[8:47] .
[8:47] » Guido maniscalco:  there we>>e
[8:49] go.
[8:49] good morning, everyone.
[8:50] welcome to tampa city hall, old
[8:52] city hall.
[8:54] I would like to call this
[8:55] special called meeting to order.
[8:57] at this time, if we can just
[8:58] have a moment of silence please.
[9:02] [moment of silence]
[9:08] thank you very much.
[9:09] please stand for the pledge of
[9:11] allegiance.
[9:13] [pledge of allegiance]
[9:27] » Guido maniscalco:  roll call
[9:28] please.
[9:29] » Bill carlson:  here.
[9:31] » Orlando gudes:  here.
[9:32] » Joseph citro:  here.
[9:34] » Luis viera:  here.
[9:35] » Charlie miranda:  here.
[9:36] » Guido maniscalco:  here.
[9:38] » Clerk:  we have a physical
[9:40] quorum.
[9:41] » Guido maniscalco:  mr. Shelby.
[9:42] » Martin shelby: ood rnin
[9:44] mr. Chairman, members of tampa
[9:45] city council.
[9:46] martin shelby, city attorney.
[9:50] we are here for a special called
[9:52] meeting and the purpose of the
[9:54] special called meeting to select
[9:55] and fill the vacancy for the
[9:59] unexpired term of district 3 at
[10:02] large city council seat.
[10:03] that person being sworn in at
[10:04] the april 7, 2022 meeting.
[10:07] now the public and the citizens
[10:08] of tampa are able to watch,
[10:10] his-and- view this meeting on
[10:11] spectrum 640, frontier channel
[10:14] 15, and on the internet
[10:15] livestreaming at tampa.livestret
[10:20] tampa.gov/livestream, one word.
[10:21] now this meeting does
[10:24] incorporate communications media
[10:26] technology pursuant to council's
[10:29] policy.
[10:29] therefore, what I would ask is
[10:32] that council would waive the
[10:34] rules to include the use of cmt
[10:36] in today's proceedings.
[10:38] » Charlie miranda:  so moved.
[10:40] » Joseph citro:  second.
[10:42] » Guido maniscalco:  all in
[10:43] favor.
[10:43] any opposed?
[10:46] » Martin shelby:  thank you.
[10:46] » Guido maniscalco:  before we
[10:48] go to public comment and we
[10:50] begin, thank you for all the
[10:51] applicants that are here today.
[10:52] thank you for responding to the
[10:53] call of duty for your commitment
[10:57] for service to this community
[10:59] and great city.
[11:01] I appreciate you being here.
[11:02] I know it takes a lot of courage
[11:04] to apply.
[11:05] to put yourself out there in the
[11:06] public eye.
[11:08] to stand before council at the
[11:09] lectern.
[11:11] public speak something never
[11:12] easy.
[11:12] I will tell you the last time
[11:13] this took place when we had two
[11:16] vacancyvacancies in the counvacn
[11:18] 2010, I was one of the
[11:19] applicants.
[11:21] and councilman citro was one of
[11:22] the applicants
[11:23] so we know what it is like to be
[11:25] there.
[11:25] and, again, thank you for your
[11:28] courage, your dedication, your
[11:30] commitment and desire to serve.
[11:32] I know many faces.
[11:33] I recognize many faces and I
[11:35] know that we are blessed with so
[11:37] many wonderful candidates.
[11:38] thank you.
[11:40] all right,  having said that, we
[11:41] will go to public comment.
[11:43] this is not for the applicants.
[11:45] if you are here to speak but are
[11:47] not an applicant, please
[11:48] approach the lectern and state
[11:51] your name.
[11:52] you will have three minutes to
[11:53] speak.
[11:56] » Goodorning, city council.
[11:59] my name is jay passmore.
[12:02] I'm here to speak of the very
[12:04] important matter of the state of
[12:05] our city council.
[12:06] as I look at city council, I see
[12:11] all cisgender men.
[12:13] as I look at city council, I see
[12:16] one black person.
[12:17] the state of our city council
[12:19] and the way that it is moving
[12:20] could potentially -- if one
[12:23] member is forced out, the only
[12:25] black member of the council
[12:27] forced out lead to an all white
[12:30] city council.
[12:32] currently our city council is
[12:33] not reflective of the diversity
[12:37] of tampa and its residents.
[12:41] I take very -- I take offense to
[12:43] some of the articles I have seen
[12:45] and some of the things I have
[12:48] said regarding when out city
[12:51] council members -- I know we are
[12:52] not allowed to say names, but
[12:55] every city councilmember sitting
[12:56] through has done something
[12:59] egregious.
[13:00] just last year one of the city
[13:01] council members met with kwn
[13:04] white supremacist who beat black
[13:06] women in the streets.
[13:09] community patriots is what they
[13:10] are called.
[13:10] the founder of that group with
[13:12] the most lazythe most laziest sn
[13:14] facebook could you find him
[13:16] bragging and have pictures of
[13:18] him talking of storming the
[13:19] capitol.
[13:20] yet a city councilmember thought
[13:22] it was in good standing to meet
[13:24] with this white supremacist
[13:26] group.
[13:27] when I talk about what city --
[13:29] what the city of tampa deserves
[13:31] and needs, it needs people with
[13:32] empathy, with compassion and
[13:36] cultural understanding.
[13:38] as I look and I am not here to
[13:39] say if the allegations are true
[13:42] or false surrounding one of our
[13:44] city councilmembers, but when I
[13:46] see a bunch of white men trying
[13:47] to force out the only black
[13:49] person on council who haven't
[13:52] come up and own their wrongs to
[13:53] the community.
[13:54] last year -- in 2020, excuse me,
[13:57] I was hit by a white supremacist
[14:01] at a protest.
[14:01] 2020, I was beat and left
[14:05] unconscious for 12  minutes by
[14:06] tpd.
[14:08] currently today my hips are not
[14:10] aligned.
[14:11] I am permanently disabled from
[14:13] the actions of 2020.
[14:15] one city councilmember say
[14:17] protests don't work.
[14:19] the last time I came to city
[14:21] council I was assaulted to
[14:24] police officer.
[14:25] and I take bill carson that
[14:28] protests work.
[14:29] we don't work here anymore.
[14:32] he is a retired police officer.
[14:32] there is no accountability.
[14:34] you sit high, you look low, and
[14:36] you don't look at the needs of
[14:38] what people need.
[14:38] when you are looking to see who
[14:40] is going to be appointed to
[14:42] dingfelder's seat, you need to
[14:43] look at the needs and the will
[14:45] of the people.
[14:46] you need to analyze your own
[14:48] privilege and understand where
[14:52] you are coming from and how you
[14:52] are acting and this is my time.
[14:54] thank you.
[14:55] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[14:55] very much.
[15:05] all right, next speaker.
[15:07] please state your name.
[15:08] » Good morning.
[15:11] my name is sallyese lee.
[15:14] a greeting to all women here
[15:17] today who took a grandstand
[15:20] forward to come forward, stand
[15:23] up, move forward on the issues.
[15:25] number one, homeless housing to
[15:28] show concern for issues.
[15:31] homeless changing agenda to
[15:32] humanity.
[15:33] knowing housing laws set for
[15:37] change and transparency.
[15:40] for the people to do right by
[15:42] all, know the emergency for rent
[15:49] free to be civil and impartial
[15:53] we must survive together.
[15:54] housing justice.
[15:57] the purpose of housing and
[16:00] homeless rights to affordability
[16:02] must be apoint must be ainned a.
[16:04] amen, amen.
[16:06] future justice now begins.
[16:07] amen.
[16:12] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[16:12] very much.
[16:16] next speaker, please state your
[16:17] name.
[16:19] » Good morning, james michael
[16:21] shaw jr.
[16:22] west tampa resident.
[16:24] and I'm here to speak on behalf
[16:27] of one of the applicants.
[16:28] I already e-mailed you what I
[16:29] had to say but I want to read to
[16:31] you what others had to say that
[16:33] couldn't be here this morning
[16:34] until they stopped me and the
[16:35] clock runs out.
[16:37] jade alexander craig from
[16:39] councilman maniscalco's dicouncs
[16:43] district.
[16:44] connie burton has come from a
[16:47] area that is.
[16:48] from the roots of xhoolt under
[16:51] and adds a voice that needs to
[16:52] be on table.
[16:54] whether sitting on the outside
[16:55] as an activists she needs to be
[16:58] in a colleague and
[16:59] decision-maker.
[17:00] she said we have to prioritize
[17:02] our times and adding her to the
[17:04] council will do just that.
[17:05] robert c. William, district 5,
[17:08] councilman gudes' district.
[17:11] I know the years of tireless
[17:12] efforts of miss burton will keep
[17:16] her attuned to the working-class
[17:18] and poor citizens of tampa.
[17:22] dev in cheats.
[17:26] connie burton a true member of
[17:28] the community.
[17:28] I have known the pleasure to
[17:31] know her.
[17:32] she is not just one that talks
[17:33] the talks but walks the walks.
[17:35] working the city to seek justice
[17:37] and accountability.
[17:38] an advocate for mothers and
[17:41] children and true public safety
[17:43] for affordable housing and
[17:45] livable wages and a mentor to
[17:46] dozens throughout tampa bay area
[17:49] and doesn't do it for note right
[17:50] but preservation for herself and
[17:52] her community.
[17:53] she is the truth and speaks the
[17:55] truth no matter what power or
[17:58] not.
[18:00] council gudes district.
[18:01] knows her community commitment
[18:03] and representsll othe
[18:04] people.
[18:05] known for inthird degree,
[18:07] honesty.
[18:12] delia, member councilman
[18:13] maniscalco's district.
[18:14] a member and advocate for the
[18:15] community and will work hard for
[18:17] the community.
[18:18] sebastian, gudes district.
[18:20] represent those who are not
[18:22] usual lie represented in tampa
[18:23] city council.
[18:24] stands for what I want in a city
[18:25] councilcity councillor.
[18:27] ramona judge, councilman gudes
[18:30] district.
[18:30] I met connie burton in 1995
[18:32] fighting for the people.
[18:34] a champion for the community.
[18:35] brittany, councilman manibrittan
[18:37] niscalco's district.
[18:37] I support her because she is
[18:39] progressive black woman.
[18:41] chardonnay, are, councilman
[18:45] maniscalco district.
[18:48] we need more community leaders
[18:49] in elected office to put their
[18:51] values to work.
[18:53] david jones,david jones.
[18:56] she advocates for the community
[18:58] and aid and resources for the
[18:59] black community.
[19:00] there is many more and I have to
[19:02] stop.
[19:02] thank you.
[19:03] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[19:04] very much.
[19:05] [applause]
[19:09] » Guido maniscalco:  next up,
[19:11] please state your name, sir.
[19:12] » Good morning.
[19:13] I am dennis lopez.
[19:15] I am pleased to be here this
[19:17] morning.
[19:19] I am a life long tampa resident.
[19:22] I had the occasion and pleasure
[19:26] to meet some of you folks on the
[19:27] council.
[19:31] I truly love and care about this
[19:34] city of mine.
[19:35] I had the occasion to live in
[19:37] other parts of this country.
[19:39] and I think that the quality of
[19:41] life that tampa has and can
[19:44] fer hers is to be admired.
[19:46] it is to be treasured.
[19:51] my parents, both deceased, were
[19:54] life-long tampa residents.
[19:55] one of my grandparent were born
[19:58] here before 1890.
[20:03] so I think I have the benefit of
[20:04] the history of this town.
[20:06] the wonderful history of what a
[20:07] melting pot it was from many
[20:11] cultures that came here.
[20:13] my other three grandparents
[20:16] immigrated two from italy, one
[20:19] from spain all seeking a better
[20:21] life.
[20:22] if the council has been watching
[20:23] and paying attention and I am
[20:25] sure you have.
[20:26] tampa is currently undergoing an
[20:29] unprecedented boon and change.
[20:35] I read that 100,000 people are
[20:38] moving into the state of florida
[20:39] every year.
[20:39] tampa is experiencing something
[20:42] this we have never had before.
[20:44] I'm here to speak on behalf the
[20:46] candidacy of this vacancy and
[20:49] her name is meredh frman.
[20:51] and she is seated there in the
[20:53] back of this room.
[20:55] another speaker touched a moment
[20:57] ago.
[20:58] looking at the panel, suffice to
[21:01] say, could possibly benefit
[21:03] perhaps by a little diversity.
[21:06] meredith is an african-american
[21:09] woman.
[21:10] she lived in the tampa bay area
[21:12] -- worked in the tampa bay area
[21:15] for the last 20 years, going to
[21:16] school here.
[21:17] one of the reasons I asked her
[21:19] why do you want to be on city
[21:21] council.
[21:22] she said, I see what's going on
[21:24] here.
[21:25] and I am a single mother of a
[21:27] ten-year-old son.
[21:28] she is an attorney with a
[21:29] stellar reputation and career
[21:34] with firms here in the tampa
[21:35] area -- highly respected firms
[21:38] here in the tampa area.
[21:39] she brings a viewpoint, I would
[21:40] suggest, that presently may be
[21:43] lacking on the council.
[21:47] for those reasons, if tampa is
[21:52] still destined to be america's
[21:54] next great city, I would
[21:58] severely hope that you will give
[22:01] miss freeman your consideration.
[22:02] thank you.
[22:03] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[22:04] very much.
[22:09] all right.
[22:10] next speaker, please.
[22:12] please state your name when you
[22:14] approach the lectern.
[22:17] » Hi, I am barbara kennedy
[22:18] gibson.
[22:20] she, her are my pronounce and I
[22:23] live in bill carlson's district.
[22:28] time in fraiv of a progressive
[22:29] black woman.
[22:30] I led in tampa and my parent
[22:33] and grandparents also.
[22:35] and my family has been in real
[22:36] estate.
[22:37] and I think that I and my family
[22:40] are responsible for some of the
[22:41] damage done in this town.
[22:43] and I think some reparations can
[22:45] be done getting connie on the
[22:46] city council.
[22:48] chris morrison in district 5.
[22:51] we need people speak truth to
[22:54] power.
[22:55] connie doesn't back down and
[22:57] proper pain for many people in
[22:58] the city but will always fight
[23:00] fo what is right.
[23:01] when you have an activist like
[23:03] connie she will step up in
[23:04] public office.
[23:06] that is amazing.
[23:07] many activists want to criticize
[23:09] from the outside, but the fact
[23:10] she wants a seat at the table
[23:13] speak very highly of her.
