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 March 4th, 2026 regularly scheduled board meeting of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

Let us pray.

Oh Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to come before you and share your words with the board members and the audience, the guests that are here this morning.

I ask that our two recipients this morning that will receive proclamations that you will continue to go with them and bless their organization.

And as we celebrate women's history month, Father, I thank you for all the women that are able to do in your name and service you.

Kevin Cruz, Truth, Faith and Action is steadfast in its mission to encourage residents to participate responsibly in civic life, uphold constitutional values, and engage constructively in their communities.

The nonprofit has provided vital nonpartisan education, volunteer initiatives, and outreach efforts.

All of which are designed to promote informed participation, respect for the rule of law, and civic responsibility, in addition to hosting volunteer-led programs and public conferences that encourage informed engagement.

Truth, faith, and action crafts important educational initiatives that focus on civic literacy and constitutional principles.

The organization is also instrumental in collaborating with faith-based and community organizations that strengthen social cohesion within the region, fostering informed, engaged, and responsible residents.

The Board of County Commissioners of Hillsborough County, Florida, does hereby commend truth, faith, and action for its unwavering commitment to service and civic principles and wishes it many years of continued success.

Presented this fourth day of March 2026.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Congratulations to you both.

But I really would like uh I'm just so honored really to present this amazing commendation today.

And I would like to have uh first of all, Dr.

Um Joshua, to please uh say a few words, and then after we'll have Dr.

Ruckers and also your team can come up as well.

Thanks.

And it is a tremendous honor for me to stand here and receive this uh recognition on behalf of our alliance, Truth Faith and Action Alliance.

I want to thank every commissioner present here for their dedicated service to our uh home, Hillsborough County.

And it's a tremendous need right now to make our county a safe place, um, especially for our children.

So with the leadership of our founder, Dr.

Cameron Cruz, and our tremendous team.

It actually belongs this recognition belongs to our incredible team here.

Um we are fighting to make this county a safe place for our kids.

So once again, thank you so much for your recognition and partnership of all the commissioners and county to work with us to make this a safer place.

Thank you.

So I do want to thank you all for coming, but I want to thank each one of the board members today, and we appreciate you what you're doing in our communities.

And this is, of course, our team.

This is my wife, Alexandra Cruz.

And of course, you've already met Joshua, he is our director of ministry integration, Christy Leffords, and then John Glorioso are also part of our team.

So, as many of you know, we're getting accommodation, but there's a tremendous team of people behind that.

And so just to tell you a few things that when you're starting to deal with sex trafficking, you realize that we're fighting something that cannot be fixed alone.

And so the goal of our alliance is to be a trellis type network that connects the people that have a passion to do something about this problem.

There are over 25 different nonprofit ministries here in our area that are willing to work together.

We now have a connection to the county commissioners.

We're going to get all of the state and local people in the government to connect, and then we're going to try and connect those people to our business community and our faith community.

Someone needs to bridge the gap and begin to connect all of these parts, because until we work together, we will never fix this problem.

And that's the goal of our alliance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So we're going to go up and have some fixed photos now, and this is the entire team here.

Oh, well, the team that you have here at the moment.

But uh, thank you.

I'm just really honored to give this commendation.

Thank you very much.

Good job, uh, okay.

I want to get you guys a part of it.

Thank you, Commissioner Cameron Cepeda.

And now Commissioner Cohen will uh present our next proclamation.

Well, good morning.

Good morning, everyone.

I would like to ask the following special guests to please join me at the podium.

Tina Forcier, Richard Rogers, and Ron Spohr, all of Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Hillsboro.

John Beacham, founder and CEO of Torak, Capital Partners and Habitat Board member, and Candace Cowan, a habitat homeowner who advocates for habitat at the state level.

Good morning, everyone.

Thank you for joining us today.

Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Hillsboro is all about building.

This organization builds strength, stability, and self-reliance through its home building program, which collaborates with local volunteers to provide safe, accessible, and affordable housing.

The habitat homeowners also invest sweat equity into their new home, making it even more meaningful.

This is a special organization that delivers an exceptional program that we're very proud of in Hillsborough County, one that brings our community closer together and lifts people up by filling an essential need.

Whereas for nearly 40 years, the hometown affiliate of Habitat International has been investing in affordable housing for low to moderate income working families who desperately need it through a program of empowerment, community, and volunteer and donor spirit that reflects the heart of Hillsboro County.

And whereas since its founding in 1987, the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Hillsboro has built and repaired over 650 homes, more than 100 in the past two years, for residents struggling to find safe, stable, affordable places to live.

And whereas for nearly 100,000 local families, housing consumes more than 50% of their total income, which can force hard choices between shelter and necessities like food or medicine, and whereas through habitat, a resident gets a loan that keeps monthly payments at no more than 30% of the family income, helping to break the cycle of poverty and start to build long-term financial security.

And whereas prospective habitat homeowners put in hundreds of sweat equity hours helping build habitat homes alongside volunteers and working in habitat programs, strengthening a sense of investment in where they live, and whereas Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Hillsboro supports military veterans with affordable homeownership and home repairs and the aging in place initiative helps seniors stay in their homes safely and with dignity, and whereas the concrete block homes habitat builds exceed code requirements for stability and resilience and our storm strengthened against hurricanes, and whereas habitat homeowners who previously rented paid $613,000 in property taxes in 2025, rising from 473,000 in 2024 and 411 in 2023.

And whereas home building events including veterans build, women build, faith build, and holiday home build with the bucks, showcase volunteers and donors who help make affordable homeownership a reality in Hillsborough County.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Board of County Commissioners of Hillsborough County, Florida, does hereby declare March 4th, 2026 as Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Hillsboro Day in Hillsborough County, and thanks the organization for making a significant difference in the lives of Hillsborough County residents executed this fourth day of March 2026.

Ms.

Forcier, congratulations to you, your team, and everyone who makes this program thrive.

Would you like to say a few words on behalf of Habitat?

Thank you.

Thanks for being here.

Thank you, you awesome.

How do I you have my notes?

I do.

I have your notes.

I threw them up here.

Oh no.

Oh, there we go.

Okay.

I could have just winged it, but well, first off, good morning to the members of the commission, and thank you to Commissioner Cohen and members of the board for this recognition.

I'm honored to accept this proclamation on behalf of Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay, Hillsboro.

This is very exciting for us.

And this acknowledgement highlights the importance of affordable homeownership to the people of Hillsborough County.

I want to thank our team, our volunteers and partners who work tirelessly to make our work possible.

This recognition is a reflection of your dedication.

Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Hillsboro has provided over 300 new homes with affordable mortgages for low-income families and over 300 repairs to low-income homeowners so that they can remain in their homes.

Our aim is to break the cycle of poverty through homeownership.

By doing so, we are able to reduce the burden on other public subsidy that is needed because these families have the ability to afford their necessities.

We're able to return the funds to the local community in the form of property taxes.

In November 2025, Habitat Homeowners paid over $600,000 in property taxes.

We accept this charge to continue serving our community with integrity and to make Hillsboro County a better place to live and work.

I'd also like to ask for John Wheaton, our SVP of construction, to come stand with us for pictures because he's the one that's out in the field making the homes happen.

And with that, I'm gonna ask Candace Cohen, a Habitat Homeowner, to say a few words.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Tina.

And uh thank you, Commissioner Cullen, for that um same name, but we're not related.

But nonetheless, good morning, um chair, commissioners, community, and honored guest.

Um, thank you for this proclamation and for recognizing the lasting impact of Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Hillsboro.

Today is a celebration not only of an organization, but what becomes possible when leadership, policy, and community come together with a purpose.

Many years ago, my life was reshaped when my daughter was diagnosed with cancer at just one year old.

During that time, I witnessed the extraordinary power of community.

People showed up, offer support, encouragement, and strength, helping to steady me during a moment that required faith, focus, and resilience.

Today, my daughter is in her early 20s and in remission.

So thank God, and I remain deeply grateful for the village that surrounded us.

But as I continue forward, working full-time, pursuing my education, and striving for home ownership, I found myself in a position familiar to a lot of people here in the Tampa Bay area.

Rising housing costs made me uh made the goal of homeownership increasingly difficult to reach.

But once again, the community stepped up through Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat did more than help me to just to just build a home.

It helped me build the framework of my life through sweat equity, volunteerism, and partnership.

I earned my home while standing shoulder to shoulder with my neighbors and my community.

This is Women's History On Month, so it's perfect timing to note that my home was the first woman-build home in the Tampa Bay area, constructed primarily by women, mothers, aunts, sisters, along with leaders, professionals, and advocates who demonstrated what happens when women come together to build not just walls and roofs, but opportunity, confidence, and generational impact.

That experience ignited my passion for construction, deepened my commitment to service, and solidified my calling as a public servant.

Today I continue to build upon that foundation by engaging in civic um leadership in advocating for policy and appropriations at both the state and local level and federal level.

I travel to Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

to share my story and advocate for programs like habitat because I know firsthand that when policy aligns with purpose, lives are transformed.

I'm standing here today because both Habitat and the board understands the importance of investing in people because legislators chose to support solutions that work, and because a community believed in building not only a house but a future.

Habitat for humanity reminds us that we are all connected, and that at different moments in our lives we may lean on the systems, the very systems that we help sustain.

So when we invest in affordable housing, affordable homeownership, we are laying laying foundations that strengthen families, empower people, and shape communities for generations to come, like myself.

So thank you to these leaders, to these legislators.

Thank you so much for your support and your commitment to build a stronger um Hillsborough County, and thank you for your time.

Well, again, it's wonderful to have you here to celebrate your anniversary.

And I think we're gonna go up and take a few pictures, and we have one last thing, I think.

It's a property tax check to Hillsborough County.

Uh on behalf of all the habitat homeowners, right?

All the homeowners pay this much this past year in taxes.

