TAMPA CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOPS
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026, 9:00 A.M.
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[ SOUNDING GAVEL ]
9:02:24AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO
ORDER.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
WELCOME TO TAMPA CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP DAY.
CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL?
9:02:36AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
HERE.
9:02:37AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
HERE.
9:02:37AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
HERE.
9:02:40AM >> YOUNG?
9:02:42AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
HERE.
9:02:43AM >> VIERA?
CARLSON?
CLENDENIN?
9:02:45AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
HERE.
9:02:45AM >>THE CLERK:
WE HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM.
9:02:47AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU.
I'M HERE IN BODY.
COUNCILMAN CARLSON HAS ENTERED THE CHAMBER.
HOW DID YOU LIKE THAT TRAFFIC UNDER THE CONVENTION CENTER
THIS MORNING?
[ LAUGHTER ]
9:03:01AM >>BILL CARLSON:
SEVERAL PEOPLE ASKING IF WE'LL HAVE GENERAL
PUBLIC COMMENT --
9:03:04AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
IT IS A WORKSHOP, SO AFTER EACH ITEM.
9:03:08AM >>BILL CARLSON:
FOR ANYBODY HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING
ELSE, THAT WOULD BE NEXT WEEK, NOT THIS WEEK.
9:03:12AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
CORRECT.
9:03:14AM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
WE'RE NOT MEETING NEXT WEEK, COUNCIL.
TWO WEEKS.
9:03:17AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
AS A MATTER OF FACT, FOR ITEM NUMBER 1,
EVEN THOUGH IT IS A WORKSHOP, IT IS A PRESENTATION.
IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO US AND WE'LL JUST -- KIND OF THE
ISSUES IN ITEM 1 WILL ROLL INTO OTHER ITEMS WE'LL HAVE
COMMENT ON.
WE'LL HAVE ITEM 1 AND THEN IMMEDIATELY INTO ITEM NUMBER 2.
ITEM 2 AND 3, THIS IS AGENDA REVIEW, BY THE WAY.
ITEM 2 AND 3, I THINK WE SHOULD HEAR THEM AT THE SAME TIME,
AND THEN WE CAN DO PUBLIC COMMENT AFTERWARDS.
THEY, AGAIN, KIND OF ROLL INTO EACH OTHER.
MOST EXPEDIENT WAY TO DO THAT, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION.
ITEM 4 SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
ITEM 5 STANDS ALONE ON ITSELF AS WELL.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THE AGENDA?
MOTION TO APPROVE?
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
OPPOSED?
AYES HAVE IT.
9:04:13AM >>BILL CARLSON:
ARE WE GOING TO STICK TO THE RULE THAT WE'LL
END BY 1?
9:04:19AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
YES.
9:04:20AM >>BILL CARLSON:
SHOULD WE ALLOW A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME FOR
EACH SO WE MAKE THAT?
9:04:24AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
MY GOAL IS TO GET OUT BEFORE LUNCH.
I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT IF WE STICK TO THE AGENDA
AND WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
I THINK, YES, IF YOU COULD SET THE TIMERS FOR BOTH THE
COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC SO THAT AT LEAST WE HAVE THAT UNDER
CONTROL, I APPRECIATE THAT.
9:04:43AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I MOTION FOR THREE MINUTES ON FIRST.
9:04:45AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK TO LIMIT
COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS ON FIRST ROUND TO THREE MINUTES.
SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
OPPOSED?
AYES HAVE IT.
VERY GOOD.
I'M WORKING RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING FOR THE
PUBLIC BECAUSE THERE WAS A QUESTION OF THE PUBLIC WHAT THE
RULES WOULD BE, WHETHER THEY WANT TO SIT HERE WITH US OR
NOT.
COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG, DO YOU HAVE THE INVOCATION?
9:05:10AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TODAY WE HAVE CHRISTINA UNKEL.
CHRISTINA IS A GRADUATE OF PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
AND STETSON UNIVERSITY'S DUAL JD MBA PROGRAM.
CHRISTINA IS A DISTINGUISHED ATTORNEY, ENTREPRENEUR, AND
SPORTS ANALYST WITH NEARLY 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SOCCER,
LAW, AND BUSINESS.
A FORMER NCAA ATHLETE AND FIFA REFEREE, SHE SPECIALIZES IN
FOOTBALL LAW AND IS A RECOGNIZED AUTHORITY ON OFFICIATING IN
LEGAL MATTERS.
CHRISTINA SERVES AS PRESIDENT, GENERAL MANAGER, AND GENERAL
COUNSEL OF TAMPA BAY SUN FC WHERE SHE LEADS THE STRATEGIC
GROWTH OPERATIONS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS OF WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL
SOCCER TEAM.
SHE IS ALSO THE FOUNDER OF SPARK CONSULTING GROUP AND UNKEL
LAW ADVISING CLIENTS FROM FEDERATIONS TO ATHLETES AND
COACHES AT THE INTERSECTION OF SPORTS LAW AND BUSINESS.
AS AN INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED BROADCASTER, CHRISTINA
PARTNERS WITH ESPN, CBS SPORTS, APPLE TV, I TV AND FOX
SPORTS DELIVERING EXPERT ANALYSIS FOR ELITE COMPETITIONS.
ABOVE ALL, CHRISTINA'S PROUDEST TITLE IS MOM TO A FEARLESS
LITTLE GIRL.
CHRISTINA, WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION?
9:06:22AM >> I BRING HERE TODAY FOR EVERYONE TO MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE
AT, IN THE SPACE WHERE YOU ARE AT, AND THE MOMENT WHERE YOU
ARE AT.
I ENCOURAGE ALL TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO REFLECT IN A MOMENT
OF SILENCE AND A MOMENT OF GRATITUDE AND A MOMENT OF
REFLECTION AND A MOMENT IN CONNECTION WITH ONE'S FAITH,
WHETHER SPIRITUAL OR OTHERWISE.
AS WE ARE BLESSED HERE TODAY TO HAVE STEWARDS WITHIN OUR
CITY AND WITHIN OUR COUNTY WHO COME AND GIVE THEIR TIME,
THEIR RESOURCES, THEIR SKILLS, THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO
INVEST BACK INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
SO WHAT THEY DO HERE IN THE WORKSHOP AND WHAT THEY DO EVERY
DAY, AND SOMETHING UNLIKE NEVER HEARD BUT A GREAT QUOTE FROM
SPIDER MAN, WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORTS HERE TODAY
AND FOR BEING THE REPRESENTATION OF OUR CITY AND BEING A
REPRESENTATION FOR WHEN IT'S BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO WORK DAY
TO BE ABLE TO SHOW HER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT YOU DO DAY
IN AND DAY OUT.
WE THANK YOU ALL AS YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS FOR DOING THE WORK
YOU DO, AND WE THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART,
FROM THE CONSTITUENTS THAT PRACTICE HERE DAILY AND THE
CONSTITUENTS THAT PRACTICE HERE AND VOTE FOR YOU ALL.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR MOMENT AND FOR THIS
PEACE AND GRATITUDE.
THANK YOU.
9:07:34AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
IF YOU WOULD MIND LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
IT'S OKAY.
SHE PUTS ME ON THE SPOT ALL THE TIME, TOO.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
9:08:02AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
YES.
I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN MY DAUGHTER PTSD.
GOOD MORNING.
WELL, THANK YOU.
THAT WAS A WONDERFUL INVOCATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG.
LET'S DIVE RIGHT INTO IT.
USF PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE A 15-MINUTE PRESENTATION FROM USF.
15 MINUTES IS THE MAXIMUM.
COME ON FORWARD.
START WITH YOUR NAME.
9:08:31AM >> SHAWN LANDRY FROM UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA.
MY COLLEAGUE BECKY ZARGER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
FLORIDA.
SHE WILL BE DOING THE SECOND PART OF IT.
I NEED SLIDES.
9:08:43AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
IT'S COMING UP.
IT'S A PROCESS.
9:08:56AM >> THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO -- WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN PERSON WITH A FEW
OF YOU, AND WE'VE RELEASED THIS ALREADY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO
GIVE A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF OUR POST-HURRICANE TREE CANOPY
ANALYSIS AND SURVEY WITH RESIDENTS.
JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND, NORMALLY WE DO A FULL TREE CANOPY
ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS EVERY FIVE YEARS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE
STORMS, YOU ASKED US TO DO A SURVEY TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH WE
LOST AS A RESULT OF THE STORMS.
SO WE DID THAT.
SO I DON'T NEED TO REMIND YOU, BUT WE GOT TWO FAIRLY LARGE
STORMS BACK IN 2024, BOTH CAME WITH STORM SURGE AND HIGH
WINDS.
AND LOTS OF RAINFALL IN A PERIOD OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT SORT OF THE AREAS OF THE CITY THAT WERE
MOST AFFECTED, I'LL SHOW THIS AFTER WHEN I SHOW WHERE THE
DAMAGE OCCURRED, BUT A LOT, OBVIOUSLY, STORM SURGE OCCURRED
ALONG THE COAST, AND THEN THE HIGH WINDS WERE IN THE
SOUTHERN PART OF THE CITY FOR HURRICANE MILTON AND THE
HEAVIEST RAINFALL WAS IN THE EASTERN, SOUTHEASTERN PART OF
THE CITY FOR HURRICANE MILTON, AND THAT WILL BE REFLECTED IN
WHAT YOU SEE FOR THE RESULTS.
SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS SIMPLY TO QUANTIFY THE LOSS
IN TREE CANOPY AND THEN TO FOLLOW UP ON THE SURVEY WE DID IN
2021 TO FIND OUT IF PREFERENCES HAD CHANGED RELATED TO
TREES.
SO THE COMBINATION OF THOSE TWO WERE DONE BY USF.
SO THE TREE CANOPY CHANGE ANALYSIS IS THE SAME METHODS WE
USE EVERY TIME WE DO THIS.
IT'S A SIMPLE METHOD, BUT IT'S VERY ROBUST.
SO WE LOOKED AT, IN THIS CASE, IMAGERY FROM 2024 IN ROUGHLY
JANUARY TIME FRAME AND IMAGERY FROM JANUARY TIME FRAME OF
2025.
SO ONE YEAR KIND OF TIME SPAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT
OBVIOUSLY WERE THE TWO HURRICANES.
AND I WON'T GO INTO THIS DETAIL, BUT YOU CAN SEE ON THE
IMAGE WHAT WE DO IS WE GET PHOTO INTERPRETERS TO LOOK AT
THESE TWO IMAGES.
THIS IS THE SAME HOUSE.
THE FIRST PRE-STORM, YOU SEE THERE IS A TREE THERE.
IN THE SECOND, THERE'S NOT A TREE THERE.
SO IF YOU PUT DOWN ENOUGH RANDOMIZED POINTS IN THE CITY, YOU
GET A GOOD ESTIMATE OF WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE,
WHAT WAS THERE AFTERWARDS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
NOT ALL CANOPY LOSS WAS BECAUSE OF THE STORMS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT.
THAT'S THE ONLY DATA WE COULD USE.
SO WE ASSUME, THOUGH, THAT A HUGE PART OF THAT WAS THE
RESULT OF THE STORMS.
IT'S REFLECTED IN THE WASTE CLEANUP, THE WORK ORDERS THAT
THE CITY HAD TO RESPOND TO.
AND THE CALLS AND DISPOSAL BY PRIVATE RESIDENTS AND PRIVATE
COMPANIES.
OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF THAT DAMAGE WAS PROBABLY STORM RELATED.
CUT TO THE CHASE, THE PRE-STORM, WHICH WAS KIND OF THE
GOOD-NEWS PART OF THIS, IS WE WENT FROM 2021 TO 2024, AND WE
HAD A LITTLE INCREASE.
BASICALLY, IF YOU PUT IT IN PROPORTION OF THE 4.7% INCREASE
IN TREE CANOPY DURING THAT PERIOD, WE KIND OF PROBABLY
CREDIT THAT TO A LOT OF THE EMPHASIS ON TREE PLANTING
INITIATIVES AND TREE PROTECTION INITIATIVES.
AND THEN THE YEAR OF THE STORM WE LOST ALL OF THAT PLUS A
LITTLE MORE.
4.8% DECREASE.
SO WE KIND OF RETURNED BACK DOWN TO RIGHT AROUND THE 2021
LEVELS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE AREAS OF THE CITY -- I APOLOGIZE FOR
THOSE MAPS.
I SHOULD HAVE REDONE THEM.
ONE OF THE LARGEST AREAS HIT WAS EAST TAMPA KIND OF AREA AS
WELL AS, YOU KNOW, SORT OF SOUTH TAMPA.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PATTERNS, AGAIN, OF THE WINDS, STORM
SURGE, THE RAINFALL, ALL OF THAT COMBINED IS SORT OF
REFLECTED IN THIS PATTERN, WHICH IS WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT.
SO THE CAUSES OF DAMAGE JUST ROUGHLY ARE NEWLY PLANTED
TREES, OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE NOT ESTABLISHED.
THEY CAN'T WITHSTAND ANY KIND OF WINDS, SO THEY JUST BLOW
OVER.
TREES, LIKE THE LAUREL OAK THAT HAVE SORT OF DECAY AND THEY
ARE WEAK TO BEGIN WITH, THEY ARE GOING TO BE AT RISK.
AND THEN OTHER SPECIES THAT ARE JUST INHERENTLY LOW WIND
RESISTANCE.
AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE PINE SHOWN IN THIS PICTURE.
THOSE AREN'T NECESSARILY LOW WIND RESISTANT.
BUT THOSE ARE THE KIND OF TREES THAT WILL BLOW OVER.
THE SURPRISING THING, WITH ALL OF THE OAKS THAT BLEW OVER,
WE THINK THAT'S DUE TO THE SATURATED SOILS, THE RESULT OF
ONE HURRICANE AFTER ANOTHER, ALL OF THAT RAINFALL, SOILS ARE
SATURATED, THE ROOTS JUST CAN'T HOLD ON WHEN THE WIND IS
BLOWING, AND WE LOST A LOT OF THEM.
NORMALLY WE WOULDN'T EXPECT THAT WITH LIVE OAKS.
SO THAT WAS QUITE -- QUITE SURPRISING.
I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE.
9:14:32AM >> THANKS VERY MUCH, SHAWN.
I'M REBECCA ZARGER, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT
USF AND CITY OF TAMPA RESIDENT.
IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE -- AND THIS ONE, TOO, THIS WAS
ACTUALLY IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, TAKEN AROUND LAKE ROBERTA
CIRCLE, YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A GRAND OAK THAT UPROOTED AND
CAME DOWN IN FRONT OF THIS HISTORIC HOME.
THE TREE HAD PROBABLY BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I'M GOING TO PRESENT RESULTS
OF A SURVEY.
WE HAD OVER 300 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE, ROUGHLY REPRESENTATIVE
ACROSS THE CITY OF TAMPA.
BUT THERE IS A LOT THAT'S NOT CONVEYED FROM SURVEY RESULTS.
I JUST WANT TO SORT OF SUMMARIZE THE FACT THAT WE HEARD
DIRECTLY FROM MANY RESIDENTS.
I EXPERIENCED SOME OF THESE IMPACTS OF THE HURRICANE MYSELF.
WE HAD TO REMOVE GRAND OAK THAT WAS 65 FEET TALL WITH A
CRANE FROM MY BACKYARD.
SO THE IMPACTS OF THE HURRICANE BEYOND THE KIND OF CANOPY
LOSS WERE SIGNIFICANT.
PEOPLE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SEEING THE AMOUNT AND THE
SCALE OF TREE DEBRIS ON THEIR STREETS.
THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT REMOVING THAT DEBRIS WHEN IT WAS.
I THINK WE SAW SOME METRICS THERE ABOUT THE SCALE OF IT.
IT HAD A REALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON PEOPLE, BOTH
FINANCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
OUR CITY.
HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THIS?
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS IN THE
FUTURE?
THAT'S REALLY WHAT DRIVES THIS WORK IN ADDITION TO THE FACT
THAT THE CITY HAS REQUESTED US TO DO IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE EXPECTED TO SEE WITH THE SURVEY
POST-HURRICANE WAS THAT THERE MAY BE SORT OF MORE CONCERN
ABOUT TREES IN GENERAL AND LESS PREFERENCE FOR TREES IN THE
CITY IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WE DID NOT, IN FACT, FIND THAT.
WHAT WE FOUND -- AND I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT OF
HOPE AND KIND OF GRAPPLING WITH THIS ISSUE AS A CITY -- IS
THAT PEOPLE EITHER FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT TREES THAT THEY
DID BEFORE THE HURRICANE, OR THEY ARE EVEN MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT TREES IN THE CITY.
AND THE FUTURE OF OUR URBAN CANOPY.
SO ON THIS SLIDE YOU CAN SEE 85% SAID THEIR PREFERENCE
EITHER STAYED THE SAME OR IT INCREASED.
I'LL GO TO MY NEXT SLIDE HERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING RESIDENTS OVER
THE LAST FIVE YEARS IS WHAT THEY SEE AS THE BENEFITS AND THE
DRAW-BACKS OF TREES.
WE SEE OVER AND OVER AGAIN THERE IS SIGNIFICANT AGREEMENT
ABOUT THE BENEFITS.
THEY PROVIDE SHADE.
THEY COOL THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES.
PEOPLE HAVE EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS TO THEM,
IMPORTANT LIFE EVENTS TAKE PLACE UNDERNEATH TREES.
PEOPLE SEE THEM AS A REAL ASSET FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE DRAWBACKS, AND THIS IS WHERE THERE IS A
LITTLE DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHICH ONES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT
DRAWBACKS.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THEY
ARE EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN, AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
US TO CONSIDER AS WE THINK ABOUT RESILIENCE TO HURRICANES.
AND THEY DO DAMAGE PROPERTY AND SOMETIMES CREATE MESS WITH
FALLING LEAFS AND BRANCHES.
HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT DESPITE THESE
CHALLENGES WITH TREES, PEOPLE THINK THE BENEFITS ARE WORTH
NOT ONLY THE INVESTMENT BUT ALSO THE RISK WHEN CONSIDERING
HURRICANE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS SLIDE, WE HAVE A FAIRLY LARGE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WHO AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT THAT THEY ARE WORTH
THE RISK.
IN THINKING ABOUT THE DAMAGE FROM HURRICANES, COSTS OF
PRIVATE TREE TRIMMING ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.
THERE IS A LOT OF AGREEMENT ABOUT THAT, ACROSS ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY, THEY ARE EXPERIENCED AS
EXPENSIVE, WHICH I THINK POINTS TO A CHALLENGE.
DESPITE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME FROM DOWNED TREES AND
TREE DAMAGE, THERE'S STILL AN INTEREST IN TREE PLANTING IN
THE CITY.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER IS THAT
MANY RESIDENTS WANT TREES PLANTED BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN
THEIR OWN YARDS.
AND THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR THAT.
THEY'D LOVE TO SEE MORE TREES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
LOVE TO SEE MORE TREES IN THE CITY, BUT IT'S SORT OF HALF
AND HALF AS FAR AS IF THEY ARE WILLING TO PLANT IN THEIR OWN
YARD.
BUT ONE THING I WOULD NOTE, TOO, IS THAT OF THE PEOPLE WHO
COMPLETED THE SURVEY POST-HURRICANE THAT WERE KIND OF --
THAT WE'RE KIND OF SUMMARIZING HERE, 60% OF RESIDENTS WANT
TO PLANT TREES ON THEIR PROPERTY.
AND I THINK CONNECTING WITH THOSE RESIDENTS IS SOMETHING
THAT HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE IS OF THE PEOPLE WHO
COMPLETED THIS SURVEY, ONE IN FIVE LOST A TREE DUE TO THE
HURRICANES THAT WE EXPERIENCED IN 2024, BUT THE MAJORITY DID
NOT EXPERIENCE MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.
ONLY 2.5% OF PEOPLE WHO COMPLETED OUR STUDY HAD THAT
EXPERIENCE.
SO WHEN THINKING ABOUT WHY PEOPLE REMOVE TREES, THE REASONS
ARE MANY.
OBVIOUSLY IN RESPONSE TO THE HURRICANE IS ONE EXAMPLE.
BUT THIS SLIDE REALLY SHOWS SOME OF THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE
SHARED WITH US ABOUT WHY THEY REMOVE A TREE.
THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO BE KIND OF DELVED INTO A
LITTLE BIT MORE WITH THE IDEA THAT TREES ARE PERCEIVED AS
HAZARDOUS VERSUS WHETHER THEY ARE DEEMED HAZARDOUS BY AN
ARBORIST.
SOMETIMES MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHICH TREES ARE HAZARDOUS
AND WHICH ARE NOT WOULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL FOR RESIDENTS.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SUM UP SOME OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THESE ARE DRAWN NOT SOLELY FROM THE HURRICANE SURVEY AND
STUDY WE DID OF TREE CANOPY CHANGE, BUT FROM WORKING ON THIS
ISSUE, INTERVIEWING RESIDENTS, TALKING WITH CITY STAFF AND
OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
THE FIRST IS THAT IT IS CRITICAL FOR US TO NOT ONLY PLANT
TREES BUT TO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN THE TREES THAT SURVIVED
THIS HURRICANE.
INCREASING FUNDING.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE RECOMMENDING INCREASING FUNDING FOR
STREET TREE AND PARK TREES, AS WELL AS TREE MAINTENANCE.
MOST PLANTING SPACES ARE ON PRIVATE LAND.
SO THAT PRESENTS A CRITICAL CHALLENGE THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO
MEET.
THE OTHER RECOMMENDATION WE HAVE IS TO PRIORITIZE SUPPORT
FOR THE CITY'S TREE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, WHICH IS
COMPLICATED AND ACROSS MANY DEPARTMENTS.
SO THINKING ABOUT ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE TO
SUPPORT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY LEADERS
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PLANTING DESIGN, INCREASES SUPPORT
FOR THE CANOPY, AND THINKING ABOUT PLANTING NEW TREES,
PLANTING SHOULD MINIMIZE INFRASTRUCTURE CONFLICTS OBVIOUSLY.
PRIORITIZE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO SPECIES BUT ALSO A
DIVERSITY OF SPECIES AS WELL AS THINKING ABOUT REPLACING
TREES THAT ARE BEING LOST NOT AS A RESULT OF THE HURRICANE
BUT BECAUSE OF OTHER FORCES AT WORK.
TO WRAP UP, I'VE GOT TWO FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS HERE.
ONE IS DEVELOPING A TREE STEWARDS PROGRAM IN NEIGHBORHOODS,
WHICH IS A COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORT TO SUPPORT TREE PLANTING,
MAINTENANCE, AND EDUCATION THAT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN
OTHER CITIES.
AND AS WE'VE HEARD FROM THE TREE EXPERTS WITH THE CITY AND
OTHER TREE EXPERTS IN CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, SELECTING
TREES BASED ON THIS CONCEPT OF RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE.
THERE IS NO ONE SOLUTION FOR ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT TREES
PRESENT AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITIES, UPDATING THE CITY OF
TAMPA TREE MATRIX IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SUGGEST AS
WELL AS PROVIDING RESOURCES AND EDUCATION TO RESIDENTS.
ABOUT WHICH SPECIES ARE MOST RESILIENT, FOR EXAMPLE, TO
HURRICANES, THINKING ABOUT WHAT TREE IS GOING TO FIT IN THE
SPACE THAT YOU HAVE.
AND HOW CAN YOU MAINTAIN THAT TREE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL.
AND THANK YOU TO BRIAN KNOX AND KAYLA CASELLI AT THE CITY
FOR INVITING US TO BE HERE TODAY.
9:23:36AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I SAW COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, CARLSON AND
THEN MIRANDA.
THIS IS QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMAN CARLSON, YOU HAD A QUESTION.
9:23:48AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID.
THERE IS ANOTHER THING WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT, AND THERE
WERE SOME TREES I REMEMBER ON SPRUCE JUST WEST OF
MacDILL AVENUE BY WEST TAMPA LITTLE LEAGUE, RIGHT ALONG
THE EDGE.
BEAUTIFUL BIG TREES.
THEY LOOKED HEALTHY.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE STORM, I WAS DRIVING BY AND I
NOTICED THAT INSIDE THE TREE IT WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT.
THE OUTSIDE OF THE TREE.
I'M THINKING HOW IN THE WORLD CAN WE FIND OUT WHICH TREES
ARE THAT WAY.
RIGHT THERE, HUNDREDS OF KIDS -- 340 KIDS NOW PLAYING AT
WEST TAMPA LITTLE LEAGUE, BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS, AND I
CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYONE GET DAMAGED BY A TREE BUT
I ALSO WANT TO SEE THE TREE SURVIVE BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW
OLD THE TREE IS OR HOW HOLLOW IT IS FROM THE OUTSIDE.
9:24:36AM >> MORE THAN LIKELY IT WAS A LAUREL OAK AS OPPOSED TO A LIVE
OAK.
WE'VE SEEN THAT CLASSIC CONDITION IN LAUREL OAKS ACROSS THE
CITY.
THEY WERE ALL PLANTED AROUND 50 TO 70 YEARS AGO OR SO, IN
THAT TIME FRAME.
AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT A TREE WE WOULD EVER RECOMMEND
PLANTING AGAIN IN AN AREA WHERE YOU WORRY ABOUT IT FALLING
ON SOMEBODY.
BUT THERE ARE WAYS OF CHECKING.
AND IT IS REGULARLY DONE BY AN ARBORIST.
ONE OF THEM IS A SIMPLE METHOD OF BANGING ON THE TREE,
LITERALLY.
YOU CAN HEAR IF IT IS HOLLOW.
THAT'S ONE OF THE METHODS THEY DO.
THEY ALSO HAVE SONAR.
THERE ARE WAYS OF EVALUATING IT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS TO RECOMMENDING SOME MORE
RESOURCES FOR THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THESE
TREES IN PARKS AND IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
9:25:25AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I AGREE WITH YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE THE SAME THING.
PEOPLE CALL US FROM THE DRIVEWAY.
THAT TREE WAS PLANTED 30 YEARS AGO, AND NOW MY DRIVEWAY IS
LIFTING UP.
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?
9:25:40AM >> IT IS THE RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE.
WE'RE LIVING WITH THE LEGACY OF BAD DECISIONS.
9:25:45AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
EVERYTHING YOU SAID I AGREE WITH.
WE GET THE DRIFT OF IT AS WE STAY HERE LONGER AND LONGER
EVERY YEAR.
9:25:52AM >> I THINK THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT WHEN YOU
THINK ABOUT REPLENISHING THE URBAN CANOPY, IT'S A
MULTIGENERATIONAL PROJECT THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN, RIGHT?
IT'S A LONG-TERM GAME.
SO THINKING ABOUT THE TREES THAT WE PLANT NOW ARE FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS, AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD
INFORMATION AVAILABLE ABOUT THINGS LIKE WHICH SPECIES ARE
GOING TO BE MORE RESILIENT IN TIMES OF DROUGHT LIKE WE'RE IN
RIGHT NOW OR WHEN IT'S HURRICANE SEASON OR TROPICAL STORMS
ARE COMING IN.
AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT
WAYS TO KIND OF REFOREST CANOPY WHERE IT'S BEEN LOST, BUT I
THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ARE THESE SORT OF
INFRASTRUCTURAL CONFLICTS THAT YOU REALLY HAVE TO ANALYZE
HOUSE LOT BY HOUSE LOT OR NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK BY NEIGHBORHOOD
BLOCK, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT PUBLIC STREET TREES IN
PARTICULAR.
9:26:53AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
9:26:55AM >> ONE OF THE CLEAR RECOMMENDATIONS WE'VE HAD IS THE PROBLEM
WITH INFRASTRUCTURE CONFLICTS, IT'S NOT JUST DON'T PLANT
TREES WHERE THERE ARE CONFLICTS; IT'S CREATE SPACE FOR TREES
WHEN YOU'RE DOING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH OF THOSE IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE.
IT'S WHAT WE'D SAY.
9:27:14AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
9:27:14AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
A LOT OF THOSE MATCH WHAT MANY OF THE ADVOCATES ARE ASKING
FOR, PARTICULARLY I LIKE THE WAY -- YEAH, THANK YOU.
IF YOU COULD PUT THIS BACK.
IF YOU COULD PUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS BACK UP SO I CAN ASK
THE QUESTION.
REORGANIZING THE CITY'S TREE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, I
APPRECIATE YOUR PRIORITIZING TYPE ONE TREES, BUT IF YOU GO
DOWN TO PLANT NEW TREES, IT SAYS LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE
FOR TYPE ONE SPECIES DIVERSIFY.
DO YOU MEAN DIVERSIFY WHERE YOU PUT THEM?
THE WORD "DIVERSIFY" WAS UNCLEAR AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I
UNDERSTOOD YOUR RECOMMENDATION BASED ON WHAT WAS ABOVE.
9:28:00AM >> WE DON'T RECOMMEND LIMITING THE PALETTE TO TYPE ONE OR
TYPE TWO.
PART OF THE REASON IS YOU NEED A DIVERSITY OF OPTIONS IN
ORDER TO PLANT TREES IN PLACES WHERE THEY ARE AVAILABLE.
I THINK YOU GUYS WILL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION TODAY.
BUT WE ALSO DIVERSIFY MEANING, DIVERSIFY THE SPECIES OF
TREES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF LIVE OAKS.
IF WE GET A DISEASE COMING THROUGH THAT AFFECTS LIVE OAKS,
WE'RE IN TROUBLE, RIGHT?
I LOVE LIVE OAKS.
DON'T GET ME WRONG.
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT DIVERSITY.
OTHER CITIES HAVE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THEIR DIVERSITY.
I THINK MINNEAPOLIS THEY SET LIMITATIONS ON.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A CERTAIN PROPORTION OF ONE SPECIES IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU CAN'T PLANT ANY MORE.
NATURALLY, THINGS LIKE THESE DISEASES HAVE COME THROUGH AND
LITERALLY WIPED OUT MOST OF THE TREES IN NEIGHBORHOODS UP
NORTH.
SO WE JUST WANT TO AVOID THAT.
SO DIVERSITY IS KEY.
9:29:11AM >> JUST A KIND OF ADDENDUM TO WHAT SHAWN JUST SHARED, I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO CREATE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN
PLANTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY VERSUS PUBLIC PROPERTY WITH THE
PRIORITIES.
THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.
I THINK THE DIRECT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS WE'RE
RECOMMENDING DIVERSITY, DIVERSIFY IN BOTH SENSES OF THE
WORD.
WORK TO PRIORITIZE TREES AS LIVING INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE YOU
CAN AND, YES, THERE ARE SOME DRAWBACKS WITH THINGS LIKE
DRIVEWAY BUCKLING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT ALSO WORK TO PRIORITIZE THOSE TREES THAT ARE REALLY
GOING TO ADD TO THE CANOPY, BUT BE ABLE TO BE MAINTAINED AND
STAY IN THAT PLACE FOR DECADES.
HAVING FLEXIBILITY WITH THE TREE MATRIX FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE SKILLED AT DETERMINING WHICH TREES, THAT'S A REALLY
IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF BEING ABLE TO REALLY CREATE A DIVERSE,
THRIVING, URBAN CANOPY.
9:30:19AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
9:30:22AM >>BILL CARLSON:
MR. CHAIR, FIRST POINT OF ORDER.
WE WHISPER TO EACH OTHER A LOT HERE.
I THINK MARTY WOULD TELL US THAT FOR THE PUBLIC SAKE AND FOR
OUR SAKE THAT WE SHOULD ASK TO BE HEARD AND THAT WE SHOULD
PUBLICLY STATE WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO SAY.
I KNOW SOMETIMES WE'RE TEMPTED TO DO THAT.
IT'S DISTRACTING WHEN WE'RE WHISPERING TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE
WE CAN'T HEAR.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEING SAID.
IF THERE IS SOMETHING WORTH PUBLIC DISCUSSION, WE SHOULD SAY
IT SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR.
THE SECOND THING, ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T MAKE THE MOTION TO
SCHEDULE THIS TODAY, I DID MAKE THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO BRING
THEM ON TO DO THIS, AND MY OFFICE WAS WORKING WITH THEM.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SET IT UP FOR A SECOND.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
AT LEAST WE WOULD SET SOMETHING UP.
MAY I?
9:31:06AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
YEAH, GO AHEAD.
9:31:08AM >>BILL CARLSON:
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU.
I KNOW THAT MY OFFICE WAS WORKING WITH YOU ALL A LOT WHEN WE
FIRST CALLED YOU.
IT WAS OUT OF PROCESS AND OUT OF STEP.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE YOU ALL GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS
AND DOING IT.
THE PURPOSE OF IT, AS YOU KIND OF SAID, THE PURPOSE IS --
WAS IN BETWEEN TO SET A NEW BASE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
DEVELOPMENT AND I THINK IN YOUR PREVIOUS REPORTS INDIVIDUAL
TREES BEING TORN DOWN AS INDIVIDUAL HOMES, ESPECIALLY IN
SOUTH TAMPA, THAT'S HAD A BIG IMPACT.
BUT WHAT I THINK THE TREE ADVOCATES AND I DIDN'T WANT TO
HAPPEN, AS YOU GET TO THE NEXT BIG STUDY THAT WE SAY,
INSTEAD OF 4% DIFFERENCE, WHATEVER, 10% DIFFERENCE AND WE
INCLUDE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE STORM.
NOW WE HAVE AN IDEA THANKS TO YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR TEAM'S
HARD WORK, WE HAVE AN ANSWER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE
STORMS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO SEPARATE.
THE QUESTION -- FIRST, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOUR TEAM GOING
OUT OF ORDER AND DOING THIS.
SO THANKFUL THAT USF HAS THESE RESOURCES AND THANK YOU TO
ADMINISTRATION FOR AGREEING TO DO IT.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO AGREE TO DO IT EITHER.
BUT AS YOU GET READY TO DO THE NEXT BIG STUDY, THE QUESTION
IS, WILL THIS BE THE NEW BASE OR GO BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO?
WILL THIS BE THE NEW BASE YOU MEASURE FROM?
THE NEXT QUESTION, WHILE WE'RE HERE.
TWO QUESTIONS REAL FAST.
YOU SAY TREE MANAGEMENT.
DO YOU THINK WE NEED MORE TREE STAFF?
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIND IS THAT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE
A TREE STAFF ARE VERY BUSY.
THE TREE ADVOCATES AND T-TAG COME OUT AND HELP INDIVIDUAL
HOMEOWNERS AND THAT'S VERY BENEFICIAL, KIND OF LIKE THE TREE
STEWARDS PROGRAM.
BUT DO WE NEED MORE TREE STAFF?
THE OTHER THING, THE STATE LAW THAT PUTS CERTAIN
RESTRICTIONS ON US, AS YOU STUDY IT NEXT TIME, IS THERE A
WAY YOU CAN SPECIFICALLY PARSE THAT OUT SO WE CAN KNOW WHAT
THAT IMPACT IS AND HOPEFULLY LOBBY THE STATE TO CHANGE IT?
9:33:02AM >> THAT IS A LOT.
9:33:04AM >> I WAS TAKING NOTES.
I WAS TAKING NOTES.
9:33:06AM >> IN THE SENSE OF WILL THIS BE THE BASELINE, THIS WILL BE
INCLUDED IN EVERYTHING WE PRESENT.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENING ALMOST EVERY
YEAR.
SO WE CAN SEE FOR 2026, THIS IS THE YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO
LOOK AT HOW MUCH WE HAVE IN 2026 AND COMPARE THAT TO 2021,
BUT ALSO COMPARE IT TO POST-STORM.
THE OTHER THING WE HOPE TO LOOK AT DURING -- ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS WE'VE HAD OVER TIME IS HOW MUCH LOSS OR GAIN IS
OCCURRING THAT RELATES TO EITHER STORMS OR TREE HEALTH IN
GENERAL VERSUS DEVELOPMENTS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HOPE TO DO IS A MORE ROBUST
ANALYSIS OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER TIME WITH THE
REDEVELOPMENT THAT'S OCCURRED WHEN HOUSES ARE TORN DOWN.
IF A HOUSE IS TORN DOWN, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HAD
PRE-TEARDOWN FOR CANOPY ON THAT LOT, AND WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT
HAPPENED FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS, 15 YEARS LATER.
SO ARE WE REGAINING CANOPY OVER TIME AFTER REDEVELOPMENT
OCCURS?
BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S POSSIBLE.
RETAINING THE LARGE TREES IS PROBABLY THE PREFERENCE.
BUT IT'S POSSIBLE TO RETAIN -- OR REGAIN CANOPY IN THE AREAS
WHERE WE ARE HAVING MASSIVE REDEVELOPMENT.
WE HOPE TO LOOK AT THAT SO WE CAN KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT'S
CAUSING THESE CHANGES.
THE CAUSE OF THE CHANGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THOSE
QUESTIONS THAT JUST ELUDES US BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE
DATA.
9:34:58AM >> IN ADDITION, WE'VE PROPOSED TO DO STREET-LEVEL INTERVIEWS
IN A SYSTEMATIC SAMPLE ACROSS THE CITY AND ESPECIALLY
TARGETING PLACES IN CENTRAL TAMPA, SOUTH TAMPA, EAST TAMPA
WHERE WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT CANOPY LOSS
THAT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED.
TO POTENTIALLY BE ABLE TO SYSTEMATICALLY GET AT THIS
QUESTION, YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF STATE
LAWS AND OTHER SORT OF SPECIFIC STORIES ABOUT REASONS TREES
CAME DOWN, HOW THEY CAME DOWN, UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES, SO
THAT WE CAN KIND OF BUILD A PICTURE OF THE PATTERN IN A
SYSTEMATIC WAY THAT KIND OF MOVES BEYOND SOME OF THE
INTERVIEWS THAT WE'VE DONE.
9:35:41AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG.
9:35:43AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS
PRESENTATION.
YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT, I GUESS,
MAYBE HAVE -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF
A TYPE OF TREE, IS THAT IN SAN FRANCISCO AS WELL?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT CITIES?
9:36:06AM >> CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME?
9:36:08AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION, YOU SAID SOME
CITIES, LIKE IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF A TYPE OF
TREE, THEN YOU DON'T PLANT MORE OF THAT TREE IN THAT AREA.
IS THAT ALSO IN SAN FRANCISCO OR IS THAT IN ANOTHER --
9:36:21AM >> SAN FRANCISCO IS FAIRLY UNIQUE.
I WAS JUST THERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND WE MET WITH THE
HEAD OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO,
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF BUDGET.
USED TO BE AN ARBORIST.
THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO PASSED AN ORDINANCE IN 2016, I
THINK, WHERE THEY PROVIDE $16 MILLION PER YEAR FOR TREES
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE URBAN FORESTRY MANAGEMENT.
SO THEY ARE KIND OF UNIQUE IN THAT THEY HAVE A FULL TREE
INVENTORY BECAUSE THEY SPENT THE RESOURCES.
OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE A MUCH BIGGER BUDGET THAN TAMPA JUST IN
GENERAL.
PROPORTIONATELY, IF WE FOCUS MORE ON MANAGING TREES, THEN WE
COULD BE MORE PROACTIVE BY LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE AND HOW
WE SHOULD FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND MAKING SURE WE AVOID
PLANTING IN THE WRONG PLACE.
WE CAN DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
WE KNOW THAT TAMPA'S MANAGEMENT OF TREES IS EXTREMELY
REACTIVE.
IT'S NOT PROACTIVE.
THE CITY STAFF WILL TELL YOU THAT.
WE KNOW THAT.
I MEAN, UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY TO FIX THAT IS PROVIDING
FUNDING.
WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR IT.
I THINK THEY ARE PRETTY EFFICIENT AS IT IS NOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO SOME OF
THE PLANTING AND THEN HELP WITH MANAGING DIVERSITY AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
9:37:54AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
OKAY.
AND THEN MY -- SO, OKAY, SO IT'S SAN FRANCISCO THAT HAS THIS
ORDINANCE, YES?
9:38:03AM >> THEY DO THAT, YES.
AS WELL AS OTHERS, MINNESOTA AS WELL AS --
9:38:08AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I'M TRYING TO GET EXAMPLES OF CITIES THAT DO
THIS, WHERE IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF TREES -- SO,
OKAY.
MY SECOND QUESTION WAS, IT WAS A QUESTION COUNCILMAN CARLSON
ASKED ABOUT AS FAR AS HAVING MORE STAFF SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
TREES.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ALL WOULD RECOMMEND?
9:38:29AM >> YES.
9:38:31AM >> YEAH, I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE I'M NOT SURE THAT'S OUR PURVEY
TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION.
BUT IT DOES SEEM THAT SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS WITH MORE STAFF
AND MORE FUNDING SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR.
THAT WOULD GO SOME DISTANCE.
9:38:49AM >> NEED TO BE PROACTIVE.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE PROACTIVE, THEN
THAT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.
WHETHER THAT'S MORE STAFF, WE CAN'T SPEAK TO.
9:38:59AM >> THE OTHER THING IN ADDITION THAT I THINK RELATES TO THAT
QUESTION ABOUT MORE STAFF IS THAT THERE IS HESITANCY ON THE
PART OF SOME RESIDENTS IN THE CITY WHO EXPERIENCED LOTS OF
TREE LOSS IN THE HURRICANE TO SUPPORT PLANTING OF NEW TREES,
WHETHER ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR PUBLIC PROPERTY.
AND AREAS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED MORE TREE LOSS,
IT'S LIKELY THAT THERE WAS LESS TREE MAINTENANCE THAT
HAPPENED BEFORE THE STORM.
SO IF TREES HAD BEEN PRUNED AND PREPARED FOR THE STORM, IF
THERE HAD BEEN INVESTMENT IN THAT IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE
PRIVATE SENSE, IF THAT HAD BEEN POSSIBLE, WE MIGHT HAVE HAD
A DIFFERENT OUTCOME IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY.
SO THERE IS A NEED TO KIND OF REBUILD SOME TRUST AROUND
TREES AS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S POSITIVE IN SOME
NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY.
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY, THERE'S MAJORITY SUPPORT
FOR PLANTING TREES, JUST NOT ON MY OWN -- NOT IN MY YARD, IN
SOMEONE ELSE'S.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS SOME INTERPLAY WITH
SUPPORT WITHIN THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE
THAT.
9:40:14AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU.
A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, IN YOUR STUDY FOR YOUR FUTURE STUDIES, I WOULD SUGGEST
HAVING A SOCIOECONOMIC BREAKDOWN ON THE Q & As BECAUSE I
KNOW GROWING UP AS A POOR PERSON, MY FAMILY HATED TREES
BECAUSE -- FOR FEAR OUT OF THE DAMAGE IT WOULD CAUSE TO THE
HOUSE.
THEY WOULD REMOVE TREES.
WHEN SOMEONE CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND THEY
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOUSE DAMAGE, THAT IS A BIG ISSUE.
I THINK WHEN YOU BREAK IT DOWN INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND FOLKS
WHO HAVE MONEY OR DON'T HAVE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS,
IT'S A PRIVILEGE --
9:40:48AM >> WE DID COLLECT THOSE DATA WITH BOTH SURVEYS.
AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY TELLING TO
ME IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT TREE MAINTENANCE, REGARDLESS OF
ZIP CODE, PEOPLE SAY THAT THAT IS EXPENSIVE.
YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOUR INCOME IS BARELY ABOVE THE POVERTY
LINE AND YOU'RE SAYING IT'S EXPENSIVE AND SOMEONE WHO LIVES
IN A WEALTHIER ZIP CODE IS SAYING THAT, THEN IT'S REALLY
EXPENSIVE, PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE.
9:41:16AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I WILL SUGGEST IN FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS,
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN READILY APPARENT TO ME FOR YEARS, EVEN
PRIOR TO COUNCIL -- THESE ARE ASSETS.
ESPECIALLY -- CITY RIGHT-OF-WAYS, WE HAVE THESE ASSETS THAT
WE DON'T MAINTAIN.
ALLEYS, TREES, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
I THINK WE NEED TO FIND A BALANCE WITHIN THE FUNDS TO
MAINTAIN THE ASSETS.
LIKE I THINK YOU POINTED OUT, WELL-MAINTAINED TREE IS MORE
RESILIENT TO THE STORMS AS WELL.
IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT A BALANCE OF HOW TO PAY FOR THAT AND
MAKE SURE IT'S DONE.
JUST LIKE WE ARE ALL HAVING A DIFFICULTY BETWEEN THE RIGHT
TREE, RIGHT PLACE, AND THEN THE SAME THING ABOUT TYPE ONE
AND TYPE TWO TREES WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT AGAIN TODAY.
HOW DO YOU SEE THAT AS FAR AS US BUILDING THE TREE CANOPY?
IN OTHER WORDS, CRAPE MYRTLES ARE BECOMING UNIVERSALLY HATED
BECAUSE THERE IS A PROLIFERATION AND USING CRAPE MYRTLES IN
LIEU OF WHAT WOULD BE PERCEIVED A BIT MORE DESIRABLE TREE,
HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT WHAT DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF THE
TREE CANOPY IN THE CITY OF TAMPA LOOKING LIKE?
9:42:23AM >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HOPE TO DO THE NEXT TIME WITH THE
STUDY IS REVISE THE TREE MATRIX.
IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE TREE MATRIX IT PROVIDES SOME OF THE
DIFFERENT CRITERIA LIKE WIND RESISTANCE, DROUGHT RESISTANCE,
AND HOW MUCH SPACE YOU NEED TO PLANT AND HOW LARGE THE TREE
CAN GET.
WE WANT TO ADD IN THINGS LIKE CONSIDERATION OF DIVERSITY.
LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF CRAPE MYRTLES.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY TRY TO STIR TOWARDS OTHER OPTIONS.
CRAPE MYRTLE IS GREAT FOR A SMALL SPACE, BUT IF YOU HAVE
MORE SPACE, THEN WHY ARE YOU PLANTING A CRAPE MYRTLE?
SO HOPEFULLY BY REVISING THE TREE MATRIX, IT PROVIDES A BIT
MORE OF A BETTER GUIDE, NOT JUST FOR THE CITY, BUT FOR
PRIVATE RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE PLANTING THE TREE IN
A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN EXPECT THE LONGEST LIFE AND RECEIVE
THE BIGGEST BENEFIT AND THAT BALANCE.
9:43:17AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PORTION OF THE ROUND.
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
9:43:23AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THIS IS MORE OF A POINT OF ORDER QUESTION.
WE SAID THREE MINUTES.
ARE WE DOING THREE MINUTES FOR QUESTION AND ANSWER?
9:43:32AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
UM-HUM.
9:43:33AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THEN WHY ARE YOU GOING OVER?
9:43:35AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I WENT OVER ONE TIME.
9:43:37AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I'M JUST SAYING, WE NEED TO STICK TO RULES.
WHAT IS THE RULE?
WE NEED TO AGREE ON THE RULE.
9:43:42AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
LET ME ASK INDULGENCE, WHEN YOU SEE 30
SECONDS, THAT MEANS 30 SECONDS LEFT IN THE TIME SLOT.
I DON'T MIND CUTTING THESE GUYS OFF.
9:43:51AM >> WE'LL PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE BEEPING OVER HERE.
9:43:53AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I JUST WANTED TO ASK BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SET
THOSE RULES BEFOREHAND, SO I THINK WE NEED TO AGREE TO THEM
RIGHT NOW.
9:44:01AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I THINK WE'RE GOOD WITH THE THREE MINUTES.
9:44:04AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
BUT DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THREE MINUTES
MEANS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS?
WILL WE DO THAT FOR THE REST OF TODAY?
9:44:10AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
YES.
9:44:10AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I WANTED TO SET THE STAGE BECAUSE WE DID NOT
DO THAT AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
HONESTLY, THAT WAS MY ONLY THING.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
9:44:22AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
9:44:23AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THERE ARE MANY LITTLE THINGS WE CAN DO, I THINK WITHOUT A
LOT.
WHEN YOU SAY WE'RE PLENTY REACTIVE, YOU NEVER WIN.
NEVER WIN.
IT'S LIKE BASEBALL.
WHO HAS THE BALL, DEFENSE, YOU CAN'T SCORE WHEN YOU HAVE THE
BALL.
SAME THING.
WHEN I LOOK AT IT REALISTICALLY, WHY DO THE HOUSES FALL
APART?
BECAUSE THE TREE FALLS WHERE?
ON THE ROOF.
WHAT IS THE ROOF MADE OUT OF?
WOOD.
WHAT IS THE SECOND FLOOR MADE OUT OF?
WOOD.
FIRST FLOOR MADE OUT OF?
CONCRETE.
THERE YOU HAVE A FAILURE GOING AGAINST YOU ALREADY.
