CITY OF TAMPA. >>LYNN HURTAK: THE THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026, COUNCIL SESSION. I AM NOT ALAN CLENDENIN. I ALSO APPARENTLY NOT AS FUNNY AS HIM. HE IS NOT WELL, SO HE'S GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY TODAY. SO WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNEW. HE WILL BE PARTICIPATING BUT JUST VIRTUALLY. SO WE ARE GOING TO START WITH INVOCATION, BUT BEFORE WE START WITH THE INVOCATION, WE ARE ALL GOING TO STAND FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR RENE GOOD AND THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE OF MINNEAPOLIS. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S INVOCATION. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. RABBI SIMON, COME ON UP. ALL OF US KNOW HIM BECAUSE HE'S BEEN HERE BEFORE. BUT FOR THE PUBLIC, RABBI JOEL SIMON ORIGINALLY JOINED CONGREGATION SCHAARAI ZEDEK IN 2007, ASSOCIATE RABBI IN 2010 AFTER SERVING AS SENIOR RABBI CONGREGATION IN BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. RABBI SIMON RETURNED IN 2018 AS SENIOR RABBI. GREW UP IN DENVER, COLORADO. HOLDS DEGREES IN PSYCHOLOGIST AND JEWISH STUDIES, MASTER OF EDUCATION SPECIALIZATION. MASTERS OF ARTS IN HEBREW LETTERS DEGREE -- CINCINNATI OHIO. REPRESENTATIVE OF SOUTH TAMPA, HIS CONGREGATION IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT IN SOUTH TAMPA AND THE SCHOOL IS THE ONE THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET IN. THANK YOU FOR COMING. EVERYBODY STAND FOR THIS AND THE PLEDGE. >>LYNN HURTAK: PLEASE STAY STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> CITY COUNCILMAN CARLSON, THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME THIS MORNING. I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR. SUCH AN HONOR TO JOIN YOU ALL, OFFER WORDS OF BLESSINGS AND LESSONS FROM OUR TRADITION AS YOU ALL GATHER TO LEAD THIS GREAT CITY. IN THE JEWISH RELIGION, WE READ THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE GENESIS EXODUS DEUTERONOMY. BEGINNING TO END ON A YEARLY CYCLE, READING THE ENTIRETY OF THE FIVE BOOKS EVERY YEAR. IN EVERY SYNAGOGUE AROUND THE WORLD ON A GIVEN WEEK, EVERYONE IS READING THE SAME SECTION. THE READING FOR THIS WEEK IS THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK OF EXODUS, AS MOSES, A HEBREW WHO WAS RAISED IN FARROW'S FALL ALSO A, SEEING OPPRESSION, KNOWING THAT IT WAS WRONG WAS CALLED BY GOD THROUGH THE VOICE OF A BURNING BUSH TO LEAD HIS PEOPLE TO FREEDOM. BUT MOSES DIDN'T WANT THE JOB. HE DIDN'T THINK HE WAS UP FOR THE JOB. HE WAS JUST A SHEPHERD, ONE OF SLOW SPEECH, PERHAPS WITH A STUTTER AT THAT. MOSES HAD EVERY REASON IN THE WORLD TO THINK HE COULDN'T DO THE JOB BUT GOD HAD FAITH IN HIM AND THAT WAS ENOUGH. OUR GOD AND GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS, MAY OUR CITY'S LEADERS BE INSPIRED BY THESE LESSONS OF MOSES. RECOGNIZING FIRST WHAT IT MEANS TO STAND IN HUMILITY, TO WORK FROM ONE'S POSITION FOR ONE'S PEOPLE, NOT OUT OF ENTITLEMENT BUT OUT OF OBLIGATION AND WITH A PURPOSE. MAY WE ALSO REMEMBER THE ABILITY OF EVERY PERSON TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE NOT IN SPITE OF THEIR ADVERSITY, OF THE CHALLENGES THEY MAY FACE, BUT BECAUSE OF THEM. FOR THOSE CHALLENGES ARE GIFTS AS WELL, AS THEY STRENGTHEN US AND INSPIRE US TO TRY THAT MUCH HARDER. MAY THIS YEAR OF 2026 BE A YEAR OF GROWTH FOR ALL OF US AND OUR CITY, GROWTH IN KNOWLEDGE, GROWTH IN COMPASSION, GROWTH IN UNDERSTANDING OF THE OTHER. A YEAR IN WHICH WE COME THAT MUCH CLOSER TO HOMES, TO A COMMUNITY AND TO A WORLD LIVING IN PEACE AS WE SAY AMEN. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE WONDERFUL WORDS THIS MORNING. LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL PLEASE. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE. >>NAYA YOUNG: HERE. >>LUIS VIERA: HERE. >>BILL CARLSON: HERE. >> CLENDENIN? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: HERE. >>THE CLERK: WE HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM. >>LYNN HURTAK: FIRST, WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DO A -- MR. SHELBY, WE NEED TO APPROVE COUNCILMAN CLENDENIN'S PARTICIPATION. >> [INAUDIBLE] >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA, SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO TO ALLOW OUR CHAIR TO PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? >>MARTIN SHELBY: WOULD YOU THEN BE PASSING THE GAVEL FOR YOU TO CONDUCT THE MEETING? >>LYNN HURTAK: WELL, LET'S HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY. HE'S MUTED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I'M JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. HAPPY 2026 FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S NOT SICK, WHICH I THINK IS SOME OF THE MINORITY IN TAMPA RIGHT NOW. I WAS GOING TO COME IN, BUT I REALIZED I WOULD GET EVERYBODY ELSE SICK AND DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT TO EVERYBODY. YES, I WILL GLADLY PASS THE GAVEL TO MY CHAIR PRO TEM. >>LYNN HURTAK: DOES THAT NEED TO BE A MOTION, MR. SHELBY? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GAVEL ACQUIRED. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO -- CAN SOMEONE DO AN ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR SESSION HELD ON DECEMBER 8, 2025? -- 18. THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND LOOK AT THE AGENDA AND ITS ADDENDUM. RIGHT NOW FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, I HAVE ITEM 32 FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. YOU WANT TO PULL THAT. YOU WANT TO HEAR THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF STAFF REPORTS? >>BILL CARLSON: I DON'T CARE WHAT ORDER. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PULL IT FROM CONSENT SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT WE HAVE A RULE THAT A SUMMARY NEEDS TO BE EXPLICIT AND THE SUMMARY DOES NOT INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE PROJECT THAT THIS IS CONNECTED TO. BY THE WAY, SINCE THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT IT, THE ADMINISTRATION CHANGED THE NAME OF THE PROJECT, SO PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED BY IT, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T -- BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE THE NAME OF THE PROJECT IN THE SUMMARY, I THINK THE PUBLIC HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THIS. BUT AT LEAST WE CAN CONTINUE IT -- I MEAN, MOVE IT TO A DISCUSSION LATER. BUT REALLY, WE SHOULD CONTINUE IT. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE IT -- TO PULL IT -- I DON'T NEED A MOTION TO PULL IT, DO I? >>MARTIN SHELBY: MARTIN SHELBY. GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY. TO REMOVE IT FROM THE CONSENT DOCKET AND PLACE IT UNDER STAFF REPORTS. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE ITEM 32 FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO. TO STAFF REPORTS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OKAY. I KNOW THAT COUNCILMAN VIERA WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ITEM NUMBER 57 TO BE HEARD FIRST UNDER STAFF REPORTS. >>LUIS VIERA: YES, MA'AM, IF I MAY -- YEAH, I DON'T THINK IT WILL TAKE TOO DARN LONG BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN CONTINUED. FIRST OR SECOND, BUT AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA IF I MAY. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA, SECOND FROM MANISCALCO TO MOVE ITEM 57 TO THE TOP OF STAFF REPORTS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? WE HAVE NO ADMINISTRATION UPDATE. I HAD A MOTION TO MOVE ITEMS 45, 46 AND 48 AFTER 59. BUT WHAT I ACTUALLY WANT TO DO IS PUT 59 BEFORE 45, 46 AND 48. IF SOMEONE COULD MAKE THAT MOTION FOR ME. THANK YOU. MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON TO MOVE ITEM 59, I SUPPOSE IT WILL BE RIGHT AROUND AFTER ITEM 57 OR 32, IN THAT VICINITY. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AS FAR AS ITEM NUMBER 47, WE HAVE A REQUEST FROM STAFF TO CONTINUE ITEM 47 TO FEBRUARY 5. I HAVE A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBER MANISCALCO. SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ITEM 49, DO WE NEED STAFF? >>MARTIN SHELBY: IF YOU COULD ANNOUNCE THAT PUBLICLY. >>LYNN HURTAK: ITEM 49, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE STAFF FOR THAT. ITEM NUMBER 50. ANYONE? WE DO NOT NEED STAFF FOR THAT. THE DECREASE OF 4.5 MILLION, BY THE WAY, IS GOING INTO NEW GENERATORS, NEW TURBINES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, THAT WE'RE SAVING. ITEM NUMBER 51, DO WE NEED STAFF? >> NO. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. ITEM 52, DO WE NEED STAFF? >> [INAUDIBLE] >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. >>MARTIN SHELBY: MADAM CHAIR. >>LYNN HURTAK: ITEM 52, WE DO NOT NEED STAFF. >>MARTIN SHELBY: IF I CAN, REMINDER, PLEASE, AT THE END OF YOUR CONSENT DOCKET. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT'S WHY I'M WRITING THEM DOWN. >>MARTIN SHELBY: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>LYNN HURTAK: ITEM NUMBER 53, I BELIEVE WE ALREADY DISCUSSED THAT. WE'RE MOVING THAT -- NO, THAT WAS 57. >>LUIS VIERA: YES, MA'AM, IF I MAY, MADAM CHAIR, SO FOR 53, I THINK I SENT A MEMO, YES, MA'AM, ON IT. IT PRETTY MUCH MAKES THE POINT MOOT. I WANTED TO ADDRESS IT, IF I MAY, BEFORE LUNCH, BECAUSE I SAW WALK IN A GENTLEMAN WHO IS GOING TO BE HERE FOR IT, ASSISTANT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE CHIEF MORRIS LOPEZ SOMEWHERE OUT THERE. IT WILL LITERALLY TAKE TWO MINUTES. MAY I DO THAT BEFORE LUNCH? >>LYNN HURTAK: SURE. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU. AND NO STAFF. >>LYNN HURTAK: NO STAFF FOR THAT. I'M GUESSING WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PUT IT AFTER OUR SECOND READINGS THEN IDEALLY. LET'S KNOCK ON WOOD THERE. NO STAFF FOR 53. WHAT ABOUT 54? >>LUIS VIERA: WHAT WAS THAT? >>LYNN HURTAK: 54. >>LUIS VIERA: NO. REPORT IS FINE. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. 55? YES. OKAY. DEFINITELY. 56? YES. WE WANT STAFF FOR 56. 58? >>BILL CARLSON: MOVE TO CONTINUE THIS TO FEBRUARY 5 PER STAFF REQUEST. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ITEM NUMBER 59? I ALREADY MOVED THAT FORWARD. ITEM NUMBER 60, YES, STAFF WILL BE PRESENT FOR THAT. ITEM NUMBER 61. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I'LL MOVE TO RECEIVE AND FILE THAT. I GOT A BRIEFING ON THAT. THAT WILL COME UP IN THE FUTURE IN SOME FORM. I'LL BRING IT UP THEN. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE ITEM NUMBER 61 BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE CONSENT AGENDA? >>LUIS VIERA: IF I MAY, FOR 57, I AM REQUESTING THAT STAFF BE THERE. I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS ON THAT. WE'LL DISCUSS IT DURING LUNCH, BUT I PREFER STAFF TO BE THERE WITH THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE. >>LYNN HURTAK: EXCELLENT. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SO MOVED AND THE ADDENDUM. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AND ADDENDUM BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MR. SHELBY. >>MARTIN SHELBY: YES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. MARTIN SHELBY, CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY. HAPPY NEW YEAR. WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE RULES OF DECORUM AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT TODAY'S MEETING. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALLOWED A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY AT THE BEGINNING OF TODAY'S MEETING AFTER THE CEREMONIAL ITEMS TO ADDRESS ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA BEFORE CITY COUNCIL TAKES OFFICIAL ACTION ON THE ITEM. A THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT APPLIES TO ALL SPEAKERS PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT. NOW, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT PREFERENCE IS GIVEN DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT TO THOSE SPEAKERS SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEMS FIRST FOLLOWED BY THOSE PEOPLE WHO WISH TO SPEAK TO OFF AGENDA ITEMS. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE START OF THE MEETING, PLEASE FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD AND PLACE IT IN THE BOX THAT'S OUTSIDE THE CHAMBERS, ONE CARD PER SPEAKER. CARDS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL THE START OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. EACH PERSON SUBMITTING A CARD WILL BE RECOGNIZED BY NAME, BY THE CHAIR TO APPROACH AND SPEAK AS I SAID, A THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT APPLIES. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY BECAUSE NAMES THAT CANNOT BE READ WILL NOT BE CALLED. NOW, IF YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK AT A PUBLIC HEARING, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGENDA, THERE ARE THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT YOU MAY BE HERE FOR THAT ARE LISTED AS PUBLIC HEARING. IF THAT IS THE CASE, DO NOT FILL OUT A CARD. INSTEAD, THERE IS A SHEET AT THE PODIUM OUTSIDE. PUT YOUR NAME ON THAT SHEET AND YOUR NAME WILL BE CALLED IN THE COURSE OF THE MEETING WHEN THAT PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA ITEM IS OPENED AND YOU WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: MR. SHELBY, THOSE ARE ITEMS 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, AND 43. >>MARTIN SHELBY: THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER TO THE PUBLIC AND FOR MY REMINDER TO BE ABLE TO BRING THAT TO PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AS WELL. AS THE CHAIR SAID, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THEN WILL BE DURING THE MEETING AND NOT AT THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. NOW, SPEAKERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALSO REMINDED TO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING MAKING VULGAR OR THREATENING REMARKS OR MAKING OR CAUSING DISRUPTIVE NOISES OR SOUNDS OR DISPLAYING SIGNS OR GRAPHICS. THE CHAIR WILL RULE OUT OF ORDER ANY PERSON WHO SPEAKS WITHOUT FIRST BEING RECOGNIZED OR ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL FROM OUTSIDE THE SPEAKER AREA AT THE PODIUM. PERSONS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH COUNCIL RULES MAY ALSO BE RULED OUT OF ORDER AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBERS FOR THE REMAINDER OF TODAY'S MEETING. FINALLY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING A SPEAKER DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THE PUBLIC, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT TAKE QUESTIONS OR HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH YOU DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS YOUR POSITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. I APOLOGIZE, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT CHIEF BENNETT IS NOT AVAILABLE TODAY. INSTEAD, MS. McGREGOR WILL BE HERE. THERE IS NOT A STAFF REPORT, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT, OR ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE, BUT SHE IS HERE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE SOMEONE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION IS HERE TODAY. OKAY. SO WE GET TO START OFF WITH OUR POLICE OFFICER OF THE MONTH COMMENDATION. SO VERY EXCITED THIS MORNING, COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY. WE WILL BE DOING OUR TAMPA POLICE OFFICER OF THE MONTH. LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, WE DO THIS TO REFLECT THE VALUES OF THE CITY OF TAMPA AND TAMPA CITY COUNCIL THAT ALWAYS SUPPORTS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS VERY, VERY WORTHY HONOREE WE HAVE HERE DR. CHIEF BERCAW. COME FORWARD, SIR. >>CHIEF BERCAW: THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. AS WE BEGIN THE NEW YEAR, THERE IS ENCOURAGING NEWS ACROSS THE NATION. EARLY ESTIMATES SHOW THAT MURDERS ARE DECLINING BY AN AVERAGE OF 20% NATIONWIDE. THAT MATTERS. THAT'S PROGRESS, BUT IN TAMPA, NOT ONLY DO WE DO THAT, WE PUSHED PAST IT. IN 2025, TAMPA RECORDED 19 MURDERS, THE LOWEST NUMBER IN OVER HALF A CENTURY AND WELL OVER 40% FROM THE YEAR PRIOR. NONFATAL SHOOTINGS DROPPED BY APPROXIMATELY 35% AND PROPERTY CRIME CONTINUED TO DECLINE AND OUR HOMICIDE CLEARANCE RATE REMAINS ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. TAMPA DIDN'T SIMPLY FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE BROADER NATIONAL TRENDS; WE OUTPERFORMED THEM. THAT WORK STARTS ON THE FRONT LINES. THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WEARING THE TAMPA POLICE BADGE ARE THE FOUNDATION OF THIS PROGRESS. THEY ANSWER THE CALL EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY AND NIGHT. THEY RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER AND THEY TAKE REAL-LIFE RISKS INTO REMOVING VIOLENT OFFENDERS FROM OUR STREETS. WE RELY ON THEIR PROFESSIONALISM, THEIR COURAGE, AND THEIR COMMITMENT. WITH TOMORROW BEING LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY, I WOULD LIKE TO START EARLY AND APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO, AND THEY ARE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. [ APPLAUSE ] IN ADDITION, TAMPA SAW DOUBLE-DIGIT PERCENTAGE REDUCTIONS IN AUTO THEFTS AND AUTO BURGLARIES. MOREOVER, TRAFFIC FATALITIES DECLINED BY MORE THAN 20%. AND THIS IS A GREAT STAT, DUI RELATED DEATHS DROPPED BY AN EXTRAORDINARY 75%. THOSE AREN'T JUST STATISTICS, THOSE ARE LIVES SAVED. JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ENFORCEMENT IS TRUST. STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY ARE NOT OPTIONAL; THEY ARE ESSENTIAL. THIS IS EVIDENT IN MANY ASPECTS, INCLUDING THE INCREASED PARTICIPATION WE'RE SEEING IN NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AND THE MORE REQUESTING, AND ANOTHER IS OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR YOUTH. AND THAT BRINGS US TO OUR OFFICER OF THE MONTH TODAY. KATLYN PARRISH IS OUR OFFICER OF THE MONTH AND SHE IS A VALUED MEMBER OF THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT. SHE IS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE AS POLICE EXPLORER POST ADVISOR AND OUR EXPLORERS, SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TO SUPPORT KATLYN, THEY ARE 14 TO 20-YEAR-OLDS THAT ARE ASPIRING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS A ROLE THAT REQUIRES LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT. KATLYN MANAGES TRAINING, SCHEDULING SUPERVISION AND COORDINATION, WHILE ENSURING THE PROGRAM OPERATES SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH DEPARTMENTAL STANDARDS. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, THIS PROGRAM HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED. OFFICER PARRISH ALSO OVERSEES THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF STATE-LEVEL EXPLORER COMPETITIONS, HOSTED BY THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, OF WHICH WE HAVE HOSTED THREE CONTINUOUS ONES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND WE REMAIN IN THE TOP TEN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL AWARDS RECEIVING FIRST-PLACE TROPHIES. THESE EVENTS TAKE MONTHS OF PREPARATION CAREFUL COORDINATION AND EXECUTED SO WELL THAT THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF POLICE EXPLORERS HAS REQUESTED AGAIN TO RETURN TO TAMPA AS THEIR HOST. OFFICER PARRISH GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND IN HER SCHEDULING HOURS, ADJUSTS HER AVAILABILITY, AND ACCEPTS ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES WITHOUT HESITATION. HER DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING OTHERS TRULY REFLECTS THE BEST QUALITIES OF A TAMPA POLICE OFFICER. THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED PROFESSIONALISM ACCOUNTABILITY AND DEDICATION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HER DUTIES, AND SHE PERFORMS EVERY ASSIGNMENT WITH SOUND JUDGMENT, STRONG WORK ETHIC AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE THAT REFLECTS POSITIVELY ON THE DEPARTMENT AND THE YOUTH SHE IS MENTORING AND FOR HER CONSISTENT PERFORMANCE, LEADERSHIP, AND COMMITMENT TO THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, SHE IS TRULY DESERVING OF THIS AWARD AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING OFFICER OF THE MONTH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHIEF. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. WE SEE HERE SOME WONDERFUL YOUNG POLICE EXPLORERS. I SAW YOU ALL OUTSIDE. GREAT REFLECTION ON THE WORK YOU DO. VERY TOUCHING. I MEAN THAT. BEFORE WE FORMALLY HONOR YOU AND HEAR FROM TAMPA CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY, STARTING WITH THE PBA WHO WOULD LIKE TO HONOR YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: JUST A QUICK REMINDER, PLEASE FACE THE PODIUM SO THAT WE CAN HEAR YOU. >> BRANDON BARCLAY, TAMPA PBA. OFFICER, WE'RE PRESENTING YOU THIS PLAQUE FOR A JOB WELL DONE. