Tampa City Council
Thursday, March 24, 2016
9:00 a.m. Workshops
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08:50:26
09:03:18 [Sounding gavel]
09:03:19 >>FRANK REDDICK: Good morning.
09:03:20 We are going to call this council meeting to order and yield
09:03:22 to Councilman Suarez.
09:03:24 >>MIKE SUAREZ: It's my pleasure to introduce Rabbi Mendy to
09:03:30 the podium. Rabbi Mendy was raised in Tampa, at 13 years
09:03:34 old, studied in Detroit, New York City.
09:03:38 He interned in Argentina, Ukraine, Israel, across the U.S.
09:03:43 He speaks five languages and believes communication is his
09:03:46 greatest tool, and you will find that out when you see him
09:03:49 walk up today.
09:03:49 For the last seven years, Rabbi Mendy he has directed the
09:03:51 South Tampa branch of the Chabad, the largest Jewish
09:03:54 outreach organization in the world with over 3500 branches
09:03:56 in 80 countries.
09:03:59 Here locally Chabad offers educational programs for adults
09:04:02 and children, community housing celebration, counseling,
09:04:05 life coaching to hundreds of South Tampa residents.
09:04:07 Rabbi Mendy's goal is to help people connect with each other
09:04:12 and their spirituality.
09:04:14 Please stand for the invocation.
09:04:15 Remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
09:04:18 Rabbi, you have a way of telling us exactly why you are
09:04:21 dressed this way.
09:04:22 >> Today is a Jewish holiday, the holiday of Purim, and it
09:04:26 commemorates a celebration that happened in ancient Persia
09:04:34 where the miracle story happened in a disguised manner, so
09:04:38 part of the custom is to disguise yourself.
09:04:44 Let us pray.
09:04:46 Master of the world, look favorably upon this council, the
09:04:49 Tampa City Council.
09:04:50 Bless them with good health, wisdom and compassion that they
09:04:53 may enact just laws according to your will.
09:04:58 Bless our distinguished council members and their families,
09:05:00 let us all recognize that they hold a God-given position,
09:05:02 the performance of one of the universal laws given to Noah,
09:05:06 the father of all humanity, to ensure a peaceful and moral
09:05:07 society governed by rule of law.
09:05:09 Bless our brothers and sisters in law enforcement and the
09:05:12 military who constantly sacrifice for the freedoms we
09:05:15 cherish, protect, and return them all safely to their
09:05:19 families.
09:05:20 Today the Jewish community celebrates the holiday of Purim,
09:05:22 the commemoration of the Jewish people's salvation from a
09:05:26 wicked man named Haman. Haman thought his partnership king
09:05:30 would guarantee him success in annihilating Jewish people
09:05:36 but God showed him who was ultimately in control.
09:05:38 So too today people around the world grieve for the
09:05:40 senseless acts of violence in Belgium, France, and
09:05:46 California, and every day in Israel.
09:05:46 Terrorists believe that victory is at hand and their dream
09:05:47 of a world living in fear under tyranny is soon to become a
09:05:51 reality.
09:05:52 We must remind them that it is God who rules the world, and
09:05:56 just as Haman was defeated, so too they will be vanquished.
09:06:01 Let us learn from this holiday of Purim to find the strength
09:06:05 to stand up for our beliefs, our way of life, our freedom,
09:06:08 let us resolve to be a candle of light and love for all to
09:06:11 see, that we may complete our mission here on earth to
09:06:14 perfect this world under God's sovereignty.
09:06:16 And let us say amen.
09:06:18 [ Pledge of Allegiance ]
09:06:21 >>FRANK REDDICK: Roll call.
09:06:41 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Here.
09:06:43 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Here.
09:06:45 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Present.
09:06:46 >>HARRY COHEN: Here.
09:06:47 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Here.
09:06:49 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Here.
09:06:50 >>FRANK REDDICK: Here.
09:06:52 All right.
09:06:53 We go to ceremonial --
09:06:57 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Excuse me, rabbi, I have to comment on your
09:07:01 outfit.
09:07:02 It's a little bit of Lincoln with a little bit of fun.
09:07:07 Thank you. (Laughter)
09:07:09 >>FRANK REDDICK: We go to ceremonial activity.
09:07:11 Presentation of commendation.
09:07:17 Police Officer of the Month.
09:07:18 Charlie Miranda.
09:07:19 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: It's my pleasure this morning to be here
09:07:28 with you to make eye presentation to officer Scott McLean,
09:07:33 Officer of the Month for March 20716.
09:07:36 I read his bio.
09:07:38 There's things that police officers do, and a lot of times
09:07:41 they do things that go unrecognized.
09:07:44 And sometimes those unrecognizable things are things that
09:07:48 touch the people's hearts the most, and very understanding,
09:07:51 and thinking -- what where did you get that the hair cut?
09:08:02 And doing things for society as a group to make life better
09:08:05 not only the City of Tampa but throughout the world.
09:08:07 And Scott, if I may call you Scott, sometime back, there was
09:08:11 a family that you met in the streets, and they didn't have
09:08:16 housing.
09:08:16 There was seven of them in the total family.
09:08:18 And with your help and your forwardness and leadership and
09:08:23 connections to the system that we have in government, you
09:08:25 were able to secure housing.
09:08:27 And for that, not only for Police Officer of the Month, but
09:08:30 that alone tells me what kind of individual you are, that
09:08:33 you think beyond the badge, you think about helping people,
09:08:36 not pushing them down, helping them up, and we really
09:08:39 appreciate you for that.
09:08:40 And now we have the assistant chief who will talk about how
09:08:44 nice you are.
09:08:45 We already know that.
09:08:46 But I want her to come and do that.
09:08:48 And then we'll do the presentation.
09:08:50 >> Good morning, council.
09:08:53 This is MPO master patrol officer Scott McLean, a proud
09:08:57 25-plus-year veteran of the Tampa Police Department.
09:09:00 So we are thrilled to recognize our senior members of the
09:09:04 department.
09:09:05 He is a member of our bicycle operations response, as you
09:09:10 guys know, we created a bike squad about a year, year and a
09:09:14 half ago which has greatly increased the quality of life in
09:09:17 the downtown area.
09:09:18 They do a fantastic job getting out there and talking to
09:09:21 citizens and talking to the business owners.
09:09:24 But with the creation of a bicycle squad created some issues
09:09:29 that Scott has stepped up to the plate, and he's done a
09:09:32 tremendous job of helping out with, number one, he's like
09:09:37 the lead mechanic on the squad, so if any of the bicycles
09:09:40 have issues, he jumps in and he helps.
09:09:43 He realized that the bike squad needed trailers to transport
09:09:47 the bikes around the city.
09:09:48 When they were going to different events, he took that
09:09:53 proposal very seriously, put it together, and was able to
09:09:56 get a trailer donated to the bike squad so we didn't even
09:10:00 have to pay for it.
09:10:01 That was a great thing.
09:10:03 He served on the bicycle pedestrian advisory committee with
09:10:06 the Hillsborough County board of commissioners, very
09:10:09 dedicated to bicycle safety, creates public safety
09:10:12 announcements, and teaches youth and adults as well on how
09:10:16 to be safe on bicycles.
09:10:18 And then, of course, Mr. Miranda mentioned the homeless
09:10:23 family.
09:10:23 So he goes above and beyond, and he recognized the family
09:10:29 that needed help, and he single-handedly was able to get
09:10:32 them the help that they needed. So with that being said,
09:10:36 everything that he does for the community every day,
09:10:38 everything he does for the Tampa Police Department, we
09:10:40 greatly appreciate it, and we are proud to recognize MPO
09:10:45 Scott McLean as our Officer of the Month this month.
09:10:48 So thank you.
09:10:49 [ Applause ]
09:10:55 >>FRANK REDDICK: State your name for the record.
09:10:56 >> I'm sorry.
09:10:57 Assistant chief Mary O'Connor.
09:10:59 Thank you.
09:11:05 We have presentations for Scott from the community now.
09:11:08 >> Vinny Gericitano, and Vice President Abe Carmack and our
09:11:24 treasurer Eugene Haines.
09:11:24 Scott is a member of the Tampa PBA, member in good standing.
09:11:30 Scott, we appreciate the job you do.
09:11:31 Chief, thank you for recognizing him.
09:11:34 Council, we appreciate you recognizing one of our members.
09:11:38 Scott, I want to present to you now a watch, PBA watch, and
09:11:42 thank you for the job you do and being a great member.
09:11:46 Thank you.
09:11:46 >> Dan Mathis, chief of security at the Straz Center.
09:11:58 Scott, on behalf of the Straz center, we would like to
09:12:01 invite you and your family, four ticket for one of our
09:12:04 Broadway productions, if you have time to round up four
09:12:11 people.
09:12:11 Thank you for the job you do and stay safe doing it.
09:12:14 Thank you.
09:12:16 [ Applause ]
09:12:18 >> Jim carson, Bill Currie Ford.
09:12:22 On behalf of the Currie family, myself, I would like to
09:12:26 present you a brand new 2016 diecast Mustang.
09:12:30 >> Oh, look at that.
09:12:35 Thank you.
09:12:35 >> Linsey walker, Tampa Theatre, on behalf of Tampa Theatre
09:12:45 we would like to offer you a free dual membership for two
09:12:48 people for one year.
09:12:52 Thank you.
09:12:52 >> Stepp's towing service.
09:12:58 As you guys are well aware I pretty much do the same thing
09:13:00 every month.
09:13:01 I try my darndest to learn a bicycle.
09:13:07 We are going to take you out on a night in the town in the
09:13:11 limousine to the Straz Center wherever you want to go.
09:13:15 >> Joe Durkin, Bright House networks.
09:13:28 It is an honor and pleasure for me to come every month.
09:13:31 But it's a true pleasure for me because Scott and I were
09:13:36 working together in the patrol car in East Tampa, and from
09:13:41 all your friends at Bright House networks, make your life a
09:13:44 little easier, one month complimentary of all our services.
09:13:48 Congratulations.
09:13:48 >> Girard Heppner, Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, and Adventure
09:14:00 Island.
09:14:01 On behalf of Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, we honor your
09:14:04 service, the service of our men and women in uniform.
09:14:09 I wish I had taken some bicycle lessons from you; I wouldn't
09:14:09 have broken my collarbones and my ribs. But please come out
09:14:12 to the park with your family.
09:14:14 >> Absolutely.
09:14:18 Thank you.
09:14:18 >> Kelly Nixon from the Doubletree by Hilton, Tampa airport
09:14:27 Westshore.
09:14:28 We would like to have you over to the hotel for a
09:14:32 complimentary weekend stay, and enjoy some world famous
09:14:35 Doubletree cookies.
09:14:36 Thank you.
09:14:37 >> Steve Laberto, Diversity Initiative.
09:14:47 On behalf of our nonprofit we would like to present you with
09:14:50 a pair of tickets to the upcome Bolts game, so you have the
09:14:54 limousine so maybe you can enjoy them all in one night, and
09:14:56 thank you for your outstanding service.
09:14:58 Be safe.
09:14:59 And congratulations.
09:15:00 Have a great day.
09:15:01 >> Marketing and PR manager for the Columbia group of
09:15:12 restaurants.
09:15:13 On behalf of Richard Gonzmart and the Gonzmart family of
09:15:17 restaurants, and Richard Gonzmart is an avid bicyclist
09:15:23 himself, we would like to give you this $100 gift
09:15:27 certificate to any of the Columbia restaurants in Tampa,
09:15:30 Sarasota, Celebration, and St. Augustine.
09:15:33 >> Thank you.
09:15:35 >> My wife will be very happy.
09:15:39 (Laughter)
09:15:42 >> These aren't for you, so when you go home tonight they
09:15:46 are for the person that made it all possible, a dozen roses.
09:15:50 >> Steve Stickley representing Crockett's towing and
09:15:59 transport. On behalf of Scottie and Curt Crockett, we have
09:16:00 a $50 gift card.
09:16:07 Thank you for your service.
09:16:08 >> Good morning.
09:16:12 I think you need a bucket here.
09:16:15 One of the things that happens is when officers notice
09:16:18 things on the street and they take action, that goes above
09:16:21 and beyond the call of duty.
09:16:23 And that's obviously why you are here, and the chief has
09:16:26 recognized you for that.
09:16:27 But it's also the eyes and ears of the public regarding
09:16:30 public safety.
09:16:31 So it just as easily could have been something in and that
09:16:41 makes the difference with the officers who protect us 24/7
09:16:45 and we appreciate you doing that. On behalf of Prestige
09:16:47 Portraits, we will provide you and your family with a
09:16:52 photographic package to have your portraits done.
09:16:54 On behalf of Byblos restaurant enjoy yourself for lunch or
09:16:59 dinner.
09:16:59 On behalf of the Ciccio's restaurant group, Tampa, St.
09:17:05 Petersburg, enjoy yourself for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
09:17:08 Congratulations and thank you very much.
09:17:09 >> Thank you.
09:17:13 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: Chief, stand on this side here.
09:17:22 Scott, we appreciate you very much.
09:17:24 Now it's your turn to come to the mike and tell us why you
09:17:27 do the things you do and how much you like to do as you have
09:17:31 for many years, and many years to come.
09:17:34 >> Officer Scott McLean: Thank you.
09:17:38 There's been a few changes since 1990 when I started this
09:17:41 job but one of the things that is still the same, we work
09:17:45 best when we work as a team.
09:17:47 Teamwork at the Tampa Police Department is by far the best I
09:17:50 have seen of any agency that I have come in contact with
09:17:53 over 25 years in law enforcement.
09:17:55 We are a family.
09:17:56 There's no doubt about that.
09:17:58 So after 25 years I can stand up here, still have a positive
09:18:01 attitude about coming, and I look forward to coming to work
09:18:04 every single day.
09:18:05 I think that says something about who we put in charge of
09:18:08 the department all the way down to the individual officers
09:18:12 that we are hiring today.
09:18:13 I can't do this by myself.
09:18:15 No man is an island.
09:18:16 My squad members, my chain of command, allows me to do my
09:18:20 job properly, and then kind of gets out of my way and let's
09:18:24 me do it.
09:18:27 Where are my partners?
09:18:28 So thank you very much for the recognition.
09:18:30 I sincerely appreciate it.
09:18:31 I want to make a statement that there's another 999 officers
09:18:35 out thereof working every month that don't receive. This
09:18:37 thank you on their behalf also.
09:18:40 [ Applause ]
09:18:56 >>FRANK REDDICK: We go to item number 2.
09:18:59 The presentation.
09:19:05 Mr. Maniscalco.
09:19:16 Mr. Cohen.
09:19:17 >>HARRY COHEN: Thank you for giving me this opportunity to
09:19:19 present a very, very special commendation this morning.
09:19:22 And I am just going to read it.
09:19:24 And I think everyone will understand its significance once I
09:19:28 get through what is actually written on this plaque.
09:19:32 This Tampa City Council commendation is presented to the
09:19:35 Hillsborough Community College lady hawks volleyball team.
09:19:39 The Tampa City Council would like to congratulate the HCC
09:19:43 lady hawks volleyball team for a successful season that
09:19:46 included a third place finish in the national junior college
09:19:51 athletics association national volleyball championship
09:19:54 tournament that was held in Casper, Wyoming.
09:20:00 Understood the leadership of coach Larry Gary Larkin,
09:20:05 dominated the local, regional and state level to qualify for
09:20:08 the prestigious national tournament.
09:20:10 The team won the Suncoast conference title and later was
09:20:15 crowned state championships.
09:20:17 A tireless work ethic, an emphasis on team play, propelled
09:20:23 the lady hawks to an impressive 34-6 season record.
09:20:27 Coach Larkin was named the Florida college system activity
09:20:31 association coach of the year as lady hawks players Shirley
09:20:37 DeJesus, Abigail, Erica, received numerous state and
09:20:44 national honors.
09:20:45 It is a great pleasure and pride in our city that we present
09:20:49 this commendation to you today and I want to make sure to
09:20:52 mention each of you by name that is here, and please correct
09:20:56 me if I miss anyone.
09:20:58 Head coach Gary Larkin.
09:21:00 Assistant coach John Babbit.
09:21:03 Brianna Stole.
09:21:08 Shanea.
09:21:09 Laura.
09:21:11 And Iris.
09:21:15 Congratulations.
09:21:15 And thank you for coming this morning.
09:21:17 [ Applause ]
09:21:24 Do any of you want to get up here now?
09:21:26 >> Let the ladies come up behind you, too.
09:21:33 I mean, you did a great job but they are the ones who won.
09:21:36 >> They work harder than I do.
09:21:39 We would like to thank the council for inviting us.
09:21:42 This is truly an honor.
09:21:44 We are hidden back there on Dale Mabry behind a couple of
09:21:47 rivals.
09:21:48 You may have heard of them, the Bucs, and the training
09:21:51 complex.
09:21:51 Sometimes we get hidden back there.