[23:15] many things happening in the
[23:16] city and has a strong opinion
[23:17] but when she gets in the office
[23:19] she will realize how complex the
[23:20] situation is and realize it
[23:22] ain't easy and we may think it
[23:24] is from the outside.
[23:25] again, a very good thing because
[23:27] communicate the complexity back
[23:29] to the people in her community.
[23:30] I would love to serve on this
[23:32] seat more than anything.
[23:33] this is topher morrison.
[23:36] would loved to serven thseat
[23:38] more than anything but the
[23:39] moment I heard she was a
[23:41] potential for the seat I didn't
[23:43] pursue it because this is how
[23:45] strongly I feel she deserves
[23:48] this position.
[23:48] in government what is easy isn't
[23:52] right and what is right isn't
[23:53] easy.
[23:53] connie burton for the city
[23:55] council is what is right.
[23:58] do what is easy for your own
[23:59] interest or do what is right for
[24:00] the good city of tampa.
[24:03] freddy west hudson in orlando
[24:06] gudes' district.
[24:07] we need someone who is fair to
[24:09] all and will listen and speak
[24:11] the truth.
[24:12] nester ortiz from district 6,
[24:14] she understands the community
[24:16] and issues in a way that many
[24:18] people can't.
[24:19] we know that.
[24:21] michelle williams from district
[24:22] 6 6,  maniscalco's.
[24:25] a champion for the community and
[24:26] our issues.
[24:27] christopher can o, connie is a
[24:29] true grass-roots voice of the
[24:32] neighbors and our families.
[24:33] she should be the voice on the
[24:34] council for us.
[24:36] christine lee said I believe in
[24:36] her.
[24:38] joseph mcclennan says she is as
[24:41] tampa as tampa gets.
[24:42] you want to keep the spirit of
[24:44] tampa bay, this is a step in the
[24:46] right direction.
[24:47] and I wanted to speak to that.
[24:50] I was -- I was integrated in
[24:53] plant high school.
[24:54] and I believe that the people I
[24:55] went to school with have
[24:57] suffered.
[24:58] black people I went to school
[25:00] with have suffered in this city.
[25:00] and I would like connie burton.
[25:03] thank you.
[25:04] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[25:05] very much.
[25:08] » Guido maniscalco:  all right.
[25:09] next speaker, please.
[25:12] state your name.
[25:13] » Good morning, mentesnot.
[25:16] I think this is a momento day
[25:18] for the city of tampa because
[25:21] people we criticize from the
[25:22] outside and people that were
[25:26] adamant about -- had adamant
[25:28] feelings about that if they are
[25:29] doing the right thing for the
[25:31] people we represent, we saypeop,
[25:34] hey, maybe the right thing isn't
[25:35] doing done and people left out
[25:37] -- a percentage of the people
[25:39] left out.
[25:40] people heard me use the 26%
[25:42] figure on numerous occasions.
[25:45] so many things that are going on
[25:46] with the city, that since the
[25:48] city has been formed probably in
[25:49] the 1850s, tt african people
[25:52] have been left out of.
[25:53] blatantly left out of tampa.
[25:56] and it is not just with the
[26:00] political machinery of the city.
[26:03] it's with the judicial machinery
[26:05] of the city.
[26:06] it is with the economical of the
[26:10] city.
[26:11] with the social fabric of the
[26:12] city.
[26:16] it is with river walk that is
[26:18] going on right now.
[26:21] that where you see they toung
[26:25] river walk, but they have
[26:26] destroyed west tampa and
[26:28] everything in its path.
[26:29] when I say "destroy"howsoever
[26:34] developers look at it and it is
[26:36] like gravy train for them, but
[26:37] for us and people who look like
[26:40] us and people who are poor and
[26:41] disadvantaged, it is not a good
[26:44] look.
[26:44] and not that they can't make it
[26:48] anymore in this city, it is that
[26:51] they are being stamped out.
[26:54] people rents are being paid for
[26:56] one price to another that is
[26:57] enomally unreel.
[27:00] not only unreal, but unfair.
[27:02] if the right people get a hold
[27:05] of it, it is probably you
[27:07] illegal.
[27:07] but the right people haven't
[27:08] gotten aheadgotten a hgotten a-.
[27:12] now we have an opportunity -- a
[27:13] momentous day in the city of
[27:15] tampa because we have an
[27:17] opportunity to appoint or elect
[27:20] -- whichever word you want to
[27:21] use -- someone who has the last
[27:25] 30 something years have stood up
[27:29] independently.
[27:31] a person who probably no other
[27:32] person can possibly say.
[27:36] even if they had to stand by
[27:38] themselves you can pass and see
[27:42] that person on the street corner
[27:44] by themselves standing up for
[27:46] the people.
[27:48] that is an interesting person.
[27:51] that is a very interesting
[27:52] person.
[27:52] that only.
[27:54] that is an indication.
[27:57] that is verification.
[27:59] that is an endorsement for one
[28:01] person only.
[28:02] I am not even going to call that
[28:03] person's name.
[28:06] that is one person only.
[28:08] a person who we know that is not
[28:11] financially endowed, but people
[28:13] who have to take out of their
[28:15] pockets and give to this city.
[28:19] it is time this city can do
[28:20] something for her.
[28:21] thank you.
[28:21] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[28:22] very much, sir.
[28:28] » Guido maniscalco:  all right,
[28:29] any other public speakers here
[28:32] in person here today?
[28:33] all right.
[28:34] we have a few that are
[28:35] registered online.
[28:36] I see rick fernandez is the
[28:37] first speaker.
[28:38] is that correct?
[28:42] go ahead.
[28:43] » Hello, chair.
[28:45] I am rick fernandez.
[28:46] can you hear me all right?
[28:48] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, sir,
[28:49] go ahead.
[28:50] » Thank you.
[28:50] good morning to all.
[28:51] I first want to associate myself
[28:54] with the comments of chwith ther
[28:58] maniscalco at the top of the
[28:59] meeting.
[29:00] thank you to all the applicants.
[29:02] I know several of you peri knowu
[29:06] personally.
[29:06] and I, too, am aware how scary
[29:08] it can be to be in the seats
[29:10] that you occupy at this moment.
[29:12] stepping up is a courageous act.
[29:16] for all us, from me, thank you,
[29:20] for even being there.
[29:22] that said, council, I come to
[29:23] you from tampa heights.
[29:28] incorporate my written comments
[29:30] by reference.
[29:32] they were submitted last week
[29:33] and I stand in morning of one of
[29:36] your applicants amanda lynn
[29:37] hurtak to fill the district 3
[29:44] city council.in considering lyn,
[29:47] please take note of her relevant
[29:50] resume reflecting, first off,
[29:52] leadership in the old seminole
[29:54] heights neighborhood
[29:57] association.
[29:57] in that capacity, she had the
[30:00] ability to manage relationships
[30:02] between developers and
[30:04] residential community
[30:05] stakeholders, finding solutions
[30:07] for design and infrastructure
[30:09] issues.
[30:10] she has been on service on the
[30:12] variance review board as well
[30:15] for several years understanding
[30:16] city code and ordinances, a
[30:19] position very relevant to the
[30:20] position that all of you fill
[30:23] today.
[30:24] also, her service on charter
[30:26] review commission several years
[30:28] ago.
[30:28] and the fact she is a multimodal
[30:31] transportation advocate and all
[30:35] that that means in the context
[30:36] of the city of tampa that we are
[30:37] living in today for better or
[30:41] worse, all of you know me.
[30:44] and I say that advisory.
[30:46] I know I have not always been on
[30:48] the same side of issues with all
[30:50] of you.
[30:52] but you all know the issues that
[30:54] move me to action that moments
[30:56] like this.
[30:57] for me, it is not just about
[31:00] opposing interstate expansion to
[31:05] the urban core of tampa.
[31:08] brought me to the public light
[31:10] seven years ago but not the only
[31:11] issue that motivates me.
[31:14] it is about advocacy for the
[31:15] citizens of tampa.
[31:17] our history, our quality of ourf
[31:19] life.
[31:21] in my opinion lyn n hurtak isths
[31:26] moment and for the city.
[31:28] you gentlemen have an
[31:29] embarrassment of riches this
[31:30] morning.
[31:31] there are a lot of good
[31:32] applicants before you.
[31:33] but in my opinion, lynn hurtak
[31:37] is the crown jewel.
[31:38] and I ask that you follow my
[31:40] advice and appoint her in
[31:43] joining your dais.
[31:44] thank you so much.
[31:45] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[31:46] so much, sir.
[31:48] next christina accost a.
[31:51] » Clerk:  his not on line.
[31:56] in lieu of her appear reasons
[31:58] e stent an e-mail to council.
[32:00] » Guido maniscalco:  very good.
[32:01] next is michael randolph.
[32:03] » Good morning.
[32:04] my name is michael randolph.
[32:06] I am with the west tampa cac.
[32:13] I hope you do well.
[32:19] crime.
[32:21] and a strong understanding on
[32:22] the ground level around the
[32:25] african-american community.
[32:28] april 26, a national meeting on
[32:30] what wks wh regards to
[32:32] public safety.
[32:33] my concern is -- and you see the
[32:35] number goes up, this summit one
[32:38] of the violent summits probably
[32:40] in decades.
[32:41] we need to begin to address the
[32:43] issue of violent time from a
[32:45] distance perspective.
[32:46] and I encourage everybody to be
[32:48] part of that discussion because
[32:49] we are going to have people from
[32:52] around the nation to talk about
[32:54] what is going on in that
[32:55] community.
[32:57] the candidateing for office -- I
[33:01] will never run for office
[33:03] because you can't do right and
[33:04] you can't do wng.
[33:09] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[33:09] very much.
[33:12] oh, no, we have one more
[33:14] stephanie poynor.
[33:19] » Hi,  good morning.
[33:22] » Guido maniscalco:  good
[33:22] morning.
[33:23] » The people of tampa chose
[33:26] councilman dingfelder for a
[33:28] reason.
[33:32] councilman dingfelder, in his
[33:36] position to stand up for the
[33:37] neighborhoods.
[33:38] cocilm dingfelder voted what
[33:40] he thought was right even when
[33:43] it wasn't popular.
[33:44] that bit him in the butt.
[33:45] the citizens are watching today.
[33:47] they are watching to see if you
[33:48] choose a yes person.
[33:52] they are watching to see if that
[33:54] person chooses to work with the
[33:56] citizens or is it their priority
[33:59] to do what those who fund the
[34:05] pac fund by developers want.
[34:07] remember, c fol, they might
[34:12] vote, but they can't vote in
[34:15] mass.
[34:15] remember voters are the ones
[34:17] that count.
[34:18] voters are watching.
[34:19] voters vote.
[34:20] ad they are watching.
[34:22] voters create neighborhoods,
[34:25] not pacs.
[34:27] voters will be watching.
[34:28] do the right thing.
[34:30] ask each applicant if they are
[34:32] ready to fight for the right
[34:34] thing even when it goes against
[34:36] the flow.
[34:37] ask each applicant, if they read
[34:40] the florida ethnicthe florida ef
[34:43] 2020-008 and willing to give up
[34:47] their legal estate and legal
[34:48] careers while in office making
[34:50] the whooping $53,000 a year that
[34:52] you guys do.
[34:53] do the right thing, gentlemen.
[34:56] ps, two minutes is not enough
[34:58] for each one of these canfor eae
[35:00] candidates.
[35:01] that was under the assumption
[35:02] would you have 100 applications.
[35:04] give each applicant an
[35:04] additional minute to speak.
[35:06] thank you very much.
[35:07] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[35:08] very much.
[35:09] anybody registered?
[35:10] so that concludes public coso tc
[35:14] comment.
[35:15] councilman carlson.
[35:15] » Bill carlson:  yeah, if I
[35:18] couldjust want to say for the
[35:19] record I agree with the comments
[35:22] about adding diversity.
[35:25] we need females and more
[35:27] african-americans on the board,
[35:29] but I want for the record since
[35:30] the media is here, the hispanic
[35:32] latino community in tampa is
[35:34] also very important and helped
[35:35] build this community and I don't
[35:37] know which of my colleagues
[35:39] identify as hispanic.
[35:40] any of you all?
[35:42] charlie, any --
[35:44] » Guido maniscalco:  my mother
[35:46] is from cuba.
[35:52] » Luis viera:  I identify as
[35:55] hispanic.
[35:57] » Guido maniscalco:  my mother
[35:59] is born in cuba.
[36:01] » Bill carlson:  I am not saying
[36:03] hispanic versus africahispanic s
[36:08] african-american.
[36:09] just saying that it is all white
[36:10] -- I think we need to respect
[36:12] and honor our hispanic heritage
[36:15] in tampa.
[36:16] I am not.
[36:17] I am swedish-american and I want
[36:18] to identify that.
[36:19] three of my colleagues speak
[36:21] spanish and at least a couple
[36:24] speak italian and w should make
[36:26] sure we acknowledge the
[36:27] important history they have in
[36:28] tampa.
[36:29] thank you.
[36:30] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[36:30] very much, councilman gudes.
[36:32] » Orlando gudes:  thank you, mr.
[36:33] chairman.
[36:35] you know we lost, in my opinion,
[36:37] a true soldier, mr. Dingfelder.
[36:38] someone who fought for
[36:40] communities.
[36:40] someone who is not afraid to
[36:44] stand up, and someone think that
[36:48] know in my heart cared for the
[36:49] people.
[36:50] I am just going to be frank with
[36:52] those applicants that come
[36:54] forward before me today.
[36:55] most of you know I stand with
[36:57] the people.
[37:01] I won't upport anybody that
[37:01] won't stand for the people.
[37:03] I won't support anybody who
[37:05] won't look at the facts and make
[37:07] a good decision for the city and
[37:10] not because of money.
[37:13] the city must grow.
[37:15] we must have development, of
[37:16] course, but we have to have
[37:18] development that is encompassing
[37:21] everybody in the city.
[37:22] I will support initial who will
[37:25] not be a person who will stand
[37:27] up when there is a controversial
[37:29] issue.
[37:35] and support anybody who
[37:37] administration is out of context
[37:39] and will put it back in context.
[37:42] I support a person like that and
[37:43] make a decision and the
[37:44] decisions they make and not be
[37:46] afraid of consequences and to be
[37:49] able to make decisions.
[37:50] that is the person black, white,
[37:52] latino.
[37:53] I want the person who will stand
[37:55] up and do the right thing for
[37:57] all people of the city of
[37:58] council.
[37:58] » Guido maniscalco:  councilman
[38:00] viera.
