TAMPA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL DISCUSSION
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2025
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(CAPTIONING TEXT PRODUCED FROM AUDIO RECORDING.)
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS SPECIAL
DISCUSSION MEETING TO ORDER.
ROLL CALL.
>>BILL CARLSON: HERE.
>>LYNN HURTAK: HERE.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: HERE.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE.
>>GWEN HENDERSON: PRESENT.
>>LUIS VIERA: HERE.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT IN THIS MEETING.
THERE IS NO PowerPoint PRESENTATION.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>MARTIN SHELBY: THIS IS A SPECIAL DISCUSSION MEETING.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO TALK AND MEET THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SUNSHINE LAW.
>>LYNN HURTAK: POINT OF ORDER.
I ASKED AN AGENDA A WHILE AGO.
WHY ARE WE HERE?
THERE WAS NOTHING ON IT.
THAT'S MY POINT.
>> FOR THE RECORD, IT'S BEING RECORDED AUDIO, AND THERE ARE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA HERE.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
[INDISCERNIBLE]
IN THE SAME ROOM AND SAME SETUP.
IT WASN'T VIDEO.
AUDIO RECORDED.
>>LYNN HURTAK:
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>> COUNCILWOMAN SAUL-SENA MANY YEARS AGO USED THIS FORUM
QUITE A BIT.
USED THE MASCOTTE ROOM.
SHE WOULD BRING IN SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO TALK ABOUT A
TOPIC THAT MAYBE COUNCIL --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>GWEN HENDERSON: LET'S GET ON WITH IT.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: JUST IN REGARDS TO THE EFFICIENCY --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
AGENDAS.
IT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED WITH THE MOTION MAKER, CHANGES
AFTER THE FACT.
JUST TO BE SAFE, DEFERENCE TO THE MOTION MAKER --
>>MARTIN SHELBY: REMIND YOU A SUBJECT RECENTLY EXPECTED TO
COME TO US IN COUNCIL.
TALK --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT THE MOTION ORIGINALLY WAS THE
COUNCIL MEMBER WHO MADE THE MOTION.
IF YOU WISH TO DO SOMETHING WITH REGARD TO THAT MOTION, YOU
SHOULD DO IT AT A PUBLIC MEETING WITH AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE
ARE WORKING WITH CHANGING AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, ASKED
BY COUNCIL.
>>GWEN HENDERSON:
>>LYNN HURTAK: IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION OR CHANGE
SOMEBODY'S MOTION, DO IT DURING OLD BUSINESS.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MAKER OF THE MOTION, CARLSON HAS A
MOTION, IF I WANT TO ADD OR CHANGE SOMETHING TO IT, I WOULD
ADD NEW BUSINESS.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A MOTION OF
ACTIVE BUSINESS.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT LYNN HURTAK MAKES A MOTION
TO CALL THE OFFICIAL COLOR BLUE.
I CAN STILL AMEND THAT MOTION.
I'M FOR TURQUOISE.
>>BILL CARLSON: MOVING --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: FUTURE BUSINESS, GOT IT.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NO MORE EVENING MEETING MOTIONS TO THE
ADMINISTRATION.
IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR A STAFF REPORT, WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT
READING MEETING.
>>GWEN HENDERSON: THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS CRA MEETINGS WE
ONLY DO CRA -- WE HAVE TO SAVE FOR THE EVENING.
>>LUIS VIERA: MAKE MOTIONS DIRECTED --
>>LYNN HURTAK: MY ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS I'VE TAKEN
ADMINISTRATION'S EARLIER COMMENTS TO HEART, SO GENERALLY, IF
I'M MAKING A MOTION, I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THE DEPARTMENT.
I'M ACTUALLY WORKING ON A WORKSHOP NOW THAT MIGHT NOT END UP
BEING A WORKSHOP BECAUSE I'M WORKING WITH STAFF ON IT.
IF I BRING A MOTION AT NIGHT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I ALREADY
TALKED TO STAFF ABOUT.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THAT IS TWO POINTS DOWN.
COORDINATE WITH STAFF WITH DATES AND MOTIONS.
YOU SAY I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH STAFF, GOOD WITH IT.
>>LYNN HURTAK: THE ONLY REASON I WOULD DO THAT BECAUSE THERE
IS A RACE TO GET SOMETHING ON THE CALENDAR.
IF YOU DON'T DO IT, YOU DON'T GET IT ON.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: IF YOU DID YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.
COORDINATE WITH STAFF.
>>BILL CARLSON:
[INDISCERNIBLE]
ADMINISTRATION, IF IT'S NOT TRANSPARENT, DOESN'T COOPERATE A
LOT OF TIMES.
THERE'S INFORMATION THAT WE NEED AND IT DEPENDS ON THE STAFF
PERSON AND HOW THE ADMINISTRATION LOOKS AT IT.
IF WE DON'T DECIDE AS COUNCIL TO --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
DON'T MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE.
EVEN IF WE DO, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE A DUTY TO THE PUBLIC TO
FULL AND COMPLETE INFORMATION, PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY EVEN IF
THE ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: ON THIS ISSUE --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
NO ACTION IS TAKEN.
IF THIS IS A BE MINDFUL OF TYPE OF DISCUSSION, I'LL HAVE A
DIFFERENT TAKE ON IT AS OPPOSED TO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING
TO DO KIND OF DISCUSSION.
I AGREE WITH BEING MINDFUL.
I'M SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN WHERE WE ARE.
IF THERE IS SOMETHING VERY TIMELY OR VERY IMPORTANT, WE
SHOULD NOT VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP OUR POWER AND CONTROL OF WHAT
WE HAVE.
AGAIN, I THINK WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION AND GETTING THESE THINGS DONE.
IF THAT IS THE PURPOSE AND ALL THINGS BRINGING UP, BE
MINDFUL OF, I'M ALL ABOARD.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, SIR.
MY RESPONSE WOULD BE WHENEVER I MAKE MOTIONS, TYPICALLY GIVE
FOLKS A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF TIME AND I WILL NEVER -- THE
ADMINISTRATION, I'M UNAWARE OF ANY TIME WHERE I'VE BEEN
ASKED TO CONTINUE SOMETHING WHERE I HAVEN'T.
OBVIOUSLY I'M MINDFUL OF THAT.
MAYBE PERHAPS RULES SAYING -- ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE THEM A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME FROM THAT EVENING SO THEY HAVE
SUFFICIENT TIME.
>>BILL CARLSON: BACKDROP, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE AGENDA
WAS.
THERE ARE RUMORS GOING INTO THIS, THIS WAS GOING TO BE, THE
MAYOR, ADMINISTRATION'S WAY TO CLAMP DOWN ON CITY COUNCIL
AND TRY TO CONTROL WHAT WE DO.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT.
BUT ALSO JUST INPUT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, INCLUDING
YESTERDAY, THE DAY BEFORE, THE MAYOR TO SOMEBODY'S FACE SAID
I'M DECLARING WAR ON CITY COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
LEADING INTO THIS MEETING I WAS QUITE CONCERNED BECAUSE I
DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS SOME KIND OF ACT OF WAR.
THE MAYOR SAID MULTIPLE TIMES TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE SHE'S AT
WAR WITH CITY COUNCIL TO INDIVIDUALS.
CHIEF OF STAFF IS HERE.
I WONDER IF HE MIGHT WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THESE ARE MY NOTES.
REGARDING THE MOTIONS, NO MORE LAND USE MOTIONS FROM THE
PLANNING -- AND -- EVENING MEETINGS.
GIVE US THE MOTIONS, DAYTIME MEETING.
>>LYNN HURTAK: THE ONES YOU READ.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: DAYTIME MEETING.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>MARTIN SHELBY: TO REDUCE THE EVENING MOTIONS.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE DON'T CREATE THOSE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION -- [INAUDIBLE] ASSOCIATED WITH LAND
USE MEETINGS.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THEY USUALLY HAND THEM TO US.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, AS CHAIR, IF YOU
WANT TO REACH OUT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ASK THEM TO
SUBMIT IT, WE'LL READ THEM WHEN THEY ASK US.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: GIVE THEM TO US DURING THE DAY INSTEAD
AND MAKE IT EASIER.
CRA IS DIFFERENT.
REGARDING MOTIONS AT NIGHT, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, QUESTION
FROM THE PUBLIC -- WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY ABOUT?
WE'VE BEEN BOMBARDED WITH HURRICANE, STORMWATER FLOODING.
IT'S BEEN CITYWIDE, FROM SOUTH TAMPA TO NEW TAMPA.
WE'VE HAD ISSUES.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT REQUIRE --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
BEEN THROUGH SINCE OCTOBER.
THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE.
I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY NIGHT MOTION.
SAVE EVERYTHING FOR THE DAYTIME.
NEXT THURSDAY IS A REGULAR MEETING, JUST TO KEEP US MOVING,
GOING.
>> IS IT THE ADMINISTRATION OR CLERK'S OFFICE THAT PULLS
ACTION ITEMS?
IS IT ADMINISTRATION OR THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHO GOES THROUGH
OUR MEETINGS?
WHO COMPILES THAT AND THEN SUBMITS IT TO FOLKS?
IS IT SOMEBODY IN THE ADMINISTRATION?
EACH DEPARTMENT?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: LET'S SAY WE OPEN AND CLOSE A MEETING AND
15 DIFFERENT ITEMS, MAKE MOTIONS, REQUIRES ADMINISTRATION
ACTION.
