TAMPA CITY COUNCIL EVENING SESSION
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2020
5:01 P.M.
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17:01:43 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS TAMPA CITY
17:01:46 COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET TO ORDER.
17:01:49 TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 3, 5:01 P.M.
17:01:53 ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
17:01:56 >>THE CLERK: VIERA?
17:01:57 >>LUIS VIERA: HERE.
17:01:59 >>ORLANDO GUDES: HERE.
17:02:01 >>BILL CARLSON: HERE.
17:02:03 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: HERE.
17:02:05 >>JOSEPH CITRO: HERE.
17:02:07 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE.
17:02:10 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE.
17:02:18 >>MARTIN SHELBY: GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE TAMPA CITY
17:02:19 COUNCIL, MARTIN SHELBY, CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY.
17:02:22 BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY, THIS PUBLIC
17:02:26 HEARING OF THE TAMPA CITY COUNCIL IS BEING HELD IN
17:02:28 ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION AND PROVISIONS OF
17:02:32 GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-179 AND CITY COUNCIL
17:02:37 RESOLUTION NUMBER 2020-225 AND IS AMENDED BY RESOLUTION
17:02:42 NUMBER 2020-490.
17:02:47 IT IS BEING CONDUCTED BY AUDIO TELECONFERENCING WITH
17:02:50 VIDEO PRESENTATIONS, REMOTE OR ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION,
17:02:54 WHICH IS REFERRED TO BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA STATUTES AS
17:02:58 COMMUNICATION MEDIA TECHNOLOGY.
17:03:00 THE PUBLIC AND THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF TAMPA ARE ABLE
17:03:03 TO WATCH, LISTEN, AND VIEW THIS MEETING ON CABLE TV, ON
17:03:08 SPECTRUM AND FRONTIER AND THROUGH THE INTERNET.
17:03:11 SINCE THIS MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED WITH THE USE OF
17:03:14 COMMUNICATION MEDIA TECHNOLOGY, THE FOLLOWING ALTERNATIVE
17:03:16 METHODS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
17:03:20 TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING DURING THE PUBLIC
17:03:24 MEETING.
17:03:25 ON THE INTERNET OR WEB, BY USE OF VOICE MAIL AND RECORDED
17:03:29 COMMENTS, BY WRITTEN COMMENTS SENT IN TO CITY COUNCIL,
17:03:34 AND TO SPEAK REMOTELY DURING PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE
17:03:37 PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL AS PROVIDING COMMENTS IN PERSON
17:03:41 FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A
17:03:44 COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA TECHNOLOGY DEVICE, AND THAT IS
17:03:48 AVAILABLE TO THEM THIS EVENING AT THE TAMPA CONVENTION
17:03:52 CENTER.
17:03:52 MR. CHAIRMAN, I TURN THE MEETING BACK TO YOU.
17:03:55 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:03:55 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:03:57 MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN BOTH PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE
17:04:02 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS?
17:04:04 DO I HAVE A MOTION?
17:04:05 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: SO MOVED, MR. CHAIRMAN.
17:04:06 >>ORLANDO GUDES: SO MOVED, MR. CHAIRMAN.
17:04:08 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN
17:04:09 MIRANDA WITH A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GUDES.
17:04:13 HAVE A ROLL-CALL VOTE ON THAT.
17:04:15 >>THE CLERK: VIERA?
17:04:16 >>LUIS VIERA: YES.
17:04:17 >>ORLANDO GUDES: YES.
17:04:19 >>BILL CARLSON: YES.
17:04:21 >>THE CLERK: DINGFELDER?
17:04:26 DINGFELDER?
17:04:28 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YES.
17:04:28 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES.
17:04:31 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES.
17:04:32 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES.
17:04:37 >>THE CLERK: THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
17:04:38 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:04:40 MR. ROGERO, CFO FOR THE CITY, GO AHEAD, SIR.
17:04:44 >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, SIR.
17:04:46 WOULD THE FINANCE CHAIR PLEASE READ THE FIRST PUBLIC
17:04:49 HEARING STATEMENT?
17:04:52 >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU, MR. ROGERO.
17:04:54 THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA'S
17:04:56 BUDGET 2021 BUDGET.
17:05:00 THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE OF 6.2076 MILLS, WHICH IS 5.58%
17:05:04 MORE THAN THE ROLLED-BACK MILLAGE RATE OF 5.8797 MILLS.
17:05:10 PROPERTY TAX FUNDS ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND
17:05:13 OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CITY.
17:05:15 THIS FUND INCLUDES SUCH DEPARTMENT AS FIRE RESCUE,
17:05:18 POLICE, HUMAN RESOURCES, PARKS AND RECREATION.
17:05:21 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
17:05:26 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:05:26 MR. ROGERO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED WITH YOUR
17:05:29 PRESENTATION, SIR.
17:05:29 >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
17:05:31 COULD I HAVE THE PRESENTATION ON SCREEN, PLEASE?
17:05:43 >> MR. CHAIR, COULD I SAY SOMETHING REAL FAST?
17:05:52 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD.
17:05:55 >>BILL CARLSON: JUST FOR THE PUBLIC WATCHING, I THINK ALL
17:05:56 THE BRANDS ARE CONFUSING.
17:05:58 WE GOT THIS PRESENTATION ABOUT AN HOUR AGO, AND JUST IN
17:06:02 CASE I THOUGHT I WAS WRONG, I GOOGLED LIFT UP LOCAL, AND
17:06:07 THE WAY THAT PROGRAM, OR THAT BRAND WAS ANNOUNCED, IT WAS
17:06:10 ABOUT THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PROGRAM FOR RESTAURANTS AND
17:06:15 BARS, AND IT SAYS THAT ON THE WEBSITE.
17:06:17 I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC WATCHING IS NOT
17:06:20 CONFUSED THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR THAT
17:06:23 PROGRAM RIGHT NOW.
17:06:24 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR THE WHOLE CITY, UNLESS
17:06:26 I'M WRONG.
17:06:27 MR. ROGERO CAN EXPLAIN.
17:06:30 THANK YOU.
17:06:36 >>DENNIS ROGERO: LIFT UP LOCAL IS ALSO THE THEME FOR THE
17:06:38 FISCAL YEAR '21 BUDGET IN ITS ENTIRETY.
17:06:42 AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING.
17:06:44 >>BILL CARLSON: I THINK IT'S VERY CONFUSING, ONE TAMPA,
17:06:47 LIFT UP LOCAL, ALL THIS STUFF.
17:06:49 I THINK IT'S CONFUSING THE PUBLIC.
17:06:50 I THINK WE SHOULD SAY IT IS THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
17:06:53 SORRY, THANK YOU.
17:06:59 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
17:07:00 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:07:00 GO AHEAD, MR. ROGERO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN.
17:07:02 >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU.
17:07:04 NEXT SLIDE.
17:07:05 I'LL START WITH A BRIEF REVIEW OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND
17:07:08 GOALS AND STRESS THAT THEY SPEAK TO AN EMPHASIS ON
17:07:11 LONG-TERM PLANNING EVEN AS WE ADDRESS THE SHORT-TERM
17:07:15 CHALLENGES OF WHICH WE'RE ALL TOO AWARE.
17:07:17 NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
17:07:18 AND HERE ARE THE STRATEGIC GOALS OF THE PLAN.
17:07:26 ON THE FAR LEFT, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY CENTRIC SERVICES
17:07:30 WITH AN EMPHASIS ON ACTION IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND
17:07:33 COMMUNITY, AND YOU SEE IN THAT LAST CHECK MARK, IT'S ALL
17:07:36 ABOUT CONNECTION.
17:07:37 MOVING TO THE RIGHT, ENHANCING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
17:07:41 FIRST AND FOREMOST, BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY
17:07:45 COLLABORATIVE WITH ALL PARENTS IN THIS AREA, WHETHER
17:07:48 GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT, PRIVATE, ET CETERA.
17:07:51 MOVING ON, INCREASING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
17:07:56 I'M SORRY.
17:07:56 MOVING ON TO THE RIGHT OF THAT SLIDE, THANK YOU.
17:07:59 RIGHT AT THE TOP, AN AMBITIOUS GOAL TO ADD 10,000 UNITS
17:08:03 BY 2027.
17:08:04 AGAIN, COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP INCLUDING STATE AND
17:08:09 FEDERAL FUNDING.
17:08:11 CONTINUING MOVING TO THE RIGHT, IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE
17:08:14 AND MOBILITY.
17:08:15 AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING ON
17:08:17 INFRASTRUCTURE WITH OUR $3,000,000,000 20-YEAR PIPES
17:08:21 PROJECT.
17:08:22 ALL THE WAY TO THE FAR RIGHT, ESTABLISHING SUSTAINABILITY
17:08:25 AND RESILIENCY WITH, AGAIN, AN EMPHASIS ON NEIGHBORHOODS
17:08:28 AND COLLABORATION.
17:08:30 WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY ADDRESSING STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.
17:08:34 WE'RE DEVELOPING A CLIMATE ACTION AND RESILIENT PLAN, AND
17:08:37 AS YOU KNOW, WE JUST HIRED OUR FIRST SUSTAINABILITY AND
17:08:41 RESILIENCY OFFICER.
17:08:42 AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE, THE GLUE THAT BINDS IT ALL
17:08:46 TOGETHER.
17:08:46 A CONTINUING EMPHASIS ON CONSERVATIVE FISCAL MANAGEMENT
17:08:50 AND STRONG FUND BALANCES AND RESERVES.
17:08:53 NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
17:08:57 AND THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, COUNCIL, AS YOU KNOW,
17:09:00 OVER TIME, THIS HAS BECOME A NEARLY YEARLONG PROCESS, AND
17:09:04 WE'VE ARRIVED AT A CAREFULLY CRAFTED AND EXTENSIVELY
17:09:08 DISCUSSED AND TRANSPARENT BUDGET IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL
17:09:11 PANDEMIC.
17:09:13 AND YOU SEE ON THESE NEXT SLIDES, THE MANY STEPS AND
17:09:16 MILESTONES ALONG THE WAY.
17:09:18 REVIEWING PRIOR YEAR PERFORMANCE.
17:09:21 AS YOU KNOW, WE WON'T KNOW HOW THIS YEAR TURNED OUT UNTIL
17:09:24 MONTHS AFTER YOU ADOPTED NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
17:09:27 YOU SEE EXTENSIVE BRIEFINGS WITH THE MAYOR AND HER
17:09:30 LEADERSHIP AND REVIEWS OF REQUESTS.
17:09:33 NEXT SLIDE.
17:09:34 WE PROVIDED YOU WITH A MIDYEAR UPDATE AND THE CITIZENS
17:09:37 BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE BEGAN ITS MANY MEETINGS WITH CITY
17:09:41 LEADERSHIP AND DEPARTMENTS, AND WE START ASSIMILATING
17:09:44 VARIOUS DATA.
17:09:45 WE MET WITH EACH OF YOU AND HAVE HAD A WORKSHOP AND AGAIN
17:09:48 MORE DATA AND DECISIONS.
17:09:50 NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
17:09:52 WE PRESENTED THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET TO YOU, CONFORMED
17:09:58 WITH THE DETAILED AND STRINGENT TRUTH IN MILLAGE PROCESS,
17:10:02 AND HERE WE ARE.
17:10:03 NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
17:10:08 HERE, AS YOU NOTE, IS THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
17:10:12 1.2 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS.
17:10:16 THE INCREASE COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR IS DUE TO THINGS
17:10:20 AS OUR EXPANSION OF OUR UTILITIES PROJECT PROGRAM.
17:10:24 NEGOTIATED LABOR CONTRACTS, ADDITIONAL STAFFING TO
17:10:28 SUPPORT PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EMERGENCY
17:10:31 SERVICES.
17:10:32 NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
17:10:34 THE ADOPTED BUDGET BY THE TWO PRIMARY GROUPS GENERAL FUND
17:10:40 EXPENDITURES AND ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WE DISCUSSED THESE
17:10:44 BEFORE.
17:10:44 THE MAJOR ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND, OF COURSE, THE MAJOR
17:10:47 PORTIONS OF THE GENERAL FUND.
17:10:48 NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
17:10:49 AGAIN, THE GENERAL FUND, UTILITIES SERVICES TAX FORECAST.
17:10:59 AS WE DISCUSSED, CONDITIONS BEING WHAT THEY ARE, WE'LL
17:11:02 HAVE TO USE A BIT OF OUR FUND BALANCE IN THE CURRENT
17:11:04 YEAR, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MORE THAN MAKE THAT UP IN FISCAL
17:11:07 YEAR '21, MAINTAINING WHAT WE CONSIDER THAT VERY, VERY
17:11:11 IMPORTANT 23% FUND BALANCE.
17:11:14 NEXT SLIDE.
17:11:15 AGAIN, A BRIEF, RELATIVELY BRIEF HISTORY OF OUR FUND
17:11:22 BALANCE, WE CONSIDER THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL, HOVERING
17:11:24 AROUND 24, 23 PERCENT.
17:11:27 AGAIN, OUR POLICY IS 20%.
17:11:29 WE ARE WELL IN EXCESS OF THAT.
17:11:31 AS YOU CAN SEE, AS THE BUDGET INCREASES, THE AMOUNT OF
17:11:35 FUNDING TO MAINTAIN THOSE PERCENTAGES IN THE FUND BALANCE
17:11:38 ALSO INCREASES.
17:11:40 NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
17:11:41 AND OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AGAIN, AN EMPHASIS
17:11:46 ON INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND INFRASTRUCTURE,
17:11:50 MAJOR, MAJOR PROJECTS IN STORMWATER, WASTEWATER, WATER,
17:11:54 TO A TOTAL OF ALMOST $1.4 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE
17:12:00 FISCAL YEAR PERIOD.
17:12:01 NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
17:12:02 AND THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, COUNCIL, WILL OCCUR
17:12:07 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020.
17:12:10 THANK YOU, THAT ENDS MY PRESENTATION.
17:12:16 >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND THANK YOU, MR. ROGERO,
17:12:19 FOR THAT.
17:12:20 I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT TO MR. ROGERO'S
17:12:22 PRESENTATION WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE
17:12:25 AND THE RESERVES AND THE POLICY, THAT YOU RECALL FROM HIS
17:12:28 PRESENTATION ABOUT OUR HIGH BOND RATING, THAT THE 23% HAS
17:12:33 BEEN A STAPLE FOR THAT FOR SOME TIME.
17:12:38 I DON'T KNOW, DENNIS, IF YOU WANT TO FURTHER COMMENT ON
17:12:40 THAT.
17:12:41 >>DENNIS ROGERO: CERTAINLY, I CAN ADD A LITTLE COLOR TO
17:12:44 THAT.
17:12:44 WE LOOK AT OUR FUND BALANCES NOT ONLY IN THE GENERAL FUND
17:12:46 BUT ACROSS OUR FUNDS.
17:12:48 YOU'LL RECALL THE RECENT UPGRADE WE HAD IN OUR WATER,
17:12:51 WASTEWATER PIPES DEBT ISSUANCE BECAUSE OF THE -- IN PART
17:12:55 BECAUSE OF THE STRONG FUND BALANCES.
17:12:56 WE TEND TO CONCENTRATE ON THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE
17:13:00 BECAUSE THAT IS RELIANT HEAVILY ON PROPERTY TAXES AND IS
17:13:03 THE FUNDING SOURCE THAT WE CAN SPEND ON ANYTHING WE WANT.
17:13:07 WHEN WE TALK TO THE RATING AGENCIES AND WHEN WE GO OUT
17:13:10 FOR DEBT SERVICE, THEY WILL LOOK AT THE PARTICULAR
17:13:13 ISSUANCE BUT THEY'LL ALSO LOOK AT THE CITY FROM A
17:13:16 BROAD-BASED PERSPECTIVE WITH MUCH EMPHASIS ON THAT
17:13:20 GENERAL FUND UNALLOCATED FUND BALANCE.
17:13:23 OUR POLICY OF 20% IS VERY, VERY GOOD.
17:13:26 THE FACT THAT WE CONSISTENTLY AND CONSIDERABLY EXCEED IT
17:13:32 IS WELL RECEIVED BY A CREDIT RATING AGENCIES.
17:13:36 AND IT PUTS US IN A STRONGER FINANCIAL POSITION.
17:13:43 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
17:13:43 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:13:44 IF ANYTHING ELSE, IF NOT, WE WILL GO TO ANY QUESTIONS OR
17:13:48 COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
17:13:52 QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
17:13:54 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THE ONLY COMMENT I'M GOING TO MAKE --
17:13:56 THIS IS MIRANDA -- IS MR. ROGERO TOUCHED ON THE CREDIT
17:14:00 AND THE MONEY THAT WE SET AT 23% FOR -- RESPONSIBILITY IN
17:14:05 THE FUTURE.
17:14:07 AS WE'RE DOING THE BUDGET PART, 2021 WITH A LOOK INTO THE
17:14:10 FUTURE AND THAT BOND RATING IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
17:14:14 BECAUSE THE LOWER THE BOND RATING, THE MORE YOU PAY IN
17:14:17 INTEREST, THE LESS YOU CAN GET DONE WITH THE SAME AMOUNT
17:14:19 OF MONEY.
17:14:20 THANK YOU, DENNIS, AND THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATION, FOR THE
17:14:23 WORK THEY HAVE DONE.
17:14:24 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:14:25 ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THIS TIME?
17:14:27 >>ORLANDO GUDES: MR. CHAIRMAN?
17:14:28 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN GUDES, GO AHEAD.
17:14:29 >>ORLANDO GUDES: I HAD TALKED TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND
17:14:33 OUR FINANCIAL OFFICER AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC PERCEPTION.
17:14:38 WE'VE HAD SEVERAL E-MAILS AND CALLS IN REFERENCE TO
17:14:44 EXCESS OF A $13 MILLION INCREASE.
17:14:46 THEY GAVE ME AN EXPLANATION.
17:14:49 LITTLE BIT ON MY THOUGHTS ON WHERE THAT INCREASE IS AND
17:14:51 WHY THAT IS.
17:14:52 I'M JUST HOPING THAT WE CAN GET THAT EXPLANATION FROM OUR
17:14:56 CHIEF OF STAFF, OUR CFO, SO THE PUBLIC CAN KNOW WE'RE NOT
17:15:00 JUST GIVING A CERTAIN DEPARTMENT 13 MILLION EXTRA
17:15:04 DOLLARS.
17:15:06 >>DENNIS ROGERO: YES, SIR.
17:15:06 THIS IS DENNIS AGAIN.
17:15:08 I CAN CERTAINLY SPEAK TO THAT.
17:15:10 MY PRESUMPTION IS YOU'RE REFERENCING THE INCREASE IN THE
17:15:13 POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
17:15:14 IF YOU SAID IT AND I MISSED IT, I APOLOGIZE.
17:15:16 WE CAN BREAK THAT DOWN INTO THE MAJOR EXPENDITURES.
17:15:20 NEGOTIATED SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF OVER $5 MILLION
17:15:23 CONTRIBUTE TO THAT 13-PLUS MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE.
17:15:27 AGAIN, WE HAVE AGREED TO, WITH THE PBA, THE IAFF, AND THE
17:15:31 ATU TO THREE-YEAR CONTRACT.
17:15:34 PENSION INCREASES BASED ON NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING
17:15:37 MARKET RETURN AND ACTUARIAL CALCULATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO
17:15:41 OVER $5 MILLION TO THAT 13-PLUS MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE.
17:15:45 WE HAVE A ONE-TIME HEALTH CARE TRUST CONTRIBUTION OF OVER
17:15:49 $1 MILLION ASSOCIATED WITH THE PBA AND IAFF GOING AND
17:15:54 STARTING THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE TRUST.
17:15:57 BODY-WORN CAMERA CONTRACT IS OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS
17:15:59 OF THAT INCREASE, AND AVIATION MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATED
17:16:02 WITH OUR HELICOPTERS IS OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
17:16:05 >>ORLANDO GUDES: THANK YOU, CHIEF.
17:16:10 I JUST THOUGHT THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW BECAUSE THERE
17:16:14 HASN'T BEEN A CLEAR ANSWER.
17:16:16 I THOUGHT FOR TRANSPARENCY, THE PUBLIC KNOW IT'S NOT JUST
17:16:19 A $13 MILLION JUST GIVING A CERTAIN DEPARTMENT THE
17:16:23 INCREASE.
17:16:23 THE INCREASE IS BECAUSE OF SALARIES, PENSIONS AND HEALTH
17:16:25 CARE PLAN THAT'S NEW.
17:16:27 I JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT AND HOPEFULLY THE GENERAL
17:16:30 PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHY THAT IS.
17:16:32 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:16:33 ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS?
17:16:36 ALL RIGHT.
17:16:36 I HEAR NONE.
17:16:39 WE NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
17:16:41 MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE PEOPLE AT TCC WAITING OR NO?
17:16:46 >>THE CLERK: NO, THERE IS NO ONE AT THE TAMPA CONVENTION
17:16:49 CENTER AT THIS TIME.
17:16:50 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
17:16:52 I SEE WE HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE -- I HAVE THE LIST IN
17:16:55 FRONT OF ME -- ON THE LIVE CALLERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
17:16:58 IF WE COULD GO TO THOSE FIRST AND THEN TO THE RECORDED
17:17:01 COMMENTS.
17:17:02 ARE YOU TIMING IT OR WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TIME IT?
17:17:04 >>THE CLERK: IF YOU COULD, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
17:17:12 >>MARTIN SHELBY: JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, FOR THEIR
17:17:15 UNDERSTANDING, I BELIEVE IT'S COUNCIL'S PLEASURE TO TAKE
17:17:18 ITEMS ONE AND TWO TO BE HEARD TOGETHER.
17:17:20 YOU OPENED BOTH PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND YOU'RE HEARING THEM
17:17:23 BOTH TOGETHER.
17:17:24 SO THE COMMENTS REFLECT BOTH ITEMS ONE AND TWO.
17:17:27 IS THAT CORRECT?
17:17:28 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, SIR.
17:17:28 SO WE CAN KEEP IT SMOOTH.
17:17:31 >>MARTIN SHELBY: OKAY.
17:17:32 WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:17:33 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU, SIR.
17:17:34 ALL RIGHT, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH
17:17:37 PUBLIC COMMENT, I'LL HAVE THE TIMER HERE.
17:17:39 GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
17:17:42 >>THE CLERK: THANK YOU.
17:17:43 THE FIRST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS FRAN TATE.
17:17:47 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
17:17:50 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
17:17:52 >> GOOD EVENING.
17:17:53 CAN YOU HEAR ME?
17:17:57 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, WE CAN.
17:17:58 GO AHEAD.
17:18:00 >> GOOD EVENING.
17:18:01 THANK YOU SO MUCH.
17:18:02 AS STATED, I AM FRAN TATE, THE PRESIDENT OF JACKSON
17:18:06 HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
17:18:08 I RESIDE AT 3405 CLAY STREET TAMPA, 33605.
17:18:13 THANK YOU FOR LISTENING THIS EVENING.
17:18:17 I HAVE PERMISSION TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF JACKSON HEIGHTS,
17:18:20 COLLEGE HILL, RAINBOW HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS
17:18:25 AS WELL AS THE EAST HILLSBOROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH.
17:18:26 FIRST OF ALL, WE WANT TO THANK OUR DISTRICT COUNCILMAN,
17:18:31 ORLANDO GUDES, FOR THE PROPOSAL OF THE RACIAL
17:18:34 RECONCILIATION RESOLUTION AND THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF OUR
17:18:38 COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION.
17:18:42 WE FEEL IT IS SURELY TIME FOR US ALL TO LIVE TOGETHER IN
17:18:45 PEACE, EDUCATING ONE ANOTHER, FORGIVING EACH OTHER AND
17:18:50 RESPECTING ALL, FOR WE ALL ARE OUR BROTHERS' KEEPERS.
17:18:57 NEXT I WANT TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS 1 AND 2.
17:19:01 THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET.
17:19:06 ANDREWS JUNIOR PUBLIC LIBRARY IS OUR NEWLY RENOVATED
17:19:10 STATE-OF-THE-ART LIBRARY LOCATED AT EAST DR. MARTIN
17:19:13 LUTHER KING BOULEVARD AND NORTH 26th STREET.
17:19:16 IT SERVES OUR COMMUNITY NOT ONLY AS A LIBRARY, BUT ALSO
17:19:20 AS A PLACE FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND ALSO A VOTING
17:19:24 PRECINCT.
17:19:25 SINCE 2016, WE HAVE BEEN ASKING AND REQUESTING A
17:19:31 CROSSWALK AND CROSS-LIGHT TO BE PLACED AT THAT
17:19:35 INTERSECTION.
17:19:35 WE FEEL THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BE
17:19:40 ADDRESSED AT THIS TIME.
17:19:42 WE'RE REQUESTING COUNCIL TO ADD THIS PUBLIC SAFETY DEVICE
17:19:45 TO THE BUDGET FOR IMMEDIATE INSTALLATION.
17:19:48 WE MUST ALWAYS BE PROACTIVE, LOOKING OUT FOR THE PUBLIC
17:19:53 SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS AND NOT REACTIVE.
17:19:56 THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR RECEIVING ME.
17:19:58 GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
17:20:00 >>ORLANDO GUDES: MR. CHAIRMAN?
17:20:02 POINT OF PRIVILEGE?
17:20:06 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
17:20:08 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:20:09 >>ORLANDO GUDES: MR. CHAIRMAN, POINT OF PRIVILEGE?
17:20:11 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN GUDES.
17:20:13 >>ORLANDO GUDES: IN REFERENCE TO MS. TATE AND ALL THE
17:20:16 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS LISTENING, WE ALREADY
17:20:19 MADE THE INQUIRY INTO REFERENCE TO THE LIGHT.
17:20:21 I SPOKE TO THE DIRECTOR.
17:20:23 THEY JUST GOT THE FINAL DESIGNS THAT F.D.O.T. HELD UP
17:20:26 BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19.
17:20:28 NOW THAT DESIGN IS IN, THEY CAN START GETTING THE WORK
17:20:31 ORDER IN TO GET THE STEEL TO BUILD THE PROJECT.
17:20:34 IT WILL TAKE A MINUTE BECAUSE STEEL IS ON BACK ORDER A
17:20:37 LITTLE BIT, SO IT WILL TAKE A MINUTE FOR THE STEEL TO GET
17:20:39 IN.
17:20:40 ONCE THE STEEL IS HERE, THE PROJECT WILL MOVE FORWARD
17:20:42 BECAUSE THE MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED BY F.D.O.T.
17:20:45 AND F.D.O.T. APPROVED THE CITY TO WORK ON THE PROJECT.
17:20:47 IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER, MAYBE ANOTHER SIX
17:20:50 MONTHS MAYBE, BUT IT IS COMING.
17:20:52 I WANT YOU TO KNOW IT IS COMING.
17:20:53 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
17:20:54 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
17:20:55 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:20:56 >>THE CLERK: YES, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANGEL D'ANGELO.
17:21:01 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
17:21:03 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
17:21:05 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD.
17:21:06 >> THIS IS ANGEL D'ANGELO.
17:21:08 I'M ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
17:21:11 COALITION AND A BORN RESIDENT OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.
17:21:16 WE DO ALL THIS WORK OUT OF PASSION FOR THE COMMUNITIES,
17:21:18 FOR EVERYONE THAT LIVES HERE, BUT MOST SPECIFICALLY THE
17:21:22 VULNERABILITY COMMUNITIES, BLACK COMMUNITIES, LATINX
17:21:25 COMMUNITY, TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY AND, OF COURSE, THOSE
17:21:28 THAT LIVE AT THE INTERSECTION OF THOSE IDENTITIES.
17:21:30 WE DO THIS WORK OUT OF PASSION.
17:21:32 NOBODY PAYS THE COALITION TO BE PART OF THIS.
17:21:36 I GO TO WORK AT A REGULAR JOB.
17:21:38 ALL THE OTHER ORGANIZERS GO TO WORK AT A REGULAR JOB TO
17:21:41 DO THIS.
17:21:42 A LOT OF THIS WORK HONESTLY IS WORK THAT YOU AS CITY
17:21:44 COUNCIL COULD BE DOING BUT YOU'RE NOT.
17:21:46 INSTEAD YOU AND MAYOR CASTOR ARE CLAIMING THAT YOU HAVE
17:21:49 NO IDEA WHERE WE WANT THE FUNDS TO GO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
17:21:53 REALLOCATING FROM TPD.
17:21:56 I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MONEY THAT'S BEING ADDED IS
17:21:59 REGARDING PAYROLL AND BENEFITS, BUT WHEN ONLY ABOUT 17%
17:22:02 OF TPD IS EVEN TAMPA RESIDENTS, THAT DOES NOTHING FOR THE
17:22:07 AVERAGE PERSON HERE.
17:22:08 IT DOES NOT IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY.
17:22:09 IT DOES NOT GIVE US JOBS, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE THE FACT
17:22:13 THAT 19% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION LIVE AT OR BELOW THE
17:22:16 POVERTY LINE AND 13% OF THE POPULATION HAS NO HEALTH CARE
17:22:19 ACCESS.
17:22:19 SO WE DID IT FOR YOU.
17:22:21 WE SURVEYED THE COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE
17:22:25 THE PRIORITIES OF THIS BUDGET SHOULD BE.
17:22:28 IT DOES NOT MATCH MAYOR CASTOR'S BUDGET.
17:22:31 I'D LIKE TO REMIND CITY COUNCIL ONCE AGAIN YOU DO NOT
17:22:33 WORK FOR MAYOR CASTOR NOR DO YOU WORK FOR THE TAMPA
17:22:36 POLICE UNION OR THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT.
17:22:38 YOU WORK FOR US.
17:22:39 PLEASE CONSIDER THIS WHEN YOU'RE USING OUR MONEY.
17:22:43 WE HAD 264 RESPONDENTS OUT OF THE 322, SO THAT'S 82%, SAY
17:22:49 THEY AGREE WITH REALLOCATING THE FUNDS FROM THE POLICE
17:22:53 INTO THE COMMUNITY.
17:22:53 85% WANT TO SEE MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND 82% WANT
17:22:59 TO SEE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS WITH 82% ASKING FOR
17:23:02 MONEY BE ALLOCATED TO UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.
17:23:05 ALL RESPONDENTS WERE 38 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER.
17:23:10 WE'RE CALLING FOR YOU TO ADJUST THIS BUDGET TO PUT MORE
17:23:13 MONEY INTO THE COMMUNITY.
17:23:16 YOU CAN INVEST AT LEAST FOUR MILLION INTO A MENTAL HEALTH
17:23:19 RESPONDER PROGRAM THAT IS SEPARATE FROM TPD, AND WE'LL
17:23:23 TAKE THE MAJORITY OF NONVIOLENT TPD CALLS.
17:23:27 THIS WILL RELIEVE STRESS FROM TPD SINCE I HEAR THEY ARE
17:23:30 SO OVERWHELMED AND STRESSED OUT.
17:23:32 THIS WOULD BE GREAT FOR THEM AND IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR
17:23:34 THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO USE SOME MONEY TO STUDY PROGRAMS,
17:23:37 PROGRAMS LIKE CAHOOTS IN EUGENE, OREGON, 22,000 CALLS
17:23:42 THAT THEY DO, LESS THAN 150 HAD TO RESULT IN POLICE
17:23:46 INTERVENTION, MEANING THE CITIZEN DEPARTMENT IS ABLE TO
17:23:49 HANDLE MAJORITY OF THEIR CALLS WITHOUT POLICE
17:23:52 INTERVENTION.
17:23:54 TAKE CALLS DIRECTLY FROM 91.
17:23:55 ONLY COSTS THEM ABOUT 2 MILLION THERE.
17:23:57 A CITY OF OUR POPULATION, MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE MILLION.
17:24:01 I THINK YOU SHOULD PUT MONEY INTO STUDYING THAT AND STUDY
17:24:05 PROGRAMS LIKE VIOLENCE [AUDIO BREAKS UP] -- 60% WITHOUT
17:24:08 USING ANY TYPE OF PRISON OR INCARCERATION METHOD.
17:24:11 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
17:24:19 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS SHARON GRAHAM.
17:24:22 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
17:24:25 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
17:24:27 >> HI.
17:24:27 THANK YOU.
17:24:27 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD.
17:24:29 >> ALL RIGHT.