09:21:53 But there's a lot of good work going on.
09:21:56 We are extremely proud of these ladies.
09:21:58 We were off the radar when the team started and didn't get
09:22:01 going before everybody in the nation knew who they were.
09:22:06 They are moving on to great careers at universities as well.
09:22:09 I want to thank the players that aren't here, that are in
09:22:11 class.
09:22:12 It's a little bit of crunch time in the academic semester.
09:22:15 I want to thank all the hard work of the staff, Monica,
09:22:22 support staff back at HCC as well as all the families.
09:22:25 It's really an honor to be here.
09:22:27 It's a great opportunity for these young ladies.
09:22:29 And I wish them all the best as they continue to move
09:22:32 forward.
09:22:32 Thank you again for having us.
09:22:34 [ Applause ]
09:22:43 >>FRANK REDDICK: Have each of these young ladies state their
09:22:45 names for the record.
09:22:46 >> Middle blocker.
09:23:09 I'm ARIEL.
09:23:11 Freshman.
09:23:12 Brianna Stoll.
09:23:18 Freshman and middle.
09:23:20 >> I'm a freshman and outside center.
09:23:25 >> Shanea, a sophomore, and I'm a center.
09:23:30 >>HARRY COHEN: So we can expect great things next season,
09:23:33 too, right?
09:23:36 >>FRANK REDDICK: Congratulations.
09:23:36 And we thank you for coming.
09:23:40 And I have been told by my colleagues that Mr. Cohen was a
09:23:52 volleyball player as well.
09:24:00 What we are going to do is after public comments, we are
09:24:03 going to go to item number 7.
09:24:08 And then we will return back to item number 6.
09:24:10 Does anyone wish to speak on public comment?
09:24:15 Please come forward.
09:24:18 Public comments.
09:24:19 Items 1 through 6.
09:24:26 >> So this is public comment now?
09:24:47 >>FRANK REDDICK: Yes, sir.
09:24:47 >> Okay.
09:24:49 Actually, I came to speak a little bit about the civil war,
09:24:56 civil war commemoration, which has generally been handled
09:24:59 through --
09:25:00 >> Give us your name.
09:25:02 >> I'm ed, Ed Tillou, Sulphur Springs.
09:25:06 This has sort of been handled through the sons of the
09:25:11 confederacy.
09:25:13 My own take on that is the other side.
09:25:17 But he's been dealing with county commission.
09:25:21 And I finally got around to analyzing a lot of what he
09:25:24 talked about.
09:25:26 And actually that's much more City of Tampa thing.
09:25:32 The two battles were actually within Tampa, which is of
09:25:38 course a part of Hillsborough County.
09:25:39 But Hillsborough County didn't really have much to do with
09:25:42 it.
09:25:44 It was a battle of Tampa.
09:25:46 And then the Ballast Point raid.
09:25:49 Which two ships were burned by union forces.
09:25:53 Well, anyway, I asked them why there is no commemoration of
09:26:00 these things, and he said -- McCallister said that the
09:26:05 battle -- the Ballast Point raid was around Lowry Park, and
09:26:11 there were signs, but they were taken down to some kind of
09:26:17 roadwork and never replaced.
09:26:18 So it's a matter of those signs being tracked down and put
09:26:21 up around Lowry Park.
09:26:23 Maybe something really big put there.
09:26:26 With respect to the battle of Tampa, the ship, Oklahoma,
09:26:36 which is one of the ships one of my cousins was on, but was
09:26:41 used before and after to shell Tampa, it sort off of this
09:26:47 new park down there, so it's to be considered there should
09:26:50 be a historic sign, that this is where the TAHOMA sat and
09:26:55 shield the City of Tampa with cannons and things.
09:26:59 So anyway, I am just introducing that at this time.
09:27:05 I have some things but somehow it got misplaced.
09:27:08 But this was the mayor of -- the mayor of New York, at the
09:27:14 time of the civil war, Charles Godry goodson.
09:27:20 And as I say, I misplaced the paper.
09:27:23 I'll have it next time.
09:27:25 But my great grandfather was at odds with him.
09:27:29 But he was actually -- I sort of fell under is a tannic
09:27:37 influence.
09:27:38 -so -- SATANIC influence. This is a little about him.
09:27:43 And that was a big thing actually 20 years ago, like women
09:27:49 had to have a FUR coat, otherwise their husbands didn't love
09:27:53 them, and those were 2 or $3,000.
09:27:55 Anyway that was a big part of the history.
09:27:58 (Bell sounds).
09:28:00 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
09:28:01 Anyone else wish to speak at this time under public
09:28:04 comments?
09:28:05 Come forward, sir.
09:28:19 >> Derek Chamblee, Google DEREK, CHAMBLEE.
09:28:31 Google NIXDIXON.
09:28:37 Google entelinter, E-N-T-E-L-I-N-T-E-R.
09:28:46 I wanted to talk about the preparation for an evacuation in
09:28:53 the event that that's called at the advent of a coming storm
09:29:03 and spoken about it before with you, and I want to reveal
09:29:08 part of the plan since in our study we have determined that
09:29:15 Pinellas County including the city of St. Petersburg, of
09:29:19 course, and Clearwater, and Hillsborough County including
09:29:24 the City of Tampa, Brandon and has no plan.
09:29:30 There is no plan to evacuate the several million people in
09:29:34 the outlying counties and in those particular counties.
09:29:40 There is no plan.
09:29:41 And I'm determined that it would take at least seven days
09:29:45 for a proper evacuation.
09:29:48 And I shared with you before the complications of closing
09:29:51 down the bridges with the headwinds when she reach about 50
09:29:56 miles per hour, the closing down of the sunshine skyway,
09:30:01 Gandy, Howard Frankland, and Courtney Campbell bridges,
09:30:06 leaving two land roads out of Pinellas County, and I shared
09:30:11 with you before about the elevations in terms of the
09:30:13 waterfront areas, and South Tampa, and west on Kennedy.
09:30:19 We saw just last summer how that was flooded and impassable.
09:30:24 And that wasn't even a hurricane.
09:30:26 Okay.
09:30:30 And the plan is that there is a boundary of water around an
09:30:34 area, Tampa Heights, Seminole Heights, all of the Heights
09:30:39 going all the way to east lake.
09:30:40 It's bounded by the Hillsborough River on the west, which
09:30:43 curves and bounded on the north.
09:30:46 It's bounded by the east, the man made east canal on the
09:30:50 east, and that empties out into the Ybor port right there.
09:30:53 And it wraps around Channelside and whatnot.
09:30:56 It's the high elevation.
09:30:58 That's why they call it the Heights.
09:30:59 It's surrounded by at least 30 bridges.
09:31:02 Those bridges are going to be shut down.
09:31:04 There's going to be no in and out except for the residents
09:31:07 there and the relief providers, and we must find storehouses
09:31:10 to store up food that can serve thousands of people for not
09:31:16 just three days but at least a couple of weeks, maybe 30
09:31:20 days.
09:31:21 And that's the plan.
09:31:23 (Bell sounds)
09:31:26 Thanks very much.
09:31:27 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
09:31:27 Next speaker.
09:31:31 >> Good morning.
09:31:34 I'm here on a public item but I figure it's a time to talk
09:31:37 about something else.
09:31:39 I'm Barry Eddie Diaz.
09:31:45 I had sent out a request to you all, and next Wednesday at
09:31:55 6:30, our chapter is hosting the commander of the American
09:32:00 Legion, and in 2020, 2021, we are encouraging to get the
09:32:06 national convention here, which would be over 30,000
09:32:10 veterans coming into our community.
09:32:12 And having a national event here, which most of the time we
09:32:16 have the president or someone of high level that comes to
09:32:19 speak to us.
09:32:20 It's a very, very big event.
09:32:23 And I need as much support from council to try to encourage
09:32:26 them to consider us for this event.
09:32:29 So for those that haven't responded yet, please consider it.
09:32:32 And I thank you very much for listening.
09:32:35 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I have it be there.
09:32:40 It's on my calendar.
09:32:42 >> I will be, too.
09:32:49 >>FRANK REDDICK: Motion by Mr. Cohen.
09:32:50 Second by Ms. Montelione.
09:32:52 All in favor?
09:32:53 Opposed?
09:32:55 You can provide us the information.
09:33:00 Anyone else wish to speak during public comment?
09:33:05 Seeing none, we move to workshop.
09:33:11 As I stated earlier we are going to go to item number 7.
09:33:28 >>THOM SNELLING: Planning and development.
09:33:32 There are several pieces to this motion today.
09:33:36 We had a conversation.
09:33:41 We are going to let Sonya Little go first and talk about her
09:33:45 piece.
09:33:45 And then Vanessa and I will get up and talk about some
09:33:49 housing things and then Leroy.
09:33:51 At that point we'll open it up for questions then.
09:33:53 >>SONYA LITTLE: Good morning, council, members, Mr. Chair.
09:34:12 As it relates to -- at your request to review and identify
09:34:18 possible funding sources for an affordable housing program,
09:34:22 as Thom mentioned we are going to kind of take turns in
09:34:25 providing the information.
09:34:27 My piece as it relates to potential funding sources from
09:34:31 general government fund sources, just to start out, just as
09:34:36 a remainder of the general fund sources of revenue that we
09:34:42 have for general governmental purposes, we use to balance
09:34:47 our operating budget, which you hear quite frequently,
09:34:51 property taxes, sales taxes, franchise fees and utility
09:34:55 taxes primarily.
09:34:57 And those are the primary revenue sources that are available
09:35:00 to us for our general government fund purposes.
09:35:05 It primarily excludes everything related to our enterprise
09:35:09 department, water, sewer, wastewater.
09:35:11 So everything else for the most part is included in that
09:35:16 bucket of revenue.
09:35:17 If you will recall our total budget is $860 million for FY
09:35:22 2016.
09:35:23 Of that amount, 353 million relates to our general fund, or
09:35:28 general government operating purposes.
09:35:31 So as a normal course of business, we identify under Florida
09:35:36 statute own an ongoing basis, we review this process.
09:35:41 All of the funding sources available to us under Florida
09:35:45 statutes.
09:35:47 And to date, we have imposed everything that we are
09:35:51 authorized to impose understand Florida statutes.
09:35:54 Number one.
09:35:55 Number two, for those revenue sources that we have some
09:35:59 additional capacity to go up to an authorized limit, I'll
09:36:03 start with our utility taxes.
09:36:07 We are at the maximum authority there.
09:36:09 Our electric franchise fees, we are at the maximum under our
09:36:15 current contract.
09:36:18 And as it relates to sales taxes, those taxes are controlled
09:36:22 primarily at the state level, or by the county.
09:36:26 And so we do what is really kind of called a revenue sharing
09:36:30 based on our population and our distribution formula for
09:36:33 those types of taxes.
09:36:34 So as it relates to additional funding sources from a
09:36:39 general fund perspective, we have under Florida statutes
09:36:42 identified what we can impose, and number two, we
09:36:46 cross-reference what we find under Florida statutes to the
09:36:51 local government financial information book, which is
09:36:53 published by -- it's prepared by the Florida legislature
09:36:58 office of economic and demographic research, or EDR, with
09:37:03 the assistance from the Department of Revenue, cross
09:37:07 referenced under Florida statutes to that source of revenue
09:37:12 funding for state wide sources, municipalities, and
09:37:15 counties, and the State of Florida, and determined that as
09:37:20 it stands right now, from a general government funding
09:37:25 perspective, about you for property taxes which City Council
09:37:28 has the authorization to increase on an annual basis in the
09:37:32 normal course of our budgeting process, and, number two, as
09:37:37 it relates to property taxes, the desire to issue tax exempt
09:37:42 bonds secured by property taxes.
09:37:44 It would have to go to voter referendum. So based on our
09:37:50 analysis of those funds, additional capacity would really
09:37:53 fall on property tax revenue.
09:37:55 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Ms. Little, when we met and we talked
09:38:03 about a couple of things, you had mentioned that currently
09:38:06 the community investment tax fund -- you remember that
09:38:09 conversation? -- that the language may prevent us from using
09:38:13 those funds for affordable housing?
09:38:17 >>SONYA LITTLE: That's correct.
09:38:18 Now legal can correct me if I am wrong, but it's my
09:38:21 understanding when that tax was approved by voter
09:38:24 referendum, the authorized uses were for infrastructure-type
09:38:28 capital projects, public safety, parks, stormwater for the
09:38:33 most part.
09:38:35 So in reviewing that, we couldn't determine that those
09:38:38 proceeds could be used for an affordable housing program.
09:38:42 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Now that we have additional funding for
09:38:48 stormwater, we don't have all the funding we asked for, but
09:38:52 we have some of it, at least maintenance.
09:38:57 We didn't pass the assessment fee to address the capital
09:39:00 projects.
09:39:00 So we are still using the C.I.T. money for that, right?
09:39:06 >>SONYA LITTLE: As it stands right now, in the current
09:39:10 five-year program we are not using CIT, but we are
09:39:13 subsidizing the stormwater program with general fund.
09:39:16 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Property tax revenue.
09:39:19 Well, general fund.
09:39:21 >>SONYA LITTLE: General fund, yes, ma'am.
09:39:23 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So if we were to want to expand the CIT
09:39:28 language so that in the future should we catch up with our
09:39:32 stormwater project, and should we -- our public safety in
09:39:37 our parks and all of the things that you mentioned, I'm
09:39:42 thinking if we expand the language now, it will be there
09:39:47 later if and when we need it.
09:39:50 So give us that flexibility.
09:39:52 >>SAL TERRITO: Legal department.
09:39:56 The expansion of that language requires the legislation to
09:39:59 do that.
09:40:00 The statute tells you what you may spend it on.
09:40:03 Then there was an ordinance that called for a referendum and
09:40:08 that also addressed the same issue.
09:40:10 So you have a two step process.
09:40:11 The legislature has to make that an eligible expense.
09:40:14 Then we have to go back and go to the voters because we have
09:40:17 to expand what the ordinance allows us to use the money for.
09:40:20 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So first you go to the legislature and
09:40:22 then you go to the people?
09:40:23 >>SAL TERRITO: Correct.
09:40:25 >>LISA MONTELIONE: That simplifies it but thank you.
09:40:29 And the other question I have for you, Ms. Little, is that
09:40:34 when we spoke, you weren't sure you were going to check
09:40:37 about the franchise fee, if we were at the top end or not.
09:40:41 Did you verify?
09:40:43 >>SONYA LITTLE: I did verify.
09:40:44 That we are at the top of capacity.
09:40:46 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I will check that off my list then.
09:40:48 Thank you.
09:41:00 >> Vanessa McCleary, housing development manager.
09:41:09 I was asked to provide a report on the estimate of
09:41:13 affordable housing shortage, and that was difficult to
09:41:19 really pull together in the short period of time.
09:41:22 It was a timely request because this is the time of year
09:41:26 when we are putting together the annual action plan.
09:41:29 We are actually in the last year of the city's consolidated
09:41:34 plan which both of those documents are HUD documents that we
09:41:37 prepare regarding housing need.
09:41:39 We are also in the process of preparing our L-hat write is
09:41:44 our local housing assistance plant for the SHIP dollars that
09:41:48 we receive.
09:41:49 So what we do know is that we don't have a housing shortage,
09:41:53 but we do have a shortage of affordable housing.
09:42:04 >>FRANK REDDICK: Somewhere during your presentation, could
09:42:06 you define what is the definition of affordable housing?
09:42:09 >> That's what I am going to do.
09:42:12 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
09:42:12 >> Vanessa McCleary: One of the things we know is that
09:42:18 affordable housing is not just an issue in Tampa but is a
09:42:21 national issue.
09:42:22 And when you have a shortage of affordable housing, it
09:42:25 creates other problems within the community.
09:42:28 So people can't look at it as a poor people's problems.
09:42:35 It is everyone's problems because it is affecting all income
09:42:39 levels.
09:42:39 One of the things of that we found when we went to look, if
09:42:42 someone is looking for housing in Tampa, they can go to
09:42:46 Florida housing search DOT org.
09:42:54 This is a property that came up when I did a two bedroom
09:42:58 search, less than $950 a month.
09:43:00 These are all the properties that came up.
09:43:03 Also, when you are looking for the subsidized ones, you find
09:43:06 that the numbers are much lower.
09:43:13 Sorry, I have to wait on Vanna.
09:43:16 (Laughter).
09:43:17 >>LISA MONTELIONE: You didn't rehearse this prior to
09:43:19 coming?
09:43:20 (Laughter).
09:43:20 >> We practiced.
09:43:21 So if you were looking for three bedroom -- I showed you the
09:43:24 map that showed you affordable.
09:43:26 Of the 47 properties that have three bedroom apartments,
09:43:30 only seven of them are income based meaning that they are
09:43:34 going to base it on your income to determine how much the
09:43:36 person would pay.
09:43:37 That would be affordable.
