[3:10] .

[3:11] >> ken hagan: good morning and

[3:13] welcome to the SEPTEMBER 2nd,

[3:14] 2026, regularly scheduled board

[3:15] meeting of the hillsborough

[3:16] county board of county

[3:16] commissioners.

[3:18] Would everyone please rise for

[3:20] the pledge and invocation given

[3:23] by our chaplain, commissioner

[3:24] gwen myers.

[3:39] [Pledge of allegiance]

[3:40] >> gwen myers: o gracious

[3:40] 4e6benly father, thank you for

[3:42] your goodness, your grace, ad

[3:43] mercy.

[3:45] Thank you for all of our

[3:47] speakers who will speak today

[3:48] and share their thoughts with

[3:50] us.

[3:52] Bless this board as we continue

[3:53] to make great decisions on

[3:55] behalf of our county.

[3:59] Bless our administration as they

[4:02] meet and run our county and the

[4:03] operation of this county.

[4:05] Lord, I just thank you for every

[4:07] that you have allowed this

[4:09] county to achieve, and

[4:12] particularly on last friday.

[4:13] Just thank you, thank you,

[4:14] father, for the courage that you

[4:24] gave us to do your will, amen.

[4:26] >> ken hagan: thank you,

[4:26] commissioner myers.

[4:28] Today we have one very special

[4:29] commendation to be presented,

[4:30] and it'll be presented by

[4:45] commissioner boles.

[4:45] >> chris boles: prestaged.

[4:47] Good morning, everybody.

[4:48] How is everyone?

[4:51] Thank you, MR. Chair.

[4:54] Would bries and perry parkman

[4:58] found rsz of the mac parkman

[5:00] foundation as well as travis

[5:06] warner join me at the podium?

[5:12] Thank you.

[5:13] Good morning.

[5:16] Good morning, everybody.

[5:17] the mac parkman foundation's

[5:20] mission is a vytle one, to raise

[5:21] awareness of the effects of

[5:24] repeated head impacts and blast

[5:25] exposures have on the brain and

[5:26] mental health of children,

[5:28] athletes, and veterans.

[5:29] This mission serves as a

[5:32] profound legacy for the

[5:34] mcconnell mac parkman who

[5:39] tragically passed away SEPTEMBER 24th, 2020, after

[5:40] battling mental health issues

[5:45] that were related to a series of

[5:48] three known concussions he

[5:49] sustained ibwrestling, football,

[5:51] and other concussive activities.

[5:54] Today thousands of -- primarily

[5:56] through participation in sports

[5:56] related activities.

[5:58] The mac parkman foundation is

[5:59] dedicated to creating a safer

[6:01] environment in sports and

[6:03] military service, improving

[6:04] treatment for those athletes and

[6:06] veterans affected and ensuring a

[6:07] healthier future for all.

[6:09] It is an honor and a privilege

[6:11] for me and this board to present

[6:14] this commendation to MR. And

[6:16] MRS. Parkman, recognizing their

[6:18] organization, its namesake for

[6:20] their son, and a very important

[6:22] event, the foundation is hosting

[6:26] in our community.

[6:29] The commendation reads as such.

[6:30] Hillsborough county board of

[6:31] county commissioners is pleased

[6:33] to recognize the mac parkman

[6:33] foundation on the occasion of

[6:35] the third annual international

[6:38] summit on repetitive brain

[6:39] trauma, bringing together

[6:40] researchers, medical

[6:41] professionals, athletes,

[6:42] advocates, and community

[6:44] leaders.

[6:46] Since its founding, the mac

[6:48] parkman foundation has been

[6:49] dedicated to protecting brains

[6:51] and saving lives by advancing

[6:53] awareness, research, education,

[6:56] and advocacy surrounding brain

[6:57] health and the prevention and

[6:59] treatment of brain injuries.

[7:00] Through its work, the foundation

[7:02] advocates for safer sports,

[7:04] improved treatments, and greater

[7:05] understanding of brain health,

[7:08] with a particular focus on

[7:10] athletes, veterans, children,

[7:12] and others impacted by brain

[7:14] injury.

[7:15] SEPTEMBER 16th to

[7:18] SEPTEMBER 17th, 2026, the

[7:20] nonprofit organization will host

[7:21] its third annual international

[7:22] summit on repetitive brain

[7:23] trauma at the center for

[7:27] advanced medical learning and

[7:29] simulation, camls in downtown

[7:29] tampa.

[7:30] The event will provide an

[7:32] important forum for advancing

[7:34] dialogue, sharing research, and

[7:35] emerging knowledge, and raising

[7:36] awareness of the effects of

[7:38] repetitive head impacts and

[7:40] heir potential long-term

[7:41] consequences.

[7:42] The mac parkman foundation's

[7:43] continued investment in

[7:45] education, research, and

[7:47] community partnerships reflects

[7:48] its unwavering commitment to

[7:49] improving brain health and

[7:51] protecting the well-being of

[7:54] future generations.

[7:54] The board of county

[7:55] commissioners of hillsborough

[7:57] county, florida, does hereby

[7:59] commend the mac parkman

[8:01] foundation for its dedication to

[8:02] advancing brain health,

[8:03] promoting safer sports,

[8:05] supporting research and

[8:06] treatment, and raising awareness

[8:08] of brain injuries, and wishes

[8:09] the foundation a continued

[8:11] success.

[8:13] Executed this 2nd day of

[8:14] september, 2026.

[8:17] Thank you, sir.

[8:19] >> commissioners boles, thank

[8:20] you so much.

[8:22] >> chris boles: thank you,

[8:22] ma'am.

[8:23] Would you like to have a few

[8:24] moments to speak?

[8:25] >> I would.

[8:28] Thank you so much.

[8:29] Commissioner boles, thank you

[8:31] very much for.

[8:32] Hillsborough county

[8:35] commissioners, chaplain, legal

[8:37] folks, we want to say thank you

[8:39] very much for allowing us not

[8:42] only this day of commendation

[8:44] for ourselves and our son, but

[8:46] for what this summit represents

[8:47] to the hillsborough county and

[8:50] the future of this country.

[8:53] Right now this conference is

[8:55] brought about by the death of

[8:59] our son who took his life at 17

[9:00] after suffering mentalilityinize

[9:02] for years as a result of him

[9:03] starting to play contact sports

[9:04] at 6.

[9:09] Right now the, the participation

[9:10] of young people before their --

[9:12] while their brain is developing

[9:14] in contact sports is the largest

[9:15] preventable cause of mental

[9:18] illness and incarceration in

[9:20] this concountry right now.

[9:22] And not only that, our veteran

[9:24] population blast exposure right

[9:26] now is emerging as a new an

[9:27] critical unsolved science that

[9:29] we need oo address after 130,000

[9:30] veterans have already committed

[9:32] suicide.

[9:34] These two issues right now are

[9:36] based on repetitive brain

[9:36] trauma.

[9:38] This summit that we hold right

[9:40] here in tampa is the only summit

[9:43] of its kind in the world.

[9:45] These issues affect millions of

[9:46] americans, and they are not

[9:49] getting any attention right now

[9:50] because of the fact that sports

[9:52] is a religion, and we all love

[9:52] sports.

[9:56] I'm a semipro rugby major, a

[9:58] retired green beret -- major.

[9:59] Kind of a man and we need our

[10:01] veterans to be lethal and

[10:02] without recognizes these

[10:03] conditions can be treated, that

[10:05] we do have policies and

[10:06] procedures to make better

[10:08] changes to the way we minimize

[10:10] the aggregate exposure of the

[10:11] brain to trauma, we can

[10:13] `absolutely have our contact

[10:14] sports and safe kids that aren't

[10:15] running off cliffs and taking

[10:16] their lives.

[10:18] Millions of kids right now are

[10:19] in medical care, none of them

[10:20] have been assessed.

[10:21] Why?

[10:22] Because the issue between

[10:23] repetitive brain trauma and

[10:25] mental illness and damage to the

[10:26] brain is not trained in any

[10:29] nursing, medical, or

[10:30] psychological curriculum in this

[10:31] country today, which means our

[10:33] entire medical population is not

[10:36] aware of the correlations, and

[10:38] our children are being

[10:39] misdiagnosed and mistreated with

[10:41] extensive amounts of

[10:42] pharmaceuticals instead of

[10:43] modalities that can change the

[10:44] brain.

[10:44] We must treat the brain.

[10:45] In close, I would like to say

[10:47] that we're going to keep this

[10:49] summit here for a couple

[10:50] reasons.

[10:51] Number 1, hillsborough county

[10:52] rocks and we've got mazing

[10:54] commissioners that support us.

[10:55] Number 2, there is not a plot of

[10:57] medical and -- lot of medical

[10:59] and research oriented summits

[10:59] here.

[11:00] and third, hillsborough county

[11:01] just basically rocks.

[11:02] And that's why we're going to

[11:03] keep it here.

[11:06] But we are honored to host this

[11:06] now.

[11:07] This going to be our third one.

[11:08] This grows every year.

[11:09] It is international nature, and

[11:11] we want to thank commissioner

[11:13] boles and the rest of the

[11:15] commissioners and our ceo travis

[11:17] horn here for encouraging us to

[11:19] come here to recognize what me

[11:21] and my beautiful wife have done

[11:22] and for saying to all of you

[11:24] here, this is a huge issue in

[11:26] this country right now, and we

[11:27] are the leading effort in it,

[11:29] and we absolutely need your

[11:30] support.

[11:32] Thank you very much.

[12:30] [Applause]

[12:30] >> ken hagan: thank you,

[12:32] commissioner boles.

[12:33] Bonnie, do you want to review

[12:34] changes to the agenda?

[12:35] >> yes, good morning,

[12:35] commissioners.

[12:36] We have two items that have been

[12:38] deferred to a date to be

[12:38] determined.

[12:40] The first one is item a. 12,

[12:42] which is to approve aerizelution

[12:45] reflecting a modification to the

[12:45] county's tourist development

[12:48] plan for fiscal year 26 and 27.

[12:50] The second one is item g. 1,

[12:53] which is to receive a report on

[12:55] the hillsborough county firearm

[12:56] purchases ordinance.

[12:56] You have several items for time

[12:57] certain today.

[12:59] The first one is item d. 1 at

[13:00] 10:00.

[13:01] This is to hold a public hearing

[13:04] to consider the transfer of

[13:05] certain property rights through

[13:07] a perpetual easement and a

[13:09] temporary construction easement

[13:11] relating to the south

[13:12] hillsborough aquifer recharge

[13:15] program better known as sharp.

[13:17] Item d. 2 is at 10:00.

[13:18] This is related to item b. 1.

[13:20] This is to hold a public hearing

[13:21] and adopt an ordinance providing

[13:23] for a requirement for the

[13:24] registration of short-term

[13:26] vacation rentals and for

[13:28] business regulations of

[13:29] short-term vacation rentals.

[13:32] Then we have item b. 1, also at

[13:34] 10:00, related to item d. 2,

[13:36] which is to adopt a resolution

[13:38] providing for the fee schedule

[13:39] to implement the hillsborough

[13:41] county short-term vacation

[13:43] rental registration and business

[13:44] regulation ordinance.

[13:47] Item d. 3 at 10:00 is to hold a

[13:48] public hearing to consider the

[13:49] hillsborough county code of

[13:51] ordinances and laws relating to

[13:53] cross-connections and back flow

[13:54] control.

[13:57] Item d. 4 also at 10:00, conduct

[13:58] a public hearing and adopt a

[14:00] resolution that establishes the

[14:02] stormwater management non-ad

[14:04] valorem assessment rates and

[14:04] non-ad valorem assessment roll

[14:07] for calendar year 2026.

[14:10] And item b. 2 at 1015 is to

[14:11] adopt a supplementary resolution

[14:13] authorizing the issuance of not

[14:16] to exceed $700 million in

[14:18] aggregate principle amount of

[14:20] the county's utility system

[14:22] revenue bonds for the purpose of

[14:23] financing all or a portion of

[14:24] the acquisition, construction,

[14:26] reconstruction, expansion,

[14:27] replacement, and/or equipping of

[14:28] various capital improvement

[14:30] projects for the utility system.

[14:33] And also to refinance a portion

[14:35] of certain indebtedness.

[14:36] 11:45 is a recess for lunch.

[14:37] Those are the changes to the

[14:38] agenda.

[14:38] >> ken hagan: can we have a

[14:41] motion to approve the changes?

[14:42] Motion, commissioner cohen.

[14:43] Second commissioner miller.

[14:48] Please record your vote.

[14:50] >> motion carried 7-0.

[14:50] >> ken hagan: okay, the board

[14:53] will go into the public comment

[14:53] portion of the agenda.

[14:54] The board welcomes comments from

[14:56] the citizens about any issue or

[14:57] concern.

[14:57] Your opinions are valued in

[14:58] terms of providing valuable

[14:59] input to board members.

[15:01] However, at the same time, it is

[15:03] requested when you address the

[15:04] board that comments are not made

[15:05] directly at staff or board

[15:07] members but rather the issues.

[15:10] The board has set aside 45

[15:11] minutes for public comment this

[15:12] morning.

[15:13] The chair will call the speakers

[15:16] in the order in which you've

[15:16] signed up.

[15:18] Each person will be given three

[15:18] minutes.

[15:20] Please state your name and speak

[15:21] clearly into the microphone.

[15:25] First three speakers, joseph

[15:27] mullburger followed by colonel

[15:29] D.J. Rays and then linda

[15:30] grabowsky.

[15:30] Good morning, sir.

[15:32] >> good morning.

[15:34] I'm united states air frce

[15:40] lieutenant -- retired lieutenant

[15:41] colonel.

[15:42] I'm -- in 1955 the council began

[15:45] as the allied war veterans of

[15:46] hillsborough county, florida,

[15:48] inc., then in 1965 the name was

[15:53] changed to our current name.

[15:55] Our 71 years founded and evolved

[15:56] by veterans as a way to improve

[15:58] the lifestyle of resident

[16:00] veterans and their families.

[16:01] The council had significant

[16:04] influence in establishing our

[16:06] veterans memorial park along

[16:06] highway 301.

[16:09] Today the council is a congress

[16:11] of sorts with representation

[16:12] from veterans organizations from

[16:14] across the county as well as

[16:16] individual members and people

[16:18] with interests to support

[16:18] veterans.

[16:21] In JANUARY 2024, the council

[16:23] established bylaws defining

[16:25] officers, committees, and

[16:25] administrative guidelines.

[16:28] Today we are in the council

[16:30] administration of JANUARY 2026

[16:33] through NOVEMBER 2027.

[16:38] Application of the bylaws is in

[16:39] process, which as a result means

[16:41] a paradigm shift is in process.

[16:43] Committees have been established

[16:45] as defined by the bylaws.

[16:47] The council co-hosts five annual

[16:49] events with the veterans

[16:51] memorial park staff that are

[16:52] sponsored with a hillsborough

[16:53] county budget.

[16:55] These vents come at a cost and

[17:00] an obligation for fiscal

[17:01] responsibility.

[17:02] Since 2008 by way of the bocc

[17:04] the council has been the

[17:08] recipient of a $10,000 grant $10,000 grant.

[17:09] Cost increases this fiscal year

[17:11] were learned about after each

[17:13] event and demonstrate adneed for

[17:15] a $10,000 grant to be increased

[17:17] with a total of $10,000 more for

[17:19] a total of $20,000 for fiscal

[17:20] year 2027.

[17:24] On wednesday, JULY 29th, the

[17:25] bocc held their budgetary vote

[17:26] and voted in favor of the

[17:28] council receiving the

[17:30] $10,000 grant as well as the

[17:31] additional $10,000 for the total

[17:34] budget of $20,000.

[17:35] The council is grateful and

[17:37] extends their thanks to all

[17:39] seven bocc councilmembers and

[17:40] their staffs for their support

[17:42] and this positive way forward.

[17:44] In OCTOBER 2025, the council

[17:46] voted to align with the larger

[17:48] similar organization, the tampa

[17:49] bay defense alliance, which

[17:51] covers eight counties including

[17:52] our own.

[17:54] Alliances allow optimizing

[17:55] opportunities benefiting

[17:56] hillsborough county veterans and

[17:58] heir families, circling back to

[18:00] the fundamental council purpose,

[18:03] improving the lifestyle and

[18:04] resident veterans -- resident

[18:05] veterans and their families.

[18:07] Thank you very much.

[18:08] >> ken hagan: thank you, sir.

[18:11] Appreciate the comments.

[18:13] Colonel reyes, followed by linda

[18:14] grabowsky and then denise

[18:15] herndon.

[18:17] Good morning, sir.

[18:19] >> good morning, everybody.

[18:21] Again my name is D.J. Reyes, I'm

[18:23] a retired U.S. Army colonel.

[18:25] I was appointed by commissioner

[18:26] cepeda to represent district 5

[18:27] on the hillsborough county

[18:29] veterans advisory board.

[18:31] I'm also a state and national

[18:33] advocate for criminal justice

[18:34] involved veterans, and the

[18:35] veterans treatment court,

[18:36] specifically the one here in

[18:37] tampa.

[18:39] I was appointed to and served on

[18:41] the U.S. Secretary of veterans

[18:43] affairs advisory committee on

[18:45] homeless veterans from 2023 to

[18:46] 2024.

[18:48] And in NOVEMBER of 2025, I was

[18:50] appointed to my current

[18:52] position, as a deputy executive

[18:53] director for the florida

[18:54] department of veteran affairs.

[18:56] The purpose why I'm here today

[18:58] is to obtain your favorable

[19:00] consideration to use the

[19:03] existing county owned four acres

[19:05] adjacent to the veterans

[19:07] memorial park for affordable

[19:09] transitional veteran housing,

[19:11] supported by already existing

[19:13] and comprehensive community

[19:15] wraparound services.

[19:16] Again, my perspective is shaped

[19:18] on my experiencing at the ground

[19:20] level supporting the tampa

[19:22] veterans treatment court since

[19:23] 2013 and again my time on the

[19:25] advisory committee at the

[19:26] national level.

[19:28] In your packet, you should have

[19:29] eceived two slides.

[19:30] I'll just like to highlight just

[19:32] a couple key points in there.

[19:33] The first slide points to the

[19:36] national and state rankings

[19:37] placed purely on the number of

[19:39] veterans re -- based purely on

[19:40] the number of veterans residing

[19:40] in florida.

[19:43] Right now we enjoy 1.45 million

[19:45] veterans in our great state, and

[19:48] overall for veterans, and then

[19:51] 172,000 of those are female

[19:51] veterans.

