📝 City Council Meeting Transcript

Part 2 of 2
I think it's unfortunate that at least two or three individuals brought up specific projects because, again, I reiterate, I don't think that's what this ordinance is about.
As a matter of fact, the project that's been discussed is a phantom project as far as we're concerned because I don't think it's ever formally been in front of us.
The closest it got, it was in front of us for a pd and got withdrawn before we even opened a public hearing on it.
It might be in the administrative process, might be in the arc.
But it's never been in front of us.
To me, if it's anything phantom, it's not the seven-foot phantom issue that that lady spoke very eloquently about last week.
That's a very real issue to everybody who cares about the bay show.
Instead, I would say this project is a bit phantom right now.
I don't think it should be the folk cups of our discussion.
However, let me get a clarification from legal, are there any alternatives -- if we adopt this, are there any alternative, administrative or quasi judicial alternatives for any property owner along Bayshore or anyone in the City who feels impacted by this ordinance to use?
>> there are, Mr. Dingfelder.
They could seek a variance to the setback requirements through either if they're outside the his tore district, inside the review board or -- they could also come before the City Council and seek a rezoning of the property which would set the setbacks by the plan presented and approved by City Council.
City Council has the --.
>> john dingfelder: going back to your comments which I think are very valid generally, we should have the least restrictive ordinances and legislation possible, but I also don't think it's good to make law geared around any particular parcels or individuals or issues.
I think if we have law, we should have it be as broad as possible since there are administrative remedies that Mr. Massey just spoke to.
I think it's all in place right now.
If we pass this, we can tweak it down the road as Mr. Labor suggested, Ms. Vizzi suggested, if we want to consider tweaking it for those issues that than has brought up, we can look at it down the road.
I don't think we should modify it based on individual parcels because there is administrative remedies available.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: thank you.
Would anybody like to --.
>> john dingfelder: I’ll move the resolution -- resolution on the -- I guess i'd be moving the ordinance first and then the resolution.
>> first reading on the ordinance and then a resolution saying the public hearing before second reading which would occur three weeks from today.
>> john dingfelder: just to get it off the button, I’ll go ahead and move the ordinance and we can continue discussion I guess afterwards.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: motion and a second to move the ordinance.
Discussion?
>> Shawn Harrison: Mr. Massey, if we don't have to take any final action on this for three weeks, I do think it is appropriate for us to consider what the potential legal ramifications of doing this are.
Trust me, there are potential legal ramifications to the tune of several million dollars.
So what I would like to know -- and my concern is I want the folks outside of Bayshore Boulevard who are impacted by this problem to be able to move forward immediately with their development rights.
We heard -- we have heard several people talk about that.
We could achieve that today bypassing the original proposal that was on the table last week, not this amendment.
In the interim, we would run the risk that someone would come in and file a building permit application to take advantage of that seven-foot setback requirement.
>> correct.
>> Shawn Harrison: is there any way for us to know what the realistic possibilities of that happening are here as we sit here today?
Does anyone know how many properties could potentially be developed in the next month within that seven-foot --.
>> I don't know, Mr. Harrison.
>> Shawn Harrison: there's clearly risk.
None of us want to see that happen.
But I’m just trying to think in the best interest of everyone in the City, and everyone is right, this is not about one particular zoning.
But I do think that -- I think if we take the action that's been proposed, we are giving a tremendous amount of fire power to a particular property owner's claim, and that is a very substantial claim.
And ultimately, if we are wrong, taxpayers of this city are going to be on the hook for millions of dollars.
One May argue that's just a risk we always take in anything we do.
But I’m suggesting to you that that risk is staring us in the face right now.
And we need to be cognizant of that.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: anymore discussion?
>> john dingfelder: move ordinance of the City of Tampa amending chapter 27 City of Tampa code section 27-523 definitions yard, front, by deleting the requirement for two front yards on certain corner lots exempting a portion of Bayshore Boulevard lying between Gandy Boulevard and platt street because of its unique scenic, historic and aesthetic importance to the entire City of Tampa, Florida, providing for repeal of ordinances in conflict, providing for -- providing an effective date.
>> Rose Ferlita: he's absolutely right, there are always potential ramifications.
Of course, the costs would be intense if that did occur.
However, I think by leaving the flood gates open an trying to CRAft it as he's suggesting kind of makes me think quietly about a situation we had in the last four years about billboard signs.
And remember we had a pending ordinance document exception there.
We had some that did get through and we had to go with that whether we liked it or not.
I think we've gotten to the end of this product in a reasonable way, in a way that documents public safety issues and, again, although we do run the risk of potential ramifications, I think we are solidly placed in our reasons for moving forward.
I'm comfortable in doing that, and giving the opportunity for the rest of the people in the City to maximize their building capability on their lots and at the same time doing what I think we should do, and that is to protect that view corridor.
I'm very comfortable with where we got.
Mr. Massey, thank you for your help in the process.
>> Shawn Harrison: madam chair, I am very reluctantly, will not support this because I do think there's a way to do it without the risk and potential liability that we're facing here.
It is a difficult decision.
Trust me.
It is a difficult decision for me to make that.
I think being intellectually honest to myself, I have to do that.
>> Mary Alvarez: I just want to ask Mr. Massey a question.
In this ordinance that you drafted, I don't see anything where it says anything about vertical heights.
Is that part of the --.
>> it's not addressed there.
This is the definition of what constitutes a front yard.
How the yards are measured is not addressed.
That's addressed in another section of the code which is not being amended by this.
>> Mary Alvarez: okay.
Thank you.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: excuse me.
Anymore discussion?
I have great, great respect for your eloquence, Mr. Harrison, but in this case I’m going to go ahead and support the motion before us.
>> madam chair, at this time I would ask that the proposed amend.
I submitted to Mr. Massey also be put on first reading as another alternative way to protect Bayshore and to join the discussion.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: well, that's interesting.
Thank you, Mr. Grandoff.
Mr. Massey?
>> Mr. Massey: typically we would take that to the Planning Commission before it came before first reading.
I guess if council so chose to do so and you wanted to, we could have first reading and then take it to the Planning Commission before second reading.
You're going to have two competing ordinances that will be doing potentially separate things.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: let me give a moment and see if any council member has any interest in taking you up on that suggestion.
>> I’ve not seen what was just read, Mrs. Saul-Sena.
I'm talking about fairness.
I haven't seen what you've just had first -- I’ve pro proposed an alternative amendment -- how do I get into the process?
>> the code provides a process for individuals to provide amendments to the code.
>> when did you receive this, Mr. Massey?
The one that was just read?
>> the only substantive change to it is what I read into the record.
It is exactly what beth johnson proposed except it limits the boundaries of Bayshore to which it applies between Gandy and platt.
That is the only change from you have seen previously a week ago.
>> it impacts numerous property owners --.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: excuse me.
Please sit down.
>> Ms. Johnson delivered that on Thursday evening.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: Mr. Grandoff, please sit down.
You are out of order.
>> Ms. Johnson's ordinance is better than mine?
Is that what we're saying?
>> chairman Saul-Sena: Mr. Grandoff, please sit down or leave the chambers.
>> john dingfelder: madam chair, I would like to make a motion in regard to Mr. Labour and Ms. Vizzi's and than's request that our planning staff revisit the issues that they spoke to.
I'm not necessarily advocating because, frankly, I don't understand their comments completely.
But I do respect their request and would ask Mr. Snelling to come back to us in 30 days to come back with comments and a plan of action if one is being proposed.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: is that a motion?
>> Mary Alvarez: there will be a second but i'd like to make a friendly amendment to that, especially for the overlay districts.
Would you take that as friendly amendment.
>> john dingfelder: sure.
If he wants to look at the overlay districts, how they might be impacted.
>> thom snelling, Land Development.
When we look at it, we'll look at everything.
We'll consider the overlays.
I understand because I had spoken to steve and margaret about what their particular issues are.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: Mr. Massey, do we need to -- we need to vote on currently the motion that you just made to hear back in 30 days from Land Development coordination.