[38:00] » Luis viera:  councilman
[38:03] carlson, thank you for the
[38:03] hispanic remark.
[38:04] thank yofor that as I may.
[38:07] I wanted to give my two thoughts
[38:08] on it.
[38:10] yesterday evening at an event at
[38:15] allen temple at ame church with
[38:17] the anniversary of the martin
[38:21] luther king, jr.
[38:22] and I had pride as an official I
[38:24] served for five years and we
[38:25] have about two dozen people here
[38:26] today who are going for public
[38:30] office.
[38:31] and if -- and just for the
[38:32] record, you have two people here
[38:34] who tried to apply.
[38:35] I know of -- and later elected.
[38:37] I know of oth couilmembers
[38:39] and elected officials who tried
[38:41] to apply in the past.
[38:42] didn't make it and then were
[38:44] elected and what not.
[38:46] if you were not chosen, your
[38:47] time in public office, there is
[38:49] a good chance it is going to go
[38:51] -- going to go and you will be
[38:53] able to -- god willing -- have
[38:56] moments in public office that
[38:58] you look back ten minutes later,
[39:01] ten years later and say I am
[39:02] very proud of what I did that
[39:04] day.
[39:04] I am really proud of what I said
[39:06] that day.
[39:07] whether in the minority,
[39:10] majority, you are proud that the
[39:13] time you can look at it and
[39:14] families and loved ones say I
[39:16] know why we did that and proud
[39:17] of it.
[39:18] all six of us had moments like
[39:20] that.
[39:20] everybody in public office,
[39:22] regardless of your party
[39:24] affiliation have had moments
[39:25] like that.
[39:26] I can say the biggest thing that
[39:27] I am looking for -- I said this
[39:29] many times.
[39:30] I value philosophy.
[39:33] ideology -- I shouldn't say
[39:38] ideology, strike that.
[39:42] I support values in a person.
[39:43] that is critical.
[39:44] civility within people and work
[39:48] with one another and build
[39:50] bridges.
[39:50] that is very important for me.
[39:51] I wanted to say that that all of
[39:53] you are going for public office.
[39:56] a lot of heart and chutzpa to go
[39:59] out for public office.
[40:00] you put yourself out there in
[40:03] public and people to analyze
[40:04] you, etc., etc., I salute that
[40:08] and god willing you can have
[40:10] that moment in public office and
[40:11] we all have that in our lives.
[40:13] when do you something and you
[40:14] are proud of that.
[40:16] you are proud of that.
[40:17] that is what public office is
[40:19] all about.
[40:19] being a harry truman.
[40:21] thank you.
[40:22] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you.
[40:23] anybody else?
[40:26] all right.
[40:26] that concludes public comment.
[40:28] we have 23 candiwe have 23  cane
[40:31] qualified to fill this vacancy
[40:33] and we have all the appland we e
[40:35] applications.
[40:36] I believe everybody here does.
[40:37] I received mine on friday and I
[40:39] read each and every word and
[40:40] each and every action.
[40:43] because I know you put a lot of
[40:49] heart, effort and time into
[40:50] this.
[40:51] we looked at - I did.
[40:53] I looked at all these
[40:54] applications.
[40:55] I have it before us.
[40:56] each applicant has two minutes
[40:58] to make their presentation.
[41:00] the applicants will be called in
[41:02] alphabetical order by last name
[41:04] and members of the council may
[41:05] ask questions of individual
[41:07] applicants following the
[41:08] presentation.
[41:09] I have a question.
[41:10] in looking at how we all
[41:12] campaigned tiger bay and
[41:13] neighborhood association forum,
[41:15] usually given 30 seconds or 60
[41:17] seconds to respond.
[41:18] I think that would be fair.
[41:21] that is just my suggestion.
[41:23] I don't want to limit how many
[41:24] questions a councilmember asks.
[41:26] generally asked three questions,
[41:29] two questions, depending on the
[41:30] forum.
[41:31] does anybody have any suggestion
[41:32] moving forward with regards to
[41:34] asking questions of applicants
[41:35] and their time?
[41:36] councilman carlson.
[41:38] » Bill carlson:  should we --
[41:39] open it up for questions for all
[41:41] 23  or --
[41:43] » Guido maniscalco:  all 23.
[41:44] sure, to keep it a level playing
[41:47] field.
[41:48] a response time 60 seconds per
[41:51] question or 30 seconds per
[41:51] question.
[41:53] » Bill carlson:  what happens if
[41:54] we ask a question of one
[41:56] candidate we feel compelled --
[41:58] we have seven qstio at least
[41:59] for each candidate.
[42:01] » Guido maniscalco:  up to you.
[42:02] there may not be questions.
[42:03] it is open.
[42:04] councilman viera.
[42:05] » Luis viera:  I don't foresee
[42:07] myself unless something that
[42:09] really needs clarifications
[42:10] asking questions.
[42:11] I think that -- you mentioned
[42:12] something very well, mr.
[42:13] chairman, which is that a lot of
[42:16] folks -- this is very
[42:17] intimidating for a lot of people
[42:19] present, and to ask questions of
[42:21] a lot of people is not something
[42:22] that I don't see myself doing.
[42:24] I am not committed to not doing
[42:25] it.
[42:26] one thing I would suggest and
[42:27] someone said -- I think it was
[42:29] miss poyr, give applicants a
[42:34] 15 second safety net.
[42:37] » Guido maniscalco:  mentioned
[42:41] an extra minute.
[42:43] » Luis viera:  just because --
[42:44] 15 seconds isn't going to do
[42:46] anything.
[42:47] just my opinion.
[42:47] but I don't foresee myself
[42:49] asking a ton of questions, I
[42:51] may, but I don't foresee it.
[42:54] » Guido maniscalco:  councilman
[42:55] miranda.
[42:55] » Charlie miranda:  I don't see
[42:58] myself asking a lot of
[42:59] questions.
[43:00] and the reason is, one of the
[43:02] problems I see with the way it
[43:03] is done, the ones on the bottom
[43:05] of theist e going to have
[43:06] the advantage if we ask the same
[43:08] questions and the ones up front
[43:09] you get an answer and better
[43:11] prepared than the ones up front.
[43:14] lfe in, first out.
[43:17] and I am out of respect for the
[43:20] clarity, I am not going to ask
[43:21] too many questions.
[43:23] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[43:24] very much.
[43:24] our clerk, his shirley four cley
[43:31] foxx-knowle s, if you will take
[43:32] over and call people by last
[43:34] name alphabetical order.
[43:42] » Clerk:  good morning, council,
[43:44] shirley foxx-knowles, city
[43:49] clerk.
[43:49] I would like to talk about the
[43:52] selection process to fill the
[43:52] vacancy in district 3 at large.
[43:55] the chair has noted some things
[43:59] as far as the 23 candidates.
[44:02] and reviewing the applications.
[44:05] the selection will be made by
[44:07] ballot of the city council
[44:09] current members.
[44:11] each city councilmember shall
[44:14] select only one name.
[44:16] the applicant who receives four
[44:19] or more votes shall be the
[44:21] person selected to fill the
[44:22] remaining term of office.
[44:25] in the event no applicant
[44:28] receives the requisite four
[44:30] votes, only the applicants
[44:33] receiving the greatest number
[44:36] and the next greatest number of
[44:41] votes shall be eligible for
[44:43] another ballot or runoff.
[44:45] ter each ballot round, the
[44:48] vote will be counted and an
[44:49] announcement made regarding how
[44:53] each council member voted.
[44:55] the applicant who receives four
[44:57] more votes shall be the person
[44:59] selected.
[45:00] and with that, I will pass out
[45:03] the ballots before the
[45:05] presentation.
[45:38] the first applicant is dr. Sonja
[45:41] brookin.
[45:50] » Good morning.
[45:50] » Guido maniscalco:  good
[45:51] morning.
[45:51] » My name is dr. Sonja  br>> m
[45:54] brookin, and I currently serve
[45:57] as the water conservation
[46:00] supervisor for district 4.
[46:01] I am the first african-american
[46:02] to serve on this board after
[46:05] having secured over 314,000
[46:08] votes.
[46:10] I appear before this council
[46:12] seeking an appointment to serve
[46:16] as councilwoman.
[46:16] how can my appointment enhance
[46:19] the leadership of this council?
[46:22] there are two reasons beyond the
[46:25] obvious fact of gender and
[46:28] ethnicity.
[46:28] my number one concern.
[46:30] my connection as a tampaian as
[46:34] well as my active community
[46:36] engagement.
[46:37] I have experience running an
[46:39] effective and efficient campaign
[46:41] for office.
[46:42] I ran as an underdog and won.
[46:47] let's not choose someone who
[46:48] will have to serve this term
[46:51] while solely focused on the next
[46:53] campaign.
[46:55] my involvement within the
[46:56] community speaks volumes.
[46:58] I walk the talk daily.
[47:01] number two,  I am equipped with
[47:04] the tools to transform tampa tha
[47:09] bay's tomorrow effective
[47:10] immediately.
[47:11] therefore, my role as an
[47:14] educator has equipped me.
[47:18] my role as an elected official
[47:19] with significant board
[47:21] experience has equipped me.
[47:23] my role as a resident and
[47:26] rotarian has equipped me.
[47:29] my role has created a
[47:31] preparedness of acumen for tprer
[47:34] today's appointment.
[47:34] selecting a candidates that
[47:35] demonstrated that task of
[47:37] leadership will not suffice
[47:38] short term.
[47:39] the city needs longevity past
[47:43] 2023.
[47:45] request your selection of me, we
[47:46] will transform our city and
[47:49] ensure a place of innovation and
[47:51] safety for all residents and
[47:53] tourists while enhancing
[47:56] economic development,
[47:57] sustainability and resilience.
[48:00] thank you for the opportunity to
[48:01] speak.
[48:02] again, my name is dr. Sonja
[48:03] brookin.
[48:05] » Guido maniscalco:  thank y
[48:06] very much.
[48:08] [applause]
[48:19] » Clerk:  the next candidate is
[48:21] miss connie burton.
[48:26] [applause]
[48:28] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, ma'am.
[48:29] go ahead.
[48:30] » Yes, good morning, council.
[48:32] this is a historic moment
[48:35] because today will define if
[48:38] this cy is moving more toward
[48:41] a two-tier system of them
[48:45] against us or is this city
[48:47] prepared under your leadership
[48:52] to expand democracy and also be
[48:55] a transformative city that could
[48:57] be a lighthouse for others to
[48:59] follow.
[49:00] I am a mother to a grandmother,
[49:03] I don't hold any secondary
[49:04] degrees.
[49:06] I respect all that do, but what
[49:07] I do have is something that
[49:09] money can't buy.
[49:11] and that is loyalty and love to
[49:13] the people and the community and
[49:15] this city.
[49:15] I have a proven track record of
[49:18] service toward justice.
[49:20] I want my body of work to
[49:22] reflect that I have advocate --
[49:26] I have been a proud advocate and
[49:29] dedicated servant for the
[49:31] community even at the cost.
[49:35] my passion is demonstrated
[49:37] through my desire for the
[49:39] betterment of all people.
[49:42] I don't possess a -- a passive
[49:44] piece, but I believe thatampa
[49:46] can be transformed that it is
[49:48] enough in this city for
[49:50] everybody.
[49:51] I believe that gentrification
[49:53] being on the front line is
[49:54] something that needs our
[49:56] immediate attention.
[49:57] I believe that there, you guys,
[50:03] know what is the right thing to
[50:04] do.
[50:05] what is missing is that perhaps
[50:07] you are not willing to spend
[50:08] your political capital to do it.
[50:11] but what I am asking is based on
[50:14] your resolution that you passed
[50:16] in 2020, that you recognize the
[50:20] mo marginal group in this
[50:21] community that if the attention
[50:26] was passed on to those
[50:27] communities to lift those people
[50:28] up and give them a voice, then
[50:31] everything else will fall in
[50:32] line.
[50:33] this is your opportunity this
[50:34] morning.
[50:35] and I appreciate being here.
[50:36] thank you.
[50:37] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[50:38] very much.
[50:38] [applause]
[50:49] » Clerk:  the next applicant is
[50:52] mr. Mes chittenden.
[50:57] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, sir,
[50:58] go ahead.
[51:00] » Good morning, gentlemen.
[51:03] my name is james chittenden.
[51:05] I am the founder and chief si af
[51:08] start-up and small business
[51:08] strategist at onestrategist at
[51:11] oneclickadvisor.com, the
[51:12] entrepreneur's best friend.
[51:13] I have helped thousands of
[51:15] people start, market, operate
[51:17] and finance businesses in.
[51:20] I have also served on boards and
[51:22] committees that advised the
[51:24] council and mayor in buet,
[51:27] cra, and public nuisance and
[51:28] code enforcement matters.
[51:30] with that said, I am sure all
[51:32] this agree it is past time to
[51:35] level up some things here in.
[51:40] I have been listening to those
[51:42] whose responsibility to recruit
[51:43] businesses such as fortune 500
[51:46] companies here.
[51:47] and the responses we get from
[51:49] those ceos.
[51:51] we have been rejected.
[51:51] we ought to use that rejection
[51:53] as memo pad reminding us of some
[51:55] things we need to improve to
[51:58] level up.
[52:00] tampa had championship big
[52:03] league teams but a minor league
[52:04] transit system.
[52:06] let's do everything possible to
[52:07] level up our public
[52:08] transportation.
[52:11] tampa has housing price and cost
[52:13] increases of living like
[52:15] california,  but with wages more
[52:17] like alabama.
[52:20] if tampa had nearly as many
[52:22] software engineer and other tech
[52:25] problem-solvers as it did
[52:26] realtors and personal trainers,
[52:29] we would surpass silicon valley
[52:31] as an innovation destination.
[52:33] the result will be a more
[52:35] equitable and diverse economy.
[52:37] the highest levels of tampa
[52:39] government is mired in negative
[52:41] politic and misplaced pripolitid
[52:45] priorities.
[52:45] like all of you I am worried
[52:47] about the focus of the handling
[52:49] of the police chief.
[52:50] I am bothered by the focus on
[52:53] john dingfelder's e-mails and
[52:54] all of you -- and everything
[52:55] that spun off of it by the way.
[52:57] like all of you, I am bothered
[52:59] by the focus of allegations of
[53:01] sexual misconduct.
[53:02] let's level up our politics.
[53:04] change the conversation.
[53:05] getetter results.
[53:07] focus on better things and get
[53:09] better results.
[53:11] I am james chittenden.
[53:13] that's why I'm here.
