TAMPA CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022
9:00 A.M. CEREMONIAL SESSION

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9:04:15AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
GOOD MORNING.
OUR COMMENDATION AND PRESENTATIONS ON THIS DAY, NOVEMBER 8,
2022, IS NOW IN SESSION.
IF WE COULD RISE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOLLOWED BY THE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[MOMENT OF SILENCE]
THANK YOU.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
THANK YOU.
ROLL CALL.
9:05:08AM >> CARLSON?
VIERA?
9:05:09AM >>LUIS VIERA:
HERE.
9:05:10AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
HERE.
9:05:11AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
HERE.
9:05:12AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
HERE.
9:05:13AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
HERE.

9:05:14AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
HERE.
9:05:15AM >>THE CLERK:
WE HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM.
9:05:17AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
THANK YOU.
DO WE HAVE ANY CHANGES IN THE AGENDA?
9:05:20AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.
9:05:22AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN GUDES.
9:05:22AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
ITEMS NUMBER 2 AND 3 BE MOVED TO JANUARY
10th.
9:05:29AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
SECOND.
9:05:30AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
2023, CORRECT?
9:05:32AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
THAT'S CORRECT.
9:05:33AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN GUDES,
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
ALL IN FAVOR?
9:05:41AM >> AYE.
9:05:42AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
ANY OTHER CHANGES?
COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
9:05:45AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
COUNCILMAN VIERA HAD ASKED IF NUMBER 6
COULD BE MOVED TO NUMBER 2 FOLLOWING THE POLICE OFFICER OF
THE MONTH BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER OFFICER.
9:05:55AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
WITHOUT OBJECTION?
THANK YOU.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
ALL IN FAVOR?

THANK YOU.
FIRST, WE'LL START WITH THE PRESENTATION OF COMMENDATION OF
POLICE OFFICER OF THE MONTH.
9:06:14AM >>LUIS VIERA:
IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT ON BEHALF OF TAMPA
CITY COUNCIL A COMMENDATION TO DETECTIVE JACOB WIELAND.
CHIEF O'CONNOR WILL COME AND TALK ABOUT THIS FINE GENTLEMAN.
LIKE ALWAYS, I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON THE DETECTIVE AND HIS
WORK HAS BEEN EXEMPLARY IN FIGHTING CRIME AND BEING A REAL
COMMUNITY BRIDGE BUILDER AND REALLY SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE OF
WHY OUR COMMUNITY STRONGLY SUPPORTS OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, WE DO THESE COMMENDATIONS BECAUSE THEY
ARE SYMBOLIC OF THE VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS SUPPORTS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
SO I WILL INVITE THE CHIEF TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK ON OUR
HONOREE.
9:07:03AM >>CHIEF O'CONNOR:
GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL.
CHIEF MARY O'CONNOR, TAMPA PD.
PROUD TO PRESENT TO YOU DETECTIVE JACOB WIELAND THIS
MORNING.
HE'S BEEN EMPLOYED WITH TPD FOR 11 YEARS.
HE WORKED AS A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE FOR THE LAST TWO.
DETECTIVE WIELAND CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES COMMITMENT AND
THOROUGHNESS IN HIS INVESTIGATIONS.
TODAY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE THAT YOU'RE ALL GOING TO

REMEMBER.
SINCE AUGUST OF 2021, THIS DETECTIVE WAS ASSIGNED AS THE
LEAD DETECTIVE IN SEVEN HOMICIDES AND ONE AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
ON A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
THROUGH HIS DEDICATION AND DILIGENCE, HIS CLEARANCE RATE OF
SUCCESSFULLY CLOSING CASES REACHED 100% AT THAT TIME.
INCREDIBLY HIGH AMOUNT FOR A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE IN ONE YEAR.
THESE CASES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SOLVE.
AS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T GET A TON OF COOPERATION.
WE REALLY HAVE TO WORK VERY HARD AND VERY DILIGENTLY TO
TRACK DOWN LEADS AND TO HAVE 100% CLEARANCE RATE IS QUITE
REMARKABLE.
ON MAY 6th OF 2022, YOU MAY REMEMBER DISTRICT 3 RESPONDED
TO A HOMICIDE AT FLORIBRASKA AND NORTH HIGHLAND IN THE EARLY
MORNING HOURS.
WE FOUND A DECEASED 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN THAT LOT THERE.
DETECTIVE WIELAND WAS CALLED IN AS THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR ON
THIS MURDER.
HE DILIGENTLY SEARCHED THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALL DAY AND INTO THE
NIGHT FOR SURVEILLANCE VIDEO IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD LEAD HIM
TO THE RESPONSIBLE SUSPECT.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A VERY DANGEROUS INDIVIDUAL ON THE
STREET.
THROUGH HIS SEARCH, DETECTIVE WIELAND LOCATED SURVEILLANCE
VIDEO WHICH SHOWED AN UNKNOWN DARK-COLORED SEDAN SITTING IN

THE MIDDLE OF FLORIBRASKA AVENUE TOWARDS A DEAD END WITH THE
HEADLIGHTS OFF.
THE DETECTIVE EXPANDED HIS SEARCH LOCATING THE SUSPECT'S
VEHICLE ON SEVERAL ADDITIONAL SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS IN THE
AREA, TRACKING IT THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE AND AFTER
THE MURDER.
HIS SEARCH ACTUALLY LED HIM THEN TO A VEHICLE DEALERSHIP
WHERE THE CAR WAS LOCATED ALONG WITH THE OWNER.
SO JUST HAVING A PICTURE OF A DARK SEDAN ON A RING DOORBELL
IS NOT REALLY A LOT TO GO ON, BUT WHEN YOU TAKE THAT DARK
VEHICLE AND YOU MULTIPLY IT BY MULTIPLE VIDEOS AROUND THE
CITY AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY TRACK DOWN WHAT KIND OF A CAR IT
IS, THAT'S QUITE TALENTED.
DETECTIVE WIELAND WAS ABLE TO DISPROVE THE OWNER'S FALSE
CLAIM THAT HE WAS NOT DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE
MURDER AND WITH THE HELP OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT BIOLOGY UNIT, HE CONFIRMED A DNA MATCH LINKING
EVIDENCE FOUND IN THE VEHICLE TO BOTH THE HOMICIDE SUSPECT
AND THE VICTIM ON THE SCENE.
DETECTIVE WIELAND WORKED FOR TWO WEEKS STRAIGHT PAST EACH OF
HIS SHIFTS TO ENSURE THAT THE FAMILY OF THIS 14-YEAR-OLD
VICTIM RECEIVED JUSTICE FOR THE TERRIBLE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED
ONE.
DUE TO HIS HARD WORK, TWO SUSPECTS IN THE CASE ARE NOW
UNABLE TO CAUSE ADDITIONAL HARM TO ANY MEMBERS OF OUR

COMMUNITY.
FOR HIS DEDICATION, DETECTIVE JACOB WIELAND IS WELL
DESERVING OF THE PRESTIGIOUS OFFICER OF THE MONTH FOR
NOVEMBER OF 2022.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
CONGRATULATIONS.
9:10:07AM >>LUIS VIERA:
YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE SAYS BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO
MOURN FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED AND THIS IS A MAN WHO
DEALS WITH MANY, MANY WHO MOURN AND COMFORTS HIM THROUGH HIS
SEARCH FOR JUSTICE.
SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO, SIR, 110%.
COUNCILMAN, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, SIR?
9:10:30AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
I REMEMBER WHEN HE FIRST CAME ON TO THE
SQUAD.
I CALLED HIM JAKE THE SNAKE.
AND TO SEE HIM GROWN, I'M JUST GLAD TO SAY I WAS A PART OF
YOU WHEN YOU FIRST CAME ON THE DEPARTMENT.
IT FEELS GOOD TO KNOW THAT YOU WERE ABLE -- YOU WERE THERE
-- 11 YEARS NOW.
I'VE BEEN GOING, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS, MAN.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU WHEN THE CHIEF TALKS ABOUT A HOMICIDE
DETECTIVE, YOU GET NO SLEEP BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SOLVE THAT
CASE FOR THAT FAMILY.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH A 14-YEAR-OLD KID,

AND THOSE ARE THE HARDEST CASES TO WORK WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT CHILDREN.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE FORTITUDE TO WORK HARD
AND DO EXTRA THINGS TO PUT THOSE BAD PEOPLE AWAY FROM OUR
COMMUNITY.
I DON'T GET ON A THING ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE -- PEOPLE, NO
MATTER BLACK, WHITE, SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING EGREGIOUS THAT
WAY, THEY HAVE TO SERVE A PRICE.
AND I'M GLAD TO KNOW YOU, THAT YOU WERE THE ONE THAT WAS
ABLE TO SOLVE THE CASE TO GET THE JOB DONE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:11:56AM >>LUIS VIERA:
JUST A SMALL GESTURE FROM COUNCILMAN GUDES ON
THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO, SIR.
BEFORE WE PRESENT THIS, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY WHO ARE HERE TO HONOR YOU.
COME ON FORWARD.
9:12:14AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEN.
DARLA PORTMAN, TAMPA PBA PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT BRANDON
BARCLAY, ALSO LABOR REP EDDIE.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU JAKE.
EVER SINCE YOU WORKED ON SAC AND I HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK
WITH YOU IN D-3, I KNEW YOU WOULD BE A GREAT DETECTIVE.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.
WE HAVE A PLAQUE FOR YOU.