YOU HAVE STRIKE TWO.
ALL YOU NEED IS ONE MORE STRIKE AND YOU'RE OUT.
THE TREE FALLS ON THE ROOF, WHAT HAPPENS?
THE HOUSE COLLAPSES.
SO WE HAVE TO CHANGE MORE THAN JUST PLANTING TREES.
THAT'S MY OPINION.
I MAY BE WRONG.
YOU SEE IN THE ISLAND, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, VERY FEW
HOUSES ARE TORN DOWN.
WHY?
BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCRETE AND REBAR WIRE GOES DOWN TO THE
GROUND, SIX, SEVEN FEET DOWN AND REBAR WIRE ALL ACROSS THE
HOUSE.
THE ROOF IS NOT AT AN ANGLE.
FLAT, CONCRETE, AND WHAT, REBAR.
A TREE CAN HIT IT, HURRICANE CAN'T PICK IT UP, NO EAVES.
CANNOT PICK UP THE EAVES AND THE WALLS COLLAPSE.
A LOT MORE GOING ON THAN THE TREE.
THE TREE IS TAKING THE HEAT FOR THE DAMAGE, BUT IS THE TREE
REALLY THE CAUSE OR IS IT US THE WAY WE BUILT?
THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
9:45:55AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
OKAY.
LET'S TRY TO KEEP TO TOPIC.
COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
9:46:01AM >>BILL CARLSON:
AS I RECALL, WE GO BACK AND FORTH WITH
SINGAPORE BEING THE NUMBER ONE TREE CANOPY IN THE WORLD.
I LIVED IN SINGAPORE A FEW YEARS, HOSTED THE SINGAPORE PRIME
MINISTER IN TAMPA A FEW YEARS AGO.
THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER WHEN HE STARTED IN THE '60s,
GOT, I THINK, IT WAS ANGSANA TREES AND OTHERS SO THAT WHEN
YOU ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT, THE WHOLE HIGHWAY, LIKE 275, IS
COVERED WITH TREE CANOPY.
SO HE GOT FAST-GROWING TREES THAT WERE RELATIVELY CLEAN.
I KNOW WE CAN'T BRING THOSE HERE.
BUT WHEN WE WERE SHOWING THE SINGAPORE PRIME MINISTER AROUND
TAMPA, WHEN WE TOOK HIM ON 275, WE DISTRACTED HIM SO HE
COULDN'T LOOK.
MY STREET HAS AN OAK CANOPY, BUT THAT'S LIKE A HUNDRED YEARS
OLD.
IS THERE SOME FAST-GROWING TREE WE CAN USE THAT WOULD COVER
THE SIDEWALKS AND ROADS THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND?
9:46:50AM >> THERE ARE DEFINITELY OPTIONS.
9:46:56AM >> MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, SHAWN.
9:46:58AM >> THERE ARE FAST-GROWING TREES THAT ARE NOT A PROBLEM.
SOME OF THEM, LIKE LAUREL OAK, IF YOU ARE MAINTAINING IT,
THEY ARE FAST GROWING.
IF YOU ARE MAINTAINING IT AND YOU ARE AWARE OF THE DANGERS
WITH THE ROT INSIDE AND YOU'RE MONITORING IT, THEN THEY CAN
BE GOOD SPECIES.
THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE IT THAT CAN DO THAT.
BEYOND LIVE OAK, THERE ARE OTHER SPECIES THAT ARE OPTIONS.
LIVE OAK, OF COURSE, IS THE ONE THAT WE ASSOCIATED WITH
OVERHANGING CANOPY AND ALSO IT'S RESISTANT TO STORM DAMAGE
BECAUSE IT EVOLVED HERE.
9:47:40AM >>BILL CARLSON:
DO YOU THINK IT'S REALISTIC IN FLORIDA TO
TRY TO PLANT A CANOPY OVER A HIGHWAY LIKE DALE MABRY OR 275
OR OTHER BIG ROADS IN TAMPA?
OR SHOULD WE JUST GIVE UP?
9:47:54AM >> I THINK THE LARGE ARTERIES PROBABLY ARE SORT OF A
SEPARATE CHALLENGE IN SOME SENSE.
CLEARLY, MANY CITIES AROUND THE WORLD WHO HAVE DONE THAT.
IN MY MIND, I'M LIKE, CLEARLY IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT IT FEELS TO
ME LIKE IT WOULD BE SUCH A KIND OF REACH WITH RESTRUCTURING
A LOT OF THE EXISTING HARD GRAY INFRASTRUCTURE.
I WOULD BE PERSONALLY A BIG FAN, BUT I SEE THAT AS A BIG
CHALLENGE.
I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS
TO KIND OF SUPPORT TREE PLANTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WHERE
THERE'S EXISTING INTEREST AND ENTHUSIASM ABOUT THAT, TOO.
BECAUSE IT SEEMS A WAY TO KIND OF LEV RECYCLABLE EXISTING
RESOURCES AND THEN KIND OF TAP INTO NEIGHBOR INTEREST IN
THIS.
I THINK THROUGH THE TREE PLANTING DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HAVING BEEN INVOLVED IN
RE-LEAF, THERE ARE SOME GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT LANDSCAPE
PLANNERS HAVE MADE IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY PRIORITIES.
SO I THINK MAPPING THOSE IS REALLY CRITICAL.
9:49:08AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
DON'T YOU HATE THAT.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO CONCLUDE THIS PART OF THE
DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
9:49:16AM >> I SHOULD MENTION, IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL,
AND YOU WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US DIRECTLY, WE'RE HAPPY
TO RESPOND, IF YOU MAKE THE RESPONSE PUBLIC, THAT'S FINE,
BECAUSE WE DO THAT ANYWAY.
WHENEVER YOU HAVE A QUESTION LET US KNOW.
9:49:29AM >> THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
9:49:29AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
IT WAS A PERFECT TEE OFF FOR THE NEXT TWO
DISCUSSIONS.
WE'LL OPEN UP NUMBER 2 AND 3 TOGETHER.
2 AND 3 TOGETHER.
9:49:45AM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
ABBYE FEELEY, ADMINISTRATOR OF DEVELOPMENT
AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK WHAT THE TEAM JUST SHARED WITH YOU AND WHAT I WANT
TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS MORNING IS KIND OF THE
HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A VERY BUSY AGENDA, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY
MOVING PARTS OF THE TREE DISCUSSION.
AND IN EVEN THINKING ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF TODAY, WE REALLY
WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION SO YOU CAN HAVE THE
MOST PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION.
I AM NOT THE TREE CZAR.
I TOUCH TREES OR MY PORTFOLIO TOUCHES TREES IN RELATIONSHIP
TO BUILDING PERMITS AND WHEN THEY COME IN AND THEY ARE
UTILIZING MITIGATION IN THE TREE TRUST FUND.
THE ZONING DEPARTMENT TOUCHES THEM.
BUT WHERE DID ALL THIS START IS REALLY HOW DID ALL THESE
PIECES KIND OF COME TOGETHER?
IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, I'LL SHOW YOU, I STARTED PUTTING
EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
OKAY, WHERE DID WE START ALL THIS?
I'M LIKE, OH, THERE'S SOMETHING BETTER IN THIS.
SO I WORKED ON THIS TILL CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT.
I BROUGHT HARD COPIES TODAY.
I COULD STAND HERE AND RATTLE OFF THE ORDINANCES,
RESOLUTIONS, WHEN WE STARTED FUNDING THINGS, BUT I PUT IT IN
A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT.
I BROUGHT COPIES FOR COUNCIL.
I BROUGHT SOME COPIES FOR THE PUBLIC.
I CAN GET MORE COPIES AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT IS ADA
BEFORE I PUT IT INTO OnBase.
BUT I DO WANT TO SHARE THIS.
9:51:22AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
9:51:23AM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I HAVE ALL OF THE
ORDINANCES HERE.
I WENT BACK.
I READ THEM ALL.
JUST TO BE ABLE TO SHARE TODAY AND HAVE A DISCUSSION, LIKE
HOW DID WE START ALL THIS, BECAUSE I THINK IN ORDER FOR US
TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OR WHAT THE DIRECTION
YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE TODAY, WE SHOULD TAKE THAT STEP
BACK.
WE'RE GOING TO START AT THE ROOTS OF THIS TREE, WHICH WAS
1996.
IN 1996, THE TREE TRUST FUND WAS CREATED.
AND AT THAT TIME, IT WENT INTO CHAPTER 16, AND IT WAS ABOUT
THREE LINES IN CHAPTER 16 THAT SAID WE'RE GOING TO CREATE
THIS FUND, AND WE CAN USE IT TO REPLANT TREES.
AND IT WAS IN CITY PARKS.
AND AT THAT TIME, THE MITIGATION IN '96, THE RESO THAT WENT
WITH THAT, $125 A TREE.
IN 2001, THAT WENT TO $300 A TREE.
SO THAT'S WHAT STARTED BUILDING OUR TRUST FUND BACK IN 1996.
IN 2006, WE AMENDED THAT SECTION 1626 TO SAY NOT ONLY WERE
WE GOING TO PLANT TREES, WE WERE GOING TO PAY FOR AN
ANALYSIS OF OUR CITY TREE CANOPY.
OKAY.
THAT WENT INTO 1626.
IT WAS FOUR LITTLE WORDS THAT GOT ADDED ON TO THAT SECTION.
AND IT SAID, WE CAN NOW USE THIS FUND TO PAY FOR THIS CANOPY
ANALYSIS, TOO.
AND WE HAVE DONE FOUR OF THESE ANALYSIS.
WE DID ONE IN 2006, 2011, 2016, AND 2021.
AND WHAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM THE TEAM AT USF, BECAUSE THERE
WAS A RESOLUTION AT THAT TIME THAT PUT US INTO AN AGREEMENT
WITH UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND THEN LATER IT WAS AMENDED TO
PUT US INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA TO
BE DOING THIS ANALYSIS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WE'VE DONE IT.
THOSE ARE AVAILABLE ON CITY PLANNING'S WEB PAGE, WHICH YOU
CAN SEE NOW HERE IS ANOTHER FACET OF THE TREE AND HOW WE
TOUCH THIS IN SO MANY PLACES IN THE CITY.
IN 2009, CHAPTER 16, WHICH IS PARKS AND RECREATION'S
CHAPTER, GOT REORGANIZED FOR A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
MARINAS, THIS, THAT.
16-26 BECAME 16-86, AND IT WAS THE SAME SECTION AGAIN,
EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT IT TALKED ABOUT USING THE FUND FOR
SELECTION, ACQUISITION, INSTALLATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF
TREES TO BE PLACED IN DEPARTMENT MANAGED LANDS,
RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND PROPERTY WHERE THE CITY HAD LEGAL
INTEREST.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND FROM JUST PLANTING IN PARKS WITH
THESE FUNDS TO PLANTING IN OTHER PLACES.
IN 2013, THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED WITH THAT FIRST URBAN
FOREST MASTER PLAN.
IN THE RESOLUTION THAT TALKS ABOUT CITY COUNCIL ACCEPTING
THAT PLAN, IT WAS A PUBLIC PLAN.
IT WAS ACTUALLY PRESENTED AT BARKSDALE SENIOR CENTER.
I JUST GOT WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION ON THE TREES, BUT IT WAS
PRESENTED AT BARKSDALE SENIOR CENTER IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT
YEAR.
IT WAS THEN BROUGHT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR ACCEPTANCE THROUGH
RESOLUTION.
IN NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR.
AND THAT REALLY SAID WE ARE GOING TO USE THIS URBAN FOREST
MASTER PLAN AS THE POLICY PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE
OUR URBAN FOREST.
SO WHEN I READ THROUGH THIS, I THINK THE URBAN FOREST MASTER
PLAN, KIND OF LIKE THE COMP PLAN, IT'S OUR POLICY PLAN.
IT'S A 20-YEAR PLAN.
THAT 20-YEAR PLAN, IF WE DID IT IN 2013 WOULD NOW BE DUE
AGAIN IN 2033.
SO WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF YEARS UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, BUT
RUNNING CONCURRENT WITH THAT HAVE BEEN THESE ANALYSIS TO
SHOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CANOPY.
THEN WE HAVE THE 20-YEAR PLAN, AND THOSE THINGS HAVE TOUCH
POINTS TOGETHER.
RIGHT?
IT GOES BACK TO THE TRUST FUND ON HOW WE SUPPORT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS, SOME OF WHICH YOU HEARD THIS MORNING, THE
MATRIX, THE DIFFERENT THINGS, WE'VE DONE MANY OF THE THINGS
THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THAT URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN.
SO IN 2018, WE REALLY KIND OF MODERNIZED THE FRAMEWORK.
UP UNTIL 2018, THAT'S WHAT MANY OF YOU KNOW AS THE OLD TREE
TRUST FUND, RIGHT?
IT WAS CITYWIDE.
YOU COULD SPEND THE FUNDS CITYWIDE.
IN 2018 WAS WHEN WE BROUGHT IN FROM THE COMP PLAN THE
PLANNING DISTRICTS.
THERE WERE FIVE PLANNING DISTRICTS.
THIS IS WHEN 1668, THAT SECTION IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION
CODE, GOT CHANGED TO INCLUDE PLANNING DISTRICTS AND TO
SPECIFY THAT THE FUND BE COLLECTED BY PLANNING DISTRICTS AND
BE SPENT BY PLANNING DISTRICTS.
IT ALSO HAD A PARAMETER IN THE END OF THAT SECTION THAT SAID
ANYTHING COLLECTED UP TILL NOW UNDER THE OLD TREE TRUST FUND
COULD BE SPENT LIKE THE OLD TREE TRUST FUND SAID.
THAT SECTION IS IN THERE.
IT ENDED THE CITYWIDE TREE FUND, AND THIS ALSO TALKED ABOUT
TREE TYPES, TREE PAYMENTS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU SAW, IT HAD A 1-3 INSTEAD OF
STAYING TYPE ONES AND TYPE TWO.
IT SAYS ONE THROUGH THREE AND PALMS.
SO THIS IS WHEN YOU FIRST SAW IT INTRODUCED TO TALK ABOUT
TYPES, AND ALSO THIS IS WHEN IT FIRST TALKED ABOUT
REPORTING.
SO 2019, THERE WAS -- THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE IN 2019 BUT IT
LOOKS LIKE IT IS JUST A RESTATEMENT BECAUSE IN 2019 WE TOOK
THE OLD CHAPTER 13, WHICH WAS OUR TREE AND LANDSCAPE, AND WE
MOVED IT INTO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE INTO CHAPTER 27.
SO EVERYTHING IN THE ORDINANCE IN 19 IS REALLY RESTATED, BUT
IN IT HAS ALL THE CHANGES OF THE SECTIONS FROM 13 TO THEN BE
THE SECTIONS FOR 27.
SO THAT BEING SAID, IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THIS, WITH THE
REPORTING.
SO THE REPORTING WENT INTO EFFECT, IT APPEARED IN JUNE OF
2019.
IN LOOKING AT THIS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU TODAY WHERE WE'VE
BEEN ON THE REPORTING, AND KAYLA WILL TALK TO THAT AND WE DO
HAVE INFORMATION ON THAT, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, ACCELA WAS IN
A PRETTY BAD SHAPE IN 2019.
WE DID THE LIFT AND SHIFT ON ACCELA IN 2022.
SO ACCELA WAS NOT -- THERE WAS NO WAY TO PULL FROM ALL OF
THESE 20-SOME-THOUSAND PERMITS A YEAR WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH
THE TREES.
SO WE STARTED -- WE DID THE ACCELA UPGRADE IN APRIL OF '22.
IN OCTOBER OF '24, WE HAD THE SCRIPTING IN TO AT LEAST START
PULLING THE MITIGATION TREES, HOW MANY, AND THEN THE
PAYMENTS INTO THE FUND.
WE STARTED TRACKING THE NEW WAY WITH THE TYPE ONE, TWO, AND
THREE MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
IN TERMS OF REPORTING, I WANT TO BE HONEST.
I WANT TO BE OPEN.
I WANT TO TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE ON THOSE THINGS.
THE OTHER THING YOU CAN SEE FROM HERE IS THAT THE
MULTIFACETED NATURE OF THIS, PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES
IN PARKS.
PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES IN CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.
PART IS IN ZONING WHEN THEY ARE COMING TO YOU.
PART IS IN CITY PLANNING.
PART IS IN RESILIENCY, AND PART OF THIS IS THAT A LOT OF
THESE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN TRAVELING ALONG TOGETHER BUT KIND OF
IN DIFFERENT SPACES.
SO I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TODAY BEFORE WE GET TO -- AND I
DO HAVE THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN RESOLUTION WITH ME THAT
TALKS ABOUT THE CREATION OF TWO THINGS.
THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN TALKED ABOUT OR GUIDED THE
DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERNAL TECHNICAL ADVISORY TEAM, WHICH WE
HAVE, AND A NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH I
KNOW IS ALSO ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
IT TALKS ABOUT THOSE TWO GROUPS MEETING SEMI ANNUALLY TO
DISCUSS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICIES IN WHAT I CALL
THE URBAN FOREST COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IN MY OWN MIND, AND
PRESENTING AN ANNUAL REPORT BACK TO CITY COUNCIL IN THAT
TERM.
BUT IT REALLY TALKS ABOUT THEM WORKING ON THOSE LONG-RANGE
STRATEGIES THAT ARE IN THE 20-YEAR PLAN.
I KNOW WE'LL DIVE INTO EACH OF THOSE SECTIONS A LITTLE BIT
FURTHER.
I JUST WANTED TO REALLY KIND OF GO BACK AND SET THE TABLE SO
WE ALL HAVE THE INFORMATION AS TO KIND OF HOW WE GOT HERE
TODAY.
10:00:53AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU, MS. FEELEY.
I THINK THAT IS A WONDERFUL KICK-OFF.
THANK YOU FOR WORKING SO HARD AND BEING UP TO MIDNIGHT
WORKING ON IT.
GREAT WAY TO START THE CONVERSATION.
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
10:01:03AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES.
I WANTED TO GO BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IN
TERMS OF HOW ALL THE DEPARTMENTS ARE DIVIDING.
THIS IS A BIG QUESTION THAT I HAVE AND THE PUBLIC HAS.
WHY DID THIS ADMINISTRATION GET RID OF THE TREE CZAR?
THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT WAS TO BRING ALL THESE TEAMS
TOGETHER.
AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, THAT WAS FARMED
OUT TO THESE INDIVIDUAL GROUPS, WHY DID THAT HAPPEN?
WHY DON'T WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S OVERSEEING ALL OF THIS?
10:01:38AM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
SO I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY 26 YEARS.
I AM NOT AWARE OF A TREE CZAR.
I'M HERE HONESTLY TODAY TO TRY TO PULL ALL OF THIS TOGETHER.
I DON'T WANT TO BE THE TREE CZAR.
I'M NOT.
I'M A LOT OF THINGS, BUT THAT'S NOT IT.
I'LL HAVE TO GET YOU AN ANSWER ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER SEEN THAT POSITION ANYWHERE.
IT'S ALWAYS LIVED IN THESE KIND OF OTHER PLACES.
THE EFFORTS -- THE EFFORT HAS NEVER BEEN CENTRALIZED.
EVEN WHEN THERE WAS A NATURAL RESOURCES TEAM --
10:02:22AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
10:02:24AM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
THEY DIDN'T DO THE MAINTENANCE.
PARKS STILL DID A PART.
PLANNING STILL DID A PART.
EVERYBODY STILL DID A PART WHICH I THINK THAT'S -- I MEAN,
IT'S A BIG UNDERTAKING, RIGHT?
SO EVERYBODY HAS DONE -- IT'S NEVER BEEN A CENTRALIZED
FUNCTION LIKE YOU JUST DISCUSSED.
10:02:42AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
TREE CZAR WAS NOT APPROPRIATE WORD, BUT THERE
WAS THAT NATURAL RESOURCES THAT DID -- THAT WAS ABLE TO
TOUCH EACH PART, THAT WHAT IT DID WAS, I THINK THE
FRUSTRATION IS WHAT THAT TEAM DID WAS REALLY BRING -- MAKE
IT CONTINUALLY A BRINGING IT TO THE FOREFRONT.
WHEREAS WHEN IT WAS FOLDED INTO ALL OF THESE OTHER
DEPARTMENTS AND THERE WASN'T SOMEONE FOCUSED ON IT
SPECIFICALLY, THAT THIS IS WHY WE LANDED WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
THIS IS MORE OF A DISCUSSION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHY
WE GOT RID OF THAT TREE, THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO
GO DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHICH THEN DID, FOR BETTER OR FOR
WORSE, TAKE THE FOCUS OFF OF SOMEONE WHO HAD JUST FOCUSED ON
TREES, LIKE IN OVER ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
10:03:36AM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
MAY I RESPOND TO THAT, PLEASE?
THANK YOU.
SO I WAS PART OF THAT.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO THE NATURAL RESOURCES SECTION, WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE
CITY IN OCTOBER OF 2020, YOU HAD A TEAM OF I BELIEVE FOUR.
AS I JUST MENTIONED, STILL WERE NOT DOING THE MAINTENANCE
AND EVALUATIONS OUT ON THE TREES.
BUT YOU HAD FOUR PEOPLE THAT AN AVERAGE DAY, AND TWO OF THEM
ARE HERE.
MARY IS HERE AND BRIAN IS HERE, AND THEY CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
MARY MIGHT START HER DAY DOING A REZONING EVALUATION, AND
THEN JUMP AROUND AND GO OUT AND DO TWO TREE INSPECTIONS AND
THEN COME BACK AND DO A BUILDING INSPECTION.
AND THE CONTINUITY OF SERVICE WAS NOT HAPPENING.
NOT ONLY THAT, WHEN I CAME IN, ALL OF THE TREE MITIGATION
WAS ON PAPER SHEETS, AND THEY WERE HAND PUTTING IT INTO THE
SYSTEM.
AND WE NEVER FINISHED.
WE NEVER FINISHED.
IT NEVER GOT DONE.
WHERE WE COULD RUN THAT REPORT AND BRING IT TO YOU.
THAT SPURRED THE DISCUSSION OF AUTOMATION INTO ACCELA.
HOW DO WE GET THIS DONE?
IT ALSO MADE US LOOK AT WHERE ARE THE ARBORIST ROLES OR
URBAN FORESTER ROLES WITHIN THE CITY'S PROCESSES.
THEY ARE IN PARKS.
THEY ARE IN CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.
WE NOW HAVE THREE FULL-TIME REVIEWERS THAT HENRY, MICHAEL
THAT SIT THERE TODAY AND REVIEWING THE 20,000 BUILDING
PERMITS.
WE HAVE MARY AND HER TEAM THAT WORKS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION
ACTIVITY COMPLIANCE TEAM TO ENSURE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WHEN
SOMEBODY CALLS IN THAT SOMEBODY IS CUTTING DOWN A TREE.
BECAUSE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WAS, THE OLD TEAM, SOMEBODY IS
CUTTING DOWN A TREE, I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUILDING REVIEW.
I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF VARIANCE REVIEW BOARD REVIEW.
THERE WAS NO SYNTHESIS TO HOW THE OPERATION WAS HAPPENING.
THERE IS ONE IN THE ZONING TEAM.
THE OTHER THING WE DID IS WE INTRODUCED AN ARBORIST IN THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY.
BRIAN WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOING VARIANCE REVIEW BOARD, THEN
BUILDING PERMIT AND THEN COMING TO COUNCIL ON AN APPEAL,
THEN WAS GOING OUT TO SEE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY WORK.
RIGHT-OF-WAY DID NOT HAVE THEIR OWN ARBORIST.
WE NOW HAVE CHER, AND SHE IS THE ARBORIST IN MOBILITY.
AND THIS ACTUALLY ALLOWED US TO EXPAND AND MORE
INTENTIONALLY BE A PART OF THE PROCESSES THAT REALLY NEEDED
THOSE TREE REVIEWS AND REALLY NEEDED THOSE PEOPLE.
SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT EVER REALLY OPERATED THE WAY YOU JUST
DESCRIBED AS SOMEONE BEING THE TREE CZAR OR THE TREE LEADER.
I THINK IT STILL LIVED IN ALL THESE PLACES, AND REALLY HAS
NEVER HAD ITS SYNTHESIS TODAY.
10:06:28AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU.
REFERENCE FOR COUNCIL, I KNOW THE CONVERSATION WE HAD
EARLIER, THAT'S KIND OF THE DEFERENCE I NEED.
I FEEL LIKE WHAT MS. FEELEY PRESENTED IS CRITICAL
INFORMATION TO THE DISCUSSION.
I URGE COUNCIL, WHEN YOU ARE PHRASING QUESTIONS, BE DILIGENT
OF YOUR THREE-MINUTE TIME.
TRY TO BE AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GIVE THE SPEAKERS
AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF TIME TO TALK.
ON THOSE TIMES -- IF THEY ARE JUST REPEATING THEMSELVES,
I'LL CUT THEM OFF.
IF THEY ARE PROVIDING INFORMATION, I'LL LET THEM CONTINUE.
IS THAT OKAY WITH EVERYBODY?
10:07:06AM >>BILL CARLSON:
MS. FEELEY, SINCE YOU'RE UP THERE, PART OF
THE REASON THE LAST PRESENTATION WAS TO SHOW THAT STORMS
KNOCK DOWN A LOT OF TREES BUT A FAIR NUMBER OF TREES THAT
ARE KNOCKED DOWN BY TREE ARBORISTS OR DEVELOPERS OR
WHATEVER.
AS YOU KNOW, CITY COUNCIL VERY RARELY APPROVES TREES TO BE
CUT DOWN BUT THEN THERE'S ALWAYS A TRADE-OFF.
THERE ARE A FEW WE APPROVE.
BUT THE PERCEPTION OF THE PUBLIC IS THAT THE CITY, MEANING
US OR YOUR TEAM, ARE JUST HAPHAZARDLY LETTING PEOPLE CUT
DOWN TREES.
STATE LAW LIMITS US ALSO.
WHEN WE GET QUESTIONS, WE FORWARD THEM TO YOU.
YOU DO A GOOD JOB OF ANSWERING THEM.
SINCE THERE ARE A LOT OF TREE ADVOCATES PROBABLY WATCHING,
CAN YOU TELL US THE SENSE OF A MAJORITY OF THE SITUATIONS
AND HOPEFULLY DISPEL THOUGHTS THAT THE CITY IS ALLOWING
TREES TO BE RAMPANTLY CUT DOWN?
10:08:02AM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
SURE.
JUST TO BACKTRACK FOR A SECOND, YOUR QUESTION UNDER THE LAST
PRESENTATION ABOUT THE HOUSE BILL REMOVALS, WE NOW IN ACCELA
HAVE A WAY -- I COULD RUN YOU A QUERY RIGHT NOW, IF WE SAW
THEM GONE.
THAT'S THE ONE THING ABOUT TREES.
I JUST HAD ONE REMOVED ON MY OWN STREET AND THOUGHT I WOULD
THROW UP IN MY CAR.
HONESTLY.
THERE ARE IRREPARABLE DAMAGES, RIGHT? IRREPARABLE DAMAGES.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PLATFORMS.
ONE THAT CARROLL ANN AND STEPHANIE HAVE CONTINUED TO STAY IN
CONTACT WITH US ON ARE NEW HOMES.
AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY AN EFFORT OF THIS COUNCIL.
NEW HOMES THAT ARE PUTTING IN THEIR MITIGATION TREES, AND I
THINK WE GOT TWO LAST WEEK, AND THEY SELL THE HOME.
THE HOME CLOSES, THEY SELL THE HOME AND SOMEBODY TAKES THE
TREES OUT.
WE DO DOOR HANGERS NOW TO TELL YOU, THESE ARE YOUR REQUIRED
TREES.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
IN THOSE CASES AND WE DO HAVE THE TREE HOT LINE.
MARY IS HERE.
WE ACTIVELY -- WE ACTIVELY ARE OUT THERE GOING AFTER -- YOU
KNOW, WE DON'T JUST LET PEOPLE TAKE THEM OUT.
THE HOUSE BILL UNFORTUNATELY DOES PREEMPT HOMEOWNERS WHO
HAVE OCCUPIED HOMES FROM TAKING OUT TREES WITHOUT PERMITS
BECAUSE IT IS A HAZARDOUS OR A THREAT TO THEM IN THEIR
HOMES.
I'M NOT SURE I FULLY ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION, BUT OUR TEAM IS
VERY PROACTIVE IN ENSURING THAT WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE THERE
STAYS THERE AND WHAT IS THERE NOW WHEN PEOPLE COME IN TO ASK
FOR THEIR REMOVAL IS NOT A HAPHAZARD DECISION.
10:09:58AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR UPDATING ACCELA.
WE WENT FROM VERSION 1 TO 11.
IT IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT.
10:10:05AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
LET'S GET INTO THE MEAT OF THESE TWO
ITEMS.
LET'S START WITH NUMBER 3.
TALKING ABOUT THE REPORTING.
10:10:19AM >> KAYLA CASELLI, SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE OFFICER.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND GIVE THE REPORTS HERE.
I HAVE THEM PRINTED.
WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUBMIT THE ELECTRONIC COPIES TO COUNCIL
AND THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
AS WAS STATED, THE REPORT DOES NOT, FOR THE COLLECTION DOES
NOT INCLUDE FROM THE LAST FIVE FISCAL YEARS, FISCAL YEAR 20
TO 25 IS WHEN WE WERE REQUIRED BY CODE WHEN THE UPDATE
HAPPENED TO START THE REPORTING.
TYPE ONE, TWO, THREE, AND PALM IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE
COLLECTION BECAUSE WE WOULD BE REQUIRED BASICALLY TO GO INTO
EVERY SINGLE BUILDING PERMIT AS ADMINISTRATOR FEELEY JUST
MENTIONED AND PULL THAT INFORMATION MANUALLY.
NOW IT WILL BE AUTOMATED.
GOING FORWARD FROM MARCH INTO THE FUTURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO
THAT.
IT DOES HAVE EVERYTHING.
THE BUILDING PERMIT NUMBER THAT'S ASSOCIATED, WHICH IS
EXPLICITLY SAID IN THE REPORTING SECTION OF CODE AS WELL AS
THE PART OF WHICH TRUST FUND.
IF IT IS THE SOUTH TAMPA ONE, CENTRAL TAMPA ONE, ET CETERA.
THEN THE SECOND PART, WHICH IS THE LAST THREE PAGES, THE
EXPENDITURE PART.
WE JUST EXPLAINED THAT WE HAVE THE OLD TREE TRUST FUND, AND
SO WE WERE IN THAT RESOLUTION BASICALLY SAID THAT WE WERE
OBLIGATED TO TRY AND SPEND THAT DOWN FIRST BEFORE GOING AND
SPENDING THE NEW TRUST FUND.
NOW WE'RE JUST GETTING TO THE POINT I BELIEVE I CHECKED WITH
REVENUE AND FINANCE, WE HAVE MAYBE 39, 36 THOUSAND DOLLARS
LEFT IN THE OLD.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH DWINDLED DOWN TO THE LAST DROPS AT THIS
POINT.
NOW WE ARE STARTING TO EXPEND FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM THESE
NEW TREE TRUST FUND.
THE ONLY EXPENDITURES SO FAR FROM FISCAL YEAR 20 TO FISCAL
YEAR 25 HAVE NOT BEEN ANY TREES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN THE
PLANNING AND DESIGN WORK THAT HAS HELPED BUILD THE RE-LEAF
PLANS THAT BRIAN KNOX WILL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT IN THE
PRESENTATION TO HELP IDENTIFY WHERE WE CAN PLANT TREES TO
THEN GO OUT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ACTUALLY GET THE
TREES IN THE GROUND.
10:12:29AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I HAVE A QUESTION.
PARTIALLY MAYBE FRUSTRATION.
PARTIALLY 50%, -- THROW TOMATOES AT ME.
HAS THIS GOVERNMENT RUN AMOK?
WHY CAN'T WE PLANT THE DAMN TREES?
WHAT HAS BEEN THE OBSTACLE OF GETTING THE DAMN TREES IN THE
GROUND?
I THINK COUNCIL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, TOO.
CREATING THIS HUGE BUREAUCRACY.
IS THERE A STREAMLINED VERSION?
DO WE HIRE TWO PEOPLE AND SAY YOUR JOB IS TO PUT FRICKIN'
TREES IN THE GROUND?
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
10:13:13AM >> THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY TO DO IT.
I THINK A FEW THINGS.
WE EMPATHIZE WITH THAT.
WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE REALLY EASY AS WELL.
WHENEVER OPERATING IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, IT'S COMPLICATED.
WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE UNDERGROUND, ABOVEGROUND.
WE ARE MANDATED BY OUR OWN CODE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR
ELECTRIC GRID THAT WE CAN'T PLANT TREES THAT GROW ABOVE 25
FEET WITHIN 30 FEET OF ELECTRICAL LINE.
THERE HAS TO BE THIS ANALYSIS THAT HAPPENS.
WE CAN'T JUST GO AROUND AND PUT ANY TREE ANYWHERE IN THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY.
THAT IS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE.
IT IS THE HARDEST TREE TO PLANT IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF TAMPA
AND USUALLY THE MOST EXPENSIVE BECAUSE IT REQUIRES THAT
ANALYSIS.
THE TRADE-OFF IS IT USUALLY HAS A BIG IMPACT.
PEOPLE LOVE HAVING TREE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR CITY LINED
WITH TREES.
THEY CAN ALSO PROVIDE, EVEN IF IT IS A SMALLER TREE, THEY
CAN PROVIDE SHADE AND BUFFER FROM VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, LIKE A
MOBILITY VISION ZERO PERSPECTIVE AND THEY CAN BE BEAUTIFUL
AND THAT'S ANOTHER BENEFIT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE
ECONOMICS.
I THINK WHEN YOU GET INTO PARKS AND PRIVATE PROPERTY, THAT
IS THE EASIER OPPORTUNITIES --
10:14:22AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
HAVE WE SATURATED THOSE AREAS YET?
10:14:24AM >> PRIVATE PROPERTY, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
10:14:26AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WHAT ABOUT PARKS?
10:14:28AM >> PARKS, I THINK THAT'S REALLY FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ARE NOT AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES
AS WE THINK IN PARKS.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE SPACE FOR OPEN RECREATION, SPORT FIELDS,
ET CETERA.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A FEW MORE SPOTS TO PLANT TREES, BUT
NOT ABLE TO COVER ALL THE PARKS WITH HUNDRED PERCENT CANOPY.
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY FUNCTION THEY SERVE.
10:14:49AM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
ABBYE FEELEY.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE WORKING ON, WE HAD GOTTEN A GRANT,
A MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT AND STARTED AN EFFORT TO DEVELOP
PLANTING PLANTS.
WE NOW HAVE I THINK CLOSE TO TEN OF THOSE PLANS DEVELOPED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE GRANT WAS TAKEN AWAY THROUGH THE FEDERAL
-- I WANT TO SAY THE GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL OR ONE OF
THOSE.
EVAN JOHNSON'S TEAM HAD DONE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
THIS DONE TO DEVELOP THE PLANTS.
SO WE HAVE THESE.
HOW WE DID THAT, THE MILLION DOLLARS WE WENT TO TEAMS THAT
WERE ALREADY ON CONTRACT WITH US IN AN EFFORT TO STREAMLINE,
LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, TO GET THE PLANS TOGETHER SO THEN
WE COULD USE THE TRUST FUND TO PLANT THOSE TREES.
SO WE HAVE THOSE PLANS.
I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL TODAY IS THE
POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING NOW THOSE PLANS.
ONE IDEA I HAD WAS WE COULD BRING THEM AS PART OF THE FISCAL
YEAR 27 BUDGET.
WE COULD PUT THE PLANS OUT RIGHT NOW ONTO THE WEBSITE.
WE HAVE NOT PUT THEM OUT TO BID YET.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.
WE JUST HAVE THE DESIGNS DONE, SO THEY WOULD NEED TO GO OUT
TO BID.
WHERE WE ARE KIND OF AT THIS POINT IS, WILL YOU LET US USE
THE TRUST FUND TO GO AHEAD AND WORK ON THESE -- I MEAN, TO
IMPLEMENT THEM?
BECAUSE WE HAVE THEM.
SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE LARGER QUESTIONS THAT BROUGHT
US TO TODAY TOGETHER BECAUSE WHEN -- YOU KNOW, WE DO TRY TO
INTEGRATE TREE PLANTINGS INTO OTHER PLANS.
YOU'VE SEEN WITH THE PROJECT WORKING ON GETTING
REIMBURSEMENT FOR OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THAT'S
WHERE THE CITY SEES AN OPPORTUNITY, WE TAKE IT UPON
OURSELVES TO INTEGRATE THOSE THINGS INTO OUR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PLANS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE THESE PLANTING PLANS THAT CITY
PLANNING HAS BEEN WORKING ON IN COORDINATION WITH PARKS.
ERIC MUECKE AND THE PARKS TEAM GETTING THOSE THINGS
TOGETHER.
SO I THINK THAT WE COULD PUT INTO ACTION THOSE THINGS, THOSE
PLANS, I'M SORRY, NOW, OR GOING FORWARD, BUT WE NEED TO BE
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FUNDING SOURCE WHICH IS THE TREE
TRUST FUND.
10:17:16AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, THE TREE-MENDOUS
PROGRAM, PRIVATE PROPERTY, TRYING TO GET TREES PLANTED.
TRUE ONLY ONE PERSON DOING THAT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY?
10:17:29AM >> KAYLA.
YES, ONE PERSON WHO DOES THE TREE-MENDOUS IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH A CONTRACTOR WHO DOES THE ACQUISITION, DELIVERY AND
INSTALLATION.
SHE DOES THE INSPECTIONS AND THE PRE-INSPECTION TO SEE IF
THE SITE IS SUITABLE FOR WHICH TYPE OF TREE AND THEN THE SIX
MONTH AND ONE-YEAR INSPECTION THAT'S REQUIRED BY CODE.
10:17:49AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
DON'T YOU THINK WE COULD CONTRACT SOME OF
THE ADDITIONAL HELP FOR THAT DEPARTMENT?
MAYBE FOR A YEAR OR TWO OF EXPEDITING THAT INTO PRIVATE
PROPERTY?
10:17:59AM >> POTENTIALLY.
I THINK THAT IS A QUESTION WE'LL DEFINITELY CIRCLE BACK WITH
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO FOR
FISCAL YEAR '27.
10:18:08AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THAT WAS ACTUALLY MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE
EXTRA MONEY WE HAD IN 2025.
I HAD $500,000 EARMARKED FOR TREE MAINTENANCE, SPECIFICALLY
TO DO THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ADMINISTRATION HASN'T SEEMED TO WANT TO
DO THAT TO HIRE ANOTHER PERSON.
BUT THAT WAS MY GOAL, BUT THEN COUNCILMAN VIERA WANTED MORE
PARK MONEY FOR NORTH TAMPA.
AND BECAUSE SOUTH TAMPA HAD GOTTEN A BUNCH OF MONEY, I LET
HIM USE THAT MONEY.
BUT TREES HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING
ON FOREVER.
AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE.
SO WE HAVE TO PUT FUNDING TOWARD IT.
THE PROBLEM IS, HOW DO WE USE IT?
BECAUSE THE TREE TRUST FUND CURRENTLY -- AND IT'S FOR OUR
DEBATE LATER, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW WE ACTUALLY WANT TO
USE THAT.
DO WE THINK IT'S OKAY TO BE PLANTING BUSHES AND ALL THESE
OTHER THINGS TOO?
THAT'S PART OF A LANDSCAPE PLAN.
SO THERE IS A LOT TO IT.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE TREE-MENDOUS -- WELL, ANYWAY, WE'LL GET
INTO THAT LATER.
10:19:16AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
10:19:19AM >>BILL CARLSON:
FOR THE PUBLIC, AS YOU HEAR, WE HAVE A VERY
PRO-TREE CITY COUNCIL.
HAROLD WALKER, WHO WAS A RESIDENT OF HYDE PARK, PASSED AWAY
ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
LITERALLY COUNCIL MEMBER HURTAK AND I WERE THERE.
HE LITERALLY WAS SHOWING NEIGHBORHOODS HOW TO PLANT TREES
AND PASSED AWAY ADVOCATING FOR TREES.
HE WAS WORKING ON A PROGRAM THAT STARTED IN HIS YARD WHERE
THERE WERE LAUREL OAKS IN HYDE PARK AND THE CITY SAID WE
NEED TO TEAR THEM DOWN.
HE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY SOMEHOW AND PAID EXTRA FOR TREES
AND WENT THROUGH AND EDUCATED HIS NEIGHBORS ABOUT MAYBE
TAKING OUT EVERY OTHER LAUREL OAK AND PLANTING A LARGER LIVE
OAK.
I WONDER, I'LL BE HAVING FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS ABOUT THAT.
BUT I WONDER IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD CONTINUE TO
ADVOCATE FOR.
EXAMPLE IS NEW SUBURB BEAUTIFUL.
NEW SUBURB BEAUTIFUL, IT HAS THE WORST ROADS IN THE CITY, I
THINK.
ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE ROADS.
SOMEBODY PLANTED TREES IN 1976 FOR THE BICENTENNIAL,
UNDERNEATH THE POWER LINES WHICH YOU SAID IS ILLEGAL NOW.
PROBLEM WITH THE TREE CANOPY BEING V CUT.
ROOTS ON THE TREES ARE SO BIG THAT THEY GO UNDER THE HOUSES
AND STREETS.
MOBILITY DEPARTMENT SAID WE CAN'T PAVE THE ROADS BECAUSE OF
THE TREES.
CUT DOWN THE ROOTS, THE TREES WILL DIE.
IS THERE A WAY TO PARTNER WITH NEIGHBORHOODS TO DO THAT?
SWANN PARK, I WAS THERE A COUPLE OF DAYS, CHARLIE MIRANDA
WAS THERE JUST BEFORE ME, THE NEIGHBORS THERE WANT TO PLANT
TREES AND I THINK THEY ARE WORKING ON THE CITY WITH THAT.
WE SEE VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT WHO ARE WILLING TO PUT IN MONEY
AND PAY.
I WONDER WITHIN THAT, IF WE CAN WORK ON A BETTER PLAN TO
LEVERAGE NOT JUST THE TREE FUNDS IN THE CITY'S BUDGET BUT
ALSO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
LASTLY, ON STORMWATER OR OTHER ENTERPRISE FUNDS, I THINK
THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THEIR OWN TREES.
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A TREE POLICY NEEDS TO BE EMBEDDED IN
THE FUNDS AND FEES FOR THOSE SERVICES AND THE TREE FUND
SHOULD BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY MITIGATION MONEY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS AND
IT SHOULD BE USED FOR THAT RATHER THAN MITIGATION FOR AN
ENTERPRISE FUND.
THANK YOU.
10:21:35AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE
ITEMS, I KNOW YOU ALL SHARE THE SAME FRUSTRATION THAT
COUNCIL SHARES AND THE PUBLIC SHARES ON GETTING TREES IN THE
GROUND.
AS YOU'VE LOOKED AT THIS AND LOOKED AT COUNCIL'S CONCERNS,
YOU HEARD THE PUBLIC OUTCRY ON THESE THINGS, WHAT WOULD BE
AN AFFORDABLE, DOABLE WAY TO STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS AND TO
BE ABLE TO DIVERSIFY OUR STREET WITH TREE CANOPY AND GET THE
DAMN TREES IN THE GROUND?
10:22:06AM >> I THINK WE KIND OF HAVE THIS FORMAT THAT WE CREATED.
WE BUILT IT FROM SCRATCH.
WE MENTIONED IT SEVERAL TIMES.
THE RE-LEAF PLANTING PROGRAM.
SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS JUST STATED FOR WORKING WITH
NEIGHBORHOODS IS EXACTLY WHAT THAT PROGRAM WAS DREAMED TO
BE.
IT HAS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT TO IT AND THEN HAS
THE PLANNING AND DESIGN.
NOW WE HAVE 11 PLUS PLANS WITH THOUSANDS OF TREES THAT ARE
DESIGNED AND WE JUST NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
10:22:37AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
HOW DO WE DO THAT?
HOW DOES TOMORROW LOOK DIFFERENT THAN YESTERDAY?
10:22:41AM >> WE NEED THE FUNDING SOURCE, PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCIL TO
SEE IF THE TREE TRUST FUNDS COULD BE THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR
THOSE PLANS.
THE ORIGINAL FUNDING SOURCE WAS THE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT.
WE NO LONGER HAVE IT.
WE WOULD LIKE TREE TRUST FUNDS TO BE THE FUNDING SOURCE.
10:22:57AM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, KAYLA, THAT'S
PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR TODAY.
WHEN YOU SAY WHAT IS YOUR OBJECTIVE WITH THAT, IS IT TO GET
AS MANY TREES IN THE GROUND AS POSSIBLE?
IS IT BECAUSE, I THINK OUR ANSWER TO YOU IS DEPENDENT ON
WHAT YOUR EXPECTATION AND YOUR OBJECTIVE IS.
I DO AGREE, WE HAVE THE PLANTING PLANS.
I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT ENSURING THE
PUBLIC IS ENGAGED IN THAT.
WE HAD THE CONTRACTORS DO IT, WHICH ARE EXPERTS THAT KNOW
THE TREES.
WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU NOT EVERY PLANTING PLAN IS ONLY TYPE
ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES.
IT IS A DIVERSIFICATION, AS WAS ALSO ADDRESSED AND DISCUSSED
SOMEWHAT THIS MORNING.
IF THAT IS THE WILL, THEN WE COULD PRESENT, HERE ARE THE TEN
WE HAVE.
HERE ARE THE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS THEY ARE IN.
HERE IS THIS.
AND ALIGN THAT WITH THE TREE TRUST FUNDS THAT GO WITH EACH
OF THOSE.
AND THEN IT WOULD ULTIMATELY, YOU ARE THE ONES -- I DO WANT
TO SAY IN ALL MY RESEARCH 1668 IT DOES SAY, IF YOU FEEL
NECESSARY, DUE TO CANOPY DECLINE, DISEASE, NATURAL HAZARD
THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED, YOU CAN ALSO SHIFT THOSE FUNDS FROM
ONE GEOGRAPHIC AREA TO ANOTHER.
THAT IS YOUR PURVIEW AS COUNCIL UNDERNEATH THAT CODE.
WE COULD BRING THOSE TEN PLANS TO YOU.
WE COULD SHOW YOU WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT THEY INCLUDE, WHERE
THEY ARE GOING, AND THEN IF WE GOT THE OKAY, THAT THAT COULD
ALIGN WITH TREE TRUST FUND, WE COULD PUT THEM OUT TO BID.
WE COULD THEN SHOW YOU THE SAME TEN PLANS WITH THE BIDS AND
WHAT WILL PULL DOWN FROM EACH OF THE DISTRICT FUNDS AND WE
COULD GO FROM THERE AND WE COULD GET STARTED.
10:24:43AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK AND THEN PUBLIC
COMMENT.
10:24:45AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WE CAN'T GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVEN'T DONE NUMBER TWO.
NUMBER TWO IS STATED AS A PRESENTATION FOR THIS.
10:24:52AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR TWO?
10:24:54AM >> WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION.
10:24:56AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT WE CAN'T GO TO PUBLIC
COMMENT IF WE HAVEN'T EVEN LOOKED AT THE PRESENTATION.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
10:25:05AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
BETWEEN THE USF PRESENTATION AND THIS, WE
HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT CRAPE MYRTLES.
I THOUGHT WE KIND OF DID.
10:25:11AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THEN I HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THIS.
10:25:13AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR.
10:25:16AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YEAH, I HONESTLY THINK THAT EVEN IF WE DO IT
VERY QUICKLY, WE SHOULD GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
THAT'S NOT WHAT NUMBER TWO IS.
NUMBER ONE IS DONE.
NOW WE ARE ON TO NUMBER TWO AND WE HAVE NOT DONE THE
PRESENTATION.
10:25:31AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
10:25:32AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THEN I HAVE QUESTIONS.
10:25:34AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
NUMBER TWO, START WITH YOUR NAME.
10:25:37AM >> ALL RIGHT.
NEXT SLIDE.
THERE IS A CLICKER, RIGHT?
I THINK ABBYE SET THE TABLE WELL TODAY.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM.
WE DO WANT THE SAME THING THAT THE PUBLIC, THAT COUNCIL
WANTS.
WE WANT OUR CANOPY TO BE RESILIENT, DIVERSE, AND CONTINUE TO
INCREASE AND PLANT THE NEXT GENERATION OF CANOPY.
WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS INCLUDED.
