TAMPA CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CALLED WORKSHOP
MONDAY, MAY 23, 2022
9:00 A.M.
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09:01:43
09:02:03 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MY NAME IS JOSEPH CITRO, CHAIR OF TAMPA
09:02:06 CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS SPECIAL CALLED WORKSHOP HELD TODAY,
09:02:09 MAY 23rd, 2022.
09:02:16 CHIEF BENNETT, WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US THE INVOCATION
09:02:20 TODAY?
09:02:25 >>JOHN BENNETT: GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:02:29 GOOD MORNING, PUBLIC.
09:02:34 TAKE A MOMENT AND PLACE OURSELVES IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD THE
09:02:39 LORD LEFT US WITH TWO COMMANDS IN A SINGLE PRAYER, SIMPLE
09:02:43 BUT OF COURSE NEVER EASY.
09:02:45 LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART AND OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES.
09:02:48 SOMETIMES WE ASK WHO IS OUR NEIGHBOR?
09:02:50 I THINK MOTHER TERESA WOULD TELL US THE HUNGRY, THE
09:02:54 HOMELESS, THE SICK, THE NAKED, THE IMPRISONED, AND WITH
09:02:58 THAT, LET'S JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY A PRAYER OF SILENCE
09:03:01 TO OURSELVES, THE SINGLE PRAYER THAT WE WERE TAUGHT WAS OUR
09:03:04 FATHER, BUT FEEL FREE TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE OR SAY
09:03:08 YOUR OWN PRAYER.
09:03:11 (MOMENT OF SILENCE).
09:03:13 IN THE LORD'S NAME WE PRAY.
09:03:17 AMEN.
09:03:18 [ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ]
09:03:21 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:03:33 PLEASE BE SEATED.
09:03:36 ROLL CALL.
09:03:36 >>BILL CARLSON: HERE.
09:03:40 >>LUIS VIERA: HERE.
09:03:41 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE.
09:03:42 >>LYNN HURTAK: HERE.
09:03:43 >>ORLANDO GUDES: HERE.
09:03:46 >>JOSEPH CITRO: HERE.
09:03:48 >>THE CLERK: WE HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM.
09:03:50 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MR. MASSEY.
09:03:55 >>MORRIS MASSEY: YES, SIR.
09:03:57 THIS MORNING, CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CALLED WORKSHOP TO
09:04:02 DISCUSS POSSIBLE AMENDMENT TO THE CITY CHARTER IS BEING HELD
09:04:06 AT 9 A.M. IN OLD CITY HALL, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 315 EAST
09:04:10 KENNEDY BOULEVARD.
09:04:11 THE PUBLIC AND CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF TAMPA ARE ABLE TO
09:04:14 WATCH, LISTEN, VIEW THIS MEETING ON CABLE TV SPECTRUM
09:04:18 CHANNEL 640, FRONTIER 15 AND BUY A THE INTERNET,
09:04:22 WWW.TAMPA.GOV/LIVESTREAM.
09:04:29 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN ATTEND IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY BY
09:04:31 PARTICIPATING IN THIS MEETING BY USING WHAT IS REFERRED BY
09:04:33 THE STATE OF FLORIDA STATUTES AND RULES AS COMMUNICATIONS
09:04:36 MEDIA TECHNOLOGY OR CMT.
09:04:39 THERE ARE PREREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS DURING PUBLIC
09:04:42 COMMENT, THE USE OF CMT, WHICH WERE PART OF THE NOTICE OF
09:04:45 THIS MEETING, AND -- AND ALSO PART OF THE AGENDA.
09:04:51 IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO WAIVE OUR STANDARD RULES TO USE OF
09:04:58 CMT.
09:04:59 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCIL MADE BY MANISCALCO, SECOND BY
09:05:02 GUDES.
09:05:02 ALL IN FAVOR?
09:05:03 >>MORRIS MASSEY: AND I THINK ALL OF COUNCIL IS THE
09:05:08 RECIPIENTS OF A MEMO LAST NIGHT FROM MR. SHELBY, UNABLE TO
09:05:12 BE HERE THIS MORNING.