[53:17] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[53:18] very much.
[53:28] » Clerk:  its next candidate is
[53:32] dr. Carolyn hepburn collins, if
[53:35] she is here.
[53:37] » Guido maniscalco:  dr. Col>>g.
[53:40] colins, are you here?
[53:41] the next candidate is thomas
[53:45] connelly.
[53:51] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, sir,
[53:52] go ahead.
[53:53] » Chairman maniscalco, cou>> c,
[53:55] councilmembers, staff, fellow
[53:56] applicants, thank you for your
[53:57] time.
[53:58] unlike most applicants, I did
[53:59] not grow up in tampa.
[54:01] my dad was a career army
[54:03] official and I followed in his
[54:06] footsteps and joined the air
[54:07] force and served for three
[54:08] decades.
[54:10] 50 years I lived and served all
[54:12] over the world wit diverse
[54:13] cultures, religions and in war
[54:17] and in peace.
[54:18] many people don't realize that
[54:19] america's military is a
[54:21] crosssection of society, dress
[54:22] alike and live to serve but
[54:24] sometimes that is where the
[54:26] similarities stop.
[54:27] 50 years told me to build teams
[54:29] with people different than me,
[54:31] respect others in experiences
[54:34] and live and build consensus and
[54:36] get things done and not just
[54:38] things my way.
[54:39] when we retired, my wife and I
[54:41] picked tampa because of
[54:43] diversity and history.
[54:45] I am proud I livin tampa, but
[54:47] regularly listening to fellow
[54:48] citizens speak at city concil
[54:50] meetings I heard first hand what
[54:52] we must do better.
[54:54] I know how to get things done
[54:55] with no-nonsense, hard work,
[54:57] teamwork and consensus.
[54:59] I want to develop a new
[55:00] comprehensive plan that directs
[55:02] growth to best suied areas
[55:04] where it makes sense so plans
[55:06] don't economic dlee displace
[55:08] people from their neighborhoods
[55:09] and homes and destroy the
[55:10] character of the unique
[55:11] neighborhoods that make tampa
[55:13] what it is.
[55:14] I want to build responsible
[55:15] growth amid climate change.
[55:20] on disaster preparedness and
[55:22] need for realistic public
[55:23] transportation.
[55:24] transportation is a quality of
[55:25] life and a public safety colifey
[55:27] concern.
[55:27] if selected I would do better
[55:28] the working relationship with
[55:30] the mayor's administration.
[55:32] people won't always agree, but
[55:33] people need to talk and not
[55:35] blindside each other on
[55:36] decisions that impact us all.
[55:37] lastly, I was disappointed to
[55:39] read in the news that some
[55:41] members will not select a male
[55:43] applicant.
[55:44] I hope this is not true.
[55:49] a council should not reduce to
[55:51] sex, gender.
[55:53] to reduce with a category is in
[55:56] actuality discrimination.
[55:57] all applicants, each of us,
[56:00] deserve equal consideration.
[56:01] I would like to welcome this
[56:02] challenge and thank you for your
[56:03] time.
[56:04] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[56:05] very much.
[56:17] » Clerk:  council, the next
[56:19] candidate is mr. Robert "pete"
[56:25] edwards.
[56:26] » Good morning, council.
[56:27] I will get right to it.
[56:29] I am robert pete edwards.
[56:31] my fourth time seeking an
[56:34] interim seat on city council.
[56:35] the original one was an elthe on
[56:37] election.
[56:37] I got all four major newspaper
[56:39] endorsements that went to les
[56:41] miller.
[56:42] frank reddick was also on that
[56:45] seat.
[56:45] during that time, I continued to
[56:46] do work in the community.
[56:48] my record in the community
[56:48] professionally and personally
[56:51] speaks for itself.
[56:52] when I came back for the second
[56:54] time to get an interim
[56:56] appointment, the word was out
[56:57] that, hey, the council said they
[56:59] didn't want someone that was
[57:01] going to run for office.
[57:02] my intentions then and now still
[57:05] -- I am not seeking a permanent
[57:07] seat.
[57:08] when I saw that first one, I was
[57:11] told off chance.
[57:11] betty wiggins won that seat.
[57:14] one of the things I learned
[57:14] about that one, we had a
[57:17] councilmember who made it clear
[57:18] they weren't interested in
[57:19] appointing any black man for
[57:21] interim seat.
[57:21] I came back the third time.
[57:23] that is when fran davin got the
[57:27] seat.
[57:28] I got one more vote than the
[57:29] first time.
[57:30] now I'm here again.
[57:31] my work speaks for itse.
[57:33] I have been involved with the
[57:34] planning of the marion transit
[57:36] way.
[57:37] I served on that as a lay leader
[57:39] on that board with father canely
[57:42] to deal with all the issues with
[57:44] downtown.
[57:44] I come back.
[57:45] I was in the housing board --
[57:47] the housing.
[57:50] mobley park.
[57:51] all I am asking is you got to
[57:54] start working with people who
[57:55] have an independent mind,  who
[57:59] is a policy, and when is it
[58:00] against the law that you can't
[58:04] -- you can serve but not have
[58:05] the opportunity.
[58:06] I took the berthis time not
[58:08] to contact any councilmember
[58:10] because I knew what was
[58:11] happening.
[58:11] we got to change it.
[58:12] I can go right in tomorrow and
[58:14] give you 13 things we got on our
[58:16] plate right now that has been
[58:17] lingering for a long time.
[58:20] I realize the dye has been cast
[58:23] on this one like the last two.
[58:24] even on the cra board when they
[58:27] told me to apply because the
[58:29] downtown cra board doesn't have
[58:31] a black member.
[58:32] applied and the downtown
[58:33] partnership and the developers
[58:35] got who they want and got the
[58:36] second person the second time I
[58:38] applied forhat.
[58:40] thank you very much.
[58:40] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[58:42] very much, sir.
[58:52] » Clerk:  council, the next
[58:55] candidate is mr. Ron fair.
[58:59] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, sir,
[59:00] go ahead.
[59:02] » Good morning, council.
[59:03] my name is ron fair.
[59:04] I am a professional engineer
[59:06] licensed in 16 states.
[59:08] a licensed general contractor,
[59:10] petroleum contractor, electrical
[59:11] contractor, plumbing contractor.
[59:14] you have my education and
[59:15] experience.
[59:16] it also includes all the
[59:18] charities that my wife and I
[59:20] serve.
[59:21] I, too, love the city but I have
[59:23] seen the city evolve, some very
[59:25] good, and some not so good in
[59:26] the 30 years I have been here.
[59:28] I pulled a survey of the top 25
[59:30] cities to live in the u.s. And I
[59:32] was sad to see tampa is not
[59:33] there.
[59:35] money magazine top 50, tampa is
[59:38] not there.
[59:39] I had to go to a survey for the
[59:41] top 150 to find us in 8th.
[59:45] st. Pete is 43.
[59:46] hialeah is 67.
[59:48] tallahassee is 76 and miami is
[59:52] 86.
[59:53] we are better than them.
[59:57] the good news is, economically,
[1:00:00] we are 16.
[1:00:01] the numbers don't match, but
[1:00:02] they don't lie.
[1:00:03] sadly, also, one of the bad and
[1:00:07] not so good things is why we are
[1:00:08] here today.
[1:00:10] systematically, the issue was
[1:00:13] not fixed within.
[1:00:15] it was fixed externally.
[1:00:17] that means the problem still
[1:00:19] exists.
[1:00:21] it needs to be fixed by somebody
[1:00:24] if not myself, like myself who
[1:00:26] is an engineer, a businessman,
[1:00:29] or as diverse a company has
[1:00:32] anybody amongst out peers.
[1:00:37] we fix problems by definewe we g
[1:00:40] them.
[1:00:40] 65 to 70% of fixing a problem is
[1:00:44] defining it properly.
[1:00:45] you get your solutions,  you
[1:00:48] pick the best one, you monitor
[1:00:51] it, you hold people accountable
[1:00:54] for it, but you also have the
[1:00:55] humility in monitoring it that
[1:00:57] if it is not getting the inif ie
[1:00:59] intended results, you fix it.
[1:01:01] you change the course.
[1:01:05] in the words thomas jefferson,
[1:01:07] we must follow the truth
[1:01:08] wherever it may lead.
[1:01:11] I heard talk about diversity.
[1:01:13] and I agree, but it is not
[1:01:15] gender.
[1:01:16] it is not race.
[1:01:17] it is the gender of thought.
[1:01:19] it is a gender of strength.
[1:01:23] it is a agenda of a will to
[1:01:26] servend change.
[1:01:27] I have that education and common
[1:01:28] sense.
[1:01:28] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:01:29] very much, sir.
[1:01:33] » That my time.
[1:01:35] okay.
[1:01:52] » Clerk:  the next candidate is
[1:01:55] mr. Thomas e. Feaster.
[1:02:03] » Good morning.
[1:02:05] thank you for providing me an
[1:02:06] opportunity to join you on
[1:02:07] council.
[1:02:08] my name is tom feaster.
[1:02:10] the university of tampa
[1:02:12] recruited me to tampa over four
[1:02:14] decades ago where I completed a
[1:02:17] masters degree in education and
[1:02:19] served there in a number of
[1:02:21] administrative in admission,
[1:02:23] athletics and public affairs.
[1:02:25] I had an opportunity to teach
[1:02:26] classes on the principles of
[1:02:29] real estate as well.
[1:02:32] while serving as ut's alumni
[1:02:35] director, my mission was to
[1:02:37] develop additional support for
[1:02:39] ut from the tampa community.
[1:02:41] this led me to being selected to
[1:02:43] organizations such as leadership
[1:02:45] tampa and leadership tampa bay.
[1:02:48] the merchants association of
[1:02:51] florida recognizing my passion
[1:02:53] for community service
[1:02:54] subsequently employed me of
[1:02:56] community of liaison.
[1:02:58] while with the merchants, I
[1:02:59] served on a host of nonprofit
[1:03:03] board of directors in addition
[1:03:04] to working with both the city of
[1:03:04] tampa and the state of florida
[1:03:07] on special projects.
[1:03:09] currently, I serve as president
[1:03:11] of the stewart's foundation,
[1:03:14] inc. Whose miinc. Whose miss mio
[1:03:18] use teamwork and responsibility
[1:03:20] to young people in tampa.
[1:03:22] my passion for improving
[1:03:23] diversity and inclusion led me
[1:03:27] to run and be elected as the
[1:03:29] director of the united states
[1:03:31] rowing association.
[1:03:33] during my nine-year tenure I
[1:03:35] took a leadership role in
[1:03:38] forming a u.s. Rowing task force
[1:03:40] that led to the hirling of its
[1:03:42] first director of inclusion.
[1:03:44] another significant
[1:03:44] accomplishment while a director
[1:03:46] was being selected to serve as
[1:03:49] chair.
[1:03:50] th things committee.
[1:03:52] this committee championed a
[1:03:53] program encouraged by the united
[1:03:54] states olympic committee called
[1:03:57] sae sport, which focused on the
[1:03:59] eliminate of bad behavior in the
[1:04:02] sport.
[1:04:03] to deal with subjects such as
[1:04:04] bullying, harassment and sexual
[1:04:08] misconduct.
[1:04:09] I am proud to report that the
[1:04:10] training and compliance with
[1:04:12] safe sport hasowecome an
[1:04:14] institutional part of all
[1:04:15] olympic sports.
[1:04:16] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:04:17] very much, sir.
[1:04:31] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:04:33] candidate is miss meredith
[1:04:36] a. Freeman.
[1:04:44] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, ma'am,
[1:04:44] go ahead.
[1:04:46] » Good morning.
[1:04:46] my ne is meredith freeman.
[1:04:49] a pleasure to be here and an
[1:04:50] honor to speak with you today.
[1:04:52] more than anything, I applied
[1:04:54] because I want my ten-year-old
[1:04:57] son to see more people who look
[1:04:59] like me in the halls of power.
[1:05:02] he is watching me.
[1:05:04] and I want him to know and other
[1:05:06] young people to know that tampa
[1:05:08] is a place of opportunity for
[1:05:10] everyone.
[1:05:13] as a sister of a fire fighter,
[1:05:16] I am a proud supporter of first
[1:05:18] responders.
[1:05:21] and I am a mother who is raising
[1:05:25] a black man.
[1:05:27] I want my son's interaction with
[1:05:29] law enforcement and the
[1:05:30] interactions of other black men
[1:05:32] to be safe and to be positive.
[1:05:37] as a daughter of a retired
[1:05:38] teacher who lives in tampa, I am
[1:05:40] acutely aware of our affordable
[1:05:44] housing crisis.
[1:05:46] I am committed to robust
[1:05:48] investments to tackle this iinvs
[1:05:50] issue.
[1:05:51] I am a life-long athlete,  and I
[1:05:53] found my way through sports,
[1:05:55] through parks and rec.
[1:05:57] I am committed to fully funded
[1:06:00] parks and rec in every area in.
[1:06:03] somewhere out there right now
[1:06:06] there is a young woman who will
[1:06:07] be a leader and will be
[1:06:10] confident because she played
[1:06:12] sports.
[1:06:13] as a board certified attorney, a
[1:06:15] board certified construction
[1:06:17] attorney, I bring a skill set
[1:06:18] that is necessary during this
[1:06:19] time.
[1:06:20] finally, as a woman with a
[1:06:23] personal connection to a mental
[1:06:26] health crisis, ingiving my time
[1:06:31] as the crisis center of tampa
[1:06:32] bay as member of that board.
[1:06:34] thank you for your time and I
[1:06:35] welcome any questions.
[1:06:36] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:06:36] very much.
[1:06:48] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:06:49] candidate is miss connie gage.
[1:06:57] » Guido maniscalco:  miss f>>gus
[1:07:02] foxx-cushion nowles, I believe
[1:07:03] that is dr. Collins in the back.
[1:07:05] after connie gage, can we go to
[1:07:11] dr. Collins.
[1:07:13] » Good morning,  I am connie
[1:07:15] gag aeshtion third generation
[1:07:16] tampa native.
[1:07:17] a privilege to be here to let
[1:07:20] you know why I believe I am the
[1:07:21] right person to fill this
[1:07:23] vacancy on tampa city council.
[1:07:25] I spent my entire adult life
[1:07:26] volunteering and serving my
[1:07:28] community in many different ways
[1:07:30] helping people from all walks of
[1:07:31] life.
