenue, east of 26th street and west of 27th street as dedicated by the plat of Harris terminals and that portion of 1st avenue right-of-way located of North Adamo Drive, south of 2nd avenue, east of 27th street and west of lee Roy selmon expressway connector as dedicated partially by the plats of Harris terminals and archer subdivision, all in Tampa, Hillsborough county, Florida, and as more fully described in section 2 hereof, subject to certain covenants, conditions and restrictions as more particularly set forth herein, providing for enforcement and penalties for violations, providing for definitions, interpretations and repealing conflicts. Providing for severability, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

12:00:42PM Motion from Councilman Carlson, second from Councilman Maniscalco. Please record your vote.

The clerk

12:00:52PM Motion carried unanimously.

Luis Viera

12:00:55PM Question on the agenda.

Alan Clendenin

12:00:57PM I was going to explain something in just a second. We're going to hear the next hearing, 53. Then we're going to hear non-agenda item but only related to Tampa city business public comment. After that we'll break for a 30-minute lunch. If you are here for items 54 or beyond, the 10:00 public hearings, we're not going to hear that until we come back from lunch. Somewhere around probably 12:45 to 1:00. So everybody understands that. Item number 53.

Luis Viera

12:01:26PM If I may, thank you, sir. Question, the administration update is that heard after lunch?

Alan Clendenin

12:01:33PM That will be heard when we get to that right before staff reports.

Luis Viera

12:01:39PM Thank you, sir.

Martin Shelby

12:01:42PM Martin Shelby, City Council attorney. Can I inquire how many people are on the list for off agenda public comment?

Alan Clendenin

12:01:49PM Seven.

Martin Shelby

12:01:50PM You're going to hear them before lunch per your rules.

Alan Clendenin

12:01:54PM That's what I just said.

Martin Shelby

12:01:58PM I'm reaffirming your statement.

Alan Clendenin

12:02:00PM 53, staff. Item number 53, is there staff to present?

Martin Shelby

12:02:21PM We can hold that until after lunch.

Alan Clendenin

12:02:23PM Since staff is not here to hear that one, we'll hold that until staff is present. Again, this is off agenda items for city business only. You should have put your name on this form. I have one online speaker we'll hear after the people present. Niko basil. Followed by camille Washington. Are you in the house? Go ahead. Come on up. Then the next one will be vicky tong. James adair, ashley morrow, surgret doss. If I called your name, line up against the call. Start with your name, please. You have three minutes. Good morning, City Council members. Again, my name is camille adrienne Washington. I am standing here today as a resident of Sulphur Springs. I first want to start off by saying thank you to the City Council for the work done for small businesses and strengthening opportunities as the city grows. As a resident, community organizer and small business advocate, I firsthand see there is still work to be done. One of the biggest challenges is not only absence of resources but sometimes the community's ability to access them. Business owners are working here in our community. They have great ideas, products and services but, of course, a need for diversified customers and continued growth. Many don't know that you all offer resources available to help them navigate their systems, who to contact or how to position themselves for the opportunities for Tampa's growth. That's why this year in 2026, I intentionally brought big fest 2026 to Sulphur Springs and the North Tampa neighborhood. As a resident of Sulphur Springs it's very hard to activate that community. We brought the opportunity directly to the community. Big fest activated our neighborhood and brought together approximately 200 small businesses and community organizations and we did it without charging the businesses. I say that again. I am one woman who did an entire festival without charging our businesses to be able to be seen. The reason for that is because big fest was never meant to be the end-all, be-all. When the tents came down, we actually questioned how far and advanced our businesses would be prepared for the growth of the city. From that, with our festival, I recruited more than a hundred small businesses into our big accelerate business program. The purpose of the program is again position businesses in underserved and underrepresented communities to be available and ready for growth in our big city. Now that we are working to get the businesses prepared, whether through licensing, compliance, connecting them resources already available to the city we're positioning for contracts, commercial opportunities and sustainable growth. Again, kindergarten can be hard if you don't attend head start. I created a system for head start for businesses to be connected because Tampa is growing. And we want our businesses to be ready for that growth, not watching it happen around them. Today, I'm asking the city to partner with me for big fest 2027 as we begin in two very specific ways. First, by helping us continue delivering what businesses by connecting them with our accelerate program, directly to City departments, technical assistance, procurement of opportunities, capital resources and development partners. Second, to help us with the infrastructure necessary to continue big fest. We need help with cooling tents, shading areas, hydration stations, water, portable restrooms and sanitation. All of the things are not available in the city park, river tower park where I was able to host the festival. It is very important because of the safety of our community. We asked our residents to come out and support businesses to be there and they showed up. But unfortunately, the support from the city was not there. We're looking to not only activate in our community but also to accelerate our programs for long-term community destination and hopefully an anchor in Sulphur Springs. Thank you so much. I appreciate you.

12:06:10PM Niko. Are you in the audience? Niko followed by vicky, followed by Jamie adair. Start with your name. You have three minutes. Currently a students at Hillsborough College, the dale mabry campus as well as a substitute teacher for the Hillsborough County School district and a publix cashier. I was born and raised here in Tampa. I'm here today to demand the Tampa City Council pass an ordinance ending the 287(g) agreement with the Tampa Police Department. This agreement is an irresponsible use of our taxpayer dollars. This agreement uses taxpayer dollars to train Tampa Police Department and federal immigration enforcement tactics, effectively allowing TPD to act as immigration enforcement. So far, over 430,000 -- hundred thousand dollars put into TPD immigration enforcement training. No taxpayer dollars should have been allocated to this training to begin with. More immigration enforcement does not make our community safer. In 2025, the supreme court ruled that i.c.e. Can racially profile citizens. Tampa Police Department should have no part in this. Immigration enforcement under trump led to a rapid increase in deaths by hands of federal immigration enforcement within communities and within their inhumane detention centers. It should also be noted that when law enforcement agencies perform immigration functions, the communities are less inclined to interact with them. This becomes an issue affecting crime reporting and witness cooperation. Just recently, there was an immigration activity surge in lee county, fort myers, resulting in over 500 arrests in four days. Immigration enforcement surges like this leave people hiding out in fear in their own communities. People miss Work, children miss School, it breaks my heart and should break your heart, too. Ever since the murders of renee good and Alex pretty in minneapolis, cities around the country have been demanding i.c.e. Out of our communities. People all around the country are demanding that their cities stand against the racist, repressive policies of trump and his lackeys like desantis and Jane Castor. I'm here to demand that Tampa city councilors act in the interest of their constituents and community, take a stand against trump and desantis by ending Tampa 287(g) agreement with the Tampa Police Department. Thank you for your time today.

12:08:40PM Thank you, niko. Vicky, followed by Jamie adair, followed by ashley. Vicky tong. I am a member of the Tampa immigrants rights committee. I'm here to demand that the Tampa City Council pass an ordinance ending the 287(g) agreement. As a Tampa resident and as someone who has personally been impacted by i.c.e. Detentions and operations, I do not want my tax dollars going to immigration enforcement. This agreement uses taxpayer dollars to train the Tampa Police Department to act as immigration enforcement. So far $430,000 have been put to TPD immigration enforcement training. Second, Tampa is home to a significant Latino immigrant community and we have seen immigration and customs enforcement or i.c.e. Targeting these communities. From our organizing experience, we have heard of multiple enforcement and detaining operations on fletcher, an area that is majority Latino and immigrant based. TPD should not be collaborating with the agencies targeting our immigrant communities. Additionally, more immigration enforcement does not make our community safer and actually leaves immigrants vulnerable to being racially profiled. Recent ending of temporary protection for haitians and potential ending of tps for salvadorans means more members of community may be subjected to harmful immigration tactics. Again, TPD should not play any part in this. I.c.e. Also shamefully murdered immigrants and supporters of immigrant rights, such as gonzalez, renee good and many others. City always across the country including here in Tampa are taking a stand and demanding that the cities take a stand against trump's attacks on immigrants. That is why I am here today to demand that Tampa City Council act in the interest of the constituents and take a stand against trump and desantis by passing an ordinance to end the 287(g) agreement. Thank you.

12:10:34PM Thank you very much. Jamie, followed by ashley morrow, followed by surgret doss. The mayor didn't want to have anything to do with that. She almost lost her job over it. Let's be fair, guys. A little bit ago I was having a hard time getting phone calls and e-mails back from city employees. I came up with an idea of doing the no callback bingo. I announced that, probably six months ago. We haven't had a problem. This is our first name. Tariq is in the transportation Planning area. For whatever reason, has not returned five of my communications. So maybe during lunch, could do a wellness check to see if he's still around, that sort of thing, it would be appreciated. I'm waiting for the traffic studies for platt and for the other street expansion coming off Davis island, working for some answers about what is going to be there, what's not and what's doable. I don't have any traffic studies. Don't have them go away. Something. No call back bingo.

12:11:44PM Thank you. Ashley. Hello. My name is ashley morrow. I'll be sharing Tampa's black history. The way this is related to city business, I think you guys are reappointing somebody to the historic preservation board. I wanted to talk a little bit about a site that I found very interesting because it has to do with the history of Tampa's black medicine field. Pull this up. Anybody recognize this building here? It was near downtown. If you know where that burger king is right behind the burger king, this is where this building was. I think it was yellow. It looks like the Jackson house, don't it? It's a boarding house.

12:12:37PM I see a hole in the roof. It's a boarding house. We're going to talk about the smallpox scare in 1899. There is a lot of black history in the city. In the smallpox scare, there were three physicians that were assigned to the scrub area. Dr. Culp, Dr. Anderson, and Dr. West. They were assigned to basically administer the vaccine. They were deputized and told to report anybody that didn't get their vaccine. They were like really serious about that thing. Here is a picture of Dr. Culp. He did a pamphlet about the great things that vaccines do. He was here in Tampa. Dr. Weedon was state board, he was representing the state board of health and he appointed Dr. Culp to assist him with vaccinating the negroes in the scrub area. Notice the church they were at beulah baptist church. The colored church here in Tampa. Why this house is important, because it was the house of Dr. West. He owned this house. I think that looking back in our history, if we see these sites that used to be certain things. Mind you, we don't have to do a whole marker and ceremony. It's good for the education to take place and people to know about that space. We're going to talk a little bit about clara fry in this story. In 1908, when a white physician, Dr. Winton, Asked fry to care for an ill black patient while he prepared to perform surgical operation, she offered her modest three-room house, 1615 Lamar Avenue. You heard the story about being cared for on the kitchen table or dining table. Inconsistencies. 1908. This is on the bus put on riverwalk. It was actually 1907. And then another story that is kind of not spoken about was our guy, Thomas mcknight. I'll get into that next, two weeks from now because he actually had an earlier hospital than clara fry. Thank you.

12:14:54PM You always leave us wanting more. Surgret.

Charlie Miranda

12:14:59PM That Dr. Winston was a very famous doctor. He had his clinic, the hospital, centro espanol by the academy of holy names if I remember.

Alan Clendenin

12:15:11PM Mr. Doss. City of Tampa business. Bring it home. You are our last in-person public speaker. Until we get some things resolved. Not just you all, at home, stay with my notes. My case is in the supreme court. It does involve the city. Me understanding and learning about this outside counsel, I don't know how long they have been around. It's pressing and concerning to me because my case we know started here, started from an arrest at the city's Police Department, orchestrated against me that I successfully defended against when I was charged with perjuring an official proceeding because the police decided to operate with them. Don't need to litigate the case here. Go to the supreme court course 26-5074. It's distributed to be heard on the 28th of this month. Whatever happens with the case, whether or not I continue to bring action to the city under state law. Agenda item 14 I think it was, the crisis intervention dispatch. City has $330,000 budget or money allocated to it. I want you all to vote yes on that.

12:16:41PM Already did. Cool. The reason I'm bringing it up, I'm a veteran. Honorably discharged, of course, and the -- I want you all to see if you can add a protocol in there that asks whoever calls dispatch, whoever is on the other side, did you serve? Veterans are tremendously -- I'm not combat related. We all had our separate missions. We're underserved throughout america and now. Even some of the young men and women out in theater now are not getting adequate treatment out there. We only get one try. Greatest institution of higher learning who was killed in action years ago. A couple of other buddies came back in boxes. Make sure whatever you can allocate to that you definitely do. Everybody at home 988 and press 1 if you served. If you know anybody who has served, give them the crisis center number so they can make sure they get the attention they deserve. Anything else that's necessary. As to the mistreatment of anybody in this country, I'm wholly against it. Whether in dollars being dedicated to mistreatment is something I can never stand for. I understand -- my service time, doesn't end until the casket goes in the ground. That being said again, as always, shout-out to the greatest institution of higher learning in the City of Tampa, university of Thomas Jefferson high school.

12:18:16PM Thank you, Mr. Doss. That is our last in-person public speaker. We have one online for off agenda items. Again, Michael randolph, about city business. You are recognized. You have three minutes. My name is Michael randolph. With the possible reduction in city revenues, if amendment 3 passes, the city must find ways to lower operating costs by maintaining an improved service delivery. Artificial intelligence offers the most effective pathway forward. A.i. Can eventually reduce city operating costs by 25 to 45 percent across multi-departments, staff efficiency, automation, protective maintenance and reduce overtime. These estimates are based on case study. Most cities budget 60 to 80 percent -- a.i. Directly reduces these costs by automating manual tasks, accelerating the process and figuring workforce efficiency. Let's talk about the savings. Staff time and labor efficiency. By using a.i., we'll reduce 30 to 60 percent reduction, savings to the city of 40 to $70 million. Call centers and 311. 60% reduction, saving the city 80 to $12 million. Permit -- enforcement. 10% faster process, 50% reduction, savings to the city of 15 million to 25 million. Predictive roads, utilities, water. 40% -- savings of 20 to $35 million. Savings to the city of 5 to 15 million. Finally, emergency response. 25% faster response and 10 to $18 million. These realistic annual savings is anywhere from 100 million to 175 million. Over five-year period of time, that's 500 million to 875 million. A.i. Can bring a reduction savings to the city. Thank you very much.

12:21:01PM Thank you, Michael. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon. That concludes our public speakers for the day. You are here for item 53 to present? Why don't we knock this out before lunch. Item 53, then we'll go to lunch and back in council chambers at 1 p.m. item number 53. Here for second reading on ordinance. I don't have a presentation prepared, but I can address any questions. This is essentially making sure our city code conforms with the preemption requirement in Florida statutes related to firearms and weapons.

12:21:40PM Councilwoman Hurtak, you were not here. Are you prepared to vote?

Lynn Hurtak

12:21:43PM Yes. I had just left the room briefly. So yes.

Alan Clendenin

12:21:47PM Very good. Council have any questions? Hearing none, anybody in the public that wishes to speak to this item? Motion to close from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Councilman Viera, would you read item 53, please.

Luis Viera

12:22:02PM Damn it. Sure. I'm joking.

Alan Clendenin

12:22:06PM Did that really deserve a damn it? All the stuff today --

Luis Viera

12:22:11PM Joking. Read an ordinance presented for second reading and adoption, ordinance of the City of Tampa, Florida, relating to omitting any reference to firearms in deference to the preemption requirement of Florida statute 790.33, making revisions to the City of Tampa code chapter 14, offenses, repealing section 14-111, chapter 2 administration, amending section 2-404, chapter 16, Parks and Recreation, amending section 16-21 of ordinances providing for severability, repealing all ordinances in conflict, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

12:22:44PM Motion from Councilman Viera. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. Please record your vote. One more person, please record your vote.

The clerk

12:22:57PM Motion carried unanimously.

Alan Clendenin

12:22:58PM Thank you. That concludes the business of the morning. We're going to come back at 1:00 and hear our quasi-judicial hearings starting at item 54. Staff, if you would be prepared to present at 1:00. We are at lunch. [ sounding gavel ] [lunch recess]

Guido Maniscalco

12:56:36PM Here.

Lynn Hurtak

1:03:48PM Here.

Naya Young

1:03:49PM Here. Carlson? Clendenin?

Alan Clendenin

1:03:52PM Here.

The clerk

1:03:52PM You have a physical quorum.

Alan Clendenin

1:03:55PM Thank you, as discussed prior to lunch, we'll pick up with item 54. If you are here to speak for any public hearings for the rest of the afternoon, they are quasi-judicial which requires you to be sworn in by the clerk. If you are here to testify on any of the public hearings, please stand, raise your right hand and be sworn in. [Oath administered]

1:04:29PM Thank you. Item 54, who is presenting?

LaChone Dock

1:04:32PM Thank you so much, chairman and council. LaChone Dock, Development Coordination. Item 54 is rez 26-08, property at 7700 West Courtney Campbell Causeway. The request is to rezone from PD to PD to allow hotel, residential multiple family and all CG uses. The site plan modifications were required to be made between first and second reading. Those changes have been made. The plans have been certified and provided to the clerk. This item is before you today for second reading and adoption. I'm available if you have any questions.

Alan Clendenin

1:05:03PM Does council have any questions? Hearing none, applicant. Cleveland street. We are here to answer any questions you may have.

1:05:18PM Council have any questions of the applicant? Hearing none, anybody in the public who wishes to speak to the item? Motion to close from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Miranda. All in favor, aye. Opposed, ayes have it. Councilwoman Young, would you read item 54, please?

Naya Young

1:05:34PM File rez 26-08, ordinance being presented for second reading and adoption, an ordinance rezoning property in the general vicinity of 7700 West Courtney Campbell Causeway in the City of Tampa, Florida, and more particularly described in section 1 from zoning district classification PD, Planned Development, to PD Planned Development, hotel, residential multiple family and all CG uses, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

1:05:58PM Motion from Councilwoman Young. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. Please record your vote.

The clerk

1:06:06PM Motion carried unanimously with Viera absent at vote.

Alan Clendenin

1:06:09PM Councilwoman Young.

Naya Young

1:06:09PM I move the resolution.

Alan Clendenin

1:06:11PM Motion from Councilwoman Young moving the resolution associated with item 54. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. Item 55.