09:05:14 UNFORTUNATELY THE FACILITATOR FOR THIS MEETING HAS BEEN
09:05:15 EXPOSED TO COVID AND IS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND, SO IT'S BEEN
09:05:21 RECOMMENDED THAT THE WORKSHOP BE OPENED, THAT THE SITUATION
09:05:24 BE EXPLAINED TO THE PUBLIC, AND THAT PUBLIC COMMENT BE
09:05:26 ALLOWED, AND DIRECTED BY MR. SHELBY AND I TO TRY TO OBTAIN A
09:05:35 DATE FOR A MONDAY TO BE SCHEDULED FOR THE WORKSHOP IN THE
09:05:38 VERY NEAR FUTURE.
09:05:39 I ALREADY ASKED HER TO COME UP WITH A DATE TO HAVE THAT FOR
09:05:43 YOU ALL ON THURSDAY TO CONSIDER.
09:05:44 SO THAT'S WHERE WE STAND NOW.
09:05:49 I THINK A MOTION TO PROCEED IN THAT MANNER WOULD BE HELPFUL.
09:05:53 >>JOSEPH CITRO: MOTION BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, SECOND BY
09:05:55 COUNCILMAN GUDES.
09:05:56 LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
09:05:57 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES.
09:06:04 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YES.
09:06:05 >>LYNN HURTAK: YES.
09:06:06 >>BILL CARLSON: YES.
09:06:08 >>ORLANDO GUDES: YES.
09:06:14 >>LUIS VIERA: YES.
09:06:15 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES.
09:06:15 >>THE CLERK: MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
09:06:19 >>BILL CARLSON: JUST WHEN WE ARE GETTING READY TO SCHEDULE
09:06:21 IT, WE ARE GETTING READY GO TO COUNCIL HOLIDAYS FOR THE
09:06:22 SUMMER AND OTHER THINGS ARE HAPPENING, WE NEED TO SCHEDULE
09:06:25 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN MAKE IT ON THE BALLOT FOR
09:06:28 NOVEMBER.
09:06:28 >>MORRIS MASSEY: I ASKED HER TO PROVIDE DATES AS QUICKLY AS
09:06:31 SHE CAN AND GET THOSE TO ME, SO I WILL HAVE THOSE FOR
09:06:34 THURSDAY FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER.
09:06:36 >>BILL CARLSON: JUST IN ADDITION, I THINK IF ANYTHING LIKE
09:06:39 THAT HAPPENS, THE NEXT TIME WE SCHEDULE, WE ARE GOING TO RUN
09:06:41 OUT OF TIME SO WE SHOULD HAVE A BACKUP PLAN ON HOW TO RUN
09:06:44 THE NEXT TIME SO THE PUBLIC CAN BE PREPARED, AND WE CAN BE
09:06:46 PREPARED. THANK YOU.
09:06:47 >>JOSEPH CITRO: AT THIS TIME, WE WILL BE OPENING FOR PUBLIC
09:06:52 COMMENT.
09:06:56 IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE LINE UP
09:06:59 ON MY LEFT, YOUR RIGHT, AND IT'S THE SAME WITH PUBLIC
09:07:03 COMMENT, YOU WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES.
09:07:08 >> BRANDEN BARCLAY, TAMPA PBA VICE PRESIDENT, HERE TODAY
09:07:18 ABOUT THE CRB.
09:07:19 OUR CONCERNS ARE WITH THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL THAT WE WILL
09:07:22 BE OPENING THE DOOR TO GO BACK ON TWO YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS
09:07:25 THAT WE BELIEVE WE SAT DOWN IN GOOD FAITH.
09:07:28 THAT'S ALL I WILL SAY TODAY.
09:07:30 THANK YOU.
09:07:30 >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEN, COUNCILWOMAN.
09:07:41 PRETTY COOL.
09:07:42 MY NAME IS -- LAST MONDAY PRESIDENT BIDEN, SECRETARY,
09:07:51 PROVIDED THE CITY OF TAMPA WITH 10,088,000 FOR THE HOUSING
09:07:58 CRISIS.
09:07:58 SO ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR IT?
09:08:00 IT'S RIGHT THERE.
