CITY OF TAMPA CRA MEETING
February 11, 2016
9:00 a.m.
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09:03:08 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Call the CRA meeting to order.
09:03:10 And, Councilman Suarez, please.
09:03:23 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Thank you, ma'am.
09:03:24 I'd like to introduce our speaker to do our invocation
09:03:29 today, is the Reverend Bruce Toms, a senior pastor of
09:03:33 Palma Ceia United Methodist Church in south Tampa and a
09:03:36 native of Florida, born and raised in Kissimmee.
09:03:38 He graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland,
09:03:40 Florida, with a BS in political science and Asbury
09:03:44 Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky with a master
09:03:48 of divinity.
09:03:49 He began his ministry at Palma Ceia in July 2012.
09:03:53 Bruce is married to Lynn Price Toms and they have three
09:03:55 married children and believe it not, there's not that
09:03:58 many political science majors I know of that become
09:04:01 divinity students and eventually pastors.
09:04:03 Me being one of them.
09:04:04 Please, everyone, rise for the invocation, standing for
09:04:08 the Pledge of Allegiance.
09:04:09 >> My first love is politics.
09:04:12 Let's pray together.
09:04:13 Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings of your
09:04:20 created order.
09:04:21 The air we breathe and the water we drink.
09:04:23 And we give thanks for the nation we live and the
09:04:26 freedoms we enjoy.
09:04:28 We give thanks for the rule of law and social order.
09:04:30 We give thanks for the City Council members who are
09:04:34 responsive to the residents they serve.
09:04:36 When we consider our blessings, we are mindful to care
09:04:40 for those less fortunate who haven't the ability to
09:04:42 improve their condition.
09:04:43 All our freedoms, we are mindful of those who have given
09:04:48 the ultimate sacrifice to maintain our way of life.
09:04:51 And we pray for men and women in uniform today,
09:04:54 especially those deployed in very dangerous areas of the
09:04:58 world.
09:04:58 And all our blessings and favor we still depend upon your
09:05:02 help and guidance.
09:05:03 So we lift our petitions to you and we pray for our
09:05:06 leaders, the leaders of our nation and our state and of
09:05:10 our great city.
09:05:11 And we pray for these councilmen and women, guide them in
09:05:15 their wisdom, in your wisdom, give them strength and
09:05:20 enliven their spirits and encourage their hearts.
09:05:23 Bless now the proceedings of this City Council meeting.
09:05:25 Amen.
09:05:26 [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
09:05:31 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you, Councilman Suarez.
09:05:46 Roll call.
09:05:48 [Roll Call]
09:05:51 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Here.
09:05:52 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Here.
09:05:54 >>HARRY COHEN: Here.
09:05:56 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Here.
09:05:57 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Here.
09:05:58 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Present.
09:06:00 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
09:06:00 [Inaudible]
09:06:05 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Good, glad to hear that our monthly
09:06:07 report, CAC representative, the divine Evangeline Best is
09:06:13 back with us.
09:06:14 >> Good morning.
09:06:24 The typical part of my life since I came back to you all
09:06:27 as chairman of East Tampa.
09:06:31 Always something going on in East Tampa.
09:06:32 I am Evangeline Best, the chair of East Tampa.
09:06:36 And I want to say first to City Council, thank you for
09:06:40 allowing us to bring you up to date on East Tampa.
09:06:43 I could sum it up with just one word, a couple words and
09:06:47 saying we got it together.
09:06:49 We are coming back and we are united.
09:06:55 More than anything I would like to share with you all is
09:06:58 that the residents have been very responsive to me.
09:07:02 All the phone calls that I've made and emails, they are
09:07:06 just showing up and coming back.
09:07:08 And behind the scene, you know, there's always some
09:07:11 people that kind of keep you together.
09:07:13 And I have to stop this moment and just say I want to
09:07:17 recognize Ed Johnson, who I know he's probably got a few
09:07:21 gray hairs since I've been aboard.
09:07:24 And Michelle at the ballpark at our last meeting, last
09:07:30 Tuesday, she was excellent.
09:07:32 And I can't say enough for Eva.
09:07:35 She tries to keep me on track as the secretary.
09:07:38 And that's kind of hard for me.
09:07:39 But I'm trying to learn to get back in line with that.
09:07:43 But she has exceptional in terms of just trying to help
09:07:46 me out and guide me.
09:07:48 I have with me, I see some other persons I did invite my
09:07:53 team.
09:07:53 I really felt that's what you all needed to see.
09:07:56 Some of them are working, as you know, and some could not
09:07:59 be here.
09:08:00 But we will be sending you the list of all the chairs of
09:08:07 the standing committees.
09:08:08 They're all full.
09:08:09 You need to know, they're already in operation.
09:08:12 And they are, some have had their meetings and have given
09:08:17 reports at our last meeting on Tuesday night.
09:08:19 If I just want to pause for a moment and highlight the
09:08:25 three meetings that we have had, we held a meeting in
09:08:28 October.
09:08:29 We were running close to 30 some people.
09:08:33 In November, we went to 45 persons in attendance.
09:08:37 And last Tuesday, we had over 39 persons in attendance.
09:08:41 So I see that momentum and interest is there.
09:08:43 And people want to just jump on board and see how they
09:08:46 can help out.
