This meeting of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) began at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. The agenda included a commendation, approval of a large consent agenda, public comments, discussion items on historic preservation and two commissioner-led initiatives (swim program expansion and telecommunications preemption), and a time-certain update on Tampa Bay Rays ballpark discussions. The board also received a special appearance from Visit Tampa Bay President and CEO Santiago Corrada. The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:45 a.m. for lunch.
B-1 & B-2: Moseley Homestead Preservation Funding – John Mueller (Facilities Management) presented two funding requests for the historic Moseley Homestead in Brandon. B-1 allocated up to $249,500 to match a state grant for structural stabilization, window restoration, and environmental remediation (total $499,000). B-2 allocated $25,000 for HVAC upgrades, fencing repairs, and conservation. Commissioners requested that no new permanent financial burden be placed on taxpayers; staff will report back on capital improvement plans by April 1, 2026. Both items were approved 7–0.
F-1: Amendment to Federal Legislative Agenda – Telecommunications Preemption – Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda moved to add opposition to the American Broadband Deployment Act (H.R. 2289) and any federal preemption of local authority over telecommunications infrastructure. The motion noted opposition from NACo, NLC, and other groups. Commissioner Joshua Wostal seconded, citing concerns about state-level costs for relocating utility lines. Approved 7–0.
F-2: Expansion of Swim Safety/Drowning Prevention Program – Chair Ken Hagan proposed directing staff to report back on how to expand the county's swim program beyond Head Start children, using existing resources and, if needed, $50,000–$100,000 in new funding. The program, launched in 2015, has taught nearly 16,000 children. In 2025, it served 1,800 children with a 95% progression rate. Transportation remains a key challenge. The motion passed 7–0.
F-3: Update on Tampa Bay Rays Ballpark Discussions – Chair Hagan provided a detailed update at 10:00 a.m. He reported that discussions with the new Rays ownership (the Rais family) have been constructive, with no formal negotiations yet. The proposed ballpark cost is ~$2.3 billion, part of an $8–10 billion mixed-use development on ~120 acres at Hillsborough College. The county is independently verifying projections via an AECOM economic study. Governor DeSantis publicly supported the project and location. Chair Hagan acknowledged that CIT (Community Investment Tax) funding would be essential. Multiple commissioners expressed concerns: Commissioner Wostal warned that using CIT funds would break promises made during the 2024 renewal to voters that the tax would not fund professional sports facilities. Commissioner Boles stated CIT use must be limited and consistent with voter intent. Commissioner Cohen emphasized the value of retaining the team without paying an expansion fee. The motion to continue discussions and bring back a potential framework passed 7–0.
Future Discussion Items – Commissioner Boles requested a staff report within 30–60 days on implementing the "Yes in God's Backyard" (YIGBY) housing policy, which allows religious institutions to develop housing with local approval. He noted over 1,000 acres of potentially eligible property. The Board agreed to consider the timeline.
E-1: Visit Tampa Bay Activity Report – Santiago Corrada (President & CEO) presented the 2025 activity report at 10:15 a.m. Highlights: Fiscal year 2025 set records: 74% hotel occupancy (best in comp set), $1.2 billion in hotel taxable revenue, and over $72 million in tourist development tax collections (up 11.5% from FY24). The new "Go and You'll Know" campaign targets affluent visitors. Corrada noted that calendar year 2025 collections were slightly below the record hurricane-boosted 2024, but still strong. He emphasized the need to continue marketing. Commissioner Wostal asked about potential revenue sharing for a Rays facility; Corrada indicated Visit Tampa Bay is a team player but cautioned that marketing is essential.
Welcome to a meeting of your Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. Representing District One, Harry Cohen. Representing District Two, Ken Hagen. Representing District Three, Gwen Myers. Representing District Four, Christine Miller. Representing District Five, Donna Cameron Cepeda. Representing District Six, Chris Bowles. Representing District Seven, 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. Heavenly Father, I come to you thanking you for another day. So speaking as an Army veteran myself, it's an honor to recognize this amazing organization. Hillsboro County Veterans Helping Veterans Incorporated is a 501 C3 nonprofit who is dedicated to passionately advocating for the hungry, needy, and underrepresented members of our veteran community. To fulfill its mission, the organization is driven by an all-volunteer board of directors and staff, and it depends on one-time and scheduled donations from individuals, businesses, and groups alike. And I'm so excited to present this commendation to veterans helping veterans. Very excited. And it and um the recommendation reads the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to applaud Hillsborough County Veterans Helping Veterans for its unwavering commitment to serving veterans in need and their families. Founded more than 10 years ago by U.S. Navy veteran Mike O'Dell. Hillsborough County Veterans Helping Veterans has been instrumental in providing timely, temporary and emergency assistance when no other resources are available, while additionally working to bridge the gap with federal, state, and county veteran programs. The nonprofit organization is managed and operated entirely by veteran volunteers whose donated time and service enables the organization to return 96% of every dollar received directly to benefiting veterans, in addition to raising critical funding through an annual golf tournament and city county and corporate grants. Marking a record year of service and impact. In recognition of its outstanding service, the organization has been awarded a Hometown Hero Award from the Tampa Bay Lightning, further illustrating the positive impacts it has made in Hillsborough County. The Board of County Commissioners of Hillsborough County, Florida, does hereby commend Hillsborough County Veterans Helping Veterans Incorporated for its exemplary dedication to improving the lives of veterans and their families and expresses sincere appreciation for its continued contributions to the community executed this fourth day of February 2026. Thank you and congratulations. Thank you so much for all that you're doing for our veterans and our community. Thank you. And would thank you. Thank you. And would you like to say to say, Commissioner? And thank you to all of our commissioners and those that support our veterans in the community. We are very busy with what we do to help those in need. Unfortunately, it seems that our goal keeps growing and growing and growing, and so does the need for those that need our assistance. RJ is our treasurer who uh has the job of not only have to keep records of all the the incoming monies and what's going out, but he manns the phone most of the time dealing with all of our veterans. And if any of you have dealt with some of our veterans that uh struggle, you know what a uh a deed that that can be. So I would like RJ to uh give you a uh a little bit of our information. Thank you. Just a brief summary. I started keeping track, and in 2020, we we helped 34 veterans next year 55, 62, 98, 134, and now this last year. Wow. Housing, 50 percent of what we've uh donated to help veterans went to housing hotels, rent mortgage, so they don't get evicted. Uh we had some single moms with three kids and two kids that uh were living in their car, and the cold weather was really hitting them hard. So we put them in a hotel for a week. Utilities, 40 percent of the money went to utilities, electricity and water. A lot of it uh was shut off already. So we have to pay at least 50 percent of the bill in order to get it turned back on.