TAMPA CITY COUNCIL
Thursday, August 6, 2015
9:00 a.m. Session
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09:05:11 >>FRANK REDDICK: Good morning.
09:09:34 We're going to call this Tampa City Council meeting to
09:09:37 order.
09:09:37 And at this time, I'm going to ask Mr. Jim Cruz to lead us
09:09:42 in invocation as well as the Pledge of Allegiance.
09:09:45 Will you please stand.
09:09:46 >> Good morning, Council.
09:09:50 Let's pray.
09:09:52 Father, we thank you for this beautiful day that you've
09:09:54 given us.
09:09:55 We thank you as always for the blessings of liberty.
09:09:57 We thank you for those that protect it for us, we pray your
09:10:01 protection upon them, our armed forces, our police and
09:10:04 firefighters and all who serve in the sector of public
09:10:07 safety, we pray your protection.
09:10:09 We pray also your blessing upon our leaders, our president,
09:10:12 our governor, all our local leaders and especially this
09:10:15 local body this morning.
09:10:16 Your wisdom for them in every decision that comes before
09:10:19 them.
09:10:19 We thank you for it, in Jesus name, Amen.
09:10:22 [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
09:10:39 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you, Mr. Cruz.
09:10:41 All right.
09:10:43 Roll call.
09:10:43 [ROLL CALL]
09:10:45 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Here.
09:10:46 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Here.
09:10:47 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Present.
09:10:49 >>HARRY COHEN: Here.
09:10:50 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Here.
09:10:51 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Here.
09:10:52 >>FRANK REDDICK: Here.
09:10:53 All right.
09:10:53 We're going to start with our ceremonial activity.
09:10:56 I'm going to adhere to Mr. Maniscalco.
09:10:59 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: All right.
09:11:00 The Tampa City Council congratulates state Representative
09:11:13 Janet Cruz today on her outstanding contributions to the
09:11:16 City of Tampa through her annual job fair.
09:11:19 This is number five, the fifth annual.
09:11:22 I was there in attendance.
09:11:24 She had well over a thousand people from the community come
09:11:26 out.
09:11:27 Wonderful event.
09:11:28 It was packed right at the beginning.
09:11:30 People looking for parking spaces out in the parking lot.
09:11:34 Just folks clamoring to get in.
09:11:36 Very successful.
09:11:37 Also want to note that Representative Cruz was first elected
09:11:40 to the house in a special election in 2010 and five years
09:11:43 later she is the Latina democratic leader, female democratic
09:11:51 leader in the House.
09:11:51 I'd also like to note recently she hosted the first annual
09:11:55 double crab throw-down right outside her office, which was
09:11:58 very successful.
09:11:59 Very well attended.
09:12:00 So on behalf of the Tampa City Council, I'd like to present
09:12:03 to you, this commendation.
09:12:06 This is my first commendation being presented.
09:12:11 I appreciate your friendship through the years.
09:12:13 I appreciate all the, all your leadership, everything you've
09:12:17 done for the district.
09:12:18 You really are the true representation of a public servant.
09:12:21 We represent a lot of the same areas, and the community
09:12:25 appreciates all your hard work.
09:12:27 Thanks.
09:12:27 [ Applause ]
09:12:28 >> I would like permission to address the Council.
09:12:37 >>FRANK REDDICK: You got it.
09:12:38 [ Laughter ]
09:12:39 >> I want to thank Councilman Maniscalco for thinking about
09:12:44 me.
09:12:44 I also want to note you look great up there.
09:12:47 It's the first time I've seen you in the City Council.
09:12:49 I want to thank all of the Council.
09:12:50 This is one of the nicest awards and the first time that
09:12:53 I've been recognized for my job fair.
09:12:55 So I appreciate that very much.
09:12:57 I also want to mention that I knew when I came in 2010 that
09:13:01 I had very big shoes to fill.
09:13:03 I mean, I came after Elvin Martinez and Representative Bob
09:13:08 Henriquez and Representative Mike Shante.
09:13:13 And I also knew and I realized to whom much was given much
09:13:16 was expected.
09:13:16 So I thought how in the world can I follow in the shoes of
09:13:20 these greats?
09:13:21 And do something that will make a difference in my
09:13:24 community.
09:13:25 So in 2010 when I was first elected, I walked a lot of doors
09:13:29 and walked through the neighborhoods.
09:13:32 And this was back in the midst of the recession and what
09:13:36 people asked me in West Tampa and Lincoln Gardens and Carver
09:13:39 City, in Plantation and in Egypt Lake, that they were out of
09:13:44 jobs.
09:13:44 Their family was out of jobs.
09:13:46 It was something that I heard over and over again.
09:13:50 So, I made a promise to them that I would bring jobs back to
09:13:54 my district when I went to Tallahassee.
09:13:57 If they would take me to Tallahassee.
09:13:58 But you know, we were in the midst of a budget crisis, so
09:14:03 there weren't really many jobs to bring back from
09:14:05 Tallahassee.
09:14:06 There wasn't much money in the budget that was a shortfall,
09:14:10 to bring back.
09:14:11 So I did the next best thing was, I would bring the jobs
09:14:14 that there were in this community to West Tampa, Lincoln
09:14:18 Gardens, my beloved West Tampa Lincoln Gardens and Egypt
09:14:22 Lake and all the surrounding communities.
09:14:24 But recognize I want to recognize my family, because elected
09:14:29 officials cannot do this job without the support of their
09:14:32 family members.
09:14:33 So I want them to know how much I appreciate them.
09:14:36 First of all, my mom, I'm very lucky my mom is here in the
09:14:41 audience.
09:14:42 Wave, mom.
09:14:42 [ Applause ]
09:14:44 >> So the work ethic that you see in me is the work ethic
09:14:49 that Gracie instilled in us.
09:14:51 She worked ten hours a day.
09:14:52 She was the first woman to work in a gypsum plant with
09:14:57 steel-toed shoes and hard hat.
09:14:59 She never complained.
09:15:00 I know she was tired.
09:15:01 As a teen mom she helped me raise my daughter.
09:15:04 Along with her is my sister.
09:15:06 There she is.
09:15:07 I want to thank her too.
09:15:09 [ Applause ]
09:15:10 >> My young partner in crime and always my supportive person
09:15:14 who is not here today, my husband, who is a physician and
09:15:17 rounding at Tampa General Hospital.
09:15:19 His schedule is inflexible.
09:15:20 I miss him but he's my rock.
09:15:22 And finally most important piece of my life are my children.
09:15:26 My daughter Ana is right there.
09:15:28 I love you.
09:15:29 [ Applause ]
09:15:30 >> My son Nicky is here and I love him too.
09:15:34 And by the way, he just opened a great restaurant, small
09:15:37 business in Tampa.
09:15:38 [ Laughter ]
09:15:39 >> Big Ray's Fish Camp.
09:15:41 Go have a great grouper sandwich.
09:15:43 Most importantly is my staff.
09:15:45 I want to thank my staff for all the work that they do on
09:15:48 this job fair because without them it doesn't happen.
09:15:52 I'm in Tallahassee four months of the year and they make
09:15:54 everything work.
09:15:55 One of the hardest working people and one of the most
09:15:58 dedicated persons that I've ever known is Carlos Ramos.
09:16:02 Carlos is here from my office.
09:16:04 [ Applause ]
09:16:05 >> And I also want to introduce and thank John Rodriguez is
09:16:08 here.
09:16:09 He was my first staffer and he helped me with the very first
09:16:12 job fair.
09:16:12 So John, thank you for being here.
09:16:14 [ Applause ]
09:16:16 >> You know, politics are local.
09:16:18 I've filed many remarkable bills, specifically equal pay for
09:16:22 equal work, which honors the work of Helen Bourne Davis who
09:16:28 came before me.
09:16:30 Most people don't know about my bills.
09:16:32 Most people don't know what I filed and the bills I've
09:16:36 fought against in Tallahassee.
09:16:37 But what they do know is that they can find me in the
09:16:39 shadow, underneath the West Tampa water tower.
09:16:43 They can come to me.
09:16:44 We work as social workers there.
09:16:46 And we're happy to do that.
09:16:48 We're working on jobs and occasionally we are tasting a few
09:16:53 devil crabs that we serve up in my district.
09:16:56 But I want to thank you very much for this award.
09:16:58 It's an honor to do the job that I do.
09:17:00 And I look forward to carrying on for the few years I have
09:17:04 left in this seat.
09:17:05 Thank you very much.
09:17:06 [ Applause ]
09:17:12 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
09:17:13 We'll go to item number two.
09:17:15 Mr. Suarez.
09:17:17 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Thank you, chair.
09:17:18 I'd like to have Molly -- that is a tough name for a kid
09:17:26 from West Tampa.
09:17:28 Molly, if you could tell us and present the Hispanic
09:17:31 scientist of the year award that is presented by MOSI, we
09:17:34 appreciate it.
09:17:34 >> Absolutely.
09:17:35 So my name is Molly Demeulenaere.
09:17:39 And good morning, I am the president and CEO of the Museum
09:17:42 of Science and Industry.
09:17:43 And it's my pleasure to be here today and to talk to you
09:17:46 about our 15th annual national Hispanic scientist of the
09:17:49 year.
09:17:50 So going into our 15th year this event has raised over
09:17:53 $1.4 million for our yes team, which is our youth enriched
09:17:57 through S.T.E.A.M. mentoring and dropout prevention program
09:17:59 at MOSI.
09:18:00 The event was founded originally by Maruchi Azorin Blanco
09:18:06 and is currently chaired by Stephen Kucera, a professor at
09:18:09 the University of Tampa.
09:18:10 We have two scientists I'm going to talk briefly about
09:18:12 today.
09:18:13 We have our national Hispanic scientist of the year and we
09:18:15 have our early career scientist.
09:18:17 Every year we bring in over 1500 at-risk students and they
09:18:22 get to spend the day with these scientists at MOSI, explore
09:18:25 the museum and all the exhibits that it has to offer and
09:18:27 they get to have one-on-one conversations.
09:18:29 We really treat these scientists like rock stars because we
09:18:32 feel that's very important.
09:18:33 Our national Hispanic scientist for 2015 is Dr. Modesto
09:18:39 Maidique, also known as Mitch.
09:18:41 He's an electrical engineer, MIT, Harvard and Stanford and
09:18:47 currently serves as president emeritus at FIU, where he
09:18:51 served as president from 1986 to 2009.
09:18:54 And our early career scientist of the year this year is
09:18:57 Dr. Miguel Morales-Silva.
09:18:59 And he's a physicist.
09:19:01 And he received the 2004 presidential award for early career
09:19:06 scientist.
09:19:07 So the event takes place on the weekend of October 24th,
09:19:12 2015.
09:19:12 And we look forward to seeing you all there and really
09:19:15 spending time with the kids because that's what this weekend
09:19:17 is all about.
09:19:19 Science and children.
09:19:20 So thank you for your time today.
09:19:23 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Thank you very much, Molly.
09:19:25 If anyone -- when we talk about people that are success in
09:19:29 other fields like sports or entertainment, we have to keep
09:19:32 reemphasizing that there are people that are successes in
09:19:36 science and math and that we need more Hispanics in those
09:19:40 fields and less in entertainment and sports.
09:19:44 And I hope that this keeps on each and every year so we can
09:19:47 drive that home.
09:19:48 Thank you very much, Molly.
09:19:49 Appreciate it.
09:19:50 Thank you, chair.
09:19:51 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
09:19:51 Thank you.
09:19:52 Item number 3.
09:19:53 Ms. Capin?
09:19:57 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
09:19:59 Now I'd like to introduce Steve Anderson and he is going to
09:20:05 bring us a small presentation on the historical monument
09:20:11 trail of the Riverwalk.
09:20:12 And friends from the Riverwalk.
09:20:14 Welcome, Steve Anderson.
09:20:16 >> Thank you, thank you, Ms. Capin, Mr. Chairman, members of
09:20:20 the Council.
09:20:21 Steve Anderson here as president of Friends of the
09:20:25 Riverwalk.
09:20:25 10 years ago, Dan Mahurin and I organized the Friends of the
09:20:33 Riverwalk as a 501(c)(3).
09:20:36 Our sole purpose was to raise private capital and organize
09:20:40 events to help the design and construction of the Riverwalk.
09:20:45 And then to do anything and everything we could to assist
09:20:48 you, the Mayor, the city in bringing this idea of the Tampa
09:20:53 Riverwalk to reality.
09:20:55 And I'm proud to say that thanks to your help and that of
09:21:02 the Mayor, this city has done a phenomenal job in bringing
09:21:07 this asset to the entire community.
09:21:10 The Riverwalk has become just a great, great asset.
09:21:15 I think we all see that.
09:21:17 And believe me, it's only going to become more and more
09:21:19 important to downtown Tampa and this community.
09:21:22 We have over the course of years contributed I think right
09:21:27 at $1.8 million to the city for design and construction of
09:21:31 various assets along the Riverwalk.
09:21:33 We continue to do that.
09:21:34 Now that the Riverwalk is connected, our main focus is on
09:21:39 activities.
09:21:42 But these are some of the things we have done in terms of
09:21:46 beautifying the seawall and the Riverwalk along downtown
09:21:50 Tampa.
09:21:50 I think most of you are aware that we have this long-term
09:21:55 program, call it paving the way, where people can buy for
09:21:59 little over $100 a paver and can have messages engraved to
09:22:05 loved ones or just to the universe.
09:22:09 People have proposed there.
09:22:10 People have had anniversaries there.
09:22:12 It's really become quite a thing.
09:22:14 Not long ago, you authorized the specialty center along the
09:22:22 Riverwalk.
09:22:23 And that has been a tremendous success.
09:22:25 And thank you again for your foresight in doing that.
09:22:28 Friends of the Riverwalk has accommodated that effort by
09:22:32 providing the supplier of the specialty cups that are
09:22:37 required.
09:22:38 And they are quite attractive and handy.
09:22:41 It's just working wonderfully.
09:22:43 Thank you so much.
09:22:44 We don't make any money from that but we are happy to be the
09:22:46 distributor of it.
09:22:48 One of the creations, one of our creations has been the
09:22:55 plank pop-up bar.
09:22:56 The plank is named after Mayor Poe's planks, which war the
09:23:02 original Riverwalk effort for the Riverwalk.
09:23:04 And we move this around from place to place and it really
09:23:09 draws a lot of the activity, the enthusiasm, the young
09:23:12 people down to the Riverwalk.
09:23:14 It's become quite a success.
09:23:21 We have always put on events down along the Riverwalk,
09:23:25 usually in Curtis Hixon Park.
09:23:27 This year, we took an enormous leap.
09:23:31 For the first time ever we put on the first annual river
09:23:35 fest.
09:23:35 The first weekend in May.
09:23:38 We hope to do this each and every year.
09:23:40 But it was an incredible success.
09:23:42 I know many of you were there.
09:23:43 We had over 35,000 people attend the Riverwalk.
09:23:49 All along the length of it.
09:23:51 First time ever that events have been held along the entire
09:23:55 2.4 miles of the Riverwalk and the six parks adjacent to the
09:24:00 Riverwalk.
09:24:01 So, it took us a year to put together.
09:24:03 But we're already planning the next one.
09:24:05 And it was great success.
09:24:07 A lot of kids.
09:24:08 We had 40 high school and junior high school groups
09:24:11 participating as entertainment.
09:24:16 Plus all of the, all our partners along the Riverwalk from
09:24:19 the Straz all the way down to the history center put on
09:24:22 special events during that.
09:24:24 We had a carnival and of course, it wouldn't be finished
09:24:31 without the Mayor's Mac and cheese.
09:24:33 8,000 people attended that.
09:24:35 And the concert that night, it was a tremendous success.
09:24:39 Again, we'll be doing that, I think the first weekend of May
09:24:45 of next year.
09:24:46 One of our long-term projects, I think you're all aware of
09:24:49 this.
09:24:50 Most of you, I think all of you at one point or another have
09:24:53 been to some of our unveilings, is the historical monument
09:24:58 trail, where we honor those people in Tampa's history who
09:25:02 have made Tampa what it is today.
09:25:03 We started with six.
09:25:05 We now have 18.
09:25:06 And we're, we'll be producing another six this year.
09:25:09 It is just fabulous to present the history of Tampa.
09:25:18 And I think most of you were there two weeks ago when we
09:25:21 unveiled three significant transformational events in
09:25:25 Tampa's history.
09:25:27 The cigar industry.
09:25:30 The connection of rail to the port of Tampa.
09:25:34 And World War II.
09:25:35 And we are, I think there was so much excitement over that,
09:25:40 we are now in the process of starting to organize the
09:25:43 fundraising to accomplish those through private funds.
09:25:46 And we'll hopefully be constructing, working with the city
09:25:53 to find appropriate places to place those.
09:25:56 And put them up as we raise the money for them.
09:26:00 So again, that's from private dollars.
09:26:02 T we always want to recognize the people who have brought us
09:26:05 where we are.
09:26:05 They've been great contributors over the years.
09:26:07 And I hope that I can come every once in a while and tell
09:26:11 you about new things that we're planning that are going on.
09:26:14 Always I said, we have been around 10 years.
09:26:17 Seems like yesterday we started.
09:26:18 But, that Riverwalk is so awesome.
09:26:21 And I know every one of you is as proud as I am of that and
09:26:25 you deserve all the credit.
09:26:26 So, thank you so much.
09:26:29 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you very much.
09:26:29 And yes, the Riverwalk is a huge addition.
09:26:33 The way we have reclaimed our Riverfront is amazing.
09:26:38 If you grew up in this town, you know exactly what that was
09:26:42 like.
09:26:43 And so, we're turning the corner to the, you know, finishing
09:26:49 it all off.
09:26:50 >> Thank you.
09:26:51 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
09:26:52 All right.
09:26:52 Any other comments from Councilmembers?
09:26:56 Need approval of the agenda and addenda.
09:27:00 Motion from Mr. Suarez, seconded by Ms. Montelione.
09:27:02 Any discussion of motion?
09:27:03 All those in favor say aye.
09:27:06 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Mr. Chairman, item 24 is set for 9:30.
09:27:09 We would ask that that be held till 10:30 to be heard
09:27:12 together with item 28.
09:27:14 >> So moved.
09:27:15 >> Second.
09:27:17 >>FRANK REDDICK: Got a motion from Mr. Suarez, seconded by
09:27:19 Mr. Cohen.
09:27:20 All those in favor say aye.
09:27:22 Opposed.
09:27:22 All right.
09:27:29 >>FRANK REDDICK: We go to public comments.
09:27:31 And we have set aside 30 minutes for public comments.
09:27:35 You can speak on preference given to anyone that wants to
09:27:39 speak on item on the agenda.
09:27:41 Going to ask that you give your name and address and you may
09:27:47 come forward.
09:27:47 Anyone wish to speak during public comments may come forward
09:27:51 at this time.
09:27:51 >> Good morning to the Council.
09:27:57 I reserve to say my name and address till the end so I don't
09:28:05 waste any seconds.
09:28:06 Agenda item number 6, the citizen review board for the City
09:28:09 of Tampa.
09:28:10 In my religious studies, we were taught when I went through
09:28:18 theology university, that if anything ever oppressed you or
09:28:23 enemy reproach you, you turn to the 74th division of Psalms
09:28:29 and God hears your call and your answer.
09:28:32 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King 50 plus years ago went to
09:28:35 Washington with the March and when he went to Washington, he
09:28:40 knew that the government was going to kill him, just as they
09:28:43 did.
09:28:44 And that speech Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King gave these
09:28:49 words.
09:28:49 I may not get to the promised land with you.
09:28:53 But you will get there.
09:28:54 He said that the government of these United States of
09:28:59 America wrote a check to the black race and that check was
09:29:03 marked insufficient funds.
09:29:06 And here is the black race 50 years later, trying to cash in
09:29:11 on an insufficient fund check.
09:29:13 Where we are calling for our civil liberties.
09:29:17 Our freedom, to be recognized as the human race, not just
09:29:21 the black race.
09:29:22 We ask that justice be rendered to all those persons of
09:29:28 color.
09:29:29 My black and my brown sisters and brothers.
09:29:32 Today, this important item is long overdue for the citizens
09:29:38 of the City of Tampa.
09:29:40 And the state of Florida period.
09:29:42 We need to hold the police department accountable.
09:29:46 Just not with the Tampa Police Department.
09:29:49 They're not just the target.
09:29:50 But the police department throughout the state of Florida.
09:29:54 Needs to have accountability on its head.
09:29:57 If it has to take for us to take our message to Washington,
09:30:01 D.C., if we have to pursue the queen offing England and the
09:30:07 pope, who will make this call and be able to make this
09:30:10 change for us, that's where we're about to take our message.
09:30:13 Don't let this message fall on deaf ears.
09:30:16 Don't think because you don't see this room filled with
09:30:18 black and brown people that this message is not out here.
09:30:21 Because I stand before you today, community activist
09:30:25 Michelle Williams, also the chief of staff of the black
09:30:28 panther party.
09:30:29 That young man sitting in front of you, in front of me, who
09:30:32 I stand before, Councilman Frank Reddick has my full
09:30:35 support.
09:30:36 The citizen review board needs to happen.
09:30:39 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
09:30:40 Next?
09:30:41 >> First time for everything.
09:30:46 This is a long overdue process.
09:30:50 And this is not the Tampa Police Department.
09:30:52 We have problems with the school board.
09:30:55 We having problems with the City Council, not bringing the
09:30:58 economic development.
09:30:59 We having problems with everyone in the City of Tampa
09:31:02 attacking black folks.
09:31:04 My request is, won't say excuse me, but bring the review
09:31:09 towards the City of Tampa so we can have a voice and put
09:31:12 people of my color on the board so we can have say-so, not
09:31:16 just, this Caucasians in general on the board that doesn't
09:31:20 represent us.
09:31:22 At 16 years old, I was stopped for riding a bicycle in
09:31:25 Central Park Village.
09:31:26 To this day I have not recovered my life from that ticket.
09:31:29 That was at 16 years old.
09:31:31 I don't have a license to drive.
09:31:32 My license was suspended as soon as I reached high school to
09:31:35 take drivers Ed courses.
09:31:37 I couldn't take drivers ed courses because 16 years old, a
09:31:40 police pulled me in Central Park Village for not having a
09:31:43 light on my bicycle.
09:31:44 And that was like 15 years ago.
09:31:46 This practice is long overdue.
09:31:48 No only bicycles, we getting stopped in cars, getting
09:31:52 stopped walking, get stopped standing on city sidewalks and
09:31:55 state roads.
09:31:55 We getting beat up by polices.
09:31:57 We getting cursed out like a dog by police.
09:32:00 We getting brutalized by police.
09:32:03 The time is now.
09:32:04 I'm surprised Tampa Police Department don't have a civil
09:32:07 rights investigation formed on them or even class action
09:32:09 lawsuit because it's long overdue.
09:32:12 Time is now to bring attention to this situation.
09:32:14 We hope that you all can hear our ears, hear our cry because
09:32:18 this is long overdue.
09:32:19 When the lady from Tampa times came to me for this story,
09:32:23 she was, I was the first one she came to to put this story
09:32:26 out there.
09:32:27 She didn't put me in the story but she heard my story about
09:32:30 what happened to me 16 years ago.
09:32:32 To this day I still don't have a license.
09:32:34 Something needs to be done.
09:32:37 It's not me.
09:32:38 It's more just like me.
09:32:40 I hope that this review committee gets formed.
09:32:42 I hope something gets done before we have to take it to
09:32:45 another level in Washington, D.C., putting the civil lawsuit
09:32:48 or class action lawsuit on Tampa Police Department, for
09:32:52 civil rights violation.
09:32:53 My name is Ali Muhammed, the chairman of the new black
09:32:55 panther party here in Tampa, Florida.
09:32:57 Address is 1233 Joe Ed court.
09:33:01 You all be safe.
09:33:02 God bless you all.
09:33:03 I hope something gets done.
09:33:04 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
09:33:05 Next?
09:33:05 >> Chairman, Councilmembers, good morning.
09:33:13 My name is Reverend Russell Meyer, the pastor of St. Paul
09:33:17 and Faith Lutheran churches in Tampa and the executive
09:33:20 director of the Florida Council of Churches.
09:33:22 I live at 5025 Southampton circle in Tampa Palms.
09:33:28 I'm here to speak for 21st century city of excellence
09:33:35 because I believe Tampa could be that.
09:33:36 But a city of excellence also has to put into place
09:33:41 structures of excellence for the 21st century.
09:33:44 And those structures of excellence mean that things have to
09:33:48 be new that have not been around previously.
09:33:52 If we want to have that kind of a city of excellence.
09:33:56 And a city of excellence is a city in part that makes
09:34:00 certain all of its components, all of its neighborhoods, all
09:34:04 of its sectors, all of its businesses, all the various parts
09:34:09 that make up the whole have a way of gathering together and
09:34:13 being able to work toward common intention with civic
09:34:18 engagement, with good meaning and well feeling with each
09:34:22 other.
09:34:22 And as long as we decide that we have one component of the
09:34:29 community stand off by itself and another stand off by
09:34:32 itself, and we go down the road of saying that somehow
09:34:35 there's a competition within our city, between this
09:34:39 neighborhood and that neighborhood, as long as we believe
09:34:43 that a house divided can stand, we'll never be a 21st
09:34:48 century city.
09:34:51 Never.
09:34:52 Never reach that goal.
09:34:53 And you today are on the first steps of being able to make
09:34:58 that goal.
09:34:59 We cannot simply have glitter.
09:35:02 Love the new Riverwalk and all that.
09:35:04 We cannot simply have glitter when our communities and
09:35:08 neighborhoods don't know support, the public image of this
09:35:13 city.
09:35:14 And so to do that, our police department have to be believed
09:35:20 and seen and felt that they're part of the rest of -- of all
09:35:25 of us and not just the agents of some of us.
09:35:28 And the citizens review board is the first step toward true
09:35:33 neighborhood unity in the City of Tampa.
09:35:34 And if you want to be a city of excellence, if you want to
09:35:38 see resiliency that can rise up when the waters rise and
09:35:43 bring people together, do this part right.
09:35:46 Do it today.
09:35:47 Thank you very much.
09:35:48 [ Applause ]
09:35:52 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
09:35:52 We're going to ask that you hold off on the applause so we
09:35:58 can get through this in a timely manner.
09:36:00 Next speaker?
09:36:02 >> Mr. Chairman, members of the Council, my name is Joyce
09:36:04 Hamilton Henry.
09:36:06 I'm the director of advocacy for the American civil liberty
09:36:09 union of Florida.
09:36:10 I also reside at 16601 palm royal drive.
09:36:15 Police officers perform a necessary but dangerous task of
09:36:20 protecting the public and they deserve support.
09:36:24 Most officers perform this difficult task, sometimes
09:36:30 honorably, sometimes conscientiously.
09:36:33 However, the reality is there is increased evidence of stop,
09:36:37 frisk, search, seizure, over-policing and the use of
09:36:41 excessive force by police that have led to deaths while in
09:36:46 law enforcement custody or by law enforcement.
09:36:49 This cannot be ignored.
09:36:51 It is imperative that all law enforcement officers operate
09:36:55 at a high level of transparency and accountability.
09:36:58 While officers are tasked to protect and defend, we want
09:37:02 assurances that they will do so in a manner that does not
09:37:06 violate a civil and constitutional rights of the public they
09:37:09 serve.
09:37:10 The ACLU has worked diligently to address police abuse.
09:37:14 The ACLU of Florida strongly supports the creation of a
09:37:18 civil review board in Tampa.
09:37:20 A civilian review board empowers citizens promote change
09:37:26 within law enforcement agencies, improve police community
09:37:29 relations and increases transparency and accountability.
09:37:32 Around the country, civil review boards are comprised of
09:37:37 members of the community whose task is to review complaints
09:37:40 of police misconduct and perhaps more importantly, review
09:37:44 policies and practices within the law enforcement.
09:37:47 Sometimes the civilian review board will sustain a persons
09:37:51 complaint alleging police abuse or misconduct.
09:37:54 But the review board can also exonerate an officer.
09:38:00 Most importantly creating a mechanism that will earn respect
09:38:02 for fairness and independence by the people of Tampa will go
09:38:08 a long way to ensure good police relations for a community.
09:38:11 Even more importantly, a civil review board should also have
09:38:15 the authority to review police practices and procedures on a
09:38:19 range of matters that include the use of force, including
09:38:22 tasers, the use of deadly force, policies on high-speed
09:38:26 chases and the handling of mentally ill suspects.
09:38:30 Experience in many cities that have developed civilian
09:38:34 review boards has demonstrated that this function, not the
09:38:38 individual examination of complaint or misconduct by a
09:38:42 police officer is a principal long range contribution that a
09:38:46 civilian review board can provide to a community.
09:38:49 It should not be a matter of whether we institute a civilian
09:38:53 review board.
09:38:53 It should be a matter of when.
09:38:55 It is another matter of us against them.
09:38:57 It's a matter of building and creating a good partnership
09:39:01 between law enforcement and the community.
09:39:03 Thank you very much.
09:39:04 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
09:39:05 Next?
09:39:06 >> Mike Pheneger.
09:39:10 I'm a retired Army colonel.
09:39:12 I live at 4219 Hollow Trail Drive.
09:39:14 And I'm the ugly half of the ACLU's one-two punch.
09:39:18 I'm also here to support the creation of a civilian review
09:39:21 board to look at policies, procedures and conduct because
09:39:24 the policies and procedures have an impact.
09:39:28 And I'd like to give you a little idea of what that impact
09:39:30 actually is.
09:39:31 Several points.
09:39:32 First, TPD's demographic is significantly different than
09:39:37 that of the population that it polices.
09:39:40 Minorities are significantly underrepresented in law
09:39:43 enforcement in this city.
09:39:45 Unfortunately, our black citizens are not underrepresented
09:39:49 in TPD's arrest statistics.
09:39:52 In Tampa, our black citizens are arrested at rates that are
09:39:56 totally disproportionate to their percentage of the
09:39:58 population.
09:39:59 The ticketing of blacks on bicycles is only the tip of the
09:40:04 pro verbal iceberg.
09:40:06 These are statistics that were originally obtained from a
09:40:10 public information request by channel 10's Noah Pransky.
09:40:16 TPD arrests more blacks than any other major city in Florida
09:40:20 by a significant amount.
09:40:22 This week we learned that TPD sent undercover officers to
09:40:26 report on first amendment protected activities of
09:40:28 demonstrators during the RNC.
09:40:30 Almost 55% of TPD's 2013 arrests were black.
09:40:38 They had significant more citations at traffic stops than
09:40:41 any other single group and they had more traffic stops than
09:40:44 any other single group.
09:40:46 Tampa's black community experienced almost 250 arrests per
09:40:51 1,000 residents in 2013.
09:40:54 Compared with 100 per 1,000 residents in St. Petersburg.
09:41:00 Almost two and a half times more.
09:41:02 50% of all TPD's traffic tickets were to black citizens.
09:41:08 This was all discussed at a forum last week sponsored by the
09:41:13 Arthur C. Green Foundation, who himself died in police
09:41:15 custody last year.
09:41:17 They highlighted problems with police policies, procedures
09:41:21 and particular actions and kind of indicated that we needed
09:41:25 to make major changes and have a civilian review board.
09:41:29 Unfortunately, no official of the police department and no
09:41:33 official of the City of Tampa was present at that meeting.
09:41:35 TPD needs an oversight and civilian oversight to make sure
09:41:42 that all citizens in this community have the equal
09:41:46 protection of the laws and that certain segments of this
09:41:48 population are not singled out for law enforcement.
09:41:55 I'll give you one statistic at the end.
09:41:58 I couldn't believe it.
09:41:59 But one officer basically had 670 traffic violations, excuse
09:42:04 me, 692 traffic violations to black citizens.
09:42:09 Almost a hundred percent of his went there.
09:42:12 So please take a look at this civilian review board and pass
09:42:15 it this time, the time is right to do it now.
09:42:18 Thank you.
09:42:23 >> Ed Tillou.
09:42:24 I'll be speaking about items 21 and 22 most of all start
09:42:28 out, because you're supposed to have an agenda item.
09:42:31 Okay, with respect to that I always like to save a brilliant
09:42:37 tree is very important.
09:42:38 I hope that's done today.
09:42:40 But the thing is you can't look to the trees to save you
09:42:44 from what's happening resulting over the internal combustion
09:42:48 engine using fossil fuels, like the pope says.
09:42:52 That's 7 tons of carbon dioxide is not taken up by one tree
09:42:56 or maybe about ten.
09:42:58 So like the trees are not going to save you.
09:43:01 You should save the trees.
09:43:02 But the trees will not save you from that.
09:43:04 Now, the thing is that in that regard, there are ways of a
09:43:14 zero emission system.
09:43:15 It will cost about a thousand, $1,200 and then about $5
09:43:20 additional a week, which would be prerequisite for you
09:43:24 getting your gas.
09:43:25 Problem you substitute two and a half tons of ammonia for,
09:43:31 for the 7 tons of carbon dioxide.
09:43:34 But that's good in a way because ammonia can be used in
09:43:38 hydroponics.
09:43:43 A group spoke at the county commission yesterday.
09:43:45 Mickey's farm.
09:43:46 And that's a very good kind of thing because there's got to
09:43:49 be more focus on agriculture because agriculture is going to
09:43:53 go down the drain in 50 years as a result of nothing being
09:43:56 done about this carbon dioxide.
09:43:59 Well, blame Scott.
09:44:00 But it isn't just Scott.
09:44:01 It's much more than just Scott.
09:44:05 It's almost the totality of Florida.
09:44:07 It's the elected officials that get elected down here.
09:44:11 And an example of that was at the county commission
09:44:13 yesterday.
09:44:14 You had a deal made.
09:44:17 The suppression of history, flags that trace the history of
09:44:21 Florida, which could've been sanitized by removing the
09:44:24 battle flag.
09:44:25 Using the first confederate flag to show that period when
09:44:29 Florida was a part of the Confederacy.
09:44:32 You can't rewrite history.
09:44:34 That was the history.
09:44:35 But that was done and that was very important to Mr. Miller
09:44:39 and what was, what did he give in return?
09:44:42 He approved the road that you've gone on record I think it
09:44:46 is, as opposing.
09:44:48 That additional lane for people to pay like $10 in their
09:44:54 back and forth to Florida.
09:44:55 I mean, not to Florida, to Pinellas County.
09:44:57 So what you have, you have no change in thinking.
09:45:02 For instance, you're not buying volts.
09:45:05 You're not outfitting the fleet with volts, you're producing
09:45:08 half as much carbon dioxide.
09:45:10 No, you're not doing that.
09:45:11 And as for the bicycles, at least the bicycles aren't
09:45:15 contributing to that.
09:45:16 They're putting themselves at risk with their behavior.
09:45:19 But the thing is, they -- and I live in Sulphur Springs, so
09:45:25 I see this.
09:45:26 The thing is these are complex issues and you need people
09:45:28 with a good knowledge base.
09:45:30 To be able to deal with them.
09:45:34 >>FRANK REDDICK: Next?
09:45:35 >> My name is John dangler.
09:45:40 I live 908 East Lake Avenue.