17:24:29 MY NAME IS SHARON GRAHAM.
17:24:31 I OWN A PRIVATE PRACTICE HERE IN TAMPA.
17:24:34 WE WORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
17:24:38 I'VE WORKED FOR OVER A DECADE WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS
17:24:41 WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS AND BOTH CIVILIANS
17:24:45 AND VETERANS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND PTSD IN BOTH
17:24:49 INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SETTINGS.
17:24:51 I'M AN INFORMED ADVOCATE OF RESTORATIVE AND EQUITABLE
17:24:55 POLICY REFORM AND HAVE LED STATEWIDE LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS
17:24:59 REGARDING HEALTH CARE ACCESS SINCE 2014.
17:25:03 I AM SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY WITH GRAVE CONCERNS REGARDING
17:25:06 OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ITS ALLOCATION OF FUNDING
17:25:10 WITHIN OUR BUDGET.
17:25:11 THESE CURRENT POLICIES OF OVER-POLICING NEIGHBORHOODS OF
17:25:15 COLOR, CRIMINALIZING THE POOR AND HELPLESS EXACERBATE THE
17:25:21 SOCIAL ISSUES THAT WE SEE.
17:25:22 PEOPLE LOSE JOBS, CANNOT AFFORD BAIL, RELIABLE
17:25:26 TRANSPORTATION, AND LOSE MUCH-NEEDED MONEY THAT SHOULD BE
17:25:29 APPLIED TOWARD RENT AND FOOD.
17:25:32 I AM URGING YOU TO ENCOURAGE THE MAYOR TO CALL FOR CHIEF
17:25:36 DUGAN'S RESIGNATION.
17:25:39 HE HAS DEMONSTRATED AN UNFORTUNATE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY,
17:25:44 INCREASED USE OF FORCE AND MOST TRAGICALLY, HE HAS LOST
17:25:48 THE CONFIDENCE OF THE COMMUNITY HE HAS SWORN TO SERVE.
17:25:51 THIS IS UNTENABLE.
17:25:53 WE MUST ALSO DEMILITARIZE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MAKE
17:25:56 THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS,
17:25:58 INCLUDING ESCALATION, USE OF FORCE AND NEGLIGENCE.
17:26:04 WE WOULD LIKE OUR CITY TO DIVERT THE EXCESS POLICE FUNDS
17:26:07 INTO COMMUNITY NEEDS SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
17:26:10 TRANSPORTATION, AND HEALTH CARE.
17:26:11 THE CURRENT POLICIES DO NOT MAKE US SAFER.
17:26:14 THE DATA ARE CLEAR ON THIS.
17:26:16 WHEN WE INVEST IN BUILDING UP OUR COMMUNITY, WE DO NOT
17:26:20 NEED PUNITIVE MEASURES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE.
17:26:24 MORE SPECIFICALLY, WE WOULD LIKE AT LEAST 140,000 TO
17:26:28 STUDY PROGRAMS LIKE CAHOOTS IN THE RICHMOND OFFICE OF
17:26:33 NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY, BOTH OF WHICH INVEST IN COMMUNITIES
17:26:36 INSTEAD OF PUNISH THEM.
17:26:37 AT LEAST 4 MILLION INTO A MENTAL HEALTH RESPONDER PROGRAM
17:26:41 THAT IS NOT A PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AT LEAST 13
17:26:46 MILLION INTO HOUSING TO KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED AND SECURE,
17:26:50 WHICH WILL AUTOMATICALLY REDUCE CRIME.
17:26:53 AT LEAST 13 MILLION INTO A CITY JOBS PROGRAM, AIMING TO
17:26:57 EMPLOY THE HOUSELESS, THOSE WITH FELONIES, THOSE WITH
17:27:01 DISABILITIES AND OTHERS WHO ARE FORGOTTEN OR
17:27:03 MARGINALIZED.
17:27:05 AND THEN REMAINING AMOUNTS TO FUND A CHILD CARE VOUCHER
17:27:08 PROGRAM SO ALL CHILDREN CAN ACCESS QUALITY, LOCALLY
17:27:13 NEIGHBORHOOD OWNED CHILD CARE SERVICES.
17:27:15 THE STATUS QUO IS UNACCEPTABLE, INCREASING THE BUDGET OF
17:27:19 THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
17:27:21 WE ARE CALLING ON YOU TO SHIFT FUNDS FROM THE POLICE INTO
17:27:26 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT.
17:27:27 THANK YOU.
17:27:27 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:27:28 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:27:31 >>THE CLERK: YES, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MEAGGAN THOMAS.
17:27:33 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
17:27:36 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
17:27:37 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
17:27:38 GO AHEAD.
17:27:42 >> CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
17:27:43 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD.
17:27:44 YEAH, WE CAN.
17:27:45 GO AHEAD.
17:27:46 >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
17:27:47 MY NAME IS MEAGGAN.
17:27:48 I'M A LOCAL COMMUNITY ADVOCATE CALLING IN TODAY TO SAY
17:27:51 THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT INCREASING THE BUDGET OF TPD IN THE
17:27:55 2021 PLAN.
17:27:57 TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS ARE ALREADY RECEIVING WELL ABOVE
17:27:59 AVERAGE SALARIES COMPARED TO OTHER OFFICERS IN THE TEN
17:28:02 MOST POPULACE CITIES IN FLORIDA.
17:28:05 IT'S JUST UNNECESSARY TO PAY THEM MORE WHEN WE COULD USE
17:28:08 MONEY TO ACTUALLY BUILD UP OUR COMMUNITIES AND CREATE A
17:28:11 SAFER AND BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE IN TAMPA.
17:28:14 THERE IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT IF WE HIRE MORE
17:28:17 COPS, PAY THEM MORE, GET THEM BETTER EQUIPMENT, TRAIN
17:28:20 THEM BETTER, THEN THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO DO THEIR JOBS
17:28:23 BETTER AND THEREFORE THERE WILL BE LESS CRIME.
17:28:26 SIMPLY PUT, COPS ARE NOT THE CURE FOR CRIME.
17:28:30 COPS REACT TO CRIME AND SOMETIMES IN LETHAL AND UNJUST
17:28:33 WAYS.
17:28:34 ONE OF THE REASONS MAYOR CASTOR USED AS JUSTIFICATION TO
17:28:37 NOT JUST DIVEST FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CRIME RATES
17:28:41 IN TAMPA HAVE GONE DOWN AND THAT'S AWESOME.
17:28:43 CRIME RATES -- THAT'S AWESOME THAT CRIME RATES HAVE GONE
17:28:46 DOWN BUT RESEARCH HAS ALREADY SHOWN THERE'S NO
17:28:48 CORRELATION BETWEEN CRIME RATES AND INCREASED SPENDING ON
17:28:51 LAW ENFORCEMENT.
17:28:51 SO THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT A GOOD REASON TO POUR MORE CITY
17:28:55 RESOURCES INTO THIS DEPARTMENT.
17:28:56 DESPITE THIS ACT, TPD SALARIES HAVE CONTINUALLY INCREASED
17:29:01 OVER THE YEARS ANYWAY, ALONG WITH THINGS LIKE EXCESSIVE
17:29:04 FORCE USED ON COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS.
17:29:08 WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN
17:29:11 AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT RESULT.
17:29:13 INVESTING IN TPD AND EVEN CHANGING POLICIES HAVE NOT AND
17:29:17 WILL NOT LEAD TO THE OUTCOMES WE WANT TO SEE IN THIS
17:29:20 COMMUNITY.
17:29:21 A SAFER AND MORE EFFECTIVE WAY THAT WE CAN REDUCE CRIME
17:29:24 LONG TERM IS THROUGH INVESTING MORE INTO EDUCATION, MORE
17:29:28 INTO HEALTH CARE, MORE INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
17:29:31 COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS.
17:29:33 THEREFORE, I'M ENCOURAGING ALL TONIGHT INSTEAD OF
17:29:37 APPROVING THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE 13 MILLION DOLLAR
17:29:40 INCREASE TO TPD'S BUDGET, ALLOCATE THIS MONEY TOWARDS
17:29:43 LEGITIMATE FORMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
17:29:46 WE'VE GIVEN YOU THE FACTS.
17:29:48 WE'VE GIVEN YOU THE FIGURES, EVEN SUGGESTED SPECIFIC
17:29:51 STUDIES FOR YOU TO ALL FUND.
17:29:54 WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO IT, SO WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
17:29:57 THANK YOU.
17:29:57 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:29:59 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:30:00 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ERRDAISHA FLOYD.
17:30:05 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
17:30:13 >> HI.
17:30:14 MY NAME IS ERRDAISHA FLOYD, A MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE SAFETY
17:30:18 COALITION.
17:30:18 SINCE LAST MONTH, WE'VE BEEN DEMANDING YOU ALL DO NOT
17:30:22 APPROVE THIS BUDGET WITH A $13 MILLION INCREASE FOR TPD.
17:30:24 WE ARE CALLING FOR CITY COUNCIL TO FREEZE TPD'S BUDGET
17:30:29 AND REALLOCATE 19% PERCENT OF THOSE FUNDS TO
17:30:33 COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTION -- WE ARE ALSO CALLING FOR
17:30:34 THE CITY COUNCIL TO CALL FOR THE REDUCTION OF THE JAIL
17:30:36 POPULATION BY REDUCING ARRESTS FOR MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES
17:30:39 BY 50%.
17:30:40 TO END THE TARGETING OF PROTESTORS AND ACTIVISTS AND TO
17:30:44 FIRE POLICE CHIEF DUGAN.
17:30:46 MAYOR JANE CASTOR HERSELF HAS SAID THAT THE POLICE ARE
17:30:49 TASKED WITH DOING TOO MUCH YET HER, QUOTE, UNQUOTE,
17:30:53 FINDINGS FROM HER TASK FORCE REQUIRE THE POLICE TO TAKE
17:30:56 ON EVEN MORE TASKS.
17:30:57 WHY DO WE NEED A POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE?
17:31:01 WOULDN'T JUST AN ATHLETIC LEAGUE KEEP US JUST AS SAFE?
17:31:04 LET ME ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.
17:31:06 IT WOULD KEEP US JUST AS SAFE BUT IT WOULD NOT LEGITIMIZE
17:31:10 THE POLICE AND GIVE THEM MORE THINGS TO DO IN THE
17:31:12 PROCESS.
17:31:12 IF YOU THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE,
17:31:15 THEN MAYBE CONSIDER KIDS DESERVING ATHLETIC LEAGUE VOID
17:31:18 OF THE POLICE.
17:31:19 THE PEOPLE SAFETY COALITION RAN A SURVEY AND GOT OVER 300
17:31:23 RESPONSES AND OVER 80% OF THE RESPONSES SAID THAT MONEY
17:31:26 -- MORE MONEY NEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED FOR MORE YOUTH
17:31:29 PROGRAMS.
17:31:30 OVER 80% OF THOSE RESPONSES ALSO SAID THAT MONEY NEEDS TO
17:31:33 BE ALLOCATED FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
17:31:36 WE'VE DISCUSSED A CAHOOTS PROGRAM WITH SEVERAL OF YOU.
17:31:39 A MOBILE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM THAT TAKES 17% OF THE
17:31:43 CALLS FROM THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
17:31:46 IT COSTS $2.1 MILLION TO RUN ANNUALLY BUT SAVES THE CITY
17:31:50 AN ESTIMATED $8 MILLION A YEAR.
17:31:55 -- STAFF ARE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND HAVE BEEN
17:31:57 TRAINED TO ENSURE A NONVIOLENT RESOLUTION OF CRISIS
17:31:59 SITUATIONS, WHICH IS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT
17:32:02 OFFICERS.
17:32:02 PROTESTORS -- PROTESTS ARE ALREADY KICKING OFF IN
17:32:07 ROCHESTER AS WE SPEAK BECAUSE THE POLICE KILLED A PERSON
17:32:09 WHO WAS IN THE CRISIS.
17:32:10 STUDIES ESTIMATE THAT ANYWHERE FROM 20% TO 50% OF POLICE
17:32:14 CALLS ARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CRISIS.
17:32:16 SO THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR NONVIOLENT RESOLUTION THAT
17:32:20 KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND ALIVE.
17:32:22 THIS COALITION IS CALLING FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY SO WE
17:32:26 CAN DETERMINE THE NEED FOR A CAHOOTS PROGRAM HERE.
17:32:29 THERE NEEDS TO BE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THE STUDY SO WE CAN
17:32:32 ACTUALLY GET THIS RESPONSE TEAM.
17:32:33 THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS, TOO, LIKE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS
17:32:36 THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN BY SCIENTIFIC STUDIES TO REDUCE
17:32:40 VIOLENCE WITHOUT POLICE OR PRISONS.
17:32:42 ACCORDING TO THE BOOK PACIFYING THE HOMELAND, LESS THAN
17:32:46 ONE-THIRD OF POLICE WORK IS ACTUALLY CRIME RELATED.
17:32:48 EIGHT OUT OF TEN INCIDENTS ARE NOT EVEN CONSIDERED
17:32:50 CRIMINAL BY POLICE THEMSELVES AND LESS THAN 6% OF COPS'
17:32:54 TIME SPENT ON THINGS THAT TURN INTO CRIMINAL OFFENSES.
17:32:58 WHY ARE WE PRETENDING THEY DO THE WORK TO REDUCE CRIME?
17:33:02 WE QUITE LITERALLY ARE THE ONES THAT KEEP US SAFE.
17:33:05 WE, THE COMMUNITY, DOING THE WORK AND WAITING FOR CITY
17:33:09 COUNCIL TO MOVE WITH THEM.
17:33:10 THANK YOU.
17:33:10 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:33:11 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:33:13 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CRAIG FOX.
17:33:15 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
17:33:18 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MR. FOX, GO AHEAD.
17:33:20 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
17:33:23 >> YES.
17:33:23 THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
17:33:25 MY NAME IS CRAIG.
17:33:26 I'M A MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE SAFETY COALITION ALSO.
17:33:31 ONE THING I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IS JUST THAT THE REASON
17:33:34 WHY WE'RE DOING THIS IS BECAUSE WE DESPERATELY NEED
17:33:37 SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED
17:33:40 CORRECTLY BY THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
17:33:42 THE TIMES EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE ARE TIMES I'VE BEEN LAYING
17:33:46 DOWN IN MY BED AS A KID OR AN ADULT DOING MUNDANE THINGS
17:33:50 LIKE BEING AT MY AUNT'S HOUSE OR GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE.
17:33:53 WHEN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FAILS US, IT FAILS US
17:33:56 HOLISTICALLY AND INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF THOSE
17:33:59 SHOOTINGS HAPPENING WITHIN MY COMMUNITY.
17:34:01 WE DESPERATELY NEED THIS MONEY REALLOCATED TO PROGRAMS
17:34:05 THAT ARE MORE EFFECTIVE AT ENDING VIOLENCE WITHOUT
17:34:08 PUTTING THE FEAR OF EVERYBODY, THAT IF THEY CALL --
17:34:11 FRIEND IS GOING THROUGH A MENTAL CRISIS, IF THEY CALL
17:34:14 911, THEY MIGHT GET SHOT BY THE PEOPLE COMING TO SAVE
17:34:17 THEM.
17:34:18 THAT IS THE KIND OF TRAUMA THAT I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE DON'T
17:34:20 EXPERIENCE THAT MUCH UNLESS YOU'RE ACTUALLY IN THE
17:34:23 SITUATION AND LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES.
17:34:25 ONLY 17% OF OUR CURRENT POLICE FORCE LIVES IN THE CITY OF
17:34:28 TAMPA.
17:34:29 ON TOP OF THAT, WHICH AREA DO THOSE PEOPLE LIVE IN.
17:34:33 RICHER AREAS OR IN THE LOW INCOME AREAS?
17:34:36 IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE WHEN YOU'RE
17:34:38 ACTUALLY IN THE COMMUNITIES.
17:34:39 WE'RE ALSO DEMANDING THAT SOME OF THESE FUNDS BE
17:34:42 REALLOCATED TO PROVEN SAFETY MEASURES LIKE VIOLENCE
17:34:45 INTERRUPTERS, CAHOOTS, BUT NOT ONLY ENACT THESE PROGRAMS
17:34:49 BUT HIRE THE COMMUNITY DIRECTLY.
17:34:51 WE ALSO $4 MILLION FOR THOSE PROGRAMS TO MAKE THEM RUN --
17:34:55 EACH AND ALSO DEMANDING THAT THE REMAINING FUNDS
17:35:01 (INDISCERNIBLE) BE DIRECTED TO A CITY JOB PROGRAM BECAUSE
17:35:03 WE ALL KNOW THAT JOBS REDUCE CRIME AND POVERTY.
17:35:06 WE ALSO NEED TO RELOCATE THOSE INTO CHILD CARE SERVICES,
17:35:11 AND WE ALSO NEED TO RELOCATE EVEN MORE FUNDS OF THE
17:35:15 HOUSING AS WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC AND PEOPLE
17:35:17 DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SECURE HOUSING.
17:35:19 COUNCIL, I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH JUST HOW BADLY AND HOW
17:35:23 URGENT THE NEED IS FOR THE SAFETY PROGRAMS.
17:35:26 AS THE PANDEMIC WORSENS AND MORE UNEMPLOYMENT OCCURS,
17:35:29 ONLY MORE VIOLENCE IS GOING TO OCCUR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
17:35:32 WE CANNOT ACCEPT THIS BUDGET FOR WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT
17:35:35 STANDS TODAY.
17:35:35 WE NEED TO TAKE DIRECT, BOLD ACTION.
17:35:38 AS WE LIVE IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES OF THE PANDEMIC, WE
17:35:41 NEED TO TAKE UNPRECEDENTED MOVE AND DO THE THINGS WE KNOW
17:35:45 WILL SAVE OUR LIVES.
17:35:46 THANK YOU.
17:35:46 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:35:48 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:35:49 >>THE CLERK: THANK YOU.
17:35:49 THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ZULEMA RAMOS.
17:35:52 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
17:35:55 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
17:35:57 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
17:35:58 GO AHEAD.
17:35:59 >> HELLO.
17:36:00 GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.
17:36:01 THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THIS MEETING TODAY.
17:36:04 MY NAME IS ZULEMA RAMOS.
17:36:07 AND I AM A FACILITATOR WITH THE TAMPA BAY HOUSING JUSTICE
17:36:10 COMMITTEE, A GROUP OF OVER 150.
17:36:13 AND I AM ALSO ONE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
17:36:17 RIGHT NOW, AS OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE MENTIONED, SO MANY
17:36:20 RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING SEVERE POVERTY AND HUNGER
17:36:24 DURING THIS COVID-19 HEALTH CRISIS.
17:36:28 AND WE NEED RIGHT NOW FOOD, NOT FIREARMS, TEACHERS, NOT
17:36:34 TASERS, HOUSING, NOT HANDCUFFS, AND COUNSELORS, NOT COPS.
17:36:41 ACCORDING TO INTERNAL TPD REPORTS, USE OF FORCE UNDER
17:36:46 POLICE CHIEF DUGAN HAS INCREASED 24%.
17:36:49 PEPPER SPRAY USE IS UP 223%, AND THERE ARE ILLEGAL
17:36:55 ACTIONS AND PROTOCOL VIOLATIONS BY TPD, DOCUMENTED BY
17:36:59 LEGAL OBSERVERS FROM THE ACLU AND THE NATIONAL LAWYERS
17:37:03 GUILT THAT RESULTED IN INJURED CHILDREN, FAMILIES,
17:37:07 MEDICS, AND JOURNALISTS.
17:37:09 AND THIS IS ON TOP OF THE VIOLENCE ALREADY SEEN IN THE
17:37:12 TAMPA COMMUNITY FROM TPD.
17:37:15 AND IN LIGHT OF THIS AND THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
17:37:19 HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION THAT LED TO THE UNNEEDED DEATHS
17:37:23 OF TAMPA RESIDENT ARTHUR GREENE JUNIOR AND JASON WESCOTT,
17:37:28 AMONG OTHERS, WE THE COMMITTEE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE
17:37:31 REALLOCATION OF THE POLICE BUDGET TO NECESSITIES THAT
17:37:35 ACTUALLY REDUCE CRIME.
17:37:38 WE KNOW FROM BASIC EXPERIENCE AND DOZENS OF YEARS OF
17:37:43 STUDY, WE SHOULD PUT THAT MONEY TOWARDS PUBLIC TRANSIT,
17:37:48 CLEAN ENERGY, DISABILITY FRIENDLY PUBLIC PARKS, FREE
17:37:54 HOUSING, FOOD GARDENS, NATIVE PLANTS, AND WE NEED TO
17:37:57 PRIORITIZE NEW PROGRAMS LIKE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
17:38:01 INTERRUPTERS THAT EXIST IN OTHER PLACES, AND BETTER
17:38:04 SUPPORT EXISTING ONES, LIKE AT THE CRISIS CENTER OF TAMPA
17:38:06 BAY.
17:38:08 WHEN I PERSONALLY HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS TRYING TO COMMIT
17:38:12 SUICIDE, I CALLED THE CRISIS CENTER OF TAMPA BAY, NOT THE
17:38:16 COPS, AND HE IS ALIVE TODAY.
17:38:19 ON TOP OF WHICH THE TAMPA COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SURVEYED AND
17:38:24 AS A RESULT WE ARE CALLING FOR UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE
17:38:26 PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP WORKING PARENTS GET QUALITY CARE
17:38:31 STARTING WITH AT LEAST $4 MILLION AND MOVING 34 MILLION
17:38:35 FROM THE PROPOSED TPD BUDGET INTO THINGS LIKE EQUITABLE
17:38:43 HOUSING PROGRAMS, CITY JOB PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS PROGRAMS
17:38:48 THAT CAN MAKE COPS INTO ACTUAL RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY THAT
17:38:54 HOLD JOBS THAT HELP US.
17:38:55 WE COULD HAVE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR THEM IF THEY DON'T
17:38:58 HAVE OTHER SKILLS.
17:39:00 WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WITH THE DRAMATIC SHIFT IN OUR
17:39:03 PRIORITIES AS A CITY THAT WE CAN TRULY BE A PLACE THAT
17:39:07 STANDS FOR THE SAFETY AND JUSTICE FOR EVERYONE THAT LIVES
17:39:11 HERE AND EVERYONE THAT VISITS HERE.
17:39:14 SO PLEASE --
17:39:15 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:39:16 >> THANK YOU.
17:39:20 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NEXT SPEAKER.
17:39:21 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS ALEXIA ROTBERG.
17:39:26 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
17:39:29 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
17:39:30 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, WE CAN.
17:39:31 GO AHEAD.
17:39:31 >> HI.
17:39:32 I'D LIKE TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO THE MAYOR'S FISCAL
17:39:34 YEAR 2021 RECOMMENDED OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET.
17:39:38 I HAVE TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THIS EGREGIOUS MISALLOCATION
17:39:41 OF FUNDS PROPOSED WITHIN THE BUDGET AND THE FACT THAT
17:39:44 IT'S BEING PASSED OFF BY THE ADMINISTRATION AS A
17:39:46 PROGRESSIVE, STRATEGIC INITIATIVE SEEMS MISLEADING AND
17:39:49 UNETHICAL TO SAY THE LEAST.
17:39:51 IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT, MAYOR CASTOR DESCRIBES THE
17:39:54 CITYWIDE STRATEGY THAT FOCUSES ON PROVIDING A HIGH LEVEL
17:39:58 OF SERVICE IN HOUSING AND MOBILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND
17:40:01 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
17:40:02 IF THIS IS MAYOR CASTOR'S GOAL, I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHERE
17:40:06 POLICE FIT INTO THE STRATEGY AND WHERE FURTHER INVESTMENT
17:40:09 IN TPD IS NECESSARY, JUST IDENTIFY OR EVEN APPROPRIATE
17:40:12 GIVEN TPD'S RECENT ACTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN
17:40:16 CAUGHT ON TAPE AND CIRCULATED NATIONALLY.
17:40:18 THESE ACTIONS HAVE REACHED NUMEROUS CIVIL RIGHTS AND ARE
17:40:21 CASTING TAMPA IN A LIGHT THAT IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE
17:40:24 INCLUSIVE, PROGRESSIVE CITY THAT MAYOR CASTOR PROMOTES
17:40:28 OUTWARDLY.
17:40:29 SEEMS AS MAYOR CASTOR'S CITYWIDE STRATEGY REALLY AS
17:40:32 COMPREHENSIVE AND INCLUSIVE AS SHE CLAIMS, WE WOULD BE
17:40:35 INVESTING IN VARIOUS OTHER POSITIONS AND DEPARTMENTS, NOT
17:40:37 TPD.
17:40:38 NO AMOUNT OF FUNDING WILL MAKE A TPD OFFICER, A SOCIAL
17:40:41 WORKER, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, COUNSELOR OR
17:40:45 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY.
17:40:46 NO AMOUNT OF TPD FUNDING WILL MAKE UP FOR THE HISTORIC
17:40:49 NEGLECT OF MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
17:40:51 WHAT WOULD HELP THE SYSTEMIC ISSUES PREVALENT THROUGHOUT
17:40:53 OUR CITY IS FUNDING THE VERY DEPARTMENTS MAYOR CASTOR
17:40:57 ISN'T TOUCHING.
17:40:58 DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, EQUAL BUSINESS
17:41:01 OPPORTUNITY, NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND
17:41:03 PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
17:41:04 TPD DOES NOT NEED 13 MORE MILLION DOLLARS LET ALONE THE
17:41:08 162 MILLION THEY WERE ALLOCATED IN 2020.
17:41:11 IN FACT, MANY OF THE TPD SYSTEMS CURRENTLY IN PLACE
17:41:14 FUNDED BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND TOUTED WITHIN THE BUDGET
17:41:17 DOCUMENT ARE FAILING CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AS
17:41:20 WE SPEAK.
17:41:21 FOR EXAMPLE, IN JUNE 2020, A PROTESTOR WAS HIT IN HYDE
17:41:25 PARK VILLAGE BY A DRIVER WHO THEN DROVE OFF AND FACED NO
17:41:29 CHARGES.
17:41:29 PROTESTORS PARTAKING IN THE PROTESTING FOR BLACK LIVES IS
17:41:33 CLEARLY THE REASON WHY THE DRIVER CHOSE TO RUN INTO THE
17:41:36 PROTESTOR AND IT APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT REASON WHY TPD
17:41:39 FAILED TO DO THEIR JOB.
17:41:41 TPD AGAIN FAILED TO DO THEIR JOB WHEN THEIR OWN SOCIAL
17:41:46 MEDIA COORDINATOR RELEASED THE INFORMATION OF A PRIVATE
17:41:49 CITIZEN ON A SITE IN RETALIATION AFTER THEY POSTED VIDEO
17:41:54 OF AN OFFICER PULLING A GUN ON HER AND A FRIEND DURING A
17:41:57 TRAFFIC STOP.
17:41:58 NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE, NO FIRING HAPPENED, AND THE
17:42:00 CITIZEN WAS FORCED TO MOVE HOME AND FACES THREATS TO HER
17:42:03 AND HER FAMILIES' LIVES.
17:42:05 WHY HAS TPD SAFE PLACE INITIATIVE STAYED QUIET IN REGARDS
17:42:07 TO THESE HATE CRIMES?
17:42:09 DOES TPD NEED 13 MILLION MORE DOLLARS TO MAKE ARRESTS OR
17:42:14 LEARN HOW TO NOT BREAK LAWS?
17:42:15 IS THAT THE LEVEL OF EFFICIENCY WE'RE WORKING WITH HERE?
17:42:18 COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY COMMENTS
17:42:20 TODAY.
17:42:21 PLEASE DO NOT MISINTERPRET MY WORDS AS DISRESPECT.
17:42:24 WE'RE LAW-ABIDING TAXPAYERS DEMANDING THAT THE PUBLIC
17:42:25 SERVANTS, WHOSE SALARIES ARE FUNDED BY OUR TAX DOLLARS,
17:42:29 BE HELD TO A STANDARD, A STANDARD THAT NO HONORABLE,
17:42:31 HONEST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WOULD HAVE ANY REASON TO
17:42:31 OPPOSE.
17:42:31 THANK YOU.
17:42:34 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:42:34 NEXT SPEAKER.
17:42:38 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS ROZELL COFFIE.
17:42:43 >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.
17:42:44 I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE URGENCY FOR FEASIBLE STUDY
17:42:47 INTO HIRING TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS AND SOCIAL
17:42:50 WORKERS TO RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH RELATED OR SOCIAL
17:42:53 WELFARE CALLS.
17:42:54 SEVERAL COUNCILMEN HAVE SHOWN INTEREST IN A STUDY LIKE
17:42:57 THIS.
17:42:58 I BELIEVE NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO START.
17:43:00 WITH THE BUDGET RIGHT IN FRONT OF US, I KNOW WE CAN FIT
17:43:02 THIS ASK OF THE PUBLIC.
17:43:04 JUST LAST WEEK, THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE HIGHLIGHTED THIS
17:43:07 EXACT NEED IN A FINDING AS A RESULT OF THE STUDY.
17:43:11 WE MUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS MOMENTUM AND I URGE EACH
17:43:14 COUNCILMAN TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN THIS ASK OF THE
17:43:17 PEOPLE TOGETHER.
17:43:17 THANK YOU.
17:43:20 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:43:21 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:43:22 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RACHEL HOWELL, IF YOU
17:43:25 CAN HEAR ME, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
17:43:28 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
17:43:29 GO AHEAD.
17:43:30 >> HELLO.
17:43:31 THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
17:43:33 AGAIN, MY NAME IS RACHEL HOWELL.
17:43:35 I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS AND THE ASKS OF MY FELLOW
17:43:41 CITIZENS TODAY.
17:43:41 I HOPE THE COUNCIL IS KEEPING AN OPEN MIND IN REALIZING
17:43:44 THAT THE PEOPLE ARE JUST ASKING FOR SOME CHANGE TO OCCUR.
17:43:48 CLEARLY, THE PUBLIC IS UPSET AND I FEEL LIKE THE COUNCIL
17:43:53 SHOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, BUT MY ASK TODAY IS
17:43:58 TO ECHO THE CALL FOR A STUDY INTO THE NEED FOR A
17:44:04 NONPOLICE FORCE TO RESPOND TO NONCRIMINAL ACTIONS.
17:44:12 I KNOW THAT LIKE ROZELL SAID, CERTAIN COUNCILMEN HAVE
17:44:16 EXPRESSED THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN GET BEHIND AND
17:44:18 SUPPORT, AND I URGE ALL COUNCILMEN TO HOPEFULLY SUPPORT
17:44:21 THIS AS WELL.
17:44:22 AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THIS IS ONE OF THE FINDINGS THAT
17:44:26 WAS POSTED BY DR. BRIANNA FOX FROM THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE
17:44:31 ON POLICING THAT JUST FINISHED.
17:44:32 I BELIEVE HER EXACT WORDS WERE FOR HER RECOMMENDATION IS
17:44:36 TO, QUOTE, HIRE TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS AND SOCIAL
17:44:40 WORKERS TO CO-RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH OR SOCIAL WELFARE
17:44:43 CALLS.
17:44:44 I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THIS.
17:44:47 I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE THE END GOAL.
17:44:50 BUT TODAY, MY FOCUS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT FRIENDS IN THE
17:44:54 -- FUNDS IN THE 2021 BUDGET ARE SECURED TO FUND A STUDY
17:44:58 TO ANALYZE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING THIS
17:45:01 PROPOSED CHANGE.
17:45:01 SO PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER FUNDING FOR THE STUDY AS WE
17:45:06 WORK TOWARDS A BETTER AND SAFER POLICE FORCE FOR BOTH THE
17:45:09 COPS AND TAMPA BAY CITIZENS.
17:45:12 THANK YOU.
17:45:14 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:45:16 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:45:17 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MATTHEW YAMPOLSKY.
17:45:26 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, PLEASE UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
17:45:28 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD YES, WE CAN.
17:45:30 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
17:45:31 >> GREAT.
17:45:32 THANK YOU.
17:45:32 I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH JUST TO ECHO EVERYBODY ELSE.
17:45:38 WE'RE DEMANDING TO FREEZE THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
17:45:44 BUDGET IMMEDIATELY AND REALLOCATE NO LESS THAN 19% OF THE
17:45:47 BUDGET TO COMMUNITY SAFETY PROGRAMS STAFFED AND RUN BY
17:45:52 WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
17:45:53 WE'RE ALSO DEMANDING YOU REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION BY
17:45:56 REDUCING ARRESTS FOR NONVIOLENT MISDEMEANORS.