Any discussion on the motion?
Passed unanimously.
>> Shawn Harrison: I don't know it's appropriate for us to act on Mr. Grandoff's request.
I'm not sure that's the appropriate procedure.
But I would like simply for informational purposes, when this does come back in three weeks, to know what the impact of that could be if that were to go through the proper channels of the Planning Commission.
>> john dingfelder: can I make a suggestion before we vote on that?
Every discussion we have along these lines, and I’m not trying to be secretive at all, but you pointed out that this is headed to litigation.
Every time we have a public discussion on this from this point on outside of this legislative context, he has court reporter here.
They type away, and it becomes ammunition for his legal proceedings that he very well May take.
What I would suggest, because it is very legally sensitive at this point, Mr. Harrison, your questions and concerns are a hundred percent right on.
But I think you can get those answers with our legal council in an attorney-client privileged setting.
I think that would be prudent as opposed to this council having a big discussion being used in a lawsuit against the City.
>> Shawn Harrison: isn't the reason why it's important information, reason enough to bring it forward to have it debated by the board.
>> john dingfelder: if after you have that one-on-one discussion you feel it's appropriate to have discussion with all council, I encourage you to do so.
I would say take it one anticipate at a time.
>> john dingfelder: what I’m saying is have your discussion with your legal counsel right here about all of these and the ramifications you're concerned about which are very valid.
If you want to continue with that, bring it in front of counsel, in front of the cameras and we can have it at that time.
I would take it one step at a time.
That's a recommendation.
>> Shawn Harrison: mine was in the form of a motion that we have all the information in front of us when we vote on this in three weeks.
That's all I’m asking for.
Part of that information would be the proposal made by Mr. Grandoff, what is the difference between that and what is in front of us right now.
I don't think that puts us in any greater legal jeopardy than we already are.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: is there a second to Mr. Harrison's motion?
I don't hear a second.
We need a motion to set a second reading for the 25th at 5:30.
There's been a motion and a second --.
>> john dingfelder: Mr. Grandoff do you have a calendar problem with three weeks?
>> yes, I do.
I have a calendar problem with the 25th.
I'll be glad to go a month later if you'd like.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: our next meeting is schedule for April 15th at 6:00. We could set this for 5:00 or 5:30.
>> I’m open that evening.
>> john dingfelder: is there a reason that somebody else in your firm couldn't handle this?
You've got a big firm of a hundred lawyers.
I wanted to ask the question because you were toiling with your calendar, and we usually give you great deference.
I'm wondering, you've brought another young man who has been working with you on this issue repeatedly.
You've got another 50 or a hundred lawyers there.
Can you send somebody else?
>> I cannot.
This is jeffrey weaver, an associate at our firm.
With all due respect, he's done a fine job, but I don't feel he can cover that hearing.
He's out of town, also.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: my concern is this: we have a number of property owners who have been held up who have these lots that have been in a state of limbo for quite some time while we've gone through this process with numerous continuances.
I'd like to hear from other council members.
>> Rose Ferlita: I’m sorry it's a conflict for Mr. Grandoff.
We've been talking about the fact that this is not about his project.
This is about what we decided to do.
Some of the people that are for it, May not be able to be here.
Some of the people against it May not be able to be here.
We have people throughout the City who want to get this done.
We're holding um their properties in terms of setback issues.
I think we ought to move for ward.
Perhaps if there's an opportunity for Mr. Grandoff to change his schedule on the other side, we welcome his participation.
I don't think we should continue delaying this for any particular person, any particular developer, any particular reason.
We need to move on.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: council members?
Did we have a motion to schedule the second reading?
There's been a motion and a second to schedule the second reading on this for the 25th at 5:30?
>> can't I have a common courtesy when you have a hearing on this item.
I've intimately involved.
I have plans that cannot be moved.
I'm a one-man band at my firm.
I'm just asking for fairness.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: Mr. Grandoff, council makes every attempt to be fair.
We have continued, we have discussed, we have worked on this with great diligence.
There's a motion and a second before us.
It's up to council.
I don't hear any other motions before us.
Call for the question.
All those in favor of scheduling the second reading for the 25th at 5:30 say aye.
Passed unanimously.
Mr. Massey, do we need to do something --.
>> that was the resolution.
I think that's all.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: we've acted on Mr. Dingfelder's motion to have Mr. Snelling come back.
We're now going to take -- excuse me, Mr. Michilini.
When you're talking about changes setbacks for other areas in the neighborhood regarding single family residential that than shouldn't be the only important group involved.
It should involved builders association.
>> your motion was for than only.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: no.
It was form general discussion.
We're going to take a five minute break, come back at five after eleven and discuss Mr. Smith's issue b.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: council City Council is back in session.
Roll call.
We're still under -- we're still at the beginning of the meeting, and I apologized to all of you in the audience who have been waiting patiently.
We have a very dense agenda today.
We're now going to item b under unfinished business.
If david smith would come up here to discuss his plans.
Welcome.
This is your first time appearing before us as an official City Attorney.
>> thank you.
Good morning, madam chair woman and honorable council members.
I read the transcript from your hearing.
I also viewed the tape.
And I’m here to respond to the issues that you had identified.
Sort of before I do that, one comment that Ms. Ferlita raised, I will generally refrain from commenting until after April 2nd.
One point I raised today with respect to the moss brothers issue, I noticed council for one of the lien holders was here today, is I think we need to consider all the different venues in which that situation May find itself.
Among others is the fact that there are significant powers of a trustee in bankruptcy that we need to consider and its impact on our lien.
We will look at all of those facts before any final proposal is taken.
The last thing we want to do is create equity for a private developer out of money we won't get back.
We will be looking at those issues in their entirety.
If you have any specific question between now and April 2nd, please let me know and I’ll provide my response.
As you know, I’m not yet sworn in as the City Attorney.
This is not the City Attorney opinion.
Anything I say prior to that is not the official legal position of the City.
>> Rose Ferlita: nothing that I said was out of disrespect for Mr. Carl, obviously, if we confirmed the mayor's choice, we think you're going to be wonderful in your position.
Although I know you won't tag onto any opinion between now and when you take over.
If you think there's anything that is permanent --.
>> the issue we have in front of us today was where we go from here in moving the council forward with retaining a City Council attorney.
We don't need to revisit the issue of whether that's a fait accompli.
I read the transcript.
I listened to the hearing.
We need to talk about how in a way that minimizing any potential risk or liability to council members and the City.
I'd like to have some of those conversations with you one-on-one for obvious reasons, and we will do that.
In addition, as I indicated when I met with each of you prior to the confirmation, I want to know what your agendas are on ago-forward basis so the Legal Department can be as responsive as we possibly can be to the various issues that you want to have addressed.
We are your attorneys, we intend to act as your attorneys, and we want to help get your input as our client with regards to things that you're going to want from us.
We're looking forward to doing that.
I'd like to schedule those starting tomorrow as soon as we can.
With respect to who would serve in the interim, I would propose -- first of all, I think you have the right to select anyone you want to.
But I think you know who the people are that have the qualifications and the experience.
What I think would work best for you is probably to have someone like sam serve in your morning meetings and maybe morris for your evening meetings.
I think their areas of expertise, their experience, their knowledge and their familiarity with you would probably work best in that kind of a basis.
With respect to getting to where we need to go to get the City Council attorney on board, I noticed you have a very ambitious agenda.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: excuse me for interrupting, but I haven't passed this out to everyone.
Let me do that.
I developed an ambitious time line for selecting City Council's assistant City Attorney.
March will not be a dull month.
>> it certainly won't be with that schedule.
I also caution you that working with lawyers is a bit like herding cats.
I'm not sure they'll respond as quickly or manageably as you would hope.
I would also suggest that sometimes attorneys don't know they're interested in changing the position.
The 13th is such a short time frame.
It May trigger somebody's thought in mid March, say the 15th of March, and it May be an excellent prospect, that you would want to hear from and you'd want to seriously consider.