[19:53] And this is very, very important

[19:55] because both categories rank

[19:56] number 2 in the nation for

[19:57] veterans.

[19:58] Overall veterans and female

[19:59] veterans.

[20:00] In hillsborough county alone

[20:03] drilling down, we have 97,000

[20:03] veterans.

[20:05] We are the number 1 county most

[20:06] populated veterans in the state

[20:08] of florida.

[20:09] Additionally we have as I

[20:11] mentioneds earlier county owned

[20:12] property.

[20:13] The four acres and thank mny

[20:15] thanks to commissioner cepeda

[20:16] for working this several years

[20:19] with me, we've obtained this and

[20:20] it's right next to the veterans

[20:21] memorial park.

[20:23] It's a perfect location because

[20:24] it's also adjacent to our

[20:26] veterans resource center where

[20:29] frank strom runs his county

[20:31] veteran services officers that

[20:31] provides many beneficial

[20:33] services to our veterans.

[20:34] Equally important transportation

[20:36] wise it's along major bus routes

[20:38] that can get our veterans to and

[20:40] from james haley which is

[20:42] 12 miles in distance.

[20:44] The second slide I want to point

[20:47] out, it points out to the robust

[20:48] community resource network that

[20:50] we enjoy here in hillsborough

[20:51] county and the wraparound

[20:52] services that address not only

[20:54] our housing services but also

[20:56] other critical support that

[20:58] veterans need to sustain their

[21:01] physical, mental, financial, and

[21:01] spiritual health.

[21:03] And here in hillsborough county

[21:04] we're fortunate again to offer

[21:07] our one stop shop and

[21:09] coordination point through these

[21:11] services through our department

[21:12] of consumer and veteran services

[21:14] again led by frank strom and

[21:15] supported by his county veteran

[21:16] service officers who also

[21:17] complement at the state level

[21:20] the veteran service officers and officers and

[21:23] veteran claim examiners.

[21:24] >> ken hagan: thank you.

[21:26] Appreciate your comments, sir.

[21:27] Linda grabowsky.

[21:30] And then denise herndon.

[21:33] And then sergret doss.

[21:37] Good morning.

[21:39] >> it's bringing -- okay.

[21:41] I have no problem with

[21:41] hillsborough county increasing

[21:46] the annual stormwater management

[21:49] assessment if the money pays for

[21:52] experts to be on their public

[21:55] works staff, specialists who can

[21:58] draw science backed conclusions

[22:00] about land use.

[22:02] And when these professionals

[22:04] make a judgment call about a

[22:06] parcel of land --

[22:07] >> ken hagan: ma'am, can I just

[22:07] say one thing?

[22:09] That hearing is actually d. 4.

[22:10] Would you rather speak now

[22:11] instead of then?

[22:12] >> if I could.

[22:14] >> ken hagan: yeah, that's fine.

[22:16] Just want to make sure you knew.

[22:21] Please continue.

[22:22] >> if the professionals make a

[22:25] judgment call about a parcel of

[22:27] land that the other county

[22:30] employees pay attention to them,

[22:32] especially the people who grant

[22:35] building permits.

[22:37] If during big rain events the

[22:39] experts say that a certain area

[22:42] will be at maximum capacity for

[22:45] stormwater runoff control, there

[22:46] should be no more building in

[22:49] that area.

[22:51] Because essentially the experts

[22:53] are saying there is nowhere for

[22:56] the stormwater to go except onto

[22:59] other people's property.

[23:02] It is not fair for sun city

[23:03] center and kings point and

[23:07] freedom plaza established

[23:09] communities, homes that have

[23:14] been there for 30, 40, 50, 60

[23:16] years to have stormwater

[23:17] inundating their properties

[23:20] because some corporation or

[23:22] contractor incesters want to

[23:25] build above 19th avenue or on

[23:28] either side of is cypress

[23:30] village boulevard.

[23:35] Those low lying service a

[23:36] purpose, and just because we've

[23:39] had a number of droughts in

[23:44] recent years and they appear to

[23:46] be lots you can build on, that

[23:48] land should not be built on and

[23:49] the proof is in the flood

[23:53] insurance rate map.

[23:55] I want to make you aware of the

[24:01] fact that in 19 -- 2024, cypress

[24:04] creek ran backwards into sun

[24:06] city and not out of sun city,

[24:11] this is a huge shift.

[24:13] Please listen to the experts,

[24:17] lese protect the 55-plus

[24:18] communities down on the south

[24:22] part of the county, and we're

[24:24] vulnerable, and we need your

[24:25] protection.

[24:27] And I thank you very much.

[24:29] >> ken hagan: thank you,

[24:30] MS. Grabowsky.

[24:32] >> can you say your name for the

[24:32] record.

[24:33] >> I'm sorry.

[24:34] Linda grabowsky.

[24:36] >> ken hagan: all right, denise

[24:37] herndon, and then sergret doss,

[24:41] and then we have a hannah

[24:41] schultz.

[24:42] Your issue is the second public

[24:44] hearing d. 2, so you can either

[24:46] speak now or when that one comes

[24:46] up.

[24:47] It's up to you.

[24:49] Good morning, MS. Herndon.

[24:53] >> good morning, I'm denise

[24:53] herndon.

[24:56] I found out this morning why the

[24:58] sheriff's association is

[25:00] associated with so many pieces

[25:03] of equipment that doesn't relate

[25:06] to this.

[25:10] Sheriffs it's like a family

[25:11] affair.

[25:15] When the, have an employee work

[25:17] at like a ford dealer, get a

[25:19] family discount.

[25:21] So my main thing that I also

[25:25] wanted to talk about is that we

[25:29] had a state come in and do an

[25:30] audit and they had said just a

[25:31] two-day so I know they didn't

[25:35] find everything, and in 2025,

[25:41] our millage rate was 18.2515,

[25:43] and then the state said that we

[25:46] can lower it one mill.

[25:48] Well, you guys are I'm sure will

[25:50] increase the tax.

[25:52] We've got refunded if anybody

[25:58] had chosen to get it because of

[26:01] the 1% transportation tax that

[26:03] florida supreme court said was

[26:03] illegal.

[26:06] Well, we have a bed tax, and

[26:09] that bed tax is paying for

[26:11] things three times over I found

[26:19] out, and that florida statute is

[26:19] 125.0104.

[26:22] It pays for constructing,

[26:24] maintaining, paying debt service

[26:26] on convention centers, sports

[26:31] arenas, and coliseums.

[26:36] Well, gwen myers and you five

[26:38] other county commissioners have

[26:40] voted to have the rays come here

[26:45] and use the cit tax which is

[26:47] supposed to be not for a rays

[26:48] stadium.

[26:49] Ye care -- I don't care about

[26:53] the rays stadium being here.

[26:54] The $800 million that the county

[26:55] taxpayers are going to pay is

[26:57] not a one and done.

[27:01] But you county commissioners and

[27:02] agan, you've been on the

[27:04] commission for 24 years,

[27:07] sidewalks, roads, r not -- are

[27:08] not one and done and that's how

[27:10] they've been treated is one and

[27:11] done.

[27:14] We will own this stadium, and so

[27:17] we're getting bed tax, from all

[27:21] the hotels, and then there was

[27:26] brought up for taking main sail,

[27:28] so the county employees don't

[27:30] have to sleep on the floor and

[27:32] share bathrooms.

[27:34] Well, everybody else does, so

[27:37] why can't the people taking care

[27:42] of storm stuff instead of buy a

[27:43] trailer with showers.

[27:45] Buy blowup mattresses.

[27:46] We have enough county buildings

[27:49] to support it versus taking a

[27:51] vacation at main sail.

[27:53] >> ken hagan: thank you,

[27:54] s. Herndon.

[27:59] Sergret doss.

[28:05] Good morning, sir.

[28:05] >> I appreciate that.

[28:07] `good morning, my name is surgret

[28:07] doss and I was going to talk

[28:09] about a couple of other things

[28:10] but I'm glad we have veteran

[28:10] representation.

[28:13] And I don't care what amount of

[28:15] money is set aside or the board

[28:16] asked the county to give.

[28:19] It's not going to be enough, so

[28:19] it should be given.

[28:20] And because I'm glad that the

[28:23] rays are going to be here in

[28:24] tampa, but we can never talk

[28:26] about money anymore for veteran

[28:27] services.

[28:29] More importantly, there are some

[28:31] veterans who actually run

[28:33] transitional housing for

[28:35] veterans that I don't know if

[28:37] the county reached out to them,

[28:39] or -- run by -- who was -- waldo

[28:46] wooder actually, who has -- 51 c

[28:47] 3 yet but transitional housing

[28:49] and he would welcome veterans.

[28:51] In fact he is a veteran.

[28:52] And the veteran treatment court

[28:53] that I've noticed downstairs

[28:55] I've never been asked to go to

[28:56] one of these courts and we all

[28:57] know that I have a case in front

[28:58] of the united states supreme

[29:00] court for a travesty that I

[29:04] suffered here in hillsborough

[29:05] county.

[29:05] I've had numerous other issues

[29:06] that for some reason the county

[29:08] has just turned a blind eye to.

[29:09] I don't need you to intervene.

[29:11] I just need you if you're an

[29:14] attorney here to do your job.

[29:14] If you're on the county

[29:15] commission I raise an issue like

[29:17] why the county turned a blind

[29:18] eye to over a million dollars

[29:19] worth of my property being taken

[29:21] without me having a day in

[29:22] court, there

[29:24] and instead of having a

[29:26] day in court, what they did was

[29:27] invited me to defend myself

[29:28] against a crime that I never

[29:29] imhitted.

[29:30] That ways -- committed and that

[29:31] case was won.

[29:32] Don't take my word for it.

[29:36] Look it up, my name is sergret

[29:37] urania doss, you can find the

[29:42] case 2017-cf-9089 where I was

[29:43] accused at the time a sitting

[29:46] judge in the mayor's head of

[29:48] security for perjuring a special

[29:49] proceeding.

[29:50] I won the case presented.

[29:52] Another issue he had is for some

[29:53] reason we don't have enough

[29:54] attorneys on board that are

[29:56] willing to help veterans.

[29:58] And the cost of representation

[30:02] at anyway in anything is awfully

[30:03] high.

[30:04] But for some reason we have

[30:05] money for everything except

[30:06] taking care of the people who

[30:07] are willing to give their lives

[30:09] to take care of this country.

[30:10] That's unacceptable.

[30:12] And it doesn't matter if you're

[30:14] red, blue, green, black, brown,

[30:17] gay, straight, or whatever.

[30:18] I don't care where you're from.

[30:22] If you put on an uniform you are

[30:25] part of less than 7% of the --

[30:29] who've ever been in combat.

[30:30] And we give too much lip service

[30:31] to it.

[30:33] We often hear thank you for your

[30:34] service, and my standard answer

[30:37] is it was my honor to do so.

[30:39] But for those who aren't here to

[30:41] speak for themselves, a lot more

[30:42] needs to be done oon behalf of

[30:44] the veterans to include the two

[30:46] veterans that are sitting on

[30:47] this board here today and your

[30:47] attorneys as well.

[30:50] I made my statements clear.

[30:51] I'm glad the rays are here.

[30:55] Two former rays are graduates of

[30:56] the greatest institution of

[30:58] higher education in the -- the

[30:59] university of thomas jefferson

[31:01] high school.

[31:02] >> ken hagan: thank you, sir,

[31:03] appreciate the comments.

[31:03] Hannah schultzy.

[31:05] Did you want to speak now or

[31:14] during the public hearing?

[31:15] Good morning.

[31:16] >> all right, good morning,

[31:16] commissioners.

[31:18] My name is hannah -- and I'm

[31:19] here today because I believe we

[31:20] are actually losing sight of who

[31:22] is going to bear the burdens of

[31:24] this ordinance.

[31:25] I want to start by saying

[31:27] something very clearly.

[31:28] I'm not asking you to protect

[31:31] bad operators.

[31:33] If someone is throwing a party,

[31:34] violating occupancy limits,

[31:36] creating noise problems, safety

[31:38] hazards, or repeatedly violating

[31:43] existing laws, then hold them

[31:43] accountable.

[31:44] But do not confuse the bad

[31:46] actors with the thousands of

[31:48] ordinary property owners who are

[31:51] simply trying to make a living,

[31:52] protect their investment, and

[31:55] have a place to call home in

[31:55] florida.

[31:56] Because there are a real

[31:58] difference between a large

[31:59] corporation owning dozens or

[32:02] hundreds of properties, and an

[32:04] ordinary person owning one

[32:05] vacation home.

[32:06] Think about the person that

[32:10] works their entire life buys a

[32:12] modest home, saves their money,

[32:15] and wants to spend the winter as

[32:17] a snowbird in florida.

[32:19] They live here a few months and

[32:22] when they go home they rent the

[32:24] property for a portion to pay

[32:25] the -- this isn't a

[32:27] corporations, a hotel chain, or

[32:29] some faceless investment fund.

[32:30] This isany

[32:33] is an everyday person

[32:34] rying to afford their piece of

[32:35] the american dream, and those

[32:36] people are already facing

[32:39] enormous costs by ways of

[32:41] insurance, taxes, repairs, hoa

[32:43] fees, and now we're proposing

[32:47] another layer of governmental

[32:48] red tape and an annual fee on

[32:50] top of everything else.

[32:51] His proposed ordinance will

[32:52] require every short-term

[32:54] vacation rental to register and

[32:56] pay $200 a year while also

[32:58] requiring a local responsible

[33:00] party around the clock.

[33:02] The county estimates more than

[33:02] 3,000 properties could be

[33:05] `affected earning an estimated

[33:07] 600 k in one year alone.

[33:08] With a corporation with hundreds

[33:10] of properties, $200 is simply a

[33:12] rounding error.

[33:13] For an ordinary person who

[33:15] bought one property as a

[33:17] retirement plan, every

[33:18] additional cost matters, and

[33:20] that's what concerns me the

[33:21] most.

[33:22] Regulations like this are much

[33:24] larger for large companies to

[33:25] absorb than they are for

[33:28] individual owners: the people

[33:30] with the deepest pockets can pay

[33:32] the fees, hire attorneys, and

[33:35] absorb another regulation: the

[33:36] little guy cannot.

[33:38] And if we make it too expensive

[33:40] or too complicated for ordinary

[33:43] people to participate, who is

[33:43] left?

[33:45] The large investors and

[33:47] companies that can keep, afford

[33:48] to buy properties while

[33:49] individual families get pushed

[33:49] out?

[33:51] I think the board should also be

[33:52] especially careful about the

[33:53] appearance of influence.

[33:55] I recently reviewed the public

[33:57] campaign records and

[33:58] commissioner cohen's campaign

[33:59] received a generation donation

[34:00] from the apartment action

[34:03] committee on JUNE 9th of this

[34:04] year.

[34:05] This organization openly says

[34:06] its purpose is to support

[34:07] candidates who understand and

[34:11] support the apartment industry's

[34:12] interests and to build

[34:14] relationships with elected

[34:14] officials.

[34:16] >> ken hagan: thank you.

[34:17] Appreciate your comments.

[34:17] >> thank you.

[34:20] >> ken hagan: our next speaker,

[34:27] viva yochillis, molly finkel,

[34:31] virtual alawn jovony -- is

[34:32] yochillis here?

[34:33] Please come down.

[34:44] Molly finkel will be next.

[34:45] Good morning.

[34:46] >> good morning.

[34:47] And good morning.

[34:50] My name is viva -- and I live

[34:51] here in south tampa.

[34:54] Thank you for your support of

[34:55] fiba and everything you have

[34:55] been doing for our community.

[34:57] I'm here because I believe in

[34:59] something very simple.

[35:01] Fairness and equal treatment.

[35:03] I'm asking you to look at fiba

[35:05] for what it actually is, a

[35:08] florida based economic

[35:10] organization focused on bringing

[35:13] business, investment, and jobs

[35:15] to hillsborough county.

[35:17] If -- is legally operating in

[35:18] florida and brings result,

[35:21] creating jobs, and attracting

[35:22] investments, I believe it should

[35:25] be judged by those results.

[35:28] Fiba reports that 20 companies

[35:29] already have an established

[35:30] presence here in hillsborough

[35:33] county, and creating over 70

[35:33] direct jobs.

[35:36] Those are jobs and investment

[35:39] here in our community these are

[35:40] results that affect the lives of

[35:42] real people right here in our

[35:43] county.

[35:44] So I'm anding the commission to

[35:45] apply -- I'm asking the

[35:46] commission to apply the same

[35:47] standard to everyone.

[35:48] Before you judge fiba ask

[35:50] yourself, does it create jobs?

[35:52] Does it attract investment?

[35:54] Does it benefit hillsborough

[35:54] county?

[35:56] The numbers don't lie.

[35:58] The answer to all, if the answer

[36:01] to all those three questions is

[36:03] yes for me, that's what it's all

[36:04] about.

[36:06] Fairness, equal treatment, and

[36:07] the community where I live.

[36:08] Thank you so much.

[36:09] >> ken hagan: thank you for your

[36:10] comments.

[36:11] Molly finkel.

[36:15] And is then alain giovanni and

[36:17] last name latrininger.

[36:18] Both virtual.

[36:18] >> good morning, commissioners.

[36:20] My name is molly finkal and I'm

[36:21] a resident of tampa.

[36:23] I grew up in tampa, and I

[36:24] returned several years ago to

[36:27] raise my family here.

[36:28] I'd like to thank you for your

[36:29] continued support and investment

[36:31] in the florida israel business

[36:32] accelerator or fiba.

[36:34] I learned of an outsized number

[36:39] of public comments targeted a

[36:40] $37,500 line item in

[36:41] hillsborough county's 2027

[36:42] budget proposal.

[36:44] These comments are part of a

[36:45] coordinated political campaign

[36:48] designed to delegitimize israel

[36:49] and anybody with any connection

[36:51] to the country.

[36:52] This organized social media

[36:54] driven campaign called fight

[36:56] back fiba shares email templates

[36:57] and phone scripts and offers

[36:58] virtual training sessions for

[36:59] public comment.

[37:01] The provided talking points

[37:03] demand, quote, removing all

[37:06] funding to israeli companies.

[37:08] The campaign is built on lies

[37:09] regarding both fiba's

[37:10] relationship with the state of

[37:11] israel and actions of the state

[37:13] of israel itself.

[37:14] Fiba does not give money to

[37:16] israel but rather brings

[37:17] economic activity here to

[37:19] hillsborough county.

