CRA MEETING
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2024, 9:00 A.M.

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8:59:52AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO THE CRA MEETING, NOVEMBER 14, 2024.
WE'LL STAND FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE.
[MOMENT OF SILENCE]
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
9:00:35AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
YES, SIR.
9:00:38AM >> [INAUDIBLE]
9:00:39AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ABSOLUTELY.
9:00:40AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST.
9:00:43AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
EXCUSE ME, MR. MIRANDA.
LET'S DO THE ROLL CALL FIRST AND THEN WE'LL DO THAT.
9:00:49AM >>BILL CARLSON:
HERE.
9:00:50AM >> HURTAK?
CLENDENIN?
MANISCALCO?
9:00:53AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
HERE.
9:00:54AM >> VIERA?

MIRANDA?
9:00:55AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
HERE.
9:00:57AM >> HENDERSON?
9:00:58AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
PRESENT.
9:00:59AM >>THE CLERK:
WE HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM.
9:01:01AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
HURTAK IS HERE.
OKAY.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED MR. MIRANDA.
9:01:06AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE A FRIEND OF OURS.
MARLEY BROXSON.
WE MET WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER.
WE TALKED ABOUT GRADES IN SCHOOL.
I TOLD HER ANYTIME YOU MAKE As, YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO
COME, GIVE A CALL AND INTRODUCE YOU TO CITY HALL.
SHE IS AN A STUDENT ACADEMY PREP STUDENT OF TAMPA.
I SAID HERE IS A CHANCE FOR YOU TO COME.
HERE SHE IS.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MARLEY BROXSON TO THE WHOLE GANG
HERE.
9:01:36AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WELCOME, MARLEY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:01:41AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WELCOME.
WE HAVE MORE GIRL POWER UP HERE AT THE DAIS, SO THAT'S

ALWAYS GOOD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ENJOY YOUR DAY WITH US.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE SEPTEMBER 12 MINUTES,
PLEASE?
9:01:53AM >> SO MOVED.
9:01:53AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
SECOND.
9:01:54AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
MOTION CARRIES.
SO, MR. McCRAY, LET'S COME BEFORE US AND SET THE AGENDA
FOR US TODAY.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF REQUESTS TO MOVE A FEW THINGS AROUND DUE
TO SOME TIMING.
YES, SIR.
9:02:08AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
GOOD MORNING.
CEDRIC McCRAY, INTERIM DIRECTOR TAMPA CRA.
GLAD TO SEE EVERYONE THIS MORNING.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ADJUST, IF
POSSIBLE.
IF WE COULD MOVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AWARDS PRESENTATION
UP ON THE AGENDA PRIOR TO ITEM NUMBER 1.
NEEDS TO LEAVE EXPEDIENTLY FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AS WELL.
THEN THERE WAS ALSO A REQUEST --
9:02:33AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WHAT NUMBER IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION?
9:02:35AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
IT IS UNDER DIRECTOR'S REPORT, NUMBER 2.

9:02:38AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THAT'S WHY WE DON'T SEE IT.
9:02:42AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
THEN I BELIEVE WE ALSO WANTED TO PULL FOR
DISCUSSION ITEM 15.
RELATED TO THE THIRD AMENDMENT STRAZ CENTER.
AND THEN --
9:02:53AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
9:02:55AM >> AYE.
9:02:58AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION FOR THE
AWARD BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, RIGHT,
MR. MASSEY?
9:03:07AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
I THINK HE'S ASKING FOR A PORTION OF THE
DIRECTOR'S REPORT TO OCCUR MR. ROBINSON'S PRESENTATION,
WHICH IS NUMBER ONE ON THE AGENDA.
9:03:17AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT.
THANK YOU AND MIRANDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
9:03:24AM >> AYE.
9:03:25AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WE'RE MOVING UP A REPORT.
OKAY.
SO NUMBER 15 HAS BEEN PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
WHAT ELSE?
9:03:35AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
AND NUMBER 17 AS WELL AS IT RELATES TO
MR. SHEPARD.

9:03:40AM >> SO MOVED, SECOND.
9:03:41AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
HURTAK AND SECOND BY MANISCALCO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
ANYTHING ELSE?
9:03:47AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
THAT'S IT.
9:03:48AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ANYBODY ELSE UP HERE NEED TO PULL
SOMETHING, TALK ABOUT SOMETHING?
9:03:53AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I THOUGHT WE HAD A FEW THINGS TO CONTINUE.
9:03:57AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
I THINK THE STAFF IS ASKING TO BE CONTINUED
--
9:04:02AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
NUMBER 3.
YES, I APOLOGIZE.
9:04:04AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
YES, NUMBER 3 --
9:04:07AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
CEDRIC, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE LEAD
ON THAT.
9:04:11AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
NUMBER 3 RELATES TO THE CRA STAFF POSITION
RELATED TO PUBLIC ARTS.
WE'RE ASKING THAT BE CONTINUED TO THE DECEMBER MEETING.
9:04:18AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
MOTION BY HURTAK.
SECOND BY MANISCALCO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
9:04:23AM >> AYE.
9:04:23AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL PARK AND TAMPA
HEIGHTS CRP UPDATES, ITEM NUMBER 5.

9:04:30AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
THAT WOULD BE MOVED TO THE JANUARY 16.
9:04:35AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
JANUARY 16.
9:04:37AM >> SO MOVED.
9:04:38AM >> SECOND.
9:04:39AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
9:04:41AM >> AYE.
9:04:41AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
MOTION CARRIES.
NOW CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES?
THE AGENDA?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
9:04:49AM >> AYE.
9:04:50AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
MOTION CARRIES.
LET'S GET THIS PARTY -- I MEAN, NOT PARTY.
IT'S NOT A PARTY.
I SAY THAT IN THE CLASSROOM.
EXCUSE ME.
LET'S GET THIS MEETING GOING.
9:05:06AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
MOST OF YOU KNOW, THE TAMPA CRAs WERE
AWARDED AWARD FOR PARKING IN WEST TAMPA.
THE CEREMONY HAS HELD LAST MONTH.
WE JUST WANTED TO HAVE MS. ZORNITTA COME UP AND PRESENT THE
AWARD FORMALLY TO THE CRA BOARD.
9:05:29AM >> GOOD MORNING.
MELISSA ZORNITTA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HILLSBOROUGH

COUNTY CITY-COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION.
AS CEDRIC MENTIONED, AT OUR PLANNING AND DESIGN AWARDS, HELD
ON OCTOBER 30th, OUR PANEL OF EXPERT JUDGES FROM OUTSIDE
OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY RECOGNIZED THE WEST TAMPA CRA PARKING
STUDY WITH AN AWARD OF OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION.
THE JUDGES WERE IMPRESSED WITH THE STUDY TACKLING ONE OF
WEST TAMPA'S MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS -- PARKING -- IN A WAY
THAT BALANCES THE AREA'S HISTORICAL CHARACTER WITH MODERN
INFRASTRUCTURE DEMANDS.
THE PARKING SOLUTIONS WILL BE INTEGRAL TO SUPPORTING GROWTH,
ENHANCING WALKABILITY AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE, AND THE
JUDGES PRAISED THE STUDY FOR ITS THOROUGHNESS AND USER
FRIENDLY PRESENTATION AND APPLAUDED THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
THAT BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE TO THE FOREFRONT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TAMPA CRA AND POND AND COMPANY WHO
WORKED ON THE PROJECT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
9:06:35AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WHO GETS TO KEEP THE AWARD?
9:09:01AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
ARE WE READY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT OR ARE YOU
GOING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE?
9:09:05AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU CAN LINE UP.
WE DON'T HAVE CARDS FOR THIS ONE.
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
9:09:23AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
JUST REAL QUICKLY, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

ARE ALLOWED A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
CRA MEETING TO ADDRESS ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA BEFORE THE CRA
TAKES OFFICIAL ACTION ON AN ITEM.
HOWEVER, THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT APPLIES TO ALL SPEAKERS
PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT.
UNLESS SUCH TIME FRAME IS MODIFIED OR WAIVED BY A VOTE OF
THE CRA BOARD.
SPEAKERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED THEY ARE TO
REFRAIN FROM DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR INCLUDING VULGAR OR
THREATENING REMARKS OR MAKING OR CAUSING DISRUPTIVE NOISES,
SOUNDS OR DISPLAYING SOUNDS OR GRAPHICS.
SPEAKERS ARE ALSO REMINDED TO REFRAIN FROM LAUNCHING
PERSONAL ATTACKS OF ANY NATURE.
THE CHAIR WILL RULE OUT OF ORDER ANY PERSON WHO SPEAKS
WITHOUT BEING RECOGNIZING OR ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THE CRA
FROM OUTSIDE THE SPEAKER AREA AT THE PODIUM.
PEOPLE FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE CRA RULES MAY BE ALSO
RULED OUT OF ORDER AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR MAY BE
REMOVED FROM THE CHAMBER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THAT DAY'S CRA
MEETINGS.
FINALLY, MEMBERS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING A SPEAKER
UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT.
CITY COUNCIL RULES REVISED JUNE 6, 2024, NOW IN EFFECT FOR
THE CRA BOARD UNLESS OTHERWISE EXEMPTED OR OVERRIDDEN BY THE
CRA BOARD BYLAWS.

9:10:32AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
9:10:34AM >> GOOD MORNING.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS OMAR GARCIA.
I'M THE MAJORITY OWNER OF 220 MADISON LOCATED ON MADISON AND
FRANKLIN STREET.
IT IS A NATIONALLY, HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED BUILDING IN
DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
PRIOR TO US TAKING OWNERSHIP, IT WAS VERY BLIGHTED.
IT WAS PRIMARILY EMPTY, AND SERIOUS STATE OF DISREPAIR.
TODAY, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HOUSE 136 UNIVERSITY OF
TAMPA STUDENTS ALONG WITH CVS RETAIL LOCATION AND TWO
RESTAURANTS.
IT'S RADICALLY CHANGED THE AREA, WE BELIEVE.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE PROMISE OF OUR CITY AND INVESTING IN
CREATING A VIBRANT AND ENGAGING SPACE FOR TAMPA RESIDENTS,
STUDENTS AND VISITORS.
WE'VE DONE THAT ALSO WITH OUR CIGAR PROJECTS IN WEST TAMPA.
TODAY, I WANT TO ADDRESS A PRESSING NEED FOR MORE
REVITALIZATION ON FRANKLIN STREET, A CORRIDOR THAT HAS STOOD
AS A SYMBOL OF TAMPA'S HERITAGE AND COMMERCE SINCE THE
CITY'S EARLY DAYS.
FRANKLIN STREET IS ONE OF THE OLDEST STREETS IN TAMPA, A
PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY HUB THAT PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN OUR
CITY'S HISTORY.

YET AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE AREA HAS UNFORTUNATELY DECLINED
OVER RECENT YEARS.
THE EFFECTS OF THIS DECLINE ARE EVIDENT.
CLOSED BUSINESSES, FIRE DAMAGED BUILDINGS, AND THE SIGNS OF
BLIGHT THAT HAVE IMPACTED ITS APPEAL.
HOMELESSNESS, LOITERING AND OTHER ISSUES HAVE DIMINISHED
FRANKLIN STREET'S CHARACTER AND ABILITY TO ATTRACT VIBRANT
PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AND ACTIVITY THAT IT ONCE DID.
AS A TAMPA NATIVE AND BUSINESS OWNER, IT'S TROUBLING TO SEE
NEWCOMERS AND VISITORS ALIKE EXPRESS SURPRISE, EVEN
DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE STATE OF ONE OF OUR MOST HISTORIC
STREETS.
FRANKLIN STREET'S DECLINE DOES NOT REFLECT TAMPA AS WE KNOW
IT AND THE VALUES OF PROGRESS THAT TAMPA HAS WHILE HONORING
ITS PAST.
THE DOWNTOWN TAMPA PARTNERSHIP HAS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN TO RESTORE THE FRANKLIN STREET CORRIDOR, EMPHASIZING A
STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, ENHANCING
LIGHTING AND THE CREATION OF A WELCOMING PEDESTRIAN
ENVIRONMENT.
THIS PHASED PLAN IS NOT JUST ABOUT BEAUTIFICATION; IT'S
ABOUT CREATING AN INVITING ATMOSPHERE THAT ENCOURAGES
BUSINESSES TO INVEST, FAMILIES TO VISIT, AND PEDESTRIANS TO
ENJOY OUR DOWNTOWN CORE.
AS A CITY, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO RESTORE FRANKLIN STREET TO

ITS FORMER GLORY, AN AREA THAT RESIDENTS CAN BE PROUD OF AND
VISITORS CAN ADMIRE.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THIS GRANT REQUEST AS AN ESSENTIAL STEP
TOWARDS ACTIVATING THAT VISION, A STEP THAT WILL ALIGN
FRANKLIN STREET'S IDENTITY WITH THE DYNAMIC GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT TAMPA IS EXPERIENCING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROJECT
THAT WILL BRING LASTING BENEFITS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR
CHILDREN.
THANK YOU.
9:13:28AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
WHY DIDN'T YOU LET HER READ IT?
[ LAUGHTER ]
9:13:33AM >> SHE DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS COMING TODAY.
9:13:34AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WELL, THANK YOU FOR STANDING AND
SUPPORTING.
9:13:37AM >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
9:13:39AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
GOOD MORNING.
WOMAN OF THE YEAR, WEST TAMPA.
ARE YOU READY?
9:14:14AM >> I'M WAITING FOR THAT TO BE PASSED ON.
NOW I'M READY.
9:14:18AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
OKAY.
9:14:19AM >> GOOD MORNING, CRA BOARD.
MY NAME IS SANDY DE DIEGO SANCHEZ.

I'M ON THE WEST TAMPA CAC BOARD.
I'M HERE AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
MR. ROBINSON, OUR CHAIRMAN, IS HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
BECAUSE OF THE SUNSHINE LAW, WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED, NOR DO I
KNOW, IF HE AGREES WITH MY CONCERNS.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION THROUGH YOU IS ASKING
THE WEST TAMPA CRA TO PAY FOR CITY IMPROVEMENTS.
THINGS THAT ARE NOT CRITICAL TO THE GOALS OF IMPROVING
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN WEST TAMPA.
IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANS
TO DEVELOP A BUSINESS DISTRICT IN ORDER FOR THE COMMUNITY TO
THRIVE.
IF YOU KEEP TAKING MONEY -- ASKING TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM
US, WE WON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS THE SECOND PAGE OF THE PROJECTS FOR
THE WEST TAMPA CAC.
IF YOU LOOK AT LINE 14, GOT AN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTION TO PARKING STUDY.
THIS PARKING STUDY, THE PLAN, INCLUDES A GARAGE.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PROPERTY TO BUILD A GARAGE.
IF YOU TAKE MONEY FOR US, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE MONEY TO
BUILD THE GARAGE.
ITEM 15 IS THE MAIN STREET CORRIDOR STUDY.
THAT WENT TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IN 2021 AND HAS BEEN
BURIED.

