CRA MEETING
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
9:00 A.M.
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09:01:57 [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]
09:02:01 >>JOSEPH CITRO: GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
09:02:02 THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA IS
09:02:04 NOW IN SESSION.
09:02:06 IF I COULD ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES.
09:02:14 THANK YOU.
09:02:14 COUNCILMAN GUDES, YOU HAVE THE INVOCATION.
09:02:17 >>ORLANDO GUDES: GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR.
09:02:19 THANK YOU.
09:02:19 THIS MORNING WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HAVING PASTOR TOM
09:02:23 JONES.
09:02:23 HE IS THE SENIOR PASTOR AND FOUNDER OF HEAVEN DESTINY INC.
09:02:28 LOCATED ON 4105 EAST ELLICOTT STREET, TAMPA, FLORIDA.
09:02:31 HE IS A LICENSED AND ORDAINED PASTOR AND HAS BEEN PREACHING
09:02:36 THE GOSPEL FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
09:02:38 PASTOR JONES IS PROUD HUSBAND TO WILLIE MAE JONES AND FATHER
09:02:41 OF THREE BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS AND ONE GRANDSON.
09:02:46 THE MISSION IS TO BRING EDUCATIONAL AND NONVIOLENT
09:02:54 STRATEGIES TO THE INNER CITY AND BEING THE VOICE BETWEEN THE
09:02:56 COMMUNITY POLICE FORCE, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THE MEDIA
09:02:59 SO THAT ALL FORMS OF COMMUNICATION IS ACCEPTED.
09:03:03 HE HAS ALSO IMPACTED THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTREACH AS THE
09:03:06 BACK TO SCHOOL OUTREACH, THANKSGIVING POP-UP PANTRY OUTREACH
09:03:12 BECAUSE GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIS
09:03:15 PASSION.
09:03:16 2019, PASTOR JONES PARTICIPATED AND GRADUATED FROM A
09:03:20 UNIVERSITY AND CURRENTLY RESIDES AS A BOARD MEMBER AT JAMES
09:03:24 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE WOMEN OF COLOR GOLF.
09:03:27 PLEASE WELCOME PASTOR JONES.
09:03:29 >>JOSEPH CITRO: IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE AND REMAIN
09:03:33 STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
09:03:35 >> LET US PRAY.
09:03:37 DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME RIGHT NOW IN THE MOST HUMBLE
09:03:41 MANNER WE KNOW HOW.
09:03:43 ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AS WE SET FORTH
09:03:46 THIS SESSION THIS MORNING.
09:03:47 LORD, WE PRAY RIGHT NOW THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THE COUNCILMEN,
09:03:52 LORD, THE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE DECISIONS AND CHOICES
09:03:56 THAT WILL MEET WITH YOUR WILL.
09:03:57 LORD, WE ASK YOU RIGHT NOW THAT YOU WILL BLESS THIS CITY,
09:04:01 BLESS ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TEMPTING TO DO, LORD NOT
09:04:05 JUST FOR SOME BUT FOR ALL PEOPLE.
09:04:07 WE ARE PRAYING RIGHT NOW, LORD, AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THIS
09:04:11 2020 YEAR THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US A VISION, LORD, THAT WOULD
09:04:15 LINE UP WITH YOUR WORD.
09:04:16 THAT YOUR TRUTH WILL PREVAIL OVER ALL THINGS BEING DONE AND
09:04:20 IS BEING SAID.
09:04:21 WE PRAY YOUR ANOINTED IN THIS ROOM, THAT EACH AND EVERY
09:04:27 PERSON COME TO THE PODIUM WILL COME REPRESENTING YOU, THE
09:04:32 PURPOSE, THE VISION, AND THE PLAN YOU HAVE FOR THE CITY.
09:04:35 LORD, WE LIFT THIS SESSION UP TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
09:04:38 WE LIFT EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT IS IN THIS ROOM UP TO RIGHT
09:04:42 NOW.
09:04:42 WE SAY HAVE YOUR WAY.
09:04:44 MOLD AND SHAPE IT INTO WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE IT BE FOR THIS
09:04:48 HOUR.
09:04:49 WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR PRAISE,
09:04:52 HONOR AND GLORY BUT WE WANT ALL THE PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY
09:04:55 TO GO TO YOU.
09:04:55 IT IS IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY AND EVERYONE THAT BELIEVES
09:04:59 THAT, AMEN.
09:05:00 [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
09:05:12 >> ROLL CALL.
09:05:15 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: HERE.
09:05:17 >>ORLANDO GUDES: HERE.
09:05:18 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE.
09:05:20 >>LUIS VIERA: HERE.
09:05:22 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE.
09:05:24 >>BILL CARLSON: HERE.
09:05:26 >>JOSEPH CITRO: HERE.
09:05:27 MS. VAN LOAN, DO WE HAVE ANY CHANGES TO OUR AGENDA TODAY?
09:05:32 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: MICHELLE VAN LOAN, ECONOMIC URBAN
09:05:35 DEVELOPMENT.
09:05:35 AT THE PLEASURE OF THE CRA BOARD, WE ARE REQUESTING THAT
09:05:39 F.D.O.T. BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION IMMEDIATELY
09:05:44 AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN WE ARE ALSO ASKING THEN
09:05:47 TO PROCEED WITH THE CRA CHAIR DUE TO ILLNESS SO SHE MAY ALSO
09:05:54 NOT HAVE TO SIT HERE VERY LONG FOR HER HEALTH.
09:05:57 THOSE ARE THE ONLY CHANGES WE'RE REQUESTING.
09:06:01 >>JOSEPH CITRO: NO DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA?
09:06:04 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: I DIDN'T KNOW IF ONE OF THE MEMBERS
09:06:05 WANTED TO.
09:06:06 >>JOSEPH CITRO: GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN GUDES.
09:06:08 >>ORLANDO GUDES: [ MICROPHONE NOT ON ] -- 20.
09:06:20 >>JOSEPH CITRO: ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION?
09:06:20 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: SECOND.
09:06:20 >>ORLANDO GUDES: ITEM 4 WOULD BE FAIR OAKS PROGRESS.
09:06:20 >>JOSEPH CITRO: WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN GUDES,
09:06:22 SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
09:06:24 ALL IN FAVOR?
09:06:25 ANY OPPOSED?
09:06:26 MOTION PASSES.
09:06:28 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: I BELIEVE YOU'RE READY FOR PUBLIC
09:06:31 COMMENT.
09:06:31 >>JOSEPH CITRO: I AM READY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
09:06:33 ALL THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT, YOU HAVE THREE
09:06:36 MINUTES.
09:06:37 I WOULD SUGGEST, IF YOU COULD, TO MOVE UP TO MY LEFT SIDE OF
09:06:40 THE ROOM OR YOUR RIGHT.
09:06:44 AGAIN, THREE MINUTES.
09:06:49 MR. VELA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START?
09:06:56 >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:06:57 MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER VELA.
09:06:59 I LIVE AT 924 1/2 EAST 11th AVENUE.
09:07:05 I DO SIT ON THE YCDC BOARD, BUT I'M ALSO NEIGHBORHOOD
09:07:09 PRESIDENT.
09:07:09 I'LL REFERENCE MY COMMENTS OVER TO THE CRA LETTER THAT WAS
09:07:12 SUBMITTED TO THIS BOARD FROM THE YCDC.
09:07:15 NOW I'M GOING TO ROLL INTO MY OWN PERSONAL COMMENTS.
09:07:18 THE PROGRAM THAT THEY USE IN THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS
09:07:22 FOR OUR CRA DOESN'T DETERMINE LOCAL IMPACTS FOR CRA.
09:07:27 THIS MEANS ANY TYPE OF ECONOMIC DAMAGES WOULDN'T BE
09:07:30 LOCALIZED.
09:07:31 WHAT F.D.O.T. DOES IS THEY LOOK AT A COUNTYWIDE PICTURE,
09:07:34 WHICH IS BEYOND OUR CRA LIMITS AND SAY, WELL, IF PROPERTIES
09:07:40 FURTHER AWAY GAIN VALUE, PROPERTY NEXT TO THE HIGHWAY LOSE
09:07:43 VALUE, THAT IS OFFSET SO IT MAKES UP FOR IT.
09:07:46 THIS IS NOT A MICROSCOPE INTO THE DAMAGES THAT WE HAVE BEEN
09:07:50 INCURRING.
09:07:51 THE REASON WHY WE HAVE CRAs IN THE FIRST PLACE IS BECAUSE
09:07:54 OF THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM, RIGHT?
09:07:57 THAT'S BECAUSE IT WENT THROUGH COMMUNITIES, MINORITIES.
09:08:00 IT WENT THROUGH A LOT OF THE CULTURE THAT BUILT A CITY AND
09:08:03 IT LEFT A LOT OF BLIGHT, EROSION ON OUR PROPERTIES.
09:08:07 NOW, WE HAD A LOT OF HORRIFIC ROADS THAT CAME INTO OUR
09:08:11 NEIGHBORHOODS.
09:08:12 YBOR IN PARTICULAR, WE HAD NUCCIO PARKWAY, WHICH WE DO SEE
09:08:17 12.5 CRASHES PER MILE.
09:08:19 THE ISSUE IS THIS.
09:08:22 F.D.O.T. CURRENTLY AND THE COUNTY ARE SAYING THAT WE HAVE
09:08:25 7500 CARS AT THAT INTERSECTION.
09:08:28 WELL, THEY WANT TO DESIGN THAT UP TO 29,000 CARS BY 2030.
09:08:34 I CAN TELL YOU, THIS IS GOING TO BE CATASTROPHIC FOR YBOR
09:08:37 CITY.
09:08:37 THIS IS GOING TO BE CATASTROPHIC FOR THE AIR QUALITY.
09:08:40 THE REPORT FROM F.D.O.T. SAYS IF WE MOVE CARS IT'S GOING TO
09:08:45 HELP WITH AIR PARTICULATES.
09:08:47 IN MY OPINION, IF YOU HAVE TWO STOPLIGHTS ON THE WAY TO I-4,
09:08:51 THAT'S REALLY GOING TO JAM UP THE CARS.
09:08:53 IT'S REALLY GOING TO STACK THEM.
09:08:54 THOSE ROADS, THOSE EXIT RAMPS DO BORDER OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
09:08:58 SO WE ARE STILL GOING TO BREATHE A LOT OF THIS.
09:09:02 FOR WEST TAMPA, THERE'S GOING TO BE TOLL LANES OVER THERE.
09:09:05 AND THE REPORT SAYS IN HERE THAT THEY FIND THAT PEOPLE AVOID
09:09:09 TOLL LANES.
09:09:09 WHAT DO THEY DO?
09:09:11 THEY GO THROUGH WEST TAMPA NEIGHBORHOOD.
09:09:14 THEY CAN PUT -- IF THEY DUMP ALL THIS TRAFFIC LOCALLY, IT'S
09:09:18 GOING TO OFFSET ALL THAT EFFECT, RIGHT?
09:09:20 CRAs NEED TO HAVE A CHANCE TO GROW.
09:09:28 THIS PROJECT WILL DAMAGE THAT EFFECT.
09:09:30 WE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE TO MITIGATE EVERYTHING F.D.O.T.
09:09:36 DOES.
09:09:36 WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM LOWERING OUR PROPERTY
09:09:39 VALUES.
09:09:39 THEY NEED TO PACK THEIR BAGS.
09:09:41 THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF TOWN AND NOT BE IN CONTROL OF OUR
09:09:44 FUTURE, OUR HEALTH IMPACTS AND OUR ROAD SAFETY.
09:09:49 PLEASE DO SOMETHING.
09:09:50 PLEASE, THE NEXT TIME YOU DO THIS, GET THE MAYOR IN HERE SO
09:09:54 SHE CAN HEAR US ALL ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE PRESENTING
09:09:56 TODAY.
09:09:56 THANK YOU.
09:09:58 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:09:59 NEXT, PLEASE.
09:10:02 >> RON WEAVER, 401 EAST JACKSON STREET.
09:10:05 THIS MORNING, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY DECIDE THE
09:10:11 FATE OF DOWNTOWN'S ABILITY TO MOVE TO USF, TO PASCO COUNTY,
09:10:16 TO MOVE BETWEEN EDUCATION AND HEALTH FACILITIES BY FIXING
09:10:19 THE DOWNTOWN INTERCHANGE AT LAST.
09:10:22 IT IS A COMPROMISE OF ONLY ABOUT $340 MILLION.
09:10:25 IT IS NOT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AS DISCUSSED TWO, THREE YEARS
09:10:28 AGO.
09:10:28 AND THIS PARTICULAR PREFERRED IMPROVEMENT BY THE D.O.T. IS
09:10:32 ONLY $340 MILLION.
09:10:34 IT ONLY AFFECTS ABOUT FIVE OR TEN PROPERTIES, NOT TWO OR
09:10:36 THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED.
09:10:38 IT IS A COMPROMISE THAT IS SENSITIVE TO THE COMMUNITY.
09:10:42 TALKED TO THE COMMUNITY AND RESPECTFULLY, WE NEED TO FIX
09:10:45 THAT DOWNTOWN INTERCHANGE.
09:10:47 THERE ARE OVER A THOUSAND CRASHES A YEAR IN THAT
09:10:49 INTERCHANGE.
09:10:50 IF YOU EVER TRIED TO COME IN FROM THE EAST, YOU'LL NOTICE
09:10:53 THOSE FOUR OR FIVE LANES ARE ALL CARS CONSTANTLY SWITCHING,
09:10:58 DECIDING WHETHER TO GO DOWNTOWN OR GO TO THE AIRPORT OR
09:11:01 NORTH TO USF.
09:11:02 IT'S A CRAZY COLLISION SET OF A THOUSAND CRASHES.
09:11:06 WE NEED TO FIX THAT INTERCHANGE.
09:11:08 THE BACKUP COMING SOUTH FROM USF TO GO TO THE EAST MOVEMENT
09:11:12 TOWARD ORLANDO IS UNCONSCIONABLE.
09:11:18 TO HAVE ONLY ONE LANE TO DEAL WITH THAT MANY TRIPS, HAVE 126
09:11:22 MILLION TOURISTS DEPENDING ON US FIXING OUR DOWNTOWN
09:11:25 INTERCHANGE, WE NEED TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
09:11:30 I STOOD AT THIS PODIUM THE LAST THREE, FOUR YEARS AND SAID,
09:11:34 YES, WE MUST BE SENSITIVE TO THE COMMUNITY.
09:11:36 WE MUST BE SENSITIVE TO ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
09:11:38 THEY DESERVE THE STATE-OF-THE-ART SOUND WALLS.
09:11:40 THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN EVERY CONSIDERATION WITH PREVENTING
09:11:44 AIR POLLUTION.
09:11:45 AIR POLLUTION IS CAUSED BY CARS SITTING IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE
09:11:48 THEY CANNOT MOVE.
09:11:49 THEY ARE BACKED UP TWO TO THREE MILES TO THE NORTH TRYING TO
09:11:52 GET ON ONE LANE TO GO EAST TO ORLANDO.
09:11:55 STUDIES HAVE CONFIRMED THAT AIR POLLUTION IS CAUSED BY CARS
09:11:58 SITTING IN TRAFFIC.
09:11:59 YOU WILL BE REDUCING POLLUTION IF YOU WILL FIX THE DOWNTOWN
09:12:03 INTERCHANGE.
09:12:04 IT DOES NOT AFFECT EVEN 20th AS MANY PROPERTIES AS
09:12:08 ORIGINALLY CONTEMPLATED WITH RESPECT TO THE DOWNTOWN
09:12:11 INTERCHANGE FIX.
09:12:12 IT WOULD HELP TO PREVENT MANY OF THOSE 1,000 CRASHES.
09:12:16 AND PLEASE GIVE CONSIDERATION TO ALLOWING THIS REGION AND
09:12:19 THIS STATE TO MOVE ITS PEOPLE TO HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, TO
09:12:24 EDUCATION, TO WORK, TO PLAY, TO ENABLE THE DOWNTOWN
09:12:27 INTERCHANGE TO FUNCTION AGAIN AND TO CHANGE ITS NAME FROM
09:12:31 MALFUNCTION JUNCTION TO THE INVITATION JUNCTION FOR THE
09:12:34 CONTINUING TOURISM, EDUCATION, AND MEDICINE THAT NEEDS TO BE
09:12:38 MOVED IN THIS REGION.
09:12:39 THANK YOU.
09:12:42 >>JOSEPH CITRO: NEXT, PLEASE.
09:12:47 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:12:47 MY NAME IS DAVID EPSTEIN.
09:12:49 MY SON JOE AND I OWN A 74-YEAR-OLD THIRD-GENERATION ICONIC
09:12:59 BUSINESS ON KENNEDY BOULEVARD AND TAMPANIA -- STATE VACUUM
09:12:59 OF TAMPA.
09:12:59 WE RECENTLY MOVED APPROXIMATELY FIVE BLOCKS TO THE EAST ON
09:13:03 KENNEDY AFTER BEING AT THE 3100 BLOCK FOR 54 YEARS.
09:13:07 RECENTLY, WE WERE CITED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT
09:13:11 DEPARTMENT, WHATEVER THAT IS, FOR BANNERS ON OUR BUILDING
09:13:16 AND SITE THAT, QUOTE, ILLEGAL.
09:13:19 THE PAST TEN YEARS HAS BEEN MOST CHALLENGING OF ANY OF OUR
09:13:22 74 YEARS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND OUR
09:13:27 CITY.
09:13:28 AS YOU CAN SEE, SMALL FAMILY BUSINESSES ARE SAYING GOOD-BYE
09:13:30 IN ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN TAMPA.
09:13:34 THE CITY ENCOURAGES THE BIG-BOX STORES, THE TRADER JOE'S OF
09:13:39 THE WORLD WITH TAX INCENTIVES, THEY LOOK THE OTHER WAY ON
09:13:42 PARKING.
09:13:43 THEY LOOK THE OTHER WAY ON BANNER SIGNS.
09:13:46 THE CITY HAS BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO ALLOW THEM TO PUT IN A
09:13:50 BUILDING AT TRADER JOE'S WITH INADEQUATE SPACE, POOR
09:13:54 PARKING, HORRIBLE INGRESS AND EGRESS, AND BANNER SIGNS ARE
09:13:58 PREVALENT THERE.
09:13:59 THE INSPECTOR TOLD ME ON THE PHONE, QUOTE, WE ARE HERE TO
09:14:03 CLEAN UP KENNEDY BOULEVARD FOR THE SUPER BOWL.
09:14:05 NOW, UP AND DOWN KENNEDY BOULEVARD, THERE ARE MASSAGE
09:14:11 PARLORS, THERE ARE STRIP PLACES.
09:14:15 THERE ARE LINGERIE MODELING AND GOD FORBID THE STATE VACUUM
09:14:20 HAS A BANNER OUT THERE THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THIS CITY LOOK
09:14:23 BAD.
09:14:24 IT'S EMBARRASSING, QUITE FRANKLY, AFTER BEING A NATIVE HERE.
09:14:30 IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
09:14:33 FOLKS, WE'RE ALL JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE.
09:14:35 SMALL BUSINESSES, REGARDS TO WHAT YOU ARE, JUST TRYING TO
09:14:38 SURVIVE.
09:14:40 AND BY THESE INSPECTORS -- AND I UNDERSTAND, QUOTE, THEY ARE
09:14:43 ONLY DOING THEIR JOB, ARE COMING OUT TO DO THIS.
09:14:48 IT'S GOTTEN TO BE ABSOLUTELY INSANE SOME OF THE LAWS THAT
09:14:52 THEY HAVE.
09:14:54 TO ENFORCE THEM, YES.
09:14:55 JAYWALKING IS ALSO ILLEGAL IN THIS CITY.
09:14:58 I DON'T SEE A LOT OF THAT ENFORCED EITHER.
09:15:00 OVERREGULATION HAS HURT THIS CITY FOR YEARS.
09:15:03 THINK ABOUT IT.
09:15:04 YOU USED TO SAY, DO YOU REMEMBER THAT STORE?
09:15:08 DO YOU REMEMBER THIS RESTAURANT?
09:15:09 DO YOU REMEMBER THAT PLACE?
09:15:10 THOSE PLACES AREN'T HERE ANYMORE.
09:15:12 WHY DON'T YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SEE WHY THEY AREN'T
09:15:15 HERE ANYMORE.
09:15:16 AN AWFUL PART OF THIS IS THE OVERREGULATION.
09:15:19 THE CITY OF TAMPA VIOLATES ITS OWN CODE WITH THE CITY OF
09:15:24 TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER AND THE CONTROLLING ELECTRONIC
09:15:28 SIGNS.
09:15:28 THAT'S NOT LEGAL, BUT WHEN I BROUGHT THAT UP TO THEM, THEY
09:15:33 SAID, "IT'S DIFFERENT.
09:15:34 WE CAN DO THAT."
09:15:35 WHY?
09:15:37 I DON'T KNOW.
09:15:37 I PUT TOGETHER A BUNCH OF PICTURES OF PUBLIX, TRADER JOE'S,
09:15:43 RAYMOND JAMES, TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL TO SEE THEIR BANNERS.
09:15:48 I IMPLORE YOU TO LOOK AT THAT AND GIVE US A BREAK.
09:15:52 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THEY DIDN'T CITE THE GORILLA, DID THEY?
09:15:56 >> NOT YET.
09:15:56 I'M SURE THEY WILL.
09:15:58 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
09:16:02 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:16:03 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU, SIR.
09:16:05 NEXT.
09:16:06 >> MY NAME IS PASTOR FRANK WILLIAMS, LOCATED AT 1112 EAST
09:16:10 SCOTT STREET.
09:16:11 I'M GOING TO READ SOME SCRIPTURE TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ALL
09:16:15 DON'T GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME TO SPEAK IT OR ANYTHING ELSE.
09:16:18 PRAY YE THE LORD -- THIS IS COMING OUT OF BOOK OF PSALM, 146
09:16:24 DIVISION OF PSALM.
09:16:26 I HOPE YOU ALL PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO IT.
09:16:28 PRAISE YE THE LORD.
09:16:29 PRAISE THE LORD, O MY SOUL.
09:16:30 WHILE I LIVE WILL I PRAISE THE LORD.
09:16:33 I WILL SING PRAISES UNTO MY GOD WHILE I HAVE ANY BEING.
09:16:38 PUT NOT YOUR TRUST IN PRINCES, NOR IN THE SON OF MAN, IN
09:16:43 WHOM THERE IS NO HELP.
09:16:46 HIS BREATH GOETH FORTH, HE RETURNETH TO HIS EARTH, IN THAT
09:16:51 VERY DAY HIS THOUGHTS PERISH.
09:16:53 HAPPY IS HE THAT HATH THE GOD OF JACOB FOR HIS HELP, WHOSE
09:16:58 HOPE IS IN THE LORD HIS GOD.
09:17:00 WHICH MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT
09:17:09 THEREIN, WHICH KEEPETH TRUTH FOREVER.
09:17:10 WHICH EXECUTE JUDGMENT FOR THE OPPRESSED, WHICH GIVETH FOOD
09:17:15 TO THE HUNGRY.
09:17:16 THE LORD LOOSETH THE PRISONERS.
09:17:16 THE LORD OPEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND.
09:17:21 THE LORD RAISE THEM THAT ARE BOWED DOWN.
09:17:26 THE LORD LOVETH THE RIGHTEOUS.
09:17:27 THE LORD PRESERVE THE STRANGERS.
09:17:32 HE RELIEVES THE FATHERLESS AND THE WIDOW.
09:17:35 BUT THE WAY OF THE WICKED HE TURN UPSIDE DOWN.
09:17:43 THE LORD SHALL REIGN FOREVER, EVEN THY GOD, O ZION, UNTO ALL
09:17:43 GENERATIONS.
09:17:45 PRAISE YE THE LORD.
09:17:46 YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO READ THE SCRIPTURE BECAUSE I'M A
09:17:49 BELIEVER IN GOD.
09:17:50 I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN GOD ALMIGHTY.
09:17:53 I JUST LIKE TO LIFT UP THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, BECAUSE IF
09:17:57 IT WEREN'T FOR GOD, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
09:17:59 -- BEEN HERE LOOKING AT ME AS IF I'M STUPID.
09:18:00 WE WOULD BE PRAISING GOD, ALL OF US.
09:18:05 YOU KNOW WHAT?
09:18:06 THE MAYOR, SHE CAME DOWN TO FAIR OAKS THERE.
09:18:10 SHE DIDN'T COME.
09:18:13 SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO SHOW UP.
09:18:14 SHE DIDN'T EVEN COME.
09:18:16 I GOT UP AND WALKED OUT OF THERE.
09:18:18 SHE MADE PROMISE TO PEOPLE THAT SHE WOULD BE THERE AND NEVER
09:18:21 SHOWS UP.
09:18:22 WE NEED TO CONTACT THE MAYOR BECAUSE YOU ALL AIN'T DOING
09:18:26 NOTHING.
09:18:27 JUST TRYING TO HURT US AND DESTROY US.
09:18:30 I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR.
09:18:32 WE THINK THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE NOT EVEN CITIZENS OF THE
09:18:35 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
09:18:37 THE WAY YOU ALL TREAT HER AS IF WE'RE LESS THAN A DAMN DOG
09:18:44 AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
09:18:45 YOU'VE GOT TO TREAT US LIKE PEOPLE.
09:18:47 TREAT EVERYBODY LIKE PEOPLE.
09:18:49 THAT'S WHAT GOD CREATED US TO BE HUMAN BEINGS AND THAT'S
09:18:52 WHAT LIFE SHOULD BE ABOUT.
09:18:54 WE SHOULDN'T COME DOWN HERE AND BEG YOU ALL FOR JUSTICE.
09:18:57 YOU ALL GIVE US JUSTICE WITHOUT HAVING TO BEG.
09:19:00 YOU KNOW WHAT?
09:19:01 HOW THE MAYOR GETTING HER SALARY, GETTING IT OFF THE
09:19:04 TAXPAYERS.
09:19:04 SHE TAKES THE TAXPAYER MONEY AND GIVE IT TO THE WHITE FOLKS,
09:19:08 AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
09:19:09 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:19:10 NEXT.
09:19:11 >> THANK YOU.
09:19:12 GOD BLESS YOU.
09:19:13 NEXT PERSON COME ON UP.
09:19:16 THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME SKIP.
09:19:18 GOD IS A GOOD GOD, ISN'T HE?
09:19:35 >> MENTESNOT, TAMPA, FLORIDA.
09:19:40 ONE THING ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL AND ONE THING ABOUT WHITE
09:19:42 PEOPLE, THEY KEEP BLACK PEOPLE CONFUSED.
09:19:46 BEEN COMING DOWN HERE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS NOW BEGGING, WEEK
09:19:49 AFTER WEEK, BEGGING.
09:19:50 GOT BLACK PEOPLE BEGGING.
09:19:52 BEGGING FOR HOUSING, BEGGING TO STOP POLICE VIOLENCE.
09:19:55 BEGGING FOR THE USE OF PUBLIC PARK.
09:19:59 BEGGING SYMBOL IN THE PARK.
09:20:01 BEGGING TO STAND ON THE SIDEWALK.
09:20:03 BEGGING LIKE BEGGARS.
09:20:05 BEGGING NOT TO CLOSE PALM AVENUE.
09:20:09 BEGGING NOT TO RUN THE INTERSTATE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.
09:20:11 BEGGING LIKE BEGGARS.
09:20:13 WE'RE PROUD PEOPLE.
09:20:14 PROUD ANCESTRY, BUT THEY LIKE TO KEEP US BEGGING.
09:20:17 GUESS WHAT, ONE WORD THEY DON'T LIKE US TO KNOW ABOUT.
09:20:20 I'M LOOKING AT AN INTERVIEW THE OTHER DAY WITH MY FAVORITE
09:20:24 RAPPER, LIL BOOSIE.
09:20:26 HE ASKED ABOUT REPARATIONS.
09:20:28 HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD MEAN.
09:20:31 AIN'T HEARD OF IT.
09:20:32 THEY KEEP BLACK PEOPLE CONFUSED.
09:20:35 THEY GOT US CONFUSED WITH TYLER PERRY THAT WE LOVE, MADEA
09:20:40 THAT THEY PROTECT EVERY AFRICAN LIKE A FAGGOT, LIKE A
09:20:44 HOMOSEXUAL.
09:20:44 EACH AND EVERY AFRICAN THEY PROJECT THAT WAY.
09:20:46 THEY GOT US CONFUSED WITH KOBE BRYANT.
09:20:49 HE DIED IN A HELICOPTER.
09:20:52 THE BOY MAMA AND DADDY WON'T HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM
09:20:56 BECAUSE HE A CRACKER LOVER.
09:21:00 AND HE DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN WITH A BUNCH OF WHITE FOLKS.
09:21:03 AND THEY GOT US CONFUSED ABOUT THAT.
09:21:04 ALL OF A SUDDEN LOVE KOBE BRYANT, HE AIN'T NEVER DID NOTHING
09:21:06 FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
09:21:07 AND YOU ALL SEVEN PEOPLE UP THERE AIN'T NEVER DID NOTHING
09:21:10 FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
09:21:11 ALL SEVEN OF YOU ALL AIN'T NEVER DID NOTHING FOR BLACK
09:21:14 PEOPLE.
09:21:15 ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NOTHING.
09:21:18 THE SEVEN BEFORE YOU ALL AIN'T DID NOTHING FOR AFRICAN
09:21:21 PEOPLE.
09:21:23 KEEP BEGGING AND BEGGING AND BEGGING.
09:21:26 THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL LIKE TO SEE.
09:21:28 YOU ALL BEEN DOING US DIRTY FOR 600 YEARS AND YOU ALL LIKE
09:21:33 TO SEE US BEGGING.
09:21:35 AFRICANS DON'T HAVE TO BEG.
09:21:35 WE AIN'T GOT TO COME DOWN HERE AND BEG YOU ALL FOR NOTHING.
09:21:35 ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NOTHING.
09:21:36 YOU ALL LOVE TO PUT US IN CHECK.
09:21:40 MAN, TALK ABOUT BEING JEWED DOWN AND THEY SAY WHAT SANDY
09:21:44 FREEDMAN GOT TO SAY ABOUT IT.
09:21:47 WHAT SANDY FREEDMAN AND HER OLD NASTY CROOKED HUSBAND, WHAT
09:21:50 THEM JEWS HAD TO SAY WHEN THEY WAS DESTROYING OUR COMMUNITY,
09:21:53 TALKING ABOUT GANGBANGING AND CRACK HOUSES AND STEALING THE
09:21:57 WHOLE COMMUNITY.
09:21:58 THEY WEREN'T PUTTING THEMSELVES IN CHECK.
09:22:00 AND PEOPLE USE THE N WORD, THE NIGGER WORD, 24/7, AIN'T
09:22:04 NOBODY PUT THEM IN CHECK.
09:22:05 BUT YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE OTHER PEOPLE.
09:22:08 SNOOP TRYING TO PUT -- FOR TALKING ABOUT KOBE BRYANT.
09:22:15 I'LL SEND SOMEBODY TO GET YOU.
09:22:16 HE AIN'T SENT NOBODY TO GET DONALD TRUMP, WHO CALLED ALL
09:22:21 AFRICAN ATHLETES SONS OF BITCHES.
09:22:24 THAT'S CALLING AFRICAN QUEENS BITCHES.
09:22:26 THE MAYOR WHO CALLS FOR THE HANGING OF A YOUNG BLACK MAN,
09:22:29 THE LYNCHING, BEGGING.
09:22:31 BLACK PEOPLE GOT TO STOP BEGGING.
09:22:34 THE WORD IS REPARATIONS.
09:22:36 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:22:37 NEXT.
09:22:38 >> JOHNNY JOHNSON.
09:22:44 I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU GUYS ON THE DAIS, THIS YEAR IS 2020,
09:22:49 WHAT'S YOUR VISION?
09:22:51 WHAT'S YOUR SOUL SEARCHING?
09:22:55 CAN WE HAVE ANY CLARITY FOR INNER CITY COMMUNITIES SUCH AS
09:22:58 FAIR OAKS?
09:22:59 FAIR OAKS, IT HAS BEEN OTHER CITY COUNCILS, BUT IT AIN'T
09:23:03 THEM HERE NOW.
09:23:04 WE HAVE YOU GUYS HERE.
09:23:05 WE DEMAND THAT FAIR OAKS BE REBUILT.
09:23:11 COHOST OF WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING.
09:23:13 WE GOT IT OUT TO THE PEOPLE IN THE STREETS.
09:23:15 THE PEOPLE CAME OUT AND VOICE THEIR OPINION AND VOICED ABOUT
09:23:18 WHAT THEY WANT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
09:23:20 YOU GUYS WORK FOR THE CONSTITUENTS.
09:23:22 ALL WE'RE ASKING AND DEMANDING THAT YOU DO YOUR JOB AND
09:23:27 LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE.
09:23:28 EVERY OTHER CRA IN EVERY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD IS GROWING AND
09:23:34 STRIVING.
09:23:35 OVER IN EAST TAMPA, AGAIN, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF RETAIL SPACE
09:23:40 UP ON 22nd, HILLSBOROUGH AREA NEED TO BE UTILIZED IN A
09:23:44 MORE PROFESSIONAL WAY THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITIES AND
09:23:46 ALLOW IT TO GROW.
09:23:49 THE STREETS, AGAIN, IT'S SADDENING THAT THE SUPER BOWL IS
09:23:52 COMING AND YOU ALL BEAUTIFYING EVERYTHING AROUND EAST TAMPA.
09:23:57 IF YOU GO JUST ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF EAST TAMPA, EVERYTHING IS
09:24:01 BEAUTIFUL.
09:24:02 DOWN TAMPA STREET.
09:24:03 DOWN TAMPA AND OSBORNE.
09:24:07 YOU DONE PUT NEW BIKE LANES WITH ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
09:24:10 YOU GO DOWN HILLSBOROUGH TO 22nd, YOU'RE GOING TO TEAR
09:24:14 YOUR CAR UP, YOUR BICYCLE, BREAK YOUR ANKLE.
09:24:18 OVER THE HILL TO 50th STREET RIGHT PAST EAST LAKE MALL AND
09:24:21 IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
09:24:23 SMOOTH, NEW PAVED STREETS ALL UP TO I-4 GOING INTO 75.
09:24:27 WHAT I'M SAYING IS, YOU ALL DOING THINGS FOR VISITORS THAT'S
09:24:31 COMING TO TOWN.
09:24:33 WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE, I'M A NATIVE, BORN AND
09:24:36 RAISED HERE, DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
09:24:39 THOSE STREETS THE SAME.
09:24:40 YOU AIL COMING THROUGH DOING NOTHING.
09:24:43 AGAIN, WE'RE TAXPAYERS.
09:24:44 AGAIN, TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
09:24:47 IT'S A SAD SONG BUT SUNG FOR OVER GENERATIONS, AS LONG AS
09:24:51 I'VE BEEN ALIVE.
09:24:53 ALL OF YOU ALL, I'M ASKING, WHAT IS YOUR VISION.
09:24:56 THE BEST VISION IS 20-20.
09:25:02 WE NEED TO REMOVE THE BLUR OR WHATEVER OVER OUR EYES AND SEE
09:25:07 THAT WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS.
09:25:09 STOP LOOKING AT COLOR.
09:25:10 WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS.
09:25:11 WE DESERVE BETTER STREETS, BETTER SIDEWALKS, BETTER
09:25:16 ATTENTION TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
09:25:17 WE ALL UP UNDER ONE UMBRELLA, WHICH IS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
09:25:20 IT'S SAD THAT YOU HAVE TO GO OUT TO CERTAIN PLACES TO
09:25:24 REALIZE TO GET PROPER, ADEQUATE THINGS FOR HUMAN BEINGS.
09:25:29 WHEN YOU COME DOWN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE'S NO ATTENTION
09:25:33 PAID TO IT.
09:25:34 SOME OF YOU GUYS BEEN OVER THERE.
09:25:36 YOU WANT TO ALLOW YOUR KIDS, YOUR LOVED ONES TO GO IN NONE
09:25:39 OF THESE FACILITIES.
09:25:40 CHECK YOUR HEARTS AND CHECK YOUR EYES.
09:25:43 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:25:44 NEXT, PLEASE.
09:25:49 >> GOLD, REPRESENTING TAMPA CIVIC HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION AS
09:25:52 PRESIDENT.
09:25:53 I WANTED TO COME TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE F.D.O.T. PROJECT
09:25:57 AND THE PRESENTATION YOU'RE ABOUT TO RECEIVE.
09:25:59 I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT A BUNCH OF THINGS.
09:26:02 TAMPA HEIGHTS IS AN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD.
09:26:04 WE BORDER 275 ON TWO SIDES.
09:26:07 BUT AFTER HEARING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TALK, I REALLY THINK
09:26:10 IT'S IMPORTANT WE TALK ABOUT VALUES AND WHAT THE FUNCTION OF
09:26:13 GOVERNMENT IS TO DO AND WHAT IT CAN ACTUALLY DO.
09:26:15 GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO EXPRESS THE VALUES OF THE
09:26:17 NEIGHBORHOOD.
09:26:18 AND IT IS ALMOST A SOCIAL EXPERIMENT WHERE YOU CAN ENCOURAGE
09:26:21 THINGS TO HAPPEN BY THE LAWS YOU PASS.
09:26:23 YOU CAN ENCOURAGE A BUSINESS OR HOMES OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
09:26:25 TO BE PUT INTO NEIGHBORHOODS BY PASSING CERTAIN LAWS, BUT
09:26:28 YOU CAN ALSO LET THINGS LIKE THE EXPANSION OF THE INTERSTATE
09:26:31 GO THROUGH IF YOU FORGET WHAT THE VALUES ARE.
09:26:33 50, 60 YEARS AGO, THE CITY OF TAMPA SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?
09:26:38 THE VALUES ARE NOT TOWARDS THE URBAN CORE.
09:26:40 THE VALUES ARE TOWARDS GETTING PEOPLE THROUGH THE
09:26:42 NEIGHBORHOODS FASTER.
09:26:44 THAT'S WHAT THIS IS CONTINUING TO DO.
09:26:46 THIS KNOT WAS TIED AND THE ANSWER TO FIXING THIS KNOT IS TO
09:26:49 KEEP ON TYING IT UP.
09:26:51 I HEARD THE GENTLEMAN SAY WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE TO SCHOOLS
09:26:54 AND TO HOSPITALS FASTER.
09:26:55 WE USED TO HAVE THAT.
09:26:58 TAMPA HEIGHTS HAD A HOSPITAL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
09:27:00 WE HAD SCHOOLS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
09:27:01 THEY WERE ALL TORN OUT BECAUSE THE INTERSTATE HAD TO COME
09:27:04 THROUGH.
09:27:05 NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS HOW DO WE CORRECT WHAT'S WRONG?
09:27:08 WE'RE SAYING THAT WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE MOVING TO TAMPA, WE
09:27:12 NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING PEOPLE APLENTY.
09:27:14 BUT IF WE KEEP ON MOVING ROADS, PEOPLE WILL MOVE TO TAMPA
09:27:18 THINKING CARS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO GET AROUND AND EVENTUALLY
09:27:21 WE'LL RUN OUT OF SPACE.
