CITY OF TAMPA. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS TAMPA CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING TO ORDER. AT THIS TIME, I YIELD TO COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN. IF WE COULD PLEASE STAND FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT. IF WE COULD HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE. >>BILL CARLSON: HERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: HERE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HERE. >>GWEN HENDERSON: PRESENT. >> VIERA? MIRANDA? >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE. >>THE CLERK: WE HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT. JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS. COUNCILMAN VIERA WILL BE HERE IN A FEW MINUTES. WE HAVE A FEW MEMOS TO GO OVER. ITEM NUMBER 2, THERE IS A REQUEST TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO THE JANUARY 30th, 2025 WORKSHOP. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: SO MOVED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I'LL SECOND THAT SINCE THIS WAS MINE. I HAD A MEETING WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. THERE'S REALLY NOTHING -- THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS MOVING RIGHT NOW. SO THERE'S NOTHING CONCRETE TO REPORT. BY JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR, WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING REALLY CONCRETE AND SPECIFIC TO REPORT. POSITIVE NEWS IS IT IS ALL MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. EVERYBODY IS FLOWING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT'S TO CONTINUE THAT. WE ALSO RECEIVED A MEMO FOR ITEM NUMBER 5 TO BE CONTINUED TO JUNE 27. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. NEXT, MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 7 TO BE CONTINUED TO AUGUST 29. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN, SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? FINALLY, ITEM NUMBER 8, MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO MAY 23rd. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CLENDENIN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. THAT SETTLES THE AGENDA. MR. VASKE. >> JUSTIN VASKE, CITY ATTORNEY. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALLOWED A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ADDRESS ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA BEFORE CITY COUNCIL TAKES OFFICIAL ACTION ON AN ITEM. A THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT APPLIES TO ALL SPEAKERS PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT. SPEAKERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT THEY ARE TO REFRAIN FROM DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING MAKING VULGAR OR THREATENING REMARKS OR MAKING OR CAUSING DISRUPTIVE NOISES OR SOUNDS OR DISPLAYING SIGNS OR GRAPHICS. SPEAKERS ARE ALSO REMINDED TO REFRAIN FROM MAKING PERSONAL ATTACKS AGAINST ANY CITY OFFICIAL, STAFF MEMBER, OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THE CHAIR WILL RULE OUT OF ORDER ANY PERSON WHO SPEAKS WITHOUT BEING RECOGNIZED OR ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THE CITY 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 THAT DAY OR TODAY'S MEETING. NOW, FOR TODAY'S MEETING, PUBLIC COMMENT IS BOTH AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING. FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO SPEAK BEFORE THE ITEMS ARE HEARD AND ALSO AFTER EACH WORKSHOP ITEM. HOWEVER, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN ONLY CHOOSE BEFORE OR AFTER, NOT BOTH. FINALLY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING A SPEAKER UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT TAKE QUESTIONS OR HAVE A DIALOGUE DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS YOUR POSITION. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME ON UP AND STATE YOUR NAME. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. GOOD MORNING, SIR. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DARYL HYCH. CAN I USE THE TelePrompTer THING? >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. WE'LL TURN ON THE OVERHEAD. IT WILL ACTIVATE IN JUST A SECOND. HE'S COMING OUT TO CHECK IT. YES SIR. WIC IT. GO AHEAD, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DARYL HYCH. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, MYSELF AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO HEAR THE PRESIDENT SPEAK. AND WHEN WE HEARD THE PRESIDENT SPEAK, I COULDN'T -- I COULDN'T GO PAST SEEING THOSE TWO WORDS THERE THAT SAID REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM. I ASKED HER, I SAID WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU, REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM. SHE ANSWERED FROM A MICROPERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE THEME WAS ABOUT ABORTION. BUT THEN I ASKED, I SAID TAKE A LOOK AT THIS THING FROM A MACRO PERSPECTIVE. WHAT I DID THEN WAS I SAID LET'S BREAK THIS WORD DOWN. LET'S BREAK THIS WORD DOWN, WORD "RE" MEANS TO DO SOMETHING OVER AGAIN AND "PRODUCTIVE" MEANS TO PRODUCE SOMETHING. I SAID LET'S LOOK AT THIS FROM THE ROOT WORD OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. THE ROOT WORD OF WHAT I SEEN HAPPENING THERE WAS PRODUCE FREEDOM. I ASKED HER THE QUESTION, HOW DO YOU PRODUCE FREEDOM? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO, WE CAN DO TO PRODUCE FREEDOM? AND THEN IT DAWNED ON ME. RESOLUTION NUMBER 568. RESOLUTION NUMBER 568 IS HOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE FREEDOM. NOW, WE ALSO -- AND I APPLAUD THE COUNCIL FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND CONTINUOUSLY BRINGING THE CONVERATION FORWARD. I APPLAUD THE MEDIA FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. BUT WHAT I THINK WE MAY BE DOING IS PUTTING THE BANDAGE OVER A SHOTGUN WOUND. BECAUSE AS I LOOKED AT THE NEWS MEDIA AND I LOOKED AT ALL THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE BEING SELECTED TO POTENTIALLY PARTICIPATE IN THIS RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE, I COULDN'T HELP BUT TO ASK, WHAT WAS THE VETTING PROCESS TO CONCLUDE THAT THESE ARE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THIS RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE? WHAT WAS THE THOUGHT PATTERN? I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO TRULY PRODUCE FREEDOM, WE HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC ABOUT IT. WE CANNOT JUST SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S ARBITRARILY THROW OUT SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT GOT A NAME REPUTATION IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S NOT PRODUCING FREEDOM. WHAT THAT'S GOING TO ULTIMATELY PUT US IN A SITUATION OF DOING IS REPRODUCING SOMETHING. THE WHOLE THEME THE OTHER DAY, LISTENING TO THE PRESIDENT AND ALL THE LEADERS THAT WENT BEFORE HIM, ALL THEY KEPT TALKING ABOUT WAS HOW TO REDO SOMETHING THAT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION DONE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT UP FRONT. SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER AS YOU PRODUCE FREEDOM BASED UPON RESOLUTION NUMBER 568, THAT YOU'RE MINDFUL, THAT YOU'RE INTENTIONAL, THAT YOU ARE MOVING IN A STRATEGIC FASHION SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND TRY TO RE-CREATE -- CORRECT THIS THING AT A FUTURE DATE. YOU CANNOT MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT HAVING A STRATEGIC PLAN EVEN IN DECIDING WHO YOU PUT ON THIS COMMITTEE. DON'T JUST PUT A BANDAGE OVER A SHOTGUN WOUND AS WE PRODUCE FREEDOM FOR RESOLUTION NUMBER 568. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER. PASTOR WILLIAMS. GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS PASTOR WILLIAMS. LOCATED AT 1112 EAST SCOTT STREET. PARADISE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. YOU KNOW, I WANT TO READ SOME SCRIPT, JUST ONE PARAGRAPH. GOD SAY THIS HERE. MY PEOPLE, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND FORGIVE THEIR SINS AND HEAL THE LAND. YOU KNOW, GOD GOING TO DO A WHOLE LOT FOR US, BUT WE WON'T LET HIM. WE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE PEOPLE. WE ARE SPIRITUAL, AND WE THANK GOD FOR THIS BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO COME DOWN AND SPEAK WITH YOU ALL AGAIN. KNOWING THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS HERE THIS PAST TUESDAY, WAS IT MONDAY, WAS HERE, AND WHEN THE PRESIDENT GOVERNMENT ANYBODY COME TO TAMPA, SEND THEM OUT THERE TO EAST TAMPA AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING FOR US, AND THEY WILL SEE N-O-T-H-I-N-G -- NOTHING. BUT WE GOT TO TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN FOR OURSELVES. WE ARE TAXPAYERS. WE PAY OUR TAX. WE PAY THE WATER BILL, THE LIGHT BILL, BUT YOU ALL STILL TRYING TO HARM US. AND WHY, I DON'T KNOW. BUT WE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE FEARFUL OF GOD WHAT HE WILL DO TO US. SO WE'LL KEEP ON PRAYING AND TRUSTING IN THE LORD. AND I THANK GOD FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL PRESENT HERE TODAY. WE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE PEOPLE, AND WE ARE NOT JUST BLACK PEOPLE OR JUST WHITE PEOPLE. WE ARE PEOPLE, PERIOD. WE ARE GOD-FEARING PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO LOVE GOD AND TRUST GOD FOR EVERYTHING. WE REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOT BEING TREATED LIKE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE TREATED LIKE OUTCASTS. BUT WE GOT TO UNDERSTAND, WE GOT TO GET OUR HEAD TOGETHER, GET OUR FOCUS TOGETHER, GET OUR MIND TOGETHER, AND DO WHAT GOD WANT US TO DO, WHETHER YOU ALL LIKE IT OR NOT. WE GOT WHAT I CALL -- YOU CALL THEM RETAINER LAND. YOU ONLY GOT THEM BELMONT HEIGHTS AND JACKSON HEIGHTS. YOU AIN'T GOT THEM NOWHERE ELSE. RETAINING LAND, IF YOU PUT RETAINING LAND, THEN PUT THEM DOWNTOWN. PUT THEM EVERYWHERE. DON'T JUST PUT THEM IN THE BELMONT HEIGHTS AND JACKSON HEIGHTS. THAT'S OUR LAND. AND WE WANT GOD TO CONTINUE TO BLESS US. YOU ALL HAVE MERCY ON US ALL. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> MY NAME IS HASSEIN CALDWELL. I JUST WANTED TO GET UP AND SAY SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT HE SAID RIGHT THERE ABOUT THE THREE, WHAT IT IS, 368. YEAH 568. WHAT I SAY PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE TO DO, WHEN THEY START AN ORGANIZATION, BASICALLY YOU HAVE TO GET OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. DON'T NOBODY KNOW NOTHING. THAT'S WHY THE SAME THING KEEP HAPPENING. PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE GOING TO DO THIS AND PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE GOING TO DO THIS, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO THE SOLUTION AND DOING WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. A LOT OF PEOPLE DO IT FOR THEMSELVES. BUT IF YOU ARE DOING IT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, IF YOU HAVE PASSION FOR SOMETHING, THEN YOU WANT TO TREAT IT A CERTAIN WAY. IF YOU ARE DOING IT FOR ALL THE GOOD THAT IT BRING YOU AND STUFF LIKE THAT, IT IS NEVER GOING TO WORK BECAUSE YOU'RE SO BUSY TAKING YOUR EYE OFF WHAT GOD WANT YOU TO DO IF YOU ARE A GODLY PERSON. WHAT THE FLESH -- EXCUSE ME, WHEN WE TALK LIKE THAT. BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE BROTHER RIGHT THERE. WHAT WE NEED TO ORGANIZATION ANY THEY ARE GOING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, THEN YOU NEED TO GET OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY. NOW, BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW REALLY ABOUT A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT SAYS THEY ARE DOING THESE TYPE OF THINGS. WHAT I SAY THEY SHOULD DO IS PROBABLY GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND LET MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS OUT THERE. YOU MIGHT FIND ME, HAVE BUSINESS, AND PUT IT TOGETHER. YOU HAVE DIFFERENT PARTS OF EVERYTHING. THAT'S WHAT I SUGGEST FOR ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS TO START DOING, DOING WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AND NOT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. THAT'S IT. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. NEXT SPEAKER. YES SIR. GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> UHURU, METESNOT, TAMPA, FLORIDA. I WANT TO SAY UHURU MEANS FREEDOM IN SWAHILI. WE AS AFRICAN PEOPLE SHOULD ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT OUR FREEDOM. 600 YEARS WE HADN'T BEEN FREE. AND THE SYSTEM HAVE A WAY OF EVOLVING SLAVERY. SLAVERY IS WORSE TODAY FOR AFRICAN PEOPLE THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. THEY TOOK A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE, PROUD PEOPLE, DE-EDUCATED US, AND SAY WE'RE THE FIRST TO DO THIS AND THE FIRST TO DO THAT. LIFE DON'T WORK THAT WAY. MOST PEOPLE YOU MEET CAN'T THINK. MOST PEOPLE YOU MEET AREN'T INDEPENDENT THINKERS. THEY REALLY EVEN AREN'T MOST PEOPLE YOU MEET ARE SO CONDITIONED AND PRECONDITIONED AND INDOCTRINATED THAT THEY THINK IN REVERSE. YOU MEET SOME PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE THE PEDOPHILIA. THEY SAY IT IS WRONG FOR A 50-YEAR-OLD MAN TO SLEEP WITH A SIX OR SEVEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD. THEY SAY THAT'S WRONG. LEGALLY PHILOSOPHICALLY IDEOLOGICALLY, THEY ARE OPPOSED TO IT. THEY 100% OPPOSED TO THAT. A PERSON MIGHT TELL THEM, HEY, NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. DO YOU SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE? A 50-YEAR-OLD MAN SLEEPING WITH A THREE-, FOUR-, FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILD. PEOPLE WOULD BE HORRIFIED TO HEAR AND KNOW THAT. PUT HIM AWAY. LOCK HIM UP. BUT YOU GOT 700 -- 700 PLUS OVER 50-YEAR-OLD MEN AND WOMEN VOTING TO SEND A HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS TO OCCUPIED PALESTINE TO DROP BOMBS ON HOSPITALS. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE. SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PICTURE THAT SAY LOCK THEM UP, SAY NO TO DRUGS, AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT TARGET AFRICAN PEOPLE. SPECIFICALLY TARGET AFRICAN PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE DOING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. ALL THAT HAVE TO STOP. WE HAVE TO CORRECT OUR WAY OF THINKING AND BRING EVERYTHING INTO THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE. ANOTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS, TO JUDGE CHRISTOPHER SABELLA, THAT CHILD SUPPORT, OFFICER ERA BELLA CAMPBELL AND CHARLES DENTON, NEED TO GET RID OF THEM. THAT WHOLE CHILD SUPPORT SITUATION GOT TO GO. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. GOOD MORNING, SIR. COME ON UP. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TODD RANDOLPH. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF TAMPA FOR 15 YEARS. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT WORKSHOP ITEM NUMBER 6 ABOUT THE RULES REGARDING ARTIFICIAL TURF AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. I FIND THE USE OF FAKE PLASTIC LAWNS AND INCREASING INSTALLATION OF FAKE PLASTIC LAWNS BEING VERY CONCERNING. IT'S WELL KNOWN THAT THESE ARTIFICIAL TURF, FAKE RESIDENTIAL LAWNS BREAK DOWN, CONTRIBUTE TO THE MICROPLASTICS ISSUE THAT WE ARE FACING TODAY. I'VE HEARD MEETING, SCIENTIFIC LEADERS TALK ABOUT HOW THE MICROPLASTICS ISSUE IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT ON THE LEVEL OF CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS CLIMATE CHANGE. THE INSTALLATION OF PLASTIC LAWNS REALLY EXACERBATES BOTH. THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY RELEASES CARBON EMISSIONS TO MANUFACTURE ANY KIND OF PLASTIC. TO MAKE THAT STUFF IS CONTRIBUTING TO OUR CLIMATE CHANGE PROBLEM, AND TO MAKE PARTICULARLY THIS PRODUCT, WHICH CAN ONLY BE BREAKING DOWN INTO ITS IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS UNREGULATED AND UNCONTROLLED INTO OUR PUBLIC SPACES CONTRIBUTING TO OUR MICROPLASTICS IS VERY CONCERNING. IT'S BEEN KNOWN FOR YEARS TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. MANY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN AMERICA HAVE MADE IT ILLEGAL TO INSTALL THIS. THAT'S BECOMING OF INCREASING FREQUENCY. AND I BELIEVE TAMPA SHOULD CONSIDER ELIMINATING THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL TURF, PARTICULARLY IN PUBLIC SPACES WHERE IT'S KNOWN TO HAVE A HEALTH IMPACT. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS RIGHT TO EXPOSE THE PUBLIC TO A PRODUCT THAT IS KNOWN TO HAVE THIS HEALTH IMPACT. AND THEN ALSO AS FAR AS RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION, THERE SHOULD BE -- THAT SHOULD BE MORE CONTROLLED. IT'S SHOCKING THE AMOUNT OF FAKE PLASTIC LAWNS THAT ARE BEING INSTALLED. THEY ARE KNOWN TO BE VERY HOT, INCREASING THE SURFACE TEMPERATURES AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE HEAT THAT WE'RE FACING, AND THEY ARE KNOWN TO CONTRIBUTE ALL THESE MICROPLASTICS. LAST WEEK, WE HAD THE EPA SAY YOU GOT TO REMOVE THESE FOREVER CHEMICALS PFAS. THESE LAWNS CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM. THAT'S GOING TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO CLEAN UP, AND WE WANT TO FIX THAT BEFORE IT GETS WORSE. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. >>LUIS VIERA: MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU. MY APOLOGIES. THERE WAS A TERRIBLE CRASH AND WAS IN TRAFFIC FOR ALMOST AN HOUR AND A HALF. JUST FYI. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. CONNIE BURTON. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ENTIRE COUNCIL FOR MOVING FORWARD IN APPROVING AND ESTABLISHING A RACIAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE. MY VERY, VERY MUCH CONCERN IS I WISH IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHIN A WORKSHOP SETTING SO WE WOULD HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO THRASH OUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF IDEAS. HEAR FROM ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS TO WHAT'S THEIR PREFERENCE. I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON HAS BEEN TRYING TO PUSH THAT, BECAUSE IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE. IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN TAKING A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO COME TO SOME KIND OF FINAL REPORT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ONGOING ISSUES THAT HAS DEALT WITH AFRICAN PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, THAT HAS PUT US IN A BAD SITUATION AS WE SEE THIS CITY PROGRESSING AND MOVING FORWARD. IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR WORKSHOP ISSUE NUMBER ONE, IT'S VERY CLEAR. THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS, AND NOT THIS PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY THROWN TOWARD SOCIAL JUSTICE. THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAS TARGETED SORORITIES, FRATERNITIES NONPROFITS. THEY ALL USE THE DATA TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE DEALING WITH THE ISSUES OF POVERTY AND INJUSTICE. BUT IF WE HAD BEEN CONCENTRATING, IF THERE HAD BEEN STRATEGIC REPORTS, IF THERE'S SOMEBODY TO COME BACK AND DO AN EVALUATION, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE MONEY IS MOST OF THE TIMES THROWN AT THE PROBLEM AND PEOPLE FEEL GOOD AT THE END OF THE DAY. THE RESOLUTION 568 COMMITTEE HAS TO BE MORE THOUGHTFUL IN SAYING HOW DO WE START THE HEALING? THE HEALING HAS NOT OCCURRED BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT DEALT WITH IT IN WAYS WE SAY IN WRITING WE UNDERSTAND WE HAVE NOT DONE THINGS RIGHT. EACH WEEK WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE AGENDA AND MOVING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEFICITS INSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHEN WE HAVE ISSUES OF MASS INCARCERATION STILL GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE BY THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN TRULY ADDRESS THESE ISSUES WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO THE SAME POOL AND GETTING DOLLARS. WE PLAN ON HAVING A COMMITTEE THAT WANTS TO DO STRATEGIC HEALING. AND THAT MEANS THAT EVEN SOME OF THE PEOPLE ALREADY SELECTED TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE HAS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THIS COMMUNITY FOR NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING. AGAIN, THANK YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES MA'AM. YES SIR. GOOD MORNING. >> WHITMORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CITY TREE. GOOD MORNING. BEGIN BY SAYING IT IS AN ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE TO BURN A VACATION DAY TO BE WITH YOU FOR TODAY'S UPCOMING TREE WORKSHOP. THE QUESTION I SUPPOSE IS WHY SOMEONE WOULD DO IT. I WON'T LIE. OBVIOUSLY, I LOVE TREES. I THINK THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST MAJESTIC, SENTIENT CREATIONS ON THE PLANET, PARTICULARLY THE GRAND OAKS. I SUPPORT THE MOST HARDEN, PROFIT DRIVEN BUILDER MARVELS AT THEIR GRANDEUR BEFORE CUTTING THEM DOWN. THE BENEFIT MATURE TREES HAVE ON THIS COMMUNITY GOES WITHOUT SAYING, ESPECIALLY SINCE I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES AND YOU'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE. I BELIEVE THE REAL REASON I TOOK TIME OFF TO BE HERE WITH YOU IS BECAUSE I LOVE TAMPA. I THINK IT IS AN AMAZING CITY TRYING HARD, THANKS IN PART TO ALL OF YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS. I WANTED TO BE HERE AS A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR ONE OF THOSE RIGHT THINGS. THE WORKSHOP FOCUSED ON HOPEFULLY REVERSING THE NOT SO SLOW DEMISE OF A CANOPY THAT VERY MUCH DEFINES THIS CITY AND CONTRIBUTES SO MUCH TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. IT IS TRULY REMARKABLE, PERHAPS MIRACULOUS, THAT THE CANOPY WE FIGHT SO HARD TO PROTECT, THE NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED URBAN FOREST THAT SHIELDS US FROM THE FAST-APPROACHING SEEMINGLY APOCALYPTIC SUMMERS WASN'T EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE HERE. EVOLVED OVER THE LAST CENTURY FROM SCRUB, BORN FROM GIANT OAKS NOW LONG GONE. A GIFT FROM GOD AND JOE CHILLURA. RESULT OF TREE CODES AND DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND A LITANY OF PRIVATE CITIZENS AND GRASSROOTS EFFORTS AND YOU. RESULT IS PROTECTIVE CANOPY AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME. WHILE CITIES ALL ACROSS THIS PLANET AND COUNTRIES ARE SCRAMBLING TO REVIVE CANOPIES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS, TAMPA IS IN THE ENVIABLE POSITION TO REGAIN AND RETAIN ITS STANDING AS THE MOST TREE-COVERED CITY IN THE WORLD. AT A TIME WHEN TREES ARE TRENDING, THE CITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO POSITION ITSELF AS LITERALLY THE GREENEST CITY ON EARTH. ACHIEVEMENT THAT CAN AND WILL DRAW PROGRESSIVE RESIDENTS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, PROGRESSIVE BUSINESSES TO OUR STOREFRONTS, BUSINESS PARKS AND OFFICE TOWERS. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, ENSURE TAMPA BECOMES A BASTION OF SHADE AND CARBON REMOVAL THAT NOT ONLY BENEFITS OUR CITIZENS BUT MAKES US AN ENVY OF AN EVER-WARMING WORLD. IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO SAY I AM SO GLAD I DON'T NEED TO BE HERE AS MUCH AS I USED TO BE AND THAT IS BECAUSE I TRUST YOU. I BELIEVE IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND I AM PROUD OF YOU, OF US, FOR SEEING WHAT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CITY COUNCILS IN THE NATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING THE TREES AND IN DOING, THE CITY OF TAMPA. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. GOOD MORNING, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SURGRET DAWSON. I'M SURE YOU HAVE ALL BEEN SERVED THIS. I DID GET YOUR E-MAIL REFLECTING THAT YOU HAD INTENDED TO ADDRESS THE MATTER I BROUGHT UP IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. YOU KNOW, THE GENTLEMAN SAID I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. I KNOW MY MAN HERE UNDERSTANDS IT ALSO. THOSE OF US WHO TOOK THE OATH AND WE WERE WILLING TO PAY FOR THAT OATH WITH OUR LIVES, IT'S AMAZING HOW WE HEAR, I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND ALWAYS SAY IT WAS MY HONOR BECAUSE I WAS. I JOINED WHEN I WAS 17 YEARS OLD, SOME ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO. WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS I GET TIRED OF THE LIP SERVICE. YOU HAVE BEEN SERVED WITH THIS WRIT OF MANDAMUS WHICH ONLY DIRECT ME TO DO WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE BACK IN 2017. IT BOTHERS ME THAT I HAVE TO COME HERE AND GO THROUGH THIS BECAUSE SOMEBODY SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE BEGGING YOU FOR SOMETHING, AND I DON'T BEG FOR ANYTHING. I DEMAND IT THE SAME WAY I EXPECT PEOPLE TO DEMAND ME TO FULFILL THE OATH THAT I TOOK AND YOU ALL TOOK THE SAME OATH PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 876 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTE, SUBSECTION 5, IN FACT, WHEN YOU ALL SIGNED UP TO DO THESE JOBS OR FULFILL THESE RESPONSIBILITIES. BUT LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAYS, CUT DOWN THE TREES, IT'S AMAZING THAT WHEN WE DEMAND WHAT'S OURS, EVEN PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 161 OF THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION BECAUSE ALL POLITICAL POWERS INHERENT IN THE PEOPLE AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT. I KNOW WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT A WHOLE LOT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF TAMPA REALIZE THAT THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET ANYTHING THAT HAPPEN, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO MOVE TOWARD YOUR GOAL. I WANT THE 7,000 E-MAILS, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN HERE, SECOND DCA AGAIN, TO ADDRESS IT, BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST ANYBODY IN TAMPA. AS TO MS. ARABELLA CAMPBELL AND CHARLES DENTON, QUIT THE CASE BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THE JOB PURSUANT TO 876 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTE. MS. CAMPBELL CAME UP WITH SOME CONCEPT THAT WE DIDN'T DISCUSS IN THE HEARING AND FOR MR. JUDGE SABELLA, I EXPECT YOU TO DO YOUR JOB AND REMOVE HER IMMEDIATELY, IF NOT SOONER. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO SUFFERED THESE ATROCITIES AT THE HANDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND JUDGES AND OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE 13th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT AND SECOND DCA. I'M WILLING TO COME HERE AND STAND FOR IT. THAT BEING SAID, YOU ALL ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY AND SHOUT-OUT TO UNIVERSITY OF THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU, SIR. YES MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. >> I'M VALERIE BULLOCK FROM PONCE De LEON AND COLLEGE HILL. I WANT TO COME AND TALK ABOUT RESOLUTION 568. I SEEN ON THE PAPER THAT YOU ALL HAVE CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF IT. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE ORGANIZATION THAT HAVE MADE A PROFIT OFF OF OUR PAIN. FOR ONE, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOT THE HIGHEST RECIDIVISM RATE IN THE NATION. SO THAT TELLS ME THAT PLANNING FOR PEOPLE GET OUT OF PRISON, THAT'S NOT WORKING. WE NEED SOME PROGRAMS THAT DETER OR THAT STOP PEOPLE FROM ENTERING INTO A PRISON. ABE BROWN MINISTRY. ABE BROWN WAS A GOOD MAN. HE HAD AN EXCELLENT LEGACY. WHOEVER IS RUNNING IT NOW, THEY ARE MAKING A PROFIT OFF OF OUR PAIN. THEY HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSES, AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ALLOWED IN THE PROGRAM. THE PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED IN THAT SAME NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE ABE BROWN MINISTRIES SIT, WE CAN'T PARTAKE IN THOSE PROGRAMS. I WENT DOWN THERE FOR MYSELF AND TALKED TO MR. BLUNT. NO, WE CANNOT. HE SAY HE GET GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND THE GOVERNMENT TELL HIM HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY. SO WE CAN'T USE THE SAME ORGANIZATIONS AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT RESULT. WE CAN LOOK AT THEIR FRUIT AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AND SO FAR IT HASN'T MADE A DIFFERENCE. WE NEED TO THINK RADICAL AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX WHEN IT COMES TO APPOINTING