So I would encourage you to consider at least maybe the ad has already gone out or gone to type.
I don't know, but trying to provide some flexibility here so people who read this out on March 14th know if they expedite things and get their resume in quickly, they're not necessarily out of the picture.
I know you don't want to dawdle.
I understand that.
But the same token, you don't want to miss out on excellent candidates that May be out there.
The other issue -- I will be following up with discussions with you to talk about some of the manners in doing things that we need to comply with under the charter, both in terms of simply complying with the charter, also minimizing exposure for you individually and you generally.
Lastly, what I would tell you is I’m looking forward to working with whoever it is that comes on board.
I'm comfortable that I can work with anybody.
I'm -- I also have some ideas as to how to make that relationship work for all of us.
I would propose -- I think I’ve mentioned this to several people already -- that if that person is not going to attend our staff meetings which May or May not be appropriate, that I will personally meet with whoever your person is on Wednesdays before your Thursday meetings and on Fridays after your Thursday meetings.
It's imperative that we coordinate and that we stay together.
This is one city.
Both you and the Mayor and the department heads -- I guess that's more than two, so it's not both -- all of these people all our clients.
One of the most important things in discharging that responsibility is to have good communication so that you and they and everyone else involved in the process knows what's going on so you can make effective and informed decisions.
With that, if you have any questions, i'd be happy to respond.
I think it's probably pretty clear what you're doing.
>> Shawn Harrison: Mr. Smith, thank you for coming in.
I know it was a very short notice from last week.
I personally like what I’m hearing.
I think that we're off on a good foot here.
Madam chair, I do agree with Mr. Smith, I think your schedule May be a bit ambitious.
I'd like to see us just sort of keep this open.
I think that as long as it's this council that has the say on who is going to be there in the interim subject to your review and approval as well, but that person is our attorney, I’m comfortable with allowing that interim process to take place while we make sure -- if we have to extend this for another month or so, we can do that.
We don't want to decrease the possible applicant pool by putting some deadlines on here that May not be quite reasonable in the legal world.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: I would like to ask you, I’ve never hired a lawyer before and you have.
Does it take them a while to respond?
>> Shawn Harrison: yes.
It will take a while for the information to filter down into the legal community I think that we're actually looking for people.
It will then take them some period of time to figure out if this is something they're interested in.
If the urgency is not there that we have to make this decision by the time that fred and gina leave and either morris or sam or someone on staff can be there for us in the interim, I’m comfortable with extending this a bit.
I think we've heard that from Mr. Smith here today.
What I was concerned about last week was we weren't going to know what his thoughts were until the day that he started and someone was going to pop into that chair who we didn't have any clue who it was going to be.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: thank you.
>> Rose Ferlita: madam chairman, i, as well, don't want to miss out on some good applications.
I don't want to make it interim for a long time.
Just a couple of comments.
We probably have not received -- I don't know that we have or haven't -- received many applications for a couple of reasons, Mr. Smith.
Out of courtesy to you, we decided that yes, we wanted to do that last week, but at the same time we wanted you to have the opportunity to come to us.
If I were an attorney who happened not to see any ads because there were not and happened to be in between clients and saw our meeting last week, then perhaps that small select group would know that we were looking, but at that point it was like, yes, you're looking for an attorney, but the way we phrased it and the way we stated it, it's kind of like we're looking for that attorney or that person May have felt that they were in conflict or competition with what you have to offer today.
I say at the onset I thank you for putting aside any kind of misconception of competition and that type of things.
We had that conversation this morning.
I see nothing but a cooperative type spirit and offer from you.
I truly appreciate that.
This is going to go far, far, far to make us a better city government.
That being said, there are a couple of questions, Ms. Saul-Sena, and maybe you can answer this.
I don't guess that the ad has gone out because Sarah Lang said she needed a 263 form.
Is that right?
>> chairman Saul-Sena: I never thought that putting this ad would take three days of back and forth CRAfting.
The good news is we've got it written and it's ready to go.
I thought I should wait till today to see if everybody else agreed with March 13th as the closing date or if we wanted to extend it.
The analysis we've done on where and when the add should be placed is that such day -- Sunday is the best day and we have time to get it in for Sunday, but I want to hear from you all in terms of what our closing date is on it.
>> Rose Ferlita: when would it ran?
>> chairman Saul-Sena: it would run in the -- in Sunday in the st. Pete times and Tampa Tribune, in next week's addition of La Gaceta and the Florida bulletin.
The Florida bar has these deadlines that are out a couple weeks that didn't make sense if we were going to have a March 13th deadline.
If we're extending it, we could hit their deadline.
>> Rose Ferlita: I have a couple questions.
Now we know -- the listening audience knows we want to do this.
It's a matter of getting the right applicants, getting enough for us to peruse.
Would we have a situation we have a lot of applicants on the 13th, and then decide --.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: you mean not putting the ad in?
>> Rose Ferlita: putting the ad in, and not extending our deadline if we get a lot of applications that look good.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: we'd have to readvertise and there's a cost involved.
>> Rose Ferlita: the second thing I might suggest as a suggestion -- you can't get it answered if you don't ask.
If, in fact, at the time -- initially her answer would have been no, but she has been nothing but protective of this council in terms of what's good for us.
I'm just wondering although, let me say Mr. Smith, I have the utmost respect for both sam and morris, and if that's an alternative or solution, that will be fine depending on the wishes of this council, but might we want to consider asking gina -- I know you decided you wanted to leave on the 26th, but if we look like we're getting close to the product the we want, might you consider continuing to stay on for a short amount of time as our interim until our City Council attorney comes on board?
>> chairman Saul-Sena: I believe that I asked her and she said no.
>> Rose Ferlita: could we ask her one more time in this whole process.
>> I asked her, also and she said no.
>> Rose Ferlita: she really didn't know at the time where we really were going to go.
>> Shawn Harrison: we all hoped there would be a way for gina to be in this mix.
What I May be -- what I think May be happening is if gina is truly interested in that, she May feel that there is an ethical or a moral hurdle for her to really express that interest while she is still a chief assistant City Attorney.
So what we May want to do is extend that deadline beyond the date that she leaves and after that she could submit her resume --.
>> Rose Ferlita: I’m talking about covering us -- I didn't mean for her to come back.
>> Mary Alvarez: the code of ethics doesn't allow her to come back for two years.
>> Shawn Harrison: no.
That's as a lobbyist.
>> Rose Ferlita: Mr. Smith, once she submits her letter of separation or notice of separation --.
>> she submitted her letter of resignation, but she used a date of March 26th.
Is it possible for her to change that date?
I don't see why it wouldn't be possible for her to change that date.
>> Rose Ferlita: I wasn't talking about offering this job to her.
I meant if she feels we're getting closer to finding the applicant that pleases us, perhaps she would consider staying two, three, four more weeks.
I don't know that.
I guess we could ask her later.
It seems Mr. Smith is open to either, giving us Mr. Massey or Mr. Hamilton.
>> one other thing i'd suggest, as an attorney, I don't know too many attorneys that look in the want ads for positions.
I think what you're doing today is probably really going to get the word out.
Where attorneys typically look, if they're looking at an advertisement is either the bar journal, Hillsborough County bar association journal, some of those local publications.
I don't know what the cost comparisons are.
You May have to advertise because there May be other requirements such as putting it out there for anybody and everybody to apply.
But the bar association also has a mailing list.
There May be some other alternative ways.
Certainly your purview, not mine.
I throw that out as a suggestion.
Attorneys don't typically read the want ads.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: the problem with those, the deadline dates, they have several weeks in advance.
If the deadline was the 13th and it doesn't get published to April 1 is it.
>> the Florida bar journal will expose you to every lawyer in the state and those out of state which are bar members which May give you a vast majority of people.
It May be more expensive, but that's a tremendous pool of people.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: could somebody get a hold of Sarah Lang.
I didn't bring it in here, with those deadlines.
If you can get a hold of that to share with us those deadlines.
That May have some bearing on when we set our own deadline for receiving applications.