[37:20] The economic development budget

[37:21] should be judged on the return

[37:23] on this investment.

[37:26] The campaign uses the

[37:30] antizionist genocide libel and

[37:31] its -- in its online messaging

[37:32] and public comments.

[37:33] This libel is completely

[37:34] irrelevant to the county

[37:35] commission's objectives.

[37:36] I trust you will not be fooled

[37:37] by this activist agenda.

[37:40] Thank you for continuing to put

[37:41] hillsborough county's economic

[37:43] well-being and development oer

[37:45] a political campaign.

[37:47] Keep international political

[37:49] agendas out of local politics.

[37:51] Thank you for supporting fiba.

[37:51] >> ken hagan: thank you,

[37:52] MS. Finkel.

[37:53] Appreciate the comments.

[37:58] Is there elan jovony online,

[38:03] virtual?

[38:05] >> yes, I'm here.

[38:09] >> ken hagan: yep, please go

[38:09] ahead.

[38:11] >> good morning, commissioners.

[38:14] My name is elaine giovanni I

[38:16] live in tampa for the last eight

[38:16] years.

[38:17] I would like to open for

[38:19] thanking you for your ongoing

[38:20] support for fiba.

[38:22] Next I want to address one

[38:24] company that has become central

[38:25] to the campaign against fiba and

[38:29] this company's extent.

[38:30] `there is an important farct that

[38:33] should not be lost in this

[38:33] discussion.

[38:35] Extend shows tampa for its

[38:37] headquarters -- chose tampa for

[38:41] its hs because of its proximy to -- who we all know for

[38:43] essential to tampa's company.

[38:47] Both fiba and the tampa bay

[38:48] economic council supported the

[38:50] decision because it aligned with

[38:51] their mission to attract

[38:52] companies, investments, and jobs

[38:54] to ou community.

[38:56] We should look at what extend

[38:58] means economically for

[38:59] hillsborough county.

[39:01] In just one year, extend hired

[39:03] 30 local employees,

[39:06] predominantly retired special

[39:13] operators and pays off -- and

[39:16] pays an average salary of

[39:20] approximately $125,000 a year.

[39:22] The company -- 50,000 square

[39:23] feet of commercial real estate

[39:27] in east tampa for $27,000 per

[39:28] month, that's an investment in

[39:30] our great community.

[39:32] People MAY have strong opinions

[39:35] about defense technology or

[39:36] international conflict.

[39:38] They're entitled to those

[39:38] opinions.

[39:40] But those issues should not be

[39:42] confused with the role of fiba.

[39:46] Fiba is not the israeli

[39:46] government.

[39:48] Fiba does not make military

[39:48] decisions.

[39:51] Fiba's job is economic

[39:51] development.

[39:54] So let's evaluate fiba based on

[39:56] its actual role and measurable

[39:56] local results.

[39:59] Let's not turn an economic

[40:01] development discussion into a

[40:03] referendum on international

[40:03] politics.

[40:05] thank you so much.

[40:08] >> ken hagan: thank you, sir.

[40:12] Last name latrin gr

[40:15] ger and then --

[40:17] is latringer on the line?

[40:18] >> yes.

[40:18] Yes, I'm here.

[40:19] >> ken hagan: good morning.

[40:22] >> thank you good morning and

[40:24] thank you for having me here

[40:24] today.

[40:25] Mi

[40:28] my name is -- and I'm the

[40:30] original director of the israeli

[40:32] american council, the iac in

[40:33] central florida.

[40:35] I want to thank hillsborough

[40:37] county and the commissioners for

[40:38] your support and for the work

[40:41] you do every day to make tampa

[40:43] bay a stronger, more welcoming,

[40:46] and more connected place for

[40:47] everyone.

[40:49] At the iac one of our core goals

[40:51] is to strengthen jewish and

[40:54] israeli american identity while

[40:56] empowering the next generation

[40:58] to become confident leaders and

[41:01] active members of their

[41:01] communities.

[41:03] We blieve that when young

[41:05] people understand who they are,

[41:07] where they come from, and what

[41:10] they can contribute, they become

[41:10] stronger individuals and

[41:12] stronger leaders.

[41:16] That is exactly what our fiba

[41:18] teen program is about.

[41:21] Fiba brings forth five -- more

[41:23] than 100 teens together in a

[41:25] meaningful and supportive

[41:26] environment.

[41:27] Excuse me.

[41:30] Where they can explore their

[41:32] identity, connect with their

[41:34] culture, build friendships, and

[41:37] develop a strong sense of

[41:37] belonging.

[41:40] But it goes beyond identity.

[41:43] Our teens are exposed to

[41:45] leadership, entrepreneurship,

[41:47] innovation, and the world of

[41:48] startups.

[41:49] They'll learn how ideas can

[41:51] become business, how challenges

[41:54] can become opportunities, and

[41:56] how teamwork and creativity can

[41:59] create meaningful impact.

[42:00] Their not simply learning --

[42:01] they are not simply learning

[42:02] about the world around them.

[42:04] They are learning that they have

[42:07] the ability to shape it.

[42:09] For jewish and israeli american

[42:11] students, having a space where

[42:13] they can feel seen, supported,

[42:17] and proud of who they are is

[42:18] incredibly important.

[42:20] At the same time, fiba helped

[42:22] thim build relationships

[42:23] across -- them build

[42:24] relationships across different

[42:25] backgrounds and understand the

[42:27] importance of community,

[42:30] respect, responsibility, and

[42:30] collaboration.

[42:32] And this is why partnerships

[42:35] with hillsborough county are so

[42:35] meaningful.

[42:37] When organizations, schools,

[42:39] community leaders, and local

[42:41] governments come together, we

[42:43] create an environment where

[42:45] young people can thrive.

[42:46] We strengthen not only

[42:48] individual students but the

[42:49] entire community.

[42:51] We are so proud to be part of

[42:53] this community, and we are

[42:55] committed to investing in our

[42:57] young people because they are

[43:00] not only the future of of our

[43:00] community.

[43:01] They are already helping shape

[43:02] it today.

[43:04] Thank you so much.

[43:06] >> ken hagan: thank you for the

[43:07] comments.

[43:09] Anat mansour virtual.

[43:11] Followed by lauren prager and

[43:13] then thomas cobert.

[43:16] Mansour on the line?

[43:17] >> hi, good morning,

[43:17] commissioners.

[43:19] My name is anat, and I live he

[43:22] in south tampa.

[43:23] First, I want to thank you for

[43:26] your continued support of fiba

[43:27] and recognizing the important

[43:30] role it plays in our community.

[43:32] I encourage our -- hillsborough

[43:34] county should stop funding fiba

[43:36] because there are other

[43:37] nonprofits that need that money,

[43:39] and I absolutely agree that

[43:40] there are many organizations in

[43:43] our community doing incredibly

[43:43] important work.

[43:45] We need organizations helping

[43:47] children, helping families,

[43:48] veterans, people facing hunger,

[43:49] housing challenges, health care

[43:52] needs, and so much more.

[43:54] But I don't think we should look

[43:55] at this as a choice between

[43:57] supporting our community and

[43:58] supporting economic development.

[44:01] We need both.

[44:02] I spent years working with

[44:03] organizations, businesses,

[44:06] schools and community partners

[44:08] here in tampa, and I see

[44:10] firsthand how our community

[44:11] and -- economy really are.

[44:12] When businesses come here they

[44:15] create jobs, nay bring

[44:16] investments, they bring local

[44:17] services and they contribute to

[44:19] the broader community.

[44:21] And this is exactly what fiba is

[44:23] designed to do.

[44:25] According to fiba's data, 20

[44:27] companies have established

[44:31] present iphillsborough county,

[44:34] creating 70 direct -- high

[44:35] skilled high wage jobs and these

[44:38] are companies establishing

[44:41] here -- spaces here, creating

[44:43] economic opportunity.

[44:46] Those jobs means --

[44:47] investments -- and those

[44:50] companies become part of the

[44:51] fabric of our community so I

[44:51] don't think the question should

[44:53] be why are we giving money to

[44:54] fiba when another nonprofit

[44:55] needs funding.

[45:00] The question should be is fiba

[45:03] delivering the economic results

[45:05] they were funded to deliver.

[45:06] The answer is of course yes.

[45:07] We should recognize what that

[45:08] investment is, an investment in

[45:10] the future of hillsborough

[45:10] county.

[45:12] It's not a question of fiba --

[45:13] another nonprofit.

[45:15] We can and should support

[45:16] innovations that take care of

[45:19] our community while also

[45:19] supporting organizations that

[45:22] help build our economic future.

[45:24] Thank you.

[45:24] >> ken hagan: all right, thank

[45:25] you.

[45:26] Last three speakers, lauren

[45:28] prager is virtual, followed by

[45:31] thomas cobert, and then bruce

[45:31] harker.

[45:35] MS. Prager on the line?

[45:37] >> good morning, this is lauren

[45:38] prager.

[45:39] I'm a hillsborough county

[45:40] resident living in south tampa,

[45:43] and I wanted to echo the

[45:45] previous few speakers and

[45:47] express first our appreciation

[45:48] to the board and the

[45:51] commissioners for their ongoing

[45:52] support and economic development

[45:53] in growth here in hillsborough

[45:53] county.

[45:55] And that certainly includes the

[45:57] florida israel business

[45:57] accelerator.

[45:58] The comments from our previous

[45:59] speakers really covered many of

[46:01] the points that I want to make,

[46:02] but I do want to just go on the

[46:04] record and echo that through my

[46:06] involvement both as a community

[46:09] leader, as a business

[46:10] professional, and as a parent

[46:12] here in our community, the

[46:14] impacts of organizations like

[46:17] fiba really does resonate beyond

[46:19] just the companies that it

[46:20] brings into our community.

[46:23] And this dynamic and diverse

[46:24] business organization really

[46:25] does help imrove the fabric of

[46:28] our community by bringing in new

[46:29] voices and new ideas and

[46:31] inspiring other people to see

[46:33] that tampa and hillsborough

[46:36] county is an incredible place to

[46:40] build and grow a business and

[46:42] helps us be competitive to other

[46:43] communities in florida that are

[46:44] looking for opportunities to

[46:45] bring in foreign businesses and

[46:48] help to increase high paying and

[46:52] high quality jobs in our

[46:53] community.

[46:54] So I really want to end where I

[46:55] began by saying thank you for

[46:56] your ongoing and continued

[46:58] support, and we very much

[47:01] appreciate how you enable the

[47:03] florida israel business

[47:04] accelerator and the companies

[47:06] that come as a result to thrive

[47:07] here in hillsborough county.

[47:08] >> ken hagan: thank you,

[47:08] MS. Prager.

[47:10] Thomas cobert.

[47:12] To be followed by bruce harker.

[47:20] Good morning, sir.

[47:21] >> MR. CHAIRMAN, commissioners,

[47:22] staff, and deputies.

[47:24] Good morning my name is tom

[47:24] cobert.

[47:26] I was a bachelors of social work

[47:31] degree which was awarded at usf

[47:32] in 1984 when I graduated.

[47:34] It is considered a specialized

[47:34] degree.

[47:35] Essentially it teaches you how

[47:38] to be a jack-of-all-trades in

[47:41] the social sciences.

[47:42] i have noticed a pattern over

[47:44] the time I have been coming to

[47:45] bocc meetings.

[47:47] During discussions of future

[47:51] items, anytime a certain

[47:52] commissioner proposes pursuing

[47:53] an idea or need, another

[47:54] commission has a problem with

[47:57] it.

[47:58] This happens pretty much 100% of

[48:00] the time.

[48:01] Once is happenstance, twice is

[48:03] coincidence, the third time it's

[48:07] enemy action.

[48:09] This is from the 1964 movie

[48:11] goldfinger, a james bond movie.

[48:14] I was 10 when it came out and I

[48:15] loved sean connery as bond.

[48:18] I grew up from 13 to adulthood

[48:19] in six mile creek.

[48:21] A lot of adults back then would

[48:23] be against anything that would

[48:25] resemble the proposals being

[48:28] made currently by one of the

[48:29] commissioners.

[48:30] No one else on the bocc seems to

[48:33] have a problem with the negative

[48:35] spirit of these actions.

[48:36] At the beginning of public

[48:39] comment, the CHAIRMAN Requests

[48:41] that citizens self-regulate

[48:43] themselves, even though the

[48:45] constitution allows them to

[48:47] speak on whatever they wish.

[48:49] This is after all the modern

[48:51] version of the town square.

[48:53] The board puts no restrictions

[48:55] on themselves.

[48:58] If what are essentially a tax

[48:59] continue, I will be forced to

[49:03] act as a community activist and

[49:04] take the issue to members of the

[49:04] community.

[49:06] At the first year anniversary of

[49:08] the juvenile justice council, of

[49:13] which I was a charter member,

[49:14] and it was also the first one in

[49:15] the state before the councils

[49:17] were mandated by state law,

[49:19] county commissioner phyllis

[49:21] busansky who chaired the council

[49:22] named seven movers and shakers

[49:24] in hillsborough county.

[49:26] The public defenders, state

[49:29] attorney, chief judge, state

[49:31] legislator, sheriff and two

[49:33] private citizens of which I was

[49:33] one.

[49:36] With my past experiences and

[49:38] degree, I know how to be

[49:40] effective as a community

[49:41] activist.

[49:42] Congratulations on clearing the

[49:44] vote on continuing with the rays

[49:46] stadium project.

[49:49] When fixed -- finished with

[49:50] everything that is being

[49:51] proposed, it will prove to be a

[49:52] great asset to tampa and

[49:55] hillsborough county.

[49:56] Thank you for listening.

[49:56] `

[49:57] >> ken hagan: thank you,

[49:57] MR. Cobert.

[50:01] Last speaker, bruce harker.

[50:05] >> MR. Chair, this is public

[50:05] comment.

[50:10] We also have an -- giovanni who

[50:12] is had signed up as well.

[50:14] >> ken hagan: I'm sorry, sir.

[50:14] Please identify yourself.

[50:19] >> this is dan putnam with htv.

[50:22] We have an idete giovanni signed

[50:23] up for public comment and she

[50:24] did not speak yet.

[50:25] >> ken hagan: yes, she did.

[50:26] She already spoke.

[50:27] >> there was another person,

[50:33] last same name.

[50:34] >> ken hagan: all right, I'll

[50:37] call on that person next.

[50:42] >> all right, thank you, sir.

[50:45] >> ken hagan: good morning.

[50:46] >> good morning.

[50:49] My name is bruce harker.

[50:51] I'm a disabled and jewish

[50:52] resident of hillsborough county

[50:54] and tampa, and district 3 on a

[50:55] very low income.

[50:59] I'm here to speak about fiba.

[51:00] and the county budget and ensure

[51:02] the needs of hillsborough county

[51:04] residents are met.

[51:05] I support the demands of local

[51:07] community members who want all

[51:09] funding removed from israeli

[51:10] linked business and instead

[51:11] focus on services that benefit

[51:14] the needs of the community in

[51:17] particular our most vulnerable

[51:17] citizens.

[51:20] One such service that could use

[51:21] more funding is the hart system

[51:23] which is grossly underfunded.

[51:26] We have over 2300 bus stops and

[51:27] less than one-third of them have

[51:29] shelter from sun or rain.

[51:30] With the money we gave fiba over

[51:34] the years, hillsborough could've

[51:35] built many more shelters.

[51:37] Many don't even have seats or

[51:37] adequate seats.

[51:38] Last year while waiting for a

[51:41] bus one even a bullet ricocheted

[51:42] several feet from me.

[51:43] Luckily it didn't hit me.

[51:44] The bus stop in question had

[51:46] neither seating nor shelter.

[51:48] Last month while carrying my

[51:49] father's 8th birthday card to

[51:50] the post office, I just missed

[51:53] the bus and it started to

[51:53] downpour.

[51:55] The stop in question had a seat

[51:56] but no shelter.

[51:58] The next bus wouldn't arrive for

[51:59] some time.

[52:00] Luckily I was able to improvise

[52:02] and keep it dry until a lyft

[52:04] arrived which was also an added

[52:05] cost to me.

[52:06] Summer heat can also be

[52:07] dangerous and lead to

[52:09] dehydration as it did to me two

[52:10] summers ago.

[52:12] While these are a few situations

[52:13] I have been in, other disabled

[52:15] have even greater difficulties

[52:17] due to various factors, standing

[52:19] is difficult, or worse for some.

[52:23] the funds allocated to fiba each

[52:24] year can be better be used on

[52:25] programs such as this and many

[52:27] other local initiatives that

[52:29] benefit citizens rather than

[52:30] cause harm in other parts of the

[52:32] world, not to mention the meager

[52:34] number of jobs it has created.

[52:39] I think greg -- said five jobs

[52:40] and someone today said 70 which

[52:42] is meager considering the

[52:43] millions that have been pureed

[52:46] into feeb -- poured into fiba.

[52:47] We must cut ties with fiba

[52:48] wherever possible and spend

[52:49] these tax dollars on programs

[52:50] desperately needed by

[52:51] hillsborough county residents.

[52:53] We demand that our county's

[52:55] budget reflects the needs of the

[52:57] people, by remove al funding to

[52:58] israeli companies and instead

[53:00] invest in lifesaving services

[53:01] for hillsborough residents

[53:02] today.

[53:03] Thank you.

[53:03] >> ken hagan: thank you, sir.

[53:06] Last speaker, will be the second

[53:09] giovanni, virtual.

[53:11] >>> can you hear us?

[53:12] >> ken hagan: yes.

[53:12] >> yes, I can.

[53:14] Can you hear me?

[53:15] Good morning, commissioners.

[53:18] My name is idete giovanni and I

[53:21] live in tampa hillsborough.

[53:22] I want to start by saying a big

[53:24] thank you for standing with

[53:25] fiba.

[53:27] I'm speaking today because I am

[53:30] concerned that the legitimized

[53:32] economic development discussion

[53:33] is being transformed into

[53:35] something very different.

[53:37] The campaign against fiba

[53:39] repeatedly bring the

[53:41] conversation back to israel,

[53:43] gaza, war, and genocide.

[53:47] Those are serious issues.

[53:49] Because -- at length about them

[53:51] and every word to express those

[53:51] views.

[53:54] But fiba is not responsible for

[53:55] israeli foreign policy.

[53:57] Fiba is not the israeli

[53:58] government.

[53:59] Fiba is not the israeli

[54:00] military.

[54:03] Fiba is a in florida and --

[54:05] whose purpose is economic

[54:05] development.