LaChone Dock

1:06:22PM Thank you, chairman and council. LaChone Dock, Development Coordination. Item 55 is rez 26-42. This is a request to rezone. Total of 16 parcels. The request is to rezone to pda Planned Development alternative. This is to allow for all residential types, all CI uses and recycling materials and goods. This item is before you for second reading and adoption. Site plan revisions were required to be made. Those changes have been made. The plans have been certified and provided to the clerk. I'm available for questions.

Alan Clendenin

1:06:56PM Council have questions? Hearing none. Applicant? Nothing to add. Happy to answer questions.

1:07:07PM Questions for the applicant? Hearing none, anybody in the public wishing to speak to the item? Motion to close from Councilman Miranda. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

1:07:18PM File rez 26-42, ordinance being presented for second reading and adoption, an ordinance rezoning a total of 16 parcels, consisting of plus or minus 24.83 acres located generally in an area bounded to the north by CSX railroad, to the east by the selmon connector, to the south by state road 60 East Adamo Drive and to the west by north 26th street property in the City of Tampa, Florida and more particularly described in section 1 from zoning district classification ih industrial heavy to pd-a, Planned Development alternative, all residential types, all CI uses, recycling materials and goods, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

1:08:02PM Motion by Hurtak. Second by Miranda. Please record your vote.

The clerk

1:08:07PM Motion carried unanimously with Viera absent at vote.

Alan Clendenin

1:08:09PM Item 56.

Bria Dixon

1:08:13PM Bria Dixon, Development Coordination. Item 56 is rez 26-48, this item is a rezoning request for the property located at 11607 and 11613 North Florida Avenue. The request is to rezone from CI commercial intensive to PD Planned Development, vehicle sales and leases and minor and major vehicle repair. Site plan revisions will be required to be made. Certified by city clerk. I'm available if you have questions.

Alan Clendenin

1:08:39PM Council have any questions of staff? Applicant? Offices in holiday, Florida. I have been sworn in, and I can answer any questions if there are any.

1:08:59PM Questions of the applicant? Hearing none, anybody in the public wishing to speak to item 56. Councilman Viera, you were absent during the first vote, are you prepared to vote on this one and also 57?

Luis Viera

1:09:11PM [Inaudible]

Alan Clendenin

1:09:12PM Motion to close from Councilman Miranda. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Councilman Maniscalco, would you please read 56.

Guido Maniscalco

1:09:19PM Ordinance being presented for second reading and adoption, ordinance rezoning property in the general vicinity of 11607 and 11613 North Florida Avenue in the City of Tampa, Florida and more particularly described in section 1 from zoning district classification CI --

Alan Clendenin

1:09:38PM Motion from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Viera. Please record your vote.

The clerk

1:09:45PM Motion carried unanimously.

Alan Clendenin

1:09:46PM Thank you. Item 57.

Bria Dixon

1:09:51PM Bria Dixon, Development Coordination. 57 is rez 26-55. This item is a rezoning request for the property located at 107 North Armenia Avenue. Request is to rezone from CG commercial general to PD Planned Development, office, business professional and all CG uses. Site plan revisions required to be made. Changes have been made and certified by the city clerk. I'm available if you have questions.

Alan Clendenin

1:10:13PM Council have questions? Hearing none. Applicant. Happy to answer any questions.

1:10:20PM Questions of the applicant? Anybody in the public wishing to speak to this item? Motion to close? Motion to close from Councilman Miranda. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Councilman Miranda, would you please read item 57? You voted no. Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

1:10:42PM Move item 57, file rez 26-55, ordinance being presented for second reading and adoption, an ordinance rezoning property in the general vicinity of 107 North Armenia Avenue in the City of Tampa, Florida and more particularly described in section 1 from zoning district classification CG commercial general to PD Planned Development, office, business professional, and all CG uses, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

1:11:02PM Thank you. Motion from Councilman Carlson. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. Please record your vote.

The clerk

1:11:09PM Motion carried with Clendenin and Miranda voting no.

Alan Clendenin

1:11:14PM Item 58.

Bria Dixon

1:11:16PM Bria Dixon, Development Coordination. Agenda item 58 is rez 26-67. This is an item for rezoning request for the property located at 2016 and 2018 Grant Street. Request is to rezone from PD Planned Development to CG commercial general. I'm available if you have any questions.

Alan Clendenin

1:11:32PM Council have any questions of staff? Hearing none, applicant? Is there an applicant? Hearing none. Anybody in the public that wishes to speak to item 58? Motion to close from Councilman Miranda, ask he had from Councilman Viera. All those in favor aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Councilman Miranda, would you read item 58.

Charlie Miranda

1:11:55PM Item 58, file rez 26-67, ordinance being presented for second reading and adoption, an ordinance rezoning property in the general vicinity of 2016 and 2018 Grant Street in the City of Tampa, Florida, and more particularly described in section 1 from zoning district classification PD, Planned Development, to CG, commercial general, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

1:12:17PM Motion from Councilman Miranda. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. Please record your vote.

The clerk

1:12:24PM Motion carried unanimously.

Alan Clendenin

1:12:26PM Thank you. Item number 58 -- sorry. Item number 59. Where are we at? Item 59, I had to abstain due to ex parte communication. I'd like to have a motion to submit my form 8b. Motion from Councilman Viera. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. I'll give the gavel to Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

1:12:49PM Staff for item 59.

LaChone Dock

1:12:54PM LaChone Dock, Development Coordination. Item 59 is rez 26-75, for the property at 5250 East Broadway Avenue. Request is to rezone from PD to PD to allow all commercial intensive uses and accessory open storage. This is before you for second reading and adoption. Site plan modifications were made. The plans have been certified and provided to the clerk. I'm available for questions.

Lynn Hurtak

1:13:18PM Anyone have questions? Petitioner? Applicant. Here to answer any questions.

1:13:30PM Any questions? Hearing none, anyone in the public wishing to speak to this item?

Charlie Miranda

1:13:37PM Move to close.

Lynn Hurtak

1:13:39PM Motion to close by Councilman Miranda. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. If Councilman Viera could read it.

Luis Viera

1:13:50PM I move an ordinance presented for second reading and adoption. An ordinance rezoning property in the general vicinity of 5250 East Broadway Avenue in the City of Tampa, Florida and more particularly described in section 1 from zoning district classification, PD Planned Development to PD Planned Development, warehouse, all commercial intensive CI uses and accessory open storage, providing an effective date.

Lynn Hurtak

1:14:13PM I have a motion from Councilman Viera. A second from Councilman Miranda. Please record your vote.

The clerk

1:14:22PM Motion carried unanimously with Clendenin abstaining.

Alan Clendenin

1:14:28PM Item number 60.

LaChone Dock

1:14:29PM LaChone Dock, Development Coordination. Item 60 is rez 26-77. For the property at 4001 North Riverside Drive. Request is to rezone from sh-cg, Seminole Heights commercial general to sh-pd, Seminole Heights Planned Development. This is to allow a professional residential treatment facility. Site plan revisions were required to be made. Those changes were made. The plans have been certified and provided to the clerk. I'm available if you have any questions.

Alan Clendenin

1:14:59PM [Inaudible] were you sworn in? [Microphone not on] anybody else not sworn in, please raise your hand to be sworn in by the clerk. [Oath administered]

1:15:20PM Meaghan, do you have anything to add? Available for any questions.

1:15:26PM Council have any questions of Meaghan smith, hearing none, anybody in the public wishing to speak to the item? Seeing none, motion to close from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Miranda. All in favor, aye. Ayes have it. Councilwoman Young. Item 60, please.

Naya Young

1:15:40PM File rez-26-77, ordinance being presented for second reading and adoption, an ordinance rezoning property in the general vicinity of 4001 North Riverside Drive in the City of Tampa, Florida and more particularly described in section 1 from zoning district classification sh-cg, Seminole Heights commercial general, to sh-pd, Seminole Heights Planned Development, professional residential treatment facility, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

1:16:06PM Motion from Councilwoman Young, second from Councilman Viera. Please record your vote.

The clerk

1:16:20PM Motion carried unanimously.

Alan Clendenin

1:16:21PM Thank you. Item number 61.

LaChone Dock

1:16:24PM Thank you so much, chairman and council. LaChone Dock, Development Coordination. Item 61 is rez 26-47 for the property at 1701 North Florida Avenue and 207 east 7th avenue. The request is to rezone from PD to PD to allow storefront residential commercial all CG uses. Residential multiple family and parking off-street commercial. Site plan revisions were required to be made. Those changes have been made and the plans have been certified and provided to the clerk. I'm available if you have any questions.

Alan Clendenin

1:16:53PM Council have any questions? Hearing none, applicant. Nothing further to add. Happy to answer any questions.

1:17:03PM Questions of the applicant? Hearing none. Anybody in the public wishing to speak to the item. Motion to close from Councilman Miranda. Second from Councilman Maniscalco. All in favor aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

1:17:13PM File rez 26-47, ordinance being presented for second reading and adoption, an ordinance rezoning property in the general vicinity of 1701 North Florida Avenue and 207 east 7th avenue in the City of Tampa, Florida and more particularly described in section 1 from zoning district classifications PD, Planned Development and rm-24 residential multifamily to PD Planned Development, storefront residential/commercial all CG uses, residential multiple family and parking off-street commercial, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

1:17:45PM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Miranda. Please record your vote.

The clerk

1:17:55PM Motion carried unanimously.

Lynn Hurtak

1:17:56PM I move the resolution.

Alan Clendenin

1:17:58PM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Miranda to move resolution associated with item 61. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. 62.

LaChone Dock

1:18:09PM LaChone Dock, Development Coordination. Item 62 is rez 26-31 for the properties located at 106, 108, 110, and 112 North Albany Avenue, 108 North Albany Avenue unit 2, 2101, 2117 and 2121 West Kennedy Boulevard, 105 and 107 Northwestland Avenue and 2110 west north a street. The request is to rezone from PD to PD to allow storefront residential, residential multiple family and all CG uses. The site plan modifications were required to be made between first and second reading. Council, you may recall on this one, the applicant did agree to underground utilities. Although it is required by code, the applicant did put a note on the site plan between first and second reading committing to do so. In addition, the applicant is providing as a part of their bonus agreement to provide the affordable units. So the bonus agreement did not have to be amended. With that, those changes have been certified. The plan has been provided to the clerk, and I'm available if you have any questions.

Alan Clendenin

1:19:13PM Thank you. Does council have any questions? Hearing none, applicant? Colin Rice for the applicant. West cass. Joined today by dylan from subtext. I'll walk you through how this project has evolved from first reading and happy to answer any questions. As LaChone mentioned, all revisions required in the revision sheet, amended revision sheet have been made. We feel as though we have addressed everything that came up from City Council during first reading. I'll walk you through the changes. We're both providing 10% as affordable. We are committing to the undergrounding, and we are committing to additional tree plantings, which I'll show you later. We even added a condition wherein at the time of the specific undergrounding, if there's opportunity for additional tree planting, we reserve the flexibility to maximize that. The height has been reduced on the plan to 75 feet. Top of structure is really about 70. There was discussion about loading berths. Councilwoman Hurtak had questions and concerns about that. We had a number of meetings. Initially we thought, well, is there opportunity along westland. We didn't want to lose tree canopy. There's opportunity with our engineers to convert back of house space to accommodate two additional loading berths that can accommodate amazon-style delivery trucks. This is on the plan. Our engineers even ran an auto turn to show that the maneuverability works. I do want to point out as well, note 18 does provide that the trash area in coordination with trash pickup when it is not being used for trash, that's loading as well. We have three opportunities now for amazon-style and other loading deliveries. To show you what the entrance and compactor would look from westland, 16-foot clear height. Ingress, egress, compactor is closed apart from use or collection. The tree canopy has grown significantly in ways we're happy about. Undergrounding, where things end up, we'll work with staff to make sure we're doing the best we can with the undergrounding. Right now we're showing 20 additional perimeter trees. The elevation again is showing structural height about 70, not to exceed 75. Some additional renderings, just to give you a sense of what the project will look like. Again, contiguous commercial and retail frontage along Kennedy. This is westland. Just a close-up of the retail concept. With that, I do want to take a moment to thank staff, LaChone, Chris and kate have been wonderful to work with through what's been a very long process here. We're happy about where it has arrived. We have consistent findings from Planning Commission from every reviewing agency. To remind, again, this is an evolution of approved project that was taller, that wasn't as safe, wasn't as contiguous, wasn't as cohesive. We do want to finish by thanking the neighborhood for all of their time, investment, and communications with us, which remain ongoing and will remain ongoing past today. We've come a long way in large part due to their contributions. We appreciate their feedback. Probably won't agree on everything as you'll hear but really proud of the project. I'm happy to answer any questions and appreciate your time today.

1:23:23PM I appreciate the fact that you are undergrounding utilities. I wish more developers would come through on -- underground utilities, I think you'll get a lot more courtesies from this council. It provides so many benefits to the city.

Charlie Miranda

1:23:45PM I was going to echo the same thing. He did a marvelous job in doing the right thing.

Alan Clendenin

1:23:51PM Very good. Is there anybody in the audience -- I know somebody is online -- anybody in the audience who wishes to speak to the item? I'll recognize the online speaker Nicole because I believe you may be traveling, is my understanding.

1:24:09PM Were you sworn in?

1:24:11PM Would you raise your right hand please and be sworn in by the.

The clerk

1:24:15PM Clerk do you swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to provide is the truth and nothing but the truth?

Alan Clendenin

1:24:22PM Nicole, go ahead. I want to make sure you can see my screen.

1:24:37PM We can, yes. I'm Nicole, president of the North Hyde Park civic association. We supported the 2022 version of this project, but we cannot support this revised proposal and we urge you to deny this rezoning. We support growth that strengthens our context sensitive neighborhood by preserving shade trees, providing adequate on-site parking and functional loading bays and respecting the area's scale and character. The beautiful mature tree canopy shown here along north b is what we want throughout our neighborhood and we must protect this neighborhood asset. This photograph shows why mature canopy matters. Replacement trees cannot provide the same shade benefits today. The proposal removes all 28 trees, including 14 type one trees and a healthy grand oak. Require preserving the grand oak and make the green space centerpiece and make planting replacements on private property, not along the Kennedy sidewalk or in the public right-of-way. The 2022 massing comparison shows that the site can be redesigned around the grand oak. Developer profit should not come at the expense of a lasting neighborhood asset. Nearby projects set a strong standard. Rome preserved trees in their parking lot and created a neighborhood pocket park. Tampa general applied the Kennedy overlay with 10-foot sidewalks and shade trees on private property and local Tampa should do the same. Functional loading bays improve safety and keep travel lanes clear. Without them, move-ins, ride share pickups and deliveries use the public right-of-way and create daily conflicts. Restaurant deliveries need convenient on-site spaces. Without them, private operations spill into the public right-of-way as shown here and the public should not bear that burden. North Hyde Park already accommodates density. Five of the six nearby examples are four-story apartment buildings that add housing while respecting adjacent residential areas. The one that is five stories is adjacent to commercial areas. Local Tampa breaks that pattern by placing six stories aside residential buildings of three stories or fewer. Require a four-story step-down on north a. Our requests are specific and reasonable as listed here. The local Tampa design prioritizes profit over neighborhood compatibility. The building should rise along Kennedy, step down to four stories near residences, and preserve the grand oak as the greenspace center piece. This project can be improved. Do not cause lasting harm and a damaging precedent. Please oppose this rez 26-31. Thank you.

1:27:32PM Thank you. In person public speakers, please come to the podium. Start with your name, please. I'm a licensed professional engineer and traffic operations engineer in the State of Florida. I'm here because the traffic impact study for this development was based on a 1% growth rate. That number matters. It affects how much congestion we predict. How safe intersections are going to be and traffic improvements needed with the development. City provided the engineer the 1% growth rate because two traffic counts taking three years apart look similar. I understand what seems reasonable but I want to explain in simple terms why that approach doesn't tell the full story. Turning movement count is one snapshot of one day. Like checking traffic at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and expecting the rest of the year to be same. Doesn't show long-term growth, seasonal changes. To understand long-term growth, we use F.D.O.T. Average annual daily traffic. Same data used for Planning, safety studies and transportation projects. It's collected year-round and adjusted to reflect real conditions. When you look at the data, it tells a different story. You can see on Kennedy Boulevard, traffic has grown 3.4 percent every year. On Howard, the annual growth rate is 5%. These are not estimates. These are measured documented numbers collected by F.D.O.T. If we use a growth rate too low, the study will underestimate future traffic. That means we underestimate congestion, safety impacts and necessary improvements. I want to shift over to parking since it is connected to the traffic growth we're seeing in our neighborhood. In 2022, this project was required to provide 452 parking spaces. Since then, the developer has increased the residential density but yet reduced the required parking. Every multifamily project I've reviewed uses section 7, residential uses for parking card. That is the section designed for residential buildings and it is a section this project used in 2022. This year, however, the applicant is using a different use, storefront residential, which is usually listed under office spaces. No guest parking, no matter how many bedrooms in the unit. Office section they selected is intended for buildings whose primary use is office commercial and secondary use is residential, not high-density residential buildings. In 2022, the parking table made sense. Bedroom count, guest spaces and neighbors supported it because it was taking traffic off the streets and congestion already experiencing. Under new interpretation, there is no guest parking requirement. Resident leases do not include the parking space. They are not going to get a parking space and find spaces in the street to park. We already have a problem in North Hyde Park and this will make it worse. 512 bedrooms and employee and visitors for the retail and restaurant they are Planning, we think a better parking solution is needed. My request is to deny this rezoning, not stopping development but about making sure we have the right numbers and come up with the right plan. Thank you.

1:30:54PM Carroll ann.

Martin Shelby

1:31:20PM A speaker waiver form, Mr. Chairman. Please acknowledge your presence by raising your hand or saying something so I know you are here. Sarah garcia. Thank you. Molina molay. Thank you. Ana. Thank you. Beth cotter. Could you say something.

1:31:51PM Okay. I'll take beth cotter's name out of the list. Michelle Mastrototaro. Thank you. Jamie adair. Thank you. Alison date. Thank you. Pamela Jackson. Thank you. Seven for a total of ten minutes.

