Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting – February 4, 2026

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.

Commendation

• The Board presented a commendation to Hillsborough County Veterans Helping Veterans, Inc., recognizing their 10 years of service. The organization, run entirely by veteran volunteers, returns 96% of every dollar received directly to veterans. In 2025, they assisted a record 178 veterans with housing (50% of aid), utilities (40%), transportation, and emergency needs. The commendation was accepted by founder Mike O'Dell and treasurer RJ.

Consent Calendar

• The Board approved the consent agenda (43 items) by a 7–0 vote. Notable items included:
  • Removal of five properties from the Affordable Housing Inventory (A-1)
  • Five CDBG public service agreements totaling $559,975 for services to ~1,178 low-income individuals (A-2)
  • A $350,000 film incentive for "Crocodile Smile" (A-10)
  • Advance payment of $6,815,389 for five firefighting vehicles (A-28)
  • A $6,730,968 contract for fender replacement on the 98-year-old Platt Street bascule bridge (A-31)
  • Several sole-source and noncompetitive procurement contracts

Public Comments & Testimony

• Denise Herndon urged the Board to ensure grant funds (e.g., FDLE JAG) are used efficiently and spoke about veterans, immigration, and personal workplace experiences.
• Gary Hartfield withdrew his planned comments on the Rays ballpark discussion, citing the early stage of talks.
• Tom Cobert criticized fascism and Christian nationalism, called for better support for homeless veterans, and warned of health and transportation funding cuts at the federal level.
• Chris Peterson (Fortified Financial, PACE provider) thanked the Board for readopting PACE and requested the county stop opposing a 2022 court ruling that requires tax collectors to place PACE assessments on the tax roll, citing wasted legal fees and harm to homeowners.
• Chris Snard (Fortify Financial CEO) elaborated on the PACE dispute, noting that 138 transactions in Hillsborough were affected; failure to place assessments on tax rolls leads to valid liens that homeowners may not discover until refinancing. He asked the Board to work with staff to resolve the issue.
• Thomas Fletcher expressed appreciation for the commendation of Veterans Helping Veterans and recounted the organization's growth.
• Fred Hearns promoted the fifth annual Black History Month Reception on February 27, 2026, at Tampa's future Black History Museum, and honored the Florida Sentinel Bulletin.

Discussion Items

• 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.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved 7–0.
• B-1 (Moseley Homestead $249,500 match): Approved 7–0.
• B-2 (Moseley Homestead $25,000): Approved 7–0.
• F-1 (Oppose federal telecom preemption): Approved 7–0.
• F-2 (Swim program expansion study): Motion approved 7–0; staff to return with options.
• F-3 (Continue Rays ballpark discussions): Motion approved 7–0; staff to bring back potential framework.
• Future Item Request: Commissioner Boles' request for a YIGBY report was accepted; timeline to be determined.
• Public Comment PACE Issue: Chair Hagan directed staff to review the tax roll dispute and ensure compliance.

Additional Notes

• The meeting began with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.
• One agenda time change: E-1 moved from 10:30 to 10:15 a.m.
• No items were removed from the consent agenda for separate vote.