09:45:42 A few years ago my wife witnessed a Tampa police officer
09:45:45 kick a five-year-old child to the concrete sidewalk in front
09:45:47 of our house.
09:45:48 Every evening helicopters circle our block and have been,
09:45:52 become like the lullaby we sleep to at night.
09:45:55 TPD patrol cars fly down regularly Lake Avenue at almost a
09:45:58 hundred miles an hour with no sirens or lights.
09:46:00 We all just thank God we haven't been run over yet.
09:46:03 I've lived on lake between College Hill and Robles Park for
09:46:06 almost a decade.
09:46:08 I love our neighborhood and I don't feel anxious or afraid
09:46:10 and don't feel like my neighborhood is threatening and I
09:46:13 don't want to hear anybody talk about it as a bad part of my
09:46:17 town.
09:46:18 But when I see TPD on the street I do get nervous.
09:46:21 I don't get nervous because I'm up to good but because of
09:46:24 who they are and represent in our community.
09:46:26 We live in occupied zone and are occupied people.
09:46:29 It is not possible for us to trust them after the ways we
09:46:31 have seen our neighborhoods and friends manipulate it,
09:46:34 violated and sometimes brutalized year after year.
09:46:37 Today people are demanding accountability and asking for
09:46:39 civilian review board.
09:46:41 I stand where them though honestly I believe it's too small
09:46:44 a demand.
09:46:45 I don't want to review terrible things cops have already
09:46:47 done to our neighbors who bear the image of God.
09:46:49 What we need is preview these officers.
09:46:51 We need to see real power and control put into the hands of
09:46:54 the community.
09:46:55 The community itself should be able to interview, hire and
09:46:58 fire the police who patrol our neighborhoods.
09:47:00 They should answer to the community and know they're beyond
09:47:02 a shadow of a doubt their job security and power is in the
09:47:05 hands of the community in which they work.
09:47:07 The community itself should be setting parameters and
09:47:10 qualifications and trainings for those that work in our
09:47:13 communities.
09:47:13 Poor and black and brown communities do not need or want
09:47:17 officers who live in another world.
09:47:18 Often town and country somewhere patrolling their
09:47:21 neighborhoods.
09:47:21 I grew up in a suburb of Tampa.
09:47:23 It is a different world.
09:47:24 It is a privileged world where the sight of a police is a
09:47:27 comforting presence.
09:47:28 The police wave and smile and draw to mind memorials of Andy
09:47:32 Griffith.
09:47:34 It is another world out there.
09:47:35 The folks that live in that world should not be patrolling
09:47:38 more neighborhoods in the city.
09:47:40 Our neighborhood is considered high crime.
09:47:42 But it is a high rate of poverty and that is the real crime.
09:47:46 Poor people are often desperate and sell things, maybe their
09:47:50 body and poor people face daunting and exercise excruciating
09:47:53 realities and often self-medicate with things like
09:47:56 narcotics.
09:47:57 Poor people have plenty of problems and the last thing this
09:47:59 community needs is a military presence posing a threat to
09:48:02 their very lives, safety and existence.
09:48:05 If you patrol the black community, you damn well better
09:48:08 answer to the black community.
09:48:10 So let me just add this.
09:48:12 Since all we're really discussing is this little review
09:48:15 board.
09:48:15 If there is a review board it better not be filled with
09:48:19 Mayor and TPD selections.
09:48:20 The community must be the ones to select and decide who's on
09:48:23 that board and it cannot be their yes men.
09:48:26 Thank you.
09:48:26 [light applause]
09:48:34 >> Good morning.
09:48:35 My name is Edwin Enciso.
09:48:38 A resident of 1301 South Howard Avenue here in Tampa.
09:48:41 My neighbors are taking care of the wives.
09:48:46 I want to address one of the procedural questions that came
09:48:48 up.
09:48:48 And I think what's important about this is moments like this
09:48:52 remind us of what democracy is about.
09:48:55 It's a great conversation on democratic and especially in
09:49:00 the case of the Council, legislative oversight.
09:49:02 So let's get into the charter because some have questioned
09:49:05 the Council's rights and authority to establish this review
09:49:09 board.
09:49:09 The charter is very clear on the mayoral section it provided
09:49:15 however that nothing herein when describing his powers,
09:49:19 contain shall prevent the City Council and the exercise of
09:49:22 its legislative functions and powers from calling into
09:49:25 consultation the boards or departments or other officers and
09:49:29 employees of the city wherever in the judgment of the
09:49:32 Council it may be necessary.
09:49:34 It does say but they can interfere with the conduct of that
09:49:38 department.
09:49:38 But that's not what we're looking for.
09:49:40 We're not looking for operational management of the police.
09:49:43 We're talking about legislative oversight as is proper and
09:49:48 goes back as far as democracy does.
09:49:51 In the exercise, says section 2.14 under investigations, in
09:49:58 the exercise of its legislative powers, the Council or any
09:50:03 special committee thereof shall have the power to conduct
09:50:05 such investigations and hold such hearings as the Council
09:50:09 shall deem necessary, expedient and proper and shall have
09:50:15 the power to compel attendance of witnesses and production
09:50:17 of evidence by the issuance of all forms of subpoena and
09:50:21 shall have the power to punish for contempt by fine not
09:50:24 exceeding $100 in each day any such coverage temperature
09:50:27 shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.
09:50:30 Further, just to be perfectly clear on your rights to
09:50:35 self-organize, as a legislative body, the Councilmembers may
09:50:39 adopt such bylaws, regulations and rules of procedure for
09:50:43 their own guidance and government as they may deem expedient
09:50:47 to compel the attendance of members and to enforce by some
09:50:52 final penalty, that's if you have attendance issue.
09:50:56 But the main clause, you get to self-organize is the key.
09:50:59 The charter also talks about the right of the citizens to
09:51:04 petition and for an initiative.
09:51:07 So the charter is very clear.
09:51:09 This is a democratic city.
09:51:11 And you have a great opportunity to meet the challenge of a
09:51:18 problem that's clearly there within the police.
09:51:21 With the proper legislative oversight by City Council
09:51:26 through a civilian review board.
09:51:29 Thank you so much.
09:51:30 >>FRANK REDDICK: Next?
09:51:34 >> Good morning.
09:51:39 My name is Matthew Roe.
09:51:41 I live 113 South Krental Avenue in south Tampa.
09:51:45 And I was asked to come down today by my neighbor Ed
09:51:50 Turanchik to put a face on the flooding issues that we have
09:51:54 had recently.
09:51:55 But for, unfortunately, my case and many of my neighbors,
09:52:00 several years to come.
09:52:02 I moved to Tampa in 1994 after graduating from college.
09:52:07 And it was a dream place to be and I fell in love with the
09:52:10 city and bought my home in 2006.
09:52:13 Since then, I have a five-year-old and a two-year-old.
09:52:16 A loving wife, a big yellow happy dog and we enjoy our life.
09:52:20 However, in 2007, after the purchase of my first home, we
09:52:24 were flooded out.
09:52:26 We had over $120,000 worth of damage and this was not the
09:52:30 direct effect of a hurricane.
09:52:31 It wasn't a body of water entering our house from the bay.
09:52:35 It was directly related to the stormwater system.
09:52:38 We were displaced for over a year.
09:52:45 And we moved back in and doing the best we could.
09:52:48 This last weekend, we incurred the same problem.
09:52:52 My wife and my family are displaced again.
09:52:56 There's no hope of us selling the home because we now have
09:53:02 to disclose that the flood has happened twice.
09:53:04 This is not a direct effect of a Katrina type disaster.
09:53:09 We are the de facto watershed for the majority of Tampa in
09:53:14 our area.
09:53:15 Hopefully my presence, Ed's presence, our neighbor's
09:53:20 presence here can shine some light on what really happens
09:53:23 when this type of event takes place that can be avoided.
09:53:26 We know that there is a budget next year for stormwater.
09:53:32 Ironically as the water was entering my home and six inches
09:53:36 throughout my home, we received a letter saying that there
09:53:38 was going to be an increase in our taxes for stormwater
09:53:42 issues.
09:53:43 As I read the letter and water rushed past my ankles, I'm
09:53:48 watching my children develop phobias and fears, every time
09:53:52 it rains, every time there's a heavy downpour, I have to run
09:53:55 home from work to try and protect my home.
09:53:58 The American dream for me was to purchase a home and then to
09:54:00 build equity in that and be able to live that dream.
09:54:04 I cannot do that now.
09:54:05 I cannot sell my home.
09:54:07 We are in essence locked into a flooded area.
09:54:09 I hope that there is an allocation for the Krental area to
09:54:19 address this because we are held hostage of the
09:54:22 insufficiency of the sewer system in Tampa.
09:54:25 >>FRANK REDDICK: Next?
09:54:29 >> Can you project this?
09:54:32 Can you make it a full page?
09:54:40 Here you go.
09:54:41 This is the part that I need.
09:54:42 First, my name is Pete Montero, 2917 North Ninth Street,
09:54:47 Tampa, Florida.
09:54:48 It's V.M. Ybor.
09:54:51 I'm here to talk about the stormwater improvement situation.
09:54:54 And I agree that the stormwater situation, running of water
09:54:58 through our systems needs to be improved.
09:55:01 It's obvious.
09:55:02 What's happened the last two weeks.
09:55:04 First very quickly, there's an, there's some kind of error,
09:55:11 duplication.
09:55:12 This is the front of the notice on one of my properties.
09:55:17 And it goes down to here and says number of ESUs, one
09:55:20 maximum storm assessment, $82.
09:55:22 Okay.
09:55:23 Now, I turn it over, same letter exists except for turning
09:55:29 it over to the next side, saying information exists but then
09:55:33 number of ESEs, stormwater assessment of 98.04.
09:55:41 There's a discrepancy in the, this itself, unless I'm
09:55:45 mistaken and I can be.
09:55:46 I have been mistaken before.
09:55:49 My issue is that, and I agree with this gentleman, that we
09:55:54 need to improve this system.
09:55:56 But how are we going to pay forth?
09:55:59 I live on a very frugal budget.
09:56:07 I can ill afford an increase in my property assessment.
09:56:12 I live on social security and the rental income from the
09:56:18 property next door to mine, which will be assessed also.
09:56:25 I am asking the questions since I just received this, and I
09:56:29 just decided to come here on the spur of the moment.
09:56:32 Is there an alternative to using a property assessment?
09:56:39 Rather the alternative to use as one of our sister cities
09:56:46 has used, I believe it was Clearwater, if it wasn't
09:56:49 St. Pete.
09:56:50 An increase, a temporary increase in the sales tax of one
09:56:59 half of one percent spread out across the entire city to be
09:57:07 able to accommodate this additional stormwater grouping.
09:57:14 And please before I leave, let's switch gears.
09:57:19 I am in total support of a community service...
09:57:26 >> Audience: Review boards.
09:57:28 [ Laughter ]
09:57:29 >> While we are doing that, while we are reviewing, because
09:57:34 I am a firm supporter of police, proper support of police.
09:57:39 But also there should be some kind of accommodation to try
09:57:42 to figure out in this board somehow, how to have the young
09:57:48 men, primarily black young men who are having problems
09:57:55 legally to reduce their anger.
09:57:59 >>FRANK REDDICK: We thank you for your comments.
09:58:00 Your time is up.
09:58:01 >> And to alleviate their factor in crime that we have.
09:58:08 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
09:58:09 Just want to address.
09:58:10 It is not a duplication.
09:58:12 There are two different assessments.
09:58:13 So, you'll see at the top of the page one says a capital
09:58:19 improvement assessment and on the opposite side of the page,
09:58:22 one says a service assessment.
09:58:25 So they are two separate assessments.
09:58:27 Not a duplication.
09:58:29 >> So there are two, both these factors combined in the
09:58:32 final assessment?
09:58:33 >>LISA MONTELIONE: We are going to talk about that I don't
09:58:35 know if you're going to be able to stay.
09:58:37 >> I am staying.
09:58:38 I'm here for the city review.
09:58:40 That even makes it worse.
09:58:42 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So we'll be talking about that a little
09:58:44 bit later on in some scenarios.
09:58:47 >> Thank you.
09:58:48 >>FRANK REDDICK: Next speaker?
09:58:49 How much time do we have?
09:58:51 Two minutes.
09:58:52 Council -- what is the pleasure of the Council?
09:59:06 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I'll move to extend the public comment
09:59:07 time by however many minutes we need because I think
09:59:10 everybody needs to be heard.
09:59:13 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I'm not sure if we should reduce to two
09:59:15 minutes and try and get as many people always we can or if
09:59:18 we want to do it that way.
09:59:20 Two minutes for -- you said there's 14 people.
09:59:24 >>FRANK REDDICK: 14 people standing outside.
09:59:28 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Looks like about 28 -- why don't we send it
09:59:33 by another 45 minutes.
09:59:34 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
09:59:35 We're going to extend it another 45 minutes and we're going
09:59:38 to limit it to two minutes per person.
09:59:40 Starting with you.
09:59:42 >> Kevin O'Hare.
09:59:44 >>FRANK REDDICK: I'm sorry.
09:59:45 Moved by commissioner Suarez.
09:59:49 Seconded by Ms. Montelione.
09:59:51 All those in favor.
09:59:55 >> Thank you.
09:59:56 Kevin O'Hare.
09:59:57 In two weeks I'll be at 401 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa,
10:00:01 Florida.
10:00:02 I'm here to speak on a few issues and touch on all that.
10:00:06 First and foremost, I want to thank can Councilwoman can
10:00:14 Maniscalco for the resolution, formerly endues the
10:00:17 presidential youth Council.
10:00:18 This is a concept that's been around about four years now
10:00:21 and gained a lot of traction the past couple months.
10:00:23 This is an selfish supported by the Hillsborough County
10:00:26 county commission as well as the school district of
10:00:28 Hillsborough County.
10:00:29 Much recently, with a lot of notice, we gained the support
10:00:34 of two presidential candidates, Governor Martin O'Malley and
10:00:38 Governor Scott Walker.
10:00:39 So there's another avenue to you.
10:00:41 This is very bipartisan policy, so I want to thank
10:00:45 Maniscalco for that.
10:00:46 On another note, thank you very much for being the lone vote
10:00:49 against the Tampa Bay express lanes project on the MPO
10:00:52 meeting last Tuesday.
10:00:53 That was awesome.
10:00:54 Unfortunately I was not there, but I did scroll through
10:00:57 twitter like crazy and I saw people's reactions throughout
10:01:01 the night and it was a wonderfully attended meeting.
10:01:04 I want to thank you for also attending the community
10:01:07 meeting.
10:01:07 I was in Seminole Heights the prior week before you were the
10:01:10 only elected official I saw there.
10:01:11 So thank you very much for attending to that and finally, to
10:01:14 kind of address the main issue why everyone is here, item
10:01:18 number 6, creating a citizens review board on the police
10:01:21 department for the City of Tampa.
10:01:24 This is a no-brainer.
10:01:25 There's no thing I can bring that no one else here can
10:01:28 address for me already.
10:01:30 And what has not already been said.
10:01:33 This is absolutely something the City of Tampa needs to
10:01:35 pursue.
10:01:35 Something that really bothers me though is the biking while
10:01:40 black issue that's going on right now and disproportionate
10:01:43 arrests among African-Americans bicycling in Tampa.
10:01:46 For small, very small minor infractions.
10:01:51 I used to bike around from and east Hillsborough all the
10:01:53 time and I would never get pulled over for not having a
10:01:56 light on my bike or anything trivial like that it's very
10:01:59 silly.
10:02:00 So thank you very much.
10:02:00 And please put on the citizens review board.
10:02:03 Thank you.
10:02:05 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:02:05 Next?
10:02:06 >> Good morning.
10:02:08 Connie Burton, Tampa, Florida.
10:02:10 First thing I want to say is that when the minister prayed,
10:02:15 I wish he would've included prayers for the people.
10:02:18 Because it is the people that is feeling a sense of being
10:02:23 under siege.
10:02:24 Real quick, in 1963 was an important period for America
10:02:28 because you had the tragedy of Kennedy, but for the African
10:02:32 people we had what was described as the black revolution.
10:02:35 The black revolution said that we was able to identity our
10:02:45 foes, those allies, those Dixie-crats, those that had been
10:02:49 supposedly in align with the politics of human and civil
10:02:52 rights.
10:02:52 We found that they was more accessible to a passive peace.
10:02:56 Not a peace for everybody.
10:02:58 Not justice for everybody.
10:03:00 In 2015, right now we're at a tipping point, not just in
10:03:05 Tampa but all across the country.
10:03:08 We're celebrating regrettably the one year murder of Michael
10:03:13 Brown.
10:03:14 African people are demanding justice.
10:03:17 All across the country.
10:03:18 And the small portion that this City Council can do is align
10:03:23 itself on being on the right side of history.
10:03:26 The right side of history means to me being in balance.
10:03:30 That you can't have a people, an African population that is
10:03:35 on the brunt end of so much injustice and you look the other
10:03:38 way.
10:03:39 We're calling on for a citizen review board with power from
10:03:44 the people and we want this Council to take a look at moving
10:03:48 away from the Mayor policies that stuck with George Wallace
10:03:54 type rule that you will set apart from him and say you're
10:03:59 going to be with the people and instill justice in this
10:04:01 community.
10:04:01 Thank you.
10:04:04 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:04:04 Next speaker?
10:04:05 >> Good morning, chairman.
10:04:11 Members of Council.
10:04:12 My name is Laila Abdelaziz.
10:04:15 I'm the legislative and government affairs director at the
10:04:17 Council on American Islamic Relations Florida.
10:04:20 CAIR-Florida.
10:04:21 We stand in support of the creation and establishment of a
10:04:24 civilian review board but we did want to reiterate our calls
10:04:28 for a review board that is established with the authority
10:04:32 and appropriations to have independent investigative powers.
10:04:36 There is decades of research on this establishment of a
10:04:40 civilian review board and research upon research shows that
10:04:43 in order for a civilian review board to be effective and to
10:04:47 serve the needs that it needs to serve for public
10:04:51 transparency, for community police relationships and the
10:04:54 improvement of the police departments themselves, they have
10:04:56 to be externally created and externally enforced.
10:05:00 I think it's very important to also note that the police
10:05:04 department and law enforcement agencies in the City of Tampa
10:05:07 and Hillsborough County should not take offense to this
10:05:09 recommendation.
10:05:10 This recommendation aims to make police departments better
10:05:14 and stronger and healthier for our communities.
10:05:17 It aims to improve police relations with the community
10:05:21 member sews that communities trust police officers when
10:05:25 they're on their streets.
10:05:26 I grew up in Baltimore cities in the 90s and a very tough
10:05:29 time for the city.
10:05:30 I remember when the police chief made the decision to have
10:05:33 every officer just patrol the neighborhood on foot instead
10:05:36 of his car for an hour every day.
10:05:38 That did he some much and that came from the recommendation
10:05:41 of civilians.
10:05:42 It's also very important to remember that civilian oversight
10:05:45 of police departments is less expensive and less intrusive
10:05:49 than federal involvement when it comes to identifying and
10:05:52 addressing issue.
10:05:53 Now we see the federal government involved in addressing and
10:05:58 potential racial disparity and constitutional violation of
10:06:01 people of color within our city.
10:06:03 And this kind of involvement and our policing the City of
10:06:07 Tampa does far more to hurt community police relationships
10:06:11 than a civilian review board that would preempt these
10:06:14 problems.
10:06:14 Thank you.
10:06:15 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you for sending me that information
10:06:16 as well.
10:06:17 Thank you for that information.
10:06:18 >> Absolutely.
10:06:21 >>FRANK REDDICK: Next speaker.
10:06:22 >> Arthur green, Tampa, Florida.
10:06:30 I'm the son of Arthur green junior who was killed a year ago
10:06:33 while in the hands of Tampa police department.
10:06:35 I come here speaking on behalf of the Arthur green junior
10:06:38 foundation.
10:06:39 We just had a meeting last Saturday.
10:06:41 Good turn out about this issue.
10:06:43 We had a couple line items that we wanted to decide for the
10:06:46 civilian review board we thought would be good.
10:06:49 One is proper funding and research that should be provided
10:06:52 to this review board.
10:06:55 Community involvement in the planning and creation of the
10:06:58 board so as not just picked out by officials but actual
10:07:01 people in the community.
10:07:02 Implementation of body cameras to officers if not the whole
10:07:08 force, but ones who just had infractions or just had issues
10:07:11 so they can be monitored after.
10:07:15 Internal access to the database for research.
10:07:19 Allow officers to have psychological evaluations after
10:07:23 dealing with too many infractions, too many issues.
10:07:27 A possibility to give the community a fair voice and actual
10:07:33 connection to the people who are running the city and the
10:07:36 people who are patrolling the city, i.e., the police.
10:07:40 Actual strength in a court of law to where actions of a
10:07:42 civilian review board can be upheld in a court of law when
10:07:46 it comes to it.
10:07:47 Funding also for research and attorneys and specialists.
10:07:53 And also just have an overall sensitivity to the people in
10:07:57 the community that the people in the community do not feel
10:08:01 from the police officers, me speaking personally from my
10:08:04 personal dealings between police, Tampa police and my
10:08:08 family.
10:08:08 So, thank you.
10:08:10 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:08:11 All right.
10:08:12 Next?
10:08:12 >> Good morning.
10:08:19 My name is Lina Young-Green, 3406 north Avon avenue.
10:08:24 I am the wife of Arthur green junior.
10:08:27 And I want to speak on this issue of the civilian review
10:08:33 board.
10:08:34 After what happened to my husband last year, we decided that
10:08:38 we would take the proactive approach and try to use his
10:08:44 story as a means of helping our community as we have always
10:08:47 done in improving working to improve our community.
10:08:50 We assess what happened to my husband and found out that
10:08:56 before we the family were advised of what happened to him,
10:09:00 the police department had already put a spin on his story,
10:09:03 calling him a drunk driver who was resisting arrest and who
10:09:08 would not listen to their commands.
10:09:11 It was not till we were going to the hospital that we found
10:09:15 out that he was on the street with facedown, with handcuffs
10:09:20 when he died.
10:09:21 I don't say that this would have prevented that happening to
10:09:26 my husband.
10:09:27 But I'm saying that if there are tools that are available to
10:09:32 help the police department behave differently, then we need
10:09:36 to put those in place.
10:09:37 Perhaps if there were review, a review commission and the
10:09:43 officers knew that something would happen after they had,
10:09:49 after their behavior, that maybe they would have behaved
10:09:53 differently.
10:09:53 Maybe they would've called the paramedics to help him rather
10:09:58 than wrestle him to the ground and kill him.
10:10:02 So, I believe this is another tool.
10:10:04 We passed the law in the legislature as another tool, this
10:10:08 Mayor did not step forward to help us, help us at the local
10:10:12 level.
10:10:12 We had to go do the state level in order to pass the law
10:10:15 that affect all of the state of Florida, which is better.
10:10:19 And it's happening throughout the nation as well.
10:10:22 Thank you.
10:10:23 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:10:24 Next?
10:10:26 >> Good morning, Council.
10:10:37 Charles Jefferson.
10:10:38 I live at 2310 west cherry street.
10:10:41 I was born and raised in the West Tampa community of this
10:10:46 city.
10:10:47 I think that for very long time we have had a disengagement
10:10:53 between police officers and the young people growing up in
10:10:57 all communities.
10:10:59 I think over the last few years, that this engagement has
10:11:04 been most applied by maybe a hundred.
10:11:06 By having the review board, we give ourself the opportunity
10:11:10 to kind of bridge that disengagement, where we have police
10:11:13 officers in communities, police in communities of people
10:11:17 that they really don't understand.
10:11:19 And we have people living in communities that really don't
10:11:21 understand the roles and you know, emotions of police
10:11:26 officers.
10:11:27 Two of my family members are, you know, employees of the
10:11:32 Tampa Police Department.
10:11:36 And you know, they're regular people.
10:11:37 They're everyday people just like folks in the community is.
10:11:42 The perception that they have of the people that live in the
10:11:47 community that they police is depicted by the media.
10:11:51 You know what I'm saying?
10:11:53 Like that's the only way they get to view those people and
10:11:55 then the people that live in the communities, only way they
10:11:57 really get to view the police is the same depiction of the
10:12:01 media.
10:12:02 So now you have a police officer in the community where he
10:12:04 feels like, you know, his life is in danger for him to do
10:12:08 his job and you have people that live in the community that
10:12:10 feel like their life is in danger any time the police, you
10:12:14 know, comes around.
10:12:15 So, people just want to feel protected and not paranoid when
10:12:19 they see the police.
10:12:20 People have follow for, you the know, freedom and
10:12:23 protection.
10:12:24 And I think that the City of Tampa has the responsibility to
10:12:27 protect the citizens that live in this city.
10:12:31 And also protect the officers that work here.
10:12:34 And that's the type of city that I will be proud to live in.
10:12:37 Thank you all.
10:12:38 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:12:39 Next?
10:12:39 Good morning.
10:12:43 My name Guy Maxfield.
10:12:47 I live near Temple Terrace, 8732 Bush Oaks Street, 33617.
10:12:52 And I believe in law enforcement, but having said that, we
10:12:57 have to be careful how we place individuals in that
10:13:02 position.
10:13:03 This should be a strong psychological profile done before
10:13:07 the person is sent to the academy.
10:13:09 We didn't know what organizations that they've been a part
10:13:13 of prior to.
10:13:14 We need to know what their philosophy is about other
10:13:19 cultures and all these things need to be taken into account
10:13:22 before you give someone the badge and the gun and the
10:13:26 license to kill, if they have to.
10:13:28 Because it's a very serious thing.
10:13:30 Law enforcement is an embodiment of codified law.
10:13:34 They're sworn to serve and to protect everybody.
10:13:38 But if you look at other members of society as less than
10:13:41 human, not treating people like human beings, then all of
10:13:46 the civil rights in the world don't mean a thing when you
10:13:50 can't treat someone else like a human being like you want to
10:13:53 be treated.
10:13:54 When a person gets killed and their skin is brown or black,
10:13:59 they're demonized all the time.
10:14:01 They go back into their high school, or their elementary
10:14:04 school record and you say well, he got in trouble when he
10:14:07 was in school so this justifies the shooting.
10:14:09 When an officer kills somebody and I watched this on the
10:14:14 news all the time, I'm going to hurry up, we get five or six
10:14:19 other news stories talking about some good things that the
10:14:21 police do.
10:14:25 We got to start treating each other like human beings in
10:14:28 this society or we are going to implode.
10:14:30 Thank you for your time.
10:14:32 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:14:32 Next?
10:14:33 >> Hi, I'm Rini, residing at 5010 east 97th avenue.
10:14:42 And as a community organizer, I feel it's very necessary for
10:14:48 citizens review board, being in our community law
10:14:51 enforcement is supposed to protect us but our community
10:14:53 feels as if you guys are against what they are, against us.
10:14:57 So in order to make that equal, we need to have our voices
10:15:02 heard so we can be on the same page.
10:15:04 So we can not be struck but, you know, have progression in
10:15:09 the community.
10:15:12 >>FRANK REDDICK: You're a community organizer.
10:15:14 I thought you was in junior high school.
10:15:16 [ Laughter ]
10:15:17 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:15:19 Next?
10:15:20 >> Good morning.
10:15:27 My name is Yvette Lewis for those who don't know.
10:15:30 And I want to thank you all for this opportunity to speak.
10:15:34 I live at 3308 east Lila in Tampa.
10:15:38 That's in East Tampa as well.
10:15:40 And if you all you don't know, I am the political action
10:15:45 chair for the NAACP.
10:15:46 I have seen many of you all come out to my community and ask
10:15:49 for our vote.
10:15:50 I have seen many of you show up to the polls and hold up
10:15:54 signs and pay people to vote for the day of election.
10:15:56 I just want you to know that the community responded to you
10:15:59 all because you all are sitting up there now.
10:16:02 So you won your race.
10:16:03 We're asking that you consider, consider not even just
10:16:07 consider it, just go ahead and do what's right by the
10:16:11 citizens that had voted you into office to sit there.
10:16:14 I am so sick and tired of you all coming and asking us for
10:16:17 something and when we come and ask you for something, we
10:16:20 literally have to beg.
10:16:21 My begging days are over.
10:16:23 Enough is enough.
10:16:26 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:16:27 Next?
10:16:28 >> Good morning, Council.
10:16:33 Kelly Benjamin, I'm life long resident of Tampa.
10:16:38 301 Lambright street.
10:16:41 Want to commend you chairman Reddick for bringing forth this
10:16:44 motion for citizen review board.
10:16:46 It's something situate think is greatly needed in the city
10:16:49 to create and environment and atmosphere of mutual respect
10:16:54 and understanding between law enforcement and the community.
10:16:59 Just last week the Washington post reported that there have
10:17:02 been over 400 police deaths from law enforcement shootings
10:17:07 in this country.
10:17:08 This year alone.
10:17:09 If you compare that to a country like Norway, they shot at
10:17:15 somebody twice last year.
10:17:18 And they missed both times.
10:17:19 [ Laughter ]
10:17:20 >> I guess the police here have better aim.
10:17:24 We have a serious issue.
10:17:26 Not only across the board in this country, but as has been
10:17:32 stated here by many people in this community, this is a very
10:17:35 serious issue.
10:17:36 The statistics don't lie.
10:17:38 The statistics of arrests that were mentioned by the ACLU,
10:17:42 the statistics of ticketing and as an organizer who works in
10:17:47 East Tampa, West Tampa, Sulphur Springs, we hear these
10:17:51 stories on a regular basis.
10:17:53 Always I know Ms. Montelione was at the cops listening
10:17:59 session the other day.
10:18:00 There was a tremendous amount of testimony from the
10:18:03 community.
10:18:04 We have a very serious problem and I want to echo the voices
10:18:08 of folks that if there is a citizen review board created and
10:18:12 that needs to be, there will be, like there is in Sarasota,
10:18:15 like there is in many other cities in this state, it needs
10:18:19 to be genuine.
10:18:21 It needs to be legitimate.
10:18:22 It needs to be led by citizens and it needs to have some
10:18:25 teeth.
10:18:26 And we need it.
10:18:27 It's desperate to create a better relationship in our
10:18:31 community so we can move forward.
10:18:33 Thank you very much.
10:18:35 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
10:18:36 Next.
10:18:39 >> Good morning, clay walkup.
10:18:41 I own a home at 117 south Clark avenue.
10:18:44 I've brought photos here of what the house looked like on
10:18:47 Monday.
10:18:48 Saturday's flooding was billed as a once in 45 year event.
10:18:51 And yes, that was the worst flooding I've seen.
10:18:54 First time I've actually had water intrusion in my home.
10:18:56 Spent the last serve taking that water out of my home of.
10:18:59 The photos that are here were taken on Monday.
10:19:02 The photos that you'll see, if you can see them, that's what
10:19:06 happens regularly in our neighborhood.
10:19:08 This is not an unusual event.
10:19:10 This is the front of my home.
10:19:14 It gets flooded like this on a regular basis.
10:19:16 Bought my home in 2001 and I've dealt with this kind of
10:19:21 flooding regularly.
10:19:22 This is not once in a 45 year event.
10:19:24 The storm sewers work against us.
10:19:25 They take water out to a certain point then back up with
10:19:29 such force they blow off the steel manhole cover at the
10:19:32 corner of Cleveland and Clark and water comes up like an
10:19:34 artesian well four feet high.
10:19:36 I've witnessed this miles and it's bringing water into my
10:19:39 neighborhood rather than taking it out.
10:19:41 I've had flooding inside the garage six inches deep.
10:19:45 What's danger to our health, if you look in this photo, you
10:19:49 see these bubbles coming up.
10:19:50 This is one of the largest sanitary sewer lines from the
10:19:53 City of Tampa.
10:19:55 I've looked down in this manhole.
10:19:57 I was told it runs from Tampa stadium to Bay to Bay
10:19:59 Boulevard.
10:19:59 You could stand up in this thing and it's 30 feet
10:20:02 underground.
10:20:02 When our street floods, that's raw sewage running down the
10:20:07 streets, which is a very big health threat to everyone in
10:20:10 south Tampa.
10:20:11 We're tired of it.
10:20:12 We need help.
10:20:13 We're desperate.
10:20:14 I'm pleading.
10:20:15 When you pass a budget, do not forget the intersection of
10:20:19 south Clark and Cleveland.
10:20:20 Thank you for your time.
10:20:21 >> Mr. Chairman, Councilmembers, my name is Ed Turanchik,
10:20:30 120 South Krental, of the Krental Clark stormwater pond
10:20:36 area.
10:20:36 First of all, I'm here on behalf of 12 residents whose
10:20:40 houses flooded on Saturday.
10:20:42 That seems a little trivial.
10:20:48 You should do what these people are asking.
10:20:51 Without question.
10:20:53 But I want to address this other issue.
10:20:56 This is, if you can put it up, excuse me, the red arrows,
10:21:05 this is the area -- bring it back a bit, please.
10:21:09 Between Lois, Kennedy, Swann and Dale Mabry.
10:21:17 Those red arrows point to the low spot.
10:21:21 We are the retention area, de facto retention area for the
10:21:26 City of Tampa.
10:21:27 Mr. Walkup, my other neighbor Matt talked about what
10:21:32 happens.
10:21:33 This is the stormwater pond that occurs regularly.
10:21:37 The 12 red dots are homes that all have water in them.
10:21:43 Now I have to tell you under English common law, you can do
10:21:48 what you want to your property but you can't hurt someone
10:21:50 else's property.
10:21:52 And this has gone on for 25 years.
10:21:54 We don't see in the current plans anything to redress this.
10:21:59 Mr. Chairman, I am talking for 12 homeowners.
10:22:03 >>FRANK REDDICK: Well, we're on a time constraint now.
10:22:06 >> We would ask you to seriously take a look at the
10:22:09 stormwater fee and we would like to see whatever plan you
10:22:14 do, finally, resolve and address the fact that we are acting
10:22:18 as a public stormwater area for the City of Tampa and we
10:22:23 don't want to do that any more.
10:22:24 We urge you to pass the fees but please address this issue
10:22:27 and God bless you.
10:22:31 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:22:32 Let me see.
10:22:37 Mr. Gray, you the last person in line back there?
10:22:40 >> No, sir.
10:22:42 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
10:22:43 Do we have anyone still outside?
10:22:45 Have we cleared the outside?
10:22:47 All right.
10:22:48 Anyone else that is sitting that has not spoken, if you plan
10:22:52 on speaking, please line up so we can get a count how many
10:22:55 more people we got before we move on.
10:22:57 We need to get a count.
10:22:59 How much time do we have left?
10:23:01 [Inaudible]
10:23:06 >>FRANK REDDICK: 10:45.
10:23:09 So Dr. Small, you the last person?
10:23:12 All right.
10:23:12 Let's do it.
10:23:14 Next?
10:23:16 >> My name is Trevor Harper.
10:23:19 [Inaudible]
10:23:30 >> It's okay.
10:23:31 You got it.
10:23:32 Come on.
10:23:33 You can do it.
10:23:34 >> I feel about the police.
10:23:47 >> Come on.
10:23:48 How you feel about the police.
10:23:49 You can tell them.
10:23:51 Come on.