Wonderful.

We'll hold it in the picture, and we'll uh we'll get more hands.

Okay.

One to refer.

I am good.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Cohen.

Bonnie, you want to uh review changes the agenda.

Yes, good morning, commissioners.

We have several items for time certain today.

The first one is 10 o'clock, item D1.

This is to conduct a public hearing to accept comments on the substantial amendments to the action plans and close the public comment period for submittal to HUD.

Item D2 at 10 o'clock is to hold a public hearing regarding uh water and wastewater impact fees to allow certain qualifying developments that are in the county's approval process to be able to pay the 2025 water and wastewater impact fee rates.

Item D3 at 10 o'clock is to hold a public hearing and adopt an ordinance repealing and replacing the solicitation and distribution and public roads ordinance.

Item F2 at 1015 by Commissioner Hagan is a discussion regarding partnering with USF on critical infrastructure and public safety improvements for the new Fletcher District development.

1145 is a recess for lunch.

Those are the changes to the agenda.

Second motion for the changes, Commissioner Myers and Commissioner Willstool, please record your vote.

Motion carried seven to zero on the board going to public comment portion of the agenda.

The board welcomes comments from citizens about any issues or concerns.

Comments are not directed personally at uh staff or the board, but rather the issues.

We've set aside 45 minutes for public comment this morning.

Uh the chair will call names and the order in which uh you've signed up.

Please uh state your name and speak clearly into the microphone.

The first three speakers this morning.

Uh, Mark Lander, followed by Carla Fry and then Chwanda Bradley.

It's Mr.

Lander here.

Please come forward.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning, Mr.

Chair Commissioners.

My name is Mark Lander.

I'm the deputy secretary for the Florida Department of Health.

Um, here today, just to briefly talk on uh agenda item A 14 for the consent agenda to introduction to the appointment of uh Dr.

Carla Fry as the new health officer for the Hillsborough County Health Department, as well as I have up here with me uh Dr.

Douglas Holt, um, the current and retiring health officer.

Um, Miss Fryer, Dr.

Fry has been with the department uh quite a few years.

She's been serving as in this role in Monroe County.

Um prior to that, she was an educator with I believe Jacksonville University, and then also has six years of military uh service time with our U.S.

Army.

Um, very well equated, um, a lot of public health experience, public health background.

We are super excited to be able to bring her up um to Hillsborough County and serve in this role of upon your appointment.

Um, and I don't want to steal your thumb because I know you're gonna get in a talk, so I'll I'll let you do that.

But I I do want to also thank this gentleman to the left of me.

I'll try not to get emotional.

Yeah, I've known Dr.

Holt for many years in my 30 years, and I think it has been um I know it's been his honor to serve the residents of Hillsborough County, and um, he has been such a mentor to me and other health officers um around the state of Florida serving not only in in his local role but always being the first to be pulled to Tallahassee to serve in interim roles to support the state.

And um, with that, I I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr.

Holt for for his service.

So thank you, sir.

Um, and with that, I don't want to take up any more time, and I know Ms.

Fry will speak and I'll step back.

Thank you, Mr.

Lander.

Good morning, Dr.

Ferrari.

Good morning.

Mr.

Chair, Commissioners, County Administrator.

It's a pleasure to be here today.

It's an honor and a privilege to be the proposed health officer of the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County.

I want to thank Dr.

Doug Holt as well, echoing Mark's sentiments for the last couple of months.

He's introduced me to just about everybody.

And so it's been a wonderful introduction to not only Hillsborough County, but to the stakeholders and the community members who are doing such wonderful work together.

So with that, I'll tell you a little bit about myself.

I um I have 38 years of nursing, hard to believe, but that time has gone by quickly.

Acute care, academia, and now public health, and the intersection, I think, of those three things has really lended itself well to me being prepared for this role.

It's a big role, it's a lot of responsibility.

So that time in the military that Mark mentioned also has prepared me well.

I treasure those six years that I spent in the army, and I feel like the values and the mission that we served together has led me to this place, and it has made me the person that I am today.

For the next couple of months, it's going to be busy, but I'm looking very much forward to meeting with each of you, hearing about the communities that you serve, the priorities that you have, the differing needs of our community, and everything that we can do to make sure that we make our community thrive, make them healthy and happy, and do the best that they can.

So, with that, thank you very much for your time.

Thank you very much, Dr.

Farai.

Uh, next three speakers, Tuonda Bradley.

Don't see Twonda uh Virtual.

We have a Marlise Tolbert Jones and then a Denise Herndon.

Is Ms.

Tilbert Jones on the line.

Yes, I am.

Okay, good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning, um Board of County Commissioners.

My name is Marlene Robert Jones, and I am the vice president of Progress Village City Council.

I'm speaking today to express my uh excitement for the collaboration of Hillsborough County, MMI, and Progress Village.

Although excited, I do feel that there are some legitimate concerns.

The upcoming expansion of MMI, Progress Village Luxury Apartment.

Um I do feel some discomfort with the storm drainage in the area.

I am a lifelong resident of Progress Village, with my family being one of the first seven to move into the area.

And we have lived through many storms and flooding in the area.

I would love to feel convinced that the county has done everything and looked at everything to make sure that this expansion will not affect Progress Village or its community.

However, with the expansion, we just want to feel that this will be so once it is built.

I do believe that because of the meeting, MMI, they have concerns for our valid concerns.

However, the expansion causes fear for the community.

I have faith that the county has done everything possible to ensure that our safety in Pargus Village.

Private village is a community that has been overlooked, has been somewhat dismissed, but here we are.

We pray that God will continue to cover us, keep us, because we are a family that our concern for one another.

We reach out for one another, and I thank the board for making sure that we are safe.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, ma'am.

Appreciate your comments.

Uh Tuonda Bradley.

It's Bradley here, followed by uh Denise Herndon and then Tom Cobert.

Good morning.

Good morning, board.

Um, Tuanda Bradley, Progress Village President.

I'm here again with the same story, but with a different twist.

Um, in the past, the past three times that we've come to you, we talked about what Progress Village needs to be safe.

We talked about MMI, of course, that MMI is building around us.

One thing that we have not done publicly is say that we support MI and its development.

However, the message is still the same to you all.

With this development, if you approve it, if you approve it, we still need to ensure that Progress Village is safe.

That um the flooding is not only for today, it's for tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.

Other words, in other words, we want to be sustainable, right?

We want to make sure that we are not facing what we faced in 2024, a flooding with the new buildings, not only MMI, but others, just making sure that you know that we're safe.

We also want to make sure that the roads are safe.

Currently, they're not good.

They are not good today.

And then we add density, what is that gonna do?

Weaken our roads even more.

So we ask you again today, prepare, we prepare, repair our roads, in addition to repairing them, making sure that they're safe moving forward because of the density is going to impact them.

We're talking about safety to the community itself as well.

Safety to the community itself when we are already walking back and forth on a state road or road that's deemed to be a truck, uh truck route.

It's not safe today.

And so if we add a density, we're adding more cars, it's making us even more unsafe.

So, what safety measures that you can put in place and support that?

Transportation is very important to us.

We want to make sure that our people are able to ride their e-bikes and all those great things up and down the road, but know that they're safe.

So today I come once again, letting you know Parkers Village is here.

We've been here 65 years, and we want to be here a little longer, but we want to make sure our generations are still there and they are safe.

So please, please will ask again, act now on our roads, making sure our roads are good today as well as the future.

And again, I want to thank publicly thank um uh Mr.

Wright and his team for working with us.

Yes, I know you all may have felt that we've been a little slow in moving, but Progress Village has always been on board with the developers.

We thank them for coming to us and having more face-to-face meetings with us, helping us to understand their part versus your part.

And so we're here about your part.

So with that, I thank them for everything they've done, and we're looking forward to continuing our partnership that we've already have with them.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments.

Uh Denise Herndon, and followed by Tom Cobert and Dr.

Charlie Sand.

Good morning.

I'm Denise Herndon.

I was unable to print anything from the library because I can't use any other computer but the library computer.

I was able to sign up, but I was unable to.

It said that it went to the queue, but it wouldn't sign up.

So my issue is reading through the um courier service to increase it a hundred and ten thousand dollars for library services.

I know that Red Line does more than just library services for with that added a million dollars, over a million dollars.

Um I've never been married.

I'm single, raised one child that at 10 and a half got involved in the dark web.

This is sex trafficking that's going on.

My son is now 40, he'll be 41 in June.

The Sheriff's Department hasn't helped me.

Shirlene Hammond, who is a small owner of Brandon Ford was his school bus driver back then.

She drugged him and got him raped by somebody at Oakbridge Run condominium named John Spears.

In 2014, when I realized Shirlene Herman, who was my next door neighbor, now a small owner of Brandon Ford because of her husband Wayne Hammond, was the general manager.

I started calling the FBI, the FBI.

We're over 10 years now.

Went to the sheriff's department, went to FDLE.

I've called the FBI several times.

Nothing has been done.

Sheriff Cronister, I don't care how much money is back in him, we need to vote him out.

We need to vote him out.

My records for Hillsborough County says I'm separated.

I've never been married, so how can I be separated?

I've got body cams where I was a witness to a drive-by shooting.

The case number is 21-98624.

That body cam is false.

I don't care whether it's general offense.

When you have a body cam from a sheriff's department falsified, there's a big problem.

And the only reason I pulled that up was to show my son what his dark web friends are doing.

Jeff Bezos took over my son's website at 10 and a half when that's how he found him.

He took it over somewhere around 2001, 2002.

I didn't know my son was involved in this until he got caught hacking into computers.

He was kicked out of Tampa Tech and expelled from Brandon High School for hacking in and changing his grades.

Something needs to be done because these are our small kids now that are being sex trafficked.

Thank you very much.