[54:08] So I believe we need to ask a

[54:09] very simple question.

[54:11] Should hillsborough county

[54:13] decide whether an economic

[54:15] development of organization

[54:20] deserves funding based on its

[54:21] economic result or based on

[54:23] political disagreement with a

[54:25] foreign government.

[54:26] Fiba -- conflicts.

[54:27] Any companies establish a

[54:32] present in hillsborough county

[54:33] creating 70 direct high skill,

[54:33] high wage jobs.

[54:35] Those companies are investing

[54:38] here, operating facilities here,

[54:40] hiring people here, and

[54:42] contributing to our local

[54:42] economy.

[54:46] And importantly, international

[54:48] business equipment is already

[54:50] part of economic development

[54:51] strategy.

[54:52] The tampa bay economic

[54:53] development council records

[54:55] companies from outside the

[54:57] region, including international

[54:58] companies because bringing

[55:02] investment and jobs here

[55:03] benefits hillsborough county as

[55:04] a resident.

[55:05] Israeli companies should not be

[55:07] held to a different standard.

[55:09] If a company is operating

[55:11] really, it's creating jobs,

[55:13] investing here, and contributing

[55:15] to our economy, it should be

[55:18] evaluated on those factors.

[55:20] We can disagree about

[55:21] international politics, but we

[55:23] should not allow those

[55:24] disagreements to determine

[55:27] economic development policy.

[55:29] Please judge fiba by what it

[55:30] does for hillsborough county.

[55:32] Thank you so much.

[55:33] >> ken hagan: thank you,

[55:33] appreciate your comments.

[55:35] That closes public comment.

[55:36] Can we have a motion to approve

[55:40] conincident.

[55:40] >> ken hagan: motion,

[55:41] commissioner cohen, second

[55:42] commissioner myers.

[55:43] Please records your vote on the

[55:49] consent agenda.

[55:50] >> motion carried 7-0.

[55:51] >> ken hagan: all right, bonnie,

[55:52] we got a few minutes before the

[55:53] first time certain.

[55:56] >> yes, we do -- well, we have

[55:57] regular agenda, we can move to

[55:58] item b. 3.

[56:00] We have two items, and

[56:01] george cassady will present both

[56:03] of these items.

[56:05] First one is regarding the

[56:06] progressive design build

[56:08] agreement for the water waste

[56:10] curt conveyance treme

[56:12] treatment

[56:13] projects.

[56:16] And while we are on that we have

[56:17] an item at 10:15 related to

[56:19] water, if we want to consider

[56:21] that we think think about that.

[56:23] >> good morning, chair, good

[56:24] morning, commissioners.

[56:25] George cassady.

[56:26] Item b. 3 we're r

[56:28] asking for fifth

[56:30] modification to -- for the one

[56:31] water wastewater south

[56:33] wastewater conveyance and

[56:34] treatment project.

[56:35] This increases the contract

[56:38] amount by approximately

[56:39] $586 million.

[56:40] It adds new completion

[56:41] milestones, but I want to point

[56:43] out that the first phase of

[56:45] completion still remains in 2028

[56:47] which will bring an initial

[56:50] capacity online of about eight

[56:52] million gallons.

[56:54] The authorization modification

[56:55] authorization -- for facility

[56:56] construction, long lead

[56:58] equipment items, and additional

[57:00] pipeline work while maintaining

[57:02] a 14% goal for the disadvantaged

[57:04] minority and disadvantaged women

[57:05] business enterprises.

[57:07] I would like to point out that

[57:08] at this point in time we're

[57:10] achieving almost 24%

[57:11] participation so it's really

[57:13] excellent participation this

[57:13] far.

[57:15] Fund flg this modification is

[57:15] available -- funding for this

[57:18] modification is available in the -- for approved projects and

[57:21] we're also ask for approval of

[57:24] fy '26 budget amendment to

[57:26] appropriate $82 million from

[57:27] the 2026 interim financing fund

[57:29] in the south county one water

[57:30] campus advanced wastewater

[57:31] facility treatment project to

[57:32] help fund this modification and

[57:33] associated costs.

[57:35] Staff recommends approval.

[57:36] >> ken hagan: all right, thank

[57:37] you, george.

[57:38] I don't see any questions or

[57:39] comments.

[57:41] Do we need a motion?

[57:42] Motion, commissioner myers.

[57:43] Second, commissioner cohen.

[57:52] Please record your vote on b 3.

[57:54] >> motion carried 7-0.

[57:55] >> ken hagan: bonnie, do you

[57:57] want to do b. 4 and then b. 2.

[57:58] >> thank you.

[57:59] Item b. 4 we're requesting

[58:00] approval for the first

[58:02] modification to the professional

[58:03] services agreement with jacobs

[58:05] engineering group for the south

[58:07] county drinking water facility

[58:08] also within the one water

[58:09] program, increasing te contract

[58:12] amount by approximately

[58:14] $7.2 million to a total of

[58:15] approximately $9.9 million.

[58:17] This modification adds final

[58:18] design and permitting services

[58:20] for phase b of the south county

[58:21] drinking water facility,

[58:23] completing the design to 100%.

[58:26] The existing 10% disadvantaged

[58:28] minority and disadvantaged women

[58:30] business enterprise is at 10%,

[58:31] that participation --

[58:33] participation gol remains in

[58:34] effect, and the economic

[58:35] development department will

[58:38] collaborate with jacobs to

[58:39] identify eligible firms for

[58:40] specialized services.

[58:42] Funding is available in the

[58:43] approved capital improvement

[58:43] program.

[58:45] The purchase orders will be

[58:46] issued only against approved

[58:47] budgets.

[58:48] Staff recommends approval.

[58:49] >> ken hagan: all right, thank

[58:50] you.

[58:51] Questions, comments?

[58:52] If not, can we have a motion?

[58:54] Motion commissioner myers,

[58:55] second commissioner cohen.

[59:00] Please record your vote on b. 4.

[59:01] >> motion carried 7-0.

[59:02] >> ken hagan: all right, then if

[59:04] we can have a motion to take up

[59:07] the b. 2 now motion commissioner

[59:09] cohen, second commissioner

[59:09] wostal.

[59:14] Please record your vote.

[59:16] >> motion carried 7-0.

[59:19] >> ken hagan: okay.

[59:19] Bonnie.

[59:20] >> thank you.

[59:22] The next item is itm b. 2.

[59:26] This is to -- resolution not to

[59:27] exceed $700 million of county

[59:29] utility system revenue bonds,

[59:30] and kevin brickey will present

[59:30] this item.

[59:32] We do have various experts from

[59:34] our bond financing team here as

[59:35] well.

[59:35] >> ken hagan: good morning,

[59:36] kevin.

[59:36] >> good morning, commissioners.

[59:38] Kevin brickey, management and

[59:39] budget.

[59:41] As MS. Wise mentioned, this item

[59:43] is to adopt a supplemental

[59:44] resolution, supplementing and

[59:48] amending resolution number r

[59:50] 03112 to authorize the issuance

[59:54] of not to exceed $700 million in

[59:55] aggregate principal amount to

[59:57] approve the county's utility

[59:59] revenue bonds, series 2026 a for

[1:00:02] the purposes of financing all or

[1:00:04] a portion of the one water

[1:00:06] campus capital improvements.

[1:00:07] Including future expenditures as

[1:00:09] well as refinancing a portion of

[1:00:12] certain interim indebtedness.

[1:00:16] And the to approve the utility

[1:00:17] refunding revenue bonds series

[1:00:19] 2026 b for the purpose of

[1:00:20] refunding all or a portion of

[1:00:23] the county's outstanding series

[1:00:25] 2016 bonds.

[1:00:27] The transaction will be

[1:00:29] completed in the event that it

[1:00:31] enerates a minimum of 3% net

[1:00:33] present value savings, currently

[1:00:35] that projection is 4 oit 075%

[1:00:39] net savings or 650,000 annually.

[1:00:40] This item will also approve the

[1:00:42] paying of costs related to these

[1:00:44] issuing these bonds, approving

[1:00:46] related bond documents and

[1:00:47] authorizing appropriate

[1:00:49] officials to complete necessary

[1:00:49] tasks.

[1:00:52] It's also worth noting that

[1:00:54] recently standard & poor's

[1:00:57] rating agency upgraded the water

[1:01:00] bonds and water resources to a

[1:01:02] triple a rating, the top rating.

[1:01:06] So it is now our water bonds are

[1:01:07] rated triple a by all three

[1:01:09] credit rating agencies, and that

[1:01:13] has a direct impact on issuing

[1:01:15] new water bonds such as this

[1:01:17] because it gives us the

[1:01:18] opportunity to have lower

[1:01:20] borrowing costs.

[1:01:22] >> ken hagan: excellent news.

[1:01:23] I don't see anyone in the queue.

[1:01:26] Can we have a motion?

[1:01:27] Motion to approve b. 2,

[1:01:28] commissioner myers.

[1:01:30] Second, commissioner cohen.

[1:01:35] Please record your vote.

[1:01:38] >> motion carried 7-0.

[1:01:39] >> ken hagan: okay.

[1:01:39] Bonnie?

[1:01:39] >> thank you.

[1:01:41] We can now move to our 10:00

[1:01:42] time certain items.

[1:01:45] We have our first public hearing

[1:01:46] is item d. 1.

[1:01:47] This is a public hearing

[1:01:50] regarding the elapp preserve and

[1:01:51] we have fearest

[1:01:54] forest turbiville who

[1:01:56] will take us through this item.

[1:01:56] George cassady is here if you

[1:01:57] have any questions as well.

[1:01:58] >> ken hagan: all right.

[1:01:59] >> thank you, bonnie and good

[1:02:01] morning, commissioners,

[1:02:02] forest turbiville, conservation

[1:02:03] environmental lands management.

[1:02:05] The item before you today is

[1:02:07] comprised of four requested

[1:02:08] board actions.

[1:02:10] The first action is to hold a

[1:02:11] public hearing to consider the

[1:02:13] transfer of certain property

[1:02:15] rights on the genie and pete

[1:02:17] johnson elapp preserve to the

[1:02:19] county water resources

[1:02:20] department through a perpetual

[1:02:22] easement and a temporary

[1:02:24] construction easement to install

[1:02:28] a water recharge well and

[1:02:29] related compliance monitoring

[1:02:30] wells as part of the county's

[1:02:33] south hillsborough aquifer

[1:02:35] recharge program that's also

[1:02:37] known as the sharp program.

[1:02:40] The second action is to adopt a

[1:02:40] resolution designating a portion

[1:02:43] of the preserve for a perpetual

[1:02:45] easement and a temporary

[1:02:46] construction easement in

[1:02:47] accordance with the conditions

[1:02:49] that are stipulated in the

[1:02:50] resolution.

[1:02:53] The third action is to approve

[1:02:54] and accept these easements which

[1:02:57] will provide the water resources

[1:02:58] department with the necessary

[1:03:00] real estate rights to install,

[1:03:04] operate, and maintain a water

[1:03:05] recharge well and related

[1:03:06] infrastructure as part of the

[1:03:07] sharp program.

[1:03:09] And then finally, the fourth

[1:03:11] action is to approve and execute

[1:03:12] the third amendment to lease

[1:03:14] agreement between the county,

[1:03:16] and southwest florida water

[1:03:17] anagement district, they're the

[1:03:19] property owner, and that's to

[1:03:21] include the new water recharge

[1:03:23] facilities on the preserve and

[1:03:25] ensure that the county provides

[1:03:27] the district with all monthly

[1:03:30] water collection data.

[1:03:31] The conveyance of these

[1:03:34] easements to the water resources

[1:03:36] department meets all necessary

[1:03:38] requirements under the current

[1:03:40] elapp ordinance as well as

[1:03:44] ordinance 93-16, and the cost

[1:03:45] associated with recording these

[1:03:48] easements is less than $500.

[1:03:50] A reminder, this is a public

[1:03:52] hearing, and I'm available to

[1:03:53] answer attorney questions and we

[1:03:55] also have staff from the water

[1:03:56] resources department here as

[1:03:57] well.

[1:03:57] >> ken hagan: all right, thank

[1:03:58] you, forest.

[1:04:01] This is a public hearing.

[1:04:02] First two individuals who have

[1:04:04] signed up, gene abundanter

[1:04:05] virtual and then denise herndon.

[1:04:07] Is gene on the line?

[1:04:08] >> gene did not check in.

[1:04:09] >> ken hagan: all right, thank

[1:04:17] you, denise herndon?

[1:04:20] >> good morning, I'm denise

[1:04:20] herndon.

[1:04:21] No one had told me whether or

[1:04:26] not these were approved to go on

[1:04:31] the thing here.

[1:04:37] This is an area where I live.

[1:04:39] My traumatic brain injury is

[1:04:42] hard for me to look up here and

[1:04:42] look down there.

[1:04:43] I get dizzy.

[1:04:50] This is the lake that I live on.

[1:04:52] This little star right here, all

[1:04:55] these properties here used to be

[1:04:55] one.

[1:04:57] They were split up.

[1:05:01] This star way back when tampa

[1:05:03] bay one knew that they were

[1:05:05] going to interrupt the natural

[1:05:07] flow of these three lakes

[1:05:08] because they are spring lakes,

[1:05:09] when they put tampa bypass in,

[1:05:12] they put this lake, gornto lake,

[1:05:16] drains into chaplain lake, which

[1:05:17] chapman lake which drains into

[1:05:19] ten mile and then goes up

[1:05:19] underneath 60.

[1:05:26] If they get too high.

[1:05:28] In the 27 years this past monday

[1:05:29] hat I've owned my home, milton

[1:05:32] was the highest it ever went up.

[1:05:35] I had asked the person that I

[1:05:37] had bought it from what's the

[1:05:38] highest that it's ever been, and

[1:05:44] there is kind of like a concrete

[1:05:45] seawall and it's never gone up

[1:05:48] in the 27 years, it went up

[1:05:51] three times but milton it went

[1:05:57] up over it, so eric brown from

[1:06:01] public works says that the

[1:06:03] manmade fence that's next to

[1:06:06] jeff's love coffee where ten

[1:06:10] mile lakes goes into up

[1:06:15] underneath the 60, water's

[1:06:15] flowing.

[1:06:17] Well not when the water gets

[1:06:17] high.

[1:06:18] It's all overgrown.

[1:06:20] I went there the other day.

[1:06:22] You can't even see the fence

[1:06:23] now, and it wasn't always that

[1:06:24] grown.

[1:06:26] I guess somebody's been doing

[1:06:27] something but the county come

[1:06:30] out and spend money to dig that

[1:06:31] ditch out.

[1:06:35] But when we need, I'm in a stilt

[1:06:35] home but it's not going to

[1:06:41] affect me, but how many in this

[1:06:42] community all around here

[1:06:43] have gotten flooded before

[1:06:44] milton because like I said, it's

[1:06:48] gotten up high three times

[1:06:52] before milton.

[1:06:54] And is somebody going to change

[1:06:56] the county records like shirlene

[1:06:59] hammond did who's in the dark

[1:07:03] web, a small owner of brandon

[1:07:05] ford concerning this little

[1:07:10] property here that's in the

[1:07:11] redd.

[1:07:15] And I'll never give up, I'll

[1:07:16] never back down until I get

[1:07:18] shirlene hammond that she is

[1:07:19] evil.

[1:07:22] >> ken hagan: thank you, must

[1:07:23] MS. Herndon.

[1:07:25] The next speakers signed up for

[1:07:27] all four public hearings so I'm

[1:07:28] not sure if you want to speak to

[1:07:29] this one.

[1:07:30] It's last name nar and last name

[1:07:32] rogue, it looks like, both

[1:07:32] virtual.

[1:07:33] Did they sign up?

[1:07:37] And do they want to speak?

[1:07:38] >> MR. Chair, they did not sign

[1:07:39] into the meeting.

[1:07:39] `

[1:07:42] >> ken hagan: neither one of

[1:07:42] them?

[1:07:44] >> no, sir.

[1:07:44] >> ken hagan: okay.

[1:07:48] That the closes public comment.

[1:07:49] I don't have any board

[1:07:49] discussion.

[1:07:50] can we

[1:07:51] I have a motion?

[1:07:52] Motion, commissioner wostal,

[1:07:54] second, commissioner myers.

[1:07:59] Please record your vote on d. 1.

[1:08:00] >> motion carried 7-0.

[1:08:01] >> ken hagan: all right, d. 2.

[1:08:02] >> d. 2, this is our next public

[1:08:03] hearing.

[1:08:06] This is regarding the

[1:08:06] requirements for the

[1:08:07] registration for short-term

[1:08:08] vacation rentals.

[1:08:10] And johanna lundgren from the

[1:08:11] county attorney's office will

[1:08:12] take us through this public

[1:08:13] hearing.

[1:08:14] This would then be followed by

[1:08:16] item b. 1, which is related to

[1:08:18] this item.

[1:08:19] >> ken hagan: good morning.

[1:08:20] >> good morning, board.

[1:08:22] This is a pblic hearing to

[1:08:24] consider the adoption of an

[1:08:25] ordinance providing for a

[1:08:26] requirement for the registration

[1:08:29] of short-term vacation rentals

[1:08:31] and for business regulations of

[1:08:33] short-term vacation rentals.

[1:08:34] The ordinance is accompanied by

[1:08:35] a resolution to establish

[1:08:38] related feeds and the ordinance

[1:08:41] is proposed to take effect on

[1:08:42] JANUARY 1st, 2027, in order

[1:08:45] to provide time for

[1:08:45] implementation.

[1:08:46] All legal advertising

[1:08:50] requirements have been met, and

[1:08:51] MR. Joe gross code enforcement

[1:08:53] director is also available for

[1:08:55] any questions.

[1:08:56] >> ken hagan: all right, thank

[1:08:57] you.

[1:08:59] This is a public hearing.

[1:09:00] The first three speakers that

[1:09:03] have signed up, samantha

[1:09:06] freeland, followed by jane

[1:09:07] bonter who's virtual and then

[1:09:16] denise herndon.

[1:09:18] Good morning.

[1:09:19] >> good morning.

[1:09:20] My name is samantha freeland.

[1:09:22] I live in bay crest park.

[1:09:23] I want to start by thanking

[1:09:24] truly you listen to us.

[1:09:26] You took an ordinance when many

[1:09:28] neighborhoods felt invisible.

[1:09:29] You consider the amendments

[1:09:30] residents brought forward, two

[1:09:32] of them a real way to report

[1:09:33] problems and progressive fines

[1:09:35] with real enforcement.

