[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]

📝 City Council Meeting Transcript

Transcript