ORGANIZATIONS TO 568. AND WE HAVE TO BE RADICAL. BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO JOBS, ECONOMIC STABILITY AND FINANCIAL AND HOUSING, BLACK PEOPLE ARE SO FAR BEHIND WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO PUSSYFOOT AROUND WITH IT. WE HAVE TO HAVE TARGETED PLANS WITH GOALS THAT WE CAN MEASURE AND THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO YOU ALL ARE SUGGESTING, THEY SHOULDN'T BE ON 568 RESOLUTION. I SEE YOU GOT A WORKSHOP TODAY WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORKSHOP. THE FUNDS THAT YOU GIVE THEM, TIED INTO 568, AND THAT WOULD BE A GOOD START FOR CHANGING THE ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS THAT BLACK PEOPLE FACE, AND IT SHOULD ALSO BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE MEASURED. WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER WORKSHOP. WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER STUDY. WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER SEMINAR. WE NEED PROGRAMS AND PEOPLE THAT GOT PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE PUT ON TO 568 RESOLUTION BOARD SO WE CAN SEE A DIFFERENCE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MA'AM. YES MA'AM. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> GOOD MORNING. STEPHANIE POYNOR. YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I SAID THIS BEFORE 568 KIND OF STARTED TO BECOME A COMMITTEE. NEEDS SOMEBODY TO CARRY THE FOOTBALL. WHEN THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED PUBLICLY THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO TOUCH IT WITH A TEN-FOOT POLE, I'M SORRY, BUT THAT'S COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE. IT'S WRONG. WHY IS IT THAT WITHIN HER CITY, SHE IS THE MAYOR, SHE IS THE LEADERSHIP, SHE SAID I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THIS. IT'S WRONG. AND SHE IS THE ONE WHO CONTROLS CITY STAFF AND YOU ALL DID A REALLY NICE JOB OF PUTTING TOGETHER A DIFFERENT WAY TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, BUT YOU GUYS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THE BOSSES. IT'S HER JOB TO BE THE BOSS OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR STAFF FOR THE CITY. AND THIS IS WRONG THAT IT'S BEING IGNORED BY THE MAYOR. AND HERE'S THE THING, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE KIND OF FLOUNDERED ABOUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. YESTERDAY, I FIND OUT THAT THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PUT IN PLACE 11 YEARS AGO NEVER HAPPENED. THAT YOU GUYS DON'T CONTROL. THAT'S ON THE MAYOR. SO ALL THESE FOLKS WHO HAVE SHOWN UP HERE, AND I SAID THIS BEFORE, WE STARTED MAKING MOTIONS AND RESOLUTION, THAT YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE FOLKS COMING IN HERE. THEY WORK THEIR BUTTS OFF ON IT. AND TO NOT HAVE THEM BEING MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS IS ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS. YOU GUYS HAVE TO TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION. AND SOMEBODY OVER THERE IN THE NEXT BUILDING OVER THERE NEEDS TO BE EMBARRASSED THAT SHE DOESN'T SUPPORT SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY AS THIS IS. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE IN THE PUBLIC THAT'S WISHING TO SPEAK? IF NOT, I'LL GO TO THE REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKERS. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE LORRAINE PA RENO WHO IS HERE FOR THREE AND FOUR. CARROLL ANN BENNETT HERE FOR 3 AND 4, AND THEY WILL SPEAK AFTER 3 AND 4. ALSO RAHEEMA McCOY GREEN, IF SHE'S ON. NO. ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE GENERAL SENSE. WE'LL KICK OFF THE WORKSHOP WITH ITEM NUMBER 1 REGARDING THE EDC. WHO IS HERE TO START THAT? THAT WAS A MOTION INITIATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HURTAK. I SEE JAVIER IS HERE. GOOD MORNING, SIR. YES MA'AM. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. >>LYNN HURTAK: GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WRITTEN REPORT. I APPRECIATE IT. IT DOES TALK ABOUT WHO DOES OR WHAT THE EDC IS DOING, HOW WE'RE GETTING GROUPS TO WORK TOGETHER, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY DISCUSS RAISING THE MEDIAN WAGE. AND THAT'S REALLY THE BIG ISSUE. AND IT'S HARD. I GET THAT. BUT WHERE DO WE GO? HOW DO WE KEEP MOVING THAT FORWARD? BECAUSE AS YOU HEARD FROM PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITIZENS ARE ASKING US TO DO IS PROVIDE JOBS THAT HAVE BETTER MEDIAN WAGES. I HEAR ABOUT ALL THE COMPANIES BRINGING TO TOWN AND BRINGING TALENT. WE DON'T NEED TO BRING TALENT HERE. WE NEED TO USE THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE AND PAY THEM WELL. OUR AREA MEDIAN INCOME HAS RISEN DRASTICALLY, BUT IT'S LEAVING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE BEHIND. SO WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE MOVE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN HERE FORWARD? IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'LL BE ABLE TO SOLVE TODAY. I TRULY UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT CONVERSATION ROLLING AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY. >>JAVIER MARIN: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. JAVIER MARIN, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY DIRECTOR. >> BRENDA McKENZIE, WHERE WAS PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE CITY. >>JAVIER MARIN: WE CAN GO OVER THE WHOLE MEMO OR SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ON ITEMS 2 AND 3 THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE AVERAGE WAGE. AND THEN WE WILL DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED DIALOGUE IN THAT SENSE. WOULD