Hillsborough County BOCC Regular Meeting – February 18, 2026
Hillsborough County BOCC Regular Meeting – February 18, 2026
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners held its regular meeting on February 18, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The meeting opened with an invocation, pledge of allegiance, and a proclamation declaring February 26 through March 8, 2026, as Florida Strawberry Festival Days. The board approved changes to the agenda, including deferrals of items A-9 and A-10 to March 4, 2026, and an off-the-agenda item (F-3) to expand the county seat. Public comments were heard from three speakers. The consent agenda was approved unanimously. The board then discussed and voted on several items, including a major modification to the Gibsonton Septic-to-Sewer project, appointments to HART, honoring Rich Reedy, expanding the county seat, approving a $211 million single-family housing program and seven infrastructure projects under the CDBG-DR grant, a public hearing on the affordable housing property inventory, and a report on the MOSI property development. All votes were 6-0 (with one commissioner absent).
Consent Calendar
- Approved changes to the agenda, including deferrals and corrections.
- Approved the consent agenda (items A-1 through A-45) unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Denise Herndon spoke about medical record hacking and a personal injury case, expressing frustration with the county and sheriff's response.
- Tom Cobert opposed proposed state bills HB 4029 (increasing commissioners to nine) and HB 4031 (partisan elected superintendent), arguing they reduce representation and invite political influence. He also wished Commissioner Boles well in his health battle.
- Sergrit Doss, a veteran, testified about property he claims was wrongly taken from him, alleging lack of due process and urging the board to investigate.
Discussion Items
- B-3 Gibsonton Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Project: Approved the second modification to the Construction Manager at Risk agreement with Ric-Man Construction Florida, Inc., increasing the contract by $10,014,315.02 to $71,148,144.92 for Work Package B. The modification incorporates $8 million in FY26 CIP funds and a $2 million EPA grant, adding 39 homes, three commercial properties, and two mobile home parks. Final completion extended to August 28, 2027.
- F-1 Board Appointments: Appointed Rondrico Smith to the Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) for an unincorporated residency seat, selected by the board.
- F-2 Naming of Wall of Good Government Award Display: Unanimously approved naming the display space in honor of Rich Reedy, former commissioner aide, for his vision and passion for the Good Government Award.
- F-3 Expanding County Seat Boundaries: Commissioner Miller moved to request the County Attorney to process a resolution under Florida Statute 138.12 to expand the county seat from the City of Tampa to encompass the entire boundary of Hillsborough County, with required statutory public notice and two public hearings. Approved 6-0.
- G-2/B-1/B-2 CDBG-DR Program: Received a staff report on the $709.3 million HUD CDBG-DR grant. Approved the Single Family Housing Program (B-1) allocating $211,339,196 to assist approximately 1,000 single-family homeowners (including mobile home owners) impacted by Hurricanes Helene and/or Milton. Authorized a 30-day HUD-required public comment period starting February 19, 2026, for an Action Plan amendment. Approved an initial list of seven infrastructure projects (B-2) totaling approximately $9 million, including five neighborhood drainage projects, one permanent pump station in the Shangri-La neighborhood, and one culvert replacement project covering 25 culverts. All projects meet HUD national objectives (LMI or urgent need).
- D-1 Public Hearing on Affordable Housing Property Inventory: Conducted a public hearing with five speakers. Approved a resolution adopting the updated List of Real Property Inventory Appropriate for Affordable Housing, removing five properties: Ehrlich Rd, Town Center Blvd, Knoll Pine Way (awarded via RFP), and Sheldon Rd and Grey Pines (removed as directed by the board on January 21, 2026). Closed the public comment period that began February 4, 2026.
- G-1 MOSI Property Development Report: Received a midterm progress report from Assistant County Administrator Ron Barton on pre-development work for the 73-acre MOSI site. Key milestones: unanimous planning commission approval of land use changes (UMU-60 for private development and CMU-35 for the southeast corner) and a draft master development plan featuring a field house, hotel, film studio, theater, residential, retail, office, and a conceptual ice facility. Next steps: first public hearing before Tampa City Council in April, rezoning filing in May/June, and a development agreement expected by summer 2026. Board members expressed support, requested inclusion of a splash pad, and emphasized coordination with partners.
Key Outcomes
- All votes were 6-0 (one commissioner absent).
- Single Family Housing Program approved with $211.3 million; 30-day public comment begins Feb 19; final Action Plan Amendment due April 1.
- Seven CDBG-DR infrastructure projects approved for Phase 1 at ~$9 million.
- Five properties removed from affordable housing inventory; public hearing concluded.
- Board directed staff to report back aggressively on enforcement actions regarding a nuisance property at Lake Maglin/Brentwood (future discussion item).
- MOSI development timeline: land use hearings April 2026, rezoning May/June, development agreement summer 2026.
Meeting Transcript
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 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 February eighteenth, two thousand twenty-six regularly scheduled board meeting of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. Father, I ask you that you continue to bless all of our projects from infrastructure, housing, transportation, social services, health care, that we continue to help all of our citizens in this county. In your holy name I pray. Amen. Please read this memo into the record. Mr. Kyle Robinson, President of the Florida Strawberry Festival. And I'd also like to acknowledge Addison Pope, who couldn't be here with us today. She's feeling a little under the weather. They um gave me some words to say that would talked about the deep sorry, Mr. Kilton, I missed you on my page. Come on up. This is our mayor, Mr. Kilton, come on up. Um they gave me some words to say, and um they were sort of detailed of what the festival is, and I'll be able to read those as part of the proclamation. But what I want to do instead is talk about my favorite moment that happens every year when the festival. It's the very first day on opening day. Um everyone stands at the main gate, including Mr. and Mrs. Barrett. I should stay on script. This is why they tell me to stand on come on up, Mr. and Mr. Barry. Um my goodness. This is why I don't do this, Mr. Kilton, you're always on us. We're gonna have them come up. She got them both. Everybody squeeze in. Watch this, too, by the way. It's always dangerous right here. Come on in. All right. I'm gonna start over. Here we go.
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