09:08:47 More than anything, I want to say last Tuesday, and I
09:08:50 keep referring to that meeting, because we felt like the
09:08:54 be community response to Michelle and what is the hidden
09:09:00 thing about this is that Ed has said repeatedly exactly
09:09:03 the same thing in terms of bringing the community back
09:09:08 and reviewing everything that we have accomplished since
09:09:12 2003 and 4.
09:09:14 And he's done it his way and given them actual hands out.
09:09:18 He's given the handout of our plan, where you find it.
09:09:21 He has given the plan in terms of our strategic plan and
09:09:25 so it's just, we have been like being reeducated again to
09:09:28 make sure we all know where we are trying to go.
09:09:31 But Michelle, I don't know what she did or what spirit
09:09:34 she was in, but it was like we had a revival.
09:09:37 And it was very uplifting and when she finished, she
09:09:42 didn't understand why everybody was just applauding her
09:09:44 and applauding her.
09:09:46 And I'm like wow, thank you.
09:09:48 Sometime you have to keep repeating the same thing
09:09:50 because we all don't hear and do what we want -- we don't
09:09:55 get to hear what we want to hear at the same time.
09:09:57 And I just want to say, Michelle, you knocked the ball
09:10:01 out of the ballpark for us, okay?
09:10:04 The other thing that I'm real excited about is that we
09:10:08 had for the first time an orientation of all the advisory
09:10:12 members sitting together with all the chairmans of the
09:10:17 committee.
09:10:17 We had over 49 persons present.
09:10:20 And the comments was that they really more than anything
09:10:24 else, ya'll might lose Ed to a speaking engagement
09:10:28 because the comments was all about how Ed tells the story
09:10:31 about East Tampa.
09:10:32 He walked back and went step by step, who we are, what we
09:10:37 have represented, all the ingredients that you need.
09:10:41 And hands out was given to them in terms of the size of
09:10:45 the CRA, all the association presidents, what the
09:10:49 committees were all about.
09:10:51 But he was narrating this story.
09:10:54 And even though I told him personally, I told him some of
09:10:57 the comments were wow, we didn't know East Tampa was that
09:11:01 large.
09:11:02 We didn't know that you all was that organized.
09:11:04 We didn't know that you've accomplished so much.
09:11:06 And because these are some new person that is have come
09:11:09 on board.
09:11:10 But it left with a very uplifting kind of attitude.
09:11:13 My role was to make sure that every one of the old and
09:11:18 new members knew what was going to be the expectation of
09:11:21 them in their role as chairman.
09:11:22 And what the expectation and how they were going to
09:11:26 follow certain things that we have had in place over the
09:11:28 years.
09:11:29 And everybody agreed to it.
09:11:31 They signed off.
09:11:32 And it was just a good fellowship time.
09:11:34 In closing, what I want to say because I want to know if
09:11:38 you want to me some specific questions, I just want you
09:11:41 to know that we are on the road to going forward.
09:11:45 We realize with the help of Ed that right now, we don't
09:11:48 have the money because you know, East Tampa been known to
09:11:51 have money, but we know when the downfall came, it
09:11:53 affected all the CRAs.
09:11:55 But, we are hopeful and we know where we are to go next.
09:12:00 And that's what is important.
09:12:02 And all the committees are going to say the same thing.
09:12:05 These are the projects that we're going to be on.
09:12:08 People will come back and want to be a part of something,
09:12:11 they know I'm going to be doing this, I'm going to be
09:12:13 working on something to see this happen in East Tampa.
09:12:16 I would like to pause, I do see my die-hard, reliable
09:12:20 vice chair, Denise.
09:12:23 Is here.
09:12:24 And you all have seen that favorite face, especially
09:12:28 during the Christmastime.
09:12:29 She makes sure you all know about her and what we have
09:12:31 done and that has been very successful and will continue
09:12:34 to be successful.
09:12:35 New to us is Gwen Meyers.
09:12:37 Who is going to be what we are depending on her to just
09:12:41 bring us, bring the new members back together.
09:12:43 And all the old and new and she's going to be working
09:12:46 with a committee to make that happen.
09:12:50 I think, I covered the things that I think you need to
09:12:54 know and what you want to know about.
09:12:56 If there are some questions, I'm here to answer, I can
09:12:59 always refer to Ed.
09:13:01 [ Laughter ]
09:13:02 >> I.
09:13:04 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you for that report.
09:13:05 Any questions?
09:13:06 Ms. Montelione.
09:13:08 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Good morning.
09:13:09 Pleasure to see you.
09:13:09 So I wanted to know what your secret is to having 49
09:13:13 people show up for a community meeting, because so many
09:13:16 communities struggle to have people come to meetings,
09:13:21 especially busy, you know, lives and get in the way.
09:13:25 So what's your secret sauce?
09:13:27 >> It's a lot of work.
09:13:29 I can make it sound cute.
09:13:32 No, no, no.
09:13:33 From the moment I close the meeting, I start personally
09:13:36 working on those persons that I know personally, and it's
09:13:40 a personal thank you for you coming and would you bring
09:13:42 one other person?
09:13:43 And that is what all the committees are doing now.
09:13:45 It is that personal touch, phone call, Denise called out
09:13:52 last month, last night, that she was really expecting
09:13:57 three of those persons that she had spent time calling,
09:14:01 doing recruitment and none of them showed.