WHO COMPILES THOSE, THAT LIST FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, FOR
THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS?
EACH DEPARTMENT?
>> IT WILL BE THE DEPARTMENT THAT'S RESPONSIBLE.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: TO LISTEN TO THAT MEETING --
>> OUR OFFICE WILL SEND OUT THE MOTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENTS.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN:
[INDISCERNIBLE]
FUTURE MINUTES --
>> THAT OR E-MAILS --
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: THE CLERK'S OFFICE COMPILES IT AND SENDS
IT OUT.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>GWEN HENDERSON: THAT IS THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE.
UP WITH THE BEST EXAMPLES, MOVED SOMETHING OFF WORKSHOP
AGENDA TO PUT ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION, TWO WEEKS LATER.
THAT WAS THE NEXT WORKSHOP.
AND I DID THAT AT NIGHT.
DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A RHYME OR REASON.
BECAUSE THEY GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE CLERK WHEN WE MAKE
A MOTION, ARE WE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE'RE ASSUMING THEY ARE
NOT LISTENING?
ALSO, THE OTHER POINT IS, TOO, THE DATE IS IMPORTANT.
GIVING THAT TIME WITH A DATE WITHIN THE MOTION.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: EVERYBODY AGREES -- HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE
DOES IT MAKE -- AGAIN, THIS IS A DISCUSSION.
>>GWEN HENDERSON: TALKING TO STAFF.
>>BILL CARLSON: TALK ABOUT IDEALLY, ANYTHING CONTROVERSIAL.
THAT'S MORE A COURTESY THING.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SURE.
OKAY.
SO MOVING ON TO A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS, AND I'LL DISCUSS --
BUT REGARDING THE DECORUM, EASY THINGS.
DO NOT INTERRUPT OR SPEAK UNTIL RECOGNIZED.
I LOOKED AT THE MICROPHONES, I TRY TO SEE OUT OF MY
PERIPHERAL VISION.
WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT.
NOT ALWAYS PERFECT.
I'LL RECOGNIZE -- TO KEEP THINGS MOVING FORWARD.
NO SIDEBAR COMMENTS BECAUSE OF SUNSHINE.
I DON'T WANT ANYBODY -- I MAKE A JOKE, I MAKE A COMMENT.
I LOOKED AT COUNCILMAN VIERA --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
THIS IS SOMETHING MR. SHELBY TAUGHT ME --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
WHEN MR. SHELBY IS SPEAKING BECAUSE WE HAVE ROBERT'S RULES
OF ORDERS AND WE HAVE OUR OWN RULES OF PROCEDURES, AGAIN,
NOT PERFECT.
MAKE MISTAKES.
THE MEETINGS ARE COMPLICATED.
WHEN MR. SHELBY WISHES TO BE RECOGNIZED, I'LL RECOGNIZE HIM
-- SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
>>GWEN HENDERSON: HE INTERRUPTS US.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I UNDERSTAND.
SPEAKING WITH MR. SHELBY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE KEEPING THE
MEETING GOING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING LEGALLY
CORRECT.
SOMETIMES HE WILL JUMP UP.
>>MARTIN SHELBY: [INAUDIBLE]
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YES, SIR.
>>BILL CARLSON: THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE MICROPHONE.
I THINK WE FIGURED OUT WE CAN ONLY HAVE FOUR ON AT THE SAME
TIME.
IS THAT STILL TRUE?
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: T AND I OR CCTV, THAT'S WHY SOME
MICROPHONES SHUT OFF.
THE CHAIR'S MICROPHONE IS ALWAYS ON.
BUT IF EVERYBODY'S LIGHTS ARE ON --
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: [INAUDIBLE]
>>BILL CARLSON: [INAUDIBLE]
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: -- THE MICROPHONES AND --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: SIDEBAR CONVERSATION.
GO ROUND AND ROUND ABOUT THIS.
THERE IS LAW AND THEN THERE'S LAW AND ORDER REQUIRED VERSUS
POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT.
AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT VIOLATING SUNSHINE, I CAN LOOK OVER TO
LYNN AND SAY, HEY, DO YOU WANT TO DO LUNCH?
OH, MY GOSH -- OR HOW WAS YOUR NIGHT LAST NIGHT?
AS LONG AS IT'S NOT -- WE HAD AN ISSUE.
COUNCILWOMAN HENDERSON AND I.
AS LONG AS IT IS NOT IN VIOLATION OF SUNSHINE, THERE IS NO
LAW OR ANYTHING THAT SAYS WE CANNOT HAVE CONVERSATIONS.
IT JUST CANNOT BE CITY BUSINESS AND SOMETHING WE POTENTIALLY
VOTE ON.
I COULD SAY, HEY, THOSE ARE NICE SHOES OR LOOK AT YOUR
WATCH, NICE WATCH.
WE'RE SEVEN HUMAN BEINGS SITTING AT THE DAIS.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LOSE OUR HUMANITY AND OUR ABILITY TO
HAVE EXCHANGES WITH ONE ANOTHER OUT OF FEAR.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE'RE GOOD AT THAT.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO RULE OF
LAW OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT SAYS WE CANNOT --
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I UNDERSTAND.
I JUST WANT TO BE CAREFUL.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
WATCH OUT.
THE PUBLIC CAN SAY, WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?
ALL IT TAKES IS ONE PERSON.
WE'RE VERY GOOD.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: I FORWARDED MR. SHELBY FROM AN ARTICLE --
INFORMATION FROM ST. PETERSBURG AND TAMPA.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
THEY WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION AND SOMEBODY DIDN'T LIKE IT.
>>MARTIN SHELBY: CAN I FOLLOW UP ON THAT?
THERE IS AN ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION ABOUT IT.
DATES WAY BACK, ACTUALLY.
IT'S A PUBLIC MEETING AND A PRESUMPTION WHAT CONDUCTED IS
PUBLIC BUSINESS.
PUBLIC IS INVITED.
MEETING IS TELEVISED.
THERE IS A PRESUMPTION THERE OF THE PUBLIC.
I WAS ADVISED MANY YEARS AGO -- THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE
SPEAKING.
YOU'RE IN A POSITION OF ALLOWING THEM TO SPECULATE AND ALSO
SOMEBODY HAS A CONCERN THEN YOU ARE IN A POSITION OF HAVING
--
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: PUBLIC NOTICE.
WHENEVER I HAVE A CONVERSATION --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
[ LAUGHTER ]
>>LUIS VIERA: I THINK THE TAKEAWAY FROM THIS, MR. SHELBY,
OUR ATTORNEY, ATTORNEY'S JOB TO ADVISE.
LEGAL EXPOSURE.
IF WE DO CHOOSE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, SOMEONE MAY
POTENTIALLY QUESTION US, THAT IS THE EXPOSURE AND YOU'RE
GIVING US THAT ADVICE AND WE SHOULD BE READY TO RESPOND IN
THE RARE INSTANCE THAT WOULD HAPPEN.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WHEN I WAS ELECTED TEN YEARS AGO, THE
NEXT DAY I THINK MR. SHELBY, BE MINDFUL, YOU ARE UNDER THE
SUNSHINE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
>> WE PASSED A RULE THAT SAYS IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO GO TO THE
RESTROOM AND EXCUSE THEMSELVES INSTEAD OF TELLING US EXACTLY
WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: LAST TWO ITEMS.
TREATING EVERYONE, STAFF AND PUBLIC WITH DECENCY AND
RESPECT.
SOME COMMENTS WERE MADE, MAYOR MAY HAVE SAID DECLARING WAR
ON CITY COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T CARE.
WE ALL ESSENTIALLY -- LEGISLATIVE BODY.
COMES TO BUDGET AND OTHER THINGS.
WITHOUT THE COUNCIL, YOU CAN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY.
I'M SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING THIS DECLARATION OF WAR THING.
I CAMPAIGN WITH EVERYBODY HERE.
I THINK OUR GOAL, I'M ASSUMING OUR GOAL IS WE WANT TO SERVE
THE COMMUNITY -- POLITICS IS POLITICS.
WITH THE MAYOR, WHAT I DO AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE
STYLE, I WOULD DISAGREE WITH MAYOR BUCKHORN -- TALK ABOUT
AND I WAS PRIVATE ABOUT IT.
I WOULD CALL HIM UP, SOMETIMES HE WOULD MOVE AND I WOULD
MOVE, NO DEALS, NOTHING.
MY GOAL WAS HOW CAN WE COME TO A CONCLUSION.
OR THE STORMWATER ISSUE.
2016.
WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION -- PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL THE
MAYOR.
THE MAYOR PROPOSED THE MILLAGE INCREASE.
GOT UP ON THE DAIS AND STARTED THE MEETING.
I GOT YELLED AT BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THIS IS THE MOST UNPOPULAR IDEA I'VE SEEN.
I DIDN'T CRITICIZE FURTHER THAN THAT.
I VOTED AGAINST IT.
IT WASN'T A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
NOT THAT I'M NONCONFRONTATIONAL, WE WORK FOR THE PUBLIC,
SERVE THE PUBLIC.
THESE ARE PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE'RE ON TV.
WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT -- THESE WERE CITY
EMPLOYEES.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM -- IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY
PROPOSED, VOTE AGAINST THEM.
YOU HAVE MORE EFFECT THAN JUST SAYING NO THAN TAKING IT
FURTHER.
THIS IS JUST BROAD.
I'VE BEEN HERE TEN YEARS AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF FIGHTS.
FROM PAST COUNCIL MEMBERS, EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT STYLE.