09:43:41 Classifying affordable as 30%, not spending more than 30% of
09:43:45 your total household income on your mortgage or rent
09:43:50 payments plus utilities.
09:43:52 If you are spending more than 30%, you are considered do
09:43:56 have a housing cost burden.
09:43:58 If you are spending more than 50%, you are severely housing
09:44:01 cost burdened.
09:44:03 So let's take that in terms of numbers.
09:44:10 In Tampa, the average cost for studio is $828.
09:44:15 The average cost for a one-bedroom is 955.
09:44:19 The average cost for a two bedroom, 1179.
09:44:23 We have those numbers.
09:44:25 If you were making $24,000 a year -- we are going to use
09:44:31 these in round numbers -- that's $2,000 a month.
09:44:36 Remember the 30% rule.
09:44:37 That means $600 a month.
09:44:47 Mind you 24,000 is more than $10 an hour.
09:44:51 We don't have anything that you can afford in Tampa.
09:44:55 Without some sort of subsidy.
09:44:58 So when we are looking at this and we are looking at the
09:45:01 numbers, if you go to the Shimberg reported, one of the
09:45:06 things that it tells us is that it tells us --
09:45:12 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Could you go back to that last slide?
09:45:14 And could I ask you why part of that is covered, the
09:45:18 rentals?
09:45:19 It looks like there's a tape over it or something.
09:45:23 Rental for March.
09:45:27 What's the blue part?
09:45:29 Oh, now I see.
09:45:31 I see it now.
09:45:38 I want copies of all of this, please.
09:45:40 Thank you.
09:45:40 >> Yes.
09:45:42 So what I want to do is to really get the data and provide
09:45:47 you with a real report, but that will take time.
09:45:50 It will take about six months to have a consultant to come
09:45:52 in, to have it analyzed, the housing data in the area.
09:45:55 But from the Shimberg report one of the things that we find
09:45:58 is that there are 21,639 registered households that are
09:46:04 experiencing a housing burden and 9,860 owner occupied
09:46:09 households that are also experiencing a severe burden.
09:46:17 The reasons that we have some of those problems, you know
09:46:20 that we have had this large foreclosure problem in our area.
09:46:26 We had some of the highest foreclosures in the country.
09:46:28 When those foreclosed homeowners came out of their homes
09:46:31 they became renters.
09:46:33 That put more renters into the market.
09:46:35 So in the last few years, we have seen our rent prices going
09:46:38 up and up and up.
09:46:40 And that's been across the country because everybody
09:46:43 experienced the same thing.
09:46:44 That's an issue of supply and demand.
09:46:47 So the units that are being built, the new ones, in Tampa,
09:46:51 are luxury apartments.
09:46:55 If you want to be downtown, you could be looking at $2500 a
09:46:58 month easy.
09:47:01 If you are looking, the further out you go, the cheaper it
09:47:04 might get, but then you have transportation costs going back
09:47:08 and forth.
09:47:09 So when we are looking at what is the problem and how do we
09:47:14 solve the problem, it's easy to say we are going to throw
09:47:16 some money at it and build some more affordable housing.
09:47:20 First you have to find that land to build the affordable
09:47:23 housing.
09:47:23 The other thing you have to find is an investor who is going
09:47:27 to build it and how much subsidy do you have to provide them
09:47:30 to keep the rents affordable?
09:47:33 So the economics don't work.
09:47:35 And that really hasn't solved the problem, because then what
09:47:38 you have is a long waiting list that Leroy has for section 8
09:47:42 vouchers and to get into public housing so they can get
09:47:45 those affordable rents or the long waiting lists that are in
09:47:48 the other apartments.
09:47:49 What we really need to do is find ways to raise the income.
09:47:52 We have been focused on providing affordable housing, and
09:47:56 really we have to raise the incomes that people can afford
09:47:59 to pay for the housing.
09:48:01 Because subsidizing rent is not a sustainable model.
09:48:06 So we really have to raise the income to be able to afford
09:48:09 the rent so then people can be self-sufficient.
09:48:14 And what we really want is a self-sufficient society,
09:48:17 because the more affordable housing that you have is the
09:48:20 more folks that are in need, and if your community has a lot
09:48:22 of folks in need, that means that maybe it's not the best
09:48:26 place for a company to locate.
09:48:29 So what we have been doing in housing and community
09:48:31 development is looking at the problem, but we are also
09:48:34 looking at the root causes of the problem and trying to find
09:48:37 ways to address the root causes.
09:48:39 Over the last ten years, we spent about $29 million just on
09:48:44 building more affordable housing.
09:48:46 >>LISA MONTELIONE: In what area, when you say 29 million?
09:48:54 >> I can supply you with a map of all the affordable housing
09:48:57 units.
09:48:58 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Are we talking about Tampa, Hillsborough
09:49:00 County?
09:49:01 >> Tampa.
09:49:02 Just in the City of Tampa.
09:49:03 Because our dollars are only in the City of Tampa.
09:49:05 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Okay, thank you.
09:49:06 >> This is another report that you can find if you do
09:49:22 Shimberg affordable housing and they pulled down the census
09:49:25 data and extrapolated sorry, it's a little blurry.
09:49:39 When we fund an affordable project it's affordable for 10 or
09:49:44 20 year period and we monitor those properties for 20 years.
09:49:47 At the end of the 20 years, that goes away, and then that
09:49:50 property becomes what we say is off-line.
09:49:54 So when you are looking at the numbers in terms of going
09:49:57 from your 15, 20, 25, you see the numbers going up, that's
09:50:03 because units come off-line. So we are subsidizing units.
09:50:07 You have tax break units that were built, and they have
09:50:10 those subsidies, and after a period of time they come
09:50:13 off-line.
09:50:13 So if they refinance and we provide them some additional
09:50:16 dollars for rehab or something else, they may continue to be
09:50:18 affordable, but if not they may decide that based on the
09:50:22 market, rather than charging someone $700 a month, I can
09:50:26 charge them $1500 a month, and I don't have to have the city
09:50:29 coming in and doing annual inspections and making me keep
09:50:33 things up and doing things that if I was just a marketplace
09:50:36 I wouldn't have to do.
09:50:40 So really to address the problem, one of the things that we
09:50:43 are going to start looking at is more training program,
09:50:47 increasing job opportunities.
09:50:49 And there are opportunities that are available in Tampa
09:50:50 because the mayor has been bringing a lot of different
09:50:53 companies here with some high-paying jobs, making sure we
09:50:57 have the workforce that is ready for those jobs, and that
09:51:00 they are not also having to bring in the workforce when they
09:51:02 locate here.
09:51:07 >>FRANK REDDICK: The point that the you made, we spoke of
09:51:13 all of next luxury toyers that are coming in downtown, for
09:51:16 example, and even when these companies relocate here, and
09:51:28 put the businesses downtown, all of those people are not
09:51:31 executives.
09:51:31 They are not the ones who can afford all these luxury
09:51:36 towers, the condos, the townhouses, downtown, for example.
09:51:40 What about those people who are secretaries and
09:51:43 receptionists and assistants in these companies? They are
09:51:49 on the lower end of income.
09:51:51 So if their company relocates here, they can't afford --
09:51:59 they might be able to afford townhouses downtown but the
09:52:03 other people have to go outside of the city to find
09:52:06 something they can afford.
09:52:07 And that's the problem I see.
09:52:08 >> It is.
09:52:11 >>FRANK REDDICK: I hear all this praise about the tech
09:52:15 companies, all these companies coming out, I read in the
09:52:17 paper this morning a tech company will be moving into
09:52:20 offices downtown, for example.
09:52:21 But we forget about those secretaries and those
09:52:24 receptionists and all these other people on the lower end of
09:52:29 the payroll, because somewhere they have got to find
09:52:32 something affordable, too, for their income.
09:52:35 And based on what you are saying, we have got a problem with
09:52:38 that.
09:52:38 >> We do.
09:52:39 We do.
09:52:40 Until recently in housing community development, I hired
09:52:43 three staff people that moved into Tampa, and all three when
09:52:49 they were looking for housing had to live outside of Tampa
09:52:51 because there wasn't anything affordable in Tampa.
09:52:54 So it is an issue.
09:52:56 And, you know, right now we are having people building at
09:52:58 the high rent that they have to remember that we have a
09:53:01 whole spectrum that needs to be housed.
09:53:05 And, you know, you can build for the executives, but you
09:53:08 also have to build for the workforce.
09:53:10 >>HARRY COHEN: This discussion touches on so many different
09:53:16 things that we deal with.
09:53:18 And in the next couple of months, as the transportation
09:53:22 initiatives that are coming online from the county, start to
09:53:26 tab shape, if they do take shape, as we discuss the
09:53:32 potential TBX project, widening the interstate. If we hear
09:53:36 about the Gandy connector, all of these things are a direct
09:53:41 result of people having to commute from very, very far away
09:53:47 to be able to work in the urban core.
09:53:52 If they have an ability to live closer in, they wouldn't
09:53:55 have to spend an hour in the car each way clogging up the
09:54:01 roads in order to get here.
09:54:03 And there's really a chicken and an egg element to all of
09:54:08 this.
09:54:08 And we can see how this problem bleeds into the other
09:54:12 problem that we have in the community.
09:54:15 Councilwoman Montelione mentioned the stormwater problem.
09:54:19 Even that is exacerbated by some of the density that we are
09:54:23 talking about here.
09:54:24 So it's all interrelated.
09:54:26 And it all requires money.
09:54:29 Regardless of watch the actual issue is, at the end of the
09:54:34 day, it's a lack of funding keeping us from being able to
09:54:38 move forward.
09:54:39 >> Vanessa McCleary.
09:54:45 N.terms.
09:54:45 Funding from housing community development, most of it is
09:54:48 federal or state funding so it has limitations on it.
09:54:51 And one of the things that I want everyone to understand is
09:54:54 that the affordable housing issue isn't just for low income,
09:54:58 because like you said when you are talking about the
09:55:00 workforce, which may be just above that 80% or just above
09:55:03 that 120%, they are also looking for housing.
09:55:07 And you really need to have a diverse housing population so
09:55:10 you can have a diverse population, because having to drive
09:55:13 all that way, I mean, I drive from out and I hate it.
09:55:18 I couldn't afford to come downtown.
09:55:20 You guys pay me well but not that well.
09:55:22 (Laughter)
09:55:25 But you are right.
09:55:26 And when we look at it, I mean, we look at it and we have
09:55:30 got members from the affordable housing committee who are
09:55:34 here, and we have been talking about what are the strategies
09:55:36 that we need to employ, because we need to look -- we are
09:55:41 addressing this issue on a whole.
09:55:43 One of the things that we talked about is getting property
09:55:47 that affordable housing can be built on.
09:55:50 I say affordable, but not just affordable for low income but
09:55:55 also affordable to the workforce.
09:55:57 I mean, we do want to do affordable for low income and we do
09:56:00 want to provide those subsidies, but we need to have a
09:56:03 balance.
09:56:03 It can't be all of one and not enough of the other.
09:56:06 So we really want to look at and study this issue so that
09:56:10 when we put the dollars, it's placing them effectively.
09:56:15 And we don't want to have concentrations of poverty.
09:56:18 One of the things that HUD is charging us with in terms of
09:56:21 affirmative housing is not having all of our housing for
09:56:26 poor people in one area, but mix it up so that you don't
09:56:30 have groups of folks of people going to work all living
09:56:35 together, and you mix them up so their kids get exposed to
09:56:40 other things so we can start changing their condition.
09:56:44 >>FRANK REDDICK: Ms. Capin.
09:56:46 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Yes, three things you mentioned.
09:56:49 Which was, we have one of the highest foreclosures in the
09:56:52 country.
09:57:01 That wags a short three and a half years ago.
09:57:03 I know because I purchased a house that was ridiculous.
09:57:05 Here we go.
09:57:08 That's fine for us, but the reason that we had a bump in
09:57:14 public transportation, mainly Hart, was because these people
09:57:19 don't have cars.
09:57:21 They lost everything.
09:57:23 The house.
09:57:23 The car.
09:57:24 Everything.
09:57:25 And they are still there.
09:57:26 They are still there.
09:57:27 So what we have, we have one of the highest foreclosures,
09:57:32 but yet last year in the city of -- in Tampa, medium house
09:57:41 prices in one year went up 16%.
09:57:44 In Pinellas County it went up 16% plus.
09:57:47 In Pinellas it went up 21% plus.
09:57:51 That's not sustainable.
09:57:52 >> No, it's not.
09:57:54 >>YVONNE CAPIN: That's not sustainable any more when you are
09:57:56 three and a half years, four and a half years out of the
09:57:59 worst mortgage foreclosure in pretty much the history of
09:58:04 this country.
09:58:04 >> When I moved here --
09:58:08 >>YVONNE CAPIN: We are looking -- and then we are building
09:58:09 and approving Roe I see these condominiums and these
09:58:12 apartment buildings going up.
09:58:13 I don't see any office building going up.
09:58:16 I want to know where these people are working.
09:58:19 Where are we going to have the workforce that's going to
09:58:21 support the housing that we are approving in the core of the
09:58:26 city at those prices?
09:58:31 It's almost scary what is going on now.
09:58:36 And we have people of that stay behind and that never move
09:58:42 from that recession, did not move at all.
09:58:44 So when we talk about jobs, we need to talk about the income
09:58:47 of those jobs.
09:58:48 We have a lot of service jobs.
09:58:50 We are a tourist area, and those jobs are very low-paying
09:58:56 jobs.
09:58:57 So I want to hear some more.
09:58:58 But that is my analysis, what's going on here.
09:59:03 And I know, what I have also found, I have friends that are
09:59:10 in the -- in the commercial real estate, and other parts of
09:59:15 the country are looking at us because we are, to them when
09:59:19 they look from California, New York, even south Florida, we
09:59:23 are a bargain.
09:59:24 And that is also an issue that is being -- you know, we are
09:59:29 being bought out by outside interests, and of course these
09:59:34 businesses, their goal, if they are privately owned or
09:59:39 publicly owned, is to turn a profit.
09:59:42 That is what this country runs on.
09:59:45 But at the same time, we have to pay attention to -- I mean,
09:59:50 if anyone knows what happened with the last recession and
09:59:53 the last disaster, it's almost a joke, that everyone
09:59:59 believed everything that was going on.
10:00:01 And if you have lived in Florida, any part of any time, you
10:00:06 know that it's busted bubbles.
10:00:11 And I am very concerned about where we are at today.
10:00:15 And I don't want to leave -- if we go into another -- even
10:00:21 if it's a recession where it just flat lines the prices,
10:00:26 these people still didn't get there.
10:00:30 It really is a concern.
10:00:31 So I am glad we are talking about this.
10:00:33 >> Vanessa McCleary: It's a concern because when I moved
10:00:41 here and I was looking for a house, I was beat out several
10:00:44 times by folks that were doing cash deals.
10:00:46 And I was surprised at the price point that I was, that I
10:00:49 was going to have to pay above asking in order to get a
10:00:52 house.
10:00:55 We have families that we are putting through counseling, and
10:00:59 they have got the savings and they are looking to buy a
10:01:01 house, and they can't find anything that's affordable.
10:01:04 And so we have to work with our nonprofit partners to
10:01:07 develop housing that they can buy where they don't have to
10:01:11 compete with the investor.
10:01:12 And like you said, we have a lot of foreclosures, and the
10:01:15 investors have come in, and you see them in the newspaper,
10:01:18 they buy hundreds of houses at a time and then they rent
10:01:22 them out, and they rent them out because they know that they
10:01:24 can get a lot of money for it.
10:01:26 But I do feel there is a another bubble coming because it's
10:01:29 an unrealistic market that they have now created.
10:01:33 And it's based on the rental income and not the ownership
10:01:36 income, and finding a way to stabilize the home ownership in
10:01:40 Tampa is going to be really critical to this issue.
10:01:43 I mean, if we can make somebody a homeowner we can stabilize
10:01:47 their housing costs because for 30 years you know your
10:01:50 mortgage isn't changing so much.
10:01:51 I mean, when I was renting, when I went to leave the
10:01:55 apartment, the rent went up $300 and they asked me did I
10:01:58 want to stay?
10:01:59 I said, you must be crazy.
10:02:03 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I know homeowners but also rentals.
10:02:05 There was a time when people didn't own homes, they rented
10:02:08 their entire lives and they were fine.
10:02:10 But if anything the housing went up 5% if you were lucky.
10:02:17 Not 16 and 21%.
10:02:20 That just doesn't make any sense.
10:02:22 It just doesn't.
10:02:25 So I'm afraid in this year there's an issue.
10:02:30 I agree.
10:02:31 >>FRANK REDDICK: Mr. Suarez.
10:02:31 >>MIKE SUAREZ: First of all, I want to thank you for coming
10:02:35 here and doing something that we have not done in the past
10:02:38 when we start talking about housing, which is to talk about
10:02:41 the underlying, underpinnings of the economy, and how it
10:02:46 affects housing.