Mr. Dingfelder?
>> john dingfelder: I’m feeling much more comfortable, as Mr. Harrison mentioned, about our scheduling.
I don't think we need to rush into this now.
I think we have a transition in place.
I think gina can probably sit with us during our day meetings until she leaves.
She's indicated she doesn't want to do our zoning meetings, period.
Who can blame her.
She doesn't want to do our zoning meetings anymore and she's not going to.
Mr. Massey or Mr. Hamilton would be fine for that, or kate, for that matter.
So I think we should take your schedule, which is fine and we appreciate it, and I think maybe add three weeks to it.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: that's fine.
I wanted something before us to respond to.
>> john dingfelder: that would slow everything down a little bit.
I do agree with Mr. Smith that the Florida bar -- you can put a small ad in -- as a matter of fact, whenever I’m sure the City is looking for somebody, you probably typically would put knit the Florida bar because there's a pool of government lawyers who aren't necessarily in the bay area who aren't necessarily listening to this.
If we get knit the Florida bar, we can hit 50,000 lawyers which I think is a good idea.
The other thing, with all due respect, I think that prior to the end of today's session, I think we should actually all get a chance to look at the draft ad to make sure we're comfortable with the language so we're all in agreement on this job description and what it is we're looking for.
Just out of an abundance of caution.
If we're putting money into the ads, we don't want to redo them again.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: I’m ever so happy to share that.
In fact, because I know that a few council members need to leave pretty quickly.
If you have any recommended changes to the ad and need to leave and scrutinize it more, round them through the clerk and say by the end of business today so we can place it tomorrow so it will be in Sunday.
We need to look at a date.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: this is the memo, Florida bar deadline is March 14th for the April 1 is it issue.
And the Hillsborough County bar has a deadline of March 15th for the May 1 is it issue.
I think May 1 is it is beyond our schedule.
But Florida bar which is the broader one, April 1st issue.
Would you want to say through the middle of April?
April 15th?
That would give an opportunity for this to be published and it would give the entire -- all the lawyers in the state of Florida a chance to look at it.
>> Rose Ferlita: everybody who is listening now does haven't to wait for that deadline.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: is that the consensus of council?
Can you get the copy of the ad.
>> john dingfelder: you'll change March 15th to April 15th and change all the other dates accordingly.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: yes.
Mr. Smith, thank you.
Your input was really, really helpful.
I think the feeling of council is that Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Massey would be terrific interim supports if gina can't be convinced to stay on after that.
>> that's what we'll do.
I'll talk to you about any of the requirement we need to comply with to make sure we stay within the charter and any other requirements for hiring for the City.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: right.
In my write-up I said everything will be done collectively, in the sunshine, in front of council.
We were very specific when nobody is surprised when suddenly their resume appears in public.
>> Shawn Harrison: madam chair, Mr. Smith, I’ll ask you to wait for 30 more seconds.
Madam chair, I do have to leave right now.
I wanted in new business to bring up asking the Planning Commission to add the north Tampa community redevelopment area to its work program for the coming year, and to ask the administration to come back next week during department heads and give us some guidance of what the process would be for adding north Tampa to the community redevelopment -- a new community redevelopment area there.
The specific area I’m talking about is bush Boulevard to foul her, the interstate to 30th street.
That is a huge area.
I fully expect that it will be whittled down after we get into it, but we need to start somewhere.
North Tampa currently there is no CRA anywhere in north Tampa.
I think that's an area that is a great candidate for it. So I would simply like to hear back from our staff next week as to what the process would be.
>> Rose Ferlita: that being a motion, I’m second it.
>> john dingfelder: before you send it to the Planning Commission, should we discuss it first next week before we send it over there?
I guess is the cart before the horse?
>> Shawn Harrison: next week we'll find out what the process is.
If we have to take a formal vote to send it to the Planning Commission, we can do it next week after we find out.
I want to do it.
I think it's important what we do.
>> Rose Ferlita: madam chairman I think you need to make a motion that that be brought before us next week to discuss.
We'll decide at that point what we need to do to formalize --.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: all those in favor say aye.
Unanimous.
Thank you.
Mr. Smith.
>> good morning, members of council.
About three weeks ago I had a meeting with Ms. Saul-Sena during which time we were discussing some aspects of the City's web site, and I had mentioned to her that we were in the process of planning some major changes to both the Tampagov home page as well as the application that many of you have come to know as the message center.
At that time the chairman asked me if I would come back to council to make you aware of what we were planning to do when we were ready to roll out the new web site.
We are in the process of cutting that over today.
So I wanted to brief you briefly on what our plans are.
Specifically, the major focus on the home page is going to provide a more prominent display and access to a new facility that we're calling the customer service center.
The message center, as you knew it, is going to become a component of that customer service center.
And that's the application that we have been essentially piloting for about a year now.
We started off with about three departments about a year ago with 20 different services, services to us are things like reporting an abandoned vehicle or reporting a pothole or things related to those type of services.
We have grown to -- from those three departments to involve 50 different agencies, and we're up to over 300 different services now.
And we've received, with no publicity -- in fact, we've kind of had no easy access identified on the home page during this pilot phase to the message center.
We've now made it more prominent on the home page -- I’ll be showing you an example of it in a minute and hopefully have the citizens now more easily aware of how they can communicate with us.
The benefits of this new program is it gives citizens 24-7 access to communicate with the City requesting services, reporting non-emergency problems, expressing their opinions.
It provides for increased efficiency in the delivery of city services, increased accountability and citizens can communicate with us about a particular problem without having to know who they specifically need to address the problem to.
The site itself will undergo continuous improvement and update.
We have trained over 400 --450 staff in the use of the application.
Diane jemi who is with me today is both the system administrator and the principal trainer of the project.
During the next 30 days we'll be planning future enhancements to the site as well.
Also today I wanted to make you aware of another program that we're initiating through the Mayor’s Office called action requests.
The program is designed to provide a simple tablet to city employees as they drive around the City to make it easier for them to report problems similar to what would come in through the message center.
I don't know how well you can see this image, but this is what the new web page is going to look like.
There is a link up here under customer service and e-mail.
There's a link over here under customer service center, and a third link over here that will provide citizens with one click the ability to get to the customer service center.
And this is where all of the citizen action requests are accessible.
These are the 300 or so services that I mentioned earlier.
They can also make payments or purchase items on the web site.
They can submit questions -- ask questions or submit their opinion on certain matters.
They can undergo research, do self service research and obtain forms or applications such as employee -- for employment with the City.
>> john dingfelder: can you go back to the home page for a second?
We had had this discussion -- I can't see that very well, but is there a council part of that?
>> chairman Saul-Sena: where the mascotte is council.
>> john dingfelder: where is that.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: gold.
My eyes aren't so hot either.
>> john dingfelder: push it up high if you're pointing to something.
>> right here.
Meet Tampa City Council.
That's the link.
>> john dingfelder: it doesn't look like City Council.
>> well, the printer --
>> john dingfelder: what I’m thinking is obviously our individual pictures aren't going to show very well.
Maybe if it's something that shows the dais --.
>> what they're brought to with that click is --.
>> john dingfelder: I understand that.
But to visually pull them into -- they see other things that might bring them to it, but I don't know that people recognize that little sliver of city hall.
I just think a lot of people have asked me how do we quickly and easily get in touch with you.
That would just be a suggestion.
Also, I think that perhaps it should be a little higher up on the list of issues as opposed to 40th street or budget or what have you.
>> as I mentioned, this site undergoes constant change.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: I think those are some excellent suggestions.
Mr. Dingfelder.
We didn't directly -- we didn't review this.
You know what happens when you have an idea, you get to be the person who takes a look at it.
Would you work with Mr. Dingfelder to look at your next redesign so council is easily identifiable.
>> john dingfelder: and has a permanent location on the page.
>> real estate on the home page is a pretty hot item.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: a lot of constituents want to really communicate with their council members.
I think it would be appropriate for us to be above the fold, if it were.
