CITY OF TAMPA. CITY OF TAMPA. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: AT A LATER CALLED MEETING. THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, TODAY WAS THE GREAT AMERICAN TEACH-IN. I THINK ALL OF THE MEMBERS PARTICIPATED THIS MORNING. WE HAD A GREAT DAY AT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT? >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SURE. I WENT TO WILLIAMS MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL WITH THE 6th, 7th, 8th GRADERS. SPOKE IN THE GYM. WONDERFUL GROUP OF STUDENTS. WE GOT TO TAKE PART IN THIS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN QUITE A FEW YEARS. COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS ON THAT THURSDAY MORNING. SO THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON FOR BRINGING THIS UP I BELIEVE EARLIER THIS YEAR AND GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: I STARTED OUT WITH FOURTH GRADERS AT POTTER ELEMENTARY AND THEN WILLIAMS MIDDLE MAGNET. I TALKED TO 6th, 7th, 8th GRADERS. MAN, THAT IS A LOT OF ENERGY AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK YOU REMEMBER. I TAUGHT FOR TEN YEARS. YOU THINK YOU CAN GET BACK ON THE BIKE. MAN, I WAS A LITTLE RUSTY. HAVE TO ADMIT. NOW I'M USED TO TRYING TO PERSUADE AND TALK TO ADULTS. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. I'M REALLY GLAD WE GOT THE CHANCE TO DO IT. I HOPE WE MAKE IT AN ANNUAL EVENT. >>NAYA YOUNG: I WAS AT POTTER ELEMENTARY SPEAKING TO THIRD GRADERS. VERY, VERY FUN. HAD A LOT OF REALLY GREAT QUESTIONS, DOWN TO HOW OLD I AM AND IF I'M MARRIED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NO PERSONAL BOUNDARIES. >>NAYA YOUNG: NONE WHATSOEVER. IT WAS REALLY, REALLY FUN AND THEY ASKED GREAT QUESTIONS. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: I SLEPT IN. NO, I'M JOKING. I WENT TO TWIN LAKES ELEMENTARY, PRINCIPAL OTIS KITCHEN, A WONDERFUL PERSON, INVITED ME. HAD A GREAT TIME. PROBABLY A THIRD OF THE CLASS WAS FROM CUBA OR VENEZUELA AND CAME HERE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SO MY SPANISH CAME IN HANDY. >>BILL CARLSON: I WENT TO PLANT HIGH AND SPOKE TO 10th AND 11th GRADERS FLORIDA HISTORY CLASS, SUPER COOL. I STARTED TRYING TO TELL THEM STORIES AND THEY KNEW THE STORIES ALREADY. EVEN REAL DEEP-CUT STORIES. THE OTHER THING IN THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT CLASS, THEY WERE ASKING REALLY TOUGH QUESTIONS. REALLY, REALLY TOUGH QUESTIONS. IT WAS WORSE THAN THIS. [ LAUGHTER ] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WORSE THAN THIS. WHERE IS STEPHANIE? [ LAUGHTER ] >>BILL CARLSON: A COUPLE OF THINGS. THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF TOILET TO TAP. THEY THINK WE HAVE TOO MANY POTHOLES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THEY DON'T WANT TO DRINK POOP WATER. >>BILL CARLSON: THEY LIKE THE RAYS BUT DON'T WANT US TO RAISE TAXES TO SUPPORT THEM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I JOINED COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK AND COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. I SPOKE TO 8th GRADERS. I LOST SLEEP THINKING I'M WALKING INTO A CLASSROOM AND IT WASN'T JUST A CLASSROOM, IT WAS A CAFETERIA FILLED WITH 8th GRADERS. MULTIPLE CLASSROOMS. IT PRETTY MUCH REPLICATES WHAT YOU ALL SAID. THE QUESTIONS WERE AMAZING. THEY HAD ME ON MY TOES THE WHOLE TIME. THEY HAD NO SENSE OF PERSONAL BOUNDARY. ASKED HOW MUCH WE MADE. THEY DID NOT ASK IF I WAS MARRIED. I KEEP TELLING THEM I KEEP MY OPTIONS OPEN. [ LAUGHTER ] NO, BUT IT WAS GOOD. IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. IT WAS GREAT. I GOT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BUT ONLY BECAUSE THEY ASKED ME WHO MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT WAS AND I SAID BARACK OBAMA. THAT BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE. IT WASN'T FOR ME, BUT FOR THAT. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR HOSTING US AND TO ALL THE STUDENTS, IF YOU'RE LISTENING. PLEASE, GOD, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING KIND. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: SHOULD WE PUT THIS INTO OUR CALENDAR FOR NEXT YEAR? I KNOW WE HAVEN'T STARTED THE MEETING YET, BUT CAN I MAKE A MOTION THAT WHEN THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS SCHEDULING FOR 2026, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE START AGAIN AT 11 ON THE GREAT AMERICAN TEACH-IN DAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I'LL USE CHAIR PRIVILEGE TO WAIVE THE RULES AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. I HEARD COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. FIRST. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. >>BILL CARLSON: AS I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE AT 10:30, THEY PADLOCKED MY CAR AND WOULDN'T LET ME LEAVE. I HAD TO BEG THEM TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY WANTED US TO STAY THE WHOLE DAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU'RE RIGHT. CORRECT. INVOCATION. COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME PASTOR CARRIE NANCE, NATIVE FLORIDIAN TRAVELED TO WEST VIRGINIA TO SERVE THE CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH FOR 11 YEARS BEFORE BEING CALLED BACK TO TAMPA IN 2003. WHEN HE STARTED THE SOUTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, PASTOR NANCE GRADUATED FROM TRINITY BACHELOR COLLEGE WITH A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN BIBLE IN 1992 AND MASTER OF MINISTRY IN 2006. ALONG WITH JOINING THE TAMPA POLICE CHAPLAIN IN 2004, PASTOR NANCE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF HOPE CHILDREN HOME JEHOVAH MINISTRIES, HEARTLAND BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGE AND GLOBAL INDEPENDENT BAPTIST MINISTRIES. MARRIED FOR 32 YEARS, CARRIE AND AMY, HIS WIFE ARE BLESSED WITH THREE CHILDREN WHO ENJOY TRAVELING, FISHING, ROOTING FOR THE BUCCANEERS AND FLYING AROUND THE TAMPA SKIES WITH HIS SINGLE AIRCRAFT PILOT LICENSE. PASTOR NANCE, COME ON UP AND PLEASE STAND FOR THE INVOCATION. >> LET'S PRAY. OUR FATHER, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME INTO YOUR PRESENCE. LORD, WE'RE HUMBLED THAT YOU NOT ONLY HEAR OUR PRAYER, BUT, LORD, THAT YOU ARE A GREAT GOD AND YOU'RE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE PRAYERS. WE THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE A GOD THAT IS SO FULL OF MERCY AND A GOD THAT IS FULL OF GRACE. WE THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU HAVE BEEN KIND TO THE CITY OF TAMPA, LORD, AS WE ARE NEARING THE END OF HURRICANE SEASON, WE'RE REMINDED THIS YEAR OF HOW GOOD YOU'VE BEEN TO US AND HOW YOU HAVE BLESSED US AND PROTECTED THE CITY. LORD, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IN STORMS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN THE DEVASTATION OF THOSE, BUT, LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. LORD, YOU HAVE BLESSED THE CITY WITH SO MANY THINGS AND YOU'VE BLESSED THE FINANCES, AND YOU'VE BLESSED, LORD, IN JUST AREAS OF TOURISM AND, LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT. LORD, AS WE COME TO THIS COUNCIL MEETING, LORD, I THANK YOU FOR OUR LEADERS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US. LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PUT YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR HAND OF BLESSING UPON THEIR LIVES. I THINK OF OUR MAYOR. I THINK OF OUR TAMPA POLICE, OUR FIREFIGHTERS. LORD, THOSE THAT, LORD, SO FREQUENTLY AND DAILY PUT THEMSELVES ON THE LINE. LORD, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING AND YOUR PROTECTION ON THEIR LIVES. LORD, AS THIS CITY COUNCIL, LORD, MAKES DECISIONS AND AS THEY NAVIGATE THROUGH PROBLEMS OF TAMPA, LORD, I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT IS OVERBEARING AS THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY FORWARD. ED GO, I DO PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HELP THEM TO LOOK TO YOU AND THAT THEY WOULD FIND YOUR WISDOM AND, LORD, YOUR ABILITY AND YOUR GRACE ABUNDANT IN THEIR LIFE. LORD, WOULD YOU BLESS THEM AND WOULD YOU MEET THEIR PERSONAL NEEDS AND THEIR FAMILY NEEDS AND WHATEVER NEEDS THAT THEY MAY HAVE, MAY YOU HELP THEM IN THOSE AREAS. LORD, WOULD YOU GUIDE THE CITY OF TAMPA, WOULD YOU BLESS IT, WOULD YOU PROTECT IT. GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE GRACE GIVEN TO HIM THROUGH HIM. LORD IT IS IN HIS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THOSE 8th GRADERS HAD ME SWEATING THIS MORNING. I TOOK MY JACKET OFF IN THE OFFICE. I FORGOT TO WEAR IT. I LOOKED AT MYSELF IN THE CAMERA. SOMETHING DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT. I DON'T HAVE MY JACKET ON. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: HERE. >>NAYA YOUNG: HERE. >>LUIS VIERA: HERE. >>BILL CARLSON: HERE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HERE. >>THE CLERK: YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA IS RECOVERING AT HOME AND IS MISSING THIS MEETING. HE SHOULD BE BACK I BELIEVE IN THE OFFICE TOMORROW. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HIS ARRIVAL. WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES FROM OUR REGULAR SESSION ON NOVEMBER 6, 2025, EVENING SESSION HELD ON NOVEMBER 13, IS 2025, AND OUR SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON NOVEMBER 10, 2025. I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. A MOMENT TO PUT ON MY JACKET. NOT DONE GRACEFULLY. I SEE THE BEST SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA SITTING IN OUR AUDIENCE. HI, SUPERVISOR CRAIG LATIMER. HOW ARE YOU DOING, MY FRIEND? WELCOME TO TAMPA CITY COUNCIL. BEST GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN THE CITY. WE NEED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. >>LYNN HURTAK: I AM PULLING ITEMS 24 AND 28 FOR DISCUSSION TO BE HEARD TOGETHER. THEY ARE BOTH ABOUT PARKS, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON TO PULL 24 AND 28 AND HEARD TOGETHER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR AYE. OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. 24 AND 28 WILL BE HEARD TOGETHER. >>LYNN HURTAK: ADDITIONALLY, I AM WORKING WITH STAFF TO GET ANSWERS TO ITEM 36. SO I ASK THAT IT BE PULLED FOR NOW, TO NOT VOTE ON, SO IF I DON'T GET ANSWERS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER. IF I GET ANSWERS AND I'M OKAY, THEN WE DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK TO PULL 36. SECOND FROM CARLSON. IN FAVOR, AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? >>BILL CARLSON: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ITEM 39? IT IS AN AUDIT BUT A LOT OF CONCERN IN THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE'VE BEEN SPENDING IN THE CONVENTION CENTER AND WHERE IT'S GOING AND WHAT'S HAPPENING. THIS RAISES SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. >>LYNN HURTAK: IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, PULL IT. >>BILL CARLSON: MOTION TO PULL 39. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL IN FAVOR AYE. THAT'S TO PULL ITEM 39 FOR DISCUSSION. THAT'S IT FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. LET'S GO THROUGH STAFF REPORTS. THERE'S NO ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE. 68 IS WITH 69. DO WE NEED STAFF? NO. NOTHING FOR 68 AND 69. THANK YOU. 70 IS REQUIRED. IT IS A PRESENTATION ONLY. 70 WILL BE A PRESENTATION ONLY. 71, DO WE NEED STAFF FOR 71? HEARING NONE, NO STAFF FOR 71. 72, STAFF WILL BE PRESENT FOR 72. 73 -- SORRY. >>LYNN HURTAK: 72 AND 73, YES. YES. ABSOLUTELY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: 72 STAFF IS HERE. 73 STAFF IS GOING TO BE HERE. 74 YES. 75. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THEY ARE GOING TO BE PRESENT. ALREADY NOTIFIED. 76, I GUESS -- OUR STAFF IS SITTING OVER THERE ON THE CHAIR. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE CAN MOVE THE RESOLUTION AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NO STAFF. WE'LL BE MOVING THE RESOLUTION. ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING FOR THE WRITTEN REPORTS? ARE THEY GOOD FOR RECEIVE AND FILE? >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOVE TO RECEIVE AND FILE WRITTEN REPORTS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE -- RECEIVE AND FILE 77, 78, 79 FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: [INAUDIBLE] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONTINUE ITEM 80 TO JANUARY 22, 2026 FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? >>LYNN HURTAK: NO. I WAS JUST THINKING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT'S ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE WE'RE STARTING LATE TODAY AND WE HAVE SOME CONSEQUENTIAL THINGS ON THE AGENDA TODAY, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING A LONG DAY. WE'LL TRY TO AVOID THAT. I'VE ASKED THE CLERK TO SET THE TIMER ON ALL SPEAKERS, INCLUDING COUNCILPERSONS SO WE CAN KEEP THE AGENDA FLOWING AND MOVING TODAY. JUST FYI. >>BILL CARLSON: DID YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE INCIDENT LAST WEEKEND IN YBOR? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I HAVE NOT. >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD LIKE TO SAY REAL FAST, THERE WAS A SHOOTING IN YBOR LAST WEEK. SOMEONE PASSED AWAY. AT LEAST WANT TO SEND CONDOLENCES. IN INSTANCES LIKE THIS THE TPD DOES AN ANALYSIS OF IT, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY INSIDE INFORMATION MORE THAN WHAT THE PUBLIC SEES. SO IF THE PUBLIC HAS ANY INFORMATION OR THEY THINK WE COULD HELP THE FAMILIES IN SOME WAY OR HELP THE COMMUNITY, PLEASE CONTACT US. WE'RE WORKING HARD TO TRY TO MAKE SURE INCIDENTS DON'T HAPPEN ACROSS THE CITY. BUT WHEN THEY DO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP THE GRIEVING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. ALSO, JUST UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION. THERE'S NOTHING FOR US TO PONTIFICATE ABOUT RIGHT NOW. VERY GOOD. ALSO, FOR THE AGENDA, WE ARE GOING TO BREAK -- WE'LL HAVE A QUICK LUNCH, 1 TO 1:30. SO WE'LL BE UP AT 1-ISH IF WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE. BUT WE'LL BE BACK 30 MINUTES AFTER WE BREAK. IT WILL BE A QUICK LUNCH SO WE CAN MOVE THE AGENDA THROUGH TODAY. LET'S MOVE TO COMMENDATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS. COUNCILMAN VIERA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. IT IS A REAL PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY. WE HAVE A 30 SECOND VIDEO, IF WE MAY SHOW IT, THAT WILL KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT HERE. IF I.T. CAN DO IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ROLL THE FILM. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR FRIENDS AT I.T. HERE WE HAVE MS. VALERIE SOBERON WITH HER WIFE PRISCILLA WHO IS HERE. WE HAVE LOGAN AND KELSEY. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. GUYS, I WANTED TO HONOR VALERIE. SOME OF YOU ALL MAY HAVE MET VALERIE THROUGH HER WORK WITH VISION ZERO. TEN YEARS AGO THIS YEAR THAT VALERIE LOST HER DAUGHTER LEXY WHEN SHE WAS CROSSING BUSCH BOULEVARD TO GO TO CHAMBERLAIN HIGH SCHOOL. ANYTIME SOMEONE LOSES A LOVED ONE, ESPECIALLY A CHILD, IT IS THE KIND OF TRAUMA NO ONE ANTICIPATES AND NO ONE CAN REALLY BEAR. VALERIE WENT THROUGH A LOT OF CHALLENGES. SHE WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME AN AMAZING SAFETY ADVOCATE FOR VISION ZERO, NOT JUST IN THE NORTH TAMPA AREA BUT THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE CITY OF TAMPA. I MET VALERIE WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO. HER PASSION IS VERY, VERY EVIDENT. PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT LEXY WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM HER AND KILLED ON BUSCH BOULEVARD, VALERIE STRUGGLED A LOT. AS YOU SAW OVER THERE AND SHE IS VERY OPEN ABOUT THIS, SHE HAD BEEN ARRESTED A NUMBER OF TIMES. VALERIE WAS, IN FACT, A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR LABOR AND OTHER PURPOSES FOR SIX YEARS. AS I'LL TALK ABOUT, SHE RECENTLY HAD HER RECORD EXPUNGED IN THE 13th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO GET THEIR RECORDS EXPUNGED. 2018 THANKS TO AMENDMENT 4, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET HER VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED, WHICH IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. SO AFTER LEXY WAS TAKEN FROM HER, SHE CONTINUED WITH MANY, MANY DIFFERENT CHALLENGES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT WITH THE HELP OF HER FAMILY, HER FAITH IN GOD, SHE IS A VERY, VERY DEDICATED CHRISTIAN, SHE WOULD EVENTUALLY FIND THE STRENGTH TO BECOME AN ACTIVIST AND TO REALLY, REALLY SHOW TRUTH TO POWER IN SAFETY ISSUES. ONE OF THE REASONS I REALLY WANTED TO HONOR VALERIE BECAUSE SHE'S GONE FROM A WOMAN WHO COULDN'T VOTE BECAUSE SHE HAD ALL THESE CONVICTIONS TO BEING ADDICTED TO SUBSTANCES, TO BEING A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO NOW JUST RECENTLY GETTING HER MASTERS IN SOCIAL WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. [ APPLAUSE ] LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THAT IS A BIG DEAL, GUYS. SHE IS AN INSPIRATION TO PEOPLE. WE DEAL A LOT ON CITY COUNCIL WITH THE ISSUE OF RETURNING CITIZENS. PEOPLE WHO MAKE MISTAKES AND WHO LIKE VALERIE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR TEAM AND LIVE A LIFE OF DECENCY. THAT'S WHAT SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO. FOR THAT AND SO MUCH MORE, WE WANTED TO HONOR HER. JUST HONOR HER FOR HER TOTAL LIFE JOURNEY. VALERIE IS A VERY DEDICATED CHRISTIAN. I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE STORY OF ST. PETER WHO WAS TOLD BY JESUS BEFORE THE -- I THINK ABOUT THE THIRD TIME THAT HE DENIED JESUS AND THE SHAME THAT PETER MUST HAVE HAD, THE UTTER SHAME. BUT HE CAME BACK TO BE THE ROCK. PETER, THE ROCK OF THE CHURCH. VALERIE HAD SOME CHALLENGES IN HER LIFE, BUT SHE'S COME BACK TO BE A ROCK FOR OTHER PEOPLE. FOR THAT AND SO MUCH MORE, WE WANTED TO HONOR VALERIE AND HER FAMILY FOR THEIR WORK AND JOURNEY. LET'S GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. IT IS TRULY AN HONOR, KIND OF BITTERSWEET THAT MY DAUGHTER IS NOT HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS WITH ME. BUT DUE TO HER PASSING, IT HAS BROUGHT ME ON THIS JOURNEY THAT I'M ON NOW. I KNOW THAT SHE SEES ME, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'LL NEVER STOP BEING HER VOICE AND THROUGH HER PASSING HAS MADE ME A BETTER PERSON. I WILL STRIVE TO BE THAT BETTER PERSON TO HELP OTHERS THAT HAVE STRUGGLED THE WAY I HAVE. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LUIS VIERA: I WANTED TO ALSO NOTE GINA TORRES IS HERE WITH THE TPO/MPO, AND BIG ADVOCATE FOR DIFFERENT THINGS IN TRAFFIC SAFETY. COUNCIL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, YOU MAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU FOR BEING AN INSPIRATION. MY WIFE'S NAME IS VALERIE AND SHE IS FINISHING UP HER MASTERS. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S NOT EASY. KNOWING YOU HAVE DONE IT AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH, IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT YOU CAN JUST NEVER GIVE UP. AND YOU'RE LIVING PROOF. REALLY, I FEEL INSPIRED TODAY IN WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ARE AMAZING. AND THIS IS JUST A LITTLE TOKEN OF APPRECIATION. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE JOURNEY AND THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO DO NOW IS YOU ARE -- YOU CAN USE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH TO HELP PEOPLE MOVING FORWARD AND JUST THE EMPATHY THAT YOU DEVELOP FOR FOLKS. EVERYTHING YOU'VE GONE THROUGH IS JUST HELPS PREPARE YOU FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD. I CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR. I KNOW YOU WILL HELP SO MANY FAMILIES AND SO MANY PEOPLE. I KNOW YOUR FAMILY IS AND SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU. I'M SO GLAD THEY COULD BE HERE TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS. JUST REALLY, REALLY WONDERFUL. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN VIERA, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO START THE DAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. >>NAYA YOUNG: CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE AN AMAZING STORY. I FIND IT AMAZING WHEN PEOPLE CAN TELL THEIR STORY AND USE THAT STORY TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE. JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM, AND IT IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. WE HAD IT AT A NONPROFIT OVER THE SUMMER AND WE WORK WITH OUR KIDS WITH VISION ZERO. IT'S AWESOME. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ALIVE THE MEMORY OF YOUR DAUGHTER. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY AND THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL HAVE SET VISION ZERO AS A PRIORITY. WE WISH WE HAD MORE MONEY TO DO MORE, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OTHER MOTHERS DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH. YOUR PERSONAL JOURNEY, ALSO AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, IS VERY INSPIRING. THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY OF ALL INCOME LEVELS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH AND HAVEN'T BEEN AS SUCCESSFUL. ASK ANY OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH TAMPA, THE NUMBER ONE THING THEY RESPOND TO, AND IT'S ALL TIED TO STRESS AND DEPRESSION, LONELINESS. PEOPLE ABUSE ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF DRUGS. THE FACT THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE SO INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL AND YOU HAVE THIS GREAT FUTURE. I HOPE THAT WE CAN HELP YOU IN SOME WAY TO INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME THING. IF YOU CAN HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOTIVATE MORE PEOPLE TO DO WHAT YOU'VE DONE, THIS WILL BE A REALLY INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY GOING FORWARD. >> I LOVE THAT. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND SHARING YOUR STORY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN VIERA, FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. IT IS INSPIRATIONAL AND MOVING AND MY HEART BREAKS FOR YOUR LOSS AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NOW WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON REDISTRICTING. >> HELLO, HELLO. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS YASSERT GONZALEZ FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU STARTED WITH YOUR NAME, SO YOU ARE STARTING OFF WELL. >> YASSERT GONZALEZ, PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF. WE'RE HERE WITH MR. LATIMER, WHICH YOU RECOGNIZED. AND ALSO HERE WITH MS. ZORNITTA, THE IM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THIS MORNING I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE DISTRICTING FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT, THE FOUR SINGLE MEMBER CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS AHEAD OF THE 2027 MUNICIPAL ELECTION. SHORT AGENDA. I'LL GO OVER THE TIMELINE. WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WHY REDISTRICT? THE RULES, PROCESS AS WELL AS ALTERNATIVES. WE LAUNCHED ON OCTOBER 15. AGAIN, THE WEBSITE IS LIVE AND WE SEND OUT LETTERS. WE SEND OUT E-MAILS. THIS YEAR, WE ARE ALWAYS INNOVATING. CONTACTING HIGH FREQUENCY VOTERS BY E-MAIL THAT ARE IN THE PRECINCTS THAT MAY POTENTIALLY BE MOVED. WE ALWAYS DO IT DIFFERENT WAYS. ONE OF THE INNOVATIONS WE HAVE THIS YEAR. COME JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OPEN HOUSES. WE'LL GO TO THE COMMUNITIES AND INVITE PEOPLE TO COME IN AND LOOK AT THE MAPS, ASK QUESTIONS. OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE AT THAT TIME. THEN MARCH WILL BE OUR SECOND AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING. AGAIN, THIS IS ALL IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION. ONCE THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVES IT, IT GETS PROCLAIMED BY THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION AND STAFF AND THEN WE COME BACK TO YOU SOMETIME THAT SUMMER TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE NEW DISTRICTS LOOK LIKE. WHY? WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE 20,000 NEW NEIGHBORS. THAT IS THE POPULATION OF PUNTA GORDA AND ALSO -- EITHER-OR, MOVING IN. ALL THE WONDERFUL ACTIVITY THAT COMES WITH THAT. THAT MEANS WE NEED TO READJUST THE POPULATION. THEY HAVE COME OUT OF SYNC. WE'RE HERE IN 2026 FOR THE 2027 ELECTION AND WILL BE HERE FOR THE NEXT ELECTION. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE ONLY REQUIRED TO DO PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THEY ARE IN THE EVENINGS. NONETHELESS, WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY HELD OPEN HOUSES AND CONTINUE TO DO THAT. FOUR IN PERSON AND TWO VIRTUAL. THOSE DATES ARE BEING WORKED ON. WE HAVE TO MOVE ENTIRE PRECINCTS. WE CANNOT SPLIT PRECINCTS. OUR GOAL IS COMPLETE, COMPACT AND CONTIGUOUS DISTRICTS. TOTAL POPULATION IS WHAT WE DO AS THE MEASURE. THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL SEE FOUR OPTIONS, SUCH AS THE PUBLIC AS WELL. THERE WILL BE A STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND APPROVING THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OR GOING WITH WHATEVER OPTION THEY LIKE. ONCE THAT HAPPENS, SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS PROCLAIMS THEM AND WE COME BACK IN THE SUMMER. NOW, THIS IS NOT TYPICAL. THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF REDISTRICTING, BUT ONE OF THE FUTURES, FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS -- WE HAVE A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH. TRYING TO MINIMIZE POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACTS. SOME PEOPLE MAY ASSUME, OH, YOU USE -- PER THE CONSTITUTION AND SUPREME COURT CASES WE USE TOTAL POPULATION. NO VOTING AGE POPULATION AND VOTING BY RACE. THE RANGE IS THE METRIC WE USE AS A KEY MEASURE. WE TAKE THE HIGHEST POPULATION MINUS THE LOWEST POPULATION. THAT DIFFERENCE OVER THE AVERAGE WILL GIVE US A RANGE. 8.36 PERCENT. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE LATER. HOW WAS POPULATION ESTIMATED? WE GO TO THE CENSUS. WE HAVE THE OPTION OF USING OUR INTERNAL NUMBERS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT FOR TRANSPARENCY, PEOPLE CAN DOWNLOAD THE B DATA AND CHECK OR WORK. WE ALLOCATE POPULATION BECAUSE THE CENSUS BOUNDARIES AND PRECINCT BOUNDARIES DO NOT MATCH EXACTLY, WE HAVE TO DO ALLOCATION BASED ON HOUSING UNITS. AGAIN, WE NEED TO REDUCE THE RANGE TO 5%. 8.36% RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE A -- BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT LEGAL LIMITATIONS. AS YOU KNOW, POUND THE PAVEMENT AND DIFFERENT DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES. WE HAVE ONE PRECINCT FIVE ACRES. OVER NEAR THE USF. AND ANOTHER ONE THAT IS 7,000 ACRES. THAT INCLUDES THE AIR FORCE BASE. WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE -- SO WE ALSO HAVE LIMITATIONS WITH HOW WE MOVE. COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, AS YOU ALL KNOW, BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYBODY ELSE, INCLUDES THE USF AND NEW TAMPA. IT IS THE MOST POPULOUS DISTRICTS. COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 IS THE LEAST POPULOUS. SO THEY WILL BE GAINING PRECINCTS. 21 MOVABLE PRECINCTS. ALL SORTS OF LIMITATIONS. IF WE MOVED YOU FOUR YEARS AGO, WE'RE NOT MOVING YOU NOW. HERE ARE FINALLY ALL OF THE ALTERNATIVES. 