10:02:48 I think it's something we have never discussed from here.
10:02:51 I know that we have talked about individually and together,
10:02:53 maybe in different forums, but not about this particular
10:02:56 issue.
10:02:57 A couple of questions about some of the things, the
10:03:00 specifics that you mentioned when you started your graphic
10:03:02 about the number of affordable housing units that were
10:03:06 available.
10:03:09 You, I assume based on some of the other slides that you
10:03:11 presented, have taken out all the Encore projects and some
10:03:16 of the other things that might be out there because there's
10:03:18 a waiting list for the Housing Authority.
10:03:21 >> Yes.
10:03:22 >>MIKE SUAREZ: We are now seeing where there are waiting
10:03:24 lists to get into the Housing Authority, probably the most
10:03:27 affordable for those people that are looking at that $600
10:03:31 price point that you mentioned.
10:03:33 And then there's nothing else out there based on the
10:03:37 criteria that you just mentioned, which if I buy someplace
10:03:40 that I am going to rent, I am going to maximize whatever my
10:03:43 investment is as opposed to trying to figure out what's
10:03:46 affordable and not want to deal with, you know, whether
10:03:49 section 8 or any other voucher program that might come down
10:03:52 the pike because to me I am going to maximize what my
10:03:56 investment is, period, you know.
10:03:59 And one of the things that we always talk about, and I think
10:04:04 my colleagues have mentioned this, I think Mr. Cohen
10:04:06 mentioned specifically about the transportation issues, when
10:04:10 we loot look at other cities across the country, and one of
10:04:14 the advantages other cities have is they have the ability to
10:04:17 provide these type of housing projects, usually with their
10:04:22 own dollars, in conjunction with state and federal dollars,
10:04:24 because cities are looked at differently in other states
10:04:27 than they are here in Florida.
10:04:29 We do not get the kind of support from the legislature that
10:04:33 other states give to their cities.
10:04:36 Partly because those cities are larger, and those other
10:04:41 states have much more political clout with the legislature
10:04:44 and are able to drive more dollars into the city in order to
10:04:47 provide that kind of affordable housing necessary.
10:04:52 But even those cities have lots of problems dealing with
10:04:56 their issues.
10:04:57 Our issue is that everybody wants to come here.
10:05:01 You know, I have a brother-in-law who lived in fort Wayne,
10:05:07 Indiana ten years ago he bought a house, has a four small
10:05:12 children, his wife doesn't work outside the home, and they
10:05:15 paid $90,000 for a very large house in a terrific school
10:05:19 district.
10:05:20 Now, the reason why is because who wants to live in fort
10:05:24 Wayne, Indiana in the wintertime?
10:05:26 And that is no disparaging remarks at fort Wayne but --
10:05:30 (Laughter)
10:05:32 I will say considering the number of times I have been to
10:05:36 fort Wayne, I can speak about fort Wayne.
10:05:39 But the point is people up north want to come down here for
10:05:42 the warm weather, the amenities, it's great to go to the
10:05:45 beaches, in all the counties around us to enjoy whatever we
10:05:48 have here in Tampa and Hillsborough County.
10:05:50 So we have that problem that we have to deal with.
10:05:54 Last week, we voted on a resolution concerning the TPP, rent
10:06:02 specific partnerships, and there's lots of arguments for and
10:06:05 against that particular thing.
10:06:06 One.
10:06:06 Things we talked about is the number of good-paying jobs for
10:06:09 people who are in the trades, those people that are actually
10:06:12 trying to build some of the housing units that we actually
10:06:15 have approved both from this council, from the county.
10:06:19 And then we don't have enough skilled workers to go around
10:06:22 who are able to get the kind of dollars necessary to pay the
10:06:25 kind of dollars that they need for the rent.
10:06:27 So, yes, we understand it is a holistic economic issue that
10:06:33 we haven't really grasped.
10:06:35 Part of the reason is because we don't have the tools at the
10:06:38 city, at City Council, the mayor's office, doesn't mat per,
10:06:41 city government in the State of Florida.
10:06:43 Does not have the kind of tools necessary.
10:06:45 We always have to work in partnership with the county, with
10:06:47 the state and the federal government.
10:06:49 And that's one of the problems that we have, and we are
10:06:53 always wrestling with and lamenting because we kind of talk
10:06:57 about it a lot, but we don't really have a lot of stuff in
10:07:00 our tool box to solve a lot of these problems.
10:07:03 I know it's frustrating for my colleagues.
10:07:06 It's frustrating for me because there are only so many
10:07:09 things that we can do to bring up the economy and there's
10:07:11 very little that we can do to improve the affordability of
10:07:13 the housing stock that's out there, because we just do not
10:07:16 have the mechanisms necessary to do that.
10:07:19 Now, some of the graphics that you have been mentioning --
10:07:22 and I applaud you for giving us all that information.
10:07:26 This is a great discussion.
10:07:27 I don't think that we ever had, at least in my five years on
10:07:30 council, concerning housing, the economy directly related,
10:07:34 and I think that's a terrific discussion.
10:07:36 And I appreciate what you have done.
10:07:40 What can we do?
10:07:41 What pieces of mechanisms of that we have available to us
10:07:45 can we use to actually increase that affordable housing
10:07:52 stockpile without some of the underpinnings that you
10:07:57 mentioned, something that is maybe simple or at least
10:08:00 something that we can work on to provide even a small
10:08:03 percentage of more affordable housing units out there.
10:08:06 >> Vanessa McCleary: I think one of the really good
10:08:11 discussions we have had with the affordable housing advisory
10:08:13 committee was just the idea that we need to acquire land.
10:08:18 We just need to look strategically, where do we need the
10:08:22 housing, affordable housing to be and acquire that land so
10:08:26 investors don't get it and it doesn't become a high-income
10:08:29 high-rise on that property.
10:08:30 So just looking at where are some strategic pieces of land
10:08:33 that maybe we need to start land banking.
10:08:36 Maybe we don't have the money to build on it right now but
10:08:39 just having those pieces set aside to say, okay, you may do
10:08:43 everything else here, but there's also going to be some
10:08:46 affordable housing in this area.
10:08:47 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Let me ask you, and I think I already know
10:08:50 the answer to it.
10:08:51 Aren't we preempted from doing eminent domain proceedings?
10:08:57 My point is you know what happens whenever the city looks at
10:09:00 buying land, it becomes a more difficult prospect.
10:09:04 And even if we wanted, I don't think we have that ability
10:09:07 anymore.
10:09:09 The legislature has preempt add lot of that.
10:09:12 So back to what I had said before about the mechanisms in
10:09:15 order to try to solve some of these problems, it becomes
10:09:17 very tough.
10:09:18 And whenever the city -- and I know this from my position on
10:09:22 the Hart board, even buying small slivers of land for use
10:09:27 for shelters for our bus shelters, at our bus steps, the
10:09:31 amount of money that we pay for those small slivers of land
10:09:34 are so much greater.
10:09:36 But we do have eminent domain that we are able to use if for
10:09:41 some reason someone doesn't want to sell, something we don't
10:09:44 have in the city.
10:09:45 >> We do have quite a few nonprofit partners that we work
10:09:49 with.
10:09:49 We have one of the requirements under the HOME program is
10:09:52 the community housing development organization, and through
10:09:56 partners like that we could acquire and have land available
10:09:59 for affordable housing.
10:10:01 >>MIKE SUAREZ: We appreciate it.
10:10:03 Thanks so much for your presentation.
10:10:05 And we are not done but it's terrific.
10:10:10 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Just real quick.
10:10:14 Thank you, Ms. Montelione, for allowing me this time.
10:10:17 You talk about acquiring land.
10:10:18 We just sold a large parcel in Ybor City.
10:10:22 We just did.
10:10:24 Maybe the first -- that we owned.
10:10:29 So we are going to acquire, when we already own and we are
10:10:32 selling it.
10:10:34 To developers.
10:10:34 >> We are going to look at our inventory, so within housing
10:10:41 community development, we own about 150 lots.
10:10:44 And one of the things we are looking at doing is making
10:10:46 those available for single-family home development but we
10:10:51 need to look at the rest of the city's inventory.
10:10:53 And we just need to be strategic.
10:10:55 I think it's something that we.
10:10:57 Necessarily done before.
10:10:58 But we are getting --
10:11:00 >>YVONNE CAPIN: It's buildings.
10:11:01 Buildings can be turned into apartments.
10:11:04 It's more than just vacant land.
10:11:06 You know, it can be creative.
10:11:10 Thank you.
10:11:10 And thank you, Ms. Montelione.
10:11:12 >>HARRY COHEN: She's going to let me do it very quickly,
10:11:17 too.
10:11:17 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Like I said, as long as the chair
10:11:22 doesn't rush me along to wrap this up because I have been
10:11:25 sitting here waiting.
10:11:30 >>FRANK REDDICK: We do have other workshops.
10:11:31 >>HARRY COHEN: Two very quick points.
10:11:34 One of the things that occurred to me that Councilwoman
10:11:37 Capin was talking about, the sort of boom and bust cycle,
10:11:40 there is one thing that is sort of artificial in Florida,
10:11:42 that especially as the world becomes more unstable because
10:11:46 of everything that's going on.
10:11:48 A lot of foreign investors have decided to park their money
10:11:53 in properties in the United States, particularly in south
10:11:56 Florida.
10:11:57 It's not crazy to assume that that type of behavior will
10:12:00 spread up here.
10:12:01 And really, in many ways, it's an artificial -- has an
10:12:06 artificial impact on the market.
10:12:08 So that's one thing also to sort of remember that's out
10:12:11 there contributing to all of this.
10:12:14 And then the second thing I just wanted to remind council
10:12:17 members of, to your point about not concentrating the
10:12:21 housing in one place.
10:12:25 If you don't concentrate all the housing in one place then
10:12:28 the social services will not be concentrated in one place
10:12:32 either and we could see some relief from some of the
10:12:35 pressures that we sometimes feel about the balancing act
10:12:37 that we go through about where some of these services are
10:12:40 going to be located.
10:12:42 That's it.
10:12:43 Thank you.
10:12:44 >>FRANK REDDICK: Ms. Montelione.
10:12:45 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Thank you.
10:12:47 So I had to write my questions down, otherwise I would have
10:12:51 forgot.
10:12:52 One of them was something that Ms. McCleary diabetes say,
10:12:56 and that is we have been asked to be approve RFPs or
10:12:59 transactions for excess property that we had.
10:13:04 I remember one in particular in Ybor City was for a hotel,
10:13:08 right?
10:13:09 Wasn't that the hotel site?
10:13:25 When you said we have to inventory the property, that's
10:13:28 already been done a year, two years ago.
10:13:33 There's a map that shows all the properties.
10:13:35 And excess parcels that the city has.
10:13:39 So some of that work has already been done.
10:13:42 So it's a matter of now what do we do with the properties
10:13:45 that we know we have?
10:13:50 So the land banking, I was under the impression that this
10:13:53 city was prohibited -- Mr. Suarez had said eminent domain,
10:14:02 but for land banking property, I think some of the tenets of
10:14:08 that prohibition have to do with -- for speculation, so we
10:14:13 wouldn't be caught in a situation where we had plans to do
10:14:19 some affordable housing, or some other, you know, public
10:14:22 service type of project on that property, but then that fell
10:14:26 through, so now we are going to sell it.
10:14:28 And then we get caught in that conundrum of now you are
10:14:34 speculating in real estate and the city is prohibited from
10:14:37 doing that.
10:14:38 So that, we have to go very carefully around that type of
10:14:44 subject.
10:14:46 I know some people have gotten in trouble before.
10:14:51 So when Mr. Suarez talked about, you know, how do we
10:14:56 encourage, or what kinds of things that we can do, you and I
10:15:00 talked about, with Mr. Snelling yesterday, about a program
10:15:05 that you are working on that hasn't been approved yet but we
10:15:08 are hoping that it will.
10:15:11 I'm curious where the money came from for the Nehemiah
10:15:16 project in Sulphur Springs that was announced on Monday.
10:15:19 >> That was a rollover from the sale of the --
10:15:22 >>LISA MONTELIONE: All of the money was rollover money?
10:15:24 >> To bring it up to make it an even million, but from some
10:15:29 SHIP funds, but most of that money was from the sale of the
10:15:32 houses.
10:15:32 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Actually, I did read that.
10:15:37 But we had to subsidize -- make it an easy number.
10:15:50 So I want you to talk about the new programs.
10:15:52 But I do have, as we were talking about, some ideas that
10:15:57 maybe we can look into.
10:15:59 >> Okay.
10:16:00 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And it didn't occur do me yesterday.
10:16:04 Because I like to hear from my questions and then these
10:16:06 questions come to me.
10:16:08 So in order to achieve the percentage of mixed income
10:16:11 housing, like the housing is already doing over at Encore,
10:16:18 going to the private developers, and we have some of the
10:16:21 members as you said of the committee here, that maybe they
10:16:26 can speak to this point, is how do we encourage private
10:16:31 developers to take on these kind of mixed income projects?
10:16:34 I know while I was in college I worked on some tax credit
10:16:39 deals and self-participation loans so that the burden of the
10:16:43 loans were spread out among several banks, and they had
10:16:48 lower interest, so they meet the CRA requirements.
10:16:53 But can we do something with zoning districts so that we
10:16:58 maybe create a special district where mixed income
10:17:02 properties can be permitted more easily, or we give them
10:17:09 incentives of some kind, bonus densities?
10:17:12 And I know we do some of that.
10:17:15 I just think it's not enough because we don't see the mixed
10:17:18 income in some of the projects we see coming forward.
10:17:21 >> So what I would like to ask, I want to answer your
10:17:27 questions, but one of the other things that we are going to
10:17:29 do today is talk about the local housing assistance plan.
10:17:32 It's in there.
10:17:33 We talk about strategies.
10:17:34 And also incentives for affordable housing.
10:17:37 But I would like to defer to Leroy and let him talk about
10:17:40 the waiting list and Encore, and then come back and answer
10:17:44 your question as part of that discussion.
10:17:45 >>LISA MONTELIONE: and I would like to hear from the
10:17:48 committee members, because they are part of that.
10:17:51 >> This is their plan.
10:17:52 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Great.
10:17:53 Thank you.
10:17:53 >> I am going to defer to Leroy right now.
10:17:59 And then I'll come back.
10:18:00 >> Leroy Moore, the Housing Authority.
10:18:24 I was asked to update you on both the relocation process,
10:18:28 how it might impact our waiting list, and also our wait
10:18:32 list.
10:18:32 And prepared just a few slides here to give you some facts
10:18:37 at hand.
10:18:37 This is our portfolio as it stands today.
10:18:40 In 1988, for comparison, we had about 7500 total units.
10:18:46 Today we have just over 14,000 total units of housing that
10:18:51 we provide.
10:18:52 Our wait list as you can see at the very top of the yellow
10:18:55 box is combined wait list of just under about 30,000 people
10:19:02 sitting on our wait list.
10:19:03 I am going to give you more information on what that number
10:19:06 means and what that wait list is.
10:19:08 These are not qualified HUD persons.
10:19:10 These are north individuals that have already been screened.
10:19:12 These are applicants that have applied for the wait list.
10:19:16 So we have got about two times as many people sitting on the
10:19:19 wait list and the housing.
10:19:21 And that's a typical trend city to city that you would see
10:19:24 for house housing authorities that manage their wait lists
10:19:27 of the by managing their wait lists, I mean that don't leave
10:19:31 their wait list open forever, because that creates wait
10:19:35 lists of hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people.
10:19:38 And you give people false hope is on the way when you allow
10:19:44 a wait list to go unmanaged by always leaving it open.
10:19:47 So we have always used best practice.
10:19:51 Best practices in managing our wait list which calls for us
10:19:54 to actually close that wait list periodically until that
10:19:59 wait list trends down to a lower number, and then open the
10:20:02 wait list back up again to bring in new clients.
10:20:06 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Mr. Moore, you said this was not a
10:20:11 vetted list and I talked with Vanessa and Thom yesterday
10:20:14 about it.
10:20:15 Why when someone is making an application isn't that
10:20:19 application vetted so income, proof of income and all of
10:20:23 those documents submitted so we have a true waiting list of
10:20:26 people who are truly qualified?
10:20:29 >> Right.
10:20:30 This is an entrance list as a wait list, primarily because
10:20:36 individual situations change over time.
10:20:39 Our typical wait list could be 10,000.
10:20:42 As an example of in 2006, we opened the wait list for one
10:20:50 week.
10:20:51 And in that one week we received 10,800 persons that
10:20:54 applied.
10:20:56 10,800 in one week.
10:20:58 We immediately closed the wait list.
10:21:00 But we then managed that wait list.
10:21:02 And that wait list typically would have carried us about
10:21:06 five or six years.
10:21:07 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Those are just people who have interest
10:21:09 in getting a Fordable housing, not ones that are qualified.