Lynn Hurtak

1:32:17PM Please start with your name. You have ten minutes. A little history. In 2022, this property was divided in half with an alley. The Kennedy Boulevard half was UMU. This developer got a plan amendment to change the north half to UMU. Stephen benson found it inconsistent because all of Kennedy is UMU but none of north a is UMU. I quote: Stephen benson, City Planning. I want to provide some additional context to our objection. The UMU is primarily along Kennedy, so it doesn't actually go beyond the alley that runs between Kennedy and north a. It does not penetrate north of the alley in this area. So this would be introducing the UMU further into the neighborhood than what exists now. That was the basis of our objection. We are citing land use policy 9.6.4 which seeks to ensure that adequate housing is balanced with the equally important objective of ensuring that new development is compatible with the neighborhood character. Despite Stephen's objection, it was passed, along with vacating the alley and approving the rezoning all on the same night. It passed because the PD showed a step down of four stories into the neighborhood on north a street. Neighborhood support was based on that promise. It was a deal breaker for them. They were also promised a dog park and free garage parking which they were told would solve existing parking problems in the neighborhood. I watched all the meetings. David singer said, we designed a dog park and 10-foot sidewalks. We maximized height on Kennedy where it belongs. We tapered heights into the neighborhood, designed a step-down, a significant step-down, a major step-down. These are the neighbors' quotes from the meeting. They are going to fix the parking problems we've had over the years from projects with not enough parking. People parking on the street. Everybody is parking everywhere. You can't get to your mailbox, but this has parking for everybody, including guests. We have people parking on the street blocking traffic. They will eliminate that. And a doggy place, a place to bring all our dogs. Kennedy floods. They are going to have storm drains to take that off the street. The developer has reneged on their promises. Why? This is why. The theme of this project is cutting corners to increase profits. When there is a waiver to move a grand tree, they would have to show how to reconfigure the site plan to save the tree. This is from 2022. This shows their building with the area affected by the tree in light blue. Here is the step-down to the neighborhood. Here is the cut-out for jersey mikes. This shows everything in blue above the ground floor is type three construction. What does that mean? Type three construction uses cheaper, combustible materials like wood. It is only allowed in shorter buildings. Taller buildings must use type one, noncombustible things like steel and masonry. It is more expensive. Every tall building built in Tampa is using type one fire resistant construction. Kennedy Boulevard overlay is supposed to activate height on Kennedy with a step-down into the neighborhood. UMU is typically ten stories. So why are they building shorter than the typical UMU building? Because they'll make more money with cheaper construction. In 2022, they proved they could save the tree and have four floors on north a street even with jersey mikes. This is their own rendering in 2022 that shows going to nine floors would save the grand tree and keep a step down to the neighborhood. Why not do it? Because now it's solid red, the safer, more expensive type one construction. And there is the rub. They want to build as cheaply as possible. This is today's project with the cheaper type three construction. Again, the light blue is for the tree. This clear area right here is for the pool. Even though they have more land with jersey mikes gone, they still want reduced loading berths, are killing a grand oak, have removed the step-down, removed the dog park, will only build fake affordable housing, and are violating the overlay just so they can build shorter and cheaper. That's why they won't maximize height on Kennedy. And they are now charging tenants extra if they want to park in the garage. Tenants can save money by opting out of renting a parking space. Then they will cruise the neighborhood looking for a place to park. This is one of the tree reconfigurations from today's project. Here is the cutout for the tree and the pool. It's not -- I'm sorry. Where am I? It's eight floors type one, noncombustible material. This is the second reconfiguration. It's nine floors, which is still shorter on Kennedy than typical in UMU. Look. Voila. They can save the tree and actually have ground level on north a with nine stories. Imagine what they could do if there were ten stories on Kennedy, which is what they should build. That's the Kennedy overlay vision. That's why Kennedy is UMU 60. But if they also built four additional floors on north a like they were supposed to, they'd have so much space they wouldn't need any waivers. They wouldn't violate the overlay or the comp plan or the code. The only reason they need five waivers is because they want the maximum density without height so they can use a cheaper construction standard. If you don't believe me, believe them. This is from their excuse document for removing the grand tree. Impact summary. Preserving the grand tree would render the proposed development infeasible. Specifically would result in converting the entire building to type 1a construction which carries disproportionately higher costs. If they weren't trying to build on the cheap, they could still have all the density and citizens could also have trees, parking, height compatible with the residential neighborhood, a dog park, wide sidewalks on Kennedy, and real affordable housing instead of what everyone knows as fake affordable housing. But they want their cake and to eat it, too. The Kennedy overlay demands shade and wide sidewalks to promote walkability. It requires street trees and they must be planted on private property. They are violating the Kennedy overlay with a waiver to plant the trees on the sidewalk which is the city's right-of-way. This reduces the concrete part of the sidewalk to only five feet, another overlay violation. They also have the smallest setback possible on Kennedy, five feet. They are doing this to further their goal of minimum height by spreading out as far as possible. This diagram is from the Kennedy overlay. You can see the goal of shade and wide sidewalks which are key to activating the walkability vision of the overlay. Tgh got it right. This is what the overlay is designed to achieve. Wide sidewalks and some space for shade trees to grow and thrive. I also want to note that move-outs typically occur at the end of the month and move-ins begin the next day. 292 units, 24 move-ins and move-outs each month. Roughly 48 moving trucks over three to four days. Plus a restaurant that will have deliveries all day long. They need the size and number of berths the code requires. If the developer built taller on Kennedy, they would not need a waiver for fewer, smaller loading berths. If they built taller on Kennedy, they would not need waivers to remove a grand tree or allow loading maneuvers in the right-of-way. If complying with the Kennedy overlay, build taller on Kennedy, reduce height on north a, have ten foot setbacks, plant shade trees in those setbacks, place the driveway in the right place and they wouldn't need multiple waivers to the overlay. In other words, it would be an outstanding development instead of a burden to the community. In closing, I'd like to remind council that bonus agreements are discretionary. They are at council's discretion. This bonus agreement is for 120% AMI which is market rate. If you want bonus requests for fake, affordable housing, if you want more of those, approve this bonus agreement. If you want real-world affordable housing, deny this lousy bonus agreement. Please deny this project. It is designed to create profit at the expense of the community. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

1:41:09PM Patrick. A powerpoint. We discussed it before.

1:41:37PM Start with your name.

1:41:47PM You have to start with your name before they pull it up. I recommend you deny this rezoning. I was actually approached by adjacent business person for the rezoning in 2022. And I gave him my comments. I said, number one, do you have an attorney? Number two, there is a plethora of waivers. The most worrisome of which for you is the loading bays being reduced from four to zero. I recommend you deny this proposal. Let me get the paper. Thank you.

1:42:32PM You have it for the wolf? This is why we submit these in advance. Boulevard for Kennedy, and it would have looked something like this. This, in fact, is a grand boulevard in northern California that was a blighted area that was redone. This is not enhancing our grand boulevard. If you look, this is looking west on Kennedy from boulevard. This is looking east from Howard on boulevard. Not much of a grand boulevard. I'm really here to talk about the loading bay waivers. One restaurant, and I presented this before having studied extensively in Hyde Park, produces at least five to six deliveries, three of which are tractor trailers, and this is a tractor trailer 50 feet long. This is what they are offering, these little internal loading bays, which they describe and these are the dimensions. I won't go into them. This fortuitously is a picture from google maps of a tractor trailer looking north on westland. I guarantee you we get a lot of beeps from EMS, garbage and other trucks in our similar streets. Worse yet, if the truck can't go on to the side streets, which many can't navigate, they park in the right-of-way on a major thoroughfare. This is swann, what's that going to do to Kennedy. This is albany going north. Notice the "no truck" sign. This has been another rendering that offered on-street parking for amazon-type trucks. I will tell you, there are entities in Tampa that take loading bays seriously. This is the bern's epicurean. Nose in with a tractor trailer, park, unload, and nose out. Publix at platt and Armenia has the same setup. It can be done if you put effort into it. This needs to be denied if we want a grand boulevard. Thank you.

1:45:21PM Start with your name, you have three minutes.

Martin Shelby

1:45:49PM I have a speaker waiver sheet. Adrienne laramie. Winston everson. Winston evason. Last call. Winston. No. gail evison. Gail evison? No. ana lina. Thank you. Sorry about that. Charles Dixon. Thank you. Cynthia maloney. Thank you. Pam cannella. Thank you. Five plus three is eight minutes.

Alan Clendenin

1:46:31PM Thank you. Start with your name. You have eight minutes. My name is sandy dediego sanchez. If you look at the handout -- first, I want to apologize. Last 24 hours I have been something wrong going to happen. Everything that could possibly from car trouble to printing problems, everything has happened. I'm shaking like a leaf. On page 1, you have seen this before. It shows the proximity of the site of the residential single-family homes to the neighborhood. It also shows where the other high density structures are.

Martin Shelby

1:47:10PM Do you have a copy to display? Do you wish to display it?

1:47:18PM A copy for the clerk?

1:47:23PM What I would like to do then is give this to the petitioner because otherwise he will not see what you're referring to. I'll give it to him.

Alan Clendenin

1:47:37PM Go ahead, sandy. He wanted to make sure the petitioner had the evidence you're submitting. Can I start over, please?

1:47:50PM Yes, go ahead. Start with your name, please. Go ahead and start it over. Start with your name, please. I believe you had eight minutes. Nicole, president of the association showed them to you. North Hyde Park is one of Tampa's closest examples to a true urban village, combining single-family homes, high density housing, restaurants, Tampa General Hospital, major grocery store, easy interstate access and the green spine and near downtown. To preserve this balance, the community has worked closely with developers to protect the neighborhood's character. Residents are familiar with the overlay requirements because the West Tampa overlay guides their community. A tour of the neighborhood might have helped the developers better understand this well organized balanced community. Most of the folks who have spoken here today have vested interest in this project because they either live in North Hyde Park community or live next to a commercial overlay corridor. Decisions you make today, the important guidelines you agree to ignore will set a precedent for other projects this size. This project should not be an example of what you want for others to follow. There are several important areas where the developers have been allowed to bypass overlay standards, which makes this project noncompliant. On page 2 on the sidewalks, the attached diagram shows directly from Kennedy Boulevard overlay, that the sidewalk should be 8 to 12-foot wide and requires trees to be planted on private property, clearly defining what is required for compliance. The sidewalk verbiage about the encroachment and the paper work that is needed and -- has to be approved. On encroachment from the overlay, Kennedy Boulevard right-of-way requires separate encroachment application and additional approval from the Florida Department of Transportation. There is no application on file. Note for somebody to check but no answer. Other than a small blurb on the staff about who to contact, there's nothing else. Redesigning this to comply cannot be accomplished between first and second reading nor should it be allowed for permitting to catch it. If corrected, it makes a significant change in the setbacks and footprint of the structure. Page 3b, this footprint allows 75,677 square feet of impermeable surface and is on a traffic ready corridor. The safety of pedestrians is also the question. Note the 10-foot sidewalk on the overhead shows only five feet of unencumbered. You will see that to be the side of the planters, right-of-way, there is a sheltered bus stop also on that sidewalk. Then the new large restaurant. We thought there were going to be a number of retail establishments, but one restaurant and the leasing office. I do believe the five foot patch does not fulfill the standards demanded by the overlay. In the back of your packet, stapled is the transcript of the meeting of 7/23/26. So you can review detailed conversation between the development, Attorney Cate Wells, staff, and members of council. A lot of questions needed to be answered. Ironically, your answer came from the developer. Top left-hand corner, one of the site plans, and you'll see it is 3a, it reads: existing overhead utility designs shall be placed underground prior to issuance of the final certificate of occupancy. Listen to that. The building is going to be finished and then they are going to ask them about the underground wiring. In the event that trees need to be shifted to accommodate the underground utilities, a revision to the site record shall be submitted for administration approval. Did that answer all of your questions? Undergrounding wiring is not a simple footnote on a site plan. In the transcript and admitted by the developer, installation of underground wiring will change the landscaping quality of the trees and the footprint. This is part of the construction. The developer also states they are committed to the underground wiring, just needs to know where to locate it. Again, this is not an issue to be relegated to time of certificate of occupancy and also the developer suggests. Cannot be passed off to permitting to catch it. Cannot be accomplished between first and second reading. Even the developer agrees that details should be part of the site plan and states it in the overlay. The evasion of the overlay standards make it noncompliant and inconsistent. Where is the documentation? The loading docks. Please see on page 4a on the left side shows you reality of 20-foot narrow street of westland. The trucks are to scale. Waste management truck shows the true turning radius needed to make that turn onto westland. They decided overnight almost to put the two loading docks means you have to basically make an s curve in that small amount of space. Can you imagine that with one of the semis or even one of the trucks that are delivering packages. It is not feasible that those loading docks will be usable. The concern affect the neighborhood and city. Sends very negative messages to developers that you don't have to comply with code standards, but you can build whatever you want. So, again, this isn't about density, but about the bastardization of the Kennedy business overlay and how this project as is does not adhere to the overlay, the comprehensive plan and the land development code. Approving this as is seriously harms this community and the city. A couple of you praised this project. The comments on the transcript, do you really want to -- move forward all the issues? Do you want this to be the blueprint of the future? A few years ago, we were desperate for housing. Some of the plans might have been rushed through because of the need of housing. This is no longer the case. Recent reports for the Florida chamber of commerce states that in the last 12 months, Florida has grown less than one percent. Tampa runs close in that same area. You can see all the for sale signs and the rental signs when you drive through. There is no rush to approve this project. This is just paper. The developers need to go back to the drawing board. Do I know how expensive that is? Yes, I do. But when finished it will be the result that Tampa wants for its vision for the future. This is not a coat of paint. It is a structure. May I remind you that the overlay as stated in '27 -- 27-231 and 27-243 in the overlay, in the event of a conflict between the specific overlay standards for distinct geographic area in which the property is located provision of this chapter, the more restrictive standards apply. West Tampa overlay is -- please deny this. List on the last page.

1:56:19PM Time it up. Time is up. [ sounding gavel ]

1:56:23PM Time is up.

1:56:27PM No, we didn't. We gave it all back to you. You actually got bonus minutes. What we first gave you didn't count against you. You just can't win. Ms. Poynor, start with your name. I'm looking at these loading docks. You know, we're talking -- they are talking about straight amazon trucks. My mama drove a big truck. She was a truck driver. You know how long those trailers are on the regular size trucks? They are 53 feet. When you see them pulling two, they are 28 feet. Most regular truck drivers who make a living driving trucks could not back into these bays. So they are useless. The vast majority of them. If you are talking about a regular moving company driving straight trucks, they are not fully certified class a drivers or whatever it is. I don't remember. It's been a long time. My mama has been dead for ten years. But there's no way they can get into this, especially if they are pulling a trailer. Especially if they are pulling a trailer. It's 28 feet long. Where is the truck going to go? Even if they back straight in, they are hanging out in the street. I find it hard to believe amazon is the only one that will show up when you put a coffee shop, restaurant. I see cisco, Gordon food service. I see those kind of businesses. They don't drive amazon-size trucks. They drive full-size trucks. Let's talk about the bonus agreement which I think is poop. We don't have to agree to the bonus agreement and certainly should not. This is a fake bonus agreement. It is with the City of Tampa for 120% AMI which is $87,600 a year for one person. And then when you do the math, divide it by 12, times it by 30 percent, you come up with $2,190 for rent and utilities. But I pulled all the information, apartments.com. My new favorite friend is something thunder something. Anyway, pulled all the data out of apartments.com. These are all of the apartments that are west of willow to macdill to de leon to the south and to North Lemon Street. This is what is surrounding them. Now, there are some numbers on here that aren't on yours because I didn't go through every single solitary apartment complex because some of these may be smaller like single homes broken into four units. But just these units alone. It was over a hundred units available. That's how many are available in these. They are all under that 2190 a month. We get all the way down to number 15. Why are we giving a bonus agreement for affordable when it's not truly affordable. That's market rate. 120 is market rate. Let's stop acting like it's not because that's a lie. We have our fake bonus agreement. I gave you a review from somebody.

1:59:55PM Thank you, Ms. Poynor. Park there.

2:00:00PM Thank you, Ms. Poynor. Just read the review.

2:00:05PM Thank you, Ms. Poynor. Parking on the street.

2:00:10PM That closes public comment. Applicant, would you like rebuttal? I hope I don't need it, but I would ask for an additional five minutes for rebuttal just for record purposes. I probably won't get there but I'd like to ask.

2:00:28PM Justification for what purpose? So there were a number of assertions made. I have a list of things I would like to address to complete the record for protecting my client's purposes -- I don't think I'll need it.

2:00:42PM Granted. Site, I'd like to submit for the record. Applicant's appendix. I would like to zoom out a little bit and think procedurally, think historically about this site. We submitted this application in December of 2025. As you all will remember a couple of years back, the rezoning procedures 27-149 require notice of filing application, which we provided. We held our first neighborhood meeting in February. We held the most recent meeting virtually August 28, and we posted 12, which I think is City of Tampa record of those giant yellow notice signs for first reading. I just want to respectfully introduce to the council the idea this is a surprising, just understood project, I don't believe is a fair characterization. We've been here since 2022 but this has been a nearly year's long application in the current form. I do need to just for record purposes tick through a couple of things that were stated and, of course, welcome any of your questions.