Next up is Tom Covert, followed by Dr.

Charlie Sand.

Well, Madam Chair, I didn't know he'd left.

Good morning, commissioners, staff, and deputies.

My name is Tom Cobert.

Today I'm gonna get into something personal.

I order my t-shirts from a company in Atlanta.

It takes two days for me to get it.

I was expecting one on Friday the 13th, and it didn't come in.

So I went online, checked what's going on.

The shirt had been diverted.

There was no time listed, which meant it was a manual entry.

And only the postal inspectors or law enforcement could make that kind of entry.

Now there's things going on in this country where there's a lot of censorship, you know, leaning towards straight out dictatorship.

And I I've been a longtime community activist.

I got involved in the early 90s in juvenile justice.

I was a charter member of the juvenile justice council.

Got to know Phyllis Pazanski, Alvin Martinez, Julie Holt, they were mentors.

And I believe in Hillsborough County and doing the right thing.

I went to Taiwan and I admire the Chinese greatly.

But I am a creaker.

You know, I took that out.

And like I said, I'll I'll stand up against this.

I'm back to being a community activist.

I'm involved with the North Tampa Dems.

I'm here because I was asked to be their legislative tracker, and I enjoy being a community activist.

Makes me feel good.

But uh it upset me, and I just wanted to vent about it.

And to warn this commission, you know, people there is somebody poking into a private citizen's affairs, and that should never be accepted.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Cobert.

Dr.

Charlie Sand, followed by George Neiman and then he vet nehmen.

Morning.

Good morning, Dr.

Morning, Commissioners, County Administrators, leadership, staff in our community.

I'm Dr.

Charlie Sand.

I just want to say a few words in recognition of the yeoman efforts by Plant City Fire Rescue in preparation for the Strawberry Festival.

At the most recent Hillsborough County EMPC Emergency Medical Planning Council meeting a few weeks ago, which I have the honor of chairing.

Plant City Fire Rescue Chiefs David Ditman and Raymond Torres.

You want to come up for a dude?

No, all right.

A little shy.

They're a little shy to come up.

Gave a wonderful presentation on the medical response preparation for the currently held being held Strawberry Festival.

And just to put this complex plan in perspective, at the current festival, they're operating three first aid stations, two dedicated transport units assigned on the property each day.

They're staffing the festival with 18 personnel, two medical carts, one UTV utility train vehicle equipped with fire suppression capabilities.

And to top it off, they have an ambu bus for any potential, God forbid, MCI mass casualty incidents that may transpire.

Airbuses was kindly provided by Hillsbrook County Fire Rescue, which is another example of how our local first responders work so well in collaboration.

For a frame of reference statistics from last year's festival, tenants was 600 over 650,000.

Medical patient contacts, 473, of which the majority were treated at the scene.

Okay, 443 were treated at the scene, stay and treat, so we don't overburden or already overcrowded ERs.

They treated most of them at the scene at the festival.

Only 30 require transportation to local hospitals, which again is a reflection of their great medical care.

We shall see what the numbers are for the next week, but it's a little warm weather, so people need to hydrate and stay safe.

So, in summary, it's quite impressive.

Our first responders, Plant City Fire Rescue, and their preparation, emergency response, medical plan, utmost desire to make the Strawberry Festival a seamless, safe and wonderful event that it's known to be.

To that, a well deserved shout out to Fire Rescue, along with all of our first responders, including law enforcement, for once again going well beyond the call of duty to optimize acute medical care in our community.

And last but not least, thank you to the Board of County Commission and County Administrators for providing the resources to keep our community healthy and safe.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Sam.

Appreciate your comments and leadership.

George Neiman, Mr.

Neiman here, followed by Yvette Neiman and then Tiffany Rent.

Good morning.

Good morning, Commissioners and public.

The zoning approval process grossly favors the applicant, as you should know.

The energy industrial park is a prime example.

Some commissioners like to make the excuse that basically they must approve cases, otherwise the county will get sued.

We heard some of that along the way with regard to the energy industrial park.

I want to share the following with the public.

Here's the reality.

A while back, I asked the county attorney's office to give me a list of all the denied land use cases for the previous 10 years that were challenged in court, along with the results of those challenges.

It turned out that in that 10-year period, the county won in court when it was uh when a civil case was filed.

They won 79% of the time.

So much for the excuses we always hear from some commissioners, as though their hands are tied and they have no choice.

We see a lot of hand wringing, but it's false.

It really isn't accurate.

You do have a choice.

If you didn't, we wouldn't need to have you sit in judgment of these hearings for land use.

So when the next step in the energy industrial process comes before you next Tuesday in the land use case, please save us from hearing that your hands are tied and you have no choice but to automatically approve everything.

We know that that's not true, and the county's own records demonstrate that.

So next Tuesday, when this rezoning case comes before you, I ask you to use common sense, prudence, and some care for your ki the rest of your constituents beyond just the property owner that has a project that wants to make money.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Yvette Neiman.

Followed by Tiffany Rentz, which is virtual, and then Thomas Fernandez of virtual.

Good morning.

Good morning, Commissioners.

My name is Yvette Neiman, Dover, and I live next to the contaminated former Dover Phosphate Mine, now known as Energy Industrial Park.

I'm here today to make sure the public understands the realities we're facing if the proposed 1,200 homes on a contaminated phosphate mine continues to move forward.

The public needs to be made aware that the county has approved having daycare centers on land, which was used to store contaminated wastewater from phosphate mining.

These contaminated pits are where the owners are going to put daycare centers where children will spend many hours.

This is insanity.

None of this was discussed in any public forum so far, but now is the time for it to be exposed.

The public needs to be made aware of it.

It's bad enough that this county is going to let adults live and work on this tainted land.

But are we going to risk the health and safety of our young, innocent infants and children by building daycare centers on mining land that clearly has contamination?

And yes, we know that the county cleverly tried to distance themselves from these problems.

However, the final approvals will be on your backs, commissioners.

Where is your conscience?

Where is your reason?

Where is your prudence?

Please do the right thing.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Uh Tiffany Rentz, is she on the line?

Mr.

Chair Tiffany Wentz did not sign it.

Okay about Thomas Fernandez.

Thomas.

Yes, sir.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning, Chair, Commissioners.

Hello.

Yes.

Am I good to go?

Okay.

Good morning, Chair Commissioners and friends of Hill Florida County.

Thank you for having me.

I'm Thomas Eloy Nova Fernandez, a Cuban-born immigrant, a retired 20-year disabled Air Force veteran, and a proud Democratic candidate for governor of Florida.

I was born in Havana, Cuba, raised in the United States, and served 20 years in the United States Air Force and have called Florida home since 1997.

Our campaign is based on a single idea, NOVA.

Navigating our vision ahead.

The sudden medical bills, the gap in child care, the school or job shots that upend the way of life.

Nova is about leading differently, planning ahead, showing up in communities, and building durable solutions that protect families, security, and opportunities.

My work has always been about service, little infinite family, and our partnership with as a DCF access partner.

We've run health resources events, distributed food, and help families in crisis.

If elected, NOVA will focus on affordability, education, accessible health care, and practical disaster and economic preparedness so families aren't left stranded by the life shock.

This campaign is people powered.

We'll be in neighborhoods, holding town halls, and building volunteer teams across Florida.

I'd be honored to partner with Hillsborough County to listen, to learn, and to work together.

Please join us at our event, volunteer or become a founding supporter to help NOVA get moving.

Today is just the beginning.

Today I ask you to join us in hope and purpose and in vision.

Thank you for your time and for all you do for this community.

I'm Thomas Eloinova Fernandez, and I respectfully ask for your support.

Thank you and have a good day.

Thank you so much.

Uh Deborah Holliday, which is virtual, and their last speaker, Sergret Daws.

Is Ms.

Holliday on the line.

Yes, I am.

Good morning.

Did you hear me?

Yes, ma'am.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I I'm David Holiday.

I'm speaking about the development of the EIP in Dover.

The public is concerned about the safety of this development of 3,000 acres.

Excellent property for Florida and I prefer the air we breathe and human health are at risk.

The BOCC did require six different agencies to do testing to assure the public it will be safe.

The applicant recently stated under oath that testing reports should be available to the public.

But the applicant says now that he will not release the results until a billy permit is requested.

This feels like something is being hidden.

We have a 35-year tenured expert whose job was to work beside ship ID.

We would like your feedback on the process and the results.

We want all the testing information related to this site at the same time that is given to the applicant.

Everything for this development has been getting approval.

Planning youth capacity numbers from schools, not in the local districts that are not even close to the property and okay them to you.

Traffic reports from 15 years ago were allowed to say the new traffic would not be a problem.

Even if development is dangerous for human health, it's still approve it.

Traffic is severely congested in this area.

The new development will add not only 1200 homes with cars, but also traffic for 92 other approved homes being built and vehicles from commercial development.

This property is surrounded on three sides by two lane roads.

How will first responders get through?

Their environment gone.

I recently read the commissioners do have the right to deny a development based upon safety concerns if it constitutes a parrot of public health, safety, or welfare.

The county does have the right to reject projects that violate environmental, water quality, or safety standards.

Development of this site has the potential to contaminate our water, threatens human health and the environment.

The EPC already told you there are tailings from the phosphate mine in the ground.

One comma four dioxane is the forever carcinogenic chemical that moves to the ground when disturbed.

It is already expanded twice.

Removal of the burns will cause more runoff water to adjacent homes who have private wealth in the area.

There's a possibility of radioactive contaminants from the burns being inhaled by surrounding residents during development.

Why is this not enough to stop development?

How many of you would live there with your family or live adjacent to this area during development?

I'm asking you to think about how you would feel and act accordingly.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, ma'am.

Last speaker, Sergeant Doss.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning, County Commissioners.