10:23:51 You got it.
10:23:53 How do you feel?
10:23:56 >>FRANK REDDICK: Does she have something written out?
10:24:07 >> She does have something written out.
10:24:09 >>FRANK REDDICK: If she want to, because we got a time
10:24:11 constraint here.
10:24:12 If she want to submit that for the record, we'll be more
10:24:15 than happy to have a written comment.
10:24:17 All right.
10:24:18 Next?
10:24:20 >> My name is Janeta Hart.
10:24:31 How do I feel about the police?
10:24:33 I feel that the police make me feel safe because they arrest
10:24:37 other people with guns.
10:24:40 Then when the police take them to jail, I feel safe and I
10:24:43 thank the police for that.
10:24:44 What I don't like about the police is that sometimes they
10:24:48 don't care what happens to us and send us to jail for no
10:24:52 reason.
10:24:53 That isn't right.
10:24:54 We want power to protect our neighborhood and families and
10:24:59 friends.
10:24:59 We want to help the police be good for protecting us and
10:25:06 servicing our communities.
10:25:07 We want our voices to matter and the policing of our
10:25:12 communities.
10:25:13 A community review board is a way for us to make sure we
10:25:19 find fair answers to their problems.
10:25:22 Please create a community review board for the Tampa Police
10:25:24 Department.
10:25:28 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:25:29 Next?
10:25:30 >> Hi.
10:25:35 My name is Martin.
10:25:41 [Inaudible]
10:25:43 How I feel about the police.
10:25:45 I dislike the police because they sometimes kill, they
10:25:56 sometimes kill people and take them to jail for nothing.
10:26:00 We don't feel safe when we see cops in our neighborhood.
10:26:06 We want the police to help us make our neighborhood safe but
10:26:15 now it feels like they don't want to help us.
10:26:20 They see us and think we are part of the problem without
10:26:24 even knowing us.
10:26:25 We want our voices to matter in the policing of our
10:26:34 community, of our community.
10:26:40 A community review board is a way for us to make sure we
10:26:45 have got their answers to these problems.
10:26:48 Please create a community review board for the Tampa Police
10:26:53 Department.
10:26:57 Thank you.
10:26:59 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:27:01 Next?
10:27:03 >> Hi.
10:27:11 My name is Christian Martin.
10:27:17 [Inaudible] system that goes unchecked.
10:27:24 Some police officers have across the nation have already
10:27:28 confessed they are part of the KKK or other groups that hate
10:27:32 the existence of minorities, which isn't right.
10:27:34 Everyone should be held accountable for their actions in
10:27:38 order for problems to be fixed, you have to first admit that
10:27:41 there is a problem.
10:27:42 The Tampa Police Department won't admit there is a problem.
10:27:46 We cannot trust them to make things better in our
10:27:48 neighborhoods.
10:27:49 Tampa police are targeting black communities.
10:27:56 Not treating us equally.
10:27:57 This isn't just a problem in Tampa but also around the
10:28:00 country.
10:28:01 We want [Inaudible] community way for us to make sure we
10:28:06 find answers to our problems.
10:28:09 Please community review board for the Tampa Police
10:28:12 Department.
10:28:14 >> Good evening.
10:28:19 My name is Preston Schofield.
10:28:22 Former member of the 82nd airborne division.
10:28:26 As a service member, I was willing to give up my life in
10:28:29 defense of my country for my constitutional rights.
10:28:31 I support the police department and their jobs they're
10:28:33 doing.
10:28:34 But I had altercation, incident several times with Tampa
10:28:37 Police Department that has scarred me.
10:28:40 I'm also the host of a radio show now called the voice on
10:28:45 WTMP, Saturday mornings 8 to 9 a.m. where we talk about
10:28:48 these issues.
10:28:49 On July 10th, 2013 after illegal traffic stop by Tampa
10:28:53 Police Department, because of taillight that was supposedly
10:28:57 out on my car, I asked the officer could I see the light
10:29:00 that was out because I had just recently left MacDill Air
10:29:03 Force Base where I would have been stopped by the police if
10:29:05 my light was out.
10:29:07 The officer told me I couldn't.
10:29:08 They handcuffed me and put me in the back of the car.
10:29:11 The officer backed my car off the road.
10:29:13 When he backed my car off the road, all my lights were
10:29:17 working.
10:29:17 When I questioned him, they told me they'd call the tow
10:29:21 truck, professional towing, over my objections because I had
10:29:22 insurance that would've towed my car.
10:29:25 They towed my car, took me to jail.
10:29:28 I had to sit six days in jail illegally for a traffic stop.
10:29:31 That case number is case number 14-CM 000070.
10:29:36 I won that case in court before Judge Dick Greco junior.
10:29:43 He said I should be compensated for my time in jail.
10:29:46 When I went to the police station August 22nd, the main
10:29:49 police station to recover my car, I was told that I couldn't
10:29:52 get my car.
10:29:53 Detective made me leave the police station and not do a post
10:29:58 report on the theft of my car.
10:29:59 On January 2014 I was stopped on Kennedy avenue because
10:30:03 light was out on the back of a car that belonged to Tavares
10:30:05 Connors.
10:30:06 When I asked to see the light being out, he refused.
10:30:10 Threw me to the car, handcuffed me, tore my left rotator
10:30:13 cuff, ligaments and my muscles.
10:30:15 At this time I've yet to get an answer back from the Tampa
10:30:18 Police Department considering this incident.
10:30:20 Thank you.
10:30:24 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:30:24 Next.
10:30:25
00:15:00 [ Reconnecting ]
10:32:33 >> Thank you.
10:32:33 Next.
10:32:34 >> My name is Robert P. Edwards.
10:32:37 And I have had the fortune -- we had a semi police review
10:32:41 committee.
10:32:41 I believe I have seen photos of it.
10:32:46 And got a lot of reports from the police department internal
10:32:49 affairs doing the investigation in standards and all.
10:32:53 The idea that the committee at the time was to make
10:32:56 recommendations to the police department on what training
10:33:03 standard and things.
10:33:04 We stopped.
10:33:05 We don't talk to anybody anymore.
10:33:07 One of the problems we had back then is what we have now.
10:33:10 These guys -- I'm pro law enforcement. The problem is the
10:33:14 union will never come to the table.
10:33:16 And I think, council, you all know that.
10:33:19 And they are not interested in improving relationships.
10:33:22 If we can ever get the union to the table, for all the
10:33:33 people in the city, they didn't do that.
10:33:40 The question is how much power do you want to give them?
10:33:43 But the other part of the issue was when we looked at the
10:33:47 discipline when it's handed back down, a lot of this that
10:33:51 should have been for progressive discipline, once it got to
10:33:55 the majors and the captain.
10:33:56 We can make this work.
10:33:58 All of you know, it should be honest enough if the union
10:34:02 don't come to the table, and they use their influence,
10:34:06 nothing will be done.
10:34:07 And that's the real issue.
10:34:09 We stopped talking.
10:34:11 And we need to be look at that concept.
10:34:13 And put diversity in the review team, put some feedback, and
10:34:21 if the union still doesn't want to cooperate then the city
10:34:24 has to make up its mind.
10:34:25 The union run everybody in the city or we are going to work
10:34:28 as a team to make it better.
10:34:30 I'm fortunate enough to have been around and remember that.
10:34:33 We can do better.
10:34:34 If the union don't go, it's a no-go.
10:34:37 >> Stanley gray, west Harvard Avenue.
10:34:45 I'm in support of the review as well as body camera but I
10:34:52 would like to talk about the stormwater issue.
10:34:57 I am in support.
10:35:02 However, for the city to come up with a comprehensive review
10:35:04 plan of some of the people -- totally ruined storage areas,
10:35:44 and this is a continual problem.
10:35:46 I'm not going to spend a lot of time standing over and over
10:35:49 again, but when we get these funds I would like you to spend
10:35:52 some time on how we are going to spend this money, alleviate
10:35:55 the problems.
10:35:56 My future in-laws are older.
10:35:59 Fixed income.
10:36:07 Thank you for your time.
10:36:10 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:36:10 Next.
10:36:10 >> Good morning.
10:36:13 My name is Kathryn Weiss, 301 east Lambright and I'm here in
10:36:18 support of the citizen review board.
10:36:21 First of all I'm a mother.
10:36:23 And I must say that I get very emotional.
10:36:31 I'm also here as an educator, and as an educator for
10:36:41 approximately 20 years.
10:36:42 I have been in Hillsborough County public school system for
10:36:44 about nine years.
10:36:46 And as an educator, we are required to be held accountable.
10:36:51 And of what we do in the classroom.
10:36:53 And in order to be held accountable we are required to have
10:37:03 that knowledge and background in professional development.
10:37:15 Learning disability, and of course in classroom management
10:37:18 you have to know the situation in order to be able to handle
10:37:22 every situation that may come your way, and in the gamut of
10:37:26 population of your classroom.
10:37:27 The reason I'm saying this is because we need to have those
10:37:30 parallels, anybody who works in the public sector.
10:37:33 I believe that we need to have accountability for the police
10:37:35 department by giving them the opportunity to have those
10:37:37 classes.
10:37:38 We can't do something we.
10:37:41 Been trained to do. If they don't have training pertaining
10:37:45 to poverty and pertaining to issues of how to reduce the
10:37:49 escalation of a situation, then we can't expect them to have
10:37:53 do have so.
10:37:53 And I do applaud the police department for now having
10:37:57 classes for a particular medical condition of diabetes but
10:38:02 they have to be trained in all of these things.
10:38:04 Do we need body cameras?
10:38:06 Yes.
10:38:06 Do we need classes?
10:38:07 Yes, we need classes for that accountability.
10:38:10 We also need a review board in order to start that dialogue
10:38:13 to begin to have a more transparent system in place.
10:38:18 (Bell sounds).
10:38:21 >> My name is Dennis.
10:38:30 And I live at 1309 east alocourt Avenue.
10:38:37 I keep reading in the newspapers about how Tampa wants to
10:38:41 avoid a Ferguson or Baltimore type uprising and how things
10:38:45 like community control and elective review board on police
10:38:48 activities are a good start, but as John Dengler and the
10:38:52 Green family stated it is a small start.
10:38:54 I used to live in the Jackson Heights area of Tampa and I
10:38:57 have seen numerous occasions of police entering the
10:38:59 community and treating the citizens with aggression,
10:39:02 disrespect and like second-class citizens.
10:39:04 We already know the huge racial disparity on bike tickets
10:39:09 and citations.
10:39:10 It's not only the people of that creates those better
10:39:14 community relationships.
10:39:15 The people don't have the power nor the authority.
10:39:19 It's on the person who entered the community with a gun, a
10:39:21 badge and the benefit of the doubt when comes to public
10:39:24 perception to take the first step and bridge the gap on
10:39:26 trust.
10:39:28 Tampa as a financial and commercial entity is on the rise.
10:39:31 The port has had a huge makeover and is preparing for major
10:39:34 import and export business.
10:39:36 The Riverwalk has been built to attract and placate
10:39:38 tourists.
10:39:39 There have been huge renovations and there is a highway
10:39:42 being extended to help get out-of-towners to get into town.
10:39:47 The city has done so much for everybody not living in Tampa.
10:39:50 Now it's time to do something for residents because not
10:39:54 kills tourism dollars like a social crisis.
10:39:59 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:40:00 Next.
10:40:00 >> Mr. Chairman, thank you very much for allowing me to
10:40:04 speak.
10:40:04 My name is Dr. Benny Small, the president of the local
10:40:07 chapter of NAACP in Tampa.
10:40:10 I don't want to echo basically what everybody has been
10:40:12 saying.
10:40:12 But the NAACP would like to go on record supporting that you
10:40:18 all pass a citizen review board.
10:40:21 Next week I will be meeting with the civil rights commission
10:40:23 here in Tampa.
10:40:24 I think they are going to be here for three weeks.
10:40:26 We normally get a bunch of calls throughout the day,
10:40:28 throughout the night, and I get calls all the time about
10:40:31 complaints.
10:40:31 So I do feel that we definitely need a citizen review board
10:40:36 in our community.
10:40:37 Thanks again for allowing me.
10:40:39 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:40:39 Next.
10:40:40 >> My name is Devan Cheaves. I'm an organizer from the east
10:40:46 Hillsborough and 22nd area, and I know a lot of people come
10:40:50 before me to advocate for a citizens review board.
10:40:53 And I want to echo those sentiments.
10:40:56 As a community organizer, I work a lot in Sulphur Springs, a
10:40:59 lot of impoverished neighborhoods in Tampa and it's a crime
10:41:04 to see the community suffering like it is, and one of the
10:41:07 critiques I hear about the community is, oh, pull yourselves
10:41:12 up by the bootstraps, we did it and you can.
10:41:17 I think a review board is a great way to empower the
10:41:18 community.
10:41:19 I think it's long overdue.
10:41:20 It's not the end all be all but it's a start.
10:41:23 So I'm here to echo the sentiments of some of my other
10:41:26 comrades.
10:41:27 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:41:27 Next.
10:41:28 The last speaker.
10:41:29 >> My name is blue rainer, fast food worker, and like people
10:41:38 said before me, I want to say the same thing.
10:41:40 We need this in our neighborhood. We can't expect the
10:41:43 police and the law enforcement within our community to hold
10:41:47 themselves accountable so we need something to hold them
10:41:51 accountable.
10:41:51 We can't expect them to police themselves. They are trying
10:41:52 to police us, and what kind of job they are doing. We
10:41:55 already have to fight to have a living nowadays, so why
10:41:59 should we have to fight to live free or live without these
10:42:04 barriers on our head.
10:42:06 Like my fellow comrades say, you know, we need this review
10:42:08 board.
10:42:08 If you care anything about the people, you guys are going to
10:42:11 put it in, really give us what we need.
10:42:13 Thank you.
10:42:14 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:42:15 We have three minutes left in this time slot.
10:42:17 Anyone who has not spoken would like to speak at this time?
10:42:20 We can take one person.
10:42:21 Seeing none, let me just say, I want to thank all of you who
10:42:26 came out this morning to speak on this particular subject.
10:42:31 I think the police chief as well as the mayor have heard
10:42:36 your voice this morning, and I look forward to the report
10:42:38 coming up from the chief later on in the agenda.
10:42:41 So if we move to staff reports, I want to thank each of you
10:42:45 for taking the time out to come out this morning.
10:42:47 At this time, are there any requests for reconsideration?
10:42:55 Seeing none, we go to staff reports.
10:42:58 Mr. Snelling, are you here?
10:42:59 A walk-on from Mr. Snelling.
10:43:14 >>THOM SNELLING: Planning and development director.
10:43:16 I brought Mrs. McCleary because she is the subject matter
10:43:19 expert on any questions you might have.
10:43:21 Basically, this walk-on is to continue work with the HUD
10:43:27 program, and this resolution extends the time frame to the
10:43:32 2017 date when the entire program will stop running.
10:43:37 The HUD assist fund was put in place to allow people seeking
10:43:42 some understanding in their mortgages, get mortgage
10:43:44 counseling and other kind of financial counseling in the
10:43:49 process of purchasing, of refinancing.
10:43:52 >> Mortgage foreclosure program.
10:43:57 >> Mortgage Foreclosure, I'm sorry.
10:44:02 And Florida was a little behind so they extended the program
10:44:05 to 2017.
10:44:06 This resolution allows us to take advantage to the end of
10:44:10 that program so we can continue to provide those services to
10:44:13 the citizens.
10:44:15 And one of the substantive matters is that one of the
10:44:18 amendments for just the amount that it increases the amount
10:44:23 of dollars that are reimbursed to the city on the various
10:44:27 tiers.
10:44:27 There are four tiers depending on the type of service that
10:44:30 is provided.
10:44:31 Tier 1, 2, 3 and 4.
10:44:33 It's 200, 300, 400, $500 respectively and that's an increase
10:44:38 over what had previously -- what our current contract is.
10:44:46 Any questions you might have.
10:44:48 >> So moved.
10:44:51 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have a motion by Mr. Miranda, seconded by
10:44:53 Mrs. Montelione.
10:44:54 Discussion on that motion?
10:44:56 All in favor of the motion say aye.
10:44:57 Opposed?
10:45:00 >>THOM SNELLING: Thank you for your time.
10:45:01 >>FRANK REDDICK: Item number 46.
10:45:05 Item number 4.
10:45:06 >> Good morning.
10:45:18 Martin Shelby, City Council attorney here to provide a
10:45:21 report regarding the timeline to establish an ordinance
10:45:23 amending the City of Tampa charter for placement for
10:45:26 referendum in 2016.
10:45:29 Let me begin at the end and work backwards.
10:45:31 The general election is slated for November 8th of 2016.
10:45:38 The next date previous to that is the most significant date
10:45:42 for purposes of this discussion.
10:45:45 That is August 31st of 2016.
10:45:49 What that is, that is the date that the ballot language has
10:45:53 to be in the hands of the supervisor of elections which is
10:45:56 the day after the primary on August 30th when the
10:46:00 ballots for the general election is finalized.
10:46:02 So that is the date of that it has to be signed, sealed,
10:46:06 delivered, set in stone, in the hands of the supervisor of
10:46:09 elections.
10:46:10 Your process, normally the way you would create any other
10:46:14 ordinance for adoption, you follow the legally set-forth
10:46:20 procedure, two readings, the second reading set for public
10:46:23 hearing, noticed, as required, advertised by Florida
10:46:26 statutes requirements, and you adopt it as you would any
10:46:31 other ordinance.
10:46:33 Florida statute sets forth certain requirements within the
10:46:36 ordinance that needs to be followed.
10:46:39 It needs -- needs to be legally sufficient.
10:46:42 It needs a 15-word title maximum and a 75-word summary.
10:46:48 In your background material I provided you with ordinance
10:46:50 number 2008-120 which was the most recent ordinance
10:46:55 presenting ballot language to the voters at referendum.
10:46:58 My recommendation would be to you to begin the process
10:47:03 sufficiently early to allow it to get into the hands of the
10:47:06 supervisor of elections timely, reminding you, council, as
10:47:11 with any ordinance, it has to be presented to the mayor for
10:47:14 signature.
10:47:15 The mayor can exercise the right of veto.
10:47:18 The process for addressing the mayoral veto is set forth in
10:47:22 your charter.
10:47:23 I can go into that in greater detail if you wish.
10:47:25 But the point is that you have to back out sufficient amount
10:47:28 of time to be able to finalize the language and present it
10:47:31 to the supervisor of elections for ballot.
10:47:35 The final thing I would say to you about that is it is
10:47:38 not -- and I present you the calendar from the division of
10:47:43 elections.
10:47:43 It is not like a qualifying period as it is with candidates.
10:47:47 So the word from the supervisor of elections is you can
10:47:52 provide them with an ordinance as soon as now and have it in
10:47:58 place for the general election on November 8th, provided
10:48:02 that they have it and it is legally acceptable and legally
10:48:06 sufficient by August 31st.
10:48:07 That is my report.
10:48:10 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mr. Suarez.
10:48:10 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Mr. Shelby, is there any restriction or
10:48:15 determination of particular ballot language like they do
10:48:18 with the Florida Supreme Court, with Constitutional
10:48:21 amendments and the state Constitution, is there an authority
10:48:23 that makes a determination as to what language is proper in
10:48:28 order to be put into an ordinance, or is that something that
10:48:31 we control?
10:48:34 >> My recommendation would be as you do with all ordinances,
10:48:37 to present to the legal department, ask them to prepare an
10:48:39 ordinance, bring it back to you for legal sufficiency,
10:48:41 reviewed by them for legal sufficiency, and then for you to
10:48:44 be able to review the material.
10:48:47 The answer to your question is, if it is challenged, it has
10:48:50 to be legally sufficient.
10:48:51 >>MIKE SUAREZ: The authority in terms of the specific
10:48:56 language.
10:48:57 >>MARTIN SHELBY: The controlling language would be case law
10:48:59 in Florida statute.
10:49:00 >> My point is that's the first review would be from the
10:49:04 legal department before it's submitted to the supervisor of
10:49:09 elections for whether or not it's going to get onto the
10:49:13 ballot, correct?
10:49:14 >> Traditionally how it's done is the legal department
10:49:17 prepares ordinances, but there are places to do it but
10:49:22 that's one.
10:49:23 It's the one that's almost always heeded up until this
10:49:25 point.
10:49:26 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Thank you, chair.
10:49:28 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right, Mrs. Montelione.
10:49:29 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I notice in the chart that you gave us,
10:49:34 the ordinances that had been previously prepared and
10:49:38 submitted, that a couple of them were vetoed by the mayor,
10:49:44 and then the both cases again.
10:49:56 My question is about time frame.
10:49:57 So as Mr. Suarez is asking, the legal department would
10:50:02 prepare the ordinance at the direction and suggestion of
10:50:06 council to what it is we want it to say.
10:50:09 Legal department gets it back to us.
10:50:13 And that goes over and over depending on whether or not we
10:50:17 are pleased with what was prepared.
10:50:21 Hypothetically, we have that ordinance.
10:50:24 It goes to the mayor.
10:50:26 How much time does the mayor have to review it and decide
10:50:30 whether there would be a veto or not?
10:50:33 >>MARTIN SHELBY: From the time of the second reading and
10:50:35 public hearing and its adoption, there is a time to which it
10:50:39 is presented to the mayor, and specifically your charter
10:50:42 addresses that, which I included in your background
10:50:44 material, section 2.10.
10:50:47 It is to be presented to the mayor, and upon presentation,
10:50:50 the mayor shall approve it, if he signs it obviously, but if
10:50:56 he shall not, he shall return it with his objections to the
10:50:59 council and such objections shall be entered upon the minute
10:51:02 book and the council thereupon shall proceed to reconsider
10:51:05 the ordinance at its next regular meeting at which there is
10:51:08 a quorum.
10:51:10 And from that point, it requires asking reconsideration, it
10:51:14 shall be passed by two-thirds of a vote of all members.
10:51:17 The vote shall be entered upon the minute book and it shall
10:51:20 become law.
10:51:21 It also says if any ordinance shall not be returned to the
10:51:24 council within 14 days after it is presented to the mayor,
10:51:28 the same shall become effective in like manner if he signs
10:51:32 it.
10:51:33 So basically you need to build in enough time to be able to
10:51:36 have second reading and adoption, to be able to be presented
10:51:39 to the mayor, sufficient time, however long that may be, but
10:51:43 it's normally done quite soon, and then from the time the
10:51:47 clerk presents it to the mayor he has 14 days to act upon
10:51:49 it.
10:51:50 >> And that's with any ordinance?
10:51:54 >>MARTIN SHELBY: With any ordinance.
10:51:55 >>LISA MONTELIONE: The short answer to my question would be
10:51:58 he has 14 days.
10:51:59 >>MARTIN SHELBY: That would have been better.
10:52:02 I will just put it that way.
10:52:03 But I told you the whole story.
10:52:04 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I appreciate you adding information
10:52:07 because otherwise sometimes the question might come up from
10:52:10 the added information you provide.
10:52:11 >>MARTIN SHELBY: It's a little more than 14 days.
10:52:13 Because what happens from 14 days depending on what the 14
10:52:17 days falls, then you have to build in more time to see we
10:52:21 when the next regular meeting is that it can be
10:52:23 reconsidered.
10:52:23 >>LISA MONTELIONE: That's the only question I have.
10:52:27 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: As you know I seconded that motion on
10:52:30 June 23rd of this year.
10:52:32 However, with a caveat saying so far, all I have heard is
10:52:37 the process of what it takes to get it to somewhere else.
10:52:41 I have not heard of the substance that's going to be
10:52:44 information to get it somewhere else.
10:52:46 >>MARTIN SHELBY: That is not part of the motion.
10:52:50 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I understand that.
10:52:53 >>FRANK REDDICK: And if I may comment on it, Mr. Miranda, is
10:52:56 that I think I made the motion in regard to this.
10:53:02 And what I am thinking here today is if you state it
10:53:07 correctly, you said that the deadline was August 31st of
10:53:10 2016, right?
10:53:13 >>MARTIN SHELBY: That's what I based it on.
10:53:17 >>FRANK REDDICK: And what I am thinking is we have a
10:53:19 workshop coming up September 24 of this year.
10:53:21 And I was looking at putting a particular item on the
10:53:29 agenda, as part of the workshop, to have a wide range of
10:53:33 discussion, whether we want to move forward, putting the
10:53:36 ordinance in place, and my particular concern is what we had
10:53:39 discussion about crime in that area, to have a separation of
10:53:43 power and authority from the council and the mayor
10:53:46 pertaining where we got responsibility without interference
10:53:53 by the mayor, and so that's the discretion.
10:53:57 I don't know we can do it by resolution, ordinance.
10:54:01 We need to establish separation, because what has transpired
10:54:05 earlier this year leaves us in a bind of, because someone is
10:54:11 going outside legal attorney to make decisions that affect
10:54:16 our personnel.
10:54:17 And I have a concern with that.
10:54:20 So if we can make some resolution change, and you do a
10:54:31 discussion in a workshop, and have legal department come
10:54:36 here, have resources come here and discuss this, I think we
10:54:40 need to have a discussion.
10:54:45 Some people were offended by what took place.
10:54:48 I'm still offended by it.
10:54:54 So I would like to have some discussion, even in the form of
10:54:59 a workshop.
10:55:00 Mrs. Montelione, if you want to interject, go ahead.
10:55:03 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I was just wanting to be heard next.
10:55:07 >>FRANK REDDICK: Okay.
10:55:08 You can be heard now.
10:55:08 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Thank you.
10:55:12 Other issues that Mr. Shelby and I have talked about that I
10:55:15 would like also to discuss on September 24th, and if we
10:55:22 had the workshop a couple of weeks ago, this would have all
10:55:25 been out on the table.
10:55:27 >>FRANK REDDICK: Correct.
10:55:27 >>LISA MONTELIONE: But due to circumstances beyond our
10:55:30 control we had to reschedule.
10:55:32 >>FRANK REDDICK: Right.
10:55:32 >>LISA MONTELIONE: What I am looking to see and hope to get
10:55:36 is support of council members, is to -- I think it's long
10:55:39 overdue that our charter contained than the provision and it
10:55:45 does not at this point in time.
10:55:47 There are procedures or practices within certain departments
10:55:50 or that affects the city administration overall, but there's
10:55:55 not a specific mention of whistleblower or protection within
10:55:58 our charter.
10:55:59 And I think that's an important provision to have.
10:56:03 And there's also some things, just to clean up, and some of
10:56:06 those things we don't have to do with the charter amendment.
10:56:08 Some things we can do just procedurally.
10:56:12 But the charter references departments that no longer exist.
10:56:17 So there's regular language or house keeping issues with our
10:56:21 charter that need to be done.
10:56:23 And, you know, I have noticed with the ordinances, that Mr.
10:56:29 Shelby had provided to us before, that another issue that I
10:56:34 would like to see was addressed back in 1990.
10:56:38 It was vetoed by the mayor January 2nd, 1991, and then
10:56:43 it failed two-thirds vote of council, was to provide for a
10:56:47 charter review committee.
10:56:49 Our charter is out of date, which is why we need this
10:56:53 housekeeping language, and I think that the charter review
10:56:58 is an important function.
10:57:01 Hillsborough County is going through their theirs right now.
10:57:03 They have it, I believe, every ten years.
10:57:06 So --
10:57:09 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Hillsborough County is every five years.
10:57:10 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I'm sorry, every five years, and I think
10:57:13 the City of Tampa also needs to put a charter review board
10:57:17 in place on a similar schedule.
10:57:20 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mr. Cohen.
10:57:20 >>HARRY COHEN: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and
10:57:24 Councilwoman Montelione.
10:57:25 I think that one of the things that happens here frequently
10:57:30 when we are discussing difficult issues, sometimes it has to
10:57:35 do with the city's contracting policies.
10:57:40 We have alluded to it in the discussion at the creation of a
10:57:44 citizen review board for the police.
10:57:47 The question comes up of what is exactly under council's
10:57:52 control and what is under the mayor's control, with the
10:57:55 administrative power that he or she has under the charter.
10:57:58 So I see that in addition to the specific issues that were
10:58:01 brought up by the other council members, I see this as the
10:58:04 opportunity to have a fairly broad discussion about the
10:58:07 overall balance of power between the mayor and the council,
10:58:11 and whether or not it is appropriate to look at that balance
10:58:15 in light of the fact that the charter has basically been the
10:58:20 way it has for about 25 years.
10:58:22 I think it's a great discussion for us to have.
10:58:24 I think it's probably long overdue because it appears from
10:58:27 the material that you gave us that it has been some time
10:58:31 since there has been any really major overhaul of the
10:58:35 charter.
10:58:36 It may turn out that we'll have this discussion and decide
10:58:39 to leave things alone.
10:58:40 But it's very important to have the discussion and for
10:58:42 everybody to get their opinion out on the table about
10:58:45 whether or not the balance of power is the correct one and
10:58:49 ought to be tweaked.
10:58:53 >>FRANK REDDICK: Anyone else?
10:58:54 All right.
10:58:54 >>MARTIN SHELBY: If I may just to follow up to a comment
10:59:00 regarding the strategic planning meeting.
10:59:02 Just to inform you, I did speak to the facilitator
10:59:04 yesterday.
10:59:05 Her husband is out of the hospital.
10:59:06 She thanks the council very much for their kindness and
10:59:09 support.
10:59:10 She informed me that last week after 40 years of teaching,
10:59:16 holding meetings and facilitating things like this, this was
10:59:19 the first time she ever missed one, and she is sincerely
10:59:24 apologetic about it, and she asked that council, whenever it
10:59:28 is most convenient for council, to reschedule it.
10:59:31 She would be very happy to assist you in your work.
10:59:36 >>FRANK REDDICK: I am going to yield to pro tem chair.
10:59:41 And at this time I want to make a motion that we schedule
10:59:45 the workshop September 24th at 9:00 a.m.
10:59:50 We include the city charter as part of the workshop
10:59:54 discussion.
10:59:54 >> Second.
10:59:55 >>HARRY COHEN: We have a motion from chairman Reddick,
10:59:58 seconded by Councilwoman Capin.
11:00:00 Is there any discussion on the motion?
11:00:03 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: For the record, I will vote in the
11:00:05 affirmative up to the 24th, and depending on where it
11:00:09 goes I have the right to make some different perspective
11:00:13 changes.
11:00:14 >>HARRY COHEN: So noted.
11:00:17 Seeing no other discussion, all those in favor please
11:00:19 indicate by saying aye.
11:00:21 Opposed?
11:00:21 All right.
11:00:23 We'll have of that workshop.
11:00:24 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Thank you very much, City Council.
11:00:27 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
11:00:27 Number 5 is wove a motion to continue.
11:00:31 >> Move to continue.
11:00:35 >> Second.
11:00:42 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Continue to September 17 at 9 a.m.
11:00:49 >>FRANK REDDICK: We have a motion by Mrs. Capin, seconded by
11:00:51 Mr. Suarez to continue item number 5 to September 17 at 9
11:00:56 a.m.
11:00:57 Anyone from the public wishing to speak on item number 5
11:01:01 being continued?
11:01:02 Seeing none, all in favor of the motion say aye.
11:01:05 Opposed?
11:01:06 All right.
11:01:07 Good morning, Mr. Chief.
11:01:08 Welcome to City Council.
11:01:09 >> Good morning.
11:01:18 I want to speak a little about this issue of the police
11:01:24 review committee.
11:01:24 About a month ago I met with a group of individuals which
11:01:27 pretty much most of them are sitting in this body today, and
11:01:31 the topic was the citizens.
11:01:37 We discussed it.
11:01:38 It wasn't out of the question of that we was something I
11:01:42 would do.
11:01:43 So went back and did a bunch of research.
11:01:47 I load at 15 different agencies.
11:01:49 One thing I wanted to do was, membership, doubts and
11:01:56 responsibilities, as well as the financial obligations by
11:01:59 the agency.
11:02:00 It ranged from $30,000 to 2.1 million.
11:02:04 So those are things that have to be addressed, moving
11:02:07 forward.
11:02:08 So I continued my research.
11:02:11 We are not there yet.
11:02:12 Throws a lot of things, and mechanisms that need to be put
11:02:17 in place.
11:02:21 Something that I have heard the community, I understand
11:02:24 their concerns.
11:02:25 It's not something I am going to jump into and rush into.
11:02:28 There's a lot of information out there about these powers
11:02:31 both from the national level and local level.
11:02:34 That's what I am doing right now is trying to gather that
11:02:36 information so I can make an informed opinion moving
11:02:39 forward.
11:02:39 This is not something that you hastily move into.
11:02:42 So once I get it done and put it together, I will meet with
11:02:46 the mayor, a proposal to him one way or the other, and then
11:02:51 we'll move forward from there.
11:02:55 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right, Mrs. Capin.
11:02:57 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I noticed in the backup we don't have any of
11:03:02 your review information or what you found in your search.
11:03:08 There's not anything here -- there's nothing that we know of
11:03:12 that you are telling us, it's so diverse and so different
11:03:18 city to city and municipality to municipality.
11:03:21 We also -- I recommend that we put a timeline on this, if
11:03:28 council would agree to you reviewing this and bringing it to
11:03:33 the mayor.
11:03:38 It is, I believe, very time sensitive, and it needs to be
11:03:43 moved up.
11:03:44 I am going to wait to hear from the rest of my council
11:03:46 members but I would like to have some backup materials on
11:03:49 your research.
11:03:50 >> I agree.
11:03:53 I have that material, and I can PDF or bring it over to you.
11:03:59 There's volumes so it will take some time.
11:04:01 I would think the time it took for my meeting to present is
11:04:08 unreasonable.
11:04:08 It's not something I can jump into.
11:04:10 There's a lot of things associated.
11:04:13 It ranges from $30,000 to 2.1 million.
11:04:16 There's a lot of things to be said, as well as include the
11:04:21 city, county, surrounding counties, members of the board.
11:04:25 There's a lot of stuff to consider.
11:04:26 And there's no model plan for these boards.
11:04:29 Each one of those plans that I have are different.
11:04:33 They are unique and specific to their particular agency.
11:04:35 So there's a lot to consider.
11:04:38 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Right.
11:04:38 Which is logical, and would be specific to the issues or
11:04:43 what we want to cover, what we would like to see, in the
11:04:49 board purview.
11:04:51 That is true.
11:04:52 I understand that.
11:04:52 That's why they are all different.
11:04:54 And there's no cookie cutter for this, because every
11:04:59 municipality is different, and has different priorities.
11:05:03 I understand that.
11:05:04 But I'm going to wait to hear from the rest of my council
11:05:07 members before I make a motion.
11:05:08 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Chief, you already have a review board that
11:05:14 goes through the performance of any particular police
11:05:18 officer that has a citizen complaint or any other kind of
11:05:22 incident.
11:05:23 How does that work right now in terms of folks that might
11:05:26 have complaints against the police department?
11:05:29 How is that now handled?
11:05:30 >> Absolutely.
11:05:31 We have internal, of course.
11:05:36 We he have a system whereof citizens can go online and log a
11:05:39 complaint if they don't feel comfortable coming to the
11:05:41 station.
11:05:42 That complaint goes to internal affairs which is part of our
11:05:45 professional standards bureau.