>> the final thing I want to show you is this action request, the form itself -- this is an earlier draft that we had piloted, very succinctly, it contains the list of the problems that we see most often on this note pad to make it easier for employees to make note of them, and then when they come in to work, they can enter the item in through the customer service center.
The updated version of this form will be published next week and distributed to city departments so they'll have access to the new form.
>> john dingfelder: the other question I had, rick, and I appreciate all this hard work that you and your staff are doing on this, is it came to my attention a month or so ago from our staff that when somebody comes into the message center and they -- whatever they have to do to ask us a question, to specifically ask either all council -- I guess they can message to all council or maybe even a message to one of us individually -- I don't know if this is still applicable.
That's why I asked cindy to come in and tell me.
Then she gives me a hard copy of what that message is.
I said why do I get a hard copy of that.
She said, well, the system doesn't really facilitate very well-being able to take that message and bounce it to our e mail -- to our e-mail no matter where we are.
Personally read my e-mail somewhere else.
I'm sure other council members might read their e-mail either at home or at their other offices.
I've been asking this question for the last couple of months, of why can't we make those messages be able to bounce out to an e-mail.
Cindy told me she can cut and paste and this and that.
If you're cutting and pasting, you're sort of out of the system and it's not very efficient.
I'm wondering, have we fixed that?
If we haven't, can we?
>> yes, we can.
I know Ms. Ferlita will have a comment on this as well.
>> Rose Ferlita: several.
>> we are planning to provide vied what's called remote access which means you won't have to be in your office, you can be at home or your place of business or wherever --.
>> john dingfelder: I don't want to access the message system.
I want my assistant to do that and then if she deems fit to take those messages -- she screens half of them and I don't necessary lit have to be the one answering them.
So I don't want to just go into that remote.
The remote idea might be a great idea for some people.
But I think others of us might want our staff person to filter those and then be able to bounce those out via e mail to us.
>> let me answer you this way: we are in the process of implementing this over the last year we have gone through probably three or four major new releases on the product without even advertising it.
We're in the process now of looking at what we're going to undertake in the next quarter, beginning April, may, June, in terms of additional enhancements.
We have quite a list of things that will expedite further the processing of information, and we will certainly include that, and we will certainly make it a high priority.
But I don't have a solution for you today on that.
>> john dingfelder: I appreciate that.
Because we inquired a couple months ago.
>> Rose Ferlita: madam chairman.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: certainly.
>> Rose Ferlita: you May have inquired a couple months ago.
I am right on target with you because I think it's been longer than that.
Rick and I have known each other personally forever.
He is a fanatic about doing the best job he possibly can.
As we have gotten the improvements, as we've talked about fire walls, the message center, et cetera, over the last year that you, collectively, have tried to become more efficient, you have made me much, much less efficient.
What has happened is when we got the e-mail to my office, it would be send to my office, forwarded to home, to my place of business.
Now I have to overload my legislative aide, just like every other colleague here thinks their aides work hard.
Now they have to work harder.
She has to determine what she has to answer in our behalf or she has to determine what she has to printed out to send to you, john, to you, linda, or to me.
It really makes this is a very cumbersome, cumbersome process.
I don't know what needs to be done or can be done in accomplishing both.
I have been asking this ever since the very first day -- I’m a night person, I like to be at home at 1:00 in the morning, 3:00 in the morning, I think constituents can do that.
He May be a morning person.
Regardless of that, we still need the opportunity to become as efficient as we were.
I think we're overloading our staff and we are not getting the best product out of the efficiencies and improvements that this particular process is trying to accomplish.
>> if I can suggest something that will help solve your problem.
Diane jemi who I introduced earlier who is sitting in the audience with me, as a systems administrator is responsibility to me to identify all of those issues and ensure that they are discussed in the meetings that we have every two weeks with the team.
An our intent is to ensure, one, we understand clearly what the issue is and what needs to be done to resolve it.
That's diane's job.
And what I’m suggesting, madam chairman, is we will make sure that she gets the information.
To the extent we need any further information on this issue -- I don't think we do -- but we'll confirm we understand what it is that is desired and we'll proceed from there.
>> Rose Ferlita: just in the way of a little bit of history.
We have had ongoing conversations with john mack graph.
He said we understand your dilemma, but it's not going to happen.
I'm hearing there are perhaps other alternatives and we will be able to get what john and I are suggesting.
>> unless there's a policy I’m not aware of, we're going to proceed with the remote access.
I'm waiting for them to have that tested and make sure that the security issue is dealt with as far as the fire walls.
But the e mail issue that Mr. Dingfelder brought up, I’m not with that -- familiar with that.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: this is an issue for all of us.
We have another out standing issue that diane I believe is working on with our City Council administrator who then has to distribute things.
Right now she has to go through several additional steps that hopefully we will figure out a way that's a lot more efficient.
Right now she has to hand send each one -- if it says hand council, she has to do it --.
>> john dingfelder: seven times the amount of work.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: we know there's an enormous valium of action requests.
It's a burden on her.
>> john dingfelder: I need to stress one thing --.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: we're real appreciative of the system.
>> john dingfelder: it's making headway and I know everything is always a work in progress when it comes to these type of programs.
However, I have to stress one thing: like it or not, council's issues, day-to-day activities are not the same as other departments, and I think that's part of the problem.
I think we've been looked at as just another department, but our relationship with the community, et cetera, is not the same as any other department.
I'm not saying we're better or we're worse, but we're different.
We all know that.
I just think that as you guys are redeveloping this or tweaking this, you need to take that into consideration and come to us before you start typing the new program and say this is what we think this is going to do as opposed to this is what we've done, how does it work?
>> chairman Saul-Sena: I would be very happy -- to schedule a meeting in the very near future again for our assistants as well as both of you so you can hear maybe more clearly what our concerns are and give us an idea of the time frame perhaps when we'll be able to address them.
It's a concern for all of us.
We really appreciate the innovative system you've set up and we need to make it better for everyone.
I'll schedule that in the next, like, week.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: we have now finished with department heads and city employees.
Do we have any requests for reconsideration by the public?
Hearing none we move ahead to the audience agenda, three minutes per person to speak on any matter on the agenda not scheduled for a public hearing.
>> dennis johnson was here earlier, he requested that item 29 be removed from your agenda.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: Mr. Knott?
>> moses knott, junior, 2902 east ellicott street.
What I want to hear on is the code enforcement, the maas brothers building.
I also want to speak on this lawyer agenda y'all were talking about, a lawyer for y'all.
The first thing I want to say, sister chair, you were talking this morning about running an ad in the paper and in Florida sentinel.
Save that money, please.
I don't want no black lawyer sitting right there.
>> john dingfelder: Mr. Knott, that's out of order.
>> I said three times I brought this up.
Let me tell you what I’m talking about.
The law of moses wrote in the book of exodus, jesus had to come and suffer and go to the cross and change it.
He said -- jesus law, he said, my lord, the first thing that we love one another.
Y'all been operating under the moses law for a long time.
A lot of people out there -- not talking about y'all, billions of people out there, over in my part of town, think about 95% operate on the moses law.
People don't believe in grace and mercy no more.
Y'all always hear me say that.
This morning y'all brought up about this moss brothers building again.
Let me tell you something: y'all went over there, I heard this morning say ain't no fine on that building, and they also said that the judge is not going to issue y'all no petition to tear that building down.
And that made me feel good because y'all been having this hearing master here, he only got that right ear.
He hear y'all and nobody else.
What I really want to say, though, that down through the years, in my knowledge of studying the word of God and the bible, he said whatever -- whatever you make a God out of, he'll use the same thing to destroy you.
So that moss brothers building in that -- and the Florida motel down there.
People done told me about the building years ago, why don't the City do something about that building?
Now y'all got two CRAck houses downtown and y'all can't tear either one of them down.
You can't touch those buildings.
That Florida motel has been sitting there for years and years.
Ain't no lien on that, I guarantee it, on the Florida motel, neither one of these buildings.