09:14:03 But they don't realize, they're going to get more phone
09:14:06 calls.
09:14:06 We're going to keep doing it till we get them in the
09:14:08 door.
09:14:08 It's a lot of work, but we believe in East Tampa that the
09:14:12 residents are the real clue to the success of where we
09:14:16 are trying to go.
09:14:17 We can go and do all these nice things and say what a few
09:14:21 persons have said in the past, but if you don't have a
09:14:24 buy-in from the community, you're wasting your time.
09:14:27 I've found that to be true over the years.
09:14:31 I'm doing the same things that I did before.
09:14:33 It's worked.
09:14:34 It's work, it's work, I love it because I was born and
09:14:40 raised in East Tampa.
09:14:41 Educated in East Tampa.
09:14:42 Only place I have known that help me become the person
09:14:45 that I am are the residents of East Tampa.
09:14:50 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Persistence, I guess is key.
09:14:52 Persistence.
09:14:53 My last question is, what do you see as the biggest
09:14:58 challenge or the one that you're going to tackle first?
09:15:02 >> Membership.
09:15:02 And organization.
09:15:04 Making sure everybody that I consider the leadership, my
09:15:10 leadership team consists of the advisory committee, the
09:15:15 chairmans of all the committees, and the most powerful
09:15:18 group of residents, leadership and I see no difference
09:15:23 than an association and the crime watch.
09:15:27 And bringing them all together and saying you're my front
09:15:30 line person.
09:15:30 I'm the last person you get to.
09:15:32 And just sell the program.
09:15:34 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Thank you very much.
09:15:35 Thank you for your work.
09:15:37 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Council Reddick, or chairman Reddick.
09:15:41 >>FRANK REDDICK: Whatever.
09:15:41 Good morning, how you doing?
09:15:47 My question is for Ed.
09:15:49 Mr. Johnson.
09:15:53 >> I can't hear you.
09:15:54 >>FRANK REDDICK: For Ed Johnson.
09:15:56 >> I'll step aside.
09:15:58 >> No, you can come back.
09:15:59 Just want to ask him a question.
09:16:03 >> Good morning, Ed Johnson, CRA manager.
09:16:06 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mr. Johnson, Ms. Best have given some
09:16:09 indication about the organization and structure for East
09:16:11 Tampa, as she would like to see things move forward in a
09:16:19 positive way.
09:16:20 CRA focus as always been economic development.
09:16:26 >> That's true.
09:16:27 >>FRANK REDDICK: And even though we can have the
09:16:31 organization structured and all the things in place, what
09:16:34 is the current plan for economic development in East
09:16:38 Tampa?
09:16:40 Because there's been a downsize in last few years.
09:16:44 So what is the current plans for economic development in
09:16:48 East Tampa that will allow you and allow the East Tampa
09:16:51 residents and the partnership to generate that tax base
09:16:55 that they need?
09:16:57 >> Well, I hear you say that over the last several years,
09:17:02 we have been in the downside.
09:17:04 I beg to differ.
09:17:05 I think we have seen tremendous amount of economic
09:17:10 development happening in East Tampa.
09:17:12 You just had the last, this last summer, you just had a
09:17:16 Walmart store that just opened and hired 200 folks, about
09:17:22 40 or 50 students from Middleton high school.
09:17:25 You have continued growth along Hillsborough Avenue,
09:17:29 because that is the commercial corridor of the CRA.
09:17:32 There's been continuous development there.
09:17:36 There has been several projects that have the last
09:17:41 several years and we're going to continue to sell East
09:17:43 Tampa to the private sector developers to continue to
09:17:45 look for potential.
09:17:48 We're still in the acquisition phase along 22nd
09:17:52 street.
09:17:52 Over the years we have purchased property there and we're
09:17:54 continuing to talk to potential developers.
09:17:58 We still have a dream to bring a grocery store to that
09:18:01 part of the community.
09:18:02 We're still working with the private sector development
09:18:06 folks looking at, looking at the potential to bring a
09:18:10 smaller scale grocery store to that corridor.
09:18:13 Along a 50th street, there's been development along that
09:18:17 corridor.
09:18:18 There's been some small development along Nebraska
09:18:21 Avenue, where you've seen a lot of rehab, a lot of older
09:18:26 structures.
09:18:26 So we believe that the growth is still happening.
09:18:29 Our ad valorem tax base is increasing again, as you saw
09:18:33 in the last budget.
09:18:35 So, you know, our mission is to continue to market the
09:18:38 community and that's what we're going to continue to do.
09:18:40 Thought only here locally but around the country.
09:18:45 >>FRANK REDDICK: Let me just say this.
09:18:46 You mentioned one example.
09:18:48 That's the Walmart.
09:18:49 The Walmart I was a part of as well.
09:18:54 But you have not given any specifics government, economic
09:18:59 development, except Walmart.
09:19:01 Give me so prime examples of how you're generating an
09:19:05 increase in tax base in East Tampa.
09:19:07 Besides saying Walmart.
09:19:11 We all know about Walmart.
09:19:12 >> New housing development.
09:19:13 There's new construction going on in the community as we
09:19:16 speak.
09:19:16 Those properties that get built and get sold increase the
09:19:20 tax base.