9:12:35AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
MIKE McARTHUR, STEPP'S TOWING SERVICE.
TODAY, I BROUGHT TODD STEPP WITH ME BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY
SPECIAL DAY.
WE'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON ONE OF THE MOST DESERVING
WE'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SERVICE YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
ON BEHALF OF TODD STEPP AND STEPP'S TOWING, WE WOULD LIKE TO
PRESENT YOU WITH A $50 BASS PRO GIFT CARD AND NIGHT OUT IN
OUR COMPANY LIMOUSINE.
TAKE SOME TIME OFF.
YOU DESERVE IT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:13:18AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
PETE ON BEHALF OF NEIL THURMAN AND BUSCH GARDENS.
I DIDN'T BRING NEIL WITH ME TODAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BUT AS I SAY EVERY MONTH, TWO THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT LAW
ENFORCEMENT WITH THIS PRESENTATION.
IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DO THE
THANKLESS JOB AT TIMES.
ALSO, THE SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THANK YOU FOR

ALLOWING US AND THE OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO BE PART OF
THE PROCESS.
I'VE KNOWN JAKE FOR A WHILE.
I COULD TELL SOME STORIES ABOUT JAKE.
HE LOVES DESSERT WINE.
IF ANYBODY KNOWS THAT, HE'LL DRINK A WHOLE BOTTLE OF DESSERT
WINE.
SEEN IT FIRSTHAND.
ON BEHALF OF NEIL THURMAN AND BUSCH GARDENS, WOULD LIKE TO
PRESENT WITH YOU FOUR TICKETS TO THE PARK.
YOU CAN CALL TODD, HE'LL BRING THE LIMOUSINE.
I'M SURE WE CAN MAKE A NIGHT OF IT BETWEEN DINNER AND BOTTLE
OF DESSERT WINE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
9:14:14AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
BRIAN FORD.
GOOD MORNING, CHIEF.
BRIAN FORD ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY AND OUR ENTIRE
ORGANIZATION, JUST UNBELIEVABLE STORY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
THE SACRIFICE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR THE COMMUNITY IS
RECOGNIZED AND GREATLY APPRECIATED.
WE HAVE A TRADITION AT ONE BUC.
PEOPLE GO OVER AND ABOVE TO GET A GAME BALL.
HEARING YOUR STORY, YOU GET A GAME BALL.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOUR PERSONAL GAME BALL IS NOT READY AT THIS
TIME.
WE HAD A LITTLE FUMBLE BACK AT ONE BUC, BUT WE'LL GET THAT
TO YOU SHORTLY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:14:52AM >> GOOD MORNING, SIR.
YOU'RE DRESSED UP.
GOT A VEST.
GOT THE TIE ON.
READY TO ROCK 'N' ROLL.
STEVE MICHELINI HERE ON BEHALF OF A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
RESTAURANTS AND GROUPS THAT WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU.
ONE OF THEM IS AFTER THAT DESSERT WINE, YOU'LL HAVE TO GO TO
THE Y.
THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU A GIFT CERTIFICATE SO YOU CAN
ENJOY YOURSELF AT METROPOLITAN Y.
ON BEHALF OF MEAT MARKET AND OLD HYDE PARK, ENJOY YOURSELF
FOR DINNER OR LUNCH.
ON BEHALF OF BELLABRAVA, WHICH IS THE MIDTOWN SECTION, THEY
ARE GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A GIFT CERTIFICATE AND ENJOY
YOURSELF OVER THERE FOR LUNCH OR DINNER.
ON BEHALF OF THE CICCIO'S RESTAURANT GROUP, PROVIDING WITH
YOU A GIFT CERTIFICATE, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, OR DINNER ON SOUTH
HOWARD.

AND ON BEHALF OF YUMMY HOUSE CHINA BISTRO, PROVIDING YOU
WITH A GIFT CERTIFICATE TO ENJOY YOURSELF OVER THERE, LUNCH
OR DINNER.
HERE ARE YOUR GIFT CERTIFICATES.
TAKE YOUR LETTER AND TAKE YOUR GIFT CERTIFICATES, GO ENJOY
YOURSELF.
USUALLY DON'T INCLUDE WINE, BUT I'M SURE PETE WILL PITCH IN
FOR THAT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
9:16:02AM >>LUIS VIERA:
THANK YOU.
ALSO, TWO REPRESENTATIVES COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE GIFTS AS WELL FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE STRAZ CENTER.
I BELIEVE THOSE ARE TICKETS.
FROM OUR FRIENDS AT TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING AS WELL.
DETECTIVE, ON BEHALF OF TAMPA CITY COUNCIL, IT IS OUR REAL
PLEASURE AND HONOR TO PRESENT TO YOU A REAL PROTECTOR OF OUR
COMMUNITY, LIKE SO MANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AT TAMPA POLICE
DEPARTMENT, TAMPA CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION.
HERE YOU GO, SIR.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:16:36AM >> THANK YOU.
THIS IS A TRUE HONOR.
IT'S KIND OF LITTLE BITTERSWEET.
OBVIOUSLY, THE CASES WE INVESTIGATE, TO BE HERE TO BE

HONORED FOR SOMETHING SO TRAGIC, HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT.
BUT IT'S A VERY HONOR TO BE HERE.
IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.
WITH MY COMMAND HERE AS WELL, EVERYBODY HELPS OUT WITH THE
CASES.
I DON'T DO IT ALONE.
IT IS A TEAM EFFORT ON YOUR BEHALF, TOO.
THE TECHNOLOGY WE USE IN THE CASES IS APPROVED BY YOU.
IT WAS VERY MUCH IMPLEMENTED IN THIS CASE.
WITHOUT ONE PIECE, NO ONE CASE WOULD BE SOLVED.
THANKS GO TO YOU GUYS FOR APPROVING THE BUDGET AND
TECHNOLOGY THAT WE USE IN THE CASES.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE HONOR.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:17:26AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALONG THE WAY, I KNOW THERE'S AN ORDER BY WHICH YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO TALK TO FOLKS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK ON THE TECHNOLOGIES GOOD AND ONE WE
NEED TO INVEST IN MORE, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
WITH THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE GOING UP IN TAMPA EVERY YEAR FOR
THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE CITIZENS WANT US IN PARTICULAR TO
THANK OFFICERS LIKE YOU.

THERE ARE SO MANY OFFICERS WORKING HARD EVERY DAY LIKE YOU,
AND WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR KEEPING US SAFE AND
PROTECTING US AND IN THIS CASE, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PROTECT
THE ONE VICTIM, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU PREVENTED A
LOT OF OTHER CRIMES FROM HAPPENING BY BRINGING THAT PERSON
INTO JUSTICE.
PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU.
YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE -- WE'RE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR
WHAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES DO.
THANK YOU.
9:18:25AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
9:18:26AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.
VERY WELL DESERVED.
I THINK THAT WHAT YOU DO AND THE EXAMPLE THAT WAS SHOWN HERE
TODAY -- AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY THINGS THAT YOU WORK
ON -- YOU ARE WHAT INSPIRES PEOPLE TO BECOME A POLICE
OFFICER OR INSPIRES SOMEONE TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY IN THAT
CAPACITY.
YOU'RE A HERO.
YOU BROUGHT A LEVEL OF COMFORT TO A GRIEVING FAMILY.
YOU'VE SERVED THE COMMUNITY.
YOU'VE PROTECTED THE COMMUNITY.
YOU'VE MADE THE COMMUNITY A SAFER PLACE BECAUSE OF YOUR
DILIGENT WORK.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT.

THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE JUST IN
THIS ONE EXAMPLE.
I ONLY KNOW OF YOU IN THIS ONE EXAMPLE, BUT I'M SURE IT'S
ONE OF MANY.
AND WE HIGHLIGHT THIS TODAY.
YOU'VE INSPIRED ME TODAY AND PEOPLE WATCHING.
I THINK YOU'VE INSPIRED MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT WISH TO SERVE.
THIS IS WHAT IT IS.
YOU HAVE EXEMPLIFIED THAT IN YOUR WORK.
THANK YOU, SIR.
9:19:26AM >> THANK YOU.
9:19:27AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
9:19:29AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I ECHO MY COLLEAGUES' THANKS, BUT I'M JUST
GOING TO SAY, THAT CLEARANCE RATE IS IMPRESSIVE.
I DON'T THINK I'VE HEARD OF THAT BEFORE.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU REALLY DO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND USE
EVERY POSSIBLE TOOL AT YOUR DISPOSAL.
I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL.
I AGREE THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK WE COULD
HELP BETTER WITH FOR THOSE TOOLS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
CONGRATULATIONS.
9:20:00AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN GUDES.
9:20:01AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
WELL, YEAH, I SAY TO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO

WORK WITH HIM, I KNOW HOW INTELLECTUAL HE IS.
I KNOW HOW HE'S STRIVING ALWAYS TO GET IT DONE RIGHT.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, 100%.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH UNHEARD OF FOR 100%.
AND IT SHOWS THE EXTRA MILE HE'S TAKING.
HE TALKS ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE CAN'T
ALWAYS DO WHAT THE POLICE WANT US TO DO.
WE STILL SERVE THE CITIZENS, TOO, BUT WHEN THERE ARE IDEAS
THAT WILL HELP BETTER, AND TOOLS THAT WILL HELP THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND HELP THIS COMMUNITY, THIS COUNCIL IS GOING TO
VOTE ON THAT EVERY TIME.
YOU CAN NEVER WAIVER FROM THAT.
WE'LL DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO SUPPORT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN TO KNOW YOU AND SEE THAT YOU WORK WITH ME COMING ON
AND SOLVE A MURDER, THAT KIND OF -- [INAUDIBLE] KEEP UP THE
GOOD WORK.
9:20:58AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
9:20:58AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AS I LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED, YOU'RE ONLY ONE IN TEN
YEARS.
120 OF YOU IN TEN YEARS GET THE AWARD.
IT IS NOT DONE BY ACCIDENT.
YOU MAY HAVE ALL THE TECHNOLOGY, ALL THE UP-TO-DATE THINGS
TO CATCH SOMEONE, BUT THAT COMPUTER CAN'T SNIFF.

THAT COMPUTER CAN'T TALK TO PEOPLE ON THE STREET.
THAT COMPUTER CAN'T DO THINGS THAT YOU DO AND BECAUSE I LOOK
AT YOU AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE A HYBRID-TYPE INDIVIDUAL.
YOU REMIND ME OF COLUMBO AND A BANKER ON WALL STREET ALL ON
ONE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AS I LOOK AT YOU, WHAT DO I TELL THIS GUY?
DO I TELL THIS GUY HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT -- HEY,
YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.
HEY, COLUMBO.
LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING ELSE.
WALKS OUT.
FORGOT SOMETHING.
WALL STREET WALKS IN, I'M HERE TO HELP YOU.
HELP HIM PUT THE HANDCUFFS ON.
YOU DIDN'T TELL HIM THE OTHER PART.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE METHODOLOGY YOU USE AND THE
WHOLE COORDINATION THAT HAS TO HAPPEN BETWEEN YOU AND THE
OTHER OFFICERS OF THE CITY, FROM THE TOP LEVEL ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO ANYONE THAT WORKS IN THE DEPARTMENT.
EVERYONE HAS GOT TO HELP OUT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO SOLVE THE
CRIME, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE INTUITION AND NOSE TO FOLLOW
THE TRAIL.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS, CITIZENS OF TAMPA BE PART OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.

WORK WITH THEM.
STAY WITH THEM.
AND TRUST 'EM BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, CRIME IS GOING TO RISE.
IF YOU DO, CRIME IS GOING TO GO DOWN.
IT'S NOT ABOUT SNIFFING OUT SOMEBODY OR TELLING SOMEBODY
THAT YOU SNITCH ON SOMEBODY, IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR OWN
FAMILY.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL THE
POLICEMEN, ALL THE OFFICERS IN THIS WHOLE WORLD THAT WORK NO
MATTER WHAT COUNTRY TO SOLVE SOME PROBLEMS.
MUCHAS GRACIAS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
9:22:44AM >> THANK YOU, SIR.
9:22:46AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
OFFICER, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR DOING ONE OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS IN THIS CITY.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT LOVE YOU, AND THE BAD GUYS REALLY
HATE YOU.
BUT YOU'RE WITH AN ELITE GROUP AT THE TAMPA POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
AND EVERYTHING YOU DO IS FOR ONE PURPOSE AND ONE PURPOSE
ONLY, AND THAT'S TO KEEP THE CITIZENS OF TAMPA SAFE.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
9:23:09AM >> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:23:18AM >>LUIS VIERA:
MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY, NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE

OFFICER LISA BUNN COME UP.
BRING YOUR FAMILY AND EVERYBODY WITH YOU.
IT IS -- SO, OFFICER LISA BUNN IS RETIRING.
I'VE KNOWN HER -- I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER SPOKEN IN YOUR
CAPACITY DIRECTLY AS A POLICE OFFICER IN TERMS OF A CRIME OR
WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
I KNOW LISA BUNN BECAUSE OF HER ADVOCACY FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
SHE'S A REALLY GOOD PERSON.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT, A DAMN SHAME THAT THIS WOMAN IS
LEAVING THE CITY OF TAMPA BECAUSE SHE DOES SO MUCH FOR OUR
CITY.
I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE KIND OF PERSON THAT SHE IS.
FROM 1997 TO 2000, SHE SERVED WITH TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT
IN DETECTIVE DEPARTMENT.
2000 TO 2001, SERVED WITH THE USF POLICE COMMUNICATIONS
OPERATOR AND FROM 2001 TO THE PRESENT, TAMPA POLICE
DEPARTMENT WORKING HOMICIDE, RECONSTRUCTION AND FORENSICS.
BUT WHAT MAKES OFFICER BUNN SO VERY UNIQUE IS HER WORK FOR
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
MANEUVERING AND TAKING CHARGE OF ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORTS HERE
IN THE CITY OF TAMPA TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES THAT HAVE
CHILDREN OR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO MAY BE INTELLECTUALLY
DISABLED, HAVE AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, WHATEVER IT MAY BE,
DOWN SYNDROME, KNOW ABOUT THE RESOURCES OUT THERE AND THE

BIGGEST THING SHE DOES IS WORKING ON KEEPING OUR CHILDREN
SAFE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT
WISH US HARM AND ESPECIALLY WISH HARM TO THOSE WHO CAN'T
SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES, AND THERE IS NOBODY THAT IS
MORE VULNERABLE FOR THAT THAN PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL
DISABILITIES.
AND OFFICER BUNN IS PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.
SHE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT AS A POLICE OFFICER WHO IS, LIKE
I SAID BEFORE, A PROTECTOR.
POLICE OFFICERS ARE HERE TO SERVE AND TO PROTECT.
SHE SERVES AND SHE PROTECTS.
SHE DOES BOTH OF THEM.
SHE DOES IT AS A POLICE OFFICER AND ALSO AS A MOM OF A
SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD.
I'VE WORKED WITH HER.
I'VE SEEN HER HEART.
SHE'S A GOOD WOMAN.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHY I AM SUCH A STRONG SUPPORTER OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT, THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF POLICE
OFFICERS.
SHE'S ONE OF THEM, AND SHE ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING.
THE STRENGTH, THE CHARACTER, THE COMPASSION.
SHE'S A PROTECTOR AND A SOCIAL WORKER.
SHE'S A GOOD PERSON.
AND AS A PERSON WITH A BROTHER WITH INTELLECTUAL

DISABILITIES, I'M THANKFUL FOR PEOPLE LIKE THIS WOMAN HERE
WHO PROTECT THOSE, LIKE MY BROTHER, WHO CAN'T SPEAK FOR
THEMSELVES.
I'LL STOP TALKING BEFORE I START CRYING.
BUT -- DEAR LORD, WHERE DID THE COMMENDATION GO?
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TO TALK.
I KNOW WE HAVE RAQUEL PANCHO WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA
DISABILITY DEPARTMENT.
CHRISTINE ROVER FROM THE USF CENTER FOR AUTISM AND RELATED
DISABILITIES.
SO MANY PEOPLE HERE KNOW THIS WOMAN'S GOOD WORK THAT WE
WANTED TO HONOR HER.
I KNOW, CHIEF O'CONNOR, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
COME ON UP.
9:26:33AM >>CHIEF O'CONNOR:
HOW MANY YEARS DID YOU DO TOTAL?
9:26:37AM >> WITH THE CIVILIAN 24.
9:26:39AM >>CHIEF O'CONNOR:
24-YEAR VETERAN OF TAMPA PD.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE LOSING A LOT WITH LISA, BUT I THINK NOW
THAT SHE TRANSITIONS INTO RETIREMENT, I THINK PROBABLY A LOT
LIKE ME, YOU'RE GOING TO REALIZE THAT YOUR WORK ISN'T QUITE
DONE.
AND I THINK THAT WHATEVER SHE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE TO
CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WE AS A
COMMUNITY ARE GOING TO BE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HER.
TPD IS GOING TO MISS YOU AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN

YOUR RETIREMENT, BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS A PART OF OUR FAMILY.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN WHATEVER YOU DO NEXT BECAUSE I KNOW
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE QUITE DONE YET.
THAT'S GOOD.
THE KIDS ARE LUCKY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE DONE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO LISA AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU
FOR RECOGNIZING HER TODAY.
9:27:26AM >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR OFFICER BUNN.
FOR MY WORK AS ADA COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA, I'M
VERY BLESSED TO HAVE EXTRAORDINARY COLLEAGUES THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE CITY OF TAMPA.
OFFICER LISA BUNN WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE.
WHEN SHE CREATED KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE, HER NOTORIETY
THROUGHOUT NOT ONLY THE TAMPA BAY AREA BUT THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE STATE WAS BEING RECOGNIZED.
A LOT OF FAMILIES WERE OUT REACHING TO HER HOPING TO BE ABLE
TO BRING THE KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE PROGRAM INTO THEIR
SPECIFIC AREAS.
SO SHE NOT ONLY BROUGHT GREAT REPUTATION FOR THE CITY OF
TAMPA, THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT TEAM AS A WHOLE.
SO WE TRULY APPRECIATE HER WORK.
IN GENERAL EVEN OUTSIDE OF KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE, SHE HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A SUPPORTER IN REGARDS TO DISABILITY-RELATED
MATTERS AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU.
9:28:17AM >>LUIS VIERA:
THANK YOU, RAQUEL.
ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK?
PBA? OKAY.
FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO, WE ARE PROUD TO GIVE YOU THIS TAMPA
CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION.
YOU ARE A GOOD WOMAN AND WE WILL MISS YOU.
9:28:31AM >> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:28:40AM >> I AM VERY HUMBLED TO RECEIVE THIS AND I APPRECIATE IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY AND MY HUSBAND HERE, KEEPING
OUR FAMILY SAFE WHILE I WORKED MANY HOURS FOR THE COMMUNITY
AND MY FRIENDS.
THEY PRAYED FOR ME TO COME HOME SAFELY.
AS A RESULT, I AM HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
I DEDICATED THIS PROGRAM FOR MY DAUGHTER.
THIS IS ACTUALLY MY HANDS HOLDING MY DAUGHTER WITH A HEART
SHOWING HER THE LOVE AND DEDICATION THAT I HAVE IN KEEPING
HER SAFE.
I WANTED TO SPREAD MY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO OTHER
FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS TO DO THE SAME.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:29:30AM >>BILL CARLSON:
WOW, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE STORY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, VIERA, FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR

ATTENTION.
I'M SORRY I NEVER MET YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'LL DO MORE GREAT THINGS NEXT.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SPECIAL CARE FOR PEOPLE
IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO REALLY NEED IT.
I HOPE YOU'LL BE AN INSPIRATION TO MORE PEOPLE TO DO THE
SAME THING.
LET US KNOW IF WE CAN HELP YOU IN YOUR NEXT CHAPTER.
9:30:00AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
9:30:01AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SO WONDERFUL.
I THINK I MET YOU -- I DON'T KNOW -- TEN YEARS AGO WITH MY
MOM.
9:30:09AM >> YES.
9:30:10AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
WE MET YOU THE SAME DAY.
I DON'T KNOW, TIME FLIES, BUT YOU'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
ALWAYS HELPING.
IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I SEE YOU OUT AND ABOUT ALL THE TIME.
YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE SMILING FACES THAT WE ALWAYS LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING.
EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, WE APPRECIATE.
COUNCILMAN VIERA SAID IT.
YOU'VE ALWAYS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND.

WE HATE TO SEE YOU GO, BUT WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN
THE NEXT CHAPTER, WHATEVER YOU DO.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AND
COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.
9:30:40AM >> THANK YOU.
9:30:40AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
9:30:41AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT.
WE WILL ABSOLUTELY MISS YOU.
I LOVE AS A FORMER TEACHER OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLKIDS, I LOVE
ANYONE THAT HAS A HEART FOR CHILDREN IN THIS WAY.
AND YOU HAVE EVEN MORE SPECIAL HEART FOR CHILDREN WHO REALLY
NEED YOU AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOCUS ON FAMILIES THAT OFTEN GET
OVERLOOKED.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON YOUR RETIREMENT.
WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO SEE WHAT YOU DO NEXT.
9:31:15AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN GUDES.
9:31:17AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
LET ME APOLOGIZE.
I DID NOT RECOGNIZE YOU IN THE ELEVATOR.
9:31:26AM >> I DROPPED OFF MY HAIR AND DONATED IT.
9:31:30AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
POLICE OFFICERS HAVE SPECIAL TALENTS.
THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT TALENTS.
SOME USED TO SAY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT A SOCIAL
SERVICE ORGANIZATION.
WE CAN GO OUT AND FIGHT CRIME.

I USED TO ALWAYS DISAGREE AND SAY, NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE.
NOT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION.
IT IS A SOCIAL SERVICE.
WE START PROGRAMS.
I STARTED THE YOUTH FOOTBALL PROGRAM IN THE CITY.
BASKETBALL.
SHE STARTED THIS PROGRAM AND PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE
HAVE CALLED TO HER BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT
PROGRAM.
NOW MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KNOW ABOUT HER PROGRAM.
IT'S ABOUT PROGRAMMING, TOO, BECAUSE IF WE CAN TOUCH
CHILDREN, THAT'S WHY SO ADAMANT THAT THE DAY PAL LEFT THE
COMMUNITY, THAT'S THE DAY WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS.
YOU TALK ABOUT OFFICERS WORKING TOGETHER.
WHEN I BECAME A POLICE OFFICER, USED TO HAVE DES MOORE WHO
USED TO BE A ROBBERY DETECTIVE.
COME TO A SUB SHOP, CALLED MR. SUBMARINE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG
MAN.
NOW CALLED GYROS.
THAT'S HOW I GOT TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.
JOHN BENNETT USED TO BE THE POLICE OFFICER RIGHT ACROSS THE
STREET AT THE WINN DIXIE AT 40th AND HILLSBOROUGH.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.

A LOT OF GUYS WOULD KNOW THOSE OLD-TIMER GUYS.
THEY WERE COMMUNITY DRIVEN.
THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD THAT MR. VIERA BROUGHT IT BECAUSE A LOT
OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF INTELLECTUAL PEOPLE ON
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
GOOD IDEAS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS THAT HAVE DISABILITIES IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY MY COMMUNITY THAT THEY SAY, WELL,
HE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
NO, WON'T BE ALL RIGHT BECAUSE HE NEEDS SOME HELP.
SHE NEEDS SOME HELP.
THAT PARENT NEEDS SOME HELP IN DEALING WITH THAT CHILD.
LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR IMPLEMENTING THAT PROGRAM AND
GIVING OTHER PEOPLE AND OTHER CITIES AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS
A TOOL THAT CAN HELP OUR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, THANK YOU.
THE OLD SAYING WHEN YOU RETIRE, SEE YA!
9:33:49AM >> THANK YOU.
9:33:50AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
9:33:50AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AGAIN, MS. BUNN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR NOT ONLY YOUR 24
YEARS OF SERVICE AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE TO THE CITY OF
TAMPA AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THE
AMOUNT OF TIME YOU SPENT HELPING THOSE, LIKE COUNCILMAN
VIERA MENTIONED, DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LOT OF

THINGS.
AND BECAUSE OF YOURSELF AND PEOPLE AROUND YOU THAT DO
HELPING CHILDREN, HELPING OTHERS THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE,
YOU MADE AN ENORMOUS STRIVE IN MAKING SOMEONE HAPPIER THAN
THEY WERE BEFORE.
REALISTICALLY IMPROVED LIKE THEY WERE NOT BEFORE.
AND FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS A TESTAMENT NOT ONLY TO THE
TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT TO THE CITY OF TAMPA.
WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF THAT ARE WILLING TO GIVE
OF THEMSELVES TO MAKE OTHERS BETTER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
9:34:39AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
THANK YOU FOR BEING A CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A POLICE OFFICER IN THE CITY OF TAMPA.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.
JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE RETIRING DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE NOT PART OF
THE FAMILY.
YOU WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF THE FAMILY OF THE CITY OF TAMPA.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
[ APPLAUSE ]
COUNCILMAN VIERA, DO YOU HAVE ONE MORE?
9:35:17AM >>LUIS VIERA:
STEPP'S TOWING.
9:35:19AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
NUMBER 4.
9:35:26AM >>LUIS VIERA:
WITH THE CANCELLATIONS, ROUND 3.
MR. STEPP AND MR. McARTHUR, COME ON UP, GENTLEMEN.