2:02:01PM Can you pause one second? Those in the audience, if you are talking, we can't hear the person at the podium. If you need to speak, please remove yourself from chamber and go in the lobby to speak. Here we keep our mouth shut and listen. Start the clock again and go ahead. Just to refrain procedurally where we are here today at second reading, at first reading, we came in with a consistent staff report from every reviewing department, a finding of consistency with the comprehensive plan as UMU 60 and a list of revisions from staff all of which have been accomplished and list of requests from council and in my view those have been accomplished. A number of things stated and asserted today I'm hearing for the first time. Again, I would like to think we've been highly available. I would have loved in February or June or august the opportunity to speak on some of these points. I'm hearing them for the first time today. I've not had a chance to review, vet or receive some of the things submitted into the record. Specifically, we do already have a waiver approved from 2022 for removal of the grand tree, keeping it just simply as extremely disruptive to the project. Dillon is capable of speaking about the design features should you have questions on that front. The loading bays are functional for amazon-type delivery vehicles, which upon first reading was what we understood the concern to be vetted by bollers engineered auto turn exhibit. Again, we are in the Kennedy overlay and not West Tampa. To the parking point, the city approached our team about, hey, this is the parking ratio appropriate for your site. We said okay. So we did it and under the current calculations we have a surplus. Prior we had a waiver. We have more parking spaces internal than units. Dylan can speak to their operations all over the country. We feel this is very sufficiently parked for the neighborhood. At the risk of going nerd on us for a second, remind council of our obligation to be faithful with competent, substantial evidence which one piece of this is the supportive staff report. Giving due weight to things presented whether it qualifies as competent substantial evidence. In my view, the record is supported for approval with evidence. We do have on-street parking spaces along north a. Those are carried over from 2022. Those remain. With respect to pedestrian safety and sidewalks, one of the concerns that had come up, ADA accessible, a person with special needs traverse via on foot or with wheelchair around the site. They certainly can. The tree grates are not obstructive in any way. These are enhanced sidewalks. These are walk-up units and eliminated several ingress/egress points to the other businesses that were there when jersey mikes was part of the plan previously. It is a much safer place to traverse all the way around. With respect to the types of tenants, we have space allocated, but there's no indication of which types or which specific businesses will be occupying the nonresidential portions of the site. To suggest otherwise at this stage is speculative and certainly work with the community on who is appropriate to be occupying the spaces. I will pause if you have questions. I would like to invite dylan lambert to speak for a moment.

2:05:52PM Why don't we finish with your rebuttal and then we'll do the questions and answers. I welcome your questions and ideas.

2:06:03PM Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

2:06:04PM I want to clarify something. When the chairman made a remark about the undergrounding of cables, wonderful thing. Not talking about the zoning. Talking about the cable undergrounding. Talking about the cable and I said the same thing that I appreciated the developers doing the cable undergrounding. That was it.

Alan Clendenin

2:06:24PM Does council have any questions? Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

2:06:27PM Yeah. I did not ask for amazon delivery trucks to be in. I asked for an on-street parking space that could accommodate a full semitruck that could also accommodate up to two amazon trucks on street. That's what I asked for. Because knowing that -- that's the bigger problem in the neighborhood as we saw today. We have large semitrucks that have nowhere to go. You haven't solved that problem. It doesn't matter what's going, you're going to need solving of the semi problem. You can have those amazon delivery truck spaces still, probably not a bad idea because they'll fit u-hauls and things like that but you need on-street parking space that can be the only place used for loading and unloading of a semi. That's critical. I did bring up the fact that the neighborhood -- I remembered the first rezoning. They were absolutely adamant about a step down to four stories. You all were like no, no, they had no problem with it. Now I found out that they absolutely do have a problem with it. I am not happy because I knew -- I knew and I never should have approved it. I regret my vote now because I knew they wanted a step down to four stories to enter the neighborhood. And that just simply has to happen. Additionally, there's no reason to ask for a waiver for trees. Put the trees on your property. That's what is supposed to happen. You're supposed to do that. It's not a West Tampa overlay. It's a Kennedy overlay. As we saw multiple things, examples today, the ten foot sidewalks are critical. Personally, I -- and I may be speaking out of turn because we spent quite a bit of time on this already today, but I prefer you go back and figure this out with the neighborhood. I don't know that you can at this point. I don't know what you all think. There's definitely a way to yes because yes has gotten to before with this neighborhood. I'm definitely going to vote this down today unless we have an ability -- again, I'll leave it up to you all. I don't know what that would take. It would take it back to first reading. There's no doubt in my mind about that. But I don't think that any of these things can't be done. I think they can completely be done. I think you can save the tree. Save the tree, make it a dog park space. Everybody is happy. That's what we had in the other one. The last rezoning was allowing for a lot of multiple, small retail establishments on the outskirts. I do remember that. I just don't know why we don't have more of that. I know that you all talked about step up -- or apartments that are going to reach -- you're going to have apartments on the first floor that are actually accessible by the sidewalk instead of interior, correct?

2:09:47PM Well, what I was going to say is if you have those street trees that are not on the property, then basically they don't even have a stoop. They are walking right in. You need space there. What would go perfectly there? A tree. So you could do a tree. You could do a little bit of a gap. The whole point of having a walk-in, walk-up apartment is have a stoop feel. To feel like you are a part of the neighborhood and not entering straight from the sidewalk. That's the beauty and appeal of a unit like that. This can be designed much better. Yes, can you go higher? You should go to ten stories on Kennedy. That's the design, that's the goal and then step down. You'll probably end up getting more units out of this if you do it that way. The community wouldn't have a problem with that. We really want to stick with the vision of the Kennedy Avenue overlay and what the residents are asking for. Additionally, we don't control anything having to do with this, but paying for parking, the city is not ready for that. We're just not there. There is an apartment complex a couple of doors down from my house that has parking that's part of the apartments, but they also have like an undergrounded space that's shaded and covered and also gated off. If you wanted to charge for something extra or special, that might be the way to go about it. For everybody else, they still have a place to park. I know we can't do anything about that in rezoning, but I felt I really needed to say something about that. Me personally, I would prefer to have them go back to the drawing board. I know no is one way to do that, but I also believe they could get there.

Alan Clendenin

2:11:40PM Councilman Viera.

Luis Viera

2:11:41PM Colin, there are a couple of things to look at here. On one hand you said something that has some more than a reasonable basis, which is you have to have competent substantial evidence to vote something down. Passed unanimously last time. Councilwoman Hurtak, obviously has her position. She's given her rationale for perspective change in vote. I'm not commenting on that whatsoever. I respect that. You have a clean staff report, Planning Commission, good record, I would say, on this issue. But the chance for a continuance is something just to consider. Here is the rationale, typically at this time, we don't typically grant continuances after all public comment, the distinguishing point has been what you just said, matters have been brought up by the public which would appear to have -- appear to have on at least one council member an effect on their vote which you did not have access to prior to public comment. Now you have it. That at least for me could be the basis. Your previously stated position is very well taken with me. But if you want to consider that, just saying.

Alan Clendenin

2:12:49PM Mr. Shelby, how do we get this back to first reading if the client would like to do that?

Martin Shelby

2:12:55PM The thing is, normally, there was no presentation today. Really the rule about the presentation really only applies to the first public hearing, your initial presentation. In effect, council, by you having two public hearings on a rezoning, what you are, in fact, doing at the first reading is having a full hearing with competent, substantial evidence, if you find so, to then accept it on first reading and move it to a second reading and adoption public hearing. A second adoption public hearing, the way the City of Tampa has structured it, is still a full public hearing where you can accept new evidence and be able to weigh that. You are not bound by your first vote if competent substantial evidence supports it in a second vote. And that's the way the city has it structured. In this case, if it's Mr. Rice's decision based on what he has said and the position he finds himself to request a continuance, it would be absolutely appropriate.

Alan Clendenin

2:14:02PM Councilwoman Young.

Naya Young

2:14:07PM I would say that it seems as though at one point there was a yes for this or there is a way to get to that. I think if that is a possibility, if judging by what you just said, Mr. Shelby, if we can have maybe that conversation to go back to the drawing board to try and get to a yes, I think that's something that, if we would like to explore. Seems like some things that can be worked through and talked through with the community.

Alan Clendenin

2:14:42PM Applicant, do you have a request?

2:14:47PM Yes.

Martin Shelby

2:15:04PM Mr. Chairman, it's council's pleasure whether he wishes to do that.

Alan Clendenin

2:15:07PM Start with your name, please. Keep it brief. 3,000 locust. Thank you, council, for this discussion. We want to do a great project. We do not by any means want to rush this through. We've been having the conversations like colin mentioned since December. We want this to be good for the site and good for the neighborhood. There was a lot discussed today. Make a couple of quick clarifications. Member Hurtak was eight stories. Stepped down to six on the north end but did have that break in the facade. Reducing the building height to six stories we thought was a good improvement. I feel like six stories across the site is a lot less inclusive than ten plus stories on half of it. But I digress. That's a personal opinion. The wood construction is not a cost-saving measure, cutting corners. You can do a very bad concrete or steel project. It's a building code mechanism for fire rating and what's required for buildings of certain stories. Council member Hurtak, I sincerely apologize. I think there was a misunderstanding. We met with staff and talked about the on street space. It would have impacted the sidewalk and street trees a little bit so we decided to find it internally. I think what we were asked to accommodate was lost in translation on our end. I apologize for that confusion. On the retail, again, like colin mentioned, we don't have uses identified. Prior design it would have all been congregated as well. Retail space not detailed yet. May be several small shops -- we don't know it. We have parking experts to allocate to meet the needs. Loading something to think about. Walking units, still have stairs with stoops to separate them from the sidewalk. We want those to feel good to those residents and as you're walking along the streetscape.

2:17:12PM [Inaudible] continue. Just a few clarifications. Based on a couple of those notes and kind of generally accept your thoughts so we can make a decision here as to how we move forward.

2:17:36PM I'll chime in for a second. Councilman Carlson and myself, we have been hitting on the Kennedy Boulevard, higher intensity along the boulevard. The misunderstanding about the height, we actually want the height on Kennedy Boulevard and the density abutting Kennedy Boulevard. With the step down towards the neighborhood. Councilman Maniscalco and Councilman Miranda.

Guido Maniscalco

2:18:00PM The attorney, you mentioned at the beginning of your presentation ongoing conversations with the neighborhood on top of the robust conversations that you've had. It's up to you, but if you were to do a continuance, you heard the concerns from the public. You heard the concerns of some of the council members. Instead of killing the project, seeing what we can come up with -- not me, but you and the neighborhood in further discussions, and try to work it out and come back. That's it.

Alan Clendenin

2:18:27PM I think at this point, if the intent is for you guys to request a continuation, rather than us thinking about negotiating from the dais about this project, I think -- I'll let the councilperson share their thoughts so you have that indication moving forward but realize we're not negotiating from the dais about the future of this project. Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

2:18:48PM You have a beautiful piece of property. However, on one side, on the south side facing south, what do you have there? People going 25, 35, 45, even 50 miles an hour. Semitrucks, cement trucks. Everything on Kennedy Boulevard going to make deliveries or whatever they are doing to make Tampa look better, including what's happening in downtown. But on the north side, it's day and night. You have residential. Those people not traveling, no numbers of 20 or 30 semis every hour going by or every day going by. No cement trucks going by. That is the difference. Two things at once that are both needed in the City of Tampa. That's where we're at today.

Bill Carlson

2:19:37PM In situations like this, we usually don't do polls. If we were to vote, I think we would probably vote it down today. What you're hearing unlike some projects, we think you're not that far that you could talk to the neighborhoods and try to fix this. The attorneys can correct me, but if we vote it down, you have a choice of objection, lawsuit, or you can wait a year, however long it is. Having it go back to first reading would save a lot of time. My recommendation is you do that. You have to ultimately do what you want to do.

Alan Clendenin

2:20:11PM I'll entertain a request. I apologize.

2:20:17PM Yes.

LaChone Dock

2:20:22PM Chairman, if I may? Thank you. LaChone Dock, Development Coordination. Just to give a couple of dates just based upon the discussion. Based upon the request for additional changes, if the applicant were to go back to the community and maybe incorporate additional changes on top of that to the site plan, if a DRC is needed, the DRC would be the October time frame, October 20. The request to continue and go back to first reading would be at the December 10 hearing.

Alan Clendenin

2:20:51PM 12/10 thank you.

LaChone Dock

2:20:55PM In order to give enough time so the applicant is aware.

Alan Clendenin

2:21:01PM If you were to request and it was DRC, 12/10 would be the hearing. Just one moment.

Luis Viera

2:21:37PM Do they want to step outside and talk.

Martin Shelby

2:21:39PM Before --

Alan Clendenin

2:21:43PM Are you guys done with what you're doing?

2:21:50PM When they are finished.

Martin Shelby

2:21:53PM If I can, I want council to be clear that December 10, the date that Ms. Dock Has given you is a night meeting. It would be 5:01 p.m. is that council's intention?

Alan Clendenin

2:22:06PM Yes, Sir. Official notice? Maybe we don't know that answer yet.

2:22:13PM For December --

Martin Shelby

2:22:15PM That would be a question -- Ms. Johnson Velez --

Alan Clendenin

2:22:22PM Ms. Dock or Ms. Wells. Either one.

Cate Wells

2:22:26PM Cate Wells, Legal Department. That would really be with council's pleasure whether you want the applicant to renotice or not. My recommendation, if the applicant is receptive to continuing this, I would just continue it to the date. If it works for them, the December 10. At that point we can determine whether the ordinance has to go back on first reading or not.

Martin Shelby

2:22:48PM You say continue just as it is at second reading and you'll be able to know whether --

Cate Wells

2:22:54PM Once we see the changes they are proposing, we can determine whether the ordinance would go back on first reading.

Alan Clendenin

2:23:00PM And that would be handled with staff.

Martin Shelby

2:23:03PM That would be sound advice, council.

Alan Clendenin

2:23:06PM Colin, I'll give you a couple more minutes.

2:23:12PM The applicant has requested to continue file rez 26-47 to December 10, 2026 at 5:01 -- 501 -- sorry. 5:01 p.m. at 315 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida, third floor, Tampa City Council. Motion from Councilman Viera. Second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

2:23:48PM That was more complicated than I think we all expected. We are now on item 63.

Ross Samons

2:23:58PM Ross Samons, Development Coordination. Ask the clerk to share my screen, please.

Alan Clendenin

2:24:04PM Hold on one second. Let's let the chambers calm down. We are still meeting. Are you guys leaving? Okay, ross. Go ahead.

Ross Samons

2:24:33PM Presenting file vac-26-11. The applicant is shawn shumake. The representative name is Victoria chung. Property address is 9401 north 14th street. This is a proposed vacating request to vacate a portion of banyan avenue right-of-way located of North Busch Boulevard, of South Annie Street, east of 14th street, and west of CSX railroad. Application was filed with City of Tampa March 30, 2026. Right-of-way is currently unimproved. Created by subdivision plat. Existing right-of-way is approximately 18,043 square feet. The reason for the request is owner would like to construct a new warehouse on property utilizing the associated right-of-way that impacts the site. Here is an aerial view showing the proposed vacating request. The portion of banyan avenue to be vacated is shown as yellow, and the applicant's property in red. Here is the plat, this portion of banyan avenue platted and dedicated. This is the City of Tampa atlas map showing the portion of banyan avenue to be vacated, proposed to be vacated in yellow. As you can see surrounding banyan. Most of banyan to the south has previously been vacated. Those hatched areas are vacated rights-of-ways. Here is an image looking south from 14th street. It's approximately around where the telephone poles, the electric poles are as you see going south along the CSX railroad. Staff has no objections to the vacating request easement. Reservations are required by TECO. Special conditions, natural resources must comply with chapter 27 as regards to tree preservation and site design for any improvements placed adjacent to trees in any vacated area. That concludes my presentation. I'm available if you have any questions.

Alan Clendenin

2:26:53PM Mr. Shelby, I only have four on the dais. Should I wait for five?

Martin Shelby

2:27:00PM If you'd like, I can place sergeant of arms to see if available.

Alan Clendenin

2:27:05PM I have to get one more person up here. Is more than one person allowed to be here at a time? I'm with my friend.

2:27:52PM Yes. Each person start with your name.

2:27:58PM Are you the applicant?

2:28:09PM You are the owner of the property. I lived there approximately five years.

2:28:15PM You are not the applicant. She is. This is her opportunity to speak. She asked me to help her speak. Her english is not the best.

2:28:27PM She's interpreting for her.

2:28:33PM You are going to interpret for her. I'm going to try, yes.

2:28:41PM Her name.

2:28:47PM Do you have anything to add to the record? It's on my phone.

2:28:55PM If it's coming from you, again, that would be an opportunity for you during the public comment period. This is her opportunity to speak if she has evidence.

2:29:11PM We can hear you. Why don't you give it a shot.

Martin Shelby

2:29:17PM If she would be more comfortable, you could say what you wish in short sentences to your neighbor, and then she can say it in english. If there's something she has to relay it to you, she'll do it in short sentences and you'll be able to express yourself more fully.

Alan Clendenin

2:29:37PM I thought you spoke english just fine. We've been ignoring all that has happened and trying to live peaceably across the street from where the applicant owns his property for his business. When we saw the notice for this hearing --

2:30:08PM We're confused. Is she the one that is asking for this vacation or lives adjacent to this?

2:30:17PM Then you are both public comment. Is there an applicant in the audience for this? Is there an applicant online for this? If the two of you could step over to the side, please.

Martin Shelby

2:30:50PM Martin Shelby, City Council attorney. Are you aware if the applicant is present? I think ross is online to answer that.

Ross Samons

2:31:00PM They were informed that they were to either show up in person or register to present virtually.

Martin Shelby

2:31:10PM You have not heard from this person?

Ross Samons

2:31:14PM I have not.

Martin Shelby

2:31:15PM Mr. Chairman, I can cite chapter and verse unless somebody has it before them. If the applicant does not appear at a public reading, it could be first public hearing, it could be deemed withdrawn. That's my understanding. It's been noticed for today, obviously.

Ron Wigginton

2:31:32PM Legal Department. The applicant has a responsibility to demonstrate that the vacating serves a public purpose. His absence here --

Alan Clendenin

2:31:41PM Would this require a motion from one of the council members to withdraw it or automatically withdrawn?

Martin Shelby

2:31:45PM Which is better to move forward? Better to deem it withdrawn? I should find the section. I haven't used it in a long time.

Ron Wigginton

2:31:56PM Or a continuance.

Martin Shelby

2:31:58PM There's nobody here to request a continuance. Can you inquire by a show of hands how many people are here to address the matter? I heard a lot of noise back there. That's why.

Alan Clendenin

2:32:11PM If it's withdrawn --

Martin Shelby

2:32:17PM Hold this for a minute while I pull the section.