09:08:03 I'M SUGGESTING THAT COUNCIL ESTABLISH AN ADVOCATE THAT WILL
09:08:09 REPRESENT INDIGENT TENANT BY PROVIDING THEM WITH LEGAL
09:08:16 COUNCIL IN CIVIL LITIGATION AND A REGISTRY OF LANDLORDS IN
09:08:19 THE CITY AND MAKE SURE THE TENANTS BILL OF RIGHTS MASSED NOT
09:08:24 LONG AGO IS UPHELD.
09:08:26 MIAMI-DADE DID THIS SO IT'S POSSIBLE.
09:08:28 I DON'T I THIS YOU WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY TALLAHASSEE.
09:08:31 ALSO, THE 60-DAY NOTICE ON RAISING THE RENT RATES ACTUALLY
09:08:37 CLASHES WITH FLORIDA STATUTE 83-575, AND UNSCRUPULOUS
09:08:42 LANDLORDS THAT'S MOTIVATED BY BAD THINGS COULD PUT IN A
09:08:47 PROVISION WITH TENANTS ARE OBLIGATED TO GIVE 60 DAYS NOTICE
09:08:51 ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL REVIEW THE LEASE AND ON THE SAME
09:08:54 DAY GIVE THE NOTICE THAT THEY WILL BE RAISING THE RENT RATE
09:08:57 BEFORE 5%.
09:08:58 SO YOU ONLY HAVE ONE DAY TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE
09:09:01 GOING TO RENEW THE CONTRACT, GIVEN THE RENT RATE, THAT'S NOT
09:09:06 RIGHT.
09:09:07 SO I SUGGEST THAT COUNCIL EXTEND THAT 60-DAY NOTICE FROM THE
09:09:10 LANDLORDS TO THE TENANT TO 120 DAYS.
09:09:13 ALSO, FOR THIS OFFICE OF TENANT ADVOCATE, I WOULD HIGHLY
09:09:17 SUGGEST THAT IT'S APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL AND NOT THE
09:09:20 MAYOR'S OFFICE.
09:09:21 THANK YOU.
09:09:22 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:09:27 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:09:34 ATTORNEY WITH THE SHUMAKER FIRM, 3221 WEST KENNEDY STREET.
09:09:38 I APPRECIATE YOU ALL GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE
09:09:41 TODAY.
09:09:41 IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL.
09:09:42 THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CARLSON, FOR BRINGING THIS FORUM.
09:09:46 AS ONE OF ONLY -- I THINK I AM ONLY ONE OF THREE FORMER
09:09:52 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSIONERS, I FELT COMPELLED TO COME AND
09:10:02 OBSERVE AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
09:10:05 THREE POINTS THAT I WANTED TO ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO KEEP
09:10:08 INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE GO THROUGH THE WORKSHOP, I
09:10:11 UNDERSTAND IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT DATE HERE, FIRST, THE
09:10:14 CHARTER IS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CITY OF TAMPA.
09:10:18 CONSTITUTIONS ARE INTENDED TO SET POLICY, DEVELOP PROCESS,
09:10:22 AND CODIFY SET IN STONE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPALS THAT WE RUN
09:10:29 THE CITY ON, NOT INTENDED TO BE VEHICLES FOR LEGISLATION.
09:10:33 WE HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN AT THE STATE LEVEL WHERE THINGS CAN
09:10:36 GET INTO OUR CITY CONSTITUTION WHICH ARE BETTER SUITED FOR
09:10:39 THE STATE LEGISLATURE SO THE FIRST THING I WOULD ASK YOU ALL
09:10:42 TO KEEP IN MIND IS TO PRESERVE THE SANCTITY OF OUR CHARTER
09:10:47 OF THE CITY, IN THE SAME WAY WE PRESERVE THE SANCTITY OF THE
09:10:51 CONSTITUTION AND NOT USE IT AS A VEHICLE FOR LEGISLATION.
09:10:54 YOU ALL HAVE POWERS TO PASS ORDINANCES.
09:10:56 I AM NOT HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON ANY SPECIFIC ISSUE, AND I
09:11:01 COMMEND YOU USE THOSE POWERS, SO BE IT.
09:11:05 SECOND, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALL ARE BLESSED, THE SEVEN OF
09:11:11 YOU, ARE OUR BUFFER BETWEEN POLITICS AND GOOD POLICY.