09:27:22 WE NEED TO TELL THEM, YES, WE HAVE ROADS.
09:27:25 YOU CAN GET THROUGH TAMPA IN 30 TO 40 MINUTES.
09:27:28 HOW MANY CITIES ARE DEVELOPING THAT YOU CAN GET ACROSS THE
09:27:31 ENTIRE CITY NORTH TO SOUTH IN 30 MINUTES?
09:27:34 WE NEED TO TELL THEM WE'LL ALSO BE A TRANSIT CITY.
09:27:37 IF YOU WANT TO GET THROUGH EFFICIENTLY, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
09:27:41 SOME FORM OF PUBLIC TRANSIT TO GET THROUGH.
09:27:43 THAT TYPE OF FRICTION THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE HARDER TO JUMP
09:27:46 IN THE CAR TO GO A COUPLE OF BLOCKS DOWN THE ROAD ENCOURAGES
09:27:49 OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO GET GROCERY STORES PUT INSIDE THEM.
09:27:52 ENCOURAGES US TO LOOK AT WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE BUILT.
09:27:54 I LIVE IN TAMPA HEIGHTS.
09:27:56 I LIVE FIVE HOUSES DOWN FROM THE INTERSTATE.
09:27:58 THE WORST AIR QUALITY IN TAMPA.
09:28:00 WHAT WE SAY IS, YOU KNOW WHAT?
09:28:02 IT'S MORE IMPORTANT FOR SOMEBODY TO GET FROM WESLEY CHAPEL
09:28:06 DOWN TO GANDY THAN IT IS FOR SOMEBODY TO BE ABLE TO BREATHE
09:28:10 IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
09:28:11 I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF ALSO WORKING OFF THE VETERANS, THE
09:28:15 SECOND WORST PLACE FOR AIR QUALITY IN TAMPA.
09:28:17 NOW, WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WERE PUT IN PLACE, THEY HAD THE
09:28:21 VALUABLE GRID.
09:28:22 THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST VALUABLE THING WE HAD IN OUR
09:28:25 NEIGHBORHOOD WAS THE ABILITY TO GET THROUGH OUR HISTORIC
09:28:28 ROADS EASILY.
09:28:29 THE INTERSTATE CAME THROUGH AND INTERRUPTED IT.
09:28:31 WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, YOU KNOW WHAT?
09:28:33 LET'S JUST KEEP ON DOING THE WAY WE HAVE DONE THINGS IN THE
09:28:35 PAST.
09:28:36 LET'S IGNORE WHAT WAS GOING TO BE THE FUTURE.
09:28:38 WE'LL RELY ON CARS GOING FAST AND BECOMING ELECTRIC TO SAVE
09:28:42 OUR COMMUNITIES FROM THE POLLUTION THAT'S GOING TO BE
09:28:44 CAUSED.
09:28:44 IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANY TIME SOON.
09:28:47 WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING OUR VALUES AND DOING
09:28:50 SO WITH OUR LAWS.
09:28:51 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:28:52 NEXT.
09:28:58 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:29:00 >> I'M TECHNOLOGICALLY DEFICIENT HERE.
09:29:08 IS THIS ALL THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO MAKE IT SHOW UP ON THE
09:29:11 SCREEN?
09:29:15 RICK FERNANDEZ, 2906 NORTH ELMORE AVENUE, TAMPA, 33602.
09:29:21 THAT'S TAMPA HEIGHTS.
09:29:22 I STAND HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION,
09:29:26 AS CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
09:29:28 FOR STARTERS, I WANT TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THE COMMENTS
09:29:32 YOU JUST HEARD FROM OUR PRESIDENT.
09:29:34 COULDN'T HAVE SAID ANY OF THAT ANY BETTER.
09:29:37 I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO TRY TO REPEAT OR UNDERSCORE.
09:29:41 THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION HAS STOOD OPPOSED TO THE TAMPA BAY
09:29:47 EXPRESS PROJECT, EVIDENCE MY PEN, SINCE 2015.
09:29:51 AND IT STANDS OPPOSED TO THE TAMPA BAY NEXT PROJECT AS TBX
09:29:57 MORPHED INTO THAT BRAND IN 2017, I BELIEVE IT WAS.
09:30:00 THE REASON WE OPPOSE BOTH IS THAT THEY ARE BOTH ESSENTIALLY
09:30:08 THE SAME.
09:30:09 TBX WAS PRESENTED TO YOU AND TO COUNTY COMMISSION AND TO THE
09:30:13 MPO AS AN ALL OR NOTHING PROPOSITION WITH SEVERAL SECTIONS,
09:30:17 BUT WE HAD TO TAKE OR LEAVE IT ALL.
09:30:20 TAMPA BAY NEXT WAS THEN ROLLED OUT AS A PROCESS THROUGH
09:30:24 WHICH THE F.D.O.T. FOLKS WERE GOING TO TALK TO THE
09:30:29 COMMUNITIES AND ENGAGE US IN WAYS THEY HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY
09:30:33 AND NO LONGER WAS AN ALL OR NOTHING PROPOSITION.
09:30:36 EVERYTHING WAS UP FOR GRABS AND, OH, YES, WE'LL STUDY THE
09:30:39 ENTIRE FOOTPRINT THROUGH AN SEIS PROCESS, SUPPLEMENTAL
09:30:44 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY.
09:30:46 NOW HERE WE ARE FIVE YEARS ON, ABOUT TO GO TO THE SIXTH MPO
09:30:52 MEETING TO REVIEW A TIP IN JUNE AND STILL TALKING ABOUT THE
09:30:57 SAME THINGS.
09:30:57 IF YOU LOOK AT TBX AS PRESENTED IN 2015 AND TAMPA BAY NEXT
09:31:01 AS PRESENTED AND ENVISIONED CURRENTLY IN FRONT OF YOU AND
09:31:05 LOOK AT THEM SECTION BY SECTION, THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY THE
09:31:07 SAME.
09:31:07 YOU STILL HAVE EXPANSION OF THE INTERSTATE THROUGH THE URBAN
09:31:11 CORE AND YOU STILL HAVE TOLL ROADS THROUGH THE URBAN CORE.
09:31:15 EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU THAT STOOD FOR ELECTION LAST CYCLE
09:31:19 SAID YOU WERE OPPOSED TO EXPANSION OF THE INTERSTATE THROUGH
09:31:21 THE URBAN CORE.
09:31:22 IT WAS HARD TO FIND ANYBODY THAT THOUGHT EXPRESS TOLL LANES
09:31:26 WERE A GOOD IDEA ANYWHERE.
09:31:28 YET, HERE WE ARE STILL DISCUSSING THE SAME THING.
09:31:31 IT IS THE WORST NIGHTMARE OF GROUNDHOG DAY.
09:31:34 SOONER OR LATER, SOMEBODY HAS TO STICK SOMETHING IN THE
09:31:38 GROUND AND SAY NO MORE.
09:31:40 NOW, WE'VE HAD HISTORICALLY SUPPORT FROM THIS BODY IN
09:31:44 OPPOSITION TO THE TBX PROJECT.
09:31:47 THE CRA BACK IN 2015, 2016 OPPOSED IT.
09:31:50 THE HEADLINE THAT I HAD UP HERE A MOMENT AGO AND THAT I'LL
09:31:54 READ, TAMPA CITY COUNCIL AGAIN OPPOSES TAMPA BAY EXPRESS
09:31:57 INTERSTATE EXPANSION.
09:31:59 THAT WAS AN ARTICLE THAT APPEARED IN JUNE OF 2016 JUST
09:32:02 BEFORE THE MPO TIP HEARING.
09:32:06 I'M LOOKING FOR THAT HEADLINE AGAIN.
09:32:09 I WANT TO GIVE CHARLIE FRAGO A REASON TO WRITE THE HEADLINE.
09:32:12 IT IS TIME FOR THIS CRA AND THIS INCARNATION TO PUT A STAKE
09:32:16 IN THE GROUND AND TELL F.D.O.T. WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S VALUES
09:32:19 ARE.
09:32:19 THANK YOU.
09:32:25 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:32:26 NEXT PLEASE.
09:32:27 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:32:27 MY NAME IS MELVIN HICKS.
09:32:30 I WOULD LIKE IT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING.
09:32:33 I OBSERVE A LOT AROUND THE CITY.
09:32:35 I REALLY DO.
09:32:36 I SEE MONEY BEING WASTED.
09:32:41 PEOPLE, CITY EMPLOYEES, ENGINEERS, STUFF LIKE THAT, I SEE
09:32:45 MONEY BEING WASTED.
09:32:47 CALLING PEOPLE OUT TO FIX STUFF.
09:32:50 HAVE PEOPLE WORK FOR THE CITY, ENGINEERS, STUFF LIKE THAT
09:32:52 THAT CAN DO THE JOB EFFICIENTLY.
09:32:56 I NOTICED LIKE A WEEK AGO, YOU HAVE WASTED MONEY WITH THE
09:32:59 CITY.
09:33:00 LIKE A CONTRACT TO FIX A WATER PROBLEM WITH THE PARKS.
09:33:07 YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE.
09:33:08 HIRED THEM ALREADY, ENGINEERS.
09:33:09 WHY ARE YOU HIRING, OUTSOURCING CONTRACTORS LIKE THAT.
09:33:14 WASTING THE CITY'S MONEY.
09:33:15 I SEE THAT RIGHT NOW.
09:33:16 I SEE THAT ALL GO ALONG RIGHT THERE.
09:33:19 I OBSERVE A LOT AROUND THE CITY.
09:33:22 I OBSERVE A LOT DOWNTOWN.
09:33:27 I WORK FOR THE SIAM RESTAURANT.
09:33:30 I HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB THERE.
09:33:31 I'M HOMELESS BUT I SEE EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON AROUND THE
09:33:34 CITY.
09:33:35 I SEE THAT NOTHING IS GETTING DONE HERE.
09:33:37 I SEE LIKE A WHOLE LOT OF PROMISES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT
09:33:41 NOTHING GETTING DONE.
09:33:42 ONE, TWO, THREE -- THREE PEOPLE ON THE CITY COUNCIL SINCE
09:33:47 LAST YEAR, AND NOTHING STILL HASN'T GOTTEN DONE.
09:33:50 I SEE A WHOLE LOT OF PROMISES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
09:33:53 I SEE OUR CITY DOWNTOWN CRIME RATE IS UP THERE BUT THE
09:33:56 NUMBERS ARE DOWN.
09:33:57 I SEE THAT THE FREE MEALS FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEES FOR THE
09:34:00 COPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT NEED TO STOP.
09:34:03 ALL THAT NEED TO STOP.
09:34:04 ALL THE OUTSOURCING, CONTRACTORS COMING IN, FIXING THE CITY
09:34:08 PROBLEMS, STUFF LIKE THAT.
09:34:09 YOU HAVE CITY PEOPLE YOU HIRED IN PLACE FOR THAT ALREADY.
09:34:14 WASTING THE MONEY.
09:34:15 WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE MONEY?
09:34:17 OUTSOURCING TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, LIKE BURROW ON NEBRASKA.
09:34:27 WHY YOU CONTRACT THEM OUT THERE?
09:34:30 WASTING MONEY FOR THE CITY, TAXPAYERS' MONEY.
09:34:32 IT'S WRONG.
09:34:33 THE CRIME RATE DOWNTOWN.
09:34:39 YOU NEED TO TIGHTEN UP ON THAT, TOO.
09:34:41 SOMEBODY LYING.
09:34:42 SOMEBODY LYING ABOUT THAT.
09:34:43 PEOPLE GETTING ROBBED AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
09:34:46 CRACK SMOKING DOWNTOWN.
09:34:47 PEOPLE SMOKING CRACK IN PUBLIC.
09:34:49 ALL THE COPS ARE DOING IS RIDING BY, MESSING WITH THE
09:34:52 HOMELESS.
09:34:53 PRIORITIES ARE IN THE WRONG PLACE RIGHT NOW.
09:34:55 IT IS IN THE WRONG PLACE.
09:34:57 EVEN GOT PICTURES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
09:35:00 PHOTOS OF EVERYTHING, STUFF LIKE THAT.
09:35:02 I TRY TO TALK TO CITY COUNCILMAN.
09:35:06 ONLY ONE TALKED TO ME.
09:35:07 THE YOUNG ONE.
09:35:08 HE TALKED TO ME AND LISTEN.
09:35:10 THE REST OF YOU ALL RUN FROM ME.
09:35:12 YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A BODY OF OFFICIALS.
09:35:16 STUFF GOT TO CHANGE IN ORDER FOR TAMPA TO GROW.
09:35:22 STUFF GOT TO CHANGE.
09:35:23 THIS IS BEATING A HORSE RIGHT NOW.
09:35:25 AIN'T NOTHING REALLY GOING TO CHANGE.
09:35:28 LISTEN TO US BUT NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE.
09:35:32 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:35:33 NEXT.
09:35:39 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:35:40 MY NAME IS DOUG JESSEPH.
09:35:40 6007 SUWANNEE AVENUE, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE OLD SEMINOLE
09:35:43 HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
09:35:45 I'M HERE TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT F.D.O.T.'S
09:35:49 PREPOSTEROUS TAMPA BAY NEXT INITIATIVE.
09:35:54 IN PARTICULAR, I WISH TO MAKE CLEAR THAT FDOT'S PLANS FOR
09:35:54 EXPANDING INTERSTATE CAPACITY WOULD PROVIDE NO ECONOMIC
09:35:55 BENEFIT TO THE CRAs NOR ARE THEY LIKELY TO REDUCE TRAFFIC
09:35:58 CONGESTION.
09:35:58 ON THE CONTRARY, F.D.O.T. SEEKS TO IMPOSE FURTHER BURDENS ON
09:36:02 NEIGHBORHOODS THAT IT HAS RUTHLESSLY VICTIMIZED FOR DECADES.
09:36:06 WE SHOULD START BY ASKING WHY TAMPA'S INTERSTATES FOLLOW THE
09:36:09 ALIGNMENT THAT THEY DO.
09:36:10 AS INITIALLY CONCEIVED, THE AMERICAN INTERSTATE SYSTEM WAS
09:36:14 MODELED ON THE GERMAN AUTOBAHN AND WAS INTENDED TO LINK
09:36:18 URBAN AREAS WITH NO THOUGHT OF PUTTING A FREEWAY THROUGH THE
09:36:22 HEART OF THE CITY.
09:36:23 HOWEVER, THE WHITE SEGREGATIONISTS WHO HELD POLITICAL POWER
09:36:26 IN FLORIDA IN THE 1950s AND '60s REALIZED THAT
09:36:29 INTERSTATES WERE EFFECTIVE TOOLS FOR INFLICTING ECONOMIC
09:36:31 DAMAGE ON NONWHITE COMMUNITIES.
09:36:33 FOR INSTANCE, THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT FOR I-75 WAS TO ROUTE IS
09:36:38 AROUND THE CITY CENTER, PASSING MORE OR LESS ALONG BEARSS
09:36:41 AVENUE AND FOLLOWING THE ALIGNMENT OF THE CURRENT VETERANS
09:36:44 EXPRESSWAY.
09:36:44 BUT ENACTING THAT PLAN WOULD HAVE INVOLVED TAKING PROPERTY
09:36:47 FROM WHITE CITRUS FARMERS IN NORTHERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY,
09:36:50 WHICH WAS UNTHINKABLE.
09:36:52 THE FLORIDA ROAD BOARD, AS IT WAS THEN KNOWN, CHOSE TO SEND
09:36:55 I-275 THROUGH THE HEART OF BLACK AND LATINO TAMPA,
09:37:02 OBLITERATING HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO
09:37:06 INFLICT MAXIMUM DAMAGE ON THOSE PEOPLE WHILE PROMOTING THE
09:37:09 DEVELOPMENT OF ALL WHITE SUBURBS.
09:37:10 PUT IT BLUNTLY, THE TAMPA INTERSTATE SYSTEM IS AN EXERCISE
09:37:15 IN RACIST OPPRESSION.
09:37:16 EXPANDING THE SYSTEM CELEBRATES, ENDORSES, AND SEEKS TO
09:37:19 CARRY ON THAT APPALLING LEGACY.
09:37:21 IT IS NEITHER MY BELIEF NOR MY CONTENTION THAT THOSE WHO
09:37:24 FAVOR INTERSTATE EXPANSION ARE THEMSELVES RACIST.
09:37:27 HOWEVER, THE BURDEN IS ON THEM TO SHOW HOW AND WHY EXPANDING
09:37:31 THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT AMOUNT TO FURTHER PURSUING THE
09:37:34 DESTRUCTIVE PLANS COOKED UP BY BIGOTS IN THE 1960s.
09:37:38 I SUPPOSE SOMEONE MIGHT CONCEDE THAT TAMPA'S INTERSTATES
09:37:42 WERE DESIGNED BY RACISTS TO PROMOTE A WHITE SUPREMACIST
09:37:44 AGENDA, BUT THEY MIGHT NEVERTHELESS SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
09:37:46 HEY, THAT WAS THEN.
09:37:47 WE'RE SORRY ABOUT IT.
09:37:49 BUT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SYSTEM AS IT IS NOW AND
09:37:51 POPULATION INCREASES DEMAND AND EXPAND INTERSTATE OR
09:37:54 SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
09:37:55 THIS REASONING, HOWEVER, IGNORES THE FACT THAT THE HARM DONE
09:37:59 IS NOT A ONE-TIME EVENT LOCATED IN THE DISTANT PAST.
09:38:03 EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY, THE SAME DAMAGE IS DONE DAY UPON DAY
09:38:07 TO EVERYONE WHO WAS DAMAGED INITIALLY BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF
09:38:09 THE INTERSTATES.
09:38:12 THE REASON THE CRAs ARE LOCATED BY THE INTERSTATE IS THAT
09:38:14 THE INTERSTATE WAS DESIGNED WITH THE EXPRESSED INTENT OF
09:38:18 DESTROYING NEIGHBORHOODS AND TBX SEEKS TO INFLICT MORE OF
09:38:21 THE SAME DAMAGE.
09:38:22 THE ONLY WAY TO ALLEVIATE THAT DAMAGE IS AT LEAST TO STOP
09:38:25 EXPANDING THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM AND TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES.
09:38:30 THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
09:38:31 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:38:34 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:38:35 NEXT, PLEASE.
09:38:37 >> VALERIE BULLOCK.
09:38:39 I'M A RESIDENT AND A HOMEOWNER OF EAST TAMPA.
09:38:42 I STAYED AT 2909 EAST 24th AVENUE.
09:38:46 IN 2008, I BOUGHT MY SECOND HOUSE IN EAST TAMPA, AND MY
09:38:50 NEIGHBORS, THEY BOUGHT THEIR LAND IN THE LATE '60s AND
09:38:54 THEY BUILT THEIR HOMES THERE, AND THEY STILL LIVE IN THEIR
09:38:57 HOME.
09:38:58 LATELY, EAST TAMPA HAVE BEEN A FORGOTTEN COMMUNITY.
09:39:02 WE HAVE NO REPRESENTATION FROM THE HOMEOWNERS WHO LIVE OVER
09:39:07 THERE.
09:39:08 AND I'M ASKING THAT YOU ALL DO SOMETHING SO THAT WE MAY HAVE
09:39:11 A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
09:39:12 WE ARE THE ONES WHO WORK HARD, WHO HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE
09:39:16 GAME.
09:39:16 WE ARE THE HOMEOWNERS OVER THERE.
09:39:18 WE DON'T NEED OUTSIDERS TELLING US HOW TO MAINTAIN A HOME NO
09:39:23 ONE HELPED US TO BUY OUR HOME.
09:39:25 WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BE REPRESENTED A LITTLE BETTER.
09:39:29 I HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE ROUNDABOUT.
09:39:31 START THAT IN ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD.
09:39:35 DON'T START THAT IN EAST TAMPA.
09:39:37 LET'S WORK ON FAIR OAKS COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE SAME PEOPLE
09:39:40 WHO BOUGHT THE HOMES IN THE '60s AND THE '70s SO THEY
09:39:45 CAN HAVE A GATHERING PLACE.
09:39:46 I'M NOT ASKING FOR A TENNIS COURT OR A SWIMMING THING LIKE
09:39:52 THEY HAVE IN WESTCHASE.
09:39:54 WE WANT A BASIC COMMUNITY CENTER, AND WE NEED TO BE HEARD IN
09:39:59 EAST TAMPA.
09:40:00 WE'VE BEEN OVERLOOKED SO MUCH, AND IT NEEDS TO STOP.
09:40:04 I JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER PUTTING SOME OF
09:40:07 THE EAST TAMPA RESIDENTS ON THE BOARD.
09:40:10 WE DON'T WANT TO BE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
09:40:13 WE WANT TO SIT ON THE BOARD AT THE TABLE MAKING THE RULES
09:40:16 THAT AFFECT US IN OUR COMMUNITY.
09:40:18 THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR HEARING ME.
09:40:23 >>JOSEPH CITRO: NEXT, PLEASE.
09:40:31 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:40:32 MY NAME IS SAM HARRIS.
09:40:33 I'M A REAL ESTATE BROKER, OPPORTUNITY ZONE ADVISOR.
09:40:35 I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE THIS BOARD BEFORE.
09:40:37 ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO, I INVITED ALL OF YOU TO COME TO AN
09:40:42 OPPORTUNITY ZONE GATHERING AT USF AND NONE OF YOU SHOWED UP.
09:40:45 TAMPA BLACK COMMUNITIES ARE ON LIFE SUPPORT.
09:40:50 WE NEED A MAJOR CHANGE AND A MAJOR SHIFT IN HOW YOU OPERATE
09:40:54 AND HOW YOU THINK.
09:40:55 OPPORTUNITY ZONES IS THE GAME CHANGER TO ALLOW US TO CREATE
09:41:02 DEVELOPMENT THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND ALLOW PEOPLE OF COLOR,
09:41:04 BLACK PEOPLE PARTICULARLY TO HAVE OWNERSHIP WITHIN THOSE
09:41:07 COMMUNITIES.
09:41:08 I WAS OVER AT TAMPA ARMATURE WORKS LAST FRIDAY WITH AN
09:41:12 INVESTOR MEETING.
09:41:13 WHEN I LOOKED OUT IN THE GAZE OF THE NIGHT, I SAW SPOTLIGHTS
09:41:18 LIGHTING UP TAMPA HEIGHTS, WHICH USED TO BE OWNED BY ALL
09:41:22 AFRICAN AMERICANS.
09:41:24 WHEN I LOOKED OVER TO WEST TAMPA, WEST TAMPA WAS BLIGHTED,
09:41:27 IT WAS DARK.
09:41:28 THERE WAS NO LIFE.
09:41:30 WHEN I LOOK OVER TO EAST TAMPA, EAST TAMPA WAS DARK.
09:41:33 IT WAS LIKE A GHOST TOWN WHERE I WAS STANDING AT.
09:41:36 THAT IS NOT RIGHT.
09:41:39 YOU GUYS GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE CHANGE IN DEVELOPMENT
09:41:43 HERE IN THE CITY OF TAMPA.
09:41:44 WHEN YOU LOOK AT DOWNTOWN TAMPA, JEFF VINIK OWNS THE
09:41:48 FRICKIN' DOWNTOWN, BUT HE'S NOT PUTTING ANY MONEY INTO EAST
09:41:52 TAMPA.
09:41:53 HE NOT PUTTING NO MONEY INTO WEST TAMPA.
09:41:55 I'M NOT SAYING IT'S HIS RESPONSIBILITY.
09:41:57 WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT GIVE US AS BLACK BUSINESSMEN AND
09:42:01 WOMEN, THE TOOLS THAT YOU'RE GIVING TO NONPROFIT
09:42:04 ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANTING THE MONEY AND THAT WE CAN DO REAL
09:42:09 MEANINGFUL DEVELOPMENT.
09:42:10 WE HAVE THREE REAL ESTATE BROKERAGES THAT ARE BLACK OWNED.
09:42:16 NO ONE IN THE CITY OF TAMPA HAS COME TO THEM AND SAYS WHAT
09:42:20 CAN WE DO TO HELP SHAPE THE DEVELOPMENT IN EAST TAMPA, IN
09:42:23 GRANT PARK, IN PROGRESS VILLAGE, IN WEST TAMPA.
09:42:27 THOSE ARE HISTORICAL BLACK COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING
09:42:30 DECIMATED, NOT JUST IN TAMPA BUT ALL OVER.
09:42:34 IF YOU LOOK AT THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM THAT THE GENTLEMAN WAS
09:42:37 TALKING ABOUT, THAT IS CALLED RED LINING.
09:42:39 THE COMMUNITIES ARE STILL RED LINED.
09:42:42 IF YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE MAP AND YOU TAKE THE
09:42:45 REDLINE MAP, IT IS EXACTLY IDENTICAL FOR ANYBODY TO BE LAID
09:42:49 BACK WITH THEIR HAND ON THEIR CHEST OR THEIR FEET KICKED UP,
09:42:53 YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.
09:42:56 YOU GOTTA GET TO WORK.
09:42:57 GET ON THE GROUND AND DO SOMETHING.
09:43:02 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:43:04 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:43:04 NEXT, PLEASE.
09:43:07 >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
09:43:09 MY NAME IS FRAN COSENTINO.
09:43:12 I'M A RESIDENT, BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNER IN EAST HISTORIC
09:43:18 YBOR CITY.
09:43:19 I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO NUMBER 5, THE F.D.O.T.
09:43:22 PROJECT.
09:43:22 THE PEOPLE HAVE COME UP HERE AND TALKING ABOUT IT AND
09:43:25 REFERRING BACK TO 2015 AND 2016.
09:43:27 I GUESS I'M OLD ENOUGH AND DATING MYSELF, BUT THIS PROJECT
09:43:30 BY ANOTHER NAME HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS.
09:43:33 PROBABLY ONE PERSON ON THAT DAIS WHO I WON'T CALL HIM OUT AS
09:43:37 BEING GUILTY, THAT'S OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER 20 YEARS AGO
09:43:41 WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT BEFORE US.
09:43:42 IN THE PLANS 20 YEARS AGO, THEY WANTED TO DO AWAY WITH THE
09:43:48 21st AND 22nd STREET INGRESS AND EGRESS TO YBOR CITY.
09:43:52 I WAS PART OF THE CONTINGENCY THAT WAS LED BY ADELA
09:43:56 GONZMART, WHO WAS A MATRIARCH AND SHE LOVED YBOR CITY.
09:44:00 SHE WAS JOINED BY MARY ALVAREZ WHO WAS THEN A CITY
09:44:04 COUNCILWOMAN.
09:44:06 SHE HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE YBOR CITY MUSEUM SOCIETY, THE
09:44:08 YBOR CITY CHAMBER AND A LOT OF US THAT CAME TO HELP HER
09:44:13 SPEAK.
09:44:13 WE WERE TOLD AT THE TIME DON'T WORRY.
09:44:15 THIS PROJECT IS IN THE FUTURE.
09:44:17 IT'S IN OUR 20-YEAR PLAN, AND THEIR BUZZ WORDS AT THE TIME
09:44:20 WERE, IT'S NOT EVEN FUNDED.
09:44:22 WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
09:44:24 THE 20 YEARS IS HERE.
09:44:26 THE FUTURE IS NOW.
09:44:28 IT IS FUNDED, AND I COME HERE REPRESENTING -- I LIVE AND
09:44:33 WORK EVERYTHING IN HISTORIC EAST YBOR, BUT WHAT THAT WOULD
09:44:37 DO WITH ALL THE PLANS THEY HAVE FOR EAST YBOR IS GOING TO
09:44:40 JUST KILL IT.
09:44:41 SO I WANT YOU ALL TO PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP STOP THE
09:44:46 PROJECT.
09:44:47 THEY CAN CALL IT ANY OTHER NAME, TBT, NEXT, WHATEVER, IT IS
09:44:52 EXACTLY THE SAME PROJECT.
09:44:53 AND WE DO NOT WANT HISTORIC EAST YBOR TOUCHED BY THIS
09:44:58 PROJECT.
09:44:58 THANK YOU SO MUCH.
09:44:59 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:45:02 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:45:03 JOSH FRANK.
09:45:05 I JUST MOVED INTO OZONA HEIGHTS.
09:45:08 I DON'T HAVE THE ADDRESS.
09:45:11 1003 EAST HAMILTON.
09:45:13 I HAD A LOT WRITTEN.
09:45:14 YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN MY PRESENTATION ABOUT REMOVING THE
09:45:17 INTERSTATE AND HOW THE INTERSTATE IS THIS MAJOR DIVISIVE
09:45:23 PIECE OF HISTORY IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
09:45:26 EVERYTHING I'VE WRITTEN DOWN HAS BEEN SAID ALREADY.
09:45:29 TO ME, THAT'S INCREDIBLE BECAUSE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED
09:45:31 TALKING ABOUT THIS PROJECT IN THE '90s AND EVEN IN
09:45:34 2015-2016 ERA, THERE WASN'T THE SAME LEVEL OF EDUCATION.
09:45:37 I'M SPENDING MY FIRST 30 SECONDS TO JUST SAY HOW PROUD I AM
09:45:41 OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE EDUCATED THEMSELVES
09:45:44 ON THIS ISSUE AND HAD AN INFORMED, ENLIGHTENED DISCUSSION IN
09:45:49 FRONT OF YOU ABOUT THE HISTORY, THE IMPACTS.
09:45:51 THESE ARE THINGS THAT NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS OR CAN PERCEIVE.
09:45:54 FOR ME, AS SOMEBODY WHO IS WELL-STEEPED IN THIS TOPIC, IT IS
09:45:58 AN INCREDIBLE THING TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME BEFORE A CRA
09:46:01 BOARD, NOT EVEN A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT
09:46:04 THOSE IMPACTS.
09:46:05 I REALLY FEEL THAT YOU SHOULD VALUE THAT INPUT, MAYBE EVEN
09:46:08 HIGHER THAN SOME OF THE OTHERS YOU RECEIVE.
09:46:10 I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF
09:46:12 CRAs LATER TODAY.
09:46:14 I WANT TO GIVE YOU A PRIMER OF WHAT THAT IMPACT IS GOING TO
09:46:18 BE AND WHAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE.
09:46:21 SOMEBODY MENTIONED BEFORE THAT THE BLIGHT IS THE REASON FOR
09:46:23 THE CRAs.
09:46:24 THAT BLIGHT IS, IN LARGE PART, DUE TO THE INTERSTATE BEING
09:46:27 BUILT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
09:46:29 THAT IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO WHY THE CRAs EVEN EXIST.
09:46:32 REALLY, AT THE MOMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS ABOUT THE
09:46:35 IMPACTS WITHIN THOSE CRAs, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN TAMPA
09:46:39 HEIGHTS, DOWNTOWN RIVER, ARTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, CBD,
09:46:42 THOSE CRA AREAS.
09:46:44 WE REALLY DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER ABOUT HOW THAT WILL AFFECT
09:46:48 THE STREETCAR EXPANSION.
09:46:49 THAT IS A MAJOR PROJECT THE CITY HAS TACKLED AND GOING FOR
09:46:52 FEDERAL FUNDING AT THE MOMENT.
09:46:53 WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE INTERSTATE EXPANSION IS GOING TO
09:46:56 IMPACT THAT.
09:46:56 WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL IMPACT PERRY HARVEY PARK AND
09:47:00 ENCORE, A MAJOR PROJECT THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS
09:47:02 INVESTED A TON OF TIME AND MONEY INTO.
09:47:04 WE DON'T KNOW HOW IN YBOR CRA IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE CYCLE
09:47:08 TRACK, WHICH IS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE THAT THIS CITY HAS PUT A
09:47:11 LOT OF ATTENTION AND EFFORT TOWARDS BUILDING.
09:47:14 WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT HCC'S CAMPUS WITH THE
09:47:17 AMOUNT OF STUDENTS WALKING TO AND FROM THE PARKING GARAGES
09:47:20 ON PALM AND NUCCIO.
09:47:21 RIGHT NOW, THE PROPOSAL HAS 14th AND 15th AND NUCCIO
09:47:25 BEING A NEW EXIT FOR THE INTERSTATE.
09:47:27 HOW ARE THOSE STUDENTS GOING TO BE WALKING TO THEIR CAMPUS?
09:47:32 BIKING TO THE CAMPUS?
09:47:33 I WOULD ASK YOU AGAIN, LIKE I DID LAST TIME WHEN I GAVE MY
09:47:36 PRESENTATION, EVERY PROJECT THAT COMES BEFORE THIS BOARD, WE
09:47:39 ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO START ASKING OURSELVES, WHAT
09:47:42 IS THIS PROJECT DOING TO REMOVE CARS FROM OUR SYSTEM.
09:47:44 YOU CANNOT OUTBUILD CONGESTION.
09:47:47 THE ONLY WAY TO REDUCE CONGESTION IS TO HAVE FEWER CARS ON
09:47:52 THE ROADS.
09:47:52 THE WAY YOU DO THAT IS ALTERNATIVES.
09:47:54 LAND USE, TRANSIT, ALL THESE THINGS.
09:47:56 SO THE LAST THING I WAS GOING TO SAY IS THAT, OUR EFFORTS,
09:47:59 THE COMMUNITY'S EFFORTS HAVE GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION.
09:48:02 WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN ITEM NUMBER FIVE HAS NOT.
09:48:05 THANK YOU.
09:48:05 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:48:06 NEXT, PLEASE.
09:48:13 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:48:14 NOREEN COPELAND MILLER.
09:48:17 THIS MORNING, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
09:48:20 BRINGING THIS BOOK ABOUT EAST TAMPA.
09:48:23 THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN BY A FORMER APPOINTED CITY
09:48:28 COUNCILWOMAN, MS. BETTY WIGGINS, WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US.
09:48:32 SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER, SOME MAY NOT.
09:48:34 I WANT TO READ WHAT'S IN HERE.
09:48:36 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CRA COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AGENCY IN
09:48:40 EAST TAMPA BY THE CITY IN 2004.
09:48:42 THE EAST TAMPA CRA AREA ENCOMPASSES SEVEN SQUARE MILES.
09:48:48 THIS AREA IS HOME TO NINE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND
09:48:52 APPROXIMATELY 20,000 CITIZENS.
09:48:54 IT IS SITUATED WITHIN THE AREA THROUGH THE CRA MECHANISM, A
09:49:01 LEVEL OF TAX DOLLARS FROM THE AREA MUST BE SPENT WITHIN THE
09:49:06 COMMUNITY.
09:49:06 THE COMMUNITY, THROUGH THE EAST TAMPA COMMUNITY
09:49:11 REVITALIZATION PARTNERSHIP, RECOMMENDS EXPENDITURES AND THE
09:49:20 CITY MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.
09:49:20 WE KNOW THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
09:49:20 SOME OF THE THINGS SHE WAS POINTING OUT WAS THE CRA SHOULD
09:49:24 HAVE A STRONGER GOVERNMENTAL COMMITMENT, STRONGER LAW
09:49:28 ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE.
09:49:29 WE DO HAVE THAT.
09:49:30 IMPROVEMENT IN HOUSING.
09:49:31 DECREASE IN CRIME, DRAMATICALLY DECLINING STREET-LEVEL DRUG
09:49:39 ACTIVITY, STRONG POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT.
09:49:41 REVERSE THE TREND OF MIGRATION OUT OF THE COMMUNITY.
09:49:48 THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
09:49:49 AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S INCREASING.
09:49:50 PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS.
09:49:56 WE DON'T HAVE THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR FAIR OAKS
09:49:59 TO BE REBUILT.
09:50:00 THIS WAS TEN YEARS AGO, EXCELLENT PUBLIC RECREATION
09:50:07 FACILITIES.
09:50:08 WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN EAST TAMPA.
09:50:09 CONTINUATION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
09:50:11 I WON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THAT.
09:50:12 I ATTENDED A MEETING ON FEBRUARY THE 4th FOR THE ECONOMIC
09:50:20 DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CRA PARTNERSHIP IN EAST TAMPA AT
09:50:24 DISTRICT 3.
09:50:26 ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO
09:50:29 BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE PARTNERSHIP MEETING ON FEBRUARY THE
09:50:32 11th.
09:50:35 AND I ATTENDED THAT MEETING.
09:50:37 AT THAT TIME, ON THE AGENDA, IT WAS SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE
09:50:40 WERE NOT TOLD AT THE MEETING ON THE 4th.
09:50:44 ONE OF THOSE WAS F.D.O.T. PRESENTATION THAT WE STILL SAY NO
09:50:48 ABOUT, AND THEY WANT TO CLOSE 21st AND HAVE 14th AND
09:50:52 15th ACCESSIBLE, AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ON 15th
09:50:56 STREET LATELY, IT'S ALREADY CONGESTION.
09:51:00 GOING NORTH.
09:51:01 CONGESTION GOING SOUTH.
09:51:03 IT IS DESTROYING OUR COMMUNITY.
09:51:05 THE OTHER ONE IS FAIR OAKS.
09:51:08 WE WANT IT TORN DOWN AND REBUILT.
09:51:10 ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CRA PARTNERSHIP I THOUGHT WOULD
09:51:13 LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND VALUE WHAT WE SAY.
09:51:17 THEY ARE NOT LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY.
09:51:19 I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST SEMINOLE.
09:51:20 I'VE BEEN THERE ALMOST 30 YEARS AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT
09:51:24 WE WANT.
09:51:25 WE HAVE A DICTATORSHIP OF A CHAIRPERSON THAT TAKE MINUTES
09:51:29 AND DESIGN THE MINUTES THE WAY SHE WANT IT TO BE TOLD.
09:51:32 THAT IS NOT BEST PRACTICE.
09:51:34 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MA'AM.
09:51:35 NEXT, PLEASE.
09:51:37 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:51:40 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:51:41 I'M BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY.
09:51:44 I'M ALSO THE HOST OF "WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING" THAT COMES ON
09:51:47 EVERY SATURDAY MORNING, WTMP 1150 AM.
09:51:52 I POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY, IF YOU LISTEN, THEY
09:51:55 HAVE SPOKEN WITH A LOUD, CLEAR VOICE, THAT THEY WANT FAIR
09:52:00 OAKS TURNED DOWN.
09:52:01 THE PROBLEM WITH THE CRA IN EAST TAMPA IS THE LEADERSHIP.
09:52:06 MS. NATASHA GOODLEY, WHO HAS NO RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS
09:52:09 COMMUNITY.
09:52:11 SHE COMES FROM GOD KNOWS WHERE, AND THEREFORE SHE DOESN'T
09:52:14 KNOW WHO'S WHO IN THE COMMUNITY.
09:52:17 THAT'S WHY SHE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE 150 TO 200 PEOPLE,
09:52:22 THEY WERE NOT BUSED IN.
09:52:24 THEY WERE RESIDENTS.
09:52:26 THEY WERE PEOPLE SUCH AS FRED HERNS WHO IS A BLACK HISTORIAN
09:52:31 WHO HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH EAST TAMPA WITH FAIR OAKS.
09:52:34 YOU ALSO HAD YVETTE LEWIS, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP
09:52:39 WHO -- AT FAIR OAKS.