[1:09:37] They're being added.

[1:09:38] That is not nothing.

[1:09:39] For those of who have spent

[1:09:41] nights documenting noise,

[1:09:43] overcrowding, and the chaos, it

[1:09:45] is a crack of light.

[1:09:46] But I also need to speak

[1:09:47] honestly about what's missing

[1:09:49] and what is its absolutely sense

[1:09:50] feel like.

[1:09:52] We asked for one simple

[1:09:54] protection before any short-term

[1:09:55] rental can be -- a life safety

[1:09:57] inspection, not a ban, not a

[1:09:58] limit on how long can stay, just

[1:10:00] a check under the same building

[1:10:01] code and fire prevention code

[1:10:04] that applies to other places

[1:10:06] where public speaks to make sure

[1:10:06] smoke alarms work.

[1:10:08] Exits are clear, and the

[1:10:11] structures -- you did not

[1:10:12] include it.

[1:10:13] I need you to sit with that for

[1:10:15] a moment.

[1:10:17] Families will be checking into

[1:10:19] these homes without anyone from

[1:10:21] the county verifying the most

[1:10:22] basic safeguards.

[1:10:23] Neighbors go sleep next door not

[1:10:26] knowing whether the house --

[1:10:27] that spreads before help

[1:10:27] arrives.

[1:10:28] That is a quiet fear this

[1:10:29] decision leaves in place, and it

[1:10:31] is a fear no parent, no

[1:10:32] homeowner, and no first

[1:10:33] responder should have to carry

[1:10:34] because an inspection was

[1:10:37] treated as an option.

[1:10:39] We are not an abstract policy.

[1:10:41] We are the people who smell the

[1:10:41] smoke.

[1:10:43] We are the people whose children

[1:10:45] sleep in the houses next door,

[1:10:48] the ones that will stand in the

[1:10:50] street if a rental becomes an

[1:10:53] inferno and a ladder truck strug

[1:10:56] tools reach the -- so yes, thank

[1:10:56] you for the ordinance.

[1:10:57] Thank you for the two

[1:10:58] amendments, but please hear

[1:10:58] this.

[1:11:00] This cannot be the end of the

[1:11:01] ork.

[1:11:02] An ordinance that still allows

[1:11:03] renningstration without basic

[1:11:04] life safety inspection leaves a

[1:11:06] hole that only becomes visible

[1:11:07] when it is too late and I will

[1:11:08] give you an example.

[1:11:10] We have three homes around me.

[1:11:11] One sleeps 20, it's a

[1:11:12] four-bedroom home.

[1:11:14] One sleeps 18, it's a

[1:11:14] four-bedroom home.

[1:11:16] I have a 1600 square foot home

[1:11:17] around the corner from me that

[1:11:19] sleeps 16 or more.

[1:11:21] These homes have been modified.

[1:11:24] We don't know if there's fire

[1:11:24] safety inspection.

[1:11:26] And they're safe to sleep in.

[1:11:27] These are families coming and

[1:11:30] going all the time from our

[1:11:30] neighborhood.

[1:11:31] We have documented the chaos.

[1:11:32] We've called the sheriff office

[1:11:33] for parties with hundreds of

[1:11:35] cars parked in the street.

[1:11:37] I've had drunk people coming to

[1:11:38] my neighborhood's home, walking

[1:11:42] right in the door.

[1:11:43] I've had drunk people climb over

[1:11:45] fences trying to get into a

[1:11:46] neighbor's house that they

[1:11:52] thought was the party they saw

[1:11:53] online to go attend.

[1:11:54] so I thank you for that and we

[1:11:56] truly do need this life

[1:11:57] inspection because that is what

[1:11:59] any other business in the coutee

[1:12:00] is required -- county is

[1:12:01] required before they operate

[1:12:02] within the public realm.

[1:12:02] Thank you.

[1:12:03] >> ken hagan: thank you, ma'am.

[1:12:06] Appreciate the comments.

[1:12:08] Gene bonter and then denise

[1:12:09] herndon and mark kiddo.

[1:12:13] Is MS. Bonter on the line?

[1:12:14] >> MS. Bonter did not check into

[1:12:14] the meeting.

[1:12:15] >> ken hagan: all right, thank

[1:12:17] you, denise herndon and thec --

[1:12:22] then mark kiddo.

[1:12:24] >> good morning, denise herndon

[1:12:25] again.

[1:12:32] This is an air b&b in my

[1:12:32] community.

[1:12:35] We have -- woo.

[1:12:38] , we have well and septic tank.

[1:12:41] This was a group home when this

[1:12:44] picture was taken, and they had

[1:12:47] to put two new septic tanks in,

[1:12:49] the first guy says this 12349

[1:12:50] big

[1:12:51] 12349 -- isn't big enough.

[1:12:53] Now it's -- and they had two

[1:12:54] registered sex offenders.

[1:12:55] I would rather know where the

[1:12:59] sex offenders are with AIRBNBs

[1:13:01] you don't know where the sex

[1:13:02] offenders are because they don't

[1:13:03] have to register as a

[1:13:04] short-term.

[1:13:06] And as I've said before,

[1:13:08] short-term anything under six

[1:13:09] months, they're supposed to be

[1:13:13] paying a 6% sales bed tax.

[1:13:18] Florida statute 125.0104.

[1:13:22] And this will help pay for the

[1:13:26] rays stadium, the convention

[1:13:30] enter, are we collecting this

[1:13:31] money?

[1:13:34] The sports authority we're

[1:13:36] paying for stuff for our, all of

[1:13:36] our things.

[1:13:38] i think we're being triple

[1:13:39] dipped here.

[1:13:42] Bed tax, sports authority, and

[1:13:43] now the cit.

[1:13:44] And wherever else you're going

[1:13:46] to pull this money from.

[1:13:47] For the rays stadium.

[1:13:51] Like I said, I have a problem

[1:13:53] billionaires getting county

[1:13:55] money, and I live in

[1:13:56] unincorporated county even

[1:13:58] though I'm pretty much indigent

[1:14:00] I don't pay as much as a lot of

[1:14:04] other people, but this is

[1:14:05] ridiculous.

[1:14:07] That it was told one way, we're

[1:14:08] not going to -- oh, these are

[1:14:10] for fire stations, these are for

[1:14:12] roads, these are for sidewalks

[1:14:14] and we're going to use it for a

[1:14:14] rays stadium.

[1:14:16] What's going to happen because

[1:14:17] when I kind of looked at it,

[1:14:21] there is no other community in

[1:14:28] the whole country that uses a

[1:14:31] junior college for a sports

[1:14:31] arena.

[1:14:33] Ooh, are we going to have to

[1:14:35] start paying for everything that

[1:14:36] needs to be done to the

[1:14:38] community college because the

[1:14:41] state legislature said that rays

[1:14:43] can be built here.

[1:14:45] That's something that we don't

[1:14:49] even know yet, so we're triple

[1:14:49] dippal.

[1:14:51] For the rays stadium, and this

[1:14:52] needs to stop.

[1:14:54] You guys are stewards of our

[1:14:57] money, and you're fought doing --

[1:14:58] you're not doing it well, and we

[1:15:01] don't need an african american

[1:15:03] arts and cultural center.

[1:15:06] We need sidewalks more.

[1:15:07] We need -- there are some places

[1:15:09] there is not even any sidewalks.

[1:15:12] We need roads.

[1:15:15] Over behind the skating rink in

[1:15:17] brandon one, some pipes going to

[1:15:19] be collapsing because there is a

[1:15:21] big dip right behind it.

[1:15:23] So let's get stuff done.

[1:15:24] >> ken hagan: thank you,

[1:15:25] MS. Herndon.

[1:15:29] Mark kiddo then greg nemey who's

[1:15:30] virtual.

[1:15:33] Last speaker.

[1:15:34] Good morning.

[1:15:35] >> good morning, commissioners.

[1:15:37] My name is mark kiddo, I want to

[1:15:41] thank the board, what was that?

[1:15:41] Okay.

[1:15:42] >> ken hagan: time's up.

[1:15:43] >> I want to thank the board for

[1:15:44] dopting a shorts-term rental

[1:15:46] ordinance and for taking

[1:15:47] seriously the amendments

[1:15:48] residents placed before you.

[1:15:51] Two of those protections a real

[1:15:52] complaint system and progressive

[1:15:54] fines with proactive enforcement

[1:15:56] are moving forward.

[1:15:58] That matters, it is progress,

[1:16:00] but progress is not the finish

[1:16:00] line.

[1:16:02] This ordinance is only the

[1:16:02] beginning.

[1:16:04] Paper on the books does not

[1:16:05] protect the single-family, a

[1:16:07] single guest, or a single

[1:16:09] neighborhood until it produces

[1:16:11] actionable results.

[1:16:12] Registration without

[1:16:13] accountability is a list.

[1:16:15] Fines without follow-through are

[1:16:15] empty words.

[1:16:17] The test is not whether you pass

[1:16:18] something.

[1:16:20] The test is whether lives and

[1:16:21] property are safer because of

[1:16:22] what you did.

[1:16:25] Which brings me to what is still

[1:16:26] missing.

[1:16:28] Mandatory safety inspection

[1:16:30] before registration was not

[1:16:31] included.

[1:16:32] That decision carries weight.

[1:16:34] Short-term rentals have burned,

[1:16:36] homes have been destroyed,

[1:16:37] surrounding properties have been

[1:16:38] damaged.

[1:16:39] Lives have been put at risk, and

[1:16:40] inin

[1:16:43] insome places lost, these are

[1:16:44] not theritical harms.

[1:16:45] They are documented ones.

[1:16:46] You are now on notice.

[1:16:47] I need you to understand what

[1:16:49] that decision lands like in a

[1:16:50] neighborhood that is already

[1:16:52] watched short-term rentals

[1:16:53] multiple that has already called

[1:16:54] the sheriff when dozens of

[1:16:56] people poured into a single

[1:16:58] house, that already lives with

[1:16:59] the knowledge that the next fire

[1:17:01] MAY not be someone else's story.

[1:17:04] If a short-term rental in

[1:17:05] hillsborough county becomes the

[1:17:06] site of a fire that takes the

[1:17:08] life of a vacationer, neighbor,

[1:17:10] or a first responder, or that

[1:17:12] destroys a neighbor's home, this

[1:17:15] board willobe part -- will own

[1:17:17] part of that outcome.

[1:17:18] Not because you created the

[1:17:18] industry, but because you had

[1:17:20] the chance to require basic life

[1:17:21] safety inspection under the

[1:17:23] florida building code and fire

[1:17:27] predges code -- prevention code

[1:17:28] before registration took effect.

[1:17:29] You chose not to.

[1:17:30] There is a practical path a.

[1:17:31] Modest value added fee on

[1:17:32] registration can fund the

[1:17:33] inspections.

[1:17:34] Fire personnel already trained

[1:17:36] in the lifesaving standards can

[1:17:38] conduct them.

[1:17:40] The system can be

[1:17:40] self-sustaining.

[1:17:42] It protects guests, it protects

[1:17:44] neighbors, it protects the

[1:17:45] county.

[1:17:46] Other counties have already

[1:17:47] shown that it can done within

[1:17:48] state law.

[1:17:48] We ask for it.

[1:17:50] The records shows why it

[1:17:51] matters.

[1:17:52] So again, I thank you for what

[1:17:54] you did adopt, and I urge you

[1:17:56] not to, do not treat this

[1:17:57] ordinance as complete.

[1:17:59] Demand results, revisit the life

[1:18:01] safety inspection because when

[1:18:03] the next preventable tragedy

[1:18:05] happens, the question will not

[1:18:06] be whether you have an

[1:18:07] ordinance.

[1:18:10] The question will be whether you

[1:18:11] have the courage to make it mean

[1:18:12] something.

[1:18:13] Thank you for your time.

[1:18:14] >> ken hagan: thank you,

[1:18:16] MR. Kiddo.

[1:18:17] Greg nemey virtual, did greg

[1:18:20] sign up?

[1:18:22] >> greg, can you hear us?

[1:18:22] >> I can.

[1:18:24] Can you hear me?

[1:18:25] >> yes, we can, sir, go ahead.

[1:18:27] >> ken hagan: yes, please

[1:18:29] continue.

[1:18:30] >> first, thank you to the

[1:18:31] commissioners for taking up the

[1:18:34] issue of short-term and vacation

[1:18:36] rentals in our residential

[1:18:37] neighborhoods.

[1:18:38] It's a topic which has proven to

[1:18:40] be a serious problem in our

[1:18:42] communities, one which I believe

[1:18:44] is well past due for common

[1:18:46] sense regulation.

[1:18:47] The bay crest park development

[1:18:50] where I live is a long

[1:18:51] established neighborhood of

[1:18:53] single-family houses.

[1:18:55] `it has always been a close knit

[1:18:56] community where we take -- where

[1:18:57] we know our neighbors and take

[1:19:00] pride in our homes.

[1:19:02] Since hurricane helene, there

[1:19:06] are now over 125 of these homes

[1:19:09] being rented shorttime

[1:19:10] short-term and

[1:19:11] vacation rentals.

[1:19:11] They are changing the character

[1:19:12] of the neighborhood.

[1:19:14] not all of those businesses have

[1:19:15] caused problems.

[1:19:18] Some are well run, bed their

[1:19:20] clients and exercise restraints,

[1:19:23] understanding that this is not a

[1:19:24] tourist town but a residential

[1:19:26] family neighborhood.

[1:19:27] Unfortunately, the economics of

[1:19:31] the str business rate incentives

[1:19:34] for bad actors to cut corners.

[1:19:36] They ignore the building codes,

[1:19:38] safety, fire, and occupancy

[1:19:40] laws, in order to maximize

[1:19:41] short-term profits.

[1:19:44] When this causes problems for

[1:19:46] full-time residents, the current

[1:19:48] regulatory system has left us

[1:19:50] without protection or recourse.

[1:19:52] That is why this ordinance is so

[1:19:54] badly needed.

[1:19:56] With over 3,000 such businesses

[1:19:59] already operating in the county,

[1:20:01] these programs will continue to

[1:20:03] grow until they are addressed

[1:20:05] and this ordinance provides a

[1:20:06] framework for doing that now

[1:20:09] before it's too late.

[1:20:10] Finally I wish to join my

[1:20:14] neighbors in asking one further

[1:20:16] addition to this ordinance.

[1:20:18] Understanding the main purpose

[1:20:21] of the resolution is as it

[1:20:23] states to protect the health,

[1:20:25] safety, and welfare of

[1:20:27] hillsborough county citizens and

[1:20:28] visitors and knowing that a

[1:20:30] large number of these businesses

[1:20:32] have already begun operating in

[1:20:35] the county without inspecting

[1:20:37] regulation, I wish to encourage

[1:20:38] the board to add one new clause

[1:20:41] to section e, that clause should

[1:20:42] provide that each such

[1:20:45] short-term rental property shall

[1:20:50] receive an initial inspection as

[1:20:51] soon after the filing of their

[1:20:54] affidavit of compliance as the

[1:20:55] county enforcement officer is

[1:20:56] available for such purpose.

[1:20:58] This specific and narrow scope

[1:21:00] of this initial inspection will

[1:21:03] be to ensure that minimal

[1:21:06] conditions necessary to protect

[1:21:10] the safety and property of both

[1:21:11] the residents in the surrounding

[1:21:13] neighborhood and of the visitors

[1:21:15] in that facility will be taken

[1:21:18] care of.

[1:21:20] I would lielg like to thank you

[1:21:24] once again for taking this up.

[1:21:25] >> ken hagan: thank you, sir.

[1:21:25] All right that closes public

[1:21:26] comment.

[1:21:26] We will go into board

[1:21:27] discussion.

[1:21:29] Commissioner wostal, you're

[1:21:30] recognized.

[1:21:30] >> joshua wostal: thank you,

[1:21:31] MR. Chair.

[1:21:32] And I would just say to the

[1:21:34] speakers I have no doubt just

[1:21:35] like every other ordinance that

[1:21:38] we put into place initially we

[1:21:40] always come back with changes,

[1:21:43] maybe unexpected -- unintended

[1:21:45] consequences or simply

[1:21:47] oversights and I'll continue to

[1:21:48] be supportive of this.

[1:21:50] Director gross has personally

[1:21:52] assisted me in dealing with

[1:21:54] residents that have been

[1:21:56] intentionally abused by

[1:21:58] neighbors that are hosting what

[1:22:00] is commonly referred to as

[1:22:02] accessory dwelling units in

[1:22:03] these short-term rentals.

[1:22:06] I know that they plague the west

[1:22:08] tampa community as well as the

[1:22:10] town 'n' country area.

[1:22:12] We've ran into situations of

[1:22:15] people parbing r -- parking

[1:22:17] RVs in their parking lots and

[1:22:19] running pvc pipe and drilling

[1:22:20] into their sewage lines and

[1:22:21] arenting out those.

[1:22:23] It's a myriad of problems that

[1:22:24] exist with this.

[1:22:26] I for one am a fan of the least

[1:22:28] amount of government as

[1:22:28] possible.

[1:22:30] but unfortunately in this

[1:22:31] situation, there is just so many

[1:22:33] bad actors that unless society

[1:22:36] is willing to accept vigilante

[1:22:39] behavior, we're going to have to

[1:22:41] empower staff to regulate these

[1:22:44] and more importantly the

[1:22:46] sheriffs, empower them to not

[1:22:48] violate constitutional rights,

[1:22:50] but when we plan for these

[1:22:52] ommunities, we plan for certain

[1:22:55] things like impacts to the roads

[1:22:57] and mobility and parking

[1:22:59] requirements, and when you have

[1:23:02] houses that being listed as

[1:23:04] revenue generator for four

[1:23:06] families in a single family

[1:23:07] home, well you're introducing

[1:23:10] new impacts that we didn't

[1:23:11] originally expect and charge

[1:23:12] that developer.

[1:23:14] And that new homeowner that is

[1:23:16] now turning this into a business

[1:23:17] should be held accountable to

[1:23:19] pay all of those additional

[1:23:20] impacts to the surrounding

[1:23:23] community that were not planned planned

[1:23:24] for when that community was

[1:23:25] built.

[1:23:26] One thing that did stick out to

[1:23:28] me from one of the speakers that

[1:23:29] I agree with is that I believe

[1:23:32] that the initial fee if it's

[1:23:35] $200 to create them in the

[1:23:37] database and the system is fine.

[1:23:38] I don't know that the

[1:23:39] reoccurring fee annually should

[1:23:42] be that same amount.