[1:07:31] recently serving two consecutive
[1:07:33] terms for chairman of the board
[1:07:35] for the south tampa chamber of
[1:07:37] commerce managing the
[1:07:39] metropolitan ministries
[1:07:41] homebound to families out of
[1:07:42] their logistic warehouse after
[1:07:45] the first six months of the
[1:07:46] covid shutdowns and numerous
[1:07:47] boards that I have volunteered
[1:07:50] and served in leadership
[1:07:51] capacity.
[1:07:52] I served a six-year term for the
[1:07:55] hillsborough county land use
[1:07:55] appeals board where I learned
[1:07:57] the policies and procedures that
[1:07:59] were put in place to make fair
[1:08:01] and just decisions for the
[1:08:03] residents and citizens of our
[1:08:05] community based on the
[1:08:07] situations brought before that
[1:08:08] entity.
[1:08:08] I feel that experience will also
[1:08:11] be a benefit in this role.
[1:08:12] I have been in some type of
[1:08:14] service industry profession
[1:08:15] since the age of 14 years old
[1:08:17] and I have learned and I know
[1:08:18] how to relate to all different
[1:08:21] personality thips I think is a
[1:08:23] quality that is needed in this
[1:08:24] position as well.
[1:08:25] I want to work with the citizens
[1:08:27] in our community to make them
[1:08:28] feel heard and find out what
[1:08:30] their needs are.
[1:08:30] I will listen to those who come
[1:08:32] before this council with
[1:08:33] fairness and an open mind while
[1:08:35] working with fellow
[1:08:37] councilmembers to bring a
[1:08:38] resolution to this situation
[1:08:40] based on what those
[1:08:41] circumstances might be.
[1:08:43] tampa is my history.
[1:08:45] tampa is my future.
[1:08:46] I will do everything in my
[1:08:48] ability to uphold this position
[1:08:50] in the highest regard.
[1:08:51] thank you for your time this
[1:08:52] morning.
[1:08:53] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:08:54] very much.
[1:09:04] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:09:06] cndidate is dr. Carolyn hepburn
[1:09:10] collins.
[1:09:18] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, ma'am,
[1:09:19] go ahead.
[1:09:20] » Good morning.
[1:09:22] my name is dr. Carolyn hepburn
[1:09:27] collins,  and wecollins,  and ld
[1:09:31] almost a life-long resident of
[1:09:34] tampa, florida.
[1:09:36] I raised from my personalities
[1:09:38] in the projects until they built
[1:09:40] a home.
[1:09:41] my spouse and I selected tampa
[1:09:42] and built our home in carver
[1:09:43] city to raise our two boys.
[1:09:47] left this town in a sense of
[1:09:48] speaking three times.
[1:09:50] I was born in new york.
[1:09:52] went back to tampa in a year.
[1:09:54] I left to go to college.
[1:09:55] and I left when my husband
[1:09:57] joined the veterans association
[1:10:00] to become gainfully employed as
[1:10:04] a kinesiotherapist.
[1:10:05] I present my life experience
[1:10:06] from a multitude of
[1:10:08] organizations that I will not
[1:10:09] mention them.
[1:10:11] and countless so many others.
[1:10:13] but to serve a great city is yet
[1:10:15] another capacity and that is why
[1:10:16] I applied.
[1:10:17] I am prepared to serve with a
[1:10:18] policymaking legislative branch
[1:10:21] with the city of tampa, the
[1:10:22] growth of the community to do
[1:10:24] the best things to represent the
[1:10:26] constituencies and we have -- to
[1:10:28] meet the need of our city and
[1:10:29] our collective dutyour collectie
[1:10:32] pursuit of good work.
[1:10:34] our city has a myriad of work to
[1:10:36] do a pursuit of being the next
[1:10:37] great city.
[1:10:39] a plethora of projects on the
[1:10:40] docket from safety to multiyear
[1:10:43] investment, noise ordinance that
[1:10:45] meets the need of the citizens
[1:10:46] and people, rent cost and home
[1:10:49] prices esca lateing the need to
[1:10:51] control homelessness, hunger,
[1:10:53] economic development,
[1:10:54] infrastructure, and so many
[1:10:55] others.
[1:10:56] I want to work collaboratively
[1:10:58] with each of you distinguished
[1:11:00] councilmembers to achieve it but
[1:11:02] let me skip down so I don't lose
[1:11:04] time and skip over something I
[1:11:05] would like to say to say william
[1:11:08] wadsworth say small service is
[1:11:10] true service.
[1:11:11] I parallel that to one of my
[1:11:12] favorites to say the service
[1:11:14] that we give is not about me,
[1:11:15] because I am not that important.
[1:11:17] it is actually not about you and
[1:11:18] all these other great candidates
[1:11:20] that have applied.
[1:11:21] it is about our babies.
[1:11:23] our babies are yet unborn.
[1:11:25] so it is up to us to make a
[1:11:26] difference.
[1:11:27] my challenge to each of you in
[1:11:29] the challenge off this this
[1:11:31] morning is just do the right
[1:11:32] thing.
[1:11:32] thank you and bless you.
[1:11:33] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:11:34] very much.
[1:11:40] we have a candidate who is
[1:11:41] appearing virtually, correct?
[1:11:44] she is on?
[1:11:44] okay.
[1:11:46] yes, ma'am.
[1:11:51] » Clerk:  the next candidate is
[1:11:54] natasha goodley.
[1:11:58] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, ma'am,
[1:12:00] go ahead.
[1:12:01] » Good morning.
[1:12:02] can you hear me?
[1:12:02] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, we
[1:12:04] can.
[1:12:06] go ahead.
[1:12:06] we can hear.
[1:12:07] » You good morning, everyone.
[1:12:10] thank you.
[1:12:11] good morning, I apologize for
[1:12:13] not being present, unfornot bei,
[1:12:15] unfortunately, I am in new
[1:12:16] orleans.
[1:12:17] and it was a trip that was
[1:12:20] schedule far in advance and
[1:12:21] could not be rescheduled.
[1:12:25] I am applying -- I will just
[1:12:26] give a little bit of my
[1:12:27] background.
[1:12:28] I am originally from south
[1:12:30] carolina, the university of
[1:12:33] south carolina.
[1:12:34] and migrated to the stetson
[1:12:41] college of law.
[1:12:42] from stetson, I worked in law
[1:12:44] and at private university and
[1:12:46] over their satellite campus.
[1:12:48] I taught college, and then --
[1:12:51] and an entrepreneur.
[1:12:53] and in that role, I have helped
[1:12:55] countless individuals create
[1:12:56] businesses.
[1:12:59] help people grow their
[1:13:00] businesses and establish
[1:13:01] financially with their business.
[1:13:04] I have helped countless
[1:13:05] individuals run for office and
[1:13:06] get elected or at least get the
[1:13:09] experience then looking for.
[1:13:11] in the past I had some
[1:13:12] leadership positions.
[1:13:13] I served the east tampa
[1:13:15] community revitalization
[1:13:16] partnership as the chair of the
[1:13:19] cac.
[1:13:19] I am currently sitting at the
[1:13:21] public nuisance abatement board
[1:13:24] and the code enforcement board.
[1:13:26] one thing I can say is every
[1:13:27] organization that I have been
[1:13:28] involved with, I have worked to
[1:13:32] somehow create change within the
[1:13:35] organization.
[1:13:35] and I will say positive change.
[1:13:39] so running for this seat for me,
[1:13:42] I believe we need someone that
[1:13:44] is going to be able to go in.
[1:13:46] hit the ground running and help
[1:13:50] things run smoothly.
[1:13:52] but at the same time, I believe
[1:13:53] we need someone who might not be
[1:13:55] committed to running for a
[1:13:58] second term.
[1:13:59] because as we all know this
[1:14:01] politics, one of the first
[1:14:03] things you do when you get
[1:14:06] elected is to get reelected.
[1:14:08] if we have someone focusing on
[1:14:09] getting reelected we are not
[1:14:11] focussed on hands ling the
[1:14:12] matters of the city.
[1:14:13] you have my commitment.
[1:14:15] I am truly going in to fulfill
[1:14:17] the role right now and not
[1:14:18] trying to run for reelection
[1:14:20] which gives everyone who wants
[1:14:22] to step into this role a chance
[1:14:27] to run once it comes and have a
[1:14:28] fair shot of taking over this
[1:14:30] position.
[1:14:31] thank you.
[1:14:31] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:14:32] very much.
[1:14:39] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:14:41] candidate is dc goutoufas.
[1:14:50] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, sir,
[1:14:52] go ahead.
[1:14:55] » Thank you.
[1:14:57] thank you for having me here.
[1:14:58] my name is dc.
[1:15:01] the last name sounds like go-to
[1:15:03] too-fast, without the t.
[1:15:06] a greek name.
[1:15:09] my family has been in tampa
[1:15:12] since 1887,  135 years ago.
[1:15:20] my great grandfather became the
[1:15:22] first greek in this town.
[1:15:24] so I do have deep roots.
[1:15:26] and keen interests in my
[1:15:28] community.
[1:15:30] what I bring to the table is
[1:15:33] background,  qualifications, and
[1:15:37] life experience.
[1:15:39] when I was four, I lost my
[1:15:43] hearing like that.
[1:15:45] and my mom was a teacher and she
[1:15:50] taught me how to read lips.
[1:15:51] it took a lot of time.
[1:15:56] grand there I became the first
[1:15:58] deaf person who graduated from
[1:16:02] university of tampa.
[1:16:03] [applause]
[1:16:05] and after that,  I started
[1:16:07] working at the bank.
[1:16:11] and I moved up and became the
[1:16:12] branch manager of bank of
[1:16:15] america and in wachovia downtown
[1:16:18] on ashley drive.
[1:16:24] I was also involved with -- with
[1:16:27] other boards with the city of
[1:16:28] tampa, the neighborhood element
[1:16:35] board and as well as the
[1:16:37] affordable housing task force.
[1:16:43] you notice these closed
[1:16:44] captioning boxes.
[1:16:48] wasn't there back in 1991.
[1:16:51] so I came here and proposed it
[1:16:55] and I made it happen.
[1:16:59] » Joseph citro:  one more m>>joe
[1:17:02] minute.
[1:17:02] » I almost did not apply for
[1:17:05] this position and he would like
[1:17:07] me to read this out loud now
[1:17:08] closing.
[1:17:10] I almost did not apply to this
[1:17:13] appointment due to statement by
[1:17:15] a city council members that he
[1:17:17] will not vote for a male
[1:17:18] appointee.
[1:17:19] in the end, I did not let that
[1:17:21] stop me.
[1:17:22] I understand the need for
[1:17:23] representation of minority
[1:17:24] groups which may have been the
[1:17:26] intention of the councilman.
[1:17:27] whatever the intentions were,
[1:17:29] the fact is that the statement
[1:17:31] rejects opportunities for
[1:17:32] considerations of others with
[1:17:33] smaller or better qualismaller r
[1:17:35] qualifications, including
[1:17:36] minority groups and other than
[1:17:37] gender.
[1:17:38] take a look around.
[1:17:39] people with disabilities are the
[1:17:43] most under represnted group.
[1:17:44] equality is important.
[1:17:45] I thank you and appreciate the
[1:17:46] opportunity to submit the
[1:17:47] application for at pointment.
[1:17:49] as you can see, I clearly have a
[1:17:52] extraordinary qualifications to
[1:17:53] serve in this position.
[1:17:54] if I get the honor to serve the
[1:17:56] community through this
[1:17:57] appointment, tampa will be pappe
[1:17:59] paving the way for new chapter
[1:18:00] toward being one of the most
[1:18:01] inclusive and diverse cities in
[1:18:03] america.
[1:18:05] I will serve with dedication,
[1:18:06] commitment and honor, thank you.
[1:18:08] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:18:09] very much.
[1:18:10] councilman viera?
[1:18:12] [applause]
[1:18:13] » Thank you for your time.
[1:18:14] » Luis viera:  if I may mr.
[1:18:16] goutoufas, if I may, sir, I just
[1:18:19] want to say thank you.
[1:18:20] thank you for coming out.
[1:18:21] thank you.
[1:18:24] I -- oh, yes, sir.
[1:18:25] I followed your race for
[1:18:27] property appraiser and you ran a
[1:18:30] gentleman's race.
[1:18:34] cabellero as in tampa.
[1:18:35] if you don't make it here -- I
[1:18:37] would like to meet with you and
[1:18:38] asking my wonderful aide brandon
[1:18:41] to come and get your
[1:18:42] information.
[1:18:43] if you don't make it, I would
[1:18:44] love to meet you because we want
[1:18:45] to get you involved in this to s
[1:18:47] city, sir.
[1:18:48] thank you for your heart.
[1:18:49] thank you.
[1:18:49] » Thank you.
[1:18:52] [applause]
[1:18:58] » They are good friends now.
[1:19:00] » Luis viera:  like I know, a
[1:19:02] gentleman.
[1:19:03] thank you very much.
[1:19:04] » Clerk:  council, our next
[1:19:07] candidate miss alison a. Hewitt.
[1:19:18] » Good morning,  mr. Chair,
[1:19:20] city councilmen.
[1:19:21] I am third generation from
[1:19:22] tampa, having attended st. Er
[1:19:25] peter and st. Lawrence catholic
[1:19:27] choschools and chamberlain high
[1:19:30] school.
[1:19:30] because of my professional
[1:19:31] skiskills and experience I wille
[1:19:34] ready day one to serve.
[1:19:35] major issues coming before city
[1:19:36] council, the 2023 budget, the
[1:19:39] charter review, transportation
[1:19:40] funds and the housing crisis.
[1:19:42] and many more.
[1:19:43] I have direct hands-on
[1:19:45] experience with public,
[1:19:47] nonprofit and governmental
[1:19:47] budgets, public policy, economic
[1:19:50] and community development.
[1:19:52] I have served as chair of the
[1:19:54] hat board,  managed business
[1:19:55] development for cras and
[1:19:57] represented the port of tampa,
[1:19:59] the airport, and zoo tampa
[1:20:01] before before the state, the
[1:20:03] county and the city.
[1:20:04] I have been involved in cri havn
[1:20:06] creating,  debating and
[1:20:07] promoting public policy in the
[1:20:09] fields of economic development,
[1:20:10] tourism and transportation with
[1:20:12] the heart and dedication of
[1:20:14] making a difference in my
[1:20:15] community, my city, and my scomy
[1:20:19] state.
[1:20:19] council work is not easy nor is
[1:20:21] it meant be too place where
[1:20:23] everyone holds hands and sings
[1:20:24] from the same hymnal.