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> ALSO, ON BEHALF OF BUSCH GARDENS, PETE BREVI COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOUR COMPLIMENTARY BUSCH GARDENS PASSES. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. JILL WITECKI, TAMPA THEATRE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING AN INSPIRATION TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF TAMPA THEATRE, LIKE TO PRESENT WITH YOU AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TO COME SEE US. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MARY DILLON, STRAZ CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF STRAZ, WE HAVE TICKETS TO SEE THE UPCOMING IN FEBRUARY. I SAW IT TWICE LAST YEAR. IT WAS FANTASTIC. [ APPLAUSE ] >> HI. GOOD MORNING. CASEY YOUNG, FRIENDS OF THE TAMPA RIVERWALK. WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A RIVERWALK PAVER. CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL AS GOODIES FROM OUR BOARD MEMBERS, INCLUDING SPLITSVILLE, FLORIDA AVENUE, PIRATE WATER TAXI, LOST PEARL AND YACHT STARSHIP. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. JEFF, VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING FOR THE 1905 FAMILY OF RESTAURANTS. MY HONOR TO PRESENT A GIFT CARD ON BEHALF OF THE FOURTH AND FIFTH GENERATION OF THE GONZMART FAMILY. CELEBRATING 121 YEARS. YOUR WORK WITH THE YOUTH REMINDS ME OF GEORGE GUIDO WHO WORKED FOR US FOR 62 YEARS, CAME TO US AS 15 YEARS OLD AS AT-RISK YOUTH AND MADE A LIFE IN THE RESTAURANT. STARTING OUT EARLIER AND YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK AND I WANTED TO THANK HIM. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING. MARY LOU BAILEY. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ZOO TAMPA. >> MARK HANEY WITH ZOO TAMPA. >> WE WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR MENTORING THE YOUNG PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO SERVES. YOU ARE ALL AWESOME. I'M TALKING IN THE MIKE. SORRY ABOUT THAT, LYNN. REALLY IMPRESSIVE STORY. AS A MEANS OF THANK YOU, WE'RE PRESENTING YOU WITH ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TO THE ZOO. YOU CAN GO ALL YEAR WITH YOUR FAMILY. I'M VERY INSPIRED BY YOU BUT ALSO VERY INSPIRED BY WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION. I HOPE YOU GROW TO SHARE MY PASSION. MARK WILL SHOW YOU THE BEAUTIFUL GIFT BASKET. >> WE HAVE A WOLF. JUST LIKE YOU, WOLVES ARE VERY GOOD AT MENTORING THE YOUNGER WOLVES. ALPHA FEMALE AND ALPHA MALE. THE ALPHA FEMALE REALLY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PACK AND GETTING THE YOUNG ONES UP TO SPEED. >> THANK YOU AGAIN. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING. LEO GEARY WITH BILL CURRIE FORD. CONGRATULATIONS OFFICER PARRISH. I SAY THIS EVERY SINGLE TIME I'M UP HERE AND WILL CONTINUE TO SAY THIS, I APPRECIATE AND RESPECT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS THAT PUTS THE UNIFORM ON EVERY SINGLE DAY AND KEEPS THE CITY OF TAMPA SAFE FOR ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM HERE TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS. I WANT TO HAND YOU A LETTER FROM JENNIFER CURRY ALONG WITH A GIFT CARD. AND ALSO A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR YOUR PERSONAL VEHICLE. MAINTENANCE AND OTHER GOODIES IN THERE AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. CHIEF. HAPPY NEW YEAR. BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY AND OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, THANK YOU. THOSE STATS YOU READ OFF ARE IMPRESSIVE AND CREDIT TO EVERYONE IN THE ROOM FROM COUNCIL ON DOWN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. BUT YOUR STORY IS REMARKABLE. THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU PUT OUT AND THE MENTORSHIP AND WHAT YOU DO TO BRING UP THE NEXT GENERATION. WE APPRECIATE THAT. ON BEHALF OF THE DPLAIZER FAMILY AND OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE A LITTLE TRADITION AT ONE BUC, ANYBODY WHO GOES OVER AND ABOVE GETS A GAME BALL. I HAVE YOUR VERY OWN GAME BALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO FUMBLE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING. STEVE MICHELINI. YOU'RE STILL SMILING. I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU FROM NOW. ANYWAY, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE FOLLOWING UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. YOUTH IS THE KEY TO THE FUTURE. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND HELPING TO GUIDE THEM. ON BEHALF OF JACKSON'S BISTRO, PROVIDE WITH YOU A GIFT CERT TO ENJOY YOURSELF OVER THERE FOR LUNCH OR DINNER. ON BEHALF OF DAILY EATS, WHICH IS THE CRG CICCIO RESTAURANT GROUP, ENJOY YOURSELF, BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR DINNER. BEHALF OF MEAT MARKET IN OLD HYDE PARK, PROVIDING YOU WITH A GIFT CERTIFICATE. YOU CAN ENJOY YOURSELF OVER THERE LUNCH OR DINNER. AND THEN ON BEHALF OF YUMMY HOUSE, I ALWAYS SAY THIS, IT'S TRUE, THE CHIEF WANTS YOU TO TAKE HIM. [ LAUGHTER ] OVER TO YUMMY HOUSE CHINA BISTRO. PROVIDING A GIFT CERTIFICATE. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE LETTERS. THERE IS YOUR GIFT CERTIFICATE. TAKE ALL OF THAT WITH YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU YOUNG PEOPLE FOR YOUR DEDICATION. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LUIS VIERA: ON BEHALF OF A VERY GRATEFUL TAMPA CITY COUNCIL, GENUINE HONOR TO GIVE YOU THIS. YOUNG PEOPLE HERE, GOD-WILLING, WONDERFUL FUTURE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. THANKS IN PART TO YOUR WORK. [ APPLAUSE ] >> FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS RECOGNITION. BEING ABLE TO BE HERE IS JUST IN PART TO SHOW THAT I GET TO WORK FOR THE GREATEST NATION -- OR THE GREATEST DEPARTMENT IN THE NATION. THAT FOR ME IS A REWARD EVERY DAY. THANK MY HUSBAND AND SON, SUPPORTIVE PARENTS AND FAMILY BECAUSE I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT THEM, TRULY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY COMMAND STAFF AND CHAIN OF COMMAND. I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I'M DOING WITHOUT THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN STRIVE TO BE BETTER. I THANK THEM TO ALLOW ME TO MENTOR AND LEAD THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LUIS VIERA: CAN I HAVE THESE FOLKS SAY THEIR NAME? PLEASE, TELL US YOUR NAME. >> CORPORAL JULIAN. >> CORPORAL ROBERTS GARRETT. >> CAPTAIN. >> MAJOR ASHLEY. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. IT IS AN HONOR TO SEE YOU HERE, ESPECIALLY THE FOUR YOUNG PEOPLE BEHIND YOU. THE POLICE OFFICERS CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. WHEN YOU GET YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOU GET THEM INVOLVED IN SOCIETY AND TEACH THEM WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UP AS SOCIETY LEADERS AND DO THE RIGHT THING. YOU KNOW, WHEN THE CHIEF MENTIONED STOLEN CARS, I WAS THINKING ABOUT BACK IN THE '90s, YOU CAN VERIFY THIS FIGURE, ALMOST CERTAIN THERE WERE OVER 11,000 CARS STOLEN IN THE CITY OF TAMPA IN ONE YEAR BACK IN THE '90s. GOT DOWN TO A LOW OF 450. ONE IS TOO MANY. BECAUSE OF YOURSELF, LIKE YOU AND CADETS BEHIND YOU, WORKING AND WORKING, AND SOLVING PROBLEMS, IT'S WHAT MAKES TAMPA WHAT IT IS. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY AND WANT THE CITY TO GO FORWARD WHO ELECT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS AND THE ORGANIZATION YOU HAVE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF YOUR DEPARTMENT AND YOUR UNION AND ALL OF YOU THAT MAKE THE CITY OF TAMPA BETTER. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT UP YOUR FAMILY. THANKS TO THEM AND THE SACRIFICE THAT THEY MAKE AND THE SACRIFICE YOU MAKE EVERY TIME YOU PUT ON THE UNIFORM. BUT MENTORING THE YOUTH AND SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE WITH YOU THAT WE GOT TO MEET, THAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE COMMUNITY. YOU ARE LAYING DOWN THAT GROUNDWORK AND FOUNDATION. THAT'S SO IMPORTANT. I HOPE YOU REALIZE THAT, BECAUSE YOU ARE OPENING UP THAT PATH AND HELPING TO START THAT JOURNEY FOR A BETTER CITY FOR TOMORROW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS WELL DESERVED. ENJOY ALL THE GOODIES THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. THANK YOU FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS WHO ARE GETTING INVOLVED AS WELL. COMMUNITY RELATIONS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN DO. DR. CHIEF BERCAW HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF THAT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. OBVIOUSLY, YOU ARE A BIG PART OF IT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO, YOU MENTIONED OUR POLICE FORCE BEING THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. AS I TRAVEL AROUND THE REGION, OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES COMPLAIN BECAUSE OUR PAY IS TOO HIGH. I KNOW POLICE PROBABLY THINK IT SHOULD BE HIGHER EVEN, BUT WE ON CITY COUNCIL HAVE SUPPORTED ALL THE EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAY WELL BECAUSE WE WANT THE BEST PEOPLE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND THE THING ABOUT IT IS, IT'S HARD TO GET IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. THERE ARE VERY HIGH STANDARDS. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE HELPING INSPIRE PEOPLE TO POTENTIALLY APPLY IN THE FUTURE TO GO THROUGH TRAINING WITH OUR POLICE FORCE. WE HOPE TO CONTINUE BUILDING GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO CONTINUING TO HIRE THE BEST FOLKS OUT THERE. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCIL MEMBER YOUNG. >>NAYA YOUNG: JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR YOUR MENTORING OF THE YOUTH AS WELL. YOUTH IS A BIG PASSION OF MINE. TO SEE YOU WALK UP AND WANTING TO BE A PART OF THE CHANGE IN HELPING YOUR COMMUNITY REALLY MEANS A LOT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU ALL FOR STEPPING UP. >>LYNN HURTAK: AND THANK YOU, AGAIN, FROM A GRATEFUL CITY COUNCIL. AS A FORMER EDUCATOR MYSELF, I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU BEING ABLE TO USE YOUR ROLE TO HELP MENTOR YOUTH. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I THINK ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THIS IS THAT EVERYBODY THAT CHIEF BRINGS FORWARD IS ABLE TO USE A PERSONAL PASSION TO MAKE THEIR COMMUNITY BETTER. IT JUST REMINDS US THAT THE POLICE ARE AN OVERARCHING AGENCY WHERE EVERY PART OF A COMMUNITY. I'M JUST REALLY THRILLED THAT WE GET TO SEE PEOPLE TAKE THEIR PASSIONS AND ABLE TO USE THEM FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY IN WHATEVER THEIR JOB IS, BUT PARTICULARLY IN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAME TO STAND BEHIND HER TODAY. I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY WONDERFUL. APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE'LL GIVE A FEW MINUTES FOR ALL OF YOU AND YOUR WONDERFUL SUPPORTERS TO GET READY FOR SOME PHOTOS OUTSIDE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY, YOU ALL, WE ARE STILL IN -- THANK YOU. >>LUIS VIERA: IF I MAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR. WE ARE HERE TO HONOR A VERY SPECIAL WOMAN, MS. BETTY COLEMAN, WHO IS HERE, WHO THIS YEAR WILL MARK 45 YEARS, WONDERFUL WOMAN WAS HIRED AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE FOR TAMPA FIRE RESCUE. THAT IS A VERY, VERY BIG DEAL. SHE SERVED FOR OVER THREE DECADES IN TAMPA FIRE RESCUE. BEFORE I TALK ABOUT HER, JUST FOR THAT GREAT FACT ALONE OF WHAT IT MEANS, LET'S GIVE HER A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [ APPLAUSE ] ONE YEAR BEFORE MS. COLEMAN WAS HIRED, FIRST FEMALE FIREFIGHTER AND YEAR LATER MS. COLEMAN WOULD COME. SHE'S HERE WITH MANY, MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING DAUGHTER MEGAN, SON CECIL, TWO OF HER EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN, ARIANA AND GENESA HERE AS WELL. GOOD NUMBER HAD OF PEOPLE HERE. OBVIOUSLY, WONDERFUL CHIEF TRIPP WILL BE HERE. MR. JOHNNY PRIME REPRESENTING LOCAL 754. THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE OF NEGOTIATIONS. I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CHIEF MORRIS LOPEZ. BILL WADE AND FOLKS FROM THE RETIREES WILL BE COMING AS WELL AS THE OFFICE OF CONGRESS WOMAN KATHY CASTOR. IN 1981, MS. COLEMAN WAS HIRED WITH TAMPA FIRE RESCUE. 1981 WHEN SHE CAME ON, PRESIDENT REAGAN HAD ONLY BEEN PRESIDENT FOR TWO MONTHS. THE IRANIAN HOSTAGES, 52 OF THEM, WERE JUST RELEASED BY IRAN. JOURNEY'S DON'T STOP BELIEVING WAS ON THE JUKEBOX. CHARLIE MIRANDA HAD BEEN ON CITY COUNCIL FOR ONLY SEVEN YEARS BACK THEN. [ LAUGHTER ] BOB MARTINEZ WAS OUR MAYOR. AT THAT TIME, THIS GOOD WOMAN WOULD JOIN TAMPA FIRE RESCUE, 1981. 13 YEARS AFTER THE FORMAL END OF JIM CROW. 13 YEARS AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE FAIR HOUSING LAW. 18 YEARS AFTER THE MURDER OF EVER IS. AND AFTER THE MURDER OF MARTIN LUTHER KING. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS HAVING A LOT OF LOCAL DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH AND NORTH TO OPEN UP FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE, GOOD PEOPLE WHO WERE QUALIFIED AND WORK HARD AND PREVIOUSLY BEEN EXCLUDED. MS. COLEMAN WOULD APPLY. YOU WERE WHAT, 21 YEARS OLD? YEAH, 21 YEARS OLD AND WORKED AT THE WATER DEPARTMENT. HER FAMILY, I MET WITH HER, WAS VERY NERVOUS. OBVIOUSLY, ANYBODY THAT JOINS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IN 1981 AND SO FORTH. SHE WOULD DO IT. IT WOULD TAKE A WHOLE LOT OF COURAGE FOR HER TO TAKE THAT SHOT AND WOULD ULTIMATELY DO IT. SERVE OVER THREE DECADES. EVERYBODY THAT I TALKED TO ABOUT HER HAS TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR HER, HER ROLE, HER PART IN HISTORY AND HER AMAZING WORK ETHIC. I MET HER AT A TAMPA FIRE RESCUE RETIREE LUNCHEON THAT I WENT TO. SHE WAS THERE WITH MEGAN, HER WONDERFUL DAUGHTER. WE MEET, TALK, MEGAN GOES, SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE HIRED BY TAMPA FIRE RESCUE. I WENT, REALLY? MS. COLEMAN GOES, NOT A BIG DEAL, BECAUSE SHE IS SO HUMBLE ABOUT IT. I SAID THAT IS A BIG DEAL. WE FOUND OUT THIS YEAR WOULD BE 45 YEARS. WE OBVIOUSLY WANTED TO HONOR HER. BEGIN AT STATION 1 IN 1981 AND SERVE THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STATIONS WITHIN OUR CITY OF TAMPA. SHE IS A TREMENDOUS WOMAN OF CHRISTIAN FAITH, SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT FOR HER. IF YOU GO ANY SUNDAY YOU WILL FIND HER AT NEW HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH WHERE SHE ATTENDS WITH HER CHILDREN AND MANY OF HER GRANDCHILDREN AS WELL. THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONS OF HER LIFE. BEFORE WE FORMALLY HONOR HER AND HAVE HER SPEAK AND SO FORTH AND I KNOW WE HAVE FOLKS HERE AS WELL, CHIEF TRIPP, PLEASE COME FORWARD MA'AM. THANK YOU. >>CHIEF TRIPP: BARBARA TRIPP, FIRE CHIEF FOR TAMPA FIRE RESCUE. MS. BETTY IS THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN A TRUE TRAILBLAZER FOR THE WOMEN OF TAMPA FIRE RESCUE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT RACE THEY WERE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH BACK IN 1981. WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH NOW, NOTHING COMPARED TO THAT. JUST TELLING YOU. I KNOW IT WASN'T EASY BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY NOW. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. I HAD REACHED OUT TO COLEMAN BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS HAVING CHALLENGES. FEMALE AFRICAN AMERICAN IN THIS CAREER. SHE GAVE ME A LOT OF GUIDANCE AND SAY, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT YOU WORRY ABOUT. THIS IS WHAT YOU DON'T WORRY ABOUT. I HAVE TO THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T STOP. I DIDN'T GIVE UP. I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SIT HERE TODAY TO BE ABLE TO HONOR YOU BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, I WOULDN'T BE HERE BECAUSE YOU PAVED THOSE ROADS FOR US, YOU KNOW. AS FAR AS BEING AFRO-AMERICAN, IT'S NOT THAT MANY OF US IN THE FIRE SERVICE. WE TRY TO RECRUIT. A LOT OF THEM DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT IT'S A CHALLENGE. THAT'S ANYONE. NOT TO MAKE IT A RACIAL ISSUE, BUT YOU WERE THAT TRAILBLAZER FOR ME. YOU WAS THAT TRAIL BLAZER TO HELP THE FEMALES TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND DON'T GIVE UP. WE WORK JUST AS HARD AS THOSE MEN DO. AND SOMETIMES EVEN BETTER. WITH THAT BEING SAID AND AS WE TALK ABOUT HER BEING CHRISTIAN WOMAN, CHRISTIAN FAITH. PROVERBS, VIRTUAL WOMAN. PROVERBS 31 AND RE-CREATED, BUT I WANTED TO READ THIS TO YOU. MS. BETTY COLEMAN IS A WOMAN OF WISDOM IN HER STRENGTH AND HER VIRTUE. SHE WAS AND STILL IS CLOTHED WITH DIGNITY AND FILLS WITH DIVINE CONFIDENCE. TAUGHT MANY THROUGH HER WORK DILIGENTLY, SHOWED LOVE SELFLESSLY, AND SERVED FAITHFULLY IN ALL THAT SHE DID IN OUR COMMUNITY. HER WORDS BROUGHT LIFE. HER ACTIONS REFLECT HER GLORY AND HER HEART STAY ROOTED IN TRUTH. MS. COLEMAN WALKED IN EXCELLENCE AND COURAGE TO MANAGE HER TIME, HER FAMILY, HER HOME AND HER CALLING WITH GRACE AND JOY. MS. COLEMAN ROSE EACH DAY 30 PLUS YEARS, 30 PLUS YEARS. I AIN'T MADE IT. I'M TRYING. 30 PLUS YEARS WITH PURPOSE KNOWING THAT SHE HAS PLEASED HER CALLING TO HER COMMUNITY AND HER GOD. GOD BLESS YOU. I THANK YOU. I'LL INVITE TO YOU MY RETIREMENT PARTY. [ LAUGHTER ] [ APPLAUSE ] >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, CHIEF. VERY MUCH FROM THE HEART. I SEE EDGAR WITH LOCAL 2294 WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS. GOOD TO SEE YOU, BUDDY, AND WHAT WHATNOT. WAS ANYBODY ELSE HERE FROM ANY ORGANIZATION TO PRESENT ANYTHING? BEFORE WE ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK AND YOUR FAMILY, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY HERE TO HONOR YOU. >> I'M HUMBLED AND HONORED TO BE HERE. ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY, YOU TALK ABOUT A TRAILBLAZER, CHIEF AND A ROLE MODEL AND SETTING A LEGACY, I WANT TO THANK YOUR FAMILY AND YOURSELF FOR YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR SACRIFICE AND ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR GREAT CITY. ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY, LITTLE TRADITION AT ONE BUC, ANYBODY THAT GOES OVER AND ABOVE GETS A GAME BALL. YOU HAVE LED BY EXAMPLE AND HAVE LIVED IT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS, 45 YEARS. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING, AGAIN, COUNCIL. JILL WITECKI WITH TAMPA THEATRE. ON BEHALF OF ONE CHAPTER OF TAMPA'S HISTORY TO ANOTHER, IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO PRESENT WITH YOU A GIFT MEMBERSHIP TO THE THEATER TO COME SEE US AND SPEND TIME IN ANOTHER INSTITUTION THAT MAKES TAMPA GREAT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> JEFF HOW CAN WITH 1905 FAMILY OF RESTAURANTS. INSPIRED WHAT DID I MESS UP? I THOUGHT I MISSED A BUTTON. I'M INSPIRED BY THE BIBLE PASSAGE, PROVERBS, GOD WITHIN US, SHE WILL NOT FAIL. YOU HAVE INSPIRED ME THIS MORNING, INSPIRED SO MANY PEOPLE. I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE GONZMART FAMILY, FOURTH AND FIFTH GENERATIONS, SMALL TOKEN OF OUR THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE SERVICE OF OUR COMMUNITY. I'LL KEEP EVERYTHING BUTTONED. PLEASURE TO MEET YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING. MARY LOU BAILEY, HERE ON BEHALF OF ZOO TAMPA'S BOARD. >> MARK HANEY. >> WE WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS AND YEARS OF SERVICE AND FOR BEING A ROLE MODEL. YOU PROBABLY OUTWORKED ALL THE MEN. LET'S BE HONEST. SORRY GUYS. REALLY INSPIRED BY YOUR STORY AND I THANK YOUR FAMILY. AS A MEANS OF SAYING THANK YOU, WE'RE PRESENTING WITH YOU AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TO THE ZOO FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO GO. MARK IS ALSO GOING TO EXPLAIN WHY HE CHOSE THE FOX. >> FIRST, I WANT TO SAY IF THEY MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT YOU, I WILL BE THE FIRST TO BUY TICKETS. I THINK ANGELA BASSETT SHOULD PLAY YOU. I THINK IT WOULD BE AN AMAZING MOVIE. IT'S AN AMAZING STORY. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH AND HOW MANY PEOPLE LOOK UP TO YOU. IT'S AMAZING. THE FOX, I COULDN'T REALLY THINK OF ANYTHING TO THINK OF THE FOX WITH YOUR SITUATION, BUT WE JUST GOT TWO FOXES FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE ZOO AND THEY ARE REALLY CUTE. I JUST THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A CHANCE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT FOX. SAVED FROM A FUR FARM. TWO RED FOXES AND THEY ARE AMAZING. >> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING. STEVE MICHELINI. YOU'RE STILL SMILING, TOO. MAKE YOU SMILE SOME MORE. ON BEHALF OF JACKSON'S BISTRO ON HARBOUR ISLAND, PROVIDING WITH YOU A GIFT CERTIFICATE TO ENJOY YOURSELF FOR LUNCH OR DINNER. BEHALF OF BUSCH GARDENS, PROVIDING YOU WITH FOUR COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS SO YOU CAN ENJOY YOURSELF AT BUSCH GARDENS. >> THANK YOU. >> I KNOW BEING THE FIRST OF ANYTHING MEANS THERE IS A TARGET ON YOUR BACK. YOU DODGED ALL THOSE BULLETS AND YOU'VE MADE IT THROUGH AND QUITE SUCCESSFULLY. WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR TENURE AND SERVICE. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. FAMILY FRIENDS BETTY CHIEF LOUIS, THANK YOU. EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS JOHNNY. IT IS WITH HUMBLENESS AND HONOR THAT WE RECOGNIZE RETIRED SUPERVISOR OF INSPECTIONS BETTY COLEMAN. BETTY WASN'T JUST A TRAILBLAZER, SHE WAS THE REAL DEAL. OUTSTANDING IN SERVICE AS A FIREFIGHTER, FIRE INSPECTOR, FIRE INVESTIGATOR, SUPERVISOR AND LEADERS, SPENT THE MAJORITY OF FIRE SERVICE CAREER IN THE FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION WHERE SHE QUITELY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR SHAPING THE DIVISION INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY. EXCUSE MY EMOTIONS HERE. OVER THIS COUPLED WITH HER SKILLS AND ABILITY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN AIDING DIVISION TO TRANSITION FROM AND EQUATED HANDWRITTEN REPORTS AND ASSOCIATED PAPER WORK TO THE MODERNIZED SYSTEMS IN PLACE TODAY. SET THE STANDARD COMMANDING PROFESSIONALISM, FAIRNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH SHE RETURNED THREEFOLD BACK TO ALL THOSE SHE ENCOUNTERED. FOR THOSE WHO WORK FOR HER, WE ARE BETTER FOR IT. BETTY WAS A PROUD CARD CARRYING UNION MEMBER AND UNION VALUES RAN BLOOD 2K50E7. DEMONSTRATED EVERY DAY THAT ONCE LEADERSHIP IS EARNED, IT IS PROTECTED AND RESPECTED. FOR HER, IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT BREAKING BARRIERS, BUT ABOUT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AND BUILDING THOSE PATHS FORWARD. FROM ALL OF US AT LOCAL 754, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR LEGACY. YOU DIDN'T JUST MAKE HISTORY, YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THIS IS WILLIAM MANN FILLING THE POSITION THAT BETTY LEFT. >>LUIS VIERA: JOHNNY MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT BETTY WAS A UNION MEMBER. YOU TOLD ME YOUR FATHER WAS A LONGSHOREMAN AND UNION MEMBER AS WELL. ON BEHALF -- A COUPLE OF THINGS, I GOT THIS PICTURE THAT MEGAN SENT ME AND I KIND OF ENLARGED IT. THIS IS A PICTURE OF BETTY WHEN SHE WAS VERY YOUNG. WHAT YEAR WAS THIS? >> '81. >>LUIS VIERA: THIS IS HER FIRST YEAR. THERE YOU GO. >>LYNN HURTAK: WOW. >>LUIS VIERA: 1981. >> MELVIN STONE. >>LUIS VIERA: 45 YEARS AGO. HERE, MA'AM, ON BEHALF OF A VERY GRATEFUL CITY OF TAMPA FOR WHAT WAS HECK OF AN EMOTIONAL PRESENTATION FOR EVERYBODY FROM CHIEF TRIPP AND JUST EVERYBODY, TALKING ABOUT -- WHEN WE MET, VERY HUMBLE, BUT IT IS A BIG DEAL. GOD BLESS YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHOA. I APPRECIATE THAT. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO COME UP HERE AND GET THE PLAQUE AND JUST LEAVE. [ LAUGHTER ] OH WOW. OKAY. GOOD MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DID RECOGNIZING ME. I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO CRY. I'M SO SORRY. THIS IS VERY, VERY NICE. I DO APPRECIATE THIS. FIRST -- I NEED TO SEE MY SPEECH. [ LAUGHTER ] FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF TAMPA FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND PERMISSION THEY GAVE ME TO SERVE OUR CITY AND OUR GREAT COMMUNITY FOR SO MANY YEARS. I THANK THE TAMPA FIRE RESCUE FOR THE CHANCE THEY TOOK WHEN THEY HIRED ME BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER WOMEN ON THE LIST, TOO. THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GET ME BUT THEY DID. I THANK THEM SO MUCH FOR THAT. I WAS GLAD THEY CHOSE ME TO REPRESENT THE DEPARTMENT AND THEY GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE MY SKILLS. I AM ALSO GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO HELP PAVE THE WAY FOR SO MANY OTHER WOMEN TO COME ON THE DEPARTMENT. STARTING ANY NEW JOB ALWAYS COMES WITH SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I WENT FROM WORKING AS A PERSONNEL CLERK AT THE CITY WATER DEPARTMENT. I WAS WEARING A DRESS, STOCKINGS, AND HEELS TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER WEARING A HELMET, BUNKER PANTS, AND BOOTS. THAT WAS A CHANGE. NOT TO MENTION LEARNING SO MANY NEW THINGS STARTING FROM MEDICAL AND FIRE CODES, LANGUAGES THAT I NEVER HEARD, BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD EACH DAY GOT BETTER. WORKING AT TAMPA FIRE RESCUE WAS AN EXCITING JOB. IT ALLOWED ME TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED, UNIQUE, AND FINE PEOPLE. NO, IT WASN'T ALWAYS FLOWERY. DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT. FOR SOME, WE HAD OUR MOMENTS, BUT WE GOT THROUGH THEM, AND THAT WAS WONDERFUL. I GAINED SO MANY NEW FRIENDS. I GAINED SO MANY NEW FRIENDS THAT I CHERISH THEM EVEN TO THIS DAY. IT WAS AN EXCITING AND REWARDING CAREER, AND IF I HAD TO DO IT OVER AGAIN, I WOULD. I THANK MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR ALL OF THEIR LOVE, SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGEMENT THEY GAVE ME THROUGHOUT THOSE MANY YEARS, AND THEY STILL DO EVEN TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. I WISH EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO CAN PURSUE THE TAMPA FIRE RESCUE AS A CAREER. YOU WILL FIND THERE ARE MANY DOORS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAVEL THROUGH. YOU WILL ALSO HAVE A CHANCE TO POUR BACK INTO YOUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OTHERS. YOU WILL BRING NEW FRIENDS AND NEW MENTORS INTO YOUR LIFE, WHILE ACHIEVING A WONDERFUL AND REWARDING CAREER PATH FOR YOURSELF. AGAIN, I AM NOW HAPPILY RETIRED. I'M ENJOYING MY GRANDCHILDREN AND MY FAMILY AND I'M NOT BOTHERING ANYONE. [ LAUGHTER ] AGAIN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YOU KNOW, BETTY, BEING NUMBER ONE COMES WITH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY. YOU MIGHT BE RIDER BUT I GUARANTEE YOU YOU'RE NOT TIRED. YOU SET A BLAZING TRAIL. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FEMALES ARE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NOW. MAYBE SOMEBODY CAN TELL ME DURING THIS SESSION. BUT YOU SET A STANDARD. HOW MANY FEMALES WE HAVE? >> 53. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: 53. LOOK AT THE BLAZING TRAIL, THE PATH YOU HAVE GIVEN OTHERS THAT WAS MUCH EASIER TO GET ON NOW THAN WHEN YOU HAD TO FIGHT INCH BY INCH TO GET WHERE YOU WERE AT. IT WASN'T EASY TO DO WHAT YOU DID BACK THEN. IT WASN'T EASY TODAY. BUT BECAUSE OF YOUR EFFORT TO SAY I WANT COMPASSION, I WANT UNDERSTANDING, I WANT THE CITY OF TAMPA TO BE BETTER, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO TO HELP SOCIETY AND YOU SUCCEEDED IN EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. TODAY'S DAY IS NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN, IT'S TO BE REMEMBERED ON WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED TO GIVE OTHERS THE CHANCE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS OUR FIRST MEETING BACK FOR 2026. WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO START THE DAY. HOW INSPIRATIONAL. WE HAD THE POLICE OFFICER OF THE MONTH AND NOW WE HAVE YOU. WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE YET. >>LYNN HURTAK: ALL ABOUT THE WOMEN TODAY. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE WOMEN, BUT IT'S DAYS LIKE THIS THAT REMIND ME WHY I LOVE COMING HERE, BECAUSE OF YOU, AS COUNCILMAN MIRANDA MENTIONED, THE PATH. YOU ARE A TRAILBLAZER. YOU ARE A PIONEER. YOU ARE HISTORY. YOU ARE WHAT MAKE TAMPA GREAT. PEOPLE LIKE YOU. AS FIRE CHIEF MENTIONED, 53 WOMEN OFFICERS -- SORRY, FIREFIGHTERS, YOU WERE THE FIRST. AND IT WILL CONTINUE. YOU INSPIRED EVEN MORE PEOPLE TODAY BY BEING HERE, JUST YOUR PRESENCE, PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME, PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. YOUR WORK IS NOT DONE. YOU ARE RETIRED BUT YOUR STORY CONTINUES. THANK YOU. IT IS AN HONOR. CONGRATULATIONS. >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU. IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE. HONOR TO HEAR YOU. I HOPE OTHER FORUMS WHERE WE CAN HEAR YOU TELL MORE OF YOUR STORY. ALSO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HAVING CHIEF TRIPP IN THE ROOM AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TRAIL THAT SHE'S BLAZED AS WELL. I HOPE THAT INDIVIDUALLY OR TOGETHER YOU ARE ALL BEING RECORDED SOMEWHERE ON VIDEO OR SOME FORMAT SO WE CAN KEEP THE HISTORY GOING. IF NOBODY HAS ASKED YOU, CALL ME AND I'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>NAYA YOUNG: I WANT TO SAY AN AMAZING STORY. AS A WOMAN, ALSO AS A BLACK WOMAN, YOU ARE VERY INSPIRING. I JUST APPRECIATE YOU FOR CONTINUING, BECAUSE IT IS A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY TO BE THE FIRST, BUT YOU CONTINUED. I'M ALWAYS VERY INSPIRED BY WOMEN LIKE YOURSELF WHO WERE THE FIRST AND CONTINUED. YOU PAVED THE WAY FOR A LOT OF US, INCLUDING ME. SO THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: AGAIN, COUNCILMAN CLENDENIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NO. I JUST ECHO EVERYBODY ELSE ON THIS. ESPECIALLY COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA AND MOVING THE PATH, CLEARING THE PATH FOR SO MANY OTHERS. >>LYNN HURTAK: I ALSO WANT TO ECHO EVERYONE. ESPECIALLY AS A WOMAN, IT REALLY MATTERS TO HAVE THIS REPRESENTATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN VIERA, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. IT'S JUST -- I MEAN, WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, JUST BEING 13 YEARS AWAY FROM JIM CROW. I MEAN, WE STILL, IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT, TO REMEMBER THE WOMEN WHO CAME BEFORE US, ESPECIALLY, AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO STAND ON YOUR SHOULDERS AND IMPORTANTLY AS WELL THAT WE CONTINUE TO BRING WOMEN ALONG TO BUILD LADDERS SO THEY CAN STAND ON OUR SHOULDERS AND GET TALLER AND BETTER AND STRONGER. WE'RE JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID AND REALLY HAPPY THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS HERE WHILE YOU ARE HERE. THAT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO A COMMUNITY WHILE THEY ARE STILL HERE. WE'RE JUST SO APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT TODAY. WE WISH YOU CONTINUED HAPPINESS IN RETIREMENT. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY AND SHARING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY. THANK YOU ALL. [ APPLAUSE ] NEXT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE -- WE'LL GIVE A MOMENT FOR EVERYONE TO EXIT. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE INTRODUCTION FOR THIS TODAY. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE AT THIS TIME SHARON LUTHER FROM THE CITY OF HAINES CITY WHO SERVES AS THE CITY CLERK. SHE WILL BE MAKING THE PIN PRESENTATION TO OUR WONDERFUL SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES AND AMAZING SULING HARRIS ON ACHIEVING MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERK, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT. YES, MA'AM, TAKE IT AWAY. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF, ATTENDEES. I AM SO HUMBLED TO BE HERE. THIS IS FABULOUS. THIS IS LIKE WOMAN DAY. AS HE SAID, MY NAME IS SHARON LUTHER, CITY CLERK FOR THE CITY OF HAINES CITY IN POLK COUNTY AND THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CITY CLERKS CENTRAL WEST DISTRICT DIRECTOR. IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I APPEAR HERE THIS MORNING TO CONGRATULATE YOUR CITY ON THE RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT OF YOUR CITY CLERK SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES AND YOUR DEPUTY CITY CLERK SULING LUCAS HARRIS, UPON RECEIVING THEIR MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERK DESIGNATION. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES WAS APPOINTED BY MAYOR PAM IORIO ON MAY 12, 2003. SHE WAS THE 28th CLERK OF THE CITY OF TAMPA. SHE IS ONLY THE THIRD FEMALE TO HOLD THIS POSITION. PRIOR TO HER APPOINTMENT, SHE ALSO SERVED AS CHAIR TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA. SHIRLEY IS THE LONGEST SERVING CITY CLERK IN THE CITY OF TAMPA'S HISTORY. BEFORE HER 22 YEARS WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA, SHE WAS THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR TAMPA-HILLSBOROUGH URBAN LEAGUE AND FOR THE PREVIOUS 16 YEARS, SHE WAS A SUPERVISING ACCOUNTANT AUDITOR BUDGET ANALYST AS WELL AS CORPORATE AND TAX ACCOUNTANT FOR GTE OF FLORIDA. SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS VOLUNTEER MEMBER AND ADVISOR TO THE CITY OF TAMPA BLACK HISTORY COMMITTEE. SHE ALSO SERVED AS BOARD MEMBER AND ADVISOR FOR 13 YEARS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY. SHE HAS ALSO VOLUNTEERED WITH BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HISTORICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, NATIONAL FORUM FOR BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, TAMPA ORGANIZATION OF BLACK AFFAIRS, AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ACCOUNTANTS AND NABA, ASSOCIATION OF BLACK ACCOUNTANTS. SHARING THE 2006 ANNUAL CONVENTION FOR ALL FLORIDA CITY CLERKS, SHE WAS HIGHLY RECOGNIZED FOR HER EVENT PLANNING AND RED CARPET TREATMENT FOR ALL THOSE ATTENDING. SHE HAS ALSO VOLUNTEERED AND BEEN AWARDED THE JOSEPHINE HOWARD STAFFORD MEMORIAL AWARD IN 2025, NATIONAL FORUM FOR BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, TAMPA BAY AREA CHAPTER 2012 AWARD, THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS, DR. WILLIAM H. COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD IN 2015. IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS, DEDICATION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT ENRICH THE LIVES OF MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHERE SHE GETS TIME TO BE THE CITY CLERK OF TAMPA, I DON'T KNOW 37 BUT, MY, THIS IS PLOISMS. WE'RE ALSO HONORING YOUR DEPUTY CITY CLERK. I WANT TO READ HER BIO AS WELL. SULING LUCAS HARRIS BEGAN HER CAREER WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA AS TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE IN JUNE 2003. SHE BECAME A PERMANENT EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ON OCTOBER 12, 2004. SINCE THAT TIME, SHE HAS GAINED COMPREHENSIVE EXPERIENCE ACROSS NEARLY EVERY FUNCTION WITHIN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. HER SERVICE INCLUDES ROLES AS FRONT DESK CLERK, AGENDA MANAGEMENT CLERK, CODE ENFORCEMENT CLERK, SENIOR CITY COUNCIL CITY CLERK SUPPORT SPECIALIST WHERE SHE MANAGED THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICE AND ASSISTED WITH DAILY LEGISLATIVE AND OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS. THROUGH THESE POSITIONS SHE DEVELOPED EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF MUNICIPAL PROCEDURES, AGENDA PREPARATION, RECORDS MANAGEMENT, AND QUASI-JUDICIAL PROCESSES. NEAR THE END OF 2016, SULING WAS APPOINTED INTERIM DEPUTY CITY CLERK AND PERMANENTLY ASSUMED THE ROLE IN NOVEMBER 2017. SHE CONTINUES TO SERVE AS THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK, PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND OVERSIGHT FOR CITY COUNCIL OPERATIONS. CODE ENFORCEMENT SPECIAL MAGISTRATE OPERATIONS AND CLERK OFFICE STAFF WHILE ENSURING ACCURACY TRANSPARENCY AND COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. SULING IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CITY CLERKS AS WELL AS THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS. SHE BECAME A MEMBER OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS IN 2016 AND EARNED HER MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERK DESIGNATION REFLECTING HER DEDICATION TO PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE, ETHICAL PUBLIC SERVICE, AND LIFELONG LEARNING. SHE IS HONORED TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF TAMPA AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING THE MUNICIPAL CLERK POSITION. SOME PEOPLE SAY WHAT IS A CLERK? WHAT IS A CITY CLERK IN LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION. THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS KNOWN AS IIMC AND ITS PARTNER WITH THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CITY CLERKS ARE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS THAT PROMOTE CONTINUING EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION THROUGH UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE-BASED INSTITUTES. THE IIMC'S PRIMARY GOAL IS TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE THE CONTINUING EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS THROUGH EXTENSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS CERTIFICATION PUBLICATIONS, NETWORKING ACROSS THE GLOBE, ANNUAL CONFERENCES AND RESEARCH. THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CITY CLERK'S PRIMARY GOAL IS TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE THE CONTINUING EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BY PARTNERING WITH THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES AND THE FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT TO MEET THE EVER-CHANGING EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE CITY AND TOWN CLERKS AND TO IMPROVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE IN AREAS SUCH AS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, LAW, MANAGEMENT, ELECTIONS, AND MANY OTHER DISCIPLINES. THE MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERK ACADEMY WAS ESTABLISHED TO FURTHER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OF CITY CLERKS AND TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE OFFICE. ACADEMY MEMBERS MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY HAVE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL PARTICIPATION THAT KEEPS THEM CURRENT WITH THE CHANGING EVENTS IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SCENE. ACADEMY MEMBERS SEEKING TO EARN THE MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERK DESIGNATION ARE REQUIRED TO ATTAIN A HUNDRED HOURS IN ADVANCED EDUCATION WITH 60% OF THE COURSE WORK IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND 40% IN THE PROFESSIONAL AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS. THIS IS QUITE A TASK CONSIDERING THE DAILY DEMANDS OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE. CURRENTLY, 9.6% OF THE 15,000 MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MUNICIPAL CLERKS HAVE ATTAINED THEIR MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERKS. THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CITY CLERKS HAS 626 MEMBERS, 142 MEMBERS HAVE REACHED THEIR MASTER MUNICIPAL DESIGNATION. THAT TELLS YOU EXACTLY JUST HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO ATTAIN THIS, AND IT'S VERY, VERY SPECIAL. WE REALLY HAVE TO COMMEND OUR CLERKS WHEN THEY DO GET THIS DESIGNATION. SHIRLEY AND SULING ARE NOW PART OF AN ELITE GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, A GROUP THEY COULD NOT HAVE BECOME PART OF WITHOUT YOUR COMMITMENT AND THE SUPPORT OF THEIR EFFORTS. YOUR CITY CAN TAKE IMMENSE PRIDE IN SHIRLEY AND SULING'S EDUCATIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG LEARNING THAT HAS ENABLED THEM TO ACHIEVE THIS MILESTONE. SHIRLEY AND SULING DISPLAY YOUR PLAQUE AND WEAR YOUR PIN WITH PRIDE AS AN EXAMPLE OF DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM. ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CITY CLERKS PRESIDENT, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ITS MEMBERS, AND MYSELF, THE CENTRAL WEST DISTRICT DIRECTOR, CONGRATULATIONS ON BECOMING OUR NEWEST MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERKS. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LYNN HURTAK: TURN THIS WAY SO THEY CAN GET IT FROM THAT SIDE. [ LAUGHTER ] >> I'M SO NERVOUS. AND NOW SULING. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LYNN HURTAK: LET'S GET ALL THREE. LOOKING THIS WAY IN THIS CORNER FIRST. TURN AROUND FOR YOUR PERSON WHO WANTED THAT ONE. OKAY. [ APPLAUSE ] >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE LAST THING. I WANT TO THANK -- I HAVE SOME PAST PRESIDENTS THAT HAVE COME. SHIRLEY MOONEY, PAST PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION AND A RETIRED CITY CLERK FROM TEMPLE TERRACE. KELLY IS ALSO A PAST PRESIDENT AND CURRENT CITY CLERK FOR CITY OF LAKELAND. I THANK THEM FOR COMING AND GIVING ME A LITTLE SUPPORT HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THIS WAS WONDERFUL. I HAVE IDEAS TO TAKE BACK NOW. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: LET'S ALLOW THEM -- >> I WANTED TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE FRANCIS AND JANET MARTIN, THE OTHER TWO FEMALE CLERKS. FRANCES WAS HERE UP UNTIL LAST YEAR. SHE LEFT US. SHE WAS A WONDERFUL GUIDE. AND JEANETTE, SHE WAS WONDERFUL, TOO. I KNEW THEM BOTH. >>LYNN HURTAK: EXCELLENT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? >> OH, YES. [ LAUGHTER ] ASIDE FROM HAVING THEM STAND UP WITH US, THEY WERE WONDERFUL GUIDES AND WONDERFUL PEOPLE. GENUINE PEOPLE. I KNOW, CHARLIE, YOU KNEW BOTH OF THEM AND I'M SURE SOME OTHER PEOPLE KNEW THEM. THEY WERE JUST WONDERFUL. FRANCES TALKED TO ME A NUMBER OF TIMES. SHE WAS ALL ABOUT STAFF, STAFF, STAFF, AND SHE KNEW -- FRANCES STARTED BACK IN THE '50s. SHE JUST PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR. I LEARNED SO MUCH. SHE WOULD TALK TO US. TALK TO US, TALK TO STAFF. SHE WAS ALWAYS SHOWING UP, AND I LOVED IT. LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT. AND ANOTHER PERSON I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE, AND I WOULD TELL ANYBODY THIS, MR. BOWDEN USED TO ALWAYS SAY GIVE IT YOUR BEST. GIVE IT YOUR BEST. YOU SAY, HOW YOU DOING? OH, I'M GIVING IT MY BEST. WE SHOULD ALL GIVE IT OUR BEST. I TOOK IT TO HEART TO GIVE IT OUR BEST. BUT ANYWAY, I WILL BE QUIET NOW. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LYNN HURTAK: MS. LUCAS HARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? >> I ACTUALLY WROTE A SPEECH. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. [ LAUGHTER ] I'M NOT GOOD AT LIKE FREE TALKING, SO I WROTE EVERYTHING DOWN. AS ONE OF YOUR MEETING CLERKS, I KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE THAT NO ONE WANTS OR SHOULD WANT TO EXTEND UNNECESSARY. I PROMISE I WILL BE BRIEF. I MADE THAT COMMITMENT ON THE RECORD, I AM TRULY HONORED TO BE PINNED AND RECOGNIZED TODAY AS A MASTER MUNICIPAL CLERK. THIS MOMENT IS BOTH HUMBLING AND DEEPLY MEANINGFUL. BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS NOT JUST AN ACHIEVEMENT, BUT A JOURNEY, ONE ROOTED IN SERVICE, COMMITMENT, AND A DEEP RESPECT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE MMC DESIGNATION IS NOT SOMETHING EARNED OVERNIGHT, AS YOU HEARD. IT REFLECTS YEARS OF DEDICATION, CONTINUED EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN MUNICIPAL SERVICE. IT REPRESENTS A RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY, AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, OFTEN BEHIND THE SCENES BUT ALWAYS AT THE HEART OF GOVERNMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS, THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CITY CLERKS, CITY COUNCIL, PAST AND PRESENT, THE ADMINISTRATION, CITY STAFF ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH, AND THE MENTORS AND COLLEAGUES, CURRENT AND PRESENT, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, WHO GUIDED, CHALLENGED AND ENCOURAGED ME ALONG THE WAY. I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO CRY. YOUR LEADERSHIP, SUPPORT, AND KNOWLEDGE MADE THE MILESTONE POSSIBLE. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE CITY CLERK STAFF. YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION, AND TEAMWORK AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE DO NOT GO UNNOTICED. THE WORK WE DO IS SO DEMANDING, DETAILED AND OFTEN UNSEEN, BUT IT IS SEASONAL TO THE FUNCTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I AM GRATEFUL TO WORK ALONGSIDE SUCH A CAPABLE AND COMMITTED TEAM. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, COLLABORATION, AND TRUST. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN MY SILENT MOTIVATION THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, EVEN WHEN THEY MAY NOT HAVE FULLY UNDERSTOOD. THEY HAVE BEEN THE REASON I KEPT GOING, PUSH FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO GROW. THEY ARE NOT HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY ARE AT WORK HELPING TO PAY THE HOUSEHOLD BILLS. [ LAUGHTER ] I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT-OUT TO MY BROTHER, MY SISTER ALL THE WAY IN CALI. I KNOW SHE IS WATCHING, FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME IN WAYS BOTH BIG AND SMALL. CHECKING IN, ENCOURAGING ME, LISTENING WHEN I NEEDED IT AND CELEBRATING THE WINS ALONG THE WAY. YOU ARE -- YOUR PRESENCE IN MY LIFE MEANS MORE THAN YOU ALL KNOW. AND TO MY HUSBAND IN PARTICULAR, WHO TRULY DESERVES HIS OWN PIN FOR LISTENING, SUPPORTING AND DEALING WITH ME THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY CONSTANT SOURCE OF STRENGTH, HUMOR AND BALANCE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO ANY OF MY WHO MAY BE PRESENT. YOUR SISTERHOOD, ENCOURAGEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP CONTINUE TO INSPIRE ME AND I AM GRATEFUL TO BE GROUNDED IN A LEGACY THAT REMINDS ME DAILY TO DO THE WORK, SERVE WITH PURPOSE AND LEAD WITH INTEGRITY. LASTLY, THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS GUIDANCE, GRACE AND PROVISION THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY. THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WITH INTEGRITY AND DEDICATION. THANK YOU. AND I HOPE I WAS BRIEF. IF NOT, COUNCIL IS USED TO IT. [ LAUGHTER ] [ APPLAUSE ] >>LYNN HURTAK: WE HAVE SOME FLOWERS. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: I WANT TO CONGRATULATE BOTH OF YOU. YOU ARE BOTH ROCK STARS. I'M SO THANKFUL AND THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE SO THANKFUL THAT SUCH BRILLIANT PEOPLE AS THE TWO OF YOU, HARDWORKING, BRILLIANT PEOPLE, ARE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND DEDICATED TO OUR CITY BECAUSE YOU ALL HELP KEEP THINGS MOVING. THE POSITION YOU ARE IN HAS A LOT OF REGULATION, RISK, AND I'VE NEVER HEARD A SINGLE COMPLAINT ABOUT YOUR DEPARTMENT. I APPRECIATE THAT. ALSO, I SHOULD NOTE THAT YOU ALL HAVE GONE THROUGH COVID, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND YOU WORKED WITH US ON THAT. YOU ALSO WORKED THROUGH A MAJOR ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE CHANGE TO ON-BASE WHICH I KNOW WAS VERY DIFFICULT, BUT ALMOST DIDN'T SKIP A BEAT AT ALL. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE GO SO SMOOTHLY, THANK YOU TO I.T. PEOPLE BUT ALSO YOU ALL FOR MAKING SURE THE DOCUMENTS ARE THERE. SHIRLEY, GREAT TO SEE YOU BE ON THE SIDE OF RECEIVING. CAN SEE YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE YOU ARE USUALLY ANNOUNCING OTHER PEOPLE AND CONGRATULATING OTHER PEOPLE. AND SULING, THE CITY COUNCIL COULDN'T RUN WITHOUT YOU. I KNOW YOU ARE THE FRONT END OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE. BUT THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN AND THE CARE AND DEDICATION, THE FACT THAT YOU RESPOND ALL 24/7 AND THANKS TO MIKE, BESIDES BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER, HE TAKES -- OR YOU TAKE HIM ON GREAT TRIPS AROUND THE WORLD. I LOVE WATCHING YOUR VACATIONS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, SULING ALWAYS HAS A SMILE ON HER FACE. NO MATTER HOW MANY HOURS SHE'S BEEN SITTING HERE, SHE ALWAYS COMES IN WITH A SMILE. WE MAY BE COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED BUT SHE ALWAYS HAS ENERGY. GOING ON GREAT TRIPS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: CONGRATULATIONS. WE HAVE AN AMAZING CLERK'S OFFICE, NUMBER ONE. THANKS TO EVERYBODY. YES, SULING IS MY FAVORITE. [ LAUGHTER ] MS. FOXX-KNOWLES, WHEN I WAS APPOINTED TO SERVE ON MY FIRST CITY BOARD BACK 2012, YOU SWORE ME IN. YOU WERE THERE AT THE BEGINNING. SULING WAS HERE WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED. YOU'VE BEEN THERE. WE'VE LAUGHED. I THINK I'VE MADE YOU LAUGH WITH MY TERRIBLE JOKES. BUT I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU. AS WAS MENTIONED, YOU ARE ALWAYS SMILING. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALWAYS GOOD TO COME TO WORK BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE. I'M GLAD MR. HARRIS IS HERE. WHEN WE FIRST SAW HIM, I SAID, I KNOW YOU, AND I DON'T KNOW YOU BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA. HERE HE IS. HERE IS THE GUY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU SHOW AT HOME. THESE TWO WONDERFUL WOMEN ARE SO IMPORTANT TO US. THIS IS JUST A LITTLE TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION. BECAUSE WHAT YOU DO TOUCHES BEYOND CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND IMPACTS SO MANY PEOPLE. THANK YOU TO YOU, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES, COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YOU KNOW, AS I LOOK BACK AT BOTH OF YOU, SULING AND SHIRLEY, I THINK OF HOW THIS DEPARTMENT STARTED. I'M GOING BACK WHEN I WAS A YOUNG KID ABOUT 12 OR 13 YEARS OLD. PLAYED BALL WITH A GUY NAME STARKED. HIS FATHER I THINK WAS CITY CLERK. WAY BACK. '50s OR '60s. THIS USED TO BE AN ELECTED POSITION AT ONE TIME. I BELIEVE FRANCIS WAS THE LAST ONE ELECTED UNDER THAT SYSTEM IF I RECALL HISTORY. AGAIN, GOING FROM MEMORY. HAD THE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH FRANCES ENRIQUEZ JEANETTE WONDERFUL PEOPLE. I ASK SULING AND SHE LAUGHS. HOW IN THE HELL CAN YOU WRITE ALL THIS STUFF DOWN WHEN ALL OF US ARE TALKING AT THE SAME TIME? AND SHE DOES IT. I'M SURE SHE DOESN'T FIB. IT'S ACCURATE. I'VE READ THEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT. CONGRATULATES TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF. I ASK, HOW CAN YOU TAKE THIS FROM US, WHEN WE TALK -- AND YOU WRITE IT DOWN, COMES OUT PERFECT. IT'S SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE RECORD YOU KEEP AND KEEP THE HISTORY GOING FORWARD OF THE CITY OF TAMPA. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD AS MASTER. YOU ALL DESERVE IT DEARLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. >>NAYA YOUNG: THIS IS DEFINITELY A WELL DESERVED HONOR. BEING SOMEONE WHO IS STILL FAIRLY NEW, ANY QUESTIONS THAT I HAD, EVEN DOWN TO THE SIMPLEST QUESTION, YOU BOTH ANSWERED WITH A SMILE. I'LL SAY, I'M SORRY -- NO, IT'S OKAY. EVEN DOWN, THIS IS HOW IT WILL GO. GO LIKE THIS. AND BOTH OF YOU WERE JUST SO HELPFUL. YOU REALLY, REALLY HAVE SUCH AN IMPORTANT JOB. I'M APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE THE BOTH OF YOU. NOT TOO LONG AGO, MS. SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES, YOU WERE RIGHT HERE IN THE FRONT AND SWORE ME IN. THAT WAS AN AWESOME MOMENT. I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO FOR THE CITY. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL AND EVERYBODY AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE. A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE THERE. I REMEMBER WHEN I SERVED ON THE CIVIL SERVICE REVIEW BOARD, JIM CREW WAS ALWAYS WITH US. JIM WAS FUNNY. THE WAY HE IS AND SO FORTH. BOTH OF YOU ALL, SUCH A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL. SULING. I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME LONG NIGHTS. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SOMETIMES YOUR SERVICE IS WEST GERMANY, SOMETIMES VIETNAM. HERE IT GOES VIETNAM SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING. IT'S FUNNY. YOU DO A GREAT JOB AND SUCH A GREAT PERSON. REAL PLEASURE TO SEE YOUR HUSBAND AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S MARVELOUS. SHIRLEY, YOU ARE A TREMENDOUS PERSON. I MEAN IT. THE ROLE YOU PLAY IN YOUR PART HERE IN TAMPA MEANS A LOT TO A LOT OF INSTITUTIONS AND PEOPLE IN TAMPA. A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE PRIDE IN YOU AND YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT AND WORK AND INTEGRITY. I MET YOUR HUSBAND BEFORE WHO I KNOW IS MILITARY VETERAN. I BELIEVE AIRBORNE HAT AND LICENSE PLATE. WE TALKED ABOUT OUR FAMILIES AND JUST THE LOVE THAT YOU BRING TO EVERY PART OF YOUR LIFE, YOUR VOCATION, PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. ALWAYS COMES FROM THE SAME PLACE. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU ALL. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCILMAN CLENDENIN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRO TEM HURTAK. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID, ESPECIALLY I THINK COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO SAID ABOUT THE SMILES. BOTH SHIRLEY AND SULING, EVERY TIME I SEE YOU, YOU HAVE BIG SMILES ON YOUR FACE. BRING JOY AND HAPPINESS TO CITY HALL AND THE SERIOUS BUSINESS THAT WE DO THAT'S ALWAYS HEARTWARMING. I JUST LOVE THAT ABOUT YOU. MY FAVORITE PEOPLE. YOU ARE THE GLUE THAT BINDS THE CITY BUSINESS TOGETHER AND THE CONTINUITY BETWEEN COUNCILS AND BUSINESS THAT WE DO AS BEING CHAIR, WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOU ALL, I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL DO FOR ME, FOR CITY COUNCIL, AND FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA. WE'RE VERY WELL SERVED BY BOTH OF YOU. TWO GREAT INDIVIDUALS. I WISH WE COULD CLONE YOU AND MAKE A HUNDRED OF YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: I WANT TO ECHO ALL OF THIS. MS. FOXX-KNOWLES, YOU HAVE BEEN WITH ME FROM MY VERY FIRST JOURNEY. I REMEMBER BEING SWORN IN BY YOU FOR THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, LIKE WAY BACK TO START MY START IN PUBLIC SERVICE. I'M ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CALM DEMEANOR AND JUST THE WAY YOU MAKE EVERYONE FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY. OBVIOUSLY, YOU CARRY THAT THROUGH YOUR WORK BECAUSE YOU ALL DO -- HONESTLY, RECORD KEEPING IS ONE OF THE HARDEST JOBS AND WE NEVER HEAR ABOUT IT. THAT'S HOW GOOD YOU ARE. IT'S SEAMLESS. AND THEN MS. LUCAS HARRIS, WHEN I JOINED COUNCIL, IT WAS SO OVERWHELMING AND YOU REALLY HELPED ME BECOME MORE CONFIDENT IN WHO I WAS AND YOU ARE ALWAYS THERE TO ANSWER, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG SAID, ANY QUESTION ANYTHING. BUT AGAIN, MAKING EVERYTHING MOVE SMOOTHLY, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING, AND WE NOW HAVE A WHOLE SUCCESSION OF PEOPLE THAT WE'VE WATCHED YOU TRAIN. AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. WE MISS SEEING YOU ALL THE TIME, BUT ALSO, IT'S REALLY GREAT THAT WE'RE CREATING THIS STABLE OF PEOPLE WHO COME -- WHO CAN COME BEHIND YOU ALL. THAT IS THE GREATNESS OF YOUR OFFICE AND WHAT YOU ALL DO. I KNOW YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL STAFF WHO REALLY SUPPORT YOU AND YOU ARE HELPING TO BUILD THE NEXT GENERATION. SAY HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS AND HOW MUCH WE THANK YOU. AGAIN, GOING ON THE THEME FOR THE DAY, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SEE WOMEN IN THESE POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN OF COLOR, VERY IMPORTANT TO US AS A COMMUNITY, AND JUST, SO EVERYONE HERE TODAY, WOMEN WATCHING, YOUNG GIRLS WATCHING, YOUNG BOYS WATCHING, JUST SEEING HOW WONDERFUL AND DIVERSE OUR COMMUNITY IS AND HOW WE REALLY JUST BELIEVE IN HELPING PEOPLE GET EVEN FURTHER. I'M REALLY, REALLY -- CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE HARD WORK YOU PUT IN. I KNOW WE'LL HAVE MORE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU DOING THE SAME WORK AND GETTING THESE RECOGNITIONS AND EARNING THIS VERY IMPORTANT AWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU. ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE'LL GIVE JUST A MOMENT SO THEY CAN EXIT. APPARENTLY WE'RE GOING TO DO A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS. WE WILL BE BACK AT 10:40 AND NOT A SECOND LATER. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] [RECESS] >>LYNN HURTAK: WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE, TO TAMPA CITY COUNCIL. ROLL CALL. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE. >>NAYA YOUNG: HERE. >> VIERA? CARLSON? CLENDENIN? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: HERE. >>THE CLERK: WE HAVE A QUORUM. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. EXCELLENT. IT IS NOW TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY FILLED OUT YOUR FORM, PLEASE DO SO NOW. AS IS CA CUSTOMARY, WE'LL START WITH PEOPLE WHO MENTIONED WHAT THEY ARE HERE FOR THAT IS ON THE AGENDA TODAY. FIRST, WE HAVE TINA ADAMS. THEN GREG CAMPBELL. AND DARYL HYCH. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TINA ADAMS. MY HOME IN PARKLAND ESTATES FLOODED LAST YEAR, ALONG WITH OVER 300 HOMES AND BUSINESSES. THANKFULLY, WE ARE BACK IN OUR HOME, BUT WE ARE STILL WORKING ON REPAIRS OVER A YEAR LATER. THE SOUTH HOWARD FLOOD PROJECT HAS BEEN RESEARCHED AND DESIGNED BY EXPERTS, ENGINEERS, CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES WITH MANY, MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA. I TRUST THEM. I BELIEVE THEM WHEN THEY SAY THEY CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM OR AT LEAST ALLEVIATE THE FLOODING WE HAVE FROM EVERYDAY STORMS. CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING AND STORMS AND FLOODING IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE SUPPORTED THE BUSINESSES ON HOWARD FOR MANY YEARS. NOW IS THEIR TURN TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THEM. WE HAVE GONE TO BELLA'S BACK WHEN THEY HAD BROWN PAPER ON THE TABLES AND THEY GAVE KIDS PIZZA DOUGH. I'M SURE IT'S A CHOKING HAZARD NOW. THEY DON'T GIVE IT ANYMORE. I'M CONFUSED BY SOME OF THE STATEMENTS BY SOME OF THE BUSINESSES AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. THEY SAY BUSINESS IS GREAT, BUT IF THAT'S TRUE WHY IS HAVEN, BURN'S SISTER RESTAURANT, APPLYING FOR DEMOLITION PERMIT AND TOTALLY NEW CONCEPT? ADDITIONALLY, WHY IS THE OWNER APPLYING FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE EXEMPTION PERMIT FROM THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WHEN THEY KNOW THERE IS A FLOODING PROBLEM? WHY AREN'T THEY SUPPORTING THEIR NEIGHBORS? WE SUPPORTED THEM. IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, WHAT WILL BE YOUR LEGACY? WILL IT BE STANDING UP FOR FAMILIES AND HOMES? DOING THE RIGHT THINGS BY NEIGHBORHOODS? IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE? OR WILL IT BE LETTING OVER $10 MILLION GO AWAY IN GRANT FUNDING, JUST SLIP AWAY AND DOING NOTHING. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON YOU AND WATCHING YOU. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING. ACCEPT THE GRANT MONEY AND HELP US FEEL SAFE IN OUR HOMES AGAIN. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE GREG CAMPBELL FOLLOWED BY DARYL HYCH AND DAVID DeLOACH. >> MY NAME IS GREG CAMPBELL. MY WIFE AND I L LIVE IN PARKLAND ESTATES IN A SITE MY PARENTS DOUBT IN 1953, 72 YEARS AGO. ACROSS THE YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF HIGH WATER IN THE AREA AND AROUND OUR HOUSE AND ALL THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND INDEED AROUND THE CITY. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH COUNTLESS SUMMER THUNDERSTORMS AND GOOD NUMBER OF HURRICANES. THE CITY HAS TAKEN STEPS ACROSS THE YEARS TO IMPROVE THINGS FOR ALL OF US, AND THOSE STEPS WERE SUCCESSFUL TO A DEGREE. BUT BY FAR, THE BEST PROJECT TO EMERGE IN 70 YEARS IS THE SOUTH HOWARD FLOOD RELIEF PROJECT. IT GOES FURTHER AND DOES MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT'S EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. YOU HEARD OPPOSITION AND I SPOKE IN OPPOSITION TO THAT PROJECT ONE YEAR AGO AS FAR AS BOX CULVERTS GOING THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS ARE CONCERNED. BUT THAT IDEA HAS BEEN ABANDONED THANKFULLY BY KIMMINS AND THE MOBILITY DEPARTMENT. AND SWANN TO HOWARD ROUTE IS THE OBVIOUSLY CORRECT ROUTE FOR THE BOX CULVERTS. BECAUSE OF THAT, THOSE OF US WHO WERE ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF THE PARKLAND ESTATES CIVIC CLUB IN OPPOSITION TO THE SOUTH HOWARD PROJECT PUTTING BOX CULVERTS THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, THE VERY SAME PEOPLE ARE NOW UNANIMOUSLY IN FAVOR OF THE SOUTH HOWARD FLOOD RELIEF PROJECT. AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE SWANN AVENUE ROUTE. I AM A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE PARKLAND ESTATES CIVIC CLUB. I'M NOT THE PRESIDENT, NOT EMPOWERED TO SPEAK FOR THE BOARD, BUT THE BOARD HAS PUBLIC MEETINGS AND ITS MINUTES ARE PUBLIC. YOU CAN SEE IN THOSE MINUTES THE BOARD HAS VOTED 8-0 IN FAVOR OF THE SOUTH HOWARD PROJECT. [ APPLAUSE ] [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] IT DOES COST MONEY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF AN ALMOST $2 BILLION BUDGET, ANNUAL BUDGET, FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA, AND IN THE CONTEXT OF A PROJECT LASTING AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS, MAYBE MORE, THE CITY OF TAMPA IN THAT TIME WILL SPEND A GOOD $10 BILLION AND WITHIN THAT AMOUNT, IF WE REALLY DO FAVOR FLOOD RELIEF, WE CAN FIND THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR WHAT STARTED AS A $57 MILLION PROJECT. SO MONEY IS NOT A BIG PROBLEM WITH GOOD MANAGEMENT IF WE ARE INDEED COMMITTED TO FLOOD RELIEF. AND BECAUSE WE LIVE IN AN ESTUARY, FLOOD RELIEF IS IMPORTANT NOT JUST TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT TO NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DARYL HYCH. AFTER THAT, DAVE DeLOACH, AND THEN STEVE MICHELINI. >> GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL. DARYL HYCH. THE OTHER DAY SOMEONE TOLD ME I WAS AN AGITATOR, AND THEN SOMEONE ELSE TOLD ME THIS WEEK, THEY ASKED ME TO SAY SOMETHING GOOD, AND I SAID GOOD EVENING. [ LAUGHTER ] AGITATORS ARE USING LAUNDRY -- ARE USED IN LAUNDRY IN THE WASHING MACHINE TO CLEAN UP DIRT, CLEAN UP SOIL THAT'S INSIDE THE WASHING MACHINE. ITEM NUMBER 56, MS. OCEA WYNN IS GOING TO PROVIDE A LIST OF CITY VENUES RESTAURANTS CATERERS AND VARIOUS THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN USE. I HAVE A LIST OF RESTAURANTS THAT WE'VE REACHED OUT TO, AND NONE OF THESE RESTAURANTS HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ON THE LIST OR AT LEAST HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING WITH OCEA WYNN. VENUE 2106, MATTSON 2.0, TABLE 22 COASIS. 