THAT WORK? >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. IN TERMS OF THE MINIMUM WAGE AND INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY, THERE HAS BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF LEGWORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE. THE MAYOR'S WORKFORCE COUNCIL STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WORKING ON A COLLABORATIVE ACTION PLAN, ONE TO ASSESS THE RESOURCES THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE. TWO, TO LOOK FOR HIGH POTENTIAL WAGE OPPORTUNITIES. AND THREE, TO LOOK FOR UPSCALING OPPORTUNITIES TO REACH TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL PERSONS WHO ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE THEIR ECONOMIC MOBILITY. IN TERMS OF MINIMUM WAGE SPECIFICALLY, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY DOES NOT CONTROL THE MINIMUM WAGE. THAT'S CURRENTLY SET ABOUT $12 AN HOUR. WE KNOW THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A LIVING WAGE. IF WE LOOK AT LIVING WAGE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CALCULATORS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. THERE'S ONE AT M.I.T. DIFFERENT ONES YOU CAN USE. THAT TENDS TO BE AROUND $22 AN HOUR. WE KNOW IF WE FOCUS ON THE MINIMUM WAGE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO GET US TO THE LIVING WAGE, BUT HOW DO WE UPSCALE AND BRING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE ALONG THE CONTINUUM? AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF KEY INDUSTRIES THAT TAMPA HAS WORKING WITH EDC AND OTHERS THAT ARE REALLY MOVING FORWARD. SO HOW DO WE GET THOSE COMPANIES TO TRAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES, TO PUT THEM IN PATHWAYS SO THEY CAN MOVE ALONG, WHETHER IT'S HEALTH CARE, HOW DO YOU MOVE FROM A CNA TO BE AN RN? WHETHER IN TECHNOLOGY, HOW DO YOU MOVE FROM ENTRY LEVEL ON UP? LOOKING FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND WORKING FOR THE TRAINERS TO DO THAT. WE HAD TO COALESCE 55 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR ECOSYSTEM TO PUT TOGETHER THE INITIAL GAME PLAN OF HOW WE LEVERAGE THAT. THAT WAS CONCLUDED OR PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, AND WE'RE NOW ACTIVELY WORKING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION. WE DO LOOK AT A NUMBER OF NONTRADITIONAL POPULATIONS, RETURNING CITIZENS, THOSE WHO ARE JUST AS INVOLVED BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE NO MATTER WHAT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES MAY BE, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE REALLY BURGEONING HERE IN TAMPA. I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE WERE AWARDED LAST WEEK A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FOR HIGH POTENTIAL INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURNING CITIZENS. WE'LL BE PARTNERING WITH A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO FIND THAT. IT IS A YEARLONG OPPORTUNITY. WE WILL BE ABLE TO BENCHMARK WITH HIGH POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND BEYOND SO THAT WE CAN CUSTOMIZE SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE SENSE FOR TAMPA AND BRING THEM HOME. SO WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING. WE'RE ALL EARS IN TERMS OF THAT COLLABORATION BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE BETTER TOGETHER. AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO DO THAT. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. HOW MUCH WAS THE GRANT FOR? >> IT IS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, SO THEY PAY FOR THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE. THEY PAY FOR TRAVEL SO THAT WE CAN COALESCE WITH THE COHORT. BUT THERE'S NOT A MONETARY AMOUNT. NOW, TYPICALLY WITH THESE THINGS, IT AS TWO-STEP PROCESS. FIRST YOU DO THAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PLANNING PART AND THEN YOU APPLY FOR THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH OTHERS, INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY. SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES, WE'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING TO SEE HOW WE GET PEOPLE UPSCALED AND GET THE TRAINING SO NOT ONLY THEY CAN GET THE ENTRY LEVEL JOB. IT'S NOT ABOUT A JOB. IT'S REALLY ABOUT BUILDING THAT CAREER THAT WILL SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR A LIFETIME. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION ABOUT THAT. HOW ARE WE GOING TO -- WHAT ARE OUR MEASURABLE GOALS HERE? HOW ARE WE TRACKING THIS? HOW ARE WE -- AND HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY FIND OUT ABOUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES? >> SO THERE IS A WEBSITE, TPAWORKS.COM. THAT IS ACTIVE NOW, AND FOLKS CAN GO THERE. THE PLAN I REFERENCED IS LOCATED ON THAT DOCUMENT SO THEY CAN SEE THE ACTION STEPS. THEY CAN SEE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE INVOLVED. THEY CAN SEE HOW WE'RE MOVING ALONG THE CONTINUUM AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BUT WE DON'T STOP WITH THOSE GROUPS. WE'RE CONSTANTLY TALKING TO OTHERS NOW THAT THE PLAN IS OUT THERE AND WE'RE IN IMPLEMENTATION MODE, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT TO DO. WE KNOW THE CITY BY OURSELVES, WE CAN'T DO IT BY OURSELVES. WE HAVE TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE PARTNERS IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD. >>LYNN HURTAK: HOW ARE YOU WHO IS DOING THAT OUTREACH? >> WE HAVE ABOUT 25 MEMBERS OF THE WORKFORCE COUNCIL THEMSELVES. THEY HAVE OUTREACHED TO ABOUT 80 MEMBERS OF A BROADER GROUP THEY ARE WORKING WITH, AND WE CONTINUE TO CONNECT AND TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. THANK YOU. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES SIR. COUNCIL MEMBER, VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND WHATNOT. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IN THE COMMITTEE THAT'S BEEN SPOKEN ABOUT HERE TODAY IS RETURNING CITIZENS. I KNOW THAT WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER ON SOME PROGRAMS AND YOU ALL HAVE DONE REALLY, REALLY GREAT WORK. I DO THINK IT IS GOOD TO GIVE THE CITY A REAL PAT ON THE BACK FOR THE ISSUE BECAUSE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THERE WASN'T MUCH HAPPENING AND NOW THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING, AND WE CAN USE THAT AS A FOUNDATION ON JUST A REALLY, REALLY BIG ISSUE. I THINK THE STATISTIC IS THAT EVERY YEAR, 750,000 AMERICANS LEAVE INCARCERATION, THE PRISON SYSTEM. WITHIN THREE YEARS, TWO-THIRDS WILL BE BACK IN CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND THAT IS A REAL, REAL FAILURE OF SOCIETY. WE'RE DOING THINGS, I KNOW. COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE GRANT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE OR I THINK IT WAS $100,000 FROM THE CITY OF TAMPA, I BELIEVE IT WAS 300,000. WASN'T A GRANT. IT WAS A BUDGET ALLOCATION WORKED TOGETHER ON FOR RETURN TO WORK FOR THE SECULAR ARM OF ABE BROWN MINISTRIES, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. WE WORKED WITH COMMISSIONER MYERS. >> ABSOLUTELY. DEFINITELY WITH YOUR GUIDANCE WE'VE BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE WITH THIS ISSUE. WE WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH CAREER SOURCE TAMPA BAY. THEY WORKED WITH ABE BROWN MINISTRIES IN DESIGNING A PROGRAM. THAT PROGRAM IS PRETTY WELL SUBSCRIBED. WE HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT. THE AGREEMENT ITSELF HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED AND THAT WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU FOR FINAL APPROVAL. THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THAT PROGRAM. WHAT IS NICE, IF I COULD SAY, ABOUT THE NLC OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WERE RECENTLY AWARDED IS IT ENABLES US TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. NOW SOMEBODYHAS A JOB, BUT HOW DO WE ACTIVELY HELP TO UPSCALE THEM SO THEY CAN MOVE UP IN THAT ORGANIZATION? FOR INSTANCE, IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN HOSPITALITY, MAYBE THEY GET A JOB AT THE HOTEL ACROSS THE STREET, BUT HOW DO THEY MOVE FROM THAT ENTRY LEVEL POSITION TO A MANAGEMENT POSITION? WORKING WITH PARTNERS LIKE HCC, THEN WORKING WITH PARTNERS LIKE USF AND THE HOSPITALITY SCHOOL, HOW DO WE PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES SO PEOPLE CAN MOVE AS FAR AS THEIR TALENTS WILL TAKE THEM. >>LUIS VIERA: THAT'S, AGAIN, SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT I SEE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOING MORE AND MORE ON. THE BASIC ISSUE HERE IS THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO EQUIP PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED SO WE CAN TEACH A PERSON TO FISH FOR LIFE, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH RETURNING CITIZENS, THAT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A STIGMA OUT THERE, SUCH A PREJUDICE OUT THERE. THINGS THAT ARE IMPLICIT IN PEOPLE. LOOK, I'M TRANSPARENT. I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE TEN YEARS AGO YOU WOULD ASK ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT TO MYSELF, EH, MAYBE NOT MY ISSUE. IT IS MY ISSUE. IF YOU GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY, IT SURE AS HECK HAS TO BE YOUR ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE OF RESTORATION AND ISSUE OF MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO WORK TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND HAVE DISTRICTS AND RESPECT ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WE COULD TALK ABOUT. SKILL TRADE APPRENTICESHIPS. MADE REAL GOOD MOVEMENT ON THAT WORK FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ET CETERA. BUT THE MAJOR ISSUE IS EQUIPPING PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN LIFE. HERE IN FLORIDA, WE COULD HAVE A BIG DISCUSSION ON OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. MY SON GOES TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND WE HAVE MILES TO GO. IN FACT, IN MY OPINION, WE RETREATED ON THAT ISSUE A LOT AND THERE'S NO GREATER INVESTMENT IN THE WORKFORCE THAN A GOOD PUBLIC QUALITY SCHOOL SYSTEM. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, FOR BRINGING THIS UP. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ANYBODY ELSE? YES MA'AM. >>LYNN HURTAK: I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE THE END OF THIS CONVERSATION. I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF THE BEGINNING. AS THE FOLKS CAME UP TODAY TO TALK ABOUT RESOLUTION 568 AND THE NEW COMMITTEE THAT'S BEEN FORMED, I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THAT YOU ALL WOULD BE INVITED DURING THE CONVERSATION ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO THE THING THAT I'M ASKING YOU TO TIE IN IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON WITH YOUTH. NOT JUST THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, BUT HOW DO WE GET YOUTH. A LOT OF IT STARTS VERY EARLY. WE'RE LOOKING AT PARKS PROGRAMS. WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS TO REACH YOUNG PEOPLE. AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE THEM, AS THEY GET INTO TEENAGERS AND AS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WORK, OF THE AGE THAT THEY CAN GET A JOB, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO HELP THEM DO THAT? RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT FINDING THAT