BE RESPECTFUL OF THE STAFF.
I'VE HEARD THAT THEY ARE NOT TRANSPARENT.
THEY THINK THEY ARE TRANSPARENT, BUT NOTHING IS PERFECT.
SAY NO.
VOTE AGAINST THEM.
IF I HAVE TO CALL A RECESS AND SAY GIVE MORE TIME TO THINK
ABOUT IT, KEEP WORKING THAT WAY, DO THAT.
>>BILL CARLSON: THE PROBLEM -- FIRST OF ALL -- CALLS AND
E-MAILS.
WE KNOW THERE'S SYSTEMIC CULTURAL ISSUES IN THE CITY THAT WE
HOPE TO FIX.
CULTURE IS CRAVING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE IS CONFLICT.
THAT'S NOT FROM US BECAUSE WE DON'T OVERSEE THAT.
THE OTHER THING WE KNOW THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS AND THROUGH
CONVERSATIONS WITH CURRENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEES IS THAT THE
MAYOR'S STAFF HAD ASKED IF WE INSTRUCTED STAFF MEMBERS TO
ARGUE WITH US, AT LEAST WITH ME.
I THINK IT'S INAPPROPRIATE.
I HAVE A GOOD ENOUGH RELATIONSHIP WITH MOST OF THE STAFF
THAT THEY'LL COME TO ME AND TELL ME THAT SOMEBODY IN THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS ASKED THEM TO DO THAT AND THERE IS A
LITTLE BIT OF A DANCE.
THERE ARE SOME FORMER STAFF MEMBERS WHO I COMPLIMENTED IN A
MEETING AND THEY WENT BACK TO THE MAYOR'S MEETING AND THEY
SAID SOME OF THE MAYOR'S STAFF CRITICIZED THEM AND
QUESTIONED THEM AND ASKED WHY I COMPLIMENTED THEM AND ASKED
IF THEY ARE NOW ALLIES WITH ME INSTEAD OF THE MAYOR.
ALL OF THAT IS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE.
WE KNOW MANY SENIOR LEVEL PEOPLE THAT LEFT THE CITY LEFT
BECAUSE THE MAYOR OR HER PEOPLE THREATENED THEM.
CASES WHERE THE MAYOR REPORTED BY FORMER EMPLOYEE WITH THE
MAYOR SCREAMED AND CURSED AT THEM --
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>>BILL CARLSON: I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT I HEARD.
YES, BEEN TO HR.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS THERE.
AS PEOPLE HAVE LEFT, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE LEAVING THE
ENVIRONMENT, MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE HIGH-LEVEL
PROFESSIONALS DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROBABLY, BUT
THIS IS THE SITUATION WE ARE IN.
IF I COMPLIMENT A STAFF PERSON AND THEY GET CRITICIZED BY
THE MAYOR'S PEOPLE BECAUSE I COMPLIMENTED, THAT IS A
COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE SITUATION.
EVEN WITH SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT LEFT, THERE WAS A
SITUATION THEY WERE SO SCARED OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT WE
HAD TO HAVE A DIALOGUE THAT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE CRITICIZING
EACH OTHER JUST SO THE MAYOR'S PEOPLE WOULDN'T CRITICIZE
THEM.
THAT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENT TO EXIST.
WE NEED SOMEHOW TO BUILD A COLLABORATIVE CULTURE.
IF THE MAYOR WON'T, THE CITY COUNCIL AND WE NEED THE
PUBLIC'S HELP.
WE CANNOT HAVE THE HOSTILE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE MAYOR'S
PEOPLE ARE SETTING UP FIGHTS UNNECESSARILY WITH THE CITY
COUNCIL.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I UNDERSTAND.
THE POWER WE HAVE AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY IS WE SAY NO.
WE CAN OVERRIDE VETOES.
THE AUTHORITY THAT WE HAVE.
I THINK WE ARE A VERY, VERY GOOD COUNCIL.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
ANOTHER THING THAT -- MAYBE THE OTHER SIDE DOESN'T
UNDERSTAND, THEY DON'T HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS, THEY COME TO US.
WE ARE THE FIRST ONES TO GET YELLED AT, RECEIVE A COMPLAINT.
ANYONE CAN COME ON A THURSDAY.
WE'RE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE.
THEY WANT US TO RESPOND.
WHAT THEY DO OR DON'T DO IN THE ADMINISTRATION, I DON'T
KNOW.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT.
BUT WE HAVEN'T -- YOU HAVE THE -- WE CAN SAY NO.
WE CAN BLOCK.
WE CAN OVERRIDE VETOES.
WE CAN GO DOWN BUDGET.
WE HAVE A LOT OF -- ON OUR END.
I WANT US TO RESPECT EACH OTHER AS A COLLABORATIVE BODY.
CLENDENIN, HENDERSON, HURTAK -- VIERA, CLENDENIN, HENDERSON,
VIERA.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: MY OBSERVATION -- UNCOMFORTABLE -- DENIAL,
ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS EASILY OBSERVED, ONE, WE ARE IN
POLITICS.
WE ARE A LEGISLATIVE BODY IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC IN
POLITICS.
PART OF THE FRAMING OF THIS WE'RE IN THE SOUTH.
CULTURE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, TOO.
WE ARE A SMALL CITY RAPIDLY BECOMING A LARGE CITY, MORE
COMPLEX CITY.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEETING, LET'S LOOK AT CONGRESSIONAL
HEARINGS AND THE TEMPERAMENT.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO COME TO --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR.
THE FOLKS THAT COME BEFORE US -- TRIPLE WHAT I MAKE.
THEY ARE MAKING TONS OF MONEY.
WE PAY THEM BECAUSE THE JOB IS NOT EASY.
IT'S HARD.
PART OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE JOB IS THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH
SOME OF US ON TOP OF THEIR JOB.
WE PAY THEM REALLY WELL BECAUSE OF THAT.
I THINK THAT THERE IS -- I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH A
COUPLE OF PEOPLE NO LONGER WITH US.
YOU WALK IN THE CHAMBERS --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE.
HANDLES THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
WHEN YOU ARE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OR IN A POLITICAL --
PART OF POLITICS IS THAT PASSION.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT YES AND NO VOTES AND PASSING
THINGS.
BUT PART OF GETTING THINGS PASSED SOMETIMES IS TO EVOKE
EMOTION.
SOMETIMES IT IS TO SPARK DISCUSSION AND GET THAT ENERGY
LEVEL UP.
AM I UNCOMFORTABLE SOMETIMES?
OH, DEAR GOD, THE THINGS I HAVE HEARD.
BUT DO I WANT TO CREATE A RULE OR EVEN TRY TO SNUFF THAT OUT
BECAUSE I THINK -- NO, BECAUSE I THINK HAVING THAT IN THE
POLITICAL REALM, LIKE THE MOTION THAT COUNCILWOMAN
HENDERSON --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
WHAT COUNCILMAN VIERA BRINGS TO FIRE, FLOODING IN NEW TAMPA
AND FOREST HILLS.
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK BRINGS PASSION FOR TRANSPORTATION AND
HOUSING.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS EVOKE EMOTION.
EMOTION CREATES THAT TYPE OF ENERGY.
SOMETIMES WE'LL HURT A FEELING OR TWO, BUT THAT'S WHY THEY
ARE PAID A LOT OF MONEY.
I'M SORRY.
I THINK THEY ALL DESERVE IT.
I'VE LEARNED THAT CITY OF TAMPA HAS GREAT EMPLOYEES.
WE REALLY DO HAVE REALLY, REALLY GOOD EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE DEDICATED EMPLOYEES.
JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO EVOLVE AS A COUNCIL IN GOVERNMENT TO
THIS EVER-EXPLODING GROWTH AND CHALLENGES, THE CITY HAS TO
DO THE SAME THING WITH LESS RESOURCES, AND SOME HAVE TO WORK
IN THAT HORRIBLE BUILDING NEXT DOOR.
YOU TAKE THE GOOD AND THE BAD.
I'M SORRY.
GET OVER IT.
I HAD A BLOWUP WITH ONE PERSON.
GOT OVER IT.
ONE BLOWUP.
EMOTION BEHIND IT WAS RIGHT.
IT WAS MY FRUSTRATION.
THINGS ARE HAPPENING, I KNOW WE HAD STAFF TURNOVER AND ALL,
BUT THAT WAS THE PERSON STANDING BEFORE ME THAT I COULD
EXPRESS THAT EMOTION AND FRUSTRATION.
TOWN HALL MEETING AND SOMEBODY SCREAMING AT ME ABOUT
FLOODING.
I TOOK IT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND, THEY WERE HURT AND THEY
NEEDED SOMEBODY TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS EMOTION TO.
I WAS THE PERSON STANDING BEFORE THEM THAT DAY.
DID I CAUSE THE FLOODING?
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE DOCUMENT SHE WAS WAVING.
I TOOK IT.
I KNEW SHE WAS HURT.
SHE HAD WANTS, NEEDS, DESIRES.
I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS POLITICS.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I UNDERSTAND, YOU'RE RIGHT.
LET'S BE RESPECTFUL OF STAFF.
NO NAME CALLING, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT STYLES.
AS COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK SAID, SEVEN DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES
IN HERE.
I WAS AT A COFFEE SHOP, A MAN SAT DOWN AND SAID, YOU A CITY
COMMISSIONER?
HE JUST LOOKED AT ME.
HE'S GOING TO TEAR ME UP.