[1:20:26] a place for respectful, intense,
[1:20:30] passionate discussion and
[1:20:30] debate.
[1:20:31] ultimately if done correctly,
[1:20:34] you have some actionable and
[1:20:36] meaningful actions.
[1:20:38] when off body as diverse as --
[1:20:40] as city of tampa, the people who
[1:20:42] represent it must represent that
[1:20:44] diversity too.
[1:20:46] we are stronger together.
[1:20:48] if I am fortunate to be
[1:20:50] selected, I will serve with
[1:20:51] honor, integrity and a heart for
[1:20:53] all those I represent.
[1:20:54] thank you.
[1:20:55] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:20:56] very much.
[1:20:57] [applause]
[1:21:08] » Clerk:  council, our next
[1:21:11] candidate is parker alexander
[1:21:11] homans.
[1:21:17] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, sir.
[1:21:18] go ahead.
[1:21:21] » Good morning,  councilmen.
[1:21:21] first I want to thank you for
[1:21:23] your time and energy you newt
[1:21:24] this process to ensure that you
[1:21:26] select the right person to serve
[1:21:29] alongside you all.
[1:21:30] when I moved here in 2013, I
[1:21:32] dove head first into this
[1:21:34] thriving community.
[1:21:35] I served on the tampa human
[1:21:37] rights board and dedicated
[1:21:39] myself to nonprofit
[1:21:39] organizations such as the humane
[1:21:41] society of tampa bay, quality
[1:21:44] flrida and the tampa lbgtq
[1:21:48] chamber of commerce to name a
[1:21:49] few.
[1:21:51] mayor jane castor appointed me
[1:21:52] to be on the tampa housing
[1:21:55] authority board of
[1:21:55] commissioners.
[1:21:56] I took on this challenge because
[1:21:58] I believe that affordable
[1:21:58] housing is one of the city's
[1:22:00] most pressing issues.
[1:22:02] as a tampa housing authority
[1:22:05] commissioner, with every been
[1:22:05] honored to be on the ground
[1:22:07] floor of the west river
[1:22:09] development, creation of the
[1:22:11] rome yard and planning of
[1:22:13] redevelopment.robles park
[1:22:15] village and mount zion park to a
[1:22:18] transformative neighborhood.
[1:22:19] as our city grows, it is vital
[1:22:22] we develop concrete and
[1:22:24] effective plans for
[1:22:24] affordability and accessibility
[1:22:26] so we do not shut out low income
[1:22:29] families who either have been
[1:22:30] here their entire lives or wish
[1:22:32] to move here.
[1:22:33] my experience on the tha board
[1:22:36] will bring additional expertise
[1:22:38] to council to plan our youth to
[1:22:40] be inclusive of all of our
[1:22:42] residents.
[1:22:43] finally as a young person and a
[1:22:44] member of our lbgtq community, I
[1:22:47] will bring a new level of
[1:22:48] diversity to the council and a
[1:22:51] fresh and informed perspective
[1:22:52] when it comes to issues like
[1:22:53] transit, growth and technology.
[1:22:55] I bring a personal understanding
[1:22:57] what makes a young person want
[1:22:58] to stay here or attracts them to
[1:23:00] move here.
[1:23:01] finally, as our city transforms
[1:23:04] and new businesses arrive here
[1:23:06] daily, it is imperative that our
[1:23:09] city leadership represent all
[1:23:10] walks of life.
[1:23:11] I I can help you do this and be
[1:23:13] hnored to sit next to you and
[1:23:16] lead this community as cohesive
[1:23:18] and empowering city council.
[1:23:20] thank you.
[1:23:22] » Thank you very much.
[1:23:23] [applause]
[1:23:32] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:23:34] candidate is amanda lynn hurtak.
[1:23:42] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, ma'am,
[1:23:43] go ahead.
[1:23:44] » Gentlemen, I am grateful for
[1:23:45] your time.
[1:23:47] in your consideration of my
[1:23:48] application for the vacant city
[1:23:49] council seat, I ask you to
[1:23:51] examine three things.
[1:23:53] when is the right time?
[1:23:56] where is the right place?
[1:23:58] and who is the right person to
[1:24:00] be tampa's next city coube tampy
[1:24:02] councilmember?
[1:24:03] first, the right time.
[1:24:05] with our city in a period of
[1:24:06] both mouseboth mousing crisis an
[1:24:09] which home values are outpacing
[1:24:11] personal incomes, it is vital
[1:24:13] that someone who has proven the
[1:24:14] ability to find solutions
[1:24:16] between developers and
[1:24:17] neighborhood residents be seated
[1:24:18] to council.
[1:24:20] I am proud of the work I have
[1:24:22] done in old seminole heights to
[1:24:24] bring all stakeholders to the
[1:24:27] table.
[1:24:27] with the result being multiple
[1:24:29] large-scale projects that were
[1:24:31] successful for developers,
[1:24:33] retain the historic character of
[1:24:36] our neighborhood, and spurred
[1:24:39] much-needed infrastructure
[1:24:40] improvement.
[1:24:42] I am confident that I can bring
[1:24:43] that success to all of tampa's
[1:24:45] neighborhoods.
[1:24:47] second, the right place.
[1:24:49] I have already been sitting
[1:24:50] through for two and a half years
[1:24:52] as a vrb member and I am
[1:24:53] grateful for councilman citro's
[1:24:56] recommendation of me.
[1:24:57] and I thank mayor jane castor
[1:25:00] for twice appointing me to the
[1:25:01] board.
[1:25:02] I know the process.
[1:25:04] I know the rules.
[1:25:05] and I know how things work in
[1:25:07] this chamber.
[1:25:09] finally, the right person.
[1:25:13] you all know me.
[1:25:15] many of you served on the
[1:25:17] charter review commission with
[1:25:19] me.
[1:25:21] you know I am a deeply ethical
[1:25:23] person.
[1:25:24] dedicated to pragmatic solutions
[1:25:27] that will make tampa a better,
[1:25:29] more inclusive and more
[1:25:31] prosperous city.
[1:25:33] this is the right time.
[1:25:36] this is the right place.
[1:25:38] and I am the right person to be
[1:25:40] tampa's next city councilmember.
[1:25:43] thank you.
[1:25:44] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:25:45] very much.
[1:25:57] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:26:00] candidate is miss julie jenkins.
[1:26:08] » Hello,  councilmembers.
[1:26:09] my name is julie jenkins.
[1:26:12] I have been serving tampa over
[1:26:13] 30 years.
[1:26:14] it is my home and community.
[1:26:16] I am applying for the next -- to
[1:26:18] be the next member of tampa city
[1:26:20] council because the council has
[1:26:23] an impact on people's lives.
[1:26:25] I am ready to serve the citizens
[1:26:27] and businesses of tampa.
[1:26:30] I would like to share with you
[1:26:31] some specifics in how I believe
[1:26:34] I am the most qualified for the
[1:26:36] city council position.
[1:26:37] my business background, I worked
[1:26:39] over 15 years in corporate sales
[1:26:41] with virgin atlantic airways.
[1:26:43] I promoted tampa as a
[1:26:45] destination both in the leisure
[1:26:48] and corporate market.
[1:26:50] many people coming to tampa
[1:26:51] contributed to our local eccontl
[1:26:54] economy.
[1:26:54] I was also a big advocate for
[1:26:55] the river walk when people and
[1:26:57] politicians were not.
[1:26:59] during the pandemic, I higdurini
[1:27:02] highlighted and promoted over hr
[1:27:03] 300 small businesses to assist
[1:27:06] when help was needed in those
[1:27:08] difficult times.
[1:27:09] neighborhoods and schools.
[1:27:11] I have an extensive back ground
[1:27:14] working with neighbors and small
[1:27:15] businesses to reduce crime and
[1:27:17] bring neighbors together.
[1:27:18] I have started neighborhood
[1:27:20] association and always been
[1:27:22] involved to improve our
[1:27:23] neighborhoods for the betterment
[1:27:25] of the community.
[1:27:26] in regards to youth,  besides
[1:27:29] raising money for our public
[1:27:30] schools, I also work for one of
[1:27:32] our country's oldest
[1:27:34] african-american schools located
[1:27:36] right here in tampa, st. Peter
[1:27:41] claver.
[1:27:42] kids in need of help.
[1:27:44] work I am quite proud of.
[1:27:46] strong environmental advocates
[1:27:49] and worked many weekends on our
[1:27:50] tampa river walk.
[1:27:51] I bring a temperament and work
[1:27:54] ethic that the people of tampa
[1:27:56] can count on.
[1:27:57] I promise the city council that
[1:27:58] I will be a good listener and
[1:28:00] work to find common grounds.
[1:28:02] 30 years with no titles or h30 r
[1:28:10] honorrific s usually when nobody
[1:28:13] was looking.
[1:28:15] I believe in the people of the
[1:28:17] city of tampa and I hope it give
[1:28:19] back.
[1:28:19] thank you.
[1:28:19] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:28:21] very much.
[1:28:28] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:28:30] candidate is kella mccaskill.
[1:28:37] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, ma'am,
[1:28:38] go ahead.
[1:28:39] » My name is kella mccaskill.
[1:28:40] I am a native of tampa.
[1:28:41] want to thank you for the
[1:28:43] opportunity to participate this
[1:28:44] morning.
[1:28:45] I would also consider it an
[1:28:46] honor to continue in the legacy
[1:28:49] of former councilman dingfelder.
[1:28:50] as a native, I have been
[1:28:51] fortunate to serve the greater
[1:28:52] tampa bay area in the mortgage
[1:28:54] lending and the real estate
[1:28:56] industry for the past 25 years.
[1:28:58] I love tampa, because as a
[1:28:59] result, being groomed by my
[1:29:00] family, the culture, public
[1:29:03] education, and the tampa
[1:29:05] experience afforded me an
[1:29:06] opportunity to be the real
[1:29:07] estate professional coming from
[1:29:09] the inner city to be the real
[1:29:11] estate choice for world-class
[1:29:13] athletes.
[1:29:14] I mean super bowl champions in
[1:29:15] my home city.
[1:29:16] as a way to give back, I
[1:29:17] recently launched a nonprofit
[1:29:19] where the overarching thread is
[1:29:22] community outreach and service,
[1:29:23] which raises the awareness of
[1:29:25] the needs in the community that
[1:29:26] we serve.
[1:29:27] which is how the various
[1:29:28] stakeholders reached me and
[1:29:31] asked for me to represent them
[1:29:32] as the next city council member
[1:29:34] here in district 3.
[1:29:35] they labeled me as the
[1:29:38] ambassador for change in
[1:29:39] communities, one zip code at the
[1:29:40] time.
[1:29:41] as the next city councilmember,
[1:29:43] I will spend this term triaging
[1:29:45] this housing crisis.
[1:29:46] as many of you know we are in a
[1:29:48] state of emergency and doing
[1:29:49] absolutely nothing could impact
[1:29:50] us all.
[1:29:51] we can't just build our way out
[1:29:52] of it, which is why I would
[1:29:55] approach this housing crisis
[1:29:56] with short and long-term --
[1:29:59] short and long-term perspective
[1:30:00] which includes neighborhood and
[1:30:02] development friendly objectives.
[1:30:04] it will continue.
[1:30:05] we are the third most populated
[1:30:07] city in florida behind
[1:30:09] jacksonville and miami.
[1:30:10] the city is on fire and I feel
[1:30:12] we are on top best ten list
[1:30:14] every single list.
[1:30:15] everything is going up, but the
[1:30:16] salaries are the same.
[1:30:18] my quest to find a way to
[1:30:19] address that.
[1:30:20] I am compelled to find ways to
[1:30:22] continue to thrive yet preserve
[1:30:23] the character of the city your
[1:30:25] gentrifying.
[1:30:26] as a councilmember, I want more
[1:30:27] opportunities to hear from the
[1:30:28] district to give voice to their
[1:30:30] concerns as well as their needs.
[1:30:32] the great urban planner jane
[1:30:34] jacobs said the city has the
[1:30:35] capabilit of providing
[1:30:37] something for everybody.
[1:30:38] only because and when they
[1:30:40] include and created by
[1:30:41] everybody.
[1:30:41] in closing, I am thrilled at the
[1:30:43] level of interest in this
[1:30:44] vacancy.
[1:30:46] a room full of skilled talent
[1:30:48] used collectively whether in the
[1:30:50] seat or not to move this city
[1:30:51] forward.
[1:30:52] I look forward to the
[1:30:53] opportunity of reaching with
[1:30:54] each of you.
[1:30:55] thank you.
[1:30:56] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:30:56] very much.
[1:30:57] [applause]
[1:31:06] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:31:08] candidate is mr. Patrick murphy.
[1:31:16] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, sir,
[1:31:18] go ahead.
[1:31:19] » Good morning, council.
[1:31:20] I am patrick murphy.
[1:31:21] I live in tampa with my wife,
[1:31:24] lex and twin two-year-olds max
[1:31:25] and miles.
[1:31:26] I am seeking appointment to the
[1:31:29] vacancy because this is our
[1:31:30] home.
[1:31:31] my wife's family moved here from
[1:31:34] cuba.
[1:31:37] marrymarried a sacred heart.
[1:31:40] tgh and my boys were born there.
[1:31:44] and tampa grown for 20%.
[1:31:46] a once in a lifetime opportunity
[1:31:48] to shape our city and leave it
[1:31:49] better for our children.
[1:31:51] the council has a chance to
[1:31:52] maintain our strong community
[1:31:53] and cultural values,  to manage
[1:31:56] the booming economy and growth
[1:31:58] of our local businesses and make
[1:32:00] sure we develop our
[1:32:02] neighborhoods to meet the needs
[1:32:03] of our expanding population.
[1:32:05] and to aid the council, my past
[1:32:07] experience will be a valuable
[1:32:08] addition.
[1:32:09] my name is the florida army
[1:32:11] national guard the most of time
[1:32:12] and resources.
[1:32:13] train onto a fraction of time
[1:32:15] and budget.
[1:32:15] the same standards as the athe e
[1:32:18] active-duty army.
[1:32:18] responsible for the care and
[1:32:19] stewardship of multimillion
[1:32:21] dollar worth of equipment
[1:32:23] provided by tax-paying floprovig
[1:32:26] floridians.
[1:32:27] my time at the tax collector's
[1:32:28] office to facilitate for city
[1:32:32] residents during trying times.
[1:32:34] respect on the struggles by many
[1:32:36] members of our community and
[1:32:37] help to understand the cause of
[1:32:38] the problem and how the city can
[1:32:40] intervene.