17:45:59 OTHERS HAVE SAID BY 50%, BUT I THINK THAT'S RIDICULOUS AS
17:46:02 WELL, THAT YOU GUYS ARE POPULATING THE JAIL AT ALL WITH
17:46:05 ANY MISDEMEANOR CHARGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TAMPA POLICE
17:46:09 DEPARTMENT HAS CLEARLY PICKED AND CHOSEN WHICH
17:46:12 MISDEMEANORS TO ARREST INDIVIDUALS FOR.
17:46:16 WE'RE ALSO DEMANDING TO END ANTI-PROTEST POLICE VIOLENCE
17:46:19 AND ACTIVIST TARGETING, WHICH HAS BEEN CLEAR AND AT THE
17:46:25 DIRECTION OF CURRENT POLICE CHIEF DUGAN, WHICH BRINGS ME
17:46:30 TO MY FINAL POINT.
17:46:32 THIS ALL CAN'T BE BRUSHED YOU DID THE TABLE OR BRUSHED
17:46:36 UNDER THE RUG LIKE IT CLEARLY IS BEING TRIED TO BE DONE.
17:46:39 CHIEF DUGAN HAS TO BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY FOR HIS ACTIONS
17:46:44 OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TOWARD PEACEFUL PROTESTORS.
17:46:47 HE'S USED CHEMICAL WARFARE.
17:46:49 HE'S USED RUBBER BULLETS ON PEACEFUL PROTESTORS.
17:46:54 HE'S CHARGED PEOPLE WITH FELONIES.
17:46:56 HE'S CHARGED PEOPLE WITH MISDEMEANORS.
17:46:59 IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE'S LIKE A BIAS GOING ON HERE.
17:47:03 HIS ACTIONS ARE DEFINITELY FIREABLE.
17:47:06 WE RECOMMEND THAT HE BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY.
17:47:08 THE DEMAND FOR THAT REALLOCATION OF TAMPA POLICE
17:47:12 DEPARTMENT FUNDS WOULD PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY $34 MILLION
17:47:16 THAT COULD BE USED TOWARDS PROGRAMS PROVEN TO INCREASE
17:47:19 SAFETY AND REDUCE VIOLENCE.
17:47:20 LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE $13
17:47:23 MILLION INCREASE.
17:47:24 THE BUDGET IS $162 MILLION.
17:47:28 I TALKED TO MR. CITRO'S AIDE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND HE
17:47:33 LITERALLY TOLD ME THAT HOMELESSNESS ISN'T THE CITY'S
17:47:36 PROBLEM, QUOTE, UNQUOTE.
17:47:38 HE TOLD ME THAT HOMELESSNESS IS NOT THE CITY'S PROBLEM.
17:47:42 THAT IS THE COUNTY'S PROBLEM.
17:47:43 MAYBE IT SHOULD BE A CITY PROBLEM WHEN $162 MILLION GOES
17:47:47 TO THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NOW WE'RE GIVING THEM
17:47:51 A $13 MILLION RAISE WHEN ONLY 17% OF THEM EVEN LIVE IN
17:47:56 TAMPA.
17:47:56 SO YOU GUYS WANT TO HELP THE CITY WHERE YOUR CONSTITUENTS
17:48:00 LIVE, MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE SOME OF THAT $162 MILLION AND
17:48:04 PUT IT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
17:48:06 IT'S APPALLING.
17:48:08 YOU KNOW, CITRO, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RESPOND, BUT
17:48:11 YOUR AIDE LITERALLY TOLD ME THAT HOMELESSNESS ISN'T THE
17:48:14 CITY'S PROBLEM.
17:48:16 THAT IS A PROBLEM IN AND OF ITSELF.
17:48:19 UNLESS YOUR AIDE IS NOT SPEAKING FOR YOU, YOU OUGHT TO BE
17:48:22 -- YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF IF HE'S SPEAKING FOR
17:48:25 YOU, MR. CITRO.
17:48:27 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:48:30 >> MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY?
17:48:32 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD, MR. CITRO.
17:48:33 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
17:48:36 I HAVE HAD LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH MY AIDE.
17:48:40 AND I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT MY AIDE HAD SAID NOTHING TO THE
17:48:45 POINT OF THOSE STATEMENTS.
17:48:47 SO I HOPE THE COUNCIL WILL DISREGARD THE STATEMENTS THAT
17:48:50 MY AIDE MADE ANY OF THOSE STATEMENTS.
17:48:52 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
17:48:54 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:48:56 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:48:57 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JORDANA YAMPOLSKY.
17:49:01 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
17:49:03 >> HI, THANK YOU.
17:49:04 I WOULD LIKE TO SAY YOUR AIDE DID SAY THAT, FIRST OF ALL.
17:49:08 AND TO GET ON TO EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU SAY THAT THE $13
17:49:14 MILLION RAISE OF AN ALREADY INFLATED TAMPA POLICE
17:49:16 DEPARTMENT BUDGET IS GOING TOWARDS PAY RAISES WHICH MY
17:49:20 COMRADES HAVE ALREADY SAID, WE'RE ALREADY OVER THE
17:49:23 NATIONAL AVERAGE AND THE AVERAGE OF MANY OTHER CITIES IN
17:49:26 FLORIDA.
17:49:26 SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED TO DO THAT.
17:49:30 IT'S GOING TOWARDS THEIR HEALTH CARE AND THEIR PENSIONS
17:49:32 WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHO DON'T EVEN
17:49:35 HAVE HEALTH CARE TO BEGIN WITH.
17:49:38 WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW.
17:49:39 I SEE NO MORE THAN 75% OF YOUR POLICE OFFICERS WEARING
17:49:44 MASKS IN THE FIRST PLACE SO THEY OBVIOUSLY DON'T CARE
17:49:47 ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
17:49:50 WE COULD REALLY USE THIS MONEY FOR SO MANY THINGS, LIKE I
17:49:53 SAID, SO MANY OF MY COMRADES HAVE CALLED AND TOLD YOU
17:49:56 GUYS SO MANY THINGS ALREADY.
17:49:57 I JUST REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS LISTEN.
17:50:00 IT'S A PANDEMIC.
17:50:01 WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR CHILD CARE.
17:50:03 WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR DRUG COUNSELING.
17:50:05 WE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE.
17:50:07 WE HAVE HUNGRY PEOPLE.
17:50:09 YOU GUYS ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS.
17:50:11 YOU SERVE US, AND WE PAY FOR YOU AND WE PAY FOR THE
17:50:15 POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE PAY FOR -- WE WANT TO BE PAYING
17:50:19 FOR ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
17:50:20 WE DON'T WANT OUR MONEY TO BE SPENT ON THE POLICE
17:50:23 DEPARTMENT.
17:50:24 THANK YOU.
17:50:24 THAT IS ALL.
17:50:27 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:50:27 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:50:28 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY ONE MORE TIME, MAKE
17:50:32 THE STATEMENT, IF I MAY ONE MORE TIME MAKE THE STATEMENT
17:50:35 THAT MY AIDE DID NOT SAY ANY OF THIS.
17:50:38 THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
17:50:39 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU, SIR.
17:50:42 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:50:43 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GRANT LOVERING.
17:50:48 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
17:50:49 >> THANK YOU.
17:50:49 I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY SAYING TO CITRO, PLEASE STOP
17:50:53 GASLIGHTING US.
17:50:55 HEY, BILL, JOSEPH, JOHN, ORLANDO, CHARLIE, GUIDO, LUIS,
17:51:03 GRANT HERE.
17:51:03 HOPE YOU GENTLEMEN ARE DOING WELL DESPITE THE
17:51:05 CIRCUMSTANCES.
17:51:05 THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING DOING A PROPER STUDY ON HOW
17:51:07 TAMPA CAN KEEP ITS CITIZENS SAFE, BUT WE ALL KNOW IT'S
17:51:11 NOT ENOUGH.
17:51:12 IN YOUR CITY, ONE OF MY FRIENDS WAS BEATEN AND TWO OF
17:51:16 THEM WERE MOLESTED.
17:51:17 I IMPLORE YOU TO READ TAMPA BAY TIMES ARTICLE FROM AUGUST
17:51:20 12 DETAILING THE ABUSE.
17:51:23 AND FOR WHAT?
17:51:28 A MURAL FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY?
17:51:28 THIS IS OBVIOUS PURPOSEFUL INTIMIDATION TO TRY AND SHUT
17:51:28 DOWN THE ACTIVIST MOVEMENT.
17:51:29 WHILE I WAS BEING HELD IN A FREEZING CELL WITHOUT A
17:51:32 SHIRT, MY COLLEAGUES WITNESSED A NAKED BLACK MAN IN
17:51:35 CHAINS BEGGING FOR THE GUARDS TO KILL HIM WHILE THEY MADE
17:51:38 FUN OF HIM.
17:51:39 THIS IS THE REALITY.
17:51:40 WE CAN NO LONGER IGNORE IT.
17:51:41 THE WAY THE WHOLE SITUATION IS BEING HANDLED FEELS LIKE
17:51:44 AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP.
17:51:45 AFTER TERRORIZING CERTAIN CITIZENS AND ACTIVISTS FOR
17:51:48 DARING TO STAND UP AND FIGHT BACK, YOU MEET WITH US AND
17:51:51 SMILE AND THINK ABOUT MAYBE CHANGING A LITTLE.
17:51:54 IT'S LIKE WE HAVE A SWOLLEN EYE AFTER THE LATEST BEATING
17:51:57 AND YOU'RE PROMISING TO DO THE DISHES, BUT PROBABLY ONLY
17:52:01 IF WE KEEP NAGGING.
17:52:02 YOU'LL DEFINITELY RESPECT OUR BOUNDARIES IN THE BEDROOM
17:52:06 NOW.
17:52:06 PLEASE, PLEASE RECOGNIZE OUR FULL HUMANITY AND HAVE THE
17:52:09 RESPECT TO FULLY LISTEN TO WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
17:52:12 YOU WERE YOUNG ONCE.
17:52:13 YOU RECOGNIZE PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD OLDER FOLKS WERE
17:52:16 TRYING TO IGNORE.
17:52:17 THAT'S PROBABLY A BIG PART OF THE REASON WHY YOU'RE
17:52:19 CHOOSING TO SERVE AT LEAST A PORTION OF YOUR COMMUNITY
17:52:21 NOW.
17:52:22 THANK YOU.
17:52:23 YOU PUT IN SOME SOLID EFFORT AND HAD PLENTY OF LUCK ALONG
17:52:26 THE WAY AND NOW SIT IN YOUR ELEVATED POSITIONS.
17:52:29 PLEASE USE THEM TO ENACT REAL POSITIVE CHANGE.
17:52:32 PLEASE DON'T GET COMPLACENT BECAUSE YOU ARE COMFORTABLE
17:52:34 NOW.
17:52:35 PLEASE RECOGNIZE THAT THE YOUTH OF TODAY ARE ADAPTING TO
17:52:38 THE WORLD NOT JUST FOR OUR OWN PERSONAL SURVIVAL BUT FOR
17:52:41 THE SURVIVAL OF HUMANITY.
17:52:43 JANE HAS SAID OUR VOICES CAN BE IGNORED BECAUSE WE ARE A
17:52:46 SMALL VOCAL MINORITY.
17:52:47 THOSE OF US SPEAKING TONIGHT ARE JUST PRIVILEGED ENOUGH
17:52:49 TO FIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WHO IS TOO
17:52:52 BUSY TRYING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.
17:52:54 WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STANDING WITH US
17:52:57 AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE YOU START HEARING
17:52:59 MORE OF THEIR VOICES.
17:53:01 WE ARE GIVING YOU THE SOLUTIONS AND WE DON'T NEED ANY
17:53:03 MORE STUDIES TO START CHANGING THINGS DRASTICALLY.
17:53:06 PLEASE HAVE THE COURAGE TO PUT FORWARD MOTIONS WITHOUT
17:53:09 WORRYING ABOUT THE PBA OR REELECTION.
17:53:12 PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING.
17:53:13 THANK YOU.
17:53:14 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:53:16 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:53:17 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PHIL COMPTON.
17:53:21 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
17:53:24 >> HEY, GOOD EVENING.
17:53:25 I'M PHIL COMPTON WITH SIERRA CLUB'S CLEAN ENERGY FOR ALL
17:53:29 CAMPAIGN.
17:53:30 I RESIDE IN NORTHEAST SEMINOLE HEIGHTS IN COUNCILMAN
17:53:32 MANISCALCO'S DISTRICT.
17:53:33 WE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING THE
17:53:36 NEW SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE OFFICER AND FOR
17:53:39 DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLIMATE AND EQUITY ACTION PLAN.
17:53:41 THIS PLAN IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR THE CITY'S FUTURE.
17:53:45 BUT FOR THAT PLAN TO ACHIEVE A GOAL OF CLEAN ENERGY FOR
17:53:49 ALL, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE FUNDING FOR A COMPLETELY
17:53:51 INCLUSIVE AND TRANSPARENT PLANNING PROCESS WITH POLICY
17:53:54 DIRECTION BY COUNCIL ENSURING SUCH AN APPROACH.
17:53:57 IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT EQUITY NOT BE USED AS A TRENDY
17:54:00 BUZZWORD AS WE'RE SEEING IN SOME PLACES AROUND THE NATION
17:54:03 BUT THAT IT MEANS SOMETHING REAL FOR THE MANY RESIDENTS
17:54:06 NOW FEELING A TERRIBLE LEVEL OF ENERGY BURDEN WITH BILLS
17:54:10 THAT RUN UP FAR BEYOND THEIR CURRENT ABILITY TO PAY.
17:54:13 DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 ECONOMIC CRISIS, MANY
17:54:16 OF OUR NEIGHBORS NOW FACE LOSING THEIR POWER AS TECO HAS
17:54:20 BEGUN TERMINATING SERVICE THIS WEEK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
17:54:24 BEHIND IN THEIR BILLS.
17:54:24 TO REACH A GOAL OF 100% CLEAN ENERGY FOR ALL, AS THE CITY
17:54:29 HAS BEGUN TO PLAN TO DO, WE NEED TO PLACE IMPROVEMENTS IN
17:54:31 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT THE FOREFRONT AS A TOP PRIORITY FOR
17:54:34 OUR LOWEST INCOME RESIDENTS.
17:54:34 AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, WHO MUST NOW PAY TECO'S LARGEST
17:54:38 BILLS, AS THIS WILL ALLOW US TO REDUCE OUR COMMUNITY'S
17:54:41 OVERALL DEMAND SO WE CAN REACH THE GOAL OF 100% CLEAN
17:54:45 ENERGY FOR EVERYONE SOONER THAN LATER.
17:54:46 165 CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE NOW AT WORK
17:54:49 DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THEIR PLANS WITH OVER TWO
17:54:51 DOZEN ALREADY AT 100%.
17:54:53 THE WAY THEY DID THIS WAS TO MAKE HELPING EVERYONE LOWER
17:54:56 THEIR POWER BILLS THE FIRST THING THEY DID.
17:54:58 WE HAVE PLENTY OF EXAMPLES AND SUCCESSES TO DRAW FROM,
17:55:01 BUT WE ALL NEED TO WORK WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY AND
17:55:04 RESILIENCE OFFICER TO MAKE SURE THE NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR
17:55:06 RESIDENTS ARE ADDRESSED SO THAT WE BECOME RESILIENT IN A
17:55:10 WAY WE ARE NOT TODAY TO THE TERRIBLE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT
17:55:13 SO MANY ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY.
17:55:14 100% CLEAN ENERGY MEANS EVERYONE BENEFITS.
17:55:17 TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET THERE, WE NEED TO INVOLVE ALL OF
17:55:20 OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
17:55:21 THANK YOU FOR BUDGETING TO CARRY OUT SUCH A PROCESS FOR
17:55:24 AN INCLUSIVE PLANNING PROCESS THAT WILL RESULT IN A
17:55:28 CLEANER, HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT AND A MORE
17:55:31 ECONOMICALLY JUST TAMPA.
17:55:33 THANK YOU.
17:55:36 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
17:55:36 NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
17:55:39 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KENT BAILEY.
17:55:40 IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, UNMUTE YOUR LINE.
17:55:43 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
17:55:45 >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.
17:55:46 CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
17:55:49 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, SIR, GO AHEAD.
17:55:50 YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
17:55:55 >> VERY GOOD.
17:55:56 I HAVE A REALLY BAD INTERNET OUT HERE WHERE I AM.
17:55:58 I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT'S NOT SERVED BY HIGH-SPEED
17:56:02 INTERNET.
17:56:03 THANKFULLY, MY CHILDREN ARE LONG GONE OUT OF THIS HOUSE
17:56:07 AND NO LONGER DEPENDING ON THAT LACKING SERVICE HERE.
17:56:10 I WANT TO ASK YOU TO FULLY FUND A COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE
17:56:16 ACTION EQUITY PLAN AND EXPRESS THE SIERRA CLUB SUPPORT
17:56:22 FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY OFFICE.
17:56:26 MY NAME IS KENT BAILEY.
17:56:28 I AM CHAIR OF THE TAMPA BAY SIERRA CLUB AND I AM SPEAKING
17:56:30 ON BEHALF OF 14,000 MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS.
17:56:34 I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT NEXT YEAR, 2021 WILL BE A YEAR
17:56:39 OF REBUILDING OF AMERICA'S ECONOMY.
17:56:43 THERE WILL BE A DRAMATIC SHIFT COMING IN FEDERAL BUDGET
17:56:47 PRIORITIES WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON REBUILDING AMERICA'S
17:56:52 AGING AND OBSOLETE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.
17:56:56 THE MASSIVE FEDERAL INVESTMENTS, NEW PROJECTS TO REBUILD
17:57:01 OUR ECONOMY WILL INCLUDE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIES
17:57:05 LIKE TAMPA TO QUALIFY FOR NEW FEDERAL GRANTS IF WE ARE
17:57:11 PREPARED TO RESPOND.
17:57:13 I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT HALF THE DISTANCE TO RENEWABLE
17:57:18 ENERGY IS COVERED BY IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
17:57:23 I WILL ECHO PHIL COMPTON'S REMARKS THAT RENTERS PAY
17:57:28 DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH UTILITY BILLS BECAUSE THEY LIVE
17:57:32 IN EXTRAORDINARILY INEFFICIENT HOUSES.
17:57:36 THE LOWER THE RENT, THE HIGHER THE ELECTRIC BILL, AND
17:57:40 THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
17:57:42 WE NEED TO WEATHERIZE AND RENOVATE OUR RENTAL STOCK.
17:57:51 DOING SO WILL ACCOMPLISH TWO PURPOSES.
17:57:53 IT WILL PROVIDE GOOD-PAYING JOBS.
17:57:57 IT WILL ALSO MAKE FOR A MORE JUST ECONOMY BY ALLOWING
17:58:03 THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD IT LESS TO HAVE MORE
17:58:06 REASONABLE UTILITY BILLS.
17:58:12 THE PLANS THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD NEXT YEAR WILL BE
17:58:18 DESIGNED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THE
17:58:21 CENTURY'S MOST CRITICAL CHALLENGE: SOLVING THE CLIMATE
17:58:25 CRISIS.
17:58:26 IT WILL ALSO BE PROVIDING NEW, GOOD-PAYING JOBS FOR THOSE
17:58:31 PEOPLE WHO MOST NEED WORK.
17:58:34 IT IS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE MOST
17:58:39 PRESSING ISSUES, CLIMATE CHANGE, BY CREATING
17:58:43 OPPORTUNITIES, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST
17:58:48 NEED A LITTLE SPACE TO PROVIDE THEIRSELVES AND THEIR
17:58:53 FAMILIES WITH A DECENT INCOME.
17:58:55 TAMPA CAN BE ONE OF THE CITIES THAT MOST BENEFITS FROM
17:58:59 THE NEW PROGRAMS IF WE ACT NOW.
17:59:03 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
17:59:04 >> THANK YOU.
17:59:04 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU.
17:59:05 ALL RIGHT.
17:59:06 NEXT SPEAKER.
17:59:07 >>THE CLERK: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS STEPHEN LYTLE.
17:59:14 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW ON
17:59:16 SCREEN, SIR?
17:59:17 >> WE DO, YES.
17:59:18 THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE
17:59:21 TONIGHT AND SPEAK WITH YOU.
17:59:23 MANY OF YOU KNOW I SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH
17:59:25 SEMINOLE HEIGHTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND I AM HERE
17:59:28 REPRESENTING THE OUR COMMUNITY TODAY.
17:59:29 CURRENTLY, THE SOUTH SEMINOLE HEIGHTS CIVIC ASSOCIATION
17:59:31 AND NEIGHBORS ARE ADVOCATING FOR ABOUT $135,000 IN
17:59:35 FUNDING IN THE FISCAL '21 CITY BUDGET TO BE ALLOCATED FOR
17:59:39 THE COMPLETION OF THE HAYA LINEAR PARK SHORELINE
17:59:43 RESTORATION PROJECT.
17:59:45 PICTURE OF THE PARK AND PROJECT ACCOMPANY THIS
17:59:47 PRESENTATION, SO YOU CAN LOOK THROUGH THAT AS WE DISCUSS
17:59:49 KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THIS PROJECT, BUT THE PROJECT
17:59:52 WHICH WAS FIRST PRESENTED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT FOUR
17:59:54 YEARS AGO AND MANY TIMES SINCE WAS LARGELY FUNDED BY
17:59:57 GRANTS AND SET EXPECTATIONS THAT INCLUDED EROSION
18:00:00 MITIGATION WITH A ROCK WALL, THE LENGTH OF OUR 2200-FOOT
18:00:04 PARK, SHORELINE RESTORATION CONSISTING OF FILLING IN A
18:00:08 MAJORLY ERODED SHORELINE TO THE ROCK WALL, REMOVING
18:00:11 INVASIVE SPECIES WHERE WE HAD OVERGROWN AND BLOCKED VIEWS
18:00:14 OF THE RIVER, REPLANTING INDIGENOUS PLANT SPECIES ALONG
18:00:17 THE SHORELINE, CLEANING AND RESTORING THE NATURAL SWELL
18:00:20 THAT FLOWS THROUGH THE PARK, IMAGINE WHAT ULELE SPRING
18:00:24 RESTORATION LOOKED LIKE AND THAT WOULD BE THE END RESULT
18:00:27 AND REPLACEMENT OF THE BRIDGE THAT SITS WASHED UP ON THE
18:00:29 SHORELINE ALONG HAYA LINEAR AND A KAYAK LAUNCH TO ENTER
18:00:34 THE WATER SAFELY.
18:00:35 AS YOU IMAGINE WHEN YOU HEAR THOSE THINGS, OUR NEIGHBORS
18:00:37 WERE EXCITED AND ANTICIPATED THE START AND EVENTUAL
18:00:40 COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.
18:00:41 HOWEVER, THE VISION THAT WE WERE SOLD AND WOULD ACTUALLY
18:00:44 HAPPEN ARE VERY FAR FROM SIMILAR.
18:00:45 OUR ASSOCIATION WAS TOLD THAT THE RFP WAS RELEASED; THE
18:00:48 BIDS CAME BACK IN EXCESS OF THE EXPECTATION BOTH DUE TO
18:00:52 ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND CITY POLICY CHANGES.
18:00:54 SINCE THE GRANT FUNDING WAS TIMED -- OR IT WOULD BE LOST,
18:00:58 THE CITY DETERMINED THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE TO
18:01:01 PIECEMEAL THE PROJECT TO ALLOW FOR PORTIONS TO BE
18:01:03 COMPLETED.
18:01:04 END RESULT, BROKEN INTO TWO PHASES, NORTH END OF THE PARK
18:01:07 AND SOUTH END OF THE PARK.
18:01:08 HOWEVER, EVEN PORTIONS OF THE FIRST PHASE WERE COMPLETED
18:01:11 AND HAPPY TO SEE THE NORTH END OF THE PARK RECEIVE THE
18:01:13 ROCK WELL TO MITIGATE THE MAJOR WAKES FROM BOATS.
18:01:17 THAT WAS PRIMARILY THE SOURCE OF EROSION ISSUES.
18:01:19 WE WERE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
18:01:21 WE WERE HELPFUL WITH THE INVASIVE PLANTS AND EVEN OUR
18:01:24 NEIGHBORS CHIPPED IN AND VOLUNTEERED AND HELPED WITH THE
18:01:26 NEW PLANTINGS.
18:01:27 BUT THAT'S ALL THAT HAPPENED.
18:01:28 WE STARE AT A MOAT BETWEEN THE ROCK WALL -- ONLY THE
18:01:36 EROSION MITIGATION.
18:01:37 THAT MOAT IS A TRASH COLLECTOR BETWEEN THE RIVER AND
18:01:39 SHORELINE AND NEIGHBORS ARE FACED WITH COLLECTING THE
18:01:43 LITTER OURSELVES, SINCE IT COLLECTS QUICKLY IN HEAVY
18:01:48 RAINS.
18:01:49 TREES FALL INTO THE RIVER DUE TO EROSION.
18:01:51 SOUTH END OF THE PARK UNTOUCHED.
18:01:53 NORTH END PARTIALLY COMPLETED AND ACCORDING TO A CITY
18:01:56 STAFF IN AN E-MAIL NO FUNDS LEFT TO FINISH THE PROJECT.
18:02:00 THE LAST WAS A SHOCKER TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
18:02:02 AS AMAZING AS THE PROJECT WAS TO US, IT IS ACTUALLY AN
18:02:06 EMBARRASSING PROJECT AS THE CITY EXECUTED.
18:02:09 OUR NEIGHBORS EXPECTED AND DESERVE BETTER, AND AS A
18:02:10 RESULT, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS STEPPED UP AND BEGAN
18:02:12 APPLYING FOR GRANTS FROM THE TAMPA ESTUARY PROGRAM,
18:02:15 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL AND
18:02:18 EVEN MOSAIC FOR SOME PRIVATE GRANTS.
18:02:20 BUT WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S
18:02:22 ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
18:02:23 WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS BUT
18:02:25 DOESN'T SEEM THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY SINCE NO FUNDING AND
18:02:28 WE NEED GENERAL LEADERSHIP TO HEAR OUR PLEAS AND
18:02:31 REQUESTS.
18:02:31 ASKING YOU TO ALLOCATE 135,000 IN FUNDING FOR THE HAYA
18:02:35 LINEAR PARK SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT IN THIS FISCAL.
18:02:39 NOT A WANT, REALLY A NEED, ALONG WITH THE WAKE ZONING.
18:02:42 WE'RE REALLY THINKING THAT IS FAIR.
18:02:43 THEME IS TO TRULY LIFT UP LOCAL I THINK THIS IS AN
18:02:46 OPPORTUNITY.
18:02:46 THANK YOU.
18:02:50 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
18:02:51 THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. LYTLE.
18:02:53 I HAVE THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND I HAVE THE CFO HERE TO
18:02:56 ADDRESS HAYA LINEAR PARK HERE AND THE SHORELINE
18:03:00 RESTORATION.
18:03:00 MR. CHIEF OF STAFF, IF YOU'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT.
18:03:06 >> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.
18:03:07 I WANT TO POINT OUT FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC COMMENT, MUCH
18:03:10 APPRECIATED FIRST FOR THE APPRECIATION OF THE LIVING
18:03:12 SHORELINE.
18:03:13 AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR CASTOR, ONE OF HER FIVE STRATEGIC
18:03:18 FOCUSES -- FOCUS AREAS IS SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE.
18:03:22 TO THE POINT THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST HIRES WE HAD THIS
18:03:27 PAST FISCAL YEAR WAS THAT OFFICER IN WHIT REMER WHO IS
18:03:31 GOING TO BE VERY FOCUSED ON THESE TYPE OF PROJECTS.
18:03:34 NUMBER TWO, THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE PHASED
18:03:37 APPROACH.
18:03:38 YES, WE'RE ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT THE PROJECT CAME BACK
18:03:42 AT A DIFFERENT NUMBER THAN EXPECTED, AND I HAVE THE CHIEF
18:03:45 FINANCIAL OFFICER HERE.
18:03:46 THE THIRD ELEMENT OF THAT IS WE ARE BOLSTERING OUR GRANTS
18:03:50 POSITIONS AND MR. REMER IN MY OFFICE, WHO WORKS DIRECTLY
18:03:55 FOR ME IN THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE AREA, PART OF
18:03:57 THE REASON HE WAS SELECTED, HE'S BEEN A CHAMPION ON
18:04:00 GRANTS.
18:04:00 THE GRANTS PROGRAM, I THINK MR. ROGERO CAN TESTIFY TO, IS
18:04:05 GOING TO BE OVER $80 MILLION.
18:04:07 I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE'S A DIRECT PIPELINE OF A GRANT
18:04:11 TO THIS PROJECT, BUT I WILL SAY THAT IF YOU ARE TOLD
18:04:14 THERE WASN'T FUNDING, WE WANT TO BUILD SOME HOPE INTO
18:04:17 THAT MODEL AND WE WILL SEEK IT, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE
18:04:20 TYPE OF PROJECTS THE MAYOR IS VERY INTERESTED IN.
18:04:23 DENNIS, DO YOU WANT TO AUGMENT THAT?
18:04:25 >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, SIR.
18:04:26 YES, AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF SAID, WE HAVE A VERY AMBITIOUS
18:04:29 GRANT PROGRAM OF OVER $80 MILLION.
18:04:31 OF COURSE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'LL GET ALL 80 MILLION,
18:04:34 BUT WE ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE AND AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF
18:04:37 SAID, WE BOLSTERED OUR GRANT STAFF.
18:04:40 THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY AND
18:04:42 RESILIENCY OFFICER, WE ARE VERY, VERY POSITIVE, AND WE
18:04:46 HAVE HIGH HOPES WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN A LOT OF GRANT
18:04:48 FUNDING.
18:04:49 AND IF IT'S APPLICABLE TO THIS PROJECT, THAT WOULD BE
18:04:52 WONDERFUL.
18:04:52 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
18:04:53 THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN.
18:04:55 THANK YOU.
18:04:55 DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME, MADAM
18:04:58 CLERK?
18:04:58 >>THE CLERK: CHAIR, THAT WOULD CONCLUDE THE LIVE PUBLIC
18:05:01 COMMENTS.
18:05:02 I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE THREE -- ACTUALLY, FOUR
18:05:06 MEMBERS THAT SIGNED UP, WHICH WAS CHRIS VELA, L. KORSOTT,
18:05:12 PEACH ALISTER AND DEBBIE KEEN THAT DID NOT LOG ON.
18:05:17 WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT RECORDINGS.
18:05:19 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: AND HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE?
18:05:21 I COUNT TEN.
18:05:22 YOU'LL RUN THEM ALL THE WAY THROUGH?
18:05:24 >>THE CLERK: CORRECT.
18:05:25 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
18:05:26 GO AHEAD, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BEGIN.
18:05:27 >>THE CLERK: THANK YOU.
18:05:28 HI.
18:05:32 MY NAME IS AMBER LIPAK.
18:05:34 MY ADDRESS IS 2905 NORTH 24th STREET HERE IN TAMPA,
18:05:39 YBOR.
18:05:39 I'M CALLING SPECIFICALLY AT THE CITY COUNCIL TO NOT ALLOW
18:05:46 TPD TO HAVE AN INCREASE OF THE BUDGET THIS YEAR,
18:05:51 SPECIFICALLY TO -- THEIR BUDGET AND INSTEAD REALLOCATE
18:05:57 19%, $34 MILLION IN HONOR OF JUNETEENTH TO COMMUNITY
18:06:03 SAFETY PROGRAMS.
18:06:04 THAT'S 4 MILLION TO MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH IS COMPLETELY
18:06:08 SEPARATE FROM TPD'S CONTROL, FOR VIOLENCE REDUCTION
18:06:12 PROGRAMS AND ANOTHER 4 MILLION AND ANYTHING LEFT IN FUNDS
18:06:15 SHOULD GO TO A TAMPA JOBS PROGRAM.
18:06:19 WE HAVE PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHO ARE SO AT RISK AND
18:06:24 ARE IN SO MUCH NEED, AND THE POLICE RECEIVING A BUDGET
18:06:29 INCREASE IS NOT THE SOLUTION FOR THAT.
