Welcome to a meeting of your Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

Representing District One, Harry Cohen.

Representing District 2, Ken Hagen.

Representing District 3, Gwen Myers.

Representing District 4, Christine Miller.

Representing District 5, Donna Cameron Cepeda.

Representing District 6, Chris Bowles.

Representing District 7, Joshua Wolstall.

The County Administrator is Bonnie Wise.

The County Attorney is Julia Mandel.

Time is set aside at the beginning of each meeting for citizens to speak on any issue.

So we have time for everyone.

Speakers are asked to limit their comments to three minutes.

Today's meeting is brought to you with closed captioning by Hillsborough Television.

Good morning and welcome to the January 21st, 2026 regularly scheduled board meeting of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

Would everyone please rise with a pledge and invocation given by our chaplain commissioner Gwen Myers.

Thank you for allowing us to see a new year.

Thank you for all who are gathered today as our first meeting of the year.

Bless our administration, this board, that everything that we do here in Hillsburg County will be pleasing to your sight.

And this I pray in your holy name.

Amen.

And whereas the Florida Statewide Council on Human Trafficking was created to enhance the development and coordination of state and local law enforcement and social services responses to fight all forms of human trafficking and to support victims.

And whereas dedicated to promoting and raising public awareness of human trafficking, the Board of County Commissioners created the Hillsborough County Commission on Human Trafficking to support educational opportunities to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and improved outcomes for victims and service providers through data collection, sharing, and analysis.

Whereas the commission's purpose is to establish through relationship building within the community educational programming opportunities for the public and key industries to recognize the indicators of human trafficking and learn to report suspected human trafficking, advocate strategies to aid rescued victims of human trafficking and support local and statewide efforts to identify opportunities for positive impacts and approved outcomes for victims and service providers through data collection sharing and analysis.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Board of County Commissioners of Hillsborough County, Florida, does hereby declare January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Hillsborough County and encourages all residents and visitors to be vigilant in identifying and reporting human trafficking to send a strong message that Florida will not tolerate any form of human trafficking.

Presented this 21st day of January 2026.

And I want to thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you very much to the Board of County Commissioners for acknowledging this very important month.

This is something that we at the State Attorney's Office of Court, of course, fight every month.

It is our job and our responsibility in your state attorney's office to hold offenders accountable and to support survivors as we work with our community partners.

As we have some here this morning, I'd like to invite to come up with me in just a second to eradicate human trafficking in Hillsborough County and throughout the United States.

Thank you very much.

In the coming weeks, as you all know, there are some big events coming to Hillsborough County.

If you see something, say something.

That is how we each can help, and we each can do our part to eradicate human trafficking.

Thank you very much for this honor.

Thank you.

And if we could have the uh commission on human trafficking, please uh come forward and um thank you all so much.

You do so much hard work.

We're so proud of all of you.

You do so much for so many years, and so so proud of you all and what you're doing to make such a difference.

And uh, if we could please have a photo, thank you, Commissioner Cameron Cepeda.

Now, Commissioner Myers will present our next proclamation.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

With Paula Kay from Zeta Five Beta Sorority Incorporated and Dania Smith from Five Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated, please join me at the podium.

Good morning.

Oh, we can do better than that.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

It is truly an honor to present this special recognition to these incredible nonprofit organizations, Zeta Five Beta Sorority Incorporated, the only constitutional bound sorority to Five Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated, is an African American Greek letter organization founded on the principles of scholarship, service, sisterhood, and final womanhood.

Five Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated is an African American Greek letter fraternity that was founded on the principles of brotherhood, scholarship, and service.

These amazing organizations are coming together once again to celebrate founding their legacy, and I'm proud to present this proclamation, which recognizes their hard work, dedication, and accomplishments.

Oh, you can clap.

Thank you.

And the proclamation reads, whereas Zeta Fabeta Sorority Incorporated was founded on January 16, 1920, at Howard University and Minor Hall by Arizona Cleveland Stimmons, Per Anna Neal, Murder Tyler Faithful, by Only Tyler Goings, and Fannie Patty Watts.

And whereas Zeta Fibeta Sorority proudly recognizes the leadership of Dr.

Stacey N.

C.

Grant, the 26th International President and CEO, Vicky L.

Pearson, 22nd Southeastern Regional Director, Bridget Howard, 20th Florida State Director, and Brenda Mount, Florida Area 5 Coordinator.

And whereas four chapters of Zeta Fibeta Sorority Incorporated serves Hillsburg County.

And Beta Sigma Zeta Chapter, chartered March 9, 1946, led by President Bernadette Washington, Epsilon Beta Zeta Chapter, chartered September 1953, led by President Tanya Lockhart, New Upsilon Beta, New Upsilon Zeta Chapter, chartered October 10, 1987, led by President Rebecca Parker, and Ta Zeta Chapter, chartered April 12th, 2004, led by President Jared Casaya, and each chapter continue to provide relevant, impactful and transformative service programs throughout Hillsburg County in alignment with the power of She, advancing social health and economic justice, and whereas Fabeta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated was founded on January 9th, 1914, on the campus of Howard University by Brother A.

Langston Tyler, Brother Leon L.

Morris, and Brother Charles R.

Brown, and is presently led by Brother David Turner under the motto, Culture for Service and Service for Humanity, and to promote Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service, and celebrated its 112th National Founders Day on January 9, 2026.

And whereas Five Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated celebrates 112 years of service and recognizes its leadership, Brother David Turner, 37th International President and CEO of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated, Brother Kenneth Strauder, 36th Southern Regional Director of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated, Brother Daniel Smith, the second, who's with us right here, the 29th Florida State Director of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated.

And whereas two chapters serve the Hillsburg County community, Gamma Ada Sigma, chartered May 4th, 1936, led by President Brother Eric White, and Sigma Sigma Chapter, chartered January 18, 2020, led by President Brother Ronald Rivera, chapters of Five Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated, continues to provide relevant and impactful service programs to the citizens of Hillsburg County community with a mission of culture for service and service for humanity.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Board of County Commissioners of Hillsburg County, Florida, does hereby declare January 21st, 2026 as Zeta Fibeta Sorority Incorporated and Fi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated Founders Day celebration in Hillsburg County and commend both organizations on their years of continued exemplary service to Hillsburg County and its residents executed this 21st day of January 2026.

You know, as being as a part of the Divine Nine, that is all about organizations, our Greek organizations, and what we do as Greek organizations.

We give service.

We provide scholarships.

We're there to help the elderly, the youth, and all.

So we'll service that stand very, very tall in this community.

When you hear Divine Nine, and you see us in our colors, we are out in the community doing service.

So, Paula, I have you to say a few words and follow by Danny.

To the honorable Hillsborough County Commissioners, and thank you, Gwyn Commissioner Myers, County Administrators, Department Directors, and distinguished guests.

My name is Paula Kay, and I am honored to serve as the 20th Florida State Director of Zeta Fibeta Sorti Incorporated, and I'm especially proud to be the only state director who is a resident of Hillsborough County.

It is my pleasure to represent Zaita Fibeta Sortic Incorporated on this occasion in the absence of our international president, Dr.

Sacey N.

C.

Grant, our Southeastern Regional Director, Vicki L.

Pearson, and our Florida State Director, Bridget Howard.

Zeta Fibeta Sorti Incorporated was founded on January 16, 1920, on the campus of Howard University by five phenomenal women.

Our guiding principal service, scholarship, sisterhood, and finer womanhood continue to shape our mission and our impact.

In Hillsburg County, our legacy is carried out through several chapters.

Beta Sigma Zeta chapter, chartered in 1946, serving Tampa, Epsilon Beta Zeta chapter, chartered in 1953, serving Plant City, New Upsilon Zeta chapter, chartered in 1967, and serving Temple Terrace, and Top High Zeta chapter, chartered in 2004, serving Riverview and Brandon.

We also have our collegiate chapters of Alpha Ada chapter at the University of South Florida and Kappa Lambda chapter at the University of Tampa.

Our work is further strengthened by our auxiliaries, including the Amicai, Zeta Mel Network, and our youth auxiliary groups.

We are excited to advance our national initiative, The Power of She, with a focus of commitment to social justice, health justice, and economic justice throughout Hillsborough County.

We are deeply grateful for the recognition and proclamation.

We look forward to continuing our partnership with Hillsborough County as we work together to ensure our community remains a place for individuals and families, live, work, play, and grow.

Thank you so much.

To our Honorable County Commissioners, Commissioner Gwen Myers, who's become my buddy, uh thank you for everything to our distinguished guests, my brothers and sisters.

On behalf of Five Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated, I serve as the 29th State Director of the State of Florida in the absence of our international president, the Honorable David Turner.

I would love to have our two chapter presidents stand and brother Eric White from our Gamma Ada Sigma chapter, as well as Brother Ron Rivera from the Sigma Zar Sigma chapter.

While our fraternity was founded more than 112 years on the campus of Howard University by our three honorable founders, the A.

Langston Taylor, Leonard F.

Morris, and Charles R.

Brown, the men of Fibeta Sigma have been embedded in the Hillsborough County community since 1936.

You might ride by some of our uh sites in Hillsborough County, not knowing that they are named after our brothers that have made an impact here, just as you write by Howard Blake High School, uh, which was founded by a well named after a brother who actually chartered our chapter here in Hillsborough County.

For decades, Five Beta Sigma chapters in this county have been deeply rooted in the community, mentoring young men, supporting education, partnering with schools and nonprofits, addressing public health disparities and stepping forward wherever service was needed.

Our brothers have served as educators, public servants, business owners, veterans, faith leaders, advocates, men committed not only to wearing our colors, but to doing the work.

This proclamation is meaningful because it recognizes that history, not just who we are, but what we have consistently done right here in this community.

As we celebrate our Founders' Day, we are reminded that our founders did not establish this fraternity for recognition alone.

They founded it to be relevant, to be responsible and to be uh responsive.

And as we accept this honor today, we also accept the charge that comes with it.

A charge to continue serving Hillsborough County with integrity, a charge to lead with empathy and purpose, a charge to remain present to our neighborhoods, our schools, and our civic spaces.

And all that we ask is that our commissioners follow that charge along with us.

Thank you.

I'm going to ask the sisters and brothers of Five Beta Sigma and Sigma Gamma, come on up and join us in the picture, please.

But you have to move quickly.

All right.

Thank you, Commissioner Myers.

Uh this time, Bonnie, you want to review the changes to the agenda?

Yes, good morning, Commissioners.

We have one off the agenda item by Commissioner Wastel, item F5.

Consideration, the removal of the county appointed Gary Hartfield from the Tampa Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority Board, and to re-advertise the open board position.

We have several items for time certain.

The first one is item B2 at 10 o'clock.

This is to approve an amendment the amended and restated arena renovation improvement agreement by and between the county lightning hockey LP, Tampa Bay Arena, LLC.

The main purpose of the proposed agreement is to amend to restate the original agreement to increase the county's maximum payment amount by 250 million and increase the amount LH and TBA are required to expend for additional renovation improvements to the arena by 75 million and to revise the term the team non-relocation abandonment provisions and to provide for a six-year extension of the prime lease and sublease.

Item E1 is at 1015.

This is to receive a special appearance by the Commission on Human Trafficking to present their semi-annual report.

Item E2 at 1030 is to receive a report on keeping pace with the region's needs, presented by Chuck Hardin of Tampa Bay Water.

Item E3 at 1045 is to receive a special appearance by Lannis Robinson, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission to present their annual activity report for 2025.

1145 is a recess for lunch.

Those are the changes to the agenda.

Can we have a motion to move approval?

Second.

Motion, Commissioner Meyer Send, Commissioner Wolstool, please uh record your vote.

Motion carried seven and zero.

The board will go on the public comment portion of the agenda of the Board of Welcomes comments from citizens about any issue or concern.

Your opinions are valued in terms of providing a valuable input to board members.

However, it is requested at the same time when you address your the board.

Dear Commissioners, it has been an honor to serve as a board member and vice chairman of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, the Hart Board, the Transportation Planning Organization in the historic Tampa Street Car Board.

I have approached this appointment with a deep sense of responsibility, transparency, and respect for public trust.

While this transition does not diminish my commitment to the people to the people of Hillsborough County, I recognize that it may place me outside the geographic requirements established for the seat I currently hold.

Given that this type of issue is unprecedented.

Given that this type of issue is unprecedented, and in the interest of upholding the guidelines set forth by the Board of County Commissioners, and in keeping with my belief that public service must always reflect the highest standards of integrity.

I hereby submit my resignation from the heart board and the corresponding boards I aforementioned.

This decision reflects my respect for the process, for the commission, and for the community I am privileged to serve.

Ensuring that each board seat aligns with its intended representation is essential to maintaining public confidence and effective governance.

Although I step down from this role, my dedication to our community remains steadfast.

Given that this matter is unprecedented, Mr.

Chair, if the commission sees fit that I remain in this appointed role until the end of my term, I will rescind my resignation.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

I remain committed to working alongside you and our community partners to advance the issues that matters most to the people of this community.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Denise Herndon.

Followed by Tom Cobert and then Melissa Nordbeck.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm Denise Herndon.

Being a respiratory therapist over 30 years and unable to work since June 7th, 2019, because of an awesome miracle guy's performing with me that's caused a brain injury.