10:21:12 >> They are people that know that the requirements are that
10:21:15 your income is below 80% of the area, but that's a primary
10:21:20 determinant, and they applied because they for the most
10:21:25 partly meet that criteria.
10:21:27 In a year's time, two years time, their income, they can no
10:21:32 longer qualify, their housing conditions have changed, they
10:21:37 could no longer be rent burdened, certain priorities, paying
10:21:42 over 40% of the income for rent, gets you a priority on the
10:21:45 wait list.
10:21:46 Being homeless gets you a priority on the wait list.
10:21:49 And several other factors.
10:21:54 But this is our wait list.
10:21:55 And this comparison was complete, that 10,800 person wait
10:22:00 list was exhausted in about six years.
10:22:05 It's about five years into it, in 2011 we actually acquired
10:22:09 the Hillsborough County section 8 portfolio, which was about
10:22:12 15, 1600 additional vouchers.
10:22:15 But about 8,000 more persons on their wait list.
10:22:20 So we have not opened our wait list now under section 8
10:22:25 housing voucher wait list for ten years now.
10:22:29 Because we had 10,800 in 2006.
10:22:34 We trimmed it down to about 1500 or so in 2011.
10:22:38 But we acquired the county's wait list of 8,000.
10:22:41 So we are now trimming that down.
10:22:44 Now we stand at about 4,000 families on our section 8 wait
10:22:48 list.
10:22:49 And that will take us to about two more years.
10:22:52 About 2,000 application as year on the section 8 program.
10:22:55 And of the 2,000 a year that we go through, we house around
10:23:00 800 per year, just to give you some idea of how many fall
10:23:05 out.
10:23:06 So 10,000 person wait list, 5,000 will end up getting housed
10:23:12 at the end of the day.
10:23:13 Also understand that our wait lists don't restrict how many
10:23:16 wait lists you can get on.
10:23:19 Individuals that are currently housed in public housing, a
10:23:22 lot of them are sitting on the section 8 wait list.
10:23:25 Okay.
10:23:27 So you have a lot of redundancies in that system.
10:23:33 And have the ability to move up, become more independent,
10:23:36 and have more choice in where you would like to live without
10:23:41 being a section 8 applicant.
10:23:43 That's why section 8 is a much more desirable program, but
10:23:50 qualified residents on the public housing side under section
10:23:52 8 plan.
10:23:53 >>LISA MONTELIONE: [Off microphone.] based on how many
10:23:58 applications you have?
10:23:59 So it's actually a lot more people than that, because that's
10:24:03 just head of household.
10:24:05 >> That's just the family, the whole family.
10:24:08 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Okay.
10:24:09 >> This is our public housing inventory now.
10:24:13 I would like to show this slide to show that we are
10:24:16 disbursing throughout the City of Tampa.
10:24:19 A lot of jurisdictions.
10:24:22 And this is what our public housing properties look like
10:24:25 today.
10:24:26 Wait list management.
10:24:27 Our wait list in 2014 went to an online wait list process.
10:24:32 As you saw, 25,000 people are sitting on our public housing
10:24:39 wait list.
10:24:39 Prior to going online that wait list stood at about 89,000.
10:24:44 And shortly, in a very few months, because it's now online,
10:24:49 it's more available, it's a lot easier to actually apply,
10:24:52 you can apply for multiple sites at the same time with the
10:24:55 click of a button.
10:24:56 It's a great service to be able to provide to families that
10:24:59 minimize a lot of the efforts that they have to go through.
10:25:02 And a lot of the data management on these waiting lists.
10:25:07 But that allows that wait list to explode as well.
10:25:09 It went from 9,000 to now 25,000, and we closed the public
10:25:14 housing wait list in December of 2014.
10:25:19 So that wait list gets really down.
10:25:24 Anytime we open the wait list, a public announcement, and
10:25:28 there's a number of private service industry groups and
10:25:32 social services, agencies are made aware of.
10:25:34 We actually receive applications throughout the city, not
10:25:37 just in one location, so that the maximum fenestration and
10:25:44 all the different markets.
10:25:46 A lot of redundancies as I mentioned earlier.
10:25:50 And you do have less preference in local priorities for
10:25:52 homeless, being rent burdened, as well as individuals that
10:25:57 are low income but they are unemployed but they are in
10:26:00 school, or they are working, or they have other situations
10:26:05 such as they are elderly.
10:26:11 This gives you a little more information about how we
10:26:15 actually manage 25,000 applicants on the public housing wait
10:26:18 list.
10:26:19 Waiting for three housing total, 3,000 total units of public
10:26:24 housing that we manage, own and operate, and we have about
10:26:29 520 turnovers per year.
10:26:34 The housing trust voucher program, we have 4,000 applicants
10:26:38 on that list that is now trimming down.
10:26:40 We have 8900 total vouchers available.
10:26:45 And we get about 720 persons that turn over in that program
10:26:51 a year.
10:26:54 That's how many are created in that program each year.
10:26:56 Then our apartment-based vouchers is our most wait list but
10:27:03 each individual property that has project-based, subsidy
10:27:07 spaced units, it doesn't remain with the resident.
10:27:11 The housing trust voucher is a voucher that is issued to a
10:27:16 family and that family can choose anywhere they like as long
10:27:20 as the private landlord accepts that voucher.
10:27:23 The project based units, we actually assist the units that
10:27:26 the landlord owns, and the landlord then finds the income
10:27:34 eligible.
10:27:35 That wait list when you combine all of our, I think, eight
10:27:38 or nine project-based sites is 48,000 total.
10:27:45 But once again, the variety majority of the people that are
10:27:48 in public housing or on the public housing wait list is also
10:27:52 on that wait list.
10:27:53 And a lot of people that live in the 3,000 public housing
10:27:58 units may also be on that wait list.
10:28:01 And the area turnover there as you can see.
10:28:07 How are relocation impacts is very important to understand
10:28:13 as well, because we have now for the last nine months, we
10:28:16 have been going through major relocation of families,
10:28:22 apartments, high-rises in West Tampa.
10:28:25 The relocation plan that is a uniform relocation plan, that
10:28:30 requires us to locate comparable dwelling units, that the
10:28:35 family moves, incur no additional rent cost in the new
10:28:40 location.
10:28:41 That's what we call the unit needs for what they either have
10:28:45 or what they qualified for.
10:28:48 And rent can't increase as a result of their location.
10:28:54 All the expense and cost to pay for moving costs and utility
10:28:58 transfer costs, cable, telephone, water bill, connection
10:29:03 charges, all those fees are paid on their behalf.
10:29:06 But then they are also issued a relocation allowance as a
10:29:11 convenience for the families for having to relocate.
10:29:16 They all have the right to return to the redeveloped site
10:29:19 post redevelopment, because we are relocating families for
10:29:22 purposes of building back that community, and in most cases
10:29:26 building back more residential units from that site.
10:29:31 So we would be encouraging them to actually come back to
10:29:35 that new community.
10:29:37 But that's their choice.
10:29:39 That's their right to choose and we don't force that return.
10:29:42 But we give them all 100% return.
10:29:47 Also relocation of this program, full array of services to
10:29:53 assist them in becoming more self-sufficient over this
10:29:56 period. Typically we give them over five years of counsel,
10:30:02 five years of services which could be job training,
10:30:05 development classes, assistance so neck attend job training,
10:30:11 so they can attend schools to get their GD, you know,
10:30:15 transportation assistance so they can actually tab Hart to
10:30:19 the various locations for training, schooling.
10:30:21 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Is there any quantitative analysis that
10:30:28 the Housing Authority has done so that after someone has
10:30:33 been in one of your programs, you say five years with
10:30:37 counseling, GED programs, job training assistance, how many
10:30:43 people are able to leave subsidized housing, give up their
10:30:50 vouchers or move out of public housing?
10:30:53 >> Leroy Moore: All together?
10:30:56 We actually do, all of our redevelopment, actually a third
10:30:59 party evaluation, which is usually university connected,
10:31:05 actually evaluate the results of the family.
10:31:08 I can tell you that there is a very -- that transition into
10:31:21 public housing.
10:31:22 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Why is that?
10:31:23 It seems when we talk about the underpinnings, and what Ms.
10:31:27 McCleary was talking about before.
10:31:30 If we are giving people five years of counseling, giving
10:31:33 them GED, giving them job training, but they are still not
10:31:36 leaving public house had gone, where is the breakdown there?
10:31:40 >> Yes, primarily in my opinion -- I wouldn't call it a
10:31:45 breakdown, but the weakness in the system is that we cannot
10:31:51 force -- enforce compliance.
10:31:55 We can't make an individual get job training.
10:31:58 We can't make an individual take a job.
10:32:01 We provide the services.
10:32:04 We provide the counseling.
10:32:07 We show plenty of others examples, because we do have some
10:32:10 incredible examples that far we point out on a number of
10:32:15 levels of families that have moved from a system of subsidy
10:32:20 to being independent in homes.
10:32:23 We graduate individuals every month.
10:32:25 When we look at the total portfolio, that's a very small
10:32:29 percentage of the people that are in public housing, maybe
10:32:33 less than 10%.
10:32:34 Maybe even less than 5%.
10:32:36 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I know when I worked with one of the
10:32:38 nonprofits when I was still at the university, and did some
10:32:41 of that evaluation of a program, job training doesn't help
10:32:46 unless there's a job for that American to move into.
10:32:49 So they changed around a little bit during the five years
10:32:54 that they had the grant from the federal government to get
10:32:57 the employers involved in the interview process to start
10:33:01 with, before they actually became part of the job training
10:33:04 program.
10:33:05 So when they graduated out of the job training program, that
10:33:09 employer had already interviewed that person, and not all
10:33:14 the time, but a lot of the time they would then take that
10:33:17 person on as an employee.
10:33:19 So there may be some tweaking that we need to do.
10:33:22 >> Leroy Moore: I would say we employ all of those
10:33:27 strategies.
10:33:28 We actually have strategies where we employ first.
10:33:30 We have paid training programs where they are physically on
10:33:34 the job doing training.
10:33:36 But you named the best practice out there that we have got
10:33:40 good results in doing it.
10:33:41 But when you look at the total population, you look at the
10:33:45 number, I'm telling you that the number is very small in
10:33:49 comparison.
10:33:50 >>LISA MONTELIONE: In comparison.
10:33:51 Percentagewise.
10:33:51 >> Absolutely.
10:33:53 But there are incredible successes out there.
10:33:55 Every month our board actually congratulates individuals who
10:33:59 moved to ohm ownership, who literally moved to 6-figure
10:34:04 income, and we bring attention to them as an example so
10:34:06 other residents can see that potential and hope they get
10:34:09 inspired and actually take serious these opportunities that
10:34:12 are made available.
10:34:13 >>HARRY COHEN: Councilwoman Capin has a question.
10:34:19 >>YVONNE CAPIN: You know, at least in the mid 50s when I
10:34:30 was a child, it was never intended to be permanent housing.
10:34:36 And my father was one of eight children whose father was
10:34:41 deaf, and the only two that did not take advantage of the
10:34:44 public housing was my father and my grandparents.
10:34:48 Their parents, his parents.
10:34:50 They rented their entire life which I did not know.
10:34:53 I thought that was their home the way they kept it.
10:34:56 But all my aunts and uncles lived for a period in public
10:35:02 housing, and it did exactly what it was supposed to do,
10:35:06 which they saved money in order to buy.
10:35:09 Of course, that was a different time.
10:35:12 60s.
10:35:13 When I looked at this, it whats back in 1991, 92, there was
10:35:17 a campaign for president, and they said it's the economy,
10:35:22 stupid.
10:35:30 They can't get out because they can't get a job and they
10:35:33 can't afford to buy a house.
10:35:35 I am also a huge advocate of internships.
10:35:45 An apprenticeship.
10:35:47 As I said before, that is something that I took advantage of
10:35:49 in my business and hired that person, that the county
10:35:56 knocked on my door, because when you own a small business --
10:36:01 they knocked on my door and said would you be interested in
10:36:03 this program?
10:36:04 And it was for a period of time, paid half their salary and
10:36:10 the county paid their other half.
10:36:12 We hired that jeweler, and he stayed with us for seven
10:36:16 years.
10:36:17 And he walked away with a very marketable skill.
10:36:23 There has to be that component.
10:36:25 There has to be a place where these people are trained in
10:36:28 order to -- and of course the minimum wage has got to go up.
10:36:31 There's just no and, ifs or buts about it.
10:36:36 When I am hearing all of this, it's like all good and it all
10:36:42 moves in the right direction.
10:36:45 But unless we have that other component, like he said, the
10:36:51 numbers are going to stay very, very small.
10:36:53 Very small.
10:36:54 And it's very unfortunate.
10:36:57 When I see this.
10:36:58 And I have done a tour with you all, of all the housing.
10:37:03 And it's exceptional, the condition that some of these
10:37:08 places are in, that you would never know that these are --
10:37:12 that this is public or subsidized housing, and very
10:37:17 impressive
10:37:20 It's almost like I am throwing up my hands in the air, like,
10:37:25 okay, how are we, City Council, going to be able to -- to
10:37:30 affect the outcome of what we are hearing here today?
10:37:35 And I would love to hear from my colleagues, and hopefully
10:37:39 we have one small contribution that makes a difference, I
10:37:44 hope.
10:37:44 >> I go back to this slide because I also don't want to
10:37:51 leave without we keep track of those in the workforce, that
10:37:59 vehicle now retired.
10:38:00 But you can see on our public housing portfolio about a
10:38:02 third of those are senior, elderly.
10:38:06 And as well as under affordable rental, you can see that
10:38:15 about a third of those units that we talk about are families
10:38:18 that are not looking for jobs.
10:38:19 They have actually retired and this is their permanent home.
10:38:23 So that two-thirds are the ones that really need to get more
10:38:27 motivation, more inspired.
10:38:29 Again, they just need to do more to change their situation.
10:38:34 If we are going to bring that up.
10:38:37 This is a relocation plan.
10:38:39 It's 100% residents choice if they choose section 8 voucher
10:38:44 or stay in the public housing program B.two-thirds of them
10:38:47 choose the section 8 program to put a voucher in their hand.
10:38:50 For those two-thirds that choose the section 8 voucher they
10:38:53 go to the very top of the wait list even though they are not
10:38:56 on the wait list at that time.
10:38:59 They stay in public housing.
10:39:00 So how does the relocation impact the wait list?
10:39:05 It slows the pace that we move people off the wait list.
10:39:13 We will start pulling from the wait list again in May of
10:39:15 this year.
10:39:17 So the end of this location, 811 families move into
10:39:23 high-rise.
10:39:24 We have relocated over 400.
10:39:29 If we got 79 families as of today, and they will be all
10:39:34 relocated.
10:39:39 We will he shall you our last voucher, we think, in April of
10:39:42 this year.
10:39:44 And people always ask what's happening to the families that
10:39:47 actually relocate?
10:39:49 Where exactly do they go?
10:39:52 Myths about people being evicted, et.
10:39:55 Everybody is relocated.
10:39:57 Now, there may be some evictions.
10:39:59 I think we have had 25 evictions that was in process when we
10:40:04 started the relocation.
10:40:06 And we have had about five or six deaths over time over the
10:40:11 last nine months.
10:40:12 But just by comparison is the relocation at Central Park
10:40:16 Village, relocated 83 households there.
10:40:22 Typically based own their numbers, and this pretty much
10:40:25 parallels every relocation we had in East Tampa, College
10:40:29 Hill, and Ponce DeLeon. About two thirds of the family
10:40:31 choosing vouchers, about 80% plus of the families stay
10:40:34 within a 10-miles radius from where they located from, 57%
10:40:41 residents stayed within a five mile radius, and 89% stayed
10:40:46 in the State of Florida.
10:40:49 But with that section 8 voucher, it's portable meaning they
10:40:52 can go anywhere in the U.S. including Alaska and Puerto
10:40:56 Rico.
10:40:57 And some of our families may choose to actually exercise
10:41:01 that flexibility because they are trying to get closer to
10:41:04 family support, closer to jobs, closer to their network of
10:41:09 support.
10:41:09 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Mr. Moore, something that I hear all the
10:41:12 time in my district is when people are relocated they are
10:41:15 sent to north Tampa, and it increases the problems that we
10:41:20 have in Sulphur Springs or in the university area.
10:41:25 So looking at your map, the one before this one, you can see
10:41:30 that it looks like the concentration goes directly north, or
10:41:35 just a little bit northeast.
10:41:38 >> Yes, the concentration primarily -- this is Central Park
10:41:42 Village.
10:41:44 These are the families that went into North Boulevard.
10:41:47 The families that went into our East Tampa property, Ponce
10:41:52 DeLeon, Osborne landing, and, you know, add then further
10:41:59 north, once again, Robles Park, by comparison.