My name is Shagret Doss, and I don't know if I'm allowed to use that, but you all I'm I'm giving you all something that I sent to you a few weeks ago, and I didn't get any responses.

But first, I want to make sure I give a shout out to Javante Edmonds for uh HB 253, which dealt with veterans' dental care, is something that's much needed, and a person shouldn't have to be 100% in order to receive uh health care if you're a veteran.

But I wanted to talk about whether or not Mr.

Will Shepherd still works here.

Now I know that you all should be familiar with this.

I don't know if you can see it or not, but I don't really care.

I'll read it.

He says we have about five properties that at one time uh were in Mr.

Dawson's name.

Would you like to come by and see them and we can explain them better?

And this is Will Shepherd back in 2017 when I was being prosecuted for uh purging the official proceeding because a sitting judge at the time, Gregory Holder and Michael Victor, a police officer who's actually the mayor's head of security, and he said Mike says, Yeah, let's do this thing anyway.

He uh so there was a collusion to take all over a million of the properties out of my hand out of my uh possession.

I never had a day in court, but he said I can get you a list of the other properties he held for a short period of time, and theoretically, I guess he would have had to own the properties at the on the date that he made the allegation that he didn't own any property.

That never happened.

And for the because of the time restraint.

I need to know if this guy still works here, and there's two veterans on this board, so I I know you all should feel some kind of way that a veteran's properties were taken without due process.

I'm also the son of two retired Air Force veterans, although them they didn't do the army thing like I did.

Well, my dad did for a little while.

But nevertheless, the fact remains that the county is not actually a litigant in uh the lawsuit that I actually have in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

But you all have an obligation because there's also a couple of lawyers here that know that whenever there's any allegation of misconduct, and you know, you can look any kind of way about it, but just look it up.

And if you don't believe me or don't trust what I'm telling you, just run it through any kind of this artificial intelligence that can scrutinize documents and what have you.

But the reality is there are four properties that were in my name that I that were taken out of my name without a day in court.

So I'm kind of wondering how those properties got sold if Shagrette Dawson never divested legally of ownership.

Um, that being said, uh Miss Amy back here didn't sign up, and you all make the rules so you can give her a mulligan and allow her to speak on the issue with her property.

That being said, shout out to the greatest institution of higher learning in this county, the University of Thomas Jefferson High School.

Thank you, sir.

Appreciate your comments.

All right, that closes a public comment.

Uh, can we have a motion to um to approve the consent agenda?

Okay, motion commissioner Myers and Commissioner uh Wolston to approve the consent agenda.

Please record your vote.

Commissioner Carmosera, thank you.

Motion carried seven and zero.

Okay.

Yes, sir.

We can move to item B1.

This is to approve a conveyancing agreement in progress stillage for certain stormwater floodplain and community improvements with MMI.

Greg Horwadell and John Muller will take us through this presentation.

Good morning.

Good morning, board members.

Uh Greg Horwidell, Deputy County Administrator.

Just some brief introductory comments before I turn it over to John.

This is a very unique project.

As you may recall, staff presented to the board last year about how to maximize potential for underutilized properties and surplus properties throughout the county.

We have worked on this particular project for a number of months.

I'm very pleased that we are able to bring this to you because while live local may be a dirty word, I think uh we want you all see more control over a zoning process.

As a result of this project, we will not go through a live local with the developers parcel.

They have agreed to go through the county's normal zoning and permitting process.

And I think that that is a testament to the partnership that we've had on this project and shows other developers that in fact we can at the county level work with you, and it doesn't necessarily have to bypass the Board of County Commissioners' approval.

And I'm very pleased that we're able to bring this as part of that effort.

Would also note that this product or this project has community support, and you heard some of the comments during public comment.

It will add additional stormwater capacity to the neighborhood.

I want to be absolutely clear about that.

Um we want to make certain that that is true.

We have a number of safeguards in the agreement that John will be going over with you that protect the county and make sure that the developer actually installs what they've committed to install.

Um lastly, I would note that this type of project doesn't happen without a lot of folks.

Very pleased with the real estate staff and uh county attorney staff that have worked on this.

They've done an outstanding job.

Um I want to thank the developer.

I want to thank the community as well, but uh most importantly and publicly I want to thank District 3 Commissioner Gwen Myers for standing by staff as we work through this process.

Uh as with any type of development, there's often times where you hit bumps in the road, and it's nice to know that we have the support of the commissioner in her district.

John.

Thank you.

Good morning, John.

Excellent intro, Greg.

I just want to note that Josh Ballotti is also up here.

And Josh is also very helpful with us.

Not to forget you, Josh.

Uh can I please have the uh slide up?

Okay, so good morning.

Uh for the record, John Mueller, Director of Facilities Management Real Estate Services.

Uh today we're asking for your consideration for the conveyance agreement with MMI, BRN, Propco 2, or I'll refer to them as MMI.

These are for easements related to 13.15 acres of land located within the county 48-acre progress village stormwater site.

I'll note that MMI is a development company that owns 39.51 vacant uh areas of vacant land adjacent to the county site.

As you can see on this slide, MMI completed a previous build of 291 multifamily units just to the south.

I'll also note that the county public works department is completing a 14-acre stormwater and floodplain project should be by mid-year on this same 40-acre site, which when done will improve the overall drainage in the Progress Village community.

Next slide, please.

Today's agreement uh is the result of our negotiations with MMI.

Who was can I'm sorry, I'll do it.

I got you.

I got I can do it.

Uh today's agreement is a result of our negotiations with MMI, who was the sole responder to an RFP, which the board authorized in July of last year.

Um, in exchange for allowing MMI, the easements for the county's adjacent property, and I'll emphasize these are easements, not ownership, uh, for stormwater and floodplain.

They've committed to three million dollars of community improvements, and then they will maintain both their improvements and the county's uh uh storm ponds and floodplain.

The county, for our part, would agree to be included in a new planned development, which MMI uh plans for to apply for up to 630 multifamily units.

Now, clearly, this is similar density to MMI's 291 units previously built.

However, our agreement as Deputy County Administrator Horwidell mentioned requires that their plans be permitted through standard zone or plan development.

So there's a lot on the slide, but it's important, particularly uh for those who uh those in the community who talked about the benefits.

Uh so on the left of the slide, you can see that MMI and the county agreed to use their 13.5 uh excuse me, 13.1 uh one five acres in both floodplain and pond areas.

This does leave the county some additional future land, 13 acres, plus or minus for access, maintenance, as well as some additional storm or flood capacity.

So what exactly are the $3 million in benefits?

MMI is committed to signage and branding of Progress Village, which lar with large archway signs over roadways for 350,000.

The contract calls for approximately 9100 linear feet of boardwalk and pathways, which are valued at 900,000.

These will be used to connect the surrounding parks and uh the surrounding schools and parks with the neighborhoods.

And we also have indicated that in the agreement that an estimated 3.5 acres of the storm flood easements committed to them are intended to go above and beyond what they require for their development.

So we wanted that initial estimate number.

That will that will be important as we validate that uh in the future.

This has an estimated construction value of about 1.3 million.

And lastly, there's 450K in landscaping.

So I mentioned earlier that the county would agree to be included in a planned development.

As part of that inclusion, there is a requirement that 40 percent or 252 units be 120 percent AMI area medium income eligible.

We also ensured uh in the in the agreement that the height of these matches what they previously previously built, no more than 58 feet high.

And as I mentioned previously, they will be responsible for maintenance improvements and stormwater ponds and floodplain.

So our agreement, we wanted to ensure there were provisions to ensure that they deliver on the promise of these benefits.

So, first of all, the improvements are all to be completed during their first phase of construction in order for a certificate of occupancy to be obtained.

So all the improvements must be in.

We're on the front end, not the back end.

Uh they must provide proof of their cost, and the county has the sole option to call for an independent appraisal of the finished improvements.

If we review those costs, we're not satisfied.

We can call for an appraisal, and a shortfall would need to be made up in improvements or funds.

And then lastly and most importantly, this agreement must demonstrate improvements or reduction in flooding models for the basins.

We've already stated there's an estimate of 3.5 acres worth of improvement.

Now that's where Mr.

Bilotti's team comes in, because not only does their design need to be reviewed through permitting, but there is a separate requirement in there that internally his stormwater modeling team must be certain that that is demonstrated in their models for the water reductions.

And also, lastly, I'll mention the pond construction can't begin until uh Josh's team is signed off on this.

So this last slide, this is it, just gives you the visuals.

Now, these were actual exhibits that MMI provided in their proposal.

So we took these, we put some additional information, but we wanted these in there because they show the size and the scale of the arches and gates that they've promised to be put up for there.

In addition, when we talk about the pathways and the boardwalks, they mentioned Lucy Dell Park.

They mentioned a very nice conservation type park walkthrough.

So we actually attach the specifications from Lucy Bell Dell Park, those are in your agreement, and also from some of our nature preserves.

And that's really all I have today.

I realize that was a lot, but we're available for any of your questions.

Thank you, John.

Appreciate the very uh thorough uh presentation.

Uh going to board discussion, Commissioner Myers.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

First, before I get started, I just like to thank staff, because we've been working on this project for the past four or five years, and I know we've been meeting with the community, and with this project today, it is going to help with the storm water and the flooding out in Progress Village.

Also, I want to say I was in Progress Village on Sunday, and we had all the large pipes.

So we are working right now in Progress Village as I speak, because I saw several large piping that was going to deal with the uh drainage.

But I want to say uh the late great Sam Cook sang a song, a change is going to come.

And that's what's going to happen out in Progress Village when this project is completed.

They're going to see that they have the signage that they have been talking about for years, and in this proposal, it only showed one.

I'm going to add staff if we have additional funding that we put another one, whether it goes at 78th or 301.

Okay.

Correct.