Cause by first joint commission who required years ago a pain scale of one to ten, tend being the worst pain.

And when an advil or tylenol can take care of your pain, but the hospitals are pushing morphine because they don't make as much money off of Tylenol, Advil, and Tylenol is the number one choice.

Hmm.

When they have a temperature of 99 with anyone, their standing orders, push Tylenol.

Now there's issues with Tylenol.

My father, who died not from an overdose, but when I was a kid, quaaludes was the thing, and the government stopped that.

The doctors would give him three jars of quaaludes, 714s.

That was the drug back then.

What are you really gonna do with this opioid money that you have gotten?

It's the hospitals, the doctors, not just the pharmacies and joint commission who requires a pain scale.

It's all a money business, and you, every single county commissioner here voted to give money for Medicaid patients for every hospital in this community.

What for?

Even a nonprofit, they're making money.

And all they're doing is supplying medical care for illegal aliens.

I've taken care of many of those.

And the drug addiction.

That are you really solving the drug addiction?

Because from what I have experienced personally with the sheriff deputy falsifying a police report saying I was going to kill my neighbor when my sign said something else, and then the psychiatrist, when I was locked down instead of three days, the only reason they let me out was because I wanted to go in front of a judge.

And I'm going after that doctor, that psychiatrist, and his APRN who falsified reports to keep me in there.

And I know this was HCA facility.

I know Grace Point and everything that Hillsboro County supplies, it's a pill mill.

Are you really solving the problem?

The problem could be a systemic yeast issue, which is the reason why alcoholics want to drink, um, heroin addicts that go for sugar.

Treat the problem, not the symptom.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Herndon.

Tom Cobert.

Followed by Melissa Nordbeck and then Michelle Kowilla.

Good morning.

Morning.

Mr.

Chairman, Commissioners, staff, and deputies.

Good morning.

My name is Tom Cobert.

I heard at the November 5th meeting that diversity, equity, and inclusion were viewed as trigger words.

I agree.

When spoken, they trigger a white supremacist male to have a reaction in pure terror.

They fear competing with a woman, a person of color, or God forbid, a woman of color on an equal basis.

If they lose, their egos can't handle it.

Diversity is what makes us different, different races, religions, culture, political views, sexual orientation, and many other things.

Diversity gives us flavor, pride in the fact that we are free to be different, free to celebrate who we are and what we are.

Different but one.

Equity means equality and respect for all.

This is at the core of the 11th commandment Jesus gave us.

A new commandment I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Our constitution guarantees equality for all.

There are those in power that want to deny equality to some because of the color of their skin, religion, or beliefs, and they use hatred to divide us.

Inclusion means that all that live in a community are to be treated as value members of that community.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion make us strong as a community.

They are not trigger words.

The comment made naming them as such disparage the presentation that was made about the Tampa Bay African American arts and cultural center.

This is a project that celebrates the history and culture of a very important part of our community.

I heard at the December 19th meeting that Tampa sucks.

I disagree.

I created a YouTube channel in 2014 that celebrates Tampa that I titled Tampa is a cool place, Tom Cobert.

It shows that Tampa does not suck.

This board exists to serve all the people of Hillsburg County equally and to treat all of us with dignity and respect.

Proposals funding affordable housing are always attacked that it would be better spent fixing sidewalks because people are getting hurt and suing the county.

A workable solution is to address the problem in public safety and assemble a team to solve the problem as a safety hazard.

Sun Su would say complaining about a problem and not offering a solution is equal to blowing in the wind.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you, sir.

Next three speakers, Melissa Nordbeck, followed by Michelle Quilla and then Mark Kiddo.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Melissa Nordbeck, and I would like to share my 2026 wish list with you.

I wish public records requests be completed within two weeks at the most.

Homeowners are on the hook for damage and repairs overlooked by these four higher inspectors, and the county has no liability.

They just issue the certificate of occupancy.

There is no oversight to protect your constituents from inspectors that do cursory virtual inspections for a fee and never set foot on the property or even located in Hillsborough County.

Developers are eating up our entire state and destroying what makes Florida so special.

I wish commissioners reverse their May 8th, 2025 vote to approve LDC 25-0401 that forces development services and the planning commission to draft consistency findings that are based in a futuristic fantasy land where they have to pretend a comp plan amendment is already approved and therefore consistent with the comprehensive plan and do not even have to consider a community plan in their report.

It's absurd.

And I wish everyone a healthy and happy 2026 full of friends, family, and community.

Thank you, Ms.

Nordbeck.

Michelle.

And then Mark Kiddo and then Samantha Freeland.

Good morning.

Good morning, Commissioners.

My name is Michelle Cuela, a nine-year resident of Baycrest, a subdivision of town and country.

I'm here speaking on behalf of Baycrest residents about how unreal unregulated short-term rentals are increased increasingly eroding our neighborhood's quality of life.

Our once peaceful family-oriented neighborhood of Baycrest is being negatively transformed by the surge of Airbnb and other STR properties and SFO modifications to multi-fli family units unchecked.

These properties are disrupting stability and security, loud parties, excessive cars blocking streets, new faces every three to four days, leaving residents at risk from these unmonitored rentals.

Examples of the severity of the erosion to our neighborhood is we are 984 homes, of which 98 make up Airbnb.

That's 10% of our community, with more appearing on a weekly basis.

Only point two five percent of these homes abide by the seven-day minimal rental rule.

The remainder are breaking county rental rules.

The growing issue of single family property subdivisions into multiple units by constructing separate living units such as apartments, rooming houses, or efficiencies.

We have a room rental advertisement that we had sent to code enforcement showing a kitchen and a garage with a propane line with a portable cooktop with the line drilled through the block wall.

That is clearly a fear for the neighbors and for us of that exploding and causing loss of life.

We have quality of life concerns for longtime senior citizens and single mothers in fear of the nuisance properties next to them and the unknown people that are in and out.

We are not asking to eliminate rentals.

We feel that there is a harmonious balance between tourism and residential living.

But action needs to be taken to ensure that one does not come at the expense of the other.

Hillsborough County already has tools, a seven-night minimum stay rule and nuisance ordinance, but enforcement is inconsistent.

We currently have a petition amongst our residents with over a third of them already signed in less than a week's time, with more signing the petition daily.

Thank you, ma'am.

Appreciate your comments.

Uh, Commissioner Wilson, do you want to make a comment?

Yep.

Um, we don't typically and we're not gonna have a conversation, ma'am, but I see there's a couple of you, and I would encourage you to go look at all of Senator Gates' items this session because they're all about requiring the counties to allow accessory dwelling units.

They're gonna override our ability to do anything about these.

So please go look at them because once that happens, it's going to make enforcement much more difficult for the for our jurisdiction.

Okay.

All right, excellent point.

Uh thank you, ma'am, for your comments.

Next three speakers, Mark Kiddo.

Mr.

Kiddo here, followed by Samantha Freeland, and then a Sergret Daws that's virtual.

Good morning, sir.

Hi.

I'm Mark Kiddo from Bay Crest.

Good morning, Board of County Commissioners.

I'm here to present the defensible strategy in large part that's already being enacted in other counties and municipalities.

I'm aware of Senate Bill 48, which pending which is pending in the legislature, and it directly impacts the short-term rentals, particularly in relation to the accessory dwelling units.

Okay.

This provides justification for limiting STRs where they create noise, traffic, or safety hazards as as described by Michelle.

Florida statute 5090327B, of course, prohibits local governments from banning STRs.

However, there's an example of Hollywood Florida's ordinance 119.34, which limits short-term rental occupancy to two per bedroom overnight.

This model, their model, uh demonstrates how counties and municipalities can regulate STRs through safety and occupancy standards without outright bans, which are critical under the 50932.

Hillsborough can atops uh can adopt similar occupancy limits as part of their regulatory regulatory uh framework.

Other justification can be found in Florida 509242, which defines STRs as transient public lodging for stays under 30 days.

Hillsborough County's land development code already prohibits hotels and lodging uses in single family zones.

Although there is an STR that is openly advertising on the Marion Bonvoy uh website, as Michelle had mentioned.

Okay.

This property, as well as uninspected single family homes having modified multiple living units in the main house in garage areas, are still being advertised and have not been approached by county agencies.

That being said, we urge the board to commission a study on STR effects in Bay Crest.

This strategy balances property rights with neighborhood stability using proven tools from peer communities.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Appreciate your comments.

Samantha Freeland.

And followed by a Sergret Doss, virtual, and then Leah Hayer.

Morning.

Good morning.

My name is Samantha, and as with my colleagues, I'm presenting to the board a more complex copy of some of the public safety risks that are posed to our community in other municipalities in Hillsborough County.

As someone with law enforcement background of 25 years as a police dispatcher with Clara Police Department, I'm here to speak about the public safety risks of unregulated short-term rentals, which I will refer to going forward as STRs, as well as the unregulated single family units, which have been converted to boarding houses and the increased risk they pose to the Baycrest community.

In recent years, we've seen a 20% increase in emergency phone calls for our neighborhood, and especially in STR dense areas of Hillsborough County.

According to the 2020, and that's according to the 2024 Sheriff's Office annual report.

This isn't just noise complaints.

These are calls involving theft, vandalism, drug activity, violent disturbances, and possibly human trafficking.

Again, these are short-term rental dense areas of Hillsborough County, and it is a problem that's getting worse, not better.

In 2023, a National Bureau of Economic Research study found STRs correlate with a 7 to 10% rise in crime in residential neighborhoods.

That being said, here in Bay Crest, residents are reporting felony crimes, late-night parties, STR guests urinating in public and on vehicles or residents.

Unmonitored guests, parking chaos that includes but are not limited to blocking cul-de-sacs and 15 to 20 vehicles or more are creating problems in parking, all creating conditions for crime and delaying emergency response.

And that I explained earlier contributed to the 20% increase in emergency calls in our county.

Unlike long-term tenants, STR guests are transient, unvetted, and often unaware or ignoring local laws.

Many STRs also fail basic safety standards.

They lack working smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or proper emergency exits.

And these make these dangerous to neighboring residents and surrounding properties.

We currently have the tools to fix this.

In the handout we provided, there's more detailed synopsis of the tools available.

These are not burdens, these are public necessities that need to be addressed and implemented for our residents.

First, require an annual safety inspection, like Pennell's County does, ensuring compliance with fire and life safety codes.

So many of these units are unvetted by code enforcement and either and other county entities, and that needs to end before there's a serious accident.

Second, this is critical.

Require 24-7 local on-site manager or responsible party who lives within 30 miles who can respond to emergencies within one hour.

Panels County does this, City of Clearwater does this along with Indian Rocks Beach.

Create a STR task force, jointly staffed by the Sheriff's Office and Code Enforcement to conduct compliance checks and rapid response.

These are existing laws that predate the 2011 law that can be implemented within 60 days.

We're asking you to help protect our communities against these short-term rentals.

I was part of the American Dream.

I lived, I worked hard, I got a great house, and now it's getting ruined by these STRs around me.

I work a stressful job.

I come home after a 12-hour midnight shift, which I did today to come to this meeting, and I can't even relax in my backyard from parties, people screaming, strangers coming, trying to get in my door, trying to climb over fence because they're drunk.

This needs to be fixed.

Appreciate the comments.

Virtual, followed by Leah Hayer, and then a John Housen.

Yes, can you hear me?

Yes, sir.

Okay, how are y'all doing the commission?

My name is Brett Dawes and I'm a veteran of the United States Army and also a survivor of false accusations by a former judge and the victim of judicial misconduct that I'm positive most of you commissioners are already very aware of.

So I'm here today to speak on an issue that should concern every resident of Hillsborough County, especially those who serve this nation.

And that issue is the ongoing judicial misconduct and the systemic mistreatment of veterans right here in the Hillsborough County Courthouse.

Now, I've experienced I actually have the evidence to support it that at least two judges in the 13th Judicial Circuit have actively aided and protected private law firms and corporations, including State Farm Insurance Company, Austin Road Basketball Professional Association, Banker Lopez, Gasler, Butler, Wildmill, Cat and Craig, and HD law group in actions that directly harm veterans.

Now, what's most disturbing about this is the fact that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is fully aware that one of their own VA affiliated doctors has normally acted against veterans' interest in Hillsborough County while serving the legal interest of those entities I mentioned before.

Now, this is not just unethical, it's a betrayal of their oath and to serve the veteran and also illegal.

Go look at Cattle H and USB 208.

Now, these courts are supposed to be blind and fair and not a tool for corporate protectionism.

And when judges and uh other lawyers and what have you abuse veterans, especially for the benefit of firms and their friends of people lose confidence in the system, folks don't trust the system anyway, and the stewards uh aren't doing anything about it.

And speaking of confidence, and I was shocked to learn that two veterans on this very board refused to sign a proclamation honoring Dr.

Martin Luther King.

And the fact that one of the woman even more strange is that women have a benefit from DEI and affirmative action more than anybody, if you white women.

And let's not act as this so-called white man got everything they've ever had by merit of uh nepotism and cronyism is still alive and well, especially in his damn county.

Now, if we can tell, if we can't tell the truth about it in these chambers, it ain't gonna be told nowhere.

So, what I'm urging the board to do is investigate the court's behavior toward veterans, not just myself, and to call for transparency and accountability from the 13th Judicial Circuit.

