... . >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. ROLL CALL PLEASE. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: HERE. >>LUIS VIERA: HERE. >>BILL CARLSON: HERE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HERE. >>CLERK: WE HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR A MOTION TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE TENTATIVE FY '26 MILLAGE RATE, FY '26 BUDGET AND FY 26-A HE 30 BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MOTION. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SECOND. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE OPPOSED, THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING -- [ INAUDIBLE ] -- THE CITY OF TAMPA, FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE IS 6.2076 MILL, WHICH IS 4.27% MORE THAN THE ROLL-BACK MILLAGE RATE OF 5.9535 MILLS, PROPERTY TAX FUNDS ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET AND THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FUNDS FOR THE CITY. THE GENERAL FUND INCLUDES SUCH DEPARTMENTS AS FIRE RESCUE, POLICE, HUMAN RESOURCES, PARK AND RECREATION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE MR. SCAGLIONE ON THE SCHEDULE FOR A PRESENTATION FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, BUT I DON'T SEE HIM. OKAY, MISS POYNOR, WILL HAD YOU PRESENTING TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE? >> YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM. AM I EVER GOING TO HEAR THE END OF THAT? >> HEY, I AM MARRIED TO HIM, SO, YOU CAN CALL ME MUCH, MUCH WORSE. GOOD EVENING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: STATE YOUR NAME. >> GOOD EVENING, STEP STEPHANIE POYNOR, VICE-CHAIR OF THE BUDGET FINANCE AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE FUNDING OF HART FOR THE FREE FARES AND ADDITIONAL BUSES TO SERVICE THE ROUTE 1 LINE OR WHATEVER SERVICES DEEMED BY COUNCIL. AND THAT WAS OUR ONLY MOTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT'S IT? >> YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT WAS SHORT AND SWEET. MR. ROGERO. >>JOHN BENNETT: FOR THE RECORD, I AM NOT DENNIS ROGERO, JOHN BENNETT, CHIEF OF STAFF. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN, PUBLIC. JUST A FEW COMMENTS BEFORE OUR CFO DENNIS ROGERO INTRODUCES THE REST OF EVENING FOR THE FY '26 BUDGET. I WANT TO MAKE SOME POINTS TO COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC. WE SEND TO GET INTO THE META AND MESO DATA AND I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT OF THE MACRO DATA. TOGETHER WORKING OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, STATISTICALLY VALID OUR SURVEYS SHOWED 93% APPROVAL RATING COMPARED TO WHAT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS OF ABOUT 67% FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE CFOs CONTINUE TO REPORT WE SPEND 99% OF LAST FIVE YEARS OF OUR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. OUR BOND RATINGS KEEP US IN THE TOP TWO IN THE NATION. OUR CAPACITY REMAINS STRONG AND THE TRAJECTORY HAS A GOOD TAIL AS REPORTED AGAIN BY THE CFO. OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES, THANKS TO COUNCIL AND THE SUPPORT GIVES US RAINY DAY RESILIENCE. SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY UNDERSTATED THAT THE MAYOR PRECUTS EACH BUDGET BEFORE IT GETS TO THE COUNCIL OVER $27 MILLION AND TOTALS $164 MILLION OF CUTS BEFORE WE BRING IT TO THE PUBLIC. AGAIN WE REPORT AS THE LOWEST MILLAGE RATES OF MAJOR CITIES IN FLORIDA AND WE REPORT WE HAVE THE LOWEST PERSONNEL PER CAPITA RATE AND PROUD OF A LEAN GOVERNMENT MODEL KNOWING THAT THE POPULATION HAS INCREASED 23% SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION OF 2007. RECRUITING AND RETENTION, AGAIN, THANKS TO COUNCIL'S SUPPORT AND ATTRITION RATES REMAIN VERY LOW, WHICH MEANS WE ARE GIVING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE NECESSARY TO THE COMMUNITY. ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. I WILL ALWAYS NOTE THAT AND OUR EMPLOYEES PAY AND BENEFITS ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AGAINST THE COST OF LIVING AND PURE JURISDICTION COMPETING FOR SIMILAR JOB DESCRIPTIONS. OUR PUBLIC SAFETY IS STRONG. OUR QUALITY OF LIFE IS IMPROVING. WE HAVE THE COURAGE TO GO UNDERGROUND TO SONG ELONGATED INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES, TO REMAIN SUSTAINABLE AND RES RESILIENT. AND WHETHER IT IS APPROPRIATE NOW OR LATER I PROMISE TO COME WITH A SOCIAL ACTION ARTS FRONT FRAMEWORK AND HAPPY TO DO THAT NOW OR WHEN THAT BECOMES A TOPIC. YOUR PLEASURE, COUNCIL. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO THAT SEGMENT OF THE EVENING. >>JOHN BENNETT: SOUNDS GOOD. TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF ROGERO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOOD EVENING. >>DENNIS ROGERO: GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR, COUNCIL. CHIEF ROGERO, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND US TO TALK OF THE FISCAL 2026 BUDGET. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN AND THANK YOUR ANALYST MISS KOPESKY. SURE APPRECIATE IT. YOU HEARD FROM THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME AND EFFORT THIS YEAR ALSO. AS USUAL, A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO QUICKLY REFRESH WHAT GOT US TO THIS POINT AND LEADERSHIP IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. AS ALWAYS, IF WE CAN'T ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TONIGHT, WE WILL GIVE YOU A PROMPT RESPONSE AS SOON AS WE CAN. AND IF I CAN HAVE THE PRESENTATION UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN THE BACK. AND HERE IT IS. THE NET FISCAL YEAR '26 RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR ALL FUNDS IS $1.992 BILLION. ABOUT AN INCREASE OF 9% COMPARED TO THE CURRENTS YEAR. THOSE INCREASES ARE PRIMARILY ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT YOU HEARD BEFORE, HIGHER SALARIES, HIGHER HEALTH CARE COSTS, HIGHER COSTS IN GENERAL WITH CONTINUING INFLATION. INCREASED VEHICLE MAINTENANCE COST. AN INCREASE IN THE CITIZENS -- COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES OR CRA CONTRIBUTION AND A CONTINUATION, OF COURSE, OF OUR VERY SIGNIFICANT PIPES PROGRAM. YOU SEE HERE A BREAKOUT OF THE MAJOR FUNDS AND THE THE TWO LARGEST COMPONENTS WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT ON THE RIGHT, THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AT JUST ABOUT 41%. AND THE GENERAL FUNDS AT JUST UNDER 36%. AND TOGETHER, WE CONCENTRATE AND EMPHASIZE THEM, BECAUSE THEY MAKE UP A LITTLE OVER THREE QUARTERS OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET. AND WE WILL BREAK THOSE DOWN RIGHT HERE ON THIS SLIDE. GENERAL FUND ON THE LEFT. JUST OVER $708 MILLION. AND YOU SEE A LITTLE OVER 60% OF THAT ARE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES, PRIMARILY POLICE AND FIRE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CODE ENFORCEMENT THROWN IN. THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE AGENCIES THAT KEEP THIS CITY RUNNING BEHIND THE SCENES, BEING TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, MY SHOP, REVENUE AND FINANCE, HUMAN RESOURCES, PURCHASING, ETC. SIZABLE CHUNK, A LITTLE OVER 10% FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. AND THEN ECONOMIC -- PARDON ME, PUBLIC WORKS AND THEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ON THE RIGHT, THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. AND, AGAIN, THESE ARE THOSE FUNDS AND DEPARTMENTS THAT WE COMPEL TO RUN LIKE A BUSINESS. THEY GOT TO TAKE IN MORE MONEY THAN THEY LET GO. AND WHAT THEY TAKE IN, THEY CAN ONLY SPEND ON EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT THEY DO. WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT BRINGS IN FUNDING, AND WE HAVE TO SPEND THAT ON WASTEWATER, ETC., ETC. AS COUNCIL IS AWARE AND PROBABLY MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BY NOW, WE HISTORICALLY HAVE SHOWN THIS SLIDE TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE GET IN PROPERTY TAXES COMPARING THAT TO WHAT IS THE COST OF TWO -- I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD CONSIDER -- CORE PUBLIC SERVICES, THE POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES. ON THE LEFT, YOU SEE POLICE AND FIRE EXPENSES AS JUST OVER $414 MILLION. AND ON THE RIGHT, WHAT THE CITY RECEIVES -- PARDON ME IS ANTICIPATED TO RECEIVE IN PROPERTY TAXES NEXT YEAR. AT THE TOP, $380-PLUS MILLION. BUT, AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL, AND I WILL REFRESH FOR THE PUBLIC, THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ENDS UP GETTING. WE ARE COMPELLED TO TRANSFER NEARLY $60 MILLION OF THAT TO THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES. SO WHAT THE CITY OF TAMPA PROPER GETS IS ALMOST $321 MILLION. AND, OF COURSE, IF YOU COMPARE THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THAT POLICE AND FIRE EXPENSES ARE NEARLY $100 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE RECEIVE IN PROPERTY TAXES. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT THAT OUT. AGAIN, THERE IS A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH GOVERNMENT, AND WE CANNOT FUND THOSE NEARLY FROM WHAT WE RECEIVE IN PROPERTY TAXES. CONTINUING WITH THE GENERAL FUND, HERE IS OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE HISTORY AND ESTIMATES. AS ALWAYS -- I ALWAYS HAVE DONE IT AND I ALWAYS ANTICIPATE DOING IT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF OF STAFF THANKED YOU ALSO FOR BEING VERY, VERY STRONG SUPPORTERS OF A VERY, VERY STRONG FUND BALANCE. AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT METRIC FOR CREDIT RATING AGENCIES, FOR INVESTORS, AND A VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT BENCHMARK FOR THE HEALTH OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE. I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL NOW, BUT I AM SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE READ AND HEARD ABOUT ANY NUMBER OF LARGE CITIES IN THE U.S. THAT ARE FACING A DEFICIT -- A DEFICIT BUDGET SCENARIO OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND IN SOME CASES THE NEXT FEW YEARS. AND IN SOME OF THOSE CASES IT IS BECAUSE THEY SPENT DOWN, FOR WHATEVER REASON, I DON'T KNOW THEIR SITUATION AN I AM CERTAINLY NOT JUDGING, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY SPENT DOWN THEIR FUND BALANCE ON RECURRING COSTS AND EITHER PROJECTIONS DIDN'T COME AS THEY ANTICIPATED FOR REVENUES OR PROJECTIONS DIDN'T COME AS THEY ANTICIPATED FOR EXPENDITURES. AND YOU SEE, AS ALWAYS, TO MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF 23, 24% WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE COVID YEARS, WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT IS TIED TO THE AMOUNT OF THE BUDGET, AND TYPICALLY, THE BUDGET INCREASES EVERY SINGLE YEAR. AS I ALSO HAVE SAID BEFORE AND HAPPY TO SAY AGAIN, THIS PAINTS A VERY, VERY NICE PICTURE OF THE CITY'S ACTIVE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATIVE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY. SO, AS ALWAYS, MY COMPLIMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. IT IS A VERY, VERY GOOD PICTURE. YOU SEE 247 AND A HALF FTEs OR POSITIONS ADDED PRIMARILY IN SOLID WASTE, FLEET AND FIRE RESCUE. YOU ALSO SEE THAT OUR POSITION COUNT CONTINUES TO BE BELOW THE HIGH WATER MARK OF RIGHT BEFORE THE GREAT FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 2007. NINE POSITIONS TO BE EXACT. WE VIEW THIS AS CONTINUING TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASING DEMANDS, THE INCREASING CALLS FOR SERVICE, AND THE INCREASING QUALITY OF SERVICE. CONTINUING WITH OUR THEME OF STAFFING. OUR PERSONNEL-TO-POPULATION RATIO, THE RATIO TO EMPLOYEES TO POPULATION CONTINUES TO DECLINE, AND WE ARE NOW THE LOWEST OF OUR P PEER GROUP. AND THIS IS WHEN OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND SERVICE DEMANDS TENDS TO INCREASE. OUR COMPASSIONS TO MERE FLORIDA CITIES, WE ARE THE LOWEST MILLAGE THAT WE HAVE FOR YEARS AND YEARS. NOT ALL THAT SURPRISING FOR A CITY THAT ONLY INCREASED ITS MILLAGE ONE TIME IN 35 YEARS. OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AGAIN, A VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR BUDGET. IN FISCAL YEAR '26 YOU SEE OVER $420 MILLION. AND OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN, OVER $1.7 BILLION. AND WE HAVE ONE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 16. THE BUDGET CAN BE FOUND SLICED AND DICED MANY, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. AGAIN VERY, VERY DETAILED AT THIS WEB SITE. AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL ARE. THAT IS THE ENDS OF MY BRIEF PRESENTATION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO HAVE QUESTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF THAT HAVE MADE A PRESENTATION. I WOULD REFRAIN FROM TAKING POLICY POSITIONS UNTIL AFTER WE HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF STAFF, THIS WILL BE APPROPRIATE TIME. WE WILL COME BACK AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION. I WILL REFERENCE THE FY '26 BUDGET. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: I HAVE A BUNCH OF LARGER QUESTIONS, BUT I WANT TO ASK THREE CONNECTED TO THIS. ONE, BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE SOME NEW PEOPLE WATCHING. CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN, AGAIN -- SORRY TO HAVE YOU REPEAT IT EVERY TIME. ON FUND BALANCE, MAYBE GO BACK TO THAT PAGE AT 23%. I ASK YOU THIS QUESTION EVERY TIME. WE ARE AT 23%. BUT WE HAVE BEEN AT 23% CONSISTENTLY. THE RAINY DAY FUND IS ONLY 3% CONCEIVABLY. BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN AT 23% FOR MANY YEARS NOW, THE BOND MARKETS WOULD EXPECT US TO STAY AT 23. IS THAT CORRECT? IF SOMEBODY SAYS -- SINCE YOU GOT ALL THAT MONEY, YOU CAN GO DOWN TO 15% OR 20%. WOULD THAT PUT OUR -- DO WE NEED TO KEEP IT AT 23%? TO OR WILL IT POTENTIALLY HURT OUR BOND MONEY IN WE TOOK MONEY OUT. >>DENNIS ROGERO: WELL SAID AND YOU ARE CORRECT. POLICY IS HE 20% AND A VERY STRONG POLICY BUT OUR HISTORY IS 23%, 24% OR ABOVE. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. >>BILL CARLSON: THE BOND MARKETS -- SORRY TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH BUT THE BOND MARKETS LOOK FOR PREDICTABILITY. IF THEY SEE WILD SWINGS -- IF WE ARE CONSISTENT -- AM I CORRECT? TELL ME IF I AM WRONG. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YOU ARE CORRECT. THE CREDIT AGENCIES AND BOND MARKET INVESTORS WILL LOOK AT CONSISTENCY OVER TIME AND YOU CAN SEE AS WE SEE CONSISTENCY. >>BILL CARLSON: LET ME ASK. I ALWAYS BRING THIS UP TOO. THE CHART ON THE FUND BALANCE -- I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD KEEP THIS CHART THAT GOES BACK EIGHT OR NINE YEARS AND GO BACK THE GREAT RECESSION 2010 AND SHOW AN ADDITIONAL SLIDE. SHOULD I MAKE A MOTION OR -- >>DENNIS ROGERO: WE CAN DO THAT AT THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING. >>BILL CARLSON: AS WE GO FORWARD, EVERY TEN YEARS FLORIDA AND THE UNITED STATES GOES THROUGH SOME KIND OF ECONOMIC SHIFT. AS WE ARE TRYING TO PREDICT FOR THE FUTURE, GOOD TO KNOW WHERE WE WERE AT THE ENDS OF THE GREAT RECESSION ENDEDED IN 2009, WILL BE FOOD TO SEE WHERE WE ENDED 20 09 AND 2010. >>DENNIS ROGERO: WILL DO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SOLIDIFY THE ACTION. >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ASK IN ADDITION TO THE SLIDE ON FUND BALANCE TO SHOW ANOTHER CHART THAT GOES BACK TO 2009 TO GET A PICTURE WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN THE GREAT RECESSION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON. A SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. >>BILL CARLSON: ANOTHER QUESTION. SO IN THE -- IN THE CORPORATE WORLD, WE TALK OF DEBT-TO-EQUITY AND DEBT-TO-REVENUES. IS THERE -- YOU HAVE THE COMPASSION OF OTHER CITIES. DO YOU HAVE A DEBT-TO-REVENUES COMPASSION OF OTHER CITIES? >>DENNIS ROGERO: WE DO NOT HAVE THAT AT HAND, BUT WE CAN GET THAT. THAT COMPASSION TO OTHER CITIES. >>BILL CARLSON: SHOULD I MAKE A MOTION TO ASK FOR THAT? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IF YOU WANT TO INSTITUTIONALIZE IT SO IT IS THERE. I SUGGEST DOING THAT. >>BILL CARLSON: MAKE A MOTION IN YOUR SUMMARIES TO INCLUDE A DEBT-TO-REVENUES COMPASSION. ALL DEBT TO ALL REVENUES. >>DENNIS ROGERO: ALL REVENUES. >>BILL CARLSON: AND COMPASSION OF THE OTHER CITIES THE SAME AS YOU HAVE FROM THE OTHER CHARTS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON. SECONDED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OPPOSED. AYES PASS UNANIMOUSLY. >>BILL CARLSON: YOU SHOWED THE MILLAGE -- CAN IS IT POSSIBLE TO BRING THE CHART THAT COMPARES THE MILLAGE WITH OTHER CITIES. MY QUESTION WHEN THAT IS COMING OUT, IS HIGHER THAN US. FT. LAUDERDALE IS HIGHER. THE ONE WITH THE BAR GRAPH. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THERE IT IS. >>BILL CARLSON: YES, THAT. AND SO IN THE 1980s, THE MARTINEZ ADMINISTRATION MOVED THE AD VALOREM TAXES FROM HOUSING OUT TO CREATE -- WORKING WITH THE STATE TO CREATE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND MOVED TRANSPORTATION AD VALOREM OUT TO CREATE HART. SO OUR AD VALOREM TAX AS I RECALL AROUND 9 MILLS OR SOMETHING AND BROUGHT IT DOWN TO 5.4. AGAIN, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT MY QUESTION IS, IN THE CASE OF MIAMI, FOR EXAMPLE, DO THEY -- DO THEY PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING OUT OF THEIR MILLAGE? OR DO THEY HAVE SEPARATE AGENCIES LIKE WE DO? I AM JUST TRYING TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I DON'T KNOW OFF HAND BUT WE CAN FIND OUT. >>BILL CARLSON: SAME THING FOR ANY OF THE OTHERS, BUT IN PARTICULAR MAYBE ORLANDO IN THIS CASE. ORLANDO AND MIAMI. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I WILL FIND OUT FOR ALL OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, SIR. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: FOR THE WILL YOU BE I CAN, WE OPENED BOTH ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AT THE SAME TIME. THIS WILL BE YOUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND CONCERNING THE FY '26 BUDGET. THOSE OF YOU HOW ARE -- AND THE MILLAGE RATE, EXCUSE ME AND THE CIP. I CONSIDER THAT -- ALL THREE. WE HAVE THE SIGN-IN SHEETS WHEN YOU CAME IN. I WILL CALL EVERYBODY IN THE WAY -- IN HOW THEY WERE SIGNED UP, YES, COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK? >>LYNN HURTAK: IF -- IF WE OPEN THE CIP AS WELL, SHOULD WE GET A PRESENTATION ON THE CIP BEFORE THE PUBLIC? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT WAS THE ONLY PRESENTATION THEY WERE DOING. AN ABBREVIATED PRESENTATION BASED ON ALL OF THE OTHER INFORMATION -- ABUNDANT INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED. SO MY FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER IS COMMISSIONER GWEN MYERS. WELCOME TO CITY COUNCIL. >> COMMISSIONER GWEN MYERS. E. KENNEDY, SECOND FLOOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TO ASK THE COUNCIL, WOULD YOU PLEASE SUPPORT MATCHING FUNDS OF $250,000 TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR FY '26 BUDGET FOR THE SKILLS CENTER. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALREADY INCLUDED IN THEIR BUDGET THROUGH OUR FLAGGED ITEM, WE ALREADY APPROVED THAT AMOUNT. I'M HERE TO ASK FOR MATCHING FUNDS. COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. YOU HELPED CHAMPION THIS. AS I CALLED AND TALKED TO OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS IN SUPPORT, WE ALL KNOW THE SKILL CENTER IS LOCATED AT 5107 NORTH 22nd STREET IN EAST TAMPA. IT IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT 5. AND WE KNOW TODAY DISTRICT 5 DOES NOT HAVE A VOICE. BUT WE ARE HERE -- I'M HERE, TO BE THE VOICE. I REPRESENT DISTRICT 3. AND SO WE KNOW FOR OUR YOUTH, OUR YOUTH AT THE SKILLS CENTER. THEY REALLY HAVE A PLACE TO GO. THE $250,000 IS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AT THAT THE FACILITY. THIS SUMMER, THE YOUTH, THE SKILL CENTER WAS JUST OVERWHELMED WITH YOUTH. WE DIDN'T HAVE COMMUNITY EVENTS OF FUSSING AND FIGHTING AND CALLING POLICE, BECAUSE WE FOUND A PLACE FOR OUR YOUTH TO GO EVEN FROM 6:30 UNTIL 10:00 AT NIGHT. SKILL FACILITY WAS OPEN. SO WHEN WE THINK OF HOW DO WE INVEST AND GIVE BACK TO OUR -- IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR OUR YOUTH, WE SAY OUR YOUTH IS OUR FUTURE. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT FOR OUR FUTURE. WHEN THEY UPGRADE, THAT WILL PROVIDE MORE ACCESSIBILITIES, ENERGY EFFICIENT, SUSTAINABILITY IN ALL OF THE $250,000 THAT WILL BE USED FOR. I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH, I'M HERE FOR MATCHING FUNDS, BECAUSE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE INCLUDED IN OUR BUDGET. AND I HOPE EACH OF YOU WILL CONSIDER VERY HIGHLY AND VERY STRONGLY OF DISTRICT 5 TO INCLUDE $250,000 IN FY '26 BUDGET SO THE SKILLS CENTER CAN DO THE NECESSARY THINGS FOR THE YOUTH OF THIS COMMUNITY. IT IS A FACILITY THAT WHERE THEY RENT OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY. A LOT OF EVENTS HAVE BEEN HELD THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OUR -- TO TAKE A TOUR. YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE. YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE. IT IS UNUSUAL -- I AM AT MY YELLOW BUTTON. I JUST ASK AGAIN PLEASE INCLUDE THE $2 50,000 IN THE FY '26 BUDGET. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. NEXT SPEAKER IS TATIANA MORALES FOLLOWED BY LAURA LAWSON. GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING, TAMPA CITY COUNCIL. TIME TATIANA MORALES AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF TRANSIT TAMPA BAY. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED OF TAKING THE $10,000 OUT OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET AND THAT CRA KEPT THE 30% FOR HOUSING. AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE CRISIS FOR OUR FAMILIES IS BEING ADDRESSED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BECAUSE IT HAVEN'T GONE AWAY. MORE AND MORE FAMILIES, KIDS SLEEPING IN CARS, SLEEPING ON THE STREETS, OLD PEOPLE SLEEPING ON THE STREET THAT DESERVE A HOME. AS WE LOOK TO RESTRAIN OUR BONUS DENSITY OPTIONS, WE WANT TO SHE HAVE IN AFFORDABILITY. ROUTE 1 AND ROUTE 12 WHICH IS THE MOST POPULAR ROUTE IN THE CITY IS AN ESSENTIAL INVESTMENT. I KNOW THE MAYOR SENT A LETTER TO ALL OF YOU THAT SHE IS NOT SUPPORT OF FARE-FREE ROUTE 1, AND I THINK ITS IMPORTANT IS THIS THE MAYOR'S BUDGET OR THE BUDGET OF THE PEOPLE, IS IT THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY. IS IT -- ARE OUR PEOPLE AS ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AS PEEPS. BECAUSE MOVING AROUND PEOPLE, MAKING SURE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE VETERANS, PEOPLE MARGINALIZED. AND ROUTE 12, PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 5 WITH NO REPRESENTATIVE ARE BEING HURT AND THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING ADDRESSED. YOU CAN PASS A BUDGET WITHOUT FARE FREE AND LOOK AT OFFICIALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND SAY ARE THEY ACTUALLY SERVING ME? ARE THEY ACTUALLY SERVES THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY? >> THIS IS AN EASY OPPORTUNITY. $60 MILLION ON A BIG CENTER ASKED LAST YEAR AND IS BACK THIS YEAR OR INVEST IN THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TOLD YOU OVER AND OVER AGAIN, LIKE PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT WE KNOW WITH ROUTE 1, THAT WHEN WE FUND IT, IT WORKS. IT WORKS. IMPROVES OUR SYSTEM AND GIVES PEOPLE HOPE. WHEN THEY ARE LIVING HERE THEY THINK OUR POLITICIANS ARE DOING SOMETHING FOR US. DISTRICT 5, YOU LOOK AT ROUTE 12, DISTRICT 5 IS MOST OF IT. YOU LOOK AT THAT ROUTE, IF YOU THINK, OH, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT A LOT OF THEIR POTENTIAL REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE, WILL THAT BE ME IN THAT SEAT? THEY CAN SAY, COUNCIL DID A GREAT THING. I WANT TO BUILD ON IT. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT TRANSPORTATION COSTSES ARE GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER. AFFORDABILITY IS A DEEPLY, DEEPLY CHALLENGING THING FOR PEOPLE IN THE CITY. AVERAGE AGE OF I'M LEAVING FLORIDA RIGHT NO YOU ARE IN THE 20s AND 30s. PEOPLE MY AGE RENTING AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. AND INVESTING IN TRANSPORTATION. INVESTING IN TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES. NOT JUST LOOK IN THE FUTURE FOR BRIGHTLINE OR THE STREETCAR TO FIX THINGS, WE WILL DO WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, THE HART SYSTEM. STATE INVESTIGATED AND SAID WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS SYSTEM AFTER MANY INVESTIGATIONS, THEY REALIZED IT IS JUST FUNDING. NOT BAD MANAGEMENT, BUT FUNDING. YOU GUYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. YOU CAN DO WHAT THE COUNTY IS SO SCARED OF DOING, ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE RESIDENTS. I DO BELIEVE IN YOU. I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU MEANINGFULLY CLEAR AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS THE WAY FORWARD. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. LAURA LARSON FOLLOWED BY LAUREN MURRAY. >>. >> GOOD EVENING, TAMPA CITY COUNCIL. I AM LAURA LAWSON. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF TAMPA SINCE 2002 AND A PROUD REPRESENTATIVE OF SOUTH SEMINOLE HEIGHTS SINCE 2003. I'M HERE TO ECHO ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE COMMENTS THAT MISS MORALES JUST MADE. I AM SO PROUD OF WHAT CITY COUNCIL DID LAST YEAR TO FUND THE FARE FREE PROGRAM. HOPEFUL -- AS SHE SUGGESTED -- HOPEFUL THING TO DO FOR TRANSPORTATION IN THIS COMMUNITY WHEN WE KNOW THAT MOST OF THE OPTIONS ARE SO EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT. BUT THIS ONE THING, MAKING -- MAKING A ROUTE THROUGH OUR CITY THAT ALLOWED RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAD A BUS PASS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAD THE $2 TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, THAT IS JUST -- THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF DEMOCRACY AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED IN THIS DAY AND AGE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN SO MUCH. I MEAN, MY KIDS, PAINTED ONE OF THOSE MURALS THAT THE STATE JUST PAINTED OVER. AND I BET A LOT OF THE OTHER PARENTS FEEL THE SAME WAY. AND IT IS ALMOST AS IF A LOT OF WHAT IS COMING OUT OF TALLAHASSEE IS TO TRY TO TAKE AWAY EVERY LITTLE BIT OF OUR HOPE THAT WE HAVE. THAT WE CAN'T BUILD THINGS TOGETHER AS PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT THEY ARE GOING TO COME ALONG AND SAYS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM. AND SO, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU. WE HAVE A WEIRD SITUATION WITH TRANSIT HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH AND PINELLAS COUNTIES IN THAT IN A LOT OF COUNTIES IN FLORIDA, IT IS A COUNTY DEPARTMENT. SO THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THIS POLITICS WITH THIS CRAZY BOARD. THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO FUND IT, YOU KNOW, LIKE PET RESOURCES OR SOMETHING. AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY, TRANSIT HERE HAS BEEN TREATED LIKE THE STEPCHILD, LIKE THIS OTHER. AND EVERYONE WANTS TO SAY, NOT ME, NOT THAT. AND MEANWHILE, HOW ARE OUR RESIDENTS, OFTEN OUR MOST NEEDY RESIDENTS, OFTEN OUR HARDEST-WORKING RESIDENTS, GETTING AROUND? SO I JUST WANT TO SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH THIS FARE FREE. AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO INCREASE IT AND ENCOURAGE YOUR ATTENTION TO HART. AND YOU KNOW BECAUSE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS SO COMPLICATED. THERE ARE MYTHS AND NONSENSE ABOUT IT THAT ARE SPOKEN CONSTANTLY. THE REALITY IS, YOU NEED BUSES ON THE STREET. AND YOU NEED DRIVERS TO DRIVE THOSE BUSES. THAT COSTS MONEY. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THERE WITH FANCY TECH. WE ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY REORGANIZING THE WHO HE WILL THING SIX TIMES. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO FUND IT. AND I AM SO PROUD OF WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE. AND I JUST URGE TO YOU CONTINUE DOING SO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. WE HAVE LAUREN MURRAY FOLLOWED BY DANA LAZARUS. GOOD EVENING. >> HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LAUREN MURRAY. I LIVE IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA. THAT DOES MEAN I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5, SO I AM DOWN A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE MOMENT. I AM ALSO HERE TO REQUEST THAT YOU THIS PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR FUNDING THE ROUTE 1 PROGRAM DURING THE CURRENT YEAR. AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN JUST A GREAT SUCCESS IN THAT WE SEE THAT RIDERSHIP IS UP. AND WE SEE THAT ON-TIME PERFORMANCE IS MUCH BETTER WITH THE FARE FREE AND INCREASED FREQUENCY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO FUND THAT FOR ANOTHER YEAR. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER FUNDING -- OR INCREASING THE FREQUENCY ON EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS AND FUNDING ANY OTHER BUS FREQUENCY INCREASES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PUT IN JUST A REQUEST TO ALSO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE FREE STREET CAR BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND YBOR AND THAT BENEFITS RESIDENTS AS WELL AS VERY OUR LOCAL BUSINESSESES WITH A LOT OF TOURISTS TAKE THAT AS WELL. BUT IT DOES CONNECT TO THE BUSES. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO YOU CONSIDER THAT A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORS HERE IN TAMPA STRUGGLE TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. STRUGGLE TO GET TO WORK AND MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS IN THEIR DAY. THE COST OF OWNING A CAR IS EXPENSIVE. THE COST OF INSURERING A CAR IS GOING UP. ANXIETY OF PEOPLE IN DRIVING AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES OR CANNOT DRIVE. SO I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THOSE WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR BUDGET. I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR TO YOU CONSIDER THOSE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE BUS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR ENVIRONMENT, IMPROVEMENT TO JUST OUR TRAFFIC CONGESTION BUT DON'T DO IT BECAUSE THE FREQUENCY IS NOT QUITE THERE TO MAKE IT PRACTICAL. SO I THINK IF WE CAN INCREASE FREQUENCY IN THE HART BUSES, IT WOULD REALLY DO A LOT TOWARD OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AND JUST A HEALTHY INTERACTION WITH ONE ANOTHER. SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. AND HAVE A GOOD REST OF THE EVENING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, LAUREN. DANA LAZARUS FOLLOWED BY TREVOR MILI MILIHAN. >> I HAVE A TIME DONATION FORM TOO. WHO DO I GIVE THIS TO? OH. >>MARTIN SHELBY: AMY SCOTT. YOU UNDERSTAND YOU ARE WAIVING YOUR THREE MINUTES? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FOUR MINUTES TOTAL, PLEASE. >> I ALSO HAVE A POWERPOINT. CAN I SEE THAT BROUGHT UP? I SENT IT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT WORKED. JUST LIKE MAGIC. >> AND LET ME TEST IT? OKAY, BEAUTIFUL. HELLO, DANA LAZARUS. 33605. I AM ALSO DISTRICT 5 AND I AM DOWN A REPRESENTATIVE RIGHT NOW. BUT TRANSIT NOW TAMPA BAY IS AN ORGANIZATION I CO-FOUNDEDED IN 2017. AND WE ARE HERE TO ASK THAT YOU FUND ROUTE 1 AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THERE THERE ARE CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE CAN DO. ALSO, POINTING OUT THAT ROUTE 1 HAS BEEN BE A SMASHING SUCCESS. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE WHO VOTED FOR THIS LAST YEAR. IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY POPULAR AND WE HAVE SEEN RIDERSHIP GO UP OVER 50%. THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT WERE, YOU KNOW -- WE SHOULD BE ROOTED IN DATA. THINGS WE DECIDE TO INVEST IN AND THINGS WE PRIORITIZE. AND WE NOW KNOW THAT THERE IS A DEMAND FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT. SO LET'S BUILD OFF OF THAT. LAST YEAR, WE CAME BEFORE YOU AND ASKED FOR THAT AS TRANSIT NOW. AND WE ARE SO, SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU LISTENED AND HELPED SAVE SO MANY WORKERS, SINGLE MOTHERS, RETIREES. SO MANY PEOPLE. YOU SAVED SO MUCH MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS. SO I AM GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: PAUSE ONE SECOND. FOR OUR TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE CCTV -- THERE WE GO WE GOT IT IN FRONT OF US. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK. SO ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF DOING A FARE FREE PROGRAM IS TO GET PEOPLE TO TRY RIDING THE BUS. AND AS SUCH, TRANSIT NOW TAMPA BAY HAD THESE REALLY FUN GROUP RIDES WITH DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, STUDENTS AND ANY GROUP THAT HAS WANTED TO -- TO FUND -- TO TRY RIDING PUBLIC TRANSIT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND TRY OUT THE FARE FREE PROGRAM. THIS WAS OUR FIRST RIDE WITH TAMPA HEIGHTS. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. WE HAD SUPER SMALL CHILD WITH US. WE HAD SENIOR. WE HAD JUST A WHOLE RANGE OF A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE. AND WE TOOK PEOPLE TO WATER STREET FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE DID A TRANSITION FROM THE BUS TO THE FREE STREETCAR. AND PEOPLE WENT WHERE -- WENT TO WATER STREET WHO NEVER -- SPARKMAN WHARF WHO NEVER HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE. WE TRIED THE SHORT WAVE COFFEE. GOING TO DIFFERENT BUSINESSES. SUPPORTING BUSINESS. THEN AT TAMPA PRIDE, WE COLLECTED OVER 500 SIGNATURES, WHICH I DID BRING TODAY. HAND WRITTEN BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE TO WRITE THEIR SIGNATURE WHEN THEY ARE SIGNING A PETITION. ESSENTIALLY SAYING THEY SUPPORT INVESTING IN PUBLIC TRANSIT. SO THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN. WE DID A RIDE WITH HCC STUDENTS WITH THE COLLEGE OF SUSTAINABILITY. ALSO A LOT OF FUN. THEY GOT TO MEET COUNCIL LYNN HURTAK AND KIND OF ENGAGE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WE DID A RIDE WITH T.H.A.N. AND DID A LOOP AROUND DOWNTOWN. THEN WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, TRUE TO OUR GOAL WHICH IS TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND PUBLIC TRANSIT IN TAMPA AND SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS BY FUNDING IT, WE ALSO ADVOCATED TO RAISE THE MILLAGE FROM A HALF MILL TO ONE MILL. WE WENT TO HART AND GOT THE BOARD TO PASS THAT. SO THAT IS ANOTHER AVENUE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. WE DID AN ICE CREAM WITH THE HOMIES RIDE. WE ARE JUST HAVING FUN. RIDING THE BUS. WE ARE GETTING ICE CREAM. EXPOSING PEOPLE TO PUBLIC TRANSIT. I LOVE THIS PICTURE. WE DID A RIDE WITH SALT SEMINOLE HEIGHTS. -- SOUTH SEMINOLE HEIGHTS. THERE WERE A LOT PEOPLE, LIKE 25. HAMPTON TERRACE OCEAN RIDE. THIS IS GREAT. THE LADIES ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT ACTUALLY WENT ON THEIR OWN RIDE AFTER RIDING WITH US FOR FREE. THEY TOOK THE NEBRASKA ROUTE TO TAKE OFF THE TRAINING WHEELS. WE DID OUR ROUTE 1 SHOP HOP. AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ALONG ROUTE 1 THAT PARTNERED WITH US, WE WENT AND VISITED LIKE FIVE OR SIX BUSINESSES, HAD DINNER, AND IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TIME. SO EVERY TRANSIT NOW TAMPA BAY SUPPORTS REFUNDING THE PILOT PROGRAM. WE ALSO SUPPORT INCREASING FREQUENCY ON OUR MOST -- ON THE ROUTES WITH THE MOST RELATIONSHIP. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: TEN MORE SECONDS, I INTERRUPTED YOU. >> THANK YOU, TO WRAP IT UP, TAMPA WORKERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, SENIORS, RETIREE ARE YOUTH AND STUDENTS, WE WANT OUR MONEY TO GO TO PUBLIC TRANSIT AND DO IT NOW BEFORE THE STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TAKE IT AWAY FROM US AND MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. CLENDENIN THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TREVOR MILIHAN FOLLOWED B BY TAURA BLUM SPARKS. >> HELLO. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATE YOU FOR GETTING MY NAME RIGHT. I'M HERE TO SPEAK -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: START WITH YOUR NAME. >> TREVOR MILIHAN WITH TRANSIT TAMPA BAY. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THE TRANSIT SYSTEM. FOR THE ABOUT US, AS A COMMUTER WHAT I HAVE BEEN USING TO GET TO WORK FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. FREQUENTLY ON EVERY ROUTE BUT ROUTE 1 IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR MOST PEOPLE. UP DON'T LIKE DRIVING, BUT I WILL PUT UP WITH IT. REALITY IS I END UP GETTING HOME FROM WORK 30 MINUTES THAN I HAVE TO AND THE BUS COMES EVERY HALF AN HOUR AND I SIT THE BUS STOP FOR 30 MINUTES THAN TO WALK TO THE STOP AND GO BACK TO MY APARTMENT. A LOT TIME THAT I CAN SPEND PATRONIZING OTHER BUSINESSES AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. SO ON AND SO FORTH. ALSO WORTH A NOTE, WE ALREADY HAVE FARE FREE SERVICES. WE ALREADY PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE STREETCAR SERVICE. AND THAT IS, IN THEORY, UP FOR DEBATE WHETHER WE WILL DO THAT AGAIN. I SEE NO REASON WHY THE CITY WOULD REFUSE TO THAT .WE PROVIDED FARE FREE AND IT WORKS. IT ALWAYS HAS WORKED WHERE IT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED. I RIDE HART FREQUENTLY, I CAN TESTIFY OF THE HUGE DIFFERENCE IN RIDERSHIP BETWEEN THAT ROUTE AND OTHER BUS ROUTES THAT CURRENTLY AREN'T FREE. THE STREETCAR IN YBOR SEES CONSISTENT USE. YEAH. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OTHER THAN THAT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TREVOR. APPRECIATE IT. TAURA BLUMA FOLLOWED BY STEPHEN MICHELINI. >> GOOD EVENING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOOD EVENING. >> TAURA BLUMA. I DID WANT TO ASK A QUESTION FOR -- TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK AS WELL. WHEN YOU DECIDED TO OPEN TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, WERE WE NOT SUPPOSED TO GET TWO DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: TECHNICALLY JUST AN OPPORTUNITY. CLARIFICATION SINCE THIS IS UNUSUAL. NORMALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A PUBLIC HEARING, AFTER EACH ITEM, THE YOU CAN WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE ITEM. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THESE THINGS BEING INTERTWINED, THE FOR THE INTEREST OF EXPEDIENCY. WE OPEN BOTH PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OFF CHANCE TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS. THANK YOU. CAN YOU START HER TIME OVER AGAIN. START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE. >> TAURA PLUMA. GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT PARKS TONIGHT AS IT RELATES TO THE FUTURE BUDGET. I AM FRUSTRATED BY THE LACK OF ATTENTION PAID TO PARKS IN SOUTH TAMPA, DESPITE THE SIGNIFICANT TAX REVENUE AND OVERWHELMING PROPORTION OF NEW TAX REVENUE THAT IS GENERATED IN SOUTH TAMPA IN THE CIP BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, THERE IS NO MONEY FOR SOUTH TAMPA PARKS. AND LOOKING AT THE GENERAL BUDGET, THERE IS TWO MILLION FOR SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS; HOWEVER, I THINK IT SHOULD BE A LOT BIGGER. FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU WANT WALKABLE COMMUNITIES, YOU NEED TO HAVE NICE PARKS THAT FOLKS CAN WALK TO. SECOND OF ALL, I HAVE SCOURED THE INTERNET AND CANNOT FIND A LIST OF WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO WITH THE $2 MILLION OR IF YOU LOOK AT IT THIS YEAR, IT IS SMALLER THAN THAT, WHAT THEY DID WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY. THAT SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, BUT YOU SAW ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE THAT KATE JACKSON PARK IS GETTING AN UPGRADE RIGHT NOW. WHILE THAT IS GREAT, WE APPRECIATE THAT, YOU CAN ASK ANYBODY IN SOUTH TAMPA, AND THAT IS THE NICEST PARK WE HAVE IN SOUTH TAMPA. WHY ARE WE SPENDING MONEY ON NICEST PARK WE HAVE IN SOUTH TAMPA WHEN ALL THE OTHER PARKS LOOK TERRIBLE. SO I WOULD LIKE A LITTLE MORE OVERSIGHT IN HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT IN THE FUTURE. NEXT, I WANT TO SHOW YOU -- CAN YOU SEE IT? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THERE IS A WHEEL ON THE TOP THE WOLF THAT YOU CAN ZOOM IN AND OUT -- VERY TOP. AT THE VERY, VERY TOP. >> WE WILL USE OUR IMAGINATIONS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU GOT IT, PERFECT. >> THESE ARE THE PARKS RECOMMENDED BUDGET. THIS "OTHER" CATEGORY. EVERYWHERE I LOOK IN THE BUDGET, I SEE ALL THIS MONEY STUFFED IN THE "OTHER" CATEGORY. THERE IS $9.5 MILLION IN THE "OTHER" CATEGORY OF THE PARKS BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS BUDGET HAS ENOUGH SPECIFICITY THAT I CAN SEE HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON PRINTER TONER AND INK. BUT THEY CAN STICK $9.5 MILLION IN AN "OTHER" BUDGET. THIS HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET, JUST ONE OTHER EXAMPLE THAT I SAW OF THAT IS IN THE CONVENTION CENTER BUDGET. THERE IS $4.25 MILLION IN "OT "OTHER"-CONTRACTUAL SERVICES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. BUT THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO BE STUCK IN AN "OTHER" BUDGET. AND I HAVE LOTS MORE PICTURES THAT I WILL SHOW YOU OF DILAPIDATED PARKS IN SOUTH TAMPA ANOTHER TIME. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TAURA. STEPHEN MICHELINI. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. STEVE MICHELINI. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. AND I KNOW THAT STAFF WAS TRYING TO RUN THROUGH AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET. BUT ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE OF WAS THAT THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE BUDGET IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SIDE THAT OBLIGATES A CITY WITHOUT AN ADDITIONAL HEARING FOR THE SOUTH HOWARD PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED WITH VARIOUS SOURCES OF FUNDING. THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND DESERVES A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL SCRUTINY AND NOT AN OVERALL BUDGET REVIEW IN THIS MANNER. SO I WOULD ASK THAT THERE BE AN ASSERTION THAT THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS BUDGET THAT COMMITS THE CITY TO DEVELOPING THAT STORMWATER PROJECT GOING DOWN AS PROPOSED SOUTH HOWARD. AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ANOTHER HEARING REGARDING THAT MATTER AND ANOTHER DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDING. SECOND THING IS, WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING BOTH BUSINESSES AND THE HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS THAT MAINTENANCE SHOULD BE A FIRST AND TOP PRIORITY REGARDING STORMWATER. AND AN ABSOLUTE PRIORITY. WE COLLECTIVELY BELIEVE THAT WITH MAINTENANCE AS A PRIORITY, A LOT OF THE FLOODING COULD BE MINIMIZED OR COMPLETELY ELIMINATED DEPENDING ON WHERE IT IS. AND THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM ON A SEVEN-YEAR AND A 14-YEAR CYCLE IS INSUFFICIENT AND INADEQUATE. THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. IT SHOULD BECOME IMMEDIATELY THAT -- LIKE WHAT YOU DID WITH THE FIRE HYDRANTS, WHERE THEY WERE CHECKED AND TAGGED, THE STORMWATER INLETS NEED TO BE CHECKED AND TAGGED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND DEBRIS REMOVED IMMEDIATELY AND NOT WAIT FOR A CYCLE TO CATCH UP. I HAVE SHOWN YOU PICTURES LAST WEEK REGARDING THE MAINTENANCE OF SOME OF THE STORMWATER DITCHES WHERE THE CREWS WENT OUT AND CLEANED 50 FEET, AND THEN IT STOPPED. AND THEN THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IT ALL THE WAY TO WHERE THE WATER ACTUALLY GOES INTO THE TREATMENT FACILITIES. WE HAVE RETENTION PONDS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED FOR -- SOME OF THEM SEVEN, EIGHT AND 15 YEARS THAT NEED TO BE MAINTAINED AND CLEANED THAT IS GOING TO ELIMINATE A LOT THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING. THIRD ITEM IS, THAT THE USE OF FUNDS FOR THE STORMWATER TAX OR THE ASSESSMENT, I AM SORRY, $13 MILLION ACCORDING TO THIS -- THE CALCULATIONS SHOWN WITH US. 13 OUT OF $15 MILLION WAS DIRECTED TOWARD STAFF. AND $2 MILLION WAS LEFT OVER FOR MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING. THAT CYCLE NEEDS TO REVERSED. THE THIRD ITEM IS CRA DISTRICTS SHOULD BE PAYING THEIR OWN WAY AND NOT BLEEDING MONEY OFF FROM THE GENERAL FUND. PAY THEIR OWN WAY, WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS STORMWATER, STREETS, LANDSCAPING, AND TREATMENT OF OTHER FACILITIES. AND WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE CRA BUDGETS, THEY SHOULD INCLUDE THOSE NOT COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUT COMING OUT OF THE CRA ACCOUNTS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MR. MICHELINI. >> THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NEXT SPEAKER ONLINE REGISTERED MICHAEL RANDOLPHED FOLLOWED BID TOED RANDOLPH. >> EXCELLENT, SIR. GOOD EVENING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOOD EVENING. >> A SNAPSHOT OF A LARGE BODY OF RESEARCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MICHAEL, START WITH YOUR NAME. >> SORRY, MICHAEL RANDOLPH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: START HIS TIME OVER. GO AHEAD. >> OKAY. PLANNED A SIX TO EIGHT-PAGE REPORT OF HOW CITY IS USING ARTERIAL BRT STUDY TO REDUCE COSTS AND IMPROVE SERVICE. THE GOAL IS SIMPLY SPENDING AND OUTCOME. LET'S START WITH THE BUDGET. IN OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON, AI OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET PROGRAM BY PROGRAM. AND THEY UNCOVERED $28 MILLION IN POTENTIAL SAVINGS BY THE PROPERTY BASED TO BUDGETING, THEY MADE FUNDS THAT MATTERED THE MOST. NEXT, INFRASTRUCTURE. USES AI TO PREDICT WATER MAIN BREAKS AND ROAD FAILURES BEFORE THEY HAPPEN. AND IN CUSTOMER SERVICE, IN CALIFORNIA, THEY ARE USING PHLOX TO REDUCE TIME AND CLEANUP STAFF. AND THEY ARE OPTIMIZING WATER COLLECTION AND ENERGY USED IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS WITH MACHINE LEARNING. IN CITIES LIKE LONDON, THEY ARE USING AI TO PREDICT. ARTIFICIAL SIMULATIONS HOPING TO HELP CITIES TEST POLICY'S IMPACT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COSTLY MISSTEPS AND IMPROVEMENT OUTCOMES. AI IS NOT REPLACING PUBLIC SERVICE, IT IS EMPOWERING THEM. THIS PRESENTATION IS JUST BEGINNING. THE FULL REPORT WILL AFTER A DEEP DIVE INTO GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES AND ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES FOR CITIES LIKE OURS. LET'S USE THIS MOMENT TO LEAD BY INNOVATION AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MR. RANDOLPH. NOW THE OTHER RANDOLPH, TODD RANDOLPH FOLLOWED BY NATHAN HAGAN. >> NO RELATION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: A GOOD NAME. WELL-RESPECTED. >> MY NAME IS TODD RANDOLPH, 207 NORTH MANTANZAS STREET NEAR KENNEDY AND MacDILL RIGHT ON THE HART 30 LINE. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK YOU HAVE FUNDING HART. I SUBMITTED A LETTER, WHICH I AM REFERRING TO, AND I HAVE LINKS THERE FOR INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT. LETTER MAILED TO CITY COUNCIL ON -- ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HART 30 TO ME SPECIFICALLY AND ALSO TAMPA BUT WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE 16 YEARS AGO, IT WAS A 30-MINUTE INTERVAL, AND IT WOULD DROP ME OFF AT THE AIRPORT. AND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, I HAD MUCH WORK-RELATED TRAVEL. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS SO COOL TO USE THE BUS TO GO TO THE AIRPORT AIRPORT AND NOT BE DEPENDENT ON OTHERS FOR A RIDE. PEOPLE LOVE TO GIVE YOU A RIDE TO THE AIRPORT. LIKE A STATUS SYMBOL OR SOMETHING, BUT I PREFERRED THE BUS. I REMEMBER IT GOING TO AN HOUR INTERVAL. I REMEMBER SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T SHOW UP ON TIME, AND IT WAS AN HOUR INTERVAL GOING TO THE AIRPORT TO MAKE A FLIGHT. THAT'S NOT VERY HELPFUL. AND I HAVE SEEN PERSONALLY THE SERVICE DEGRADE WHILE TAMPA HAS GONE THROUGH ITS GOLDEN YEARS OF GROWTH. AND THAT JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. IT ISN'T HELPFUL FOR THE CITY OR FURTHER GROWTH. AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE HART SYSTEM OVERALL FUNDED MORE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HART 30 INCREASE IN FREQUENCY. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT AS A FREE ROUTE. IF THAT IS YOUR OWN ARTERY, THE ONLY ARTERY OF MASS TRANSIT GOING TO THE AIRPORT THAT WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR CITY. WILL AFFECT EXTRANALITIES THAT TAMPA FACES. CYCLISTS' FAY SALTS, PEDESTRIAN FAY SALTS, MOTOR VEHICLE FASILITIES, NINTH. AND MacDILL, ALMOST AN ACCIDENT THERE EVERY WEEK. THE EXTRANALITIES ARE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE GREATLY IMPACTED BY FUNDING HART AS WELL. SO PLEASE PREPARE US FOR THE FUTURE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO FULLY FUND ROUTE ONE. AND LOOK INTO HART 30 SERVICE BEING INCREASED AND FUNDED FREE AS WELL. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, NATHAN HAGAN FOLLOWED BY ABIGAIL EVER EVERSAL. >> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS NATHAN HAGAN. VOLUNTEER OF THE CHAPTER N.I.M.B.Y. TAMPA. AND HERE TO SUPPORT TRANSIT TAMPA BAY. I WANT TO COMMENT ON FOUR ASPECTS OF THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO FUND THE FARE FREE FOR CRITICAL ROUTES THAT HIT KEY MILESTONE TO SUPPORT FURTHER HART INVESTMENTS LIKE REAL BRT. MORE ROBUST TRANSIT FOR CAR-FREE AND CAR-LIGHT DEVELOPMENT THAT HAVE LOWER HOUSING AND THAN THE DEFAULT SPRAWL DEVELOPMENT PATTERN IN MOST OF OUR CITY. I AM EXCITED TO HEAR THAT THE CRA BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ITS FUND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING YOUR COMMITMENT ON THE SET ASIDE. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT WE ARE LOSING THE DISCRETIONARY MONEY WE EARNED IN PREVIOUS YEARS' BUDGETS. COUNCILMAN CARLSON RAISED A GOOD QUESTION RAISING APPLES TO APPLES OF MILLAGE RATE. I AM INTERESTED TO SEE THAT AS WELL. DISAPPOINTED WE FAILED TO PASS A MILLAGE RATE INCREASE, WE ARE FINDING OURSELVES CUTTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FROM THE DISCRETIONARY BUDGET RATHER THAN INVESTING FURTHER. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM GIVEN THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY NEEDS. A LOT OF FEAR, UNCERTAINTY AND DOUBT HOW OUR BUDGET IS BEING MISPAY APPROPRIATED AND HIRING A BUDGET ANALYST FOR CITY COUNCIL TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. WHAT HAS CHANGED? I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A CLEAR ANSWER WHAT HAS CHANGED WHEN WE FAILED TO PASS THE MILLAGE AND TODAY. KIND OF TRANSIT, HOUSING AND PARK INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ABOUT WE NEED TO FUND CANNOT BE FUNDED AT OUR CURRENT REVENUES. JERSEY CITY IS THE MOST PRO HOUSING IN NEW JERSEY AND THE LOWEST PROPERTY TAXES IN THE STATE. AND THAT IS DIRECTLY TIED TO THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO MORE PEOPLE AT A LOWER COST. DENSITY IS THE BEST WAY TO GIVE INFRASTRUCTURE. IF WE DON'T HAVE THE SOME MANAGE FOR MILLAGE AND ISSUE DEBT, THE ONLY SCALABLE WAY TO BUILD REVENUE IS TO BUILD MORE HOUSING AND STOP GROWTH INTO THE HOSTILE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. GROWTH IS POWER BOTH IN THE POCKET BOOKS OF OUR CITY AND CUT-THROAT REGIONAL POLL ITTICS. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, NATHAN. ABIGAIL EBERSAL FOLLOWED BY CONNIE BURTON. >> GOOD EVENING, BE AGALE. BERSAL, MOTHER, EDUCATOR AND FLORIDA NATIVE. LAST NINES A RESIDENT OF TAMPA AND I PLAN TO RAISE MY CHILDREN HERE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. A DEEP INVESTMENT IN SEEING OUR CITY IMPROVE AND THE MOST IMPACTFUL WAY OF DOING THIS IS INVESTING IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. I LOVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION. YOU CAN SEE ME WALKING MY NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MY CHILDREN. BIKE WITH THE FAMILY TO A LOCAL RESTAURANT AND TAKING THE BUS TO GET MY CHILD TO SCHOOL. GETTING OUTSIDE, BREATHING FRESH AIR AND INTERACTING WITH MY NEIGHBORS ARE PRIORITIES FOR ME WHEN RAISING MY CHILDREN. I RECENTLY FOUND MYSELF AT THE MARION TRANSIT CENTER SPEAKING TO FOLKS ABOUT THE BUS. AND I PROBABLY SPOKE TO ABOUT 30 PEOPLE. THE NUMBER ONE REQUEST THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WAS MAKING SURE THAT THE BUSES WERE RUNNING MORE FREQUENTLY. MOST PEOPLE WERE FRUSTRATED THAT CERTAIN ROUTES WERE -- HAD EXTREMELY LONG WAIT TIMES WHILE OTHER ROUTES HAD LESS FREQUENCY ON THE WEEKEND AND EVENINGS. MAKING WAIT TIMES FOR BUSES EVEN LONGER THAN THEY ALREADY ARE. WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN A RELIABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM TO GET PEOPLE AROUND TO WORK AND SCHOOL IN TIME. FOR THIS REASON, I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE THAT A PORTION OF THE MAYORAL BUDGET BE REALLOCATED TO DOING JUST THAT. YOU MIGHT SAY, ABIGAIL, INCREASING BUS FREQUENCY DOESN'T JUST MATERIALIZE OUT OF THIN AIR? WE NEED TO FOCUS ON REPAIRING HART'S MAINTENANCE FACILITY AND GETTING THAT CONSTRUCTION STARTED RIGHT AWAY. PLANS IN THE WORKS TO HAVE THAT CONSTRUCTION START IN 2027, BUT I DO FEEL THAT IS TOO LONG OF A WAIT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON PROPERLY FUNCTIONS BUSES EVERY DAY. FOR THOSE BUSES THAT ARE BEYOND REPAIR, LET'S LOOK TO THE FUTURE BY PURCHASING NEW ELECTRIC BUSES THAT WON'T BREAK DOWN, RESULTING IN CONTINUED DELAYS. THE ROUTE FARE FREE PROJECT HAS SHOWN HAVING A FREQUENT FREE BUS ROUTEN COURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE US. INVESTING IN THAT, AGAIN, MATTERS. A HUGE DEMAND FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT AND REMOVING BARRIERS OF GETTING PARTICIPATED MAKES A DIFFERENCE OF PEOPLE, LIVES OF ELDERLY, VETERANS AND MARGINALIZED AS PEOPLE SHARED ALREADY. THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY, THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT EVERY DAY AND THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF REDUCED TRAFFIC IN THE AREA. NOW LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, YOU HAVE A LARGE SUM OF MONEY HERE TO WORK WITH. I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF COMPETING PRIORITIES THAT YOU ARE TRYING -- AS YOU ARE TRYING TO ALLOCATE THIS MONEY. SO I JUST APPRECIATE THAT YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO CONSIDER WHAT YOU CAN BEST SERVE THE CITIZENS OF TAMPA THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, ABIGAIL. CONNIE BURTON FOLLOWED BY PAMELA CANELLA. >> GOOD EVENING, CONNIE BURTON. WHEN I WIN THE LOTTERY TONIGHT, I WILL HAVE JUST AS MUCH MONEY TO DO THIS BUDGET, AND WE WILL BE PARTNERS, RIGHT. BUT -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WHEN YOU WIN THE LOTTERY, CALL ME. >> COME RUNNING. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW -- THIS IS NOT TO MAKE AN ATTACK, BUT THE COUNTY HAS A FAR GREATER BUDGET THAN WHAT WE HAVE OVER HERE. THE COUNTY HAS SLASHED THE THROATS OF WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE WHEN TO COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I THINK A LOT OF WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THAT BOARD SO THEY CAN DO SOME DEEP SOUL SEARCHING AS TO WHICH DIRECTION IT IS GOING TO GO FORWARD SERVING THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE. SO ON MY WISH LIST, BECAUSE WE STILL DO NOT HAVE, YOU KNOW, A REPRESENTATIVE HERE YET, SOON TO BE, IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO FUND RACIAL RECONCILIATION COMMISSION SO WE CAN FINISH OUT THAT WORK. WE ASKED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT WE SET ASIDE ENOUGH MONEY SO WE CAN HAVE A VERY EFFICIENT SUMMER JOB PROGRAM. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET TO 72. WE SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT INCREASE MOVING FORWARD, SO WE WANT TO SEE FUNDING. AND THAT PARKS AND REC HAVE A LITTLE BIT MONEY AND WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY. I WILL JUST BE UP HERE CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL NEXT SUMMER TO SAY, DID YOU FUND FOR 144 CHILDREN MOVING FORWARD. AND LASTLY, THIS ISSUE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOUSING FOR POOR, OR WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE HAVE TO BE A GREATER INVESTMENT IN THE CITY OTHER THAN JUST TALK. WE KNOW THAT DISTRICT 5 -- AND IT IS KIND OF LIKE WONDERFUL TO HEAR EVERYBODY SAY THEY LIVE IN DISTRICT 5, WHICH THEY DO, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POOR QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN DISTRICT 5, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EAST TAMPA. WHERE PEOPLE ARE STILL LIVING IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE NEEDED FUNDS TO MAKE THOSE CONSTANT IMPROVEMENTS. WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS CITY MOVE VIGOROUSLY TO SAY IN THIS COMING BUDGET THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. THE CRA BY ITSELF CAN'T DO IT. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO IT. SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A FULL PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS CITY TO REMOVE THE STIGMA OF JUST IGGING POOR PEOPLE. WE WANT TO SEE EAST TAMPA, THE FOUNDATION OF HOUSING THAT DEALS FROM 30% ON UP. I SUPPORT THE RIDERSHIP TO IMPROVE WAY BEFORE YOU GET RAIL. POOR, WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, ROUTE 1, ROUTE 2, ROUTE 12. THE MORE WE CAN INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE SO THEY DON'T FEEL FINANCIALLY SUFFOCATING OR MAKING CHOICES, I THINK THIS WILL MAKE A BETTER CITY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, CONNIE. FOLLOWED BY VALERIE BULLOCK. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU SAID WE CAN COME BACK? >> ONLY BITE OF THE APPLE. >> MY ONLY TIME UP? JEEZ, I THOUGHT WE -- I THOUGHT WE COULD SPEAK ON ANOTHER ONE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THEY ARE ALL COMBINED INTO ONE ITEM. >> I CALLED EARLIER TODAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: EVERYTHING IS COMBINED TO ONE ITEM. SORRY. WELL, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. TALK FAST. >> WELL, I CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE OTHER, BECAUSE I DIDN'T BRING IT UP. BUT -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IF YOU WANT TO LET THE NEXT PERSON GO AND GET YOUR FILES, I WILL BRING YOU BACK UP IN A SECOND. DOES THAT HELP. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GO GET WHAT YOU NEED AND THEN YOU. VALERIE? >> HELLO, VALERIE BULLOCK FROM EAST TAMPA. I GOT ME THREE MINUTES. OKAY. WHEN WE TALK OF THE CITY OF TAMPA BUDGET, WE SHOULDN'T BE COMPARING IT TO MIAMI-DADE. LET'S COMPARE IT TO SOMEWHERE IN POLK OR PASCO. AND THEN WE WILL BE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES INSTEAD OF APPLES TO ORANGES. EVERYBODY KNOWS THE COST OF LIVING IS HIGHER IN MIAMI, SO THAT IS THE FIRST ONE THEY TRIED TO PULL OVER US. AS FAR AS THE BUDGET, I AM GOING TO SAY THIS PROBABLY UNTIL THE DAY I DIE. IN 2020, TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT GOT 40% OF THE BUDGET. 2025, NOW THEY ARE ASKING FOR 60% OF THE BUDGET. 2030, THEY WILL WANT 80% OF THE BUDGET. AND THAT IS NOT RIGHT. TPD GOT TOO MUCH BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS TO BE IN THE HOUSING BUSINESS. I HEARD PEOPLE SAY OVER IN VM YBOR, THE POLICE COME AND GET YOU SOMEWHERE TO STAY. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT ON 29th AND LAKE. AND I GO DOWN THERE QUITE FREQUENTLY. TPD SHOULD NOT BE IN THE HOUSING BUSINESS. AND THEY SHOULD NOT GET 60% OF THE BUDGET. CUT THE BUDGET BY 20% AND SERVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT. WE WANT FREE BUS ROUTES. WE WANT NUMBER 1 TO BE FREE, NUMBER 2 TO BE FREE, AND NUMBER 12 TO BE FREE. IN JUNE, THE MIDDLE OF JUNE, I GAVE MY DAUGHTER MY VEHICLE. I WENT AND GOT A 30-DAY BUS PASS. I RODE THE BUS FOR ALMOST THREE WEEKS. AND, YEAH, I HAD TO RUN TO BUS STOPS. THEY SPREAD OUT THE BUS DIDN'T COME THAT MUCH, BUT AID GOOD TIME RIDING BUS, AND IT WAS CHEAP. THING IS, WE NEED TO WORK ON THE ROUTES. I TRIED TO GO TO CHURCH SUNDAY ON LIVINGSTON AND BEARSS. SO I CAUGHT NUMBER 5 FROM MY HOUSE. WALMART IS WHERE ALL THE BUSES END RIGHT BY FLETCHER. NO BUS GOES DOWN TO BEARSS. SO THE PEOPLE ON 15, 22nd AND 19th, THEY GOT TO WALK ALL THE FROM BEARSS TO FLETCHER TO GET A BUS. SO WE MIGHT WANT TO WORK ON IMPROVING THE SYSTEM. AND IT SHOULDN'T BE ALL ON OUR BACK EITHER. IT IS CALLED HILLSBOROUGH AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT, SORE THAT MEANS HILLSBOROUGH SHOULD GET A BUCK OF THE MONEY. AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 5. I AM GETTING SO SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE SAYING WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. $1800 A MONTH FOR A TWO BEDROOM MIGHT BE AFFORDABLE FOR SOME OF Y'ALL, BUT PEOPLE IN EAST TAMPA, BELMONT HEIGHTS, JACKSON HEIGHTS. WE NEED LOW-INCOME HOUSING OVER THERE. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU CALL IT, AS LONG AS IT IS 30% OF THE AMI. THAT'S HOW YOU HELP THE PEOPLE. THE FIRST CRA IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BUT LOOK AT -- LOOK AT DOWNTOWN, LOOK AT CHANNELSIDE, EVERYBODY LEFT US BEHIND. I STAY DOWNTOWN. I STAY ON HARBOUR ISLAND WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY STAY IN EAST TAMPA. WE STILL HAVE THREE, FOUR, FIVE GENERATIONS IN ONE HOUSE HOLD. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU HAVE VALERIE. PAM CANELLA. WELCOME BACK. >> I WILL DO THE BEST I CAN. I DID GIVE YOU PAPERS. I WILL GIVE YOU MORE BEFORE YOU START COUNTING ME. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE WILL GIVE YOU PATIENCE. >> HAS TO DO WITH THE MANHATTAN PROJECT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE A TITLE PAGE ON IT. AND THE SECOND ONE HAS TO DO WITH THE -- POSITIONS. OKAY. GOT IT. OKAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NOT THAT MAN HAT TAN PROJECT. WE ARE NOT BUILDING A NUCLEAR BOMB IN TAMPA -- IN NORTH HYDE PARK. GO AHEAD, I AM SORRY. YOUR TIME STARTS NOW. >> ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS PAM CANELLA, MAINTENANCE HAS TO BE THE FIRST PRIORITY ON THE BUDGET. TAXPAYERS NEED TO KNOW HOW OUR STORMWATER ASSESSMENT FEES ARE BEING SPENT. TOP HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY, THE STORMWATER DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE SEPARATE FROM THE MOBILITY DEPARTMENT. THE STORMWATER SERVICE ASSESSMENT PAYS FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE EXISTING STORM DRAIN SYSTEM. SALARY AND OPERATIONS DO NOT MEAN THE SAME. BY DEFINITION, THEY ARE DISTINCT CONCEPTS IN BUSINESS AND IN FINANCING. THERE WILL BE NO POINT TO A MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT FEE IF FUNDS WENT TO WAGES AND NOT TO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE. LET ME MAKE THIS SHORT. I WENT THROUGH THE BASIC PERSONNEL IN THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE WHICH BEGINS AT THE CALL CENTER. THESE PEOPLE -- THEY ARE JUST -- THE EMPLOYEE THERE ARE NOT ALL STORMWATER EMPLOYEES. THE INFORMATION GOES TO THE UTILITY TECH 1. FOUR INSPECTORS FOR THE THREE ZONES: NORTH, SOUTH AND CENTRAL. THEY CREATE A WORK ORDER THAT GOES TO THE SCHEDULER. THERE ARE THREE ZONES. AT LEAST THREE EMPLOYEES THERE. SCHEDULE GOES TO STORMWATER TEAM LEADER. THREE TEAM LEADERS. ONE FOR EACH ZONE. THEN GOES TO THE CREWS. THESE ARE THE BASIC POSITIONS THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE. NOW THERE IS A LIST THAT I REVIEWED. I CAN'T FIND IT AT THE MOMENT. BUT YOU ALL HAVE IT. AND ON THAT LIST, I RESEARCHED EACH ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL POSITIONS. AND SOME OF THE POSITIONS ARE NOT RELATED TO STORMWATER. SOME POSITIONS DO NOT EXIST. SOME POSITIONS ARE NOT FILLED. AND THERE ARE ONLY SIX SWEEPERS. SO WHY ARE THERE TEN EMPLOYEE AS SOON AS THREE STORMWATER ZONES: NORTH, SOUTH, CENTRAL. WHY ARE THERE FIVE EMPLOYEES UNDER SEWER OPERATING TEAM LETTERS WHEN ONLY THREE. SOME -- THERE ARE THREE PLANNERS. WHY ARE THERE 2 EMPLOYEES UNDER UTILITY TECHNICIAN WHEN STORMWATER ONLY HAS FOUR? WHY IS THE POSITION UTILITY TRAINEE POSTED UNDER ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS, AND THAT POSITION IS NOT EVEN FILLED. MY SECOND ASSESSMENT -- SECOND ASSESSMENT FEE FOR HAVING TO DO WITH CITY PROJECTS, AND I AM CONCERNED OF THE VALIDITY OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAN HAT TAN PROJECT OF 2025 SEEMS TO BE THE SAME WORK WE DID IN 2019. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE CONTACT PERSON, BUT THE ANSWERS ARE STILL NOT CLEAR AS TO THE DIFFERENCE IN THESE PROJECTS. SO MY QUESTION IS, HOW IS THE MAN HAT TAN PROJECT OF 2025 GOING TO HELP WITH FLOODING IF THE OTHER TWO EXTENSIVE PROJECTS HAVE NOT? DID I DO OKAY? THERE IS THE LIST OF A -- TWO LISTS. IF YOU LOOK AT 2019 AND 2025, THEY ARE THE SAME PIPES. SO WE WILL BE REPLACING NEW PIPES WE ALREADY PLACEDED IN 2019 IF YOU APPROVE THE WAIVER TO. OKAY, I AM DONE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: -- AND ALISON HEWITT. >> I SURELY WILL. MY NAME IS JADE SCOTT, AND I'M HERE TO TALK OF FUNDING HART. BEFORE I BEGIN, THANK YOU GUYS FOR FUNDING ROUTE 1 MAKING IT FARE FREE AND FREQUENT. I PERSONALLY USE IT QUITE A BIT AND HAS A BENEFIT FOR ME AND DANA MENTIONED INCREASE 50%. 50% MORE PEOPLE THAT YOU HELPED SO KUDOS TO YOU ALL. I DO WANT TO START AS WELL BY SAYING THAT I DO GENERALLY THINK THAT HART IS THE PERFECT SYSTEM, BUT THE PERFECT SYSTEM FOR THE TAMPA OF YESTERDAY AND YESTERDAY IS OVER. WE ARE ON TAMPA OF TODAY, TAMPA OF TODAY IS RAPIDLY PROGRESSING. YOU CAN GO OUTSIDE AND SPIT AND YOU WILL HIT A NEW DEVELOPMENT. YOU WILL SEE ALL THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY. YOU CAN TELL THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED. NO LONGER THE SLEEPY TOWN FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE REALLY INTO THE BUCCANEERS. WE ARE IN A NEW ERA OF TAMPA AND FUTURE OF TAMPA BRINGS EVEN GREATER PROMISE. WE ARE WELL ON THE WAY TO BE A FORMIDABLE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL POWERHOUSE FOR THE SOUTH. IN ORDER TO PROPERLY SUSTAIN THE GROWTH THAT WE ARE ALREADY SEEING, WE DO NEED TRANSIT. WE NEED TRANSIT, ONE, FOR THE FUND, TRANSIT BRINGS CONSUMERS TO BUSINESSES AND WORK TO BUSINESSES. GETS PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND, AGAIN, VERY USEFUL. BY HAVING THOSE BUSES THAT CAN TAKE PEOPLE FROM YOUR NEW. S OR LUTZ OR NEW AND GETTING THEM TO CONCERTS IN ST. PETE -- EVEN KNOW NOT US BUT BENEFIT TO THEM. THOSE ARE UNIQUE BENEFITS TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND LARGE BUSINESS OWNER AT LIKE. THAT IS A NET POSITIVE. AND THE PROGRESS IS DISTRIBUTED EQUALLY SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CAR IN ORDER TO BE A PART OF THE GROWTH THAT YOUR CITY IS SEEING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ABLE-BODIED BECAUSE THE BUS CAN MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE IN A WHEELCHAIR, YOU CAN MAKE IT WHERE YOU HAVE TO GO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE OF DRIVING AGE. 3 COMING BACK FROM CYRUS GREEN COMMUNITY CENTER AND TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WERE ON THE BUS GOING HOME. AND THAT IS A LEVEL OF FREEDOM -- LEVEL OF FREEDOM THEY DESERVE TO EXPERIENCE AND WILHELM THEM BE MORE WELL-ROUNDED ADULTS AND ELDERLY PARTICIPATE INNOCENT COMMUNITY AND GIVE US THE WISDOM THAT THEY HAVE AND KEEPING THEM OFF THE ROADS AND MAKE SAFE. TRANSIT IS A POSITIVE FOR THE CITY. AS TAMPA MOVES INTO THE PROGRESS THAT TOMORROW HAS FOR US, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN TO FEAR AND REGRESSION. IMPORTANT THAT WE STAY BOLD. TO STAY BOLD, WE MUST FUND TRANSIT SO LEAD OUR CITY AND HER CITIZENS INTO A BRIGHTER AND HEALTHIER TOMORROW. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALISON HEWITT. AFTER THAT IS ROBIN LOCKETT. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. ALISON HEWITT, LIFE-LONG RESIDENT OF EAST TAMPA AND CANDIDATE OF DISTRICT 5. AS I HAVE BEEN WALKING DISTRICT 5, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I REITERATE THAT FLOODING IT YOU NOT DISCRIMINATE. WHETHER YOU HAVE OR HAVE NOT. WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. ALSO, WE HAVE FOUND SEVERAL FOLKS WHO HAVE FALLEN BECAUSE OF BROKEN SIDEWALKS. AND WE TALKED TO THE COMMUNITIES. THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO THEY CONTACT OR WHO THEY CONTACT TO FIX THEIR SIDEWALKS AND A LOT OF THE SENIORS ARE HAVING THAT ISSUE. FIRE STATION 15 AND LOCAL RECREATIONAL CENTERS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING OUR PUBLIC SOUTHEAST SAFETY AND COMMUNITY WELL BEING, AND FINALLY I REALLY URGE THAT AS WE DO NOT HAVE SOMEONE FOR IT IS STRICT 5 SEAT, AS YOU ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, YOU ARE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT FOR DISTRICT 5 BECAUSE NO ONE IS THERE TO COMMUNICATE TO THE COMMUNITY WHAT THIS BUDGET WILL DO AND IMPACT FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES. AGAIN, THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE SO DIVERSE FROM SULPHUR SPRINGS DOWN TO CHANNELSIDE. WE HAVE FOLKS MAKING SURE THEY HAVE FOOD ON THE TABLE AND A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD AND THEY ARE NOT FOLLOWING IN BUDGET. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE COMMUNICATING IN TRANSPARENCY TO MAKE SURE THOSE PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY DON'T HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE BUT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE CITYWIDE FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY ACTIVE IN COMMUNICATING WITH US THAT YOU ARE BEING VERY SPECIFIC WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH ISSUES AND DISCUSSING ISSUES THAT WILL IMPACT DISTRICT 5 THAT YOU SAY THAT AND WE KNOW AND WE CAN FOLLOW IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. ROBIN LOCKETT AND THEN STEPHANIE POYNOR. >> OKAY THIS IS MY FIRST TIME PRESENTING. >>LYNN HURTAK: CAN YOU RESTART HER TIME. CAN YOU ZOOM IT OUT? LITTLE BIT MORE. THERE YOU GO. >> THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. ARE YOU READY? >> YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. >> SO ROBIN LOCKETT. HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE YELLOWJACKETS AND THE YELLOWJACKETS BEING IN THE BUDGET. JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND, YELLOWJACKETS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1967 AND A CHARTERED MEMBER OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE SINCE 1968. YELLOWJACKETS CONTINUE TO FULLY SPONSOR THEIR PROGRAM BY NOT CHARGING THE YOUTH A REGISTRATION FEE. IT IS ZERO. IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR YEARS. HOW THEY HANDLE THAT IS THEY ALWAYS HAD AN OPERATIONAL CONCESSION STAND. WITH THE MONEY THEY MADE OFF THE CONCESSION STAND, THEY WERE ABLE TO OFF SET THAT COST. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST -- THE CONCESSION STAND WAS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A CONCESSION STAND. FAMILIES TWO COME AND FEED -- EAT FROM THE CONCESSION STAND BECAUSE THE YELLOW JACKETS HAD NOT RAISED THEIR PRICES, RIGHT. SO IT IS VERY AFFORDABLE TO COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHY THE CONCESSION STAND IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE HISTORIC TEAM HAS PROVIDEED A SAFE SPACE FOR KIDS FOR DECADES. I WAS IN WEST TAMPA AND I NOTICED ALL THESE DANG GONE KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE WERE TOLD THEY WEREN'T GOING BE THERE ANYMORE. WEST TAMPA BASEBALL TEAM. WE WORKED -- THEY WERE DISPLACED FROM NORTH OREGON STREET, AND NOW THEY ARE -- AND THEY WERE LOCATED IN THE 2018 ROME YARD PROJECT, AND THEY WERE TAKEN OUT OF IT. THE TEAM NOW PLAYS AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION ON WEST INDI INDIANA. I PROVIDED A LIST TO EVERYONE, THE ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL WITH REGARDS TO THE ITEMS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. FIELD LIGHTING, THAT WAS IN A PREVIOUS BUDGET, BUT THAT IS BEING HANDLED RIGHT NOW. SMALL FIELD REGRADE. IN-FIELD SERVICE. I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME. BIG FIELD, REPLACE BOTH BATTING CAGES. TWO PORTABLE MOUNDS. REPLACE SCOREBOARD. BUILDING AND CONCESSION STAND. CURRENTLY, THE CAPITAL REQUIRES FOR THE YELLOW JACKETS FIELD ENHANCEMENTS IS PLACED IN THE YEAR 2028 BUDGET. UNACCEPTABLE. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING DONE WITH -- WHILE THIS ADMINISTRATION IS INTACT. THE ADMINISTRATION CHANGES IN 2027. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING DONE WITH THE YELLOWJACKETS AND THE BUILDING BEING BUILT. IF YOU WERE LOOKING FOR DESIGNS, COACH WRIGHT HAS HIRED AN ARCHITECT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND HE HAS THE DESIGN PLAN FOR A BUILDING. BUT IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT -- I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT OF THE $1.5 MILLION, BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING DONE WITH REGARD TO THE YELLOWJACKETS BEING MADE HOLD FOR BEING DISPLACED AND LIED TO IN THIS -- IN 2026. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MISS LOCKETT. STEPHANIE POYNOR FOLLOWED IF I FRAN TATE. >> GOOD EVENING, STEP STEPHANIE POYNOR. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I DON'T DISPAY AGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY HAD TO SAY THIS EVENING ABOUT THE BUDGET. KIND OF UNUSUAL. I SUPPORT STEVE MICHELINI'S STATEMENTS OF STORMWATER. MISS CANELLA DUG DEEP. SO PROUD OF SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS THAT REALLY DUG INTO THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR. I AM GOING TO STEP BACK A LITTLE B BIT. I NOTICED THERE WAS A BIG DROP OF REVENUE FOR PARKS AND REC THIS YEAR. WHY? WOULD SEE WE WOULD HAVE MORE SPENDING BECAUSE HAD TO FIX A LOT OF CRAP FROM THE HURRICANES. BUT WHY DID WE LOSE ALL THAT MONEY? AND, YOU KNOW, THE EXPENSES IG SEE ARE GOING UP. DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT. OH -- HOLD ON. LET ME GO BACK. PARKS AND REC. WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE BREAKDOWNS ARE. WHERE ARE THE PARKS AND REC DISTRICTS? WHICH DISTRICTS HAVE GOTTEN MONEY? WHICH DISTRICTS HAVE NOT? ASKED THIS REPEATEDLY AND TALKED TO MR. ROGERO AND I ASKED THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHERE ARE THE PARK DISTRICT. COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA ASKED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO BREAKDOWN OF SPENDING FOR DISTRICT NOT JUST FROM THE PARKS BUT BY EVERYBODY. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT. KEEPS GETTING PUT BACK OFF. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. WHY ARE WE BUDGETING LESS FOR OPERATIONS THIS YEAR? I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THE AMOUNT OF BUILDING IS GOING DOWN. THE AMOUNT OF -- WHAT ARE THEY CALLED. THE -- BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS PEOPLE ARE GOING INTO LAND DEVELOPMENT. THEY ARE GOING INTO CONSTRUCTION SERVICES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GETTING THINGS DONE AS QUICKLY AS THEY THINK THEY SHOULD. WITH THAT WHY WOULD WE TAKE AWAY MONEY FROM THIS YEAR TO THE TUNE OF $12 MILLION FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET. GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. I THOUGHT THOSE PEOPLE WROTE GRANTS. THERE SHOULD BE SOME REVENUE IN HERE. JUST SAYING. IF YOU ARE WRITING GRANTS, THERE SHOULD BE SOME REVENUE. WHERE IS IT? NONDEPARTMENTABLE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DEPARTMENT, HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU HAVE? AND HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU SPENT. SOME OF THIS /THIS NONE DEPARTMENTAL MONEY FIND ITS WAY INTO STORMWATER AND WAIVING. I THINK WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THE A NONDEPARTMENTAL TO THE TUNE OF $849 MILLION. A LOT OF MONEY WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS GOING. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS GOING. THEN WHY HAVE A BUDGET NEXT IN THE NONDEPARTMENTABLE -- I ALMOST FOR THE, CAPITAL, $244,000. OVER HERE $3.4 ON MILLION IN THE CIP. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE BECAUSE -- WHY NOT? YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS A LONG TIME AND TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AND THAT IS NOT FAIR. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU ARE TAKING YOUR TIME. >> ANYWAY, $54 MILLION RIGHT HERE IN THE CIP. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MISS POYNOR. >> SOMEBODY CAN HELP ME OUT WITH A MOTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOT TO BE CONSISTENT. >> I AM THE LAST SPEAKER. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ACTUALLY YOU ARE NOT. >> I SEE HOW IT IS. $73 MILLION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: FRAN TATE FOLLOWED BY JULIO LOPEZ. >> NEXT TIME YOU NEED TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT PEOPLE CAN DONATE MINUTES. IT NEEDS TO BE ON THE AGENDA. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GOOD EVENING, MISS TATE. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN FOREVER. THAT CAMPAIGN TRAIL IS SOMETHING ELSE. FRAN TATE, PRESIDENT OF THE JACKSON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION AND MEMBER OF THE EAST TAMPA CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND A TRANSIT NOW MEMBER. 20-YEAR ADVOCATE FOR DISTRICT 5. I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THE PRIVILEGE OF COMMUTING ATLANTA MARTA, D.C. METRO AND TAMPA HART ROUTE 5 THAT I USE FOR QUITE SOME TIME TO GET TO MY JOB, MOFFITT CANCER CENTER. NUMBER ONE, FUND PUBLIC TRANSIT. FUND ROUTE 1 PILOT FOR A SECOND YEAR. I HAVE BEEN ON THAT RIDE. A COUPLE OF SATURDAYS, AND I ENJOYED IT. IT WAS SO RELAXING TO HAVE SOMEONE DRIVE YOU. I HAVE BEEN ON THERE. AND I HAVE GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO OTHER NEIGHBORS, MEET OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE I AM A PEOPLE PERSON. I ENJOYED THAT. SO I AM WHOLEHEARTEDLY WANTING YOU GUYS TO FUND THE PILOT ROUTE 1 FOR SECOND YEAR. AND ADD INCREASED FREQUENCY TO WEEKDAY, EVENINGS, AND ON WEEKENDS. NUMBER THREE, INCREASE THE FREQUENCY AND I AM GOING TO SAY ROUTE 5. THAT IS MY ROUTE. I GOT TO GO HARD FOR IT. BUT LET'S SEE. WHAT ELSE AM I GOING TO TALK ABOUT? I THINK THAT IS ABOUT IT. I WANT TO GO ON RECORD TO SAY I DO NOT SUPPORT 250,000 TO THE SKILL CENTER. DO YOU KNOW WHY? I WAS THE CHAIR OF THE EAST TAMPA CRA AND WE ALLOCATED FUNDING ALMOST A HALF A MILL TO THAT SKILL CENTER. WE WERE TOLD VERBALLY THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE VOUCHERS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND 33605 AND 36010. BUT BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN WRITING? WE NEVER GOT THE VOUCHERS. THOSE KIDS UP THERE NEED THAT SKILL CENTER. EVERYONE UP THERE CANNOT PAY. THEIR PARENTS CANNOT AFFORD IT. I DON'T SUPPORT IT, BECAUSE I WANT THE VOUCHERS THAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE TO US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. FOR THE DURATION -- TALKING IN THE AUDIENCE DISRUPTS THE PERSON IN THE DAIS. IF YOU REFRAIN FROM THE PUBLIC REACTION. EVEN IF YOU ARE AGREEING WITH THE PERSON ON THE DAIS DOESN'T SERVE THEM WELL AND INTERRUPTS THEIR TRAIN OF THOUGHT. OUR LAST SPEAK OF THE EVENING IS JULIO LOPEZ. LET'S WRAP IT UP. >> HI, I AM JULIO LOPEZ. I GO BY JULES. I AM A MEMBER OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ORGANIZATION OF PROGRESS AND EQUALITY. AND I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR FUNDING PILOT PROJECT FOR HART ROUTE 1 FARE FREE -- VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU FUND IT FURTHER AGAIN FOR NEXT YEAR AND DO LIKEWISE FOR ROUTE 12, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO ADDRESS CONGESTION HERE IN TAMPA IS TO ADEQUATELY FUNDING PUBLIC TRANSIT. AND I AM WILLING TO PUT IN THE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER YOU NEED AS FAR AS SUPPORT I CAN PROVIDE THAT FOR YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND TWIST ARMS TO GET MORE VOTERS BEHIND THIS IDEA BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN PUBLIC TRANSIT FOR TAMPA. WE ARE GROWING AS A CITY HORIZONTALLY AND STARTING TO SEE THAT VERY AT THISCALLY AS WELL IN RIVERSIDE HEIGHTS OLD HOMES ARE TORN DOWN TO BUILD THREE OR FOUR HOMES. HOMES. I KNOW WE ARE GROWING. VERTICALLY, HORIZONTALLY, WE ARE GROWING. PERIOD. I WANT TO SEE INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC TRANSIT TO MEET THE NEEDS HERE AND NOW FOR TRANSPORTATION THAT MANY OUR DEAR NEIGHBORHOODS IN NORTH TAMPA AND THE ROUTE HART 1 AND 12. I WANT TO PROMOTE TAMPA TO BE A WALKABLE CITY AND TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE FRAME OF MIND OF REALLY CONSIDER AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS OTHER HALF OF PUBLIC TRANSIT. BOTH BOLSTER EACH OTHER. PUBLIC TRANSIT AND A WALKABLE CITY IS THE FUTURE. AND WE PREVIOUSLY HAD THIS THAT THE TROLLEY HAD FAR MORE REACH IN TAMPA. I SEE THAT WE SHOULD PUSH FOR THIS AND I WANT TO PUSH FOR IT. AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO GIVE THAT YOU SUPPORT AND MAKE THAT ARGUMENTS FOR YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU FOR WRAPPING IT UP THIS EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THE TENTATIVE 2026 MILLAGE RATE AND FY '26 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET PROG PROGRAM. COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO -- LET'S FRAME THIS FOR A SECOND 37 TO DISCUSS ITEMS FROM THE STAFF AND PUBLIC COMMENT SO WE CAN -- THIS WILL BE A Q AND A PERIOD. CALL STAFF UP TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TODAY. COUNCIL PERSONS CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION ON THAT BEHALF AND TALK AMONG OURSELVES. START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NO QUESTIONS, JUST COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH HART AND ROUTE 1. I LOVE TRANSIT AND I THINK IT IS GREAT AND TAMPA IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS INADEQUATE. AS BIG AS WE ARE IN POPULATION WISE AND HOW SPREAD OUT WE ARE. BUT HE SEEN HOW IN THE LAST YEAR WITH ROUTE 1, YOU SEE THE RI RIDERSHIP NUMBERS WITH THE STREETCAR -- THE STREETCAR WE WILL BE DISCUSSING TOMORROW BECAUSE SOME AGENDA ITEMS. INCREASE IN RIDERSHIPS BECAUSE THE FARES WERE SUSPENDED. PEOPLE LIKE IT. PEOPLE LIKE THE CONVENIENCE OFFING ABLE TO GET AROUND WITHOUT A CAR. SO WHAT I HAVE SEEN WITH ROUTE INDIVIDUALS WHO PREVIOUSLY DID NOT USE THE ABOUT US ARE USING THE BUS. INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE TO PAY FOR BUS IS SAVING MONEY. YES, I KNOW IT IS JUST ROUTE 1, BUT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCES. UP WENT TO NEW YORK ON SUNDAY AND I FLEW INTO LONG ISLAND AND TOOK A BUS FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE TRAIN STATION. TOOK THE LONG ISLAND AND IN NEW YORK SAW FAMILY, FRIENDS AND I CAME BACK. IT WAS GREAT. I DIDN'T HAVE TO RENT A CAR. I DIDN'T HAVE TO USE A UBER OR ANYTHING. I USED TRANSIT. I CAME BACK TO TAMPA WHERE I LEFT MY CAR IN THE ECONOMY PARKING GARAGE FOR $16. $16. IT TOOK ME -- $13 ONE WAY TO GET INTO MANHATTAN. ANYWAYS, IT IS CHEAPER TO GET TO NEW YORK THAN IT IS TO PARK HERE AT THE AIRPORT. BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS, I HOPE WE CONTINUE. I IF YOU WILLY SUPPORT CONTINUING FUNDING -- FULLY SUPPORT CONTINUING FUNDING ROUTE 1. WHAT HAPPENS WITH HART? I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. YOU SAW THE NEWS FROM LAST WEEK IF IT CONTINUES TO EXIST OR WHATNOT. TRANSIT IS IMPORTANT. HAVING A CAR IS EXPENSIVE. I HAD AN UNEXPECTED REPAIR ON MY CAR TODAY THAT COST ME A LOT OF MONEY. I GOT IT DONE BEFORE I CAME HERE, BUT INSURANCE, GAS, A CAR PAYMENT, CAR INTEREST RATES. I MEAN, YOU ADD IT UP, IT IS A FORTUNE. IF US AS A CITY COUNCIL, THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS CONTINUE TO FUND THIS IN THE FUTURE. PERHAPS CONTINUE FUNDING MORE ROUTES. IT IS BENEFICIAL TO PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, WE HAD A WONDERFUL PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM UNTIL THE LATE 1940s WHEN THE STREETCAR SYSTEM WAS PULLED UP. WE WENT INTO -- I GUESS IT WAS CALLED "TAMPA TRANSIT" THE BUS SERVICE BEFORE IT WAS HARTLINE. TAMPA IS GROWING AT 400,000 POPULATION WITHIN THE TAMPA CITY LIMITS. AGAIN, PEOPLE -- GETTING PEOPLE AROUND IS SO CRITICAL AND SO IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY CITY. AGAIN, I WENT TO NEW YORK. NEW YORK IS AN EXCEPTION. MY NEXT SPOT WILL BE DENVER, COLORADO. WHERE YOU GET FROM IF THE AIRPORT INTO DOWNTOWN AND BACK. I AM GOING TO GO THERE TO EXPLORE IT. I DID DALLAS A FEW WEEKS AGO. IT IS EASY WITH THE DART SYSTEM. AGAIN, HERE WE ARE IN TAMPA. WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND. BUT US AS CITY COUNCIL WE CAN AT THE VERY LEAST CONTINUE TO FUND THIS AND SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT WORKS, AND THE NUMBERS WILL ONLY GET BETTER. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO. COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR PEOPLE COMING OUT AND SPEAKING FROM THE HEARTH ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES .WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE TALKING HERE TODAY. THEY TALK OF THE INTEGRITY AND THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON AND THE NEED TO FIGHT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY FOR PEOPLE. I SEE WHEN I TAKE A LOOK AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE STATE LEVEL AND THE LOCAL LEVEL IN THE COUNTY, SEE COSTS THAT ARE GOING UP FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE AND I SEE PUBLIC SOLUTIONS GOING DOWN AND DWINDLING. WE SEE IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. WE SEE IT IN THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO NONPROFITS. I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD REPLICATE THAT IN THE CITY OF TAMPA. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS SUPPORTING DOING THAT. I WANT TO SAY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO TALKED OF HART. I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF HART. I AM PROUD OF OUR WORK WITH HART. YOU KNOW WE ARE SEEING FORTHCOMING SOLUTIONS ON HART THAT ARE ANYTHING BUT SOLUTIONS THAT ARE MORE IDEOLOGY THAN PRAGMATISM IN TERMS OF WHAT WE NEED ON MASS TRANSIT. WE HAVE TO BE VERY RESOLUTE ON THAT BUT THAT YOU IS FORTHCOMING ATTACKS THAT WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR. ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, ATTACKS ON PEOPLE WHETHER IT IS CUTS IN MEDICAID. CUTS IN THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET. THINGS THAT ARE HURTING EVERY DAY PAMPANOS. WORKING HARD IN THE MIDDLE CLASS. AND TALK OF TAMPANOS WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS FROM AFGHANISTAN, LATIN AMERICA, CUBA, HONDURAS, OUR HAITIAN BROTHERS AN SISTERS LEGAL AND NO LONGER LEGAL BECAUSE OF FEDERAL LEVEL. THEY ARE HURTING. MILTON, AFTERMATH OF MILTON AND THE HURRICANE. YESTERDAY I WAS TALKING TO A WOMAN BEFORE MILTON OWNED A GOOD BUSINESS ON FOWLER. HAD IT FLOOD. HER HOME IN WESLEY CHAPEL IS FLOODED. SHE NO LONGER OWNS THAT BUSINESS AND NOW SHE IS WORKING WALMART AND SHE IS ABOUT TO LOSE HER HOUSE. PEOPLE ARE HURTING AFTER MILTON. YOU LOOK AT HOUSING IN THE COUNTY, WE ARE GETTING RID OF $10 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AGAIN, COSTS ARE GOING UP AND PUBLIC SOLUTIONS ARE TAKEN AWAY. I BELIEVE THAT WE HERE IN THE CITY OF TAMPA NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO RESPOND TO THAT ISSUE. ON NONPROFITS, I WOULD ALWAYS -- YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T SPEND, SPEND, SPEND, WE HAVE TO BE SENSIBLE AS WELL AS COM PASSIONATE. GOING AFTER THE SMALLER THINGS, THE JUICE IS NOT WORTH THE SQUEEZE, AND THE SQUEEZE CAN BE CRUEL, IT CAN BE ARBITRARY, AND HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON PEOPLE THAT NEED IT. I THINK WE SHOULD FIGHT FOR THAT. AGAIN THE JUICE FOR ME IS NOT WORTH THE SQUEEZE IN THAT REGARD. WE CAN RESPOND TO THE UGLY REALITIES THAT WE SEE AROUND US BY MAKING TARGETED INVESTMENTS IN PEOPLE. SOME OF THE FOLKS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TALKED ABOUT IT, AND I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR THAT. WE TALKED YOU HAVE HOUSING. ONE OF THE GREAT LEGACIES OF THIS CITY COUNCIL -- I DIDN'T LEAD THAT CHANGE. I AM NOT TAKING IT. BUT FOLLOWED FOLKS' LEAD ON SOME OF THIS. IS PUTTING HOUSING IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR CRAs. I WILL BE TALKING OF A SMALL PROJECT WE CAN DO FOR RETURNING CITIES FOR OUR FRIENDS AT THE PORTICO. INVESTMENT OF SECULAR ARM THAT WILL PAY YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING AND VETERANS AND NONPROFITS. I WILL BE ASKING QUESTIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT IS IN BUDGET. DISABILITIES. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE REPRESENTED IN OUR NONPROFITS. MAKING SURE WE FULLY FUND AND IMPLEMENT THE PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. MAKING SURE WE LOOK AT AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE CRA. COUNCIL CARSON'S DISTRICT, SOUTH TAMPA AND MY DISTRICT NEW AND NORTH TAMPA MAKING SURE THAT PARKSES HAVE MORE THAN ADEQUATE ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FOR A PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. TAKING A LOOK AT OUR TRUTHU YOUTH. OUR APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE WAS TAKEN AWAY WAY BY TALLAHASSEE FOR PREEMPTION. HOW CAN WE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WANT A PATHWAY. THE SKILL CENTER THAT COUNTY COMMISSIONER GWEN MYERS CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHEN IT TO HART, I WILL ASK FOR COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN THAT. I HAVEN'T HEARD OF THE PROPOSAL YET, BUT I AM SURE WE WILL FINDS A WAY TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT TAKEN AWAY THE COMMITMENT OF PEOPLE RIDING THE BUS. EVERY DAY VA, SENIOR CITIZENS, GOING TO DOCTOR HE IS APPOINTMENTS WORKING AT WALMART AND WALGREEN'S AND WENDY'S AND OTHER PLACES THAT START WITH W. AND WE HAVE GOT TO BE THERE FOR THEM 100%. AND PROGRAMS THAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH AND WITH CHIEF BENNETT FOR THE NONPROFITS ARE LARGELY REVENUE NEUTRAL. 85%. YOU WANT TO BE FISCALLY SOUND AND SUPPORT TAXPAYERS. I WILL TALK OF SOMETHING LATER ON AWAY FROM THIS WITH THE EYE BORE CITY MUSEUM. WHICH HAVE TO KEEP OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR GOOD FRIENDS AT THE YBOR CITY MUSEUM. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT. WE WILL GET INTO THE WEEDS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT THE PUBLIC IS TALKING ABOUT WHICH IS THE OVERALL NARRATIVE IS, DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON AND IT IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO LIVE IN FLORIDA ESPECIALLY SINCE COVID. COSTS ARE GOING UP, BUT PUBLIC SOLUTIONS TO HELP OUT THE EVERYDAY PEOPLE ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT, BY SOME IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HERE. AND WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN. CAN WE REMEDY EVERYTHING? ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT DAMN US IF WE DON'T TRY TO AT LEAST DO WHAT WE CAN. SO I WILL ASK THEM QUESTIONS, MR. CHAIRMAN, LATER ON IF I MAY. BUT I WANTED TO PROVIDE AN OVERALL PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU WILL, ON WHERE I AM COMING FROM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA. TO REMIND THAT YOU WE ARE IN THE WEED. THIS IS ROUND TWO -- I MEAN, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY IF WE GO -- >>LUIS VIERA: I WILL MAKE MOTIONS. I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW AND TAKE UP -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I JUST WANTED YOU TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE IN THE WEEDS. COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: JUST TO CLARIFY FOR A SECOND. SINCE THE FIRST TWO STATEMENTS, SHOULD I MAKE SOME STATEMENTS AND THEN ASK QUESTIONS? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IF THAT IS THE WILL OF COUNCIL DO THAT AND PLAN FOR FOR A ROUND THREE. >>BILL CARLSON: SOUNDS LIKE -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I MEAN WE WILL HAVE DIALOGUE. >>BILL CARLSON: I WILL JUST MAKE STATEMENTS. SEEMS LIKE WE ALL HAVE DETAILED QUESTIONS WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK. I WANT TO MAKE A FEW STATEMENTS. THE CITY -- THE CITY IS IN DEEP DEBT AND MORE DEBT THAN WE EVER HAD. AND IF WE BORROW $100, WE ARE PAYING $80 OR $90 OF INTEREST OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS. I DON'T THINK IT IS OKAY FOR OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS TO PUT THAT BURDEN ON THEM. THAT MEANS WE ARE TAKING A AWAY SERVICES IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE GOING SO DEEPLY IN DEBT. EVERY DOLLAR WE ARE SPENDING IS COMING OUT OF DEBT. EVEN IF NOT DR. ENTALLY COMING OUT OF DEBT, NOT PAYING SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS GOING TO COME OUT OF DEBT AND WE ARE MOVING MONEY AROUND AND GETTING IN DEBT. WE NEED TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND I WILL VOTE ON SOME THINGS TOMORROW THAT I AM IN FAVOR OF BUT I THINK WE NEED TO VOTE AGAINST BECAUSE IF YOU MAXED OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD AT YOUR HOUSE, YOU MIGHT NOT GO OUT TO EAT AS MUCH AND NOT GO ON VACATION AS MUCH. AND YOU MIGHT ONLY HAVE ONE CAR, SOMEBODY SAID. SOMEHOW, WE GOT TO DO LIKE FAMILY DO EVERY DAY AND START CUT AND TRIMMING THINGS. WE DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED MONEY. WE DON'T HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO SAVE AS NATHAN SAID. WE HAVEN'T FOUND THE HUGE SAVINGS, ALTHOUGH I HAVE GOT AREAS OF SUGGESTION. IN TERMS OF TRANSIT, I AM ON BOARD WITH TRANSIT AND EVERYONE ELSE. I WANT ROBUST TRANSIT SYSTEM. I REMEMBER HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE THEN MAYOR BACK IN THE '80s ABOUT TRANSIT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING AROUND IT FOR A LONG TIME. THERE WERE FOUR FAILED CAMPAIGNS IN TAMPA AND WE NEED NOT TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE AND RUN THOSE CAMPAIGNS. TRANSIT NOW WITH LITTLE OR NO MONEY IS RUNNING A CAMPAIGN TO -- TO GET HART'S BUDGET INCREASED. I THINK FOR RIGHT NOW, IF WE HAD THE CHOICES ARE, THAT IS THE BETTER CHOICE. AS I RECALL, IT HAS TO GO BEFORE COUNTY, THEN BACK HERE AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND GOES TO THE VOTERS. YOU GO TO THE SALES TAX THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE, TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND ALSO TO THE VOTERS. THE DISADVANTAGE IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE CORE PRECEDENCE, A SALES TAX, AFTER SOMEBODY MAKES $4 MILLION PROMOTING IT, IT IS GOING TO BE SIPHONED THROUGH THE COUNTY. AND MAYBE THE CITIES AND NOT ALL THE MONEY WILL GO TO TRANSIT. BECAUSE OF HART, 100% INTO TRANSIT. THERE ARE NOT PERFECT CHOICE BUS TRANSIT NOW SHOWING A GRASS-ROOTS EFFORT AND NO MONEY WHAT THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITIES CAN DO. GETTING THE HART BOARD WITH SOME DeSANTIS APPOINTEES TO VOTE YES IS A PRETTY BIG LIFT AND THANK YOU FOR INTO. OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION ROUTE 1 I VOTED AGAINST IT LAST YEAR. IF THE PRICE IS THE SAME, I WILL VOTE FOR IT THIS YEAR. MAINLY TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES ON IT. I DON'T AGREE WITH THE CITY FUNDING TRANSIT. I THINK IT SHOULD BE AT HART. SYSTEMIC INSTEAD OF A PATCHWORK SOLUTION. THE THING I WOULD PROBABLY SUGGEST US TO AS -- WE DON'T -- I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CONTROL -- SORRY TRANSIT NOW CAN'T JUMP BACK UP RIGHT NOW. BUT HAVING THE FREE BUS FARE DEFINITELY HELPED WITH RIDERSHIP. OTHER THING YOU ALL PROMOTE IT HEAVILY AND YOU CREATED LOGO. YOU DID EVENTS. ALL THAT STUFF THAT YOU SHOWED. YOU PROBABLY PUT IN $100,000 WORTH OF PRO BONO PROMOTION FOR THAT ROUTE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- YOU ARE NOT ALLOW TO SHOW SIGNS -- WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN INSTEAD OF FUNDING A FREE FARE FOR ANOTHER ROUTE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE GAVE TRANSIT NOW $10,000 AND SAID GO OUT AND PROMOTE ANOTHER ROUTE AND COMPARE THE TWO AND SEE WHAT THE RIDERSHIP -- I DON'T KNOW WHO IS DOING THE MARKETING, IF YOU WENT OUT AND PRO PALO ALTOED ANOTHER ROUTE THE SAME WAY YOU ARE BRO MEETING THIS, THE RIDERSHIP WILL GO UP DRAMATICALLY AS WELL. PEOPLE TALKING OF PARKS, EAST TAMPA. THE PARKS ARE FALLING APART. WE HAVE TO PUT MORE MONEY IN PARKS. FIX THE ROADS. PEOPLE ARE MOVING OUT OF THE CITY BECAUSE THE ROADS AND THE PARKS ARE NOT FIXED. AND PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF FLOODING. DESPITE THE WEATHER THAT THE MAYOR SENT POINTING FINGERS. AS YOU SEE FROM PAM, EXTENSIVE RESEARCH FROM THE COMMUNITY AND MAINTENANCE IS NOT DONE. THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING IT AND WILL TAKE SEVEN YEARS, BUT WE KNOW FOR SURE IN MANY AREAS, MAINTENANCE HAS NOT BEEN DONE FOR MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS SINCE IT WAS PROMISE IT WOULD BE DONE. WE GOT TO BE ON WEST THE PUBLIC WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT. THE BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT FEES. AND THERE IS NO APPETITE IN THE COMMUNITY TO RAISE AD VALOREM TAXES. I DON'T THINK THAT A SALES TAX WILL PASS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF FEES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN RAISED IN YEARS. THE LEGISLATURE HAVE SOME LIMITS OF WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO DIRECT THE BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT AGAIN. THE POINT IS THAT WE HAVE -- IT IS NOT SO WE CAN RAISE RATES, IT IS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF WHATEVER THE SERVICE IS. IF A SERVICE COSTS THE CITY $100, UNLESS SOMEBODY NEEDS A SUBSIDY BECAUSE OF THEIR INCOME LEVEL, IT SHOULD BE $100. IT IS NOT FAIR THAT THE REST OF US THROUGH -- THROUGH OUR PROPERTY TAXES SUBSIDIZING THOSE SERVICES. WE SHOULD BE CHARGING A FAIR RATE. I WILL HOLD THERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT AND FEEDBACK. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I ALSO DID NOT VOTE FOR THE ROUTE 1. REASON FOR ME IS SIMPLE AND A LOT POOH OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY. I WILL TRY TO EXPRESS IT. IF YOU HAVE A ROUTE THAT HAS AS HIGH RIDERSHIP. WHY FUND THAT WITH ROUTES WITH LITTLE OR NO RIDERSHIP AND ENDORSE IT. YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. I RODE A BUS FROM THE DAY I WAS BORN TO WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD. BUS 3 AND 4. IT WAS CALLED TAMPA TRANSIT. CONDUCTED BY A GENTLEMAN NAMED HARRY ORR, THE HEAD OF THE BUS SYSTEM IN THE CITY OF TAMPA. DEPOT ON CLEVELAND STREET THE BUSES WHERE THEY WOULD GO AND GET REFURBISHED AND CLEANED OUT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HART IS DOING AND HAS DONE. I NEVER SERVED ON HARTLINE. BUT I TELL YOU ONE THING, IT IS AS HARD BUSINESS TO RUN. BUSES WHY TO DARK THAT YOU CAN'T SEE IN. SOME OF THEM ARE, AND SOME ARE NOT. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE USES ARE ALL THE SAME SIZE AND THE ROUTES ARE ALL DIFFERENT, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT. AND BUS LINE IS VERY DIFFERENT, BUT THE SAME THING AS ANY OTHER BUSINESS. YOU GO TO A RESTAURANT TO EAT THE FIRST TIME, AND YOU SIT DOWN, AND YOU LIKE THE PLACE, BUT ONLY TWO OR THREE INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF IN THERE HAVING DINNER. YOU ARE LIKE, WHAT AM I DOING HERE. THAT IS THE THING THAT THE BUSESES HAVE TO SAY YOU GET A LINE AND OUTSIDE WAITING. FOR WHAT? WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE BUS STATIONS WHERE YOU CAN SIT OUTSIDE IN THE SUN. YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, OUTSIDE? THAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS. NO COMPETING AS A BUS DRIVER NOW. IN THE OLD DAYS, IT WAS SOMETHING. BECAUSE USED TO GO TO YOUR HOUSE AND INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH THEY DON'T DO NOW. WHEN YOU LOOK AT BUS 3 AND 4, WENT RIGHT INTO THE HOUSING PROJECTS. WHY? BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO RIDE THE BUS -- OR VERY LITTLE MONEY TO BUY THE BUS. THAT BUS WAS ALWAYS PACK. WHY ARE THE BUSES ALL THE SAME SIZE IN TAMPA? I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE THEY ARE NOT. BUT THE ONES I SEE ARE ALL THE SAME SIZE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE BUILD THE RIDERSHIP BY BEING IN THE BUS AND SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE ARE IS GOOD. THIS IS WONDERFUL. BUT NOW THE BUS LINE WHAT HAPPENED IN PAST IS THERE IS NO TRAFFIC OR THE SAME AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC IN THE '50s NOT IN THE YEAR OF 2025. BECAUSE STREETS CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE CARS. YOU NEED A DIFFERENT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION LIKE RAIL. AND IT AIN'T GOING TO BE IN THE STREETS. IT HAS TO BE LIGHT RAIL. BECAUSE A BOARD -- THE ONLY ONE I CAN SEE AND SOME OF WAS MENTION HERE. THE AIRPORT HAS AS SYSTEM THAT IS IMPLEMENTED IN THE CITY OF TAMPA WOULD BE WITH THE IDEA IDEAL THING TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION. BUSES ARE GREAT. BUSES CAME IN BECAUSE GENERAL MOTORS TOLD THE REST OF THE WORLD BACK IN THE EARLY -- LATE '40s AND '50s. THE STREETCAR IS NO GOOD ANYMORE, GET RID OF THE STREETCARS. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID, THEY DID. MID-60s TOOK THE RAIL OFF. SPENDING MONEY TO HAVE STUDY DO BE. STREETCARS IN TAMPA. YOU DON'T MHA, LOOK IT UP FROM BALLAST POINT TO LINEBAUGH AND FLORIDA AVENUE. YBOR CITY, DOWNTOWN, EVERYWHERE A SYSTEM THAT WENT AND TWO SYSTEMS, A BUS LINE AND A RAIL. AND THAT IS GONE. RAIL IS GONE. FIRST RAIL THAT WE PUT COST $11 MILLION, I THINK, FOR THE STREETCAR, IF I REMEMBER, UNDER THE GRECO ADMINISTRATION. JUST TO DO A STUDY. THE NEXT LINE, JUST FOR THE STUDY IS $6 MILLION. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT IS I NEEDED. HOW IT IS FUNDED, I DON'T KNOW. BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, I REALLY BELIEVE THE PEOPLE WILL COME BACK TO THE BUSES IF YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO WHILE THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE BUS AND SOMEWHERE TO HAVE AN INVITATION WHERE YOU DON'T RAIN ON YOU. THE WEATHER YOU CAN'T DEPEND ON. YOU ARE IN FLORIDA. LET'S FACE IT. IT WILL EITHER BE VERY HOT FOR YOU OR VERY COLD. ONE OF THE TWO. COLD HERE IS DAMPER THAN SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU HAVE ALL THESE THINGS WORKING AGAINST YOU. YOU HAVE TO REALIZE WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND HOW YOU ARE DOING IT. I AM NOT ANTICS PERT IN TRANSPORTATION. I JUST RODE -- NOT AN EXPERT IN TRANSPORTATION. I JUST IT FOR A LONG I'M. I CAN'T FIX EVERYTHING. THIS WORLD. I WILL SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I SEE THAT THE RIDERSHIP WENT UP AND I WANT TO SEE IT EXPANDED IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY, NOT JUST ONE LINE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. WOW. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU THOUGHT WOULD YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THIS, DID YOU? >>LYNN HURTAK: SORT OF. BUT I AM JUST -- FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY. I DID NOT EXPECT THIS TYPE OUTPOURING. BUT A SUCCESSFUL PIE HOSPITAL AND HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL ENDEAVOR. WE HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED OUR -- OR RATHER, WE HAVE MORE -- WE HAVE GOTTEN MORE THAN 50% RIDERSHIP. ALMOST DOUBLED IT. WHEN RIDER -- WHEN THIS ENTIRE PILOT STARTED IN DECEMBER -- RATHER THE MONTH BEFORE DECEMBER, 3,000 PEOPLE A DAY WERE RIDING A BUS. SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, BUT NOW IT IS -- AVERAGES AROUND 5200. 5200. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: JUST ROUTE 1. >>LYNN HURTAK: JUST ROUTE 1. THANK YOU FOR ASKING. ROUTE 1. AND THIS PILOT PROGRAM -- I DO WANT TO THANK TRANSIT NOW. BAY AND HART FOR -- FOR REALLY PUTTING OUT A LOT OF THINGS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE IT. SOME FOLKS WITH TRANSIT NOW WENT TO EVERY BUSINESS ALONG THE LINE AND TRIED TO GET FOLKS TO OFFER A DISCOUNT. THEY DID THIS VERY COOL THING WHERE YOU GO TO A BUSINESS, AND YOU HAVE TO YOU WRITE A REVIEW, LIKE A GOOGLE REVIEW WHERE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, I TOOK -- I AM SO GLAD THIS BUSINESS IS BUS-FRIENDLY OR I LOVE THIS PLACE. I TAKE THE BUS TO GET TO IT. YOU SHOW THE REVIEW AND THEY GIVE YOU SOMETHING. LIKE AT SHUFFALO, A FREE PINT OF BEER. A PRETTY GOOD DEAL. 10% OFF IN DIFFERENT PLACES. SOME FOLKS REALLY CAME TOGETHER TO FIND A WAY. AND ULTIMATELY I THINK WHAT WE HEARD IS THAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT ANOTHER WAY TO GET AROUND THE CITY. WE HAVE HEARD THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. OPINION THREE THINGS PEOPLE WANT ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING, AND TRANSIT. I THINK ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS BUDGET IS TIGHT ENOUGH THIS YEAR THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE THE EXTRA FUNDING THAT WE HAD FOR HOUSING. THIS BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. UNFORTUNATELY, WHILE I THINK THE DESIRE FOR MORE FREE -- MORE ROUTES WHEN REALLY LOOKING AT THE CONSTRAINTS WE HAD, AS WE TALKED OF THIS BUDGET SEASON, I DID HAVE HIGH HOPES TO EXPAND AND DO MORE. BUT -- AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED. WENT TO THE REGIONAL ACCELERATOR KICKOFF. FOR THOSE OF HOW DON'T KNOW OF THE REGIONAL ACCELERATOR. A PROGRAM THAT THE CITY WON A GRANT FOR. AND BASICALLY -- A $1 MILLION GRANT. WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS LOOKING AT OUR LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANS BETWEEN US, AS A CITY -- RATHER HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PTO, PASCO'S TPO, PINELLAS'S TPO. SAYING WHAT ARE THE PROJECTS READY TO GO. PROJECTS THAT WE CAN FUND AND HELP YOU GET CHEAP FUNDING FOR. EITHER LOW OR NO INCOME OR LOW OR NO INTEREST RATE LOANS. HELP ME. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: TIED TO THE T BONDS. >>LYNN HURTAK: TIED TO T BONDS WHICH I AM STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. WHAT I REALIZE THAT ROUTE 1 OR THE BRT, AS IT COULD BE KNOWN, AND PART OF THE REASON FOR THIS PILOT IS WHY THAT PROJECT IS ALMOST SHOVEL-READY. IN FDOT HAS DONE ALL THE STUDIES. ALL THIS STUFF HAS BEEN DONE. TO CONTINUE ON BE WITH THAT WILL HELP THE FUNDING. SO I AM -- THAT -- THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED TO FOCUS ON THIS. I COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE OF SPECIFICS LATER, UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO DO IT NOW. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GO AHEAD. YOU ARE ON A ROLL. YOU ARE TALKING TRANSIT. MY LOVE LANGUAGE. >>LYNN HURTAK: THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN FUND. I TALKED TO CHIEF OF STAFF OF FINDING NEXT YEAR A DEDICATED FUNDING FOR THE STREETCAR SO WE CAN NOT HAVE TO SEARCH FOR IT. SO I WILL BE WORKING ON THAT NEXT YEAR WITH HIM AND MAYBE YOU MIGHT BE WORKING WITH THAT ON A DIFFERENT LANE. I CAN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT I AM SURE DO YOU. BUT -- YOU DO. LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE HAVE AND WHAT WE CAN DO WITH ITS TO HELP ROUTE 1, I THINK THE FIRST WAS TO MAINTAIN THE SERVICE THAT WE HAVE WHICH IS 15-MINUTE WEEKDAY SERVICE FROM 6 A.M. TO 6 P.M. THE SECOND -- ONE OF THE THIS I THINK SO WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC WAS, BUSES ARE REALLY CROWDED IN THE WEEKENDS. SO WE WANTED TO -- RIGHT NOW IT IS EVERY 30 MINUTES. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT EXPANDING THE FREQUENCY ON THE WEEKEND FROM 6 A.M. TO 6 P.M. TO EVERY 20 MINUTES TO STILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET AROUND A BIT MORE. RIDERSHIP ON THE WEEKENDS HAVE DRASTICALLY INCREASED. ALMOST ONE OF THEM DOUBLED. SOME ACTUALLY DOUBLED IN RIDERSHIP ALREADY. 93%. ALMOST DOUBLED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: PICK UP THE REST IN THE NEXT ROUND. >>LYNN HURTAK: SURE, THAT IS WHY I ASKED IF YOU WANTED ME TO CONTINUE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE THAT FAR INTO YOUR TIME. COUPLE OF THINGS. TRANSIT TRANSIT TRANSIT TRANSIT. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO WRONG. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THE CITY WILL ARGUING THAT TRANSIT IS NOT PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT. I AM VERY COGNIZANT THAT COUNCILMAN CARLSON BROUGHT UP LAST YEAR, THE TAXES WE PAY THROUGH THE COUNTY, HART, CITY TAXES AS WELL AS THE COUNTY TAXES. YOU HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF IT. BUT OBVIOUSLY WE ARE CAUGHT IN A NO-WIN SITUATION WITH THE -- THE WAY THESE THINGS ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE AND THROUGH THE COUNTY. SOMETIMES WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PUSH AND SUCK IT UP. ACCELERATING GRANT. TWO PEOPLE WORKING ON IT. TWO STAFF THAT WE HAVE. FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE PESSIMISTIC OF TRANSIT. WE ARE AT THE THRESHOLD OF SOMETHING GREAT. SOMETHING THAT THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION STARTED. BIDEN ADMINISTRATION STARTED AND THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS CONTINUING. THIS IS GOOD FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA. LOOK AT LARGER SCALE -- LOOKING A THE THINGS AT A MUCH LARGER SCALE AND ECONOMY OF SCALE WITH DEVELOPING TRANSIT SYSTEM. PARENT TO DOWNTOWN. MAKE THE BRT AS COUNCILMAN CARLSON SAID. WE ARE AT THE THRESHOLD. WE WILL START SEEING SOMETHING IF WE CONTINUE ON BE THIS PROCESS. I COMMEND COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK AND THIS KIND LAST YEAR DOING WHAT WE DID WITH ROUROUTE. I SPOKE ABOUT IT LAST YEAR IT WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM AND A CATALYST TO THESE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS. IT IS VERY EXCITING. YOU TALK OF FREQUENCY, GOES HAND IN HAND WITH EVERYTHING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA JUST SPOKE ABOUT THIS ALLEGEs AS PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO STAND OUT AND BE WHO THE AND COILED, YOU HAVE TO HAVE FREQUENCY OF SERVICE. WE OF THAT ROUTE 30 DOWN KENNEDY BOULEVARD. WHAT WILL AN HOUR DO FOR EVERYBODY. HART LISTENING -- CONSOLIDATE YOUR DAMN SERVICE AND BRING IT INTO THE CITY OF TAMPA. WE WANT TRANSIT. I KNOW, BUT WE WANT TRANSIT IN THE CITY OF TAMPA. COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA, WE WANT TRANSIT IN THE CITY OF TAMPA. WE WANT TRANSIT. I WILL LEAVE IT THERE AND SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR HEART AND YOU WILL COVER TRANSIT AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION OF STAFF. PUBLIC COMMENT DISCUSSION OF "OTHER." WE HAD A LOT CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT IN "OTHER" IN THE NONDEPARTMENT DEPARTMENTSAL LINE. MR. ROGERO OR MR. PERRY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS, THE "OTHER" AND NONDEPARTMENTAL FOR THE FOLKS. >>DENNIS ROGERO: HELLO, COUNCIL, DENNIS ROCKS,GERO, CHIEFFAL OFFICER. I WILL SAY "OTHER" FIRST. FORMATS. AND THEY COALESCE AND COMPILE A NUMBER. DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS UNDER THE TERM "OTHER." DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY THE STATE ACCOUNT CODES; HOWEVER, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE LOOKING IN THE BUDGET, WE BREAK THAT DOWN LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM. SO IT IS A COMPLEX PROJECT. OF COURSE IT IS $2 BILLION. SO IF YOU GO INTO THE -- YOU KNOW, THE WEB SITE AND YOU LOOK HERE OR A, YOU ARE GOING TO GET "OTHER." YOU LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU WILL SEE IT ITEMIZED BY LINE ITEM. NOW WE ARE HAPPY TO IDENTIFY ALL OF THE LINE ITEMS. INDEED, WE PRINTED OUT -- WE HAVE A HARD COPY OF ALL THE LINE ITEMS. IF THERE ARE ACCOUNT CODES IDENTIFIED AS "OTHER" AT THE LINE ITEM DETAIL LEVEL, THAT IS AS DETAILED AS IT GETS, BUT THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT SUMMARIES BASED AND WHERE THE VIEWER IS LOOKING AT THE BUDGET. I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND CONVOLUTE, BUT, AGAIN, IT IS A COMPLICATED AND COMPLEX BUDGET. WELL, THAT IS PART OF THE REASON WE ARE HERE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I THINK ONE COUNTRY COMMENTS THAT WAS MADE -- BECAUSE WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BASE AND MY OBSERVATIONS, BUT I WANTED TO BRING IT UP TO THE SUNSHINE SO PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND. BECAUSE THE WAY EXPLAINED -- WHEN YOU BROKE THAT "OTHER" OUT AND OTHER ITEM IN THE BUDGET IT PERTAINS TO. ONLINE IF YOU CLICK DOWN, IT IS NOT HIDDEN. IT IS ALL TRANSPARENT AND BREAK DOWN INTO LOWER TREES, CORRECT? >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: FOR THE PUBLIC. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK -- >>DENNIS ROGERO: IF YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE. >>LYNN HURTAK: IT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE DO YOU GET TO THESE VERY BIG NUMBERS. >>DENNIS ROGERO: IT IS. >>LYNN HURTAK: MY UNDER UNDERSTANDING IT MOVES PLACES AND WHERE DOES IT MOVE. THAT IS A COMPLICATION. >>DENNIS ROGERO: AGREED. >>LYNN HURTAK: A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND AND I AM STILL WORKING ON IT. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES, MA'AM. WE ARE HAPPY TOE CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT WITH YOU. NOBODY WANTS TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT THAN WE DO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT IS CONVOLUTED. I SAT ON THE PHONE AND TALKED IT WAS CLEAR. AND WHEN I HANG UP THE PHONE AND TRY TO FIND SAME THINGS, IT IS I BELIEVE POSSIBLE. DIFFICULT AND HARD TO FIND. >>DENNIS ROGERO: WELL SAID. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NONDEPARTMENTAL. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT, PLEASE. >>DENNIS ROGERO: NONDEPARTMENTAL WEAR AS NUMBER OF DIFFERENT HATS. FIRST, IT IS, WITH WE PLACE SUPPORT FOR MONDAY PROFITS, SOCIAL ACTION FUNDS, WHAT WE TALKED. SUPPORT OUR ASSETS AQUARIUM AND THE ZOO, ETC., ETC., ALSO A CLEARINGHOUSE OF MOVING OF FUNDING WITHIN DIFFERENT FUNDS IN THE CITY. THAT'S WHY IT HAS SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH IT. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, YOU GO THE TO HAVE THIS -- SPEAKING OF TRANSPORTATION, YOU GOT TO HAVE THIS TRANSPORTATION HUB WHEN YOU ARE MOVING FUNDING AMONG DIFFERENT FUNDS. AND THAT IS PART OF THE FUNCTION THAT NONDEPARTMENTAL SERVES. AGAIN, IT CAN BE A LITTLE COMPLICATED. AND IT IS NOT INTENTIONALLY DECEPTIVE, BUT SOMETIMES UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, YOU CAN GET LOST IN THAT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: OKAY. FOR THE CIP, MR. MICHELINI ASKED ABOUT THE SOUTH HOWARD FLOOD PROJECT. ENSURING THAT WHEN -- IF THIS BUDGET WAS TO BE PASSED TODAY AS IT IS BY COUNCIL, WHAT WOULD BE AUTHORIZED FOR THE SOUTH HOWARD FLOOD PROJECT. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I AM GOING FROM MEMORY AND I WILL DEFER -- IF I AM WRONG I WILL REFER TO CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION. BUT WE HAD AN AMOUNT APPR APPROPRIATED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK HAS SOMETHING HERE. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I AM SORRY. >>LYNN HURTAK: ACCORDING TO THE BUDGET BOOK, RIGHT NOW BUDGET TO DATE IS $25.6 MILLION. $1.2 HAS BEEN SPENT AND THIS BUDGET YEAR $3. 6 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I WAS GOING TO SAY THREE PLUS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: TO COMPLETE THE BUDGET, WOULD REQUIRE ANOTHER APPLICATION BY COUNCIL. >>DENNIS ROGERO: IT WOULD BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THE CAVEAT. I DON'T HAVE DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT CONTRACTS THAT COUNCIL ALREADY APPROVED ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT. I DON'T WANT TO SAY MISLEAD YOU THAT NOTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE WITHOUT OUR ACTION. I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENT IF YOU PURSUED ANY COURSE OF ACTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I BELIEVE MISS DUNCAN HAS CLARIFICATION. >>LYNN HURTAK: SOUTH HOWARD FLOOD RELIEF AND STREETSCAPE. TOTAL IS $29.2 MILLION. >>JEAN DUNCAN: GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND COUNCIL. JEAN DUNCAN, ADMINISTRATOR FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND MOBILITY. THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE SOUTH HOWARD FLOOD PROJECT WOULD BE PROBABLY IN ABOUT A MONTH OR SO. WE WILL BE BRINGING THE FIRST OF TWO GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE GMP CONTRACTS TO YOU. UNTIL THOSE TWO CONTRACTS ARE APPROVED, AND IT WILL BE DONE SEPARATELY, OTHER THAN WHAT YOU SEE IN YOUR BUDGET, NO OTHER ACTION THAN WHAT IS GOING ON CURRENTLY WITH THE DESIGN THAT WOULD BE AUTHORIZED WITH THIS BUDGET APPROVAL. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, MA'AM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: MISS DUNCAN, WHAT IS THE GMP YOU WILL BE BRINGING TO US? >>JEAN DUNCAN: EARLY WORKS GMP WHICH IS WATER LINE WORK AND SIDE STREET PAVING THAT WILL PROCEED THE BIGGER TRUNK LINE PROJECT. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. AND WHAT DO YOU SORRY TO PUT YOU ON A SPOT. DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH MONEY? >>JEAN DUNCAN: WE DON'T HAVE THE GMP SUBMITTED YET. MY GUESS IT WILL BE UNDER $20 MILLION, JUST A BALLPARK TO GIVE YOU, BUT WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT NUMBER YET. >>LYNN HURTAK: WOW, THAT IS A LOT FOR JUST WATER AND PAVING. OH, MY GOODNESS. OKAY, THANK YOU. >>JEAN DUNCAN: THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MY NEXT QUESTION FOR MISS FEELEY. ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MISS DUNCAN OR MR. ROGERO WHILE THEY ARE UP HERE? >>BILL CARLSON: I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ALL REFERENCE TO THE SOUTH HOWARD PROCESS OUT. CAN I ASK A PROCESS QUESTION. WE HAVE A LOT OF STAFF IN THE AUDIENCE AND WE HAVE THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE FIRE CHIEF. IS IT -- WOULD IT BE PRUDENT TO LET SOME OF THE STAFF GO IF WE DON'T THINK WE WILL GO INTO THEIR BUDGETS OR HOLD ALL OF THEM THE WHOLE NIGHT? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I AM RELUCTANT TO AT LEAST THIS ROUND. WE CAN DO ONE MORE ROUND. BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS WILL PROVOKE QUESTIONS. LET'S DO ONE MORE ROUND BEFORE WE MAKE THAT DECISION. MISS FEELEY. AND REFERENCE TO A QUESTION MADE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT OF THE OPERATING EXPENDITURES OUT OF -- THIS ESCAPED ME, FUND OUT OF THE BUILDING -- OF THE REDUCTION IN THE OPERATING EXPENSES. YOU REMEMBER WHAT I AM REFERRING TO? >>ABBYE FEELEY: I ACTUALLY THIS THAT PART OF THE BUDGET, AND IT DOES NOT SHOW A REDUCTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: OKAY. I WASN'T AWARE OF ANY EITHER. >>ABBYE FEELEY: YEAH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU DON'T SHOW -- WE WILL TAKE AN IOU ON THAT. >>ABBYE FEELEY: OKAY. THE OTHER ON CONTRACTUAL FOR TCC, THAT IS THEIR SECURITY AND JANITORIAL SERVICES. I THINK THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN PUBLIC COMMENT ALSO, THE 4 $4.1 MILLION. $3.1 MILLION FOR JANITORIAL AND $1 MILLION FOR THE SECURITY AT TCC. TCC GENERATES REVENUE BUT THAT IS JUST A STATEMENT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. IN REFERENCE FOR THE CITY STAFF HERE TODAY AND I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCIL FEELS THIS WAY. A LOT OF THINGS BROUGHT UP FOR COUNCIL AND THINGS BROUGHT UP BY THE PUBLIC FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IF ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS, IF YOU SOMEHOW GET MY ATTENTION, I WILL BE HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE YOU TO SPEAK TO ADDRESS THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP BY THE PUBLIC. I THINK THAT WOULD BE ADEQUATE. ANYBODY IN OUR CITY STAFF THAT FEELS LIKE THEY NEED TO ADDRESS SOMETHING FOR PUBLIC COM COMMENT THUS FAR? VERY GOOD. HEARING NOTHING. COUNCILMAN CARLSON. ANYTHING ELSE? >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: LET'S GO AGAIN. COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: MR. ROGERO. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES, SIR, DENNIS ROGERO, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. >>BILL CARLSON: I AM NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT EITHER. AND HOPE I DON'T KEEP REPEATING THAT. SOME QUESTIONS WE HAVE ANSWERS AND SOME WE DON'T. IN THE SUMMARIES OF THE BUDGET, IT SHOWS CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION. I FORGOT THE EXACT NUMBER. $12 MILLION OR SOMETHING IN COST BUT NO REVENUES. IS IT NOT -- IS IT NOT POSSIBLE -- MAYBE I MISSED IS SOMEWHERE ELSE. IS IT NOT POSSIBLE TO CHARGE OUT PART OF CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS SINCE THEY ARE PRIMARILY SERVICING THEM? >>DENNIS ROGERO: EXCELLENT QUESTION AND ABSOLUTELY. WE DO -- OUR COSTAL OCCASION PLAN AND TO -- IF I CAN BACK UP, COSTAL OCCASION PLAN IS OUR METH THOFD -- IS DOING WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KABULSON DESCRIBED OF CHARGING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FOR NONGOVERNMENT EXPENSES. I AM THE PERFECT EXAMPLE. I SERVE ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY AND WE CONTRACT WITH A THIRD PART. MAXIMUS. VERY CAPABLE. VERY GOOD REPUTATION AND THEY PROVIDE A VERY, VERY DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE WORK THAT THE REVENUE AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS DOING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE WATER DEPARTMENT. >>BILL CARLSON: I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD ESPECIALLY IN THOSE SUMMARIES TO SHOW WHAT THE OFFSET IS, IF POSSIBLE. DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA -- AGAIN, I AM NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT BUT CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA WHAT PERCENTAGE WE WOULD RECOVER OUT OF THE -- OUT OF THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS? I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BURDEN TO THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE IF WE CAN ALLOCATE MORE COST TO, WE FREE UP MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND SIDE. >>DENNIS ROGERO: UNDERSTOOD AND THE PRIMARY MECHANISMS TO VERY CUTE THOSE COSTS. I DON'T HAVE IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD AND WE CAN PROVIDE IT. I THINK IT IS USEFUL INFORMATION. ONE CAVEAT, BECAUSE THE ANALYSIS IS SO EXPENSIVE AND WE DON'T WANT TO GET ON THE WRONG SAY SAID OF THE BOND COVENANTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. MAXIMUS IS DONE BASED ON ACTUAL. A YEAR OR TWO LAG. BUT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT OFFSET. >>BILL CARLSON: YEAH, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW -- CONTRACT AED IN LOGISTICS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT WHICH IS A PARTICULARLY BIG ONE. HELPFUL TO KNOW MAYBE IN LAST THREE YEARS OR SOMETHING WHAT PERCENTAGE OF IT WAS COVERED BY EACH ENTERPRISE FUND. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WAS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BURDEN IS ON THE GENERAL FUND. BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT MOSTLY SHOULD BE COVERED BY ENTERPRISE FUNDS RIGHT? >>DENNIS ROGERO: I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. THE PORTION OF WORK THE CONSULTANT DECIDES -- >>BILL CARLSON: SAME THING FOR TNI. ON THE REVENUE SHEETS DON'T SHOW THE TNI. FORGOT WHAT THE COSTS ARE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE IS OFFSIT BY THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS? >>DENNIS ROGERO: I WILL PROVIDE THAT THAT TO YOU WITH THE COSTAL OCCASION PLAN. BOTH THOSE AGENCIES ARE PRIMARILY GENERALLY FUNDED WHICH IS WHY WE COSTAL KATE OUT. >>BILL CARLSON: IN THE CORPORATE WORLD A HOLDING COMPANY YOU CHARGE BACK TO EACH OF THE BUSINESS UNITS AND MAKE SENSE TO DO THAT. I WILL ASK YOU AS YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT, ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COST RECOVERY WE CAN DO IN ANY OF THESE. KNOWING THAT TNI WILL HAVE A LOWER PERCENTAGE OF RECOVERY THAN CONTRACTED A IN ADMINISTRATION. I THINK CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION IS ON ENTERPRISE FUNDS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHIEF OF STAFF OFFICE, THERE ARE REVENUE PIPS COULDN'T GO INTO THE DEBT WHERE THAT IS COMING FROM. MAYOR DIDN'T HAVE ANY. I DON'T KNOW -- MAYBE THE SAME THING FOR CITY COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS COST RECOVERY ON ANY OF THAT TAMPA IT WILL BE GOOD TO HAVE A HARD EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE -- -- IF YOU DON'T CALL IT REVENUES, WHAT THE COST RECOVERY IS IN EACH OF THOSE. AS A CHIEF OF STAFF YOU HAVE COST RECOVERY AND THE OTHER TWO, YOU DON'T. >>DENNIS ROGERO: WE CAN PROVIDE AN ITEMATION IN A TWO TO THREE-YEAR HISTORY. >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU. I MENTIONED THE FEES BEFORE. MAYBE WE CAN MAKE A MOTION AT THE END. ASKED FOR BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION ON FEES KNOWING THAT LEGISLATURE LIMITS IT. MAYBE WE CAN GET INTO SPECIFICS. -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN CARLSON, I THINK COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK HAS SOMETHING. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOBILITY FEE DOCTORS COME BACK TO US. TRYING TO GET IT FOR THE SEPTEMBER WORKSHOP. KIND OF TRICKY. TRYING TO GET THAT IN BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL -- SORRY, CALENDAR YEAR. THAT ALREADY HAS BEEN PLANNED. NEXT WEEK -- NOT NEXT WEEK'S WORKSHOP BUT THE END OF SEPTEMBER'S WORKSHOP. A COUPLE THINGS WE NEED TO DO BEFORE FEES. I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND COASTAL AREA ACTION PLAN AND I THINK ANOTHER ONE. THEY ARE SLOWLY WORKING ON IT. BUT WE DID TASK THE BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT IT LAST YEAR. WE JUST NEED TO GET THEM TO DIG A LITTLE HARDER. FOCUS A LITTLE HARDER THIS YEAR. >>BILL CARLSON: ARE THERE 600 OF THEM OR SOMETHING? I FORGOT THE NUMBER. IF THERE IS A WAY -- AGAIN, WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO TRY TO JUST CHARGE PEOPLE. WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO MAKE A PROFIT OR SURPLUS. WE ARE JUST LOOKING TO DO COST RECOVERY. IF A SERVICE ACTUALLY COSTS SOMETHING, WE MIGHT HAVE PEOPLE BELOW A CERTAIN INCOME LEVEL HAVE FREE OR REDUCED SERVICES. FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, SHOULD BE CHARGING WHATEVER THE FEE -- OR THE COST IS. IF MANY HAVEN'T -- IF IT IS TRUE MANY HAVEN'T BEEN RAISED IN 20 OR 30 YEARS, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT. ALSO, WASTEWATER. IT WAS -- EITHER THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR HAD A NEGATIVE NUMBER LIKE $230 MILLION. DOES THAT MEAN THAT IS GOING INTO DEBT? OR WHAT -- DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE TOTAL IS RIGHT NOW ON THE -- ON THE -- ON THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND IN PARTICULAR, WASTEWATER. DOES THAT INDICATE THAT THE WASTEWATER FEE IS TOO LOW AND WE ARE NOT RECOVERING THE COST? OR IS THAT A ONE-TIME CAPITAL IMEXPENDITURE CHARGED AGAINST THAT. >> I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE NUMBER YOU ARE REFERENCING. LAP IS THAT FROM, SIR? >>BILL CARLSON: SUMMARY PAGE OF THE REVENUES VERSUS COSTS. I DON'T HAVE THE CHART IN FRONT OF ME. I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS LAST YEAR OR THIS YEAR, MINUS 230 NUMBER. >>BILL CARLSON: MIKE, DO YOU SEE IT ON THERE? SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE OPENED MY LAPTOP. I AM TRYING TO PAY ATTENTION INSTEAD OF PLAY ON MY COMPUTER. BUT ANYWAY, IT PROBABLY DOESN'T MEAN WE LOST $230 MILLION. PROBABLY AN ACCOUNTING APPLICATION FOR -- FOR CAPITAL EXPENSES. BUT I THINK IF WE CAN TRACK THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND SEE WHERE WE ARE IN THEM AND WHAT -- WHETHER WE ARE COVERING COST. I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH FED THE OTHER DAY. MAYBE YOU ALL DID AS WELL. BECAUSE WE RAIDED THE PARKING SURPLUS A COUPLE TIMES AND HE APPEALED TO ME AND PROBABLY MY COLLEAGUES THAT HE HAS CAPITAL EXPENSES TO PAIN IN TAINE THE PARKING STRUCTURES. WE NEED TO KNOW THAT TOO AND LOOK AT EACH OF THESE AS KIND OF A BUSINESS SO WE UNDERSTAND THE COSTS AND ONGOING MAINTENANCES TO NOT DEFER IT SAND KNOW WHAT THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE. >>DENNIS ROGERO: WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND A BIG DIG ANY NUMBER AND IT STANDS OUT. >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IT AS A BUSINESS UNIT. GOVERNMENT IS SEPARATELY NOT LIKE BUSINESS, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT AS REVENUE AND EXPENSES, I ZEROED IN ON THE SUMMARY PAGE YOU HAVE ON THE WEB SITE. REVENUE EXPENSES ON EACH THESE. A GREAT SUMMARY LIKE THE BUSINESS LOOKS AT IT. IF THERE ARE NUMBERS MISSING, NOT GIVING US TAN ACCURATE PICTURE ON THE REVENUE SIDE. LAST THING AND I BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE. A BIG CHUNK OF HANNA AVENUE BUILDING IS NOT FILLED. WE CAN'T FORCE THE ADMINISTRATION TO DO THIS, BUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR SUBLEASE THE SPACE. IF IT IS NOT BUILD OUT, YOU CHARGE THE BUILD OUT INTO THE LEASE. WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS, WE CAN RECOVER COST THERE IS. WE SHOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR EMPTY SPACE. WE SHOULD TRY TO MONETIZE IT. BECAUSE WHERE WE ARE HEADED WITH THE DEBT AND THE INCREASE IN COST IS -- AND ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE SOME KIND OF DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY OR A REDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAX VALUES, WE COULD BE FACING, YOU KNOW, A FINANCIAL CLIFF THAT CAN HURT US IN LOTS OF WAYS. AND WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR IT AND KNOW WHAT THE SENSITIVITIES ARE LEADING INTO IT. THANK YOU. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, SIR. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CAN WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE TIME ON EVERYBODY, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, MR. CLAIM. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS. FIRST ROUND FOR CHIEF BENNETT IF I MAY, SIR. WANT TO GO DOWN A LIST FOR YOU AND MAKE SURE THESE ARE FUND AND. THEY WERE FUNDED LAST YEAR AND OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION TO MAKE SURE THESE ARE HERE, SIR. FIRST IS THE VETERANS. IN THE NONPROFITS WE HAVE VETERANS HELPING VETERANS AND VETERAN TREATMENT COURT. THAT IS THERE, CORRECT? >>JOHN BENNETT: WELL -- >>LUIS VIERA: IF YOU NEED TO REVIEW YOU IT AND WE CAN ASK YOU LATER. >>JOHN BENNETT: THANKS MISS KOPESKY GIVING US FEEDBACK -- JOHN BENNETT, CHIEF OF STAFF. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MY UNDER UNDERSTANDING NONE OF THIS IS FUNDED IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL. >>JOHN BENNETT: IF YOU WANT TO GIVE A FRAMEWORK OF SOCIAL ACTION AND ARTS THEN WE CAN WALK -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET WAS ZEROED OUT AND FOR THE COUNCIL TO FILL IT IN. >>JOHN BENNETT: JOHN BENNETT, CHIEF OF STAFF. IF YOU REMEMBER THROUGH THE WORKSHOPS WE HAD WITH THE PUBLIC, WE TALKED OF KIND OF THE ITERATION OF THE SOCIAL ACTION ARTS FUND. YOU HEARD CHIEF ROGERO TALK ABOUT THE NONDEPARTMENTSAL FUND CARRIED THAT FOR SOME TIME. AND WE TRIED TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC EFFORTS OF THE CITY. AND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE DONE THAT OVER TIME. AND MOST RECENTLY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THESE FOUR CATEGORIES THAT THESE LAND IN. YOU HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF IT A FEW MINUTES AGO. SO EXTRACTING OUT CITY ASSETS, WHICH ARE USUALLY IN THAT CATEGORY, IS ONE MANEUVER THAT THE BUDGET OFFICE HAS DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY ASSETS ARE FUNDED MORE INSIDE OF THE REGULAR BUDGET THAN THE SOCIAL ACTION ARTS FUND THAT IS KIND OF RED TRIANGLE YOU SEE IN THERE. ASSETS AND STRATEGIC PLANNING. AGREEMENTS IN PLACE ARE THE MULTIYEAR AGREEMENTS BECAUSE AMOUNT RECENTLY EXCEEDED $25,000. AND THOSE PROGRAMS, FULL, NONPROFITS HAVE WORKED THROUGH AGREEMENTS AND THEY HAVE COME TO COUNCIL FOR THOSE AGREEMENT APPROVALS AND THOSE WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS BASED ON THEIR LONGEVITY OF WHAT THE FUNDING HAS LOOKED LIKE. WHEN WE GET INTO THE BOTTOM RIGHT, THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE GREATER THAN $25,000 THAT MAY BE COMING NEW WILL REQUIRE AGREEMENTS JUST LIKE THE ONES THAT I JUST MENTIONED THAT HAVE MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENTS. AND THEN ON THE BOTTOM LEFT ARE THOSE THAT, AGAIN, SEEM A LITTLE BIT MORE ACTIONABLE FOR STAFF UNDER $25,000. THEY START OFF WITH A LOGIC MODEL AND GET QUARTERLY TRANCHES BASED ON REPORTING AND ALL SUBJECT TO AUDITING IN PUBLIC RECORDS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE RECIPIENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS. NOW THE REAL CHALLENGE FOR US IS THAT WE ARE TAKING A $4 MILLION TRADITIONAL BUCKET AND TRYING TO WORK IT INTO A$1 MILLION BUDGET FOR FY '26. SOME OF THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED MOVING THE I ASSETS OUT INTO THE REGULAR BUDGET. SOME OF THAT IS MANAGED BY SHAPING AGREEMENTS ALREADY IN PLACE. REAL CHALLENGE IS TO WORK AT THOSE THAT ARE UNDER $25,000 AND ANYTHING NEW ABOVE $25,000. SO WHAT THE -- WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF, SUBJECT TO COUNCIL'S PLEASURE, IS THAT WHATEVER NUMBER COUNCIL ENDS UP APPROVING IN THE BUDGET, RIGHT NOW IT IS RECOMMENDED 1 MILLION. THEN THAT WILL TRANSFER TO STAFF TO TRY TO WORK THROUGH TO RIGHT SIZE THOSE REQUESTS. IF THEY ARE OVER $25,000 THEY WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH AN AGREEMENT LIKE THE ONE THAT ALREADIESTISTS. BELOW $25,000, THEY WILL BE -- ALREADY EXISTS, BELOW $25,000 HANDLED THROUGH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND WHATEVER THE REQUISITE ADMINISTRATOR HAS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA IS TALKING OF THAT LIST WE ARE GOING THROUGH, THAT WILL EITHER FALL INTO THE GREEN OR BLUE TRIANGLE ABOVE OR BELOW $25,000. BUT THAT IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS BASED ON WHATEVER NUMBER COUNCIL APPROVES IN THE FY '26 BUDGET AT $1 MILLION MINUS THE ASSETS IN STRATEGIC PLAN SPACES. I WANT TO HELP COUNCIL TO MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS OF MOVING THINGS INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ARTS AND CULTURE AND JUST SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THE NORMAL BUDGET. AND, AGAIN, THAT IS ANOTHER ART AND SCIENCE THAT WE WILL WORK WITH YOUR BUDGET ANALYST ON. IF THAT MAKES SENSE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YOU BROUGHT UP SOMETHING THAT CONFUSE ME. THE BLUE TRIANGLE. MULTIYEAR. WHAT ARE WE APPROVING MULTIYEAR. >>JOHN BENNETT: I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. NAACP. WENT FROM BELOW $25,000 TO ABOVE $25,000. EACH AGREEMENT CAN ENDS ON 9/30 OF EVERY GIVEN, GIVEN YEAR, BUT HAS TO CONTINUE TO APPROVE BASED ON BUDGET BEING APPROVED FOR THEIR YEAR. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THEN WE DON'T HAVE OBLIGATED BEYOND 9/30 OF EACH YEAR? PENA BENEVOLENT NO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CONFUSING WHEN YOU SAID MULTIYEAR. IT APPLIED MULTIYEAR APPROVED PROJECTS OR FUNDING. >>JOHN BENNETT: NO. WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERYTHING WILL STOP AT 9/30, BUT CAN BE CONTINUED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NO GOLDEN GOOSES. >>JOHN BENNETT: NO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. >>JOHN BENNETT: HAS TO BE FUNDED TO CONTINUE. >>BILL CARLSON: I WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO THAT. YOU MENTIONED MOVING THINGS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I SAID THIS BEFORE AND I THINK BECAUSE THE NAACP IS AN ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP PROGRAM AND SKILLS CENTER ABOUT SKILLS TRAINING. UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYZE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND NOT IN THIS BUDGET. >>JOHN BENNETT: THAT IS THE WORK WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH BASED ON THE LIST. AGAIN, WE WERE PUSHING 100 BY THE FIRST COUPLE WORKSHOPS, AND WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH THOSE TO SOME DEGREE ALREADY. BACK TO -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: AND I NKNOW COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA, YOU ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO FUND, BUT I PROMISED THAT I WOULD -- I WOULD HOLD THE MANTLE FOR COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON IN SOME OF THE THINGS SHE HAD WANTED FUNDING FOR. I KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE ARE ON THE LIST THAT MISS KOPESKY JUST PASSED OUT TO US. BUT FOR SOME REASON, I CAN'T FELL IF CORNERSTONE FAMILY MINISTRY IS ON HERE INSTEAD OF CORNERSTONE KIDS. I REMEMBER WE HAD TO DO A CHANGE OF NAME AT ONE POINT FOR HER. IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS THAT. THERE WAS A SCRIVENER'S ERROR WHERE SHE GAVE TO CORNERSTONE FAMILY MINISTRIES AND IT WAS CORNERSTONE KIDS. I AM NOT CRAZY NAURL -- BECAUSE SULING REMEMBERS THIS. CORNERSTONE KIDS BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO PUT IT TO THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND MATCHING FUNDS. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I PUT THAT OUT THERE, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONE I AM CONFUSEDED ABOUT AND WILL GIVE Y'ALL A LITTLE EXTRA TIME TO LOOK INTO IT. BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN HAD DONE RECENT -- OR JUST BEFORE HER PASSING. >>DENNIS ROGERO: WE WILL CLARIFY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I HAVE A QUESTION. SO WE HAVE THIS LIST THAT YOU WORKED BEHIND THE SCENE WITH MISS KOPESKY ON, CORRECT? THIS LIST -- THIS LIST TOTALS TO -- TO $2 -- A LITTLE LESS THAN $2,100,000. IF THIS COUNCIL WAS TO ALLOCATE, $2,100. >>JOHN BENNETT: WHERE I STEP TO THE RIGHT. ASK CHIEF ROGERO TO BRING THAT UP. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MR. ROGERO, WHERE IS YOUR HAT FILLED WITH MONEY. >>DENNIS ROGERO: UNFORTUNATELY, DON'T HAVE ONE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF POTENTIAL OPTIONS. THE FIRST ONE THAT I CAN THINK OF IS, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID WITH OUR BALANCE CARRYRD FORWARD FROM LAST YEAR, THIS YEAR, YOU WILL RECALL IT WAS $11 MILLION, $12 MILLION. TOO SOON TO TELL RIGHT NOW WHAT THE GENERAL FUND WILL CARRY OVER FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT WE COULD PUT THAT -- HOLD THE REQUEST IN ABEYANCE AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO BRING FORWARD NEXT YEAR. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS THAT HAVE ALREADY SURFACED REQUIRING FUNDING FOR NEXT YEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, REPLACEMENT OF THE POLICE SIDE ARMS. SO WE ARE KEEPING A RUNNING LIST OF POTENTIAL INCREASES THAT WILL BE -- HIGH PRESSURE THAT WILL BE COMPELLED TO DO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. SO THAT WILL BE ONE OPTION IS LOOK TO SEE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO CARRY FORWARD NEXT YEAR. THE OTHER OPTION, AND IT IS OBVIOUS, BUT I WILL STATE IT ANYWAY, REDUCE THE AMOUNT IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET SOME PLACE IN THE GENERAL FUND AND APPROPRIATE IT FOR THE SOCIAL ACTION AND ARTS FUND FOR THAT INCREMENTAL DIFFERENCE. WE COULD ALSO -- AS WE ALWAYS DO, JUST ACTIVELY MANAGE FUNDING FOR NEXT YEAR. NOW THAT IS A BIT -- BE A BIT OF A GAMBLE AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF MENTION EARLIER, WE RUN "WE" I INCLUDE COUNCIL ON THAT BECAUSE WE AMEND THE BUDGET ALL THE TIME WITH THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL. WE RUN A TIGHT BUDGET, 99ISH% FOR THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. AND VERY TIGHT WITH VERY LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM. REALLY THE WIGGLE ROOM THAT WE TYPICALLY HAVE IS THAT ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IN OUR REGULAR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. A LONG WAY OF SAYING THAT THE OPTIONS ARE PRETTY LIMITED UNLESS COUNCIL WANTS TO MOVE FUNDING FROM ONE SPOT IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET TO THIS SPOT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: FOR CHIEF BENNETT, I ALSO SAW -- I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, A LONG LIST OF FOLKS THAT APPLIED -- NEW APPLICANTS TO THIS. AT LEAST WHAT I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW DOES NORTH TAKE INTO ACCOUNT VERY LONG LIST OF NEW APPLICANTS. HOW WILL WE TREAT THAT FROM UNOBLIGATED TO ARE BUDGETED MONEY? >>JOHN BENNETT: AGAIN, ANOTHER VETTING EXERCISE THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH BASED ON, AGAIN, WHATEVER DOLLAR AMOUNT COUNCIL SETS ON FOR THIS. THEN THEY WILL BE FOLDEDED INTO THE -- I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW YET SOME OF THE NEW ONES HAVE THAT STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT OF WHAT COUNCIL AND, OF COURSE, OUR BUDGET CAN SUPPORT. SO THERE IS ALLOT WORK STILL TO BE DONE ON SOME OF OF THE NEW REQUESTS. THERE ARE NO WAY TO VET THOSE AGAIN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THIS IS MAKING ME UNCOMFORTABLE SOUND LIKE YOU ARE LEADING US A PATH TO ALLOCATE X NUMBER OF DOLLARS. AND THEN HORSE TRADE AFTER THE FACT UNTIL WE GET TO A DOLLAR BIG RATHER THAN EVALUE I WANT ALL INDIVIDUAL ITEM HOLISTICALLY AND COMPARE IT TO BUDGET. SO I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. A QUICK ONE AN THEN GO BACK TO MR. VIERA. VIERA VIERA DON'T MIND. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I AM SORRY, JUST TO ADD SOME CONTEXT, YOU DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF BUT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, TOTAL OF $5 MILLION IN REQUESTS -- TOTAL, INCLUDING NEW -- NOT JUST NEW, BUT TOTAL. >>LYNN HURTAK: ONLY THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS THAT COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON'S AIDE, DARLENE JOHNSON DID BRING ME THE REQUEST. AND IT WAS -- SO THE MINISTRY IS ACTUALLY CORNERSTONE KIDS. I JUST -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: FOR THE RECORD. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT IS SOLVED. BUT, YES, I -- I DON'T WANT TO GET BOGGED DOWN ON THIS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I AGREE. >>LYNN HURTAK: SO -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: BUT HAS GOT TO BE RESOLVED. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES, IT DOES. I WILL LET COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA SPEAK AND IT IS HIS TURN AND THEN I WILL SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA. THEN COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>LUIS VIERA: I WANT TO SAY VETERANS HELPING VETERANS AND VETERAN CORE ARE FUNDED. >>JOHN BENNETT: CORRECT. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS MISTREATED. NOTHING IS FUNDED. >>LUIS VIERA: PROPOSED TO BE FUNDED IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THE MAYOR'S BUDGET WAS ZERO. >>LUIS VIERA: PROPOSED TO BE -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THE MAYOR'S BUDGET IS ZERO. WORK BEHIND THE SCENES AFTER SUBMISSION SOMETHING MY UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE Y'ALL DID NOT ALLOCATE ANY MONEY FOR THIS STUFF CORRECT? ? >>JOHN BENNETT: $1 MILLION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NOT LINE ITEMED. >>JOHN BENNETT: NOT LINE ITEMED AND IDENTIFIED -- >>LUIS VIERA: IF I MAY FOR MY TIME. I AM ASKING FOR THIS SHEET. IF IT IS ON THIS SHEET. >>JOHN BENNETT: THIS IS -- THERE ARE IS WHAT WAS SHARED FOR US TONIGHT. >>LUIS VIERA: IF I MAY WERE MY TIME OUTBEING INTERRUPTED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MISINFORMATION IS BEING SPREAD. I WILL RESET YOUR TIME -- BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND OUR BUDGET ANALYST. IF YOU WANT TO BRING UP OUR BUDGET ANALYSTS TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. DON'T COUNT -- I DON'T WANT YOU TO WALK OFF THINKING THAT SOMETHING SOMETHING THERE THAT ISN'T THERE. JUST BECAUSE IT IS ON THE SHEET MEANS NOTHING. THIS IS BEHIND-THE-SCENES WORKSHEET. NOT A BUDGET SHEET OR NOT EVEN A SUGGESTION BY THE ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE ADMINISTRATION BUDGET $1 MILLION. THIS SHEET WITHOUT THE NEW SUBMISSIONS IS $2 MILLION. ALREADY A MILLION OVER BUDGET. >>LUIS VIERA: IF MAY SPEAK ON MY TIME HERE. THIS IS -- THESE THINGS THAT I AM PROPOSING HERE ARE ESSENTIALLY FOR THE MOST PART REVENUE NEUTRAL. THINGS THAT WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM LAST YEAR THAT ARE OFF SET BY WHAT WE ARE DOING THIS YEAR. SO I AM SPEAKING FOR THIS ATHLETE AND FOR THE RECORD AND THAT'S IT. WANT TO GO THROUGH THESE PROPOSALS BECAUSE IN OUR NONPROFITS, WE SHOULD BE HELPING OUT OUR VETERANS. DON'T DO FOR THE VETERANS WITH NONPROFITS AND DO THINGS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. I WANT TO GO IN HERE -- TALK OF THE VETERANS GROUP. FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES, CHIEF BENNETT, WE HAVE THE GWEN, BUBBA HILL, BUDDY BASEBALL AND THEIR PARTNER, FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES OF THEIR OWN, CORRECT? >>JOHN BENNETT: I AM TRACKING WITH YOU, BUDDY BASEBALL, LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, MICHAEL PHILIS, BUBBLE MAIL SOLUTIONS, AND THE PEG QUIN PROJECT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CAN I SUGGEST FOR THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC TO PUT IT ON THE WOLF -- >>JOHN BENNETT: MINE IS A LITTLE SCRATCHED UP VIERA VIRUS I WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT THOSE ARE THERE BECAUSE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THESE ARE HERE TO BE VOTE ON BY THIS COUNCIL. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SUPPORT THIS. BECAUSE THESE TWO COMMUNITIES DESERVE TO BE IN OUR NONMROFT BUDGET. I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. OBVIOUSLY THE SPECIAL NEEDS INTERNSHIP. YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THAT, CHIEF BENNETT, HOW IS THAT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS HERE. >>JOHN BENNETT: WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO TO MAKE SURE IT IS ACCURATE, HOW MUCH IS IN OUR INTERNSHIP FLAG WILL COVER ANY INTERN, OF COURSE, WORKING FOR INTERN DOLLARS FOR THE CITY OF TAM TAMPA. >> THE AUDIENCE CAN'T SEE THE SHEETS ON THE WOLF. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CCTV, CAN YOU MAKE SURE THAT THE YOU HAD YENS CAN SEE THIS PRESENTATION? THERE IT IS. THANK YOU. >>DENNIS ROGERO: WE ARE LOOKING UP THE INTERNSHIP. >>LUIS VIERA: SORRY? >>DENNIS ROGERO: WE ARE LOOKING UP THE AMOUNT. >>JOHN BENNETT: THAT IS IN THE ACTUAL BUDGET. >>LUIS VIERA: THAT IS FUNDED AND WE HAVE GONE OVER THIS A GREAT DEAL. WE WILL GO ON HERE. COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS ON HERE. MR. CHAIRMAN, IN TERMS OF -- WHAT DO YOU ENVISION IN TERMS OF THIS MEETING. HOW DO WE RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITNESS NONPROFITS? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: BOY, ISN'T THAT THE MAGIC QUESTION. THE ADMINISTRATION SUBMITTED THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL TO COUNCIL. IN THEIR BUDGET, THEY HAVE ALLOCATED $1 MILLION FOR THESE FUNDS. IF COUNCIL -- AND THIS MEETING, COUNCIL NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION. IF THEY FIT -- IF THEY TAKE THIS SQUARE PEG APUT IT INTO A ROUND HOLE, IT IS LINE ITEM TO GET TO $1 MILLION. IF WE EXCEED THE $1 MILLION AS MR. ROGERO PRESENTED EARL YEAR, WE EITHER HAVE TO FIND A FUNDING REPLACEMENT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE BUDGET TO GET BEYOND $1 MILLION. OR WHATEVER WITCHHE WAS REFERRING TO WITH THE 2026, I DON'T KNOW. SO COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK HAS A QUESTION ABOUT THAT. >>LYNN HURTAK: GOES WHAT COUNCILMAN CARLSON WAS SAYING EARLIER. HILLSBOROUGH HOMELESS COALITION. SUBTOTAL HOUSING. WHY ISN'T THAT PAID FOR THROUGH HOUSING SOMETHING IN. >>JOHN BENNETT: IT MAY VERY WELL GO THERE AND PART OF THIS WHOLE EXERCISE. >>LYNN HURTAK: MAYBE WE JUST SET A BUDGET AND THEN -- WE STILL HAVE A SECOND BITE AT THIS BUDGET APPLE IN TWO WEEKS. SO IF WE CAN AT LEAST JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE AREAS WE THINK NEED TO GO INTO OTHER SECTIONS OF THE BUDGET. SUCH AS, THE HILLSBOROUGH HOMELESS COALITION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: BEFORE WE NEED TONIGHT, THE CAKE NEEDS TO BE 90% BAKED. >>LYNN HURTAK: 90% BEING BAKED. IF WE EACH TAKE A MOMENT AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE SOME OF THIS STUFF SHOULD GO. AND THEN -- YOU CUT ME OFF TO A PROPOSAL I WAS GOING TO MAKE CLENDENIN GO AHEAD. >>LYNN HURTAK: FOR TRANSIT. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT DONE TOO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: EXACTLY. >>LUIS VIERA: SHOULD I CONTINUE? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CONTINUE. >>LUIS VIERA: I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL THESE PROPOSALS AGAIN. THE THINGS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I DO WANT TO SPEAK ON -- HAVE YOU -- HAS ANYBODY -- AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OR ETC. WHO HAS BEENED ON THE PORTICO HOUSING PROJECT. ANYBODY? NOBODY HAS BEEN? OKAY. WELL, OKAY, LET ME -- OKAY. WELL THEN WHAT I WILL HAVE TO DO -- I WILL HAVE TO GO SPEAK TO MISS FEELEY OUTSIDE OF HERE AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE COUNCIL'S TIME ON IT. NO, THAT IS IMPORTANT. IN TERMS OF -- THE FUNDS -- I BELIEVE IT WAS MISS McKENZIE WAS HERE FUNDS WITH AWITH THE APPRENTICESHIP $50,000 TO $100,000. SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET? >>JOHN BENNETT: $100,000? NO, I WILL GO BACK TO INTERNSHIP. $1D00,000 IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT. >>LUIS VIERA: SWELL. HOW MUCH DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE OF SPECIAL NEEDS. >>JOHN BENNETT: AS MUCH AS WE HAVE CAPACITY FOR. IT IS A SLIDING NUMBER FOR ALL INTERNSHIPS. IF 70% GOES INTO UNIQUE ABILITIES, IT WOULD BE $70,000 OF THAT. AGAIN, AS MUCH AS WE BRING IN FOR THOSE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, THEN THAT IS WHERE THAT NUMBER WILL LIE. >>LUIS VIERA: HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND -- IF YOU KNOW -- ON INTERNSHIPS OF PEOPLE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES? >>JOHN BENNETT: WITHOUT? I WILL HAVE TO GET THAT FOR YOU. I KNOW OF USE CASES BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS. I HAD TWO OF THEM. ONE WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES IN TNI AND A.D.A. >>LUIS VIERA: COUPLE THINGS COUNCIL. I WILL MAKE A MOTION AT THE END FOR A NUMBER OF ITEMS HAVEN'T HAVE MISS KOPESKY WORK WITH MR. ROGERO TO LOOK AT A COUPLE OF ITEMS TO LOOK FOR FUNDING AR AND SUPPORT. I KNOW THAT THE SKILLS CENTER IS ASKING FOR FUNDS AND LOOKING AT OTHER PARTS OF THE BUDGET AND WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, GOT A REQUEST FROM TAMPA -- FROM THE FIREFIGHTERS MUSEUM OF. I SEE -- OBVIOUSLY CHIEF TRIP AND MR. HILL AND MR. STOCCO HERE AND CHIEF MORRIS LOPEZ FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, WHOSE GRANDFATHER MORRIS LOPEZ WAS KILLED AGUILAR A TAMPA POLICE OFFICER. AND WE CAN DO -- KILLED AS A TAMPA POLICE OFFICER. WE CAN DO A MOTION TO LOOK FOR POTENTIAL FUNDING FOR THAT. AND I THINK THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, COUNCIL, IS TAKE A LOOK AT THIS NONPROFIT BUDGET. SEE WHAT WE CAN MOVE OUT TO OTHER AREAS. THE THINGS THAT I HAVE PROPOSED ARE WITHIN THE BUDGET LARGELY LAST YEAR, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THERE WAS A WELDING PROGRAM THAT I TOOK AWAY THAT I GOT FUNDED LAST YEAR TO SUPPLEMENT OTHER THINGS. BECAUSE, AGAIN, I STAYED WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT I PROPOSED LAST YEAR BECAUSE I WANT TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT OBVIOUSLY. SO WE CAN TALKING ABOUT THAT LATER. I DON'T KNOW, MR. CHAIRMAN -- I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU, BECAUSE YOU HAVE GOT TO PROPOSE HOW TO HERD CATS HERE, SORE TO SPEAK. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NOT JUST THE CHAIRMAN. SIX PEOPLE UP HERE THAT HAVE TO DO THIS. AND I WANT TO, AGAIN, WE -- IT IS COUNCIL'S BUDGET. WHAT THE MAYOR PRESENTED, ALLOCATED 1 MILLION FOR THIS PARTICULAR -- THESE PARTICULAR LINE ITEMS OF BUDGET. IF WE -- IT IS NOW COUNCIL'S BUDGET, WANTS TO GO BEYOND $1 MILLION. AND YOU JUST HEARD THE NEW SUBMISSIONS OF A TOTAL OF $5 MILLION. YOU HAVE TO YOU GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE BUDGET AND FIND THAT MONEY TO SUPPLEMENT, OR WE MAKE A DECISION TO CUT THESE -- SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS TO -- TO FIT WITHIN THAT $1 MILLION. THIS COUNCIL, SIX PEOPLE, NOT ALAN, SIX PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION WHERE THAT MONEY IS COMING FROM. COUNCILMAN CARLSON. YOU ARE NEXT. >>BILL CARLSON: I WANT TO START BY ASKING -- I THINK IT WAS AT THE WORKSHOP. CITY STAFF OR SOMEBODY PROPOSED THAT EACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PUT IN $1D00,000 FOR NONPROFITS. AND I SAID RIGHT AWAY, THAT I WOULD RATHER WE ALL POOL THAT. DOES ANYBODY -- AND I THINK COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK WEIGHED IN ON THAT AS WELL. HAVE WE DECIDED WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THAT? BECAUSE THEN MY -- MY QUESTION RELATED TO THAT IS THAT SOMEBODY ANNOUNCED THAT CITY COUNCIL HAD THIS MONEY, AND THAT THERE WAS A DEADLINE APPLYING FOR IT. AND SUDDENLY I GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF CALLS AND I NEVER WANTED TO ALLOCATE IT BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS POLITICAL INSTEAD OF STRATEGIC. DO WE KNOW WHO ANNOUNCED TO ALL OF THE NONPROFITS THAT MONEY WAS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE AND ARE WE ENJOYING SPEND THAT? >>LYNN HURTAK: WORD OF MOUTH. >>BILL CARLSON: IS THE $700,000 BACK IN THIS BUDGET NOW? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: AGAIN, WANT TO REITERATE, THE MAYOR'S SUBMISSION OF THEIR BUDGET $1 MILLION TO SOCIAL ACTION AND ARTS FUNDING. THEY DID NOT ALLOCATE $1 FOR ONE PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION. THEY LEFT TO COUNCIL TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. >>BILL CARLSON: CHIEF OF STAFF, FORGIVE ME IF YOU SAID THAT AND IF I AM WRONG. YOU AND DENNIS PROPOSED $100,000. THAT WAS THAT $700,000 IN THE BUDGET OR HYPOTHETICAL. >>JOHN BENNETT: SLICING THE MILLION IN THE $300,000 BUCKET AND ONLY IF THERE WANTED TO BE RECOMMENDATION, BUMPER RATES FOR EACH COUNCIL MEMBER OR EACH DIS DISTRICT. WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT, OF COURSE. >>BILL CARLSON: THEIR DEAL IS DEAD BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMBINED LIST. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WANT TO SAYS THERE NO LIST. BEFORE US IS YOU A DRAFT DOC DOCUMENT THAT WAS CREATED BETWEEN COOPERATION OF OUR BUDGET ANALYST AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND WASN'T ANYTHING OTHER THAN JUST SPIT BALL. THIS IS NOT WRITTEN IN STONE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. MAYBE -- LET'S HERE FROM MISS KOPESKY. >>HAGAR KOPESKY: HAGAR KOPESKY, CITY COUNCIL BUDGET ANALYST. THAT'S CORRECT. IN A SENSE THERE WAS INPUT BY SOME FOLKS AND COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA HAS BEEN VERY. HE OF REORGANIZING HIS ITEMS FOR THE YEAR AND WHERE THAT INPUT OCCURRED I TRIED TO INCORPS RATE INTO INTO THE SCHEDULE YOU SEE AND THE BALANCES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN THERE WERE LEFT AS IS TO ALLOW THE CONVERSATION TO HAPPEN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THIS WAS A CONVERSATION CATALYST. >>HAGAR KOPESKY: CORRECT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: PUTTING IN BLACK AND WHITE, ALL THE FUNDING AND WHAT SHE HEARD FROM PEOPLE AND THIS IS IN THE WIND KIND OF STUFF. >>JOHN BENNETT: I WOULD CALL IT A CODING EXERCISE. >>BILL CARLSON: I WISH THE NEW ONES WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN SOME WAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WOULD YOU SEE THAT HE BECAUSE IN FY '25 WOULD BE ZERO. >>BILL CARLSON: COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON HAD AN IDEA WE WOULDN'T FUND MORE THAN A YEAR OR A COUPLE OF YEARS. ANYWAY, MY -- MY THING IS, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. THIS MILLION OR TWO AND A HALF MILLION IS COMING OUT OF DEBT. IF IT IS -- IF IT IS NOT DIRECTLY COMING OUT OF DEBT, WE ARE NOT TAKING $2.5 MILLION TO PAY DOWN AND REDUCE DEBT. SO WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. WE DON'T -- THE CITY IT YOU NOT HAVE THE MONEY. WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO SPEND. THIS IS NOT A CHOICE OF WHETHER WE SUPPORT NONPROFIT OR NOT. WE DON'T HAVE MONEY UNLESS WE BORROW IT. I THINK WE HAVE TO BE PRESCRIPTIVE ABOUT IT. I SAID THIS BEFORE AND COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK ALSO SAID IT, BUT I THINK ALL OF THESE SHOULD BE MOVED INTO DEPA DEPARTMENTS. AND FOR THIS YEAR, WE OUGHT TO -- MAYBE WE CAN BE PRESCRIPTIVE OF SOME OF THESE AND MOVED INTO DEPARTMENTS. ALL THE DISABILITY STUFF. I THINK RAQUEL -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU AGREE, BUT SHE IS FANTASTIC AT -- AT STRATEGY AND HELPING PEOPLE. PUNT ALL THE DISABILITY STUFF UNDER RAQUEL. AND WE SAY WE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU -- FOR THIS YEAR WE WILL RECOMMEND THESE NONPROFITS. AND WE WILL PUT IN A BUDGET FOR YOUR STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS. THESE ARE SERVICES THAT THE -- THAT THE NONPROFIT SECTOR PRO PRO-SIDES ARE THAT THE CITY DOES NOT PROVIDE OR THEY PROVIDE IT AT A BETTER COST THAN WE CAN PROVIDE. AND THEN NEXT YEAR INSTEAD OF US GOING THROUGH AN ARBITRARY LIST LIKE THIS. FOR EXAMPLE, RAQUEL WILL COME BACK AND SAY, OKAY, BASED ON MY METRICS THIS IS THE ONE I WOULD INVEST IN THAT I THINK IS WORTH IT. NAME THING NAACP IS UNDER EQUITY. THAT PROGRAM IS AN ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP PROGRAM AND SHOULD BE UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. CHIEF OF STAFF, YOU HAVE A HOMELESS INITIATIVE. ALL YOU HAVE OF THAT SHOULD BE UNDER THAT INITIATIVE AND SHOULD HAVE A BUDGET. AND THEN -- I -- I THINK ALL OF HOUSING SHOULD BE UNDER HOUSING. ALL OF THESE -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU WOULD PUT VETERANS, BUT WE NEED TO PUT ALL YOU HAVE THESE -- ALL OF THESE WILL BE TIED TO THE STRATEGY OF THE DEPARTMENT. AND WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, BUT ULTIMATELY, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEIR STAFF WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE HITTING THEIR METRICS AND HAND THESE NEZ BUCKETS OFF TO THEM. NEXT YEAR, THEY SHOULD COME BACK AND RECOMMEND TO US WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. HERE IS A SUGGESTION. IF WE CAN'T DO IT, WE CAN'T DO IT. BUT IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, I AM LOOKING AT THE $1 MILLION DISCREPANCY HERE. THE HILLSBOROUGH HOMELESS COALITION, $190,000, WE CAN USE SOME HOUSING MONEY FOR THAT, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TOWARD HOUSING. FLORIDA ORCHESTRA, $175,000. THEIR HOUSED WITHIN THE STRAZ CENTER. CAN DOWNTOWN CRA DOLLARS GO TO THAT? I SEE ABBYE NODDING KNOW. FEEDING TAMPA BAY. $200,000. WITH THE HURRICANES LAST YEAR, THEY WERE OUT THERE FEEDING PEOPLE EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY THEY WERE OUT THERE. CAN WE USE ANY FEMA REIM REIMBU REIMBURSEMENT, ANY MONEY WE GOT REGARDING HURRICANE, YOU KNOW, DISASTER FUNDS OR WHATEVER TO COVER THIS, CONSIDERING THEY WERE, THERE WERE BOOTS ON THE GROUND FEEDING THE COMMUNITY, FEEDING TAMPA BAY? WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE. YBOR CITY MUSEUM SOCIETY. MUSEUMS AND BUILDINGS WITHIN A YBOR CITY CRA. CAN WE USE YBOR CITY CRA DOLLARS FOR THAT. ABBYE HEADACHE -- SHAKING HER HEAD. AND COUNCILMAN CARLSON W WITH NACP. SHOULD BE ECONOMIC DAECHLT. $400,000 BUT WITH THE PROGRAMS THEY OFFER, IT IS. YOU ARE LIFTING UP MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES. IT IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SHIFT THAT 100 THERE. SAW HEADS NODDING NO AND ABBYE NODDING KNOW AS FAR AS FLORIDA ORCHESTRA CRA, /*. YBOR CITY MUSEUM SOCIETY, SHE WAS SHAKING HER HEAD. I AM TRYING TO TAKE THAT $1 MILLION AND BRING IT DOWN. TAKING OUT THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA AND THE YBOR HUMAN SOCIETY PUTS US AT 275 PLUS -- I AM STILL SHORT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. I AM JUST SPEAKING FREELY HERE IN ORDER NOT TO CUT ANYBODY. BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHERS HERE THAT ARE RETURNING CITIZENS. $100,000. LEAVE IT ALONE. TBA, $ 00,000. SPEAK UP TAMPA BAY, $208,000. BIG CHUNKS OF MONEY NEAR. ANYWAY, THAT'S -- THAT IS REALLY IS IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THAT MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL. IF ANYTHING THAT I HAVE PROPOSED MAKES SENSE. HILLSBOROUGH HILLSBOROUGH HOMELESS COALITION. 