SO, I WANTED TO DO A TAMPA CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION FOR
STEPP'S TOWING.
THIS IS WHY I WANTED TO DO IT.
NOT JUST IS THIS AN ORGANIZATION AND A BUSINESS THAT IS
ALWAYS HERE TO HONOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR
FIREFIGHTERS, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE
TODAY FROM POLICE AND FROM FIRE, BUT STEPP'S TOWING IS
ALWAYS THERE WHENEVER THERE ARE EVENTS AS WELL TO HONOR OUR
VETERANS.
WHENEVER I GO TO SOMEWHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON 301 AT OUR
BEAUTIFUL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY VETERANS PARK, I WOULD BE
WILLING TO BET A THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A
HUGE STEPP'S TOWING VEHICLE WITH A BIG AMERICAN FLAG OUT
THERE.
YOU ALL DON'T GET PAID FOR THAT.
IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT TODAY IS ELECTION
DAY.
IT IS A PATRIOTIC DAY.
IT'S A PATRIOTIC DAY.
WHETHER YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT, IT IS A DAY WHEN
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN CHARGE OF OUR DESTINY, WE'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE IN CHARGE OF HOW OUR COUNTY WILL GO, THE
STATE WILL GO, COUNTRY WILL GO.
REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU VOTE, ET CETERA, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
VOTE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT STANDS BEHIND IS THAT BIG
OL' FLAG THAT YOU ALL ALWAYS PUT OUT THERE ON YOUR BIG
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE OUT THERE, IT'S NOT EASY BEING A TOWING
COMPANY, RIGHT?
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT JOB.
IT IS.
I USED TO REPRESENT TOWING COMPANIES IN ACCIDENT CLAIMS.
IT'S NOT EASY AT ALL.
THAT'S FOR DARN SURE.
THIS COMPANY IS ALWAYS THERE STANDING STRONG FOR VETERANS,
POLICE OFFICERS, AND FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
SO FOR THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE STEPP'S TOWING A TAMPA
CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION, WHICH MATT WILL HAND TO ME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO, GENTLEMEN, HERE YOU GO.
I KNOW WE HAVE CHIEF TRIPP, CHIEF O'CONNOR, IF ANYBODY WANTS
TO COME UP, PLEASE, BY ALL MEANS.
BEFORE I PRESENT, WE'LL HAVE OTHER FOLKS COME SPEAK.
COME ON UP.
9:37:33AM >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE TAMPA
POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL YOU DO TO SUPPORT US.
WE HAVE A HARD JOB AND OBVIOUSLY ALL THE SUPPORT WE CAN GET
WE REALLY APPRECIATE.
AND EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND, STEPP'S TOWING IS THERE FOR
US AND HAS BEEN FOR DECADES.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND WE CONTINUE TO OUR
LONG-LASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
THANK YOU.
9:37:57AM >> GOOD MORNING.
AND, WOW, SO I'VE BEEN HOLDING THIS OFF BECAUSE I KNEW THIS
DAY WAS COMING.
ON BEHALF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I REALLY WANT TO
APPRECIATE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE.
TOWING OUR VEHICLES.
WE COULD NOT FUNCTION IN THE CITY OF TAMPA WITHOUT YOUR
HELP.
THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN GET AROUND IF ONE BREAKS.
A COUPLE OF ENGINES YOU GUYS HAD TO TOW US.
THE MANY, MANY YEARS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THE CITY OF TAMPA
AND, OF COURSE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT, WE JUST
GREATLY APPRECIATE YOURSELF.
IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT I'VE BEEN HOLDING ON TO THIS.
ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRE CHIEF COIN.
THIS IS A COIN I WANT TO GIVE TO YOU.
THIS IS MY OWN PERSONAL COIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE -- WE DID THE HURRICANE
DONATION AND, OF COURSE, IF IT WASN'T FOR STEPP'S TOWING

COMPANY, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
WE LOCATED -- WE DID FIVE SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF
TAMPA, AND HIM AND HIS STAFF ACTUALLY TRANSPORTED THAT
VEHICLE EVERY NIGHT TO THE DIFFERENT LOCATION.
WE HAD ACTUALLY LIKE THREE TRUCKLOADS.
WE COMBINED IT INTO TWO.
WE SUCCESSFULLY DONATED DOWN TO LEE COUNTY DOWN IN FORT
MYERS WHO HELP THE HURRICANE VICTIMS.
ONCE AGAIN, THAT WAS A PARTNERSHIP THAT THEY WAS ABLE TO
HELP US.
OF COURSE, WE DIDN'T PAY HIM FOR GAS.
ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS GIVE HIM A HUG.
WE GREATLY YOU AND YOUR STAFF WORKING WITH US ON THAT.
LOOKING FOR MORE ADVENTURES.
9:39:38AM >> DEFINITELY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:39:42AM >> AS THE PBA PRESIDENT AND AS THE PBA MEMBERSHIP, WE WANT
TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALWAYS HAVING THAT BIG THIN BLUE LINE
FLAG UP.
THAT'S WHAT OUR OFFICERS LOOK AT WHEN WE'VE LOST ONE OF OUR
OWN.
YOU'VE ALWAYS HELPED US WITH EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH WHICH IS
AWESOME THAT YOU SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND ESPECIALLY
JESSE'S MEMORIAL, WHICH WAS RECENTLY OVER AT DISTRICT ONE.
THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, BIG MIKE.
I KNOW I SEE YOU ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE A PLAQUE FROM THE PBA.
APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, GUYS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:40:15AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
ANDREW CARTER, TAMPA FIRE WITH MATT AND RICK.
WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS
OF VEHICLES THAT YOU'VE DONATED FOR US TO REFINE OUR SKILLS
WITH EXTRICATION FROM FIRE ACADEMY TO ALL OF OUR STATIONS, I
MEAN, I'VE BEEN A PART OF SOME YOU JUST DROPPED OFF IN A
PARKING LOT NEXT TO A FIRE STATION SO WE CAN REFINE THOSE
SKILLS.
ON BEHALF OF THE 700 PLUS FIREFIGHTERS, WE CAN'T OFFER YOU A
NIGHT OUT IN OUR COMPANY LIMO, WE DON'T HAVE ONE, BUT WE
WANT TO OFFER OUR SINCERE THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:40:54AM >>LUIS VIERA:
ON BEHALF OF TAMPA CITY COUNCIL IN
COMMEMORATION AND HONOR OF ALL OF THE WORK YOU DO FOR PEOPLE
WHO RUN INTO SITUATIONS THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME AND THE VAST
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE RUN THE HELL AWAY FROM, WE GIVE YOU THIS
TAMPA CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION.
GOD BLESS YOU GUYS.
THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:41:16AM >> I'M SHOCKED.
I WAS JUST COMING HERE FOR THE OFFICER OF THE MONTH.
BUT I'M REALLY HUMBLED TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
IT'S VERY EASY WHEN YOU LIVE IN A CITY LIKE THIS WHERE THE
CITY HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO US AND IT'S VERY EASY TO GIVE
BACK TO THE CITY AS FAR AS FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DO TO GIVE
BACK.
SO WE'RE JUST KIND OF PAYING IT FORWARD.
I HAD A GREAT MENTOR, WHICH WAS MY DAD.
STARTING TO GET CHOKED UP.
BUT WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 62 YEARS IN BUSINESS AND FOR
ANOTHER 62 YEARS WE'LL KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE STILL CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT GREAT EMPLOYEES LIKE MIKE AND
THE REST OF OUR TEAM.
WE TREAT THEM MORE NOT LIKE EMPLOYEES BUT LIKE FAMILY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:42:13AM >> THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE EVERY
MONTH.
I'M GOING ON 23 YEARS WITH TODD.
WE GO WAY BACK AND I WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
AND WE'RE SO -- I SAY IT ALL THE TIME -- FOR THESE GUYS TO

SHOW UP TO BE PART OF WHAT WE DO.
I ALWAYS SAY THERE'S NO BETTER TEAMS OUT HERE THAN THE
PEOPLE SITTING IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITIES.
9:42:37AM >>LUIS VIERA:
THANK YOU.
ONE THING I'LL SAY LAST, IF I MAY, SOMETHING THAT I HEAR A
LOT FROM, ESPECIALLY A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS AND SOME
MILITARY FAMILIES IS THAT WHEN THEY MOVE TO TAMPA AND
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, THEY GO, BOY, THIS CITY SUPPORTS OUR
FIRST RESPONDERS AND WE SUPPORT VETERANS.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T.
AND THERE ARE SOME POLICE OFFICERS THAT COME FROM SOME
COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T.
WE ARE A VERY PATRIOTIC CITY.
WE ARE A VERY PATRIOTIC COUNTY.
AND WE SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT US.
SO THANK YOU.
9:43:05AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
9:43:06AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING OUR POLICE
OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS.
AS YOU SEE EVERY MONTH AND MAYBE YOU ALL SEE DAY TO DAY,
THEY HAVE SUCH A TOUGH JOB AND THEY WORK HARD AND WE CAN
NEVER SUPPLY THEM WITH ENOUGH PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES TO BE
SUPPORTIVE OF THEM.
THANK YOU FOR BEING ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO THANK