SOMETHING FROM SIX YEARS AGO AND I REMEMBERED IT.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: [INAUDIBLE] FLIP-FLOPS, GYM SHORTS AND
T-SHIRT.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YOU LOOK REAL FAMILIAR.
JEFFERSON?
NO.
THAT IS THE FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE.
ORIENTATION.
SWORN IN.
THAT WAS TEN YEARS AGO.
WE JUST HAVE --
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I UNDERSTAND.
BUT I CARE ABOUT US AS A COUNCIL.
YEAH, IT'S POLITICS.
IT GETS HEATED.
FORUMS AND ALL THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, IT'S A
BATTLEFIELD.
I'M TRYING TO PROTECT COUNCIL.
SO AND SO SAID THIS, SO AND SO SAID THAT.
WE'RE ALL UNDER PRESSURE.
THE PUBLIC, THEY COME TO US.
WE'RE THAT FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE.
THEY DON'T HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT WITH THE MAYOR.
IT'S EASY TO WALK IN HERE.
THEY COME IN, SIGN UP AND THEY GIVE IT TO US BECAUSE SOME
MEETINGS ARE TERRIBLE.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS -- AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO.
WE KNOW WHAT WE SIGNED UP FOR.
WHEN IT COMES TO STAFF, LET'S BE RESPECTFUL.
YES, THEY GET PAID A LOT OF MONEY.
I'VE SEEN SALARIES IN THE ADMINISTRATION.
WHEN HE SAID THE HORRIBLE BUILDING NEXT DOOR, TALKING ABOUT
ARCHITECTURE.
>>LYNN HURTAK: I LOVE THAT BUILDING.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE CAN DISAGREE.
WE CAN HAVE ARGUMENTS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE SAY NO.
DEAL WITH STUFF PERSONALLY --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
I RARELY YELL AT ANYBODY.
PERSONALLY, WHATEVER, PROFESSIONALLY.
I WALK AWAY.
SOMEBODY INSULTS ME, SOMEBODY INSULTED ME THE OTHER DAY, I
DIDN'T EVEN RESPOND TO IT.
BUT MOVING FORWARD WITH STAFF, THEY ARE UNDER A LOT OF
PRESSURE.
THE CITY IS VERY BUSY, BUT THAT'S IT.
>>GWEN HENDERSON: I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO
THIS CONVERSATION.
I'M A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER.
IF SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT ME AS A TEACHER WHICH
HAPPENS A LOT, THEY ARE MAD AT ME, I DON'T CARE.
IF THE MAYOR -- GOT BACK TO YOU ALL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY NOTHING SHE
CAN DO TO US AS A BODY THAT WOULD HURT US.
I WOULD BE VERY DISMISSIVE OF A COMMENT LIKE THAT.
IF SHE SAID -- HAVING LUNCH -- SCHEDULED TO HAVE LUNCH WITH
HER ON MONDAY, AND I WILL ASK HER, DID YOU SAY THAT?
-- ON STUFF LIKE THAT.
OUR TIME UP THERE CAN BE VERY PASSIONATE.
AND SOMEONE MAY SAY SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T LIKE.
EVEN THAT IS STILL OKAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE REALM OF
DISRESPECT.
WE DISAGREE ON AN ISSUE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO PAY FOR ROUTE ONE.
THEY WROTE ABOUT ME IN THE PAPER, NOT BILL.
STUFF LIKE THAT HAPPENS AND NOW I'M LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW
WHAT --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
I'M OKAY WITH IT.
I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE.
NOT SOMETHING I HAVE TO FIGHT, BATTLE, BATTLE, BATTLE.
WHAT IS CHALLENGING FOR ME IS THE CONSTANT WHAT THE MAYOR
SAID.
BILL DOES THAT A LOT.
THE MAYOR SAID, THE STAFF THIS OR THEY ARE THAT.
IT'S NOT REALLY CONCRETE, BUT THAT'S HIS STYLE OF, YOU KNOW,
BEHAVIOR.
HE'S TALKING ABOUT A PARTICULAR ITEM OR VERY GENERIC.
I TALK TO EAST TAMPA.
EAST TAMPA 65,000 RESIDENTS.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
THAT'S PART OF THE NATURE OF HOW WE ARE OPERATING AS COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MAYBE YOU DID LISTEN TO THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE THAT HAVE A
CHALLENGING ISSUE, BUT IT'S JUST NOT PERSONAL ENOUGH FOR US
TO SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE'RE DISRESPECTING ONE ANOTHER OR
THAT WE'RE DISRESPECTING STAFF.
STAFF HAS A RIGHT TO BE CHALLENGED AND SOMETIMES IT MAY HURT
THEIR FEELINGS.
IF THEY WALKED AWAY CRYING, THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT.
IT WAS LISTEN TO WHAT WAS ACTUALLY BEING ASKED OF YOU.
REMEMBER, I WAITED THREE MONTHS FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT
THEY DIDN'T SUPPORT DIGITAL SIGNS.
I PUSHED BACK IMMEDIATELY.
I'M NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
DESERVED TO BE PUSHED BACK AND DESERVED TO BE PUSHED BACK
PUBLICLY.
THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON.
YOU DON'T KNOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN IT HAPPENS.
MR. CLENDENIN CHALLENGED SOMETHING ON THE SPOT.
IT DOES HAPPEN.
WE'RE JUST DOING OUR JOBS.
YOU CAN'T TIE A RULE TO THAT.
EVEN TONE AND TEXTURE, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM A BLACK WOMAN,
IT MAY SOUND LIKE IT IS ANGRY.
IT'S NOT ANGRY.
IT'S POINTED, DIRECT, ASSERTIVE.
CONFORM JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M FOLLOWING WITHIN A RULE OF
WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE MAY BELIEVE IS GOOD DECORUM.
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HUMAN.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I ACTUALLY HAVE A REAL JOB TO GO
TO.
SO I'VE GOT TO GET UP AND LEAVE.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE CONVERSATION.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>LUIS VIERA: THREE BASIC THINGS, NUMBER ONE, IN MY VIEW IN
DEALING WITH STAFF -- ALWAYS WILL BE RESPECTFUL TO STAFF.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DISAGREES WITH THAT OR ANYTHING OF
THAT NATURE.
NUMBER TWO, I THINK, MR. CHAIRMAN -- SAID ON CITY COUNCIL,
PEOPLE CAN'T CHANGE NECESSARILY --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
THEY ARE WHO THEY ARE.
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK SAID WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
THE OTHER SIDE TO THAT AND I DID SAY THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO,
NUMBER ONE, WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OR GETTING INTO
MUNICIPAL POLITICAL SEASON.
WE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS, POLITICS CAN PLAY A ROLE.
I RESPECT THAT.
I'LL SAY IT.
I DON'T CARE.
THAT'S FINE.
ALSO IN THE AFTERMATH BUT PROBABLY WHAT WAS THE MOST
DIVISIVE, ACUTE MUNICIPAL ELECTION I'VE SEEN 2023, I SAID
THIS IN THE MEETING WITH MR. SHELBY, POLITICS, EVERY ACTION
HAS A REACTION.
SOMEONE WILL PUNCH YOU BACK AND VICE VERSA.
IN OTHER WORDS, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO THINGS THAT HAPPEN
IN POLITICS.
MAYBE '23 WAS THE CONSEQUENCE OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED
BEFORE, BUT ALWAYS GOING TO BE REACTIONS.
I WOULD JUST SAY WE CAN'T PUT THIS IN RULE, AGAIN, PEOPLE
ARE WHO THEY ARE.
WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS TAME EXCESSES.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I AGREE WITH THAT.
IT IS FAIR.
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
>>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW, THAT IS A GOOD POINT THAT YOU MADE ABOUT A
DIVISIVE ELECTION.
BUT FOR ME, IT WAS THE MOST DIVISIVE.
BUT YOU ASKED ME TO WORK WITH CITY STAFF, I WORKED WITH CITY
STAFF.
WE'RE DOING -- KELLY AND I ARE DOING PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO GO TO STAFF AHEAD OF TIME, TO DO THIS.
WHAT HAPPENED, HAPPENED.
I DON'T -- I MEAN, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
BUT TO FURTHER THE POINT THAT THE CHAIR SAID ABOUT IF YOU
DON'T SUPPORT SOMETHING, JUST VOTE AGAINST IT, WELL --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
DON'T DO IT WELL.
THAT IS A POWER WE WIELD BUT WE DON'T WIELD IT.
MAINLY BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO.
VERY FEW THINGS THAT COME IN FRONT OF US THAT ARE BAD FACE
VALUE.
IT'S GENERALLY THAT WE WANT TO CHANGE SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
SO I THINK THE ARGUMENT OF TRYING TO MAKE IT BETTER OR
TRYING TO CHANGE IT TO HAVE INPUT IN THE PROCESS AND I THINK
THAT'S WHERE WE GET SOME PUSH-BACK SOMETIMES FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION THAT WE WANT TO BE A PART OF IT AND THEY ARE
SAYING NO, IT'S ALL OR NOTHING.
I THINK ALL OF US ARE REASONABLE ENOUGH THAT WE'RE SAYING,
NO, WE DON'T WANT TO SAY NO TO SOMETHING.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO FINESSE IT SO WE CAN GET TO YES.
I HEAR THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME ONE OF US HAS AN ISSUE.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO FINESSE.
VERY FEW OF US THAT I CAN THINK OF ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
I THINK THAT WE CAN VOTE NO.