IT HAS NOW BEEN REVIVED.
THAT WILL TAKE MONEY AS WELL AS THE NEED TO PURCHASE
PROPERTY.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS THERE ALSO THAT YOU CAN
SEE.
THE ONES I MENTIONED HAVE TO DO WITH THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN THE MAIN STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT, BOTH OF
THEM NEED PROPERTY TO MOVE FORWARD.
IN NINE YEARS, THE WEST TAMPA CAC, THROUGH THE CITY OF
TAMPA'S REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT, HAS BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE
TWO PROPERTIES.
ONE IS A SMALL HOUSE AND THE OTHER IS THE REDNER PARK
PROPERTY KNOWN AS FREEDOM PARK WHICH IS NOW WRAPPED FOR
BROWNFIELD AND BEEN THAT WAY FOR THREE YEARS NOW.
WE ARE TOLD THAT THE RESIDENTS DON'T WANT TO SELL.
BUT I HAVE TO WONDER IF IT IS JUST THE CITY THAT DOESN'T
WANT TO PAY THE PRICE.
I NOW ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT ITEM 10.
$10 MILLION.
NOTE THIS SAYS SPECIAL PROJECT.
WHY IS THE CITY AFRAID TO SAY WEST RIVER WALK?
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY, CODE A, WHY?
IF WE AGREE TO GIVE $10 MILLION TO THE CITY FOR VANITY
PROJECTS, YOU ARE TAKING THE MONEY AWAY THAT IS BADLY NEEDED
FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN WEST TAMPA AND SPENDING IT ON

PROJECTS THAT WILL DO LITTLE TO HELP THE GOALS OF THE CRA,
WHICH IS DEVELOP THIS BLIGHTED AREA.
THE PROPOSED RIVERWALK IS ALMOST THREE-FOURTHS OF A MILE
FROM THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS AREA.
I ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT THE PROS AND CONS OF TAKING $10
MILLION FROM OUR GOALS OF WEST TAMPA CRA.
THE CRA SHOULD NOT BE USED TO SATISFY THIS ADMINISTRATION'S
WISH LIST.
PLEASE RETHINK THIS AND WITHDRAW THIS REQUEST.
THANK YOU.
9:17:26AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
GOOD MORNING.
9:17:29AM >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS JOHN BELL.
I AM THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF TAMPA THEATRE ON FRANKLIN
STREET.
I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE DOWNTOWN
PARTNERSHIP'S REQUEST TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR
FRANKLIN STREET ACTION PLAN.
I HAVE, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN MY POSITION FOR
ALMOST FOUR DECADES.
I'VE HAD A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO WATCH DOWNTOWN'S
TRANSFORMATION.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN TRUE
PARTNERS TO US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
IN MY VIEW, THEIR PLANNING FOR THIS IMPROVEMENT VISION PLAN

HAS BEEN EXEMPLARY.
IT HAS BEEN GOING ON, AS YOU KNOW, FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP HAS INVITED
US AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO THE TABLE TO LISTEN TO OUR
INPUT, OUR COMMENTS, OUR SUGGESTIONS.
THIS WASN'T JUST WINDOW DRESSING.
THEY LISTENED.
SO BUILT INTO THIS PLAN ARE IMPROVEMENTS WHICH MIRROR OUR
BELIEF THAT THE TAMPA THEATRE BLOCK, THE 700 BLOCK OF
FRANKLIN STREET, SHOULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO AND RECOGNIZED
AS TAMPA THEATRE'S ARRIVAL PLAZA.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS, BUT IMPROVE STREETSCAPING AND OTHER
IMPROVEMENTS THERE WILL ALLOW US TO ACTIVATE THAT BLOCK FOR
THE BENEFIT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BY HAVING MORE PRE-FUNCTION
EVENTS, BLOCK PARTIES, SAFER ARRIVAL FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN
ARRIVING ON BUSES, FOR FIELD TRIPS.
WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT THEY INCLUDED ALL OF THAT.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO US.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED OVER 40 YEARS IS THAT THE SUCCESS OF TAMPA
THEATRE AND THE ECONOMIC OF DOWNTOWN TAMPA, THOSE TWO THINGS
ARE DIRECTLY RELATED.
WHEN WE DO WELL, DOWNTOWN DOES WELL AND VICE VERSA.
I CANNOT THINK OF A PROJECT THAT WOULD BE MORE IMPACTFUL ON
TAMPA THEATRE AND THE REST OF DOWNTOWN THAN THIS PROJECT.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT IT.

ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AT TAMPA THEATRE, OUR BOARD, OUR
STAFF AND ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL SUPPORT
THE PROJECT AND CONTINUE TO USE YOUR SUPERPOWERS FOR GOOD.
9:19:41AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER.
GOOD MORNING.
9:19:46AM >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS CAROLINE.
I AM A SENIOR AT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA.
I HAVE GOTTEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO INTERN WITH THE TAMPA
DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP FOR THIS PAST YEAR.
I STARTED IN JANUARY AND IMMEDIATELY WAS WORKING ON THE
HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS AND EFFORTS THAT THE
PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
IT HAS REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO THE WORLD OF HISTORIC
PRESERVATION AND HONESTLY A PASSION I HAVE FOR IT THAT WOULD
HAVE GONE OTHERWISE UNDISCOVERED.
INTERNING WITH THE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE INS AND OUTS OF THE PLANNING
WORLD AND HAS BEEN AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH MY CAREER.
IT HAS SHOWN ME THE PROCESSES, SPECIFICALLY THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE STAKEHOLDERS WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING PLANS AND
PROJECTS THAT ENSURE THAT THERE IS A LEVEL OF INCLUSIVITY,
RESPONSIVENESS AND EFFECTIVENESS WHEN BRINGING THE PLANS TO

THE COMMUNITY.
THE PAST YEAR, THE PARTNERSHIP TAUGHT ME A LOT BUT
SPECIFICALLY I'VE GOTTEN THE ABILITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
HISTORY OF DOWNTOWN TAMPA AND THE ROLE THAT THE FRANKLIN
STREET HISTORIC CORRIDOR HAS PLAYED IN IT.
A STREET OF MANY OF THE CITY'S FIRSTS AND LIVING RESOURCE
FOR THE HISTORY OF DOWNTOWN.
I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO SHARE THE INFORMATION
THAT I'VE LEARNED FROM MY INTERNSHIP WITH MY FAMILY AND MY
FRIENDS ABOUT THE HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND THE RELEVANCY OF
THAT STREET IN PARTICULAR.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEARN
OTHERWISE, AND I THINK IT IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE TO
HAVE WHEN LIVING, WORKING, AND PLAYING IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
I THINK THERE IS SUCH A DEEP HISTORY TO LEARN FROM AND YOU
WOULD NEVER KNOW JUST SIMPLY LOOKING AT IT.
MY GENERATION DESERVES TO HAVE A SPACE TO FEEL CONNECTED
WITH THE COMMUNITY THEY LIVE IN AND THE HISTORY AND CULTURE
OF THE SPACE THEY OCCUPY, NOT ONLY MY GENERATION, BUT THE
GENERATIONS TO COME AND GENERATIONS BEFORE ME TO HONOR THE
HERITAGE OF DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
I BELIEVE FRANKLIN STREET IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO
AND THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGING AND
PRESERVING THAT.
FOR THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE AGENDA AND THE GRANT

COMING FORWARD ON BEHALF OF THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP.
9:21:39AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
9:21:46AM >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS RODNEY KITE POWELL.
I AM WITH THE TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER.
ALSO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S HISTORIAN.
I'M COMING TO YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AS AN HISTORIAN TO
TALK ABOUT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4, THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP
FRANKLIN STREET PROJECT.
AGAIN, YOU'RE HEARING AND YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT HOW
HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT FRANKLIN STREET IS.
LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, TAMPA IS A UNIQUE CITY, AS YOU ALL
KNOW.
WE ACTUALLY OVER TIME HAVE HAD BASICALLY FOUR DIFFERENT
DOWNTOWNS OR URBAN CORES BECAUSE WE HAVE DOWNTOWN TAMPA,
YBOR CITY.
WE HAVE CENTRAL AVENUE AND, OF COURSE, WEST TAMPA, WHICH YOU
HEARD AS WELL, MAIN STREET.
BUT THE FIRST ONE OF THOSE IS DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
THAT FIRST CORRIDOR IS FRANKLIN STREET.
THE VERY FIRST MAP OF TAMPA FROM 1847 HAS 12 STREETS ON IT
AND ONE OF THOSE IS FRANKLIN.
IT WAS THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE THAT CONNECTED FORT BROOKE TO
SOUTH OF WHITING STREET TO THE FLEDGLING TOWN OF TAMPA.
WASHINGTON STREET, I WOULD ADMIT WAS ALSO AN IMPORTANT

STREET AS WELL FOR BUSINESSES, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS SO SHORT,
IT DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH.
BUT FRANKLIN STREET, BEING A NORTH-SOUTH ROAD GOING REALLY
ALL THE WAY INTO TAMPA HEIGHTS PROVIDED A REALLY GREAT
CORRIDOR FROM THE FORT AND FROM THE OLD CITY UP INTO THE NEW
SUBURBS THAT BEGAN GROWING IN THE 1870s AND 1880s.
AGAIN, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT FIRSTS.
THE FIRST BANK IN TAMPA WAS ON FRANKLIN STREET.
THE FIRST HOTEL WAS ON FRANKLIN STREET.
FIRST APARTMENT STORE, FIRST BRICK BUILDING.
SO MANY IMPORTANT EVENTS HAPPENED ON FRANKLIN STREET.
TAMPA IS A CITY LIKE SO MANY OF BOOMS AND BUSTS.
WE HAVE SEEN FRANKLIN STREET BECOME VERY CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT AND THEN LOSE FAVOR.
PARTICULARLY AFTER WORLD WAR II AND IN THE 1940s AND
1950s, AS SUBURBS BEGAN TO GROW, BUSINESSES ON FRANKLIN
STREET BEGAN TO SUFFER.
THEY BEGAN TO WONDER IF ANYBODY WOULD COME HERE.
PARKING BECAME A PROBLEM.
THEY BEGAN ADDING PARKING METERS IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA TO RAISE
SOME REVENUE BUT THAT WAS ACTUALLY DETRIMENTAL TO SOME OF
THE BUSINESSES BECAUSE YOU GO TO A MALL OR SUBURBAN SHOPPING
CENTER AND PARK FOR FREE.
THE DOWNTURN OF FRANKLIN STREET STARTED.
NOT TO GO INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL, BUT AMAZING EVENT CALLED THE

SNOW SHOW IN 1958, ATTEMPTED TO BOOST THE BUSINESSES IN
DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
AND THAT WORKED FOR THAT WINTER, BUT IT WAS A SHORT-TERM
EVENT.
WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO WITH THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP IS
MAKE THIS A LONG-TERM GROWTH, LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS.
CELEBRATING OUR HISTORY BUT DOING SO TO BENEFIT CURRENT
BUSINESS OWNERS, CURRENT PROPERTY OWNERS AND OUR FUTURE AS
THE YOUNG LADY SAID FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO EXPERIENCE THE
DOWNTOWN TAMPA AND THE FRANKLIN STREET THAT WE HAVE AND
THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE US HAVE.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
9:24:42AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
WE'LL TAKE OUR ONLINE SPEAKER WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR
SOMEONE TO COME FORWARD.
9:24:57AM >>THE CLERK:
MR. BAILEY.
9:24:59AM >> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
HELLO?
9:25:07AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
GOOD MORNING.
IS HE THERE?
9:25:12AM >> HI.
THIS IS DAVID BAILEY.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
9:25:15AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
WE CAN HEAR YOU.
9:25:17AM >> GOOD.

THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS DAVID BAILEY.
I AM CO-OWNER OF VIBRANT MIXED USE BUILDING ON FRANKLIN
STREET AND POLK STREET.
WE ARE HOME TO MICHELIN -- SUPERNATURAL FOOD AND WINE,
TAMPA'S LEGENDARY HUB BAR, SIAM THAI RESTAURANT, GREAT PLACE
FOR LUNCH.
WATER COOLER PHOTO AND VIDEO PRODUCTION ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
AND ALSO ON THE SECOND FLOOR, AWARD-WINNING ARCHITECT'S
OFFICE.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT OUR BUILDING IS AN EXAMPLE OF
HOW DIVERSE TENANTS CREATE A COMMUNITY THAT ENGAGES WITH
FRANKLIN STREET.
I FEEL LIKE THE CITY NEEDS A DOZEN MORE BUILDINGS LIKE OURS.
OUR BUILDING IS ONLY 15,000 SQUARE FEET BUT HAS TENANTS
RANGING FROM 400 SQUARE FEET TO 4,000 SQUARE FEET.
AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT THAT TYPE OF A PLATFORM ALLOWS FOR
INNOVATION.
IT IS A PERFECT INCUBATOR FOR TOMORROW'S TALENT.
I HONESTLY CAN'T IMAGINE DOWNTOWN WITHOUT EVEN ONE OF OUR
TENANTS CONTRIBUTING TO FRANKLIN STREET.
BRIEFLY, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT FRANKLIN
STREET USED TO BE DOWNTOWN'S MAIN STREET.
YOU HEARD IT FROM MULTIPLE SPEAKERS THIS MORNING.

AND IN ORDER TO SPARK A RENAISSANCE, I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT
THE GRANT REQUEST FROM THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP ACTION PLAN.
THANK YOU.
9:26:45AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
ARE YOU READY?
9:26:48AM >> YES, MA'AM.
GOOD MORNING.
HOW ARE YOU?
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
MY NAME IS WESLEY RODERICK.
I AM OWNER OF SUPER NATURAL FOOD AND WINE MENTIONED IN THE
LAST COMMENT.
NEIGHBOR TO THE TAMPA THEATRE.
I'M JUST HERE TO SUPPORT REALLY THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP.
HONESTLY, THEY HAVE DONE SUCH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT FOR ME,
FOR MY NEIGHBORS AND OUR COMMUNITY AT-LARGE THAT ANYTHING
THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM RECEIVE THE FUNDING THAT THEY
NEED BECAUSE I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT'S GOING TO BE A BETTER HANDLER OF FUNDS IN A
RESPONSIBLE WAY TO THE BENEFIT AND THE SERVICE OF EVERYBODY.
I'M NOT A HISTORIAN.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THE RUN-DOWN OF WHAT FRANKLIN
STREET USED TO BE.
I'VE SEEN IT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS IMPROVE WITH THE CLEAN

TEAM, EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN A SERVICE TO US.
I ALSO KNOW WE'RE NOT REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE VISION YOU ALL HAVE FOR WHAT TAMPA
CAN BECOME AND WHAT WE WANT THAT TO LOOK LIKE.
SO THAT'S REALLY IT.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THE APPROVAL OF THE GRANT FOR
THE PURPOSES OF THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I SECOND EVERYTHING THAT JOHN BELL SAID, BECAUSE HE KNOWS.
40 YEARS.
9:28:08AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
9:28:09AM >> GOOD MORNING.
CHARLES FOX.
I'M A PARTNER IN THE HUB BAR.
JUST AS DAVID WAS SPEAKING OF ALL THE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES,
I WAS GETTING GOOSE BUMPS.
I FEEL LIKE THE DOWNTOWN FRANKLIN STREET NEEDS, WHEN IT WAS
WALKABLE, I REMEMBER WALKING ON THE BRICKS ON THE VARYING
LEVELS OF THE BRICKS AND THE FEELING.
THE MULTIPLE BUSINESSES.
IDEALLY YOU WANT LIKE A DATE NIGHT, A GREAT DATE NIGHT.
WALKING, IT IS A PLEASANT FEELING, SAFE, COMFORTABLE, UNIQUE
EXPERIENCES TO SEE.
THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN GREAT.
I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY SEE AND GET US, WHAT WE NEED.

WE'VE USED A GRANT FROM THEM BEFORE.
DOWNTOWN CAN BE GREAT.
WHEN I GO OVER TO ST. PETE AND THAT DATE-NIGHT FEELING, YOU
WALK THROUGH, CAN HAVE DECORATIVE LIGHTING.
IT GIVES YOU A GOOD FEELING.
YOU GET GOOSE BUMPS.
I JUST FEEL THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED FOR DOWNTOWN.
THANK YOU.
9:29:07AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
I NEVER HEARD THE WORD "DATE NIGHT" IN THE CHAMBERS BEFORE.
ROMANTIC.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
9:29:17AM >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS THAD BEREDAY.
MY COMPANY, URBAN REWORX, IS DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IN THE VM YBOR NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH IS PART OF THE EAST TAMPA
CRA, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS.
I'M ALSO INVOLVED IN LAY MINISTRY SERVICE WHERE I HAVE BEEN
SERVING THE LAST FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.
I'M HERE TODAY AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN.
I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD THROUGH ITS OVERSIGHT OF THE CRA
AND OTHERWISE FOR LEADING THE CHARGE AND HOLDING THE CITY
ACCOUNTABLE ON ISSUES OF RESILIENCY, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY TOP
OF MIND IN THE WAKE OF THE STORM AND ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT
WE FACE THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES.