10:42:06 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So to discuss what we said a little
10:42:10 while ago, that we would want to spread people out and put
10:42:15 them in opportunities where there are mixed income
10:42:20 neighborhood and not concentrate poverty, it doesn't seem
10:42:23 like we are there yet.
10:42:26 At least by this map.
10:42:27 >> Well, this map shows deconcentration of poverty.
10:42:32 They are going to where there are affordable units existing
10:42:35 and vacant.
10:42:35 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Well, the places that you name, directly
10:42:39 north, East Tampa, Robles Park, those are lower income
10:42:44 neighborhoods.
10:42:46 And areas north.
10:42:48 The university area where, you know, if you just continue
10:42:51 following that line north is where it seems like you say,
10:42:57 it's either directly north or is a little northeast, but
10:43:01 those are still low-income neighborhoods.
10:43:05 And Vanessa wants to say something.
10:43:07 >> Vanessa McCleary: One of the things you have to know
10:43:13 about the relocation, it is the person's choice.
10:43:15 So that is different providing them a voucher where they
10:43:18 choose where they want to live, than when you build
10:43:21 something for people to locate.
10:43:22 So when I am talking about diversifying the pockets, instead
10:43:26 of issuing tax credit projects in those areas, we want to
10:43:31 start diversifying where we build multifamily housing that
10:43:36 would be affordable, and diversifying that way, because we
10:43:39 are never going to eliminate choice.
10:43:41 We are not going to force --
10:43:44 >>LISA MONTELIONE: No, no.
10:43:46 They can afford something there.
10:43:48 So why are they choosing there?
10:43:50 >> They are choosing there for two reasons.
10:43:51 Affordable.
10:43:52 But they are also choosing to be close to their family and
10:43:55 their network.
10:43:56 When we were housing the homeless, when we did the homeless
10:44:00 project, with the veterans, and we placed some of them in
10:44:04 Carrollwood, and they were upset because their families,
10:44:08 their farm advice, their friends were on the other side of
10:44:11 town.
10:44:11 So you have to migrate people slowly because they are always
10:44:14 going to want to be near their network because baby-sitting,
10:44:18 because of friendships, because that's where your doctor is.
10:44:21 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So where public transportation is, and
10:44:27 Nebraska and Florida are the most heavily provided bus
10:44:34 routes.
10:44:34 >> What we want to do is provide more opportunities because
10:44:37 some of the folks do want to live in other areas, but that's
10:44:39 where it's affordable right now.
10:44:41 >>HARRY COHEN: Councilwoman Capin.
10:44:44 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Thank you.
10:44:45 That's the thing I was going to point out, when it was said
10:44:48 there's concentration and it's northeast.
10:44:51 North, northeast, because that's affordable.
10:44:53 That's affordable.
10:44:56 Any further out, they probably can also find affordable but
10:44:59 it's further out.
10:45:01 You have to move further out, as others that work for the
10:45:04 city, our police, our law enforcement, many of them live
10:45:10 outside the city.
10:45:12 I went to visit my cousin in trinity who build a house in
10:45:15 trinity, and I'm driving through this brand new subdivision,
10:45:18 and there's a police car parked in front of the house there.
10:45:22 That's where they can afford to live.
10:45:26 And you said the same thing.
10:45:28 We all want to be near our people, where we are comfortable,
10:45:32 where we shop, whatever it may be.
10:45:37 It could be language if that's the case.
10:45:43 Like you sewed, it's a choice.
10:45:46 What I think I see there is making that area better, exactly
10:45:55 where it's affordable to where they have the shopping, they
10:45:59 have the markets that provide all of the same amenities and
10:46:07 goods that are provided in other areas.
10:46:09 And it's not so much moving them out as bringing in what
10:46:14 they need.
10:46:17 And build Walgreen's.
10:46:19 I don't want to advertise anybody.
10:46:21 (Laughter)
10:46:26 That's what it looked like to me.
10:46:28 Let's move in the amenities.
10:46:30 >> Right.
10:46:32 Because part of breaking up that poverty is making the area
10:46:35 attractive to other incomes.
10:46:36 So in Sulphur Springs, when we developed the first set of
10:46:40 houses, some of the folks that were buying in there were
10:46:43 right at the limit of 120% of median income and we had some
10:46:49 above because they couldn't buy a new home on the market for
10:46:52 that price.
10:46:53 So if you can make new home ownership available in some of
10:46:57 these neighborhoods, you can start diversifying the income
10:47:00 and then it doesn't look like it's a concentration of
10:47:02 poverty by moving other people in.
10:47:05 We want all of our neighborhoods to be neighborhoods of
10:47:07 choice.
10:47:09 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I agree.
10:47:10 Thank you.
10:47:11 >> By comparison, this is what we are experiencing so far
10:47:17 with the 65, 67 families that have relocated from West Tampa
10:47:22 so far.
10:47:23 811 families, more than 70 have actually been relocated to
10:47:28 date.
10:47:28 This is where they go to.
10:47:33 We have had one move to Pennsylvania.
10:47:35 Everybody else for the most part has stayed within Florida
10:47:38 State.
10:47:39 One in Georgia.
10:47:42 This is a map that we actually created in-house.
10:47:45 I call it the Google Brown map.
10:47:51 This is a smart map that has all the data associated with
10:47:53 each one of those dots.
10:47:55 You can see the actual information.
10:47:58 I just picked one doctor at random.
10:48:01 This is the information on that particular family.
10:48:02 Women moved, the date, the new address that they moved to.
10:48:07 That's the property.
10:48:09 We actually zoom in on the Google list map image.
10:48:13 And that's a new community that they moved to.
10:48:21 This is the actual Google map that's up there in Florida.
10:48:27 Each one of these dots you can check on.
10:48:29 One person moved to near the Palm River area.
10:48:32 That's where that family is.
10:48:36 Their information.
10:48:37 And we can go down and actually see where that family lives
10:48:42 at.
10:48:45 But it's good, smart technology that has allowed us to
10:48:51 better track families.
10:48:54 We know where all our families are.
10:48:58 The myths that you hear about and the stories you hear about
10:49:01 from other mass relocations in public housing from around
10:49:03 the country where half the families can't be located.
10:49:07 We can locate our families in Central Park Village from this
10:49:11 property.
10:49:13 We have regular contact with them through our case manage.
10:49:15 >>CHAIRMAN: Staff to ensure that they know about the
10:49:17 programs that are available, that they have access to
10:49:20 support, to allow them to either get their GED or get back
10:49:24 into school or get job training, take care of their kids in
10:49:28 day care while they are getting job training, a Hart pass to
10:49:32 get to the location they need to get to.
10:49:35 There's a lot of areas of case management that is offered to
10:49:38 them, and that they get so that case management staff can
10:49:44 take advantage, get connected and improve your life's
10:49:47 situation while we are improving the physical community.
10:49:55 90% of the responsibility lies with the individual in making
10:49:58 good commitments.
10:50:00 And I think that's where the shortfall is.
10:50:05 80% of our families hopefully -- they don't take advantage
10:50:11 of that.
10:50:13 >>FRANK REDDICK: If there are no additional questions let's
10:50:14 go to public comments and hear from those who are here and
10:50:20 those at home can hear as well.
10:50:22 All right.
10:50:23 Do you wish to speak?
10:50:24 Please come forward and state your name and you have three
10:50:27 minutes.
10:50:27 >> Craig Thomas.
10:50:32 And I just have a couple of questions to ask.
10:50:35 First of all, I appreciate everything you guys have said
10:50:38 today.
10:50:38 I came -- I got way more information so thank you for that.
10:50:47 I know you mentioned that some properties, ten years.
10:50:51 They don't qualify for affordable homes anymore.
10:50:54 Like with Encore, it's ten years would still be affordable
10:50:58 housing?
10:50:59 >> [Off microphone.]
10:51:04 >> Okay.
10:51:05 And especially as far as the minimum wage goes, is there
10:51:09 anything that our citizens can do to encourage the council
10:51:12 to raise the minimum wage to pay $15 an hour?
10:51:15 Is there anything council is doing in the works rate now to
10:51:18 raise the minimum wage?
10:51:23 >>LISA MONTELIONE: You just did.
10:51:26 The City of Tampa is not like some other cities, like
10:51:29 Portland and Seattle.
10:51:30 We don't have the authority to set minimum wages in the City
10:51:34 of Tampa.
10:51:36 The wages are set by the State of Florida.
10:51:38 >> But you can vote.
10:51:42 >>LISA MONTELIONE: We can vote.
10:51:44 And we can encourage.
10:51:45 We can call our representatives there.
10:51:48 You can join the fight for 15 movement.
10:51:50 I think most of us have spoken at their rallies.
10:51:53 But, yeah, we personally can't do it.
10:51:57 I think we would have already if we could.
10:52:00 >> And then affordable housing.
10:52:06 I know the city has some land downtown.
10:52:09 If it possible to build affordable housing on top of those
10:52:12 lots?
10:52:12 >>MIKE SUAREZ: We don't want to get anybody in the audience
10:52:21 fired.
10:52:22 (Laughter).
10:52:25 >>YVONNE CAPIN: It's a very interesting concept.
10:52:26 You would think on top of all this commercial development,
10:52:32 that you have, you know, you have the WalMarts, and street
10:52:38 vending, why can't we go up and bring them up and have
10:52:48 housing above them?
10:52:51 That is not something that we have looked at but that is
10:52:53 interesting.
10:52:54 I want to hear real quick.
10:52:56 I heard -- we know we can't do that so I would like to know
10:53:00 why.
10:53:00 >> Okay.
10:53:13 The commendations --
10:53:16 >>FRANK REDDICK: It seems like you have a lot of questions
10:53:18 directed to the presenter.
10:53:19 Why don't you just meet with them?
10:53:20 >> No problem.
10:53:22 Thank you.
10:53:23 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
10:53:23 All right.
10:53:32 >>THOM SNELLING: That was the last part left of our
10:53:33 presentation, the affordable housing.
10:53:37 Do you want to do that real quick?
10:53:51 >>FRANK REDDICK: We have one more person to present before
10:53:54 we go back to public comments.
10:53:57 As soon as they are finished with their report.
10:53:59 >> One of the other requests was the affordable housing
10:54:07 committee wanted to meet with the come up and present the
10:54:10 draft of the local housing assistance plan, that we are
10:54:13 working on for 2016-19.
10:54:20 The local housing assistance plan is required for the
10:54:23 receipt of state housing and those are the Sadowski trust
10:54:29 fund dollars that the city receives. It's estimated this
10:54:32 year that we will receive about 2.2 million.
10:54:35 Had none of the money been spent from the trust fund, we
10:54:39 would have received about 4 million, but because some of the
10:54:41 money did go, we are only receiving about 2.2 million.
10:54:49 So in terms of the document, one of the things that it does
10:54:51 is we have to lay out what are some of the strategies, what
10:54:54 are some of the programs that we will fund throughout that
10:54:58 three-year period?
10:55:01 We have to outline them in the plan.
10:55:03 And then we can fund them.
10:55:05 If it's not in the plan, we couldn't have the program.
10:55:07 So purchase assistance where we are providing down payment
10:55:11 assistance for folks to buy a home, if it wasn't in the
10:55:13 plan, we couldn't fund it with the money.
10:55:15 So these are the strategies that we are looking at, and how
10:55:19 we are going to address affordable housing issues in the
10:55:21 area.
10:55:21 The down payment assistance program, it will help first-time
10:55:25 home buyers to buy a home, owner occupied rehab, where we
10:55:29 are helping folks in need to repair their home to stay in
10:55:35 their home, acquisition and rehab, acquiring previously
10:55:39 foreclosed or outdated property, working with our nonprofit
10:55:43 partners, rehabbing the homes and making them available for
10:55:45 sale.
10:55:46 The new construction of affordable single-family housing.
10:55:49 Special needs is where we do modifications for
10:55:52 accessibility, for if someone is hearing impaired or blind,
10:55:57 we would do modifications to their home to make it feasible
10:56:01 for them to stay there.
10:56:03 Rabbles of rental properties.
10:56:05 So if some of us who buy a building and want to do a
10:56:08 conversion, that's how we would fund that project.
10:56:11 Also, supporting the new construction of new rental housing.
10:56:15 And then a new program that we are proposing this year is
10:56:21 cover security and utility deposits to help people to get
10:56:24 into rentals.
10:56:25 And then there's mitigation, and that is in the event
10:56:29 there's a disaster we would move the funding into that, and
10:56:32 to help people recover from whatever disaster hit the area.
10:56:35 So these are strategies in terms of how we would allocate
10:56:39 the funding.
10:56:40 We have not done any allocation of funding but these are the
10:56:43 programs that are proposed.
10:56:44 In addition to programs, one of the other things that we
10:56:50 talked about is what are some of the incentives to encourage
10:56:53 affordable housing?
10:56:55 So we currently have an expedited permitting process, and we
10:56:59 are going to look at enhancing that by providing
10:57:02 documentation so that the builder has it to go to the permit
10:57:06 office to be get expedited permitting.
10:57:09 The city bonus flexibility, if they are building affordable
10:57:13 housing, making sure there's reservation of infrastructure
10:57:17 capacity for affordable housing development, looking at the
10:57:20 possibility of accessory buildings, so having, say, a tiny
10:57:23 house in your backyard or converting your garage into an
10:57:26 apartment to provide additional affordable housing.
10:57:29 And these are things that we are going to explore, not
10:57:32 necessarily that they have been approved in any way.
10:57:37 Some of it has.
10:57:38 Parking and setback requirements, making those more flexible
10:57:43 to affordable housing.
10:57:45 Having a review of any policies that might affect the costs
10:57:50 of housing.
10:57:50 So if there was going to be a new policy that we would opine
10:57:54 on that policy and just give our input as to how that might
10:57:57 have an effect.
10:57:59 Also providing a printed inventory of public land so if
10:58:03 there was someone interested in doing in-fill housing that
10:58:06 they would have that list of affordable properties, and like
10:58:09 I mentioned, we have about 150 on our list right now that we
10:58:13 are going to be putting out, and hopefully getting both
10:58:16 nonprofit and for-profit developers, to encourage them to
10:58:19 build.
10:58:21 Supporting the development of housing near transportation
10:58:24 husband.
10:58:26 It's really important in terms of making homes affordable.
10:58:29 Being near where you can get to and from work.
10:58:32 And then outreach and education.
10:58:34 We find that there are a lot of programs out there to assist
10:58:37 people that they are just not aware of and even how you
10:58:40 access the program, how you walk through the program, how
10:58:42 you apply for the funding that we have, that going to do
10:58:45 more in terms of outreach and education.
10:58:54 Some of the other incentives that we have been talking about
10:58:58 is supporting tax credit applications.
10:59:01 We are also going to -- we started having conversations with
10:59:05 the universities, just having some students build models of
10:59:09 housing that would be more affordable.
10:59:11 So cut down on waste and using materials to make the housing
10:59:19 affordable, what's the best size of room, and providing it
10:59:23 to developers for affordable housing.
10:59:26 And then also supporting state incentives for invest oars to
10:59:31 maintain affordability of rental units.
10:59:33 So just from the affordable housing committee one of the
10:59:39 things that they talked about is if an investor was to rehab
10:59:43 a house, to flip it, there are some tax implications that
10:59:48 don't make that quite as agreeable as if they hold onto it
10:59:52 and make it rental.
10:59:53 We really want to encourage home ownership.
10:59:56 So what are some ways that we can encourage legislature to
11:00:00 be do some things to make it more of an inventive for
11:00:05 investors to support affordable housing or be encouraged to
11:00:08 do affordable housing?
11:00:11 Other things that we talked about is looking at financing,
11:00:17 so if the investor can get a look-interest loan, build that
11:00:21 house, and then turn around and want to sell it, is there
11:00:25 some way to do a wrap-around mortgage to make it more
11:00:28 advantageous to the end user in terms of buying the house?
11:00:31 Also, just considering all different types of financial
11:00:35 incentives to stimulate the market and to encourage
11:00:38 developers to look at affordable housing.
11:00:41 We have started to have discussions with some of the
11:00:44 national builders, just letting them know that there is a
11:00:47 market out there if they would build housing that was more
11:00:50 affordable.
11:00:51 And we have had some positive discussions, and even when we
11:00:54 put out the RFP to Sulphur Springs we had a couple of market
11:00:59 developers that showed up to that meeting.
11:01:01 So we are starting to make some inroads because we do know
11:01:04 the funding that we have is not going to be enough to do.
11:01:08 This is a problem that really needs a holistic approach so
11:01:11 we are trying to engage different partners to get them
11:01:14 involved to engage the banking community, what can you do in
11:01:17 terms of creative financing, what can we do in partnership
11:01:20 with the county, what can we do in partnership with
11:01:22 nonprofits, for-profits, bringing everybody to the table and
11:01:27 having some conversations with those in mind.
11:01:33 At this point, I want to turn it over to Harry Hedges, the
11:01:39 chair of the affordable housing committee to talk about the
11:01:44 work they are doing.