[1:32:40] my work in the real estate
[1:32:41] market as a licensed broker,
[1:32:44] help me familiarize with the
[1:32:45] issues facing homeowners,
[1:32:47] tenants and businesses.
[1:32:49] as a partner in a family firm --
[1:32:51] I apologize.
[1:32:52] as partner in a family firm, I
[1:32:54] feel I have seen where the city
[1:32:55] can help and hinder small
[1:32:57] businesses as well.
[1:32:58] I believe these experiences will
[1:32:59] trantranslate to a dedicated see
[1:33:01] to the city with the focus on
[1:33:03] service and stewardship and I
[1:33:05] really appreciate the council's
[1:33:06] time and attention and hope you
[1:33:08] will consider me for the vawille
[1:33:10] vacancy.
[1:33:10] thank you very much.
[1:33:12] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:33:13] very much, sir.
[1:33:14] [applause]
[1:33:26] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:33:31] candidate is reverend thomas
[1:33:32] scott.
[1:33:34] » Guido maniscalco:  bishop
[1:33:36] thomas scott.
[1:33:37] » Good morning, mr. Chair and
[1:33:39] to this august body and board.
[1:33:42] thank you for the opportunity.
[1:33:43] I don't have to run down the
[1:33:45] list of my qualifications
[1:33:46] because you know who I am.
[1:33:48] you know what I have done.
[1:33:49] you know I served on
[1:33:50] hillsborough county commission
[1:33:51] for ten years.
[1:33:52] served three times as chairman.
[1:33:53] you already know I served on
[1:33:55] this board with some of you and
[1:33:57] served it three times as
[1:33:59] chairman.
[1:34:00] you already know that the cra in
[1:34:01] east tampa was created by me and
[1:34:03] the board of county commission.
[1:34:04] you already know that being on
[1:34:06] this board, I worked with the
[1:34:07] board rewriting the sbe and the
[1:34:10] mbe ordinance that you are now
[1:34:12] functioning and operating under.
[1:34:13] you already know that the
[1:34:17] hillsborough affordable housing
[1:34:19] task force in hillsborough
[1:34:20] county and operate based on that
[1:34:23] which we established.
[1:34:25] I could go on.
[1:34:26] I could talk about 40th street
[1:34:27] that we put in $7 billion to
[1:34:31] pull down $1 pull down $100 mile
[1:34:33] federal government to pull down
[1:34:35] 40th street.
[1:34:38] I have a track record.
[1:34:39] a track record of
[1:34:39] accomplishments, but a track
[1:34:42] record of loving people and
[1:34:43] understanding people.
[1:34:44] I have a track record of working
[1:34:46] and building consensus.
[1:34:48] I have a track record of being
[1:34:49] able to listen to what the
[1:34:52] issues are and try to find
[1:34:53] solutions to those problems.
[1:34:56] and to those needs.
[1:34:58] you know who I am.
[1:34:59] you know my record.
[1:35:01] you know I will work to build
[1:35:02] consensus.
[1:35:03] you know I will work to make
[1:35:04] sure that we are working
[1:35:05] together and that we move this
[1:35:08] city forward.
[1:35:09] a lot of talent in this room.
[1:35:11] but be mindful of this, you have
[1:35:14] one year to learn that position.
[1:35:17] one year.
[1:35:17] and you know based on your own
[1:35:19] experience it takes more than a
[1:35:20] year to learn what you are
[1:35:22] doing.
[1:35:23] and so consider the experience
[1:35:24] that I bring.
[1:35:26] and thank you very much for this
[1:35:27] time.
[1:35:28] and god bless you for what you
[1:35:29] are doing.
[1:35:29] thank you.
[1:35:30] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:35:31] very much.
[1:35:31] [applause]
[1:35:41] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:35:43] candidate is miss tamara
[1:35:44] shamburger.
[1:35:48] » Good morning.
[1:35:49] » Guido maniscalco:  good
[1:35:50] morning.
[1:35:51] » Mr. Chairman, councilmen,
[1:35:52] good morning.
[1:35:53] so glad to see each of you tso u
[1:35:55] today.
[1:35:56] I am tamara shamburger.
[1:35:57] a very proud tampa native.
[1:35:59] fourth generation tam pain ian.
[1:36:02] the great granddaughter of cuban
[1:36:06] migrants to migrates who is the
[1:36:08] finest of cigar rollers.
[1:36:12] born at macdill air force base
[1:36:15] to norman and dorothy shato nory
[1:36:17] shamburger.
[1:36:17] but by choice I dedicated my
[1:36:19] life personally, professionally
[1:36:21] and educationally.
[1:36:22] I am tampa.
[1:36:23] as a former elected official, I
[1:36:25] am uniquely positioned for this
[1:36:27] seat.
[1:36:28] I have broad experience in local
[1:36:29] government, including working
[1:36:30] with very large budgets, policy
[1:36:33] governance and, of course, staff
[1:36:36] oversight.
[1:36:36] as the former chair of the
[1:36:38] hillsborough county school board
[1:36:39] I am well versed in running a
[1:36:41] business meeting in the public
[1:36:42] eye.
[1:36:43] councilmen, for the last year
[1:36:45] and a half, I deeply reflected
[1:36:47] in my time as a public servant
[1:36:49] and emerged stronger and wiser,
[1:36:51] well suited and more equipped to
[1:36:53] be an even more effective public
[1:36:55] leader.
[1:36:56] you see, I believe that a strong
[1:36:57] tampa city council is one that
[1:36:59] is well balanced.
[1:37:00] I am a black woman with the
[1:37:02] needed experience to help ensure
[1:37:03] that every decision systems to
[1:37:06] be made with well-informed
[1:37:08] diverse opinion and input.
[1:37:10] a black woman needs to be a part
[1:37:12] of every decision made here on
[1:37:13] this council.
[1:37:15] council,  I stand before you
[1:37:16] today with no allegiances or no
[1:37:18] alliances or no beefs or grudges
[1:37:21] for that matter nor stand with
[1:37:24] any solid position.
[1:37:26] I vow to be fair and neutrality
[1:37:28] in every decision here on
[1:37:29] council.
[1:37:29] I am ready to work with you on
[1:37:31] some of the major issue that's
[1:37:33] correct council, smart
[1:37:36] development, water, housing and
[1:37:38] other issues.
[1:37:40] off grand opportunity before to
[1:37:41] you make a decision to appoint a
[1:37:42] person who is ready, that is
[1:37:44] ready to help you continue the
[1:37:45] business of the city of tampa
[1:37:47] moving without interruption.
[1:37:50] I thank you so much for your
[1:37:51] time and considerations.
[1:37:53] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:37:54] very much.
[1:37:55] [applause]
[1:38:04] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:38:06] candidate is -- excuse me for
[1:38:07] the pronounce sayings.
[1:38:12] vibda shevade.
[1:38:18] -- pronunciation, vibda shevade.
[1:38:24] » Thank you, councilmen.
[1:38:26] thank you for your opportunity
[1:38:26] and consideration.
[1:38:31] I am vibda shevade.
[1:38:32] I believe the city council
[1:38:34] deserves more diversity and
[1:38:38] presentation opinion with my
[1:38:40] in-depth experience in housing
[1:38:42] as a real estate broker
[1:38:44] focussing on humans over houses.
[1:38:46] I see how housing has been a
[1:38:49] stressful situation with fistreh
[1:38:51] first-time buyers and renters.
[1:38:54] new residents moving into tampa,
[1:38:55] we experience challenges in the
[1:38:56] different parts of our
[1:38:57] neighborhood.
[1:38:58] I want to serve each equally and
[1:39:02] efficiently.
[1:39:04] I worked hard for the last 20
[1:39:06] years serving the residents in
[1:39:07] the city of tampa by providing
[1:39:09] direct services to students and
[1:39:10] public education working for
[1:39:12] hillsborough county schools.
[1:39:13] serving on boards and
[1:39:14] commissions for public safety
[1:39:15] and finance.
[1:39:17] as the hillsborough county
[1:39:17] sheriff's indian advisory
[1:39:20] council for the last seven ycoun
[1:39:22] years, served as a past present.
[1:39:24] served on the shooting review
[1:39:28] board and served on the budget
[1:39:30] and finance committee.
[1:39:31] I have the ability to run a
[1:39:33] successful, competitive campaign
[1:39:35] which I did in 2019 for the same
[1:39:38] seat, district 3.
[1:39:40] which makes me unique among the
[1:39:41] applicants.
[1:39:42] voters voted for me because they
[1:39:44] wanted to see me in this seat.
[1:39:46] thousands of residents chose me
[1:39:48] as their representative for the
[1:39:50] very seat.
[1:39:51] this opportunity would satisfy
[1:39:54] their choice.
[1:39:55] I hold the same qualification as
[1:39:57] each councilman, and that is the
[1:39:59] ability to listen and find
[1:40:01] solutions.
[1:40:02] I am a solution-oriented person
[1:40:04] and I get the job done.
[1:40:06] I built many relationships along
[1:40:07] the way and I understand how the
[1:40:09] decisions we have to make impact
[1:40:11] everyone's quality of life.
[1:40:13] I am approachable.
[1:40:15] and I do listen.
[1:40:17] and at the end of the day,
[1:40:19] empowering our neighborhoods is
[1:40:19] the key to our success.
[1:40:22] thank you.
[1:40:22] questions.
[1:40:23] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:40:24] very much.
[1:40:37] » Clerk:  council, the next
[1:40:39] candidate is a. Kendall trosky.
[1:40:46] » Good morning.
[1:40:47] I am kendall trosky.
[1:40:48] I am a life-long resident of the
[1:40:50] city of tampa and three other
[1:40:51] generations in my family are
[1:40:54] also tampa residents.
[1:40:56] I am invested in this city.
[1:40:59] I appreciate you having reviewed
[1:41:01] my application for the vacancy
[1:41:03] of city council.
[1:41:04] my years of professional
[1:41:05] experience as a broker associate
[1:41:07] realtor and my association in
[1:41:09] sevice on committees and boards
[1:41:12] at various levels throughout the
[1:41:13] community has given me the
[1:41:14] opportunity to know and
[1:41:16] understand the needs of our undr
[1:41:19] city.
[1:41:19] safety.
[1:41:21] reasonable growth, environmental
[1:41:22] sensitivity, as well city
[1:41:25] structure, organizations and
[1:41:28] protocol.
[1:41:29] I worked with the city
[1:41:30] development department on new
[1:41:31] construction and renovations and
[1:41:33] at times zoning was involved,
[1:41:34] both commercial and residential
[1:41:36] projects.
[1:41:38] mutual respect and continued
[1:41:40] communication amongst my
[1:41:40] colleagues and clients have
[1:41:42] always been my mantra.
[1:41:44] I feel confident in my ability
[1:41:47] to confer am mycally with oto ch
[1:41:50] others,  listen to their
[1:41:51] opinions, options and ideas to
[1:41:52] come up with the conscious
[1:41:53] decision within a group setting.
[1:41:55] these qualities have sustained
[1:41:56] my marketing consulting business
[1:41:58] for over 23 years.
[1:42:00] I am excited to have the
[1:42:02] opportunity to apply for thisops
[1:42:04] at-large position.
[1:42:05] I have always taken a leadership
[1:42:06] role in all of my endeavors and
[1:42:09] I know I can be an effective
[1:42:11] leader on this city council as
[1:42:13] well as a viable representative
[1:42:14] for the citizens of our city.
[1:42:16] I am not a conservative.
[1:42:18] I am not liberal.
[1:42:19] I am reasonable.
[1:42:20] thank you.
[1:42:23] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you.
[1:42:25] [applause]
[1:42:34] » Clerk:  council, our last
[1:42:37] candidate this morning is
[1:42:41] carroll "carrie"west.
[1:42:53] » Guido maniscalco:  good
[1:42:54] morning.
[1:42:54] go ahead.
[1:42:56] » Good morning.
[1:42:57] nye my name is carrie west and I
[1:42:59] would like to approach you and
[1:43:01] say thank you for doing what you
[1:43:03] are doing to fill this position.
[1:43:05] I am a 42-year resident of
[1:43:07] tampa.
[1:43:08] my partner and I have been here
[1:43:09] for 44 years together.
[1:43:12] and I graduated from university
[1:43:13] of south florida, also the
[1:43:14] alumni of the year of the
[1:43:17] university of florida -- usf.
[1:43:20] and proud veteran of the united
[1:43:24] states air force and also a law
[1:43:26] enforcement officer with the
[1:43:27] united states air force.
[1:43:29] proud moments have been most
[1:43:30] recently as bring -- being a
[1:43:33] co-person -- bringing in the
[1:43:36] multibillion dollar corporation
[1:43:38] here in florida, that being the
[1:43:40] kroger corporation last year, in
[1:43:42] bringing them into florida and
[1:43:43] also being part of tampa pride.
[1:43:46] and speaking on their behalf.
[1:43:50] bringing in and bringing
[1:43:52] together people is one of the
[1:43:53] major things that I like to do
[1:43:55] in partnership and also in
[1:43:56] reasoning.
[1:43:57] I have also been -- helping with
[1:43:59] the cra, the ybor city
[1:44:03] development corporation and the
[1:44:04] barrio latino commission as
[1:44:07] being one of the things.
[1:44:08] a lot of the things I like to do
[1:44:10] is also helping where the youth
[1:44:11] in the area.
[1:44:12] being on the ybor youth clinic
[1:44:14] and a lot of other organizations
[1:44:16] that have been on, as you might
[1:44:18] have seen on my resume.
[1:44:19] but one of the things I would
[1:44:21] really like to do is going out
[1:44:22] there and looking for
[1:44:24] affordability in housing.
[1:44:26] big thing for.
[1:44:27] the other one as far as
[1:44:29] transportation.
[1:44:30] a transmit the system is needed.
[1:44:32] I think one of the things that
[1:44:33] will be creating -- and help
[1:44:35] create tampa in its growth.
[1:44:36] we look many years ago and we
[1:44:38] said we need to keep the youth
[1:44:40] in tampa.
[1:44:40] guess what, they are saying now.
[1:44:42] we have to go and find places
[1:44:43] for them and the outreach of
[1:44:44] trying to find better places for
[1:44:46] them to live and also better
[1:44:48] places for them to travel and
[1:44:50] also economically.
[1:44:52] give them a place to have a
[1:44:53] great time.
[1:44:53] and that's what we are going
[1:44:55] have to do in our time.
[1:44:57] I appreciate golden gate time
[1:44:59] and carrie west and I am looking
[1:45:01] forward to what you are going to
[1:45:04] do.