18:06:31 HAVING MORE PROGRAMS, FUNDING OUR PROGRAMS IN OUR CITY TO
18:06:36 HELP SUPPORT MY NEIGHBORS IS WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
18:06:39 I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF LIP SERVICE INSTEAD OF
18:06:43 ACTUAL PROGRESS TOWARDS MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER AND
18:06:48 WORKING IN HARMONY WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
18:06:51 I'M NOT FOR DEFUNDING THE POLICE SPECIFICALLY, ABOLISHING
18:06:56 THE POLICE.
18:06:57 I'M FOR REALLOCATING FUNDS TO PROPERLY SUPPORT OUR
18:07:02 COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF OUR POLICE FORCE.
18:07:05 I APPRECIATE YOUR -- THANK YOU.
18:07:10 >> HELLO.
18:07:11 MY NAME IS BROOKE ERIC.
18:07:12 I AM THE FLORIDA ORGANIZER WITH (INDISCERNIBLE) SPEAKING
18:07:18 ON BEHALF OF NEARLY 2700 TAMPA RESIDENT MEMBERS FOR THE
18:07:22 5 P.M. BUDGET CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT HEARING ON THURSDAY,
18:07:30 SEPTEMBER 3rd, 5 P.M.
18:07:37 I'M CONCERNED AT HOW WE'VE TREATED OUR MOST VULNERABLE
18:07:40 CITIZENS AS SECOND CLASS OR UNIMPORTANT.
18:07:43 IT IS TIME TO BRING TAMPA INTO THE FUTURE, AND THAT IS
18:07:46 WHY I SUPPORT REFUNDING THE COMMUNITY AND PRIORITIZING
18:07:49 NEW PROGRAMS IN TAMPA AS ALTERNATIVES TO -- POLICING AND
18:07:54 INVEST IN GROWING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR
18:07:57 COMMUNITY OVERALL.
18:07:58 TAMPA IS AT A CROSSROADS.
18:07:59 WE'RE AT THE INTERSECTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE, RACIAL
18:08:02 INJUSTICE AND AIR POLLUTION DRIVEN PANDEMIC HAVE NEVER
18:08:05 BEEN MORE APPARENT.
18:08:07 OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH
18:08:10 POLICE VIOLENCE AND ECONOMIC INSECURITY ARE THE SAME
18:08:14 FOLKS MOST IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, THE COVID-19
18:08:18 PANDEMIC, UTILITIES SHUTOFF AND LACK OF ACCESS TO
18:08:21 ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS.
18:08:23 IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NEEDED TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE
18:08:27 POPULATION FROM CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE, AND
18:08:30 IT IS TIME TO REINVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THE
18:08:34 FUTURE OF TAMPA.
18:08:35 THE LONGER WE ALLOW CLIMATE INJUSTICE TO REIGN IN TAMPA
18:08:40 ALONG WITH OTHER FORMS OF INJUSTICE, THE LONGER WE ARE
18:08:43 LABELING THOSE RESIDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING -- NO ONE IS
18:08:47 DISPOSABLE.
18:08:48 ONLY A SWIFT TRANSITION WILL PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY
18:08:50 AND WELL-BEING OF OUR FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES.
18:08:53 A TRANSITION THAT PROVIDES PROGRAMS FOR ALL TAMPA
18:08:55 RESIDENTS, NOT JUST HOMEOWNERS.
18:08:57 A TRANSITION THAT INVESTS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE
18:09:00 MOST HEAVILY IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOOD.
18:09:02 A TRANSITION THAT EXPANDS STRONG FAMILY SUSTAINING
18:09:05 OPPORTUNITIES AND JOBS IN THAT TRANSITION.
18:09:08 THE COMMITMENT FOR A JUST AND EQUITABLE MOVE TO 100%
18:09:12 CLEAN ENERGY IS TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMUNITY
18:09:15 INVOLVEMENT.
18:09:16 OUR FRONTLINE LOW-INCOME BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES MUST
18:09:20 NOT ONLY BE INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS, THEY MUST -- ONLY
18:09:24 THROUGH COLLABORATION BETWEEN CITY COUNCIL AND THE
18:09:26 MAYOR'S OFFICE FULLY ENSURE THAT A TRANSPARENT, JUST,
18:09:30 SWIFT AND EQUITABLE TRANSITION IS MADE TO 100% CLEAN
18:09:34 ENERGY BY 2030.
18:09:36 TAMPA IS ONE OF THE TEN-MOST VULNERABLE CITIES IN THE
18:09:38 WORLD.
18:09:39 WE'RE OPPOSED TO THE LEADER TO A SWIFT AND JUST
18:09:42 TRANSITION TO A SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT FUTURE FOR ALL
18:09:46 CITIZENS.
18:09:46 AND THAT IS WHY WE MUST SUPPORT THE LINE ITEM IN THE
18:09:48 BUDGET FOR CLIMATE ACTION AND EQUITY PLAN TO PROVIDE
18:09:52 FUNDING FOR A COLLABORATION.
18:09:57 THAT IS WHY WE MUST SUPPORT THE LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET
18:09:59 FOR CLIMATE ACTION AND EQUITY PLAN.
18:10:01 EQUITY, TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A COLLABORATION BETWEEN
18:10:04 CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR A JUST AND
18:10:07 EQUITABLE TRANSITION TO 100% CLEAN --
18:10:12 >> HI.
18:10:13 MY NAME IS CHARLAN.
18:10:15 I LIVE IN FOREST HILLS.
18:10:17 I AM CALLING IN REGARDS TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2021.
18:10:23 I AM CONFUSED AS TO WHY THE MAYOR FEELS IT'S IMPORTANT TO
18:10:28 INCREASE POLICE FUNDING BY $13 MILLION, CONSIDERING BY
18:10:32 THE STATE'S OWN DATA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IS EXPERIENCING
18:10:36 FEWER VIOLENT AND NONVIOLENT CRIMES.
18:10:38 I AM CONFUSED WHY THE $13 MILLION IS NECESSARY WHEN YOU
18:10:43 CALL THE POLICE IN REGARDS TO HELPING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
18:10:48 EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND MIGHT BE IN NEED OF SOME
18:10:52 SORT OF CARE.
18:10:53 THEIR RESPONSE IS TO JUST LET THEM -- THIS IS SOMETHING
18:10:57 THAT I HEARD FROM A POLICE OFFICER.
18:11:00 JUST LET THEM -- WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO, IT'S BETTER
18:11:08 IF WE LET THEM DIE.
18:11:10 WE NEED $13 MILLION FOR MORE COMPASSION LIKE THAT OR THE
18:11:13 FACT THAT LIKE SADIE DEAN, UPSTANDING CITIZEN WHO WORKS
18:11:18 WITH THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTORS AND IS A COMMUNITY
18:11:21 ADVOCATE WHO IS TRYING TO RAISE MONEY FOR A COMMUNITY
18:11:25 GARDEN TO BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE FOOD DESERT IN TAMPA
18:11:29 BAY, THAT SOMEONE LIKE THAT WAS TARGETED BY TAMPA POLICE
18:11:33 AND WAS TAKEN FROM HER HOME AND SWITCHED INTO DIFFERENT
18:11:37 VEHICLES AND HARASSED.
18:11:39 I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO GIVE THEM $13 MILLION
18:11:42 MORE FOR SUCH HARASSMENT.
18:11:44 I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE CONSIDERING DURING THE
18:11:47 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION SEVERAL YEARS AGO THEY
18:11:51 TURNED TAMPA INTO A POLICE STATE.
18:11:54 AND ALTHOUGH LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO BROUGHT EXTRA FOOD IN
18:11:58 ORDER TO HELP OUT THE ATTENDEES OF THE REPUBLICAN
18:12:04 NATIONAL BUSINESSES ATE THAT LOSS.
18:12:06 SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO OVER-POLICE TAMPA AGAIN DESPITE
18:12:10 THE FACT THAT WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN POPULATION, A
18:12:12 DECREASE IN CRIME, MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.
18:12:15 IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
18:12:17 WE, THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY DO NOT WANT TO TURN INTO A
18:12:21 POLICE STATE.
18:12:23 IT IS NOT RIGHT.
18:12:24 IT IS NOT FAIR.
18:12:26 IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
18:12:27 SO PLEASE DO NOT VOTE FOR $13 MILLION INCREASE.
18:12:30 ALLOCATE 19% OF THAT TO ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY
18:12:36 SERVICES THAT ARE BENEFITING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND
18:12:39 NOT POLICING THEM, OVER-POLICING THEM AND KILLING THEM
18:12:43 AND HARASSING THEM.
18:12:44 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
18:12:47 >> MY NAME IS CYNTHIA FEW.
18:12:50 MY RESIDENCE IS 4506 NORTH 29th STREET, TAMPA, FLORIDA,
18:12:57 33610.
18:12:59 I AM THE PRESIDENT OF BELMONT HEIGHTS AND COLLEGE HILL
18:13:04 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
18:13:07 THE ASSOCIATION REQUESTED A -- SIGNAL -- CROSSWALK AND
18:13:13 SIGNAL AT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BOULEVARD AND 26th
18:13:16 STREET ON AUGUST OF 2016.
18:13:24 AND THIS ADDRESS OR THIS ROAD, STREET IS IN FRONT OF THE
18:13:33 ANDREW LIBRARY WHICH IS USED FOR A VOTING SITE SOMETIMES.
18:13:39 AND I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL SAYING THAT FROM GINA TORRES,
18:13:44 EXECUTIVE PLANNER FOR F.D.O.T. ON 7/23 OF 2020, AND GINA
18:13:51 SAID THAT THE PLANS HAD BEEN COMPLETED AND TRANSFERRED TO
18:13:58 THE CITY OF TAMPA'S ENGINEER BRANDON CAMPBELL.
18:14:04 AND WHEN I SPOKE TO MR. CAMPBELL, HE SAID THAT THE
18:14:13 PROJECT WOULDN'T BE COMPLETED UNTIL EARLY SPRING OF 2021.
18:14:19 NOW, OUR CITIZENS AND MY COMMUNITY PAY TAXES LIKE
18:14:25 EVERYBODY ELSE AND WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE INSTEAD OF
18:14:30 REACTIVE WHEN SOMEBODY GETS HIT AND HURT OR KILLED ON THE
18:14:35 HIGHWAY.
18:14:36 SO, PLEASE, LET US KNOW WHY IT'S TAKING FIVE YEARS FOR
18:14:41 THIS PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED.
18:14:42 THANK YOU.
18:14:48 >> MY NAME IS DIANA SHANKS.
18:14:50 I LIVE IN BAYSHORE.
18:14:51 I AM COMMENTING ON THE BUDGET FOR THE 5 P.M. MEETING.
18:14:55 FIRST OF ALL, I REJECT MAYOR JANE CASTOR'S $13 MILLION
18:15:00 INCREASE TO THE POLICE BUDGET.
18:15:01 I SUPPORT DIVESTING AT LEAST 34 MILLION FROM THE PROPOSED
18:15:06 TPD BUDGET AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
18:15:10 I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR PROGRAMS
18:15:13 SEPARATE FROM TPD SUCH AS, EUGENE OREGON OR RICHMOND
18:15:18 OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.
18:15:19 THE COMMUNITY HAD ALREADY BEEN SURVEYED AND WE ARE
18:15:22 CALLING FOR UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP
18:15:26 WORKING PARENTS ACHIEVE QUALITY CARE.
18:15:28 I'M CALLING FOR AT LEAST $4 MILLION TO BE ALLOCATED TO A
18:15:32 COMMUNITY RAN AND STAFFED MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE TEAM AT
18:15:36 LEAST $11 MILLION INTO AN EQUITABLE HOUSING PROGRAM AND
18:15:40 ANOTHER $11 MILLION INTO A CITY JOBS PROGRAM TO GAINFULLY
18:15:45 EMPLOY MARGINALIZED AND --
18:15:52 >> MY NAME IS NANCY NATELSON.
18:15:54 604 WEST HILDA STREET, TAMPA, 33603.
18:15:58 I'M CALLING ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR
18:16:02 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
18:16:05 BUDGET.
18:16:06 I'M CALLING TO ADVOCATE THAT THE FUNDING FOR THE
18:16:11 COMPLETION OF THE HAYA LINEAR PARK RESTORATION PROJECT BE
18:16:16 APPROVED.
18:16:17 THE PROJECT HAS BEGUN, BUT IT WAS NOT FINISHED AS WAS
18:16:22 PROMISED.
18:16:24 IT'S REALLY QUITE UNSIGHTLY AND ALSO DANGEROUS TO LEAVE
18:16:31 THE SHORELINE UNFINISHED AS IT IS.
18:16:35 IT'S STILL ERODING AND THERE'S WATER COLLECTING AND
18:16:40 STANDING THERE STILL AND LOTS OF TRASH AND DEBRIS ARE
18:16:43 COLLECTED IN THAT STANDING WATER.
18:16:46 SO PLEASE HAVE THAT REMAINING 135,000 APPROVED TO FINISH
18:16:55 THE RESTORATION OF THE HAYA LINEAR PARK.
18:17:00 THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
18:17:01 BYE-BYE.
18:17:04 >> HELLO.
18:17:05 THIS IS NICHOLAS IERNA
18:17:07 I LIVE AT 3101 VERDANT COURT OFF OF BAYSHORE.
18:17:13 I WANT TO COMMENT ON THE 5 P.M. BUDGET HEARING.
18:17:19 I REJECT MAYOR CASTOR'S $13 MILLION INCREASE OF THE
18:17:22 POLICE BUDGET.
18:17:23 I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD -- 34 MILLION FROM THE PROPOSED
18:17:28 BUDGET FOR TPD AND REINVEST IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITY SAFETY
18:17:32 PROGRAMS.
18:17:33 I'D LIKE TO SEE A STUDY ON THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING
18:17:36 IN OTHER CITIES SUCH AS CAHOOTS IN EUGENE, OREGON OR THE
18:17:41 RICHMOND OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.
18:17:45 THE COMMUNITY HAS ALREADY BEEN SURVEYED AND WE'RE LOOKING
18:17:48 FOR UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE PROGRAMS TO HELP WORKING
18:17:53 PARENTS.
18:17:53 AT LEAST 4 MILLION SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO THE COMMUNITY
18:18:00 RAN AND STAFFED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM AND 11 MILLION INTO
18:18:03 AN EQUITABLE HOUSING PROGRAM AND ANOTHER 11 MILLION INTO
18:18:06 A CITY JOBS PROGRAM, MARGINALIZED AND CRIMINALIZED
18:18:11 PROGRAMS.
18:18:12 THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
18:18:13 BYE.
18:18:15 >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL.
18:18:16 THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE ANNUAL
18:18:19 BUDGET.
18:18:19 MY NAME IS ROCK WALKER.
18:18:21 I LIVE AT 8002 NORTH HIGHLAND AVENUE.
18:18:25 I AM A SENIOR AT HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM IN THE
18:18:28 IB PROGRAM.
18:18:29 I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 ANNUAL
18:18:32 BUDGET.
18:18:33 I'M HERE TODAY TO PROPOSE THE CREATION OF THE YOUTH
18:18:36 BUDGET REVIEW COMMISSION.
18:18:38 THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION IS TO PROVIDE AN
18:18:40 OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS AND YOUTH TO EXPRESS THEIR IDEAS
18:18:42 AND OPINIONS IN THE FORM OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
18:18:46 BUDGET.
18:18:46 AS I'M SURE YOU HAVE WITNESSED, CITIZEN ACTIVISM HAS
18:18:50 BECOME INCREASINGLY MORE PROMINENT NOT ONLY IN OUR
18:18:53 COMMUNITY BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
18:18:54 THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TAMPA TO LEAD THE INITIATIVE
18:18:56 AND GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
18:18:58 THIS COMMISSION PROVIDES THE MEANS IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN
18:19:00 HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD, ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
18:19:03 AND HELP DEVELOP FUTURE CIVIC LEADERS.
18:19:06 THESE SOON-TO-BE VOTING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS REPRESENT THE
18:19:09 FUTURE OF THIS STUDY.
18:19:10 ENCOURAGING ENGAGEMENT AT THIS YOUNG AGE IS A POSITIVE
18:19:13 WAY TO FACILITATE GROWTH AS A CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC HOT
18:19:17 SPOT AS WELL AS A POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY ENGAGED
18:19:20 COMMUNITY.
18:19:20 -- REPRESENTS AN INCREDIBLE STEP IN FURTHERING YOUR
18:19:25 ALREADY TACIT EFFORTS IN ENGAGING WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE
18:19:29 CONSTITUENTS.
18:19:30 NOW I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE LOGISTICS FOR THIS
18:19:32 COMMISSION.
18:19:33 FIRST OFF, WHAT I'M PROPOSING WOULD NOT REQUIRE ANY CITY
18:19:35 FUNDING, JUST TIME AND EFFORT.
18:19:37 I'M RECOMMENDING THAT THE COMMISSION BE COMPOSED OF EIGHT
18:19:41 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THEIR SENIOR YEAR, ONE FROM EACH
18:19:43 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF TAMPA.
18:19:45 THE SELECTION OF THESE HIGH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD
18:19:47 BE DECIDED BY APPOINTMENT FROM THE SEVEN CITY COUNCIL
18:19:50 MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR WITH EACH GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL BEING
18:19:52 RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE HIGH SCHOOL.
18:19:55 THE SELECTION PROCESS SHOULD BE UP TO EACH OFFICIAL.
18:19:58 BOARD MEMBERS WOULD SERVE A TERM OF ONE YEAR AND WOULD BE
18:20:00 SELECTED IN THE FALL OF EACH YEAR.
18:20:02 THE COMMISSION SHOULD MEET DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE
18:20:04 FISCAL YEAR, CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE CURRENT FISCAL
18:20:08 BUDGET AND PRODUCE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL
18:20:10 YEAR BUDGET.
18:20:11 I E-MAILED EACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AN OUTLINE OF WHAT
18:20:14 I'M PROPOSING ALONG WITH MY CONTACT INFORMATION IN CASE
18:20:17 YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS FUTURE ACTIONS SHOULD
18:20:20 THIS PROPOSAL BE IMPLEMENTED.
18:20:21 AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE, THIS IS AN EXCELLENT
18:20:24 OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY GOVERNMENT TO ENCOURAGE CIVIC
18:20:27 RESPONSIBILITY AT AN EARLY STAGE.
18:20:29 LET TAMPA BE A MODEL OF AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY.
18:20:32 PLEASE IMPLEMENT THIS PROPOSAL.
18:20:34 THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
18:20:38 >> HI.
18:20:38 MY NAME IS SAMANTHA SHEPARD.
18:20:40 MY ADDRESS IS 1210 EAST GIDDENS AVENUE, ZIP CODE 33603,
18:20:47 TAMPA, FLORIDA.
18:20:49 MY COMMENT IS FOR THE SEPTEMBER 3rd 5 P.M. EVENING
18:20:52 BUDGET HEARING UNDER FILE NUMBER CM 20-64373.
18:21:01 POLICE OFFICERS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF HOW WE PROCEED
18:21:04 WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF OUR SOCIETY.
18:21:05 WE ARE TAUGHT FROM AN EARLY AGE THAT THEY KEEP US SAFE BY
18:21:09 ENFORCING OUR LAWS.
18:21:10 IF IT WEREN'T FOR POLICE OFFICERS THERE WOULD BE COMPLETE
18:21:13 AND TOTAL CHAOS.
18:21:14 HOWEVER, ALL OF THIS IS A LIE.
18:21:16 QUITE LITERALLY DO NOT NEED POLICE OFFICERS.
18:21:20 ALL OF THIS PROPAGANDA MAKES US BELIEVE THAT WE MUST
18:21:24 ACCEPT THAT SOMETIMES THEY WILL BE TOO VIOLENT AND
18:21:26 SOMETIMES THEY WILL MURDER PEOPLE, BUT THERE ARE
18:21:29 ALTERNATIVES.
18:21:30 WE DON'T NEED TO LIVE WITH THIS.
18:21:32 THE PROPAGANDA THAT WE ARE INUNDATED WITH PREVENTS US
18:21:35 FROM IMAGINING ALTERNATIVES.
18:21:38 SOME SAY THAT NOT HAVING POLICE WOULD HURT VICTIMS OF
18:21:42 VIOLENCE, BUT AS A SURVIVOR OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
18:21:45 MYSELF, I COMPLETELY DISAGREE.
18:21:48 IN 2014, I CALLED THE POLICE AFTER MY ABUSER PHYSICALLY
18:21:52 ASSAULTED ME.
18:21:53 THE POLICE ARRIVED 45 MINUTES AFTER I CALLED AND MY
18:21:56 ABUSER WAS ALREADY GONE.
18:21:57 POLICE DID NOT PREVENT VIOLENCE.
18:21:59 THEY USUALLY SHOW UP AFTER VIOLENCE HAS ALREADY TAKEN
18:22:02 PLACE AND IN MANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, POLICE OFTEN
18:22:05 ESCALATE VIOLENCE AND HARM OR EVEN MURDER VIOLENCE
18:22:10 VICTIMS.
18:22:11 I GOT A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST MY ABUSER AND HE WAS
18:22:15 ARRESTED FOR BREAKING IT SHORTLY AFTER HE RECEIVED IT.
18:22:17 THE PEACE OF MIND I RECEIVED NO THAT MY ABUSER COULDN'T
18:22:21 HARM ME WHILE IN JAIL WAS PRICELESS.
18:22:23 HOWEVER, POLICE IN PRISONS WERE NOT NECESSARY FOR KEEPING
18:22:26 ME SAFE.
18:22:27 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY COULD HAVE HELPED GUARD MY
18:22:29 APPOINTMENT TO ENSURE MY ABUSER COULDN'T HURT ME, A TEAM
18:22:33 OF TRAINED COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD HAVE RESPONDED TO MY
18:22:35 911 CALL WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP IN TIME
18:22:38 TO SEPARATE MY ABUSER FROM ME AND PREVENT FURTHER
18:22:41 VIOLENCE FROM HAPPENING TO ME.
18:22:43 AND I'M SURE TAMPA ACTIVISTS HAVE EVEN BETTER IDEAS TO
18:22:46 ADD ON TO THE LIST.
18:22:48 THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET SHOULD BE FROZEN AND
18:22:51 19% OF THE SAID BUDGET SHOULD BE REALLOCATED TO COMMUNITY
18:22:55 SAFETY PROGRAMS LIKE THE ONES I LISTED ABOVE.
18:22:58 THE PROGRAMS -- OBSOLETE.
18:23:01 THE PUNISHMENT FOR A CRIME SHOULD NOT INCLUDE CONTRACTING
18:23:04 A DEADLY VIRUS WHICH IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT.
18:23:07 THE JAIL POPULATION SHOULD BE REDUCED BY HALTING
18:23:11 UNNECESSARY ARRESTS FOR LOW-LEVEL CRIMES.
18:23:14 THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO STOP INFLICTING
18:23:17 VIOLENCE ON TAMPA CITIZENS, EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO
18:23:20 PUBLICLY PROTEST AND THEY NEED TO STOP --
18:23:25 POLICE CHIEF DUGAN NEEDS TO BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY AND IT
18:23:28 WILL BE A DISGRACE IF THE CITY DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THESE
18:23:31 DEMANDS.
18:23:31 THANK YOU.
18:23:35 >> HELLO.
18:23:36 MY NAME IS STEPHANIE ANDERSON.
18:23:38 I'M A RESIDENT OF TAMPA AND COMMENTING FOR THE BUDGET
18:23:42 HEARING SEPTEMBER 3rd AT 5 P.M.
18:23:48 -- INEQUITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED PEOPLE,
18:23:53 ESPECIALLY BLACK COMMUNITIES.
18:23:55 PERHAPS INDICATIVE OF OUR COUNTRY, OUR CITY HAS NOT BEEN
18:23:58 EXEMPT BUT WE CAN BE AN EXAMPLE.
18:24:06 -- CITY COUNCIL RESPECT OUR NEIGHBORS THAT WOULD BE AND
18:24:09 ARE ALREADY MOST IMPACTED BY AN ALREADY -- PUBLIC SAFETY
18:24:16 OR POLICE BUDGET.
18:24:16 ENOUGH TO KEEP THE CURRENT BUDGET BUT REDIRECT 19% OF THE
18:24:25 PROPOSED BUDGET TOWARDS -- COMMUNITY AND SAFETY PROGRAMS,
18:24:30 MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES LIKE A RESPONSE TEAM, JOBS
18:24:36 PROGRAMS, CHILD CARE FOR AT-RISK POPULATIONS.
18:24:40 SUCH ISSUES ARE MOST LIKELY THE ROOT OF MUCH CRIMINALIZED
18:24:44 BEHAVIOR IN ADDRESSING THEM RATHER THAN PUNISHING THE --
18:24:52 THANK YOU.
18:24:54 >>THE CLERK: CHAIR THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT
18:24:56 RECORDINGS.
18:24:57 I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT NO ONE APPEARED AT
18:24:59 THE TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER.
18:25:01 AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THIS
18:25:04 ITEM.
18:25:05 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CLERK.
18:25:07 I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP AND YOUR WORK.
18:25:10 NOW WE GO TO ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BY CITY COUNCIL
18:25:14 MEMBERS.
18:25:20 IS THAT COUNCILMAN CARLSON?
18:25:21 GO AHEAD, SIR.
18:25:22 >>BILL CARLSON: IS CHIEF BENNETT STILL THERE?
18:25:27 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, HE IS.
18:25:29 >>BILL CARLSON: CHIEF BENNETT, YOU AND THE MAYOR RECEIVED
18:25:33 THE E-MAILS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND ALSO YOU'VE HEARD THE
18:25:36 PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD, PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN
18:25:43 WEEKS AGO ASKED US TO BY IN PERSON, ASKED US TO DEDUCT
18:25:50 162 MILLION FROM THE POLICE BUDGET.
18:25:52 NOW THEY ARE ASKING US TO INSTEAD TO JUST NOT INCREASE IT
18:25:57 BY 13 MILLION.
18:25:59 DOES THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE A RESPONSE TO THAT?
18:26:05 >>JOHN BENNETT: WE DO.
18:26:06 THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
18:26:08 JOHN BENNETT, CHIEF OF STAFF.
18:26:10 THE RESPONSE WAS EMBEDDED IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.
18:26:15 OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE CONVEYED THAT TO COUNCIL AND THE
18:26:19 PUBLIC THAT THERE IS NO INTENTION TO DEFUND THE POLICE
18:26:23 DEPARTMENT.
18:26:23 THE CITY IS LOOKING TO, THROUGH THE MAYOR'S STRATEGIC
18:26:27 PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT A LOT OF THOSE SOCIAL ITEMS THAT
18:26:32 WE HAVE SEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE COMMUNITY FOR
18:26:35 YEARS AND YEARS, BRING THOSE TO FRUITION THROUGH HOUSING
18:26:39 AFFORDABILITY, THE ABILITY TO HAVE MOBILITY OPTIONS, IF
18:26:44 YOU WILL, TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND, OF COURSE,
18:26:48 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ALL WRAPPED AROUND THE
18:26:53 OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES AND
18:26:57 RESPONSIBILITIES.
18:26:58 SO I HAD ACTUALLY LOOKED OVER THE LAST DECADE OF THE TPD
18:27:04 FUNDING, AND THE OFFICERS PER CAPITA HAVE CREATED A
18:27:10 NATURAL TRAJECTORY OF RIGHT-SIZING THE AGENCY.
18:27:15 I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE
18:27:19 VALUE OF THE CRIME REDUCTION, BUT I HAVE ESTIMATED WITH
18:27:23 THE HELP OF THE BUDGET OFFICE THAT RIGHT-SIZING THE
18:27:29 AGENCY FROM BACK IN THE EARLY 2000s, OFFICERS PER
18:27:34 CAPITA ACTUALLY ARE NOW BELOW THE RECOMMENDED ICMA LEVELS
18:27:39 FOR THE NATIONAL STANDARD FROM WHERE THEY WERE.
18:27:43 IT'S CLOSE TO ATTRIBUTING TO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 22 AND 48
18:27:48 MILLION DOLLARS OF COST AVOIDANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
18:27:52 WHILE A CITY IS WELL BELOW THE STATEWIDE CRIME RATE AND
18:27:58 WELL SUPER BELOW, OVER 50% BELOW THE MAJOR CITIES IN THE
18:28:02 STATE.
18:28:03 AS A MATTER OF FACT, TODAY, THE CITIES THAT WERE SHOWN
18:28:06 THIS MORNING, I DID A QUICK ANALYSIS JUST BASED ON
18:28:10 EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS AND EQUITY.
18:28:12 AND OUR CRIME RATE WAS 58% BELOW THE AVERAGE OF THOSE
18:28:16 CITIES THAT WERE SHOWN.
18:28:19 I KNOW THAT --
18:28:24 >>BILL CARLSON: COULD I ASK YOU, SIR, BEFORE THE CHAIR
18:28:27 CUTS US BOTH OFF, CAN I ASK YOU, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF
18:28:31 CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE BUDGET WITHOUT THE $13 MILLION
18:28:33 INCREASE?
18:28:37 >>JOHN BENNETT: WELL, SPEAKING FROM A CONTRACTUAL
18:28:42 PERSPECTIVE IS THAT CONTRACT WAS NEGOTIATED AND APPROVED
18:28:46 BY COUNCIL.
18:28:49 THE FEEDBACK I GET FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THE CHIEF
18:28:52 FINANCIAL OFFICER IS THAT WE HAVE A KNOWN TRAJECTORY
18:28:55 WHICH IS GOOD FOR PLANNING.
18:28:58 AND SO THAT MONEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO HAPPEN.
18:29:00 IF IT WASN'T APPROVED, THE QUESTION THAT COMES UP, WHERE
18:29:05 DO YOU TAKE SERVICES FROM WHEN YOU HAVE A POLICE
18:29:07 DEPARTMENT THAT IS LARGELY PERSONNEL, VERY LEAN IN
18:29:13 OPERATING COSTS AND PERFORMING.
18:29:17 THE RISK FACTORS START TO LEAK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IF
18:29:21 YOU WILL.
18:29:22 >>BILL CARLSON: THERE WAS A SPECIFIC PROGRAM, AND I DON'T
18:29:25 REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL
18:29:28 SERVICES, THERE WAS A SPECIFIC PROGRAM THAT THE PUBLIC
18:29:30 WAS RECOMMENDING JUST NOW.
18:29:31 HAVE YOU HEARD OF THAT PROGRAM?
18:29:33 DO YOU KNOW IF THE CITY IS LOOKING INTO IT AT ALL OR A
18:29:35 PROGRAM LIKE THAT?
18:29:36 IT WAS LIKE A MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM.
18:29:41 >>JOHN BENNETT: YEAH, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR THAT.
18:29:43 AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR CASTOR HAS HELD MULTIPLE TIERED
18:29:49 WORKSHOPS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THE
18:29:51 RECOMMENDATIONS CAME OUT RECENTLY THROUGH THE FINDINGS OF
18:29:54 THAT WORKSHOP, AND IF CHIEF DUGAN OR CHIEF BERCAW ARE ON
18:30:02 THE PHONE, I WOULD TURN THAT OVER TO THEM BECAUSE THEY
18:30:04 WERE DOING THE RESEARCH ON THAT.
18:30:08 >> THIS IS CHIEF BERCAW HERE.
18:30:10 IF I CAN RESPOND.
18:30:21 I'LL GO AHEAD.
18:30:21 GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.
18:30:24 THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF
18:30:27 CONDUCTING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON MENTAL HEALTH, A
18:30:32 CO-RESPONDER APPROACH.
18:30:33 AND WE'LL BE WORKING WITH USF ON DEVELOPING INFORMATION
18:30:38 FOR A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS
18:30:42 ENGAGING OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
18:30:45 WITH ME THIS EVENING, I HAVE DETECTIVE TONY SCALERA WHO
18:30:53 IS ASSISTING US WITH THE RESEARCH.
18:30:56 I'LL GIVE THE FLOOR.
18:30:57 >> TONY, TAMPA POLICE.
18:31:00 ON THE TOPIC OF MENTAL HEALTH, WE'RE FINDING OUR RESEARCH
18:31:02 WITH FOCUS AND EMPHASIS ON LOOKING AT BEST PRACTICE TO
18:31:06 ASSIST THOSE IN NEED.