[1:23:45] I think it should be more of

[1:23:48] when bona fide complaints and

[1:23:51] inspections produce a result,

[1:23:53] then you know we fine them, and

[1:23:55] those fines should be being used

[1:23:58] to directly benefit the code

[1:23:59] enforcement's budget and pay for

[1:24:01] their staff's time.

[1:24:03] So I don't know if we've

[1:24:07] discussed exactly what the

[1:24:09] $600,000 a year expected is

[1:24:10] going to be.

[1:24:13] i don't know what, went into

[1:24:15] deciding tht it needs to be

[1:24:17] $200 a year every year.

[1:24:20] The initial registration fee I'd

[1:24:22] understand, and paying for

[1:24:24] inspections and then fines, bt,

[1:24:26] if somebody has an answer for

[1:24:27] that, I would be happy to hear

[1:24:28] it.

[1:24:30] The other thing that I'm wanted

[1:24:33] to ask is that when we fine

[1:24:37] someone, are we able to then

[1:24:38] proceed into court afterwards?

[1:24:45] Like we do for fining anyone

[1:24:45] else?

[1:24:47] >> I'm going to ask johanna if

[1:24:48] she can come up and answer those

[1:24:49] questions.

[1:24:50] One as it relates to your

[1:24:52] question on how they determine

[1:24:53] the fee, and second as it

[1:24:57] relates to the enforcement.

[1:25:00] >> yes, commissioner.

[1:25:02] The $200 resolution -- fee

[1:25:03] that's proposed to be

[1:25:04] established by resolution for

[1:25:06] the annual registration was

[1:25:09] determined based on coordination

[1:25:12] with code enforcement to kind of

[1:25:15] evaluate what would support the

[1:25:17] implementation of the program.

[1:25:19] It's expected that there will be

[1:25:21] a vendor who wile be selected in

[1:25:22] order to -- will be selected in

[1:25:25] order to establish the web-based

[1:25:28] registry and the $200 is

[1:25:31] proposed to support the

[1:25:33] implementation and ongoing

[1:25:35] monitoring and code enforcement

[1:25:36] staff time.

[1:25:39] It is significantly lower than

[1:25:40] most of the other local

[1:25:42] governments throughout the state

[1:25:44] that we've looked at.

[1:25:45] >> joshua wostal: okay.

[1:25:46] That's a fair enough answer.

[1:25:47] Thank you.

[1:25:48] >> joshua wostal: and

[1:25:49] additionally on the code

[1:25:53] enforcement side, violations of

[1:25:55] the ordinance would be processed

[1:25:57] through code enforcement, so

[1:25:59] there would be the opportunity

[1:26:00] once it's determined that

[1:26:02] someone's operating without a

[1:26:03] registration, do go through the

[1:26:09] code enforcement process with

[1:26:10] that.

[1:26:10] >> joshua wostal: which if they

[1:26:12] don't comply can eventually lead

[1:26:13] to going to court.

[1:26:14] >> absolutely.

[1:26:14] >> joshua wostal: okay, because

[1:26:15] that have

[1:26:16] is a very strong

[1:26:17] enforcement mechanism that I

[1:26:18] think has been understated.

[1:26:20] I mean, that is something that

[1:26:24] will properly motivate a bad

[1:26:25] actor to adhere to the

[1:26:26] ordinance, so thank you for

[1:26:26] clearing that up.

[1:26:28] Thank you.

[1:26:28] >> ken hagan: all right,

[1:26:33] commissioner cohen.

[1:26:34] >> christine miller: he is going

[1:26:35] to let me jump in.

[1:26:36] >> ken hagan: commissioner

[1:26:36] miller.

[1:26:37] >> christine miller: thank you,

[1:26:37] MR. Chair.

[1:26:38] First I wanted to give credit

[1:26:38] where credit is due.

[1:26:40] And thank commissioner cohen for

[1:26:44] leading the charge on this item and for

[1:26:45] getting us to this point.

[1:26:47] I think that we know we're

[1:26:48] addressing a needed change.

[1:26:50] When most of the e-mails in

[1:26:51] opposition are just to make it

[1:26:54] more strict, so I'm very pleased

[1:26:55] that we're bringing this

[1:26:55] forward.

[1:26:56] This ordinance gives the county

[1:26:57] an important framework for

[1:26:58] addressing short-term rentals

[1:26:59] while protecting the quality of

[1:27:00] life in our neighborhoods, and

[1:27:02] I'm happy to support this item

[1:27:03] today.

[1:27:04] i know that our staff will

[1:27:07] continue to monitor and

[1:27:08] implement and advise the board

[1:27:10] as modifications and stronger

[1:27:12] policies are needed moving

[1:27:12] forward.

[1:27:13] So thank you for your leadership

[1:27:14] on this, sir.

[1:27:15] >> ken hagan: commissioner

[1:27:15] cohen.

[1:27:16] >> harry cohen: thank you very

[1:27:16] much.

[1:27:18] And thank you, MR. Chair.

[1:27:20] Several months ago I asked the

[1:27:22] county attorney to look into

[1:27:23] available options to better

[1:27:25] address the impacts created by

[1:27:27] short-term vacation rentals and

[1:27:30] support effective enforcement

[1:27:31] when violations of the code

[1:27:32] occur.

[1:27:34] And this was directly the result

[1:27:37] of citizen complaints to all of

[1:27:41] our offices related to parties

[1:27:43] and, you know, 40 people are

[1:27:44] next door in the middle of the

[1:27:47] night all making lots of noise

[1:27:50] and who can we call to get some

[1:27:51] relief.

[1:27:53] The florida legislature has

[1:27:55] preempted local governments from

[1:27:56] regulating the zoning locations

[1:27:58] of short-term vacation rentals

[1:28:00] and rental durations beyond the

[1:28:02] existing regulations that the

[1:28:05] county had in effect in 2011.

[1:28:06] Code enforcement staff and the

[1:28:08] county attorney's office have

[1:28:10] coordinated to develop an

[1:28:11] ordinance that is designed to

[1:28:13] address the issues presented by

[1:28:15] short-term vacation rentals

[1:28:16] within the framework of state

[1:28:17] law.

[1:28:18] Short-term vacation rental

[1:28:20] owners will be required to

[1:28:22] register with the county and

[1:28:23] comply with significant

[1:28:24] operational requirements.

[1:28:27] The ordinance will support

[1:28:28] monitoring enforcement and rapid

[1:28:30] resolution of nuisances

[1:28:32] affecting neighborhoods.

[1:28:34] The ordinance includes

[1:28:35] additional important features.

[1:28:38] The owner must provide an

[1:28:39] affidavit affirming compliance

[1:28:41] with the code of ordinances and

[1:28:44] land development code, and the

[1:28:47] owner must authorize inspections

[1:28:49] which can occur anytime upon the

[1:28:50] request by code enforcement or

[1:28:51] the sheriff.

[1:28:52] I'm going to come back to this

[1:28:55] in a minute because it relates

[1:28:57] to one of the issues thatt was

[1:28:58] brawtd up in public comment.

[1:28:59] -- that was brought up in public

[1:29:00] comment.

[1:29:01] The owner must designate a local

[1:29:02] responsible party to manage the

[1:29:04] property, and who can be called

[1:29:05] on by code enforcement, law

[1:29:07] enforcement, or other county

[1:29:10] agencies to timely respond to

[1:29:11] issues at the property within

[1:29:12] one hour of the request.

[1:29:15] If there is a party going on at

[1:29:18] midnight and soeone calls our

[1:29:20] 24-hour a day, 7-day number,

[1:29:23] they need to be able to reach a

[1:29:24] responsible party that can get

[1:29:27] to the property within an hour.

[1:29:31] The owner must inform renters of

[1:29:34] our local rules, and post

[1:29:35] important information in the

[1:29:37] rental including emergency and

[1:29:39] safety information, trash and

[1:29:41] recycling pick-up dates,

[1:29:43] advising of the county's noise

[1:29:44] ordinance, and information on

[1:29:47] permissible parking spaces.

[1:29:49] I intend to continue to monitor

[1:29:51] these issues and in coordination

[1:29:53] with code enforcement and the

[1:29:54] sheriff, and the county

[1:29:55] attorney, ensure that we

[1:29:58] continue to employ best

[1:30:00] practices in protecting our

[1:30:01] residential neighborhoods.

[1:30:02] i want to address specifically

[1:30:05] some of the issues that came up

[1:30:08] once we set this public hearing.

[1:30:09] There were three main requests

[1:30:11] that were made to us in terms of

[1:30:13] the strengthening the ordinance.

[1:30:15] One was to make sure that we had

[1:30:17] a designated phone number like I

[1:30:18] mentioned earlier, which is

[1:30:21] going to be part of the rfp.

[1:30:24] The second is to make sure that

[1:30:27] the fine structure is really

[1:30:28] enforceable and what I want to

[1:30:30] say to commissioners wostal's

[1:30:32] excellent question, is not

[1:30:35] omwill it go to court, but when

[1:30:37] because these are mostly

[1:30:39] nonhomesteaded properties, these

[1:30:41] fines will turn into a lien and

[1:30:43] that lien will be able to be

[1:30:45] enforced on these properties to

[1:30:47] make sure that it's actually

[1:30:48] actually

[1:30:48] paid.

[1:30:50] The third issue that came up was

[1:30:53] the issue of compulsory

[1:30:54] inspection in advance of

[1:30:55] registration as opposed to what

[1:30:58] we have, which is to provide an

[1:31:01] affidavit confirming compliance.

[1:31:05] And you know, what I have maybe

[1:31:07] I'll ask johanna if or code

[1:31:08] enforcement if they want to

[1:31:10] address this particular issue

[1:31:13] and is then I'll just comment on

[1:31:15] what I think is a way for us to

[1:31:16] move forward to keep this issue

[1:31:20] in front of us.

[1:31:21] >> yes, commissioner cohen, you

[1:31:22] described that accurately.

[1:31:25] What the process will be is that

[1:31:29] in order to receive the required

[1:31:31] registration, the owner must

[1:31:33] authorize inspections that can

[1:31:37] take place anytime after we

[1:31:39] receive any concern or complaint

[1:31:41] that would immediately allow

[1:31:43] code enforcement --

[1:31:44] >> harry cohen: would trigger an

[1:31:44] inspection.

[1:31:45] >> would trigger the inspection,

[1:31:48] and if there is, if there is any

[1:31:50] delay on the owner's part or

[1:31:52] they don't show up, there is an

[1:31:54] additional no show fee that will

[1:31:55] incentivize them to make sure

[1:31:56] that the property is made

[1:31:58] available for inspection.

[1:32:01] But that would create a separate

[1:32:02] violation as well.

[1:32:03] >> harry cohen: okay.

[1:32:04] So one of the comments or more

[1:32:06] than one of the comments that

[1:32:07] were made earlier is that this

[1:32:09] is not the end of the work, and

[1:32:11] what I want to say to everyone

[1:32:12] is is that we're going to pass

[1:32:13] this, we're going implement it,

[1:32:15] and then we're going to monitor

[1:32:16] and see how it, how it does.

[1:32:19] And what I'm going to suggest is

[1:32:21] that 90 days after it goes into

[1:32:23] effect, we have a staff report,

[1:32:26] and we can assess how we're

[1:32:26] doing.

[1:32:29] We can bring back up the issue

[1:32:31] of whether or not we should

[1:32:33] entertain doing compulsory

[1:32:36] inspections based on what our

[1:32:36] initial experience has been, and

[1:32:38] I think commissioner wostal

[1:32:40] makes an excellent point.

[1:32:42] Once it's up and running, it MAY

[1:32:45] be possible that the $200 fee

[1:32:46] can actually be reduced.

[1:32:48] We'll take a look at that.

[1:32:50] So I want to assure everyone

[1:32:51] this really is just the

[1:32:53] beginning of the process, but

[1:32:55] it's a very meaningful step

[1:32:58] forward that is going to give

[1:32:59] the neighborhoods some relief

[1:33:01] and some ability to have the

[1:33:04] professional help of our staff

[1:33:06] available to them to enforce

[1:33:09] laws and regulations to keep our

[1:33:10] neighborhoods safe and peaceful.

[1:33:13] And with that, I would like to

[1:33:14] move approval of the ordinance.

[1:33:15] >> ken hagan: all right, we got

[1:33:17] a motion by commissioner cohen,

[1:33:19] second commissioner myers.

[1:33:27] Please record your vote.

[1:33:28] >> motion carried 7-0.

[1:33:30] >> ken hagan: now we have the

[1:33:30] companion item.

[1:33:32] >> the companion item is item b.

[1:33:34] 1, this is the resolution and

[1:33:37] providing for the fee schedule.

[1:33:38] >> ken hagan: okay, motion

[1:33:39] commissioner cohen, second,

[1:33:39] commissioner wostal.

[1:33:41] Please record your voe on

[1:33:47] vote on b. 1.

[1:33:50] >> motion carried 7-0.

[1:33:50] >> ken hagan: okay.

[1:33:51] D. 3.

[1:33:51] >> thank you.

[1:33:54] Next item is item d. 3, this is

[1:33:56] a public hearing relating to the

[1:33:57] cross-connection and back flow

[1:33:58] control.

[1:34:01] We have greg hoss from the

[1:34:01] county attorney's office to

[1:34:02] present this.

[1:34:03] This is a --

[1:34:04] >> good morning.

[1:34:05] Greg hoss, county attorney's

[1:34:06] office.

[1:34:07] Commissioners, this is a public

[1:34:08] hearing to consider a draft

[1:34:10] ordinance to amend chapter 1

[1:34:11] twub of

[1:34:12] 121of the hillsborough county code

[1:34:14] of ordinances and laws relating

[1:34:15] to cross-connection and back

[1:34:16] flow control.

[1:34:17] The environmental services

[1:34:19] division has asked for this

[1:34:22] proposed amendment, which will

[1:34:24] 1, eliminate the hillsborough

[1:34:25] county back flow control board,

[1:34:27] 2, give code enforcement

[1:34:29] officers the ability to enforce

[1:34:30] chapter 121, and 3, provide that

[1:34:31] future amendments to the

[1:34:32] cross-connection control plan

[1:34:33] will be approved by the board of

[1:34:34] county commissioners by

[1:34:35] resolution.

[1:34:37] the existing cross-connection

[1:34:38] control board was established to

[1:34:40] hear appeals to actions taken by

[1:34:42] county staff under the

[1:34:43] cross-connection control plan.

[1:34:45] There has not been an appeal

[1:34:45] submitted to the board for the

[1:34:48] past several years.

[1:34:50] With the elimination of the

[1:34:50] hillsborough county

[1:34:53] cross-connection control board,

[1:34:55] future appeals MAY be heard by

[1:34:57] the -- hillsborough county has

[1:34:58] maintained a cross-connection

[1:34:59] back flow prevention program for

[1:35:00] many years as required by

[1:35:01] federal and state law said.

[1:35:03] These changes will streamline

[1:35:05] the system and will not have a

[1:35:06] negative impact on the program.

[1:35:08] We have county staff including

[1:35:09] kevin moran director of

[1:35:11] environmental services and joe

[1:35:12] gross director of code

[1:35:13] enforcement here to help answer

[1:35:14] any questions you MAY have.

[1:35:15] This is a public hearing.

[1:35:16] >> ken hagan: all right, thank

[1:35:16] you.

[1:35:16] This is a public hearing.

[1:35:22] No one has signed up to speak

[1:35:23] what's the pleasure of the board

[1:35:25] motion to approve, commissioner

[1:35:26] myers, second, commissioner

[1:35:27] cohen.

[1:35:36] Please record your vote.

[1:35:37] >> motion carried 7-0.

[1:35:37] >> ken hagan: d. 4.

[1:35:39] >> d. 4.

[1:35:40] This is the next public hearing.

[1:35:42] This is related to the

[1:35:44] stormwater management non-ad

[1:35:45] valorem assessment rates and

[1:35:47] non-ad valorem assessment roll

[1:35:48] for the next calendar year.

[1:35:49] And josh bellotti will take us

[1:35:52] through this presentation.

[1:35:53] >> okay, good morning,

[1:35:54] commissioners.

[1:35:57] Josh bellotti, engineering and

[1:35:57] operations.

[1:35:58] This is the annual public

[1:36:00] hearing to set the stormwater

[1:36:02] non-ad valorem assessment rates

[1:36:03] and the assessment roll for

[1:36:05] calendar year 2026.

[1:36:07] The stormwater management

[1:36:09] program is established by

[1:36:09] ordinance, and the stormwater

[1:36:12] fee is a non-ad valorem

[1:36:13] assessment included on the

[1:36:15] annual property tax bill.

[1:36:16] I'll start with the quick recap

[1:36:18] of some of the rate discussions

[1:36:20] from this year.

[1:36:22] Raftelis the county's rate

[1:36:23] consultant completed the 2026

[1:36:25] rate study in FEBRUARY, updating

[1:36:25] from the previous study

[1:36:28] conducted in 2019.

[1:36:29] They had coordinated their

[1:36:31] efforts with black & veatch and

[1:36:32] inincorporated recommendations

[1:36:33] from their comprehensive

[1:36:35] regional stormwater evaluation.

[1:36:37] The board received the rate

[1:36:38] study in APRIL, which included

[1:36:41] rate recommendations for both

[1:36:42] capital projects as well as

[1:36:44] enhanced maintenance.

[1:36:45] Staff returned in JUNE to

[1:36:47] provide the board with updated

[1:36:49] rate options to consider,

[1:36:49] including removal of the

[1:36:51] increase for capital projects

[1:36:55] due to the utilization of

[1:36:56] cdbg-dr grant funding for

[1:36:56] stormwater projects over the

[1:36:57] next several years.

[1:36:59] The direction was proceed with

[1:37:01] the increased tie to enhanced

[1:37:02] maintenance only.

[1:37:03] And so we scheduled the public

[1:37:04] hearing for SEPTEMBER 2nd, and

[1:37:06] mailed out notices to all of the

[1:37:07] assessed properties on

[1:37:09] JULY 20th.

[1:37:11] As we presented in JUNE, the top

[1:37:12] maintenance activities for

[1:37:14] stormwater include things like

[1:37:15] clearing ditches and pipes,

[1:37:17] mowing and cleaning canals, and

[1:37:18] repairing structures.

[1:37:20] And while these activities are

[1:37:22] funded in part with stormwater

[1:37:23] assessment revenue, they're not

[1:37:25] fully supported by the

[1:37:27] assessment, and rely on

[1:37:28] $20 million and annual general

[1:37:29] funds to supplement.