THEM PUBLICLY BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO MORE OF IT.
THANK YOU.
9:43:30AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
9:43:31AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
I SEE YOUR VEHICLES EVERYWHERE, PEOPLE SERVING ALL OVER THE
COMMUNITY.
BUT NOT JUST IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN WORKING WITH TPD AND
TAMPA FIRE, BUT AS COUNCILMAN VIERA MENTIONED, I THINK IT
WAS THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11, YOU WERE OUT THERE WITH
I BELIEVE -- YOU'RE ALWAYS OUT THERE WITH BIG AMERICAN FLAG,
AND THAT'S JUST ONE TIME, BUT IT'S MANY TIMES.
THE STEPP'S NAME IS HIGHLY RESPECTED.
YOU ARE THERE FOR US.
WE WANT TO BE THERE FOR YOU, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU
DO.
THANK YOU.
9:44:06AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
9:44:08AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS
WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU DONATED CARS FOR FIRE RESCUE TO
PRACTICE, WHICH IS REALLY AWESOME.
THANK YOU.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO ME IS SHOWING WHAT A SMALL BUSINESS
IN A CITY REALLY DOES TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU STAYING -- I MEAN, YOU'RE 62 YEARS

IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW ROOTED YOU ARE HERE AND HOW WILLING
YOU ARE TO HELP US AS A COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHAT SMALL BUSINESSES DO.
AND YOU EXEMPLIFY THAT IN SO MANY WAYS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO
HELP OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT ALSO OUR CITY.
9:44:52AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN GUDES.
9:44:54AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHEN
YOU HAVE A LOT OF THESE BIG ACCIDENTS, STEPP'S TOWING IS
PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW THAT HAS THE EQUIPMENT TO BE ABLE TO
HELP THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR POLICE IN SITUATIONS.
I MEAN, REAL MAJOR BAD ACCIDENT.
TALKING ABOUT OTHER SEMI TRAILER TRUCKS, FLIPOVERS.
THEY HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO GET THE JOB DONE AND WITHOUT THEM
AND THEIR BUSINESS, OUR FIRE AND POLICE WILL HAVE A TOUGH
TIME DEALING WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES OUT THERE, INCIDENTS IN
THE CITY.
AGAIN, YOU WORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE
YOU AS A PARTNER AND ESPECIALLY COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK'S
BUSINESS PARTNER TO GIVE BACK.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
YOU GIVE IT RIGHT BACK.
AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND GLAD THAT YOU'RE A PART OF THE
TEAM.
9:45:40AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.

9:45:41AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. STEPP, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I THINK YOU SAID IT ALL WHEN YOU SAID YOU DON'T HAVE
EMPLOYEES; YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS.
YOU MAKE BELIEVE THEY ARE EMPLOYEES.
WHEN YOU HAVE THAT TYPE OF ORGANIZATION, EVERYBODY WORKS
TOGETHER.
EVERYBODY STAYS TOGETHER, AND THE JOBS ARE COMPLETED ON
TIME.
AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES A BUSINESS A BUSINESS.
NOT ABOUT JUST A NUMBER AND EMPLOYEE.
NOT ABOUT SAYING YOU WORK FROM 8 TO 5.
I GUARANTEE THOSE EMPLOYEES WORK LONGER AND HARDER THAN
ANYONE ELSE.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY ARE CONSIDERED FAMILY.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT TYPE OF UNDERSTANDING AND
COHESIVENESS IN THE SYSTEM, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE SUCCESSFUL.
I THINK THAT COMES FROM YOUR FATHER.
I KNEW YOUR FATHER AND PARENTS VERY WELL.
ONE DAY SITTING IN ONE OF THOSE FUNCTIONS FOR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, HE WAS TALKING TO ME ABOUT BUSINESS AND HOW IT'S
DONE AND HOW THANKFUL HE WAS THAT HE HAD SOMEONE IN THE
FAMILY THAT WAS GOING TO TAKE OVER.
AND HE WAS A REAL REALISTIC MAN, AND HE EVEN TALKED TO ME

ABOUT YOUR SISTER.
I THINK SHE WAS A NURSE AT SOME TRAUMA CENTER AT TAMPA
GENERAL HOSPITAL, I MAY BE INCORRECT BUT THAT WAS YEARS AGO.
YOUR FAMILY IS NOT ONLY IN THIS BUSINESS, BUT IN THE
BUSINESS OF HELPING PEOPLE.
AND WHEN YOU HELP PEOPLE AND YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE
REALLY FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE
YOUR PLAN IS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE HAS.
AND THANK GOD ELON MUSK DIDN'T TAKE OVER STEPP'S, THERE
WOULD BE NO EMPLOYEES.
I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
YOUR WHOLE FAMILY SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED.
I KNOW YOU ARE THE LEADER.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE YOUR
EMPLOYEES.
MUCHAS GRACIAS.
9:47:26AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
THANK YOU FOR BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE
CITY OF TAMPA.
WE HEAR THE WORD FAMILY.
HEARD IT ALL DAY LONG.
YOU ARE PART OF THE CITY OF TAMPA FAMILY.
THANK YOU.
BUT I JUST GOT TO SAY THIS.
JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE BIG TIME AT NASCAR NOW DOESN'T MEAN
YOU'RE GOING TO LEAD THE CITY OF TAMPA.

[ LAUGHTER ]
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
9:47:46AM >> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
[ SOUNDING GAVEL ]
9:49:24AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
GOOD MORNING AGAIN, COUNCIL.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE A TREAT FOR YOU THIS MORNING.
I RAN ACROSS I WILL SAY A JEWEL IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I SAW MS. TONYA LEWIS.
WHERE IS SHE?
COME HERE.
EVERYONE KNOWS MS. LEWIS AND THE JEWEL THAT SHE ALSO IS IN
OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT SHE DOES.
I WANT HER TO TELL NANCY'S STORY A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT
WILL TOUCH A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS MORNING.
IF YOU WOULD, MS. LEWIS.
9:49:56AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
I WANTED TO SAY I RAN ACROSS MS. NANCY ROJAS BECAUSE OF CARE
PLUS HEALTH PLAN.
THEY ASKED ME TO GO SEE MS. NANCY.
WHEN I SEEN MS. NANCY, I SEEN, AS COUNCILMAN ORLANDO GUDES
SAID, A JEWEL THAT WAS HIDDEN IN TAMPA.
MS. NANCY ROJAS, PASTOR NANCY ROJAS HAS HER OWN STORY OF
BEING IN A HUMAN TRAFFICKING SEX SURVIVOR 27 YEARS, NOT JUST
BEING A PASTOR, A SURVIVOR.

SHE IS A CANCER SURVIVOR TWICE.
ALSO, SHE HAS A PANTRY RIGHT ON NEBRASKA AND MLK.
AND NOT JUST A PANTRY, SHE HAS A CHURCH NEXT DOOR.
SHE FEEDS MILLIONS OF TONS OF FOOD TO TAMPA.
SUPPLY MANY ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPLY MANY HEALTH PLAN
ORGANIZATIONS.
SHE TRAVELED TO PLANT CITY.
SHE TRAVELED TO LAKELAND.
SHE TRAVELS EVERYWHERE.
NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT MS. NANCY.
YOU KNOW ME, ANYTIME I SAY ANYTHING IN THE COMMUNITY, I'M
GOING TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY KNOWS.
SHE FEEDS THE HOMELESS.
THEY COME DAILY, AND EVER SINCE I MET MS. NANCY, I'VE BEEN
THERE EVERY OTHER DAY DONATING MY HELP UPON MY BUSY
SCHEDULE, BUT YOU CANNOT GO THERE AND NOT HELP BECAUSE SHE
FEEDS SO MANY.
WHEN THEY COME TO THE DOOR, SHE DON'T CARE WHO THEY ARE.
SHE MINISTERS TO THEM.
SHE GOES INTO STRIP CLUBS AND MINISTERS TO THE STRIPPERS AND
GIVES AWAY CONDOMS AND PREACH THE GOSPEL INSIDE OF A STRIP
CLUB.
SHE IS TRULY GOD'S SERVANT.
WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE MS. NANCY DOING SO MUCH GOOD IN
THE COMMUNITY, WE SHOULD ALL BE A PART OF IT.