18:31:08 WE HAVE TWO CITIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT -- HOUSTON AND
18:31:11 DALLAS, TEXAS.
18:31:12 BOTH HAVE MENTAL HEALTH TEAMS THAT ARE YIELDING POSITIVE
18:31:15 OUTCOMES.
18:31:17 AND BY WAY OF THOSE OUTCOMES, WE'RE SEEING EMERGENCY ROOM
18:31:21 ADMISSIONS BEING REDUCED ALONG WITH ARRESTS.
18:31:25 WE KNOW IN MENTAL HEALTH, ONE IN FIVE ADULTS EXPERIENCE A
18:31:31 MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION EVERY YEAR.
18:31:33 ONE IN 20 ADULTS EXPERIENCED OR LIVED WITH A SERIOUS
18:31:36 MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION AND SPECIFIC TO THE CITY OF
18:31:39 TAMPA, WE'RE ANSWERING 6,000 CALLS A YEAR RELATED
18:31:43 SPECIFICALLY TO MENTAL HEALTH RELATIONS.
18:31:49 OVERALL, OUR OFFICERS HERE HAVE 40 HOURS OF CIT OR CRISIS
18:31:53 INTERVENTION TRAINING.
18:31:55 WE HAVE A GROUP OF OFFICERS WHOM HAVE SPECIALIZED
18:31:58 TRAINING IN THAT FIELD, AND WE WANT TO APPROACH THIS
18:32:01 CO-RESPONDER MODEL THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES BY
18:32:06 WAY OF IMPLEMENTING A MENTAL HEALTH PILOT PROGRAM.
18:32:08 THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO WORK WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND
18:32:12 CONTINUE STUDYING THE ISSUE.
18:32:14 BY INCORPORATING MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS, OUR VISION
18:32:18 WOULD BE TO WORK WITH THOSE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS,
18:32:22 AGAIN, REACHING OUT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF
18:32:25 SERVICES.
18:32:26 RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF AN RFI WITH
18:32:31 STAKEHOLDERS TO OBTAIN EVIDENCE-BASED RELATED DATA THAT
18:32:34 WOULD HELP US WITH THIS CAUSE.
18:32:36 THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
18:32:41 >>BILL CARLSON: MR. CHAIR, ONE MORE QUESTION TO CHIEF
18:32:44 BENNETT, PLEASE.
18:32:45 THIS MORNING, THE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR SPOKE, AND I
18:32:50 HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DEEPLY STUDY HIS PRESENTATION AND
18:32:54 MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T EITHER.
18:32:55 IT SEEMS LIKE THERE CONTINUE TO BE QUESTIONS ABOUT
18:32:58 CONTRACT SERVICES, HOW THEY ARE ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET.
18:33:05 THIS MORNING WE UNCOVERED ANOTHER CONTRACT WHERE THERE
18:33:09 WAS ONLY ONE BIDDER, AND IT DIDN'T HIT THE MINORITY
18:33:13 PARTICIPATION LEVEL.
18:33:15 I WONDER IF IT'S POSSIBLE -- CITY COUNCIL HAS AUDIT
18:33:18 AUTHORITY, BUT I WONDER IF IT'S POSSIBLE MAYBE FOR THE
18:33:22 ADMINISTRATION, DO NOT AN AUDIT THAT JUST CHECKS THE
18:33:25 PROCESSES BUT LOOK AT THE PURCHASES.
18:33:28 THE LAST TIME WHEN WE DID -- WHEN YOU ALL DID AN
18:33:31 ANALYSIS, IT WAS THE OTHER DEPARTMENT, NOT CONTRACT
18:33:34 SERVICES, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE CONTINUE TO BE A LOT OF
18:33:37 QUESTIONS ABOUT CONTRACT SERVICES AND HOW CONTRACTS ARE
18:33:41 LET AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF BUDGETS FOR EACH OF THOSE.
18:33:47 I WONDER IF IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION COULD
18:33:49 DO A STUDY OF IT AND GIVE SOME, MAYBE AFTER THE BUDGET IS
18:33:54 APPROVED, IF SOME SAVINGS ARE IDENTIFIED, EITHER BY
18:33:58 ADVERTISING RFPs MORE, ENCOURAGING MORE COMPANIES TO
18:34:02 RESPOND SO WE GET LOWER PRICES OR BY NOT OUTSOURCING AS
18:34:09 MUCH, I WONDER IF WE COULD DECIDE TO REDUCE THE BUDGET AT
18:34:12 SOME POINT AFTER THAT AGREEMENT OR AFTER THAT STUDY AND
18:34:17 THEN PUT THE MONEY INTO THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE FOR A
18:34:20 FUTURE YEAR.
18:34:24 >>JOHN BENNETT: AGAIN, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CARLSON, FOR
18:34:28 THOSE THOUGHTS.
18:34:29 WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY AS AN ADMINISTRATION TO
18:34:31 CONSISTENTLY LOOK OVER THIS, AND I DON'T WANT TO CONVEY
18:34:36 THAT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU FEEDBACK THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT
18:34:40 INTO A STRUCTURED PROCESS.
18:34:42 I KNOW THAT FROM LOOKING AT THE SLIDES THIS MORNING,
18:34:47 AGAIN, AS QUICKLY AS YOU DID, THAT WE'RE WILLING TO PULL
18:34:52 BACK WITH THE COMMITTEE AS DISCUSSED BY COUNCILMAN GUDES
18:34:55 AND LOOK THROUGH THINGS AND SEE WHERE WE CAN IDENTIFY
18:34:59 EFFICIENCIES CONSISTENTLY IN THE PROCESS.
18:35:03 HOW THAT RELATES TO THE EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF
18:35:07 CONTRACTS AND THE EQUAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN
18:35:12 SOMETHING IN OUR FORESIGHT FOR THE YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN
18:35:16 HERE.
18:35:17 AND I TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER ABOUT REORGANIZING THE
18:35:19 CITY, GETTING THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE
18:35:24 TALKED WITH MOST COUNCILMEN OFF-LINE ABOUT THE TRAJECTORY
18:35:29 THAT THE MAYOR HAS US HEADING FOR THESE THINGS.
18:35:34 I WELCOME AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK DEEPER TO SEE WHERE WE
18:35:37 COULD REPURPOSE MONEY FOR DIFFERENT THINGS AS NEEDED.
18:35:40 BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE MINDFUL, AS WE SAID EARLIER, OF
18:35:43 HAVING A SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATION WHEN IT COMES TO OUR
18:35:46 PERSONNEL AND USING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTRACT,
18:35:50 CONTRACT MANAGEMENT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE
18:35:52 COMMUNITY FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TO FULFILL OUR
18:35:55 PROCUREMENT AND OUR CONTRACT OPTIONS FOR THE CITY AND
18:35:59 ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE A GOOD, STRONG EMPLOYER OF OUR
18:36:05 FRONTLINE SERVICES TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S MINIMAL TO
18:36:09 NO RISK TO THOSE CAREER PATHS.
18:36:11 HAPPY TO LOOK FOR THE SWEET SPOT IN THAT AS DESCRIBED.
18:36:14 >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU.
18:36:15 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
18:36:16 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MR. CHAIRMAN?
18:36:20 >>LUIS VIERA: AFTER DINGFELDER, VIERA.
18:36:22 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: DINGFELDER, VIERA.
18:36:24 WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?
18:36:26 >>ORLANDO GUDES: GUDES.
18:36:27 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
18:36:28 ANYBODY ELSE?
18:36:31 >>ORLANDO GUDES: COUNCILMAN GUDES.
18:36:32 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
18:36:33 WE'LL GO DINGFELDER, VIERA, GUDES.
18:36:35 GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
18:36:38 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY UNLIKE SOME
18:36:43 OTHER YEARS IN THE PAST THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS
18:36:47 BUDGET YEAR AND THIS BUDGET PROCESS HAS BEEN INSPIRING IN
18:36:53 TERMS OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
18:36:58 I SAY THAT BECAUSE IN YEARS PAST, NOBODY WOULD SHOW UP.
18:37:04 I THINK THAT HAVING THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO CALL IN AND
18:37:07 LEAVE MESSAGES, AND WE HAD TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF COVID,
18:37:15 HAS BROUGHT A LOT MORE FOLKS OUT TO BE ABLE TO
18:37:18 PARTICIPATE EASILY FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN LIVING
18:37:20 ROOM.
18:37:21 I DON'T WANT US TO FORGET THIS IN THE FUTURE YEARS THAT
18:37:26 WE SHOULD LEAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO BE
18:37:29 ABLE TO EITHER CALL IN OR VIDEO IN AT THEIR CONVENIENCE.
18:37:35 SO THAT'S JUST AN ASIDE.
18:37:37 SUBSTANTIVELY, I WANTED TO BRING UP A COUPLE OF POINTS
18:37:41 AND THEY ARE NOT MY POINTS.
18:37:42 THEY ARE THE POINTS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT'S SPOKEN TO US.
18:37:46 ULTIMATELY WHEN WE'RE ALL DONE, I'M GOING TO MAKE THREE
18:37:49 MOTIONS.
18:37:50 LET ME JUST TALK ABOUT THEM NOW SO EVERYBODY ELSE CAN
18:37:54 EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS.
18:37:56 FOR ONE THING, I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THAT HAYA LINEAR
18:38:01 PARK OR HAYA LINEAR PARK.
18:38:04 H-A-Y-A.
18:38:05 UP NEAR THE MLK BRIDGE.
18:38:08 I'VE HEARD THAT THE CITY MADE PROMISES AND THAT WE DIDN'T
18:38:13 FULFILL THEM AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.
18:38:15 I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHEN THINGS COME IN OVER BUDGET AND
18:38:18 THEN YOU HAVE TO CUT BACK, YA-DA YA-DA YA-DA.
18:38:22 WHEN WE HAVE A TOTAL CITYWIDE BUDGET OF $1.25 BILLION AND
18:38:26 WE CAN'T FINISH A PROJECT FOR AN EXTRA 135,000, THEN
18:38:30 SOMETHING IS WRONG.
18:38:31 SO MY FIRST MOTION IS GOING TO BE TO REQUEST THAT THE
18:38:35 ADMINISTRATION BETWEEN FIRST HEARING AND SECOND HEARING
18:38:38 OF THE BUDGET, IDENTIFY $135,000 SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED
18:38:44 FOR THE HAYA PARK.
18:38:45 I WON'T DO IT RIGHT NOW, MR. CHAIRMAN.
18:38:47 I'LL WAIT MY TURN, BUT THAT WILL BE -- THAT'S THE INTENT
18:38:51 OF THAT ONE.
18:38:54 COUNCILMAN GUDES, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A MOTION ABOUT
18:38:58 THAT CROSSWALK AT THE ANDREWS LIBRARY BECAUSE IT SOUNDS
18:39:02 TO ME LIKE YOU ALREADY HAVE GOT THAT ONE UNDER CONTROL.
18:39:06 THAT WAS SECOND ON MY LIST.
18:39:08 THE THIRD ONE ON MY LIST IS -- REALLY CAME UP AS A RESULT
18:39:13 OF THE BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
18:39:15 I THINK YEAR-IN AND YEAR-OUT WE HEAR THE BUDGET ADVISORY
18:39:19 COMMITTEE SAY THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO
18:39:22 SAVE MONEY AND THEY GIVE US EXAMPLES AND THIS AND THAT
18:39:25 AND WE SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.
18:39:29 BUT IT DAWNED OHM IN LOOKING -- ON ME IN LOOKING AT THE
18:39:34 CHARTER -- I DIDN'T EVEN ASK IF YOU GUYS CAN HEAR ME.
18:39:37 CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
18:39:39 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE CAN HEAR YOU, SIR.
18:39:41 >> IN LOOKING AT THE CHARTER SECTION 2.04 IT SAYS AS
18:39:45 FOLLOWS: THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL -- HAS AS ITS STAFF THE
18:39:50 FOLLOWING WHO SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
18:39:52 THROUGH THE CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL, A, BUDGET ANALYST.
18:39:56 THE CITY COUNCIL IS AUTHORIZED TO EMPLOY A BUDGET ANALYST
18:40:00 TO OR AN INDIVIDUAL WITH SIMILAR QUALIFICATIONS PURSUANT
18:40:03 TO THE CITY'S POSITION CLASSIFICATION CODE TO ASSIST IN
18:40:06 BUDGETARY MATTERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
18:40:08 THE CITY COUNCIL BY ORDINANCE SHALL DEFINE THE
18:40:11 QUALIFICATIONS, PAY AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SAID EMPLOYEE
18:40:13 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY'S POSITION CLASSIFICATION
18:40:16 CODE.
18:40:17 NOW, MR. SHELBY AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT ABOUT AN
18:40:21 HOUR AGO.
18:40:22 I WAS ASKING HIM ABOUT THAT PROVISION.
18:40:24 I BELIEVE MS. CAPIN WAS LOOKING INTO THAT PROVISION
18:40:28 SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
18:40:29 SO I WILL FOLLOW IN HER VERY LARGE FOOTSTEPS.
18:40:34 BUT MY NEXT MOTION WHEN WE GET TO MOTIONS IS GOING TO BE
18:40:37 TO ALLOCATE $125,000 TOWARD THE -- TO RETAIN A CITY
18:40:44 COUNCIL BUDGET ANALYST.
18:40:46 WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT, BILL CARLSON AND THE REST OF US, WE
18:40:50 HAVE MONEY QUESTIONS.
18:40:52 I'M NOT AN ACCOUNTANT.
18:40:55 I DON'T THINK ANYBODY -- AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT
18:40:58 I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE SEVEN OF US ARE ACCOUNTANTS OR
18:41:01 BUDGET ANALYSTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
18:41:02 WE'RE JUST WELL-MEANING CITIZENS WHO STEP UP TO THE PLATE
18:41:05 TO TAKE THIS JOB.
18:41:07 I THINK WE NEED A PROFESSIONAL TO HELP US.
18:41:09 TO HELP US WITH THE WMBE ISSUES, TO HELP US WITH THE
18:41:13 DAY-TO-DAY, WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE
18:41:17 ABOUT MONEY AND DEPARTMENTS AND SAVING MONEY AND THINGS
18:41:21 LIKE THAT.
18:41:23 SO THAT'S GOING TO BE MY NEXT MOTION.
18:41:25 MY LAST MOTION COMES FROM NUMEROUS CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN
18:41:34 ASKING US TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND DO SOMETHING
18:41:37 BETTER IN OUR COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY AS RELATED TO
18:41:41 MENTAL HEALTH.
18:41:43 I WAS SO THRILLED ON SATURDAY MORNING THAT THE USF
18:41:47 PROFESSOR THAT WAS BROUGHT ON BY THE MAYOR, PROFESSOR
18:41:51 BRIANNA FOX, HER 17 RECOMMENDATIONS, LAST BUT NOT LEAST
18:41:56 SAID AS FOLLOWS: SHE RECOMMENDED -- SHE RECOMMENDS THAT
18:41:59 WE HIRE TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS
18:42:04 TO CO-RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH RELATED OR SOCIAL WELFARE
18:42:08 CALLS.
18:42:08 THAT'S BASED UPON EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICES THAT HAVE
18:42:13 BEEN GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR DECADES.
18:42:16 EUGENE, OREGON, BILL CARLSON, THE PROGRAM THEY TALKED
18:42:20 ABOUT WAS THE CAHOOTS PROGRAM.
18:42:23 C-A-H-O-O-T-S WHICH IS AN ACRONYM FOR SOMETHING.
18:42:27 CAHOOTS PROGRAM IN EUGENE, OREGON, GOING ON FOR 30 YEARS.
18:42:32 IT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL.
18:42:33 THAT'S NOT EVEN A CO-RESPONDER.
18:42:35 CAHOOTS PROGRAM HANDLES 20% OF THE 911 CALLS.
18:42:39 IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A FANTASTIC PROGRAM.
18:42:44 IT ONLY COSTS EUGENE AND SPRINGFIELD $2.1 MILLION.
18:42:48 APPARENTLY IT LOOKS LIKE EUGENE SPRINGFIELD IS ABOUT HALF
18:42:51 THE SIZE OF OUR CITY.
18:42:53 BUT ANYWAY, IT COST THEM $2.1 MILLION AND I THINK IT'S
18:43:01 VERY DOABLE.
18:43:05 I HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH CHIEF BERCAW AND CHIEF
18:43:08 BENNETT ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
18:43:10 I KNOW THE MAYOR IS ON BOARD WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT I WANT
18:43:14 COUNCIL TO HELP A LITTLE BIT.
18:43:15 WHAT I WANT COUNCIL TO DO, MY THIRD MOTION IS GOING TO BE
18:43:20 TO -- BETWEEN NOW AND TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, TO ASK THE
18:43:27 ADMINISTRATION TO COME UP WITH A MILLION DOLLARS, I'M NOT
18:43:30 SAYING WHERE IT SHOULD COME FROM.
18:43:33 I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
18:43:35 THEY'VE GOT A HUNDRED BUDGET ANALYSTS WHO CAN FIGURE OUT
18:43:39 WHERE TO GET THE MONEY FROM.
18:43:40 COME UP WITH $1 MILLION TO FUND A MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
18:43:44 TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH TPD.
18:43:48 I BELIEVE NOW IS THE TIME.
18:43:50 ST. PETERSBURG HAS ALREADY DONE IT.
18:43:51 ORLANDO HAS ALREADY DONE IT.
18:43:53 PASCO COUNTY HAS ALREADY DONE IT.
18:43:55 AS CHIEF BERCAW MENTIONED, IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE
18:43:57 COUNTRY.
18:43:58 IT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN HOUSTON AND DALLAS AND OTHER
18:44:00 PLACES.
18:44:01 SO I'M NOT GOING TO SECOND-GUESS THEM AND TELL THEM HOW
18:44:06 TO DO IT BUT WE ARE THE BUDGET -- WE ARE THE COUNCIL.
18:44:10 IT'S OUR BUDGET.
18:44:11 THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TOLD.
18:44:12 THAT'S WHAT THE CHARTER SAYS.
18:44:14 SO WE CAN HELP THEM ALONG BY PUTTING IT IN THE BUDGET.
18:44:17 THEN WHEN THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT PROGRAM THEY WILL DO, THE
18:44:21 MONEY WILL ALREADY BE THERE.
18:44:22 IN REGARD TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOLKS, PHIL COMPTON, MY
18:44:26 GOOD FRIEND PHIL COMPTON, AND KENT BAILEY, GUYS, I KNOW
18:44:31 THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY HAS TAKEN A BACK SEAT
18:44:36 TO COVID.
18:44:37 I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT IMPORTANT.
18:44:39 THOSE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
18:44:40 I'M JUST AFRAID WE MIGHT HAVE TO PUT THEM OFF FOR A
18:44:44 LITTLE BIT.
18:44:44 I DON'T HAVE A MOTION IN RESPONSE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL
18:44:47 GUYS.
18:44:48 BUT ANYWAY, MR. CHAIR, AFTER EVERYBODY SPEAKS, IF YOU
18:44:51 COULD GET BACK TO ME ON THOSE THREE MOTIONS, I APPRECIATE
18:44:55 IT GREATLY.
18:44:56 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MR. DINGFELDER, I JUST WANTED TO ASK
18:45:00 THAT WHEN YOU DO MAKE YOUR MOTION REGARDING HAYA LINEAR,
18:45:03 I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT.
18:45:05 I WOULD LIKE TO HAND THE GAVEL TO COUNCILMAN CITRO
18:45:07 BECAUSE IT IS IN MY DISTRICT I KNOW SOUTH SEMINOLE
18:45:11 HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, STEVE LYTLE HAD
18:45:14 REQUESTED THAT, AND, AGAIN, BEING THAT IT IS IN MY
18:45:19 DISTRICT AND I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM
18:45:21 REGARDING THIS, I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
18:45:23 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
18:45:24 COUNCILMAN VIERA.
18:45:25 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
18:45:28 ONE OTHER THING.
18:45:31 I WILL ALWAYS TRY MY BEST TO DEFER TO THE DISTRICT
18:45:34 COUNCILMAN BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE, PLEASE TAKE THE GAVEL
18:45:39 AND MAKE THE MOTION, I WILL SECOND.
18:45:42 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NO, NO, YOU DO IT.
18:45:44 YOU BROUGHT IT UP.
18:45:45 YOU ARE THE GUY THAT LIVES THERE.
18:45:46 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: WELL --
18:45:50 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NEAR THERE.
18:45:50 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: I DON'T LIVE RIGHT THERE.
18:45:52 I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET THE WRONG IDEA.
18:45:54 THANK YOU.
18:45:58 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
18:45:59 THANK YOU.
18:45:59 COUNCILMAN VIERA.
18:46:00 >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
18:46:03 I APPRECIATE IT.
18:46:04 JUST A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS ON THE BUDGET.
18:46:07 YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER MADE SOME MOTIONS.
18:46:10 I'LL BE POSITIVE TO VARYING DEGREES ON MUCH OF IT.
18:46:16 I'LL ADDRESS THAT WHEN IT COMES FORWARD AND WHATNOT.
18:46:21 ONE THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT ABOUT THIS BUDGET, AND
18:46:24 I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT I'LL EMPHASIZE IT AGAIN
18:46:26 TONIGHT IS HOW DISABILITY FRIENDLY THIS BUDGET IS.
18:46:30 UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, WE HAD THE CITY OF TAMPA
18:46:35 AUTISM FRIENDLY PROGRAM, WHICH SOUGHT TO MAKE A NUMBER OF
18:46:39 SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF TAMPA AUTISM AND SENSORY
18:46:43 FRIENDLY.
18:46:43 ONE OF THE FIRST OF MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE OF
18:46:47 FLORIDA, I BELIEVE, TO DO THAT, A LANDMARK IDEA AND A
18:46:53 GREAT IDEA.
18:46:54 THIS BUDGET GOES FURTHER WITH TWO BIG ENDEAVORS.
18:46:58 FIRST, AN AUTISM PARK IN THE NEW TAMPA AREA.
18:47:02 SOMETHING I PUSHED FOR SINCE I GOT HERE IN OUR FIRST
18:47:06 BUDGET IN 2017 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018.
18:47:09 AND ALSO IN EAST TAMPA ALL ABILITIES PARK.
18:47:13 THIS IS HUGE.
18:47:14 A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR RECREATIONAL COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE
18:47:17 WITH DISABILITIES, WHETHER IT'S INTELLECTUAL
18:47:20 DISABILITIES, AUTISM, PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, WHATEVER IT
18:47:23 MAY BE, THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL.
18:47:26 JUST LAST NIGHT, I DID A Facebook LIVE DISCUSSION WITH
18:47:30 WONDERFUL DISABILITY ACTIVIST KAREN CLAY.
18:47:33 HER SON BRIAN, ABOUT THE LATE MIKE PHILLIPS.
18:47:38 THINGS LIKE THIS REALLY GO A LONG WAY.
18:47:40 AND WE TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S A BIG COMMUNITY
18:47:43 OUT THERE OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, OF MOMS AND DADS,
18:47:48 SIBLINGS LIKE MY BROTHER MENTALLY DISABLED.
18:47:54 THINGS LIKE THIS, MEAN THE WORLD.
18:47:56 THESE THINGS REALLY MEAN A LOT TO THE COMMUNITY.
18:47:58 IF YOU'RE OUT THERE RAISING A KID WITH DOWN SYNDROME,
18:48:03 CEREBRAL PALSY, AUTISM, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, GESTURES LIKE
18:48:07 THIS TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU BELONG AND YOU'RE PART OF THE
18:48:09 FAMILY OF TAMPA.
18:48:12 I WANTED TO COMMEND THE CASTOR ADMINISTRATION AND ALL
18:48:14 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT I KNOW WERE STRONG SUPPORTERS.
18:48:17 EVERYBODY HAS BEEN VERY STRONG SUPPORTER ON THIS ISSUE,
18:48:20 BUT FOR LEADING THE WAY ON THIS ISSUE.
18:48:22 THIS IS A MORAL ISSUE.
18:48:23 IT'S A BIG DEAL.
18:48:26 ON PUBLIC SAFETY, THIS BUDGET ALSO GOES A LONG WAY AS
18:48:29 WELL.
18:48:29 IT CONTINUES TO FUND THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE MADE EARLIER
18:48:33 THIS YEAR IN EAST TAMPA WITH A FIRE TRUCK, IN NORTH TAMPA
18:48:36 FOR STATION 13 WITH A FIRE TRUCK, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
18:48:41 SOMETHING THAT'S A VERY BIG DEAL, THE GENESIS OF A NEW
18:48:44 FIRE STATION 24 IN NORTH TAMPA.
18:48:47 I VISIT A LOT OF FIRE STATIONS.
18:48:50 WHENEVER I VISIT THE MEN AND WOMEN AT STATION 13, THE
18:48:53 BUSIEST STATION IN ALL OF THE CITY OF TAMPA, ONE OF THE
18:48:56 TOP 50, 60 BUSIEST STATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES OF
18:48:59 AMERICA IN A NUMBER OF STUDIES, THEY ARE REALLY TIRED AND
18:49:03 WORN OUT.
18:49:04 GETTING A STUDY FOR A NEW FIRE STATION GOES A REALLY,
18:49:08 REALLY LONG WAY.
18:49:10 I PROPOSED TALKING ABOUT A MASTER PLAN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
18:49:14 SO WE CAN LOOK AT ALL OF OUR CITIES AND BE PROACTIVE AND
18:49:17 NOT REACTIVE.
18:49:20 THIS IS A BUDGET THAT MEETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
18:49:22 LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, PEOPLE ARE HURTING RIGHT NOW.
18:49:24 WE HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT THAT HAS SKYROCKETED THREE TIMES,
18:49:29 TRIPLED IN THE LAST FIVE, SIX MONTHS OR SO.
18:49:33 UNEMPLOYMENT HAS TRIPLED.
18:49:34 SMALL BUSINESSES DECIMATED.
18:49:36 SOME DISAPPEARING.
18:49:37 AND THIS IS A BUDGET THAT HELPS TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY
18:49:40 ARE.
18:49:41 I SUPPORT THAT.
18:49:42 A LOT HAS BEEN SAID IN PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE
18:49:46 POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
18:49:50 I AGAIN WANT TO REVIEW THE THINGS THAT JUST BRIEFLY THAT
18:49:53 COUNCIL HAS WORKED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON AND SOME
18:49:56 THINGS THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE UNILATERALLY.
18:49:59 YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHANGES WE'RE MAKING IN OUR
18:50:01 CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD.
18:50:03 THERE'S ONE OR TWO SMALL ISSUES THAT MAY BE IN DISPUTE,
18:50:06 BUT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT WE'VE AGREED ON.
18:50:09 GETTING THE CRB INVOLVED EARLIER WITH INVESTIGATORY
18:50:16 POWERS.
18:50:17 GETTING THE CRB INVOLVED MORE SO IN POLICIES, ADVISORY
18:50:19 ROLES WITH REGARD TO HIRING, ET CETERA.
18:50:21 THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.
18:50:23 BIG CHANGES IN POLICY.
18:50:24 WE SAW YESTERDAY THE CHANGES ON NO-KNOCK WARRANTS.
18:50:27 REALLY BIG DEAL.
18:50:28 BAN ON CHOKE HOLDS.
18:50:30 DUTY TO INTERVENE.
18:50:31 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING.
18:50:34 SOMETHING I KNOW WE ALL SUPPORT AND COUNCILMAN CITRO,
18:50:36 CARLSON AND GUDES PUSHED THAT IN OUR CHARTER REVIEW.
18:50:44 BODY CAMERAS, I THINK $8 MILLION FOR BODY CAMERAS.
18:50:47 IN THIS BUDGET, WE'RE MAKING BIG INVESTMENTS IN EAST
18:50:50 TAMPA.
18:50:51 $18 MILLION IN RECREATIONAL INVESTMENTS IN EAST TAMPA.
18:50:54 WE CONTINUE TO MARCH FORWARD WITH OUR PLANS FOR
18:50:57 INVESTMENT IN THE NORTH TAMPA AREA, INCLUDING THE USF
18:51:01 BUSCH/FOWLER AREA, AND WE'RE DOING THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF
18:51:04 A PANDEMIC.
18:51:05 I RECENTLY HEARD THAT BETWEEN A THIRD TO 40% OF CITY OF
18:51:09 TAMPA WORKERS HAVE BEEN OUT BECAUSE OF COVID AT ONE TIME
18:51:14 OR ANOTHER.
18:51:15 I BELIEVE THAT IS THE STATISTIC, BUT IT'S BEEN A RATHER
18:51:18 HIGH NUMBER, A VERY HIGH NUMBER AND THESE THINGS HAVE
18:51:21 BEEN DONE IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC.
18:51:23 THAT'S PRETTY DARN REMARKABLE.
18:51:25 I'M NOT PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK BECAUSE WE HAVE A
18:51:28 LOT OF WORK TO DO TO FINISH THE JOB.
18:51:30 BUT I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO BE POSITIVE ON.
18:51:33 ON THE POLICE BUDGET, I'LL DEFER TO MR. ROGERO ON IT.
18:51:39 I'VE READ THAT BETWEEN 85 TO 90% OF THE POLICE BUDGET
18:51:42 GOES TO PERSONNEL COSTS.
18:51:44 THAT MEANS HEALTH CARE THAT WE KNOW HAS DOUBLED -- OR
18:51:47 STRIKE THAT, NOT DOUBLED -- PERCENT OR SO IN THE LAST
18:51:52 EIGHT TO NINE YEARS.
18:51:54 THAT MEANS PENSIONS.
18:51:56 THAT MEANS SALARIES FOR OFFICERS WHO BEGIN -- IF THEY ARE
18:51:57 NEW I THINK IT IS 54, 55,000 DOLLARS A YEAR.
18:52:01 SO, CERTAINLY, I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
18:52:05 I'VE HAD A LOT OF DIALOGUE WITH A LOT OF THE ACTIVIST
18:52:08 COMMUNITY.
18:52:09 WE MAKE COMMON GROUND WHERE WE CAN AND WE DISAGREE
18:52:12 RESPECTFULLY WHERE WE DISAGREE.
18:52:14 ONE THING WE SAY ABOUT -- CUT POLICE BUDGET BY 19%,
18:52:19 WHATEVER IT MAY BE, I ALWAYS SAY YOU'RE TRYING TO FIT A
18:52:22 SIZE 50 WAIST IN SIZE 34 PANTS.
18:52:25 JUST NOT GOING TO FIT.
18:52:26 I'M NOT ONE TO SUPPORT CUTS LIKE THAT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
18:52:31 I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ON THAT SINCE DAY ONE.
18:52:33 IF YOU WANT TO INVEST IN SOCIAL SPENDING, YOU'LL HAVE NO
18:52:37 GREATER FRIEND THAN ME.
18:52:38 I'M A BIG FAN OF THE POWER OF GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE
18:52:41 GENERAL WELFARE AND THE LIVES OF EVERYDAY AMERICANS.
18:52:44 BUT THERE IS A PROPER WAY TO DO IT.
18:52:45 JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS, MR. CHAIR.
18:52:49 I'LL ADDRESS QUESTIONS ON THE MOTIONS WHEN THEY ARE
18:52:53 FORTHCOMING.
18:52:54 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
18:52:55 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
18:52:56 NEXT UP WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS GUDES.
18:52:59 DO ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WISH TO SPEAK AFTER COUNCIL
18:53:02 MEMBER GUDES?
18:53:03 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I'LL SPEAK.
18:53:04 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: LET'S DO CITRO AND THEN MIRANDA.
18:53:06 GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN GUDES.
18:53:09 >>ORLANDO GUDES: THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS
18:53:12 EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN.
18:53:13 THERE ARE A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE IN OUR
18:53:18 CITY ON A DAILY BASIS.
18:53:20 THIS COUNCIL HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
18:53:26 A LOT OF THINGS OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS ASKED FOR.
18:53:29 I KNOW THERE ARE TOUGH TIMES RIGHT NOW DEALING WITH A LOT
18:53:32 OF POLICE ISSUES.
18:53:33 I CAN SAY I'VE SERVED ON THAT SIDE BEFORE, AND THERE ARE
18:53:37 GOOD TIMES AND THERE ARE BAD TIMES.
18:53:39 EVERYTHING IS NOT PERFECT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
18:53:41 JUST LIKE ANY OTHER JOB, IT'S NOT ALWAYS PERFECT.