SO WE'RE GOING TO, TALKING TO THIS ABOUT THIS MOTION, TOO.
JUST WANT TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND.
WE TALKED ABOUT TREES A LOT THIS LAST YEAR.
WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT TREES A LOT.
IN THE LAST YEAR WE HOSTED A TREE TOWN HALL IN JANUARY WHERE
WE KIND OF WENT A TO Z ON ALL OF THE TREE PLANTING PROGRAMS.
WE HAD COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE AS WELL.
WE WERE ABLE TO JUST KIND OF INTRODUCE WHO DOES WHAT IN THE
CITY AND PROVIDE THAT FOUNDATION ON KNOWLEDGE AND CLARITY.
I THINK IT WAS WELL RECEIVED FROM THE FEEDBACK I HEARD.
FOLLOW UP TO THAT, THOUGH, THAT WAS US TALKING, EDUCATING
THE PUBLIC AND BEING THERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WE ALSO WANTED TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO
GIVE US FEEDBACK IN A DIVERSE SETTING OF STAKEHOLDERS WHO
HAVE BEEN REALLY ENGAGED.
SO WE HAD AT LEAST ONE NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH
OF YOUR DISTRICTS.
WE HAD TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS, CERTIFIED ARBORIST FROM IFAS
EXTENSION.
UTILITY PROVIDER, A DEVELOPER REPRESENTATIVE AND ADVOCACY
GROUPS BOTH FOR MOBILITY AND TREE PERSPECTIVE.
WE WERE THERE TO TRY TO BE IN A LISTENING ROLE, ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THEY HAD.
WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS EMBED SOME OF THE FEEDBACK
THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE HEARD SPECIFIC ABOUT PLANTINGS.
THERE WAS HUNDRED PERCENT CONSENSUS EVERYONE IN THE ROOM
THAT MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS SHOULD BE SPENT ON PLANTINGS WITH
SOME CAVEATS THAT MAINTENANCE WAS ALSO HIGHLIGHTED AS A BIG
PRIORITY.
WE'VE HEARD IT SEVERAL TIMES TODAY.
SO THEIR THOUGHT WAS WITH MIXED OPINIONS, NOT EVERYONE WAS
ON BOARD.
COULD SOME OF THESE TREE TRUST FUNDS BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT
THE MAINTENANCE BUDGET.
NOT EVERYONE IN THAT ROOM WAS IN AGREEMENT ON THAT.
OTHER MIXED OPINIONS FOR PLANTINGS SPECIFICALLY WAS PART OF
THE STAKEHOLDERS ONLY WANTED TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES TO
BE FUNDED FROM TREE TRUST FUNDS.
OTHERS WERE JUST KIND OF SHARING THE SAME FRUSTRATIONS, KIND
OF EXPRESSED TODAY THAT THEY JUST WANTED TREES TO GET INTO
THE GROUND.
SO WHICHEVER DEPARTMENT, WHATEVER WAY WE COULD DO IT IN A
WAY THAT WAS EFFICIENT, THAT IS WHAT WAS EXPRESSED.
THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES TODAY, BUT JUST THE
IMPORTANCE ALSO OF DIVERSIFICATION, BOTH OF SPECIES AND
SIZE.
IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT OAKS MAKE UP 8% OF THE CANOPY.
THAT'S FROM THE STEM COUNT.
HOWEVER 35% OF THE LEAF AREA.
GREAT PERCENTAGE OF OAK GIVES ALL THIS BENEFIT FROM A SHADE
PERSPECTIVE.
THE DRAWBACK IS IF WE WERE TO HAVE A PEST OR DISEASE THAT
COMES THROUGH AND AFFECTS OAK SPECIES WE WOULD LOSE
BASICALLY A THIRD OF OUR LEAF COVERAGE OVERNIGHT, RIGHT?
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AS A CITY AND MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE MITIGATING THOSE POTENTIAL CONCERNS IN THE
FUTURE.
GETTING TO TREE-MENDOUS, SO THIS IS ONE OF THE PLANTING
PROGRAMS THAT'S BEEN AROUND, WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY.
RUN BY ONE FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBER WITH THE CONTRACTOR I
TALKED ABOUT.
THEY PLANT ABOUT 500 TREES IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
SO AT THIS TIME IT DOES NOT INCLUDE PLANTING ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY, BUT IT'S REQUESTED BY THE ADJACENT PRIVATE
PROPERTY OWNER.
SO THEY CAN BE PLANTED IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROGRAM IS WE GET TO PARTNER WITH THE
PUBLIC.
THE PROPERTY OWNER WATERS THAT TREE FOR ONE YEAR, WHICH
REALLY HELPS US A LOT.
HELPS BOLSTER OUR CAPACITY.
AND THE CON IS THAT BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS SO AMAZING,
SHERRY IS SO AMAZING, WE HAVE A SIX TO 12 MONTH LONG WAITING
LIST DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR.
THE DEMAND IS THERE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THE TREES TO BE
PLANTED.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS WE HAVE A LIST OF THE SPECIES
PLANTED.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THOSE SMALLER TREES DO MAKE UP THE MAJORITY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAVE
ON THE NEXT SLIDE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT.
TWO THINGS, ONE WAS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW WE COULD
LEVERAGE THIS HIGH RETURN ON INVESTMENT WE THINK FROM THIS
PROGRAM IN THE FISCAL YEAR '27.
WE KNOW IT'S TRIED AND TRUE.
THE DEMAND IS CERTAINLY THERE AS DESIGNATED BY THE WAITING
LIST.
IT COULD BE EASILY SCALABLE AND KIND OF THE BEAUTY IS
THERE'S NOT A SHORT-TERM ESTABLISHMENT MAINTENANCE COST.
SO THE RESIDENT, ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER PARTNERS WITH US,
AND AGREES TO WATER THE TREE FOR US, AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF
BURDEN OFF OF US AND REDUCES THE COST OF THIS PROGRAM
OVERALL TO THE CITY TO BE PRETTY EFFICIENT.
AND SO TO KIND OF ADDRESS SOME OF THE SPECIES THINGS THAT
WE'VE HEARD ON WHAT IS BEING PLANTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM,
WE DO WANT TO CONSIDER THINGS LIKE THE DIVERSITY RULE OF TEN
PERCENT SPECIES, 20 PERCENT GENUS, 30% FAMILY.
SO TRYING TO LIMIT.
LIKE, BASICALLY, YOU COULDN'T PLANT MORE THAN 10% OF ONLY
SOUTHERN LIVE OAKS OR MAYBE WE LOOK AT IT FROM WHAT'S
ALREADY IN OUR CANOPY PERSPECTIVE.
THAT IS UP FOR DEBATE.
AND THEN 20% GENUS WOULD BE MAKE LIKE ALL TYPES OF OAK
SPECIES, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO DO MORE THAN THE 20%.
THAT'S KIND OF THE SIMILARITIES OR THE POTENTIAL PROGRAM
CHANGES.
THE OTHER BIG THING THAT WE REALLY THINK WOULD KIND OF WIDE
THAN OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT THE LARGER SIZE SPECIES IS TO
CHANGE SECTION 16-86 TO ALLOW EXPLICITLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
PLANTING.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE LIMITED TO RIGHT-OF-WAY.
IF WE'RE UNDER ELECTRIC UTILITY, THAT LEAVES ONLY ONE TYPE
OF TREE AND IT IS A TYPE THREE TREE OR PALM.
PALMS ARE NOT AN OPTION AS A SPECIES IN THIS PROGRAM.
SO IF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WELL, NOW YOU HAVE ROOM TO
PLANT A PINE OR A MAPLE OR SOMETHING ELSE, WE NEED TO
PROBABLY GET A LITTLE BIT INTO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY REALM
AND ALLOW SECTION 16-86, ENABLE IT TO DO THAT.
10:31:53AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
10:31:54AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.
THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT.
I WAS AT THAT ROUND TABLE.
IT GOT HEATED.
PEOPLE WERE NOT HAPPY, BY AND LARGE.
I THINK THIS REALLY GOES TO PEOPLE JUST -- IT'S A TRUST
LEVEL ISSUE
THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH AS A CITY.
I HAVE TALKED TO THE MAYOR ABOUT THIS, AND SHE HAS TOLD ME
SHE IS NOT INTERESTED IN ADDING TO THE TREE-MENDOUS PROGRAM.
SHE SIMPLY WANTS TO DO TREE GIVEAWAYS.
I DISAGREE.
FOR ME, IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING.
TREE GIVEAWAYS ARE A REALLY BAD IDEA.
I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT GIVING AWAY TREES WITH ANY OF THIS
TRUST MONEY.
THAT IS JUST A HARD NO FOR ME.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S EXPLICIT AND CLEAR.
NONE OF THIS MONEY COULD BE USED TO JUST GIVE AWAY TREES.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TWO MORE STAFF MEMBERS TO THE
TREE-MENDOUS PROGRAM AND OPEN IT NOT TO 8 TO 10 FEET BUT
OPEN IT TO PRIVATE PROPERTY.
BECAUSE BACKYARDS ARE REALLY WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO GET
PEOPLE.
IF YOU'RE SAYING, UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ALLEY, WHICH IS A
RIGHT-OF-WAY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE TREES
PLANTED.
FOR ME, MY INTEREST IS OPENING IT WIDE TO PEOPLE'S PRIVATE
PROPERTY AND TO ADD MORE STAFF MEMBERS TO THIS PROGRAM,
BECAUSE IT'S WILDLY SUCCESSFUL.
IT'S REALLY RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE, BUT IT'S ALSO -- I
MEAN, FROM THE STORIES I HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO USE THE
PROGRAM, SHE IS TREMENDOUS.
SHE TRULY IS "TREE-MENDOUS."
PUN INTENDED.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.
AS WE SAW WITH THE USF STUFF, WE SAW THAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED
ABOUT PUTTING A TREE IN.
AND HAVING SOMEBODY WHO CAN HAND-HOLD AND FIND THE RIGHT
TREE, AND FILL THAT SPACE, ESPECIALLY IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD.
I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS DIVERSITY RULE BECAUSE I
DON'T KNOW WHAT SPECIES GENUS FAMILY THIS IS.
YOU'LL HAVE TO DUMB IT DOWN FOR ME AND I THINK THE GENERAL
PUBLIC AS A WHOLE.
I WOULD BE VERY OPEN TO THAT TYPE OF CONVERSATION BUT I'M
ALSO GOING TO ASK FOR A MORATORIUM ON CRAPE MYRTLES IN THE
CITY UNTIL WE REACH THAT PERCENTAGE OF WHATEVER IT IS WE ALL
AGREE TO.
I THINK CRAPE MYRTLES NEED TO COME OFF FOR AT LEAST TWO TO
THREE YEARS JUST TO -- A, BECAUSE PEOPLE CHOOSE CRAPE MYRTLE
BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO IDEA OF ANOTHER OPTION.
I WAS WALKING DOWN JEFFERSON THE OTHER DAY, WHATEVER IS IN
BLOOM RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOTEL, THE HYATT ACROSS THE STREET,
I MEAN, THAT HAS THE TRUNK OF A CRAPE MYRTLE, BUT, MAN, DOES
IT HAVE A LOT OF LEAF COVER AND SHADE.
IF I KNEW WHAT THAT TREE WAS, I COULD TELL YOU AND SAY, HEY,
THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE SHOULD PLANT.
BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE NEED TO SEE.
I REALLY THINK THAT WITH THE TREE MATRIX, WE NEED TO HAVE
PHOTOS.
MAYBE NOT THERE, BUT WHERE YOU CAN CLICK AND ACTUALLY SEE
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS WHAT -- I HAVE IT HERE SOMEWHERE.
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT MOST OF THESE ARE.
THAT'S MY FIRST ROUND OF FEEDBACK.
10:35:10AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
HOW MUCH LONGER FOR YOUR PRESENTATION?
10:35:12AM >> THAT'S IT FOR THIS PART.
10:35:13AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION?
10:35:15AM >> SO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3 -- SORRY, THIS ONE AS
WELL.
WE STILL HAVE A FEW MORE SLIDES FOR RE-LEAF.
10:35:24AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
LET'S FINISH YOUR PRESENTATION AND THEN
GIVE IT BACK --
10:35:28AM >> I'LL BRING BRIAN UP.
10:35:37AM >> BRIAN KNOX, CITY PLANNING.
TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TAMPA RE-LEAF PROGRAM.
WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT
WE'VE BEEN DOING SO FAR.
THIS PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN JUNE 2024.
IT WAS -- STARTED BY A SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY
DEPARTMENT.
NOW MANAGED BY CITY PLANNING.
THE OBJECTIVES VERY SIMPLE, INCREASE THE LEVEL OF TREE
PLANTING ACROSS THE CITY, ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS.
AND ALSO IT WAS TO TAKE SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE CANOPY
ANALYSIS THAT WE DO EVERY FIVE YEARS AND ACTUALLY APPLY IT
TO SOME OF OUR AREAS WHERE THERE WERE HIGH HEAT ISSUES AND
SOME URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS ADDED TO THAT, AFTER THE 2024 STORMS, WE
HAD HELENE AND WE HAD MILTON, IT WAS TO COMBAT SOME OF THE
CANOPY LOSS WE HAD THERE AS YOU HEARD DURING THE DISCUSSION
WITH USF AND THE POST-STORM CANOPY ANALYSIS.
SO THE FOCUS INITIALLY, WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL SPACES.
WE WERE LOOKING AT HOW MANY TREES WE CAN GET IN THE GROUND,
AND THEN AS WE STARTED TO REFINE THE INFORMATION AND DATA,
WE STARTED TO LOOK MORE TOWARDS THE PUBLIC REALM BECAUSE
THAT WAS THE EASIER PLACE TO PLANT.
WHEN YOU'RE PLANTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, THERE IS A LOT OF
NEGOTIATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BETWEEN THE HOMEOWNER AND
THE PROVIDER OF THE TREES.
SO IF WE'RE LOOKING TO PLANT TREES AT A RAPID PACE, WE
WANTED TO START IN THE PUBLIC REALM AND THEN TURN OUR
ATTENTION TOWARD THE PRIVATE PROPERTY WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY
ARRIVES.
JUST TO GIVE YOU BACKGROUND, YOU HEARD SOME OF THIS ALREADY.
WE HAVE 11 SCHEDULED PROJECTS THAT RANGE ALL IN CENTRAL
PLANNING DISTRICT.
SO THEY ARE ALL IN THE SAME PLANNING DISTRICT, BUT IT DOES
INCLUDE AREAS LIKE THE YBOR AREA, DAVIS ISLANDS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES MacFARLANE PARK.
IT INCLUDES DOWNTOWN CDB AREA, AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
MAIN PROJECTS WE HAVE.
WE HAVE A BUNCH MORE LINED UP, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
BIGGER ONES THAT HAVE PROVIDED US WITH THAT NUMBER OF 3,000
PLUS TREES SO FAR.
SO THE MAJORITY OF THE TREES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO PLANT
ARE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO.
IN CASES WHERE WE CANNOT PROVIDE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO, WE
FOCUS ON TYPE THREE FOR THOSE PLANTINGS.
I MENTIONED SOME OF THE AREAS EARLIER AND SOME OF THE
CONFLICTS THAT WE DEAL WITH WHEN WE'RE PLANTING TREES ARE
HIGHLY URBANIZED AREAS.
OVERHEAD POWER LINES AND GENERAL SPACING AND CONFLICT
ISSUES.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF HOW WE CONSIDER WHERE
TO PLANT, USING THE RE-LEAF PROJECT.
IF WE HAVE LARGE SPACES WITH NO CONFLICTS, TYPE ONE AND TYPE
TWO TREES GO THERE.
IF WE HAVE A SMALL PLANTING SPACE, TYPE THREE TREES ARE
CONSIDERED UNLESS THERE IS A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE CAN FIT A
TYPE ONE OR TYPE TWO TREE.
IF IT'S A TREE GRADE, IT IS -- TREE GRATE, LIKELY TYPE
THREE.
THAT'S NEGOTIABLE DEPENDING ON THE AREA WE ARE IN.
IF IT'S UTILITIES, IT'S TYPE THREE OR NO TREE.
WE HAVE A VERY STRONG AGREEMENT WITH TECO TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
NOT PLANTING UNDERNEATH POWER LINES, ESPECIALLY TREES THAT
COULD BE IMPACTED LATER ON AS THEY GROW.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO CONSIDERED THAT IS TYPICALLY
NOT AN ARBORIST BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE ARE CULTURAL
THINGS.
THOSE THINGS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
SO, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE DAVIS ISLANDS.
DAVIS ISLANDS IS LOADED WITH WASHINGTONIAN PALMS.
THOSE PALMS ARE BY OUR INVASIVE SPECIES LIST CONSIDERED PART
OF THE TREES THAT YOU CAN REMOVE.
BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S WHAT MAKES DAVIS ISLANDS,
DAVIS ISLANDS, THOSE WASHINGTONIAN PALMS.
SO LOOKING AT THAT IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE ARE CERTAIN
THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO KIND OF RULE OUT SUCH AS GREENSPACES
THAT COULD BE UTILIZED WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO, OR AREAS WHERE
WE KNOW RESIDENTS -- THE TREE WOULD MAYBE IMPACT IT BY
PARKING, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS ACTUALLY GREENSPACE IN THAT
AREA.
SO THROUGHOUT MY TIME WITH DOING THE WORKSHOPS FOR THIS,
WE'VE BEEN DOING WORKSHOPS SINCE 2025.
AND HISTORIC YBOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, I'VE MET WITH
THEM NUMEROUS TIMES.
THEY ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THEY ARE READY
TO GET THE TREES PLANTED AND READY TO GET GOING.
THEIR PROJECT IS PRETTY MUCH READY TO GO.
THE SAME THING WITH THE DAVIS ISLANDS CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
WE MET WITH THEM LAST YEAR, AND WE HAD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT
THE PLANS.
WE CAME WITH LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, AND WE HAD A MEETING.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE PLANS.
WE ROLLED OUT THE PLANS.
AND EVERYONE WAS PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WE MADE IT THROUGH FAA AND HCAA GUIDELINES FOR TREE
PLANTINGS.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT AS A HURDLE,
BUT EVENTUALLY WITH THE RIGHT SELECTION OF TREES THEY
APPROVED A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO THAT PLAN IS AT 100% AND READY TO GO.
SO LOOKING AT IT, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL PLANS AS WELL THAT ARE
IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE JUST SMALLER PROJECTS.
SOMEONE MENTIONED SWANN CIRCLE, THAT'S ONE OF THE PROJECTS
THAT WE HAVE LINED UP AS A POTENTIAL TREE PLANTING.
WHAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO IS WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO PLANT THE
TREES IN AS MANY COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY URBAN HEAT
AND LOW CANOPY.
SO LOOKING AT THAT, THAT'S BEEN OUR PRIMARY TARGET.
JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE 11 PLANS RIGHT NOW DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S
WHERE WE'LL STOP.
WE INTEND TO TRY TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM AS MUCH AS WE CAN
BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM IS SCALABLE AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS CAN USE IT AS WELL, GIVEN THE GUIDELINES THAT WE
PROVIDE THEM FROM THESE PILOT PROJECTS HERE.
JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF AS A PRACTITIONER HOW WE GO ABOUT
LOOKING AT AREAS TO PLANT TREES, THIS IS ONE OF OUR ACTUAL
PLANS THAT WE HAVE ON DISPLAY.
THIS IS MacFARLANE PARK.
IT'S AN AREA, AS YOU CAN SEE, WITH THE GOOGLE MAPS CLIP-OUT
I PUT HERE, THERE IS A LOT OF OPEN SPACE.
SO PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT TREES.
WITH THAT, WE PLANTED, WE'RE INTENDING TO PLANT TYPE ONES
ALL ALONG THERE BECAUSE THERE'S SPACE.
ON THE NEXT STREET, THIS IS WHAT WE TYPICALLY DEAL WITH.
CONFLICTS.
THERE IS A NICE OPEN GREENSPACE OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD PLANT TYPE ONE OR TYPE TWO THERE, BUT
WE HAVE OVERHEAD POWER LINES.
SO THAT IMMEDIATELY TAKES IT DOWN TO A TYPE THREE TREE FOR
CONSIDERATION.
ON TOP OF THAT, THERE ARE SIDEWALKS.
THERE ARE UTILITIES ON THE OTHER SIDE AND ALSO EXISTING
CANOPY AS WELL.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO, IF WE'RE GOING TO PLANT A
TREE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT TREE HAS THE MAXIMUM
OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND ACTUALLY LIVE TO ITS LIFE SPAN IN
URBAN CONDITIONS.
I TOOK AN ANALYSIS BASED ON THESE TWO.
IT WAS A VERY BRIEF ANALYSIS USING OUR iTREE ECOSYSTEM
SOFTWARE THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US BY THE USDA AND U.S. FOREST
SERVICE.
I JUST DID AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FROM THIS
SET OF PLANS RIGHT HERE ON THE TYPE THREE.
SO I HAVE 14 TYPE THREE TREES HERE.
I HAVE TWO TYPE ONE TREES BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THAT CAN FIT IN
THIS AREA.
AND THEN I RAN THE ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE.
AND LOOKING AT THE BENEFITS, IT'S THREAT CLEAR THAT THE 14
TREES ARE DOING MORE WORK THAN THE TYPE ONE TREES, BECAUSE
IT'S TWO OF THE TYPE ONE TREES.
WE KNOW TYPE ONE TREES GIVE US THE MOST AMOUNT OF BENEFITS
BASED ON LEAF AREA, BUT ALSO TYPE THREE TREES CAN DO THE
SAME AMOUNT OF WORK AND VOLUME.
20 YEARS LATER, THE BENEFITS ARE THREEFOLD FROM TYPE THREE
TREES IN COMPARISON TO THOSE TWO TYPE ONES.
10:44:31AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
10:44:36AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
AGAIN, MAYBE I MISHEARD MS. FEELEY BEFORE
WHEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SECTION OF THE CODE.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMINGLING OF FUNDS.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT,
BECAUSE --
YEAH, BECAUSE YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU MEANT BY THAT.
10:45:09AM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
SURE.
I'LL GO TO THE CODE.
ABBYE FEELEY.
I DID BRING -- WELL, I BROUGHT ALL THE ORDINANCES.
THIS TALKS ABOUT THE TREE TRUST FUNDS BEING ESTABLISHED.
THIS IS THE CODE TODAY.
SO IT TALKS ABOUT THE FIVE PLANNING DISTRICTS, AND THEN THE
PURPOSE OF HAVING THOSE FUNDS AND PAYMENTS TO THE FUNDS, WHO
IS MAKING THEM, EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUNDS.
IT SAYS THAT THE TREE TRUST FUNDS SHALL BE USED SOLELY FOR
SELECTION, ACQUISITION, INSTALLATION, AND MITIGATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF MITIGATION TREES AS DEFINED BY 27-43.
I WOULD ARGUE EVERY DOLLAR IN THERE IS A MITIGATION, BECAUSE
THAT'S HOW IT'S COMING IN THERE, THROUGH PERMITTING WHEN
YOU'RE NOT PLANTING, YOU'RE PAYING.
AND THOSE ARE YOUR TREES.
THOSE ARE MITIGATION.
AND THEN TO BE PLACED IN DEPARTMENT MANAGED LANDS,
RIGHT-OF-WAY, PROPERTIES IN WHICH THE CITY HAS LEGAL
INTEREST, AND IN ANY OTHER LANDS DESCRIBED IN SECTION
13-165, I GRABBED THE CODE BEFORE, YEAH, IN 27, I GRABBED
THE WRONG ORDINANCE, BUT THEN IT GOES ON, TRANSFER OF MONIES
BETWEEN FUNDS.
CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS BETWEEN
PLANNING DISTRICT TREE TRUST FUNDS IF AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO
ADDRESS LOSS OF CANOPY IN ONE PLANNING DISTRICT AS FOLLOWS:
SUBSEQUENT TO EACH URBAN CANOPY ANALYSIS, WHICH WE TALKED
ABOUT THIS MORNING WITH THAT PRESENTATION BY USF, IF WE SAW
THERE WAS CERTAIN LOSSES, RIGHT.
AT ANY TIME TO ADDRESS LOSS OF CANOPY CAUSED BY A NATURAL
DISASTER, LIKE HURRICANE, TORNADO, SOMETHING ELSE.
AT ANY TIME TO ADDRESS LOSS OF CANOPY CAUSED BY OR
IMMEDIATELY ANTICIPATED TO OCCUR, NATURAL OCCURRENCES THAT
THREATEN.
THIS IS THE DISEASE AND FUNGUS THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT
THIS MORNING.
SO THIS SECTION OF THE CODE, WHILE IT LAYS OUT HERE THAT IT
SHOULD BE PAID BY THAT, THAT DOES GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S NOT SO MUCH A COMINGLING OF FUNDS.
IT'S AN ASSIGNMENT BY THE COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO USE IT IN A
DIFFERENT AREA IF THAT WAS YOUR DESIRE.
10:47:22AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE LIKE RIGHT NOW, I
DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS THE DESIRE OF COUNCIL.
LIKE, I THINK WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON TRYING TO MITIGATE
WITHIN EACH TREE PLANNING DISTRICT.
MS. SCHARF, YOU DISAPPEARED, IF YOU COULD COME BACK.
I HAD HER GO AND TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT TREE THAT I WAS
TALKING ABOUT.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TREE GRATES -- I'M SORRY, SHE
TOOK A LONG TIME TO ANSWER THAT --
10:47:51AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WE STARTED THE CLOCK WHEN SHE STARTED.
WE CAN COME BACK.
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
10:47:55AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
VERY QUICKLY, IF I MAY, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE DOCTOR FROM SOUTH FLORIDA SPOKE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN
TREES, ONE, TWO, AND THREE, AND VERY CASUALLY HE MENTIONED
THE TREES ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE IF A DISEASE COMES AND I
THINK ONE OF THE TWO OAK TREES, FORGOT THE NAMES.
CAN YOU COME UP FOR A SECOND, SIR?
I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH.
IF I GO BACK IN HISTORY, HOUR AND A HALF AGO SO I REMEMBER
WHAT YOU SAID VERY CLEARLY ABOUT HAVING SOME OF THE CLASS
THREE TREES.
10:48:27AM >> SHAWN LANDRY.
10:48:28AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
CAUSE OF DISEASE, ONE OR TWO TREES --
10:48:34AM >> YOU SIMPLY DON'T WANT A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF ANY ONE
SPECIES, AND THAT'S WHAT WAS TALKED ABOUT BY KAYLA AS WELL.
BY SPECIES, WHICH WOULD BE LIVE OAK VERSUS LAUREL OAK.
THOSE ARE SPECIES.
GENUS WOULD BE OAKS.
10:48:56AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I BELIEVE CLASS TWO IS THE ONE THAT COULD
BE WIPED OUT KIND OF QUICKLY?
10:49:00AM >> NO.
IT'S NOT A CLASS -- CLASS IS MORE OF A SIZE ISSUE.
SO IT'S REALLY NOT A SIZE ISSUE.
IT'S A SPECIES SPECIFIC.
10:49:09AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
ANY ONE OF THEM COULD BE WIPED OUT
QUICKLY BECAUSE OF DISEASE.
ANY CURE FOR THE DISEASE?
10:49:16AM >> THERE ARE NO KNOWN DISEASES FOR THE SPECIES THAT THE CITY
IS PLANTING RIGHT NOW.
OR LIVE OAKS OR LAUREL OAKS.
BUT THERE ARE SOME DATE PALMS, I THINK -- PHOENIX PALM, SO
THERE ARE SOME THREATS.
I WOULDN'T SAY IT IS A HUGE ISSUE RIGHT NOW.
UP IN THE NORTH, DUTCH ELM DISEASE, YOU'VE HEARD OF THAT,
THAT WIPED OUT CITIES BECAUSE THEY PLANTED TOO MANY OF ONE
SPECIES.
SO THAT'S THE SIMPLE -- THAT'S THE TAKE-HOME.
DON'T PLANT TOO MANY OF ONE SPECIES.
10:49:51AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
10:49:54AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
10:49:55AM >>BILL CARLSON:
CAN I ASK A FOLLOW-ON QUESTION ON THAT?
SORRY, BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN.
SO I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON TREES, BUT I THINK THERE ARE
DIFFERENT KINDS OF LIVE OAK, MAYBE AROUND THE COUNTRY.
ARE THERE DIFFERENT SUBSPECIES THAT COULD BE PLANTED THAT
MIGHT, WHERE ONE SUBSPECIES MIGHT BE IMMUNE TO CERTAIN
DISEASES AND SOME MIGHT BE SUSCEPTIBLE?
10:50:22AM >> THERE ARE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF OAK JUST IN GENERAL.
AND SO LIVE OAK -- SOUTHERN LIVE OAK, SAND LIVE OAK, THOSE
ARE SORT OF DIFFERENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU'RE GROWING THEM IN A NURSERY
SETTING, WE REFER TO THEM AS BASTARD OAKS BECAUSE THEY
INTERBREED SO MUCH THAT IT'S HARD TO GET A SPECIFIC SPECIES.
THAT'S PART OF THE CHALLENGE, BUT, YEAH.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
10:50:56AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
NO QUESTION FOR YOU.
WHEN I STARTED HERE ALMOST 11 YEARS AGO, WE HAD KATHY BECK.
KATHY BECK WAS LIKE THE TREE CZAR, UNOFFICIALLY.
BUT WHEN SHE RETIRED, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE HAD A
REPLACEMENT.
WE HAD CHANGES BECAUSE WE WENT INTO A NEW ADMINISTRATION AT
THE TIME.
I WILL TELL YOU, USING THE MONEY FOR THE TREE TRUST FUND,
YOU DON'T WANT TO DEVIATE FROM THAT.
I THINK WE'VE HEARD SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT IT TO
BE ABUSED IN THE FUTURE.
YOU START WITH A LITTLE HERE AND THERE.
NOT SAYING THAT IT WILL BE, BUT I THINK ABOUT SOCIAL
SECURITY.
SOCIAL SECURITY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DIPPED INTO IT OVER THE
YEARS AND WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH JOE CHILLURA, FORMER CITY COUNCIL
MEMBER AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER, ESSENTIALLY THE FATHER OF
THE ORIGINAL TREE ORDINANCE BACK IN THE 1970s AND I
LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM.
IN MY TIME ON COUNCIL, I'VE DOCUMENTED ALMOST MY ENTIRE TIME
HERE.
I CAN SHOW YOU PHOTOGRAPHS.
HURRICANE IRMA, I HAVE PHOTOS OF HOW MANY TREES WERE
DESTROYED THAT YOU WOULD THINK -- THEY WERE A HUNDRED YEARS
OLD OR MORE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW OLD THEY WERE BUT UPROOTED.
JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE BIG DOESN'T MEAN THE ROOTS ARE STRONG.
THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I'LL TALK TODAY.
SECOND, WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE LAST HURRICANES.
I WAS OUT THERE THE NEXT DAY AND WHATNOT.
THE GOAL OF THIS IS TO PROTECT OUR TREE CANOPY.
WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BEST.
I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T JUST PUT TYPE ONE EVERYWHERE.
BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE DISEASE, YOU CAN WIPE OUT A LOT.
WE CAN DIVERSIFY A LITTLE BIT.
BUT I THINK -- I'M NOT GOING TO PUT WORDS IN PEOPLE'S MOUTHS
-- I THINK WHAT PEOPLE WANT ARE TREES THAT ARE RESILIENT.
CRAPE MYRTLES ARE BEAUTIFUL, CAN BE BEAUTIFUL.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE LIVE OAKS, WHEN YOU HAVE SOLID TREES THAT
ARE STORM RESILIENT, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
REMEMBER, BEFORE WE WERE HERE, THE STORMS WERE HERE AND THE
TREES WERE HERE.
WE HAVE TO PROTECT WHAT WE DO.
BECAUSE OVERDEVELOPMENT AND NOT HAVING RULES IN PLACE FOR SO
MANY YEARS, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF DAMAGE.
AGAIN, I'LL STOP WITH I AM VERY CAUTIOUS IN HOW WE USE THE
MONEY IN THE TREE TRUST FUND.
I DON'T WANT TO DEVIATE FROM WHAT ITS PURPOSE IS GOING TO
BE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
I KNOW WE HAVE REGULATIONS BECAUSE OF UTILITIES AND POWER
LINES AND WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL
MOVING FORWARD TO PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE AND BUILD UPON WHAT
WE'VE LOST.
10:53:19AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG AND BACK TO
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK BEFORE WE CONCLUDE THIS PORTION.
10:53:24AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I BELIEVE I HEARD EARLIER THAT WITH THE
STORMS, HAD WE HAD BETTER MAINTENANCE OF OUR TREES WE COULD
HAVE SAVED SOME OF THOSE TREES, CORRECT?
YEAH.
OKAY.
10:53:40AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
10:53:42AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
MS. SCHARF HAS A PICTURE OF THE TREE.
I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
IF YOU CAN -- SO THAT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT TREE, RIGHT?
LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF SHADE THAT THING PROVIDES.
BUT THAT IS NOT AN OAK TREE.
CAN YOU ZOOM IN?
THERE IS SOMEONE WHO WAS ABLE TO TELL US -- YEAH, ON THE
WOLF.
CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT KIND OF TREE THAT IS?
CAN YOU COME UP AND LET US KNOW?
YOU HAVE TO COME UP.
THEN YOU HAVE TO SAY YOUR NAME AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.
THE RULE OF COUNCIL.
10:54:25AM >> REBECCA ZARGER, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA.
IN TRYING TO IDENTIFY THIS VERY QUICKLY FROM A PHOTOGRAPH,
IT SEEMED IT WAS A CHINESE ELM OR PERHAPS A WINGED ELM.
I HAVE TWO WINGED ELMS IN MY FRONT YARD, I FEEL GOOD --
10:54:43AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THAT'S TECHNICALLY A TYPE THREE TREE.
10:54:46AM >> THAT IS A QUESTION FOR THE URBAN FORESTER.
10:54:51AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OH, IT'S A TYPE ONE.
THIS IS WHAT I MEAN, THOUGH.
IT IS A NARROWER -- SO BEING ABLE TO PLANT THESE TYPE OF
TREES ON SIDEWALKS.
IT'S NOT JUST A TYPE ISSUE.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT TYPE THREE
TREES, TO PRIORITIZE THOSE THAT PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF SHADE.
FOR ME, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN JUST EVEN SUBSECTIONING IT
WITH TYPE THREE BECAUSE CRAPE MYRTLES, WHILE THEY ARE
PRETTY, PROVIDE LITTLE TO NO SHADE.
AND JUST REALLY, I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT TREES, OBVIOUSLY.
BUT THERE ARE -- IS THERE A WAY -- THIS IS MY QUESTION.
IS THERE A WAY WE CAN SUBPRIORITIZE -- ANYONE CAN ANSWER
THIS -- SUBPRIORITIZE TYPE THREE TREES TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS
ON THOSE THAT PROVIDE SOME TYPE AND LEVEL OF SHADE?
10:55:50AM >> YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY DOABLE.
10:55:53AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NAME, SORRY.
10:55:55AM >> BRIAN KNOX, CITY PLANNING.
THAT'S DEFINITELY DOABLE.
JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS TYPE THREE DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T
PROVIDE BENEFITS.
SO FINDING THE TREE THAT IS PROVIDING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
BENEFITS FOR THE AREA THAT IT'S PLACED IN WOULD BE THE IDEAL
SITUATION.
10:56:15AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
SO WE COULD DO SOME SUBSETS OF TYPE THREE
TREES.
10:56:18AM >> YES.
10:56:19AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
10:56:20AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WE'LL CONCLUDE THIS PORTION.
FOR THE LISTENING PUBLIC, EVERYBODY THAT IS IN THE CRAPE
MYRTLE FAN CLUB, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT COUNCILWOMAN
HURTAK, THE ONE-800, STOP THE HATE.
10:56:38AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THERE'S JUST TOO MANY OF THEM.
10:56:40AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
STOP CRAPE MYRTLE HATE.
STOP CRAPE MYRTLE HATE.
ACTUALLY, I'LL ADD BOTTLE BRUSH TO THE HATE THING.
THOSE ARE ALLERGENIC.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD PLANT BOTTLE BRUSH TREES.
SOUTHEAST ASIA, AUSTRALIA, WHICH I THINK CRAPE MYRTLES ARE
AS WELL.
THEY ARE NOT INDIGENOUS.
OLIVE TREES.
WHY AREN'T WE PLANTING OLIVE TREES LIKE IN YBOR CITY?
IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE NOT PLANTING ANYMORE?
DIDN'T WE USED TO PLANT OLIVE TREES IN YBOR CITY?
10:57:12AM >> OLIVE TREES IN YBOR.
I DON'T RECALL THE VOLUME IN WHICH THEY WERE PLANTED BUT I
HAVE SEEN A HANDFUL OF THEM.
10:57:21AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THEY ARE MODEST SIZE TREES AND PROVIDE
SHADE.
CULTURALLY APPLICABLE.
10:57:28AM >> YEAH, IT IS A TREE IN OUR CITY OF TAMPA TREE MATRIX.
10:57:31AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WHY I ASK IS BECAUSE I KEEP SEEING CRAPE
MYRTLES PLANTED IN YBOR CITY.
WHY ISN'T THAT CRAPE MYRTLE AN OLIVE TREE?
SEEMS MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE TO ME.
10:57:41AM >> WITH THE RE-LEAF PLANS, WE SHOP THOSE OUT.
10:57:47AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ONE LAST QUESTION AND THEN MOVE ON TO
PUBLIC COMMENT -- GO AHEAD AND I'LL FINISH UP.
10:57:51AM >>BILL CARLSON:
QUICK QUESTION, EITHER USF OR STAFF, ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED ACROSS THE STATE, BUT ESPECIALLY IN
SOUTH TAMPA, IS WE HAD 100, 150-YEAR-OLD OAKS AND THAT HAD
BROAD ROOTS, BUT BECAUSE THERE WERE THREE STORMS IN A ROW,
THE GROUND WAS SATURATED.
BECAUSE THE ROOTS WEREN'T DEEP BUT THEY WERE WIDE, THEN THE
WIND CAME AND KNOCKED THEM OVER.
IT RIPPED UP THE WHOLE FRONT YARD OR BACK OVER WHEN THEY
CAME OVER AND LOST ALL THESE TREES.
ANYTHING A HOMEOWNER CAN DO IN A SITUATION WHERE THE GROUND
IS SATURATED, ANYTHING TO DO TO ANCHOR THE TREES TO STOP
THEM FROM FALLING OVER?
10:58:31AM >> IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT I CAN ANSWER
THAT QUESTION.
TYPICALLY WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO PROVIDE SPACING FOR A TREE
DURING CONSTRUCTION, WE WOULD PROVIDE -- WE REQUEST A
MINIMUM 20 FEET FOR EXISTING LIKE LARGE GRAND TREES.
10:58:48AM >>BILL CARLSON:
PROTECTION OF THE TREES, SO THE OLD OAK
TREES THERE BEFORE THE HOUSES, THEY JUST FELL OVER BECAUSE
THE GROUND WAS SATURATED.
FOLKS FROM USF OR ANYBODY HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON ANYTHING
WE CAN DO TO SAVE TREES LIKE THAT?
10:59:08AM >> I THINK WITH THE SHALLOW ROOT SYSTEM, YOU'RE TYPICALLY --
10:59:12AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
YOU HAVE REINFORCEMENTS BEHIND TO YOU
ANSWER THE QUESTION.
10:59:15AM >> SHAWN LANDRY.
KEEP IN MIND, THIS WAS A RECORD-BREAKING RAINFALL EVENT.
THAT'S ONE PART OF THIS PROBLEM.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES FOR WHICH TREES
BLEW OVER, I THINK YOU DO SEE SOME CONFLICTS IN SIDEWALKS OR
PAVEMENT IN SOME OF THEM.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.
BUT, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN AVOID -- THE ONLY WAY
TO AVOID GETTING SATURATED SOILS IS TO LIVE ON A BEACH.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S MUCH YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT.
10:59:51AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THERE'S NO WAY TO ANCHOR THE TREES OR
PROTECT THEM FROM FALLING OVER?
10:59:55AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ISN'T IT BASICALLY YOU HAVE A LARGE CANOPY
WIND SAIL AND SHALLOW ROOT STRUCTURE, BROAD, SHALLOW ROOT
STRUCTURE, AS OPPOSED TO A TAP ROOT.
11:00:05AM >> RIGHT, RIGHT.
EXACTLY.
IT'S THE KIND OF TREE IT IS.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, IN A LARGE ENVIRONMENT, WHEN THE ROOTS,
EVEN SHALLOW, THEY HAVE ROOM TO SPREAD OUT FAR ENOUGH, THEN
THEY ARE GOING TO BE STRONG.
BUT, AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW IN THE CASE OF THESE RECORD
BREAKING RAINFALL EVENTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE MANY OF THEM
IN OUR HISTORY.
11:00:29AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COULD KIND OF WRAP THIS STUFF UP, I THINK
PART OF THE THING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE DISEASE ISSUE, ONE
OF THE ISSUES, THIS IS WHY DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT, DISEASES
JUMP FROM THE AFFLICTED SPECIES OR ANIMAL OR TREE OR
WHATEVER IT IS FROM ONE TO ANOTHER BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY.
SO PART OF NATURAL -- NATURE'S WAY OF HELPING WITH THAT IS
SPREADING OUT AND HAVING SO YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ISSUE.
GO OUT WEST, YOU HAVE THE PINE BEETLES, JAPANESE PINE BEETLE
DEVASTATING CONIFERS AND YOU SEE ENTIRE MOUNTAINS OF
DESTROYED WOODS AND FOREST AND IT'S BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
BUT WHEN WE GET BACK TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND BRING IT BACK
TO STAFF, I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON A SOLUTION, ON A COUPLE
OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I'M HEARING TODAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS IMPORTANT.
OBVIOUSLY, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS ENHANCE AND INCREASE
THE TREE CANOPY IN THE CITY OF TAMPA.
ONE, RESTORE SOME OF THE TREE CANOPY WE'VE LOST AND, TWO, TO
CONTINUE ON THE CITY'S OBJECTIVE OF HAVE A WORLD-CLASS TREE
CANOPY.
I THINK WHAT WE CAN'T DO WHEN WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, I ASK
THE PUBLIC WHEN THEY SPEAK, TOO, TO THINK ABOUT THIS.
IT CAN'T JUST BE BLINDERS IN ONE DIRECTION.
IN OTHER WORDS, NOT JUST ABOUT PLANTING.
ALSO ABOUT MAINTENANCE.
ALSO ABOUT LOCATION.
IT'S ABOUT SPECIES.
IT'S ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO WHEN WE COME AT THIS AT THE END OF ALL THIS DISCUSSION,
TRY TO FACTOR IN -- IF THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE CANOPY
AND MAINTAIN A WORLD-CLASS TREE CANOPY, WHAT ARE THE
SOLUTIONS?
IT IS PLANTING, IT'S DIVERSITY.
IT'S MAINTENANCE.
IT'S STAFF TO DO THESE THINGS.
IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAND.
SO THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO COUNCIL.
PROVIDE SOLUTIONS.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO POINT OUT THE PROBLEM TO US.
WE HEARD IT ALL TODAY.
COME TO US WITH SOLUTIONS.
COME TO US WITH IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN GET TO AN END RESULT SO
WHEN WE ARE DONE HERE BY LUNCH WE CAN CRAFT SOMETHING TO
MOVE THE CITY FORWARD.
WITH THAT, PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU CAN START WITH THREE OR FOUR
AT A TIME AGAINST THE WALL.
THE PEOPLE VERY WELL AND EXPERIENCED AND UNDERSTAND THE
PROCESS DO, STAND AT THE WALL.
WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR TIME, YOU'LL GET THREE MINUTES.
START WITH YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES AND SEE A 30
MINUTES -- A LOT OF NEW FACES THAT I SEE NOT USED TO THIS.
TIMER WILL GO OFF.
30 SECOND COUNT-DOWN.
WHEN THAT TIME IS UP, YOUR TIME IS UP AND YOU CAN TAKE YOUR
SEAT.
FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER.
11:03:03AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
STEVE MICHELINI.
FIRST OF ALL, ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, AS I UNDERSTAND IT,
THERE HAS TO BE A NEXUS BETWEEN COLLECTING A FEE AND USING
IT FOR INTENDED PURPOSE.
FOR YEARS, THE BUILDERS WERE CRITICIZED FOR NOT CONTRIBUTING
BACK TO THE TREE FUND AND ENABLING TREES TO BE PLANTED.
YOU CAN'T USE THAT FUND FOR PLANNING AND ALL THIS OTHER
STUFF AND USING IT FOR CITY PROJECT.
YOU SHOULDN'T USE IT.
MAYBE YOU CAN, BUT YOU SHOULDN'T BE USING THAT AS A
PIGGYBACK TO FUND OTHER PROJECTS.
WHEN A HOMEOWNER, A NEW HOUSE IS BEING BUILT, YOU PAY INTO
THAT FUND, AND THERE IS A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THAT MONEY
FOR THAT PURPOSE.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FOR REPLACING THE TREE CANOPY.
LET ME SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.
11:03:54AM >> MOVE IT UP.
11:03:57AM >> THIS IS IN AN EASEMENT.
THIS IS A TREE CANOPY WHERE THE MAINTENANCE HAS NOT BEEN
PERFORMED.
THIS IS THE RESULT OF THOSE TREES DAMAGING PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THERE IS A BETTER PICTURE.
THIS IS WHAT THE CITY DOES DOWNTOWN.
THIS IS AN OAK TREE AND IN A THREE-BY-THREE BLOCK, GOING TO
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK'S POINT ABOUT ELM TREES AND OTHER
THINGS.
THE CITY DOES IT, BUT THEY DON'T LET A BUILDER DO IT, THEY
DON'T LET A HOMEOWNER DO IT.
CRAPE MYRTLES, I KNOW THAT'S NOT YOUR FAVORITE TREE, BUT
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO GET THE TREES OUT.
WE PROPOSED THROUGH THE BUILDERS ASSOCIATION TO CREATE A
COOPERATIVE EFFORT WITH SCHOOLS TO HAVE AN ARBORIST DAY AT
THEIR SCHOOL OR AT THE YMCAs OR WHEREVER TO GIVE AWAY
TREES.
GET THE TREES OUT THAT ARE SITTING THERE.
YOU COLLECTED $6 MILLION IN TREE FUNDS, 2.3 SOMETHING
MILLION DOLLARS IN THE SOUTH TREE FUND ALONE, AND IT'S NOT
BEING USED.
BUT THEN WHEN YOU SAY YOU WANT TO USE THAT FOR PLANTING
PURPOSES, THEY KNOW WHERE THE TREES HAVE TO GO.
YOU HAVE AN INVENTORY OF WHERE THE OPEN SPACES ARE.
YOU'VE HAD A SHIFT IN RESPONSIBILITIES.
THE SHIFT IN RESPONSIBILITIES INTERNALLY WITH THE CITY HAS
CAUSED PART OF THE PROBLEM.
THE RULES ARE TOO COMPLEX.
THEY SIMPLY ARE TOO DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER FOR AN INDIVIDUAL
PROPERTY OWNER.
YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT YOUR CRAs.
THEY HAVE MONEY, INDIVIDUALLY, FOR YBOR CITY, FOR DOWNTOWN,
FOR WEST TAMPA, EAST TAMPA.
USE THE CRA MONEY INSTEAD OF COMING BACK TO THE GENERAL
FUND.
YOU ALREADY ROBBED THE GENERAL FUND FROM THAT AMOUNT OF
MONEY GOING IN THERE ANYWAY.
SO USE THAT TO ASSIST IN ENHANCING THE TREE CANOPY.
INSURANCE LIMITATIONS.
IF YOU DON'T TRIM THE TREES, THEY'LL CANCEL YOUR HOMEOWNERS
INSURANCE, WHETHER ON YOUR PROPERTY OR IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF THAT ALL OVER THE PLACE.
ANYWAY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THOSE OPTIONS, AND
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
11:06:11AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNOW, THIS IS
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 2 AND 3.
SPEAK TO EITHER ONE OR BOTH.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
START WITH YOUR NAME.
11:06:22AM >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS ED AUSTIN, RESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBER OF HYNCA,
THE HISTORIC YBOR NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
I AM HERE TO EXPRESS CONCERNS FOR NEED FOR TREES IN YBOR
CITY FROM A COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE.
THIS PROCESS IS TAKING A LONG TIME TO ACTION STEPS.
OUR HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT NEEDS NEIGHBORHOOD TREES.
OUR CAMPAIGN IS NAMED TREE-BOR CITY.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH STAFF FOR TWO YEARS.