09:19:21 We have two projects that are, that have been funded by
09:19:28 community development financial institutions in our local
09:19:31 community.
09:19:32 You have got one on 34th street, which is going to be a
09:19:34 13-unit single-family development that is already on the
09:19:39 drawing boards.
09:19:40 Already has funding for.
09:19:41 So, these are things that are happening every day.
09:19:44 So, you know, I think that if you just sit back and watch
09:19:50 the development take place, you'll see it.
09:19:52 And you'll see the tax basin crease over time.
09:19:55 >>FRANK REDDICK: My last question, Madam Chair, is, what
09:19:59 is the budget for East Tampa?
09:20:03 >> FY16 budget is little over half a million dollars.
09:20:06 >>FRANK REDDICK: And what was the previous budget in '15?
09:20:12 >> '15 was little over 400,000.
09:20:14 So it's continuing to increase.
09:20:17 As you recall, when the market fell apart, we went below
09:20:21 the base year.
09:20:22 We actually owed the CRA.
09:20:24 And we have come out of that.
09:20:26 And it's steadily increasing, not decreasing.
09:20:31 So, if you read the newspapers here recently, there's,
09:20:36 there has been comments about increases in property
09:20:40 values again for the upcoming year.
09:20:42 So, we anticipate that we'll see another bump going up
09:20:46 again, based on new sales of properties.
09:20:50 That's what generates the ad valorem taxes in our
09:20:54 community.
09:20:55 New construction.
09:20:56 We have, as I said, two projects that are going to be
09:20:59 coming out of the ground and we have a couple that are in
09:21:02 the pipeline already.
09:21:04 I got an email yesterday from a lender that is working
09:21:09 with a client to build 20 units of single-family housing,
09:21:14 new construction, in the Osborne, or excuse me, west of
09:21:21 22nd street area, on the three acre tract.
09:21:23 So we're seeing little by little by little the return of
09:21:28 new housing construction.
09:21:29 So, that's where we're going to get the biggest push
09:21:32 right now is going to come from new sales and the sales
09:21:35 of other properties that obviously increase the tax base.
09:21:40 So, I think you'll see in the next year, you'll see a
09:21:43 steady increase in our CRA dollars.
09:21:46 Which then we can start devoting more of those dollars to
09:21:50 infrastructure projects.
09:21:52 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
09:21:52 Well, when I read the minutes of the East Tampa
09:21:57 partnership, why doesn't the minutes reflect what you
09:22:01 just said?
09:22:03 >> As you recall, you served on one of those
09:22:08 subcommittees in East Tampa for a number of years.
09:22:11 Those subcommittees, there's a number of them that are
09:22:16 highly devoted towards social service programs.
09:22:18 Social service programs are not eligible for funding
09:22:22 under the CRA.
09:22:23 Remember, you have 17 registered neighborhood
09:22:27 associations in East Tampa.
09:22:28 Their main concern are social service programs.
09:22:32 We allow those subcommittees to meet, have those
09:22:35 discussions, look for opportunities other than the TIF,
09:22:42 but the idea is that the community is working together as
09:22:46 a cohesive unit.
09:22:49 >>FRANK REDDICK: But you're not answering the question.
09:22:51 The question is, do you give a report to the --
09:22:54 >> Yes, we do.
09:22:56 >>FRANK REDDICK: Then what you just said to this Council,
09:22:58 this CRA board, why those comments not reflected in the
09:23:02 minutes?
09:23:04 >> It's reflective on I'm asked to present.
09:23:07 >>FRANK REDDICK: When you're asked to present?
09:23:09 >> When I'm asked to present.
09:23:11 >>FRANK REDDICK: You're not presenting at each monthly
09:23:13 meeting?
09:23:14 >> No, I do not.
09:23:15 Remember, the partnership is a partnership of those
09:23:17 organizations.
09:23:17 It's not a city organization.
09:23:20 It's a community organization.
09:23:22 [talking simultaneously]
09:23:30 >>FRANK REDDICK: That's not way it works.
09:23:33 You don't have to explain to it me.
09:23:35 I was part of the original partnership.
09:23:36 You don't have to explain it to me.
09:23:37 But, every partnership meeting, since you the focus, you
09:23:42 the face or city at the meeting with these developers and
09:23:46 petition these developers, you owe those citizens who sit
09:23:50 on those committees, sit as a part of the partnership, on
09:23:54 any negotiations deal that you might be at predicating on
09:23:59 behalf of the partnership.
09:23:59 Now, if you, for you to sit here and tell me today that
09:24:03 you don't give no report unless they ask you, you're
09:24:09 doing a disservice to the people because you should be
09:24:13 giving a report.
09:24:14 If you're meeting with developers about projects on
09:24:16 50th street, 34th street, 27th street and the partnership
09:24:20 people don't know about it because you're not sharing it,
09:24:22 unless they ask you, then that's a problem.
09:24:25 So, I'm asking, these people should be informed.
09:24:31 And they should know what's going on.
09:24:33 And when I served on the partnership, you had a report
09:24:42 and it wasn't when we asked you, you were part of that
09:24:45 agenda for a report.
09:24:47 So, I'm just going to say here today, you might be moving
09:24:56 forward and generating ad valorem taxes and more income
09:24:58 for the East Tampa partnership.
09:25:01 And for the residents of East Tampa.