8.36 PERCENT IS THE RANGE. TRYING TO REDUCE IT TO FIVE. ALL ALTERNATIVES ARE REDUCING THAT TO FIVE, LESS THAN FIVE. RIGHT NOW, WE'LL QUICKLY GO OVER EACH ALTERNATIVE AND THE NUMBER OF PRECINCTS BEING MOVED. FIRST ONE IS ALTERNATIVE ONE. PRECINCT 151, 169 AND 342 ARE POTENTIALLY MOVING UNDER THIS ALTERNATIVE. 151 MOVES FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 TO FOUR. 169 MOVES FROM 5 TO 6. 342 MOVES FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 TO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. PRECINCT 42, PRECINCT 169 AND PRECINCT 151. THE REASON WE PUT IN THE DETAIL, I VOTE AT THIS BAPTIST CHURCH OR I VOTE AT THIS LODGE. IT'S EASIER FOR THEM TO SEE IT. ALTERNATIVE 2 IS THE SIMPLEST ALTERNATIVE. ONLY ONE MOVE. THAT'S IT. PRECINCT 345 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, MOST POPULOUS TO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, LEAST POPULOUS. PRECINCT 345 IS RIGHT HERE. NOW, THIS IS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE. ALTERNATIVE 2 AND 4 SHARE THAT ONE PRECINCT. ALTERNATIVE 3, WE HAVE THREE PRECINCTS. 249, 350 -- THEY COME IN TANDEM. THEY REPRESENT FOREST HILLS AND ODDLY SHAPED. THEY HAVE TO MOVE TOGETHER. YOU'LL SEE THAT ONCE YOU SEE THE MAP. THEY'LL MOVE FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 TO COUNCIL DISTRICT 6. PRECINCT 320 IS MOVING TO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. 249 AND 250, 249 IS A SLIVER, GOES AROUND THE BORDER OF THE CITY, UNINCORPORATED COUNTY IN THAT AREA. AND 249. WE NEED TO BRING THEM TOGETHER. 320 IS GOING FROM 6 TO 5. THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION. WE ALREADY HEARD PUSH-BACK. THIS IS A NATURAL OPTION BECAUSE THEY ARE AT THE BORDER AND YOU HAVE COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 BEING MOST POPULOUS. NONETHELESS WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD PREFER TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE AT. SOMETHING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO DECIDE. LASTLY, ALTERNATIVE 4. THREE PRECINCTS. 141 207 345. 141 MOVES FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 TO DISTRICT 4. 207, FIVE TO SIX AND 345 MOVING FROM 7 TO 5. 345 SAW IN ALTERNATIVE 2. 207 OVER HERE IS GOING TO 5 TO 6 AND 141 COMING DOWN TO COUNCIL DISTRICT 4. ONCE AGAIN, KEY DATE. FEBRUARY-MARCH IS WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS. USUALLY IN THE EVENINGS PER THE CHARTER. FAITHFULLY FOLLOWING THE CHARTER, IN THE EVENINGS. PRESENT FOUR OPTIONS. PRESENT FOUR OPTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONERS. THEY ARE GOING TO GO OVER AND -- WE'LL BE BACK WITH YOU ONCE MR. LATIMER AND ALL PROCLAIM, TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE NEW BOUNDARIES ARE. HOW CAN YOU HELP US? YOU CAN REACH OUT TO YOUR STAKEHOLDERS. BECAUSE OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESSES HAVE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP US. FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION POST, LIKE SEND OUT A LINK. WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH YOU ALL. YOU HAVE SOME MATERIALS. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP US PROMOTE. NOW, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYBODY, OVER 99% OF THE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE AFFECTED BECAUSE THE PRECINCT IS NOT MOVING. ONLY MOVING TWO OR THREE PRECINCTS OUT OF 143. MOST WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. THAT WILL BE ALL FOR ME. YASSERT GONZALEZ, PLANNING COMMISSION. HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HOW DO YOU GET A QR CODE WITH A DINOSAUR? [ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT WAS -- >>LYNN HURTAK: I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS. I KNOW OUR OFFICE IS WORKING WITH YOU ON SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD STUFF, BUT I DO WANT TO ASK WHEN YOU GET THE DATES FOR THE MEETINGS, PASS THEM ON TO US SO WE CAN PASS THEM ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT WAS VERY CLEAR AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO OUTDO THAT ONE. GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WE MISS MR. MIRANDA. ALWAYS BEEN ASTUTE OBSERVATIONS, ALWAYS A FIXTURE IN THE PRESENTATION. FAST RECOVERY FOR HIM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HAD CHARLIE BEEN HERE, WE WOULD HAVE LASTED THAT MUCH LONGER BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN TALKING STORIES ABOUT EVERY DISTRICT. SUPERVISOR LATIMER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING SINCE YOU ARE HERE? >> CRAIG LATIMER, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION. WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THIS. MY MAIN JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T MESS UP OUR PRECINCTS, WHICH THEY DON'T. THIS IS ACTUALLY A GREAT PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S DONE EVERY FOUR YEARS. AS YASSERT SAYS, IT DOESN'T IMPACT A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT JUST IMPACTS A COUPLE OF PRECINCTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OF ME, I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO RESPOND. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I'VE GOT A GOOD BRIEFING. I'M SATISFIED. HONORED TO HAVE YOU IN OUR CHAMBERS. >> PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THIS GROUP. THANK YOU. >> PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THEM, SOME TECHNICAL ASPECTS WITH THE VOTING ROLL DATA. VERY HELPFUL AND PATIENT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HE'S GOT GOOD STAFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE READY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >>MARTIN SHELBY: MARTIN SHELBY, CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY. I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF, IF I CAN, TO TALK ABOUT THE RULES OF DECORUM FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC COMMENTS. NOW, BY THIS POINT IN TIME, YOU SHOULD HAVE FILLED OUT A SPEAKER PUBLIC COMMENT CARD, WHICH IS AVAILABLE OUTSIDE. AND YOU PUT THEM IN THE BOX. ONE CARD PER SPEAKER. CARDS ARE ACCEPTED AGAIN UNTIL THE START OF GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. EACH PERSON SPEAKING, A CARD WILL BE RECOGNIZED BY NAME TO APPROACH AND SPEAK. THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT APPLIES. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY BECAUSE NAMES THAT CANNOT BE READ CANNOT BE CALLED. TO SPEAK AT A PUBLIC HEARING, IF YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT IS SET FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND IT'S DESIGNATED AS A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY WHEN THE TIME IS HEARD LATER IN THE AGENDA. NO PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE TAKEN DURING THINGS SET FOR STAFF REPORTS. THE TIME TO SPEAK ABOUT THOSE ITEMS AND ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS NOW DURING THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. BUT IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK AT A PUBLIC COMMENT, DON'T FILL OUT THE SPEAKER CARD. PLEASE USE THE SIGN-IN SHEET OUT FRONT. IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, JUST PLEASE ASK STAFF. 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 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 SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING A SPEAKER DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT TAKE QUESTIONS OR HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH YOU DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. IT'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS YOUR POSITION TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MR. SHELBY. SO WE ARE GOING TO START OUR DAY WITH PAMELA COLLIER. >> HI THERE. MY NAME IS PAMELA COLKER. 614 SUPERIOR AVENUE ON DAVIS ISLAND. I AM HERE TODAY FOR ITEM 61 -- 60 AND 61. >>MARTIN SHELBY: THAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING, I BELIEVE. >> YES. SO I HAVE TO WAIT. I'M FINE WITH THAT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GO AHEAD, MR. SHELBY. >>MARTIN SHELBY: IF IT IS SET FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, THE TIME TO SPEAK TO IT IS WHEN THAT ITEM IS CALLED UP. >> THAT'S FINE. THEY CALLED MY NAME. >>MARTIN SHELBY: THAT'S OKAY. AGAIN, IF YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEMS FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS, THERE IS A SPEAKER SIGN-IN SHEET AT THE PODIUM OUTSIDE. FOR THE CLERK TO HAVE YOUR NAME, FILL IT OUT OVER THERE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HOW ABOUT RICH GARNER? SAME THING. >> YES, I WAS GOING TO SPEAK ON TOPIC 60. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CARROLL ANN BENNETT. FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE POYNOR. >> CARROLL ANN BENNETT, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF TAMPA. YOU ALL ARE MY THIRD CITY COUNCIL. I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO CITY COUNCIL SINCE 2018 ABOUT RAISING THESE IMPACT FEES BECAUSE -- AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. WE SHOULD NOT BE SUBSIDIZING PROFITS. WE SHOULD NOT BE SUBSIDIZING PEOPLE MOVING HERE. IF YOU DON'T RAISE THE FEES, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE THINGS THAT BECOME FREE. SANTA CLAUS IS NOT GOING TO DELIVER PAVING AND SIDEWALKS. AND ULTIMATELY, WE PAY FOR IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THE DIFFERENCE IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CREATING THE IMPACT SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THEIR IMPACT. IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE NAME. AND THE ARGUMENT ABOUT IT INCREASING THE COST OF HOUSING IS A LITTLE SMOKE AND MIRRORS. THE DEFINITION OF MARKET RATE HOUSING IS THAT HOUSING THAT IS SOLD AT PREVAILING PRICES DETERMINED BY THE OPEN MARKET, THEY CAN CHANGE BASED ON -- THEY GET NO SUBSIDIES. SORRY, I LOST MY PLACE. IT'S BASED ON THE PROPERTY'S FEATURES AND THE LOCAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. THE BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS ARE SELLING AT MARKET RATE. THEY GET OUT THEIR LITTLE NOTEBOOK AND SAY THIS IS HOW MUCH THE PROPERTY COSTS. THIS IS HOW MUCH THE BUILDING IS GOING TO COST. THIS IS HOW MUCH I CAN GET FOR IT. AND THIS IS MY PROFIT. THEY DON'T LOOK AND SAY, OOH, THAT PROFIT IS TOO BIG. I NEED TO DISCOUNT MY PRICE. I'M GOING TO LOWER IT AND CHARGE LESS. THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY DO. THEY CHARGE MARKET RATE. THEY CHARGE WHAT THEY CAN GET. THE PRICE OF HOUSING IS NOT GOING TO GO UP BY CHANGING THE FEES. BECAUSE IF THEY COULD CHARGE MORE, THEY WOULD ALREADY BE DOING IT. THEY ARE NOT DISCOUNTING IT BECAUSE YOU ALL CHARGE LOWER FEES. THAT IS AN INACCURATE ARGUMENT, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED. WE NEED THESE THINGS TO BE FUNDED, AND WE NEED THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CREATING THE NEED TO FUND THEM. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING THINGS LIKE THE FIRES AND THE FIRE STATIONS. THEY NEED TO BE FUNDED. THEY SHOULD BE FUNDED. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN SUPPORTING THE FIRE AND POLICE SINCE THE '50s. AND WE ARE HAPPY TO DO SO. BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING HERE AND CREATING A NEW NEED FOR NEW FIRE AND POLICE, THEY NEED TO DO THE SAME. SO CHANNELSIDE, THEIR CRA NEEDS TO BE CONTRIBUTING MORE MONEY TO THE GENERAL FUND TO BUILD A NEW FIRE STATION. PLEASE MAKE A MOTION TODAY TO HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY IMPACT FEE SO THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS CAN GET THE FUNDING THEY NEED INSTEAD OF SAYING THE REST OF THE CITY HAS TO PAY FOR IT INSTEAD OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CREATING THE NEED. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, CARROLL ANN. STEPHANIE POYNOR. FOLLOWED BY TARAH BLUMA. >> GOOD MORNING. STEPHANIE POYNOR. I SUPPORT EVERYTHING CARROLL ANN JUST SAID. NUMBER 24, GADSDEN PARK, $325,000 FOR A DECK. BUT NO REFERENCE TO WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF THE MONEY ON. I'M SORRY, BUT THE LAST TIME THAT ANYBODY SPENT A BUNCH OF MONEY IN SOUTH TAMPA ON A PARK WAS FOR A MONUMENT FOR $375,000 THAT NOBODY WANTED TO START WITH. IT'S A CONGREGATION POINT FOR THE HOMELESS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHERE WE ARE SPENDING, HOW THEY ARE SPENDING THE MONEY AND WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO. THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY. I'VE SEEN OTHER PARK AND REC MOTIONS COME THROUGH THAT HAD WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH THE MONEY. THIS ONE DOES NOT. THE OTHER ONE THAT CAME THROUGH LAST YEAR WAS FOR SOLAR PANELS ON A BUILDING THAT DIDN'T NEED IT AND YOU GUYS SHOT IT DOWN. LET'S DEFINE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SPEND THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS. NUMBER 36, THIS IS SOMETHING THE BUDGET COMMITTEE ACTUALLY ASKED FOR, WHICH WAS THE BUILDING INVENTORY. AND IT SAID THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BETWEEN 300 AND 400 THOUSAND DOLLARS. NOW IT IS GOING TO BE $800,000 AND BID-BUILD IN THERE. WHAT ARE WE BUILDING? WHY ARE WE BUILDING SOMETHING? THEY ARE JUST SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING INVENTORY THE LAST I HEARD. NUMBER 66. IT MIGHT BE OKAY. BUT THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU START PUTTING LIMITATIONS ON BICYCLING INORDINATELY. IT'S FUNNY, I TALKED TO SOME WHITE FOLKS THIS MORNING WHO SAID DON'T REALLY SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. I TALKED TO AFRICAN AMERICAN FOLKS AND THEY GO, OOH, THAT IS UGLY. IF IT'S OKAY, IT'S OKAY. BUT IF NOT, I DON'T WANT SIX MONTHS FROM NOW HEAR BLACK WHILE BIKING AGAIN. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT DOWN THE ROAD. IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, THAT IS WHITE PRIVILEGE. NOT SOMETHING PAY ATTENTION TO, THAT'S WHITE PRIVILEGE. PLEASE NOTE THAT. NUMBER 53, $732,000 FOR GENERATOR SUPPORT FROM THE SAME COMPANY THAT'S BEEN PROVIDING GENERATOR SUPPORT WHO ONLY GOT SATISFACTORY. SINCE 2021. THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING THE GENERATOR SUPPORT FOR FOUR YEARS, AND THEY DO A SATISFACTORY JOB, AGAIN, THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS SPENDING ON GENERATORS THAT DID NOT WORK LAST YEAR. THEY DID NOT WORK. I DON'T CARE IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE DIESEL IN THEM. THESE PEOPLE WERE MAKING DAMN GOOD MONEY TO KEEP THE EQUIPMENT UP AND RUNNING. THE NUMBER ONE THING COMING OUT OF THEIR MOUTH SHOULD HAVE BEEN, HEY, YOU KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE FUEL THERE FOR THE GENERATORS. THAT IS A COMMONSENSE THING. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO AS A PROPERTY MANAGER. THAT'S MY JOB, TO PREPARE FOR HURRICANES. THE EXTENDED FAMILY UNITS. IT SAYS THAT THEY CANNOT CHARGE FAMILY MEMBERS. MY MOTHER WAS A DRUNK. I OWNED HER HOUSE. I MADE HER PAY ME RENT. YOU KNOW WHY? IF NOT, SHE DRANK THE MONEY. JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF A PARENT DOESN'T MEAN THEY SHOULDN'T PAY TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AT LEAST TO SOME DEGREE. MILITARY SHOULD BE EXEMPT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: TARAH BLUMA FOLLOWED BY MARYBETH WILLIAMS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT AGENDA ITEM 24 AND THE MONEY BEING REALLOCATED FROM SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS TO DOCK AND GADSDEN PARK. FIRST OF ALL, IT IS LIKE A SCAVENGER HUNT LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON VARIOUS CITY OF TAMPA WEBSITES FOR NO REASON. THERE PROBABLY IS A REASON AND WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT ONE EITHER. BUT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CAN AND SHOULD BE LISTED AS ATTACHMENTS IN THE AGENDA ITEM. SAYS $774,000 IS GETTING MOVED TO GADSDEN PARK. THERE IS NO INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AT GADSDEN PARK LISTED ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB. I HEARD A RUMOR IT IS FOR ADA IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS WONDERFUL. I FULLY SUPPORT MONEY GOING TO GADSDEN. I WANT TO REITERATE THAT. WE HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS SPORTS TEAMS THAT PLAY AT GADSDEN PARK, AND THAT PARK CURRENTLY IS THE DEFINITION OF INACCESSIBLE. SO THAT'S WONDERFUL. I CAN'T FIND THAT ACTUALLY WRITTEN DOWN ANYWHERE. IF THAT IS WHAT THE MONEY IS GOING FOR, THERE IS ALREADY A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET FOR CITYWIDE PARKS AND REC ADA IMPROVEMENTS. WHY IS THE MONEY NOT COMING OUT OF THAT LINE ITEM? FINALLY, IT IS COMING FROM SMALL PARK IMPROVEMENTS. YOU ALL WANT WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO PARKS, YET YOU ONLY HAVE $2 MILLION IN THESE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK BUDGETS. THIS PROPOSAL IS TO TAKE HALF OF THAT MONEY OUT. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE WHOLE CITY WITH 96 NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS? ALSO, ADA IMPROVEMENTS, I DON'T CONSIDER TO BE A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IMPROVEMENT. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE REPAINTING THE LINES OF THE TENNIS COURT AT THE PORT TAMPA COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH, BY THE WAY, DOES NEED TO BE DONE. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MARYBETH WILLIAMS, FOLLOWED BY PAM CANNELLA. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TODAY ON ITEM NUMBER 66. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE. >> MARYBETH WILLIAMS. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF THE RIVERWALK. ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WHO ENJOY THE RIVERWALK EACH WEEK, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR STRONG SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 1653 OF THE TAMPA CODE. WHICH ENHANCES SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR BICYCLES, E-BIKES, SCOOTERS, AND OTHER WHEEL DEVICES ON MULTIPURPOSE TRAILS WITHIN CITY PARKS. AS STEWARDS OF ONE OF TAMPA'S MOST HEAVILY VISITED PUBLIC SPACES, WE WORK EVERY DAY TO ENSURE THAT THE RIVERWALK IS SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND ENJOYABLE FOR ALL USERS. FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, SENIORS, JOGGERS, TOURISTS, AND COMMUTERS ALIKE. IN RECENT YEARS, WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN HIGH SPEED AND UNSAFE RIDING BEHAVIORS, LARGE ORGANIZED BICYCLE GROUPS WITH STUNT ACTIVITY THAT HAS CREATED REAL CONFLICT IN CLOSE-CALL INCIDENTS WITH PEDESTRIANS. WHILE WE WELCOME DIVERSE FORMS OF RECREATION ON THE RIVERWALK, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR CLEAR, ENFORCEABLE STANDARDS THAT PROTECT THE PUBLIC. THIS ORDINANCE PROVIDES EXACTLY THAT BY ESTABLISHING CONSISTENT RULES LIKE STAYING TO THE RIGHT, LIMITING RIDING TWO ABREAST, PROHIBITING WHEELIES AND STUNTS AND SETTING UNREASONABLE SPEED AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. THE CITY IS TAKING PROACTIVE STEPS TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND ENSURE THAT PEDESTRIANS REMAIN THE PRIORITY ON THESE SHARED USE PATHS. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THE ORDINANCE ALIGNS RIVERWALK AND BAYSHORE RULES WITH STATE BICYCLE REGULATIONS CREATING CLARITY FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE APPRECIATE THAT THE ORDINANCE INCLUDES A STRUCTURED PENALTY SYSTEM WHICH WILL HELP PROMOTE COMPLIANCE WHILE GIVING OFFICERS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO ADDRESS UNSAFE BEHAVIOR BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED. FRIENDS OF THE RIVERWALK IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE CITY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THESE RULES AND ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION ONCE ADOPTED. WE BELIEVE THIS ORDINANCE IS A NECESSARY STEP IN PRESERVING THE RIVERWALK AS A SAFE, VIBRANT, AND WELCOMING PUBLIC SPACE. FOR EVERYBODY WHO DEPENDS ON THE EXERCISE TRANSPORTATION AND RECREATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND FOR THE LEADERSHIP IN PROTECTING ONE OF TAMPA'S MOST CHERISHED COMMUNITY ASSETS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PAM CANNELLA FOLLOWED BY KELLA McCASKILL. >> MY NAME IS PAM CANNELLA. I'M ADDRESSING NUMBER 72. STILL NOT ENOUGH BEING DONE BY STORMWATER DEPARTMENT. ALL AREAS OF TAMPA STILL NEED THEIR STORM SYSTEM ADDRESSED WITH CLEANING. ALTHOUGH WE ARE LED TO BELIEVE IT IS ALL GETTING DONE, IT IS NOT. THERE ARE FACTS TO PROVE OTHERWISE. WE WERE LUCKY THIS YEAR. WITH NO RAIN AND NO HURRICANE. I KNOW WE WERE NOT PREPARED. THERE IS LIMITED MANPOWER AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF TAMPA'S STORMWATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM, FOR CLEANUP TO CATCH UP. I VISITED FOREST HILLS ON TUESDAY FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING. THEIR DISCUSSION WAS ON THE HOMEOWNERS HURRICANE ASSISTANCE THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE HARDEST HIT AREAS. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD STILL NEEDS MAINTENANCE. WHILE THEY ARE DOING HOME REPAIRS AND DEALING WITH THE FACT AND FEAR THAT THEIR THREE PUMPS DIDN'T WORK AND THE BACKUP GENERATOR DID NOT HAVE FUEL. DIDN'T HAVE FUEL. COUNCILMAN VIERA WAS THERE. HE ADDRESSED THE RESIDENTS, CHEERING THEM ON BY SAYING IT'S OKAY IF YOU CAN'T COME TO CITY COUNCIL HEARINGS. YOU ARE A MIDDLE-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEED TO GO TO WORK. ALSO SOME REFERENCE TO SOUTH TAMPA. THEN HE WENT ON TO SAY HE BACKS THE MAYOR 85%. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD? I WANT TO SAY I LIVE IN SOUTH TAMPA AND I AM A MIDDLE-CLASS WORKING PERSON AND I STILL HAVE TO WORK ON RETIREMENT. I WANT TO ADDRESS PALMA CEIA PINES NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY DID EXPERIENCE SEVERE FLOODING. THEY ARE NOT ON THE HARDEST HIT LIST, BUT I HAVE COME REPEATEDLY TO STOP THE HOWARD PROJECT SO THAT THEIR AREA AND OTHERS CAN GET THE HELP AND SOLUTION THEY NEED TO PREVENT FLOODING IN THEIR AREA. THEIR AREA WAS NOT ADDRESSED UNTIL NOW IN THE HOWARD PROJECT AND THEY ARE IN PHASE TWO. I DO NOT EAT STEAK. I'VE ONLY BEEN TO BERNS ONCE. I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID WHEN I COME HERE OR THE HOURS I SPEND IN THE LIBRARY DOING RESEARCH. I AM HERE FOR THE ONLY REASON TO DO THE RIGHT THING. IT IS TO HELP THE NEIGHBORHOODS, MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS. I'M GOING TO ADDRESS 73. I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY COMPANIES, ENGINEERS DO WE HAVE TO HIRE TO REPORT ON WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW. THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE. WE KNOW WHO GOT FLOODED. THERE'S NO MONEY IN OUR IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. AND THE TAXPAYERS AND THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN WRONGED DO NOT WANT AN INCREASE IN OUR TAXES OR ANYTHING ELSE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. STOP IRRESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT. IT FALLS ALONGSIDE OF MAINTENANCE NEGLECT OF THE STORMWATER DRAINS AND WAS THE NUMBER ONE, ALONG WITH NO MAINTENANCE CAUSE FOR OUR FLOODING. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. KELLA, FOLLOWED BY NICHOLAS GORMAN. >> GOOD MORNING, KELLA McCASKILL. I TOTALLY EMPATHIZE WITH THIS YOUNG LADY. I'M STILL NOT HOME FROM THE STORM. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE'S SAYING. TO SAY THAT WE'RE LIVING IN DISTURBING TIMES IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. I WANT TO ADD TO THAT AS A BLACK WOMAN TRYING TO LIVE OFF MY ASSIGNMENT OF LIFE AS A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL THAT WENT INTO ADVOCACY AND DEVELOPMENT, I'M TRULY DISTURBED. FOR ME TO SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED IN THIS CITY, HAPPENING IN THIS CITY, FROM THE POINT THAT YOU ADMIT SOME OF THE RACISM, WE ESTABLISH RESOLUTION 568, THEN IT WAS REMOVED BECAUSE OF FUNDING. YOU COULD HAVE FOUND A WAY TO FUND IT. I'M A FIRM BELIEVER. I LIVE BY THE PRINCIPLE, WHEN YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING, YOU FIND A WAY. IF YOU DON'T, YOU FIND AN EXCUSE. SO IT REMINDS ME OF HOW RACIST THE CITY THAT I GREW UP, EDUCATED ME AND TRAINED ME EVERYTHING I KNOW HOW RACIST THE CITY IS. SO I WANTED TO COME TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS AS IT RELATES TO THAT. WE'VE SEEN BIKING WHILE BLACK. IF YOU ARE BLACK AND DEAD, YOU DISRESPECTED WHILE BLACK. AS WE WATCH THIS AND AGENDA ITEM 65 COMES UP, AND IT DOES SMELL LIKE A PIECE OF BIKING WHILE BLACK. THE BIGGER CONCERN, RECENTLY IN OUR ARTS COMMUNITY LOCALLY, HERE IN YBOR, WE SAW ONE OF OUR ARTISTS BE GUNNED DOWN. I UNDERSTAND AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU CAN'T SAY MUCH ABOUT THE INCIDENT. BUT I WANT TO TAP INTO YOUR HUMANITY TODAY. FIND A WAY TO SAY TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, FIND A WAY TO SAY TO YOUR COMMUNITY, WE SEE. WE UNDERSTAND, WE CARE, WE'RE ASKING QUESTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO RESPOND PUBLICLY. SAY IT PUBLICLY. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO CALL ANYBODY TO SAY THAT. I WANT YOU, JUST BEING A DECENT HUMAN BEING TO FIND A WAY TO COMMUNICATE TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO VOTE FOR YOU. FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO LOOK YOU IN THE FACE, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU ARE OF OTHER ETHNICITY OR YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T COME FROM WHERE I'M COMING FROM. I KNOW MOST OF YOU VERY WELL. I LIKE YOU. I KNOW YOU COULD BE LIMITED BASED ON YOUR CAPACITY. MAYBE GIVEN A MESSAGE NOT TO COMMENT BECAUSE IT'S UNDER INVESTIGATION. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. I JUST WANT TO KNOW AND YOU TO SHARE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU SEE, YOU CARE, YOU UNDERSTAND, AND YOU'RE ASKING FOR ANSWERS. THAT'S IT. I DON'T THINK THAT REQUIRES A MOTION. YOU DON'T NEED NOBODY APPROVAL TO BE HUMAN. YOU CAN DO THE LITTLE THING AND JUST SAY WE SEE, WE CARE, WE'RE ASKING QUESTIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO YOU. I TOTALLY SUPPORT GADSDEN PARK. IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE BATHROOMS. DO THEY HAVE FUNCTIONAL BATHROOMS AT GADSDEN PARK? IT'S FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. I SUPPORT IMPACT FEES. I WAS DOWN HERE REQUESTING IT RIGHT ALONG WITH THAN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NICHOLAS GORMAN, FOLLOWED BY GARY BROWN. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MAY BE SPEAKING ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT IS A HEARING AS WELL. >> I APOLOGIZE. ITEM 4, THE PLANNING COMMISSION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: OKAY. VERY GOOD. GARY BROWN, ARE YOU IN THE AUDIENCE? >> I'M GOING TO WAIT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: VERY GOOD. BRENT TAYLOR FOLLOWED BY STEPHEN MICHELINI. >> JUST SO YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING. WE'RE GOOD TO GO. I'M BRENT TAYLOR. FULL TRANSPARENCY, I'M DOING A PROJECT RIGHT NOW FOR ALAN ON A PERSONAL HOUSE. THAT'S WHY HE WAS ASKING ME WHY I SHOULD BE AT ANNA MARIA. I'M HERE THIS MORNING ON THE IMPACT FEE. AS A LOCAL BUILDER, LOCAL DEVELOPER, I THINK THE FIRST QUESTION FOR ME IS WHY NOW. FROM THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE, THE WHY NOW IS BECAUSE OF A LAW COMING INTO PLACE HERE PRETTY QUICKLY. I THINK WHAT IS TRIGGERING THOSE OF US THAT ARE GOING TO SPEAK TO BE HERE AT THIS MOMENT IS THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT THE IMPACT FEE ITSELF. IT IS THE AMOUNT OF THE INCREASE ALL AT ONE TIME AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT US AS BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS IN THE SHORT TERM. YES, OVER TIME, WE WILL BUILD IT IN. OVER TIME WE'LL INCUR THE COSTS. OVER TIME, UNFORTUNATELY, WHETHER IT BE HOMEOWNERS OR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPERS, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY -- THE END PARTY WILL BE WHO INCURS THE COST AT THE END OF THE DAY. BUT IN THE SHORT TERM, A LOT OF THESE COSTS ARE NOT ALREADY BUILT IN. SO WE'RE GOING TO INCUR THOSE, AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE US MAKE SOME DRASTIC DECISIONS ON THE FRONT END. I STAND HERE AND SAY I'M NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST THE IMPACT FEE BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED THE FUNDS AND THE MONIES TO DO WHAT WE DO INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLOSER LOOK AND AN INCREMENTAL INCREASE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT THAT FINAL NUMBER IS THAT IS TIED TO THE PROJECTS HOPEFULLY IS GOING TO BE LOWER THAN WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED IN THE PAST. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, BRENT. STEVE MICHELINI FOLLOWED BY TINA ADAMS. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I'M HERE ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ISSUES. LET ME START WITH THE IMPACT FEE. I THINK EVERYONE RECOGNIZES THAT THE IMPACT FEES NEED TO BE ADJUSTED. I THINK YOU'VE HEARD RESOUNDINGLY THAT YOU CAN'T ABSORB THAT COST OVERNIGHT IF IT GOES TO THE MAXIMUM. JUST TO GIVE YOU A DECENT TIMELINE, IT TAKES YOU ABOUT A YEAR TO ARRANGE YOUR FINANCING. IT TAKES ANOTHER YEAR FOR YOUR PLANS TO BE DEVELOPED. AND IF YOU HAVE A REZONING, THAT'S TWO YEARS. CUMULATIVELY TWO YEARS. FINANCING AND THE REZONING. AND THEN IT TAKES YOU ANOTHER SIX MONTHS TO GET THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS. SO THE SOONER THAT YOU GET THESE PROJECTS ONLINE, THE BETTER YOUR TAX BASE WILL BE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PHASING. I THINK YOU RECEIVED A LETTER ALREADY INDICATING THAT THE BUILDERS ARE SUPPORTING AN INCREASE, CAN'T ABSORB A HUGE INCREASE OVERNIGHT. WE STILL DON'T THINK THAT THEY MET THE CRITERIA TO EXCEED THE 50% INCREASE. THE PROPOSAL THAT'S ON THE BOARD RIGHT NOW IS A 500% INCREASE, WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ABSORB. ALSO, IF YOU ADOPT THIS, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU LINK THE SALARIES AND LIMIT THE SALARIES THAT CAN BE PAID FOR THESE AND DIRECT THE FRIENDS TOWARD ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS SO YOU DON'T HAVE A DISPROPORTIONAL AMOUNT OF MONEY GOING TO SUPPORT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND SALARIES. JUMPING OVER TO STORMWATER, THEY HAVE PUMP STATIONS THAT DON'T WORK. THEY ARE NOT PUTTING THE MAINTENANCE IN. IT HAS TO BE MAINTENANCE FIRST. I THINK I SHOWED YOU THIS PICTURE. WHEN THE CITY PARKS AND RECREATION CAME TO YOU, THEY SAID THESE TYPES OF INSTALLATIONS WERE NOT TENABLE AND THEY WOULD NOT APPROVE THEM. BUT THIS IS WHAT IS SHOWN IN YOUR STORMWATER REPORT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE TODAY. YOU SEE THESE LITTLE STRIPS OF LAND WITH LANDSCAPING AND TREES. YOU SEE THESE CUTOUTS WITH TREES, AND THEN TREES LIKE THIS AND THEN YOU HAVE $6 MILLION SITTING IN A TREE TRUST FUND. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT. BUT YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH THE SYSTEM. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, MAINTENANCE FIRST. IF YOU DON'T GET THE MAINTENANCE IN, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU BUILD. THE MAINTENANCE RIGHT NOW FAILS. IT SIMPLY ISN'T WORKING. AND THE DIRECTION, HUNDRED PERCENT OF THIS DIRECTION SHOULD BE BEFORE YOU SPEND ANOTHER DOLLAR OR MONEY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THAT IS NOT FINANCED, YOU HAVE $300,000 LEFT IN YOUR BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. NO MORE THAN THAT. IF YOU DON'T SPEND THE MONEY ON MAINTENANCE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU BUILD. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: TINA ADAMS FOLLOWED BY NADIA ASCAR. >> MY NAME IS TINA ADAMS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO COUNCCOUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE SOUTH HOWARD RELIEF FLOOD PROJECT AND TO REMIND YOU OF THE HUMAN TOLL THAT PROCRASTINATION TAKES. IN 2015, OUR GARAGE FLOODED AND OTHER STRUCTURES FLOODED. THE CITY STUDIED THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THERE WERE SOLUTIONS. THEY WERE TOO EXPENSIVE. THEY DIDN'T FIX IT. FAST-FORWARD TEN YEARS, AND THEN BY THE CITY'S ESTIMATE, OVER 300 HOMES AND BUSINESSES FLOODED, DEVASTATINGLY, FLOOD ZONE X, EVACUATION ZONE C. SO MOST OF THESE PEOPLE WERE AT HOME WHEN IT FLOODED. MY HOME FLOODED. IT'S BEEN DEVASTATING. WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT. WE'RE STILL FINDING THINGS. WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE, BUT IT DOESN'T COVER EVERYTHING. INSURANCE NEVER COVERS EVERYTHING. OUR HOMES FLOODED NOT BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL DISASTER. THEY FLOODED BECAUSE OF A MAN-MADE DISASTER. THEY FLOODED BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE STORMWATER AND SEWAGE SYSTEMS THAT WERE ALSO NOT MAINTAINED, BUT THEY ARE STILL INADEQUATE. MAINTAINING INADEQUATE SYSTEM DOESN'T GET YOU VERY FAR. I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT ALONG WITH ALL THOSE HOMES, THERE WAS A HOSPITAL THAT COULD NOT BE ACCESSED DURING A NATURAL DISASTER. LET THAT SINK IN. AMBULANCES COULDN'T GET THERE. NOBODY COULD GET THERE. SWANN AVENUE WAS IN BETWEEN FOUR TO FIVE FEET OF WATER. POLICE CARS WERE STRANDED. EMERGENCY VEHICLES. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH LAST YEAR. THANK GOD FOR THE DROUGHT THIS YEAR. NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY THAT, BUT I'M THANKFUL FOR THE DROUGHT. WE NEED SOLUTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. TIME HAS PROVEN THAT FLOODING IS GETTING WORSE, AND THIS IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE TO FIX. THIS IS OUR TIME TO WORK TOGETHER AND SUPPORT THE MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY THIS FLOODING AND FIX THE PROBLEM. YOUR EXPERTS AND ENGINEERS HAVE COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. I BELIEVE IN THOSE PEOPLE. THEY HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE. THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE AND IT WILL BE HARD, BUT WE ALSO SHOULD WORK WITH THE BUSINESSES WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION. PARKLAND ESTATES CIVIC CLUB SENT YOU LETTERS SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT. EVERYBODY WANTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. THE CITY HAS AND CONTINUES TO COLLECT STORMWATER FEES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, TINA. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NADIA ASCAR FOLLOWED BY TONY DANIELS, MENTESNOT. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS NADA ASCAR. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A 16-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN CHILD FROM OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAS BEEN ILLEGALLY DETAINED BY ISRAEL SINCE FEBRUARY. HE WAS BLINDFOLDED AND ZIP TIED AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME THAT HIS FAMILY HAS SEEN OR SPOKEN TO HIM. HAMED SINCE BEING DETAINED LOST OVER A QUARTER OF HIS BODY WEIGHT AND CONTRACTED SCABBIES AS WELL. I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY HERE HAS CHILDREN, BUT YOU CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT A CHILD LOOKS LIKE AFTER LOSING 25% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT DURING CRITICAL STAGES OF GROWING IN HIS LIFE. WENT FROM 105 POUNDS TO 71 POUNDS. THE CONSULATE MEMBER IN CONTACT WITH THE FAMILY ONLY REPORTS LOW BMI. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO USE YOUR VOICES AS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF TAMPA TO HELP BRING THIS CHILD HOME. COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ORGANIZATIONS AND THE FAMILY HAS BEEN RAISING ALARMS FOR MONTHS. SO IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT I'M HERE. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS CONVERSATION EVEN NEEDS TO BE HAD BECAUSE IT IS LONG OVERDUE. I UNDERSTAND THE COUNCIL MAY FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF POLITICAL PULL AS THE STATE DEPARTMENT, AS CONGRESS, BUT WE DO HAVE -- YOU DO HAVE A PUBLIC PLATFORM AND A DUTY TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. IF ONE OF YOUR OWN RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY A CHILD, IS UNJUSTLY DETAINED ABROAD, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU WOULD FIGHT FOR US, FIGHT FOR THEM. A SIMPLE PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE, AND THAT IS THAT TAMPA PROTECTS ITS PEOPLE EVEN BEYOND OUR BORDERS. MANY PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATES HAVE BEEN MAKING CALLS TO DIFFERENT OFFICES. WE'VE BEEN SIGNING LETTERS TO END UP ON DESKS OF HIGHER-UPS. WE'VE BEEN ORGANIZING ACTIONS AND PROCESS. ONE OF THEM BEING OUTSIDE OF THE COURT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. A GROUP OF FLORIDA CONSTITUENTS, A GROUP OF RESIDENTS FROM TAMPA AND FLORIDA, ALL OVER FLORIDA, ACTUALLY, WE WENT TO D.C. TO SPEAK ABOUT CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS ABOUT HIM TO BRING HIM HOME TO HIS FAMILY, SOMETHING WE CAN'T DO FOR ANOTHER TAMPA RESIDENT, 20-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS MURDERED, BEATEN TO DEATH BY ISRAELI SETTLERS ON HIS LAND, AGAIN, WHILE ON VACATION VISITING HIS FAMILY IN PALESTINE. THIS IS A STORY OF TWO SISTERS. ONE SISTER WHO BURIED HER SON AND ANOTHER SISTER CONSOLING HER SISTER, NOT HOPING FOR THE SAME REACTION OR THE SAME OUTCOME. IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR US TO HELP PREVENT THAT TRAGEDY. I WANT TO SHARE A STORY QUICKLY. I KNOW I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS. SPEAK TO HAMED'S PERSONALITY, WHO HE IS. FINALLY, WHEN AN AMERICAN CONSULATE MEMBER WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO HIM, HIS UNCLE IS WORKING FOR HIM AS HARD AS HE CAN TO GET HIM OUT. ALL HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT WAS WHETHER OR NOT HIS SISTER HAD -- AGAIN, WE HAVE ONLY -- THIS IS WHY I'M HERE. IT'S URGENT. I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] HAVING TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AND WHY HE IS NOT HERE. >> UHURU, METESNOT. MEANS FREEDOM IN SWAHILI. WE AS AFRICAN PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT OUR FREEDOM. MARTIN CHAMBERS, MELVIN HAIR, JJ REVARY, CEDRIC McKINNEY, EDGAR ALLEN, JACKIE SIMPSON, DEVAUGHN GREEN, LUKE HANNA, JAMES LUMPKINS, GRANVILLE RICHIE, FELICIA SUGAR PLUM WILLIAMS. DONTAE MORRIS, JOHN JEROME PAPA LOVE. TAMPA HEIGHTS SERIAL KILLER DONALDSON. FIRST LADY WILSON, THOSE ARE A FEW BLACK NAMES THAT THE WHITE AUTHORITIES AND WHITE NEWS MEDIA OF TAMPA HAVE MADE PUBLIC. KKK MURDERED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AFRICAN PEOPLE AND NOBODY KNOWS THE NAMES OF THE WHITE MURDERERS. OFFICIAL POLICE DEPARTMENT MURDERED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AFRICAN PEOPLE AND NO ONE KNOWS THE NAMES OF THOSE WHITE MURDERERS. SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY TIME A BLACK MAN, BLACK WOMAN OR CHILD CAN SAFELY BE IN PUBLIC IN YBOR CITY, COLLEGE HILL, PONCE De LEON OR EAST TAMPA IS IF WE ARE BEGGING FOR FOOD OR BEGGING FOR MONEY. BLACK PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN SAFE AT TAMPA CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. THAT WAS RECENTLY PROVEN WHEN I WAS PERSONALLY DRAGGED OUT OF THIS EXACT PUBLIC CHAMBER AND ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING. MEANWHILE, WHITE PEOPLE WERE SMART ENOUGH TO TURN OFF THE CAMERAS IN ORDER TO HIDE THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. WHITE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO HIDE AND COVER UP CRIME WHEN THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PROTECTING THEIR OWN KIND. WHY ISN'T OUR DISTRICT 5 REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICLY CALLING FOR THE NAME AND ARREST OF THE MURDERER OF THIS BLACK MAN? THE BLACK COMMUNITY WANTS ANSWERS. AND WE ARE DEMANDING THAT THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASE THE NAMES OF ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE MURDERER OF DJ. ON ANOTHER NOTE, SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW ME PERSONALLY THINK THAT I'M RACIST. BUT PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME PERSONALLY KNOW THAT I HAVE MANY WHITE GIRLFRIENDS. THAT MY BEST FRIEND IS WHITE. MY LAWN CARE MAINTENANCE MAN IS WHITE. MY HOUSECLEANING LADY IS WHITE. I HAVE BIRACIAL CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. AND I LOVE WHITE PEOPLE. WITH THAT BEING REVEALED ABOUT MYSELF, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE CITY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN HAS EVER ATE OR EATEN ANY BLACK BOOTY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CHARLIE ADAMS FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH DIN WITTY. >> GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING. COUNCILWOMAN NAYA YOUNG, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR VICTORY. I