Back what I said a while ago, over on my part of town, y'all got elected, well back in Mayor freeman days, how can you -- I see another abandoned building downtown.
They been there.
If it was a building on my side of town, it would have been down a long, long time ago.
I just want to say that I just wish y'all, when you bring your lawyer in, I wish they change the system where our peoples -- then again this morning, you got if hammer this morning around want to put this lawyer in jail this morning.
The police right there went to reach at him.
I said oh, I know this ain't fixing to happen.
I know this ain't fixing to ham.
I've been coming to this council a long, long time.
Huh-uh, going to grab this lawyer this morning, Mr. Grandoff.
Thank you very much.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: thank you.
>> margaret vizzi, 213 south sheryl.
There was an issue on number five -- it's not an issue.
I was just wondering how much money in total the City will be putting in to the links project.
There's been a couple of approvals for funds to go to fund the links project, and I was wondering what the total amount the City has committed to that.
Does anybody know?
>> chairman Saul-Sena: when you're finished talking, I can speak to that.
>> of course, the other issue was also with -- I was going to ask -- I had heard that that hearing on no. 29, the date had been changed.
But I understand now it's just plain been removed.
And the other issue was, the issue of e-mails.
Neighborhoods have been finding that unless you get into your computer and e-mail, we're not getting responses from code enforcement and other departments.
I just wanted to remind council as one who doesn't do computer and e-mail, et cetera, I speak to you for those in the neighborhoods who don't use computers, and many times those who are active in the neighborhoods and work and try to report things, they're not getting response if you make a phone call and leave a message or even making a phone call, speaking to the complaint department, and it's not being put into the computer.
We, beach park, have had that problem in recent weeks.
I encourage you to please let the administration know that everybody does not use computers and e-mails and yet do want responses on code enforcement issues.
Thank you.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: thank you.
Ms. Vizzi.
Specifically the amount of money we're spending on the links project, we, the City, are having to relocate a lot of utilities which are under the roadway which is now being shifted, so we're not putting any specific dollars into the road, but we are doing some utility relocations that is sort of a corollary to that project.
>> I was under the impression that when a road is being built -- the sit stay is the one responsible for it.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: maybe we can get Mr. Denalt who is now in charge of that area.
>> I was wondering how much of this that's going into the links will take funds away from other road projects in the City, not only road projects, but waterlines, et cetera, around the City.
In other words, where those dollars are coming from, the general fund, I presume?
>> I don't know the answer to that question, but perhaps Kathy Fry could tell you.
It appears the water is coming -- money is coming from the water operating funneled.
For the relocation of waterlines.
So that wouldn't impact money that the City has set aside for transportation improvements.
>> I’m saying will there also be sewer line replacement, storm water replacement.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: we could ask for a report back.
>> I’m wondering if they were coming from any destination --.
>> I do know the City is coordinating with a lot of other utilities in helping hill d.o.t. Correlate the relocation, I don't think we're paying for any relocation costs other than our own.
>> Rose Ferlita: I’ve got some back-up information here as vice chair of Mr. Dingfelder's committee.
I think you're right.
That's just transferred money from the water operating funneled.
>> I was sort of bringing all the other departments that I noticed.
>> Rose Ferlita: I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to ask for a more comprehensive response from Mr. Dingfelder's department.
I would be happy to move that request.
>> request additional information on what city expenses are involved in the links project.
All those in favor say aye.
Two weeks.
We'll go to our 10:00 public hearing -- or should we go to the 9:30 one perhaps?
>> I thought we were going to do the 9:30 one which is why I was standing up there, because I thought that was going to be next.
>> this is the second public hearing on the mosey initiative to do the renaissance festival.
The only reason I’m here on a second reading is to ask counsel if they could very expeditiously assign this as the appointment with atf is 3:00 this afternoon.
We're trying to get it to the Mayor’s Office.
Thank you.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: we need to open.
Motion and second to open number two.
Any discussion on the motion?
All those in favor say aye.
We've had a presentation by staff, albeit before the fact.
Anyone else care to speak on this, please come forward now and speak.
Please come forward and speak.
>> I’m with mosey, vice president of marketing.
Very, very briefly, we thank you for your attention to this.
Probably about a year ago we contacted the renaissance festival in largo.
We new they were looking for property elsewhere, pasco County, some other areas.
We're looking to recruit the festival -- it's a very good thing for Tampa, a very exciting thing to bring something like this to Hillsborough County.
It's a wonderful economic impact.
We want to let you know that mosey is out there doing some neat things.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: I thought you'd wear a little hat with jingle bells on it, suitable for medieval.
>> Mary Alvarez: containing alcohol regardless of alcoholic content, beer wine and liquor 4copx for come assumption on premises on certain lot, plot or tract of land located at 11315 north 46th street, Tampa, Florida, as more particularly described in section 2 here of, waiving certain restrictions as to distance based upon certain findings providing for repeal of all ordinances in conflict, providing an effective date.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: a motion and a second.
Any discussion.
Passed unanimously.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: there's been a motion and a second.
Vote and record.
Motion carried.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: thank you very much.
We'll go to our 10:00 public hearing, a continued reconsideration requested.
>> katherine coyle, Land Development.
I'll be brief in updating you.
I did submit a new staff report along with the Planning Commission's report stating no objections from either area.
I did submit the new site plan.
It's dated February 23rd, the same date as the ordinance.
The recommendation from city staff is that there is no objection.
The petitioner, if you recall, previously they just had the one lot at the corner of dartmouth and Martin Luther King.
They acquired the property to the east which allowed them to build the parking lot which meets the City standards for parking and maneuvering.
Staff had no objections and the Planning Commission found it consistent.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: thank you.
>> good morning.
My name is perry darby.
My address is 2911 west clifton street.
I am the architect representing my client.
I thank you for the opportunity to continue it from last week due to a conflict in schedule.
I appreciate this opportunity.
And i'd just like to say that by purchasing the property next door, we've afforded the opportunity to -- that we don't have to ask for any waivers or anything.
We were able to comply with all of the regulations.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: thank you.
Anyone from the public care to speak on this?
>> Mary Alvarez: move to close.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: motion and second to close.
All those in favor say aye.
Passed unanimously.
>> Gwen Miller: 208 west Martin Luther King Boulevard, from zoning district classifications rs 50 to pd, professional office, providing an effective date.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: there's been a motion and a second.
All those in favor say aye.
Passed unanimously.
Unfinished business.
Item a, do you want to take that up now, counsel?
>> we have this pending issue on the wet zoning for zudar's and we have kate o'dowd waiting in the wings here, if we could deal with that, that would be wonderful.
>> I thought Mr. Grandoff was going to address council during the audience agenda on this issue.
As you'll recall the wet zoning request for 201 west platt street which is a petition filed by mark and danny zudar, that was approved by council approximately a month ago.
I was directed to draft an ordinance -- you have before you the ordinance authorizing the wet zoning with the conditions.
The reason I want to address counsel and john grandoff as well, some of the conditions were tweaks in the spirited of what counsel directed us to do.
It dealt with signage in the restaurant advising the customers not to park at the publix parking lot.
St. Johns had requested that that signage include the st. Johns parking lot.
That originally was not included in their request for a condition.
So these were minor adjustments, but I wanted to bring it to council's attention.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: Ms. Ferlita, did you want to -- I’m sorry -- normally we have seven members.
We currently have five.
>> Rose Ferlita: no, I was concerned and I didn't want to interrupt you, on the concern on vacancy lists.
I'm sorry.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: okay.
Thank you.
>> I just wanted to advise council that conditions are Slightly different.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: please don't park in publix or st. Johns, and it was okay with the petitioner?
>> yes.
I would like him to state that for the record.
>> thank you, madam chair, members of the City Council, john grandoff, on behalf of mark and dee dee zudar.
We modified the conditions, we enjoyed discussing witness the st. Johns and publix representatives.
What is before you by Ms. Dowd we're totally in agreement with.
>> we thank them for including st. Johns with the same conditions in attaching the flow chart with the diagram of the transportation improvements, thank you.