09:25:03 But you cannot independently be out there negotiating and
09:25:09 not sharing it with the people who represent East Tampa.
09:25:12 And that's my point.
09:25:14 I'm through, Madam Chair.
09:25:17 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you, Councilman Reddick.
09:25:20 All good questions.
09:25:21 Now, I have one myself.
09:25:22 On that note of the partnership is not -- is a community
09:25:32 organization as opposed to the CRA, which is a city
09:25:35 organization.
09:25:37 I receive and I think all of us on Council receive a
09:25:41 courtesy report every month from a member of the Planning
09:25:47 Commission that we appointed.
09:25:49 Maybe that would be advantageous, a courtesy report to
09:25:56 these different community organizations.
09:26:01 You know, they're a big part of what happens in East
09:26:03 Tampa.
09:26:04 It's just a suggestion.
09:26:05 And may go a long way.
09:26:08 The other thing I want to bring up is, when did Fifth
09:26:12 Third Bank open in East Tampa?
09:26:15 Was it in 2010?
09:26:17 '11?
09:26:20 >> 2010, I believe it was.
09:26:22 >>YVONNE CAPIN: And their report immediately was stellar.
09:26:25 Are they part, when you talk about a supermarket in East
09:26:29 Tampa, is Fifth Third Bank part of that conversation to
09:26:35 encourage whatever superintendents you're talking to, to
09:26:39 report exactly what happened at fifth third when they
09:26:42 opened their bank and the deposits that went in there and
09:26:46 how successful it was?
09:26:49 >> Not directly, no.
09:26:51 >>YVONNE CAPIN: It's really importance because a lot of
09:26:52 the supermarkets, you know, they may be looking at the
09:26:56 demographics and it is a working class neighborhood.
09:27:00 But working class people spend lots of money at grocery
09:27:03 stores.
09:27:03 So Fifth Third Bank realized this.
09:27:07 Their paychecks and their expenses go through there.
09:27:10 I remember that report.
09:27:11 I remember it being, they were just so pleased.
09:27:16 So anyway, it's something to consider, I think, you know,
09:27:21 a success leading with -- I don't know what grocery
09:27:25 stores or supermarkets are being courted, but it's just a
09:27:30 suggestion on my part.
09:27:31 Thank you very much for your report.
09:27:33 And Evangeline, so good to see you again.
09:27:38 Thank you.
09:27:39 >> Thank you.
09:27:40 >>YVONNE CAPIN: We move on to, oh, monthly report.
09:27:44 Imagine that.
09:27:45 Mr. Bob McDonaugh.
09:27:50 >>MR. McDONAUGH: Good morning.
09:27:50 You should shortly receive I think the East Tampa
09:27:53 newsletter, which is sent out regularly, which has
09:27:56 updates on East Tampa economic development news, which is
09:27:59 sent to everyone in the community.
09:28:01 So, there is a process.
09:28:04 Just a couple things, this morning, you should have
09:28:07 received invitations to a groundbreaking at 9:15 Franklin
09:28:11 street.
09:28:11 If I speak very quickly, we might be able to go to it.
09:28:15 [ Laughter ]
09:28:16 >>MR. McDONAUGH: That is by Carter and associates on
09:28:18 Franklin street.
09:28:19 The site of the former Grant block.
09:28:21 And it fills in an important part of Franklin street.
09:28:25 So if we can, I encourage everyone to attend please.
09:28:28 We have a ribbon cutting coming up on the 23rd for Ashley
09:28:32 furniture.
09:28:33 Their e-commerce division which is locating in central
09:28:37 Ybor.
09:28:37 Which Ashley furniture now is one of the owners of, and
09:28:40 it's a hundred very important jobs, tech jobs for Ybor
09:28:42 City.
09:28:43 We have the Knight parade coming this Saturday night.
09:28:47 And as you read in the newspaper, we have issued building
09:28:52 permits for the Publix in the Channel District.
09:28:54 They will not begin construction on that until the high
09:28:56 rise is well along the way.
09:28:58 But the permits for that building is scheduled to be
09:29:00 issued later this week.
09:29:02 So those are two very important projects for our urban
09:29:05 core.
09:29:06 I have a fairly truncated report this month, again,
09:29:12 because I'm seeing if we can't attend that
09:29:14 groundbreaking.
09:29:15 Questions?
09:29:16 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Question?
09:29:17 No questions.
09:29:19 >>MR. McDONAUGH: Thank you.
09:29:21 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Okay.
09:29:22 We move on to public comments.
09:29:25 Three minutes per speaker.
09:29:27 On any matter on the agenda.
09:29:29 I see someone coming up.
09:29:35 >> Good morning, everyone.
09:29:37 My name is Denise James.
09:29:40 I am vice chair of the East Tampa partnership.
09:29:44 Also chair of the aesthetics and beautification
09:29:47 subcommittee.
09:29:48 One of the things I'd like to invite you all, for the
09:29:52 first time we have a salute to black history at the
09:29:54 Florida state fair.
09:29:55 And that's significant to me, especially because I, my
09:30:00 committee has a collaboration with the art students at
09:30:03 Middleton.
09:30:05 And one of their very first projects, we took them on bus
09:30:09 tours of the city because many of the students that come
09:30:12 into the schools are bussed in from other areas.