A YEAR AGO LAST APRIL AT JC NEWMAN CIGAR FACTORY, THE CITY
PRESENTED A MUCH APPRECIATED TREES FOR COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE.
THEY DISPLAYED TYPES OF TREES, RIGHT-OF-WAY PLANTING
LOCATIONS.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN MANY PRIVATE HOMES IN YBOR CITY.
THERE WAS A GREAT TURNOUT.
PEOPLE WERE EXCITED.
THERE WAS HIGH ENTHUSIASM.
RESIDENTS WERE ABLE TO VIEW AND PROVIDE INPUT.
SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTION AS IT RELATES TO ACTUAL
PLANTINGS IN YBOR, TO THE COMMUNITY'S FRUSTRATION.
YBOR HAS NEVER HAD MUCH OF A CANOPY.
WE ALSO HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE CITY'S MITIGATION TREE
PROGRAM IN MANY WAYS IS OVERDUE FOR UPDATING SINCE 2009.
HOW CAN THAT BE?
GRAND OAKS THAT WERE RECENTLY REMOVED ON 3rd AVENUE IN
YBOR BY THE POWER COMPANY HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED BY
ANYTHING.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MONEY FOR THOSE TREES WENT INTO A
GENERAL FUND THAT CAN BE USED ANYWHERE.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WE WANT TO LIVE IN A WALKABLE COMMUNITY FOR RESIDENTS AND
VISITORS.
IN REGARDS TO TREE CANOPY, WE'RE BACK TO THE 2021 STUDY THAT
FOUND TAMPA TREE COVERAGE WAS THE LOWEST IN 26 YEARS.
YBOR IS TRAFFIC CONGESTED.
HOW DO WE PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE CARBON DIOXIDE SPEWED
BY CARS, AND EVERY KIND OF TRUCK YOU CAN IMAGINE.
WALKING IN YBOR IS WALKING FOR THE MOST PART ON CONCRETE.
WE NEED SHADE TREES.
WE ALSO NEED TO EXPAND THE URBAN CANOPY.
THEREFORE, WE REQUEST THAT THE CITY PROVIDE A UNIFIED
PROCESS FOR APPROACHING TREE NEEDS.
THE NECESSARY RESOURCES, THE FUNDING AND STAFFING NEEDED TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANTINGS.
WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THE PERPETUAL PLANNING PROCESS,
TO THE PLANTING PROCESS.
WE TALKED ABOUT RIGHT TREE, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE.
THE TIME IS NOW.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
11:08:57AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
START WITH YOUR NAME.
11:09:04AM >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS KITTY WALLACE.
I'M PAST PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA GARDEN CLUB, 400 MEMBERS,
TWICE.
AND A MEMBER OF MY CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDER AND
DIRECTOR OF THE COALITION OF COMMUNITY GARDENS, WHICH HAS
OVER HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS IN THE AREA.
SO I'M HEARING PEOPLE BEING VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TREES,
BEING VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ANYTHING THAT THE CITY CAN DO TO
MOVE THIS FORWARD, BUT I ALSO HEARD SOMETHING VERY
INTERESTING FROM THE USF STUDY.
THEY POINTED OUT ALL THE THINGS THEY POINTED OUT.
BUT WHAT I HEARD WAS A RECOMMENDATION FOR A STEWARDSHIP, A
COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP COMPONENT.
AND WHEN I'M LISTENING TO THESE PLANS RIGHT NOW AND THE
DISCUSSION, I'M HEARING VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF
THE COMMUNITY, EXCEPT FOR THIS GENTLEMAN.
THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD KNOWS WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO KNOW ABOUT TREES, AND THERE ARE
COMMUNITY PEOPLE.
I THINK THIS IDEA OF A COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP WOULD TAKE THE
LEVEL OF DECISION MAKING INTO A COLLABORATION WITH THE
COMMUNITY WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TREES TO PLANT IN
WHAT COMMUNITY.
SO I'M ASKING THAT YOU LOOK INTO THAT.
THAT COULD BE VERY COST-EFFECTIVE AND VERY EFFECTIVE IN
TERMS OF DOING PLANTING OF TREES THAT ARE WANTED BY THE
COMMUNITY AND VALUED FOR THEIR PROPERTIES AND THE
ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR LONGEVITY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
11:10:39AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
11:10:43AM >> HI.
GOOD MORNING.
NANCY STEVENS, TAMPA TREE ADVOCACY GROUP AND SIERRA CLUB.
THANK YOU EVERYONE HERE WHO IS SUPPORTIVE OF TREES.
THIS IS A VERY GOOD WORKSHOP.
I WANTED TO -- MY COMMENTS ARE FOCUSING ON GROWING AND
MAINTAINING OUR CANOPY AND THE INVESTMENT THAT'S REQUIRED
FOR IT.
IT DOES REQUIRE INVESTMENT IN THE -- AND THE TREE TRUST FUND
IS ONLY ONE PART OF THAT.
WHEN MS. FEELEY PROPOSES PUTTING MONEY INTO THE 2027 BUDGET
FOR THE RE-LEAF PROGRAM, I FULLY SUPPORT THAT.
WE NEED MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR TREES.
THE TREE TRUST FUND IS NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE ONLY
FUNDING SOURCE FOR TREES.
THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE'VE HAD A PROBLEM, WE HAVE ALL THESE
DESIRES TO DO THINGS THAT THE TREE TRUST FUND WAS NOT MEANT
TO DO.
THE TREE TRUST FUND IS MEANT TO REPLACE TREES REMOVED DURING
CONSTRUCTION.
$300 TREE DOESN'T COVER THE COST OF ONE $1200 TREE PLANTING.
NOT ENOUGH TO DO EVERYTHING WE WANT TO HELP WITH URBAN HEAT
ZONES AND OTHER THINGS.
WITH THE LIMITED TREE TRUST FUND RESOURCES, THOSE RESOURCES
SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON PLANTING LARGE SHADE TREES.
TO REPLACE THE CANOPY THAT'S BEEN DESTROYED IN CONJUNCTION
WITH OTHER FUNDING.
FOR EXAMPLE, RE-LEAF PROGRAM AND TREE TRUST FUND TOGETHER
COULD DO A LOT TO REPLACE THE CANOPY.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER COSTS IN THE RE-LEAF PROGRAM, THE
DAVIS ISLAND PLAN THAT I SAW, THERE WAS COST FOR
LANDSCAPING, TRAFFIC CONTROL, IRRIGATION, A WHOLE BUNCH OF
THINGS INCLUDED IN THAT PROGRAM, PROJECT FOR 80 TREES.
THE NET RESULT WAS THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN $6,700 PER TREE
PLANTED IN THAT PROGRAM.
WE USE THAT KIND OF -- IF WE USE THE TREE TRUST FUND FOR
THAT WHOLE PROJECT, WE WOULD BE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY BEFORE
WE DID ANYTHING WE WANTED TO DO.
I PROPOSE WE USE THE TREE TRUST FUND FOR PART OF THAT FOR
THE TREES IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER FUNDING TO DO THE OTHER
PARTS OF THE PROJECT THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND MAKE SENSE TO
BE DONE AS A WHOLE PROJECT TOGETHER.
ITEM 3, STORMWATER PROJECT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN
IF THERE'S NO STEWARDSHIP FOR THE FUND.
WE NEED SOMEBODY IN STAFF THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO LOOK AT
PROPOSALS TO USE THE TREE TRUST FUND AND AUTHORIZE WHETHER
IT IS USED OR NOT.
AND MAYBE DIRECT WHICH PART IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE FUND AND
WHICH PARTS OF THE PROJECT AREN'T.
STORMWATER PROJECT IS AN EXAMPLE THAT DID HAPPEN.
I SUGGEST WE DO FUND THAT -- WE NEED TO WORK ON THE
REPORTING AND THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE MONEY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:13:27AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NANCY.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
START WITH YOUR NAME.
11:13:32AM >> BEFORE I START, IS THIS THE ONLY TIME WE'LL GET TO SPEAK?
11:13:36AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ON ITEMS 2 AND 3.
THERE WILL BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER AGENDA ITEMS.
11:13:43AM >> BASICALLY THE PowerPoint PRESENTATIONS THAT WE SAW
ALREADY.
11:13:45AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ANYTHING YOU ALREADY HEARD TODAY.
START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE.
11:13:50AM >> PAMELA JACKSON HANEY.
I AM WITH THE TAMPA TREE ADVOCACY GROUP.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TODAY.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD THAT I JUST WANTED TO POINT
OUT UP TO THIS POINT WERE THAT FUNDING -- A GENERAL FUND FOR
TREES, FOR A CITY OF TAMPA SIZE SHOULD BE 4.5 MILLION TO 9.9
MILLION DOLLARS.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE FOR URBAN FORESTRY IN THE GENERAL
FUND, 4.2.
SO WE'RE WAY BELOW WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN THE GENERAL FUND
WHICH WOULD BE USED FOR THINGS LIKE MAINTENANCE FOR THE
TREES THAT ARE PLANTED.
WHEREAS, THE TREE TRUST FUND, OBVIOUSLY, SHOULD JUST BE USED
TO PLANT THE TREES, WHICH IS ALREADY AN EXORBITANT COST OF
$1400 A TREE OR UP TO $1400 A TREE.
SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON PRIORITIZING GETTING
MORE MONEY INTO THAT FUND.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION WAS THE
TREE-MENDOUS PROGRAM.
SO THAT -- THOSE FUNDS DO COME FROM THE TREE TRUST FUND OR
FROM THE TAMPA TREE FUND.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE
POWER LINE THING, WE HAVE THAT ON MY STREET, TOO, IT WOULD
BE GREAT IF WE COULD GO IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS INSTEAD AND
PLANT A TYPE ONE TREE INSTEAD OF A CRAPE MYRTLE SINCE THAT'S
WHAT IS GETTING THROWN UNDER THE BUS.
THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE CRAPE MYRTLES THAT I'M WONDERING
IS, SO, LET'S SAY FIVE HOUSES ON MY STREET HAVE CRAPE
MYRTLES, ONLY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE -- AND THEY WERE ALL
PLANTED I'M GUESSING BY THE TREE-MENDOUS TAMPA PROGRAM --
ONE OUT OF FIVE KNOWS HOW TO PRUNE A CRAPE MYRTLE.
THE CRAPE MURDER WE'VE HEARD ABOUT, THEY ARE ALL MURDERED ON
MY STREET, EXCEPT FOR ONE YARD WHERE THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL
LARGE CRAPE MYRTLE UNDER THE POWER LINES THE WAY IT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE.
WHO IS FOLLOWING UP ON THAT?
I KNOW WE'RE GIVING THEM TO THE HOMEOWNER AND SAYING, HERE,
TAKE CARE OF THIS.
BUT WHEN YOU DO THAT TO A CRAPE MYRTLE, IT OPENS UP THE TREE
FOR DISEASE, PESTS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS STRONG IN A HURRICANE AS IT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE.
AND, BY THE WAY, THEY ONLY LIVE UP TO 50 YEARS WHEREAS A
TYPE ONE TREE LIVES, AS WE KNOW, FOR CENTURIES, HUNDREDS OF
YEARS.
I WANT US ALL TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WELL.
BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE PUTTING THE TYPE ONE
TREES FIRST IN THE TREE-MENDOUS PROGRAM AND THEN MAYBE WE
CAN HAVE ONLY ONE PERSON RUNNING IT IF THAT'S THE WAY IT HAS
TO BE, INSTEAD OF SEVERAL PEOPLE.
TYPE ONE TREES GO FIRST AND THEN MAYBE A BACK LOG OF 6 TO 12
MONTHS.
11:16:52AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
SABAL PALMS, TOO.
PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO TRIM SABAL PALMS.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
START WITH YOUR NAME.
11:17:02AM >> GOOD MORNING.
I'M LORRAINE PERINO, PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA TREE ADVOCACY
GROUP.
I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCES
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THIS COMMITTEE WAS CREATED IN 2017-2028 --
11:17:17AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THAT ITEM HAS NOT COME UP YET.
JUST 2 AND 3, WHAT WE ALREADY HEARD.
WE'LL GET TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE NEXT.
11:17:27AM >> CAN I TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE
WANTED TO MAKE?
11:17:32AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE --
11:17:34AM >> ABOUT THE TREE PLANTINGS.
11:17:35AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
YEAH, GO.
11:17:38AM >> THE CITY CONTINUES TO ISSUE ONLY THE MINIMUM FINE FOR
ILLEGAL TREE REMOVALS.
THIS DECREASES THE DETERRENT VALUE.
THE CITY IS NOT PENALIZING ILLEGAL PRUNING AT ALL.
THE CITY CAN IMPOSE FINES OF UP TO $15,000, BUT IT'S NOT
DOING THAT.
THERE WAS RECENTLY A CASE WHERE A HOMEOWNER VIOLATED A
WRITTEN ORDER NOT TO REMOVE TREES, AND HE REMOVED THEM
ANYWAY.
IF THE CITY WANTS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, ILLEGAL TREE
REMOVALS SHOULD BE FINED THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT.
TWO YEARS AGO, TAMPA TREE ADVOCACY GROUP CAME BEFORE CITY
COUNCIL, TOGETHER WITH THE CHILLURA FAMILY, AND WE MADE A
PRESENTATION, AND WE PROPOSED IN HONOR OF FORMER COUNCILMAN
CHILLURA, WHOSE IDEA IT WAS TO PLANT ONE OAK TREE IN EACH
FIRE STATION THAT HAD SPACE, THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
NOT ONE OAK TREE HAS BEEN PLANTED IN NOT ONE FIRE STATION.
THERE ARE OTHER PLACES WHERE TREES CAN BE PLANTED.
THERE'S CARROLL ANN BENNETT POINTED OUT, CITY OWNS A MINIMUM
OF THREE BLOCKS ON SOUTH MANHATTAN AVENUE THAT WOULD BE
IDEAL FOR PLANTING OAKS.
AND SHE PRESENTED TO YOU ABOUT A PICTURE OF A BUS STOP
LOCATED IN THE BLAZING SUN THAT COULD HAVE A TREE PLANTED
NEXT TO IT.
THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.
ON DAVIS ISLAND, WHERE I LIVE, THERE IS A CITY OF TAMPA PARK
BENCH LOCATED AT CHANNEL DRIVE AND COLUMBIA DRIVE THAT SITS
IN THE BLAZING SUN ALL DAY.
NOBODY USES THAT PARK BENCH.
THERE COULD BE AN OAK TREE PLANTED THERE.
OAK TREES COULD BE PLANTED ON BAYSHORE BOULEVARD, GADSDEN
PARK NEEDS OAK TREES BECAUSE THAT PARK BAKES IN THE SUN ALL
DAY.
SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES TO PLANT TYPE ONE OAK TREES.
IT'S JUST NOT BEING DONE.
I'LL RESERVE MY OTHER COMMENTS FOR LATER ON.
THANK YOU.
11:19:36AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
MS. BLUMA, START WITH YOUR NAME.
11:19:41AM >> GOOD MORNING STILL.
I'M TARAH BLUMA.
READY?
11:19:50AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
YES.
START WITH YOUR NAME.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
11:19:53AM >> I'M TARAH BLUMA.
GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE ONLY INVOICE THAT THUS FAR WE HAVE
SPENT MONEY ON OUT OF THE NEW TREE TRUST FUND.
THIS IS FROM THE PIPES PROJECT.
WELL, THE TOP PART IS KIND OF IRRELEVANT.
WHAT IT IS SHOWING YOU IS THAT WE SPENT 61% OF OUR TREES
WERE TYPE THREE.
11% WERE TYPE TWO.
AND 28% WERE TYPE ONE.
THESE ARE THE ONLY FUNDS ON TREES WE'VE EXPENDED THUS FAR TO
DATE.
TO ME -- PLUS, WE ALSO BOUGHT 106 JASMINE PLANTS.
TO ME, THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
I WOULD BE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF 10% TYPE THREE
IF WE ABSOLUTELY NEEDED IT OR TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL
VARIETY.
BUT THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT OKAY.
AND THE RE-LEAF TAMPA 11 PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT TOGETHER
SO FAR, IN THE EXAMPLE THAT THEY SHOWED EARLIER, LET'S SEE,
IN THAT PROJECT, 35% WERE TYPE ONE, 15% TYPE TWO, AND 50%
TYPE THREE IN YBOR CITY.
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK SHOWED AN EXAMPLE EARLIER THAT YOU CAN
DO AN OAK TREE IN URBAN AREA.
CATHEDRAL OAKS IN URBAN AREAS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF TREES YOU CAN PUT IN URBAN AREAS THAT ARE
NOT GOING TO BE THESE TYPE THREE TREES.
I RECOMMEND TWO THINGS.
BAN TYPE THREE TREE FUNDING IN THE TREE TRUST FUND.
OR IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THAT, AT A MINIMUM,
IMMEDIATELY STOP DOING IT FOR THE TREE-MENDOUS TREE PROGRAM.
THAT IS A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM THAT WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR,
MORE HELP FOR THE ONE PERSON MANAGING THE PROGRAM AND JUST
SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR TYPE THREE TREES THERE.
IF YOU WANT A CRAPE MYRTLE, GREAT, THEY HAVE THEM FOR $58 AT
HOME DEPOT BECAUSE WE ARE PAYING THE OTHER THING YOU CAN SEE
ON THIS HANDOUT, WE ARE ASTRONOMICALLY OVERPAYING FOR TREES.
WE'RE PAYING $785 FOR A CRAPE MYRTLE AND $790 FOR A LIVE
OAK.
NOW, OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT INCLUSIVE OF ANY OF THE MONEY
THAT WE'RE SPENDING STAKING THE TREES, WATERING THE TREES OR
ACTUALLY PLANTING THE TREES.
THAT IS CRIMINAL OVERPAYING.
ABOUT THE DIVERSITY, THERE ARE TONS OF DIFFERENT TREES THAT
WE CAN DO TO BE DIVERSE WITHIN TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO.
WE CAN HAVE CEDAR, CYPRESS, PINE, ELM, MAGNOLIA, SYCAMORE,
HICKORY, ASH, SWEET GUM, PODOCARPUS, AND HOLLY ARE ALL TREES
IN TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO THAT ARE RECOMMENDED ON OUR
PREFERRED TREE HANDOUT.
SO LET'S START STEERING PEOPLE TO OTHER THINGS.
HOPEFULLY WE GET TO TALK AGAIN.
THIS WAS REALLY SHORT.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET TO TALK --
11:23:00AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THERE WILL BE OTHER ITEMS COMING UP THAT
YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
11:23:07AM >>BILL CARLSON:
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HER TO QUICKLY STATE
YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND RELATED TO THIS.
11:23:12AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
SHE CAN DO THAT NEXT TIME.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE, START WITH YOUR NAME.
11:23:18AM >> GOOD MORNING.
BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY.
I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING USF FOR THEIR IN-DEPTH
FINDINGS.
I HEARD THEM SAY THAT THEY DID A SURVEY AND THEY INCLUDED
EAST TAMPA.
BUT I WANT TO KNOW IF THEY INCLUDED THE INTEGRAL PART OF
EAST TAMPA, JACKSON HEIGHTS, BELMONT HEIGHTS, HIGHLAND PINES
BECAUSE THOSE AREAS, MANY OF THOSE HOMES ARE OLDER HOMES.
YOU HAVE SENIOR CITIZENS 70 YEARS AND UP THAT ARE ON FIXED
INCOME.
I ATTENDED A TOWN HALL MEETING THAT WAS GIVEN BY
COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG JUST THIS WEEK WHERE IT CAME UP ABOUT THE
TREE TRIMMING.
AND THE CRA SAID THAT THEY WERE TOTALLY OUT OF FUNDS.
SO A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO INSURANCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE
BEEN PRICED OUT OF INSURANCE.
SO THE TREES ARE FALLING ON THEIR HOMES.
MY BROTHER LIVE RIGHT HERE ON NORTH A STREET.
THE LAST RAIN, THEY HAD A HARD WIND, A TRUNK FELL ON TOP OF
HIS ROOF AND DAMAGED HIS ROOF.
AT 80 YEARS OLD, HE CANNOT AFFORD A TREE TRIMMING SERVICE TO
COME IN BECAUSE THEY START AT A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND UP.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I'M HEARING ABOUT THE POWER LINES,
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING TREES UP, I HOPE YOU'RE
TAKING IN ACCOUNT WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT THESE TRUNKS,
THESE LIMBS AND ALL, THE ROOTS GROW, AND THEY CAN DAMAGE
PEOPLE DRIVEWAY.
THEY UPROOT FOUNDATION OF HOMES.
SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL WITH YOUR PLANNING AND
PLANTING WHAT TYPE OF TREE THAT YOU WILL BE PLANTING AT
PEOPLE'S PRIVATE HOMES.
ONCE AGAIN, THE CRA OF EAST TAMPA -- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE
OTHER CRA -- BUT EAST TAMPA, THERE SHOULD BE MONIES.
NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THE HURRICANES, HEADED TO THE
HURRICANE SEASON.
WHAT ARE THESE RESIDENTS SUPPOSED TO DO AT THIS JUNCTURE
ABOUT TRIMMING THE TREES AROUND THEIR HOMES WHEN THERE ARE
NO FUNDS ALLOCATED?
ARE YOU ALL ABLE TO SHIFT FUNDS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE TO HELP
THE PEOPLE, THESE SENIOR CITIZENS OUT IN THAT AREA?
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
MAYBE I'M NOT LISTENING, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT
SHIFTING FUNDS TO HELP THOSE AREAS THAT ARE DEPRIVED, WHERE
THESE PEOPLE ARE PRICED OUT.
MANY OF THE HOMES, PEOPLE FOREGO INSURANCE.
THEY CANNOT AFFORD INSURANCE ON THEIR HOMES, AND THEY ARE
ONLY -- AND THEY ARE ON A LIMITED INCOME.
PLEASE, AS WE THINK ABOUT TREES, YES, WE LOVE THEM.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE RIGHT ON NORTH A STREET.
BIG OAK TREE.
UNFORTUNATE, IT HAD A WHOLE LOT OF ROACHES THAT GOT IN THE
TREE.
THERE IS A LOT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF WHEN TALKING ABOUT
TREES.
APPRECIATE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, BUT LET'S THINK ABOUT THE
CITIZENS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE INCOME TO HIRE A TREE TRIMMER.
11:26:15AM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU.
JUST FYI, I HAVE GOT TO STEP OUT FOR A PREVIOUS ARRANGED
MEETING.
I'LL BE BACK AFTER LUNCH.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE AGENDA, UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS TRYING TO
PUSH THIS THROUGH, WITH NOISE AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS ON
THE AGENDA, I THINK IT WILL GO A LITTLE LONGER, STAFF
CONCERNS, MAKE SURE EVERYBODY EATS, BREAK AT NOON.
I'LL BE BACK AFTER LUNCH.
STAFF PROBABLY NEEDS TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT.
THAT WAS A SUGGESTION.
I'M GOING TO GIVE THE GAVEL TO CHAIR PRO TEM LYNN HURTAK.
11:26:51AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WE'LL GET THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU.
WELCOME, AND STATE YOUR NAME.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
11:27:01AM >> ADAM HARDEN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS ALWAYS AND THANKS FOR THE
DETAILED PRESENTATION THAT GETS US UP TO SPEED ON THIS
TOPIC.
SO MY COMMENTS, AND I'LL TRY TO NOT OVERLAP WITH THE NEXT
TWO AGENDA ITEMS, THOUGH I THINK THEY REALLY ARE LINKED
OBVIOUSLY AND THE IMPORTANT THING GOING ON, YOU POINTED OUT
THAT PERHAPS THERE NEEDED TO BE DEDICATED STAFF.
AS A CUSTOMER WHO DEALS WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE
SPEAKING ABOUT ALL THE TIME.
THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE IN PLACE.
IN FACT, ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL FORESTERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT
SIDE USED TO WORK FOR TECO AND WAS THE FORESTER WHO WENT OUT
TO MAKE DECISIONS IN ADVANCE.
THEY DO SURVEYS IN ADVANCE BEFORE THEY PACK ALL -- AND, OF
COURSE, ERIC, THE URBAN FORESTER AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
DOES A GOOD JOB OVERSEEING THINGS RELATED TO TREES IN THE
RIGHTS-OF-WAYS, IN PARKS.
BUT THERE IS A DISCONNECT.
PREVIOUSLY, I'VE SEEN PLANS FOR WHEN THERE WAS A MORE ROBUST
WALK-BIKE COMPONENT OF THE MOBILITY DEPARTMENT, THEN THOSE
PLANS WOULD ALWAYS INCLUDE TREES, SIDEWALKS, THINGS THAT DO
FUNCTION TOGETHER.
BUT THEN THERE IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THAT.
SO WE WERE SAYING, OH, WE NEED A BIKE PATH HERE, WE ALSO
NEED A SIDEWALK HERE, AND THAT SIDEWALK NEEDS TO HAVE TREES.
SO AS YOU TALK ABOUT THIS, I DO THINK THAT THERE'S -- KATHY
BECK DID FILL A ROLE THAT WAS LARGER THAN THE INDIVIDUALS DO
NOW.
THE INDIVIDUALS DO NOW ARE PARSED IN A WAY THAT IS EFFICIENT
AND THEY DO THEIR JOBS WELL.
SO I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT.
BUT HAVING SOMEBODY WHO IS OVERSEEING THE PLANTING OF NEW
TREES.
SO TO BRING THIS TO THE GROUND, THERE'S ALSO A SIDEWALK FEE
IN LIEU FUND.
AND THESE TWO THINGS SHOULD BE GETTING DISCUSSED TOGETHER,
IN MY OPINION.
AND THE CONCEPT OF THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT LATER, THE IDEAS OF WHERE WE WANT TO FOCUS SIDEWALKS
THAT CONNECT SPACES THAT COMPLETE DISCONTINUOUS SIDEWALKS IN
CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT GET PEOPLE FROM A PARK TO A PARK
OR FROM A PARK TO A BIKE WALK OR FROM CITY PARKING IN A PARK
TO A TRAIL THAT THEY CAN ACCESS, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT
ARE IMPORTANT.
OF COURSE, ALL THOSE PLANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TREES, RIGHT?
ANYWAY, I GUESS MY TIME IS UP.
I'LL BRING UP THE OTHER ITEMS WHEN I COME BACK.
11:29:47AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THANK YOU.
ADAM HARDEN IS HIS NAME.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT BPAC, THE BUS PEDESTRIAN
BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMING UP AT THE WORKSHOP NEXT
MONTH.
JUST AN FYI.
NEXT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
11:30:08AM >> HELLO.
I'M CASEY NOON.
TALKING AS CASEY NOON.
WHAT I SEE WITH THE TREE SITUATION IS THAT WE'RE NOT
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSIDERING THE ENTIRE STORY.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVE A THREE BY THREE BOX ON
THE SIDEWALK.
WE HAVE LIKE THE PLACE WHERE THE DEVELOPERS HAVE DECIDED
THERE IS A NICE SPOT FOR A TREE.
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, GRASS, TREE.
SIDEWALK, TREE.
YOU ARE ASKING BEFORE ABOUT HOW DO WE ANCHOR TREES TO
PREVENT THEM FALLING OVER, WHEN YOU GO OUT AND WALK INTO THE
WILDERNESS, YOU'LL SEE THERE IS A TYPE ONE TREE.
IT HAS LIKE A TYPE TWO TREE SITTING ON IT AS ITS IMMEDIATE
NEIGHBOR AND THEN IT HAS ONE OR TWO TYPE THREE TREES SITTING
THERE AND VARIETY OF BUSHES AND OTHER THINGS.
OTHER THING I HATE IS GRASS.
TWO INCHES TALL, TWO INCHES OF ROOTS, LIKE A STRIP OF CARPET
TRYING TO HOLD A TREE DOWN.
MY POINT WAS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT MORE COMPREHENSIVELY IN
DESIGN BECAUSE THE OTHER PLANTS THAT SUPPLEMENT THIS BOTH
PREVENT THE OVERSATURATION OF THE GROUND, WHEN YOU HAVE A
NATIVE SPECIES THAT IS USED TO HAVING DEEP ROOTS AND A LOT
HIGHER WATER ABSORPTION.
ANOTHER THING IS THE FLAT LEVEL OF THE GRASS SITUATION.
IF YOU GO INTO A FIELD OF GRASS AND IT'S REAL SHORT AND YOU
TAKE A TEMPERATURE READING, IT'S LIKE A HUNDRED AND
SOMETHING DEGREES.
A FIELD WAIST HIGH, TEMPERATURE READING OF THE GROUND, IT'S
LIKE 60, 70 DEGREES.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS IS EATING UP ALL OF THE HEAT ENERGY.
ANYWAY, FOR YOUR URBAN HEAT PUBLICS, AND THE DESIGN AND THE
USEFULNESS OF THE TREE PLANTING, I WANTED TO BRING UP A
COUPLE MORE COMPREHENSIVE WIDER SCOPES.
I REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IS VERY COMPLEX AND
UNIQUE FOR EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE.
BUT THAT'S THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE.
11:31:58AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT.
11:32:11AM >> [INAUDIBLE]
11:32:49AM >> STEPHANIE POYNOR.
11:32:52AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
ALSO, IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO
SPEAK, IF YOU WOULD COME STAND UP ON THE LEFT SIDE.
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYBODY.
OKAY.
11:33:03AM >> STEPHANIE POYNOR.
I GAVE YOU TWO DOCUMENTS.
ONE IS CARROLL ANN'S SPEECH.
SHE'S NOT AVAILABLE.
TOO EARLY FOR HER IN CALIFORNIA.
SECOND PACKET, KELLY CAME DOWN HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS.
BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED IS SHE CALLED AN ARBORIST.
THE ARBORIST TOLD HER THEY PULLED A PERMIT.
RECEIPTS IN THERE FOR THE PERMITS.
SOMEBODY FILED A CODE ENFORCEMENT COMPLAINT.
THAT WAS LIFTED.
I BROUGHT IT UP AT A MEETING WITH CHIEF BENNETT, WITH
JC HUDGISON, AND KAYLA, AND A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE.
AND SOMEBODY FILED A CODE ENFORCEMENT COMPLAINT AGAIN ON
THIS LADY USING MY NAME.
I'M NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT TO SAY THE LEAST.
KELLY CAME TO SPEAK, BUT SHE HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE IT TOOK
TOO LONG.
YOU GUYS CAN READ THE DOCUMENTS.
I'M SURE SHE'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.
FIRST OF ALL, TECO IS BURYING ELECTRICAL LINES.
WHY AREN'T WE FOLLOWING THEM AROUND TOWN PLANTING TREES
BEHIND THE ELECTRICAL LINES?
SERIOUSLY.
THEY ARE PETITIONING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY TO PUT THEIR
POWER LINES UNDERGROUND.
WHY AREN'T WE DOING THAT?
GADSDEN PARK HAS BEEN MENTIONED.
I'M GLAD THAT LORRAINE MENTIONED QUITE A BIT OF STUFF FROM
CARROLL ANN'S SPEECH.
COMMUNITY GARDENS.
GO TO THE GARDEN CLUB AND ASK THEM WHERE TO PLANT TREES.
I'LL GUARANTEE YOU THEY'LL GIVE YOU GOOD SPACES TO PLANT
TREES.
THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES WITHIN THIS CITY THAT COULD BE
UTILIZED FOR THIS.
WHIT REMER AND JC HUDGISON STOOD UP ON 4/25/24, ALMOST TWO
YEARS AGO AND SAID THEY WOULD START FINING THE TREE CUTTERS.
MY CONVERSATION WITH CHIEF BENNETT ABOUT KELLY'S HOUSE WAS
BECAUSE THE TREE CUTTERS WERE NOT FINED.
THE TREE CUTTERS, NOBODY WENT AFTER THEM.
AND SHE HAS PROVIDED THE INFORMATION.
THESE PEOPLE TOLD HER THEY PULLED A PERMIT.
THEY LIED TO HER ON PAPER AND YET THE CITY IS STILL
PERSECUTING HER.
THAT'S CRAP.
TREES DON'T HAVE A BABYSITTER IN THE CITY OF TAMPA, AND
THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
ANYTHING, IF YOU WANT ANYTHING TO GET DONE IN THIS CITY,
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A BABYSITTER.
IT CAN'T BE ONE PERSON IN THIS DEPARTMENT, ONE PERSON IN
THIS DEPARTMENT, ONE PERSON -- I WAS FLABBERGASTED AT THE
TREE MEETING A MONTH OR SO AGO BECAUSE I WAS JUST SHOCKED AT
HOW MANY PEOPLE AND STAFF WE HAVE THAT REALLY CARE ABOUT
TREES, AND THEY ALL WORK ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT THERE'S
NOTHING GETTING IT ALL TOGETHER.
THERE'S NO COHESIVENESS ACROSS DISTRICTS.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT TARAH BROUGHT UP THE WATER
DEPARTMENT STUFF.
THE WATER DEPARTMENT PLAN IS THE ONLY TREE PLANTING PLAN
I'VE EVER SEEN.
WE BUY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF TREES FROM NELSON'S TREE
FARM.
IT'S BEEN ON THE AGENDA TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME BUT YET
NOBODY HAS EVER SAID WHERE THEY GO.
WE HAD ONE THAT SHOWED UP I THINK IN THE LAST 30 DAYS SINCE
MR. FOWLER HAS BEEN IN CHARGE.
AND IT ACTUALLY SAID IT WAS GOING TO GO IN THE WEST
DISTRICT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A DISTRICT MAP FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
IT'S ALL A BUNCH OF FLUFF, BUT WE CAN'T GET DOWN TO THE
NITTY-GRITTY BECAUSE NOBODY IS BABYSITTING IT.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BABYSITTER, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET DONE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CONCENTRATES ONLY ON THE TREES
TO GET THERE.
I COMPLETELY FORGOT MY DAMN LIST.
THERE'S 51 TREES ON THE LIST AND 26 OF THEM ARE TYPE THREE.
PLEASE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT --
11:36:26AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW IT IS TIME FOR COUNCIL -- I'M SO SORRY.
THERE IS SOMEONE ONLINE.
I APOLOGIZE.
CARROLL ANN BENNETT, I BELIEVE.
I DON'T HAVE THE LIST.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?
MS. BENNETT, YOU ARE SELF-MUTED.
11:36:55AM >> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
I THINK I UNMUTED.
11:36:58AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES, NOW YOU ARE.
PLEASE START WITH YOUR NAME.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
11:37:03AM >> CARROLL ANN BENNETT.
I'M IN A DIFFERENT TIME ZONE.
NOT AT MY BEST.
PLEASE READ ANY FOLLOW-UP E-MAILS ON THIS.
THEY WILL BE MORE COHERENT.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A BIG MUDDYING OF THE MAJOR ISSUES HERE.
AND THAT'S THE FUNDING.
THE CITY'S OWN URBAN FORESTRY PLAN ON PAGE 19 SAYS THAT WE
ARE -- WE HAVE LESS FUNDING, PROPORTIONATE FUNDING THAN
ABOUT 700 OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
THE PowerPoint, ONE OF THE SLIDES YOU HAVEN'T SEEN YET,
ADDRESSES THAT WE ARE UNDERFUNDED.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE TREE FUND WAS CHANGED TO PUT --
TO MAKE THE FUNDS HARDER TO ACCESS AND TO PUT THEM IN
PLANNING DISTRICTS IS BECAUSE THE URBAN FORESTRY WAS
UNDERFUNDED AND THEY WERE RAIDING THE TREE FUND TO PAY FOR
THE REMOVAL OF HAZARDOUS TREES IN RIGHT-OF-WAYS.
THAT IS NOT WHAT THE TREE FUND IS FOR.
THE TREE FUND IS ONE TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX.
YOU DON'T USE A HAMMER WHEN WHAT YOU NEED IS A SCREWDRIVER.
IF YOU WANT TO PLANT TYPE THREE TREES BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME
VALUE, THEN THE CITY NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE THAT AND FUND IT.
BUT AS COUNCILMAN CARLSON SAID, THE TREE FUND IS FOR
MITIGATION.
IT IS A MITIGATION FUND.
IT'S FOR MITIGATION.
IT'S MITIGATION, MITIGATION, MITIGATION.
IT IS TO REPLACE THE LOSS OF SHADE TREES.
AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT COUNCILMAN HURTAK SHOWED A TREE
THAT'S PROVIDING ALL THIS SHADE AND THOUGHT IT WAS A TYPE
THREE TREE, BUT, IN FACT, IT'S A TYPE ONE.
IT IS A WINGING ELM.
WE HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF TYPE ONES.
DON'T HAVE TO BE LIVE OAKS.
WE HAVE LOTS OF TYPE TWOS.
ON THE PowerPoint SLIDE, IT SAID TYPE ONE, SHADE TREES.
TYPE THREE, ORNAMENTAL TREES.
THE CITY NEEDS TO USE THE TREE FUND FOR THE PURPOSE THAT IT
WAS DESIGNED.
MITIGATION OF THE SHADE TREES.
FUND THE OTHER THINGS WITH OTHER MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND
THE WAY IT SHOULD BE FUNDED.
AND AS FAR AS THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, IN 2018, IT
WAS A LARGE COHESIVE DEPARTMENT THAT HAD AN ADMINISTRATOR,
KATHY BECK.
WHEN SHE RETIRED, HER POSITION WAS NEVER FILLED.
IN 2019, IT WAS COMPLETELY REORGANIZED AND SPLIT UP.
IT IS THE WRONG WAY TO DO IT.
IT NEEDS TO BE PUT BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS IN 2018.
LET ME JUST ALSO SAY, LIVE OAKS ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY
OF FLORIDA ARE THE SINGLE-MOST HURRICANE RESISTANT TYPE ONE
TREES.
BUT WE CAN HAVE DIVERSITY BY SPENDING THE MONEY IT IS
SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED.
ALL THESE OTHER EXTRANEOUS THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, THE
CITY HAS TO STEP UP AND PAY FOR THEM.
BUT THE TREE TRUST FUND IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.
THANK YOU.
11:39:49AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THAT ALL OF OUR ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT?
OKAY.
SO, COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
11:39:57AM >>BILL CARLSON:
JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA REAL FAST.
I'M HAPPY TO MOVE TO CONTINUE ITEM 6 AND 8 UNTIL THE MAY
WORKSHOP.
11:40:09AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THAT IS ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER AND ABOUT
DOCUMENTS AND PRESENTATION.
WHAT DATE?
11:40:18AM >>BILL CARLSON:
THE MAY WORKSHOP I THINK HAS THREE ITEMS ON
IT OR TWO ITEMS ON IT.
11:40:22AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YEAH, THE MAY WORKSHOP IS FOCUSED --
11:40:29AM >>BILL CARLSON:
OR MOVE IT TO JUNE.
11:40:31AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WE DON'T HAVE ONE IN JUNE.
YES.
SURE.
11:40:40AM >>BILL CARLSON:
JUNE 25.
11:40:42AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
MAY 28 FOR ITEMS 6 AND 8?
11:40:45AM >>BILL CARLSON:
YEAH.
11:40:48AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WE SHOULD DO THOSE SEPARATELY.
11:40:50AM >>BILL CARLSON:
MOVE TO CONTINUE ITEM 6 TO MAY 28 WORKSHOP.
11:40:54AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
11:41:01AM >>BILL CARLSON:
MOTION TO MOVE ITEM 8 TO THE MAY 28
WORKSHOP.
11:41:04AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON,
SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
I DO BELIEVE THE REST OF IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER.
DOES ANYONE WANT TO BEGIN?
YES, COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG.
11:41:27AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
JUST A FEW --
11:41:31AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
BEFORE WE GO, WE'LL DO THREE MINUTES, AND
THEN WE'LL CONTINUE ON AS WE GO.
11:41:36AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I'LL JUST SAY I FEEL LIKE THE CONSENSUS IS
THAT WE DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE TREE
TRUST MONEY -- TREE TRUST FUND MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS THE
TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES.
I WOULD REALLY BE INTERESTED IN SEEING -- BECAUSE I'M
HUNDRED PERCENT, YOU KNOW, BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY
BE PLANTING MORE TREES.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE LIKE YOU WERE SHOWING THE PICTURE
EARLIER, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT TREES SHOULD WE BE
PLANTING.
INSTEAD OF THE CRAPE MYRTLES.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE PLANT?
WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?
FOR ME, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE TREES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE CALLED.
SO I THINK HAVING SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THOSE
TREES ARE, ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN SEE AS WELL
WHAT KIND OF TREES THEY WANT TO PLANT, IF THEY HAVE A SPACE
THEY WANT TO PLANT A TREE IN.
ALSO MENTIONED EARLIER WITH THE COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
PROGRAM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE AWESOME BECAUSE I'VE
DEFINITELY BEEN IN PARKS.
YOU SEE THE TREES THERE, PLANTED, HAVE THE STAKES, LEANING
OVER, THEY HAVE JUST BEEN SITTING THERE.
WHO IS TAKING CARE OF THESE TREES?
WE'RE PLANTING THEM, BUT ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE ANY
LONGEVITY IF WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY TAKING CARE OF THE TREES
ONCE WE PLANT THEM.
WE CAN SAY WE'RE PLANTING A TREE.
WE PLANT IT AND THEN THAT'S IT.
LIKE, WHO IS TAKING CARE OF IT?
IT'S JUST THERE.
I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO SEE WHAT IS THE ACTUAL COST TO PLANT A
TREE?
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREES.
I'M SEEING ON ONE INVOICE COSTS THIS MUCH, ANOTHER -- HOW
MUCH DOES IT COST TO PLANT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREES?
IS IT BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THEM FROM DIFFERENT FARMS?
I DON'T KNOW.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT.
I THINK ALSO THE POINT MADE ABOUT SENIORS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS -- I KNOW THAT HAVE THESE TREES AND
WOULD LOVE TO KEEP THEM BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
I HAVE A SENIOR RIGHT NOW WHO HAS A BEAUTIFUL TREE.
IT'S HUGE, BUT SHE NEEDS HELP.
AND SHE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
SHE'S ON FIXED INCOME.
SHE'S DISABLED.
SHE LIVES BY HERSELF.
HOW DO WE HELP THOSE SENIORS?
ALSO, AGAIN, BROUGHT UP EARLIER, THAT WE ARE GOING INTO
HURRICANE SEASON.
WHAT CAN WE -- I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP,
LIKE TODAY, THAT CAN LIKE, OKAY, WE MADE THIS DECISION AND
IT WILL START TOMORROW OR BY FRIDAY BECAUSE HURRICANE SEASON
IS COMING UP AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS THAT HAVE
TREES.
11:44:27AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I WILL SAY IN YEARS PAST, WE HAVE ACTUALLY
ADDED MORE MONEY TO THE TREE FUND FOR THE EAST TAMPA CRA, SO
WE CAN ALWAYS REALLOCATE, WHICH IF WE ARE OUT, WE SHOULD
PROBABLY DO THAT.
BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE OUT.
OFTENTIMES WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT UNTIL WE HEAR ABOUT IT
FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE DO NEED TO -- I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS?
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
11:44:58AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I THINK WE OUGHT TO -- I'VE HEARD A LOT
OF DISCUSSION ABOUT NOBODY WANTS A CERTAIN TYPE OF TREE.
ONE OR TWO TREES.
TO BE FAIR FOR THIS CITY AND THIS ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS, IF WE REALLY DON'T WANT THAT THIRD TYPE OF TREE, WE
OUGHT TO SAY TAKE IT OUT OF THE ORDINANCE.
11:45:15AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
HOW ABOUT I DO SOME QUESTIONS AND WE'LL
FIGURE OUT?
BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME OVERARCHING ISSUES.
WE HEARD THAT THE CITY HAS 11 PLANTING PLANS.
DO WE THINK THAT TREE TRUST FUND MONEY SHOULD BE USED TO PAY
FOR PLANS?
11:45:35AM >> NO.
11:45:39AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I'M HEARING NO AND NOT ANY MORE AND WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THE PLANS.
I AGREE.
I DO NOT BELIEVE WE SHOULD SPEND TREE TRUST FUND MONEY ON
TREE DESIGN.
MARK THAT DOWN AS ONE THING.
WE'VE ALL BASICALLY AGREED.
NO FUNDING FOR ACTUAL TREE DESIGN.
WE NEED TO FUND IT THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
11:46:00AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I AGREE WITH THAT.
ALSO I WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT WE BORROWED MONEY FROM AN
ENTERPRISE FUND SOMETIME BACK.
WHETHER PAID FOR --
11:46:07AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES, WE DID.
11:46:08AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
11:46:10AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
CORRECT.
11:46:11AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THAT'S BONDED MONEY.
INTEREST RATES WILL CHANGE IF YOU DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A
TRIPLE-A BOND RATING AND I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THAT MONEY AT
ALL.
11:46:18AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES.
MR. SHELBY.
11:46:20AM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
MARTIN SHELBY, CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY.
REFRESH MY RECOLLECTION, DID CITY COUNCIL REGARDS
SPECIFICALLY TO COUNCILMAN MIRANDA'S CONCERN TAKE OFFICIAL
ACTION TO FORMALIZE THAT POLICY?
11:46:31AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WE DID NOT.
WE WENT AHEAD AND PAID THAT.
NOW WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
DO WE WANT TO FORMALIZE A POLICY THAT SAYS WE WILL NOT
REPLACE ENTERPRISE FUNDS WITH TREE TRUST FUNDS?
11:46:45AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
EVERYTHING HAS AN EXCEPTION.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST KILL IT.
WHOEVER THE MAYOR IS, WHOEVER THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE,
BETWEEN EACH OTHER.
IF THEY WANT IT, THEY HAVE TO ASK FOR IT AND BOTH HAVE TO
SIGN OFF, NOT JUST ONE.
11:46:59AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
COUNCIL MEMBER YOUNG.
11:47:01AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I'M SORRY.
11:47:05AM >>BILL CARLSON:
AS I SAID BEFORE, THE ENTERPRISE FUND SHOULD
BE SELF-SUPPORTING.
IF STORMWATER GOES AND RIPS OUT A BUNCH OF TREES, STORMWATER
FEE SHOULD REPLACE THEM OR WATER FEES OR WHATEVER.
SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF THE TREE TRUST FUND BECAUSE
THAT'S MITIGATION.
IN TERMS OF PROCESS, DON'T YOU THINK ON THE FIRST ONE MAYBE
YOU SHOULD HAND THE GAVEL AND MAKE A MOTION JUST SO WE CAN
MAKE IT OFFICIAL?
11:47:29AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
SURE.
11:47:29AM >>BILL CARLSON:
SECOND ONE, I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION.
11:47:32AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ARE NOT TO NOT USE
TREE TRUST FUND MONEY FOR PLANNING.
11:47:41AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER
HURTAK.
SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
MR. SHELBY.
11:47:47AM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
COUNCIL, I JUST WONDER, WORKSHOP RULES --
11:47:53AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE --
11:47:55AM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
MAYBE OPEN THE FLOOR TO SEE IF SOMEBODY
WANTS TO ADDRESS THESE TWO SUBJECTS BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION
OR MAKE YOUR MOTIONS AND THEN OPEN THE FLOOR.
11:48:06AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I THINK WE'VE HEARD ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS.
11:48:11AM >>BILL CARLSON:
I THINK WE SHOULD SET A DATE ON IT BECAUSE
THIS COUNCIL ONLY HAS AUTHORITY THROUGH MAY 1st NEXT YEAR.
JUST BETWEEN NOW -- AND THIS IS -- EVEN THOUGH WE'RE VOTING,
IT'S KIND OF INDICATIVE.
IT IS A PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT, RIGHT?
11:48:27AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
IT IS A PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT, SO I DON'T
THINK A DATE IS APPROPRIATE.
I'M FINE WITH JUST MEMORIALIZING THE CONVERSATION WE HAD
TODAY THROUGH MOTIONS.
I THINK AT THE END OF IT, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE LOOKING
FOR ORDINANCE CHANGE OR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO COME OUT OF IT.
BUT GOING THROUGH THESE SMALLER QUESTIONS FIRST I THINK
HELPS.
11:48:53AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
FIRST OF ALL, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE
PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE INVOLVED, EACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION,
FOUR DISTRICTS MAKE UP THE WHOLE DISTRICT.
FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN.
YOU HAVE ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, GET TOGETHER AND
WORK TOGETHER, I THINK YOU RESOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS
IMMEDIATELY.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK.
MAYBE I'M WRONG.
11:49:10AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES.
BUT WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
11:49:14AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN
HURTAK, SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
ALL IN FAVOR?
AYE.
ANY OPPOSED?