SO THAT'S WONDERFUL.
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN VM YBOR, I OWN PROPERTY ALONG THE
NEBRASKA CORRIDOR.
AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH TERRIBLE ISSUES OF
HOMELESSNESS THERE WHICH HAVE IMPACTS ON OUR COMMUNITY.
IN MY MINISTRY WORK, MS. ANTOINETTE HAYES-TRIPLETT WHO YOU
KNOW IS THE CEO OF THEA, WAS SPEAKING TO OUR MINISTRY THIS
WEEK.
I DON'T THINK SHE WOULD MINE MY BORROWING HER QUOTE: THE
SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT'S FROM MS. TRIPLETT, ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY EXPERTS.
AS WE FOCUS ON RESILIENCY, MY REQUEST AND PLEA IS THAT THE
CITY NOT LOSE ITS FOCUS ON THE ALSO CRITICAL ISSUE OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS RESILIENCY, AND WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL
OF OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE NO OPPORTUNITY EXCEPT
SHELTERS TO LAY THEIR HEADS DOWN AT NIGHT.
AND WITHOUT PROVIDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MEET THE
NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE'LL HAVE A HARD TIME CLIMBING THE
HILL ON THIS RESILIENCY CHALLENGE THAT WE ALL FACE.
SO MY MESSAGE TO EVERYONE TODAY IS PLEASE LET'S NOT FORGET
ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS
RESILIENCY.
THANK YOU.
9:31:13AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, MS. BURTON.
9:31:19AM >> GOOD MORNING.
I HURT MY KNEE.
9:31:21AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
I HURT MY KNEE, TOO.
WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
9:31:25AM >> GOOD MORNING.
CONNIE BURTON.
FIRST, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY TO THIS BODY THAT HERE IN
THE CITY OF TAMPA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, YOU ARE THE LAST
STRONGHOLD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
AND IT IS TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU
EXPRESS AND SHOW THE GREATEST POSSIBLE LEADERSHIP OF TAKING
CARE OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE BEEN LOYAL TO YOU.
BECAUSE WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS BEGINNING TO WITNESS AND I
GUESS IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS THAT THE USE OF A CONVICTED
FELON DON'T HOLD NO STUFF WHEN IT COMES TO RISING TO THE
HIGHEST OFFICE OF THIS LAND.
BEING INVOLVED IN SEX TRAFFICKING, YOU CAN THEN BECOME THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
SO YOU CAN BAN ALL THE BOOKS, BUT WHAT WE SEE IN LIVING
COLOR IS THE BEST THAT WHITE AMERICA HAS SHOWN TO THE WORLD
MOVING ON.
ITEM 18 AND 15, THE STRAZ CENTER AND THE ART, $25 MILLION,
WHY PEOPLE -- WHILE PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING, THAT'S ON YOU.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT EAST TAMPA.

SINCE THIS IS THE CRA MEETING, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU GO BACK
AND READ WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE CRA.
BECAUSE EAST TAMPA, THE VERY FIRST CRA IN THE CITY OF TAMPA
WHILE ALL OF THIS DEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENING, WHY PEOPLE HAVE
DATE NIGHT, BARS, BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS, OUR COMMUNITY IS STILL
SUFFERING.
THE CONSTANT IGNORANCE OF WHAT BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS CITY HAS
BEEN DEMANDING, JUST A BETTER FORM OF LIVING.
HAVING HOUSES, USING TAX DOLLARS TO UPLIFT THEM, TO GIVE
THEIR CHILDREN SOME HOPE.
BUT WHAT WE SEE IS THE MONEY THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE TO THE
SOLITAS HOUSE, THAT'S ON YOU AS WELL BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T
NEED IS MORE SOCIAL SERVICES.
WHAT WE NEED IS AN ACTION PLAN FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FOR JOB
CREATION, AND DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN IT IN THE LAST 25 YEARS.
WHY PEOPLE COULD TALK ABOUT DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, I COULD
TELL YOU WHAT WAS TAKEN FROM DOWNTOWN, A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY
THAT WAS ONCE KNOWN AS CENTRAL AVENUE AND NOBODY EVER TALK
ABOUT THE REINVESTMENT DOLLARS THERE OTHER THAN SOME
ARTIFACTS OF A PARK.
THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LOYAL TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
WE HAVE BEEN THE ONES THAT HAS BEEN -- WHILE OUR ALLIES HAVE
GONE ELSEWHERE.
AND IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON MOVING YOURSELF POLITICALLY TO

THE NEXT POST, THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO
FORGET.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A BETTER LIFE AND WE KEEP ON CATCHING HELL.
WE WANT TO SEE OUR CRA DOLLARS WORK FOR OUR BETTERMENT.
THANK YOU.
9:34:33AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU, MS. BURTON.
MENTESNOT, GOOD MORNING.
9:34:43AM >> MENTESNOT, TAMPA, FLORIDA.
UHURU.
I WANT TO SHOW SOMETHING -- SAY WE AS AFRICAN PEOPLE SHOULD
ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT OUR FREEDOM.
THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS SAY UHURU.
I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE THINKING ABOUT OUR FREEDOM.
I WANT TO SHOW THIS -- I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN SEE IT OR
NOT --
9:35:04AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WE CAN SEE IT.
9:35:05AM >> YEAH.
BUT THAT IS A SIGN OVER ON 22nd STREET CAUSEWAY.
THE SIGN SAY, KAMALA HARRIS, TAKE THE $750 AND STICK IT UP
YOUR ASS.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING SIGN.
I FIND IT TO BE HUMOROUS.
I FIND IT TO BE INSULTING.
I FIND IT TO BE DEROGATORY, BUT I ALSO FIND IT TO BE
EXORCISM OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO THE SIGN.
I THINK THAT IS A SIGN COMPANY OVER ON CAUSEWAY.
THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THAT SIGN.
THAT IS THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.
WHEN GOVERNOR DESANTIS WON'T ACCEPT A PHONE CALL FROM KAMALA
HARRIS, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, PERSONAL OR
POLITICS, MAYBE THAT IS HIS RIGHT TO DO SO.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, MANY PEOPLE SUFFERING THROUGH TWO
HURRICANES AND THEY PLAY POLITICS AND WE SUFFER THE MOST.
HOW I FIND THIS SIGN, IT IS AN INSULT TO AFRICAN WOMEN AND
SOMEBODY HAVE TO STAND UP FOR AFRICAN WOMEN.
WE CAN'T LET IT KEEP GOING ON.
THAT PEOPLE CAN ASSAULT AFRICAN WOMEN AND GET AWAY WITH IT
TO THE POINT WHERE SOMETIMES YOU SEE AFRICAN WOMEN INSULTING
OURSELVES BUT THAT COMES FROM 824 YEARS OF EUROPEAN, NORTH
AMERICAN, AND WHITE WESTERN CIVILIZATION, OPPRESSION OF
AFRICAN PEOPLE, WHERE WE CAN'T EVEN THINK STRAIGHT.
BUT I WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR, AND I WANT TO
SEND A MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDENT HAS A STRIPPER WIFE.
YEAH.
A WIFE THAT NUDE PICTURES ALL OVER THE PLACE.
HEAVY IN IMMIGRATION AND SHE DOESN'T SPEAK FOUR WORDS OF
ENGLISH.
THAT'S INTERESTING.

AND THE GOVERNOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW HE HANDLES IT.
HE HAVE A WIFE WITH NO BREASTS AND THAT IS AN INSULT TO MEN
IN GENERAL.
IT IS AN INSULT.
YOU CAN'T KEEP INSULTING AFRICAN WOMEN AND THINKING AFRICAN
MAN WON'T INSULT YOU BACK BECAUSE IT IS.
I STAND UP FOR OUR WOMEN IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.
STAND UP FOR OUR MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, AND THE ANCESTRAL
HISTORY OF AFRICA.
9:37:45AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
GOOD MORNING.
9:38:00AM >> MY NAME IS PASTOR FRANK WILLIAMS.
I'M COMING DOWN HERE YEAR AFTER YEAR, BUT NOBODY HEAR MY
COMMENTS AND DON'T NOBODY SEEM TO CARE.
WHEN I WAS COMING DOWN HERE, I WAS A YOUNG MAN, ABLE TO PLAY
FOOTBALL, BUT NOW I'VE GOT MY WHEELCHAIR, HAVE TO HELP ME GO
THROUGH ANOTHER DAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
WELL, I TELL YOU, THE WAY YOU ALL TREAT PEOPLE OF COLOR, I
CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY.
WHY DO YOU ALL TREAT US SO BAD?
BUT WE GOT TO UNDERSTAND OUR LOVE FOR GOD KEEP US GOING ON,
AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.
I GOT THIS HERE.
I'VE BEEN PUT OUT OF CHURCHES AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE I

DIDN'T BELIEVE IN THE 19th.
THEY SENT THIS TO MY HOUSE, WHAT YOU ALL CALL IT?
BOY, THEY AIN'T SAYING NOTHING.
9:39:14AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
IT'S CALLED COVID, MR. WILLIAMS.
9:39:18AM >> YES.
ANYWAY, I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WE AIN'T GOING TO
SLEEP YET, WHEN GOD DECIDE TO CALL US IN, WE HAVE TO GO TO
SLEEP BECAUSE THE WAY YOU ALL HAVE BEEN TREATING PEOPLE THAT
WE CALL CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS
TERRIBLE.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE YOUNG MAN AND YOUNG LADY TALKING
LIKE THEY DO, BECAUSE WE NEVER GET NO RESULTS.
NOBODY TELL US NOTHING.
MY ROOF HAS BEEN LEAKING.
NOW IT'S WORSE THAN IT WAS.
YOU THINK SOMEBODY SEND SOMEBODY OUT TO CHECK IT OUT.
NO, THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN.
THAT'S SAD.
MY WATER BEEN CUT OFF AND THAT'S SAD.
BEEN ALMOST SIX MONTHS NOW.
NOBODY WANT TO COME BY AND HELP ME.
I HAVE TO KEEP PRAYING FOR ALL OF YOU ALL.
THE REASON I'M UP HERE TODAY, I WANTED TO GIVE A MESSAGE TO
YOU ALL.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT TODAY.

LORD, JESUS
BOY, I CAN'T THINK LIKE I WANT TO NOW.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
AIN'T GOING TO GIVE ME TIME TO SING IT.
THERE IS A RIVER
BOY, I THINK OF ANOTHER TIME.
BUT I WANTED TO SING A DEDICATION TO YOU ALL FOR YOU ALL TO
HELP ME AND HELP EVERYBODY ELSE THAT NEED HELP, ESPECIALLY
POOR PEOPLE AND BLACK PEOPLE.
WE IN TROUBLE.
NOW WE HAVE A PRESIDENT, 34 FELONIES.
YOU ALL ELECTED HIM TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
BOY, I TELL YOU, YOU DON'T GIVE ME MUCH TIME, HANDICAPPED OR
NOT.
YOU ALL DON'T GIVE A DAMN.
9:41:11AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU, PASTOR WILLIAMS.
NEXT SPEAKER.
GOOD MORNING.
9:41:21AM >> GOOD MORNING.
STEPHANIE POYNOR.
THIS WEEK IS FIVE YEARS SINCE I STARTED COMING TO THIS
COUNCIL.
AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A CRA WAS.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING.

SHOWING UP DOWN HERE AND HAD A LITTLE HELP ALONG FROM
COUNCILMAN DINGFELDER BECAUSE HE KIND OF LED US BY THE NOSE
TO THE RIGHT WAY TO TALK ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND
HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS.
AS SOON AS I STARTED UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS GOING ON, I
LEARNED ABOUT THE CRAs.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, COUNCILMAN CARLSON WAS TALKING ABOUT
CAPPING THE DOWNTOWN CRA.
WELL, COUNCILMAN VIERA BROUGHT IT UP AT BABE ZAHARIAS.
YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF VANITY PROJECTS
GOING ON IN THE CITY.
WHEN I ROLLED OVER IN BED THIS MORNING AND TURNED ON THE TV,
I SAW THAT, OH, MY GOSH, THE CITY IS GOING TO VOTE TO SPRUCE
UP FRANKLIN STREET.
SO I GO IN THERE.
I LOOK.
IT'S $6 MILLION.
$6 MILLION.
WHEN WE HAVE WASTEWATER GENERATORS THAT DON'T FREAKIN' WORK.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
EVERYBODY HERE WHO GOT UP HERE AND SAID THIS IS A GREAT
IDEA, THEY BENEFIT FROM IT IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER
FINANCIALLY, WITH THEIR BUSINESS, WHATEVER THEIR BUSINESS
IS.
WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF TAMPA

WHO HAD POOP WATER IN THEIR HOUSE COVERING THEIR THINGS?
IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THOSE FOLKS TO PRESENT A DOCUMENT
AND IN THE PowerPoint IT SAYS "HIGH-QUALITY LIGHTING."
ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?
WE DON'T HAVE GENERATORS THAT WORK PROPERLY IN A STORM.
NOBODY HAS PROVEN THAT THEY ALL WORK SINCE THEN.
IT'S EMBARRASSING.
THE RIVERWALK.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE RIVERWALK BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS GOING
TO ASK YOU TO GIVE THEM $10 MILLION FOR THE RIVERWALK OUT OF
THE CRA FUNDS.
I'M GOING TO POINT OUT TO YOU PAGE 248 FROM THE 2040
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAYS THAT YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
SPENDING DOLLARS IN THE COASTAL HIGH-HAZARD AREA EXCEPT FOR
PROJECTS THAT CAN DEMONSTRATE.
AND THEN THERE IS A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS THAT PROTECT THE
CITIZENS OF TAMPA.
THIS FRANKLIN STREET PROJECT, CRAP.
IT'S NOT PROTECTING ANYONE.
THE RIVERWALK, IT'S NOT PROTECTING ANYONE EITHER.
YOU SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED THAT YOU ARE GIVING AWAY OUR TAX
DOLLARS WHILE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE HAS NOT BEEN DONE.
CAP THE DOWNTOWN CRA.
DO NOT GIVE THEM $6 MILLION TO PISS AWAY OUR MONEY FOR A

VANITY PROJECT.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING THINGS LOOK PRETTY.
WAIT UNTIL SHE PUTS THE PowerPoint UP THERE.
OH, POTTED PLANTS AND ALL KINDS OF GOOD STUFF.
YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE POTHOLES BIGGER THAN BABY CARRIAGES.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
9:44:32AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
GOOD MORNING.
9:44:34AM >> GOOD MORNING.
BOBBY CREIGHTON.
I LIVE IN YBOR HEIGHTS.
I HAVE THE GREAT PLEASURE TO MEET WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT
FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND THE COFOUNDER OF THE CENTER FOR
COMMUNITY PROGRESS THIS WEEK.
THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY PROGRESS IS THE ONLY NATIONAL
NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO HELPING COMMUNITIES TACKLE VACANCY,
ABANDONMENT AND DETERIORATION IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR THAT BEAR AN UNFAIR SHARE OF THE BURDEN OF VACANT
PROPERTIES.
IT WAS A VERY ENLIGHTENING CONVERSATION, VERY EDUCATIONAL.
I APPRECIATED THEIR TIME.
ONE OF THE TOPICS WE TOUCHED ON WAS JACKSONVILLE, AN
ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO TRANSFORMING NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY HAVE PROJECTS PROMOTE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION,
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND

ORGANIZATIONS IN DUVAL COUNTY.
THAT ORGANIZATION FUNCTIONS VERY SIMILAR TO CRA, AND THAT
ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH A LEGAL FIRM IN DUVAL COUNTY TO
PROVIDE PRO BONO ESTATE PLANNING AND CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO
THE FAMILIES THAT LISK SUPPORTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT ALSO HAPPEN IN OUR
CRA.
RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT OR REQUIREMENT
FOR REHABILITATION GRANTS ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE.
LAST I CHECKED, HOPEFULLY MAYBE CHANGES HAPPENING NOW, BUT I
THINK IT'S UNFAIR THAT FAMILIES COULD RECEIVE REHABILITATION
GRANT AND THEN THERE'S NO PLAN FOR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THE
PROPERTY, PUTTING THE FAMILY WEALTH AND GENERATIONAL WEALTH
OF THE FAMILY THAT RECEIVED THAT GRANT POSSIBLY AT RISK.
I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO IMPROVE THERE.
I KNOW THAT THE TEAM AT THE CRA STAFF IS ON BOARD OR AT
LEAST ENTERTAINING THAT IDEA, WHICH I THINK WOULD GO A LONG
WAY TO HELP FAMILIES IN EAST TAMPA AND ELSEWHERE.
THE VACANCY ISSUE IS COMPLEX.
IT'S MULTIFACETED.
THERE ARE LOTS AND LOTS OF LAYERS.
THAT'S ONE SMALL PIECE.
VERY QUICKLY, I KNOW THIS IS THE CRA BOARD BUT POINT OUT
ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT, OUR CITY CODE HAS WHAT I CALL THE
TAMPA SLUMLORD LOOPHOLE.

IN ALL THE TOP SEVEN MOST POPULOUS CITIES IN FLORIDA, THERE
IS A REPEAT VIOLATION DEFINITION WHERE A PERSON VIOLATES THE
SAME CODE TWICE DESPITE LOCATION THEY ARE COUNTED AS REPEAT
OFFENDER, TAMPA IS THE ONLY CITY IN THE TOP SEVEN MOST
POPULOUS CITIES THAT GOES BY ADDRESS.
THAT ALLOWS SLUMLORDS TO HAVE AN INORDINATE AND
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS A PERSON.
IT'S PROPERTY BY PROPERTY.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ALSO FOLLOWS THE PERSON RULE JUST LIKE
ALL THE OTHER CITIES DO BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE FLORIDA
STATE STATUTE SAYS.
TAMPA STANDS OUT IN THAT.
I THINK THAT IS A WAY WE COULD VERY QUICKLY AND EASILY MAKE
THINGS MORE EQUITABLE FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU.
9:47:39AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANOTHER SPEAKER?
OKAY.
LAST SPEAKER, THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
9:47:50AM >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS GLORIA ROYSTER.
I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK THIS MORNING, BUT I FEEL COMPELLED
IN THE MOMENT.