WE DON'T BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO -- WE REALLY WANT TO MOVE
THINGS FORWARD.
THERE ARE VERY FEW THINGS THAT COME IN FRONT OF US --
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY I'VE NEVER SEEN A
CITY COUNCIL LIKE THIS.
THE CRAZINESS OF EVERY THURSDAY.
I LOVE HISTORY.
I READ BIOS AND KNOWN MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN THIS HARDWORKING OF A CITY
COUNCIL.
WE CAN DISAGREE ON STUFF.
MAY NOT LIKE EACH OTHER, WE MAY LIKE EACH OTHER.
NOBODY WORKS --
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: I LIKE EVERYBODY BUT VIERA.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCIL MEMBER HURTAK, YOU TAKE THIS AS
A FULL-TIME JOB TIMES TEN.
YOU ARE VERY, VERY COMMITTED.
COUNCILMAN CARLSON, YOU ARE VERY PASSIONATE UP THERE.
AND THAT'S FINE.
LOOK AT YOUR BACKGROUND.
YOU ARE VERY SMART.
YOU BRING UP A LOT OF GOOD POINTS AND THAT IS A COMPLIMENT
TO YOU.
NEVER BEEN A COUNCIL LIKE THIS.
LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUALS.
THEY ARE VERY GOOD PEOPLE.
>>BILL CARLSON: COUPLE OF POINTS IN RESPONSE, ONE, I THINK
PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH WE DISAGREE IN
THE MEETINGS, WE GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER PRETTY WELL
OUTSIDE.
CHARLIE ENDS UP BEING, NOT HERE, HE ENDS UP BEING THE ONE
WHO DISAGREES WITH ME A LOT.
HE AND I GET ALONG REALLY WELL OUTSIDE.
IN FACT, IF I WASN'T HIT BY SUNSHINE, I WOULD TRY TO GET
TOGETHER WITH HIM BECAUSE HE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION.
JUST BECAUSE WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT THE TOPICS DOESN'T MEAN WE
DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER.
THE SECOND THING IS, THE ELECTION WAS MENTIONED A COUPLE OF
TIMES.
LYNN WAS HIT MORE THAN I WAS, BUT THE MAYOR -- SHE
PERSONALLY WITH THE FORMER MAYOR RECRUITED THE GUY WHO RAN
AGAINST ME.
THEY USED THEIR PR FIRMS TO ATTACK ME.
NEGATIVE MAIL.
SO MUCH THAT MY KIDS CRIED.
THE MAYOR ENDORSED HIM.
FORMER MAYOR ENDORSED HIM.
THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, PEOPLE ASKED ME, DID THE MAYOR
CALL YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU?
I SAID, NO.
KEPT SAYING NO, NO, NO.
FINALLY, A FRIEND OF DEL ACOSTA SAID, WHY DON'T YOU CALL
HER.
REMEMBER, SHE HAD JUST RUN THIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST ME.
I'M HERE TO WORK ON THE CITY, NOT TO PLAY POLITICS.
I CALLED HER WITH A WITNESS IN THE CAR AND I SAID I WANT TO
PUT THE PAST BEHIND US, WHATEVER HAPPENED, HAPPENED.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING TOGETHER.
THEN I SET UP A MEETING WITH HER.
THE CHIEF OF STAFF WAS THERE AND MY AIDE.
I SAID, LOOK, WHATEVER CONSPIRACY THEORIES YOUR PEOPLE HAD
OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THE FUTURE IS WE CAN'T RUN AGAINST
EACH OTHER AND OUR LEGACIES ARE TIED.
YOUR LEGACY IS GOING TO BE THE SAME AS MINE.
DO WE WANT TO FIGHT FOR FOUR YEARS OR ACCOMPLISH DOUBLE OR
TRIPLE BY WORKING TOGETHER?
SHE SAID I WANT TO WORK TOGETHER.
I SET UP A MEETING WITH HER EVERY MONTH.
THEN WHAT HAPPENED, EVERY MONTH GO AND BEG HER TO TURN HER
STAFF OFF FROM ATTACKING ME AND CITY COUNCIL AND OTHERS IN
THE COMMUNITY.
SHE WOULD SAY, GIVE ME EXAMPLES.
I WOULD GIVE HER SPECIFIC EXAMPLES WITH NAMES AND DATES AND
EVERYTHING AND NOTHING HAPPENED.
FINALLY, WE GOT TO THE SOUTH HOWARD PROJECT, WHICH IS THE
MOST UNETHICAL THING THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.
THE MOST DIRTY POLITICS I'VE EVER SEEN.
CANCELED THE MEETINGS.
IF SHE COMES TO ME TODAY AND SAYS I'LL MEET WITH YOU WITH A
CLEAN SLATE, FINE.
YOU CAN'T AFTER ATTACKING ME LIKE THAT, I SAID I FORGET THE
PAST.
I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU AND THEY CONTINUE ATTACKING ME --
THAT'S NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENT TO WORK IN.
I CONTINUE PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY TO ASK THEM TO STOP.
IF THEY STOP, I'M HAPPY TO COLLABORATE.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YOU WON.
THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE, NOT THE POLITICS.
THE ATTACKS THAT YOU RECEIVED, I SAW THE MAILERS, COUNCIL
MEMBER HURTAK -- I HAD THE MAILERS.
NASTINESS.
EVEN I WAS ATTACKED.
COUNCILMAN VIERA GOT ELECTED WITHOUT OPPOSITION.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
IF THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR YOU, AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT YOU
WERE AGAINST AND MANY OF US WERE, IT GOES TO SHOW THAT
YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: DRIVE THE POINT HOME.
ACTIONS ARE CONSEQUENCES.
ONE, TWO, THREE, THREE OF US, THE MAYOR ENDORSED AGAINST US,
ALL THREE OF US.
I TURNED THE OTHER CHEEK.
EVERYBODY ELSE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB DOING THAT FOR THE MOST
PART.
IRONIC, AGAIN, THREE OF US, THE MAYOR, HAVE TO KNOW THAT,
THE ADMINISTRATION RUNNING FOR OFFICE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH THE PERSON FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
IT'S FUNNY, GENERALLY PEOPLE ON CITY COUNCIL DON'T ENDORSE
FOR THAT VERY REASON.
YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO YOU.
POLITICAL ADVICE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE WAS NOT
GIVEN WELL TO WORK AGAINST THE PERSON -- POTENTIALLY HAVE TO
WORK WITH THEM.
AGAIN, IT IS POLITICS.
TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK SAID, AND WHAT YOU SAID,
THIS COUNCIL, THE REASON WHY -- TV ON THURSDAYS, WE'RE
DEALING WITH CONSEQUENTIAL ISSUES.
THE CITY HAS EXPLOSIVE GROWTH.
IT'S COMPLICATED.
THE COMPLICATIONS BETWEEN WASTEWATER AND FLOODING, WATERS,
THE FRESHWATER SUPPLY, OUR BUILDING CODES, TRANSPORTATION,
ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING, EXPONENTIALLY GREATER
THAN PROBABLY ANY PREVIOUS COUNCIL, BECAUSE WE'RE CRAMMING A
LOT MORE INTO THE FIVE-POUND BAG.
BEING ON COUNCIL AND HAVING THE PRIVILEGE OF BURDEN, IT IS
DIFFICULT.
THE DECISIONS ARE DIFFICULT.
IRONICALLY AND ECHOING WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER HURTAK SAID, WE
END UP COMING TO AN AGREEMENT AND GENERALLY WE ARE A YES
COUNCIL.
WE'RE ALMOST ALWAYS YES.
I THINK I HEARD COUNCILMAN CARLSON SAY THIS.
WE GENERALLY SUPPORT.
IT IS ONLY THE FEW OUTLIERS THAT WE VOTE NO ON.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I THINK THE MILLAGE.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU WERE GOING TO 2.25 --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
HOW THAT WORKED OUT.
PAY AS YOU GO INSTEAD OF BONDING.
WE HAVEN'T STOPPED SPENDING.
WE KEEP BORROWING IT.
WHOLE OTHER DISCUSSION.
AGAIN, I THINK WE ARE A YES COUNCIL.
I THINK THIS IS A CONTENTIOUS TIME.
WE HAVE SEVEN VERY DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.
WE DISAGREE ON THINGS BUT WE COME TO USUALLY A FOUR --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
AND PASSED IT.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE VOTES -- 99.9% OF THE VOTES I'VE TAKEN
IN TWO YEARS.
I DON'T REMEMBER.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT REGARDING
COLLABORATION.
TRY TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE WITH THE MILLAGE.
YOU HAD A PROPOSAL.
NOT A TERRIBLE COUNCIL TO WORK WITH, YOU ALL HAD IDEAS.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE'RE A YES COUNCIL.
CONTROL OF THE BUDGET.
MAYOR PRESENTS A BUDGET TO US.
WE MAKE VERY MINOR CHANGES TO THAT BUDGET.
REALLY MINOR CHANGES TO THE BUDGET.
WE END UP PASSING THE MAYOR'S REQUEST ALMOST VERBATIM WITH
JUST EVER SO SLIGHT CHANGES.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: REMEMBER, WE ARE ON THE FRONT LINE.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
PUBLIC COMMENT AND EVERYTHING.
WE'RE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE.
I THINK WE DO THE JOB WELL.
I THINK WE'RE A VERY GOOD COUNCIL.
WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, FINE.
BACK TO THE STAFF AND EVERYTHING, I DON'T WANT US TO BE
ACCUSED OF, OH, WE ARE A HOSTILE CITY COUNCIL.