11:01:45 >> Harry hedges, chairman of the housing finance authority.
11:01:51 As many of you know I have been involved in affordable
11:01:53 housing for some 30 years here in Tampa, both with the
11:01:57 county and the state, and still hold those various
11:02:02 positions.
11:02:02 And I have to say in all of the years I worked with the City
11:02:05 of Tampa, I have never had someone who understands the
11:02:09 mission, but more importantly knows how to implement it to
11:02:14 where it's serving the public, and where it's not just a few
11:02:19 people that are doing a handout.
11:02:23 She has devised systems where people are getting a handout.
11:02:27 We have looked at a number of programs.
11:02:31 We have looked at a number of sites.
11:02:34 People think affordable housing is a give-away program.
11:02:38 It is an investment in the citizens, it is an investment in
11:02:41 the community, properly monitored.
11:02:46 We have a program in the county for the homeless.
11:02:49 We give them two years subsidized housing.
11:02:54 As long as they are in the program to self-sufficiency.
11:02:58 After ten years, our average stay and subsidizing of that
11:03:05 individual is 18 months.
11:03:08 That is huge.
11:03:10 That's one of the things that we have talked about.
11:03:13 But you have to monitor the situation.
11:03:16 You have to be in control of it.
11:03:18 One of the issues in our community -- and I implore you to
11:03:23 look into -- is working on the code enforcement.
11:03:31 They have regulations now, but those regulations now give
11:03:37 people that don't have the same interest in the community
11:03:41 that you have so many opportunities to six months, well,
11:03:47 give them another 90 days, well, give them another 90 days.
11:03:51 We need more teeth.
11:03:52 Things like Sulphur Springs would bounce back much quickly.
11:03:58 Things in East Tampa one bounce back much quickly.
11:04:02 Again as you pointed out, investors want a return.
11:04:09 Make them earn it.
11:04:10 Make them earn it.
11:04:12 Again, it's a social issue, but it's our issue.
11:04:18 And I want to continue to be part of the solution and help
11:04:24 with the problems.
11:04:30 Any questions?
11:04:33 Let me introduce the vice chair, Rus Versace, certainly no
11:04:39 stranger.
11:04:40 >> Thank you, Harry.
11:04:41 In the three years that I have been on the affordable
11:04:43 housing committee, we have gotten more done in the last
11:04:47 three, four months under Vanessa's and her staff.
11:04:52 They are amazing.
11:04:53 They understand leverage.
11:04:55 Leverage is very important because we have limited funding,
11:04:59 we have limited social, you know, communication, but they
11:05:05 have given you a list of initiatives.
11:05:09 And so the question was asked, Mr. Suarez asked, what can we
11:05:13 do?
11:05:14 Really, look at that list of items.
11:05:16 Some of that can be ordinance changes.
11:05:21 There are ways to create mother-in-law suites that right now
11:05:27 are not legally supposed to be rented out, but they can be.
11:05:30 That's a source of income for people who have might be
11:05:33 elderly, who would welcome a veteran or somebody to live in
11:05:40 that back area.
11:05:41 There's a multitude of initiatives in here that I would like
11:05:45 for you to really listen to.
11:05:48 Harry mentioned code enforcement.
11:05:50 Really need to give that some teeth, not so much for the
11:05:54 purpose of taking property, although that should be an
11:05:59 ultimate outcome or the threat to landlords to hold down
11:06:04 neighborhoods.
11:06:05 Sulphur Springs isn't alone.
11:06:07 There's a number of pockets throughout the city that have a
11:06:14 preponderance of rentals, and they are allowed to fester
11:06:18 with crime and with trash.
11:06:22 Really give code enforcement some teeth.
11:06:24 Shorten the year that it takes today for somebody to really
11:06:29 have to do something.
11:06:33 Shorten it to two months.
11:06:36 And really make that be not a center piece necessarily, but
11:06:42 as Vanessa talks about a holistic approach, it needs a
11:06:47 holistic approach, and part of that needs to be code
11:06:49 enforcement.
11:06:50 And I would just ask that you act on the things that are in
11:06:55 front of you, and give her support.
11:06:57 She's got a short staff.
11:06:59 I think they are down eight people from the previous.
11:07:03 And it's going to be an exciting meeting to go to now.
11:07:09 I have been for three years and I really enjoy going there
11:07:12 because we are getting stuff done.
11:07:13 Thank you.
11:07:16 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
11:07:16 We turn back to public comments.
11:07:19 We do have another item on the agenda, number 6, to do.
11:07:23 So anyone to speak on this particular item, please come
11:07:26 forward.
11:07:27 Anyone want to speak on item number 7?
11:07:29 >> Ed, Ed Tillou, Sulphur Springs.
11:07:35 >>FRANK REDDICK: Speak on item number 7 only.
11:07:37 >> Yes.
11:07:38 Okay.
11:07:41 I thought I had to leave BUS but my class wasn't being held.
11:07:46 Okay, in this regard,
11:07:48 This is a problem, and it's been a problem in the United
11:07:53 States for 40 or 50 years.
11:07:55 And it started in New York.
11:07:57 Actually, this is the one thing that could bring trump down
11:08:00 because he was single-handedly the architect of homelessness
11:08:05 in America.
11:08:06 With that said, it's percolated out from New York, and it's
11:08:14 essentially inspired by greed.
11:08:17 And it's a spotlight on greed, like these places that are
11:08:21 essentially slum lords, buy up all the housing so they can
11:08:25 rent it at a high price.
11:08:28 Turn the spotlight on them just like the same way
11:08:31 single-family done with those people renting those houses
11:08:35 out that were substandard, that housing.
11:08:42 Actually, those people were better off.
11:08:44 That's the reality of things.
11:08:45 That guy that was renting out that substandard housing that
11:08:50 was deplorable, that was actually better for those people.
11:08:54 So the thing is what you have got to do is get out of this
11:08:56 thing of just catering to the affluent.
11:08:59 And that's done here, Mr. DEREK Chamblee brought out the
11:09:10 whole development process is flawed.
11:09:12 And you are just not confronting that.
11:09:14 And subsidizing housing, that makes it worse.
11:09:17 And the thing is that -- the thing that will bring action,
11:09:22 it's just rent control.
11:09:24 Because rent control actually doesn't work but it shakes
11:09:28 people up.
11:09:28 It shakes up these renters so that that's the thing.
11:09:34 As for whether people need housing, do people need housing?
11:09:39 DEREK and I talked about that sometimes over coffee.
11:09:42 At McDonald's.
11:09:44 What do people really need?
11:09:46 Gypsies seem to be out of the weather and well taken care
11:09:48 of.
11:09:49 Some poor guy that's in a doorway, come down here some
11:09:55 Sunday morning and see these people in doorways lying there
11:10:00 sleeping.
11:10:02 If they are lucky, they have blankets.
11:10:04 So the thing is, gypsies are better off.
11:10:10 And that's actually war a lot of people would like.
11:10:12 So the thing is start asking people what they really want,
11:10:15 what they need.
11:10:17 Tell us -- the question that was proposed was how much land
11:10:22 does a man need?
11:10:24 And the answer to that was six feet.
11:10:28 Six feet to bury him in.
11:10:31 So I mean, hey, there's a reality and nobody faces it.
11:10:35 That is the reality of life.
11:10:37 And nobody thinks about it.
11:10:38 (Bell sounds).
11:10:40 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
11:10:40 Thank you.
11:10:40 >> But seems to have part of the solution ...
11:10:48 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right, anyone else wish to speak on
11:10:49 item number 7?
11:10:54 Any further questions, comments from council?
11:10:56 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I just want to close this out, Mr.
11:10:58 Chair, by asking for a couple of things.
11:11:01 We talked earlier about the economic development piece, and
11:11:05 training, and CDBG funds, and several years ago, I asked for
11:11:14 additional funding to be put into the economic development
11:11:17 piece, and it was $100,000. So I am guessing it's rolled
11:11:21 over a couple of times by now.
11:11:26 So we have 450,000 in economic development money.
11:11:29 And we had an RFP developed.
11:11:33 If we can reestablish that process, again that RFP out were
11:11:36 the new money, I think we'll be able to do a little better
11:11:40 because then we have more money to work with.
11:11:42 So if I can ask you to come back with maybe during staff
11:11:45 reports to let us know.
11:11:49 >> McCleary: Actually, the plan along with how we are
11:11:57 proposing to allocate the fund, along with the annual action
11:12:00 plan.
11:12:01 That lays out how the CDBG funds would be allocated.
11:12:09 >>LISA MONTELIONE: When do you think that could be brought
11:12:10 back?
11:12:11 >> So we'll have the first public hearing will be in April,
11:12:14 because the federal funds and the --
11:12:18 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Yes, doing this for a while.
11:12:21 So it's going to be in April so it's very timely.
11:12:23 >> Yes.
11:12:24 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Excellent.
11:12:25 >> So that would be just letting you know open the public
11:12:29 comment period, we'll put out the RFP hopefully in April,
11:12:34 due back in May.
11:12:35 By the end of June you will have the full plan on both, and
11:12:41 with who has been awarded -- who is proposed to be awarded
11:12:46 on the RFP as a result of that process.
11:12:49 Yes.
11:12:49 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And hopefully the we have not
11:12:54 reinventing the wheel and all that.
11:12:57 Think about that.
11:12:59 Off-line.
11:13:00 >> It wasn't successful the last time.
11:13:02 >>LISA MONTELIONE: But we have more money now.
11:13:04 I have higher hopes.
11:13:08 The other I wanted to ask -- and if you can explore this
11:13:10 idea and maybe come back, some of the things you are
11:13:13 proposing, the mother-in-law suites or any thing that you
11:13:21 spoke about in that program that the committee has proposed
11:13:24 that affects the rezoning process or the special use
11:13:28 process, it would be really helpful, I think, to have just
11:13:34 the same way I asked for budget to put whether or not as an
11:13:39 agenda item is budget neutral, or what the fiscal impact is,
11:13:44 so we have that now peering on our staff report, for the
11:13:48 rezoning process we have the police department weigh in, we
11:13:51 have the school system weigh in, everybody reviews it and
11:13:53 comments.
11:13:54 If myself and my colleagues could have something from
11:13:59 affordable housing to say this special use application meets
11:14:03 the goal of affordable housing for our community, it might
11:14:08 be another thing we could refer to on that list of the
11:14:15 application is consistent, or the application is
11:14:17 inconsistent with the goals and objectives that we have.
11:14:21 So if we can maybe talk through that process.
11:14:26 And I'm hoping that you are going to fill those eight slots
11:14:29 that you have vacant.
11:14:30 >> Three vacancies left.
11:14:33 >>LISA MONTELIONE: You have three vacancies left.
11:14:35 So I'm hoping to hear that we have added new staff for you
11:14:38 to take on all of this work.
11:14:40 But I would definitely want to hear back from how the
11:14:45 progress is on the program that you presented to us and the
11:14:49 different elements of that program.
11:14:53 I guess it will be part of your presentation in April for
11:14:56 some of them.
11:14:57 And you can bring back others.
11:14:58 >> Yes.
11:14:59 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So if I can get those two things.
11:15:02 I don't even know if I need to make a motion because you are
11:15:05 going to schedule that as an administrative process.
11:15:07 >> Uh-huh.
11:15:09 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Okay.
11:15:09 >> Thank you very much.
11:15:12 >>LISA MONTELIONE: And sometime I would like to work with
11:15:16 Cathy Coyle and her staff on working with special zoning
11:15:19 directs because we have the ones you presented.
11:15:22 Most of them are already in place.
11:15:24 >> Yes.
11:15:24 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So if we have to revamp them and add to
11:15:27 them or tweak the ones we have, that's something we can also
11:15:34 look at.
11:15:36 Thank you.
11:15:37 And great hire, Thom.
11:15:39 She's got rave reviews.
11:15:41 Not just today but I hear from a lot of people in the
11:15:44 community, the affordable housing side in Hillsborough
11:15:46 County.
11:15:47 >> And I have to say Thom has allowed me to put together a
11:15:53 really strong team.
11:15:54 And so I don't do it alone.
11:15:56 I have a really strong team behind me.
11:15:59 And Mindy, my new right hand is a new hire.
11:16:03 They helped me to do this work.
11:16:05 It's important work.
11:16:05 And those who work with me right now are very passionate and
11:16:10 that's very important for doing this.
11:16:12 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Great.
11:16:13 Thank you very much.
11:16:14 >>FRANK REDDICK: Any additional comments from council,
11:16:16 questions of council?
11:16:18 All right.
11:16:19 We passed on new comments.
11:16:22 >> I was here before.
11:16:24 >>FRANK REDDICK: You weren't here when we got started.
11:16:26 You have left the room.
11:16:27 >> That's true.
11:16:31 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
11:16:35 The last comment.
11:16:43 >>THOM SNELLING: Land development.
11:16:45 I'm just wrapping up my comments.
11:16:46 We really are done unless you have any other questions for
11:16:49 my staff.
11:16:49 We are good to go.
11:16:51 I appreciate this opportunity.
11:16:54 And I participated in a lot of workshops and I think you got
11:16:58 a lot of good questions, very good information.
11:17:02 I think this kind of dialogue, gives us a good feeling of
11:17:05 what council is collectively thinking.
11:17:08 So my staff can start to bring back some of these things.
11:17:10 And the comments that we have received from affordable
11:17:12 housing advisory committee, were totally unsolicited.
11:17:17 But they are true.
11:17:19 Yes, I am very fortunate to have between Vanessa and all of
11:17:24 my managers, you know, the easiest thing for me to do is get
11:17:30 out of their way and let them do what they do.
11:17:33 >>FRANK REDDICK: Thank you.
11:17:33 We appreciate your comments.
11:17:35 Council, we have one additional item, number 6.
11:17:40 And I don't know what the time schedule is for council this
11:17:44 morning.
11:17:45 If you wish to move forward with 6 or do you wish to try to
11:17:53 do it during the evening session between the 5:30 and 6:00
11:17:55 session?
11:17:56 >>LISA MONTELIONE: If I could.
11:17:57 >> Make a motion to reschedule item number 6 for 5:30 this
11:18:04 evening.
11:18:06 >>FRANK REDDICK: We have two items for 5:30, correct?
11:18:09 >>MARTIN SHELBY: We do, Mr. Chairman.
11:18:11 I have to share with you, you have items that begin at 6:00.
11:18:14 You have alcoholic beverages.
11:18:18 If you wish to do this comprehensively, and take action to
11:18:21 at least give direction to staff to start moving in certain
11:18:24 directions, I suspect it will take more than just a
11:18:27 ten-minute discussion.
11:18:29 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I agree, but I have to leave.
11:18:37 >>FRANK REDDICK: What is the pleasure?
11:18:39 I see two items on here.
11:18:40 If you want to move forward, we are going to have to -- all
11:18:45 right.
11:18:45 >>MARTIN SHELBY: If you wish to do that, take care of the
11:18:49 time sensitive stuff and then schedule the rest for another
11:18:51 day.
11:18:53 >>FRANK REDDICK: Let's do time sensitive today, and the rest
11:18:55 we can schedule another day, if that's possible.
11:18:59 >>HARRY COHEN: Mr. Chair, we could do time sensitive
11:19:03 tonight.
11:19:03 And our next workshop session at the end of April --
11:19:13 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Time sensitive items, how many items are
11:19:14 there and what is it?
11:19:16 Remind me.
11:19:16 >>MARTIN SHELBY: I believe the one that comes to mind most
11:19:28 quickly is the items that council might want to consider
11:19:30 putting on ballot, charter revision.
11:19:33 >>FRANK REDDICK: What I am concerned about is if we start at
11:19:36 5:30, and we don't know if there's going to be a lot of
11:19:40 questions, and if anyone from the public wants to come, and
11:19:47 speak to a lot of items, that's at six and we mate miss that
11:19:52 window of opportunity that's time sensitive.
11:19:55 That's one thing I am concerned about.
11:19:56 We can do time sensitive today and move everything else.
11:20:01 Do it now and then move it.
11:20:02 >>LISA MONTELIONE: I am supposed to speak at an eleventh at
11:20:16 11:30.
11:20:18 And my aide was going to call at 11:20 if I wasn't there.
11:20:23 >>HARRY COHEN: The item on the audit we can do in two
11:20:27 minutes.
11:20:27 The issue that came up at our strategic planning session was
11:20:30 placing something on the ballot to allow City Council to
11:20:34 directly ask for audits and report back to us.
11:20:41 Just giving thought to have that since it came up.
11:20:43 The audit department does have a set budget.
11:20:45 So what I was going to suggest to everyone is that the
11:20:48 language of what we want to put forward be that in any
11:20:53 calendar year or fiscal year up to three times, the City
11:20:56 Council can directly ask for an audit from the audit
11:20:59 department that would be brought back to us directly.
11:21:03 That way, the audit department could actually plan with
11:21:05 their staff to make room in their schedule to do that on a
11:21:09 rolling basis if City Council so desires.