09:52:46 YOU HAD HENRY WASHINGTON WHOSE NAME ON THE MILITANT
09:52:51 AUDITORIUM BUILDING WHO NOT ONLY PLAYED BASKETBALL THERE AT
09:52:54 FAIR OAKS, BUT ALSO TAUGHT AND COACHED THERE.
09:53:00 REVEREND WILLIAM DIXON WHO WAS AT THE MEETING.
09:53:02 BUT IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE COMMUNITY, THEN YOU SAY
09:53:07 OUTRAGEOUS AND OUTLANDISH THINGS THAT MS. NATASHA GOODLEY
09:53:13 HAS SAID.
09:53:14 IN THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT ONE MAN TRYING TO LEAVE A
09:53:17 LEGACY.
09:53:18 WE WANT FAIR OAKS TORN DOWN.
09:53:21 YOUR STAFF -- YOUR STAFF SAID THAT FAIR OAKS HAS BEEN
09:53:25 BROUGHT UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AND IT HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK.
09:53:29 WE HAVE THE DATA FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS SPOKEN LOUD AND
09:53:34 CLEAR.
09:53:35 WHERE IS THE DATA THAT THEY WANT THIS MULTICULTURAL CENTER.
09:53:40 THERE'S NO DATA.
09:53:41 THERE'S ONE-MAN, ONE-WOMAN SHOW THAT IS TRYING TO GET THIS
09:53:45 DONE.
09:53:46 WHAT YOU ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT I KNOW THAT YOU TOOK IT
09:53:48 OFF THE BURNER FOR NOW.
09:53:50 YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BRING IT BACK NEXT MONTH.
09:53:52 WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY.
09:53:55 WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET COLD.
09:53:58 WE'RE NOT GOING TO FORGET ABOUT IT.
09:54:01 THE NFL TALKING ABOUT BRINGING THE SUPER BOWL HERE, THEY
09:54:04 NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE KEEPING A WAY WHERE CHILDREN
09:54:09 CAN EVEN LEARN HOW TO PLAY FOOTBALL, CHILDREN NEED TO BE
09:54:13 ABLE TO HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
09:54:15 WE NEED TO HAVE A MODERN PLACE WHERE WE HAVE WIFI, WHERE
09:54:19 CHILDREN CAN DO THEIR HOMEWORK, CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO
09:54:23 DO, AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT.
09:54:25 IT'S APPALLING BECAUSE I SEE YOUR FACES.
09:54:29 IT'S LIKE WHILE THEY ARE HERE, LET'S NOT EVEN HAVE PUBLIC
09:54:32 COMMENT IF YOU'RE NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN DOING THE
09:54:35 PEOPLE'S WILL.
09:54:36 YOU'RE WASTING MY TIME, THEIR TIME, AND YOUR TIME BECAUSE IF
09:54:40 YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, THERE'S NO
09:54:42 SENSE IN YOU ALL LOOKING AT US LIKE WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
09:54:46 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:54:47 NEXT, PLEASE.
09:54:51 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:54:53 LAURA URANIA, RESIDENT OF THE NORTH YBOR NEIGHBORHOOD.
09:54:59 33605 IS MY ZIP CODE.
09:55:02 I'M SPEAKING AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
09:55:05 MY BACKGROUND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING.
09:55:07 I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO THANK THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WHO
09:55:13 HAVE COME HERE AND SPOKEN THEIR VOICE.
09:55:14 THE WAY DEMOCRACY WORKS IS OUR VOICE COUNTS JUST AS MUCH AS
09:55:19 ANY LOBBYIST, ANY CEO OR ANY PARTNERSHIP PRESIDENT.
09:55:22 OUR VOICE COUNTS.
09:55:24 THANK YOU.
09:55:24 THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH POWER AND YOUR TRUTH.
09:55:28 I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO SPECIFICALLY OPPOSE ITEM NUMBER 5, THE
09:55:33 F.D.O.T. PROJECT.
09:55:34 THE REASON I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THIS IS BECAUSE IF
09:55:37 YOU HAVEN'T BEEN PRIVY TO THE LATEST HEADLINES, WE HAVE 11
09:55:40 YEARS LEFT ON THE CLOCK TO MITIGATE THE DISASTERS OF CLIMATE
09:55:44 IMPACTS.
09:55:45 CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL.
09:55:46 NASA HAS CONFIRMED THIS.
09:55:48 THE NOAA HAS CONFIRMED THIS.
09:55:52 BELIEVE IT OR NOT, OIL EXECUTIVES ARE CHANGING THEIR
09:55:54 INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE SEA LEVEL RISE IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
09:55:57 ONE OF THE FALLACIES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT HERE IS
09:56:01 THAT THE VELOCITY OF CARS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EMISSIONS.
09:56:06 EMISSIONS HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT OF
09:56:09 GENERATION.
09:56:10 THE EMISSION OF PARTICULATES AND THINGS THAT IMPAIR OUR
09:56:13 ABILITY TO BREATHE HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT OF
09:56:15 CARS WE HAVE ON THE HIGHWAY.
09:56:17 IF WE MOVE THEM FASTER, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
09:56:19 I COULD GO INTO MODELING AND DISPERSION MODELS ALL DAY LONG.
09:56:23 I'M NOT GOING TO.
09:56:24 THE POINT IS THAT THE MAIN GOAL SHOULD BE TO REDUCE THE
09:56:27 AMOUNT OF CARS.
09:56:28 THE MORE YOU WIDEN HIGHWAYS, CALLED INDUCED DEMAND, THE MORE
09:56:31 CARS YOU PUT ON THE HIGHWAYS.
09:56:33 THAT IS NOT A SOLUTION.
09:56:34 OTHER CITIES HAVE FIGURED THIS OUT FOR DECADES AND WE SHOULD
09:56:38 BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT, TOO.
09:56:40 FINALLY WITH MY REMAINING TIME I LIVE IN NORTH YBOR
09:56:43 NEIGHBORHOOD, A NEIGHBORHOOD TORN APART BY THE HIGHWAY.
09:56:46 USED TO HAVE A CORNER STORE, A VERY STRONG COMMUNITY THERE,
09:56:52 MOSTLY A COMMUNITY OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT
09:56:53 ARE POOR, PEOPLE THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN MARGINALIZED
09:56:56 AND HAVE NOT HAD A VOICE AND ARE HAVING A VOICE TODAY.
09:56:59 THEY ARE SPEAKING UP TODAY AND THEY DESERVE TO BE HEARD JUST
09:57:01 AS MUCH AS ANY PARTNERSHIP, JUST AS MUCH AS ANY AUTOMOBILE
09:57:04 LOBBY OR THE F.D.O.T. MACHINE THAT IS CONTINUALLY THRUSTING
09:57:09 HIGHWAYS ON US.
09:57:10 I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH A STORY THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY.
09:57:12 ONE OF THE LADIES HERE MENTIONED THAT 15th STREET WHERE
09:57:16 THEY ARE PROPOSING TO PUT IN A RAMP TO I-4, THEY ACTUALLY
09:57:20 JUST HAD A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT THERE.
09:57:22 THERE IS A SCHOOL.
09:57:23 IT'S ACADEMY PREP.
09:57:24 IT IS A SCHOOL TO MOSTLY BLACK AND BROWN KIDS THAT ARE POOR,
09:57:28 THE KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE A VOICE.
09:57:29 LET ME SHOW YOU, THIS CAR JUST BARRELED INTO THE ENTRANCE TO
09:57:37 ACADEMY PREP.
09:57:38 THANK GOD THERE WAS NOT A KID THERE.
09:57:40 WE CAN'T IGNORE THESE KIDS ANYMORE.
09:57:42 YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE WILL OF THE CONSTITUENTS, NOT THE
09:57:44 LOBBYIST, NOT THE CEOs, NOT THE PRESIDENTS OF THE
09:57:47 PARTNERSHIPS AND STOP WIDENING THE HIGHWAYS.
09:57:49 THANK YOU.
09:57:50 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:57:51 NEXT, PLEASE.
09:57:52 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:58:01 >> FIRST, COUNCILMAN CITRO, THAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY CONCERNING
09:58:06 THE F.D.O.T. PROPOSAL, I MAY RUN OVER A LITTLE THREE
09:58:10 MINUTES, AND I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE, IF
09:58:14 NEEDED.
09:58:17 >>JOSEPH CITRO: WE GOT THAT.
09:58:19 ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR OF THAT?
09:58:24 THANK YOU.
09:58:24 >> GREAT.
09:58:24 THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
09:58:26 DEAR CITY COUNCIL, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR
09:58:30 TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE YCDC AS WELL AS THESE OTHER
09:58:34 GREAT PEOPLE REGARDING THE F.D.O.T. PROPOSAL.
09:58:39 YCDC AS WE KNOW IS COMPRISED OF TWO CRAs, ONE OF WHICH I
09:58:50 WAS THE PAST PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE YCDC.
09:58:56 I WOULD LIKE TO STATE ANECDOTALLY FOR THE RECORD THAT I DID
09:59:03 PROMISE COUNCILMAN GUDES THAT I WOULD GET HIS NAME CORRECT
09:59:09 BY THE THIRD TIME.
09:59:11 I WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT KNOWN.
09:59:13 MY NAME IS GRANT CONNER MEHLICH.
09:59:16 I'M A RESIDENT OF THE HISTORIC YBOR DISTRICT.
09:59:19 I AM THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN OF THE YCDC.
09:59:22 I HAVE BEEN A PART IN THE PRESTIGIOUS BOARD THE PAST EIGHT
09:59:31 YEARS.
09:59:31 AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, MY HEART, MY PASSION, MY BUSINESS, AND
09:59:35 MY LIFE ARE IN YBOR CITY.
09:59:37 I HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE 2005, AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN OCCURRED,
09:59:42 DUE TO YOUR LEADERSHIP IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
09:59:46 YBOR CITY IS TRULY GOING THROUGH A RENAISSANCE.
09:59:52 STARTING AROUND 2006 IS REALLY WHEN THINGS CHANGED.
09:59:56 COLLECTIVELY, A GROUP OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND RESIDENTS
09:59:59 CAME TOGETHER AND LAID DOWN A VISION FOR YBOR CITY.
10:00:03 YEAR BY YEAR, WE WORKED HAND IN HAND TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES,
10:00:07 CHANGE OUR CULTURAL FROM A PARTY DISTRICT AND ESSENTIALLY
10:00:12 LAID DOWN THE FOUNDATION FOR A RENAISSANCE IN REDEVELOPMENT
10:00:16 OF YBOR TO OCCUR.
10:00:19 TODAY, I AM PROUD TO REPORT THAT ALL SORTS OF BUSINESSES ARE
10:00:22 FLOURISHING IN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT, FROM BOUTIQUE SHOPS TO
10:00:27 MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS, LAW FIRMS, HIGH-END RESTAURANTS,
10:00:34 AND MAJOR CORPORATE BUSINESSES NOW RESIDE IN YBOR CITY.
10:00:40 YOU WOULD HAVE NOT SEEN THAT TEN YEARS AGO.
10:00:42 THE BEST PART THAT I HAVE SEEN, AND THIS IS WHEN I WAS
10:00:48 CHAIRMAN OF YBOR CITY, AND THIS IS WHEN I THINK WE ALMOST
10:00:53 REACHED THE HOLY LAND, PER SE, IS TO WATCH YOUNG MOTHERS
10:00:58 WITH THEIR BABIES AND STROLLERS GO DOWN 7th AVENUE.
10:01:04 THAT TO ME, THAT TELLS ME ABOUT HOW MUCH YBOR HAS CHANGED,
10:01:08 WHEN YOU HAVE YOUNG MOTHERS THAT ARE COMFORTABLE NOW DOING
10:01:10 THAT.
10:01:13 WITH THAT SAID, LET'S DISCUSS F.D.O.T.'S PROPOSAL TO CREATE
10:01:18 A NEW EXIT 1 OFF OF I-4 DOWN 14th AND 15th AVENUE AND ON
10:01:24 TO NUCCIO PARKWAY AND TO USE 13th AVENUE TO GAIN ACCESS TO
10:01:29 21st AND 22nd.
10:01:32 THIS IS A PROBLEM.
10:01:33 THIS IS ACTUALLY A HUGE PROBLEM.
10:01:36 FOR STARTERS, LET'S TALK ABOUT 13th AVENUE.
10:01:39 THIS IS A SMALL ROAD.
10:01:41 IT IS ACTUALLY 12.2 FEET WIDE.
10:01:45 HOW DO I KNOW THAT?
10:01:46 BECAUSE I WENT AND MEASURED IT.
10:01:49 WHY DID I GO AND MEASURE IT?
10:01:51 BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT BEHIND MY APARTMENT COMMUNITY,
10:01:54 BAINBRIDGE APARTMENTS.
10:01:55 FOR F.D.O.T. TO TELL US THAT THEY ARE GOING TO USE THAT
10:01:58 ROAD, A COLLECTOR ROAD, TO MOVE PEOPLE IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD.
10:02:03 FURTHERMORE IT VIOLATES F.D.O.T.'S OWN RECORDS OR RULES
10:02:11 REGARDING THE WIDTH OF ROADS.
10:02:12 AS FOR THE NEW EXIT, ASK YOURSELVES THIS QUESTION.
10:02:18 WHY IS THERE A HISTORIC YBOR AND AN YBOR CITY?
10:02:24 IT'S BECAUSE F.D.O.T. ONE DAY IN 1963 DECIDED TO TAKE AN
10:02:30 INTERSTATE AND BASICALLY TURNED A COMMUNITY INTO TWO.
10:02:35 ONE COMMUNITY HAS NOW FINALLY BACK ON THEIR FEET, HISTORIC
10:02:40 YBOR.
10:02:40 THE SECOND COMMUNITY, EAST TAMPA, IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS AND IT
10:02:44 IS STILL STRUGGLING.
10:02:46 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
10:02:48 >> LASTLY, IF I COULD SAY ONE LAST POINT, SIR.
10:02:51 >>JOSEPH CITRO: QUICKLY.
10:02:52 >> YEP.
10:02:53 THIS BRINGS ME TO THE LAST POINT.
10:02:55 THAT IS THE 14th AND 15th EXIT ONE THAT THEY WANT TO DO,
10:03:00 IF YOU LOOK AT THAT MAP, WHAT F.D.O.T. WANTS TO DO IS AGAIN
10:03:06 BISECT AND DISSECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
10:03:09 THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH I-4
10:03:13 AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO NOW AGAIN WITH THIS NEW EXIT ONE.
10:03:18 I IMPLORE YOU, AND I ALMOST BEG YOU TO PLEASE DO NOT LEFT
10:03:22 F.D.O.T.'S PROPOSAL THROUGH.
10:03:26 THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE IT.
10:03:28 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
10:03:29 NEXT, PLEASE.
10:03:34 >> GOOD MORNING.
10:03:36 THANK YOU FOR PLATFORM AND ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
10:03:40 MY NAME IS VERLENE.
10:03:42 I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN TAMPA.
10:03:44 ROUNDABOUTS.
10:03:45 WE DO NOT NEED THEM.
10:03:46 KEEP THEM OUT OF OUR BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD.
10:03:49 NO MORE ROUNDABOUTS.
10:03:52 NO MORE ROUNDABOUTS.
10:03:53 I DON'T SEE THEM COMING UP IN THE USF AREA.
10:03:57 I DON'T SEE THEM COMING UP IN THE WHITE PEOPLE'S STUFF.
10:04:00 I DON'T SEE THEM COMING UP IN THE WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD.
10:04:02 LEAVE THEM OUT OF THE BLACK PEOPLE BECAUSE ALL THEY ARE
10:04:04 DOING IS CAUSING TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS.
10:04:07 FAIR OAKS, WE NEED A NEW BUILDING.
10:04:08 I USED TO SWING ON THOSE PLAYGROUNDS ALSO.
10:04:11 THE SAME OAK TREES STILL THERE.
10:04:13 CUT DOWN ONE.
10:04:15 CLOSE OFF ALL THE ENTRANCE TO THE PARK.
10:04:17 PEOPLE CANNOT COME INTO THE PARK.
10:04:18 WHY THE BUILDING IS UNSAFE.
10:04:21 TELL US THE TRUTH.
10:04:22 WE KNOW THE TRUTH.
10:04:22 I USED TO BE THERE.
10:04:24 WEST TAMPA, IT'S ALL GOING BYE-BYE.
10:04:28 ALL GOING BYE-BYE.
10:04:30 BUT THE MAYOR HAS THIS COMMITTEE CALLED MAYOR AFRICAN
10:04:37 AMERICAN ADVISORY COUNCIL.
10:04:38 MAAC.
10:04:40 BUT THEY CHANGED IT AND GAVE US THE CRA.
10:04:43 THAT'S THE NEW VERSION.
10:04:44 BUT I KEEP TELLING MY PEOPLE THAT'S STANDS FOR COLORS RAN
10:04:52 AWAY.
10:04:52 IT IS THE SAME THING.
10:04:56 THEY CHANGE THE NAME, CHANGE THE YEAR, CHANGE THE DATE.
10:05:00 SAME CRAP.
10:05:00 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HEALTH INSURANCE.
10:05:04 I'M SPEAKING ON MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
10:05:08 I DON'T WANT JUST PILLS IN MY LIFE.
10:05:10 I WANT TO SIT DOWN WITH A THERAPY AND TALK TO HER ABOUT THE
10:05:14 PROBLEMS I'M HAVING.
10:05:15 WHEN I'M NOT GETTING ANY SATISFACTION OR JUSTICE, I DON'T
10:05:18 WANT TO GO TO MY THIRD PILL DOCTOR.
10:05:23 THEY WANT TO KNOW IF I CAN GET A STRONGER DOSE SO I CAN
10:05:28 SLEEP ALL DAY SO I DON'T COME HERE AND TELL YOU ALL MY BLACK
10:05:32 PEOPLE PROBLEM.
10:05:32 TODAY I'M ASKING FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY HEALTH INSURANCE,
10:05:35 GIVE US SOME THERAPY.
10:05:38 I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THERAPY.
10:05:40 I'M ON A FIXED INCOME.
10:05:43 ONCE A MONTH.
10:05:44 I HAVE TO PAY THE RENT, THE LIGHTS, THE WATER.
10:05:47 BUS TRANSPORTATION, EVERY TIME I COME DOWN HERE, IT'S ON THE
10:05:51 BUS.
10:05:51 AND I WILL COME EVERY CHANCE I CAN UNTIL WE, BLACK PEOPLE,
10:05:57 COLORED PEOPLE, THE N-WORD PEOPLE, UNTIL WE GET A CHANGE.
10:06:03 WE NEED A CHANGE.
10:06:06 THE MAAC AND THE CRA AND ALL THEM PEOPLE, WE WAS TAKING CARE
10:06:11 OF OURSELVES BEFORE ALL THIS STUFF CAME AROUND.
10:06:16 JUST GIVE US OUR MONEY.
10:06:17 WE'RE WATCHING YOUR MONEY, BECAUSE IT'S OUR MONEY.
10:06:20 WE'RE GOING TO COME WITH TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
10:06:23 AS A FORMER MILITARY SPOUSE, I TRAVELED AROUND THE WORLD AND
10:06:26 I'VE SEEN THE CHANGES HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
10:06:28 IT MAKES ME SICK.
10:06:30 IT'S BAD.
10:06:35 IT'S PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME.
10:06:37 IF IT WAS, NONE OF US WOULD BE IN HERE BEGGING EVERY
10:06:40 THURSDAY, EVERY WEDNESDAY, EVERY DAY.
10:06:42 WE WOULD BE SITTING AT HOME WITH A PEACEFUL MIND COMING DOWN
10:06:45 HERE TELLING YOU HOW WE APPRECIATE IT AND THANK EVERYBODY
10:06:49 WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
10:06:50 IT AIN'T WORKING LIKE THAT FOR MY PEOPLE.
10:06:52 THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY.
10:06:55 [ APPLAUSE ]
10:06:56 >>JOSEPH CITRO: BEFORE MS. BURTON STARTS TO SPEAK, SIR, ARE YOU
10:07:01 THE LAST SPEAKER?
10:07:02 AND JOE ROBINSON.
10:07:05 GO AHEAD, MS. BURTON.
10:07:09 >> YES, GOOD MORNING.
10:07:10 CONNIE BURTON.
10:07:11 ONCE UPON A TIME, THRIVING BLACK COMMUNITY, ONCE UPON A TIME
10:07:19 IN HISTORY, LIKE NOW, LOOKING BACK, WE CAN NOW IDENTIFY
10:07:25 THOSE THAT WE CAN SAY WAS RACIST DID TERRIBLE THINGS AGAINST
10:07:31 THE PEOPLE.
10:07:32 WE SAY THAT, BUT I ALWAYS SAY THAT THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE
10:07:36 WALKING IN THE SAME AS THOSE WE IDENTIFY AS RACIST.
10:07:43 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 5 AND EVERYBODY HAS MADE IT
10:07:47 CLEAR.
10:07:48 WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING ON 13 AND 14, LET'S
10:07:51 TALK ABOUT WHY 34th AND 40th STREET IS AN ECONOMIC
10:07:55 ISOLATION.
10:07:57 EVEN WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING BEAUTIFUL ROUNDABOUTS, CAN'T NOBODY
10:08:01 SEE IT.
10:08:03 CAN'T NO BUSINESS GROW DOWN THERE.
10:08:05 YOU KNOW WHY?
10:08:06 THE TRAFFIC KEEP GOING.
10:08:07 ALL DELIBERATELY PLANNED.
10:08:09 ALL DELIBERATELY PLANNED TO TAKE UP CENTRAL AVENUE.
10:08:12 ALL DELIBERATELY PLANNED THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE SAME
10:08:16 SITUATION.
10:08:16 TALKING ABOUT ONCE UPON A TIME WHAT WE HAVE.
10:08:19 AND IT DOESN'T MATTER.
10:08:20 IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY HAVE AFRICAN CONSULTANTS WITH
10:08:24 THEM.
10:08:26 IT DO NOT MATTER TO US BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY DON'T REPRESENT
10:08:29 US.
10:08:30 THEY REPRESENT THEIR OWN PERSONAL POCKETS.
10:08:32 THAT'S WHAT'S HAMMING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
10:08:35 JUST FOUND OUT THE OTHER DAY THAT THERE IS A SECRET SOCIETY
10:08:37 OF BLACK FOLKS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ADVISING THE MAYOR.
10:08:40 FOR 40 YEARS, IF THEY HAD BEEN TELLING AND ARTICULATING ON
10:08:44 ISSUES, WE WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN THIS RAMPANT GENTRIFICATION.
10:08:50 HOW DO IT HAPPEN THAT WE HAVE A CRA THAT FOR 15 YEARS HAVE
10:08:54 UTILIZED CRA MONEY TO BUILD A POLICE SUBSTATION IN EAST
10:09:00 TAMPA AND WHEN THE PEOPLE SAY WE WANT A PART, IT'S NOT
10:09:05 FEASIBLE.
10:09:06 EVEN THE CRA IS PREPARED TO TELL YOU THIS MORNING THAT THEY
10:09:09 WANT THE MAYOR TO TELL YOU TO TELL THE MAYOR TO FIX THE
10:09:13 PROBLEM, AFTER THE FACT.
10:09:14 AFTER THE FACT, THERE IS NO -- TO SUPPORT AL BARNES PARK.
10:09:21 NONE.
10:09:21 I HOPE YOU DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN IT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING
10:09:25 TO GO AWAY. HERE, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HAS 12
10:09:29 MEETINGS.
10:09:30 I'M GOING TO LEAVE FROM HERE.
10:09:32 12 MEETINGS A MONTH.
10:09:33 ONLY FOUR MEETINGS.
10:09:38 THE MEET SOME THINGS NOT EVEN CONDUCIVE TO THE TIME THAT THE
10:09:41 PEOPLE COULD PARTICIPATE.
10:09:42 YOU ALL CAN CALL IT NAME CALLING.
10:09:44 YOU CAN SAY WE'RE BULLYING FOLKS.
10:09:46 NO, WE'RE FIGHTING FOR THE SOUL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
10:09:49 WE ARE FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF
10:09:54 BLACK YOUNG CHILDREN WOULD SAY THERE ARE THOSE IN OUR
10:09:58 COMMUNITY THAT HAD DIGNITY.
10:10:01 WE HAD ENOUGH COURAGE TO COME DOWN HERE AND LET YOU KNOW
10:10:04 WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE.
10:10:06 NOT GOING TO BE NO PEACE MOVEMENT FORWARD FOR NONE OF YOU
10:10:10 ALL.
10:10:10 NONE OF YOU ALL.
10:10:12 THANK YOU.
10:10:15 [ APPLAUSE ]
10:10:18 >> GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.
10:10:20 MY NAME IS DAVID URENA, P. E.
10:10:29 I'M A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER HERE IN THE STATE OF
10:10:30 FLORIDA, OPERATING UNDER THE NAME BANNEKER, LLC.
10:10:36 I'M A SOLE OWNER OF THAT ENGINEERING FIRM.
10:10:37 MY WHEELHOUSE IS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT.
10:10:39 BUT I HAVE, IN THE 10, 11 YEARS I'VE BEEN AN ENGINEERING
10:10:44 PRACTITIONER, HAVE SPOKEN TO A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION GODS.
10:10:49 I AM NAME DROP.
10:10:50 JACK KING, FRANK DOMINGUEZ, SANDRA GORMAN, ALL OF THEM, THE
10:10:56 ENGINEERING COMMUNITY IS ALIKE ON THE SUBJECT OF ROADWAY
10:11:01 WIDENING, INTERSTATE OR OTHERWISE.
10:11:04 IT DOES NET ZERO FOR LEVEL OF SERVICE CAPACITY ANALYSIS.
10:11:11 IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE TO JOSH FRANK'S
10:11:16 POINT, YOU NEED TO IMPLEMENT MORE ALTERNATIVES, MAKE CHOICE,
10:11:22 CHOICE.
10:11:22 A MATTER OF CHOICE.
10:11:24 THERE ARE ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS AT M.I.T., A PROGRAM THAT
10:11:28 I APPLIED TO, I GOT REJECTED FROM, BUT M.I.T. IS TRYING TO
10:11:35 MODEL CHOICE DOWN TO REGION BY ETHNICITY, BY YOU NAME IT.
10:11:41 CHOICE IS REALLY WHAT WE HAVE TO GO AFTER HERE AND PROVIDING
10:11:46 TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES IS THE KEY.
10:11:48 THE ROADWAY WIDEN DOES NET ZERO.
10:11:52 IT WILL IMPROVE IT FOR A LITTLE BIT.
10:11:54 BUT IN THE LIFE CYCLE PROCESS OF A ROADWAY PROJECT, FIVE TO
10:11:58 TEN YEARS AND SO ON, YOU'RE THROWING MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN,
10:12:02 AND IT IS A BOONDOGGLE.
10:12:04 THANK YOU.
10:12:05 [ APPLAUSE ]
10:12:05 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
10:12:08 >> GOOD MORNING.
10:12:08 MY NAME IS -- [INAUDIBLE]
10:12:12 I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY SPEAKING TIME TO TONY DANIEL.
10:12:14 >>JOSEPH CITRO: I'M SORRY.
10:12:16 WE CANNOT DO THAT.
10:12:17 >> WHY YOU ALL KEEP CHANGING THAT FROM TIME TO TIME.
10:12:19 LAST TIME SAY GIVE ONE MINUTE.
10:12:21 LAST TIME YOU SAY THREE MINUTES.
10:12:23 >>JOSEPH CITRO: EACH PERSON HAS THREE MINUTES.
10:12:26 >> YOU SAY YIELD THE TIME.
10:12:29 YOU SAID ONE MINUTE THE LAST TIME.
10:12:30 THE TIME BEFORE THAT, WHEN ALL THE WHITE PEOPLE WAS HERE,
10:12:33 SAID THREE MINUTES.
10:12:34 THEN THE WHITE GUY ABOUT 9 OR 12 MINUTES.
10:12:38 YOU GAVE THE WHITE GUY ABOUT 9 OR 12 MINUTES.
10:12:43 >>JOSEPH CITRO: NOT IN PUBLIC SPEAKING.
10:12:45 >> THAT WAS PUBLIC SPEAKING WHEN THE WHITE GUY SAID HE
10:12:47 WANTED TO --
10:12:48 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MR. DANIELS, WE GRANTED HIM AN EXTRA MINUTE.
10:12:51 IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR HERSELF, SHE CAN.
10:12:55 YOU HAVE HAD YOUR THREE MINUTES.
10:12:58 >> I CAN'T YIELD EVEN ONE MINUTE --
10:13:01 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YOU CAN SPEAK FOR YOURSELF, YES, MA'AM.
10:13:04 IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE?
10:13:10 MR. ROBINSON.
10:13:10 >> OH, MAN.
10:13:12 JOE ROBINSON, WEST TAMPA CRA CHAIR AND BUSINESS OWNER.
10:13:20 THE ONLY PERSON IN THE ROOM THAT STAYED BEFORE THE
10:13:21 INTERSTATE, 1958 ON ORANGE AND K STREET AND WAS DISPLACED BY
10:13:26 THE INTERSTATE MOVED TO HEIGHTS IN '62 IN WEST TAMPA.
10:13:27 I'LL SAY THIS, F.D.O.T. CAME AND GAVE THEIR PRESENTATION.
10:13:37 THE ISSUE WE'VE GOT IS NOISE AND POLLUTION IN WEST TAMPA.
10:13:40 THEY ARE TELLING US WE CAN'T GET AN EXIT, MR. CITRO, FOR
10:13:44 HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
10:13:45 I THINK IT IS A RACE ISSUE.
10:13:47 DON'T HAVE TO CALL THE FEDS TO SAY WE CAN'T GET A SIGN THAT
10:13:51 SAYS WE ARE HISTORIC DISTRICT LIKE YBOR CITY BECAUSE WE ARE
10:13:54 A BLACK HISTORICAL DISTRICT.
10:13:56 BLACK.
10:13:57 SOME HISPANIC, BUT BLACK HISTORICAL DISTRICT IN THE CORE OF
10:13:59 THE CRA.
10:14:01 YBOR CITY HISPANIC.
10:14:01 THEY GOT THEIR SIGNS.
10:14:03 THEY ARE TELLING US WE CAN'T GET IT BECAUSE OF WHATEVER.
10:14:05 WELL, THE IMPACT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY, NOISE AND POLLUTION.
10:14:13 THESE PEOPLE TELLING YOU, AIN'T GOING TO BE NO SUPER BOWL
10:14:16 WITHOUT UNREST UNLESS YOU GET IT STRAIGHT.
10:14:19 [ APPLAUSE ]
10:14:19 IT WILL BE UNRESTFUL FOR THE CITY IF THEY DON'T GET IT
10:14:23 STRAIGHT.
10:14:23 IT WILL BE LIKE WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE BLACKS IN THE KREWES.
10:14:27 I'LL LEAVE THAT ONE ALONE.
10:14:29 OVER IN ST. PETE, THEY ARE USING COMMUNITY BENEFIT ON ALL
10:14:40 CRA PROJECTS.
10:14:42 THEY ARE AHEAD OF US ON THAT.
10:14:44 LET'S KEEP MOVING THAT.
10:14:45 OPPORTUNITY ZONES.
10:14:47 WE'VE GOT TO GO GET SOME SENATORS, MR. LEE AND MR. CORY
10:14:52 BOOKER SUPPOSEDLY TO PUT A BILL IN CONGRESS TO GET ALL OF
10:14:56 THE CENSUS TRACTS IN WEST TAMPA TO BE OPPORTUNITY ZONES.
10:15:01 THEY DIDN'T EVEN INCLUDE THE ONE WEST OF ROME.
10:15:06 THE REAL REASON I'M HERE IS THAT OUR COMMITTEE WAS
10:15:09 DISRESPECTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION AGAIN.
10:15:12 THREE CHANCES, WEST TAMPA, THREE STRIKES AND YOU OUT.
10:15:18 DISRESPECTED YESTERDAY.
10:15:19 YOU ALL AT THE MEETING -- I AIN'T NEVER GOT NOTICE.
10:15:25 THEY APOLOGIZE TO ME.
10:15:27 WE'LL HAVE LUNCH TODAY SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT BUT IT WAS
10:15:30 DISRESPECT TO COMMUNITY AGENCY REPRESENTED OR THE CRA
10:15:34 ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WE GOT NO NOTICE OF THIS SITTING IN
10:15:36 OUR BACKYARD.
10:15:37 THEY WANT TO COME OVER AND TALK ABOUT 18 ACRES, SAME DAMN
10:15:41 THING, EXCUSE THE EXPRESSION, HAPPENED WITH BOB McDONOUGH.
10:15:45 WE GAVE YOU THREE STRIKES, CHARLIE AND YOU'RE OUT.
10:15:50 THAT'S ONE STRIKE.
10:15:51 WE HAVE TWO MORE WITH THE CITY ADMINISTRATION.
10:15:53 I LOVE THEM.
10:15:54 FAIR OAKS.
10:15:58 I'VE GOT A COPY FOR THE FIRE MARSHAL WHO SAID HE WENT OVER
10:16:04 THERE AND NOTHING WAS WRONG.
10:16:06 YOU NEED TO GET A NEW CENTER AND DO A TEMPORARY FIX ON THAT.
10:16:16 THE LAST THING I SAY IS THIS, C'MON, MAN.
10:16:22 YOU HEARD THESE PEOPLE.
10:16:23 I DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH HAVING TO START THE RIOT
10:16:26 AT THE SUPER BOWL AND TO START BASHING IT.
10:16:29 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU, MR. ROBINSON.
10:16:31 [ APPLAUSE ]
10:16:31 ARE THERE ANY OTHER PEOPLE HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
10:16:39 SEEING NONE, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5 IS NOW MOVED TO NUMBER 1.
10:16:46 F.D.O.T., THIS IS YOUR TIME.
10:16:52 >> GOOD MORNING.
10:17:31 THANKS FOR LETTING US TALK TO YOU TODAY.
10:17:34 MARSHALL HAMPTON, TAMPA BAY NEXT.
10:17:36 I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU AT THE LAST TWO MEETINGS.
10:17:40 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: SPEAK UP, A LITTLE, SIR.
10:17:42 >> WILL DO.
10:17:43 TODAY WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE LOCAL PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
10:17:48 THIS IS WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF OUR NEPA PROCESS.
10:17:53 WE'RE GOING TO A PUBLIC HEARING LATER THIS MONTH.
10:17:56 THE NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW WHERE THE LOCATIONS ARE.
10:17:58 WE BEGAN THE SEIS WITH A SUPPLEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
10:18:03 STATEMENT BACK IN JANUARY.
10:18:04 HAD TWO WORKSHOPS.
10:18:06 NOW WE HAD FHWA REVIEW IN JANUARY AND ALSO SIGN OFF ON OUR
10:18:11 DRAFT SEIS.
10:18:12 GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
10:18:26 WHILE WE'RE WAITING, WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
10:18:40 TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
10:18:47 ONE IN THE WESTSHORE AREA AT THE HCC DALE MABRY CAMPUS AND
10:18:50 THE OTHER ONE AT THE PORT TAMPA BAY TERMINAL 6.
10:18:54 THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE FEBRUARY 25th AND THE OTHER ONE
10:18:57 27th, BOTH STARTING AT 5:00 WITH THE PRESENTATION STARTING
10:19:02 AT 6.
10:19:03 SO FOR THE LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, THIS IS OVERALL
10:19:07 MAP OF THE TAMPA INTERSTATE STUDY.
10:19:10 SEGMENTS 1A, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B AND 3C.
10:19:16 3C WE ALREADY BUILT WITH THE I-4 CONNECTOR PROJECT.
10:19:19 SO THE WESTSHORE AREA INTERCHANGE PROJECT WE TALKED ABOUT
10:19:24 LAST TIME.
10:19:24 THIS IS A COMMITMENT FROM GOVERNOR DESANTIS FOR $1.4 BILLION
10:19:30 IN FISCAL YEAR '24.
10:19:32 IT'S TO RECONSTRUCT THE WESTSHORE STATE ROAD 60 INTERCHANGE,
10:19:44 ALSO PROVIDE SOME LOCAL CONNECTIVITY THAT WAS REQUESTED BY
10:19:47 THE CITY.
10:19:48 WE PRESERVE AN ENVELOPE FOR PREMIUM TRANSIT SO IF THE
10:19:52 COMMUNITY WANTS LIGHT RAIL IN THE FUTURE OR PREMIUM BUS, WE
10:19:56 HAVE THAT AVAILABLE AS WELL AS DIRECT CONNECTIONS FROM THE
10:20:00 HOWARD FRANKLAND BRIDGE UP TO THE VETERANS TO TAMPA
10:20:04 INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, COURTNEY CAMPBELL CAUSEWAY, AND ALSO
10:20:06 IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
10:20:07 SO LOCAL CONNECTIVITY WE TALKED ABOUT.
10:20:11 WE HAVE A NEW UNDERPASS AT OCCIDENT AND TRASK TO RELIEVE THE
10:20:15 PRESSURE ON WESTSHORE ITSELF.
10:20:17 NEW INTERCHANGE AT RIO STREET.
10:20:19 WE'RE MOVING THE FRONTAGE ROAD AWAY FROM STATE ROAD 60 AND
10:20:24 ONTO RIO STREET.
10:20:26 ALSO HAVE A DIRECT CONNECT EXPRESS LANE TO HIMES AVENUE.
10:20:31 ACCESS TO AND FROM DOWNTOWN TAMPA, WE HAVE DIRECT CONNECTS
10:20:38 INTO DOWNTOWN AND OUT OF DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
10:20:40 WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY AS TO WHERE THE ROADS WILL
10:20:44 GO INTO IT BECAUSE THE CITY HAS BEEN ACTIVELY TRYING TO
10:20:51 CONNECT THE GRID.
10:20:53 WE'RE ALSO BUILDING A NEW BRIDGE JUST NORTH OF THE
10:20:56 HILLSBOROUGH RIVER, SO WHEN YOU COME ON TO 275 SOUTHBOUND,
10:20:59 YOU DON'T HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY GET INTO THE GENERAL USE
10:21:01 LANES.
10:21:02 YOU'LL KIND OF LEAD THEM OUT AND IT HELPS WITH THE MIXING OF
10:21:05 TRAFFIC.
10:21:06 THE NEXT I WANT TO SHOW A VIDEO OF THE DOWNTOWN INTERCHANGE.
10:21:13 >> WE ALL WANT SAFER ROADWAYS AND A BETTER TRANSPORTATION
10:21:32 SYSTEM.
10:21:33 WELL, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS LOOKING
10:21:36 FOR WAYS TO HELP.
10:21:38 OUR ROADS AND CORRIDORS ARE CONGESTED.
10:21:42 TRAFFIC, IT'S NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.
10:21:44 HECK, PEOPLE ARE EVEN CUTTING THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS JUST TO
10:21:47 GET PLACES FASTER.
10:21:48 CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE LIKE WITH MORE AND
10:21:51 MORE PEOPLE MOVING HERE EVERY YEAR?
10:21:53 I SURE CAN'T.
10:21:56 DOES THIS LOOK FAMILIAR?
10:21:57 EVER BEEN CAUGHT IN TRAFFIC IN THE I-275, I-4 INTERCHANGE IN
10:22:02 DOWNTOWN TAMPA?