I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN WHO LIVES IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
I SUPPORT THE FRANKLIN STREET PLAN BECAUSE IT DOES PROTECT
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
PEOPLE LIKE ME, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET UP
HERE AND SAY THAT.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST A VANITY PROJECT.
I JUST MADE A FEW NOTES.
I'LL JUMP AROUND AND MAY NOT SOUND COHESIVE, BUT I WANT YOU
TO UNDERSTAND WE DO NEED THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF
UNEVEN PAVERS ON FRANKLIN STREET.
IN MY BUILDING, THERE ARE SENIOR CITIZENS BUT ALSO DISABLED
PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY UNEVEN
PAVERS, ADA ACCESS GRANTS THAT ARE NOT BUILT PROPERLY.
WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR BUILDING THAT HAVE VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS,
AND THERE ARE PLACES IN DOWNTOWN WHERE THEY CAN'T SEE
BECAUSE THEY NEED TO MEET ADA QUALIFICATIONS.
SO THIS FRANKLIN STREET PROJECT IS NOT JUST ABOUT PRIVILEGED
PEOPLE.
IT'S ABOUT EVERYBODY WHO LIVES IN DOWNTOWN.
AND PEOPLE OFTEN FORGET ABOUT US.
WE'RE THERE TOO.
I'M ONE SENIOR AFFORDABLE BUILDING BUT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
THERE'S ONE ACROSS FROM THE MARION TRANSIT CENTER.
THERE ARE SENIOR CITIZENS AND DISABLED PEOPLE IN METRO 5-10

WHICH IS A MIXED INCOME COMMUNITY.
I WAS ON A WALKING TOUR EARLIER THIS YEAR AND IT HAPPENED TO
BE AT NIGHT.
AND THIS WOMAN WAS WALKING BEHIND ME AND SHE FELL OVER AN
UNEVEN PAVER.
THEY WERE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
I'VE LIVED HERE 11 YEARS.
THE SENIORS IN MY BUILDING HAVE ALWAYS REFERRED TO FRANKLIN
STREET AS OUR SCENIC ROUTE BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE VERY FEW
PLACES IN DOWNTOWN WHERE WE CAN GET SHADE.
SHADE.
FLORIDA AVENUE IS TOO HOT FOR HOLD PEOPLE, FOR ANYBODY.
THERE ARE COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD THAT ARE BUILDING PARKS
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS TO PROTECT AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR OLDER
POPULATIONS OUT OF RESPECT.
AND WE CAN'T EVEN GET SHADE IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
WE CAN'T EVEN GET EVEN-PAVED STREETS IN DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
WHAT THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP IS ASKING US TO DO SHOULD HAVE
BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO IN A PROGRESSIVE CITY.
9:50:54AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU, MS. GLORIA.
9:50:55AM >> BUT NOW WE CAN MAINTAIN IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
9:50:57AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT NEEDS TO SPEAK?

YOU WANT TO SPEAK?
ANYONE ELSE?
PLEASE STAND NOW AND COME TO THE SIDE SO WE'LL KNOW.
YOU WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER.
THANK YOU.
9:51:11AM >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS KELLY WILBURN.
I JUST OPENED A CAFE ON HOWARD AVENUE.
IT IS A JUICE CAFE.
WE DO CARIBBEAN STYLED JUICES.
I OPENED THIS TWO MONTHS AGO.
IT'S REALLY SLOW BECAUSE OF THE HURRICANE AND THE STORM AND
ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
I'M DOING MY RESEARCH IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA, WEST TAMPA,
DOWNTOWN TAMPA.
EVEN WITH THE FRANKLIN STREET PROJECT, I DO SUPPORT IT.
IT DRIVES MORE ATTRACTION FROM TOURISM TO OUTSIDERS.
I THINK IT WILL BRING BUSINESS TO THE WEST TAMPA, DOWNTOWN
TAMPA AREA THAT WOULD ALSO DRIVE BUSINESS AND ALSO PROVIDE
EMPLOYMENT TO A LOT OF PERSONS IN AND AROUND THE AREA.
I EMPLOY TWO PERSONS IN THE WEST TAMPA AREA, WHERE THEY CAME
SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.
THEY WERE UNEMPLOYED.
ONE OF THEM WAS ON UNEMPLOYMENT.
THE FACT THAT I WAS ABLE TO OFFER SOME ASSURANCE, SOME

EMPLOYMENT, THAT HELPS THE FAMILY.
THAT PROJECT WOULD BUILD A TOWN AND GIVE A BUSINESS OWNER AN
OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN DOORS FOR PERSONS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED OR
NOT ABLE TO AFFORD.
AGAIN, IT WILL OPEN THE DOOR.
I DO SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
9:52:40AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
OKAY.
I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL PROCEED NOW.
MS. THROWER.
9:52:48AM >>BRENDA THROWER:
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I'M BRENDA THROWER.
I AM THE WEST TAMPA CRA DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE THIS MORNING OF INTRODUCING MR. JOSEPH
ROBINSON, WHO WILL BE GIVING YOU THE WEST TAMPA CAC UPDATE.
MR. ROBINSON.
9:53:02AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
NOT A DISSERTATION, MR. ROBINSON.
9:53:10AM >>JOSEPH ROBINSON:
FIVE MINUTES.
LET'S GET THAT STRAIGHT.
I THINK IT'S FIVE.
BEFORE I START THE CLOCK.
FIVE MINUTES, RIGHT?
9:53:17AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
YES.

9:53:36AM >>JOSEPH ROBINSON:
BEFORE I START, LET'S GET THAT IN YOUR
HAND.
TALK ABOUT THAT THE LAST FEW MINUTES, SET THE RECORD
STRAIGHT.
WHEN YOU ALL GET THAT AND THE CHAIR AUTHORIZES ME, IF YOU
COULD TURN THE ELMO ON.
READY, CHAIR?
JOE ROBINSON, LIFETIME RESIDENT AND LONGTIME PERSON SERVING
ON THE WEST TAMPA CRA CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I AM THE CHAIR NOW.
TERM SUPPOSED TO GO TO JUNE.
I'LL BE TURNING IN MY APPLICATION TO GET THE LAST TWO YEARS
THAT I CAN SERVE, I BELIEVE, ON THE WEST TAMPA CRA CAC.
EXPECT ME TO TURN THAT IN NEXT MONTH.
HERE ON THE ELMO, WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THE PARKING AWARD WE
GOT FROM THE STUDY.
ONE PERSON THAT WAS LEFT OUT THIS MORNING WAS MY VICE-CHAIR,
CARLOS RAMIREZ, ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER AND KNOWS
INFRASTRUCTURE.
ALSO WAS THE PERSON DESIGNATED TO SERVE ON THE BUILD PROJECT
CALLED THE WEST RIVER TRAIL.
LET'S GET INTO THAT.
I'LL GET BACK TO THE TRAIL LAST.
MAJOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
WHAT'S GOING ON?

QUICKLY, IN TWO TO THREE MINUTES.
MAJOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
SALCINES PARK, BEAUTIFUL DESIGN WITH SEATING, SHADE,
DECORATIVE GATE AND PUBLIC AMENITIES COMING TO WEST TAMPA,
ABOUT 1.9 MILLION ON THE CORNER OF MAIN AND HOWARD.
REY PARK, MAJOR CHANGES WITH NEW RECREATION BUILDING,
OUTDOOR AMENITIES AND PUBLIC ART, ALMOST $4 MILLION TO WEST
TAMPA.
TAKING CARE OF PARKS FIRST.
INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT'S WHAT CRA, SLUM AND BLIGHTED AREA AND
TAKING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
REMEMBER THAT, INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT SOCIAL PROGRAMMING.
FREEDOM PARK, THAT WAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED ON MAIN AND ALBANY.
UNDERGOING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, PHASE ONE, PHASE TWO
AUDITS.
CLEAN IT UP.
PROBABLY BUILD DOMINO PARK LIKE DOWN IN MIAMI, CHARLIE.
THOSE ARE PARKS.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK.
THAT WILL BE DONE AS SOON AS WE GET ROME YARD AND THE REST
OF THAT SQUARED UP WITH THE OLD COMMUNITY CENTER FROM THE
COUNTY.
MOBILITY PROJECTS, MR. BHIDE, FREMONT LINEAR PARK.
OPENING UP WEST TAMPA WHERE THEY SHUT IT DOWN IN THE '80s
BECAUSE OF THE ROBBING, STEALING, CARJACKING FROM DALE MABRY

ALL THE WAY TO ROME, PEOPLE JUMPING OUT RUNNING INTO THE
PROJECTS.
COMMUNITY SURVEY COMPLETED THIS SUMMER.
MAJORITY IN OPEN OF OPENING -- IN FAVOR OF OPENING.
MAIN STREET QUICK BUILD COMING UP.
STRIPING, STREET PARKING, ORGANIZE HOW THE STREET IS DONE.
MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION PROJECT, RECOMMENDED AS A
PRIORITY OF THE CAC LAST MONTH.
PUBLIC ART AND STUDIES, COREY ROBINSON IS NOW WORKING
CLOSELY WITH US TO IDENTIFY PUBLIC ART PROJECTS.
WRAPAROUND OF UTILITY BOXES.
PREFERENCE STUDY COMPLETED FOR THE UTILITY BOX ART WRAPPING.
CORNERSTONE PUTTING UP A WALL ART MURAL WE SUPPORTED, THE
HUB TO BE DEDICATED NEXT WEEK AS APPROVED BY THE CRA.
WEST TAMPA HOUSING PROGRAMS, NEW HOUSING REHABILITATION AND
RENOVATION GRANT PROGRAMS LAUNCHED ON AUGUST THE 15th.
WEST TAMPA CHAIR MYSELF INTERVIEWED CHANNEL 8 TO PROMOTE THE
PROGRAM.
I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF PROMOTION IN THE FLORIDA SENTINEL
AND EVERYWHERE ELSE TO MOVE WEST TAMPA.
WE'RE SLUM AND BLIGHTED BUT NOT LIKE ABOUT THE EAST SIDE.
MOVING FORWARD, WORKING TOGETHER WITH EVERYONE, WE HAVE NO
ANIMOSITY.
WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN, YOU SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING.
PAVING HOWARD AVENUE.

GOT THE COUNTY TO DO THIS.
NONE OF THIS IS HAPPENING WITH CRA CAC MONEY.
IT IS PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
COMMERCIAL GRANTS, PROPERTY OWNERS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN
GRANT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF COMMERCIAL GRANTS, ALMOST 585,000 IN
ASSISTANCE.
STAFF IS TRACKING 22 NEW LEADS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND
FIRST MAJOR PROJECT LEVEL 4 APPLICATION MOVING ITS WAY
THROUGH NEW PROCESS.
TALK ABOUT THAT AT THE END.
LAND ACQUISITION.
WE KNOW WE HAVE TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT TO
IDENTIFY AND ACQUIRE PARCELS OF LAND FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
AND FUTURE MOVING FORWARD OUR VISION.
OUR VISION IS TO ACQUIRE AND ASSEMBLE STRATEGIC PROPERTIES
TO DEVELOP FOR AFFORDABLE, ATTAINABLE HOUSING AND POTENTIAL
PROJECTS WHICH YOU HAVE TO DO IN A SLUM AND BLIGHTED AREA
WHICH WE ARE.
GOOD NEWS FOR WEST TAMPA.
WEST TAMPA -- HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION.
THANK YOU FOR THE -- HEARD THAT THIS MORNING.
SHOWED YOU THE SENTINEL FRONT PAGE.
WE WANT MORE AWARDS.

WE WANT TO BE TRENDSETTERS IN CRAs BEING THE BABY --
WEST TAMPA SHOWCASED DURING THE CRA'S REDEVELOPMENT MOBILE
BUS TOUR, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23rd, WE HAD ALL OF THE
REDEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE.
FINALLY, I WANT TO SAY THIS, WHAT I GAVE YOU IS WHAT THE
WEST TAMPA CRA CAC AGREED TO.
THIS IS THE BUILD GRANT.
THIS IS THE WEST RIVER PROJECT THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.
WE HAVE SUPPORTED IT.
WE PUT CARLOS RAMIREZ TO BE EMBEDDED WITH CITY STAFF FOR THE
LAST FEW YEARS AND MR. CLENDENIN WAS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT UP
ABOUT GETTING $10 MILLION.
IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.
WE WILL HEAR THAT AT A MEETING COMING UP IN THE FUTURE.
THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE PROCESS BY THE LETTER OF THE LAW.
WE WILL VOTE IT UP OR VOTE IT DOWN.
IT WILL COME TO YOU GUYS TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION
REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO.
I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS, YOU SEE RIGHT THERE, WE WAS
INVOLVED FROM DAY ONE AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE GOT
THE GRANT.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW.
9:59:33AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU, MR. ROBINSON, FOR YOUR REPORT.
9:59:35AM >>JOSEPH ROBINSON:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOD BLESS YOU.
9:59:41AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
MR. McCRAY.
9:59:45AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
GOOD MORNING AGAIN.
CEDRIC McCRAY, INTERIM CRA MANAGER.
IF WE COULD PULL UP THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
WE'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING A FEW ITEMS THAT YOU ALL HAVE SEEN
ALREADY IN THE AGENDA.
I'LL JUST WORK MY WAY THROUGH.
YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED THE PROJECT TRACKER FOR THE LATEST
UPDATES.
MS. MARTINEZ AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO
KEEP THAT UPDATED BASED ON ALL THE PROJECTS GOING ON ACROSS
ALL OF OUR CRAs.
CAC APPRECIATION CEREMONY, COMING BEFORE YOU TO REQUEST THAT
WE HAVE A FORMAL APPRECIATION OR RECOGNITION OF CAC MEMBERS
THAT ARE ROLLING OFF.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
I WOULD JUST LIKE -- I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE FOLKS HAVE
DEDICATED TWO OR FOUR YEARS OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CRA BOARD AND WE HAVE SEVERAL FOLKS
THAT HAVE ROLLED OFF EARLIER THIS YEAR IN THE REMAINING
MONTHS AND WE WILL BE ADVERTISING VACANCIES HERE SHORTLY.
WANTED TO JUST TAKE SOME TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE GIVING OF
THEIR TIME DURING THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO TO FOUR YEARS.
WE'VE ALREADY TOUCHED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AWARD.

NOW I'M GOING TO CALL UP THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE
FLORIDA REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, MS. THROWER, TO DISCUSS
THE OTHER AWARDS WE RECENTLY RECEIVED.
10:01:26AM >>BRENDA THROWER:
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. McCRAY.
WE HAVE THE HONOR TODAY TO BRING YOU TWO MORE AWARDS.
BOTH FROM THE FLORIDA REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE CONFERENCE WAS HERE JUST LAST MONTH.
IT WAS A RECORD CONFERENCE AGAIN.
WE HAD MORE REGISTRATIONS, SOLD-OUT HOTEL BLOCKS AND, OF
COURSE, TWO SOLD-OUT TOURS ON THE STREETCAR AND THE BUS TOUR
THAT WE DID.
SO VERY SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU WERE ABLE TO ATTEND.
TAMPA LOOKS WONDERFUL.
AGAIN, WE ARE THE EXAMPLE IN MANY CASES OF WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT
REDEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU THE TWO AWARDS
THAT WE RECEIVED.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR GRANTS TEAM UP BECAUSE THIS REALLY IS
AN AWARD THAT WAS CREATED.
IT'S REALLY UNDER THEIR TEAM, AND WE HAVE DEE REED.
WE HAVE VANESSA ROSS.
WE'RE MISSING ONE PERSON, ANDREA ROSS HAVEN, WHO IS NOT HERE
TODAY.
I'LL ASK DEE AND VANESSA TO GET THE AWARDS.