But I'll note also one point in the agreement is the agreement allows some fluctuation between the amounts I gave their estimates.

It may very well be that the 350,000 will cover more.

It may very well be that the boardwalk.

So we can wait till the appropriate time.

But that is noted, and the developers in the room, and I'm sure we took a note on it.

Okay.

And then also, as we have flooding out there, we had a lot of flooding in 2024.

And I want to personally think as the commissioner for District 3, Kim Bayer and Josh, whenever we have heavy raining in the flood, we always get our type of equipment to pump all the water out.

Whether I get the call at 7 o'clock at night or 8 o'clock, staff respond to me and immediately go out and make an assessment to help alleviate all of the flooding that has happened in uh progress village.

We know for years, even when I was a staff here, that it was flooding in Progress Village because what it's no drainage.

This is what the county is doing now.

Uh since I became a commissioner, that has been the top issue out in Progress Village.

How could we help?

Oh, with the flooding.

And the county is doing an excellent job.

We just put in a $10 million project.

Am I correct, Josh?

To help with the flooding out there.

We have town hall meetings that address with the residents.

We're going to have one, I want to say on April 19, that we're going to give an update uh to the Progress Village residents that is also going to talk about the CDBGDR funding and all out in that area.

So one of the things that they talked about safety.

Oh, my security is I didn't plug it up last night, so it's it's talking to me, but it's okay, Sheriff.

I'm here.

Okay.

I forgot to plug it up last night.

But one of the things I'm going to ask, uh, and that maybe staff can come back, is that we consider an over over uh hit our pedestrian walking.

Maybe we can look at this out of the CDBGR funding that can help with the safety, so that as they crossing um Progress Village Boulevard from one side of the village to the other, they can have an overpath to walk and cross instead of trying to cross the street right on Progress Village Boulevard.

I noticed that on Sunday when I was there, there were some um pedestrians trying to cross the street.

But anyway, I'm gonna go ahead and move to approve for this project.

And again, staff, thank you all so much for addressing the various issues that we continue to have in Progress Village.

And I'm sure before I leave office, everything's gonna be taken care of in Progress Village.

Thank you all so much.

We got a motion to uh approve by Commissioner Morrison and Commissioner Cohen.

Commissioner Wolstall.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and I I hope the the change that's coming from that song was in reference to the thousands of new cars that are gonna go through the decrepit streets of Progress Village from this development.

Um, to quote the great commissioner uh Harry Cohen, uh, live local is a mechanism for developers to force us to negotiate with a gun to our head.

And I want to make no mistake to the community, that's exactly what this developer and applicant did to this, what I consider a historic community.

Um, just to refresh the audience and anybody's watching's memory, Progress Village was essentially created because of an old progress um process in the 30s called redlining that was created by the homeowners loan coalition and then was expanded by Democratic President Franklin D.

Roosevelt in the Florida Housing Act of 1934, which expanded extremely racist and segregating processes that uh disallowed basically black communities to receive loans.

This was an opportunity for them to have homeownership, and I do believe that they deserved a lot of effort by the board to protect them, which is why I took such extraordinary efforts to have all of their meetings.

The consistent response that I heard from the community was affordable to who, and I realized these are my people because they know that affordable housing is fake, and that's exactly what they're going to get here.

An opportunity that they can't afford to live in with a few stormwater improvements, which is going to be the only reason that I'm going to vote for this.

With that being said, I do believe that there's an opportunity to turn this lemon into lemonade for um progress village.

And after this motion, Mr.

Chair, I will have a second motion if you'd be so kind to entertain it.

Okay, so absolutely.

So we got a motion on the floor, Commissioner from Commissioner Myers, second commissioner cohen.

I just want to say, Commissioner Myers, I want to thank you uh for your leadership, not only for this item, but everything you've done for the Progress Village community.

Uh, from the moment you've been in that seat, uh, you've championed improvements and improving the quality of life for Progress Village, and I just hope that they they recognize that.

Okay, if you get a motion, a second, please record your vote.

Commissioner Colin.

Commissioner Cramis.

My uh screen is not working, but uh yeah, I vote yes.

I um same here.

Mine's not working, but yes for me.

Motion carried seven and zero.

Okay, Commissioner Wolstrel.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, I've received a number from staff that the potential mobility fees from this project are going to be somewhere around the ballpark of three million dollars.

Is that correct?

Yes, that's the information uh development service provided us.

Okay.

Um the the deputy county administrator has highlighted and reinforced my arguments to the community to vote for the new expanded single member districts because I I am also the county commissioner for district three, but that is not how staff operates.

They always look at who's the single member district, and I've always encouraged the community to understand that as a reality and acknowledge that they will get better representation from single member districts because of what you just heard.

I am the district three commissioner, Commissioner Bowles is Commissioner Cepeda is as well.

We all represent those same constituents.

I believe that this community has been overlooked in the past, despite staff's excellent attempts to turn these projects into a benefit for them.

I believe that it's incumbent upon this board to not allow these new mobility fees to be to go directly into the mobility map that can be spent far outside of the Progress Village community.

So I would like to make a motion to direct staff to determine a variety of mobility and transportation enhancements within the Progress Village community, work with those community stakeholders and designate the entirety of these new mobility fees to those enhancements.

That is my motion, Mr.

Chair.

Second.

Okay, we got a motion by uh Commissioner Wolstool, saying Commissioner uh Cameron Cepeda.

Uh, don't see anyone in the queue.

Uh please record your vote.

I need to ask a question.

Uh Commissioner Myers give me a comment.

Would this come back to us so we can see what it all entails before uh we um take a vote?

Absolutely.

I believe that's the intent of Commissioner Wistol's motion if I heard it correctly anyway, identify the projects and then bring that back to the board.

Oh, okay.

That's what I didn't hear.

I said the community.

So I didn't want us to bypass.

Okay, thank you.

Promotion or second, please record your vote.

It's not working.

Yes.

I think it's the motion carried seven and zero.

Thank you again.

Thanks, guys.

Appreciate it.

Thank you, Commissioners.

Okay, Bonnie, a first time certain.

Yes, the first time certain is item D1.

This is a public hearing regarding the annual action plan to report to HUD and to close the public comment period.

Cheryl Howell will present this public hearing.

Good morning, Commissioners.

Uh, my name is Cheryl Howe, Assistant County Administrator Community Impact.

And we're here today to conduct a public hearing to accept comments on the substantial amendment for plan years 2018 through to 2023 of the annual action plans and to close the public comment period that began on February 4th, 2026.

In addition, we're here to adopt the substantial amendment to the public uh plan year 2018 the 23 annual action plans for submittal to uh HUD as well.

The Affordable Housing Services has properly noticed the public hearing in the local newspapers, public libraries, and the county's website.

There's no fiscal impact related to adopting the substantial amendments to the public uh annual action plans.

This is a public hearing.

All right, thank you, Cheryl.

Uh, this public hearing, one individual has signed up.

Uh Denise Herndon.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm Denise Herndon.

It's hard for me to find issues or find information on these HUD requests and stuff.

I don't understand all of it, but I'm here to help people that need and like Wolstill said affordable isn't affordable in this area.

And I bought my house 27 years ago, the end of August for 90,000.

And everybody around me has always made more money than I have made.

I was just fortunate, God blessed me to find this home.

God bless me to have Shirley Hammond, my son's school bus driver at the time, moved next door to me.

I don't know if she knew who I was, but after I own my home 10 years, and when you can't even buy a home less than 250,000, there's a problem.

That's you want to increase all these um small business loans.

What about our VAs?

What are you doing for our VA small business loans?

You know, there's VA persons living or um working for Hillsborough County and they'd like to start a business, but Hillsborough County, who they work for, doesn't have a program to help them.

All of our hospitality jobs, they can't afford a home.

And if you're renting, I'm sorry, you're still paying property taxes because that owner of that complex is paying property taxes.

It's just not coming directly from the um renter, but through rental.

When is it gonna stop that you commissioners vote for the land developers?

I disagree with waiving the um impact fees for somebody who has it just because you've applied for a permit doesn't mean that you have even done anything yet with it.

You need to not vote that down.

You need to charge what you guys had improved.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Herndon.

And that closes the public comment period.

Can we have a motion to adopt substantial amendments to the annual action plan?

We're gonna motion Commissioner Myers and Commissioner Cohen.

Please record your vote on D1.

D2.

Thank you.

The next item is item D2.

This is also a public hearing to consider changes to the code and ordinances relating to the water and wastewater impact fees.

And Hank Ennis will take us through this item.

And Lisa Ray is here if needed as well.

Good morning.

Hank Ennis County Attorney's Office.

Uh Commissioners, back in December of last year, the board voted for increases to the water and wastewater impact fees.

You approved a change to the rate resolution relating to water and wastewater impact fees.

Part of that discussion was to uh get give consideration to those folks that are currently in the approval process, so they will not have to pay the new higher water and wastewater impact fees, but they would be subject to the rates before those impact fees go into effect.

We made the appropriate changes to the code to accommodate those that request, and uh this is a public hearing to consider those changes, and Lisa is gonna go ahead and walk you through what those changes are.

Thank you, Hank.

Lisa Ray, Director of Water Resources.

And just uh real quick, what we did, the board asked us to give consideration to projects that were already in the queue.

And to do this, we work closely with development services and uh the county attorney's office, obviously, to ensure that we set up a path forward that was measurable.

Um what we have done is any application, any submitted complete application that had been received by development services on the date that the impact fees were voted voted on, became eligible to be grandfathered in.

Uh, that is about 17,000 ERCs.

Now the next hurdle is that they receive their utility service request number by March 22nd, 2026.

So that is a couple of weeks away.

Um the utility service request number can usually be received within two to three weeks of a complete application.

So we were actually giving them three months to get to that point.

Uh then the next step is the accrued guaranteed revenue fee, it having one sixth of that paid by the end of the fiscal year.