10:22:03 YOU KNOW, GOOD OL' MALFUNCTION JUNCTION.
10:22:06 IN 2012, THERE WERE OVER 500 CRASHES IN THE I-275/I-4
10:22:11 INTERCHANGE.
10:22:12 FAST-FORWARD TO 2016 AND DOUBLE TO OVER A THOUSAND CRASHES.
10:22:17 WE ALL WANT TO ARRIVE SAFELY.
10:22:20 F.D.O.T. HAS BEEN LOOKING AT HOW TO MAKE THAT JUNCTION
10:22:23 FUNCTION THROUGH A STUDY CALLED THE TAMPA INTERSTATE STUDY
10:22:27 SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
10:22:29 THAT IS A MOUTHFUL AND IT'S JUST ONE PIECE OF THE
10:22:33 TRANSPORTATION PUZZLE.
10:22:36 THEY HAVE A PLAN, A BIG PLAN, AND THEY SHARED IT WITH THE
10:22:39 COMMUNITY, AND THEY FOUND OUT THE COMMUNITY WANTED SOMETHING
10:22:43 DIFFERENT, A PLAN WITH LESS NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACTS REQUIRING
10:22:47 LESS PROPERTY.
10:22:49 SO THEY GOT BUSY CREATING NEW PLANS KEEPING WHAT THEY HEARD
10:22:52 IN MIND.
10:22:53 F.D.O.T. HAS BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY.
10:22:55 THEY'VE BEEN AT EVENTS, IN MEETINGS, GIVING PRESENTATIONS,
10:22:58 LOOKING AT WAYS TO MAKE YOUR COMMUTE BETTER AND SAFER.
10:23:02 WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF THIS COULD CHANGE?
10:23:08 WELL, THERE'S A PLAN, AND IT'S THE LOCALLY PREFERRED
10:23:12 ALTERNATIVE, IMPROVING TRAFFIC FLOW AND SAFETY BUT WITH
10:23:16 FEWER IMPACTS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, A REAL BALANCING ACT.
10:23:19 TODAY, DRIVERS STACK UP ALONG I-275 WAITING TO EXIT TO I-4
10:23:25 WHILE OTHERS WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, DIVING ACROSS
10:23:28 TRAFFIC TO THEIR EXIT.
10:23:31 GOOD OL' LANE DIVERS, YOU KNOW, CHAOS.
10:23:34 NO WONDER THERE ARE SO MANY CRASHES.
10:23:37 EACH DAY, ALMOST 85,000 VEHICLES TRAVEL ALONG SOUTHBOUND
10:23:40 I-275 WITH OVER ONE-THIRD HEADING TO I-4 IN THAT ONE LANE.
10:23:46 AGAIN, A BACKUP EACH DAY.
10:23:48 WHAT IF THIS EXIT WAS TWO LANES INSTEAD OF ONE SO TRAFFIC
10:23:54 DOESN'T COME TO A STOP AND YOU COULD MOVE THROUGH FASTER AND
10:23:57 SAFER.
10:23:58 WHAT IF YOU WEREN'T CUT OFF AND DRIVING WAS A BREEZE?
10:24:02 LOOK AT HOW MUCH BETTER IT WOULD BE WITH TWO LANES INSTEAD
10:24:04 OF ONE.
10:24:06 GETTING TO YBOR CITY AND EAST TAMPA TODAY GOING FROM I-275
10:24:10 TO I-4 AND THEN ACROSS TRAFFIC TO AN EXIT, AND THAT IS NOT
10:24:14 ALWAYS EASY.
10:24:15 HOW ABOUT A NEW EXIT 14th AND 15th STREETS FROM I-275
10:24:20 INSTEAD OF 21st STREET FROM I-4?
10:24:23 IMAGINE NO MORE CROSSING LANES ON I-4 TO GET TO YOUR EXIT.
10:24:28 YOU CAN DO IT SAFER AND THE BEST PART IS THESE IMPROVEMENTS
10:24:31 WILL GET YOU A WHOLE LOT EASIER.
10:24:33 STUCK AGAIN ON I-4 HEADING TO TAMPA?
10:24:36 WELL, SO ARE CLOSE TO 90,000 OTHER DRIVERS TODAY.
10:24:40 TRAFFIC IS AT A STAND-STILL ONCE AGAIN.
10:24:43 WANT TO FIX IT, SO DOES F.D.O.T.
10:24:47 THINK OF HOW MUCH BETTER IT WOULD BE TWO LANES HEADING
10:24:50 NORTHBOUND TO I-275 TOWARD USF AND BUSCH GARDENS INSTEAD OF
10:24:54 ONE.
10:24:54 YOU'LL HAVE MORE TIME TO MERGE ONTO I-275, AND THAT SOUNDS
10:24:58 GREAT TO ME.
10:24:59 BUT, HEY, THAT'S NOT ALL.
10:25:00 AN ADDITIONAL LANE THROUGH THE INTERCHANGE TO I-275
10:25:04 SOUTHBOUND WILL EASE THE BACKUP.
10:25:07 GETTING TO DOWNTOWN TAMPA BECOMES SAFER, TOO.
10:25:10 THE RAMP TO DOWNTOWN EXITS WILL BE SHIFTED SO THERE AREN'T
10:25:14 THREE DECISIONS TO MAKE AT ONCE.
10:25:15 PLUS, SHOULDERS WILL BE WIDER.
10:25:17 YOU'RE DROPPED OFF AT THE SAME PLACE IN DOWNTOWN JUST LIKE
10:25:21 TODAY.
10:25:21 WE ALL WANT SAFER ROADWAYS, QUICKER TRAVEL TIMES AND
10:25:27 IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
10:25:28 ISN'T IT TIME WE GET THIS JUNCTION TO FUNCTION?
10:25:33 >> NOW WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH WHAT THE THREE MOVEMENTS
10:25:44 ARE, ALSO, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE 14/15 ACCESS AND
10:25:50 WHAT'S REMAINING AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL.
10:25:59 >>JOSEPH CITRO: CAN WE GET SOME AV HELP IN HERE, PLEASE?
10:26:50 >> WE'LL GET PAST THE VIDEO, SO WE'RE A COUPLE BEHIND.
10:26:54 KEEP GOING.
10:26:56 KEEP GOING.
10:26:57 NEXT SLIDE.
10:26:59 THAT ONE.
10:27:00 STOP.
10:27:00 ALL RIGHT.
10:27:01 SO THE FIRST ONE IS THE SOUTHBOUND 275 TO I-4 EASTBOUND
10:27:05 MOVEMENT.
10:27:06 LIKE THE VIDEO SAID, THE FLYOVER RAMP IS NOW INCREASED TO
10:27:09 TWO LANES.
10:27:10 WE'RE ALSO ADDING CONNECTIVITY TO 14th/15th STREETS.
10:27:15 MODIFYING THE 21st/22nd OFF-RAMP, EXIT RAMP.
10:27:21 MOVING TO 14th, 15th.
10:27:22 THIS WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO ADD CONNECTIVITY AND
10:27:26 ALSO DISPERSE TRAFFIC.
10:27:28 BEFORE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE HAD 29,000 VEHICLES MOVING
10:27:32 IN, AND 2030 AND OUR MODEL IS SHOWING 2045, ALTHOUGH IT'S
10:27:37 TEN YEARS.
10:27:38 IT'S STILL NOT AS SOON AS WHAT WAS STATED.
10:27:42 THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IMPACT FOR THIS IS ONE VACANT PARCEL.
10:27:47 WITH THIS, THE FLORIBRASKA EXIT WILL STAY IN TACT.
10:27:52 WE'RE KEEPING THE FLORIBRASKA EXIT AS VOICED FROM THE
10:27:55 COMMUNITY BEFORE.
10:27:56 THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
10:27:58 THE NEXT ONE FOR I-4 WESTBOUND TO NORTHBOUND 275.
10:28:03 SINGLE LANE EXIT THAT WILL GO TO TWO LANES.
10:28:05 IF YOU STAY IN THE LEFT-MOST LANE, YOU WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE
10:28:08 TO TAKE THAT, NOT WITHOUT HAVING THEM MERGE OVER.
10:28:11 STAY IN THAT LANE, YOU CAN TAKE IT TO HILLSBOROUGH AVENUE,
10:28:13 CURRENTLY.
10:28:14 ONCE YOU USE THE EXIT LANE, YOU HAVE TO MERGE OVER OR YOU'RE
10:28:17 GOING TO MLK EXIT.
10:28:19 THE FLORIBRASKA ON-RAMPS REMAINS OPEN, AND WE AT THE MOST
10:28:25 EXPECT TEN PARCELS TO BE IMPACTED.
10:28:27 THE NEXT SLIDE, FOR THE DOWNTOWN TAMPA EXIT AND ALSO MOVING
10:28:34 THROUGH 275 AND DOWNTOWN INTERCHANGE, WE'RE RELOCATING OR
10:28:39 SHIFTING THE DOWNTOWN EXIT DOWNSTREAM SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
10:28:42 THREE DECISION POINTS AT ONCE.
10:28:44 AND THEN WE ARE WIDENING THE BRIDGES TO GIVE YOU A SHOULDER
10:28:48 TO PULL OFF ON.
10:28:49 CURRENTLY, YOU HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.
10:28:51 IF SOMETHING HAPPENS ON THE BRIDGE ITSELF.
10:28:53 SO WE'RE GIVING ADEQUATE SHOULDERS FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE
10:28:56 VEHICLES IF THEY HAVE TO.
10:28:59 NO RIGHT-OF-WAY IMPACT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
10:29:01 THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
10:29:03 CURRENTLY, THIS IS THE EXISTING 21st, 22nd STREET EXIT.
10:29:08 WHAT'S BEING SHOWN IS THE ROUTE TO THE APARTMENTS AND ALSO
10:29:12 HCC.
10:29:14 BOTH WERE BROUGHT UP AS POINTS OF INTEREST FOR ORIGIN
10:29:19 DESTINATIONS FROM THIS EXIT.
10:29:20 NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
10:29:21 SO THESE ARE THE RAMPS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE BY THE
10:29:25 LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
10:29:27 SO YOU STILL HAVE ON THE WESTBOUND SIDE THE EXIT RAMP AND ON
10:29:32 RAMP.
10:29:33 AND THEN YOU HAVE THE ON RAMP AT 21st, 22nd.
10:29:36 NEXT, PLEASE.
10:29:37 SO THE NEW EXIT MOVES IT OVER TO 14th, 15th.
10:29:42 NOW YOU CAN GET TO THE HCC PARKING GARAGES, WHICH WILL BE
10:29:48 SORT OF -- NOT HAVING PEOPLE GO DOWN PALM AVENUE TO GET TO
10:29:51 THE SAME PARKING GARAGES.
10:29:53 THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT PEDESTRIANS MOVING IN AND OUT, OFF
10:29:57 PALM AVENUE, SPECIFICALLY.
10:29:58 AND THAT'S ONE WAY TO TAKE CARS OFF OF IT, AND ALSO FOR
10:30:01 PEOPLE TO GET INTO THE APARTMENTS.
10:30:03 THAT'S ONE OF THREE WAYS THEY CAN GET INTO THAT APARTMENT
10:30:06 COMPLEX.
10:30:07 NEXT, PLEASE.
10:30:08 SO WE DID A QUICK GOOGLE MAP, JUST TO SHOW WHAT IT IS.
10:30:12 THIS WAS TAKEN AT 11 A.M. IN THE MORNING.
10:30:20 GOING DOWN 14th, 15th THROUGH 13th AVENUE.
10:30:25 THE 13th AVENUE IS ACTUALLY BEING WIDENED TO TWO LANES.
10:30:28 AND THEN DOWN 21st, 22nd AND INTO THE APARTMENTS.
10:30:34 .8 MILES.
10:30:35 NEXT ONE.
10:30:36 TO DO THE SAME ON THE EXISTING, TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE
10:30:39 PARKING GARAGE, 1.1 MILES, BUT THE QUICKEST WAY WOULD BE
10:30:44 PALM AVENUE.
10:30:45 DOWN 21st, 22nd, WEST ON PALM AVENUE AND DOWN INTO THE
10:30:49 PARKING GARAGE.
10:30:50 NEXT, PLEASE.
10:30:50 INSTEAD, YOU'LL BE GOING .2 MILES, .5 MILES, DEPENDING ON
10:30:55 WHICH WAY YOU ENTER IN AT.
10:30:57 OR .4.
10:30:59 AND IT'S A CRITICAL WAY TO GET IN AND OUT WHILE PEOPLE ARE
10:31:02 GOING TO AND FROM CLASS.
10:31:05 NEXT, PLEASE.
10:31:07 I-275, WE HAD THE PD & E STUDY APPROVED IN THE FALL.
10:31:11 THIS IS NO RIGHT-OF-WAY TAKE.
10:31:14 EVERYTHING IS WITHIN EXISTING RIGHT-OF-WAY.
10:31:16 THIS WILL BE OUR PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
10:31:21 NEXT, PLEASE.
10:31:24 THE TRANSITION SEGMENT ALSO CLEARED LAST FALL.
10:31:28 IT'S THE PIECE STILL IN THE SEIS BUT IT KIND OF IMPROVES THE
10:31:35 MIXING ZONE OF TRYING TO GET UP TO 275, UP TO USF OR 75, IF
10:31:39 THAT'S WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
10:31:41 NEXT, PLEASE.
10:31:43 SO THIS IS AN OVERLAY OF WHAT WE'RE -- GOING TO BE BUILDING
10:31:46 STARTING NEXT SUMMER.
10:31:48 SO A YEAR FROM NEXT SUMMER OR THIS SUMMER.
10:31:50 WE'RE DOING A LITTLE PIECE OF THE TRANSITION AND GOING UP TO
10:31:56 ABOUT HANNA AVENUE.
10:31:57 ALL WITHIN EXISTING RIGHT-OF-WAY, NOISE BARRIERS ARE BEING
10:32:01 INSTALLED.
10:32:02 IT'S PUTTING A LANE IN EACH DIRECTION, BUT WE'RE STAYING
10:32:06 WITHIN EXISTING RIGHT-OF-WAY.
10:32:07 WE'RE ALSO DOING SOME RAMP IMPROVEMENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS TO
10:32:11 THE UNDERPASSES.
10:32:12 SO BIKE-PED FACILITIES CONNECTIVITY.
10:32:15 NEXT, PLEASE.
10:32:17 THAT'S MY PRESENTATION.
10:32:18 I'M SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF QUESTIONS.
10:32:22 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES, PLEASE, COUNCILMAN VIERA.
10:32:24 >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CITRO.
10:32:27 OR MR. CHAIRMAN.
10:32:29 A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE OF INTEREST, I WANT TO FOLLOW UP
10:32:33 ON THE 15th STREET ISSUE.
10:32:35 I HEARD THE NICE YOUNG LADY TALK ABOUT ACADEMY PREP AND THE
10:32:38 INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED THERE.
10:32:39 HAS F.D.O.T. BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ANYONE AT ACADEMY PREP
10:32:42 OVER THAT?
10:32:43 ANY CONCERNS OVER THE CHANGES OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE?
10:32:45 >> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT, SIR.
10:32:46 I KNOW THAT WE HAVE RESEARCHED THE CRASH HISTORY.
10:32:50 THE CRASH HISTORY AT NUCCIO RIGHT NOW IS HALF OF WHAT THE
10:32:52 AVERAGE IS FOR THE CITY, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY FATAL
10:32:55 ACCIDENTS.
10:32:56 >>LUIS VIERA: OKAY.
10:32:57 ACADEMY PREP, I HAVE A LONG HISTORY WITH THAT SCHOOL.
10:33:01 IT'S A PRIVATE SCHOOL.
10:33:02 IT'S ONE OF THE BEST TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS THAT WE REALLY
10:33:05 HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED KIDS.
10:33:08 LINCOLN TAMAYO, WHO I KNOW JUST WENT TO LAKELAND, IS ONE OF
10:33:13 THE BEST PEOPLE I KNOW.
10:33:14 HE'S A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL.
10:33:15 I'LL WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING
10:33:18 VERY, VERY INTERESTING.
10:33:18 WHEN I LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF TB NEXT, I THINK THERE ARE A
10:33:22 COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY GOT TO BE EMPHASIZED.
10:33:24 NUMBER ONE, PUBLIC OFFICIAL, PUBLIC SERVANT IS, NUMBER ONE,
10:33:27 EDUCATION AND HUMILITY, WHICH IS WE HAVE TO REALIZE IN
10:33:32 TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE.
10:33:33 WE'RE GOING TO PROGRESS.
10:33:35 WE'RE GOING TO EVOLVE, NOT BECAUSE IT BEHOOVES US AS PUBLIC
10:33:38 OFFICIALS BUT BECAUSE WE LEARN IT BEHOOVES AND BENEFITS ALL
10:33:40 OF THE COMMUNITY.
10:33:41 I THINK F.D.O.T. HAS DONE THAT THROUGH BEING COMPELLED BUT
10:33:46 CERTAINLY DONE THAT, IT WOULD APPEAR.
10:33:48 THEN THE OTHER ISSUE IS ONE OF LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS AFTER
10:33:50 YOU TALK TO THE COMMUNITY, AFTER YOU ADDRESS YOUR POSITIONS,
10:33:54 ET CETERA, BASED ON THAT LEVEL OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
10:33:57 YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.
10:33:59 I THINK THERE'S A DISTINCTION BETWEEN SOME OF THE
10:34:02 INCREMENTAL CHANGES WE'RE SEEING IN TBX AND OVERALL LARGER
10:34:07 ISSUE, THE WHALE IN THE ROOM, SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK
10:34:09 F.D.O.T. IS PUTTING ENOUGH ATTENTION TO, WHICH IS THE NEED
10:34:13 AND THE DESIRE OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE COUNTY AND CITY FOR
10:34:15 MASS TRANSIT, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
10:34:17 I THINK THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.
10:34:18 WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE HERE
10:34:21 WITHIN TB NEXT, ISSUES LIKE THE WESTSHORE INTERCHANGE, I
10:34:24 KNOW OUR MAYOR HAS SPOKEN VERY STRONGLY ON THE $1.4 BILLION
10:34:28 PROJECT, ISSUES LIKE THE INTERCHANGE AT I-4 AND I-75,
10:34:32 SOMETHING THAT I TAKE A LOOK AT IT AS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
10:34:34 WHEN YOU HAVE AN AVERAGE OF THREE OR FOUR CRASHES ON THAT,
10:34:37 UNLESS IF YOU'RE A PLAINTIFFS PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY,
10:34:41 YOU'LL WANT TO HAVE MOVEMENT ON THAT, NOT TO SAY THE
10:34:43 PLAINTIFF INJURY BAR WANTS FOLKS TO GET INJURED.
10:34:46 ISSUES, FOR EXAMPLE, ON HOWARD FRANKLAND, YOU HAD SAID A
10:34:48 COMMENT THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP, WHICH IN TERMS OF HAVING
10:34:51 A TRANSIT ENVELOPE AVAILABLE IN CERTAIN PARTS, YOU SAID IF
10:34:55 THE COMMUNITY WANTS MASS TRANSIT, IT IS AVAILABLE.
10:34:58 I WOULD SAY THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN ANSWERED.
10:35:00 IT'S BEEN ANSWERED TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
10:35:02 IN 2018 IT WAS ANSWERED WHEN 57% OF THE VOTERS IN THIS
10:35:06 COUNTY SUPPORTED AN INITIATIVE THAT PUT MASS TRANSIT RIGHT
10:35:09 HERE, RIGHT NOW AND FIRST.
10:35:10 AND I THINK IN TAKING A LOOK AT THAT, THE MPO THAT I SERVE
10:35:15 ON.
10:35:15 MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, FRIEND AND
10:35:19 COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN CITRO SERVE ON AS WELL WITH ME HAVE
10:35:22 ALSO RESPONDED TO THAT COMMUNITY, OUTRAGE AND OUTRAGED
10:35:27 BECAUSE WE LIVE WITH IT EVERY DAY.
10:35:29 WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE MASS TRANSIT
10:35:32 ALTERNATIVES, WE KNOW THAT IT AFFECTS PEOPLE.
10:35:34 RECENTLY, IN TAKING A LOOK AT LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION
10:35:39 PLAN, THE MPO AMENDED IT TO REQUEST, AND IT WAS BY A MOTION
10:35:43 BY OUR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER OVERMAN
10:35:48 WHO HAVE THE BOARD SUPPORT HART ENTERING INTO THE
10:35:52 COMPETITIVE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH CSX TO SECURE THE
10:35:56 LINE FOR RAIL.
10:35:57 AND WE ALSO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO MAKE THAT A TOP PRIORITY IN
10:36:02 OUR LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
10:36:05 AND THAT CAME ALONG BECAUSE DURING LAST YEAR'S TIP HEARING,
10:36:09 MR. GWYNN SAID IF YOU ALL WANT MASS TRANSIT, THEN PUT IT IN
10:36:15 THERE.
10:36:16 PUT IT IN THERE.
10:36:18 COMMISSIONER OVERMAN, TO HER GREAT CREDIT, JUMPED ON THAT.
10:36:23 I WANT TO EMPHASIZE SOMETHING, WHICH IS THE PEOPLE IN THIS
10:36:25 COUNTY, IT'S NOT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO WANT MASS TRANSIT IN
10:36:28 THE FUTURE.
10:36:28 I THINK IT'S MOST OF THEM SAY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE 20
10:36:32 YEARS AGO.
10:36:33 WE'RE RUNNING BEHIND BY DECADES IN THIS COUNTY AND OUR
10:36:35 COMMUNITIES ARE HURTING.
10:36:36 OUR COMMUNITIES ARE HURTING.
10:36:38 AND WE'RE PUTTING BAND-AIDS, BAND-AIDS ON OUR NEGLIGENCE, I
10:36:44 GUESS, IF YOU WILL.
10:36:44 SO LATER ON, I'M GOING TO BE MAKING A MOTION.
10:36:47 I DON'T KNOW, MR. CHAIRMAN, WHENEVER YOU WANT TO TAKE
10:36:50 MOTIONS THAT OUR BODY WRITE CORRESPONDENCE TO F.D.O.T.
10:36:54 SUPPORTING THE VOTE BY THE MPO TO INCLUDE -- AND I'M NOT
10:36:58 MAKING IT NOW -- TO INCLUDE USE OF CSX AS A TOP PRIORITY IN
10:37:03 ITS COUNTY PLANNING.
10:37:04 AND FURTHER THAT THIS BODY REQUEST F.D.O.T. IN LISTENING TO
10:37:08 THE PEOPLE, THE VERIFIED WILL OF THE PEOPLE PRIORITIZE MASS
10:37:12 TRANSIT IN ITS TIP, INCLUDING OVER CONTINUED, WHAT YOU CAN
10:37:17 CALL BANDAGES.
10:37:19 INNER CITY EXPANSION, WHATEVER YOU MAY WANT.
10:37:21 MOVING FORWARD ON THE ISSUE, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THE ISSUE
10:37:24 ARE SOME OF THE INCREMENTAL PROJECTS THAT WE SEE HERE THAT I
10:37:28 THINK HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT.
10:37:29 THE REAL ISSUE IS WE'RE RUNNING AWAY FROM THE ELEPHANT IN
10:37:32 THE ROOM, WHICH IS PUTTING MASS TRANSIT RIGHT HERE, RIGHT
10:37:35 NOW FIRST.
10:37:35 THE VOTERS STRONGLY SUPPORTED THAT.
10:37:37 AND IF FOR SOME REASON SOMETHING GOES WRONG IN THAT, I THINK
10:37:41 ALL OF US SEVEN HERE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THE VOTERS
10:37:44 SUPPORT IT AGAIN IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
10:37:47 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN VIERA, AFTER WE HEARD FROM THE WEST
10:37:51 OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HERE.
10:37:52 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, COUNCILMAN GUDES, COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
10:37:56 >> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A COMMENT TO WHAT COUNCILMAN VIERA
10:37:59 SAID, IF I MAY.
10:38:00 >>JOSEPH CITRO: SURELY.
10:38:02 >> MASS TRANSIT, WE HAVE A PREMIUM TRANSIT CORRIDOR.
10:38:06 ESTABLISHED SINCE THE TIS AND IT REMAINS THERE.
10:38:09 THE COMMENT I MADE IS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONSENSUS.
10:38:12 WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THE FUNDING IN PLACE TO PUT IT IN
10:38:15 THERE.
10:38:15 WE HAVE THE CORRIDOR.
10:38:16 WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO IN OUR PLANS.
10:38:18 NOW WE JUST NEED TO HAVE A WAY OF IMPLEMENTING THAT.
10:38:22 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
10:38:25 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: COUNCILMAN VIERA, I AGREE WITH YOU
10:38:27 WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
10:38:29 ONE OF MY NOTES HERE TO ASK ABOUT MASS TRANSIT, BECAUSE
10:38:32 THERE'S A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU'VE ADDRESSED ON
10:38:34 HERE, BUT I DON'T SEE WHERE THE DEPARTMENT IS JUMPING ON
10:38:37 BOARD AND HOLDING OUR HANDS TO LEAD THAT FIGHT TO MASS
10:38:42 TRANSIT.
10:38:43 FRANKLY, YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FLORIDA SUPREME
10:38:45 COURT WITH YOUR ATTORNEYS ARGUING SIDE BY SIDE WITH US.
10:38:50 THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB, BUT YOU CAN PASS THAT ON AS BEST YOU
10:38:53 CAN.
10:38:53 A COUPLE OF DETAILED QUESTIONS.
10:38:59 IN REGARD TO THE PROPOSED -- WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?
10:39:02 >> IF I COULD ADDRESS THE TRANSIT QUESTION, BECAUSE I THINK
10:39:05 IT GOES TO THE PROPOSED MOTION, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
10:39:08 IT'S FULLY UNDERSTOOD.
10:39:11 THE DOT IS NOT A TRANSIT OPERATOR.
10:39:14 WE ARE A FUNDING SOURCE FOR TRANSIT.
10:39:16 WE ACT ON A LOCAL PLAN.
10:39:18 IN ABSENCE OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS A
10:39:21 PLAN, IS A PLAN FOR WHAT IS D.O.T.
10:39:24 FOR EXAMPLE, GOING BACK TO COMMISSIONER OVERMAN'S PROPOSAL
10:39:29 TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH CSX.
10:39:32 WELL-INTENTIONED BUT IN ABSENCE OF WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM
10:39:35 CSX?
10:39:36 IT'S A SIMPLE QUESTION.
10:39:37 DO YOU WANT A LIGHT-RAIL SYSTEM OR A SYSTEM SIMILAR TO SUN
10:39:41 RAIL, WHICH IS A HEAVY LOCOMOTIVE DIESEL SYSTEM?
10:39:45 AS SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS, IT IS VERY, VERY COMPLICATED.
10:39:48 NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TRACK
10:39:50 SYSTEM.
10:39:51 A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT -- YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT STOPS EVERY
10:39:54 POTENTIALLY HALF MILE, MILE WITH A LIGHT RAIL OR STOPS THAT
10:39:57 ARE TWO TO THREE MILES OR FOUR MILES IN LENGTH WITH A HEAVY
10:40:01 DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE SYSTEM.
10:40:03 AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE DISCUSSIONS AND I'M NOT SAYING
10:40:07 THE DOT DOESN'T PLAY A ROLE AND I'M NOT SAYING DON'T PUT US
10:40:10 ON THE SPOT.
10:40:12 I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT HAVING US DIRECTING IT
10:40:17 AND SAYING, DOT, WE WANT YOU TO TAKE THE LEAD, WE'RE NOT
10:40:21 GOING TO DO THAT.
10:40:21 WE WILL NEVER DO THAT.
10:40:23 THAT IS NOT THE ROLE OF OUR AGENCY.
10:40:24 OUR AGENCY IS GOING TO RESPOND TO THE WILL OF THE LOCAL
10:40:28 OFFICIALS, THE LOCAL OPERATOR, BE IT HART, BE IT THE CITY,
10:40:33 BE IT THE COUNTY, AS THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM WITH THE
10:40:37 STREETCAR.
10:40:37 CONTRARY TO WHAT WAS SAID, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY TO
10:40:39 INCORPORATE THE STREETCAR SYSTEM INTO OUR PLAN.
10:40:42 IT'S IN THERE.
10:40:42 IT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
10:40:43 WE WILL BE A FUNDING SOURCE AS THAT PROJECT MOVES FORWARD, A
10:40:47 BIG FUNDING SOURCE.
10:40:48 BUT UNDERSTAND THAT D.O.T.'S ROLE -- WE'RE IN A RESPONSE
10:40:52 ROLE, NOT IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL
10:40:54 TRANSIT.
10:40:55 >> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
10:40:57 >> ED McKINNEY, PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR
10:40:59 THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
10:41:00 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
10:41:01 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, PLEASE CONTINUE.
10:41:03 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: AS LONG AS WE'RE TALKING TRANSIT, TRAINS,
10:41:05 ET CETERA, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS ABOUT THE ORLANDO TRAIN.
10:41:10 I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT THESE DAYS.
10:41:16 >> VIRGIN TRAINS.
10:41:19 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: I KNOW THERE'S BEEN AN ACCOMMODATION OF
10:41:21 SOME SORT OF A PATH TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT TRAIN CAN GET
10:41:24 INTO AT LEAST DOWNTOWN OR TO THE UNION STATION OR SOMEWHERE
10:41:31 ALONG THERE.
10:41:32 BUT THEN I GET A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
10:41:35 THAT 13th STREET, 14th STREET EXIT.
10:41:38 IS THERE ANY CONFLICT THERE?
10:41:40 I THOUGHT THAT WAS SORT OF THE SWATH WHERE THE VIRGIN TRAIN
10:41:44 WAS GOING TO COME IN.
10:41:45 >> THEY HAVEN'T OFFICIALLY STATED WHERE THEY ARE GOING.
10:41:48 BUT OUR MODIFICATION OF THE EXIT RAMP TO 14/15 WILL NOT HAVE
10:41:55 AN IMPACT.
10:41:56 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: WE STILL HAVE A PATH, EVEN THOUGH THEY
10:41:59 HAVEN'T SAID WHERE THEY WANT TO GO, WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO
10:42:02 LEAVE A PATH.
10:42:03 >> WE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL POTENTIAL PATHS THEY COULD GO, YES,
10:42:06 SIR.
10:42:06 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THAT AREN'T IN CONFLICT WITH THESE PLANS.
10:42:09 >> THAT IS CORRECT.
10:42:09 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: IN REGARD TO THE 13/14 STREET PROPOSAL, I
10:42:17 KNOW YOU STUDY WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE ON THE HIGHWAY.
10:42:24 HAVE YOU DONE A CAPACITY STUDY, WHEN YOU GET OFF, ESPECIALLY
10:42:28 15th STREET SIDE GOING NORTH, HOW FAR OFF DO YOU STUDY OR
10:42:32 DO YOU WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION FOLKS TO
10:42:35 EVALUATE THAT?
10:42:36 >> WE DO ALL OF THE ABOVE.
10:42:37 SO OUR TRAFFIC MODEL WILL GO BEYOND A COUPLE OF
10:42:40 INTERSECTIONS AWAY FROM WHERE THE INITIAL IS, BUT WE'RE ALSO
10:42:44 WORKING WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA TO SEE WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE.
10:42:47 WE TALKED ABOUT GREEN SPINE.
10:42:49 WE HAVE THE GREEN SPINE STILL ON 15th AVENUE WHICH IS
10:42:53 SIMILAR TO WHAT IT IS ON JACKSON STREET.
10:42:55 A DEDICATED TWO-WAY MOVEMENT FOR BICYCLES.
10:42:58 IT'S ISOLATED FROM THE TRAVELING PUBLIC LIKE ON JACKSON
10:43:03 STREET ITSELF.
10:43:03 SO WE ARE IN ACTIVE TALKS WITH OUR LOCAL AGENCIES TO MAKE
10:43:09 SURE WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO IMPLEMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
10:43:12 VISION.
10:43:13 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: I THINK WHEN YOU DROP DOWN SOUTH AND THE
10:43:15 WAY IT CURVES OVER TO NUCCIO, I THINK THAT CAN HANDLE IT,
10:43:18 BUT IT CONCERNED ME A LITTLE BIT ON THE NORTHERN EXTENSION
10:43:21 UP THERE.
10:43:21 >> RIGHT.
10:43:22 OUR MODEL DOESN'T SHOW MUCH PERCENTAGE OF THE TRAFFIC GOING
10:43:25 UP TO EAST TAMPA, BUT WE DID GET EXPRESS FROM EAST TAMPA
10:43:29 THAT THEY WANT THAT CONNECTIVITY.
10:43:30 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: HOW ABOUT TRUCKS?
10:43:32 WE'VE SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO TRY AND KEEP
10:43:36 THE TRUCKS OUT OF YBOR BY DOING THE FLYOVER BETWEEN THE
10:43:40 EXPRESSWAY AND THE INTERSTATE.
10:43:43 SO THIS CONCERNS ME A LITTLE BIT NOW THAT WITH TRUCK TRAFFIC
10:43:48 AND USING THE 13th/14th EXIT.
10:43:51 >> WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY.
10:43:53 RIGHT NOW, THERE IS AN ACTIVE TRUCK ZONE.
10:43:56 IF THE CITY WERE TO DESIGNATE THIS A NO TRUCK AREA ON
10:43:59 NUCCIO, THERE IS A CERTAIN PIECE OF IT, THEN WE WOULD PUT
10:44:02 THE NO TRUCKS ALLOWED AT THIS EXIT.
10:44:04 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR CITY FOLKS TO DO
10:44:06 THAT?
10:44:07 >> YES, SIR.
10:44:07 WE'RE WORKING WITH THE TEAM TO DO THAT.
10:44:13 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: I'M TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF THE TWO LANES TO
10:44:19 DO THE I-4 FLYOVER.
10:44:21 ARE YOU ACTUALLY ADDING MORE STRUCTURE OR ARE YOU JUST
10:44:25 SPREADING THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT BASED UPON THE EXISTING
10:44:29 INFRASTRUCTURE?
10:44:30 >> WE'RE WIDENING THE BRIDGE, SIR.
10:44:32 WE ARE WIDENING THE BRIDGE ITSELF.
10:44:34 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: DOES THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL POSTS TO
10:44:37 SUPPORT THE WIDENING?
10:44:38 >> YES, SIR.
10:44:38 AND IT'S WITHIN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE CURRENT INTERCHANGE.
10:44:42 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: OKAY.
10:44:44 AND THEN FINALLY, PERHAPS THE ONE I FEEL MOST STRONGLY ABOUT
10:44:47 AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS ABOUT THE TOLL LANES.
10:44:52 I SPOKE PRETTY VIGOROUSLY WHEN I WAS ON THE MPO 14, 15 YEARS
10:44:58 AGO TO OPPOSE THE TOLL LANES ON THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM.
10:45:02 I HAVEN'T BEEN CONVINCED WHY WE NEED TOLL LANES.
10:45:04 I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED EXPRESS LANES, BUT
10:45:09 I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY NEED TO BE TOLLED.
10:45:11 I THINK THAT'S AN INFRINGEMENT ON MIDDLE CLASS AND
10:45:15 ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE.
10:45:17 THEY CALL THEM LEXUS LANES FOR A REASON.
10:45:24 FRANKLY, I THINK MY MOTION WILL FOLLOW YOURS, CHAIRMAN
10:45:27 VIERA, IN REGARD TO THIS BODY OPPOSING TOLL LANES.
10:45:34 HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IS THAT GOING TO GENERATE AS
10:45:38 COMPARED TO THESE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE STATE IS
10:45:41 WILLING TO THROW DOWN HERE?
10:45:44 DO WE HAVE A NUMBER ON THAT?
10:45:45 >> WE DO.
10:45:46 OUR TOTAL REVENUE REPORT.
10:45:48 IT'S NOT A PROFIT-GENERATING MECHANISM, BUT I DON'T HAVE
10:45:55 THOSE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
10:45:57 WE DO HAVE THEM AVAILABLE AND I CAN FOLLOW UP.
10:45:59 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: IT'S NOT A REVENUE-GENERATING MECHANISM.
10:46:04 IT'S BASICALLY JUST TO KEEP SOME PEOPLE ON AND KEEP SOME
10:46:07 PEOPLE OFF.
10:46:08 >> IT'S TO PUT A RELIABLE TRAVEL WAY.
10:46:10 THE POINT OF THAT IS TO -- THIS ALSO IS NOT A COMMITMENT.
10:46:15 WE MIGHT NOT DO IT IN THE FUTURE.
10:46:16 RIGHT NOW, WE'RE CLEARING IT FOR A CONNECTION FROM HOWARD
10:46:18 FRANKLAND BRIDGE TO THE VETERANS AND THEN OVER TO DOWNTOWN
10:46:22 TAMPA.
10:46:23 THE PURPOSE OF DYNAMICALLY TOLLING THESE LANES IS TO HAVE A
10:46:29 RELIABLE TRAVEL WAY OF AT LEAST 45 MILES AN HOUR OR BETTER.
10:46:34 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: IT'S A RELIABLE TRAVEL LANE FOR CERTAIN
10:46:36 PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
10:46:38 >> THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE EITHER.
10:46:42 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YOU'RE NOT IN THEIR POCKETBOOKS.
10:46:44 >> NO, I'M NOT, BUT ALSO YOU'RE NOT DISCUSSING POLICY OF
10:46:48 WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
10:46:49 SO YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY -- THERE ARE OTHER WAYS WHERE IF
10:46:53 IT'S AN HOV CAR, IF IT'S ESTABLISHED REGISTERED HOV CAR,
10:46:58 THEY RIDE IT FOR FREE.
10:46:59 BUSES CAN USE IT FOR FREE, SCHOOL BUSES.
10:47:02 WE CAN FIND WAYS TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY.
10:47:04 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YOU SAID THAT IT'S NOT HARD AND FAST
10:47:08 DECIDED YET.
10:47:10 >> CORRECT.
10:47:10 THE POLICY CAN CHANGE IN THE FUTURE IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
10:47:14 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE
10:47:17 EXPRESS LANES NECESSARILY.
10:47:19 I DO SEE SOME BENEFIT THERE.
10:47:21 BUT I'M OPPOSED TO THE TOLL LANE.
10:47:24 THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY.
10:47:26 THANK YOU, SIR.
10:47:29 >>ORLANDO GUDES: AS A PERSON WHO USED TO WRITE TICKETS
10:47:32 OCCASIONALLY AND DO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, WHEN YOU PUT MORE
10:47:37 LANES, THAT MEANS MORE TRAFFIC.
10:47:44 I DON'T CARE HOW YOU SPIN IT.
10:47:45 WE'RE NOT ACCUSTOMED IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND OUR REGION
10:47:48 OF ANY OTHER TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION OTHER THAN CARS.
10:47:53 TO TELL ME YOU ADD LANES, GOING TO ADD MORE CARS ON THE
10:47:56 INTERSTATE SYSTEM.
10:47:57 THAT'S JUST FACTUAL.
10:47:58 YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT'S GOING TO REDUCE.