09:30:15 So, this has been going on for several years now, but a
09:30:19 few years ago we did take them on a bus tour of East
09:30:22 Tampa, among other places, and showed them the great
09:30:26 things that we have in East Tampa.
09:30:29 And they decided to duplicate the mural that we have at
09:30:34 the roundabout on 22nd.
09:30:37 That will mural is on display at the Florida state fair.
09:30:41 It's a huge -- it's really very huge.
09:30:45 And I hope -- we're very proud, the students who did that
09:30:49 mural are very proud and we'd like for you to see their
09:30:52 work.
09:30:55 Our next mural, which you will receive information on the
09:30:57 ribbon cutting, will be on a Tampa's own legend, former
09:31:02 Middletonian, former Middleton student, former Olympian
09:31:05 and our own Tampa living legend Theresa Manuel.
09:31:12 That's the mural students are working on now.
09:31:15 Mr. Reddick, I want to thank you very much for attending
09:31:17 the ribbon cutting that we.
09:31:19 As last year, and -- yes, was last year.
09:31:25 You all will be getting invitations to this and I hope
09:31:28 you can arrange your schedules to plan to attend.
09:31:31 And if you can, please try and go by the fair to see that
09:31:35 mural, among the other beautiful pictures and drawings
09:31:39 and renderings of black history.
09:31:41 Thank you so much.
09:31:43 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
09:31:49 >> Okay.
09:31:50 I'm Ed Tillou, Sulphur Springs, guess you'd say Sulphur
09:31:57 Springs shooting gallery.
09:31:59 Yeah, okay, I spoke, isle I'd like to really wrap up
09:32:09 about pedestrian fatalities which affect a lot of the
09:32:12 neighborhoods because this matter of addressing things,
09:32:16 items on the agenda did remind me that there should be a
09:32:22 crisscross, I guess what would you call it?
09:32:25 There's a computer program that does this.
09:32:28 But anyway, not just like turning cars versus other kinds
09:32:35 of identification of what's causing the pedestrian
09:32:38 fatalities.
09:32:39 But also to what neighborhoods they're in.
09:32:42 Many of the neighborhoods of course the CRAs, but then
09:32:45 some aren't, like for instance, Sulphur Spring isn't.
09:32:47 So, like Sulphur Spring right now has problem of nutty
09:32:53 people getting firearms.
09:32:55 So, it's just more of the same.
09:32:57 Okay.
09:32:59 With respect to pedestrian fatalities, useful thing.
09:33:03 This is from California.
09:33:04 These are bounce spots, they're on the streets.
09:33:07 The way this would be tackled in California, they try to
09:33:10 find why they're not sticking, but here in Florida, they
09:33:13 would say, oh, well, we tried that and it didn't work.
09:33:16 These work.
09:33:16 They work very well in California.
09:33:18 They keep traffic in their lanes.
09:33:21 Which is a thing.
09:33:22 There's a ticket for improper turn.
09:33:25 I got one of them once over in Pinellas County when the
09:33:27 Pinellas County sheriff's department wanted new police
09:33:31 cars.
09:33:31 I didn't really do it.
09:33:33 But okay.
09:33:34 Over here lots of people do improper turns.
09:33:37 They drift across three and four lanes.
09:33:39 When you're a pedestrian, how do you deal with that?
09:33:42 So anyway, bounce stops, maybe it's a glue problem.
09:33:46 You know, but anyway, picked up the pavement on this one.
09:33:50 That's a smaller part of this.
09:33:54 But roadways, but that's mostly downtown.
09:33:58 So, downtown is on the agenda today.
09:34:02 But here's some new things being tried.
09:34:07 Little water taxis.
09:34:09 Clearwater is thinking about aerial cable cars.
09:34:13 So you got to start thinking about these new things.
09:34:16 As opposed to things like the TBX.
09:34:19 People are starting to organize.
09:34:24 I've shared with them, I think the only thing that's
09:34:27 going to stop the TBX is to start recall petitions.
09:34:31 Rick Scott is going to say what is bothering these
09:34:33 people?
09:34:34 Why do they want me out?
09:34:35 And then they'll say oh, it's, oh, I'll take care of
09:34:39 that.
09:34:40 So anyway, we're supposed to have lead in our water
09:34:45 because it comes from guns.
09:34:47 That's another thing to be concerned about.
09:34:49 But anyway, I can't even get to food and our Mayor.
09:34:59 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
09:34:59 Any other public comments?
09:35:09 Seeing none, we move on to approvals.
09:35:13 Let's move on to number 3.
09:35:19 >> I'm asking for the transfer of funds from two
09:35:22 different accounting -- one in the Channel District and
09:35:26 one in Ybor.
09:35:27 The transfer of funds for the channel districts is for
09:35:33 the previously approved pump station --
09:35:38 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: 2500 for rent.
09:35:42 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Ms. Montelione?
09:35:43 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I think I was going to ask the same
09:35:45 question Mr. Miranda just referenced.
09:35:47 What was the reason for the change in the bidder that was
09:35:52 chosen?
09:35:54 It says that the request is due to a fund increase in
09:36:00 total project cost due to a change in the bidder that was
09:36:03 chosen for the project.
09:36:05 >>MR. McDONAUGH: We chose the bidder and were not able to
09:36:07 come to contractual terms.
09:36:08 We went to the second bidder and he was not able to
09:36:11 comply with our WMBD.