And by the way, if you ignore this, just like the people at the city of Tampa, y'all are complicit.

And while she's there, I need to know when the state attorney's office is going to turn over those 7,000 emails that they withheld from even a former judge Greg Holder and Mike Vicker falsely accused me of perjury.

We know I won the case, but they had 7,000 emails they never turned over, which is we know a birdie violation.

That being said, I went to go to the rest of your day and shout out to the greatest institution of higher learning in the city, the University of Thomas Jefferson High School.

Y'all take care.

Thank you, Mr.

Daws.

Aaliyah, followed by John Howzen, and then a Tiffany Rentz.

Good morning.

Morning, board.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak to you today on behalf of my wonderful community of Lithia.

I'm a proud born and raised Hillsborough County resident, and I would like to speak to the board today concerning a trend we're seeing happening in my agricultural rural zone community of homes, pastures, agriculture-related businesses.

Investors and business owners are purchasing AR-zoned properties.

They are building non-agricultural commercial for profit businesses.

The majority of our residents in my AR community are unified and working to prevent the detrimental effects of this incompatible businesses that are operating amongst our homes, our pastures, and our peaceful land.

Just like the neighbors of my community, our home and land is special to me, my husband, and my sons that I raised there.

Our home represents our entire life's work.

And it's where I plan on living out the rest of my life.

Um without HOAs and deed restrictions.

The AR designation set and enforced by Hillsborough County is the only protection for present and future that my family has for our home and our land.

To quote the definition of zoning that Hillsborough County uses, zoning focuses on how land is currently being used and how it will be used in the future.

The goal is to provide public safety and to protect the character of our neighborhoods.

I believe zoning is even more than that for my AR zone community.

It's the quality of life for us.

And it ensures the continuation of a rural lifestyle for which is what we all value so much.

This is not about opposing development or being anti-business.

This is about ensuring the confidence of every citizen, having respect for the community, and following the rules and governing uh that govern us.

Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you, Ms.

Hare for sharing your concerns.

John Housen.

John here, followed by a Tiffany Rentz and then Michelle Broner.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm with the Bay Crest group and I'm here to discuss the issue with the short-term rentals in Baycrest.

My name is John Halsen.

I'm uh I've been a resident of Bay Crest for nearly 30 years.

My concerns are the impact of short-term rentals on property values and the neighborhood stability.

Bay Crest Park continue can includes senior citizens and families who poured their life savings into their homes.

They are pursuing their dream of using their having a safe, stable, attractive neighborhood, and the promise of property values being preserved.

Short-term rentals are eroding our property values.

Showed a 2.1% decrease in property values in districts with high concentrations of short-term rentals.

University of Massachusetts confirmed that short-term rentals in the proximity of neighborhoods decreases the home values by 1.5 to 3% due to noise, turnover, and instability.

Restricting short-term rental units, which are owner-occupied, and enforcing a 14-day minimum stay.

Other communities like Temple Terrace have recently implemented quiet hours, parking restrictions, occupancy limits, fire department inspections, and a short-term registration fees, 200 to 300 per unit per year.

Code enforcement has been uh shared their their efforts towards these issues, and but stressed that they are have limited resources.

The registration fees.

Thank you, sir.

Appreciate the comments.

Thank you.

Last three speakers, uh, Tiffany Rentz, followed by Michelle Bronner, and then James Davison.

Is Ms.

Rentz uh virtual good morning.

I am here just to make a plea out to the Commission's board.

I live in the Western area, and um there is a four-way stop time on Gate Yanster Road and El Castro Del Mar.

October 31st, my 11-year-old was crossing the street and was hit in the bushwalk by a black um a coach book has to come pick up the car because my daughter's bike was underneath the driver's will.

Um a tow church has to come pick up the car because my daughter's bike was underneath the driver's wheel.

Um just not this not this recent Sunday, but past Sunday, I was also going through the intersection at 1027 at night.

And I was hit by a drunk driver in that same intersection.

Um I've reached out to the commissioner in um in my county um just to urge.

I know there is a plan, quote unquote, to put a stoplight there, but from what the conversation I was able to receive that it's in the now, it's already been approved for a light to be there almost two years ago.

The light was approved before they opened Gate Dancer Road to go all the way down to I-75.

With that influx of traffic with the Wawa they're building here on 301, the McDonald's across the street.

They're building up in this area, but not providing us a safe way to be able to cross the street.

There's a park there on the corner on Gate Dancer Road in El Paso del Mar, which a lot of kids go to the park.

There's a school, Belmont Elementary.

There are bus stops on each side of the road for kids to get picked up to go to either Eisenhower or uh Sumner High School.

All I am asking, I am pleading.

I am grateful that I'm still here that this man didn't take my life from driving under the influence.

I'm sorry about this.

Um my car was totaled.

Thank God, you know, we have some physical therapy we have to go through, but I am begging the commissioner for it to please give us a stoplight here.

And to not say for another two years, it has to be in the quote unquote design phase.

It was needed two years ago before Gate Dancer Road all opened all the way up to I-75.

Now that that road was opened, I feel like there were no there was nothing to put in place to accommodate for this influx of traffic.

And the drivers aren't stopping.

They're doing a California role when they come to the stop.

They stop.

Okay, go, it's my turn.

We do not want to lose a game.

We do not want to lose a family member.

Appreciate your comments.

Uh last two speakers, Michelle Bronner.

Is Michelle virtual.

Yes.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Um, good morning, Commissioner.

Thank you for your time.

Um, this is a hard follow-up from the last caller there.

Um, I'm a longtime resident of unincorporated Hillsburg County, living in the rural area area.

Like many residents, thank you, Leah Hire for being there.

Um, I never expected to have to learn zoning law, feature, land use policy or terms like commercial locational criteria.

But recent actions in my area where entities purchase AR zoned property and misrepresent intended uses have forced residents like me to become educated just to protect our home.

This process led me to the county comprehensive plan, which just requires a guide thoughtful orderly growth.

On paper, totally made sense to me.

It identified where growth belongs, where commercial uses belong, and where rural characters should be preserved.

Most residents don't even know this plan exists, but it was created with significant time, expertise, and taxpayer dollars.

What I struggle with now is watching that plan repeatedly amended until its purpose is diluted instead of guiding the growth.

It feels like we're now chasing it.

Well, it is no longer happening where infrastructure supports it, but instead being pushed into the rural areas like mine that are clearly not prepared.

Most much of our road networks consists of two-way roads, no sidewalk, no street lights, open drainage dishes and set standard corridors.

These are real safety concerns, not abstract planing issues.

They also directly threaten the rural lifestyle of residents' move care to preserve our ability to keep our horses, livestock, and wildlife on our properties.

When rezoning requests involve future land use changes, every resident in the effective zip code should receive written notice.

Roadside signs are easy to miss, they're unsafe to stop and read, and many residents don't object because they don't know.

Awareness is the issue, not epathy.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you, Ms.

Bronner.

Last speaker this morning is James Davison.

Good morning.

Good morning, Commissioners.

Um I was attending I attended the workshop for the Indians County Health Care Fund last Wednesday, and it was nice to see the skepticism shown by many of the uh commissioners.

You'll recognize what I'm passing out is a slide of the different spending scenarios and the different taxing scenarios as performed by the actuaries of the plan.

And in that, you'll see that if you lower the tax to 0.3 and you have that spending scenario, the plan is insolvent after five years.

What they didn't show you is that the plan is insolvent under any one of those scenarios under that spending plan.

The letters in red are the yearly drawdowns from the plan.

You can see they increase, not decrease over the five-year period of almost 100%.

And they will continue for the next five years.

So if you go down this spending road, you will bankrupt the fund.

And I know that uh the presentation caused a lot of angst for many of you.

This is an important thing.

You've got 17,000 plus people that need this plan because many times their lives depend on it.

But you have another partner here.

You have the taxpayer.

In fact, the people on this plan pay this tax, and they can use the tax decreases so that they have more affordability, as they say in this country.

I know that you want to do the right thing.

You need a lot more information before you make a decision on this.

And I urge you to take the time and get this right.

We can't afford to screw this up.

The last thing I'd like to say is if you would please instruct the county administrator to put the FY26 budget on the website by state statute.

It has to be there 30 days after it is adopted.

It's almost four months.

We're a third of the a third of the way through the fiscal year, and the people of this county can't see their adopted budget.

So I'd appreciate if you do that instruction.

Thank you very much and have a good day.

Stay warm.

Thank you, Dr.

Davidson.

All right, that closes public comment.

Uh this time commember motion to approve the consent.

So moved.

Motion, Commissioner Wolstone, second Commissioner Myers.

Please accord your vote on the consent agenda.

Motion carried seven and zero.

Okay.

Reminded me about 10 o'clock time certain.

Yes, perfect timing, Commissioners.

The first item is item B2.

This is to approve and amend the restated arena renovation agreement.

And while Kevin Bricky is coming to the podium, I wanted to let you know that I too am available if you have any detailed questions about this, as well as Sam Hamilton from the legal perspective.

Once again, this arena is our county-owned facility, and this is to utilize fifth cent tourist tax dollars only for improvements to the facility.

But that'll turn it over to Kevin Brickie, Director of Management and Budget.

Thank you.

Uh good morning, Commissioners.

Kevin Brickie, Director of Management Budget.

Item B2 asks you to approve the amended and restated area arena renovation improvement agreements by and between Hillsborough County, Lightning Hockey, and the Tampa Bay Arena LLC, and four other related agreements.

The second amendment to the prime lease for the arena between the County, Tampa Sports Authority, and the Tampa Bay Arena.

The second amendment to the sublease for the arena between TSA and uh Tampa Bay Arena.

The third amendment to the sublease requirements agreement between the county lightning hockey and Tampa Bay Arena.

And the amended and restated guarantee uh agreement by uh Lightning Hockey in favor of the county.

The main purpose of the uh proposed uh agreement, the main agreement is to amend and restate the original agreement to increase the county's maximum payment amount by 250 million dollars from 108 and a half million to 358.5 million for their renovation improvements to the arena county owned facility.

Increase the amount lightning hockey and Tampa Bay Arena are required to expend for additional uh renovation improvements to the arena by 75 million from 38.4 to 113.4 million.

Uh require uh lightning hockey and the arena, Tampa Bay Arena to incrementally spend their own funds for such additional renovation improvements, and that such expenditures must occur before the county is required to reimburse them for renovation improvements that would be paid for by the county, and to revise the team non-relocation abandonment provisions, including an increase in the associated liquidated damages available to the county.

The main purpose of the other agreements is to provide for a six-year extension to the prime lease and sublease for the arena from June 30, 2037 to June 30, 2043.

The agreement will further uh public benefits resulting from the successful operation of the arreignment, and uh uh allow the arena to continue to operate at a high caliber and is home for the lightning.

The FY26 financial impact is included within the adopted budget.

Uh bond per terms of the agreement, bond proceeds uh to be repaid will be repaid with the fifth percent uh tourist development tax revenues and will be the sole repayment source to date.

Approximately 91 million dollars has been paid under the original agreement.

Thank you.

All right, Kevin, thank you for that uh introduction.

With that, we'll go on to board discussion.

Uh Commissioner Miller.

Thank you, Chair.

So we as commissioners have a full team of people that help us understand this contract, and um it's very complex.

And so um, if you'll bear with me, I brought some notes, and it's a hope to be able to communicate it more clearly to the community what we're actually looking at.

Um, and then I have some comments to make.

So um, so the the basic framework is that this is a lease extension of six years, which simply means that we're gonna keep the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa till 2043.

Um, it strengthens um the relocation language, which basically means that they would have to pay back all of the dollars if they leave before 2032 plus 20 million, 50 percent payback of public dollars before if they leave in 2037 or before 2037 plus 20 million dollars, and there's a 20 minute 20 million dollar penalty after 2037.

There's new obligation for them to spend private dollars annually before unlocking public dollars.

There's a 75 million private commitment, another 250 million committed, fully funded by the fifth cent of the tourist development tax.

There are zero dollars coming from general revenue or CIT dollars as part of this deal.

So I'm just stating that for the public because it's very complicated.

Everything you went through, and even when you read the attachments, it's a lot for people to take in.

So basically, what I want to share with the community is that this is our building.

We own it, and we need to take care of it.

Other communities are heavily investing in their stadiums and arenas, did a little bit of um research, and I think that we need to stay competitive in this area.

For example, in Orlando, they have a total renovation cost of 626 million.

Um the Kia Center 226 million, it's a hundred percent being funded by the public from their TDT dollars as well.

In Charlotte, uh, the renovation of the Spectrum Center is a total renovation cost of 275 million, 100% uh paid for by the public.

Also, their uh City of Charlotte's tourism fund.

Their renovations will be completed in uh 26.

Oklahoma City, um Thunder Arena, total renovation cost one billion, a funding split 95 percent public, 50 million coming from thunder owner ownership.

Um I know when I'm out in the community, our community wants to keep the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa.

They've invested heavily in our area, the surrounding area, and the people of this community want the continuation of this investment.

Our arena is nearly 30 years old, and it's gonna cost us less to maintain it than it would to build something new.

This partnership works, and I plan to continue it over the lifetime of this partnership with Jeff Vennick and Vinix Sports Group.