11:05:47 A case is opened and investigated, sent down through the
11:05:50 chain of command to come up with a disposition, and back up
11:05:55 to me and is presented during our staff meetings for
11:05:58 discipline.
11:05:58 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Once it gets to you and you METE up
11:06:04 discipline, it doesn't go to the mayor, I know it doesn't go
11:06:07 to us, you have operational control over what the discipline
11:06:10 will be for that particular police officer at that time.
11:06:12 Is that correct?
11:06:13 >> Absolutely.
11:06:14 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Okay.
11:06:15 In terms of the union, what role do they play in terms of an
11:06:20 internal affairs investigation for any police officer that
11:06:24 has been or will be disciplined by virtue of their
11:06:29 performance as a police officer?
11:06:30 >> they don't really have a role in the investigation other
11:06:33 than to represent the officer during the initial interview.
11:06:41 It's they respond to internal investigations and support
11:06:44 that officer in that capacity only.
11:06:46 >> So typically, you know, a union representative may be
11:06:51 there to represent for the interest of that particular
11:06:53 officer if they are being put into the system for any kind
11:06:58 of disciplinary action or for some action that they took
11:07:02 outside of the responsibility domed by you and by the other
11:07:07 members of the police department, correct?
11:07:09 >> Right.
11:07:09 The short version, they can basically come and object to a
11:07:14 question.
11:07:14 Then they have nothing to do with the actual discipline that
11:07:16 is dished out.
11:07:17 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Doo you see a lot of times that the union
11:07:20 comes back and then appeals for that either reinstatement of
11:07:25 an officer or the taking away or disciplinary action by
11:07:30 virtue of, you know, disagreeing with the kind of discipline
11:07:34 that's meted out?
11:07:36 Do you see a lot of that or is that something that happens
11:07:39 as a matter of course?
11:07:40 >> Yes, by the bargaining agreement, there's a grievance
11:07:43 contract, and it comes to HR-4.
11:07:48 After that, if it's not settled, then it goes to
11:07:50 arbitration.
11:07:51 >>MIKE SUAREZ: And the reason I am asking you these
11:07:55 specific questions about what you do now and what the union
11:07:58 does is that if we made a decision today, or any other time
11:08:02 in the future to set up a citizens review board, it should
11:08:07 not be an issue to have the union as a representative of
11:08:12 that particular officer if there is some kind of
11:08:15 disciplinary issue.
11:08:17 Wouldn't you agree?
11:08:18 >> I don't think throws an issue with it.
11:08:20 That's pretty much what the union is there for, is to
11:08:23 represent the officers.
11:08:24 And the chief's side, my side, then the union side.
11:08:27 >> And once you have made out discipline, does that get
11:08:31 reported to the mayor during regular reports to him?
11:08:34 How does that work?
11:08:36 Is there an aspect in which that information, dealing with
11:08:41 discipline, goes either to the mayor or to any other public
11:08:44 entity dealing with discipline?
11:08:46 >> Typically it's like any other business.
11:08:48 We discipline officers, unless there's a termination.
11:08:52 Those terminations you bring to the mayor's attention.
11:08:55 But other than that, the normal routine coming to the
11:09:02 workplace, those things, that's not something I bring to the
11:09:05 mayor's attention every day.
11:09:06 >>MIKE SUAREZ: If I could, chief, I got our city attorney
11:09:11 in the room.
11:09:12 Is they still -- she still here?
11:09:14 Mrs. Mandell, can you come up?
11:09:16 I apologize.
11:09:17 I have a specific question.
11:09:19 Mrs. Mandell, in terms of the way that the charter reacts in
11:09:25 relation to our role and the mayor's role concerning the
11:09:28 police department or any other procedures dealing with both
11:09:33 discipline, hiring, firing, that type of thing, what role do
11:09:37 we have in terms of being able to oversee those type of
11:09:42 procedures?
11:09:44 >>JULIA MANDELL: City attorney.
11:09:46 If I could put your question into context that I am thinking
11:09:50 of it, we'll talk about some kind of board that has some
11:09:56 oversight or overview of the police department, and what
11:10:00 their powers and authority is under the charter as well as
11:10:04 provisions also on safety.
11:10:08 I won't get too far into that.
11:10:10 As a general matter, you have authority under the charter
11:10:12 for -- also legislative, you have authority for those
11:10:16 administrative powers in terms of given to you within the
11:10:19 charter and you do have a provision that allows you to serve
11:10:23 the function of investigation yourselves, or to create a
11:10:27 board for the purposes of investigation.
11:10:29 Interestingly, those boards have some level of subpoena
11:10:33 power, but I don't think that level of subpoena power has
11:10:44 ever been effectuated, and that creates a conversation for
11:10:45 another day.
11:10:46 And the role of the mayor and the administration within the
11:10:47 charter under which the mayor has authority over executive
11:10:52 and administrative functions which are not specifically
11:10:54 delegated to City Council, and has control over the
11:10:58 management of all departments and divisions within the city,
11:11:02 the chief of police, discussing this particular department,
11:11:06 also is a charter officer and also exercises that control
11:11:09 under the charter which he is given or she is given, and
11:11:12 that does include the management of the police department.
11:11:15 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Okay.
11:11:17 Well, let me ask you this, because one of the things that --
11:11:21 and the way I read the charter in relation to the
11:11:23 investigative powers is that it is there specific for a
11:11:29 specific issue or specific time, not necessarily for a
11:11:32 standing investigative committee that is there.
11:11:36 I know it's pretty open ended.
11:11:38 >> It's a pretty broad provision.
11:11:41 It can be read in a variety of ways.
11:11:43 >> But where exactly in the charter?
11:11:45 It seems to me this is a power you have, a is power those
11:11:49 part of that.
11:11:50 I look at it directly as the power of the City Council in
11:11:53 terms of subpoena power.
11:12:00 That's my reading of it.
11:12:02 I may be wrong.
11:12:02 >> there's a subpoena power that -- there's a subpoena power
11:12:08 that goes into that.
11:12:09 >> I look at it as any other congressional committee that
11:12:12 has subpoena power over the fact that they are trying to
11:12:14 gather information from administration or any other source
11:12:18 in order to do their job legislative.
11:12:20 >> That's correct.
11:12:23 >>MIKE SUAREZ: In terms of advisory committees, and most of
11:12:26 the people in the audience that have come before us have
11:12:30 talked about a citizens advisory board.
11:12:33 We, under our legislative duties and under our -- we have
11:12:37 all kinds of different advisory boards for all kinds of
11:12:40 different issues.
11:12:41 Do you see any issue with us coming up with an advisory
11:12:44 board that will then have either in conjunction with the
11:12:49 mayor, or separate from the mayor, to say, listen, we would
11:12:53 like this public information concerning disciplinary issues
11:12:58 from the police department, or I would have to say things
11:13:04 that are someone's file concerning incidences that have
11:13:10 risen to the point where there may be some discipline.
11:13:13 Is there -- do you see any problem with us creating that
11:13:17 type of board?
11:13:18 >> I think under the charter you have a right to create a
11:13:20 board to do investigatory analyses.
11:13:25 >> Don't confuse the two because the investigative part of
11:13:28 it, I'm not talking about, an advisory board, so there's a
11:13:32 little difference in my mind unless you are saying every
11:13:35 advisory board has investigative power.
11:13:37 >> Let me say it another way.
11:13:40 While you are -- the way you were describing the type of
11:13:44 board and what the functions would be, that really informs
11:13:49 how this can be done from a charter perspective and also in
11:13:52 line with Florida statutes, and this only happened within
11:13:55 the last week so I haven't had a chance, because there are
11:13:58 labor, union issues and all those things.
11:14:00 Without having a really clear understanding of what it is
11:14:05 that either City Council or alternatively the
11:14:08 administration, the mayor, and the chief of police were
11:14:11 attempting to accomplish, it would be very difficult for me
11:14:13 to advise what would be the proper vehicle to make that
11:14:17 happen.
11:14:17 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Let me just make it as simple as possible.
11:14:21 We already talked about the process of the police department
11:14:23 currently goes through to deal with disciplinary problems,
11:14:26 or with issues concerning the procedures that an officer has
11:14:31 done during the course of his employment.
11:14:34 Once that decision is made and once it's come through, is
11:14:37 there not an aspect of which public could have a role in
11:14:42 reviewing that, based on those particular actions?
11:14:45 My point is that's a particular injustice to that
11:14:52 individual, but to report back to an advisory board in order
11:14:54 for us to know what officers have been cited for particular
11:14:58 issues or conduct, and so for us to have that knowledge
11:15:03 beforehand, because obviously, as you know, we have had
11:15:07 cases which we have had to pay out dollars to citizens who
11:15:11 have had complaints against us -- and I know there are some
11:15:15 legal issues that we don't get into it, but we do publicly
11:15:18 then award dollars because of the mistakes made by officers
11:15:22 on doubt.
11:15:23 So my point is not saying we are going to get involved in
11:15:27 the center of the investigation itself, but a board that is
11:15:34 important to all the information concerning that
11:15:36 disciplinary action.
11:15:37 >>JULIA MANDELL: It's very difficult for me to advise at
11:15:41 this point as to exactly what the correct vehicle would be
11:15:44 without having a better understanding of what it is you or
11:15:48 the mayor or chief of police want to have any board and what
11:15:52 the role of that board would be, because what you are
11:15:56 describing is really more part of looking at specific police
11:16:03 officer action, and then reviewing that, and then making
11:16:07 some either recommendations et cetera on what should be
11:16:11 done.
11:16:12 I don't know for that particular officer or maybe for
11:16:16 something else.
11:16:18 That does bring into it a lot of other things not within the
11:16:22 control of the city such as Florida statute and some other
11:16:24 things.
11:16:25 If you were talking about a generalized board under which
11:16:29 they are just providing recommendations on specific policies
11:16:32 and procedures or generally to review policy and procedure,
11:16:36 that's another type of animal.
11:16:38 And that's why what the chief said, he started looking at
11:16:41 this and looked at 15 jurisdictions.
11:16:43 It's something that is going to take some time to really
11:16:47 analyze and figure out what are the parameters under our
11:16:52 chanter, what are the parameters, and three, what are the
11:16:56 limitations understood Florida statute or under our labor
11:16:59 union contract.
11:17:00 >> And chair, I apologize for taking so much time.
11:17:04 But you just stated it.
11:17:06 I made a recommendation as to the type of board it may be,
11:17:11 because is it not -- and because we see these at the end,
11:17:14 when someone has already been disciplined, there has already
11:17:18 been a case in which there may have been a procedure or
11:17:20 process that was not followed by the police officer that
11:17:24 someone has gone to court, sued us, now wove paid out some
11:17:28 money.
11:17:28 We can't know how to fix it unless we know what some of the
11:17:31 problems internally are. If that's not made public, there
11:17:34 is really no way for us or the citizens of the city to come
11:17:37 back and say we have a problem, here is how you fix it,
11:17:43 because then it becomes both a monolithic site between what
11:17:48 police officers have told us in terms of internal discipline
11:17:51 he -- and this is not a matter of whether we trust police
11:17:54 officers or not but we don't know the information.
11:17:56 How do we gather that information after the fact and be able
11:17:59 to make recommendations to make the police department better
11:18:03 because of the actions and the problems that we have had
11:18:07 with current officers or recurrent situations?
11:18:09 So I am not going to ask you to answer that specifically,
11:18:12 because I know -- and I would say that -- and this is in
11:18:16 deference to the chief -- that it doesn't matter what other
11:18:19 poem have done outside of the city because our charter rules
11:18:23 that.
11:18:23 You have been before us before to say our charter is
11:18:26 different than other cities.
11:18:28 We can't do exactly what everyone else does, because our
11:18:31 charter controls it in a different manner.
11:18:35 So I would suggest and I will make a motion or someone I'm
11:18:37 sure will make a motion for you to come back with a
11:18:41 recommendation as to what a board would look like for that
11:18:44 type of scenario which I have just stated.
11:18:47 >>JULIA MANDELL: I don't -- I will say that if there is a
11:18:52 motion made for that type of action on the part of the legal
11:18:56 department, I would also have to have better understanding
11:18:59 as to what it is you believe the board should be doing so I
11:19:04 can inform whether or not it is -- how that board could be
11:19:08 created --
11:19:10 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Let me try to clarify it then.
11:19:13 I would like to make a motion, chair, so you don't forget
11:19:16 about it --
11:19:19 >>FRANK REDDICK: I want you to hold questions -- or hold the
11:19:25 motion.
11:19:26 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Then I will come back, Mr. Chair.
11:19:28 Thank you.
11:19:29 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mr. Cohen.
11:19:29 >>HARRY COHEN: I think I see it a little bit differently.
11:19:34 And let me say that I appreciate the chief saying that this
11:19:39 requires some study and some analysis of what's happened in
11:19:42 other jurisdictions.
11:19:43 My view is that this has been done in a lot of different
11:19:46 places, and in different places it's been done differently.
11:19:49 So the first thing I would like to know is that in some
11:19:51 places these types of committees have been turned out to be
11:19:58 a big circus or political grandstanding.
11:20:01 In other communities I think there's probably been something
11:20:03 that's made a real difference in bridging the differences
11:20:06 between the police department and the community and
11:20:08 strengthening everybody.
11:20:10 So I would like to know wherever they have worked and in the
11:20:16 places where they worked, how they are set up, who made the
11:20:18 appointment, what types of budgets did they have?
11:20:21 I think the charter issues are sort of secondary for this
11:20:24 reason.
11:20:24 If we can come up with a model that we all agree works, I
11:20:28 think it is incumbent upon the mayor and us to work together
11:20:32 under the terms of the charter to put the best type of
11:20:34 committee forward and not worry about whose power it is to
11:20:40 do it.
11:20:42 It would seem to me that -- what we really heard this
11:20:48 morning, what I heard this morning, is not just people who
11:20:51 want the committee.
11:20:51 They want a committee that actually makes a difference, that
11:20:55 actually has the ability to foster dialogue, and what I
11:21:01 really liked about some of the comments was that there was a
11:21:04 recognition that in some cases that means maybe an
11:21:08 opportunity for the police to explain what happened, and
11:21:13 perhaps not be blamed for a situation that's occurred.
11:21:18 So what I would like to really see from you before we really
11:21:21 get into the charter discussion is where have these
11:21:26 committees really actually made a difference, and where,
11:21:31 say, three to five years after their formation have the
11:21:34 people in the community said, This made a real difference,
11:21:39 this is a model that we want to continue.
11:21:42 And I think if we do that, we can -- I think we may be able
11:21:46 to dispense with a lot about whose position it is under the
11:21:51 charter to create the committee.
11:21:53 So that's what I'm looking to see back, I think, when we
11:21:57 take up this again.
11:21:58 And I do agree with Councilwoman Capin.
11:22:00 I think time is of the essence, and we need to do it sooner
11:22:05 rather than later, and I think that was underscored when
11:22:08 chairman Reddick asked for this report just a week ago.
11:22:13 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mrs. Montelione.
11:22:13 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I do agree that time is of the essence.
11:22:16 I what don't take a different path, Chief Ward, and address
11:22:20 some of the issues that were brought up today.
11:22:22 And I was taking notes during those public comments.
11:22:25 And there was some repetitiveness of certain issues.
11:22:29 So if you can educate us and those who may not know, and
11:22:36 probably folks in the audience who know it inside out and
11:22:39 backwards, but what procedures are in place right-of-way now
11:22:45 for some of these issues?
11:22:49 And Mrs. Hamilton Henry brought up mental health and
11:22:54 education of officers, high-speed chases, the authority and
11:23:01 appropriation was brought up by Mrs. Delavive, Mr. Green
11:23:11 brought up both before hiring and after a particular
11:23:16 incident or maybe throughout an officer's career, Mr.
11:23:23 Maxwell, if I got the name correct, looking at
11:23:26 organizations, and cultural attitudes that they might have
11:23:32 before hiring, and we already talked a little bit about the
11:23:38 union from the questions that Mr. Suarez had.
11:23:41 Mr. Edwards brought up.
11:23:42 And Ms. Ross also brought up the classes, continuing
11:23:48 education that teachers go through and interested in what
11:23:53 education was required officers to have, as well as body
11:23:57 cameras and review of the information.
11:24:01 I know those a lot.
11:24:02 But I saw you taking notes.
11:24:03 If you can just go over those things with me for the
11:24:07 edification of all of us, I would appreciate that.
11:24:09 >> Start each gets evaluated.
11:24:17 I believe it's eight hours of tests or series of tests for
11:24:20 eight hours.
11:24:21 Then after that the test is completed, it's scored and
11:24:24 evaluated, and it's sent for evaluation of each individual
11:24:31 subject.
11:24:33 To make sure they qualify or meet the needs what it takes to
11:24:36 be a police officer and those recommendations are pushed
11:24:39 back to the agency.
11:24:41 On the pursuit issues, we have a pursuit policy in place,
11:24:44 and would be interested in forcible felonies, robberies,
11:24:48 homicide suspects, anything that's a forcible felony.
11:24:53 Other than that, we really don't -- that's not a basic thing
11:24:57 that I like to have our officer do, but it's part of the
11:25:01 job, and when we are chasing individuals that are involved
11:25:06 in felonies, that keeps our crime down and keeps our bad
11:25:09 guys from creating additional victims.
11:25:12 The discipline process.
11:25:14 Let me say before, we have a process in place which involves
11:25:17 our internal affairs, which is housed in the professional
11:25:20 standards bureau, and those complaints come in, sometimes I
11:25:23 initiate complaints as a chief.
11:25:26 I see something that I don't particularly like, I can say
11:25:29 internal affairs, this is somebody you need to look into it.
11:25:32 But it doesn't necessarily have to come from the citizens.
11:25:35 I can also Don this.
11:25:36 That's a process in place.
11:25:38 Once that goes through, we make a decision, we discipline
11:25:40 the officer or not, and the union at that time has an
11:25:45 opportunity to take those through the grievance process up
11:25:49 to arbitration in those cases where an employee may be
11:25:53 dismissed.
11:25:57 Body cams.
11:25:58 We have 60 cameras on the street now.
11:26:01 We are in the process of doing evaluation, a study, which is
11:26:04 being conducted.
11:26:07 After the study is concluded then we'll make a determination
11:26:10 based on the evidence that the feasibility of applying to
11:26:17 every officer on the street.
11:26:18 And there's a lot that entails, about $80,000 in storage
11:26:23 alone for six cameras.
11:26:24 You multiply that by the number of officers we have in the
11:26:27 thousands, and the cost goes up dramatically.
11:26:30 And that's some of the things we have to look at moving
11:26:32 forward in this program.
11:26:35 I think I covered -- unless I missed something.
11:26:38 >> Continuing education.
11:26:39 >> Continuing education.
11:26:40 All the officers coming through in the last year especially
11:26:43 pushed, a program at USF, racial profiling, some of the
11:26:55 training mentioned earlier, a mechanism in place to make
11:26:58 sure officers are doing the right thing, every day out on
11:27:02 the street, and I think we try to do things right every day.
11:27:07 >>LISA MONTELIONE: But I'm interested in continuing
11:27:12 education, because we recently went through this review of
11:27:19 policy was the fire department, and there was new training
11:27:25 put in place for diversity.
11:27:29 There was HR was involved in contracting for specific
11:27:35 diversity training, sensitivity training, if you will, and
11:27:41 there's also a question of when an officer is moved up,
11:27:47 whether it's a fire rescue situation or TPD, when you move
11:27:53 between ranks, that that training again is important,
11:28:00 because some folks making that transition from a rank and
11:28:04 file to a leader is -- throws a learning curve, El say.
11:28:12 So is there, in your estimation, a noticed for additional or
11:28:18 more frequent -- if the training is once in a, you know, a
11:28:24 blue moon, or after a particular incident happens, I think
11:28:28 that it needs to be looked at.
11:28:30 I think more frequent and regular training would be
11:28:36 required, as pointed out, that schoolteachers need to have
11:28:42 and other professions have requirements for continuing
11:28:45 education.
11:28:45 >> Electronic situation of training, we push training out
11:28:49 almost weekly, a new topic for the officers, a process that
11:28:54 we put in place several years ago, and to reach all the
11:28:58 officers, they are taken off the street.
11:29:00 We have electronic of their training as well as in-service
11:29:06 training, and diversity training, use of force training,
11:29:15 driving.
11:29:16 Throws something in place.
11:29:17 And as we make motions, and we have supervisors hit the
11:29:22 streets, they are put through a two week course and it's all
11:29:24 about supervising their training.
11:29:26 Everything they learn on the street being a supervisor, and
11:29:29 we put all supervisors.
11:29:30 Some of them go through it every time they get promoted, to
11:29:36 a corporal, and a sergeant, and adding new stuff to it.
11:29:41 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mr. Miranda.
11:29:42 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
11:29:45 Just a few things from memory.
11:29:48 My Mike isn't on.
11:29:52 >>LISA MONTELIONE: It was on.
11:29:54 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: The salaries and benefit of the Tampa
11:29:58 Police Department is equal to or greater, I believe, than
11:30:02 anyone in the State of Florida and it should be.
11:30:04 The standard of being the police officer in the City of
11:30:06 Tampa is just as high.
11:30:09 You don't just walk in here, come from an agency and get in
11:30:15 or you don't graduate.
11:30:16 That you have certain standard, that certain availability to
11:30:19 meet the requirement of the City of Tampa.
11:30:20 The ratio of police officers per thousand is greater than or
11:30:26 equal too any city in the State of Florida.
11:30:29 The cost of all this comes with a high cost as it should be
11:30:33 if you are going to have high standards of everything.
11:30:35 As you well know, the total budget of the police department
11:30:39 far exceeds the total amount of moneys that we collect in
11:30:43 ad valorem tax, and the public is willing to do that because
11:30:46 they want to be safe no matter where you live at.
11:30:51 However, for me to tell you that I want it done expediently,
11:30:55 I have more than that.
11:30:57 You are the one doing the report.
11:30:58 You are the one that's going to make the presentation, sir.
11:31:00 And I think you should be given ample time, whatever that
11:31:03 time should be, and you should be the one of record to
11:31:06 determine that because you are doing the financial and the
11:31:09 disciplinary actions that you are looking at a committee of
11:31:16 58 and so forth and so on, to determine what the value is.
11:31:20 If the committee that you studied in different areas has a
11:31:23 certain standard, but before that standard they had a high
11:31:28 crime and of a that standard the crime hasn't changed.
11:31:35 Or did it change?
11:31:36 There's so many other variables that you have to look at.
11:31:39 But for me to tell you as chief of the City of Tampa, want
11:31:43 it done in 30 days, would not be to the benefit of the total
11:31:46 taxpayers of this city.
11:31:47 And I think you should take the time that you need, and it's
11:31:50 up to you, in my opinion, to determine what time you need to
11:31:54 make an accurate and fulfillment to the citizens of the City
11:32:00 of Tampa.
11:32:01 You aren't just making it to the eight of us, seven here and
11:32:05 one as mayor.
11:32:05 You should make it to the citizens of Tampa and I know you
11:32:09 will.
11:32:11 It is incumbent that this is done right.
11:32:13 And that responsibility is yours.
11:32:18 That responsibility along with your police officers and all
11:32:22 that are concerned should be evaluated at the time that you
11:32:24 make that presentation in detail, so that all of us in this
11:32:27 city understand what it takes to be a police officer.
11:32:32 It's not easy.
11:32:33 In fact, from some of the articles that I have read, less
11:32:37 and lesser now looking at police officer, or looking at
11:32:43 being a police officer.
11:32:44 Also on that committee I would like for you to report the
11:32:47 decrease or increase in the killings of police officers in
11:32:50 this country.
11:32:51 Every time I turn around, someone gave their life, someone
11:32:55 that expected to come home that evening to their family, and
11:32:58 that hasn't been talked about on both sides.
11:33:02 And I want a complete comprehensive report, not one sided,
11:33:06 all-sided, and that's what I am looking for, sir.
11:33:09 Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
11:33:11 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
11:33:11 Anyone else?
11:33:15 Let me say this.
11:33:17 Because we are going to shut it down and move on, all right?
11:33:22 Chief, I know since you have been promoted, to chief, I
11:33:29 noticed that the union always show up when you are here.
11:33:35 Is it a coincidence about that?
11:33:37 >> Do you represent police officers?
11:33:47 When the other chief was here, too.
11:33:49 But I notice -- I just noticed that.
11:33:54 Chief, let me say this.
11:34:01 When I put this motion before this body to look at a citizen
11:34:08 review board, it was not done to micromanage the police
11:34:12 department.
11:34:13 It was done because I believe in accountability, and I
11:34:17 believe when I look at the report in the paper and on TV
11:34:25 every night, and I see where the crime is taking place in my
11:34:32 district, the majority, in the same neighborhood that you
11:34:39 grew up in, than these crimes are taking place, and when I
11:34:46 hear and see the outrage of citizens in the community about
11:34:50 these crimes, and they say they have no voice, no place to
11:34:58 go, they feel like they are not getting fair treatment in
11:35:04 the department.
11:35:05 I get complaints.
11:35:06 And I have got them now where people are complaining.
11:35:10 And I think if law enforcement wants to be true to the
11:35:17 people they serve and represent that they will want
11:35:22 accountability.
11:35:24 They will want someone to say to give these citizens some
11:35:28 type of hope, that they can speak to an outside voice, an
11:35:35 independent body, and share their concerns and share their
11:35:39 complaints, and at lowest have hope that someone will listen
11:35:48 and be able to go back and give a report, whether favorable
11:35:54 or not favorable, and this is what happened.
11:35:59 They don't have that.
11:36:01 That's a what a lot of people in the community feel today.
11:36:03 They don't have that.
11:36:05 They don't trust what's in place now.
11:36:08 And that's why you see the voices here today.
11:36:11 And why the people turn out on this day, because of that.
11:36:19 And when you appeared before us in your first opening
11:36:24 statement, comments that you made, first thing I picked up
11:36:29 that had you spoke about funding.
11:36:37 You talk about all the boards and other places that you have
11:36:39 looked at and studied and all of this.
11:36:43 You only got to go to Sarasota, St. Pete, Orange County,
11:36:49 Fort Myers, and I'm pretty sure out of some of those
11:36:54 municipalities, you can take one item from here, one item
11:37:01 from there, and pull together a board.
11:37:05 And the problem I have, I think it should be an independent
11:37:10 board.
11:37:13 I think when we say the police department or the chief of
11:37:19 police are going to appoint the board, or the mayor going to
11:37:25 appoint the board, we back at square one.
11:37:31 And that's why I made the comment that I envisioned having a
11:37:38 nine-member board, and I want to see the City Council
11:37:41 incorporated a participate process, because each one of
11:37:47 councilmen voting a block of constituents, and each one can
11:37:52 appoint one representative from our community to serve.
11:38:00 And I made that recommendation by two appointments coming
11:38:05 from the mayor, and, oh, the mayor talking about kangaroo
11:38:14 court.
11:38:15 I ain't seen one kangaroo walking over there.
11:38:18 So I am disappointed that there has been no discussions
11:38:27 since I been sitting here that a role that this council in
11:38:34 place, and I agree that are my colleagues like Mr. Suarez,
11:38:38 we are talking about a legislative matter policies.
11:38:45 And after council, we establish and make policy.
11:38:51 So we got a budget advisory committee that we appointed,
11:38:57 each member of this board, this council appointed a member,
11:39:02 they meet with department heads, they make recommendations
11:39:04 to us about the budget, putting a committee together, and --
11:39:15 each one of us appointed, and they come and make
11:39:20 recommendations.
11:39:20 These are policies.
11:39:21 All we are talking about, we want the review to policy and
11:39:23 practice of the police department, to have greater
11:39:29 communication with the community.
11:39:33 This will help law enforcement.
11:39:36 This is a positive step for law enforcement.
11:39:41 And to not to have the community involved is troubling,
11:39:50 because, Chief, if you are going to be the one who appoints,
11:39:55 or the mayor is going to be the one who appoints, and we are
11:40:03 sitting here getting the phone calls, hearing all the
11:40:07 complaints, having no involvement, then I would rather not
11:40:14 even have a citizens review board.
11:40:16 We can drop this conversation today.
11:40:20 [ Applause ]
11:40:22 Because it's not fair to those who want to feel protected.
11:40:34 And it's all about accountability and trust.
11:40:36 And I think somebody spoke out here and said all this about
11:40:41 a citizen review board is about trust and being law
11:40:50 enforcement that you can depend on, you can count on,
11:40:55 because if something is not saleable and you got this
11:41:05 community board sticking with you.
11:41:15 They are standing with you on an issue that you can support
11:41:17 it.
11:41:19 That build you up, and build you strong in this community.
11:41:22 And so I just think -- and the last thing, timewise, let me
11:41:29 say this.
11:41:37 People are being killed every day.
11:41:42 Every time you turn on the TV, something is going wrong.
11:41:46 And if you have a citizens review board, and they are
11:41:58 needed, because
11:42:09 And go to jail and be buried three days later, what the hell
11:42:16 going on?
11:42:19 And you don't have nobody, no voice, no one to go to and
11:42:25 file a complaint, and these can be avoided by these citizens
11:42:32 review boards.
11:42:34 So I think, chief, I don't know, you are still in the study
11:42:42 process, but we don't -- we don't -- we don't need 40
11:42:47 reviews.
11:42:49 40 studies.
11:42:53 Just cross the bridge at St. Pete.
11:42:55 >> You mentioned all five of them.
11:43:02 I have them.
11:43:03 >> Thank you.
11:43:03 And we can get a board put together and I suggest to you, I
11:43:09 don't know if the mayor has to sign off on it or not.
11:43:12 But you need leeway, because if they are going to be
11:43:22 appointed by the chief, and that's the first decision I want
11:43:27 to have no.
11:43:27 If this board going to be appointed by the Chief, and if
11:43:30 this council doesn't have a legislative authority to appoint
11:43:36 a advisory board and be appointed by the chief or be
11:43:38 appointed by the mayor, then we got a problem.
11:43:41 And so that's what I need to find out.
11:43:46 If this can be done.
11:43:47 And you know what?
11:43:49 I don't care what the charter says, I don't care if it can
11:43:56 be done, it can get done.
11:43:58 If you want to do it, you find a way to do it.
11:44:01 So if we want this done, we can find a way to get it done.
11:44:06 That's the bottom line.
11:44:08 Mrs. Capin.
11:44:10 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
11:44:14 When you were talking about the review -- are you okay?
11:44:31 I'm sorry.
11:44:33 When it came up about the citizens complaint and how it was
11:44:37 handled, and the internal affairs, and that the union will
11:44:44 represent the officer or stand by the officer, and that the
11:44:50 union can and many times appear on this issue, is that
11:44:58 conveyed to the person, to the citizen who brought the
11:45:03 complaint?
11:45:04 How is the citizen informed of what happens with their
11:45:08 complaint?
11:45:11 >> The complainant comes in.
11:45:13 There's a disposition letter that outlines whether it's
11:45:16 sustained or not sustained.
11:45:17 That letter goes to the complainant.
11:45:18 They get a copy of that letter.
11:45:22 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Okay, thank you.
11:45:23 I appreciate that.
11:45:24 I also agree, you know, to being a plaintiffs officer has
11:45:29 many moving parts, many, many moving parts.
11:45:33 Social worker.
11:45:38 But when I said time is of the essence, I never said you had
11:45:41 to have it in two weeks.
11:45:43 I didn't put any time on it.
11:45:44 The sums was that that I wasn't going to ask you how much
11:45:50 time you needed.
11:45:52 So thanks for the recommendation.
11:45:58 The other thing is, just to give you an idea, you know, I
11:46:08 rode within a police officer back in summer or spring of
11:46:10 2013, and an incident happened, that while the police were
11:46:16 there to manage the traffic and the crowds, 1:30 in the
11:46:20 morning, I said I was going to walk over to where the crowd
11:46:28 was.
11:46:28 I got halfway there, and I heard the pop, pop, pop, pop, of
11:46:33 what I first thought was firecrackers, and then it was
11:46:36 gunshots.
11:46:39 Police officers, of course, were very happy to see me come
11:46:42 back to the car, and when I asked her if I could see --
11:46:49 because we did follow up some leads during the night -- I
11:46:53 asked her if I could see the incident report on the gunshots
11:47:00 and what happened.
11:47:01 And she informed me that there would be none.
11:47:06 And I asked her why?
11:47:07 And she said, because we were not called to the scene.
11:47:11 We were already there.
11:47:14 Now, when I heard that, I thought, okay, you know, I can
11:47:19 understand in some instances, but when there's possible
11:47:25 lives at stake because there's gunshots, an incident report
11:47:30 is not filled out because they were already there, it seemed
11:47:34 really odd to me and I brought it up back then and never got
11:47:39 an answer to why that was done or why that is done.
11:47:44 That's one of the things that -- and again, that is your
11:47:51 purview to administer, and don't want to micromanage, but
11:47:56 there is an issue there.
11:47:58 The other thing is when I asked for the backup of what you
11:48:08 had studied, of course you had one week, which is not a
11:48:11 whole lot, but you did due diligence, and we didn't get that
11:48:21 information and we need that information.
11:48:23 We need to know what you found in the report, and I would
11:48:26 like to see -- as you said, you have the backup, and we can
11:48:31 see what you looked at.
11:48:35 In my estimation, just to look at what you are looking at,
11:48:38 not to -- and maybe discuss it with you beforehand, but not
11:48:44 to dictate to you where you think it should go.
11:48:49 That is what the report will be about when you return.
11:48:53 And as far as the citizens advisory board, I don't know what
11:48:57 the turmoil is here.
11:49:02 It's a matter of a vote to put it into motion.
11:49:07 Now, if the administration cooperates with it, it's a
11:49:10 different story.
11:49:11 And that's up to the administration.
11:49:13 But as far as an advisory board, that could be done today.
11:49:28 So what I would like to put into my motion -- and maybe it
11:49:31 would be -- might have an amendment to that -- is that we
11:49:36 have a report back from you, sir, on your findings of the
11:49:45 other jurisdictions that you have studied and how we can
11:49:51 implement the best practices that fit in our city.
11:50:00 As far as the timeline, we did say time was of the essence.
11:50:04 I would like to know from you how much time you need to come
11:50:09 back to us with what you feel is an in-depth report that can
11:50:16 help you make the decision or help us help you make the
11:50:20 decision.
11:50:20 >> Like you, I need to find out who has the ultimate
11:50:24 decision for creating a board.
11:50:26 If you guys have it, then that can be important.
11:50:29 I don't need to be involved.
11:50:30 So once I can find out who has the power to do whatever by
11:50:34 charter, then we can move forward.
11:50:37 And in the meantime I will collect that data, put it
11:50:39 together, and present it to council whenever you guys want
11:50:43 me to.
11:50:47 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Is 30 days enough?
11:50:48 >> Absolutely.
11:50:50 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Then that's what I will ask for, a 30-day
11:50:53 report with recommendations, not just a review of what's out
11:50:58 there.
11:50:58 That you already have.
11:50:59 And that I would like a copy of it.
11:51:02 I don't know if the other members would but I would like a
11:51:05 copy of what you found so far.
11:51:08 Okay.
11:51:10 So 30 days.