So we are increasing their level of commitment each time as we move forward with each of the steps.

Is that they have to have a completed building permit application by March 22nd of 2028, which is two years to get to the building application time.

So we ask for your approval, and I'll answer any questions.

All right, thank you.

Uh this is a public hearing.

One individual is signed up to speak, Denise Herndon.

Denise Herndon again.

I've been going to these meetings now a little over two years, and the reason we have infrastructure issues is because past county commissioners that long ago were waiving these.

The people that are really making money here are the developers, and then the mortgage companies.

That's who's making money.

And when you guys vote this down, the developer's not gonna take it out of their pocket.

They should absorb this cost.

But no, they tack it on to the homeowner, the new price of the home, and that is wrong.

Who's getting rich?

It's the developers and who's got the money here, not the developers.

I should say who doesn't have the money here.

It's the people buying the homes.

We need to stop this insanity.

Tampa Bay is an awesome community.

You're gonna make it turn into a concrete town, just like South Florida is on the East Coast, Miami, Fort Lauderdale.

There's hardly any land.

When I was a small child, you'd have to go out into the boonies just to get to 27.

At that time was the only road that you could really get out of the state of Florida.

And now they're passing that.

Something has to stop.

You guys need to stop.

The people that have the money to buy these homes, they've got the money to travel.

And you guys need to think about what you are turning our community into.

Because it's the little people.

I never made over 70,000 in my life as a respiratory therapist, and I was able to support myself and my son.

I just don't have to have name brand things.

People think I'm homeless.

I don't really care.

People think I'm homeless.

That's their problem.

This is what's wrong with our society.

You've got to better up.

When you do get a pay raise, you gotta spend it all.

You gotta spend it, spend it, spend it.

And so it shows like you've made nothing, but in the end, who's making the money is the developers that you are going to now vote down or vote to not have them pay these new impact fees.

I can see if they've already started building like the loop apartments on Town Center Boulevard and South Gorntow Lake Road.

That's affordable housing.

We'll see how affordable it is.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

All right, they close the public comment going to board discussion.

Commissioner Wolstool.

Thank you, sir.

I would just real briefly for the public and the speaker.

Um this is actually us basically more than tripling the impact fees to the developer for water and wastewater.

Um it was my motion that I threw out as a Hell Marion, but it got unanimous support, and this is this is quite literally us um holding the developers accountable for exactly what their cost of doing business here is in Hillsborough County and making sure that those burdens are shifted onto the existing residents.

Thank you.

Do you need a motion?

Yes, I'll move for approval.

No, no, that's uh excellent point, Commissioner Wolstell.

Uh motion to approve Commissioner World's and Commissioner uh Miller, please record your vote on D2.

Motion carried seven to zero.

Our last public hearing.

Thank you.

Our last public hearing is item D three.

This is uh an ordinance repealing and replacing the solicitation and distribution and public roads and ordinances, and Cameron Clark is here, and he does have representatives from TPD and the Hillsburg County Sheriff's Office.

Morning Cameron.

Morning Commissioners.

Uh Cameron Clark, Assistant County Attorney.

Uh, this item is to repeal and replace a 1991 ordinance that prohibits people from going into the roadway to give or exchange uh items uh from occupants of motor vehicles.

Uh the ordinance was upheld in 1995 in federal court.

However, there was a US Supreme Court decision from about 10 years ago that once it made its way down, a county court judge found this ordinance to be unconstitutionally uh as being a content-based restriction on speech, which it needs to be content neutral.

Um, and so the purpose of this ordinance is to repeal the previous ordinance and replace it with language that is content neutral, and so law enforcement can continue to enforce it.

Uh it was amended in 2011.

One of the changes at that time was to uh give the opportunity for county wide enforcement of this ordinance.

The previous version was only in the unincorporated county.

Um the current version, because uh Tampa has repealed their ordinance on the same subject, uh, Tampa enforces this within their boundaries as well.

Uh and as such, um, they're representatives of the sheriff's office in Tampa Pedia to provide some comments for you.

Thanks.

Thanks, Cameron.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning, Commission.

I'm Jim Riser.

I'm with the Tampa Police Department.

I was a traffic sergeant for nine years and uh retired in 2023.

Now I now lead the department's track to traffic safety efforts in relation to automated enforcement.

We ask that you uh support this ordinance today by voting in the affirmative.

We feel it's gonna provide a valuable safety tool to uh promote roadway safety within the city of Tampa.

Uh the ordinance promotes fairness and clarity, it applies equally to everyone, and it regulates conduct and location, but more importantly, it provides an objective safety standard for officers out there to enforce.

So we ask that you vote in the affirmative today in support of this ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Good morning.

I'm uh Sergeant Furris and the Tampa Police.

I'm the current uh traffic sergeant.

Um, just for uh staff purposes, uh, from FDOT uh fiscal year 2027, the highway safety matrix, uh Hillsborough County rings fourth in pedestrian fatalities serious bodily injuries in the city of Tampa ranks third in the state for fatalities and serious bottle injuries.

So again, I as a city of Tampa support this measure too for public safety.

Thank you, sir.

Appreciate your comments.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm Major Troy Morgan with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Um currently uh the commander of the traffic services division.

I'll come here before you to let you know that the importance of this ordinance.

Um we've seen um an increase from 24 to 25 and pedestrian in uh crashes as well as a decrease in arrests, because we've seen an uptick and obviously solicitation.

This is a key factor to public safety, and please, we need the ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

And Commissioner is we're here to take any questions you have.

This is a public hearing.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Cameron.

Uh this public hearing, one individual signed up.

Um Denise Herndon.

Hello, I'm Denise Herndon.

I have been all for this.

When I did drive, it was a pain to have traffic backed up that's already backed up from traffic, but let alone having somebody out there begging for money because that's all they're doing.

The only thing that I'm gonna miss in this is that when I I haven't driven now for um since September 2020, when my road had gotten paid repaved, and I enjoyed the fire trucks out there with their fire boots.

That's the only people that I would ever give money for.

The people that are out there begging on the street, that's their job.

I would go and talk to them because like I said, they think I'm homeless because I have this cart and I I drive or I don't drive, I walk or I use the bus.

And they say, Oh, I gotta go to work.

And then they stand out on the corner.

That's their job, and I support this 100%.

And why this has taken so long, it's a shame.

I know that there's this one gentleman that he's got a 2026 um Toyota, and he's at the corner of Gornto Lake Road and Causeway, and he's can't make enough money from his job, so he's selling flowers.

That's gotta go because if you let one do it, you let all of the others I fully support in why it has taken so long for something that has been on the books for so long, and this needs to be statewide.

And if these people can't get a job, then let's put them all on Epstein's island.

If they can't join society, let them it'd be cheaper to give them their food on an island that they refuse to work.

I understand that there are some people that are mentally ill and they can't, but there are some who it's just easier to stand on that corner and do nothing.

And I've 100% applaud this, and why has it taken so long?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Just briefly, the the ruling is is absurd.

This has no bearing against the county attorney's office and um the law and off enforcement officers throughout the county are just trying to keep people safe.

So I'll move for approval.

Motion approved, Commissioner Walton, Commissioner Cohen.

And I just want to say um excellent work by the county attorney's office.

I can't believe it's been 2011, the last time that we amended this.

Seems like it was yesterday, and I can remember back then several intersections in the county, and the meeting would be maybe a foot wide at an angle like this, and there's someone trying to stand on it.

It's like you're a gone, bud.

You don't even know it yet.

And so anything we can do to uh from safety uh reasons to um ensure our folks are safe.

But um again, I know it's been a little bit challenging, but so I appreciate the work from Julia and Cameron and the county attorney's office.

Uh Commissioner Bowles.

Uh yeah, just to actually address what the speaker was just talking about.

Yes, the fire rescue used to be out there for many years, both uh the the local municipalities, but um because of the issues with our traffic and how how congested it is, uh, and for safety reasons we had um the enforced the internal policies as well, you know, prohibiting that.

Um I did have a question for Cameron though.

Uh so well I appreciate that, Miss Erndon for saying that.

Turn off my mic.

It this would be like uh misdemeanor.

Yes, uh under state law ordinances can be created by local governments that are enforceable the same as misdemeanor.

So the maximum penalty is a $500 fine and 60 days in jail.

Okay, all right.

But so I mean, I absolutely think we need to get people out of the roadway for safety reasons, but we're not clogging up our jails with a whole bunch of people that are selling flowers in newspapers and whatnot as well.

I mean, so there's a lot of people.

And then of course the key part, and it's one of the things that sort of was the part of the judge's decision is in order for it to be legally enforceable, it has to apply to everyone equally.

It can't make distinctions for and I know you bring up the fire rescue issue because that issue had come up 15 years ago when we talked about this is in order for the regulation to be enforceable.

I mean, essentially, if you're if you're slimmer charity drive in a roadway, you're just as in as much danger as someone who is mining or any other activity.

So, yeah, it it um as far as the volume of arrest and stuff.

I couldn't speak to that.

I'm the sheriff's or TPD may be able to, but it is enforced equally against everybody.

Yeah, okay.

And to the sergeant or the major, uh you know, just you know, I think our goal here is certainly public safety, and I think you all share that.

But at the same time, it would be yeah, we don't want to clog up the system with a bunch of people as well.

So I I guess you know, however, we're ticketing, and then kind of normally sure you gotta go to the microphone.

Okay.

Sorry.

I mean, normally when you the if it's gonna be about public safety, and it's not about clogging up the jails, right?

It is a misdemeanor.

It's the idea of making sure that we're keeping the pedestrians or motorists being able to flow through our county safely without any injury, without any issues, and if we say you can't walk up and ask for a dollar, what's the difference of someone's using the ruse of I'm selling flowers or I'm selling water, they're still in the roadway creating a hazard and potential increases as which we've seen right um this past year, unfortunately, in pedestrian crashes, and that's all we're trying to avoid.