WHAT WE RECEIVED, WE'LL START WITH THE FIRST ONE, WAS, FIRST
OF ALL, THERE ARE 11 CATEGORIES THAT THEY DO AT FLORIDA
REDEVELOPMENT FOR AWARDS.
SO WE GOT TWO OF THEM.
IT'S A GOOD 20% WE SWEPT ON AWARDS.
THE FIRST ONE IS CALLED THE OUT-OF-THE-BOX AWARD FOR THE
LEGACY CREDIT.
AND THIS IS INNOVATION LIES AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHICH ONE IS THAT ONE?
THEY LOOK KIND OF THE SAME.
BRING THAT ONE UP.
THE LEGACY OF CREDIT INITIATIVE INTRODUCED BY THE CRA,
INNOVATIVELY TACKLES COMMON BARRIERS INHIBITING PROPERTY
INNOVATIVE GRANTS BY REDUCING OR ELIMINATING OWNER MATCH
REQUIREMENTS AND FACILITATING DIRECT CONTRACTOR PAYMENTS,
INITIATIVE ENCOURAGES LONG-TERM PROPERTY OWNERS TO ENHANCE
THEIR PROPERTIES WITHOUT BEARING SUBSTANTIAL UP-FRONT COST.
THIS NOT ONLY FOSTERS COMMUNITY STABILITY BUT ALSO
INCENTIVIZES CONTINUED PRIVATE INVESTMENT, JOB CREATION AND
AMENITIES FOR RESIDENTS.
PROGRAM ENSURES FAIRNESS BY CAPPING CREDITS AT PAST TRUST
FUND CONTRIBUTIONS AND TAILORING MATCH REQUIREMENT BASED ON
OWNERSHIP TENURE.
NOTABLY, ITS ADAPTABILITY ON INCLUSIVITY MAKE IT A MODEL FOR
SIMILAR COMMUNITIES.

CONGRATULATIONS.
WE WON THE BEST IN THE STATE FOR THE OUT-OF-THE-BOX FOR OUR
LEGACY PROGRAM.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND THE SECOND AWARD IS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF OUTSTANDING
REHABILITATION, RENOVATION, OR REUSE, WHICH IS FOR A LARGE
CITY, AND THIS ONE GOES TO THE WELL, LIVE WELL, BE WELL, AND
FEEL WELL.
THIS IS A PROJECT IN THE EAST TAMPA CRA.
THE WELL REPRESENTS A PARADIGM SHIFT IN COMMUNITY WELLNESS
BY TRANSFORMING A FORMER NIGHTCLUB INTO A VIBRANT HEALTH
HUB.
IT OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES FROM PHARMACY
AND TELEHEALTH TO COUNSELING AND TRANSPORTATION, WHICH
ADDRESSES EAST TAMPA'S HEALTH CARE GAPS.
BEYOND HEALTH CARE, ITS IMPACT RESONATES IN THE COMMUNITY
REVITALIZATION BY REDUCING BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND FOSTERING
PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABILITY.
FUNDING FROM VARIOUS SOURCES INCLUDING THE EAST TAMPA CRA
UNDERPINS ITS SUCCESS.
WITH PLANS FOR EXPANSION AND REPUTATION, THE WELL SETS A
PRECEDENT FOR COMMUNITY-DRIVEN HEALTH CARE INNOVATION.
ITS HOLISTIC APPROACH, INCLUDING MENTORSHIPS AND FUTURE
SERVICE EXPANSIONS MERITS RECOGNITION AND DUPLICATION.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRANTS TEAM FOR THIS AWARD.

[ APPLAUSE ]
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO TAKE A
QUICK PICTURE WITH YOU FOR THIS AWARD?
10:05:15AM >> SURE.
10:05:17AM >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
10:05:19AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.
10:06:58AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
IF I COULD HAVE THE DIRECTOR'S
PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MS. THROWER.
MAY HAVE TO INVEST IN A TROPHY CASE SOON.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WERE ABLE TO
ATTEND THE CONFERENCE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION IN
ATTENDANCE.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE OTHER SLIDES MS. THROWER HAD.
WE HAD VARIOUS TOURS.
SHE ALLUDED TO THAT.
AGAIN, SKILL CENTER, MR. ROBINSON, WEST TAMPA.
WE WERE DEFINITELY PUT IN A POSITIVE LIGHT WITH THE FOLKS
THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE CONFERENCE.
I SEE MR. MURPHY HOLDING HIS SIGN AS WELL AT THE VARIOUS
STOPS.
OKAY.
I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL IN LIEU OF TIME.
THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WAS MOVED ON FROM THE OCTOBER AGENDA.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING OUR PROJECTS TEAM TO UPDATE AND HAVE A
PROJECT VIEWER SO THAT RESIDENTS -- SORRY, NOT EAST TAMPA.
FREUDIAN SLIP.
TAMPA CRAs WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE ONGOING PROJECTS
AVAILABLE ONLINE, THROUGH A PORTAL WE CREATED A LAYER IN
WORKING WITH OUR GIS TEAM FOR THE CITY SO THAT RESIDENTS CAN
GO ON THROUGH THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND BE ABLE TO SEE THE
ONGOING PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON WITHIN EACH OF THE CRA
DISTRICTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO WELCOME SOME OF THE NEW
TEAM MEMBERS.
WE'VE HAD A FEW PEOPLE THAT STARTED IN RECENT MONTHS DATING
BACK TO SEPTEMBER.
MS. PARKS, AS YOU KNOW, IS OUR HOUSING GURU FOR THE CRAs.
AND SHE HAS BROUGHT ON TWO NEW STAFF.
RAHEL BERHANU, MICHAEL PERKINS, AND KEACIA NEWSON WORKING
WITH OUR PROJECT TEAM.
I WANTED TO FORMALLY INTRODUCE THEM AND WELCOME THEM TO OUR
TAMPA CRA TEAM.
10:09:15AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ARE THEY HERE?
10:09:19AM >> MICHAEL PERKINS IS HERE.
10:09:21AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
OKAY.
WELCOME.
10:09:22AM >> THANK YOU.
10:09:24AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
NEXT, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF

CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY.
THE WORK DID COMMENCE OCTOBER 21st.
IT'S ABOUT 90% COMPLETE.
THERE IS SOME TREE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO -- SO THE
EXISTING FENCE CAN BE FIXED AND FINALIZED.
THAT WILL BE COMING BUT WE'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH
PARKS AND RECREATION AND WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MS. LISA
GRIZZLE IN HER TIME AND ASSISTANCE WITH THE EFFORT.
MANY OF YOU KNOW AND I HEARD MS. COPELAND MILLER'S FAMILY
WAS HERE LAST WEEK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
I DID SEND THEM SOME PICTURES THE FIRST DAY THAT THE WORK
WAS BEING COMPLETED SO THEY WERE THOROUGHLY ENTHUSED AND
HAPPY TO SEE THAT WAS MOVING FORWARD AFTER HER COMMENTS AND
EFFORTS TO BRING THAT INTO FRUITION.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PICTURES FROM THE EARLY --
10:10:25AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
LOVE THIS.
10:10:27AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
YES.
MR. MURPHY.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
10:10:33AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR DIRECTOR?
OKAY.
MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 4, DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP.
10:11:05AM >>COURTNEY ORR:
GOOD MORNING.
COURTNEY ORR, CRA MANAGER.

I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE THE TAMPA DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP.
THEY HAVE COMMISSIONED VARIOUS FRANKLIN STREET STUDIES TO
ASSESS REVITALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS IMPORTANT
CORRIDOR.
THIS ITEM ACTUALLY, FRANKLIN STREET REVITALIZATION IS IN OUR
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO
POINT OUT.
AND THEN ALSO THAT THE DOWNTOWN CAC DID UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORT
THE FUNDING REQUEST OF THE TAMPA DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP TOWARD
THEIR FRANKLIN STREET ACTION PLAN.
THE TAMPA DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP STUDY HELPS DEFINE
OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE PUBLIC REALM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
MOBILITY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES.
SO HERE I AM GOING TO INTRODUCE THE TAMPA DOWNTOWN
PARTNERSHIP REPRESENTATIVES WHO CAN PROVIDE DETAILS ON THE
FRANKLIN STREET ACTION PLAN AND ULTIMATELY REQUEST CRA
FEEDBACK AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
10:12:08AM >> GOOD MORNING, CRA BOARD.
SHAUN DRINKARD WITH THE TAMPA DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP.
BEFORE I HAND IT OFF TO MY COLLEAGUES, KAREN CREST WITH THE
DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP, AS WELL AS TONY MULKEY WITH CITY OF
TAMPA PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE DISTRICT.
THE FOOTPRINT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR FRANKLIN STREET AND THEN

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AS WELL.
NEXT SLIDE.
ALL RIGHT.
SO THIS IS THE SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT MAP THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT HERE.
THIS IS 1100 ACRES IN WHICH THE TAMPA DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP
MANAGES A PART OF SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT.
YOU CAN SEE THE SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE LOOK AT WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT DOWNTOWN TAMPA, A DOWNTOWN FOR ALL.
WE LOOK AT THIS WITH FRANKLIN STREET REALLY TERMINATING AT
PALM IN TAMPA HEIGHTS, MOVING INTO THE RIVER ARTS
NEIGHBORHOOD DOWN TO THE DOWNTOWN CORE IS THE EXTENT OF THE
FRANKLIN STREET PROJECT THAT KAREN WILL BE DISCUSSING HERE
MOMENTARILY.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP, WE REALLY LOOK
AT OURSELVES IN THREE DIFFERENT AREAS.
ONE IS THE SPECIAL SERVICE DISTRICT CREATED IN 1994 AND THE
BULK OF THE WORK THAT WE DO THAT YOU SEE DAY TO DAY WITHIN
THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP SEPARATELY IS ALSO A MEMBERSHIP
COMPONENT OF THE ORGANIZATION WHERE WE WORK WITH
STAKEHOLDERS AND MEMBERS ADVOCATING FOR GREAT CALLS WITHIN
DOWNTOWN AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
LAST IS OUR FOUNDATION CREATED IN 2022.
SEPARATE 501(C)(3) FOR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND
CHARITABLE ASPECTS WITHIN DOWNTOWN TAMPA.

WE OPERATE WITHIN THOSE THREE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS.
BUT HERE, NEXT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO KAREN CREST TO TALK
ABOUT FRANKLIN STREET.
10:13:46AM >> THANK YOU, SHAUN.
I FEEL LIKE FRANKLIN STREET IS ALL I EVER TALK ABOUT,
ACTUALLY.
WHICH IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH IT.
WE ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY REQUESTING A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT
TO BRING A ONCE THRIVING CORRIDOR BACK TO LIFE.
WE NEED A MAIN STREET FOR THE 21st CENTURY.
IT IS THE INTERSECTION OF CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND HISTORY.
MANY OF YOU WILL HAVE MEMORIES OF VISITING FRANKLIN STREET
AS A CHILD.
IT IS OUR STREET OF FIRSTS AS SOME OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE KIND
OF SAID TO YOU ALREADY.
WE REALLY WANT TO RESTORE THAT SENSE OF PLACE AND PRIDE.
I WON'T READ THROUGH ALL OF THIS IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
WE HAVE SO MUCH DATA COLLECTED ON THE CORRIDOR ALREADY.
IT'S A MIX IT SURE IT HAS A MIX OF RESIDENTIAL OFFICE AND
CULTURE BUT MUCH MORE ROOM FOR GROWTH.
THERE ARE ALSO MANY VACANT BLOCKS THAT ARE KIND OF THAT
MISSING TEETH IN THE SMILE THAT WE'RE HOPING TO SOLVE SOME
OF THAT.
WE STARTED WITH A VISION PLAN.
I BROUGHT SOME PROPS WITH ME.

THIS WAS OUR FIRST DOCUMENT THAT WE DID.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AS
THE COMMUNITY AGREES FRANKLIN STREET DESERVES THIS ABOVE AND
BEYOND FOCUS.
WE REALLY LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE ENGAGED WITH THEM.
WE STARTED WITH THIS VISION PLAN.
WE GOT A TON OF GREAT FEEDBACK.
A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS.
ALMOST TOO MANY TO START WITH.
WE NEEDED HELP WITH PRIORITIZATION AND COST ESTIMATES.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE KEY TAKEAWAYS THAT WE HEARD FROM
PEOPLE WHO LIVE DOWNTOWN, WHO WORK DOWNTOWN AND WHO VISITED
DOWNTOWN.
THEY REALLY WANT THAT VIBRANT MAIN STREET.
SHADE WAS MENTIONED.
THEY WANT A BETTER MIX OF USES ON THE STREETS.
THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AS
WELL.
THEY WANT TO SEE A LOT OF PROGRAM EVENTS.
YOU HEARD THAT FROM THE TAMPA THEATRE.
WE HEARD ABOUT THE STREETSCAPING, A LOT OF THE UNEVEN
PAVERS, THE TRIP AND FALL KIND OF THINGS.
LIGHTING, AND THEN WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT PEOPLE
REALLY WANTED TO PRESERVE AND CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF

FRANKLIN STREET.
A LOT OF THAT IS THROUGH THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE ON FRANKLIN
STREET.
THAT LED US TO APPLY TO A GRANT FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
WE DID OUR FIRST OF TWO HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLANS FOR
DOWNTOWN.
THE SECOND PART OF THAT WAS YOU SAW OUR INTERN, CAROLINE.
SHE LITERALLY WENT TO EVERY SINGLE BUILDING AND DID A
SURVEY.
IT IS CALLED THE FLORIDA MASTER SITE FILES.
NOW WE HAVE A GOOD LAY OF THE LAND OF WHICH BUILDINGS ARE
PRESERVED, WHICH ONES ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE PRESERVED, AND THEN
I HANDED OUT A FLYER.
WE ARE HAVING A WORKSHOP NEXT WEEK.
WE'RE BRINGING IN A PRETTY KEY LINEUP OF SPEAKERS, INCLUDING
THE DEVELOPER OF THE LE MERIDIEN COURT HOUSE.
KIND OF THE ROCK STAR IN THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMICS OF PRESERVATION.
WE'RE TARGETING PEOPLE WHO OWN THE BUILDINGS AND WORK IN
THAT INDUSTRY TO COME AND HEAR ABOUT LOCAL INCENTIVES, STATE
INCENTIVES, FEDERAL INCENTIVES, ET CETERA.
SO THEN WE GOT TO OUR IMPLEMENTATION ACTION PLAN.
THIS ONE IS HEAVY.
THIS IS WHERE WE TOOK ALL OF THOSE GREAT IDEAS AND WE HEARD
FROM PEOPLE.

KIND OF PUT IT INTO AN ACTION PLAN.
IT IS A BLOCK BY BLOCK ANALYSIS, CHOCKFUL OF IDEAS AND
UPDATES.
SOME OF THE PRIORITIES OUTLINED IN THE ACTION PLAN, YOU CAN
SEE ON THE SCREEN, AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORIC
PRESERVATION, THE MAIN STREET, THAT SHOP, DINE, STROLL.
I LIKE THE DATE NIGHT REFERENCE.
IT THAT PHASED BLOCK-BY-BLOCK APPROACH CREATING THAT SENSE
OF IDENTITY AND PLACE.
WE HAVE NOT DONE THIS ALONE.
THIS IS A SCREEN SHOT OF MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO, INCLUDING ALL OF THE PEOPLE -- IS
IT OKAY TO KEEP GOING?
10:17:45AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED?
10:17:48AM >> A MINUTE AND A HALF.
10:17:49AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
MOTION TO APPROVE TWO EXTRA MINUTES.
10:17:53AM >> THANK YOU.
WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS ALONE.
A LOT OF STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH.
TAKEN THE PARTNERSHIP BUDGET KIND OF AS FAR AS WE CAN GO
WITH IT.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SOME KIND OF LIPSTICK ON A PIG, I'LL
CALL IT, ACTIONS TO DATE.
FOCUS ON IMPROVING SMALL BUSINESSES.
HERE ARE A COUPLE OF SCREEN SHOTS FROM THE ACTION PLAN.

THIS IS THE FESTIVAL STREET THAT JOHN BELL TALKED ABOUT.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS THAT ARE OUT
THERE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS SOME TLC, A MINIMUM I WOULD SAY IS
NEEDED.
WE HAVE VACANCY WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
HERE ARE RENDERINGS BEFORE AND AFTER, CERTAINLY TALKING
ABOUT ALL THE RESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DOGS AND
WHERE THE DOGS ARE GOING TO PEE, ET CETERA.
SOME OF THE ELEVATED STREET FURNITURE WE'D LIKE TO SEE ALONG
THE CORRIDOR.
TALK ABOUT THAT SENSE OF PLACE AND IDENTITY.
DID WANT TO ASSURE YOU THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE NEW CRA
PLAN AND THE OLD CRA PLAN.
OUR FOREFATHERS REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF FRANKLIN STREET
DATING BACK TO 1983.
THE LAST SLIDE IS ABOUT THE COST ESTIMATES AND HOW IT'S
BROKEN DOWN.
AS COURTNEY MENTIONED AND CRA STAFF HAS BEEN GREAT TO WORK
WITH, WE DO HAVE THIS PROGRAMMED IN THE BUDGET, SPREAD OVER
THREE YEARS.
SO WE ARE READY TO GET GOING.
WE'RE HOPING TO MAKE EARLY TANGIBLE MOVES THAT PEOPLE WILL
SEE AND THEN WORK TOWARD A HARDER, MORE DIFFICULT VACANCIES
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AS WE GET DOWN THE PLAN.