09:11:14 THERE ARE A LOT OF SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT WILL COME TO YOU.
09:11:19 MAYBE SPEAK THIS MORNING AND ASK YOU TO PUT INTO OUR CHARTER
09:11:23 THINGS THAT ADVANTAGE ONE GROUP OVER ANOTHER, OR ARE DRIVEN
09:11:27 BY POLITICAL AGENDAS.
09:11:30 YOU ALL ARE THE FOLKS THAT WE LOOK TO TO KEEP THAT IN FROM
09:11:34 HAPPENING, SO I ASK YOU ALL TO SERVE IN THAT FUNCTION, AND
09:11:37 BE PROTECTORS OF OUR CHARTER.
09:11:40 THIRD, AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT, I DON'T MEAN THIS
09:11:43 DISRESPECTFULLY, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE PHILOSOPHY OF
09:11:47 CREATING THE CHARTER RUE HE VIEW COMMISSION AT THE TIME WAS
09:11:49 THAT IT WAS A CITIZENS REVIEW, IT WAS ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO
09:11:55 ARE NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE CITY OF TAMPA, ALL OF US
09:11:58 WHO WERE HERE AT THE TIME ARE NOT EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY.
09:12:04 SORRY, MR. CHAIRMAN, MAY I HAVE A FEW MORE SECONDS HERE?
09:12:07 THANK YOU.
09:12:07 SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PRESERVE THE SANCTITY OF
09:12:12 THAT, OF WHAT WAS PASSED BEFORE, IN MY RECOLLECTION ALMOST A
09:12:18 YEAR-LONG PROCESS, MANY, MANY HOURS OF DISCUSSION, A GROUP
09:12:21 OF CITIZENS WHO GOT TOGETHER.
09:12:22 SO IN CLOSING, I WOULD SAY WHEN YOU CONSIDER DIFFERENT
09:12:26 AMENDMENTS, ASK YOURSELVES THESE QUESTIONS.
09:12:28 IS IT APPROPRIATE TO PUT THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION IN OUR
09:12:32 CONSTITUTION AND OUR CHARTER, OR IS IT BETTER THROUGH CITY
09:12:37 COUNCIL AS POLICY OF THE CITY?
09:12:39 SECOND, DOES IT HAVE TO HAPPEN NOW?
09:12:42 WE CREATED A PROCESS FOR REVIEW BY CITIZENS OVER EVERY TEN
09:12:46 YEARS.
09:12:47 I BELIEVE THAT PROCESS IS SOUND, IT WAS WELL DEBATED.
09:12:50 SO ASK YOURSELF ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE DOES IT MEET THE --
09:12:54 [BELL SOUNDS]
09:12:55 THIRD, ASK YOURSELF IS IT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED? IF IT IS,
09:12:58 PLEASE BE THE BUFFER TO THE CITIZENS AND NOT INCLUDE IT IN
09:13:01 OUR CHARTER.
09:13:02 IN CLOSING I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.
09:13:05 I KNOW THAT THESE TASKS ARE, HAVING DONE IT A LITTLE BIT
09:13:09 MYSELF, I KNOW WHAT YOU DOUGH EVERY DAY IS THANKFUL AND YOU
09:13:13 ALL PUT A LOT OF HARD WORK INTO IT, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
09:13:16 YOU.
09:13:16 THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR YOUR TIME.
09:13:18 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:13:19 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:13:28 BUENOS DIAS.
09:13:29 MY NAME IS DAVID SINCLAIR, 8434 PEBBLE CIRCLE, TAMPA,
09:13:33 FLORIDA.
09:13:34 I AM HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE NEED TO ESTABLISH
09:13:37 AN OFFICE OF TENANT ADVOCACY HERE WITHIN THE CITY OF TAMPA.
09:13:43 SUCH AN OFFICE WOULD REPRESENT INDIGENT TENANTS THAT ARE
09:13:50 WRONGFULLY EVICTED BY PROVIDING THEM WITH LEGAL COUNSEL IN
09:13:55 CIVIL LITIGATION, THAT QUO OVERSEE A REGISTRY OF LANDLORDS
09:13:58 IN THE CITY, AND THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT TENANTS BILL OF
09:14:02 RIGHTS IS UPHELD.