They've invested more than a hundred million dollars of private money into county owners into this county owned arena.

If you look at that in totality, we're looking at about 33 percent private, 67 percent public split compared to the other arenas that I just shared.

Our arena generates more than 500 million in economic impact annually, 41 home games, and 150 events each year.

The leadership and the ownership of the Tampa Bay Lightning punch well above their weight comparatively.

2.5 billion private investment and development surrounding the arena, 100 million in philanthropic support to local and nonprofits between the Lightning Foundation and the Vinick Family Foundation, which was actually my first introduction to them when I worked for a food pantry back in 2013 when they started the goals for food.

Nearly 400 million completely private development across the street from the arena is in the planning.

So this is future development.

Before I close, I just want to say that I believe that this contract sets the bar.

We should expect similar commitment investments from any contracts that we're looking at in the future.

With that, I obviously am in complete support of this, and I yield.

All right, thank you.

Uh Commissioner Bowles.

Well said.

Um, it's no secret that I support the sport of hockey as well.

Um, but I've also heard credible concerns from members of the TSA and others in the community about precedence that this agreement may set, and certainly understand the hesitation.

But in my opinion, this agreement uh is like comparing comparing it to others is like comparing Apples to Rocks.

I mean, it's simply they're it's not the same.

Um the funding sources are different, the risk of task pay uh the risk to test taxpayers is different, and certainly uh it shouldn't be judged on the same or by the same standard.

Essentially, as uh Commissioner Miller said, we have a huge investment that's come from having the lightning here in VSG and Vinic and that have come with Water Street and the tax dollars that come from that are kind of you know, in some in some way, uh just overwhelming.

Um what I what I do like about what has come out from Bonnie and her team was that they were able to extend the contract like we talked about to 2043.

We have clawback provisions that provide that if they do leave early, that they have skin in the game and they have to pay up.

Um, that the money is all coming from TDT uh funds, so if we do not have the money there, they can't get the money.

So the piggy bank has to be full for them to actually get the money.

Um, and with that kind of thought process that they have to also provide 75 million on the front side before they can even tap into those funds.

That with those kind of um uh provisions placed in the deal uh in that accountability that it certainly deserves our report, our support for that.

Thank you.

Commissioner Woolstrom.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, I'll just say off the top that I've been very consistent that I don't support taxpayers funding rich people's stadiums, but there is the reality that there's a state law that has put this burden onto the taxpayers and it is our asset, and that I will always support a consumption tax being the source of funding to maintain these assets that are our own liability rather than a property tax.

Um, and and I will um maintain that consistency today.

What I would hope though is that um the commissioners would entertain a motion to divide the question on the percentage amount.

Um, I I did ask multiple times um what was the negotiation tactics that led to this percentage?

How do we get there?

And both times my answer was um, well, you know, we went back and forth a couple of times.

And then eventually it led to well, it's a philosophical difference.

Well, we're not debating philosophical differences.

I want to understand the return on investment to the taxpayers and what negotiation tactics were used to arrive at a 77-23% split.

Um, well, I don't know.

We went back and forth, and we have a philosophical difference is absolutely unacceptable.

And that is the answer that I'm just left with today.

That is the tactic that was used to arrive at at this um vote.

Is there an urgency, Mr.

Briggs?

Is like is something expiring that has rushed us along to where I knew nothing about it until um last week when thankfully the team came and talked to me so that I could actually be informed on what has been being talked about for the past year.

Is there something going on that made it an emergency to be on today's agenda?

Not an emergency.

There are terms in the current agreement where uh it is approaching, but it's not immediate.

And when when were the financial terms, to my understanding, the financial terms themselves were agreed to at least six to eight weeks ago, and they were just waiting on some legal nuances um to be cleared up by the NHL.

The financial terms uh had been under negotiation for some time.

We were waiting for the NHL's uh concurrence, I suppose you would call it.

Then it's it's outrageous to me that we've seen about this contract and these financial terms that existed for two months, where could this could not have been a rust exercise, which is probably also why every single Hillsborough County appointee to the Tampa Sports Authority either didn't show up or voted no against this.

Our own representatives that are on our sports authority did not support this item.

And it's probably because they also didn't have all of this information that could have been public, the drafts could have been revealed to us, we could have known how we arrived at these equations.

Um the the money that's being advertised is very confusing because it says 250 million, but by simple math, the TDT currently generates 11 million dollars a year times 16 is 176 million dollars.

Except we're advertising off of some.

Now I found out that there is some, I found out late yesterday that there's some revenue consultant, and he's basing these off of predictions for 250, which we have no idea is is going to come to reality.

But it is a made-up number, the 250, correct, that we're advertising in this contract.

Mr.

Chairman, would you like me to please answer?

Um if you um it was not a consultant, it was using a 3% escalator on 12 million dollars.

The historical increase in tourist tax has been closer to 5.7 percent over 20 years and also over 30 years.

So we used a conservative estimate of 3%.

The last year's um for the fifth centerist tax was 12 million dollars.

So that exceeds 250 million dollars through 2042.

And that was true during the economic collapse of 2008 and nine.

These percentage increases?

The 20 year increase, the 20 year has been 5.7 percent, and the 30-year average has been 5.69, virtually identical.

We use 3%.

Well, I'm telling you that I was just given different information by your own staff.

So whatever this revenue consultant theory is, I guess also out the window, which points more to the issue of receiving the agenda on 7 30 p.m.

on Thursday and having no information about it, and then getting a briefing on a quarter billion dollar burden to the taxpayers, and then it coming to a vote on the following Wednesday, and there was no reason for it.

We could have all had this information and it could have been out in the public.

Um you said that the the financial impact statement demonstrates the burden to the taxpayers, correct?

Now, I've been told a couple of times that this is only going to be pay-go, so I want to get this clear and on the record.

Pay as you go, we get the funds, we pay it back.

There's going to be no interest on this money, correct?

No interest on the money in what way?

On that we're on because it's pay as you go, there's going to be no interest that is burdened to the taxpayers out of this fund, correct?

Correct.

Sorry, I need to clarify, because the state law requires us to issue debt for fifth cent bonds.

And when I say debt, we do commercial paper.

So it is the commercial paper is issued, the commercial paper is repaid.

It is a nuance in the law that requires us to do it this way.

We are only required to issue to come up with the monies on an annual basis, that which we collect or that we have in store, because from one year to the next, a lightning might not spend all the money in one year that will carry to the next year.

That means we will have it available.

We are not issuing long-term bonds for this purpose.

I want that to be very clear.

Okay, good, because it does mention bond 24 times in the contract, and that's why it's very confusing.

Um again, I would say that I I have always been very consistent on this issue.

I support the issue of extending the contract um terms that exist.

I extend it, I support the issue of extending the TDT to support the team.

I do believe that they're um pretty overwhelmingly cherished by the community compared to the other sports teams.

I do hope though that the board um gives grace and supports a motion to divide the question on the percentage.

I don't believe that the 7723 has been proven or justified in any way.

Um there's still not a clear answer about how we got to that issue.

So if if there's not um support to at least divide those issues, um then I'll be forced to vote no on the entire contract.

Thank you.

Commissioner Myers.

Um thank you, Mr.

Chair.

First, I'm gonna move to approve.

Okay, we got a motion to approve by Commissioner Morris and Commissioner Miller.

And then my other comments is Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Bowles, I support your comments.

County administrative wise, thank you so much for always making sure that we are informed along with your staff doing our briefings, also the county attorney's office.

This is a this what is before us right now is a win-win for our county.

When you can have a partnership that is investing, investing, and we know it's the lightning, but think about the economic impact that comes along when all of the activities that are held over at the arena besides the lightning game.

This is no more than what we do at home.

So maintenance agreement.

You have to invest in what you own.

You have to upkeep.

And who owns the who owns a facility?

Hillsborough County government.

We cannot afford to buy a new facility.

Can't build a new facility.

So let's invest in what we have, where are now our community enjoys going to the arena so much for all of the activities that are held there.

Thank you so much.

Commissioner Cohen.

Thank you very much.

I don't want to repeat everything that's been said, but I I really do appreciate the thoughtfulness of so many of the commissioners in their in their comments, and and I find myself uh in agreement with Commissioners Miller, Bowles, and and Myers.

Uh I want to just point out a couple of things just for emphasis.

Um the first is that it is an enormous privilege and responsibility to be an NHL community.

And we have to we have to step up and make sure that our facility is first class in order to uphold our end of the bargain, and they end up their end of the bargain by putting out a great product that brings a lot of people and a lot of economic activity to this community.

This entire deal is being funded basically by tourist taxes.

There's no property tax money that is being used, and there's no CIT money that is being used.

And uh that's a very, very important distinction to make.

We are getting reimbursed after the expenses and the upgrades are made.

And I know that there was some concern in the discussion at the sports authority.

They did vote uh fairly uh fairly decisively in favor of the the uh agreement.

But one of the the questions that was raised was one of precedent and whether or not by us doing this somehow the terms get get locked in for what we might do with other teams in the future related to other facilities.

And I I just want to emphasize to the public that just like when we make land use and zoning decisions, these things are made on their own merits, and they don't bleed over from from one to another.

This is a unique situation in that this building is ours.

We own it.

And um, as was said earlier, I believe by Commissioner Miller, you know, it's the difference between making sure that it's at first rate standards or replacing it.

So uh I'm in favor of of keeping the deal going, and um I uh I appreciate uh the good citizenship that the lightning show year after year in the way that they conduct themselves in this community.

Commissioner Cameron Cepeda.

Yes, um, so much has been said that I agree with, but also I'd like to add that they really do so much to help our youth also um with teamwork, leadership skills for the future.

Um, but also I'd like to ask um Commissioner Wolston, so you were not making a motion for anything at that at that time.

I will have a second.

Oh well, um well, at this time I mean I would uh definitely support this, you know, uh, because you know, as Commissioner Cohen and and others have mentioned here uh as well for the it's not coming from our homeowner taxes and so many other reasons, but um they really are a blessing to the community.

Thank you.

Commissioner Miller.

Thank you, Chair.

I had a lot of concerns when I heard what the vote was as well.

If you go back um Commissioner Wistel and look at the transcripts from the TSA meeting, um there were a lot of concerns, and and I asked a lot of questions following this the percentage split, which is why I went down the road of like what does it look like in other areas?

So that was why I went after that information because we only know what we know at the time.

But I I do want to point out, and and the reason why I won't be supporting any type of other motion is because if you look at their actual investment, which the members who voted no were not given this information during it.

The private investment puts the split currently at about 33 percent private, 67 percent public split, which if you look at the numbers I gave for three for the other arenas is very, very um generous.

That's why I said this is a very good contract.

Commissioner Wolf.

I just wanted to share that.

Thank you.

Um, like I said, if if I'm not able to um not vote on the 23 percent, I will just be be forced to vote no on the entire thing.

So I we've given this courtesy before in the past on various items, so I will motion to divide the question of the percentage to be separate, Mr.

Chair.

We have a substitute motion by Commissioner Worldstall.

Do we have a second?

Second.

Second by Commissioner uh Cameron Cepeda.

Do we have any comments on the motion?

If not, uh please accord your vote.

Substitute motion.

Motion fails.

Okay, no, back to the uh initial motion.

Uh, I don't see anyone else in the queue, so I'm gonna make a couple of comments.

Um by the board members who I think did an excellent job of highlighting uh the benefits of this agreement.

So I'm gonna keep my remarks very brief.

But I do want to first of all I want to thank uh staff, uh, particularly uh Sam Hamilton, Julia Mandel, uh Tom Fessler, Bonnie Wise, um Kevin and um and Eric Hart as well from the sports authority for all their work on this agreement.

I know it took a lot of work and several months to get to this point, so thank you.

Uh a couple points that I want to stress.

Most have been mentioned, but I think it's important to stress these.

Again, we we're using tourist tax dollars, which have very limited uses.

Uh we are not using general fund dollars, and it's important to stress this because there's a widespread uh misunderstanding regarding how we're funding the arena.

And I've always believed that, but even yesterday, received a couple of emails.

One of them went as far as to say that uh this gentleman is actually opposed to any property tax reform.

However, because of how much money we spend on arenas, he's gonna support it.

And so there's clearly misunderstanding on what monies are used to um support our um arenas.

Uh again, equally important, there's no general fund risk because if for some reason the fifth cent does not uh have the capacity, we have no obligation uh to reimburse the team for improvement.

So I think that's important to point out.

Uh the bond issue, I agree with Commissioner Wolstone on the bond issue is is or was very confusing in there.

Um, but it's a very important point out that there's no long-term debt or debt risk, which we have consistently made a priority in all of our uh uh agreements with the lightning.

Um it's based on a true uh cash flow model, uh, not issuing long-term debt and not using a net present value uh basis.

It's as the projects are needed.

It's a reimbursable project by project.

Uh the team has to make a financial commitment before we reimburse the team, and it forces the team to start investing in year one.

Uh that was not the case previously.

As been mentioned, it's a county-owned asset.

We're not contractually obligated to do this.

However, as Commissioner Miller pointed out, it's in our best interest to maintain a competitive um arena that's state of the art.

Um, in addition to the 41 hockey games every year, there's an up to 120 or more non-lightning events that occur there, all of which generate uh sales and bed tax revenue.