WHOO.
OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE EXTRA TIME.
10:19:23AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
BOARD MEMBER CARLSON.
10:19:25AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THANK YOU, KAREN, TO YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES
FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT IN.
I THINK THIS IS ESSENTIAL FOR REDEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT OF
DOWNTOWN.
WHAT'S HAPPENED THE LAST FEW YEARS IS WE BUILT A LOT OF
BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN.
IT IS WHAT I CALL THE HARDWARE, BUT WE'RE MISSING THE
SOFTWARE.
BY THE INVESTMENTS WE MADE IN THE ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS
AND THEN WITH THIS, I THINK WE'LL ADD THE ACTIVITY THAT
DOWNTOWN IS MISSING.
WHEN PEOPLE FROM OTHER CITIES COME, THEY SAY WE HAVE PRETTY
BUILDINGS BUT WE NEED MORE ACTIVITY AND THIS WILL HELP WITH
IT.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS.
FOR ANYBODY WATCHING IN REGARD TO THE ISSUE OF WHETHER MONEY
COULD BE SPENT ELSEWHERE, BECAUSE IN THE CRA, WE TRIED TO
MOVE IT OUT BEFORE BUT RIGHT NOW WE CANNOT MOVE IT TO SOUTH
TAMPA OR EAST TAMPA OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
THIS MONEY CAN ONLY BE SPENT IN THIS AREA.
SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY OF SPURRING LOTS OF

DEVELOPMENT, INCREASING THE VITALITY, GETTING RETAILERS AND
OTHERS IN.
THE QUESTION I HAD, I'VE BEEN AROUND DOWNTOWN A LONG TIME,
BACK IN THE '70s, I REMEMBER SHOPPING IN DOWNTOWN.
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THOSE STORES AREN'T AROUND.
'80s AND '90s, SEEMS LIKE A COUPLE OF REVITALIZATION
EFFORTS FOR FRANKLIN STREET.
DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER THOSE?
WHAT WORKED AND WHAT DIDN'T ABOUT THEM?
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT?
FOR ANYBODY WHO ASKS US, WELL, DIDN'T WE TRY THIS BEFORE AND
IT DIDN'T WORK, SO WHAT ARE WE DOING DIFFERENT THIS TIME?
10:20:52AM >> I CAN ADDRESS SOMETHING I HEARD.
I WASN'T AROUND THEN.
BUT ANECDOTALLY I HEARD WHEN FRANKLIN STREET WAS A
PEDESTRIAN MALL AND SOMETHING THAT WAS TRIED ACROSS THE
COUNTRY IT ACTUALLY ENDED UP HURTING THE SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE DO TALK A LOT ABOUT MOBILITY IN OUR PLAN.
WE DEFINITELY HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC THAT THEY WANT THAT,
ESPECIALLY THE TAMPA THEATRE BLOCK.
THEY WANT THAT KIND OF BLOCK PARTY, FESTIVAL STREET TYPE
THING.
DIDN'T SEEM THERE WAS A BIG APPETITE TO CLOSE IT TO
VEHICLES, THE WHOLE STRETCH.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS TRIED TO MAKE IT AS CAR LIGHT AS

POSSIBLE.
FOR INSTANCE, ONE OF THE STRATEGIES OUTLINED IS TO REMOVE
MORE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND REPLACE THEM WITH FOUR-WAY STOPS.
WE DID THAT AT FRANKLIN AND ZACK AS A TEST.
I THINK IT WORKED OUT BEAUTIFULLY.
WE ALSO PROBABLY MAYBE RETHINK LIMITED ON-STREET PARKING
THERE NOW.
MAYBE BETTER AS A DELIVERY, 15-MINUTE TYPE ZONE.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BRING BACK THE FULL PEDESTRIAN MALL
BUT CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE THE PEDESTRIANS A PRIORITY.
SHAUN, YOU ARE WELCOME TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE.
10:21:51AM >> ONE THING I WOULD ADD, WE INTENT ON BEING VERY SMART WITH
THE MATERIAL CHOICES IN THE FINAL DESIGN.
WE LOOK AT THE FIRST ONE, SPECIALTY PAVERS, LONG-TERM IS
NEVER A GOOD THING.
WE'RE LOOKING AT MAINTENANCE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MATERIALS TO ENSURE THAT AS WE PREVENT
THE TRIPPING HAZARDS WITH FUTURE DESIGN, WE HAVE GOOD PLANS
MOVING FORWARD AND WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH PARKS AND REC ON
THAT AS WELL.
10:22:12AM >>BILL CARLSON:
LAST QUESTION, IF I COULD.
WE GET -- AT LEAST I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS, WHY DON'T WE
EXTEND THE STREETCAR TO GO STRAIGHT THROUGH FRANKLIN STREET.
AS I RECALL, BECAUSE I WAS IN THE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET
A LONG TIME, WHERE THE FOUNTAIN IS, I THINK IT IS TIED TO

THE AC SYSTEM OR SOMETHING IN THE BUILDING, ISN'T IT?
CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR ANYBODY WHO WOULD WONDER WHY NOT EXTEND
THE STREETCAR STRAIGHT DOWN INSTEAD OF TURNING RIGHT AND
TURNING LEFT.
10:22:39AM >> THERE ARE VERY MIXED AND STRONG OPINIONS ON THAT.
I SEE ALAN SMILING.
I THINK WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO FOR ME, THE THING THAT
RESONATES THE MOST IS THAT TO TAKE TRANSIT, THE WAY TRANSIT
IS GOING TO BE ADOPTED IS THROUGH A TIME ADVANTAGE.
IF WE STICK TO THE STATE ROADS BEING FLORIDA AND TAMPA PAIR,
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STREETCAR TO HAVE ITS OWN
DEDICATED LANE, AND THEN THAT WILL HAVE A TIME ADVANTAGE.
THEN WE HAVE THE FRANKLIN CORRIDOR RIGHT -- SMACK-DAB IN THE
MIDDLE OF THAT.
I THINK WE CAN PRESERVE TAMPA STREET AND KIND OF PUT THE
TRANSPORTATION ON TAMPA AND FLORIDA AND HOPEFULLY TAMPA AND
FLORIDA WILL ALSO SEE IMPROVEMENT FROM THE STREETCAR
STATIONS, ET CETERA.
DID I ANSWER THAT CORRECTLY?
THANK YOU.
10:23:26AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
BOARD MEMBER MIRANDA FOLLOWED BY BOARD MEMBER HURTAK.
10:23:29AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH, KAREN.
THE THING THAT INTERESTS ME THE MOST WHEN I'M LOOKING AT

YOUR FIGURES, 35.7% OF THE TOTAL PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN WERE
PRIOR TO 1925.
10:23:42AM >> YEAH, BIG NUMBER.
10:23:43AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I LOOK AT THAT.
THE NEXT FIGURE, THE SECOND LARGEST WAS 128, FROM 1%, AFTER
2000.
THAT TELLS ME THAT WITHIN THOSE NUMBERS, THAT WAS ABOUT 64%
OF THE TOTAL POPULATION OF BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN TALKING
ABOUT BUILDINGS BUILT EITHER PRIOR TO '25 OR AFTER 2000.
THAT LEAVES ONLY 36%, BIG GAP OF ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS THAT
NOTHING HAPPENED.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE FACTS ARE.
WHAT HAPPENED IN DOWNTOWN?
EVERYBODY HAS GOT AN OPINION, NO MATTER YESTERDAY FROM ONE
YEAR TO HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE.
IT'S A REVITALIZATION AND CHANGES OF WHAT'S AROUND YOU.
DIDN'T DEMISE BY ITSELF.
DEMISED WHEN OPENED UP BRITTON PLAZA, ONE, NORTH GATE, TWO,
AND THE STREETCAR, THREE.
YOU NAMED ALL THREE OF THEM.
AND THAT'S THE DEMISE.
BRITTON PLAZA OPENED.
IT WAS SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
YOU COULD WALK AROUND AND SEE THINGS.

DIDN'T HAVE TO CROSS STREETS.
YOU COULD PARK OR WALK IN.
IT WAS FREE PARKING.
SAME THING IN NORTH GATE AND THE PUBLIC HAD SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE MALLS.
WESTSHORE MALL, OTHER MALL, TAMPA BAY MALL, BAY MALL.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?
THEY ARE THERE.
ONE IS NOT.
ONE IS COMPLETELY GONE.
THE OTHER WILL REVISE ITSELF?
WHY?
BECAUSE IT IS A BIG TOWN THAT THE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, WORK
WHERE THEY LIVE AND PLAY WHERE THEY LIVE.
WE HAVE THE MIDTOWN COMING IN.
THAT'S THERE DOING VERY WELL.
NOW WESTSHORE MALL IS GOING THE SAME WAY.
SO PEOPLE ARE DOING THESE THINGS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO DOWNTOWN?
REVITALIZATION?
IT STARTED WAY BACK IN THE '70s WITH MAYOR POE.
GUY NAMED CHARLIE MILLER FROM PLANT HIGH SCHOOL.
CHARLIE MILLER WAS A BRILLIANT INDIVIDUAL.
IN FACT, HE DESIGNED THAT BUILDING, THE BUILDINGS ACROSS THE

STREET.
THAT WAS DONE IN THE '70s.
THE HOTEL AND WHERE THE UNIVERSITY CLUB IS AT, THE OTHER
BUILDING, ALL OF THAT WAS DONE IN THE '70s.
CHARLIE ALSO DESIGNED, WHERE THE AIRPLANES IN SAUDI ARABIA
ARE NOT ABOVEGROUND, TALKING ABOUT THE FIGHTING PLANES, THEY
ARE UNDERGROUND.
HE DID ALL THAT WORK FOR SAUDI ARABIA.
BRILLIANT INDIVIDUAL.
FARM UP IN NORTHERN NEW YORK STATE.
HAD HE A COW FARM.
MILK COW.
HIS HOBBY, EVERY COW, WHAT IT PRODUCED, WHAT IT ATE, WHAT
PROFIT WAS IF ANY LEFT.
HE WAS A BRILLIANT GUY.
WHEN I'M LOOKING AT ALL THIS AND HEAR CERTAIN THINGS, I'M
NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANY CRA AS LONG AS I'M HERE.
I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE TO SHUT ANYONE DOWN.
THE REASON IS, LET'S GO BACK AND SAY THERE WAS NO CRA.
WHERE WOULD YOU BE AT? ON THE EAST SIDE THERE WAS NOTHING.
I MEAN NOTHING.
CITRUS NITRATE, COCA-COLA PLANT WITH JUNK ALL OVER THE
PLACE.
GREAT PRODUCT.
BANANA DOCK FULL OF RATS.

PROSTITUTION AND DRUGS.
AND THE FLOUR PLANT.
WHO WANTS TO LIVE NEXT TO A FLOUR PLANT?
WHO WANTS TO DO THAT.
THAT'S PART OF THE DEMISE.
LITTLE BY LITTLE, UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA HAD MAYBE A THOUSAND,
1500 STUDENTS AT MOST, LARGER THAN PRINCETON UNIVERSITY IN
ENROLLMENT.
WAKE FOREST IN ENROLLMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED, LISTEN, WHAT THE
UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA MEANS TO DOWNTOWN, I GUARANTEE YOU A
THIRD OF THE PRODUCT BY THEMSELVES.
WHEN I SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE, IT WOULD HAVE NEVER
HAPPENED IF WE STAYED STATUS QUO.
YOU MUST CHANGE.
WE MAKE MISTAKES.
IN THE '50s, THEY TOOK OUT THE STREETCARS.
IN THE '60s, THEY TOOK DOWN THE RAILS.
WE HAD ABOUT 50 SOME MILES OF STREETCAR ALL THE WAY TO
BALLAST POINT, FLORIDA AND LINEBAUGH, CENTRAL, HYDE PARK.
ALSO THE THINGS I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID.
I REMEMBER THE TAMPA THEATRE AND IT WAS SAVED BY DUNCAN,
SPICOLA.
THANK THEM FOR HELPING BACK IN THE '70s AGAIN FOR $90,000.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS I REMEMBER.

I DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO BARBRA STREISAND
MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
10:28:27AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK THIS PLAN IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING THAT HAS
BEEN TRIED BEFORE FOR ONE MAJOR REASON.
PEOPLE NOW LIVE DOWNTOWN.
ULTIMATELY THAT'S THE GAME CHANGER.
PEOPLE LIVE DOWNTOWN, SO WE NEED TO PLACE-MAKE.
IT IS JUST AN ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU HAVE
PEOPLE WHO COME DOWNTOWN TO WORK AND THEN LEAVE AT THE END
OF THE DAY.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE ANYMORE.
SO A PLAN LIKE THIS, I DO BELIEVE IS ACTUALLY PERFECT FOR
THE TIME.
IN FACT, PROBABLY A LITTLE BEHIND.
BUT BECAUSE OF ALL THE WORK YOU HAD TO DO TO PREPARE FOR IT
TO GET TO THIS MOMENT, IT WAS JUST THE RIGHT TIME.
WE HAVE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IN TOWN THIS WEEK.
I'VE BEEN GOING EVERY DAY AND TALKING TO FOLKS FROM OTHER
CITIES WHO ARE JUST FLABBERGASTED WHEN I TELL THEM THAT WE
OWN THE STRAZ, THAT WE OWN THE TAMPA THEATRE, THAT WE OWN
THE CONVENTION CENTER, THAT WE OWN -- I MEAN, JUST ALL OF
THESE ART AMENITIES AND THEY ARE JUST FLABBERGASTED THAT WE

AS A CITY MAINTAIN THESE PROPERTIES.
I'M INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED.
MY ONE -- I MAY HAVE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
BUT ONE OF MY MAIN GRIPES, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY FRANKLIN
BUT SOME OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
I KNOW WE HAVE KIND OF WORKED WITH LARRY WASHINGTON ON THIS.
THE GARBAGE CANS IN FRONT OF SUPERNATURAL ARE JUST NOT OKAY.
IT'S MICHELIN STAR RATED PLACE.
THERE HAS TO BE A SOLUTION ON FRANKLIN STREET FOR THAT.
THE SAME WITH THE HUB WHICH SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN MICHELIN
STAR FOR COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REASONS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BUT THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE
ALLOW THEM.
I HAVE ASKED BEFORE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THE GARBAGE
CANS THERE.
THOSE TYPES OF SMALL CHANGES CAN REALLY MAKE A GIANT
DIFFERENCE ALONG THAT CORRIDOR.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS.
IT DID NOT PASS ME THAT YOUR BIKE RACKS ARE NORMAL.
JUST A LITTLE SHOUT-OUT FOR THAT.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
JUST EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING, I'M ABSOLUTELY HAPPY TO
SUPPORT THIS.
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HOW MUCH MORE WALKABLE FRANKLIN

STREET CAN BECOME.
WHEN I TAKE A BREAK HERE IN COUNCIL, THAT IS WHAT I DO.
JUST LIKE ONE OF THE COMMENTERS THIS MORNING SAID, IT IS THE
PLACE I WALK BECAUSE IT'S SHADED.
10:31:14AM >> IF I MAY, THERE IS A WHOLE SECTION ON TRASH IN THIS PLAN.
10:31:17AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
EXCELLENT.
GLAD TO HEAR IT.
10:31:20AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
BOARD MEMBER CLENDENIN FOLLOWED BY BOARD
MEMBER VIERA.
10:31:22AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
GOOD MORNING.
I THINK YOU ALL WERE PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST MEETINGS I
HAD AFTER I WAS ELECTED.
AS YOU KNOW FROM THE BEGINNING, I WAS A RELUCTANT CUSTOMER.
WHEN YOU FIRST CAME, I CAME WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A SKEPTICAL
EYE, SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY, WHAT WAS THE RETURN AND HOW
MANY TIMES THIS HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED IN DOWNTOWN AND FAILED.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE RE-ENVISIONING PLANS.
I THINK ALONG THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN, ONE, IT'S BEEN A LONG
TIME COMING.
YOU'VE HAD MANY MEETINGS WITH US AND THE PUBLIC.
THE PEOPLE INVESTED IN DOWNTOWN, IT IS EVIDENT FROM PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY AND THE PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP IN SUPPORT.
I THINK YOU ALL LISTENED VERY WELL.
I THINK THE PARTNERSHIP IS A GREAT PARTNER FOR THE CITY OF
TAMPA.