11:21:14 >>YVONNE CAPIN: We can have an audit at any time.
11:21:18 Can we or not?
11:21:20 >>HARRY COHEN: We can't ask for an audit at all.
11:21:23 That's why we are doing this.
11:21:24 >> You can request the administration.
11:21:31 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Okay, never mind.
11:21:31 >>HARRY COHEN: The issue was -- my only concern is you
11:21:36 can't have an open-ended amount of them or you could
11:21:40 actually -- the staff couldn't plan their workload.
11:21:45 So to limit to three a year would be a way if something came
11:21:48 up and council wanted to make the request, we could do it.
11:21:52 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Okay.
11:21:52 That's an excellent addition to this.
11:21:56 But we are also asking that we see the audit in a timely --
11:22:00 when the audits are done.
11:22:01 I got an audit that was eight months old.
11:22:04 >>HARRY COHEN: We did that separately. This is the issue
11:22:06 of us being able to ask directly and report back.
11:22:10 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Okay.
11:22:10 All right.
11:22:11 >>HARRY COHEN: So I would make it in the form of a motion
11:22:14 that we direct our City Council attorney to prepare the
11:22:19 language for such initiative.
11:22:22 >>LISA MONTELIONE: Second.
11:22:24 >>FRANK REDDICK: I got a motion from Mr. Cohen.
11:22:26 Seconded by Mrs. Montelione.
11:22:28 Further discussion on the motion?
11:22:29 All in favor say aye.
11:22:30 Opposed?
11:22:31 All right.
11:22:32 Let me ask you one final question before we wrap up.
11:22:38 The charter review board, is that done by ordinance, or do
11:22:42 we have to go through something else?
11:22:45 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Well, I would like to confer with the city
11:22:48 attorney about how that's done.
11:22:49 But I would think that it would be done by a resolution.
11:23:00 >>FRANK REDDICK: Talking about ordinance?
11:23:02 >>SAL TERRITO: Legal department.
11:23:02 It depends on what you want us to do.
11:23:05 If you want to have it controlled certainly by the City
11:23:07 Council, you don't want to have any administration, you can
11:23:10 do it through a resolution or a motion.
11:23:13 >>FRANK REDDICK: Okay.
11:23:13 >>SAL TERRITO: If you want it done by the administration it
11:23:16 probably would require more.
11:23:17 >>FRANK REDDICK: Ms. Montelione?
11:23:18 >>LISA MONTELIONE: My question is just for attorney Shelby
11:23:23 to develop a timeline for putting something on the ballot.
11:23:27 Because when we just passed the motion to do so, we have to
11:23:31 put a deadline on when we have to get that done so we can
11:23:34 get on the November ballot.
11:23:35 >>MARTIN SHELBY: I had done a motion about that -- a memo
11:23:39 where that previously, I believe.
11:23:42 The deadline date was sometime in June.
11:23:44 >>LISA MONTELIONE: So we have to schedule -- we have to
11:23:47 make sure that we meet that deadline.
11:23:49 >>MARTIN SHELBY: If I can, if I can, may I just ask the
11:23:53 maker of the motion, can you just amend that to ask for a
11:23:56 report for me to work with the city attorney and the legal
11:24:00 department to come back with the process, and a timeline at
11:24:06 the next regular meeting?
11:24:08 >>HARRY COHEN: Since it's time sensitive I would ask that
11:24:10 for April 7th.
11:24:11 Is that enough time?
11:24:13 >> That's enough time.
11:24:14 >>HARRY COHEN: And the other question, that I would add to
11:24:17 the amended motion, what is the cost to the city to place
11:24:20 something on the ballot for referendum?
11:24:22 There is a cost involved.
11:24:24 I believe the supervisor of elections.
11:24:27 Maybe there is not but if you would clarify that, that would
11:24:30 be helpful.
11:24:32 >>FRANK REDDICK: We got an amended motion by Mr. Cohen,
11:24:34 seconded by Mrs. Montelione.
11:24:36 All in favor of that motion say aye.
11:24:37 Opposed?
11:24:38 And Mr. Chair, I am going to make a motion and ask you to
11:24:43 develop a resolution to establish City Council charter
11:24:47 review board, and based on the issues that you have outlined
11:24:54 in the strategic plan.
11:24:58 >>HARRY COHEN: We have a motion on the floor.
11:25:01 I do hear a second?
11:25:02 >>MIKE SUAREZ: I just have a question of the maker of the
11:25:08 motion, that we would still have to hash out which things we
11:25:11 need to put on the ballot.
11:25:12 This is just to allow Mr. Shelby to go forward and come back
11:25:15 with a process in order to create the charter review board.
11:25:21 Is that correct?
11:25:23 >>FRANK REDDICK: Based on what Mr. Territo said, that we can
11:25:25 do it by resolution, approved by the council, and it doesn't
11:25:30 have to go on the ballot.
11:25:31 >>SAL TERRITO: If you are going to spend -- I think you
11:25:33 have $15,000 put aside, I think, for that purpose in last
11:25:36 year's budget.
11:25:37 As long as you have the budget for it, it would not require
11:25:39 any action, in my opinion, other than yours.
11:25:41 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Right. Meaning that we can ask Mr. Shelby
11:25:45 to come back with the charter review without the specifics,
11:25:51 that we will fill that in before that time, before that gets
11:25:55 put on the ballot.
11:25:56 >>MARTIN SHELBY: If you can, may I suggest perhaps the May
11:26:00 workshop, come back, I will have some draft language, review
11:26:03 the scope, and we can come back for a future date on a
11:26:07 regular meeting with the actual --
11:26:10 >>MIKE SUAREZ: The reason why is because the chair made the
11:26:12 motion, made it sound like all the recommendations were part
11:26:15 of that.
11:26:16 And I wanted to make sure that we were clear about it.
11:26:18 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Oh, I will include all that language.
11:26:28 (Overlapping discussions.)
11:26:32 >>YVONNE CAPIN: It's a question.
11:26:36 >>FRANK REDDICK: And if you read the report, the charter
11:26:45 review board may include questions, and that this is going
11:26:57 to move forward on, because in the resolution, in the May
11:27:05 workshop and go back, and ask for background.
11:27:09 >>MIKE SUAREZ: And that's my point, chair.
11:27:12 >> Councilwoman Capin.
11:27:15 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Mr. Territo, we could have done the
11:27:17 resolution for the law enforce.
11:27:21 Review board, but we didn't.
11:27:22 We did an ordinance.
11:27:23 Why wouldn't we to -- would we do a resolution here and not
11:27:27 an ordinance?
11:27:28 >>SAL TERRITO: The difference senior when you do an
11:27:30 ordinance you are including the administration and making it
11:27:32 a law of the city.
11:27:33 If you want to put together a budget review panel of
11:27:35 yourselves, you have total discretion on how you want to do
11:27:38 that so it doesn't require something more than a resolution.
11:27:40 You can do it by motion if you wanted to do it.
11:27:43 But a resolution would set out a structure for you.
11:27:45 It doesn't require an ordinance.
11:27:48 >>YVONNE CAPIN: It doesn't require an ordinance but it could
11:27:49 be an ordinance?
11:27:51 >>SAL TERRITO: Certainly.
11:27:52 >>YVONNE CAPIN: There is a difference.
11:27:53 We do a resolution, we have a Finance Committee that works
11:27:58 by resolution, and, you know, the difference is an ordinance
11:28:06 is a law.
11:28:07 And I feel that it's a very strong position.
11:28:14 And if we feel that this is very important, then we should
11:28:19 look at that as a possible ordinance.
11:28:25 What do you all think?
11:28:27 Well.
11:28:28 >>HARRY COHEN: Let me say that what we could do, the
11:28:31 language really is interchangeable.
11:28:33 So we could make the decision on what form to put it into
11:28:36 once the language comes back, and have that discussion then.
11:28:40 >>YVONNE CAPIN: I think that's a good point.
11:28:41 I just wanted to put it out there because we'll go down the
11:28:44 road on resolution and not really look at ordinance.
11:28:46 And if you recall, that was one of the things I brought
11:28:49 forth with the law enforcement review board, was that we
11:28:54 needed to make it an ordinance.
11:28:55 >>SAL TERRITO: One other ordinance, not to belabor the
11:28:58 issue because it's your decision.
11:28:59 A resolution on one side.
11:29:01 An ordinance, stretching it out you are getting very close
11:29:03 to your deadline to get anything on the ballot if you want
11:29:06 to do it.
11:29:06 So the ordinance will take longer.
11:29:08 >>MARTIN SHELBY: I believe, if I understand, my
11:29:13 recollection of what the discussion was, the charter review
11:29:15 would not be for this next --
11:29:18 >>FRANK REDDICK: Correct.
11:29:18 It would not be for this time.
11:29:19 >>SAL TERRITO: Okay, fine.
11:29:23 I withdraw my comments.
11:29:30 >>FRANK REDDICK: And then one last question, if I may.
11:29:33 And Mr. Territo, the part, the makeup of the board, we were
11:29:39 looking at each member of this council pointing one member.
11:29:41 And we were looking at the mayor pointing two.
11:29:44 So if we do this as an ordinance, will the mayor have to
11:29:49 sign off and approve this ordinance, if it comes to him to
11:29:54 appoint people of the board?
11:29:55 >>SAL TERRITO: That's correct.
11:29:58 >>FRANK REDDICK: So the May workshop.
11:30:05 >>HARRY COHEN: To be clear we have a motion on the floor
11:30:08 from Councilman Reddick, seconded by Councilman Suarez, to
11:30:12 be clear, when is that to come back?
11:30:14 Is that April 7th or is that going to come back to our
11:30:16 workshop at the end of April, I think is what the chairman
11:30:19 just asked for.
11:30:20 >>SAL TERRITO: [Off microphone.]
11:30:27 >>HARRY COHEN: The May workshop, May 26th at 9 a.m.
11:30:35 >>FRANK REDDICK: To add language for the charter review
11:30:38 board.
11:30:38 We are just going to fill in --
11:30:43 >> Yes.
11:30:43 >>THE CLERK: Would you restate the motion for
11:30:48 clarification, please?
11:30:50 >>FRANK REDDICK: Yes.
11:30:50 The motion was made to have the council attorney to draft
11:30:55 the language for staff, charter review board, and make that
11:31:01 available for the May 26th workshop.
11:31:05 >>HARRY COHEN: Okay.
11:31:12 Is there any further discussion on the motion by Councilman
11:31:15 Reddick, seconded by councilman Suarez?
11:31:17 If there's no further discussion, all those in favor please
11:31:20 indicate by saying aye.
11:31:21 Opposed?
11:31:23 >>FRANK REDDICK: All right.
11:31:23 Anything else?
11:31:24 >>MARTIN SHELBY: Yes, sir.
11:31:27 The remaining items on the summary, did you want to take
11:31:30 that up on another date?
11:31:33 >>HARRY COHEN: I move we also bring that back on the
11:31:38 26th.
11:31:38 >> At the workshop.
11:31:40 >>MARTIN SHELBY: The May workshop?
11:31:49 How would you phrase it for the clerk?
11:31:51 The discussion of the decision points for the strategic
11:31:53 planning meeting?
11:31:55 >>HARRY COHEN: Zigs additional discussion resulting from
11:31:58 strategic planning meeting to be held concurrently with your
11:32:02 presentation on the setting up the charter review board.
11:32:09 >>FRANK REDDICK: Okay.
11:32:09 >> Second.
11:32:11 >>FRANK REDDICK: There's a motion by Mr. Cohen.
11:32:13 Seconded by Mr. Suarez.
11:32:15 Further discussion on the motion?
11:32:16 All in favor of the motion say aye.
11:32:19 Opposed?
11:32:19 Anything else?
11:32:20 >> We have to remove some items from the agenda, the
11:32:26 ceremonial items that could not be heard today?
11:32:28 >>HARRY COHEN: I'll make the motion to remove items 3 and 4
11:32:35 on today's agenda.
11:32:36 Number 5 we would like to reschedule to April 7th at
11:32:39 9:00 a.m.
11:32:39 >> Second.
11:32:41 >>FRANK REDDICK: Got a motion from Mr. Cohen.
11:32:42 Seconded by Mr. Maniscalco.
11:32:44 Discussion on the motion?
11:32:45 All in favor say aye.
11:32:46 Opposed?
11:32:48 All right.
11:32:48 New business.
11:32:49 Mr. Maniscalco.
11:32:50 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: Nothing.
11:32:52 >>HARRY COHEN: No, thank you.
11:32:53 >>YVONNE CAPIN: Yes, I have a couple announcements.
11:32:55 Very quickly.
11:32:57 This came to me from the Tampa Bay trade and property port
11:33:02 of call counsel.
11:33:04 Debra Wilkensen, honorary consul of Peru.
11:33:13 They are having the Peruvian election.
11:33:16 And it takes place in Tampa Convention Center, 23, 24, 25.
11:33:22 It will include the Peruvian citizens that live in
11:33:25 Hillsborough, Pinellas, Osceola, orange, Sarasota,
11:33:28 Jacksonville and Polk County.
11:33:30 In addition to other areas.
11:33:32 This is a central location that they will be able to vote on
11:33:36 the Peruvian election on April 10.
11:33:41 Sunday, April 10, 2016, and -- well, at the Tampa Convention
11:33:50 Center.
11:33:52 If you have any other questions please call Debra will con
11:33:55 son at the Tampa Bay area code 813-276-9457.
11:34:03 And one more.
11:34:09 No, okay, that's it.
11:34:10 Thank you.
11:34:11 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Thank you, chair.
11:34:13 Just a couple items.
11:34:14 One, I would like to ask for a letter from City Council
11:34:18 providing support for Hart's federal transportation
11:34:20 investment generating economic recovery, otherwise known as
11:34:25 tiger application, to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
11:34:28 We are trying to fund an 8 county collection and
11:34:31 interjurisdictional mobility project.
11:34:35 A project in which you can use your smart phone or a card to
11:34:39 be able to travel in any of the eight counties surrounding
11:34:43 Tampa Bay.
11:34:44 So I was lucky enough to go and lobby D.O.T. when I was up
11:34:49 for the League of Cities and they are very interested in
11:34:51 this and hopefully we can get the money in order to do it.
11:34:55 And our support is very important.
11:34:56 It's going to help modernize our process of collection for
11:35:00 any of the six route fares and enhanced mobilities of
11:35:03 passengers between these jurisdictions.
11:35:05 I would like the letter to be prepared and delivered to Hart
11:35:08 before April 29th of this year.
11:35:09 >> Second.
11:35:11 >>FRANK REDDICK: I got a motion from Mr. Suarez.
11:35:13 Seconded by Mr. Cohen.
11:35:15 Any discussion on that motion?
11:35:17 All in favor say aye.
11:35:19 Opposed?
11:35:20 Anything else, sir?
11:35:21 >>MIKE SUAREZ: Yes, sir.
11:35:23 Also, recent plane crash that happened at Davis Island,
11:35:26 unfortunately, I knew one of the passengers of that plane,
11:35:30 Mr. Kevin Corinno, he was a former Air Force lieutenant
11:35:36 colonel, a lawyer that worked for Raymond James financial, a
11:35:40 great guy.
11:35:40 He was one of those people that you don't get to see often,
11:35:43 but when you did, he always made you laugh.
11:35:47 I didn't get a chance to talk to him about this election.
11:35:50 I know he would have been greatly entertained.
11:35:53 Although we are of different political parties, he
11:35:56 definitely had a great way of cutting through the B.S. and
11:35:59 knowing what was true and what wasn't.
11:36:01 He's going to be greatly missed.
11:36:03 He was an Air Force Academy grad in 83.
11:36:06 As I mentioned he was a lawyer, graduated from Denver,
11:36:09 university of Denver law school.
11:36:11 And he leaves behind his wife and two children.
11:36:18 >>FRANK REDDICK: Condolences to the family.
11:36:21 Anything else, comments?
11:36:23 Anything else?
11:36:24 >>MIKE SUAREZ: The only thing is of course this weekend we
11:36:27 have the pride parade.
11:36:29 I think all of us are in it.
11:36:31 Most of us are.
11:36:32 Hopefully we'll have a good time.
11:36:33 I think it's at 1:00 in Ybor City.
11:36:36 Anyone who wants to go see a parade, enjoy yourself, come on
11:36:39 down.
11:36:40 >>FRANK REDDICK: Yes, it's going to be exciting.
11:36:42 (Laughter)
11:36:43 Need a motion to receive and file.
11:36:44 >> So moved.
11:36:45 >>FRANK REDDICK: Got a motion from Mr. Cohen.
11:36:47 Seconded by Mr. Suarez.
11:36:48 All in favor say aye.
11:36:49 Opposed?
11:36:50 All right.
11:36:52 If there's no other business to come before us, we stand
11:36:54 adjourned till 5:30.
11:36:58 >>
11:36:59
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