09:14:04 THIS IS SIGNIFICANT WITHIN OUR CITY.
09:14:07 THERE ARE PERSONS WHO NEED YOUR SUPPORT, AND I BELIEVE THAT
09:14:10 THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY MORALLY SIGNIFICANT, AND WE
09:14:15 CALL UPON YOU TO UPHOLD THIS OPPORTUNITY.
09:14:17 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:14:18 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:14:20 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:14:28 JAMES MICHAEL SHAW, JR.
09:14:32 THERE ARE -- I AM USING NUMBERS FROM JUNE 2020.
09:14:36 THERE WERE 934 POLICE OFFICERS IN TAMPA.
09:14:38 ONLY 158 OF THEM LIVED IN THE CITY.
09:14:41 SO THAT'S 17%.
09:14:43 THE OTHER 83% LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
09:14:46 NOW, WHAT DO THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CITY DO FOR THE PEOPLE
09:14:50 INSIDE THE CITY?
09:14:51 THEY ENACTED A POLICY WHERE THEY ASK LANDLORDS TO EVICT 1100
09:14:55 FAMILIES ROUGHLY A THOUSAND OF THEM WERE BLACK FAMILIES.
09:14:59 BASED ON ONE FAMILY MEMBER'S ALLEGED CRIMES, LIKE CUP
09:15:06 HOLDER, A FAMILY GETS CONVICTED, THERE WERE VICTIMS OF
09:15:10 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT ENDED UP LOSING THEIR HOMES BECAUSE
09:15:12 THE PERSON THEY LIVED WITH COMMITTED A CRIME AGAINST THEM.
09:15:15 THAT WAS A REGIME THAT WAS ENACTED BY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LIVE
09:15:18 IN THE CITY OF TAMPA ON THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF
09:15:20 TAMPA.
09:15:21 NOW HOW WERE THEY ABLE TO DO THAT?
09:15:23 BECAUSE NOBODY WAS WATCHING.
09:15:24 WE DIDN'T HAVE AN OVERSIGHT PANEL, STAFF OF TAMPA CITIZENS
09:15:29 OVERSEEING WHAT THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CITY THOUGHT WAS BEST
09:15:32 FOR US BUT NOT FOR THEMSELVES.
09:15:34 SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT SO THAT THE
09:15:37 PEOPLE WHO LIVE INSIDE THE CITY CAN NOTICE WHAT THESE PEOPLE
09:15:41 WHO LIVE OUTSIDE CITY ARE DOING TO US AND PIE ATTENTION TO
09:15:45 IT.
09:15:45 THIS GENTLEMAN TALKED ABOUT PAST NEGOTIATIONS.
09:15:49 ON THE ELMO HERE.
09:15:50 THIS IS AN E-MAIL FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA TO A STENT WHERE HE
09:15:53 STATES THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SWITCH TO THE ELMO.
09:15:57 >>JOSEPH CITRO: CAN WE HAVE THE ELMO ON, PLEASE?
09:15:59 THANK YOU.
09:15:59 >> THANK YOU.
09:16:07 THIS IS AN E-MAIL FROM COUNCILMAN VIERA WHERE HE TELLS THE
09:16:10 CONSTITUENT, I STRONGLY SUPPORT HAVING A MAJORITY OF THE
09:16:13 PICKS ON THE BOARD INSTEAD OF THE MAYOR, HE ALSO SUPPORTS AN
09:16:16 INDEPENDENTS COUNSEL.
09:16:17 BUT WHEN COMES TO SUBPOENA POWER THE CITY ATTORNEY IS
09:16:20 TELLING US THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT.
09:16:22 THE E-MAIL FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON WHERE HE TELLS A
09:16:26 CONSTITUENT, THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS THE SUBPOENA POWER WOULD
09:16:29 HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS IN A CHARTER CHANGE.
09:16:32 AND WHEN WE REVIEW THE CHARTER CHANGES IN A FEW MONTHS I
09:16:35 WILL PROBABLY PROPOSE ONE.