WE'RE DOING OUR JOBS.
WE HAVE TO TAME OUR EXCESSES.
THAT'S PERFECTLY SAID.
WE CAN DO A LOT TOGETHER.
WE DO A LOT TOGETHER.
COUNCILMAN CARLSON TALKED ABOUT THE SOUTH HOWARD -- TALK
ABOUT DIVISIVE.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: -- HEARING SOMEBODY EXPRESS THEIR
FRUSTRATION WITH THE CITY.
I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND.
THEY ARE OVERWORKED.
PORTFOLIOS ARE TOO BIG.
TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH WITH TOO LITTLE.
NO MONEY.
A LOT OF DEMANDS AND VERY LITTLE RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH
THOSE THINGS.
ONE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
ALL THE ANGER IS GOING TOWARDS THEM.
I GET IT.
IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION TO BE IN.
SOMETIMES JUST LIKE US, WHEN WE'RE GETTING YELLED AT BY
PEOPLE -- I HAVE TO BE ON THE RECEIVING END OF IT.
ASK STAFF TO UNDERSTAND THAT POINT TOO.
THEY ARE THE FACE AND THE PERSON WE GET TO TALK TO ABOUT
THOSE THINGS.
IT ALSO GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET HOLD OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS TO SAY, HEY, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT LIVE AND IN
PERSON.
IT'S NOT RECORDED AND BROADCAST.
BUT WHEN THE STAFF IS SITTING IN FRONT OF ME, MY
CONSTITUENTS CAN SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, HE HEARD ME.
HE ACTUALLY EXPRESSED HIS FRUSTRATION, DO SOMETHING ABOUT
IT.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: IT'S NOT PERSONAL.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
THERE IS A FIGURE HEAD.
THE ISSUES.
THE COMPLAINT.
>>BILL CARLSON: A LOT OF EMPLOYEES TOLD ME, WE'VE HAD
EMPLOYEES COMING BEFORE US -- THAT'S NOT IN OUR ABILITY.
TO STAFF AND STAFF WON'T MAYBE HEAR THIS, I THINK MOST
SENIOR STAFF KNOW -- I TALK TO THEM ALL THE TIME JUST LIKE
YOU ALL DO.
BUT I'M CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY PUBLICLY BECAUSE OF THE
RETALIATION.
MOST STAFF KNOW THAT IF THEY ARE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT
I WON'T LIKE OR NOT SAY SOMETHING THAT I ASKED FOR, THAT
THEY SHOULD COME TO ME AND TELL ME THAT THE ADMINISTRATION
-- SOMETIMES THEY COME TO ME AND SAY THE ADMINISTRATION
WANTS ME TO ARGUE ABOUT THIS.
AND I'LL JUST AGREE TO BE QUIET TO SUPPORT THE
ADMINISTRATION'S EXPECTATIONS.
BUT ONE THING I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, I TOLD CHIEF OF STAFF
THIS, I'M NOT GOING TO CONFIRM OR DENY NAMES, AT LEAST TWO
INSTANCES THAT I REMEMBER IN THE LAST SIX YEARS WHERE STAFF
GOT UP AND ABSOLUTELY LIED TO US AND THEY LIED TO THE
PUBLIC.
I TOLD CHIEF OF STAFF, IF I WAS IN CHARGE, I WOULD FIRE
THEM.
IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO INTENTIONALLY NOT TELL THE TRUTH IN
PUBLIC.
IF YOU SAY SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY DOESN'T AGREE WITH,
THAT'S ONE THING.
WHEN YOU INTENTIONALLY MISLEAD THE PUBLIC OR MISLEAD CITY
COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY INFLUENCING A VOTE, THAT'S NOT
ACCEPTABLE.
WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW PEOPLE -- ONE THING IF PEOPLE CAUSE
CULTURAL PROBLEMS, SHOULD RESOLVE THAT.
IF THEY ARE NOT TELLING THE PUBLIC AND CITY COUNCIL THE
TRUTH THEY SHOULD NOT BE IN THE ORGANIZATION.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MAKE IT CLEAR AT THE MEETING -- SOUTH
HOWARD IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
I DISAGREE WITH AN ENGINEER.
GO TO A DOCTOR AND THEY DIAGNOSE.
YOU GET A SECOND OR THIRD OPINION.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK FOR OTHER OPINIONS ON WHATEVER
MATTERS AND THEN WE VOTE AGAINST.
IF WE SAY THIS IS SO EGREGIOUS AND TERRIBLE, I DON'T THINK
THE STAFF IS GIVING US ALL THE INFORMATION OR I THINK THERE
ARE OTHER WAYS TO DO THINGS.
AGAIN, GOES BACK TO THE PART OF THE VOTE.
>>LUIS VIERA: JUST REALLY QUICK.
I WAS GOING TO SAY, MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION,
NUMBER ONE, WITH THE STAFF, I THINK THEY WORK A LOT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN AN ADMINISTRATION, WHERE I COME UP WITH SOME
IDEA, OFTEN WHATEVER PIE IN THE SKY, LET'S TRY TO MAKE THIS
WORK, I THINK ABOUT TIMES I'VE HAD DISAGREEMENTS WITH MAYOR
CASTOR OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
CRIME-FREE HOUSING.
CALLING THE ADMINISTRATION, LOOK, DON'T SUPPORT THIS AT ALL.
HUNDRED PERCENT.
CHANCE TO OVERRIDE FIVE CHARTER.
THE MILLAGE AFTER THE HURRICANES.
EVERY TIME I DEALT WITH MAYOR CASTOR ONE ON ONE, I FOUND HER
TO BE A GENTLELADY, RESPECTFUL.
SHE'LL PUSH BACK.
LUIS, YOU'RE WRONG, THIS OR THAT.
I'VE GENERALLY GOT ALONG WITH HER DESPITE DISAGREEMENTS.
I REMEMBER A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, FORGOT THE TOPIC, HEY,
LOOK MAY DISAGREE WITH ME, MAY THINK I'M FULL OF IT, JUST
KNOW I MEAN WELL.
THAT'S WHAT I TELL PEOPLE.
I COME FROM A GOOD PLACE.
I SAY THIS FOR ME -- I'VE ALWAYS GOTTEN ALONG WITH HER AND
WE HAVE HAD OUR DISAGREEMENTS AND EVERYTHING.
BUT I ALWAYS FOUND HER -- THE BIGGEST THING MAYOR CASTOR
HUMILITY.
AGAIN, WE DISAGREE BUT WE'VE ALWAYS I THINK HANDLED IT WELL.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SAME WITH MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MAYOR
CASTOR AND MAYOR BUCKHORN.
MAYOR BUCKHORN I DISAGREED ON AN ISSUE IN 2016, TWEETED,
CALL YOUR CITY COUNCIL -- LIKE I WAS THE ONLY ONE.
WHAT A WAY TO THROW SHADE, PUT MY PHONE NUMBER OUT THERE.
THAT WAS MANY YEARS AGO.
I GET ALONG WITH ALMOST EVERYBODY.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: [INAUDIBLE]
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: STAFF IS OVERWORKED -- NOT OVERWORKED.
THEY HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATE.
WE ASKED FOR QUITE A BIT IN STAFF REPORTS.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
50 OR 60 IN THE BACKLOG THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH US.
THIS WOULD BE THE WAY THINGS WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD.
ANY MOTIONS ALREADY THERE, MADE A STAFF REPORT, MOTION TO
COME BACK, WHATEVER IS ON THE CALENDAR HAS BEEN MOVING
FORWARD STARTING NEXT THURSDAY, THAT WE ADD STAFF REPORTS TO
THE END OF WORKSHOPS.
I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE MANY WORKSHOPS.
WE GO INTO STAFF REPORTS, COME BACK AFTER LUNCH, HAVE A
COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE VOTE ON.
I'LL FINISH AND CLARIFY.
WE HAD RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE MULTIMILLION DOLLARS AND WE NEED
STAFF PRESENT TO VOTE.
THESE ARE NONVOTE NEEDED RESOLUTIONS AND ISSUES.
IF WE COULD MOVING FORWARD MAKE THE MOTION AT THE END OF
WORKSHOPS.
WE DON'T HAVE WORKSHOPS IN JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, NOVEMBER,
DECEMBER.
WE NEED TO ADD MEETINGS, THIS WORKSHOP IS SPECIFICALLY FOR
STAFF REPORTS AND WE CAN ADD A COUPLE OF ITEMS.
I KNOW WE'RE LIMITED ON WORKSHOPS AND SAY THE LAST HOUR IS
RESERVED FOR STAFF REPORTS JUST TO KEEP THE DAY MEETINGS
MOVING MORE QUICKLY BECAUSE WE'LL COME BACK FROM LUNCH.
MIGHT HAVE SOME ITEMS.
MIGHT HAVE A 1:30 HEARING, STAFF REPORTS, TWO, THREE HOURS
-- NAME OF EFFICIENCY.
JUST KEEP OUR MEETINGS SHORTER.
AGAIN, WE HAVE SO MANY GAPS --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
TWO, THREE HOURS.
THAT'S WHY I'M CAREFUL TO MAKE MOTIONS.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: I DON'T NECESSARILY CARE FOR -- WORKSHOPS.
I DO RECOGNIZE THERE ARE TOO MANY STAFF REPORTS.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND ENCOURAGE --
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THIS IS IN PERSON.
NOT WRITTEN.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: STILL TAKING STAFF TIME.