We're in agreement.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: miss murphy.
>> good afternoon, sue murphy, I’m here representing publix.
We are in agreement with what is drafted.
I would, however, for the record noted that there was supposed to be a report filed by pete cowell on his inspection of the dry storage area in zudar after our last meeting.
I would like to hear what that says and have it put in the record if that's possible.
>> the report was filed with the clerk's office a couple weeks ago.
>> I was with Mr. Cowell when the inspection was conducted.
The building, the room actually was being utilized at the time by a gentleman that was planning the gasparilla parade.
He agreed to move from that room and seek other accommodations which I think he did in the private investigation firm next door.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: thank you.
Anyone else care to speak on this?
Since it's on a committee report, we're not closing the public hearing.
We'll read the ordinance I guess when we get to that committee report.
Let's move ahead with our committee reports.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: number one we're receiving and filing.
They asked for a continuance.
If we could go with the park, recreation and culture committee, Ms. Mary Alvarez chair?
>> Mary Alvarez: move item four.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: motion and second.
Any discussion?
Passed unanimously.
>> Rose Ferlita: I would like to move items five through 12 and also understanding that we will get that more intense report about item five.
>> chairman Saul-Sena:.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> kevin white: i'd like to move items 13 through 14.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: motion and a second.
All those in favor say aye.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> kevin white: 15, ordinance in City of Tampa pertaining to human rights enacting section 12-28 City of Tampa code by adopting with certain amendments and exceptions the enforcement provisions for employment discrimination or the ordinance and expressly making them applicable to public accommodations discriminations amending section 12-61 to conform this amendment providing for -- repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict, providing an effective date.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> kevin white: also number 16, an ordinance making lawful come sale of beverages containing alcohol of more than one percent by weight and not more than 14% by weight, for consumption on premises only in connection with a restaurant business establishment on a certain lot, plot or tract of land located at 201 west platt street, Tampa, Florida, and more particularly described in section two here of waiving certain restrictions to distance based upon certain findings imposing certain conditions providing for repeal in all ordinances in conflict, providing an effective date.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: any discussion?
(motion carried unanimously).
>> kevin white: i'd like to move 17 through 19.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: building, zoning and preservation committee.
>> Gwen Miller: i'd like to move items 20 through 28.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> Gwen Miller: item 29, i'd like to remove from the agenda.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> Gwen Miller: i'd like to move item 30 and 31.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: motion and second.
All those in favor say aye.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> Mary Alvarez: i'd like to move items 32 to 34.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: motion and second.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> Mary Alvarez: there's a substitute ordinance for item 35.
Thank you, moving an ordinance naming and designating a certain street currently an unnamed access road located off the court any campbell causeway, state road 60 in the City of Tampa, Florida, herein further described to be named bayport drive providing an effective date.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: motion and second.
All those in favor say aye.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> Mary Alvarez: move items 36.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> chairman Saul-Sena: I think we need to receive and file number one.
There's a motion and second.
All those in favor say aye.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> chairman Saul-Sena: is there anything else that's outstanding.
>> you need to set a date.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: they said a date in may, but they didn't say when in may.
>> Mary Alvarez: May 8th would be good.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: but it's not a council day.
We could do it the 6th or the 13th.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: a motion and second to set this for the 6th.
All those in favor say aye.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> chairman Saul-Sena: unfinished business, I think Ms. Ferlita is correct, we should continue item a. Until we have full council.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: I don't mind at all.
For the arc we need a south Tampa person and we only had one application and the person had no background either in civic activism.
Since the arc is specifically such a -- Mr. Dingfelder isn't here, we'll have to get the word to him.
Everybody needs to put the word out, we need four applicants for the bario next month and the arc.
We need to get some more applications to choose from.
It doesn't feel comfortable to choose one out of one.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: motion and second, all those in favor say aye.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> chairman Saul-Sena: e, we need to receive and file.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> chairman Saul-Sena: I think we've done everything else.
We need to just receive and file all the documents?
Motion and second to receive and file all documents.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> chairman Saul-Sena: Mr. White, do you have any new business?
>> kevin white: madam chair, i'd like to direct the clerk here to the pending calendar.
Number five on the pending calendar can be removed, that presentation award has already been done.
Number five under the finance committee.
That can be removed.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: we haven't started.
I think that's great.
Anything we can do to remove something is wonderful.
While we're looking at our pending calendar, are there any other actions that council members would like to take?
Let's just deal with that one then.
There's a motion.
Is there a second to do that?
(motion carried unanimously).
>> chairman Saul-Sena: anything else, Mr. White?
>> kevin white: that's it, madam chair.
>> Rose Ferlita: madam chair, I do have one thing.
If you recall for several years here we have been trying to do a pre and post gasperilla meeting.
Mr. Smith wanted to handle it differently and have the administration take over which they did and I attended and mission accomplished.
However, I don't still want to lost sight -- this is simply not a motion, just a suggestion or direction or whatever you want to tag it.
I did run into some of the neighbors in hyde park.
They said some things were better, as always is the case, and some things were worse.
I would like to send some sort of suggestion to Mr. Smith that in keeping with his pre gasparilla meeting, he needs to have a post one.
I spoke to norma jean burns and some of the other leadership individuals in hyde park.
I am hopefully sending the message to Mr. Smith, he will schedule it or configure it any way he wants.
They really need to capture what was good and what was bad because that's what we've built on.
Who cares how we do it as long as we do it.
I don't think I can make it in the form of a motion.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: a suggestion.
>> Rose Ferlita: it's a suggestion.
If I can be comfortable it will be given to Mr. Smith, I will be greatly appreciative of that.
That was my only suggestion under new business.
As I was walking in earlier today, I ran into this gentleman who wanted to speak under audience participation.
So you can't do that.
Your name is george, but I apologize.
Mr. Smith told me about an issue he had.
I thought, well, we're looking at the before and after for hyde park.
He was a business owner impacted by some of the actions in Ybor City under the night parade.
Given that we are focusing on Ybor City, given his business was barricaded for some hours of operation.
I certainly can appreciate the name for small businesses to capitalize on every single customer that could come through the door, we might suggest to Mr. Smith, because we're wanting to do everything possible to promote year bother city, they might want to look at a meeting to make sure we can improve the night parade, too.
That would be a part a and part b to my suggestions to administration and see where they take it. George, understand stand you can't say anything yet.
It was exactly what I was talking about on the other side.
There wasn't no reason why we couldn't include that on my suggestion to the administration.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: an excellent suggestion.
Anything else?
>> Gwen Miller: i'd like to have a resolution to appoint Ms. Eva christiansen to the cable advisory board.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: motion and second.
Any discussion.
>> Rose Ferlita: is that under.
>> Gwen Miller: district 2.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: each council member gets to make an appointment.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: isn't that your district.
>> Gwen Miller: I’m one.
>> Rose Ferlita: that was the reason that I was holding off till next week, Ms. Miller.
>> Gwen Miller: do you have somebody to appoint?
>> Rose Ferlita: yes, I do, that I need to contact.
>> Gwen Miller: I’ll hold it off.
If you don't have someone, I’ll appoint her.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: anything else?
>> Mary Alvarez: just a couple things.
One of the first things is that we did receive -- my office did receive a phone call from Mr. Kuhn from lindell motors and he was very apologetic to what was happening in the oak fern park area.
He said he would certainly look into the problem and he was very apologetic, like I said, that this was happening.
He also made a suggestion that he would get in touch with kathy good jenkins to talk to her and to see if they can't come up to some resolution on this thing.
He did say that as of today there will be no more cars or carrier years in that neighborhood.
When he talks to Ms. Jenkins, he's going to ask if he can address the people at the neighborhood association.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: excellent.
>> Mary Alvarez: the other thing is, I don't know if -- I’m sure everybody has received a letter from one of our firefighters by the name of -- I don't know if I want to give them the letter, but this letter that he's giving us he's writing a letter to the editor of the Tribune.