10:48:02 IT WON'T BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE OTHER NECESSITIES TO GET
10:48:05 PEOPLE OFF THE HIGHWAYS, PERIOD.
10:48:07 I THINK MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS MAKING SURE THAT THAT 21st
10:48:13 STREET EXIT, I THINK THAT'S WHEN YOU LOOK AT MY DISTRICT,
10:48:17 ESPECIALLY THAT MIDDLE CORE, THE LIFE LINE HAS BEEN PUMPED
10:48:21 OUT.
10:48:22 THE BLOOD STOPPED PUMPING A LONG TIME.
10:48:24 THAT'S WHY WE HAVE NOTHING GOING INTO THE MIDDLE CORE OF
10:48:28 EAST TAMPA.
10:48:29 40th STREET WAS TAKEN AWAY, 22nd, WE HAVE TO BE
10:48:36 CAUTIOUS.
10:48:37 THAT'S THE BIG CONCERN.
10:48:39 I KNOW 13, 14th IS A SMALL CONCERN, BUT I THINK THE
10:48:43 BIGGEST CONCERN TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL THEY ARE NOT GOING
10:48:45 TO BE BAMBOOZLED IN REFERENCE TO THE 21st EXIT BECAUSE
10:48:49 THAT WILL BE A MAJOR ARTERY TO STILL BRING SOME TYPE OF
10:48:55 BUSINESS TO THE NORTH END OF TOWN AND TO THE SOUTH OF YBOR.
10:49:00 TALK A LITTLE BIT WITH ME ABOUT THAT SO I CAN GET IT IN MY
10:49:04 HEAD THAT THE STRUCTURE, THAT WE'RE NOT CLOSING, BECAUSE
10:49:06 PEOPLE ARE OF THE IMPRESSION THAT WE'RE CLOSING THAT.
10:49:10 IS THAT VALID OR NOT VALID?
10:49:13 >> THAT'S NOT VALID.
10:49:14 YOU STILL HAVE ACCESS TO 21st, 22nd.
10:49:16 THE REASON WHY MOVING 14th 15th IS WE HAVE A SAFETY
10:49:20 CONCERN.
10:49:21 YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING OFF OF 275 SOUTHBOUND AND ALSO -- 275
10:49:25 NORTHBOUND THAT NEED TO GET TO THAT EXIT.
10:49:27 THAT'S MIXING TRAFFIC.
10:49:29 FOR US, SEPARATE IT OUT, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CHOICE, AS
10:49:32 YOU'RE GOING 275 NORTHBOUND GETTING INTO THE DOWNTOWN
10:49:34 INTERCHANGE, BEFORE YOU EVEN GET THERE, YOU CAN TAKE THIS
10:49:37 EXIT TO 14th/15th.
10:49:39 AS COMING OFF THE FLYOVER RAMP ON 275 SOUTHBOUND TO I-4
10:49:42 EASTBOUND, YOU CAN GET OFF THAT RAMP, THE BRIDGE ITSELF AND
10:49:46 GO INTO 14th/15th.
10:49:48 WE'RE TRYING TO CONNECT AND GET SAFETY --
10:49:52 >>ORLANDO GUDES: BACK EAST?
10:49:54 SOUTHBOUND ON 275, COMING BACK TO I-4, GOING BACK EAST.
10:49:59 >> YES, SIR.
10:49:59 WE'RE SHOWING THAT 70% OF THE TRAFFIC IS GOING TO GO THROUGH
10:50:07 14th/15th AND CONNECT TO 21st/22nd.
10:50:10 >>ORLANDO GUDES: I KNOW COMING BACK SOUTH TO EAST, I KNOW
10:50:14 HOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO MAKE THAT CHANGE SOMETIMES.
10:50:17 I DO KNOW THAT IS A PROBLEM.
10:50:20 THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
10:50:22 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
10:50:26 >>BILL CARLSON: ALONG THOSE LINES, I THINK I MENTIONED THIS
10:50:29 IN THE LAST MEETING.
10:50:30 I HEARD STEADY COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE 14th,
10:50:35 15th STREET EXIT ADDITION.
10:50:38 I WENT BACK OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE DRUM BEAT IS
10:50:40 GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER AND LOUDER.
10:50:43 THEY WANT US TO STOP IT.
10:50:44 YOU HEARD THE COMMENTS EARLIER ABOUT STOPPING THE ENTIRE
10:50:47 PROJECT.
10:50:49 AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, YOU-ALL HAVE MADE A LOT OF
10:50:52 ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
10:50:53 BUT THIS IS THE BIG THING THAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THE
10:50:56 COMMUNITY IN YBOR AND ALL AROUND REALLY DOES NOT WANT
10:51:00 ANOTHER EXIT THERE AT 14th AND 15th.
10:51:02 IS THERE ANYTHING THIS BODY CAN DO TO STOP THAT OR REVERSE
10:51:06 THAT?
10:51:06 >> YOU CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE US FEEDBACK AND WE HAVE UNTIL
10:51:10 WE SUBMIT THE FINAL SEIS TO SUBMIT WHAT THE PLANS WILL BE.
10:51:14 WE'LL STILL WORKING WITH THE CITY.
10:51:17 WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH ALL ENTITIES TO PROVIDE THE BEST
10:51:21 SOLUTION THAT EVERYBODY HAS BUY-IN INTO.
10:51:26 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
10:51:27 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH ALL OF YOU FROM THE
10:51:28 FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HERE TODAY.
10:51:31 I BELIEVE I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE.
10:51:34 IN MY MIND, THE PROBLEM IS SIMPLY COMPLEX.
10:51:38 THE REASON IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE OTHER THAN
10:51:41 JUST EXPANSION OF THE EXPRESSWAY.
10:51:44 MENTIONED BEFORE SOME TYPE OF RAIL.
10:51:46 SO WE ONLY HAVE ONE THING ON THE TABLE.
10:51:49 THE ONE THING THAT THE PUBLIC DOES NOT WANT AND WE HAVE TO
10:51:53 MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND OR NOT TO BELIEVE OR BELIEVE IN THAT
10:51:56 PROJECT.
10:51:56 WE DON'T HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE.
10:51:57 SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND ADD THIS, THIS COMPONENT TO
10:52:00 IT.
10:52:00 I THINK THERE'S WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES.
10:52:04 WHEN YOU LOOK AT RAIL AND I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN
10:52:08 TRANSPORTATION.
10:52:09 I'LL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT UNDER OATH, BUT VERY FEW ARE.
10:52:12 WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT MALFUNCTION JUNCTION HAS BEEN FIXED
10:52:18 THREE OR FOUR TIMES AND IT NEEDS ANOTHER FIX AGAIN.
10:52:21 WHEN YOU FIX THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, NEED ANOTHER FIX.
10:52:25 I'M NOT TRY TO BE HUMOROUS IN ANY WAY.
10:52:28 WHAT I'M SAYING THIS, SOONER OR LATER, IF WE KEEP GOING,
10:52:32 WE'LL ALL LIVE UNDER THE EXPRESSWAY.
10:52:33 THAT'S HOW I SEE IT.
10:52:35 I'M NOT ANTI, FOR OR AGAINST.
10:52:38 I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE HERE, YOU CANNOT CONTINUE TO BUILD
10:52:43 LANES JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE TRAFFIC BECAUSE WHAT THAT
10:52:47 DOES, IT KEEPS EXPANDING AND YOU'LL HAVE AN EXPRESSWAY
10:52:50 THAT'S 20 LANES WIDE.
10:52:51 AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT.
10:52:53 THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT.
10:52:54 THAT'S NOT WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS.
10:52:55 THAT'S WHAT NO ONE WANTS.
10:52:57 HOW DO YOU SOLVE THAT PROBLEM?
10:52:59 >> IF I COULD, HOW YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM, YOU BUILD A GATE
10:53:03 AROUND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AND DON'T LET ANYBODY COME IN.
10:53:06 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
10:53:08 I'M NOT HERE TO INSULT YOU IN ANY WAY.
10:53:11 I UNDERSTAND THAT.
10:53:12 BECAUSE MY OWN FAMILY TELLS ME WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING
10:53:15 BUILDING MORE AND MORE DEVELOPMENT?
10:53:17 I SAY, YOU WANT ME TO BUILD A GATE AROUND THE CITY OF TAMPA?
10:53:19 AND I TELL THEM NO.
10:53:20 >> AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD DEVELOPMENTS, LIKE ARMATURE
10:53:23 WORKS, WATER WORKS, APARTMENTS, AS WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE
10:53:26 NEW BUSINESSES TO COME TO THE AREA TO EMPLOY PEOPLE, THIS IS
10:53:31 PART OF WHAT GROWTH HAPPENS.
10:53:32 TAMPA IS GETTING BIGGER.
10:53:35 THIS -- WE'RE STILL A GROWING COMMUNITY.
10:53:38 WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST, IN TERMS OF COUNTIES WITH A BIG
10:53:41 METRO CITY, THAT RESIDES WITHIN IT, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF
10:53:45 AREA TO DEVELOP.
10:53:46 THIS IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY PROBABLY IN ANY OF OUR
10:53:50 GENERATIONS.
10:53:51 THE FACT IS WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT'S
10:53:54 A POSITIVE THING, RIGHT?
10:53:55 WE'RE DOING THINGS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME HERE.
10:53:58 WE'RE PROJECTED TO INCREASE OUR POPULATION BY A MILLION BY
10:54:01 2040.
10:54:02 THAT'S MIAMI SIZE COMING TO TAMPA, RIGHT?
10:54:05 WE'RE NOT GETTING SMALLER.
10:54:06 THE ROADS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM.
10:54:09 THE PROBLEM IS HOW ARE WE DEVELOPING, ANY FRESHMAN PLANNER
10:54:13 CAN TELL YOU, IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW YOU PLAN.
10:54:15 HOW YOU PLAN A COMMUNITY.
10:54:16 HOW DO BUILD A COMMUNITY AROUND EMPLOYMENT CENTERS AND
10:54:20 ATTRACTIONS?
10:54:21 THAT'S REALLY WHERE YOU SOLVE A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS AND
10:54:24 THEN HOW DO YOU DECIDE YOU WANT THESE PEOPLE TO GET AROUND?
10:54:26 THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE ANOTHER METRO CITY, A LARGE METRO
10:54:29 CITY WITH VERY FEW WAYS OF GETTING TO IT, ST. PETERSBURG IN
10:54:35 PINELLAS COUNTY, WE HAVE THIS HUGE BODY OF WATER THAT
10:54:37 SEPARATES US.
10:54:38 SO THERE'S ONLY A LIMITED AMOUNT OF WAYS FOR US TO GET BACK
10:54:41 AND FORTH TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.
10:54:44 PEOPLE WANT TO WORK THERE.
10:54:45 THEY WANT WORK IN TAMPA.
10:54:46 THEY WANT TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY.
10:54:48 AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW, WE'VE GOT TO BE THINKING BETTER
10:54:51 ABOUT HOW WE PLAN FOR THAT GROWTH AND WHERE DO WE WANT THAT
10:54:55 GROWTH TO GO IN A WAY THAT DISCOURAGES PEOPLE FROM UTILIZING
10:54:59 A CAR AND ENCOURAGES OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.
10:55:02 BUT TO SAY THAT THE ROADS ARE THE PROBLEM, I STRONGLY
10:55:05 DISAGREE WITH THAT.
10:55:06 THE ROADS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO ADDRESS
10:55:11 A PROBLEM THAT'S -- OR A -- I WOULDN'T CALL IT A PROBLEM,
10:55:16 BUT SOMETHING THAT'S OCCURRING IN OUR AREA THAT I THINK WE
10:55:18 ALL WOULD AGREE IS A GOOD THING.
10:55:20 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: LET ME SAY THIS, I DIDN'T COME TO ARGUE.
10:55:24 YOU JUMPED AT ME.
10:55:25 I'LL JUMP AT YOU, IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT I'M NOT.
10:55:28 I DON'T BUILD WALLS.
10:55:32 I DON'T BELIEVE IN WALLS.
10:55:33 AROUND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, AROUND THE CITY OF TAMPA.
10:55:35 HOWEVER, I CAN ONLY SEE AND TELL YOU WHAT I SEE.
10:55:41 WHAT I SEE IS YOU CANNOT HAVE JUST ONE ALTERNATIVE.
10:55:44 HAVE TO HAVE MANY ALTERNATIVES.
10:55:46 IF THE AIRPORT STUCK WITH YOUR PLAN, SIR, THE PLANES WOULD
10:55:49 NEVER LEAVE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WOULD NEVER GET THERE.
10:55:52 THEY WOULD MAKE A TRAIL SYSTEM.
10:55:54 THEY HAVE THE CARS THAT MOVE YOU AROUND QUICKLY.
10:55:56 IT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FINEST AIRPORTS IN THE WHOLE
10:55:59 WORLD, NOT ONLY IN THE COUNTRY, THE UNITED STATES OF
10:56:03 AMERICA.
10:56:03 WE HAVE TO USE SOMETHING, MODELING AFTER THAT AIRPORT OR
10:56:06 MODELING AFTER SOMETHING ELSE THAT WORKS.
10:56:08 YOU CAN'T JUST SAY I WANT ONE THING ONLY AND THAT'S IT,
10:56:11 BECAUSE IT AIN'T NOT WORKING.
10:56:14 I REMEMBER WHEN THINGS OPENED BACK IN THE '60s AND
10:56:17 ARTICLES IN THE TAMPA TRIBUNE IF I RECALL SAYING NOBODY IS
10:56:21 USING THE EXPRESSWAY.
10:56:22 THAT WAS TRUE.
10:56:23 AT THAT TIME IT WAS TRUE.
10:56:25 BUT AS PEOPLE PROSPERED AND PEOPLE BOUGHT AUTOMOBILES IN AND
10:56:29 OUT, IT'S BECOME NOW REALITY WHAT WE HAVE.
10:56:32 I CAN'T FIX SOMETHING WHICH ALREADY HAVE.
10:56:37 YOU CAN CERTAINLY PLAN IT ANY WAY YOU WANT.
10:56:40 THIS CITY IS FAR FROM BEING NEW.
10:56:43 IT MAY HAPPEN IN ANOTHER CITY IN FLORIDA PROSPERING AND YOU
10:56:46 WANT TO HAVE A MASTER PLAN AND YOU FOLLOW THAT MASTER PLAN.
10:56:49 THERE IS NO MASTER PLAN FOR TRANSPORTATION HERE.
10:56:51 ONLY WHEN IT GETS GRIDLOCKED YOU KEEP ADDING TO IT.
10:56:54 THAT'S NO PLAN AT ALL.
10:56:56 SAYING BANKS ARE BEING ROBBED AND YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING
10:56:58 ABOUT IT, WELL, BANKS WILL STILL BE ROBBED.
10:57:00 WHEN YOU TRY TO PUT A STOP TO IT, GUESS WHAT, IT SETTLES
10:57:04 DOWN.
10:57:05 WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IN PLAIN ENGLISH, THAT'S NOT MY FIRST
10:57:09 LANGUAGE, IS TO SAY THIS, GIVE US AN ALTERNATIVE.
10:57:14 WHOEVER IS ON THE RAIL SYSTEM, WHOEVER IS ON -- I AGREE.
10:57:17 YOU HAVE TO HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES.
10:57:18 YOU EITHER HAVE LOCOMOTIVES OR THE ELECTRIC CARS THAT MOVE
10:57:22 YOU IN AND OUT.
10:57:23 YOU MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE TWO OF THEM, BUT ONE ALTERNATIVE DOES
10:57:27 NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
10:57:29 IT WON'T FIX IT TODAY.
10:57:30 IT WON'T FIX IT 20 YEARS FROM NOW, BECAUSE WE WILL BE -- AND
10:57:33 I'LL MAKE THAT STATEMENT AGAIN.
10:57:34 WE WILL BE LIVING UNDER THE EXPRESSWAYS IF WE CONTINUE TO
10:57:38 BUILD MORE AND MORE ROADS ON THE EXPRESSWAY.
10:57:41 THAT'S THE ONLY THING.
10:57:42 I'M NOT TRYING TO BE ARGUMENTATIVE.
10:57:44 I'M TRYING TO BE AS FACTUAL AS I CAN.
10:57:48 THE PROBLEM IS -- AND I HEAR MILLENNIALS DON'T DRIVE CARS.
10:57:52 I HAVE EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN.
10:57:53 THE ONLY ONE THAT DOESN'T DRIVE A CAR IS THE ONE THAT'S 12
10:57:56 YEARS OLD, AND HE'S ASKING ME FOR MINE ALREADY.
10:57:59 WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS IT'S A HABIT.
10:58:02 IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT, YOU WANT A CAR.
10:58:04 EVERY KID WANTS TO HAVE A CAR.
10:58:06 SOME DON'T.
10:58:07 SOME LIVE IN HIGH-RISE AREAS WHERE EVERYTHING IS AROUND YOU.
10:58:10 GOD BLESS YOU.
10:58:11 YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE.
10:58:12 BUT SOCIETY IS NOT THAT WAY.
10:58:13 YOU PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT.
10:58:16 THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.
10:58:17 THANK YOU FOR COMING OVER.
10:58:20 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN GUIDO MANISCALCO.
10:58:26 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: TO BUILD ON COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, WE NEED
10:58:30 OPTIONS.
10:58:31 SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE MPO IN '15, YOU KNOW HOW I VOTE
10:58:35 AGAINST TBX AND TB NEXT BECAUSE I LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO
10:58:40 ELECTED ME IS WITH THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH COMING TO THE AREA,
10:58:44 NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WIDEN THE INTERSTATE, NO MATTER HOW
10:58:47 MANY EXPRESS TOLL LANES WHERE YOU CONTROL WHO CAN AND GET
10:58:51 OFF AND TRY TO KEEP IT OPEN AND WHATNOT, WE'RE NOT KEEPING
10:58:55 UP WITH THE POPULATION INCREASE.
10:58:56 IT'S GOING TO STILL BE CONGESTED.
10:58:58 20, 30, 40 YEARS, WE'LL SAY WE HAVE TO ADD A LANE.
10:59:01 IT WILL BE THE SAME THING.
10:59:03 I LOOK AT IT AS WE NEED OPTIONS.
10:59:05 A GREAT EXAMPLE AND BECAUSE I GO TO DISNEY ALL THE TIME IN
10:59:09 ORLANDO, TO GET TO THE MAGIC KINGDOM, WHICH I SEE THE
10:59:13 HARDEST PART TO GET INTO BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE PARKING LOT
10:59:15 AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE FERRY, THE MONORAIL, A BUS OR IF
10:59:19 YOUR RESORT IS NEAR THERE, YOU CAN WALK TO IT.
10:59:23 THEY GIVE YOU ALL THE OPTIONS BECAUSE DISNEY KNOWS OUR PARK
10:59:27 IS GOING TO GET FULL AND WE WANT TO MOVE PEOPLE AS BEST WE
10:59:30 CAN.
10:59:30 IN TAMPA WE HAVE AN INADEQUATE BUS SYSTEM.
10:59:33 WE HAVE A LAWSUIT PENDING WITH MONEY THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
10:59:36 WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH, EVEN THOUGH THE PEOPLE SPOKE
10:59:38 OVERWHELMINGLY TO APPROVE SOMETHING, AND WE'RE STUCK WITH
10:59:41 YOU NEED A CAR TO GET AROUND.
10:59:43 I'VE USED A BUS ON MANY, MANY OCCASIONS.
10:59:46 I'VE TRIED TO LEAVE MY CAR AT HOME TRYING TO GET DOWN TO
10:59:50 CITY HALL, AND I CAN DO IT.
10:59:52 I TAKE THE BUS AND I USE THE DOWNTOWNER AND I GET TO CITY
10:59:55 HALL AND WHATNOT.
10:59:56 I'VE USED THE FERRY TO CROSS OVER TO ST. PETE SO I DON'T
11:00:00 HAVE TO DEAL WITH PARKING TO GO TO A BASEBALL GAME OR TO EAT
11:00:01 ON BEACH DRIVE, OR WHATNOT, TO AVOID TRAFFIC ON HOWARD
11:00:04 FRANKLAND.
11:00:05 HOWARD FRANKLAND, WHICH I USED LAST NIGHT, WHICH IS ALWAYS
11:00:08 CONGESTED AND BACKED UP.
11:00:10 I KNOW THERE ARE THINGS ON THE TABLE.
11:00:14 IF YOU LOOK AT HOW TAMPA USED TO BE, WE HAD A STREETCAR
11:00:17 SERVICE THAT SERVED THE COMMUNITY IN THE SIZE IT WAS AT THE
11:00:21 TIME.
11:00:21 WE PULLED THAT UP TO ACCOMMODATE INTERSTATE AND AUTOMOBILES.
11:00:24 WE'RE STILL IN THE 70-YEAR-OLD MIND-SET OF YOU NEED MORE
11:00:27 ROADS.
11:00:28 YOU NEED WIDER ROADS.
11:00:29 NEED THIS, NEED THAT.
11:00:30 NOT TO MENTION THE HEALTH ISSUES FROM IT.
11:00:35 YOU HAVE PEOPLE SITTING ON THE INTERSTATE IN GRIDLOCK DAY IN
11:00:39 AND DAY OUT, WHETHER MORNING RUSH HOUR OR IN THE EVENING,
11:00:43 AND ALL THOSE CARS ARE PUMPING OUT INTO THE AIR, AND PEOPLE
11:00:47 ARE BREATHING THAT.
11:00:47 THEN YOU LOOK AT THE CANCER RISK AND THE CANCER NUMBERS AND
11:00:51 OTHER HEALTH ISSUES.
11:00:55 I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE FOCUS SO MUCH ON THE FREEDOM OF
11:01:01 THE AUTOMOBILE.
11:01:02 GREAT MARKETING FOR THE TIME.
11:01:03 GREAT FOR THE CAR COMPANIES TO SELL THEIR VEHICLES AND THE
11:01:06 TIRE MANUFACTURERS TO SELL THEIR TIRES.
11:01:08 WE PULLED UP THE STREETCAR BECAUSE IT WAS OLD, AND WE FOCUS
11:01:11 SO MUCH ON THE STREET AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF HAVING YOUR
11:01:14 OWN VEHICLE.
11:01:14 WE NEED TO GO BACK TO WHAT WE USED TO BE.
11:01:17 WE DID THINGS RIGHT.
11:01:18 THE STREETCAR SERVICE WORKED FROM THE LATE 1800s TO 1946,
11:01:22 AND IT WORKED.
11:01:24 THEN WE WENT TO THE BUS SERVICE, AND THE BUS SERVICE HAS NOT
11:01:25 BEEN ADEQUATE.
11:01:26 PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD A CAR.
11:01:28 THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE -- FINANCES.
11:01:29 IT'S EXPENSIVE TO HAVE A CAR.
11:01:30 YOUR MIGHT HAVE A TWO, THREE HUNDRED DOLLAR CAR PAYMENT AND
11:01:33 THEN YOU HAVE 150, 200 DOLLAR INSURANCE PAYMENT.
11:01:35 THEN YOU HAVE TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH GAS PRICES
11:01:37 ARE GETTING TO BE MORE REASONABLE.
11:01:38 I PAID 2.21 YESTERDAY, BUT THE EXPENSE OF A HARDWORKING
11:01:42 INDIVIDUAL WITH TWO JOBS OR MORE, TRYING TO FEED THEIR
11:01:45 FAMILY, TRYING TO PAY THEIR RENT, TRY TO GET AROUND AND GOD
11:01:48 FORBID THEY NEED A CAR REPAIR OR THEY NEED NEW TIRES OR
11:01:53 WHATEVER IT IS, THE TRANSMISSION BREAKS DOWN.
11:01:55 NEW TIRES WILL COST MONEY.
11:01:56 ON AND ON AND ON.
11:01:57 WE NEED TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
11:01:59 I UNDERSTAND THAT MALFUNCTION JUNCTION IS HOW IT IS.
11:02:02 I HATE IT.
11:02:03 I TOOK IT ON THE WAY BACK.
11:02:05 I TOOK HOWARD FRANKLAND SOUTH AND CAME BACK 75 NORTH TO I-4
11:02:09 TO 275.
11:02:10 IT'S ALWAYS BACKED UP.
11:02:12 ON A SATURDAY MORNING, SUNDAY MORNING, IT'S QUIET.
11:02:14 BUT WE HAVE TO STOP FOCUSING SO MUCH ON THE AUTOMOBILE.
11:02:18 I KNOW F.D.O.T., YOU'RE BASED ON THAT.
11:02:21 THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM OF THE 1950s IS BASED ON
11:02:24 THIS, ROADS.
11:02:25 BUT WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE THINKING AND THE PSYCHOLOGY.
11:02:29 YOU GO TO EUROPE, YOU DON'T NEED A CAR.
11:02:31 THE TRAINS RUN ON TIME IN MOST AREAS.
11:02:34 USE BUSES, SUBWAY SERVICES, YOU CAN WALK.
11:02:37 WE FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE.
11:02:38 THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE DON'T DO, WE DON'T FOCUS ON
11:02:41 PEDESTRIANS.
11:02:41 WE DON'T FOCUS ON THE BICYCLISTS.
11:02:44 WE DON'T FOCUS ON THE WELL-BEING OF OUR FOLKS.
11:02:47 WE SEE CARS CRASHING INTO SCHOOLS.
11:02:50 PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES, WE'RE THE WORST IN THE NATION.
11:02:54 I'VE WATCHED PEOPLE DIE.
11:02:55 I WATCHED A MAN DIE.
11:02:57 PARAMEDICS WERE WORKING ON HIM, AS HE WAS TRYING TO CROSS
11:02:59 HILLSBOROUGH AVENUE.
11:03:00 I SAW A MAN DEAD RIGHT BEFORE THEY COVERED HIM ON
11:03:03 HILLSBOROUGH AVENUE FARTHER DOWN.
11:03:04 I SAW A WOMAN DEAD.
11:03:06 I GOT THERE BEFORE THE POLICE GOT THERE AND I HAD TO SEE
11:03:09 EVERYTHING.
11:03:10 THESE THINGS ARE TRAUMATIZING.
11:03:12 IMAGINE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY THAT ARE DEAD
11:03:15 BECAUSE OF THE RECKLESSNESS OF AUTOMOBILES AND AGAIN OUR
11:03:18 FOCUS ON CARS.
11:03:19 FOCUS ON PEOPLE.
11:03:20 THE PEOPLE COME AND SPEAK.
11:03:21 SOME ARE HERE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE CONSISTENTLY AT CITY
11:03:23 COUNCIL MEETINGS, CRA MEETINGS, MPO MEETINGS AND I'VE HEARD
11:03:27 THEM.
11:03:27 I WAS ELECTED TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE.
11:03:29 I'M NOT PERFECT.
11:03:30 WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO STUFF LIKE THIS,
11:03:33 ESPECIALLY THE INTERSTATE THAT GOES RIGHT THROUGH MY
11:03:36 DISTRICT, THROUGH THE HISTORIC AREAS, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT YBOR
11:03:39 CITY CUT IN TWO, YBOR CITY IS COMING BACK AFTER 50 YEARS OF
11:03:43 DECLINE, ESSENTIALLY.
11:03:44 WEST TAMPA SPLIT IN TWO.
11:03:46 SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, SPLIT IN TWO.
11:03:48 IT'S COME BACK BECAUSE PEOPLE MADE THE SACRIFICE AND MADE
11:03:51 THE INVESTMENT.
11:03:52 THE CITY DIDN'T REBUILD THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
11:03:54 I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS.
11:03:56 IT'S PEOPLE THAT CARED TO INVEST IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS,
11:03:59 BOUGHT HOUSES, GOT INVOLVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
11:04:01 ASSOCIATIONS, THAT PUT TOGETHER THINGS LIKE STOP TBX AND
11:04:05 SUNSHINE CITIZENS AND PEOPLE THAT GO THE EXTRA MILE.
11:04:07 THE PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO BE HERE.
11:04:09 THEY SHOULD BE AT WORK ENJOYING THEIR DAY.
11:04:12 THEY PUT THE SACRIFICE COMING HERE, I DON'T WANT TO SAY
11:04:15 WASTING THEIR TIME BUT A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON'T FEEL THEY
11:04:19 ARE HEARD.
11:04:21 F.D.O.T. IS NOT THE ENEMY.
11:04:23 I'M NOT DEMONIZING ANYBODY, BUT WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE
11:04:25 MIND-SET.
11:04:27 NOT BECAUSE THEY ELECTED US AS TAXPAYERS.
11:04:29 THEY PAY ALL OF OUR SALARIES.
11:04:30 THEY SHOULD BE HEARD FIRST.
11:04:32 THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
11:04:33 THANK YOU.
11:04:33 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
11:04:34 FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE BRAVE FOR STANDING
11:04:41 HERE AND TAKING ALL THIS.
11:04:44 YOU TRULY ARE.
11:04:45 MY COMMENTS ARE NOT MEANT TO BE DIRECTED TOWARD YOU OR THE
11:04:50 LADIES OR THE OTHER GENTLEMEN IN THE AUDIENCE.
11:04:54 YOU'RE JUST THE MESSENGERS.
11:04:57 I CAN GET FROM HERE TO BEARSS AVENUE ON 275 IN LESS THAN TEN
11:05:04 MINUTES RIGHT NOW.
11:05:04 DURING RUSH HOUR, IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME AN HOUR.
11:05:08 THESE PLANS THAT I SEE BEFORE ME BENEFIT A LOT OF PEOPLE.
11:05:15 THAT 150,000 PEOPLE THAT COME INTO OUR DOWNTOWN URBAN CORE
11:05:21 EACH AND EVERY DAY FROM PINELLAS, POLK, PASCO, MANATEE
11:05:28 COUNTY, THAT'S WHO THIS IS GOING TO BENEFIT.
11:05:35 BUT WHO IS GOING TO BE AFFECTED THE MOST?
11:05:40 MY BELOVED WEST TAMPA.
11:05:43 THE HEART AND SOUL OF TAMPA, YBOR CITY, SEMINOLE HEIGHTS,
11:05:49 RIVERSIDE HEIGHTS.
11:05:50 THOSE PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED THE MOST BY THESE PLANS.
11:05:55 AND I APOLOGIZE FOR SAYING THIS TO YOU.
11:06:00 YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO THEM.
11:06:01 I BELONG TO AN ORGANIZATION WHERE WE TRY AND FIGHT
11:06:07 IGNORANCE, FANATICISM AND TYRANNY.
11:06:11 YOU GUYS ARE THE SMARTEST TRAFFIC ENGINEERS THAT I KNOW, BUT
11:06:16 YOU'RE IGNORANT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO THE
11:06:19 COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AFFECTED THE MOST BY THIS.
11:06:22 THE FANATICISM OF BUILD ROADS, BUILD ROADS, BUILD ROADS, YOU
11:06:27 ARE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
11:06:30 YES, YOU NEED COOPERATION FROM US, BUT THERE ARE
11:06:36 ALTERNATIVES.
11:06:36 THESE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN MANATEE, PASCO, PINELLAS, POLK
11:06:40 COUNTY CAN BE TAKING SOME SORT OF RAIL ON A DEDICATED RAIL.
11:06:46 WE PUT MORE AND MORE AND MORE ON OUR ROADS.
11:06:49 WE HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED WITH HART AND THE STREETCAR
11:06:52 HITTING A BUS.
11:06:54 WE SAW THE OTHER DAY, I BELIEVE IT WAS ON VETERANS, WHERE A
11:06:59 SUPPOSED LEXUS LANE WAS BLOCKED BECAUSE THERE WAS AN
11:07:02 ACCIDENT.
11:07:02 DID THAT MOVE MASS TRANSIT ANY FASTER?
11:07:05 NO, I'M SORRY, IT DID NOT.
11:07:07 I'M GOING TO BE HARSH AND I DON'T MEAN.
11:07:11 LASTLY IS TYRANNY.
11:07:12 YOU LOOK AT US AND YOU SAY WE HAVE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
11:07:15 DOLLARS FOR YOU IF YOU SPEND IT OUR WAY.
11:07:18 IF YOU DON'T, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU AND WE'LL
11:07:22 GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
11:07:24 LET'S GET TOGETHER ON THIS.
11:07:27 I SEE NO POINT IN THE 14th/15th EXIT.
11:07:32 I SEE NO POINT IN THAT AT ALL.
11:07:34 IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME EXITS COMING OFF 275, CONTINUE THEM
11:07:38 TO 21st, 22nd STREET.
11:07:41 THIS INTERSTATE IS DOING NOTHING NOW.
11:07:44 IN MY OPINION, THIS INTERSTATE IS DOING NOTHING NOW BUT TO
11:07:46 MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH THE CITY OF TAMPA.
11:07:49 I WANT PEOPLE TO COME HERE.
11:07:51 I WANT PEOPLE TO VISIT.
11:07:52 I WANT PEOPLE TO GO TO YBOR.
11:07:54 I WANT PEOPLE TO GO TO MIDTOWN, WEST TAMPA AND SHOP.
11:07:58 I WANT THEM TO COME AND SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL OUR CITY IS IN
11:08:02 BETWEEN MICKEY AND THE BEACHES.
11:08:05 COME TO TAMPA.
11:08:08 BUT THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION.
11:08:14 SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, YBOR CITY, WEST TAMPA, RIVERSIDE HEIGHTS
11:08:17 ARE ASKING FOR IS DON'T RUIN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
11:08:22 WE HAVE BETTER TRANSPORTATION.
11:08:24 THANK YOU FOR STANDING THERE AND TAKING IT FROM ME.
11:08:30 YOU ALL ARE BRAVE.
11:08:31 COUNCILMAN VIERA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESTATE YOUR MOTION?
11:08:35 >>LUIS VIERA: SURE.
11:08:36 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
11:08:37 A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO ADD TO THAT, IF I MAY,
11:08:39 MR. CHAIR, I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE OUR FRIEND MS. CHLOE
11:08:42 CONEY WHO IS HERE WHO WORKS WITH TB NEXT.
11:08:45 AFTER THE RESET BUTTON, IF YOU WOULD, WAS PUSHED ON TBX AND
11:08:51 WE SAW THE RETAINING AND HIRING OF MRS. CONEY, WHO IS TO ME
11:08:57 HAS A NAME THAT IS STELLAR IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
11:09:00 I THINK THAT THAT IS A REAL STEP FORWARD THAT HAS PRODUCED
11:09:05 RESULTS.
11:09:06 I DON'T JUST THINK IT'S A SYMBOLIC NAME.
11:09:08 I THINK IT'S A NAME THAT'S ACTUALLY HAD RESULTS.
11:09:11 MS. CONEY, JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND RESPECT YOUR
11:09:13 ROLE IN THAT.
11:09:14 AND SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID REGARDING ALSO F.D.O.T., I THINK
11:09:18 IT WAS CHAIRMAN CITRO, IN TERMS OF NOT SEEING F.D.O.T. AS
11:09:21 THE ENEMY, CLEARLY THAT'S NOT MY PERSPECTIVE.
11:09:25 A LOT OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, THINGS
11:09:28 THAT ARE INCREMENTAL CHANGES TO THE INTERSTATE ARE THINGS
11:09:31 THAT WILL BENEFIT US, BUT MY OVERALL POINT IS, THOSE ARE
11:09:34 BAND-AIDS.
11:09:35 LET'S STOP PRODUCING SITUATIONS THAT PRODUCE WOUNDS THAT
11:09:40 NECESSITATE BAND-AIDS AND LET'S START TALKING ABOUT
11:09:44 ALTERNATIVES, WHILE ALSO TAKING CARE OF SOME OF THE
11:09:47 BAND-AIDS.
11:09:48 THAT'S WHAT MY MOTION SEEKS TO GO TO.
11:09:50 MR. CHAIR, I MOTION THAT THIS BODY -- I TALKED ABOUT
11:09:53 CORRESPONDENCE TO F.D.O.T., MR. McKINNEY HAD TALKED ABOUT
11:09:56 JUST I GUESS PUTTING A PREFERENCE, IF YOU WILL.
11:10:00 I MOTION THAT THIS BODY AFFIRM AND SUPPORT VIA
11:10:04 CORRESPONDENCE AND RESOLUTION THE VOTE BY MPO TO INCLUDE USE
11:10:09 OF CSX AS A TOP PRIORITY IN ITS COUNTY PLANNING AND FURTHER
11:10:13 THIS BODY REQUEST THAT F.D.O.T. PRIORITIZE IN WORKING WITH
11:10:18 THE MPO THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, MASS TRANSIT AND CONTINUE
11:10:22 ROBUST INVESTMENTS IN MASS TRANSIT IN ITS FUTURE PLANS.
11:10:26 >> SECOND.
11:10:28 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
11:10:29 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: A QUESTION ON THE MOTION AND PERHAPS A
11:10:31 FRIENDLY AMENDMENT OR I COULD DO IT SEPARATELY.
11:10:33 SINCE YOU'RE ON THE MPO, MR. VIERA, YOU CAN MAKE THE CHOICE.
11:10:41 I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE EITHER ADDING ON TO YOUR MOTION OR
11:10:47 MAKE A SEPARATE MOTION THAT WE OPPOSE THE TOLLS ON THE
11:10:52 INTERSTATE WITHIN THE CITY OF TAMPA, WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT
11:10:56 THAT TO BE SEPARATE OR TOGETHER.
11:10:58 >>LUIS VIERA: I'LL PROBABLY SUPPORT IT.
11:11:01 IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT THERE, AS A COURTESY, I'LL DO THAT.
11:11:06 FOR INSTANCE, YESTERDAY, I THINK F.D.O.T. WAS AT TAMPA
11:11:10 PALMS.
11:11:11 I COULDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE OF AN ENGAGEMENT WITH MY SON FOR
11:11:15 CHURCH OBLIGATIONS OVER AT ST. MARKS CATHOLIC, BUT I WAS
11:11:19 INTERESTED IN HEARING THAT AS A GENERAL PRINCIPLE.
11:11:21 I ALWAYS THOUGHT WE CAN DO BETTER THAN TOLL LANES.
11:11:25 YESTERDAY, I WAS IN COURT IN MARTIN COUNTY.
11:11:27 ON THE WAY BACK, I HAD TO PAY AN $11 TOLL, ONE TIME, $11.
11:11:33 I HAD TO WRITE A CHECK FOR THAT, BY THE WAY.
11:11:35 I DIDN'T HAVE $11 ON ME, WHICH IS A SAD STATEMENT.
11:11:40 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THAT WOULD BE MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT OFFER
11:11:43 IS TO OPPOSE TOLLING ON THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM WITHIN THE
11:11:47 CITY LIMITS.
11:11:48 I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO MS. CONEY.
11:11:51 YESTERDAY, WHEN WE WERE AT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEETING
11:11:55 THAT THE MAYOR HAD, THE FIRST THING OUT OF HER MOUTH WAS
11:12:01 WE'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH A TRUST.
11:12:02 AND YOU WERE IN FRONT OF US SIX MONTHS AGO, CHLOE,
11:12:05 ADVOCATING ESTABLISHING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST.
11:12:10 LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I WANT TO CALL IT THE CHLOE CONEY TRUST.