I will point out this wasn't in my talking points, but with last night's game, they have 440 consecutive sellouts as well.

Um I do in closing, I want to thank um the Lightning Ownership and Steve Griggs for their past and future uh commitment to our community.

Uh the team's past and future commitment to our community is what distinguishes this franchise and makes this agreement easy for me to support.

Uh we're all familiar with the back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, and it's widely known what Jeff Finick has meant, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Uh, but more importantly, uh, thanks to Mr.

Venick's uh vision and leadership, he has led the charge to transform uh downtown Tampa.

Um yet, despite a four billion dollar uh investment in Water Street, I really don't think everyone has a true understanding of how fortunate we are.

The reason why I say this is several years ago, I had uh drinks with Todd Liewicky after he had left the team.

He was a former CE CEO of the Lightning, and he was at the time was working for the NFL.

Um Todd's worked in every in every major sports league, including Major League Soccer, with the exception of I think Major League Baseball.

That time I asked him, are there many owners in the NFL like Jeff Finnick?

And his answer was I don't think there's another owner in all of sports like Jeff Finnick.

I tell you that, not to pet Jeff on the back, but to say that what has impressed me about the new owners, Doug Ostrover and Mark Lipschulz, is that they've made it very clear that they share the same vision and commitment as Jeff and are going to follow the VINIC model on the ice, philanthropically, and with their continued community investment and impact, as evidenced by the announcement that was made a couple of weeks ago for the next phase of Water Street when they're going to be investing an additional 400 million dollars into Water Street, which is going to be anchored by an outdoor music venue, another hotel, and 100,000 square foot of retail dining and entertainment spaces.

So I want to thank uh Doug, Mark, and Steve for their work on this agreement and for their commitment to the Lightning and our community.

Lastly, uh timing is everything, and I want to point out that with uh last night's victory, Lightning extended the NHL's longest active streak, point streak to 14 games.

If I didn't know better, uh I'd think the team intentionally waited to bring this item forward uh until they were on a significant win streak.

So with that, I'm happy to support the item.

I appreciate all the hard work from all parties involved.

And we got a motion by uh Commissioner Myers and Commissioner Miller.

Please record your vote.

Motion carries 70.

Okay.

Thanks, everyone.

Uh Bonnie, next item.

Thank you.

The next item is item E1.

This is our 1015 time certain is to receive a special appearance by the Commission on Human Trafficking to present their semi-annual report.

Good morning.

Good morning.

How are you this morning?

I am Connie Rose, and I'm the chair for the Commission on Human Trafficking.

Good morning, Chair and Commissioners, and thank you for this opportunity to be here today for continuing to prioritize the issue in Hillsborough County.

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and I want to sincerely thank the board for this morning's proclamation recognizing that commitment.

I also want to thank you for honoring State Attorney Susie Lopez for her leadership and dedication to holding traffickers accountable while centering survivor safety and justice.

Her partnership and that of her office are critical to the progress reflected in today's report.

At your August 20th, 2025 meeting, the board directed staff to work with the Commission on Human Trafficking to bring forward our data-driven information and to provide you with the semi-annual update.

Today's report is the first of those updates for 2026, and it reflects both the scope of the problem we face and the progress being made through strong collaboration across systems.

Human trafficking is not abstract, and it's not happening somewhere else.

It is happening here in our own backyard, and we have a response, and it does matter.

Hillsboro County continues to lead Florida, the state of Florida, and reported human trafficking cases.

And in the most recent reporting year, there was over 220 cases that were documented, more than any other county in the state.

But what does that tell us?

It tells us that not just trafficking exists here, but the identification is improving, coordination is working, and survivors are being seen and supported.

But it also tells us that continued investment in prevention, protection, and survivor services is essential.

Local data also continues to guide our response.

And through the University of South Florida's TIP Lab and Bright Project, which established with initial startup funding from the Board of County Commissioners, and thank you.

Upon recommendation of the Commission, Hillsboro County has identified 27 human trafficking locations, second to Miami Dade statewide, and bright through their data collection, further reflects arrest, prosecutions, commercial sexual advertising, illicit massage businesses, and verify child victims, helping to inform enforcement prevention and survivor support efforts.

And over this reporting period, law enforcement agencies across Hillsborough County, working with the Commission on human trafficking members and partners have conducted multiple targeted operations focused on disrupting trafficking networks and rescuing victims.

These coordinated efforts took place in January, March, June, and October.

And drawbury Operation Dragonite conducted in June of 2025 is considered the most successful missing child recovering operation in United States history.

And it was done right here in Hillsborough County, and 60 critically missing children ages nine to 17 were recovered.

Victims identified through these operations were connected to housing, medical care, and trauma informed services through the Commission on Human Trafficking Member Organizations playing a critical role in recovering and stabilization.

What mattered in that moment was not just recovery, but what happened next through collaboration with the Commission on Human Trafficking Membering Organization and partners, those children, they received immediate medical evaluation, trauma-informed psychological care, housing stabilization, long-term recovery planning.

This is what coordinated service-centered response looks like when systems work together.

In August 2025, the Commission on Human Trafficking hosted a legal training at the Pat Frank Courthouse to strengthen prosecution of human trafficking cases and reinforced trauma-informed practices.

The training reached 77 legal professionals across two sessions and was offered at no cost to the county through state, federal, and community partnerships.

Working in tandem with the district Save Our Students SOS initiative, the Commission on Human Trafficking helps to strengthen prevention, protection, and placement efforts countywide, safeguarding our children, and disrupting trafficking at its root through early awareness, strong coordination, and more responsive systems of support.

In addition, the protection and stabilization of trafficked and at-risk children remain a priority for the Commission.

The Commission supported a pilot program through the Children's Network of Hillsborough County to expand trauma-informed foster care and survivor wrapped around services.

This effort increased the number of trained foster homes, equipped seasoned foster parents to care for traffic youth, and strengthened mentoring and recovering supports.

Key elements in stabilizing youth.

The program expanded safe, stable placements, reduced runaway risk, and helped both the foster system and the broader community better understand the prevalence of trafficking within foster care and how to respond effectively.

And finally, addressing survivor safety upon identification, RFQ 26-00076 for emergency housing with support services has been publicly posted.

This initiative will provide immediate accommodation, case management, counseling and support services for survivors, and represents an important step in strengthening survivor safety and improving prosecution outcomes.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve the Board of County Commissioners, the residents, and the business community by increasing awareness of the impact of human trafficking has on our county.

For additional data, please refer to the full semi-annual report submitted to this agenda item.

It is because of your leadership, continued partnership that we are saving and supporting those affected by human trafficking here in Hillsborough County.

And I, as the chair of human trafficking, thank you.

And Dottie Grover Skip, our vice chair is with me today, and I know that she also thanks you.

Thank you for the time today.

Thank you very much for your presentation.

We have a couple commissioners I'd like to make comments.

Yes, um, thank you, Ms.

Rose, for that uh report.

That was awesome and um powerful actually, uh, what's happening and the changes that are taking place here because of uh what we're doing on the Commission on Human Trafficking and the entire effort, you know, statewide and um and you so many different aspects to it really, what you covered, and um just very thankful for everyone on the commission.

Um, you, Dottie Groove of Skipper, everyone that serves on the commission and and um even statewide that's just making such a difference here in our community, and um thank you for that awesome report.

Thank you welcome.

Thank you.

Commissioner Wolfson.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I was just gonna point out that um, you know, when when your item for funding came last year, the real conversations that are property taxes are just so stressed.

But we just heard um comments from the state attorney that events also drive more um unfortunate human trafficking instances, and we just had this whole dialogue about the tourist development tax.

And frankly, you should probably um consult the attorneys and the tourist development council on some of that first three percent, which is obligated to go towards tourism advertising that in that advertising is included more awareness that you were looking for from property tax funding about the cautions of these events and the exposure of increased human trafficking.

And you know, I know I don't know the chair is on the tourist development council, but maybe maybe you go through a different avenue and you might be able to get that extra bit of money that you were looking for.

It's just the property tax situation is just is where it is that um any of us don't want to uh max out the funding that you um um need.

So just an idea.

Thank you.

Thank you for the good work.

Uh and thank you for that idea.

We'll actually we'll look into that.

Thank you.

Okay.

Well, again, thank you very much for the present your presentation.

Keep up the great work.

Thank you.

Bye-bye.

Okay, Bonnie, go to 1030.

Thank you.

Our next item is item E2.

This is to receive a report on keeping pace with the region's needs, presented by Chuck Hardin of Tampa Bay Water.

Morning.

Good morning.

Uh, thank you for having me here today.

My name is Chuck Carden, and I'm the general manager at Tampa Bay Water.

I have been there uh for quite a bit of time.

Uh 1993 is when I started there, and I've been the general manager for the last five years.

Uh I also want to thank um Commissioners Cohen and Woolstill.

They are currently your representative uh for the county on our board.

And uh Commissioner Cohen has been our chair for the past two years.

Uh we're doing a re-election next month, so his term is coming to an end.

He's done a wonderful job.

Tampa Bay Water was formed uh formerly in 1998 by our member governments that we serve, and they include the three counties, uh Hillsborough Pinellas and Pasco County, also the three cities, City of Tampa, uh St.

Petersburg, and Newport Ritchie.

Our mission is to reliably provide clean, safe drinking water to the Tampa Bay region, not only for now, but uh for future generations.

Uh we do that by supplying water to our members uh and this year we're budgeting about 209 million gallons per day for the six members.

The county, Hillsburg County purchases about 80 million gallons a day, and they are our largest customer of the six.

Our uh distribution system is shown here in this graphic.

It includes 13 well fields, a surface water treatment plant that includes two uh intakes on two different river systems.

It has a seawater desalination facility on here, and a 15 and a half billion gallon reservoir.

All total, all six members uh are connected to uh this system uh with 21 points of uh connection, which are meters uh to each of them.

We maintain this entire network and supply water to the members at a wholesale rate of two dollars and sixty-four cents per thousand gallons, which if you break it down by the gallon, that's a little bit more than a quarter of a penny per gallon.

Our system is very complex.

Uh each and every day we uh deliver a blend of treated water.

Um there are three sources, uh including river, the DSAL, and groundwater.

And it's the only system that I know of in the United States that uh have those three sources that blend.

And the blending helps us keep the cost down to the $2.64 cents because each of the sources vary in cost.

The DSL is the most costly of the sources, and the groundwater is the cheapest.

And so when we're putting together our budgets, we keep that in mind.

The mix of affordability is is also in consideration uh along with our environment and reliability.

Over the years, uh Tampa Bay Water has been in uh different cycles of growth and also cycles of maintenance.

And uh currently we're in the growth phase.

This chart uh tells the in the story about that, comparing our 2025 actual uh demands uh that we delivered to our members.

Uh, and then next to it in the green is uh 20 years from now our projections uh for each of the members.

Uh we do have enough water right now to meet the region's needs, uh, but over the next few years we're gonna need to be uh putting some new supplies online.

Uh we have a couple projects I'll talk about here in a few minutes uh that will be online by 2028.

And we're also looking at projects for the 2033 time frame.

The fastest growing areas, you all probably are looking right at it.

Uh Hillsborough County, and then also PASCO is not far behind.

Uh the central and eastern Pascoe County is growing uh by leaps and bounds as well.

Right now, uh a majority of our active capital improvement program budget will be spent on three projects primarily.

Uh we are currently expanding our surface water treatment plant.

We're starting uh the South Hillsborough Well Field Project, and we're also expanding the distribution system into uh South Hillsborough County uh with the pipeline that I know you've heard about.

The surface water treatment plant's design capacity will be expanded to 145 million gallons a day, and once that uh is complete, we will be able to deliver uh an additional 12 and a half million gallons a day.

The plant is considered the workhorse of our system, and it's located uh down the street from the fairgrounds in the Brandon area.

We have completed the design and the permitting work, and construction is started uh any day now.

We are moving trailers in and the teams are mobilizing to the site.

Just recently, I believe at the October board meeting, the board approved a new supply, and it's called the South Hillsborough Well Field.

Uh this facility could bring an additional uh six to twelve million gallons a day of new water to the region.

About half that water, about six million gallons a day, will be coming from permits that we have acquired from private uh landowners in the area who uh did not need their permitted water at that time.

So we we purchased purchase that from them.

The remaining six million gallons a day would come from uh an agreement with the with Hillsburg County uh for their credits for the Sharp uh project uh whereby they're putting um treated reclaimed water uh into deep wells on the coast, uh preventing salt water intrusion.

But it's also uh another benefit, it's uh increase the pressure inland three, five miles that's allowing the district to permit fresh groundwater.

So it's a new well field that will be built in phases.

We're gonna start uh with the three to six uh uh range, and then uh we still are working with the county on that reclaimed credit number, and once we come to an agreement with that, uh the well field could be at 12 million gallons a day uh in its build-out.

Uh we also uh in December just started the uh the new South Hillsboro Pipeline construction.

Um the pipeline is 26 miles long and it ranges in diameter between three and five feet.

It will connect uh our system to the uh two uh Hillsburg County water treatment plants.

And the pipeline is being funded by uh Tampa Bay Water, uh, the Hillsburg County uh you are also funding it along with the uh the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Uh the pipeline is scheduled to be online by 2028, and it will help uh bring more water uh to that fast growing part of the county.