11:51:13 And that's my motion.
11:51:20 September 3rd.
11:51:26 >>FRANK REDDICK: That's a regular meeting?
11:51:28 >>YVONNE CAPIN: At 9:00 under staff reports.
11:51:30 >>FRANK REDDICK: Okay.
11:51:32 All right.
11:51:32 Do we get a second?
11:51:33 I have a motion from Mrs. Capin, seconded by Mr. Cohen.
11:51:37 Any further discussion on that motion?
11:51:40 All in favor of the motion say aye.
11:51:42 Opposed?
11:51:43 All right.
11:51:44 Mr. Suarez.
11:51:45 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Before I make my motion, I would like to say
11:51:48 three things.
11:51:49 And this is something that I have discussed with both police
11:51:52 officers on the beat, the union, some other folks, in terms
11:51:55 of what this discussion is about.
11:51:58 For us to talk about police and trust, we have to make sure
11:52:01 that there is much more light.
11:52:09 We can talk about throwing stones at police in terms of what
11:52:11 they have not done, but we have to recognize that their job
11:52:14 is to protect us.
11:52:16 We have to make sure that people understand that in order
11:52:20 for us and the police officers need to understand it, too,
11:52:23 for us to continue to gain that trust and maintain that
11:52:25 trust, sometimes we do need to have reviews of what the
11:52:30 procedures and policies are.
11:52:31 It helps for -- allows the public to know what your training
11:52:36 is and how well you are trained.
11:52:38 I know that I and many of my colleagues have taken advantage
11:52:41 of the citizens academy.
11:52:44 I think that anyone, anyone that has any doubt as to what it
11:52:48 takes to be a police officer, please make sure you contact
11:52:51 the police department and find out.
11:52:52 They have a training program that I think is over an 8-week
11:52:58 period that you can go to and you can be knowledgeable as to
11:53:01 what police officers do.
11:53:03 Secondly, a board like we are suggesting, it checks the
11:53:09 validity of things like body cameras, something that is now
11:53:12 in a pilot project.
11:53:13 We have USF that's going to come back to us with a report.
11:53:16 It is a way for us to make sure that those tools that we are
11:53:20 giving the police officers do their intended purpose, which
11:53:23 is to both protect the public and the police in any kind of
11:53:27 issues so that everyone gains some kind of trust in terms of
11:53:34 what the procedures we put in place, and then it really does
11:53:39 bring people together, brings our neighborhoods together,
11:53:41 brings our community together, sort of to go forward and
11:53:45 make sure that everyone knows that our police officers are
11:53:48 doing the best that they can.
11:53:49 Having said all of that, I would like to make a motion for
11:53:52 the city attorney and our council attorney to come back with
11:53:57 a recommendation as to an advisory committee set up by
11:54:01 council to look at and review those procedures that are in
11:54:07 place to both training and discipline of police officers
11:54:13 after the fact, meaning to look at reports of things that
11:54:17 have happened already, to find out where we can go
11:54:20 proactively to help alleviate any additional problem.
11:54:26 Secondly, for the city attorney to come back to us to find
11:54:30 out if there is a way that they and ourselves can come
11:54:35 together with an advisory committee or review committee that
11:54:39 will have the power of the mayor instituting certain changes
11:54:46 when recommended by this review committee, or this advisory
11:54:49 committee.
11:54:51 >>FRANK REDDICK: They are two separate motions?
11:54:53 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Number 2 as part of the same motion.
11:54:58 You got that, I hope.
11:54:59 I just want to make sure that we understand where we are
11:55:02 going because I don't want to have someone not come up and
11:55:05 say, I didn't know that was part of the motion.
11:55:08 And the timeline would be the same date, September 3rd,
11:55:13 and hopefully with the legal department to come up with
11:55:17 that.
11:55:17 And the last thing is that a selection method so that if it
11:55:23 is a hybrid committee as to where we are going to select and
11:55:29 how we select those folks for membership in that, whether
11:55:33 it's a sunshine board, the implications of that
11:55:37 concerning -- if it has to be a sunshine board, if it isn't,
11:55:42 I want to know all the legal ramifications, and specifically
11:55:46 the charter issues, because I don't want to go through the
11:55:49 process, and the one thing I disagree with Councilman Cohen
11:55:52 is, I don't want to go through a process and at the end of
11:55:56 the process someone says we can't do it because the charter
11:55:58 doesn't allow us to do it.
11:56:00 So that's one of the reasons it's important we make sure we
11:56:03 have this charter discussion first so we are not spinning
11:56:05 our wheels and we are not wasting time of all of us up here
11:56:09 and the public at large so that we can create something in a
11:56:13 timely manner.
11:56:14 So that's the last of my motion.
11:56:17 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Second.
11:56:19 >>FRANK REDDICK: We have a motion from Mr. Suarez, seconded
11:56:21 by Mrs. Capin.
11:56:23 Discussion by Mr. Cohen.
11:56:24 >>HARRY COHEN: Let me address what you just mentioned.
11:56:27 I'm not in disagreement with you on the fact that we should
11:56:31 get the parameters of what we can do with the charter.
11:56:36 My point is if the chief comes with a recommendation for a
11:56:40 type of committee -- and by the way, I'm assuming that it
11:56:44 would be something that would be appointed by all of us,
11:56:47 that had the wouldn't just be something appointed by the
11:56:49 mayor and the chief.
11:56:54 That I would hope that have been we wouldn't get hung up on
11:56:56 the issue of who under the charter has the authority to
11:57:00 create it, that we would agree that in the best interest of
11:57:03 the community it just simply needs to be created and not get
11:57:08 hung up on who has the ultimate authority to say, no, we are
11:57:12 not going to do that.
11:57:13 I think we just rise above that type of discord and try to
11:57:17 get to the right place.
11:57:18 That was really my point.
11:57:20 But with that said, I will support moving this forward for
11:57:23 discussion.
11:57:23 >>MIKE SUAREZ: And I will say to Councilman Cohen that's
11:57:29 exactly my point, that we as a collective board can talk
11:57:32 about what we want to do, then we don't want to have someone
11:57:35 say that you can't do it because the charter says you can't.
11:57:40 That's the only distinction I was making in terms of that
11:57:42 and I fully understood your point from the very first.
11:57:45 Thank you, chair.
11:57:47 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mr. Miranda.
11:57:48 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I want to some clarity on the motion
11:57:51 made by Councilman Suarez.
11:57:53 What you are saying is sign off find out in advance what you
11:57:56 can do before you discuss the charter in September.
11:58:00 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I think it comes hand in hand.
11:58:03 For example, if we are coming up with an advisory board
11:58:05 which is the first part of my motion, that if they find out,
11:58:09 no you can't actually do that because there are legal
11:58:11 issues, issues dealing with the police department and
11:58:16 personnel policies, I want to know then.
11:58:19 I don't want to come up with a plan to put something forward
11:58:21 and then find out later on that the charter does not allow
11:58:25 it.
11:58:26 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I just wanted that for clarity.
11:58:29 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I seconded it, and I am still in a quandary
11:58:33 before the charter, an advisory board.
11:58:38 I believe we have already done it and we didn't consult the
11:58:41 charter.
11:58:42 But this is the cooperation from the administration and from
11:58:48 the police department is very, very important.
11:58:53 So I second.
11:58:56 >>FRANK REDDICK: Get our own outside attorney.
11:58:58 (Laughter).
11:59:00 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I want clarification, because advisory
11:59:02 boards, we have created in the past, but review boards, I
11:59:08 don't believe we have.
11:59:09 So I want to be clear with Mr. Suarez' motion that we are
11:59:14 not simply talking about an advisory board that we are
11:59:18 talking about a review board, which is a totally different
11:59:24 context.
11:59:24 >>MIKE SUAREZ: That is the second part of the motion which
11:59:29 is a hybrid board that would have the power for review.
11:59:32 My point is that I want to look at all three so that when we
11:59:35 come forward, we can make a decision as to, A, what we want
11:59:39 to do, B, what we have the power to do, and, C, what we can
11:59:44 agree to with the administration to get done.
11:59:46 So those are the reasons why it was a three-point
11:59:50 recommendation.
11:59:50 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And I just want to point out three of my
11:59:54 constituents are here, so if we end up with creating this
11:59:59 board, two of them spoke during public comment and one, I
12:00:03 don't believe did.
12:00:06 So I have got my folks already in line.
12:00:11 >>FRANK REDDICK: Well represented.
12:00:12 We have a motion on the floor by Mr. Suarez, seconded by
12:00:16 Mrs. Capin.
12:00:16 Further discussion on this motion?
12:00:18 Seeing none all those in favor say aye.
12:00:20 Opposed?
12:00:21 All right.
12:00:22 Motion carried.
12:00:23 Mr. Chief, anything you want to conclude with?
12:00:27 CHIEF ERIC WARD: No.
12:00:28 Nothing, time to have research.
12:00:33 It's not only that charged with reviewing the police
12:00:39 policies, we also need to get the community involved.
12:00:42 It's not a police issue.
12:00:44 It's a community issue.
12:00:45 And that's important not only to get comment from this
12:00:49 community as well as the people in this room today.
12:00:51 You know, there's a lot of things that are going on like the
12:00:54 homicide rate that's going up that we have no cooperation
12:00:56 with.
12:00:57 That's a big issue to me.
12:01:01 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right, thank you.
12:01:02 And council, we stand in recess till 1:30.
12:01:08 >> (City Council recess.)
12:01:09
DISCLAIMER:
This file represents an unedited version of realtime
captioning which should neither be relied upon for complete
accuracy nor used as a verbatim transcript.
The original of this file was produced in all capital
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party edits and software compatibility issues.
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proceedings may need to hire a court reporter.
TAMPA CITY COUNCIL
Thursday, August 6, 2015
1:30 p.m. Session
DISCLAIMER:
This file represents an unedited version of realtime
captioning which should neither be relied upon for complete
accuracy nor used as a verbatim transcript.
The original of this file was produced in all capital
letters and any variation thereto may be a result of third
party edits and software compatibility issues.
Any person who needs a verbatim transcript of the
proceedings may need to hire a court reporter.
13:31:35 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
13:34:56 Good afternoon.
13:34:56 I am going to call this City Council meeting back into
13:34:59 order.
13:34:59 Roll call.
13:35:00 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Here.
13:35:03 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Here.
13:35:05 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Present.
13:35:05 >>HARRY COHEN: Here.
13:35:07 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Here.
13:35:14 >>FRANK REDDICK: Here.
13:35:14 Item number 7.
13:35:15 >> Good afternoon chair, members of City Council.
13:35:21 Brad Baird, public works and utilities administrator.
13:35:27 Could we have the presentation pulled up, please? Which it
13:35:30 already is.
13:35:33 This is a summary presentation.
13:35:35 A summary from what I gave you last time on stormwater needs
13:35:40 and how to pay for them.
13:35:42 So I am going to tell it like it is.
13:35:46 No sugarcoating.
13:35:47 The pictures you see in front of you are from the recent
13:35:50 storm of a few days ago.
13:35:52 So with that, let's get going.
13:35:57 Next slide, please.
13:36:01 You have a hard copy of the presentation coming around.
13:36:11 You can refer to it later.
13:36:15 First a refresher for the audience that we have two
13:36:18 stormwater assessments, two types of assessments, a service
13:36:23 assessment and then improvement assessment.
13:36:28 So one gentleman brought up in public comment that the
13:36:32 notice that went out was actually as you pointed out the
13:36:38 surface assessment on the front, the improvement assessment
13:36:41 is on the back.
13:36:43 A service assessment is used for stormwater operations and
13:36:46 maintenance activity.
13:36:48 The improvement assessment is used for stormwater capital
13:36:52 improvements.
13:36:54 And, also, the improvement assessment allows us to borrow
13:36:59 moneys so that we can accomplish more in a shorter time.
13:37:08 Our major stormwater needs, you saw this chart last time.
13:37:12 It includes eight major areas.
13:37:14 The first two that are blue are service assessment related,
13:37:21 and then projects 3 through 8 are improvement assessment
13:37:26 related.
13:37:28 Item 3 are the small and medium projects listed in the
13:37:36 capital improvement plan.
13:37:38 Items 4 through 8 are the major capital improvement projects
13:37:43 to solve those larger, major flooding issues.
13:37:49 Throughout Tampa.
13:37:51 So the next two slides I am going to cover the service
13:37:56 assessment, change in service levels, or proposed service
13:38:02 levels from what we have currently to improved service
13:38:07 level, and then the next slide will cover the costs.
13:38:11 So this is all about maximizing the existing system capacity
13:38:17 and treatment capabilities.
13:38:20 An increase in service assessment in general will allow us
13:38:22 to change the way we do business from reactive to proactive.
13:38:28 Also, most importantly, it will allow us to maintain
13:38:31 compliance with city-wide stormwater permit.
13:38:36 So as I go through the list, the first one on the list is
13:38:41 ditches.
13:38:42 And one of our most critical areas where we are proposing to
13:38:47 go from a ten-year cycle of cleaning those ditches to a
13:38:51 seven year cycle.
13:38:53 Ponds, currently we are doing minimal cleaning of ponds on a
13:38:57 reactive basis, and we are proposing to go onto of a
13:39:03 three-year cycle.
13:39:04 Pipes, very similar to ditches going from a ten-year cycle
13:39:07 to a seven-year cycle.
13:39:09 Outfalls, 15-year cycle to a five-year cycle.
13:39:14 And then street sweeping from a 90-day cycle to a 60-day
13:39:18 cycle, and street sweeping is very important because it
13:39:21 keeps that silt and dirt and debris and leaves.
13:39:26 It minimizes what goes into the storm system.
13:39:30 So if I had to pick the big three, I would pick outfalls,
13:39:36 ditches and ponds.
13:39:37 In that order.
13:39:43 You have to keep your outfalls clean of barnacles so it can
13:39:47 maximize the amount of flow that it can handle.
13:39:50 And ditches being second.
13:39:51 You know, we saw both of these items helped back up the
13:39:56 system in this recent storm.
13:39:58 And didn't carry the water that they should.
13:40:01 And I know you have received complaints in all of these
13:40:05 areas that I went through.
13:40:07 So we need to do something here.
13:40:13 Again we have to take care of our existing system first, and
13:40:16 falling short with current resources.
13:40:21 The next slide shows the increase in cost that would be
13:40:26 associated with an increase in service level associated with
13:40:30 the operation and maintenance of the existing system.
13:40:35 The big increases are for the highest increase in terms of
13:40:38 dollars are associated with pond maintenance and outfalls.
13:40:43 Two of the big three I just mentioned but everything needs
13:40:49 some seriously needed attention.
13:40:51 This would result -- a long way to the bottom of the
13:40:55 slide -- of this would result in increasing the existing
13:40:59 assessment from $3 per month to $6.83 a month for $82
13:41:05 annually.
13:41:07 With that I will move to the improvements assessment.
13:41:16 On this slide, you have seen this map before.
13:41:21 We are proposing at a maximum, a comprehensive capital
13:41:25 improvement plan totaling $251 million.
13:41:31 Your motion asked us to provide options associated with the
13:41:34 proposed improvement assessment.
13:41:37 So the rest of the presentation will focus on this.
13:41:42 Both from what those improvements include and the cost.
13:41:48 So the improvement assessment area is generally south of
13:41:51 Fowler Avenue, which is shown with an orange line.
13:41:57 So generally set off there and generally north of
13:42:02 MacDill Air Force Base.
13:42:03 This represents projects.
13:42:04 And I can't stress this enough, throughout the improvement
13:42:07 area.
13:42:09 And for the record I am want to get this on the record.
13:42:11 The improvement area is called central and lower basin
13:42:14 improvement area.
13:42:16 So if you want improvement area, that's the name we have
13:42:20 given it.
13:42:22 You have heard a lot about South Tampa in the media over the
13:42:27 last two weeks.
13:42:28 So what I would like to do, if you will indulge me for a
13:42:32 minute, is read a list of the road closures and flooded
13:42:36 streets that we had as of Monday night -- Monday afternoon
13:42:40 at about 5:00.
13:42:43 And this was road closures and flooded streets, about six,
13:42:51 seven hours after the rains stopped on Monday.
13:42:56 21st Avenue from 39th to 50th.
13:42:59 22nd and Linebaugh.
13:43:01 30th street south of Fowler.
13:43:04 47th street from shadowlawn to Giddens.
13:43:08 50th street from distribution drive to Adamo.
13:43:12 Armenia Avenue and Herman street.
13:43:15 Armenia Avenue north of Busch.
13:43:17 Columbus and 19th street.
13:43:20 Columbus between 40th and 50th.
13:43:25 Davis Island access from Hyde Park.
13:43:28 Florida Avenue and Knollwood.
13:43:31 Habana between Saint Isabel and Virginia.
13:43:34 Hanna and 26th street.
13:43:36 Hillsborough and Dale Mabry.
13:43:42 Himes Avenue at Tampa Bay Boulevard.
13:43:44 Lake Avenue between 48th and the 4600 block.
13:43:50 Linebaugh from Nebraska to 22nd.
13:43:53 MLK at Tampania.
13:43:57 Nebraska north of Broad.
13:43:59 Osbourne Avenue up to Florida Avenue.
13:44:04 Rome Avenue and Cleveland.
13:44:06 Sligh Avenue at 12th street.
13:44:09 Waters Avenue and Jones Avenue.
13:44:11 Westshore Boulevard between Laurel and cypress.
13:44:17 And finally Woodlawn between poplar and Myrtle.
13:44:23 And I do that because those were 25 locations.
13:44:27 >> I just want to add, there were a few streets that are not
13:44:31 on this list, because I have photographs of 10th and
13:44:38 poinsettia, and these are all west of 22nd street.
13:44:43 >> At Monday afternoon they were still closed?
13:44:50 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Yes, because I was trying to think
13:44:53 that's when I drove by there.
13:44:54 Some of them had barricades from public works and some did
13:44:57 not.
13:44:58 I have photographs.
13:44:59 >> You can send them to me.
13:45:01 And the reason I did that is because most of the media
13:45:04 attention was in South Tampa.
13:45:06 However, you know, these were 25 locations not counting
13:45:10 Councilwoman Montelione's locations, and only three were in
13:45:14 South Tampa.
13:45:16 So we had flooding throughout the improvement area.
13:45:21 I just want to make that clear.
13:45:33 You asked us to be look at different options.
13:45:37 So we have basically two options that we have looked at in
13:45:40 terms of a full funding and a limited funding option.
13:45:45 Now the full funding option, going to go through two
13:45:52 scenarios associated with full funding so essentially we
13:45:54 will have three scenarios, A, B and C, and she will gone
13:45:58 through that in detail.
13:46:02 So in the full funding option, we are talking about the
13:46:07 251.3 million.
13:46:09 It includes the capital improvement land, which is the small
13:46:13 yellow dots you saw on that map.
13:46:17 Upper peninsula flooding relief, which is major projects.
13:46:21 North Tampa closed basin flooding.
13:46:24 Cypress Street, outfall extension.
13:46:28 Southeast Seminole Heights and the lower peninsula flooding
13:46:32 relief.
13:46:34 In the limited funding, which amounts to $61,285,000, we
13:46:43 have only the capital improvement plan or the small yellow
13:46:46 dots.
13:46:48 And by the way, going back to the full funding, the projects
13:46:53 4 through 8 are shown on that map as the larger yellow dot.
13:47:03 So the capital improvement plan I want to emphasize in that
13:47:07 line item which exists in both funding options, we want to
13:47:12 maintain flexibility on that plan.
13:47:15 That is crucial.
13:47:17 If we have learned anything from the storms we have had that
13:47:23 priorities can be change.
13:47:25 They can change, so we need to be flexible so we can modify
13:47:29 that list.
13:47:30 If there's a bigger need in one area versus another, and we
13:47:33 can take care of that need with a small or medium project,
13:47:37 it's important for everybody to be able to react and do
13:47:40 that.
13:47:43 I would like to go through quickly the pros and cons of full
13:47:47 funding versus limited funding.
13:47:52 The pro, obviously for the full funding, is it solves the
13:47:55 major problems.
13:47:57 The con is the highest cost to the citizens.
13:48:02 The limited funding, the pros are very obvious, lower cost
13:48:07 for everybody.
13:48:08 The cons, it doesn't solve the major problems, only solves
13:48:13 small to medium problems.
13:48:16 Another con is we would need to eliminate grant applications
13:48:20 for funding, so we would not have the revenues to match
13:48:29 those grants.
13:48:31 And then finally, citizens are paying for minimal benefits
13:48:36 but may have higher expectations.
13:48:38 You know, they are paying an improvement assessment, and
13:48:41 then are expecting -- well, this major flooding is that we
13:48:48 recently saw, I'm already paying an improvement assessment,
13:48:52 but with that funding part will still play.
13:48:56 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Thank you, chair.
13:48:59 Brad, you made a comment about grant funding.
13:49:02 Do you know what that amount is that we won't be able to
13:49:08 match on?
13:49:10 >>BRAD BAIRD: It's typically 50-50 with the southwest
13:49:14 Florida water management district, and right now we have for
13:49:18 the upper peninsula, we do have a grant application in for
13:49:21 that project.
13:49:24 Obviously has not been granted.
13:49:27 And that grant would be 18.5 million.
13:49:29 >> So we have to come up with the other 18.5 in order to get
13:49:34 the grant?
13:49:35 >> Right.
13:49:36 >>MIKE SUAREZ: So what you are saying is doing this at the
13:49:39 lower level doesn't give us the kind of leeway that we need
13:49:42 in order to deal with all those major intersections and
13:49:46 problems, because we are not going to have the match in
13:49:49 order to get some of those projects going, correct?
13:49:51 >> That is correct.
13:49:55 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mr. Cohen?
13:49:56 >>HARRY COHEN: One other question on.
13:49:58 This one of the things you didn't do here was pick and
13:50:02 choose.
13:50:02 You didn't say to us, you can do two of the four or five or
13:50:06 three of the five of the major projects.
13:50:09 Why is that?
13:50:10 Why are you saying it's sort of got to be all or nothing?
13:50:13 >> That is the last part of my slide.
13:50:16 I was just about to talk about that.
13:50:18 We looked at several scenarios that are in between the full
13:50:24 funding and the limited funding.
13:50:26 And we thought we could come up with more scenarios, maybe,
13:50:33 to present to you.
13:50:34 But what we found was that what would happen is you would
13:50:39 have to pick one or two or three of these major programs.
13:50:45 And then where you have the whole improvement area,
13:50:48 providing the revenue, and everybody paying the assessment,
13:50:52 then you have to pick.
13:50:54 Do I go through this neighborhood but not this neighborhood?
13:50:57 And it becomes inequitable.
13:51:01 It's as simple as that.
13:51:02 It's really not as legally defensible as either a full
13:51:08 funding or a limited funding.
13:51:09 >>HARRY COHEN: Legally defensible because you are not going
13:51:14 the giving to the whole city?
13:51:16 >> You are not equitable on your benefits.
13:51:18 That's correct.
13:51:19 >> And this spreads it around so that everybody is getting a
13:51:21 benefit from it?
13:51:23 >> Both of these funding options do spread it around, yes.
13:51:29 So with that, I will turn it over to Sonya to go into
13:51:32 details on the financial.
13:51:38 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Mrs. Little, before you start, I think
13:51:42 of this is more for you than Mr. Baird, so you might want to
13:51:46 address this.
13:51:48 I don't believe when Mr. Baird went over the slides that had
13:51:55 the map that it was fully understood about the mitigation
13:52:04 credits.
13:52:05 I just want top reiterate that and drive that point home.
13:52:09 Because these assessments and letters do not go to every
13:52:15 citizen or every property owner in the City of Tampa?
13:52:18 >> Yes, ma'am.
13:52:19 If you don't mind, I would ask that Jan McLean come up and
13:52:24 answer your questions specific to the mitigation credit.
13:52:30 >>JAN MCLEAN: City attorney's office.
13:52:32 Than the mitigation credit policy is contained in referenced
13:52:37 within our ordinance.
13:52:38 What it does is, it acknowledges that there are parcels that
13:52:44 either treat solely, all of the stormwater on-site, or they
13:52:47 do a partial treatment, so when it discharges to the
13:52:52 citizens, they have had some kind of treatment before it
13:52:55 hits our system.
13:52:56 So on the map, you will notice that the larger areas are
13:53:02 mitigated because they treat their own stormwater.
13:53:05 MacDill Air Force Base, one large one to the south,
13:53:08 there's a lot of CDD's up in New Tampa to the north.
13:53:12 So those are in recognition that they would not be subject
13:53:15 to the assessment.
13:53:16 There are in the policies three criteria, two levels of
13:53:21 mitigation credit.
13:53:22 You can get a 10% credit or even get 100% credit.
13:53:26 And this has gone through engineering surveys to determine
13:53:30 which ones would be available for that particular parcel.
13:53:34 Any individuals can bring there's Ford to the stormwater
13:53:39 department to have it evaluated to make a determination of
13:53:41 whether it is eligible for a credit, and if it is, at what
13:53:44 level.
13:53:45 This has been in place throughout the entire assessment
13:53:49 period that we had for the service assessment as well.
13:53:51 But that's what the red hatched areas are indicating on your
13:53:56 map.
13:53:57 Those areas that are already not subject to the service.
13:54:02 >>LISA MONTELIONE: In other words, someone that lives in
13:54:06 Cory lake isles, they completely treat their storm wallet so
13:54:11 they get 100% credit.
13:54:12 They never pay into the system.
13:54:15 >> Okay, I am familiar with the area.
13:54:19 I know it's up in the New Tampa area so I can understand
13:54:21 this.
13:54:22 They might not be --
13:54:25 >>LISA MONTELIONE: If you go to the map you can see where
13:54:28 those are.
13:54:29 And conversely in Tampa Palms they get the 10% credit
13:54:33 because they have public roads, and they are having to
13:54:37 contribute to the maintenance of the storm sewers that drain
13:54:41 off of public roads.
13:54:42 >> And you can have an individual within one of those CDDs
13:54:46 that is contributing through an association that treats the
13:54:48 stormwater.
13:54:50 They would be potentially eligible for a 10% credit.
13:54:54 We look at every parcel of that is requested for us to look
13:54:57 at.
13:54:57 But you will see that in the majority of those areas that
13:55:00 are in the new builds up in New Tampa or those areas that
13:55:04 they contain their stormwater of wholly on-site and do their
13:55:07 own treatment.
13:55:10 So that's why you will see it on there.
13:55:15 >>HARRY COHEN: Just a fascinating tidbit about these red
13:55:21 hatch areas.
13:55:21 Harbor Island is one of them and I asked Mr. Baird yesterday
13:55:25 how they fared during our recent events, and they fared much
13:55:30 better than the rest of these South Tampa peninsula did in
13:55:33 terms of flooding.
13:55:34 And what that says to all of us is that these are solvable
13:55:38 problems, if you actually put in a system to deal with that,
13:55:43 you can control the water and not have the widespread
13:55:46 flooding that their neighbors on Davis Island had on the
13:55:49 same event.
13:56:01 >>SONYA LITTLE: Mr. Chairman, council members, at the May
13:56:04 and July meetings related to stormwater discussions, we
13:56:08 prepared and presented to you a scenario of what it would
13:56:12 cost -- what it would take in the way of both service
13:56:15 assessment and an improvement assessment to fund the
13:56:19 improvement service levels and to fund the $251 million
13:56:24 comprehensive plan.
13:56:25 At that time, I believe it was the June meeting you asked
13:56:28 that we come back and give additional options, which Brad
13:56:31 identified just a few minutes ago, as far as a full funding
13:56:36 option and limited funding option.
13:56:38 So I would like to bring up our presentation again.
13:56:53 I have a total of six scenarios in your presentation for
13:56:56 informational purposes.
13:56:57 If I can just walk through just a few of them you will get
13:56:59 the gist of really how it all falls out.
13:57:03 I want to make certain that everyone for public consumption
13:57:08 understands that the stormwater assessment, whether it's
13:57:12 improvement assessment or a service assessment, may only be
13:57:15 used for stormwater purposes.
13:57:18 Those funds generated from either assessment cannot be used
13:57:22 outside of the stormwater program.
13:57:25 Can't be used for general fund purposes or for any other
13:57:28 enterprise fund purposes.
13:57:32 The first scenario on slide 8 in front of you, it assumes
13:57:36 that we would fully fund the full 251 million-dollar capital
13:57:42 program that would also fund the improved service assessment
13:57:50 as well in one shot, that we would not phase it in.
13:57:57 The way that the program would work and the way that it
13:57:59 currently works for our existing service assessment is that
13:58:03 property owners receive on their annual tax bill, which is
13:58:07 usually sent out by the tax collector every November, would
13:58:12 receive the stormwater assessment as part of their tax bill
13:58:16 every November.
13:58:17 So every year that you see their 15 through 21 assumed
13:58:22 billing.
13:58:25 To take a look at that first column, 2015, we all know that
13:58:29 our current assessment equates to $3 per month and only
13:58:33 applies to the service assessment.
13:58:36 If we are to move forward and considering funding the
13:58:40 improved level of service for the operations and maintenance
13:58:43 of our system, then to cover those costs, the annual
13:58:48 assessment for service would be $82.
13:58:54 There is zero in 2015 because of the timing required to
13:59:00 report to the tax collector that we want to proceed with
13:59:05 imposing an improvement assessment.
13:59:07 So the earliest that the improvement assessment would occur
13:59:12 would be November 2016.
13:59:15 The bottom two lines in each one of those columns shows the
13:59:19 corresponding to the annual assessment for both service and
13:59:25 improvement, and then breaking it down by month to see the
13:59:31 total monthly assessment in each year.
13:59:38 We used a medium size typical single-family household to
13:59:49 communicate what this means, and under our current
13:59:51 resolution for the City of Tampa, a typical medium size
13:59:55 single-family parcel has a building footprint between 1,301
14:00:01 to 2,201 square feet which equates to one ESU or Equivalent
14:00:09 Stormwater Unit.
14:00:14 Scenario B assumes the same typical medium sized
14:00:18 single-family parcel, but in this case, again we are funding
14:00:23 the full capital plan of $251 million.
14:00:28 One single assessment is assumed.
14:00:31 Single service assessment is assumed because we need to
14:00:34 cover the improved level of service for the existing system.
14:00:39 So it's the same $82 per year that you saw on the prior
14:00:43 slide.
14:00:44 However, when we start the improvement assessment in this
14:00:49 scenario we assume that is being phased in over time instead
14:00:52 of in one fell swoop in November of 2016.
14:00:57 So in this case, contrary to the prior slide, you see that
14:01:01 the improvement assessment is phased in over time, and you
14:01:05 can see the difference on both an annual and a monthly basis
14:01:11 in the bottom slide.
14:01:15 Scenario C, again assuming the same typical medium sized
14:01:24 single-family parcel but limited funding this time.
14:01:29 As Brad talked about, it's either doing all the major
14:01:32 projects or cutting back to the more -- or excluding all the
14:01:38 major projects and just focusing on the small to medium size
14:01:43 projects.
14:01:44 Under that scenario, our capital funding would be $61
14:01:49 million.
14:01:49 Again, as in the prior two scenarios, we assume one-time
14:01:56 single service assessment, and in this case, the assessment
14:02:00 for the medium size single-family parcel beginning in 2015
14:02:04 would be 2492 for a total annual assessment of 106-92
14:02:15 annually and then monthly of 891.
14:02:18 Now in each of the -- in scenario B, I didn't point out that
14:02:25 bottom line between 15 to 21, the final column is where we
14:02:31 would be in 2020 at $180 for $15 a month.
14:02:40 But it does give a resident a bit of leeway as far as
14:02:47 ramping up instead of being hit all in 2016 with the
14:02:52 improvement assessment.
14:02:53 What this allows us to do also is to really maximize a five
14:03:00 to six-year plan for at least starting construction on the
14:03:03 majority of those major projects that Brad identified the
14:03:08 full $251 million because it gives us the benefit of being
14:03:13 able to issue bonds.
14:03:14 And under this scenario, scenario B, we have assumed that we
14:03:19 would issue bonds in 2017 one series, and then another
14:03:24 series of bonds in 2019.
14:03:28 Both these bond issues would have an estimated maturity of
14:03:33 about 30 years so the assessment would have to stay in place
14:03:39 at least through the maturity of the bond.
14:03:43 The service assessment, as long as we have a system, will
14:03:46 have to have a service assessment in order to remain
14:03:50 operations and maintenance
14:03:54 We talked before scenario C, the limited funding.
14:04:04 I wanted to point out he would thought it might be helpful
14:04:07 also to provide the same scenario, the full funding up
14:04:10 front, the full funding phase, and then also the limited
14:04:14 funding at $61 million for a small parcel, and that applies
14:04:19 to single-family parcels with a building footprint of about
14:04:24 100 and 1,300 square feet, and obviously they have a lower
14:04:30 ESU than the medium single-family parcel, and for the small
14:04:36 it would be 0.61 ESU.
14:04:41 So in this case, you look at scenario B which is the phased
14:04:46 in scenario, and I will go through this one for comparison
14:04:50 purposes.
14:04:50 In 2015 currently a smaller parcel would pay $50.02 for the
14:05:00 service assessment.
14:05:01 Again nothing for the improvement, and the corresponding
14:05:04 annual and monthly assessment.
14:05:06 Bottom line under this scenario, after all is said and done,
14:05:10 in 2021 after phasing in over time the improvement
14:05:15 assessment at 2021, a property owner of a typical small size
14:05:22 single-family parcel would expect to pay 109.80 annually
14:05:29 which equates to 9.15 per month.
14:05:32 Again the rest of these slides are in here for informational
14:05:34 purposes.
14:05:41 Now, what does that mean as far as if we were to move
14:05:44 forward with any of these scenarios?
14:05:48 How do we apply them to our peers? If you take a look at
14:05:52 the very bottom, City of Tampa, purple line, that's where we
14:05:56 are right now, a snapshot of what we know this week.
14:06:01 We actually did a survey to be see what our peers were
14:06:04 charging in the way of stormwater fees.
14:06:06 Stormwater fine-needle aspiration earned assessment.
14:06:09 This is how the City of Tampa currently compares.
14:06:12 Now, we also know that several of our peers are also at the
14:06:19 same time increasing T their stormwater assessment as well.
14:06:23 We'll continue to monitor that and it will be important to
14:06:26 report back to you but we do know there are several looking
14:06:28 to increase their respective assessment.
14:06:31 If you go to the top of the graph to City of Tampa scenario
14:06:34 A, the top purple line, that's assuming that we move forward
14:06:39 with a one-time assessment for both the service and the
14:06:44 improvement $14.73 per month.
14:06:50 However, we also wanted to show that under the City of Tampa
14:06:56 scenario B, the second purple line from the top, that is be
14:06:59 reflective from the first full year increase of 11.25.
14:07:05 Just assuming that far we ramp it up over time, this is how
14:07:08 we would stack up to our peers.
14:07:10 But this graph would have to be updated annually because we
14:07:15 expect our peers would also be increasing their rates.
14:07:26 One of the things we would like to do and have actually
14:07:28 already done is we posted on our website frequently asked
14:07:31 questions that we have been receiving to assist our
14:07:33 residents in getting some answers.