Alan Clendenin

2:32:20PM We're going to delay the continuance of this hearing until after we hear item 64. Let's move on to item 64. I'm here to present an ordinance amending the current tree trust fund ordinance. I would like to go through the changes we're making and then maybe address some of the concerns that were raised.

2:32:55PM Go ahead.

Carl Brody

2:32:56PM All right. For the new tree trust fund ordinance, the focus really was on clarifying because some of the terms in the old ordinance were not crystal clear in terms of where trees could be planted. We clarified that with this ordinance and expanded, so that the trees can be planted using tree trust fund money in additional locations. That's one. We also want to create more transparency because I know that was a concern. Requiring any use of the tree trust fund to come before City Council for their approval, that way we provide transparency to the public and transparency to council. And then finally to provide some greater opportunities for use of the tree trust funds. So that's the purpose. Make the tree trust fund more efficient and effective to getting trees in the ground. Some of the concerns that were raised, we would have -- we would not suggest making changes to the ordinance that you are considering now. I know one of the issues was changing to say primarily type one and two trees. We have a concern there, because we wouldn't have any definition for this which would result in potentially creating unnecessary cause of action, unnecessary confusion. The whole purpose of the changes to this ordinance was to get rid of that confusion. By putting language in stating that we're primarily going to plant type one and two trees doesn't allow staff to come forward before City Council and explain what trees, through motion, City Council through motion, explain what trees intend to plant in what spaces. Talked about before, right tree, right place is very important for the city. It would create some kind of confusion with that, because that would possibly create a violation if it's determined that we weren't primarily planting type one and two trees. There's also a question, but not limited to language, that's there for flexibility to allow the departments to come before you to use tree trust fund for any purpose that's going to advance the purposes of the tree trust fund that's provided, which is planting more trees in the city. Finally, there was concern about your approval of it. We think that City Council approval is a good thing because it creates that transparency. Has to be on the agenda. That means the public knows the change is coming. You can review it and get to approve it, and you get to ask questions, and it just creates more of an open forum for understanding the plans for planting trees in the city are. We request that you approve the ordinance for first reading as drafted, and also if you approve it, we would request that you bring it back October 15. We request that extended time because another purpose is for us to provide this ordinance to Revenue and Finance so they can do a study to determine accurate 2026 tree mitigation fee would be. Because the last time the fee was updated was in 2009. For those purposes we just request you to approve the ordinance as drafted and bring it back on October 15.

Alan Clendenin

2:36:46PM Thank you, sir. Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

2:36:50PM I'm happy to make a motion to move it for all the folks from t-tag and others that have the concerns, I'm also happy to set up a phone call with Mr. Brody to go through. You explained why not on some of them, but maybe we could set up a call with t-tag and have a separate conversation that might end up in some additional edits later. Sorry to keep the process going. For now, seems like we need to move it forward.

Alan Clendenin

2:37:17PM Anybody in the audience who hasn't spoken to the item? Go ahead.

Guido Maniscalco

2:37:25PM Mr. Brody, you answered what I was going to bring up. In regards to t-tag's objections, one regarding the primarily type one and two. You said it would create confusion. The but not limited to, to leave it in there. And the question that was brought up was how much of the money has been spent on plans, like $151,000, I think. People are concerned, why is it not all going to trees, number one? Another thing, and you said for the sake of transparency, the tree trust fund may be used for funding department request upon City Council motion and approval of an agenda item. The people can see where the money is going, if there are any changes made. But these were the objections that they brought up. You've rebutted that already and explained it, even before I mentioned everything, because you took notes. So that's it for now. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

2:38:25PM Thank you. Anybody else? Tree hugger poynor. Are you a tree hugger now? Stephanie poynor. I don't understand how it would be confusing to say primarily type one and two trees because there is a list. Here's type one. Here's type two. Over here is type three. It shouldn't be very confusing. Maybe you want to put in a percentage. I don't know. But it doesn't seem to me. I don't understand how something that's black and white, which these are type one, these are type two, these are type three. There's never been any discussion, debate, or anything else to address that there was any question about which one is which. Maybe you want to put in 10%, 20%, 50%, I don't know. But it just seems like we keep dragging this joker out. As carroll ann pointed out this morning, this money is not put aside for making plans or planting around frickin' veterans memorials or anything like that. This is to repopulate our tree population. It shouldn't be this hard. Really should not be. You can pass it for a year. I think we talked about that before, too. These ladies have done a whole heck of a lot of homework. I generally don't get up and talk about it, but they already have. I want to remind you that these ladies did a lot of homework and talked about this stuff and talked to you about this stuff. And they live and breathe it. And in this particular situation, you got a pot of money. And nothing is being done with it. Hell, I can't even get trees at the gca for god sakes. There are places all over the place. That's what NRAC is supposed to do. Until you start moving something forward instead of putting on the back burner. Sorry, type three trees, type three trees, sick of hearing about them. If we have money left over, then we'll figure that out. But to go ahead and say, oh, we're not going to deal with this, it's kind of vague. Well, make it concrete. You guys can make a motion to say anything you want about how you spend this money. It certainly should not be, let's don't spend it let's wait another year or two to get our -- together. The builders put the money into the account. The money needs to be spent, but transporting and moving that between accounts should be more restrictive. We've seen where the city seems to like to move money around sort of willy-nilly. I think it ought to be more restrictive. That's my only comment. Type one and type two trees. I'll let carroll ann and crew fight that fight. But the money is there. It should not be transported or moved and used for alternate purposes. Thank you.

2:41:32PM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

2:41:37PM Thank you. I want to strike the "but not limited to." I will make a motion to strike the "but not limited to," which is line item 29 on page 2. It's section d, subsection 1.

Alan Clendenin

2:41:57PM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. A second from Councilman Viera. Discussion?

Charlie Miranda

2:42:03PM When you look, I heard type one, type two trees.

Lynn Hurtak

2:42:08PM This is not about that. Selection, acquisition, installation, and maintenance of trees shall include site preparation, soil amendment, fertilization, irrigation, suspended pavement system, tree grates and tree guards. They didn't want it to expand beyond that. When you say but not limited to. The idea is to take out the "but not limited to" to focus solely on planting trees.

Charlie Miranda

2:42:34PM I have no problem with that.

Alan Clendenin

2:42:35PM Motion and second. Any further discussion? Mr. Brody, would you like to respond to that?

Carl Brody

2:42:41PM Only response I would have is we could strike that. The only purpose of but not limited to is to provide more flexibility for City Council in terms of the uses. Some tangential uses that we might not have specifically designated.

Lynn Hurtak

2:42:55PM But you can come here and ask us for that if you need that.

Carl Brody

2:42:59PM Well, we couldn't. That's one of the things we have to remember. We're still limited, when I say we, City departments are still going to be limited by the language of the ordinance.

Lynn Hurtak

2:43:14PM That's by design.

Carl Brody

2:43:15PM What I'm saying is if the ordinance says we can only use it for those seven categories, City Council can't breach what the requirements of the ordinance are.

Lynn Hurtak

2:43:25PM Okay. I'm still fine with that.

Alan Clendenin

2:43:30PM It removes flexibility.

Lynn Hurtak

2:43:32PM Yes.

Alan Clendenin

2:43:33PM I have a motion and second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, this is a vote on councilwoman Hurtak's motion to strike "but not limited to." All those in favor aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Lynn Hurtak

2:43:46PM Page number 3, line 26 and 27, the tree trust fund may be used for funding department requests upon City Council motion and approval of agenda item. That goes without saying.

Alan Clendenin

2:44:05PM I don't understand.

Carl Brody

2:44:06PM We put that in there specifically so there would be that additional transparency and clarity as to what the funds are being used for. That's why that is there.

Charlie Miranda

2:44:19PM Just codifies what we want.

Lynn Hurtak

2:44:21PM Yeah, but see, I don't think that should be there.

Alan Clendenin

2:44:24PM Is there a problem with the language though?

Lynn Hurtak

2:44:32PM I just want to take it out.

Alan Clendenin

2:44:34PM Is it problematic?

Lynn Hurtak

2:44:35PM I find it problematic because department requests upon City Council motion could be literally anything. It could be any types of trees. Any type of thing. I really think that for now initially we need to be planting what we said we were going to plant, which is replacing the trees throughout the city, not necessarily part of a department project, but just replacing the trees.

Alan Clendenin

2:45:00PM Any problems with removing that?

Lynn Hurtak

2:45:03PM Of course, they will have problems. I was in the back listening.

Alan Clendenin

2:45:11PM What problem would you have with that?

Carl Brody

2:45:13PM I'm good. The ordinance is your ordinance. The purpose of this really was for transparency and provide an opportunity for City Council to have direct approval over the use of the funds. If that's not desired, we will strike it.

Alan Clendenin

2:45:30PM I have a motion to strike that language from Councilwoman Hurtak. Is there a second? Second from Councilman Viera. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Lynn Hurtak

2:45:40PM I have one more thing. Back on page 2, line number 26, it says that you added that you can plant on selected School Board Hillsborough county owned land upon request -- upon request from neighborhood associations to plant and maintain up to ten trees on private property. I wanted to change ten trees to ten trees annually. There are some neighborhoods that are going to take this and run with it and really be able to plant more trees every year. I'm afraid that by saying ten trees in perpetuity, that's going to stop people from planting. I think that setting -- on line 26 says and maintain up to ten trees. I want the word annually put after that, because there will be neighborhoods that will absolutely want to plant more than ten trees a year.

Alan Clendenin

2:46:31PM That's makes so much sense I'm not going to ask your opinion on that. Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. Second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it.

Lynn Hurtak

2:46:41PM I'm fine with leaving out primarily type one and type two trees. I think I'm happy with where it is right now. If there are more things that we need to debate, we can do that between first and second reading.

Alan Clendenin

2:46:55PM Very good. Thank you for the additions. Any further discussion on this item? Who would like to read -- this is your baby. Why don't you read this.

Lynn Hurtak

2:47:05PM Ordinance presented for first reading consideration. An ordinance of the City of Tampa, Florida, amending chapter 16, article v, section 16-86 of the City of Tampa code tree trust fund providing for annual distribution of tree trust fund monies for the benefit of the tree-mendous program and others -- don't know why it just tree-mendous, repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict therewith, providing for severability, providing an effective date.

Alan Clendenin

2:47:31PM Motion from Hurtak, second in Maniscalco. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Thank you. Come back for second reading on October 15, 2026. Very good. Thank you so much.

Carl Brody

2:47:44PM Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

2:47:45PM Where is our lawyer? Okay. It was pulled for separate vote. Is there anybody from the administration for the update? Richard Mutterback, Contract Administration. Here to give an update per Councilman Viera's request regarding the k-bar parkway cut-thru status. I would like to remind council This is a developer project. This is not a city project. We do not have an agreement or contract with the contractor. To enforce, which limits our control and leverage somewhat in this case. But I did reach out to the engineer of record. He gave -- yesterday, he gave an update at this time the entire road has received the first lift of asphalt and off-street lights installed, very close to completing, but rains and testing delays have had an impact. I asked for a little more detail. As of this morning, as of this week, we are moving forward with testing and certification. Expect that to be completed in the next two weeks, flushing and testing week of 9/21. After testing complete, move through the rest of the project, finalize the testing for formal certification. Once utilities are tested and accepted, we expect the contractor to finalize the second lift of asphalt and move towards city inspections for formal --

Luis Viera

2:49:27PM Thank you, Mr. Mutterback. Always a pleasure to work with you. Always a nice guy and a professional. Always appreciate you. I have some challenges. Number one, whenever it comes to the contractor, things get delayed, stuff like that happens. Some rain issues, et cetera. Let me ask you, if I may, what date are they giving us as an approximate date?

Richard Mutterback

2:49:50PM Didn't give an actual date. He said, pushing hard from all sides, probably within a month to have the second lift of asphalt.

Luis Viera

2:50:00PM My big challenge is that we're seeing this, to the extent we inquire on this issue, seeing it as construction compliance issue. This is a public safety issue. You know this, obviously, sir, and I think everybody here knows this, which is that the New Tampa has the longest response times in the City of Tampa with Tampa Fire Rescue. Four out of the five stations, longest response time. When I asked the Fire Chief a couple of months ago the best way to address that I was told a cut-thru. From the best of my recollection and observation, no one in the administration really knew the status of this cut-thru, which we were just told is the best way to reduce response times. Life and death issues. Major issues of public safety. I then found out it was about halfway done, which is marvelous, lovely, right. Then we're told about September 15, which is great. The date comes, I do the memo around that time, I think Monday or Tuesday, that set stuff off. In terms of those e-mails that you talked about. My issue is that we need to be very proactive and aggressive. Whatever department it is with the contractor. While we may not have jurisdiction on enforcement, we certainly do have our bully pulpit, which is this is a matter of public safety, and we want to make sure when a promise is given on a contract and on -- strike that, a road project, that will significantly reduce response times for whole reason, 33647 that we are all on it. I sure as heck was on it because that date was burned in my brain as well as in the memories in the heads of other folks in 33647. So what I'm looking at is a sense of real aggressive emergency on this. This is abc public safety. This is a very, very big deal. New Tampa, we pay our taxes on time. We have to make sure we do everything to make sure the fire response there is on time. And this isn't a big thing to do. Again, it is the lack of knowledge or awareness originally. My memo set off a whole chain of events. I want those chain of events to continue to go. I'm going to be continuing to check up on this. Stay very, very close on it. Again, that's my frustration. For the contractor, things get delayed. I'm not out to scapegoat them or anybody. I want the sense of vigor urgency for New Tampa. That's all. We'll continue the dialogue with the contractor, and hopefully have it in a month. Again, delays happen. That's fine. I want to see that sense of urgency because this is a big deal. Richard, always appreciate your professionalism. Always a gentleman. Thank you, sir.

Alan Clendenin

2:52:59PM Now we'll move back to the two items pulled from the consent agenda. Items 12 and 13. Yes, Sir. Eric defelice, Tampa Police Department. I am here to address any questions or concerns that you might have about the State Attorney's Office grant to the Tampa Police Department for the acceptance of funds for the purchase of peregrine.

2:53:26PM Can you explain to us what the technology is? It is not a camera or surveillance system. It is a software program that allows us to integrate our data into it. Then it collects it, sifts it, sorts it and puts it out to us to allow us better utilize our resources and connect the dots.

2:53:46PM What data? Where is the data derived from? Keeping, bwc, body worn camera, and any other programs that we can put in. We take all that information. We have it uploaded into the software, and then it goes through it and is able to connect dots that typically would take a long time for a human to do.

2:54:14PM Traffic cameras? Included.

Lynn Hurtak

2:54:23PM No FBI data.

2:54:25PM No any other data. So I think the question becomes, I mean, can we guarantee it's not traffic data? I mean this is solely internal. Nothing external at all. We collect as far as --

2:54:42PM I'm talking about the cameras. We don't own it, putting it in there, that would be something the city department in charge of that would have to do.

2:54:58PM I know the contract is coming in two weeks. For us to approve. I would really prefer to continue this until then so we can get the specific answers, if you don't mind. Anything else, more than happy to answer.

2:55:13PM From my understanding, I thought it was coming back, I believe Ms. Newcomb.

2:55:27PM Okay. November 5? Yes, because this is accepting the grant. Actual program contract hasn't been --

2:55:35PM That way we can do it together. I motion to move items 12 and 13 to the November 5th date to be next to the contract item on the agenda.

Alan Clendenin

2:55:47PM Motion from Councilwoman Hurtak to continue items 12 and 13 to November 5, 2026, to ride alongside the approval of the contract on that agenda item. Is there a second? Second from Councilman Miranda. I have a motion and second. Councilman Viera for a question.

Luis Viera

2:56:06PM Yes, sir. To you all over here. Tell me again exactly what this does. This is not cameras or anything of that nature --

Alan Clendenin

2:56:20PM Take it off line for questions between now --

Luis Viera

2:56:24PM No, do I have a question. Brass tacks, do you all object to the continuance? Will it put any sort of budgetary issues with public safety, State Attorney's Office at risk. Because if there is any potential of that, then I will not support the continuance. This is an acceptance of a grant from the State Attorney's Office. It is a grant coming from the state. So I wasn't able to see anything in the grant that requires us to accept it in fiscal year 2026. It's possible, but it's not clear from reading that. That's why we put it on for 2026 just to be prudent. It looks like as long as this is purchased between July of this year and June of 2027, then I believe that the grant funds will be available. That's my best understanding. But that was the thought behind voting on just accepting this grant first and then when the details of the contract come before council, and I had spoken with Councilwoman Hurtak, we are happy to present individually to you all what this program is, between now and then because it really is just a data-sharing platform. I hope that addresses your question. There could be an issue. I don't think there's clearly an issue, but that was our reasoning of putting it on today just for the acceptance of the grant, not at the same time with the contract.

2:57:42PM Again, does this continuance in any way hinder -- it could.

2:57:47PM Okay. That's all. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

2:57:49PM Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

2:57:50PM Assuming that the continuance goes through, we got one e-mail from someone who is concerned about this being connected to national immigration databases and searching. When you come back, you might want to address that for whoever is interested in it.

Alan Clendenin

2:58:06PM I have a motion and a second to continue this to November 5, 2026. Any further discussion? Councilman Viera.

Luis Viera

2:58:12PM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Does this have anything to do with i.c.e. And what's happening on the federal level? I've been told no. I just want a clear answer on that.

2:58:25PM Okay. That's very important to me. If it did, I would vote hell no. very important. Just to get that off the table. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

2:58:35PM Not to go into a rabbit hole, but to clarify since you answered the question that way. If this is data compilation and we are obligated through 287(g) for cooperation, how can you honestly say that it's not a possibility?

2:58:54PM Answer the question at the next hearing. Pursuant to any lawful order, we would have to comply with it.

2:59:03PM That's what I'm saying. Very good.

Luis Viera

2:59:06PM Under that order, city cell phone could be subject to that. This data, anything could be subject to that. That for me that is a uniquely different issue which this is not data shared with i.c.e. As a matter of course and scope. Platform we already own. If there was going to be a request made for it, we would already have it.