We continue to look at projects uh for the implementation.

I said earlier we need some more projects after the 2033 time frame.

So uh you have a graph here of six projects that are in the feasibility stage.

These are projects that uh we are studying, and uh the goal is to have a report on each of the projects, bring it back for board consideration uh in 2027 is the schedule, and the board would be voting therefore on the next uh round of projects that would come online uh for the future growth.

You can see here by uh the graphic, the projects are geographically all over the the region.

Um C is actually uh on uh where the Lake Tarpin uh outfall into the bay.

Uh we're looking at maybe putting in a smaller reservoir with a surface water treatment plant to help capture some of the flow.

And regardless of the source of the drinking water, uh, at Temple Bay Water, we provide water that meets or surpasses all local, federal, and uh state standards.

Uh I was here last year and I uh presented, and at that time we were looking at PFOS.

Uh we were sampling PFOS, the forever chemicals.

We did that alongside of our member governments, and uh we have concluded that we found three areas that were just slightly above the new regulation that went into effect at uh four parts per trillion.

And you can see them on the graph here.

Uh there are the three orange uh stars.

Um the biggest star there is the surface water treatment plant where we get water from various sources uh out of the Tampa Bypass Canal, the Hillsburg River, and the Allafa Rivers.

Uh the two smaller ones are two smaller well fee uh wells in the Brandon area, the Brandon Urban Dispersed Wells.

Uh we are currently uh we've been studying uh treatment options uh for the last uh year and a year and a half.

Um we are looking at bringing something to the board for for recommendations uh to treat that PFOS that is just a little bit above the the the new standard.

We are also looking in that same recommendation to study uh or to implement some total organic carbon removal technology.

So uh the board will be making some decisions uh earlier this year on uh some treatment uh options.

And with that, uh I am happy to uh take any questions and stop right there.

And I want to thank you for having me today.

Thank you, sir, for that uh presentation.

I think uh your two board members want to make a few comments.

Uh Commissioner Cohen.

Uh thank you very much, Chuck, for that for all of that information.

Um the PFAS, I I want to mention that uh the money to treat it is coming from money that we won in a settlement.

Uh Tampa Bay water was very aggressive in going after the manufacturers of some of these forever chemicals, and we actually have already received funds that we can use uh toward this mitigation effort.

Um I wanted to uh first thank you for all of the work that Tampa Bay Water has done with Hillsborough County over the past couple of years.

If you look at the presentation, so much of what Tampa Bay Water is doing actually occurs in Hillsborough County.

Like Chuck said, we are the largest customer, and we are really driving the growth of the whole system.

And Tampa Bay Water has been not just responsive to that, but really the whole program is designed at this point to deal with with those needs.

Um I I wanted I know you've sent everybody here uh a memo related to upcoming water restrictions, but we are in a bit of uh uh the the beginnings of uh of a light drought situation, and my understanding is that Swift Mutt is going to be curtailing residential watering back soon.

Yes, sir.

Um I probably would correct you and I wouldn't say a light drought.

We are in a big drought uh where I sit.

Um it happened two years ago, and um what is going to happen, I'm told, is the district is meeting uh on the 22nd uh 27th, which is next Tuesday, and they will be going to phase two uh restrictions, which will be one day a week watering and uh enforcement.

Uh so it's going to the next level uh from where it is now.

So let me just close by reminding everybody, because it wasn't too long ago that we had one day a week restrictions in place, that these make a huge difference.

That half of the potable water is used for irrigation purposes.

So when people in in in huge jurisdictions cut back from two days a week watering to one day a week watering, it makes an enormous difference in terms of conservation, and we really need people to start doing that uh as these regulations come down.

Yes.

Um two years ago when we went to one day, it was a uh 30 percent decrease.

Um we could see it noticeably 30 percent at the time when we went to that.

And Hillsborough residents were very cooperative at that time and really did lead lead the charge.

We we let it here and and our citizens complied um and cooperated.

And I I hope I think we all hope that we'll see the same thing this time because we need that, we need that assistance in order to conserve every drop that we can.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Commissioner Russell.

Thanks.

Um the PFAS situation.

Could you just tell my colleagues the estimated costs that you guys are predicting um to remove the organic chemicals and yes, sir.

Um I will tell you with the PFOS, the those three projects that we were talking about, so probably um between 150 and 200 million dollars for those three.

Um we did receive some settlement funds, and they're help they'll help, but uh it's not it's uh it's costly treatment uh that will need to be take place uh over the next several years.

And the settlement funds aren't nearly enough to pay for.

Uh we received uh or we will receive when paid out about 22 million dollars from that.

I just wanted you guys to all have a flavor of how expensive how much money it's gonna cost to a cure it that wasn't the settlement, and yeah, I tell everyone, Commissioner Cohen, that 50 percent of our drinking water goes into watering grass, and um my friend is a sod farmer, and he always tries to tell people that you people actually overwater St.

Augustine grass.

It doesn't need nearly as much, and watering with potable water is actually drastically more expensive than even um the reclaimed water.

So thank you very much.

And you guys are doing a great job.

Thank you.

Again, thank you very much for your presentation.

Um it's been a while since I've been on that board, but it's my understanding you're doing a much better job than the general manager who I worked or I served with.

So keep up the great work.

Thank you.

Thanks, sir.

Uh Bonnie, thanks.

Thank you.

The next item is item E3.

This is our 1045 time certain.

This is to receive a special appearance by Lannis Robinson, who's the executive director of the Tampa Based Sports Commission, and he's gonna present their activity report for 2025.

Good morning, Lannis.

Uh I understand this is your your first time in front of us, and so we we we promise to be to be general.

Yes, sir.

Thank you very much.

Let me introduce myself.

As mentioned, I'm Lannis Robinson, the new direct executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.

I have the pleasure of taking over for Rob Higgins, who transitioned over to the CEO of USF Athletics.

Um, thank you for your support, previous support and continued support of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.

Uh I say support, but more partnership as well as investment into sports tourism.

Um into this role, I think it's very important for us to be uh strong financial stewards, and with that bringing a healthy return on investment is the continued goal that we will have.

Um we'll do that through obviously economic impact, but also the community legacy programs that we have, continuing those as we bring events to our area.

I've inherited a great team at the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, but none of this work happens without the total team of Team Tampa Bay.

That includes yourselves, uh city government, as well, our sports franchises, our colleges and universities, uh, our facilities, TSA with Raymond James and the sports plex being highlights for activities that we have, the folks from the Lightning over uh with benchmark and the great facility that we will continue to have there, uh Legendsville, our hotel years, but also uh I would be remiss if I didn't mention visit Tampa Bay as a strong partner of ours.

Um so jumping into our presentation here for quarters three and four, I just want to highlight our our biggest event, which was the women's final four.

Um it was a an extreme success.

It was our fourth time hosting, as you probably are aware.

But something that some of the uh data that needs to be pointed out is that there was increased traffic of about 30 percent.

Um the research showed us that we had 316,000 employments.

I had to look that up.

That means passengers.

Um 34,000 room nights, uh, and if you look on this screen, we had 930 media member credentialed and and the viewership um people watching Tampa, eight and a half million viewers, which was the third most watched event on ESPN for uh women's final four.

Then the following month, we had the WWE Memorial Day weekend Tampa Bay Takeover, which uh produced 5300 room nights.

We're currently in discussion with WWE.

Uh, we have a call with them tomorrow.

Let's get some future events here in Tampa Bay.

And then as we move into other events, uh in November, we were fortunate enough to host the U.S.

men's national team versus Uruguay, uh, where we had 26,000 attendees, which that was a huge event.

And then the big one that's coming up here uh February 1st.

We have the NHL Stadium series being hosted at Raymond James Stadium.

Um, our partners over the Tampa Bay Lightning, the NHL, Tampa Sports uh Authority.

Um, they have been great to work with, and we're doing this all during Gasparilla weekend, so that should make for a lot of fun for uh quite quite a few people.

Um we have some special guests.

The entertainment has been announced.

We have Low Cash Cowboys pregame, we have Tim McGraw at the first intermission, so this should be a great event.

And then as we transition away from the stadium series, uh as and as football season comes to a conclusion, uh then the NCAA is the March Madness Tournament becomes a little bit more of a focus.

Uh we have we're fortunate enough to have the first and second rounds being played at benchmark international arena.

So uh ticket sales are trending, so that should be another great event that we have.

Uh looking into the future a little bit, uh, in July, we're going to be hosting the SEC football media days uh for the first time.

Uh that event will have the commissioner of the SEC, all head football coaches from the SEC, player reps from every school in the SEC, uh, and we should have every major sports media outlet in town.

So a great event that we have coming.

Um other events to talk about.

We have the American Conference, men's and women's tournament, basketball tournaments in March of 27 and 28.

Uh, and something that is not on the PowerPoint that I need to uh remind you of is the 2027 Florida Georgia uh football game that we have upcoming, but recently announced since this presentation was turned in quite a few months ago uh during the transition uh time period.

We're excited to say that we're hosting uh for the second time the college football playoff national championship in 2029.

Um we're one of a few cities that are fortunate enough to have it returned.

Excuse me.

As we look at uh the the most important is uh the production.

Uh this past year we had 272,594 room nights.

That is an increase of of more than 34,000 from the previous year.

That's a 13% increase.

If you look at a two-year average, it's up 10% over that two-year average.

So the record the record year is kind of a thing that we're very proud of, but something that we will strive to continue.

The backbone of that, we love our major events, and we have uh the NCA board um um bid portal opening up in July.

But the backbone of our of what we do are our youth and amateur events, um, and so have a few things that I would like to highlight for you.

Uh, if you review this page very quickly, um, you can tell that we are very much into traditional as well as non-traditional events.

That that serves us well to be able to produce quite a few events.

Uh and the one that I would like to highlight off of this page is a Tropical Sevens uh International Rugby Tournament.

Their executive director said this is the biggest and best event on record with 212 teams that generated more than 5300 room nights.

And then there's the varsity cheer events that we've been hosting for uh some time, but it's very important to note if you look at this slide in front of you uh the the difference.

If you look in 2023 and compare that to 2025, that's an increase of 561 teams in just a two-year period.

Um we are currently contracted with this group through 2028 and are in discussions uh to extend them to 2035 in the Tampa Convention Center.

And then as we go through and and talk about other events, um I would like to highlight the U.S.

Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup.

Uh this event uh started with a small event and over a seven-year period out at the sportsplex, we've continued to grow on that event, and now we are hosting their flagship event, uh, which uh if I can I need to go to the next slide, I'm sorry.

You can see the history of events over the time.

Uh we have their flagship event, which is their national president's cup, and the testimonial provided by their national program manager speaks for itself.

He's been in the industry for 30 years, and he speaks highly of what we're able to do out at the sportsplex.

And as I mentioned, the sportsplex, uh, it's important to notice on the slide that uh the projections that the consultant provided were uh very aggressive, and the sportsplex has outperformed it exponentially.

Um, if we're to if we were to look at the consultant report and actually try to calculate over a seven-year period, we're estimating that that would have the culture that would have totaled about 200,000 room nights, and the actualization has been about 400,000 room nights.

So uh that sportsplex has been it has served us well.

Additionally, uh, as we start to talk about the indoor facility out at Mosey, um the consultants report uh estimates on the for annual numbers about 44,000 room nights uh annually by year three.

Uh the direct spend of about 24.5 million annually by year three, and the TDC revenue, which is most important, um 800,000 annually by year three, and all of our indications from those interested event uh host and and sponsors, uh that facility should be very similar to our outdoor sports plex and being able to perform at a high rate.

So, with that again, I would like to um open the floor, but I would like to thank you all for the shared vision for what we do at the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and the sports tourism industry that we're able to provide to our county.

Well, I can tell you clearly you've you've already learned from Rob Higgins because you kept your you kept your presentation brief.

Brevity, sir.

Which is very much appreciated, but seriously, uh congratulations on being named uh the CEO.

Uh Tampa B Sports Commission having served as as chair of the sports commission.

You benefit you from you know the team Tampa Bay players, you understand the industry, and this has allowed you uh to hit the ground running.

Yes, and on a personal level, having worked with you closely as in your former position as school district's athletic director.

I'm confident that you're gonna do an outstanding job.

I want to welcome you here.

Uh Commissioner Miller, want to make a couple comments.

I'll be very brief.

Um, I just want to say um welcome.

Thank you.

Um having taken over organizations throughout my career, it's easy to take over one that's kind of a mess.

I think it's a greater challenge to take over one that was run so well.

Um, so kudos to you being for being up to the task um of continuing Mr.

Higgins' incredible legacy, but also to just make this your own.

I'm excited to watch everything I've heard and read about you.

I'm just very excited to see where you take this organization.

So um let me know if I can be of any help.

Yes, ma'am.

All right, thanks again.

Thank you all.

You have a great day.

Okay, Bonnie.

Thank you.

We can move to the regular agenda.

This is item B1.

This is to approve an agreement between the county and MD Ally Technologies and Chief Doctor.

Sorry, Chief Dockery will talk about this new program.

Morning, Chief.

Good morning, Commissioners.

Good morning, Mrs.

Weiss.

Uh uh, I'll make this brief.