11:49:23AM >>BILL CARLSON:
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO -- THAT IS
THE INTENT OF THIS COUNCIL TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF TREE FUND
MONEY FOR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
11:49:36AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
I'LL SECOND THAT.
11:49:46AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THE ONLY THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT --
WELL, ACTUALLY, YEAH.
COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA.
11:49:55AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
ALTHOUGH I MAY NOT LIKE THE PROCESS, IF
YOU SAY "CAN'T USE IT" THAT MEANS WE CAN'T APPROVE IT AND
THEY CAN'T RECOMMEND IT TO US.
IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY THAT YOU NEED THE MONEY AND THAT'S
THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL GET IT, WE'RE PUTTING OURSELVES IN A BOX
WE CAN'T GET OUT OF.
11:50:11AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
MY CONCERN ABOUT THAT IS ONLY IF, INSTEAD OF
COMING UP WITH A GIANT TREE PLAN, IF THEY HAVE TO TAKE
SOMETHING OUT OR IF THEY HAVE NOTHING, TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE
WITH A TYPE ONE OR TYPE TWO TREE.
I'LL SUPPORT THAT FOR NOW.
BUT I DO THINK THAT AS WITH EVERYTHING, THE DEVIL IS IN THE
DETAILS.
11:50:33AM >>BILL CARLSON:
WHAT WE SHOULD DO SEPARATELY IS MANDATE THAT
ENTERPRISE FUNDS REPLACE TREES OR HAVE A TREE POLICY.
11:50:39AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THAT'S ACTUALLY PROBABLY A GOOD COMPANION.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
AYE.
ANY OPPOSED?
SURE.
I THINK THAT IS A GOOD SECONDARY.
AGAIN, YOUR MIKE WENT OUT.
11:50:57AM >>BILL CARLSON:
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ASK STAFF
IN CHARGE OF THE ENTERPRISE AREAS TO CREATE A -- TO CREATE
POLICIES THAT WOULD REPLACE TREES THAT ARE TORN OUT AS A
RESULT OF ENTERPRISE PROJECTS AND ALSO TO ENHANCE TREE AREAS
AS PART OF THEIR --
11:51:24AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
ENTERPRISE FUND, ONLY FOUR OF THEM.
WHICH ONE, ALL FOUR?
THERE'S WATER, WASTEWATER AND OTHERS INVOLVED.
11:51:33AM >>BILL CARLSON:
YEAH, IF ANY OF THEM THAT ARE INVOLVED IN
RIPPING OUT TREES, THAT WE'RE IN GENERAL ASKING THEM TO HAVE
POLICIES TO REPLACE TREES AND TO USE ENTERPRISE FUNDS TO
ENHANCE THEM.
JUST LIKE ANY OTHER UTILITY.
11:51:45AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
QUESTION TO MYSELF IS, ARE THOSE, ANY ONE
OF THOSE FOUR INVOLVED IN TREES AT ALL?
11:51:53AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES.
11:51:54AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
ASKING FOR MONEY, RIGHT?
11:51:56AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NO.
11:51:57AM >>BILL CARLSON:
WE'RE JUST ASKING THE HEADS OF THOSE
DEPARTMENTS TO CONSIDER PUTTING IN TREE POLICIES.
11:52:07AM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT -- IF I CAN CLARIFY,
COUNCIL MEMBER, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A POLICY TO REPLACE
TREES THAT AS A PART OF ITS PROJECT ARE REMOVED?
IT'S FOR REMEDIATION OF TREES THAT WERE PART OF THE --
REMOVAL WAS PART OF THE PROJECT.
11:52:24AM >>BILL CARLSON:
AND ALSO ENHANCE AREAS THEY ARE RIPPING
APART.
11:52:27AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT THAT WAY.
ANY ONE OF THE FUNDS THAT CREATE A PROBLEM BY TAKING A TREE
OUT, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE WORKING ON SOMETHING FOR THE
BETTERMENT OF SOCIETY THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE IT, I AGREE.
11:52:37AM >>BILL CARLSON:
IF THE WATER DEPARTMENT RIPS UP A STREET AND
TEARS DOWN THE TREES, PUT NEW TREES, IF A YARD THAT DIDN'T
HAVE A TREE, THEY CAN PUT A TREE THERE, TOO.
11:52:47AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON, SAME
SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
AYE.
ANY OPPOSED?
I HAVE ANOTHER ONE I'D LIKE TO MAKE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN THIS BUT THE $300 PER TREE
MITIGATION FEE NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED.
I WOULD LIKE TO SET THAT IN MOTION TO HAVE A REVIEW OF THE
$300 PER TREE MITIGATION FEE.
THAT'S MY MOTION.
I CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC FOR THIS EVENING
TALKING TO STAFF.
11:53:27AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
WE HAVE A MOTION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
ANY DISCUSSION?
ALL RIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR?
AYE.
ANY OPPOSED?
11:53:36AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THANK YOU.
AND THEN HOW DO WE FEEL -- WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THE --
BASICALLY THE THIRD RAIL I THINK FOR TODAY.
WELL, NOT REALLY.
TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO VERSUS THREE.
WHERE ARE WE ON THIS?
COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG.
11:53:57AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
THANK YOU.
SO I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO.
UNTIL YOU SHOWED THAT PICTURE AND THAT WAS A TYPE --
11:54:09AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NO.
THAT WAS TYPE ONE.
I WAS WRONG.
IT WAS AN ELM.
11:54:15AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
DISREGARD.
NEVER MIND.
11:54:17AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
11:54:18AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
WITHOUT USING THE WORD "BAN" OR SAY BAN
TYPE THREE, THAT WE PRIORITIZE TYPE ONE AND TWO, AND IN THE
EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WE CANNOT FIND ANY TYPES OF TREES
WITHIN THOSE CATEGORIES THAT WE HAVE TO GO TO A TYPE THREE,
BUT WE WANT LONG-LASTING TREES.
LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF TREES THAT YOU
WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT GET BLOWN OVER AND DESTROYED, BUT
WE GET A LOT OF STORMS, TYPE ONE AND TWO PRIORITIZE, BUT HOW
DO YOU FEEL ABOUT, WHAT DO WE DO WITH TYPE THREE?
BAN THEM OR -- YOU TELL ME.
11:54:57AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A BACKUP SOMEWHERE.
YOU CAN'T SAY ONE AND TWO, ONE GETS A DISEASE AND ALL GO
DOWN, WHAT DO YOU DO THEN?
11:55:06AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
COUNCILMAN CARLSON, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO
SAY ABOUT THIS BEFORE I --
11:55:10AM >>BILL CARLSON:
SORRY.
11:55:11AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THE TREE MATRIX, I PRINTED IT OUT.
THERE IS A LOT -- WELL, THERE IS A DECENT AMOUNT OF TYPE ONE
AND TYPE TWO TREES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF TYPE THREE TREES.
WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE ISSUE IS
THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH PLANTING ALL OF THESE.
WE HAVE MONEY AND WE HAVE PLANS TO PLANT.
HOW ABOUT WE ASK TO SPEND TREE TRUST FUND MONEY TO PLANT
THESE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO
PLANT.
GIVE IT A YEAR OR TWO AND THEN HAVE STAFF COME BACK TO US
FOR TYPE THREE MONEY IF THEY CAN'T PLANT MORE.
BASICALLY JUST SAYING, HEY, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ASKING FOR A
COMMITMENT TO PLANT TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES, AND TO USE
OTHER MONIES TO PLANT TYPE THREE TREES.
AND WHEN YOU COME BACK AND SHOW US WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO
DO, THEN -- BECAUSE PART OF THIS IS A TRUST LEVEL WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
SO I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE A REALLY ROBUST EFFORT.
HOWEVER, IF A PLAN HAS TYPE THREE TREES, TO BE ABLE TO PAY
FOR THEM AS WELL, AND IF THAT'S GENERAL FUND MONEY, THEN
COUNCIL JUST BASICALLY HAS TO SAY THAT'S GOING TO BE A
PRIORITY FOR THE 2027 BUDGET.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A PRIORITY.
THAT'S WHY I TRIED TO PRIORITIZE IT IN THE REST OF WHAT WAS
FOR 2025, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT TENDED TO BE MONEY FOR PARKS,
AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR PARKS WERE
EQUALLY REPRESENTED.
SO I HANDED THAT HALF MILLION TO COUNCILMAN VIERA FOR HIS
DISTRICT.
11:56:51AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
I MAKE A MOTION THEN THAT WE ASK THE
ADMINISTRATION TO PRIORITIZE TYPE ONE AND TWO TREES FOR THE
NEXT TWO YEARS.
TWO YEARS BECAUSE IN TEN, ELEVEN MONTHS WE TRANSITION TO A
NEW ADMINISTRATION AND NEW LEADERSHIP.
SO WE SEE HOW THEY WORK IN THOSE NEXT 23 MONTHS.
IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
WHAT HAVE YOU PLANTED?
HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAVE YOU MADE?
AND THEN WE TAKE IT FROM THERE -- OR THEY TAKE IT FROM
THERE.
11:57:18AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I WOULD SECOND THAT.
11:57:22AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE A GOOD
BUSINESS PERSON NEVER LEAVE OUT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
HELPFUL EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF HELPFULNESS IN
CASE YOU HAVE A DISASTER, THEN YOU SAY I CAN ONLY GO HERE,
THERE, CAN'T GO THERE BECAUSE I WROTE IT OFF.
CAN'T DO THAT AS A BUSINESS PERSON.
11:57:38AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
WHAT ABOUT A PERCENTAGE?
11:57:41AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
THIS IS AN ASK, A RECOMMENDATION, SEE
WHAT THEY DO IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
IT'S NOT A BAN.
WE'RE NOT CUTTING OFF THE USE OF TYPE THREE.
BUT SAYING -- THEN THE MOTION IS TO ENCOURAGE THEM.
11:57:56AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
ENCOURAGE MEANS A LOT OF THINGS.
11:58:00AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
11:58:02AM >>BILL CARLSON:
WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MONEY, PERIOD,
ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FIRST.
AND WE KNOW WE'VE LOST A LOT OF OUR TREE CANOPY.
WE HAD THE PRESENTATION IN PRIOR ONES.
IF WE SPEND A YEAR OR TWO FOCUSING ON TYPE ONE AND TWO,
WE'RE STILL NOT GOING TO MAKE UP ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IN AN EMERGENCY, STAFF CAN'T COME BACK AND
ASK US.
IT GIVES THE INTENT OF COUNCIL THAT WE WANT TO REPLACE THE
TREE CANOPY QUICKLY BECAUSE IT'S DISAPPEARING.
11:58:28AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YEAH, THAT WAS MY POINT WITH THAT.
11:58:33AM >>NAYA YOUNG:
WHAT OTHER WORDS CAN WE USE?
DON'T WANT TO BAN.
11:58:39AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NO, I THINK THAT WE DO.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE STRONG AND SIMPLY SAY TYPE ONE AND TYPE
TWO TREES FOR TWO YEARS, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND IF WE NEED TO PLANT TYPE THREE, BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF
THESE TREE PLANTS HAVE TYPE THREE TREES, WE NEED TO FIND
OTHER FUNDING FOR THEM.
IT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
11:59:02AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
WOULD YOU LIKE THE WORD DEMAND RATHER
THAN ENCOURAGE?
11:59:05AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I DON'T THINK ENCOURAGE IS WISE BECAUSE
ENCOURAGE SAYS YOU CAN.
I THINK WE NEED A MORE DEFINITIVE WORD.
11:59:11AM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
MARTIN SHELBY, CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY.
MAY I BE RECOGNIZED?
11:59:15AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES.
11:59:16AM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
THANK YOU.
JUST A QUESTION AND I GUESS WE COULD ASK MS. FEELEY WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION, AND WE CAN ALSO DO THIS DOWN THE LINE AFTER
THE MINUTES COME OUT TO REVIEW THEM.
AT SOME FORM OR FASHION, THIS WILL HAVE TO BE FORMALIZED IN
SOME FORM OR FASHION.
THE QUESTION IS THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD KNOW WHAT BEST WAY
TO IMPLEMENT THE SORT OF THINGS.
11:59:37AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
HOLD OFF ON MY MOTION UNTIL LATER
TONIGHT.
11:59:40AM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WHAT I WOULD INTEND TO DO WITH ALL OF THESE
MOTIONS IS I'M FINE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON TREES FOR A
LONG TIME.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ALL OF THESE MOTIONS AND WORK WITH CITY
STAFF, MY OFFICE, AND FIGURE OUT SOME MORE SPECIFICS AND
THEN BRING IT TO ALL OF US, NOT TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
GOING TO HAVE TIME.
BUT ON MAY 7 DURING NEW BUSINESS.
12:00:04PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
LET ME HOLD OFF ON MY MOTION RIGHT NOW
UNTIL THEN.
12:00:08PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT I'M GOING TO MAKE IT.
12:00:11PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
YOU MAKE IT AND YOU WORD IT.
12:00:13PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO SAY THAT FOR THE
NEXT TWO YEARS WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON PLANTING TYPE ONE
AND TYPE TWO TREES TO HELP RECOVER THE TRUST OF THE PUBLIC
TO USE THESE FUNDS.
12:00:36PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
FOCUS IS VERY BROAD.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
12:00:42PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NO, NO.
THE MOTION IS TO ONLY USE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES SO
THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON THE FACT OF DEVELOPING TRUST WITH THE
RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FUNDS GO TOWARDS
THE MITIGATION OF THE TREES BEEN TAKEN OUT.
12:01:03PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
MOTION AND SECOND BY CARLSON.
12:01:06PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
ALTHOUGH I LIKE THE MOTION, I CAN'T
SUPPORT IT BECAUSE YOU'RE CUTTING SOMETHING OUT, AT LEAST
HELPFUL FOR SOMETHING, WHATEVER THAT SOMETHING AMOUNT IS.
YOU CUT THAT OFF, YOU PUT YOURSELF IN A CORNER THAT IF
SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THOSE TYPES OF TREES, THEN YOU HAVE NO
RESOURCE.
YOU CAN'T PLANT ANOTHER ONE.
THAT IS THE REASON I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT.
12:01:25PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO ACTUALLY FORMALIZE THIS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO
ACTUALLY MAKE DECISIONS TODAY.
AS WE WORK AND FORMALIZE IT, LIKE I SAID, OUR OFFICE WILL
TAKE THE LEAD, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS AGAIN IN MORE
MINUTE DETAIL OR WITH THE DETAIL.
WE CAN TRY TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA LATER.
I'LL SEE IF I CAN FIND A DATE.
12:02:02PM >>BILL CARLSON:
IF WE DON'T DO THIS, IT'S KIND OF LIKE IF WE
SAY THE SIDEWALK TRUST FUND CAN BE USED FOR PARKS, PEOPLE'S
EXPECTATION, IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T BUILD A SIDEWALK, GOES INTO
THE SIDEWALK FUND AND USED FOR SIDEWALKS.
SAME THING.
NOT PAYING A FINE IF YOU TAKE DOWN A CRAPE MYRTLE, IF YOU
TAKE DOWN --
12:02:25PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
MS. FEELEY.
12:02:27PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
THANK YOU.
ABBYE FEELEY.
COUPLE OF THINGS REAL QUICK IN RELATION TO WHAT'S GOING ON.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE TREE TRUST FUND AND THE LANGUAGE SO
YOU CAN HAVE THAT AND LOOK AT THAT NOW AS TO THE SECTION ON
EXPENDITURE BECAUSE I THINK --
12:02:42PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
CAN YOU PUT IT ON THE WOLF, PLEASE?
12:02:46PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
SURE.
I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT DISCUSSION TODAY, AND I
TOTALLY HERE THE DIRECTION COUNCIL IS GOING IN.
I'D LIKE A CLARIFICATION.
BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, LET'S DO THIS.
WE HAVE TEN PLANS RIGHT NOW THAT COULD -- I'M SORRY, 11 --
THAT COULD PUT CLOSE TO 3,000 TREES IN THE GROUND.
THE FIRST DISCUSSION ITEM YOU ALL JUST HAD WAS IN RELATION
TO NOT USING TREE TRUST FUNDS TO PLANT.
GOT IT.
IN TERMS OF USING TREE TRUST FUNDS TO PLANT, I THINK THAT'S
PART OF THE DIRECTION WE WERE LOOKING FOR THIS MORNING.
IF THOSE PLANS, THERE ARE COMBINATIONS TYPE ONE, TYPE TWO,
TYPE THREE.
NOW, GOING TO WHAT YOU JUST DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF THE TYPE
THREE, THOSE MAKE UP LESS THAN 30% OF WHAT'S IN THOSE PLANS.
THE QUESTION IN RELATION TO THAT, WE COULD GO BACK AND WORK
ON THOSE PLANS AND SEE WHERE WE TAKE THOSE TYPE THREES OUT.
THERE ARE ONLY 30% OF THE 3,000.
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TYPE ONES AND TWOS, BUT THE
DIRECTION OF FOCUSING ON TYPE ONES AND TYPE TWOS, THE
QUESTION IS ON THE TABLE AS TO THE HOW.
THE HOW RIGHT NOW ARE THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD
THAT WE COULD START MOVING FORWARD WITH AND GETTING TREES IN
THE GROUND AND BRINGING THE BIDS OF THOSE PLANS TO COUNCIL
TO SHOW YOU GEOGRAPHICALLY IT'S HERE.
WE TALKED ABOUT DAVIS ISLAND, YBOR, MacFARLANE PARK, SWANN
PARK IS ON THERE.
PUTTING THOSE PLANS OUT FOR BID.
WE COULD PUT THEM OUT FOR BID SAYING NO TYPE THREES.
BUT PUT THEM OUT FOR BID.
GETTING BACK THE COSTING ON THAT.
ONE THING I DID WANT TO CLARIFY, THE TESTIMONY ABOUT THE
TREE COSTING THE 700 AND SOMETHING, THAT INCLUDES, I WANT TO
GO ON THE RECORD CLARIFYING WHAT THAT COST IS.
THAT COST IS NOT THE COST OF A TREE.
THAT COST IS THE TREE, THE INSTALL, THE STAKING, THE
WATERING OF THAT TREE FOR SIX MONTHS, AND A WARRANTY
ASSOCIATED WITH IT IN CASE IT DIES.
SO THAT COST THAT WENT UP WAS NOT JUST THE COST OF THE TREE.
WHEN WE ARE COSTING THESE, THAT COST INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE
THINGS.
12:05:21PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAW.
MS. BLUMA, ARE YOU STILL HERE?
CAN YOU BRING THAT UP.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAW.
I SAW THERE WERE ALSO COSTS THERE FOR MAINTENANCE.
IT DEFINITELY SHOWED MAINTENANCE AS ITS OWN LINE ITEM.
12:05:39PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
BUT WHEN WE'RE PURCHASING, THAT PURCHASE
PRICE, THAT IS INCLUDING ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
12:05:47PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
IF YOU COULD PUT IT ON THE WOLF MS. BLUMA.
12:05:52PM >> WATER AND MAINTENANCE, ADDITIONAL $56,000.
12:05:55PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
SAY YOUR NAME AND READ THAT OUT TO US.
12:06:00PM >> LET'S GO THROUGH IT.
IT GOES THROUGH THE COST OF EACH TREE.
12:06:03PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I'M GOING TO HAVE MS. BLUMA SAY IT FIRST AND
THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH.
MS. BLUMA, CAN YOU EXPLAIN -- FIRST START WITH YOUR NAME AND
TELL US WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY.
12:06:11PM >> TARAH BLUMA.
MAYBE I'M WRONG.
I SEE HERE THE LINE ITEM THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM SAYS SIX
MONTHS OF ONGOING WATERING AND MAINTENANCE FOR $56,832.
SOMEWHERE ON HERE IS ALSO STAKING.
MAYBE THAT WAS ON THE OTHER ONE BEFORE.
REMOVAL OF TREES REFUSED AFTER INSTALLATION.
12:06:37PM >> THAT IS A HUNDRED TREES.
12:06:40PM >> THERE'S 80 JASMINE, THERE ARE THE FOUR -- IT'S GOING
THROUGH EACH OF THEM.
12:06:48PM >> HERE, HURRICANE MILTON REPLANTING, RESTAKING, 1400.
THE WATER BEING IN THERE IS A HUGE COMPONENT OF THE COST AS
WELL.
MY UNDERSTANDING IN TALKING WITH CITY STAFF IS THAT THE COST
OF THE TREE IS HALF THE COST.
THEN YOU INCLUDE FOR THE OTHER HALF TO GET YOU TO AROUND THE
1400 APPROXIMATE DOLLARS WE'RE SPENDING IS THE STAKING, THE
MONITORING, THE WATERING, THE PLANTING.
SO THIS $760 --
12:07:27PM >> THAT'S TEN TREES.
12:07:28PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
EACH IS -- TEN TREES IS 7,600.
12:07:34PM >> $760 TIMES 10 EQUALS 7600.
SO WE'RE PAYING $7600 FOR TEN LOQUAT TREES.
12:07:55PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THE COST IS 700 -- IF YOU
CAN PUT THAT BACK UP ON THE WOLF AND EXPLAIN TO US HOW IT
COSTS FOR, LET'S LOOK AT A SOUTHERN RED CEDAR, $925 PER
TREE.
IT'S $3700.
AND THEN DOWN BELOW, SAID SIX MONTHS OF ONGOING WATER AND
MAINTENANCE FOR 56,000.
IT CLEARLY IS NOT ALL INCLUDED OR IT LOOKS THAT WAY, WHAT'S
HAPPENING?
12:08:26PM >> BRIAN KNOX, CITY PLANNING.
SOUTHERN RED CEDAR, THREE AND A HALF INCH CALIPER, 11 TO 12
HEIGHT.
IT'S NOT YOUR TREE THAT WE WOULD TYPICALLY PLANT.
WE TYPICALLY PLANT TWO AND A HALF.
FOR THAT, THE COST IS THE COST BASED ON FLORIDA GRADES AND
STANDARDS.
OUR REQUIREMENT IS THAT YOU PLANT A FLORIDA GRADE NUMBER ONE
TREE.
WHICH IS THE SECOND BEST QUALITY YOU CAN GET.
SO THE TREE YOU WOULD PROBABLY GET FROM A BIG-BOX STORE, NOT
NAMING ANY NAMES, THAT'S NOT A FLORIDA GRADE NUMBER ONE.
SO THE COST COMPARISON, IT'S NOT THERE.
12:09:06PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OKAY.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT TRULY IS
THE COST OF THE ACTUAL TREE IS 700 SOME ODD DOLLARS.
12:09:17PM >> YES.
12:09:17PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OKAY, OKAY.
THE WATER AND MAINTENANCE IS SEPARATE AND THAT IS THE
56,000.
THAT IS WHY, WHEN MS. BLUMA SAID THAT THE AVERAGE COST OF
THE TREE IS AROUND 1400, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING THE COST,
WHICH, AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA OF SPENDING MORE MONEY
ON A BETTER QUALITY TREE THAT WOULD -- HAS THE BETTER
POTENTIAL TO LAST LONGER AND GROW FASTER.
12:09:42PM >> THE INSTALLATION, THOUGH, IS ALSO PART OF THAT.
THAT IS NOT A SEPARATE LINE ITEM.
THE STAKING IS NOT A SEPARATE LINE ITEM.
THAT'S IN THAT COST.
THIS WAS HOW THE WATER DEPARTMENT DOES IT.
BUT WHEN WE'RE DOING THESE, THE FULL COST IS THE TREE, THE
INSTALLATION, THE STAKING, THE WATERING FOR THE SIX MONTHS
AND THE WARRANTY IF IT DIES.
12:10:06PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
12:10:08PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS THE BEST EXAMPLE
AS THE WAY THAT IT IS LINE ITEMED LIKE THIS, BUT THIS IS OUR
INTENTION AND WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS AND THE COSTS
ASSOCIATED.
IF WE'RE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BID OUT ONE OF THE
PROJECTS, WE COULD SHOW YOU BEFORE A PLANTING HAPPENS WHAT
THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THE FUNDS.
12:10:30PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
MS. BLUMA.
AND PLEASE START WITH YOUR NAME AGAIN.
12:10:34PM >> TARAH BLUMA.
I TOTALLY AGREE THAT IT IS WORTH THE MONEY TO BUY A NICER
TREE, A HIGH-QUALITY TREE.
WE HAVE AMAZING NURSERIES ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS IS THE STATE WHERE OTHER STATES GET THEIR TREES FROM.
SO WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
BUT I JUST PURCHASED TWO MAGNOLIA TREES FOR WESTSHORE
ELEMENTARY FOR EARTH DAY, A GRANT FROM THE GARDEN CLUB.
I SPENT $350 PER TREE.
THEY ARE NINE FOOT TALL.
THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.
THEY ARE STAKED.
THEY ARE ALREADY BLOOMING AND THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN PLANTED A
COUPLE OF MONTHS.
THE SCHOOL IS PAYING FOR THE WATERING.
I'M OUT THERE CHECKING ON THAT TREE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
BY GETTING INVESTED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, YOU CAN SAVE
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
IT'S A BIG IMPACT.
12:11:27PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY -- COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
12:11:35PM >>BILL CARLSON:
MS. BLUMA, COULD YOU COME BACK?
I WANT TO SAY TWO THINGS.
IN THE WATER PROJECT, I TALKED TO RORY AND I TALKED TO WHIT
REMER, AND I THINK THAT AGREEMENT WAS MADE IN GOOD FAITH.
BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A CONTRACT
BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT CONTRACT SHOULD BE APPROVED IN
ADVANCE BY CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THE PUBLIC SAW IT AND IT
LOOKED LIKE A SLUSH FUND TO THEM.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A BUDGET SET AND AN EXPECTATION OF WHAT'S
GOING TO BE BOUGHT.
AFTER THE FACT, WE CAN LOOK AT IT, BUT IT WOULD BE MUCH
CLEANER AND MORE TRANSPARENT IF WE LOOKED AT IT IN ADVANCE.
MS. BLUMA, WOULD YOU MIND IN 30 SECONDS TELLING PEOPLE WHAT
YOUR SPECIFIC EXPERTISE IS RELATED TO THIS.
12:12:13PM >> I'M SOON TO BE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA GARDEN CLUB.
I ALSO WORK IN LANDSCAPING.
I OWN A LANDSCAPE AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND A LANDSCAPE
MAINTENANCE COMPANY.
IN TEXAS, AND WE SHIP ALL OF OUR TREES.
BUT I BUY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TREES PER YEAR.
I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH LOOKING AT THESE PRICES OF TREES.
A LIVE OAK DOES NOT COST THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS A
CEDAR.
SO ALREADY THIS IS BAD.
AND MS. FEELEY, I'M SORRY, NOT ALLOWED TO ADDRESS YOU, BUT
THIS MAY NOT BE THE BEST EXAMPLE, BUT SO FAR THIS IS THE
ONLY EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS THAT WE'VE HAD ON TREES.
SO I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MATERIAL TO WORK WITH, BUT I THINK
THIS IS THE MOST ACCURATE.
12:12:58PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
I APPRECIATE THAT AND I COMPLETELY
UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL.
I DO.
12:13:03PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG.
12:13:05PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED TO GO BACK AND COME UP
WITH A MOTION, BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE SAYING THAT,
OKAY, FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE WANT TO FOCUS ON PLANTING
TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWOS BACK TO THE TREES NEED A BABYSITTER.
WE DON'T JUST WANT TO PLANT THEM AND THEN GO.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS CRAFTED INTO THE MOTION OR IF WE
HAVE TO COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THAT.
BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT SHOULD BE A PART OF IT.
AND THAT I THINK TIES BACK INTO ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY
GARDENS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE PROCESS,
HAVING THAT STEWARDSHIP.
12:13:45PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.
WHAT I AM GOING TO DO ACTUALLY IS RESCIND MY MOTION FOR THE
MOMENT BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THIS CAN GET SOLVED WITH OUR
NRAC, WITH OUR NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE.
JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME.
I'LL APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS
HAPPENED, BUT MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE, MS. SCHARF, WENT IN AND I
HAD SOME CHANGES I WANTED TO MAKE AND APPARENTLY THEY MADE
IT INTO THE ACTUAL PRESENTATION.
IF YOU COULD JUST SHOW ON THE SCREEN, IF WE COULD BRING THE
PRESENTATION BACK AND JUST TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT MY
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NRAC BOARD.
12:14:36PM >> KAYLA CASELLI.
I THINK THAT THE PRESENTATION WE UPLOADED PROBABLY WILL NOT
REFLECT THOSE CHANGES.
I'M ASSUMING.
12:14:48PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN TAKE ONE OF THESE AND
PUT IT UP ON THE WOLF FOR ME?
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, IT IS NOON.
WE STILL HAVE A SOUND STUDY TO HEAR.
12:15:26PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
WANT TO BREAK AND COME BACK WHEN
CLENDENIN COMES BACK?
HE SAID AFTER LUNCH.
12:15:31PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I DEFINITELY WANT TO GET THROUGH TREES.
HERE'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE.
THIS IS JUST MY RECOMMENDATION FOR THE NRAC BOARD
COMPOSITION.
DO WE WANT TO HEAR THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION FOR NRAC
FIRST -- THE REASON WE SHOULD HEAR THE NRAC, A LOT OF THE
PLANS, A LOT OF THE IDEA OF WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY
SHOULD, CAN COME FROM THE NRAC AND A LOT OF THIS OVERSEEING
THAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT CAN BE HANDLED A LITTLE BIT BY --
NRAC, NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THAT WE HAVE BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO RETOOL.
DO WE WANT TO HEAR THAT PRESENTATION FIRST OR JUST LOOK AT
THIS?
12:16:21PM >>BILL CARLSON:
I THINK THAT'S MOSTLY BACKGROUND.
I ALWAYS BELIEVE THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO HEAR
SOMETHING, BUT IT ALSO IS BACKGROUND.
THE GENESIS OF THIS WAS -- BECAUSE OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT
ISSUE, I WAS TALKING TO CARROLL ANN BENNETT ABOUT MAYBE
SETTING UP A TREE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD HAVE AUTHORIZATION.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON COUNCIL, TOO.
A TREE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD APPROVE THE BUDGETS LIKE THAT SO
THERE WOULD BE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT OF HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT.
IDEALLY THE INTENTION WOULD BE APPROVED IN ADVANCE.
CARROLL ANN SUGGESTED THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE IS
ESSENTIALLY DORMANT.
WHY DON'T WE RESURRECT THAT AND MAYBE REPOPULATE IT AND GIVE
IT ALSO THE TREE TRUST FUND TO OVERSEE.
THAT ENDED UP WITH ALL KIND OF BIG ANALYSES AND DISCUSSION
AND RIVALRY BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHO WILL CONTROL IT AND ALL THIS STUFF.
ULTIMATELY THE INTENT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS
OVERSIGHT INTO HOW THE TREE TRUST FUND MONEY IS BEING USED.
12:17:27PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YEAH.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION QUICKLY
OR DO WE JUST WANT TO LOOK -- OR DO WE AGREE THAT WE NEED A
NATURAL RESOURCES AND WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE COMPOSITION?
SO WE WANT TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE COMPOSITION.
12:17:42PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
QUESTION.
TWO, WE'VE DONE OUR ACTION FOR TWO AND THREE, YES?
12:17:51PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WE CAN DO MORE ACTION AFTERWARD.
12:17:57PM >>CARL BRODY:
CARL BRODY, LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
AS YOU CONSIDER THE NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE,
REMEMBER, THAT WAS CREATED BY AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.
12:18:18PM >> IT WAS A RESOLUTION AND IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT THE NRAC WAS
CHARGED WITH.
12:18:24PM >>CARL BRODY:
RIGHT.
IT HAS LIMITED AUTHORITY IN TERMS OF WHAT IT CAN DO.
SO YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT AS YOU HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ON
WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE FOR THE COMMITTEE.
JUST CONSIDER THAT AHEAD OF TIME AS YOU WALK THROUGH THIS.
SOME OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT I THINK DOES NEED A
DEEPER DIVE BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MAKING CHANGES TO
POLICY LIKE YOU WERE, SOME OF THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE
ORDINANCES THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE.
12:18:54PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
CORRECT.
12:18:55PM >>CARL BRODY:
WE'LL HAVE TO INCLUDE THAT IN TERMS OF NOT
TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION, BUT HAVING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF HOW YOU WANT THOSE TO INTERACT WITH THE ORDINANCE AND
WHAT CHANGES YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT MAKING.
AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU WANT TO GET TOGETHER AFTER WE MAKE
DECISIONS HERE TODAY AND HAVE A FURTHER POLICY ANALYSIS OF
ALL THIS, AND THAT'S PERFECT.
BUT JUST TO LAY THAT ON THE TABLE THAT THERE ARE OTHER LEGAL
FACTORS IN PLACE THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY WHATEVER
DECISIONS YOU MAKE AFTER DECIDING HOW YOU WANT TO MOVE
FORWARD ON A POLICY.
12:19:31PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
IF WE STARTED THIS WITH A RESOLUTION --
12:19:35PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
ABBYE FEELEY.
THERE IS ALSO AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.
2014-1, AND I'M GETTING COPIES OF THAT FOR YOU NOW SO YOU
HAVE THAT.
BUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU WITH THE WHEREAS
CLAUSES SPEAKING TO BOTH THE INTERNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
THAT THE CITY HAS, WHICH IS MADE UP OF CITY PLANNING, PARKS.
I THINK MARY IS ON THERE.
AND THEN THE SECOND PART, I THINK IT IS THE WHEREAS CLAUSE,
MAYBE SECOND OR THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM, THAT TALKS ABOUT THE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR NATURAL RESOURCES.
IT ACTUALLY WASN'T THE NRAC.
IT WAS THE REVERSE OF THAT.
BUT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR NATURAL RESOURCES RELATED
BACK TO THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN.
I'LL GET YOU THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER RIGHT NOW.
IT'S A ONE-PAGER.
12:20:24PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WE CAN STILL CHANGE IT BY RESOLUTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
12:20:34PM >>BILL CARLSON:
COULD YOU LET US KNOW, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, IF
SOMEBODY ELSE COULD ANSWER, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME THE
COMMITTEE MET AND WHAT HAVE THEY DONE OR ACCOMPLISHED OR
DECIDED IN THIS ADMINISTRATION SINCE 2019.
12:20:47PM >> JUST A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NRAC, STARTED IN 2017-2018.
AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE MEETING, AND IT WAS RIGHT AFTER THE
FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE URBAN FOREST
MANAGEMENT PLAN.
SO THAT'S WHEN THE COMMITTEE FIRST STARTED TO MEET.
IT MET AGAIN IN 2022, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN WE RAN INTO THIS
COMMITTEE NEEDED TO BE A SUNSHINE COMMITTEE AND OFFICIALLY
RECOGNIZED AS SO.
12:21:12PM >>BILL CARLSON:
HAVE THEY MET SINCE 2022?
12:21:15PM >> NO.
12:21:16PM >>BILL CARLSON:
SO THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING SINCE 2022.
SO THAT'S FOUR YEARS.
DID THEY DO ANYTHING IN 2020 OR BETWEEN 2019 AND 2022, PUT
UP ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR MAKE ANY DECISIONS?
12:21:29PM >> 2022, LIKE THE REASON THEY DIDN'T MEET IS BECAUSE THEY
NEEDED TO BE A SUNSHINE COMMITTEE, SO WE STOPPED OUR
MEETINGS AT THAT POINT.
12:21:36PM >>BILL CARLSON:
MY POINT IS THAT THE FEEDBACK FROM THE
PUBLIC IS THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ENACTED.
TO ME, ARGUING ABOUT WHO IS IN CONTROL AND ALL THAT STUFF,
IT HASN'T BEEN ACTIVE ANYWAY.
I HOPE THE ADMINISTRATION WILL WORK WITH US TO MAKE THIS
BETTER AND TO PROVIDE MORE OVERSIGHT, PROVIDING OVERSIGHT
AND TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC IS ONLY A GOOD THING IN MY
MIND.
12:21:57PM >> CAN I SAY SOMETHING?
12:21:58PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES.
12:21:59PM >> BRIAN KNOX, CITY PLANNING.
THE NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS A PART OF A
LARGER CYCLE OF THINGS.
SO LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE OUR URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE FED INTO THE URBAN FOREST MASTER
PLAN, INCLUDING THE NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SO THE NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS SUPPOSED TO
BE COMPRISED OF PROFESSIONALS AND ALSO THE PUBLIC TO ALLOW
INPUT ON WHAT WE SHOULD DO OR WHAT ARE THEIR SUGGESTIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN THE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
THEIR PRIMARY ROLE FOR THIS UPCOMING UPDATE FOR THE
MANAGEMENT PLAN, THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO UPDATE THE
MASTER PLAN FOR US.
THAT IS THEIR CRITICAL ROLE AND FUNCTION THAT WE NEED THEM
FOR.
AFTER THAT, THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
ALL OF THE THINGS IN THE MASTER PLAN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
INTERNAL TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP.
WITHOUT THAT COMPONENT, IT TAKES THE PUBLIC OUT OF A VERY
PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
12:23:02PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
12:23:04PM >>BILL CARLSON:
MY ARGUMENT IS WE NEED TO ACTIVATE IT
BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN ACTIVATED IN FOUR YEARS AND IT NEEDS
TO INCLUDE THE TREE STUFF SO WE CAN GET TRANSPARENCY TO THE
PUBLIC.
12:23:12PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
AS I LOOK -- MS. KOPESKY, COULD YOU PUT THAT
ON THE -- CAN YOU PUT THE COMPOSITION?
I APOLOGIZE, I LOOK AT THE COMPOSITION, THIS ISN'T CORRECT.
BUT I WILL EXPLAIN WHAT IT WAS AND WASN'T.
IF WE COULD JUST PUT IT UP FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WE
DISCUSS THIS.
SO INITIALLY, WE HAD DISCUSSED POSSIBLY CHANGING THE MAYOR,
SLASH, COUNCIL ROLE BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE
FOUND AS THIS COUNCIL IS THAT IF WE EACH SELECT SOMEONE, WE
HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL POINT PERSON.
AND I THINK THAT IS A VALUABLE THING.
SO WHAT I DID IS MY RECOMMENDATION WAS CHANGE THE MAYORAL
FROM SIX TO FOUR.
AND THEN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT WOULD HAVE ONE.
BUT WHAT I ACTUALLY MEANT FOR 8, 9, 10, 11, IS LEAVE THAT AS
A NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE.
DISTRICT FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS,
THEY WOULD HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE.
AND THEN FOR THE CITYWIDE ONES, DISTRICT ONE, TWO, AND
THREE, WE WOULD CHOOSE A TREE ADVOCATE/ENVIRONMENTAL
NONPROFIT MEMBER SO THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS LOOKING AT
THE OVERALL AREA.
AND THEN THE MAYOR WOULD FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANT AND
INDIVIDUAL ONES WHICH WOULD BE -- OR THE SPECIFIED ONES,
WHICH WOULD BE A CERTIFIED ARBORIST, SLASH, LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECT, TO HAVE TWO OF THOSE.
TO HAVE A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL AND A DEVELOPER AND
BUILDER.
SO THAT WAY THE MAYOR HAS THE VERY SPECIFIC NEED AND THEN
COUNCIL HAS FOLKS WHO ARE FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT
WORK, TREE ADVOCACY, WHICH THEY COULD HAVE, SIERRA CLUB,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN THE INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT PEOPLE
COULD HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS THAT BACKGROUND, BUT ALSO JUST A
NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES.
THE YEARS OF START WOULD BE ON THE SIDE OF ONE, TWO, AND
THREE.
IF YOU FLIP IT OVER, I HAVE A BALANCE OF THE MAYOR, BECAUSE
WE'RE ABOUT TO SWITCH, WE HAVE A BALANCE OF THE MAYOR HAVING
ONE ONE-YEAR, ONE TWO-YEAR, AND ONE THREE-YEAR, BECAUSE WE
WANT TO STAGGER TERMS.
DISTRICT ONE, TWO, AND THREE WOULD HAVE ONE OF EACH AND WE
WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN OURSELVES WHAT WE WOULD GET.
DISTRICTS FOUR THROUGH SEVEN WOULD HAVE TWO ONE-YEAR,
TWO-YEAR, THREE-YEAR AND HAVE TO DECIDE AMONGST THEMSELVES.
I HOPE THAT MADE SENSE.
COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
12:25:50PM >>BILL CARLSON:
I AGREE WITH ALL THAT.
I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT CHANGING IT FROM FOUR TO SEVEN
DOESN'T MEAN THAT CITY COUNCIL IS TRYING TO CONTROL IT OR
WIELD POWER OR WHATEVER IT IS, TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY
ADEQUATELY.
AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY, AND EVEN THE THREE YEARS CITYWIDE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT
RELATIONSHIPS SO WE CAN JUST ADD TO THE DIVERSITY OF --
GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY AND OTHER KINDS OF DIVERSITY ON THE
COMMITTEE.
JUST LIKE WITH THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, THE MAYOR HAS
THE RIGHT TO SEND E-MAILS, TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES, TO MAKE
ARGUMENTS, AND THEN THE COMMITTEE CAN DECIDE WHAT TO DO.
IF IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO LEGALLY CHANGE THIS, WE CAN ALWAYS
SET UP A SEPARATE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD DO THE SAME THING
SINCE THIS HASN'T BEEN ACTIVE.
12:26:43PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I WOULD ALSO ARGUE, LIKE, OVERALL WITH THE
STAFF THAT COMES IN, THE MAYOR HAS A LOT OF CONTROL OVER
THAT.
IN THIS, WE'RE KIND OF DOING MORE PEOPLE CENTERED.
YES, MS. PETTIS-MACKLE.
12:26:56PM >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
CAMARIA PETTIS-MACKLE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AS THIS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED BY COUNCIL, IT'S A PROPOSAL
FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD, IN RESOLUTION 2024-866,
WHICH WAS THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL FOR
THE CREATION OF THE NATURAL RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE
COMPOSITION AS ALREADY OUTLINED, IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED
TO HAVE 11 MEMBERS.
SIX OF THE PROFESSIONALS, THE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD WERE
MAYOR APPOINTMENTS.
AND THE REMAINING MEMBERS WERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATES
THAT WOULD BE SELECTED BY CITY COUNCIL.
I WOULD ASK, AND I RAN THIS BY STAFF, WOULD CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDER AS OPPOSED TO ELIMINATING A PROFESSIONAL PERSON WHO
IS AN EXPERT IN THAT FIELD TO ADD, TO LEAVE THE REMAINING --
TO LEAVE THE EXISTING SIX PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN
THE FIELD, BUT TO ADD MORE NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATES SO THAT
EACH CITY COUNCIL PERSON COULD HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATE
THAT THEY COULD APPOINT, BUT KEEP IN PLACE THE PROFESSIONALS
WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO ASSIST WITH THIS PROJECT
PROCESS OF BRAINSTORMING AND COLLABORATING TO IMPLEMENT AND
DISCUSS AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS MANAGEMENT PLAN.
I'M JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE.
12:28:27PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
SINCE THIS IS MY PLAN, I'LL SAY I DON'T HAVE
A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I WAS JUST THINKING, WE TALK ALL THE TIME ABOUT TRYING TO
GET QUORUM, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON A BOARD AND THAT CAN
SOMETIMES BE AN ISSUE.
THE REASON I DID CERTIFIED ARBORIST, SLASH LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECT, I SAT ON THE VARIANCE REVIEW BOARD FOR YEARS AND
NEVER COULD GET ANYBODY TO FILL ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS
BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS HAD STUFF THAT CAME IN FRONT OF CITY.
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND A PERSON TO DO THAT.
I RECOGNIZE THIS MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT BOARD BECAUSE THIS IS
JUST AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BUT STILL --
12:29:16PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
ABBYE FEELEY.
WE ALREADY HAVE THOSE APPOINTMENTS READY TO BRING TO YOU OF
THOSE PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE.
THE SCIENTIST I THINK YOU SAW WITH EVEN HAVING MR. LANDRY
HERE THIS MORNING, THOSE ARE CRITICAL THINGS TO THE URBAN
FOREST MASTER PLAN.
IN WHAT YOU SUGGESTED HERE, IT WAS MOVING OUT THE ENGINEER
-- WE HAVE THOSE PEOPLE READY FOR YOU TO APPOINT.
12:29:39PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
IF YOU WANT TO ADD THREE MORE PEOPLE.
I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?
WHAT DOES THE REST OF COUNCIL THINK?
12:29:48PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
ARE YOU SAYING FOR ENGINEER AND PROFESSIONAL
SCIENTIST, INSTEAD OF THOSE BEING COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS,
LEAVE THEM AS MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS?
12:29:56PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YEAH, AND ADD THREE MORE SEATS.
12:30:01PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
WE HAD THE APPOINTMENTS READY TO COME TO
COUNCIL A FEW WEEKS AGO.
WHEN SOME OF THESE OTHER DISCUSSIONS CAME UP, THOSE THINGS
WERE POSTPONED BUT WE HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS VETTED AND
READY TO BE APPOINTED.
SO I THINK WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS COLLABORATIVELY TO
BE THAT WE STILL KEEP WHAT WE HAD AND WE ADD TWO TO ADDRESS
THE CONCERNS AND INTRODUCE THOSE OTHER INDIVIDUALS SO THAT
WE'RE BUILDING ON THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE UP TO THIS POINT
TO KEEP US MOVING FORWARD.
12:30:32PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
WE'LL HAVE A BOARD OF 14.
12:30:34PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NO, A BOARD OF 13.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
MY ONLY THING IS THAT, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK ALL SEVEN OF US
SHOULD HAVE THE ROLE LABELED NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES
-- I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SPOT FOR TREE ADVOCATE AND
AN ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT THAT AGAIN I THINK THE CITYWIDE
SEATS WOULD HAVE A GOOD IDEA TO DO.
12:31:06PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
COULD IT NOT BE ANY ONE OF THOSE THREE
CATEGORIES?
12:31:09PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
SURE.
12:31:10PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, IF
THAT CHANGES OVER TIME.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGE WE
DO FACE ON THE BOARDS.
THEY ARE VOLUNTARY BOARDS.
GET PEOPLE TO SERVE ON THEM, LIKE THE VRB, WHEN WE PUT IT SO
LIMITED THAT SOMETIMES LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO PUT THE RIGHT
PERSON IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
I THINK HAVING THOSE REPRESENTATIVES BE COUNCIL
REPRESENTATIVES IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES ELIGIBLE MAY BE A WAY
TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE ON GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE THERE.
12:31:48PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I THINK THAT'S FINE.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD CONSIDER FOR THE MAYORAL POSITIONS IS
TO NOT HAVE THE CERTIFIED ARBORIST AND THE LANDSCAPE
DESIGNER BE SPECIFIC BECAUSE THOSE ARE VERY HARD TO FIND.
MAYBE IT WAS ME ON THE VARIANCE REVIEW BOARD, BUT --
12:32:08PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
WE HAVE THEM.
12:32:09PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I KNOW WE HAVE THEM NOW.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS IN THE FUTURE.
12:32:12PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
BUT THAT CAME OUT OF THE URBAN FOREST MASTER
PLAN AS WHAT THE CITY NEEDED.
12:32:18PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OKAY.
12:32:18PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
IN TRYING TO REESTABLISH IT, I WOULD HATE
FOR US TO ABANDON OR -- BECAUSE THAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC AREA
THAT WE REALLY NEED TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE PUBLIC.
12:32:32PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OKAY.
IF WE ADD THOSE THREE OR THE TWO, WE STILL WANTED TO TALK
ABOUT STAGGERING OF TERMS.
AND THE STAGGERING OF TERMS, THE STRUGGLE FOR ME WAS THE
MAJORITY OF THE THREE-YEAR TERMS WERE FOR THE MAYOR, AND I
THINK WE SHOULD HAVE AN EQUAL NUMBER FOR BOTH COUNCIL AND
MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS.
12:32:53PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
I THINK THERE IS A PROPOSAL IN THE
PRESENTATION THAT BRIAN WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU
BRIEFLY.
12:32:59PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OKAY.
12:33:08PM >> BRIAN KNOX, CITY PLANNING.
SO LAST BULLET.
BECAUSE OF THE QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS AND HAVING THEM ON
THE BOARD, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE APPOINTEES BE THERE FOR THREE
YEARS AND THEN START TO STAGGER THEM OFF.
I TALKED WITH A COUPLE OF TREE ADVOCATES ABOUT IT.
I TALKED TO -- INTERNALLY ABOUT IT.
AND I THINK GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THE BOARD WITH UPDATING
THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN, IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG
PROCESS TO SEE SOME OF THIS STUFF THROUGH.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO START STAGGERING THEM
AFTER THE THREE-YEAR TERMS.
