>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO TAMPA CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN LUIS VIERA FOR THE INVOCATION. >>LUIS VIERA: IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO INVITE A WONDERFUL MAN UP HERE. PASTOR JUSTIN LAROSA. COME FORWARD, SIR. PASTOR LAROSA IS ORDAINED MINISTER AND A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER. HE HOLDS MANY, MANY TITLES. HE'S BEEN AT HYDE PARK UNITED METHODIST SINCE 2005 WHERE HE SERVES AS MINISTER OF DOWNTOWN SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY, DIRECTOR OF THE PORTICO. HE WAS SENT WITH A SMALL GROUP TO LAUNCH A CUTTING EDGE MINISTRY TH AND MANY, MANY OTHER THINGS. PASTOR LAROSA IS A WONDERFUL PERSON OF GREAT EMPATHY AND DECENCY AND IS ONE OF THE BEST GUYS I KNOW. IF YOU GUYS WOULD PLEASE STAND UP FOR THE PRAYER AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME. THOSE WHO ARE PRAYING, LET'S BOW OUR HEADS. GOD OF MANY NAMES, WE GATHER IN YOUR PRESENCE THIS MORNING, CENTERING OURSELVES ON YOUR GOODNESS. WE APPROACH THIS DAY WITH OPEN MINDS AND GRATEFUL HEARTS. AND WE GIVE THANKS FOR OUR LIVES AND THE PEOPLE AROUND US, THE CITY, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. THANK YOU FOR THE ENGAGED CITIZENS, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, THE AIDES, AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE TAMPA FUNCTION, THRIVE, AND GROW. WE GIVE THANKS FOR OUR OFFICERS AND THOSE WHO SERVE AND FIREFIGHTERS AND ALL WHO SUPPORT THEIR WORK. MAY YOU GIVE THEM ALL A SPIRIT OF WISDOM, HUMILITY AND SERVANT HOOD. WE PRAY FOR DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS AND WORKERS, INCLUDING THOSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LAY THEIR HEAD. WE PRAY FOR CITIZENS WHO WILL ADVOCATE, INVEST THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE CITY AND DEAL WITH THE MANY ISSUES BEFORE US, THAT RELATE TO WONDERFUL THINGS LIKE GROWTH INNOVATION AND TRANSPORTATION. WE HUMBLY ASK YOU THAT YOU PROVIDE ASTUTE DISCERNMENT AND CLARITY AND DIRECTION FOR EACH COUNCIL MEMBER AS THEY PROCESS THE BUDGET AND REPORTS ON THE AGENDA. ALLOW THEIR DISCUSSIONS TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND RESPECTFUL AMIDST DISAGREEMENT. AND MAY THE FINAL BUDGET BE ONE THAT REALLY SHOWS RESPONSIBLE GOVERNING IN THE WELL USE OF PEOPLE'S DOLLARS. PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE WITH COUNCILWOMAN GWEN HENDERSON'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THIS COUNCIL AS THEY REMEMBER AND GRIEVE HER LOSS. MAY YOUR GRACE, COMFORT CONTINUE TO SHOW UP FOR THEM. IGNITE US TO BE THE PEOPLE YOU'VE CALLED US TO BE. I PRAY THESE THINGS IN THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST, AMEN. >> AMEN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU ALL. ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE. NOT A VOTE. ROLL CALL. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: HERE. >>LUIS VIERA: HERE. >>BILL CARLSON: HERE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HERE. >>THE CLERK: WE HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION HELD ON JUNE 26 2025. I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LIKE TO GO THROUGH THE AGENDA FOR THE AGENDA REVIEW. THERE ARE NO ADDENDUMS. WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 63, ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE. THERE'S NO UPDATE, CORRECT? THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MEMO FROM ADRIANA FOR $7.2 MILLION MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH BILL CURRIE. MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE? >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: SO MOVED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: 64. IT'S A RESOLUTION. I'M SORRY. WE HAVE A MEMO FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON TO CONTINUE ITEM 65 TODAY TO JULY 31st. MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON, SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE. OPPOSED? CAN I GET A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE NUMBER 66 AND 67 FROM BRANDON CAMPBELL? BRANDON IS NOT HERE TODAY, BY THE WAY. >>BILL CARLSON: THE IDEA IS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PRESENTING IN PERSON. BECAUSE HE'S OUT OF TOWN, THEY REQUESTED TO JUST RECEIVE AND FILE THIS ONE AND PRESENT IN PERSON THE NEXT TIME. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IF FOLKS WANT TO KNOW WHAT ROADS ARE PLANNED AND WHAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED, THE MAPS ARE ON THE AGENDA AND THEY ARE VERY EASY TO READ. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOLKS LOOK AT THOSE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON AND SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. WE'RE RECEIVING AND FILING 66 AND 67. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. ITEM 66, A MEMO FROM ABBYE FEELEY, CHANNELSIDE DISTRICT FROM MERIDIAN TO CHANNELSIDE DRIVE. ADDED TO THE CDB. IT WAS A STAFF REPORT. MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE? 68. I'M SORRY. >>BILL CARLSON: THAT ONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE CURRENT TEXT AMENDMENT CYCLE. THEY CONFIRMED IT IS. I THINK WE CAN RECEIVE AND FILE THAT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IS THAT A MOTION? MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE GOT AN INTERESTING E-MAIL ABOUT THIS. I KIND OF THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU WOULD LIKE STAFF ON IT? >>LYNN HURTAK: NOT STAFF. JUST US. WE DON'T NEED STAFF. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE MEMO. >>ABBYE FEELEY: I DIDN'T PUT IN A MEMO. I'M GOING TO BE HERE FOR THAT ITEM IF THAT'S OKAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THERE WE GO. WE HAVE STAFF FOR ITEM 68 AND 69. VERY GOOD. I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO FLIP ITEMS 1 AND 2 SO THAT WE WILL HEAR FROM THE POLICE FIRST AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE MAYOR'S PRESENTATION. MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. >>LYNN HURTAK: ARE WE GOING TO JUST ACCEPT THE STAFF REPORTS FOR THE WRITTEN STAFF REPORTS? >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SO MOVED. >>LYNN HURTAK: BECAUSE I HAD ONE MENTION ON IT ON ONE OF THEM. NUMBER 71, CHIEF TRIPP'S MEMO DOES TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT ALL THE BUNKER GEAR HAS BEEN SENT OUT, BUT THERE IS STILL MORE BUNKER GEAR TO BE PURCHASED SO THAT I WOULD LIKE THAT REPORT TO STAY UNTIL THAT HAS BEEN DONE. THAT WAS COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON'S MOTION. I'M SAYING I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE MONTHLY REPORT BECAUSE WHILE THE MEMO SAYS THAT ALL OF IT IS OUT, ALL OF IT THAT WE HAD IS OUT. NOW WE'RE ORDERING MORE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT'S NOT INCONSISTENT WITH RECEIVING AND FILING THIS. >>LYNN HURTAK: NO, BUT I HAVE HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IF COUNCIL WANTS TO CONTINUE SOME OF COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON'S MOTIONS AND I NEVER HEARD OF US STOPPING THAT. BUT THERE IS ANOTHER MOTION, THE DOWNTOWN SIGNS THAT I'VE HEARD THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID, OH, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM COUNCIL ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO ADDRESS THAT LATER TODAY IN NEW BUSINESS. BUT I'M JUST SAYING, I WANTED TO SAY THAT I STILL WANT THIS REPORT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE 70 THROUGH 74? WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? WE WILL DISCUSS THAT -- THOSE ISSUES DURING NEW BUSINESS. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE AGENDA THAT ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS? MOTION TO ADOPT THE AMENDED AGENDA? WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY. HERE WE GO. WE WOULD LIKE TO START WITH ONE OF THE BEST MEETINGS OF THE MONTH WHEN WE RECOGNIZE OUR POLICE OFFICER OF THE MONTH. RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: HEY, COUNCIL. REAL PLEASURE TO BE HERE. LUIS VIERA HERE TO DO THE OFFICER OF THE MONTH. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS DO TO REFLECT THE VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE IN SUPPORTING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, AS WELL AS OUR FIREFIGHTERS. I'LL LET DR. CHIEF BERCAW TALK ABOUT THIS MONTH'S WONDERFUL HONOREE. >>CHIEF BERCAW: GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT OUR OFFICER OF THE MONTH. DETECTIVE HOPE DAUPHINE SERVED SINCE 2022. SHE HAS MADE A LASTING IMPACT NOT ONLY IN THE DEPARTMENT BUT IN THE LIVES OF COUNCILLESS VICTIMS IN THE COMMUNITY. HER WORK OFTEN HAPPENS QUIETLY BEHIND THE SCENES BUT ITS EFFECTS ARE LIFE-CHANGING FOR THOSE SHE SERVES. SHE HAS LED COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING IDENTITY THEFT, FRAUD AND FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION. JUST TO NOTE A FEW, SHE HELPED STOP THE FRAUDULENT RELEASE OF $40,000, HER FAST WORK PRESERVED THE FUNDS AND LED TO AN ARREST IN JUST A FEW WEEKS. IN ANOTHER CASE, SHE BROUGHT JUSTICE TO A HURRICANE VICTIM WHO WAS DEFRAUDED BY UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS AFTER LOSING THEIR HOME. SHE TRACKED DOWN EVIDENCE, SPOKE TO OVER 20 PEOPLE AND HELPED PUT A STOP TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE. DETECTIVE DAUPHINE ALSO INVESTIGATED A LONG-TERM THEFT AT A LOCAL BAKERY WHERE A MANAGER HAD BEEN ALTERING RECORDS FOR YEARS. DETECTIVE DAUPHINE REVIEWED HOURS OF VIDEOS, STACKS OF DOCUMENTS AND EVENTUALLY SECURED FULL CONFESSION LEADING TO OVER 50 FELONY CHARGES. OUTSIDE OF HER CASEWORK, SHE'S TAKEN A LEAD -- A HUGE LEAD -- IN HELPING TRAIN NEW DETECTIVES, CREATING A GO-TO TRAINING MANUAL THAT'S NOW USED THROUGHOUT HER UNIT. SHE'S ALSO AN ACTIVE IN OUR DEPARTMENT FAMILY SUPPORT AND WELLNESS EFFORTS. I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT'S NOT WRITTEN HERE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR FAMILY IF IT WASN'T FOR DETECTIVE DAUPHINE. SHE BRINGS SKILL, EMPATHY, QUIET LEADERSHIP IN EVERYTHING SHE DOES. HER WORK MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE, NOT JUST IN THE CASES, BUT THE PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT WERE IMPACTED. IN ADDITION, ALSO TO OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR FAMILY. SHE'S A VALUED MEMBER OF THIS DEPARTMENT, AND HER WORK DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE AND GRATITUDE THAT WE RECOGNIZE HER EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TODAY AND IT'S WHY SHE'S BEING RECOGNIZED AS OUR JULY OFFICER OF THE MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LUIS VIERA: BEFORE WE HONOR YOU, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SOME TOKENS OF APPRECIATION. >> BRANDON BARCLAY, TAMPA PBA. DETECTIVE, GREAT JOB AS ALWAYS. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. GOOD MORNING CHIEF. BRIAN FORD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS. WE HAVE A LITTLE TRADITION AT ONE BUC. ANYBODY THAT GOES OVER AND ABOVE GETS A GAME BALL. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY, OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THE SACRIFICE, THE LEADERSHIP, THE WELLNESS COMMITTEE. THAT'S AMAZING. BUT CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MY DAD MADE SURE I TAKE THIS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: DON'T FUMBLE THE BALL. >> MIKE McARTHUR, STEPP'S TOWING SERVICE. CONGRATULATIONS DETECTIVE ON A JOB WELL DONE. THE CITY IS DEFINITELY A BETTER PLACE WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU INVOLVED IN IT. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF TODD STEPP AND STEPP'S TOWING, PRESENT YOU A GIFT CARD FOR DINNER, NIGHT OUT ON STEPP'S TOWING. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. GOOD MORNING, DETECTIVE DAUPHINE. I'M GRACE GONZALEZ HERE ON BEHALF OF THE GONZMART FAMILY AND 1905 FAMILY OF RESTAURANTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE IN TAMPA AND FOR DEDICATING SO MUCH TIME AND SO MUCH OF YOURSELF TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. WE WOULD LIKE TO SERVE YOU DINNER. PLEASE ENJOY YOURSELF OUT WITH A NIGHT OUT, ULELE, ANYWHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO VISIT. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. LEO GEARY WITH BILL CURRIE FORD. CONGRATULATIONS, HOPE ON THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD. ON BEHALF OF BILL CURRIE FORD, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. AGAIN, LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU OFFICERS. I RESPECT AND HONOR ALL OF YOU GUYS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO INSIDE THE CITY, THE DEDICATION AND SACRIFICES YOU MAKE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. I TRULY APPRECIATE IT. ON BEHALF OF BILL CURRIE FORD, I WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU A CERTIFICATE FOR YOUR PERSONAL VEHICLE FOR SOME MAINTENANCE AND ALSO SOME GOODIES IN THERE. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR US. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I KNOW IT'S AWKWARD WHEN PEOPLE ARE ADDRESSING, BUT IF YOU WOULD FACE THE DAIS BECAUSE THE MICROPHONE IS IN THE PODIUM. IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR VOICE OUT THERE, FACE THE PODIUM. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. GOOD MORNING, DETECTIVE DAUPHINE. MY NAME IS LORI OSBORNE. CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT A GREAT JOB YOU'RE DOING NOT ONLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE FOR THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL WITH THE WELLNESS PROGRAM. WELL DONE. ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA, WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TICKETS TO AN UPCOMING PERFORMANCE IN OUR NEW SEASON. AGAIN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU SERVING THE COMMUNITY. >> GOOD MORNING. DETECTIVE DAUPHINE, CONGRATULATIONS. MARYBETH WILLIAMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF THE RIVERWALK HERE TO PRESENT YOU TODAY WITH A PERSONALIZED PAVER ALONG THE RIVERWALK TO COMMEMORATE YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, SOME OF OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE AS WELL. WITHIN THIS ENVELOPE IS DINNER FOR TWO FROM YACHT STARSHIP, TWO ALL-DAY PASSES FROM PIRATE WATER TAXI, TWO COMPLEMENTARY ADMISSIONS FROM LOST PEARL. TWO COMPLIMENTARY RIVERWALK, SPRITZVILLE, NIGHT OUT. FLORIDA AVENUE BREWING GIFT CERTIFICATE AND, OF COURSE, THE PAVER. >> GOOD MORNING. STEVE MICHELINI. FIRST, LET ME TURN AROUND AND BECOME MARY LOU BAILEY. I'M MARY LOU BAILEY, HERE ON BEHALF OF ZOO TAMPA. THERE SHE IS! >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT'S LIKE BEETLE JUICE, TURN AROUND THREE TIMES. >> I'M NOT MARY LOU BAILEY ANYMORE. >> HI. I'M MARY LOU BAILEY, THE REAL ONE. BEHALF OF ZOO TAMPA. I SERVE ON THE BOARD. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR STORY. WE WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR SERVING ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO SERVES. YOU GUYS ARE ALL AWESOME. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TO THE ZOO FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES AND GOODIES THAT MY FRIEND MARK WHO WORKS FOR THE ZOO PUT TOGETHER FOR YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THE STUFFED ANIMAL. >> HE PICKED OUT A STINGRAY. I DON'T KNOW WHY. I KNOW HE ALWAYS PUTS THOUGHT INTO IT. MAYBE WE CAN E-MAIL YOU AFTERWARDS WHY HE CHOSE STINGRAY BECAUSE HE IS VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT WHAT ANIMAL HE GIVES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WILL THE REAL MARY LOU BAILEY PLEASE STAND UP? >> I'M GOING TO REVERSE MY ALTER EGO. STEVE MICHELINI, HERE ON BEHALF OF A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FOLKS. FIRST STATING, THE TASK THAT YOU PERFORM IS SO VITAL BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE SUBJECT TO THOSE KIND OF PREDATORY ACTIONS. AND THEY DON'T KNOW. THEY END UP GOING TO THE BANK AND THEY TAKE OUT MONEY. A LOT OF US HAVE RECEIVED THOSE KIND OF THREATS. IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP IN 30 MINUTES, WE'RE GOING TO ARREST YOU. YOU GOT TO BRING CASH AND WE GOT TO GO TO THIS PLACE AND DEPOSIT, ALL THAT. IT'S AWFUL. ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT SERVICE. ON BEHALF OF THE YUMMY HOUSE CHINA BISTRO, WE'RE PROVIDING WITH YOU A GIFT CERTIFICATE SO YOU CAN ENJOY YOURSELF OVER THERE. LUNCH OR DINNER. ON BEHALF OF DAILY EATS, YOU CAN ENJOY YOURSELF OVER THERE, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER AT ANY ONE OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS. JACKSON BISTRO ON HARBOUR ISLAND, GIFT CERTIFICATE, LUNCH OR DINNER. AND MEAT MARKET IN OLD HYDE PARK, TAKE YOUR LETTERS WITH YOU AND DON'T LET THE CHIEF TAKE YOUR CERTIFICATES HERE. I KNOW HE LIKES SOME OF THESE PLACES. ANYWAY CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LUIS VIERA: IF I MAY, I BELIEVE THIS IS TYPICALLY TICKETS. I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK TO THE STRAZ CENTER. FRIENDS AT THE STRAZ CENTER ALWAYS PARTICIPATE AND COULDN'T MAKE IT. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: FACE THE PODIUM PLEASE. >>LUIS VIERA: STICKLER. GOOD FOR YOU, MAN. I MEAN THAT. FRIENDS AT HOTEL HAYA. A FREE NIGHT THERE, I THINK. I WOULD ASSUME. THAT'S IT. IF I MAY, ON BEHALF OF A VERY GRATEFUL TAMPA CITY COUNCIL AND CITY OF TAMPA, THIS COMMENDATION IS FOR YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR YOUR SERVICE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> DO I FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. I WILL SAY THAT. I AM HONORED AND A LITTLE OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTION RIGHT NOW. JUST THE GENEROSITY. THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND CITY COUNCIL AND OUR COMMAND STAFF AND THE CHIEF AND THE MAYOR. I'LL KEEP IT SHORT, BUT I DO LOVE MY JOB. NOT ONLY AM I HONORED, I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE ANYBODY IN MY DIVISION. I'M VERY HONORED TO BE IN CIB WHICH IS A GREAT PLACE AT TAMPA PD. EVERYONE OF THEM ARE PROBABLY DESERVING TO GET WHAT I GOT TODAY. I'M HONORED TO WORK WITH A GROUP OF DETECTIVES THAT GO ABOVE AND BEYOND, NOT JUST ME. BUSINESS OWNERS, CITIZENS OF TAMPA, BUT IF I COULD SUMMARIZE ALL MY CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, IT WOULDN'T BE ARRESTS OR AN AWARD. IT WOULD BE FAMILY SUPPORT. WE STARTED THREE YEARS AGO. OUR PROFESSION IS A HUGE HONOR AND RESPONSIBILITY BUT THE WEIGHT OF THE BADGE CAN BE HEAVY AT TIMES. I AM BLESSED TO BE IN A POSITION TO GIVE REFERRALS AND TAKE PHONE CALLS AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF OUR OFFICERS, AND THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY WHAT I LOVE THE MOST ABOUT MY JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] >>LUIS VIERA: I DID WANT TO SAY, NOT GOING TO RECOGNIZE HIM, BUT TELL BY THE SMILES IN THE AUDIENCE, YOU HAVE VERY PROUD FAMILY MEMBERS HERE. THAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT FAMILY. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. I'LL JUST SAY IT NOW ON THE RECORD, YOU ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE OFFICERS. DETECTIVE HOPE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE GOTTEN POLICE OFFICER OF THE MONTH. WHEN I SAW YOU THIS MORNING, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE GETTING IT AGAIN? BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT. THAT'S HOW HARD YOU WORK. VERY RARELY DO WE SEE OFFICERS GETTING THIS RECOGNITION TWICE. YOUR HUSBAND IS WITH YOU. HE'S WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I USUALLY SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY FOR THE SACRIFICES BECAUSE YOU GO OUT THERE INTO THE WORLD TO PROTECT US AND TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE, BUT IN THIS CASE, IT'S BOTH OF YOU. THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. YOU ARE A WONDERFUL PERSON. AND, AGAIN, TO GET OFFICER OF THE MONTH TWICE IS VERY RARE AND IT SAYS A LOT. EVEN THE MAYOR SHOWED UP. I MEAN, THAT'S HOW GOOD YOU ARE. [ LAUGHTER ] CONGRATULATIONS. VERY WELL DESERVED. >> THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY, YOU AND THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE POLICE FORCE. TAMPA WE LOVE AND WE RESPECT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US SAFE. ONE DAY, I THINK THE CHIEF WILL COME AND TELL US ABOUT THE GREAT CRIME STATISTICS I KEEP HEARING ABOUT. WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TYPE OF TRAJECTORY. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. GRATEFUL CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE FOR JUST ONE MOMENT TO ALLOW THE FOLKS FROM TAMPA PD TO CLEAR, AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: OKAY. IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. WE GET TO WELCOME OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE FRONT. THOSE OF YOU WATCHING AT HOME, YOU SEE SOME OF THE FACES YOU SEE COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL FROM TIME TO TIME. SOME YOU MAY NOT. DEPARTMENT HEADS FROM THE CITY OF TAMPA THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY BECAUSE IT IS BUDGET TIME. AND TAMPA CITY COUNCIL PER A MOTION FROM CHARLIE MIRANDA, INVITED MAYOR JANE CASTOR TO PRESENT THE FY '26 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET. I RECOGNIZE MAYOR CASTOR. >>MAYOR CASTOR: WE'RE GOING TO DO RETIREMENTS. SORRY TONY. AND TOM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT? I AM FLEXIBLE. WE CAN DO THAT IF YOU WOULD LIKE. >>MAYOR CASTOR: I'M FINE. I'M FINE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN CLENDENIN, CITY COUNCIL, AND TO THE TAMPA COMMUNITY THAT IS HERE IN COUNCIL AND THOSE WATCHING FROM HOME, I AM VERY PROUD TO BE STANDING BEFORE YOU TO PRESENT THE CITY OF TAMPA'S FY 2026 BUDGET. THIS YEAR'S THEME: GROUNDED IN PROGRESS REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES WE'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM RESIDENTS ACROSS TAMPA IN TOWN HALLS, NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, AND MORE THAN A FEW GROCERY STORE CONVERSATIONS. YOU'VE TOLD US WHAT MATTERS MOST. THIS BUDGET IS BUILT AROUND THOSE VALUES: RESILIENCE, RESPONSIBILITY EFFICIENCY AND RESULTS. TAMPA HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, BUT GREAT CITIES AREN'T BUILT ON BUZZ; THEY ARE BUILT ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS -- ROADS, STORMWATER SYSTEMS, AND WATER LINES MAY NOT BE GLAMOROUS, BUT THEY KEEP OUR CITY RUNNING. WHEN WE INVEST IN THE BASICS, WE UNLOCK OPPORTUNITY, STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE, AND LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE GROWTH. AND WE'RE STRETCHING EVERY DOLLAR TO WORK HARDER AND SMARTER. CITIES ARE OFTEN CRITICIZED FOR ADDING NEW POSITIONS TO THEIR WORKFORCE, BUT THIS MORNING, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT HOW THE EMPLOYEES WE'VE ADDED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, INCLUDING OVER A HUNDRED FIREFIGHTERS, 60 POLICE OFFICERS, IN-HOUSE PAVING AND WATER REPAIR TEAMS, AND OUR IN-HOUSE WASTE-TO-ENERGY TEAM HAVE EITHER MADE OUR CITY SAFER OR HAVE SAVED TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW HIRING AN ENERGY MANAGER HAS SAVED US OVER $1.4 MILLION IN ENERGY COSTS. THIS BUDGET IS OUR BLUEPRINT, A PLAN TO DELIVER CORE SERVICES, MODERNIZE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND INVEST IN TAMPA'S FUTURE. WE'RE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT ENSURES WE MAINTAIN OUR NEAR-PERFECT CREDIT RATING. TAMPA HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST MUNICIPAL BOND RATING IN THE NATION, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, SAVES OUR TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR. TAMPA IS ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES OUR SIZE IN THE NATION, AND THAT IS NO ACCIDENT. IT'S THE RESULT OF STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AND A RELENTLESS FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT'S WHY EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IN THE PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET IS SPENT ON TAMPA POLICE AND FIRE. AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR YEARS. IN 2026, WE'RE BRINGING IN 380 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, AND WE'RE SPENDING 455 MILLION ON POLICE AND FIRE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S A CLEAR REFLECTION OF OUR PRIORITIES, PROTECTING LIVES, PROPERTY, AND PEACE OF MIND. THIS IS A MESSAGE THAT WE WANT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO SHARE WITH THEIR LEGISLATORS IN TALLAHASSEE. PROPERTY TAXES FUND PUBLIC SAFETY. IN TAMPA, WE SUPPORT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THIS FUNDING. WHEN HURRICANE HELENE AND MILTON HIT, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ANSWERED OVER 15,000 EMERGENCY CALLS AND RESCUED HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS FROM RISING FLOODWATERS. BUT IT'S THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK THEY DO THAT KEEPS OUR CITY STRONG. CRIME IS DOWN OVER 20%. VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN 19%, AND HOMICIDES ARE DOWN 63% THIS YEAR ALONE. INITIATIVES LIKE THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE, OUR RICH HOUSES AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM ARE MAKING NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT FOR YEARS TO COME. THEY ARE MAKING THEM SAFER FOR THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE THE FUTURE. TAMPA FIRE RESCUE RESPONDED TO OVER 92,000 CALLS LAST YEAR. MANY OF THEM LIFESAVING MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. THAT'S WHY WE'VE PRIORITIZED THE TOOLS AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY NEED, FROM ADDING ADDITIONAL RESCUE UNITS, A PUMP TRUCK, NEW EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS OVER A HUNDRED ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS. PUBLIC SAFETY ISN'T JUST A BUDGET LINE ITEM, IT IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY. FOR MOST TAMPA RESIDENTS, LIFE AFTER THE HURRICANE LOOKS NORMAL AGAIN, BUT FOR TOO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LOST EVERYTHING, THE DEVASTATION STILL LINGERS. STORMS MAY PASS QUICKLY, BUT THEIR IMPACT LASTS. I SAW IT FIRSTHAND, HELPING FAMILIES HAUL OUT SOAKED FURNITURE AND SALVAGE WHAT THEY COULD FROM HOMES FLOODED BY HELENE AND MILTON. I UNDERSTAND THE VERY REAL FEAR THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THAT'S WHY THIS BUDGET PUTS A SHARP FOCUS ON RESILIENCE. WE CAN'T BUILD -- OUTBUILD NATURE, BUT WE CAN PREPARE. WE'VE LAUNCHED A PUMP STATION RAPID RESPONSE TEAM AND WE'RE INSTALLING TEMPORARY GENERATORS AT STORMWATER PUMPS IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS BUDGET INVESTS $11 BILLION TOWARD PERMANENT BACKUP GENERATORS THAT WILL BE INSTALLED OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. STORMWATER CREWS ARE WORKING SIX DAYS A WEEK CLEARING DEBRIS, KEEPING SYSTEMS MOVING, AND DELIVERING ON THE BASICS THAT MATTER THE MOST DURING STORMS. JUST IN THE PAST YEAR ALONE, WE'VE REMOVED 6,800 TONS OF DEBRIS FROM OUR DRAINS AND DITCHES AND OUR STREET SWEEPING TEAM HAS PREVENTED ANOTHER 5,580 TONS FROM ENTERING THE SYSTEM TO BEGIN WITH. COMBINED, THAT'S OVER 12,000 TONS OF YARD WASTE, LANDSCAPING, AND OTHER DEBRIS. WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED 350 MILLION IN MAJOR FLOOD RELIEF PROJECTS, INCLUDING 48 NATURE PARK WHICH SERVES BOTH AS FLOOD PROTECTION AND COMMUNITY GREENSPACE. WE FINISHED MAJOR PROJECTS IN SEMINOLE HEIGHTS AND IN SOUTH TAMPA. THESE PROJECTS HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE ALL ACROSS OUR CITY, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE. SINCE LAUNCHING THE PIPES PROGRAM, WE'VE REPLACED OVER 62 MILES OF AGING WATERLINES AND 200 MILES OF WASTEWATER PIPE. MANY OF THESE PIPES WERE OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD. AND IN 2026 WE'LL INVEST ANOTHER 79 MILLION INTO REPLACING THIS CRUMBLING, YET CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S ESSENTIAL TO OUR WELL-BEING. WE'RE ALSO LEADING THE NATION WITH THE FIRST SUSPENDED ION EXCHANGE SYSTEM TO REMOVE PFAS AND OTHER CHEMICALS FROM OUR DRINKING WATER, IMPROVING SAFETY WHILE CUTTING TREATMENT COSTS. AND THANKS TO THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR IN-HOUSE WATER REPAIR CREWS, WE'VE SAVED TAMPA TAXPAYERS OVER $15 MILLION BY FIXING MAIN BREAKS OURSELVES INSTEAD OF TURNING THOSE JOBS OVER TO CONTRACTORS. AS YOU KNOW, TAMPA IS A CITY ON THE MOVE. AND WE'RE MEETING OUR TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES WI%H SMART, EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS DESPITE THE HUGE BLOW OF LOSING THE SURTAX DOLLARS SUPPORTED OVERWHELMINGLY BY TAMPA VOTERS. WE RESURFACED OVER 235 MILES OF STREETS SINCE 2019 AND BY INVESTING IN TWO IN-HOUSE PAVING TEAMS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DOUBLE OUR PAVING CAPACITY AT HALF THE PRICE AND COMPLETE THE JOBS IN HALF THE TIME. AND WE ARE NOT STOPPING. THANKS TO THESE TEAMS, WE ALSO REPAIRED MORE FEET OF SIDEWALK IN THE PAST YEAR THAN THE CITY HAS DONE IN THE PAST DECADE. OUR RESURFACING TEAM'S WORK WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS FISCAL YEAR. IN 2026, WE'LL CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT OUR WALK-BIKE NETWORK. WE ALREADY ADDED 56 MILES OF BIKE LANES AND THIS BUDGET WILL EXPAND THE GREEN SPINE, COMPLETE THE FIRST TWO PHASES OF THE GREEN ARTERY AND CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE NEVER BEFORE. THESE TWO PROJECTS ALONE WILL CONNECT WEST TAMPA TO EAST TAMPA AND NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, SULPHUR SPRINGS AND EAST TAMPA TO OUR DOWNTOWN. THE NEW WEST RIVERWALK WILL BE MORE THAN A SCENIC PATH AND MOBILITY CORRIDOR. IT IS THE HUB OF OUR CITYWIDE WALK-BIKE NETWORK CONNECTING TAMPA'S NEIGHBORHOODS TOGETHER AND RESIDENTS TO JOBS, EDUCATION, AND SHOPPING. IT'S ALSO AN AMENITY THAT WILL SERVE AS AN ECONOMIC CATALYST FOR WEST TAMPA THAT ENSURES PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE RIVERFRONT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THIS BUDGET ALSO HELPS RESTORE DOWNTOWN STREET GRID TO IMPROVE CONNECTIONS AND REDUCE CONGESTION. IT TAKES CONCRETE STEPS TOWARD THE START OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE FUTURE STREETCAR EXTENSION BY MOVING FORWARD WITH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR BOTH PROJECT AND FUNDING OPERATIONS. THANKS TO OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACCELERATE, WHICH LAUNCHES NEXT MONTH, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE VIABLE CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR REGION'S TRANSPORTATION FUTURE, AND THAT INCLUDES BIG PROJECTS LIKE THE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN CONNECTION. AND YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT BRIGHT LINE PLANS TO ISSUE 400 MILLION IN BONDS TO FUND PART OF THE ORLANDO TO TAMPA EXTENSION. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS BRIGHT LINE EXTENSION. IT WILL FINALLY MAKE IT EASY FOR DISNEY FANS TO VISIT TAMPA BAY WHERE THE MAGIC INCLUDES STANLEY CUPS, SUPER BOWLS, BASEBALL AND SUNSETS THAT DON'T REQUIRE AN ADMISSION FEE. THE WORK IS HAPPENING. THE NETWORK IS FORMING, AND THE VISION IS COMING INTO FOCUS. WITH OVER 200 PARKS, WE'RE RAISING THE STANDARD FOR PUBLIC SPACE CITYWIDE. OF COURSE, THE CROWN JEWEL IS FAIR OAKS RECREATION COMPLEX, A 10-ACRE STATE-OF-THE-ART CAMPUS IN EAST TAMPA THAT REFLECTS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE COMMUNITY LEADS ON DESIGN. IT WILL FEATURE A SENIOR CENTER, BASKETBALL COURT, PI PICKLEBALL COURTS, CLASSROOMS, WEIGHT ROOMS AND SO MUCH MORE. IT IS NEARLY COMPLETE, AND IT WILL BE A GAME-CHANGER. MAINTAINING OUR PARKS ACROSS THE CITY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT. WE'RE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR BASIC UPGRADES AND IMPROVEMENTS AT NEIGHBORHOOD FACILITIES. AS WE ALL KNOW, HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE NATIONWIDE, BUT THIS CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION HAVE REMAINED STEADFAST ABOUT WORKING TO PREVENT OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS FROM BEING PRICED OUT OF TAMPA. HOME PRICES SURGED, AND WE ACTED. SINCE 2020, WE'VE ADDED 20,000 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, INCLUDING THOUSANDS OF AFFORDABLE HOMES. WE USED EVERY TOOL AVAILABLE, FROM ZONING REFORM TO DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, AND WE KEPT CONSTRUCTION MOVING WHILE OTHERS PAUSED. NOW RENTAL RATES HAVE RETURNED TO THE 2021 LEVELS. THAT'S PROGRESS, BUT WE DEFINITELY ARE NOT DONE. THIS FISCAL YEAR WE PROCESSED NEARLY 23,000 PERMITS REPRESENTING ALMOST $2.5 BILLION IN DEVELOPMENT. THE ARMY NAVY DEVELOPMENT WILL CREATE HUNDREDS OF AFFORDABLE AND MARKET RATE UNITS AND TRANSFORM A SURFACE PARKING LOT INTO A BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN GATEWAY. SMART GROWTH IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR NEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WITH CITY COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP, WE'LL ADD DENSITY WHERE IT MAKES SENSE ALONG COMMERCIAL AND TRANSIT CORRIDORS WHILE PROTECTING THE CHARACTER AND THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MAKE TAMPA UNIQUE. IT'S ALSO ABOUT BREAKING DOWN SILOS. THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WE NEED TO GROW IN A WAY THAT PRESERVES OUR QUALITY OF LIFE DEPENDS ON WHAT OUR FUTURE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE. WE'VE BUILT NEW NEIGHBORHOODS. WE'VE MODERNIZED INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'VE OPENED NEW PARKS, CREATED HOUSING, AND MADE OUR STREETS SAFER AND MORE CONNECTED. OUR STREETCAR IS ON TRACK FOR 1.4 MILLION RIDERS THIS YEAR. OUR RAINY DAY FUND IS STRONG. OUR BOND RATING IS AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, TAMPA'S MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME SURPASSES $70,000. TIME MAGAZINE SAYS TAMPA IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST PLACES. FORBES CALLS TAMPA THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN FLORIDA. AND THE FINANCIAL TIMES RANKS US THE TOP U.S. CITY FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS. BUT OUR GREATEST ASSET IS NOT A HEADLINE. IT'S OUR PEOPLE. IT'S IN HOW WE SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER WHEN THINGS GET HARD. IT'S IN HOW WE WORK TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE, AND IT'S HOW WE MOVE FORWARD UNITED AND GROUNDED IN PROGRESS. NOW, I'M PLEASED TO BRING UP OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DENNIS ROGERO. HE WILL GO INTO GREATER DETAIL ON THE FY 2026 BUDGET. COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. I APPRECIATE IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. DENNIS, DO YOU WANT TO PAUSE FOR A SECOND? I THINK TONY HAS SOMETHING TO DO. TONY MULKEY. TONY MULKEY SURPRISED US ALL LAST WEEK WITH A MEMO THAT HE IS LEAVING THE CITY OF TAMPA FOR BETTER GROUNDS IN PINELLAS COUNTY. TONY WAS OUR PARKS AND REC GUY AND ONE OF THE MOST GENUINE, PLEASANT PERSONS YOU COULD DEAL WITH THAT YOU POSSIBLY COULD THINK OF. YOU'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY 12.5 YEARS. WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF TAMPA. WE'RE REALLY SORRY TO SEE THAT YOU ARE DEPARTING. GLAD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO FIND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY. BUT WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. COUNCILMAN MIRANDA FIRST. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU, TONY. IF I MAY CALL YOU TONY. IN MY MANY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, YOU ARE A SHINING STAR. EVERY TIME OUR OFFICE CALLED, IT WAS ONE PERSON THAT RETURNED THE CALL AND THAT WAS YOURSELF. YOU DID IT EXPEDIENTLY, PROFESSIONALLY, AND WITH DIGNITY. MORE THAN THAT, I CAN'T SAY BECAUSE I KNOW THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS TOP-NOTCH. YOU GUYS TRY TO DO WHAT YOU CAN DO. MANY PARKS AND RECREATION CENTERS, THE PUBLIC IS NOT AWARE OF IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A BIG CITY. THEY ARE ALL EITHER BEING REPAIRED OR REDONE OR IN THE PLANS OF BEING REDONE AND REPAIRED. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR 12 YEARS OF SERVICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A NICE TIME IN PINELLAS COUNTY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY PROFESSIONAL, VERY POLITE. AS COUNCILMAN MIRANDA SAID, YOU ALWAYS ANSWER. AND MANY, MANY TIMES IT'S YOU PERSONALLY. WE GET A REQUEST FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A CONSTITUENT CONCERN OR QUESTION AND YOU ARE RIGHT THERE. YOU DON'T SEND OTHER PEOPLE. YOU'RE IN THE MEETING, YOU'RE PICKING UP THE PHONE, YOU'RE ANSWERING THE E-MAIL. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT AND WE CERTAINLY WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK MOVING FORWARD. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE BEING SUCCESSFUL, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: I SAID THIS TO YOU PRIVATELY BUT I'M VERY SAD THAT YOU ARE LEAVING. I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU THE LAST FEW YEARS. I THINK YOU HAD THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE, THE RIGHT TRAINING AND EVERYTHING AT THE RIGHT TIME. BROUGHT A LOT OF EXPERTISE. YOUR TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. YOU HAVE ALWAYS RESPONDED AND PERSONALLY RESPONDED EVERY TIME I HAD A CONSTITUENT ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPLICATED ISSUES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. IN PARTICULAR WHEN HAROLD WALKER WAS ALIVE, YOU PARTNERED WITH HIM AND THE COMMUNITY TO BRING RESOURCES INTO IMPORTANT PARKS IN SOUTH TAMPA AND EVEN HELPED WITH HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE AT JACKSON PARK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S OUR LOSS. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN'S GAIN. I'M SURE YOU'LL DO A FANTASTIC JOB AND STAYING IN TOUCH WITH YOU, SEEING THE GREAT THINGS YOU DO THERE. >>LUIS VIERA: I'LL ECHO WHAT FOLKS SAID. AGAIN, YOU DID A GREAT JOB HERE. YOU'RE ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH. IN DISTRICT 7, A DISTRICT THAT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO FIGHT A LITTLE HARDER TO GET THINGS IN DISTRICT 7 AND EVERYTHING. YOU ALWAYS DID A VERY GOOD JOB LISTENING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND WORKING WITH US. WE APPRECIATE IT. YOU'RE ALSO A VERY GOOD PERSON. A CONSCIENTIOUS PERSON, A DECENT PERSON. WE'VE HAD PERSONAL DISCUSSIONS. I GLEANED THAT FROM THAT OF YOUR DECENCY AND CONSCIOUSNESS AND WHAT A GOOD GUY YOU ARE. YOU WILL BE MISSED. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. I WILL ECHO WHAT MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER SAID. I'VE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM. NOT ONLY HAVE I ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU, I'VE HEARD WONDERFUL THINGS FROM YOUR STAFF ABOUT WORKING WITH YOU. I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES. SO WE ARE REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU. BEST OF LUCK AND GETTING A CHANCE TO WORK WITH THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM IS PRETTY COOL. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. BUT YOU'RE NOT THAT FAR AWAY. COME OVER AND HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. TAKE CARE. >>TONY MULKEY: TONY MULKEY, PARKS AND RECREATION. I'M HUMBLED. ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I DON'T LIKE THE PERSONAL ACCOLADES OR ANYTHING. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TEAM AND ABOUT THE GREAT STAFF IN PARKS AND RECREATION, THE GREAT COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH ALL OF MY TAMPA COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OUR GREAT TEAM. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME HERE. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF FUN THINGS. MOMENTUM WILL CONTINUE. THERE ARE A LOT OF PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE AS OUTLINED IN MAYOR CASTOR'S BUDGET AND MOVING FORWARD SOME THINGS THAT MIGHT FLY UNDER THE RADAR BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF LOCATIONS. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE FUTURE IN TAMPA. I THANK YOU ALL. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. APPRECIATE IT. [ APPLAUSE ] WE'VE GOT A RETIREMENT AS WELL. TOM DEA, ARE YOU BACK THERE? IF YOU ARE, COME ON UP. MR. DEA, IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR PARTNER IN CRIME JUST RETIRED YESTERDAY. HERE YOU ARE FLEEING THAT LITTLE CUBICLE BACK THERE. >> YEAH. JUST A COINCIDENCE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: 33 YEARS OF SERVICE FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA. WOW. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, YOU ALL DON'T SEE HIM, BUT HE'S BACK IN THIS LITTLE ROOM NEXT TO COUNCIL. HE IS THE ONE THAT BASICALLY RUNS THIS SHOW. FOR THOSE OF YOU LISTENING ON YouTube OR SOME OTHER STREAMING DEVICE, IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS GENTLEMAN THAT YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO DO THAT AND MAKES THE CITY COUNCIL LOOK AS EFFICIENT AS WE DO FOR THE PUBLIC. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR THE TIME THAT I'VE WORKED WITH YOU NOW AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE BACK THERE, THE MAGIC THAT YOU GUYS PULL OFF, IT'S NOT GONE UNNOTICED. MAYBE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY RETIRE BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR 33 YEARS OF SERVICE. IN FACT, I THINK YOU INSTALLED BETWEEN LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK, SO NOW YOU CAN HEAR ALL OF US. BEFORE THEY WERE SMALL AND YOU HAD TO BEND OVER AND SOME OF US DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE. IT'S A WONDERFUL THING THAT YOU'VE DONE. I REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN THERE WAS NO TV. THERE WAS NOTHING HERE BUT JUST AN AUDITORIUM. YOU GUYS FROM WORKING FROM THAT TIME ON HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB FOR THE CITIZENS OF TAMPA SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITY IS GOING THROUGH ON A DAILY BASIS. CONGRATULATIONS. HAPPY RETIREMENT. ENJOY YOURSELF. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: I WANTED TO ECHO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT IN FRONT OF THE SCENES MOST OF THE TIME. PEOPLE DON'T SEE HOW YOU HELP US ALL LOOK GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THROUGH COVID AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH. I HOPE YOU DO SOME GREAT THINGS IN YOUR RETIREMENT FROM RELAXING TO DOING WHAT BRIAN IS DOING. I'M HAVING FUN WATCHING HIS ADVENTURES. LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING YOURS AS WELL. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: CONGRATULATIONS, SIR, ON YOUR RETIREMENT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. YOU ARE BEHIND THE SCENES. YOU SIT THROUGH MANY LONG HOURS. PEOPLE DON'T SEE YOU. THEY SEE YOU NOW, BUT YOU MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN. WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE. BRIAN YOU. WE JUST HAD MR. MULKEY, BUT WELL DESERVED. YOU'VE COMMITTED SO MANY YEARS HERE, AND YOU'VE DONE A LOT. AS WAS MENTIONED DURING COVID, IT WAS VERY COMPLICATED AND TRICKY. BUT THE TEAM WAS THERE DOING EVERYTHING, MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND HAPPY RETIREMENT, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: YES, SIR. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF TAMPA. AGAIN, BEING BEHIND THE SCENES IS NEVER EASY, ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG AND THEY GO, WHO CAN WE BLAME? THAT GUY. YOU ALWAYS DO A GOOD JOB AND ALWAYS A SMILING FACE. GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR RETIREMENT AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? >> TOM DEA: MOSTLY WORK AROUND THE HOUSE. MY WIFE HAS A PRETTY BIG TO-DO LIST. WE'LL DO A LITTLE TRAVELING. GENERALLY JUST RELAXING, ENJOYING MYSELF. >>LYNN HURTAK: WONDERFUL. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE COMPLETELY EARNED IT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO BRING US TO THE 21st CENTURY. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE LEAVING IN CAPABLE HANDS MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE HELPED SHEPHERD INTO THIS CAREER. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT'S AMAZING WHAT COUNCILMAN VIERA SAID ABOUT THINGS GO WRONG, IT'S REALLY RARE. AND IF THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG, GENERALLY IT'S COMPLETELY INVISIBLE TO THOSE -- TO US. CONSIDERING HOW MANY MOVING PARTS THERE IS TO THE AUTOMATION AND WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING BACK THERE WITH PRESENTATIONS AND THE AUDIO AND THE VIDEO AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO DEAL WITH, IT'S DAMN NEAR FLAWLESS. THAT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT. SO WE APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU BEHIND THE SCENES THAT MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> TOM DEA: THANK YOU COUNCIL. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR THE PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME AND ON YouTube AND ALL THE STREAMING CHANNELS THAT IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES, THEY DON'T SEE THEM. EVERYTHING SHOULD BE FLAWLESS TO THEM. EVERYTHING SHOULD WORK THE WAY IT SHOULD. THE VIRTUAL STUFF WHEN WE ADD THAT, YOU WERE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH SOMEBODY ON THE VIRTUAL AND THERE ARE NO ISSUES THERE. WE STRIVE TO CONSTANTLY MAKE THAT WORK AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I THINK IN THE 33 YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER MISSED A FULL MEETING. WE'VE HAD A FEW ISSUES HERE AND THERE. I REMEMBER ONE TIME BACK IN THE '90s WE HAD A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT BURN OUT AND SMOKE AND WHATNOT IN THE CONTROL ROOM, AND WE HAD TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING FOR A FEW MINUTES. I REMEMBER RUNNING OUT WITH THE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. I HAD TO QUICKLY UNSCREW THINGS AND RUNNING OUT WITH A SMOKING PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO PUT IT OUTSIDE THE BUILDING. BUT THEN WE RESUMED THE MEETING FIVE MINUTES, TEN MINUTES LATER. I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER MISSED A FULL MEETING. WHEN I STARTED HERE 33 YEARS AGO, I NEVER ENVISIONED THAT I WOULD STILL BE HERE TODAY AND RETIRING FROM THE CITY. I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY DOES WHEN THEY FIRST START WORKING LIKE THAT. BUT THE CITY HAS BECOME MY FAMILY. I LOVE WORKING FOR THE CITY. I LOVE ALL THE WORK I DO, INCLUDING DOING ALL THE MEETINGS. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF MEETINGS OVER THE YEARS. I THINK THE LONGEST MEETING WE EVER DID WAS AT THE TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER BACK IN 1999 BETWEEN THE MORNING MEETING ON THAT THURSDAY, THE THREE HOURS IN HERE AND THEN MOVING TO THE CONVENTION CENTER WHICH THAT MEETING STARTED AT 1:00 AND WRAPPED UP AT 4:30 IN THE MORNING. WE DID ABOUT 17.5 HOURS OF MEETINGS THAT DAY. THAT WAS A LONG DAY. BUT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. I KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF RESPONSE ABOUT THAT. PEOPLE REALLY WANTED TO SEE ALL THE SPEAKERS AND WHATNOT. IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING DAY. OF COURSE, I COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT MY STAFF. I HAVE A GREAT STAFF. BEHIND ME WERE A SMALL BUT VERY EFFICIENT STAFF. THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND I WOULD BE NOWHERE WITHOUT MY STAFF. I'VE HAD GREAT STAFF PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS. GREAT SUPPORT FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS I'VE WORKED WITH. AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO HAVE WORKED FOR THE CITY. I'LL MISS IT A LITTLE BIT. I MAY TUNE INTO SOME MEETINGS OCCASIONALLY WHEN I'M AT HOME BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO DOING ALL THE STUFF. BUT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO RETIREMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN MIRANDA WOULD -- >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I WAS LISTENING TO EVERYTHING YOU SAID. WHEN YOU SAID ABOUT THAT ONE MEETING, THAT NIGHT LASTED ABOUT 3 IN THE MORNING, REGARDING THE SIX-FOOT RULE IF I RECALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GOING THROUGH ALL THAT. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FASCINATING TESTIMONY, TOO. [ LAUGHTER ] >> TOM DEA: IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT. >> TOM DEA: THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. [ APPLAUSE ] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: DENNIS ROGERO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE IN ALLOWING US TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THE STAGE IS YOURS. I KNOW YOU WILL TELL US WE HAVE MORE MONEY THAN WE KNOW WHAT TO DO AND EXPENSES ARE DOWN. >>DENNIS ROGERO: DENNIS ROGERO, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. THANKS AS ALWAYS FOR HAVING US HERE AND ALLOWING US TO PRESENT AND ENHANCE AND EXPAND UPON WHAT THE MAYOR PRESENTED IN TERMS OF FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET. AS WE DID LAST YEAR, WE'RE BRINGING -- I THINK WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE NEW NORMAL NOW. WE'RE BRINGING THIS TO YOU WEEKS EARLY. I THINK THREE WEEKS EARLY THAN MOST OF THE TIME DENNIS HAS BEEN IN THE CITY OF TAMPA. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT BECOME THE NEW NORMAL BECAUSE I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED, THIS EXTRA TIME TO DISCUSS, QUESTION, RESEARCH, ET CETERA. THE BUDGET THAT YOU'RE SEEING NOW WILL BE AVAILABLE ALONG WITH THE BUDGET IN ITS ENTIRETY AT NOON TODAY ON THE INTERNET. FIRST, LET ME ENSURE YOU HAVE THE PRESENTATION HARD COPY IN FRONT OF YOU. >> YES. >>DENNIS ROGERO: OUTSTANDING. IN THAT CASE, CAN I HAVE THE PRESENTATION UP, PLEASE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND HERE IS OUR TABLE OF CONTENTS. IT'S MOSTLY TYPICAL. WE'VE ADDED A FEW THINGS. WE'LL JUMP INTO THE MEAT OF IT WITH THE RECOMMENDED CAPITAL BUDGET. THERE ARE ITEMS THAT HAVE RECEIVED SPECIFIC ATTENTION FROM COUNCIL. FIRST OF ALL, THE FISCAL YEAR 24 FUND BALANCE THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING. ABOUT 11.8 MILLION IN PLAY. SOME CHANGES TO THE SOCIAL ACTION AND ARTS FUND BEING RECOMMENDED TO YOU AND ALSO CHANGES TO HOUSING FUNDING WE'RE RECOMMENDING. AT COUNCIL'S REQUEST, WE ADDED A SECTION WITH DETAIL ABOUT THE STORMWATER FUNDING HISTORY. GET INTO THAT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, AS COUNCIL IS USED TO SEEING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND THE CLOSELY RELATED DEBT PROGRAM. WE'VE GOTTEN MORE AND MORE DETAILED AS COUNCIL KNOWS IN THE PAST IN TERMS OF OUR DEBT FUNDING. I REALLY THINK, AGAIN, IT'S LED TO A GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND DEEPER AND MORE QUALITY DISCUSSION ABOUT BOTH DEBT AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. HERE IT IS. THE NET FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET FOR ALL FUNDS IS JUST UNDER $2 BILLION. INCREASING OVER THE CURRENT YEAR DUE TO ITEMS THAT YOU'RE USED TO HEARING BY NOW, HIGHER SALARIES, COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, HEALTH CARE COSTS, ADDITIONAL POSITIONS. OF COURSE, INFLATIONARY COSTS. VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. THE CONTINUING ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FROM PROPERTY TAXES. AND CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS. YOU SEE HERE, AS WE ALWAYS DO A BREAKOUT OF THE MAJOR FUNDS, ESPECIALLY THE TWO WE TALK ABOUT THE MOST, THE GENERAL FUND AND THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. AS HAS BEEN TYPICAL, THEY TAKE UP ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE BUDGET. WE'LL BREAK THOSE DOWN FURTHER AS WE GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION. THEN INTO YOUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, THESE INCLUDE, FOR INSTANCE, YOUR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, YOUR HOUSING. CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS, OF COURSE, INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, THESE INCLUDE SUCH DEPARTMENTS AS FLEET MAINTENANCE, THOSE THAT SERVE CUSTOMERS INTERNALLY, THAT SERVE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CITY. TRUST AND AGENCY FUNDS, COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. THIS IS FUNDING THAT DOESN'T BELONG TO THE CITY BUT WE CARETAKE IT AND ROUNDING IT OUT, DEBT SERVICE FUNDS, ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE FUND PAYMENTS. BREAKING OUT THE GENERAL FUND AND THE ENTERPRISE FUND, AGAIN, WHERE WE DIRECT A GREAT DEAL OF OUR ATTENTION. THE GENERAL FUND ON THE LEFT, YOU ALSO SEE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY TAKES UP MORE THAN HALF, ABOUT 60% OF THE GENERAL FUND IN ITS ENTIRETY. YOU'VE GOT YOUR BACK-OFFICE FUNCTIONS, ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT, INCLUDES REVENUE AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION. THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND PERSONNEL BEHIND THE SCENES THAT KEEP THE CITY RUNNING. PARKS AND RECREATION, NICE CHUNK THERE AT OVER 10%. PUBLIC WORKS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING THE TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER. ALL TOLD, JUST OVER $708 MILLION RECOMMENDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 26. ON THE RIGHT AND EVEN LARGER CHUNK JUST UNDER 814 MILLION, THESE ARE THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. AS COUNCIL KNOWS BUT WORTH REMINDING THE PUBLIC, THESE ARE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE EXPECT THEM TO RUN LIKE A BUSINESS. WE EXPECT THEM TO MAKE IN AIR QUOTES PROFIT. THE PRIMARY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE DEPARTMENTS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS WHEN THEY MAKE A PROFIT, IT'S REINVESTED INTO THEIR FUNCTIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY. AND, OF COURSE, WASTEWATER AND WATER, OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, NOT UNEXPECTED, SOLID WASTE, ANOTHER HEAVY HITTER AT JUST UNDER 17%. PARKING FUND, AS YOU KNOW, IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND, DOING VERY, VERY WELL. AND VERY SLIGHT SLIVER AT THE TOP THERE WITH OUR GOLF COURSES. THE MAYOR REFERENCED THIS SLIDE AND AT COUNCIL'S REQUEST WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT IT. THIS IS A COMPARISON OF WHAT THE CITY IS ANTICIPATED TO BRING IN PROPERTY TAXES NEXT YEAR AND WHAT WE ANTICIPATE WE'LL SPEND ON JUST POLICE AND FIRE. AS THE MAYOR SAID AND I'LL REITERATE, IT'S OBVIOUS, PROPERTY TAXES DON'T COME NEAR THE REQUIREMENT TO PAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES IN THE CITY. UPPER RIGHT, TOTAL PROPERTY TAX LITTLE OVER $380 MILLION. BUT, AGAIN, WE SIPHON OFF NEARLY $60 MILLION OF THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES. WE HAVE $320 MILLION TO THROW AT JUST OVER $414 MILLION FOR POLICE AND FIRE. DON'T WANT TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE BUT IT IS OBVIOUS PROPERTY TAXES DON'T MEET NEAR THE NEEDS THE ENTIRETY OF THE CITY LET ALONE THE NEEDS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. I'LL REMIND COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC THAT PROPERTY TAXES ARE OUR LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE AND CERTAINLY THE LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE IN THE GENERAL FUND. SO A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT REVENUE COMPONENT, BUT BY NO MEANS THE ONLY REVENUE COMPONENT THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHEN WE WANT TO FUND THESE SERVICES. THIS YEAR, WE ALSO ADDED A SLIDE THAT INCLUDES PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT OF OVER $70 MILLION. AGAIN, IT COULD BE ANECDOTALLY, WHEN I TALK TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OR HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS, TYPICALLY THERE IS A VERY, VERY BIG FOCUS ON PROPERTY TAXES AND I UNDERSTAND WHY. I'VE MET PEOPLE WHO THINK THE ENTIRETY OF THE CITY IS FUNDED VIA PROPERTY TAXES. AGAIN THIS BRINGS IT HOME THAT THAT'S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE. WE USE MANY OTHER REVENUE SOURCES EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ONE. CONTINUING WITH THE GENERAL FUND AND A SLIDE -- PICTURE THIS -- NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART ARE ANTICIPATED FUND BALANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 AND OUR HISTORY OF UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE BACK TO 2018. I'VE CONGRATULATED COUNCIL BEFORE. I'M GOING TO CONGRATULATE YOU AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY, VERY STABLE, CONFIDENT FINANCIAL PICTURE FOR THE GENERAL FUND. MY COMPLIMENTS FOR CONTINUING AND MY THANKS FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THIS LEVEL OF UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE AT 23, 24 PERCENT, EXCEPT, OF COURSE, AS I ALWAYS STATE FOR THOSE COVID YEARS WHERE YOU SEE A BLIP FOR 28 AND 27 PERCENT. VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AS YOU'VE HEARD ME STATE BEFORE AND I'LL STATE AGAIN, WHEN WE GET TO THE DEBT PRESENTATION, AN IMPORTANT METRIC FOR THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES, AN IMPORTANT METRIC FOR INVESTORS WHEN WE GO TO THE MARKET AND TRY TO SELL THE CITY'S DEBT. VERY, VERY GOOD HISTORY AND INDICATION OF WHAT OUR REPUTATION IS, A CONSERVATIVE, WELL THOUGHT OUT, LONG TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING MODEL. AS WE DID LAST YEAR AND I THINK THE NEW NORMAL, IDENTIFY IN THE GENERAL FUND THE MAJOR REVENUE COMPONENTS THAT HAD INCREASED FROM THE CURRENT YEAR TO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET WE'RE SHARING TODAY. YOU SEE PROPERTY TAX A LITTLE OVER 26 MILLION. JUDGMENT AND FINES AT JUST UNDER 16 MILLION AND THE PRIMARY COMPONENT OF THAT AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE'VE ISOLATED IT ARE THE SCHOOL SAFETY SPEED CAMERAS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE. THIS IS A VERY NICE SIDE EFFECT BUT I WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE CAMERAS IS THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, BUT WE DO ANTICIPATE WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND MONEY FROM IT. MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES, NOT A BAD COMPONENT. 6.5 MILLION. A LITTLE BIT OF UTILITY TAX IN THERE, A LITTLE BIT OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES TAX. AT THE VERY BOTTOM AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE TALK ABOUT THIS OFTEN, BUT IT'S WORTH HIGHLIGHTING. THIS IS WHAT WE AFFECTIONATELY CALL THE PILOT AND PILOF, PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES AND PAYMENT IN LIEU OF FRANCHISE FEES. THESE ARE FEES -- WAS GOING TO SAY FINES -- FEES AND CHARGES THAT THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS PAY FOR UTILIZING THE RIGHTS-OF-WAY OF THE CITY. AGAIN, IF THEY ARE GOING TO OPERATE LIKE A BUSINESS AND ACME WANTS TO USE OUR RIGHTS-OF-WAY, WE CHARGE THEM. CHARGE THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR THIS ALSO. INFLUX INTO THE GENERAL FUND AND IT'S NOT A BAD AMOUNT, LITTLE OVER $5 MILLION. TOTAL REVENUE INCREASES, MAJOR REVENUE INCREASES JUST OVER $53 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR '26. IF I COULD DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION BACK TO THE PROPERTY TAXES VERY QUICKLY. $26.2 MILLION, WE'LL TAKE IT. IT'S NOT BAD. IT REPRESENTS A SEVEN-ISH PERCENT INCREASE IN TAXABLE VALUE. IT IS LESS THAN WE WERE BRINGING IN JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THOUGH. I THINK IT STANDS IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE 400 PLUS MILLION THAT IT TAKES TO FUND POLICE, FIRE, AND PARKS AND RECREATION. WE'LL GLADLY TAKE 26 MILLION, BUT THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH HAS BEEN DECREASING WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. ALL OF THIS I SAY BECAUSE IT LEADS TO A PRETTY CONSTRICTED BUDGET. WE'LL GET INTO MORE DETAIL WITH THAT IN JUST A MOMENT. AS WE DID LAST YEAR, AND I THINK WE'LL DO FROM HERE ON OUT ALSO, WE ATTEMPT TO MATCH THE MAJOR REVENUE INCREASES TO THE MAJOR EXPENDITURE INCREASES. I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY USEFUL TOOL ALSO. AT THE TOP, NO SURPRISE, COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS AT $30 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL COSTS. NEW POSITIONS OF ABOUT 4.5, IF TEs. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE JARGON. FOR THE PUBLIC, FTE STANDS FOR FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT. THE BEST PRACTICE IN FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IS TO GET A LITTLE BIT AWAY FROM THE TERM "POSITION" BECAUSE POSITION CAN BE FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, SEASONAL, ET CETERA. SO TO MAKE COMPARISON CONSISTENT, YEAR TO YEAR AND LOCALITY TO LOCALITY, WE TALK ABOUT FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT. 4.5 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT SPOTS HAVE BEEN ADDED IN '26 AT A LITTLE OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. AGAIN, YOU SEE THE CRA CONTRIBUTIONS. TECO STREETCAR INCREASED $2 MILLION. HART ROUTE 1 GONE UP JUST UNDER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. AND THEN AS WE DID LAST YEAR, WE BROKE DOWN THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER INCREASING THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE RIGHT NOW -- INCREASING THE COST,ING IN THE LEVEL OF SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE RIGHT NOW AND THE COST TO PROVIDE NEW SERVICES. AGAIN, OUR OVERWHELMING PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THE CITY PROVIDES DOES NOT GO BACKWARDS. DOES NOT TAKE A STEP BACK. TO DO THAT, IT'S GOING TO COST NEARLY $10 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND IN FISCAL YEAR '26. LITTLE OVER $2.5 MILLION FOR THE INCREASED LEVELS OF SERVICES. OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY AND WE'LL BREAK ALL OF THIS DOWN FOR YOU. AND NEW SERVICES AT 2.5 MILLION. LAST TWO LINE ITEMS, INCREASING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE AND NEW SERVICES. IT'S A LITTLE OVER $5 MILLION. AGAIN, GREAT SCALE OF THINGS, NOT A LOT. NOT A LOT. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE WHAT WE'RE DOING, NOR TO BRING ON NEW SERVICES. AGAIN, WHEN YOU THROW THAT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS AND JUXTAPOSE IT AGAINST THE MASSIVE, MASSIVE FUNDING OF THE ENTIRE GENERAL FUND. I WILL REITERATE, IT MAKES FOR A PRETTY CONSTRICTED BUDGET. MOVING INTO CITYWIDE POSITION SUMMARY, AND WE PROVIDED THIS LAST YEAR. AGAIN, I THINK A VERY, VERY VALUABLE TOOL. WE BREAK DOWN AT THE LOWER HALF OF THE CHART THE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WE'RE REQUESTING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. WE ALSO PROVIDE AT THE TOP OF THE CHART, A COMPARISON TO WHAT OUR POSITION COUNT WAS AT OUR HIGH-WATER MARK IN 2007, RIGHT BEFORE THE GREAT FINANCIAL CRISIS. WE'RE STILL NINE POSITIONS OR NINE FTEs BELOW THAT LEVEL. YOU CAN SEE IN FISCAL YEAR '26 WE'RE ASKING FOR A TOTAL OF 24.5 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS. AND, OF COURSE, FROM MOST, SOLID WASTE, FLEET MAINTENANCE, FIRE TAKING UP THE BULK. AT COUNCIL'S REQUEST, WE HAVE PROVIDED A HISTORY OF ADDITIONAL POSITIONS FROM 2019 TO 2026, YOU HEARD THE MAYOR REFERENCE PORTIONS OF THIS IN HER PRESENTATION. AT THE TOP, OVER 122 POSITIONS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I WON'T READ EACH ONE, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF CONCENTRATED IN PUBLIC SAFETY, UTILITIES, AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. CONTINUING WITH THE POSITION THEME, RATIO OF EMPLOYEES TO POPULATION CONTINUES TO DECLINE. IT HAS DECLINED FROM 2022 TO 2023 TO 2024 TO 2025. WE ARE NOW THE LOWEST PERSONNEL TO POPULATION RATIO AMONG OUR PEERS, JUST UNDER THE CITY OF ORLANDO. ALL OF THIS, OF COURSE, WHILE THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND SERVICE DEMANDS CONTINUE TO EXPAND. I WOULD SUBMIT THIS AS YET ANOTHER PART OF OUR CONSERVATIVE FISCAL MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY. CONTINUING WITH COMPARISONS, NO SURPRISE HERE, OUR CITY MILLAGE COMPARISONS TO OUR PEERS, WE REMAIN AND HAVE REMAINED FOR SOME TIME, YOU SEE THE LOWEST MILLAGE OF THE FOUR CITY COMPARISON TAMPA ORLANDO ST. PETERSBURG, AND MIAMI. THE COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM, WE LIKE TO SHOW THIS COMPARISON EVERY YEAR. WE LIKE TO SHOW IT A LITTLE BIT LESS THIS YEAR. WE HAD A GREAT RUN. I DON'T THINK THE RUN IS GOING TO END, BUT WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY HIT A LULL IN FISCAL YEAR '25. YOU SEE ALMOST QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS IN GRANTS AWARDED SINCE 2017 AND THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THAT IN THE FIVE YEARS FROM 2020 TO 2024. I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU SOME OF THE UNCERTAINTY ASSOCIATED WITH AWARDS COMING OUT OF THE WASHINGTON. WE STILL HAVE A VERY AGGRESSIVE APPLICATION PROGRAM, A VERY GOOD MONITORING PROGRAM, BUT IT APPEARS FEAST OR FAMINE RIGHT NOW AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A FAMINE. I'M NOT GIVING UP HOPE BY ANY MEANS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN WHAT WE APPLY FOR BUT THE AWARDS HAVE BEEN PRETTY SCANT SO FAR IN FISCAL YEAR '25. IF I COULD DRILL DOWN A LITTLE TO THREE PARTICULAR ITEMS, FISCAL YEAR '24 FUND BALANCE, SOCIAL ACTION IN ARTS FUND AND THE HOUSING FUND. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION, SIR? BETTER VIEW. UNDERSTOOD. UNDERSTOOD. FISCAL YEAR '24 FUND BALANCE, COUNCIL WILL RECALL THESE ARE THE PARTICULAR CATEGORIES WE IDENTIFIED. IN THE MIDDLE COLUMN, THE PARTICULAR AMOUNTS COUNCIL REQUESTED THAT WE ALLOCATE THE FUND BALANCE TO. FAR RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THE MAYOR RECOMMENDED ALLOCATING THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF WHAT COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED TO THESE PARTICULAR CATEGORIES. A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN COUNCIL REQUESTED FOR HOUSING, FLOODING ASSISTANCE, AND ABOUT HALF OF THE REQUEST FOR RESURFACING. WHAT THAT LEAVES IN PLAY, OF COURSE, IS ABOUT $2 MILLION. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD PREFER TO HOLD THAT IN ABEYANCE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. I WON'T BEAT A DEAD HORSE ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY GOING ON IN THE ECONOMY AND THE CITY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. WE'RE VERY STRONG BUT A GREAT DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY OUT THERE. WE REMAIN IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNITS. FROM A RESURFACING PERSPECTIVE, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T IDENTIFY FUNDING WHEN WE CAN THAT CAN'T BE SPENT VERY, VERY QUICKLY. SO ALL TOLD, I BELIEVE WE'RE RECOMMENDING AGAIN A GREAT DEAL OF WHAT COUNCIL REQUESTED IN THOSE CATEGORIES THAT COUNCIL REQUESTED. SHOULD COUNCIL ACCEPT THIS AND WANT TO GO FORWARD, WE CAN HAVE A FINANCIAL RESOLUTION READY TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS I THINK AS SOON AS THE NEXT -- CAN WE GET THAT IN TIME FOR THE 31st? COPY. AGAIN, NOT TO GET WONKISH, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDING SO WE CAN SPEND IT BECAUSE IT IS HELD IN A FUND BALANCE RIGHT NOW. IN THE SOCIAL ACTIONS AND ARTS FUND, AGAIN, A CONSTRICTED BUDGET AND WE HAD TO MAKE REDUCTIONS IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA. FROM ABOUT 2 -- TWO POINT, ALMOST $3 MILLION, WE SET ASIDE SOME COMPONENTS AND ARE LEFT WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION OF $1 MILLION FOR NONPROFITS. AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, WE ENVISION A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH COUNCIL MEMBER AND $300,000 FOR COUNCIL IN THEIR ENTIRETY FOR A TOTAL OF $1 MILLION. WE HAVE EXCLUDED CITY ASSETS ON THE PRESUMPTION THAT COUNCIL WILL WANT TO CONTINUE TO FUND THOSE ASSETS AT THE SAME LEVEL IN FISCAL YEAR '26. THAT WOULD BE THE AQUARIUM, THE STRAZ CENTER, THE ZOO, ET CETERA. WE HAVE ALSO, I BELIEVE THIS WAS AT COUNCIL'S REQUEST, SEGREGATED THE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FUNDING OF ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. SO IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, THOSE CONTINUE JUST AS THEY ARE IN THE CURRENT YEAR. CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOUSING. AGAIN, A VERY TIGHT BUDGET. I'LL TRY TO WALK YOU THROUGH THIS. I APOLOGIZE. IT MAY BE A BIT CONVOLUTED. AT THE TOP, YOU HAVE THE FISCAL YEAR '25, THE CURRENT YEAR GENERAL FUND SUPPLEMENT TO THE HOUSING PROGRAM AT $9.7 MILLION. WE HAVE REDUCED THE GENERAL FUND COMPONENT SIGNIFICANTLY AND ARE RECOMMENDING REPLACING IT IN FISCAL YEAR '26 YOU SEE HERE FROM AN EXISTING HOUSING FUND BALANCE. WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE REVENUE AND FINANCE WORLD IS TURN THE HOUSING FUND INTO A REVOLVING FUND. ELIMINATING THE NEED TO REAPPROPRIATE THE FUNDING EVERY YEAR AND ALLOWING MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO SPEND THAT FUNDING AS THEY NEED IT. FROM A PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, WE THINK THAT'S AN IMPROVEMENT. WHAT IT ALLOWS US TO DO IS MITIGATE THE GENERAL FUND SUPPLEMENT YOU SEE TO THE TUNE OF 5.7 MILLION. AND THEN SHOULD COUNCIL ACCEPT IT, HERE IS THE $2 MILLION FROM THE FISCAL YEAR FROM LAST YEAR'S GENERAL FUND BALANCE. AND THEN YOU SEE THE TOTAL AT THE BOTTOM FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES, WE'RE GOING FROM A LITTLE UNDER 10 MILLION TO A LITTLE UNDER 8 MILLION. SO A $2 MILLION HIT. WHAT I WOULD POINT OUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE IS THERE ARE WHAT WE THINK AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL HOUSING FUNDING IN THE FUTURE. OF COURSE, COUNCIL I BELIEVE AS THE CRA BOARD HAS MADE A COMMITMENT OF 30% I THINK IT IS IN THE CRAs AND THEN WE'LL HAVE, I THINK, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH YOU VERY SOON ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR DISASTER RECOVERY. A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, COUNCIL I THINK KNOWS THIS, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC, THIS IS AN OVER $700 MILLION GRANT THAT HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HAS RECEIVED ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORMS LAST YEAR. YESTERDAY, THE COUNTY COMMISSION APPROVED THEIR PLAN TO SEND TO THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IN AUGUST. IT'S UP TO HUD NOW TO APPROVE THAT. AND IT IS OVERWHELMINGLY HOUSING CENTRIC. WE DON'T KNOW YET HOW MUCH, BUT WE ANTICIPATE CITY OF TAMPA IS GOING TO GET A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING FROM THIS GRANT, PRIMARILY FOR HOUSING PURPOSES. AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE, BUT EYES WIDE OPEN, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT A $2 MILLION REDUCTION IN HOUSING FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET. MOVING. >>ALAN CLEMOVING INTO STORMWATER AND GOING BACK TO 2015 AND 17 RESPECTFULLY, A HISTORY OF REVENUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TWO ASSESSMENTS. FIRST UP, I'LL PUT A PLUG IN FOR THE SERVICE ASSESSMENT RATE STUDY. WE'RE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW FOR POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET. OF COURSE, WE'LL BRING COUNCIL ALONG EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND ULTIMATELY IT WILL BE COUNCIL'S DECISION. THIS IS THE SERVICE ASSESSMENT FOR OPERATIONS AS OPPOSED TO THE IMPROVEMENT ASSESSMENT FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS WHICH WE'LL GET INTO IN JUST A MINUTE. I BELIEVE YOU HEARD THE MAYOR SAID STORMWATER. INVESTED 350 MILLION IN MAKING TAMPA MORE RESILIENT SINCE 2019. I BELIEVE SHE ALSO REFERENCED INVESTING IN JUST UNDER $40 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. NEW AND REPLACEMENT VEHICLES YOU SEE AS THE FOURTH BULLET OF 3.3 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR '26. GIVE THE GENERAL FUND CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE, WE HAD AN ONGOING SUBSIDY IN THE GENERAL FUND OF $2 MILLION FOR THE STORMWATER SYSTEM. THAT INCREASED TO $3 MILLION IN THE CURRENT YEAR AND WE'RE INCREASING IT YET AGAIN TO $4 MILLION IN THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY. DRILLING DOWN INTO THE SERVICE ASSESSMENT, AGAIN, THIS IS FOR OPERATIONS. HERE YOU SEE THE HISTORY SINCE 2015 OF THAT ASSESSMENT, ALONG WITH THE REVENUES, ALONG WITH THE EXPENSES. STARTING IN 2015, YOU SEE IT BECAME EFFECTIVE IN 2016. YOU SEE THE BUMP THERE. WE ALSO HAD A LOAN FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO DO SOME STORMWATER PROJECTS. AND AS WE STARTED COLLECTING THE REVENUE IN GREEN, FOR THE MOST PART, YOU SEE THAT THE EXPENSES HAVE PRETTY MUCH KEPT PACE. NOW, AGAIN, WORTH SAYING THAT STORMWATER CARRIES THEIR OWN FUND BALANCE AND ALSO I'LL REITERATE THAT THE GENERAL FUND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A SUPPLEMENT. BUT A PRETTY STATIC AND LEVEL AND CONSISTENT PICTURE SINCE ABOUT 2018 OF IN-FLOWS AND OUT-FLOWS IN THE STORMWATER ASSESSMENT FUND. AGAIN, AT COUNCIL'S REQUEST, YOU REQUESTED A HISTORY OF THE IMPROVEMENT ASSESSMENT REVENUE SINCE ITS INAUGURATION IN 2017. HERE YOU SEE A NICE UPTICK UP TO ABOUT '24 WHERE WE'VE KIND OF PLATEAUED OUT. AGAIN, THESE ARE FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORMWATER PROGRAM. MOVING INTO OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AS WE DO, YOU SEE OUR FIVE-YEAR PLAN HERE, A LITTLE OVER $1.7 BILLION AND A LITTLE OVER $420 MILLION JUST IN FISCAL YEAR '26. NO SURPRISE AS IS TYPICAL, YOU SEE THE MAJORITY IN THE UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION AREAS, ALTHOUGH I WILL POINT OUT AT THE TOP THERE, THE CRA HAS A NICE CHUNK AND FIRE RESCUE, ESPECIALLY OVER THE COURSE OF THOSE FIVE YEARS TO THE RIGHT, OVER $125 MILLION. AS WE TYPICALLY DO, WE HIGHLIGHT MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON BOTH BY CATEGORY AND IN EACH DISTRICT. I WON'T READ THEM TO YOU UNLESS YOU'D LIKE ME TO, BUT YOU'LL SEE MANY REPEAT PERFORMERS FROM THE CURRENT YEAR AS THESE PROJECTS CONTINUE TO BE WORKED ON AND DONE. PIPES AT THE TOP. FIRE RESCUE AT THE BOTTOM. PARKS AND RECREATION, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, FACILITIES, ESPECIALLY THE DECENTRALIZATION PLANT, 40th STREET. QUITE A FEW MOBILITY PROJECTS. AND AS WE DO EVERY YEAR, WE'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED THE MAJOR PROJECTS ON THE DISTRICT MAPS. IT'S AVAILABLE ONLINE. DISTRICT FOUR, DISTRICT FIVE, DISTRICT SIX AND DISTRICT SEVEN. AND IF COUNCIL IS READY, INTO OUR DEBT PROGRAM. AGAIN, THIS IS A NICE ONE-TWO STEP I THINK BECAUSE AS COUNCIL KNOWS AND FOR THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS, THE DEBT PROGRAM IS TIED VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BECAUSE MUCH OF THE FUNDING FOR C.I.P. COMES FROM OUR DEBT. IT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS. WORTH REPEATING. YOU SAW THE MAYOR'S SLIDE. SEVEN CREDIT RATING UPGRADES SINCE 2019. CONGRATULATIONS. GENUINELY, I ALWAYS LIKE CONGRATULATING BOTH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ABOUT THESE VERY, VERY GOOD CREDIT RATINGS AND CONGRATULATING EVERYBODY IN THE CITY. IT TRULY IS A TEAM EFFORT. CERTAINLY ISN'T REVENUE AND FINANCE DOING IT ON ITS OWN. I'LL REMIND COUNCIL AND FOR THE AWARENESS OF THE PUBLIC, AT THE TOP, THE ISSUER CREDIT RATING IS THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR FICO SCORE, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR PERSONAL FICO SCORE AND HOW THAT GOES UP AND GOES DOWN. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING FICO SCORE FOR THE CITY. TWO ON THE RIGHT, FITCH AND STANDARD & POOR'S HAVE GIVEN THE HIGHEST. YOU CAN GET NO HIGHER THAN AAA. THE ONE ON THE LEFT, SECONDEST HIGHEST, DOUBLE A ONE. OUTSTANDING CREDIT PROFILE. THEN THE DIFFERENT ISSUANCES, WATER AND SEWER BONDS FOR THE PIPES PROGRAM. NON-AD VALOREM BONDS. AGAIN, WE JUST ISSUED WITH COUNCIL'S APPROVAL A LITTLE OVER $60 MILLION, STORMWATER BONDS. UTILITY TAX REVENUE BONDS AND OUR SALES TAX REVENUE BONDS. SO WHAT THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES DO IS, OF COURSE, THEY GO INTO EACH INDIVIDUAL ISSUANCES. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, GOT TO KEEP EARNING IT. DON'T SET IT AND FORGET IT. WE HAVE TO PROVE OURSELVES. THEN THEY AMALGAMATE THE INFORMATION AND COME UP WITH OUR OVERALL CREDIT RATING. SPEAKING OF OUR RECENT NON-AD VALOREM DEBT ISSUANCE, THESE ARE SOME OF THE VERY, VERY POSITIVE COMMENTS THAT WENT INTO MOODY'S AND STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS FOR THAT I THINK $66 MILLION ISSUANCE. LARGE AND DIVERSE TAX BASE. WE'RE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO BE WHERE WE ARE WITH THE PEOPLE WE ARE. FUND AND CASH BALANCES. STANDARD & POOR'S, VERY STRONG RESERVES. AGAIN, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE OUR FUND BALANCE AND OUR RESERVES. ROBUST LONG-TERM PLANNING PRACTICES AND POLICIES. WE TAKE PRIDE IN THE LEVEL OF FORESIGHT THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY FROM A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE. AGAIN, EYES WIDE OPEN. WANT TO LET COUNCIL KNOW OF POTENTIAL DEBT ISSUANCES THAT ARE COMING IN THE FUTURE. AGAIN, WE JUST ISSUED A NON-AD VALOREM ISSUANCE. WE HAVE MORE ON THE HORIZON. YOU SEE A TOTAL OF JUST OVER A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS. SOME TIME OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ISSUING THESE UNTIL THREE YEARS OUT. AND YOU SEE IN THE SECOND BULLET FOR BOTH OF THESE ITEMS, TIMING TO BE DETERMINED BASED ON PROJECT SCHEDULES AND/OR SPEND-DOWN REQUIREMENTS. AGAIN, I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH, WE DON'T WANT TO ISSUE DEBT AND BEGIN PAYING INTEREST ON MONEY THAT WE'RE NOT USING. MONEY THAT'S NOT WORKING FOR US. WATER AND WASTEWATER DEBT, AGAIN, CONTINUING THE PROGRAM. 764 MILLION SOMETIME IN THE MID FUTURE. AGAIN, BASED ON WHEN THE WATER AND WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT CAN USE THIS FUNDING. AS COUNCIL IS AWARE, PROBABLY THE MOST RECENT LARGE ONE WE'VE CONTINUED TO TALK ABOUT IS THE SOLID WASTE DEBT. AGAIN, IN THE SHORT TERM, WE'LL GET RID OF THE TWO MINI-DEBTS AND ISSUE A SOLID WASTE BOND TO ABSORB ALL OF THAT DEBT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DECADES. HERE YOU SEE A 30-YEAR FIXED RATE SOLID WASTE REFUNDING REVENUE BOND. WE REALLY, REALLY LIKE THIS SLIDE. COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC HAVE SEEN A FORM OF THIS SLIDE IN THE PAST. WE WANTED TO DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT TO THE SHORT AND MIDTERM AS OPPOSED TO THE LONG TERM. IN THE PAST, YOU'VE SEEN A PLATEAUING AND THEN A DRAMATIC DROP IN THE NON-AD VALOREM ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE. THIS IS WHAT WE PAY EVERY MONTH FOR OUR DEBT. AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE AND AS YOU SEE IN STARK RELIEF HERE, AFTER FISCAL YEAR 2029, WE HAVE A VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE GLIDE PATH TO FISCAL YEAR 2035 AND BEYOND. WHAT'S THAT MEAN? IT MEANS ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF DEBT CAPACITY FOR NON-AD VALOREM DEBT ISSUANCES, SHOULD COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AT THAT TIME CHOOSE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. ALSO, QUITE A BIT OF RELIEF IN THE ANNUAL GENERAL FUND DEBT PAYMENT. THIS IS A VERY, VERY GOOD DEBT PLAN IN OUR OPINION FOR THE GENERAL FUND. AND HERE BY DEPARTMENT OR CATEGORY ARE THE ANTICIPATED DEBT ISSUANCES FOR THE NON-AD VALOREM PROGRAM. YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT, COUNCIL, THAT $252 MILLION WE REFERENCED EARLIER. AND WE'VE BROKEN IT UP BEST GUESS RIGHT NOW INTO THE INDIVIDUAL DEBT ISSUANCES. AGAIN, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THIS FOR SOME TIME, BUT IT DOESN'T HURT WHEN YOU TALK, I THINK, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING NUMBERS LIKE THIS AND THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT THIS ENTAILS, WHICH WE'LL GET INTO IN JUST A MOMENT TO PUT -- TO GIVE EVERYBODY THE INFORMATION AGAIN SO EVERYBODY CAN START PLANNING. AGAIN, EYES WIDE OPEN OUR PHILOSOPHY HERE. FIRE DEPARTMENT, $136 MILLION TOTAL ON THE FAR RIGHT, OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECTS. MAKING UP, AGAIN, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY. AT THE BOTTOM, YOU HAVE MOBILITY PROJECTS, ABOUT $36 MILLION. SOME GENERAL GOVERNMENT PROJECTS AND PARKS AND RECREATION PROJECTS. THIS IS A 50,000-FOOT VIEW IN YOUR PRESENTATION AND ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES. WE BREAK IT DOWN BY PARTICULAR PROJECT AND THOSE PARTICULAR DEBT ISSUANCES. I WANT TO REITERATE, WE DON'T HAVE A PARTICULAR FISCAL YEAR IDENTIFIED FOR THESE ISSUANCES. AGAIN, AS PART OF OUR LONG-TERM PLAN, WE LIKE TO PLAN THIS OUT. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE INFLOWS AND OUT FLOWS ARE, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AHEAD OF TIME TO GEAR UP FOR THE ISSUANCES, BOTH IN TERMS OF THE MARKET AND IN TERMS OF COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC. GETTING AHEAD OF THE INFORMATION AND EDUCATING WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO AND WHY WE WANT TO DO IT. AGAIN, I WON'T GO THROUGH THEM ITEM BY ITEM, UNLESS YOU'D LIKE ME TO. THEY ARE IN YOUR PRESENTATION. I'LL JUST HOVER ON THIS LAST SLIDE. AGAIN, WITH THE TOTALS BY PROJECT PROGRAM FOR EACH OF THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUANCES AND, AGAIN, THE TOTAL OF $252 MILLION. WRAPPING UP, HERE IS THE BUDGET CALENDAR. AGAIN, I THINK THE REVISED TIME FRAME ASSOCIATED WITH SHARING THIS INFORMATION WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE WORKSHOPS WORKED OUT LAST YEAR. I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK OUT. WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BE THE NEW NORMAL. I THINK COUNCIL TOO. TWO WORKSHOPS SO FAR SCHEDULED NEXT MONTH AND THEN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN SEPTEMBER. AGAIN, THE BUDGET WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NOON TODAY AT THIS SITE. AND A VERY BIG THANK YOU. I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU INDULGING US AND LETTING US GET INTO A LITTLE DETAIL ABOUT WHAT IS A VERY LARGE BUDGET, 49th LARGEST IN THE U.S. I GUESS. IT IS EXTENSIVE AND EXPANSIVE. IT'S COMPLICATED. THANKS FOR GIVING US EXTRA TIME TO GO THROUGH IT. OVER THE NEXT WEEKS AND MONTHS WE LOOK FORWARD TO GOING INTO EVER GREATER DETAIL WITH YOU AND THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU, TO MIKE PERRY, YOUR TEAM AND ALSO HAGAR OUR BUDGET ANALYST. IT'S THAT IMTOO OF YEAR. THIS IS NOT AN EASY TASK. JUST YOUR PRESENTATION ALONE IS LENGTHY, BUT THE BUDGET IS QUITE DENSE AND A LOT TO TALK ABOUT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK, YOUR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS. THANK YOU, SIR. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU REMINDED ME, SORRY I WAS REMISS IN NOT TANKING MS. KOPESKY AND NOT THANKING THE CITIZENS BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE. ABSOLUTELY. TRULY IS A TEAM EFFORT AND, OF COURSE, EVERYONE THAT WE WORK WITH IN THE CITY. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THIS. THIS JUST GETS BETTER EVERY YEAR. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, MA'AM. >>LYNN HURTAK: I APPRECIATE HOW WE'VE MODIFIED THIS. QUICK QUESTION. WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE CITIZENS BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE YET, HAVE WE? >>DENNIS ROGERO: NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THEY TYPICALLY COME IN AS A BODY DURING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. DURING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. I WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF TIME FOR QUESTIONS LATER, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS. BASICALLY THAT THE 2024 FUND BALANCE THAT WE AGREED ON, I'M NOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN CHANGING THAT. ALL WE HEAR IS PAVING. ALL WE HEAR IS PAVING. I HEARD IT AGAIN LAST NIGHT. PERSONALLY -- AND I KNOW WE ALREADY APPROVED THE 500,000 FOR STORMWATER SO THAT WOULD JUST MAKE IT $3.5 MILLION BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY, STORMWATER REALLY NEEDS IT. THAT'S THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE HEARING CONSTANTLY. SO I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD SUPPORT THAT. THEN I'M REALLY CONFUSED, THE ONLY OTHER THING, LIKE I SAID, I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS BUT I'LL MAKE THESE TWO POINTS TODAY. THE NONPROFIT, I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD A BRAND-NEW SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FILLED OUT A FORM, APPLY FOR IT. NOW IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE CHANGING MIDSTREAM. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH HAVING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT I HAVE TO ALLOCATE BECAUSE WHAT IF SOMEBODY WANTS 150. THEN I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TO THESE FOLKS WHEN I'M NOT ON THE DAIS. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH COUNCIL AS A WHOLE LOOKING AT THAT ONE MILLION DOLLARS. AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, PREVIOUSLY WE HAD DONE ABOUT 4 MILLION. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES, WHEN YOU INCLUDE THE CITY ASSETS -- >>LYNN HURTAK: I DON'T THINK -- WE ARE FINALLY TAKING THE CITY ASSETS OUT AND THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY OUT. SO DID THAT ACTUALLY GO DOWN ONCE WE TAKE THOSE OUT? >>DENNIS ROGERO: IT DID. A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. WE CAN PARSE IT OUT FOR YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: I WAS CURIOUS. BECAUSE I KNOW YOU SAID IT WENT DOWN BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH. YOU SAID A LITTLE LESS THAN A MILLION. MAYBE 1.9 AND NOW IT'S 1. >>DENNIS ROGERO: IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, GOING FROM MEMORY, THE TOTALITY OF WHAT WE IDENTIFIED IN THE CURRENT YEAR VERSUS NEXT YEAR DECREASED ABOUT 1.1 MILLION. >>LYNN HURTAK: 1.1 MILLION DECREASE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE YOU HAD MENTIONED GETTING A FINANCIAL RESOLUTION AND I DON'T THINK I'M QUITE READY TO DO THAT YET WITH THESE RECOMMENDED AMOUNTS FOR THE FY '24 SCHEDULE. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN VIERA AND THEN COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS. WHEN I HAVE QUESTIONS, I'LL DEAL WITH THEM PRIVATELY. A COUPLE OF NOTES TO MAKE. I DID WANT TO SAY THIS PUBLICLY AND SPOKEN WITH FOLKS IN THE ADMINISTRATION, I WAS TOLD FOR PURPOSES AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THE NONPROFITS, THAT EVERY YEAR, THE SPECIAL NEEDS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM -- I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND THE GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT THAT'S BEEN SO FAR -- HAS BEEN FUNDED UNDER NONPROFITS. ACCORDING TO THAT, IT'S NOT IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. I WILL FIGHT THAT. I WILL CONTEST THAT. I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT IS TAKEN OUT OF NONPROFITS. THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU, DENNIS, BECAUSE NOT YOUR BALL GAME. NUMBER ONE, MAKE SURE WE HIRE INTERNS. DONE THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AND I THINK WE HAVE TWO INTERNS FROM THE PROGRAM. WE'LL BE HEARING ABOUT THAT. POTENTIALLY TAKEN OUT OF THE BUDGET ADDS INSULT TO INJURY. THE INJURY IS THE FEW INTERNS WE'VE HAD AND ALLOCATED THE MONEY AND THEN THE INSULT IS POTENTIALLY THAT. AGAIN I WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL ON THAT, OBVIOUSLY, IN TERMS OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WHAT WE'LL DO IN THE FUTURE. SOMEWHERE OUT THERE IS ABOUT HALF A DOZEN OR DOZEN PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES WHO COULD BE WORKING RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF TAMPA AS INTERNS. THEY ARE NOT DOING IT NOW AND WE CAN'T LET THAT GO. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO IS THE HOUSING. I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BEING IN THERE. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. BUT WE'VE GOT TO EXPEDITE THAT. WE'RE RUNNING SO LATE. RUNNING SO LATE ON THAT. TALK A LOT ABOUT NORTH TAMPA, THERE'S SOUTH TAMPA. SAW SOMETHING ABOUT PALMETTO BEACH. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO SUFFERED SO MUCH. THEY DESERVE THIS MONEY. WE'VE GOT TO EXPEDITE THIS. RIGHT NOW PEOPLE NOT LIVING IN THEIR HOMES GOING THROUGH MISERY, GOING THROUGH HELL FROM LAST YEAR IN OCTOBER. IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT FOR THEM. WE HAVE TO EXPEDITE THIS AS IF IT WAS US AND TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY WE WANT TO BE TREATED IF WE GOT AN UNEXPECTED FLOOD LIKE HAPPENED TO SO MANY PEOPLE AFTER MILTON AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THEIR BACKS ON THAT. I SAW SOMETHING IN THERE ABOUT THE K-BAR RANCH PARK. IS ANY OF THAT FUNDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET? BECAUSE IT WAS THERE. >> MICK PERRY, BUDGET OFFICER. WE BUDGETED DESIGN MONEY IN THE '24 BUDGET, AND THEN WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION MONEY I THINK COMING IN THE '27 C.I.P. >>LUIS VIERA: SO NOTHING THIS YEAR. >>MICK PERRY: NOTHING THIS YEAR. >>LUIS VIERA: WHY IS K-BAR RANCH THERE? IN OTHER WORDS, NOT FUNDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. >>MICK PERRY: THE LIST WE PROVIDED TO THE, THE CITY IS WORKING ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY RECEIVE FUNDING IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR OR NOT. >>LUIS VIERA: I ALWAYS MAKE NOTE, LOOK AT THE DISTRICT 7 BUDGET. WHEN I SAY THE DISTRICT SEVEN, LEAVING IN A YEAR AND A HALF AND SOMEBODY TAKING MY PLACE AND HOPE HAVE A LOUDMOUTH. YOU SEE FOREST HILLS IMPROVEMENTS. WELL, THEY JUST GOT FLOODED. I HOPE WE MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE. FIRE STATION 24, IT'S TAKEN FOREVER. IT'S THERE. WE SHOULD HAVE MORE PROGRESS ON THAT. K-BAR RANCH AND STUFF IN NEW TAMPA. DISTRICT 7 IS A PART OF THE CITY OF TAMPA. BEEN BEATING THAT DRUM 8 YEARS. WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT DONE. WHENEVER I SEE THE LISTS A LITTLE BIT, THE CHIP ON MY SHOULDER JUST GETS A LITTLE BIT BIGGER ABOUT DISTRICT 7. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE. LASTLY IN TERMS OF THE NONPROFITS, I APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK SAID. WE HAD A DISCUSSION LAST YEAR ON TAKING A LOOK AT OUR LIST THAT WE GIVE, AND WE HAD, HAGAR DID A GREAT JOB I BELIEVE IT WAS IN LOOKING AT THE PERCENTAGE OF WHAT GOES TO DIFFERENT GROUPS. WE FOUND THAT VETERANS GET VERY, VERY LITTLE. I IDENTIFIED VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS WHICH COUNCIL I'M SURE WOULD SUPPORT AS WELL AS SOME GROUPS THAT HELP OUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS DO A MEMO THAT SUMMARIZES ALL OF THESE PROPOSED INVESTMENTS IN THESE TWO AREAS BECAUSE THEY WILL EXCEED THE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. IT'S AN INVESTMENT WE SHOULD MAKE AS A CITY BECAUSE WE IGNORED THOSE TWO GROUPS AND NONPROFITS FOR TOO LONG. MR. ROGERO, YOU ARE ALWAYS A PLEASURE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM. >>BILL CARLSON: AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS IN DEPTH. INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY TODAY AND IN FUTURE MEETINGS. IF YOU HEAR US NOT ASKING QUESTIONS, WE HAVE SEVERAL PUBLIC MEETINGS TO DO THAT IN. TO HIT SOME HIGHLIGHTS, STORMWATER IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN SOUTH TAMPA. MOST OF THE PEOPLE FLOODED WERE IN SOUTH TAMPA. YOU TALK ABOUT A TOTAL NUMBER OF $350 MILLION OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS OR SO, THAT'S LIKE 20, $30 MILLION A YEAR. WHEN THE BUCKHORN TAX WAS PASSED IN 2016, FOLKS WERE PROMISED THAT MAINTENANCE WAS GOING TO BE DONE AND WE SEE MAINTENANCE HAS NOT BEEN DONE IN DECADES IN MANY PLACES. THAT HAS GOT TO BE DONE. I SEE THE CITY HAS BEEN ON A BIG PR PITCH WHILE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN ON VACATION TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH THE CITY HAS DONE IN MAINTENANCE AND STORMWATER. THE REALITY IS IT HASN'T. NO AMOUNT OF PR IS GOING TO CHANGE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT MAINTENANCE HASN'T BEEN DONE AND THAT THEIR HOUSES ARE FLOODING. WE NEED TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. IT'S NOT A PR PROBLEM. IT IS AN ACTUAL PROBLEM. NOT SPEAKING TO YOU, MR. ROGERO, SPEAKING THROUGH YOU TO MAKE THIS POINT TO THE ADMINISTRATION THAT STORMWATER HAS GOT TO BE A REAL ISSUE, NOT A PR ISSUE. NUMBER 2, COUNCIL MEMBER HURTAK TALKED ABOUT THE SOCIAL NONPROFIT BUDGET, I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T WANT TO BE ALLOCATED HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IF WE NEED -- IF WE SET CRITERIA FOR WHAT WE NEED TO FUND IN THAT PROGRAM, COUNCIL MEMBER HENDERSON HAD SUGGESTED WE ONLY FUND ORGANIZATIONS FOR A YEAR OR TWO WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD IDEA, SO IT IS NOT A RECURRING THING. IT SHOULD BE A SHORT-TERM AMOUNT THAT WE FUND. BUT IT SHOULD BE BASED ON CRITERIA AND A SHORT-TERM BRIDGE, NOT A LONG-TERM FUNDING THING. YOU'VE TAKEN AT OUR REQUEST AND THE PUBLIC'S REQUEST, TAKEN OUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE REALLY NOT NONPROFIT FUNDING WHICH IS GREAT. BUT ANY MONEY THAT WE DON'T NEED TO SPEND, IT SHOULD NOT BE A SLUSH FUND THAT CAN BE -- NEEDS TO BE BASED ON NEED AND SOUND CRITERIA. CHIEF OF STAFF WORKED ON THAT BEFORE. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM ON THAT. FUND BALANCE, I'M A BROKEN RECORD, I REALLY BELIEVE YOU SHOULD GO BACK TO 2018 -- NOT 2018 -- 2010, BECAUSE WHAT IT SHOWED IS PAM IORIO HAD 150 MILLION IN THE FUND BALANCE. WHEN BUCKHORN ADMINISTRATION HANDED OFF TO US, ONLY HAD 83 MILLION. DERELICTION OF DUTY AND WASTING MONEY. SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING MONEY DURING GOOD TIMES. SHOULD BE SAVING DURING GOOD TIMES AND SPENDING IN BAD TIMES. MIRACLE WHAT MAYOR IORIO DID. WHEN I STARTED IN 2019 IN SUPPORT OF COLLEAGUES, PUSHED INCREASING THE FUND BALANCE. LUCKILY ADMINISTRATION AGREED. NOW WE'RE BACK UP. THIS YEAR WE JUST HIT THE 2010 NUMBERS FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT'S A SHAME THAT WE HAD TO DO THAT. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE BURNED DOWN THAT BUDGET LIKE THAT. NOW WE'RE OPERATING AT A GOOD LEVEL AND SEEN THE RESULTS BY THE RATING AGENCIES. THEY SPECIFICALLY MENTION THAT AS A LINE ITEM THAT SOMETHING THAT CITY COUNCIL PUSHED REALLY HARD FOR OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE HOUSING BUDGET GOING DOWN POTENTIALLY 2 MILLION. ANYBODY INTERESTED IN HOUSING, BIG BUCKET ALLOCATED IN THE CRA. CRA MONEY BY LEGISLATION, ONE OF THE KEY AREAS THAT CAN AND SHOULD BE FUNDED AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE CRA, A SEPARATE ENTITY IS HEAVILY FUNDING CRAs AND STILL TWEAKING THAT BASED ON COMMUNITY INPUT. SOUTH HOWARD PROJECT IS ONE YOU MENTIONED IN DISTRICT 4. OVERALL FLOODING IN SOUTH TAMPA AND SAID MANY TIMES, SOUTH HOWARD PROJECT, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S BEEN PRIORITIZED, THE WAY IT'S CONFIGURED, IT WILL NOT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY FOR FOUR YEARS AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP IN A MAJOR STORM. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE SPEND 80 MILLION PLUS, 60 OR SO MILLION IN INTEREST ON A PROJECT THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK AND DISRUPT THE CITY. WE NEED TO TAKE THE MONEY IMMEDIATELY AND DO MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT SOUTH TAMPA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. $80 MILLION WOULD BE TRANSFORMATIVE IN DOING BASIC MAINTENANCE, PALMA CEIA PINES, PARKLAND ESTATES AND OTHERS SO WON'T FLOOD. WHY SPEND MONEY ON A PROJECT WE HOPE WORK, PROBABLY WON'T WORK, AND EVEN MORE DISRUPTIVE. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON NOT DOING WHAT WE THINK IS POLITICALLY RIGHT. WE NEED TO DO WHAT IS ACTUALLY RIGHT BASED ON SCIENCE AND NOT SOMEBODY'S PET PROJECTS. THE LAST TWO THINGS I HAVE TO MENTION, DO I READ THIS CORRECTLY THAT THE MAYOR IS NOT PROPOSING AN AD VALOREM TAX INCREASE? >>DENNIS ROGERO: SHE IS NOT. >>BILL CARLSON: AND NOT PROPOSING ROLL BACK AND NOT AD VALOREM INCREASE. >>DENNIS ROGERO: CORRECT. >>BILL CARLSON: GOD NEWS. I HEARD THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. ALSO HEARD PROPOSING STORMWATER RATE INCREASE, NOT DOING THAT EITHER? >>DENNIS ROGERO: NO. >>BILL CARLSON: NO MAJOR INCREASES THERE. THE DEBT, I WAS TRYING TO ADD IT UP QUICKLY AS YOU WERE GOING THROUGH THE SLIDES, LOOKS LIKE A BILLION, BILLION AND A HALF IN ADDITIONAL DEBT. DO YOU HAVE THE TOTAL NUMBER ON ADDITIONAL? HOW MUCH OF THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE 1.6 BILLION THAT YOU HAD SHOWN US MONTHS AGO AS TOTAL DEBT OF THE CITY? IS A LOT OF THAT INCLUDED? FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS THE NUMBER ON THE ADDITIONAL DEBT THAT -- YOU SAID POTENTIALLY ALLOCATED OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO TEN YEARS, SO NOT IMMEDIATE. LET'S SAY ONE AND A HALF BILLION. ONE AND A HALF BILLION ON TOP OF THE 1.6 OR IS SOME OF THAT ALREADY INCLUDED IN 1.6. ONE OF THE SLIDES YOU SHOWED WAS THE DEBT SERVICE AND THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE SOME OF THE DEBT IS OLD AND GOING TO RETIRE AND THAT ALLOWS SOME CAPACITY TO PAY. DOESN'T MEAN WE NEED TO USE IT RIGHT AWAY. BUT THAT'S WHAT FREES THAT UP. COULD YOU GIVE US JUST SOME OVERALL ADDITIONAL INSIGHT ON THE DEBT? THANK YOU FOR THE TRANSPARENCY YOU PUT IN THIS AS WELL. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, SIR. >>BILL CARLSON: DO YOU HAVE THAT ANSWER? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL DEBT IS? >>DENNIS ROGERO: I DO NOT. I WAS GOING TO PROVIDE IT TO YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MY ASSUMPTION IS THESE QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED AT SUBSEQUENT HEARINGS. COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: EVERYTHING IN LIFE HAS A DAY AND TIME AND PURPOSE FOR HAPPENING. I'VE BEEN HERE DURING THE GOOD TIMES AND THE REAL BAD TIMES. WHEN MAYOR IORIO TOOK OVER AND HAVE TO GIVE HER COMPLIMENT, HAD TO LAY OFF PEOPLE. TIMES WERE NOT GOOD. WHAT HAPPENS IN LIFE, YOU HAVE A REPEATING. WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, YES, YOU STILL HAVE GROWTH. YEAH, YOU STILL HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON POSITIVELY. AND IT WILL CONTINUE THAT WAY FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME. HOWEVER, SOONER OR LATER, YOU'RE GOING TO HIT THAT CROSS ROAD WHERE YOU'RE GOING BACK WHERE THE MONIES YOU COLLECT CANNOT EQUAL THE SUMS OF YOUR EXPENSES. THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, INSTEAD OF US TALKING HOW WONDERFUL EVERYTHING IS, THAT WE REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE INFLATION THAT WE HAVE AND THE COST OF LIVING WE HAVE AND NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE DON'T HAVE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. USE MYSELF AS EXAMPLE. THE HOUSE I BOUGHT IN 1968 WAS $12,400. IF I SELL IT TODAY FOR 450,000, I'M HOMELESS BECAUSE I CAN'T FIND A HOUSE FOR 450,000. WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS NOT BE HUMOROUS. I'M TRYING TO BE FACTUAL. BESIDES THAT, THE TAXES I PAID IN 1968 ARE NOT THE SAME THAT I'M PAYING IN 2026 COMING. SO WE'RE PUTTING PRESSURE ON INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE NOT HAD A RATE INCREASE LIKE SOME OF US HAVE HAD IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, THAT ARE WORKING THEIR BUTTS OFF TO MAKE ENDS MEET. I'M NOT HERE TO BE A PREACHER. I'M TELLING YOU THE FACTS THAT I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU. I'M TALKING TO EVERYBODY. DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL. I KNOW YOU WON'T. I'VE KNOWN YOU A LONG TIME. YOU ARE A STRAIGHT INDIVIDUAL AND DO EVERYTHING RIGHT. BELIEVE ME. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, SIR. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YOU HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT, BUCKHORN DID, GRECO DID, I'M WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW. WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS SETTING THE PERIMETERS OF WHAT WE BELIEVE THE FUTURE WILL BRING. BUT THAT FUTURE SOMETIMES DOESN'T TELL YOU THE TRUTH, EVEN THOUGH FACTUAL LOOKS LIKE IT IS WONDERFUL, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY. I BELIEVE THE GENERAL POPULATION IS AT EDGE ABOUT SO MANY THINGS. EVERY TIME YOU LOOK AT TV, THERE IS A WAR, THREAT YOU, BOMB YOU, KILL YOU, DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HURT YOU, EVERY TIME YOU LOOK AROUND THE STREETS, ALL THE KIDS WANT TO DO IS LOOK AT LITTLE COMPUTER AND MAKE BELIEVE TELLING YOU ALL THE FACTS. IF YOU ARE A DOCTOR, YOU DON'T WHICH WAY TO GO BECAUSE YOU ARE PRESCRIBING MEDICATION BUT ON YOUR TV OR CELL PHONE, DRINK THIS, CURE YOUR DIABETES. BUNCH OF PEOPLE DOING IT, INCLUDING PEOPLE ON TV GETTING REVENUES FROM IT. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH US? SO CONFUSED IN THIS LIFE THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY IS RIGHT AND WHICH WAY IS WRONG. THAT'S THE PROBLEM WE HAVE AS HUMAN BEINGS. NOT ABOUT YOU, NOT ABOUT US, NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE OR PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF TAMPA, IT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THIS COUNTRY. I CANNOT TELL YOU THAT WHATEVER WE BUILD TO HELP STORMWATER AND KEEP THE FLOOD FROM HAPPENING IS ENOUGH TO STOP WHAT'S COMING. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT'S COMING. YET, WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT NATURE. THIS COUNCIL TURNED DOWN 5-2 JUST TO PUT A PARK IN TO PUT SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED IN IT, WHICH WAS SOLAR. AND IT TURNED IT DOWN. WE ASKED FOR IT AND TURNED IT DOWN. SO I'M TELLING YOU, ALL OF US, AND THIS WHOLE COUNTRY, YOU BETTER WATCH OUT. BETTER LOOK OUT WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU TREAT NATURE BECAUSE NATURE IS THE ONE DOING THE THINGS TO US THAT WE'VE DONE TO THEM. SEEN THE HURRICANES AND TORNADOES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN FLOODED ARE FLOODED. SOME AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN FLOODING, FLOODING AGAIN. HUNDRED AND SOME PEOPLE DIED IN A LITTLE TOWN IN TEXAS. AIN'T THE ONLY ONE. IT'S ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. STILL HERE TALKING ABOUT -- ELECTIONS. I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ELECTION. YOU EITHER WIN OR LOSE WHEN YOU SEEK OFFICE. THAT'S IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN YOURSELF. WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU IS IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHAT WE'RE DOING. LET'S UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY DOLLAR IS GOING TO THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSES, FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION, NOT FOR US, BUT FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THINGS DONE RIGHT, THAT EVERYBODY HAS A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING TO BETTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY. AND THAT TAKES A WHOLE LOT. TAKES A LOT MORE THAN A GOVERNMENT TO HELP SOMEBODY GET UP. I'M JUST TELLING ALL OF US, BE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT. LOOK TO YOUR LEFT AND LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, SIR. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I HAVE A QUESTION AND RESERVING ANYTHING ABOUT FY '26 FOR THE SUBSEQUENT HEARINGS WE'RE GOING TO HOLD. MY CONCERN IS ABOUT THE 2024 FUND BALANCE COUNCIL REQUEST THAT, IT WASN'T JUST A REQUEST. CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS? YOU BROUGHT THE FUND BALANCE TO US. WE REAPPORTIONED THAT MONEY AND BY COUNCIL'S DECISION AND SOMEHOW SOMEBODY OUTSIDE OF THIS COUNCIL DECIDED THEY DIDN'T LIKE OUR DECISION AND NOW THEY ARE BRINGING DIFFERENT FIGURES TO US. I WAS GOING TO WAIT FOR YOUR ANSWER BUT I'M ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. THAT SOMEBODY IN THE OTHER BUILDING HAS DECIDED THEY ARE GOING TO CUT PAVING IN HALF AFTER THIS COUNCIL DECIDED TO SPEND THIS MONEY THIS WAY WITHOUT ANY COMMUNICATION. ONE THING I DON'T LIKE IS BEING SURPRISED. I RAN ON A BUDGET OF REPAVING THE STREETS. I'VE BEEN PUSHING THIS FROM DAY ONE. WE ALL REACHED A COMPROMISE BECAUSE NOBODY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED WHEN WE REAPPORTIONED THE MONEY. AND THEN TO BE SURPRISED TODAY WITHOUT ANY COMMUNICATION, WITHOUT ANY PHONE CALLS THAT YOU'RE CUTTING THE PAVING BUDGET IN HALF, I'M SPEECHLESS. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? >>DENNIS ROGERO: I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY MISUNDERSTANDING, BUT IF I CAN START -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WAS GOING TO LET YOU DO THAT BUT THEN MY TEMPER GOT AWAY FROM ME. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY MISUNDERSTANDING BUT IF I COULD WALK THROUGH THE PROCESS AND PERHAPS WE'LL UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAME TO WHERE WE ARE AT. THIS IS FUNDING, OF COURSE, LEFT OVER FROM THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR. UNTIL COUNCIL -- UNTIL THE MAYOR BRINGS COUNCIL A REQUEST TO APPROPRIATE THIS FUNDING, IT IS UNSPENDABLE. IT REMAINS IN A FUND BALANCE. AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW. THIS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WAS VIEWED AS THE MECHANISM FOR THAT. COUNCIL WOULD LIKE THIS FUNDING LEFT OVER FROM LAST YEAR IN THESE PARTICULAR CATEGORIES, THE MAYOR IS RECOMMENDING ALMOST ALL OF IT FOR THOSE PARTICULAR CATEGORIES AS YOU SEE THERE. AND THIS WOULD BE THE MECHANISM FOR COUNCIL TO SAY, YES, BRING US A FINANCIAL RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE THIS FUNDING. THIS FUNDING DOES NOT EXIST YET IN ANY OF THESE CATEGORIES FOR SPENDING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WAS IT JUST A CIRCUS SHOW THE LAST TIME COUNCIL MADE A DECISION? WHAT THE HELL DO I CARE THE MAYOR WANTS WHEN IT IS THE CITY COUNCIL'S DECISION HOW TO APPROPRIATE THE MONEY? >>DENNIS ROGERO: I UNDERSTAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND I'LL DEFER TO LEGAL, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS CITY COUNCIL'S DECISION TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WHOSE DECISION IS IT? >>DENNIS ROGERO: IT IS THE DECISION OF THE MAYOR TO BRING IT FORWARD FOR COUNCIL -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: SHE DOESN'T SPEND MONEY THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATED. WE HAVE TO APPROPRIATE THAT MONEY. >>DENNIS ROGERO: EXACTLY. AGAIN, WE VIEW THIS AS THE MECHANISM FOR THAT, TO GET US TO A POINT COUNCIL CAN APPROPRIATE -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HOW DID THIS GET CHANGED? IT HAPPENED AT A PREVIOUS MEETING. THE ADMINISTRATION CAME BEFORE US. YOU CAME BEFORE US AND TOLD US WE HAVE THIS MUCH MONEY IN UNSPENT MONEY. AND THIS IS WHAT WE WANT YOU TO REAPPROPRIATE THIS MONEY. THIS COUNCIL IN GOOD FAITH MADE A DECISION AND VOTED ON A RESOLUTION TO SPEND THAT MONEY. NOW WHAT I'M HEARING, THE ADMINISTRATORS SAYS, WE UNDERSTAND YOU MADE THAT DECISION, WE DON'T LIKE THAT DECISION SO WE WANT ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I DISAGREE WITH THAT RECOLLECTION. I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED SIR. >>BILL CARLSON: THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED ON STATION 24 WHERE COUNCILMAN VIERA MADE A MOTION, ALLOCATE WHAT WAS 11 MILLION. THIS TIME LAST YEAR, YOU SAID WE DIDN'T SPEND THE MONEY. SPENT IT ON SOMETHING ELSE. BY CHARTER, THE ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY. I'M TIRED OF THE ADMINISTRATION BLAMING US THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE POWERS AS MAYOR. WE'RE TRYING TO DEFEND THE POWERS OF CITY COUNCIL AS DEFINED BY THE CHARTER AND APPROVED BY THE PEOPLE. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT. DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO A LOT OF THINGS THEY INTERPRET THEY CAN DO. ONCE WE ALLOCATE THE BUDGET, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE CAN'T JUST TAKE IT AWAY. I DIDN'T TALK A LOT ABOUT ROAD REPAIR, IT IS NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO THROUGHOUT OUR WHOLE CITY. OUR ROADS ARE IN HORRIBLE SHAPE. NEVER SEEN ROADS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT LOOK AS BAD AS OUR ROADS. IT'S DISGUSTING. THE COMPROMISE WE AGREED TO LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE WERE SMALL COMPROMISES. WE NEED 40, $50 MILLION A YEAR. COMPROMISE BY ADDING ANOTHER 5 MILLION. WE MEDIA TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. THE PEOPLE THAT MOVED HERE THAT HAD PRIVATE EQUITY COMPANIES AND MANAGING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, A LOT OF THEM ARE MOVING BACK WHEREVER THEY CAME FROM BECAUSE THEY ARE DISGUSTED WITH THE ROADS, DISGUSTING WITH FLOODING AND DISGUSTED WITH OUR PARKS. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LET'S FIX THE ROADS, FLOODING AND PARKS AND MAKE SURE WE KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I DON'T LIKE SURPRISES. I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR. HONESTLY, REPAVING ROADS IS PART OF OUR STORMWATER AS WELL. IT IS A CRITICAL PART ON HOW WE SHED WATER OFF OF OUR PROPERTIES. THE FACT THAT CUT IN HALF. A DECISION THAT WAS JUST MADE WEEKS AGO. IT JUST BLOWS MY MIND. BEFORE I HAND OFF TO COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, I WANT TO REMIND THE AUDIENCE, I LOVE YOU ALL AND APPRECIATE THE ENERGY. BUT NO SNAPPING FINGERS. NO CLAPPING. NO VOICE-BACKS FROM THE AUDIENCE. YOU'LL HAVE YOUR OPPORTUNITY DURING PUBLIC COMMENT TO EXPRESS YOUR VIEWPOINTS. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I REMIND MY COLLEAGUES THIS IS A PRESENTATION. HAPPY FOR THE COMMENTS. BUT IT SOON BECOMES THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET WHEN IT IS HANDED TO US TO PASS SO WE CAN MAKE THE CHANGES. THERE SHOULD NOT BE AN ARGUMENT. WE CAN DO IT LEGALLY WITHOUT NO PROBLEM AND THEN THERE'S NO MORE CONVERSATION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MAYBE I'M CONFUSED WHAT WE DID A FEW WEEKS AGO. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I UNDERSTAND THAT. I'M NOT DEBATING WHAT YOU SAID. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID. THIS COULD BE CORRECTED WITHOUT ANY LEGAL OR ANY FUSS. ONCE THEY HAND IT TO US, IT IS NO LONGER THE ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET. IT IS THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? >>DENNIS ROGERO: SIR, AGAIN, APOLOGIES FOR ANY MISCOMMUNICATION, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THOUGHT I WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A MAYORAL DECISION. I'M SORRY THAT MESSAGE DID NOT CARRY FORWARD. IT IS NEVER MY INTENTION TO SURPRISE ANYONE ON COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC. BUT MISCOMMUNICATION HAPPENS AND MISUNDERSTANDING HAPPENS. I APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: I THINK WE NEED TO GET TO PUBLIC COMMENT. ONE MORE QUESTION, THE MAYOR AND SOME OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW ESSENTIALLY A DONE DEAL THAT THE RAYS ARE BRINGING A STADIUM HERE OR NEW OWNERS OF THE RAYS BRING THE STADIUM HERE. IS THERE SOMEWHERE IN THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY TO APPLY MONEY? WE ALL SEE HOW TIGHT THE BUDGET IS? IS THERE A BUDGET THE MAYOR HAS SET ASIDE FOR A RAYS STADIUM? >>DENNIS ROGERO: THERE IS NOT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL REQUEST IS GOING TO TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AND WE'LL COME BACK WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. FIVE MINUTES REAL TIME, NOT COUNCIL TIME. SO 11:05. [RECESS] >>CHARLIE MIRANDAHORROR. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HERE. >>THE CLERK: WE HAVE A PHYSICAL GOOD MORNING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT. MR. SHELBY. >>MARTIN SHELBY: YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, MARTIN SHELBY, CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY, HERE TO TALK TO YOU BRIEFLY ABOUT THE RULES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND THE DECORUM FOR TODAY'S MEETING. WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT CARDS OUTSIDE FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND ONE CARD PER SPEAKER. EACH PERSON SUBMITTING A CARD WILL BE RECOGNIZED BY NAME TO APPROACH AND SPEAK. A THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT APPLIES AND PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY BECAUSE NAMES THAT CANNOT BE READ WILL NOT BE CALLED. IF YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA THAT'S BEEN DESIGNATED AS A PUBLIC HEARING, YOU WILL HAVE TIME TO SPEAK TO THAT ITEM AT THE TIME OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND USE THE SIGN-IN SHEET THAT'S OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKER CARD. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE SEE THE CITY STAFF. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALLOWED A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY AT THE BEGINNING OF TODAY'S AGENDA TO ADDRESS ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL TAKES OFFICIAL ACTION ON AN ITEM. AGAIN, IF IT'S SOMETHING SET FOR STAFF REPORTS OR SOMETHING ON THE CONSENT DOCKET, THE TIME TO SPEAK TO THAT IS NOW. A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT APPLIES, AS I SAID. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALSO REMINDED TO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING MAKING VULGAR OR THREATENING REMARKS OR MAKING OR CAUSING DISRUPTIVE NOISES OR SOUNDS OR DISPLAYING SIGNS OR GRAPHICS. SPEAKERS ARE ALSO REMINDED TO REFRAIN FROM LAUNCHING PERSONAL ATTACKS AGAINST ANY CITY OFFICIAL, STAFF MEMBER, OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THE CHAIR WILL RULE OUT OF ORDER ANY PERSON WHO SPEAKS WITHOUT BEING RECOGNIZED OR ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL FROM OUTSIDE THE SPEAKER AREA AT THE PODIUM. PERSONS FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE COUNCIL RULES MAY ALSO BE RULED OUT OF ORDER AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBERS FOR THE REMAINDER OF TODAY'S MEETING. NOW, FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE THAT CITY COUNCIL 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 WITH YOU DURING AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS YOUR POSITION. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MR. SHELBY. ALSO LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT COUNCILMAN CARLSON IS PRESENT. WE'RE GOING TO DO ONLINE FIRST. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, MICHAEL RANDOLPH. MICHAEL RANDOLPH, ARE YOU ON? >> YES, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MICHAEL RANDOLPH. I AM WITH THE WEST TAMPA CDD -- WEST TAMPA CDC. TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ROME YARD PROJECT AND UPDATE SPECIFICALLY THE WEST TAMPA TECHNOLOGY. IN DOING SO I WANT TO HONOR THE LATE COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON THAT PUT SO MUCH INTO THIS PROJECT AND GIVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS OF SILENCE IN THAT PARTICULAR RESPECT. THANK YOU. THIS PROJECT WAS BORN FROM A GROUNDBREAKING COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT, BRINGING TOGETHER THE CDC OF TAMPA, TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND THE WEST TAMPA CDC IN A POWERFUL, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. I CALL IT THE DREAM TEAM, LOCAL LEADERSHIP FOCUS ON INCREASING DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. OUR TRAINING CENTER WILL BE AMONG THE FIRST BILL CONSTRUCTED UNDER THE ROME YARD PROJECT. BOTH THE OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS AND TRAINING HUB. TODAY, I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE UPDATES ON WEST TAMPA TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER. FIRST, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CURATING 30 PLUS COMMUNITY BASED, JOB BASED, HOME BASED JOBS. EACH WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH ARTIFICIAL POWER TO RUN IT. SECOND, THE CREATION OF 80 NEW TECH JOBS, ARTIFICIAL TECH JOBS. THIS IS FOCUSED ON HIRING DIRECTLY FROM THE LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS TO CREATE A DIGITAL -- TO END THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. FINALLY, PREPARE FOR TECHNICAL LITERACY, WHICH FOCUS AWAY FROM THE IDEA OF CONSUMERISM TO INVESTMENT, COVERING EXCESS BUILDING, GENERATIONAL GROWTH. TO SUSTAIN THIS PROJECT, ADOPTING WHAT IS KNOWN AS COMMUNITY COMPACT AGREEMENT. AND RECIPIENTS WHO DO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO START THE BUSINESS, DO PAY PACK THE COMMUNITY PLUS 10% OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. THIS IS AN EARNED INCOME MODEL THAT PROMOTES ACCOUNTABILITY AND KEEPS THE INITIATIVE. WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, THE BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT IS $280,000. 80% OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STAFF, THAT 285 IS 45 PRODUCTIVE IN WHAT WE WOULD DO IF WE HAD LIVE EMPLOYEES. LIVE EMPLOYEES, TALKING ABOUT $650,000. THIS RESULTS IN HIGH EFFICIENCY PROGRAMMING THAT BOOSTS EQUITY, BUILD WEALTH AND -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MR. RANDOLPH. NEXT SPEAKER IS ARIELLE DANLEY, FOLLOWED BY BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY. >> GOOD MORNING. TO OUR DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL MEMBERS -- MY NAME IS ARIELA. GOOD MORNING TO OUR DISTINGUISHED COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF TAMPA, THE MAYOR, THE AIDES, THE STAFF, THE RESIDENTS, CHIEF BERCAW, CHIEF TRIPP, AND ALL OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT CARRIED MY MOTHER OUT WITH DIGNITY AND EVERY KINDNESS SHOWN TO MY FAMILY. MY NAME IS ARIELA AND THE HONORABLE COUNCIL WOMEN GWENDOLYN HENDERSON IS MY MOTHER. TO NEW BUSINESS, THE FUTURE OF OUR FAIR CITY BECAUSE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES TO FEEL LIKE IT IS PART OF TAMPA'S HEART. I'VE SPOKEN TO DOZENS OF RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN DISTRICT 5 FROM EAST TAMPA TO SULPHUR SPRINGS, FROM YBOR TO WEST TAMPA, DOWNTOWN, ALL THE WAY TO PALMETTO BEACH. DID I SAY EAST TAMPA? DID I SAY PALMETTO BEACH? LET ME SAY IT AGAIN. EAST TAMPA AND PALMETTO BEACH, I'M REPEATING MYSELF BECAUSE TOO OFTEN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ASKED TO WAIT TO MAKE DO WITH LESS. TODAY, I'M SIMPLY SAYING WE CAN DO BETTER. MAYOR CASTOR IS CORRECT IN SAYING TAMPA'S GREATEST ASSET IS ITS PEOPLE. LET THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE TAKE THE LEAD, MY NEIGHBORS, THE SOULS WHO OCCUPY OUR STREETS HAVE BEEN CLEAR WE'RE ASKING FOR THE BASICS. FIX OUR STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, FUND HOME REPAIRS AND KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED. MAKE HOUSING ATTAINABLE, DEVELOP THE CITY THOUGHTFULLY, INVEST IN THE YOUTH LIGHTING, LIGHT UP THE YBOR CORRIDOR. ILLUMINATE WEST TAMPA AND EAST TAMPA, COLLEGE HILL, FAMILIES WITH DECADES OF UNDERINVESTMENT NEED INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING REHAB THAT IS REAL BECAUSE IT'S URGENT. YBOR, DOWNTOWN AND CHANNELSIDE DISTRICT, WE NEED BETTER FLOOD PROTECTION AND REAL SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. THESE ARE NOT JUST ENTERTAINMENT ZONES. THEY ARE HOME TO WORKERS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HYDE PARK AND YBOR OR WEST TAMPA ISN'T THE PEOPLE. IT'S THE INVESTMENT. AND THAT'S A CHOICE WE CAN CHANGE. SULPHUR SPRINGS ALREADY GAVE YOU A PLAN. RESTORE THE POOL, NOT A PATCH JOB. DIG IT UP, BUILD IT RIGHT. PROTECT THE SPRINGS. ADDRESS THE BLIGHT. WEST TAMPA AND PALMETTO, ANY INVESTMENT ALONG WATERFRONT MUST INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE THE LONGEST BECAUSE THINKER SACRIFICES ARE -- BECAUSE THEIR SACRIFICES ARE WORTH INVESTING IN. PROTECT THE TREE FUND, MANICURE THE TREES, TRANSPORTATION, IMPROVE MOBILITY IN THE URBAN CORE. PRIORITIZE STORM INFRASTRUCTURE. IT'S NOT A QUESTION IF STORMS LIKE HELENE AND MILTON WILL FIND US AGAIN. THE STORMS ARE COMING WITHOUT A DOUBT. LET'S NOT SETTLE FOR PATCHWORK. LET'S SET THE NATIONAL STANDARD FOR WHAT CAN BE DONE. SUPPORT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. GIVE THEM A RAISE. MAKE THEM FEEL APPRECIATED. LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, MAKE THE YELLOW JACKETS WHOLE. LET'S GIVE THEM A BEAUTIFUL HOME BECAUSE THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THEM. WHEN WE ONLINE SHOP, WE OFTEN GET TO A SCREEN THAT SAYS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONFIRM THIS PAYMENT? WELL, THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PUSH THE BUTTON. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY FOLLOWED BY BILL TRUETT. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET. THE BOUNDARIES DO NOT STOP FOR SOUTH TAMPA AT GANDY. SOUTH TAMPA GO ALL THE WAY TO MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, ALSO TO SPORT TAMPA. GERMAN STREET. KISSIMMEE, ON AND ON. PEOPLE THERE LOST THEIR HOMES. THEY ARE DEVASTATED. THEY CALL ME BECAUSE THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION COMING OUT OF CITY HALL TO TELL THEM WHAT CAN BE DONE, WHAT CAN HAPPEN, WHAT THEY CAN GET THEIR NEEDS FROM. SO THEY NEED BETTER COMMUNICATION. THEY NEED HELP. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT EAST TAMPA, THE TREES, SHE ALREADY SAID WELL, I WON'T GO BACK OVER THAT. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CRA THAT ARE SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE ON A FIXED INCOME WHOSE HOMES ARE BEING DESTROYED AND THEY CAN'T GET ANY HELP. WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE PROGRAMS ACCESSIBLE TO THESE PEOPLE. ALSO, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE NONPROFITS. I'M GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE NONPROFITS, BUT THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE. THEY NEED TO DO THE WORK. THEY NEED TO SHOW WHERE THEY HAVE DONE THE WORK. MOST OF ALL, THEY NEED TO DO AN AUDIT. AUDIT SHOULD BE DONE SHOWING WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY. TAXPAYERS WERE PUSHED TO THE LIMIT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY, BUT WE STILL BELIEVE IN SAFETY. WE BELIEVE IN FIRE. WE BELIEVE IN ALL THESE NECESSITIES. WE BELIEVE IN THEM. BUT WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO JUST SQUANDER OUR DOLLARS AWAY BECAUSE THEY THINK NO ONE IS LOOKING. ALSO, WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE A COUNCILPERSON SITTING HERE FOR DISTRICT 5 RIGHT NOW, SO WE'RE ASKING EACH ONE OF YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT DISTRICT 5 IS NOT OVERLOOKED. YES, WE HAD FLOODS OVER ON DAVIS ISLANDS. DAVIS ISLANDS, A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY ARE RICH. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT DEVASTATION, IT'S DEVASTATING TO LOSE EVERYTHING THAT YOU OWN. I'M A NATIVE OF TAMPA, BORN AND RAISED HERE, JULY THE 22nd, NEXT WEEK, I BE 72 YEARS OLD. I'VE SEEN THE TRAIN TRACKS PULLED UP OFF OF ROME THAT NEVER WAS BEFORE WHEN WE WAS LIVING THERE. THAT AREA HAD ALWAYS FLOODED OUT, BUT NOW THAT WE ARE BUILDING THESE NICE, FINE HOMES AND CONDOS, WE'RE ABLE TO INVEST IN CERTAIN AREAS NOW THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY. WE WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT BUDGET, QUESTION THE BUDGET, AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF TAMPA, ALL OF TAMPA IS INCLUSIVE WHEN YOU SAY "I DO" TO THAT BUDGET. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: TRUETT FOLLOWED BY VALERIE BULLOCK. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M WILLIAM TRUETT. 1005 EAST CLIFTON STREET IN HAMPTON TERRACE IN OLD SEMINOLE HEIGHTS. IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, HAMPTON TERRACE AND LAKE ROBERTA HAVE SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE TO SEMINOLE HEIGHTS AND FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA. THIS IS RELATED TO ITEM 43 LATER. IN THE EARLY 1900s, THE LAKE WAS A WATERING HOLE FOR CATTLE WHEN THE FARMERS WOULD BRING CATTLE INTO TAMPA FOR AUCTION. IN 1913, NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS TOUTED THAT LAKE HAMPTON AT THAT TIME IN A PROPOSED HAMPTON TERRACE DEVELOPMENT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST NATURAL SPRINGS FED LAKES -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: AUDIENCE MEMBERS, CAN YOU PLEASE WITHHOLD YOUR CONVERSATION OR GO OUTSIDE BECAUSE WE CAN PICK IT ALL THE WAY UP HERE. >> I'M SORRY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT WASN'T YOU. >> I COULDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU WERE SAYING. NATURAL SPRING LAKE. EARLY 1920s THAT LILLIAN WERE A VASCO AND PROVASCO REALTY BEGAN TO DEVELOP. 1924, THE FIRST MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS BEGAN. THEY BEGAN WORK ON WHAT WAS THE ONLY NATURAL SPRING FED LAKE IN THE CITY OF TAMPA. THEY RENAMED THE LAKE AT THAT TIME TO LAKE ROBERTO AND HAMPTON DRIVE, LAKE ROBERTA TO ROBERTA CIRCLE NAMED AFTER HER DAUGHTER AT THAT TIME. MANY OF YOU KNOW CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS ARE VERY BIG IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BEGAN WITH SANTA AND REINDEER BACK IN THE 1930s WITH THE FLOATS. 1940s, SOME OF THE LARGEST BASS TOURNAMENTS WERE HELD AT LAKE ROBERTA AT THAT TIME AS WELL. BUT IT WAS INTERESTING, ALSO DURING THE 1940s, FLOODING WAS A MAJOR ISSUE IN TAMPA AND LAKE ROBERTA WAS ONE OF THOSE AREAS. IN 1948, THE CITY BEGAN FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS BY ADDING STORM INLETS AND OUTLETS TO LAKE ROBERTA. IT WAS REPURPOSED TO A STORM RETENTION POND. LAKE ROBERTA ENDURED MANY UPS AND DOWNS THE PAST 60 YEARS. WHEN I FIRST DROVE INTO MY MAYBE THAT TO LOOK AT MY HOUSE IN 2013, I RODE AROUND THE CIRCLE. MY FIRST THOUGHT, OH, THERE IS A GREENSPACE. THERE IS A LITTLE PARK. THEN I HAPPENED TO NOTICE THE SNOWMAN. IT WAS SITTING ON A FLOAT. THE LAKE WAS JUST A GREEN PEA SOUP. IT WAS THICK AT THAT TIME. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, MANY NEIGHBORS BEGAN WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE LAKE. HAMPTON TERRACE HAS CHANGED A LOT IN THE LAST 15 YEARS. A LOT OF NEW HOMEOWNERS. PEOPLE WITH CIVIC CONSCIENCE THAT WANT TO DO SOMETHING. WORKING WITH THE CITY, WE HAVE DONE A LOT FOR LAKE ROBERTA. TODAY, THE LAKE IS BEAUTIFUL. AND ITEM 43 COMING UP LATER TODAY, WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LAKE FOR SAFETY IN THE AREA. IT IS HOME TO MANY WILDLIFE. WE ENJOY THE AREA. MANY OF THE TRADITIONS THAT CONTINUE WITH CHRISTMAS STILL HAPPENING AROUND THE LAKE. IT IS HOME TO MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES. ALSO A MIGRATORY SPOT FOR BIRDS. WE HAD SWANS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I'M ASKING HOPEFULLY THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS TODAY. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. VALERIE BULLOCK FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE POYNOR. >> GOOD MORNING. VALERIE BULLOCK FROM EAST TAMPA AND PONCE De LEON AND COLLEGE HILL. I WANT TO PUT THIS MAP UP HERE. I HOPE EVERYBODY CAN SEE -- FLIP IT OVER. I WAS ON Facebook AND I WAS TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE. THEY KEPT SAYING THAT THEY STAY IN NORTH YBOR. NORTH YBOR, I NEVER HEARD OF THAT. WHERE IS THAT AT? THEY STARTED TELLING ME IT WAS ON 22nd STREET BY THE OLD FLORIDA SENTINEL NEWSPAPER. KNOW, THAT'S PART OF PONCE De LEON, COLLEGE HILL, THAT'S EAST TAMPA. LET ME DO A LITTLE RESEARCH. I WENT TO THE CITY OF TAMPA WEBSITE. THEY HAD A PAGE UP THERE. I TYPED IN NORTH YBOR. THIS MAP CAME UP. SO YBOR CITY GOES FROM DOWN THERE BY PHILIP SHORE ALL THE WAY TO MARTIN LUTHER KING. IF THAT IS NOT TRUE, THE CITY REALLY NEEDS TO TAKE IT DOWN BECAUSE IT'S AN INSULT TO ME AND SOME MORE PEOPLE. IF IT'S EAST TAMPA, IT SHOULD BE ON THE CITY WEBSITE DESIGNATED AS EAST TAMPA. AND I WAS SITTING THERE THINKING ABOUT IT, AND NOW MY MIND GOING CRAZY, OH, THIS IS WHY THEY NAMED THE APARTMENTS ON COLUMBUS DRIVE AND 22nd STREET CASA DEMESA BECAUSE THAT IS THE AGENDA THEY ARE TRYING TO PUSH AND I THINK IT'S RATHER BACKHANDED. THE REASON WHY I'M SAYING THIS IS BECAUSE NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE BUDGET, AND WHEN THE GENTLEMAN WAS UP HERE TALKING AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE DISTRICT, HE REALLY RUSHED THROUGH IT. SO I DIDN'T GET TO HEAR ANY IDEAS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN EAST TAMPA. AND WITHOUT REPRESENTATION RIGHT NOW AND THE BUDGET IS COMING UP, I DON'T WANT US TO BE LEFT OUT. I SAID IT REPEATEDLY AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. EAST TAMPA NEED AN ECONOMIC ENGINE. WE NEED DISTRIBUTION CENTERS AND MANUFACTURING WAREHOUSES OVER THERE AND I KNOW DOWNTOWN HAVE THE BOARD WHERE THEY NEGOTIATE WITH PEOPLE THEY BRING IN, LIKE THEY DID WITH THE PEOPLE WHO DOT COMPUTERS. THEY BRING IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN EAST TAMPA. I DON'T HEAR NOBODY TALKING ABOUT IT. WHEN IT COMES TO EAST TAMPA, I HEAR ABOUT THE CIGAR PLACE, THE PLACE THEY'LL REMODEL. I HEAR ABOUT THAT. I HEAR ABOUT FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS PROGRAM BUT I DON'T HEAR NOTHING CONCERNING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE NICE PRETTY HOUSES WE MUST HAVE A JOB TO BE ABLE TO BUY THEM. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: PLEASE SILENCE YOUR PHONES. NEXT SPEAKER -- THE CARD SAYS POYNOR. ARE YOU CHANGING YOUR NAME? >> GOOD MORNING. STEPHANIE POYNOR, OR IS IT AFTERNOON? PRETTY CLOSE. I ALWAYS LOVE BUDGET SEASON. IT'S ALWAYS SO MUCH FUN. OF COURSE, I DIDN'T LOOK AT IT UNTIL 7:30 THIS MORNING. ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I NOTICED, USED TO BE TWO STORMWATER PAGES, NOW ONE STORMWATER PAGE. ARE WE COMBINING THINGS WHERE THEY WERE SEPARATE BEFORE? I NOTICED THAT. I STARTED COUNTING HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA ARE MAKING OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS. I'VE ONLY GOTTEN TO PAGE 30 AND THERE ARE FIVE OR SIX. YES, THEY ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS, BUT WHEN WE GET OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE BECAUSE IT JUST CAME OUT YESTERDAY. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW MUCH OF AN INCREASE THESE FOLKS GOT BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER ANYBODY BEING OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. WHEN WE GET TO THE NONPROFITS, THE ARTS, WHATEVER FUND, CAN WE MAKE A SEPARATE MEETING FOR THAT? LAST YEAR WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT AND DIDN'T GET TO OTHER THINGS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE MAYOR TOLD ME THIS MORNING THAT WE'RE GOING TO STOP SERVICING PARADES WITH OUR STORMWATER DEPARTMENT. THAT JUST TICKLES THE CRAP OUT OF ME. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT SINCE SOMEBODY WANTED TO BRING UP MY COMMUNITY WHERE I LIVE. I LIVE SOUTH OF GANDY. I BREATHE SOUTH OF GANDY. I FED PEOPLE AFTER BOTH HURRICANES. I KEPT THE COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO FOR SOMEBODY TO COME DOWN HERE AND SAY THAT CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING FOR SOUTH OF GANDY, YOU NEED TO COME TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE I LIVE THERE. GO BACK TO BRANDON. DON'T COME DOWN HERE INTERFERING IN CITY STUFF. IF YOU DON'T LIVE HERE, MIND YOUR BUSINESS. AND DON'T COME ■TALKING ABOUT WHAT I HAVE DONE. LUIS VIERA WAS WATCHING DISHES AT THE LEGION. LYNN, BILL, THEY WERE THERE. THEY CAME TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE I WAS FEEDING PEOPLE, MAKING SURE THEY HAD A PLACE TO COME AND REST AND GET AIR CONDITIONING AND CHARGE THEIR PHONES AND CHARGE THEIR EQUIPMENT AND THEN SOMEBODY WANTS TO COME DOWN HERE TALKING ABOUT THEY WERE FORGOTTEN. NO. THOSE PEOPLE WEREN'T FORGOTTEN. EVERYBODY HAS TALKED TO FOLKS ABOUT CITY COUNCIL. I'VE HAD PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH JOHN BENNETT ABOUT IT. PLEASE, IF YOU LIVE SOUTH OF GANDY AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, CALL ME. MY NAME IS POYNOR. GOOGLE ME. YOU WILL SEE MY PHONE NUMBER. DON'T CALL PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR HELP BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HELP YOU. THEY ARE TOO BUSY HELPING THEMSELVES TO THEIR OWN POCKETBOOK. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. CONNIE BURTON FOLLOWED BY KELLA McCASKILL. >> GOOD MORNING. CONNIE BURTON. THE HIGHEST FUNDED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS GOING FROM $8 BILLION TO 28 BILLION. THAT'S FACT. WHEN I HEARD THIS MORNING'S BUDGET SUMMARY, I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE TWIN SISTER TO THAT. 60% OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET GOING TOWARD LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE. AND THAT'S BEEN A CONTINUING PATTERN YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. 10% ONLY GOING TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. WHILE WE ARE WATCHING AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY SAYING HOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING. AND YET WE ARE DEPENDING UPON THE CRA BECAUSE YOU SAY YOU HAVE THAT BUCKET OF MONEY OVER THERE NOW, BUT THE CRA HAS BEEN IN EAST TAMPA, BEEN FORCED TO DEAL WITH INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES. JC NEWMAN CAME TO THE EAST TAMPA CRA, GOT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FOR WHAT? INFRASTRUCTURE. AND IF YOU'RE COUNTING ON THE COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MONEY TO FACILITATE YOUR HOUSING CRISIS, YOU GOT SOME PEOPLE NOW ON THAT COUNTY BOARD THAT DON'T GIVE A DOGGONE ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND SLEEP. THEY GUTTED THEIR WHOLE HOUSING PROJECT. YOU'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOME OF THIS STUFF FOR YOURSELF. WHAT WE DID ASK FOR AND WE DID NOT GET WAS THAT IN THE RACIAL RECONCILIATION PACKAGE 568, THERE WERE FIVE POINTS SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT. ONE WAS YOUTH OPPORTUNITY. FOR THE TWO YEARS, WE ASKED FOR AN INCREASE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE JOBS WITHIN THE CITY OF TAMPA. I THINK ONLY ABLE TO GET TO 48. 72 WASN'T A HARD NUMBER, BUT 72 BECAME A HARD REQUEST IF PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT THROUGH PARKS AND RECREATION. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE FUNDING MOVING FORWARD, NOT JUST FOR 72, BECAUSE WE NEED TO ADVANCE THAT. NOW WE NEED TO HAVE FUNDING THAT WOULD ALLOW 72 TIMES 2, 144 FOR NEXT YEAR. WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MONEY IN THE PROGRAM SO WE CAN DEAL WITH DIFFERENT HOUSING MODELS. THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT ADUs YEARS AGO, IN THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION, AND YET WE HAVE SEEN NOTHING WITH THAT. WE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SEE THE FIVE SUBJECT MATTERS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN THE RACIAL RECONCILIATION, MONEY SET ASIDE TO DEAL WITH ALL FIVE. PRESERVING HISTORY, ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT YOUTH OPPORTUNITY, HOUSING, AND MONEY FOR RETURNING CITIZENS. IF THAT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET, THEN WHY ARE WE HERE? WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE TO UPLIFT THEIR LIVES BUT YET IT CONTINUE TO BE IGNORED. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, CONNIE. KELLA McCASKILL FOLLOWED BY FROM ANY TAYLOR I THINK IS THE NAME. >> GOOD MORNING. KELLA McCASKILL. COSIGN ON WHAT POYNOR SAID, ALTHOUGH ACTIVE IN EAST TAMPA AND WEST TAMPA, HOME IS SOUTH OF GANDY, PORT TAMPA. GANDY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, THAN, SOUTH OF GANDY, COUNCILMAN CARLSON, EVERYBODY WAS ACTIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TODAY SPECIFICALLY TO TALK ABOUT D 5 BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE IN THE SEAT TO TALK THROUGH THE BUDGET. I SENT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE GOOD IDEAS TO SUPPORT THIS AREA AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET. 568, DIDN'T SEE PRETTY PICTURES OR GRAPHICS THAT TALK ABOUT 568. YOU ADMITTED THE WRONGS, DISDAIN FOR BLACK PEOPLE AND THAT RESOLUTION WAS YOUR WAY TO MAKE IT RIGHT. WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO SHOW A GREAT GRAPHIC AND THE BUDGET AND THE SUPPORT AND HOW THE CITY WILL MOVE THIS FORWARD, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM THE MAYOR SINCE IT'S IN HER TIME THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THIS RESOLUTION 568. SEE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE SERVICES. OUR BUSINESSES ARE NOT SCALING. THEY ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE. THEY CAN'T EVEN PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN THINGS BECAUSE WE NEED SOME SUPPORTIVE ASSISTANCE AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE SERVICES, PREVIOUSLY WE REQUESTED $600,000 TO BE SUPPORTED, PARTICULARLY OVER IN DISTRICT 5, TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THERE. CREATIVE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITIES. WE ALREADY KNOW GIVEN UP TO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BUT CAN WE CREATE SOMETHING CREATIVE LIKE NONPERFORMANCE SECOND MORTGAGE HAVEN'T USED THAT APPROACH IN A LONG TIME. 39% OF HOME ■OWNERSHIP IN TAMPA FOR BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR, WE NEED TO GET TO 60. THAT'S ONE WAY THEY CAN HELP US DO THAT. SEE FUNDS AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN THE NEBRASKA CORRIDOR IN THE MIDDLE OF DISTRICT 5. NEED TO SEE MORE THAN ONE EFFORT. COMBINED INITIATIVE. TPD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CALL IS CALLED, NOBODY IN BUT SITS IN THE MIDDLE, SITS ON ONE OF THE SITES I'M DEVELOPING. WE CAN DO MORE OF THAT. OLIVE BRANCH, WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM THE OWNERS THAT DOMESTICS MOST OF NEBRASKA? WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US TO ATTACK THIS HOMELESSNESS OR RESOLVE IT? ALSO LIKE TO SEE A COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR FOR THE CRAs TO INTERACT BETWEEN, ALMOST AN OMBUDSMAN, BETWEEN THE CITY AND CRA TO GET THE INFORMATION COMMUNICATED AND MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE THAT GETS THE INFORMATION OUT. THERE ARE LOTS OF RESOURCES TO ASSIST HOMEOWNERS. OVER IN HOUSING, DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB. IF I COULD GIVE THEM A GIFT, AWESOME PARTY OR GIFTS. THEY HAVE TURNED THE PROGRAM AROUND AND IT IS OUTSTANDING. THE LANGUAGE AS WE TALK ABOUT A BUDGET, WE NEED A DIRECTOR FROM YOU AS COUNCIL TO GIVE BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO SAY 25% OF THAT BUDGET NEEDS TO BE SPENT WITH DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS, MINORITY OWNED, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. IT NEEDS TO BE A DIRECTIVE FROM YOU, OTHERWISE THEY THINK IT IS OPTIONAL. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IS IT FREDDY TAYLOR? THANK YOU, SIR. >> CHAIR, COUNCIL, MY NAME IS FREDDY TAYLOR. I WAS TERMINATED FROM THE CITY OF TAMPA BY HUMAN RESOURCES. I'VE BEEN A PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYEE THAT WORKED OVERTIME, EMERGENCY RESPONSE NO WRITE-UPS, NO SUSPENSIONS IN EIGHT YEARS, NEARLY EIGHT YEARS. WENT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE TO DEAL WITH UNFORTUNATE FAMILY MATTER, BUT ONCE I RETURNED AND REQUESTED REINSTATEMENT I WAS REINSTATED ON AROUND APRIL 16, 2025. NEVER ALLOWED ME TO ACTUALLY RETURN TO MY DEPARTMENT, WHICH EXHAUSTED MY MEDICAL EXPENSES. HR HAD OTHER PLANS FOR ME. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED FOR 2020 CHARGE THAT WAS NO PROCESS IN COURT. REPEAT, NO PROCESS IN COURT. FIVE YEARS AGO, WHICH THEY KNEW THE OUTCOME OF IT BUT THEY STILL DECIDED TO LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE THEY HAD PLANS TO BASICALLY HAVE ME REMOVED. THEY INVESTIGATED 2020 CHARGE DURING THE PANDEMIC YEAR. I WAS NEVER ARRESTED BUT I WAS CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR THAT WAS, AGAIN, NO PROCESS FOR THE THIRD TIME. DEPRAVED GROUP OF HR EMPLOYEES CHARGED ME WITH NEGLECT TO REPORT. ALSO, THEY FOLLOWED UP BY MORAL TURPITUDE. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DUTY DID I HAVE TO REPORT? SECTION 7.6 IT OUTLINES AFTER AN ARREST, YOU HAVE THE DUTY TO REPORT. THERE WAS NO ARREST. ANYWAY, THERE IS NO MORAL TURPITUDE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING AMORAL DONE. I'M STILL CONFUSED WHY I WAS BEING INVESTIGATED. AS A MATTER OF PRECEDENT, SIMILAR SITUATION, EMPLOYEE DIDN'T REPORT AN ARREST, HE RECEIVED A ONE-DAY SUSPENSION. I WOULD LIKE CONSIDERATION TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF CITY EMPLOYEES REFERRED TO THE INDEPENDENT COUNCIL. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH COUNCILMAN VIERA AS I LOOKED AT MY ZIP CODE, I THOUGHT HE WAS MY COUNCILMAN. I REACHED OUT. IT WAS TO NO AVAIL. THE SECRETARY WAS KIND ENOUGH TO TAKE DOWN MY INFORMATION. I WAS ALSO ASKED TO SPEAK WITH CITY ATTORNEY MARTIN SHELBY WHO HIS NAME IN A DISCUSSION WAS TO DISCOURAGE ME. I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED BY THAT CIRCUMSTANCE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT MR. CARLSON AND MR. CHARLIE AND THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE REALLY CARE AND UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES WITH LEADERSHIP IN GENERAL. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A MERRY-GO-ROUND. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT YOU, COUNCILMAN VIERA -- [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I'M SORRY. WE HAVE A RULE ON COUNCIL THAT YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL COUNCILPERSONS. YOU'RE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUAL COUNCILPERSONS. >> CAN I REPHRASE IT -- I CAN REPHRASE IT. I MADE CONTACT WITH THE OFFICE HERE, SPECIFIC COUNCIL, AND YOU ALL HAD -- CHANNEL FOX 13 HAD WOMEN ON THERE TALKING ABOUT THEIR SITUATION. BUT YOU REFERRED THEM TO INDEPENDENT COUNSEL. WHY CAN'T I GET INDEPENDENT COUNSEL IN MY SITUATION? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. MARTY GREEN, FOLLOWED BY FRED HEARNS. >> MARTY GREEN WITH THE MOBILITY DEPARTMENT. THIS TAKE FIVE IS FOR HARASSMENT. WOULD NOT BE TOLERATED IN THE CITY OF TAMPA WITH AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. I HAD ALL HANDS ON ME WITH THE DIRECTOR, THE INTERIM DIRECTOR BRANDON CAMPBELL AND ALL THE MOBILITY DEPARTMENT. LIKE NINE SUPERVISORS AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNION. AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS THERE. I GOT -- I ASKED A QUESTION. MY QUESTION WAS TO BRIAN ROGERS AND HE GOT AGGRESSIVE WITH ME WHICH IS NOT TOLERANTED WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA. HE GOT AGGRESSIVE. ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS HAD TO TALK HIM DOWN BECAUSE HE GOT AGGRESSIVE WITH ME. THEN HE SAID I GOT -- I ASKED WHY I WAS MOVED FROM ONE SIDE OF THE DEPARTMENT TO THE OTHER SIDE. HE TOLD ME I WAS MOVED FOR BEING AGGRESSIVE -- I MEAN, GETTING IN AN ALTERCATION. NO, THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN ALTERCATION. THAT'S WHY I CALL THE CITY OF TAMPA CANDYLAND. HE GOT TWO EMPLOYEES THAT GOT INTO PHYSICAL ALTERCATION AND NOTHING HAPPENED AND STAYED TOGETHER. I MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE. WE ARE CITIZENS PAYING FOR THE MOBILITY DEPARTMENT. WE ARE FUNDED BY THE CITIZENS. SO MICHAEL BROWN, HE WAS USING THE CITY VEHICLE FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL REASONS. I WROTE THE E-MAIL AND ASKED HIM AND HE WENT BACK ON THE GPS AND FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS USING THE VEHICLE. AND THEN THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED BACK THAT HE'LL ADDRESS IT AND EVERYTHING I TOLD HIM WAS CORRECTLY. GOING BACK TO THIS, THE E-MAILS, WHEN I WROTE HR AND ASKED HIM, HAS IT BEEN A DISCIPLINARY ON MICHAEL BROWN, THEY TOLD ME -- THE RESPONSE WAS IT WAS NOTHING ON RECORD. SO THEREFORE HE WAS NOT DISCIPLINARY ABOUT NOTHING. THIS IS HIS SECOND TIME USING THE CITY VEHICLES FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL BUSINESS. BRIAN ROGERS TOOK THE VEHICLE FROM HIM BEFORE FOR LETTING HIS WIFE USE THE VEHICLE, RUN AROUND IN A CITY VEHICLE. NOW, I AM ONE OF THE ONES THAT RUN THE PAVING EQUIPMENT. IF I'M NOT HERE, THE PAVING EQUIPMENT BARELY RUNS. THEREFORE, TO SAY THAT I RUN IT. NOW, CUTTING THAT BUDGET, WE ARE SHORT. IT TAKES 13 TO 15 PEOPLE TO RUN THAT EQUIPMENT. IT'S ONLY 7 TO 9 PEOPLE ON EACH CREW. THEREFORE, WE ARE DOWN. WE ARE SET FOR FAILURE FROM THE BEGINNING. STORMWATER, I KNOW HOW TO CONTROL EVERYTHING DEALING WITH STORMWATER RIGHT NOW. I HAVE THE BLUEPRINT. I KNOW WHAT NEED TO BE DONE. THAT'S NOT MY BUSINESS. STAY OUT OF IT. MOBILITY, CUTTING THE BUDGET. WHY CUT THE BUDGET? START FROM THE TOP, JEAN DUNCAN, BRIAN ROGERS, MICHAEL BROWN AND STAFF BECAUSE HE CAN PAY THE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR NOTHING. HE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DOING. THEREFORE -- CALLING US MONKEYS. I GAVE PAPERS TWO WEEKS AGO. NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT. HR HASN'T TALKED TO ME. I FEEL OFFENDED AND I FEEL KIND OF A LITTLE AFRAID THAT BRIAGE ROGERS MIGHT COME IN HERE AND DO SOMETHING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, SIR. FRED HEARNS. >> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. VERY GLAD TO BE HERE. GOING TO TOUCH ON A FEW DIFFERENT ITEMS VERY QUICKLY. YOU HEARD FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE RACIAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE, CONNIE BURTON A LITTLE EARLIER TODAY. I ALSO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE OR SERVED. PLEASE, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT ON YOUR PLATE, BUT IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, PLEASE LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE RACIAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE HAS MADE. I KNOW WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH ATTORNEY SHELBY AND OTHER FOLK WHO HAVE ASSISTED US, BUT THERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE TAKE SERIOUSLY. WE KNOW YOU'LL TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY ALSO WHEN YOU GET THAT REPORT. THE OTHER THING, I SERVED FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS AS PRESIDENT OF THE ZION CEMETERY PRESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE SOCIETY. SIX YEARS, AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE SAME ISSUE WE STARTED WORKING ON SIX YEARS AGO, WHICH IS CREATE A MEMORIAL SITE WHERE THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 700 PERSONS BURIED THERE, MOST OF WHOM ARE BLACKS. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE GIVING AN UPDATE TO COUNCIL VERY SOON AS A COMMITTEE. I JUST WANT TO MENTION AS A HEADS UP, ZION CEMETERY PRESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE SOCIETY IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE. WE THINK WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE A LITTLE MORE. WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING YOU AN UPDATE AS TO WHERE WE ARE VERY SOON. THE OTHER THING, THANK YOU. I WAS NOT HERE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VOTE WAS TAKEN RECENTLY BY COUNCIL AS IT RELATES TO AN AMPHITHEATER AT PERRY HARVEY PARK. THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY PROJECTS THAT COUNCILWOMAN GWEN HENDERSON HAD BEEN WORKING ON. WE HAD A RIBBON CUTTING THERE ACTUALLY IN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT'S COMING. THIS HAS BEEN AN 18-YEAR ISSUE WITH ME AND A FEW OTHER FOLKS TO GET AN AMPHITHEATER IN THE PARK SO WHEN PEOPLE HAVE EVENTS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO RENT A STAGE, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT THE LONG GOAL IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO BE VENDORS. I'VE LOOKED FOR YEARS OF WHAT'S HAPPENED AT CENTENNIAL PARK. THAT IS AN EXCELLENT MODEL. THE SAME THING CAN BE DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS, MAYBE MONTHLY, AT PERRY HARVEY PARK AND TO HAVE A PLAN TO GIVE SMALL BUSINESSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET UP VENDOR SHOPS IN THE PARK ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE CITY PARKS AND REC, SO FORTH, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO. THANK YOU FOR VOTING TO LOOK INTO THE AMPHITHEATER. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MR. HEARNS. HARRISON LUNDE FOLLOWED BY MENTESNOT. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS HARRISON LUNDE WITH VOICES OF FLORIDA. I ACTUALLY HAVEN'T BEEN UP HERE IN A WHILE. PRETTY NICE TO BE BACK UP HERE. I DID HAVE SOMETHING OFF OF THE AGENDA THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT TODAY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE STILL BELIEVE TO BE VERY IMPORTANT. THREE YEARS AGO, ALMOST TO THE DAY, I STOOD HERE AND I SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT TURNING GROUP USA AND HOW THEY CAME TO HOST THE CONFERENCE IN 2022, MYSELF AND A NUMBER OF ACTIVISTS GOT TOGETHER AND EXERCISED OUR RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST THEIR CONVENTION ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR POLITICAL PLATFORM PROVING HARMFUL TO SO MANY TAMPANIANS AND AMERICANS. PEOPLE WERE MET WITH LITERAL VIOLENCE FROM ATTENDEES AND HARASSMENT FROM THEIR CAMERA CREWS, INCLUDING MYSELF GETTING PULLED DOWN THE STAIRS OF THE CONVENTION CENTER. AS A RESULT, I CAME UP HERE AND DEMANDED THAT THE CITY AND MAYOR ISSUE SOME SORT OF APOLOGY AND STATEMENT ON NOT ONLY THE CONVENTION CENTER'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GROUP BUT THEIR REFUSAL TO RESPOND TO VIOLENCE. I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE IT'S THREE YEARS LATER AND WE'RE BACK IN THE SAME SPOT. TURNING POINT USA, A GROUP WHO HAS OPENLY PLATFORMED HATRED, RACISM, ANTI-SEMITISM AND BIGOTRY WAS IN OUR CITY EN MASSE AGAIN LAST WEEK. I WATCHED THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN. EXERCISED OUR RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST AND WE WERE MET WITH VIOLENCE AS ONE ACTIVIST KNOCKED TO THE GROUND BLEEDING. I MYSELF AND ANOTHER ORGANIZER FACING HARASSMENT FROM TPD AND OVERWHELMED WITH ATTENDEES AND SELF-PROCLAIMED INFLUENCERS WHO CAME TO HARASS AND ANTAGONIZE US. SAME LEVEL, WHILE WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO AGREE, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR CITY WELCOMING ALL GROUPS REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGY BUT THERE HAS TO BE A LINE DRAWN SOMEWHERE. WE'RE IN A CLIMATE RIGHT NOW WHERE RISE FOR IMMIGRANTS, WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, PUBLIC SERVICES AND MORE ARE UNDER ATTACK. WHEN WE PERMIT A GROUP INTO OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAS NOW TWICE ATTACKED US, LITERALLY ATTACKED US FOR DEFENDING THOSE RIGHTS, WE HAVE TO DRAW SOME KIND OF LINE. AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY NO TO THOSE WHO PROMOTE SUCH VISCERAL HATRED TO THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT AND DIVERSE. ON BEHALF OF THE ACTIVISTS WHO WERE HARMED THAT DAY AND ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO WITNESSED HARM FROM PEOPLE WHO REALISTICALLY DON'T EVEN LIVE IN TAMPA, I AM ONCE AGAIN ASKING FOR SOME KIND OF PUBLIC RESPONSE FOR THIS EVENT, SOME KIND OF SOLUTION GOING FORWARD AND APOLOGY FROM MAYOR CASTOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL. WE CAN'T CLAIM TO BE A DIVERSE CITY WHEN SOME OF THE ADVERSE TO THE DIVERSITY ARE GO EGG A PUBLIC PLATFORM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. >> UHURU, METESNOT, TAMPA, FLORIDA. UHURU MEANS FREEDOM IN SWAHILI. WE AS AFRICAN PEOPLE SHOULD ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT OUR FREEDOM. THE CITY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENT OR CITY OF TAMPA GOVERNMENT ISN'T LOCATED AT 601 EAST KENNEDY BOULEVARD COUNTY CENTER OR 315 EAST KENNEDY BOULEVARD, CITY HALL. THE SEAT OF TAMPA BAY GOVERNMENT IS LOCATED AT 1601 SOUTH MacDILL AVENUE, TAMPA, FLORIDA, 33629, ALSO KNOWN AS THE PALMA CEIA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB. PALMA CEIA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB IS A MEMBER BY INVITATION ONLY PRIVATELY OWNED ESTABLISHMENT. I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT STEP ONE FOOT ON THOSE WHITE FOLKS' PRIVATE PROPERTY BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE SANCTITY OF PRIVATE PROPERTY FROM A COLONIALIST AND CAPITALIST PERSPECTIVE. SEVERE CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATING THE CODES OF PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP. ALTERNATIVELY, THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT GIVES CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS TO ALL INDIVIDUALS HISTORICALLY VARIOUS TAMPA MAYORS, TAMPA CITY COUNCILS AND TAMPA POLICE CHIEFS HAVE A TRADITION OF COMPROMISING OR CIRCUMVENTING CERTAIN PEOPLE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. THIS TAMPA CITY HALL IS A PUBLIC BUILDING, WHICH AT SELECTED TIMES INDIVIDUALS ARE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT AGENDA ITEMS OR THE STATE OF AFFAIRS. ON MANY OCCASIONS WHEN CERTAIN PEOPLE ATTEMPT TO ARTICULATE THEIR THOUGHT PROCESS, THEY ARE DISRESPECTFULLY INTERRUPTED, INSULTED HUMILIATED PROVOKED BULLIED INTO CONFORMING THEIR THOUGHTS WOULD BE REPRESENTATIVE OF WHITE POWER, WHITE NATIONALISM AND WHITE WESTERN CIVILIZATION. I PERSONALLY HAVE FAITHFULLY ATTENDED CITY GOVERNMENT MEETINGS FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS TO SPEAK ON ISSUES IMPORTANT TO POOR AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE. DISPROPORTIONATELY AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE. I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT ISSUES RANGING FROM TOO MANY LIQUOR STORES INSIDE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES, POLICE VIOLENCE, NO CITY SERVICES, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, LACK OF YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES AND SENSITIVITY, REPARATIONS PALESTINE DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION, THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, RACISM, CHILD SUPPORT, 825 YEARS OF OPPRESSION ENDURED BY AFRICA AND AFRICAN PEOPLE. 26% AND OTHER ISSUES. I WILL NOT ACCEPT AND DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANYONE ON THIS PLANET EARTH HAS THE RIGHT OR PRIVILEGE OR OPPORTUNITY TO TELL ME HOW TO SPEAK AT A PUBLIC MEETING. I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT ALLOW MY MOTHER FATHER SISTER BROTHER CHILDREN FRIEND ASSOCIATE STRANGER, INDIGENT OR WEALTHY PERSON, MARTIN LUTHER KING OR MALCOLM X TELL ME HOW TO SPEAK AND NOT ABOUT TO ALLOW WHITE HOMOSEXUAL, GAY MAN OF CITY GOVERNMENT TELL ME HOW TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY OR AFRICAN PEOPLE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, SIR. STEVE SCOTT FOLLOWED BY PASTOR FRANK WILLIAMS. >> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOOD MORNING. >> MY NAME IS STEVE SCOTT. I'M HERE -- SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING? I GOT GOOD EARS. I CAN'T SEE BUT I GOT GOOD EARS. MY NAME IS STEVE SCOTT. I'M HERE TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE ABOUT MY PROPERTY. WHEN THE HURRICANE COME AND DESTROYED THE TREES AND STUFF, THE BACK OF MY HOUSE, BEFORE THEY PUT THE FENCE NEXT DOOR WAS A COMPANY THAT DIDN'T HAVE NO FENCE AND WE COULD HAVE THE ENTRANCE. THAT'S WHEN I CAN SEE, DRIVE INTO THE ENTRANCE TO GET BEHIND MY HOUSE AND CUT DOWN THE BIG TREE LIMB THAT THE HURRICANE DID WHEN THEY CAME. SO WE HAVE TRAILERS AND WE PUT IT ON THE TRAILER AND WE WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE CITY DUMP WHEN THE HURRICANE HIT. BUT THE COMPANY PUT THEIR FENCE ON THEIR PROPERTY. SO NOW I DON'T HAVE NO WAY OF INTEREST TO GET BEHIND MY HOUSE BECAUSE OF THAT FENCE PUT THERE. I DO HAVE A DRIVEWAY BUT IT ENDS AT MY GARAGE. I CAN'T DRIVE OR GET BEHIND MY PROPERTY BECAUSE THAT DRIVEWAY ENDS AT MY GARAGE. THERE'S NO WAY TO GET BEHIND MY PROPERTY. SO I'VE BEEN CALLING AND TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. ALL HE WAS TELLING ME, YOU CAN'T HAVE BUT ONE DRIVEWAY. YOU CAN'T HAVE BUT ONE DRIVEWAY. BUT I DON'T HAVE NO WAY TO DRIVE BEHIND AND DO SOME WORK WHEN THE HURRICANE COME BECAUSE THAT FENCE THAT THE COMPANY PUT UP, THERE'S NO WAY. SO I'M TRYING TO GET HELP. I'M TRYING TO GET SOME HELP WHERE I CAN BE ABLE TO GET ON MY PROPERTY DURING THE HURRICANE. NOW, THE LAST HURRICANE COME, I HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY TO COME AND HELP ME, BUT THEY HAD TO BRING IT OUT AND DRIVE IT ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET BEHIND MY HOUSE. I'M HERE TO TRY TO GET SOME HELP. I NEED AN ENTRY TO GET ON MY PROPERTY, SOMEBODY TO GUIDE ME HOW TO DO IT, HELP ME HOW TO GET ON MY PROPERTY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY HOUSE. THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR, TRY TO GET SOME HELP. WHO WILL I CONTACT OR WHO WOULD I TALK TO? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MR. BENNETT, CAN YOU GET SOMEBODY FROM STAFF TO SPEAK WITH HIM? THANK YOU, MR. SCOTT. APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: PASTOR FRANK WILLIAMS, FOLLOWED BY DARRYL HEIDT. GOOD MORNING, PASTOR. >> I HOPE YOU ALL GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME TO GET UP HERE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU'RE THERE. CLERK, WILL YOU RESET THE TIME TO START IT NOW? >> YOU KNOW, LEGAL STAFF IS NOT LEGAL. I CALL THEM AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT, SECRETARY SET UP AN APPOINTMENT ONE TIME. THEY TOLD ME, THEY ARE CALLING ME 9:45. SIT THERE BY THE PHONE, 9:45, NO CALL FROM THEM. I SET UP ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THEM ANOTHER TIME. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS? THEY TOLD ME TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AT 1:45. YOU KNOW WHAT I DID? I SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEM 1:45. THEY NEVER CALLED ME. THE LEGAL AIDE STAFF, THEY ARE NOT ON THE JOB. JUST LIKE A LOT OF US, WE'RE NOT ON OUR JOB. I GOT SOMETHING TO READ TO YOU. I DON'T PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG BECAUSE THE FLAG DON'T DO ANYTHING TO ME. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THERE'S NO JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID? THEY TOOK MY PROPERTY AWAY FROM ME. MY SON AND MY DAUGHTER HAD TO COLLECT OVER $18,000 TO KEEP ME ON MY PROPERTY. THAT'S ALL COMING FROM THESE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE. THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ME. I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY BECAUSE I'M A MAN OF COLOR AND I TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING. 1112 EAST SCOTT STREET, TOOK IT AND GIVE IT TO THE WHITE FOLKS, MY CHURCH. THEY DONE MOVE ALL MY STUFF OUT OF THERE. STOLE IT AND EVERYTHING. THEY DON'T CARE NOTHING ABOUT US. WE GOT TO CARE ABOUT OURSELVES. GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY, THAT'S MY TIME? I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE THE CLOCK ALONE. -- SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGIOUS OR PROHIBITIVE FREE EXERCISE -- AND ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE PRESS. RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR REDRESS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, PASTOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOUR TIME IS DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE TIME? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NO, I'M SORRY. HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT MEETING. >> THAT'S THE WAY TREAT US. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WAITING FOR THE 10 AND 10:30 PUBLIC HEARINGS. I APOLOGIZE. I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE CAN CUT YOU GUYS LOOSE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO HEAR THOSE UNTIL AT LEAST 1:30. IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE AND COME BACK AT 1:30. WE STILL HAVE PROBABLY ANOTHER 15 MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> NO JUSTICE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR. NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL. WE HAVE TO KEEP COMING AND KEEP -- HE'LL MAKE JUSTICE. DID YOU ALL GET MY FLYER? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE DID. READ THAT FLYER AND GIVE ME A RESPONSE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: DARYL HYCH FOLLOWED BY ROBIN LOCKETT. >> STARTED OUT THIS MESSAGE WANTING TO SAY GOOD MORNING. NOW IT'S TIME TO SAY GOOD AFTERNOON. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT LIST. I WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO SIGN UP -- NO, OKAY. HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. DARYL HYCH. YBOR CITY SHOOTING, YOU FOUND MONEY. WHEN DEVELOPERS WERE LOOKING TO BUILD AND EXPAND THEIR LEGACY PROJECTS AND VARIOUS THINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF TAMPA, FINDING LAND, YOU FOUND MONEY. A LEGACY, FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION INSIDE THE CITY OF TAMPA THAT WANTED TO CONTINUE THEIR FAMILY LEGACY BY UTILIZING HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND ARTIFACTS OF VARIOUS THINGS, YOU FOUND MONEY. YET FIVE YEARS AGO, RESOLUTION 568 WAS WRITTEN. APOLOGIES WERE GIVEN. CONSCIOUS UNDERSTANDING OF THE RAMIFICATIONS OF CORRECTING THE WRONG AND YET YOU NEVER EVEN MENTION THE MONEY. THIS REMINDS ME OF APRIL 14, 1865, WHEN THE BULLET RANG OUT IN THE FORD THEATER AT THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. PRESIDENT LINCOLN HAD PUT IN PLACE LAWS AND THINGS TO ASSIST BLACK FAMILIES WHO HAD BEEN HURT, HARMED AND INJURED. HE OFFERED THESE BLACK FAMILIES 40 ACRES AND A MULE. AND NO SOONER THAN THE BULLET RANG OUT IN THE FORD THEATER WAS PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND THOSE WHO WERE INSIDE OF HIS CABINET WORKING TO RESCIND THAT PARTICULAR LAW. ULTIMATELY HE CAME BACK FULL CIRCLE AND SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT WE'LL DO, WE'LL CALL THEM SHARECROPPERS. WHEN I LOOK AT RESOLUTION NUMBER 568 THAT WAS ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER 3, 2020, IT IS SYNONYMOUS TO THAT EXACT SAME SITUATION. BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR IN APRIL OF 2024, WE SWITCHED THE GAME AND CALLED IT RESOLUTION 377. AND WHEN WE SWITCHED THE GAME AND PUT IT IN RESOLUTION NUMBER 367 -- I MEAN 377, WE ESSENTIALLY PUTIS RIGHT BACK INTO A SHARECROPPING SITUATION. I'M ASKING YOU, AS THE MAYOR JUST GOT DONE STATING WHEN SHE WAS DOING HER SPEECH AND SPEAKING OF THE BUDGET, THE MAYOR SAID, WE ARE A CITY ON THE MOVE. SHE SAID WE'RE A CITY ON THE MOVE. THE QUESTION I HAVE TO ASK AND THE OVERWHELMING CONCERN I HAVE IS, WAS SHE INCLUDED BLACK PEOPLE ON THE MOVE? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL SITTING STAGNANT. YOU ALL HAVE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, SIR. ROBIN LOCKETT FOLLOWED BY SURGRET DOSS. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT. I LOOK FORWARD TO DECIPHERING WHAT WILL GO INTO THE BUDGET. OF COURSE, I'M LOOKING FOR THE YELLOW JACKETS TO BE MADE WHOLE AGAIN. I'LL BE SENDING YOU GUYS AN OUTLINE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE SINCE I GET THE QUESTION ALL THE TIME IN REGARDS TO WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? SO IT WOULD BE AN ITEMIZED LOOK. ALSO, I'M INTERESTED IN EXACTLY WHAT SULPHUR SPRINGS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE BECAUSE I HEARD THE VERBIAGE ABOUT SULPHUR SPRINGS. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. IT WAS SAID THIS MORNING THAT THE COUNTY IS GETTING $709 MILLION FOR DISASTER RELIEF. THE CDBG MONEY, DR, THAT'S STRICTLY TO MAKE PEOPLE WHOLE FROM THE DISASTER. IT'S NOT A REGULAR HOUSING FUND. THE COUNTY HAS STATED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SPEND, I THINK, $368 MILLION TOWARDS HOUSING, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO HANDLE THE WHOLE HOUSING FUND. SO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DIVIDE THE MONEY UP. THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A ONE BIG HOUSING, I DON'T KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO HANDLE THE MONEY. THAT MONEY IS NOT SEPARATE FOR REGULAR HOUSING. IT'S JUST FOR DISASTER RECOVERY. JUST GIVING CLARITY TO THAT. A COUPLE OF PEOPLE CAME UP AND SPOKE ABOUT RESOLUTION 568 AND SO FORTH. YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM US. I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE THE ADDITIONAL DAYS ADDED OR WHATEVER, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE REPORT THAT'S GOING TO BE CREATED. IT HASN'T BEEN CREATED YET, OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEND TO YOU GUYS. SO THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SURGRET DOSS FOLLOWED BY NAYA YOUNG. >> GOOD MORNING. SURGRESS DOS. MY SHIRT IS A LITTLE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN I THOUGHT. I GET A LOT OF PEOPLE -- TO THE ATTORNEY, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE ISSUE IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES. BUT TO THE BROTHER WHO WAS SPEAKING ABOUT HIS ISSUE WITHIN THE CITY, IF YOU ARE A UNION MEMBER, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN WHAT'S IN YOUR CONTRACT. I USED TO BE A UNION STEWARD FOR THE TEAMSTERS. I UNDERSTOOD HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO UNDERSTAND AND BARGAINING UNIT NEEDS TO KNOW IT AS WELL. NEED TO LEARN THE LAW BECAUSE AT SOME POINT VIOLATE YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW. NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. LET'S TALK ABOUT DOUBLE STANDARD. WHAT BLACK FOLKS COULD NEVER DO THAT WHITE FOLKS CAN DO IS ASCEND TO CERTAIN POSITIONS. LIKE, BLACK FOLKS COULD NEVER BECOME ATTORNEYS AND WALK INTO A COURT ROOM AND LIE AND EXPECT NO ACCOUNTABILITY. BLACK FOLKS CAN NEVER BECOME JUDGES AND ALLOW A LIE TO BE TOLD BLATANTLY IN FRONT OF YOU AND NOT SANCTION THE ATTORNEY WHO MADE THE MISLEADING COMMENT OR ACTUALLY THE OUTRIGHT LIE. IN MY INSTANCE, WE HAVE ATTORNEYS AND I'M GOING TO SAY THEIR NAMES. I REALLY WANT THEM TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. TALKING ABOUT RAYMOND HAWS, DALE PARKER OF BANKER, LOPEZ, JOHN MUELLER BUTLER KATZ, I THINK HE IS A PARTNER THERE AS WELL. MICHAEL ROE, I THINK HE IS PROBABLY THE MOST DESPICABLE PERSON I MET IN MY LIFE. DEANNE -- TABITHA BLACKWELL. JUDGE EMILY ANN PEACOCK. OF THE 13th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. WE ALREADY KNOW I DON'T THINK MUCH OF FORMER JUDGE HOLDER WHAT HE AND FORMER CITY EMPLOYEES FALSELY ACCUSED OF ME OF PERJURY. JUDGE PAUL HUEY WHO SAT RIGHT THERE, THE INTERESTING THING, THE WHOLE WORLD CAN GO TO MY YouTube PAGE. I FOUND OUT BECAUSE I POSTED SOMETHING ON SPEAKING BEFORE, PROFIT SHARE. WE'RE PARTNERS NOW. GO TO MY YouTube PAGE AND JUST WATCH AND LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE LIE. LIKE MY SHIRT SAYS, NIGGA COULD NEVER EVER HOPE TO GET AWAY WITH ATROCITIES, THAT WHITE FOLKS ACROSS THE STREET. SHOUT-OUT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA, UNIVERSITY OF JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR NAMING THE AUDITORIUM AFTER THE LATE GREAT GWENDOLYN HENDERSON. I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AFFINITY FOR THAT INSTITUTION, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T GIVE THE BEST EFFORT WHEN I WAS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD BECAUSE I JOINED THE ARMY. 40th YEAR OF JOINING THE MILITARY. VETERANS -- TAKE CARE OF THEM. YOU ALL TAKE CARE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MICHELLE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST. I SLAUGHTERED YOUR FIRST NAME. >> THAT'S OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW TAMPA RESIDENTS. MY NAME IS NAYA YOUNG. I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY. I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A TAMPA HEIGHTS RESIDENT, ALSO DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT. TAMPA IS GROWING EVERY DAY, AND WITH THAT GROWTH COMES INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY. DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, EACH WITH UNIQUE BACKGROUNDS, EXPERIENCES AND NEEDS. D 5 IS A BEAUTIFUL DISTRICT. WE HAVE HISTORIC COMMUNITIES THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE THRIVE. UNIQUE STORIES FROM OUR LEGACY FAMILIES AND THOSE WHO HAVE LIVED HERE FOR MANY YEARS. THAT HISTORY IS A GUIDING LIGHT FOR TODAY'S YOUTH. WE HAVE TO HOLD THAT DEAR. THEREFORE, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EXPANDING SUPPORT FOR OUR YOUTH. OUR YOUTH, OUR YOUTH, OUR YOUTH. OUR PARKS PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY POOLS, OUR SENIORS, AGAIN, WHO ARE GEMS OF THE DISTRICT 5 COMMUNITY. HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JUST TO UPLIFT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE SEEN MYSELF, THE BEAUTY THAT COMES FROM INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH AND LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITIES. WHEN WE INVEST IN OUR YOUTH, ULTIMATELY WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE. WE ARE BUILDING A FUTURE FOR THEM. IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THEM. WHEN WE LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT'S HOW WE FOSTER THAT COLLABORATION. AND THAT COLLABORATION LEADS TO SHARED ECONOMIC GROWTH. SUSTAINABLE GROWTH MEANS MORE THAN JUST MANAGING DEVELOPMENT. IT MEANS CREATING OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIFT UP OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. IT MEANS ENSURING THAT AS TAMPA GROWS, WE GROW TOGETHER WITH COLLABORATION AND GOODWILL GUIDING OUR PATH FORWARD. I THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR LISTENING AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ONE MORE SPEAKER, RON WEAVER, PLEASE. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I ARRIVE ON OCCASION OF TWINS. I HAVE TWIN GRANDSONS. I WAS RAISED BY TWO TWIN COUSINS. RONALD L. WEAVER. I RISE ON THE OCCASION OF TWINS. TWIN GRANDSONS AND I WAS RAISED BY TWO TWIN COUSINS HAVING NO BROTHERS. THE TWINS I RISE FOR GEORGE AND LEONARD LEVY ABOUT WHOM IT IS POSSIBLE YOUR CITY, YOUR CITY COUNCIL MIGHT NAME ONE OF YOUR FUTURE MAJOR PROJECTS IN HONOR OF THE AMAZING TWINS GEORGE AND LEONARD LEVY. WHEN SOLOMON AND SEMI LEVY LOOKED AT THE TWINS ON JULY -- IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DEPRESSION, WHAT MIGHT THE TWINS DO ALONE AND TOGETHER TO CHANGE AND SHAPE TAMPA. THESE TWINS, LEONARD WENT OFF TO THE MARINES, SERVED AS CAPTAIN, CAME OUT AS CAPTAIN AND DIDN'T HIN HERAT -- HE WORKED AT THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE AND GREW OVER 30 YEARS TO OWN THE MAJORITY INTEREST IN ONE OF THE PREMIER COMPANIES IN ALL OF TAMPA HILLSBOROUGH. LEONARD AND GEORGE LEVY CHANGED THE SHAPE AND REDEEMED ALL THE HOPES OF SOLOMON AND SIMI LEVY JULY 25, 1933 BECAUSE HE WOULD CHAIR THE TAMPA SPORTS AUTHORITY AND GET US A TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS TEAM. AS HE GOT THAT TEAM, TURN AROUND AND SAY LET'S GET A SUPER BOWL. HE DID. WE GOT THREE OR FOUR OTHERS, ONLY BECAUSE OF LEONARD AND GEORGE LEVY. LEONARD LEVY 1994 CIVITAN CITY OF THE YEAR. 1999, HE WILL HELP GET US THE NATIONAL FINAL FOUR FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL. 2017 HE WILL GET US THE INAUGURAL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF GAME, CLEMSON ALABAMA HERE IN 2017. THEN HIS BUSINESS HILLSBOROUGH PRINTING WILL BE NOT ONLY A COMPANY OF ETHICS BUT UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA WILL GIVE HIM THEIR CENTER OF ETHICS AWARD TO LEONARD LEVY. LEONARD LEVY AND GEORGE LEVY HAVE CHANGED THE SHAPE OF THIS COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE CHANGED NOT ONLY THE WORLD OF SPORTS BUT LEONARD CHAIRED THE TAMPA VISITOR'S BUREAU. HIS WIFE LOOK SO GOOD TODAY BECAUSE CHAIRMAN LIKE LEONARD LEVY. LEONARD AND GEORGE LEVY CAME TO THIS TOWN, THEY BROUGHT THIS TOWN TO A NEW PLACE. BROUGHT IT TO A PLACE OF PRIDE. THEY BROUGHT IT TO A PLACE OF INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AND THERE ARE DOZENS OF OTHER THINGS DONE FOR THE UNITED WAY AND THE SALVATION ARMY AND THE GREATER TAMPA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ALL OF WHICH REFLECTED THE FACT THAT GEORGE AND LEONARD LEVY FULFILLED EVERY HOPE OF SOLOMON AND SIMI LEVY LOOKING DOWN ON JULY 25, 1933 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DEPRESSION AT THE ENORMOUS POTENTIAL OF THESE TWO IDENTICAL TWINS. I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD NAME A FACILITY AFTER THE LEVY BROTHERS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATIVE MATTERS. I BELIEVE WE DO NOT HAVE ONE. WE'LL GO RIGHT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. LET'S RUN THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA, SET THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THEN BREAK FOR LUNCH. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CHAIR, MR. -- LUIS VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: I MOVE ITEMS 3 THROUGH 8. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: I MOVE ITEMS 9 THROUGH 16. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SECOND. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. >>BILL CARLSON: COULD WE VOTE ON 19 SEPARATELY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, PULLING 19 FOR SEPARATE VOTE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I MOVE ITEMS 17 THROUGH 24 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 19. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NOW I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FOR A SEPARATE VOTE, ITEM 19. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? OPPOSED? >>BILL CARLSON: NAY. >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED WITH CARLSON VOTING NO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, CLERK. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE ONE THING TO SAY ABOUT FINANCE COMMITTEE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I HAVE A CLARITY THING, TOO. ITEM 27, THERE WAS AN INCORRECT MEMO ATTACHED TO ITEM 27. IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, JUST FOR CLARITY, SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. THIS IS A SCRIVENER'S ERROR CORRECTING THE NAME OF THE COMPANY. >>LYNN HURTAK: ITEM NUMBER 30 IS THE LIST OF APPROVED AUDITS FOR 2026. I'M NOT PULLING THIS FOR DISCUSSION, BUT DURING NEW BUSINESS, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IF COUNCIL WANTS TO ADD AN AUDIT, I HAVE A SUGGESTION. WE HAVE 30 DAYS FROM THE TIME WE RECEIVE THIS AUDIT PLAN TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL AUDITS. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU LOOK THROUGH THE LIST AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD. LAST YEAR, WE ADDED TWO THINGS. ONE OF THEM IS THE CONTINUATION THAT COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON ASKED ABOUT THE RIVER CENTER. THAT ONE IS STILL ON THERE. AGAIN, WE DID ADD TWO AUDITS LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE 30 DAYS IN WHICH TO DO IT. THINK ON IT OVER LUNCH SO WE CAN MAKE SOME DISCUSSIONS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. WOULD YOU MOVE ITEMS 25 THROUGH 30 PLEASE? MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? MR. CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: ON 34, I NEED TO ABSTAIN. I'VE GOT A FORM 8B, MAKE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE. ALTHOUGH MY FIRM DOESN'T WORK ON THE ISSUE DIRECTLY, ONE OF THE CLIENTS MAY POTENTIALLY BENEFIT. I'LL ABSTAIN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? OPPOSED? COUNCILMAN CARLSON, WOULD YOU MOVE ITEMS 31 THROUGH 41 EXCEPT FOR ITEM 34? >>BILL CARLSON: COMMENTARY, 31 I THINK SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC DISCUSSION. WE'LL SEE WHAT THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THIS ARE. I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC DISCUSSION INSTEAD OF CONSENT. I MOVE 31 THROUGH 41 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 34. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON, SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, WOULD YOU MOVE ITEM 34, PLEASE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I MOVE ITEM 34. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. ALL IN FAVOR AYE? OPPOSED? >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED WITH CARLSON ABSTAINING. >>LYNN HURTAK: I MOVE ITEMS 42 THROUGH 45. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SECOND, AND MAY I MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICK? THANK YOU. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, SPOKE AT PUBLIC COMMENT, BILL TRUETT AND THE HAMPTON TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WELL, I THINK THAT IS THE OFFICIAL NAME. ANYWAYS, BILL TRUETT AND BRIAN FRYE AND OTHERS ARE CONSTANTLY MONITORING THE QUALITY OF THE WATER IN LAKE ROBERTA AND VERY, VERY INVOLVED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'VE MET RECENTLY, MR. TRUETT IN MY OFFICE AND WHAT NOT. GLAD TO SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA AND THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD IN REGARDS TO THE WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN LAKE ROBERTA. THAT'S ALL. COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION. GET THE RIGHT ONE, YEAH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK AND SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? OPPOSED? >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOVE TO SET ITEMS 46, 47 AND 48. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. MOTION TO SET ITEMS 46 THROUGH 48 FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OPPOSED? WE ARE GOING TO BREAK FOR LUNCH, HOW ABOUT WE COME BACK AT 1:30? >>LUIS VIERA: TWO THINGS. TO LET COUNCIL KNOW, I WAS GOING TO REQUEST, WE HAVE I THINK TOMORROW FOR THE NONPROFITS SOME DOCUMENTS I WAS GOING TO REQUEST. I FEEL LIKE I'M IN COURT, BUT I WOULD LIKE A CONTINUANCE ON THAT. SOME GROUPS I'M TALKING TO MAY NOT HAVE THAT READY. I DON'T THINK AN ISSUE BUT WANTED TO SAY THAT. SECOND, I WOULD BE DAMNED TO NOT SAY THIS. SOMETHING IN PUBLIC COMMENT PISSED ME OFF ABOUT OUR CHAIRMAN. I ORDERED A BUNCH OF PRIDE PINS. I'M GOING TO WEAR IT NEXT WEEK BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO TALK LIKE THAT, WE CAN TELL THEM TO GO TO HELL. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I'LL SECOND THAT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, LISTENING IN THE PUBLIC. THERE ARE A LOT OF PERSONNEL ISSUES, WHILE FREE TO COME TO COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, UNDERSTAND THIS COUNCIL IS NOT PART OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES, THE APPEAL PROCESS. IF YOU ARE REPRESENTED BY A LABOR UNION, YOU HAVE A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT THAT YOU WORK THROUGH. IF YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTED BUT THERE IS A PERSONNEL MANUAL AND THERE'S LEGAL STEPS THAT YOU CAN TAKE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NO ROLE IN THAT WHATSOEVER. SO WHILE YOU'RE FREE TO COME AND EXPRESS THOSE VIEWPOINTS AND YOUR THREE MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH, WE'RE NOT A PART OF THAT PROCESS. AS MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, WE CAN'T REALLY HELP YOU IN THAT PROCESS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PART OF THAT. >>BILL CARLSON: THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TOLD ME, I ASSUME THE REST OF YOU, THAT THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO WHEN AN EMPLOYEE COMES TO US, BECAUSE I'VE HAD A BUNCH OF CALLS WHICH I HAD TO TURN OVER IN PUBLIC RECORD SEARCHES, BUT WHEN SOMEBODY CONTACTS US, ALL WE CAN SAY IS YOU NEED TO CONTACT HR OR CONTACT A LAWYER. AND THAT'S IT. WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE OTHER CONVERSATIONS WHICH IS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SOLVE THE UNDERLYING ISSUES. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YEAH, THERE IS A PROCESS. 1:30. BON APPETIT. [LUNCH RECESS]