[1:37:31] We did share for the board's

[1:37:32] future consideration the option

[1:37:34] for increasing the stormwater

[1:37:35] assessment to eliminate the need

[1:37:37] for general fund

[1:37:38] supplementation.

[1:37:39] But for today the proposal is

[1:37:41] just for a 15% increase in these

[1:37:42] maintenance activities.

[1:37:43] , which

[1:37:45] amounts to an additional

[1:37:46] $2.7 million that would go

[1:37:48] towards expanding contracted

[1:37:50] maintenance services such as

[1:37:51] right-of-way mowing, canal and

[1:37:53] slope mowing, ditch clearing and

[1:37:55] restoration, and pipe and inlet

[1:37:56] cleaning.

[1:37:57] This is consistent with the

[1:37:58] approach that we also presenteds

[1:38:01] to you in JUNE, which was to put

[1:38:02] additional funding towards

[1:38:04] contracts for routinely

[1:38:05] scheduled maintenance as a

[1:38:06] strategy to help balance the

[1:38:08] increased demand and service

[1:38:09] level expectations associated

[1:38:12] with county-wide growth.

[1:38:14] To generate that additional

[1:38:16] $2.7 million in annual revenue,

[1:38:17] the proposed assessment increase

[1:38:19] is illustrated here for the

[1:38:20] small, medium, and large tiers

[1:38:22] of the residential rates.

[1:38:24] The medium tier represents one

[1:38:26] equivalent residential unit or

[1:38:28] eru, and includes the majority

[1:38:30] of residential properties

[1:38:31] assessed.

[1:38:32] Excuse me.

[1:38:34] that tier would have a $6 annual

[1:38:38] increase from $86.49 to

[1:38:40] $92.58 annually.

[1:38:42] And for comparison, this chart

[1:38:43] shows how the county's rate

[1:38:44] stacks up against other cities

[1:38:47] and counties, and our proposed

[1:38:48] rate, for example, falls just

[1:38:50] below pasco and sarasota, and

[1:38:52] remains substantially lower than

[1:38:54] pinellas and the city of tampa.

[1:38:56] So in summary, today's public

[1:38:57] hearing is to set the stormwater

[1:38:59] assessment rates and tax roll

[1:39:02] for calendar year 2026.

[1:39:03] Written noticed were sent via

[1:39:06] first class mail to all

[1:39:07] 331,000-plus properties that

[1:39:09] receive this assessment, and

[1:39:11] notice of the public hearing was

[1:39:12] advertised in the tampa bay

[1:39:13] times on JULY 5th.

[1:39:14] The notices state that property

[1:39:15] owners have the right to file

[1:39:17] written objections.

[1:39:19] To date public works has

[1:39:19] received 12 written objections

[1:39:21] to the 2026 stormwater

[1:39:22] assessment.

[1:39:24] That concludes my presentation.

[1:39:25] I'll be happy to answer

[1:39:26] questions that you might have.

[1:39:27] This is a public hearing.

[1:39:28] >> ken hagan: all right, thanks,

[1:39:29] josh.

[1:39:30] This is a public hearing.

[1:39:33] Five individuals have sined up.

[1:39:35] We have charlotte butler who's

[1:39:35] virtual.

[1:39:37] Followed by tracy thompson

[1:39:38] virtual.

[1:39:41] And robert mindinol.

[1:39:45] Is MS. Butler on the line?

[1:39:50] >> can you hear us? Charlotte,

[1:39:51] can you go ahead and unmute

[1:39:53] yourself, please?

[1:39:55] >> hello, I am here, and I am

[1:39:55] sorry.

[1:39:56] I pushed the wong button.

[1:39:58] >> ken hagan: good morning.

[1:39:58] >> yes, charlotte butler.

[1:40:01] I live in plant city area

[1:40:03] unincorporated part of the

[1:40:04] county.

[1:40:05] As per the person I have

[1:40:08] I spoke with

[1:40:09] in the stormwater management

[1:40:11] department, the total gross area

[1:40:12] as shown on property appraiser

[1:40:13] information is used to determine

[1:40:16] the impervious surface.

[1:40:17] However, based on a review of

[1:40:19] several properties in my

[1:40:22] immediate area, the total gross

[1:40:25] area does not include paved

[1:40:27] areas such as concrete or

[1:40:29] asphalt driveways, stand alone

[1:40:32] sheds, and pools which are all

[1:40:33] impervious surfaces.

[1:40:34] Although pools and stand alone

[1:40:37] sheds are listed in the extra

[1:40:39] section of the property

[1:40:41] appraiser information, there are

[1:40:43] no associated measurements and

[1:40:47] paved areas that are, that are

[1:40:48] not listed at all.

[1:40:50] None of these extras are counted

[1:40:52] towards the total gross area for

[1:40:54] purposes of determining

[1:40:55] impervious surface.

[1:40:57] Yet they most definitely create

[1:41:00] water runoff.

[1:41:04] Why is paved stated in the

[1:41:06] notice section that I received,

[1:41:11] but it is not included as a

[1:41:11] measurement?

[1:41:16] And the terminology of building

[1:41:19] footprint and total gross area

[1:41:20] could be construed a couple of

[1:41:23] different ways.

[1:41:25] Using the 2025 tax collector

[1:41:27] data, some of the reviewed

[1:41:29] properties that are in the same

[1:41:32] building footprint range as me

[1:41:35] and close to my total gross area

[1:41:40] were assessed at $132.33.

[1:41:41] However, a couple of properties

[1:41:43] with total gross areas that are

[1:41:47] 40 to 60% larger than my total

[1:41:49] gross area, were assessed at a

[1:41:53] lower fee of $86.49.

[1:41:54] Why?

[1:41:55] Clearly there is some

[1:41:57] discrepancy regarding the

[1:41:59] calculation used for stormwater

[1:42:01] management assessment fee that

[1:42:03] should be addressed before

[1:42:07] applying the increased fee to

[1:42:09] the 2026 property tax.

[1:42:11] A more equitable stormwater fee

[1:42:13] would compare the total gross

[1:42:17] area of impervious surface to

[1:42:19] the total land units.

[1:42:22] Using that same tax collector

[1:42:24] data, I create

[1:42:27] created a spreadsheet

[1:42:28] with a simple formula based on

[1:42:30] total gross area to total land

[1:42:34] units where one acre equals

[1:42:35] 43,560 square feet.

[1:42:38] Using this methodology, the

[1:42:40] assessment fee would equate to

[1:42:43] 2% of impervious surface for my

[1:42:43] property.

[1:42:46] And should qualify me for a fee

[1:42:49] exemption or a sizable fee

[1:42:49] reduction.

[1:42:53] At the very least, my 2026

[1:42:54] assessment should be changed

[1:42:56] from one of the highest fees to

[1:42:57] the lowest --

[1:42:58] >> christine miller: thank you

[1:42:59] for your comments, ma'am.

[1:43:00] Thank you very much.

[1:43:03] Next up is tracy thompson

[1:43:12] followed by robert mendinhaul.

[1:43:14] Did draysy check in.

[1:43:15] >> good morning, I'm tracy

[1:43:16] thompson a 27-year resident of

[1:43:17] hillsborough county and a

[1:43:22] tax-paying citizen.

[1:43:24] I did the same calculations as

[1:43:26] the lady who spoke right before

[1:43:28] me, and -- calculation consider

[1:43:31] the total acreage of these

[1:43:32] properties.

[1:43:35] Being that my property is almost

[1:43:36] 14 acres, and most of my roof

[1:43:39] size is actually

[1:43:41] actually barns, run in

[1:43:43] sheds and equipment sheds --

[1:43:44] agriculture, however I have no

[1:43:45] agriculture exemption because

[1:43:47] I'm a poor farmer and sal not

[1:43:49] to make much -- seem not to make

[1:43:51] much money as farming -- I do

[1:43:52] not have an agricultural

[1:43:54] exemption which would normally

[1:43:55] exempt me entirely.

[1:43:57] However being that I'm on

[1:43:58] 14 acres and even if you take

[1:44:01] the total roof space, the

[1:44:06] numbers of square feet

[1:44:08] impervious by square footage

[1:44:10] actually only 589 square feet.

[1:44:12] As opposed to what the

[1:44:15] assessment is taking, as if the

[1:44:16] whole roof line was sitting on

[1:44:18] one acre.

[1:44:21] So only 1.35% of the property is

[1:44:24] impervious, even the driveway is

[1:44:26] crushed asphalt which is

[1:44:26] pervious.

[1:44:29] So the whole calculation rests

[1:44:30] on roof alone.

[1:44:32] So I agree completely with the

[1:44:33] woman speaking prior to me.

[1:44:36] We need some additional research

[1:44:39] on how these numbers are arrived

[1:44:39] at.

[1:44:41] I also want to point out that in

[1:44:42] east hillsborough county seems I

[1:44:45] am also -- since I am also in

[1:44:48] plant city we have these

[1:44:49] enormous warehouses that have

[1:44:50] been installed on county line

[1:44:51] road and drifting south towards

[1:44:52] state road 60.

[1:44:56] We have these huge subdivisions

[1:44:58] that have been installed bigger

[1:45:00] apartment complexes, and all of

[1:45:02] those have been raised.

[1:45:05] Every one of them are raised up

[1:45:08] between six inches and 4 1/2

[1:45:08] feet.

[1:45:10] All the runoff from those are

[1:45:11] drifting down into the farms

[1:45:13] that surround them.

[1:45:15] So we're providing quite a bit

[1:45:20] of permeable land to absorb the

[1:45:20] ruboff

[1:45:22] rub -- runoff from these

[1:45:23] subdivisions.

[1:45:24] I'm not quite sure how we got

[1:45:25] lumped together with them in our

[1:45:25] rate assessment.

[1:45:28] Thank you so much for hearing

[1:45:28] me.

[1:45:31] >> ken hagan: thank you for your

[1:45:31] comments.

[1:45:35] Robert meninhall.

[1:45:35] Robert here?

[1:45:37] Followed by denise herndon and

[1:45:40] then last speaker tiffany rentz.

[1:45:45] Good morning.

[1:45:46] >> I want to thank the members

[1:45:47] of the board here for allowing

[1:45:49] me to speak this morning.

[1:45:52] This is the first time I've ever

[1:45:53] spoken to this group although

[1:45:54] I've attended several meetings.

[1:45:57] I am a land owner in odessa.

[1:46:00] Been here for, been in

[1:46:01] hillsborough county for over 40

[1:46:06] years, lived in odessa for 32

[1:46:07] years.

[1:46:08] I'm here to speak to you and I

[1:46:11] agree with the people who have

[1:46:13] spoken before me.

[1:46:14] These issues are similar issues

[1:46:21] but I have a couple more.

[1:46:25] I received this notice of this

[1:46:26] meeting at the end of the JULY I

[1:46:30] believe it was, the end of JULY,

[1:46:31] and and it was for this public

[1:46:32] hearing, to esablish a

[1:46:34] stormwater management assessment

[1:46:40] rates and roll for calendar year

[1:46:41] 2026.

[1:46:44] My issue is a kitchen table

[1:46:45] issue.

[1:46:45] Okay?

[1:46:46] Costs are going up, and every

[1:46:50] time we turn around, I get fee

[1:46:51] increases.

[1:46:53] I'm a retired individual, okay?

[1:46:54] So I have to think about how I'm

[1:46:56] am I going to pay for these

[1:47:03] things that are basically taxes.

[1:47:06] O this resolution doesn't take

[1:47:07] into consideration current

[1:47:09] stormwater mitigation by

[1:47:11] individual land owners, and I'll

[1:47:12] get to that in a minute.

[1:47:15] The ERUs are strictly based on

[1:47:18] assigned eru or the actual

[1:47:19] impervious scare

[1:47:20] pervious square footage.

[1:47:21] There is no indication of how

[1:47:26] the eru assessment for my

[1:47:29] property is assigned at all,

[1:47:31] none, and yet the notice told me

[1:47:33] what my proposed eru was going

[1:47:36] to be, 1.53 I think.

[1:47:38] My property is located in a

[1:47:39] flood zone z.

[1:47:41] This is unincorporated area.

[1:47:43] I'll show you that in a minute,

[1:47:46] and does -- and did not flood

[1:47:48] during helene and milton.

[1:47:50] All standing groundwater on my

[1:47:51] property during that time

[1:47:55] subsided in two days from

[1:47:56] milton.

[1:47:57] This is a plan form.

[1:48:01] This is what I, our particular

[1:48:02] property or building on our

[1:48:02] property.

[1:48:06] It's the only building right

[1:48:06] now.

[1:48:10] This is an aerial view.

[1:48:12] There is a one-acre pond that's

[1:48:14] eight feet deep when it's full,

[1:48:18] and then there is about three

[1:48:22] acres of wetlands, okay?

[1:48:25] All the, all of the runoff is

[1:48:27] either in from this area, from

[1:48:28] the keystone parm

[1:48:30] keystone park colony.

[1:48:32] All that runoff comes through my

[1:48:33] property, comes through large

[1:48:35] ditches that are in the south

[1:48:36] participant of the property on

[1:48:39] jones road, and in the eastern

[1:48:40] side of the property on angel

[1:48:41] lane.

[1:48:43] And this all flows through a

[1:48:46] culvert over into another

[1:48:48] wetlands area and ultimately

[1:48:49] ends up --

[1:48:49] >> ken hagan: thank you, sir.

[1:48:50] >> can you state your name for

[1:48:52] the record, please.

[1:48:54] >> yes, robert mendenhall.

[1:48:55] >> ken hagan: thank you, sir,

[1:48:57] appreciate your comments.

[1:48:58] Denise hunterren and then last

[1:49:10] speaker tiffany rentz.

[1:49:11] >> good morning, denise herndon

[1:49:13] again.

[1:49:16] This is concerning the maps that

[1:49:17] I had just shown you, the

[1:49:19] aerials from the hillsborough

[1:49:23] county site.

[1:49:27] When eric brown had come out to

[1:49:28] investigate the fence that

[1:49:31] somebody has put in concrete for

[1:49:32] the water that flows from the

[1:49:37] three lakes, gornto lake, my

[1:49:38] lake, chapman -- goes into

[1:49:40] chapman lakes and then goes into

[1:49:43] ten mile then goes underneath

[1:49:48] the highway 60.

[1:49:53] I know where this star here

[1:49:55] that's where the drainage from

[1:49:56] gornto lake, no one's cleaning

[1:49:57] it out.

[1:49:58] Eric brown didn't even know.

[1:49:59] We don't have an easement there

[1:50:01] or anything.

[1:50:05] I have no idea where chapman

[1:50:06] drains into ten mile lake.

[1:50:09] I do know where ten mile lake

[1:50:13] drains out.

[1:50:16] And I don't believe eric is a

[1:50:17] very good assessment.

[1:50:21] We aren't having water issues

[1:50:25] that would need to have the

[1:50:28] three drains or three lakes

[1:50:37] draining into the area under 60.

[1:50:40] That fence was never there.

[1:50:43] Some people say it was.

[1:50:44] It's in concrete.

[1:50:46] Well, cut it out.

[1:50:48] Like I said, it doesn't matter

[1:50:51] to me but it matters to other

[1:50:53] homeowners because I'm up on

[1:50:54] stilts.

[1:50:56] Even milton didn't come anywhere

[1:50:57] near my home.

[1:51:00] it killed a avocado tree because

[1:51:01] avocados and it wasn't a big

[1:51:05] one, it wasn't producing fruit

[1:51:08] yet, but someone was pumping

[1:51:10] water into the area because it

[1:51:13] came up, the water, the gornto

[1:51:18] lake came up three days later,

[1:51:20] so and I could see water flowing

[1:51:25] into my property.

[1:51:26] So, and it had to be on the

[1:51:28] south side of the road, because

[1:51:31] it was coming from the road,

[1:51:34] road tracks

[1:51:38] roded tracks would've been

[1:51:39] affected.

[1:51:41] I still heard trains going by.

[1:51:43] Water is going to go to the

[1:51:44] lowest point, but the county

[1:51:45] needs to have experienced people

[1:51:47] to come out and that fence

[1:51:49] should nt be there.

[1:51:52] It's a homemade fence that's

[1:51:54] been put in concrete.

[1:51:59] I have looked for 27 years

[1:52:00] wanting to tart a

[1:52:01] start a business in

[1:52:03] there, and I have alays gone

[1:52:04] around it long before just love

[1:52:05] coffee was there.

[1:52:06] Someone needs to do something

[1:52:08] about this fence, and if the

[1:52:09] other homeowners that are

[1:52:10] getting flooded don't do

[1:52:11] anything, oh, well,.

[1:52:13] >> ken hagan: thank you,

[1:52:13] MS. Herndon.

[1:52:14] Tiffany rentz.

[1:52:19] Is she on the line?

[1:52:20] >> tiffany did not sign in.

[1:52:21] >> ken hagan: all right, thank

[1:52:21] you.

[1:52:22] That closes public comment.

[1:52:24] We'll go into board discussion.

[1:52:25] Commissioner wostal.

[1:52:26] >> joshua wostal: yes.

[1:52:28] Just bonnie if staff could help

[1:52:31] the speaker 65 and over be made

[1:52:32] ware of the senior discounts

[1:52:33] that exist and help them

[1:52:36] navigate that I would appreciate

[1:52:38] it.

[1:52:39] >> ken hagan: okay.

[1:52:39] Don't see anyone else in the

[1:52:41] queue, so what's the pleasure of

[1:52:44] the board?

[1:52:46] Got a motion to approve d. 4 by

[1:52:48] commissioner myers, second

[1:52:48] commissioner boles.

[1:52:57] Please record your vote.

[1:52:58] >> motion carries 5-2 with

[1:52:59] commissioners cameron cepeda and

[1:53:01] wostal voting no.

[1:53:02] >> ken hagan: okay.

[1:53:02] Bonnie, next item.

[1:53:03] >> we ask now move to

[1:53:04] commissioner -- we can now move

[1:53:05] to commissioner items.

[1:53:07] The first item is commissioner

[1:53:09] boles' item, item f. 1, and then

[1:53:11] commissioner boles, item f. 2,

[1:53:12] first 1

[1:53:15] one regarding growth

[1:53:17] related infrastructure fee

[1:53:17] policy.

[1:53:18] >> ken hagan: commissioner

[1:53:18] boles.

[1:53:19] >> chris boles: thank you,

[1:53:21] MR. Chair.