09:36:14 So we're going to re-bid the project.
09:36:17 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So -- so we haven't re-bid it yet?
09:36:22 >>MR. McDONAUGH: No, we're going to do it now.
09:36:23 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And we're increasing the budget, the
09:36:26 project costs?
09:36:28 >>MR. McDONAUGH: No, not yet.
09:36:29 This is to make --
09:36:30 >>LISA MONTELIONE: We anticipate.
09:36:32 >>MR. McDONAUGH: This is to make sure we have sufficient
09:36:33 funds when we rebid the project, yes.
09:36:38 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Well, I guess I'm asking the
09:36:40 rationale, why do we think we need more money?
09:36:44 >>MR. McDONAUGH: We are uncertain if we do.
09:36:46 But contracts management always wants to make sure
09:36:48 there's adequate funding in an account before they go out
09:36:51 to bid for contract.
09:36:52 And so this is to make sure that there is.
09:36:55 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I just sometimes, not all the time,
09:36:59 but sometimes think if the money is available, the amount
09:37:04 of the contract will equal the money available.
09:37:06 Like I said, not all the time.
09:37:09 But there is the occasion where somebody's looking at how
09:37:13 much we have budgeted and they know the parameter for
09:37:16 which their bid might be awarded.
09:37:20 >>MR. McDONAUGH: Which is the specific reason why this is
09:37:22 being re-bid because the third bidder was significantly
09:37:25 higher than the first two.
09:37:26 And so, instead of going to the third bidder, we chose to
09:37:30 go back to the marketplace to get a more competitive bid.
09:37:33 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Thank you.
09:37:35 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Any other questions?
09:37:37 >> I just want to say thank you for doing that, for
09:37:39 thinking ahead.
09:37:40 You know the third bidder was real high.
09:37:42 Now you can el turno a correcto.
09:37:45 [ Laughter ]
09:37:45 I don't know what language that was, but you understood
09:37:51 it.
09:37:56 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Not even.
09:37:57 [ Laughter ]
09:37:58 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I move item number 3.
09:38:03 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Moved by Councilman Miranda, second by
09:38:05 Councilman Suarez.
09:38:06 All in favor?
09:38:07 Opposed?
09:38:10 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Move item number four.
09:38:12 >> Second.
09:38:13 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Resolution, just moving the item.
09:38:17 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Item 4.
09:38:18 Yes.
09:38:18 Moved by Councilman Miranda, second by Suarez.
09:38:22 All in favor.
09:38:25 Thank you, passes both.
09:38:27 >> Move resolution number five.
09:38:29 >> Second.
09:38:30 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you moved by Councilman Cohen.
09:38:34 Second by Councilman Miranda.
09:38:36 All in favor?
09:38:38 Okay.
09:38:39 >> Move resolution 6.
09:38:40 >> Second.
09:38:41 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Moved by Councilman Miranda, second by
09:38:43 Councilman Cohen.
09:38:44 All in favor?
09:38:47 >> Move 7.
09:38:50 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Moved by Councilman Miranda, second by
09:38:52 Councilman Cohen.
09:38:53 All in favor.
09:38:55 >> On number 7 the owner of the property is here and with
09:38:58 your indulgence, I'd like him to come up and speak a
09:39:01 couple words about their project.
09:39:04 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Absolutely .
09:39:05 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: There goes the ribbon cutting.
09:39:07 [ Laughter ]
09:39:07 >> Hello, I'm Dale Hunter, part of Rock Brothers Brewing,
09:39:12 I own the old Greco harbor building.
09:39:17 Very exciting that we're being awarded the grant to help
09:39:19 us further contribute to Ybor's renaissance.
09:39:21 We're very excited to be part of the movement of Ybor
09:39:24 being called Cigar City, maybe now brew city with all the
09:39:28 breweries moving into the area.
09:39:29 We're very excited to be part of the community and
09:39:31 15th street, definitely got a rebirth going on.
09:39:34 A lot of new tenants coming into place.
09:39:37 We're very excited to see Ashley furniture going down the
09:39:41 street from us.
09:39:42 Hope to see them quite a bit at our establishment as
09:39:45 well.
09:39:45 But our facility will be a brewery.
09:39:47 We'll be doing ten thousand barrels per year.
09:39:50 We'll have a tasting room on the bottom floor.
09:39:53 Will be the corner of 15th street and 8th avenue, right
09:39:56 along the trolley line.
09:39:57 And then above that we'll have intimate concert venue for
09:40:01 small acoustic acts, about 150 people.
09:40:04 Will be a very unique experience to Ybor and all of
09:40:07 Florida.
09:40:08 We expect that to be a regional attraction.
09:40:11 So, thank you for your time.
09:40:12 Excited.
09:40:13 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you for coming in to our national
09:40:16 historic district.
09:40:17 Landmark.
09:40:20 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Mr. Hunter?
09:40:21 You didn't say what the name of your business is.
09:40:24 >> I said Dale hunter with rock brothers brewing.
09:40:28 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Rock brothers brewing.
09:40:29 You said it quickly.
09:40:31 So want to make sure.
09:40:33 >> Rock brothers brewing.
09:40:35 >>LISA MONTELIONE: There we go.
09:40:37 >> All our beers are tied in with bands, like rock and
09:40:40 roll.