Yeah, totally agree.

Yeah, I sit on the TPO with several other commissioners up here, and we we have the what's the zero policy, yeah.

So that um you know, looking for you know, none.

I don't think that's ever going to be likely, but right, if we can get as close to that as possible.

And I think this is a major step in that direction.

Yes, sir.

So thank you both gentlemen.

Appreciate it.

Okay, so we have a motion and second, and again, special thanks to CSO and TPD for their uh support and leadership on this.

Um please record your vote.

Yes.

The motion carried seven to zero.

Hey, Bonnie.

Thank you.

And the next time certain item is uh Chair Higgins item item F two regarding partnership with USF on critical infrastructure and public safety improvements.

Thanks, Bonnie.

Uh Commissioner, I think everyone knows how excited I am about our Mosey uh development project.

Uh, during each board discussion, I've said when you consider um this project along with USF's new stadium and golf course redevelopment plans that we have an incredible opportunity uh to completely transform this part of the county.

And I know that several commissioners have made uh similar comments.

Well, I'm equally excited about what we're discussing this morning uh because this partnership will be the foundation for completely transforming and underperforming an asset, uh adding to our tax base, uh, and creating an economic hub in an area that let's be honest has been largely deprived.

Um for those of you that who are unaware, uh Hillsburg County um county partnerships with USF is nothing new.

Uh Hillsburg County has a long history of partnering with USF on infrastructure, uh, with the Institute of Applied Engineering and on job creation efforts and uh entrepreneurship and with USF's technology incubator.

Uh what I'm proposing today is a significant investment.

Uh so I wanted the board to have the information in advance of introducing the item today.

Uh, since you have the PowerPoint, I'm not gonna read every slide.

Uh but I do want to briefly describe how we got here and why I think this is an appropriate and prudent investment uh in partnership that we should consider.

Uh with us today are uh vice chairman of the Board of Trustees for USF Mike Griffin, uh CFO Jen Condon and the VP for government relations, Lauren Huttman.

Um I was with USF's new president Moaz Alayum on Sunday, and he asked if he should uh be here.

And honestly, uh he's been on the job for about two weeks.

I know he's underwater.

Uh catching up and meeting all of the every professor, every dean, everyone wants a piece of his time.

I said, Don't worry about it.

Uh so please do not read anything in the his absence.

As I was thinking about how to introduce this item, I remembered a letter hanging on my wall uh from former USF president Judy Genshaft from 2003.

No, that's a long time ago.

Thought 2011 from the last item was a long time ago.

This is 2003.

Uh at that time, uh, she thanked me uh for championing our partnership with USF's research triangle.

And she also stated, I would be remiss if I did not remind you of your observation that USF is the most underutilized asset in this community.

She went on to say we will work together to fix that.

That was then.

Today, uh, thanks to the leadership of President Rhea Law and the outstanding board of trustees led by Will Weatherford and Mike Griffin.

USF is not only on the rise, but their trajectory is truly remarkable.

Academically, USF has earned membership into the AAU, which is a prestigious group of only three percent of universities in the country.

Athletically, USF has won seven conference championships since last year, including men's basketball and indoor track this weekend.

We'll open a beautiful new state-of-the-art stadium next fall, and in their infinite wisdom, hired our good friend Rob Higgins to be the country's first CEO of athletics.

And by the way, USF is experiencing record research funding, having eclipsed 750 million last year on its way of reaching their one billion dollar goal.

Additionally, USF is the county's largest and um one of the county's largest and most important economic engines with over 16,000 employees generating 6.6 billion in income to the Tampa Bay region's economy.

Now, for nearly a year, I've been meeting uh with Vice Chair uh Mike Griffin on a myriad of issues, including their on-campus stadium, uh synergies with USF and our new indoor complex, and most importantly, the Fletcher district development, and really discussing how and where it makes sense for the county to partner.

Now, concurrent with these discussions, our board has been progressing with the county's largest economic development project ever, with the Mosey development directly across the street.

I know we're all familiar with USF uh in this part of the county, but just want to point out that we have Mosey to the south on Fowler.

The new on campus stadium is just north on campus, and then just north of that is this stadium is the old golf course on Fletcher, which will be the location for the future Fletcher district.

This entire corridor is less than a mile.

This area is located in the city.

The northern and eastern boundaries, Fletcher and 50th Street are county roads, and then the southern boundary, Fowler is a state road, and then just across the street on 50th is Temple Terrace.

So we have a lot of partners, and I feel strongly from a safety and transportation or traffic perspective that we should work with all of our partners to create a seamless corridor where students, residents, and visitors alike can easily and safely traverse between Mosey and the Fletcher district.

Now, that being said, um, one of the first questions I had for Vice Chair Griffin was how much skin in the game does USF have, and what is the governor and legislature doing to support USF.

He shared that on the Tampa campus alone, USF has over $1 billion underway and in the near future for these capital projects.

I also learned, and on page eight, the backup it references how in last year's budget the legislature and Governor DeSantis approved 31.1 million for East Campa infrastructure in support of the stadium.

To date, their funding has gone for things like stormwater, new water facility, environmental, plaza and walkway.

Again, not to build the stadium, but for infrastructure in support of the development.

So toward the end of last year, myself, Bonnie and Greg, we met with USF staff to better understand how that partnership has worked.

Afterward, we decided it made sense to utilize a similar similar model as the state to support the Fletcher district since the legislature's funding focused on the East Campus infrastructure.

So after working with USF and our staff, slide nine best describes what this partnership would be for infrastructure and public safety improvements, not restricted to, but in clerk including turn lanes, traffic improvements, for example, turn signal, intersection improvement, new roads, and a pedestrian bridge, which is reflected in the last page of our backup.

To put it into perspective, the pedestrian bridge over Fletcher is needed.

That price tag alone is estimated to be in the 10 million dollar range.

The extent of other transportation improvements is undetermined, but we know will be substantial.

And why it's undetermined is USF just received the Board of Governors' approval in December.

They're moving very quickly with an anticipated spring 2028 opening.

So internally, staff and I considered several things before bringing this forward, including USF's billion dollar investment in the corridor, the significant infrastructure cost associated with the development, the legislature's 31.1 million capital outlay that they've already given for infrastructure, and then our existing CIT capacity.

We focused on the existing CIT because we do not want to jeopardize our current project list that's associated with the newly reauthorized CIT.

And also the existing CIT will not will not reduce any funding from another potential partnership that you may have read a little bit about lately.

So after considering all those issues, we decided to move forward with 24 million out of our existing CIT that will not be bonded and can be spread out over three to four years if necessary.

Couple points, and then I'm gonna close.

Slides five and six highlight some of the economic benefits of the Fletcher district.

This is only one quarter of the entire 111-acre tract.

So there'll be considerable future development occurring on the remaining 83 acres that we're not talking about now, which will add even more revenue to our tax rolls.

So that's an important point I want to underscore.

Also, I know many of the board members have had the opportunity to tour and see the progress of the on campus stadium.

If you're like me, I know you walked away realizing this is going to be an incredible state-of-the-art facility.

But as much of a game changer as the stadium will be, I intentionally de-emphasize that part of USF's overall transformation, my backup, because number one, we cannot ignore what's what's happening with the stadium.

It will open next fall in advance of the Fletcher district and is certainly a critical element in creating this economic hub.

However, the partnership we're talking about today is focused on the Fletcher district development, which stands on its own merits and doesn't need the new stadium to make the case on why we should pursue this partnership.

So that's why the backup touches on the stadium but does not focus on it.

Lastly, um staff considered utilizing uh tourist tax revenue for funding, but did not feel that it was an appropriate source.

So the process of today in my motion, um, it's in two parts, and I worked with staff on preparing this.

So I'll I'll pass the gavel to the to the vice chair, and it's to approve 24 million in funding for key infrastructure and public safety improvements associated with the Fletcher district development project.

The funding source should be our existing CIT, not to be bonded, and if necessary, spread out over three to four years.

Additionally, direct the county administrator to include this in our fiscal year 27 budget, develop the required interlocal agreement with USF, and to take any steps necessary to facilitate such improvements.

Second I have a motion by Chair Hagen and a second by Commissioner Bowles.

Sure.

And Commissioner Wistel.

Uh Commissioner Bolson.

Thank you, Chair Hagan.

Um took a lot of my remarks on that.

I think that's fantastic.

Uh this is something that's needed.

Uh one of the things that recently um uh we went to the state of the region and by the Tampa Bay Partnership, and I hadn't been on campus in quite a while.

I went to USF.

And what I noticed was how many e-bikes, how many people on these little unicycle wheel things that look like skateboards with one wheel?

There's so many hundreds and hundreds of people, pedestrians walking around.

And here we are, we're we're changing our ordinance to save lives and keep pedestrians safe here.

Um this is just another, I see another extension of that.

That whole area, and I don't remember, I bet you uh Ken would probably remember.

Um, we have a senior zone there, a senior zone because we we were worried about the seniors that were gonna be uh walking around in that area, and that senior zone has a reduced mile per hour.

Was that Victor that did that?

Commissioner Blair is the one that should be.

Yeah, so that was a few minutes ago.

Um but but that being the case, so that just shows you how much attention has actually been on an area.

42nd Street, 46th Street, there's thousands of young adults and people living in those areas, and they traverse Fletcher Avenue every single day, if not once, twice, maybe four or five times a day, going back and forth to their homes and our apartments.

Um ensuring that those people are safe, uh, that we're taking care of them.

Um, and especially I've been uh had the opportunity to be on campus uh quite often over the last few weeks uh in seeing again that pedestrian traffic, this is a step in the right direction.

We got to do this, and I fully support it.

