Public Safety Coordinating Council Meeting - January 16, 2026

The Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC) held its first full council meeting of 2026 on January 16, 2026, at 1:30 PM. The meeting began with a roll call, approval of minutes from November 14, 2025, and the election of new officers. Key updates included progress on the Mobile Probation Unit (bus) and the Orient Road jail step-down project, now named the Phoenix House Florida Orient Wellness Center.

Election of Officers

• Chair: Susie Lopez was nominated by Mr. Bates and seconded by Ms. Cameron Cepeda. Unanimous vote.
• Vice Chair: Chief Judge Sabella was nominated by Mr. Bates and seconded by Ms. Cameron Cepeda. Unanimous vote.
• Subcommittee assignments were reviewed; Judge Jeff Rich was noted as still listed as chair of the Burn Grant Committee despite no longer being on the council. The council appointed the requesting member (Yvette Lewis) as the new chair.

Logo Update

• The council adopted a new logo, which had received an overwhelming majority vote in a prior meeting. The logo replaced the previous "schoolhouse rock" design.

Mobile Probation Unit ("The Bus")

• Project update by Mr. Parkinson: The Florida Department of Corrections mobile ranching unit project received waiver approval from the U.S. Department of Justice over the holidays. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is now moving forward.
• Expected impact: Reduce technical violations by 27%, which could mean a reduction of approximately 1,512 violation-of-probation (VOP) cases per year.
• Next steps: A contract with the Corrections Foundation is being prepared for Board of County Commissioners approval. The vehicle will be outfitted for use, with nonprofits expected to partner to offer social services. Timeline: sometime in 2026.

Orient Road Jail Step-Down Project (Phoenix House Florida Orient Wellness Center)

• Ribbon cutting: January 26, 2026, at 1:00 PM, at 1800 Orient Road (former work release/re-entry center).
• An 85-bed residential level 2 facility, licensed by the Department of Children and Families to provide substance abuse and co-occurring mental health services.
• Program length: 90 to 120 days. Goals include reducing recidivism, increasing treatment access and completion, linking to employment and housing, and reducing overutilization of emergency services.
• The project received long-term support from the PSCC (7–8 years) and funding from the Board of County Commissioners. Phoenix House Florida will run the programming.
• Diversion potential: Colonel Ura noted that many homeless/unhoused individuals arrested for trespassing sit in jail for 60–80 days awaiting competency hearings. The new facility can divert these individuals, reducing jail costs and improving outcomes.

Other Business

• The council acknowledged the role of Hillsborough County Health Care Department in supporting specialty courts (mental health, juvenile mental health, veterans treatment court) and the step-down project. Chair Lopez noted that despite the cancellation of approximately $2 billion in SAMHSA grants nationwide, Hillsborough County Health Care had already ensured resources for the specialty courts.
• A master calendar for 2026 meetings was distributed, and a spreadsheet for designated replacements was promised.

Public Comments

• No public comments were made.

Key Outcomes

• Susie Lopez and Chief Judge Sabella were elected as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively.
• The new logo was officially introduced.
• The Mobile Probation Unit project received DOJ waiver approval; contract execution is imminent.
• The Phoenix House Florida Orient Wellness Center ribbon cutting is scheduled for January 26, 2026.
• Subcommittee chairs were asked to confirm membership.
• Meeting adjourned after no further business.