09:16:37 ANOTHER E-MAIL FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON MENTIONS THAT
09:16:40 INDEPENDENT POWER AND SUBPOENA POWER HAS TO BE ADDED BY A
09:16:44 CHARTER AMENDMENT.
09:16:45 SO THIS IS NOT GOING BACK ON PREVIOUS NEGOTIATIONS.
09:16:48 THIS IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THEM.
09:16:50 [BELL SOUNDS]
09:16:51 THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY FOR NOW.
09:16:53 THANK YOU.
09:16:53 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:16:54 >> TIFFANY HILTON. I'M A LIFELONG TAMPA RESIDENT AND I'M A
09:17:07 RECENT GRADUATE OF STETSON LAW.
09:17:09 IN THE PAST FEW YEARS YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHY WE NEED A
09:17:11 STRONG CRB BUT AS YOU KNOW THE ISSUES ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT
09:17:14 TODAY.
09:17:22 YOU DON'T HAVE TO PERSONALLY ENDORSE THE CRB HAVING POWER OR
09:17:27 THE CRB HAVING ITS OWN ATTORNEY. WHAT I'M HERE ASKING YOU
09:17:28 TODAY TO DO IS ENDORSE DEMOCRACY.
09:17:29 PLEASE PUT THESE PROVISIONS ON THE BALLOT AND LET THE PEOPLE
09:17:32 DECIDE.
09:17:34 THE SURVEY CONCLUDED THAT 82% OF TAMPA RESIDENTS WANT THIS
09:17:39 PUT TO A VOTE.
09:17:42 THESE ARE YOUR VOTERS.
09:17:44 82% OF YOUR VOTERS, CITY OF TAMPA RESIDENTS, WANT THIS ON
09:17:49 THE BALLOT.
09:17:51 I KNOW TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PBA DON'T WANT THIS.
09:17:55 BUT AS YOU JUST HEARD MR. SHAW SAY, ONLY 17% OF TPD OFFICERS
09:18:03 LIVE WITHIN CITY LIMITS.
09:18:04 THEY ARE NOT YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
09:18:09 THESE OUTSIDERS COME INTO TAMPA AND THEY VIOLATE THE RIGHTS
09:18:13 OF OUR CITIZENS.
09:18:16 WE ARE YOUR VOTERS, AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO LET US DECIDE
09:18:21 HOW WE HOLD OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.
09:18:26 I WOULD LOVE FOR EACH OF YOU TO STAND UP TODAY AND
09:18:28 PERSONALLY ENDORSE A STRONG CRB, BUT I KNOW THAT'S NOT
09:18:32 REALISTIC.
09:18:33 FORTUNATELY, IT'S ALSO NOT NECESSARY.
09:18:37 ALL I AM ASKING TODAY IS TO ENDORSE DEMOCRACY, AND SHOW YOUR
09:18:42 VOTERS THAT YOU CARE WHAT THEY THINK.
09:18:45 THANK YOU.
09:18:45 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:18:47 >> GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR, CITY COUNCIL.
09:18:53 RASHEED ALI AQUIL, HERE REPRESENTING CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
09:19:00 AS A MEMBER OF THE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD.
09:19:03 THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DIALOGUE, SEVERAL WORKSHOPS IN
09:19:07 REFERENCE TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD.
09:19:10 WE ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER A NEW ORDINANCE HAVING
09:19:14 OPERATING UNDER THAT NEW ORDINANCE FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS
09:19:16 NOW.
09:19:17 IN THE PAST MONTH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE YOU
09:19:21 ALL AND GIVE THE ANNUAL REPORT IN REFERENCE TO HOW WE WOULD
09:19:24 LIKE FOR THE BOARD TO CONTINUE UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE TO
09:19:28 GIVE IT NECESSARY TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT HAS WORKED AND
09:19:33 WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED.
09:19:35 I THINK AT THIS MOMENT AFTER ALL THE WORKSHOPS AND ALL THE
09:19:38 DIALOGUE PUT INTO THE PRIOR STRUCTURE OF THE CITIZENS REVIEW
09:19:42 BOARD, IT'S ONLY NOT ONLY NECESSARY BUT I THINK A CARDED
09:19:48 THAT WE CONDUCT UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE AND ALLOW THEM THE
09:19:54 NECESSARY TIME TO ENSURE REFLECTION OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE
09:19:57 IMPROVED ON IN THE FUTURE.
