>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THE TAMPA CITY COUNCIL MEETING. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE STAND. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] ALL RIGHT. IF WE CAN HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE. >> CARLSON? >>BILL CARLSON: HERE. >> HURTAK? CLENDENIN? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HERE. >>GWEN HENDERSON: PRESENT. >> VIERA? MIRANDA? >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE. >>THE CLERK: YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES FROM MAY 2 AND MAY 9? WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO THROUGH THE AGENDA. I HAVE QUITE A FEW ITEMS. I HAVE A MEMO RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HURTAK. SHE WILL NOT BE PRESENT TODAY AS SHE IS ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE FOR NEW URBANISM IN CINCINNATI. WE HAVE THAT MEMO. WE HAVE A MEMO FROM COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA'S OFFICE. HE WILL BE ARRIVING A FEW MINUTES LATE. SO WE WILL NOTE THAT. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME OUR NEW BUDGET ANALYST FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, HAGAR COPESKY. SHE IS OFF TO THE SIDE. WELCOME. SHE WILL BE PRESENT AT OUR MEETINGS. WE HAVE A MEMO RECEIVED FROM MR. ALIS DRUMGO REQUESTING ITEM NUMBER 5 TO BE CONTINUED TO JUNE 20th. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MEMO RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA'S OFFICE REQUESTING ITEMS 75 THROUGH 79 BE HEARD TOGETHER FIRST AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT, AS THEY ARE ALL RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE. TPD HAS A CONFLICT IN THE AFTERNOON. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HOLD ON A SECOND. COUNCILMAN VIERA IS NOT GOING TO BE HERE IN THE MORNING, SHOULD WE WAIT FOR THE ITEMS? >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HE'S EN ROUTE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. WE HAVE A MEMO RECEIVED FROM MS. FAGGART REQUESTING ITEM 29 UNDER PUBLIC WORKS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE. ITEM 71 AND 72 WILL NOT BE HEARD. THEY WERE MISNOTICED. CAN I GET A MOTION TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE AGENDA? MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MEMO RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA'S OFFICE REQUESTING THAT ITEM NUMBER 80 BE HEARD AT A TIME CERTAIN OF 11:30 DUE TO MR. ROGERO BEING UNAVAILABLE THIS AFTERNOON. SO ONCE WE DO THE PUBLIC SAFETY, REGARDLESS, WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO THAT 11:30 BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING CONFLICTS. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. WE ARE GOING TO DO A HARD STOP AT 12:30 FOR LUNCH. LET'S GO TO STAFF REPORTS. ANYBODY OPPOSED TO THAT? MOTION FOR 12:30. MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN, SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE. CHIEF BENNETT, YOU DO HAVE AN ITEM AND WE'LL GET TO THAT. ITEM NUMBER 74, WOULD ANYBODY LIKE STAFF PRESENT FOR THAT? I'M GOING TO SAY YES. COUNCIL MEMBER -- >>BILL CARLSON: WE HAD A QUESTION FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHERE THE 8 MILLION WENT. I THINK WE SHOULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION AT LEAST. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: OKAY. WE'LL HAVE STAFF PRESENT FOR 74. 75 THROUGH 79 WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED REGARDING THE PUBLIC SAFETY ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER 80 WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED FOR THE 11:30 TIME CERTAIN. YES ON 81. HOW ABOUT ON 82? COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: YEAH, 82 AND 83 I SPENT A LONG TIME TALKING TO STAFF, MS. FEELEY AND SUSAN JOHNSON VELEZ. THESE TWO ITEMS ARE REALLY RELATED TO WHAT HAPPENED IN SOUTH HOWARD ON SUNDAY MORNING, BUT THE IDEA, AS WE DISTILL IT DOWN, WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS NOT THE CREATION OF ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS. IT IS THE CONCENTRATION OF ALCOHOL LICENSES. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS MAKE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THESE TWO AND THEN PUT ON A WORKSHOP -- >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NO, NO. WE'LL WAIT FOR THAT MOTION. 82 AND 83, WANT TO RECEIVE AND FILE. MAKE THE MOTION FOR THE WORKSHOP LATER. 82 AND 83, NO STAFF PRESENT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO RECEIVE AND FILE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. >>BILL CARLSON: JUST REMEMBER, PLEASE, WHEN I MAKE THE MOTION, IT WAS RELATED TO THESE THINGS. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: UNDER NEW BUSINESS. ITEM 84, DO WE NEED STAFF PRESENT FOR THAT? >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MR. CHAIRMAN, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER THE WRONG PEOPLE. I'D LIKE TO HAVE MAYBE A WORKSHOP ON THIS BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. I VIOLATE THE LAW. YOU BUY A HOUSE AND I'M COMING AFTER YOU? >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: DID YOU WANT TO SET THIS LATER AND MAKE A MOTION FOR A WORKSHOP? >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MR. BENNETT MAY WANT TO SPEAK ON IT. >>JOHN BENNETT: GOOD MORNING, CHIEF BENNETT. GOOD MORNING TO THE PUBLIC. IN TALKING TO COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA'S OFFICE, HE GAVE US LEGAL RESEARCH TO DO. I PASSED THAT OFF TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. IF THERE IS A SENSE TO CONTINUE THIS, IT MAY MAKE SENSE. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: CONTINUE FOR 30 DAYS. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CONTINUE THIS TO JUNE 20th? >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: FINE WITH ME. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: DO WE HAVE A JUNE 20th REGULAR MEETING? I'LL LOOK FOR IT MYSELF. YES. ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS TO JUNE 20th, 2024, UNDER STAFF REPORTS. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER 85, WE HAVE A MEMO FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY. THIS MOTION WAS ORIGINALLY MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. DO YOU WANT STAFF PRESENT? >>BILL CARLSON: YES, PLEASE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES ON 85. YES ON 86. ITEM NUMBER 87, YES, WE HAVE TO DO OUR THING. LET'S SEE. ITEM NUMBER 88, WE HAVE A MEMO, MR. SHELBY, ARE YOU GOING TO BE ON STANDBY FOR IT? YES ON 88. >>BILL CARLSON: CAN I JUST SAY, TALK ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE BUT THE SIMPLE THING, TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY, THE ONLY THING IS TO APPROVE THE FORM, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS APPROVE THE FORM WHICH JUST CODIFIES THE RULES ALREADY OUT THERE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE REALLY DON'T NEED STAFF. >>BILL CARLSON: IF YOU GUYS ARE OKAY APPROVING THE FORM. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I'M FINE WITH THAT. WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE CITY CHECK. TAKES TWO MINUTES TO DO THAT. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: LET'S HAVE STAFF ON STANDBY AND TAKE IT UP THEN. IT COULD BE QUICK. ITEM 89, THERE IS A REQUEST TO CONTINUE THE ITEM TO JUNE 20th. MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THIS IS THE VETERANS COMMITTEE. FINALLY, PARKS AND REC, THERE IS A REQUEST TO CONTINUE THIS TO JUNE 6, 2024. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. WE WENT THROUGH THE STAFF REPORTS. THE TIMER WILL BE ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I BELIEVE THAT IS IT. LET ME DOUBLE CHECK BEFORE I ASK. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AND THE ADDENDUM? MOTION FROM CLENDENIN, SECOND FROM MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA, YOU HAVE ITEM NUMBER 1. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HONORABLE CHAIR, TAMPA CITY COUNCIL, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF TAMPA CITY COUNCIL, IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE A COMMENDATION TO THE CITY OF TAMPA WATER DEPARTMENT AS WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFE, CLEAN, AND SUSTAINABLE WATER THAT ACKNOWLEDGES FLORIDA LEADERSHIP IN WATER USE. IN CELEBRATION OF THESE EFFORTS, WE PROCLAIM MAY 19 THROUGH THE 25 OF 2024 AS FLORIDA WATER REUSE WEEK. THIS WEEK HIGHLIGHTS THE CITY OF TAMPA WATER DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT TO WATER CONSERVATION, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USE AND RECLAIMED WATER USE. JOIN ME IN COMMENCING THE TAMPA WATER DEPARTMENT AND THEIR DEDICATION TO PROTECTING OUR PRECIOUS WATER RESOURCES AS WE CELEBRATE THESE ACHIEVEMENTS. AND THERE'S NO ONE BETTER THAT CAN SAY THAT THAN THE HEAD OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT, MR. JONES. >> IT IS AN HONOR TO ACCEPT THIS COMMENDATION ON BEHALF OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT IN RECOGNITION OF THE FLORIDA WATER REUSE WEEK. THIS COMES AT A CRITICAL TIME IN WHICH WE ARE BATTLING WITH WEATHER DROUGHT. WE HAVE A RAPIDLY DECLINING HILLSBOROUGH RIVER RESERVOIR. OUR WATER DEMAND IS CLIMBING ABOVE 90 MILLION GALLONS A DAY, AND IT QUICKLY REMINDS US ABOUT OUR NEED TO CRITICALLY PLAN OUR SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES. WATER I BELIEVE IS THE FUTURE GOAL. YOU KNOW, WE AREN'T MAKING ANY MORE WATER. WE JUST CHANGE ITS FORM. AND ALL FORMS ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE, WHETHER IT BE DRINKING WATER OR STORMWATER, OR WASTEWATER, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT IT FROM A HOLISTIC STANDPOINT AND CREATE A SYSTEM, SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM THAT INCORPORATES ALL THOSE RESOURCES. WE DO HAVE A TEAM HERE THAT'S DEDICATED TO THAT. SARAH BURNS AND HER TEAM HAVE THAT MINDSET, HAVE THAT FOCUS. AS WE MOVE FORWARD EXPLORING OPTIONS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY ARE PARAMOUNT. >> SO WATER IS A FINITE RESOURCE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BECOMES VERY CLEAR DURING PERIODS OF DROUGHT, LIKE THE ONE THAT WE'RE IN NOW, AND WE'RE, OF COURSE, VERY THANKFUL FOR THE RAIN WE GOT YESTERDAY AND HOPE TO SEE MORE OF THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. OUR COMMUNITY HAS SHOWN REMARKABLE ADAPTABILITY AND COOPERATION BY ADHERING TO THE ONE DAY PER WEEK WATERING RESTRICTIONS, SOMETHING THAT IS A VITAL STEP IN OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE YEAR-ROUND MOVING FORWARD. OF COURSE, WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS MORE THAT WE CAN DO, THOUGH. OUR WATER RESOURCES ARE PRECIOUS AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO INNOVATE SOLUTIONS TO SECURE OUR WATER FUTURE. IN ADDITION TO CONSERVATION EFFORTS, ONE OF OUR MOST PROMISING AVENUES IS THE BENEFICIAL USE OF OUR HIGHLY TREATED RECLAIMED WATER. RECLAIMED WATER IS SPECIAL BECAUSE IT IS A CONSISTENT SOURCE. SO WHILE THE RIVER IS SUBJECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND THEREFORE HAS HIGH VARIABILITY AND FLOW, RECLAIMED WATER ISN'T SUBJECT TO THAT SAME VARIABILITY. WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THAT PAST PROJECTS DID NOT RECEIVE SUPPORT, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONTINUE TO STUDY, PILOT, AND EXPLORE NEW METHODS AND TECHNOLOGIES SO WE CAN TRANSFORM OUR RECLAIMED WATER INTO A RELIABLE RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY. AS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, OUR STAR SYSTEM, OUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM WITH RECLAIMED WATER, IS AVAILABLE TO OVER 13,000 RESIDENTS. AND WHILE THIS IS VERY HELPFUL TO OUR POTABLE SYSTEM AND REMOVES SOME OF THE BURDEN, ONLY ABOUT 40% OF PEOPLE WHO CAN CONNECT TO THE SYSTEM ARE CONNECTED TO THE SYSTEM. SO IN THE COMING MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BARRIERS TO THAT USE ARE, AND HOW WE CAN REMOVE THEM. ACHIEVING AS CLOSE TO 100% UTILIZATION OF OUR STAR SYSTEM IS STEP ONE TOWARDS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR VALUABLE RECLAIMED WATER HERE IN THE CITY. I WANT TO THANK CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS COMMENDATION AND FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER REUSE. LET US CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AND INNOVATE AND INVEST IN OUR WATER FUTURE. OUR COMMITMENT TODAY WILL ENSURE THAT TAMPA REMAINS A THRIVING AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: IF I MAY, BEFORE I MAKE THE PRESENTATION, MR. CHAIRMAN, I FOUND A PICTURE YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT SOMETHING, AND I'VE BEEN HERE SO LONG I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S FINE, THE INDIVIDUAL TO YOUR LEFT IS THE FIRST TIME WHEN I WAS A YOUNG BOY, YOUNG MAN, I SHOULD SAY, LEARNING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU REMEMBER THE INDIAN WITH THE LITTLE TEAR GOING DOWN HIS FACE, THAT'S HIM. THAT'S THE FELLOW THAT I MET IN 1974. AND FROM '74 TO THE YEAR TODAY OF '24, THERE ARE A LOT OF YEARS AND A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF WATER GOING OVER THE DAM. BUT IN SAYING THAT, LET ME SAY THIS. 1974, OUR WATER USE PERMIT WAS 82 MILLION GALLONS. THE CITY WAS MAYBE 250, 260 THOUSAND STRONG. NOW OVER 400 THOUSAND PEOPLE AND A WATER PERMIT IS STILL 82 BILLION GALLONS A DAY. SO WE'RE VIOLATING IT ON A DAILY BASIS AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T GO OVER 82 ON A YEARLY BASIS, WE'RE ALL RIGHT. IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO START THINKING MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL USE, THE NEED OF NOT ONLY WASTEWATER, WATER, BUT ALL AROUND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO OURSELVES. WE'RE GETTING SICKER AND SICKER. THERE'S MORE CANCER EVERY DAY. I'M NOT BLAMING IT ON WATER. I'M BLAMING IT ON WHAT WE'RE DOING TO THE ENVIRONMENT, PERIOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT AND THE COUNCIL MAY ASK QUESTIONS IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO BOTH OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ME. ANYBODY NEXT TO ME IS ALWAYS YOUNGER. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] >>BILL CARLSON: JUST QUICKLY, I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK AND HARD WORK AND COMMUNICATION THAT'S GOING ON. SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP THE RECLAIMED WATER, BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN SUCH A HOT ISSUE THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I WANTED TO THROW OUT I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING AT THE OTHER ALTERNATIVES. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAD THE LAST TWO OR THREE TIMES IS THAT THERE WERE ALTERNATIVES PUSHED OR LOOKED AT BUT NOT SERIOUSLY. AS YOU SAID, LIKE THOROUGH AND HONESTLY. AND THIS EXPANSION OF THE STAR PROGRAM OR WHAT I CALL PURPLE PIPES WAS THE MODEL THAT WAS PICKED CAUSED IT TO LOOK LIKE IT WAS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT WAS. THAT IS A LONG STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY. I THINK THE PUBLIC -- I THINK EVERYBODY REALIZES THAT THAT WATER IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE. WE HEARD IN THE PAST THAT POLK OR PASCO, MAYBE OTHER COUNTIES MIGHT WANT TO BUY IT AS IS AND PUT THEIR OWN PIPE LINE IN. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. BECAUSE WE HAVE A STEADY SUPPLY FROM TAMPA BAY WATER, WHICH WE CAN BUY AT A RELATIVELY LOW COST. SO IF WE COULD SELL THAT WATER TO SOMEBODY ELSE, THEN WE'RE NOT DRINKING IT. AND WE DON'T HAVE -- MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE DON'T HAVE TO ENCUMBER OUR RATEPAYERS OR OUR CITIZENS WITH A DEBT. THE OTHER THING, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PRIVATELY. THE STAR PROGRAM WHEN IT WAS ROLLED OUT, THERE WASN'T SUFFICIENT MARKETING FOR IT. PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HOOK UP TO IT. AS WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AGAIN, AS WE CREATE THE MODEL, WE CAN'T USE STAR AS THE EXAMPLE. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IF WE DID THOROUGH MARKETING WHICH PROBABLY WOULD INCLUDE KNOCKING ON DOORS OR THE EXPANSION OF IT OR HIGHER USAGE OF IT THAT WOULD WORK. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS PEOPLE HAD TO PAY THEIR OWN WAY TO HOOK IT UP. I HAD A FRIEND WHO IS A PLUMBER. I CALLED HIM, I THINK IT WAS A THOUSAND BUCKS OR SOMETHING. BUT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT. DIDN'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES. IF WE WANT FULL SUPPORT, WE MIGHT PUT IN THERE A WAY THAT WE WOULD COVER THE HOOKUP OF IT, OR AT LEAST EXPLAIN IT BETTER. AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT THE OTHER MODELS DIDN'T INCLUDE, WHAT IF WE PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO IT, YOU HAVE TO USE THAT TO WATER YOUR LAWN. YOU CAN'T USE POTABLE WATER. THAT MIGHT BE AN EXTREME MEASURE BUT DEFINITELY WOULD RAMP UP THE REVENUES. BUT IF THE PUBLIC HAS A CHOICE BETWEEN ALL OF THAT VERSUS DRINKING THAT, THEY WOULD MUCH RATHER DO THAT. LASTLY, COULD YOU JUST REPEAT FOR PEOPLE, WE STILL HAVE ONE DAY A WEEK WATERING, AND I FORGOT THAT WE'RE SAVING LIKE FOUR OR FIVE MGD. >> YES, APPROXIMATELY FIVE TO SIX MGD WE'RE SAVING ONE DAY A WEEK. >>BILL CARLSON: THAT'S MILLION GALLONS PER DAY. THAT'S HOW MUCH WE'RE SAVING. SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE FROM THE RIVER, WE ONLY GET LIKE 82 MILLION GALLONS A DAY. AND YOU'RE SAYING SOMETIMES WE'RE USING 90 NOW. >> YEAH, WE'RE PEAKING UP TO 90 AND WE'RE TAKING ADDITIONAL WATER FROM THE CANAL. WE HAVE AN ASR SYSTEM THAT WE'RE PULLING BACK FROM. DONE WITH OUR CHLORINE -- >>BILL CARLSON: THAT'S WITH THE REDUCTION. >> THAT'S WITH THE REDUCTION. >>BILL CARLSON: IT JUST SHOWS FOR EVERYBODY WHO IS ANGRY THAT THEIR GRASS IS DRYING UP, IT IS ESSENTIAL. IT IS THE FASTEST WAY, FASTEST CHEAPEST WAY THAT WE CAN COVER THE SHORTFALL DUE TO DROUGHTS IS TO JUST ASK PEOPLE TO WATER ONCE A WEEK. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR COOPERATING ON THAT. >> YES, I APPRECIATE THAT. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: LET ME SAY ONE THING BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE SAY THINGS LIKE ASR, THE PUBLIC, YOU MAY KNOW WHAT IT IS. THREE LETTERS MEAN A LOT. THAT'S AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY. IT MEANS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT DURING THE RAINY SEASON, UNDER THE GRECO ADMINISTRATION, WE OPENED UP EIGHT ASR WELLS. WHAT WE DO, WE PURIFY THE WATER, CLEAN IT LIKE SEND IT OUT, BUT INSTEAD, PUMP IT INTO THE AQUIFER. SO THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY, MARCH APRIL MAY. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE ENOUGH. SOMETIMES YOU DON'T. MOST OF THE TIME YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO SUPPLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THOSE ARE THE DRY MONTHS OF THE YEAR. THAT WAS DONE UNDER A PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WAY BACK. BUT WE'VE GOT TO THANK MAYOR GRECO FOR THAT. EIGHT AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY WELLS. THANK GOD WE HAVE THAT. WE NEED TO DO MORE OF THAT. WE CAN HELP OURSELVES ANOTHER 10, 15 YEARS IF THEY GIVE US A PERMIT TO CREATE MORE WATER AND PUT IT DOWN. HOWEVER, YOU HAVE POLITICS INVOLVED. THAT'S WHERE I COME IN, WHERE YOU COME IN. SOONER OR LATER, AND I HOPE IT'S LATER THAN SOONER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE CITY. YOU CANNOT HAVE A CITY GROWING THE WAY THIS IS GROWING AND HAVE YOUR WATER CAPPED AT 82 MILLION GALLONS A DAY. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE WATER SUPPLY AND HOW MUCH WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS PER AVERAGE PER HOUSEHOLD, I GUARANTEE YOU IT'S ONE OF THE LOWEST. THE PUBLIC HAS ALWAYS LISTENED. AGAIN, UNDER THE GRECO ADMINISTRATION, WE WERE TWO DAYS OF NOT -- WITHIN TWO DAYS OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH WATER FOR THE CITY. WATER CONSUMPTION WENT DOWN BY 45% AS SOON AS WE LET THE PUBLIC KNOW. THE CITIZENS OF TAMPA ARE UNDERSTANDING WHAT WATER IS AND WHAT IT DOES. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS BE DILIGENT OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE WE DO THE RIGHT THING. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT RECLAIMED WATER BEING DRINKING WATER. I UNDERSTAND THAT. LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU, HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER 2, WE HAVE THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES HERE TO PRESENT. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, STAFF, AND CITIZENS. MY NAME IS ERIN RUSSELL. AND I AM THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM SPECIALIST FROM THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, WHICH IS LOCATED IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS WHO MAY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS, THE LEAGUE HAS SERVED AS THE UNITED VOICE FOR FLORIDA'S 411 CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES. AND SINCE THE BEGINNING, OUR MISSION HAS REMAINED THE SAME, WHICH IS TO PROTECT LOCAL DECISION MAKING WHICH ALLOWS LOCAL VOICES TO MAKE LOCAL CHOICES. SO I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF TAMPA FOR BEING A DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA FOR SERVING ON THE LEAGUE'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IT'S MY HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY, AND THAT IS TO PRESENT THE JOHN LAND YEARS OF SERVICE AWARD TO COUNCIL MEMBER CHARLIE MIRANDA FOR HIS 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY OF TAMPA. [ APPLAUSE ] THIS AWARD WAS NAMED AFTER A APOPKA MAYOR JOHN LAND WHO SERVED HIS CITY FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS. THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA FOR THEIR DEDICATED YEARS OF SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY. IF I MAY TAKE A MOMENT BEFORE I READ THE RESOLUTION, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO YOUR ARE CITY. WHEN YOU SPEAK TO HIM, YOU CAN HEAR HIS PASSION FOR THIS CITY. WE JUST SAW IT RIGHT HERE WITH THE EARLIER PRESENTATION. AND ONE OF THE LINES FROM THE RESOLUTION IS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THE GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE. SO THAT MEANS THROUGH YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR CITY, YOU HAVE POSITIVELY IMPACTED COUNTLESS LIVES HERE. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL READ THIS RESOLUTION. IT SAYS: WHEREAS, AMERICA'S MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE LONG RELIED UPON THE UNSELFISH LEADERSHIP OF THEIR CITIZENS FOR LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT. AND FLORIDA'S MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS SHARE THE TIME-HONORED ROLE AS THE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE. AND WHEREAS, THIS RELIANCE PLACES EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSIBILITIES UPON LEGISLATORS, MUNICIPAL ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO MAKE SIGNIFICANT SACRIFICES OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY ON BEHALF OF THEIR CITIZENRY, MAKING THIS COMMITMENT A TRUE LABOR OF LOVE. AND WHEREAS, MUNICIPAL LEADERS STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THEIR CITY, TOWN, OR VILLAGE AND COMMIT THEMSELVES TO PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICES, GOVERNING EFFECTIVELY AND WORKING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. AND WHEREAS, THE LEAGUE SERVES IN RECOGNITION OF HONOR OF JOHN LAND, MAYOR OF APOPKA BETWEEN 1949 AND 2014, A LEADER WHOSE DEDICATION UNSURPASSED AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVELS AND WHO MODELS THE WAY FOR DECADES OF MUNICIPAL LEADERS. WHEREAS, SEVERAL TERMS IN OFFICE ARE A HIGH COMPLIMENT VOTERS GIVE TO AN OFFICIAL AND WITH THESE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE COMES THE STRENGTHENING OF WISDOM, DISCERNMENT AND STRONG LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT BRING TREMENDOUS VALUES TO THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS OF FLORIDA. AND WHEREAS, CHARLIE MIRANDA HAS HELD OFFICE IN THE CITY OF TAMPA FOR 30 YEARS AND IS RECOGNIZED FOR THIS ACHIEVEMENT. ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR MUNICIPAL SERVICE AND CONGRATULATIONS ON 30 YEARS. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: DON'T LEAVE, BECAUSE I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SAY. FIRST OF ALL, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. HONOR TO BE HONORED BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES. WITHOUT THE LEAGUE OF CITIES, YOU WOULD HAVE LESS OF A VOICE IN THE LEGISLATURE. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT TRY TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION FROM ALL OF THE CITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THEY TRY THEIR DAMNEDEST TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP. HOWEVER, DEPENDS ON WHO IS IN OFFICE, WHO IS NOT IN OFFICE, WHETHER YOU SUCCEED OR NOT. WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, YOUR LEAGUE AND HUNDRED YEARS, I WASN'T THERE IN THE BEGINNING, I'LL SAY THAT, BUT IT'S AN AMAZING THING THAT YOU CONTROL SOME PARTS OF THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE THE GOVERNMENTS ARE SERVED AND THE PEOPLE ARE SERVED. IF GOVERNMENT IS SERVED, THEN THE PEOPLE ARE SERVED THROUGH YOUR LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS IN TALLAHASSEE. SO THANK YOU AND THE LEAGUE FOR THIS RECOGNITION VERY MUCH. BUT DON'T LEAVE YET. YOU KNOW, 30 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME. HOLD ON TO YOUR SEAT, BECAUSE 30 YEARS FROM NOW, YOU FORGET WHAT YOU SAID 30 YEARS BEFORE. IT FLIES BY. TO MENTION THAT, I'LL SHOW YOU A PICTURE WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED. THAT WAS ME WHEN I WAS TWO YEARS OLD. [ LAUGHTER ] YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL THE DIFFERENCE. I SURE AS HELL CAN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: [INAUDIBLE] >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I'LL SEND YOU A BILL FOR THAT. FURTHERMORE, I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED ME GET HERE. WITHOUT THE CITIZENS VOTE, I NEVER WOULD HAVE MADE IT. IT ALL STARTED WITH ONE THING, HAVING THE WIFE THAT I HAD. SHE WAS THE EXPERIMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL. SHE WAS A DOORKNOCKER HERE, 25, 30 FRIENDS OF HERS WOULD KNOCK IN EVERY PRECINCT ON EVERY DOOR. I WAS A PUPPET OF THAT PRECINCT. SHE IS THE ONE THAT CARRIED ME THROUGH ALL THESE ADVENTURES. IT IS WHAT IT IS BUT I WANT TO THANK HER, SHIRLEY. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP WE HAVE COUNCILMAN VIERA FOR ITEM NUMBER 3. >>LUIS VIERA: MR. CHAIR, IT IS A REAL PLEASURE TO HAVE HERE A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND MANY OF OURS, MR. CRAIG GROSS, THE PROUD FATHER, ALONG WITH HIS WONDERFUL WIFE TONY GROSS OF THE LATE CORPORAL GROSS KILLED IN ACTION ON JULY 16 OF 2011 IN AFGHANISTAN. CORPORAL GROSS IS BURIED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY AT SECTION 60. WE WANTED TO INVITE MR. GROSS HERE TO REPRESENT GOLD STAR FAMILIES TO TELL THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY WHAT MEMORIAL DAY IS ALL ABOUT. >> THANK YOU, LUIS. MANY DON'T REALIZE THAT LUIS FLEW IN FROM TEXAS TO BE HERE ON TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY WIFE AND I RESIDE IN OLDSMAR, FLORIDA. I CAN TELL YOU WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE CITY OF TAMPA. WE'RE JUST LIKE HALF A MILE FROM THE BORDER. I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, WE ARE INDEBTED TO THE CITY OF TAMPA BAY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS TO RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY OUR SON, BUT ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE PERISHED IN THE WARS TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS AND THIS GREAT REPUBLIC THAT WE LIVE IN. I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT I THINK IS THE FACE OF MEMORIAL DAY RIGHT HERE. THIS IS OUR SON, CORPORAL FRANK ROBERT GROSS. A LOT OF PEOPLE GET MEMORIAL DAY AND VETERANS DAY MIXED UP. YOU'LL HEAR PEOPLE SAY HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY. ACTUALLY, THE BEST THING YOU CAN SAY TO SOMEONE IS PLEASE HAVE A NICE MEMORIAL DAY. VETERANS DAY IS FOR CELEBRATING THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND SURVIVED THEIR SERVICE IN THE MILITARY AND ALSO HONORING THEM AFTER THEY HAVE PASSED. MEMORIAL DAY IS STRICTLY TO HONOR THOSE WHO PERISHED WHILE SERVING IN THE MILITARY, WHETHER IT WAS WHILE THEY WERE ENGAGED WITH THE ENEMY OR IN AN ACCIDENT ON BASE OR A TRAINING ACCIDENT OF SOME SORT. ONE THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE ALMOST A THOUSAND SOLDIERS WHO PERISH IN JUST TRAINING ACCIDENTS, JUST LEARNING THEIR TRADE ON WHAT THEY ARE DOING. IT MAY BE AIT SCHOOL, IT MIGHT BE IN BOOT CAMP, IT MIGHT BE AFTER THEY GRADUATED FROM BOOT CAMP AND ONGOING TRAINING. MEMORIAL DAY IS EXACTLY THAT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO HONOR THIS DAY AS BEING SO VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SAID THAT A SOLDIER DIES TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WHEN THEY ARE KILLED IN ACTION, AND THEN THE SECOND TIME WHEN PEOPLE QUIT MENTIONING THEIR NAMES. AS LONG AS I'M ALIVE, I'M GOING TO MENTION EVERY NAME THAT I POSSIBLY CAN OF EVERY SOLDIER THAT I KNOW. THERE ARE SEVERAL GOLD STAR FAMILIES HERE IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA WHICH LUIS IS VERY CLOSE TO ALL OF US. WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. IN SAYING THAT, THAT PRETTY MUCH WRAPS UP WHAT MEMORIAL DAY IS REALLY ALL ABOUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU, AND GOD BLESS THE CITY OF TAMPA AND THIS GREAT REPUBLIC, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LUIS VIERA: IF I MAY, I ESPECIALLY WANT TO SALUTE CRAIG AND ALL THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES THAT COME EVERY YEAR AND SPEAK IN PUBLIC FORUMS. HAVING A SON, DAUGHTER, CHILD, LOSING SOMEONE IS AS PERSONAL AS IT GETS. TO COME TO A PUBLIC FORUM AND PUT YOUR HEART OUT LIKE THAT, IT ALWAYS TOUCHES ME BEYOND EVERYTHING. I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO TO A MEMORIAL DAY EVENT. IF NOT, CRAIG WORKS FOR MISSION BARBEQUE. GO TO MISSION BARBEQUE AND YOU'LL GET A LOT THERE. WE ALWAYS REMEMBER NAMES LIKE EAST TAMPA WILBERT DAVIS OR YBOR CITY VALUED MIRA LOPEZ OR SALVADOR MARTINEZ YBOR. WE REMEMBER ALL THE NAMES. AGAIN, CRAIG, THANK YOU. >> AND THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING MISSION BARBEQUE, BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET A TASTE OF TRUE PATRIOTISM, COME TO OUR RESTAURANT AT ABOUT 11:45 BECAUSE AT 12:00 EVERY DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, WE CLOSE THE RESTAURANT DOWN FOR THREE MINUTES TO PLAY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. IT REALLY IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR, FOR BEING HERE. YOUR SON IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE REMEMBERED AS A GREAT AMERICAN HERO. I FOLLOW YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I SEE WHAT YOU DO AND YOU KEEP HIS NAME ALIVE. CORPORAL FRANK GROSS IN ARLINGTON. YOU VISIT. YOU SHOW HIS PICTURE. HIS MEMORY STAYS ALIVE BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU DO AND THOSE WHO REMEMBER HIM. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND WE APPRECIATE IT VERY, VERY MUCH, SIR. >> THANK YOU, GUIDO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] NEXT UP WE HAVE MS. TAMPA, CASANA FINK, TO GIVE A FIVE-MINUTE PRESENTATION TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION. YES, MA'AM, COME ON UP. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS CASANA FINK, ALSO MISS TAMPA. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN AND THE ENTIRE COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. I'M HERE TO SHARE THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGAN DONATION AND HOW DEEPLY IT CAN AFFECT MANY CITIZENS. LIKE MOST AMERICANS, I WAS ONCE UNAWARE OF WHAT ORGAN DONATION ENTAILED. THIS CHANGED WHEN MY FATHER WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE, RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL AND GIVEN A 3% CHANCE OF SURVIVAL. WE WERE TOLD THAT HE WOULD NEED A LIFESAVING TRANSPLANT AND HIS YEARLONG HEALTH BATTLE BEGAN WHILE HE WAITED FOR HIS NAME TO REACH THE TOP OF THE TRANSPLANT LIST. DURING THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD, I WATCHED MY FATHER BECOME A MERE SHADOW OF THE PERSON HE ONCE WAS, LOSING HALF OF HIS BODY WEIGHT, HIS HUMOR, HIS MANNERISMS. MY MOTHER WORKED TWO JOBS AND FOUGHT TIRELESSLY NOT ONLY FOR ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE FOR MY FATHER, BUT ALSO FOR THE PATIENTS ON HIS FLOOR. DESPITE THE EXCELLENT NURSES AND DOCTORS, IT IS UNDENIABLE THAT PATIENTS CAN FALL THROUGH THE @CT CAREGIVER. MY FATHER WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES WHO RECEIVED A SUCCESSFUL TRANSPLANT IN 2014 BUT WITNESSING THE UNCERTAINTY AND HOPELESSNESS OF THE EXPERIENCE INSPIRED ME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OTHERS AFFECTED BY THE CAUSE. I BEGAN MY DECADE LONG JOURNEY OF ADVOCATING FOR THE TRANSPLANT COMMUNITY, RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THIS PREVALENT, YET UNDER-DISCUSSED TOPIC. THROUGH MY EFFORTS TO PASS TRANSPLANT LEGISLATION I WAS INTRODUCED TO AN INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION CALLED MORE TRANSPLANTS, MORE LIFE, ALSO KNOWN AS MTML. I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. MTML FOUNDED BY LOUIS BETZ, TAMPA NATIVE AND DOUBLE LUNG RECIPIENT. LOUIS HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE TO MY FAMILY WHILE AWAITING FOR HIS TRANSPLANT. HE SAW MANY INDIVIDUALS HE MET ALONG THE WAY PASSING AS THEY WAITED ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST. HE EXPERIENCED -- HIS EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS THE UNCERTAINTY MANY PATIENTS FACE SPENDING MONTHS OR YEARS ON DIALYSIS FOR HOURS A DAY OR BEING IN AND OUT OF THE ICU. AS I ALWAYS DESCRIBED MY FATHER'S EXPERIENCE, THEY ARE SURVIVING, THEY ARE NOT LIVING. THIS INSPIRED HIM TO CREATE MORE TRANSPLANTS MORE LIFE AND MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE WAITING FOR THEIR SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, MTML HAS GROWN INTO AN ORGANIZATION THAT CONTINUES TO IMPACT THE TAMPA AND TRANSPLANT COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS TO RENOVATE BREAK ROOMS FOR ICU NURSES, DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR FLORIDA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CREATE A PROGRAM TO BUILD TRUST BETWEEN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND THE HEALTH CARE SECTOR AND PROVIDED PATIENTS WITH GUIDANCE THROUGH THEIR TRANSPLANT PROCESS. I SHARE ALL OF THIS BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE DO NOT THINK ABOUT ORGAN DONATION UNTIL THEY ARE AT THE DMV OR BY THE HOSPITAL BEDSIDE OF A LOVED ONE. THIS CONVERSATION IS INCREDIBLY UNDERDISCUSSED YET MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER ARE IN NEED OF LIFESAVING TRANSPLANTS. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY PEOPLE WILL FIND THIS CAUSE CLOSE TO HOME AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ACCESSIBILITY AND ADVOCACY. AS THE FOUNDER OF MTML, LOUIS BETZ ALWAYS SAY, YOU CAN'T BEAT RELENTLESS. WE RELENTLESSLY CHAMPION ORGAN DONATION EVERY DAY BECAUSE THROUGH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WE KNOW THAT BEHIND THE CAUSE ARE MILLIONS OF REAL PEOPLE AND REAL FAMILIES TO DESPERATELY WANT THEIR SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP LOUIS BETZ. I KNOW HE IS A RECIPIENT I BELIEVE OF A DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT. I KNOW HE IS DOING WELL. I SEE HIM OR TALK TO HIM. I'M GLAD HE'S DOING WELL. HE'S NOT THE ONLY PERSON. SOMEONE I WENT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH, DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT. LIKE YOU SAID, THEY ARE SURVIVING EACH AND EVERY DAY. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO. I KNOW THAT YOU SERVE AS COO, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, SIR. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: AND IT IS A TAMPA-BASED NONPROFIT. SO YOU'RE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TODAY. I'M AN ORGAN DONOR. SAYS IT ON MY LICENSE. A GENTLMAN I KNEW PASSED AWAY A FEW MONTHS AGO SUDDENLY AT I BELIEVE 49 YEARS OLD. HAD A HEART ATTACK, HIS ORGANS, HIS EYES WENT TO TWO OTHER PEOPLE IN NEED. HE'S A HERO FOR WHAT HE DID. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT TO US TODAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: IN FACT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE, NOT ONLY YOUR BEAUTY IN REPRESENTING TAMPA BUT WHAT YOU DO THAT REPRESENTS THE WORLD. THAT'S MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING BEAUTIFUL. WHEN YOU GO BACK, THIS COUNCIL JUST PASSED APPROVAL OF VERY CLOSE HOSPITAL CLOSE BY FOR THE EXPANSION OF EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, MORE AREAS FOR TRANSPLANT, MORE ROOM FOR OPERATING AND MAKING SOMEONE HELPFUL THAT IS IN NEED OF SOMETHING REALLY RARE, SOMEBODY ELSE'S ORGAN. IT IS A WONDERFUL THING TO HAVE A HOSPITAL LIKE THAT, ONE OF THE TOP 50 HOSPITALS IN THE COUNTRY. AND THEY DO FANTASTIC WORK. I'M NOT HERE TO CRITICIZE ANY OTHER HOSPITAL. I THINK ALL HOSPITALS ARE GREAT, BUT THERE IS AN EXCEPTION WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MR. SHELBY, WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. GO OVER THE RULES? >>MARTIN SHELBY: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. MARTIN SHELBY, CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALLOWED A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY AT THE BEGINNING OF TODAY'S MEETING TO ADDRESS ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA BEFORE CITY COUNCIL TAKES OFFICIAL ACTION ON THE ITEM. A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT APPLIES TO ALL SPEAKERS PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT. SPEAKERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT THEY ARE PLEASE TO REFRAIN FROM DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING MAKING VULGAR OR THREATENING REMARKS OR MAKING OR CAUSING DISRUPTIVE NOISES OR SOUNDS OR DISPLAYING SIGNS OR GRAPHICS. SPEAKERS ARE ALSO REMINDED TO REFRAIN FROM MAKING PERSONAL ATTACKS AGAINST ANY CITY OFFICIAL, STAFF MEMBER OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THE CHAIR WILL RULE OUT OF ORDER ANY PERSON WHO SPEAKS OUT WITHOUT BEING RECOGNIZED OR ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL FROM OUTSIDE THE SPEAKER AREA AT THE PODIUM. PERSONS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH COUNCIL'S 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. IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM SET FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY WHEN THAT ITEM IS HEARD LATER IN THE AGENDA. NO PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE TAKEN DURING STAFF REPORTS. THE TIME TO SPEAK ABOUT THOSE ITEMS AND ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS NOW DURING AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT. AND FINALLY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING A SPEAKER UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE THAT CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT TAKE QUESTIONS OR HAVE A DIALOGUE DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS YOUR POSITION. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT. FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE WHO WISH TO SPEAK, COME ON UP. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD MORNING. >> MORNING, COUNCIL. I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO BRING HONOR TO SOMEONE IN THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE A GREAT PATRIOT, BORN MAY 19, 1925. WAS TOLD AT A VERY YOUNG AGE HE WOULD AMOUNT TO NOTHING. WENT TO PRISON, CAME BACK AND BECAME ONE OF THE GREATEST REVOLUTIONARY SPEAKERS THAT SPOKE TO THE ISSUES OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY NATIONAL, INTERNATIONALLY, MALCOLM X. RESOLUTION 568 THAT YOU WILL BE CONSIDERING TODAY AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD NAME TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE, IT IS THE HOPE OF THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TOTAL DESPAIR, NOT WHAT IS BEING OFFERED, NOT WHAT IS BEING WRITTEN DOWN, BUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THIS CITY THAT NOW PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO FEEL THE TERRIBLE EFFECTS OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES. BECAUSE WE WILL NOT ADDRESS THE REAL SYSTEMIC ILLS THAT HAS DENIED PEOPLE ACCESS TO GOOD QUALITY EDUCATION, GOOD JOBS, SOLID FOUNDATION IN HOUSING, THAT IN THIS CITY WE HAVE THE OTHER AMERICA. WE HAVE THE OTHER AMERICA THAT DON'T GIVE RISE TO OUR CHILDREN AND OUR MEN IN OUR COMMUNITY BEING ABLE TO BE GOOD BREADWINNERS. SO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS RESOLUTION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THAT COMMUNITY I CAN ASSURE YOU WHETHER IN THE AUDIENCE OR AT THE PODIUM, THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON ENSURING THAT ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE GET ADDRESSED. WE CAN'T HAVE AN AGENDA EVERY WEEK THAT TEARS UP THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THIS CITY RECEIVES AND WE DON'T SEE ANY WAY IN WHICH OUR COMMUNITY IS PROSPERING. WE DON'T SEE IT. EVEN TO ESTABLISH SHINY OBJECTS INSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS WELL DESERVED AND EVEN IF THE GENERAL CONTRACTORS ARE AFRICAN AMERICANS AND MOST OF THE WORKERS ARE NOT DOES OUR COMMUNITY LITTLE TO NO GOOD. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE HAVE TRIED TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS OVER AND OVER WITH YOU GUYS TO SAY HOW DO WE HAVE REAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. BROTHER MALCOLM SAID IT AND BROTHER KING SAID IT AS WELL. THOSE THAT CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THE ACTION. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING, SIR. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. IF WE COULD TURN ON -- YES, THERE WE GO. HELLO SIR. THEY CAN SEE IT. IT'S GOOD. IT WILL COME UP ON THE BIG SCREEN. >> BEFORE I SPEAK, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE REAL QUICK. CEO AND PRESIDENT -- VETERANS -- >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WHAT IS YOUR NAME? >> ELLSWORTH WILLIAMS. GO BY TONY. AT MEMORIAL PARK AND I MADE SURE MS. GWEN WAS THERE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR BEING AT THIS EVENT NEXT WEEK. GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY. NOW I'M ACKNOWLEDGING YOU. WHAT I'M HERE FOR, THANK YOU, SIR, AND CITY COUNCIL. GETTING READY TO ATTEND MEMORIAL SERVICES, I EXTEND IT A LITTLE FURTHER AND THAT'S NOT THE PEOPLE WHO DIED IN COMBAT, PEOPLE WHO DIED BY SUICIDE AND VETERANS WHO MAYBE DIED OUTSIDE OF COMBAT, WE STILL ACKNOWLEDGE THEM DURING MEMORIAL DAY. I WANT TO EXTEND THE DEFINITION. BUT HE IS CORRECT. NEXT WEEK IS MEMORIAL SERVICES. REMEMBER OUR BROTHER AND SISTERS WHO DIED IN COMBAT. BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, WHAT ABOUT FRIENDS AND FAMILY LOST TO SUICIDE? DO THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE ATTENDING A MEMORIAL CEREMONY KNOWING THEIR LOVED ONE DIED MAYBE OF SUICIDE. WE WANT TO GIVE THEM A SAFE SPACE. EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR THOSE WHO LOST A VETERAN AND FIRST RESPONDER TO SUICIDE. MY WIFE IS RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS DYING BY SUICIDE SO WE ADDED THEM AS WELL. THIS IS OUR TENTH ONE. OUR GUEST SPEAKER IS COLONEL RUSS BARNES. HIS SISTER WAS A MARINE, A PROUD MARINE. SHE DIED BY SUICIDE. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? HER HOA EVICTED HER FROM HER HOUSE UNCEREMONIOUSLY. ALL SHE HAD WAS A BATHROBE AND SLIPPERS. SHE GOT A HOTEL AND SHE DRANK DOWN A BOTTLE OF ANTIFREEZE TO DIE BY SUICIDE. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE A PROUD MARINE. RUSS IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SOMEBODY DYING BY SUICIDE, BUT GIVING THE GRACE TO FAMILIES FOR THE EVENT. AND TRY TO PREVENT A VETERAN DYING BY SUICIDE. THINKING IF DIE BY SUICIDE, I RELIEVE THAT BURDEN. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. YOU KNOW YOU MAKE THE FAMILY EVEN WORSE. 40 SECONDS, ALSO MENTION, THIS EVENT, EVERYBODY IS INVITED. 3810 WEST KENNEDY BOULEVARD, 11:30 TO 12:30. MENTION QUICKLY, NEXT WEEK AT THE HILLSBOROUGH VETERANS, THEY'LL HAVE A MEMORIAL. CASS, A FLORIDA NATIVE AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR. ENCOURAGING YOU TO BE THERE ON THE 26th. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I'LL DEFINITELY GET WITH YOU AGAIN, SIR, MR. MIRANDA. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. NEXT SPEAKER. YES SIR. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. JARVIS. I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL PICK UP ON WHAT SAYING. I WANT TO REMIND COUNCIL ABOUT RESOLUTION 568, WHAT YOU SIGN ON TO. I WANT TO READ THE FIRST POINT ON IT. PUBLIC/PRIVATE ENCOURAGE PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO FACILITATE INVESTMENTS IN THE LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY, REDUCE INEQUALITY, INCOME AND WEALTH BY MAKING TARGETED, THOUGHTFUL INVESTMENTS TO UPLIFT BOTH LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. IT'S VERY, VERY PLAIN. I WANT COUNCIL TO REVISIT WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE FAIR OAKS PROJECT. UP TO DATE, THREE BLACK CONTRACTORS. CONTRACTORS BEHIND ME THAT HAVEN'T GOT WORK. TALKING ABOUT QUALIFIED BLACK CONTRACTORS. NOT TALKING ABOUT NO GIVEAWAY PROGRAM. HAD ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE AND PEOPLE SAY THANK GOD FOR LYNN HURTAK. SHE WAS FIGHTING TO GET IT UP TO 20%. WE LEFT HERE THINKING IT WOULD BE 14%. AIN'T BE NO 14%. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MECHANISM YOU HAVE IN PLACE, COUNCIL, TO MONITOR WHAT'S GOING ON. THE SAME COMPANY IS GOING AROUND TO ANOTHER ELECTED BODY BIDDING FOR MORE CONTRACTS. SKANSKA DON'T HAVE NO GOOD TRACK RECORD. EVERYWHERE THEY GO THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHERE BLACK CONTRACTORS DON'T GET WORK. ON TOP OF BLACK CONTRACTORS NOT GETTING WORK, NOT EVEN BLACK WORKFORCE. WHEN YOU SEE BLACK WORKERS, YOU DON'T SEE NO BLACK WORKERS. COMMUNITY EAST TAMPA, PREDOMINANT BLACK COMMUNITY WITH A $40 MILLION PROJECT, SHAME BEFORE GOD YOU CAN'T GET BLACK CONTRACTORS TO BE ON THE JOB, BLACK SUBCONTRACTORS. YOU NEED TO REVISIT THAT. DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'LL DO IT BUT NEED TO REVISIT IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORKING. WE CAN'T HAVE A PROJECT LIKE THAT GOING ON. YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP HEARING FROM US UNTIL WE GET SOMETHING DONE. RESOLUTION 568, RESOLUTION MEANS YOU RESOLVE TO DO A CERTAIN THING. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RESOLVE ON THIS IN UPLIFTING OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO SHARED PROSPERITY. $40 MILLION. SHARE THE PROSPERITY. TALKING ABOUT MEMORIAL DAY, TALKING ABOUT VETERANS DAY. TALKING ABOUT AMERICA, ALL OF THIS. WE WANT TO FEEL LIKE AMERICANS. SHARE PROSPERITY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. REVISIT THAT, PLEASE. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SIR, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> YES. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY GREETINGS TO THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RICHARD MOHAMMED. I AM THE HONOR OF SUPREME PROTECTIVE SERVICES. I'M A RETIRED HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DEPUTY. I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP BROTHER JARVIS WITH THE CONCERNS THAT SKANSKA HAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY. FOR ONE, I'M A CERTIFIED WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA AS A MINORITY BUSINESS. I'M CERTIFIED WITH SKANSKA AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY WORK. NO BLACK CONTRACTOR IS BEING AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT. AND I THINK WE NEED DIVERSITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS SISTER CONNIE SPOKE AND BROTHER JARVIS SPOKE ABOUT, AND WE DO NEED TO REVISIT THIS BECAUSE I HAVE APPROACHED SKANSKA FOR SECURITY WORK. I KNOW HOW THEY PUSH THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND USE CAMERAS AND KEEP ALL THE WEALTH FOR THEIR SELF. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO REVISIT THIS. ONCE AGAIN, GREETINGS TO THE COUNCIL AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP WITH THESE CONCERNS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. YES MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> HI. MY NAME IS PAMELA ALLEN. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT OUR BLACK QUALIFIED CONSTRUCTION WORKERS. WE DEMAND THAT SKANSKA BRING THEM BACK TO THE TABLE, PLEASE. WORK ON THIS $40 MILLION PROJECT. THIS BEEN BUILT IN THE HEART OF EAST TAMPA, A BLACK COMMUNITY, JOBS SHOULD BE CREATED FOR SKILLED CONTRACTOR WORKERS. THEY SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM LABOR IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. A $40 MILLION PROJECT, PLEASE HAVE THEM COME BACK TO THE TABLE. ALSO, RETURNING CITIZENS, HELP THEM GET JOBS. SET UP A MEETING WHERE THEY CAN COME BACK TO THE TABLE TO REVISIT SKANSKA ON THIS $40 MILLION PROJECT THAT THE CITY PROMISED ONLY TO HAVE 14% AS OF TODAY. BLACK CONTRACTORS NEED WORK. WE ALSO NEED TO GET THEM BACK IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE IT'S BEING HELD OVER IN A BLACK COMMUNITY FOR WORK. WE DON'T HAVE ANY WORK. WE GOT GOING BACK TO THE STREETS. THAT'S HOW WE KEEP THEM, REVISIT BACK TO THE STREETS WHEN OUR BLACK COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO GAIN WEALTH WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO GET THE -- SKANSKA BACK AT THE TABLE SO WE CAN GET IN THERE AND START WORKING. CAMERAS IS NO GOOD ON THE SITE. A BODY IS NO GOOD OUT OF DETERRENCE OF A BODY BEING THERE. A CAMERA CANNOT DO WHAT A BODY DO. WE NEED THEM TO GET BACK TO THE TABLE AND REVISIT THIS THING AND GET IT ALL STRAIGHTENED OUT. SO WE ARE ALLOWED AS BLACK COMMUNITY TO GET BACK IN WITH BLACK CONTRACTORS TO GET WORK. I'M DEMANDING THAT THEY GET BACK TO THE TABLE. AND CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE HELP US IN THIS SITUATION. [ APPLAUSE ] >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES SIR. GOOD MORNING. >> MENTESNOT. UHURU. UHURU MEANS FREEDOM IN SWAHILI. WE AFRICAN PEOPLE SHOULD ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT OUR FREEDOM. WE'RE 26% OF THE POPULATION, WE NEED 26% OF WHATEVER GOES ON IN IT. WE NEED 26%. WE DON'T NEED 60 AND 70% ORIENT ROAD JAIL. WE NEED 26%. WE WANT 26% OF IT. WE WANT 26% OF THIS CITY BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET. WE WANT $260 MILLION OUT OF THIS CITY BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET. THAT'S BEING FAIR. WHO KNOWS THE NAME CITY COUNCIL AS A BODY, WHO KNOWS THE NAME OF THE TWO MEN THAT WAS MURDERED A FEW NIGHTS AGO IN THE SOHO DISTRICT? WHO KNOWS THEIR NAMES? WHO VISITED WITH THEIR PARENTS OR THEIR LOVED ONES OR THEIR NEXT OF KIN? MANY OF YOU ALL DON'T GIVE AN F ABOUT AFRICAN PEOPLE AND YOU ALL SHOW IT EVERY TIME. EVERY TIME. ALL RILED UP WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS BUT WHAT YOU'RE RILED UP ABOUT IS NOT THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER, YOU'RE RILED UP ABOUT WHITE DOLLARS MATTER. THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE RILED UP ABOUT. YOU ALL HAVE THESE STUPID MEETINGS OVER AT RAGAN PARK, HAVING STUPID MEETING, THIS IS STUPID. YOU ALL BLAMING THE VICTIMS. WHAT'S UP WITH THE GUN MANUFACTURERS? WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? WHITE PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT. THEY TALK ABOUT, THEY PUT IT OUT THERE LIKE BLACK ON BLACK CRIME, IT IS THIS. NONSENSE GARBAGE. BUT WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT PALESTINE BECAUSE IT SHOWS SOMETHING. IT SHOWS EVERYBODY'S HUMANITY. IT EVEN SHOWS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HUMANITY. THEY SAY THEY WANT TO SEND $25 MILLION TO PALESTINE. MF, HUNDRED PEOPLE RIGHT DOWN THERE BY THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BUILDING HOMELESS. HOMELESS. BUT THEY WANT TO SEND $25 MILLION TO PALESTINE TO DO WHAT? SHOW THEY ARE ON BOARD WITH SOMETHING? HEY, MAN, PEOPLE HAVE TO WAKE UP TO THIS. BUT ANOTHER MATTER, ANOTHER ISSUE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS CHILD SUPPORT. CHILD SUPPORT IS RUINING THE LIVES OF MANY AFRICAN MEN. CHILD SUPPORT IS ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND THIS CITY NEED TO GET HOLD OF IT. GET IN CONTACT WITH CHIEF JUDGE SABELLA AND TELL HIM TO FIRE, TERMINATE CHARLES BENSON, SABRINA FRYE, ARABELLA CAMPBELL, THEY ARE HEARING OFFICERS. EVERYTHING THEY DO IN CHILD SUPPORT IS ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL. AND IF YOU SHOW IT TO THEM, AS A BLACK MAN, THEY DISREGARD YOU, DISRESPECTING YOU AND THEY RUN% IT ON YOU, SUSPENDING YOUR LICENSE PASSPORT EVERYTHING CONCEIVABLE. GET AHOLD OF CHRISTOPHER SABELLA AND TELL HIM TO TERMINATE THOSE INDIVIDUALS DOWN THERE. THEY WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE iPHONE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. >> TOTALLY DISRESPECTFUL TO AFRICAN PEOPLE. THEY WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE AN iPHONE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GOOD MORNING SIR. NEXT SPEAKER. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DAVE COLEMAN. IT'S WEIRD WITHOUT THE SPEAKER THING HERE, ANYWAY, THIS MORNING THERE WAS A PRESENTATION ABOUT CONSERVING WATER. I ATTENDED -- I ATTEND A LOT OF MEETINGS. ONE WAS ON HANNA AVENUE AT THE HANNA BUILDING. THE MAYOR'S FORUM ON WATER CONSERVATION, ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO. THE TOILET TO TAP THING WITH THE SIERRA CLUB AND FRIENDS OF THE HILLSBOROUGH RIVER FOR A LONG TIME. I FOUND OUT THAT MORNING THAT SHE'S CHANGED HER WHOLE CONCEPT THAT WATER CONSERVATION IS THE BIG THING, COOPERATION WITH TAMPA BAY WATER AND CONSERVATION WILL GET US THROUGH INTO THE FUTURE. THAT WAS A WONDERFUL CHANGE TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION THIS MORNING, AND I THINK WHAT WAS SAID IS THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS AND THEY ABSOLUTELY DO. I APPLAUD YOU ON THAT EFFORT. I WILL ALSO DO SOMETHING I DON'T USUALLY DO. TWO YEARS I'VE BEEN ASKING TPD TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE FORUMS AND ALSO TPD TUESDAYS FOR CAHOOTS OR CALL TYPE PROGRAM. I FOUND OUT ON TPD TUESDAY THAT THEY HAVE BEGUN A PROGRAM. THEY MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT IT AND THERE WILL BE A ROLLOUT IN A MONTH OR SO. AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND I WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT IT IN EVERY WAY THAT THEY CAN. IT IS A NONEMERGENCY NUMBER. WITHOUT POLICE RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES, AND IT CAN SAVE THE TPD MONEY AND IT CAN ALSO CREATE TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M ALL ABOUT TRYING TO FIND GOOD IN WHAT WE HAVE. I ALSO HAVE A CONDEMNATION. WHEN I LEFT HERE AFTER TALKING ABOUT THE VIOLENCE AT USF CAMPUS LAST WEEK, I ENDED UP SPEAKING WITH AN OFFICER OUTSIDE. HE ENDED UP NORMALIZING GASSING AND BEATING STUDENTS BY SAYING WE GAVE THEM A WARNING. THAT IS NORMALIZING IT. AND WE CAN'T HAVE THAT IN TAMPA. TPD TUESDAY, I BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT IN 2020, WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE LEFT CYRUS GREENE PARK ON A PEACEFUL MARCH AND CHILDREN GOT GASTED. TAMPA QUICKLY TURNED AWAY FROM THE POLICY AND STOPPED GASSING PROTESTORS IN THE STREET. I BROUGHT UP THAT POINT AND THE RESPONSE AND THE CHIEF IS HERE, AND HE CAN REFUTE ME IF HE WANTS TO, WAS THAT HE SAID SOME GOOD THINGS. HE SAID HE'S ALL ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH, BUT HE ALSO SAID HE'LL DO ANYTHING, THE UTMOST THING IS THE SECURITY OF THE STUDENTS. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT SECURITY OF THE STUDENTS HE WAS PROTECTING STUDENTS ON THAT TUESDAY. THANKS FOR LETTING ME SHARE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. HUMIRA APSELL. I LEFT TAMPA PD OFF THE HOOK TWO WEEKS AGO BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WERE FULL PARTICIPANTS IN THE ASSAULT ON STUDENT PROTESTORS AT USF. FEWER HOURS LATER I FOUND OUT THEY WERE FULLY INVOLVED SO I'M BACK. AT A RECENT TOWN HALL TYPE EVENT A TPD REP WAS ASKED ARE YOU NORMALIZING GASSING AND SHOOTING RUBBER BULLETS AT PROTESTORS? THE RESPONSE, IMPORTANT TO FIRST PROTECT ANYBODY'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE INVOLVED INCLUDING THOSE PROTESTING AND INCLUDING OTHERS WHO ARE AROUND AND POLICE. SAFETY WILL BE PARAMOUNT IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO MINIMIZE IT WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FORCE WILL BE OUR GOAL. THAT'S NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PROTESTING WAR IN TAMPA. THE USF PROTESTS WERE PEACEFUL. SCARCELY ANYONE AROUND EXCEPT FOR THE PROTESTORS AND AN ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. THE USE OF FORCE WAS EXCESSIVE. COUPLE OF SHOTS HERE. SHOWED UP IN FULL RIOT GEAR TO A BUNCH OF PEACEFUL PROTESTORS. SETTING UP A TENT WOULD GET YOU ARRESTED BUT STUDENTS WERE TOLD THAT SITTING ON A BLANKET WAS OKAY. A STUDENT WHO DIDN'T HAVE A BLANKET SAT ON AN UNOPENED TENT AND GOT ARRESTED. COPS LOOKING FOR THE SMALLEST EXCUSE TO ESCALATE AND BE VIOLENT. THE PERPETRATORS OF THE VIOLENC% WERE COPS AND NOT PROTESTORS. A DATA ANALYSIS OF ALL THE STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS FROM OCTOBER 7 TO MAY 3rd FOUND THAT 97% WERE PEACEFUL. 97%. JUST LIKE THE ONE HERE IN TAMPA. WHY ARE WE BRUTALIZING STUDENTS FOR SPEAKING WHO ARE ASKING THAT THE UNIVERSITIES NOT INVEST IN COMPANIES THAT BENEFIT FROM WAR OR FROM INVESTING IN COUNTRIES PROFITING FROM GENOCIDE. THIS IS LUDICROUS. REMINDER, THIS IS HAPPENING HERE IN TAMPA AND AGAINST YOUR CONSTITUENTS. EVEN IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE CONTENT OF THE PROTEST, YOU QUICKNESS AND BRUTALITY WITH WHICH THEIR RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH AND PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY WERE PUT DOWN. TEAR GAS, RUBBER BULLETS, PEPPER SPRAY, TACKLING PROTESTORS AND THROWING THEM ON THE CONCRETE, KNEES ON NECKS, INTIMIDATION. THIS ONE IS IN ORLANDO. QUITE THE PHOTO. THIS WAS IN ORLANDO, BUT SIMILAR STUFF IS GOING ON HERE. I'M LONG PAST ASKING YOU TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA. WILL YOU SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE BRUTALIZATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE FOR SPEAKING OUT AGAINST WAR CRIMES? WILL YOU SPEAK UP FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT? I HAVE THREE ASKS, INVESTIGATE WHY THE LEVEL OF FORCE WAS UNLEASHED ON PEACEFUL PROTESTORS. FIND OUT HOW MANY OFFICERS PRESENT HAVE BEEN IN TRAINING CONNECTED TO ISRAEL. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS GUY WAS IN SOME OFFICIAL CAPACITY WAS RUNNING AROUND WITH AN ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES T-SHIRT. THIS WAS TAKEN AT USF. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> AND ANY RELATIONSHIP -- END ANY RELATIONSHIP WHATSOEVER WITH ISRAEL AND THEIR TRAINING. OH SORRY. THIS HAPPENED RIGHT HERE AT MLK PLAZA. QUITE THE IRONY HERE. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN FRONT OF THE STATUE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> MY NAME IS MARIA COLOGNE. NICE TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. I WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE STUDENTS THERE ON TUESDAY, APRIL 30, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE DAY. WE WERE PEACEFULLY PROTESTING AND WE WERE MET WITH NOTHING SHORT OF EXCESSIVE FORCE. I'M PRETTY SMALL. I CAN'T REALLY DO MUCH DAMAGE. PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME SAY I WOULDN'T HURT A FLY AND THAT'S TRUE. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH PROTESTING AGAINST GENOCIDE. I THINK USING THAT WORD IS HONESTLY THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE WORD. IT'S BEEN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS SUCH BY NOW AND THAT IS HONESTLY INDISPUTABLE. STUDENTS PROTESTING GENOCIDE OR PROTESTING EVEN LOCAL POLICY SHOULD NOT BE MET WITH THE KIND OF FORCE WE WERE MET WITH ON THAT DAY. ME LINKING FRIENDS WITH MY ARMS, NOT BEING VIOLENT, BUT CHANTING, WHICH IS WITHIN OUR LAWFUL RIGHT, WE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT WAS ILLEGAL. WE HELD WOODEN SHIELDS WHICH ARE LEGAL UNDER FLORIDA LAW. WHAT WE SAW WAS TERRIFYING. WE LITERALLY SAW AT LEAST A HUNDRED DIFFERENT ARMED FORCES MARCHING OUR WAY. MANY OF THEM IN RIOT GEAR. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT LEVEL OF VIOLENCE THAT I SAW THAT DAY AND THE DAY BEFORE AT THE PREVIOUS PROTEST. I'M SCARED. THIS IS -- HAS INSTILLED A FEAR IN ME AND MANY OF MY FELLOW PEERS, FEAR OF POLICE, A FEAR OF THE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTING US DAY TO DAY. THE USF PD AND TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE PATROL IN THE TAN UNIFORMS, I FORGOT WHAT THEY ARE, NOT REALLY GOOD AT PUBLIC SPEAKING, BUT THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW FOR MEETING US WITH TEAR GAS, MEETING US WITH RUBBER BULLETS. THEIR JOB, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS TO DE-ESCALATE SITUATIONS. THEY WERE THE AGGRESSORS. I SAW MY FRIEND FULLY DETAINED, HANDCUFFED BEHIND HIS BACK, SLAMMED FACE FIRST INTO THE PAVEMENT. THAT WAS DISTURBING TO SAY THE LEAST. WE'RE SEEING THESE IMAGES ONLINE. IMAGINE LIVING THROUGH IT FIRSTHAND, NOT EVEN SIX FEET AWAY FROM ME. I'M SEEING STUDENTS GET CHOKED OUT. STUDENTS GET SLAMMED. IT WAS JUST DISTURBING TO SAY THE LEAST. I THINK THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR ENOUGH FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY THAT THEY CARE MORE ABOUT SILENCING STUDENT VOICES THAN LISTENING TO THEIR CONCERNS. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] YES, MA'AM, NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> MY NAME IS ELLIE MAY. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE GENOCIDE GOING ON IN GAZA, TOO. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THERE'S 35,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED. YOU GUYS ARE ALL IN A POSITION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHY YOU CHOSE TO BE IN THESE POSITIONS IS TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERNCE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND IN THE WORLD. FROM WHAT IT SEEMS YOU'VE THAT. [ENCODER DISCONNECT] -- >> -- TO ENSURE A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCS. AT THE EAST TAMPA CRA MONTHLY MEETING, THE BOARD VOTED AGAINST PURCHASING THE PROPERTY AT 1911 EAST OSBORNE AVENUE. THE PURCHASE WAS TAKEN OFF THE AGENDA LAST WEEK. THE PEOPLE SPOKE LAST WEEK. THE DEMOCRACY SYSTEM WORKS. WHEN WE HAD ONE PERSON PUSHING THEIR WILL ON THE PEOPLE, IT IS NO LONGER A DEMOCRACY. IT IS A DICTATORSHIP. EAST TAMPA HAS OVER 30 PROPERTIES ADDING TO THE BLIGHT OF THE COMMUNITY. NO BUILDINGS, NO PLANS, AND WHENEVER THE POWERS THAT BE WANT TO PUSH SOMETHING ON THE PEOPLE, THEY THROW IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. NOTHING IS CHANGING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE IN EAST TAMPA. EAST TAMPA CRA AND DOMAIN HOUSING STARTED BUYING PROPERTY AT THE SAME TIME. DOMAIN BUILT ON THEIR LOTS AND SOLD THE PROPERTIES. EAST TAMPA CRA NEEDS TO START BUILDING ON THE 30 LOTS THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE, NOT BUYING MORE PROPERTY JUST TO SIT WAITING FOR THE FULL IMPACT OF GENTRIFICATION TO TAKE PLACE. IT'S REALLY SAD WHEN I COME DOWN HERE, I GO TO EAST TAMPA CRA MEETING. LAST WEEK, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A COFFEE SHOP AND MAKING A COMMERCIAL DISTRIC IN EAST TAMPA. THAT IS NOT WHAT THE PEOPLE IN EAST TAMPA NEED RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW WE NEED JOBS AND WE NEED ATTAINABLE HOUSING, RENT OR SOMETHING WE CAN BUY. IF YOU BUILD A COFFEE SHOP IN EAST TAMPA, IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER ACT OF DISRESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE OF EAST TAMPA. YOU BUILD THE COFFEE SHOP, WE COULDN'T PARTAKE IN THE BUILDING. WE CAN'T WORK THERE, AND WE CAN'T EVEN BUY THE COFFEE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A JOB. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF EAST TAMPA. WHAT IS GOING ON? WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED? WHY CAN'T WE GET A MANUFACTURING JOB OVER THERE? BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WILL WORK. IT'S BEEN PROVEN. WHEN SINGLETON WENT OUT OF BUSINESS HAD A BIG IMPACT ON US. YOU COULD SEE THE PEOPLE IN THE PROJECT, EVERYBODY -- WE NEED A MANUFACTURING, SOME KIND OF ECONOMIC ENGINE IN EAST TAMPA WHERE WE CAN WALK AND WORK RIGHT THERE. THEN WE CAN START PURCHASING OTHER THINGS, BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST BLATANT DISRESPECT IN EAST TAMPA. THE HOUSES ARE 450,000. THAT'S THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A JOB. IF WE DO, WE'RE MAKING $20,000 A YEAR. AND THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> MY NAME IS LENA VU. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO PROTECT OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PROTEST AND REFRAIN FROM THE USE OF THE TAMPA BAY POLICE TO RESTRICT OR SILENCE ANTI-GENOCIDE PROTESTS. INVESTIGATE THE EXCESSIVE FORCE USED BY TPD TO SILENCE PROTESTORS AND TO BAN CROSS TRAINING BETWEEN THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE VIOLENT ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES. I RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA WHERE I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS PROTESTS AND RALLIES FOR PALESTINE AND EVEN A HUNGER STRIKE TO URGE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO DIVEST FROM WEAPON MANUFACTURERS THAT SUPPLY THE SETTLER COLONY OF ISRAEL, GENOCIDE AND WAR CRIMES AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. APRIL 29 AND 30, USF STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAME TOGETHER TO START A SOLIDARITY ENCAMPMENT FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE U.S. AND LIKE THOSE UNIVERSITIES, THEIR PROTESTS AGAINST GENOCIDE WAS MET WITH POLICE AGGRESSION AND TEAR GAS. THE USF AND TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE FAR TOO READY TO USE RIOT GEAR AND RIOT CONTROL AGENTS AGAINST NONVIOLENT PROTESTORS. TEAR GAS IS BANNED IN W WARFARE YET POLICE ARE ALLOWED TO USE IT IN PEOPLE EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO PROTEST. SHIELDS WERE AT THE READY BECAUSE POLICE VIOLENCE IS SO COMPLETELY PREDICTABLE WHEN IT COMES TO ADVOCATING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR. TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE SEE NONVIOLENT PROTESTS TURN VIOLENT BECAUSE OF POLICE AGGRESSION AND BRUTALITY JUST LIKE WE SAW IN THE PROTESTS IN THE WAKE OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN 2020. PROTESTS ARE MEANT TO BE A NONVIOLENT MEANS OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND RESISTANCE. PROTESTS DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE PEACEFUL BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DISRUPTIVE IF WE WANT TO ENACT MEANINGFUL CHANGE. DO NOT LET OPPRESSORS WARP THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN PEACE AND NONVIOLENCE WHEN THEY ARE THE ONES SUPPORTING THE MASS MURDER OF THE PEOPLE OF GAZA. THOSE IN POSITIONS OF POWER WHO ARE CONTINUING TO IGNORE THE GENOCIDE SUCH AS YOU ALL, THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN WITNESSING AND PROTESTING FOR THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS DO NOT DESERVE A MOMENT OF PEACE WHEN PALESTINIANS HAVEN'T HAD A MOMENT OF PEACE IN OVER 76 YEARS. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES MA'AM. NEXT SPEAKER. >> LETITIA BACK AGAIN IN REGARDS TO MADISON HIGHLANDS AND LELAND, THENING MAAING COMPANY FOR MADISON HIGHLANDS. THEY ARE CONTINUING TO EXPLOIT THE SENIORS, RAISING THE RENT. THEIR PAYCHECKS, GOVERNMENT CHECKS CAN'T EVEN MEET THE RAISE IN THE RENTS. THEY KEEP DISGUISING IT AS AFFORDABLE LIVING. IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE LIVING. AND THE ONES THAT SPEAK UP AGAINST THEM, THEY TRY TO KICK THEM OUT. AND DISGUISE IT AS LEGAL WAY OF EVICTION. THIS IS WHAT MY MOM IS GOING THROUGH. THE 9th OF THIS MONTH, SHE WAS VERBALLY GIVEN A NOTICE WHICH IS NOT LEGAL TO MOVE OUT BY MONDAY, WHICH WAS FOUR DAYS. SHE CALLED ME. I CAME BACK IN TOWN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. I'M HER POA. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SPEAKING TO ME DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF MEDICAL ISSUES. THEY KEEP VIOLATING THAT. THEN COUPLED BEHIND THAT, GIVE HER ANOTHER NOTICE WHICH IS WRITTEN WHICH IS ILLEGAL AND UNFOUNDED FOR SEVEN DAYS TO MOVE OUT TO VACATE. SHE HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG. HER RENT PAID ON TIME EVERY TIME. SHE DOESN'T BOTHER ANYBODY, AND NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AND THEY ARE GETTING READY TO BUILD ANOTHER APARTMENT COMPLEX. THIS IS EXPLOITATION OF SENIORS. AFFORDABLE LIVING TO HELP THE SENIORS AND THEY ARE NOT PROTECTED. WHO IS PROTECTING THE SENIORS? WHO IS STANDING UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS? WHO IS GOING TO PROTECT THEM? HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND ALL THAT. ALL WE DO IS SIT AND LOOK AND THEY ARE MAKING MONEY OFF OF THE SENIORS AND THE ONES THAT SPEAK UP, THEY GET THEM OUT OF THE WAY. OR WE EVICTED THEM. IT WAS A LEGAL EVICTION, NO, IT WAS NOT. SOMEBODY HAS TO LOOK INTO THIS. HUMAN RIGHTS, SENIOR RIGHTS, DISABILITY RIGHTS, ALL THAT. WHAT IS GOING ON. ARE WE GOING TO GO WEEK AFTER WEEK AND LISTEN TO ALL THESE CONCERNS AND NOBODY STAND UP TO DO NOTHING? WHERE IS JUSTICE? WHERE ARE THEIR RIGHTS? MADISON HIGHLAND LLC AND LELAND MANAGEMENT ENTERPRISE LLC, OUT OF ORLANDO/KISSIMMEE. SHAME ON THEM. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MA'AM. YES MA'AM. GOOD MORNING, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> GOOD MORNING. STEPHANIE POYNOR. I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE OUR NEW BUDGET ANALYST HERE. I'M PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITED PERSON IN THE CITY WHO DOESN'T SIT UP THERE. ANYWAY WELCOME. WELCOME ABSOLUTELY. I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT YOU GUYS LOOK INTO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CONSULTANTS TO HELP US FURTHER DIG INTO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AT THE CITY. ONE, A LAND USE CONSULTANT, HOUSING CONSULTANT, SLASH, AND A TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANT. IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA. WE HAVE BIG ISSUES IN THOSE TWO AREAS. WHY CAN'T CITY COUNCIL HAVE A CONSULTANT FOR THOSE TWO AREAS FOR A YEAR? DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FOREVER, BUT SOMEBODY TO BRING ON BOARD TO HELP US MUDDLE THROUGH THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AT THE CITY. AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ACTING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL'S WANTS AND DESIRES. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE BUDGET UPDATE TODAY. I AM THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RIVER BOARD. MS. LOUIS, MR. BROWN, GOOD TO GO. THIRD CANDIDATE. MOVE ON. PROOF OF RESIDENCY, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING HAS WENT THROUGH THE ROOF IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS IN THE CITY OF TAMPA. AND WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE, IT WAS WORTH ONE-THIRD OF WHAT IT'S WORTH TODAY. I MEAN, WE'VE GOT TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT THIS. THE CITY OF TAMPA IS NOT PAYING TOP DOLLAR. SORRY. THEY ARE MAKING DECENT MONEY, BUT THEY ARE NOT PAYING THE TOP OF THE PILE. THERE'S ALWAYS OUTSIDE JOBS TO BE HAD. TO RUN OFF GOOD FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT IS JUST ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T CARE ANY LESS ABOUT US. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO RAN FOR YOUR SEATS WHO DID NOT LIVE IN THE CITY OF TAMPA AND THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION DIDN'T GIVE A CRAP. SO WHY ARE WE WEARING THIS OUT? LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HONOR CAPTAIN JOHN TINSLEY AND NAVAL SEAL PAT BEAKS AND THEIR GOLD STAR WIVES WHO BOTH LIVE IN MY COMMUNITY. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MA'AM. YES SIR. >>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. STEVE MICHELINI HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SOHO BUSINESS ALLIANCE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE IN TOWN HALL MEETINGS REGARDING THE BUSINESSES NOT DOING WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO OR THE POLICE NOT RESPONDING QUICKLY ENOUGH IN THE RECENT TRAGEDY ON SOUTH HOWARD. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT ALL OF THE BUSINESSES HAD THEIR REQUIRED POLICE OFFICERS ON DUTY. THERE WERE EXTRA DUTY OFFICERS AS WELL AS SECURITY. AND THE POICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED QUICKLY. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT INCLUDED INCREASING SECURITY AND INCREASING POLICE PRESENCE. IT OCCURRED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF THESE INDIVIDUALS GETTING OUT OF THEIR CARS. IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED ANYWHERE AND THE POLICE HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DO REGARDING INDIVIDUALS THAT COME INTO AN AREA, DECIDE THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE A FIGHT AND THEN THEY PERPETUATE WHATEVER VIOLENCE THEY WANT TO HAVE UPON EACH OTHER. THE BUSINESSES ARE RESPONSIBLE. THEY DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. THIS IS NOT A BAR DISTRICT. IT'S MADE UP OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ESTABLISHMENTS THAT INCLUDE RESTAURANTS AND OTHER BUSINESSES. THEY ALL DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN VIDEO CAMERAS. WE HAD EACH OF THEM INSTALL ADDITIONAL VIDEO CAMERAS ON THE PREMISES OF THE BARS THAT ARE NORTH OF SWANN AND THE RESTAURANTS SOUTH OF SWANN. THESE ARE RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE. THEY DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AND IT IS MISGUIDED STATEMENTS THAT CHARACTERIZE THEM AS BEING NEGLIGENT IN THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EVERY WEEK, INCLUDING THE DEPLOYMENT OF OFFICERS, HOW THEY ARE USED, AND HOW THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE PUBLIC IS MAINTAINED. THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME AND SPOKE WERE MOSTLY SOUTH OF SWANN WHICH IS NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. I ALREADY SAID ON THE RECORD THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED FROM PEOPLE COMING OUTSIDE OF THE AREA DECIDING TO MEET AND THAT THEY HAD VIOLENCE ON THEIR MIND BEFORE THEY ARRIVED. IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED ANYWHERE. I'M VERY SORRY THAT IT HAPPENED. WE ARE VERY APOLOGETIC FOR THAT. HOWEVER, THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED AND WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TAMPA FIRE RESCUE REGARDING THE PUBLIC SAFETY IN EVERY RESPECT. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. DID YOU ALREADY SPEAK, MA'AM? >> NO, I HAVEN'T. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COME ON UP. >> HI. CHAT E. LEE. I'M HERE TO ASK TO YOU INVESTIGATE THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA FOR THE POLICE VIOLENCE AGAINST STUDENT PROTESTORS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS. RHEA LAW CLAIMS THAT THE POLICE VIOLENCE WAS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE ARE PROTESTING AGAINST GENOCIDE. I HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE. DECAPITATED BODIES, THE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE OUT THERE AT THE SOLIDARITY ENCAMPMENT ARE THE BEST AMONG US. THEY SAW SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER BE HAPPENING TO ANY OF US, AND THEY WERE MOVED TO ACTION, AND THEY WERE PUNISHED BY THE VERY VALUES THAT USF WANTS STUDENTS TO HAVE. CIVIC DUTY, COURAGE, KINDNESS. WHAT HAPPENED WAS TRAUMATIC. LIKE I AM -- ONE OF MY FRIENDS. I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER. I'M NOT A STUDENT. I GRADUATED A LONG TIME AGO. AND SHE WAS THERE AT THE ENCAMPMENT, THERE BOTH SAYS. SAW, WITNESSED WHAT HAPPENED. THIS PAST SATURDAY WE WERE IN ORLANDO FOR THE STATEWIDE RALLY AND AGAIN WE WENT THROUGH THAT POLICE VIOLENCE. AND IT BROUGHT US BACK TO USF AND IT REALLY SHOOK US UP. IT'S DISGUSTING AND APPALLING THAT WE ARE MET WITH SUCH BRUTAL VIOLENCE FOR SPEAKING UP AGAINST GENOCIDE. YOU CANNOT CLAIM TO BE PRIORITIZING COMMUNITY SAFETY WHEN YOU PUNISH PEOPLE FOR SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE MASS KILLING OF OTHER PEOPLE. THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. I NEED YOU TO PLEASE HOLD TAMPA PD ACCOUNTABLE. PLEASE HOLD D. McDONALD AND RHEA LAW ACCOUNTABLE AND FIND OUT HOW MANY TAMPA TAXPAYER DOLLARS WERE USED IN THIS WHOLE POLICE VIOLENCE BRUTALITY. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES MA'AM. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. GOOD MORNING. >> ROBIN LOCKETT. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY IN REGARDS TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE COMING OUT, I THINK IS ADMIRAL THAT THEY ARE COMING OUT TO SPEAK OUT. THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT AN EXPERIENCE AND HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS ARE REACHING OUT TO THEM TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT TO COME UP HERE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND TELL YOU THEIR CONCERNS. IF THEIR CONCERNS ARE WITH TPD, THEN THERE'S TPD'S TRUTH, THEIR TRUTH AND THE TRUTH IN THE MIDDLE AND SOMEBODY SHOULD BE INQUIRING ABOUT THAT. THAT'S MY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. ITEM 84, I TOTALLY AGREE IN REGARDS TO CODING, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT THAT WHEN SOMEONE PURCHASES A HOUSE OR DOES SOMETHING THAT THE SELLER IS NOW BEING I GUESS YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING INTO CHARGING THE SELLER OR MAKING THE SELLER ACCOUNTABLE, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN ORDINANCE THAT IF A HOMEOWNER OR SOMEONE GOES OUT OF THEIR WAY AND DOES NOT HIRE A FAMILY MEMBER TO GET THE JOB DONE OR SOMEBODY AROUND THE CORNER, A HANDY MAN, IF THEY GO OUT AND THEY MAKE THE EFFORT TO HIRE SOMEONE THAT'S CERTIFIED, THAT'S THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS, AND THAT COMPANY DOES NOT PULL PERMITS. THAT COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE IN SOME KIND OF WAY. TO PROTECT YOUR CONSTITUENTS. WHAT I'M FINDING OUT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE HIRING, GOING TO CERTAIN COMPANIES THAT ARE CERTIFIED LATER TO FIND OUT THAT A PERMIT WAS NOT PULLED. IT SHOULDN'T FALL BACK -- IT SHOULD NOT FALL BACK ON A HOMEOWNER TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE THEY ARE HIRING SOMEBODY CERTIFIED IN IT. SO THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND SOME TYPE OF SLIGHT PROTECTION FOR THE HOMEOWNER THAT'S TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING INSTEAD OF HIRING JOE BLOW AROUND THE CORNER TO DO THE WORK. THAT'S ONE THING. THE SECOND THING IS THAT NICOLE TRAVIS IS LEAVING. THAT'S A CONCERN. SOMEONE TO FILL HER SPOT. THAT'S A CONCERN. I THINK HER RIGHT HAND PERSON, ALIS DRUMGO, IS THE PERSON TO FILL THAT SPOT, NOT AS AN INTERIM, BUT AS THAT DIRECTOR. THERE'S NO WAY THAT THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE, SHE HAS CREATED, HER TEAM CREATED AN INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND HOUSING THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE. IT WOULD MAKE NO SENSE FOR SOMEONE TO DO A NATIONAL SEARCH OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE AND COME IN AND TRY TO LEARN AND PUT FORTH WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD MORNING. >> HI. MY NAME IS MARY LOU BAILEY. I CAME DOWN TO COUNCIL TO LISTEN TO THE CRIME REPORTS, HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT OPTIONS REVIEWED, ET CETERA. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S NO TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WANTED TO BRIEFLY ADDRESS CRIME. I WAS AT THE PUBLIC MEETING LAST NIGHT HELD ABOUT CRIME, PARTICULARLY ON -- IN THE WAKE OF THE RECENT TRAGEDY ON SOUTH HOWARD. IN FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT AND OPTIC SHOP AND OTHER PLACES MY FAMILY AND I ROUTINELY GO DESPITE THAT I LIVE SOUTH OF SWANN. I'M STILL VERY MUCH A CONSUMER IN THAT AREA. WHAT WAS EXPRESSED LAST NIGHT WAS LIKE A BOILING POINT. THIS IS A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED SUNDAY MORNING AND I'M SORRY FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE KILLED. IT'S VERY COMPLICATED. WHAT WE HEARD LAST NIGHT WAS A LOT OF ISSUES. I JUST WANT TO ASK THE ENTIRE COUNCIL TO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION AND NOT WRITE THIS OFF AS A TERRIBLE ONE-OFF TRAGEDY, NOT WRITE IT OFF AS THE NEIGHBORS VERSUS THE BUSINESSES. IT'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS. CONCERNS WERE EXPRESSED ABOUT THE PROLIFERATION OF GUNS. CONCERNS ABOUT MANY OF THE ESTABLISHMENTS GOT THEIR PERMITS FROM THIS COUNCIL BECAUSE THERE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE RESTAURANTS THAT WOULD GET 51% OF THE REVENUE FROM FOOD WHEN THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE. EXCESSIVE LOITERING. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF PUBLIC NUDITY, SEX, GROSS THINGS REPORTED LAST NIGHT THAT I WISH I COULD UNHEAR ABOUT THINGS GOING ON IN THAT DISTRICT. IT'S A LOT OF THINGS. PERHAPS THE MOST TROUBLING, THOUGH, IS OVER A SERIES OF DECISIONS MADE BY VARIOUS MEMBERS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON COUNCIL NOW WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATION, WE'VE GOT TOO MANY PLACES IN TOO TIGHT OF AN AREA THAT ARE OPEN UNTIL 3 A.M. WITH ALL YOU CAN DRINK SPECIALS AND ALL KINDS OF CRAZINESS GOING ON. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, THE COUNCIL, TPD, THE NEIGHBORS, THE BUSINESSES. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO CALMLY GO THROUGH THE INFORMATION AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESTORE SOME SENSE OF NEIGHBORHOOD TO WHAT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE PLACES TO GO OUT TO EAT AND DRINK AND ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF, BUT IT'S GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL. AND THIS WAS KIND OF THE TIPPING POINT WHERE TRAGICALLY TWO PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT IT'S NOT JUST A ONE-OFF. IT'S JUST TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL THERE. IT'S NOT SAFE TO BE THERE. PLEASE STAY WITH US AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS. THE CITY ATTORNEY, MS. ZELMAN WAS THERE LAST NIGHT AND SHE EXPRESSED THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE WE CAN'T TAKE AWAY RIGHTS ALREADY GRANTED, ET CETERA. BUT WE HAVE TO TRY HARDER. WE CAN'T MOVE ON, GO, OKAY, THIS IS A TRAGEDY, IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY. IT'S NOT OKAY. WE'VE GOT TO SOMEHOW PUT THE GENIE BACK IN THE BOTTLE. IT'S OUT OF CONTROL THERE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS WILL CLOSE IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT. THREE PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT. IS MICHAEL RANDOLPH ONLINE? MICHAEL RANDOLPH. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MICHAEL RANDOLPH. I'M WITH THE CENSUS FOR NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. FIRST, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE INCREASE IN VIOLENCE, GUN VIOLENCE, HOMICIDES THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURRING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT OVER THE LAST FIVE WEEKS, 97% INCREASE IN FIREARM HOMICIDES AMONG BLACK YOUTH. ADDED TO THAT, 125% HOMICIDE AMONG BLACK FEMALES. ON JUNE 16, WE WILL BE HOSTING A MEETING TITLED NATIONAL DISCUSSION ON WHAT WORKS IN REDUCING STREET VIOLENCE. THIS DISCUSSION WILL INCLUDE VIOLENT -- AROUND THE NATION INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT WHAT WORKS. WE CANNOT ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF THIS NIGHTMARE. THE MEETING IS GOING TO BE BROKEN DOWN INTO TWO PARTS. THE FIRST PART IS GOING TO BE CALLED WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE? THAT IS A GROUP OF BLACK PSYCHOLOGISTS, BLACK EDUCATORS, AND BLACK SOCIOLOGISTS AND OTHERS THAT HAVE COME UP WITH SCHOOL OF THOUGHT CALLED INTERGENERATION. THE SECOND PART IS GOING TO DEAL WITH WHAT WORKS. THIS INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT -- SUCCESS BASED ON THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. WE KNOW IT AS THE CDC. IT FOCUSES ON A PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGY TO REDUCE VIOLENCE. THEY USE WHAT IS KNOWN AS SOCIETAL ECOLOGICAL MODEL. WHAT WORKS. WELL, IN BALTIMORE, WHICH IS THE SECOND HIGHEST STATE, CITY FOR VIOLENCE, THEY REDUCED HOMICIDE BY 20%. IN KENTUCKY, THEY REDUCED GUN SHOOTINGS BY 30%. AND NEW YORK, THEY REDUCED GUN SHOOTINGS BY 50%, AND IN PHILLY, THEY REDUCED IT BY 30%. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT STUDIES GOING ON. ONE STUDY THE PEER RESEARCH CENTER. THE NEXT WILL BE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THEN FINALLY JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY OUT OF BALTIMORE. WHAT DOES NOT WORK, INITIATIVES THAT ONLY FOCUS ON BLACK ON BLACK DYSFUNCTION RATHER THAN -- CAUSES AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS DO NOT WORK. LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS MEETING. IT'S GOING TO BE A CONVERSATION ABOUT EVIDENCE-BASED, DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH TO REDUCING VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MR. RANDOLPH. THE NEXT REGISTERED SPEAKER IS FRANKLIN PEREZ. >> HI, THIS IS FRANKLIN PEREZ, CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES. >> MY NAME IS FRANKLIN PEREZ. I LIVE IN SEMINOLE AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES. THE FIRST ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THE TAMPA AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA POLICE DEPARTMENTS EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE WHICH I PERSONALLY SAW WHEN THEY BRUTALIZED AND ARRESTED PEACEFUL PROTESTORS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ON APRIL 30, 2024, FOR RIGHTFULLY DEMANDING THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA DIVEST ITSELF OF ALL INVESTMENTS PERTAINING TO THE GENOCIDAL ISRAELI APARTHEID REGIME. I DEMAND THAT THE TAMPA CITY COUNCIL LOOK INTO THE EVENTS AND CONDEMN THESE VIOLENT ACTS ON PROTESTORS. SECOND ISSUE, ISRAEL PALESTINE. RESCIND ALL PRO-ISRAEL RESOLUTIONS YOU HAVE MADE IN THE PAST. ENOUGH, ISRAEL IS A JEWISH SUPREMACIST APARTHEID STATE COMMITTING ETHNIC CLEANSING, HUMAN ABUSES AND GENOCIDE FOR 76 YEARS AS PER REPUTABLE HUMAN RIGHTS LIKE AMNESTY, BETH-EL EM, START SUPPORTING ISRAEL. STOP GIVING WEAPONS. STOP GIVING MONEY. CONDEMN FOR WHAT IT IS. APARTHEID AND GENOCIDAL SAY THE. NETANYAHU HAS INVOKED GENOCIDAL LANGUAGE AGAINST PALESTINIANS IN THE GADZA CONCENTRATION CAMP BY REFERRING TO ANCIENT BIBLICAL TESTAMENT TO COMPARING THEM TO AMALEKITES PUT TO DEATH, MEN, WOMEN CHILDREN INFANTS. ISRAELI APARTHEID, YOAV GALLANT REFERRED TO PALESTINES IN THE GAZA CONCENTRATION CAMP AS HUMAN ANIMALS. MIKO PELLET, EX-ZIONIST OCCUPATION AND PALESTINE RIGHTS ACTIVIST STATED THAT THE ISRAELI ARMY IS THE BEST GROUP IN THE WORLD. ZIONIST PIE LOT YOU KNOW TAN SHAPIRO STATED THAT THE ISRAELI ARMY IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION RUN BY WAR CRIMINALS. AT THIS POINT, SCATTERED ZIONIST ONLY OCCUPIER SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK, ONLY FAIR SOLUTION TO THE ISRAEL PALESTINE IS ONE STATE SOLUTION WHERE EVERYONE, JEW AND PALESTINIAN HAS EQUAL RIGHTS IN A FREE PALESTINE FROM THE JORDAN RIVER TO THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. THE REFRAIN THAT ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE IS A RED HERRING. THE REAL QUESTION IS, DOES ISRAEL HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE FORCE TO MAINTAIN AN ILLEGAL OCCUPATION AND APARTHEID STATE THAT COMMITMENTS ETHNIC CLEANSING, GENOCIDE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST PALESTINES, THE CLEAR ANSWER IS NO. ISRAEL HAS NO RIGHT OF SELF-DEFENSE WHEN IT IS THE OPPRESSOR AND OCCUPIER WHILE PALESTINES DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO PHYSICALLY RESIST AND DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST THEIR OPPRESSOR AND OCCUPIER, ISRAELI APARTHEID REGENERAL. INTRODUCE THE RESOLUTION TO STAND WITH PALESTINES IN DEMANDING AN END TO SIEGE OF GAZA, CERTAINLY INCONSISTENT CEASE FIRE AND END OF AID TO ISRAEL. 100 U.S. LOCALITIES PASSED CEASE FIRE RESOLUTIONS INCLUDING CITIES IN FLORIDA. CEASE FIRE NOW, CEASE FIRE NOW AND CONDEMN -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, SIR. THE LAST PUBLIC SPEAKER IS BAKER ASHAW. >> GOOD MORNING, CAN YOU HEAR ME? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES, WE CAN. GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN. I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLD ALIKE. WHO VOICE THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF THE WAY THAT TAMPA PD ACTED ON USF DURING THE PROTESTS THAT WAS TAKING PLACE ON APRIL 29 AND 30th. IN FACT, I WENT THERE ON THE 30th JUST AS -- I WOULD SAY THE MILITARY FORCES THAT WERE THERE BETWEEN TAMPA PD, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, USF POLICE, THE STATE TROOPERS. AND I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE WAS THERE BECAUSE ALL OF THEM WERE IN RIOT GEAR READY FOR BATTLE AGAINST UNARMED STUDENTS WHO ARE PROTESTING WITH FREE SPEECH. AND WHEN THEY TEAR GASSED, THEY ENDANGER THE LIVES OF THE STUDENTS. ONE OF THE TREES ACTUALLY ON THAT MLK PLAZA CAUGHT FIRE. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF DISASTER THAT WOULD HAVE CREATED? IF PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY BURNED OR WORSE DIED. SO I URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION, LOOK INTO, INVESTIGATE, DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. FREE SPEECH IS OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT AND AS LONG AS WE'RE NONVIOLENT, WHICH WAS THE CASE IN THE PROTESTS THAT USF, THE STUDENTS AT USF WERE HOLDING, THEN WE SHOULD NOT BE TREATED THAT WAY. JUST REMEMBER, ONE MORE POINT THAT I WANT TO MENTION, ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE VOICING THEIR OPINIONS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING KILLED IN A GENOCIDE IN WAR CRIMES ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AND YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU CONTINUE ON THIS COURSE THAT YOU ARE IN, THESE PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER. IT'S NOT JUST FOR JOE BIDEN, GENOCIDE JOE AND HIS CABINET. IT'S GOING TO GO TO YOU GUYS. YOU WILL BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE IF YOU CONTINUE ON THAT COURSE. SO PLEASE CORRECT YOUR ACTIONS, BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY, NOT WITH THE GENOCIDAL STATE OF ISRAEL. ACTUALLY NOT ISRAEL, IT'S NOT REAL IS WHAT IT IS. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, SIR. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. PER AGENDA REVIEW, WE'LL MOVE DIRECTLY INTO THE ITEMS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. ITEMS 75 THROUGH ITEMS 79 WILL BE HEARD TOGETHER. I BELIEVE CHIEF BERCAW IS GOING TO LEAD US OFF. >>CHIEF BERCAW: GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I WAS GOING TO GIVE COUNCILMAN VIERA, IF YOU SO PLEASE, A CHANCE FOR THE UNION TO SPEAK FIRST, IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU. >>LUIS VIERA: SURE. >>CHIEF BERCAW: IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL GET OUR PowerPoint PRESENTATION UP READY TO GO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> BRANDON BARCLAY, PRESIDENT OF TAMPA PBA. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE MOTION FOR US TO BE HERE TODAY. I'LL KEEP IT REAL SHORT AND BRIEF. THE PBA HAS BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH STAFF AND CHIEF BERCAW. WE PRESENED WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE A FAIR AND EQUAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE BUDGET. THE CHIEF HAS COME UP WITH WHAT I THINK IS A PROPER BALANCE AND WE FULLY SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT HE'S GOING TO PRESENT TODAY. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, SIR. BEFORE YOU GO, CHIEF, SINCE WE HAD PBA HERE, I KNOW WE HAD GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL 754 FOR FIRE TO SPEAK AS WELL. BUT I UNDERSTAND HE'S NOT IN TOWN. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. ANYBODY FROM 754 HERE TODAY WITH US? >>LUIS VIERA: THIS IS ONLY FOR POLICE, AND THEN FIRE IS COMING AFTERWARDS. DONNY, WHO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I UNDERSTAND. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE SOMEBODY WAS HERE. GO AHEAD, CHIEF. >>CHIEF BERCAW: WE HAVE THE PowerPoint UP READY TO GO. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY WITH SEVERAL OF MY STAFF TO PRESENT OUR MASTER PLAN AND HOW WE CAN COMBAT VIOLENT CRIME IN THE CITY. WITH ME DEPUTY CHIEF JOHNSON, DEPUTY CHIEF RUTH KATE AND MAJOR ERIC DiFELICE. I'LL MOVE THE SLIDE. THE MISSION. STARTING OUT WITH OUR MISSION IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE BASE EVERYTHING WE DO ON OUR MISSION STATEMENT. OUR MISSION OF THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY TO REDUCE CRIME, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND MAKE TAMPA SAFER TOGETHER. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR GOAL IS NOT ONLY TO REDUCE CRIME BUT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. THOSE QUALITY-OF-LIFE CONCERNS ARE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE BROKEN WINDOWS THEORY. IT IS ADDRESSING THOSE SMALL ISSUES BEFORE THEY BECOME BIG ISSUES. OUR CORE VALUES ARE UP HERE IN THE ACRONYM OF SAFE. BASICALLY WHAT THAT IS TO SERVE, ADVOCATE FAIRNESS AND EXCELLENCE. AND WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR CORE VALUES. OF COURSE, EXCELLENCE IS PREMIER, THE TRAINING THAT WE RECEIVE COMPARED TO SOME OTHER AGENCIES IS ABOVE AND BEYOND. OUR DEPARTMENT PILLARS ON OUR NEXT PAGE. WE BASE OUR PHILOSOPHY ON FOUR MAIN PILLARS, WHICH IS CRIME REDUCTION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, QUALITY ASSURANCE AND WELLNESS. CRIME REDUCTION, THAT'S JUST BASED ON OUR MISSION STATEMENT THAT I JUST READ TO YOU. EVERYTHING THAT WE FOCUS IS ON REDUCING CRIME. THAT'S OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON OUR COMMUNITY TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY, THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE GREATEST RELATIONSHIPS IN THE NATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE ALWAYS CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THAT. AND THEN OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE, IT'S BASED ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRAINING. AND FINDING WAYS TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, OUR TRAINING AND TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A QUALITY ASSURANCE UNIT AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN I WAS A CAPTAIN OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, I SPEARHEADED THAT UNDER CHIEF CASTOR AT THE TIME TO DEVELOP THAT UNIT THEN. FINALLY WELLNESS. WELLNESS FOR OUR OFFICERS, OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND, OF COURSE, OUR COMMUNITY. IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES, HOW CAN WE TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY? AS YOU SEE, THERE ARE A LOT OF DEMANDS ON POLICING AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR STAFF. SO, OUR CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGY. IT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY. YOU CAN SEE HERE, HOW DO WE SUSTAIN AND IMPROVE UPON ONE OF THE LOWEST CRIME RATES FOR A MAJOR CITY OUR SIZE? WE CONTINUALLY EVALUATE THIS. WE EVALUATE THIS IN DAILY REPORTS, WEEKLY REPORTS, MONTHLY REPORTS AND, OF COURSE, ANNUAL REPORTS. WE'RE VERY FLUID IN HOW WE ADDRESS AND MOVE OUR DEPLOYMENT. SO WE FOCUS ON ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS REGARDING ILLEGALLY POSSESSED FIREARMS. LAST YEAR, WE RECOVERED OVER 2,000 FIREARMS OFF THE STREET. THAT'S PROGRESSIVE, PROACTIVE WORK FROM OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. WE ACTIVELY PURSUE ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING. SOME OF THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, THERE WAS TECHNOLOGY AND THINGS WE WANTED TO GET THAT WE COULDN'T GET IN THE CITY BUDGET BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS IN ADDITION TO GRANTS TO ASSIST US. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL AVENUES TO GET THAT FUNDING. WE UTILIZE FOCUSED DETERRENT STRATEGIES THAT INCORPORATE COLLABORATION AND TRUST. YOU GUYS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR CDI GRANT, THE $1.5 MILLION GRANT THAT IS NOW IN PHASE TWO. AND THAT IS A VERY PROACTIVE MEASURE OF GETTING IN THE COMMUNITY AND ADDRESSING THE YOUTH AND TRYING TO PREVENT CRIME FROM OCCURRING IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND THEN OUR CRIME GUN INTELLIGENCE CENTER. WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO HAVE A CRIME GUN INTELLIGENCE CENTER IN OUR OWN NIBN UNIT. WE PRIDE OURSELVES GETTING INTELLIGENCE QUICKLY IN LINKING CRIMES FAST TO PREVENT FUTURE CRIMES FROM OCCURRING. OUR CRIME STATISTICS WHICH WE PUBLISHED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT EARLIER THIS YEAR, TOTAL CRIME DOWN NEARLY 7%. OUR VIOLENT CRIME DOWN JUST OVER 8%. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU KIND OF A RELATION OF WHERE THAT STANDS BASED ON THE MAJOR CITY CHIEF REPORT, THE 70 MAJOR CITIES IN THE U.S. PLUS THE MAJOR CITIES IN CANADA, THE AVERAGE REDUCTION IN TOTAL VIOLENT CRIME BASED ON THAT REPORT WAS JUST OVER 2.5%. HOPE YOU'LL GIVE ME MORE TIME BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT MORE SLIDES. HOW MUCH MORE TIME YOU'LL NEED AFTER THE PRESENTATION. >>CHIEF BERCAW: VIOLENT CRIME WITH A FIREARM LAST YEAR WAS DOWN A LITTLE OVER 17%. CRIME STATISTICS IN ADDITION, HOMICIDES, WE WERE DOWN 13% LAST YEAR. OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE OFF TO A ROUGH START THIS YEAR, BUT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON REDUCING VIOLENT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, PREVENTING CRIME FROM OCCURRING IN THE FIRST PLACE. AGAIN, I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE FIREARMS, BUT WHAT'S NOT ON THIS SLIDE IS HOW WE CAN ALL DO OUR PART IN KEEPING VIOLENT -- GUNS FROM GETTING INTO THE HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE IT. I MENTIONED IT BEFORE. WE HAD ROUGHLY 200 FIREARMS THAT WERE STOLEN LAST YEAR FROM UNLOCKED CARS, AND THOSE ARE GETTING INTO THE WRONG HANDS. SO WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING A MAJOR EDUCATION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON THAT TO REDUCE THOSE CRIMES FROM OCCURRING IN THE FIRST PLACE. IN JANUARY OF 2022, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AUTHORED THIS REPORT, THIS VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION ROAD MAP. AND ON THIS REPORT, IT WAS BASICALLY BASED IN 2020 THE NATION SAW, THIS IS A NATION AT WHOLE, SAW 30% RISE IN MURDERS. THIS SPIKE IS DRIVEN PREDOMINANTLY BY GUN VIOLENCE ACROSS THE ENTIRE NATION. THIS IS CLAIMING LIVES. IT'S CHANGING THE COURSE OF EVERYBODY OUT THERE. AS WE'VE SEEN LOCALLY. WE CANNOT LET THIS TEAR DOWN OUR COMMUNITY AND KEEP US ALL FROM WORKING TOGETHER. IT WAS SAID IN PUBLIC COMMENTS TOGETHER, YOU CAN'T LET ONE INCIDENT GO. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER AND MOVING FORWARD AND FINDING WAYS TO REDUCE CRIME. THIS REPORT HIGHLIGHTED TEN ESSENTIAL ACTIONS THAT CITIES CAN TAKE TO REDUCE CRIME AND ESPECIALLY GUN CRIME. I'LL GO THROUGH THEM BRIEFLY WITH YOU. I'M THINKING PROBABLY ANOTHER, FOR THE WHOLE PRESENTATION, TEN MINUTES, IF THAT'S OKAY. NUMBER ONE, COMMIT TO SAVING LIVES BY STOPPING VIOLENCE. IF YOU WERE TO ASK ANY POLICE OFFICER WHAT IS THEIR PRIMARY MISSION, IT IS TO HELP PEOPLE BE SAFE AND TO PREVENT SOMEBODY FROM LOSING THEIR LIFE. I MENTIONED IT IN THE TOWN HALL LAST NIGHT WHEN POLICE OFFICERS RESPOND TO A SHOOTING AND THEY ARE GIVING LIFESAVING MEASURES, LITERALLY RIGHT AFTER GUNFIRE HAPPENED AND THEY ARE TRYING TO SAVE SOMEBODY'S LIFE, THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THEIR HEAD AND THINKING, OKAY, CAN I SAVE THIS PERSON'S LIFE? APPLY A TOURNIQUET, DO CPR? THEN AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE THINKING IS THERE ANY WAY OR ANYTHING THAT I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE STRIVE. IT'S IN OUR DNA. IT'S WHAT WE SIGN UP TO DO. OFFICERS, I DID SAY THIS AT THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, OFFICERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY WILL GIVE THEIR OWN LIFE TO SAVE SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE. WE'VE HAD 32 OFFICERS AT THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT JUST DONE THAT AND YESTERDAY WAS A NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL DAY FOR THE ENTIRE NATION, AND THEY DO IT ACROSS THE NATION. IT'S NOT ANY DIFFERENT HERE. WE IDENTIFY, NUMBER TWO, KEY PEOPLE IN KEY PLACES. I TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. WE DO THIS DAILY. WE DO IT WEEKLY. WE DO IT MONTHLY, AND WE DO IT YEARLY. WE HAVE AN OFFENDER BASED PROGRAM AND WE HAVE PLACE-BASED PROGRAMS AND WE ACTIVELY DO THAT. NUMBER THREE, PLAN FOR ENGAGING PEOPLE IN PLACES. COMMUNITY POLICING. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE REVITALIZED. OBVIOUSLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, THAT TOOK A SIDE STEP. THERE'S NOTHING MORE THAT WE'RE DOING MORE BUT INGRAINING COMMUNITY POLICING, FOCUSED DETERRENCE, YOUTH PROGRAMS. DEPUTY CHIEF JOHNSON WILL SPEAK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT. NUMBER FOUR, ENGAGING PEOPLE WITH EMPATHY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AGAIN, THAT IS WHAT WE DO. AND THAT'S WHAT THE OFFICERS, SEIZE EVERY MOMENT. COMMUNITY POLICING ISN'T NECESSARILY JUST PLAYING A BASKETBALL WITH KIDS. IT'S HOW WE INTERACT ON A DAILY CALL FOR SERVICE. NUMBER 5, ADDRESSING KEY LOCATIONS USING PLACE BASED POLICING AND INVESTMENTS. WE DO THIS WITH PROBLEM ORIENTED APPROACHES. WE DO THIS WITH THEMATIC MAPS, HOT SPOT POLICING. WE DO GRANTS THAT HELP US OUT WITH THIS. WE HAVE THE JAG GRANT. SO THERE'S JUST A PLETHORA OF THINGS THAT WE DO WITH NUMBER FIVE. NUMBER SIX, PLACE RESPONSIBILITY FOR VIOLENCE REDUCTION AT THE TOP. OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S ME. IN ADDITION TO THAT, ALL OF OUR COMMANDERS. WE MEET TWICE A WEEK IN AN EXECUTIVE STAFF MEETING. THE FIRST THING WE TALK ABOUT IS CRIME AND LAST THING WE TALK ABOUT. WEEKLY MEETINGS IN EACH DISTRICT TO TALK ABOUT CRIME AND WEEKLY INTELLIGENCE VIOLENT CRIME MEETINGS. EVERY ONE OF THE MEETINGS, CAPTAIN OVER THE AREA, SECTOR COMMANDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING EVERYTHING AND ANSWERING TO THOSE QUESTIONS. NUMBER 7, EMPHASIZE HEALING WITH TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES. LAST YEAR, IF YOU RECALL, WE ADDED A VICTIM ADVOCATE, AND WE HAVE A SLIDE LATER THAT WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OF HER EFFORTS THAT SHE'S MADE IN HER FIRST YEAR. NUMBER EIGHT, INVEST IN ANTIVIOLENCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. INVESTING IN A STRONG HEALTHY WORKFORCE. YOU MAY RECALL WE HAD CHARLENE BAKER UP HERE. CHARNELE BAKER, SHIELDING OUR TEAMS, A PROGRAM THAT DOES EXACTLY THAT. IN FACT, THAT PROGRAM HAS BECOME SO POPULAR THAT OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE NATION ARE EMULATING THAT PROGRAM. NUMBER NINE, SET ASIDE FUNDING FOR NEW STAKEHOLDERS AND STRATEGIES. THAT'S SOMETHING I MENTIONED BEFORE WITH THE CVI GRANT AND OTHER GRANTS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE IN ADDITION TO US RECEIVING FUNDING, WE'RE ALSO PUTTING FUNDING BACK IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WITH OUR CARES GRANT. SO WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE ASSISTING US TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES FOR THEM. NUMBER 10, COMMIT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT BASED ON DATA, EVIDENCE, AND PEER TO PEER LEARNING. THAT PEER TO PEER LEARNING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. WE HAD PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE JUST LAST MONTH DOING PEER TO PEER, AND WE'VE HAD OTHER DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PEER TO PEER EXCHANGE PROGRAMS. TYPICALLY THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GET IN THOSE PEER TO PEER MEETINGS, THE AGENCIES THAT ARE JEALOUS OF THE ONE THING THEY CAN'T TAKE BACK WITH THEM AND IT IS OUR RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE METHODS ON REDUCING PROPERTY CRIME IN ADDITION TO VIOLENT CRIME. IT'S PUBLIC OUTREACH. PUBLIC OUTREACH ON THE AUTO BURGLARIES. IF WE CAN GET SOMEBODY TO THINK TWICE, DID I LOCK MY DOOR, DID I TAKE MY GUN OUT OF MY CAR, THEN WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING OUR MISSION. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. I'M HOLDING MY COMMANDERS ACCOUNTABLE OF CREATING NEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES OR REVITALIZING NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES. IN FACT, JUST IN OUR TOWN HALLS THIS WEEK, WE HAD TWO RESIDENTS ASKING TO BE INVOLVED IN NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES. SO THAT MESSAGE IS GETTING OUT AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING INVOLVED. AND ENSURE THAT OUR CRIMES ARE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE FOLLOW UP NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE CRIME IS, WHETHER IT IS A BURGLARY OR A SHOOTING, OUR DETECTIVES ARE WORKING THOSE RELENTLESSLY WITH A HUGE SENSE OF URGENCY. ON THE NEXT ONE, INITIATIVES, LOCKING YOUR DOORS, WE TALKED ABOUT IT, PROJECT LOCK AND UNLOADED, THAT IS US GIVING OUT FREE GUNLOCKS TO THE COMMUNITY, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. WE'VE DONE IT ALL THREE OF OUR DISTRICTS AND JUST THIS WEEK WE'VE ADDED ON FOUR MORE LIBRARY LOCATIONS IN THE CITY. WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO GET PEOPLE FREE GUNLOCKS SO WE CAN HAVE MORE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS. THE NEXT ONE HERE IS INCREASING OUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUP. SO WE HAVE THREE NEW COORDINATORS. WE HOSTED TOWN HALL MEETINGS TO BRING IN THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN MEET THE COORDINATORS AND HAVE THAT OPEN HOUSE WITH EACH OF THEM. THE NEXT ONE IS QUALITY ASSURANCE. WE TALKED ABOUT HIRING THE VICTIM ADVOCATE. HERE IS THE ADDITIONAL DETAILS. OUR VICTIM'S ADVOCATE HAS ASSISTED NEARLY 180 VICTIMS AND FAMILY AND PROVIDED EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, REFERRAL TO COUNSELING, AND EVEN ASSISTANCE WITH COMPENSATION PROGRAMS. SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE STARTED IN THE FALL OF LAST YEAR. AND THIS IS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY POLICING AND GETTING MORE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE DID THIS COMMUNITY SURVEY WHERE IT SENDS A TEXT MESSAGE TO INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVE CALLS FOR SERVICE. AND IN RESPONSE TO THOSE TEXT MESSAGES, WE'VE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE. AND IN THE FIRST ONE HERE, THIS IS OVERALL OFFICER SATISFACTION. AND YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT 89% WERE EITHER SATISFIED OR VERY SATISFIED WITH THE OVERALL OFFICER SATISFACTION. AND, IN FACT, WE'VE OPENED IT UP WHERE PEOPLE CAN WRITE COMMENTS, AND ONE OF THE QUOTES, MANY, MANY OF THE QUOTES, THE OVERWHELMING ARE POSITIVE AND THE ONE I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, THIS OFFICER WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL AND HELPFUL. THE NEXT ONE OVER THERE IS OVERALL DEPARTMENT SATISFACTION. 88% WERE EITHER SATISFIED OR VERY SATISFIED. OBVIOUSLY THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY WERE VERY SATISFIED. AGAIN, THE RESPONSE HERE FOR A QUOTE, RESPONSE AND ACTIONS OF TPD WERE OUTSTANDING. NOW, THE COMPANY THAT DOES THIS SURVEY IS THROUGH VERSA TERM, OUR SAME RECORDS MANAGEMENT. WHEN WE STARTED THIS UP, I SEOUL RECEIVED COMMENTS FROM THEM SAYING THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THE OVERWHELMING POSITIVE FEEDBACK THEY WERE GETTING. ANECDOTALLY HE WAS GIVING ME THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE GETTING GREAT RESULTS COMPARED TO THE OTHER AGENCIES. NEXT ONE, STAFFING AND RECRUITMENT. VERY IMPORTANT. WE'RE GROWING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT JUST LIKE THE CITY IS GROWING. WE WANT TO RAISE THE NUMBER OF SPONSORED ACADEMIES, WHICH WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE LAST BUDGET YEAR. YOU ALL APPROVED THAT. SO THANK YOU. WE EVALUATE ALL OF OUR POSITIONS EVERY YEAR, BOTH OUR POLICE AND OUR PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS. WE HAVE AN ANNUAL STAFFING ANALYSIS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND WE PURSUE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. IF YOU RECALL LAST YEAR, WE RECEIVED A GRANT FOR 30 ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS ASSISTING US AND WE ARE FILLING THOSE POSITIONS THIS YEAR. WE'RE ALSO EXPANDING OUR RESERVE PROGRAM, WHICH IS A HUGE HELP FOR THE OFFICER ON THE STREETS BECAUSE THEY CAN WORK SOME OF THE PARADES AND OTHER EVENTS. THUS LESS OF A DRAW FROM THE OFFICERS WORKING FULL-TIME. SO IN OUR STAFFING CONSIDERATIONS, AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE TAKE A MULTITUDE OF THINGS IN CONSIDERATION. AND THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS THAT. IT'S NOT JUST THE POPULATION OF THE CITY. SURE, THAT IS A FACTOR THAT WE LOOK AT, BUT WE ADD IN TECHNOLOGY. WE ALL KNOW THAT TECHNOLOGY IS EVOLVING FAST, ESPECIALLY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE'VE SEEN BODY-WORN CAMERAS, WE'VE SEEN OTHER TECHNOLOGY. TRAINING, THE AMOUNT OF TRAINING THAT POLICE OFFICERS RECEIVE NOW FROM WHEN I STARTED IS BEYOND FATHOMABLE. SPECIAL EVENTS, OUR CITY HAS A TON OF SPECIAL EVENTS. THE RATIO, AVERAGE RATIO FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IS 2.4 OFFICERS PER ONE THOUSAND. THEN WE HAVE THE REAL POPULATION. WHAT IS THE REAL POPULATION? INFLUX OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN FOR AN EVENT OR COME IN DURING THE DAY FOR WHATEVER FUNCTION THAT IS. CALLS FOR SERVICE, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY JUST THE NUMBER OF CALLS, BUT IT'S THE TIME WE HAVE TO SPEND ON CALLS. THE TIME WE'RE SPENDING INVESTIGATING AND SOMETHING AS SIMPLE, YOU KNOW THE NUMBER OF CAMERAS THAT ARE OUT, GETTING THOSE CAMERAS AND GETTING THE FOOTAGETAKES TIME AND MANPOWER TO DO AND KNOCKING ON DOORS AND THEN ACTUALLY RECOVERING IT AND GETTING IT IN EVIDENCE. IT TAKES MUCH LONGER THAN IT DOES WHEN AN OFFICER WAS 20, 30 YEARS AGO ON THE STREET. ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE OTHER ASSIGNMENTS WE DIDN'T HAVE DECADES AGO. BEHAVIORAL YOUTH UNIT, SRO PROGRAM IS MUCH MORE STRINGENT THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. SRO CALLS IN, WE HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER OFFICER AT THE SCHOOL. COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AGAIN, WE'RE ENHANCING THAT AS WELL. SO, RECRUITMENT, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE DO THAT. BUT I WANT TO ADD SOMETHING. IF I COULD THROW A SLIDE UP HERE ON RECRUITMENT, AND YOU GUYS COULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM DOES STUDIES FOR AGENCIES. AND WHAT THIS SHOWS IS THE PERCENT OF CHANGE IN STAFFING. AND YOU CAN SEE AFTER 2020 A DECLINE IN STAFFING NATIONWIDE. AND THEY HAVE BROKEN IT DOWN BETWEEN SMALL AGENCIES, MEDIUM AGENCIES, AND LARGE AGENCIES. YOU CAN SEE AFTER 2022, SMALL AND MEDIUM AGENCIES START TO INCREASE BUT LARGE AGENCY STAFFING HAS NOT INCREASED. FORTUNATELY IN TAMPA, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE RESULTS OF MANY OF THE LARGE CITIES. IN FLORIDA, TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A DESIRABLE PLACE TO WORK, BUT THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HAS DWINDLED. WE'RE STILL RECEIVING APPLICATIONS. WHAT THIS IS HIGHLIGHTING IS POLICE WORK IN A LARGE CITY IS DIFFERENT THAN IT IS IN A SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED CITY. I WAS AT THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS MEETING LAST WEEK AND ALL THE MAYORS TOGETHER WERE COLLECTIVELY COMING UP WITH STRATEGIES TO RECRUIT AND APPRECIATE OFFICERS WORKING IN LARGE CITIES. THAT'S A NATIONWIDE TREND. WHILE NOT EXPERIENCED AT THE LEVEL HERE IN TAMPA OF OTHER CITIES, WE ARE FEELING SOME OF IT. SO TO DO THAT, WE HAVE CREATED A NEW RECRUITMENT VIDEO THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PUSHED OUT. WE'RE ADVERTISING. WE'RE ALREADY GETTING COMMENTS OUTSIDE OF THE STATE ON THIS VIDEO, SO I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND PLAY IT REALLY QUICK. >> THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, A PREMIER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND HOME TO ONE OF FLORIDA'S MOST VIBRANT AND DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES AND FLEXIBILITY FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE. OFFER TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE PREPARED AND EQUIPPED WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. >> THE MISSION OF THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO REDUCE CRIME, IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND TO MAKE TAMPA SAFER TOGETHER. >> HEART OF OUR MISSION IS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY. JOINING THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT MEANS SERVING AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. JOIN US IN MAKING OUR CITY SAFER TOGETHER. YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE. >>CHIEF BERCAW: WE'RE ALREADY GETTING GREAT FEEDBACK ON THAT VIDEO. OUR HOPE IS REACHING PEOPLE THAT AREN'T EVEN CONSIDERING LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD LOOK AT THAT AND MAYBE CONSIDER IT. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND BENEFITS OF WORKING AT A LARGE DEPARTMENT IS THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS THAT YOU COULD GO INTO. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TRADITIONAL POLICE WORK. IT COULD BE IN REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER, COMMUNITY POLICING, LATENT INVESTIGATION, REGULAR PATROL, MARINE PATROL, AIR SERVICE. SO THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AVAILABLE FOR NEW RECRUITS. I'LL GO BACK TO THE POWERPOINT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE DOING AT HBCUs, WE HAVE HISPANIC OUTREACH, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL MINORITY GROUPS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, EXPANDING OUR PROMOTION OF OUR 30 BY 30 INITIATIVE. AND WE DO HAVE RECRUITERS THAT GO OUT TO FEMALE SPORTS AT UT AND USF. OF COURSE, SOCIAL MEDIA TARGETING. WE FOUND ON THE FIRST SOCIAL MEDIA TARGET THAT 10% OF THE VIEWS WERE COMING FROM FEMALES. SO WE'RE REDIRECTING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO TRY TO GET MORE. HERE IS KIND OF AN OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE. THIS IS AGAIN BASED ON HOW THE CITY GROWS. AND THIS IS BASED ON ALL THE OTHER FACTORS THAT WE CONSIDER. THIS NUMBER COULD CHANGE, BUT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ADDING THE 30 OFFICERS. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY I'M ADDING 30 OFFICERS LIKE THAT. IF WE'RE HIRING OFFICERS WITH NO EXPERIENCE AND PUTTING THEM THROUGH THE POLICE ACADEMY, IT'S ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE WE SEE THEM ON THE STREET. SO IT TAKES TIME. IF WE HIRE SOMEBODY WITH EXPERIENCE, THEN IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS, MAYBE A YEAR OR MAYBE SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS DEPENDING ON THEIR EXPERIENCE. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU PLAN AHEAD FOR IN THE FUTURE. GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT MAKING THE REQUEST FOR THE BUDGET OF ADDING TEN ADDITIONAL OFFICER SLOTS. WE FEEL BY OUR HIRING STANDARDS IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A YEAR, TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR TO WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY FILL THOSE POSITIONS BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST FILLING THE 30 AND NOT JUST FILLING 10 MORE, IT'S ALSO FILLING PLANNED AND UNPLANNED VACANCIES. OUR OUTLOOK FOR NEXT YEAR IS TO COME IN AND REQUEST 10 ADDITIONAL SLOTS WHICH WOULD INCREASE OUR TOTAL AUTHORIZED STRENGTH TO 1,024, WHICH WOULD KEEP THE RATIO AT 2.4 BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY BE IN LINE WITH ALL THE OTHER FACTORS CONSIDERED IN STAFFING. I'M GOING TO BRING UP DEPUTY CHIEF JOHNSON TO TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND WHEN HE'S FINISHED, ANY ONE OF US UP HERE WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING. AS YOU CAN SEE -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I KNOW HE SAID YOUR NAME, BUT COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME? >> CALVIN JOHNSON, DEPUTY CHIEF TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CHIEF HIGHLIGHTED EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AS FAR AS CRIME AND WHAT OUR OFFICERS DO ON A DAILY BASIS. ONE THING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WE'RE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. EVERY OFFICER THAT YOU SEE HAS A FAMILY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY OF TAMPA IS SAFE SO THEY CAN RAISE THEIR CHILDREN ALSO. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR MISSION ON TOP OF REDUCING CRIME AND INVESTIGATING CASES. SO FAR WE TRY TO REACH OUT TO EVERYBODY, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS EXPANDING THE YOUTH PROGRAM THAT YOU SEE UP HERE, OUR POWER PROGRAM. ONCE WE GOT THAT BACK FROM PARKS AND REC, WE STILL PARTNERED WITH THEM. WE SERVICE ALMOST 4,000 KIDS A YEAR WITH PARKS AND REC AND THE PROGRAMS AT PAL MAKING SURE THE KIDS HAVE AN OUTLET TO GO TO WHEN AT HOME. THE RICH HOUSES HAVE OFFICERS THAT STAFF THEM. ROBLES PARK AND SULPHUR SPRINGS. WHEN KIDS GET OUT OF SCHOOL AND GO HOME, SOME KIDS HAVE NOBODY AT HOME BECAUSE THE PARENTS HAVE TO WORK. THE KIDS GO TO THE RICH HOUSES. WE WORK WITH THEM ON STUDYING, HOMEWORK AND ACTIVITIES. WE TALK WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO BE BETTER KIDS AT HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS. MANY ASPECTS THAT GO INTO THAT. FIELD TRIPS DURING THE SUMMER. WE REALLY EMBRACE THAT PROGRAM. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEM KIDS HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO OTHER YOUTH INITIATIVES, THIS PROGRAM RIGHT HERE, THE SPORTS PROGRAM, WE WORK WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS. WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT GO TO THE SCHOOLS AND TALK WITH THEIR SPORTS TEAMS, THE BASKETBALL TEAMS, THE BASEBALL TEAMS, FOOTBALL TEAMS AT THE END OF THE SEASON. THEY TALK ABOUT LIFE SKILLS. THEY TALK ABOUT BEHAVIOR. THEY TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL. THEY TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT BEING INVOLVED IN GANGS. THEY HAVE THESE REAL DISCUSSIONS, A LOT OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, THEY ALSO PLAY SPORTS. THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH IN THEIR LIVES ON HOW TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND NOT BEING THE VICTIM OF PEER PRESSURE TO GET YOU INTO BAD THINGS THAT HURT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. THE OFFICERS WE HAVE DOING THIS, THEY COME FROM THE DISTRICTS. THEY COME FROM THE STREETS. THEY COME FROM CALLS. THEY TAKE THE TIME OUT AND REACH OUT TO THE KIDS MAKING SURE THEY GET EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE. WE ALSO HAVE A SHOE CLOSET. A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS, THEY GIVE FROM THEIR OWN BANK ACCOUNTS, FROM THEIR OWN POCKETS. WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM RIGHT HERE BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE FAMILIES OUT HERE WITH THESE KIDS, THEY CAN'T AFFORD THINGS THAT OTHER KIDS GET AT TIMES. THEY REACH INTO THEIR OWN POCKETS AND WE HAVE THREE SHOE CLOSETS. WE RAISE SHOES. WE COLLECTED SHOES SO WHEN POLICE OFFICERS ARE OUT THERE ON THE STREET AND THEY SEE A KID THAT MAY NEED SOME NEW SHOES OR TALK TO A MOTHER OR A FATHER AND THEY MAY NEED SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, WE'RE ABLE TO GO HERE AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SHOES THAT THEY MAY NEED AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME. THIS COUNCIL RIGHT HERE IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE FIND THAT A LOT OF KIDS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND POLICING. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS AND WHY WE DO IT. WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM IN JANUARY. IT LASTS FOR FIVE MONTHS. AND THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE KIDS THAT COME AND MEET AT TPD. THEY SIT DOWN IN OUR STAFF ROOM. WE DISCUSS ALL CRIME, VIOLENT CRIME, EVERYTHING WE DO AS AN AGENCY. WHAT WE DID HERE IS THESE KIDS, THEY VOLUNTEER FOR THE PROGRAM. THIS IS AFTER-SCHOOL. THIS IS AT NIGHTTIME BETWEEN 6 AND 8. THEY COME HERE. THEY LEARN ABOUT POLICING AND GO ON FIELD TRIPS TO OUR TRAINING. THEY GO TO TACTICAL RESPONSE AND SEE OUR TOOLS OUT THERE. THEY GO TO COMMUNICATION, SEE HOW WE HANDLE 911 CALLS. WHAT THEY ALSO DID WAS THEY GAVE US INSIGHT ON HOW THE YOUTH THINK. WE ASKED THEM TOUGH QUESTIONS ON WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH AND HOW WE CAN BE BETTER SERVANTS TO GET THEM THROUGH THIS PART OF THEIR LIFE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AFTER THIS PROGRAM RIGHT HERE, WE HAVE A YOUTH ACADEMY. THE YOUTH ACADEMY GOES ON DURING THE SUMMERTIME. WE GO TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF TAMPA. WE RECRUIT KIDS TO SPEND A WEEK IN OUR TRAINING PROGRAM, AND THEY SEE EVERYTHING FROM MARINE PATROL TO HELICOPTERS. THEY GO ON OUR TEST OF PHYSICAL FITNESS. THEY TEAM UP AND DO IT AND SHOW THAT PARTNERSHIP, BUT THEY LEARN NOT JUST WHAT THE POLICE DO ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT THEY LEARN THE STRESSORS THAT POLICE OFFICERS GO THROUGH DOING THAT JOB ON A DAILY BASIS. A LOT OF TIMES KIDS START THAT FIRST DAY IN THE PROGRAM. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO, AND THEY ARE NOT HAPPY BEING THERE THAT FIRST DAY. THAT LAST DAY, YOU SEE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CHILD ONCE THEY SEE WHAT THE POLICE DO, HOW WE ENCOURAGE THEM AND HOW WE HAVE LOVE FOR THEIR SUCCESS IN LIFE. AND YOU SHOULD SEE THAT FIRST DAY AND THE LAST DAY ON HOW WE CHANGE THE KIDS' PERSPECTIVE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. UPCOMING INITIATIVES, I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN CHIEF BERCAW TOOK OVER AS CHIEF, THEIR FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ON HOW WE CAN REACH THE FAMILY TO ME IS SECOND TO NONE. BETWEEN THE CVI GRANT WHICH REACHES OUR YOUTH WHO ARE BEING INVOLVED IN VIOLENT CRIME AND NOT JUST TRYING TO DEAL WITH THAT AS JUST A POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE WORK WITH A LOT OF NONPROFITS OUT THERE. WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STEP UP BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE GROUND FLOOR WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO HOW TO REACH FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE CAN'T GET INTO EVERY HOUSE AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. NONPROFITS CAN AND THEY DO ALL THE TIME. THAT PARTNERSHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT IN REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME. THE JUSTICE GRANTS THAT WE GET, WE ENCOURAGE THEM AND WE WORK WITH THEM ON HOW THEY CAN GET THEIR OWN GRANTS. WE KNOW THAT EVERYBODY WHO IS TRYING TO GET A PART OF THE BUDGET, BUT THERE ARE MORE FUNDS OUT THERE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO HELP OUT OUR CITY, OUR NONPROFITS, TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE THAT. A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT BACKGROUND, SO WE WORK WITH THEM. TPD CARES GRANT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE HURTING LOCALLY. I WENT TO WEST TAMPA LITTLE LEAGUE OVER THE WEEKEND. THEY HAD THE END-OF-THE-YEAR CEREMONY. NEED HELP WITH THE BASEBALL FIELDS. INTERBAY BASEBALL FIELD LAST YEAR, SAME THING. ALL THESE NONPROFITS OUT HERE LOCALLY, THEY NEED THAT HELP. OUR POLICE CHIEF INCREASED THAT AMOUNT TO HELP THEM OUT. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE'S NOT JUST HERE SAYING THAT VIOLENT CRIME NEEDS TO BE REDUCED WITHOUT PUTTING MONEY WHERE THE MOUTH IS. I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR OFFICERS, THEY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND EVERY DAY, NOT JUST RUNNING INTO GUNFIRE, BUT HELPING THE YOUTH ON A DAILY BASIS THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE TEN YEARS FROM NOW. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, SIR. >>CHIEF BERCAW: JUST CONCLUDE WITH, I THINK SAID IT REALLY WELL, IS WE ALL TRULY CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK IT WAS TUESDAY NIGHT IN OUR TOWN HALL IN EAST TAMPA, COMMUNITY MEMBER CAME UP AND ACTUALLY SAID THAT SHE WAS FROM ANOTHER CITY OUTSIDE THE STATE. AND SHE COMPARED WHERE SHE WAS TO WHERE SHE IS NOW. AND THE LEVEL OF SERVICE AND THE INDIVIDUAL UNIQUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE PROVIDE. AND IT WAS HEARTWARMING TO HEAR, BECAUSE IT IS A GOAL AND ASPIRATION FOR US TO DO. AND THE REWARD THAT WE GET FROM THE COMMUNITY IS REWARDING. CHANGING PEOPLE'S LIVES IS WHY WE'RE ALL HERE. ANY ONE OF US CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS, I'LL HAND IT TO A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT 11:30. WE HAVE 19 MINUTES. STILL HAVE TO HEAR FROM TAMPA FIRE RESCUE. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION. THAT VIDEO ESPECIALLY WAS WONDERFUL. WHEN I THINK OF THE PEOPLE AND TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, I THINK OF THE SPIRIT THAT WE'VE SEEN TODAY. IT IS A SPIRIT OF PASSION OF NOT JUST SEEKING JUSTICE AGAINST EVILDOERS AND WRONGDOERS BUT ALSO PREVENTING CRIME. WE HEARD ABOUT THAT. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF TPD ARE SUCH A BENEFIT AND A BLESSING TO OUR COMMUNITY. I SAW ON THE VIDEO, A FRIEND OF MINE WHO I LOVE A LOT, SHARIF, HE IS A GOOD GUY. WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT A YOUNG COP IS, THAT'S SHARIF, A YOUNG GUY WITH A FAMILY WHO IS IDEALISTIC, HAS BIG HEART AND WILL DO WHAT HE HAS TO DO. THE STRESSORS THAT POLICE OFFICERS GO THROUGH, YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT. I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT A FEW DAYS AGO. I WAS IN TEXAS ON LEGAL STUFF. WHEN YOU'RE AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING A BIG COMPANY,% THERE'S STRESS. YOU WANT TO WIN, DO THIS. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE AN OFFICER AND SOMEBODY COMES TO YOU AND SAYS I WAS RAPED. SOMEBODY MURDERED MY SON OR DAUGHTER, ET CETERA. AND THAT'S ON YOU. SAME THING GOES FOR THE PROSECUTOR, TOO, BY THE WAY. THAT'S TREMENDOUS STRESS. WE KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN A VERY, VERY TOUGH TIME TO BE A COP. IT HAS BEEN. THAT'S A FACT. IT'S ALWAYS TOUGH TO BE A COP, BUT ESPECIALLY THE LAST FEW YEARS. YOU DEALT WITH COVID. DEALT WITH CIVIL UNREST. DEALT WITH A LOT OF POLITICAL ATTACKS THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY, ET CETERA. PEOPLE WHO, IN MY OPINION, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY HAD TRIED TO MAKE POLICE OFFICERS FEEL ASHAMED FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. MY MESSAGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HAVE PRIDE IN BEING A COP. YOU GOT TO BE PROUD TO BE A COP, AND I THINK THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF TAMPEÑOS AND AMERICANS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM AGREE WITH THAT. I WAS GLAD TO HEAR, CHIEF, YOU MENTIONED BROKEN WILLIAMS, JAMES Q. WILSON. I TELL PEOPLE TAMPA IS NOT PORTLAND. I WAS IN PORTLAND TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO FOR A TRIP I TOOK WITH MY SON. WE ST STAYED IN PORTLAND. THE THINGS THAT DISTINGUISH TAMPA FROM CITIES LIKE PORTLAND, WE RECOGNIZE THE EFFECT OF VIOLENT CRIME THAT IT HAS ON NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY BUT ON MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AS I'LL TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS THAT ZIP CODE. PEOPLE THINK THAT BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN HUNTER'S GREEN OR TAMPA PALMS, BAYSHORE, WHEREVER IT MAY BE, VIOLENT CRIME THAT HAPPENS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM. IT SURE AS HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM. IT IS EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM BECAUSE WE ARE ONE CITY AND ONE COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. I ALWAYS SAY THAT WE'VE GOT TO BE TOUGH ON VIOLENT CRIME BUT ALSO TOUGH ON THE CAUSES OF VIOLENT CRIME. THAT INCLUDES, AS YOU SAID, HIRING MORE POLICE OFFICERS. I WAS GLA TO HEAR THAT THAT'S PART OF IT. WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT LONG-TERM FUNDING SOURCES. I KNOW WE HAVE STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS. I KNOW WITH CONGRESS WOMAN LEE, CASTOR COLLINS ALVAREZ AMONG OTHERS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IN TRYING TO GET GRANTS, ET CETERA. REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, THAT'S WONDERFUL. WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT LOCAL REVENUE SOURCES. TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IMPACT FEES MOSTLY FOR TAMPA FIRE. THAT'S NOT GOING TO DO THE WORK. THAT IS HALF A CHICKEN McNUGGET AND WE NEED SIX McRIBS. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT MORE ROBUST, LONG-TERM REVENUE SOURCES. I PROPOSED LAST YEAR A TINY MILLAGE INCREASE, .3 TO BE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. WE NEED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION LONG TERM. THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY POLICING. SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT CONTINUES TO BE PUSHED ESPECIALLY POST COVID. THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT THAT WE'RE GETTING EXPANSION ON FUNDING ON AND TALKING ABOUT BEING TOUGH ON THE CAUSES OF VIOLENT CRIME, YOUTH PROGRAMS, RETURNING CITIZENS, SOMETHING THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN INCREASING ITS PRESENCE ON EVERY YEAR, THREE-QUARTER OF A MILLION AMERICANS LEAVE THE PRISON SYSTEM, TWO-THIRDS REOFFEND. THAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE WHENEVER IT COMES TO CRIME. TALKING ABOUT VICTIMS OF CRIMES WITH ASSISTANCE. BIG, BIG ISSUE. FRIENDS AND GROUPS LIKE RISE UP FOR PEACE AND MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME GET THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED. I RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO MR. MICHAEL BALDWIN WHO YOU GUYS KNOW VERY, VERY WELL, THE GRANDFATHER OF THE LATE GENTLEMAN VARIO BUOY. I WANTED TO SAY, NUMBER ONE. I ASKED IF I COULD SAY THIS. HE THINKS YOU ARE ALL DOING A GOOD JOB, ET CETERA, HAPPY WITH THAT, INCLUDING THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOUNG JAVARIO LAYS SO HEAVY ON YOUR HEARTS, SOULS AND MINDS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY LIKE HARRISON BOON STOPPLE. HE WANTED TO BE A WELDER, GO TO TAMPA BAY TECH. HE WANTED TO HAVE A FUTURE. HE UNFORTUNATELY WAS CUT DOWN BECAUSE OF VIOLENT CRIME. SO, AGAIN, I WILL EITHER AT THE END OF COUNCIL, PROBABLY AT THE END OF COUNCIL MAKE A MOTION FOR A REPORT. IT CAN BE WRITTEN ON THESE STEPS AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO SPECIFICALLY BE IN THE BUDGET MONETARILY BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE HOW WE BRIDGE THAT GAP IN THE BUDGET. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. IT'S VERY INVIGORATING. YOU MENTIONED WEST TAMPA AND HAD THE HONOR OF COACHING BETWEEN WEST TAMPA ABOUT 15 YEARS. MAYBE A THOUSAND OR SO YOUNG MEN THAT I COACH, ONE, ONLY ONE THAT I KNOW OF COMMITTED A CRIME LATER ON IN LIFE. THAT WAS BECAUSE OF DRUGS. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FEAR AND HOPE, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY FEAR. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO HOPE. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT FEAR IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE GIVEN UP. WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS ATTACKING THE CRIME BEFORE IT STARTS WITH YOUR TERRIFIC OPERATION OF SPEAKING TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE ALL AT ONCE AND GETTING IDEAS AND SEE WHERE THEY COME FROM. VERY WELL SAID WHEN YOU SAID THE PEOPLE YOU HELP IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE NO PLACE TO GO WHEN THEY GO HOME. IT'S EMPTY. BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING. BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE IT. AND THAT CREATES THE NO HOPE SITUATION. YOU ARE FACING A MONUMENTUS TASK BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU AND I AND THE REST OF US WANT. IT'S WHAT THEY SEE AND LIVE EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES THAT WE DON'T SEE AND LIVE. IT IS A DIFFERENCE OF BEING WHO YOU WANT TO BE BECAUSE AN OLD SAYING, DON'T BE MAKING -- DON'T TELL ME WHO YOU ARE. TELL ME WHO YOU ARE HANGING WITH AND I'LL TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE. THAT WAS AN OLD THING I REMEMBER AS A KID IN YBOR CITY, THEY USED TO TELL ME THAT. AND IT'S ALL ABOUT ECONOMICS IN A WAY. WAS I A GOOD STUDENT? I'LL USE MYSELF. ABSOLUTELY NOT. WHEN YOU ARE BORN AND RAISED WHERE YOU ARE AT, YOU HAVE A CERTAIN LIMIT OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO BECAUSE NOT TOO MANY FROM THAT CIRCLE GO ANYWHERE ELSE BUT WITHIN THAT CIRCLE THAT YOU HANG OUT WITH. THERE'S WHERE THE PROBLEM STARTS. I THINK YOU IDENTIFIED THAT BY YOUR TEN ITEMS THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT AND HOW YOU HANDLE IT. IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS. NOT GOING TO SOLVE IN ONE DAY, TWO DAYS OR FOUR ADMINISTRATIONS MAYBE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO CHANGE A MINDSET, AND THAT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO DO. FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY SAYING WHERE THE GUNS ARE COMING FROM. GREAT PERCENTAGE FROM VEHICLES THAT HAVE A GUN INSIDE WITH KEYS INSIDE THE CAR AND TWO CAR GARAGE OPEN, INVITE ME, TAKE ANYTHING. UNINVITE CRIME INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING CRIME. YOU CAN DO THAT IF YOU REALIZE THAT EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE SOMETHING OPEN, IT'S LIABLE TO WALK AWAY. IT'S HAPPENED TO ME. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU'VE GOT TO BE VIGILANT, NO MATTER WHERE YYOU LIVE, GATED COMMUNITY YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MAYBE NOT AS GREAT EXTENT BUT SAME PROBLEMS. THE ONLY WAY YOU DO IT IS BY THE WAY YOU'RE DOING IT. TALKING TO THE YOUNG AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE REALM BUT WITHIN THEIR PURVIEW OF DOING WHO THEY WANT TO BE. YOU GOT -- CONFIDENCE IN THEM THAT THEY CAN DO IT. BY TALKING TO THEM LIKE YOU'RE DOING AND SHOWING THEM SUCCESS, THEY MIGHT CHANGE THEIR MIND. NOTICE I SAY MIGHT BECAUSE THEY GOT TO GO BACK TO THAT SAME HOUSEHOLD, TO THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, TO WHERE YOU SEE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH SHINY CARS, LOT OF MONEY AND WALKING AROUND WITH OLD TENNIS SHOES, YOU AIN'T GOT A DAMN THING TO DO BUT HANG OUT, YOUR CHANCES OF MAKING IT OUT ARE NIL. I CAN TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND THE PUBLIC HAS TO BE AWARE THIS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE OVERNIGHT. GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE. THE GUN THAT HAS THE TRIGGER IN THE HAND KILLS THE PEOPLE. IT IS YOUTH BECAUSE THERE IS NO FEAR, BECAUSE THERE IS NO HOPE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU'RE NOT REALLY INCREASING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE I BELIEVE FROM NOW AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE FOUR OR FIVE RETIREMENTS. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE DO HAVE A TIME CERTAIN AT 11:30 PER REQUEST OF THE CFO. WE'LL CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION. WE'LL GO TO THE 11:30 AND THEN FLIP IT BACK TO FIRE. COUNCILMAN CLENDENIN, CARLSON, HENDERSON. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, CHIEF, I WANTED TO ONCE AGAIN, YOU HEARD IT FROM ME BEFORE, VERY FIRST MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT THE POLICE INVOLVEMENT WITH YOUTH. YOU REALLY LED BY EXAMPLE AND EXCEEDED MY BEST EXPECTATION OF WHAT TAMPA PD CAN DO. I ACTUALLY LEARNED A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING TODAY THAT I WASN'T AWARE OF. IT'S EVEN MUCH BETTER THAN I THOUGHT. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS CONTINUING ON THAT EFFORT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, NOT JUST FOR OUR COMMUNITY BUT ALSO THE INDIVIDUALS, THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. BECAUSE THOSE ARE GOING TO BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY ONE DAY. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING WHAT YOU DO TO HELP THAT OUT. WE'RE KIND OF IGNORING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SHOOTINGS THAT OCCURRED IN TAMPA FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO. AND THE DIVERSITY OF WHERE THESE THINGS HAVE OCCURRED AND COMMONALITY. I WOULD KIND OF LIKE TO HEAR YOU SPEAK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WITH YBOR CITY, TAMPA HEIGHTS, DOWNTOWN, SOUTH HOWARD, VARIOUS DIFFERENT PLACES, I KNOW A LOT OF THESE FOLKS IT'S NOT LOCALLY GENERATED. IT'S GENERATED FROM OUTSIDE PEOPLE COMING IN. SO MAYBE SHARE SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS. I'M SURE THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE HERE TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT. >>CHIEF BERCAW: ABSOLUTELY. ANYWHERE IN THE CITY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY. AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO PREVENT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE, WE WILL. AND THEN THE BIGGEST MESSAGE OUT THERE IS IF IT DOES HAPPEN, SOMETHING UNFORTUNATE, WHAT HELPS US IN MAKING THE ARREST AND GETTING CHARGES FILED BY THE STATE ATTORNEY IS COOPERATION. IT'S COOPERATION THAT WE SEE THAT HAS LED TO THE ARREST IN THESE CASES. WE DID PUT OUT A VIDEO ON THE INCIDENT ON SOUTH HOWARD. WE'RE ASKING THE COMMUNITY FOR HELP AND TIPS IN THAT. BUT THAT'S WHAT HELPS US SOLVE THE CASES. WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE. THOUSAND POLICE OFFICERS ROUGHLY IN THE CITY. THERE ARE 400,000 RESIDENTS, NOT TO COUNT ADDITIONAL PEOPLE THAT COME IN. AND FOR US TO PREVENT CRIME AND SOLVE CRIME, WE WORK COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER. AND THAT'S WHY I'M OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHY I'M OUT DOING FOOT PATROL. THAT'S WHY I'M DOING TOWN HALL MEETINGS. BECAUSE THE MORE MEETINGS, THE MORE INFORMATION WE GET THAT COLLECTIVELY WE CAN ALL WORK TO MAKE TAMPA SAFER TOGETHER. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON. >>BILL CARLSON: FIRST I WANT TO THANK CHIEF BERCAW FOR THE CALL ON SUNDAY MORNING WHEN HE WOKE ME UP WITH THE BAD NEWS OF WHAT HAPPENED A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE, IT WAS VERY HELPFUL. BECAUSE THE FIRST CALL I GOT ABOUT IT WAS FROM HIM AND THEN A FLOOD OF CALLS FROM THE COMMUNITY. HE AND THE MAYOR PARTICIPATED IN THE TOWN HALL MEETING LAST NIGHT FOR SOUTH HOWARD AND WANT TO THANK THEM FOR DOING THAT AS WELL. I WANT TO -- THERE'S SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW ON THE SLIDE IN A SECOND. BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF STAFF. THE NUMBERS YOU SHOWED, I THINK ADDING UP TO ABOUT 80 STAFF OVER FIVE OR SIX YEARS. IS THAT NET OF THE RETIREMENTS? BECAUSE I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IN DROP THAT WILL BE LEAVING. IS THAT NET OR JUST REPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING? >>CHIEF BERCAW: WE COULD GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE, IF SOMEBODY COULD PUT IT BACK UP. NOT THE ELMO, BUT THE PowerPoint. SO THE AUTHORIZED STRENGTH BEFORE THE 30 OFFICERS WAS 984. SO YOU CAN SEE THE AUTHORIZED STRENGTH. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. >>BILL CARLSON: IT IS A NET. >>CHIEF BERCAW: AGAIN, THAT ALL VARIES YEAR TO YEAR. THIS IS PROJECTIONS, BUT THINGS WILL CHANGE, POPULATION GROWTH MAY CHANGE. THE WORKLOAD ON OFFICERS MAY CHANGE. BUT IF WE'RE TRYING TO PROJECT, THIS IS A PROJECTION THAT GETS REANALYZED EVERY YEAR. >>BILL CARLSON: YEAH, IF YOU COULD KEEP US IN MIND FOR THAT. ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS I TALK TO ANYWHERE I GO, THEY SAY PLEASE GIVE US HELP, SUPPORT. THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE THAN 80 NOW. WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU ON THAT, LET US KNOW. >>CHIEF BERCAW: I THINK THE BIGGEST THING AND WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY WITH THE VIDEO AND THE STATS THAT I SHOWED FROM THE NATION, IS SUPPORT FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER. THAT'S WHERE THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS IS COMING TOGETHER FOR THE ENTIRE NATION IS SUPPORTING POLICE OFFICERS IN WHAT THEY DO BECAUSE I'M SURE MONEY IS IMPORTANT, BENEFITS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT APPRECIATION FOR THE JOB IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR GETTING -- >>BILL CARLSON: I WANT TO THANK THE POLICEOFFICERS WHO RUSHED INTO THE LINE OF FIRE ON SUNDAY MORNING. IT WAS VERY BRAVE, AGAIN, WHAT THEY DID. ANDREW, COULD YOU PLEASE SHOW THE SLIDE FOR FLORIDA? THIS IS THE STATS. CHIEF, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THE PHONE. MAYBE BRING IT DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT. THAT'S GOOD. THIS IS LIKE, CAN YOU MOVE IT UP JUST A LITTLE BIT? IT'S LIKE 2012 TO 2022. YOU CAN SEE THE SHAPE OF THE -- THIS IS FROM THE FBI VIOLENT CRIME STATISTICS. CAN YOU PUT THE UNITED STATES ONE ON THERE? YOU SEE LIKE IN 2018, IT WENT UP. BUT 2020, 2021, WENT DOWN. SAME THING FOR FLORIDA. CAN YOU SHOW THE TAMPA ONE, PLEASE? AS WE TALKED BEFORE, THIS IS ONE OF THE STATISTICS THAT THE CITY OF TAMPA SUPPLIES TO. I SCREEN SHOT THIS FROM MY PHONE, DOESN'T LOOK THAT GREAT. WHAT IT SHOWS IS THAT WHILE THE U.S. WAS GOING DOWN AND FLORIDA WAS GOING DOWN, WE SPIKED AND THEN IT WENT UP AGAIN I THINK THE NEXT YEAR. BUT NOW IT'S COME DOWN. SO THE QUESTION IS PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF ALL THE PUBLICITY AND THE INDIVIDUAL THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, THEY THINK THAT VIOLENT CRIME IS UP. THE STATISTICS YOU SHOWED, SHOW THAT IT'S DOWN. WHERE IS IT IN COMPARISON TO 2020 OR 2019 OR 2018 WHEN IT WAS LOWER? ARE WE GETTING CLOSER TO GOING BACK TO THE LOW POINT OR ARE WE KIND OF ON A TEN-YEAR AVERAGE RIGHT NOW? >>CHIEF BERCAW: FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT CRIME, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT US ON A SCALE. IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO 2002, I'LL FIND THE SLIDE IN JUST A MINUTE, THE AMOUNT OF CRIME WE HAD AND THE CRIME REDUCTION. AT SOME POINT WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO SEE ZERO CRIME, RIGHT? IDEALLY WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A POLICE FORCE. BUT GETTING THAT NUMBER AS LOW AS IT IS AND WHAT WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO DO JUST MAINTAINING THAT NUMBER IS A CHALLENGE, MUCH LESS GETTING A REDUCTION. SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT ON A WHOLE SCALE OVER THE LAST 20 OR 30 YEARS AS OPPOSED TO JUST TWO OR THREE YEARS BECAUSE OTHER CITIES MAY NOT HAVE HAD THAT REDUCTION THAT WE'VE HAD, WHICH IS ALMOST 80%. AND YOU THINK ABOUT HOW LOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IT, NOW THE PERCENTAGES ARE GOING TO CHANGE. AND, OF COURSE, POPULATION INCREASES. SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT. THE BETTER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS AND ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING, THE HARDER IT IS TO KEEP THAT. THINK ABOUT IF YOU'RE GOING OUT AND PLAYING A SPORT OR DOING THE OLYMPICS HOW HARD IT IS. YOU CREATED THAT WORLD RECORD. NOW YOU HAVE TO BEAT THAT WORLD RECORD AGAIN THE NEXT YEAR, EVEN THAT MORE CHALLENGE THE STANDARDS YOU ARE SETTING FOR YOURSELVES. >>BILL CARLSON: BEFORE YOU RUN OUT OF TIME, ANY SIMPLE ANSWER THAT WE CAN TELL PEOPLE AS TO WHY YOU'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WORKING WITH YOUR GREAT TEAM BRINGING DOWN WHERE IT WAS HEADED UP BEFORE AND NOW HEADED DOWN? ANY SIMPLE ANSWER WE CAN GIVE THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHY WE'RE HAVING SUCCESS NOW BESIDES THE FACT THAT YOU ARE THERE? >>CHIEF BERCAW: BEST PRACTICES. FOLLOW UP ON BEST PRACTICES AND EVIDENCE-BASED POLICING. NOT RUNNING OUT ON A CORD AND DOING WHAT WE THINK IS BEST. WE DO FOUNDATIONS. WE WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES. WE INCORPORATE WHAT IS SUCCESSFUL. WE SHARE WHAT IS SUCCESSFUL AND WE PUT OUR ENERGY IN THE RIGHT PLACES AND THE RIGHT OFFENDERS. >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, MA'AM. COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON. >>GWEN HENDERSON: IT'S 11:28. I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, DR. CHIEF. I DO WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE VIDEO, I PAY ATTENTION TO THE SMALL THINGS. THERE WASN'T ENOUGH OF A YOUTH PRESENCE WITHIN THE VIDEO. I KNOW THAT WE FOCUSED ON THAT AREA OF ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE WE CAN REDUCE CRIME IN THE LONG TERM. MAYBE THROWING IN SOME SHOTS OF POLICE ENGAGING WITH OUR YOUTH WOULD BE IDEAL FOR THAT PARTICULAR VIDEO SO THAT FUTURE RECRUITS CAN SEE THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY POLICING IS A BIG PART OF EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY. SHIELDING OUR TEENS, IS THAT -- IS DEPUTY BAKER'S ROLE IN THAT, IS THAT A VOLUNTEER THING OR IS SHE PAID TO DO THAT? DO YOU HAVE OFFICERS TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM THROUGHOUT? >>CHIEF BERCAW: SHE'S IN OUR COMMUNITY POLICING SO THAT'S PART OF HER JOB FUNCTION. OFF THE RECORD I'M SURE SHE VOLUNTEERS A LOT OF HER TIME AS WELL IN ADDITION TO THAT. >>GWEN HENDERSON: I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU CONSIDERED THAT FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, THE SHIELDING OUR YOUTH. >>CHIEF BERCAW: SHE'S IN THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH SO PART OF HER JOB. >>GWEN HENDERSON: IN TERMS OF EXPANSION OF IT BESIDES IT JUST BEING DEPUTY, HER. >>CHIEF BERCAW: YES. SHE IS ASSIGNED TO DISTRICT THREE AND WE HAVE OTHER OFFICERS IN OTHER DISTRICTS DOING THE SAME. >>GWEN HENDERSON: I HEARD YOU TELL THE COMMUNITY AT THE MEETING IN EAST TAMPA THE OTHER DAY ABOUT CELL PHONES AND PUTTING THOSE IN THE HANDS OF OFFICERS. IT WAS IN THE BUDGET LAST YEAR. OF COURSE, IT DIDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE OF THE MILLAGE. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY PLAN TO DO THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET? AND HOW ARE YOUR OFFICERS FEELING ABOUT THAT FROM A PBA STANDPOINT? >>CHIEF BERCAW: OUR PLAN IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT THANKS TO A GRANT WE SEE FROM FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH REPRESENTATIVE KATHY CASTOR, WHO HAS BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR TECHNOLOGY AND WE DO PLAN ON USING A PROPORTION OF THAT FOR CELL PHONES. >>GWEN HENDERSON: OKAY. AS IT RELATES TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THAT ALSO CAN CONTRIBUTE TO CRIME REDUCTION. THE STAFF RIGHT NOW, DID YOU ASK FOR AN INCREASE IN THAT IN A FUTURE BUDGET OR IS IT GOING TO REMAIN THE SAME? >>CHIEF BERCAW: AT THIS POINT, LOOKING AT SEVERAL GRANTS, THE PROTECT GRANT FOR COMMUNICATIONS TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM. THAT GRANT IS ACTUALLY JUST STARTING AND WE'RE APPLYING FOR A GRANT TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM, SO THAT WOULD BE HOPEFULLY APPROVED AND BE ABLE TO BE EXPANDED WITHOUT ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THE CITY. >>GWEN HENDERSON: I KNOW THAT DEPUTY CHIEF KATE HANDLES LIKE THESE BIG EVENTS. LIKE THE AMALIE ARENA. CAN WE TREAT NIGHTCLUBS OR ENTERTAINMENT AREAS IN THE SAME CAPACITY WHEN IT COMES TO OFFICERS? BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I ARRIVE AT THE AMALIE ARENA, I FEEL SAFE. I SEE A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS. I KNOW YBOR IS TREATED THAT WAY, BUT ARE OTHER AREAS? BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE CRIME WHEN YOU ADDRESS IT FROM THE SAME WAY YOU ADDRESS IT WHEN YOU GO TO PLACES LIKE THE LARGER PLACES LIKE THE TAMPA STADIUM, RAYMOND JAMES, AND AMALIE ARENA, THINGS LIKE THAT. >>CHIEF BERCAW: GREAT POINT. SOMETHING WE ARE WORKING WITH LEGAL ON EXTRA DUTY ORDINANCE. THERE IS AN ORDINANCE THERE THAT NEEDS REVISION. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS ON. >>GWEN HENDERSON: MY LAST THING, IT KIND OF BLOWS ME AWAY THAT KIDS GET ACCESS TO GUNS BECAUSE PEOPLE LEAVE THEM IN THEIR CARS. FROM A MARKETNG STANDPOINT, I KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT, WE'VE HEARD IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, FROM A MARKETING STANDPOINT, MAYBE JUST AN IDEA THAT POPPED UP IN MY HEAD IS MAYBE WE CAN PUT SOMETHING IN THE WATER BILLS TO TELL PEOPLE TO LOCK THEIR GUNS OR LOCK THEIR CARS. ANY WAY WE CAN DO IT FROM A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE AND IT'S COMMUNICATED TO THE ENTIRE CITY OF TAMPA, EVEN PUTTING IT IN OUR NEWSPAPERS. I DON'T KNW, MAYBE THAT CAN ASSIST IN THAT PROCESS. I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BEFORE WE PAUSE AND GO TO MR. ROGERO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE -- THIS GUN VIOLENCE THAT WE SEE, WHY PEOPLE SHOOT EACH OTHER. IT'S MEANINGLESS. SELF-DEFENSE. WHY ARE YOUNG KIDS SHOOTING EACH OTHER? IT WAS ASKED THIS MORNING, DO YOU KNOW THE NAMES OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE KILLED SUNDAY? I WAS DOWN THERE AFTER CHURCH SUNDAY MORNING ON HOWARD. THE ROAD WAS STILL CLOSED AFTER EVERYBODY WAS THERE BECAUSE I KNOW IT HAPPENED CLOSE TO 3 A.M. I WAS THERE ABOUT 8:30 OR SO. 24-YEAR-OLD AND APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 28-YEAR-OLD. 96 AND 2000 WERE THEIR DATES OF BIRTH. ONE GENTLEMAN'S LAST NAME WAS CHRISTMAS FROM MY UNDERSTANDING. I SEE THESE THINGS, HOWARD AVENUE, EAST TAMPA, SOUTH TAMPA, WHATEVER, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM WITH GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THIS WORLD, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IF IT'S NOT A MASS SHOOTING AT A SCHOOL, I REMEMBER BEING A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND IT WAS COLUMBINE. I KNOW THERE WERE MASS SHOOTINGS BEFORE, BUT AS A TEENAGER, I THOUGHT WHEN I HEARD IT ON THE NEWS, IT MUST BE HAPPENING AT MY HIGH SCHOOL. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS NEW. IT'S LIKE WHAT -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS GUNMEN AT THAT TIME. I AM A SECOND AMENDMENT, SELF-DEFENSE, PROTECT YOURSELF, DEFEND YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, USE A FIREARM RESPONSIBLY. LOCK IT UP RESPONSIBLY, BUT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE SHOOTING EACH OTHER, KILLING EACH OTHER FOR WHAT? THESE MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS BURYING THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS. IT BREAKS MY HEART. BUT THE THING IS, WHAT CAN WE SAY? STOP KILLING EACH OTHER. THERE'S MORE TO LIFE. THERE'S MORE TO -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE WORDS. BUT WE AS A COMMUNITY, YOU AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO EDUCATE AND SHOW THE YOUTH, THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT GUN VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS. WE TALKED ABOUT FUNDING PAL. WE TALK ABOUT FUNDING AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. BUT JUST GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT THERE. STOP KILLING EACH OTHER. >>CHIEF BERCAW: IT IS A GREAT POINT AND I COULD WRITE A WHOLE DISSERTATION ON THAT. QUICK TEN-SECOND ANSWER, AVAILABILITY OF GUNS. THERE ARE MORE GUNS OUT THERE AND THEY ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE. THAT IS A NATIONWIDE TREND. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON THAT, I WILL PAUSE. I WILL BRING UP MR. ROGERO. HE HAS ABOUT A 15-MINUTE PRESENTATION. WE ARE GOING TO BREAK FOR LUNCH AT 12:30. WE'VE ALREADY MENTIONED WITH TAMPA FIRE THAT THEY WILL COME UP RIGHT AFTER LUNCH. DISCUSSED WITH THE MAKER OF THE MOTION AND FOLKS FROM THE UNION THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE. HELLO, MR. ROGERO. GOOD MORNING. >>DENNIS ROGERO: HELLO, CHAIR AND HELLO COUNCIL. IF I CAN HAVE THE PRESENTATION UP PLEASE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. DENNIS ROGERO, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. I HAVE A LITTLE CRICKET IN MY THROAT. THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY FOR THE PRESENTATION, FISCAL YEAR 24. THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY ON THE TIME CERTAIN. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AS YOU KNOW, WE DO THIS ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR EVERY YEAR, PRESENTING TO COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC THE STATUS OF THE CURRENT YEAR AND SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS. AT COUNCIL'S REQUEST, WE EXPANDED THE PRESENTATION THIS YEAR TO INCLUDE HOW WE ENDED LAST YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 2023. IT COINCIDES WITH OUR SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED THIS MORNING. ALSO AT COUNCIL'S REQUEST, WE ARE PROVIDING IT EARLIER THAN WE HAD HISTORICALLY DONE, ABOUT TWO WEEKS EARLIER. I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT EARLY PHILOSOPHY CONTINUE ON THROUGH OUR BUDGET PREP PROCESS FOR FISCAL YEAR '25. AS A REMINDER TO THE PUBLIC, TYPICALLY THIS IS JUST ONE OF TWO ITEMS THAT WE DON'T SHARE AHEAD OF TIME. THE OTHER ONE IS, OF COURSE, THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PRESENTATION, WHICH COUNCIL WILL SEE IN JUST A FEW MONTHS. OF COURSE, AS ALWAYS, WE LOVE TO HEAR YOUR QUESTIONS EITHER TODAY OR AFTER YOU'VE HAD TIME TO REVIEW OR AFTER YOUR BUDGET ANALYST HAS HAD TIME TO REVIEW -- HELLO, MA'AM. THIS PRESENTATION IS ALSO ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. SO LOOKING BACK, LITTLE RETROSPECTIVE ON FISCAL YEAR 2023. THE FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT LAST YEAR WAS THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE GONE BETTER FROM A FINANCIAL STATEMENT PERSPECTIVE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO AND AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF WHAT WE DO. THE GOOD NEWS IS IT TYPICALLY DOESN'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION BECAUSE IT'S DONE WELL. WHEN IT'S DONE UNWELL -- WHEN NOT DONE WELL, IT GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION. OF COURSE, THINGS WENT VERY, VERY RIGHT LAST YEAR. AS COUNCIL KNOWS, THE EXTERNAL AUDIT IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW AND THE AUDITOR GENERAL AND FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, YOU SEE IT ON THE SLIDE THERE, WE GOT THE BEST YOU CAN GET. A CLEAN AUDIT WITH NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS NOR FINDINGS BY THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR. OF COURSE, THAT EXTERNAL AUDITOR IS NOT MY EMPLOYEE. IT IS AN INDEPENDENT CPA FIRM. WHAT'S THAT MEAN? WHAT'S A CLEAN AUDIT MEAN? IT MEANS THE MAYOR, IT MEANS CITY COUNCIL, IT MEANS THE PUBLIC. IT MEANS THE INVESTORS IN THE BOND MARKET ARE GETTING CRYSTAL CLEAR CLARITY ON WHAT OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION WAS LAST FISCAL YEAR. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT. SO A TERRIFIC REFLECTION ON THE CITY AND OUR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE A VERY GOOD HISTORY OF CONSERVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MAYOR, TO YOU. IT REALLY DOES TAKE ALL OF US AND, OF COURSE, CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FANTASTIC ACCOUNTING TEAM. IT'S PERFORMANCE LIKE THIS THE REASON WHY YOU WERE GIVING THEM A COMMENDATION JUST A SHORT TIME AGO, FEW MONTHS AGO. HOW END FISCAL '23, IN A WORD ENDED STRONG AS WE PROJECTED WOULD AND ZEROING INTO THE GENERAL FUND WHICH IS WHAT WE OFTEN CONCENTRATE ON. IT IS A GOOD THING WE DID END STRONG BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME HEADWINDS THAT WE NEED AND NEEDED TO TACKLE THAT I'LL GET IN JUST A MINUTE. THE SLIDE AT THE TOP, TOTAL REVENUES WERE MORE THAN EXPENSES. SO THAT ALLOWED US TO INCREASE OUR TOTAL FUND BALANCE ABOUT $19 MILLION. AND YOU SEE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT, THE TOTAL IS -- ENDED LAST YEAR AT $189 MILLION. NOW, THERE IS A LOT MORE TO THAT AND MORE TO UNPACK AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT VERY BRIEFLY IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES BECAUSE FUND BALANCE GETS A LITTLE COMPLICATED WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO BREAK DOWN THAT $189 MILLION FOR YOU AND THE PUBLIC AND INCLUDE A BRIEF PRIMER ON WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH CONFORMING WITH OUR FUND BALANCE REQUIREMENTS. ON THE SLIDE, FIVE TYPES OF FUND BALANCES. THREE OF THEM ARE RIGHT THERE. AT THE TOP, YOU HAVE THE NON-SPENDABLE. THAT'S BASICALLY YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN A NON-SPENDABLE FORM. YOU'VE GOT IT, CAN'T SPEND IT. GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT OVER ON THE RIGHT ARE INVENTORIES.% WE'VE GOT TO ACCOUN FOR THOSE, BUT WE CAN'T SPEND THOSE. THE RESTRICTED FUND BALANCE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY IN THE CITY AT THIS TIME, BUT FOR YOUR AND THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, INCLUDES GRANT FUNDING AND CERTAIN TYPES OF TAXES. THE COMMITTED FUND BALANCE KIND OF AS THE NAME IMPLIES, THIS IS FUNDING SET ASIDE FOR PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS, OBLIGATIONS THE CITY HAS MADE AND WE HAVE MADE SOME, OR FUTURE OBLIGATIONS THAT THE CITY HAS MADE. TRYING TO BE VERY BRIEF AND 50,000-FOOT LEVEL FOR YOU HERE. THE ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, AGAIN, FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, ALL FUND BALANCES OTHER THAN THE UNASSIGNED ARE FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES. THAT'S WHY WE LABEL THEM IN SUCH DETAIL. YOU SEE SOME GREAT EXAMPLES THERE ARE INSURANCES, EMERGENCY, HURRICANE FUNDING. CLAIMS AND JUDGMENTS, HEALTH CARE, AND OTHER COMMITMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS THE CITY HAS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. I'LL GET INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL IN A MOMENT. OF COURSE, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, NUMBER FIVE IN THE LOWER LEFT, THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. THIS IS TYPICALLY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE IT ANCHORS OUR FUND BALANC POLICY AND STPLOIRS IN ON THE 23, 24 PERCENT THAT WE AND THE RATING AGENCIES LIKE TO SEE. PICKING UP THAT PIECE, YOU SEE THE FUNDING HAS BEEN PLACED FROM LAST YEAR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS. HERE IS WHERE SOME OF THOSE HEADWINDS WE TALKED ABOUT ARE GOING TO COME IN. YOU SEE NON-SPENDABLE. AGAIN INVENTORIES. VERY LITTLE OF THAT. LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS BUT ACCOUNTED FOR IT. THE PURCHASE ORDERS. WE MADE OBLIGATIONS LAST YEAR THAT CARRIED FORWARD THIS YEAR IN THE FORM OF PURCHASE ORDERS. WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT AND THAT'S SET ASIDE. THE FIRST OF THE HEADWINDS, RECALL THE DUBOIS SETTLEMENT, $14 MILLION TOTAL OBLIGATION SPREAD OVER THREE FISCAL YEAR. TWO FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL 25 AND 26 ARE 5 MILLION. 3 MILLION, THEN 2 MILLION. WE ACCOUNTED FOR THAT AND SET IT IN OUR COMMITTED RESERVES BECAUSE WE'VE COMMITTED TO PAY THAT AND WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY, INCLUDING CITY COUNCIL, LOOKING FOR THAT FUNDING WHEN THE TIME COMES. IT'S THERE. AND THEN WHEN YOU GET INTO THE ASSIGNED AT THE VERY BOTTOM, THERE ARE $44 MILLION. CLAIMS AND JUDGMENTS. WE ARE INCREASING OUR CLAIMS AND JUDGMENT FUND BALANCE SIGNIFICANTLY BASED ON EXPERIENCE. IT'S PROBABLY I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, IT'S PROBABLY ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, BUT WE CAN SEE HOW THE YEAR GOES AND WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN BRING THAT DOWN. BUT THIS IS AN ACCIDENTAL AND LITIGIOUS SOCIETY, IS IT NOT, SO WE PUT SOME FUNDING THERE. THERE IS THE CURRENT YEAR OBLIGATION NEXT OF THE DUBOIS SETTLEMENT, $9 MILLION. MADE THAT OBLIGATION, SET THE FUNDING ASIDE, IT IS READY. HEALTH CARE, I KNOW COUNCIL KNOWS THIS, BUT PERHAPS THE PUBLIC DOESN'T. WE ARE SELF FUNDED FOR HEALTH CARE. VERY, VERY SO I HAVE SUBJECT FOR US AND WE WANT TO KEEP OUR EYE ON IT. TO THAT EFFECT WE HAVE INCREASED OUR HEALTH CARE FUND BALANCE TO WHAT IS THE INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE OF 90 DAYS OF EXPENSES. PRIOR TO US DOING THIS, IT WAS 75 DAYS, WHICH IS NOT BAD, BUT THE INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE IS 90 DAYS. AND YOU SEE THAT REFLECTED IN THE HEALTH CARE FUND BALANCE. OUR EMERGENCY STORM HURRICANE FUND GOES BY MANY NAMES. WE HAVE REPLENISHED IT AFTER USING $5 MILLION OF IT FOR HURRICANE IDALIA AND REPLENISHED IT TO THE LEVEL IT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN AT. USUALLY BEEN AROUND -- BEEN ABOUT $8 MILLION OVER TIME. ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE I THINK, AS YOU KNOW, IS TO FLOAT OUR CASH NEEDS IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF A STORM, FOR EXAMPLE, AND AS WE AWAIT FEDERAL AND STATE ASSISTANCE. AND THEN -- AND THEN WE HAVE SOME OTHER COMMITMENTS THAT ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO BE BRIEF THAT I PUT THERE AT $2 MILLION. AND THEN THE ASSIGNED TOTAL YOU SEE OF $44.2 MILLION. OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE BRINGS US BACK TO THAT $137 MILLION. THAT ENDED UP BEING 23%, WHICH IS WHAT WE LIKE TO SEE. 3% MORE THAN OUR FUND POLICY. I'LL REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT OUR FUND POLICY -- [INAUDIBLE] -- IS 20%. THIS IS ABOUT $13 MILLION MORE THAN THAT. SO VERY STRONG FUND BALANCE. MAINTAIN STRONG FUND BALANCE, MANAGE TO FUND SOME UNFORESEEN OBLIGATIONS. SHORED UP SOME OF OUR SPECIAL FUND BALANCES AND LEFT 23 NICE AND STRONG. IT'S A GOOD STORY. I THINK WE'VE ALSO GOT A GOOD STORY IN THE CURRENT YEAR. SPEAKING OF THE CURRENT YEAR, IF WE MOVE ON TO FISCAL YEAR 2024, AS WE TYPICALLY DO, AND THIS WILL BE VERY BRIEF. JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE TOTAL BUDGET COUNCIL APPROVED IN LAST SEPTEMBER, NEARLY $1.8 BILLION AND THE TWO LARGEST COMPONENTS ARE WHAT WE TYPICALLY TALK ABOUT MOST OFTEN. THE GENERAL FUND AND THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS WHICH MAKE UP ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF THAT BUDGET. AND HERE ARE THOSE TWO MAIN FUNDS BROKEN OUT. ON THE LEFT, THE GENERAL FUND, CONSISTING PRIMARILY OF PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS AND RECREATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS. AND THEN PRIMARILY YOUR UTILITIES ON THE RIGHT, WATER, WASTEWATER, AND SOLID WASTE. ZEROING IN, IF WE MAY, ON THE GENERAL FUND, THIS IS TYPICALLY THE MAJORITY OF OUR FOCUS AND OFTEN A MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS' FOCUS BECAUSE IT IS THE MONEY THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL HAVE THE MOST FLEXIBILITY WITH. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, AS THE NAME IMPLIES, IT CAN GENERALLY BE SPENT ON ANYTHING. SO IF THERE IS A DOLLAR WORTH MORE THAN ANOTHER DOLLAR, THIS IS IT. BECAUSE OF THIS FLEXIBILITY, IT'S ALSO THE ONE WITH THE MOST COMPETING AND VARIED DEMANDS. IT'S ALSO FUNDED PRIMARILY FROM PROPERTY TAXES AND PROPERTY TAXES ALSO TYPICALLY GET A LOT OF FOCUS. THE GENERAL FUND IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. SO HOW IS THE GENERAL FUND DOING THIS YEAR? OVERALL, IT'S DOING WELL. IF WE COULD JUMP INTO OUR MAJOR REVENUES, AND YOU SEE THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES RIGHT THERE. THAT IS THE LARGEST SINGLE SOURCE OF CITY REVENUE. THE SQUARES YOU'LL SEE IN THE UPPER RIGHT ON THE SLIDES ARE GREEN OR RED, WHETHER GREEN FOR GOOD, RED FOR NOT SO GOOD, AND YOU SEE THAT PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOOD. THEY ARE TRENDING A LITTLE BIT UP. WE THINK THEY WILL END WITH MORE THAN WE BUDGETED. I APOLOGIZE. I KEEP THINKING I HEAR SOMEBODY -- IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, WE'LL GET THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S PRELIMINARY PROPERTY VALUATIONS FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AND THAT IS LIKELY TO CHANGE OUR PROJECTIONS. AGAIN, WE START OUT VERY CONSERVATIVELY, BUT WE'LL KNOW FAR MORE IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR HALF-CENT SALES TAX REVENUE IS NOT DOING QUITE AS WELL. THE GOOD NEWS WITH THE HALF-CENT SALES TAX IS THAT IT'S KEEPING PACE WITH LAST YEAR'S RECEIPTS, BUT IT IS A LITTLE BIT SHORT -- PARDON ME -- IT IS SHORT OF WHAT WE BUDGETED. WE THINK THAT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL SALES TAX HOLIDAYS BEING GIVEN BY THE LEGISLATURE. IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON LOCAL REVENUE, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT THIS YEAR. AGAIN, KEEPING PACE, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS WE BUDGETED NOR WOULD HAVE LIKED. OUR REVENUES COMING FROM ELECTRICITY, ELECTRIC FRANCHISE FEES AND ELECTRIC UTILITY SERVICES TAX. I WON'T GET INTO THE DETAILS ON WHAT THOSE MEAN, BUT THEY ARE BASICALLY CORRELATED WITH THE PRICE OF ELECTRICITY. YOU SEE BOTH FINISHING STRONG AND BOTH COINCIDENTALLY BRING IN ABOUT $46 MILLION THIS YEAR. THAT'S GOOD NEWS FROM REVENUE STANDPOINT, BUT AS COUNCIL KNOWS, WE'RE ALSO A CUSTOMER, SO WE ALSO PAY ELECTRICITY. SO WE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE ALL OF THAT REVENUE. WE WILL TAKE A HIT IN OUR OPERATING COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRICITY COST. OUR COMMUNICATION SERVICES TAX, IT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR REVENUES. AND YOU SEE ABOUT $17 MILLION. IT HAS PLATEAUED AND IT'S BEEN PLATEAUED FOR QUITE SOME TIME. IT IS WORTH MENTIONING, THOUGH, THAT WE ARE AT THIS STAGE HAPPY THAT IT'S LEVELED OFF BECAUSE ABOUT A DECADE AGO, IT WAS BRINGING ABOUT DOUBLE. BRINGING ABOUT $30 MILLION. SO IT DECLINED VERY, VERY RAPIDLY DUE TO LAND LINE CANCELLATIONS. PEOPLE ARE USING CELL PHONES NOW. THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT USING AS MANY LAND LINES. AND THIS IS NOT A FAVORED TAX OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE. THEY HAVE ATTACKED IT ALMOST EVERY YEAR, BUT IT'S LEVELED OUT. AT THIS POINT, WE'LL TAKE THAT. $17 MILLION IS $17 MILLION. MOVING ON TO OUR EXPENSES, PERSONNEL COSTS, THIS IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE, AND I WOULD SUBMIT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF RUNNING A LARGE AMERICAN CITY. NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT THE PEOPLE, AND THIS IS PAYING FOR THOSE PEOPLE. WE PROJECT PERSONNEL COSTS TO BE PRETTY TIGHT, ABOUT 2% VARIANCE. A LITTLE BIT OVER. AND DUE PRIMARILY TO PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS AND OVERTIME. AND OUR OPERATING COST. NOT QUITE AS TIGHT. ABOUT 4% OVER BUDGET, AND THE PRIMARY REASONS, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY IN ADDITION TO THE ELECTRICITY COSTS THAT I REFERENCED. FUEL, VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, AND WE'RE REPLACING OUR VEHICLES SLOWLY BUT SURELY, BUT WE STILL DO ON AVERAGE HAVE AN OLD FLEET, AND IT COSTS MONEY. SO YOU'LL SEE THAT UPTICK IN OUR PROJECTED EXPENDITURES. MOVING INTO OUR PENSIONS, A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR FINANCIAL PICTURE AND, OF COURSE, A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR CITY OF TAMPA EMPLOYEES' LIVES. OUR FIRE AND POLICE PENSION FUND THAT YOU SEE RIGHT THERE, ALONG WITH OUR GENERAL EMPLOYEES PENSION FUND COMBINED ABOUT 3 BILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF ASSETS. AS YOU KNOW, THEY RELY PRIMARILY ON INVESTMENTS. ON THE THEORY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER, SO WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THAT FUNDING GOING, AND HOW THOSE INVESTMENTS DO IS RELATED TO HOW MUCH CONTRIBUTION THE CITY HAS TO MAKE. YOU SEE IT WENT UP FOR 2024. WE THINK IT'S GOING TO COME IN RIGHT AT BUDGET, WHICH IS GOOD. BUT IT DID GO UP. AND THOSE ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF I THINK WHAT EVERYBODY WOULD DESCRIBE TO BE A TERRIBLE YEAR IN 2022. TAKES A LITTLE TIME FOR THE GOOD PERFORMANCE OF 2023 TO CATCH UP, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT. BUT IT'S RIGHT ON TARGET FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE. AS IS THE GENERAL EMPLOYEES PENSION. SO GOOD NEWS FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE ON THE PENSION FRONT. SO WHERE DO WE THINK WE'LL LAND? WE ANTICIPATE WE'LL END THIS YEAR ON THE FAR RIGHT. YOU SEE IT ABOUT $146 MILLION OR ABOUT $9 MILLION MORE IN OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. THAT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN WHAT WE'D LIKE THE 23, 24 PERCENT THAT WE ENJOYED OUTSIDE OF THE PANDEMIC. 22 PERCENT IS STILL STRONG AND WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF MONTHS LEFT IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. SO IDEALLY, AS YOU PROGRESS THROUGH THE YEAR, YOU'VE GOT MORE DATA TO WORK WITH AND YOUR PROJECTIONS BECOME MORE AND MORE ACCURATE. BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE THINKING. AGAIN, WELL ABOVE OUR 20% POLICY, ABOUT $13.5 MILLION. AS A REMINDER, AGAIN TO THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC, THOSE ANOMALIES IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 AND 21, 28 PERCENT AND 27 PERCENT, THAT WAS DUE TO THE FEDERAL AND STATE ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PANDEMIC. WE BROUGHT IN THE FUNDING. WE HELD IT. SPENT IT. AND YOU SEE THAT FUND BALANCE -- EXCUSE ME, THAT FUND BALANCE DECREASE. THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF DECREASE IS, OF COURSE, THE GENERAL FUND TYPICALLY INCREASES EVERY YEAR. SO THE FUND BALANCE, IN ORDER TO RETAIN THAT RATIO, THE 22, 23, 24 PERCENT HAS TO INCREASE EVERY YEAR AND YOU CERTAINLY SEE THAT IN THE SLIDE. AS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I GENUINELY WANT TO THANK CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT OF THIS STRONG FUND BALANCE. I REALLY THINK IT IS AT THE HEART OF SO MANY OF THE SUCCESSES WE'VE HAD IN THE CITY. AND I THINK OUR PERFORMANCE BEARS THAT OUT. MOVING QUICKLY INTO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. AGAIN, NEARLY HALF THE TOTAL BUDGET, AND THESE ARE THE DEPARTMENTS AS COUNCIL KNOWS THAT WE MANDATE TO RUN LIKE A BUSINESS. THEY ARE TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT. THEY ARE TO MAKE THEIR OWN MONEY. AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR YOU WOULD CALL THEM GENERATING A PROFIT. THE PUBLIC SECTOR, ANY PROFIT THEY GENERATE IS REINVESTED INTO THE PARTICULAR ENTERPRISE AND THEY ARE CALLED ENTERPRISE FUNDS. YOU SEE PARKING STILL DOING WELL. NEW PARKING RATES WENT INTO EFFECT IN LATE 2021. AND WE'RE SEEING THE BENEFITS OF THAT AND THEIR FEES CONTINUE TO BE INDEXED IN ORDER TO MITIGATE THE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF INFLATION. WE PROJECT THEY'LL USE LESS FUND BALANCE THAN WE ANTICIPATED THIS YEAR. THAT'S GOOD NEWS, AND STILL FUNDING NEARLY $9 MILLION OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM, THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO GET HIT PRETTY HARD. GOING TO USE MORE FUND BALANCE THAN WE ANTICIPATED, ABOUT $24 MILLION, AND THAT'S DUE PRIMARILY TO THE LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED OUTAGES GOING ON AT THE WASTE TO ENERGY. WE ACCOUNTED FOR THOSE OUTAGES BUT IT'S TAKING A LITTLE LONGER ASSOCIATED WITH THE REFURBISHMENT AND UPGRADES. AS YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE COMING TO COUNCIL IN ABOUT A WEEK, WELL, EXACTLY A WEEK FOR THE FIRST OF TWO MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR RATE INCREASES AND FINANCING SOME OF THEIR MAJOR PROJECTS. WE'LL GO INTO A LOT MORE DETAIL DURING THOSE TWO MEETINGS. WITH DEPARTMENT DOING WELL, ADD A LITTLE BIT TO THE FUND BALANCE. YOU SEE REVENUES COMING IN HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED AND HOLDING THE LINE ON EXPENSES. ENDING UP AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT WITH PROJECTED FUND BALANCE OF JUST UNDER $125 MILLION. THE VARIANCE STILL IS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR LONG-TERM PLAN FOR THEIR PROJECTS AND THE PIPES PROGRAM. AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT ALSO DID WELL. REVENUES IN EXCESS OF EXPENDITURES AND ALSO REDUCTION IN THE EXPENSES YOU SEE ON THE FAR RIGHT, ABOUT $177 MILLION. AGAIN, CONSISTENT WITH THAT 20-YEAR PIPES PROGRAM. BUT A GOOD STORY FOR THEM. AND THE BUDGET CALENDAR. THIS TYPICALLY OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF THE BUDGET PREPARATORY PROCESS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AND YOU SEE IN KEEPING WITH, AGAIN, OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH COUNCIL AND COUNCIL'S REQUEST, WE ARE DOING THINGS EARLIER THAN WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PRESENTATION MID JULY. IT'S OFTEN IN EARLY AUGUST. YOU SEE THE TWO WORKSHOPS THAT WE RECENTLY DISCUSSED WITH COUNCIL FOR EARLY AND MID AUGUST AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS. I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY A LOT OF INFORMATION TO TAKE IN. BUT I DO GENUINELY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY. AS I THINK YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING TO TALK ABOUT FINANCES JUST ABOUT AS LONG AS YOU'RE WILLING TO LISTEN. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY. IN CLOSING, WE THINK WE REMAIN IN A VERY STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION HEADING INTO BUDGET DEVELOPMENT FOR NEXT YEAR WHILE MAINTAINING OUR FUND BALANCE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE HAVE ONE ON ONE BRIEFINGS COMING UP. COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I KNOW YOU SAID IT WAS -- PERSONNEL COSTS. OBVIOUSLY DRAMATIC INCREASE FROM 2020. FOUR YEARS, WE SEE THAT SPIKE. I KNOW PART OF THAT IS. YOU SEE EVEN THE PROJECTIONS. WHY ARE WE OFF ON PROJECTIONS? WE KNOW IT'S SUCH A STATIC EXPENSE. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT IN. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS TERMINALLY. TERMINALLY IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE PAID OUT FOR LEAVING THE CITY UPON RETIREMENT, ET CETERA. THAT'S ONE COMPONENT. THAT'S ONE OF THE ITEMIZATIONS THAT INCREASE. WE TRY TO PROJECT IT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, BUT IT'S COMING IN HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS. MIGHT THERE BE ROOM FOR IT TO COME DOWN IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS MAYBE. BASED ON HISTORY, WE'RE PROJECTING IT WILL BE MORE THAN WE ANTICIPATED. OVERTIME IS ALSO ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE. ONE OF THE THINGS TO REMEMBER NOW THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT IT, MAYBE A FURTHER DISCUSSION IS FRAMING IT SO YOU CAN SEE SOME PERSONNEL COSTS ARE OFFSET BY REVENUES, FOR INSTANCE. WE DO GET REVENUES FOR SOME PERSONNEL COSTS. AND YOU'LL SEE THOSE IN OUR MAJOR REVENUES. THIS IS SIMPLY A SUMMATION OF ALL OF OUR PERSONNEL COSTS. TERMINAL LEAVE, ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT. OVERTIME ALSO. IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET A BEAD ON IT. AS COUNCIL KNOWS, WE HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED LAST YEAR WHEN WE'RE ALREADY ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. SO IT REALLY IS A BEST EDUCATED GUESS IN MANY OF THESE THINGS. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE LIKE TO COME WITH SIX MONTHS OF SOLID DATA AND SHARE WITH COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC WHERE WE THINK WE'RE HEADING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR. AGAIN, I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE SIX MONTHS LEFT, BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS INFORMATION IS BASED ON. WE'LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE BITES OF THIS APPLE. SEEING IT ON A GRAPH LIKE THIS THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM 2020 TO 2024 IS KIND OF SHOCKING JUST TO SEE THAT. OVERTIME, WHAT DEPARTMENTS ARE REALLY SHARING THAT BURDEN OF OVERTIME? WHERE ARE WE SEEING THAT? >>DENNIS ROGERO: PUBLIC SAFETY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT'S NOT BROKEN OUT FROM THE PERSONNEL COST, INSIDE A DIFFERENT SLIDE, PUBLIC SAFETY? >>DENNIS ROGERO: IT'S NOT BROKEN OUT. WE CAN PROVIDE THAT BREAKOUT TO YOU YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: PUBLIC SAFETY IS IN THIS SLIDE? >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOOD TO KNOW. PARKING. $6 MILLION PROJECTED OVERAGE OVER BUDGET. SO THAT MONEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO SHIFT TO PAVING? >>DENNIS ROGERO: COULD. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NOTED. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. ONE CAVEAT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND I KNOW COUNCIL KNOWS BUT WORTH REITERATING, WE WOULD WANT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT THEIR FUTURE PLANS FOR THAT FUNDING BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR THIRD-WORLD ROADS. ANY WAY WE CAN DO THAT TO INCREASE FUNDING WOULD BE GREAT. WE'VE HAD THE CONVERSATION, AS WE LOOK TOWARDS 2025 BUDGET AND FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WE'LL BE HAVING, I'LL BE LOOKING FOR SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN OUR ROAD BUDGET TO IMPROVE THE ROADS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF TAMPA. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES, SIR. I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT WITH US AHEAD OF TIME. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR FEEDBACK AND YOUR TIME BRIEFING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL FOR NOW. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALONG THE SAME LINES, I BELIEVE THAT PAVING, THE CITY HAS TAKEN OWN PAVING AND DOING SOME OF IT OURSELVES, ARE WE NOT? >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT QUITE OFTEN. MORE MILES FOR YOUR BUCK THAN EVER BEFORE. >>DENNIS ROGERO: CAPITALIZING ON EFFICIENCIES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WE HAVE EXPENDITURES ABOUT $250,000 A DAY. I'LL TALK VERY GENERICALLY IF I COULD REGARDING PAVING -- I MEAN REGARDING THE EXPENDITURES, CERTAIN EVENTS HAPPENING IN TOWN, CERTAIN AREAS THAT COST THAT MUCH. THOSE EVENTS USUALLY HAPPEN BETWEEN AUGUST AND DECEMBER, MAJORITY OF THEM. WHEN AUGUST COMES, YOU'LL SEE THAT LINE GETS A LITTLE SMALLER BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND IN FIRE AND POLICE AND TRAFFIC SYSTEMS THAT WE PUT UP THROUGHOUT CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY TO COVER WHAT THE CONTRACT SAYS IT ENDS IN 27 I BELIEVE. SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU LOOK AT. I DON'T THINK IT WILL COVER ALL OF IT, BUT IT WILL COVER THE MAJORITY OF IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY. >>DENNIS ROGERO: IF I COULD POSTSCRIPT THAT, WHAT I NEGLECTED TO MENTION IN YOUR QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN, STATE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR RETIREMENTS, FOR THE PENSION PROGRAMS ALSO A LITTLE MORE THAN WE ANTICIPATED. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS AND FOR BEING THOROUGH AND SHOWING THE BACK PERSPECTIVE ON IT. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE, THIS IS THE CONSISTENT NUMBER THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT OVER SEVERAL YEARS. I THINK IT WAS PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT 150 THIS YEAR, RIGHT? DO I REMEMBER THAT CORRECTLY? >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES. I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. >>BILL CARLSON: THIS TIME YOU WENT INTO MORE DETAIL ON WHAT MAKES IT UP. BUT I THINK IT'S STILL THE SAME NUMBER. CAN WE GO TO THAT SLIDE? I CAN'T FIND WHAT THE NUMBER WAS. IT IS THE LINE GRAPH. ROGERO THE BAR CHART. >>BILL CARLSON: THE ONE THAT GOES BACK TO 2017. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I'M HEADING THE WRONG WAY. >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU. BUT JUST TO SHOW THE PUBLIC, THIS WAS ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES THAT I WAS INTERESTED. I KNOW YOU AND THE MAYOR WERE ALSO INTERESTED. THE THING IS WE NEED TO HAVE MONEY IN RESERVES FOR A LOT OF REASONS OR WE CAN GET IN BIG TROUBLE. THIS DOESN'T GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2011, BUT IN 2011, PAM IORIO'S ADMINISTRATION LEFT 150 MILLION IN IT. BY 2017, WE HAD SOMEWHERE AROUND 85 MILLION. THE PERCENTAGES MAYBE WERE CONSISTENT, BUT WE ONLY HAD 85 MILLION. AND THEN NOW THIS YEAR WE JUST SURPASSED 150 MILLION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE SOMEWHERE AROUND 2011. SO THAT'S -- IT ACTUALLY, YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND EVERYONE SHOULD GET MORE CREDIT THAN WE ARE BECAUSE IT'S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT. NOW THE OVERALL BUDGET HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED. AS A PERCENTAGE, IT'S IMPACTED. BUT THE OTHER THING IS AS YOU BROKE IT OUT, ONE, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING. I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS. BUT THE FIRST 20% OF IT I THINK HELPS US KEEP OUR BOND RATINGS. AND YOU WENT THROUGH THE BREAKOUT OF SOME OF IT. THE WAY I USED TO ROUGHLY LOOK AT IT, IF 20% IS MINIMUM FOR THE BOND RATINGS, THEN MAYBE WE HAVE 2 OR 3 PERCENT ABOVE THAT. KIND OF THE RAINY DAY FUND. NOW DOWN TO 22% PLUS THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS -- THIS IS GENERAL FUND, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE A RAINY DAY FUND AT ALL. >>DENNIS ROGERO: WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EMPHASIS. I WOULD ANSWER THIS WAY, IT IS ABOVE OUR POLICY. IF WORSE COMES TO WORSE, AGAIN ABOUT 13 MILLION ABOVE OUR POLICY. THAT 13 MILLION, I DON'T WANT TO SAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER 20%, BUT I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT -- YOU'VE GOT TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS. THE REAL WORLD WHERE WE NEED THE CASH AND WE'VE GOT THAT FUNDING IF A HURRICANE HITS AND WE HAVE TO FLOAT A GREAT DEAL OF CASH, WE'VE GOT IT. BUT ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE RATING AGENCY AND THE MARKET. WHAT THEY LOOK AT IS HOLISTICALLY HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE IN THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. THEY DO LIKE THE FACT THAT IT IS IN EXCESS OF OUR POLICY, BUT WE'RE A LITTLE BIT ON OUR BACK FLIP BECAUSE WE HELD IT IN EXCESS OF OUR POLICY FOR SO LONG. SO ANY DRASTIC REDUCTION WOULD CATCH THEIR EYE IN A NEGATIVE WAY. I THINK WE'RE SAYING THE SAME THING. >>BILL CARLSON: EXACTLY. THE POINT TO THE PUBLIC, EVEN THOUGH 22%, WE REALLY CAN'T REDUCE THAT. IF WE DO, OUR BOND RATING GOES DOWN AND INTEREST RATES GO UP AND COSTS US A LOT MORE, ESPECIALLY SINCE SO MUCH BONDING GOING ON. BETTER THAN I DID QUARTERLY KARL >>BILL CARLSON: PAGE 14, FEW MILLION DOLLARS ABOVE PROJECTION. WHAT'S HAPPENING TO SURPLUS? >>DENNIS ROGERO: GOOD QUESTION. AT THIS TIME I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT OUR REVENUE SURPLUS ARE GOING TO BALANCE OUT OR COMPENSATE FOR OUR EXPENDITURE OVERAGES. AND WE'LL END UP, AGAIN, WE'VE STILL GOT SIX MORE MONTHS OF DATA WE'LL END UP WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN WE ANTICIPATED. >>BILL CARLSON: JUST REMEMBER FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC, CITY COUNCIL HAS TO APPROVE THOSE OVERAGES. IF SOMEBODY MADE THE DECISION TO GO OVER BUDGET BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE REVENUES WERE GOING TO BE HIGHER, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STRATEGIC DISCUSSION OF CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DECIDE IF WE WANT TO PUT IN ROADS HOUSING WHATEVER. MY FIRST PRIORITY IS TO PUT IT IN THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE. MY SECOND PRIORITY IS ROADS AND THEN AFTER THAT, PARKS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEN PARKS, THAT WE HAVE SO MANY NEEDS IN ALL OF THESE. I HOPE YOU AND THE ADMINISTRATION WILL COME BACK AT SOME POINT AND TALK TO US ABOUT THAT SO WE CAN BE PART OF THAT DECISION MAKING. YES BY CHARTER, THE MAYOR PROPOSES THE BUDGET BUT IT'S UP TO US TO DECIDE IT. I ALWAYS SAY THIS TO MY COLLEAGUES, WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS WATCHING THE CITY OVER MANY MAYORS IS THAT THE STAFF COMES AND TALKS TO EACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER INDIVIDUALLY AND THEY ASK YOU WHAT GOODIES YOU WANT. MY ANSWER IS ALWAYS I DON'T WANT ANY. MY SUGGESTION TO MY COLLEAGUES IS YOU SHOULD SAY THE SAME THING. IF WE CAN -- WHATEVER THE PROPOSAL IS, WE CAN TALK ABOUT% GENERAL THEMES, BUT IF SOMEBODY SAYS WELL I NEED A $200,000 PARK OR MILLION DOLLAR PARK, COME TO CITY COUNCIL FOR FOUR VOTES OR FIVE VOTES AND GET A FIVE MILLION DOLLARS PARK. ONCE THE BUDGET IS PROPOSED WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT. THE POWER OF THE BUDGET ON CITY COUNCIL AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT CUTTING SIDE DEALS. WHAT I OBSERVED IN THE PAST, ESPECIALLY BEFORE I GOT ON COUNCIL, IS THAT THERE WERE SIDE DEALS CUT FOR VERY SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY WHEN CITY COUNCIL COULD HAVE BEEN MORE STRATEGIC. THIS YEAR WE NEED TO BE REALLY GOOD ABOUT MOVING MORE MONEY INTO ROADS. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THE STATUS OF OUR ROADS. ALSO, YOU TALK ABOUT OVERTIME WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT WASN'T PRESENTED TO US A LITTLE WHILE AGO BUT PART OF THE ARGUMENT THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE TELLING US ANECDOTALLY IS THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS TO DO OFF-DUTY WORK AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS. IF WE HAVE MORE POLICE OFFICERS, THE PEOPLE WOULD BE LESS STRESSED OUT BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GET THE OVERTIME WORK. THEY COULD BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES INSTEAD. WE NEED TO THINK STRATEGICALLY ABOUT THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, SIR. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: AS YOU KNOW, I AM A PROFESSIONAL OVERTHINKER AND I HAVE CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO THE HALF-CENT SALES TAX. I KNOW THAT THERE IS A RENEWAL COMING UP ON THE BALLOT, BUT THERE'S ALSO ONE IN REGARDS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, CORRECT? >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SO THERE ARE TWO PROPOSED TAXES EVEN THOUGH ONE IS ESSENTIALLY A RENEWAL. MY FEAR IS THAT IT DOESN'T PASS, IT DOESN'T GO THROUGH BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL CLIMATE, BECAUSE OF WHATEVER REASON. THEN WHAT DO WE DO? I KNOW WE SUBMITTED THE CIT MONEY THROUGH UNTIL IT ENDS, WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES, SIR. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE WANT TO DO. THINGS WE BONDED OUT THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY PAY DOWN EARLIER WITH THAT CIT REVENUE. I'M JUST WORRIED THAT WE DON'T OVER-LEVERAGE AND OVEREXTEND OURSELVES AND WE FIND OURSELVES WITH -- THE CIT HAS BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE, I THINK, AND VERY FAVORABLE TO US, BUT THAT'S A LIFELINE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT RUN OUT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PREPARE FOR BOTH SCENARIOS. COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WERE SAID EARLIER. BUT LET'S GO BACK TO THE '90s. WE HIRED 100 POLICE OFFICERS UNDER THE GRECO ADMINISTRATION. GOT A GRANT FOR THREE YEARS THAT THE FEDS WOULD PAY FOR IT AND THE CITY COUNCIL DID APPROVE THAT AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR THAT TIME DID FIND THE MONEY TO FUND THEM FOR THE FUTURE. LET ME CLEAR THAT PART OF WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER OUT. THE SECOND PART THAT YOU WANT TO LOOK AT, WHAT HAPPENED IN 1996. IN FEBRUARY, MARCH OF '96, THAT TAX WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT AND IT WAS REJECTED SOUNDLY. SAME PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEMSELVES, BROUGHT IT BACK UP WITH ANOTHER ENTITY IN IT THAT COST A LOT OF MONEY AND IT PASSED BY 1.5%, I THINK IT WAS. IT'S GOING TO COME UP AGAIN. MAYBE THAT IS THE PLAY. PUT TWO TAXES UP SO IT FAILS. THEN THE ENTITY COMES BACK IN AND SAYS I'LL SAVE YOU ALL BECAUSE WITHOUT ME, YOU CAN'T LIVE. THAT IS THE ONLY ENTITY THAT GIVE PRIVATE MONEY. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING AT VERY CAREFULLY. I WORE BLACK FOR SIX MONTHS AND THE SUIT IS STILL HANGING ON THE WALL AND I MAY WEAR IT AGAIN BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT A FIGHT. IT BELONGS TO PUBLIC TAXPAYERS. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY IN SOCIETY BY GIVING IT TO INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T NEED IT. END OF STORY. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE I GO TO ANOTHER ROUND? YES MA'AM. >>GWEN HENDERSON: HELLO. BEING THE NEOPHYTE HERE, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOLID WASTE CONTINUES TO BE AN ENTERPRISE BUSINESS WHEN IT LOSES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THAT'S JUST NOT UNDERSTANDABLE TO ME, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THE NEEDS OF THEM EVEN COMING TO US RECENTLY FOR SOME TYPE OF INCREASE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL SUPPORT IT COMING OUT OF THE RED. I KNOW THAT THAT'S A LARGER CONVERSATION FOR THE FINANCIAL FOLKS THAT HAVE THE SKILL SETS TO ADDRESS THAT. I JUST DON'T SEE IT AS AN ENTERPRISE BUSINESS. HOWEVER, I DO SEE THE CONVENTION CENTER AS ENTERPRISE BUSINESS, AND IT IS NOT LISTED AS ONE. IT IS OUR MAJOR HUB WHERE EVENTS COME INTO THE CITY. CERTAINLY, IT MAKES A LOT OF MONEY BUT IT'S NOT PRESENTED TO US WHERE WE CAN CLEARLY SEE HOW MUCH MONEY THE CONVENTION CENTER BRINGS TO US. I DO FEEL LIKE THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS AN ENTERPRISE BUSINESS. THE OTHER THING IS, IT'S ON A SMALL SCALE FOR ME BUT I KNOW FOLKS ON STAFF LISTENING TO THIS. PARKS AND RECREATION IS NOT AN ENTERPRISE BUSINESS. BUT IS IT EXPECTED TO BREAK EVEN, THE FEES THAT WE CHARGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT? >>DENNIS ROGERO: NO, NOT AT ALL. >>GWEN HENDERSON: WHY DO WE CHARGE FOR THINGS, AND THIS IS MAYBE A QUESTION YOU CAN COME BACK AND ANSWER AT A LATER TIME. FOR EXAMPLE, CATERING. THE CITY COLLECTS A 10% FEE FROM THE CATERERS. WHY DO WE DO THAT IF IT IS NOT AN ENTERPRISE BUSINESS? WHY ARE WE CHARGING THEM FOR THAT? I RECENTLY WENT TO AN EVENT AT THE RIVER CENTER BY ONE OF OUR CATERERS AND IT COSTS ALMOST $7,000. $67 PER PERSON, WHICH WAS RIDICULOUS FOR WHAT WE RECEIVED AND IT WAS A CITY ORGANIZATION THAT WAS THERE. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ENTERPRISE BUSINESS OVER AT THE TAMPA RIVER CENTER BECAUSE A LOT OF MONEY BEING CHARGED. CHARGING A FEE TO THE ORGANIZATION TO HAVE THE EVENT THERE. ON TOP OF THAT WE'RE CHARGING ANOTHER FEE FOR THEM TO HAVE -- TO USE THE CATERER THAT THEY AE FORCED TO USE. ALL OF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M INVESTIGATING MYSELF AND FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT IF PARKS AND REC IS NOT AN ENTERPRISE BUSINESS, WHY ARE CERTAIN ENTITIES OF IT TREATED LIKE THAT? TO THE PUBLIC THAT ALREADY PAYS FOR PARKS AND REC. >>DENNIS ROGERO: WOULD YOU MIND IF WE CIRCLE BACK WITH A MORE EXTENSIVE AND RESEARCHED? IT IS A GOOD QUESTION. I WOULD RATHER PROVIDE YOU WITH A MORE WELL-RESEARCHED ANSWER. >>GWEN HENDERSON: ABSOLUTELY. THAT IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE AREAS THAT I'M GOING TO CONSTANTLY BE DIVING INTO, INCLUDING THE CONTRACTS OF HOW THESE BUSINESSES ARE SELECTED TO DO BUSINESS WITH US WHEN IT COMES TO CATERING AND CERTIFICATION. THOSE ARE JUST SOME POINTS I WANTED TO MAKE, BUT THE CONVENTION CENTER IS ONE OF THEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS WELL. I DO BELIEVE IT IS A PROFIT-MAKING ENTITY. GIVES THE IMPRESSION. BUT SOLID WASTE IS CLEARLY NOT. THE SHORTFALL IN THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION IS, WHAT, $20 MILLION. >>DENNIS ROGERO: 20 PLUS. >>GWEN HENDERSON: IF IT'S AN ENTERPRISE BUSINESS, WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB. I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CIRCLING BACK ON A COUPLE OF THINGS AS FAR AS EXPECTATIONS BECAUSE IT CLUED ME IN WHAT COUNCILMAN CARLSON SAID ABOUT COUNCIL'S PREROGATIVE DURING THE BUDGET SEASON. TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, I'M LOOKING TO TRIPLE WHERE WE ARE ON ROAD IMPROVEMENTS WITH CITY OF TAMPA, LOOKING FOR $45 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET. >>DENNIS ROGERO: 45? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HOPEFULLY THAT'S SOMETHING COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT BECAUSE WE'RE SO FAR BEHIND AND SO DERELICT IN KEEPING OUR ROADS UP TO DATE. I THINK ONE OF THE MOST COMMON THEMES I HEAR ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY IS THE CONDITION OF OUR RAD SYSTEM. SO WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, PART OF THE ISSUE IS LIKE THE STADIUM, THE BUCS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY -- >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: [INAUDIBLE] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT BIG CONCRETE STRUCTURE ON DALE MABRY, BUCS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW THEIR LEASE EVERY FIVE YEARS AND WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT. IT'S GOING TO COST US ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. BETWEEN US AND THE COUNTY AND KEEPING IT UP -- >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: [INAUDIBLE] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. CORRECT. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: [INAUDIBLE] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: EXACTLY. BE PREPARED. SECONDLY, ON THE TAX, THE SALES TAX ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE ONE BIG ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY TALK ABOUT AND IT IS REPLACEMENT OF OUR POLICE HEADQUARTERS. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON TOO WHEN WE GENERATE THAT CIT MONEY. IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT SO WE AVOID THE BURDEN FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF HAVING TO TAKE THAT BIG HIT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY CLEARLY APPROPRIATE FOR CIT OF PARLAYING THAT BUILDING INTO A NEW STRUCTURE SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEN WE CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE NEXT DOOR WHICH I HOPE TO KEEP THE GARAGE FOR THE CITY SINCE ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES DOWN HERE, SEEMS TO BE APPROPRIATE. I THINK THAT'S KIND OF IT. ROADS ROADS ROADS. POLICE POLICE POLICE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SECOND, SECOND SECOND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR ONE-ON-ONE BRIEFINGS REGARDING THE BUDGET. >>DENNIS ROGERO: AS DO I. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: REALLY, REALLY FAST, IF I MAY, AND MR. ROGERO, THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR YOUR DETAILED PRESENTATION AND PROFESSIONALISM. WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUNDS AND I WAS OUT FOR A LITTLE BIT. IF THIS WAS ADDRESSED, I APOLOGIZE. TALLAHASSEE FUNDS FROM THE PENNY SALES TAX, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THOSE FUNDS? >>DENNIS ROGERO: THE ALL FOR TRANSPORTATION. I DON'T KNOW. I CAN CIRCLE BACK TO YOU. AS YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN HELD IN KIND OF LIMBO FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND I HAVE HEARD AND READ AND BEEN TOLD VARIOUS SCENARIOS. I DON'T HAVE A FIX ON IT. IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL CIRCLE BACK WITH THE FIRMEST FIX I CAN GET. >>LUIS VIERA: SURE. THERE ARE THINGS THAT THEY REALLY WANT US TO INVEST IN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT TRANSPORTATION OR ROADS. I ALWAYS SAY THAT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, PEOPLE ARE IN SUCH A CRISIS ON TRANSPORTATION THAT 60% OF THE PEOPLE SAID PLEASE RAISE MY TAXES BECAUSE OUR ROADS ARE SO BAD IN 2018. IN 2022 VERY ANTITAX YEAR, YOU ALMOST HAD A PENNY SALES TAX PASSED EVEN THOUGH STRUCK DOWN IN CIRCUIT COURT BEFORE FOLKS VOTE ON IT. AGAIN, THERE IS A REAL APPETITE OUT THERE FOR INVESTING IN TRANSPORTATION AND BEING ABLE TO FUND IT. PUBLIC SAFETY, TALKING ABOUT RENEWAL OF CIT, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT FIRE STATIONS AFTER LUNCH. A BIG, BIG, BIG FOCUS HERE IN THE CITY OF TAMPA. I FEEL THAT WE'RE FALLING BEHIND IN A LOT OF AREAS FROM YEARS AGO, ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN. I THINK CHANNELSIDE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THINGS IN NORTH TAMPA AND THAT'S WONDERFUL. AND WE GOT TO FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN CHANNELSIDE. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. THE OTHER BIG THING, AGAIN, HOW DO WE PAY FOR THESE THINGS? RIGHT? THE PUBLIC WANTS THESE THINGS BUT HOW DO WE PAY FOR THESE THINGS? WE ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE A VERY HONEST DISCUSSION. THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY MASTER PLAN, TELL PEOPLE, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED, HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO GET IT AND HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT? ONLY PAY FOR TWO-THIRDS OF IT, FINE, WE'LL ABANDON THE OTHER THIRD. BUT THERE'S MATHEMATICS THAT COMES INTO PLAY AND WE HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC ON THAT. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, SIR. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON AND THEN CLENDENIN. >>BILL CARLSON: JUST SOME QUICK HITS, COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN MENTIONED $45 MILLION FOR ROADS. AS I RECALL WE NEED ABOUT $2 BILLION TO FIX THE ROADS THAT ARE JUST THE CITY ROADS. AND 45 MILLION IS A LOT MORE THAN THE 4 MILLION THAT WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THERE WAS AT LEAST 12 YEARS WHERE THERE WAS AN ANTICIPATION OF ALL FOR TRANSPORTATION GOING THROUGH, AND SO THE ROADS WERE ARTIFICIALLY NOT PAVED BECAUSE OF THAT ANTICIPATION. AND NOW -- AND THERE WAS ALSO AN ARGUMENT THAT, WELL, ROADS ARE PAID OUT OF GAS TAX. WELL, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO COVER IT ANYMORE. SO WE HAVE NO CHOICE. WE CAN'T HAVE ROADS IN THE STATE THAT THEY ARE IN. AND WE HAVE TO DO IT IN THE RIGHT WAY. I THINK MOBILITY IS DOING A GOOD JOB BY SOMEONE SAID BY PAVING THEIR OWN ROADS. NOT ONLY SUPPORT 45, I WISH WE WOULD GO UP HIGHER AND SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT THE ROADS WE'RE DOING, TOO. THE CONVENTION CENTER, COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON MENTIONED THE CONVENTION CENTER, I DON'T CARE WHETHER WE PUT IT IN ENTERPRISE FUND OR NOT, BUT WE NEED TO CLEARLY SHOW THE PUBLIC WHAT THE SUBSIDY IS BECAUSE I THINK WE PUT IN LIKE $30 MILLION JUST IN THIS ROUND OF THE CRA. AND SO WE NEED TO DISCLOSE MAYBE ON TOP OF THAT, IT GENERATES A SURPLUS, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TOTAL INVESTMENT IS. WITH PARKS, MAYBE THERE IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT PARKS, IF IT'S NOT AN ENTERPRISE FUND, AND SO I THINK HER POINT IS A GOOD ONE. WHAT IS THE MODEL FOR THESE THINGS? I THINK PEOPLE HAVE SAID IN THE PUBLIC THAT IF WE'RE CHARGING FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS THERE SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZED PROGRAMS OR FREE PROGRAMS. BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY, THEY SHOULDN'T PAY THE SUBSIDIZED RATE. THEY SHOULD PAY A MARKET RATE. EVEN IF NOT AN ENTERPRISE SHOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY SUBSIDIZE EVERYTHING. THE PROGRAMS SHOULD PAY FOR THEMSELVES. THE LAST THING IS THAT I'VE HAD MANY CONSTITUENTS CALL AND ASK THE ADMINISTRATION WHY SUCH AND SUCH ISN'T PAID FOR. WHY HAVEN'T YOU LANDSCAPED THIS? WHY HAVEN'T YOU PAID FOR THE ART PROGRAMS? WHATEVER. THE ANSWER FROM THE ADMINISTRATION IS, WELL, CITY COUNCIL DIDN'T APPROVE OUR TAX INCREASE. I KNOW FOR SURE THAT MOST OF THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS COMPLAINING ABOUT WERE NOT IN THE BUDGET. THEY WERE NOT THINGS THAT WE CUT. SO I WOULD JUST ASK THIS YEAR, AS WE GO TO CUT THINGS, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, IF THEY WANT TO ASK US TO MAKE THE CHOICES LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA WAS SAYING, HAVE THEM LISTED SO THAT WE CAN VOTE. IF WE'RE GOING TO GET CRITICIZED FOR VOTING AGAINST SOMETHING AND CUTTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE BUDGET, I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT'S WHAT WE DID. WE DID NOT NOT VOTE FOR ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS. WE DID NOT NOT VOTE TO SUPPORT THE POLICE. WE DID NOT NOT VOTE FOR OUR ARTS PROGRAMS. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE OUT OF THE BUDGET, THE ONE THING WE CAN, AT LEAST I THINK CLENDENIN AND I CAN TAKE BLAME FOR, WE VOTED AND SUPPORTED AND I THINK OTHERS TO TAKE OUT THE SIGNAGE PROGRAM IN DOWNTOWN. SOME PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION ARE SAYING, WELL, THAT IS THE CAUSE NOW OF ALL THE CONGESTION IN DOWNTOWN, WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE EITHER. BUT WE DID TAKE THAT OUT. SO IF WE ACTUALLY TAKE SOMETHING OUT, WE SHOULD GET BLAMED FOR IT. IF WE DIDN'T, WE SHOULDN'T. LET'S BE EXPLICIT ABOUT WHAT ARE THE CHOICES WE NEED TO MAKE AND WHAT IS IT WE'RE APPROVING AND WHAT IS IT WE'RE TAKING OUT? >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YEAH, I DIDN'T THANK YOU, ONE, FOR MOVING THE SCHEDULE UP AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR COUNCIL TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS. $2 BILLION BUDGET. I APPRECIATE THE LITTLE EXTRA BUFFER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT OUR NEW BUDGET ANALYST REPORTING TO CITY COUNCIL TO HELP US NAVIGATE THIS PROCESS, BUT I WANT TO REVISIT THE ALL FOR TRANSPORTATION FUNDS. BEING HELD HOSTAGE IN TALLAHASSEE BY POLITICIANS IN TALLAHASSEE THAT DON'T HAVE THE INTEREST OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY OR THE CITY OF TAMPA IN MIND. SO MUCH OF THAT MONEY IS BEING -- IS NOW BEING SPENT DAY BY DAY ON LAWYERS INSTEAD OF GOING TO OUR ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THE PEOPLE IN TALLAHASSEE, INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR, SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR HOLDING THAT MONEY HOSTAGE. THEY NEED TO RELEASE IT TO THE CITIZENS BACK, THE PEOPLE THAT PAID FOR IT AND LET IT BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE THAT IT WAS MEANT FOR FOR THE CITY, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND THE CITY OF TAMPA. IF ANYBODY THAT IS LISTENING TO THIS, HOPEFULLY A FEW PEOPLE LISTENING, I URGE THEM TO CONTACT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO CALL THEM AND EXPRESS THAT DESIRE, TO SEND OUR MONEY BACK TO US, PERIOD. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, SIR. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WELL, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN CLENDENIN. IT'S THEIR MONEY BECAUSE THEY HAVE IT IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT. IT DOES NOT BELONG TO THEM. JUST LIKE GOING AND ROB A BANK. SO BANK ROBBERS GO TO JAIL. MAYBE THEY OUGHT TO GO TO JAIL. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I'LL END WITH THIS. IT'S INTERESTING. WE PULL UP OUR BRICK STREETS. WE PULL UP OUR STREETCAR SYSTEM. AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $2 BILLION IN ROAD REPAVING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS POSSIBLY IN EXTENDING THE STREETCAR THAT WE HAD TO ESSENTIALLY REBUILD. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS PROGRESS IS DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE. AND IN THIS CASE HERE WE ARE. IT COMES FULL CIRCLE. WE WERE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT A HUNDRED YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD BETTER ROADS. WHEN WE HAD PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT WORKED AND HERE WE ARE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST WANTED TO MAKE MY RANDOM UNNECESSARY COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S DO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN WE'LL BREAK FOR LUNCH. COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA, YOU HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY. >>LUIS VIERA: I MOVE AFOREMENTIONED ITEMS. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA TO MOVE ITEMS 6-13 WITH A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. >>GWEN HENDERSON: FOR PARKS, RECREATION CULTURE COMMITTEE, MOVE ITEMS 14 THROUGH 18. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON WITH A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON IS THE VICE-CHAIR FOR 19 THROUGH 39. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 29. >>BILL CARLSON: SO MOVED. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA, YOU ARE THE FINANCE CHAIR. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MOVE ITEMS 40-47. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON, THE CHAIR OF BUILDING, ZONING AND PRESERVATION. >>BILL CARLSON: MOVE 48 THROUGH 56. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOVE ITEMS 57 THROUGH 64. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CLERN. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA -- >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MOVE ITEM 66 FOR PUBLIC HEARING -- >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: 65 THROUGH 69. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THROUGH 69 FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS AT 5:01. DIFFERENT ONES. 5:01 P.M. ON JULY -- JUNE 17 -- ALL DIFFERENT TIMES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YOU CAN MOVE THEM AS ONE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA TO SET THE HESITATION. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. WE ARE IN RECESS UNTIL 1:30. WE MIGHT BE 1:40. SO BEAR WITH ME. THIS IS FOR LUNCH. IS IT TOO SHORT? [LUNCH RECESS]