14:07:36 We also have a customer service line set up where they can
14:07:40 call in and ask questions specific to their own notices and
14:07:43 to the presentation, and after today we will also post the
14:07:48 information because it will be a useful tool for people to
14:07:51 understand how the proposed increases.
14:07:58 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I just have a question about the small,
14:08:00 medium and large footnote at the bottom of each page
14:08:04 giving -- building footprint for medium 13.01 to 2200.
14:08:14 Is that just for people who are looking at their own parcel,
14:08:24 based on the footprint of the building or is that all the
14:08:27 impervious surface?
14:08:29 So if you have a patio, driveway, swimming pool, any area on
14:08:36 your parcel of property where the water is not going to be
14:08:39 able to seep into the ground?
14:08:43 >>SONYA LITTLE: This building footprint assumes a typical,
14:08:46 which doesn't factor in.
14:08:48 And I'm sorry, you asked that question because there will be
14:08:51 variances for property owners and those parcels that do
14:08:54 include other paved areas or impervious areas.
14:08:57 So the square footage, one may not solely be able to rely
14:09:07 upon the building footprint, the main structure of the home,
14:09:09 if they have other impervious areas on their property.
14:09:15 The total impervious area information is provided to the
14:09:18 city by the property appraiser's office.
14:09:20 We are just using it as a rule of thumb.
14:09:23 If for instance you had a single story home with nothing
14:09:27 else, then this would be rule of thumb.
14:09:30 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So my bill could be different from my?
14:09:35 >> It could be.
14:09:36 >> Even though we have the same style of houses, the same
14:09:40 square footage, but if I don't have all the same dimensions,
14:09:46 big patios, big driveways, my bill is going to be different
14:09:52 from my neighbor.
14:09:53 >>SONYA LITTLE: Yes, ma'am.
14:09:57 The property appraiser's office and provide it to the city.
14:10:00 >> Just to be clear, it will include the driveways?
14:10:11 If it's concrete or -- I just want to make that clear.
14:10:16 >>SONYA LITTLE: Yes, ma'am.
14:10:18 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
14:10:19 >>SONYA LITTLE: With that I'll turn it over to Jan.
14:10:33 >>JAN MCLEAN: I have the little slides to give you an update
14:10:36 wherein we are in the process when we came to you first time
14:10:39 in May and second time in June.
14:10:41 Thank you.
14:10:51 So we had moved through our process as we indicated to you
14:10:54 when we first came in May and June, and as you all readily
14:10:57 know, our publications and our notices went out on time on
14:11:01 the 30th and have been received.
14:11:06 But everybody has received them as indicated.
14:11:08 And we had an information gathering for you too, today,
14:11:16 August 27th is our public hearing where you will be
14:11:18 asked to take an action on three different items that you
14:11:22 adopted back in the end of June, which is the determination
14:11:26 of the improvement assessment, the increase on the service
14:11:30 assessment, and Sonya has indicated the adoption of the
14:11:35 resolution of notice of intent to use the tax collector's
14:11:38 collection agent.
14:11:41 I built in the September 3rd date in case we need to
14:11:45 continue for additional comment or whatever was necessary.
14:11:48 But we need to take action by that time in order to even as
14:11:52 a minimum continue our service assessment and be able to
14:11:56 report our roll to the tax collector.
14:12:01 And I have included the August date for next year for the --
14:12:04 excuse me, improvement assessment.
14:12:16 >>YVONNE CAPIN: If we go forward to July 31, it must be made
14:12:19 very enclosure to people this if you happen to have paved
14:12:26 over your front yard or concrete, that will be part of the
14:12:29 assessment.
14:12:30 Is that correct?
14:12:30 >> Any impervious --
14:12:38 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Concrete, paved, people need to know that,
14:12:41 because we are showing in the square footage of the house,
14:12:44 and they need to know that their driveway is all impervious
14:12:55 surfaces are going to be assessed.
14:12:56 >> Because this is what contributes to the discharge to the
14:12:59 city's system.
14:13:01 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I understand that.
14:13:02 We have to make it clear so that they know, they can
14:13:06 calculate where they are at as far as their assessment.
14:13:15 >>JAN MCLEAN: And that's of what the notices provided, based
14:13:19 on the maximum amount that was advertised.
14:13:22 So based on that amount, estimated the ESUs and what those
14:13:27 would equate to.
14:13:30 That was max.
14:13:33 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Okay.
14:13:34 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mr. Cohen?
14:13:36 >>HARRY COHEN: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
14:13:37 I have a few comments.
14:13:38 But before I make them, I want to ask Mr. Baird and
14:13:43 important question.
14:13:44 I was going to show some pictures today from flooding that
14:13:47 we had in the community.
14:13:48 But after what we have been through in the past week, I
14:13:50 didn't necessarily think it was going to be worth everyone's
14:13:54 time to have see it all over again.
14:13:56 But I do have this one.
14:13:57 And this is Dale Mabry, not during this last event but
14:14:00 during an event happened earlier in the summer.
14:14:03 And it's Dale Mabry the street is actually the divider
14:14:08 between Councilman Maniscalco's and my district.
14:14:13 The be piece that Councilman Miranda used to represent
14:14:17 before he represented the whole city.
14:14:18 And my question for you is if we are going to impose this
14:14:26 type of solution on our citizens, can't we give them some
14:14:29 assurances that these types of scenes are going to become a
14:14:34 thing of the past?
14:14:36 Is this proposal going to make a real difference in the
14:14:40 reaction that we see, the types of flooding that we have?
14:14:46 >>BRAD BAIRD: I am not going to say that this proposal will
14:14:48 solve every single flooding problem that we have throughout
14:14:52 the improvement area.
14:14:54 However, it will make it a lot better, a huge improvement,
14:14:59 so the scene would look nothing like this picture.
14:15:03 It will not have cars floating like you see in that black
14:15:09 sedan to the left.
14:15:11 You may have still some water in the gutters, you know.
14:15:16 And this happens to be in the upper peninsula area.
14:15:19 But we have large box culverts that will take that away much
14:15:23 quicker than we saw here.
14:15:24 >> And how do those culverts work?
14:15:28 What actually happens?
14:15:30 >>BRAD BAIRD: They are actually rectangular in size with
14:15:32 concrete walls, bottom and top.
14:15:35 And different sizes so we have, I think, one is five by
14:15:39 eight, and three by six, that kind of size.
14:15:45 And they are buried about three feet deep and take of the
14:15:48 water from this area you are seeing here in the picture all
14:15:51 the way to old Hillsborough bay, or old Tampa or
14:15:56 Hillsborough bay.
14:15:56 >>HARRY COHEN: I just want to say to my colleagues before
14:16:02 we get into the discussion that I think that the fact that
14:16:06 you were able to bring us this scenario that accommodated a
14:16:11 ramping up of the fees rather than imposing the fee all at
14:16:17 one time is a very, very good development in terms of the
14:16:20 types of expectations that our citizens have that we are not
14:16:25 going to spring something on them all at once.
14:16:27 And for that reason, I think that option B of full funding
14:16:33 is the way we ought to proceed.
14:16:34 In of my opinion that would be the best way to move forward.
14:16:38 This year it would only be the service assessment and the
14:16:41 CIP plan would get funded in the outyears.
14:16:44 I also think it's great that you are putting some
14:16:46 flexibility into the CIP because what we saw in this
14:16:49 particular flooding event that took place this last weekend
14:16:52 is there are now places that are having problems that we
14:16:54 weren't even aware of, the extent of the problem you will
14:16:58 until now, and we heard from some neighbors from Cleveland
14:17:01 street today about their specific problem, there was a group
14:17:04 from Parkland Estates meeting with stormwater yesterday, and
14:17:08 it's very, very important that we have the ability to deal
14:17:11 with some of these issues.
14:17:13 The final thing I want to say is that this is not the only
14:17:16 thing that we should be doing to help our citizens in our
14:17:21 community deal with of this problem.
14:17:22 It's very important, and I think it's very, very wise that
14:17:26 we ask our citizens to contribute to this effort, but there
14:17:29 is more that council can do and the city can do to continue
14:17:33 to address these problems.
14:17:34 And I want to mention three things not for today but that I
14:17:38 would like to seep us look at in the months ahead if we are
14:17:41 to impose this type of assessment.
14:17:45 One thing is a small thing and the other two fairly large
14:17:50 thing.
14:17:50 The small thing is I think we should look at passing an
14:17:53 ordinance controlling leaf blowers and all of the debris
14:17:57 that gets stirred up by the various landscaping services
14:18:00 that blow debris all over the streets without actually
14:18:03 bagging it and removing it.
14:18:05 Seems to me that a lot of our problems with the storm drains
14:18:09 getting clogged is that we are not actually requiring a lot
14:18:13 of this refuge to be carted away.
14:18:17 We are just sort of blowing it around and recirculating it
14:18:21 rather than dealing with it directly.
14:18:22 That's number one.
14:18:23 Number two, I think that this council should in the fall
14:18:26 have a workshop to discuss the code requirements that we
14:18:31 impose on new development in terms of how they handle their
14:18:34 stormwater.
14:18:35 We say to the public all the time of that new development is
14:18:40 responsible for controlling its own stormwater runoff, that
14:18:43 you can't build something new and have it burden your
14:18:46 neighbors.
14:18:47 The question I have is whether or not the regulations that
14:18:50 we have in place are adequate.
14:18:52 I don't think they have been looked at in about 25 years, to
14:18:55 my knowledge, and it seems to me that it's something that we
14:18:58 ought to be looking at again, because one of the things I
14:19:01 noticed in this last flooding event was the that some of the
14:19:05 new construction handled the stormwater very well bull some
14:19:08 didn't.
14:19:08 So there may be a problem with some of these new projects,
14:19:14 and if we can address what our requirements are, we might be
14:19:17 able to tweak that and deal with the problem in advance.
14:19:20 And then the final thing I want to mention to council is
14:19:24 that the BP settlement money was not something that was part
14:19:29 of this year's budget, but it is something that was
14:19:31 generated because of an event in the Gulf of Mexico, and
14:19:35 while we deal with these problems, this is not going to deal
14:19:39 with the issue of storm surge.
14:19:40 Storm surge is an entirely separate issue from that, and it
14:19:44 seems to me that at the same time that we are dealing with
14:19:48 the type of flooding that occurs from a regular rain event,
14:19:52 from everyday weather, we have to also look for the
14:19:58 extraordinary event.
14:19:58 In ten years since the summer when we had four hurricanes,
14:20:02 the summer before that was hurricane Katrina, and it seems
14:20:05 to me of that this $28 million ought to be used for an
14:20:10 environmental purpose and it ought to be used for a purpose
14:20:12 that helps Florida against the type of devastating event
14:20:17 that would wipe out our entire system no matter how good it
14:20:21 is.
14:20:21 So of this was a staff report.
14:20:25 It's not a day that we are voting on things.
14:20:27 But I think it's important for our citizens to know that we
14:20:30 are not just looking at raising the fee.
14:20:32 We are going to look at every aspect of our stormwater and
14:20:35 wastewater management system to see what we can do to build
14:20:39 up our defenses against regular weather and also the kind of
14:20:43 extraordinary weather that creates the storm surge.
14:20:46 So again just for clarity sake, I am in favor of option B
14:20:52 and the full funding mechanism.
14:20:53 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Mr. Chairman, as Mr. Cohen so eloquently
14:20:58 stated, in fact it's written right here on my page what I
14:21:02 was going to speak on item number 4 on, and that is other
14:21:05 items that are put into the ditches.
14:21:07 There's already an ordinance for that in the books.
14:21:10 Problem is we have never been enforcing it.
14:21:14 I have photos of individuals doing it.
14:21:17 Just recently I have a camera in my car.
14:21:20 It's my hobby to take pictures, I guess.
14:21:23 I guess that's how boring my life is.
14:21:25 I take pictures of grass blowing into storm drainage.
14:21:28 Secondly, Mr. Cohen is right again on some development
14:21:32 handling the water better than others.
14:21:34 The problem is when we set these plans that come before us,
14:21:37 and pass a new development, and it's got certain things that
14:21:40 go along with council, whoever the council was at that time,
14:21:44 we have got to have a berm or ditch or something between
14:21:47 their property and your property that makes the water leave
14:21:50 the property in a manner and controlled.
14:21:54 The problem is this.
14:21:55 That property is sold years later, somebody sees it, they
14:21:58 don't like it and they take it down, or they build a ditch,
14:22:02 and you go back, and who do you go after?
14:22:05 And these are things that are very well put, as Mr. Cohen
14:22:10 said, but they are very hard to enforce.
14:22:12 So somewhere we have got to change the ordinances that say
14:22:15 that whoever does it is liable, pay something real big
14:22:23 because it's not the right thing to do.
14:22:24 And again, talking to my colleague Cohen regarding the BP
14:22:29 settlement, some of that should be directed in some form or
14:22:33 where all of us have the benefit of seeing some of that
14:22:35 return back to the citizens of the city, because during
14:22:38 periods of time the city taxpayers had to suffer, all of us,
14:22:42 not just one or two of us but all of us did in one form or
14:22:46 another.
14:22:46 So my aide, I'm sure she's awake, she always is.
14:22:50 She works from midnight to midnight, I think.
14:22:52 And she's the one that found this a year ago when I asked
14:22:55 the questions.
14:22:57 That's why you don't have to write the ordinance, it's here.
14:23:00 And it's just not in force.
14:23:02 And we need yourself and the administration to set those
14:23:05 efforts that when you see someone blowing those leaves into
14:23:10 the storm drain, or I have seen it many of the half a tire
14:23:16 going in there, seen tar going in there, a lot of things
14:23:20 going in there.
14:23:20 And these are things that not only clog that but at the end
14:23:23 of the line, you have a problem, more electricity, more
14:23:29 chemicals, more time, and just things that feed on itself.
14:23:34 If we stop it in the beginning we'll have a much smoother
14:23:37 sailing through the whole period.
14:23:39 Thank you, Mr. Cohen.
14:23:40 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mr. Miranda, let me ask you, who will be
14:23:42 the enforcement agency for that?
14:23:47 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Called the City of Tampa, all of us, I
14:23:49 would imagine.
14:23:50 Again it's a hodgepodge thing.
14:23:52 You can go -- the mayor is responsible for the enforcing of
14:23:56 those laws, not us.
14:23:58 We write the ordinances.
14:23:59 But whoever the mayor is.
14:24:00 Not this mayor, any mayor, is the one who is the enforcement
14:24:04 officer for the city.
14:24:05 And I guess this would fall, again, the code enforcement,
14:24:09 police department, anyone who is licensed by the city, I
14:24:11 think, has the right tore do that.
14:24:15 >>FRANK REDDICK: Okay.
14:24:16 Mrs. Montelione?
14:24:17 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
14:24:21 Mr. Cohen, I think you covered all bases.
14:24:25 I completely agree with everything that you laid out and
14:24:27 everything that you stated.
14:24:32 I think it's important for us to realize that it's not just
14:24:37 the big projects that make a difference, but it is the
14:24:39 street cleaning and it is the cleaning of the drain field,
14:24:44 because I can tell you that -- I think you reminded me once
14:24:50 that 2012 was my year because I got a lot of capital
14:24:54 improvement dollars in my district in 2012.
14:24:56 And those improvement dollars made a difference, because
14:25:00 that scene that you are looking at or that we looked at on
14:25:03 Dale Mabry from the picture that Mr. Cohen put up is how
14:25:07 Fowler Avenue used to look before we made some of those
14:25:10 improvements.
14:25:11 And Fowler Avenue at 30th street was completely
14:25:14 impassable just as this is, and with the money that was
14:25:20 invested for the do nut ponds in conjunction with the
14:25:26 county, it made it easier to fund.
14:25:29 Cleaning out the pond two blocks from Busch Boulevard, that
14:25:33 hadn't been maintained in probably 20 years.
14:25:35 It looked like a meadow.
14:25:37 That made a huge difference.
14:25:39 So you have those big ticket $30 million projects, and you
14:25:42 have the maybe several thousand dollars projects that
14:25:48 cleaning out a pond that makes a big difference.
14:25:50 So it is a wide range of projects that we need to do.
14:25:53 So I am in favor of hitting all of those strategies that you
14:25:58 mentioned.
14:25:59 When Mr. Cohen mentioned about workshop, new development
14:26:04 regulations, I want to be clear that the new development,
14:26:09 the infrastructure and stormwater treatment for the big
14:26:15 residential projects, as you see with this cross hatching
14:26:20 where they don't have to pay into the system because they
14:26:22 treat their own water on-site, is different than when you
14:26:25 have a redeveloped parcel in the urban core, because there
14:26:31 is not a complete control over all of the ways that you can
14:26:39 treat your stormwater and discharge into our system.
14:26:41 So there is a difference when you talk about new development
14:26:44 that you separate out, which redevelopment and urban core
14:26:49 areas and the difference between that and the large
14:26:52 development in the northern part of New Tampa.
14:26:59 We did talk -- when I was serving on the green ordinance
14:27:05 committee, it was actually Mr. Turanchik that brought up at
14:27:10 that time the on-site treatment and reuse of water so that
14:27:16 does not discharge into the system.
14:27:17 And looking at development credits.
14:27:21 So if you are not discharging into the system, that
14:27:23 mitigation credit that Ms. McLean talked about earlier might
14:27:31 be tweaked for sustainable practices.
14:27:33 So if you are using gray water or you have a green roof and
14:27:40 you are filtering and reusing the water within your
14:27:42 structure of your building and it never hits the street, I
14:27:46 think we need to look at those, because we did receive some
14:27:53 resistance when we trade to put that into our ordinance way
14:27:57 back.
14:27:57 I think it was in 2008 or 2009.
14:28:00 And everything else was already said.
14:28:05 So being in an area where we get hit with flooding a lot, I
14:28:12 am in support of this.
14:28:13 It will be -- some of our residents have already received
14:28:18 e-mails from several people saying that, you know, why are
14:28:22 we getting taxed again, and we can't afford this, and that
14:28:27 kind of statement.
14:28:27 But I venture to say, especially being a small business
14:28:32 owner next to me, if you think that you can't afford the six
14:28:37 or eight or ten dollars a month in a stormwater fee, how can
14:28:43 you afford to be closed down because people can't get to
14:28:45 your business?
14:28:48 So it's not a matter of how worry going to do this.
14:28:53 I think for us it's when are we going to do this.
14:28:56 And for me the sooner the better, because any day than a
14:29:01 business is closed is one too many.
14:29:03 So in saying that, I have support in scenario B as Mr. Cohen
14:29:10 has already stated.
14:29:11 Thank you.
14:29:11 >> We are asking for the citizens, the public, hard working
14:29:24 people, there's a lot of money, but it's an investment in
14:29:27 infrastructure, and that's something that I have heard time
14:29:30 and time again.
14:29:31 Investing in infrastructure, when are you going to fix this?
14:29:34 These images that we looked at and what I witnessed this
14:29:37 past week and my whole life, I hope to one day be able to
14:29:40 say, you know, it used to be like this.
14:29:43 You know, we are not throwing money away and just taxing
14:29:48 citizens.
14:29:49 Not really finding long-term, real solutions, you know.
14:29:53 In agreement with a lot of what Councilman Cohen said in
14:29:56 support of the full investment, the $250 million.
14:30:02 You either do it right or don't do it at all because at 250
14:30:07 million, pull be having put in intersections at Henderson,
14:30:11 Neptune, Kennedy Boulevard, in residential areas.
14:30:14 What we are asking the public is to invest in the
14:30:17 infrastructure.
14:30:18 Think about of the future.
14:30:18 Make this a thing of the past.
14:30:20 And this is something that we need that's long overdue.
14:30:24 And finding a solution -- finding relief from this, on a
14:30:28 personal note, my father whose business is not far from
14:30:31 here, he had to close.
14:30:33 Several times last week because of the flooding on the
14:30:35 street.
14:30:35 He couldn't get to his business.
14:30:37 And that doesn't just affect him.
14:30:39 It affects a lot of residents.
14:30:40 I received Emailings and phone calls.
14:30:44 I have water coming into my house.
14:30:45 What about mold damage?
14:30:47 My garage is flooded.
14:30:48 I have never seen it this bad.
14:30:49 We heard from people here this morning, folks in areas in
14:30:52 South Tampa and part of the district that I represent where
14:30:55 the damage is just a continuous thing.
14:30:59 The gentleman said there is no American dream, I'm stuck in
14:31:02 this house.
14:31:03 It happened to me in 2006 and now it's flooded again.
14:31:05 People want relief.
14:31:07 What we are asking the public is we want to do this.
14:31:09 We are asking for your help as an investment and we want to
14:31:12 find a real solution.
14:31:13 We don't want to come back 30 years down the road and same
14:31:16 we want to do this again because we didn't hit it right the
14:31:19 first time.
14:31:19 So it won't be perfect.
14:31:20 We will always have some kind of flooding.
14:31:22 But where we can make a difference and better our community,
14:31:25 this is something that definitely we should be supporting.
14:31:29 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mr. Suarez.
14:31:30 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Let me ask a couple questions.
14:31:34 Ms. McLean, would you come up for a second?
14:31:36 I had gotten some questions from some constituents
14:31:38 concerning the reason for using this type of formula for a
14:31:42 stormwater assessment, moaning the amount of square footage
14:31:47 of impervious surface -- thank you very much -- we are tag
14:31:58 teaming.
14:32:02 Why don't we use that formula versus some other formula for
14:32:05 an investment?
14:32:06 Is there a state law?
14:32:07 Is there some other controlling factor as to why we do that?
14:32:12 >>JAN MCLEAN: City attorney's office.
14:32:15 When your stormwater utility was created back in 2003, first
14:32:19 it was set up looking from a universal perspective, it was
14:32:24 set up for non-ad valorem assessment process.
14:32:28 So from the perspective of why are we using this as far as
14:32:34 any other kind of financing, those because that's the way it
14:32:38 was anticipated.
14:32:39 And heretofore you have only done a service assessment.
14:32:42 As far as using impervious surface, that is generally
14:32:45 accepted technique, and based on engineering science,
14:32:49 because we are told on the land it is not allowed to be
14:32:54 absorbed, runs off into the system, and the city system has
14:32:57 to handle it.
14:32:58 It was said earlier today in a group of that we were
14:33:02 discussing that potential question was, wouldn't it be great
14:33:06 if you could build a wall around every parcel and then kind
14:33:09 of funnel the stormwater and know how much everybody is
14:33:12 contributing?
14:33:13 Well, what we have done is we have done a study back in 2003
14:33:17 when the utility was created, and took a sample, made sure
14:33:22 it was scientifically and legally defensible, set up the
14:33:26 tier for single-family residences, and looked at the actual
14:33:29 runoff for the other parcels, and that's why you have the
14:33:33 different categories of uses of the parcel for the
14:33:36 assessment.
14:33:37 So in your chapter 21 for your stormwater, it's anticipated
14:33:43 that at any point in time that you want to do capital
14:33:47 improvements of that you would do a capital improvement
14:33:49 assessment.
14:33:50 Something that needed to be financed beyond one or
14:33:53 potentially two years.
14:33:54 So that's kind of a combination answer.
14:33:57 >> And you answered it, which is that it is already set up
14:34:02 that way in order for us to continue to provide the kind of
14:34:05 service necessary for these uses, stormwater uses.
14:34:09 And the other question is that if you are looking at how
14:34:12 much pervious -- I guess pervious, impervious surfaces that
14:34:19 someone might have, you might have a land owner that has a
14:34:21 lot of land and very little that covers it meaning that it's
14:34:25 primarily grass or yard or something like that, and then you
14:34:30 have to have the exact same square footage in terms of their
14:34:35 lot and it is almost wall to wall, as some of my colleagues
14:34:38 mentioned, impervious surfaces.
14:34:42 So that person is going to pay more than someone who has a
14:34:46 front yard and maybe has the same square footage as lot size
14:34:50 so -- we are trying to be fair to people, with I is you are
14:34:53 producing more of the runoff versus someone else with the
14:34:57 same size lot.
14:34:58 Is that correct?
14:35:00 >>JAN MCLEAN: It is.
14:35:00 I know sometimes when you are talking different languages as
14:35:02 far as tax versus assessment, this is an assessment based on
14:35:06 the user fee.
14:35:07 So it's based on what you contribute to the city sometime.
14:35:11 It's not a flat tax that everybody pays a portion of it.
14:35:17 It has been done that way before.
14:35:19 But the way that these are set up is so everybody pays an
14:35:22 equitable share of what they receive as a benefit from the
14:35:25 city system.
14:35:26 And so that's why you have the various differences on what
14:35:31 you contribute to the city system.
14:35:33 >> I appreciate you answering that question.
14:35:35 Mrs. Little, I have a question specific to let's say we'll
14:35:38 go with scenario B and look at those numbers.
14:35:41 The question I have is that that is all inclusive, and means
14:35:45 the amount of money we are going to raise and the amount of
14:35:48 money we have to pay back in terms of interest, correct?
14:35:51 >>SONYA LITTLE: Correct.
14:35:52 >> So then $251 million that we would raise in that
14:35:55 scenario, that is everything all inclusive, no other
14:35:59 surprises, it is all there on the face.
14:36:02 >>SONYA LITTLE: This is as of what we know today as far as
14:36:06 projects that have that outlined under scenarios, or line
14:36:12 items 3 through 8 on our list, these are the estimates for
14:36:16 cost of construction that we have today.
14:36:17 >> For example, we have additional projects that he would
14:36:21 want to go to and we want to rebate and then redo some of
14:36:26 the fund, we can do that based on some factors, some
14:36:31 discounts or other things that we can use, as we have done
14:36:33 over the past four years on other bonds, is that correct?
14:36:38 >>SONYA LITTLE: Well, the way that Brad described it in
14:36:41 your slide 7 where you have your full funding versus limited
14:36:45 funding, and item 367 through 8, the first line item,
14:36:50 capital improvement plan is where we would have the
14:36:53 flexibility, and it's really laid out in five-year
14:36:57 increments.
14:36:57 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So next year, we'll we will address one
14:37:01 year, and we'll add on another year onto the tale end so
14:37:05 it's a rolling plan, and that's where we would see the
14:37:09 majority of our flexibility.
14:37:10 >>MIKE SUAREZ: That's one of the problems we have whenever
14:37:15 we talk about large capital projects is we have to devote a
14:37:17 lot of time, effort and money at the front end in order to
14:37:21 get those bonds started and ready to go so that we can start
14:37:24 the project quicker.
14:37:26 And so if we do eventually prepare for that -- I know you
14:37:31 and your staff do a great job in terms of that, and of
14:37:34 course based on Brad's recommendation as to the projects
14:37:37 than he thinks that he can get done quick enough, and those
14:37:40 other SWFWMD grants that we are able to get, I don't think
14:37:44 poem understand the kind of absolute kind of algorithm of
14:37:53 that we need to use in order to try to get all of this stuff
14:37:56 put together.
14:37:56 Having the money available to us first in order to get those
14:38:00 grants, in order for us to get those projects done, are so
14:38:03 incredibly important, without this assessment, we wouldn't
14:38:06 be able to get some of the state dollars that we should be
14:38:11 getting for those type of projects.
14:38:13 So I'm glad that Brad brought that up because it is an
14:38:16 important part of this.
14:38:17 We are not going alone.
14:38:19 We do get some help from the state.
14:38:21 But we cannot ask the state to do things in order to solve
14:38:26 some of these problems.
14:38:27 The last thing I am going to say, and this has nothing to do
14:38:31 with you, Mrs. Little but has to do with the picture that
14:38:33 Mr. Cohen put up earlier which is the flooded streets at
14:38:36 Dale Mabry and Henderson?
14:38:38 >> It's right there.
14:38:43 >> Well, that corner plus a lot of other corners throughout
14:38:49 the city -- and I think Mr. Baird put a pretty good
14:38:55 assessment up, each one of those places that will be
14:38:58 affected.
14:38:59 Those will be problems in terms of flooding if we do
14:39:02 nothing.
14:39:03 And Mr. Maniscalco mentioned about his father and his
14:39:06 business.
14:39:07 All the other businesses that line up.
14:39:11 I had a friend of mine in the insurance business and they
14:39:13 had a client and said, how can we get some money from FEMA
14:39:19 for this flooding?
14:39:20 FEMA moneys are complicated in terms of what it means for
14:39:23 the state, disaster areas, everything else.
14:39:26 So many we cannot depend on other people to solve our
14:39:29 problems when we have the ability to solve our problems now.
14:39:31 Sure we are going to have hurricanes.
14:39:33 And believe me being in the insurance industry, that is a
14:39:36 word I don't like to say very often.
14:39:37 But this scene is nothing in comparison to have watch we are
14:39:40 going to see if there's a hurricane.
14:39:43 The last major hurricane that was close enough didn't make
14:39:47 landfall here but was close enough, was Elena in 1985.
14:39:51 That caused over a two-week period of flooding waters.
14:39:54 Now, 85 is much different than 2015.
14:39:57 And because of that, we have to be cognizant that this is
14:40:02 necessary for us to solve the problems now.
14:40:05 It is going to be painful for some people.
14:40:06 And I cite this because my parents have a yard that has a
14:40:11 lot of concrete and I'm sure my father may be calling
14:40:15 someone now the cost in relation to what his tax bill will
14:40:17 be, because he's going to pay more than some other neighbors
14:40:20 that he has.
14:40:21 But it's something that needs to be done.
14:40:24 Without this we are going to put ourselves behind 30 years,
14:40:27 and only put our economy behind another 30 years because we
14:40:32 cannot have the kind of certainty that other cities have
14:40:35 across the state in terms of stormwater assessment.
14:40:38 Thank you, chair.
14:40:39 I appreciate it.
14:40:41 Thank you to the staff for all the hard work you did putting
14:40:43 into this.
14:40:45 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mrs. Capin, Mrs. Montelione, and we are
14:40:48 going to wrap this up with Mr. Cohen.
14:40:51 >>YVONNE CAPIN: When you talked about the businesses
14:40:54 suffering, very personal.
14:40:56 >> Turn it on.
14:41:01 >>YVONNE CAPIN: State Farm's office closed Monday.
14:41:03 Hundreds of people were not at work Monday.
14:41:07 They couldn't get to work.
14:41:11 So you have that.
14:41:14 It's a small business and it's very large business that did
14:41:16 not do any business Monday.
14:41:18 And then today, when I went home, on the break, my sister
14:41:22 had arrived, and she came to pick up a couple of surgical
14:41:27 masks, and that I happened to have when my husband was ILL
14:41:32 because in her home -- and you talk about ditches -- she's
14:41:36 pulling up the carpet.
14:41:37 The mold is up the wall.
14:41:41 And she has to have drywall, kitchen cabinets, the water
14:41:49 that came in.
14:41:49 So you do have -- there is a huge need for it.
14:41:59 So Shirley, good luck with all your stuff that you are
14:42:01 doing.
14:42:02 She was walking out with that surgical mask and I said, I
14:42:07 have to go back to work.
14:42:10 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mrs. Montelione?
14:42:11 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Ms. McLean, this is for you.
14:42:16 After having this discussion, in the talk yesterday, I
14:42:23 remember asking you this question.
14:42:24 How is 10% arrived at?
14:42:29 Because thinking that in some of the areas in New Tampa,
14:42:33 they discharge to a private street and then eventually the
14:42:40 water moves down that private street to a public road.
14:42:46 And there's different scenarios in different places.
14:42:50 You can imagine all the different communities up there
14:42:53 So how would 10% arrived at as an amenable number to set a
14:43:04 credit at?
14:43:09 >> I have to say I wasn't here when the mitigation policy
14:43:12 was created.
14:43:14 I have that, thanks.
14:43:15 It was -- as far as what actual treatment and quantity of
14:43:23 water, and from an engineering standpoint, and made a
14:43:26 determination that if you did the level of treatment as far
14:43:30 as retaining your water on your property on a pond, then you
14:43:36 probably achieved a certain percentage of treatment before
14:43:38 it was discharged -- before it was discharged into the city
14:43:43 sometime.
14:43:44 So it was definitely from looking at it from an engineering
14:43:49 perspective.
14:43:50 >> And not to say that you have been here a really long
14:43:53 time, but I would suppose that this was done before your
14:43:57 tenure at the city, that this decision was made many, many,
14:44:01 many years ago.
14:44:03 Without saying how many years you have been with the city.
14:44:05 >> Yes, I have been here almost ten years.
14:44:08 And stormwater was created in 2003 before I came here.
14:44:14 So in conjunction with that, the mitigation policy was
14:44:17 created.
14:44:18 >> So in 2003 then?
14:44:21 >> Yes.
14:44:22 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So it seems to me that it's 10% or it's
14:44:27 100%, there's a lot of wiggle room in between there.
14:44:33 Is there a way of that we could have evening -- engineering
14:44:37 has changed and population methods have changed over the
14:44:40 years, I venture to guess, but --
14:44:44 >> I am not going to answer engineering questions.
14:44:57 >>BRAD BAIRD: For the most part, no, the engineering
14:44:59 calculations have not changed.
14:45:02 So the difference between the 10% and the 100%, 100% is if
14:45:06 you are not discharging --
14:45:09 >> No, I understand that H.but would there be case -- can
14:45:13 you see it in your engineering mind a case where some would
14:45:17 be 10% would be an equitable percentage, a discount for
14:45:23 mitigation, some might be a 25%?
14:45:26 Because I see it as very disparate between 10% or
14:45:32 everything, 100.
14:45:33 So I would imagine that there might be some degree in
14:45:37 between, isn't there?
14:45:42 >>BRAD BAIRD: Yeah, if the parcel was pervious, 100%
14:45:46 pervious -- I use a hypothetical example -- hard to find
14:45:53 those in the urban core.
14:45:56 And the developer is required to retain that first half
14:46:01 inch, and treat it before it discharges into the system.
14:46:06 So for the most part, those developers are all doing the
14:46:10 same thing, you know, for the amount of impervious they are
14:46:14 putting on they are retaining that first half inch and it
14:46:17 treats and then it comes into our system.
14:46:20 So it's rather consistent, if you will, and 10% would be
14:46:26 appropriate for all of those parcels.
14:46:28 >>LISA MONTELIONE: That's the urban property and the urban
14:46:34 core but what begun the residential properties in Tampa
14:46:36 Palms?
14:46:39 >>BRAD BAIRD: I would have to defer to my stormwater folks
14:46:41 on that.
14:46:41 >> Alex Awad: Stormwater division.
14:46:52 The 10% issue was for water quality treatment.
14:46:56 Back in 2003 when we came up with that number was because
14:47:00 they had to treat that water on-site each for subdivision.
14:47:04 Now, since 2003, taking to 2015, we have been required to
14:47:11 maintain a better water quality for the river, the creeks,
14:47:15 the canals.
14:47:17 And all in all, even the 10% seems like it's minuscule.
14:47:20 It really doesn't mean anything, and since we do have to
14:47:24 maintain the river, and the quality and the health of the
14:47:27 bay, with our program, the 10% is peanuts. Really we
14:47:35 shouldn't even have a 10%.
14:47:37 It should be 100% or you get the of 100% or you pay into the
14:47:42 system.
14:47:42 The 10% for a minuscule amount of water quality treatment.