START STAGGERING WITH ESSENTIALLY AS IT WAS WITH THE 11
MEMBERS, TWO MEMBERS FROM THE PROFESSIONAL, TWO MEMBERS FROM
COUNCIL APPOINTED, AND CARRY THAT ON UNTIL IT'S PROBABLY TWO
TO ONE AS IT WAS WITH THE 11 MEMBERS.
JUST BASICALLY START STAGGERING AFTER THE THREE YEARS
BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF ATTAINING SOMEBODY IN THAT
QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL POSITION.
AND HAVING THEM SEE THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF THE URBAN
FOREST MASTER PLAN UPDATE.
12:34:45PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
HERE SHE COMES.
12:35:01PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
ANYONE?
DOES ANYONE HAVE --
12:35:07PM >> [INAUDIBLE]
12:35:08PM >> YES, THE WAY I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE STAGGERED IS
EVERYONE STARTS WITH A THREE-YEAR TERM.
THEN AFTER THAT, THE BOARD SLOWLY STARTS TO STAGGER OFF
AFTER THEIR FIRST YEAR AFTER THAT THREE-YEAR TERM AND A
SECOND TERM.
TWO AND TWO.
TWO MAYOR, TWO COUNCIL, AND THEN IN THE SECOND YEAR, TWO
MAYOR, TWO COUNCIL, AND THEN IN THE THIRD YEAR, IT'S TWO
MAYOR, ONE COUNCIL.
12:35:40PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I DON'T -- I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT MAINLY
BECAUSE WE AREN'T GOING TO BE HERE AND THE MAYOR IS NOT
GOING TO BE HERE.
SO TO HAVE PEOPLE INITIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THREE YEARS IS
DIFFICULT BECAUSE WHOEVER SITS IN MY SEAT SHOULDN'T BE STUCK
WITH MY APPOINTEE FOR TWO MORE YEARS.
12:36:05PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
ABBYE FEELEY.
WHAT BRIAN WAS SAYING, THE WORK IS MORE THAN A YEAR TERM.
I GUESS IN REESTABLISHING, FIRST, WE NEED TO ADD IN THOSE
OTHER POSITIONS THAT YOU JUST PROPOSED, AND THEN EVERYONE
COMING ON WOULD COME IN TOGETHER NOW FOR THREE YEARS, AND
WE'D START WITH THOSE THREE YEARS BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT
GOES WITH THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN, AND WE CAN STILL --
I'M JUST EXPLAINING.
I SEE YOUR FACE.
WE CAN STILL HAVE DISCUSSION.
WE'RE JUST SAYING, OKAY, WE STARTED WITH THIS GROUP, NOW
WE'RE GOING TO ADD THESE INDIVIDUALS.
OKAY.
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT TERMS.
SO TERMS, IT'S BEING RECOMMENDED THREE-YEAR TERM TO START.
THOSE APPOINTEES WE HAVE FOR YOU THAT ARE READY TO GET
APPROVAL ALREADY COMMITTED TO A THREE-YEAR.
THEY KNOW THAT'S THE EXPECTATION.
SO HOW WOULD WE POTENTIALLY MODIFY THAT OR LOOK AT THAT
OTHER STAGGERING?
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
REALLY, THE CITY'S PERSON FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE TREES AND
THE OBJECTIVE OF THAT.
SO WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE GROUP WE PUT TOGETHER WOULD BE
WORKING AND GETTING THAT COHESIVENESS TOGETHER FOR THOSE
THREE YEARS.
SO IF WE DON'T DO AN INITIAL TERM OF THREE, THEN THEY GO FOR
A SECOND YEAR OF TWO.
WE CAN, I THINK NOW THAT WE HAVE THE PEOPLE, WE COULD TALK
ABOUT WHAT THE TERMS WOULD BE TOGETHER.
12:37:35PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
BOARD MEMBER YOUNG.
12:37:37PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I THOUGHT IN THE LAST MEETING, WE WERE KIND OF
WORKING THROUGH WHETHER IT WOULD BE THE THREE YEARS OR TWO
YEARS.
WE DIDN'T MAKE A DECISION ON THAT.
12:37:46PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NO, WE DIDN'T.
THIS IS THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
12:37:49PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
HOW WOULD THEY AGREE TO THREE YEARS IF WE
DIDN'T EVEN AGREE TO THREE YEARS?
12:37:54PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
BECAUSE THE NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY
COMMITTEE UNDER THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER EXISTS, WE BROUGHT THAT
OTHER EXECUTIVE ORDER A FEW MONTHS AGO TO RESTART IT AND
THAT THREE-YEAR WAS IN THERE.
12:38:11PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
DIDN'T WE DISCUSS THAT?
12:38:13PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YEAH, WE DISCUSSED THAT WE DIDN'T WANT
THREE-YEAR TERMS.
12:38:16PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
THE 2024 --
12:38:18PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
IN THE LAST MEETING, I THOUGHT WE SAID WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY
AGREE ON THE THREE YEARS.
HOW WOULD SOMEONE AGREE TO DO THREE YEARS IF WE DIDN'T EVEN
AGREE THAT WE WANTED IT TO BE THREE YEARS?
12:38:32PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
IN WHAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL, THE TERMS
OF EACH MEMBER SHALL BE STAGGERED THREE-YEAR TERMS.
SO THE STARTING POINT NOW IN REESTABLISHMENT STARTS WITH
THAT THREE YEARS.
THAT'S WHERE WE ASKED THEM --
12:38:48PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AND WE SAID
NO, WE DIDN'T AGREE.
AM I CRAZY?
12:38:53PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
12:38:55PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
ISN'T THAT WHAT WE SAID?
12:38:58PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THIS IS THE ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO GET US
TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
12:39:01PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
I'M NOT TRYING TO DO -- I'M FOLLOWING ALONG
THE --
12:39:08PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I REMEMBER THE MEETING AND GOING BACK AND
FORTH ON WHAT THE STAGGERED TERMS MEAN.
WE WANTED TO COME BACK AND HAVE A CONVERSATION.
HOW WOULD SOMEONE AGREE TO SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN
AGREE TO?
AM I MISSING SOMETHING.
12:39:21PM >>BILL CARLSON:
WHAT I THINK SHE'S SAYING --
12:39:24PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
IF I'M WRONG, I'M WRONG.
12:39:26PM >>BILL CARLSON:
THIS IS ONE OF THE CHARTER ISSUES.
WE PASSED A RESOLUTION, BUT A PREVIOUS MAYOR HAD AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER.
SO THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AS IT STANDS.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD, I THINK,
SUPERSEDE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
12:39:40PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
SO THE RESOLUTION WAS JUST PASSED BY THIS
COUNCIL WITH THESE TERMS ON SEPTEMBER 19 OF 2024.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE PROCEEDED TO START BUILDING THE COMMITTEE
BACK BASED ON THE TERMS OF THIS RESOLUTION.
IT'S NO BAIT AND SWITCH.
WE DID WHAT WAS IN THE RESOLUTION AS APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
12:40:05PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
CORRECT.
BUT NOW THIS COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO CHANGE ITS MIND.
IT HAPPENS.
12:40:13PM >>ABBYE FEELEY:
OKAY.
IN PREPARATION FOR US -- IN PREPARATION FOR US FILLING THOSE
SLOTS, WE FOLLOWED WHAT WAS APPROVED.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE HERE TODAY.
AND THEN THOSE INDIVIDUALS UNDER THESE TERMS OF THIS RESO
WENT ON THE AGENDA, AND THEN IT BECAME A DISCUSSION OF
COUNCIL.
SO THOSE PEOPLE ARE STILL THERE WHO APPLIED FROM 2024 TO
COME AND SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY, AND NOW THERE IS A
DISCUSSION BEING HAD BY THIS BOARD AS TO WHAT THAT CAPACITY
LOOKS LIKE, WE FOLLOWED THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION GOING ON OUTSIDE OF
WHAT WAS IN THE TERMS OF THIS, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE
RECONCILED.
BUT THIS WAS THE DIRECTION GIVEN, AND THIS IS WHAT WAS
PROCEEDED IN ORDER TO GET THAT COMMITTEE SET UP SO WE COULD
KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
12:41:08PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES.
AS WE'VE HAD MORE DISCUSSION, THE THOUGHTS HAVE CHANGED.
AND WE DID THINK ABOUT CHANGES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON.
12:41:16PM >>BILL CARLSON:
STAFF WANTS TO FOLLOW IN TERMS OF THE
RESOLUTION AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
SO THE QUESTION REALLY IS A LEGAL QUESTION.
MARTY, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?
ASK FOR A REVISED RESOLUTION REFLECTING WHAT THIS COUNCIL
HAS DECIDED?
12:41:30PM >> CAMARIA PETTIS-MACKLE FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
I CAN ANSWER THAT.
I PREPARED THIS RESOLUTION, AND THAT'S WHY -- THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE HERE FOR.
IF IT'S THE DESIRE OF THIS BOARD TO REVISE THIS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE, WE JUST NEED DIRECTION.
I WILL PREPARE THAT RESOLUTION.
12:41:47PM >>BILL CARLSON:
YOU HAVE A NEW RESOLUTION YOU ARE PROPOSING.
12:41:50PM >>CAMARIA PETTIS-MACKLE:
I'M WAITING FOR CITY COUNCIL --
12:41:52PM >>BILL CARLSON:
-- GIVE DIRECTION ON WHAT WE WANT TO CHANGE.
12:41:55PM >>CAMARIA PETTIS-MACKLE:
CORRECT.
12:41:56PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO WITH MY
SUGGESTIONS.
AGAIN, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH JUST ADDING TWO MORE
POSITIONS.
BUT I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD NOT START WITH EVERYONE WITH
THREE-YEAR TERMS.
I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD START WITH STAGGERED TERMS.
IF THE MAYOR HAS SIX APPOINTEES, THEN TWO ONE-YEAR, TWO
TWO-YEAR AND TWO THREE-YEAR, AND WE DIVIDE AMONG OURSELVES
IN THE SAME MANNER.
I THINK THAT'S ONLY FAIR.
TWO MORE, TO HAVE EACH COUNCIL MEMBER HAS ONE.
AND WHILE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE GOAL TWO YEARS AGO,
NOW WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAS FOUND IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE AN
APPOINTEE THAT -- AT LEAST ME PERSONALLY, WHEN I HAVE
SOMEONE THAT I'VE APPOINTED, IT SERVES AS A CONDUIT FOR ME
SO THAT TREES IN THIS CASE WILL STAY ON MY MIND MORE OFTEN.
I HAVE AN APPOINTEE TO THE CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
SHE AND I MEET EVERY SINGLE MONTH TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I HAVE AN APPOINTEE TO THE CITY'S CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION,
WE TALK ABOUT ISSUES.
AND THAT'S THE WAY I BELIEVE -- I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT THAT HAS WORKED REALLY WELL FOR ME.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GOING FORWARD, SO WE'RE
NOT AT THE SAME PLACE WITH ANY OTHER ISSUE, THAT AS WE MAKE
THESE APPOINTEES AND AS WE HAVE THESE ADVISORY COMMITTEES,
WHEN WE HAVE A PERSON THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO, WE STAY MORE
IN TOUCH.
SO WE DON'T END UP HERE WITH THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TREES
BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT TREES IN YEARS.
12:43:39PM >>BILL CARLSON:
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION AS TO WHAT YOU
RECOMMEND CHANGING ON THE RESOLUTION?
12:43:43PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OKAY.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT ON THE RESOLUTION WE CHANGE -- WE ADD
TWO MORE CITY COUNCIL POSITIONS AND EACH POSITION WILL BE --
EACH POSITION WILL BE A NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE, SLASH,
TREE ADVOCATE, SLASH ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT MEMBER FOR ALL
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND THAT THE MAYORAL APPOINTEES STAY CERTIFIED ARBORIST,
DEVELOPER, SLASH, BUILDER, ENGINEER, PROFESSIONAL SCIENTIST,
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL.
THEN AS FOR TERMS, THE MAYOR WILL HAVE TWO ONE-YEAR TERMS,
TWO TWO-YEAR TERMS, AND TWO THREE-YEAR TERMS.
AND THE COUNCIL -- THE INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE
A SPLIT BETWEEN THREE TWO-YEAR TERMS, THREE -- THREE
ONE-YEAR TERMS, I APOLOGIZE, TWO TWO-YEAR TERMS, AND TWO
THREE-YEAR TERMS.
AND I DON'T KNOW, WE COULD JUST -- WE COULD DRAW SOMETHING
OUT OF A HAT, I DON'T KNOW.
12:45:03PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
NOW WE HAVE TO BRING THE HAT INTO THIS.
12:45:07PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
SORRY.
NEVER MIND.
12:45:09PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
ANY DISCUSSION?
ALL IN FAVOR?
AYE.
ANY OPPOSED?
12:45:14PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I HAVE A SECOND RECOMMENDATION.
OH, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THIS.
APOLOGIZE, BUT THAT'S MY MOTION ABOUT THAT.
I DO HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT, I DON'T THINK A
MINIMUM OF TWO MEETINGS A YEAR IS ENOUGH.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.
GOSH, SORRY.
I'M CHAIRING.
ANYTHING ELSE WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT BEFORE WE TAKE PUBLIC
COMMENT ON ITEMS 4 AND 5, WHICH ARE THE NATURAL RESOURCE
COMMITTEE?
12:45:43PM >>BILL CARLSON:
DO YOU WANT TO JUST SAY WHAT YOU INTEND TO
MAKE IN THE MOTION AND THEN HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN
YOU COULD TURN IT INTO A MOTION AFTERWARDS?
12:45:50PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
ITEM NUMBER 4 WAS COUNCIL TO DISCUSS WHETHER
TO ASSIGN THE OVERSIGHT OF THE TREE TRUST FUND TO THE CITY
NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE.
I DO BELIEVE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IN TERMS OF A
RECOMMENDATION BODY WE SHOULD DO.
BUT I DO THINK THAT ULTIMATELY COUNCIL IS GOING TO HAVE TO
MAKE THAT DECISION.
AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT WORKS.
IF THE BOARD SAYS, YES, WE SPEND TYPE THREE TREE MONEY, ARE
WE OKAY WITH THAT?
SO WE KIND OF HAVE TO STILL HAVE A BIT OF A DEBATE.
BUT ALSO, I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD MEET.
AS WE'RE TRYING TO STRENGTHEN THIS, THIS SHOULD BE -- THEY
SHOULD MEET EVERY OTHER MONTH FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS SO
THAT WE ACTUALLY GET THIS DONE.
THOSE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
BEFORE WE -- IF ANYONE ELSE HAS OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT
THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I'M FOCUSED ON.
I'M FOCUSED ON MEETING SIX TIMES A YEAR.
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT STAGGERED TERMS.
LOOKING AT OVERSIGHT OF THE TREE TRUST FUND, BUT ALSO REALLY
LOOKING AT THE PLANS THAT THE CITY IS PUTTING TOGETHER AND
PUT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON PLANS FOR ADDING MORE TREES.
12:47:19PM >>BILL CARLSON:
SHE WAS INDICATING WHAT SHE WANTS TO MAKE AS
A MOTION AND THEN THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE THE PUBLIC SPEAK
AND MAKE MOTIONS.
WE'VE MADE MOTIONS AND APPROVALS.
WE'RE REVISING THE RESOLUTION THAT BACKS UP THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER REGARDING THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE.
12:47:33PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
OKAY.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE I WAS AT A PLACE WHERE I
COULD NOT WATCH.
YOU GUYS MOVED THROUGH ITEM NUMBER 4.
12:47:44PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WE'RE DOING 4 AND 5 TOGETHER.
12:47:46PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
OKAY.
WE FINISHED WITH DISCUSSION AND YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR AN
ORDINANCE TO SUPPLEMENT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM THE MAYOR.
12:47:55PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WE ALREADY MADE THAT MOTION.
WE JUST MADE THAT MOTION BEFORE YOU CAME.
THAT WAS REALLY ABOUT APPORTIONMENT.
SO WHAT WE DECIDED WAS TO ADD TWO MEMBERS SO THAT EACH
COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD HAVE ONE PERSON AND TO KEEP THE MAYOR'S
SPECIFIC FOCUS.
BUT OURS, EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD HAVE ONE THAT WAS EITHER
A COMMUNITY LEADER, A TREE ADVOCATE, OR A NONPROFIT MEMBER.
12:48:20PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
MR. SHELBY.
12:48:22PM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
ALSO, MR. CHAIRMAN, WHILE YOU WERE OUT,
ITEMS 6 AND 8 WERE CONTINUED TO THE MAY WORKSHOP MAY 28,
LEAVING ITEM NUMBER 7 REMAINING.
12:48:36PM >>BILL CARLSON:
MS. PETTIS-MACKLE SAID TO US, JUST TELL US
WHAT YOU WANT TO REVISE IN THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED IN
2024.
WHEN WE GIVE HER THE ADVICE WHICH IS WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER
HURTAK WAS DOING, THEN SHE'LL GO BACK AND REVISE AND COME
BACK FOR APPROVAL.
NOW WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON IS PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN
FOLLOWING THAT CHAIR PRO TEM WILL MAKE THE FINAL MOTION THAT
SHE HAS REGARDING THE CHANGES TO THE RESOLUTION.
12:49:02PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
IS COUNCIL COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE WE ARE
AT THIS POINT SO I CAN MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT?
PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE START WITH YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE
THREE MINUTES.
12:49:14PM >> LORRAINE PERINO, PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA TREE ADVOCACY
GROUP.
I WAS GOING TO GO OVER THE HISTORY OF THE NRAC BUT THAT'S
ALREADY BEEN DONE.
WE WERE GOING TO -- T-TAG WANTED TO RECOMMEND THAT IN
ADDITION TO THE FIVE THAT CITY COUNCIL WAS GOING TO APPOINT
TO THIS COMMITTEE, THAT THEY ADD ONE SO THAT THE MAYOR WOULD
HAVE SIX AND THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE SIX.
SO HOW MANY ARE THERE GOING TO BE NOW?
12:49:42PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
13.
SIX FOR THE MAYOR, SEVEN FOR COUNCIL.
12:49:50PM >> T-TAG BELIEVES THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OF CITIZENS THAT SHOULD MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
EXPENDITURE OF THE TREE TRUST FUND MONEY.
AS FAR AS NRAC CONTROLLING THE TREE TRUST FUND EXPENDITURES,
T-TAG BELIEVES THAT THERE SHOULD FIRST BE A TRIAL PERIOD OF
THE NRAC BOARD TO SEE HOW THEY ARE FUNCTIONING PRIOR TO
MAKING SUCH IMPORTANT DECISIONS ABOUT THE EXPENDITURE OF THE
FUNDS.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS WE WANTED TO MAKE.
12:50:26PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER.
START WITH YOUR NAME.
12:50:30PM >> TARAH BLUMA.
I THINK THAT IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA HAVING A TRIAL PERIOD.
I WOULD SUPPORT LETTING THE COMMITTEE BE THE STEWARD OF THE
TREE TRUST FUND, BUT THE NEEDS IN EACH AREA ARE VERY
DIFFERENT IN WHAT WE WANT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE 11 RE-LEAF PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPED, FIRST OF ALL, THEY ARE ALL FOR THE CENTRAL TREE
TRUST FUND.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT 3,000 TREES THAT THEY HAVE PROPOSED
PLANTING AT THE $1400 A TREE, THAT'S YOUR $2.6 MILLION.
GONE.
THE WHOLE CENTRAL TREE TRUST FUND.
SO I VERY MUCH SUPPORT SUPPLEMENTING THAT FUNDING SO THAT
YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH THE RE-LEAF PLAN AND STILL HAVE MONEY
LEFT OVER IN THE TREE TRUST FUND.
I THINK THEY ARE GOOD PLANS.
I LOOKED AT THEM CLOSELY.
BUT WHAT WE MIGHT WANT IN SOUTH TAMPA IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM
THAT AND WE WANT TO HAVE MONEY THAT WE CAN USE FOR THE
TREE-MENDOUS TREE PROGRAM AND OTHER THINGS.
IF THE NRAC IS MAKING THOSE DECISIONS, HOW ARE WE HAVING
THAT LOCAL INPUT WITH JUST ONE OR POTENTIALLY TWO MEMBERS
FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS?
THAT'S MY MAIN CONCERN ON THAT.
OBVIOUSLY WITH MOST OF COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR ROLLING OFF
WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, I THINK THREE YEARS IS A VERY LONG
AMOUNT OF TIME TO HAVE THOSE REPRESENTATIVES.
AND I DON'T REALLY THINK IT'S FAIR TO ANY OF YOU OR YOUR
PREDECESSORS THAT DON'T GET TO MAKE THAT DECISION IN TERMS
OF WHO IS REPRESENTING THEM WHEN THE NEW COUNCIL COMES OUT.
I REALLY LIKE ONE- AND TWO-YEAR TERMS IN THAT SITUATION.
12:52:24PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER.
12:52:28PM >> STEPHANIE POYNOR.
I REALLY WISH I SAW A FUNCTIONING COMMITTEE THAT IS
CURRENTLY STAFFED BY CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
JOINTLY.
DON'T SEE THAT OFTEN.
BUT ANYWAY, BOTTOM LINE IS, THE RESOLUTION SAID, AND I WENT
BACK AND LOOKED AT MY NOTES, BUT THE RESOLUTION ISN'T IN
OnBase FROM FEBRUARY 5.
IT WAS JUST A RESOLUTION TO PUT THE MAYOR'S PEOPLE IN PLACE
FOR THREE YEARS AT A TIME.
WHAT I READ IN THE RESOLUTION, UP HERE AND GONE SO FAST, I
DIDN'T SEE IT, IT JUST SAID THREE YEARS, TWO YEAR, ONE YEAR.
AND IT DIDN'T SAY THAT THE MAYOR GETS ALL THE THREE YEARS.
AGAIN, AS WE'VE ALREADY POINTED OUT, SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE
HERE.
I'M GOING TO SAY THIS AS SOMEBODY WHO SITS ON THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
I'M ALSO GOING TO SAY THIS AS SOMEBODY WHO OBSERVES WHAT ONE
OF YOUR NOMINEES DOES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD, THAT
YOU WOULD LOVE TO GET RID OF.
YOU'D LOVE TO PUT HER ON THE HIGHWAY BUT YOU CAN'T BECAUSE
THERE'S NO WAY TO GET RID OF THE PEOPLE EXCEPT WITH CAUSE.
TO GET INVOLVED AND TO GET SO DEEP IN WITH PEOPLE THAT
SOMEBODY MAY NOT SUPPORT IN A YEAR, THAT'S CRAP.
IT'S REALLY CRAP.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COMMITTEE THAT BY RESOLUTION IS
ONLY MEETING TWICE A YEAR.
IF YOU'VE GOT A BIG PLAN, THEY NEED TO BE MEETING EVERY
MONTH.
I MEAN, SERIOUSLY.
HAVE THOSE PEOPLE COMMITTED TO THAT?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
BUT NOBODY SAID AND I DON'T REMEMBER READING IN THE
RESOLUTION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE NATURAL
RESOURCES MASTER PLAN AND REVISE IT.
I DON'T REMEMBER THAT EVER COMING UP.
AND IF THAT IS THE ASSIGNMENT FOR THEM, GO BACK AND WATCH
YOUR CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND LOOK AT THE
OBSTRUCTIONIST BEHAVIOR THAT'S GOING ON THERE.
CARROLL ANN BENNETT SENT ME A TEXT AND SAID SHE LIKES LYNN'S
PLAN.
SHE'S TOTALLY DOWN WITH THAT.
I THINK THAT THIS LIST THAT'S UP HERE IS A GREAT LIST.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER THAT, AND I THINK THAT
CITY COUNCIL SHOULD NEVER AGREE NOT TO HAVE SEVEN
REPRESENTATIVES, EVER, FOR ANY COMMITTEE, EVER.
EACH ONE OF YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR OWN PERSON.
YOU CAN'T ALL DECIDE ON FIVE PEOPLE.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO SIT UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT ONE
INDIVIDUAL AND SAY, NO, I DON'T LIKE THAT PERSON BECAUSE
THEY DRINK AT A BAR AND SWEAR UP AND DOWN THAT THEY DON'T
DRINK OR WHATEVER.
THE CRAZY STUFF I SAY ABOUT PEOPLE.
YOU CAN'T SAY THAT OUT LOUD FROM THE DAIS, SO HOW ARE YOU
GOING TO DISCUSS WHO YOU WANT TO PUT ON THE BOARD AND WHO
YOU DON'T?
SERIOUSLY.
NOBODY, NOWHERE IN THAT RESOLUTION -- WE CAN PUT IT BACK UP
HERE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BRING IT FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT
AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN -- IT DOESN'T SAY THE MAYOR GETS ALL
SIX THREE TERMS -- THREE YEARS.
AND I WOULD CAUTION ALL OF YOU THAT THERE SHOULD BE
SOMETHING IN THE RESOLUTION WHEN ITS REVISED ON HOW YOU CAN
REMOVE SOMEBODY FROM THE BOARD.
IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP, THEY DON'T SHOW UP, THEY GO.
I GOT ENOUGH ISSUES WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WITH PEOPLE
WHO DIDN'T SHOW UP.
AND THEN WE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE FABULOUS NOW.
STILL HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP AND DON'T SPEAK.
12:55:37PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT CRAZY THINGS I
CAN'T SAY FROM THE DAIS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
12:55:44PM >> STEVE MICHELINI.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE BUILDERS ARE
PAYING INTO THE FUND, BUT THEY ONLY HAVE ONE SEAT.
THE COUNCIL, ACCORDING TO YOUR DISCUSSION, ONLY WANTS TO
APPOINT A NEIGHBORHOOD PERSON OR A TREE PERSON.
I THINK AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THAT FUND, AND WE WERE THE ONES
WHO BROUGHT IT TO COUNCIL AND TOLD YOU THAT THE FUNDS WERE
NOT BEING SPENT.
IT WASN'T THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
IT WAS THEM COMPLAINING THAT THE BUILDERS WEREN'T DOING
THEIR PART.
SO WE LOOKED INTO IT AND HIRED OUR OWN INVESTIGATORS TO GO
IN AND LOOK AT THE BUDGET.
THAT'S WHERE WE FIRST FOUND THE THREE MILLION AND THEN THE
FOUR MILLION, THEN THE FIVE AND NOW THE SIX.
IT SHOULD BE A REPRESENTATIVE -- A BUILDER SHOULD BE ON THE
COMMITTEE AS WELL.
I AGREE WITH STEPHANIE.
SEVEN MEMBERS, ONE FOR EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DECIDE WHO IS GOING TO BE ON AND WHO
IS GOING TO BE OFF.
IF IT MEANS INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE BOARD AND IF THEY
ATTEND, FINE.
KEEP THEM ON THE BOARD.
IF THEY DON'T, REPLACE THEM.
BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE
GROUPS PAYING INTO THE FUND, SHOULD HAVE EQUAL
REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD.
THANK YOU.
12:56:59PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
START WITH YOUR NAME.
12:57:02PM >> HI.
PAMELA JACKSON HANEY WITH T-TAG.
I'M FINE WITH ONLY ONE DEVELOPER BUILDER ON THAT BOARD
BECAUSE WE'RE HERE MAINLY BECAUSE OF THEM.
THEY DID PAY INTO IT, BUT THEY TOOK DOWN A LOT OF TREES THAT
DID NOT NEED TO COME DOWN AND I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
ANYWAY, I'M TALKING ABOUT USING THE FUND FOR THE ONE AND TWO
TREES.
WE HAVE SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN A TREE TRUST FUND BECAUSE OF
THOSE MITIGATION FEES WITH THE RECENT CHANGES TO FLORIDA
LAW, THIS FUND WILL LIKELY NOT GROW SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE
FUTURE, SO WE HAVE ONE BITE AT THIS APPLE FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS AND WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT.
SO A MITIGATION FEE IS A REGULATORY TOOL DESIGNED TO BALANCE
DEVELOPMENT WITH COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS ENSURING THAT
GROWTH DOES NOT IMPOSE UNDUE BURDENS ON PUBLIC RESOURCES OR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE 6 MILLION IN THE TREE TRUST FUND BECAUSE TYPE ONE
TREES WERE REMOVED.
AND WE NEED TO PUT THEM BACK TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, AND
WE CAN DO THAT.
LIVE OAKS CHECK ALL THE BOXES.
I HAVE FOUR AROUND MY HOUSE THAT ARE STILL BIG, THRIVING,
HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD AND RESILIENT.
THEY ARE STRONG, THEY LIVE FOR CENTURIES.
THEY SURVIVED THE STORMS BECAUSE I DID TAKE CARE OF THEM, I
DO.
THEY ARE SALT TOLERANT AND THEY ARE ALSO EVERGREEN, WHICH IS
REALLY INTERESTING.
THEY ONLY LOSE THEIR LEAFS BRIEFLY AS WE NOW SEE IN THE
SPRING.
SO THERE'S NO COMPARISON TO A TYPE THREE TREE.
IF IT'S 1400 BUCKS A TREE, WE NEED TO SPEND IT ON OUR OAK
TREES.
I JUST WANT TO BRING UP ONE THING, THERE'S SO MUCH MATERIAL
TO LOOK AT.
I URGE YOU ALL TO LOOK AT THE 2013 URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT
PLAN BECAUSE IT HAS REALLY GOOD BONES.
AND IT'S A GREAT 20-YEAR DOCUMENT TO FOLLOW.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE STATIC. IT CAN BE CHANGED, OBVIOUSLY,
BUT THE BONES ARE THERE AND WHAT IT SAYS THAT WE NEED TO DO
TO HAVE A THRIVING CANOPY.
AND THERE'S SOME GOOD NUMBERS IN THERE.
ON PAGE 57 AND SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS OR OBJECTIVES AND
POLICIES ON 63 AND 64.
BUT WHAT I WANT TO QUICKLY GET TO BEFORE I RUN OUT OF TIME
IS THE LATEST CITY OF TAMPA TREE CANOPY AND URBAN FOREST
ANALYSIS DATED 2021.
SO MUCH FABULOUS INFORMATION.
ON PAGE 69, POTENTIAL PLANTING AREAS.
IF WE FLIP OVER TO PAGE 70, THIS IS A FASCINATING PAGE
BECAUSE IT SAYS HERE THAT WE HAVE 3,271 ACRES OF CITY
PROPERTIES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 263,769 POTENTIAL PLANTING
SITES WITH A SIX-FOOT RADIUS FOR A TOTAL OF AT LEAST 685
ACRES OF NEW TREE CANOPY.
IF YOU TAKE THE 6 MILLION AND DIVIDE IT BY 1400, THAT GIVES
US 4,286 TYPE ONE TREES WITH AVAILABLE SPOTS LEFT FOR CRAPE
MYRTLES, 259,483 SPOTS LEFT FOR CRAPE MYRTLES.
SO LET'S DO THE TYPE ONE TREES.
1:00:09PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK?
IF SO, PLEASE LINE UP AGAINST THE WALL.
IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE.
AFTER ADAM, ONE ONLINE SPEAKER.
1:00:27PM >> NANCY STEVENS, MEMBER OF T-TAG AND THE SIERRA CLUB.
I WANT TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL FOR THE MAKEUP OF THE NATURAL
RESOURCES ADVISORY COUNCIL.
I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT, I'M A MEMBER OF THE HILLSBOROUGH
COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL LAND ACQUISITION AND PLANNING ADVISORY
COUNCIL.
THE WAY IT IS STRUCTURED AND MAYBE APPROPRIATE HERE, IT'S AN
ADVISORY COUNCIL, SO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH STAFF WHO COME UP
WITH -- WELL, WHO ACTUALLY DO THE WORK, BUT AS THE
COMMITTEE, WE COME UP WITH A LISTING OF LANDS TO BE
ACQUIRED, LIKE PRIORITIZE THE LISTING OF LANDS.
SO STAFF GOES OUT AND MAYBE GENERATES A BUNCH OF PEOPLE,
BRINGS IN PROPOSALS FOR LANDS TO BE ACQUIRED, AND WITH THE
COMMITTEE AND THE STAFF, WE WILL COME UP WITH A LIST.
AND STAFF AND THE COMMITTEE APPROVES THE LIST.
IT'S AN ADVISORY COUNCIL.
HELPS THE STAFF DO THEIR JOB.
STAFF GOES OUT AND ACQUIRES THE LAND, MAKES DEALS TO BUY THE
LAND AND DOES ALL THE WORK.
THAT COULD BE A GOOD MODEL HERE.
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ADVISES STAFF, COMES IN WITH A DETAILED
REPORT OF WHAT TREE PROJECTS THEY ARE.
WHAT IS THE REQUEST FOR USING THE TREE FUNDS AND PROVIDE
INFORMATION TO THE COMMITTEE SO THE COMMITTEE WOULD HAVE
INFORMATION TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON.
MY BIG THOUGHT HERE, THE ADVISORY COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STAFF WHO IS EMPOWERED, WHO IS
AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE TREE TRUST FUND EXPENDITURES FOR
PROJECTS.
SO I THINK IT'S A TWO-PART SOLUTION HERE THAT HAS TO BE
WORKED.
1:02:08PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ADAM.
START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE.
1:02:12PM >> ADAM HARDEN.
1:02:13PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
UP THERE, BECAUSE THE MICROPHONE WON'T
PICK YOU UP.
START WITH YOUR NAME UP THERE.
1:02:18PM >> ADAM HARDEN.
I THINK YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT YOUR POTENTIAL RESOLUTION
REFINE THE COMMITTEE SOUNDS REASONABLE.
SO GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.
THE POINT I WAS MAKING EARLIER WAS THAT I THINK THERE IS A
LOT OF LOST OPPORTUNITY.
THERE'S ALSO A SIDEWALK IN LIEU FUND.
PERHAPS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER RESOLVING TO HAVE THIS SUNSHINE
COMMITTEE ALSO OVERSEE WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING AND TO
SEE THAT WE ACTUALLY GET NEW SIDEWALKS OUT OF THEM.
SO AS WE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, MANY STREETS
WHERE SIDEWALKS WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO BE BUILT, OPEN
DITCHES, EXISTING GRAND TREES.
BUT HAVING, MAKING SURE THOSE FUNDS DON'T FALL INTO BEING
USED FOR REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT INSTEAD OF GIVING THE NEW
SIDEWALKS THAT THE PEOPLE PAID THE FEE IN LIEU FOR I THINK
IS IMPORTANT.
THEN THOSE THINGS ARE LINKED WITH THE TREE MITIGATION,
RIGHT?
I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE THE IDEA OF GIVING A LIMITED BUDGET,
ESPECIALLY OF EXPANDING THE PROGRAM TO PLANT TREES IN
PRIVATE PROPERTIES IS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA.
I THINK THAT IF YOUR SUNSHINE COMMITTEE IS -- HAS A STAFF
MEMBER TO INTERFACE WITH, AND CAN COME UP WITH GOOD IDEAS,
THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF PUBLIC REALM SPACES TO SPEND THE
MONEY AND PLANT TYPE ONE TREES THAT EVERYBODY HERE AGREES WE
WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, LYNN -- TWO GOOD EXAMPLES.
FOLLOWING THE NEW BIKE CORRIDOR, WHICH THE CITY JUST BUILT.
SURE THE RENDERINGS IN THAT CORRIDOR SHOW SIDEWALKS AND
TREES, BIKE LANES DONE, BUT THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS AND
TREES.
ANOTHER CORRIDOR WHICH WOULD CONNECT THE TWO PARKS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER.
DAILY, PEOPLE WALK IN THE STREET.
A SECOND EXAMPLE HERE IS A PROJECT THAT WE ASSISTED WITH IN
RIDGEWOOD.
AGAIN IT SHOWS A LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TREE
MITIGATION AND THE BIGGER PICTURE.
THE HEIGHTS WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE FIRST $660,000 OF ITS
TRANSPORTATION FEES WOULD GO TO TRAFFIC CALMING IN
RIDGEWOOD.
WE WORKED WITH CAL HARDY AND GOT THAT PROGRAM DONE.
THIS IS A PORTION OF THAT.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS PARALLEL BY NO SIDEWALKS, AND IF YOU
WERE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY FROM THE IMPROVEMENT, THEN
THERE'S ALSO HUGE GAP IN THE TREE CANOPY.
SEEING AS THESE IMPROVEMENTS COME FORWARD, SEEING IT BE
INTEGRATED, THE TREE MITIGATION, THE SIDEWALK EXPENDITURES
AND THESE THINGS THAT THE CITY HAS DONE THAT ARE POSITIVE, I
THINK IS IMPORTANT.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE FOLKS THE MAYOR PUT UP ARE WELL QUALIFIED.
HOPE TO SEE YOU APPROVE THEM.
1:05:18PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU.
OUR LAST SPEAKER ON THIS TOPIC IS ONLINE.
CARROLL ANN BENNETT.
CARROLL ANN?
UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE.
1:05:37PM >> I'M UNMUTED.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
1:05:40PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
NOW WE CAN HEAR YOU.
START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
1:05:44PM >> CARROLL ANN BENNETT.
I'M IN THE CAR.
HOPEFULLY I CAN FINISH BEFORE I LOSE CONNECTION.
I REALLY LIKE LYNN'S PLAN.
I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT SOLUTION.
HOWEVER, I HEARD WHAT STEPHANIE SAID AND SHE BROUGHT UP A
GOOD POINT ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT'S HARD TO REMOVE SOMEONE
AND A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER OR NEW MAYOR COULD BE STUCK WITH AN
APPOINTEE THAT THEY DON'T THINK IS DOING A GOOD JOB.
LET ME POINT OUT THAT AN OPTION WOULD BE TO APPOINT EVERYONE
RIGHT NOW TO A ONE-YEAR TERM.
I WANT TO POINT OUT -- THEY CAN BE REAPPOINTED.
IF YOU APPOINT THEM -- [GARBLED AUDIO] -- AFTER THE
ELECTION, CAN REAPPOINT THE SAME PERSON OR IF THEY ARE
UNHAPPY WITH THAT PERSON'S PERFORMANCE, THEY CAN APPOINT
SOMEONE DIFFERENT.
THAT PROVIDES THE CONTINUITY THAT BRIAN KNOX SAID HE WANTED
SO THAT -- BECAUSE THAT WOULD GIVE THEM FOUR YEARS.
IF YOU LIKE THAT PLAN BETTER.
LET ME JUST GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED BEFORE.
THE TREE-MENDOUS PROGRAM IS PHENOMENALLY SUCCESSFUL.
[GARBLED AUDIO]
1:07:03PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
CARROLL ANN, YOU ARE BREAKING UP NOW.
1:07:08PM >> OKAY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A DISEASE FOR A TREE, IT'S
SPECIES SPECIFIC, NOT TYPE SPECIFIC.
IF YOU LIMIT IT TO TYPE ONES AND TYPE TWOS, YOU CAN STILL
HAVE THE DIVERSITY YOU NEED, AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE
DONE WITH THE TREE TRUST FUNDS.
IF YOU WANT TO DO TYPE THREE TREES, PROVIDE THE FUNDING THAT
WE NEED TO HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
1:07:29PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU, MS. BENNETT.
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'VE BEEN GOING THIS MORNING, I KNOW COUNCIL, WE'RE READY
TO GO, BUT STAFF NEEDS SOME RELIEF.
SO I AM GOING TO CALL A RECESS AND ASK EVERYBODY TO BE BACK
IN ORDER AT --
1:07:49PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
CAN I JUST MAKE THE END OF MOTIONS?
WE ALREADY HAD THE DISCUSSION.
WE'RE JUST MAKING THE MOTION.
1:08:02PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I'M TRYING TO SAVE YOU GUYS.
1:08:03PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE BUT TWO MINUTES TO
MAKE THE MOTION AND THEN WE'RE DONE WITH THIS.
WE WANTED TO WAIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
1:08:10PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
OKAY.
GO.
1:08:11PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THE RECOMMENDATION IS -- OH, WE HAD IT UP ON
THE SCREEN.
IF I COULD HAVE THE SCREEN AGAIN.
TO HAVE THE MEETING FREQUENCY AND TERMS BE A MINIMUM OF SIX
MEETINGS A YEAR, ALTHOUGH I REALLY DO THINK THAT MONTHLY IS
PROBABLY PREFERABLE, BUT I'LL GO WITH A MINIMUM OF SIX.
TO DO INITIAL APPOINTMENTS BASED ON THE ONE, TWO, AND THREE
YEARS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT PRIOR.
AND THAT THE REST OF IT -- SO WHAT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT IS
THAT MY OFFICE WOULD WORK TO TURN THESE INTO ACTUAL MOTIONS
TO BRING --
1:09:07PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DO.
1:09:10PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WE DID A LOT OF APPROVALS OF THINGS WE'D LIKE
TO SEE.
BUT WHAT OUR OFFICE WILL DO IS PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, TALK TO
STAFF AND SEE WHAT KIND OF MOTIONS WE CAN MAKE OUT OF IT,
WHICH IS THE POINT OF THE WORKSHOP.
THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION IS SIX MEETINGS A YEAR AND THE
SCHEDULE THAT WE HAD FOR THE ONE, TWO, AND THREE --
1:09:33PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING PART OF THAT
DISCUSSION.
TERMS USUALLY RUN --
1:09:42PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I'M FINE WITH ONE YEAR.
DONE.
1:09:45PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WHEN THEY ARE REAPPOINTED, THEY GO WITH
THE OFFICIAL.
1:09:49PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
EXCELLENT.
I'LL GO WITH THAT.
ONE YEAR TO FINISH OUT COUNCIL TERMS AND MAYORAL TERM FOR
THE MAYOR AND THEN REQUIRING A MINIMUM OF SIX MEETINGS, AND
THEN ALSO THE LAST THING IS TO CREATE RULES THAT WOULD -- OF
-- TO MATCH SIMILAR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FOR ATTENDANCE.
1:10:15PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I THINK WE NEED TO COME BACK TO NEW
BUSINESS ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND
I THINK -- NOT JUST ATTENDANCE, I THINK THERE ARE
STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES FOR BOARDS THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT,
RULES OF PROCEDURE.
1:10:27PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
ABSOLUTELY.
AGAIN, WE'LL GET THIS STARTED.
I PROMISE YOU, THIS IS NOT THE END OF IT.
THIS IS THE POINT OF A WORKSHOP TO VOMIT OUT OUR IDEAS AND
COME TOGETHER.
1:10:38PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT THESE APPOINTEES
FOR THE FIRST ONE YEAR AND RIDE WITH THE APPOINTED OFFICIAL,
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, WE HAVE A SECOND
FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED?
AYES HAVE IT.
WE NEED TO BREAK.
I KNOW WE HAVE ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM.
WE NEED A BREAK.
1:45 GOOD FOR YOU GUYS?
1:45 WE'LL BE BACK.
[ SOUNDING GAVEL ]
[RECESS]
1:50:27PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
GOOD AFTERNOON.
WELCOME BACK FROM LUNCH, TAMPA CITY COUNCIL, CALL THIS
MEETING TO ORDER.
ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
1:50:39PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
HERE.
1:50:39PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
HERE.
1:50:41PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
HERE.
1:50:42PM >> YOUNG?
VIERA?
1:50:44PM >>BILL CARLSON:
HERE.
1:50:45PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
HERE.
1:50:45PM >>THE CLERK:
WE HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM.
1:50:47PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WELCOME BACK.
WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT NOISE.
ITEM NUMBER 7.
STAFF, PLEASE.
1:51:11PM >>ERIC COTTON:
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
ERIC COTTON, DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION.
AS YOU RECALL THE DISCUSSION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON THE
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS, COUNCIL COMMISSIONED A NOISE STUDY,
AND WE'RE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE RESULTS.
WE ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS IN AUGUST OF 2024.
AND IN 2025, THE RFP WAS AWARDED TO HARRIS MILLER, MILLER
AND HANSON.
HMMH CONDUCTED NOISE STUDIES BETWEEN APRIL AND MAY AND JUNE.
MAY 7, HYBRID KICKOFF MEETING, AND THEN WE DID ANOTHER
VIRTUAL MEETING.
TWO VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
ONE WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND ONE WITH BUSINESS OWNERS.
I MYSELF, I ATTENDED A COUPLE OF VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH SOME
PEOPLE FROM DOWNTOWN AND SOME FROM SOHO.
TODAY, I WANT TO INTRODUCE ROBERT FINCK FROM HMMH HERE TO
PRESENT THE CONSULTANT STUDY.
IF IT COULD BE BROUGHT UP ON THE SCREEN.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO BOB FINCK.
1:52:22PM >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
AM I CLICKING THROUGH THIS?
1:52:26PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THERE SHOULD BE A HANDHELD CLICKER
SOMEWHERE.
1:52:30PM >> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
AS ERIC MENTIONED, MY NAME IS BOB FINCK FROM HMMH.
I AM THE PROJECT MANAGER OF THE CITY OF TAMPA CONSULTANT
CONTRACT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M GOING TO PRESENT KIND OF THE SUMMARY OF
THE DOCUMENT.
YOU ALL PROBABLY HAD A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH MORE OF THE
DETAILS.
HMMH CONDUCTED A NOISE ASSESSMENT TO PROVIDE THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UPDATES IN OUR MODERNIZATION OF THE
CITY'S CURRENT NOISE REGULATIONS.
THE BACKGROUND IS, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS GAINED
SIGNIFICANT POPULATION GROWTH OVER THE LAST 10 TO 15 YEARS.
WITH THE INCREASE IN COMBINED RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INCREASED NOISE CONFLICTS
ARE INEVITABLE.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE NOISE STUDIES WERE TO IDENTIFY THE
SOURCES OF NOISE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IDENTIFICATION PROCESS THROUGH PUBLIC SURVEYS, STAKEHOLDER
MEETINGS AND LAND USE REVIEW DATA COLLECTION.
WE IMPLEMENTED A NOISE MONITORING PROGRAM WHICH IS A
MEASUREMENT OF NOISE LEVELS AT SENSITIVE AREAS, PERFORMED
NOISE MODELING TO DEVELOP NOISE CONTOURS AND RECOMMENDED
UPDATES TO THE NOISE REGULATIONS.
NOISE SOURCES IDENTIFIED WERE COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS WITH LIVE MUSIC AND CROWD NOISE,
SUPPORTING EVENTS, CONCERTS, VEHICULAR NOISE.
FOOD TRUCKS, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WITH THE GENERATOR NOISE
WAS SOMETHING MENTIONED AT THE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY, OF COURSE.
SO THE NOISE MONITORING PROGRAM TO START WITH WAS WE
CONDUCTED MEASUREMENTS IN APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE OF 2025.
USING MODERN SOUND LEVEL METERS TO MEASURE THE AMBIENT AND
ACTIVE NOISE LEVELS.
THE REASON FOR THE AMBIENT AND ACTIVE IS TO FIND OUT THE
BACKGROUND NOISE AS OPPOSED TO EVENT RELATED NOISE.
THESE WERE PREDETERMINED LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT EACH FOCUS
AREA AND MULTIPLE METERS WERE USED FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS
MEASUREMENTS.
THE GRAPHIC THAT YOU SEE THERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE
CHANNELSIDE MEASUREMENT AREAS WITH THE RED TRIANGLES BEING
AREAS OF MEASUREMENT AND ALL THIS, LIKE I SAID, IS DETAILED
IN THAT DOCUMENT.
NOISE MEASUREMENT FOCUS AREAS THAT WE IDENTIFIED WERE
THUNDER ALLEY, SPARKMAN WHARF, SOHO, RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM,
AND YBOR CITY.
NOISE METRICS CAPTURED INCLUDED THE LEQ, L MAX, L 10 AND L
90 WHICH ARE DIFFERENT WAYS OF LOOKING AT SOUND LEVELS IN
ORDER TO ASSESS WHAT WE'RE FINDING.
TABULATED MEASURE RESULTS, THIS TABLE IS INCLUDED IN HERE,
NOT FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO KIND OF SHOW YOU WHAT WAS
COLLECTED.
THIS IS THE YBOR CITY EXAMPLE, AND DIFFERENT AREAS ALONG
7th AVENUE AND ALONG 6th AVENUE AND ALONG 5th AVENUE.
JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WOULD BE FOUND IN THAT DOCUMENT AND
A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT SOUND LEVELS LIEU L MAX, LEQ, L 10
AND L 90 WHICH TELL US ABOUT THE DIFFERENT NOISES AT THE
TIME.