I know uh uh Chair Hagen would tell me to get I should be done already.

So let me make this brief and uh fill you in.

So uh I'm here to uh fire chief Jason Doherty.

I'm here to highlight an innovative solution that will strengthen our fire rescue services by ensuring we deliver the right care at the right time while reducing overall costs and improving services outcome service outcomes and meeting our goals of providing a more effective and efficient service delivery.

I would be remiss if I didn't take a minute to recognize my incredible staff who I continually challenge each day.

They're the best in the business, and I want to especially thank them for moving projects like this forward to you.

The this board and our county administrator Bonnie Wise and Deputy County Administrator Greg Hordale constantly asked me to think outside the box on how we can better serve our community.

The program I'm sharing with you today is another example of rising to that challenge.

As you know, we have already changed out our response models.

We've recruited created a repeak rescue division, which has improved our response times of by more than 45 seconds to emergency calls.

This program I'm presenting to you today was spearheaded by our rescue division chief Todd Cornell and our medical director, Dr.

Sasson, who have both worked diligently with our county attorney's office.

So thank you for all those that were involved.

MD Ally is a telehealth platform designed specifically to integrate with public safety systems like our 911 dispatch system with our emergency medical services and community community paramedicine.

It enables us to add a virtual care response tier to our emergency services that complements, not replaces our traditional emergency medical response.

Here's how it will benefit our community and our first responders.

Number one, better resource allocation.

When a caller contacts 911 with a low acuity, non-life-threatening medical issue, MD Ally allows dispatchers and field personnel to connect the caller in real time to a licensed telemedicine provider via phone or video.

This means patients can receive medical evaluation, treatment recommendations, prescriptions, and follow-up care guidance without an ambulance unit if appropriate.

Number two, reduce necessary unnecessary transports and costs.

A significant percentage of ER visits could safely be handled virtually by diverting appropriate calls to telehealth rather than sending an ambulance and transporting to the emergency department.

We reduce ambulance mileage, fuel use, wear and tear, and hospital costs, saving taxpayers dollars and freeing up fire rescue for true emergencies.

Number three, improved response times and crew readiness.

With fewer low low acuity calls requiring physical response, our crews will be more available to respond to critical life-threatening events.

Reducing our call volume up to 10%, which would mean about 10 to 15,000 calls a year.

This improves response times and unit availability for serious emergencies, enhancing our overall emergency preparedness to assist the citizens we serve.

While reducing burnout among our first responders, which is highly publicized in our profession, and the reason we have instituted our very own health and safety division to protect our members from PTSD and other mental and physical health challenges.

Number four, stronger patient satisfaction and community outcomes.

Patients who receive virtual care experiences experience faster access to clinicians, guidance to appropriate resources, and reduce unnecessary ER wait times.

Finally, number five, no cost to Hillsburg County.

Insurance companies, Medicaid, and other resources will be billed just as they are currently for services that we provide.

Importantly, MD Ally works within our existing dispatch and record systems, requires no additional full-time personnel, and is tailored to public safety needs.

Seamless integration with a minimal interrupt interruption.

So in summary, MI MD Ally will allow fire rescue to elevate the level of care we provide, manage resources more effectively, reduce operational costs, and enhance community health outcomes for responders and citizens.

It represents a strategic investment that helps modernize our 911 fire rescue ecosystem while keeping our community healthier and safer.

That's all I have for you.

I'll be happy to answer any questions.

Thanks, Chief, for the presentation.

Commissioner Bowles.

First, like the move to accept and the presentation and motion to approve the agreement.

Thank you.

And your staff, and you do a fantastic job for the last several years of going back to your predecessor, we have done a really good job of trying to find the best way to serve our community and doing it with at the with the least amount of out of the dollars that we're putting into that uh improving our response times, improving the lives of the men and women who serve our community.

I think you've done a really good job.

Um, and I just wanted to certainly make that known and let you know that we truly appreciate it up here.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

And can't be done without all of you.

Okay, Commissioner Cameron Speeder.

Yes, I want to thank you, uh Chief and your staff for all that you do.

Uh really there's not enough words to say how grateful we are for you, your entire team.

It's just amazing.

And um, this is I think this is really awesome.

Like you said, it's gonna um compliment your emergency services and really save lives because you know um they're not gonna be out running towards uh you know a non-emergency situation when they when there could be an emergency situation that could actually save a life and and um just really thankful for all that you're doing, and thank you very much.

It was really great report.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, we got a motion, Commissioner Bowl, second commissioner uh cohen.

Please record your vote.

Commissioner Myers.

Yes, motion carries seven and zero.

Thank you all.

Thanks, Chief.

Bonnie.

Thank you.

The next item is item B3.

This is a follow-up from your November 5th, 2025 meeting.

This is to award the contracts for the two highest ranked firms, Ernest and Young and BDO for a CDBGDR program.

Scott Stromer will take us through this item.

Good morning.

Uh Scott Stromer Procurement Services.

Uh B3 is asking the board to award and execute a three-year agreements with Ernst and Young and BDO for implementation of this county of the county's federally funded CDBG DR program at a total anticipated maximum cost between the two firms of 61,655 and 407.44 cents.

Ernst and Young will assist the county with planning and execution of the infrastructure projects and public service and economic revitalization programs and provide overarching program management, compliance monitoring, uh developing the system of record of technology, uh, communications, and the HUD reporting support.

BDO will support the county with planning, implementation, and execution of the single family, multifamily, and special population housing programs.

That work is divvyed up to be relatively equitable.

The recommended firms will assist the with the execution of the county CD BGDR action plan, which is approved by the board on July 16th of 2025.

Subject agreements do include a three-year initial term with an option for one additional three-year renewal upon mutual agreement of the parties and additional approval for the board.

So if we do decide to exercise that it would come back to the board for approval.

Because the program is federally funded, no small business encouragement goal was established.

However, upon award, the SBE Division will coordinate outreach with the awarded firms to encourage participation and encouragement or engagement of small and local businesses to the extent possible and feasible.

This phase of the work, a lot of this work is generally done self-performed.

So there are limited opportunities, but the SB division will do everything they can to shake it out if there are opportunities.

Procurements, just to give you a look ahead, the procurements for the architecture engineering professional services and the construction manager at risk phases are still in process and are expected to be presented to the board for authorizations to negotiate in February.

Once awarded by the board, outreach events will also be held for those phases to encourage participation and engagement of small and local businesses.

Um there can be a lot more opportunities there.

Certainly on the professional service was even more on the construction side.

There'll be a lot of opportunity there.

Um procurement services does recommend approval of this.

Uh Rob Hendrickson, the individual be managing this program is here if the board has any questions for him.

All right, thanks, Scott.

Commissioner Wilson.

Thank you, and thanks to your staff, Scott.

I know that I know that this was a lot.

My only real question is is that at this point I I think that the chair did the appropriate thing and divvying this up between two um organizations for all this money.

Is how quickly now are we going to be able to get the CMAR item back, this the single construction manager at risk item back and start getting relief to people.

Right.

So the professional services will be at the next at the first February meeting to get the authorization to negotiate.

So we're hoping to have that agreement by the end of February.

The CMAR is just finishing up its process.

I think they have the interviews if it's not next week.

So that will come to the board probably that second meeting in February.

And we have three firms that have made it through, and we'll come back with a recommendation right now.

We're looking at four firms on the professional services.

Okay, so professional services.

The expect are are we just picking one of those?

Uh no, there we have four firms that we're gonna keep.

That you're recommending, okay.

And then for the for the CMAR is middle of February for us to pick which one of those is going to move forward, and then you go ahead.

It'd be that second meeting in February.

And right now we they're interviewing three firms.

And the committee may decide to do all three, they may decide to pair that down and submit after it'll depend on on those interviews.

Okay, and then it's good to go.

We're helping people in by the middle of February.

March, we probably bring that agreement back at the first meeting in March.

There's only one meeting in March.

Um that would be that's our goal is to wrap it all up by the first meeting in March.

Okay.

Well, I'll move for approval.

Second.

Got a motion, Commissioner Wills will thank Commissioner Myers.

Uh, Commissioner Myers, you recognize.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Scott, I just want to thank you for sharing the next steps and how it would be particular for the small business uh encouragement.

So I wanted the public to be aware and thank you for those comments.

Thank you.

Okay, we've got a motion and a second.

Please record your vote.

Motion carries seven to zero.

Thank you.

Thanks, Scott.

Okay, bye.

Thank you.

The next item is item F1.

This is a staff report.

I'm sorry.

Yes, staff report.

Uh Commissioner Hagan, your item.

My apologies.

And this is to request CIP status for the Thornitasassa Library and Park project.

And Rick Valdez is here and Shelly Kentrell.

Thanks.

Well, they're going to give a staff report.

Um I'm just gonna make a couple of comments here.

Uh board members added this for a couple of reasons.

Um we're making a significant and much needed investment in Tenona Sassa, and it dawned on me that there are four commissioners, uh, all including all three countywide board members and commissioner Miller, whose district directly abuts uh this park uh that were not on the board when I first introduced this project uh five years ago in April of 21, and they probably have very little information on it.

So I wanted to familiarize the board on this uh exciting project that similar to the award-winning uh Carrollwood Village Park, I believe will be a model for future parks.

Uh secondly, I added it because after five board votes between January between 2021 and January of 23.

We really have not been updated much on the progress.

Uh this is not implying that staff isn't moving forward, they are.

It's just to say that at times staff can be a little uh conservative in their planning, and the time to need a little nudge.

So this is meant to be a little nudge.

And third, I really we just wanted to see Rick Valdez in a suit.

But uh, I uh but uh I I did champion this five years ago because if you've been in or around Tonona Sassa, it's a beautiful area.

But the reality is most of the county facilities and assets, whether roads, parks, our library, our old run down, and in dire need of improvement.

So years ago, chatting with uh Rick and with library services uh head at that time, I realized that we have an opportunity to really create a real uh destination and centerpiece in Thanona Sassa that has the potential to be a model for future park planning.

And this is because as we're about to see, we're co-locating a new library and a park adjacent to uh Tenona Sass Elementary and our current existing 19-acre park.

So with this project, we will truly create a a centerpiece and single destination that will enhance both educational and recreational activities, uh both passive and active, and and it really is gonna be helped to improve the quality of life for for I believe all of the SASA.

So with that, Rick, I'll pass it over to you and um please update us.

Well, the commissioner just took all of my comments, so I'll defer.

Good morning, Chair, Commissioners, and County Leadership.

I am Rick Valdez, Director of Parks and Recreation, and I'm joined with our director of library services, Ms.

Shelley Cantro.

Commissioners, we thank you for the opportunity to be here today.

Share an exciting update on the future of the Tenochtis library and park renovations.

These projects represent more than brick and mortar and amenities.

They reflect our commitment to investing in community spaces that educate, inspire, and bring people together.

This is a collaborative effort, as commissioner mentioned, between parks and recreation, library services, and the school board of Hillsburg County that improves the safety while strengthening access to learning, recreation, and shared community spaces.

I'm gonna cover the first few slides that involve the parks improvements, then I'll hand it over to Ms.

Cantrell for library.

This is a geographical overview of the site.

It's um in the heart of the Nota Sasa.

You'll see our existing recreation center uh lies on Schoolie Road with the Notisosa Elementary to the left, and the new park expansion expands all the way to Main Street, which really gives us a real campus feel.

Uh digging in a little bit more to the amenities.

Uh, you see the existing park down low with some baseball fields, uh, the school site to the left, the new synthetic turf fields, one will be on school property, and one will be on uh the new parks property.

We want to thank the school district for allowing that, as well as our parking uh for those ball fields.

And then to the right, you see the 18,000 square foot new library, a lot of walking trails there, we'll have fitness zones, and it'll just be a really nice place.

Um, if you haven't been to this site, it is a beautiful site, and it's gonna be a really nice place for people to just come out and recreate whatever recreation means to them.

If you're sitting on a bench and listening to the birds, or they want to be more active and play football or soccer, we have something there for everyone.

Little overview of the project scope and the budget.

Uh it includes uh the land acquired for the new complex, two new multipurpose synthetic fields with a new concession stand.

As commissioner mentioned, our current field and concession stand is very old and needs improvement.

New 18,000 square foot state of the art library, new shelters, playground, walking trail, fitness zone, all the supporting infrastructure, including parking, stormwater, and landscaping.

The project includes about 13 million dollars for parks and recreation, 21.3 for libraries with a total of 34,367,891 dollars.

The schedule, um, the design and permitting is complete, is actually being advertised for bid right now.

We anticipate a construction start of mid-2026 with the estimated completion of late 2027.

With that, I'm gonna hand it over to Ms.

Cantrell, and I'll remain to answer any questions.

Good morning.

Good morning, welcome.

Thank you.

I will be brief.

I just have a few renderings to share with you.

Uh, one of the things that I do want to say is collating co-locating with the parks is exciting because we already partner on programming, but this is like direct partnering and direct access between the two for the community.

Um, so what you see right here is the rendering of the facade of the library.

It's got some Frank Lloyd Wright inspiration uh so that it can beautifully you know fit in with the park surroundings.

We've brought the floor plan for you today.

Um, as Commissioner Hagan had mentioned, our uh existing library in Thanota Sassa is currently 8,000 square feet, and it was built in 1989.