18:53:44 BUT I HEARD THE MAYOR'S POINTS YESTERDAY WITH CHIEF
18:53:50 DUGAN, AND I THINK THAT WITH THE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT
18:53:54 CAME TOGETHER IN HER TASK FORCE TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES,
18:53:59 I THINK CAME AWAY WITH A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION.
18:54:03 I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT OUR CITIZENS ARE
18:54:07 TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEM.
18:54:11 DON'T SAY WHAT YOU CAN'T DO, WHAT YOU CAN DO.
18:54:14 MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAP INTO THAT POLICE BUDGET.
18:54:21 I KNOW MOST OF THAT MONEY GOES FOR PENSIONS, HEALTH CARE
18:54:23 AND OFFICER SALARIES.
18:54:25 I REMEMBER BACK IN 1990 WHEN I FIRST CAME ON, MR.
18:54:29 CHAIRMAN, I WAS A VICTIM OF POSSIBLY BEING FURLOUGHED OR
18:54:32 LAID OFF MYSELF.
18:54:33 THERE WAS A BUDGET CRISIS.
18:54:35 I HAD TO WAIT BEFORE I GOT ASSIGNED TO A UNIT BECAUSE OF
18:54:41 FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.
18:54:42 I FINALLY GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET SWORN IN AND BE ABLE
18:54:45 TO GET A JOB.
18:54:47 THERE WERE SOME FURLOUGHS AND PEOPLE THAT WERE ROLLED
18:54:49 BACK, THEY CALLED IT ROLLING BACK POSITIONS.
18:54:52 SO I UNDERSTAND THAT.
18:54:53 I UNDERSTAND THAT CUTTING 19% INTO A POLICE BUDGET, A LOT
18:55:00 OF OFFICERS HAVE FAMILIES.
18:55:01 I CAN TELL YOU CUTTING THE BUDGET AND BEING FIRED, THAT
18:55:05 BRINGS ON ADDED STRESS.
18:55:07 OFFICERS ALREADY HAVE STRESS.
18:55:08 AND I SEE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT COULD BE BROUGHT ON BY
18:55:12 CUTTING THAT NUMBER OF OFFICERS FROM A POLICE AGENCY.
18:55:14 I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT WORD DEFUNDING.
18:55:18 MAYBE DOWN THE ROAD YOU CAN LOOK AT REALLOCATING THINGS
18:55:22 OR DOING OTHER BUDGETARY ISSUES, JUST CUTTING POLICE, I
18:55:26 JUST -- I'M JUST NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT.
18:55:28 BUT I'M IN FAVOR OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY PROGRAMS THAT
18:55:30 PEOPLE TALK ABOUT.
18:55:31 I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MR. ROGERO AND MR. BENNETT IN
18:55:35 REFERENCE TO FINDING OUT WHAT WE CAN FIND SOMETHING TO DO
18:55:39 A PROGRAM.
18:55:40 I HEARD THE MAYOR TALK YESTERDAY IN REFERENCE TO FINDING
18:55:43 MONEY FOR THE YOUNG LADY, USF, TO STUDY -- CONTINUE TO
18:55:48 STUDY AND BRING BACK SOME IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN GET SOME
18:55:52 MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND SAFETY PROGRAMS.
18:55:54 I DIDN'T HEAR THE DETECTIVE TALK ABOUT THE CAHOOTS
18:55:58 PROGRAM.
18:55:58 THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR.
18:56:02 KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT.
18:56:03 THEY HAVE DONE THEIR RESEARCH AND THEIR STUDIES, TOO.
18:56:06 SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT AS
18:56:09 WELL.
18:56:10 IT'S A PART OF THE RESEARCH TO SEE IF THAT IS A VIABLE
18:56:13 PROGRAM THAT COULD WORK HERE.
18:56:16 AGAIN, WE CAN'T DISCREDIT THE PEOPLE WHO PAY TAXES HERE.
18:56:20 WE MUST LISTEN TO THEM AS WELL.
18:56:22 I'VE TAKEN SO MANY CALLS AND SO MANY ZOOM CALLS AND I'VE
18:56:26 BEEN UP FRONT WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS.
18:56:28 SOME MAY NOT BE MY CONSTITUENTS BUT I'VE BEEN UP FRONT
18:56:30 WITH THEM ALL TO TELL THEM HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE POLICE
18:56:33 BUDGET.
18:56:35 HOW I FEEL ABOUT SAFETY PROGRAMS AND MENTAL HEALTH.
18:56:37 I CONCUR WITH MR. DINGFELDER THAT WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY
18:56:44 -- NOT IN THE POLICE BUDGET, BUT FIND A WAY TO LOOK AT
18:56:46 THE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.
18:56:47 I BELIEVE THE MAYOR SAID SOME OF THE LOCAL ATHLETIC
18:56:51 CLUBS, MONEY TO CONTINUE THE STUDIES.
18:56:54 HOPEFULLY A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE.
18:56:58 BUT AGAIN, ALSO TO LOOK AT WHAT CAN WORK IN OUR
18:57:03 COMMUNITIES, IN OUR POLICE AGENCIES.
18:57:04 LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, MR. CHAIRMAN, GOT SOME THINGS FOR
18:57:10 EAST TAMPA, DISTRICT FIVE IN GENERAL.
18:57:14 THINGS THAT WE NEED.
18:57:15 WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO STILL.
18:57:17 I'M THANKFUL FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO ALWAYS COMPROMISE
18:57:20 WITH ME, WORK WITH ME, AND AGAIN, DON'T SAY WHAT YOU
18:57:25 CAN'T DO BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO.
18:57:27 I'M HAPPY WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE COME TO MY
18:57:29 DISTRICT.
18:57:30 WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO GO.
18:57:32 BUT I AM IN AGREEMENT IN REFERENCE TO THE ANALYST.
18:57:38 WE TALK ABOUT THAT EVERY WEEK WITH THESE HIGH DOLLARS
18:57:43 THAT COME IN, AND I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING MISSING
18:57:47 SOMEWHERE.
18:57:48 DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
18:57:49 MR. DINGFELDER IS ON TO SOMETHING.
18:57:51 I THINK THE PRESENTATION BY THE BUDGET GROUP.
18:57:53 I WAS HERE LAST YEAR.
18:57:55 THE GROUP DID A FINE JOB.
18:57:57 THIS YEAR IT WAS A LITTLE MORE DETAILED.
18:58:00 MADE THE EYEBROWS UP, MADE US TURN OUR HEADS A LITTLE BIT
18:58:03 TO LOOK.
18:58:04 SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKED MORE QUESTIONS.
18:58:08 WE DIDN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
18:58:11 THAT JUST SHOWS THAT CITIZENS ARE GETTING INVOLVED AND
18:58:13 WE'RE CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOLKS TO BE ON THE COMMITTEES.
18:58:17 YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE A GOOD FRIEND
18:58:20 TO BE ON A COMMITTEE.
18:58:22 YOU SHOULD HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE TO BE ON
18:58:24 COMMITTEES OF THE SUBJECT MATTER, THAT WAY YOU CAN
18:58:28 DISSECT WHAT IS GOING ON.
18:58:30 YOU GET TRUE VALUE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
18:58:32 I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, AGAIN, I CAN SUPPORT SOME OF
18:58:37 THESE MEASURES.
18:58:39 AGAIN, I WOULD NOT EVER SUPPORT A DEFUNDING OF A POLICE
18:58:44 AGENCY.
18:58:45 BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE, I KNOW HOW CRITICAL IT IS.
18:58:48 AGAIN, WE DO HAVE SOME CHALLENGES.
18:58:50 I THINK WITH SOME OF THE PLANS GOING INTO PLACE BY MAYOR
18:58:54 CASTOR AND ADMINISTRATION IN REFERENCE TO POLICING, I
18:58:56 THINK YOU MIGHT SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THAT AVENUE.
18:58:58 I YIELD BACK, SIR.
18:59:00 THANK YOU.
18:59:00 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER
18:59:02 GUDES.
18:59:03 NEXT UP IS COUNCIL MEMBER CITRO AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER
18:59:06 MIRANDA.
18:59:07 COUNCIL MEMBER CITRO, GO AHEAD, SIR.
18:59:08 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
18:59:10 THANK YOU TO THE STAFF, MR. ROGERO, AND CHIEF BENNETT FOR
18:59:15 PRESENTING THIS AND GIVING US INSIGHT.
18:59:19 I WILL KEEP IT VERY QUICK, MR. CHAIR.
18:59:22 WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING, AND I SAW THE OTHER COUNCIL
18:59:27 MEMBERS OUT DURING THE CAMPAIGNS, AND I GAVE A VERY
18:59:31 IMPORTANT PROMISE.
18:59:32 AND THAT WAS THE ATU.
18:59:34 THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION AND I GAVE THEM MY PROMISE
18:59:39 THAT I WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY CITY WORKERS' JOBS TO BE CUT.
18:59:42 I'M SURE THIS BUDGET WOULD HELP ME KEEP THAT PROMISE.
18:59:49 MR. CHAIR AND STAFF, I AM JUST GOING TO HAVE TWO
18:59:54 REQUESTS.
18:59:56 WE HAVE TWO TELEVISION NETWORKS THAT ARE FUNDED.
19:00:02 EXCUSE ME, THAT I WANT TO BE FUNDED, HELP FUNDED BY THE
19:00:06 CITY OF TAMPA.
19:00:07 ONE IS THE TAMPA BAY COMMUNITY NETWORK, THE OTHER IS THE
19:00:10 TAMPA BAY ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK.
19:00:14 THEY ARE ONE OF THE LAST BASTIONS OF FREE UNBIASED SPEECH
19:00:19 AND THEY HELP DELIVER ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, NEWS, AND
19:00:23 OTHER RESOURCES TO OUR CITIZENS IN THE CITY OF TAMPA, AND
19:00:27 I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR A $108,000 BUDGET ITEM IN OUR
19:00:36 BUDGET FOR EACH.
19:00:40 AGAIN, THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR YOUR REPORT.
19:00:43 I ECHO THE COMMENTS THAT ALL OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS
19:00:49 HAVE MADE SO FAR.
19:00:51 WE WILL WEATHER THROUGH THIS.
19:00:53 AND I THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
19:00:55 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
19:00:57 COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, TAKE IT AWAY.
19:00:58 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
19:01:00 APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH, LIKE YOURSELF, MR. CHAIRMAN AND
19:01:03 THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF DISTRICT 3, MR. DINGFELDER, I HAVE
19:01:06 ALSO STARTED THE PROCESS ON THE HAYA PARK LINEAR
19:01:12 RESTORATION PARK.
19:01:13 I RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM BRANDON MOORE, FROM EUGENIA
19:01:17 ISLAMOLOVA FROM CARLA LINKHERD, SARAH SUTZMAN AND
19:01:25 ELIZABETH MITCHELL, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
19:01:28 I WAS IN THE PROCESS TO MEET WITH DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS
19:01:30 IN BUDGETING NEXT WEEK, BUT I APPRECIATE THE CONCERTED
19:01:34 EFFORT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY MR. LYTLE WHO HAS
19:01:37 DONE A YEOMAN'S JOB NOT ONLY IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD BUT ALSO
19:01:40 SERVING IN THE POSITION THAT HE DOES OVERVIEWING THE
19:01:43 BUDGET.
19:01:44 REGARDING THE ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN BY CERTAIN COUNCIL
19:01:48 MEMBERS, MR. VIERA, MR. GUDES, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT
19:01:51 DEFUNDING THE POLICE IS NOT IN MY IMMEDIATE PLANS.
19:01:55 I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE MENTAL HEALTH
19:01:59 CRISIS AS ONE THAT'S EXPLODING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
19:02:05 I GUESS -- I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN IT, SO I'M TAKING A GUESS
19:02:08 -- IT'S A COMBINATION OF MANY THINGS THAT GOES ON IN
19:02:11 LIFE, ESPECIALLY AT A YOUNG AGE, YOU SEE THINGS AROUND
19:02:17 AND CAN'T COMPREHEND HOW AND WHY AND WHEN AND VERY
19:02:21 SENSITIVE AT THAT AGE.
19:02:22 NOT ONLY AT THAT AGE, BUT ANY AGE.
19:02:24 WHAT I'M TRYING TO EXPRESS IS THAT MAYBE THIS COUNCIL AND
19:02:29 THIS MAYOR OUGHT TO TALK TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE IN
19:02:33 VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY THAT WE ALSO PAY TAXES TO, AND I'M
19:02:36 NOT SAYING SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN PAYING, IT SHOULD AT
19:02:40 LEAST REVIEW IT SEE IF THEY CAN HELP THE CITY OF TAMPA
19:02:42 SINCE WE HAVE ABOUT CLOSE TO 400,000 PEOPLE IN THE CITY
19:02:46 WHO LIVE WITHIN THE COUNTY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
19:02:49 I HOPE THAT IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING STARTED HERE THAT THE
19:02:52 COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE VERY ABLE AT DOING THEIR JOB AND
19:02:55 VERY GOOD AT THEIR WORK CAN ALSO DO THE SAME THING IF
19:02:58 THEY DON'T ALREADY HAVE ONE.
19:02:59 I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DO OR NOT.
19:03:01 BUT IN THE MENTAL HEALTH IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY
19:03:04 NEEDED, NOT ONLY IN THIS CITY, NOT ONLY IN THIS STATE,
19:03:08 BUT GREAT COUNTRY THAT WE LIVE IN.
19:03:10 I'M ALL FOR HELPING THAT, BUT I'M ALSO COGNIZANT OF THE
19:03:14 FACT THAT YOU MUST HAVE SOME TYPE OF FORCE, NOT FORCE,
19:03:21 FORCE OF USE, BUT POLICE FORCE LIKE AN AREA TO
19:03:24 PARTICIPATE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS TO HAVE WHAT IS NEEDED
19:03:26 IN THE CITY OF THIS SIZE.
19:03:28 AT ONE TIME, WE WERE LIKE ONE OF THE TOP TWO IN THE WHOLE
19:03:33 STATE AS FAR AS RACIAL.
19:03:35 I THINK NOW WE SLIPPED A LITTLE BIT, BUT I UNDERSTAND
19:03:37 THAT TO BE FOR OTHER PURPOSES ALSO.
19:03:40 SO I'M THINKING THAT I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE BUDGET, AS
19:03:45 I SEE IT, ALONG WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO IT, ESPECIALLY
19:03:49 TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGETS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
19:03:51 I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE BUDGET OF OPERATING AND
19:03:54 SO FORTH AND SO ON.
19:03:55 MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
19:03:57 I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
19:03:58 I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS PROCESS.
19:04:02 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER
19:04:04 MIRANDA.
19:04:05 DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
19:04:06 I THINK WE WENT THROUGH EVERYONE.
19:04:09 WE DID.
19:04:09 I'M NOT GOING TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE WHAT NEEDED TO
19:04:13 BE SAID HAS BEEN SAID BY A VARIETY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS,
19:04:16 AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID, WHAT YOU'VE BROUGHT UP
19:04:20 AND THE DISCUSSION.
19:04:21 BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY MOTIONS, OUR ATTORNEY,
19:04:27 MORRIS MASSEY, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
19:04:30 >>MORRIS MASSEY: CITY COUNCIL, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S YOUR
19:04:33 PREROGATIVE TO MAKE MOTIONS, TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE
19:04:36 BUDGET TONIGHT.
19:04:37 HOWEVER, TYPICALLY HOW WE HAVE DEALT WITH THOSE MOTIONS
19:04:40 IN THE PAST IS THAT IF THESE MOTIONS -- THE PROPOSED
19:04:45 CHANGES TO THE BUDGET ARE ACCEPTABLE TO THE
19:04:47 ADMINISTRATION, THERE IS NOT A CHANGE MADE TO THE BUDGET
19:04:50 BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING.
19:04:52 INSTEAD, HOW THESE CHANGES ARE EFFECTUATED ARE BY BUDGET
19:04:56 AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL IN EARLY OCTOBER
19:05:00 AFTER THE BUDGET IS APPROVED.
19:05:02 I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR THE RECORD AND MAKE
19:05:05 SURE WE WORK THROUGH IT THAT WAY.
19:05:07 THAT'S IT.
19:05:09 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE HAVE CHIEF OF STAFF AS WELL.
19:05:11 CHIEF BENNETT.
19:05:12 >>JOHN BENNETT: THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.
19:05:16 TO COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER AND CHAIRMAN MANISCALCO,
19:05:18 REGARDING THE MOTION SUGGESTED BETWEEN YOU AND POSSIBLY
19:05:22 THE REST OF COUNCIL ABOUT THE LIVING SHORELINE, THE
19:05:27 REQUEST WOULD BE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO FIND THE RIGHT
19:05:30 AMOUNT OF MONEY TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AS OPPOSED TO THE
19:05:33 DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT.
19:05:36 I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT
19:05:39 TO FINISH THE PROJECT.
19:05:41 IT MIGHT BE UNDER THAT, MEANING IF YOU PICK A NUMBER IT
19:05:44 MIGHT BE BELOW THE TARGET.
19:05:47 AND IN SIDEBARRING WITH MR. ROGERO IT MAY BE BENEFICIAL
19:05:51 THAT THE MOTION IS MADE TO FIND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT TO
19:05:53 COMPLETE THE PHASE WHICH MAY BE MORE THAN WHAT IS BEING
19:05:58 ASKED FOR.
19:05:58 AND THEN WE WILL WORK OFF-LINE DILIGENTLY AND TO MR.
19:06:02 MASSEY'S DISCUSSION, BUILD THAT PROCESS FOR A
19:06:07 POST-ADOPTION AMENDMENT.
19:06:09 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
19:06:17 UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND
19:06:20 CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE BUDGET.
19:06:26 MR. ROGERO.
19:06:27 >>DENNIS ROGERO: WOULD THE FINANCE CHAIR PLEASE MAKE A
19:06:31 MOTION TO ADOPT THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE?
19:06:33 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
19:06:34 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YEAH, THE MOTION, WE HAVE SOME OTHER
19:06:38 ITEMS, UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THAT RIGHT NOW, I
19:06:41 WILL.
19:06:42 THAT'S MOVE TO TENTATIVELY ADOPT THE PROPOSED MILLAGE
19:06:46 RATE OF 6.2076 MILLS, WHICH IS 5.58% MORE THAN THE
19:06:51 ROLLED-BACK MILLAGE RATE OF 5.8797 MILLS, PROPERTY TAX
19:06:56 FUNDS WHICH ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND
19:06:59 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE CITY OF TAMPA.
19:07:03 >>JOSEPH CITRO: SECOND, CITRO.
19:07:04 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN
19:07:06 CITRO.
19:07:06 IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, WE'LL TAKE A ROLL-CALL VOTE.
19:07:09 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: QUESTION ON THE MOTION?
19:07:12 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
19:07:15 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MOTION SOUNDS STRAIGHTFORWARD.
19:07:19 MORRIS, PASSING THIS MOTION HAS NO IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY
19:07:24 TO AMEND OR ADDRESS THE ISSUES, THE THREE ISSUES THAT I
19:07:29 WANTED TO ADDRESS, IS THAT CORRECT?
19:07:31 IS THAT THE NEXT MOTION?
19:07:32 >>MORRIS MASSEY: YOU'RE CORRECT, COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
19:07:36 IT'S JUST SETTING THE MILLAGE RATE.
19:07:38 IT IS THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE THAT YOU'RE SETTING.
19:07:41 SO THE MOTIONS THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO MAKE ARE CHANGES TO
19:07:43 THE ACTUAL BUDGET ITSELF.
19:07:47 MAKE THOSE BEFORE WE HAVE THE FIRST READING OF THE
19:07:50 BUDGET.
19:07:51 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ROLL-CALL VOTE FOR THIS TENTATIVE
19:07:55 MILLAGE.
19:07:55 >>THE CLERK: VIERA?
19:07:57 >>LUIS VIERA: YES.
19:07:58 >>ORLANDO GUDES: YES.
19:07:59 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YES.
19:08:02 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES.
19:08:05 >>BILL CARLSON: YES.
19:08:07 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES.
19:08:10 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES.
19:08:13 >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
19:08:16 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:08:17 BEFORE WE GO TO THE FIRST READING OF ADOPTING THE BUDGET,
19:08:24 I THINK THIS WOULD BE THE PROPER TIME TO TAKE MOTIONS
19:08:26 FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
19:08:27 COUNCILMAN CARLSON, YOU WERE THE FIRST TO SPEAK, AND THEN
19:08:31 I'LL GO TO DINGFELDER, VIERA, GUDES, CITRO AND MIRANDA IN
19:08:36 THAT ORDER FOR WHOEVER -- FOR WHOMEVER HAS MOTIONS.
19:08:41 COUNCILMAN CARLSON, IF YOU HAVE ANY MOTIONS AT THIS TIME.
19:08:44 >>BILL CARLSON: NO, I DON'T.
19:08:46 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
19:08:47 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:08:48 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, YOUR NEXT, SIR.
19:08:52 IF YOU HAVE ANY MOTIONS, NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THEM.
19:08:55 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: OKAY.
19:08:57 WELL, START WITH A SIMPLE ONE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
19:08:59 I'D LIKE YOU TO PASS THE GAVEL AND MAKE A MOTION ON HAYA
19:09:02 PARK.
19:09:02 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
19:09:04 THEN I PASS THE GAVEL TO CHAIR PRO TEM CITRO.
19:09:07 AND THAT MOTION WOULD BE TO ALLOCATE THE $135,000 FOR --
19:09:14 I'M SORRY.
19:09:15 135,000 OR THE AMOUNT NECESSARY FOR THE HAYA LINEAR PARK
19:09:20 RESTORATION THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED.
19:09:24 COUNCILMAN CITRO, I MADE THAT MOTION.
19:09:26 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: I'LL SECOND THAT.
19:09:31 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN CITRO, YOU HAVE THE GAVEL.
19:09:33 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
19:09:35 YOU HEARD A MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
19:09:37 SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
19:09:41 ROLL-CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
19:09:43 >>THE CLERK: VIERA?
19:09:45 >>LUIS VIERA: YES.
19:09:46 >>ORLANDO GUDES: YES.
19:09:47 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YES.
19:09:52 AND I GUESS THE CLARIFICATION IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION,
19:09:56 AS MR. MASSEY INDICATED, THE ADMINISTRATION WILL COME
19:09:59 BACK WITH THAT AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT, IS THAT RIGHT?
19:10:10 >> YES, SIR, IN OCTOBER, WE WILL COME BACK WITH A BUDGET
19:10:11 AMENDMENT -- THE FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN OCTOBER.
19:10:13 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MR. CHAIRMAN, IS THAT YOUR INTENT?
19:10:14 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, SIR, THAT'S FINE.
19:10:15 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: I VOTE YES.
19:10:17 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES.
19:10:20 >>BILL CARLSON: YES.
19:10:23 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES.
19:10:23 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES.
19:10:26 >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
19:10:30 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
19:10:31 I HAND THE GAVEL BACK.
19:10:33 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU, SIR.
19:10:34 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, SIR?
19:10:38 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YES, TWO OTHERS.
19:10:43 IN REGARD TO THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE THAT WE'VE SPOKEN TO
19:10:47 AT LENGTH AND I APPRECIATE THE DETECTIVE SCALERA AND HIS
19:10:51 RESEARCH AND CHIEF BERCAW AND HIS RESEARCH.
19:10:54 THE COMMUNITY HAS DONE A HUGE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH.
19:10:57 I'VE DONE A FAIR AMOUNT OF RESEARCH.
19:11:00 I THINK THAT WE ARE RIPE FOR A MENTAL HEALTH UNIT IN OUR
19:11:04 COMMUNITY.
19:11:04 I ACTUALLY USED TO BE IN MENTAL HEALTH COURT OVER AT THE
19:11:07 COURTHOUSE WITH OUR CHIEF JUDGE, AND THEY ARE DOING A
19:11:10 GREAT JOB, BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE A BENEFIT TO THAT
19:11:13 EFFORT AS WELL.
19:11:14 SO WITH THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST AND I THINK WE
19:11:20 NEED A RESPONSE BACK FROM MR. BENNETT ON THIS, REQUEST
19:11:22 THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS AMENABLE TO A MILLION DOLLARS
19:11:25 BUDGET ITEM TO HELP THE ADMINISTRATION AND TPD WORK OUT A
19:11:30 PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH EITHER RESPONDERS OR
19:11:35 CO-RESPONDERS FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
19:11:41 THAT'S MY MOTION.
19:11:42 I'LL LEAVE IT HANGING THERE FOR A SECOND AND ASK MR.
19:11:44 BENNETT TO SPEAK TO IT BEFORE I LOOK FOR A SECOND.
19:11:48 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD.
19:11:49 CHIEF BENNETT.
19:11:51 >>JOHN BENNETT: THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.
19:11:53 THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
19:11:54 I KNOW AS WE'VE ALL HEARD THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS
19:11:59 HEADING TOWARD THIS PROGRESS, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND AS
19:12:03 WE'VE DISCUSSED, MAYOR CASTOR IS COMMITTED TO THOSE
19:12:09 FINDINGS THAT WERE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY EFFORT AND
19:12:13 USF.
19:12:14 I'M A LITTLE NOT ON THE DOLLAR AMOUNT AS A TARGET.
19:12:18 I JUST, YOU KNOW, HEARING THIS AND LISTENING TO SOME OF
19:12:22 THE INITIAL RESEARCH, AND, AGAIN, IT'S NOT THAT IT'S A
19:12:27 MILLION.
19:12:28 IT'S NOT THAT IT'S 500,000.
19:12:30 IT'S NOT THAT IT'S MORE THAN EVEN THAT.
19:12:32 IT'S ALLOWING THE RFI TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN
19:12:37 THE CALL LOAD, THE LEVEL OF SERVICE, THE EFFICACY OF THE
19:12:41 PROGRAM.
19:12:43 I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO GIVE YOU A RESPONSE ON A
19:12:48 MILLION-DOLLAR PLACEHOLDER IN LIEU OF A COMMITMENT THAT
19:12:52 THE ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING AT THIS, WILLING TO DO THE
19:12:56 RFI AND FIND THE RIGHT LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY
19:13:00 TO PROGRESS US WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
19:13:03 BUT I WELCOME FEEDBACK ON THAT COMMENT FIRST.
19:13:08 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: I THINK WE'RE, AS USUAL, MR. BENNETT,
19:13:11 WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
19:13:12 THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO DO SOMETHING.
19:13:15 THE COMMUNITY IS DESPERATE FOR US TO DO SOMETHING AND TO
19:13:20 ACT.
19:13:22 I DON'T KNOW HOW THE REST OF COUNCIL FEELS, BUT I KNOW
19:13:24 PERSONALLY I THINK -- I KNOW THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO
19:13:27 DO.
19:13:29 AND SO -- THE MILLION-DOLLAR NUMBER IS RATHER ARBITRARY.
19:13:33 AND, FRANKLY, IF THE ADMINISTRATION AND TPD CONCLUDES
19:13:38 THAT WORKING WITH A VENDOR, MENTAL HEALTH VENDOR, YOU CAN
19:13:42 DO THIS FOR 750,000 OR YOU CAN DO THIS FOR 500,000.
19:13:46 THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO SPEND THE WHOLE
19:13:48 MILLION BY ANY MEANS.
19:13:50 AND YOU GUYS ARE WELL AWARE OF THAT.
19:13:53 THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS IN THAT BUDGET THAT ARE BUDGETED
19:13:56 HIGHER THAN ULTIMATELY WE SPEND.
19:13:58 SO THAT'S THE INTENT OF MY MOTION.
19:14:02 IT'S TO GIVE YOU GUYS A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY AND GIVE YOU
19:14:05 GUYS TREMENDOUS MOTIVATION AND SAY, THIS COMMUNITY AND
19:14:08 THIS COUNCIL IS BEHIND THIS TO THE TUNE OF A MILLION
19:14:11 DOLLARS A YEAR, AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.
19:14:14 AND THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM, CHIEF BENNETT.
19:14:19 >>BILL CARLSON: I'LL SECOND THAT.
19:14:22 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MR. CHAIRMAN?
19:14:24 >>JOHN BENNETT: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
19:14:27 AND YOU ARE CORRECT.
19:14:28 WE ARE ON THAT TRAJECTORY.
19:14:29 WE ARE GOING TO DO THE RFI.
19:14:31 I KNOW THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO FUNDING
19:14:34 THIS ONCE WE FIND THE RIGHT CONFIGURATION AND THE BEST
19:14:39 PRACTICE OR EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL.
19:14:40 WE KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT GOING AWAY.
19:14:43 WE HEARD THE NUMBERS.
19:14:44 I'VE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH THOSE NUMBERS FROM MY RESEARCH.
19:14:47 WE KNOW THE COST FOR SERVICE LOADS.
19:14:53 AND I KNOW THAT WE'LL FIND THE RIGHT DOLLAR AMOUNT TO
19:14:55 FULFILL THIS.
19:14:56 GIVE ME ONE SECOND AS I CONFER WITH THE CFO.
19:15:06 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: CAN I SAY SOMETHING?
19:15:08 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
19:15:10 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU.
19:15:11 WHAT I'LL DO IS TRY TO BROKER THINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE A
19:15:14 CRA MEETING I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK, DON'T WE?
19:15:18 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, SIR, NEXT THURSDAY IS CRA AT
19:15:20 9 A.M.
19:15:21 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WOULD IT BE LEGALLY POSSIBLE IF WE GET
19:15:23 THIS AND AFTER THE CRA, RECONVENE AS THE CITY COUNCIL AND
19:15:28 BRING THIS UP AT THAT TIME THEN SO WE CAN GET SOME TYPE
19:15:31 OF A DOLLAR AMOUNT INSTEAD OF DOING OFF THE CUFF?
19:15:35 THIS IS NOT PRUDENT INFORMATION THAT WE JUST SAY, WELL,
19:15:38 WE HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS FLOATING HERE, LET'S TAKE IT.
19:15:41 IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A BUDGET THAT'S TIGHT.
19:15:43 IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A BUDGET THAT IS SINCERE.
19:15:44 IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A BUDGET THAT IS ACCURATE.
19:15:46 AND I'M NOT THROWING ANY STONES AT ANYONE, BUT I'D LIKE
19:15:49 TO SEE US DO IT IN A MANNERISM WHERE WE MEET AFTER THE
19:15:53 CRA AND AT LEAST ADMINISTRATION HAS A WEEK TO DISCUSS
19:15:56 THIS AMONG THEMSELVES AND TRY TO -- HUDDLE, THIS IS NOT A
19:16:01 FOOTBALL GAME WHEN YOU CLAP AND YOU GO DO A PLAY.
19:16:05 IT'S ABOUT GIVING THE SERVICE TO THE TAXPAYERS BUT ALSO
19:16:07 BEING FRUGAL AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BUDGET IS
19:16:09 SUPPOSED TO BE BALANCED.
19:16:11 I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, I HOPE THAT I'M WRONG, BUT THE
19:16:14 PROBLEMS OF THIS COUNTRY ARE NOT COMING THIS YEAR, OR
19:16:17 MAYBE NOT NEXT YEAR, BUT THEY WILL IN 2022.
19:16:21 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, WHAT YOU'RE
19:16:22 SAYING IS AFTER NEXT THURSDAY'S CRA MEETING ON SEPTEMBER
19:16:25 10, YOU WOULD LIKE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING TO ALLOW THE
19:16:30 ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE ABOUT A WEEK TO LOOK OVER THIS AND
19:16:33 THEN COME BACK TO US AND WE DISCUSS IT THEN, IS THAT WHAT
19:16:37 YOU'RE SAYING?
19:16:38 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES, SIR, MR. CHAIRMAN.
19:16:39 I THINK IT'S FAIR, NOT ONLY FAIR TO MR. DINGFELDER AND
19:16:43 HIS SECOND BUT ALSO FAIR TO THE ADMINISTRATION SO THEY
19:16:45 CAN COME AT LEAST HAVE A WEEK TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING
19:16:48 ON AND WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM.
19:16:50 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT.
19:16:53 ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON THAT?
19:16:58 >>LUIS VIERA: VIERA, IF I MAY.
19:16:59 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN VIERA.
19:17:00 >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. CHAIR.
19:17:02 NO, I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
19:17:04 WELL, FIRST OFF, LET'S START OFF SALUTING COUNCILMAN
19:17:07 DINGFELDER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE OF MENTAL
19:17:10 HEALTH.