7th AND GROVE, MANGOS, DON'S RIVER. THESE ARE JUST A FEW NAMES OF RESTAURANTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON THE LIST BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CONTACTED TO BE ON THIS ■LIST. THAT BRINGS ME BACK TO RESOLUTION 568. THIS WEEK, ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE CITY STOOD BEFORE BLACK AND MINORITY LEADERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND LIED TO THEM. A CITY LEADER TOLD US ON MONDAY THAT WE CAN GO TO THE CITY WEBSITE, LOG ON, AND GET MBE, WMBE CERTIFICATIONS. AND THEN THEY TOLD TO US CLICK ON THE WELCOME LETTER. THE WELCOME LETTER WOULD GIVE US INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET CERTIFIED. SO I CLICKED ON THAT WEBSITE. THE WEBSITE SAID WE CAN NO LONGER DO THIS BASED UPON THE EXECUTIVE ORDER GIVEN BACK IN JANUARY. AND THEN SHE TRIED TO EXPLAIN HER CASE BY SOUNDING FOR THE MOST PART LIKE CHARLIE BROWN. MWAH MWAH, MWAH. WHAT SHE WAS SAYING WASN'T TRUE. TUESDAY, I ATTENDED THE CAC MEETING. THE QUESTION WAS ASKED AT THE CAC MEETING, DOES ANYBODY HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH EXTENDING THE CRAs FOR DIFFERENT AREAS? AND THE NEW MANAGER WAS THERE. THE NEW MANAGER, AND MR. McCRAY BOTH SAT THERE IN SILENCE AND SAID THEY HAVE NO EXPERIENCE AND DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AN EXTENSION. THE NEW MANAGER BEEN IN PINELLAS COUNTY FOR 13 YEARS. LO AND BEHOLD, SAFETY HARBOR JUST DID AN EXTENSION. HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW THIS? YOU GET PAID TO COME AND GIVE US THE INFORMATION. ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE RIGHT NOW TODAY, THEY HAVE A LINK ON THERE FOR THE LGBTQ TO GET CERTIFIED AS THAT. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT GENDER CERTIFICATION THAN IT IS WITH YOU REMOVING THE RACIAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE? SAME DIFFERENCE. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON FOR THEM TO ALLOW THAT TO STAY THERE. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DAVID DeLOACH, FOLLOWED BY STEVE MICHELINI AND EDWARD DE LA HART. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DAVE DeLOACH. I'M A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER AND THE PRINCIPAL WITH DeLOACH ENGINEERING SCIENCE, SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH HOWARD BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN MY ROLE AS A TECHNICAL CONSULTANT. TO BE CLEAR, I'M CERTAINLY NOT HERE TO OPPOSE FLOOD MITIGATION OR SEEKING STATE FUNDING TO PERFORM MITIGATION, FLOODING IN SOUTH TAMPA IS REAL, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. MY COMMENTS ARE NARROWLY FOCUSED ON THE FDEP RESILIENCY GRANT AGREEMENT THAT'S BEFORE YOU AND WHETHER THE PROJECT RECORD IS TECHNICALLY SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE CITY'S OBLIGATION UNDER THAT AGREEMENT. THE GRANT DOESN'T SIMPLY PROVIDE FUNDING, IT REQUIRES THE CITY TO DEMONSTRATE TECHNICAL SUFFICIENCY. IT ALSO REQUIRES COMPLETION APPROVAL OF REQUIRED DELIVERABLES, SUCH AS THE SEA LEVEL IMPACT PROJECTION OR SLIP STUDY, CONSISTENCY WITH RESILIENCE OBJECTIVES AND ACHIEVEMENT OF DEFINED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. THE MEASUREMENT ALSO MAKES CLEAR THAT PERMITS ARE NOT GUARANTEED, AND THAT UNANTICIPATED COMPLIANCE ISSUES CANNOT BE RESOLVED USING GRANT FUNDS. BASED ON OUR PRELIMINARY TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PROJECT, WE'VE IDENTIFIED THREE AREAS WHERE THE RECORD DOESN'T DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH GRANT REQUIREMENTS. THE FIRST OF THESE IN THE ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS. THE CITY PREVIOUSLY REJECTED MULTIPLE, TECHNICALLY VIABLE ALTERNATIVES, ADVANCED BY ITS OWN CONSULTANTS AS BEING TOO COSTLY OR TOO DISRUPTIVE. TODAY, THE CITY IS ADVANCING A SOLUTION THAT IS FAR MORE EXPENSIVE AND FAR MORE DISRUPTIVE THAN THOSE REJECTED ALTERNATIVES WITHOUT REEVALUATING THEM UNDER CURRENT COST AND RISK ASSUMPTIONS. THE STATE IS NOT FUNDING A CONCEPT IN ISOLATION. IT CONSIDERS THE DECISION PROCESS. IF ALTERNATIVES WERE ELIMINATED USING CRITERIA THAT THE CITY NO LONGER APPLIES CONSISTENTLY, THEN THE RECORD DOESN'T SUPPORT THAT THE SELECTED PROJECT IS THE MOST REASONABLE USE OF THE GRANT FUNDS. SECOND, UNDER TIDAL AND SEA LEVEL RESILIENCE, CURRENT PLAN RELIES ON LARGE GRAVITY CONVEYANCE TO A TIDAL WATER, YET THE RECORD DOESN'T DEMONSTRATE HOW KING TIDES, STORM SURGE OR FUTURE ELEVATION CHANGES IN THE BAY WILL BE PREVENTED FROM PROPAGATING INLAND. SLIP STUDY HAS NOT BEEN PREPARED TO CLOSE THE GAP AND PUMP ASSISTANCE OR CONTROLLED ALTERNATIVES ARE NO LONGER BEING RECONSIDERED. THIRD, PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC IMPACT. THE PROJECT'S BENEFIT COST FRAMEWORK -- AVOIDED FLOOD DAMAGE BUT NOT FORESEEABLE ECONOMIC HARM. THESE DEFICIENCIES, IF THESE DEFICIENCIES PERSIST, THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD. PRUDENT STEP TODAY WOULD BE JUST TO DELAY THE APPROVAL UNTIL STAFF PROVIDES A SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON OF A PREVIOUSLY REJECTED ALTERNATIVES AND THE CURRENT PLAN USING COMMON, COST RISK AND CONSTRUCTABILITY ASSUMPTIONS, INCLUDING THE DEGREE TO WHICH EACH ALTERNATIVE MEETS TIDAL RESILIENCE REQUIREMENTS, EXPANDING THE BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS TO INCLUDE IMPACTS OF EACH ALTERNATIVE. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. STEPHEN MICHELINI FOLLOWED BY EDWARD DE LA PARTE AND DAVID. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. STEVE MICHELINI REPRESENTING THE SOWSOHO BUSINESS ALLIANCE. THIS PROPOSAL AS PRESENTED TO YOU IS NOT READY. IT IS BASED ON INFORMATION THAT IS LACKING, THAT'S REQUIRED. THIS STARTED OFF AS A SMALL-SCALE PROJECT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO IDENTIFY AND SOLVE SUMMER STORM ISSUES, YET THE PROPOSAL THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU CALLS OUT A HUNDRED-YEAR STORM DESIGN. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THAT DESIGN. IT'S NOT READY. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED 30% OF THE DESIGN CRITERIA. THEY ELIMINATED REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES WITHOUT ANY DISCUSSION, AND WITHOUT IT BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU. MAINTENANCE IS A KEY ISSUE HERE, AND IT SHOULD BECOME THE PRIORITY. FUNDING. THEY ARE ASKING TO YOU COMMIT -- AND THESE ARE IN THEIR DOCUMENTS, $54.9 MILLION IN MATCHING FUNDS IN THE CITY. YOU'VE BEEN TOLD TWICE BY THE CFO THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THAT. WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? YOU ARE BEING FACED WITH, AND I THINK THE CFO TOLD YOU, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE TAXES OR INCREASE THE STORMWATER FEE OR BOTH. THE DESIGN CRITERIA THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THE GRANT HAS NOT BEEN MET. THE SMALL-SCALE PROJECT HAS GROWN. THE NARRATIVE IT CALLS FOR 6,000 LINEAR FEET OF BOX CULVERTS. IT NEVER SHOWS YOU WHERE. SAYS 259-ACRE AREA WITH SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS BEING AFFECTED. THERE'S NO DISCUSSION WHATSOEVER REGARDING WHERE THIS IS GOING TO COME FROM, WHAT THE DESIGN CRITERIA IS FOR. IT SAYS -- I'VE ALREADY DRIVEN UP AND DOWN SOUTH HOWARD. IT SAYS THAT THERE'S NO STORMWATER SYSTEM AT ALL ON SOUTH HOWARD. SIMPLY INACCURATE. NOT TRUE. BUT THEY HAVE IT IN THERE AND THEY SAID THAT'S ONE OF THE CRITERIA THEY ARE USING FOR THIS GRANT. THEY NEED TO IDENTIFY THE SCOPE AND THE PLAN FOR THIS PROJECT. IT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT THERE. THIS IS A VERY COMPETITIVE GRANT APPLICATION THAT OTHER CITIES AND OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DYING FOR THAT MONEY AND THEY HAVE PLANS AND THEY ARE READY TO GO. THE CITY OF TAMPA DOESN'T HAVE IT. THEY HAVE FAILED IN EVERY RESPECT. I CAN COUNT OFF AT LEAST FOUR OR FIVE ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT ARE CONTAINED IN THEIR GRANT APPLICATION THAT THEY SIMPLY HAVEN'T MET. IN TALKING WITH CITY STAFF, THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS NEVER DESIGNED FOR A LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY KIND FOR STORMWATER. WASN'T DESIGNED FOR THAT, SO THE BACKUP MATERIALS THAT THEY HAVE IN THERE SIMPLY DON'T MATCH WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR. ALTERNATIVES THAT WERE PROPOSED WERE NEVER FULLY EXAMINED OR PRODUCED. WE'VE ASKED THEM FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THERE ARE PUMPS AND PUMP STATIONS THAT WERE PROPOSED IN THERE, INCLUDING A PUMP STATION IN PARKLAND ESTATES THAT WAS ROUTINELY JUST REMOVED FROM CONSIDERATION. THERE ARE REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES. THEY SHOULD BE EXAMINED AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE GOING FORWARD. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. EDWARD DE LA PARTE. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THE END OF THAT. DAVID LAXER, AND DISTRICTER DEMAIO. >> EDWARD DE LA PARTE, ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE SOHO BUSINESS ALLIANCE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSED GRANT AMENDMENT. I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS SIMPLY EXTENDING THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE GRANT FROM JUNE 2026 TO JUNE 2027, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. THIS IS A COMPLETE REWRITE OF THE GRANT THAT WAS SIGNED BY THE CITY IN 2024. IF YOU LOOK AT IT, EVERY ATTACHMENT THAT'S ATTACHED TO THAT GRANT IS COMPLETELY REWRITTEN. IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ATTACHMENT. YOU SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST BEEN PROVIDED WITH A RED-LINED SHOWING WHAT THE DIFFERENCES WERE BETWEEN THE ATTACHMENTS. THEY ALSO ADDED NEW EXHIBITS THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE. THE GRANT ITSELF CONTAINS REQUIREMENTS THAT SIMPLY ARE ONES THAT YOU CANNOT COMPLY WITH. ATTACHMENT 1A HAS A PROVISION, PARAGRAPH 44 THAT SAYS THAT YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY, REPRESENT THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO DEP ARE CURRENT, COMPLETE, AND ACCURATE, AND THAT ALL STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION IN THE GRANT AS WELL AS THE ATTACHMENT AND EXHIBITS ARE CORRECT. THAT'S NOT TRUE. THIS GRANT AGREEMENT SAYS THAT THIS PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED IN JUNE 2027. GET ON YOUR WEBSITE, IT SAYS IT WON'T BE COMPLETED UNTIL 2029. HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THOSE TWO STATEMENTS? THIS GRANT AGREEMENT SAYS THIS PROJECT IS INTENDED TO DEAL WITH THE HUNDRED-YEAR FLOODPLAIN, BUT ON YOUR WEBSITE FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, IT SAYS, NO, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. ONLY DEAL WITH THE FIVE-YEAR FLOODPLAIN REQUIREMENT. WHICH IS JUST INTENDED FOR NORMAL, EVERYDAY WET WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS GRANT AGREEMENT HAS A PROVISION THAT OBLIGATES A CITY TO PAY 84.5% OF THE GRANT AMOUNT. NOW, SOME MAY ARGUE THAT'S LIMITED TO THE ORIGINAL 2022 ESTIMATE, WHICH IS 84% WOULD BE ABOUT 54.9 MILLION GALLONS A DAY, BUT IT ISN'T CLEAR TO ME THAT'S THE CASE. WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS GRANT -- WHAT HAPPENS IF THE COST OF THE PROJECT INFLATES TO A HUNDRED MILLION AND YOU ACCEPT THIS GRANT, TAKE MONEY FROM THIS GRANT, ARE YOU THEN COMMITTED TO PAY 84% OF THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT? FINALLY, THE CITY HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO DO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS. YOU'RE GOING TO NEED AN ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER PERMIT FOR THE DISCHARGE POINT. THAT'S A MAJOR FEDERAL ACTION WHICH UNDER THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACT OR NEPA, REQUIRES THAT YOU LOOK AT IMPACT ON LOCAL BUSINESSES. WHY ASSIGN THIS GRANT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ALL YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW? HAD YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RELOOK AT THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DAVID LAXER, FOLLOWED BY VICTOR DiMAIO AND STEPHANIE POYNOR. >> I'M NOT DAVID LAXER. HE HAD TO LEAVE. >>LYNN HURTAK: ON TO VICTOR DiMAIO. >> YES, I AM VICTOR DiMAIO, FRANKLIN STREET. I DO REPRESENT SOME OF THE BUSINESSES IN SOUTH HOWARD. I'M HERE TODAY TO PIGGY BACK THE FACT WHEN I WAS HERE LAST, I DID MENTION TO THE COUNCIL THAT WE DID RETAIN ED DE LA PARTE 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN STORMWATER LEGAL LITIGATION AND DAVID DeLOACH, STORMWATER ENGINEER FROM ORLANDO. ONE OF THE THINGS JUST MENTIONED, MR. DeLOACH IS SPEARHEADING. WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN 80 PAGE ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT. IT'S NOT FINISHED YET, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT. IT STATES THAT THE DAMAGES THAT WE'VE ESTIMATED SO FAR TO ALL THE BUSINESSES UP AND DOWN HOWARD AVENUE IS ABOUT $35 MILLION. NOW, THE BUSINESS MAY SURVIVE, BUT WHAT WILL DO YOU WITH THE THOUSANDS OF JOBS. THESE ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK FOR A LIVING. RESTAURANT WORK IS TOUGH. WORK AT NIGHTS. WHO IS GOING TO -- ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO PAY THE SALARIES OF THESE PEOPLE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WHERE THEY ARE LAID OFF? WHO IS GOING TO SUPPORT THE KIDS, THE FAMILIES, THE MORTGAGES OF ALL THESE PEOPLE FOR FOUR YEARS? WHEN YOU SHUT DOWN HOWARD TO PUT IN THAT CULVERT THAT GOES FROM CURB TO CURB, WHICH ISN'T A LITTLE PIPE, AND YOU SAW THE DAMAGE, RESTAURANTS IN SEMINOLE HEIGHTS THAT LITERALLY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE TODAY IF YOU PASS THIS PARTICULAR THING THAT'S ON THE COUNCIL. TO REITERATE WHAT THE OTHER TWO GENTLEMEN SAID, THERE ARE MAJOR, MAJOR FLAWS GOING ON RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE TO BE CORRECTED. I WOULD URGE YOU GUYS TO DELAY THIS UNTIL YOU GET ANSWERS. LIKE WHERE THE $54 MILLION IS COMING FROM. THE MAYOR IS GOING TO LAY AN EGG ON THIS DEAL AND YOU GUYS HAVE TO LIVE FOR IT. EVERYONE HERE IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION. YOU'LL HAVE TO ANSWER, WHY APPROVED $44 MILLION THAT WE DON'T HAVE. WHY SUBMITTED A STATEMENT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, GOING TO HAVE TO APPROVE THIS, ATTESTING TO THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING IN THERE IS CORRECT WHEN IT'S NOT. YOU GUYS ARE ON THE HOOK AND YOU SHOULD TAKE A BREATH AND THINK ABOUT IT. LISTEN, WE HAVE MR. DeLOACH IDENTIFIED ALTERNATIVES TO THIS PIPE TO GO FROM SWANN TO HOWARD THAT'S UPWARDS TO A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS THAT WILL COST LESS AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THE PIPE DOWN HOWARD. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. YOU'VE HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE, REITERATE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THE PIPE DOWN HOWARD BECAUSE WE DO HAVE ALTERNATIVES, WHICH WE CAN SUGGEST THAT THE CITY WILL NOT LISTEN TO US BECAUSE WE BEGGED THEM TO TRY AND THEY WON'T LISTEN, BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY ANSWER, BUT THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO DOING THIS PROJECT. TO COLLECT THE WATER. AS YOU KNOW, AS THAT WATER SHOOTS DOWN HOWARD FROM SWANN TO BAYSHORE AND IT'S HIGH TIDE AND NOWHERE FOR THE WATER TO GO, THAT WATER IS GOING TO GO BACK UP ON HOWARD. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. STEPHANIE POYNOR, FOLLOWED BY JARROD DYER AND CONNIE BURTON. >> GOOD MORNING. STEPHANIE POYNOR. NUMBER 25, ETHICS COMMITTEE REPORT, LIKE IT BE REMOVED THAT IT IS SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL AS IT WAS WHEN THEY WROTE THAT DOCUMENT BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT UNPAID CITIZENS ARE NOT LOBBYIST. 45, JULIAN B. LANE. FIXING DOCKS DAMAGED BY OTHERS. THAT IS AN INSURANCE ISSUE. NOT AN EVERYBODY ELSE THAT PAYS TAXES ISSUES. JULIAN B. LANE BRINGS IN THEIR OWN FUNDING, GET OUT OF THE SMALL PARKS FUND. GADSEN PARK, ADA BATHROOMS BEGGED FOR BY LITTLE LEAGUE. BILL CARLSON AND I MET WITH THEM ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO ABOUT THE BATHROOMS. STILL NEED THEM. BALLAST POINT PARK, STILL HAVEN'T FIXED THE PIER. $2 MILLION FROM THEA TO FIX THE PARK AT THE END OF GANDY. $650,000 FOR THEM USING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY ON PRESCOTT. NOW, THAT IS SOUTH TAMPA MONEY. WHERE IS IT? LET'S USE IT ON SOUTH TAMPA PARKS. PEOPLE SAY SOUTH TAMPA GETS EVERYTHING. WHAT A JOKE. NUMBER 32, WHERE ARE THE MAPS OF THE AREA? THE THING ABOUT IT IS, THE SAME CONTRACTOR DID THE MacDILL 48 DOING THIS PROJECT. WE NEED TO HAVE THE DATA FROM THAT CONTRACTOR THAT SAYS HOW LONG WAS HIMES CLOSED. HIMES WAS CLOSED FOREVER. WELL OVER A YEAR, I WOULD GUESS. THEY HAVE THE DATA. SHOW IT TO YOU, BECAUSE THEY ARE TELLING YOU IT IS ONLY GOING TO BE CLOSED A WEEK OR TWO AT A TIME WHICH IS BULL IN MY OPINION. WE JUST HAD AN EXPERT UP HERE THAT I ASKED TO E-MAIL TO YOU THE DOCUMENTATION THAT BACKS IT UP. WE DON'T HAVE $54 MILLION, FOLKS. WE DON'T HAVE $54 MILLION TO PAY OUR PART. WHEN YOU SIGN OFF ON THAT CRAP TODAY, WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM? I DON'T SIGN PAPER WORK IF I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY SOMETHING. YOU GUYS NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. IF YOU ARE SPENDING ALL OF THE REST OF OUR STORMWATER ASSESSMENT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS, OR WHATEVER IT IS, IS THIS THE BEST USE OF OUR MONEY? BOCA RATON VERSUS FLORIDA, LOOK IT UP. I SENT YOU THE DOCUMENTS. WEST RIVERWALK. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. WE WENT TO THE MEETING THE OTHER NIGHT, THERE ARE NOT ONE BUT TWO PARTS OF THE WEST RIVERWALK THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PRIVATELY INSTALLED. SO WHEN WE ARE DONE SPENDING $50 MILLION ON THIS CRAP, WE'LL STILL HAVE TWO PARTS. GUESS WHAT, SAME VENDOR, SAME GUYS THAT HAVE ROME YARD. JUST REMEMBER, THEY STILL HAVEN'T FINISHED ROME YARD. IT WAS APPROVED THE SAME TIME HANNA STREET WAS APPROVED. IT WAS APPROVED THE SAME TIME THAT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEXT TO DAIRY JOY WAS APPROVED, AND THEY ARE JUST NOW GETTING STARTED ON IT. SO WE'LL TRUST THEM -- I ASKED FOR THE CONTRACT. I WANT TO SEE THE CONTRACT. IT IS A BONUS AGREEMENT CONTRACT. SO WHAT IF THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT THE EXTRA 400 APARTMENTS THAT THEY SIGNED UP FOR THE BONUS AGREEMENT FOR? LAST BUT NOT LEAST, STORMWATER TOLD US THIS WEEK THAT THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MEET THE STORMWATER ASSESSMENTS. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JARROD DYER FOLLOWED BY CONNIE BURTON AND CARROLL ANN BENNETT. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M JARROD DYER. I'M WITH BELLA'S ITALIAN CAFE, SOUTH HOWARD BUSINESSES. BEEN BEFORE YOU ALL BEFORE. I'M KIND OF FRAZZLED WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DIRECTION I LOOK THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT PROBLEM. I'LL KIND OF RANDOMLY THROW OUT BULLET POINTS, SORT OF. MY INITIAL ISSUE WITH THE PLAN WAS NOT REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR RELIEF FROM OUR NEIGHBORS IN PARKLAND ESTATES AND PALMA CEIA PINES. IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE DEVASTATION TO THE SOUTH HOWARD BUSINESSES. AS I LEARNED MORE LISTENING TO DAVE DeLOACH, EDWARD DE LA PARTE, STEVE MICHELINI, ALL THE RESEARCH AND PEOPLE THEY HAVE TALKED TO, I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW THIS IS STILL MOVING FORWARD AND WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT IN THE FORM THAT IT IS. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. THE BUDGET KEEPS INCREASING. STARTED AT 65 MILLION. NOW THEY ARE SAYING 100 TO $120 MILLION. THE RESILIENCY GRANT AGENDA ITEM 32 REQUIRES THE CITY TO MATCH FUNDS, $54 MILLION, WHERE IS THAT GOING TO COME FROM? ARE WE GOING TO INCREASE TAXES ON THE WHOLE CITY TO PAY FOR THIS SMALL AREA OF THE CITY? THE STORMWATER ASSESSMENT WAS INTENDED, OBVIOUSLY, TO SUPPORT THE STORMWATER SYSTEM, BUT IT WAS RECENTLY REVEALED THAT 75% OF THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO SALARIES. 75% OF THAT ASSESSMENT, AND THEN WE FIND OUT THAT MAINTENANCE WASN'T DONE FOR SO MANY YEARS BEFORE THE STORMS OF 2024 AND THE PUMPS WEREN'T WORKING. MAYBE SOME OF THAT MONEY WASN'T GOING TO SALARIES, MAYBE DONE IN MAINTENANCE, HOW LONG OF A DIFFERENCE WOULD THAT HAVE MADE? THE PROJECT, CURRENTLY, USE ALL OF THE FUNDS INTENDED FOR THE ENTIRE CITY STORMWATER ISSUES, LEAVING NOTHING FOR ANY OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, LIKE FOREST HILLS, WHICH ALSO FLOODED TERRIBLY. SO THIS ONE PROJECT, ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST AREAS OF THE CITY GOING TO GET ALL OF THE RESOURCES AND THE REST OF THE CITY IS LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES? THAT'S NOT RIGHT. NO ECONOMIC STUDY HAS BEEN DONE. WE'VE BEEN TOLD IT ISN'T REQUIRED. BUT THE IMPACTS CAN BE DEVASTATING. JUST BECAUSE IT ISN'T REQUIRED, IT COULD BE REQUIRED. YOU COULD SAY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD, WE WANT AN ECONOMIC STUDY DONE. YOU CAN'T BURY YOUR HEADS IN THE SAND AND DON'T KNOW HOW BAD IT WILL BE. IT WILL BE BAD. $35 MILLION, MUCH MORE THAN ANNUAL GROSS BY FACT -- IN GROSS. ROUTE NOW SET AS SWANN TO HOWARD. THE DISRUPTION IS GOING TO COMPLETELY FALL ON THE BUSINESSES. PARKLAND ESTATES IS NOW FREE AND CLEAR. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY PUSHED FOR THAT OR HOW IT WORKED OUT, IF KIMMINS DECIDED. THEY ARE CLEAR OF THE DISRUPTION OF GETTING IN AND OUT OF HOUSES. JUST THE BUSINESSES. TINA ADAMS SAID IT IS TIME FOR BUSINESSES TO STEP UP AND SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORS. IT'S NOT A MATTER OF NOT SUPPORTING NEIGHBORS, MATTER OF SUPPORTING 60 EMPLOYEES JUST AT MY RESTAURANT STILL HAVE JOBS AND OUR BUSINESS SURVIVES. AFTER THIS, ONLY HELP THE FLOODING BY REDUCING FOUR INCHES? I MEAN, IT'S JUST CRAZY. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONNIE BURTON, FOLLOWED BY CARROLL ANN BENNETT, FOLLOWED BY JAMES ADAIR. IF EITHER MS. SCHARF OR MR. THOMAS COULD COME UP, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. >> GOOD MORNING, CONNIE BURTON. I WAS REALLY MOVED THIS MORNING BY THE CEREMONY. WHAT I SAW WAS BLACK EXCELLENT. GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY, HOW WELL OUR PEOPLE CAN DO. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO RECALL THE REMEMBRANCE OF THINKING ABOUT THE YOUNG EXPLORERS OF MARTIN LEE ANDERSON. 14-YEAR-OLD CHILD THAT WAS KILLED IN ONE DAY OF BEING IN THE CUSTODY OF THE BAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, SUFFOCATED TO DEATH BASED ON DEMONSTRATION AND SECOND AUTOPSY, WE FOUND OUT HE DIDN'T DIE JUST FROM SICKLE CELL ANEMIA. IF THAT 14-YEAR-OLD HAD BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY, WE DON'T KNOW 20 YEARS LATER WHAT HE COULD HAVE BECAME. ITEM 54 -- 55, THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM. WHEN WE RAN THAT PROGRAM, START ADVOCATING FOR THAT PROGRAM, WE CAME HERE BECAUSE WE UNDERSTOOD THAT EAST TAMPA, OUR CHILDREN DIDN'T HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES. WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM WAS THAT IF YOU WERE GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN SUMMER JOB PROGRAM, YOU HAD TO PICK UP TRASH. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. NOTHING WRONG WITH LANDSCAPING. WE JUST SAID WE WANTED MORE. WHAT DID THE CITY DO? THEY SNATCHED THE PROGRAM, MADE IT CITYWIDE AND ONLY SEVEN CHILDREN FROM EAST TAMPA LAST YEAR HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. SEVEN. YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DOING, IF THE ELDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, CITY STAFF LEADERSHIP DO NOT PAVE THE WAY. 34, 32, 48, WHATEVER THE SMALL NUMBERS ARE FOR THIS YEAR, IT IS NOT ENOUGH. YOU HAVE TOO MANY BUSINESS PARTNERS, YOU GIVE OUT TOO MUCH MONEY. YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE FRONT END ADVOCATING THAT CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE NEED OPPORTUNITIES. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY FROM THAT. IN YOUR RETURNING CITIZEN, MOVED TO HANNA. RESOURCE CENTER, TO TELL PEOPLE WHERE TO GO IF THEY NEED HOUSING. TELL PEOPLE WHERE THEY CAN GO, LOOP, DOWN HILL SPIRAL OF NOTHINGISM. THIS MAYOR GOING TO BE OUT OF HERE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. MARCH 2027 SHE BE GONE. BUT WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY SAY? ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE SUPPORTED AND YOU SAY YOU LOVE, YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THE HELL WE WAS ABLE TO MAKE -- TALKING ABOUT BLACK FOLKS NOW. THROUGH ALL THE SEGREGATION, ALL THE POLICIES, ALL THE POVERTY, WE CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW, THIS COUNCIL, TURN THE WHEEL REAL FAST AND SAY ANYTHING THAT COME TO THIS COUNCIL THAT DO NOT SHOW THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO BUILD BLACK EXCELLENCE -- THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CARROLL ANN BENNETT FOLLOWED BY JAMES ADAIR AND ROBIN LOCKETT. >> HI. MY NAME IS CARROLL ANN BENNETT. A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE TAMPA TREE ADVOCACY GROUP. TREES ARE INFRASTRUCTURE, PERIOD. THEY SHOULD BE FUNDED BY THE CITY THE SAME WAY THE ROADS, THE SIDEWALKS, AND STORMWATER IS FUNDED. THIS IS THE ANNUAL TREE -- THIS IS THE TREE REPORT DONE EVERY FIVE YEARS. IN 2021, THE BENEFITS FOR TREES WERE $306 MILLION A YEAR. STORMWATER ALONE, ALMOST $5 MILLION A YEAR IN 2021. TREES ARE INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS IS SHOWING THE INTERSECTION OF RAINWATER BY TREES. 22-INCH CALIPER PLAIN TREE, ALMOST 80% INTERCEPTION. THIS DOCUMENT THAT I'VE GOT HERE, THIS IS A REPORT PREPARED BY THE CITY. ON PAGE 19, IT DISCUSSES THE COMPARISON OF HOW 667 U.S. COMMUNITIES, HOW -- WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES DO AND HOW IT COMPARES TO WHAT TAMPA DOES. WE ARE WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. IT SAYS HERE THAT TAMPA IS 2.95 MILLION IN FY '24 AND SHOULD BE 4.5 MILLION TO 9.9 MILLION, COMPARED TO THE OTHER 667 U.S. COMMUNITIES. YOU SHOULD REALLY READ THIS REPORT IF YOU CAN. ITEM 48, TRANSFER OF MONEY FROM THE TREE TRUST FUND TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT. WATER DEPARTMENT DID NOTHING WRONG. THEY DID A GOOD THING. TRIED TO DO A GOOD THING. I WANT OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO DO THE SAME THING. THE DEVIL WAS IN THE DETAILS. THEY SPENT 85% OF THE MONEY ON TYPE 3s. THE TREE FUND MONEY EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF SHADE TREES. TREE FUND MONEY SHOULD BE USED TO REPLACE SHADE TREES. PLEASE, ALLOCATE MONEY TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT FROM THE TREE FUND FOR THE TYPE ONE AND THE TYPE TWOS, BUT THE REST OF IT SHOULD COME FROM THE CITY BECAUSE THE CITY NEEDS TO BE FUNDING THE TREES. THEY ARE INFRASTRUCTURE. I WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT THAT TREES ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH ISSUES, THE ENERGY SAVINGS, THIS GIANT LIST I HAVE HERE, THEY ARE MORE AFFECTED. YET $282,000 OF THAT 334 IS COMING FROM THE CENTRAL TAMPA DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES SOME OF THE LOWEST INCOME AREAS OF THE CITY. SO THEY ARE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON TYPE THREE TREES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA, THAT ARE NOT GOING TO HELP ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH LOWER ENERGY COSTS. SO, PLEASE, ONLY PAY FROM THE TREE TRUST FUND THE AMOUNT FOR THE TYPE ONES AND TYPE TWOS, AND IN THE FUTURE, NO TREE TRUST FUND MONEY EXCEPT FOR TYPE ONES AND TWOS. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JAMES ADAIR, FOLLOWED BY ROBIN LOCKET AND ELIZABETH DINWIDDIE. >> IS THAT RIGHT SIDE UP? >>LYNN HURTAK: YEP. >> WE HAVE TO DO THE ZOOM. GUYS, I'M NEW TO THIS. HOW IS THAT? PERFECT. WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE AV. DON'T START MY CLOCK. JAMES ADAIR, THE AGENT WHO CARES, FROM SOUTH OF GANDY. HOLD TIGHT. THE SCANDAL. >> ISSUE THAT CAME BEFORE COUNCIL IN 2025. THE QUESTION, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BAYSHORE SIDEWALKS AND WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE A VENDOR WHO IS GIVING US THE NUMBER OF PANELS THAT NEED TO BE DONE INSTEAD OF US TELLING THEM WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE? LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT. ORIGINALLY THIS E-MAIL GOT STARTED SAID, ESSENTIALLY, HEY, DURING 2024, WE HAVE A TON OF JAGGED SIDEWALKS. BEFORE GASPARILLA STARTS, WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THESE THINGS FIXED. SO A VENDOR WAS CONTRACTED OR TOLD TO GO OUT TO GET A PANEL COUNT. IT WAS LIKE 147 PANELS. THEY WANT IT DONE BEFORE THE PARADE. WELL, THIS WAS LIKE A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME TO PULL THIS OFF. GOING TO BE VERY HARD. THE VENDOR GOT EXCITED AND STARTED PERMITS. ALL OF THAT IS LIKE IN PLAY AND STILL IN THE SYSTEM. THE REST OF THE BIDDING PROCESS WAS COMING IN. TURNS OUT THEY COULDN'T DO THESE PANELS BECAUSE IT'S MORE THAN WHAT IS ALLOWED BY OUR INTERLOCK AGREEMENT WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BECAUSE THAT ROAD IS A COUNTY ROAD. BAYSHORE IS A COUNTY ROAD. IT IS A MULTIMODAL COUNTY ROAD, SO WE COULDN'T DO IT THAT WAY. AFTER WE DID MORE INVESTIGATION TO FIGURE OUT WHO, WHY, WHAT WAS GOING ON, I WALKED THE ENTIRE BAYSHORE AND I DIDN'T SEE VERY MANY PANELS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AT ALL. LITTLE QUARTER IN THERE, TAKE A PICTURE, WIDER THAN AUDITOR QUARKS ONLY CAME UP WITH 135 PICTURES. THE OTHER DAY, I REWALKED IT AND REALIZED THERE WAS ALREADY GRINDING THAT HAD HAPPENED THAT POSSIBLY HAD NOT HAPPENED WHEN THE CONTRACTS WERE ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED, MEANING, WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO GET THE BIDS, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE JAGGED THAN WHEN I WALKED IT. WHEN I WALKED IT AGAIN, I STARTED COUNTING EACH INDIVIDUAL PANEL PROBABLY ALREADY FIXED. SURE ENOUGH, IT EASILY WAS GOING TO ADD UP TO 140 AND CHANGE PANELS. MYSTERY SOLVED WHERE THE 140 CAME FROM. THE OTHER PART THAT I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO THE MOBILITY DEPARTMENT THAT GOT THIS DONE, THEY FOUND A VENDOR THAT WOULD COME AND GRIND DOWN TO MAKE LEVEL TO REMOVE THE TRIPPING HAZARD. KUDOS TO YOU GUYS FOR SAVING A TON OF MONEY. ORIGINAL BID WAS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. HOWEVER, THEY WERE ABLE TO DO IT FOR ONLY -- ONLY LIKE TEN BUCKS A FOOT TO HAVE IT GROUND DOWN. SAVED US A TON OF MONEY. WE APPRECIATE IT. I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN THESE THINGS GET GOING WE NEED TO HAVE FOLLOW UP AND WE DID AND NOW WE KNOW WHAT A GREAT JOB MOBILITY DID. THANK YOU, GUYS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS WE ASK FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, WHEN WE FIND ANSWERS AND THEY ARE GREAT ANSWERS, WE NEED TO SHARE THOSE AS WELL. THANK YOU, GUYS. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ROBIN LOCKETT, FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH DINWIDDIE AND TARAH BLUMA. >> I DIDN'T START SPEAKING. WHY YOU START MY TIME? THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS ROBIN LOCKETT. A COUPLE OF THINGS, ITEM NUMBER 59, UNDERSTAND LATER ON TODAY YOU GUYS WILL BE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY. PLEASE KEEP THE YELLOW JACKETS IN YOUR MINDSET FOR THIS. BY THE TIME THE BUILDING -- I UNDERSTAND 1.5 HAS BEEN RESERVED. THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUILDING COSTS GOING UP. WENT OUT TO THE PARK YESTERDAY AND IT'S LOOKING GREAT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT. NOT INCLUDED. BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUILDING COSTS GOING TO GO UP. I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER IS OUTLINED FOR THE YELLOW JACKETS, THAT WHEN ANOTHER ADMINISTRATION IS HERE, THEY WILL FOLLOW THE SAME SUIT. THEY WON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AMNESIA. A COUPLE OF PEOPLE CAME UP TODAY, AND I FOUND THIS VERY INTERESTING. I LIKE THE FACT THAT ITEM NUMBER 56, THE MOTION GWEN HENDERSON MADE AROUND THE CATERERS IS CONTINUING. I APPRECIATE THAT. I HAVEN'T LOOKED THIS UP BUT DID INQUIRE WITH MASTER RESEARCHER STEPHANIE POYNOR HAS TO WHETHER THE LIST OF THE CATERERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE APPROVED IS OUT THERE AND BEING SEEN. FROM MY KNOWLEDGE AND HER RESEARCH, SHE'S SAYING NO. FIND OUT WHY. WHY WASN'T IT? BECAUSE AGAIN COMMUNITY IF THE CITY OF TAMPA IS NOT REACHING OUT TO YOU AND YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS, FOR THE RESTAURANTS THAT MR. HYCH IDENTIFIED, REACH OUT TO THE CITY OF TAMPA TO MAKE SURE YOU GET ON THIS LIST BECAUSE GWEN DID GO THROUGH A LOT TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS EQUITABLE FOR EVERYONE. AND, OF COURSE, AGAIN, IS THERE ANY WAY IN REGARDS TO THE YOUTH SUMMER LEAGUE PROGRAM, INCENTIVES? IF IT'S FINDING BUSINESSES, I'LL HELP YOU FIND BUSINESSES. IS IT INCENTIVES? HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY GET INVOLVED WITH THIS TO HELP BRING THIS ALONG? BECAUSE EVERY YEAR, CONNIE IS COMING UP HERE FUSSING ABOUT THIS. I WAS IN A YOUTH PROGRAM. THAT'S HOW MY SISTER BECAME -- EXECUTIVE PERSON FOR THE CHIEF. BUT IT WAS THROUGH A PROGRAM. IT CAN BE DONE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL TO DO IT. YOU HAVE IT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DELAY IS AND WHY SO DIFFICULT. THAT'S NOT MAKING SENSE TO ME. I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE. BUT THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ELIZABETH DINWIDDIE FOLLOWED BY TARAH BLUMA AND ASHLEY MORROW. >> MY NAME IS ELIZABETH DINWIDDIE, ALSO KNOWN BY MY MARRIED NAME OF LIZ ACARDO. I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE. I'M SO TIRED. I WAS IN THE BATHROOM CRYING A MINUTE AGO. LET'S FOCUS FOR A SECOND ON WHY I AM HERE, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 32, WHICH IS EXTENDING A GRANT OF $10 MILLION TO HELP SAVE PROPERTIES LIKE MINE. THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF A GRANT THAT THE CITY ALREADY HAS. THE PROBLEM HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS BEEN WILLING TO GIVE $10 MILLION TO HELP TAMPA AND HOMES LIKE MINE. THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF A GRANT. WHY DO WE NEED AN EXTENSION OF A GRANT? BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T USED IT YET. GET TO WORK! GET IT DONE. THE ONLY REASON THAT YOU HAVE TO EXTEND THE GRANT IS BECAUSE YOU WON'T USE THE GRANT. MY HOUSE FLOODED IN OCTOBER OF 2024. IT'S JANUARY OF 2026. YOU SHOULD HAVE USED THE GRANT BEFORE 2024, AND THEN MY HOUSE WOULDN'T HAVE FLOODED. YOU'RE EXTENDING A GRANT. YOU ARE ASKED TO HEAR SO MUCH NOISE IN HERE. IT IS A TOUGH JOB AND I DO THANK YOU. EVEN IF I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU, IT IS A TOUGH JOB. ALSO ALL THE LAWYERS BEHIND ME, VERY DIFFICULT JOBS. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE ROOT PROBLEM HERE. THE ROOT PROBLEM IS FEAR. THE FEAR THAT THESE BUSINESSES HAVE OF FAILURE DURING THIS PROJECT. I WOULD LIKE TO IDENTIFY THE COMMUNITY THAT I AM FIGHTING FOR MY COMMUNITY, PALMA CEIA PINES OR HYDE PARK WHERE I USED TO LIVE. MY COMMUNITY INCLUDES THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE FIGHTING ME. I DON'T WANT THOSE BUSINESSES TO FAIL, AND I AM CONSIDERING AN IDEA THAT I HAVE TO HELP THEM. I NEED THIS CITY TO STOP BEING AFRAID OF THE FEAR THAT THESE BUSINESSES HAVE BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WILL FAIL, AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN WRONG INFORMATION, BUT I'M ASKING THESE BUSINESSES TO MEET DIRECTLY WITH ME. TALK TO ME. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND YOU. I'M EXHAUSTED. I'M EXHAUSTED. I LOSE SLEEP OVER THIS. MY HOME FLOODED. HUNDREDS OF HOMES FLOODED. YOU WANT AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION. EACH PROPERTY, OVER 300 PROPERTIES FLOODED. IT WASN'T EVEN A HIT OF A DIRECT HURRICANE. IT WAS A RAIN EVENT. OVER 300 PROPERTIES FLOODED AT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS PER PROPERTY. I WANT TO MEET WITH THE BUSINESSES DIRECTLY. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> PLEASE JUST SAY YES TO ITEM THIRTY -- >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TARAH BLUMA FOLLOWED BY ASHLEY MORROW AND MENTESNOT. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M TARAH BLUMA. I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT PARKS AND TREES. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SUPPORT MONEY FROM THE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS GOING TO THE GADSEN PARK IMPROVEMENTS, BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO PULL THE DOCK REPAIRS OUT OF THAT RESOLUTION. I DO NOT SUPPORT MONEY FOR JULIAN B. LANE DOCK REPAIRS, AT LEAST OUT OF THIS BUDGET. JULIAN B. LANE IS NOT A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, FIRST OF ALL. SECOND OF ALL, THEY HAVE AN EVENT CENTER THAT MAKES MONEY. THEY CAN PAY FOR THEIR OWN DOCK REPAIRS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY ON THIS EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS NOT VERY OLD. NEXT, THERE WAS A $650,000 EASEMENT GRANTED BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION AND A PIPELINE PROJECT IN MY IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT MONEY DID GO INTO THE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS BUDGET. WE WOULD REALLY LIKE IT TO GO TO THAT PARK THAT WAS RIPPED UP OR FOR A TAMPA COMMUNITY CENTER ALSO CONNECTED TO THAT OR DUGOUTS THAT ARE COMPLETELY UNUSABLE IN PORT TAMPA. WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS HALF THE MONEY TO GO TO DOCK REPAIRS AT JULIAN B. LANE PARK. ALSO, WE HAVE $2 MILLION THAT WAS RECEIVED FOR AJ PALOMAS PARK BACK IN 2021 THAT STILL HAS NOT BEEN SPENT. LET'S SPEND THAT MONEY, MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. ONCE WE GET THAT, WE COULD TALK ABOUT GIVING THE ADMINISTRATION THE MONEY FOR JULIAN B. LANE DOCK REPAIRS. WE EXERCISE ANY EXCESS FUNDS FROM 2025 GOING TO SOUTH TAMPA PARK SPECIFICALLY FOR REPAIRS TO OUR SMALL PARKS AND ALSO FOR MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS AT GADSEN. NEXT, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TREES. I DO SUPPORT PAYING THE WATER DEPARTMENT BACK FOR THE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES. THEY WERE DOING THE RIGHT THING. THE TYPE THREE TREES I THINK SHOULD BE PAID FOR OUT OF A DIFFERENT BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE TREE TRUST FUND. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE REQUIREMENTS HAVE YET BEEN MET TO BE ABLE TO USE THE TREE TRUST FUND MONEY AGAIN. I SELFISHLY ASK THIS BECAUSE I AM MAKING PROGRESS IN MY QUEST TO GET TREES PLANTED AT WESTSHORE ELEMENTARY, AND I'M SURE THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE THAT MONEY. BUT WHEN YOU DO TURN THAT SPIGOT BACK ON, I HOPE YOU REQUIRE TYPE ONE OR TYPE TWO TREES ONLY FOR TREE TRUST FUND MONEY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TREE-MENDOUS TREE PROGRAM OPEN TO PLACING THE TREES OTHER PLACES BESIDES JUST IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. THOSE ARE TWO REALLY EASY THINGS THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE FULL AGREEMENT ON THAT YOU COULD VOTE ON TODAY AND START MAKING SOME PROGRESS IN THIS AREA. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ASHLEY MORROW, MENTESNOT, PAM CANNELLA. >> HELLO. ASHLEY MORROW, SHARING TAMPA'S BLACK HISTORY, BUT FIRST I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT. I ENJOY LIVING IN DISTRICT 5, EAST TAMPA, BUT I HAVE NOTICED SOME THINGS AS I MOVED HERE AND JUST BEEN OBSERVING A LOT OF THINGS. I SPOKE WITH GWEN AT LENGTH. COMMUNICATION. I FEEL LIKE WE NEED MORE CONSISTENT TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION INSTEAD OF COMING TO CITY COUNCIL AND IT IS A ONE-WAY AND CANNOT RESPOND. REGULAR NEWSLETTERS AND STANDING PUBLIC FORUMS SCHEDULED IN ADVANCE TO PEOPLE CAN PLAN AHEAD. THIS WOULD ALLEVIATE A LOT OF COMMUNITY FRUSTRATION. DEVELOPMENT, STRONGER ALIGNMENT IS NEEDED BETWEEN THE CAC, CITY COUNCIL, AND CRA STAFF. RFPs FOR VACANT LOTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED THIS MONTH. I'M HOPEFUL THAT LOCAL BLACK DEVELOPERS ARE AWARDED SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. SOLUTION IS PENDING FOR THAT. I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THAT. NEXT, RESOURCE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESS. WE NEED CLARITY ON HOW FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED, WHO RECEIVES THEM, HOW THEY ARE BEING USED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HOW SMALL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS CAN GET ACCESS TO THEM. I WOULD SUGGEST SETTING UP WORKSHOPS IF YOU ALREADY DO THEM, MAYBE STREAMING THEM AND SHARING ONLINE SO OTHERS CAN SEE THEM LATER. IF THEY HAPPEN AND NOBODY IS THERE, ATTENDANCE IS LOW, THAT DOESN'T HELP ANYBODY. I MEAN ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS. I'M NOT ATTACKING ANY ORGANIZATION. I LOVE YOU ALL. WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE AND WANT GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN IN EAST TAMPA, WEST TAMPA, ALL OF THEM, NORTH SOUTH WHATEVER. NEXT, RESTORING PRIDE AND KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN. I JUST LEARNED ABOUT SWEEP WEEK. I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT LAST YEAR. UNFORTUNATELY, GWEN PASSED PROBABLY DURING THAT SPAN OF TIME. I'M SEEING MATTRESSES AND DRESSERS AND THINGS IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS. NOT BY THE CURB. SWEEP WEEK IS THE WEEK THEY COME AND PICK UP THINGS FOR FREE. I WOULD LOVE IF WE PUSH FOR THAT THIS YEAR. A WHOLE MATTRESS IN FRONT OF GARY SCHOOL ON 40th. I HOPE IT IS REMOVED BY NOW. FINALLY MISINFORMATION MISINFORMATION IS SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE THROUGH MY COMMUNITY. IT'S CREATING UNNECESSARY DIVISION. LOCAL ADVOCATE LEADERS SHOULD MOVE AWAY FROM ATTACKING EACH OTHER AND TOWARDS TRANSPARENT INFORMATION SHARING WITH MEMBERS AND EACH OTHER, THE LEADERS. ACCURATE COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL ALONG WITH BROADER INCLUSION ACROSS GENERATIONS, CLASS, BACKGROUNDS, AT THE DECISION TABLE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING AROUND AT YOUR TABLE AND IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY IS THE SAME AGE OR YOUR SAME BACKGROUND OR CLASS, MIX IT UP A BIT BECAUSE YOU NEED TO SEE SOME OTHER PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVES. THAT'S EVERYTHING FOR ME. HERE IS A LITTLE GRAPHIC I CREATED FOR YOU ALL. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MENTESNOT FOLLOWED BY PAM CANNELLA AND JOHN GREE. >> MENTESNOT, TAMPA, FLORIDA. LIKE TO GIVE A LITTLE STATISTICAL INFORMATION. UHURU MEANS FREEDOM IN SWAHILI. WE AS AFRICAN PEOPLE SHOULD ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT OUR FREEDOM. LITTLE STATISTICAL INFORMATION. 85% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION IS GAY. 85% GAY OR EITHER HAD A GAY EXPERIENCE. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. BY FORCE OR BY CHOICE OR BY WHATSOEVER. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GAY AND CAUSE OF GAY. ANOTHER BIT OF STATISTICAL INFORMATION. THE POLICE MURDER 100 AFRICANS PER DAY, EVERY DAY. THAT IS JUST NORTH AMERICA. THE POLICE AND POLICE RELATED ORGANIZATIONS MURDER 100 AFRICAN PEOPLE PER DAY SINCE 1865. THAT'S 700 AFRICANS MURDERED BY THE POLICE EVERY SINGLE WEEK. 2800 PER MONTH SINCE 1865. NOW I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HYPOCRISY AND HYPOCRITES. TWO HYPOCRITES SITTING RIGHT IN THIS ROOM. ONE READING THE RULES OF DECORUM BEFORE ANYTHING GETS STARTED. ANOTHER ONE TALKING ABOUT LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR RENEE GOOD. WOMAN THAT WAS MURDERED BY I.C.E. THE POLICE KILL BLACK PEOPLE EVERY DAY. THIS WOMAN ALREADY GOT $400,000 LAST NIGHT ALONE OFF THE INTERNET BECAUSE WHITE LIVES MATTER. THE PEOPLE, THE JEWS, MURDERING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS AND NO MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE PALESTINIAN KIDS OR ADULTS GETTING MURDERED OR THE GROUP THAT THE WHITE FOLKS CREATED CALLED HAMAS. AIN'T NO SUCH GROUP AS HAMAS. WHITE FOLKS CREATED THEM TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. THIS DUMB, IGNORANT CITY COUNCIL NEVER TALK ABOUT ANYTHING IMPORTANT TO AFRICAN PEOPLE. WE'RE 26% OF THE POPULATION. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT REPARATIONS. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT. SAN FRANCISCO JUST SAY, HEY -- I SAID $3 MILLION FOR AFRICAN, MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD. SAN FRANCISCO SAID $5 MILLION. ALL THIS IGNORANT STUPIDITY YOU ALL TALK ABOUT, BLACK PEOPLE HAVE NO INTEREST IN IT. ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NONE. WE WANT TO START TALKING ABOUT US AND OUR GENERATION AND OUR FUTURE. THE KKK IS BACK ON THE RISE. THEY SLAVE CATCHING WENT DOWN TO VENEZUELA, SLAVE CATCH SOMEONE AND YOU WANT TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE BECAUSE WHITE LIVES MATTER AND WHITE WOMAN THAT GOT KILLED SOMEWHERE DOING SOMETHING. DISINGENUOUS, DISHONEST AND DISTASTEFUL TO AFRICAN PEOPLE. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PAM CANNELLA FOLLOWED BY JOHN GREE AND SURGRET DOSS. >> MY NAME IS PAM CANNELLA. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO NUMBER 32 ON THE AGENDA. IT DOES NEED TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE THERE'S INCONSISTENCIES IN THIS AGREEMENT THAT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED AS MISINFORMATION. A FORMAL AMENDMENT ORDER IS REQUIRED PER THE GRANT AGREEMENT PAGE OF NUMBER ONE. FOR CHANGES IN THE EXPIRATION DATE, INCREASE IN AGREEMENT FUNDING AND A CHANGE IN MATCH REQUIREMENTS. ATTACHMENT 1A, NUMBER 44 ASKS FOR COMPLETE AND ACCURATE INFORMATION, YET NO ACTUAL COST AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SAID. IT WAS BASED ON 65 MILLION, BUT COULD BE A HUNDRED MILLION. THERE'S NO FORMAL REPORT PRESENTED FOR THE DESIGN PROJECT OR IMPACTS. PROJECT DESCRIPTION CHANGES ON THE PROJECT WEB PAGE ALMOST EVERY DAY. PROJECT STATES TO PROTECT 259-ACRE AREA FROM A HUNDRED-YEAR FLOODING, BUT OUR MAYOR AND STAFF HAD SAID NO PROTECTION FROM HURRICANES. PROTECT SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS FROM FLOODING, YET DOESN'T ADDRESS PALMA CEIA PINES FLOODING. MY CONCERN ON OCTOBER 23, 2025 MEETING, MR. ROGERO, LACK OF FUNDING FOR FUTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THERE ARE NO FUNDING. I DON'T WANT MY TAXES RAISED. HOW IS SEA LEVEL RISE BEING ADDRESSED? THE CITY OF TAMPA VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT STATES WATER COMING INTO OUTFALLS AND INLETS AT BAYSHORE WOULD FLOOD THAT AREA, BUT YET WE'RE GOING TO PUT WATER OUT THAT AREA. THE STREETSCAPE IS NOT A STORMWATER PROJECT, SO WHY IS IT ALWAYS PART OF THE HOWARD PROJECT? IT'S NOT PART OF THIS FUNDING. I'M NEUTRAL. I'M NOT HERE FOR ONE NEIGHBORHOOD OR THE OTHER. I'M FOR ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS. I'M HERE TO TRY TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT AND MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THIS HOWARD PROJECT IS NOT IT. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JOHN GREE FOLLOWED BY SURGRET DOSS AND PASTOR WILLIAMS. >> BEST ONLY TO SHOW THAT I'M DOING MY HOME WORK. I'M JOHN GREEN HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE HCU WHO WORKED FOR THE CITY, STEVEN SIMON, WHO REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY. IT'S ABOUT THE TRASH PICKUP DURING THE HOLIDAYS. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION SHOWING YOU TO MAKE MY CASE, BUT I WANT TO START THE CONVERSATION BY SAYING, IF THE CITY CAN APPROVE TO GIVE HART 1.5, $1.6 MILLION FOR ROUTE ONE, WHY CAN'T THIS CITY PAY ITS EMPLOYEES OVERTIME TO PICK UP THE TRASH NORTH OF TAMPA, NOT SOUTH. NO OFFENSE TO THE SOUTH. FROM MLK. I'M ASKING THAT THIS COUNCIL HELP US RESTORE THE RESPECT AND DIGNITY TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS IN THE NORTH SIDE OF THIS CITY TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DEARLY LOVE. NOW, SIMON PETER COMES HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND HE DISRESPECTS HIS OWN PEERS, HIS OWN EMPLOYEES AS ATU MEMBER. I'M AN EX-VICE PRESIDENT OF ATU FOR HART. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I WORK WITH ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES, BRIAN WALKER, WHO HAS BEEN FIRED. HOW HE MISLEADS THEM IN TERMS OF THE PROCEDURES AND WORK WITH MANAGEMENT TO HELP GET PEOPLE FIRED. I'M PISSED. WHO HELPS GET PEOPLE FIRED FROM WORKING WITH THE STAFF. RIGHT? THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. THIS IS ONLY TO START THE CONVERSATION AND I WILL BE COMING BACK TO PROTECT THE EMPLOYEES OF THIS CITY AS LONG AS THEY ARE ASKING ME TO. ABOUT THE TRASH IN OUR -- MAY SEE IT AS POOR COMMUNITIES, WE STILL HAVE DIGNITY. TRASH CAN BE PICKED UP. IF YOU CAN FIND $1.6 MILLION TO GIVE TO HART, HART HAS $38 MILLION RESERVE, YOU DISRESPECT YOUR OWN CITY, WE ALL CAN MAKE TAMPA A BETTER PLACE WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY AND SPECIFICALLY TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY. BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY CONGRATULATE ALL THE WOMEN TRAILBLAZING, SPECIFICALLY THE BLACK WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN THE BACKBONE OF THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SUSURGRET DOSS AND PASTOR WILLIAMS. >> GOOD MORNING. SURGRET DOSS. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND PLEASE DON'T BLOCK IT OUT. I UNDERLINED THIS NAME, GREG HOLDER, FOR A REASON. A COUPLE OF YOU ALL KNOW WHY. HE CALLED THIS CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, AND THEN HE HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE SHOW UP FROM FIRMS THAT SUPPOSEDLY REPRESENTED BANKS BEFORE YOU ALL HELPED INSTILL -- HELPED HIM STEAL ONE OF MY PROPERTIES. THIS SO-CALLED LAW FIRM NEVER, EVER HAD A MERGER. THIS ATTORNEY, I'M ALSO SPEAKING TO THE ATTORNEYS IN THE ROOM AND THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING, NEVER MADE AN APPEARANCE IN THE RECORD, EVEN THOUGH SHE CLAIMED TO HAVE MADE AN APPEARANCE IN THE RECORD. THE STATEMENT THAT SUPPOSEDLY WAS ATTRIBUTED TO ME, I NEVER SAID -- GREG HOLDER, SAID THAT I SUPPOSEDLY MADE THE STATEMENT, WHICH I DIDN'T MAKE. ALSO, GREG HOLDER WHO AT THE TIME WAS A JUDGE, BY THE WAY, SAID HE WITNESSED ME IN ANOTHER JUDGE'S COURTROOM. I DON'T KNOW JUDGES DID THAT KIND OF THING. A COUPLE OF GUYS CAME UP TO ME AND ASKED ME IF INSULT RACISTS AND BIGOTS AND PEOPLE HOLDING HIGH POSITION EVER HELP ■ME. I HAD TO REMIND THEM THAT BEING PROFESSIONAL COURTEOUS HONEST DIPLOMATIC, AIN'T DONE AN MFING THING FOR ME. STILL DON'T HAVE MY HOUSES AND STILL FACING FIVE YEARS. DOING THESE THINGS THINKING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. I DON'T LOOK FOR AN EXCUSE TO CONFRONT BIGOTS AND RACISTS. I WANT YOU ALL TO SMELL MY COLOGNE. HERE TO ASSERT THAT GREGORY HOLDER NEVER DESERVED THE TITLE OF HONORABLE AND IF GENERAL MARK KELLY CAN LOSE HIS POSITION IN ANYTHING HE EARNED, THAT POS, THE SAME CAN BE DONE FOR HIM. I'M SPEAKING TO YOU, RON DESANTIS AND ANY OTHER GOVERNOR, WHOEVER COMES BEHIND HIM. JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMITTEE. NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT GREGORY HOLDER WAS REPRIMANDED A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE ME BECAUSE HE PUSHED DOWN DR. GENSHAFT AT USF. I'M TALKING ABOUT HIM BECAUSE HE IS A STINKIN' SKIN MF WHO TRIED TO PUT ME IN PRISON FOR FIVE YEARS. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE MELANIN IN THEIR BLOOD AND A LOT THAT DO THAT WISH THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT, WORKED SO HARD TO UNDERMINE THE WEAKASS APOLOGY THAT THE CITY OF TAMPA GAVE BACK IN 2020 FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACK FOLKS. EVER HAVE A CASE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT INVOLVE GREGORY HOLDER OR DETECTIVE MIKE VICTOR, I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU HAVE THE CASE REVIEWED. I CAN ALMOST PROMISE YOU SOMETHING BAD WENT ON WITH YOUR CASE. THAT SAID, SHOUT-OUT TO THE GREATEST INSTITUTE OF LEARNING, UNIVERSITY OF THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PASTOR W50EU78S. KAREN CLAY. PASTOR WILLIAMS, CAROLYN CLAY, MICHAEL RANDOLPH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK SISTER LOCKET FOR PUTTING MY NAME ON THE LIST BECAUSE I THOUGHT I SIGNED THE LIST. YOU KNOW WHAT, I FIRST WANT TO GIVE PRAISE TO GOD ALMIGHTY. >>LYNN HURTAK: CAN YOU START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE? >> SAY WHAT? >>LYNN HURTAK: YOUR NAME. CAN YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME. >> YEAH, MY NAME IS PASTOR WILLIAMS. I THOUGHT I SAID THAT. PASTOR WILLIAMS. MAKE ME FORGET MY THOUGHTS. NOW WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN, HADN'T PUT MY WATER ON YET. MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS STAYING WITH ME. SHE HAD TO MOVE OUT. STILL WAITING. THEY SEND ME A BILL EVERY MONTH. IN FACT, SEND ME TWO BILLS ONCE A MONTH. THE WAY YOU TREAT PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU ALL DON'T WANT TO RESPECT, YOU DON'T RESPECT THEM. YOU ACT LIKE YOU CARE LESS. COME UP AND TELL YOU WEEK AFTER WEEK, WE ARE ALL NOTHING BUT HUMAN BEINGS AND THAT'S THE WAY WE WANT TO BE TREATED. THANK GOD THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY, THE YEAR 2026. THAT IS A BLESSING FOR ALL OF US. SOME AIN'T GIVE GOD NO PRAISE BECAUSE YOU DON'T CARE NOTHING ABOUT GOD. BUT I HAVE TO LET YOU KNOW, I CARE A WHOLE LOT ABOUT GOD. HE THE ONE THAT CREATED ALL OF US AND WE NEED TO ACT LIKE IT. TELL HIM THANKS SOMETIMES. PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME SOMETIMES. GLORIFY HIM SOMETIMES. BUT WHEN I COME HERE MANY YEARS AGO, THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO SIT DOWN BECAUSE PRAYING IN THE NAME OF JESUS. I'M LETTING YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE ONLY PRAYER I KNOW TO PRAY, IN THE NAME OF JESUS. GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO US AND HE CONTINUES TO BLESS US EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES. AND WE DON'T HAVE SENSE ENOUGH TO LOOK UP AND TELL GOD, THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR ANOTHER DAY. THANK GOD FOR THE 2026. A LOT OF THEM GONE. BUT WE STILL HERE, PRAISE AND GLORIFY HIS HOLY NAME. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE CROSS. WHEN I DIE, DIE ON THE CROSS. GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO US. I HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO SAY. WHEN I GET UP HERE, MY THOUGHTS LEAVE ME FOR SOME REASON. I GOT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE A HUMAN BEING. BLACKFUL BROWNFUL YELLOW FOLKS, WHITE FOLKS, EVERYBODY ELSE. TREAT US RIGHT. PASSING A FLYER OUT HERE TO THE ATTORNEY. YOU KNOW WHAT, HE GIVE IT BACK TO ME. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU. YOU HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY. OKAY. NEXT, KAREN CLAY. FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL RANDOLPH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, ALMOST. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS KAREN CLAY. I HEAD UP THE DEMOCRATIC DISABILITY CAUCUS OF FLORIDA AS WELL AS THE DISABILITY CAUCUS OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND MOST PROUDLY, THE MICHAEL PHILLIPS FOUNDATION. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE RESOLUTION THAT COUNCILMAN VIERA IS MAKING TO NAME THE DISABILITY INTERNS PROGRAM AFTER MY SON MICHAEL PHILLIPS. I'M PROUD AND HONORED AND HUMBLED TO BE HERE TODAY AND THANKING ALL OF YOU, AND THANKING THE MAYOR AND THE STAFF AND THE CITY FOR HAVING A PROGRAM THAT SO MANY CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY DO NOT HAVE AND ALMOST AFRAID TO HAVE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT LIKE USING THE WORDS, YOU KNOW, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. THE CITY OF TAMPA HAS NO PROBLEM USING THOSE WORDS. I THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ALL SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU AGAIN. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MICHAEL RANDOLPH. >> CDC. WE ARE STANDING IN THE MOMENT THAT FEELS HEAVY TO SO MANY. IN 2006, MASS LAYOFFS -- SHAPE SUSTAINABLE -- RESOURCES ARE DISAPPEARING, AND FOR MANY, THIS CRISIS IS PERSONAL. IT'S DREAMS DELAYED. THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T WAIT. A.I. GIVES US A WAY FORWARD. BY USING A.I. AS AN IMPACT -- WE STABILIZE OUR MISSION AND BUILD A RESIDENT CENTERED MODEL THAT HONORS PEOPLE'S TIME, DIGNITY, AND POTENTIAL. SUPPORT 85% OF OUR OPERATION, MANAGING SCHEDULING, DATA ANALYST COMMUNICATION AND CURRICULUMS. AS STAFF CAN STATE FULLY PRESENT WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT WALK THROUGH OUR DOORS SEEKING HELP. A.I. WOULD ALLOW US TO FULLY OPERATE WITH A BUDGET OF $245,000 INSTEAD OF ADDITIONAL 620,000. HAPPENS WHEN RESIDENTS USE THE SOFTWARE THEMSELVES. A.I. WILL HELP THEM BUILD RESUMÉS, FILL GAPS AND GAIN COACHING THAT BUILDS CONFIDENCE. ACTS AS A VIRTUAL BUSINESS PARTNER FOR NEW ENTREPRENEURS. TARGETED TRAINING, WE'LL PREPARE RESIDENTS FOR OVER 25 TECH-RELATED JOBS, OPENING DOORS ONCE CLOSED. THIS MODEL DOESN'T JUST REDUCE COST AND EXPAND ASSETS, IT RESTORES POSSIBILITY. IT POSITIONS OUR COMMUNITY NOT TO SURVIVE CHANGE, BUT TO SHAPE IT FOR EQUITY -- THOSE NOT IN WEST TAMPA, JOIN US AS WE HOST AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION ON HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAN TRANSFORM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, EXPAND CAPITAL AND HELP BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH. WE'LL EXPLORE PRACTICAL, REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES THAT PUT A.I. TO WORK TO EMPOWER COMMUNITY. NEXT, I WANT TO HONOR ROBIN LOCKETT FOR HER TIRELESS CAMPAIGN THAT EMPOWERS AND AMP FIES VOICES ACROSS MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. FINALLY, COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. AT 70, I HOPE I AM AS GOOD AS YOU WHEN I REACH YOUR AGE. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD TO COMMITTEE REPORTS TO TRY TO GET THROUGH OUR CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL START WITH COUNCILMAN VIERA. ITEMS 4-6. >>LUIS VIERA: YES, MA'AM. BY THE WAY, BEFORE, I WANTED TO SAY THIS, WE NEVER RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THAT TIME, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY I KNOW FORMER JUDGE GREG HOLDER, I DON'T THINK THERE IS A MAN WHO I CONSIDER TO BE A BETTER PERSON OF INTEGRITY AND DECENCY THAN JUDGE GREG HOLDER. JUST FOR THE RECORD. BASED ON THAT, MOVE ITEMS 4-6. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SECOND. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. WE WILL HAVE TO DO THESE BY A ROLL CALL. OR MR. SHELBY, CAN WE DO THE VOICE VOTE WITH MR. CLENDENIN? >>MARTIN SHELBY: NO, VOICE VOTE, PLEASE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I CAN DO VOICE VOTE? >>MARTIN SHELBY: I MEANT BY ROLL CALL. INDIVIDUAL. >>LYNN HURTAK: ROLL CALL, PLEASE. YES. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >> CLENDENIN? >>LYNN HURTAK: YOU ARE MUTED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: ITEM -- COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. >>NAYA YOUNG: I MOVE ITEMS 7 THROUGH 12. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ROLL CALL. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I MOVE ITEMS 13 THROUGH 21. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ROLL CALL. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. MR. -- COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MOVE ITEMS 22 THROUGH 25. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION TO MOVE ITEMS 22 THROUGH 25 FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. SECONDED FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ROLL CALL. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: MOVE 26 THROUGH 31. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ROLL CALL. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: I AM GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO TO MOVE 33 THROUGH 35. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I MOVE ITEMS 33 THROUGH 35. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. I HEARD A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. ROLL CALL. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. THEN I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 49, 50, 51, 52, AND 54. I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. ROLL CALL VOTE. YES. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT ZOOMING THROUGH THE SECOND READINGS SINCE WE HAVE LAWYERS AND FOLKS HERE? I THINK WE CAN GET IT DONE IN TEN MINUTES. IF IT GETS BAD, WE'LL RECONSIDER. >>LUIS VIERA: I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT THE CONSENT AGENDA. I WANT TO NOTE THAT 22 IS THE REPAVING OF NEW TAMPA BOULEVARD. AND THAT'S BEEN ON OUR RADAR SINCE I GOT ELECTED. SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR EVERYBODY AT MOBILITY FOR WORKING WITH US ON THAT. LONG STORY BEHIND THAT, BUT THANK YOU. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILES. >>LYNN HURTAK: EXCELLENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: AYE. >>MARTIN SHELBY: JUST TO GO BACK TO WHAT WAS AGREED ON DURING THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, THIS IS DIRECTED TO COUNCILMAN VIERA, DID YOU WANT ITEM 53 DONE BEFORE LUNCH BEFORE DOING SECOND READINGS? IS. >>LUIS VIERA: [INAUDIBLE] >>LYNN HURTAK: GO AHEAD. 53. >>LUIS VIERA: CHIEF LOPEZ, THIS IS THE GRANDSON OF PATROLMAN MORRIS LOPEZ WHO IS HERE. I REMEMBER MEETING CHIEF LOPEZ AS JESSE GNATSON'S FUNERAL. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING FOR THE LATE PATROLMAN MORRIS LOPEZ, 1949, YBOR CITY 7th AND 16th. THE STORY, GREAT STORY YEAR AND A HALF AGO THAT PAUL GUZZO WROTE ON IT. DID A FINE JOB ON IT. TALKS ABOUT NOT JUST THE SACRIFICE THAT HE HAD, PATROLMAN LOPEZ BUT IN SAVING THE LIFE OF A NEWSPAPER BOY AND HOW THAT MAN'S SON WOULD BECOME A FIREFIGHTER AND LOPEZ'S GRANDSON, YOU, WOULD BECOME A FIREFIGHTER AS WELL. YOUR GRANDFATHER WANTED TO BECOME AN ATTORNEY. WE'VE RUN INTO SOME ISSUES WITH REGARDS TO PLAQUE, HISTORICAL MARKER AND SO FORTH. I THOUGHT IT WISE TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT TO DO A STREET RENAMING. GIVEN THE FACT IT IS YBOR CITY, WHEREVER IT MAY BE. I WANTED TO -- CHIEF LOPEZ WANTED TO SPEAK FOR 45 SECONDS. >> FOR THE RECORD, MORRIS LOPEZ THE III. GOOD MORNING OR AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO GO OFF OF WHAT COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO SAID THIS MORNING. WHAT A GREAT DAY TO START OUT THE NEW YEAR. THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE IN THIS ROOM THIS MORNING. IT WAS GOOD TO BE HERE. HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERING TO HONOR MY GRANDFATHER WHO SERVED THE CITY IN A SWORN ROLE AND HONORED THAT OATH BY GIVING HIS LIFE IN THAT SERVICE AS A TAMPA POLICE OFFICER, ULTIMATELY MAKING THE GREATEST SACRIFICE A PUBLIC SERVANT CAN MAKE. HIS COMMITMENT TO THE CITY WAS NEVER ABOUT RECOGNITION. IT WAS ABOUT DUTY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND ANSWERING HIS CALLING TO SERVE OTHERS. HE BELIEVED DEEPLY IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IN DOING THE WORK QUITELY AND HONORABLY. STREET BEARING HIS NAME WOULD SERVE AS LASTING REMINDER OF THE SACRIFICE NOT ONLY MADE BY MY GRANDFATHER BUT BY ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THIS GREAT CITY. AND THEY SPENT THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE DOING IT. MY FAMILY IS VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT EACH OF YOU DO EVERY DAY FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, WHICH I FEEL GOES UNNOTICED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING ME AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. >>LUIS VIERA: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA WANTED TO SPEAK. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MR. LOPEZ, I WAS A YOUNG KID WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I BELIEVE YOUR -- >> YEAH, THAT WAS HER. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I REMEMBER THAT WHEN I WAS A KID BECAUSE IT LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION IN MY MIND. SISTER NAMED OLGA. MY UNCLE WAS MARRIED TO OLGA. I KNEW WHEN THAT INCIDENT HAPPENED IT WAS A FAMILY AFFAIR. I REMEMBER THE CHATTER AMONG THE MEMBERS. I NEVER FORGOT WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR GRANDFATHER. I ADMIRE MR. VIERA FOR WHAT HE'S DOING. AGAIN, YOU HAD A GREAT GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER. I KNEW THEM PERSONALLY. >> THANK YOU. MY GRANDMOTHER SPOKE VERY HIGHLY OF YOU. GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY. >> THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: TAKE CARE. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, CHIEF. WE APPRECIATE YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. I'VE DONE THE MEMO, BRANDON, DO YOU MIND GIVING THIS TO CHIEF LOPEZ. I HAVE DONE THE MEMO. I KNOW WE NEED TWO WEEKS. I'VE DONE THAT. SUPPORT FROM CINDY ROBERTS, THE WIDOW OF LATE CORPORAL MIKE ROBERTS, THE COPS ORGANIZATION, THE FIRE UNIONS, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, CITY OF TAMPA PBA AND EVERYTHING ON THIS. SO WE'LL BRING THIS BACK PURSUANT TO OUR RULES. BUT I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THIS. MY THREE MINUTES ARE UP. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT. FILE NUMBER 36. THESE ARE THE NON-QUASI. ITEM 36. ANY STAFF HERE FOR ITEM NUMBER 36? >>ROSS SAMONS: ROSS SAMONS, PRESENTING FILE NUMBER 36, VAC-25-19. I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANY QUESTIONS? PETITIONER? OR IS THAT US? DO WE HAVE A PETITIONER? ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: LIKE TO MOVE ITEM 36, FILE NUMBER VAC-25-19, 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 7th AVENUE, SOUTH OF 9th AVENUE, EAST OF 42nd STREET, AND WEST OF 43rd STREET, WITHIN THE REVISED MAP OF ENTERPRISE SUBDIVISION, A SUBDIVISION IN THE CITY OF TAMPA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN SECTION 2, HEREOF, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN COVENANTS, CONDITIONS, AND RESTRICTIONS AS MORE PARTICULARLY SET FORTH HEREIN, PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS, INTERPRETATIONS, AND REPEALING CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON, A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ROLL CALL. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: NO. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>THE CLERK: MOTION PASSED WITH HURTAK VOTING NO. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. SAMONS, ITEM 37. >>ROSS SAMONS: ROSS SAMONS, DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION PRESENTING FILE VAC 25-15 FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION. I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANY QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE A PETITIONER? >> NICK SANDERS, STEARNS WEAVER MILLER FOR THE APPLICANT. I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANY QUESTIONS? ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? COUNCILMAN VIERA, PLEASE, ITEM 37. >>LUIS VIERA: YES, MA'AM. I MOVE AN ORDINANCE BEING PRESENTED FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION, FILE VAC-25-15, ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA VACATING CLOSING DISCONTINUING, AND ABANDONING A PORTION OF 31st STREET, A PORTION OF 15th AVENUE AND THAT ALLEYWAY THAT ARE LOCATED NORTH OF INTERSTATE 4, SOUTH OF COLUMBUS DRIVE, EAST OF CSX RAILROAD, WEST OF YALE STREET WITHIN THE MAP OF VEDADO, A SUBDIVISION IN THE CITY OF TAMPA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN SECTION 2 HEREOF, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN COVENANTS, CONDITIONS, AND RESTRICTIONS AS MORE PARTICULARLY SET FORTH HEREIN, PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS, INTERPRETATIONS AND REPEALING CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ROLL CALL. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. MR. VIERA -- >>LUIS VIERA: YES, MA'AM. REVIEWED EVERYTHING. >>LYNN HURTAK: BOTH 38 AND 39. >>LUIS VIERA: YES, MA'AM. >>LYNN HURTAK: ITEM 38. >> DANA CROSBY COLLIER FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE. ERIC COTTON FROM DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION AND DENNIS FERNANDEZ FROM HISTORIC PRESERVATION ARE ON THE LINE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. HERE TODAY ON ITEM 38, THE SECOND READING OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT REGARDING THE YBOR CITY PARKING REQUIREMENTS. AS YOU'LL RECALL, THIS AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY DUE TO THE RECENT CHANGES IN STATE LAW SENATE BILL 180. I DO HAVE A SLIDE IF YOU WANT A LITTLE REFRESHER. TAKING THIS ORDINANCE BACK TO WHAT WE HAD ON AUGUST 1, 2024. EFFECTIVE RETROACTIVELY TO THAT DATE. IN OTHER WORDS, IT WILL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANY QUESTIONS? >>BILL CARLSON: I THINK EVERYBODY INTERESTED IN THIS HAS WATCHED ALREADY, BUT THE IDEA IS IF THE STATE WILL CHANGE IT, WE'LL CHANGE IT BACK. >>LYNN HURTAK: EXACTLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS? >> STEPHANIE POYNOR FOR THE RECORD, SENATE BILL 180 SUCKS. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE? I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK YOUNG, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR MIKE. >>NAYA YOUNG: FILE NUMBER E2025-8, 27, ORDINANCE BEING PRESENTED FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA, RELATING TO PUBLICLY INITIATED TEXT AMENDMENTS, MAKING REVISIONS TO THE CITY OF TAMPA CODE OF ORDINANCES, AMENDING SECTION 27-178, PARKING REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT THEREWITH, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK YOUNG, A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ROLL CALL. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM NUMBER 39. >>ROSS SAMONS: ROSS SAMONS, DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION, PRESENTING VAC 20-06 FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION. I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE A PETITIONER? >> RYAN MANASSE WITH JOHNSON POPE, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING. I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY. >>LYNN HURTAK: EXCELLENT. ANY QUESTIONS? ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? CAN I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE? I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THIS. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ORDINANCE BEING PRESENTED FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA, AMENDING ORDINANCE 2021-6, PASSED AND ORDAINED ON JANUARY 14, 2021, WHICH VACATED, CLOSED, DISCONTINUED AND ABANDONED TWO RIGHTS-OF-WAY LOCATED SOUTH OF 26th AVENUE, NORTH OF PLYMOUTH STREET, EAST OF TALIAFERRO AVENUE AND WEST OF NEBRASKA AVENUE AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED BELOW TO EXTEND THE FIVE-YEAR REVERTER CLAUSE FIVE ADDITIONAL YEARS TO ALLOW MORE TIME TO COMMENCE VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION REPEALING CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION BY MANISCALCO, SECOND BY MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES,. >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >>LYNN HURTAK: NEXT, WE HAVE OUR QUASI-JUDICIAL. IF YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 40 THROUGH 43, PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO BE SWORN IN. [OATH ADMINISTERED] >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCILMAN CLENDENIN, WERE YOU ABLE TO REVIEW ITEMS 40 THROUGH 43? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WAS. I WATCHED THE HEARINGS AND I AM PREPARED TO VOTE. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. GREAT. ITEM NUMBER 40. >> FOR THE RECORD, CHRISTOPHER DEMANCHE WITH DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION. ITEM 40 IS REZ 25-104. THIS ITEM IS REZONING REQUEST FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4311 WEST GRAY STREET. REQUEST IS TO REZONE FROM RS 50 TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT FOR SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED USES. REVISIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND CERTIFIED PLANS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? APPLICANT? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS GISELE, AGENT REPRESENTING THE PROPERTY OWNER ON BEHALF OF 25-104. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROJECT AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED SEVERAL PROJECTS IN THE AREA. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE PROCESS. THE OWNERS ARE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANY QUESTIONS? ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? CAN I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE? I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECONDED FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO READ THIS. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: ITEM 40, REZ 25-104, ORDINANCE BEING PRESENTED FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION, AN ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF 4311 WEST GRAY STREET IN THE CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA, MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN SECTION 1 FROM ZONING DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION RS-50, REASONINGS SINGLE-FAMILY TO PD, PLANNED DEVELOPMENT, RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. ROLL CALL. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: NO. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED WITH HURTAK VOTING NO. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCILMAN CLENDENIN, DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE READING AN ITEM OR WOULD YOU WISH TO BE SKIPPED? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I CAN READ IT IF YOU WANT ME TO. >> ITEM NUMBER 41. >>CHRISTOPHER DEMANCHE: CHRISTOPHER DEMANCHE, DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION. ITEM 41 IS REZ 25-105, REZONING REQUEST FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1112 WEST LASALLE STREET, RS 50 TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT FOR SINGLE-FAMILY SEMI DETACHED. REVISIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND CERTIFIED PLANS SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: DO WE HAVE AN APPLICANT? >> YES. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. GISELE MOTA, REPRESENTING THE PROPERTY OWNER AS THE AGENT FOR REZ 25-105. AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THE INITIAL FINDINGS OF CONSISTENCY BY REZONING STAFF AND INITIAL APPROVAL AT FIRST HEARING, THE OWNER ARE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANY QUESTIONS? ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT? MOTION TO CLOSE BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE? ANY OPPOSED? CHAIR CLENDENIN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I MOVE FILE REZ 25-105, AN ORDINANCE BEING PRESENTED FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION, AN ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF 1112 WEST LASALLE STREET IN THE CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA, AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN SECTION 1 FROM ZONING DISTRICT CLASSIFICATIONS RS 50, RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY TO PD, PLANNED DEVELOPMENT, RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY SEMI DETACHED, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION BY CHAIR CLENDENIN. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ROLL CALL. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. AND I MOVE THE RESOLUTION. >>LYNN HURTAK: ACTUALLY, WE NEED TO LET HIM READ -- >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >>LYNN HURTAK: NOW, CHAIR CLENDENIN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NOW I MOVE THE RESOLUTION. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION FROM CHAIR CLENDENIN TO MOVE THE RESOLUTION, ATTACHED TO REZ 25-105. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ROLL CALL. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>THE CLERK: THE RESOLUTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. >>LYNN HURTAK: ITEM 42. >>CHRISTOPHER DEMANCHE: CHRISTOPHER DEMANCHE, DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION. ITEM 42 IS REZ 25-128. THE ITEM IS A REZONING REQUEST FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3812 PINEWOOD STREET. REZONE FROM PLANNED DEVELOPMENT TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT FOR HOTEL USE. REVISIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND CERTIFIED PLANS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANY QUESTIONS? >> TRUETT GARDNER, 400 NORTH ASHLEY DRIVE. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH OF YOU. ALL OF OUR REVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, INCLUDING THE ONE WE AGREED TO AT COUNCIL WHICH WAS MAKING THE REFERENCE IN A NOTE TO THE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR THAT ADDITIONAL PARKING. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANY QUESTIONS? HAD DO WE HAVE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? >> STEPHANIE POYNOR. I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND I SUPPORT THE PARK OR NOT PARK THAT'S GOING IN NEXT TO IT. AND WE APPRECIATE THEM WORKING WITH US. YES GREENWAY. WHATEVER. WE'RE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE'LL HAVE MORE TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR MacDILL BECAUSE THEY REALLY DO NEED IT. WE DON'T NEED MORE PEOPLE ON OUR ROADS, SO THIS WILL CURE THAT PROBLEM. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE? MOTION TO CLOSE? I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I BELIEVE I LEFT OFF WITH COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: ITEM -- MOVE ITEM 42, FILE REZ 25-128, ORDINANCE BEING PRESENTED FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION, ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF 3812 PINEWOOD STREET IN THE CITY OF TAMPA FLORIDA MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN SECTION 1 FROM ZONING DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION PD PLANNED DEVELOPMENT TO PD PLANNED DEVELOPMENT HOTEL. PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ROLL CALL? YES. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >>LYNN HURTAK: ITEM NUMBER 43. >>CHRISTOPHER DEMANCHE: CHRISTOPHER DEMANCHE, DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION. ITEM 43 IS REZ 26-01, REZONING REQUEST FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1942, 1946, AND 1948 WEST SPRUCE STREET. THE REQUEST IS TO REZONE FROM RS 50 TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT FOR SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED USES. REVISIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND CERTIFIED PLANS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE. I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANY QUESTIONS? PETITIONER. >> STEVE MICHELINI, REPRESENTING THE PETITIONER. YOU MAY RECALL THAT ONE OF YOUR MOTIONS WAS TO HAVE IN THE ELEVATION WE PRESENTED AT THE CITY COUNCIL TO BE REFLECTED ON THE SITE PLAN. AND WE'VE DONE THAT, AND THE SITE PLANS HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S ALSO ALREADY BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FOLKS WITH THE OVERLAY DISTRICT RESTRICTIONS. >>LYNN HURTAK: EXCELLENT. ANY QUESTIONS? ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? COUNCILMAN VIERA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THIS? >>LUIS VIERA: YES, MA'AM, I WILL. I MOVE FILE NCA 25-18 -- >>LYNN HURTAK: NO, WE'RE AT 43. >>LUIS VIERA: SORRY. I HEREBY MOVE REZ 26-01, ORDINANCE PRESENTED FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION, ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF 1942, 1946, AND 1948 WEST SPRUCE STREET IN THE CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA, AND MAR PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN SECTION 1 FROM ZONING DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION RS 50, RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY TO PD PLANNED DEVELOPMENT RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ROLL CALL? >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: [INAUDIBLE] >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >>LUIS VIERA: MOVE THE RESOLUTION. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION TO MOVE THE RESOLUTION BY COUNCILMAN VIERA. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ROLL CALL? >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>NAYA YOUNG: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE ARE NOW AT -- WHEN WE COME BACK, WE ARE GOING TO DO ITEMS 57, 32, AND 5937 IS 59.IS THAT WHAT WE'LL BEGIN WIT? THAT'S HOW WE'LL BEGIN. IT IS 12:21. YOU ALL TELL ME. 2:00. WE WILL BE STARTING WITH ITEM 57 AT 2:00. ENJOY YOUR LUNCH. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] [LUNCH RECESS]