AND THIS IS DEFINITELY THE RESULTS OF THAT GREAT
PARTNERSHIP.
I REALLY ECHO WHAT MY FELLOW COUNCILPERSONS HAVE SAID ABOUT
PLACE-MAKING.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT -- 2025 IS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT YEAR
THAN 1975.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT TAMPA.
IT'S A DIFFERENT PLACE.
YOU GUYS ARE CREATING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT,
RECOGNIZING THE FAILURES OF THE PAST AND MOVING US FORWARD.
AS COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK SAID, THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING
DOWNTOWN NOW.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW, ALSO COUNCILMAN CARLSON, WHEN
THEY REDEVELOP, AS COUNCILMAN MIRANDA WAS SAYING, WHEN THEY
REDEVELOP CITY CENTER AND THE BUILDINGS AND THE
CONSTRUCTION, WE GAVE AWAY, WE DON'T CONTROL THAT PLAZA.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN PLOW THROUGH.
WE HAVE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE PROPERTY.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE DEDICATED SPACES AS WELL AS
TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE OF, OF COURSE, MY PASSION FOR
EXPANDING THE STREETCAR, IMPROVING TRANSIT IN THE CITY OF
TAMPA, SO THAT WE HAVE PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR ON FRANKLIN
RUNNING NORTH-SOUTH, PARALLELING THAT WE'LL HAVE THE
STREETCARS RUNNING AND WHAT HART DOES WITH BUS

TRANSPORTATION ON THESE ADJACENT CORRIDORS AS WELL.
WHICH I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A CATALYST PROJECT THAT IS
GOING TO PROMOTE MORE AFFORDABLE LIVING.
WE AS A CRA, PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, LOOKING AT THE OLD
ARMY NAVY STORE, PLACE, ALONG WITH THE ADJACENT PARKING LOT
PROPERTIES FOR REDEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY HAVING IN THAT PROJECT PLACES
FOR STUDENTS, THE STRAZ CONSERVATORY SO YOUNG PEOPLE.
YOUNG PEOPLE WANT A PLACE TO GO.
THEY WANT THE PLACE MAKING AND HAVE THAT TYPE OF
ENVIRONMENT.
IF WE CAN INCORPORATE ALL THIS INTO THE DOWNTOWN FABRIC, THE
CITY WILL THRIVE FORWARD AND INCREASE OUR BASE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU LISTENING, ECHOING SOMETHING THAT
COUNCILMAN CARLSON SAID, THIS MONEY NOT ONLY IS IT ONLY TO
BE SPENT HERE, THIS IS NOT TAXPAYER MONEY COMING FROM
SOMEWHERE ELSE AND SPENT DOWNTOWN.
THIS MONEY IS GENERATED AND CREATED DOWNTOWN AND BEING SPENT
DOWNTOWN.
I THINK THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE.
IF YOU ARE LIVING IN AN AREA NOT IN DOWNTOWN, YOUR MONEY IS
NOT BEING USED TO FUND THIS PROJECT.
THIS IS DOWNTOWN MONEY BEING SPENT ON A DOWNTOWN PROJECT.
THANK YOU.
10:34:25AM >>LUIS VIERA:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

QUESTION FOR YOU ALL.
WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT WE WOULD BE APPROPRIATING FOR THIS?
IT'S 6 MILLION, RIGHT?
YOU HAD MENTIONED THE COUNTY.
ANY COUNTY OR OTHER GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION OR IS IT ALL
CRA?
10:34:39AM >> WELL, I MENTIONED WE HAD GOTTEN GRANT MONEY FROM
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S ALL CRA, BUT WE ARE ALL ABOUT GOING AFTER
GRANTS TO ENHANCE IT FURTHER.
IT IS $6 MILLION TOTAL.
2 MILLION, 2 MILLION, 2 MILLION.
10:34:55AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
ONE CLARIFICATION TO THE BOARD.
APPEARS THE PROJECT EXTENDS UP TO PALM.
CRA MONEY CAN ONLY BE USED WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN CRA, SO IT
WOULD STOP AT THE INTERSTATE.
THAT PROJECT WOULD HAVE TO FIND FUNDING ELSEWHERE.
10:35:07AM >> WHICH WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THE TAMPA HEIGHTS
STRETCH AS WELL BECAUSE WE KNOW WE CAN'T USE CRA DOLLARS FOR
THAT.
10:35:12AM >>LUIS VIERA:
THANK YOU.
I'M VOTING FOR THIS.
THERE ARE SOME LARGER -- THERE ARE SOME CRA PROJECTS I VOTED
FOR, SOME I VOTED AGAINST.
MY DISTINGUISHING RELEVANT ISSUE IN VOTING AGAINST THE ONES

I DID IS THAT WE HAVE A CRA DOWNTOWN, AND THERE ARE
DISCUSSIONS ON CAPPING THE DOWNTOWN CRA.
WE SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON ONE PARTICULAR PROJECT, I THINK IT
UNDERMINES THAT.
THAT WAS MY RATIONALE.
IT'S NOT OBVIOUSLY THE PROJECTS THEMSELVES, IT'S MORE SO THE
MONETARY AMOUNT GIVEN TOWARDS THOSE PROJECTS.
THIS I DON'T THINK VIOLATES THAT BECAUSE I DO SUPPORT A
DOWNTOWN CRA, OBVIOUSLY.
WE NEED TO HAVE A LIVABLE RESIDENTIAL, VIABLE DOWNTOWN.
THIS DOES IT.
I JUST THINK WE HAVE STRETCHED A DOUBLE INTO A HOME RUN WHEN
IT COMES TO A CRA.
I THINK TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR CITY.
AND THAT'S BEEN MY FRUSTRATION WITH THIS DIALOGUE, WHICH IS
WHEN WE VOTED MAYBE SIX MONTHS AGO TO CAP THE DOWNTOWN CRA,
I THINK THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD THAT
VOTE FAIL.
WE CONTINUE TO FUND LARGER PROJECTS, LARGER PROJECTS AND
THEN CAP THE DOWNTOWN CRA, I WANT TO MAKE SURE STAY
CONSISTENT, RIGHT, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS VIOLATES THAT.
AGAIN, I DO SUPPORT THE DOWNTOWN CRA.
I DO SUPPORT MAKING FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND
THINGS LIKE THIS.
AGAIN, I DON'T LIKE THAT STRETCH THAT INTO A HOME RUN, SO TO

SPEAK, AT ALL.
THAT'S ALL.
I WANTED TO STATE MY RATIONALE FOR IT, ET CETERA.
YEP.
THAT'S ALL.
I'LL STOP TAKING BECAUSE I'LL SAY SOMETHING REALLY STUPID.
10:36:54AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
I'LL CLOSE IT OUT BY SAYING TO IGNORE IT
WOULD BE THE BIGGEST CRIME.
THAT WOULD BE THE CRIME FOR US TO IGNORE FRANKLIN STREET AS
A PART OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO IMPROVE SLUM
AND BLIGHT IN THE DOWNTOWN CRA.
SO I JUST REALLY LOVE THE THOUGHTFULNESS AND THE TIME AND
ENERGY THAT WAS PUT INTO THIS PROJECT.
WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF OUR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.
TO ME, THIS IS A SMALL ASK FOR WHAT IS GOING TO BE ACHIEVED.
MS. GLORIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING FORWARD.
I'M GLAD THAT SHE SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
OF COURSE, OUR VISITORS WILL LOVE THIS ATTRACTION AND THE
IMPROVEMENTS, BUT OUR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO LIVE ADJACENT TO
THIS PROPERTY WILL BENEFIT FROM IT THE MOST.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THAT.
WE CAN TAKE THE MOTION NOW TO BRING THE GRANT --
10:37:53AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
YES, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE
CONCEPTUALLY THE $6 MILLION GRANT.
IT'S A SPECIAL PROJECT GRANT WHICH UNDER THE GRANT POLICY

REQUIRES AN AGREEMENT TO COME BEFORE YOU TO SPELL OUT
EXACTLY HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT TO MAKE SURE IT COMPLIES WITH
STATE LAW.
10:38:07AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
I HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER -- WHAT IS
YOUR NAME?
CLENDENIN.
SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HURTAK.
ANY DISCUSSION?
SHE DID TOO.
I WOULD HAVE PICKED A DRAGON FIRST, CHARLIE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
AYE.
ANY OPPOSED?
CONGRATULATIONS.
10:38:30AM >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
10:38:30AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WE WILL MOVE FORWARD.
[ APPLAUSE ]
HAPPINESS IS NOT ALLOWED.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MR. McCRAY, LET'S KEEP THE MEETING GOING.
10:38:50AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
YES, MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 6 RELATED TO
THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF UPDATE.
THERE WAS A MOTION MADE THAT, AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME
BEFORE YOU IN OCTOBER AS IT RELATED TO THE POSITION
DESCRIPTIONS FOR TWO OF THE POSITIONS THAT THE CRA BOARD HAD

INQUIRED AND WANTED SOME MOVEMENT ON.
THE FIRST ONE WAS THE CRA COMMUNICATION ENGAGEMENT MANAGER.
THE SECOND ONE WAS THE CRA PROJECT SPECIALIST.
THAT POSITION WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WE WOULD BE WORKING ON
FORWARD-FACING MATERIALS AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE CRA.
10:39:34AM >>LUIS VIERA:
COUNCILMAN HURTAK AND COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
10:39:36AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THANK YOU.
I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE MEETING WE HAD TO DISCUSS
THIS.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
EVERYTHING I COMMENTED WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER AND LOOK
FORWARD TO GETTING THIS STARTED.
10:39:58AM >>BILL CARLSON:
MR. MASSEY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WAY
IT'S STRUCTURED, IT SAYS IN THE DOCUMENT THAT THIS PERSON
REPORTS TO THE CRA DIRECTOR.
I KNOW WE HAVE INTERIM RIGHT NOW, BUT REPORTS TO THE CRA
DIRECTOR.
THEN THEY COORDINATE WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT BUT
ONLY FOR CITY BRANDING AND CONSISTENCY.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TO REAFFIRM FROM YOU THAT THIS
PERSON IS REPORTING TO THE CRA DIRECTOR AND NOT TO THE
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
10:40:23AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN, THE PERSON WOULD BE

REPORTING TO THE CRA DIRECTOR.
10:40:30AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THANK YOU.
10:40:31AM >>LUIS VIERA:
ANYONE ELSE?
YES, SIR.
10:40:35AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I UNDERSTAND WHAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET
HERE, BUT I WILL VOTE AGAINST IT.
I FEEL IT'S KIND OF A PROCESS OF BLOATED GOVERNMENT.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO DO AS FAR AS ON THE
CRA BOARD, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH FOR ME.
THANK YOU.
10:40:55AM >>LUIS VIERA:
ANYONE ELSE?
IF I MAY, IT'S SO FUNNY.
I SPOKE WITH MR. McCRAY ON THIS ISSUE A FEW DAYS AGO.
THAT WAS MY INITIAL IMPRESSION, AND THEN I ASKED THE
QUESTION, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT STAFF FEELS THAT THEY NEED
TO MOVE FORWARD, ET CETERA.
THE MESSAGE I GOT WAS, YES.
SO I FEEL -- I FEEL YOUR SENSE.
I WILL BE VOTING YES BASED UPON THAT REPRESENTATION.
I SHARE YOUR SKEPTICISM IF YOU WILL IN THAT REGARD.
VERY WELL TAKEN.
DO WE NEED A MOTION IN THIS REGARD?
10:41:32AM >>BILL CARLSON:
CAN I MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT?
I UNDERSTAND MY COLLEAGUE'S CONCERNS, AND I AM AGAINST
WASTING MONEY ALSO.

BUT WHAT WE FOUND, JUST FOR THE PUBLIC WATCHING, WHAT WE
FOUND IS THAT PEOPLE IN THE CRA DISTRICTS, IN PARTICULAR
EAST TAMPA, FEEL LIKE THE CRA HAS NOT BEEN INVESTING IN
THINGS AT ALL OR IN THE THINGS THEY WANT.
I THINK THE PURPOSE OF THIS PERSON IS JUST TO HELP THE
PUBLIC UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CRA HAS INVESTED IN AND THE
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT DOESN'T DO THAT.
THEY MOSTLY PROMOTE AND WORK AROUND THE MAYOR.
THIS ONE WILL BE NOT PROMOTING US.
NOT PROMOTING ANY INDIVIDUALS.
IT'S JUST EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT THE CRA HAS SPENT
MONEY ON.
10:42:13AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
I DO WANT TO INTERRUPT QUICKLY.
THE PURPOSE OF THESE POSITIONS ARE TO COMMUNICATE CRA
ACTIVITIES AND CRA OPPORTUNITIES.
THEY ARE NOT TO BRAND OR MARKET THE CRA OR THOSE AREAS.
AND THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO.
IF YOU ARE SUPPORTIVE OF IT, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION THAT YOU
ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION.
10:42:45AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I THINK IT'S GREAT.
LET'S DO IT.
I MAKE A MOTION.
10:42:49AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
10:42:51AM >> AYE.
10:42:51AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ANY OPPOSED?

10:42:53AM >> NAY.
10:42:54AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
MOTION CARRIES.
CLENDENIN VOTING NO.
10:42:57AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE 7 THROUGH 14 AND 16 AND
18.
10:43:04AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
OF OUR REQUIRED APPROVALS.
CAN I GET A SECOND?
10:43:08AM >>LUIS VIERA:
MAY I HAVE 18 PULLED FOR A SEPARATE VOTE.
10:43:12AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I MOVE 7 THROUGH 14 AND 16.
10:43:16AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
SECOND BY MIRANDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
10:43:19AM >> AYE.
10:43:19AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ANY OPPOSED?
10:43:21AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I MOVE 18.
10:43:24AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
NOW WE'RE -- YES, BOARD MEMBER CARLSON.
10:43:30AM >>BILL CARLSON:
I PREVIOUSLY ABSTAINED ON THIS ISSUE, 18.
THE REASON IS THAT MY FIRM WORKS FOR AN ORGANIZATION
AFFILIATED WITH THIS ITEM.
IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, I WANT TO RECUSE MYSELF.
I MAKE A MOTION TO FILE FORM 8B.
10:43:45AM >> SECOND.
10:43:46AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR 18 -- OKAY, THANK YOU.
YOU HAVE TO APPROVE THE RECUSAL.
10:43:57AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THE FORM.

RECEIVE AND FILE.
10:44:00AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
10:44:03AM >> AYE.
10:44:03AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WHO GAVE THE SECOND.
10:44:06AM >> VIERA SECONDED.
10:44:07AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
ANY OPPOSED?
JUST STAY RIGHT THERE.
WE'LL BE DONE SHORTLY.
10:44:15AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I MOVE 18.
10:44:17AM >>LUIS VIERA:
VERY BRIEFLY, I DID WANT TO SAY ON 15 I THINK
IT WAS, I VOTED FOR THE UNDERLYING PROJECT.
THIS IS A REQUEST THAT'S NARROWLY TAILORED TO HURRICANE
ISSUES.
IT IS A MATTER OF PROFESSIONALISM.
AND COURTESY.
10:44:30AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 18.
10:44:33AM >>LUIS VIERA:
I KNOW.
I'M OUT OF IT.
I'M SORRY.
10:44:48AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE ITEM NUMBER 18
FROM BOARD MEMBER HURTAK, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER MIRANDA
-- IT WAS CLENDENIN.
OKAY.
IT GETS TO BE YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
10:45:01AM >> AYE.
10:45:01AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ANY OPPOSED?
10:45:02AM >> NAY.
10:45:03AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
MOTION CARRIES WITH VIERA VOTING NO.
NOW LET'S GO BACK TO 17 --
10:45:11AM >> 15.
10:45:12AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WE STARTED AT 18.
I'M WORKING MY WAY UP.
17 IS LAST.
I'M SORRY.
LET'S GO WITH 15 AND THEN WE'LL GO DOWN TO OUR POSSIBLE NEW
ATTORNEY.
10:45:26AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
GOOD MORNING AGAIN.
10:45:32AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
HE'S INTRODUCING THE ITEM.
10:45:34AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STRAZ
CENTER HERE.
10:45:41AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
QUICKLY, I'LL PROVIDE BACKGROUND.
THIS IS THE THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE STRAZ GRANT AGREEMENT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OR PRECEDENT THAT
THEY HAVE THE STATUS IN ORDER FOR THE GRANT TO BE EFFECTIVE.
DECEMBER 1st IS THE OUTSIDE DATE FOR SATISFYING THOSE
CONDITIONS.
THEY HAVE SATISFIED MOST OF THE CONDITIONS THEY CAN SATISFY.