11:12:13 ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
11:12:16 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
11:12:18 >>BILL CARLSON: I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO -- AND I DON'T
11:12:21 KNOW HOW YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT THIS, BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A
11:12:24 MOTION TO OFFICIALLY OPPOSE THE 14th/15th STREET EXIT,
11:12:29 IF THERE'S CONSENSUS TO AGREE TO IT, MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A
11:12:32 SEPARATE MOTION.
11:12:33 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES, IT WOULD BE A SEPARATE MOTION.
11:12:36 >>BILL CARLSON: I JUST WANTED TO THROW IT OUT.
11:12:38 >>JOSEPH CITRO: WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN VIERA.
11:12:40 SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO AS AMENDED, YES, SIR.
11:12:44 ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
11:12:45 ANY OPPOSED?
11:12:46 THE MOTION PASSES.
11:12:48 NOW, MR. CARLSON, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
11:12:52 >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD LIKE TO -- FORGIVE ME IF I DON'T GET
11:12:56 THE FORM RIGHT -- I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE
11:12:59 OFFICIALLY OPPOSE THE 14th/15th STREET EXIT AND NOTIFY
11:13:05 D.O.T.
11:13:10 >>JOSEPH CITRO: A MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN CARLSON, SECONDED
11:13:13 BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
11:13:14 ANY DISCUSSION?
11:13:16 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
11:13:17 YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN GETTING BRIEFINGS ON THIS.
11:13:24 IT'S PROBABLY NOT NEW, BUT I HADN'T REALLY FOCUSED ON IT.
11:13:29 I WAS JUST TEXTING WITH JEAN DUNCAN, THE HEAD OF OUR
11:13:36 TRANSPORTATION, KIND OF ASKING WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION IS
11:13:39 ON -- SORT OF THE QUESTIONS I WAS ASKING THESE GENTLEMEN,
11:13:43 HOW MUCH COORDINATION THEY'VE HAD, HAVE THEY STUDIED THE
11:13:45 IMPACT ON YBOR, THE TRUCK TRAFFIC ISSUE, THE NORTHBOUND
11:13:48 ISSUE, ET CETERA.
11:13:52 I GUESS I'D LOVE TO HEAR BACK FROM THE CITY ON THAT ONE.
11:13:57 BECAUSE I WILL SAY, I TAKE THAT 21st STREET EXIT QUITE A
11:14:02 BIT COMING FROM EITHER SOUTH TAMPA OR DOWNTOWN GOING TO
11:14:06 YBOR.
11:14:06 I GET OFF AT 21st.
11:14:08 AND SOMETIMES I GET FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF
11:14:11 BACKUP THERE WHEN YOU HIT THAT 21st STREET.
11:14:16 IF THAT 13th, 14th CAN ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT BACKUP
11:14:21 WITHOUT BEING TRULY HARMFUL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
11:14:24 COMMUNITY, THEN MAYBE IT'S NOT A BAD THING.
11:14:27 I'M NOT READY TO SUPPORT IT AT THIS POINT, ESPECIALLY I'D
11:14:30 LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE CITY TRANSPORTATION AND SEE THEIR
11:14:35 OPINION ON THE LOCAL IMPACTS.
11:14:36 IF YOU AGREE WITH ME, BILL, MAYBE WE CAN DEFER THAT AND GET
11:14:42 MS. DUNCAN OVER HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK OR TWO AND
11:14:47 JUST GET A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION.
11:14:52 >>JOSEPH CITRO: GO AHEAD.
11:14:53 I'M SORRY.
11:14:53 COUNCILMAN VIERA.
11:14:54 >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
11:14:55 I APPRECIATE AND AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER'S
11:14:59 SENTIMENTS.
11:14:59 I DO THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS
11:15:02 ISSUE.
11:15:02 I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATION AS TO
11:15:05 THEIR POSITION ON THIS ONE.
11:15:07 CLEARLY, MORE DIALOGUE NEEDS TO BE DONE AND INCLUDING WITH
11:15:10 COUNCIL I THINK BEFORE WE VOTE ON THAT.
11:15:12 BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO COME OUT PREMATURELY ON ONE
11:15:18 PARTICULAR SIDE ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE FURTHER ENGAGING ON IT.
11:15:21 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
11:15:22 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
11:15:25 INFORMATION TO VOTE ON IT.
11:15:27 I WANT TO SEE A COMPLETE COMPREHENSIVE.
11:15:29 I KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS ALSO BECAUSE OF THE
11:15:32 14/15, THERE IS A ROAD THAT COMES THROUGH THAT DROPS OFF,
11:15:36 AND I HAVE A PICTURE -- I HAVEN'T PICTURED THAT ALL IN MY
11:15:40 MIND YET.
11:15:41 I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
11:15:43 I UNDERSTAND WHAT MR. DINGFELDER IS ALSO SAYING.
11:15:45 AT THIS TIME, I'D RATHER NOT VOTE ON IT MYSELF TO SEE WHAT
11:15:48 HAPPENS.
11:15:48 IF I HAVE TO VOTE TODAY, I'LL VOTE WITH MR. DINGFELDER.
11:15:53 I BELIEVE CHAIRMAN VIERA OF THE COUNCIL SAID THAT ALSO.
11:15:57 NOT AGAINST IT OR FOR IT.
11:15:58 I'VE GOT TO DIGEST WHAT I HEARD.
11:16:00 I HAVEN'T DIGESTED IT AT ALL.
11:16:02 >>BILL CARLSON: TELL ME IF IT'S APPROPRIATE TO DO IT HERE.
11:16:05 THEN I NEED TO WITHDRAW MY MOTION OR CHANGE IT?
11:16:08 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THE WAY I THINK IT'S GOING TO GO, YES, AND I
11:16:12 IMAGINE YOU WOULD WANT TO BRING IT UP TO COUNCIL INSTEAD OF
11:16:16 CRA.
11:16:17 ARE YOU WITHDRAWING YOUR MOTION?
11:16:19 >>BILL CARLSON: I WITHDRAW IT.
11:16:20 >>JOSEPH CITRO: GOOD.
11:16:21 THEN I DON'T HAVE TO MAKE MY STATEMENT.
11:16:24 ARE WE READY TO MOVE ON?
11:16:26 >>BILL CARLSON: CAN I ASK ONE THING?
11:16:28 THE WAY I FIRST HEARD THIS OPPOSITION WAS ON THE YCDC BOARD.
11:16:33 I SAT IN A YCDC MEETING AND I HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK,
11:16:38 NEGATIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS THERE.
11:16:39 I HAD NOT HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE I SAT IN THAT MEETING.
11:16:43 WHERE DO YOU THINK THE BEST VENUE IS?
11:16:45 WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS INVITE REPRESENTATIVE TO YCDC IF
11:16:50 THAT'S APPROPRIATE AND THE TRANSPORTATION TO GIVE AN UPDATE
11:16:53 ON IT.
11:16:54 >>JOSEPH CITRO: I THINK THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
11:16:57 AS PER COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER'S SUGGESTION AND COUNCILMAN
11:17:00 MIRANDA AS FOLLOW-UP, LET'S GET MS. DUNCAN IN HERE, MAYBE
11:17:05 WITH F.D.O.T. ALSO.
11:17:06 >>BILL CARLSON: WHAT I MEAN, IS IT MORE APPROPRIATE TO DO IT
11:17:12 IN A CRA MEETING OR COUNCIL MEETING?
11:17:15 >>JOSEPH CITRO: I WOULD DO IT IN A COUNCIL MEETING.
11:17:17 ALL RIGHT.
11:17:21 MS. VAN LOAN, WE ARE NOW GOING BACK TO AGENDA ITEM 1.
11:17:29 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: WE WOULD BE CALLING UP MS. NATASHA
11:17:31 GOODLEY TO REPRESENT THE EAST TAMPA COMMUNITY UPDATE.
11:17:34 >>JOSEPH CITRO: PERFECT.
11:17:35 THANK YOU.
11:17:35 MS. GOODLEY.
11:17:52 >> I'M A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER.
11:17:54 I APOLOGIZE IF I'M A LITTLE LOW.
11:17:58 >>JOSEPH CITRO: HOLLER, MS. GOODLEY.
11:18:01 I KNOW YOU HAVE A SORE THROAT.
11:18:03 >> FOR THE EAST TAMPA CRA PRESENTATION, WE'RE MAKING GREAT
11:18:05 STRIDES IN EAST TAMPA.
11:18:07 ON FEBRUARY 22nd, WE WILL GRADUATE OUR FIRST CLASS OF NINE
11:18:11 FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
11:18:13 THEREFORE, THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE'LL WELCOME NINE NEW
11:18:16 HOMEOWNERS.
11:18:17 HOST THE SECOND COHORT IN MID APRIL.
11:18:21 WE ARE ALSO FINALIZING THE VERBIAGE FOR OUR TREE-TRIMMING
11:18:25 GRANT TO ASSIST RESIDENTS WITH TRIMMING TREES THAT MIGHT BE
11:18:28 DANGEROUS ON THE PROPERTY.
11:18:29 AND, OF COURSE, WE STILL HAVE OUR OWNER OCCUPIED REHAB AS
11:18:34 WELL.
11:18:35 THEN OUR EVER-GROWING DEMOLITION LIST.
11:18:37 IT'S UP TO 161 PROPERTIES RIGHT NOW, WHICH HAS INFURIATED
11:18:42 SOME RESIDENTS AS IT APPEARS TO BE A MECHANISM TO TAKE
11:18:45 PEOPLE'S PROPERTY.
11:18:47 HOWEVER, THESE ARE ALL VACANT, ABANDONED PROPERTIES.
11:18:50 NONE ARE OCCUPIED.
11:18:52 AND MANY OF THESE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN BOARDED UP FOR
11:18:55 DECADES.
11:18:56 THE REAL QUESTION IS WHY WAS THIS ALLOWED TO LINGER IN EAST
11:18:59 TAMPA FOR DECADES?
11:19:01 WE KNOW THAT BOARDED UP PROPERTIES DECREASE PROPERTY VALUES
11:19:03 AND CHOKE ANY TYPE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH.
11:19:06 THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT MANY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE TAKEN
11:19:10 IT UPON THEMSELVES TO DEMOLISH THE PROPERTIES, AND OTHERS
11:19:15 HAVE APPLIED FOR PERMITS TO REHAB THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS
11:19:18 GOOD, BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE LIT A FIRE UNDER THEM TO
11:19:21 ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING.
11:19:22 AND, OF COURSE, THE REMAINING PROPERTIES WILL BE DEMOLISHED
11:19:25 BY THE CITY AND A LIEN WILL BE PLACED ON THE PROPERTY FOR
11:19:28 THE DEMOLITION, IF THE LAND STILL BELONGS TO THE ORIGINAL
11:19:34 HOMEOWNER.
11:19:34 WHEN AN AREA HAS GONE UNDERSERVED FOR DECADES, THE PEOPLE
11:19:38 SOON GROW ACCUSTOMED TO THE BLIGHT.
11:19:40 IT'S NORMAL TO SEE THE BOARDED UP HOMES AND DUMPING
11:19:43 THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
11:19:45 NOW WE'RE MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO BRING EQUALITY TO
11:19:49 EAST TAMPA.
11:19:49 I'VE BEEN TOLD WE'RE MOVING TOO FAST AND SHOULD SLOW DOWN A
11:19:53 BIT.
11:19:53 I BEG TO DIFFER.
11:19:54 BECAUSE THE RACE FOR EQUALITY CAN NEVER BE TOO SWIFT.
11:19:57 WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE MS. CYNTHIA FEW
11:20:01 AND HER TIRELESS EFFORTS ON GETTING THE LIGHT AT MLK AND
11:20:05 26th STREET.
11:20:05 WITH THE REMODELING OF THE ANDREWS LIBRARY AND SEVERAL
11:20:09 SCHOOLS IN WALKING DISTANCE FROM THAT INTERSECTION, THAT HAS
11:20:12 BEEN A DIFFICULT INTERSECTION TO CROSS AND HAS BEEN THE
11:20:15 PLACE FOR MANY ACCIDENTS.
11:20:16 SHE'S BEEN FIGHTING THIS FIGHT SINCE 2016.
11:20:20 SO WE WANT TO THANK HER FOR ALL OF HER EFFORTS.
11:20:23 WE'RE ALSO ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR OUR SUMMER YOUTH
11:20:27 PROGRAM.
11:20:27 APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH FEBRUARY 29th FOR A
11:20:31 TOTAL OF 36 YOUTH.
11:20:34 THE PROGRAM IS FOR RESIDENTS OF EAST TAMPA FOR PART-TIME
11:20:37 SUMMER EMPLOYMENT.
11:20:38 WE ALSO NOW HAVE FIVE PART-TIME POSITIONS THAT WILL BE
11:20:41 AVAILABLE FOR FIVE YOUTH THAT ARE 18 AND OVER TO HELP THEM
11:20:45 BECOME CITY OF TAMPA EMPLOYEES AND MERGE INTO OTHER JOBS
11:20:49 WITH THE CITY.
11:20:50 WE COULD MAKE GREATER STRIDES IF THE BLOCKS WERE REMOVED, IF
11:20:55 WE WEREN'T PITTING ONE NEIGHBORHOOD IN EAST TAMPA AGAINST
11:20:58 ANOTHER, IF WE WEREN'T TRYING TO HELP THE PROCESS BY SLOWING
11:21:02 THE TRAIN DOWN.
11:21:04 WE'VE HEARD THE EXCUSE THAT WE'RE UPDATING OUR STRATEGIC
11:21:07 ACTION PLAN.
11:21:08 WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THIS HAPPENS.
11:21:10 WE'RE STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN.
11:21:12 AND YOU CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH CREATING A BETTER EAST
11:21:15 TAMPA.
11:21:16 I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE LARGER PROJECTS SHOULD FALL
11:21:19 UNDER THE CONSULTANT, BUT WE SHOULD NOT COME TO A
11:21:23 STAND-STILL RIGHT NOW TO NOT BE TOLERATED, ESPECIALLY WHEN
11:21:27 WE DON'T HAVE THE START DATE FOR THE CONSULTING.
11:21:29 I WANTED TO ALSO SAY FOR THE RECORD, I'VE LIVED IN TAMPA BAY
11:21:34 FOR 18 YEARS.
11:21:36 I'VE SPENT ALMOST MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE IN TAMPA BAY, AND
11:21:40 I'VE LIVED IN EAST TAMPA NOW FOR ALMOST NINE YEARS AS A
11:21:43 HOMEOWNER.
11:21:44 I'VE BEEN THE CHAIR OF THE CAC FOR ONLY ONE YEAR AND FIVE
11:21:47 MONTHS.
11:21:48 WITHIN THE ONE YEAR AND FIVE MONTHS, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED
11:21:51 SEVERAL PROGRAMS FOR THE RESIDENTS AND ARE WORKING HARD TO
11:21:55 BEAUTIFY EAST TAMPA.
11:21:56 ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT I'VE JUST CALLED OUT HAVE BEEN
11:21:59 IMPLEMENTED SINCE I'VE BEEN CHAIR.
11:22:01 I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE FRUSTRATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
11:22:04 HOWEVER, MOST OF THAT FRUSTRATION IS DUE TO THE LACK OF
11:22:07 IMPROVEMENT THAT WENT ON FOR YEARS.
11:22:10 AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES WERE ALLOWED
11:22:13 TO REMAIN.
11:22:15 CODE VIOLATIONS WENT UNCHECKED FOR YEARS, ALL CONTRIBUTING
11:22:20 TO THE SUSTAINED BLIGHT WHICH WE NOW SEE.
11:22:22 THE SAME BLIGHT THAT HAS PREVENTED ECONOMIC GROWTH.
11:22:25 I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE FRUSTRATION, BUT YOU SHOULD BE
11:22:28 FRUSTRATED WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ALLOWED THIS TO EXIST
11:22:31 FOR YEARS.
11:22:34 IT'S BEEN SAID THAT I PERSONALLY DO NOT WANT TO REBUILD OR
11:22:38 IMPROVED FAIR OAKS PARK I WANTED TO ADDRESS.
11:22:42 I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH DOING WHATEVER THE PEOPLE WANT, BUT I
11:22:45 PERSONALLY BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CITY'S
11:22:47 BUDGET.
11:22:48 WE FOUND OUT DURING THE COMMUNITY MEETING AT FAIR OAKS IS
11:22:51 THAT THE PARK WAS REPEATEDLY INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET PLAN,
11:22:55 BUT NEVER MADE IT TO THE OFFICIAL BUDGET, WHICH IS WHY ONLY
11:22:59 QUICK-FIXES WERE DONE TO THE PARK.
11:23:01 I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT IT IS TIME TO INCLUDE THE PARK IN
11:23:03 THE CITY'S OFFICIAL BUDGET AND ALLOW THE CRA TO SUPPLEMENT
11:23:07 HOWEVER THE CRA SEES FIT.
11:23:08 FAIR OAKS WAS BUILT IN 1970.
11:23:11 AND I'VE BEEN CHAIR FOR ONE YEAR AND FIVE MONTHS.
11:23:16 I AM NO MEANS HALTING THE PROGRESS OF MOVING FORWARD WITH
11:23:21 THE FAIR OAKS PARK.
11:23:22 LASTLY, CONTRARY TO WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE, NOTHING HAPPENS ON
11:23:27 THE CAC BECAUSE I SAID SO.
11:23:30 I DON'T TAKE ANY OF THE MINUTES.
11:23:32 WE HAVE MS. EVA THAT RECORDS THE MINUTES FOR ALL CAC AND
11:23:35 PARTNERSHIP MEETINGS.
11:23:36 WE ARE A BOARD OF 13, AND EVERYTHING IS DECIDED BY VOTE.
11:23:41 OUR CAC IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO JOIN.
11:23:44 WE HAVE SOME WHO DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANY CHANGES OCCUR IN
11:23:48 EAST TAMPA, AND THAT'S THEIR PREROGATIVE.
11:23:51 IT'S INTERESTING HOW PEOPLE COME TO THESE MEETINGS WANTING
11:23:54 US TO DO MORE YET IN OUR MEETINGS, PROGRESS IS HALTED WITH
11:23:59 EXCUSES.
11:23:59 I'M THE CHAIR SO I'M WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT.
11:24:02 IT'S EASY FOR PEOPLE TO SAY IT'S YOUR FAULT BUT AGAIN I'VE
11:24:07 ONLY BEEN CHAIR FOR ONE YEAR AND FIVE MONTHS.
11:24:10 SO MANY OF THE ISSUES HAVE BEEN LINGERING, AGAIN, FOR ALMOST
11:24:13 DECADES.
11:24:14 I WANTED TO JUST LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT, WHAT WE'RE
11:24:22 WORKING ON, TRYING TO IMPLEMENT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH.
11:24:26 >>JOSEPH CITRO: ANY QUESTIONS?
11:24:27 COUNCILMAN GUDES AND THEN COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
11:24:30 >>ORLANDO GUDES: GENTLEMEN, IT'S HARD TO BE A VOLUNTEER.
11:24:35 I SIT BACK AND I'VE LISTENED TO COMMENTS WEEK AFTER WEEK.
11:24:41 IT'S TIME TO GET ON A BOARD AND PUT YOUR NAME -- [AUDIO
11:24:49 DROP] -- SIT ON A BOARD TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND WHEN I LOOK
11:24:54 AT THESE RECORDS HERE, BECAUSE I SAT ON THAT CAC BOARD
11:24:58 BEFORE I WAS ELECTED TO COUNCIL.
11:25:01 SO I KNOW THE FRUSTRATIONS OF DECADES OF WORK THAT WE THINK
11:25:05 SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE, DIDN'T GET DONE, BECAUSE THE LACK OF
11:25:09 PARTICIPATION FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THE BOARD.
11:25:11 SO YOU HAVE THE PARTICIPATION TO MAKE THINGS WORK.
11:25:18 A LOT OF TIMES WITH ORGANIZATIONS, THERE'S ONLY TWO, THREE
11:25:21 PEOPLE THAT KEEP THE ORGANIZATION AFLOAT.
11:25:25 PEOPLE GET MAD THAT DECISIONS AREN'T MADE, BUT YOU LOOK
11:25:28 AROUND, WELL, WHERE WERE YOU?
11:25:30 WHERE WERE YOU WHEN WE NEEDED YOU?
11:25:32 WHY DIDN'T YOU COME AND PUT YOUR NAME UP AND SIGN TO BE ON
11:25:35 BOARD TO HELP?
11:25:36 MY FRIENDS, IT'S HELL TO BE A VOLUNTEER.
11:25:42 WHEN YOU'RE NOT GETTING PAID AND PEOPLE ARE RIDICULING YOU
11:25:45 IN THE STREETS, YOU'RE A BUSINESS OWNER AND TRYING TO DO
11:25:48 RIGHT BY THE COMMUNITY, IT'S HARD TO BE A VOLUNTEER.
11:25:50 IT'S GOOD THAT -- WHAT HASN'T BEEN DONE, WHEN YOU GOING TO
11:25:56 GET ON THE BOARD?
11:25:57 YOU JUST FINALLY GOT 13 MEMBERS ON THAT BOARD.
11:26:01 I REMEMBER THE DAY THAT WE HAD TWO, THREE PEOPLE SHOW UP AT
11:26:03 THE MEETING.
11:26:04 COULDN'T GET A QUORUM.
11:26:05 THAT'S NOT YOUR FAULT THAT PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE GOING TO BE
11:26:08 COMMITTED AND DON'T SHOW.
11:26:10 TO GIVE THEIR HELP.
11:26:16 I SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE BECAUSE YOU HAVE
11:26:18 PUSHED THE NEEDLE SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN CHAIR.
11:26:21 I WANT TO GIVE PROPS WHEN PROPS ARE DUE.
11:26:28 I'VE BEEN AROUND AND SEEN THE POLICE BUILDING BUILT.
11:26:35 PEOPLE UTILIZE THE POLICE BUILDING.
11:26:37 WHEN THEY HAVE A CHILD CUSTODY ISSUE, A LOT OF PEOPLE COME
11:26:40 IN TO GET REPORTS.
11:26:45 MONEY WAS TAKEN TO DO THAT PROJECT, BUT THERE WAS A BOARD
11:26:49 THAT AGREED TO THAT, BE IT RIGHT OR WRONG OR DIFFERENT,
11:26:51 THERE WAS A BOARD IN PLACE THAT AGREED AND THE COMMUNITY
11:26:54 DIDN'T AGREE.
11:26:54 BUT AGAIN, I SAY DECISIONS ARE HARD SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE
11:26:59 VOLUNTEERING AND TRYING TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN.
11:27:03 ALL I CAN SAY IS KEEP YOUR HEAD UP.
11:27:05 THERE'S A PROCESS IN PLACE AND MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE
11:27:08 PROCESS OF THE CAC BOARD.
11:27:09 TALKING ABOUT TOP-DOWN, BOTTOM-UP.
11:27:12 PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE PROCESS.
11:27:13 I THINK THERE WILL COME A POINT THAT THE INTERIM DIRECTOR,
11:27:16 NEW DIRECTOR NEEDS TO HAVE A MEETING SO THE COMMUNITY CAN
11:27:19 KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS OF HOW THINGS GET DONE ON THE CAC
11:27:23 BOARD AND WHAT THE PARTNERSHIP ROLE IS.
11:27:26 THAT'S A PROBLEM, IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE TWO ROLES, AND I
11:27:29 DON'T THINK THEY MIX FROM WHAT I READ IN THE BYLAWS.
11:27:33 I THINK THAT'S TRUE, PEOPLE EDUCATED TO THE SYSTEM.
11:27:36 WHEN YOU'RE NOT EDUCATED TO THE SYSTEM, YOU GIVE FALSE
11:27:40 CONCLUSIONS, ALL KIND OF INACCURACIES.
11:27:43 PEOPLE HAVE TO BE EDUCATED TO HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS AND
11:27:47 PEOPLE HAVE TO GET OFF THEIR CANS.
11:27:49 GET ON THE LAND USE COMMITTEE, GET ON THE ECONOMIC
11:27:51 DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, GET ON SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES
11:27:53 WHEN YOU SEE ONE PEOPLE SHOW AND CAN'T GET A QUORUM TO GET
11:27:57 THINGS MOVING.
11:27:58 BUT YOU'RE NOT TO BLAME FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE
11:28:00 WRONG.
11:28:01 I'VE BEEN HERE NINE MONTHS.
11:28:03 I'VE TAKEN A LOT, BUT IT COMES WITH THE JOB.
11:28:09 YOU'RE NOT THICK SKINNED ENOUGH.
11:28:11 I HAVE TO LEARN TO BE A LITTLE MORE THICK SKINNED.
11:28:14 I HAVE TO TRY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.
11:28:18 I'M A PROBLEM SOLVER.
11:28:19 IT'S WHAT I DO.
11:28:21 IT'S WHAT I'VE ALWAYS DONE.
11:28:22 THAT'S WHAT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO TO TRY TO SOLVE THE
11:28:26 PROBLEM OF EAST TAMPA.
11:28:28 I CAN AGREE THAT EAST TAMPA HAS NOT MOVED THE WAY IT SHOULD
11:28:31 HAVE MOVED.
11:28:32 IT'S 7.4 MILES.
11:28:36 IT'S A LOT OF MILEAGE FOR A CRA.
11:28:39 SOME OF THE OTHER CRAs ARE SMALLER SO THEY'VE BEEN
11:28:43 THRIVING BETTER.
11:28:44 BUT WE STILL HAVE TO DO BETTER.
11:28:46 I ALWAYS SAID THAT WE'RE BIG, BUT WE HAVE NO MIDDLE POINT.
11:28:50 AND I THINK FOR THE EAST TAMPA CRA, WE NEED A MORE
11:28:53 AGGRESSIVE APPROACH.
11:28:53 WE HAVE TO HAVE A MIDDLE POINT AND GO WITHIN, WITHOUT TO
11:28:59 BUILD.
11:29:00 YOU CAN'T HAVE 161 PROPERTIES AND THINK YOUR COMMUNITY IS
11:29:04 GOING TO LOOK GOOD?
11:29:07 I DROVE AROUND WITH CHIEF OF STAFF.
11:29:09 DROVE AROUND ALL THE COMMUNITIES OF EAST TAMPA IN THAT
11:29:12 DISTRICT.
11:29:12 WE LOOKED AT WHAT THE POTENTIAL COULD BE, LOOKED AT THE
11:29:15 OVERGROWN LOTS, THE BOARDED-UP BUILDINGS.
11:29:18 WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE MONEY THE CRA HAS AND
11:29:21 ASKING THE COUNTY AND CITY TO BE ABLE TO MATCH THOSE FUNDS
11:29:23 AND DO MORE OWNER REHAB IN EAST TAMPA.
11:29:27 THAT WAY THESE LITTLE CRUTCH, I CALL CRACKS, THAT WHEN YOU
11:29:31 SAY THE OWNER REHAB AND ALL THE DIFFERENT CRITERIA AND
11:29:33 PEOPLE CAN'T GET THE HELP WITH ALL THE BLUE TOPS ON THEIR
11:29:37 HOUSES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET IT FIXED, SHOULD BE A SEPARATE
11:29:40 FUND, NO MATTER WHAT, WE'RE FIXING EAST TAMPA.
11:29:43 WE'LL GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITY AND STOP ALL THIS RED TAPE.
11:29:47 THERE ARE TOO MANY ROAD BLOCKS.
11:29:49 I'M NOT HOT SEAT NOW.
11:29:51 HEY, I'LL BURN UP OR WE'LL DOUSE THE FIRE.
11:29:54 I PLAN ON DOUSING.
11:29:56 ANYBODY, THE MANAGER, THE INTERIM DIRECTOR, I PLAN ON
11:29:59 HOLDING THOSE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
11:30:01 BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PERSONS SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING THOSE
11:30:04 IDEAS AND HELPING THOSE BOARDS AND MAKING SURE THE BOARDS
11:30:07 HAVE GOOD PEOPLE ON THEM.
11:30:11 GOING TO DIFFERENT ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, MEETING WITH THOSE
11:30:13 PEOPLE.
11:30:13 EVERYONE IS NOT GOING TO COME TO THE MEETINGS.
11:30:15 SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE GETTING OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE BUT
11:30:19 THEY LIKE THEIR LITTLE HOUSE.
11:30:21 WE HAVE TO GO TO THEIR HOUSE.
11:30:22 >> I GO TO EVERY MEETING.
11:30:27 >>ORLANDO GUDES: MY SUGGESTION, GOT TO MOVE.
11:30:29 NEW THINKING OF IDEAS, WHICH YOU BROUGHT A LOT OF DIFFERENT
11:30:32 PROGRAMS.
11:30:33 PEOPLE CALLED THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THE TREE PROGRAM.
11:30:37 HOPE NOT A LOT OF RED TAPE FOR THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE THERE
11:30:39 ARE SENIORS THAT NEED HELP GETTING THOSE TREES CUT.
11:30:43 PERIOD.
11:30:43 WE HAVE A CRA THAT WE CAN CUT THE RED TAPE VERSUS OTHER CITY
11:30:47 DOLLARS.
11:30:48 I HOPE WE'RE HAVING PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE
11:30:50 TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE AND MOVE AND CLEAN OUR PLACES UP.
11:30:53 I WAS AT A CONVENTION, LITTLE TOWN WENT AND BOUGHT A
11:30:58 SEMITRUCK, ALL THE REHAB PROPERTIES.
11:31:03 STREET BY STREET REBUILDING THE COMMUNITIES.
11:31:05 THOSE ARE THE PROJECTS WE'VE GOT TO WORK ON.
11:31:08 I'M GOING TO HOLD WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE ACCOUNTABLE NOW.
11:31:12 I'M GOING TO HOLD THE BOARD ACCOUNTABLE.
11:31:14 IT IS WHAT IT IS.
11:31:17 IF I HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE HELD
11:31:20 ACCOUNTABLE, TOO.
11:31:21 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
11:31:23 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: HARD ACT TO FOLLOW, COUNCILMAN GUDES.
11:31:28 I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY.
11:31:32 THE FIRST THING I WANTED TO SAY, I DON'T BELIEVE IN PERSONAL
11:31:36 ATTACKS IN ANY CONTEXT AT ALL.
11:31:38 ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND THE CRA, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO
11:31:42 YOU.
11:31:43 WE APPRECIATE YOUR GOOD WORK.
11:31:45 WE APPRECIATE YOUR VOLUNTEER WORK.
11:31:48 I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO COMES DOWN HERE, BUT I DON'T
11:31:51 APPRECIATE PERSONAL ATTACKS, NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION THEY
11:31:54 ARE FLYING.
11:31:55 LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY
11:31:58 AND BETTERMENT OF EAST TAMPA.
11:32:00 WITH THAT SAID, I DID WANT TO MAKE A SUGGESTION.
11:32:04 I THINK IT SORT OF CAME UP IN THE MAYOR'S DISCUSSION
11:32:07 YESTERDAY ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THAT SORT OF THING IS
11:32:11 I VOLUNTEERED IN THE PAST WITH BAY AREA LEGAL SERVICES.
11:32:15 I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THEM.
11:32:17 I'M JUST THINKING MAYBE WE COULD GIVE THEM A LITTLE GRANT, A
11:32:22 COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS GRANT SO THEY COULD AGGRESSIVELY GO
11:32:25 OUT AND WORK WITH THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE THE HOMES THAT ARE
11:32:30 PROBLEMATIC, TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET THOSE WILLS AND THOSE
11:32:36 LACK OF WILLS STRAIGHTENED OUT BEFORE THE CITY HAS TO TAKE
11:32:40 CHARGE AND DEMOLISH.
11:32:42 I'M NOT TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE DEMOLISHING BECAUSE I DO
11:32:46 KNOW SOME OF THE HOUSES NEED TO COME DOWN BUT AT THE SAME
11:32:49 TIME WE SHOULD TRY OUR BEST TO HELP THOSE FAMILIES KEEP SOME
11:32:54 OF THE MONEY WITHIN THE FAMILY INSTEAD OF JUST DEFAULTING
11:32:57 BACK TO THE CITY.
11:32:58 THAT WOULD JUST BE A FRIENDLY SUGGESTION.
11:33:03 I'M SURE BAY AREA LEGAL SERVICES WOULD BE GLAD TO WORK WITH
11:33:08 US IF WE CAN GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO DO THAT.
11:33:11 I'M PRETTY SURE THEY DO NOT HELP -- TYPICALLY, THEY DON'T
11:33:15 WANT TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE REAL ESTATE ISSUES BECAUSE THEY
11:33:18 FIGURE, WELL, YOU HAVE REAL ESTATE ISSUES, YOU MUST HAVE
11:33:22 MONEY, YOU DON'T NEED OUR HELP.
11:33:24 BUT SOME FAMILIES FIND THEMSELVES IN A CATCH 22 IN REGARD TO
11:33:28 THAT LEGAL HELP.
11:33:29 THAT'S JUST A SUGGESTION, IF YOU NEED ANY CONTACT
11:33:32 INFORMATION ALONG THOSE LINES, I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP.
11:33:41 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
11:33:42 >>BILL CARLSON: I FIRST WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUE'S
11:33:47 APPRECIATION FOR YOUR HARD WORK, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE NOT
11:33:50 FEELING WELL TODAY.
11:33:52 IT IS A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE.
11:33:53 I WANT TO ECHO AND AMPLIFY A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT YOU SAID.
11:33:57 THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
11:33:59 WE ALL ARE RECEIVING FEEDBACK.
11:34:02 WE'RE RECEIVING IT AT LEAST EVERY WEEK AND SOMETIMES IN
11:34:04 BETWEEN AND YOU ALL ARE AS WELL AND WE'RE ALL WORKING HARD
11:34:07 TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES.
11:34:10 JUST SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS, WITH ALL THE MONEY THAT WE MIGHT
11:34:15 BE ABLE TO GET IN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO
11:34:18 BE ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEMS OF NEGLECT AND ABUSE OF EAST
11:34:21 TAMPA AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST EIGHT
11:34:26 YEARS.
11:34:26 THERE WAS SO MUCH NEGLECT THAT WE CAN'T POSSIBLY FIX ALL THE
11:34:31 PROBLEMS IN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.
11:34:33 IT'S REALLY, REALLY FRUSTRATING.
11:34:35 WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIX THINGS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
11:34:38 THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE WERE HORRIFIC, NOT RENOVATING
11:34:44 $200,000, NOT RENOVATING THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY CENTER IN
11:34:48 EAST TAMPA, BUT SPENDING $12 MILLION ON A BOATHOUSE SO RICH
11:34:51 KIDS FROM THE NORTHEAST CAN COME RIDE THEIR BOATS IS
11:34:54 UNACCEPTABLE.
11:34:55 THERE WERE SO MANY BAD DECISIONS LIKE THAT.
11:34:58 TAMPA IS NOT A DICTATORSHIP ANYMORE.
11:35:00 WITH THE NEW MAYOR AND NEW CITY COUNCIL, WE'RE LISTENING TO
11:35:04 THE PUBLIC AND THAT'S WHY WE'LL GET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
11:35:06 EVERY WEEK TELLING US WHAT THEY THINK AND YOU'LL HEAR IT AND
11:35:09 EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WILL HEAR IT.
11:35:10 WE'VE GOT TO WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES.
11:35:15 WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, WORK WITH EVERYBODY.
11:35:19 IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO TRY TO FIGURE
11:35:23 OUT HOW TO FIX ALL OF THIS.
11:35:25 I THINK YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO HAS GIVEN US FEEDBACK,
11:35:30 WE'LL WORK REALLY HARD.
11:35:32 I THINK WE'RE UNANIMOUSLY IN AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO
11:35:36 ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT THE COMMUNITY IS TELLING US ABOUT.
11:35:50 >>ORLANDO GUDES: WHAT I CALL ASSETS THAT WE DO HAVE IN EAST
11:35:52 TAMPA.
11:35:53 WE TALK ABOUT GENTRIFICATION, WE HAVE THE ASSETS.
11:35:58 WE'VE JUST GOT TO REBUILD THOSE ASSETS WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
11:36:01 TO SLOW DOWN THE GENTRIFICATION.
11:36:05 I'M HOPING THAT WE COME UP WITH A PLAN, THAT YOUR BOARD WILL
11:36:10 COME UP WITH A PLAN AS WE ADDRESS THE 161 PROPERTIES, THAT
11:36:17 WE ADDRESS THESE 161 PROPERTIES, IF WE CAN BUY THEM AS THE
11:36:21 CRA, I THINK THAT'S KEY WHEN WE'RE SAYING WE'RE OWNING
11:36:26 THINGS BECAUSE NOW WE CAN DO THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO AS A
11:36:29 CRA TO BEAUTIFY THOSE COMMUNITIES.
11:36:33 SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE CORRIDORS, I
11:36:35 THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT BUYING THE ASSETS IN SOME OF THOSE
11:36:38 CORRIDORS SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO BRING THAT PROSPERITY AND
11:36:42 BRING THE THINGS WE WANT TO SEE TO EAST TAMPA.
11:36:46 THAT'S THE KIND OF FOCAL POINT I WANT TO LOOK AT WHEN I SAY
11:36:49 WE'VE GOT TO START REHABBING OUR COMMUNITY.
11:36:51 I'M HOPING WE'LL HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION IN MAKING SURE
11:36:54 THAT WE START LOOKING AT THE ASSETS WE DO HAVE AND
11:36:59 REBUILDING THE ASSETS WE HAVE.
11:37:02 LET ME SAY SOMETHING WITH FAIR OAKS.
11:37:04 MS. NOREEN COPELAND READ A BROCHURE OR DOSSIER THAT WAS DONE
11:37:12 YEARS AND YEARS AGO.
11:37:13 WHEN SHE READ ABOUT FACILITIES AND RECREATION, IT'S BEEN
11:37:25 THERE FOR DECADES.
11:37:26 I KNOW THE CRA HAD DOWN POINTS BUT THEN IT BOUNCED BACK.
11:37:32 WHEN YOU LOOK AT FACILITIES, SHOULD BE NO EXCUSE THAT THINGS
11:37:38 WERE NOT DONE, BUT THINGS WERE NOT DONE.
11:37:41 AND THAT WAS IN YOUR STRATEGIC WITH MS. WIGGINS.
11:37:48 WE'VE GOT TO GET THINGS DONE.
11:37:51 WE CAN'T WAIT ON STRATEGIC PLAN BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN
11:37:53 THAT'S GOING TO GET HERE.
11:37:55 WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK UNTIL WE GET A STRATEGIC PLAN.
11:37:59 THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE DONE.
11:38:00 I HAVE ALL THE CRAs BUT ONE.
11:38:02 EAST TAMPA IS MY BABY.
11:38:05 I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS BABY IS GROWING.
11:38:08 THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO GET DONE AND NEED YOUR BOARD TO
11:38:12 UNDERSTAND.
11:38:13 IT'S GOT TO GROW.
11:38:15 >>JOSEPH CITRO: NATASHA, GO AHEAD.
11:38:17 >> WE HAVE STARTED WITH LAND ACQUISITION ALONG 22nd STREET
11:38:21 WITH SOME OF THE PROPERTY WE ALREADY OWN.
11:38:24 WE HAVE DONE THAT IN TRYING TO EXPAND.