09:19:58 I THINK IT'S PREMATURE TO CONTINUE DIALOGUE, CONTINUE
09:20:02 WORKSHOPS, IN REFERENCE TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE CITIZENS
09:20:05 REVIEW BOARD.
09:20:05 I THINK THAT ALLOWS A CRACK IN THE WALL FOR OTHER ENTITIES
09:20:10 TO DESTROY SUCH A STRUCTURE.
09:20:13 I THINK IT'S ONLY TO BE REWARDED TO CONTINUE UNDER THE NEW
09:20:17 ORDINANCE.
09:20:18 I THINK WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS, PUT A LOT OF LONG HOURS
09:20:22 NECESSARY IN REFERENCE TO THE BOARD, AND I JUST BELIEVE THAT
09:20:26 THE CONTINUED DIALOGUE AND WORKSHOPS IN REFERENCE TO THE
09:20:29 STRUCTURE OF THE BOARD MIGHT CREATE INSTABILITY WITHIN THE
09:20:34 BOARD ITSELF.
09:20:35 WE ALSO HAVE NEW MEMBERS THAT'S ALSO GETTING ACCLIMATED TO
09:20:39 THE BOARD AS WELL.
09:20:40 SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A UNITED FRONT MOVING FORWARD IN
09:20:44 REFERENCE TO THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE, ALLOW
09:20:47 THE BOARD TO CONDUCT UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE, MOVE FORWARD,
09:20:51 AND THEN, IF NECESSARY, REFLECT ON WHAT HAS WORKED AND WHAT
09:20:56 CAN BE IMPROVED.
09:20:57 THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
09:20:58 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:20:59 >> GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, ANDY
09:21:08 MAYTS, 101 EAST KENNEDY BOULEVARD.
09:21:10 THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.
09:21:13 I WANT TO THROW OUT A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT CHARTER REVIEW AND
09:21:17 REVIEW OF A DOCUMENT THAT REALLY SETS FORTH OUR FUNDAMENTAL
09:21:21 GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
09:21:24 MOST BUSINESSES THAT OPERATE WITHIN THE CITY OF TAMPA REALLY
09:21:27 ONLY LOOK FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND THEY LOOK FOR
09:21:31 PREDICTABILITY, AND RELIABILITY AND PROCESSES.
09:21:34 THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HIRE
09:21:38 PROFESSIONALS IF NECESSARY TO REVIEW TEXTS OF THE CODES OR
09:21:44 CHARTERS, AND HAVE SOME PREDICTABILITY ABOUT HOW THAT'S
09:21:47 GOING TO BE INTERPRETED ON A GO-FORWARD BASIS AS THEY DECIDE
09:21:51 TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE A LONG VIEW OF TIME
09:21:55 THROUGH INVESTMENTS.
09:21:56 SO I WOULD HOPE WHEN WE LOOK AT CHANGES TO OUR FUNDAMENTAL
09:22:01 DOCUMENTS THAT WE LOOK AT THAT PROCESS, WE HAVE THE
09:22:05 OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THAT EVERY TEN YEARS BY THE CITIZENS,
09:22:11 AND HOPE THAT WE DON'T USE OTHER PROCESSES ALONG THE WAY
09:22:18 UNLESS REALLY, REALLY NECESSARY TO CURE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS
09:22:22 THAT HAVE TO BE FIXED IN AN URGENT MANNER, AND THAT WE RELY
09:22:27 UPON THE PROCESS THAT GIVES THOSE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES THE
09:22:32 ABILITY TO SUSTAIN OVER TIME.
09:22:33 SO I JUST ASK AS WE GO FORWARD, I KNOW AS YOU WILL CONSIDER
09:22:37 THOSE POINTS AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE
09:22:41 GREAT JOB THAT EACH OF YOU HAS DONE, TAMPA IS A GREAT PLACE
09:22:46 TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY, AND I APPLAUD AND THANK EACH OF YOU.
09:22:51 I JUST ASK THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT PREDICTABILITY
09:22:54 AND THAT RELIABILITY TO CITIZENS THAT ARE HERE AND LOOK TO
09:22:58 COME TO TAMPA TO INVEST.