WOULD LIKE TO COME UP HERE AND GIVE A REPORT ON THE SPRINGS MARKET. IT WAS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A SUCCESS. THERE ARE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IN REGARDS TO MOVING FORWARD AND THE IMPACT, IF WE WANT TO BE PERSISTENT, THINGS WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO. MAYBE AFTER TONIGHT, THIS EVENING, I WILL NO LONGER BE A PART OF OUR PRESIDENT OF THE SULPHUR SPRINGS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AFTER THREE YEARS OF HARD WORK AND PUTTING THE TIME AND SWEAT EQUITY, NOT GETTING PAID A DIME FOR IT, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH NO LONGER NEEDED, WASN'T EVEN SLATED AS A BOARD MEMBER. IT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN PLACE THAT DON'T HAVE THE SAME PASSION, THE SAME LOVE AND CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE I HAVE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND OTHERS AS WELL, SUPPORTED, THAT IT DON'T GET MIXED UP IN WHAT WAS, I BELIEVE IS THE REASON WHY WE ARE IN THIS POSITION TO BEGIN WITH IN REGARDS TO THE WAY SULPHUR SPRINGS HAS BEEN NEGLECTED. THE POWER HAS BEEN HERE. PEOPLE READY AND WILLING TO SUPPORT THE SULPHUR SPRINGS. IT SEEMS THAT THE PEOPLE IN POWER FOR DECADES SEEM TO NOT SPREAD THAT LOVE OR THE RESOURCES THAT'S NEEDED FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS MADE UP OR TALKING FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE, STARTING AT SULPHUR SPRINGS ELEMENTARY. THE WEALTH IS NOT SPREADING, AND ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT COLLECT THE RESOURCES AND IT IS NOT SPREADING. WITH THE SPRINGS MARKET, WHY CREATED IT AND THE REASON WHY I WENT TO SULPHUR SPRINGS PARK IS BECAUSE THE OTHER PUBLIC GREENSPACES IN THE AREA, PARKS, PARKS AND REC, IT'S BEEN WRAPPED UP IN POLITICS BY PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY ARE HERE TO SUPPORT US. THEY DON'T ALLOW US TO USE THE PARKS. THEY ARE NATIVES. I HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GET AWAY FROM THAT IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST FOCUS ON THE SMALL NUMBER. MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN I MENTION THE SPRINGS MARKET, I GET REAL SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF TAMPA AND I NEED YOUR HELP IN ORDER TO SAVE THE COMMUNITY. I'M AFRAID IF THE POWER GOES BACK TO THE SAME PEOPLE THAT GOT IT, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL GET LEFT BEHIND. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, CHARLIE. ELIZABETH FOLLOWED BY SURGRET DOSS. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH DINWIDDIE. ALSO COMMONLY KNOWN AS LIZ ARCADO. HI TO MS. YOUNG. HOPE TO MEET HER IN THE FUTURE. I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE POWERFUL COMMENTS TODAY. IT'S DIFFICULT TO EVEN SPEAK FOLLOWING SOME OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS. I FEEL LIKE MY TOPIC IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS PEOPLE BEING KILLED AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT, IN FACT, IT IS BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I'M HERE WITH MY FRIEND TINA ADAMS. I WAS NOT PLANNING TO SPEAK SO I'M NOT THAT PREPARED BUT SHE ASKED ME TO SPEAK ANYWAY REGARDING THE SOUTH HOWARD FLOOD RELIEF PROJECT. THOUGH IT MAY NOT SEEM AS IMPORTANT, IT IS 300 PROPERTIES THAT FLOOD UNNECESSARILY. EACH PROPERTY HAS IN IT, IN MY HOME, THERE ARE FOUR. SO THAT'S OVER -- THEN YOU LOOK AT THE BUSINESSES WHERE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THOSE PROPERTIES. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS FLOODING JUST IN RESIDENCES, NOT CONSIDERING THE PEOPLE THAT DRIVE BY, NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE FLOODING ISSUES IN THE AREA. SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE, AND IT IS A LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE. THERE IS A HOSPITAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BODY OF WATER THAT FORMS. AMBULANCES CAN'T GET THERE. THE POWER GETS CUT OFF TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ON LIFESAVING MACHINES. SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. I'M TALKING ABOUT IT AGAIN TODAY BECAUSE I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP AWARENESS OF THE TOPIC. IT'S A VERY POLITICAL SITUATION THAT I HAVE FOUND MYSELF IN. I LIVED IN A FLOOD ZONE BEFORE THIS PROPERTY. AND I HAD FLOOD INSURANCE. MY HUSBAND AND I CARRIED FLOOD INSURANCE ON THE PROPERTY FOR EVERY YEAR THAT WE LIVED THERE. THAT WAS 12 YEARS APPROXIMATELY. I PAID JUST IN FLOOD INSURANCE, JUST IN FLOOD INSURANCE I PAID BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. NOBODY WANTED TO -- NO ONE WANTS TO COVER THE FLOOD ZONE A PROPERTIES. I PROBABLY WAS LUCKY TO EVEN GET IT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN GET IT NOW. BUT I HAD FLOOD INSURANCE ON THAT PROPERTY. I KNEW THAT IF I WAS GOING TO FLOOD THERE, I HAD INSURANCE. I MOVED INTO PALMA CEIA PINES BECAUSE IT WAS A FLOOD ZONE X PROPERTY. AND THIS IS WHAT I EXPERIENCED THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ZOOM IN, HOW THIS THING WORKS. BUT THIS IS THE BODY OF WATER THAT FORMS IN FLOOD ZONE X. IT IS A LAKE THAT FORMS. IN A FLOOD ZONE X. THIS IS TO DIFFERENTIATE FROM COASTAL PROPERTIES. THIS IS BECAUSE OF LACK OF PIPES. THIS IS SOMEONE ELSE'S VIDEO. NOT MINE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, LIZ. >> I'M HERE TO JUST REMIND YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MR. DOS. >> GOOD MORNING, SURGRET DOSS. AS YOU CAN SEE, ARMY DISCHARGED, ARMY VETERAN. IT'S BEEN SAID IF THEY AIN'T TALKING ABOUT YOU, YOU AIN'T DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT SOME OF YOU ALL AT TAMPA CITY COUNCIL WERE TALKING ABOUT ME TO YOUR FOLK OVER THERE. I'M ALSO CONVINCED THAT TAMPA, I WAS REALLY HOPING THAT MY YOUNG LADY WHO GETS TAMPA HISTORY WAS HERE BECAUSE SHE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT THE ANTI-LITERACY ACT WAS. I THINK TAMPA HAS REINSTATED THAT. THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR. SOMEBODY ASKED ME TO ASK YOU ALL, WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH TEACHING PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY MARGINALIZED FOLKS, HOW TO READ AND WRITE IN THIS COUNTRY. ONE TIME I WORKED WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. LEON COUNTY, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. IT'S INTERESTING THAT THEY THINK YOU ALL TRY TO SILENCE STRONG VOICES. HE'S GONE NOW. I'LL PIGGY BACK ON THE COUNCIL AND SEGUE FROM PETER, BECAUSE IN THAT VERY SAME SCRIPTURE, WELL, A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN, HE SAYS CAST YOUR CARES ONTO ME. I KNOW YOU LOVE TO THUMP THAT BIBLE AND READ FROM IT AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF. I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW MY FRUSTRATIONS TO FRUSTRATE ME, PARTICULARLY WITH YOU PEOPLE. I'LL GIVE THOSE FRUSTRATIONS TO THE MOST HIGH. IT'S BEEN SAID THAT HIS YOKE IS EASY AND HIS BURDEN IS LIGHT. FURTHER DOWN IN MATTHEW, OR ACTUALLY IN MATTHEW, LITTLE FURTHER UP -- IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU IN THAT TIME AND PLACE. AND ALL YOU KNOW, I AIN'T SCARED OF YOU ALL. NEVER HAVE BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE. BECAUSE THIS IS ON THE VESSEL THAT OCCUPY TEMPORARILY. I UNDERSTAND WHAT RETALIATION IS. I KNOW WHAT YOU ALL LIKE TO DISMISS, DISCREDIT, DEMONIZE AND THEN YOU DESTROY. I'M NOT GOING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT. BUT A SHOUT-OUT TO CHUCK DEE. I GOT THIS LETTER FROM YOUR GOVERNMENT THE OTHER DAY. AS I OPEN IT AND READ IT, IT SAID YOU ALL DON'T READ BECAUSE CLEARLY IN THIS LETTER, UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW, WHICH REALLY SIMPLY MEANS TEACHING FOLK HOW TO READ. IT SEEMS TO HAVE UPSET YOU ALL. SINCE WE'RE PARTNERS ANYWAY ON YouTube BECAUSE YOU ALL SHARE MY REVENUE, STATES CLEARLY ON MY WEBSITE, YOU CAN GO TO GDNAPSC.COM, THERE IS A DISCLAIMER THERE. I DON'T PRACTICE LAW. I STUDY LAW. LEARN TO GATHER THE INFORMATION. I HAD TO GET TO THAT SO WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE. EVEN ON A YouTube PAGE, DISCLAIMER IS ALSO THERE SIMILARLY SITUATED, BIG AS DAY. SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS, AND WE ARE GOING TO KEEP ON GRINDING AND KE KEEP ON BUMPING. SHOUT-OUT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. ROBIN LOCKETT. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. ROBIN LOCKETT. TWO THINGS, ITEM 24, $1.1 MILLION, I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD A SMALL PARK IMPROVEMENT. HEY, YELLOW JACKETS COMING UP AND LOOKING FOR MONEY. I SEE HOW YOU ALL MOVE MONEY FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER. JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND. THE SECOND THING IS, I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS, BUT IT'S INTERESTING. ITEM 66. WASN'T SURE WHAT THAT WAS UNTIL THE FRIENDS FOR RIVERWALK, I'M ASSUMING THEY ARE THE ONES PURSUING AND WANT THIS CHANGED, ONE THING I WANT YOU GUYS TO BE MINDFUL OF, BECAUSE THEY WANT THE CHANGE, IF IT'S NOT JUST FOR RIVERWALK, IT'S FOR ALL THE OTHER PARKS, PROFILING, EVERYTHING WILL HIT THOSE OTHER PARKS. SO DO SOME TYPE OF STUDY. ASK THEM IF THEY ARE SAYING, HEY, PEOPLE ARE BEING HURT, WHAT TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION DID YOU HAVE? WHAT NUMBERS ARE YOU SEEING IN REGARDS TO THIS? VERSUS SAYING THAT. WHAT IS THE PROOF OF IT? DO SOME BACKGROUND ON IT. BECAUSE AGAIN TICKETING PROFILING, ALL OF THAT ENDS UP BEING HARMFUL FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY. AND THEY WON'T DO IT AT RIVERWALK. BUT THEY ARE COMING TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND DO IT. JUST BE MINDFUL OF BEING VERY DILIGENT REGARDING THIS. THANK YOU. MY CONDOLENCES TO THE SAX FAMILY. I'M FRIENDS WITH THE FAMILY AND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, ROBIN. DAVID CORNELL. THAT IS OUR LAST IN-PERSON PUBLIC SPEAKER. WE'LL GO TO ONLINE AFTER THAT. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DAVID CORNELL. THE REASON I'VE COME HERE BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS TO TALK ABOUT THE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF BLACK POLICE OFFICERS IN HIGHLAND PINES DISTRICT 5. THIS BASICALLY SHOWS, AS OF THE CENSUS IN 2020, THERE ARE 1643 BLACK CITIZENS IN HIGHLAND PINES, AGAIN, OF DISTRICT 5. SO THIS IS NOTHING REALLY SCIENTIFIC ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S BEEN NOTED THAT THERE ARE NOT VERY MANY BLACK POLICE OFFICERS IN THAT DISTRICT. WHEN I WENT BEFORE THE HIGHLAND PINES COMMUNITY CENTER, I WAS THE ONLY WHITE PERSON THERE, BUT I LEARNED A LOT. THEY TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF HIGHLAND PINES. THE ELDERS, THE BLACK ELDERS SAID WHEN THEY MOVED THERE IN THE 1960s AND '70s, IT WAS PRIMARILY WHITE AND HISPANIC. AND THEN WHEN THEY MOVED INTO THE ONE PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD OF HIGHLAND PINES, THE FOR SALE SIGNS STARTED GOING UP. SO ABOUT 81 PERCENT OF HIGHLAND PINES IS BLACK. SO I TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. ONE OF OUR CROSSING GUARDS AND I TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY ALL PRETTY MUCH CONCUR. VERY, VERY FEW BLACK OFFICERS AND THIS CONCERNS ME GRAVELY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO INSPIRE THE CITY COUNCIL CALL TO ACTION. NOT HERE TO CRITICIZE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE'RE HERE TO HELP THE CITY MAKE GOOD ON ITS OWN COMMITMENTS OF EQUITY AND TRUST. WE SHARE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT'S VISION, REDUCING CRIME AND ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS. LET'S ENSURE THAT THOSE PARTNERSHIPS REFLECT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST -- LET ME START THAT AGAIN. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE COUNCIL CONSIDER DIRECTING STAFF TO REVIEW THE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF BLACK POLICE OFFICERS IN HIGHLAND PINES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT CONCLUDES OUR IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS. IS ANDREA THOMAS ONLINE? MS. THOMAS, CAN YOU HEAR US? UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE. >> YES, SIR. I CAN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: VERY GOD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE. >> MY NAME IS ANDREA THOMAS. AS A LIFELONG TAMPA RESIDENT AND A DAILY VISITOR OF LOWRY PARK LOCATED AT 7252 NORTH BOULEVARD I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT THE ZOO TAMPA EXPANSION WILL HAVE ON THIS GREENSPACE. THIS PARK IS NOT ONLY A REFUGE TO THE HUMANS OF OUR COMMUNITY BUT HOME TO LOTS OF WILDLIFE. YOU OFTEN SEE OUR ICONIC FLORIDA WILDLIFE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE PARK. ALLIGATORS AND MANATEES IN THE RIVER, EVEN THE OCCASIONAL KOL FIN AND STINGRAY. BLUE HERONS, EGRETS AND ONCE IN A WHILE A ROSETTE SPOONBILL. THE SWEET GUM MAPLE AND MANY OTHER SPECIES OF NATIVE FLORIDA FLORA. ALSO SEVERAL FRESHWATER SPRINGS INSIDE THE PARK WHICH ADD BEAUTY AND DIVERSITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS PARK IS ALSO OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD AND IT HAS BECOME A STAPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY. IT IS A SAFE SPACE WHERE PARENTS CAN ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO PLAY, WHERE PET OWNERS CAN WALK THEIR DOGS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND WHERE YOU CAN WALK IN NATURE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY AND VISIT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE LOSS OF THIS GREENSPACE WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS LOSS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY NOW, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WITH THE EXPLOSION OF POPULATION GROWTH FLORIDA HAS SEEN IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, MUCH OF THE LAND HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND PAVED OVER, RESULTING NOT JUST IN THE LOSS OF THE SPACES BUT ALSO IN FLOODING AND SINKHOLE ISSUES. BY PRESERVING AS MUCH OF LOWRY PARK AS POSSIBLE, YOU WOULD DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF JUST HOW VALUABLE THESE SPACES ARE, SETTING A POSITIVE EXAMPLE FOR OTHER FLORIDA CITIES. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS ASHLEY MORROW ONLINE? ASHLEY, UNMUTE YOURSELF, START WITH YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. ASHLEY? START WITH YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ASHLEY MORROW. I WILL BE SHARING TAMPA'S BLACK HISTORY. OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT IN THE ROOM TODAY. I AM IN NEW ORLEANS SHOOTING A CONVENTION, THE ANTHRO-- AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING. I LOVE THIS CONVENTION BECAUSE IT FOCUSES ON HISTORY AND ETHICS. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'VE BEEN GOING ON TOURS. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I LOVE HOW ALL OF THIS HISTORY IS CONNECTED. I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO FORT PIKE, AS I EXPLAINED BEFORE THAT THE SEMINOLES AND BLACK SEMINOLES WERE SHIPPED HERE IN NEW ORLEANS IN 1837 INTO THE 1840s AND '50s, BUT THE FORT IS CLOSED, UNFORTUNATELY, SO I CAN'T VISIT THERE. I DID GO ON A TOUR AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE SEMINOLES AND THE TRAIL OF TEARS. I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE SHE GOT TO THE SEMINOLES PART, TALKED ABOUT THE CHEROKEE AND THE OTHER FIVE TRIBES -- WELL, FOUR TRIBES AND MENTIONED THAT THE SEMINOLES CAME HERE VIA THE TRAIL OF TEARS. THAT WAS MY IN. I WAS ABLE TO SAY THEY CAME OUT OF TAMPA. OUT OF THE ACRONYM WE DISCUSSED BEFORE. ERA EDUCATION RECOGNITION ACCOUNTABILITY, THE EDUCATION FOR ME IS WHERE I ALREADY LEARNED ABOUT IT. WHEN I RECOGNIZED IT IN THE STORY, WHERE TAMPA FELL INTO THAT STORY, I GOT EXCITED. THE WAY I TOOK ACCOUNTABILITY IS I SHARED IT WITH OTHERS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO PUT TOWARDS THINGS, BUT YOU CAN SHARE INFORMATION. KNOWLEDGE IS VERY VALUABLE. I BELIEVE DARRYL BROUGHT UP LITERACY. I HAVE A BOOK LIST, BLACK TAMPA HISTORIANS.COM. ONE IS ABOUT THE FLORIDA NEGRO WARS, BLACK SEMINOLES AND SECOND SEMINOLE WAR, 1835 TO 1842 BY DR. ANTHONY E. DICKSON. HE IS WORKING ON A PROJECT CALLED THE BLACK SEMINOLE PROJECT. BLACK SEMINOLE PROJECT.COM WHERE HE HAS DONE A 30 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY. CURRENTLY WORKING ON A 60 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY. HE IS GOING TO TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, MEXICO. HE'S TRYING TO BE TO THE BAHAMAS. LOOKING FOR FUNDING FOR THAT. HE'S BASICALLY GOING TO THE PLACES WHERE THE SEMINOLES WERE SHIPPED TO. IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT I BELIEVE THE 30 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY, YOU CAN VIEW IT ON HIS WEBSITE. IF YOU WANT TO DONATE TOWARD HIS PROJECT, BLACK SEMINOLE PROJECT.COM. BEEN WORKING ON IT A LONG TYKE. DR. ANTHONY E. DIXON. THAT'S EVERYTHING FOR ME. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PHOTOGRAPHY, ASHLEY CANAY.COM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, ASHLEY, AS ALWAYS. MICHAEL RANDOLPH. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MICHAEL RANDOLPH. LAST WEEK WE SHARED PREDICTIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MODELS, SHOWING PROJECTED 14 TO 17 PERCENT DISPLACEMENT IN WEST TAMPA. CITIES LIKE DETROIT AND BUFFALO WERE USING DATA AND POLICIES TO PROTECT RESIDENTS. TODAY, WE WANT TO INTRODUCE TWO NEW TOOLS THAT WORK TOGETHER TO END GENTRIFICATION. THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT. LET'S START WITH THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE. THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE DISPLACEMENT. STRONG LOCAL POLICY, THEY CAN STABILIZE COMMUNITY BY APPLYING INCLUSIVE ZONING, COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP MODELS AND ANTI-DISPLACEMENT SAFEGUARDS IN EVERY INVESTMENT. CITIES LIKE BUFFALO HAVE PROBABLY STARTED PREDICTIVE DESTRUCTION APPROACH -- DOLLARS TOWARD STABILIZATION. EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY IN WEST TAMPA. THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE 101 HAS BEEN -- IN WEST TAMPA, WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THE BUSINESS CORE DISTRICT EASTERN BOUNDARY BE EXTENDED TO NORTH BOULEVARD TO INCLUDE THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT. THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT IS A SCALABLE MODEL. THIS ANTI-DISPLACEMENT INITIATIVE GRAU GREW FROM GRAST SUPPORT. AN AGREEMENT THAT INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT FUNDED, WORKFORCE AND ENTERTAINMENT AND TRAINING CENTER AND STRATEGIC ENGINEER FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING. THE WEST TAMPA JOB CREATION CENTER. CORE COMPONENTS INCLUDES USING 70% OF ARTIFICIAL STAFFING TO REDUCE COST AND BOOST IMPACT. TRAINING YOUNG PEOPLE, AS YOUNG AS TEN, ON HOW TO USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. EQUIPS ELDERS WITH LIMITED EDUCATION TO GAIN MARKETABLE TECH SKILLS. BOTTOM LINE, THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE, AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT, WEST TAMPA IS POSED TO BECOME A NATIONAL MODEL FOR -- PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE DEDISTRICTING. REDISTRICTING TO MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT IMPACT THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MICHAEL. NEXT SPEAKER IS TERESA PERINO. NOBODY ELSE IS ONLINE. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS THE APPOINTMENT TO A POSITION ON THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CITY PLANNING ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE SIX APPLICANTS. HOW MANY APPLICANTS ARE IN THE ROOM? FORGOT ABOUT THREE. NEVER MIND. OUR NEXT IS APPOINTMENT OF RICK KUGLER TO THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CITY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION. IS RICK IN THE ROOM? WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO TO MOVE ITEM 3, A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW OUR WONDERFUL CLERK. GOOD MORNING. >>SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES: GOOD AFTERNOON. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT SHOULD BE MORNING BUT IT'S AFTERNOON. >>SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES: YES. SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES, CITY CLERK. I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE THE APPLICANTS THAT ARE VYING FOR THE HILLSBOROUGH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CITY-COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION. FILLING THE SPIDER TERM OF MEMBER KAREN KRESS WHOSE TERM ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025. WE HAVE SIX APPLICANTS. THE FIRST ONE IS MR. DAVID KERN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: DAVID, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? COME ON UP TO THE PODIUM. START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DAVE KERN. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT MY APPLICATION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. AFTER ATTENDING UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, I MOVED TO TAMPA WHERE I HAVE LIVED FOR 35 YEARS. I'VE RAISED MY FAMILY HERE. I'M MARRIED WITH TWO GROWN CHILDREN. MY SON WORKS FOR AN INVESTMENT FIRM IN TOWN AND MY DAUGHTER IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING COLLEGE DOWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL. MOST OF MY CAREER I'VE BEEN A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BANKER. STARTED WITH BARNETT BANK, WHICH IS NOW BANK OF AMERICA. FROM THERE, WENT ON TO REGIONS BANK AND THEN JP MORGAN. IN THOSE ROLES I LED COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LENDING OFFICES IN TAMPA JACKSONVILLE AND ORLANDO. PROPERTY FROM PANAMA CITY DOWN TO KEY WEST. ALONG THE WAY, I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH NATIONAL REAL ESTATE INVESTORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, SO I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME FINANCING OF LARGE MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING DRIs, CBD FINANCED DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AFTER A REWARDING CAREER IN BANKING FIVE YEARS AGO, I JOINED A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FORM CALLED FOUNDRY COMMERCIAL. WE'RE BASED IN ORLANDO. OF COURSE, I RUN THE TAMPA OFFICE. WE LEASE AND MANAGE ABOUT 80 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AND WE'VE INVESTED OVER $5 BILLION THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST. I MADE THE DECISION TO LEAVE BANKING AND CHANGE CAREERS AND REALLY KIND OF PUT ROOTS DOWN IN TAMPA BECAUSE I WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE GROWTH THAT THIS CITY HAS EXPERIENCED. AGAIN, BEEN HERE OVER 30 YEARS, AND THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ESPECIALLY SINCE COVID HAVE BEEN VERY EXCITING BUT ALSO VERY CHALLENGING. CAN UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING AS WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THIS POINT. OUTSIDE OF THAT, A CASE STUDY FOR HOW I BELIEVE PLANNING IS REALLY INFLUENCING THE CITY, LEADING INTO COVID, WE HAD OVER A MILLION SQUARE FEET OF SPEC OFFICE BUILDINGS COME ONLINE. THE MOST BUILDING BUILT WAS OVER 15 YEARS AGO. AFTER COVID HIT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, OFFICE OCCUPANCY PLUMMETED BUT ALL FOUR OF THE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, ATTRACTING EMPLOYERS AND YOUNG TALENT TO THE CITY, WHICH HAS JUST BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE. FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A FRONT-ROW SEAT IN MANY OF THE DEVELOPMENTS. I BELIEVE THAT EXPERIENCE WOULD REALLY BE BENEFICIAL IN THE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING PLANNING. IN SUMMARY, JUST THOUGHT I WOULD HIGHLIGHT THREE ATTRIBUTES THAT I THINK I CAN BRING TO THE COMMISSION. FIRST, IS REALLY A NATIONAL PRESENCE BUT A LOCAL FOCUS. AGAIN, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. BUT REALLY NOW FOCUSING SPECIFICALLY ON THE CITY OF TAMPA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. VERY UP TO SPEED ON LAND USE POLICY. MY DAY JOB REQUIRES THAT. EVERYTHING FROM PDs TO USAs TO FLUs, LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, ALL THINGS IN BETWEEN. I HAVE A VERY GOOD WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THAT AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT EVERY DAY. FINALLY, I HAVE A LIFELONG FOCUS ON WELLNESS AND BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE INSTRUMENTAL AS WELL. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. >>SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES: THE NEXT APPLICANT IS MR. GAVIN COVEY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOOD MORNING, MR. COVEY. START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. GAVIN COVEY. I WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR HEARING ME FOR AN APPOINTMENT TODAY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN FOR NOT IMMEDIATELY DISQUALIFYING ME AFTER CLOSING THE ELEVATOR DOOR ON HIM THIS MORNING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT IS A FACT. >> IT WAS A NERVOUS PANIC THIS MORNING. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN TAMPA MY ENTIRE LIFE. I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL HERE, UNIVERSITY HERE. GOT MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH A MINOR IN URBAN STUDIES. I ENDED UP MISSING USF SO MUCH THAT I DECIDED TO GET MY MASTER'S DEGREE IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING. I GRADUATED IN AUGUST WITH MY MASTER'S DEGREE WHILE WORKING FULL-TIME AS A PUBLIC PLANNER FOR PASCO COUNTY. I ALSO DURING THAT TIME I PASSED MY AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PLANNERS EXAM, SO I AM A CERTIFIED PLANNER THROUGH THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION. I THINK BEING A GOOD PLANNING COMMISSIONER REALLY REQUIRES TWO ASPECTS. IT'S ONE BEING COMMUNITY FOCUSED AND, TWO, OBVIOUSLY HAVING THE PLANNING KNOWLEDGE TO INNOVATE POLICY AND HELP GUIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS COUNCIL. I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE BOTH OF THOSE QUALITIES AS BEING A LONG-TERM TAMPA RESIDENT, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER THAT BE FEEDING TAMPA BAY, WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH THE ARTS, I WASN'T BAN -- I WAS IN BAND IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. I'M INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND I SEE THE ASSETS AND I SEE THE POTENTIAL AND I SEE HOW THIS CAN MAKE ONE OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN CITIES IN THE FUTURE. I SEE A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH DEVELOPMENT AND MAKING SURE THOSE VOICES ARE BEING HEARD AND MAKING SURE THAT IT IS AS EQUITABLE AS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. LIKE I SAID, I'M ALSO A PUBLIC PLANNER. I DO PLANNING DAY IN AND DAY OUT. IT IS MY DAY JOB. SO I AM CONSTANTLY REVIEWING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS, MASTER PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENTS, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, EVERYTHING. I SPECIFICALLY WORK IN A SPECIAL DISTRICT IN PASCO COUNTY. UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK, PARKS SYSTEM, UTILITY SYSTEM, MAKING SURE THOSE ARE COMING ONLINE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT TO OCCUR AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE AND HAVE THE RESOURCES TO LIVE A GOOD, HEALTHY LIFE. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES: COUNCIL, THE NEXT APPLICANT IS HAYLE SHORT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS HAYLE SHORT. I BELIEVE MY EXPERIENCE OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND BOARD EXPERTISE WILL SUPPORT THE CITY'S GROWTH AT A RESPONSIBLE AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION. I AM CURRENTLY A BOARD MEMBER WITH THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY FOR ALACHUA COUNTY, AND WE HAVE ISSUED OVER $30 MILLION IN MUNICIPAL BONDS THIS YEAR FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. HAVING GAINED FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE IN PUBLIC FINANCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, I UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS TO BUILD CONSENSUS AMONG DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS. PROFESSIONALLY, I WORK AS A LAND AND DEVELOPMENT BROKER ON A TEAM THAT HAS CLOSED OVER $1 BILLION IN DEVELOPMENT TRANSACTIONS ACROSS THE STATE. DAY TO DAY, I'M WORKING WITH ENGINEERS, DEVELOPERS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE STATE AND THE SOUTHEAST TO UNDERSTAND FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPMENTS. AND LARGER LAND USE GOALS FOR THE COMMUNITY. TAMPA HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE AT A PIVOTAL STAGE OF GROWTH. DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE TODAY AND THAT THIS COMMISSION MAKES IN THE FOLLOWING FEW MONTHS ARE GOING TO SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY FOR DECADES. AFTER LOSING MY HOME IN HELENE LAST YEAR, I THINK THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AROUND OPEN SPACE, FLOODING, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, AND HOW DEVELOPERS ARE REALLY UTILIZING THEIR LAND. I HAVE REALLY SEEN HOW THOUGHTFUL POLICY CAN PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE CHARACTERISTIC OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN HOW MISSTEPS CAN CREATE FRICTION, FRUSTRATE RESIDENTS, AND REALLY STALL PROGRESS. MY VALUE ADD IS THAT I'M HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT PLANNING COMMISSIONS ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL AS WITH NATIONAL DEVELOPERS THAT ARE WANTING TO GET THIS KIND OF WORK DONE. I THINK THAT MY UNIQUE POSITION ALLOWS ME TO FIND A COMMON GROUND BETWEEN THE PRIVATE SECTORS' INTERESTS AND REALITIES OF PUBLIC POLICY AND WHAT WE CAN DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES. TAMPA REALLY DESERVES MORE LEADERS WHO HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING, WHO CAN SPEAK WITH THE INSTITUTIONAL BUILDERS AND UNDERSTAND THEIR GOALS AND THEIR PROJECTS, WHILE UNDERSTANDING AND GROWING UP IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE AND DON'T HAVE A VOICE IN THE MATTER. THE CITY HAS GIVEN ME EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN MY LIFE SO FAR. I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE BACK TO IT. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES: THANK YOU. THE NEXT APPLICANT IS JUSTIN WALSH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IS JUSTIN IN THE ROOM? JUSTIN GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES: THE NEXT APPLICANT IS MATTHEW SIENK. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING. IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD MORNING. NOW IT'S AFTERNOON. MESSING US ALL UP. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MATT SIENK. I'VE LIVED IN TAMPA SINCE 2004. OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, I HAVE SEEN THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD. WHAT I ALWAYS FIND SO INTERESTING IS HOW INCREMENTAL, THOUGHTFUL CHANGES, PROJECT BY PROJECT, POLICY BY POLICY, STEADY IMPROVEMENTS KIND OF CHANGE THE LIFESTYLE AND CARE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT FOCUS, SMALL MEANINGFUL STEPS HAVE ADDED UP AND PRODUCED A BIG CHANGE AND WE'VE SEEN IT ALL HAPPEN. PROFESSIONALLY, I BEGAN LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH LARGE NATIONAL BUILDERS AND OVER TIME BROUGHT THE EXPERIENCE HOME. I FOUNDED A TAMPA BASED FIRM SPECIALIZING IN MULTIFAMILY DESIGN, CUSTOM HOMES, ADUs AND SMALL SCALE INFILL PROJECTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE TAMPA HEIGHTS. THAT WORK HAS SHOWN ME HOW LAND USE DECISIONS DIRECTLY SHAPE OPPORTUNITY. I'M ALWAYS COMMITTED TO FINDING WIWAYS TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE. I THINK LAND USE IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS WE HAVE TO DRIVE VALUE AND PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY. I CURRENTLY SERVE AS APPOINTEE FOR THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I'M ALWAYS HERE ADVOCATING FOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND ENSURING PRIORITIES LIKE EXTENDING THE STREETCAR SYSTEM IS HEARD AT THE BOARD MEETINGS. THROUGH MY TIME, TAMPA HEIGHTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION, TPO CAC, I KNOW THE VALUE OF COMING PREPARED AND ASKING QUESTIONS. IT'S TO OPEN UP THE CONVERSATION SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND, HERE IS THE BACKGROUND, HERE IS WHAT TO CONSIDER. THOSE ARE BIG CONVERSATIONS THAT IF YOU DON'T ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE MISSING OUT ON SOMETHING. I THINK WORKING TOGETHER IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION TO THE EXPERIENCE ON BOARDS, I WAS ALSO A KEY CONTRIBUTOR WITH BRIAN SEEL AND TAMPA HEIGHTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION WITH THE CITY INITIATED CODE AMENDMENT THAT CREATED THE TAMPA HEIGHTS DISTRICT. WE CAN MAKE CHANGE AND MAKE SMALL CHANGES, BUT HAVE TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH POLICY AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO GET THAT SUPPORT AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT PEOPLE NEED. SOMETHING THAT TRULY SEPARATES ME FROM OTHER CANDIDATES, I HAVE A TRACK RECORD SHOWING UP. SHOW UP AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS, HYDE PARK ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOURS, CAC MEETINGS, CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, LAND USE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, F.D.O.T. INFORMATION SESSIONS, PLANNING COMMISSION, COMP PLAN, I'M EVEN IN THE PHOTOS FOR THEIR MARKETING. SHOWING UP IS WHAT MAKES ME A RELIABLE APPOINTEE. I SHOW UP BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT. I SHOW UP BECAUSE MY NEIGHBORS RELY ON ME. SO WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY CAN COME TO ME, HEY, MATT, HOW DO I SOLVE THIS? I DON'T KNOW, BUT HERE IS THE RESOURCE TO GO TO. ONE THING I BRING IS MY PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF CONSISTENTLY SHOWING UP, LISTENING, AND MAKING TIME TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND NOT COMING UP AND JUST EXPLAINING. THANK YOU GUYS, HAVE A GOOD DAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. ONE MORE. >>SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES: COUNCIL, THE LAST CANDIDATE IS NICHOLAS GORMAN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD AFTERNOON. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I'M NOT GOING TO GET THAT RIGHT. IT WILL BE DARK OUT AND I'LL STILL BE SAYING GOOD MORNING. START THE TIMER AGAIN, PLEASE. >> MY NAME IS NICHOLAS GORMAN. CURRENTLY AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT THE TAMPA BAY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY ABOUT SERVING ON THE HILLSBOROUGH CITY-COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION. TAMPA ISN'T JUST WHERE I WORK. IT'S WHERE I GREW UP, WHERE MY FAMILY HAS CHOSEN TO BUILD A FUTURE. I WAS RAISED IN PLANT CITY WHILE MY FATHER SERVED TEN YEARS OF HIS 30-YEAR MILITARY CAREER ACTIVE DUTY AT MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE. I ATTENDED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS FROM K-12. TODAY, MY WIFE AND I ARE PROUD HOMEOWNERS IN WEST TAMPA WHERE WE HAVE LIVED SINCE 2020. I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL WHEN THE CITY REPAVED MANY OF OUR STREETS LAST MONTH BECAUSE THEY TRULY NEEDED SOME TLC. MY WIFE SERVES OUR COMMUNITY AS A NURSE AT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL. WE BOTH SEE TAMPA AS OUR LONG-TERM HOME. OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, I'VE WATCHED THIS REGION GROW TREMENDOUSLY AND THOUGHTFULLY. THAT PERSPECTIVE HAS INSTILLED IN ME A DEEP COMMITMENT TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHY WE ENGAGE IN PROGRAMS LIKE EMERGING LEADERS OF TAMPA BAY THROUGH THE TAMPA BAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA BOARD OF COUNSELORS AND WHY I'M CURRENTLY PURSUING MY MBA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA TO CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING MEANINGFULLY AND RESPONSIBLY TO THE FUTURE OF THIS REGION. IN MY PROFESSIONAL ROLE AT THE TAMPA BAY EDC, I WORK EVERY DAY WITH EMPLOYERS, SITE SELECTORS, DEVELOPERS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS GIVING ME PRACTICAL INSIGHT INTO HOW DECISIONS DIRECTLY INFLUENCE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. AND QUALITY OF LIFE. WHILE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LONG-RANGE PLANNING ARE DISTINCT MISSIONS, THEY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER. MEANING TO CONTRIBUTE IN A BALANCED, INFORMED AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED WAY. IF APPOINTED, I WOULD BRING THREE CORE PRIORITIES TO THE COMMISSION. FIRST, A COMMITMENT TO DATA-DRIVEN AND POLICY-ALIGNED DECISION MAKING, ENSURING RECOMMENDATIONS ALIGN WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND LONG-TERM COMMUNITY GOALS. SECOND, A DEDICATION TO TRANSPARENCY AND ENGAGEMENT, ENSURING RESIDENTS FEEL HEARD, RESPECTED, AND INCLUDED IN THE DECISIONS THAT SHAPE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THIRD, A LONG-RANGE RESPONSIBLE PERSPECTIVE RECOGNIZING THAT TAMPA'S GROWTH MUST BALANCE HOUSING MOBILITY ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE. I BELIEVE IN TAMPA'S POTENTIAL BECAUSE I'VE LIVED IT. I'VE SEEN ITS GROWTH, CHALLENGES, AND PROMISE. I'M COMMITTED TO HELPING GUIDE ITS FUTURE WITH INTENTION AND INCLUSIVITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR SERVICE, AND FOR CONSIDERING MY APPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO ME. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, NICHOLAS. >>SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES: MANY THANKS TO ALL THE CANDIDATES. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A BALLOT. VOTE FOR ONE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. I HAVE TO SAY, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST EXPERIENCED GROUP OF FOLKS APPLYING FOR ONE POSITION THAT I'VE SEEN. IT'S REALLY QUITE IMPRESSIVE, WHICH MAKES THIS REALLY DIFFICULT. REALLY GOOD GROUP OF PEOPLE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: [INAUDIBLE] I DRIVE THROUGH THAT WHOLE AREA, AND I KNOW THEY DID A GOOD JOB PAVING, ESPECIALLY GOMEZ, WHICH WAS AWFUL ALL THE WAY TO COLUMBUS. >> COULDN'T AGREE MORE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ENOUGH OF GUYS -- IT FEELS GOOD IN HERE. THE AIR-CONDITIONER IS JUST FINE. >>LYNN HURTAK: YOU ALL ARE WEARING JACKETS. DON'T WEAR A JACKET. PROBLEM SOLVED. >>BILL CARLSON: WHY DON'T YOU LET THEM SET IT AND WE'LL SEE IF WE NOTICE. >>LYNN HURTAK: EXACTLY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT'S SUCKING UP. >>SHIRLEY FOXX-KNOWLES: COUNCIL, YOU HAVE SELECTED MATTHEW SIENK WHO HAS FIVE VOTES. AND THEY WERE RECEIVED BY MANISCALCO HURTAK YOUNG VIERA, AND CARLSON. GAVIN COVEY RECEIVED ONE VOTE BY CLENDENIN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT'S BECAUSE YOU CLOSED THE ELEVATOR DOOR ON ME. PLUS I'VE ALREADY GIVEN MATTHEW SIENK AN APPOINTMENT. HE'S ALREADY WORKING FOR ME ON SOMETHING ELSE. COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT WAS SAID. NUMBER ONE, IT TAKES A LOT OF GUTS AND ALL THAT TO APPLY AND COME IN A PUBLIC FORUM LIKE THAT. ALL OF YOU ALL WERE REALLY, REALLY STELLAR. LIKE ONE WOULD GO UP, OH, THAT GUY IS GREAT. NEXT PERSON, OH, THEY ARE GREAT. AND SO FORTH. YOU ALL DID A GOOD JOB AND A LOT OF MERIT. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: ADDITIONALLY, THE VARIANCE REVIEW BOARD ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MEMBERS. THAT'S ALSO A GREAT PLACE. SO, PLEASE, CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE SUCH HEART AND SUCH INTEREST, THERE IS A SPACE FOR YOU. WE ALWAYS HAVE SPACE. PLEASE, PLEASE APPLY TO OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN ANOTHER ROLE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOVE TO HAVE MR. SHELBY COME BACK WITH A RESOLUTION. >>MARTIN SHELBY: AT THIS POINT, I GUESS IT REALLY -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT'S JUST TO ACCEPT -- >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: TO RATIFY IT? >>MARTIN SHELBY: LET ME JUST HAVE IT THE WAY IT WAS STATED. I'LL PREPARE THE RESOLUTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION NAMING MATTHEW SIENK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. FOUR-YEAR TERM. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YOU WANT TO BREAK NOW? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. AS STATED, COUNCIL IS GOING TO BREAK NOW. WE'RE ONLY A 30-MINUTE LUNCH. WE WILL BE BACK, COUNCIL, PROMPTLY AT 1:35 IN OUR SEATS AND READY TO GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU. WE ARE ADJOURNED. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]