11:38:28 AS FAR AS 161 PROPERTIES GO, EVEN IF THE CITY DEMOLISHES,
11:38:33 IT'S STILL THE ORIGINAL OWNER'S LAND.
11:38:38 DON'T HAVE A LIEN ON IT, BUT STILL THERE.
11:38:40 WE WILL ONLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO PURCHASE IF IT
11:38:44 GOES TO AUCTION.
11:38:46 >>ORLANDO GUDES: THAT GOES TO MR. DINGFELDER'S POINT, IF WE
11:38:49 HAD A -- SOMEBODY CREATING THE LIENS MAY NOT WANT THE
11:38:56 PROPERTY.
11:38:56 MAYBE BY NEGOTIATING WHAT WE MIGHT OBTAIN THAT, SO IT'S NOT
11:39:01 BLIGHTED.
11:39:01 MY ONLY POINT ON THAT.
11:39:06 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN VIERA.
11:39:07 >>LUIS VIERA: I'LL MAKE A VERY SHORT COMMENT.
11:39:10 MS. GOODLEY, THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE WHILE YOU'RE SICK AND
11:39:13 YOU'RE STRONG BECAUSE THE BLOOD OF JOHNNY GOODLEY IS IN YOU.
11:39:16 THAT'S HER FATHER.
11:39:19 GOOD MAN.
11:39:21 THANK YOU.
11:39:22 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
11:39:25 >> I DID BRING A WIPE TO WIPE DOWN THE LECTERN SO NOBODY
11:39:29 GETS SICK.
11:39:34 >>JOSEPH CITRO: BOARD MEMBERS, IT IS QUARTER TO 12 NOW.
11:39:37 MAY I HAVE A MOTION THAT WE POWER THROUGH THIS UNTIL 12:30.
11:39:46 I THINK, ACTUALLY, 1:00 MAY BE MORE REALISTIC.
11:39:49 IF WE CAN KEEP OUR COMMENTS TO A MINIMUM, WE CAN GET DONE AT
11:39:53 12:30.
11:39:55 KEEP OUR COMMENTS TO A MINIMUM.
11:39:57 PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
11:39:59 >> CAN WE HAVE THE POWERPOINT.
11:40:03 MALCOLM KINER, CRA STAFF.
11:40:05 I WILL BE FAST.
11:40:06 PLEASE BRING UP THE PowerPoint.
11:40:09 THANK YOU.
11:40:15 SO, FIRST, WITH WEST TAMPA, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AS WE'VE BEEN
11:40:20 REPORTING EVERY MONTH, WE ARE VERY ACTIVE IN OUR
11:40:24 SUBCOMMITTEES.
11:40:24 THE FEW THINGS THAT I WILL HIGHLIGHT OUR HOUSING
11:40:30 SUBCOMMITTEE MET EARLIER THIS WEEK.
11:40:31 WE WENT OVER AND TENTATIVELY APPROVED THE SCOPE FOR A
11:40:35 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO WORK WITH A NUMBER OF NONPROFITS IN
11:40:39 THE AREA TO HELP WITH HOUSING REHAB.
11:40:42 AS I STATED IN PRIOR MEETINGS, WE WANT TO HAVE A
11:40:45 MULTIPRONGED APPROACH TO REHAB.
11:40:47 WE HAVE OUR HOMEOWNER OCCUPIED PROGRAM THAT WE'RE PARTNERING
11:40:50 WITH THE CITY ON.
11:40:52 THIS WILL BE WITH INDEPENDENT, NONPROFITS, AND THEN WE WILL
11:40:55 HAVE A THIRD LINK TO TRY TO REACH EVERY PERSON WITHIN OUR
11:40:59 AREA.
11:41:00 ALONG WITH THAT, WE ALSO DISCUSSED POSSIBLE DOWN PAYMENT
11:41:04 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THAT'S TAILORED SPECIFICALLY TO WEST
11:41:08 TAMPA AND SPECIFICALLY AS -- CONTINUE TO RISE IN WEST TAMPA.
11:41:13 INFRASTRUCTURE SUBCOMMITTEE PARTNERED WITH OUR ECONOMIC
11:41:16 SUBCOMMITTEE LAST NIGHT TO HOST A MEETING TO DISCUSS PARKING
11:41:19 IN WEST TAMPA.
11:41:20 THAT IS A BIG ISSUE AS OUR CHAIR KNOWS.
11:41:23 THAT WAS DISCUSSED A LOT DURING OUR STRATEGIC ACTION
11:41:26 PLANNING PROCESS.
11:41:27 >>JOSEPH CITRO: FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.
11:41:29 >>MALCOLM KINER: EXACTLY.
11:41:31 I WOULD SAY WE HAD A VERY ROBUST WEST TAMPA DISCUSSION LAST
11:41:34 NIGHT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THAT.
11:41:36 THAT WILL COME BEFORE THIS BODY AS WE CONTINUE TO COOK THAT
11:41:40 DOWN.
11:41:40 OUR SPECIAL EVENT SUBCOMMITTEE, DURING OUR LAST CAC MEETING,
11:41:44 THERE WAS A MOTION MADE FOR US TO BUDGET AN ADDITIONAL
11:41:47 $70,000 TOWARDS MARKETING.
11:41:49 THAT WILL COME BEFORE THIS BODY.
11:41:51 OUR SPECIAL EVENT SUBCOMMITTEE IS GOING TO LOOK AT CREATING
11:41:53 A MARKETING PLAN.
11:41:55 WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THAT ALONG WITH THE REQUEST FOR THE
11:42:00 FUNDING.
11:42:00 I WANT TO THANK OUR CHAIR, ACTUALLY, MR. ROBINSON, AS WELL
11:42:03 AS TECO, OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY JAN
11:42:08 WASHINGTON.
11:42:09 THE TAMPA POLICE FOR THE LED CONVERSION THAT IS GOING ON IN
11:42:12 WEST TAMPA.
11:42:13 TECO HAS CONVERTED THE MAJORITY OF THE STREETLIGHTS AS WELL
11:42:16 AS SOME LIGHTS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY TO LED LIGHTS.
11:42:20 OUR CHAIR, ALONG WITH OUR COMMITTEE WILL BE WALKING THE AREA
11:42:23 IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO TO FIND IF THERE ARE ANY GAPS IN
11:42:27 THAT PROCESS.
11:42:28 AS IT RELATES TO --
11:42:43 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: [MICROPHONE NOT ON] BECAUSE HE SAID
11:42:47 DIDN'T GET NOTICED ABOUT YESTERDAY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING
11:42:50 MEETING OUT THERE ON THE 18 ACRES ALONG THE RIVER.
11:42:55 ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?
11:42:56 >>MALCOLM KINER: IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
11:42:58 HE DID GET IN CONTACT WITH ME YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
11:43:01 I RESPONDED TO CHAIR ROBINSON.
11:43:05 AS HE STATED, I BELIEVE THE ADMINISTRATION DID REACH OUT TO
11:43:08 HIM TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH HIM REGARDING WHY THAT DID NOT
11:43:13 OCCUR.
11:43:13 HOPEFULLY MOVING FORWARD, THAT WON'T OCCUR.
11:43:16 I WAS GOING TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT HERE IN OUR NOTABLE
11:43:20 EVENTS, THE ADMINISTRATION, ALONG WITH OTHER CITY STAFF IS
11:43:23 PLANNING TO ATTEND OUR WEST TAMPA CAC MEETING AT THE END OF
11:43:27 THIS MONTH ON THE 25th TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL RFP ON THE
11:43:31 18-ACRE SITE THAT YOU ALL WERE ON YESTERDAY.
11:43:33 WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS
11:43:37 WITH US AS THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH AN RFP ON THAT LAND AND
11:43:41 TAKE THE OPINIONS OF OUR CAC AND CITIZENS OF WEST TAMPA.
11:43:44 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: SORT OF SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS AND WE
11:43:45 APOLOGIZED?
11:43:47 >>MALCOLM KINER: AS I UNDERSTAND, YEAH, THAT WAS THE CASE.
11:43:50 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THANK YOU.
11:43:51 GO AHEAD.
11:43:51 >>MALCOLM KINER: OKAY.
11:43:52 WELL, I'LL MOVE FORWARD TO DREW PARK.
11:43:55 .
11:44:00 DREW PARK, STILL ACTIVELY UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON THE LINEAR
11:44:04 PARK.
11:44:05 STAFF SUBMITTED TO THIS BODY A DRAFT OF THE SCOPE FOR OUR
11:44:10 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN FOR YOUR REVIEW.
11:44:13 THAT WAS THE WEEK BEFORE LAST WE SUBMITTED THAT FOR ANY
11:44:16 COMMENTS.
11:44:16 WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS FROM YOU ALL.
11:44:18 IF YOU WANT US TO SUBMIT IT AGAIN, WE WILL.
11:44:22 WE HOPE TO BRING THAT BEFORE THIS BODY NEXT MONTH FOR
11:44:25 APPROVAL.
11:44:26 OUR CAC DID OFFER SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO THE SCOPE AND
11:44:30 THE CONSULTANT HAS RESPONDED.
11:44:32 THAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
11:44:35 OUR FACADE GRANT PROGRAM IS ACTIVE, AND RECEIVING
11:44:39 APPLICATIONS, MAJOR INDIRECT ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF THE
11:44:45 STADIUM PROJECT ARE NOT LISTED ON YOUR SLIDE, ALONG GRADY
11:44:49 AND WHAT WAS A VACANT WAREHOUSE, REXEL ELECTRIC IS NOW
11:44:56 OPERATING.
11:44:56 WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THEM TO DREW PARK.
11:44:57 BLANTON GLASS SYSTEMS IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
11:45:00 WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THEM TO THE AREA.
11:45:03 THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
11:45:07 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. KINER.
11:45:10 MS. ORR.
11:45:15 >> GOOD MORNING.
11:45:15 COURTNEY ORR, CRA MANAGER YBOR CITY.
11:45:18 THIS DISCUSSION OBVIOUSLY OCCURRED AT LENGTH THIS MORNING,
11:45:27 BUT YCDC BOARD DID SUBMIT A LETTER IN OPPOSITION, WHICH
11:45:32 CHAIRMAN CITRO HAS.
11:45:33 SO, YEAH, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING IS
11:45:39 THEY ARE IN OPPOSITION OF THE 14th AND 15th STREET
11:45:41 ACCESS OR EXIT FROM I-4 DUE TO THE FACT OF THE WALKABILITY
11:45:47 IMPACTS IT COULD HAVE TO THE HCC STUDENTS AND HEALTH ISSUES
11:45:50 AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAD BEEN STATED EARLIER.
11:45:53 THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THAT LETTER.
11:45:57 THE PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE ARE MAKING CURRENTLY ARE
11:46:02 FERNANDO NORIEGA AND CENTRO YBOR GARAGE RESTROOMS, STILL
11:46:07 UNDERWAY BUT MAKING PROGRESS.
11:46:09 THE MONUMENT THAT WAS STARTING TO CRUMBLE ON PALM AVENUE HAS
11:46:12 BEEN REPAIRED AS WELL AS NEW SIGNAGE ADDED TO THAT.
11:46:17 AS YOU KNOW, THE VISION 2020 PLAN WAS APPROVED.
11:46:23 SO THAT IS A PLAN THAT WILL NOT BE ON THE SHELF.
11:46:26 WE'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT IT, TAKING IT TO EACH COMMITTEE,
11:46:29 EVERY COMMITTEE, WHICH WE HAVE THREE, HAVE REVIEWED ALL THE
11:46:32 ACTION ITEMS AND ARE ASSIGNING EVERY ITEM TO EACH OF THE
11:46:36 COMMITTEES AND THEN PRIORITIZING THE TOP TWO TO THREE THINGS
11:46:39 THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH AT A QUICK PACE, AND ONE OF THE
11:46:45 THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS VERY INTERESTED IN WAS
11:46:48 RESEARCHING ADAMO DRIVE AND CONDUCTING A STUDY ON ADAMO
11:46:54 DRIVE.
11:46:55 IF THERE'S DEVELOPMENT ON ADAMO DRIVE, THAT CAN GO HIGHER
11:46:59 THAN ALL THE OTHER HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE CORE OF
11:47:02 YBOR CITY, HOW COULD THAT CHANGE THE COMPLEXION OF YBOR
11:47:06 CITY.
11:47:07 WE'RE GETTING READY TO DEVELOP A SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR IT TO
11:47:10 GET THAT UNDERWAY.
11:47:12 ALSO, WE WALKED 7th AVENUE WITH TECO YESTERDAY.
11:47:15 WE SPENT ABOUT SIX HOURS WALKING 7th AVENUE TO IDENTIFY
11:47:19 WHERE ALL THE POLE LOCATIONS WILL GO FOR THE ARCHWAY LIGHT
11:47:23 ENHANCEMENT PROJECT.
11:47:24 THE SCROLL LIGHTS OVER 7th AVENUE HAVE BEEN THERE ABOUT 20
11:47:28 YEARS.
11:47:28 THEY NEED TO COME DOWN.
11:47:30 THEY WERE NEVER MEANT TO STAY UP THAT LONG.
11:47:32 WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH TECO A FEW YEARS NOW TO DEVELOP A
11:47:36 NEW DESIGN AND REMOVE ALL THE UNATTRACTIVE POLES THAT ARE
11:47:41 GRAY AND OLD AND TRYING TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL STREETSCAPE
11:47:44 ON 7th AVENUE.
11:47:46 WE'RE FURTHER INCHING THAT IMPORTANT PROJECT ALONG.
11:47:49 WE MET WITH THE STAFF OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
11:47:54 THEY ARE DOING A CITYWIDE PARKS MASTER PLAN AND WE WERE JUST
11:47:58 PROVIDING OUR INPUT TO IT AND WHAT CAME OUT OF THE VISION
11:48:01 PLAN AND LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE IMPROVING CENTENNIAL PARK,
11:48:05 POSSIBLY RESEARCHING, CREATING A LINEAR PARK ON 6th
11:48:08 AVENUE.
11:48:09 WE MADE SURE TO PUT IN OUR WANTS AND NEEDS IN THEIR MINDS
11:48:13 BUT THEY DID SAY THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMMUNITY
11:48:16 OUTREACH AS PART OF THAT.
11:48:18 YBOR WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INPUT TO IT.
11:48:21 PARKING SIGNAGE, WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR SIGNS HIT IN YBOR CITY,
11:48:26 SO WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR PARKING DIVISION TO BRING ABOARD
11:48:29 A CONTRACTOR THAT CAN STAY ON TOP OF THOSE ISSUES AND
11:48:33 REPLACE IMMEDIATELY ANY SIGNS THAT ARE DAMAGED.
11:48:37 WORKING VERY CLOSELY, HAND IN HAND WITH THE YBOR CITY
11:48:42 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
11:48:42 THEY ARE CREATING A STRATEGIC PLAN, SO THEY HAVE A NEW CHIEF
11:48:47 OPERATING OFFICER THAT WAS HIRED A FEW MONTHS AGO.
11:48:50 SO YBOR CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS REALLY DOING A GREAT JOB
11:48:53 OF BECOMING VERY ACTIVE AND A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY.
11:48:58 AND THEN THE SATURDAY MARKET, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING INTO ITS
11:49:03 20th YEAR, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT.
11:49:05 THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOING A BRAND UPDATE.
11:49:08 AND WE VALUE THE MARKET VERY MUCH BECAUSE THEY DO SERVE TO A
11:49:12 DEGREE AS A BUSINESS INCUBATOR AND THEY OPERATE EVERY
11:49:15 SATURDAY, RAIN OR SHINE.
11:49:17 52 MARKETS A WEEK -- I MEAN, A YEAR.
11:49:20 SORRY.
11:49:20 NOTABLE EVENTS, JIMMY'S TACOS, 1604 NORTH 17th STREET HELD
11:49:29 A RIBBON CUTTING IN JANUARY.
11:49:32 WE HAVE ANOTHER BUSINESS TO WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT.
11:49:36 YBOR CITY FESTIVAL SEASON IS IN FULL SWING.
11:49:39 THERE YOU HAVE LISTED THE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING THIS
11:49:43 MONTH.
11:49:44 THAT'S MY REPORT.
11:49:47 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU, MS. ORR.
11:49:49 ANY QUESTIONS?
11:49:53 >>ORLANDO GUDES: MS. ORR, HOW ARE WE DOING WITH THE
11:49:57 ORDINANCE OF THE STANDING LINES?
11:50:02 >> WE'RE WORKING WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT
11:50:04 GOES OUT TWICE A MONTH TO REVIEW THAT EVERYTHING IS WORKING
11:50:08 WELL WITH THE QUEUING LINES AT THE NIGHTCLUBS.
11:50:11 THEY HAVE PROVIDED A LONG LIST OF THE LAST TIME, WHICH I
11:50:16 FORWARDED TO YOU.
11:50:17 I HOPE YOU RECEIVED IT, BUT THERE WAS A PRETTY THOROUGH LIST
11:50:21 OF ALL OF THE NIGHTCLUBS THAT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
11:50:26 OBSERVED TO MAKE SURE THE QUEUING LINES WERE IN ORDER.
11:50:28 WE'RE STAYING ON TOP OF THAT, WORKING WITH TPD AS WELL VERY
11:50:33 CLOSELY.
11:50:34 >>ORLANDO GUDES: EVERYBODY IS BEING MONITORED, CORRECT?
11:50:37 >> EVERYBODY.
11:50:38 THE LIST WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 20 TO 25 BARS THAT THEY HAD
11:50:42 OBSERVED AND NOTED WHETHER THEY WERE FOLLOWING THE QUEUING
11:50:44 LINE ORDINANCE OR IF THEY NEEDED TO REMIND THEM WHAT THEY
11:50:48 NEEDED TO DO.
11:50:54 >>JOSEPH CITRO: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
11:50:57 THANK YOU, MS. ORR.
11:51:06 >>ED JOHNSON: GOOD MORNING.
11:51:07 ED JOHNSON, EAST TAMPA CRA MANAGER.
11:51:11 THERE WE GO.
11:51:13 I'M GOING TO SKIP THE FIRST SLIDE BECAUSE OUR CHAIRPERSON I
11:51:18 BELIEVE ADEQUATELY COVERED THE FIRST THREE ITEMS THAT WERE
11:51:22 ON THE DIRECT LIST, THE ONE ON DEMOLITION AND DEBRIS
11:51:27 REMOVAL, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
11:51:30 PROGRAM, WHICH IS GRADUATING SOON AND OUR EAST TAMPA CLEAN
11:51:34 TEAM, OUR YOUTH PROGRAM, AND THE FIVE PART-TIME INDIVIDUALS
11:51:39 WE'RE GETTING READY TO HIRE.
11:51:42 I'LL SKIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS CONCERNING OUR STREET
11:51:45 RESURFACING PROGRAM.
11:51:48 WE HAVE ALLOCATED FUNDING FOR FY '18 TO FY '22 THROUGH THIS
11:51:54 PROGRAM.
11:51:54 YOU HEARD EARLIER TODAY SOME FOLKS VOICING CONCERNS ABOUT
11:52:00 RESURFACING STREETS.
11:52:02 THIS CRA HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVELY SUPPORTING OUR TRANSPORTATION
11:52:07 DEPARTMENT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND WE'VE ALLOCATED
11:52:10 ANNUALLY OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL
11:52:14 YEARS TO ADDRESS ROAD RESURFACING.
11:52:17 IT'S DONE BY PRIORITY BASIS.
11:52:19 THE ROADS THAT NEED IT THE MOST ARE THE ONES THAT GET THE
11:52:21 MONEY.
11:52:22 I JUST WANT TO REPORT TO YOU THAT THE CAC APPROVED ADDING
11:52:27 ANOTHER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO THIS PROGRAM, BRINGING OUR
11:52:29 CURRENT RESURFACING FUND BALANCE TO $976,347.
11:52:35 COMPLETED PROJECTS FROM FY '19 INCLUDED SOUTHEAST SEMINOLE
11:52:41 HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD AND PARTS OF THE EAST TAMPA BUSINESS
11:52:44 AND CIVIC NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THE NORTHERN HALF.
11:52:48 CONSISTING OF 70,500 SQUARE YARDS OF PAVING.
11:52:54 PEDESTRIAN RAMP-UP WERE ALSO COMPLETED DURING THE
11:52:58 RESURFACING PROJECTS.
11:53:00 RESURFACING PROJECTS FOR FY 2020 INCLUDE EAST LAKE AVENUE
11:53:05 FROM 40th STREET TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD.
11:53:08 ALSO, SOUTHEAST SEMINOLE HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD, THE SOUTHERN
11:53:11 HALF, AND ALSO 13th STREET AT GIDDENS AVENUE ESPECIALLY TO
11:53:16 ADDRESS PAVEMENT PONDING ISSUES AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD
11:53:20 LOCATIONS TO BE DETERMINED.
11:53:21 AND THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES ARE GIVING YOU AN ILLUSTRATION
11:53:29 OF EXACTLY WHERE THOSE PARTICULAR LOCATIONS ARE LOCATED.
11:53:32 IT IS THE OVERVIEW MAP AND THEN THE DETAILED MAP OF THE
11:53:35 NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WILL BE RECEIVING THE RESURFACING
11:53:37 DOLLARS.
11:53:38 THIS IS THE NEXT ONE.
11:53:44 THE SOUTHEAST SEMINOLE HEIGHTS.
11:53:46 AND THEN THIS IS THE SOUTHERN PORTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO
11:53:51 WORK ON.
11:53:52 OF COURSE, THAT IS THE BIG LOOP ON LAKE AVENUE THAT'S GOING
11:53:56 FROM -- ALL THE WAY UP TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD.
11:54:01 NOW, OUR INDIRECT ACTIVITIES, I WANTED TO ADDRESS WHERE
11:54:09 WE'RE GOING WITH THE 34th STREET NORTH FROM COLUMBUS TO
11:54:13 EAST HILLSBOROUGH AVENUE PROJECT.
11:54:14 I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS, BUT
11:54:18 THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN LET.
11:54:21 DAVID NELSON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WAS AWARDED $3.7 MILLION
11:54:25 FOR THIS PROJECT.
11:54:26 IT IS A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
11:54:29 THE PRECONSTRUCTION MEETING WAS HELD JANUARY 21st.
11:54:33 THE CONTRACTOR IS SCHEDULED MARCH THE 2nd AS THE KICKOFF
11:54:36 DATE FOR THIS PROJECT.
11:54:38 AND THEY ARE GOING TO START AT THE INTERSECTION OF 21st
11:54:41 AVENUE FIRST.
11:54:42 NOTABLE EVENTS, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE
11:54:50 NEW SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES BEING DEVELOPED IN EAST TAMPA.
11:54:54 ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE WOW FACTOR.
11:54:56 I THINK SOME OF THESE ARE WOW FACTORS COMPARED TO WHAT HAS
11:55:00 BEEN THERE THAT WE'VE BEEN DEMOLISHING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
11:55:04 MONTHS.
11:55:05 THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT STYLES OF HOMES THAT ARE BEING BUILT
11:55:08 BY PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, NOT FOR PROFIT DEVELOPERS.
11:55:14 THESE ARE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE TAKEN IT UPON
11:55:16 THEMSELVES TO BUY PROPERTY IN EAST TAMPA AND BUILD ADEQUATE
11:55:22 MARKET-RATE HOUSING, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED IN THIS
11:55:25 COMMUNITY.
11:55:25 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MR. JOHNSON, WHO ARE THE DEVELOPERS DOING THAT?
11:55:29 >>ED JOHNSON: THE TOP HOUSE IS INFINITY HOMES CONSTRUCTION
11:55:32 COMPANY, AND THEY'VE BEEN BUYING TAMPA IN EAST TAMPA FOR
11:55:35 SOME TIME.
11:55:37 THEY HAVE ABOUT 15 PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY STARTED, AND
11:55:43 THEY DON'T BUILD ANYTHING UNLESS THEY HAVE A HOME BUYER.
11:55:47 THEY DON'T EVEN START CONSTRUCTION UNTIL THEY KNOW THEY HAVE
11:55:50 SOMEONE QUALIFIED TO BECOME A HOMEOWNER IN THEIR PRODUCT.
11:55:54 THE BOTTOM ONE IS BEING BUILT BY GULF BAY BUILDERS.
11:55:59 JOE GIBBONS IS THE CEO OF GULF BAY BUILDERS, AND THEY HAVE
11:56:03 BEEN BUILDING ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY IN EAST TAMPA
11:56:07 BUT OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
11:56:09 THEIR CONSTRUCTION IS WHAT IS CALLED INSULATED PANEL
11:56:14 CONSTRUCTION.
11:56:15 MOST OF HIS PROPERTIES ARE BUILT THAT WAY.
11:56:18 HE HAS A NUMBER OF STARTS ALONG 15th AVENUE, SOME ON
11:56:22 10th.
11:56:23 DEVELOPS A VERY NICE PRODUCT.
11:56:25 BY THE WAY, JOE WAS ALSO A GRADUATE OF ONE OF THE VERY FIRST
11:56:29 CLASSES THAT WE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
11:56:33 FLORIDA'S PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE FOR COMMUNITY REAL ESTATE
11:56:38 DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAM THAT'S IN ITS 13th YEAR.
11:56:43 JOE WAS IN ONE OF THE VERY FIRST CLASSES AND HE OBVIOUSLY
11:56:46 LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND IT HAS PAID OFF FOR
11:56:50 HIM.
11:56:50 >>JOSEPH CITRO: GO BULLS.
11:56:51 >>ED JOHNSON: YES, GO BULLS.
11:56:53 THAT COMPLETES MY REPORT, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
11:56:55 >>JOSEPH CITRO: ANY QUESTIONS?
11:56:56 THANK YOU.
11:57:09 >>ROB ROSNER: ROB ROSNER, CRA MANAGER FOR DOWNTOWN CHANNEL
11:57:12 DISTRICT, CENTRAL PARK AND TAMPA HEIGHTS.
11:57:14 WE'LL START WITH DOWNTOWN.
11:57:17 THE FIRST ONE OF OUR THINGS WE PUT OUT WAS FOR THE
11:57:21 CONVENTION CENTER.
11:57:21 WE PUT THE RFQ OUT.
11:57:23 YOU RECEIVED THAT.
11:57:24 THE CAC RECEIVED THAT.
11:57:26 WE RECEIVED MINIMAL TO NO COMMENTS.
11:57:28 IT WAS WELL WRITTEN AND WELL COORDINATED WITH THE CITY
11:57:32 DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THAT.
11:57:33 WE HOPE TO HAVE GOOD APPLICATIONS COME IN SOON.
11:57:38 WE ALSO HAVE THE RIVERWALK IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT
11:57:41 RECENTLY THAT GO ALONG WITH THE STRAZ PROJECT AND THE TOWER.
11:57:48 IN THE MIDST TO GETTING THAT 90% DRAWINGS BY THE END OF THIS
11:57:50 MONTH.
11:57:51 WE'VE BEEN MEETING ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO GET THAT.
11:57:54 WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE STRAZ AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
11:57:56 TO GET THAT DESIGNED PROPERLY AND PRICED AND READY FOR
11:57:59 SECOND PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION.
11:58:01 MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE,
11:58:09 RIVERWALK PLACE HAS GONE THROUGH SOME OWNERSHIP CHANGE,
11:58:13 INSTEAD OF A 53-STORY TOWER, THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO A 37
11:58:17 STORY TOWER.
11:58:18 ONE OF THE PARTNERS BOUGHT OUT DEVELOPMENTS.
11:58:21 THEY CAME TO US WITH RESTARTING THE REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS
11:58:25 FOR THAT PARCEL.
11:58:28 MOVING ON TO HARRISON STREET, WE'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW
11:58:32 THROUGH TECO EASEMENTS, TEMPORARY POWER RELOCATION,
11:58:35 UNDERGROUNDING, ALL THE THINGS THAT GO ON WITH WHAT WE'RE
11:58:38 DOING IN DOWNTOWN TO GET THESE DEVELOPMENTS IN PLACE.
11:58:41 SO A LOT OF THAT COORDINATION IS HAPPENING.
11:58:44 I NOTICED THAT SOMEBODY ASKED ABOUT THE BRICKS ON HARRISON
11:58:48 STREET.
11:58:49 THOSE ARE ALL GETTING REPLACED.
11:58:51 ADDRESSED THE GENTLEMAN RECENTLY AND WE HAVE THE CORRECT
11:58:54 ANSWER FOR HIM.
11:58:55 MOVING ON TO AER TOWER.
11:58:59 THEY STARTED THE DEMOLITION OF THE LIBRARY.
11:59:01 IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OVER THERE, THEY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SIZE
11:59:07 BITE OUT OF THE BUILDING.
11:59:08 QUITE EXCITING.
11:59:11 ONE OF THE OTHER ONES IS X TAMPA, WHICH I KIND OF MENTIONED
11:59:14 THIS BEFORE BUT FOUND A GREAT VIDEO ONLINE ABOUT THE PRODUCT
11:59:17 THEY ARE PLANNING TO DO.
11:59:18 THIS ONE IS KIND OF EXCITING, BECAUSE IT HAS, YOU CAN RENT
11:59:22 BY BEDROOM, AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO, THEY ARE DOING AN
11:59:26 ADAPTIVE REUSE, AND THEY ARE ALSO INCLUDING COWORK SPACE
11:59:30 INSIDE THE BUILDING.
11:59:32 IT'S KIND OF UNIQUE IN THAT WAY, THAT IT'S KIND OF CATERED
11:59:36 TO PEOPLE HERE FOR A SHORT TIME AND WANT TO DO THAT KIND OF
11:59:40 WORK.
11:59:41 IT'S AN EXCITING PRODUCT.
11:59:42 THEY ARE STILL WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET THOSE UNITS IN
11:59:45 PLACE.
11:59:45 THEY ARE IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS NOW.
11:59:47 >>JOSEPH CITRO: NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE THAT BUILDING, WOULD YOU?
11:59:52 >>ROB ROSNER: WE HOPE THEY DO, BUT THE IDEA IS THEY CAN COME
11:59:56 AND COWORK A FEW MONTHS, RENT BY THE BEDROOM, DO BUSINESS IN
12:00:00 TAMPA AND NOT HAVE TO MAKE A LARGE TERM INVESTMENT OR LIVE
12:00:03 IN THE HOTEL THE WHOLE TIME.
12:00:05 WE HAD A GREAT GASPARILLA.
12:00:06 I SAW MANY OF YOU OUT THERE.
12:00:08 I'M GLAD TO SEE SO MANY OUT THERE.
12:00:11 BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT DISTRICT, ANYBODY HAVE
12:00:14 QUESTIONS?
12:00:15 GREAT.
12:00:17 CHANNEL DISTRICT.
12:00:22 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: I'M SORRY.
12:00:24 ON THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AND THIS IS ONE OF OUR AGENDA ITEMS
12:00:27 AS WELL, BUT I'LL COMBINE IT, IF POSSIBLE.
12:00:30 SOMETHING ABOUT $38 MILLION APPROXIMATELY TOTAL FOR THE
12:00:33 CONVENTION CENTER IMPROVEMENTS.
12:00:34 AND THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO SHARING THAT EXPENSE WITH THE
12:00:39 TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, TDC, WHAT IS THAT SPLIT?
12:00:44 50-50?
12:00:45 >>ROB ROSNER: 50-50.
12:00:47 ONE TO ONE MATCH.
12:00:48 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: HOW LONG A PERIOD OF TIME?
12:00:50 I SAW TODAY ONLY 2.8 MILLION.
12:00:52 >>ROB ROSNER: TODAY IS A PROGRAM CHANGE.
12:00:54 OUR COMMITMENTS HAVE BEEN WE PUT IN 2 MILLION.
12:00:56 THEY MATCH 2 MILLION.
12:00:58 WE DID A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT.
12:00:59 EXTENDED THAT TO SEVEN-YEAR AGREEMENT.
12:01:02 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: HOW LONG -- THE 38 MILLION COMMITMENT,
12:01:05 HOW LONG IS THAT SPREAD OUT, ANTICIPATED OVER THE NEXT --
12:01:10 >>ROB ROSNER: PROBABLY ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS.
12:01:13 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: IT'S THAT LONG A PROGRAM.
12:01:15 >>ROB ROSNER: YES.
12:01:16 IT'S 2 MILLION EACH WAY.
12:01:18 ONE FOR ONE FOR 2 MILLION.
12:01:20 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THANK YOU.
12:01:21 >>ROB ROSNER: YOU'RE WELCOME.
12:01:22 AS WE MOVE ON TO CHANNEL DISTRICT, I'M GOING TO LUMP THESE
12:01:27 TOGETHER TO MAKE IT SIMPLER.
12:01:28 THE FIRST TWO ON THE LIST, WE HAD A PUBLIC MEETING FOR ONE
12:01:31 OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS THERE FOR THE PARKING.
12:01:34 WE EXPLAINED TO THE PUBLIC AND HAD A REALLY GOOD
12:01:37 PARTICIPATION OF OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE.
12:01:39 WE PUT OUT A HUNDRED CHAIRS AND THERE WAS STANDING ROOM
12:01:42 ONLY.
12:01:43 A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT PARKING.
12:01:45 ADDING 82 PARKING SPACES INTO THE AREA.
12:01:47 WE SHOWED 13 DIFFERENT MAPS FOR EACH ONE OF THE NEW PARKING
12:01:51 SPACES WE'LL BE INCORPORATING.
12:01:53 SOME WILL BE RENOVATED, PUT IN PLACE OR OTHERS PUT IN AS NEW
12:01:57 SPACES.
12:01:58 SO THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
12:02:00 AND WE WORKED WITH SMART MOBILITY TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION.
12:02:02 SO THAT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL MEETING.
12:02:06 WE HAD VERY GOOD FEEDBACK ON THAT.
12:02:09 ON THE DISTRICT-WIDE PROJECTS, A-1 AND A-2 ARE THE ONES IN
12:02:13 CONSTRUCTION AND IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DOING THE PUBLIC INPUT
12:02:16 PROCESS FOR THE OTHER PHASES RIGHT NOW.
12:02:19 ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS DIRECTLY ON THOSE STREETS ARE BEING
12:02:21 CONTACTED RIGHT NOW.
12:02:24 AS I WAS SITTING IN THE BACK ROOM, TRYING TO MAKE DATES AND
12:02:28 TIMES FOR EACH ONE OF THE MEMBERS.
12:02:31 WE ARE ENGAGING THE PUBLIC ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS --
12:02:36 [INAUDIBLE BECAUSE OF COUGH]
12:02:40 MORE DIRECT ACTIVITY, MADISON STREET PARK, WE'RE GETTING
12:02:44 READY TO NEXT WEEK.
12:02:46 I'M SURE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE CONTACTING YOU ABOUT
12:02:50 A GRAND OPENING.
12:02:51 THEY HAVEN'T SHARED A DATE WITH US YET.
12:02:53 WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
12:02:55 INDIRECT ACTIVITIES, KATIE KELLER, WHICH IS ANOTHER
12:02:58 PARTNERSHIP THROUGH KEN STOLTENBERG AND A DIFFERENT SET OF
12:03:03 PARTNERS, THEY'RE GOING TO REDEVELOP THE WILLIAMS OIL SITE.
12:03:06 SIMILAR TO THE CHANNEL CLUB, JUST DIFFERENT LAYOUT.
12:03:10 WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON DOING A POLE RELOCATION BECAUSE
12:03:18 ONE OF THE MAJOR TRANSMISSION POLES IN THE AREA IS RIGHT ON
12:03:19 THE CURB LINE AND NOT SAFE.
12:03:23 LONG GUY-WIRES.
12:03:24 TRYING TO GET THEM OUT OF THE WAY SO THEY CAN DEVELOP THE
12:03:26 PROPERTY.
12:03:27 WE CAN MAKE IT SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS AND FOR THE SAFETY OF
12:03:29 THE VEHICLES IN THE AREA.
12:03:31 ALSO MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT.
12:03:33 ANY QUESTIONS ON CHANNEL DISTRICT?
12:03:37 GREAT.
12:03:40 TAMPA HEIGHTS, THINGS ARE GOING FAIRLY SMOOTHLY.
12:03:43 WE HAD OUR FIRST COSPONSORSHIP.
12:03:45 THEY HAD THEIR FIRST JAZZ REBORN OVER IN WATER WORKS PARK.
12:03:50 THAT WAS ABLE TO GET THAT COSPONSORSHIP IN PLACE TO HELP
12:03:54 ACTIVATE THAT PARK.
12:03:55 THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON WITH SOHO CAPITAL, WORKING WITH
12:03:59 TECO, VERIZON, ON BOTH DIFFERENT KINDS OF UNDERGROUNDING
12:04:04 UTILITIES, WHICH IS THE KIND OF ASSISTANCE WE CAN OFFER
12:04:06 BESIDES WHAT WE'RE DOING TO PAY BACK THE BOND ON THAT ONE.
12:04:10 THEY HAVE THE CLADDING GOING UP ON THE HEIGHTS BUILDING.
12:04:14 THEY ARE STARTING TO ENCLOSE AND GET THOSE BUILDINGS CLOSER
12:04:17 TO COMPLETION.
12:04:17 AS A NOTABLE EVENT, WE HAD A ULI EVENT.
12:04:29 I SAW A NUMBER OF YOU AT THE EVENT.
12:04:31 IT WAS WELL ATTENDED.
12:04:32 IT WAS HOSTED THROUGH THERE.
12:04:34 THE TAMPA HEIGHTS FOLKS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF URBAN
12:04:37 PLANNING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
12:04:40 WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THAT RELATIONSHIP ON AN ANNUAL
12:04:43 BASIS.
12:04:43 ANY QUESTIONS ON TAMPA HEIGHTS BEFORE I MOVE ON?
12:04:47 >>JOSEPH CITRO: BOARD MEMBERS?
12:04:48 >>ROB ROSNER: GREAT.
12:04:49 THANK YOU.
12:04:50 CENTRAL PARK, WE DID RUN INTO THE MEACHUM URBAN FARMS.
12:05:06 TRAVIS.
12:05:07 VERY EXCITED.
12:05:08 CAME BY YESTERDAY TO TALK TO US ABOUT WHERE THINGS ARE AND
12:05:13 EXCITED TO SEE THAT MOVING.
12:05:14 WE'RE EXCITED FOR HIM AS WELL.
12:05:15 ENCORE TAMPA, THE LAST ONE WAS THE LOT 9.
12:05:20 THAT ONE DID SELL FOR $4.66 MILLION.
12:05:23 AND THEY ARE IN PERMITTING.
12:05:25 WE ARE STARTING THOSE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT GETTING THE NORMAL
12:05:29 UTILITIES LIGHTING, ALL THE THINGS WE DO WHEN WE WORK WITH
12:05:32 OUR DEVELOPERS.
12:05:33 SO CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
12:05:35 DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
12:05:37 >>JOSEPH CITRO: QUESTIONS?
12:05:38 THANK YOU, MR. ROSNER.
12:05:41 >>ROB ROSNER: THANK YOU.
12:05:50 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: MICHELLE VAN LOAN, ECONOMIC AND URBAN
12:05:52 DEVELOPMENT.