Apparently there seems to be this ongoing problem of understaffing the fire trucks.
And I understand Ms. Ferlita has been trying to talk to the fire chief about this and so has the labor union, has tried to talk to the fire chief and to no avail.
So this is very serious, serious problem that the firefighters are having because they're putting them in jeopardy of not having the -- they should have four on the truck and they've been going with three which makes it a dangerous situation for them.
So I think that he's making it a public issue now.
And so I think that we need to make sure that our firefighter -- our fire chief come over and talk to us about this because he certainly has valid reasons, and I think that it needs to be addressed now.
The other thing is that from the letter that this firefighter wrote to the --.
>> Rose Ferlita: Ms. Alvarez, we mentioned his name when we discussed this with chief green.
>> Mary Alvarez: well, christopher stark.
But he made a point in here where he said that the your readers might also contact the Tampa City Council and tell them that to use a cit money as the taxpayers instructed on infrastructure and public safety, 2.3 million would have gone a long way to alleviate tfr's staffing problem.
Instead it went to the City zoo.
I want to say that was a pass through from the County pass through.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: furthermore, you can't spend --.
>> Mary Alvarez: I would like to make with a -- a motion that we have fire chief green address this problem because it's just -- it just seems to be exacerbated by years and years of not being able to staff these fire trucks properly.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: motion and a second.
Ms. Ferlita.
>> Rose Ferlita: second.
Mary, let me explain a couple things.
I believe you were in attendance when grief green came.
>> Mary Alvarez: I was.
>> Rose Ferlita: you've brought this to surface.
I was going to talk to chief green individually.
But obviously we are serving a common purpose, so we can discuss it here.
I asked him several pointed questions.
I asked him if he had hired some of the positions that were available and I referred back to the time that we had some pretty quick but intense -- right after he came on board, some quick and intense conversations about budgets and nonbudgeted items, et cetera.
And what the process was was they were going to eliminate some of the officer positions to put more people on the street.
There is some delay, as far as I’m concerned, about what has been done with that.
He assured me that that had all been taken care of and that those positions had been filled.
Immediately after that council meeting, I met with some of the union representatives.
They not only showed me some documentation, they highlighted all the positions that had not been filled.
I tag along with you in terms of my concern, particularly because of being public safety chairman, about them not being in compliance with national standards.
I do some consultant work with ax which is an alcohol treatment program.
There was an emergency, the firefighters were rushing in.
Very, very quickly because I didn't want to interrupt them.
Let me ask you, you're working with three instead of for.
Exactly, council woman.
I think we're going to put ourselves in a liability issue.
I think we need to readdress this.
I certainly second your motion to have chief green come back.
At this point I am not sure that he was really as forth coming as he should be to let us know last time what the situations were.
Remember we asked tiffany melton to discuss with us what the national standards were, et cetera, and we have to look at this again.
If there's moneys in the budget that were supposed to be used on additional firefighter positions, and I’m told by several sources that there are, yes, we have saved a great deal of dollars by holding off and not hiring it.
When you come to public safety issues, police and fire, et cetera, that's not a good thing.
I also had the doors closed on me last week, and I’m glad that you brought this up, because there were things I was not satisfied with in terms of that dialogue.
I talked about grant writers.
He had an emergency because of the length of our meeting and had to leave.
He nodded, yes, we do have it.
I said, you know, based on what the firefighters have shown me, there are many dollars -- I cited one of their magazines, there are many dollars we can get because of grant writes to do some of the things we're talking about that we're deficient in.
I think the chief said we don't need one, or, b, we're looking at volunteers.
We don't need a volunteer fire fighter to be a grant writer.
We hire a grant writer, pay the bill, we get many, many dollars back because of the efforts they put forward.
I agree with you, Ms. Alvarez, we need to have a very comprehensive with the chief next time from the standpoint of public safety.
If you might not mind a friendly amendment, I think at the same time we need some of the union representation to come and discuss what their concerns are that they obviously have discussed with the chief.
>> Mary Alvarez: very definitely.
>> Rose Ferlita: to give them enough time to calculate their data and bring us their arguments.
A week, can we have two weeks?
>> chairman Saul-Sena: two weeks.
>> Mary Alvarez: the reason I brought it up is they're writing a letter to the Tribune.
This has become a real public issue.
If we as a council can help to nip this in the bud without it getting full blown and bad publicity for our fire chief, I’m willing to do that.
>> Rose Ferlita: absolutely.
I think that's the second letter that went to the Tribune.
We need to resolve it at this level.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: March 18th then for this to appear to us under unfinished business.
A motion and a second.
>> kevin white: just a little further elaboration on that, what I think a lot of the listening public doesn't realize, the impact of having three firefighters on an engine, when they respond and actually get to a fire scene, you really only have one firefighter because the driver is also the engineer who operates all the equipment once he parks the truck to direct the water to be pumping.
The chief or the captain who is on the truck is the one that's actually doing the supervising saying whether he needs more battalions to respond or coordinating any other efforts.
That leaves you with one firefighter to actually be fighting and battling a fire.
Even though you have three bodies on the truck, everybody has individual responsibilities and you only have one person actually squirting water.
>> Ms. Saul-Sena: we'll schedule this on the 18th then.
(motion carried unanimously).
I have one item -- two items.
I've passed out to you the copy for the ad and Ms. Ferlita made a suggestion rather than saying salary consistent with city Legal Department guidelines, we should put a range, salary blank to blank.
>> Rose Ferlita: if you will see what our part-time City Attorneys make, and you can give that range.
I think we would have some discretion do what weigh want to offer based on their experience.
>> Mary Alvarez: that's the point I was going to make, too.
If this is going to be a part-time job, it can't be commensurate with what the Legal Department guidelines are.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: it is actually.
We have some people that are in parallel positions.
>> Mary Alvarez: they are?
I wasn't aware of that.
Yeah, talk about us.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: no, no.
These people are well compensated.
>> Mary Alvarez: who is well compensated?
>> chairman Saul-Sena: the attorneys.
On Monday, March 8th at 9:00 everyone is invited to the first ever river ram bell from sulfur springs pool to purity springs.
We will notice it.
We're invited everyone who is interested in the state of the river.
We'll looking at opportunities, challenges.
>> Mary Alvarez: when is that.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: Monday, March 8th, sulfur springs and ends at purity springs which is a thing I never knew existed.
Across Florida Avenue.
It's this absolutely pristine little park that the City owns.
One of the points in doing this is to let people know where it exists.
It's behind a senior citizen center that's run by the housing authority.
It's beautiful.
>> Mary Alvarez: on the west side?
>> chairman Saul-Sena: correct.
We're going to look at things we've done right and things we have yet to do.
It's to pub size how we can improve the river.
This is put on by the river round table which are civic groups and green organizations and people who are just interested in the river and trying to make everybody aware of it.
We invite everyone to attend and we hope it's a beautiful morning.
Monday morning, March 8th at 8:00.
I'll send you all a press release on it.
>> Mary Alvarez: I can't go.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: ask your assistant to go.
Anything else to come before us in this session?
>> need to have the minutes of the special discussion meeting held yesterday to be received.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: motion and second to receive and file.
(motion carried unanimously).
>> Rose Ferlita: I did forget one thing.
Ms. Miller, I’m glad you're doing better.
I appreciate the leadership you took while you were convalescing.
I'm sure you didn't feel very great.
Thank you for sending in your opinion on what we needed to do and not do.
Because it was instrumental.
>> Gwen Miller: you're welcome.
>> Mary Alvarez: I want to thank my aide, Desiree, for taking the minutes at the finance committee meeting yesterday.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: thank you.
We're going to clarify what the process is in the future, if the council member initiates something, that the staff person staffs the minute taking.
We'll codify that with the City Clerk and legal.
>> Mary Alvarez: fortunately she was there for that.
>> chairman Saul-Sena: yes and we very much appreciate that.
In this part of the council meeting, we ask the very patient public to come up and address us.
(meeting adjourned)

▶ Meeting Video