Alan Clendenin

2:59:34PM That being said, I think this is prudent, if the intent is to continue this, that we do the continuation. We have the off-line conversation, gather the information amongst ourselves and have this conversation on November 5.

Lynn Hurtak

2:59:50PM I'm going to motion, if it's okay with everyone, just to make a motion that they come and talk to each of us individually. They might do that anyway. For the motion it makes it better.

Alan Clendenin

3:00:01PM You added that to your original motion.

Lynn Hurtak

3:00:03PM What I will add to the original motion, also, before it comes back that they meet with each of us individually to explain what this program does, briefing, like individual briefing.

Alan Clendenin

3:00:16PM Councilman Miranda, do I still have a second from you on that.

Charlie Miranda

3:00:19PM It's fine.

Alan Clendenin

3:00:20PM Motion and second. All in favor, aye. Opposed?

Luis Viera

3:00:22PM Nay.

The clerk

3:00:24PM Motion carried with Viera voting no.

Alan Clendenin

3:00:29PM Very good. Thank you very much. Here we go. Mr. Shelby, did you get an answer?

Martin Shelby

3:00:38PM Some call it that.

Alan Clendenin

3:00:42PM We are going back to item 63. The applicant is not present. Those of you paying attention to the agenda.

Martin Shelby

3:00:48PM Yes Mr. Samons Has been in touch with the engineer who is charged with this and for whatever reason is not able to be here. This is not under chapter 27, by the way. I did find that section, chapter 27-150, appearance by applicant. But this is not a quasi-judicial matter. This is a legislative matter. So my recommendation after conferring with counsel, Mr. Wigginton, would be have this continued to November 5 of 2026. The time is 10:30.

Lynn Hurtak

3:01:37PM 315 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida.

Alan Clendenin

3:01:41PM Do the whole motion for us?

Martin Shelby

3:01:44PM Other thing, as part of the continuance it requires it be renoticed.

Lynn Hurtak

3:01:48PM I move to continue VAC 26-11 to 10:30 a.m. November 5, 2026, 315 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida, 33602, third floor. And to renotice.

Alan Clendenin

3:02:11PM I have a motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. I have a second from Councilman Viera. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? The ayes have it.

Martin Shelby

3:02:21PM I don't know whether council, Mr. Chairman, whether you inform those people that it has been continued.

Alan Clendenin

3:02:27PM Those of you in the audience that were listening to item 63, it will be heard again by this council on November 5. Noticed at the 10:30 public hearings. November 5. Hopefully we'll get to those sometime before lunch on November 5. Here we go. Item 66, 67, 68, and 69 we are hearing together. Brad Baird.

Brad Baird

3:02:53PM Good afternoon, City Council. Brad Baird, administrator of infrastructure and mobility. I believe Brandon is passing out a hard copy for you all.

Alan Clendenin

3:03:06PM Mr. Baird, I kind of concur with something I heard earlier and Councilwoman Hurtak said the same thing. Is there anybody on the dais that has not made up their mind about these issues? Anybody here who doesn't know how they are going to vote? If not, I would say keep the briefing as brief as possible. You don't have to beat a dead horse.

Brad Baird

3:03:29PM I have an abbreviated presentation. It's less than half of the last time.

Alan Clendenin

3:03:33PM Don't beat a dead horse. You're not persuading anybody today.

Brad Baird

3:03:40PM Okay. Got it. All right. We do have our team here for question and answer. Please hold the questions till the end. If I could get the presentation to be pulled up, please. .

Lynn Hurtak

3:04:04PM It was up. There we go. Once you start talking it should pop up.

Brad Baird

3:04:15PM Okay. Thank you. Quickly, current total costs are hundred million point four. GMP is 92.7. You've seen this picture before. Primary feature is a 10-by-10 gravity box terminating at the AMI pond. That includes secondary pipelines that connect the selmon expressway and 72-inch pipeline relieving Parkland Estates. It's also a legacy project that serves -- will serve in the future some of the downstream neighborhoods. And that cannot be done with a force main as been proposed. So we designed this project for a five-year, eight-hour storm. The city engineering standard by which we design for. What does this mean? It's equivalent of 5.3-inch rain in eight hours. Just one month and a half ago, we had a storm that was smaller than our design storm. This is what it looked like. Keep in mind, these are folks that paid into the stormwater improvement assessment at least ten years, flooded two or three times in some cases but yet to receive relief. You have seen this slide before as well. You've heard the rhetoric that phase one provides no relief for Palma Ceia Pines. I want to stress that is simply not true. You can see on the left, Palma Ceia Pines has numerous structures that have been flooded on our design storm and on the right no structures are flooded. You still have some street flooding. That statement has been said well over 10 times, 20 times. It's not true. Let me move on to our quick -- and I don't have it here. On the monitor here -- there it goes. You can see as the flooding occurs at five hours, the flooding starts to go away on the right. By eight hours all the flooding is gone. Three hours. You heard earlier one of the options is, is okay, live with the flooding for two to three days. This is three hours and the flooding is gone. It's an order of magnitude different. This one reiterates that we have 16 feet of fall from Parkland Estates and Palma Ceia Pines floods. Pointed out numerous times those two neighborhoods reside in two bowls. So even during helene, when the elevation in the bay was at 8 feet, this project would have only, the flow would have only been reduced by 8 percent. And that's huge, because I heard several times people get up and say that, no, when you have this storm surge, this project won't work. Again, that is not true. 92% of the flow. 100% of the flow will happen. 92% of it will be the same speed or a little bit less speed at 6.5 feet per second. So this is our success stories. Bottom left is Henderson and dale mabry. That present value of that is 71 million. So it's certainly in the range of what this project is. In all six of these pictures, the flooding was solved. It's fixed. And, by the way, we've used a box culvert in all of these projects, and we've used large trench boxes in all of these projects. Business assistance plan, I'll go through this quicker than I did last time. The biggest thing is that first bullet. We have smaller construction areas. Work will be limited to sections of about four to six hundred feet. At 24 different phases. This has never been done on a city project before. We'll restore areas quickly behind each section that's completed. So at each phase, and then we'll open that phase or that section as quickly as possible. We have a dedicated business support team we've talked about with four people that will help the businesses to stay open and accessible. They'll work directly with the merchants to solve construction related issues, including coordinating and handling deliveries. Of course, clear signs, detours, we'll monitor construction vibration which is going to be very extensive. I heard one person say that they are required to do a pre- and post- we will be doing that. For each structure on Howard. We'll monitor vibration, including monitor cracks. If any of them change, we stop work. We figure out a remedy and then move forward. And we maintain, of course, pedestrian access, reduce construction noise, marketing support, and then we have a soho open campaign to help the smaller businesses. Maintenance, heard many, many times, but maintenance alone will not solve this problem. The city and the design engineers have evaluated 24 alternatives, including the five added by the business alliance. The added alternatives, all of them are more expensive, less feasible to build, more disruptive, less effective. None of them move near as much water as the proposed solution. So the proposed plan easily protects more businesses, homes, and families than any other alternative. Getting toward the end, I want to address the soho business alliance alternative, which sounds like today. Part of it changed a little bit from going down to rubideaux to upgrading, possibly upgrading with no size mentioned, the cleveland system. However, the vaults didn't change. And the other parts of the project didn't change. First, it does not achieve the project's flood relief goals. In fact, it doesn't come close. It's 35% longer, which equals more time, more cost. Runs through neighborhoods, which has already been denied by City Council, which would result in tree removals. It relies on -- and this is the big one -- three vaults and pump stations, and those vaults would be 12-foot deep. Construction of the AMI vault would require demolition of the parking deck over top. That is not owned by the city. Part of it runs next to CSX tracks. Today, very unlikely to be permittable. CSX has several issues. Studied internally in 2019 and 2020 and rejected for the same reasons. To read more on this, please go to SHs -- SH -- excuse me. Stormwater.com. Two more slides on myth and fact. Lack of maintenance is cause of flooding. Modeling and real-world conditions show capacity is the cause of the flooding. Phase one doesn't address Palma Ceia Pines. I just mentioned this. It removes all the structural flooding and significantly reduces flooding in Palma Ceia Pines. Again, that's phase one. I'm sorry. The proposed project takes too long to provide any relief. This is the shortest distance on all the alternatives and it is the quickest way to provide relief. The city will use eminent domain, again, not true. The box can be built within the existing right-of-way. Finally, four more. The CSX crossing included in the GMP today does not meet CSX technical standards. We have received a recent e-mail from CSX outlining what we need to do. If we do those things, it will meet technical standards. That is not true. The funding plan wipes out funds for other projects. That's not true. Mr. Rogero will cover this in a few minutes. The cost benefit ratio is not close, quote, unquote. Once again, simply not true. The business alliance analysis includes the original five by ten box culvert, not the ten by ten, plus a much higher cost than we show in the GMP. The CSX spur serves MacDill Air Force Base. It does not. Construction schedule, and this is my second to last -- I'm sorry. Construction schedule. Simply a yes -- that's the next slide. A yes vote today means we would issue a notice to proceed in October. A no vote today means the GMP expires in October. It's really that simple. And then to finish going through the construction schedule, I'll hit every other one, march -- sorry, November, we would start utility relocation of this year.

Alan Clendenin

3:15:30PM Brad, can you pause a second. We have something going on here. I can't pay attention.

Lynn Hurtak

3:15:36PM Somebody is being really loud.

Alan Clendenin

3:16:05PM We're going to pause the proceedings for a moment.

Brad Baird

3:16:36PM I have one more slide after this.

Alan Clendenin

3:16:38PM Go ahead.

Brad Baird

3:16:42PM The big one is the box culvert --

Alan Clendenin

3:16:48PM Lisa, would you lock that door? Is that one locked as well?

Brad Baird

3:16:58PM The fourth dot on this schedule is the big one. That's when the box culvert starts construction, march, April, may time frame after gasparilla. By May of 2028, we should reach the CSX crossing. February 2029, West Morrison Avenue intersection will be reached. October 2029 swann -- we get all the way to swann. May 2030, Parkland Estates. That's the 72-inch I mentioned. September 2030, we anticipate substantial completion. Last slide, if Brandon could get that. Just like you saw in the success stories, flooding would be a thing of the past, as you can see with the list of bullets. A project would be a game changer --

Alan Clendenin

3:18:05PM Mr. Baird, I'm going to have to ask you to stop the presentation. [ sounding gavel ] I am ruling the facts in our offices that are being disruptive to City Council procedures out of order. I have asked them to leave the premises. They have refused to leave the premises. I will call a recess. I want everybody to remain in their seats until this disruption has been resolved. We're going to stop the presentation for one moment, please. [Recess]

3:19:08PM Due to the disruption, we're waiting for security to clear the room. [Recess]

3:20:23PM Thank you for your patience. The situation is outside of the security realm. I want you all to remain in council chambers until I give you the all clear. I will gavel us back into session so we can continue with the presentation. [ sounding gavel ] council is back in session. Clerk, please call the roll.

Charlie Miranda

3:20:45PM Here.

Guido Maniscalco

3:20:46PM Here.

Lynn Hurtak

3:20:47PM Here.

Naya Young

3:20:49PM Here.

Luis Viera

3:20:49PM Here.

Bill Carlson

3:20:50PM Here.

Alan Clendenin

3:20:51PM Here.

The clerk

3:20:52PM We have a physical quorum.

Alan Clendenin

3:20:54PM Thank you, Mr. Baird, for your patience.

Brad Baird

3:20:58PM Thank you, chairman. In summary, we have one of the best contractors. We have a phased approach and a comprehensive business assistance plan and a project designed to pick up flooding from other neighborhoods east and west of Howard. The project is not getting less expensive and the flooding is not going away. I would respectfully ask for your support on the project. Thank you, and we will take questions or you can turn it over to Mr. Rogero to do the funding plan.

Alan Clendenin

3:21:42PM For council, This is my proposal. I do believe, as I asked earlier before we started, I think most everybody has made up their mind. I think what we should do is do a five-minute round and then just call for the vote. Five-minute rounds of questions, statements, whatever you want to do and then call for the vote. Is everybody amenable to that? Councilman Miranda, I saw your light first. Miranda, Maniscalco, Hurtak.

Charlie Miranda

3:22:08PM This is very difficult. Who is right and who is wrong? Can't be two wrongs and two rights. When you start looking at something like this, and you hear part of the testimony that I heard, what about flooding in my area. I got news for all of us. This flooding is in a lot of areas and we have to start somewhere. If we don't start, guess what, you're never going to finish. So we have an opportunity to start here. I realize what happened two years ago, year and a half ago. I realize what's happening now. The last three days, but flooding is everywhere. Part of it is our fault. All of us, for getting nature and taking advantage of nature. This is the result that we get, not only here. Look throughout the whole country. Look throughout the whole world what's happening. All the earthquakes. We never had that happen before. Never had the flooding all over the country. Never had the rainfall all over the country in different states. So happens this is one in Tampa. These are the things that we're looking at. Today, if I look at everybody in the audience, had a wonderful opinion. I guarantee you if I put those who were for to be against and those against to be for, I'd have the same result for the public. Stand-still, zero. No go forward and no go backwards. We have to do something sooner or later. Sooner just arrived. That's all I'm going to say.

Alan Clendenin

3:23:29PM Thank you, Councilman Miranda. Councilman Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

3:23:31PM Thank you very much. I'm looking at the timeline here of how it starts from Bayshore and it works its way up. From what I added up, by the days by phase, we don't reach swann for about two years or so.

Brad Baird

3:23:46PM That is correct.

Guido Maniscalco

3:23:47PM At the selmon expressway and Howard is the longest period of closure which phases nine and ten together lead up to like six months. Four months plus two months because it's 130 days plus 50 days. Right around there. That's a long time. However, on morrison, morrison will be kept open during that time. I see a nod from kimmins. There are I believe no truck signs on morrison. You'll have to have food delivery and Solid Waste and everything else. If there are no truck signs, will those be temporarily removed to allow passage considering the situation we have?

Brad Baird

3:24:37PM John, do you want to -- so no large trucks, I believe. No h 20 trucks, is that correct? So the delivery trucks could come in that way and then kimmins' equipment would handle the delivery to and from the establishments.

Guido Maniscalco

3:24:56PM My question, and I asked this the other day to someone else. Palma Ceia Pines has significant flooding. Parkland Estates has significant flooding. We don't get to swann and Howard and then to that area for two years. If everything goes to plan on schedule as we talked about, if there is a yes vote today, what happens in the meantime? If we have heavy rainfall, does it continue to flood until we get to that point? Because right now, it's a capacity issue, and we don't have the drainage to alleviate that. Someone said the other day, as we work our way up Howard, it will alleviate the flooding. But if there's no connection for two years, if everything goes on schedule, how is any of the flooding -- they are going to be flooding for the next two to three years until we get there, or is something else taking place?

Brad Baird

3:25:51PM They will be flooding in the next two years.

Guido Maniscalco

3:25:54PM It was said earlier, when it flooded I think 2015, 2016 and then with the hurricanes, what changed 11 years ago, other than we passed the capital improvement assessment and everything in 2016. Why did it start flooding in 2015? What triggered that? When we talked about this a few weeks ago, when I used to go to school there and hang out there in the '90s, I don't remember any of that flooding 30 years ago. Councilman Miranda said a lot has changed in 30 years and a lot more building 30 years ago. But in '15 is when it was mentioned that parkland flooded significantly. It's been like that ever since. What changed?

Brad Baird

3:26:37PM So two things. Storms have become more intense and, yes, we have had more impervious. With that, I'll let Amanda add. Development in general. All the impervious area that's been put out there.

Guido Maniscalco

3:26:57PM Somebody mentioned earlier about cleveland street and that being backed up and that pushing the water into Palma Ceia Pines which then rolls south and goes into parkland. Does that have anything to do with it? Is it a lack of maintenance or overtaxed system because of all the development? I'm talking about cleveland. It's also the same issue with development. It's now undersized. So the amount of water that comes into Palma Ceia Pines can't leave quick enough, so it backs up into.

3:27:24PM There's no way instead of tackling this as South Howard project that we not focus on cleveland? I understand it will probably be much longer going in the other direction, but wouldn't that make sense to alleviate that pressure so that water doesn't keep going south? Now have two outfalls. It would make it better.

3:27:48PM I'll end with, we looked at other success stories. I've been here since that stormwater vote, and that was exciting, too. But dale mabry and Henderson, and I did go to Christ the king many years ago, and my dad had his business right there at neptune and dale mabry. I saw the flooding forever. That was fixed. And I haven't heard of flooding since. Yes, there will be water on dale mabry, but when -- and this was a kimmins project, I believe. When they shut down dale mabry and Henderson, it was done in like a 48 hour period, is that correct? It was very quick to get through that intersection for a total shutdown. Is that right?

3:28:29PM Okay. The thing with that is you have north, south, east, and west dale mabry and Henderson, and you have other access points. The difference with Howard is, and this whole area, you have dead end streets, one-way streets and then you have the crosstown which creates this -- where the epicurean is at and all the area, morrison is a cut-thru, but the crosstown that divides it that makes it very difficult, not just for the businesses, but then for the residents. I'll close with this. Why is it that we can't do anything to alleviate the flooding, like an immediate fix now because they are going to be waiting for years until the Howard Avenue project gets to swann. There's nothing, we talked about this two years ago with the hurricanes. It's not a maintenance issue. It's not an AMI pond issue. I've heard so many things, but nothing that we can do immediately. Bigger first to be able to get the alleviation in parkland and Palma Ceia. Either direction you go.

3:29:34PM Thank you very much.

Lynn Hurtak

3:29:36PM There's really nowhere for the water to go. Chair is out. I'm chairing, but it's my turn so I'll go. I have a question for Mr. Rogero. Because we heard quite a bit from East Tampa residents today. So I wanted to talk to you about the 1.5 million for the Broadway Avenue project that those residents really want to make sure goes through. Will we still have one and a half million dollars to do that project if we do this project?

Dennis Rogero

3:30:10PM Chief financial officer. Good afternoon, council. We intended to use about a million dollars available balance from that particular project for the South Howard project. I understand and I'll defer to stormwater, but I understand that a way has been found to proceed with that project without this balance funding we were going to use. Is that accurate?