09:23:00 THANK YOU.
09:23:00 HAVE A GREAT DAY.
09:23:02 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:23:03 DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE IN CHAMBER WHO WISHES TO SPEAK
09:23:07 DURING PUBLIC COMMENT?
09:23:10 I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE ONLINE?
09:23:15 MS. GRETCHEN COTHRON.
09:23:19 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:23:20 THANK YOU.
09:23:21 I WISH THAT I COULD BE THERE IN PERSON BUT UNFORTUNATELY --
09:23:28 SO I AM WONDERING FIRST BEFORE I SPEAK, I DID SEND COUNCIL A
09:23:32 PRESENTATION, A PowerPoint PRESENTATION.
09:23:34 I AM WONDERING IF YOU ALL RECEIVED THAT.
09:23:36 >> YES.
09:23:44 >> AND I AM WONDERING IF WHEN THE WORKSHOP IS RESET, WILL WE
09:23:47 THEN BE ABLE TO SPEAK AT THAT TIME SO I COULD GIVE THE
09:23:50 PRESENTATION IN PERSON?
09:23:51 >>JOSEPH CITRO: YES, MA'AM.
09:23:53 YES, MA'AM.
09:23:53 >> OKAY, THANK YOU.
09:23:55 GENTLEMEN AND COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, I AM GOING TO RESERVE MY
09:24:01 TIME AT THIS MOMENT, BECAUSE I CAN BARELY SPEAK, AS YOU CAN
09:24:04 TELL.
09:24:05 SO I WILL SEE YOU WHEN THE WORKSHOP IS RESCHEDULED.
09:24:08 THANK YOU.
09:24:09 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:24:13 MR. DAVID SIMANOFF.
09:24:25 IS HE ONLINE?
09:24:37 MR. SIMANOFF, ARE YOU THERE?
09:24:44 >> OH, HI.
09:24:46 I'M SORRY.
09:24:46 I THOUGHT I WAS MUTED AND I WAS NOT.
09:24:48 SO I PUT MYSELF ON MUTE.
09:24:51 MY NAME IS DAVID SIMANOFF, A TAMPANIAN, 307 SOUTH BUNGALOW
09:24:57 PARK AVENUE, ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER TAMPA CHAPTER OF
09:25:00 THE ACLU.
09:25:02 I DO WANT TO ECHO A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE
09:25:05 GOTTEN FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND ALLIES AND REMIND THE BOARD
09:25:08 WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE ARE COMMON SENSE THINGS THAT
09:25:13 HAVE WORKED THROUGHOUT FLORIDA.
09:25:15 THERE IS NOTHING CONTROVERSY HERE.
09:25:17 THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR HERE.
09:25:19 I ALSO ADVISE YOU TO DISMISS A LOT OF THE DISINFORMATION
09:25:23 FROM PEOPLE FOR WHATEVER REASON DON'T SEEM TO WANT BOARD
09:25:28 TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY BETWEEN THE POLICE FORCE AND
09:25:31 THE CITIZENS.
09:25:31 BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE ISSUE ON
09:25:34 THE TABLE WHICH WE WILL COME BACK TO IS LETTING THE -- IT
09:25:38 REALLY DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THESE ISSUES, IT
09:25:41 REALLY MATTERS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF TAMPA FEEL ABOUT THESE
09:25:43 ISSUES.
09:25:45 THERE IS AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY SURVEY WHICH SHOWS THAT,
09:25:49 A, PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR OF WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED, AND B, 82%
09:25:53 OF THEM WANT THIS TO BE VOTED ON.
09:25:59 SO MY COLLEAGUE TIFFANY SAID EARLIER, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT
09:26:05 YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT, THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
09:26:08 INSIDE THE CITY OF TAMPA WANT, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN
09:26:11 GO BACK TO THEM AND SAY, I VOTED TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO VOTE
09:26:16 ON SOMETHING YOU HAVE SAID CLEARLY YOU WANT.
09:26:19 THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
09:26:20 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:26:29 COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF I HEAR NO OBJECTIONS, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
09:26:39 [ MEETING ADJOURNED ]
09:27:28
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