09:40:41 Some of our clients include high schoolie and the
09:40:43 blowfish, 311, McGee.
09:40:46 They all plan to play at our venue as whelp.
09:40:50 >>LISA MONTELIONE: We look forward to that invitation.
09:40:52 Thank you.
09:40:56 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Anyone else?
09:41:00 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Rockers go pretty good together.
09:41:03 >>YVONNE CAPIN: We have been rocking around here a long
09:41:05 time.
09:41:05 Thank you for that.
09:41:06 Okay, we are on number 8.
09:41:10 Is that what you're putting up here?
09:41:16 >>MR. McDONAUGH: A request for property in Drew Park for
09:41:18 sidewalk improvements.
09:41:20 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Move resolution number 8.
09:41:22 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Moved by Councilman Miranda, second by
09:41:25 Council Maniscalco.
09:41:27 All in favor?
09:41:29 Cap cam passes unanimously.
09:41:30 Thank you.
09:41:31 Information, we move on to information and new business.
09:41:35 [Inaudible]
09:41:39 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I'm sorry, what?
09:41:42 >>MR. McDONAUGH: That concludes my presentation.
09:41:44 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I knew that.
09:41:45 I could tell by your eyes.
09:41:47 [ Laughter ]
09:41:50 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
09:41:51 Yes, we move on to information reports and new business.
09:41:58 Councilman Miranda?
09:42:00 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Thank you.
09:42:01 I just want to report two things.
09:42:03 One, Mayor Greco is doing much better at the hospital
09:42:06 since I first saw him, I heard reports that he's done his
09:42:10 radio, walking and talking good and doing the right
09:42:13 thing.
09:42:14 I saw him twice before when he looked kind of not too
09:42:17 well.
09:42:17 But he's doing great and he's a great guy.
09:42:20 And he's done a lot for the city, a lot more than I have
09:42:24 time to explain.
09:42:24 And also the passing of Fernando Noriega, like I said in
09:42:29 the paper, he was a .300 hitter.
09:42:31 Never became the most valuable person -- that's what P
09:42:33 stands for -- in the city, but did so many things and his
09:42:38 way of doing business, quiet, humble man, individual.
09:42:40 But if you go back, and I'm not going to mention them
09:42:43 because there's too many.
09:42:46 The media has done that already.
09:42:48 Just a great guy and his wife was the same way.
09:42:51 We'll miss both of them.
09:42:52 Thank you, Ms. Chairman.
09:42:54 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Absolutely.
09:42:54 A lovely couple.
09:42:55 Huge loss to our community.
09:42:57 Councilman Suarez?
09:42:59 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Thank you, chair.
09:43:00 Just one thing.
09:43:01 You might see these green and gold balloons around us.
09:43:05 That's to symbolize the fact that we had USF students
09:43:09 here for the first annual USF at city hall.
09:43:14 Bless you.
09:43:14 And we had about 50 students here to talk about city
09:43:18 government.
09:43:19 And government in general.
09:43:20 They lobbied us on certain issues that are important to
09:43:22 them on the USF campus.
09:43:24 Was wonderful to have them there.
09:43:26 Thank you for the participation of all the members here.
09:43:29 I think that they learned a lot.
09:43:30 I think that we learned a lot about what's going on at
09:43:33 USF because of their participation.
09:43:35 So thank you.
09:43:37 >> Go bolts.
09:43:40 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Councilman Reddick?
09:43:41 >>FRANK REDDICK: Nothing.
09:43:43 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Cohen?
09:43:47 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I'd like to second what Council
09:43:49 Miranda said.
09:43:50 A wonderful person, you learn a lot 7 from him.
09:43:53 If I didn't see him and his wife at church, I'd see them
09:43:55 around or stop by his house and I'll always have good
09:43:59 memories.
09:44:00 He's an irreplaceable person from an irreplaceable
09:44:03 generation.
09:44:04 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
09:44:05 Well said.
09:44:08 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Move to receive and file all the
09:44:10 documents.
09:44:11 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Excuse me.
09:44:12 I have something.
09:44:12 I'm just going -- it's just information.
09:44:17 I got a call yesterday about someone driving downtown and
09:44:22 was turning into a parking garage.
09:44:25 And there were people, pedestrians walking along and she
09:44:29 stopped to let them pass.
09:44:31 It happened that where she stopped was on the only place
09:44:35 she could stop to let them by was the bicycle lane.
09:44:39 Bicyclists decided to hit her car because they were upset
09:44:42 that she was stopped on the bicycle lane.
09:44:46 You know?
09:44:47 We need a lot of education around here and courtesy goes
09:44:51 a long, long way.
09:44:52 The people, the pedestrians told her, follow them.
09:44:55 They hit your car.
09:44:56 You know, and she just didn't do it.
09:44:58 She said no.
09:44:59 She wasn't, but the pedestrians saw it.
09:45:01 It was purpose.
09:45:03 And really, this is not the city -- this is not the
09:45:08 representation we want in our city.
09:45:10 So I just want to pass that along.
09:45:12 Thank you.
09:45:15 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Move to receive and file the
09:45:17 documents.
09:45:18 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Moved by Councilman Miranda, second by
09:45:20 Council Maniscalco.
09:45:22 All in favor?
09:45:23 We are adjourned.
09:45:24
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