Lynn Hurtak

3:30:34PM Thank you. I appreciate that question. That was my question for you. For me, I heard a lot today about the loss -- the cost of business loss for Howard. I completely understand that, and I am concerned about that as well. I appreciate that they were able to do an economic impact study. But what we weren't able to do is an economic impact study for how much has been lost already for the businesses on swann, for the hospital, for those patients, for the residents that are already have dealt with flooding. For me, to be able to use a number like that, I need both. I really believe that the cost for -- sorry. Chaos today. The cost for that will just continue to rise. It's not going to go anywhere. And then also, not only is it the city's job to find a solution to this, I mean, this is literally why we exist. The city exists to solve the problems of infrastructure for neighborhoods and businesses, but really importantly, and I don't know why they are not here. I'm sure it's political, but not being able to access a hospital is just not okay. Anything we do, we have to be able to access a hospital. For me, my vote hasn't changed at all during this. I definitely support this project. It's not perfect, but it really has to happen. We have no other opportunity. This is what we do as a city. This is our job as a council. Anybody else? Councilwoman Young?

Naya Young

3:32:35PM I'll just say I've been pretty consistent since, you know, we've been talking about this project. I do have a question regarding the CSX crossing. I don't know if we spoke about this before, but in the event that that is not granted, what happens?

Brad Baird

3:32:58PM In the event that CSX does not permit that, first, I would say that that is extremely unlikely given what we've received so far from CSX. They have given us a response that indicates that what they have seen so far -- by the way, I have never received a response within days from CSX. Usually they require to us complete our design or at least get to 90% before we can apply for a permit. That's just how the permit process works. But based on that response where we have, I think there were four requirements that we do, they said if we do those requirements, we will get a permit. That's basically what that e-mail said that was sent to kimmins within the last couple of days. If we don't receive a permit for the 60th microtunnel, we still have the five by ten box, existing box, under the CSX crossing to be able to use. That will still provide significant relief to Palma Ceia Pines and to Parkland Estates. I meant to say that in the reverse order. So I don't know if Amanda wants to cover some benefit costs associated with that, but it is significant.

Alan Clendenin

3:34:32PM Hold on one second. Just for the public's information, we still have a security issue, but it's outside of the double doors. We're okay in here. But I want to let you know that Tampa PD is controlling it out there. We're all fine, but please do not hear until you hear from me that it is safe to leave. Very good. Continue. If we do not get a CSX permit, which is highly unlikely -- I mean, that we will -- we will get a permit, but if we don't, the five by ten is still adequate to provide sufficient relief to both neighborhoods. With just the five by ten, we will still take care of all 96 homes in the five-year, eight-hour flood. During a hundred-year storm, which is just below like a hurricane milton storm, out of 272 homes that flood, we will be relieving 131 of those with that. In a hurricane milton situation with 333 homes that flooded, we would still remove 192 of those with just the five by ten box and without the 16-inch.

Brad Baird

3:35:43PM I would also like to add, if I could -- I didn't go back and count them for the last 40 to 50 years, we've had 40, at least 40 to 50 CSX crossings. We have been 100% successful in receiving permits from CSX. 100%.

Alan Clendenin

3:36:07PM Thank you. Councilman Carlson.

Bill Carlson

3:36:11PM I realize that the state allows for the CCNA process, but can I ask a yes-or-no question. Did we actually do an RFP on this hundred million dollars project or did we just use the -- did we actually do an RFP on the hundred million dollars project?

Brad Baird

3:36:29PM We followed the consultant's competitive negotiations act process, which is a competitive process to select design-build teams or design teams.

Bill Carlson

3:36:42PM That means a review of maybe three or more firms was looked at in the beginning before any budget was set to it. But for a hundred million dollars project, we didn't have a bid. We don't know what anybody else would have bid. We know kimmins is a great firm, by the way. I'm not criticizing them. But we don't know how much somebody else would have bid for the hundred million dollars project, correct? If we saved 10%, that might have been -- it's a choice by the administration. It's legal to use the CCNA process, but we might have saved taxpayer money to use that. Also, I'm working with Lisa because my aide is out today. Don't hold any slides against -- in your myths, on page 13, I find these myths really offensive. I can refute each one. I think it is a bad idea for the government to criticize the public. Page 13. Under the myth and fact. One of the myths says the funding plan wipes out the funds for other projects. Well, last time the CFO testified from 2032 to 2043 or something, it does not wipe out the money. I've got some other evidence on that if I have time. Lisa, could you show this slide? He then said, yes, between -- not that slide, the one with the numbers on it. The one with the numbers. I wanted to show the myth first. It says the funding plan wipes out the funds for the other projects. Really it does over the next -- that is the wrong slide. What we found from the CFO last time is it does wipe out all the money between now and 2032. Anything in the C.I.P. Or this project is getting funded and we can move things out of the C.I.P., but the reality is we don't have funding for other projects. I think it's ridiculous to put in that there is a myth that the funding plan wipes out other projects when it does for the next five or six years. Let's be honest with the public. The other thing on the myths on the same page, CSX serves MacDill Air Force Base. I don't know if I'm allowed to say this. I believe the last remaining client serves jet fuel. I would be surprised if they don't supply macdill. I don't know who made that statement. If I'm wrong, somebody can say that I'm wrong.

Alan Clendenin

3:39:35PM We don't respond from the audience. [ sounding gavel ] we're just talking amongst ourselves.

Bill Carlson

3:39:40PM The lack of maintenance. We know lack of maintenance caused flooding all over the city. I'll show that in a minute. I was the first person to go into Palma Ceia Pines just after the -- first person from the city to go into Palma Ceia Pines after the flooding. I toured around with two of the folks in the neighborhood. We saw the lack of maintenance everywhere. Saw debris everywhere that had not been cleaned up. We know that had an impact. Instead of trying to prove the public wrong, maybe say it had a 10% impact or 20%. Saying it didn't have any impact is not really fair or accurate. Lisa, can you put the slide back up, the one that had the blue line? Number two. I had Jean Duncan comment on this a year or so ago. On the right, you still see the blue Palma Ceia Pines houses will still flood. There's not going to be structural damage, but if somebody has one inch of flooding, it's still going to affect them. It's only 70% for a milton-style event, which means 30%, which is still very bad. Can you just put up the last slide, please? The one with the map with the dots. Can you just move it up. This map I got from stormwater about a year or two ago. It's hard to see, but the red are the houses that were flooded because of storm surge, and there was a comment from someone who said that this neighborhood was the only one that flooded from freshwater flooding. Maybe thousands of people got hit by storm surge. Should work on a solution but there is none. If you see all the rest of the houses, go all the way up to East Tampa and New Tampa, significant, all those areas in the middle, the peninsula on up, all that is green. You see that there are high concentrations of them. I've said before 20 or so places depending on the concentration you want to catch. But every one of those dots represents a family that flooded. And what we're doing is we're saying all of those families except this one area has no chance of getting any help. All those hundreds or thousands of families have no chance of getting help in the next five or six years because the city is overpaying for a bad project.

Alan Clendenin

3:42:02PM Thank you, Councilman Carlson. Councilman Viera. It hold on a second. Lisa, if you go out this way, have them tell me when the situation is resolved. Thank you.

Luis Viera

3:42:14PM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Really quick, yes and no. does this project wipe out future stormwater funding and revenue sources within the next five to seven years, yes or no?

Brad Baird

3:42:26PM No. and Dennis has the details. What is left remaining for revenue over the next 20 years.

Luis Viera

3:42:37PM Thank you. Very briefly so I can speak. We spoke like five seconds. Have at it.

Dennis Rogero

3:42:43PM Good afternoon, council. Dennis Rogero, chief financial officer. Again, in order to clarify, I believe Councilman Carlson is correct in what he said. I'm looking for the slide right here. Give me a moment.

Alan Clendenin

3:43:10PM Fyi, we are good to go. If anybody feels like they are being held captive, you are no longer held captive. Feel free to leave.

Dennis Rogero

3:43:22PM If I can have the wolf up, please. I believe this funding plan, the way we envision it and what's been presented to you, I believe Councilman Carlson said no other funding other than the five-year recommended C.I.P. That's been submitted to City Council for fiscal year 27 to fiscal year 31. You see it by year. You see it by project category. Totals about $30 million. This plan funds that. As Councilman Carlson said, it does not fund anything other than that except for, as I've said, the debt service we are already obligated to. This plan allows $30 million over the next five years for stormwater.

Luis Viera

3:44:07PM Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm laughing. Today is so weird. Thank you guys for that. Couple of issues here. I really, really appreciate the folks that came, but especially two groups. Number one, the businesses. They are advocating, when I say for their interests, I mean their interests of running businesses and creating jobs. Nobody here begrudges that. I appreciate the homeowners who were flooded and came here and spoke out of their deep trauma. I appreciate that a great deal. I've said this a million times. There's black and white and then gray. A lot of gray on this issue. For me, the overwhelming things I see lead me to support this. There have been some things said in public comment that I wanted to address, just comments that kind of fly in the face of how I see it. Somebody talked about the free market and flooding. No, no, no, no. not applicable here at all. Someone else said they could sell. No, no, no, no, that's not good. And then this idea -- and this wasn't really said today. It was said last time, that we should look at this as district versus district. I don't do that. I representative new, North Tampa. Advocate for interests of people. I represent a district that was badly flooded. North Tampa. I fought really, really hard. I was the first one to bring up the issue of getting millions of dollars for working class, middle-class, lower income folks that lost everything, flood assistance, going well above and beyond what FEMA did. Taking care of pumps out there. Doing what we can out there. For me, I don't look at this as East Tampa versus North Tampa versus West Tampa, versus South Tampa. I don't do that. Try not to be parochial to the extent there is a call for that. Not today, but last time there were. With regards to allegations that we'll be spending all of our money on this project, a project that's not going to work. So we're pretty much telling the public that the City of Tampa is using all of its flood money for a project that's not going to work. How stupid of a municipal government are we if that's true. God forbid, right. That's what I say, god forbid. Again, my issue with this is, I try to come from the heart on this. Before milton, I was more of an agnostic on this. I'll be honest. Former aide, Brandon alonso on this I did a community meeting for flood victims. A lot of folks who had briefly spoken with me on this issue came there, dressed up in t-shirts and looking like they just came out of noah's ark. It was like a week later and my heart went out to them. I got involved on the issue, my vote on Tampa City Council and that's where I come on this at. There's a lot of appeals that have been made. I don't think that there's been any negative appeals today that I would object to. Again, a lot of the businesses on South Howard, they are advocating not only for their interests but for their interests that -- for their interests that affect the greater welfare. That is a significant issue I certainly have a lot of respect for. The biggest issue is this, two things. People have come to us who have gone through hell. Some of you all I remember speaking to you all and seeing you all immediately after milton here in Tampa City Council. You guys were crying. And you are still here. And you are still dealing with the trauma. For me, that's the overwhelming issue that I personally stand beside. I also say that as a local government, we can't abandon a neighborhood in effect to be flooded, right? Whenever there is heavy rain in this area, it gets flooded. Are we just going to say, no, we'll give this up? I can't do that in good conscience. That's my vote. And I wanted to explain that and go into detail because the buck stops with us. And all of us I think are going to do what we think is right, including Councilman Clendenin who we're all going to eagerly hear from. Thank you. [ laughter ]

Alan Clendenin

3:48:15PM Well, well, well. I actually prepared remarks. This is what I was doing at 2:30 this morning. This has been one of the most difficult decisions that I've faced since I've been on council. This makes baseball look easy. After everything I've read, heard, and questioned, I keep coming back to one fundamental principle and this is really the basis of my decision. That the most basic responsibility of a city government is to protect the safety and security of the people that we serve. That means police and fire protection. It means emergency response. But it also means protecting homes and businesses from flooding. Keeping streets passible and making sure people can reach hospitals and medical care and first responders, they can reach them. Flood protection isn't simply an infrastructure issue. It's a public safety issue. I spent weeks examining the South Howard flood relief project. I've challenged the cost and the assumptions. I've examined the engineering, the flooding data, the construction impacts and the alternatives. When we're talking about this much taxpayer money, I've looked under every cushion to see if I could find and make sure they are spending the money wisely. I've also listened. I've listened to the people who have watched water enter their homes and businesses and who worry about what the next major storm will bring. But I've also listened just as carefully to the residents and businesses who will bear the burden of the construction and the people that worry about the access, the parking, the deliveries, the traffic, and whether their businesses can survive that disruption. Those concerns are real. That's why I keep asking one question. Is there another way? Is there a less expensive or less disruptive alternative that provides the protection this community needs? I really wanted the answer to be yes. I've also struggled with the unresolved uncertainty involving the CSX railway. I don't like that we don't have the issue completely resolved. It bothers me, and I've made that very clear to everybody concerned. But difficult decisions rarely come to us with every uncertainty eliminated. So I've had to weigh the uncertainty against something else that is very real. The consequences of doing nothing. Doing nothing is also a decision. We know homes and businesses are vulnerable to flooding. We know streets can become impassable, and we know severe flooding can affect people's ability to move safely through the city and reach critical services. At some point, you've got to ask the questions, study the alternatives, listen to the people on both sides, challenge the numbers, and then you have to make a decision. I know some people in this room are going to disagree with me. To those residents and business owners, I want you to know this. I heard you. Your concerns made me dig deeper. They made me ask more questions, and they made this decision much harder. But we weren't elected only to make the easy decisions. We were elected to make the difficult ones based on the facts before us, and what we believe is in the best interest of the people that we serve. After weeks of research, questions, and, frankly, a lot of soul-searching, I've reached my decision. I believe the greatest risk is failing to act. To those who have lived with the flooding and the next generation that will benefit from this project, I stand with you. And to those who disagree with my decision, I respect you and I heard you, and my questions will not stop tomorrow. I've done my homework. I've listened, I've questioned, I've struggled with this decision, and I recognize that there are still uncertainties. But based on the facts before me and our fundamental responsibility to protect the safety and the security of Tampa's residents, I plan to vote yes. I would like to hear a motion to approve resolutions 66, 67, 68, 69. I have a motion from Councilwoman Hurtak. I have a second from Councilman Viera. Roll call, please.

Charlie Miranda

3:52:58PM [Inaudible]

Bill Carlson

3:52:59PM No.

Charlie Miranda

3:53:00PM Yes.

Guido Maniscalco

3:53:02PM No.

Lynn Hurtak

3:53:04PM Yes.

Naya Young

3:53:06PM No.

Luis Viera

3:53:10PM Yes.

Alan Clendenin

3:53:12PM Yes.

The clerk

3:53:14PM Motion carried with Carlson, Maniscalco, and young voting no.

Alan Clendenin

3:53:18PM Thank you all for coming out. We have two more agenda items on the schedule. The individuals that were making disruption, they could be downstairs. Please don't engage if you encounter them. Thank you. Working 9 to 5 what a way to make a living

3:53:51PM Two. We'll give it a second for everybody to leave. [ sounding gavel ] we're still meeting. We have two more agenda items. If you could carry the conversations into the lobby, we would appreciate it so we can get rid of the last two issues and it will be martini time. Okay. Item number 71, I see Mr. Fowler. Thank you, Mr. Fowler, for being here. Thank you for your patience. Glad we were able to have a little side show for you, entertain you. Best show in town right here. Must-see tv. Thank you, junior, for everything.

Lynn Hurtak

3:55:35PM Yeah, you rock.

Ted Fowler

3:55:38PM Good afternoon. Ted Fowler, Parks and Recreation director. And it was a show, to say the least. So what I have up is a drone shot of tappan park tract. What we can see is right here, where I have my pen, is the only thing that the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department maintains. It's a nature-based park that S.W.F.W.M.D. About 20 years ago came in and did a lot of upland improvements. They planted and restored this entire group of mangroves as well as created these tidal pools and this nature area. So 95% of that park is untouchable by anybody on my staff. Some of the ideas that I have I've discussed with Michelle and pam. I think the most prudent thing to do is to get somebody from S.W.F.W.M.D. Who is qualified to come out here and look at the overall health of the park. It is due for inspection every ten years. The last time it was inspected was 2019. I don't want to wait until 2029. My plan of action is to get somebody at S.W.F.W.M.D. To possibly look at the overall health of the park. Did the hurricane damage it? Has it failed in some way because of any other outside influences? That's the first thing we'll do to get them as soon as possible out here and say, yes, these tidal pools are working the way they should. These mangroves are providing as much natural protection as they can, and just assess the overall health of the park.

Alan Clendenin

3:57:13PM Mr. Fowler, is there anything that we're doing on that upland city portion that you described that the city controls that is affecting water flow? What are we utilizing. What are we doing there? Why are we getting involved in that section?

Ted Fowler

3:57:28PM That is per the agreement we maintain. And when we maintain it, it is a contract mower. My team goes by periodically and makes sure there is no litter on the ground, no mattresses being dumped.

Alan Clendenin

3:57:40PM Are we changing the grade or digging ditches?

Ted Fowler

3:57:43PM No, we don't have the authority to perform work in there without permission of S.W.F.W.M.D.

Alan Clendenin

3:57:49PM Has the city in the past changed anything in that portion?

Ted Fowler

3:57:52PM Not the city. A joint agreement I believe started in 1999 and finished in 2002 that S.W.F.W.M.D. Came in and made all the upland and wetland enhancements, made sure the mangroves were healthy, created the tidal pools, things like that. Did the salt grasses that actually attract birds to come and be a natural estuary as well as wildlife.

Alan Clendenin

3:58:14PM Councilman Carlson and Councilman Miranda.

Bill Carlson

3:58:22PM Thank you for doing this. Michelle who is still in the audience, her house is right there to the right of that, that red line. So maybe yuan can answer this, but to the south of the picture, there was another area that was changed I think maybe for some real estate development. Would that have been part of the park or just a stormwater thing? So I went to this neighborhood, the way I met Michelle is I went to her house like the day after the storms, too, that whole street was wiped out. I think the street behind was wiped out to.

Ted Fowler

3:59:00PM Talking about from the storm?