NOISE MODELING AND NOISE CONTOURS, NOISE MODELING WAS DONE
TO DEVELOP THE NOISE CONTOURS AND THAT USED THE SOUND PLAN
NOISE PREDICTION MODEL, WHICH PROVIDES ESTIMATES OF SOUND
LEVELS AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE ELEVATIONS OF TERRAIN FEATURES
AND INTERVENING OBJECTS.
THE IMPORTANT PART FOR THIS STUDY AS WELL, COLOR CONTOUR MAP
SHOWING AREAS OF EQUAL OR SIMILAR NOISE LEVELS.
CALCULATED LEQ AND LMAX AND TO DEVELOP THE NOISE CONTOURS.
GRAPHIC VISUALIZATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE USE THE RESULTS AS SOURCE DATA TO CREATE THE CONTOUR MAPS
AND FIELD OBSERVATIONS HELPED WITH THE DISTINCTIVE NOISE
SOURCES.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF MANY CONTOUR MAPS THAT WAS
CREATED IN YBOR CITY.
AND THIS IS FOR THE LMAX.
WHAT THIS SHOWS YOU IS THE DIFFERENT COLORS SHOW THE
DIFFERENT LEVELS THAT WERE MEASURED, BUT IT ALSO SHOWS WHERE
IT TRAVELS THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
DIFFERENT COLORS SHOW THE DIFFERENT LEVELS, AND WITH THE
HATCHING AREA BEING KIND OF THE RESIDENTIAL.
THIS KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IDEA THAT IT MIGHT BE VERY LOUD AT
THE SOURCE BUT NOT NECESSARILY AS LOUD AT THE RECEIVING
PROPERTY.
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WAS SHOWN.
SOUND PLAN CAN INCLUDE THE PROPAGATION PATH AND ALSO THE
BUILDINGS.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE WAS THE LEQ.
THAT WAS MEASURED IN THE SOHO AREA.
AND THIS SHOWS SORT OF THE SAME THING WITH THE RESIDENTIAL
AREAS BEING IN THE HATCHING, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE NOISE
SOURCES ARE WITH THE RED COLORS BEING THE HIGHEST.
AND THEN IT TRAVELS THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT NOT
CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DUE TO BUILDINGS
BLOCKING IT AND THE LIKE.
SO THE EXISTING NOISE ORDINANCE IN CHAPTER 14 HAS A COUPLE
OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT I'LL TOUCH ON WITH THE DESIGNATED
ENTERTAINMENT AREAS BEING YBOR CITY AND THE ARENA DISTRICT.
THOSE CONSIDER EXCESSIVE NOISE MEASURED FROM THE PROPERTY
LINE OF THE NOISE SOURCE.
AND YOU HAVE A DAYTIME AND A NIGHTTIME NOISE LEVEL
THRESHOLD, WHICH ARE 85 DECIBELS AND 65 DECIBELS
RESPECTIVELY, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 6 P.M. AND 3 A.M. FOR
NIGHT TIME AND 3 A.M. AND 6 P.M. FOR THE DAYTIME.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DBA AND DBC IS THAT THE DBA NOISE
LEVEL IS WHAT MOST CLOSELY APPROXIMATE WHAT THE HUMAN EAR
CAN HEAR.
DBC MEASURES MORE OF A BASIC SOUND LEVEL, WHICH CAN BE
IMPORTANT WHEN CREATING A NOISE ORDINANCE BECAUSE OF THE
FACT THAT IT TRAVELS THROUGH BUILDINGS AND WINDOWS A LITTLE
BIT MORE.
SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT THRESHOLDS IN THIS
REGULATION.
AND MORE IN THE EXISTING NOISE ORDINANCE, ALL OTHER AREAS OF
THE CITY CONSIDER WHAT IS CALLED UNREASONABLY LOUD AND
RAUCOUS OR PLAINLY AUDIBLE NATURE OF THE SOUND AT ANY TIME
OF THE DAY.
BETWEEN 10 AND 7 P.M. OR 10 P.M. AND 7 A.M., PLAINLY
AUDIBLE, MINIMUM OF HUNDRED FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE OF
THE NOISE SOURCE.
THIS IS IN THE NONENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AREAS.
ALSO, IN THIS ORDINANCE IS EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM A VEHICLE,
PLAINLY AUDIBLE AT 50 FEET.
ALSO IT TOUCHES ON PLACEMENT OF STATIONARY LOUD SPEAKERS.
CONTINUING ON WITH THE EXISTING NOISE ORDINANCE, DIFFERENT
CHAPTER, CHAPTER 27 IS THE LIMITATION STANDARDS FOR NOISE
FROM INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING, AND PROCESSING OPERATION.
EXCUSE ME.
AND THIS ALSO PROVIDES A NOISE THRESHOLD, BUT IT CONSIDERS
THE EXCESSIVE NOISE THRESHOLDS FROM THE PROPERTY RECEIVING
THE NOISE AND THAT'S AT RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, AND
INDUSTRIAL LAND USES.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DID IN THIS NOISE ASSESSMENT
IS WE COMPARED NOISE ORDINANCES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES
AND THROUGHOUT FLORIDA.
AND WHAT WE FOUND IS MOST ORDINANCES IN U.S. CITIES HAVE
MAXIMUM NOISE LEVELS NEAR 55 DECIBELS DAYTIME AND 55
DECIBELS NIGHTTIME FOR RESIDENTIAL LAND USE, WHICH IS
CONSIDERED THE TYPICAL STANDARD.
ALL THREE FLORIDA CITIES COMPARED, WHICH WAS TAMPA, ORLANDO,
AND ST. PETERSBURG, HAVE HIGHER LIMITS THAN THE TYPICAL
ALLOWABLE DAYTIME STANDARDS THROUGHOUT THE U.S.
ALL THREE FLORIDA CITIES ALSO AND CINCINNATI USE A MIXTURE
OF PLAINLY AUDIBLE AND NUMERIC INSTRUMENTED METRICS FOR
VIOLATIONS.
MEASUREMENTS NEAR THE SOURCE GENERATING THE NOISE IS NOT A
COMMON VARIABLE WITHIN NOISE ORDINANCES THROUGHOUT THE U.S.,
WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO THIS STUDY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT
THE CURRENT NOISE ORDINANCE FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
DOES USE THE FROM THE NOISE SOURCE GENERATING.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT MOST ORDINANCES ARE DEVELOPED
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY FROM
NOISE LEVELS.
WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, WE DEVELOPED RECOMMENDATIONS AND
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CITY CONSIDER.
REVISIONS ARE MEANT TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY CONCERNS ABOUT
NOISE.
IMPROVING ENFORCEABILITY IN SOME AREAS AND ALIGN TAMPA'S
ORDINANCE FOR CONSISTENCY WITH COMPARABLE U.S. CITIES.
SUGGESTED REVISIONS ARE BASED ON OUR NOISE MEASUREMENT DATA,
MODEL CONTOURS AND A COMPARISON OF SIMILAR CITIES THROUGHOUT
THE U.S.
SO GOING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS, THE FIRST
RECOMMENDATION IS EXTEND THE LIMITATION STANDARDS AT THE
RECEIVING LAND USES FOR INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING, AND
PROCESSING OPERATIONS TO ALL SOURCES OF NOISE CITYWIDE.
THIS IS THE CHAPTER 17 CURRENT ORDINANCE.
THESE NOISE LEVEL THRESHOLDS WOULD THEN BE CONSISTENT WITH
THE CURRENT EPC REGULATIONS.
CURRENTLY THAT CHAPTER 17 SHOWS NOISE THAT IS NOT -- WHAT IS
THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR?
NOT CREATED FROM A RESIDENTIAL SOURCE.
IT HAS LIMITATION STANDARDS FOR NOISE FROM INDUSTRIAL,
MANUFACTURING, AND PROCESSING OPERATIONS.
AND SO WE RECOMMEND TO EXTEND THAT TO ALL SOURCES OF NOISE
CITYWIDE.
THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO ADD NUMERIC NOISE
LEVEL THRESHOLDS RECEIVED AT THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LINE
FOR NOISE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE CURRENT ORDINANCE MEASURES NOISE
LEVEL FROM THE SOURCE, AND NOT FROM THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
LINE.
THIS WOULD ENSURE CONSISTENCY WITH THE NOISE CONTROL EFFORTS
IF WE HAD BOTH OF THOSE IN THE ORDINANCE FROM THE SOURCE AND
AT THE RECEIVING PROPERTY.
THE REASONS FOR THAT, AS I SHOWED EARLIER WITH THE NOISE
CONTOURS, NOT ALL PROPERTIES ARE RECEIVING THE SAME LEVEL OF
NOISE DUE TO INTERVENING BUILDINGS AND OTHER TERRAIN
FEATURES.
THE THIRD RECOMMENDATION IS TO MANDATE A 65-DECIBEL NOISE
THRESHOLD RECEIVED AT THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LINE FOR
NOISE WITHIN DESIGNATED ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS BETWEEN THE
6 P.M. AND 3 A.M. TIME PERIOD.
THIS WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE RANGE OF REDUCTION THAT WE
SAW IN THE NOISE CONTOURS.
RECOMMENDATION 4 WOULD BE TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM NOISE LEVEL
THRESHOLD FROM DESIGNATED ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT PROPERTY
LINE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 1 A.M. AND 3 A.M. INSTEAD OF
HAVING THE OVERALL 6 P.M. TO 3 A.M., WHICH STILL MAINTAINS
THE 65-DECIBEL NOISE LEVEL THRESHOLD RECEIVED AT THE
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LINE AS MENTIONED IN RECOMMENDATION 3.
SO PART OF THIS ASSESSMENT ACTUALLY WENT ON TO DISCUSS SOME
OF THE NOISE MITIGATION STRATEGIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES.
THE SOURCE CONTROL, PATH CONTROL, AND RECEPTOR CONTROL WHICH
ESSENTIALLY IS MITIGATION STRATEGIES FROM THE SOURCE OR FROM
THE PATH FROM THE SOURCE TO THE RECEPTORS ARE ACTUALLY AT
THE RECEPTORS, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE IS TO
HAVE A SOUND SYSTEM TUNING AND LIMITATION, STRUCTURAL
MATERIALS, VENUES AND SPEAKER SYSTEM DESIGN AT THE SOURCE,
PATH CONTROL WOULD BE NOISE BARRIERS, WHICH I THINK
EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR WITH AND CERTAINLY ACOUSTIC FENCES.
AT THE RECEPTOR, BUILDING INSULATION CAN BE VERY HELPFUL.
ALSO ZONING AND LAND USE CONTROL TO ESTABLISH BUFFERS
BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES.
SOME OF THE MORE TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED IN
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE THINKING
ABOUT IS THE NOISE MITIGATION STRATEGIES.
I ADDED THIS ONE FOR AN ARTICLE THAT WAS USE OF THE NOISE
CAMERAS, WHICH ARE AUTOMATED NOISE MONITORING SYSTEMS.
ALSO DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES, SOUND CAMERAS ARE SOMETHING
THAT IS MOVING FAST TECHNOLOGICALLY.
SO ESSENTIALLY THAT IS CAPTURING NOISE LEVELS WITHOUT HAVING
STAFF ON-SITE.
AND THEN CERTAINLY PUBLIC MOBILE APPS AND COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS ARE OTHER OPTIONS FOR NOISE MITIGATION.
SO FOR A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, THIS IS A QUICK SUMMARY OF
THE HISTORICAL TAMPA NOISE ORDINANCE FROM 2003 INTO 2016
CONFIRMED THE PLAINLY AUDIBLE.
2023 WAS THE REVISION OF THE EPC ORDINANCE.
AND THEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT ORDINANCES BETWEEN 2016 AND 2022
WAS A FULL REWRITE AND THEN ONE THAT WAS REPEALED AND THEN
IN MAY OF '22 REMOVED THE CHANNEL DISTRICT.
SO LOTS OF BACK AND FORTH, WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR CITIES
OF THIS SIZE WITH ALL THE VARIABLE NOISE SOURCES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO ADD HERE THROUGH
CORRESPONDENCE WITH CITY STAFF WAS THE ENFORCEMENT
CHALLENGES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED IN TAMPA IN THE PAST,
AND LED TO SOME OF THE ORDINANCE REVISIONS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, AND PROBABLY KNOW ALREADY, THE TPD OFFICERS
HAVE HIGHER PRIORITY CALLS INVOLVING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO
SPEND TIME ON NOISE ISSUES.
MODERN NOISE MEASUREMENT DEVICES MAY PRESENT OPERATIONAL
MEASUREMENT CHALLENGES FOR TPD OFFICERS THAT AREN'T TRAINED.
NOISE MEASUREMENTS, MEASURED AT THE RECEIVING PROPERTY LINES
HAVE HISTORICALLY PROVEN CHALLENGING FOR ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE
IN COURT.
AND THEN ALSO IDENTIFYING A SPECIFIC SOURCE OF OFFENSIVE
NOISE THROUGH MEASUREMENTS CAN BE DIFFICULT IN URBAN
SETTINGS IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY THE OFFENDING NOISE SOURCE.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT'S IT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
2:07:26PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WHY 65 AND NOT 55?
DECIBELS.
YOU SAID ADVICE WAS 65, BUT THEN YOU SAID MOST CITIES USE
55.
2:07:36PM >> THAT'S DAYTIME VERSUS NIGHTTIME.
65 WOULD BE MORE READILY EFFECTIVE IN THE DAYTIME BECAUSE
THERE'S SO MUCH OTHER AMBIENT NOISE.
AT NIGHT, A LOWER NOISE LEVEL WOULD BE OF BENEFIT BECAUSE
YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH TRAFFIC NOISE AND ALL OF THE OTHER
THINGS THAT MAKE THE OVERALL SOUND LEVEL HIGHER.
2:07:59PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I'LL GO AFTER YOU.
2:08:01PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NO, FINISH.
2:08:03PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
GENERALLY, IN THESE AREAS THAT WE
SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED, THE ARENA, CHANNELSIDE, YBOR CITY,
SOUTH HOWARD, IS THE AMBIENT LEVEL NOISE MEASURED AROUND
THERE ALWAYS OVER THESE THRESHOLDS?
2:08:20PM >> NO.
IT DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE LMAX WOULD BE THE HIGHEST LEVEL MEASURED
AND CERTAINLY THAT COULD BE A LOUD CAR GO BY, YOUR MAXIMUM.
ONE OF THE MORE USEFUL MEASUREMENT ITEMS IS LEQ.
THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT NOISE LEVEL OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
TIME.
YOU MAY MEASURE FOR 10 OR 15 MINUTES OR EVEN 30 MINUTES
STRAIGHT AND YOU'LL HAVE A SERIES OF LMAX LEVELS THAT ARE
HIGHER AND THEN LOWER, BUT THAT GIVES YOU THE LEQ.
WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WHEN WE MEASURED AT THOSE AREAS,
ALTHOUGH THEY WERE DIFFERENT WITH RAYMOND JAMES AND
CHANNELSIDE DURING THE LIGHTNING GAME WAS WE TRIED TO DO AN
AMBIENT BEFORE THE EVENT AND THEN ALSO DURING THE EVENT.
MOST OF WHAT WE FOUND IN THOSE AREAS THAT WERE NONEVENT
RELATED NOISE WAS NOT EXCEEDING THE CURRENT REGULATIONS.
SOME OF THE EVENT NOISE WAS AT CERTAIN TIMES, BUT IT ALL
DEPENDED ON WHERE THE MEASUREMENT SITE WAS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE DID IT WITH THE NOISE CONTOURS, SO YOU CAN
SEE KIND OF HOW IT WAS SEPARATING OUT THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
MAYBE I RAMBLED ON.
2:09:35PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
KIND OF.
I'LL COME BACK.
I'LL LET IT SPIN IN MY HEAD A FEW MINUTES.
2:09:40PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THANK YOU.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS STUDY AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THAT'S ALWAYS THE BEST PART, ESPECIALLY WHEN STUFF THAT WE
DON'T LIKE FULLY UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY.
BUT DO UNDERSTAND ENOUGH THAT WE GET CONSTANT COMPLAINTS
ABOUT NOISE, AND THAT'S WHY WE ASK FOR THIS STUDY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE RECOMMENDATIONS THREE AND FOUR.
BUT I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS REALLY
INTERESTING IDEA OF NOISE CAMERAS.
SO IF WE WERE TO USE NOISE CAMERAS, I DON'T KNOW THAT
THERE'S ANYONE -- OH, YES, MR. SCHMIDT IS HERE FROM TPD.
IF WE WERE TO PUT NOISE CAMERAS IN, HOW MANY WOULD WE NEED
IN AN ENTERTAINMENT AREA TO, SAY, LET'S JUST FOCUS ON YBOR.
HOW MANY CAMERAS WOULD WE NEED IN AN AREA LIKE YBOR TO
ENSURE THAT FOLKS IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS ARE NOT -- RATHER
THAT THE DECIBEL LEVELS ARE SET TO WHATEVER WE END UP
CHANGING THEM TO?
2:10:53PM >> SURE.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU A DIRECT ANSWER AS TO HOW MANY BECAUSE
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THAT TECHNOLOGY
THAT'S EVER CHANGING.
THERE ARE SPECIFIC TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN DO JUST
VEHICLE NOISE AT INTERSECTIONS, ESPECIALLY LOUD
INTERSECTIONS OR TRAVEL ROUTES OR EVEN A NOISE CAMERA THAT'S
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT TAKES LIKE AN LEQ LIKE WE TALKED
ABOUT BEFORE THAT CAN GIVE YOU A GRAPH OF HOW HIGH THE NOISE
IS VERSUS HOW LOW IT IS.
SO THE SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS, I DON'T KNOW HOW
MANY, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS.
2:11:29PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OKAY.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TALK TO OUR TPD FOLKS ABOUT.
I THINK MY OTHER QUESTION IS RIGHT NOW -- AND THIS MIGHT NOT
BE A QUESTION FOR YOU, BUT FOR STAFF -- RIGHT NOW, HOW MANY
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS, LIKE, ACTUAL SPECIFIED
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS DO WE HAVE?
2:11:54PM >>ERIC COTTON:
ERIC COTTON, DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION.
TECHNICALLY, BY DEFINITION, WE DON'T HAVE ANY.
2:12:00PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OH, OKAY.
2:12:00PM >>ERIC COTTON:
IN CHAPTER 14, YBOR CITY AND THE ARENA
DISTRICT ARE PULLED OUT TO HAVE DIFFERENT MEASUREMENT TERMS.
THIS IS HOW THEY WERE DESCRIBING THEM IN THEIR STUDY.
TECHNICALLY WE DON'T HAVE ANY, QUOTE, ENTERTAINMENT
DISTRICTS.
2:12:21PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WE COULD SIMPLY DO THE NOISE CITYWIDE.
2:12:25PM >>ERIC COTTON:
THAT'S THE PURVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL.
2:12:27PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
2:12:28PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR FINE REPORT.
FROM WHAT I READ, I BELIEVE YOU ALSO SAID NOISE IS MEASURED
AT THE POINT OF AND THEN WHERE IT IS RECEIVED IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, THE ONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD EVIDENTLY IS NOT
TOO WELL ACCEPTED BY THE COURTS.
2:12:43PM >> THAT'S CORRECT.
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE REGULATION.
THE NOISE IN CHAPTER 27 THAT IS CREATED FROM INDUSTRIAL TYPE
IS MEASURED AT THE PROPERTY LINE.
ALL OTHER NOISE THAT IS IN CHAPTER 14, WHICH INCLUDES THE
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE IS
MEASURED FROM THE NOISE SOURCE, CURRENTLY.
AND TO CONFIRM WHAT YOU SAID, IS, YES, WHAT WE HEARD FROM
CITY STAFF IS THAT MEASUREMENTS FROM THE PROPERTY LINE ARE
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IN COURT AS ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE.
2:13:24PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THAT MEANS WE HAVE A HARD ROAD AHEAD OF
US.
2:13:29PM >> HISTORICALLY THAT IS.
I CAN'T COMMENT MUCH ON CURRENT.
2:13:32PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT?
2:13:38PM >> I THINK THAT THE TECHNOLOGIES ARE ADVANCING IN NOISE
MEASUREMENTS NOW, AS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH SOME CAMERAS.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME PLACES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. THAT
ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH IT.
WHETHER OR NOT THAT COULD INCLUDE VIOLATIONS AND BEING
ADMISSIBLE IN COURT, I CAN'T REALLY COMMENT ON.
I KNOW A LOT OF THAT TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING.
MAYBE THAT WILL HELP IN FUTURE EFFORTS.
2:14:11PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG.
2:14:14PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
COUNCILMAN CARLSON WAS BEFORE.
2:14:16PM >>BILL CARLSON:
YOU JUST WANT TO GO LAST.
2:14:18PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
NO.
2:14:21PM >>BILL CARLSON:
I WAS GOING TO BRING UP THE SAME THING THAT
CAME UP A MINUTE AGO THAT THERE ARE NO ENTERTAINMENT
DISTRICTS.
I WOULD APPRECIATE -- I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO VOTE ON IT
-- I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU STRIP THAT LANGUAGE OUT.
IT IS THE DOWNTOWN -- I WOULD PREFER TO USE DOWNTOWN
NEIGHBORHOODS, YBOR NEIGHBORHOODS.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, YBOR CITY NEVER STOOD UP AND SAID WE WANT
TO BE AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
IT WAS A PHILOSOPHY AT THE TIME TO ALLOW KIND OF UNLIMITED
ALCOHOL LICENSES.
AND NOW IT'S TURNING BACK INTO A COMMUNITY.
DOWNTOWN CERTAINLY NEVER AGREED TO HAVE AN ENTERTAINMENT
DISTRICT, BUT THERE'S ALL KINDS OF STUFF IMPLIED IN THERE
THAT PLEASES WOULD HAVE UNLIMITED SOUND.
THAT'S NOT WHAT ANYBODY WHO LIVES THERE AGREED TO.
THE SOUND GOES TO HARBOUR ISLAND AND CHANNEL DISTRICT.
SAME THING WITH HOWARD AVENUE.
HOWARD AVENUE BECAUSE I WAS LIVING THERE, NEVER SAID THEY
WANTED TO BE AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
CITY COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION IN THE PAST ALLOWED LOTS OF
LIQUOR LICENSES ALONG THERE.
WE NEED TO GET CONTROL OF IT.
A FEW YEARS AGO, I PROPOSED AND WE AGREED TO ASK THE
ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK INTO CREATING A REAL ENTERTAINMENT
DISTRICT IN DREW PARK.
DREW PARK SAID NO.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE POCKETS OF ENTERTAINMENT,
AND ONE BY ONE WITH ALCOHOL LICENSE, WE'VE BEEN LIMITING SO
WE DON'T ALLOW OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED SOUND, BUT SOME OF IT IS
LEAKING OUT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTROL THAT.
WE HAVE PEOPLE LIVING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE NEED ENTERTAINMENT.
WE WANT TO HAVE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE FUN, BUT IT
CAN'T KEEP YOU AWAKE ALL NIGHT OR IF THEY WORK ALL NIGHT,
CAN'T KEEP THEM ALL DAY EITHER.
THE OTHER POINT, VEHICLES, WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF
COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUPER CHARGED VEHICLES THAT MAKE
SOUNDS.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS IN THE ENGINE OR IF THEY HAVE SOME
KIND OF SPEAKER THAT MAKES THE SOUNDS.
BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE RACING ON BAYSHORE AND GANDY, I CAN HEAR
IT IN MY HOUSE HALF A MILE AWAY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE GET CONTROL OF THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO
TO MAKE THIS BETTER FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD BE GREAT.
THANKS.
2:16:24PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
THAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE MY POINT.
ONE, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
BUT I KNOW ONE COMPLAINT THAT WE GET A LOT AT OUR OFFICE IS
SPECIFICALLY WITH THE CARS, PARTICULARLY LIKE IN THE
DOWNTOWN AND CHANNELSIDE AREAS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE CARS
AND THE SOUND IS RICOCHETING OFF THE BUILDINGS AND THEN YOU
HAVE THE PARKING GARAGES THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE BUILDINGS, TO
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
SO HOW DOES THAT COME INTO PLAY WHEN WE'RE TALKING LIKE WITH
THE NOISE STUDY?
IS THERE A SECOND PART THAT HAS TO BE DONE?
KIND OF LOOK FOR HOW DO WE INCORPORATE THAT OR WHAT DOES
THAT DISCUSSION LOOK LIKE?
BECAUSE WE GET A LOT OF THOSE -- SOME CARS ARE MADE LOUD,
BUT IT'S MORE SO, THE ADDITIONS THAT ARE LIKE ADDED ON TO
CARS TO MAKE THEM LOUDER.
THAT'S A LOT OF THE CALLS THAT WE GET IS JUST THE NOISE FOR
THE CARS.
2:17:27PM >> GREAT QUESTION.
THAT IS A PROBLEM STATEWIDE AND NATIONWIDE AND HAS BECOME
WORSE AND WORSE.
I THINK SOME OF THE CHALLENGES ARE THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO
MEASURE BECAUSE IT'S AN INSTANTANEOUS NOISE SOURCE.
IT BOUNCES OFF THE HARD SCAPE AND THE BUILDINGS AND TRAVELS
THROUGH WINDOWS.
IT'S KIND OF THAT ANNOYING TYPE NOISE THAT REALLY BOTHERS
THE RESIDENTS AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE A HIGHER LEVEL KIND OF
MORE CONSISTENT NOISE.
TO GET BACK TO ANOTHER PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS THAT A LOT
OF CITIES -- NOT A LOT -- I SHOULD SAY A FEW CITIES HAVE
DEVELOPED NOISE ORDINANCES THAT CRACK DOWN ON NON-STOCK
MUFFLERS AND ENGINE COMPONENTS.
AS YOU MENTIONED, SOME CARS ARE DESIGNED TO BE LOUDER, BUT
THERE IS A LOT OF NON-STOCK COMPONENTS.
SOME OF THE MUFFLERS THAT ARE CREATED TO SOUND LIKE GUNSHOTS
ARE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PEOPLE WILL USE WHILE SITTING AT
AN INTERSECTION, CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE RESIDENCES IN
THOSE AREAS.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WITH MORE OF MY RAMBLING, I THINK
THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR TPD OFFICERS TO ENFORCE THAT,
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.
POTENTIALLY SOME OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES MIGHT BE ABLE TO
HELP WITH THAT WITH SOME OF THE CAMERA TECHNOLOGY AND SOME
OF THE NOISE IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE.
2:18:56PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
2:18:57PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
READING THIS YEAR, NOISE ORDINANCE COMPARISON, ALL THREE
FLORIDA CITIES COMPARED HAVE HIGHER LIMITS THAN THE TYPICAL
ALLOWABLE DAYTIME STANDARDS IN THE U.S. CITIES, CORRECT?
2:19:09PM >> CORRECT.
2:19:11PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
SO WE'RE ALREADY MORE LENIENT THAN A LOT
OF OTHER CITIES.
I'M GLAD THAT COMMENTS WERE MADE ABOUT HOWARD AVENUE, FOR
EXAMPLE.
I'VE BEEN HERE MY WHOLE LIFE.
I REMEMBER HOW THAT USED TO BE.
30 SOMETHING YEARS AGO.
NOW IT'S CRAZY ON A WEEKEND NIGHT, WHATEVER.
ON MANY NIGHTS.
AND THERE'S RESIDENTIAL RIGHT THERE.
YOU GO TO THE EAST OFF HOWARD AND IT'S HOUSES.
YBOR CITY THAT'S GONE THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES, IS COMING
BACK TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
7th AVENUE, YOU GO OUT THERE, YOU SEE HOW IT IS.
I'M GLAD THAT PEOPLE GO THERE AND IT'S BUSY.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE A LOT OF HOMES AROUND THERE.
IN REGARDS TO THE VEHICLES, I CAN APPRECIATE A GOOD SPORTS
CAR WITH STOCK EXHAUST, WHATEVER.
BUT EVEN LEAVING HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, TWO PEOPLE WERE
RACING, A MERCEDES AND BMW.
IT WAS THAT CRACKLING, BACKFIRING.
IT SOUNDS LIKE GUNSHOTS, NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, THE DECIBEL LEVEL MUST BE INSANE.
2:20:14PM >> IT IS.
2:20:15PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
YOU MENTIONED THE SOUND CAMERAS.
HOW DO THEY WORK?
SURVEILLANCE, READ THE TAGS, THEY GET A NOTICE, EXPLAIN IT
MORE.
2:20:29PM >> THE ANSWER CAN BE ALL OF THE ABOVE.
A SOUND CAMERA ESSENTIALLY WORKS LIKE A MICROPHONE BUT
CREATES NOISE CONTOURS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE CREATED IN OUR
DOCUMENT.
IT WILL KIND OF SHOW YOU, AS YOU KNOW, NOISE IS LIMITED
BASED ON DISTANCE AND WHAT'S IN THE PATHWAY.
THE FARTHER AWAY YOU GET FROM THE OFFENDING NOISE, THE LESS
NOISE LEVEL IT'S GOING TO BE.
BUT A SOUND CAMERA CAN TAKE ESSENTIALLY A PICTURE WITH A
MICROPHONE AND IDENTIFY HOW LOUD THE NOISE IS AT THE SOURCE
AT THE TIME.
2:21:03PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
IS IT ACTIVATED AT THAT MOMENT WHEN
THERE IS THAT LOUD POP OR CRACKLE AND THEN TAKES AN IMAGE OR
IS IT 24/7?
2:21:10PM >> IT CAN BE ALL OF THE ABOVE.
2:21:12PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
I THINK FOLKS MIGHT HAVE CONCERN WITH
THAT 24/7 FILMING.
IF IT'S ACTIVATED BY ABOVE A CERTAIN DECIBEL READING THEN I
WOULD ASSUME YOU TELL ME OTHERWISE THAT SOMEBODY EXAMINES
EACH CLIP, EACH VIDEO CLIP TO SEE WHAT IS WHAT.
2:21:30PM >> YEAH, THE TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING SO QUICKLY THAT
HONESTLY I THINK THERE ARE MANY OF THOSE OPTIONS.
I WOULD ASSUME, WITHOUT BEING AN EXPERT ON THAT, WITH THE
NEW A.I. TECHNOLOGIES, THAT THAT SHOULD BE A MUCH MORE
AUTOMATED SITUATION THAN IT WAS IN THE PAST.
2:21:45PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
CHAPTER 14, ARTICLE 3 OF THE CITY'S CODE
OF ORDINANCES REGARDING THE EXISTING NOISE ORDINANCE.
ALREADY MENTIONED.
DESIGNATED ENTERTAINMENT AREAS.
HOWARD AVENUE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAPPENED TO FLOURISH IN
THE SENSE THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF BARS AND ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGE.
YBOR CITY NEIGHBORHOOD, LIVE, WORK, PLAY.
HISTORICALLY IT'S CHANGED.
IT'S CHANGING AGAIN.
BUT THAT WHOLE -- THEY ARE NOT ENTERTAINMENT AREAS.
THEY JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE BUSINESSES THAT BRING A CROWD AND
THAT'S IT.
ALL RIGHT.
THANKS.
2:22:19PM >> THANK YOU.
2:22:20PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THIS IS PROBABLY FOR LEGAL.
HELLO.
WE REQUIRE YOUR ASSISTANCE AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
THE STUDY IT APPEARS IS JUST, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, A
SCIENTIFIC DESCRIPTION OF WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW.
IT'S A DOCUMENTED PAMPHLET OF ALL THE OBSERVATIONS WE
ALREADY KNOW ARE OCCURRING.
JUMPING TO THE ACTUAL, THE SOLUTION, THE PROBLEM IS SOURCE
OF NOISE, ENFORCEMENT, AND WHERE THE COURTS ARE ON ALL OF
THIS, WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?
TAMPA PD DOESN'T WANT ANY PART OF THIS.
I CONFIRMED THAT WITH THE MAYOR DURING LUNCH WHEN I PULLED
HER OUTSIDE.
THE COURTS ARE DECIDING THAT YOU CAN'T DETERMINE THE SOURCE
BASED ON THE WIDE SPECTRUM OF NOISE AND JUST BECAUSE, YEAH,
YOU DETECT THE NOISE BUT CAN'T PROVE IN A COURT SYSTEM THAT
NOISE IS GENERATING AT THAT LOCATION, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE
READ AT THE LOCATION OF WHERE IT'S OFFENSIVE, AT THE
PROPERTY.
NOW YOU'VE GOT THIS DEPTH OF SPACE THAT TRYING TO PINPOINT
WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.
MOST OF OUR NOISE COMPLAINTS COME FROM, EXCEPT THE ONE-OFFS,
WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE SOURCES OF NOISE.
SOUTH HOWARD, YBOR, CHANNELSIDE, ALL THESE PLACES THERE ARE
MULTIPLE VENUES.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
WE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THIS STUDY THAT THERE IS NOISE.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
2:24:00PM >> MIKE SCHMID, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON NOISE SINCE 2013.
2:24:09PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I SUSPECT YOU'LL RETIRE WORKING ON THIS.
2:24:12PM >> UNFORTUNATELY, ALL THE CHANGES YOU SAW REPRESENTED
EARLIER, I'M FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THEM, EVEN BACK IN 2003
WHEN YCDC DID A STUDY AND HIRED A NOISE CONSULTANT OUT OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TO COME TO YBOR.
PART OF THE HISTORY HAS BEEN AND HOW WE GOT HERE IS BACK IN
2003 WHEN YBOR WAS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF NOISE ISSUES AND
COMPLAINTS, NOISE WAS ACTUALLY MEASURED FROM THE CENTER OF
THE ROADWAY ON 7th AVENUE.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WERE TRYING TO DO IT AS WELL AS
OFFICERS.
THE PROBLEMS WERE, THEY WEREN'T SUCCESSFULLY ABLE TO
IDENTIFY THE EXACT SOURCE BECAUSE ALL THE BARS WERE PLAYING
MUSIC.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND.
I KNOW THAT 85 LOOKS LIKE THAT IS AN INCREDIBLY HIGH NUMBER,
BUT WHAT WAS CHANGED WAS WHERE YOU WERE MEASURING IT FROM.
WHAT WAS DONE IN YBOR IS WE'RE ALLOWED TO MEASURE DIRECTLY
AT THE SOURCE OF THE DOOR SO WE ELIMINATED THE ISSUE OF
WHICH BAR THAT SOURCE WAS COMING FROM.
IN YBOR, YOU MEASURE AT THE DOORWAY, WHICH MEANS IT NEEDS TO
BE A HIGHER LEVEL OR OTHERWISE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE -- YOU
ARE NO LONGER MEASURING FROM THE RECEIVING PROPERTY LINE.
YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE MEASURING AT THE
DOORWAY, WHICH IS WHY IT'S HIGHER AND NOT 65, BECAUSE WE'RE
MEASURING LITERALLY AT THE DOORWAY OF THE BAR.
THAT WAS ALL DONE WITH A NOISE CONSULTANT WAY BACK IN 2003.
IT'S CHANGED OVER THE YEARS TO WHERE WE ARE USING PLAINLY
AUDIBLE.
PART OF THE REASON USING PLAINLY AUDIBLE IS ENFORCEABILITY.
CREATING AN ORDINANCE YOU CAN'T ENFORCE JUST DOESN'T HELP
ANYBODY.
THAT IS THE BIGGEST THING.
YOU ALMOST HAVE TO START THERE.
SORRY TO DRAG ON -- OUR RECOMMENDATIONS A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO WERE TWEAKS TO THE ORDINANCE TO MAKE IT MORE
ENFORCEABLE.
THAT DID PASS CITY COUNCIL.
THERE WERE THEN PEOPLE -- INDIVIDUALS ON HOWARD WILL SAY,
CAME OUT, RESTAURANTS, BARS, WHATEVER, THEY CAME OUT AND
OBJECTED AFTER IT PASSED AND CITY COUNCIL CHANGED THEIR MIND
AND REPEALED THAT SAME ORDINANCE THAT THEY HAD JUST PASSED.
WE STILL THINK THOSE ARE VIABLE OPTIONS AND WE STILL WOULD
RECOMMEND THOSE OPTIONS.
SOME OF THEM WERE ELIMINATING THE FIVE-MINUTE WARNING PERIOD
THAT I SAW IN THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE HOWARD AVENUE
FOLKS, STATED THAT WAS ONE OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL.
THERE ARE THINGS WE COULD DO TO SORT OF TWEAK THE ORDINANCE
OVERALL, BUT WHOLESALE GOING TO DECIBEL LEVELS, WE'VE BEEN
THERE.
THAT DIDN'T REALLY, WASN'T VERY ENFORCEABLE IN THE CITY SO
WE'VE GONE TO PLAINLY AUDIBLE OVER TIME IN MOST OF THE AREAS
OF TAMPA EXCEPT FOR AREAS WHERE WE ARE MEASURING LITERALLY
FROM THE DOORWAY OF THE BARS AT YBOR WHICH HAS ALLOWED US TO
ENFORCE THAT STILL IN YBOR.
BUT OVERALL, WE HAVE PLAINLY AUDIBLE FOR A REASON.
2:27:17PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
TWO QUICK THINGS.
ONE, IS IT ENFORCEABLE FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA TO PASS AN
ORDINANCE ON THE NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLES?
OR IS THAT PREEMPTED BY STATE?
2:27:27PM >>MICHAEL SCHMID:
GREAT QUESTION.
I WAS GOING TO SAY THERE IS ALREADY A NO MODIFIED MUFFLER
LAW.
SOMETIMES AS WAS MENTIONED, THE DIFFICULTY IS ENFORCING IT
BY CATCHING THEM.
2:27:40PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I DON'T KNOW.
DOWN 7th AVENUE, ALL DAY LONG, THE POLICE ARE STANDING
THERE.
2:27:44PM >>MICHAEL SCHMID:
UNDERSTOOD.
THERE IS CURRENTLY A LAW.
IN FACT, THIS YEAR IN SESSION, THERE WAS ANOTHER LAW SAYING
PLAINLY AUDIBLE.
IF YOU COULD HEAR A CAR MUFFLER MORE THAN 25 FEET, THE LAW
WAS PROPOSED.
I DON'T THINK THAT ONE GOT OUT OF FINAL COMMITTEE, BUT I
KIND OF NEED TO GO BACK AND DOUBLE CHECK.
IT'S NOT IN EFFECT YET, EVEN IF IT HAD, HASN'T BEEN SIGNED.
I KNOW THE LEGISLATURE IS ALSO CONSIDERING THE EXACT SAME
ISSUE.
THERE IS CURRENTLY A CITATION FOR MODIFYING YOUR MUFFLER.
2:28:18PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR
US TO CLOSE THE COUNCIL SESSION OUT -- NOT CLOSE OUT -- TO
ASK YOU TO COME BACK WITH A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE
ENFORCEABLE UNDER CURRENT LAW OF CHANGES THAT WE COULD MAKE?
2:28:30PM >>MICHAEL SCHMID:
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
2:28:32PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
2:28:36PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
ALONG THOSE LINES OF WHAT WE RECEIVED FROM
MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE GOT LOTS OF GREAT, VERY POINTED SUGGESTIONS FROM
NEIGHBORHOODS.
ONE OF THE FIRST ONES WAS ADOPTING A NOISE OVERLAY THAT
SUPERSEDES INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS SITE PLANS.
AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THAT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWABLE.
AM I CORRECT, MR. COTTON?
2:29:05PM >>ERIC COTTON:
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION.
THIS WOULD BE THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE IF YOU ALREADY HAVE --
LET'S USE SOUTH HOWARD, ALREADY HAS ALCOHOL SITE PLANS
APPROVED OR OLD WET ZONINGS.
PEOPLE PROPOSING SOMETHING ON TOP OF THAT.
2:29:20PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YEAH.
SEE --
2:29:26PM >>ERIC COTTON:
THAT'S A LEGAL QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S REALLY SOMETHING WE CAN ANSWER RIGHT
TODAY WITHOUT DOING RESEARCH.
2:29:32PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OBVIOUSLY, WE GOT THESE E-MAILS.
THEY WENT MAINLY TO CITY COUNCIL, ALL OF TAMPA CITY COUNCIL.
SO SOME OF THOSE SHOULD BE VIEWABLE FOR YOU ALL.
IF NOT, WE'LL MAKE SURE TO SHARE THEM BECAUSE SOME OF THE
SUGGESTIONS ARE GREAT ABOUT ADDING NUMERIC DBA THRESHOLD AT
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LINES NOT ONLY AT THE SOURCE, COMBINED
PLAINLY AUDIBLE AND NUMERICAL DECIBEL STANDARDS.
DO NOT CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM.
EXTEND RESIDENTIAL LIMITS CITYWIDE.
THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT, BUT ELIMINATE THE FIVE MINUTE
WARNING PERIOD WAS LIKE IN EVERYBODY'S.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD ALL AGREE ON.
I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN NOISE CAMERAS, BUT ALSO SHARE
COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO'S CONCERN TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE WERE
ABLE TO LOOK AT THOSE, THAT THEY WOULD BE VERY SPECIFICALLY
TARGETED AND NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE USED 24 HOURS A
DAY, THINGS LIKE THAT.
PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PRIVACY RIGHT NOW AS WELL,
WHICH IS VALID.
2:30:46PM >>MICHAEL SCHMID:
I DO KNOW COMPANIES -- MIKE SCHMID AGAIN,
ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY.
I DO KNOW NOISE COMPANIES ARE OUT THERE ADVERTISING THOSE
THINGS.
WE WOULD NEED TO IDENTIFY THE COST, OBVIOUSLY, TOO, AND
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU ONCE WE IDENTIFY ALL THAT
INFORMATION.
2:31:06PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YEAH, AND JUST SOME RESEARCH BEHIND IT, TOO.
AGAIN, MY CONCERN WOULD BE PRIVACY ISSUES.
THANK YOU.
THIS IS REALLY VALUABLE INFORMATION AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS
COUNCIL IS READY TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS.
2:31:21PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY REALLY
WANT TO SAY OR --
2:31:25PM >>BILL CARLSON:
WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
2:31:27PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
CAN WE KILL CONVERSATION NOW?
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA AND COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG AND THEN
COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
2:31:35PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
IN FACT, MR. SCHMID, I BELIEVE YOU ARE HUNDRED PERCENT
CORRECT.
IT WAS MEASURED RIGHT AT THE DOOR OF WHERE THE NOISE WAS
COMING FROM.
I THINK WE HAD HEARINGS ON THAT.
2:31:46PM >> YOU DID.
2:31:47PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
BACK IN 2007, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT STRAIGHTENED THAT OUT PRETTY QUICKLY, IF I REMEMBER
CORRECTLY.
2:31:53PM >>MICHAEL SCHMID:
YES, SIR.
2:31:55PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
TIED TO THE LIQUOR LICENSE.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
2:31:59PM >>MICHAEL SCHMID:
YES, SIR, THAT I MY UNDERSTANDING.
2:32:01PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I RECALL THAT, NOT VIVIDLY, BUT MY MIND
COMES TO IT WHEN MENTIONED WHAT HAPPENED.
THANK YOU, SIR.
2:32:06PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PATH CONTROL
MEASURES, THE NOISE BARRIERS AND ACOUSTIC FENCES, STRUCTURAL
AND/OR VEGETATIVE, CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS
LIKE WITH PARKING GARAGES?
LIKE USING THESE METHODS -- I SAY THAT BECAUSE, AGAIN, SO,
FOR EXAMPLE, IN CHANNELSIDE, YOU HAVE A RESIDENTIAL, PARKING
GARAGE RIGHT NEXT TO IT.
THAT SOUND WHEN YOU'RE GOING EITHER UP OR DOWN THE PARKING
GARAGE IS KIND OF GOING BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS INTO THE
RESIDENTIAL.
CAN THESE STRATEGIES BE USED IN THE PARKING GARAGES AS WELL?
2:32:44PM >> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH NOISE BARRIERS.
EVERYBODY SEES THEM ALONG THE INTERSTATE.
F.D.O.T. INSTALLS THEM, WHICH IS A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE
DO.
YES, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF WHAT IS CALLED
NOISE BARRIERS.
THE ONES YOU SEE ALONG THE INTERSTATE ARE BIG CEMENT,
EXPENSIVE VERSIONS THAT WORK VERY WELL.
CERTAINLY, THAT WOULD BE AN OPTION WOULD BE TO PUT SOMETHING
IN BETWEEN THE RECEPTOR, LET'S SAY THE RESIDENTIAL AREA AND
THE NOISE SOURCE, WHICH WOULD BE THE PARKING GARAGE.
HOWEVER, THERE'S ALSO SOME MORE MOVABLE ONES, LIKE THE
FENCES AND ACOUSTIC BLANKETS IS ANOTHER ITEM THAT WORKS SORT
OF LIKE A NOISE BARRIER BUT IS THINNER, LESS EXPENSIVE AND
EASIER TO MOVE AROUND.
ABSOLUTELY.
THERE'S A LOT OF ARCHITECTURAL NOISE MITIGATION OPTIONS THAT
COULD BE USED IN A PARKING GARAGE.
2:33:32PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU.
COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
LAST QUESTION AND THEN PUBLIC COMMENT.
2:33:35PM >>BILL CARLSON:
ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER
MIRANDA SAID, I THINK HE WAS REFERRING TO THE PROPOSALS BY
YOLIE CAPIN, FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER 10 OR 15 YEARS AGO.
SHE GOT ALL KINDS OF FLACK FOR IT.
ANYBODY INTERESTED IN THE SUBJECT, I ENCOURAGE THEM TO
GOOGLE IT.
CARROT AND STICK.
SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO REIN IN THE BAD ACTORS.
IF SOMETHING ON THE SITE PLAN AND WE CAN'T CHANGE IT, MAYBE
THERE IS A DIFFERENT, INNOVATIVE WAY THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT
IT WITH A CARROT AND A STICK.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY JUST PERSONALLY IS THAT IN 20
MINUTES I HAVE TO LEAVE TO GO PICK UP MY SON.
I APOLOGIZE TO ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, IF I HAVE TO
LEAVE, I'LL WATCH IT FROM YouTube.
2:34:21PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WE'RE RUNNING LONG.
WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT BY NOW.
THIS CONCLUDES THIS PORTION.
NOW WE'RE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM, PLEASE STAND ALONG THE
WALL.
START WITH YOUR NAME.
THEN YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
2:34:37PM >> MY NAME IS JOHN McDONALD.
YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT I'VE BEEN A GUEST HERE BEFORE
REGARDING THIS.
THAT WAS THE WRONG SLIDE.
YOU MIGHT RECALL FROM THIS SLIDE THAT WHEN I WAS A YOUNG
BOY, I USED TO MAKE BICYCLES LOUD.
2:34:58PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
BASEBALL CARDS.
2:34:59PM >> RIGHT.
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE YOUTH OR THE ELDERLY TODAY WANT TO DO
IT WITH THEIR CARS, AND THAT'S ILLEGAL.
I CAME HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, SPOKE AND MET WITH GWEN,
SPOKE AND MET WITH COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG.
GROUP SOUTH OF US, COLLIER COUNTY, YOUR PEERS, LAW
ENFORCEMENT GOT TOGETHER AND SAID WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS.
THEY HAVE A NOISE TASK FORCE.
I CAME IN HERE AND GAVE YOU YouTube LINKS TO FOLLOW
EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
I DID THE JOB OF CONSULTANT.
THIS REPORT DID NOT COME FORWARD WITH ANY RECOMMENDATIONS.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CONCLUDE THAT AS A DELIVERABLE,
SAVING THE CITY MONEY PAID $75,000 FOR IT UNTIL WE GET
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THESE PEOPLE ARE BREAKING LAWS LEFT AND RIGHT.
I LIVE AND OPERATE A BUSINESS DOWNTOWN.
I GUARANTEE YOU BEFORE YOU GO TO BED TONIGHT YOU'LL HEAR
THIS.
EVERYONE IN HERE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE BEAT KNOWS A TOYOTA OUT OF THE
MANUFACTURER DOESN'T MAKE THAT NOISE.
IF IT GOES BY, YOU GET IN THE CAR, GO OVER AND GIVE A $300
FINE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ENTITLED TO DO TO ENFORCE IT.
WE'RE NOT DOING IT.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE HAVE CONVERSATION WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO GO AHEAD AND SAY, LOOK, WE'RE GETTING OUR
EARS FILLED, NO PUN INTENDED, FROM ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS,
RESIDENTS, AND WE'VE GOT THE TOOLS.
WE'RE ALREADY ENGAGED.
LEGISLATION IS ALREADY ALLOWING YOU TO DO THIS.
COLLIER COUNTY ALSO SENT A LETTER OUT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH
TO EVERY MECHANIK SHOP SAYING DON'T DO THIS, BECAUSE YOU'RE
GOING TO GET A FINE, TOO.