I TELL YOU, MS. NANCY, I RESPECT YOU.
SHE'S MORE LIKE NOW A SISTER THAN ANYTHING BECAUSE I GO, MY
WHOLE MORNING IS GET UP AND GO SEE WHAT MS. NANCY NEED
TODAY.
AND I'M THERE IN THE BIG HEAVY SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCKS
EVERY DAY THAT COMES TO HER PLACE OF MINISTRY THAT SHE IS
UNDERSTAFFED, UNDERSTAFFED, AND WHEN YOU HAVE WOMEN THAT
GETTING IN SEMI TRACTOR TRAILERS AND TAKING TEN PALLETS OF
FOOD OVER DAY WITH HER HUSBAND, WHICH WANTED TO BE HERE, BUT
HE'S PASSING OUT FOOD, THAT SENIOR CITIZENS, EVERY DAY,
BEYOND PASSING OUT FOOD TO THE COMMUNITY, THEY PACK 200, 350
BAGS OF FOOD EVERY DAY AND DELIVER IT ON THEIR TRUCKS.
SO A JEWEL HIDDEN, A JEWEL NEED TO BE KNOWN IN TAMPA.
EVERY DAY PEOPLE CAN COME TO HER MINISTRY, NO MATTER WHAT.
SHE TURNS DOWN NO ONE, AND SHE GIVES OUT FOOD.
IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT, CITY COUNCIL, YOU NEED TO SEE IT
EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 10:00.
THE UNDERSERVED FAMILIES THAT ARE NOW DOUBLING IN THIS
COMMUNITY, SHE FEEDS THEM EVERY DAY AND EVERY WEDNESDAY.
IT'S CARS GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN NEBRASKA JUST TO COME AND
RECEIVE SERVICES.
SO THAT'S WHY I INVITED ORLANDO, CITY COUNCILMAN ORLANDO TO
COME PERSONALLY SEE IT, BECAUSE IT'S HIS DISTRICT.
AND NOT THAT IT'S JUST HIS DISTRICT, WE ALL AS COMMUNITY AND
LEADERS NEED TO SEE MS. NANCY'S MINISTRY.

9:53:32AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
THAT'S WHY I SAID, GENTLEMEN, SHE WAS A
JEWEL.
SOMEONE CALLED ME ABOUT THIS JEWEL.
THAT'S WHY I HAD TO GO SEE FOR MYSELF.
SHE'S CORRECT.
BUT WHAT'S TOUCHING IS WHEN YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO HAS SOME
CHALLENGES IN THEIR LIFE, NOT OF THEIR OWN DOING, BUT WHO
HAS COME OUT OF THAT AND HAS MINISTERED TO PEOPLE.
SHE'S GOD'S CHILD BECAUSE SHE'S MINISTERING TO THOSE AND
GIVING PROPHECIES, THOSE THAT NEED TO HEAR THOSE THINGS TO
GET THEM OUT OF THE GUTTER AND SEE ALL THE CARS BACK UP
TOWARD CHELSEA AND NEBRASKA AND SHE'S OUT THERE FEEDING
MULTIPLE PEOPLE, I HAD TO DO SOMETHING.
I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING.
MS. NANCY, WHAT I WANT TO DO THIS MORNING IS PRESENT YOU
WITH A TAMPA CITY COMMENDATION.
IN RECOGNITION OF ALL YOUR WORK YOU'VE DONE THROUGHOUT THE
YEARS AND YOU CONTINUE TO DO NOW, THE FOOD SERVICES AND
EVERYTHING, THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW, THE CITY COUNCIL OF
TAMPA IS PROUD TO PRESENT THIS COMMENDATION TO NANCY ROJAS
HERNANDEZ WHO IS THE TYPE OF COMMUNITY ADVOCATE WHO INSPIRES
EVERYONE SHE ENCOUNTERS, DEDICATION LIFE MISSION TO DOING
GOD'S WORK AND DEVOTED IN SERVICE TO HER COMMUNITY.
NANCY ROJAS HERNANDEZ, YOU ARE A GREAT ASSET TO THE CITY OF
TAMPA.

PRESENTED THIS DAY, THE 8th OF NOVEMBER 2022.
9:55:01AM >> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:55:06AM >> I SAY THANK YOU.
I'M A SURVIVOR.
NO MORE HUMAN TRAFFIC.
I'M IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:55:28AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
THIS IS A REALLY, AS YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, IT IS A HUGE
PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN OUR AREA.
WE NEED MORE OF YOU TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE PEOPLE SUFFERING
UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.
PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU AND HELP SOLVE THESE
PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
9:55:48AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN VIERA.
9:55:49AM >>LUIS VIERA:
THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GUDES, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THANK YOU, MA'AM, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT LIFE IS KIND OF LIKE A LADDER.
YOU MAYBE CLIMB UP A LADDER, MAY DO IT AS A VICTIM OF ABUSE,
MAY DO IT AS TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR, REFUGEE, WHATEVER IT IS,
ONCE YOU CLIMB THAT LADDER, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE

PEOPLE BEHIND YOU CLIMBING THE SAME LADDER THAT YOU CLIMBED
BEFORE.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT BECAUSE OF YOUR EMPATHY
AND YOUR HEART.
JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND FOR WEARING YOUR
HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE TODAY BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY.
THANK YOU, MA'AM.
9:56:19AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
9:56:20AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
YOU ARE THE BEST OF US.
YOU ARE WHAT MAKES THIS COMMUNITY SO SPECIAL BECAUSE YOU'RE
OUT THERE DOING THE WORK, HELPING PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND YOUR WORK REALLY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE SERVICE THAT YOU
PROVIDE TO THIS COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HELP.
THE LINES THAT FORM.
YOU DON'T TURN ANYBODY AWAY.
YOU GIVE PEOPLE HOPE AND YOU GIVE THEM A POSITIVE MESSAGE
AND YOU TRY TO LIFT THEM UP.
AND THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.
SO WE THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS, AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
9:56:54AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
9:56:55AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I WANT TO ECHO THE THANKS.
WHAT YOU DO IS AMAZING.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING AND SEEING IT FOR MYSELF
BECAUSE THAT JUST SOUNDS PHENOMENAL.
FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO TAKE YOUR TRAUMA AND YOUR PAIN AND BE
ABLE TO GO THROUGH IT AND BUILD FROM IT AND CREATE AN
AMAZING PROGRAM, IF YOU HAVE TRACTOR TRAILERS COMING EVERY
DAY, NOT ONLY ARE YOU A SURVIVOR, YOU'RE AN AMAZING
BUSINESSWOMAN BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOUND A WAY TO TALK
TO ALL THESE PEOPLE, BRING THEM ALL TOGETHER, SO JUST THANK
YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT REALLY JUST AN AMAZING ASSET TO EVERYONE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THE FACT THAT YOU ALSO THEN GO OUT AND DELIVER.
SO YOU OFFER SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND YOU KNOW
HOW IMPORTANT THAT REALLY IS.
SO THANK YOU FOR REALLY THINKING OF EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF
THIS.
9:57:59AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
9:58:00AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[NOT SPEAKING ENGLISH]
IN ESSENCE, I'M SAYING THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
THE STEPLADDER THAT COUNCILMAN VIERA WAS TALKING ABOUT, SHE
GIVES PEOPLE A HAND UP, NOT A PUSH DOWN.
TO HER AND TO HER FAMILY AND TO HER FRIENDS WHO ARE HELPING
PEOPLE THAT THE RAY OF HOPE IS ONLY HER IS SOMETHING THAT
SHE STARTED AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE REST OF HER LIFE.

MUCHAS GRACIAS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
9:59:05AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
SEÑORA.
SEÑORA, THANK YOU FOR BEING AN APOSTLE AND DOING THE WORK OF
OUR LORD.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:59:45AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
LOOK AT THEM SHOES, MAN.
MAN, YOU LOOK GOOD, MAN.
MR. WASHINGTON, COME UP AND TELL THE STORY HERE.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A STORM.
AND I WAS GOING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE I DO ON THE
WEEKENDS.
I HAPPENED TO CALL MR. WASHINGTON, OUR SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR
TO TELL HIM ABOUT A SITUATION.
HE SAID, COUNCILMAN, I'M OUT OF TOWN.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES.
HE MADE IT TO THE NATIONALS FOR TRUCK DRIVING FOR THE SOLID
WASTE TRUCKS.
SO I'LL LET HIM TELL THE STORY OF MR. BILLINGSLEY AND THEN
WE'LL GET TO THE PRESENTATION.
YOU TELL ME THE PROCESS AND THINGS THAT GO ON.
10:00:29AM >> IN ADDITION TO MYSELF SPEAKING, MR. STEVE SWAN, HE IS OUR
CHIEF OF OPERATIONS, HE CHAMPIONS THE ROAD-E-O.
THAT WAS THE COMPETITION I WAS AT WHEN COUNCILMAN GUDES