I THINK ORDERLY.
UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING REALLY URGENT, I THINK ORDERLY SHOULD
BE THE DEFAULT UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY URGENT,
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING --
>>LYNN HURTAK: I AGREE TO THAT TO SOME -- I ASKED -- STOP
DOING THE MONTHLY.
IN CASE I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.
OKAY.
I EVEN SPECIFICALLY WAS LIKE, YEAH, YOU'LL HAVE A BREAK FOR
A FEW MONTHS.
NO, I WANT TO KEEP THOSE.
OKAY.
I ASKED.
I ACTUALLY WENT TO EVERY SINGLE GROUP THAT I HAVE REPORTS
TO.
THE ONLY ONE I'M ADAMANT ABOUT GIVING MONTHLY IS THE
STORMWATER BECAUSE THAT IS LITERALLY ALL WE'RE HEARING
ABOUT.
AND THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE OR A SECURITY ISSUE FOR PEOPLE.
I DON'T DISAGREE.
MAYBE WE LIMIT THEM TO FIVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT SO WE
REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT GOING FORWARD.
I DON'T MIND THAT.
WE ALREADY HAVE A LIMITED WORKSHOP TIME.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: IF WE LIMIT IT TO FIVE, OUR DEFAULT IS
NORMALLY -- STORMWATER THING, THAT GIVES THE CITY AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TELL --
>>LYNN HURTAK: IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL BETTER.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN:
[INDISCERNIBLE]
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO DO PUBLIC PRESENTATION ON
THAT AS WELL IN REAL TIME.
TO YOUR LEARNING CURVE ON THIS, I DO SEE THERE IS AN AWFUL
LOT OF WORK BEING DONE.
WE'RE GENERATING A LOT -- I WON'T CALL BUSY WORK.
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH, IF THEY ARE DOING THIS, NOT
GETTING SOMETHING ELSE.
>>LYNN HURTAK: ABSOLUTELY.
WE BRIEFLY TALKED ABOUT THE STORY THAT THE TIMES WROTE ABOUT
SPEEDING.
CARS, PEDESTRIANS, BIKE.
I MIGHT WANT TO DO A WORKSHOP ON IT.
YOU ALL WERE LIKE, OH, MAYBE.
MET WITH THEM.
IT MAY NOT BE A WORKSHOP.
MAY BE A QUICK STAFF REPORT.
INSTEAD OF ME SAYING WE'LL HAVE A WORKSHOP WITHOUT HAVING A
-- I THINK, AGAIN, WORKING WITH STAFF TO HELP DETERMINE
EITHER A STAFF REPORT OR WORKSHOP, MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
AGAIN, IT ALL STARTS WITH WORKING WITH STAFF.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN:
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>LYNN HURTAK: WORKING WITH STAFF.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I HAVE A QUESTION ON AN ISSUE, MAKE A
MOTION AT A FUTURE MEETING, I CALLED CHIEF OF STAFF.
HAPPENED TO SEE THE MAYOR AT AN EVENT.
PUT A BUG IN HER EAR.
FOLLOWED WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
THEY SAID NO.
THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE.
OUR TIME IS VALUABLE.
THE PUBLIC'S TIME IS VALUABLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE ADMINISTRATION -- I WANT TO BE
COLLABORATIVE.
WE HAVE LESS THAN 22 MONTHS UNTIL THIS MAYORAL TERM ENDS AND
THEN ELECTIONS.
IN THE NAME OF COLLABORATION, EFFICIENCY, HAVING GOOD
RAPPORT, I WOULD HOPE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD SAY
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEND PEOPLE.
WE'RE OVERBURDENED WITH WORK OR WE AS COUNCIL SAID, LET'S BE
MINDFUL AND COME BACK UNDER STAFF REPORTS UNLESS IT IS AN
ABSOLUTE EMERGENCY THAT WE NEED THEM IN PERSON.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: USE AN EXAMPLE, COUNCILMAN VIERA FOR
PASSION FOR FIRE STATIONS.
I THINK A LOT OF THE STAFF REPORTS GENERATED ARE ABOUT FIRE.
A LOT OF FRUSTRATION, PAINFULLY SLOW TO GET THESE THINGS
DONE AND PROBABLY REALLY GOOD REASONS BEHIND ALL THAT.
BUT HOW DO YOU AVOID --
>>LUIS VIERA: IT'S A BALANCE, WHICH IS YOU HAVE TO BE FIRM
BUT FAIR.
KIND OF HOW I AM AS AN ATTORNEY.
LOOK, I'LL GET WHAT I WANT BUT IF YOU NEED MORE TIME, TAKE
IT.
I'LL BE A GENTLEMAN OR GENTLELADY, FIRM BUT FAIR.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY NEED TO PUSH FORWARD, TODAY, FOR
EXAMPLE, CRA, I WAS NOT HAPPY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WITH
THE LACK OF DISABILITY, ACCESSIBLE EQUIPMENT AND WE CAME
DOWN -- HAVE AT IT.
IN OTHER WORDS, FIRM BUT FAIR.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
>>BILL CARLSON: I THINK 20, 30 PERCENT, I DON'T KNOW
EXACTLY, SAY IT'S ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
THE PUBLIC HAS ASKED US TO HAVE A PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT
HASN'T BEEN HELD AT SOME OF THE MEETINGS.
EXAMPLE, HEARD THIS FROM A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, HE GOT
BLINDSIDED, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING AT THE STORMWATER PLANT
ON DAVIS ISLAND?
NONE OF US HAD SEEN IT BEFORE.
THEY HAD DONE A TOWN HALL MEETING ON DAVIS ISLAND TO PRESENT
THAT, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
TWO PIECES, ONE IS THAT PEOPLE WANT COMPLETE INFORMATION,
ESPECIALLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
REMEMBER TWO YEARS AGO, THREE YEARS AGO GOT 900 PAGES ON THE
BUDGET.
TWO YEARS AGO, 300.
THE COMMUNITY SAID, ISN'T THERE MORE?
GAVE US 300 MORE.
ASKED AGAIN AND GAVE US 300 MORE.
THEY SHOULD DO THAT AUTOMATICALLY.
THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT, NOT JUST THIS ADMINISTRATION,
BUT PROMOTING THE BRAND OF THE MAYOR INSTEAD OF
COMMUNICATING WITH CONSTITUENTS, AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY
THE RESIDENTS OF DAVIS ISLAND WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE
PLAN AND WHAT WE WERE DOING IF THEY WERE COMMUNICATING.
COUNCILMAN VIERA, THE FIRE UNION HAD BEEN ASKING FOR THE
STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE FIRE UNION PULLED PUBLIC RECORDS AND
FOUND OUT IT HAD BEEN DONE A YEAR OR TWO BEFORE AND IT HAD
NOT COME BEFORE COUNCIL BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE $89,999, THAT
LOOKS TO THE PUBLIC LIKE THE ADMINISTRATION STOPPED BEING
TRANSPARENT.
MANY GOVERNMENTS ARE GOING TO AUTOMATIC ONLINE PUBLICATION
OF THINGS.
WE NEED TO PUSH OUT TO DO MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH THE
PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY THE ENTERPRISE FUND SO THE PUBLIC
UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE COMMUNICATION
DEPARTMENT SEEMS TO BE ON THE DEFENSIVE ALL THE TIME.
THEY ARE POSTING VIDEOS EXPLAINING TO PEOPLE THAT FIXING
POTHOLES IS NOT THE SAME AS REPAVING ROADS.
THE OTHER DAY THEY POSTED A VIDEO ON WHICH ROADS IN SOUTH
TAMPA ARE THE COUNTY'S AND NOT THE CITY'S.
WHAT THEY SHOULD DO IS HAVE A MAP WITH THE DATES ON IT AND
-- REPAVE THE ROADS.
FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, SAY THAT'S WHAT IT IS UNLESS WE GET
MORE FUNDING.
IDEALLY, NOT FIGHTING WITH US WHEN WE ASK FOR MORE FUNDING.
IT IS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND PROACTIVE COMMUNICATION RATHER
THAN BRANDING OR DEFENSIVE COMMUNICATION.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: ADAM, I'M EXPRESSING MY FRUSTRATION WITH
THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
I HEAR COUNCILMAN CARLSON SAY THIS ALL THE TIME.
WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL, I DISMISSED A LITTLE BIT.
IT IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THE CITY OF TAMPA GOVERNMENT HAS
TWO COMPONENTS.
WE HAVE CITY COUNCIL AND WE HAVE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT WE FUND THE COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT, YET EVERYTHING IS MAYOR CASTOR THIS AND MAYOR
CASTOR THAT.
AND WE ONLY GET PASSING MENTION IN SOME THINGS, ESPECIALLY
ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN COUNCIL DRIVEN.
I FIND REALLY GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF STRIKING A BALANCE
OF PROMOTING COUNCIL-DRIVEN INITIATIVES.
COUNCILMAN VIERA'S PUSH FOR FIRE STATIONS.
COUNCILMAN CARLSON'S PUSH FOR THE UNION STATION.
I WOULD HAVE LIKED -- I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS BEEN AS
VOCAL.
IT'S BECOMING -- I'VE BEEN HERE TWO YEARS NOW.
YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND WE'RE GOING INTO
BUDGET.
THIS IS SOMETHING, IF WE ARE ALL GOING TO WORK TOGETHER,
THERE HAS TO BE A RECOGNITION THAT THERE ARE TWO BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE WORKING
FOR BOTH BRANCHES.