19:17:11 THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE READ ABOUT A LOT WITH REGARDS
19:17:14 TO PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES.
19:17:17 WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THAT FROM SO MANY DIVERSE PARTS OF
19:17:20 THE COMMUNITY.
19:17:21 SO WE THANK COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
19:17:24 I DO AGREE THAT PUTTING A SET NUMBER ON IT WOULD PROBABLY
19:17:28 NOT BE WISE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, IT WILL
19:17:33 FIT, WHAT NUMBERS WILL BE NEEDED FOR THIS.
19:17:37 BUT, YEAH, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT IDEA THAT WE, YOU
19:17:40 KNOW, SHOULD FORWARD SOME SORT OF IDEA.
19:17:42 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER TALKED ABOUT HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH
19:17:47 PROFESSIONAL MAYBE COME ALONG WITH POLICE OFFICERS,
19:17:49 ET CETERA.
19:17:50 I OBVIOUSLY WANT A COMMITMENT AND I THINK ALL SEVEN OF US
19:17:53 AGREE WITH THIS THAT THESE FUNDS WILL NOT COME OUT OF
19:17:56 PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET.
19:17:57 I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE INTENT, OBVIOUSLY.
19:17:59 BUT JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE, OBVIOUSLY.
19:18:02 YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, THIS MONTH, SEPTEMBER IS ACTUALLY
19:18:07 SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.
19:18:11 A BIG ISSUE, INCLUDING FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
19:18:14 I KNOW IN NEW TAMPA, I'M NOT TOO FAR FROM THE MEMORIAL
19:18:20 STREET SIGN, MR. LADUE WAS A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER WHO
19:18:25 SUFFERED FROM PTSD.
19:18:27 HE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO CAME FROM A GOOD FAMILY OF FIRST
19:18:30 RESPONDERS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND TAMPA
19:18:34 ALWAYS MOURNS HIM.
19:18:35 MENTAL HEALTH IS A HUGE ISSUE.
19:18:36 I SALUTE OUR FRIEND COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER FOR LEADING ON
19:18:40 THIS ISSUE, BUT WITH THOSE JUSTIFICATIONS, I THINK IT CAN
19:18:43 BE DONE RIGHT.
19:18:44 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
19:18:45 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:18:46 ANYBODY ELSE?
19:18:47 >>ORLANDO GUDES: MR. CHAIRMAN?
19:18:49 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN GUDES, GO AHEAD, SIR.
19:18:50 >>ORLANDO GUDES: I CAN SUPPORT MR. MIRANDA'S MOTION IF IT
19:18:54 COMES ON THE FLOOR IN REFERENCE TO THAT.
19:18:56 I THINK HE'S RIGHT.
19:18:57 I SUPPORT MR. DINGFELDER'S MOTION IN REFERENCE TO MENTAL
19:19:01 HEALTH.
19:19:03 IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
19:19:04 AGAIN, I'M HOPING THAT IF WE DO THAT, WE ALSO MAKE SURE
19:19:08 THAT WE LOOK AT THAT CAHOOTS PROGRAM.
19:19:11 THE COMMUNITY IS STRONGLY ADVOCATING AND ASKING ABOUT
19:19:12 THAT PROGRAM.
19:19:13 I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS.
19:19:21 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:19:22 DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
19:19:24 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, BEING THAT THIS IS YOUR MOTION,
19:19:33 WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A SPECIAL CALL
19:19:35 MEETING LET'S SAY NEXT THURSDAY?
19:19:37 I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG CRA IS GOING TO GO.
19:19:39 SPECIAL CALL MEETING FOR 1 P.M. OF THE TAMPA CITY COUNCIL
19:19:42 TO FURTHER DISCUSSION THIS AND THEREFORE GIVING THE
19:19:44 ADMINISTRATION MORE TIME TO LOOK INTO IT?
19:19:48 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
19:19:49 IN REGARD TO THE TIME OF DAY, PERHAPS MR. MASSEY OR MR.
19:19:56 SHELBY CAN HELP US ON THAT.
19:19:58 MIGHT SCHEDULE IT FOR 9:05, THAT WAY WE CAN HOLD IT
19:20:05 ANYTIME THE CRA IS DONE.
19:20:06 BUT LISTEN, I DO WANT SOME ADVICE FROM MR. MASSEY IN
19:20:13 REGARD TO PROCEDURALLY WHERE THIS GOES.
19:20:17 LET'S SAY NEXT THURSDAY THE ADMINISTRATION COMES BACK AND
19:20:20 SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE THINK WE CAN DO THIS PROGRAM FOR --
19:20:25 I'M GOING TO PULL A NUMBER AND SAY $50,000.
19:20:29 SO OBVIOUSLY, MY VISION OR THE VISION OF THE COMMUNITY AS
19:20:32 IT'S BEEN SPOKEN TO WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY
19:20:35 VISION IS A BIG PROGRAM.
19:20:37 A ROBUST PROGRAM.
19:20:39 IF THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THEY WANT TO DO 50,000, AND
19:20:42 I'M GOING TO STICK WITH THE MILLION, THEN HOW DO WE
19:20:44 RESOLVE ANY OF THAT TYPE OF CONFLICT BETWEEN NOW, NEXT
19:20:48 THURSDAY AND THE FINAL BUDGET HEARING, MR. MASSEY?
19:20:52 >>MORRIS MASSEY: OBVIOUSLY, I MEAN, IT'S YOUR BUDGET
19:20:58 RIGHT NOW.
19:20:59 YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THE BUDGET AND MAKE MOTIONS TO
19:21:02 CHANGE THE BUDGET.
19:21:03 OBVIOUSLY, THE MAYOR HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VETO, I
19:21:07 THINK, I BELIEVE LINE ITEMS.
19:21:09 SHE HAS THAT AUTHORITY.
19:21:10 SO, I MEAN, THAT'S HOW IT WOULD PLAY OUT LEGALLY.
19:21:17 TYPICALLY, WE DO NOT HAVE A CONTINUATION OF A HEARING, A
19:21:21 BUDGET HEARING AT A DATE OTHER THAN HAS BEEN PUBLISHED OR
19:21:26 NOTICED AS A BUDGET HEARING.
19:21:27 THAT'S ONE THING THAT TROUBLES ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NEXT
19:21:29 THURSDAY'S DISCUSSIONS.
19:21:32 I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO GO BACK
19:21:34 AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT THEY THINK IS A VIABLE WAY TO
19:21:38 RESPOND TO IT.
19:21:40 WE COULD OBVIOUSLY PROVIDE INFORMATIONAL -- PROVIDE
19:21:43 INFORMATIONAL TYPE OF REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL BEFORE THE
19:21:46 16th ABOUT WHERE THEY BELIEVE IS THE CORRECT LEVEL TO
19:21:50 FUND THAT EFFORT AND WHAT THEY WOULD BE AGREEABLE TO AS
19:21:54 AN AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET IN OCTOBER, I THINK IS WHAT I
19:21:58 WOULD RECOMMEND.
19:22:00 >>DENNIS ROGERO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
19:22:06 THIS IS DENNIS.
19:22:08 JUST TO LATCH ON TO WHAT MR. MASSEY SAID, WHEN WE COME
19:22:12 BACK, REGARDLESS OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, WE WOULD BE
19:22:17 EFFECTING THIS CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR '21 AS OPPOSED TO
19:22:20 ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR '21 BUDGET.
19:22:23 IN OTHER WORDS, IT WON'T CHANGE THE ADOPTION OF THIS
19:22:25 BUDGET.
19:22:26 WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU AN AMENDMENT AFTER OCTOBER 1st TO
19:22:28 CHANGE THE BUDGET YOU'VE ALREADY ADOPTED.
19:22:34 >>MORRIS MASSEY: COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, I WON'T SPEAK FOR
19:22:36 YOU BUT -- APPROVED ON THE 16th KIND OF WHERE WE WERE
19:22:40 HEADED TO.
19:22:41 >>JOHN BENNETT: THIS IS JOHN BENNETT, THE ONLY OTHER
19:22:49 POINT I WANTED TO MAKE IS A LOT OF THE RESEARCH STILL
19:22:51 NEEDS TO GO FORWARD.
19:22:52 THE RFI NEEDS TO GO FORWARD.
19:22:54 BUT I'VE DONE A LOT OF SOCIAL OR PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS
19:22:59 WITH HIGH UTILIZERS IN MENTAL HEALTH.
19:23:03 WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN OUR RFPs, RFQs IN WORKING WITH
19:23:08 THE LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS OF JURISDICTION IS
19:23:11 THAT SOMETIMES THESE THINGS GET COFUNDED AS WELL, AND
19:23:14 THAT'S WHY I WAS HOPEFUL THAT THE RFI WOULD GET US TO THE
19:23:18 RIGHT DELIVERABLE AND THEN THE COMMITMENT OF BOTH, YOU
19:23:22 KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION WORKING WITH CITY COUNCIL TO GET
19:23:25 THE RIGHT LEVEL OF SERVICE, THE RIGHT FUNDING MIX AND,
19:23:28 MOST IMPORTANTLY, SATISFY THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS AS THE
19:23:33 MAYOR HAS SHARED HERSELF.
19:23:35 THAT WAS THE REASON THAT I WAS A LITTLE LEERY ABOUT A
19:23:38 DOLLAR AMOUNT AND MORE COMMITTED TO THE PROGRAMMATIC
19:23:41 ASPECT.
19:23:43 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: OKAY.
19:23:44 WELL, SO BASED UPON ALL THAT, MR. MIRANDA, I APPRECIATE
19:23:47 YOUR MEDIATION SKILLS AND I AGREE WITH WHAT I'M HEARING.
19:23:53 I'LL MODIFY MY MOTION TO BE JUST A SPECIAL CALL MEETING
19:23:58 ON THIS ISSUE.
19:24:01 OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T TAKE A BUDGETARY VOTE AT THAT
19:24:04 MEETING, BUT WE CAN LISTEN TO THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS
19:24:08 ISSUE, THAT WOULD BE NEXT THURSDAY.
19:24:12 WE WOULD REQUEST THE ADMINISTRATION TO REPORT BACK TO US
19:24:14 ABOUT A VIABLE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM AND A COST
19:24:18 ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND THE TIMING ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
19:24:22 AND THEN I'LL WITHHOLD ANY PERMANENT MOTION ON THE BUDGET
19:24:26 UNTIL THE FINAL BUDGET HEARING.
19:24:31 >> THAT'S FINE.
19:24:33 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MY MOTION --
19:24:34 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: IS THAT GUDES?
19:24:35 MR. SHELBY, GO AHEAD.
19:24:39 >>MARTIN SHELBY: QUESTIONS FOR MR. MASSEY JUST IN TERMS
19:24:41 OF PROCESS.
19:24:47 WITHOUT PREDICTING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE SPECIAL
19:24:50 CALLED MEETING, FIRST OF ALL, DOES THAT MEAN WE WOULD GO
19:24:54 FORWARD WITH THE FIRST READING TONIGHT --
19:24:57 >>MORRIS MASSEY: YES, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO FORWARD WITH
19:24:59 THE FIRST READING TONIGHT.
19:25:00 >>MARTIN SHELBY: OKAY.
19:25:02 THE QUESTION IS, IF CITY COUNCIL WANTED TO MAKE A CHANGE
19:25:04 BASED ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WEEK, CAN THEY DO THAT AT THE
19:25:07 SECOND READING AND THEN RECESS THAT BUT STILL ADOPT THE
19:25:11 BUDGET BEFORE OCTOBER 1st?
19:25:13 >>MORRIS MASSEY: I BELIEVE SO, YES, SIR.
19:25:16 IT'S AN AMENDMENT -- I BELIEVE HOW THIS WOULD PLAY OUT,
19:25:21 MR. SHELBY, IS THAT WE WOULD STILL ADOPT THE BUDGET AS
19:25:25 IT'S CURRENTLY BEEN PROVIDED TO CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER
19:25:29 THE 16th.
19:25:30 WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REALISTICALLY REALLY IS WHAT
19:25:34 TYPE OF BUDGET AMENDMENT WILL THE ADMINISTRATION COME
19:25:36 FORWARD WITH IN OCTOBER TO DEAL WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH
19:25:41 ASPECT THAT COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER HAS RAISED.
19:25:44 CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO KNOW THAT ANSWER BEFORE THEY
19:25:48 APPROVE THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED ON SEPTEMBER 16th.
19:25:54 >>MARTIN SHELBY: OKAY.
19:25:54 THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, OBVIOUSLY, IS PURSUANT TO THE
19:25:59 CHARTER, ONCE THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED, THE CITY COUNCIL
19:26:02 LOSES AUTHORITY TO BRING BACK BUDGET AMENDMENTS WITHOUT
19:26:07 THE MAYOR'S ACTION.
19:26:08 SO THAT'S WHY I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THEY
19:26:12 ARE INFORMED AS TO THE PROCESS BECAUSE THE WAY IT'S GOING
19:26:16 FORWARD NOW, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE
19:26:19 PROCESS, IS THERE REALLY IS NO BUDGET PASSES OVER THE
19:26:24 MAYOR'S OBJECTION AND PERHAPS EVEN A VETO.
19:26:27 THE QUESTION IS I GUESS COUNCIL HISTORICALLY HAS WORKED
19:26:30 WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO AVOID THAT PROCESS.
19:26:33 BUT WITH THIS OPEN-ENDED QUESTION, THE QUESTION IS, WHAT
19:26:36 IS COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO ACT BEFORE THE -- TO EFFECTUATE A
19:26:41 CHANGE TO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET BEFORE IT IS ADOPTED?
19:26:46 BEFORE THE LEGAL DEADLINE FOR ADOPTING THE BUDGET.
19:26:50 DO YOU UNDERSTAND MY QUESTION?
19:26:53 >>MORRIS MASSEY: I BELIEVE SO.
19:26:56 OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN DO IT -- I MEAN, HISTORICALLY, THE WAY
19:27:00 WE HAVE DEALT WITH THE BUDGET IS AS YOU HAVE DESCRIBED
19:27:04 IT, MR. SHELBY.
19:27:06 WE HAVE DONE IT IN A COOPERATIVE MANNER.
19:27:08 WHAT COUNCIL HAS TYPICALLY OR ALMOST HISTORICALLY DONE,
19:27:15 APPROVED THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR.
19:27:17 THERE HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION, LIKE LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE
19:27:21 TALKING ABOUT FUNDING FOR AL BARNES PARK, THAT WAS NOT
19:27:27 APPROVED AS PART OF THE BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED IN
19:27:29 SEPTEMBER.
19:27:29 IT CAME BACK AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
19:27:31 SO HOW THIS PROCESS HAS WORKED IS REALLY HOW I DESCRIBED
19:27:36 IS THAT BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE IS TAKEN ON THE BUDGET AS
19:27:38 PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR, THAT THE MOTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
19:27:42 BROUGHT UP BY CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THE CHANGES THEY WOULD
19:27:44 LIKE TO BE MADE TO THAT BUDGET, THE ADMINISTRATION
19:27:47 RESPONDS TO THOSE AND IF THEY RESPOND FAVORABLY AND THEY
19:27:51 MAKE A COMMITMENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A BUDGET AMENDMENT
19:27:54 IN OCTOBER, CITY COUNCIL HAS HISTORICALLY APPROVED THE
19:27:58 BUDGET, THERE'S NO LEGAL -- IF THE MAYOR WANTED TO SAY
19:28:01 NO, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
19:28:03 CITY COUNCIL CANNOT LEGALLY FORCE HER TO DO SO, BUT THERE
19:28:07 ARE -- CITY COUNCIL HAS A LOT OF OTHER TOOLS IN ITS
19:28:12 TOOLBOX.
19:28:13 HISTORICALLY, AND THIS IS HOW IT'S HAPPENED FOR YEARS AND
19:28:18 YEARS AND YEARS, THE MAYOR HAS ALWAYS COME FORWARD WITH
19:28:22 THE PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENT AT THE FIRST CITY COUNCIL
19:28:25 MEETING AFTER THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED IN OCTOBER.
19:28:28 PART OF THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT IN ORDER TO
19:28:30 EFFECTUATE THE CHANGES TO THE BUDGET BEFORE IT'S
19:28:33 APPROVED, IT WOULD FORCE, I THINK, STAFF TO REVISE AND
19:28:37 REPRINT THE ENTIRE BUDGET AND THAT IS A HUGE EXERCISE.
19:28:43 THAT'S REALLY THE REASONING BEHIND IT.
19:28:45 HOPEFULLY THAT HELPS.
19:28:46 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
19:28:50 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:28:51 I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
19:28:52 I ALWAYS SAID TRUST AND VERIFY.
19:28:54 AND I TRUST MR. BENNETT.
19:28:57 I TRUST MR. DINGFELDER.
19:28:59 I TRUST THIS COUNCIL AND I TRUST THE MAYOR.
19:29:02 HOW VERIFIABLE LAST YEAR THE SAME THING, REMEMBER, THERE
19:29:06 WAS AN ITEM OF $100,000 ON AN AMBULANCE.
19:29:09 REMEMBER THAT DEAL?
19:29:10 IT WENT.
19:29:17 IT WAS PASSED AND LATER ON A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO GIVE A
19:29:19 HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS LATER ON TO FUND THE AMBULANCE
19:29:22 THAT WAS GOING TO BE PUT IN NEW TAMPA, IF I RECALL.
19:29:25 MAYBE A COUPLE OF DOLLARS OFF.
19:29:27 THOSE ITEMS ARE WORKED ON.
19:29:31 NO MAYOR IS GOING TO TELL YOU YES ON SOMETHING IF THEY
19:29:35 HAVE ANY SENSE OF INTELLIGENCE AND EVERY TIME THEY WANT
19:29:38 TO CHANGE -- CHANGING MONEY FROM ONE TO ANOTHER, THE
19:29:41 COUNCIL IS GOING TO TELL THEM NO.
19:29:44 I MEAN, WE'RE GETTING TOO MANY ATTORNEYS AND TOO MANY
19:29:48 OPINIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO END UP LIKE WASHINGTON, D.C.
19:29:52 [ LAUGHTER ]
19:29:55 >> MR. CHAIR?
19:29:56 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
19:29:59 >>BILL CARLSON: THIS IS CARLSON.
19:30:00 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: OH, CARLSON.
19:30:02 GO AHEAD.
19:30:06 >>BILL CARLSON: THIS IS CARLSON.
19:30:10 I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT CHIEF BENNETT IS
19:30:13 WELL VERSED IN THESE AREAS, AND I'M CERTAIN THAT HE WILL
19:30:17 TAKE A HARD AUTHENTIC LOOK AT THIS ISSUE.
19:30:22 I PUT OUT A SECOND, BY THE WAY, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE
19:30:25 MOTION IS, BUT THE OTHER THING BESIDES -- MARTY MENTIONED
19:30:30 THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF WHO HAS POWER UNDER THE CHARTER, BUT
19:30:34 THERE HAS TO BE SOME LEVEL OF TRUST.
19:30:36 BUT THE OTHER FORCE OUT THERE WE SHOULD REMEMBER IS THERE
19:30:41 ARE QUITE A FEW MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE ASKED
19:30:43 FOR US TO RELOOK AT THE POLICE.
19:30:46 IN THE ABSENCE OF REDUCING ANY POLICE BUDGET, THIS IS THE
19:30:51 BIGGEST RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY MADE.
19:30:54 AND SO I THINK IF WE SOMEHOW ARE UNABLE TO PUT THIS IN
19:31:00 PLACE, WE WILL HEAR ABOUT IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN FROM THE
19:31:03 PUBLIC.
19:31:03 I THINK IT'S IN ALL OF OUR BEST INTERESTS AND COMMUNITY'S
19:31:06 INTEREST TO DO A REALLY GOOD JOB AT THIS AND WE COULD
19:31:10 POTENTIALLY SAVE LIVES AND POTENTIALLY SAVE MONEY AND
19:31:12 SAVE STRESS OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
19:31:14 THANK YOU.
19:31:15 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:31:16 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, THIS IS YOUR MOTION.
19:31:21 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: A LOT OF GOOD WISDOM OUT THERE.
19:31:23 I AGREE.
19:31:24 I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH JOHN BENNETT OFF AND ON FOR 20
19:31:30 YEARS, SO I'M GOOD WITH THAT.
19:31:32 AS MR. MIRANDA SAID, I TRUST HIM.
19:31:34 I THINK IF THERE WAS STRONG RESISTANCE, I MIGHT TRUST A
19:31:38 LITTLE LESS, BUT I'M NOT FEELING THAT RESISTANCE.
19:31:42 IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE THEY NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME.
19:31:44 LET'S SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY NEXT THURSDAY.
19:31:46 MY MOTION ON THIS ISSUE WILL BE TO SCHEDULE A SPECIAL
19:31:50 CALL MEETING IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CRA MEETING TO
19:31:57 DISCUSS THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THE MENTAL HEALTH
19:32:01 OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BUDGET.
19:32:04 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE NEED A SET TIME FOR THAT.
19:32:06 IT COULD BE 10, 11, WHATEVER YOU WISH.
19:32:08 YOU NEED A TIME FOR THE SPECIAL CALL.
19:32:10 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: LET'S SAY 10:00.
19:32:12 AND OBVIOUSLY WHENEVER CRA ENDS, WE'LL START THIS.
19:32:17 >> THAT WORKS.
19:32:17 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:32:18 DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO THE MOTION.
19:32:20 SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA I BELIEVE I HEARD FIRST.
19:32:25 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: GIVE IT TO CARLSON --
19:32:27 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: CARLSON WITH A SECOND.
19:32:29 ROLL-CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
19:32:30 >>THE CLERK: VIERA?
19:32:32 >>LUIS VIERA: YES.
19:32:33 >>ORLANDO GUDES: YES.
19:32:35 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YES.
19:32:37 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES.
19:32:39 >>BILL CARLSON: YES.
19:32:41 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES.
19:32:44 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES.
19:32:46 >>THE CLERK: THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
19:32:50 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, YOU HAD ONE
19:32:52 MORE MOTION TO MAKE?
19:32:54 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YES, SIR.
19:32:56 MY LAST MOTION IS AS RELATED TO THE POWERS THAT ARE
19:33:00 SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED TO CITY COUNCIL UNDER THE --
19:33:05 [ENCODER DISCONNECTED] -- COUNCIL CHAIR, AND THAT'S WHAT
19:33:37 THE CHARTER SAYS 2.04.
19:33:39 I SAY 125,000, THAT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN
19:33:43 IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
19:33:44 AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NECESSARILY NEED AN EMPLOYEE.
19:33:48 IT MIGHT BE A PART-TIME, HALFTIME CONTRACT POSITION.
19:33:52 I'M NOT REALLY SURE.
19:33:54 WE CAN WORK OUT THOSE DETAILS.
19:33:55 IN ADDITION, THE CHARTER SAYS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO
19:33:59 THIS BY ORDINANCE, BUT, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT DOING ANY
19:34:03 ORDINANCES TONIGHT.
19:34:04 SO AT A LATER DATE, AFTER WE GET IT BUDGETED, WE'LL COME
19:34:08 BACK AND ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY AND MR. SHELBY TO DRAFT
19:34:11 THE APPROPRIATE ORDINANCE.
19:34:14 >> SECOND.
19:34:15 >> SECOND.
19:34:15 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MY MOTION VERY SIMPLY TONIGHT WOULD BE
19:34:19 PURSUANT TO CITY CHARTER 2.04 THAT WE BUDGET $125,000 FOR
19:34:26 A CITY COUNCIL BUDGET ANALYST.
19:34:29 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
19:34:30 WE HAVE A SECOND -- MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER,
19:34:33 SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GUDES.
19:34:35 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MAY I SPEAK?
19:34:37 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, YES, SIR.
19:34:39 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:34:40 I UNDERSTAND WHAT MR. DINGFELDER IS TRYING TO DO.
19:34:42 I HAVE WORKED WITH BUDGET ANALYST AND WITHOUT A BUDGET
19:34:46 ANALYST.
19:34:46 AND I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION BECAUSE I THINK
19:34:48 THAT THIS COUNCIL IS CAPABLE OF DOING WHAT WE'VE DONE
19:34:52 EVERY YEAR AND THAT WE HAVE A FANTASTIC COMMITTEE HEADED
19:34:57 BY MR. GUDES' PERSON, HE APPOINTED THE CHAIRMAN, MR.
19:35:02 JOHNSON.
19:35:02 AND WE'RE DOING SUCH GREAT JOB.
19:35:05 I THINK THAT SPENDING $125,000 COULD HELP EVEN MORE ON
19:35:08 THE MENTAL SIDE THAN HIRING SOMEBODY HERE THAT COMES IN
19:35:13 ONCE A WEEK OR ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS, WHATEVER, IF BE
19:35:16 OUTSIDE AND NOT A COUNCIL EMPLOYEE, BE A CONTRACT
19:35:20 EMPLOYEE, I GUESS.
19:35:23 THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I'M DOING IT.
19:35:24 I THINK THERE ARE OTHER NEEDS IN THE CITY THAT ARE MUCH
19:35:26 MORE PRESSING THAN JUST A COUNCIL ANALYST.
19:35:29 THAT'S WHY I'M RELUCTANT NOT TO SPEND THAT AMOUNT OF
19:35:33 MONEY.
19:35:34 THERE'S SOME HELP THAT COULD BE HELD SOMEWHERE ELSE.
19:35:36 THANK YOU.
19:35:37 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN VIERA.
19:35:40 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: CAN I RESPOND REAL QUICK JUST SINCE
19:35:42 I'M THE MAKER --
19:35:44 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: LET'S GET VIERA TO SPEAK AND THEN
19:35:46 I'LL GO RIGHT TO YOU, SIR.
19:35:49 GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN VIERA.
19:35:50 >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
19:35:51 I'M NOT INCLINED TO SUPPORT THIS.
19:36:01 WE JUST FORWARDED A MENTAL HEALTH CHANGE IN THE CITY
19:36:04 WHICH WAS BECAUSE OF COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
19:36:09 I SALUTE HIS LEADERSHIP 110%.
19:36:12 I SAY THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS.
19:36:14 HOWEVER, HOWEVER, I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, THAT MY
19:36:18 HAT IS OFF TO COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON
19:36:21 THAT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. I JUST THINK THAT'S SO DARN
19:36:26 IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE A SECOND TIME.
19:36:29 WITH THIS, I RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT THIS IS A WANT,
19:36:32 NOT NECESSARILY A NEED AT THIS TIME.
19:36:35 WE HAVE THE CITIZENS' BUDGET ADVISORY BOARD.
19:36:39 WE HAVE VARIOUS TOOLS, AND ON TOP OF THAT, I'M ALSO GOING
19:36:42 TO BRING SOMETHING ELSE UP WHICH WE ARE WORKING WITH THE
19:36:45 CASTOR ADMINISTRATION, WHICH WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR
19:36:49 AND A HALF OR SO, THEY'VE BEEN EXTREMELY ACCESSIBLE, VERY
19:36:54 ACCESSIBLE.
19:36:54 JOHN BENNETT IS JUST ABOUT THE NICEST MAN IN THE CITY OF
19:36:57 TAMPA OR IN FLORIDA.
19:36:59 VERY, VERY ACCESSIBLE.
19:37:00 AGAIN, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.
19:37:05 THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN GO FORWARD, BUT IT'S A WANT,
19:37:10 NOT A NEED.
19:37:10 THAT'S WHERE I FALL ON IT.
19:37:12 AGAIN, I THANK COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
19:37:16 TONIGHT.
19:37:17 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
19:37:20 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MR. CHAIRMAN, COULD I RESPOND TO MR.
19:37:21 MIRANDA.
19:37:22 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES.
19:37:23 AND THEN CHIEF BENNETT IS HERE AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
19:37:26 GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
19:37:28 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: MR. MIRANDA AND MR. VIERA BOTH, IT'S
19:37:32 IRONIC THAT YOU BOTH MADE REFERENCE TO THE BUDGET
19:37:35 COMMITTEE BECAUSE THIS AFTERNOON I GOT A CALL FROM
19:37:40 SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, INCLUDING ITS
19:37:43 CHAIRMAN, AND THEY SPECIFICALLY ASKED AND SUGGESTED AND
19:37:48 RECOMMENDED THAT WE HIRE A FULL-TIME BUDGET ANALYST.
19:37:55 IT'S THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
19:37:56 AND, YOU KNOW WHAT?
19:37:58 IN REGARD TO THE MONEY, MR. VIERA, AND I RESPECT YOU
19:38:03 TREMENDOUSLY FOR THE AUTISM PART THAT'S BEING PROPOSED
19:38:11 FOR SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THAT SORT OF THING.
19:38:14 SOMETIMES IT TAKES MONEY TO MAKE MONEY.
19:38:18 AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES AN OUTSIDE SET OF EYES TO BE ABLE
19:38:22 TO POINT OUT ISSUES TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND SAY, HEY,
19:38:26 YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THIS THIS WAY FOREVER, BUT MAYBE YOU
19:38:29 CAN DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY.
19:38:31 THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE SEPARATION OF
19:38:33 POWERS ALSO IN THE CHARTER THAT SAYS CITY COUNCIL, YOU
19:38:36 ARE THE WATCHDOG.
19:38:37 YOU NEED TO HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER THE CITY ADMINISTRATION.
19:38:41 IT'S NOT REFLECTIVE ON HOW WE FEEL ABOUT JANE CASTOR OR
19:38:45 JOHN BENNETT OR ANY OF THEM.
19:38:46 IT'S JUST DOING OUR PUBLIC JOB, DOING OUR DUTY TO BE THE
19:38:51 SECOND BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT IN THE CITY AND THE VERY
19:38:54 IMPORTANT ONE.
19:38:55 SO THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM.
19:38:57 THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA.
19:38:59 MS. SAUL-SENA TALKED ABOUT IT YEARS AGO.
19:39:02 MS. CAPIN TALKED ABOUT IT YEARS AGO.
19:39:04 IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE MR. MIRANDA ACTUALLY HAD IT IN A
19:39:09 PRIOR ADMINISTRATION MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
19:39:12 IT'S NOT A NEW THING.
19:39:14 WE CAN WORK OUT THE DETAILS LATER.
19:39:16 BUT MY MOTION, AGAIN, IS JUST TO SET ASIDE $125,000 FOR
19:39:20 THAT POSITION.
19:39:21 THANK YOU.
19:39:23 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:39:24 CHIEF BENNETT.
19:39:25 >>JOHN BENNETT: THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.
19:39:28 I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT TO COUNCIL AS YOU'RE
19:39:32 TALKING ABOUT THIS AMONGST THE COUNCILMEN IS THAT THE
19:39:36 MAYOR HAD APPROVED AND THIS IS PART OF OUR ENTERPRISE
19:39:39 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, AGAIN, JUST A COMMENT, THE MAYOR
19:39:43 APPROVED US TO GO INTO THE OPEN GOV PLATFORM BOTH FOR OUR
19:39:47 PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT TOWARDS THE PUBLIC AND OUR
19:39:49 INTERNAL SERVICES, BUT ALSO IMPORTANTLY TO HAVE A LEVEL
19:39:53 OF SELF-SERVICE AND TRANSPARENCY WITH THE BUDGET.
19:39:57 IT'S A TOOL THAT I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH IN A BUDGET THAT
19:40:01 WAS DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE CITY OF TAMPA'S WHERE YOU HAVE
19:40:06 THE ABILITY TO DO YOUR OWN MANIPULATION OF THE BUDGET.
19:40:10 IT ALMOST MAKES YOU AN INSTANT ANALYST.
19:40:12 I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT IS IN PLAY.
19:40:15 AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WE SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING BY
19:40:20 THE EARLY SECOND QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
19:40:23 AGAIN, JUST A COMMENT.
19:40:25 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:40:26 ALL RIGHT.
19:40:27 IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION?
19:40:30 >> MR. CHAIR?
19:40:31 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WHO IS THAT?
19:40:33 CARLSON.
19:40:34 GO AHEAD.
19:40:34 >>BILL CARLSON: I WILL SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
19:40:41 NECESSARY TO HAVE AN EXTRA SET OF EYES AND A TRAINED SET
19:40:44 OF EYES TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.