Bill Carlson

3:59:02PM Yeah. I think an eight foot wave came across all the mangroves. What responsibility or help could the city provide probably to yuan about protecting those houses to keep them from getting hit by the water?

Yuan Li

3:59:15PM Good afternoon, council. Yuan Li stormwater services director. I concur first. We really appreciate the concerns from the residents regarding the house and the nature of this park. As ted mentioned, this is undeveloped nature preserve, and the city owns and maintains a portion of the park, but really original agency, Southwest Florida Water Management District do have the regulatory oversight of the entire park. So we have to -- any change, any alteration of the drainage flow surrounding this area, we have to go through the environmental process --

Bill Carlson

4:00:01PM Sorry to cut you off. Do you think just on the section we could see is there something that the city working with S.W.F.W.M.D. -- by the way, I know three or four of the board members if you need the help -- but is there anything that the city or S.W.F.W.M.D. Could do to prevent the houses from getting flooded by a wave much water coming across?

Yuan Li

4:00:20PM We did some research. I just wanted to present some facts first. Wolf, please. This is really the FEMA flood zone. Let's be realistic. The whole park is -- the elevation of the park is between sea level to two feet. This is the most vulnerable coastal area of the city probably subject to a coastal high hazard including both high tide and stormwater surge. You can see here the base flood elevation of this park is this area is probably ten feet. Adjacent to that is coastal flooding, 4 to 15 feet during the surge. It'S Really Most Vulnerable Place in the city. As you mentioned before, both Davis island and other coastal areas are subject to similar coastal hazard.

Bill Carlson

4:01:33PM Is there anything, though, could you hold that map for a second? This map shows the part to the south also that I think Michelle has shown pictures in the past about that part being changed. Did S.W.F.W.M.D. Or the city change that? Who would have changed the topography of that part to the south?

Yuan Li

4:01:51PM I think the resident previously concerned about this portion, that's apartment complex. That was developed several years ago, and rigorous environmental permit as a district. Way to evaluate, permit application, staff engineers were looking into the application and all those kind of communications between S.W.F.W.M.D. And the applicant of the whole thing, and they did meet their standard for the development.

Bill Carlson

4:02:27PM If S.W.F.W.M.D. Gave us the okay, if we partnered with S.W.F.W.M.D., the part to the north end, part to the south, just from your experience, is there anything that we could do to slow down or prevent the flooding? You said to the left where tappan park is, zero elevation, a couple of blocks away, it's ten. Is there a way to slow down the water or stop it. I know there is a tiny ditch there. But anything else we can do?

Yuan Li

4:02:55PM To be honest, most physical solution flooding relief for the coastal area is to raise the home. That's the only -- I will say that is the only permanent solution that can result. We also are subject to sea level rise. Periodically encounter high tide and stormwater surge. I do have a table showing you the storm surge events of Tampa Bay. I believe the home of the resident is at around five or six feet. As you can see from this figure and in the chart, periodically they may face the stormwater surge and the high tide. Really, the reason the home is -- raising the home is only permanent solution.

Alan Clendenin

4:03:54PM The area to the south that's undeveloped, who owns that?

Yuan Li

4:03:57PM I think the city owns the property.

Alan Clendenin

4:03:59PM Can you put that other map back up there? Looks like there are canals carved into it.

Yuan Li

4:04:07PM I have another map here that is probably showing the greater context of the region.

Alan Clendenin

4:04:14PM Interesting. Go ahead.

Bill Carlson

4:04:16PM If S.W.F.W.M.D. Came in and put a thousand more mangroves in there, would that have slowed it down?

Yuan Li

4:04:28PM -- stormwater also concur, surface improvement and management program of S.W.F.W.M.D. Hurricane two years ago. It probably is a good time to do a full evaluation and get the professional's opinion whether we need to consider the restoration efforts related to the hurricane damage, those kind of things. We also did some research regarding the grants opportunity. Sea grant opportunity and in Florida to restore the living shoreline. Those kind of things we can talk to those agencies and also talk to S.W.F.W.M.D. To do the free evaluations. That's going to be the basis for the grant application.

Bill Carlson

4:05:28PM Should we vote to ask you to do something? Or would you come back to us at some point and ask us to do it? How do you recommend proceeding?

Yuan Li

4:05:37PM Either way. We'll be reaching out to S.W.F.W.M.D.

Alan Clendenin

4:05:41PM Based on my understanding, this flooding is caused by rising water. The mangroves and living shoreline would be more for wave action. It creates obstacles for wave action. If the gulf of Mexico and, in turn, the Tampa Bay is rising, none of those solutions would work for rising water. But it would break above the surface water. Any kind of wind action, wave action kind of stuff would be a solution. If the problem was wave action, mangroves and living shoreline would be effective. If it's just rising water, the water -- barring having dams out there, we're not holding back the gulf of Mexico.

Bill Carlson

4:06:29PM Can I make a motion? Help me make it so it meets your criteria. What I'd like to do is make a motion to ask -- I don't know if parks wants to engage, too, -- at least that stormwater engage with S.W.F.W.M.D. And whatever other agencies to see if they can help to mitigate some of this with Planning and/or money or implementation. When should we ask you to come back? How soon could we ask you to come back?

Yuan Li

4:07:05PM Couple of months.

Alan Clendenin

4:07:07PM I would give them a longer time if they have to coordinate with S.W.F.W.M.D.

Bill Carlson

4:07:11PM January? How about January 7.

Yuan Li

4:07:14PM Okay.

Charlie Miranda

4:07:16PM I'll second the motion.

Alan Clendenin

4:07:17PM I have a motion to have staff return back to City Council on January 7 with the report on potential mitigation efforts associated with tappan park and S.W.F.W.M.D. Motion and second. All in favor, aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Very good. Thank you. Thank you for your patience. Abbye Feeley. It's the Abbye Feeley show.

Lynn Hurtak

4:07:42PM Bring it home.

Abbye Feeley

4:07:44PM Good afternoon, council. Abbye Feeley, administrator of development and economic opportunity. I'm here today to give you the update on Tampa forward and where we are with the land development code update process. As a reminder, this is a multiyear effort to comprehensively update, modernize, reorganize the land development code, and we are completing that work in installments. Installment one has made substantial progress. It is not done. One of the main issues we're still evaluating with clarion on that was a proposal for the RS 50 and 60 to go to residential single-family urban. We heard a lot from the community on that, and we're still working through kind of what our options are as far as that consolidation. And really balancing that with the city's needs for missing middle housing, because that was one of the proposals clarion made, so we're still working through that. How do we preserve the character and predictability for residents expecting to be established in neighborhoods while creating appropriate opportunities for housing. So that work is still underway, and we're going to come back with a clear response to the community as the evaluation is completed. There are also a few other installment items that remain under review. I just want to be clear. This is iterative and we're still working. Nothing is closed out. Someone did comment on the web page the other day that the feedback for installment one was closed. That will be reopened. You can still comment on all of that throughout the process. At the same time the LDC has been moving forward, the comp plan has also been moving forward. I know that is now on your agenda I believe for October 22 for adoption, which definitely helps in sequencing for the land development code. Installment two, installment two is scheduled to go out to the public on October 1st, and we will be having what we typically do is public engagement starts right after that, and we will have our technical advisory team. Clarion normally comes in. Once the installment goes out and tells them, here's what is in the installment so you know as you're looking through the installment what to expect. So that will be happening on October 2nd. And then we will -- are looking to have our technical advisory full meeting at the end of the month, October 29, which would give them a month to work through that and then clarion typically comes and meets with them. Along with our public meeting, which would be that evening. So all of this is being updated on the web page now, and over the next few weeks, we'll see that start to take place.

Alan Clendenin

4:10:46PM Thank you. Does council have any questions of Ms. Feeley? No. appreciate the update. Thank you so much.

Abbye Feeley

4:10:52PM Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

4:10:52PM You missed us last time.

Abbye Feeley

4:10:56PM I don't believe I come the first week in October, which would be good. I would be coming in November to fill you in on all of that and how things were going. Thank you.

Alan Clendenin

4:11:08PM Thank you so much. New business. Councilman Carlson. Councilman Viera? Councilwoman Young?

Naya Young

4:11:27PM I have some new business.

Alan Clendenin

4:11:28PM You always do.

Naya Young

4:11:29PM As always. A couple of things, number one, the great american teach-in is on November 19, 2026. So we participated when we did the first time and then we started council At 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. to give council members the opportunity to participate in the great american teach-in if they wanted to. Is that something we would like to do again? I make a motion for our regular City Council meeting on November 19, 2026, to start at 11 a.m. in observance of great american teach-in so our council members have an opportunity to participate.

Alan Clendenin

4:12:17PM Motion from Councilman Young, second from Councilman Maniscalco. All those in favor say aye. Opposed?

Guido Maniscalco

4:12:23PM I have to go to my wife's school. They want me there, and then someone from the community asked that I speak at their son's school. It was great.

Naya Young

4:12:32PM I wanted to bring it up because we've been getting e-mails. Oh, we talked about it at the last meeting but didn't make a decision.

Alan Clendenin

4:12:39PM We did the same thing last year.

Naya Young

4:12:41PM Perfect. I'm sure all of you saw this e-mail that went out talking about some moving of some monies, particularly from Sulphur Springs for a certain project. I've had several conversations with our parks and rec Director Ted Fowler. We had a meeting yesterday with the Sulphur Springs pool committee. We meet quarterly, and we also discussed -- talked, discussed the e-mail. All in all, there are not any funds that are moving from Sulphur Springs projects toward this -- the swann park project. In fact, some of the projects listed in that e-mail, some of them are already moving forward and have contracts and designs and all of these things. So that is not just to put that out there, we had the Sulphur Springs pool committee, some members from the neighborhood -- the Sulphur Springs action league and also just some residents that were there in that meeting. Also councilwoman Hurtak's aide was there as well. So we had a lot of discussion. Just to put that out into the air. Also, for the 56th and broadway project, I had a meeting with our mobility director, Mr. Brandon Campbell, along with two of our East Tampa residents to talk about that project specifically. And there's actually, there may possibly be, I've been given this information, there may possibly be another route that can be explored that will not have to hinge on getting the approval from the business owner to use their easement. So there is another option, which is what I did ask them to do. And that is what they did. So there is no -- there is still possibly a path forward. And Mr. Brandon Campbell did say if the opportunity presents itself, that we would -- that the city would go and could pursue it. Just an update for that. Also, just to put this out there, I've been getting a lot of feedback from constituents in the district regarding the extended time for home repairs for -- residential homes. I don't know if you all have been receiving that. Maybe a conversation we have later down the line. I know there are certain processes and things we have to go through with our Code Enforcement office. I talked to Susan daily about this. I want to bring it to council's attention. It's something that we're getting a lot of calls about. People are saying we've been calling and calling for years and they feel like there's nothing being done. Just to put that out there. That's all.

Alan Clendenin

4:15:31PM It is a repetitive issue.

Naya Young

4:15:35PM That is all.

Alan Clendenin

4:15:35PM Councilwoman Hurtak.

Lynn Hurtak

4:15:36PM Nothing major. I just wanted to do a personal update. People keep ask me how I'm doing. I've completed my third infusion yesterday. I'm feeling really good, but I will have to say this morning in the shower I started to find some hair. This might be the last time you see me with my real hair. It's okay. I know. Welcome to the club. Other than that I'm feeling really good. Doing what I can. I really appreciate everyone's well wishes.

Alan Clendenin

4:16:09PM Remember, god gave the pretty ones more face. Councilman Maniscalco.

Guido Maniscalco

4:16:15PM We continue to pray for you. I'm wearing pink today specifically for you. If it's not a ribbon, it's something pink. I wish for you to get back to good health and quickly. That's it.

Alan Clendenin

4:16:29PM Councilman Miranda.

Charlie Miranda

4:16:30PM Same thing. I pray for you every day. I think you're doing much better. Let's go on with the rest of the show because you're doing one hell of a job. Take care of yourself. I would like to make a motion to move the Convention Center presentation from September 24th workshop to the November 19 regular council meeting under commendations and presentations.

Alan Clendenin

4:16:56PM Thank you. That was my question. You answered a question before I had to ask it. We have a motion from Councilman Miranda. A second from Councilwoman Hurtak to move the visit Tampa Bay and Convention Center presentation from the workshop on September 24 to November 19, 2026. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. Anything else?

Charlie Miranda

4:17:20PM That's it, sir.

Alan Clendenin

4:17:21PM Speaking of the workshop, this is for the clerk, we previously in a motion at the last meeting had moved both of the noise ordinance issues to the same meeting. I see that on the workshop schedule, the one is still there. It needs to be moved. We made a motion last time. But it's still on the agenda. If you guys could check that. September 24, the second item on the agenda, City staff to present suggestions proposing enforceable rule changes that should have moved along with the other noise issue. That was a motion by Councilwoman Hurtak. Oh, was it Councilwoman Young.

4:18:03PM Okay. Very good. Speaking of swann park, I know there's a lot of misinformation. Going out there and working. This has been a project going on forever. I know Councilman Carlson had it for a little while. I picked it up a little bit. I will say one thing, in defense of this area, there's been no investment from the city on any park investment. All the stuff you see in the area has been private investment. Investment in parks, we should not push back on. And they have very little park areas in that area anyway.

Lynn Hurtak

4:18:35PM The issue that the residents are having, you know, the art folks were promised an art building. They have jcc.

4:18:46PM Jcc isn't enough. We need more space. I'm sorry, but this is not done. There is not even one iota of anything in the parks master plan about this park.

Alan Clendenin

4:18:58PM But, again --

Lynn Hurtak

4:19:00PM I'm just saying.

Alan Clendenin

4:19:01PM Again, if you were to look and we talk about equitable distribution of resources around the City of Tampa this particular area of Tampa has gotten almost nothing.

Lynn Hurtak

4:19:10PM We just gave $2.5 million to South Tampa parks.

Alan Clendenin

4:19:13PM Not in this area of South Tampa. This is a significant area that there has not been any investment in. I keep hearing this information about swann park. By the way, I worked with the arts people yesterday. Took an iou to talk about -- they are talking about doing private fund-raising. I took the iou from them that I would work with parks and rec to see if there was space to reserve in that area so if they were able to raise the capital to construct something like that, that we could have convertible space to dedicate it. I thought that might be a win-win solution. Ted Fowler, if you are still listening, probably not. You're in the car. If somebody tells you my office is going to be calling you to have that discussion. In front of you all, Mr. Shelby Passed out the questions or the information that we had submitted to the Charter Review Commission from council for them to consider. When we have that workshop on September 24, I would like you all to review those council suggestions and be prepared to discuss that along with any other issues you would like to discuss, reference the council Charter Review Commission recommendations.

Guido Maniscalco

4:20:39PM I'll go over the questions. I will answer them one by one. Can I get five, six minutes to go down and say yes, no, yes, no, quick explanation.

Alan Clendenin

4:20:50PM It's going to be a workshop. So we'll have a dialogue about these things. I just wanted to make sure it didn't catch you by surprise so you could spend the time between now and then having that internal conversation and research to try to refresh your memory about what we suggested. Just as a reminder, we're in the charter review process. We handed the charter review process off to the commission that we put together, that commission has made recommendations. It's coming back to council. Council Will do a vote up or down on the recommendations. We also have the opportunity to create our own recommendations. This is part of this discussion. That's what will kick off on that workshop on September 24 of 2026. I know I had something else I was going to say.

Luis Viera

4:21:44PM Think about it while I say something. Thank you, Councilwoman Young. A couple of things, if I may. A lot of us know Vivian kitchen, a wonderful community leader. Since we can't talk about this, I had spoken to, communicated with her son. She's obviously being honored by the NAACP which is marvelous. I wanted to have something here off-site that we could do and everybody at council could be to honor this. I do this just to get it out there, present it. It's your district. Glad to have you do that. We can all do it.

Alan Clendenin

4:22:19PM A commendation.

Luis Viera

4:22:20PM But off-site.

Alan Clendenin

4:22:22PM Date to be determined?

Luis Viera

4:22:23PM Yeah.

Alan Clendenin

4:22:24PM Motion for off-site date to be determined to Ms. Kitchen. All in favor, aye. Opposed, ayes have it. I cannot remember what the second thing I was going to say. Motion to receive and file --

Luis Viera

4:22:35PM I'm not done, if I may. Six more weeks. Give me kindness. Really quick, if I may, I sent you all a letter on an issue with Tampa fire station one and renaming with Franz Warner and isaac. It will come after I leave. Just fyi. I don't know how council to handle this. I heard things about the special needs internship program. I want to talk about that at the budget hearing. Should I do a motion to have it on the docket. If I may, I'll have a motion to put that in our forthcoming hearing on the special needs internship and that's it.

Alan Clendenin

4:23:25PM I wanted to remind people about the hearing. Thank you.

Martin Shelby

4:23:30PM I'm going to suggest, councilman, that you just make a note to bring it up and advise council rather than make a motion. It is a very formal process for the second reading and adoption.

Luis Viera

4:23:42PM Let it be known. Be ready.

Martin Shelby

4:23:45PM Part of the discussion.

Alan Clendenin

4:23:47PM That is a good reminder. That was the issue I wanted to remind everybody, that we have our second reading of the FY 2027 budget next Tuesday night at 5:01 p.m. here in Tampa City Council Chambers. So that is the second reading of the FY 2027 budget. There's been a lot of moving parts. Most of the moving parts will come back to us after next Tuesday. I know Councilwoman Hurtak, myself and others have been very involved in ensuring those things occur. Anything else? Motion to receive and file from Councilman Maniscalco. Second from Councilman Miranda. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? Ayes have it. [ sounding gavel ] disclaimer: this file represents an unedited version of realtime captioning which should neither be relied upon for complete accuracy nor used as a verbatim transcript. Any person who needs a verbatim transcript of the proceedings may need to hire a court reporter. ▶ meeting video no video recording available for this meeting. The information contained in these pages represents an unedited version of realtime captioning which should neither be relied upon for complete accuracy nor used as a verbatim transcript. Persons requiring a verbatim transcript may need to hire a court reporter. © - City of Tampa (813) 274-8211