[1:45:04] thank you very much.
[1:45:05] bye-bye.
[1:45:05] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:45:07] very much.
[1:45:09] » Clerk:  council, will you
[1:45:11] complete your ballot and pass
[1:45:12] them down.
[1:46:56] » Luis viera:  motion for a >>la
[1:46:58] 20-minute recess -- just ki20-mt
[1:47:00] kidding.
[1:47:03] » Guido maniscalco:  mr. Shelby,
[1:47:07] the first vote is tallied.
[1:47:09] the first person who gets four
[1:47:11] votes will be elected couvotes d
[1:47:13] concilmember.
[1:47:13] » Martin shelby:  actually,
[1:47:14] council.
[1:47:14] that will be your selection.
[1:47:15] your appointment, item number 2
[1:47:17] would be a resolution that will
[1:47:19] be presented to you to actually
[1:47:22] appoint the person to the
[1:47:23] vacancy.
[1:47:23] that will be for your
[1:47:25] consideration.
[1:47:25] » Guido maniscalco:  once there
[1:47:27] is a councilmember-elect, that
[1:47:29] person falls under the sunshine
[1:47:31] laws and basically is -- before
[1:47:33] they are sworn in on thursday.
[1:47:35] » Martin shelby:  that's>>m>>mas
[1:47:38] correct.
[1:47:38] once you make your appointment
[1:47:40] and selection, the sunshine law
[1:47:42] applies and I see my couappliesy
[1:47:44] councilmembers nodding in
[1:47:44] agreement.
[1:47:46] so whoever the person selected
[1:47:49] is and certainly I am happy to
[1:47:52] advise that.
[1:47:54] -- advise them about that.
[1:47:55] but -- thank you, council, for
[1:47:58] being mindful of that, thank bek
[1:48:00] you.
[1:48:00] » Guido maniscalco:  that
[1:48:00] individual will be sworn in on
[1:48:01] thursday.
[1:48:02] our next meeting.
[1:48:03] it wouldn't be today.
[1:48:33] » Clerk:  council, the results
[1:48:36] are as follows.
[1:48:40] mr. Carlson voted for amanda
[1:48:44] hurtak.
[1:48:47] mr. Gudes voted for tamara
[1:48:50] shamburger.
[1:48:53] mr. Citro voted for amanda
[1:48:58] hurtak.
[1:48:59] mr. Viera voted for meredith
[1:49:01] freeman.
[1:49:04] mr. Miranda voted for meredith
[1:49:06] freeman.
[1:49:10] and mr. Maniscalco voted for
[1:49:14] julie jenkins.
[1:49:17] the individuals moving forward
[1:49:19] is meredith freeman and amanda
[1:49:22] hurtak.
[1:49:27] we will have a round two.
[1:49:32] » Guido maniscalco:  do you have
[1:49:33] to print up the new ballots?
[1:49:35] we have it.
[1:49:36] you are quick.
[1:52:16] » Clerk:  council --
[1:52:18] » Guido maniscalco:  sir [gavel
[1:52:20] sounding]
[1:52:21] » Clerk:  carlson voted for
[1:52:24] amanda hurtak.
[1:52:25] gudes also voted for amanda
[1:52:27] hurtak.
[1:52:28] citro voted for amanda hurtak.
[1:52:31] viera voted for meredith frvierh
[1:52:36] freeman.
[1:52:36] miranda voted for meredith
[1:52:39] freeman.
[1:52:40] and maniscalco voted for amanda
[1:52:44] hurtak.
[1:52:45] and amanda hurtak is the winner.
[1:52:48] [applause]
[1:52:57] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[1:52:57] very much.
[1:52:58] mr. Shelby, what is protocol mrl
[1:53:02] now?
[1:53:02] » Martin shelby:  council, if
[1:53:04] you will please take a fyou wila
[1:53:05] five-minute recess or less.
[1:53:08] » Guido maniscalco:  we are in
[1:53:09] recess for five minutes.
[1:53:11] thank you.
[1:58:07] ...
[2:06:20] [gavel sounding]
[2:06:25] » Guido maniscalco:  welcome
[2:06:26] back.
[2:06:27] I would like to call this city
[2:06:29] council back to order.
[2:06:30] roll call please.
[2:06:30] » Bill carlson:  here.
[2:06:32] » Orlando gudes:  here.
[2:06:33] » Joseph citro:  here.
[2:06:34] » Luis viera:  here.
[2:06:36] » Charlie miranda:  here.
[2:06:39] » Guido maniscalco:  all right.
[2:06:40] that was much quicker than
[2:06:42] expected process.
[2:06:43] we have our new council mewe hal
[2:06:47] member-elect hurtak.
[2:06:47] if you would like to approach
[2:06:48] the podium and asa few words.
[2:06:51] you will be sworn in on thursday
[2:06:53] and you will be up here with us.
[2:06:54] yes, mr. Shelby.
[2:06:55] » Martin shelby:  mr. Chairman
[2:06:56] and members of the council, you
[2:06:57] are now on item number 2 on your
[2:06:59] agenda.
[2:07:00] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, sir, I
[2:07:01] wanted to allow the couwanted te
[2:07:03] councilmember-elect to speak
[2:07:04] before we move the resolution.
[2:07:06] » I just want to say thnk you
[2:07:07] and I look forward to working
[2:07:08] with all of you.
[2:07:10] and like you know that I am
[2:07:11] deeply ethical and I am really
[2:07:15] wlling to work with all of you
[2:07:17] on everything.
[2:07:18] I am excited to be here.
[2:07:20] » Guido maniscalco:  well,
[2:07:22] welcome.
[2:07:23] councilmember-elect hurtak.
[2:07:25] you are clearly in my opinion
[2:07:27] the most qualified individual
[2:07:29] that applied today.
[2:07:30] people may or may not agree to
[2:07:33] that, variance review board,
[2:07:38] charter review commission,
[2:07:39] neighborhood involvement.
[2:07:39] makes me think of myself because
[2:07:40] I was on city boards and
[2:07:49] community, endless -- I don't
[2:07:51] know how many phone calls and
[2:07:52] e-mails that came in.
[2:07:54] came in for a lot of people when
[2:07:56] we say hit the ground running,
[2:07:58] your application speaks for
[2:07:59] itself and your service to this
[2:08:01] community does.
[2:08:02] so congratulations.
[2:08:03] any other councilmember have
[2:08:06] anything.
[2:08:07] councilman viera and then citro.
[2:08:08] » Luis viera:  I want to say
[2:08:10] welcome aboard.
[2:08:11] we had a great conversation
[2:08:12] about a week and a half ago and
[2:08:14] I look forward to working with
[2:08:14] you.
[2:08:15] I know you are a passionate
[2:08:17] person who has been involved on
[2:08:20] a lot of things and looking
[2:08:22] forward to working with you and
[2:08:23] doing great things for this
[2:08:24] city.
[2:08:25] congratulation pops go in there
[2:08:27] -- I remember in 2011, I think
[2:08:29] it was the last opening that we
[2:08:30] had like this, and I -- I
[2:08:32] briefly thought of putting my
[2:08:34] hat in the ring, and I said to
[2:08:36] myself, just too much.
[2:08:38] but you did it.
[2:08:39] and so congratulations.
[2:08:40] takes a lot of heart.
[2:08:43] so congratulations.
[2:08:44] » Thank you.
[2:08:47] » Guido maniscalco:  councilman
[2:08:49] citro and councilman gudes.
[2:08:51] » Joseph citro:  you and I met
[2:08:52] each other and served on a board
[2:08:54] together.
[2:08:55] congratulations.
[2:08:56] now it is up to you.
[2:08:58] you got the votes to be here.
[2:09:01] now you have to go out to the
[2:09:03] community.
[2:09:03] you have to tell the people who
[2:09:05] you are.
[2:09:06] what you are about.
[2:09:07] you need to go to chambers of
[2:09:09] commerce.
[2:09:10] you need to go to the unionsyou.
[2:09:13] you need to go to the places of
[2:09:16] the religious assembly.
[2:09:17] you need to be out in the pyou e
[2:09:20] public.
[2:09:20] please remember that you
[2:09:23] represented seminole heights.
[2:09:25] now you represent all of tampa.
[2:09:29] and you need to be with all the
[2:09:31] people.
[2:09:33] lynn, it's up to you now.
[2:09:37] go prove yourself.
[2:09:38] thank you.
[2:09:39] » Guido maniscalco:  councilman
[2:09:41] gudes.
[2:09:41] » Orlando gudes:  my friend, you
[2:09:43] have nothing to prove.
[2:09:45] you worked with three of us on
[2:09:46] this board before.
[2:09:47] I know you are qualified.
[2:09:49] I know you will stand up.
[2:09:50] I know you will fight the good
[2:09:51] fight.
[2:09:52] we need somebody to make sure we
[2:09:53] are fighting the good fight.
[2:09:55] ain't going to be easy, lynnain.
[2:10:00] y up here because you have to
[2:10:01] make decisions that people don't
[2:10:03] like sometimes.
[2:10:03] working with you before, you
[2:10:04] made the decision, me, bill and
[2:10:07] joe.
[2:10:08] weren't popular but we did it.
[2:10:10] welcome on board.
[2:10:11] » Guido maniscalco:  councilman
[2:10:12] miranda and councilman carlson.
[2:10:14] » Charlie miranda:  you aren't
[2:10:15] asking for advice, but my only
[2:10:17] thing to tell you is, sure it is
[2:10:18] not easy.
[2:10:19] but no matter which way you butu
[2:10:21] vote, you cannot make everybody
[2:10:22] happy.
[2:10:23] and this is about you.
[2:10:25] you have to do what you think is
[2:10:26] best for the whole city.
[2:10:28] and that's how you become
[2:10:31] accepted.
[2:10:32] your vote is your vote.
[2:10:33] I will never question your vote.
[2:10:36] it's something that you
[2:10:37] inherited by this vote today.
[2:10:41] and you didn't have to spend
[2:10:42] much money.
[2:10:44] [laughter]
[2:10:45] but I -- I commend you for being
[2:10:47] here and doing what you are
[2:10:48] doing;  however, the next vote
[2:10:50] that you are going to face is a
[2:10:52] little different, because it
[2:10:53] will be the vote of the public.
[2:10:55] so the only advice I am going to
[2:10:56] give you without you asking for
[2:10:58] it is just be yourself.
[2:10:59] thank you very much.
[2:11:01] » Guido maniscalco:  councilman
[2:11:03] carlson.
[2:11:03] » Bill carlson:  thank you for
[2:11:06] stepping up and volunteering.
[2:11:08] you have been doing that in a
[2:11:09] lot of capacity but important
[2:11:10] that you stepped up and the
[2:11:11] other 22other 2 2 stepped up too
[2:11:13] help at the time that city
[2:11:14] council is under attack and we
[2:11:16] need to make sure we have hneede
[2:11:18] hoest, ethical government and I
[2:11:19] am glad you mentioned that in
[2:11:20] your presentation and from your
[2:11:22] time on the charte review
[2:11:23] commission, I know you will work
[2:11:25] on that.
[2:11:25] you will be thorough.
[2:11:26] and you will look lieu the
[2:11:29] documents.
[2:11:30] and -- and do what you think is
[2:11:32] best for the community
[2:11:33] regardless of whatever threats
[2:11:35] are out there.
[2:11:36] so thank you so much for
[2:11:37] stepping up.
[2:11:38] and look forward to working with
[2:11:40] you.
[2:11:40] unfortunately, none of us can
[2:11:42] talk to you now unless in these
[2:11:45] chambers.
[2:11:47] that is one of the frustrating
[2:11:48] things.
[2:11:48] I believe in sunshine and it is
[2:11:50] hard because we all know -- we
[2:11:51] knew each other previously too.
[2:11:54] so thank you.
[2:11:55] » Guido maniscalco:  thank you
[2:11:55] very much.
[2:11:56] now may I have a motion to move
[2:11:57] the resolution.
[2:11:58] » Orlando gudes:  motion.
[2:12:00] » Charlie miranda:  second.
[2:12:02] » Guido maniscalco:  all in
[2:12:03] favor.
[2:12:04] opposed?
[2:12:05] we will see you thursday.
[2:12:07] » Luis viera:  want to take a
[2:12:09] picture together.
[2:12:10] » Martin shelby:  announcement
[2:12:11] of that vote for the record.
[2:12:12] » Clerk:  you want to do a roll
[2:12:14] call vote.
[2:12:15] » Martin shelby:  no.
[2:12:16] » Clerk:  motion by councilman
[2:12:18] gudes and seconded by councilman
[2:12:20] miranda.
[2:12:21] passed unanimously.
[2:12:22] » Martin shelby:  thank you.
[2:12:23] » Joseph citro:  mr. Chair, if I
[2:12:24] may.
[2:12:25] » Guido maniscalco:  yes, sir.
[2:12:26] » Joseph citro:  councilman
[2:12:28] miranda, what other females were
[2:12:31] at-large on council.
[2:12:33] » Guido maniscalco:  gwen m>>gun
[2:12:35] miller.
[2:12:36] » Charlie miranda:  gwen miller
[2:12:37] ws the first to run citywide
[2:12:40] and get elected.
[2:12:41] but, you have to go back.
[2:12:43] in the old days it was little
[2:12:44] different.
[2:12:44] you had to live in the district
[2:12:46] and run citywide.
[2:12:48] it was happening in '74.
[2:12:49] you can check the record.
[2:12:51] I think I am correct but I am
[2:12:53] not sure.
[2:12:53] live in a district and run
[2:12:56] citywide.
[2:12:56] but I think that changed.
[2:12:57] » Martin shelby:  I believe that
[2:12:58] was challenged in court.
[2:12:59] » It was challenged in a lot of
[2:13:01] courts.
[2:13:03] » Guido maniscalco:  we begin
[2:13:05] monday -- sorry, not monday,
[2:13:09] thursday 9 a.m.
[2:13:09] you know the drill.
[2:13:11] you will have your name in a
[2:13:12] parking space.
[2:13:14] your office is in the back and
[2:13:15] you will get sworn in top of the
[2:13:16] meeting and that's it.
[2:13:19] so congratulations.
[2:13:20] » Thank you.
[2:13:20] » Charlie miranda:  motion to
[2:13:22] receive and file.
[2:13:22] » Joseph citro:  second.
[2:13:24] » Guido maniscalco:  all in
[2:13:24] favor.
[2:13:25] we are adjourned.
[2:13:28] [gavel sounding]