THE ONES THAT ARE NOT SATISFIED ARE REALLY TIED TO THE
ISSUANCE OF FINAL PERMITS BY THE CITY.
THEY HAVE MADE APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE PERMITS, AND THEY
PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO CITY STAFF.
GIVEN THE RECENT STORMS AND HURRICANES, THERE'S BEEN A DELAY
IN THE CITY'S REVIEW, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME GIVE AND
TAKE.
WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS TO BE CONTINUED OUT TO MARCH 1st
WITH ALSO THE CRA DIRECTOR BEING ABLE TO EXTEND IT FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS IF NECESSARY.
WE THINK THAT LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME, THEY WILL HAVE
SATISFIED ALL THE CONDITIONS PRECEDENT AND CAN MOVE FORWARD
WITH THE GRANT.
10:46:37AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
BOARD MEMBER MANISCALCO, BEFORE YOU GO,
MR. McCRAY.
10:46:40AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
THIS IS AN ACT OF GOD SITUATION?
IT'S NOT THAT THE STRAZ IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB, IT'S BECAUSE
OF THE HURRICANES, BECAUSE OF THE DELAYS WITH PERMITTING AND
APPROVAL, IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.
THEY ARE DOING THE WORK.
GO AHEAD, SIR.
10:46:55AM >>CEDRIC McCRAY:
I WAS GOING TO SAY TO THAT POINT, WE'VE HAD
ONGOING MEETINGS BIWEEKLY SINCE AUGUST.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY PROACTIVELY SUPPLYING US WITH THAT
INFORMATION.

OUR STAFF HAS BEEN REVIEWING IT AND APPROVING IT.
AS ATTORNEY MASSEY SHARED, IT COMES DOWN TO SOME OF THE
PERMITTING THINGS.
AND WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH MOVING FORWARD.
10:47:17AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THANK YOU.
DO WE NEED TO HEAR FROM STRAZ OR DO WE WANT TO MOVE THE
RESOLUTION?
10:47:23AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
SO MOVED.
10:47:26AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
I BELIEVE THAT IS NOW -- THAT'S OUTDATED.
THEY HAVE AN UPDATED PRESENTATION IF YOU ALL WANT TO HEAR
FROM THEM REGARDING WHERE THEY ARE ON THE CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT, PREPARED TO ADDRESS YOU ALL TODAY.
10:47:41AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
I'M OKAY VOTING TOO.
WE HAVE A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
10:47:45AM >> AYE.
10:47:45AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ANY OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES.
BOARD MEMBER VIERA AND BOARD MEMBER MIRANDA.
10:47:53AM >>LUIS VIERA:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I SPOKE PREMATURELY.
I APOLOGIZE.
I WAS GLAD TO VOTE FOR THIS.
I OPPOSED THE ORIGINAL PLAN FOR MATTERS OF FISCAL, NOT
OBVIOUSLY THE PROJECT OR ENTITY, ET CETERA.

THIS IS A HURRICANE.
THIS IS A PROFESSIONAL COURTESY OF BEING A GENTLEMAN OR
GENTLELADY.
THANK YOU.
10:48:15AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CLARITY, NOTHING TO
DO WITH THIS.
BUT FOR A LONG TIME, I REMEMBER THAT THEN MAYOR MARTINEZ WHO
THEN BECAME GOVERNOR MARTINEZ, DONE A WONDERFUL JOB BOTH AS
MAYOR AND FANTASTIC JOB AS GOVERNOR.
THIS ITEM WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE PUBLIC TO VOTE
SOMETIME BACK WHEN I HAD LONG HAIR AND CURLS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
ALL THAT, THAT'S HOW FAR BACK IT GOES.
THE PUBLIC TURNED IT DOWN, IF I REMEMBER.
HOWEVER, MARTINEZ SAID IT'S GOT TO GET BUILT BECAUSE WE HAVE
TO REVITALIZE THIS WHOLE AREA AND BRING IT BACK.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THEM AND JUST THINK OF WHAT HE WENT THROUGH
WHEN HE SAYS, YEAH, VOTED DOWN, BUT WE NEED IT.
IT WAS BUILT BECAUSE ONE PERSON SAYS I'M NOT BACKING DOWN.
I WANT TO GIVE HIM ALL THE CREDIT FOR THE STRAZ BEING THERE.
THAT'S ALL.
10:49:11AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
I WAS THE MOTION MAKER.
WHO WAS THE SECOND?
10:49:13AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
THE SECOND FOR MOVING THE MOTION?
THAT WAS CLENDENIN.

BOARD MEMBER CLENDENIN WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
10:49:21AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STRAZ,
WHILE YOU ARE HERE, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP.
10:49:37AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES OR LESS.
10:49:41AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
BECAUSE THIS IS KIND OF LIKE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF WHILE YOU'RE HERE, THE CRA SPECIFICALLY AS I
ADDRESSED EARLIER IN COMMENTS, REDEVELOPING THE ARMY NAVY
STORE.
HOW MANY STUDENTS DO YOU PRESENTLY HAVE AT THE CONSERVATORY?
10:49:57AM >> IN THE CONSERVATORY, WE HAVE ABOUT 1700 DURING THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
FOR THE SUMMER CAMPS, WE'LL DO ABOUT 2800.
10:50:06AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WITH THIS PROJECT, WILL THAT EXPAND YOUR
MEMBERSHIP, YOUR CAPABILITY?
10:50:12AM >> THAT'S RIGHT.
THE EDUCATION BUILDING, THE NEW EDUCATION BUILDING WILL
EXPAND US BY ABOUT 30%.
I THINK YOU KNOW WE ALSO HAVE ABOUT 60,000 STUDENTS THAT WE
SERVE THROUGHOUT THE REGION OFF-CAMPUS THROUGH FREE PROGRAMS
AND WE ALSO SEE A 20 TO 30% LIFT IN THAT AS WELL.
10:50:31AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE LISTENING TO
THIS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY FAMILIAR, THEY THINK THE STRAZ
IS JUST A BROADWAY SERIES AND IT'S SO MUCH MORE.
IT'S PERFORMANCE ART BUT ALSO EDUCATION.
IT'S REALLY PROVIDING THAT RESOURCE THAT ISN'T REALLY

AVAILABLE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I WAS REALLY FASCINATED TO HEAR YOU HAD A FORMER STUDENT,
BALLET STUDENT COMING BACK TO TEACH.
MAYBE YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
10:50:54AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
NO.
THE CHAIR PREFERS WE MOVE THE MEETING ALONG.
10:51:00AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I HAVE A POINT.
10:51:01AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIFIC YOU WANT TO
SAY REGARDING THE PLAN, SIR?
10:51:05AM >> WE HAVE ABOUT A THREE AND A HALF MINUTE UPDATE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THAT.
10:51:10AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
WE'VE ALREADY MOVED THE RESOLUTION.
10:51:12AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THIS IS THE CRA BOARD, WE'RE LOOKING AT
EXPANDING THE ARMY NAVY STORE ABOUT THE NEEDS POSSIBLY
SINCE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE ABOUT
WHAT THE ROLE OF THE CONSERVATORY IN THE CITY OF TAMPA AND
THE NEED YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE STUDENT HOUSING AND THE
PROXIMITY, HOW IMPORTANT THAT WOULD BE TO THE STRAZ.
10:51:33AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
YEAH, BUT THE CHAIR PREFERS THAT YOU DO
NOT.
WE HAVE MOVED THE RESOLUTION AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
10:51:41AM >> THANK YOU.
MAY I SAY, CHAIRWOMAN HENDERSON, THAT THE EXPERIENCE THAT
WE'VE HAD, THE LEADERSHIP NOT ONLY FROM THIS BODY BUT
CERTAINLY FROM THE CRA STAFF HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.

I THINK NONE OF US WOULD BE HERE WITH THESE PROJECTS TODAY
IF IT WASN'T FOR FIRST YOUR LEADERSHIP BUT ALONG WITH IT
THESE COLLEAGUES WE GET TO WORK WITH, AND I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD.
THANK YOU FOR THAT TIME.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
WE APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.
10:52:09AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ALL RIGHT.
SO NOW, MR. MASSEY, WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 17.
10:52:13AM >>MORRIS MASSEY:
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS ITEM, I WOULD LIKE
TO ASK MR. SHEPARD TO COME TO THE PODIUM.
THIS IS THE CONTRACT WHERE THE BOARD HIRED OWN CRA ATTORNEY.
I'M INTRODUCING MR. CLIFF SHEPARD, PROBABLY THE PREEMINENT
CRA ATTORNEY IN FLORIDA.
FLORIDA REDEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION.
HE KINDLY OFFERED TO ACT AS YOUR COUNSEL.
THIS IS THE CONTRACT WHERE YOU WOULD RETAIN HIM AS YOUR
COUNSEL.
10:52:44AM >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
THE AGREEMENT IN FRONT OF YOU WAS PRESENTED TO ME BY THE
CITY.
I REVIEWED IT, MADE A COUPLE OF CHANGES.
I'M GOOD WITH IT.
IT'S APPARENTLY WHAT THE CITY IS USED TO OR PREFERS.

I'M GOOD WITH THAT.
I CAN TALK ABOUT WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE OR ANSWER QUESTIONS
ABOUT PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
10:53:06AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
BOARD MEMBER HURTAK AND BOARD MEMBER
CARLSON.
10:53:09AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT DURING
THE FRA CONFERENCE THREE WEEKS AGO, MR. SHEPARD DID
BASICALLY -- I THINK IT IS LIKE A LEGAL Q & A, REMINDING
FOLKS ABOUT WHAT THE CRA IS FOR, WHAT THE RULES ARE.
KNOWING THAT WE HAD HIM POSSIBLY COMING TO BE OUR ATTORNEY,
I WENT TO THAT SESSION AND LISTENED IN.
I WAS SO IMPRESSED.
I PARTICULARLY LOVE -- AND WE GOT A CHANCE TO TALK YESTERDAY
AGAIN.
I PARTICULARLY LOVE -- I'LL BE CANDID, YOUR NO-NONSENSE
STYLE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU TELL IT LIKE IT IS.
WE CAN.
WE CAN'T.
THAT IS THE WONDERFUL PART OF CRAs IS THE GUARDRAILS ARE
PRETTY HIGH.
IT'S VERY BLACK AND WHITE.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF GRAY.
IN OUR WORLD OF CITY COUNCIL, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY
OFTEN.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY I REALLY ENJOYED HEARING WHAT YOU HAD
TO SAY, ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS OF OTHER CRAs IN DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE STATE.
AND I READ THROUGH THE AGREEMENT.
I TALKED TO BOTH YOU AND MR. MASSEY ABOUT SOME OF MY
CONCERNS, BUT IF YOU ARE CONFIDENT IN WHAT YOU CAN DO, I AM
-- OR CONFIDENT IN THE AGREEMENT, I AM AS WELL, BUT I ALSO
APPRECIATE IS THAT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY GET WRITTEN OPINIONS.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
10:54:44AM >>CLIFF SHEPARD:
FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S NO ISSUE WITH THE
AGREEMENT FOR ME.
I UNDERSTAND SOME MAY HAVE AN ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE LITTLE
LANGUAGE OF IT, AS YOU AND I DISCUSSED, THOSE THINGS DON'T
BOTHER ME.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS STUFF FOR 40 YEARS, WHEN I HAVE AN
OPINION, YOU'LL GET IT.
YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT, BUT YOU'LL GET IT.
10:55:03AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I LIKE.
BOARD MEMBER CARLSON.
FOLLOWED BY BOARD MEMBER MIRANDA.
10:55:07AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THANK YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY WORKING WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING AVAILABLE TO DO THIS.
ONE THING IS THAT THE FRA CONFERENCE WAS MENTIONED.
I WENT THERE BUT DIDN'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME THERE.

I'VE SAID THIS PUBLICLY BEFORE, I DON'T CARE WHAT OTHER
CITIES AND COUNTIES ARE DOING.
I WANT TO STAY WITHIN THE LAW BUT CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE
WITHIN THE LAW.
WON A COUPLE OF AWARDS.
I WANT TO DO THE INNOVATIVE THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
LEAPFROG OTHER COMMUNITIES IN FLORIDA AND COMPARE OURSELVES
TO THE BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD.
THE BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD MAY NOT HAVE CRAs, BUT
WHATEVER WE CAN DO WITHIN THE LAW THAT CAN DRIVE OUR
COMMUNITY FORWARD AND BUILD WEALTH AND HIGHER INCOME FOR OUR
PEOPLE, I WANT TO TRY TO DO THAT.
THE SECOND THING IS THE CONTRACT, SAME QUESTION I HAD FOR
THE COMMUNICATIONS, MAYBE I CAN GET BOTH OF YOU TO ANSWER
THIS.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONTRACT IS YOUR CLIENT WILL BE THE
CRA BOARD.
THERE IS A CONNECTION TO THE CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE YOU
CANNOT DO ANYTHING ADVERSE TO THE CITY, BUT ULTIMATELY I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CLIENT IS THE CRA BOARD.
10:56:17AM >>CLIFF SHEPARD:
MY CLIENT, TO BE SPECIFIC, IS THE CRA AS AN
AGENCY AND ENTITY, JUST LIKE IF I REPRESENTED THE CITY OF
TAMPA, I WOULD TAKE DIRECTION FROM EITHER THE MAY, IF IT IS
A STRONG MAYOR OR COUNCIL IF IT IS A COUNCIL MANAGER.
I KNOW IN THIS CASE IT IS STRONG MAYOR.

THAT'S WHO I GET DIRECTION THROUGH BUT THE CLIENT IS THE
ENTITY.
THE CLIENT IN THIS CASE IS THE CRA AND ITS VARIOUS
SUBDISTRICTS.
BUT THE ADVICE I GIVE IS THROUGH REQUESTS THAT COME FROM
THIS BOARD FOR THE BENEFIT OF AND TO MAKE SURE IT'S CORRECT
FOR THE AGENCY.
SO THAT IS THE ANSWER.
INDIVIDUALLY, I REPRESENT NONE OF YOU.
COLLECTIVELY, I REPRESENT GIVING THE INFORMATION THAT YOU
NEED TO DO TO DO YOUR JOBS AS THE BOARD OF THE AGENTS.
10:57:01AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THAT IS A BETTER ANSWER THAN I EXPECTED YOU
TO GIVE.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
WE CAN TALK ONE ON ONE.
BUT IF YOU WATCHED ANY MEETINGS BEFORE, I'VE WORKED WITH A
BUNCH OF ATTORNEYS IN THE PAST.
ATTORNEYS FOLLOW THE LAW BUT THEY ALSO WORK WITH CLIENTS.
IN A SITUATION IN THE CITY WHERE YOU HAVE TWO BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT, ONE BRANCH LEANS ON THE CITY ATTORNEY STAYING
WITHIN THE LAW, THE CITY ATTORNEY MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT
OPINION THAN IF THEY LISTEN TO CITY COUNCIL.
THAT HAS LED TO A LOT OF LEGAL DISCUSSIONS OVER THE YEARS.
IN THIS CASE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR AND YOUR
ANSWER WAS GREAT.

THANK YOU.
10:57:36AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
BOARD MEMBER MIRANDA.
10:57:36AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE BOARD.
LIKE YOUR ANSWER, REPRESENT YOU THE BEST WAY YOU CAN LEGALLY
AND THAT'S IT.
I DON'T LOOK FOR TROUBLE AND I DON'T GO LOOKING FOR SOME.
I'M SURE BEING AN ATTORNEY YOU CAN FIND ALL THE TROUBLE YOU
CAN HANDLE.
10:57:52AM >>CLIFF SHEPARD:
AT THIS POINT IN MY CAREER, THAT IS AN
ACCURATE STATEMENT.
10:57:56AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I'LL NEVER ASK YOU TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S
NOT RIGHT BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU ANYTHING, PERIOD.
YOU ARE THE ATTORNEY; WE'RE THE BOARD, THAT'S IT.
10:58:04AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE THE
RESOLUTION?
10:58:07AM >> SO MOVED.
10:58:07AM >> SECOND.
10:58:08AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
ANY OPPOSED?
CONGRATULATIONS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
10:58:13AM >>CLIFF SHEPARD:
THANK YOU.
10:58:14AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
OKAY.
NEW BUSINESS?
BOARD MEMBER MIRANDA.

10:58:17AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
NONE.
10:58:18AM >>LUIS VIERA:
NONE.
10:58:19AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
[INAUDIBLE]
10:58:21AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
NO.
10:58:22AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NO.
10:58:24AM >>BILL CARLSON:
NO.
10:58:25AM >> MOVE TO RECEIVE AND FILE.
10:58:26AM >>GWEN HENDERSON:
MOTION TO RECEIVED AND FILE?
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
[ SOUNDING GAVEL ]

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