CALLED ME.
SO WHEN I RECEIVED THE CALL, I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY.
HEY, COUNCILMAN GUDES, I'M RIGHT HERE.
I HEAR YOU.
KIND OF LOUD IN THE BACKGROUND BECAUSE THE TEAMS ARE
CURRENTLY RUNNING.
I SHOT THE INFORMATION BACK TO MY TEAM THAT WAS CURRENTLY,
OF COURSE, STATIONED HERE.
THEY TOOK CARE OF THE JOB.
BUT WE HAD TO DEFINITELY SUPPORT JB, MR. JOHN BILLINGSLEY,
IN THE COMPETITION.
EXCUSE ME, LARRY WASHINGTON, DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT.
SO, OF COURSE, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE JB, JOHN
BILLINGSLEY, FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERNATIONAL SWANA
ROAD-E-O.
THE ROAD-E-O IN ITSELF IS A COMPETITION TO SHARPEN SKILL
SETS ESSENTIALLY.
WASN'T OUT THERE WRANGLING BRONCO OR CATTLE.
HE WAS PARTICIPATING IN THE COMPETITION DRIVING A REAL LOAD
AND TRUCK.
SWANA STANDS FOR SOLID WASTE AMERICAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
IF YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THIS, WHAT THE BAR
ASSOCIATION IS FOR LAWYERS, THIS IS WHAT SWANA IS FOR SOLID
WASTE EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS IN THAT FIELD.

SO THIS IS A PRESTIGIOUS -- APPRECIATE THAT.
THIS IS VERY PRESTIGIOUS FOR HIM TO EVEN GO TO EL PASO TO
PARTICIPATE AND TO QUALIFY FOR THIS COMPETITION.
MR. STEVE SWAN WILL STEP UP AND GIVE MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE
PROGRAM ITSELF THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. J. B.
10:02:06AM >> GOOD MORNING.
STEVE SWAN, CHIEF OF OPERATIONS SOLID WASTE.
JB, JOHN BILLINGSLEY, HE WENT TO EL PASO TO REPRESENT US AS
A SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT.
HE STARTED WITH OUR LOCAL ROAD-E-O, WHICH WE DO EVERY YEAR,
THIS DEPARTMENT.
HE HELPED US TO GROW THAT PARTICIPATION IN THE ROAD-E-O.
A FEW YEARS BACK, WE HAD SIX, TEN PEOPLE.
NOW UP TO 30, 40 PEOPLE COMING OUT TO SHOW OFF THEIR SKILLS
AND THE THOUSANDS OF HOURS THAT THEY GO OUT ON THE STREET.
HE ALSO SERVES AS A LEAD DRIVER AND ALSO AN INTERIM
SUPERVISOR, IN ADDITION TO DOING THE ROAD-E-O, HE HAS A LOT
OF OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A TEAM OF OVER 20 PEOPLE, ALL
OF WHICH WANTED TO BE HERE BUT THEY ARE SERVICING THE
STREETS.
IT STARTS WITH THE LOCAL ROAD-E-O WITH US.
WE'LL HOST THE FLORIDA STATE COMING UP IN APRIL.
WE WERE CHOSEN AS PART OF THIS PROCESS BECAUSE OF THE
OUTSTANDING WORK.
GOES TO J. B. AND THEN THE NATIONALS WERE IN EL PASO.

ABOUT 75 PEOPLE TURN OUT FOR THE WHOLE COMPETITION FROM
DOZERS TO REAR LOADERS, FRONT LOADERS, ALL ACROSS THE
CATEGORIES OF WHAT SOLID WASTE DOES.
JOHN WAS THERE TO REPRESENT US.
HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
HUGE SUCCESS.
NOT EVERYBODY GETS TO GO AND GET PICKED.
HE WON OUR STATE'S IN FORT MYERS AND WAS CHOSEN TO GO TO EL
PASO.
15 YEARS IT'S BEEN SINCE WE'VE HAD REPRESENTATION FROM TAMPA
AT THIS EVENT NATIONALLY.
CONGRATS, J. B.
YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
10:03:30AM >>ORLANDO GUDES:
THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE
PEOPLE WHO DO GOOD WORK.
AS YOU CAN TELL IN HERE, HE'S NOW GOT MORE FOLKS TO BE A
PART OF THE PROCESS.
GET THE COMPETITION GOING A LITTLE BIT.
THE MORALE GOING A LITTLE BIT.
AND TO BE A PERSON WHO PLACED OUT OF STATE TO GO TO THE BIG
DANCE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT HONOR.
I HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZED YOU.
THIS MORNING, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAMPA IS PROUD

TO PRESENT THIS COMMENDATION TO JOHN BILLINGSLEY, OPTIMISM,
DEDICATION, EXECUTION, EVERYONE ADMIRES.
JOHN IS A GREAT ASSET TO THE CITY OF TAMPA.
PRESENTED THIS 8th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2022.
[ APPLAUSE ]
10:04:20AM >> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR HAVING ME
HERE.
I'M NOT MUCH OF A SPEAKER, BUT I JUST APPRECIATE YOU GUYS
FOR HAVING ME HERE AND PRESENTING ME WITH THIS AWARD.
[ APPLAUSE ]
10:04:35AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
10:04:37AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THANKS SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
PLEASE KEEP US POSTED ON ALL YOUR AWARDS AND ACCOLADES AND
ALSO LET US KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO SUPPORT YOU
AND YOUR COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU.
10:04:50AM >>LUIS VIERA:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT YOU TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN YOUR WORK AND THE
WORK THAT YOU DO KEEPS OUR CITY RUNNING ON TIME ON JUST CORE
CRITICAL ISSUES.
IT'S VERY HONORABLE WORK.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT WORK, BUT IT'S WORK THAT YOU OBVIOUSLY
DO SO WELL THAT YOU'RE BEING HONORED BEFORE CITY COUNCIL FOR
IT.
SO THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE WATCHING AND
SEEING THIS GREAT MOMENT OF PRIDE FOR YOU.
THANK YOU.
10:05:18AM >> APPRECIATE IT.
10:05:18AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
YOU MAKE US PROUD, YOU AND YOUR WHOLE TEAM.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
AND IT IS WELL DESERVED.
CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.
10:05:28AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT TAMPA DRIVERS GIVE YOU PLENTY OF PRACTICE.
SO YOU WERE WELL PREPARED.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR WINNING THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL.
THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEND
SOMEONE FROM TAMPA.
SO THAT YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE SO PROUD OF THAT
ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THE FACT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO NATIONALS, I
KNOW IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN A REALLY WONDERFUL THING.
I WANT TO ALSO THANK MR. WASHINGTON FOR GOING AND
SUPPORTING.
I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.
WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR COLLEAGUES WHEREVER THEY ARE.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU

DO AND ALL THE WORK I KNOW YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO.
10:06:17AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. BILLINGSLEY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATED
SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF TAMPA.
AND WHEN YOU MADE IT TO THE NATIONALS, IT WASN'T JUST, HERE
I AM.
YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH A STATE PROCESS.
YOU HAD TO WIN THE STATE AND YOU DID.
IT'S LIKE NOW WHEN YOU GO TO THE NATIONAL, IT'S LIKE GOING
TO A SUPER BOWL OR A WORLD SERIES.
NOT TOO MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT PLAY THAT SPORT GET TO SAY I
PARTICIPATED IN THE SUPER BOWL OR I PARTICIPATED IN THE HALL
OF FAME, I MEAN, THE FINALS FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN
BASEBALL.
ONLY THOSE THAT MAKE IT.
AND YOU MADE IT, MAN.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS, YOU REPRESENTED THE CITY OF TAMPA AND
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST AND WHAT YOU ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO BECAUSE NOW THEY ARE GOING TO SAY,
IF HE CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT.
AND THAT COMPETITION STARTS TO GET A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER AND
A LITTLE BIT MORE INGENIOUS TO SAY I WANT TO BEAT
BILLINGSLEY.
NOT THAT I WANT TO BEAT YOU BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN'T.
[ LAUGHTER ]

BUT THE SYSTEM IS A LITTLE TIGHTER.
BECAUSE YOU SETTING THE STANDARD, THAT'S WHAT OTHERS WILL
HAVE TO FOLLOW.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING THE STANDARD BEARER OF THE CITY OF
TAMPA SAYING, IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
10:07:28AM >> MUCH APPRECIATED.
10:07:29AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
SIR, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING OFF YOUR SKILLS.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR THAT.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THAT TAMPA CAN
SHINE.
YOU REPRESENTED US VERY WELL.
THANK YOU, MY FRIEND.
10:07:40AM >> APPRECIATE IT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
10:07:49AM >>JOSEPH CITRO:
WE HAVE NOTHING FURTHER ON OUR AGENDA.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'RE ADJOURNED.
[ SOUNDING GAVEL ]

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