12:05:53 JUST TO ROUND OUT OUR MONTHLY REPORT, I WANTED TO LET YOU
12:05:56 KNOW STARTING IN MARCH I WILL BE COMING IN RESPONSE TO MANY
12:06:00 OF YOU CONTACTING ME INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME
12:06:04 OF THE FINANCES, THE BUDGETING, THE BALANCES FOR OUR CRAs.
12:06:09 WE WILL COME WITH A FULL PROJECTION FROM 2020 TO 2024 BASED
12:06:15 ON CONSERVATIVE REVENUE PROJECTIONS, WHAT OUR BALANCES WOULD
12:06:18 BE WITH CURRENT COMMITMENTS, CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS,
12:06:21 IF WE CONTINUED WITH CURRENT PROGRAMMING.
12:06:23 OBVIOUSLY, THOSE WERE ALL ON ANNUAL BASIS.
12:06:26 WE WILL SHOW THAT TO YOU THROUGH 2024, ACROSS ALL THE CRAs
12:06:30 SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT THOSE ACTUAL BALANCES LOOK LIKE VERSUS
12:06:34 WHAT YOU SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON A QUARTERLY REPORT WE JUST
12:06:38 SUBMITTED TO YOU ON THE AGENDA, THE FOURTH QUARTER FOR 2019,
12:06:41 AND YOU SEE THESE LARGE BALANCES.
12:06:43 ONE EXAMPLE JUST WAS DISCUSSED, YOU DON'T SEE IT ON THE
12:06:46 QUARTERLY REPORT BUT WE PUT OUT THE RFP FOR 38 MILLION, HALF
12:06:51 OF WHICH WILL COME OUT OF THAT BALANCE FOR THE CRAs FOR
12:06:55 DOWNTOWN.
12:06:55 SO WE WANT TO SHOW THAT TO YOU ALL ON ONE SPREADSHEET ACROSS
12:06:59 THE CRAs AND WE'LL BE MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IN MARCH.
12:07:03 ADDITIONALLY, AS WE PREPARE FOR OUR ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT
12:07:07 THAT IS ONE OF OUR REQUIRED REPORTINGS AS THE CRA AGENCY, WE
12:07:11 WILL BE BRINGING THAT DRAFT TO YOU AT THE MARCH MEETING FOR
12:07:15 FINAL APPROVAL IN APRIL, AND WE WILL BE BRINGING A
12:07:18 PRESENTATION TO YOU ON A BRIEF SORT OF SUMMARY HOW EACH OF
12:07:22 THE CRAs HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THEIR CRP, THE COMMUNITY
12:07:26 REDEVELOPMENT PLAN TO DATE, AS WE ARE ALSO NOW STARTING TO
12:07:29 REPORT THAT IN THE ANNUAL REPORT.
12:07:31 MOVING ON, ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 3 -- 4, FOR
12:07:38 THE FAIR OAKS.
12:07:40 I WANTED TO REPORT BACK ON COUNCILMAN GUDES' MOTION THAT WE
12:07:45 HAVE A TASK FORCE IN EAST TAMPA TO LOOK AT THE 26th AVENUE
12:07:49 AND NORTH 26th POND.
12:07:51 WE DID GO OUT AND CREATE A TASK FORCE WITH INPUT ON MEMBERS
12:07:55 FROM BOTH COUNCILMAN GUDES AND THE EAST TAMPA COMMUNITY.
12:07:58 THOSE MEMBERS THAT WE INVITED WERE ROLAND DANIELS, KEN
12:08:00 STOLTENBERG, NATASHA GOODLEY, MAYA CAROCIA, LARRY ROUNDTREE,
12:08:06 REPRESENTATIVE FROM ETBCA, JOSEPH JOHNSON, ISAAH ANTONIO,
12:08:10 GRANT TATE, CYNTHIA FEW AND ANDREA CLARK.
12:08:14 WE COULDN'T GET EVERYBODY ALL TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND ON ONE
12:08:17 SAME NIGHT, SO WE'VE HAD THREE MEETINGS SO FAR ON MONDAY
12:08:21 NIGHTS.
12:08:22 EVERYONE INVITED CONTINUES TO BE ON OUR DISTRIBUTION LIST
12:08:25 FOR THE MINUTES AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO DATE.
12:08:28 ON MARCH 23rd, WE HAVE RESERVED CYRUS GREENE FOR COMMUNITY
12:08:33 MEETING TO GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE IMMEDIATE AREA TO
12:08:36 TALK ABOUT IMPACTS ON THEIR COMMUNITY, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE
12:08:40 TO SEE ON THE POND, THEIR IMPRESSIONS OF THE POND AND GAIN
12:08:43 THE COMMUNITY INPUT.
12:08:44 LEADING UP TO THAT DATE ON MARCH 23rd, MAYA AND HER
12:08:48 STUDENTS WILL BE GOING OUT DOOR TO DOOR TO DO ANYWHERE
12:08:55 BETWEEN 90 TO 110 SURVEYS IN PERSON OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS
12:08:57 WHO ARE WITHIN THAT WATERSHED, ABOUT 235-ACRE WATERSHED THAT
12:09:01 DRAINS INTO THE POND TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK.
12:09:03 WE WILL ALSO POST THAT SURVEY ONLINE.
12:09:06 WE WILL ALSO BE GOING TO THE BUSINESSES ALONG 22nd STREET
12:09:10 AND WITHIN THAT CORRIDOR, LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT THE SURVEY
12:09:13 AND THE PUBLIC MEETING TO INVITE THEM AND WE ARE WORKING
12:09:16 WITH THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN THAT AREA TO
12:09:19 ALSO HELP THEM GET OUT TO THEIR RESIDENTS AND THEIR
12:09:23 MEMBERSHIP TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S COMING, WHY, AND THE
12:09:27 PURPOSE.
12:09:28 WE WILL BE DEVELOPING FLYERS, WHICH WILL BE HANDED OUT, AND
12:09:30 WE ARE PARTNERING WITH JANELLE TO ALSO HELP GET THAT WORD
12:09:33 OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY, AGAIN, ALL CULMINATING IN THE
12:09:35 MARCH 23rd MEETING, AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK WITH THE
12:09:40 RESULTS OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT SOURCES
12:09:42 OF INFORMATION.
12:09:45 >>ORLANDO GUDES: MS. VAN LOAN, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE HELM
12:09:52 LIKE I ASKED DURING THE MOTION.
12:09:54 I THINK WHEN I TALK ABOUT A MIDPOINT IN EAST TAMPA, WE'VE
12:09:58 GOT TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO HAVE A MIDPOINT.
12:10:04 I THINK THAT LOCATION IS A MIDPOINT THAT CAN BRING A GOOD
12:10:07 ATTRACTION.
12:10:08 I THINK A HUB FOR PEOPLE CAN SEEK SOMETHING GOING ON.
12:10:14 HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THE BUSINESS OWNERS,
12:10:16 THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA.
12:10:18 AGAIN, LIKE I SAY, WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEPLACE IN THE EAST
12:10:21 THAT IS A MIDPOINT SO PEOPLE CAN SEE WITHIN WHAT'S HAPPENING
12:10:25 SO THEY BELIEVE.
12:10:26 AND WHEN THEY SEE THINGS, THEY BEGIN TO BELIEVE.
12:10:29 THEY BEGIN TO GET INVOLVED.
12:10:32 HOPEFULLY GET ON SOME OF THE BOARDS THAT WE DO HAVE IN EAST
12:10:34 TAMPA.
12:10:35 I THINK THE LACK OF NOTHING BEING DONE.
12:10:42 PEOPLE HAVE TO SEE A BENEFIT SOMETIMES.
12:10:43 THEY ARE HUNGRY, BUT THEY'VE GOT TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE IS
12:10:48 REALLY GOING TO PUT A PLATE OUT TO REALLY SERVE THEM.
12:10:51 I'M HOPING WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS THAT WE CAN GET
12:10:54 SOMETHING GOING TO HAVE A FOCAL POINT FOR THE EAST, LIKE WE
12:10:57 HAVE A FOCAL POINT GOING FOR THE MIDTOWN PROJECT, THE UPTOWN
12:11:02 PROJECT.
12:11:02 WE NEED AN EAST TOWN PROJECT SO PEOPLE CAN BELIEVE.
12:11:06 THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING WE CAN ACCOMPLISH.
12:11:08 THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING WE'VE GOT TO BE AGGRESSIVE NOW IN WHAT
12:11:11 WE'RE DOING NOW SO EVERYBODY WON'T BE UNDER FIRE.
12:11:16 SO WE CAN KIND OF DOUSE THE FIRE SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT
12:11:20 WE'RE WORKING.
12:11:20 THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
12:11:26 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: OKAY.
12:11:27 MOVING ON, WE DID MENTION THAT ITEM 4 IS BEING POSTPONED TO
12:11:31 MARCH.
12:11:31 WE ALREADY HAD ITEM 5.
12:11:33 SO MOVING ON TO ITEM 6, WHICH IS OUR FACADE GRANT
12:11:37 RESOLUTION.
12:11:38 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MOVE ITEM 6.
12:11:40 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
12:11:43 SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
12:11:45 ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
12:11:46 ALL OPPOSED?
12:11:48 MOTION PASSES.
12:11:49 RESOLUTION PASSES.
12:11:50 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: ITEM 7 IS MS. ZELMAN ON YOUR SERVICE
12:11:53 LEVEL AGREEMENT AND THE ADJUSTMENTS MADE BASED ON YOUR
12:11:56 COMMENTS AT THE LAST CRA BOARD MEETING.
12:12:05 >>ANDREA ZELMAN: GOOD AFTERNOON.
12:12:07 ANDREA ZELMAN, LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
12:12:09 I APOLOGIZE.
12:12:11 I AM A FAN OF A RED-LINED DOCUMENT AND I DON'T HAVE ONE FOR
12:12:14 YOU.
12:12:16 IT'S A VERY LONG STORY, BUT I APOLOGIZE.
12:12:20 I WILL QUICKLY WALK YOU THROUGH THE CHANGES MADE TO THE
12:12:23 AGREEMENT THAT YOU ACTUALLY APPROVED BY RESOLUTION IN
12:12:26 SEPTEMBER.
12:12:27 BUT AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, WE NEVER DID SEND IT TO THE MAYOR
12:12:31 -- WE NEVER BROUGHT IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE THE
12:12:34 MAYOR TO SIGN IT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY BECAUSE THE CITY
12:12:37 COUNCIL HAD ASKED FOR SEVERAL CHANGES TO BE MADE OVER THE
12:12:40 NEXT FEW MONTHS.
12:12:42 SO THIS DOCUMENT YOU NOW HAVE REFLECTS ALL THOSE CHANGES
12:12:46 THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
12:12:48 I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THEM QUICKLY.
12:12:50 STARTING ON PAGE 2, THE LAST WHEREAS CLAUSE ON THAT PAGE IS
12:12:55 JUST BASICALLY ME STATING THAT ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2019, YOU
12:13:01 APPROVED THIS, BUT THEN ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO
12:13:05 REFLECT THE CHANGES TO THE DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES AND TO
12:13:09 REFLECT THE ADDITION OF A NEW POSITION OF CRA DIRECTOR.
12:13:15 MOVING ON TO PAGE 3, ARTICLE 1A, WHERE WE HAVE THE LIST OF
12:13:21 SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CITY TO THE CRA.
12:13:25 AS YOU'LL RECALL, COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON ASKED US TO MAKE
12:13:30 SEVERAL CHANGES TO THAT.
12:13:31 WE DID.
12:13:32 WE BROUGHT THEM BACK BEFORE YOU PREVIOUSLY.
12:13:34 AGAIN, THAT LIST WAS SHORTENED.
12:13:37 IT USED TO HAVE 15 OR 18 ITEMS AND NOW HAS 11.
12:13:42 WE REWROTE THOSE A LITTLE BIT.
12:13:44 MOVING ON TO PAGE 5, ARTICLE 3A, THIS IS WHERE WE ADDED
12:13:48 LANGUAGE SAYING THAT YOU NOW WILL HAVE A CRA DIRECTOR.
12:13:54 AS YOU'LL RECALL AND YOU SAW THIS LANGUAGE LAST MONTH.
12:13:57 HOWEVER, LAST MONTH YOU ASKED ME TO ADD THE FOLLOWING
12:14:00 SENTENCE, WHICH I DID, IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PARAGRAPH.
12:14:02 THE CRA DIRECTOR WILL REPORT FUNCTIONALLY TO THE CRA BOARD
12:14:06 AND ADMINISTRATIVELY TO THE MAYOR.
12:14:08 SO THAT'S BEEN ADDED SINCE LAST MONTH.
12:14:11 ON THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 5 IN B, WE ACTUALLY UPDATED THE BUDGET
12:14:23 CHART YOU SEE THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH MONEY FROM EACH CRA GOES
12:14:28 TOWARD PAYING THE STAFF SALARIES.
12:14:30 THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT ASKED US TO REVISE THAT.
12:14:34 THE PREVIOUS ONE WE HAD INCLUDED OPERATING EXPENSES AND THE
12:14:37 CRA DOES NOT ACTUALLY PAY THE CITY FOR THOSE OPERATING
12:14:40 EXPENSES.
12:14:41 SO THE NUMBERS CHANGED SLIGHTLY.
12:14:45 AND ON PAGE 6, THE TOTAL AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAD BEEN
12:14:51 $1,722,418 AND IT'S NOW, $1,626,268.
12:15:00 AGAIN, THAT'S TO MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT THE FACT THAT THE
12:15:04 CRA DOESN'T PAY THE CITY FOR THE OPERATING EXPENSES, ONLY
12:15:08 FOR THE SALARIES.
12:15:09 THE NEXT PARAGRAPH, THE CRA DIRECTOR PERFORMANCE REVIEW.
12:15:15 AGAIN, THAT LANGUAGE WAS ADDED PURSUANT TO A MOTION YOU HAD
12:15:19 MADE SEVERAL MEETINGS AGO.
12:15:20 YOU SAW THAT LAST MONTH, BUT I'M JUST REMINDING YOU OF THAT.
12:15:28 THAT IS IT.
12:15:30 THOSE ARE ALL THE CHANGES.
12:15:31 THIS AGREEMENT IS READY FOR YOU TO APPROVE.
12:15:33 WE'LL BRING IT TO CITY COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO
12:15:35 SIGN IT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, SHOULD YOU DO SO.
12:15:40 ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS?
12:15:41 >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
12:15:44 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
12:15:47 SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
12:15:48 ALL IN FAVOR?
12:15:49 ANY OPPOSED?
12:15:50 THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN MOVED.
12:15:53 >>ANDREA ZELMAN: THANK YOU ALL.
12:15:54 IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU.
12:15:56 WELCOME TO YOUR NEW CRA ATTORNEY.
12:16:06 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: I ALSO DID WANT TO CONFIRM FOR
12:16:08 COUNCILMAN CARLSON THAT, YES, ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU
12:16:13 INCORPORATED IN SERVICES ARE REFLECTED IN THE NEW EDITED
12:16:17 VERSION, WHICH AGAIN WAS THE SAME AS YOU HAD LAST MONTH.
12:16:21 >>BILL CARLSON: CAN I JUST SAY I THANK BY E-MAIL BUT I
12:16:27 WANTED TO THANK THE ENTIRE STAFF.
12:16:28 A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKED ON THIS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS IN
12:16:32 GETTING US TO THIS POINT.
12:16:33 THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU, CHIEF OF STAFF, MAYOR, FOR GETTING
12:16:36 US HERE.
12:16:36 I THINK THEY ARE IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS.
12:16:38 THANK YOU ALL.
12:16:41 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: THANK YOU.
12:16:42 MOVING ON TO ITEM 8, WE HAVE THE DOWNTOWN REPROGRAMMING.
12:16:45 I WANT TO JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS SAID
12:16:48 EARLIER WHEN THE DOWNTOWN PRESENTATION WAS BEING MADE.
12:16:51 WE HAVE JUST PUT OUT THAT RFP FOR THE 38.8 MILLION.
12:16:55 THIS REPROGRAMMING IS FOR IMMEDIATE CONSTRUCTION NEEDS AND
12:16:59 IMPROVEMENT NEEDS THAT WE HAVE PRIOR TO THAT TWO-YEAR
12:17:03 CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STARTING.
12:17:05 SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THAT WOULD BE 5.7.
12:17:07 THERE'S ALREADY MONEY IN THE BUDGET.
12:17:09 SO WE ARE MOVING TO REPROGRAM THAT BALANCE OF 2.7 MILLION.
12:17:13 IT WILL COVER THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART IS THE AIR HANDLERS
12:17:16 THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED OUT RIGHT AWAY.
12:17:18 WE'RE DOING BALLROOM LIGHTING, EXTENSIVE LIGHTING CHANGES
12:17:21 FOR THE UPCOMING EVENTS THAT WE HAVE OVER THE NEXT SIX TO
12:17:25 NINE MONTHS.
12:17:26 ELEVATOR WORK AND THEN THAT LITTLE BIT OF CONTINGENCY.
12:17:28 THAT'S WHAT THE REPROGRAMMING IS ABOUT.
12:17:30 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MOVE THE ITEM.
12:17:31 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
12:17:34 SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
12:17:35 ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
12:17:37 ANY OPPOSED?
12:17:37 THANK YOU.
12:17:39 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: ITEM NUMBER 9 IS THE SCOTT STREET
12:17:43 PROJECT.
12:17:43 THIS IS WE'RE CLOSING OUT THAT FINAL CONTRACT.
12:17:45 THE DIFFERENCE IS 78,000 --
12:17:48 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MOVE THE ITEM.
12:17:51 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
12:17:53 SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
12:17:54 ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE?
12:17:55 THANK YOU.
12:17:57 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: THE LAST ITEM FOR REPROGRAMMING IS FOR
12:18:01 THE DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF IMPROVEMENTS FOR KID MASON.
12:18:11 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
12:18:14 SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
12:18:16 ALL IN FAVOR?
12:18:17 ANY OPPOSED?
12:18:17 THE MOTION MOVED.
12:18:19 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: ITEM 11 IS A REQUEST TO RECEIVE AND
12:18:22 FILE OUR QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE FINAL QUARTER OF FY '19.
12:18:27 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
12:18:29 SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
12:18:31 ALL IN FAVOR?
12:18:32 ANY OPPOSED?
12:18:32 MOTION PASSES.
12:18:34 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: OUR LAST ITEMS, ITEMS 12 THROUGH 15 ARE
12:18:38 AT THE LAST MEETING IN JANUARY MENTIONED THAT WE HAD SOME
12:18:42 APPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
12:18:44 THEY CAME IN AFTER THE DEADLINE.
12:18:46 SO WE ARE BRINGING TO YOU THAT SECOND ROUND OF APPOINTMENTS
12:18:49 FOR VARIOUS CACs.
12:18:51 ON THE MEMO, YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR ONLY REMAINING VACANCY
12:18:54 ACROSS THESE WOULD BE TWO IN THE DOWNTOWN CAC, TWO IN THE
12:18:57 DREW PARK CAC, AND TWO IN THE TAMPA HEIGHTS RIVERFRONT CAC.
12:19:03 YOU HAVE APPOINTED A LOT OF PEOPLE THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
12:19:06 I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE HARD WORK OF OUR CRA MANAGER AND
12:19:09 THEIR EXISTING CAC MEMBERS TO GO OUT THERE AND BEAT THE
12:19:12 BUSHES AND REALLY GET PEOPLE TO APPLY.
12:19:14 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MOVE 12 THROUGH 15.
12:19:17 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, MOTION MADE BY
12:19:19 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
12:19:22 ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
12:19:23 ANY OPPOSED?
12:19:24 VERY GOOD.
12:19:26 LET'S GO WITH INFORMATION REPORTS AND NEW BUSINESS.
12:19:30 LET'S START WITH COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
12:19:33 >>BILL CARLSON: NOTHING TODAY.
12:19:36 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: NOTHING, SIR.
12:19:38 >>LUIS VIERA: NOTHING WITH CRA.
12:19:39 I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT A VERY NICE GENTLEMAN, JUST A
12:19:43 GOOD PERSON, BILL HANDLAND WHO MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW FROM
12:19:47 AMERICAN LEGION POST FIVE OVER ON WEST KENNEDY PASSED ON.
12:19:52 HE WAS A GOOD MAN.
12:19:53 I MET HIM AT ONE OF THE STUDENT SPEECH CONTESTS.
12:19:58 OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE, MIKE SUAREZ INVITED ME AND INTRODUCED
12:20:01 ME TO HIM.
12:20:01 HE BECAME A FRIEND.
12:20:03 HE WAS A GOOD MAN.
12:20:04 HE WAS A VIETNAM VETERAN.
12:20:06 THE ONE THING YOU CAN SAY ABOUT HIM ABOVE ALL, HE WAS A
12:20:10 PATRIOT, AND I USED ALWAYS REALLY ENJOY TALKING POLITICS
12:20:14 WITH HIM.
12:20:14 WE NEVER AGREED MUCH.
12:20:16 AND PART OF MY LANGUAGE, HE WOULD ALWAYS GIVE ME HELL, BUT
12:20:20 IT WAS ALWAYS IN GOOD FUN AND JEST.
12:20:21 AND HE WAS JUST -- YOU DIDN'T GET MORE PATRIOTIC THAN BILL
12:20:26 HANDLAND.
12:20:27 SO GOD REST HIS SOUL.
12:20:29 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THAT'S WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU ARGUE WITH
12:20:31 INDIVIDUALS THAT KNOW MORE THAN US.
12:20:33 >>LUIS VIERA: HE DID.
12:20:34 TRUST ME.
12:20:37 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO?
12:20:38 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NO, SIR.
12:20:39 >>ORLANDO GUDES: NO, SIR.
12:20:40 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER?
12:20:41 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: BILL WAS A GREAT GUY.
12:20:43 I MET HIM RIGHT AFTER 9/11.
12:20:46 WE WERE ALL OUT THERE ON THE BAYSHORE WAVING FLAGS AND THAT
12:20:49 SORT OF THING, AND BILL KEPT AT IT FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
12:20:53 WAVE FLAGS SOMEWHERE ELSE NOW.
12:20:57 MR. CHAIRMAN, I'VE GOT AN IMPORTANT ITEM I'D LIKE TO BRING
12:21:04 UP.
12:21:04 THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO
12:21:08 DO IN REGARD TO THE CRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
12:21:15 THEY ARE STARTING THE NATIONWIDE SEARCH, PUTTING OUT THE
12:21:20 APPROPRIATE INFORMATION AND GETTING THE WORD OUT, BUT I'D
12:21:24 LIKE TO SUGGEST TO THIS BODY THAT WE GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE.
12:21:28 I THINK THAT OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR, MS. VAN LOAN, HAS PROVEN
12:21:35 HERSELF.
12:21:36 SHE'S PROVEN HERSELF NOT ONLY OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS WHEN
12:21:40 WE REALLY NEEDED SOMEBODY TO STEP UP, AND SHE DID, BUT SHE'S
12:21:44 BEEN WITH THE CITY I THINK APPROXIMATELY 15 YEARS.
12:21:47 SHE'S BEEN WITH THE CRA APPROXIMATELY 13 YEARS.
12:21:49 I'VE MADE A FEW CALLS TO FOLKS THAT SHE'S WORKED WITH IN
12:21:53 VARIOUS CAPACITIES, BOTH IN THE COMMUNITY AND WITHIN THE
12:21:56 CITY, AND EVERYBODY JUST RAVES ABOUT HER ABILITIES AND HER
12:22:02 CREDENTIALS.
12:22:04 SHE HAD OTHER SIMILAR EXPENSES I THINK UP IN THE MIDWEST,
12:22:08 WHICH SHE BROUGHT TO TAMPA TO HELP US.
12:22:11 I THINK WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND CONSIDER TODAY APPOINTING
12:22:16 MS. VAN LOAN.
12:22:18 ONE OF THE THINGS -- A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THAT.
12:22:24 I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT WHEN CITIES AND AGENCIES DO A BIG
12:22:29 NATIONWIDE SEARCH, BUT WE KNOW WE'VE GOT SOMEBODY HERE WHO
12:22:32 CAN DO THE JOB, WHO IS DOING THE JOB, AND THEN WE KIND OF
12:22:36 WASTE EVERYBODY'S TIME.
12:22:37 PEOPLE FLY IN, GETTING THEIR HOPES UP, THAT SORT OF THING.
12:22:41 I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY INVOLVED.
12:22:44 I'VE HEARD THE NUMBER 20, 30, 40 THOUSAND DOLLARS POSSIBLY
12:22:48 INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS OF DOING THE NATIONWIDE SEARCH.
12:22:51 I ALSO BELIEVE WE SHOULD PROMOTE WITHIN WHENEVER WE HAVE THE
12:22:55 OPPORTUNITY.
12:22:55 I THINK WE HAVE AMAZING PEOPLE WHO ARE RISING UP THROUGH THE
12:22:59 RANKS WITHIN THE CITY.
12:23:00 AND MS. VAN LOAN IS ONE OF THEM.
12:23:05 I'VE ALSO HEARD, BY THE WAY, AND THIS IS REALLY, REALLY
12:23:09 IMPORTANT, AND I'LL SPEAK TO MY GOOD FRIEND, MR. GUDES HERE,
12:23:14 THAT SHE AND I HAD COFFEE THE OTHER DAY TALKING ABOUT SOME
12:23:18 OF THESE ISSUES, AND I SAID, WELL, HOW ABOUT EAST TAMPA?
12:23:22 SHE SAID, WELL, THAT'S REALLY WHERE SHE GOT HER START
12:23:25 WORKING WITH ED JOHNSON OUT THERE IN EAST TAMPA AND SHE
12:23:28 WORKED OUT THERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND I'VE HEARD THAT
12:23:31 SHE'S A CONSENSUS BUILDER, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN ALL OF
12:23:34 OUR CRAs, ESPECIALLY IN EAST TAMPA.
12:23:37 I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO CONTINUE A NATIONWIDE SEARCH.
12:23:44 I THINK WE SHOULD PROMOTE WITHIN.
12:23:46 I THINK WE CAN SAVE MONEY.
12:23:47 I THINK WE CAN SAVE TIME.
12:23:49 I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DID EXACTLY
12:23:54 WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO, WHICH WAS TO LOOK OUTSIDE, BUT I
12:23:57 DON'T THINK WE NEED TO.
12:23:58 MR. CHAIRMAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU AND MS. VAN LOAN HAVE A
12:24:05 LONG HISTORY IN TERMS OF ALL THE CRAs THAT YOU'VE WORKED
12:24:09 ON, AND I WILL HOLD OFF ON MY MOTION AND LET YOU PASS THE
12:24:13 GAVEL IF YOU SO DESIRE TO MAKE THE MOTION YOURSELF.
12:24:19 >>JOSEPH CITRO: BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
12:24:21 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I WANT TO SAY -- IT'S NOT THE MONEY, YOU
12:24:25 LOOK FOR A NATIONWIDE SEARCH, YOU GO 3,000, 4,000 MILES AWAY
12:24:29 WHEN THE PERSON IS 20 FEET AWAY FROM YOU.
12:24:31 YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES AND DON'T SEE THAT PERSON.
12:24:33 FOR THE TIME SHE'S BEEN HERE, I'VE KNOWN HER FOR QUITE A BIT
12:24:36 OF TIME.
12:24:37 SHE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB, EXCELLENT PRESENTATION, KEPT
12:24:43 ALL CRA MEMBERS INFORMED.
12:24:45 I UNDERSTAND WHAT MR. DINGFELDER IS SAYING AND I APPRECIATE
12:24:47 WHAT HE SAID.
12:24:48 I WOULD SECOND THAT IF IT COMES TO A VOTE.
12:24:50 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
12:24:51 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I REMEMBER WHEN CHIEF WARD RETIRED AND
12:24:55 THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR A POLICE
12:24:58 CHIEF.
12:24:59 I SAID WHY GO NATIONWIDE WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD PEOPLE HERE THAT
12:25:01 KNOW THE CITY, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO RETRAIN AND SHOW THEM
12:25:05 THE ROPES AND TEACH THEM AROUND TOWN AND WHATNOT.
12:25:08 I WOULD CONCUR AND SUPPORT THE COMMENTS BY COUNCILMAN
12:25:14 MIRANDA AND COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
12:25:16 IF WE HAVE THE BEST HERE, SOMEONE THAT'S ALREADY FAMILIAR,
12:25:19 WHY NOT JUST STICK WITH THAT, SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY AND JUST
12:25:22 GO WITH THE BEST THAT WE ALREADY KNOW WE HAVE.
12:25:25 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN GUDES.
12:25:27 >>ORLANDO GUDES: MR. DINGFELDER, I ALWAYS BELIEVE HONESTY IS
12:25:30 THE BEST POLICY ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL.
12:25:32 WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE CAC BOARD, I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH
12:25:39 INFORMATION BUT I WENT TO MS. VAN LOAN FOR INFORMATION.
12:25:41 SHE CAME IN, AND I THINK SHE WAS ABLE TO REALLY GET INTO THE
12:25:46 MINDS OF THOSE NEWCOMER BOARD MEMBERS TO EXPLAIN THE
12:25:49 FUNCTIONS AND REALLY UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE INTRICATE
12:25:53 DETAILS OF THE CRA.
12:25:54 I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT. THAT TAUGHT ME A LOT.
12:25:58 THROUGHOUT THE TIME I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, I MADE PHONE
12:26:01 CALLS TO HER AND ASKED.
12:26:02 IF IT WASN'T HER, I MIGHT GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE.
12:26:07 BUT SINCE I'VE MET WITH HER, I THINK SHE WOULD BE SERIOUS
12:26:10 ABOUT MOVING EAST TAMPA.
12:26:11 I MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IF IT'S HER OR SOMEBODY ELSE.
12:26:15 WHOEVER WE HIRE, IF IT'S YOU, MS. VAN LOAN, I'M GOING TO
12:26:18 HOLD THAT PERSON ACCOUNTABLE FOR EAST TAMPA.
12:26:22 I MEAN THAT.
12:26:22 I'LL MAKE A MOTION SO QUICK.
12:26:24 I'M SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE.
12:26:27 IF WE NEED MORE HELP OVER THERE, LET'S GET MORE HELP OVER
12:26:30 THERE.
12:26:30 PEOPLE COME HERE AND THEY COMPLAIN EVERY WEEK.
12:26:39 HEAR THE RADIO SHOWS.
12:26:40 MY MOTHER CRIES EVERY SATURDAY.
12:26:42 SOMETIMES IT'S FRUSTRATING.
12:26:44 MR. DINGFELDER, I WOULD CONCUR IF YOU MAKE THE MOTION OR
12:26:49 MR. CITRO FOR MS. VAN LOAN TO BE THE NEW DIRECTOR FOR THE
12:26:55 CRA.
12:26:56 >>LUIS VIERA: I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS.
12:26:59 I'M UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL ENGAGED IN THIS.
12:27:03 MS. VAN LOAN, WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER SOMETIME THIS
12:27:07 ADMINISTRATION AND THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, YOU'VE ALWAYS
12:27:09 BEEN A DELIGHT TO WORK WITH.
12:27:11 YOU'RE PROFESSIONAL.
12:27:12 YOUR CREDENTIALS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND YOU I THINK WOULD
12:27:16 DO VERY WELL.
12:27:18 I WOULD ECHO COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER'S SUGGESTIONS.
12:27:21 THANK YOU.
12:27:22 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
12:27:24 >>BILL CARLSON: AS YOU ALL KNOW, I CAME CHARMING IN BECAUSE
12:27:27 I THOUGHT THE LAST ADMINISTRATION MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES AND
12:27:30 HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
12:27:31 MS. VAN LOAN AT SOME POINT, I'LL PARAPHRASE, SHE SAID PLEASE
12:27:35 DON'T, JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK THE LAST ADMINISTRATION WAS
12:27:37 BAD, PLEASE DON'T HOLD IT AGAINST US.
12:27:40 THAT WAS THE START OF A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH HER.
12:27:44 I FOUND THAT SHE HAS THE EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND QUIET
12:27:49 PERSISTENCE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES ON LOTS OF ISSUES AND
12:27:53 HAS BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY.
12:27:57 I FOUND THAT AS SOMEONE SAID, THERE ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD
12:28:03 PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
12:28:05 I THINK SHE'S ONE OF THEM.
12:28:07 I THINK WE'VE USED 10% OF HER ABILITY.
12:28:10 I WAS TALKING TO HER ABOUT IT THIS MORNING, I WANT TO SEE
12:28:13 ALL OF HER ABILITIES.
12:28:14 I WANT TO SEE HER POLICY ANALYSIS.
12:28:17 I WANT TO SEE ALL THE OTHER THINGS SHE CAN DO, NOT BECAUSE
12:28:20 SHE COULDN'T HAVE, BUT BECAUSE I THINK NOBODY ASKED HER
12:28:24 BEFORE.
12:28:24 NOW SHE WILL BE THE ONE IN CHARGE AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO LEAD
12:28:28 US IN THE FUTURE.
12:28:29 >>JOSEPH CITRO: I ONLY ASK THIS QUESTION FOR ONE REASON, CYA,
12:28:36 COUNCIL, WE HAD SAID, THE CITY HAD SAID WE WERE GOING TO
12:28:41 SEND OUT RFPs.
12:28:44 NOTHING WOULD MAKE ME HAPPIER THAN TO SEE MS. VAN LOAN IN
12:28:48 THIS POSITION.
12:28:49 DO WE STILL NEED TO SEND OUT THOSE RFPs SINCE WE SAID
12:28:53 WE'RE GOING TO DO THEM?
12:28:56 >> IF THE RFP PROCESS HAS NOT BEGUN YET, THE ADMINISTRATION
12:29:00 HAS NOT ISSUED THOSE, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD
12:29:02 WITH IT.
12:29:03 I THINK THE ANSWER WOULD BE NO IF THAT HAS NOT BEEN
12:29:07 INITIATED.
12:29:08 I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.
12:29:10 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: IF I COULD, MR. CHAIRMAN, IN SPEAKING
12:29:13 WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF YESTERDAY ON THIS ISSUE, IT APPEARS
12:29:19 THAT THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE
12:29:22 RECRUITMENT PROCESS, WHATEVER THAT INVOLVED.
12:29:25 BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY HADN'T GOTTEN TOO FAR.
12:29:30 I THINK OUR MOTION COULD BE TEMPERED BECAUSE WE ARE NOT A
12:29:33 HIRING AGENCY.
12:29:34 OUR MOTION WOULD BE TEMPERED TO SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF
12:29:37 WE WOULD REQUEST THAT THE ADMINISTRATION PROMOTE MS. VAN
12:29:42 LOAN.
12:29:44 >> MORE ADVISABLE WAY TO MAKE THE MOTION.
12:29:46 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: ANY PARTICULAR STUFF LIKE THAT, WE'LL
12:29:48 HEAR BACK.
12:29:49 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THEN HEARING THAT, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
12:29:55 IT'S YOUR MOTION.
12:29:57 I AM GOING TO VOTE YES, AND I AM GOING TO PERSONALLY SAY,
12:30:01 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS MOTION.
12:30:04 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: WITH THAT, I'VE SAID EVERYTHING THAT
12:30:07 NEEDS TO BE SAID.
12:30:08 MY REQUEST -- OUR REQUEST WOULD BE TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION
12:30:14 TO PROMOTE MS. VAN LOAN TO THE POSITION -- WHAT IS IT
12:30:19 CALLED?
12:30:19 DIRECTOR.
12:30:23 TO THE DIRECTOR POSITION FOR THE CRA EFFECTIVE AS SOON AS
12:30:28 POSSIBLE.
12:30:29 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER HAS MADE A MOTION.
12:30:33 I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN MIRANDA WAS THE FIRST TO SECOND IT.
12:30:37 ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
12:30:38 I'M SURE THERE ARE NONE OPPOSING.
12:30:44 [ APPLAUSE ]
12:30:44 WELCOME ABOARD!
12:30:45 OF COURSE, WE DO HAVE TO HEAR FROM THE MAYOR NEXT DOOR, BUT
12:30:56 WELCOME.
12:30:57 >>MICHELLE VAN LOAN: I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN
12:30:59 DINGFELDER FOR MAKING MY NOSE RED RIGHT BEFORE WE GET OFF OF
12:31:03 TV.
12:31:03 FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO KNOW ME AND HAVE WORKED WITH ME, YOU
12:31:08 KNOW THAT I WILL WORK VERY HARD AND VERY DILIGENTLY TO CARRY
12:31:11 OUT THE NEEDS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY
12:31:16 OF LIFE FOR OUR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS IN OUR CRAs.
12:31:20 I WILL DO MY BEST TO WORK WITH YOU AND COORDINATE WITH YOU
12:31:22 AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOU AS I'VE BEEN OUT JUST IN THE PAST
12:31:27 MONTH AND MY INTERIM POSITION, I'VE BEEN OUT THERE TALKING
12:31:31 WITH AND MEET AND ATTEND AND BE AT MORE OF THE MEETINGS AND
12:31:35 WE ARE ALREADY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, WITH
12:31:36 THE STAFF TO HELP WITH ALL THE NEW PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
12:31:39 THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BE OUT IN
12:31:43 THE COMMUNITY A LITTLE MORE THAN WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST,
12:31:45 AND I BELIEVE THAT COUNCILMAN CARLSON SORT OF SUMMARIZED MY
12:31:49 COMMENT ABOUT JUST NOT HOLDING US AGAINST THE PREVIOUS
12:31:52 DECISIONS IN THE PAST WITHOUT ANY JUDGMENT.
12:31:55 BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
12:31:57 I'M DEEPLY TOUCHED AND HONORED.
12:32:00 AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO MEET YOUR NEEDS.
12:32:03 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: ANY COMMENTS OR --
12:32:06 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: IF SHE HAD BEEN HERE ANY LONGER, SHE
12:32:10 WOULD HAVE RETIRED BEFORE WE HIRED HER.
12:32:14 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU, MICHELLE.
12:32:16 YOU AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER MANY, MANY YEARS.
12:32:19 I KNOW YOUR CAPABILITIES AND I KNOW YOU WILL DO AN EXCELLENT
12:32:23 JOB.
12:32:24 THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE POSITION.
12:32:26 IF NOBODY ELSE HAS COMMENTS TO MAKE, I HAVE ONE THING FOR
12:32:29 INFORMATION REPORTS.
12:32:30 I MAKE A MOTION TO REQUEST THE STRAZ CENTER PRESIDENT AND
12:32:34 CEO JUDY LISI TO COME AND GIVE A REPORT TO THE CRA BOARD ON
12:32:40 MARCH 12th CRA MEETING AT 9 A.M.
12:32:44 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MOTION AND SECOND.
12:32:45 ALL IN FAVOR?
12:32:47 ANY OPPOSED?
12:32:47 MOTION PASSES.
12:32:48 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN.
12:32:51 WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
12:32:54 SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
12:32:57 OH, I AM SORRY.
12:32:58 ONE LAST THING.
12:32:59 KUDOS TO SOLID WASTE FOR CLEANING UP 7th AVENUE SO RAPIDLY
12:33:05 AFTER THE KNIGHT PARADE.
12:33:08 JOB WELL DONE.
12:33:08 ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED?
12:33:11 WE'RE ADJOURNED UNTIL 6:00 TONIGHT.
12:33:15 [ADJOURNED]
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