[1:53:22] For several months my office has

[1:53:25] been kind of reviewing whatd

[1:53:26] what I'm

[1:53:28] kind of piecing together a

[1:53:29] mosaic of different things we

[1:53:30] need to look at as we continue

[1:53:32] to drean droaght -- address

[1:53:33] growth here in hillsborough

[1:53:33] county.

[1:53:38] I think it's no surprise that we

[1:53:40] continue to have these issues

[1:53:41] that come before us and we try

[1:53:44] to address them even today as

[1:53:46] we're addressing fees.

[1:53:47] We got to look at how we're

[1:53:49] paying for the growth that we're

[1:53:59] absorbing and the growth that

[1:54:00] we, this board, not this

[1:54:00] particular but the board of

[1:54:01] county commissioners has some

[1:54:05] regard in some ways neglected to

[1:54:06] perhaps bring forward.

[1:54:09] so part of that and ideas and

[1:54:10] some of the thought processes

[1:54:12] behind this was to put a very

[1:54:12] comprehensive backup document

[1:54:14] with that.

[1:54:16] So if you looked it was 57

[1:54:17] pages, and that was just for the

[1:54:19] two fees that I really address

[1:54:21] which was the fire and the

[1:54:22] mobility fees.

[1:54:25] `and showing that over the

[1:54:29] history of their, their

[1:54:31] formation and certainly their

[1:54:34] changes over the years, were 31

[1:54:36] years for fire didn't get

[1:54:37] changed, 26 years there was no

[1:54:38] meaningful change in mobility

[1:54:43] fees until we adopted those fees

[1:54:43] in 2016 and you know throughout

[1:54:45] this work essentially identified

[1:54:47] gaps in our governance and the

[1:54:48] way we should maybe be looking

[1:54:49] at that.

[1:54:51] So what I'm looking for at the

[1:54:55] very least is to kind of grab a

[1:54:56] holistic approach to addressing

[1:54:58] these gaps by establishing

[1:54:59] future safeguards for future

[1:55:01] boards that are coming before

[1:55:01] us.

[1:55:04] And essentially regular periodic

[1:55:07] process that challenges us to

[1:55:09] review, adjust our policies as

[1:55:11] circumstances and needs changes change

[1:55:13] so that we're not putting the

[1:55:17] burden on the backs of existing

[1:55:18] homeowners and residents and

[1:55:21] that we're having growth kind of

[1:55:22] pay for some part of its share

[1:55:24] going forward.

[1:55:26] I believe that this will give

[1:55:27] thus county the better tools,

[1:55:29] better information, and

[1:55:30] certainly more consistent

[1:55:32] framework to plan for not just

[1:55:34] for ourselves, for staffer, and

[1:55:35] the developers out there so that

[1:55:39] they can kind of understand

[1:55:40] where we are coming from as we

[1:55:43] come with these fees so we don't

[1:55:47] go 31 years and raise fire fees

[1:55:53] from $38.66 back in 1988 to $300 in 2019.

[1:55:54] Same thing for where we have

[1:55:56] adopted the transportation

[1:55:57] impact fee through a mobility

[1:55:59] fee zone.

[1:56:01] So I think we made considerable

[1:56:03] efforts here recently, and I

[1:56:06] would certainly like to hear

[1:56:07] your comments on this issue.

[1:56:10] Thank you, MR. Chair.

[1:56:10] >> ken hagan: okay.

[1:56:11] Commissioner wostal.

[1:56:12] >> joshua wostal: thank you.

[1:56:14] Bonnie, we talked about this a

[1:56:15] little bit.

[1:56:16] I know the prior administrators

[1:56:18] for the past couple of decades

[1:56:21] let these fall behind, but but

[1:56:22] you've had like your own policy

[1:56:23] essentially doing this, and this

[1:56:26] is just kind of formalizing it,

[1:56:27] right?

[1:56:28] >> I think that this is helpful

[1:56:30] to make sure that we're

[1:56:31] routinely doing it.

[1:56:33] I know that the auditor did

[1:56:36] identify that the mobility fees

[1:56:39] had not been increased this last

[1:56:41] time, so but I think it is very

[1:56:42] important that we do monitor

[1:56:43] these much more closely, and we

[1:56:46] have been doing that much more

[1:56:46] closely.

[1:56:47] >> joshua wostal: yeah, I'm fine

[1:56:50] with the the formalized process

[1:56:51] for it.

[1:56:53] >> ken hagan: okay, commissioner

[1:56:54] boles.

[1:56:55] >> chris boles: just quickly to

[1:56:55] follow up.

[1:56:57] You know, one of the things that

[1:56:59] I'd like to certainly complement

[1:57:01] our administrator on it now who

[1:57:03] that done an excellent job of

[1:57:04] making sure that we are keeping

[1:57:07] up with these, and I think we've

[1:57:11] found here certainly with senate

[1:57:12] bill 180 live local act we

[1:57:14] continue to see how the

[1:57:16] legislature continues to

[1:57:18] subrogate us to their authority

[1:57:20] here on a local level, and to me

[1:57:22] that's part of the problem that

[1:57:23] if we're not making these

[1:57:25] changes in at least addressing

[1:57:27] them every on a staggered basis

[1:57:30] or on a regular periodic review,

[1:57:32] we can find ourselves falling

[1:57:33] further and further behind while

[1:57:35] legislature continues to put

[1:57:37] further hand confidence on us.

[1:57:39] -- handcuffs on us and so that's

[1:57:40] one of the things I also want to

[1:57:41] address with this and I think

[1:57:43] it's important for us to do that

[1:57:44] and so we can maybe get ahead of

[1:57:45] it.

[1:57:46] Right now because we're even

[1:57:48] past JULY 1st this year,

[1:57:50] it's further put us behind with

[1:57:51] the new act that went through

[1:57:53] last year.

[1:57:54] >> ken hagan: all right, so is

[1:57:59] that a motion?

[1:58:00] >> chris boles: I see

[1:58:01] commissioner miller was in

[1:58:02] the --

[1:58:03] >> ken hagan: commissioner

[1:58:03] miller.

[1:58:04] >> christine miller: I'm happy

[1:58:04] to wait but I was wondering if

[1:58:05] he was --

[1:58:06] >> chris boles: I would like to

[1:58:07] make a motion that we accept

[1:58:08] this to have staff come bck

[1:58:11] with a policy for us to review.

[1:58:11] >> christine miller: second.

[1:58:12] >> ken hagan: I got a motion,

[1:58:13] commissioner boles, second,

[1:58:13] commissioner miller.

[1:58:15] Commissioner miller?

[1:58:15] >> christine miller: thank you,

[1:58:16] MR. Chair.

[1:58:20] This is great news for district

[1:58:21] 4 I appreciate you bricking this

[1:58:22] forward.

[1:58:23] With all the growth we're

[1:58:25] experiencing, having a plan for

[1:58:27] regularly evaluating if the

[1:58:32] infrastructure is keeping up,

[1:58:34] and ving a regular review

[1:58:35] process, this is great for our

[1:58:36] community, and I'm happy to

[1:58:37] support it today.

[1:58:38] >> ken hagan: commissioner

[1:58:38] wostal.

[1:58:39] >> joshua wostal: one suggestion

[1:58:40] that I had that you might want

[1:58:43] to talk to the county attorneys

[1:58:44] about is whether or not you

[1:58:45] could just codify this, these

[1:58:47] impact fee increases within the

[1:58:51] land development code to

[1:58:52] circumnavigate future bills like

[1:58:56] sb 180 that say you can't worsen

[1:58:58] or strengthen the land

[1:59:00] development code because then

[1:59:01] it's already codified in the

[1:59:03] land development code, so

[1:59:04] raising impact fees would

[1:59:06] potentially be a workaround just

[1:59:07] a thought I had with bonnie when

[1:59:11] we were talking.

[1:59:13] >> we're happy to take a look at

[1:59:14] that.

[1:59:14] >> ken hagan: anytime we can

[1:59:15] make a preemptative strike

[1:59:17] against the legislature, I'm

[1:59:19] certainly on board for that.

[1:59:20] Okay, so we got a motion,

[1:59:21] commissioner boles, second,

[1:59:21] commissioner miller.

[1:59:28] Please record your vote.

[1:59:29] >> motion carries 7-0.

[1:59:30] >> ken hagan: all right, f. 2.

[1:59:31] Commissioner boles.

[1:59:32] >> chris boles: yeah, I'll make

[1:59:33] this quick.

[1:59:35] So earlier this year again I

[1:59:36] have my staff look at some of

[1:59:39] the flag items that were

[1:59:41] previously made by the district

[1:59:42] 6 commissioner who was in here

[1:59:44] previous to me, and there was

[1:59:47] some item that were unused

[1:59:48] meaning that there was some

[1:59:50] funds that were essentially

[1:59:56] sitting stagnant, my word, and I

[1:59:57] determined through

[1:59:58] communications and conversations

[2:00:02] with staff that perhaps the

[2:00:03] $850,000 that's sitting there

[2:00:04] could be better used for

[2:00:06] projects today versus sitting

[2:00:07] for projects that MAY never come

[2:00:10] to fruition or have already been

[2:00:12] paid for through other means

[2:00:13] through other departments.

[2:00:17] So essentially this is to

[2:00:19] provide that money for the, I

[2:00:21] won't get into the details of

[2:00:24] it, but essentially transfer

[2:00:25] most

[2:00:28] those monies from the -- to the

[2:00:31] unincorporated for the

[2:00:32] bridge replacement and sidewalk

[2:00:35] repairs in the amounts listed.

[2:00:36] >> ken hagan: we got a motion

[2:00:36] commissioner boles, second

[2:00:37] commissioner wostal.

[2:00:42] I would say that's a great find,

[2:00:45] and excellent reallocation.

[2:00:45] O.

[2:00:46] >> chris boles: and I do want to

[2:00:47] say that one thing.

[2:00:51] That money was allocated 3w50eu9 by the

[2:00:52] previous commissioner to that

[2:00:52] area.

[2:00:54] We're keeping it in that area.

[2:00:55] It's not moving anywhere else.

[2:00:56] >> ken hagan: yep.

[2:00:56] Okay.

[2:00:56] Nice work.

[2:00:58] All right, motion, commissioner

[2:00:59] boles, second, commissioner

[2:00:59] wostal.

[2:01:05] Please record your vote f. 2.

[2:01:06] >> motion carried 7-0.

[2:01:07] >> ken hagan: all right, f. 3.

[2:01:09] >> f. 3 is commissioner myers'

[2:01:11] item regarding carryover funding

[2:01:12] for the urban league.

[2:01:13] >> ken hagan: commissioner

[2:01:13] myers.

[2:01:14] >> gwen myers: thank you,

[2:01:14] MR. Chair.

[2:01:16] I move to approve f. 3 as

[2:01:17] presented, and would like to

[2:01:21] mention the untimely death of

[2:01:25] stanley gray who was the

[2:01:25] hillsborough urban league ceo

[2:01:28] and PRESIDENT, and this fall the

[2:01:29] hillsborough urban league and

[2:01:31] the pinellas urban league plans

[2:01:34] to merge for the good of both

[2:01:36] programs, and county.

[2:01:37] >> ken hagan: okay, we got a

[2:01:38] motion, commissioner myers,

[2:01:40] second, commissioner cohen.

[2:01:45] Please record your vote on f. 3.

[2:01:47] >> motion carried 7-0.

[2:01:52] >> ken hagan: all right, g. 2.

[2:02:11] >> this item is being presented

[2:02:13] will following a request on JUNE

[2:02:14] 3rd.

[2:02:17] The estimated cost for full

[2:02:20] asphalt paving of dirt roads are

[2:02:25] substantial and cost

[2:02:26] prohibitive, due to water

[2:02:27] resource permitting.

[2:02:30] The report on lower cost

[2:02:33] alternatives to paving,

[2:02:34] identifying a representative

[2:02:36] pilot project for consideration.

[2:02:38] Staff completed an eval u eight

[2:02:40] of a variety of stabilization

[2:02:42] options including those listed

[2:02:46] and depicted here, such as woven

[2:02:50] geo textile fabrics,

[2:02:53] interlocking geo grids, and geo

[2:02:53] cells.

[2:02:55] Any of which could be utilized

[2:02:58] with a permable aggregate

[2:02:58] surface layer.

[2:03:01] With that, we came up with a

[2:03:04] recommendation for a standard

[2:03:05] treatment.

[2:03:07] Covered with a stabilized

[2:03:11] aggregate at varying depths.

[2:03:12] This treatment would be

[2:03:14] estimated to reduce the on going

[2:03:16] maintenance needs for an

[2:03:18] approximately 5 to 10 year

[2:03:19] period.

[2:03:22] For planning purposes, the costs

[2:03:25] estimated 400 to $750,000

[2:03:28] averaging $600,000 per mile.

[2:03:30] If this were applied to the

[2:03:32] specific set of 27 roads the

[2:03:34] board has adopted for dirt road

[2:03:35] maintenance.

[2:03:37] The estimated cost is about $4.5

[2:03:38] million.

[2:03:41] Compared to the $63 million

[2:03:44] estimate for full asphalt

[2:03:44] paving.

[2:03:51] To evaluate this option for

[2:03:53] viability, we have identified a

[2:03:55] pilot project on valley tree

[2:03:56] drive.

[2:03:57] It's a good representative

[2:03:59] sample roadway to conduct the

[2:04:02] pilot project on, and it's also

[2:04:04] a smaller roadway segment which

[2:04:07] keeps the pilot cost down as

[2:04:07] well.

[2:04:09] If we proceed with this plan, we

[2:04:11] estimate about a 9 month

[2:04:13] duration for us to procure and

[2:04:16] construct and contract, and

[2:04:17] construct, excuse me, and we

[2:04:18] would evaluate the results of

[2:04:20] the pilot, and consider whether

[2:04:23] to pursue the remaining 26 dirt

[2:04:25] roads in future budget cycles.

[2:04:26] That's all I have, and I'll be

[2:04:32] happy to answer any questions.

[2:04:38] >> ken hagan: thanks, josh,

[2:04:47] commissioner boles?

[2:04:49] >> chris boles: when we were

[2:04:54] talking about miles of dirt

[2:04:59] roads, we have sections of dirt

[2:05:03] roads, not full miles of dirt

[2:05:03] roads.

[2:05:04] They go into neighborhoods,

[2:05:05] correct?

[2:05:06] >> correct.

[2:05:07] >> chris boles: in some cases

[2:05:08] with, he go into these

[2:05:10] neighborhoods, we, the county,

[2:05:13] once they're -- because we're --

[2:05:16] I'm calling them legacy roads,

[2:05:17] we're gong in there and we have

[2:05:20] to maintain them to a degree or

[2:05:22] we're absolutely suggested to

[2:05:25] maintaining them to what

[2:05:25] standard?

[2:05:28] >> this specific set of 27

[2:05:29] roads, not all dirt roads

[2:05:31] throughout the county.

[2:05:31] -

[2:05:31] >> it's the ones we're

[2:05:33] responsible for.

[2:05:36] >> right.

[2:05:40] This set of 27 roads have been

[2:05:42] adopted by the board that we

[2:05:46] call class e basis, it requires

[2:05:49] grading as necessary.

[2:05:50] And emergency vehicle passing.

[2:05:53] >> we go out once or twice,

[2:05:55] maybe three times a year,

[2:05:59] depending on rainy weather,

[2:06:00] what's been driving on it.

[2:06:03] We have continual maintenance

[2:06:05] going on it all the time.

[2:06:10] The $100,000 for this road, if

[2:06:13] we put an extra step down, we

[2:06:15] won the have to do maintenance

[2:06:15] as often?

[2:06:17] >> that's correct.

[2:06:18] >> chris boles: is that a

[2:06:19] correct depiction?

[2:06:21] >> yes, it is.

[2:06:23] It is the expectation to reduce

[2:06:24] the level of on going

[2:06:26] maintenance.

[2:06:29] >> chris boles: thank you, sir.

[2:06:32] >> ken hagan: commissioner

[2:06:34] cameron cepeda?

[2:06:35] >> donna cameron cepeda: thank

[2:06:35] you.

[2:06:37] As we can see, this is going to

[2:06:39] be a significant savings in

[2:06:40] millions of dollars in this

[2:06:41] process.

[2:06:43] And it is a long process, longer

[2:06:47] than I would like to see,

[2:06:48] obviously, but nine months from

[2:06:51] the planning all the way to

[2:06:52] construction phase.

[2:06:56] But I've been out there on the

[2:06:57] streets and on that street, in

[2:07:01] particular, with all the

[2:07:03] neighbors who are complaining

[2:07:05] and rightly so, because they had

[2:07:07] been waiting for years and year

[2:07:08] after year they were told next

[2:07:11] year, next year, you're on the

[2:07:14] list, and so I'm very glad to

[2:07:16] see they're moving forward, we

[2:07:20] would like to move forward on

[2:07:20] this.

[2:07:24] It's quite a savings, so I'm

[2:07:26] very happy about this outcome

[2:07:28] you brought forward in this

[2:07:28] presentation.

[2:07:31] So I would like to make a motion

[2:07:33] to move forward with the pilot

[2:07:33] project.

[2:07:42] >> can we get a motion and a

[2:07:42] second.

[2:07:46] Record your votes.

[2:07:51] >> passes 7-0.

[2:07:57] >> ken hagan: future issues.

[2:07:57] >> christine miller: I would

[2:08:00] like to request that we review

[2:08:03] the nonlaw enforcement towing

[2:08:03] rates.

[2:08:04] The ordinance states that the

[2:08:06] fees are to be reviewed every

[2:08:08] three years, and it's close to 3

[2:08:10] and a half years since it's been

[2:08:11] updated.

[2:08:12] Code enforcement has already

[2:08:15] held meetings with the industry

[2:08:17] stakeholders, and the next step

[2:08:28] is for the board to provide

[2:08:28] review.

[2:08:32] I would ask for a $25 flat fuel

[2:08:35] surcharge for nonconsensual law

[2:08:37] enforcement tows.

[2:08:38] Diesel fuel prices have

[2:08:42] increased drastically, and are

[2:08:46] currently between $5.25 and

[2:08:49] $5.40 in the tampa bay market.

[2:08:53] I'm asking for this until the

[2:08:56] fuel goes under $4 an hour or

[2:08:56] there's no impact to the county

[2:09:00] budget.

[2:09:01] >> ken hagan: did you get all

[2:09:02] that?

[2:09:03] That was a mouthful.

[2:09:04] Anyone else?

20260902 BOCC RM

Agenda

Transcript