19:40:45 I THOUGHT THAT THE ANALYSIS DONE BY THE VOLUNTEER
19:40:49 COMMITTEE WAS VERY THOROUGH THIS MORNING, BUT I THINK
19:40:52 ALSO THEY ARE NOT EXPERTS ON THIS AND NOT BEING EXPERTS,
19:40:56 THEY COME TO US WITH A PRESENTATION AND WE ALSO DON'T
19:40:59 HAVE VERY MUCH TIME TO RESPOND TO IT.
19:41:02 I TALKED TO SEVERAL TODAY, TOO, THEY WANT TO RESEARCH
19:41:07 THIS AND GET MORE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET GOING
19:41:10 FORWARD, BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE AN EXPERT LOOK
19:41:13 AT IT AND BE INVOLVED.
19:41:15 MAYBE IT WOULD COST A LOT LESS THAN 120,000.
19:41:18 I HOPE IT WOULD COST A LOT LESS.
19:41:21 BUT PROBABLY FOR 20 OR 30,000 WE CAN GET A PART-TIME
19:41:24 PERSON TO LOOK OVER IT.
19:41:26 WE NEED OUR OWN EXPERT, JUST LIKE LEGAL ADVICE, WE NEED
19:41:29 OUR OWN EXPERT TO LOOK AT IT.
19:41:31 I'LL MENTION A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF WHY ON THE CRA SIDE,
19:41:35 WE LEARNED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THAT THERE WERE RESERVE
19:41:39 ACCOUNTS BEING LABELED AS INTEREST.
19:41:42 AND IN LOOKING AT IT, ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD THINK
19:41:45 THAT WAS JUST INTEREST, BUT, IN FACT, IT WAS RESERVE
19:41:47 ACCOUNT THAT WAS BEING HELD AND WE DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT
19:41:50 IT UNTIL SOMEBODY WANTED TO USE THE MONEY.
19:41:54 AND I DON'T THINK THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THIS
19:41:56 ADMINISTRATION DID, BUT IT WAS PRETTY SHOCKING TO ME, AND
19:41:59 THEN WE KNOW THAT IN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION THAT SEVERAL
19:42:02 CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID THAT BEFORE JULIAN LANE PARK
19:42:10 WERE APPROVED, THEY WERE TOLD NOT BIG BALLOON PAYMENTS
19:42:13 DUE FROM 1998.
19:42:16 EVEN THOUGH WE TRUST MR. BENNETT IMPLICITLY, MR. ROGERO,
19:42:21 THE MAYOR, I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR US TO HAVE OUR OWN
19:42:24 PERSON SO THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S IN ALL THE NUMBERS.
19:42:28 THANK YOU.
19:42:31 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:42:32 COUNCILMAN GUDES.
19:42:36 >>ORLANDO GUDES: WE HAVE A CHARTER, AND THE CHARTER
19:42:39 ALLOWS FOR CERTAIN THINGS.
19:42:41 AND THIS POINT IT ALLOWS FOR AN ANALYST.
19:42:45 EVERYBODY RECEIVED CALLS FROM THE BUDGET COMMITTEE TODAY.
19:42:50 SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY MADE, MADE SENSE.
19:42:53 YOU KNOW, HAVING FOLKS ON THAT COMMITTEE WHO KNEW
19:42:58 BUSINESS, WHO KNEW FINANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND IT
19:43:02 HELPS OUT IN THE PROCESS.
19:43:03 SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING MR. DINGFELDER'S MOTION FOR THE
19:43:07 ANALYST.
19:43:08 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:43:09 ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE?
19:43:10 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER MADE THE MOTION.
19:43:13 WHO WAS THE SECOND?
19:43:14 >>LUIS VIERA: OH, AND ONE LAST THING, IF I MAY, MR.
19:43:17 CHAIR.
19:43:17 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, VIERA.
19:43:18 >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:43:20 THIS APPEARS LIKE I THINK IT'S GOING TO PASS.
19:43:24 MY BIG ISSUE IS THE STICKER SHOCK WITH THE NUMBER.
19:43:27 IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMES BACK AND IT'S A LOT LESS,
19:43:31 IT'S SOMETHING I COULD SUPPORT.
19:43:32 I JUST HAVE STICKER SHOCK OVER THE INITIAL PRICE.
19:43:35 BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO PASS.
19:43:37 AGAIN, LISTEN, IT'S FUNNY, WE ALL DO VOTES WHERE WE THINK
19:43:41 ONE DAY, HEY, I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THIS, THEN
19:43:44 YOU THINK LATER, BOY I WAS WRONG, MARIO NUÑEZ AND
19:43:48 EVERYBODY WAS ASKING FOR FUNDS FOR THEIR STATION,
19:43:51 PERSONALLY I VOTED NO.
19:43:52 GUESS WHAT, A YEAR LATER, I GO, YOU KNOW WHAT, PROBABLY
19:43:55 SHOULD HAVE VOTED FOR THAT.
19:43:56 MY POINT BEING, THAT WE MAKE DECISIONS WITH THE
19:44:00 INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AND ARE SENSITIVE AT THE TIME,
19:44:00 AND I HAVE STICKER SHOCK.
19:44:03 I'LL STAND BY THAT RIGHT NOW JUST ON -- IT LOOKS LIKE IT
19:44:07 WILL PASS, BUT JUST GIVING SOME STATEMENTS.
19:44:10 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
19:44:11 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:44:13 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER MADE THE MOTION.
19:44:14 WHO AGAIN WAS THE SECOND?
19:44:16 >>THE CLERK: GUDES.
19:44:16 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GUDES WAS THE SECOND.
19:44:18 LET'S HAVE A ROLL-CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
19:44:21 >>THE CLERK: VIERA?
19:44:22 >>LUIS VIERA: NO.
19:44:25 >>ORLANDO GUDES: YES.
19:44:26 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YES.
19:44:30 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NO.
19:44:34 >>BILL CARLSON: YES.
19:44:37 >>JOSEPH CITRO: NO.
19:44:40 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: NO.
19:44:42 >>THE CLERK: THE MOTION FAILED WITH VIERA, MANISCALCO,
19:44:46 CITRO AND MIRANDA VOTING NO.
19:44:48 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:44:50 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER MOTIONS AT
19:44:52 THIS TIME?
19:44:57 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
19:44:59 I'M VIEWING MY SCRIBBLE HERE.
19:45:01 NOTHING ELSE AT THIS TIME.
19:45:06 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
19:45:07 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:45:08 NEXT UP IS COUNCILMAN VIERA, DO YOU HAVE ANY MOTIONS AT
19:45:11 THIS TIME?
19:45:12 >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, SIR.
19:45:15 MOTIONS WITH REGARDS TO THE BUDGET OR MOTION IN GENERAL?
19:45:19 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOTION IN REGARD TO THE BUDGET.
19:45:21 WE'LL HAVE NEW BUSINESS AT THE END OF THE --
19:45:24 >>LUIS VIERA: OKAY.
19:45:25 I HAVE NONE.
19:45:26 I THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR HARD WORK TONIGHT, INCLUDING
19:45:28 THE ADMINISTRATION.
19:45:31 JUST GREAT JOB EVERYBODY.
19:45:33 IF I MAY SAY SO, BUT NOTHING AT ALL, SIR.
19:45:36 THANK YOU.
19:45:37 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:45:38 COUNCILMAN GUDES, DO YOU HAVE ANY MOTIONS AT THIS TIME
19:45:40 REGARDING --
19:45:43 >>ORLANDO GUDES: NO, SIR.
19:45:43 I WOULD LIKE TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT THIS COUNCIL
19:45:45 IS WORKING HARD.
19:45:47 WE APPRECIATE THE THINGS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
19:45:49 BROUGHT FORTH AND THE HARD WORK THEY CONTINUE TO DO WITH
19:45:51 US AND WORK WITH US AND COMPROMISE.
19:45:53 I THINK WE CAN GET PAST THIS AND HAVE A GOOD PRODUCT WITH
19:45:58 THE END RESULT.
19:45:59 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
19:45:59 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:46:00 COUNCILMAN CITRO?
19:46:01 >>JOSEPH CITRO: I HAVE ONE MOTION, AND IT'S GOING TO
19:46:04 INCLUDE TWO.
19:46:06 I WOULD LIKE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET TO REFLECT
19:46:12 FUNDING FOR THE TAMPA BAY COMMUNITY NETWORK AND THE TAMPA
19:46:16 BAY ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK IN THE AMOUNT OF
19:46:21 $108,000 EACH.
19:46:25 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
19:46:25 WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN CITRO.
19:46:27 DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO THE MOTION?
19:46:29 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: QUESTION ON THE MOTION?
19:46:31 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, SIR, COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER, GO
19:46:33 AHEAD.
19:46:36 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: AFTER MR. CITRO MADE THAT MOTION, I
19:46:40 WAS TRYING TO INQUIRE -- I WAS INQUIRING WITH THE TAMPA
19:46:44 BAY ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, WHICH WE HAD PUSHED
19:46:47 REALLY HARD TO FUND LAST YEAR, AND THEY ARE BEING FUNDED
19:46:52 ON PAGE 160, AND I THINK I CONFIRMED THIS WITH MR.
19:46:57 BENNETT AS WELL.
19:46:59 BUT LEGALLY, THEY ARE CALLED -- HOLD ON -- THEY ARE
19:47:03 CALLED THE EDUCATIONAL CABLE CONSORTIUM.
19:47:08 MR. CITRO, IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 160 OF THE BUDGET BOOK
19:47:12 UNDER NONDEPARTMENTAL DETAILED GENERAL FUND, THE
19:47:15 EDUCATIONAL CABLE CONSORTIUM IS ALREADY BEING FUNDED AS
19:47:19 PROPOSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, AND WE APPRECIATE IT, FOR
19:47:21 $108,629.
19:47:23 I ASSUME THAT'S THE TAMPA BAY ARTS AND EDUCATION GROUP
19:47:28 THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, JOE?
19:47:30 >>JOSEPH CITRO: CHIEF BENNETT, CAN YOU HELP ME OUT ON
19:47:33 THIS, PLEASE?
19:47:35 >>JOHN BENNETT: YES, SIR.
19:47:36 JOHN BENNETT, CHIEF OF STAFF.
19:47:38 COUNCILMAN CITRO, THAT IS CORRECT.
19:47:42 LAST YEAR, WE FUNDED 108,000 TO THE ONE NETWORK, AND WE
19:47:48 WERE REQUESTED BY THE OTHER NETWORK AS WELL.
19:47:52 JUST, AGAIN, MORE OF A COMMENT AHEAD OF THE MOTION IS
19:47:55 THAT WE HAVE ALREADY HAD OUTREACH WITH THE NETWORK, AND
19:47:59 WE EXPLAINED OUR SOCIAL ARTS AND ACTION FUND THAT THE
19:48:02 MAYOR PUT IN PLACE THIS YEAR, AND DESPITE THE COVID
19:48:07 CHALLENGES, THE MAYOR FULLY FUNDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
19:48:12 THOSE NONPROFITS TO APPLY FOR THE SIMILAR AMOUNT THAT
19:48:17 THEY HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
19:48:19 WHAT WE EXPLAINED TO THE NETWORK THAT WAS SEEKING
19:48:22 FUNDING, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT YOU'RE MOTIONING ABOUT, IS
19:48:25 THAT ONCE ALL OF THOSE APPLICATIONS COME IN, BASED ON OUR
19:48:31 INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY ABOUT RESOURCES, INPUTS, OUTPUTS
19:48:35 AND OUTCOMES, THEN WE WOULD LOOK TO ALLOCATE FUNDS
19:48:40 TOWARDS THOSE OTHER NONPROFITS.
19:48:43 AND WE PROBABLY HAVE A CUE OF MAYBE FIVE OR TEN OF THOSE
19:48:48 THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF WHAT WAS FUNDED LAST YEAR BASICALLY
19:48:51 SAYING IN LAY SPEAK, FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL.
19:48:54 SO THE PROCESS IS ALREADY IN PLAY, BUT I RESPECT THE
19:48:57 MOTION AND UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE HEADING WITH IT.
19:48:59 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
19:49:01 I'D LIKE TO KEEP MY MOTION AS IT IS.
19:49:04 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THE ONLY REQUEST I HAVE, MR. CITRO IS
19:49:07 TO BREAK IT IN TWO AND TELL US MORE ABOUT THE SECOND
19:49:11 GROUP.
19:49:15 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN CITRO.
19:49:16 >>JOSEPH CITRO: TELL YOU ABOUT THE SECOND GROUP.
19:49:19 I'M SORRY?
19:49:19 IS IT THE COMMUNITY NETWORK?
19:49:22 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: RIGHT.
19:49:23 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THE COMMUNITY NETWORK WAS SET UP WHEN
19:49:25 CABLE FIRST CAME INTO TOWN AND SUPPOSED TO GIVE THE
19:49:31 VIEWERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO CREATE THEIR OWN
19:49:35 SHOWS, PRODUCE THEIR OWN SHOWS AND BRING THEM TO THE
19:49:39 CABLE NETWORK.
19:49:40 THIS IS THE LAST BASTION, AGAIN, OF THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR
19:49:43 THE COMMUNITY TO DO TV SHOWS AND TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS.
19:49:55 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
19:49:56 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I KNOW THAT'S A FACT BECAUSE ONE OF
19:49:59 OUR ESTEEMED, ONE OF OUR GREAT PRODUCERS AND WORKERS HERE
19:50:02 IN THE CITY, FRANK, WHO WORKS HERE IN CABLE, COMES FROM
19:50:06 THAT.
19:50:07 HE USED TO WORK ON NORTH BOULEVARD 30 YEARS AGO.
19:50:11 I MET HIM WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER WORKING THERE.
19:50:16 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THAT'S TRUE, COUNCILMAN.
19:50:17 THIS GIVES PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE TRADE OF
19:50:22 PRODUCTION WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING TO GO THROUGH HIGHER
19:50:26 EDUCATION TO DO SO.
19:50:27 IT'S BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE LESS FORTUNATE, THE
19:50:30 PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO GO TO THESE TYPE OF COLLEGES
19:50:32 TO LEARN THE TRADE.
19:50:39 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
19:50:39 ANY OTHER -- COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER.
19:50:42 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: I WAS HOPING YOU MIGHT SPLIT THE
19:50:44 MOTION AND MAKE TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS SO WE CAN JUST VOTE
19:50:47 ON ONE AND VOTE ON THE OTHER IN CASE WE HAVE DIFFERENT
19:50:50 FEELINGS ABOUT THE TWO.
19:50:52 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN CITRO, ARE YOU WILLING TO
19:50:54 MAKE TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS?
19:50:55 >>JOSEPH CITRO: I PREFER TO KEEP IT.
19:50:57 AGAIN, I PREFER TO KEEP IT THIS WAY.
19:51:00 IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE ME TO SPLIT THEM, I WILL.
19:51:04 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: IT'S YOUR MOTION, SIR.
19:51:06 HOWEVER YOU WISH TO DO IT.
19:51:08 >>JOSEPH CITRO: I'D LIKE TO KEEP IT THE SAME.
19:51:10 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN GUDES.
19:51:13 >>ORLANDO GUDES: I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED HERE.
19:51:16 ON THE PAGE IT SAYS 108,000 ALREADY FOR THE FIRST FOR THE
19:51:20 ART NETWORK, ANOTHER NAME, CORRECT?
19:51:26 >> CORRECT.
19:51:28 >>ORLANDO GUDES: ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL 108 FOR THAT
19:51:31 PROGRAM?
19:51:35 >>JOSEPH CITRO: NO, I'M ASKING IT BE GUARANTEED, NOT TO
19:51:39 PUT IN THE QUEUE.
19:51:45 >>ORLANDO GUDES: THIS GOES TO CHIEF BENNETT.
19:51:47 CHIEF BENNETT, YOU SAID RIGHT NOW YOU DEVISED A PROGRAM
19:51:51 FOR ALL THE NONPROFITS, CORRECT?
19:51:54 >>JOHN BENNETT: YES, SIR.
19:51:54 THE INTENT GOING INTO THIS FISCAL PLANNING CYCLE WAS TO
19:51:59 CREATE A SOCIAL ARTS AND ACTION FUND, PER THE MAYOR, TO
19:52:02 HELP THE NONPROFITS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY FUNDED,
19:52:07 OPERATE MORE LIKE A GRANT PROGRAM, AND THEN WHEN COVID
19:52:13 STRUCK, THE MAYOR WAS SENSITIVE TO THOSE NONPROFITS THAT
19:52:17 WERE CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE, KNOWING THAT THERE WAS VERY
19:52:20 LITTLE RELIEF, KNOWING THAT IT SEEMED OBVIOUS COUNCIL
19:52:27 WOULD SUPPORT KEEPING THEM FUNDED AS LONG AS THEY APPLIED
19:52:30 IN THE MECHANISM THAT WE DEMONSTRATED DURING THE BUDGET
19:52:36 PRESENTATION.
19:52:37 THE MOTION BEING MADE ON THE OTHER NETWORK IS ALREADY
19:52:42 INSIDE THE CFO'S OFFICE UNDER THIS PROGRAM, AND WE'RE
19:52:47 WAITING FOR THE APPLICATIONS TO SETTLE TO SEE IF WE COULD
19:52:52 FACILITATE THE REQUESTS.
19:52:54 BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I RESPECT COUNCILMAN CITRO'S
19:52:58 MOTION.
19:53:02 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: I JUST HAVE ONE LAST COMMENT.
19:53:03 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, SIR.
19:53:06 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: OBVIOUSLY, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE
19:53:10 MOTION BECAUSE IT INCLUDES THE TAMPA BAY ARTS AND
19:53:16 ENTERTAINMENT EDUCATIONAL CABLE CONSORTIUM THAT'S ALREADY
19:53:19 IN THE BUDGET FOR 108, AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK
19:53:23 ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE NOT SUPPORTING THEM, SO I'LL
19:53:26 SUPPORT THE MOTION EVEN THOUGH IT'S A TWO-PART MOTION.
19:53:29 BUT I DO FIND IT SORT OF IRONIC THAT WE WOULD HAVE A
19:53:34 MOTION FOR HUNDRED-PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS TO SUPPORT
19:53:39 ANOTHER CABLE STATION, BUT WE'RE NOT WILLING TO SUPPORT A
19:53:44 BUDGET OFFICER WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAVE THE CITY
19:53:46 MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
19:53:49 I JUST FIND THAT A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING, BUT I WILL
19:53:51 SUPPORT THE MOTION.
19:53:52 THANK YOU.
19:53:54 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
19:54:01 >>BILL CARLSON: SORRY TO BRING THIS UP TO EVERYBODY, BUT
19:54:04 THE HISTORY ON THIS IS THAT BOTH OF THEM WERE FUNDED UP
19:54:08 UNTIL TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO, AND THEN THE LAST MAYOR HAD
19:54:11 A PERSONAL GRUDGE AGAINST ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED
19:54:14 WITH TBAE, AND AS A RESULT VINDICTIVELY CUT BOTH OF THEIR
19:54:19 BUDGETS.
19:54:20 LAST YEAR WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT TBAE CAME TO US AND THE
19:54:24 OTHER ONE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A CHANCE OF GETTING
19:54:27 MONEY, AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF NOT DOING VERY
19:54:30 WELL.
19:54:30 BOTH ARE VIABLE, VERY GOOD ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE
19:54:33 PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION, AND THEY ADD TO THE
19:54:37 ECONOMY.
19:54:37 AND AS IMPORTANT, IT'S CORRECTING A WRONG FROM THE PAST.
19:54:41 WHETHER WE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, GUARANTEE ANYTHING INTO THE
19:54:45 FUTURE, I THINK TO RIGHT A WRONG AND SUPPORT TWO
19:54:48 IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST APPROVE
19:54:50 IT FOR THIS YEAR.
19:54:51 THANK YOU.
19:54:52 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:54:53 COUNCILMAN CITRO, YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, IS
19:54:57 THERE A SECOND TO COUNCILMAN CITRO'S MOTION?
19:55:01 >>BILL CARLSON: SECOND, CARLSON.
19:55:02 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
19:55:04 LET'S HAVE A ROLL-CALL VOTE.
19:55:08 >>THE CLERK: VIERA?
19:55:09 >>LUIS VIERA: YES.
19:55:11 >>ORLANDO GUDES: YES.
19:55:15 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YES.
19:55:18 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES.
19:55:21 >>BILL CARLSON: YES.
19:55:23 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES.
19:55:26 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES.
19:55:29 >>THE CLERK: THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
19:55:33 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
19:55:34 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN CITRO, ANYTHING ELSE?
19:55:37 >>JOSEPH CITRO: NOT NOW.
19:55:38 THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
19:55:40 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:55:41 NEXT UP IS COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, DO YOU HAVE ANY MOTIONS AT
19:55:44 THIS TIME, SIR?
19:55:45 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES, SIR, IF I MAY READ THE ORDINANCE
19:55:47 FOR FIRST READING.
19:55:49 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
19:55:50 GO AHEAD.
19:55:50 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE AN ORDINANCE
19:55:53 ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER
19:55:56 1, 2020 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2021, AS PRESENTED BY
19:56:00 THE MAYOR, PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY AS PROVIDED BY LAW OF A
19:56:04 TAX ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF TAMPA AND
19:56:08 FIXING THE MILLAGE WITHIN THE CITY; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS
19:56:11 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SAID BUDGET;
19:56:14 AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK, AS
19:56:17 THE PROPER AUTHORITIES OF THE CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA, TO
19:56:21 CERTIFY THAT THE PROPERTY APPRAISER OF HILLSBOROUGH
19:56:23 COUNTY, FLORIDA, THE MILLAGE TO BE LEVIED FOR ALL
19:56:26 PURPOSES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 IN THE CITY OF TAMPA,
19:56:30 FLORIDA; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
19:56:32 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
19:56:36 >>LUIS VIERA: VIERA SECONDS.
19:56:38 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN
19:56:39 VIERA.
19:56:40 UNLESS THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION, ROLL-CALL VOTE.
19:56:45 WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
19:56:46 MORRIS MASSEY HAS SOMETHING.
19:56:51 >>MORRIS MASSEY: BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE,
19:56:54 WE SHOULD HAVE A MOTION ON THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE
19:56:58 FIRST.
19:56:58 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE DID IT.
19:56:59 WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA WITH A
19:57:04 SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA.
19:57:06 ROLL-CALL VOTE.
19:57:08 >>THE CLERK: VIERA?
19:57:10 >>LUIS VIERA: YES.
19:57:10 >>ORLANDO GUDES: YES.
19:57:12 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: YES.
19:57:15 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES.
19:57:18 >>BILL CARLSON: YES.
19:57:21 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES.
19:57:22 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES.
19:57:24 >>THE CLERK: THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
19:57:28 SECOND READING AND ADOPTION WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER
19:57:31 16th, 2020, AT 5:01 P.M.
19:57:34 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:57:35 MR. ROGERO, ANYTHING ELSE AT THIS TIME?
19:57:38 >>DENNIS ROGERO: JUST, SIR, IF YOU WILL MAKE A MOTION TO
19:57:41 ADJOURN.
19:57:42 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: BEFORE WE ADJOURN, WE HAVE TO RECEIVE
19:57:44 AND FILE, BUT IF THERE'S ANY INFORMATIONAL REPORTS AND
19:57:47 NEW BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER VIERA.
19:57:55 >>MARTIN SHELBY: MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR THE SAKE, WE'RE GOING
19:57:58 TO USE THE TERMINOLOGY THAT MR. ROGERO SUGGESTED.
19:58:01 RATHER THAN MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE
19:58:03 CAN ADJOURN THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT NOT ADJOURN THE
19:58:06 MEETING AND LEAVE IT OPEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF INFORMATION
19:58:08 REPORTS AND NEW BUSINESS.
19:58:09 IS THAT OKAY WITH THE CLERK?
19:58:13 >>THE CLERK: YES, SIR.
19:58:17 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO ADJOURN THE
19:58:20 PUBLIC MEETING BUT KEEP IT OPEN WHERE WE CAN STILL DO NEW
19:58:23 BUSINESS.
19:58:24 >>MARTIN SHELBY: WELL, LET ME ASK -- NORMALLY WE'D MAKE A
19:58:27 MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING --
19:58:34 >>MORRIS MASSEY: YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC
19:58:36 HEARING.
19:58:38 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: [AUDIO BREAKS UP]
19:58:42 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WE LOST YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
19:58:44 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, I SAID, IF WE
19:58:46 COULD GET A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
19:58:48 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: SO MOVED, MR. CHAIRMAN.
19:58:50 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN
19:58:51 MIRANDA.
19:58:52 DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
19:58:53 >>LUIS VIERA: VIERA.
19:58:55 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: VIERA WITH THE SECOND.
19:58:56 ROLL-CALL VOTE.
19:58:57 >>THE CLERK: VIERA?
19:58:59 >>LUIS VIERA: YES.
19:59:00 >>ORLANDO GUDES: YES.
19:59:03 >>THE CLERK: DINGFELDER?
19:59:13 DINGFELDER?
19:59:14 MANISCALCO.
19:59:15 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES.
19:59:16 >>BILL CARLSON: YES.
19:59:18 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES!
19:59:19 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES.
19:59:21 >>THE CLERK: THE MOTION CARRIED WITH DINGFELDER BEING
19:59:23 ABSENT AT VOTE.
19:59:25 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:59:26 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: DINGFELDER IS YES.
19:59:28 I JUST COULDN'T -- I HAD A TECHNICAL GLITCH AND I
19:59:31 COULDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.
19:59:31 >>THE CLERK: OKAY, CORRECTION.
19:59:33 MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
19:59:35 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
19:59:36 WE NOW GO TO INFORMATION REPORTS AND NEW BUSINESS BY
19:59:39 COUNCIL MEMBERS.
19:59:40 LET'S START WITH COUNCILMAN VIERA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING
19:59:43 AT THIS TIME, SIR?
19:59:43 >>LUIS VIERA: YES, SIR, JUST REALLY FAST.
19:59:45 I MOTION FOR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO LOOK INTO
19:59:48 CREATING A SCHOOL ZONE ON 40th STREET NORTH OF
19:59:52 HILLSBOROUGH IN FRONT OF PEPIN ACADEMIES.
19:59:55 I WAS APPROACHED BY SOME ADVOCATES FOR THOSE WITH
19:59:59 DISABILITIES AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF TAMPA POLICE
20:00:04 DEPARTMENT.
20:00:07 IT WAS OFFICER BUND.
20:00:13 LISA BUND, REGARDING THIS WITH SOME SAFETY CHALLENGES FOR
20:00:16 THE YOUNG STUDENTS OVER AT PEPIN ACADEMIES WHO, OF
20:00:19 COURSE, HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS THERE.
20:00:22 SO I WOULD REQUEST THAT THE ADMINISTRATION LOOK INTO
20:00:26 THAT, IF I MAY.
20:00:28 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: DO YOU HAVE A DATE OR ANYTHING, ANY
20:00:31 TIME FOR THE REPORT TO COME BACK?
20:00:32 >>LUIS VIERA: YEAH, LET'S DO THIS -- WHAT ARE WE IN,
20:00:36 SEPTEMBER?
20:00:36 HOW ABOUT --
20:00:41 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: OCTOBER 1st.
20:00:42 OCTOBER 15 OR NOVEMBER.
20:00:43 >>LUIS VIERA: FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER IS FINE.
20:00:48 [TALKING OVER ONE ANOTHER]
20:00:51 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NOVEMBER.
20:00:53 DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
20:00:54 SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
20:00:56 IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION?
20:00:58 >>ORLANDO GUDES: MR. CHAIRMAN?
20:01:00 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN GUDES.
20:01:01 GO AHEAD, SIR.
20:01:03 >>ORLANDO GUDES: MR. VIERA, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE
20:01:05 MOTION.
20:01:05 IT IS A HIGH, HIGH BUSY INTERSECTION.
20:01:08 THE CARS DO BACK UP ALONG 40th STREET WHEN THE SCHOOL
20:01:13 IS LETTING OUT AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT MOTION, SIR.
20:01:17 >>LUIS VIERA: IF I MAY, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GUDES AND
20:01:23 THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND ALSO WANTED TO SAY, IF I
20:01:26 MAY, JUST A SHOUT-OUT TO COUNCILMAN GUDES FOR GETTING I
20:01:30 THINK THIS BUDGET HAS $18 MILLION IN RECREATIONAL FUNDING
20:01:34 FOR EAST TAMPA, IF I RECALL THE NUMBERS.
20:01:38 JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCILMAN GUDES FOR BEING A
20:01:42 WRECKING BALL TO HIS DISTRICT.
20:01:46 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
20:01:47 GLAD YOU MENTIONED LISA BUND WITH TPD, SHE'S ONE OF THE
20:01:51 BEST THERE.
20:01:52 GLAD HER NAME CAME UP.
20:01:53 IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO COUNCILMAN VIERA'S MOTION, BY
20:01:56 UNANIMOUS CONSENT, IT IS PASSED.
20:01:58 SO FOR NOVEMBER 5th.
20:02:00 ANYTHING ELSE, COUNCILMAN VIERA?
20:02:02 >>LUIS VIERA: NOTHING, SIR.
20:02:03 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCILMAN GUDES, DO YOU HAVE
20:02:05 ANYTHING AT THIS TIME?
20:02:06 >>ORLANDO GUDES: NOTHING.
20:02:08 THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS EVENING.
20:02:09 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
20:02:10 COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER?
20:02:11 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND THANK YOU
20:02:13 TO COUNCIL FOR LISTENING TO MY MOTIONS.
20:02:20 TWO THINGS THAT MR. SHELBY HAS REMINDED ME.
20:02:23 I REQUESTED THE CLERK ACCEPT ON THE RECORD MY TWO
20:02:28 CONFLICT MEMOS THAT I FILED.
20:02:31 ONE IS REZ 20-50 AND THE OTHER ONE IS REZ 20-61.
20:02:41 THAT'S MY MOTION, THAT THEY BE RECEIVED AND FILED.
20:02:44 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN
20:02:45 DINGFELDER.
20:02:46 DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
20:02:47 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: SECOND.
20:02:48 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
20:02:50 ANY OBJECTION?
20:02:52 HEARING NONE, THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
20:02:55 ANYTHING ELSE, COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER?
20:02:58 >>JOHN DINGFELDER: THAT'S ALL.
20:02:59 THANK YOU.
20:02:59 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
20:03:00 COUNCILMAN CARLSON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING AT THIS TIME?
20:03:02 >>BILL CARLSON: YES, SIR.
20:03:04 ON AUGUST 27th, ITEM NUMBER 17 SU 2-20-02, I ABSTAINED
20:03:12 AND I FILED MY FORM WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE TODAY AND
20:03:18 WOULD LIKE TO JUST MAKE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE.
20:03:21 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: SECOND.
20:03:22 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CARLSON WITH A
20:03:24 SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
20:03:26 ANY OBJECTION?
20:03:28 HEARING NONE, BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT, IT PASSES.
20:03:31 ANYTHING ELSE COUNCILMAN CARLSON?
20:03:33 >>BILL CARLSON: THAT'S IT.
20:03:34 THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR TONIGHT.
20:03:35 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
20:03:36 COUNCILMAN CITRO, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
20:03:37 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES, MR. CHAIR.
20:03:39 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
20:03:40 I AM HAPPY AND PLEASED THAT THIS COUNCIL COULD HAVE GREAT
20:03:44 DIALOGUE THIS EVENING.
20:03:46 AND IT HAS BEEN A GREAT MEETING.
20:03:48 THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR. CHAIR.
20:03:50 NOTHING TONIGHT.
20:03:51 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
20:03:53 COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
20:03:54 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: NO, SIR, I HAVE NOTHING DIRECTLY TO
20:03:56 SAY.
20:03:58 JUST I WANT TO THANK EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE
20:04:00 DILIGENT WORK, NOT TODAY BUT EVERY DAY THAT THEY'VE BEEN
20:04:04 ELECTED AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WORKING WITH YOU.
20:04:06 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
20:04:06 CAN I GET A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE?
20:04:08 >> SO MOVED, MR. CHAIRMAN.
20:04:10 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE FROM
20:04:11 COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
20:04:12 DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
20:04:13 >>JOSEPH CITRO: SECOND, CITRO.
20:04:15 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN CITRO.
20:04:17 ANY OBJECTION?
20:04:17 HEARING NONE, MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
20:04:20 WE ARE ADJOURNED.
20:04:21 THANK YOU.
20:04:21 HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
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