THEY PUT SIGNS UP AT MAJOR THOROUGHFARES.
IF YOU GO TO PALM AVENUE DOWN TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, A
CAR CAN HIT THAT, ALMOST EVERY LIGHT, SOMETIMES.
IF NOT THERE'S PLENTY OF ROADWAY.
I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN THE POLICE ARE STANDING THERE JUST LIKE
ON 7th AVENUE.
[KNOCK, KNOCK]
CAN YOU HEAR THAT?
YEAH, WHY AREN'T YOU DOING ANYTHING?
POLITELY.
I'M HERE ON A TASK FORCE TO NEGATE SPEEDING BECAUSE WE LOST
A PERSON IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO SPEEDING.
THAT'S GREAT.
SET UP A SECOND TASK FORCE BEHIND HER WATCHING SPEEDING,
LET'S GET THE NOISE KNOCKED OUT.
IF WE PUT A LITTLE PRESSURE ON, THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE
GREASE.
BAYSHORE, EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS, SPEED TRAP.
PUT SOME SIGNS UP, QUOTE THE ORDINANCE, BAYSHORE -- OR 7th
AVENUE HAS LIT SIGNS THAT SAYS NO CRUISING, NO NOISE.
PUT IT UP.
GIVE THE LAW THE REASONABLE ACTIONS TO FOLLOW AND SAY FOLLOW
THEM AND WRITE CITATIONS.
I DON'T THINK I'D APPRECIATE A $300 FINE AND THEN A $600 ONE
IF, YEAH, MUFFLER STILL ON YOUR CAR.
HERE IS A $600 FINE.
I THINK IT WILL HURT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.
AGAIN, YOU DON'T NEED TECHNOLOGY OR TOOLS.
2:37:58PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TIME IS UP.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
2:38:04PM >> MY NAME IS HOLLY NESDA.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF -- PARK IN THE HEIGHTS SINCE 2015.
I PURCHASED MY FIRST HOME AS A SINGLE WOMAN AND SHARE TODAY
WITH MY HUSBAND AND TWO AND A HALF-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
WE LOVE THE HEIGHTS AND ARE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE
QUIET COMMUNITY WHERE COUNTLESS FAMILIES HAVE MOVED AND
CHOSEN TO MAKE IT HOME.
WHILE SPEAKING ABOUT THE NOISE ISSUES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN
THE HEIGHTS, THIS CONCERN EXTENDS BEYOND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
CLEAR EXAMPLE OF WHY TAMPA SOUND ORDINANCE MUST BE CAREFULLY
PRESERVED AND ENFORCED TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS
CITY.
IN THE FALL OF 2025, M.BIRD ARMATURE WORKS BEGAN HOSTING
ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC CONCERTS THREE NIGHTS A WEEK,
THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
AS ADVERTISED ON THEIR WEBSITE, THE EVENTS BEGIN AT 9 P.M.
AND CONTINUE UNTIL 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
THE VENUE IS AN OUTDOOR OPEN AIR BALCONY WHERE THEY HOST
WORLD-CLASS DEEJAYS WITH THEIR NEW CUTTING EDGE SOUND
SYSTEM.
THIS IS NOT AN OCCASIONALLY PERMITTED EVENT.
IT IS WEEKLY.
IT'S ONGOING, AND IT'S INDEFINITE.
THE HEIGHTS IS A LONG ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY
WHERE FAMILIES HAVE LIVED PEACEFULLY FOR DECADES.
THE BASS FROM THIS NEW SOUND SYSTEM IS SO INTENSE THAT IT
CAN LITERALLY BE HEARD AND FELT INSIDE OUR HOME AND WE LIVE
NEARLY HALF A MILE AWAY.
IT'S BEEN DISRUPTING OUR SLEEP AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND WE
CANNOT ESCAPE IT.
OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, OUR COMMUNITY HAS WORKED ENDLESSLY
THROUGH EVERY APPROPRIATE CHANNEL.
WE'VE SPOKEN DIRECTLY WITH MANAGEMENT, OWNERSHIP, CONTACTED
CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES, AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE
TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT.
OFFICERS HAVE BEEN INSIDE OUR HOME ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS
BETWEEN THE HOURS OF MIDNIGHT AND 3 A.M. WEARING BODY CAM
FOOTAGE AND HAVE DOCUMENTED THE MUSIC AND BASS ARE PLAINLY
AUDIBLE, EVEN FROM HALF A MILE AWAY.
DESPITE WARNINGS, ISSUED CITATIONS, THE RAUCOUS NOISE
CONTINUES.
THE CITATIONS ARE NOW BEING CONTESTED IN COURT, FINES REMAIN
UNPAID, AND COURT DATES ARE NOW BEING DELAYED.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE NOISE
ORDINANCE OR POTENTIAL CHANGES.
REMOVING ABILITY FOR RESIDENTS TO BE SWORN COMPLAINANTS OR
REQUIRING EXPENSIVE SOUND METERS FOR EVERY VIOLATION WOULD
MAKE ENFORCEMENT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT, VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.
IT WOULD BE VERY COSTLY FOR THE CITY, THE TAXPAYERS, AND IT
WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR WELL-FUNDED BUSINESSES TO CHALLENGE
ALL OF THESE VIOLATIONS IN COURT.
IT IS CLEARLY BECOMING A DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH SITUATION, BUT
THESE BUSINESSES ARE NOT ABOVE THE CITY'S ORDINANCES.
THE RESIDENTS OF THE HEIGHTS, WE WERE HERE FIRST AND WE
ACTUALLY LIVE THERE.
WE'RE ASKING THE BUSINESSES THAT CHOSE TO MOVE INTO OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD IS SIMPLE, BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND RESPECT THE
PEOPLE THAT CALL THIS AREA HOME.
AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF ALL OF YOU IS TO PRESERVE A NOISE
ORDINANCE THAT PROTECTS THE RESIDENTS WHEN BUSINESSES CHOOSE
NOT TO BE NEIGHBORLY.
BECAUSE WHEN THESE PROTECTIONS FAIL, THE OUTCOME IS
DEVASTATING.
IT'S FAMILIES LIKE MINE BEING PUSHED TO CONSIDER LEAVING AND
SELLING OUR HOMES THAT WE WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD AND THE
PLACES THAT WE CREATED OUR LIVES AND MEMORIES.
THANK YOU.
2:41:13PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
START WITH YOUR NAME.
2:41:19PM >> MY NAME IS NICK CARTER.
I LIVE IN RIDGEWOOD PARK.
BEEN THERE FOR SIX YEARS.
I BUILT A NEW HOME.
I EXPECTED NOISE IN THE CITY.
I WENT CRAZY ON THE INSULATION.
YOU HEARD THE SOUND CONSULTANT TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
MITIGATING THINGS.
I HAVE INSULATION BETWEEN EVERY WALL IN MY HOUSE, INTERNAL
WALLS, CEILINGS, FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR, YET I STILL HEAR
THE NOISE FROM EMBER.
I DON'T JUST HEAR IT, I FEEL IT.
IT JUST VIBRATES YOUR WHOLE BODY.
WE JUST HEARD FROM CITY STAFF THAT THERE ARE NO
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS DESIGNATED WITHIN TAMPA.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE REGULATIONS, IT SAYS EXCESSIVE NOISE,
IF YOU CAN HEAR IT BETWEEN 10 P.M. AND 7 A.M., A HUNDRED
FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE, THAT'S DEEMED TO BE EXCESSIVE.
I LIVE .4 MILES AWAY FROM ARMATURE WORKS.
IT'S LIKE 2,000 FEET.
OBVIOUSLY WELL WITHIN THE HUNDRED FEET.
NOW, IT TALKS ABOUT THE PROPERTY LINE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S VERY WELL DEFINED.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE LEGALLY THE PROPERTY LINE OF ARMATURE
WORKS IS.
BUT IF WE EXTEND ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PARCEL THAT
STRADDLES PALM AND NORTH BOULEVARD, THAT'S STILL 400 FEET
AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AND I STILL FEEL IT.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO DO IS TO ENFORCE A
NOISE ORDINANCE.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FIRST OF ALL REASONABLE FOR
EVERYBODY.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR BUSINESSES TO BE SHUT DOWN.
WE'RE ASKING THEM TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS, TO BE CONSIDERATE OF
THE RESIDENCES AROUND THEM.
BUT IF THEY ARE NOT, THEN LET'S BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THESE
REGULATIONS.
GIVE THEM A CITATION AND THE $50 FINE IS ABSOLUTELY
MEANINGLESS.
THAT IS A ROUND OF SHOTS AT EMBER.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE HAVE TEETH IN THESE REGULATIONS SO IF
THEY FAIL TO ADHERE TO THEM THAT THEY SHUT THEM DOWN.
SECONDARILY, WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT THAT WE DON'T PUT A
BURDEN ON TPD.
IF WE ARE ASKING THEM TO RUN AROUND WITH DECIBEL METERS,
THERE IS A COST OF TRAINING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
AND THEN YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THE LEGAL CHALLENGES
AROUND WHEN WAS IT CALIBRATED.
SHOW ME THE SOURCE CODE.
THINK ABOUT ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES AND POLICE FORCES UNABLE
TO ENFORCE DUI BECAUSE ATTORNEYS ARE CONSTANTLY CHALLENGING
THE SOURCE CODE AND THE CALIBRATION.
LET'S LOOK AFTER THE CITY OF TAMPA RESIDENTS.
PLEASE ENFORCE ANY TYPE OF NOISE REGULATIONS TO SAFEGUARD
OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
THANK YOU.
2:43:47PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
2:43:51PM >> HELLO.
MY NAME IS RYAN NESDA.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE HEIGHTS SINCE 2012.
I REPRESENT A LONG ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY THAT'S
EXISTED FOR DECADES.
IN RECENT YEARS, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES IN ARMATURE WORKS HAVE
MOVED CLOSER TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOR A LONG TIME, THIS RELATIONSHIP FELT BALANCED AND
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL.
HOWEVER, IN RECENT MONTHS THAT BALANCE HAS BEEN BROKEN DOWN.
ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC VENUE M.BIRD NOW REGULARLY DISRUPTS
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD'S PEACE EVERY THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND
SATURDAY NIGHT UNTIL 3 A.M.
THIS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED MY FAMILY'S ABILITY TO REST
AND ENJOY OUR HOME.
AS A PHYSICIAN SERVING THE TAMPA COMMUNITY, SLEEP IS NOT A
LUXURY, IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
HAVING MY WALLS SHAKING UNTIL 3 A.M. IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.
DESPITE MULTIPLE GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH
THE BUSINESS AND ITS OWNERSHIP, NO MEANINGFUL CHANGE HAS
OCCURRED.
MY ONLY RECOURSE HAS BEEN TO INVOLVE THE TAMPA POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND RELY ON THE CURRENT SOUND ORDINANCE.
WHILE THE PROCESS HAS BEEN LONG AND FRUSTRATING, IT IS
BEGINNING TO PRODUCE TANGIBLE RESULTS.
IT IS CLEAR THAT MEANINGFUL CHANGE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THERE
ARE ENFORCEABLE CONSEQUENCES.
MY CONCERN MOVING FORWARD IS SIGNIFICANT.
THE SAME OWNERSHIP CONTROLS LAND EXTENDING FROM ARMATURE
WORKS TO WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED YARDS OF MY PROPERTY LINE AND
EVEN CLOSER TO OTHERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WITHOUT STRONG SAFEGUARDS, THERE IS REAL RISK OF ADDITIONAL
VENUES LIKE M.BIRD EXPANDING FURTHER INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
THEIR INTERESTS DO NOT ALIGN WITH THOSE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO
LIVE HERE.
THE CURRENT SOUND ORDINANCE PROVIDES RESIDENTS AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT WITH THE NECESSARY OR AT LEAST SOME OF THE
NECESSARY TOOLS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
WEAKENING IT OR SHIFTING POWER AWAY FROM THOSE DIRECTLY
IMPACTED WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS AS
ENTERTAINMENT VENUES CONTINUE TO EXPAND.
IN MEDICINE, WE OFTEN SAY, THE ENEMY OF GOOD IS BETTER.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN SOMETHING IS WORKING, EVEN IF IT IS NOT
PERFECT, ATTEMPTING TO IMPROVE IT CAN SOMETIMES MAKE IT
WORSE.
FROM A RESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE, I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE
THAT CHANGING THE CURRENT ORDINANCE WILL MAKE CONDITIONS
WORSE FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND NOT TO STEAL FROM WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER, BUT CAN WE JUST
TURN DOWN THE DAMN MUSIC?
THANK YOU.
2:46:07PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE.
2:46:11PM >> HELLO.
JOSEPH CALDWELL.
I ALSO, MY WIFE AND I LIVE IN THE RIDGEWOOD PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE ABOUT SIX-TENTHS OF A MILE FROM M.BIRD.
WE MOVED IN BEFORE ARMATURE WORKS WAS A THING.
WE MOVED THERE TO BE CLOSE TO ACTIVITIES.
RICK'S ON THE RIVER HAS BEEN THERE DECADES, PROBABLY LONGER
THAN I'VE BEEN ALIVE.
WE HEAR THEM DURING THE DAY.
YOU HEAR THEM IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE.
IT'S NOT AUDIBLE IN YOUR HOME.
IT'S NEVER BEEN A NUISANCE.
IT'S SOMETHING WE ENJOY SITTING OUT FRONT HEARING THE MUSIC
IN THE FRONT YARDS ACROSS THE RIVER.
M.BIRD MOVES IN AND AS MUCH AS I'VE BEEN THERE AND ENJOY THE
PLACE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT UNTIL 2, 3 IN THE
MORNING.
WE'RE TRYING TO SLEEP.
THIS IS A HOME OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, TOWNHOMES.
WE'RE NOT IN A VERTICAL SPACE.
NOT IN YBOR CITY ON 7th AVENUE.
WE DIDN'T MOVE IN THERE TO BE KEPT AWAKE UNTIL 2 OR 3 IN THE
MORNING.
EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT NOISES ON HOWARD AND
YBOR.
I HAVE MY REAL ESTATE OFFICE IN YBOR CITY.
MY WIFE AND I ADVOCATED FOR YBOR SINCE WE MOVED HERE.
IT'S BEEN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LIVE BECAUSE OF
THE NOISE.
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BOUGHT A BUNCH OF LOTS IN YBOR ON 5th
AVENUE, SOLD THEM, MILLION DOLLAR HOMES BEING BUILT WHICH WE
LOVE TO SEE.
WHEN WE TRY TO RENT OTHER PEOPLE PROPERTIES, ALL THEY TALK
ABOUT IS THE NOISE, THE PEOPLE THAT COME THERE.
IT'S NOT A COMMUNITY AS IT WAS MAYBE 40, 50, 60 YEARS AGO.
IT WAS A GREAT COMMUNITY.
AND SO HOPEFULLY IT'S COMING BACK TO THAT.
BUT JUST BRINGING THAT BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN
RIDGEWOOD, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THEM.
THEY SHOULD WORK WITH US.
WE WERE THERE FIRST.
AND WE JUST APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE SOME SORT OF PLAN IN
ACTION THAT IT DOESN'T GO UNTIL 3 IN THE MORNING OR THE BASS
ISN'T SO LOUD.
WE DON'T WANT THEM CHASED OUT.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
2:48:10PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANYBODY ELSE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM?
VERY GOOD.
ADAM, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK?
SOMEBODY ONLINE FOR THIS ONE?
GET ADAM UP AND THEN THE TWO ONLINE.
2:48:25PM >> CAN WE BRING THE PRESENTATION BACK UP?
2:48:29PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
SAY YOUR NAME, PLEASE.
2:48:30PM >> ADAM HARDEN.
2:48:31PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM THE PRESENTATION?
2:48:33PM >> THE LAST TWO PAGES.
2:48:37PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ARE WE ABLE TO DO THAT, CTTV?
2:48:40PM >> TO USE MY THREE MINUTES HERE EFFICIENTLY, I'M CONCERNED,
I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THAT WE NEED AN ENFORCEABLE
ORDINANCE, ONE THAT REPRESENTS THE FACT THAT WE'RE A BIG
CITY, THAT WE'VE GOT FIVE MAJOR MASTER PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE URBAN CORE, MIDTOWN, YBOR HARBOR, WATER
STREET, CHANNELSIDE.
AND THAT THE CITY, THESE ARE ZONED FOR VERTICALLY INTEGRATED
MIXED USE.
THE CONCERNING THING HERE IS THAT I FEEL LIKE THE FACTS ARE
BEING MISREPRESENTED TO YOU, THAT YOU NEED TO DRILL DOWN
HARDER ON THINGS THAT MIKE IS SAYING TO YOU BECAUSE THEY
DON'T RING TRUE TO ME.
I THINK THAT AN INTERESTING THING TO ASK MIKE ABOUT WOULD BE
WHY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S ORDINANCE.
EPC'S RULE IS FOUND TO BE UNENFORCEABLE DUE TO VAGUENESS
SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THEY WENT THROUGH A TWO-YEAR RULE
MAKING PROCESS AND ENDED UP WITH A DECIBEL BASED ORDINANCE
WHEREAS HE'S TELLING YOU IT'S NOT ENFORCEABLE BUT, IN FACT,
THE PLAINLY AUDIBLE, REASONABLE PERSON STANDARD IS WHAT'S
GOING TO BE UNENFORCEABLE.
LOOK, I'M THE LANDLORD OF THE IRISH PUB, AND I'M THE
LANDLORD OF THE TWO APARTMENTS ON TOP OF IT, SPEAKERS UNDER
THE AWNING, WE COULD SEE HOW NEAR US, THE FRONT PORCH IS
DOWN THE STREET FROM YOUR HOUSE, YOU KNOW, PLAINLY AUDIBLE
ISN'T A BIG CITY STANDARD.
EVEN DEERFIELD BEACH AND WE CAN GET THE CONSULTANT BACK UP
HERE PERHAPS TO TELL US ABOUT THIS, PASSED A NEW DECIBEL
BASED STANDARD.
THEY WENT THROUGH SIMILAR MACHINATIONS HERE.
ADDITIONALLY CONCERNING IS I CAME TO THE COUNCIL WHEN YOU
WERE ATTEMPTING TO REJIGGER THE ORDINANCE TWICE.
I BROUGHT WHAT I FELT LIKE WAS A BLUE CHIP, YOU KNOW, OFFER
FOR AD HOC COMMITTEE TO STUDY THIS, A SUNSHINE COMMITTEE.
IT INCLUDED THREE NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENTS.
THE LAND USE PERSON, INCLUDING NORTH HYDE PARK, YBOR, AND
TAMPA HEIGHTS.
IT HAD THE LAND USE PERSON FROM SEMINOLE HEIGHTS.
A LOCAL LAND USE ATTORNEY WHO HAS WORKED ON ISSUES LIKE THIS
PREVIOUSLY, AND INSTEAD WE KICKED THE CAN.
2:51:19PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
PAUSE YOUR TIME FOR ONE SECOND.
THE PRESENTATION IS UP IF YOU WANT TO QUICKLY GO TO THE LAST
TWO SLIDES.
SHOULD BE A CLICKER.
2:51:29PM >> AGAIN, YOU HAVE A STUDY.
I THINK IF YOU READ IT IN-DEPTH, INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS
DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM WHAT WAS ALTERED AT THE DIRECTION OF
MIKE.
RAN DOWN YOUR THROAT INSTEAD OF HAVE HIM RETURN AND ACTUALLY
SUPPORT SOME OF THE STATEMENTS HE'S MADE RELATED TO -- CAN
WE GO TO THE LAST.
2:51:55PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I'LL GIVE YOU TEN MORE SECONDS.
2:51:59PM >> SUFFICE IT TO SAY, ON THE LAST PAGE, HE'S BASICALLY
REPRESENTED TO YOU THAT PLAINLY AUDIBLE IS THE ONLY
ENFORCEABLE STANDARD.
AND THIS IN MY OPINION IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE TRUTH
LEGALLY SPEAKING.
2:52:13PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU.
NOW WE HAVE TWO ONLINE SPEAKERS THAT ARE REGISTERED.
AND THEY WOULD BE KATHY.
2:52:27PM >> YES.
2:52:27PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
GO AHEAD.
START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE.
2:52:31PM >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.
KATHY FINCORE.
I'M SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SOHO AREA.
I'LL MENTION A FEW BULLET POINTS FOR THE KEY PROBLEMS AND
THEN POSSIBLE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS.
FIRST, SOUTH HOWARD IS ACTUALLY DESIGNATED AS A COMMERCIAL
OVERLAY DISTRICT, WHICH BY DEFINITION IS FOR DEVELOPMENT TO
BE COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S CURRENTLY NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT PURPOSE.
EXCESSIVE MUSIC IS A CONSTANT DISRUPTION TO NEARBY HOMES,
AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS.
WE'VE LOST A LOT OF LONGTIME GREAT NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE JUST
CHOSEN TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY GOT TIRED OF FIGHTING THE NOISE
AND THE LACK OF RESOLUTION.
BARS ARE NOT CONTAINING THEIR MUSIC WITHIN THEIR OWN VENUE.
IT'S COMPOUNDING.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE PLACES AMPLIFYING MUSIC INTO THE STREET ALL
AT THE SAME TIME TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS.
THIS IS PREVENTABLE.
ENFORCEMENT IS VERY INCONSISTENT.
THE LIVE MUSIC IN SOHO IS TREATED AS NORMAL NOW, WHICH
PRETTY MUCH LOWERS THE STANDARD FOR ACTION.
IT'S REACTIVE.
YOU KNOW, OFFICERS WAITING FOR A COMPLAINT TO COME IN WHEN
THEY ARE STANDING IN THE MIDST OF THIS OUTRAGEOUS MUSIC
ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO BE DISTURBED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND
WOKEN UP, RATHER THAN CONTROLLING IT BEFORE IT GETS TO THAT
POINT.
I MEAN, SHOULDN'T THAT BE THE GOAL, RIGHT?
BASS IS A BIG ISSUE, EVEN WHEN MUSIC ITSELF IS NOT
NECESSARILY BOTHERSOME, BASS VIBRATES THROUGH WALLS AND
DOORS.
OFTEN IT'S UNDERESTIMATED DURING THE ENFORCEMENT.
TURN DOWN THE OVERALL NOISE AND THE BASS GOES WITH IT.
ONE KEY IS THE BARS HAVE ZERO RESTRICTIONS AT ALL RIGHT NOW.
SO THEY ARE NOT VOLUNTARILY WILLING TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.
THERE'S NO REAL CONSEQUENCES AND CITATIONS ARE ALMOST NULL
AND VOID.
LASTLY, WHEN YOU HAVE UNREGULATED NOISE LIKE THAT, IT
CONTRIBUTES TO A MORE CHAOTIC ENVIRONMENT ON HOWARD.
AND IT ESCALATES BEHAVIOR IN THE FORMS OF FIGHTS, SHOOTINGS
AND THE LIKE, AND NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OUR AREA.
SO PROPOSED SOLUTIONS, ASSIGN A DEDICATED NOISE CONTROL
OFFICER ON THE WEEKENDS.
FOCUSING ENFORCEMENT AT THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE WITH THE
GOAL OF PREVENTING DISTURBANCES BEFORE RESIDENTS ARE WOKEN.
YES, FIVE-MINUTE WARNING HAS TO GO AWAY.
ISSUE CITATIONS AND REAL CONSEQUENCES TO CREATE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND WE REQUEST SET HOURS FOR ALLOWED OUTDOOR AMPLIFIED
MUSIC.
BUT IF SOMEHOW IF SAID HOURS CANNOT BE ESTABLISHED, PLEASE
IMPLEMENT STRICTER ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS FOR SOHO.
AGAIN, COUNCILMAN HURTAK MENTIONED A LOT OF GOOD POINTS.
WE SENT OUT AN E-MAIL TO A GOOD PORTION OF PEOPLE IN THE
CITY.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND CONSIDER SOME OF
THE OTHER PROPOSED REQUESTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
2:55:38PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THE NEXT ONLINE SPEAKER IS VIRGINIA
CRABTREE.
VIRGINIA, ARE YOU ON?
YOUR AUDIO IS OFF.
DOES THAT MEAN SHE CAN'T HEAR ME?
VIRGINIA, IF YOU CAN SEE ME, TURN UP THE VOLUME, NO PUN
INTENDED.
VIRGINIA, UNMUTE.
GIVE IT TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN -- WE MOVED PAST MR.
MICHELINI.
DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK?
2:56:21PM >> I CAME IN AFTER ADAM WAS LEAVING.
2:56:24PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
MR. MICHELINI, APPROACH THE PODIUM AND
START WITH YOUR NAME.
2:56:30PM >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
STEVE MICHELINI.
I THINK THE MAIN ISSUE IS MAKE SURE WHATEVER CHANGES YOU
MAKE THAT THEY CAN BE ACHIEVED.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH HOWARD
DISTRICT WHERE YOU HAVE RESIDENCES WITHIN 50 FEET OF THE
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, AND THE COMMERCIAL
ESTABLISHMENTS, MANY OF THEM, CAME BEFORE THE RESIDENCES
CAME.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S AN EXCUSE, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT
CLOSE PROXIMITY, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE SOME KIND OF ALLOWANCES
FOR THAT.
I DO TAKE EXCEPTION TO A COUPLE OF THE STATEMENTS THAT THE
PREVIOUS SPEAKER MADE.
I AGREE WITH YOU THAT PROBABLY THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME
REASONABLE, ACHIEVABLE STANDARDS TO BE SET BUT BE CAREFUL TO
MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T MAKE EVERYONE THAT'S THERE MAKE THEM IN
VIOLATION.
IF YOU WANT TO DESIGN -- ASSIGN SOMEBODY OUT THERE TO BE A
DEDICATED OFFICER, THAT'S FINE.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, PROBABLY 20 POLICE OFFICERS OUT THERE
EVERY WEEKEND ANYWAY.
I KNOW THAT TPD DOESN'T WANT TO BE THE ENFORCEMENT ARM FOR
THIS PROVISION.
THEY'VE GOT BIGGER THINGS TO DEAL WITH.
BUT TO SAY THAT NOISE HAS CAUSED SHOOTINGS AND VIOLENCE, IT
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
BUT REASONABLE, ACHIEVABLE STANDARDS I'M AGREEING WITH 100%.
THANK YOU.
2:57:57PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THANK YOU, MR. MICHELINI.
VIRGINIA, ONE MORE TIME.
VIRGINIA, ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME?
THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.
COUNCIL.
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
2:58:11PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I'M SORRY.
2:58:11PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
2:58:12PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
SO FOR ME, I HAVE SOME POINTS THAT I THOUGHT
THE PUBLIC BROUGHT UP REALLY WELL, BUT JUST OVERALL, WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE STAFF BRING BACK -- AND I JUST WANT TO
THROW THIS OUT BEFORE WE MAKE A MOTION TO TALK.
I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING THAT FOCUSES ON BEING PROACTIVE
VERSUS REACTIVE.
I THINK THAT THE FOLKS WHO TALKED MADE A REALLY GOOD POINT.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE CALLING AT MIDNIGHT.
LET'S TRY TO FIND A PROACTIVE STANCE ON THIS.
WHAT CAN WE DO PROACTIVELY?
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO STILL HAVE REACTION.
SO I WOULD LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.
BUT, OBVIOUSLY, FOCUSING ON THE PROACTIVE SO THAT BY THE
TIME WE REACT, WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT.
THE SECOND IS SB 180.
I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE CHAPTER 27, SENATE BILL 180 WAS PUT IN
AFTER THE HURRICANES.
AND WHAT THAT DID WAS TO PREVENT CITIES FROM MAKING
REDEVELOPMENT MORE DIFFICULT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DIDN'T LIMIT IT TO DEVELOPMENT.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I PUT AN ORDINANCE THROUGH THAT WOULD HAVE
-- THAT REQUIRED PRIVATE PARKING LOT OWNERS IN YBOR TO HAVE
HARMED GUARDS.
THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEVELOPMENT.
BUT BECAUSE IT WAS PUT IN DURING THE TIME FRAME OF SB 180,
WE HAD TO PULL THAT OUT.
THAT WAS SOLELY A SECURITY ISSUE THAT TPD WANTED.
SO THAT WAS DONE.
THE SB 180 PROVISIONS STAY IN UNTIL JUNE OF 2027.
SO BY ASKING ABOUT THAT, WE NEED TO FIND OUT, WHAT KINDS OF
THINGS CAN WE DO PRE-JUNE '27?
WHAT CAN WE DO POST-'27?
SO LOOKING AT SB 180 AS PART OF THIS.
I KEEP HEARING FOCUSED ENFORCEMENT AND A NOISE TASK FORCE.
I KNOW THE MAYOR SAID -- YOU SAID THE MAYOR -- WASN'T REALLY
CLEAR ON THAT -- BUT I DO BELIEVE WE NEED A STRATEGY FOR
THAT.
FOCUSED ENFORCEMENT, WHETHER IT BE A NOISE TASK FORCE OR
SOMETHING, BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING.
AND THEN I HEARD THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AUDIBLE VERSUS DBA.
I REALLY WANT TO HEAR MORE SPECIFICS ON THAT, BECAUSE TO ME,
THE AUDIBLE IS WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS THE BEST TO STAND UP IN
COURT.
I'M CONFUSED NOW.
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I HEARD.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT ANYBODY ELSE HEARD THAT WE WANT
TO MAKE A MOTION?
AND, BY THE WAY, I'M THINKING TO HAVE THIS COME BACK WITH
SOME VERY SPECIFIC IDEAS IN JUNE, WHETHER WE WANT IT TO BE
DURING THE JUNE CITY COUNCIL SESSION ON THE 18th OR DURING
THE WORKSHOP SESSION ON THE 25th IS UP TO US.
THAT'S WHAT I SAW WAS AVAILABLE.
YES, CHAIR CLENDENIN.
3:01:17PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I'M GOING TO MAKE THREE SUGGESTIONS.
IT KIND OF INCORPORATES.
ONE, I REQUEST THAT TAMPA PD PREPARE A PLAN AND AN
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO ENFORCE VEHICLE NOISE AND INITIALLY
FOCUS ON 7th AVENUE, SOUTH HOWARD, SWAN/HYDE PARK AREA AND
PALM AVENUE BETWEEN NORTH BOULEVARD AND FLORIDA, THIS IS
JUST A TEST AREA AND HAVE THE PLAN DONE WITHIN 90 DAYS FOR
AT LEAST A 90 DAY TEST RUN TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS.
CHANNELSIDE, TOO.
INCLUDE CHANNELSIDE.
3:02:01PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I LIKE THAT IDEA, BUT I THINK IF YOU'RE DOING
A PILOT, IN MY OPINION, A PILOT, IF YOU PUT IT IN ONE SPOT
AND YOU TRY MULTIPLE THINGS.
3:02:09PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I THINK THIS IS JUST, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THOSE VEHICLE NOISE WHICH WE ALREADY DETERMINED IS ILLEGAL.
PUT PD -- WE'RE -- COUNCIL IS ASKING PD --
3:02:20PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I SEE TO ENFORCE IN THOSE FIVE AREAS.
3:02:23PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
A PLAN WITHIN 90 AND AT LEAST A 90 DAY RUN
TO SEE HOW IT WORKS.
3:02:29PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
DO WE WANT TO DO THAT AS A SEPARATE MOTION?
I HAVE A MOTION FROM CHAIR CLENDENIN.
I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
AYE.
3:02:41PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
NUMBER TWO IS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE LEGAL
STAFF RETURN TO COUNCIL -- HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A DATE -- TO
SEE IF WE COULD PASS AN ORDINANCE MAKING IT ILLEGAL IN THE
CITY OF TAMPA FOR BUSINESSES TO MODIFY VEHICLES, FOR THE
NOISE MODIFICATION OF VEHICLES.
CAN WE REGULATE VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF
TAMPA?
YOU CAN GIVE ME A THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN.
COME BACK AND LET US KNOW WHETHER WE CAN.
3:03:18PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THAT'S WHY I'M THINKING JUNE 25, COME BACK
WITH QUESTIONS.
3:03:22PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I THINK WE SHOULD DO THIS AT COUNCIL
MEETING.
JUNE 18 COUNCIL MEETING.
COME BACK ON JUNE 18 TO LET US KNOW WHETHER WE CAN MAKE AN
ORDINANCE PROHIBITING VEHICLES FROM MAKING VEHICLE
MODIFICATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ILLEGALLY PRODUCING NOISE.
3:03:38PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I HAVE A MOTION FROM CHAIR CLENDENIN.
I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO LOOK AT -- THE
GENTLEMAN WHO CAME AND SPOKE ABOUT A SPECIFIC COUNTY --
COLLIER, SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT COLLIER COUNTY'S ORDINANCE.
SO I THINK CAN WE TIE THAT IN?
3:03:59PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ABSOLUTELY.
ACCEPT THAT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
3:04:04PM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY.
I WONDER IF THIS WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR A WRITTEN RESPONSE
RATHER THAN AN APPEARANCE.
WHAT IS IT YOU WOULD LIKE?
3:04:14PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE THAT LONG OF A
DISCUSSION.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.
COME BACK WITH WRITTEN AND ALWAYS CHANGE IT TO HAVE STAFF.
3:04:23PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
THIS IS WHY I REALLY THINK IT SHOULD BE JUNE
25 BECAUSE I DO THINK ULTIMATELY WE'LL HAVE A LOT TO TALK
ABOUT.
3:04:33PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
CAN'T PASS AN ORDINANCE.
3:04:37PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PASS AN ORDINANCE ON
THE 18th EITHER.
3:04:40PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
IF HE BRINGS IT TO US, WE WILL.
3:04:43PM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
NO, YOU WON'T.
SORRY.
3:04:45PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
YOU ALWAYS TELL ME ALL THE STUFF I CAN'T
DO.
YOU NEED TO TELL ME ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS I'M ALLOWED TO
DO.
HE ALWAYS TELLS ME I CAN'T DO THINGS ALL THE TIME.
HE'S LIKE MOM.
NO, NO, NO.
3:04:58PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I HAVE A MOTION.
KEEP IT THE 18th?
3:05:01PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
NO, TAKE IT TO THE WORKSHOP.
3:05:03PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
MOTION FROM CHAIR CLENDENIN TO BRING THAT
MOTION BACK ON JUNE 25.
I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA FINDING OUT -- DO
YOU WANT A DRAFT ORDINANCE TO WORK FROM?
3:05:16PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN DO IT.
OR BRING BACK THE EXPLANATION.
3:05:23PM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
IF I CAN, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT TO COME BACK
WITH A DRAFT ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU CAN I
THINK WOULD BE ASKING A LOT FOR THAT BECAUSE IT'S STILL A
THRESHOLD DISCUSSION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DIRECT TO
DO.
3:05:38PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WE'LL LISTEN TO THE LAWYER FOR ONCE.
3:05:40PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR?
AYE.
3:05:43PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE THEM ON THAT WORKSHOP
MEETING AGAIN ON JUNE 25 TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL -- LEGAL
STAFF TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL TO PRESENT SUGGESTIONS FOR
ENFORCEABLE ORDINANCE CHANGES ON NOISE.
ENFORCEABLE ORDINANCE CHANGES ON NOISE.
3:06:06PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
3:06:10PM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
IS IT.
TO ALSO ASK THEM TO CONSIDER IF IT'S MORE APPROPRIATE FOR
CHAPTER 14 SO MAYBE HAVE A BETTER SPECTRUM.
COMBINED TO 27.
3:06:20PM >>ERIC COTTON:
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE NOISE RIGHT NOW IS IN CHAPTER 14.
CHAPTER 27 IS THE ZONING REGULATIONS.
3:06:31PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
GOOD TO KNOW.
OKAY.
3:06:33PM >>ERIC COTTON:
ANY CHANGES TO CHAPTER 14 GO THROUGH THEIR
OWN PROCESS, NOT THE SAME AS TYPICAL TWO CYCLES.
3:06:41PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
SO THAT'S IT.
3:06:43PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I HAVE A MOTION FROM CHAIR CLENDENIN AND,
AGAIN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING WHAT MODIFICATIONS TO
CHAPTER 14?
3:06:52PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ENFORCEABLE -- I WANT LEGAL STAFF TO
RETURN TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL ENFORCEABLE -- PROPOSED
ENFORCEABLE RULE CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE ON 14.
3:07:07PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO DEAL WITH AUDIBLE
VERSUS DBA.
3:07:12PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHETHER IT IS
ENFORCEABLE.
3:07:15PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I KNOW.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE WE HAVE GOTTEN
COMMENTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
3:07:20PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
NOT INCLUSIVE.
3:07:21PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NOT INCLUSIVE, BUT WE WANT TO DO WHATEVER IS
MOST PERMISSIVE.
3:07:26PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WHATEVER IS ENFORCEABLE.
3:07:28PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
GREAT.
I HAVE A MOTION FROM CHAIR CLENDENIN.
I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
ALL IN FAVOR?
AYE.
3:07:37PM >>THE CLERK:
[INAUDIBLE]
3:07:42PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
JUST DISCUSSION.
THAT WILL BE THE WORKSHOP.
25th.
I'M GOOD.
COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG.
3:07:58PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE -- I DON'T KNOW WHICH
DEPARTMENT IT WOULD BE -- BUT EITHER MOBILITY OR PLANNING TO
COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH ACOUSTIC DESIGN STANDARDS FOR NEW
AND EXISTING OPERATORS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITHIN FEET OF
RESIDENTIAL TOWERS.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE, AGAIN, PARKING GARAGES THAT ARE
NEAR SOME OF THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
WE ALSO HEARD OF SOME BARRIERS AND THINGS THAT COULD BE
USED.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THEORY WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE.
IF THEY CAN COME BACK AND TELL IF IT IS NEW OR EXISTING.
I GUESS IT WOULD BE MOBILITY AND PLANNING.
I DON'T KNOW.
I SAY BOTH.
3:08:39PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
SAY STAFF AND THEY'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
3:08:42PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG.
A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE.
OPPOSED?
AYES HAVE IT.
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
3:08:51PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I GUESS I'LL WRAP UP THE OTHERS.
I WOULD LIKE STAFF AS PART OF THIS -- AND DOES SOMEBODY JUST
WANT TO TAKE THIS -- YOU'VE BEEN WORKING A LOT ON NOISE.
DOES ANYBODY WANT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD --
3:09:10PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
TO BE ABLE TO TRACK IT.
3:09:12PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I'M DOING THE TREES.
I'M COMBINING IT ALL.
DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TAKE NOISE?
3:09:17PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I THINK COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG SOUNDS LIKE SHE
WANTS TO TAKE NOISE.
AND SHE'S DOWNTOWN.
SHE'S YBOR.
3:09:24PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YOU ARE THE ONE WHO SEEMS --
3:09:26PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
[INAUDIBLE]
3:09:30PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
WHETHER OR NOT I'LL DO IS PUT A FEW MOTIONS
AND LET YOUR OFFICE FIGURE IT OUT.
I DO WANT TO HAVE -- I WOULD LIKE STAFF TO COME BACK WITH
SOME PROACTIVE, AND WHETHER THAT BE LEGISLATIVE, MAYBE THAT
IS YOUR ANSWER.
IF IT IS, IT IS.
BUT WHAT PROACTIVE THINGS CAN WE DO TO HELP -- TO MAKE OUR
NOISE ORDINANCE STRONGER.
APPARENTLY WE NEED TO LOOK AT COLLIER COUNTY.
SO I'D LIKE TO DO THAT.
3:10:10PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
FOR CLARIFICATION, COME BACK WITH
SUGGESTIONS.
3:10:14PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
OH, OKAY.
SUGGESTIONS.
WELL, I SPECIFICALLY WANTED PROACTIVE.
BUT THAT'S FINE.
AND THEN YOU FOCUSED ENFORCEMENT IN THAT TOO.
3:10:26PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ENFORCEMENT WAS JUST ON THE VEHICLE STUFF.
VEHICLE NOISES.
3:10:30PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I WANTED SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR ACTUAL NOISE
COMPLAINTS.
HE'S HANDLING THE PROACTIVE.
I DO WANT TO LOOK AT THE REACTIVE.
WHAT CAN WE DO, IS THERE A WAY WE CAN HAVE FOCUSED
ENFORCEMENT ON NOISE?
WHETHER THAT BE A SMALL TASK FORCE THAT DIVIDES THEIR TIME
BETWEEN -- I DON'T WANT TO SPECIFY AREAS BECAUSE AREAS CAN
CHANGE ALL OVER THE CITY OVER A YEAR.
WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO HAVE A REACTIVE TEAM THAT FOCUSES
ON NOISE?
AND ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE MADE A REALLY GOOD POINT
THAT THAT TEAM SHOULD NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE OFFICERS WHO ON
OVERTIME ACTUALLY WORK FOR CLUBS OR THOSE TYPES OF AREAS
BECAUSE THAT IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
AND MAYBE THAT'S PART OF THE RULES.
MY MOTION IS WHAT WE -- FOCUSED ENFORCEMENT, REACTIVE
SUGGESTIONS.
3:11:36PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
BASICALLY, REMEMBER, REQUEST TAMPA PD
PREPARE AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO ENFORCE --
3:11:44PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YOU WANTED VEHICLE NOISE.
3:11:45PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT AND PUT NOISE --
REQUEST.
3:11:49PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
TAMPA PD PREPARE AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO
ENFORCE NOISE, AMBIENT NOISE.
YOU HAD IT SPECIFIC.
I DID NOT WANT TO MAKE IT SPECIFIED.
NO, A TASK FORCE.
AND WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE.
WHAT WOULD THEY DO.
AND TO COME BACK ALSO ON JUNE 25 WITH THIS.
3:12:12PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE.
OPPOSED?
AYES HAVE IT.
ANYTHING ELSE?
3:12:19PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I'LL HOLD MY MOTIONS.
3:12:21PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
MR. SHELBY.
3:12:22PM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
JUST A QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, DOES
THAT INCLUDE THE TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES VERSUS THE MICROPHONE
TYPE THINGS DISCUSSED BY THE CONSULTANT?
3:12:32PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YEAH.
OH, ABSOLUTELY.
3:12:37PM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
WHEN YOU SAY TASK FORCE, IT WOULD INCLUDE
ALSO THE TECHNOLOGY?
3:12:41PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
MOTION WAS REQUEST FOR TAMPA PD TO PREPARE A
PLAN TO ENFORCE.
NONEXCLUSIVE.
IF THEY THINK THAT IS A STRATEGY THEY WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT,
THEN WE CAN LOOK AT IT NOISE CAMERAS.
3:12:59PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
I QUESTION IF THAT ENDS UP BEING THE SAME
PROBLEM.
IDENTIFY THE SOURCE.
3:13:03PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WORRY ABOUT.
3:13:06PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THAT IS WORTH LOOKING AT JUST IN CASE.
A.I. CAN DO ANYTHING, RIGHT?
IT'S GOING TO REPLACE LAWYERS HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.
I'M COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
3:13:20PM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
A.I. DOESN'T ALLOW ITSELF TO BE ABUSED.
3:13:27PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THAT CONCLUDES OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED
PROGRAM.
WE'RE AT NEW BUSINESS.
COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG.
3:13:37PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE MEMO I
SENT REGARDING THE HONORARY NAME OF FRANK REDDICK.
JUST WANTED TO BE SURE EVERYBODY RECEIVED THAT MEMO.
3:13:50PM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
IS THAT GOING TO BE SET ON AN AGENDA?
3:13:55PM >>NAYA YOUNG:
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION ON MAY 7.
3:13:57PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
WE'LL ANTICIPATE THE MOTION ON MAY 7.
VERY GOOD.
ANYTHING ELSE?
THAT'S IT.
COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK?
3:14:04PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
YES.
THE ATU IS NOT GOING TO BE READY TO CHOOSE AN EMPLOYEE OF
THE MONTH UNTIL JUNE.
I MOVE TO REMOVE ATU LOCAL'S 1464 EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AND
RESCHEDULE ATU LOCAL 1464 EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FROM THE MAY
7, 2026, AGENDA.
OUR NEXT ATU EMPLOYEE AWARD WILL BE ON JUNE 4, 2026.
3:14:27PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE.
OPPOSED?
AYES HAVE IT.
ANYTHING ELSE?
3:14:33PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
NO.
3:14:34PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
3:14:35PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
COUNCILMAN VIERA GAVE ME THESE 12
COMMENDATIONS.
I'M KIDDING.
3:14:41PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
IF NOMINATED, I REFUSE TO ACCEPT.
3:14:44PM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO:
MOTION TO PRESENT A COMMENDATION
OFF-SITE TO JOHN BELL FROM THE TAMPA THEATRE IN RECOGNITION
OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE TAMPA THEATRE AT A DATE TO BE
DETERMINED.
I BELIEVE IT WILL BE END OF JUNE, AROUND THERE.
3:14:56PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO TO
RECOGNIZE A VERY WORTHY MAN.
SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
OPPOSED?
AYES HAVE IT.
IS THAT IT?
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
3:15:04PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I HAVE A FEW SINCE MR. VIERA IS NOT HERE.
WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL WEEK, WEST TAMPA HEIGHTS DID A
FANTASTIC CLEANUP ALL THROUGH THE AREA.
I WANT TO GIVE THEM A COMMENDATION, ALONG WITH NINE STUDENTS
FROM TAMPA CATHOLIC WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE CLEANUP AND
MAKING A CLEANUP.
THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB.
THE TEACHER AT TAMPA CATHOLIC WHO GAVE THE STUDENTS THE
AUTHORITY TO GO OUT AND DO THIS AND COORDINATED THE THING.
I'M JUST GOING TO PASS THEM OUT BUT DO THEM A LATER DATE.
MAYBE COME HERE, NOT SURE YET.
ONE MORE FOR THE RETIREMENT OF JEFF PATTERSON FOR 40 YEARS
AT CHANNEL 8.
RETIRED AS ONE OF THE LONGEST SERVING INDIVIDUALS ON TV.
3:15:46PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ON THE FIRST ONE, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA FOR THE FIRST COMMENDATION, A SECOND FROM
MANISCALCO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE.
3:15:59PM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I PROMISE I WON'T TAKE OVER MR. VIERA'S
POSITION.
3:16:03PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
ON THE SECOND ONE, A MOTION FROM
COUNCILMAN MIRANDA, SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
OPPOSED?
AYES HAVE IT.
I THINK WE CAN DO THE MOTION TONIGHT.
THIS IS FROM OUR WONDERFUL BUDGET ANALYST.
REMEMBER, THAT AUGUST 3rd IS OUR WORKSHOP ON GENERAL
FUNDS.
AUGUST 10 IS OUR WORKSHOP ON ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
AUGUST 17 IS OUR WORKSHOP ON STORMWATER MOBILITY.
MONDAYS.
ALL OF THEM ARE ON MONDAYS.
THE ONLY QUESTION OUTSTANDING IS TIME CERTAIN, WHAT TIME WE
START.
I THINK SOME OF THEM NEED TO BE DAYS.
SOME NIGHTS.
TONIGHT, WHEN WE JOIN TOGETHER IN HARMONY AGAIN THIS
EVENING, PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE ANY CONFLICTS, THINK ABOUT.
I THINK, OBVIOUSLY, PROBABLY THE GENERAL FUND OR MAYBE
STORMWATER DEFINITELY NEED TO BE AT NIGHT.
THE OTHER TWO IN THE DAY.
I'LL BRING THAT BACK OR SOMEBODY WILL BRING THAT BACK
TONIGHT TO SET THE TIME.
LET'S PLAN ON THAT THIS EVENING.
MR. SHELBY.
3:17:11PM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF YOUR CALENDAR, JUST A REMINDER THAT THE
WEEK -- THE SECOND WEEK IN AUGUST, IS THAT THE 10th YOU
SAID?
3:17:22PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THE 10th, YES.
3:17:24PM >>MARTIN SHELBY:
THERE IS NO MEETING ON THAT THURSDAY
BECAUSE OF THE LEAGUE OF CITIES.
THAT WOULD BE ONE DAY.
3:17:33PM >>LYNN HURTAK:
I WOULD RECOMMEND ENTERPRISE BE DURING THE
DAY AND MAYBE THE OTHERS AT NIGHT.
3:17:38PM >>ALAN CLENDENIN:
THINK ABOUT THAT.
COME BACK TONIGHT.
ANYBODY WANTS TO MAKE CHANGES TO THAT, LET ME KNOW.
WE'LL HAVE THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN
HURTAK TO RECEIVE AND FILE.
ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
OPPOSED?
AYES HAVE IT.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
[ SOUNDING GAVEL ]
SEE YOU ALL AT 5:01 P.M. AT BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC CITY HALL IN
THE CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.
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