>>BILL CARLSON: THEY NEED TO WORK FOR THE CITY.
JUST SO YOU KNOW -- I COMPLAINED TO -- I COMPLAINED TO JOHN
BENNETT AND COMPLAINED TO THE MAYOR.
IF I WAS NOT ELECTED, I WOULD FILE A LAWSUIT.
CAN'T HAVE AN HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU ARE ANTAGONIZING
-- A LOT OF DETAILS I WON'T GO INTO.
WHOLE PATTERN OF THIS BEHAVIOR NOT ACCEPTABLE.
IT IS ILLEGAL TO USE GOVERNMENT MONEY AND GOVERNMENT STAFF,
GOVERNMENT RESOURCES TO WORK ON ELECTED CAMPAIGNS.
STORIES FROM FORMER EMPLOYEES WHO TELL ME, AT LEAST ONE OF
THE MAYOR STAFF DURING CITY TIME WALKING AROUND RECRUITING
CITY STAFF TO GIVE MONEY TO MY OPPONENT AND TO ASK THEM TO
VOLUNTEER.
THE HR, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE CHIEF OF STAFF, THEY
DON'T CARE.
WHEN I TRY TO FILE A COMPLAINT, THEY KICK IT BACK AND SAY
DON'T CARE.
I'M NOT A REGULAR EMPLOYEE LIKE YOU ALL.
BUT IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO USE CITY MONEY IN THAT WAY AND
CREATES A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYBODY.
>>LYNN HURTAK: AS FAR AS STAFF REPORTS GO, I DO THINK THAT,
AGAIN, THE CONVERSATION WE HAD EARLIER A FEW MONTHS AGO
ABOUT THIS HAS MADE ME MORE MINDFUL OF IT.
I ADMIT, I MEAN -- STORMWATER GOT A LITTLE CONFUSING FOR A
WHILE.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: [INAUDIBLE]
>>LYNN HURTAK: YES.
BUT DEFINITELY.
I LIKE TO TRY TO WORK WITH STAFF TO FIX IT FIRST.
I THINK THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD
ENCOURAGE GOING FORWARD.
YEAH, WRITTEN STAFF REPORT THING, TOO, CAN BE TRICKY.
I THINK SOME OF THAT CAN JUST BE AN E-MAIL OR A PHONE CALL.
BUT THE ISSUE IS, IF WE AREN'T GETTING THE ANSWERS AS LUIS
SAID, YEAH.
I THINK THERE IS A BALANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE.
BY AND LARGE I DON'T ASK FOR A REPORT IF I'M GETTING THE
INFORMATION.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE ASK AND ASK --
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: ISSUE I HAD -- YEAR AND A HALF.
MAKE A MOTION TO ALLOCATE FUNDS TO BUY US ALL T-SHIRTS
MINDFUL.
>>LYNN HURTAK: LAST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, CASUAL COUNCIL
DAY.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I'LL CLOSE OUT WITH THIS.
THIS WAS A GOOD MEETING.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
22 MONTHS LEFT IN THESE TERMS.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT COUNCILMAN MIRANDA IS HERE BUT HE HAS
NOT SPOKEN.
WE CAN DO A LOT TOGETHER.
I STUDIED CAMPAIGNS.
I GET THREATENED ALL THE TIME --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
IF PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT YOU, YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAN'T BEAT THE WILL OF THE
PUBLIC.
I THINK MOVING FORWARD, TALKING ABOUT WAR AND ALL THIS, YES,
IT'S POLITICS.
IT'S FOOLISH.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE COLLABORATIVE.
AGAIN, IF WE DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, WE VOTE IT DOWN.
IF WE DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, OVERRIDE A VETO.
WE CAN BE RESPECTFUL DOING THAT, RESPECTFUL OF STAFF,
WHATEVER.
BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF AUTHORITY.
IF WE WERE SO RELEVANT, WE -- IT WOULD JUST BE THE MAYOR.
WORKING TOGETHER, I THINK THE GOAL IS SERVE THE COMMUNITY,
SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS AND MAKE TAMPA A BETTER PLACE.
WHAT I'VE HEARD IS TO BE MINDFUL OF STAFF REPORTS, MAYBE WE
DON'T HAVE A WORKSHOP.
WE DON'T WANT EXTRA MEETINGS, WE HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH
CCTV.
THE CHAMBERS AVAILABLE.
SO MANY THINGS.
MOVING FORWARD, IF YOU NEED A STAFF REPORT, TRY TO MAKE IT
WRITTEN.
IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY, DO IT IN PERSON.
IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT GOING TO SEND PEOPLE, WE'RE AT
WAR, WHATEVER THE WORD WILL BE, I THINK IS RIDICULOUS.
WASTING A LOT OF TIME.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD FOR THE CITY.
LOOK AT EVERYBODY'S BACKGROUND, YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.
AGAIN, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A CITY COUNCIL LIKE THIS.
I DON'T THINK THE CITY HAS BEEN THIS BUSY BEFORE AND WE HAVE
A LOT OF WORK.
>>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU FOR SAYING BUSY.
YOU HAVE TO REALIZE --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
WE ARE ONE POLICY MAKER.
WE'RE NOT THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS.
THERE'S FRUSTRATION IN EVERYTHING IN LIFE.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET TO A RED LIGHT THAT DOESN'T SEEM
QUICK ENOUGH.
FRUSTRATION ON EVERYTHING IN LIFE.
WHEN I LOOK AROUND, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF -- I SEE THE MAYOR
ONCE A MONTH WATER ISSUES.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
1998.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS RESPECT EACH OTHER AND RESPECT
WHOEVER IS IN THE OTHER OFFICE.
HALF THE PROBLEMS WILL GO AWAY.
I DON'T CRITICIZE ANYBODY.
I DON'T CARE HOW ANYBODY VOTES.
I DON'T CARE IF THEY VOTE AGAINST ME.
I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY DO.
I DON'T GET UPSET OR NERVOUS.
IF I VOTE 6-1, THAT'S THE WAY I VOTE.
SOMETIMES THAT IS MY VOTE.
I DON'T CHALLENGE ANYBODY HERE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE COMPLACENCY.
IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, GO SEE THE MAYOR.
ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.
TALK ABOUT POLITICS.
NOT IN THIS GROUP BUT OTHER GROUPS AND I REALLY DON'T GIVE A
DAMN WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ME.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: I TALK ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME.
>>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE'RE GOING TO BAN ALL WATER RESTRICTIONS
AND BAN SOLAR POWER IN THE CITY OF TAMPA.
>>CHARLIE MIRANDA: SOLAR --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
FROM MARCH TO APRIL, MY BILL WAS 16 DOLLARS AND SOME CENTS.
I WANT TO SHOW THE PEOPLE THAT SOLAR DOES WORK.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
IT'S 2.2 TIMES MORE THAN WHAT I PAID FOR MINE FOUR YEARS
AGO.
IT'S GOING UP.
>> TARIFFS, BABY.
>> IT IS.
>>BILL CARLSON: WHATEVER YOU SEE PUBLICLY, ALL GET ALONG
REALLY WELL.
YESTERDAY, I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER AND HOW SOMETIMES WE
ARGUE BUT THEN WE GET ALONG REALLY WELL.
YESTERDAY, DAY BEFORE, STANDING IN FRONT OF A RESTAURANT IN
WEST TAMPA, I HEAR HONK, HONK.
I SEE THIS REALLY WELL DRESSED MAN.
OH, THAT'S CHARLIE.
HOW MUCH DO YOU PAY FOR YOUR TIES?
[INDISCERNIBLE]
IT DOESN'T COME FROM CHINA.
COMES FROM AMERICA.
NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, DIFFERENT STATES AND SEND IT TO YOU
WITHIN TWO DAYS.
WHEN IT'S THERE.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>ALAN CLENDENIN: ASKED FOR CASH ON DELIVERY BECAUSE OF
TARIFFS.
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I STOPPED BUYING ANYTHING ON eBAY THAT
SAYS -- AS WE CLOSE OUT, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR
TIME.
I HOPE IT WAS PRODUCTIVE.
PEOPLE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ARE HERE.
BUT THIS WHOLE TALK OF WAR IS RIDICULOUS.
DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T BE TOUGH AND CAN'T ASK QUESTIONS.
STAFF, EVERYBODY -- MOVING FORWARD, WHEN IT COMES TO STAFF
REPORTS, WHEN IT COMES TO, YES, I HIT THE GAVEL, BUT IF I
HAVE TO TAKE A RECESS AND STOP THE MEETING IF THINGS GET OUT
OF HAND, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT TAKES.
WE HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED.
>>BILL CARLSON: QUICKLY ADD TO THAT, 22 MONTHS.
WE HAVE 22 MONTHS TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER AND IMPROVE THE
LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY.
WHATEVER IN POLITICS, WE HAVE 22 MONTHS.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT --
>>CHARLIE MIRANDA: IT'S NOT THE 22 MONTHS.
LOOK AT THE CITY OF TAMPA WHERE IT IS AT TODAY.
FIVE YEARS AGO, TEN YEARS AGO, HOW MANY APPLICATIONS FOR
CERTAIN THINGS.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
WHATEVER WE HAD.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I USED TO MAKE PLANS ON THURSDAYS AND GO
TO LUNCH WITH FRIENDS.
NOW IT'S LIKE, DON'T CALL ME, UNLESS IT IS MY MOTHER AND
IT'S AN EMERGENCY.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
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