14:47:49 That's the way it took place.
14:47:51 >>LISA MONTELIONE: That as soon as is a little different
14:47:53 than the direction I was going.
14:47:55 >> A method of giving them of a 50% credit or 25% credit for
14:48:03 something that we have maintained.
14:48:05 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I just want some clarity for the sake of
14:48:10 clarity, the 2200 square foot, does that mean if your house
14:48:13 is within that range of 13 to 2200 square foot you are going
14:48:18 to get charged the same?
14:48:20 >>SONYA LITTLE: Yes, sir.
14:48:21 And that --
14:48:22 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Thank you.
14:48:23 The next question, you have a 1310 feet house and you have
14:48:27 700 square foot of concrete, that some may have outside, you
14:48:31 still get charged the same because you don't go over the
14:48:34 2200?
14:48:35 >>SONYA LITTLE: I can give you the range.
14:48:36 Bear with me one second.
14:48:37 For the small, it's 100 to 1300.
14:48:42 For the medium, 1301 to 2200.
14:48:47 Large, 2201 to 4,000.
14:48:51 And greater than that --
14:48:54 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: If your house is 1301 and you have 899
14:48:57 which equals 22 then you don't get charged any more?
14:49:02 Because you fall within that range?
14:49:03 Or do you?
14:49:04 >>SONYA LITTLE: It gets added.
14:49:06 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: You add it? Oh, my --
14:49:10 >>SONYA LITTLE: If you have a 1301 square foot building
14:49:15 footprint but you have other paved areas on your property,
14:49:19 those paved areas would also be factored in.
14:49:22 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: They do not exceed the 2200, both
14:49:25 combinations do not exceed 2200 square foot.
14:49:27 >>SONYA LITTLE: If it's those combinations then you are in
14:49:32 the medium.
14:49:33 >> In the year 2021 on that amount, is that a constant
14:49:37 amount after that all the way through?
14:49:39 >>SONYA LITTLE: Yes, sir.
14:49:40 And each one of those scenarios it would be continue
14:49:43 constant thereafter.
14:49:43 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
14:49:48 >>FRANK REDDICK: If you plant some flowers in that paved
14:49:50 area -- (Laughter)
14:50:04 >> But it has to be reported to the property appraiser.
14:50:06 >>HARRY COHEN: Thank you.
14:50:11 I would like to make a motion to direct staff.
14:50:14 We do have a public hearing coming up on the 27th.
14:50:18 I was in the discussion the other day, and someone mentioned
14:50:22 that a company came here to look for headquarters, and they
14:50:25 were driving around when it was raining, and every building
14:50:30 that they went and looked at was flooded.
14:50:33 And the people said at the end of the day, gee, you know, we
14:50:37 really have to give a second thought to whether or not we
14:50:40 want to come here, everything that we looked at today was
14:50:45 flooded.
14:50:45 I think in the spirit of doing something to help the city in
14:50:47 the future, what we are really talking about doing here is
14:50:50 eliminating the situation so of that when people do come
14:50:53 here they see a place that's high and dry, and where they
14:50:56 know they can do business and stay open and not hesitate.
14:51:01 So in that spirit I want to make a motion that we ask on the
14:51:05 27th for the staff to present scenario B as the formula
14:51:12 that we are going to move forward with for the public
14:51:14 hearing and for the assessment.
14:51:17 >>FRANK REDDICK: Do we have a second?
14:51:19 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I'll second it.
14:51:20 >>FRANK REDDICK: We have a motion from Mr. Cohen, seconded
14:51:22 by Mr. Miranda.
14:51:24 Are there any discussions?
14:51:28 Hearing none all in favor?
14:51:29 Opposed?
14:51:30 All right.
14:51:31 Motion carried.
14:51:31 I'll see you on the 27th.
14:51:34 Thank you.
14:51:36 Item number 8.
14:51:37 Anyone from staff her for item number 8?
14:51:43 Item number 8.
14:51:49 >> Vanessa McCleary, health and management manager for the
14:51:56 City of Tampa.
14:51:56 This motion is a memorandum of agreement with the Tampa
14:51:59 Housing Authority, and this is for the west river project.
14:52:04 The City of Tampa will be making a grant application to HUD
14:52:13 for a choice neighborhood grant which was a state $30
14:52:18 million grant that requires match.
14:52:20 So in preparation for the grant, we are assisting the
14:52:23 Housing Authority with the relocation of the tenants at
14:52:28 Bethune and some of the other high-rises in the area and we
14:52:31 are paying a portion of the relocation services fee.
14:52:34 So the total cost for the relocation is about 1.4 million,
14:52:38 and we are paying $350,000 of that with CDBG fund as part of
14:52:43 the match.
14:52:49 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
14:52:50 Could you tell us what our commitment to that grant
14:52:52 single-family?
14:52:54 >> We are still working off the total commitment.
14:52:56 But it requires a 5% match on a $30 million grant that would
14:53:00 be 4.5 million.
14:53:03 >>YVONNE CAPIN: And this would be part of that?
14:53:05 >> Yes.
14:53:05 >> Move the resolution.
14:53:08 >> Second.
14:53:11 >>FRANK REDDICK: Wove a motion from Mrs. Capin.
14:53:12 Second by Mr. Miranda.
14:53:15 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I don't want to second it anymore.
14:53:18 (Laughter)
14:53:22 Second.
14:53:23 >>FRANK REDDICK: Now you got me confused.
14:53:25 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I'm not trying to do that.
14:53:27 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
14:53:28 All those in favor of the motion say aye.
14:53:30 Opposed?
14:53:31 Thank you.
14:53:33 Motion carried
14:53:33 Do we have any items being removed from consent agenda?
14:53:37 Seeing none, committee reports.
14:53:43 9 through 19.
14:53:45 Number 9.
14:53:46 >>MARTIN SHELBY: This is a matter of an ordinance amending
14:53:51 our code to compliance with Florida statutes.
14:53:53 >> Does it need to be read?
14:54:00 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Yes, by title, please.
14:54:04 >>FRANK REDDICK: Do we have the ordinance?
14:54:05 >> Move an ordinance for first reading consideration,
14:54:12 amending Tampa code section 2-404-A-1 top ensure compliance
14:54:18 with Florida statute section 790.33 providing for
14:54:22 severability providing an effective date.
14:54:22 >> Second.
14:54:25 >>FRANK REDDICK: Motion by Mr. Suarez.
14:54:27 Second by Mr. Cohen.
14:54:28 All in favor?
14:54:29 Opposed?
14:54:29 All right.
14:54:30 We go to committee reports.
14:54:35 Yes, ma'am, I'm sorry.
14:54:43 Committee reports.
14:54:44 Public Safety Committee.
14:54:45 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Move item number 10.
14:54:48 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have a motion by Mr. Miranda.
14:54:49 Second by Mr. Suarez.
14:54:50 All in favor of the motion?
14:54:52 Opposed?
14:54:54 Parks and recreation, culture committee, Mr. Maniscalco.
14:54:59 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I move item number 11.
14:55:01 >> Seconded by Mr. Cohen.
14:55:02 All in favor of the motion say aye.
14:55:04 Opposed?
14:55:05 Motion carried.
14:55:06 Public Works Committee, Mr. Suarez.
14:55:07 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I move items 12 through 16.
14:55:10 >> Motion by Mr. Suarez.
14:55:13 Second by Mr. Miranda.
14:55:14 All in favor of the motion?
14:55:16 Opposed?
14:55:16 Motion carried
14:55:18 Mr. Cohen.
14:55:19 >>HARRY COHEN: Move item 17.
14:55:22 >> Second.
14:55:23 >>FRANK REDDICK: Motion by Mr. Cohen.
14:55:24 Seconded by Mr. Suarez.
14:55:25 All in favor of the motion?
14:55:27 Opposed? Carried.
14:55:31 Mrs. Capin.
14:55:33 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Move -- oh, you want me to go ahead and do
14:55:36 this one.
14:55:37 Building an and zoning.
14:55:40 Move item 18.
14:55:43 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have a motion from Mrs. Capin, second by
14:55:45 Mr. Suarez.
14:55:46 All in favor of the motion say aye.
14:55:47 Opposed? Motion carried.
14:55:49 Transportation committee, Mrs. Capin.
14:55:52 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I move item 19.
14:55:53 >>HARRY COHEN: Second.
14:55:56 >>FRANK REDDICK: Seconded by Mr. Cohen.
14:55:57 All in favor say aye.
14:55:58 Opposed? Motion carried.
14:56:01 Item motion by Mr. Miranda.
14:56:09 Second bill Mr. Cohen.
14:56:10 All in favor?
14:56:11 Opposed?
14:56:11 All right.
14:56:12 We go to public hearings.
14:56:13 Second reading.
14:56:15 Anyone going to speak on item 23 through 27 please stand to
14:56:24 be sworn.
14:56:24 (Oath administered by Clerk).
14:56:35 >> Move to open the public hearing.
14:56:37 >>FRANK REDDICK: Motion by Mr. Miranda.
14:56:39 Seconded by Mr. Suarez.
14:56:40 All in favor? Opposed?
14:56:42 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
14:56:44 If you can make a motion to receive and file all the items
14:56:46 that have been available for public inspection.
14:56:49 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have a motion from Mr. Suarez, second by
14:56:52 Mr. Cohen.
14:56:52 All in favor?
14:56:53 Opposed?
14:56:53 Motion carried.
14:56:54 Item number 23.
14:56:55 >>MARY SAMANIEGO: Land Development Coordination.
14:57:01 I would also ask that you open number 28 which is the second
14:57:04 reading.
14:57:05 >> We are going to do 24 and 28 together.
14:57:07 >>MARY SAMANIEGO: Items 23 through 28.
14:57:12 This is the second reading for the ordinances and the
14:57:14 development agreement.
14:57:16 They require changes between first and second readings, have
14:57:19 been completed on the site plan.
14:57:22 Number 24, 25, 26, and copies have been forwarded to the
14:57:27 clerk.
14:57:27 I'm available for any questions.
14:57:30 >>FRANK REDDICK: Any questions from council?
14:57:31 Petitioner, anyone for item number 20?
14:57:37 -- 23?
14:57:38 >>GINA GRIMES: 101 East Kennedy Boulevard.
14:57:40 I represent the applicant on this rezoning and I'm available
14:57:43 if you have any questions.
14:57:45 >>FRANK REDDICK: Any questions from council?
14:57:47 Anyone in the public wish to speak on item number 23?
14:57:49 >> Move to close.
14:57:52 >>FRANK REDDICK: Motion by Mr. Miranda.
14:57:53 Second by Mr. Cohen on number 23.
14:57:57 Mr. Maniscalco, would you read 23?
14:58:00 >> Sure.
14:58:01 An ordinance being presented for second reading and
14:58:04 adoption, an ordinance rezoning property in the general
14:58:06 vicinity of 3820 and 3822 west Santiago street in the city
14:58:11 of Tampa, Florida and more particularly described in section
14:58:13 1 from zoning district classifications RS-60 residential
14:58:16 single-family to RS-50 residential single-family providing
14:58:20 an effective date.
14:58:20 >> Second.
14:58:22 >>FRANK REDDICK: Motion from Mr. Maniscalco, second by Mr.
14:58:25 Suarez.
14:58:25 Please record your votes.
14:58:26 >>THE CLERK:
14:58:56 >> Nothing happening.
14:58:57 They aren't working.
14:59:01 >>FRANK REDDICK: Roll call.
14:59:09 Want to do roll call vote?
14:59:11 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Yes.
14:59:14 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Yes.
14:59:15 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Yes.
14:59:18 >>FRANK REDDICK: Yes.
14:59:19 >>HARRY COHEN: Yes.
14:59:23 >> Yes.
14:59:24 >> Yes.
14:59:25 >> Motion carried unanimously.
14:59:27 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
14:59:27 Item number 25.
14:59:32 Petitioner?
14:59:34 We are going to do 24 and 28.
14:59:36 >> Item 25?
14:59:42 >>FRANK REDDICK: Yes, come back and do have 25.
14:59:49 >>JOHN GRANDOFF: Hill, Ward, Henderson, seek your approval
14:59:53 on second reading.
14:59:54 Questions by council?
14:59:55 Anyone in the audience like to be speak on item number 25?
14:59:59 Motion to close by Mrs. Capin.
15:00:00 Second by Mr. Cohen.
15:00:01 All in favor?
15:00:02 Opposed?
15:00:03 All right.
15:00:04 Mr. Cohen, would you read number 25?
15:00:06 >>HARRY COHEN: I move an ordinance being presented for
15:00:09 second reading and adoption, an ordinance rezoning property
15:00:11 in the general vicinity of 317 east Plymouth street and 3108
15:00:16 north Jefferson street in the city of Tampa, Florida and
15:00:19 more particularly described in section 1 from zoning
15:00:21 district classifications RS-50 residential single-family to
15:00:25 PD planned development, residential multifamily, providing
15:00:28 an effective date.
15:00:30 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have a motion from Mr. Cohen, second by
15:00:32 Mr. Miranda.
15:00:33 Any discussion?
15:00:42 We are going to do roll call vote.
15:00:43 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Yes.
15:00:47 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Yes.
15:00:48 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Yes.
15:00:49 >>FRANK REDDICK: Yes.
15:00:50 >>HARRY COHEN: Yes.
15:00:51 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Yes.
15:00:54 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Yes.
15:00:55 >> Motion carried unanimously.
15:01:00 >>FRANK REDDICK: Item number 26.
15:01:09 >>MARY SAMANIEGO: Land development coordination.
15:01:12 I don't see my applicant present.
15:01:21 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mrs. Capin?
15:01:24 Anyone in the public wish to speak on item number 26?
15:01:27 >> Move to close.
15:01:28 >> Second.
15:01:29 >>FRANK REDDICK: Motion from Mr. Miranda.
15:01:30 Second by Mr. Cohen.
15:01:32 Mrs. Capin.
15:01:33 All in favor say aye.
15:01:35 Thank you.
15:01:37 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
15:01:40 An ordinance being presented for second reading and
15:01:43 adoption, an ordinance rezoning property in the general
15:01:45 vicinity of 1700 and 1720 West Kennedy Boulevard, in the
15:01:49 city of Tampa, Florida and more particularly described in
15:01:52 section 1 from zoning district classifications PD planned
15:01:56 development, day care, school and office,
15:01:59 business/professional and medical, to PD, planned
15:02:02 development, day care and school, providing an effective
15:02:04 date.
15:02:05 >> Second.
15:02:06 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have a motion from Mrs. Capin.
15:02:08 Seconded by Mr. Suarez.
15:02:10 Roll call vote.
15:02:11 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Yes.
15:02:13 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Yes.
15:02:16 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Yes.
15:02:16 >>FRANK REDDICK: Yes.
15:02:17 >>HARRY COHEN: Yes.
15:02:19 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Yes.
15:02:20 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Yes.
15:02:21 >> Motion carried unanimously.
15:02:24 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
15:02:25 Item number 27.
15:02:31 >> Jeffrey Ambor, requesting this rezoning.
15:02:41 I'm available if you have any questions.
15:02:43 >>FRANK REDDICK: Any questions from council?
15:02:44 All right.
15:02:45 Thank you.
15:02:46 Anyone in the public wishing to speak on item number 27?
15:02:48 >> Move to close.
15:02:50 >> Second.
15:02:51 >>FRANK REDDICK: Motion from Mrs. Montelione.
15:02:53 Seconded by Mr. Miranda.
15:02:58 Mr. Suarez.
15:02:59 All those in favor of the motion say aye.
15:03:01 Thank you.
15:03:01 Mr. Suarez.
15:03:02 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I present an ordinance for second reading
15:03:07 and adoption, an ordinance rezoning property in the general
15:03:09 vicinity of 3223 west Paul Avenue in the city of Tampa,
15:03:13 Florida and more particularly described in section 1 from
15:03:15 zoning district classifications RS-60 residential
15:03:18 single-family to RS-50 residential single-family providing
15:03:22 an effective date.
15:03:22 >>HARRY COHEN: Second.
15:03:26 >>FRANK REDDICK: Motion from Mr. Suarez.
15:03:27 Seconded by Mr. Cohen.
15:03:29 Roll call vote.
15:03:29 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Yes.
15:03:31 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Yes.
15:03:32 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Yes.
15:03:33 >>FRANK REDDICK: Yes.
15:03:34 >>HARRY COHEN: Here.
15:03:36 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Yes.
15:03:37 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Yes.
15:03:38 >>THE CLERK: Motion carried unanimously.
15:03:42 >>FRANK REDDICK: Did we open up 28 through 30?
15:03:48 >> They are already open.
15:03:51 >>FRANK REDDICK: We have got 24 and 28 to take up at the
15:03:53 same time.
15:03:54 Number 24.
15:03:54 >> Scott Steady, 3200 Tampa City Center.
15:04:07 This is the zoning as well as the development agreement that
15:04:10 we worked on for over eight months with staff on, K-Bar
15:04:13 Ranch, 1400 unit project, the last big project in the City
15:04:17 of Tampa, we worked on it extensively, here to answer
15:04:20 questions.
15:04:21 Your staff is also here.
15:04:23 I think you have some residents with concerns.
15:04:30 >>FRANK REDDICK: Anyone on council with questions?
15:04:33 Anyone in the audience like to speak on item number 24?
15:04:36 Please come forward.
15:04:41 Anyone wishing to speak please stand and be sworn if you are
15:05:01 going to speak on the remaining items.
15:05:03 (Oath administered by Clerk).
15:05:11 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Mr. Clark has a speaker waiver form.
15:05:14 Please let me know you are here.
15:05:16 Sam Dyson.
15:05:18 Jacob Morrell
15:05:24 Tangy Clark.
15:05:26 Eron Nieto.
15:05:33 Cindy Frederickson.
15:05:34 >> Nine or ten?
15:05:48 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Total of eight minutes.
15:06:07 >>FRANK REDDICK: Let's go.
15:06:08 >> Thank you.
15:06:09 Council members.
15:06:11 So what we are really opposing --.
15:06:13 >> Please state your name for the record.
15:06:15 >> I'm sorry, Dale Clark, resident at Easton Park.
15:06:19 What we are really opposing single-family bringing the
15:06:22 intersection into our community that's going to be quite
15:06:24 dangerous.
15:06:25 You can see the sheet here.
15:06:26 The road is the red line come through.
15:06:28 It's going to effectively separate a third of our
15:06:32 development from all the amenities that we built, the pool,
15:06:36 the park, the bus stops, the kids are actually going to be
15:06:41 having to cross a four-lane 45 mile-an-hour road to get to
15:06:45 the bus stop every day.
15:06:48 What we are also concerned about is the traffic that this is
15:06:52 going to create.
15:06:52 If you take it straight through its going to go to Morris
15:06:55 bridge but most people will be traveling to Tampa are going
15:06:57 to take a southern detour.
15:07:00 They are going to take a southern shortcut and turn right
15:07:04 off park road, the main road that goes through our community
15:07:06 so it going to create a lot of traffic right through the
15:07:09 center of our development.
15:07:12 So I'm pretty sure you guys are going to be aware a lot of
15:07:16 the county transportation issues.
15:07:21 Tampa reality is that Tampa Bay has now become the 11th
15:07:25 worst area for traffic congestion in the U.S.
15:07:27 And we have got to have do something about it.
15:07:30 We have to do something about it.
15:07:31 Here is a reality check from them.
15:07:34 2010, bicyclist deaths. In Hillsborough County.
15:07:41 12 fatality, twice the national average.
15:07:43 Another reality check.
15:07:44 Tampa Bay is ranked among the worst in the nation for
15:07:48 pedestrian crash fatality rate.
15:07:52 They have made a recommendation.
15:07:54 Redesigning and improving transit and making walking and
15:07:58 biking safer.
15:08:00 Putting a four-lane through road in the middle of the
15:08:05 community is going to make it safer?
15:08:08 Growth and land use and misaligned with transportation
15:08:11 planning?
15:08:13 This is from the county, right?
15:08:14 Dangerous conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
15:08:19 They are trying to address these issues.
15:08:21 Is putting a road right through the middle of the community
15:08:27 going to help those numbers?
15:08:32 Priorities.
15:08:33 Sidewalks.
15:08:34 Bike lanes.
15:08:34 Intersections.
15:08:40 Hillsborough County has the highest traffic fatality rate of
15:08:42 all large counties in the United States.
15:08:44 12.4 fatalities for over 100,000 residents.
15:08:47 You think putting a 4 lane road through the middle of the
15:08:51 community is going to help that number or hurt that number?
15:08:57 Cyclist deaths.
15:08:58 5.7 in Florida compared to the next lowest which is
15:09:03 Louisiana, 3.8.
15:09:04 We are number one, ladies and gentlemen of City Council.
15:09:07 Number one.
15:09:09 Mrs. Montelione, I think you mentioned this last time we
15:09:12 were here two weeks ago.
15:09:13 Tampa St. Pete is number two in the country for pedestrian
15:09:16 danger index.
15:09:17 That's a number that they assess for how dangerous it is for
15:09:22 pedestrians in the city.
15:09:23 Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater were at 190.13.
15:09:27 National average is 52.
15:09:30 We are almost four times higher than the national average.
15:09:35 This is staggering.
15:09:36 Each one of those red dots, a fatality of pedestrians in
15:09:40 Tampa.
15:09:40 You can see in the red box, that's where we are right now.
15:09:44 There's not a single road out and about there not yet.
15:09:50 Do you think putting a four lane road will help keep those
15:09:54 red dots out of that box?
15:09:56 I hope so.
15:09:56 We checked with our own engineer.
15:10:00 We are trying to find alternatives.
15:10:02 We are trying to find alternatives.
15:10:04 All of these sections here is Krusen-Douglas properties.
15:10:12 Red, yellow, orange.
15:10:13 In the blue in the middle is much the CDB and you can see
15:10:17 whereof the road is going to go based on the plat.
15:10:20 If you follow that yellow line right up here, that's whereof
15:10:24 the branch creek corridor runs.
15:10:27 That's the wildlife corridor.
15:10:29 That's what we are trying to protect.
15:10:31 They believe they are trying to protect.
15:10:33 And they believe that this has the least amount of impact on
15:10:38 the wildlife corridor, going right through there.
15:10:42 The engineers came up with an alternative, and I think it's
15:10:46 a pretty darned good one.
15:10:49 You run the road right here, and instead of come back down
15:10:53 here, creating an intersection, by the way, right through a
15:10:56 community, you move it up north, and let me go back to this
15:11:02 other one because this is kind of important.
15:11:05 There's already a road right here.
15:11:08 That runs all the way almost to middle point road.
15:11:14 There is going to be no impact on the wildlife corridor.
15:11:16 The impact is already there.
15:11:18 There's a dirt road.
15:11:20 So there is no additional impact on the wildlife corridor.
15:11:24 The road is already there.
15:11:27 So it takes it completely out of it.
15:11:34 You need a shorter distance, the middle point road and this
15:11:38 ultimately which will be an east-west connector, and this is
15:11:44 most important.
15:11:45 There's no impact on the wildlife corridor.
15:11:47 The impact is already there with that dirt road and it
15:11:49 removes and an intersection, removes one of the things that
15:11:53 creates a really bad situation in Florida and in Tampa.
15:11:58 Another alternative to go around the neighborhood.
15:12:02 We are looking for an alternative than bringing it right
15:12:06 through our neighborhood.
15:12:12 They did a traffic study.
15:12:14 Through K-bar ranch, they checked Kinnan street, they
15:12:20 checked middle point, they checked north bridge.
15:12:23 You men to tell me they are going to bring a four-lane 45
15:12:26 mile-an-hour road through and create an intersection in a
15:12:29 community, and you are not going to do a traffic study on
15:12:32 what that intersection is going to do?
15:12:34 It boggles my mind.
15:12:37 It boggles my mind.
15:12:39 So we are asking, please, delay the approval of this to
15:12:45 allow for additional research, additional study, to see if
15:12:51 there's an alternative way to take that road north, take it
15:12:55 around, take it up above.
15:12:59 There are other ways that will have minimal impact on that
15:13:05 creek corridor than what they have planned so far, and I
15:13:10 hope that you will do that.
15:13:13 There is a Florida statute that we believe has been
15:13:16 violated.
15:13:16 It's Florida statute title XII.
15:13:19 I won't go into it because I think we sent it to you all.
15:13:22 And you can take a look at it.
15:13:24 But we do believe that that's in violation of that statute.
15:13:30 If the road has to come through, we know that there's a
15:13:34 possibility.
15:13:36 We have given you guys a list of things.
15:13:38 And if we haven't, I have one for each of you to just take a
15:13:42 look at.
15:13:45 And just use your judgment.
15:13:49 Use your empathy for what we are going through.
15:13:53 I'll wrap it up.
15:13:56 Use your imagination for one minute.
15:13:58 Imagine you are living in your house, and you learn of a
15:14:02 plan that brings Cross Creek right through your
15:14:05 neighborhood.
15:14:06 Cross Creek is a four lane 45 mile-an-hour road.
15:14:12 It's being put into the neighborhood because we are trying
15:14:14 to connect two roads and making east-west, but it's come
15:14:17 right through your community.
15:14:19 If it's your house in the middle of that community, do you
15:14:23 still vote aye today?
15:14:24 I hate to sound patronizing, but you can tell I'm pretty
15:14:28 passionate before the situation that we are in.
15:14:31 We are urging the council to please consider our voice with
15:14:35 the arguments laid out in front of you we are still simply
15:14:38 asking for one thing, a safe quality environment for
15:14:41 ourselves, and in my case more so for my kids.
15:14:47 There's one way to ensure 100% that no fatalities happen at
15:14:51 that intersection, and that's to take the road north.
15:14:54 Take it around our neighborhood.
15:14:56 I appreciate your time.
15:14:57 I really do.
15:15:04 I have a list of things to help mitigate if the road has to
15:15:07 come through.
15:15:08 I am hope that we can get together and work as a community
15:15:11 to resolve the issues.
15:15:13 Thank you very much.
15:15:13 (Bell sounds).
15:15:15 >>FRANK REDDICK: Next.
15:15:15 >> My name is Becky, and I am also a resident of Easton
15:15:23 Park.
15:15:25 On July 23rd, 2015, this City Council and the city
15:15:30 transportation engineers stated that the design speed of
15:15:33 K-Bar Ranch Parkway will be set at 45 miles per hour with a
15:15:36 posted limit of 40 miles per hour.
15:15:38 Once the council members -- one of the council members
15:15:45 further went on to state that FDOT sets the speed limits.
15:15:50 The city is required to do what FDOT requires.
15:15:55 Melanie Calloway, the city transportation engineer, confirms
15:15:58 that information as well.
15:16:00 Additionally, council for the applicant previously stated
15:16:04 that the applicant will do what the city requires regarding
15:16:07 the rate of speed.
15:16:13 After the conclusion of the July 21st hearing, at that
15:16:18 website regarding the setting of speed limits.
15:16:21 It references Florida statute section 316.1889 subsection 1
15:16:27 which states the maximum speed within any municipality is 30
15:16:31 miles per hour.
15:16:33 With respect to resident district of municipalities may set
15:16:38 a maximum speed limit of 20 to 25 miles per hour on local
15:16:43 streets and highways after an investigation determines that
15:16:48 the speed limit is reasonable.
15:16:49 It should not be necessary to conduct a separate
15:16:52 investigation for each resident district.
15:16:53 Jurisdictions that control traffic is set pursuant to
15:16:59 Florida statute section 316.0706 subsection 2.
15:17:04 Based on Florida law, Easton Parks requests the City Council
15:17:09 at the time set the maximum speed limit at 30 miles per hour
15:17:13 since the city maintains the roadway.
15:17:19 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
15:17:19 >> Good afternoon.
15:17:25 My name is Kenn Akins.
15:17:27 I'm also a resident of Easton Park, New Tampa.
15:17:31 I'm also a 37-year veteran law enforcement officer here in
15:17:34 this community.
15:17:35 In fact when I started working, that community, the only
15:17:40 subdivision there was Pebble Creek.
15:17:42 The only thing between USF and Pebble Creek were cow
15:17:46 pastures and road 581 which is now Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.
15:17:52 And in any community the number of entrances and exists will
15:17:56 have amazing impact on the people that live in that
15:17:59 community.
15:18:00 Generally speaking I'm sure you all know that a community
15:18:04 with multiple entrances and exists has a higher crime rate
15:18:08 than communities with limited access.
15:18:10 When you consider building a major two and later four-lane
15:18:14 highway in the middle of a community, several things will
15:18:16 happen.
15:18:17 Number one, you are adding four additional entrances into
15:18:21 our community, two of which will become from Pasco County,
15:18:26 and also when you have entrance into the community you also
15:18:30 have exit so any person entering our community with ill
15:18:34 intent or criminal activity in mind will have an easy access
15:18:38 back out to Pasco County.
15:18:42 Also, we are looking at the speed limits there, and we are
15:18:45 seeing 40 miles per hour, but let's face it.
15:18:47 The average law enforcement officer will not stop a car
15:18:50 that's going less than 10 miles per hour over the speed
15:18:52 limit so much the cars will really be going up to 50 miles
15:18:55 an hour before even having to worry about being stopped by
15:18:59 law enforcement.
15:19:00 Now, I November some people will say that we'll add
15:19:06 additional police officers in that area and they will be
15:19:08 able to impact the community in a positive way.
15:19:11 But let's face reality.
15:19:14 Though the City of Tampa has one of the highest number of
15:19:17 office officers per 17,000 residents, we are talking about
15:19:20 three to four thousand people, talking about no more than
15:19:24 nine additional police officers with three shifts, with two
15:19:27 platoons, and when you break all of that up with days off,
15:19:31 with vacations, et cetera, you are really only adding one
15:19:35 police officer to that community.
15:19:38 This study was done 13 years ago.
15:19:41 A lot has changed in the City of Tampa in 13 years.
15:19:44 So what we would like to do is have the opportunity to sit
15:19:47 down and come up with a viable solution that's going to be
15:19:52 good for everyone.
15:19:53 When we aren't saying we don't want to build in the area.
15:19:56 We are saying we do, but let's do it in a way that's going
15:19:59 to be good for everyone in the community, including Easton
15:20:02 Park.
15:20:04 Don't send our children across the street.
15:20:06 The traffic is going 50 miles per hour to go to a swimming
15:20:09 pool or they can go to a playground.
15:20:12 We don't have any other land to build on.
15:20:14 So they have no choice if they want top go to one of those
15:20:17 amenities that we have here.
15:20:18 Thank you very much for your time.
15:20:21 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
15:20:21 Next.
15:20:26 >> My name is Donna Clark.
15:20:29 I'm a proud resident of Easton Park.
15:20:32 I will be addressing wildlife.
15:20:33 The big thing about living in Easton Park is the neighbors
15:20:37 and the location.
15:20:38 I like to tell people we live on the edge of nowhere.
15:20:41 Before three quarters of our community is surrounded by cow
15:20:44 pastures and approximately one fourth was surrounded by
15:20:47 horses grazing in pasture.
15:20:49 Easton Park residents like you, Councilman Miranda, love
15:20:52 horses.
15:20:56 It's across from hawks, raccoons and other animals and we
15:21:02 know the woods are full of these animals because they are
15:21:04 often seen dead on Morris Bridge Road at our entrance.
15:21:08 This is a mass of wildlife habitat in Hillsborough County.
15:21:14 Anyone would surely choose to live in the very Northern
15:21:18 Area.
15:21:19 All Easton Park residents made that choice and Tampa will
15:21:23 have very little to offer wild animals and those people who
15:21:26 appreciate them.
15:21:27 While reading through many transcripts of past City Council
15:21:29 meetings I was shocked to find son debate whether or not
15:21:32 there's a wildlife corridor that runs along our
15:21:35 neighborhood.
15:21:35 I would like to show there is indeed tremendous wildlife in
15:21:38 our area that needs protection and encourage a slow speed
15:21:41 limit for the impending road that will plow through or
15:21:44 hopefully go around our community.
15:21:46 Animals in Easton Park come to us, they are on our roads, in
15:21:50 our sidewalks and in our yards.
15:21:52 These are just a few of the many photographs taken by Easton
15:21:54 Park residents in Easton Park and proudly shared on our
15:22:00 Facebook page.
15:22:00 We are not professional photos.
15:22:03 No photos were taken for the purpose of this presentation.
15:22:05 Having so many pictures to choose from I tried to include
15:22:08 those that had sidewalks within Easton Park, and will
15:22:13 demonstrate how we have impacted animals that are now driven
15:22:18 to move into our habitat.
15:22:20 We have sandhill cranes, of course.
15:22:23 A baby sandhill crane was hit by a car driving 30 miles per
15:22:29 hour.
15:22:30 We have coyotes.
15:22:33 Bands of them are heard howling at night.
15:22:35 We have bald eagles.
15:22:38 Otters, called a romp.
15:22:40 The not-so-popular raccoons.
15:22:42 Bobcats and their babies.
15:22:45 Wood storks which are endangered species.
15:22:51 Alligators.
15:22:54 Snakes and more snakes both venomous and nonvenomous.
15:22:58 And of course all kind of some are more difficult to capture
15:23:05 ourselves.
15:23:08 Animals have already lost their homes and have no place else
15:23:10 to go.
15:23:11 There are so many that are not photographed and not
15:23:14 represented in pictures but do live in Easton Park as well
15:23:18 as wild pigs, opossums, armadillos, Florida panthers and
15:23:22 more.
15:23:23 This is a baby alligator.
15:23:25 How many more creatures will we kill with our development
15:23:28 and fast moving vehicles?
15:23:31 Please limit vehicles to 30 miles per hour and don't allow
15:23:34 it to expand.
15:23:35 We are the ones who literally have to scrape our wildlife
15:23:40 off the road.
15:23:42 Thank you.
15:23:42 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
15:23:43 Next.
15:23:43 >> Hi.
15:23:47 I'm Kinsey Clark.
15:23:49 A resident of Easton Park.
15:23:55 The wildlife corridor was 600 to 400 feet.
15:23:59 Transcripts show that even though the Florida Fish and
15:24:00 Wildlife Conservation Commission recommended 600 feet, it
15:24:05 was reduced to 400. Why? Because MI is going to put more
15:24:07 vegetation in. Does this make sense?
15:24:11 Instead of shrinking the corridor, keep it natural and keep
15:24:15 it wide.
15:24:17 Clearly the corridor is already thriving.
15:24:20 A 1,000-foot minimum but we are going to protect them for
15:24:25 400 feet?
15:24:28 More importantly, the wildlife commission recommended a
15:24:31 minimum buffer of 100 to 150 feet along each side of the
15:24:36 creek. MI home wants to build 25 feet from one side of the
15:24:40 creek as long as the other side has at least a 375-foot
15:24:45 buffer.
15:24:45 MI home is facing a 25-foot standard on the building permit
15:24:50 requirements of the Southwest Florida Water Management
15:24:50 District.
15:24:55 In some places the buffer will be 25 feet.
15:24:58 25 feet.
15:24:59 This shows 25 feet.
15:25:04 Will animals be safe this far away from their babies and
15:25:12 their homes?
15:25:13 Wetland turtles lay their eggs about 100 feet from the edge.