190. TAKE IT OUT OF HOUSING. FEEDING TAMPA BAY, IF IT IS REASONABLE BECAUSE WHAT THEY DID DURING THE HURRICANE. AND THEN NAACP MOVING IT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAT GIVES YOU HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IF WE CAN SHIFT THAT OVER WITHOUT CUTTING THEM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: JUST REMEMBER, IF YOU ARE MOVING IT INTO A DEPARTMENT, THAT DEPARTMENT EXCESS FUNDS TO SUPPORT IT. >>JOHN BENNETT: A SHIFT AND LIFT. WE HAVE TO CUT AND PASTE. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MOVING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: BUT THE MONEY DOESN'T EXIST. WILL HAVE TO BE THIS UNBUDGETED MONEY THAT IS NOT REFLECTED IN THAT BUDGET. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: I THINK THAT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH THIS IS -- WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH THIS IS TO ASK MISS KOPESKY TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE BUDGET OR WITH THE CFO TO FIND THE ITEMS THAT WILL BE FUNDED IN THE DEPARTMENTS. QUITE A BIT OF MONEY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO STATED COULD PROBABLY BE OWNED IN DIFFERENT AREAS. I -- I DON'T WANT TO SPEND OUR ENTIRE BUDGET TIME TALKING ABOUT JUST ONE -- $2 MILLION OR $1 MILLION. I ALSO HAVE NO PROBLEM FINDING EXTRA FUNDING, BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT BY THIS PARTICULAR -- I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT BY TONIGHT. I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO FIND A WAY TO GO -- MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AND PUTTING SOME OF THIS FUNDING INTO THE DEPARTMENTS IN WHICH IT REALLY SHOULD LIVE. I DO NOT THINK, AGAIN, THE HOMELESS COALITION -- IT SHOULD NOT BE A SOCIAL ACTION ARTS FUND. SOMETHING WE FUND EVERY YEAR, BUT WE SHOULD. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD JUST SIMPLY BE PART OF OUR BUDGET. AND, AGAIN, I KNOW THAT COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON TRIED TO DO A WORKSHOP ON THIS. I DON'T THINK WE WENT AS FAR AS WE NEEDED TO. WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A WORKSHOP ABOUT THIS. AND THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DO THAT. SO, I MEAN, COULD WE, MR. ROGERO -- IF WE APPROVE THE BUDGET TONIGHT AS IS AND THEN WE DECIDED AFTER WORKING WITH YOU, AFTER WORKING WITH MISS KOPESKY, AFTER FINDING -- AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE POSSIBLY GET A DRAFT OF THIS NO LATER THAN MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK TO JUST -- TO QUICKLY SAY, THIS BELONGS IN THIS CATEGORY, THIS BELONGS IN -- COULD THIS BELONG IN THIS DEPARTMENT. JUST TO GIVE US AN IDEA. AND IF WE EACH GO THE A COPY OF THAT TO KIND OF LOOK AT TO FIGURE OUT SOME FUNDING, WE COULD DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO ADD MORE MONEY, LIKE YOU SAID, FROM A -- FROM ANOTHER POSSIBLE YET SMALL SOURCE. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES. THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT, MA'AM, IS YES, WE CAN ADOPT THE BUDGET AS IT IS WITH $1 MILLION FOR TO BE DETERMINED. AND, AGAIN -- LET ME JUST BACK UP. I DON'T WANT TO MISLEAD COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC. BUT A BUDGET IS A PLAN. AND THIS PLAN IS ALREADY ALMOST TWO MONTHS OLD AS IT IS NOW. WE AMEND THE BUDGET ALL THE TIME, BECAUSE WE AMEND THE PLAN. SO THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT IS A GAMBLE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I APPRECIATE THAT. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES, MA'AM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION? MAYBE JUST TO MOVE THIS ALONG BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID -- I HATE TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE. WHAT IF WE -- WHAT IF WE WENT TO -- TO START THIS OFF, WE HAVE $1 MILLION. SO DIVIDE THAT BY -- BY SEVEN OR SIX AT THIS POINT. AND THEN -- THEN WE GO -- AT LEAST THAT STARTS US OFF. AND THAT STARTS US OFF AND WE CAN CONTINUE WITH YOUR PLAN TO DO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. BUT AT LEAST THAT GETS US -- KICK STARTS -- WE KNOW WHAT OUR TOP PRIORITIES ARE ON THIS BUDGET AND GO WITH THE REST OF IT WHAT THE PLAN WAS -- COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I WOULD RATHER AS COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK SUGGESTED. IF I SIT DOWN ON MY OWN WITH MISS KOPESKY AND SAY HOW CAN WE FIGURE OUT THIS $1 MILLION SHORTFALL. I LOOK AT NUMBERS ALL DAY. I THINK WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. MR. ROGERO SAID IN THE SHORT ANSWER, YES. ANYTHING -- I WAS GOING TO SAY MENTESNOT. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. I AM SORRY, I KNOW. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU HEAR THAT. YOU ARE NOT IN THE ROOM AND STILL BEING TALKED ABOUT. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: BY MONDAY, IT GIVES ME THE WEEKEND TO LOOK OVER THIS STUFF AND THESE NUMBERS AND SEE WHAT -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HERE IS HIGH QUESTION. THINGS -- MY QUESTION WOULD BE, THINGS ON THIS SHEET THAT ARE INDEFENSIBLE CONSIDERING THE BUDGET RESTRAINTS AND WHAT COUNCILMAN CARLSON SAID OF HAVING TO FINANCE? STUFF HERE THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO FINANCE AND BOND? EVERYTHING ON HERE IS BEING BONDED REALLY. I THINK COUNCILMAN CARLSON HIT THAT HARD. >>BILL CARLSON: CAN I -- THE OTHER SLICE OF THIS IS IF WE -- IF WE WORK WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO ALLOCATE THESE, AND THE FIRST YEAR, WE WOULD ALLOCATE THE BUCKETS OF MONEY THAT GO WITH THEM ALLOCATE TO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT WE USE WITH THE BOTTOM LIME ACCOUNTABILITY. BETWEEN NOW AND THE SECOND HEARING TO HAVE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OR WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE OF IT TO GIVE US FEEDBACK OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND HOW THIS HELPS THEM. THAT WAY IT IS NOT AN ASH TARRY OR POLITICAL DECISIONS. I LIKE ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND WOULD LIKE TO FUND ALL OF THEM. YOU SAY FIVE MILLION MORE OF PEOPLE THAT ALREADY APPLIED. I HAD ALL KINDS OF CALLS FROM PEOPLE. PROBLEM WITH GIVING MONEY IS 90% OF TIME WE SAY NO. WE NEED TO BE STRATEGIC SO TAXPAYERS KNOW THAT WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY CORRECTLY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I GOT TO TELL YOU THAT I THINK IT IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE YEARS BEFORE, WE HAD A BUDGET WITH SET AMOUNTS. COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THE EXTENT WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION. NOW WHAT DO WE HAVE, A TOWER OF BABEL AND SPENDING ALL THIS TIME ON THIS THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE AND CREATING A NONPROFIT BUDGET FROM CITY COUNCIL INSTEAD OF HAVING A PROPOSAL THAT WE CAN GO FROM. WE DON'T HAVE THAT. SO THAT -- THAT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME. BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE STUFF THAT I PUT IN THERE, IT IS ABOUT 85, 90% MONETARILY THE SAME THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN OTHER YEARS. I DON'T LOOK AT -- THE PROPER ANALYSIS IS NOT IF THIS NEEDS TO BE BONDED. I VOTED AGAINST A LOT OF THINGS BEFORE IN THE BUDGET, AND THE CRA. I VOTED AGAINST A PROJECT TWO WEEKS AGO OR SO. I AM NOT GOING TO SAY OH REMEMBER GOING TO BOND THIS. NO. I THINK THAT IS KIND OF AN ANALYSIS TO HAVE THAT IS IMPROPER FOR THIS OR ANYTHING, QUITE FRANKLY. A COUPLE OF THINGS TO LOOK AT AND, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS IS GETTING IN THE WEEDS ON THINGS WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING. BUT VERY BRIEFLY, RETURNING CITIZENS. SHOULD NOT BE IN THE NONPROFIT. THAT IS A PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE COUNTY. AND THAT WILL BE GOING UNDER THE OFFICE OF RETURNING CITIZENS, RIGHT. WHICH I HAVE FAITH WILL PASS. THAT IS NUMBER ONE. >>BILL CARLSON: UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FOR EXAMPLE. >>LUIS VIERA: ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THAT IS GREAT, COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. THAT IS NUMBER ONE. WITH -- WE SHOULD LOOK AT SOMETHING -- SOMEBODY SHOULD MOTION THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WORKS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION -- I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING SOMETHING ALLOTTED. WE GET AN X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS UNDER OUR DISCRETION OR JURISDICTION TO WORK ON THIS. YBOR CITY MUSEUM. THAT SHOULD GO SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE -- THOSE FOLKS SHOULD GET FUNDING EVERY SINGLE YEAR. UNFORTUNATELY, COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO, WE CAN'T DO THAT UNDER THE CRA BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT IS OPERATING COSTS. TO THOSE STROKES TAKEN BIG HITS. EXACTLY. WE CAN GET THERE AND, AGAIN, WE HAVE A TOWER OF BABEL, NOTHING AGAINST US, BUT SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON THIS. AND THIS REALLY ISN'T A HEAVY LIFT TRADITIONALLY. THAT IS MY FRUSTRATION. AND I AM NOT EASILY FRUSTRATED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ONCE AGAIN, WE CAN PASS AS FY '26 BUDGET OF $1D MILLION AS PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR AND PASSES THAT. AND DIVVY THE MONEY UP AT SUBSEQUENT COUNCIL MEETINGS OR SUBSEQUENT COUNCIL DISCUSSION. IF WE GO ABOVE $1 MILLION, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT MONEY IS COMING FROM AND HOW TO ALLOCATE IT. SO WILL HE MEET TAKE ONE QUICK BREAK BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE READY TO RELEASE STAFF. ABBY ONE THING ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT BUDGET. MISS FEELEY. UNDER DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT, UNDER EXPENSES FOR OPERATING, IT IS KIND OF INTERESTING FOR MAYBE AN EXPLANATION. BUT AN EXAMPLE, IN '23 ACTUALS WERE $24,057,000. '24 WAS -- >>ABBYE FEELEY: MAY I SEE THAT? >>LYNN HURTAK: I NEED IT BACK BECAUSE IT IS PART OF MY BOOK. >>ABBYE FEELEY: YOU WILL HAVE IT BACK. I PROMISE. >>LYNN HURTAK: CAN YOU PUT IT ON THE WOLF. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THE WOLF. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT CAME UP DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I THINK THE OPERATING -- >>LYNN HURTAK: OPERATING LINE FROM $ 2 MILLION TO $30 MILLION TO $18 MILLION. THAT WAS THE QUESTION. >>ABBYE FEELEY: I AM GOING TO NEED -- I AM GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT IT -- I AM GOING TO NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT AND COME BACK AT THE SECOND HEARING AND CLARIFY THAT FOR YOU. BECAUSE I AM NOT -- I DID NOT TRACK IT THAT WAY IN MY OWN BUDGET DOCUMENTS AND IT -- THERE MAY BE A TYPE TYPO OR ERROR AND GET TO MAKE PERRY AND THEN COME BACK TO YOU NEXT WEEKS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT IS COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK'S DOCUMENT. >>LYNN HURTAK: GIVE IT TO MR. SHELBY AND I WILL PUT IT BACK IN THE BOOK. CAN I GET BACK TO -- YOU CUT ME OFF. I WAS DOING A MOTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU ASKED. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: I WANT TO GET THE BUS OUT OF THE WAY SO THE BUS PEOPLE CAN GO HOME WHICH I THINK THEY HAVE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: DO YOU NEED STAFF. WE ARE NOT FORCING YOU OUT -- >>BILL CARLSON: CAN I JUST -- I WANT TO LET THEM GO TO. CAN I ASK ONE QUICK QUESTION BASED ON THE PUBLIC. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT'S FINE. >>BILL CARLSON: MR. ROGERO, MISS BULLOCK BROUGHT UP A POINT THAT I HEARD A LOT -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I SAY STAFF, DON'T MEAN THIS TABLE BUT ALL THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE. >>BILL CARLSON: MISS BULLOCK BROUGHT UP A POINT I HEARD A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS THAT 60% OF THE BUDGET IS GOING TOWARD POLICE -- OR POLICE AND FIRE. CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN THAT TO THE PUBLIC? I FIGURE WE CAN ASK THAT QUESTION SINCE THEY ARE HERE. YOU ARE TALKING OF GENERAL FUND NOT THE TOTAL BUDGET. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES, SIR, IF YOU GIVE ME ONE MOMENT, I WILL PULL IT UP. >>BILL CARLSON: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE EXPLAIN THAT TO THE PUBLIC. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THE 60% REFERENCE FOR POLICE AND FIRE COMBINED OF THE GENERAL FUND. SO WHEN -- >>BILL CARLSON: HOW MUCH IS POLICE -- THE TOTAL BUDGET OF THE $179 BILLION. >>DENNIS ROGERO: POLICE IS 13% OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET AND FIRE IS 8%. >>BILL CARLSON: 8%. JUST SO WE HAVE THAT. HOW MUCH IS POLICE OF THE GENERAL FUND? >>DENNIS ROGERO: POLICE IS 35%. LITTLE OVER ONE-THIRD OF GENERAL FUND AND FIRE IS JUST UNDER A QUARTER, 23%. >>BILL CARLSON: ONLY 18% OF THE TO THE HE TALL BUDGET. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES, SIR. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: INTO IRIS 20%. >>DENNIS ROGERO: FIRE IS 23% OF THE GENERAL FUND. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IS COUNCIL OKAY WITH THE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE IF THEY WANTED TO GO HOME? IF YOU WANTED TO GO HOME. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE. YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY HERE -- >>LYNN HURTAK: DIFFERENT THAN -- WELL LOOK HOW FAST THEY GOT UP. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU SEE HOW MUCH WE ARE LOVED. [LAUGHTER] >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. OKAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. WON'T INTERRUPT YOU, I PROMISE. >>LYNN HURTAK: GOING BACK TO TALKING ABOUT THE BUS. I WILL CUT TO THE CHASE. INSTEAD OF THE $1.65 MILLION LAST YEAR. I TALKED EARLIER OF POSSIBLY PUTTING A PLACE HOLDER FOR $3 MILLION. GOOD NEWS. JUST FOCUSING ON ROUTE 1 AND JUST FOCUSING ON KEEPING THE FREQUENCY AND ADDING FREQUENCY, I TALKED A LOT TO HART ABOUT FARE FREE. AND I REALLY WANTED TO CONTINUE THAT PROGRAM, BUT KNOWING WE HAVE LESS MONEY IN THE BUDGET, I -- I WANTED TO STICK WITH ROUTE 1, BECAUSE OF THE GRANT. AND BECAUSE OF THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT THE BRT. DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM FURTHER AS WE HAVE MONEY, AND MAYBE WE WILL FIND SOME THIS YEAR AND THE OTHER REASON I WANTED TO WAIT BECAUSE HART IS REDOING THEIR ROUTES RIGHT NOW, AND THAT IS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO TO START IN JUNE AND I KIND OF WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO WITH THAT. THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS YEAR, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM AND INCREASE FREQUENCY ON THE WEEKEND AND EVERY NIGHT FROM 6 P.M. TO 9 P.M. 20-MINUTE INTERVALS TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO USE IT TO GO DOWNTOWN, TO GO TO THE STRAZ, TO GO TO CURTIS HIXON, TO GO TO PLACES LIKE THAT BE IS ONLY $1.35 MILLION. LESS THAN LAST YEAR AND THERE WILL -- THIS PARTICULAR ONE, AGAIN, I WORKED ON THIS WITH HART, WILL HAVE NO FARE FREE COMPONENT. AND MAINLY THAT IS BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET 6,000 PEOPLE A DAY ON IT FROM DAY ONE AS A BRT, BUT WE REALLY DO NEED TO GET PEOPLE USED TO THE IDEA OF PAYING FOR THE BUS. AND AS SEVERAL OF THE COMMENTERS SAID AND AS WE GOT FEEDBACK FROM BOTH TRANSIT NOW TAMPA BAY AND HART SURVEY SAYING PEOPLE WILL RIDE ROUTE 1 ANYWAY, BUT THE THING THEY WANTED THE MOST OF THE CONTINUED FREQUENCY. IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WAS THE WAY TO GO. WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO BE ADD ANOTHER ROUTE AND DO A FARE FREE PILOT SIMILAR. I AM HOPING WE CAN FIND MONEY LATER IN THE YEAR. MAYBE LOOK AT NEXT YEAR, BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE SMART THING TO DO IS, TO FOCUS ON THAT RIA GRANT. FOCUS ON THE BRT. GET MORE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO USE IT. AND WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO DO WITH TRANSIT NOW IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE ADVOCACY THAT WE HAVE DONE GETTING PEOPLE ON THE BUS, BUT IN THIS CASE, WE WOULD BE ADDING A STEP OF LEARNING HOW TO PAY FOR RIDING THE BUS. THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT STUFF WE CAN DO WITH IT. SO, AGAIN, THAT IS $1.35 MILLION. AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE PLACES TO FIND IT. I KNOW THAT PARKING DOESN'T WANT ME TO FIND IT THERE, BUT I FOUND IT THERE. SO UNASSIGNED USE OF FUND BALANCE IS 5.377688. SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE 1.35 OUT OF UNASSIGNED USE OF FUNDS BALANCE FOR PARKING OPERATIONS AND MOVE THAT TO THE -- THE ROUTE 1 -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO CALL IT. FREQUENCY FUND. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: REALLY JUST A SUBSIDY. >>LYNN HURTAK: IT IS A SUBSIDY. NOT ONLY THAT. I DO WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION OF CAPITAL WHEN IT COMES TO PARKING. A LOT THINGS I WANT TO DO WITH CAPITAL. I THINK FIXING THE PARKING GARAGE IS THIS ONE THING. AND NESTLED IN THAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT IS ALSO THAT READER BE -- THE PARKING -- SHOWING HOW MANY SPACES ARE ON EACH FLOOR. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT LAST YEAR. THAT WASN'T SOMETHING WE WANTED TO FUND. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT THIS YEAR, IT IS IN THE CIP, NOT IN OPERATING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NOT FOR '26? >>LYNN HURTAK: OH, YES, MONEY IN '26 FOR IT. I WANTED TO TALK OF IT. A LONGER CONVERSATION AND DIGGING INTO THE CIP AND I KNOW THAT COUNCILMAN CARLSON WANTED TO DO THAT AS WELL. MY MOTION RIGHT NOW IS TO PUT $1.35 MILLION FROM PARKING UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TO ROUTE 1 FREQUENCY IMPROVEMENTS. AND THOSE FREQUENCIES ARE, MAINTAIN THE CURRENT 15-MINUTE SERVICE ON WEEKDAYS FROM 6 A.M. TO 6 P.M. ADDED 20-MINUTE SERVICE ON WEEKENDS FROM 6 A.M. TO 6 P.M., ADD 20-MINUTE SERVICE ON WEEKDAY AND WEEKEND EVENINGS FROM 6 P.M. TO 9 P.M. >>DENNIS ROGERO: EXCUSE ME, COUNCIL, IF I CAN ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION. THE $1.35 MILLION 12 MONTHS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OR THE NINE MONTHS. >>LYNN HURTAK: 12 MONTHS. SORT OF THE FISCAL YEAR. IT ACTUALLY DOES A CALENDAR YEAR AND DO THE ROLLOVER LIKE WE DID THIS YEAR. THIS YEAR A ROLLOVER OF $ 00,000 THAT IS GOING TO BE FOR OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER. THAT ROLLOVER WOULD BE THE SAME. >>DENNIS ROGERO: COPY. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WILL LET YOU -- YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MR. CHAIRMAN, I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THAT, BUT I WANT TO SEE WHAT PLANS THE PARKING DEPARTMENT HAVE FOR THE NEEDS ABOUT BEFORE I SAY YES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL THE GARAGES ARE UP TO PAR. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT IS CAPITAL MONEY. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I UNDERSTAND IT IS CAPITAL AND THEY NEED MONEY SOMEWHERE. BEFORE I DO THAT, WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM COVERED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PUBLIC I AM SERVING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ANYBODY IN THE STAFF HAVE INFORMATION OR DATA WHAT THIS FUND BALANCE -- WHAT THIS IS? ARE YOU THROUGH? >> I WILL LET DENNIS SPEAK OF UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT. BECAUSE I AM ASSUMING THAT IS FOR EXISTING FUNDING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MR. ROGERO, THAT IS DEFERRING TO YOU. >>DENNIS ROGERO: HI, DENNIS ROGERO, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. CAN WE REQUEST A SHORT BREAK SO WE CAN -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE ANYWAY. HOW ABOUT -- WHAT TIME IS IT NOW? >>BILL CARLSON: CAN I SAY TWO THINGS. I THINK WE OUGHT TO GET FED TO COME -- I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE TIME. BUT IN A REGULAR MEETING BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT HEARING, JUST SO HE AND DENNIS CAN GO THROUGH WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE 1.3 IS NOT GOING TO LEAVE -- IT IS NOT GOING TO HAVE SUCH A HUGE TENT DENT IN THIS THAT IT WILL LEAVE PARKING GARAGES IN TERRIBLE SHAPE. BUT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO HEAR WHAT FED IS DOING. I WOULD APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, AND THEN WE CAN GET THAT ANSWER. THE SECOND THING, THOUGH, IS THAT I THINK -- REMEMBER I HAVE A MARKETING BACKGROUND. THE MARKETING THAT TRANSIT NOW DID WAS FANTASTIC. BET IT WAS $100,000 WORTH OF MARKETING THEY DID FOR FREE. I THINK YOU OUGHT TO MAKE IT $1.36 AND INCLUDE $10,000 MAYBE THROUGH HART THAT THEY WILL AT LEAST REIMBURSE TRANSIT NOW FOR COSTS TO PROMOTE IT. BECAUSE THEIR GRASS-ROOTS ACTIVITIES I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING LED TO THE HIGH ATTENDANCE. YOU HELPED. YOU WERE A LEADER OF THAT AS WELL, BUT SOMEHOW IF WE CAN -- $10,000 FOR MARKETING A BUS IS NOT VERY MUCH. THEY CAN PROBABLY TURN THAT INTO $200,000 IN VALUE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HOW A SUGGESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE, BUT WE HAVE A RELATIVELY LIGHT SCHEDULE. MAYBE DURING STAFF REPORTS DO A WALK-ON FROM PARKING. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT IS FINE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ARE YOU AVAILABLE FOR WALK-ON AND YOU AND DENNIS CAN COLLUDE. >> YES, SIR. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WITHOUT ORCS OBJECTION, A WALK-ON ITEM. >>LYNN HURTAK: CAN WE APPROVE THIS MOTION. THIS IS MY MOTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: A SECOND. >>LUIS VIERA: >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK AND SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA. MR. SHELBY. >>MARTIN SHELBY: I WILL WAIT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OPPOSED. AYES HAVE IT. >>LYNN HURTAK: I DID WANT TO SAY THAT THE FIXED LPR INITIATIVE RIGHT NOW HAS $300,000 IN IT FOR CIP THIS YEAR THE-PLATE READER. I KNOW HE WANTS TO DO DIFFERENT STUFF WITH IT, BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL TALKED ABOUT. I PERSONALLY ANY TIME OF INITIATIVE LIKE THAT, I BELIEVE SHOULD BE FUNDED BY THE CRAs. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WILL LET FRED TALK ABOUT THAT. IT IS AUTOMATED GARAGES FOR TOLL PLAYING, NOT THE SPOT ALLOCATION. >>LYNN HURTAK: BUT THAT WILL INTO THAT. I THINK THE CRA SHOULD PAY FOR THAT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ARE YOU ONLY MISSING FT. BROOKE SOMEBODY IN. >> FT. BROOKE AND PAM IORIO. >>LYNN HURTAK: THOR DO THE ACTUAL $12 MILLION LIFT, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT -- I BELIEVE THAT THAT CAN BE FUNDED THROUGH THE CRA. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IF IT GETS INTO THE CIP, WE CAN'T. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I DON'T KNOW, BUT THIS PROGRAM IS NOT THE SAME ONE WE REJECTED OR TRANSFERRED MONEY FROM THE PARKS. >>LYNN HURTAK: IT IS. SMALLER CHUNKS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: A DIFFERENT KIND OF PROGRAM. >>LYNN HURTAK: SAME THING BUT IN SMALLER CHUNKS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: TOTAL REVENUE GENERATOR BECAUSE READS THE PLATES IN LIEU OF PAYING FOR IT. >>LYNN HURTAK: FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THAT IS THE BEGINNING TO -- BY PUTTING THESE CHASM AS IN. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM FED IS THAT IS HOW WE -- HOW WE SET UP TO HAVE THAT SYSTEM, IS THAT CORRECT? >> SO TO -- STORE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER CLENDENIN WAS SAYING, THAT'S ENFORCEMENT. THAT ENFORCEMENT OF THE GUIDANCE SYSTEM. THE GUIDANCE SYSTEM CAN GO INTO IT. TWO DIFFERENT. >>LYNN HURTAK: GUIDANCE PROGRAM IS IN HERE IN THE CIP. >> THAT WAS YEARS AGO. >>BILL CARLSON: LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE, THEY PULLED BEFORE -- WANTED TO PUT SIGNAGE. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING MY PREP MEETING. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS WAS, THAT WE WANTED TO -- THAT HAS AWAY WE WERE GOING TOWARD, BEING ABLE TO TIE ALL THE PARKING GARAGES TOGETHER TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT'S IN -- HOW MANY SPACES ARE IN EACH GARAGE. >> THAT IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO GO, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR FY '26 IN THERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE DON'T HAVE IT IN THE CIP RIGHT NOW. SOMETHING WE CAN FUND THROUGH THE CRAs. >> WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY IN THE PARKING BUDGET FOR IT. SO IF WE WERE ABLE TOO TIE IT INTO THE CRA, WE CAN, BUT FY '26 CIP HURTAK HORIZON I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT IN THE CIP. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE NEED SHEPHERD'S GUIDANCE -- >>LYNN HURTAK: I AGREE AND SOMETHING WE CAN ASK HIM NEXT WEEK. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE I MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON? >>LUIS VIERA: TAKE THE BREAK. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CAN WE TAKE THE BREAK -- >>MARTIN SHELBY: MR. CHAIRMAN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES, MR. SHELBY. >>MARTIN SHELBY: WITH THE BREAK -- I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU WANT TO WISH TO TAKE A BREAK, BUT I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT, NOT FOR THE BENEFIT OF COUNCIL AND ALTHOUGH COUNCIL KNOWS WHY I AM SAYING THIS, DURING THE PERIOD OF BREAK, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE YOU WILL NOT BE DISCUSSING ANYTHING OUTSIDE THIS ROOM RELATED TO THE BUDGET. >>LYNN HURTAK: NOT WITH EACH OTHER. >>MARTIN SHELBY: CERTAINLY NOT. >>BILL CARLSON: OR ANYTHING ELSE COVERED UNDER SUNSHINE. >>MARTIN SHELBY: I JUST WANT TO CALL IT A BREAK AND WE DO THAT THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT. I KNOW COUNCIL -- I KNOW COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THAT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION TO TAKE A BREAK AND RETURN TO THE PUBLIC. THIS 15 MINUTES 8:25 IN THE SEATS AND READY FOR ME TO CALL COUNCIL BACK IN ORDER. THANK YOU. A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OPPOSED. WE ARE AT BREAK. . >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I CALL COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. >> MIRANDA? MANISCALCO? >>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 VERY MUCH. SO I BELIEVE COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE THE MIKE? >>LYNN HURTAK: I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT DURING MY BREAK -- I DID NOT TALK TO ANY OF YOU BUT I DID TALK TO STAFF. MR. REVOLTE AND MR. ROGERO ARE HAPPY TO COME TOMORROW, MAYBE DURING ■ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE AD GIVE US A LITTLE EDUCATION ABOUT WHAT THE PLANS ARE FOR PARKING, BUT EVERYBODY IS ON BOARD, AND WE BELIEVE WE CAN FIND THAT 1.35. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: OKAY. VERY GOOD. SO THAT MOTION STANDS AND WE CAN GO -- SO, COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: I DON'T WANT TO CUT OFF. I HAD A COUPLE OF MOTIONS TO MAKE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU DON'T WANT TO CUT HER OFF, BECAUSE YOU SAW -- [ LAUGHTER ] >>LUIS VIERA: TO THE NEXT TOPIC, I WANT TO MAKE SOME MOTIONS, IF I MAY. >>LYNN HURTAK: THE ONLY OTHER THING, I ALSO DID TALK ABOUT SOCIAL ACTION ARTS FUNDING. I THINK IF WE CAN JUST AGREE ON A NUMBER THAT WE CAN WORK WITH MS. KOPESKY AND THE FINANCE TEAM BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT ONE TO DECIDE WHAT WE WANT TO FUND, BUT THEN I REALLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO HAVE A MUCH DEEPER WORKSHOP. CHIEF BENNETT HAD A REALLY INTERESTING PROPOSITION OR COMMENT ABOUT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH SOME OF THE EVENT FUNDING? SO IT'S SOMETHING FOR US TO THINK ABOUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND THEN I'M DONE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CHIEF BENNETT. >>JOHN BENNETT: JOHN BENNETT, CHIEF OF STAFF. THANK YOU FOR PROMPTING THAT COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. SO AS COUNCIL MAY BE AWARE, IN CODE, THERE IS A SPECIAL EVENT COMMITTEE. JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A BUCKET, YOU HAVE CITY CHARTER EVENTS, WHICH ARE THE BIG ONES, AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR RECURRING EVENTS. LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, YOU HAVE NEW EVENTS. AGAIN, THERE'S LIMITED FUNDING BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE'RE DOING AN EVENT, THERE ARE EITHER HARD COSTS, WHAT I CALL DEPLOYING POLICE, FIRE, MOBILITY, AND THEN SOFT COSTS, WHICH ARE TYPICALLY RENTAL FEES AND GREENSPACE. ALL OF THESE THINGS TEND TO EITHER TAX RESOURCES OR, AGAIN, STRETCH OR CHALLENGE THE BUDGET. SO AS THE COMMITTEE MEETS, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS LOOK AT THESE RECURRING EVENTS AND SUPPORT THEM BY WORKING WITH THEM OVER TIME TO REDUCE THOSE COSTS. EVEN BETTER YET, AS THE MAYOR AND I HAVE SUGGESTED TO THE SPECIAL EVENT COMMITTEE, IS TRY AND FIND A WAY TO HELP THEM FOCUS ON A FOOTPRINT THAT REDUCES THEIR COST. BECAUSE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, CLOSING A ROAD AND ALL THESE INTERSECTIONS AND PUTTING UP SECURITY SYSTEMS AND BARRICADES IS MUCH MORE COSTLY THAN FINDING A SELF-CONTAINED PARK TO DO A 5K. SO ALL THIS WORK IS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES TO HELP US AT LEAST STAY LEVEL AND WORK FLUIDLY DOWN WITH THESE SPECIAL EVENTS, BUT THEN ALSO GIVE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO NEW EVENTS TO GET STARTED UNTIL THEY CAN RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING. SO THAT IS ANOTHER WHOLE EFFORT GOING ON, ON THE SIDE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: BUT SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD MODEL WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE FOR SOCIAL ACTION IN ARTS FUNDING GOING FORWARD. I THINK DOING A WORKSHOP AND REALLY TALKING ABOUT THAT, BUT GETTING SOME IDEAS IN THE BACKGROUND ABOUT MAYBE SOME STUFF, AGAIN, THAT NEEDS TO GO TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR MAYBE SOME THINGS THAT MIGHT NOT NEED TO BE FUNDED ANY MORE AT THEIR CURRENT RATE. >>JOHN BENNETT: I ALSO MENTIONED TO COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK IS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING OFF-LINE TRYING TO LAND A RUBRIC THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HELP IN A METHODOLOGICAL WAY TALK ABOUT -- SOME OF THESE I'VE BEEN ON FOR TEN YEARS, AND WE GOT TO SEE IF CONTINUE ROI. COUNCILMAN CARLSON'S POINT, DO THEY NEED TO BE BAKED INTO THE BUDGET BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE STRATEGIC ACTIONABILITY FOR THE CITY. SO ALL OF THAT WORK STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE. AGAIN, THE BACK DOOR IS STILL OPEN BECAUSE WE KEEP GETTING REQUESTS THAT MAKE THIS A DYNAMIC PROCESS. BUT I THINK WE CAN GET THERE. I THINK EVERY YEAR WE'VE GOTTEN A LITTLE CLOSER TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE. IT IS A MATTER OF, AGAIN, WHERE THE FUNDING MEETS THE ROI. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I DON'T KNOW. BECAUSE WE HAVE $5 MILLION WORTH OF REQUESTS AND $1 MILLION IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. IT'S NOT CLOSE. >>JOHN BENNETT: WELL, THAT'S WITH ALL THE NEW. I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS PREEXISTED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I AGREE. I THINK THAT COUNCILMAN CARLSON HAD SOME VERY GOOD POINTS. THIS WAS PART OF OUR DISCUSSION WAS STRATEGIC -- THINGS THAT ALIGN WITH THE STRATEGIC GOALS OF THE CITY, AND IF IT ALIGNS WITH THE STRATEGIC GOAL OF THE CITY, I THINK THAT'S VERY APPLICABLE TO WHAT COUNCILMAN CARLSON SAID AS FAR AS ALIGNING IT WITH AN EXISTING BUDGET LINE WITHIN A DEPARTMENT. BECAUSE THAT JUST -- IT MAKES SENSE TO ME. COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WITH REGARDS TO THE REQUEST, THOSE ARE JUST THAT, REQUESTS. WE CAN PULL A NANCY REAGAN AND JUST SAY NO AND THAT'S FINE OR SAY LATER. WHATEVER. THAT'S FINE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF MOTIONS THAT I THINK WILL SIMPLIFY THIS FOR US. AGAIN, I'M RESPECTFULLY CRITICAL OF THE PROCESS THIS YEAR. I THINK IT JUST LENDS ITSELF TO A LONGER PROCESS. BUT MY FIRST MOTION, COUNCIL, IS TO HAVE MS. KOPESKY WORK WITH MR. ROGERO ON MOVING ITEMS TO THE SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTS AS WE HAVE SAID, TO THE EXTENT THAT ITEMS FROM THE NONPROFIT BUDGET COULD GO INTO OTHER AREAS. THOSE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO RETURNING CITIZENS, YBOR CITY MUSEUM, THE NAACP, AGAIN, INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO. AND THAT THEY REPORT TO US AT THE SECOND HEARING OF OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP. AGAIN, THIS IS TO SIMPLIFY THIS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CAN I MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? ITEMS THAT ALIGN WITH THE STRATEGIC GOALS OF THE CITY. >>LUIS VIERA: YES, SIR. THAT'S FINE. AND I THINK THESE DO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NO DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. >>LUIS VIERA: YES, SIR. MY NEXT ONE, AGAIN, THIS IS TO SIMPLIFY THINGS. WE HAVE GOTTEN SOME REQUESTS THAT I THINK BY AND LARGE WE SUPPORT. ONE OF THEM IS WE TALKED ABOUT FINDING FUNDS FOR MS. McKENZIE TALKED ABOUT STATE CERTIFIED APPRENTICESHIPS. WE ARE SAVING MONEY BY NOT HAVING THE ORDINANCE ANYMORE. IT'S TERRIBLE, BUT WHATEVER. THE TAMPA FIREFIGHTERS MUSEUM. A REQUEST WAS MADE FOR THAT. THE SKILLS CENTER. THE PORTICO AND THEN THE SPECIAL NEEDS INTERNSHIP. THIS IS NOT A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE. THIS IS A MOTION TO HAVE MR. ROGERO WORK WITH MS. KOPESKY ON FINDING FUNDS IN THE BUDGET FOR THE SPECIFIC ITEMS AND REPORT TO US ON THE FEASIBILITY AND THEN WE CAN VOTE YES OR NO. A MOTION WOULD BE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THESE IN THE BUDGET. THAT, AGAIN, THIS SIMPLIFIES THINGS A LOT MORE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WOULD YOU LIKE THAT REPORT BY A CERTAIN DATE OR BY THE NEXT BUDGET HEARING? >>LUIS VIERA: YES, SIR. WHAT DO YOU THINK, COUNCIL? NEXT BUDGET HEARING. I THINK THAT'S FINE, GIVE THEM TIME. THAT'S IT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR. IT IS FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. IT'S FOR THE TAMPA FIREFIGHTERS MUSEUM, SKILL CENTER, PORTICO, AND FOR COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, I'LL REPEAT THIS. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, WE JUST PASSED A MOTION TO HAVE MR. ROGERO WORK WITH MS. KOPESKY ON ITEMS THAT SHOULD BE MOVED FROM NONPROFIT TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING RETURNING CITIZENS, NAACP, ET CETERA. THAT PASSED. NUMBER TWO THAT I'M MOTIONING FOR IS THAT MS. KOPESKY WORK WITH MR. ROGERO AND REPORT TO US BY THE NEXT BUDGET MEETING ON THE FINDING FUNDS FOR THE FOLLOWING. THIS WOULD NOT MEAN APPROVING THESE FUNDS OR THESE PROGRAMS. THIS WOULD MEAN INQUIRING ON FEASIBILITY OF FUNDING THEM. WE WOULD HAVE TO INCORPORATE THEM. NUMBER ONE, THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. NUMBER TWO, THE TAMPA FIREFIGHTERS MUSEUM REQUEST FOR FUNDS. DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE FULL AMOUNT, CAN BE LESS. NUMBER THREE, SKILLS CENTER. NUMBER FOUR, PORTICO HOUSING. NUMBER FIVE, THE SPECIAL NEEDS INTERNSHIP BECAUSE I WANT SOMETHING IN THERE SPECIFIC ON THAT. SO THAT'S MY MOTION, AND WE HAD A SECOND. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT A MOTION TO AMEND THAT TO BE AT LEAST A WRITTEN REPORT BY THE DAY BEFORE SEPTEMBER 15 SO WE HAVE TIME TO DIGEST THAT. >>LUIS VIERA: ACCEPTED. YES SIR. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WITH A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. >>LUIS VIERA: THIS IS NOT A MOTION BUT I DO THINK WE OUGHT TO BY TAKING SOME OF THESE FUNDS OUT FROM THIS, THIS IS ABOUT $2 MILLION, WE CAN PROBABLY FIND FOUR, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO TAKE OUT, I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THIS AMOUNT FROM ONE MILLION TO 1.25 MILLION, A 25% INCREASE, $250,000, WHICH IS NOTHING IN THIS BUDGET WHATSOEVER. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD DO TO GIVE THESE FOLKS A BETTER FRAMEWORK IN WHICH TO FIT IN THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CAN BE A MOTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WHAT I'M HEARING IS YOU SAY FROM THE PROPOSED BUDGET SUBMITTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, THEY HAVE ALLOCATED $1 MILLION. YOU WANT TO INCREASE THAT ALLOCATION TO 1.250. $1,250,000. MY QUESTION WOULD BE FOR MR. ROGERO. CAN YOU HELP US WITH THAT? >>BILL CARLSON: WHO WILL COVER THE OTHER MILLION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT'S NOT -- IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT I'M HEARING, IS THIS COUNCIL WOULD PASS THIS TONIGHT WITH AN AMENDED AMOUNT OF $1,250,000. AND WHEN MR. ROGERO AND MS. KOPESKY GET TOGETHER, THEY ARE GOING TO FIND EITHER MOVE MONEY OUT OF THIS BUDGET AND THEN BALANCE THE REST OF IT WITHIN THE 1.25. >>LUIS VIERA: ALL THE MOTIONS WORK TOGETHER TO REACH THAT GOAL. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: -- >>BILL CARLSON: FIND SAVINGS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT'S $250,000. THAT WE WOULD -- COULD YOU HELP US SIR? DO YOU HAVE A QUARTER? >>LUIS VIERA: MAY I SAY SOMETHING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: WHAT I COULD DO, GUYS, AMEND MY MOTION I DID ON APPRENTICESHIPS, THE MUSEUM, SKILLS CENTER, PORTICO, SPECIAL NEEDS, INTERNSHIP IS TO SAY FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO INCREASE IT TO 1.25, UNLESS IF YOU CAN CITE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW, MR. ROGERO, THAT WE REQUEST THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS BE FOUND FOR THE 25% INCREASE, UNLESS IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING NOW. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, SIR. I WOULD APPRECIATE THE REVISED MOTION BECAUSE WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO DO IS GET TOGETHER AND PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND BRING YOU OPTIONS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE COULD NOT INCREASE IT NOW AND WAIT FOR YOU TO COME BACK WITH A SUGGESTION OF HOW YOU GET TO THAT ONE AND A QUARTER MILLION. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WOULD THAT BE YOUR SUGGESTION FOR TONIGHT? >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES, THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTOOD THE REVISED MOTION TO BE AND WOULD BE OUR PREFERENCE. >>LUIS VIERA: WHAT I WANTED -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HOLD ON. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: AFTER THE MOTION. >>LUIS VIERA: AGAIN, COUNCIL, WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS FIND COMPROMISE ON THIS AND TO MAKE IT SIMPLER. SO MY REVISED MOTION IS ON TOP OF THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, THE MUSEUM, FIREFIGHTERS MUSEUM, SKILLS CENTER, PORTICO, HOUSING, SPECIAL NEEDS INTERNSHIP IS THAT WE ADDITIONALLY ASK MS. KOPESKY AND MR. ROGERO TO WORK ON FUNDS TO INCREASE THIS AMOUNT BY 25%, UP TO $1.25 MILLION, WITH A WRITTEN REPORT ON SEPTEMBER 15, TO BE REPORTED TO US AT THE SECOND BUDGET HEARING. AGAIN, IT'S NOT APPROVING IT. IT'S FOR OUR CONSIDERATION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, REFERENCE THE EXISTING FUNDING BUDGETED NUMBER OF $1 MILLION DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY MONEY FOR FIRE, MUSEUM OR ANY MONEY FOR PORTICO. BUT I'M SAYING SO THAT MONEY IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS ALREADY BAKED INTO THE CAKE. RIGHT NOW, IT'S ZERO. >>LUIS VIERA: ABSOLUTELY. YES SIR. SINCE THOSE ARE ZERO, THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO DO, IS SEE IF THERE IS FUNDING FOR THOSE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE HOUSING, THE PORTICO HOUSING, I THINK THAT COULD BE RELATIVELY SIMPLE. $5 MILLION IN HOUSING CARRY OVER FUNDS. TOLD SOME THINGS ARE EASIER, SOME THINGS ARE NOT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO WAS THE SECOND. DISCUSSION. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: NO, I HAD SOMETHING AT THE END. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: AGAIN, I WANT TO HOLD UP THE MANTLE FOR COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON AND LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT SHE WANTED TO FUND. I KNOW THAT THE CORNERSTONE KIDS SHE WANTED TO FUND FOR $20,000 SO THAT THEY CAN -- SO THEY CAN GET THE MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE CHILDREN'S BOARD. RIGHT NOW, IT SAYS 10,000. I'M GOING TO ASK MS. KOPESKY TO LOOK AT THAT. I ALSO DON'T KNOW, LOOKS ON THE LIST LIKE THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE DISTRICT FIVE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH ALL OF THAT IS. BUT I WOULD BE WILLING -- OR IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO, WILLING TO WORK WITH MS. KOPESKY ON THE DISTRICT 5 MONIES. OKAY. WELL, THEN, COUNCILMAN VIERA WANTS TO TAKE ON THAT MANTLE. >>LUIS VIERA: I WOULD BE DELIGHTED. I ALSO SEE DREAM BUILDERS IN HER DISTRICT AMONG OTHERS. WE CAN WORK ON THOSE. I'LL SHOOT AN E-MAIL TO SET THAT UP. >>LYNN HURTAK: ALSO HAVE MS. JOHNSON IN ON THAT. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: BECAUSE SHE IS THE ONE THAT I KNOW KNOWS ABOUT IT. I TOLD HER TODAY THAT I WOULD BRING IT UP, THE 20,000 FOR THE CORNERSTONE KIDS. SO HAVE MS. KOPESKY LOOK AT THAT. HOWEVER, THAT'S KIND OF AN ASIDE, BUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO SAY WAS, AND I AM ABSOLUTELY GUILTY OF THIS TOO. BY THE TIME WE GET HERE, WE SHOULD KIND OF ALREADY HAD THIS FIGURED OUT TO SOME DEGREE. I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE US NEXT YEAR TO BETWEEN OUR WORKSHOPS AND HERE TO REALLY GOTTEN TOGETHER WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO HELP TRY TO FIND THESE FUNDS BEFORE WE COME -- I MEAN, I KNOW HERE WE WANT TO SHARE BIG IDEAS, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT -- AGAIN, I'M GUILTY TOO. I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS. I DID TO A LITTLE DEGREE, BUT NOT ENOUGH, TO WHERE I WANTED TO FIND THE MONEY FOR THE TRANSIT. SO I THINK WORKING BEFORE THE INTERIM, BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ALL OF US. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE HOLD OF THE ISSUE AND MAYBE DARLENE, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, TO GO BACK AND REVIEW THE RECORDINGS FROM THESE DISCUSSIONS LAST YEAR. STAY TRUE TO COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON'S INTENT. I KNOW SOME OF THE ITEMS SHE PLACED THERE, SHE WAS VERY INTENTIONAL BY SAYING IT WAS A ONE-TIME ONLY FUNDING REQUEST. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE MS. JOHNSON WILL BE ABLE TO HELP NARROW IT DOWN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GO BACK AND NARROW IT DOWN. I THINK SOME OF THE ITEMS WERE THERE AND MAYBE GET SOME OF THE INTENT IN THERE. AT LEAST WITH THE SEAT BEING VACANT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO DO THAT. COUNCILMAN CARLSON, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? >>BILL CARLSON: NO, I WANTED TO SAY SOME THINGS AFTER. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE'RE DONE WITH THAT PART. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OTHER THINGS TOO. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN CARLSON FIRST, I RECOGNIZE YOU FIRST. >>BILL CARLSON: YOU MENTIONED SOME EAST TAMPA THINGS. SULPHUR SPRINGS, I KNOW THE CITY IS COMING BACK ON REPORT. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT SULPHUR SPRINGS. WE SHOULD PROBABLY PUT SOME SORT OF FUNDING FOR NONPROFITS IN SULPHUR SPRINGS. I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD DISTRIBUTE IT, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE A HUNDRED THOUSAND SPREAD AMONG SEVERAL NONPROFITS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS PITCHING FOR WAS THE STEPPING STONES. >>BILL CARLSON: THERE ARE OTHERS. I WANT TO THROW THAT OUT. I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA HAS BEEN THE ONE LEADING ON SULPHUR SPRINGS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T FORGET IT. I THINK THIS WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR MOTION, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ESPECIALLY THE CHIEF OF STAFF IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT REALLOCATING THESE NONPROFIT BUDGETS. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A SEPARATE DISCRETIONARY BUDGET AT ALL. I THINK IT SHOULD ALL BE STRATEGIC. I DON'T THINK THAT TAXPAYER MONEY SHOULD BE CHARITABLE MONEY. THERE ARE PLENTY OF FOUNDATIONS THAT CAN GIVE MONEY AWAY. EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY SPENDS SHOULD BE SPENT ON STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS THAT LEVERAGE TAX DOLLARS TO GET MORE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, LIKE YOU DO WITH THHI AND THE HOMELESS INITIATIVES, CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND OTHERS. IT SHOULD BE LEVERAGING OUR DOLLARS TO GET MUCH MORE RETURN FOR THE PUBLIC. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE NONPROFITS TONIGHT, BUT IN MY ANALYSIS, THE TWO THINGS THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON, ONE, THE SALARY INCREASES, NONE OF US WANT TO TOUCH THAT UNLESS WE HIT A RECESSION. BUT THAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT COMES UP IN ANYBODY'S ANALYSIS. SO THAT'S WHY I PUSH THAT ASIDE AND STARTED LOOKING AT REIMBURSEMENTS RELATED TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. AND THAT WAS A QUICK CONVERSATION IN THE BEGINNING, BUT MR. ROGERO IS GOING TO LOOK AT IT. I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND IF NOT IMMEDIATELY, I HOPE WE CAN FIND SOME WAYS TO FURTHER RECOUP EXPENSES UNDER THE ENTERPRISE FUND SO WE CAN FREE UP MORE OF THE GENERAL FUND EVENTUALLY. MY COMMENT ABOUT DEBT EARLIER IS IF YOU HAVE A CAR -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A GOOD ANALOGY, YOU HAVE A CAR AND BUY A STEREO THAT IS A THOUSAND BUCKS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY COST TODAY OR TAKE THE THOUSAND BUCKS AND PAY DOWN YOUR CAR LOAN, THOSE ARE THE CHOICES RIGHT NOW. SO WE HAVE DEBT WITH EVERY DOLLAR WE HAVE, WE CAN PAY DOWN THE DEBT OR REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF NEW DEBT. IT DOESN'T MEAN LITERALLY WE'LL TAKE THIS NONPROFIT MONEY AND BORROW MONEY FOR IT, BUT THAT MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT TO PAY DOWN DEBT OR REDUCE DEBT WHICH MEANS WE HAVE MORE SERVICES IN THE FUTURE. THE LAST THING I WANT TO ASK, MS. KOPESKY, NATHAN ASKED THIS QUESTION EARLIER, BETWEEN YOUR POSITION AND THE VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE, COULD YOU JUST TELL US, THE ONLY REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE TONIGHT, OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE, WAS TO INCLUDE FUNDING FOR THE BUS, BUT DID THE BUDGET COMMITTEE COME UP -- DID YOU OR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE COME UP WITH ANY BIG RECOMMENDED REDUCTIONS. BECAUSE THE WAY WE CAN INCLUDE NEW THINGS IS REDUCE SOMETHING ELSE. OR THE WAY TO REDUCE DEBT IS TO REDUCE SOMETHING. DID YOU ALL COME UP WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS AND OR A MEETING BETWEEN NOW AND THE SECOND HEARING TO RECOMMEND ANYTHING WE CAN CUT? >> I WOULD SUMMARIZE IT THAT ALTHOUGH YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT REDUCTIONS -- HAGAR KOPESKY, CITY COUNCIL BUDGET ANALYST. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I SAID IT TOO LONG. STATE YOUR NAME. >>HAGAR KOPESKY: HAGAR KOPESKY, CITY COUNCIL BUDGET ANALYST. TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, I THINK THE FOCUS HAS BEEN HEAVILY ON THE FEE SUBJECT. AS YOU NOTICED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN MS. POYNOR CAME UP TO REQUEST THAT YOU REQUEST THOSE REPORTS TO COME, THOSE WERE SOME OF THE BIG DOLLARS. YES, I UNDERSTAND THOSE WILL BE MORE ON COVERING COSTS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY, UNFORTUNATELY, JUST EATING WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND. THERE'S ALSO BEEN QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION ON SALARY INCREASE OVER PERIODS, BUT WE WERE NOT PREPARED TO GO TO A LEVEL WHERE WE FELT WE WOULD BE MAKING POINTED SUGGESTIONS IN THAT AREA. REALLY, I WOULD SAY AT THIS POINT IT WAS CONTINUING DOWN THE PATH OF THE LARGER FEES AS WELL AS SOME OTHER ITEMS. YEAH, CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THE SALARY EXPENSES. >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU. IF YOU GET ANYTHING ELSE BETWEEN NOW AND THE SECOND MEETING, PLEASE LET US KNOW. I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO SAVE MONEY AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO DO THAT. AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF SAID, HIS TEAM HAS BEEN THROUGH IT AS WELL. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION TO CIRCLE BACK AROUND, AT THE FIRST HEARING, I MENTIONED WE COULD CUT SOME OF THE BUDGET OF THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT OR THE LOBBYING DEPARTMENT. SINCE THEN, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE DIRECT CONTROL OF THEM AND THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, UNFORTUNATELY. BUT SINCE THEN, THE CHIEF OF STAFF HAS SENT AROUND A MEMO WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT REMINDING STAFF THAT THEY CAN'T USE CITY RESOURCES, CITY TIME FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. SINCE THAT MEMO WENT OUT, I'VE NOT SEEN ANY EVIDENCE THAT ANYTHING HAS HAPPENED. HAPPY TO GO IN THE PAST AND SHOW LOTS OF EVIDENCE. FROM THIS POINT, I WILL HOPE THAT THE CHIEF OF STAFF'S INTERVENTION HAS CAUSED US TO MAKE SURE THAT STAFF TIME IS SPENT ON THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, NOT ON POLITICAL PURPOSES. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO DEDICATE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO THE C.I.P. BECAUSE THE C.I.P. IS OUR ROAD MAP FOR SPENDING MONEY. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS REALLY -- THE NEAT THING IS, AND I REALLY HAVE TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT YOU PROVIDED IT FOR US THIS YEAR, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ONLY TEN PAGES. IT'S VERY SMALL. YOU NEED YOUR GLASSES, BUT IT ACTUALLY, IT'S PAGES 368 TO 373. SO I'M OFF ON THE MATH A LITTLE, BUT IT'S NOT THAT -- OH, I'M SORRY. IT'S ACTUALLY 376. 377. 377. SO 368 TO 377 AND REALLY LOOKING AT IT IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WANT TO SPEND FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. ROGERO. I DON'T WANT TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE, BUT I REALLY HAVE TO BRING IT UP. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE'RE CITY COUNCIL, WE BEAT DEAD HORSES. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE'RE GOOD AT HORSE BEATING. NOW SOMEBODY -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT WAS A JOKE, HUMANE SOCIETY. >>LYNN HURTAK: SO THE REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION, I'M GOING TO BRING THAT BACK UP, THE $48 MILLION ON FIRE STATIONS, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE WANT TO HAVE MONEY FOR FIRE STATIONS, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, FIRE STATION 9 RENOVATIONS AREN'T EVEN IN THE BUDGET UNTIL FY '29. FIRE STATION 6 IS NOT IN THE BUDGET UNTIL FY '28. FIRE STATION NUMBER 10 IS NOT IN THE BUDGET UNTIL FY '29. AND WE'RE NOT ADDING UP LEADING TO IT. IT'S SOLELY IN THAT TIME. SO WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD WE WANT A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION SO EARLY IF WE DON'T EVEN HAVE LIKE LEADING FUNDS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE $17 MILLION WE HAVE FOR STATION NUMBER 10, WHICH, BY THE WAY, ISN'T USABLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE MOLD AND THE ISSUES IN IT, PEOPLE CAN'T BE THERE, THEY HAVE 10%. SO THAT'S BUDGETED FOR FY '29. FY '28, IT HAS 10% FOR LIKE THE PLANNING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WHY -- IT SOUNDS HERE -- I MEAN, THIS SEEMS VERY RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE THE -- JUST THE PLANNING THE YEAR BEFORE AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTION THE YEAR AFTER. SO WHY WOULD WE NEED THAT MONEY PUT INTO A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION THREE YEARS BEFORE IT'S GOING TO BE USED? >>DENNIS ROGERO: IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I'LL DO MY BEST TO CONNECT THOSE DOTS. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO FLEXIBILITY AND EXPEDITING THE PROJECT. EVEN THOUGH THOSE PARTICULAR PROJECTS, AS YOU SAID, ARE IDENTIFIED IN THEIR ENTIRETY IN LIKE FISCAL YEAR 28, A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION NOW ALLOWS US TO START SPENDING MONEY ON THINGS LIKE DESIGN, ET CETERA, BEFORE THE C.I.P. FUNDS, WHICH IF I'M GOING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, ANTICIPATED DEBT FINANCING, BEFORE WE GO OUT FOR THAT. IT'S SIMILAR TO THE OTHER PROJECT THAT YOU CITED, ONLY IT'S NOT SO SPELLED OUT EVERY YEAR. IT ALLOWS US TO GET A JUMP ON THOSE PROJECTS, EVEN THOUGH AS YOU SAID, THEY ARE ANTICIPATED OR YOU PLANTED THE FLAG IN '28, '27, ET CETERA. IT ALLOWS US TO MOVE FASTER AND YET STILL PAY OURSELVES BACK FOR THAT DEBT SERVICE. >>LYNN HURTAK: SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, SO FOR THE DEBT SERVICE, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO PUT 6 MILLION TOWARD THAT. SO LIKE 2 MILLION TOWARD EACH PROJECT, TOWARD THAT GOING FORWARD, BUT NOT THE TOTAL AMOUNT. EVEN IF WE WERE TO EXPEDITE IT, WE CAN'T START ANY OF THOSE UNTIL FOLKS ARE IN AND USING THE NEW FLEET SUPPLY THAT DOESN'T EXIST YET. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THAT'S WHY THE NEXT REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION WE BRING YOU IS GOING TO BE TEAMIZED BY PROJECT -- ITEMIZED BY PROJECT AS OPPOSED TO THE AMOUNT IN ITS ENTIRETY. >>LYNN HURTAK: I DID WANT TO TAKE THAT MOMENT TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH THAT BECAUSE THAT'S AN ISSUE. I DO WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THIS -- HONESTLY, THE FIVE-YEAR PROJECTION FOR FIRE IS BETTER THAN IS CHOCKFUL EVEN COMPARED TO MANY OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. GOING FORWARD, PLANNING, AND I'M GLAD WE'RE STARTING THAT PLANNING NOW, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ANY OF THE C.I.P. PROJECTS? BECAUSE I THINK WE REALLY DO OWE IT, AS COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON SAID, THIS IS FUTURE DEBT, AND WE NEED TO BE DISCUSSING WHAT WE ACTUALLY WANT TO BUDGET FOR THIS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THE YELLOW JACKET FIELD IMPROVEMENT, THE DUGOUT, IS THAT IN THE C.I.P.? >>DENNIS ROGERO: IT IS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I UNDERSTAND THAT DOESN'T -- IT WAS A RHETORICAL QUESTION. I KIND OF KNEW IT WAS THERE. [ LAUGHTER ] BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT UNTIL '28, IS THAT RIGHT? >>DENNIS ROGERO: 27 OR 28. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS OF GETTING THAT ADVANCED? I THINK THE CONCERN FROM PUBLIC COMMENT FROM MS. LOCKETT WAS GETTING THIS STARTED, ESPECIALLY LIKE THE DUGOUT. I GUESS THERE WERE PROMISES MADE AT SOME POINT WHEN THEY MOVED THIS, ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE FIELD, KEEPING IT UP WITH WHATEVER AND EQUITABLY MAINTAINED LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER BASEBALL FIELDS WE HAVE. WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS OF GETTING THIS ADVANCED SO THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THIS COUNCIL, AS WE SIT, WOULD BE -- GET THIS THING, THE CATALYST KICK STARTED AND GOING SO IT'S IN PROCESS SO WHOEVER IS THE NEXT COUNCIL, THE NEXT MAYOR WOULD INHERIT A PROGRAM THAT'S ALREADY GOING. >>DENNIS ROGERO: UNDERSTOOD. I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE PROJECT TIME FRAME AND WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED DOING THE PROJECT, BUT I CAN SPEAK TO THE FUNDING. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT FUNDING IS ANTICIPATED TO COME FROM THE NEXT VERSION OF THE CIT. WE START COLLECTING THAT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR FROM NOW. BUT FROM A FUNDING PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY FLOAT THAT UNTIL WE START RECEIVING THOSE CIT FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL FUND. BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THE DEPARTMENT HAS THE CAPACITY TO MOVE ON THAT PROJECT EARLIER THAN WHAT'S IN THE C.I.P. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS OF GETTING THIS ADVANCED TO THE FY '27, I THINK IT WAS 28, MAYBE I'M WRONG. IT'S 28. OF GETTING IT AT LEAST MOVED TO THE 27 AND THEN WE COULD USE THAT TYPE OF THINKING NEXT YEAR FOR LIKE MAYBE STARTING THE DESIGN, WHAT WOULD WE NEED TO DO TO GET THAT MOVED FROM 28 TO 27? JUST A MOTION? >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES. WE FROM A LOGISTICS PERSPECTIVE, WE WOULD GET WITH THE DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION PARKS ADMINISTRATION OR WHATEVER, AND WORK OUT THE LOGISTICS OF WHEN THEY WOULD NEED THE FUNDING. AND I THINK FROM THE COUNCIL'S PERSPECTIVE, A MOTION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THERE YOU GO. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, TAKE THE GAVEL. THANK YOU. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE STAFF AMEND THE C.I.P. PROGRAM FOR ITEM 1002862 YELLOW JACKET IMPROVEMENTS FROM FY '28 TO FY '27. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION BY CHAIR CLENDENIN AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. JUST SEEING IF THEY HAD -- >> [INAUDIBLE] >>LYNN HURTAK: ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT? OKAY. WHILE THEY ARE CHATTING -- >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I'M GLAD THIS IS BEING MOVED UP. I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE YELLOW JACKETS. MS. LOCKETT IS HERE EVERY WEEK TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HAVE SHOWN CONCERN. HISTORICALLY, IT'S JUST VERY IMPORTANT, VERY SIGNIFICANT. AS SHE SHOWED IN ONE OF THE SLIDES, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE MOVED OUT OF WEST TAMPA, SO MAKE THEM WHOLE AS MS. LOCKETT SAYS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION AND I HAVE A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN VIERA FIRST AND THEN COUNCILMAN CARLSON, GO AHEAD. >>BILL CARLSON: IS IT POSSIBLE I CAN SEE THE UPDATED LIST? WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET AN UPDATED VERSION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT'S IN THE BUDGET BOOK. >>LYNN HURTAK: IT STARTS ON PAGE 368. >>BILL CARLSON: SHOULDN'T IT BE IN THE AGENDA? I CAN'T FIND IT OnBase. >>LYNN HURTAK: 368. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WHILE YOU LOOK THROUGH THAT, CAN WE GO TO COUNCILMAN VIERA? COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO SAY FOR COUNCILMAN CARLSON, I THINK THAT MOTION FOR COMMUNITY STEPPING STONES WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE THAT. I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NONPROFITS IS AYE ROKO DANCE STUDIO, MR. WALTER HILL LEARNED HOW TO DANCE SALSA, BY THE WAY. THEY USE THESE FUNDS FOR ARTS AND DANCE CLASSES FOR AT-RISK YOUTH IN SULPHUR SPRINGS. THEY DO REALLY GOOD WORK. I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO THERE. THEY DO WONDERFUL WORK. I FORGOT TO MAKE THIS MOTION, WHICH IS I TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THERE WERE FUNDS GOING IN THE GENERAL BUDGET BECAUSE WE'RE CONCENTRATING ON THE CRA FOR DISABILITY ACCESSIBLE PARKS, BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR NORTH TAMPA, BY THAT, I DON'T MEAN NEW TAMPA. NEW TAMPA HAS THE ALL ABILITIES PARK. FOWLER, BUSCH COMMUNITIES, COULD INCLUDE SULPHUR SPRINGS AND THEN SOUTH TAMPA, BECAUSE AREAS OUTSIDE OF CRAs AND MAYBE FOR STAFF TO GIVE US A WRITTEN REPORT BY THE 15th FOR THE 16th ON WHAT CAN BE IN THE BUDGET FOR DISABILITY ACCESSIBLE PARKS. I THINK THAT PUTTING SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THERE FROM THE PARKS BUDGET MAKES SENSE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF KIDS WITH DISABILITIES. SO THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: CITYWIDE ADA IMPROVEMENTS IN PARKS AND REC. THE BUDGET IS $838,000. >>LUIS VIERA: THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. THE TEACHER SCHOOLS ME. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU RESCIND THAT MOTION? >>LYNN HURTAK: IT'S ADA IMPROVEMENTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S NECESSARILY FOR -- SO MAYBE WHAT YOU WANT IS A REPORT ON WHAT THE $838,000 IS GOING TOWARD. >>LUIS VIERA: GOOD FOR YOU. WHAT I WOULD SAY, MY MOTION WOULD BE TO SPECIFY WHAT PART OF THOSE FUNDS GO TO ACTUAL DISABILITY IMPROVEMENTS. THERE'S ADA ACCESSIBILITY. I MEAN, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT. THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR THAT. THAT'S MY MOTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IS THAT SUFFICIENT FOR JUST THE DIRECTOR TO COME TO THE SECOND HEARING AND REPORT ON. >>LUIS VIERA: THEY CAN GIVE US A WRITTEN REPORT. JUST FOR TIME. >>LYNN HURTAK: JUST FOR THE CLERK, THAT PROJECT NUMBER IS 1001419, CITY ADA IMPROVEMENTS. AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THAT MEANS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IN THE INTEREST OF HAVING THE FLEXIBILITY WITH STAFF, CAN WE GIVE THEM THE LATITUDE OF WRITTEN REPORT OR THEY CAN BE IN PERSON. >>LUIS VIERA: YES, WHICHEVER THEY WANT. I WILL SAY THIS, THOUGH, USEFUL NOTE IN THAT, THOSE FUNDS SHOULD BE GEARED TOWARDS NORTH TAMPA AND SOUTH TAMPA, I.E., NON-CRA AREAS BECAUSE WE CAN USE THE CRA FOR THAT. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR SOUTH TAMPA AND NORTH TAMPA TO GET THAT, IN MY OPINION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO INCLUDE IN THE NONPROFIT BUDGET 20,000 FOR COMMUNITY STEPPING STONES -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: 75. >>LYNN HURTAK: IT'S ALREADY IN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I'LL GO HARD ON THAT ONE, THE 75 AND THE 25 AS A CATALYST FOR TAMPA BALLET, THOSE ARE THE TWO I'M GOING IN FOR. >>BILL CARLSON: I CAN'T SUPPORT THE C.I.P. IF IT HAS THE SOUTH HOWARD PROJECT IN IT. I'LL JUST TAKE A SHOT AND SAY -- GO AHEAD. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE IT. IF THERE'S NO SUPPORT FOR IT, I'LL VOTE AGAINST THE C.I.P. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE ITEM 1002448, THE SOUTH HOWARD FLOOD RELIEF AND STREETSCAPE PROJECT, WHICH IS $29,221,423. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. COUNCILMAN CARLSON, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ YOUR MOTION AGAIN? >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE FROM THE C.I.P. LIST -- SORRY, MY EYES AREN'T WORKING THAT GREAT TONIGHT. IT'S LIKE 7 POINT TYPE. I SAID THE NUMBER EARLIER, BUT THE SOUTH HOWARD FLOOD RELIEF PROJECT, WHICH IS A LITTLE MORE THAN $29 MILLION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HOW MUCH IS THAT OF THE 2026 BUDGET? >>LYNN HURTAK: TO BUDGET TO DATE, ALREADY 25.6 MILLION IN THERE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: FY '26. >>LYNN HURTAK: 3.6 MILLION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: 3.6 MILLION. >>LYNN HURTAK: HE WANTS TO TAKE OUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT. I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT A POINT THAT WE CAN DO THAT. >>BILL CARLSON: MY POINT IS THAT WHEN THEY COME BACK WITH A REPORT, YOU HEARD MS. DUNCAN TALK ABOUT IT, THERE IS THE PRESUMPTION WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. MY POINT IS THERE SHOULD BE THE PRESUMPTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THE UPDATE AND THE PRESENTATION AND DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD THEN. BECAUSE YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENS IS IF WE DON'T TAKE IT OUT OF C.I.P., THEY COME BACK AND SAY, WELL, YOU ALREADY DECIDED AND IT'S ALREADY IN THE BUDGET. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: FY '26, THE AMOUNT FOR FY '26 THAT WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO DISCUSS IS 3.6. IT'S NOT THAT FULL AMOUNT. THAT IS THE 3.6 THAT WAS ON THE TABLE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT. MR. ROGERO. >>BILL CARLSON: I WANT TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE C.I.P. OTHERWISE THEY'LL SAY, WELL, YOU ALREADY APPROVED IT ALL. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: 3.6 OUT -- >>BILL CARLSON: THE WHOLE LINE ITEM IS 29 MILLION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ALREADY ALLOCATED. >>LYNN HURTAK: ALREADY SPENT MONEY ON IT. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO CLARIFY, PARDON ME. EXCLUDING NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE AN APPROPRIATION, COUNCIL APPROVED APPROPRIATION OF 25.6 MILLION DOLLARS OF WHICH WE'VE OBLIGATED ABOUT $9 MILLION. SO IF COUNCILMAN CARLSON, IF YOUR INTENT IS TO SIMPLY STRIP IT FROM FISCAL YEAR 26, THEN THIS WON'T AFFECT WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN OUT. WE'VE GOT AN APPROPRIATION NOW. IF YOUR INTENT IS TO CHANGE THE APPROPRIATION TO DATE, WE'D WANT TO TALK FURTHER BECAUSE WE DO HAVE OBLIGATIONS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: A QUESTION OF ORDER. IS REMOVAL FROM THE C.I.P. APPROPRIATE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES? >>MARTIN SHELBY: CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY. WE CAN TALK WITH JUSTIN VASKE ABOUT THAT OR TALK TO THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT. MY QUESTION IS, ULTIMATELY, THE C.I.P., PARTICULARLY WITH 26, THAT IS CERTAINLY A PLAN THAT INDICATES THE INTENTION TO GO FORWARD. NOW, WITH REGARD TO THE ALLOCATION, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW, MR. ROGERO, YOU PICKED A NUMBER THAT WAS AN ALLOCATION IN THE FY '25 BUDGET. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES. LET ME BACK UP, IF I CAN CLARIFY. UP TO THIS YEAR, COUNCIL HAS APPROVED 25.6ISH MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS PROJECT, OF WHICH WE'VE OBLIGATED ABOUT 9 MILLION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WOULD SOMEBODY PUT THIS ON THE WOLF SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? >>LUIS VIERA: HELPFUL SUGGESTION, REALLY FAST, WHICH IS WHILE WE'RE LOOKING AT FEASIBILITY OF THIS MOTION, PERHAPS COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BRIEFLY IN ONE WORD OR LESS SAY IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE VOTING FOR THIS JUST SO THAT IF THERE IS SUPPORT FOR IT, THEN THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FEASIBILITY OF IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I APPRECIATE -- BUT I THINK THIS IS WORTHY OF DISCUSSION FOR NOT JUST THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT I THINK FOR EDUCATION AND FUTURE INFORMATION, WE'RE SPENDING AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TIME ON THIS. >>MARTIN SHELBY: MR. ROGERO, MAY I ASK A QUESTION OF YOU OF THIS ALLOCATION? YOU INDICATED APPROXIMATELY $9 MILLION HAS THUS FAR BEEN SPENT. >>DENNIS ROGERO: OBLIGATED. I DON'T WANT TO GET WONKISH. ACTUAL EXPENDITURES AND THEN PURCHASE ORDERS. >>MARTIN SHELBY: OBLIGATED. >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES. >>MARTIN SHELBY: WITH REGARD TO THE REMAINING DIFFERENCE UP TO THE 25 MILLION, WOULD THAT THEN ROLL OVER INTO FY '26? THIS IS A PROCESS QUESTION IT SOUNDS LIKE. THE ANSWER IS, WITH REGARD TO YOU APPROVING THE 26 BUDGET, WITH REGARD TO THE C.I.P., IF YOU WANT TO REMOVE THIS PROJECT, WHAT THEN MEANS IT BEGS THE QUESTION WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE MONEY THAT IS SCHEDULED TO ROLL OVER. >>BILL CARLSON: MY CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR YOU, YOU SAID WE APPROVED 25 MILLION. I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME VOTES THAT I VOTED AGAINST BECAUSE I'M AGAINST THIS PROJECT. BY THE WAY, SINCE THOSE VOTES, A LOT OF INFORMATION HAS COME OUT THAT HOPEFULLY WOULD CONVINCE PEOPLE TO VOTE AGAINST IT. WE NEED MAINTENANCE, AND WE NEED OTHER MINOR INFRASTRUCTURE. MY CLARIFYING QUESTION, WHAT WAS THE 25 MILLION THAT WAS APPROVED? APPROVED IN THE C.I.P. OR APPROVED IN A CONTRACT? >>DENNIS ROGERO: APPROVED IN A C.I.P. BASED ON THE APPROVAL WE HAVE OBLIGATED MONEY VIA A CONTRACT. >>BILL CARLSON: SO THE APPROVAL STAGE IS AT THE C.I.P., AND WE HAVE TO -- WE CAN'T -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CAN I SUGGEST YOU GUYS CONFER, YOU AND JUSTIN FOR A MINUTE SO YOU HAVE A MEETING OF THE MINDS, ON THE SAME PAGE TO GIVE US LEGAL ADVICE? >>BILL CARLSON: I LIKE COUNCILMAN VIERA'S SUGGESTION, IF WE TAKE A STRAW VOTE AND KNOW THERE'S NO SUPPORT -- >>LYNN HURTAK: I NEED TO MAKE A POINT. I UNDERSTAND YOU SAYING THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON MAINTENANCE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE FUNDS. ONE IS A MAINTENANCE FEE AND ONE IS A C.I.P. FEE. AND WE CANNOT MOVE C.I.P. FUNDING. TO MAINTENANCE. >>BILL CARLSON: THIS IS WHERE I THINK THE MAYOR'S PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND EITHER. IF WE SAY MAINTENANCE, IT CAN ALSO INCLUDE MINOR INFRASTRUCTURE. WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT IS THAT THEY THINK THAT MAINTENANCE IS JUST CLEANING OUT A DITCH. MAINTENANCE COULD BE REPLACING A CULVERT OR REPLACING PIPES THAT ARE BROKEN. >>LYNN HURTAK: AGAIN, WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS APPROVED TO SEE IF THAT IS ALLOWED WITHIN THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS. >>BILL CARLSON: WHATEVER IT IS, I DON'T BELIEVE FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN THAT IT'S EITHER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS PROJECT OR NOTHING. THERE'S LOTS OF SMALL PROJECTS IN BETWEEN THAT ARE NEEDED. YES, WE NEED INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE CAN BE REALLOCATED TO SMALL PROJECTS. WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT FLOODED. THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT 11. AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. WE KNOW FROM TESTIMONY FROM STAFF IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: READY TO GET CLARIFICATION? >>JUSTIN VASKE: JUSTIN VASKE, LEGAL DEPARTMENT. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WE ALREADY ISSUED A CONTRACT ON THIS. WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS INVOLVED WITH THIS AS WELL. ESSENTIALLY, THIS SHIP HAS SAILED. NOW, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE $3 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AS WELL TO SEE HOW IT IMPACTS THE EXISTING CONTRACT. >>BILL CARLSON: SO WHEN WE WERE BRIEFED, I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS INDIVIDUALLY OR COLLECTIVELY, THAT STAFF TOLD US THAT THERE WERE TWO MORE BITES AT THE APPLE THAT WE HAVE. IN THE FALL THERE'S GOING TO BE A REQUEST I THINK FOR THE ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION AND THEN IN THE SPRING, THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IT DOESN'T MATTER, THE WHOLE PROJECT IS APPROVED. WE HAVEN'T APPROVED A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS PROJECT. THERE MAY BE SOME COSTS THAT WE LOSE, BUT WE CAN STILL CANCEL IT. IT'S NOT WORTH SPENDING MONEY ON A PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO FAIL. >>DENNIS ROGERO: IF I COULD MAYBE REFRAME. BASED ON WHAT MR. VASKE SAID AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROJECT AS IT IS NOW, IF THE INTENT IS TO ELIMINATE THE PROJECT IN ITS ENTIRETY, YES, WE WOULD WANT SOME TIME TO SEE WHAT WE'VE ALREADY -- LIKE, I'M LOOKING AT A REPORT HERE THAT SAYS WE'VE OBLIGATED $9 MILLION. THIS REPORT IS ABOUT A MONTH OLD. WE COULD HAVE OBLIGATED ANOTHER $10 MILLION BETWEEN THIS REPORT AND TODAY'S DATE. WE'D WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OBLIGATED FOR ALREADY SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL IS CANCELING. >>BILL CARLSON: NOTHING BEYOND 25 MILLION IS APPROVED. IF THE PROJECT IS A HUNDRED MILLION, AT THE END OF 25 MILLION, WE CAN SAY THIS PROJECT IS NOT GOING TO WORK. IT'S NOT WORTH SPENDING ANOTHER 75 PLUS 90 MILLION IN INTEREST COSTS. WE STILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO REJECT IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: BACK TO THE INITIAL QUESTION, TECHNICAL QUESTION. TODAY, IN THIS HEARING FOR THE 2026 BUDGET HEARING, IS IT APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A C.I.P. PROGRAM ELIMINATED OR DELETED? >>MARTIN SHELBY: SHORT ANSWER IS YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT IS THE GIST OF IT. BEFORE I CALLED FOR A VOTE, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS APPROPRIATE. MAYBE IT'S NOT GOOD POLITICS AND MAYBE NOT GOOD FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IS IT PROCEDURALLY CORRECT? >>MARTIN SHELBY: IF I CAN, I SPOKE WITH MR. ROGERO, AND AS MUCH AS WHAT YOU DID EARLIER TONIGHT, YOU COULD BRING BACK, IF IT'S COUNCIL'S INTENTION TO WANT TO KNOW MORE OF THE FACTS AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF SUCH A DECISION, RATHER THAN MAKE IT TONIGHT, YOU CAN DIRECT THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PARAMETERS ARE AND TO BRING THAT BACK AT THE SECOND READING AND MAKE YOUR DECISION THEN AT THE SECOND READING. YOU WOULD VOTE ON MUCH TO THE SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS YOU'VE MADE AS COUNCIL -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I THINK I COULD PROVIDE THAT CLARIFICATION. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK FIRST. >>LYNN HURTAK: OF COURSE, IT JUST ESCAPED ME. OH, I WANTED TO SAY, WHEN MR. SHELBY SAID, YES, WE CAN TAKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE C.I.P., BUT REALLY, TAKING SOMETHING OUT OF THE C.I.P., THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS TO LOOK AT NEW PROJECTS. IF WE WERE TO TAKE ANYTHING NEW OUT THIS YEAR. I'M JUST MAKING THIS UP OR I'M JUST CHOOSING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE. THE INTERBAY AREA MOBILITY PROGRAM, THIS IS IN TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS. BUT THE FIRST ALLOCATION OF IT IS THIS YEAR. SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANTED TO TAKE OUT, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME WHEN ITS FIRST ALLOCATION IS NOW. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: AGAIN, MY ISSUE AND WHY WE WENT THROUGH THE EXERCISE. >>LYNN HURTAK: IF THEY COULD EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS. I'M REALLY CURIOUS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WHY I WANTED TO DIG INTO THIS, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON A LOT OF OTHER STUFF. I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR COUNCIL AND COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT OUR ROLE WAS HERE TONIGHT AND WHAT OUR BARRIERS ARE, WHAT OUR GUARDRAILS ARE. JUST BECAUSE WE CAN DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN WE SHOULD. BUT WE HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY AND CAPABILITY OF DELETING THIS. BUT NOW KNOWING ALL OF THIS, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY APPROPRIATE IF YOU WANT TO PURSUE THIS TO MAKE A MOTION TO BRING BACK BASICALLY THE CONSEQUENCES. SO IF THIS ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE C.I.P., IF, WHAT WOULD BE THE COST TO THE CITY, WHAT ARE THE OBLIGATIONS? WHAT HAVE WE ALREADY SPENT AND GET ALL THAT INFORMATION SO THIS C■OUNCIL COULD MAKE A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE DECISION ABOUT THE CONTINUATION OR THE TERMINATION OF THIS PROJECT? MR. SHELBY. >>MARTIN SHELBY: I KNOW MORRIS MASSEY IS THE MASTER OF THIS. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER -- AND JUSTIN, I KNOW YOU ARE, TOO, -- WITH REGARD TO CONTRACTS, CONTRACTS ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE CONTINUATION OF FUNDING. IF FOR WHATEVER REASON, GOOD OR BAD, FUNDING DRIES UP, YOU MAY HAVE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, AND THERE ARE TERMS WITHIN THE CONTRACT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONEY THAT IS SPENT OR -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT I WAS SAYING. >>MARTIN SHELBY: WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THAT IF A PORTION OF THAT $25 MILLION IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE PUT TOWARDS THAT PROJECT AND IS GOING TO BE ROLLED OVER IN 2026, A PORTION OF THOSE FUNDS COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR EITHER PUTTING IT INTO THE GENERAL FUND AS UNASSIGNED OR ELSEWHERE. WOULD THAT BE A CORRECT STATEMENT? >>RON ROTELLA: IT WOULD BE PARTIALLY -- >>DENNIS ROGERO: IT WOULD BE PARTIALLY CORRECT. IF YOU LOOK ON THE BIG SCREEN YOU CAN SEE THE FUNDING SOURCES -- >>LYNN HURTAK: CAN YOU MOVE IT DOWN? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ZOOM IT IN. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I'LL ZOOM IT IN. YOU SEE HERE, THE REASON YOU WERE PARTIALLY CORRECT, MR. SHELBY, THIS IS NOT FUNDED FROM THE GENERAL FUND. IT WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE FOR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. >>MARTIN SHELBY: I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. >>DENNIS ROGERO: BUT PHILOSOPHICALLY YOU'RE CORRECT. THE FUNDING, WE HAVE LESS THAN A MONTH LEFT IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING IS GOING TO BE CARRIED OVER SINCE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT BALANCE. YOU SAID IT, MR. CHAIR, CONSEQUENCES, YOU SAID IT, MR. SHELBY RAMIFICATIONS. I ALWAYS WANT COUNCIL'S EYES WIDE OPEN FOR THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE. AND AT THIS TIME, WE SIMPLY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELIMINATE THE PROJECT IN ITS ENTIRETY WOULD DO TO, FOR INSTANCE, OUTSTANDING CONTRACTS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN CARLSON, YOU HAVE HEARD ALL OF THE INFORMATION. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD? >>BILL CARLSON: FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO CLARIFY, THE REASON I'M AGAINST THIS IS BECAUSE UNDER TESTIMONY BY STAFF, IT'S NOT GOING TO PROTECT EVEN THOSE 11 HOUSES IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND NOT PROTECT THEM IN A MILTON-STYLE STORM AFTER THAT. SPENDING 190 MILLION OR WHATEVER ON A PROJECT THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK I THINK DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. I CAN'T VOTE FOR THE C.I.P. IF IT INCLUDES THIS. IS IT POSSIBLE TO JUST DEFER THAT LINE ITEM UNTIL THE SECOND VOTE AND APPROVE THE REST OF IT? OR DO WE HAVE TO EITHER APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE -- >>MARTIN SHELBY: YOU DON'T APPROVE THE C.I.P. TONIGHT. YOU APPROVE THE C.I.P. AT THE SECOND HEARING. THIS IS JUST A PUBLIC HEARING TO RAISE -- >>BILL CARLSON: CAN I MAKE A MOTION, WITHDRAW MY PREVIOUS MOTION. MAKE A MOTION TO ASK STAFF TO COME BACK IN THE SECOND HEARING WITH -- TO CLARIFY WHAT THE CITY'S CURRENT OBLIGATIONS ARE ON THIS PROJECT AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DECIDED NOT TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MORE FUNDING GOING FORWARD. IS THAT RIGHT, MORRIS? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. COUNCILMAN VIERA. >>LUIS VIERA: I WANT TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE ON THIS. I ALWAYS VOTE TYPICALLY WHEN SOMEBODY DOES A WOULD YOU, COULD YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT, I DON'T WANT TO TURN THE BUDGET HEARING INTO A DEBATE ON THE SOUTH HOWARD, NOT BETWEEN US, BUT I DON'T WANT TO PRETTY MUCH HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE COME HERE THINKING THAT THEY CAN GET RID OF SOUTH HOWARD THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS IF THERE ISN'T SUPPORT ON COUNCIL. THAT'S THE OPERATIVE ISSUE BEFORE. SO I WILL VOTE AGAINST THIS ONLY BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO JUST A LOT OF CONFUSION AND DELAY INADVERTENTLY IN THE BUDGET HEARING BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT, AND IF SOMETHING ULTIMATELY AIMS TO GET RID OF IT IN THE BUDGET AND WILL SET UP EXPECTATIONS OF THAT IN SECOND HEARING WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS, I TOTALLY RESPECT COUNCILMAN CARLSON'S POSITION AS WELL AS COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO WHO ARE BOTH GOOD PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS, BUT I THINK THIS WILL SET UP THE EXPECTATION. THAT'S WHY I WILL RESPECTFULLY VOTE NO. >>MARTIN SHELBY: MR. ROGERO, YOU HAD A SHEET UP THERE. IF YOU COULD PUT THAT BACK UP AGAIN. WAS THAT ON THE SAME SHEET -- DID THAT HAVE THE FUNDING SOURCE. WHICH IS THE SHEET THAT HAD THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT? THAT WAS THE LAPTOP. THE REASON I WANT TO BRING THAT UP, COUNCIL, IS BECAUSE I SAID SOMETHING THAT MR. ROGERO SAID I WAS PARTIALLY CORRECT. I WAS TALKING ABOUT HAVING THE MONEY RETURNED TO THE GENERAL FUNDS. BUT, IN FACT, THERE IS NO MONEY TO RETURN TO THE GENERAL FUND, BUT ONE OF THE RAMIFICATIONS WOULD BE IF YOU LOOK AT THE LINE, IT TALKS ABOUT ACTUALS TO DATE AND THE PROJECT BUDGETED. IF YOU LOOK AT THE SERIES 2021 AND '23 FUNDS, IT LOOKS LIKE THE EFFECT WOULDN'T BE -- I WAS INCORRECT WHEN I SAID THAT MONEY WOULD BE RETURNED TO THE GENERAL FUND. IN FACT, IF YOU ARE RELYING ON BORROWED MONEY TO BUILD THIS PROJECT, IF THE BUDGET -- IF THE PROJECT DOES NOT GO FORWARD, THAT MONEY THEN DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BORROWED FOR THAT PURPOSE. >>DENNIS ROGERO: THE FUNDING HAS ALREADY BEEN BORROWED. >>LUIS VIERA: I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT I PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL MY GOOD FRIEND, CALL THE QUESTION. WE HAVE TO CALL THE QUESTION ON THIS THING. WE'RE REALLY GETTING INTO THE WEEDS HERE, GUYS. WE HAVE A MOTION, WE SHOULD VOTE ON IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I DON'T DISAGREE. I DO WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT I THINK THIS WAS VERY GOOD DISCUSSION. HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS, WHAT OUR GUARDRAILS ARE. SO I DON'T THINK THIS WAS A WASTE OF TIME, CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE'VE SPENT ON OTHER THINGS, I THINK THIS WAS A VERY GOOD LEARNING PROCESS FOR COUNCIL. I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESTATE YOUR MOTION? >>BILL CARLSON: THE OTHER THING IS WE SPENT PROBABLY THE SAME OR LESS TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS THAN THE MILLION DOLLARS EARLIER. THE MOTION IS TO ASK STAFF TO COME BACK AT THE NEXT HEARING TO JUST TELL US WHAT HAS BEEN OBLIGATED TO DATE ON THIS PROJECT AND WHAT -- THE RAMIFICATIONS, IF NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS ALLOTTED. IT'S JUST ASKING THE QUESTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT STORMWATER STAFF BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE RAMIFICATIONS. I AGREE, THIS IS NOT A THING THAT I WANT TO DEBATE AT THE -- I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA. I DON'T THINK THIS IS TIME TO DEBATE THE PROJECT ITSELF. BUT YEAH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I GUESS I'LL WEIGH IN ON THIS. COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I WANT TO SAY, YOU LISTEN TO ONE, YOU LISTEN TO THE OTHER, WHETHER SPENT OR NOT SPENT, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT'S VIABLE, RELIABLE. ALSO THE OTHER SIDE SAYS IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK AND THEY HAVE EVIDENCE. I WANT TO LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES. I'M NOT GOING TO GO SPEND MORE MONEY IF IT IS A TERRIBLE PROJECT AND GET ONE DROP OF WATER, SHOULD GET FIVE TONS OF WATER. BUT I'VE ALWAYS VOTED FOR THE PROJECT. I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE ALL OF US. WHEN WE HAD ALL THOSE MEETINGS IN DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE WENT TO SEE THE PEOPLE REALLY FLOODED IN THE CITY AND WE SPOKE ONE AT A TIME ROTATING IN AND OUT. IT WAS FINE. THERE WAS DISCUSSION FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I HEARD NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT IT DOESN'T WORK. BUT I WANT THE PROFESSIONALS TO TELL ME IT DOESN'T WORK. I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL AT THAT AREA. THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I'LL ADD IN THAT I USUALLY WILL GIVE DEFERENCE TO THE TYPE OF MOTION THAT COUNCILMAN CARLSON MADE, BUT I'M ALSO RELUCTANT AS COUNCILMAN VIERA AND COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK SAID THAT WE SET UP UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS AND WE END UP CREATING AN ARMY OF PEOPLE WHO COME HERE WITH EXPECTATIONS. I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN EXERCISE THAT I'M WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN. FOR ME, I'LL LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR MOTION AS THE THERMOMETER, THE LITMUS TEST OF WHETHER THIS WOULD BE PASSED AND REMOVED FROM THE C.I.P. I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE. BECAUSE OF THAT, NORMALLY I WOULD VOTE FOR WHAT YOU JUST ASKED FOR, COUNCILMAN CARLSON, BUT, AGAIN, IT'S A TEMPERATURE CHECK ABOUT WHETHER THIS SHOULD PASS OR NOT PASS. FOR THAT, IT'S GOING TO GUIDE MY VOTE AGAINST THE MOTION, BUT THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THE GO AWAY THAT CALLED THE QUESTION WANTS TO TALK MORE. THE GUY WHO CALLED THE QUESTION WANTS TO TALK MORE. WE DID HAVE A SECOND -- >>LYNN HURTAK: I'LL SECOND THE CALL THE QUESTION. LET'S DO IT. >>MARTIN SHELBY: THERE IS A VOTE NOW WHETHER OR NOT TO CALL THE QUESTION. THAT IS THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILMAN VIERA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS MORE? >>MARTIN SHELBY: HE CAN'T. IT JUST PASSED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: SO THE QUESTION IS, COUNCILMAN CARLSON, YOU RESTATED IT TWICE. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HEAR IT AGAIN. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE -- LET'S DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. >>LYNN HURTAK: NO. >>LUIS VIERA: NO. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: NO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NO. >>THE CLERK: THE MOTION FAILED WITH HURTAK, VIERA, MIRANDA, AND CLENDENIN VOTING NO. >>LUIS VIERA: I WOULD SUGGEST -- MY ONLY ISSUE, WITH THE PUBLIC, MAYBE YOU STATE YOUR INTENT TODAY, SAY I'LL BE ASKING THESE QUESTIONS AND STAFF CAN YOU BE READY TO DISCUSS THIS WITHOUT FORMAL CITY COUNCIL VOTE ON IT. THAT'S WITHIN YOUR DISCRETION AS A MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL. JUST HAVING IT AS A MOTION IS A BRIDGE TOO FAR FOR ME BUT THAT'S WITHIN HIS DISCRETION, RIGHT. JUST A SUGGESTION. AGAIN, HELP YOU GET THE INFORMATION YOU WANT. >>BILL CARLSON: JUST QUICKLY, I'LL CONTINUE TO COME BACK ON THE PROJECT BECAUSE I HAVE THOUSANDS OF CONSTITUENTS WHO WERE FLOODED AND DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING ENOUGH. THE CITY SAYS WE DON'T HAVE MONEY BUT WE'RE SPENDING IT ON A PROJECT. TO COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA'S POINT, I CAN SEND YOU THE LINK IF YOU WANT. IT WAS VIK BHIDE WHO I ASKED THE QUESTION, WHEN IS THE FIRST TIME THAT PEOPLE WILL BE PROTECTED AND HE SAID FOUR YEARS. IT MIGHT BE THREE AND A HALF NOW. BUT FOUR YEARS. AND THEN I SAID, WILL THE DOCUMENTS -- VIK BHIDE BOTH SAID IT WILL PROTECT IN I THINK A FIVE AND A HALF INCH, SIX-HOUR STORM, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT WILL NOT HELP IN A MILTON-STYLE STORM. THAT WAS LIKE 11.5 INCHES. YEAH, IT WILL PROVIDE SOME HELP, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T MAKE THAT UP. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I'M NOT SAYING YOU DID. >>BILL CARLSON: VIRK SAID IT. I THINK IF WE SPEND $200 MILLION, WE SHOULD SPEND IT ON SOMETHING THAT DOES MORE TO HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CARLSON. I THINK IT'S TIME TO BRING THIS HOME. FINANCE CHAIR, COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M AT. WE GO TO NUMBER 10. ITEM 10 IS THE MILLAGE RATE. MOVE TO TENTATIVELY ADOPT THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE OF 6.2076 MILLS WHICH IS 4.27% MORE THAN THE ROLLED BACK MILLAGE RATE OF 5.9535 MILLS FOR PROPERTY TAX FUNDS, WHICH ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET AND THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT FUND OF THE CITY OF TAMPA. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. WILL THE FINANCE CHAIR PLEASE PROVIDE THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE? >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: ITEM 12 IS THE READING OF THE ORDINANCE. ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE BUDGET OF CITY OF TAMPA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026, PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY AS PROVIDED BY LAW OF THE TAX ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF TAMPA AND FIXING THE MILLAGE RATE WITHIN THE SAID CITY, MAKING APPROPRIATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SAID BUDGET, AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR AND MAYOR OF THE CITY CLERK -- AND THE CITY CLERK AS PROPER AUTHORITIES OF THE CITY OF TAMPA TO CERTIFY TO THE PROPERTY APPRAISER OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, THE MILLAGE TO BE LEVIED FOR ALL PURPOSES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 IN THE CITY OF TAMPA, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: JUST A CLARIFICATION, UNDER AUTHORIZES AND DIRECTING, THE MAYOR. CLARIFICATION ON THE WORDAGE THERE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE. >>BILL CARLSON: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>LUIS VIERA: YES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 MILLAGE RATE RESOLUTION, SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE AND ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCE AND THE ADOPTION OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET AND PROGRAM RESOLUTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2030 WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 16 AT 5:01 P.M. IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 315 EAST KENNEDY BOULEVARD, THIRD FLOOR, TAMPA FLORIDA 33602. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I THINK THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION, BUT KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION APPROVING THE C.I.P. NEXT TIME, I REALLY WANT EVERYONE TO WRITE THESE NUMBERS DOWN. PAGE 368 TO 377, AND I REALLY THINK THAT LOOKING AT THE NEW THINGS THAT ARE IN THE C.I.P., THIS IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS EVERY YEAR. THANKFULLY, IT'S SMALL ENOUGH FONT THAT IT'S ONLY TEN PAGES, BUT REALLY, IF WE LOOK AT THE STUFF THAT'S BEING ADDED, MAKING SURE WE WANT IT ADDED. THIS IS OUR TIME. THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN THERE THAT WE DON'T WANT, THAT WE TAKE IT OUT. I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING IN THIS NEXT HEARING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. SO I RECOMMEND NEXT TIME, I WOULD NOT WANT TO OPEN ALL THE HEARINGS AND COMBINE THEM. I REALLY DO BELIEVE WE NEED A SEPARATE C.I.P. DISCUSSION ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK. >>BILL CARLSON: ALSO I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, BUT IN THE AGENDA ITEMS, WE REALLY NEED LINKS TO THESE DOCUMENTS. AND THE DOCUMENTS SEEM TO BE IN THERE. I DON'T USE PAPER. I'M LOOKING AT EVERYTHING ELECTRONICALLY. THE SAME THING THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO. SO IF I CAN'T FIND IT EASILY, THAT MEANS THE PUBLIC CAN'T FIND IT EASILY. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S READILY THERE. THE SECOND THING, FOR FOLKS WATCHING, AS WE SAID, THIS HAS TWO HEARINGS. WE PORED THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS, OUR COMMITTEE AND OUR BUDGET ADVISOR PORED THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS. WE MENTIONED SOME OF THE IDEAS TODAY, SOME FOLLOWED UP NEXT TIME. JUST BECAUSE WE APPROVE THE FIRST READING, DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T CHANGE THINGS NEXT TIME. IF SOMEBODY WATCHING HAS IDEAS, GONE THROUGH THE BUDGET AND HAVE IDEAS, PLEASE LET US KNOW. WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE MORE WEEKS TO MAKE CHANGES. PLEASE BE IN TOUCH WITH US. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: STAFF IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE SEPTEMBER 16 HEARING TO HAVE A HYPERLINK IN THE ONLINE BUDGET FOR THE C.I.P.? BECAUSE I THINK THE REST OF IT WOULD BE THE BUDGET. SORRY OnBase. >> [INAUDIBLE] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT DOCUMENT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DOWNLOAD. >>DENNIS ROGERO: CAN I GET A CLARIFICATION? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I THINK THE REQUEST -- >>BILL CARLSON: WE SHOULD HAVE A PDF OF THE ENTIRE BOOK AND PUT TWO DIFFERENT LINKS IN THE AGENDA IN OnBase. SO ONE WOULD BE, YOU CLICK ON AND SEE THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT AS WE HAVE PRINTED, NOT JUST -- BECAUSE IT'S HARD, ON THE WEBSITE, YOU HAVE TO DIG DOWN DEEP TO GET THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL. THE SECOND THING, THE C.I.P. LIST, I JUST WENT IN AGAIN, IT'S NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE. THAT SHOULD BE UNDER THE SECOND ITEM, THERE SHOULD BE A PDF WITH JUST THE C.I.P. AS WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CLARIFICATION, I THINK GENERALLY THE BUDGET ITSELF IS YOU CAN GO DIRECT TO THE BUDGET, BUT FOR THE C.I.P., THEY COULD CREATE, A LIMITED NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS, PDF WITH A LINK TO THAT DOCUMENT. >>DENNIS ROGERO: I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE REQUEST. I WANT TO GET WITH OUR TECHNICAL FOLKS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO THAT IN THE WAY THAT'S BEING DESCRIBED. >>BILL CARLSON: HAVING A PDF, EVEN THOUGH THE ONE PDF IS BIG, WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. I'D LIKE TO HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: SO MOVED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION TO ADJOURN FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]