Um so this is a uh a large difference right now.

The library only has one small community room and then just one room for the library itself that we um host the collection and any of our programming.

The new library will be about 17,000 square feet.

It'll have um multiple community spaces, it'll have an enclosed children's area, which you see over in the yellow, and that includes an early learning hive, um, which gives toddlers and preschoolers um active play and learning through manipulatives.

Uh the renderings that we have for you are really from the main part, the reading area, the reading room, um, where we'll have our technology lending, our accessible computers, and then a robust collection.

What you can't see in these renderings is that the library will also have a state of the art recording studio with an editing space as well as uh the early learning hive as I had mentioned, and it'll have a space that will also be used as a maker space.

Um you'll see some of our quiet study areas and our tutoring areas.

And one of the things I really wanted to mention is that if the community wants to stay um up to date on our projects with uh library services and with the county, they can visit the county projects page, but also the library's website because we do do a more in-depth um presentation on the library's website of our projects.

Well, for I do appreciate you you provide that information because I can tell you from the onset, there was significant community involvement in as far as what amenities uh the community was interested in and having both in the library and at the park.

So I think that'll be uh well received.

So thank you for that.

Um I'll call Commissioner Miller a second.

I just don't say I'm excited about the project.

I'm excited of of champion to look forward to the uh ribbon cutting next year.

Is that what we're gonna shoot for, Rick?

We're shooting for okay.

At a boy, no pressure.

Okay.

Okay, look 27.

Okay, 27.

Okay, yeah, Commissioner Miller.

Thank you.

One quick question on the administration piece in the library.

Will that also have some of your staff, or is it solely library staff?

In other words, only library staff.

Thank you.

Just I was just curious more than anything.

Thank you for your um presentations.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, for bringing this forward.

I have a had a lot of constituents as you mentioned, it's right on the edge of my district, and um they're very much looking forward to this project.

I appreciate the update.

All right, thank you.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Okay, Bonnie.

Thank you.

The next two items are Commissioner Miller's items, item F2 and F3.

Commissioner Miller.

Thank you.

Um, I also will be brief and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Um, the first item is um just about ensuring that the board has complete and consistent information when we're reviewing zoning applications.

Um, you know, as we go through these roles, I didn't understand that we didn't always get that information unless you know um a constituent comes up and brings it forward, and then the attorney will say, Oh, well, we're coming into compliance.

Um, so um, I just want the information.

It asked staff specifically to um coordinate existing information, not create any new standards or to reopen enforcement cases.

Um, I've confirmed that this request doesn't add any additional costs.

Um, I'm asking for a 12-month snapshot of pending and recent violations that help give us contact on the actual land use decisions.

Um, my goal is to improve transparency and coordination across the departments, including um all of the zoning reviews, and the intent is for us to have um just a more informed decision making um not to delay any applications or to single out any specific um applications.

So my specific request is to direct staff to coordinate and provide as part of um any zoning application review a summary of any pending violations with a 12-month history of violations related um to co-enforcement development services and the environmental protection commission.

Can we get a motion by Commissioner?

Second Commissioner Wolstool, uh Commissioner Bowles.

I fully support this.

I think it's a great idea.

I do have one question that is for uh Ms.

Pandell.

If if we get this information and we get this before uh zoning, and as we say there's a quasi-judicial board for the zoning um, you know, issues that come before us.

Is there any potential violation that if this a particular thing wasn't entered into a zoning hearing record that we now have information that's not within I'll call it the four corners of the documents that are before us at that time?

Uh thank you.

Simply receiving the information that you're requesting won't create a problem.

Certainly, as you go through an individual zoning case, you have to be cognizant of what is being requested and the applicability of the land development code of the comprehensive plan and those items.

But but it's not unusual to have that information just made part of a record for context.

Okay, all right, thank you.

Okay, got a motion and a second.

Please record your vote.

Motion Gary.

Motion carry with seven and zero.

F three, Commissioner Miller.

Thank you.

So this is why I split out uh Commissioner Bowles.

This is why I split out my request, but this one is going to be a little bit more complex.

Um, but I also believe that this item is about fairness and accountability in our permitting process.

Um, when a projects begin work or operations without required approvals, it creates additional impacts on staff resources, timelines, and compliance efforts.

Applicants who follow the rules should not be disadvantaged compared to those who proceed without authorization.

Um I'm asking staff to explore options for enhanced permitting fees in these situations not to predetermine an outcome.

Um any options that are brought back should be legally sound, proportional and consistent with state law and county code.

Um this is intended to encourage compliance, not discourage developments.

Very important.

Um, and the board will have the opportunity to review and discuss any recommendations before any action is considered.

My specific um request is to direct staff to explore and bring back options for the implementation of enhanced permitting fees for projects that start operation without prior approval.

Second.

Can we get a motion by uh Commissioner Miller?

Second Commissioner Wolstool.

Commissioner Wolstall.

I just um we already we fine people for um violating codes right now, right?

So I just you see where I'm going.

I just don't know where that lands us with.

I mean, I'm all about accountability.

I just we already find them.

What's the I don't know what the penalizing them twice.

I just are you guys gonna clarify all of those things and the options.

I mean I'm seconding the motion, obviously I support finding ways just we would need to review that and make a determination as to where we could provide for those enhanced permitting fees because certainly if you've gone through a code enforcement process, there is an entire separate mechanism for finding and for coming into compliance.

So um uh this will allow us to explore that.

We'll work with the county attorney's office will work with um Adam Gormley and his staff to to make sure that we are move proceeding forward legally sufficiently.

Cool, if I may, Mr.

Chair.

Okay, Commissioner Miller.

So Commissioner Wistel, you probably are getting the same calls.

We're kind of seeing a trend in my district where um people are buying properties with the intent to do something completely different than their zoned.

And so there isn't currently a system in place that if somebody does that and then they come to us, and if we didn't know that they were in violation and all of those things, and then if the zoning gets changed, they actually didn't even purchase you know commercial property, for example, or they they didn't pay the actual fees for a commercial building.

Those are different assessments up front, and I think that there should be a steep penalty if they willingly and knowingly entered into that with the hopes of getting it to change.

Um there should be additional fees, and that's and so when I started going down this questioning with um staff is sort of how I ended up splitting these out because I do recognize it as complex because the last thing I want to do is hurt somebody who unintentionally does it, and I do think that that happens from time to time.

Commissioner Wolstall.

Yeah, I just the reason I asked is I have a um I have a beautiful landscaping company up in Odessa I've been helping because they're they're basically at this point being harassed by a neighbor.

I mean we have a I think it might be the first time we have to utilize our new thing about you can't use code enforcement to harass someone, and they were originally being fined for certain things, and it's like, well, it was like offense or something, and as long as we have separation of church and state about what that's for is what I'm I don't want to make sure that someone who like, yeah, they had a legitimate complaint about some small things, but the overarching thing was that they were not being a bad actor, and people that were obviously intended went in with intention to circumvent our rules.

That's all I'm saying.

But yeah, so totally supportive.

Thank you.

Okay, we've got a motion.

Uh Commissioner Miller, second Commissioner Wolstall.

Please record your vote.

Motion carries seven and zero.

Okay, Bon.

Next item.

Thank you.

The next two items are Commissioner Westall's items.

Commissioner Wolstall.

S4 and F five.

Okay, so um F four is on the amendments is going to be my um public hearing, correct?

I just want to I don't know if it got changed after no, it it is to um come back with in the February meeting regarding affordable properties.

Yep.

So um this is something we've had conversations for in the past, and there might be even more locations on that list.

If you remember, I had a report come back with all of the um properties that were in the affordable housing department.

There was a couple that didn't make sense.

There's um a one particularly, I know that I'm Commissioner Cohen and I have been interactive with the community on which is on the list already, but any any other ones that weren't on the list um that you want, obviously you can add, um, but um I'm just bringing action on those.

The reason I brought the report is so every single member commissioner and countywide could see what was on there and see if they wanted to remove anything.

So I will direct staff to bring an agenda item at the February 4th BOCC meeting setting at public hearing for the required 2026 update of the inventory of properties available for affordable housing for the February 18th BOC meeting and to remove the following properties no longer considered appropriate for affordable housing.

Um the Sheldon Road property and the Gray Pines property.

Okay, we got a motion by Commissioner Wolstall, second Commissioner Bowles.

And I just want to say uh I support the item.

I know there's been significant private sector interest in Sheldon Road, and I've had outreach by some folks with interested in partnering with the county on a on a particular uh sports project.

Don't know if that'll go anywhere or not, but I I certainly support uh this item uh moving forward.

So we've got a motion and a second, please record your vote.

Motion carries seven to zero.

Okay, Commissioner Rollstall.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Fortunately, this um item got a lot easier, but um, you know, um unfort Ms.

Mendel is probably very happy.

Um, but the first time she met me was actually on the heart board.

And um my first real item as an elected official wasn't even um for what I was um fighting to get elected for about fiscal responsibility.

My first item was at heart, and I'll never forget it because we were sitting in a presentation where an attorney laid out this very long pointed presentation about how the citizens of Hillsborough County were being blatantly defrauded by the former CEO of Hart, and no one was gonna do anything.

It took me to finally step in with the support of former Commissioner Owen to actually remove that individual and take that fight.

Um, what was leading to ultimately the full dismantling of Hart and everyone that depends on it.

I care deeply about protecting Hart.

And um when we appoint individuals, we're very clear in our advertisements.

Um, actually, our director of board services brought me the advertisement of 2023 that very clearly says citizens appointed to this board must reside in the unincorporated area of Hillsborough County.

Now I told this board back in either in late November or December that I was considering bringing an item that we had some of our appointees that were misrepresenting what I believe were our vows, which was voting to double the property tax burden um immediately after um Commissioner Miller would probably mostly appreciate this since she um individually um oversees more unincorporated residents than any other commissioner in their single member districts, and that is because those residents are taxed for something of service that they're largely never going to get, and immediately after our CEO saying five or six times that if we doubled the property tax burden on those residents, they will see no improved benefit of that tax.

We were told very clearly the three of us were, and our own appointee then went and voted yes anyways to double that property tax.

I found that very confusing in a couple of members, and I started looking into it, and I was I was very surprised to see that one of them has not been eligible eligible to be on that board.

So now I have a bigger question for Hart's legal counsel is that the charter is a legal document, and that legal requirement is that they have to be under member of clause two of the charter, that they have to be an unincorporated resident.

That's part of the Hart Charters legal document.

So now I have to go have a conversation with him about any votes of an ineligible member since it turns out now I didn't know which date, I figured at least January, but it turns out all the way since May of 2025, one of our employees has been ineligible and voting on actions for the Hart Board.

So I have to have a whole other conversation now.

It's an unfortunate situation that could have been totally avoided, and it's unnecessary that I even had to bring it up.

And it was communicated to me by the clerk's office that this person actually called in weeks ago.

They've they've known about this issue.

So I'm glad that it was handled, and I don't have to do the first part of my motion, but I will motion to re-advertise um the Hart appointee position.

It was requested that that um um advertisement only goes for two weeks because of timing issues on trying to get the person in and on to the um March board meeting.

So that is my motion to re-advertise for the now vacant Hart appointee position um for a period of two weeks be brought back to the board.

Second.

Okay, we got a motion by Commissioner Wilson, second Commissioner Bowles.

I don't see anyone in the queue, so uh please record your vote motion carries seven and zero.

Hey, Bonnie.

Thank you.

The last diamond or future discussion items.

Uh, any future issues by board members?

Commissioner Collin.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I wanted to just very briefly address the public comment this morning related to the short-term rentals and the Airbnbs.

Uh this is something that uh is not it certainly uh was dramatized this morning by the the issues in Baycrest, but I think we're all aware that this is not just a problem in one neighborhood, it's a pervasive problem.

Uh it's also a very big problem in the city of Tampa, and it's both unpermitted structures and and unprovided uh subdividing of houses, and then also these short-term rentals.

And um, our code enforcement and our county attorney's office have been working with me for some months to try to figure out if there's anything we can tighten up in relationship to our um to our enforcement.

And unfortunately, we've been in a situation where not only are our hands tied by certain state preemptions, but there's actually um we're actually in a in a state of some uncertainty because there are some things that are proposed in the legislature now that will tie our hands further.

There are also some perhaps remedies that are going to be taken to uh do some work on Senate Bill 180 and some of the other things that have um have taken away uh our uh authority.

What I wanted to say is that my office is going to reach out to the people that talked today, and uh Julia and I are gonna meet with them.

We've already started working on different ideas for what we can do.

One of the problems with looking at other jurisdictions is as you're all aware, other jurisdictions may have passed some of these restrictions prior to when the state preemptions took place, and therefore they were remedies that were available, but they're no longer available to us.

Where I'm going with all this is that we're we're working on it.

We're gonna be working on it next week in Tallahassee to try to lobby our legislators when some of us are up there, but it is scheduled to come back to the board on April 15th.

And the reason we chose April 15th was because we wanted to wait to see what the legislature did before we came in here with a package of recommendations.

So we are working on it, and if anybody wants to get involved, I'm sure their time and energy will be welcome.

Appreciate that very much, Commissioner Cohen.

Okay, I don't see anyone else on the queue, so we're adjourned,