15:25:21 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
15:25:25 recommends a 100 to 150-foot buffer on each side of the
15:25:28 creek.
15:25:29 How does that shrink to 25 feet?
15:25:32 Now this part about borrow pits.
15:25:33 Borrow pits are giant pits dug up to the landfill to build
15:25:39 upon.
15:25:40 Borrow pits should not be built alongside wildlife
15:25:43 corridors.
15:25:44 The top, in the past, City Council was shocked to find out
15:25:49 that five pits were in place including 33-acre borrow pits
15:25:54 along side the corridor.
15:25:56 City Council found this out from stormwater department which
15:25:59 was in the letter.
15:26:02 So let's find out now.
15:26:04 Will there be pits?
15:26:05 How many?
15:26:06 Will they run alongside the corridor?
15:26:08 What size will they be and what size will the culvert be?
15:26:11 Thank you.
15:26:12 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
15:26:13 Next.
15:26:13 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Martinez?
15:26:38 Three minutes plus one.
15:26:39 >> Hi.
15:26:53 My name is Amiya Gupta and I'm here to talk about the K Bar
15:26:58 Parkway road.
15:26:59 Within a few seconds a life can be cut short.
15:27:02 A candle that has just started to burn is extinguished.
15:27:05 Children hit by cars can be killed or hurt pretty badly.
15:27:08 43 Florida children out of 5.5 million were killed in 2010
15:27:13 by cars, according to the Florida records database.
15:27:17 The number 43 seems insignificant compared to the 5 million
15:27:20 others but to those families, they weren't.
15:27:24 Those kids have their own stories, their smiles.
15:27:29 Who were those kids?
15:27:30 What were they going to grow up and become?
15:27:32 Were they going to become artists, politicians, astronauts?
15:27:38 Almost a fourth of those kids were toddlers just learning
15:27:41 their place in the world.
15:27:42 Did they aspire to be princesses or cowboys?
15:27:45 The K Bar Parkway which will serve as a connector between
15:27:48 Morris bridge will effectively cut Easton Park in half.
15:27:53 The entrance as well as the tranquil, calm neighborhood.
15:27:57 When I visit a friend in Easton Park the neighborhood is
15:28:03 quiet and calm.
15:28:04 We can walk to the park or the other end of the neighborhood
15:28:09 because the area is safe, because it has low speed limits
15:28:11 and because drivers go slowly.
15:28:14 But this road that's proposed endangers kids.
15:28:18 Hillsborough County is fourth in the state for
15:28:21 student-related fatalities with 127 deaths just on 45
15:28:26 mile-per-hour roads according to the Florida crash records
15:28:30 database.
15:28:33 Kids have to cross at a major intersection to get to the
15:28:36 other side of the neighborhood, to get to the park, to get
15:28:38 to the pool.
15:28:39 Even to get to their bus stop.
15:28:42 Kids have to cross that intersection.
15:28:44 More than 30% of pedestrian crashes in 2011 happened at
15:28:49 intersections not unlike this one that's proposed according
15:28:52 to the national highway and traffic association.
15:28:55 Imagine this.
15:28:56 Some kids in the area are on their bikes.
15:28:59 They are at that intersection.
15:29:02 As they start to cross they heard the sound of a car
15:29:07 approaching.
15:29:07 The driver isn't speeding; he's going at the 45-mile speed
15:29:10 limit.
15:29:10 The driver slows trying to brake.
15:29:13 At 45 miles per hour, there's over 55% chance of death on
15:29:18 impact and over a 90% chance of severe injuries.
15:29:23 If a car is speeding and going 50 miles per hour there's
15:29:26 almost a 98% chance of severe injury and almost a 75% chance
15:29:31 of death according to the foundation for traffic safety.
15:29:35 Now, that driver, he stops just in time, but next time he
15:29:39 might not be so lucky and neither will those kids.
15:29:42 Are you willing to bet Easton Park residents on those
15:29:47 chances?
15:29:48 If we can't move the road then we need to move the speed
15:29:52 limit. If the speed limit is 30 miles per hour the chance
15:29:54 of death is less than 25% and chance of severe injury just
15:30:00 less than 30.
15:30:01 The road will be helpful for drivers, but some changes can
15:30:04 be made that will help everyone.
15:30:06 The speed limit needs to go down.
15:30:08 The Florida speed limit for residential areas is 30 miles
15:30:11 per hour.
15:30:12 The speed isn't that much a difference for a driver but for
15:30:19 pedestrians and pedacyclists.
15:30:22 According to the national safety council 61 kids are hit by
15:30:25 a car in the U.S. every day.
15:30:29 Don't ask Easton Park residents to do that.
15:30:32 Move the road or slow it down.
15:30:34 Thank you for your time.
15:30:35 >>HARRY COHEN: Thank you.
15:30:40 >> Hello.
15:30:47 I'm Beth Garcia, and I am going to talk about our school.
15:30:56 Our community is situated with the boundaries.
15:31:02 The Hillsborough public schools has no plan for building a
15:31:05 now school at least in the next 20 years according to the
15:31:09 five year plan from 2014.
15:31:13 And the report submitted by the Hillsborough County public
15:31:16 schools, it shows it is not equipped to handle the projected
15:31:22 amount of kids for this development, and shows it's very
15:31:26 unlikely that full concurrency will be met even if we
15:31:29 include concurrency services areas.
15:31:38 Based on the Hillsborough County public school five year
15:31:42 plan, the school demographics, I was able to make some
15:31:50 statistical projections for school concurrency.
15:31:56 We can see 121 kids that will give us an estimate of
15:32:02 concurrency percent of 116.
15:32:05 If we move those 16%, let's say Fry and Turner, and then we
15:32:12 have 195% estimated concurrency, and DSA cannot be of 95%,
15:32:23 and that is without taking into consideration only new
15:32:31 developments, if any.
15:32:35 According to the Hillsborough County local agreement in
15:32:38 section 5.5.2-F is that school board determines the capacity
15:32:43 will not be in place within three years of the division,
15:32:51 outside development construction is not an acceptable
15:32:56 alternative.
15:32:57 The county will not issue a school concurrency determination
15:33:00 and will not accept a development application.
15:33:05 Based on all the above, the City Council should not approve
15:33:11 this development agreement.
15:33:12 Should you approve the development agreement with MI, we
15:33:15 would like it noted in the record that the concurrency law
15:33:23 even when it's very unlikely that school concurrency will be
15:33:26 met for our current elementary school.
15:33:28 Thank you very much.
15:33:29 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
15:33:30 Next.
15:33:30 >> My name is Christine Morrell and this is my son Jacob.
15:33:50 During the July 21st hearing we saw passion from this
15:33:52 council and I would hope that you would take my remarks
15:33:55 today as passion and not disrespect to you.
15:33:58 I'm here today to turn to you for your help in protecting
15:34:01 our children and families in Easton Park.
15:34:04 I ask that you place yourself in our shoes.
15:34:06 You are now a resident of Easton park.
15:34:12 What would you ask for your families, your children?
15:34:18 What protection will you offer us from drivers who decide to
15:34:21 take that right turn because it will be a faster way for
15:34:24 them to get to middle road?
15:34:27 Our families will have to cross a four lane highway to get
15:34:30 to community pool, park, amenities that we pay for.
15:34:35 Would have you want your family to have to cross Parkway
15:34:38 daily?
15:34:39 Finally I'm hoping you can clear up some confusion on
15:34:41 mitigation.
15:34:41 According to city policy, mitigation is required during a
15:34:45 rezoning application.
15:34:47 However, during the last City Council meeting, when EASTON
15:34:50 park proposed mitigation this council stated it was too
15:34:53 early to request in the process or it was not feasible.
15:34:56 There is mitigation agreement for wildlife.
15:34:58 There is a tunnel.
15:34:59 There's mitigation in the development for of creek
15:35:02 residents.
15:35:03 So as I stand here today I ask you where is the mitigation
15:35:07 for Easton residents?
15:35:09 If not now when do we get to ask for them?
15:35:11 Of this Parkway was designed 13 years ago when there were no
15:35:14 homes or lives in Easton to take into consideration but
15:35:18 what's here now and we ask that you consider it.
15:35:20 My son is showing you a few of the residents.
15:35:24 Please look at them and decide which child doesn't deserve
15:35:29 to grow old, which child shouldn't go to college, which
15:35:32 child shouldn't have a child of their own.
15:35:34 I say which because I am certain if you allow this Parkway
15:35:36 to go through our neighborhood, it's not if but when one of
15:35:39 these children will be killed.
15:35:41 We ask that the city will exhaust all other possibilities
15:35:44 for this Parkway before a life ends like this.
15:35:48 We understand that you are elected to make the tough
15:35:54 decisions but we ask that you govern us and provide us
15:35:57 protection from this Parkway.
15:35:59 Since we believe the time for mitigation is now, we request
15:36:01 the following.
15:36:02 First and most importantly, reroute around us, protect the
15:36:07 children.
15:36:08 But if that really cannot be done we ask that you continue
15:36:10 the use of mitigation just as agreed to do for Bassett
15:36:14 Creek.
15:36:14 We ask that speed bumps down the park from this obvious
15:36:21 shortcut.
15:36:22 Yes, we know we can rebuild from the fire but not bring my
15:36:25 son back to life.
15:36:26 A traffic light at the intersection of the Parkway and
15:36:29 pictorial park stops the drives before entering.
15:36:32 Permission gate our community to protect our residents from
15:36:36 the unwanted traffic and vandalism and stuff that would come
15:36:40 with this Parkway.
15:36:41 We ask that the city would either help us or MI would help
15:36:44 to pay our existing CDB loans.
15:36:47 (Bell sounds)
15:36:50 I'm done.
15:36:51 Thank you.
15:36:51 >>FRANK REDDICK: Anyone else wishing to speak at this time?
15:36:53 Okay.
15:36:53 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Before petitioner speaks, can I ask some
15:37:01 questions?
15:37:02 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
15:37:02 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And then provide rebuttal after my
15:37:08 questions.
15:37:09 Mrs. Calloway, can you come up to the podium, please?
15:37:19 Thank you.
15:37:21 The last time this item was on the agenda I had asked for
15:37:25 several things, as far as looking at traffic for pedestrian
15:37:33 safety and traffic light at pictorial and Morris bridge.
15:37:39 Can you tell me what the progress of that is?
15:37:41 >> Melanie Calloway, planning division.
15:37:45 I sent an e-mail to Hillsborough County.
15:37:55 I had direct contact with Hillsborough County.
15:37:57 I sent an e-mail to Hillsborough County.
15:38:00 He said to me, yes, we can do put a light at that location.
15:38:05 However we would like to do that when school is back in
15:38:08 session because that's when the regular traffic pattern is
15:38:12 available, and not doing it this minute.
15:38:14 So he said I will put you on the list.
15:38:16 And I expect to be hearing by November 15th, at the
15:38:23 very, very latest.
15:38:24 >> That will be when it's completed.
15:38:25 >> When it completed.
15:38:27 When the study is -- the analysis is completed.
15:38:31 Because we have a list of backlogs because they don't do
15:38:34 them in the summer because it's not normal traffic patterns.
15:38:37 So he put that location on the list.
15:38:40 They are going to of do signal light analysis.
15:38:45 He'll let me know.
15:38:47 I have the e-mail and I plan to check up on that.
15:38:50 Come October he says we will be on the list in the fall.
15:38:53 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And there was discussion again about the
15:39:00 possibility of putting the road further north to connect
15:39:07 with one of the maps was shown -- and it's kind of large.
15:39:15 You are familiar with it.
15:39:21 You can't see where the dirt road was.
15:39:26 Mr. Clark had the slide of that showed that.
15:39:29 And I think he's going to provide it to you.
15:39:34 The difference, we talked a lot about or heard a lot about
15:39:38 wildlife corridors.
15:39:39 The difference in where the road is planned to have gogo --
15:39:44 thank you, Mr. Clark -- there you go.
15:39:48 That dirt road of that is shown, that one right there.
15:39:56 The difference between where the road is now and utilizing
15:39:59 that existing dirt road to be the east-west corridor through
15:40:05 the community, why was that not considered?
15:40:14 >> It was considered.
15:40:15 It was considered by Pasco County.
15:40:16 It was considered by us.
15:40:20 There are a couple problems.
15:40:21 There's a 100-foot TECO easement running along that northern
15:40:26 portion of the property.
15:40:28 Number two --
15:40:31 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Can you point maybe where that is?
15:40:33 There's a lot of northern portions.
15:40:34 >> I believe it is cutting through this portion, 100-foot
15:40:39 wide TECO easement which cannot get anywhere close to that.
15:40:48 Also, this property right here is not being row zoned.
15:40:51 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Mr. Shelby, there's been a lot of
15:40:59 rumbling for the past ten minutes, and it's very, very
15:41:02 distracting.
15:41:05 There was conversation with the clerk.
15:41:07 There was conversation with Rebecca Kert.
15:41:09 Could you explain what's going on before Mrs. Calloway
15:41:12 finishes her question?
15:41:13 Because I really would like to know.
15:41:14 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Yes.
15:41:16 Item 29 is on the agenda.
15:41:19 It cannot be heard.
15:41:20 Publication has not been perfected.
15:41:25 He there is a resolution that he's asking to walk on to have
15:41:28 it reset.
15:41:29 That's the issue.
15:41:30 >>LISA MONTELIONE: It has nothing to do with this?
15:41:32 >> No, that is correct.
15:41:33 >> I would appreciate it if that could be held till after we
15:41:36 are done with of that.
15:41:37 >>MARTIN SHELBY: I will be more mindful.
15:41:39 I apologize.
15:41:40 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Thank you very much.
15:41:42 Mrs. Calloway, please.
15:41:43 >> And as you know, as said, the Krusen Douglas family own
15:41:58 the property but we have reserved this corridor.
15:42:03 And I want to make a correction.
15:42:04 Because one of the speakers -- she might be really happy to
15:42:12 hear this.
15:42:12 So I conversed, and we did have design plans.
15:42:22 The design plans were just submitted like two weeks ago like
15:42:25 when we went to hearing.
15:42:26 And that road is designed will be 35 speed limit.
15:42:35 It will continue through here at 35 mile-an-hour speed
15:42:38 limit.
15:42:39 And that was one of their requests.
15:42:41 I wanted to clear it up.
15:42:42 They have said yes, that was going to be continued through.
15:42:45 >>LISA MONTELIONE: That's good news.
15:42:48 So 35.
15:42:50 That helps.
15:42:51 But I'm confused, though. If there's a 100-foot TECO
15:42:57 corridor and we are not supposed to get near it how is that
15:43:00 other road still there?
15:43:01 >> I don't think this is a road.
15:43:03 >>LISA MONTELIONE: That is a dirt road.
15:43:06 >> It's a road to K-Bar Ranch.
15:43:16 We have discussed it a lot.
15:43:17 There were a lot of issues with the 100-foot TECO easement.
15:43:24 There were too many -- the wildlife is not really my forte.
15:43:32 There was destruction about destruction of that.
15:43:36 That's really most of my knowledge on that part of it.
15:43:38 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And I guess it's not part of the
15:43:42 rezoning so we can't include a parcel.
15:43:51 If that alternative was to be considered, then there would
15:43:54 be no road through the MI parcel.
15:44:04 I mean, we can't take out this road in favor of that road
15:44:08 because we take this road out, then the parcel is landlocked
15:44:11 and cannot provide access to a parcel.
15:44:20 It puts between a rock and a hard place.
15:44:23 >> Exactly.
15:44:24 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Thank you.
15:44:26 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mrs. Capin?
15:44:28 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I'm glad to hear about the 35 mile-per-hour.
15:44:32 Also, everyone that spoke, one of the suggestions was to
15:44:36 look at a roundabout.
15:44:39 They don't care for the roundabout they have now, because if
15:44:42 they did, and it slowed traffic down, you would think that
15:44:45 that would be another suggestion.
15:44:47 It was not.
15:44:49 At all.
15:44:52 And roundabouts do slow traffic down.
15:44:56 So if you wanted to slow traffic down besides 35 miles per
15:45:00 hour, that intersection could be around about.
15:45:03 But I didn't hear it from anyone.
15:45:05 So apparently they don't care for the roundabout, which
15:45:08 slows traffic down for them right now as it stands.
15:45:29 I understand what we asked them to do.
15:45:31 This is being mandated to them, right?
15:45:34 >> Through our corridor that we had set out, and they have
15:45:39 agreed to abide by the plan.
15:45:43 I also want to point out this little loop, this will be 30
15:45:51 miles per hour posted speed limit.
15:45:54 But the roundabout, I think it's an outstanding idea.
15:45:58 I think it's an excellent idea.
15:46:00 I think it helps pedestrians across the street safely.
15:46:02 It reduces crashes, T-bones, fatality T-bone crashes that
15:46:10 can happen at an intersection and a light.
15:46:13 It can have rear end access lower speed accident and less
15:46:19 fatality accident.
15:46:22 I can't mandate them to do it.
15:46:24 I can strongly suggest it.
15:46:28 I have heard there may be an issue with, oh, we put a
15:46:32 roundabout there, we might have to encroach into the CBD
15:46:37 property a little bit to provide it in that location.
15:46:41 Again, this is not designed -- we are only -- this right
15:46:46 here is just construction plans now.
15:46:53 This segment is built.
15:46:56 But I agree with the roundabout there.
15:46:58 I think it helps in a lot of ways.
15:47:00 But there has to be adequate room, there has to be enough of
15:47:06 their property to put it, design it for the future.
15:47:10 Things that the design criteria at this point we don't know
15:47:14 definitely if we can do it.
15:47:18 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Okay.
15:47:18 I appreciate it.
15:47:19 And I did argue about mitigating for the quality of life.
15:47:25 We all did up here, and that's how we came to the
15:47:28 conclusion, Mrs. Montelione, about the speed limit and the
15:47:33 roundabout, and I think we need to take that into
15:47:42 consideration.
15:47:47 They showed the wildlife, when the homes were built there,
15:47:51 there was wildlife where your homes are.
15:47:54 And the dead that are on the street, who ran over them?
15:48:02 So that being said, we all have to take responsibility for
15:48:05 our actions.
15:48:07 So thank you.
15:48:09 I'm done.
15:48:11 >>FRANK REDDICK: Petitioner.
15:48:12 >> Scott Steady, representing MI.
15:48:15 I know we talked a lot in the last meeting and I'll make a
15:48:17 couple of points.
15:48:21 I should reiterate a couple of things.
15:48:30 MI has an agreement with the Krusen-Douglas family,
15:48:31 basically developing the colored areas here in the gray.
15:48:35 This is the existing Bassett Creek project.
15:48:37 And this is the Easton park.
15:48:44 It was even more pristine before the development came in.
15:48:46 But at that time, in anticipation of this Parkway, which is
15:48:50 a major city -- it's not a highway.
15:48:54 It's a collector.
15:48:55 It's on the MPO.
15:48:59 It's on the plat.
15:49:00 It's 150 feet wide.
15:49:04 It is clearly evident, if you drive out there.
15:49:07 There's no question when you drive over Pictorial, you will
15:49:10 see the stub-out of the road.
15:49:14 So you clearly see it.
15:49:16 It was placed there because it was the best place to put it
15:49:19 planning.
15:49:20 It was anticipating the construction and the completion of
15:49:23 K-Bar Ranch.
15:49:24 It was there because that's the place to put it, from a
15:49:28 traffic standpoint.
15:49:29 And I have a picture that I showed at the last board
15:49:31 meeting.
15:49:32 There was an existing historical use cut through the
15:49:38 wildlife corridor of Bassett Creek.
15:49:40 One of the reasons it looks so nice is because MI working
15:49:43 with the city preserved the wildlife corridor.
15:49:46 I'm not going to debate the children, but there's the
15:49:51 numbers.
15:49:51 We definitely preserved the wildlife corridor and it's going
15:49:55 to be preserved, so the historical history of this.
15:49:58 This roadway has been there.
15:50:01 Melanie went into extensive discussion.
15:50:05 A couple of things in following up.
15:50:07 We went back and looked, because we are designing this road.
15:50:10 It is designed, I want to get it right, for 40 and as
15:50:15 Melanie said a significant difference.
15:50:17 I point out this is not -- this is outside our zoning.
15:50:22 The city is basically asking us in this development
15:50:24 agreement to finish the Parkway, which is one of the last
15:50:28 major east-west collectors in north Tampa.
15:50:31 I guess we'll be the last one.
15:50:33 So MI is being asked to construct the right-of-way to two
15:50:40 lanes, two of the four, through Easton Park which has been
15:50:44 there from the time before it was built, it was platted, and
15:50:48 has been there all along.
15:50:52 We are working with the city, and will work with the city.
15:50:55 I will point out the development agreement and I'll finish
15:50:57 up.
15:50:59 Interestingly enough there is 150 feet of right-of-way
15:51:02 there.
15:51:02 When the rest of the Parkway is going to be 120.
15:51:06 So in the agreement to the extent we can, we are going to
15:51:10 shift it away from the homes, skeptical that there's enough
15:51:17 right-of-way for the roundabout.
15:51:18 It's not that we don't want to do it.
15:51:20 It's whether it can be done and with around about you are
15:51:23 going to have roads close to some of the houses that we
15:51:26 think we can push the road away from.
15:51:28 We are committing to planning with the city when we
15:51:31 construct it, to provide some pedestrian safety issues
15:51:36 there, and one other comment.
15:51:41 We have been working on this for eight or nine months.
15:51:44 This is an important issue and I understand that, but for
15:51:47 eight or nine months it's been a puzzle.
15:51:49 Initially the Bassett Creek residents I thought might be the
15:51:55 people who were going to be here because they have had a lot
15:51:57 of construction go through their project.
15:51:59 They want this Parkway built.
15:52:01 We are trying to spark this Parkway to where it's currently
15:52:06 built to get the traffic out of Bassett Creek.
15:52:09 So there's a lot of moving parts on this.
15:52:11 And frankly, at this point, we are simply constructing what
15:52:14 the city is asking us to, and I don't want to go into great
15:52:19 depth.
15:52:20 Back when this was analyzed, that route was severally wasn't
15:52:25 picked and the right-of-way is there now and evident.
15:52:30 I don't see how we can go back to square one and reroute
15:52:33 this right-of-way.
15:52:35 It's not feasible.
15:52:35 The good news, it turns out it's designed 40 and the speed
15:52:39 limit will be 35, and we'll work with the city to put the
15:52:42 best pedestrian safety available.
15:52:46 Part of this project has always been cut off.
15:52:48 And I'll just make a general point.
15:52:52 West Meadows, and I have been a CDB lawyer forever, Tampa
15:52:58 Boulevard, four lanes with a project to the south.
15:53:03 When my kids grew up, we had to cross Church and we had to
15:53:06 cross Bay to Bay to get to Friendship Park.
15:53:08 I don't want to diminish -- they are going to have to be
15:53:16 careful like so many of us in the City of Tampa have to be
15:53:19 wherever you live.
15:53:20 Thank you.
15:53:20 (Bell sounds).
15:53:22 >>LISA MONTELIONE: There is a lot of reasons why this
15:53:29 application is going to pass at second reading.
15:53:41 You have been, I think, listening to us, and staff, and they
15:53:46 have put a lot of hours into that development agreement and
15:53:48 trying to get the best possible amenities and assurances
15:53:58 through that development agreement.
15:54:01 There are a lot of steps that are going to be taken between
15:54:03 now and the time that one shovel of dirt is turned over.
15:54:10 And some of the things are those specifics that the
15:54:12 community is asking for, and they have developed a list.
15:54:17 I'm sure you have seen that list.
15:54:18 If you have it, Mr. Clark will be more than happy to Pro
15:54:22 Player you that list, again.
15:54:25 So along the way, as we go through design review and we go
15:54:31 through some of the other processes, development in the City
15:54:36 of Tampa, I would venture to say, that the residents be
15:54:42 considered and their desires for some of the things that are
15:54:49 reasonably requested, pedestrian safety.
15:54:53 Those of us who sit on the MPO, I chair the Livable Roadways
15:54:56 Committee of the MPO.
15:55:00 Talked about I think every forum at the Department of
15:55:03 Transportation summit since elected and there are a lot of
15:55:07 new transportation technical manual changes that are come
15:55:15 down.
15:55:17 And some would say that developers or builders will only do
15:55:21 what is the minimum standard.
15:55:25 So in between now and when those new regulations from the
15:55:28 State of Florida become part of that green book that is the
15:55:34 engineers' Bible that some of those advanced strategies are
15:55:38 incorporated into the project, because we are building this
15:55:42 new community, and these new roads.
15:55:44 I don't want to use 18th or 20th century thinking
15:55:48 and strategies when we can be moving into the future.
15:55:53 So any new pedestrian roundabouts, tens of thousands, many
15:56:05 of the medieval communities, but there are a lot of new ways
15:56:11 of engineering pedestrian and bicycle safety strategies.
15:56:16 And I hope that those are incorporated, and you can ask some
15:56:23 of the folks in some of the other communities that are in
15:56:27 the process of this community going in and being built, and
15:56:33 some of the promises that were made, I mean, everything from
15:56:35 construction noise to dust -- Mrs. Melanie and I will be in
15:56:44 your community holding a town hall to make sure that those
15:56:48 things are being addressed.
15:56:51 We have done it before.
15:56:53 Just recently.
15:56:58 That's what I just wanted to put on the record.
15:57:01 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
15:57:02 Any comments or questions from council?
15:57:05 All right.
15:57:06 What's the position of council?
15:57:09 Item number 24.
15:57:11 >> Move to close.
15:57:13 >> All right.
15:57:15 I have a motion from Mrs. Capin, seconded by Mr. Cohen.
15:57:18 All those in favor of the motion say aye.
15:57:21 Opposed?
15:57:22 All right.
15:57:23 Item 24.
15:57:23 >> I move an ordinance being presented for second reading
15:57:33 and adoption, ordinance rezoning property in the general
15:57:35 vicinity of 10695, 16097, 10698 Wild Tamarind Drive, 10533
15:57:47 Mistflower Lane, 19151 Bassett Creek Drive, 10775, 10851
15:57:54 Pictorial Park Drive, and 10811 Ancient Futures Drive in the
15:57:58 city of Tampa, Florida and more particularly described in
15:58:00 section 1 from zoning district classifications PD-A planned
15:58:05 development alternative residential commercial, to PD-A,
15:58:08 planned development, alternative, residential, single-family
15:58:11 attached, detached, and semi-detached, and all CN uses
15:58:15 except multifamily residential, providing an effective date.
15:58:20 Plus what we all talked about earlier.
15:58:25 >> motion by Mrs. Montelione.
15:58:27 Second by Mrs. Capin.
15:58:28 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Yes.
15:58:30 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Yes.
15:58:32 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Yes.
15:58:32 >>FRANK REDDICK: Yes.
15:58:34 >>HARRY COHEN: Yes.
15:58:36 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Yes.
15:58:37 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Yes.
15:58:38 >> Motion carried.
15:58:41 >>FRANK REDDICK: Item number 28.
15:58:42 >>REBECCA KERT: Legal department.
15:58:50 This will be the second hearing on the development
15:58:52 agreement, and you can move the resolution.
15:58:57 >> Move the resolution.
15:58:58 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have what motion from -- all right.
15:59:09 Got a motion from Mr. Suarez.
15:59:11 Seconded by Mr. Cohen.
15:59:13 All in favor of the motion say aye.
15:59:15 Opposed?
15:59:16 All right.
15:59:18 Mr. Miranda moved the resolution.
15:59:22 Motion by -- second by Mr. Cohen.
15:59:25 Motion carried.
15:59:26 Item number 29.
15:59:28 Cannot be heard.
15:59:29 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Mr. Chairman, if I may.
15:59:35 >>REBECCA KERT: Legal department.
15:59:37 Last week, we had asked you to set a public hearing related
15:59:40 to the Hyde Park Village development agreement.
15:59:42 That would have been today.
15:59:43 It wasn't noticed correctly.
15:59:45 Today we have a new resolution setting a new date.
15:59:47 And we would ask you to pass the resolution setting a new
15:59:51 date on August 27th and September 3rd.
15:59:56 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I move the resolution setting the first
15:59:58 public hearing for August 27th, 2015 at 10:30 and the
16:00:02 second public hearing September 3rd, 2015, 10:30 a.m.
16:00:06 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have a motion by Mr. Miranda.
16:00:08 Second by Mr. Cohen.
16:00:09 All in favor of the motion say aye.
16:00:12 Opposed?
16:00:13 Motion carried.
16:00:14 Item number 30.
16:00:14 >>REBECCA KERT: Legal department.
16:00:18 Item 30 is review hearing for council's consideration on the
16:00:21 recommended order for the hearing officer Steven Pfeiffer,
16:00:26 hearing officer, zoning administrator determining the use of
16:00:29 the structure at 10022 north hyacinth Avenue as a duplex,
16:00:36 not a permissible nonconform use.
16:00:38 According to your code what you will be asked to do today is
16:00:40 either make a motion to adopt the recommended order, if you
16:00:44 find fault with one of the findings of fact you may remand
16:00:48 back to the hearing officer, or if you find fault with one
16:00:51 of the conclusions of law, reject or modify that and direct
16:00:55 it to come back with a new ordinance.
16:00:56 At this point City Council will be reviewing that on the
16:01:01 recommended order itself without public discussion according
16:01:04 to your rules unless City Council identifies something in
16:01:07 the order that was either a matter introduced into the
16:01:12 record that the hearing officer did not address in the order
16:01:14 or that the order contains an a.m. big utility. If there's
16:01:17 no motion to do that, then the next step Bob to have a
16:01:21 motion to adopt, remand or modify the order.
16:01:25 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
16:01:26 Pleasure of City Council?
16:01:33 >> I make a motion to adopt the recommended order.
16:01:36 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Second.
16:01:37 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
16:01:37 >>REBECCA KERT: Technically there was no need to open the
16:01:48 public hearing because you had to make a motion to do that.
16:01:52 >>FRANK REDDICK: Right.
16:01:54 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you for the interjection.
16:01:57 >>FRANK REDDICK: We have a motion by Mr. Cohen and second by
16:02:01 Mr. Miranda.
16:02:03 Any discussion on the motion?
16:02:05 All in favor of the motion say aye.
16:02:08 Opposed? Motion carried.
16:02:09 Any other action we need to take?
16:02:11 >>REBECCA KERT: No, thank you.
16:02:15 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
16:02:16 Thank you.
16:02:17 Information reports, new business at this time?
16:02:19 Mr. Miranda.
16:02:20 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I have a couple.
16:02:22 I need a motion, make a motion to present a commendation to
16:02:26 Juan T. Vazuez Martin, Cuban abstract painter, who has shown
16:02:31 his art work in Cuba, United States, Italy, Spain,
16:02:36 Nicaragua, Denmark, Chile, Czechoslovakia, Colombia,
16:02:40 Algeria, Brazil and United Kingdom. I would like to have
16:02:44 this done if I may.
16:02:45 He's leaving the country in a very short time, August
16:02:48 27th.
16:02:48 >> Second.
16:02:49 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have a motion from Mr. Miranda.
16:02:51 Seconded by Mr. Maniscalco.
16:02:53 All in favor say aye.
16:02:54 Opposed? Okay.
16:02:55 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: And the second, I read an article by a
16:02:58 gentleman I have known for a while and I think all of us,
16:03:01 who stood up for the handicapped, people parking in
16:03:04 handicapped.
16:03:05 I would like to give a commendation of courage to Robert
16:03:07 Rowen.
16:03:08 >>FRANK REDDICK: Motion from Mr. Miranda.
16:03:10 Seconded by Mrs. Montelione.
16:03:11 All in favor say aye.
16:03:12 Opposed?
16:03:13 All right.
16:03:15 Mr. Suarez.
16:03:15 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I just have one item.
16:03:17 That is to clarify the reason for the special called meeting
16:03:21 that we have set for August 20th at 9:30 p.m.
16:03:25 It is to have a detailed discussion for changing the comp
16:03:28 plan to update comp plan revisions with the Planning
16:03:31 Commission staff.
16:03:32 So at 9:30 a.m.
16:03:36 I apologize.
16:03:37 >> You said p.m.
16:03:42 >> And change on our agenda so we have clarification.
16:03:46 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Second.
16:03:47 >>FRANK REDDICK: Motion by Mr. Suarez.
16:03:49 Second by Mr. Miranda.
16:03:50 All in favor? Opposed?
16:03:52 Motion carried.
16:03:53 Anything else?
16:03:54 Mrs. Capin.
16:03:55 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Yes, just an announcement, but probably a
16:04:02 commendation.
16:04:03 We have the Florida Aquarium has entered into a partnership
16:04:06 with the Cuba coral of the Cuba national aquarium studying
16:04:13 the coral reef, doing coral research which our Florida
16:04:17 Aquarium is a leader in.
16:04:20 And I'm very proud to say that I sat on that board, and they
16:04:28 have an excellent chairman of the board, and the director of
16:04:33 the aquarium.
16:04:34 So, again, I am not going to ask for the commendation now
16:04:43 but later on.
16:04:44 I know -- I want to say kudos to them for moving forward and
16:04:50 actually they went ahead and visited Cuba and did get this
16:05:08 very important partnership for our city.
16:05:13 Thank you.
16:05:14 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
16:05:16 Mr. Cohen.
16:05:16 >>HARRY COHEN: Just one item, Mr. Chair.
16:05:19 I would like to get a staff report from the Parks and
16:05:21 Recreation Department on September 17th at 9 a.m.
16:05:26 That would be a motion for that, to ask them to report back
16:05:29 to us on the program that they had this summer keeping the
16:05:33 parks open until midnight, tell us about how it went now
16:05:37 that the summer is over, what it cost, how many people
16:05:39 actually took advantage of the program, and whether or not
16:05:43 they are considering the same type of program for next year
16:05:46 and what they learned this year that might inform the way of
16:05:48 that they would run that program in the future.
16:05:50 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have a motion by Mr. Cohen, seconded by
16:05:52 Mr. Miranda.
16:05:53 All in favor of the motion say aye.
16:05:55 Opposed?
16:05:56 Motion carried.
16:05:56 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I have one item.
16:06:00 I move that the Tampa City Council prepare a resolution
16:06:02 encouraging Congress to enact House Joint resolution 47 that
16:06:08 would be supporting the establishment of a presidential
16:06:10 youth council and encourage President Obama's administration
16:06:13 to establish a presidential youth council.
16:06:19 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have a motion by Mr. Maniscalco.
16:06:21 Seconded by Mr. Cohen.
16:06:23 All in favor of the motion?
16:06:24 Opposed?
16:06:27 That's why you stayed around all this time?
16:06:31 (Laughter)
16:06:39 I wondered why you were here all this time.
16:06:42 Mrs. Montelione?
16:06:46 Do you have the microphone on?
16:06:48 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: August 27th.
16:06:55 >>LISA MONTELIONE: No new business, sir.
16:07:09 >>FRANK REDDICK: I have a motion by Mr. Suarez, second by
16:07:11 Mr. Cohen.
16:07:12 All in favor say aye.
16:07:13 Opposed?
16:07:14 All right.
16:07:15 Thank you.
16:07:15 No one wishing to speak at this time, we stand adjourned.
16:07:20 Thank you.
16:07:20
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