Thank you, Commissioner Wistel.

Thank you.

Bonnie, how much I is in the reserves for the current CIT.

I'm I'm sorry I don't have that number right with me, but our local rain maybe.

You say that respectfully, right?

Yeah.

Kevin Ricky mentioned budget, approximately 60 million.

60 million, and and what do we expect um to take from now through November, which I thought was I thought it is September 30th, but it's odd in it and in the uh October and November, we would expect that uh our share would be approximately 20 million more through through the rest of the year.

For for October and November, uh that's FY27.

Okay.

Right.

So that's what you're expecting to use as that final two months for this.

It would it would be the reserves that we have and the remaining two months of the CIT.

Okay.

I I only ask, and I I don't think Bonnie needs a motion, but it it re reminded me of the urgency for us to get a status report on Lithia Pinecrest and Van Dyke, the two largest infrastructure projects that we essentially convinced the voters in the unincorporated area to vote for the CIT renewal.

And now we have many people lining up projects for the CIT, which I second this I'm going to support.

I think it's a good project.

I think we'll definitely get our money back.

Um but it reminded me of the urgency uh for us to make sure that we lock in and bond what we need to for these major transportation projects.

And I just as we keep bringing up items to expend these CIT funds.

Um I I want to remind the public exactly what they voted on.

And um this board needs to make sure, in my opinion, that we prioritize those projects.

But I think this is another good project for the area, and I'm going to be supporting it.

Thank you for bringing those numbers up to me, Mr.

Brickie.

Commissioner Cohen.

Thank you very much.

Uh, first of all, Commissioner Hagen, congratulations on an excellent work with this, and and thank you for summarizing it so well.

Um I wanted to just add a few very brief comments to what you already said.

Uh I was uh also uh out at USF yesterday to to see the uh the new stadium, and it really is just so unbelievably exciting just to see it is to really be inspired and to recognize what could be coming as the centerpiece of this area.

But it isn't just about the university.

The university, of course, is sort of the beating heart at the center of it, but the Mosey project is going to be huge as well.

There's also four other things that we haven't even talked about that surround this work that's going to be done.

You have Moffitt, you have Yingling, you have all of the redevelopment of the university, the old uh university mall um site, and of course you have Busch Gardens.

And all of these are employment centers, they're residential centers.

They they they show and auger the fact that there is going to be more pedestrian and vehicle traffic in this area than ever before.

And we have got to invest in this, or we are not going to be able to capitalize on all of these different things and the convergence of all of them together.

Um there's no question, uh Commissioner Hagen, most of this is in your district, but both Commissioner Myers and I are fairly close borders to it, and it just underscores the thousands of people that live around here that cross this area every day in order to get to work and and move around and and be part of it.

So uh I'm I'm very glad to support it, and uh I appreciate Commissioner Wussel's comments uh pointing out again that this is going to come out of this existing CIT, and it's not a part of the CIT that was just reauthorized.

So again, I I'm happy to be in support of the motion.

Commissioner Myers.

Thank you, uh Madam Chair.

I'm not gonna echo all the comments, but I am gonna say to our chair, thank you so much for your leadership on this.

But I wish staff can just bring up the exhibit that shows the um the rendering of the cross walk because I'd like the public to see what we're talking about.

Hi, is really gonna when we talk about public safety, you know, we always say public safety is number one, and this is gonna be a uh uh a huge effort out in that community in the USF community that they have to.

The last slide is the last one.

The last slide, yes.

Isn't that wonderful that they have the opportunity to to use that to and not crossing the street below?

So I just want to thank you in presenting this to us, but also like as we be we are speaking that the public see the same thing that we have in our backup material that they can see as well.

Thank you so much.

I'm truly supporting this project.

Commissioner Sabeda, you recognize yes, um, thank you.

Well, so much has already been said that I do agree with, and also um, as we've mentioned, all the uh businesses that are already there and the new businesses that will be coming as well.

So public safety is very important, important, and these many students I'm sure will be employed right there across the street, and so this is very important to have this uh planned out in advance and have it then and thank you very much.

I support thank you.

Chair Hagen.

Uh thank you, and I'll I'll just close and uh I want to first of all uh sincerely want to thank all of the board members for your comments uh and support on this.

Um excellent comments and I mean like like many of you, I'm on campus all the time.

I banked at USF forever.

My mom used to work there.

Uh I go to USF Health, uh go to you know games there all the time, and I'm constantly blown away but about how the that that campus has changed over the years.

And I'm constantly blown away, but about how the that campus has changed over the years.

I referenced something from President Genshaft in 03, but really the last several years alone, and I referenced this with thanks to you know Mike Griffin and Will Weatherford and Rhea Law how that campus has changed.

Um then when you think about moving forward, and we're not that far away.

I mean, the stadium's opening next fall.

This Fletcher district early 28.

We're shooting for our indoor facility uh to open in the the summer of 28.

Um that area is gonna be completely transformed.

And I honestly I just get chills thinking about it, and it's gonna be it's gonna be special, and I'm extremely proud that we know this board is playing a you know a small part in that overall development.

So again, um very much appreciate your comments and support.

Thank you.

I would be remiss if I didn't um thank you for your leadership on this chair and and for working with staff and for the team at USF, and I'm really excited to um see it come to fruition.

Um, with that, um, we have a motion by Chair Hagen, a second by Commissioner Bowles and Wussel.

Please record your vote on F2.

The motion carried seven and zero.

Thank you, board members.

Thank you.

The next item is item B2.

This is to approve a resolution amending the capital improvement program CIP.

This is related to the CDBGDR program.

Kevin Brickie will present this item.

Rob Hendrickson is here as needed, also for item B3.

Good morning, Commissioners.

Kevin Rickey management budget.

Item B2 is a resolution to amend the FY26 to 31 capital improvement program and a budget amendment to appropriate funds within the community development block grant disaster recovery grant funds.

At your uh February 18th meeting, you approved an initial list of seven infrastructure projects to be funded with CDBD, CDBG DR funding.

This amendment appropriates uh 9.072 million dollars uh in funding to these seven projects grouped in three CIP projects.

Drainage improvements, 3.997 million, stormwater pump pump stations, 325,000, culvert replacements 4.75 million, and the related resolution adds these projects to the CIP.

Additionally, the budget amendment appropriates uh about 2.5 million dollars of funding for staff efforts related to grant administration and for uh two the two uh previously selected implementation consultants, Ernst Young and BDO to provide planning execution, uh compliance monitoring and program management at nine million dollars each.

Thank you.

Move approval.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I have a motion by uh Commissioner Well still a second by Commissioner Cohen on B2.

Please record your vote.

Motion carried six to zero.

Thank you.

The next item also relating to the CDBC DR grant.

This is for some new projects, and this is to approve 11 infrastructure projects.

Josh Bilotti and Lisa Ray will take us through this item.

Good morning, Commissioners.

Josh Bilotti, Engineering Operations Department.

Uh, as promised at our presentation at the last board meeting, we're continuing to bring you additional infrastructure projects uh as we undergo the selection and evaluation in partnership with our grant consultant.

The infrastructure projects that we have for you today represent 70 million dollars worth of improvements focused on flood mitigation and resilience.

As you can see on the map, they're spread out across the county, reflecting our efforts to maximize the benefits shared by our residents.

These projects are targeted at the most vulnerable areas, such as those that meet national objectives like LMI and also the flood focus areas identified in the Black and Beach study.

For public works specifically, we have a variety of stormwater improvement projects spread out across the county.

They're culvert replacement projects at five different locations.

We've also included several projects that will repair and restore the channels and open stormwater drainage systems that were impacted by the storms.

There's a regional drainage improvement project included for Sweetwater Creek, and finally, several local drainage improvement projects in areas impacted by flooding.

As with the initial project list provided at the last meeting, these projects have gone through the collaborative effort of vetting for eligibility and compliance as well as for community impact with the goal of extending that benefit area as far as possible.

So that's what we have for stormwater, and then next we'll have some important projects on the wastewater side.

Thank you, Josh.

Lisa Ray, Director of Water Resources.

And during the storms in Helene and Milton, I think the biggest challenge that we faced was related to our lift stations.

We had lift stations that were not able to operate because of failures due to flooding, as well as lift stations that were completely submerged.

Our intended project is to start with a assessment of 171 wastewater lift stations that are located in flood-prone areas.

And this assessment, we're going to be looking at the structural integrity, electrical systems, backup power or backup pumping requirements, elevation vulnerabilities, and assessing what the floodproofing needs are for each of those lift stations.

You can see them represented by dots on the map.

They're spread out throughout the whole county.

And the ones that are shown in red are actually located in the flood focus areas as identified in the Blacken Beach report.

And it also has a very high impact on low to moderate impact.

Income households.

So with that, we're welcome to we are welcome to receive any questions from you.

And we recommend approval.

All right, thank you.

Going to board discussion.

Commissioner Cohen.

First of all, I I want to express profound thanks to our staff for all of their work on this.

This is multiple years worth of work, particularly in the wake of the storms that we suffered now a year and a half ago.

And at that time, we told our residents that we were going to stick with this and that we were going to make improvements so that we were going to learn from what happened and make improvements to our system to be more resilient and do what we could.

And I I want to just emphasize that what we have here drainage improvements, ditch restorations, culvert repairs, a hundred and seventy-one lift station improvements that, if you look on the map, are spread very, very equitably and equally among all four of the commission districts.

There's something in here literally across the county.

And um this is a just a huge step forward in doing the work that we promised that we were going to do.

And uh I am just thrilled to be able to uh move approval of the item once all of my colleagues have had a chance to talk.

Rick, did you want to say something right now?

Uh yeah, I just need to correct the vote, last vote.

The motion passed five to zero, not six to zero.

Okay, do we need to revote or do you go with that?

No, that's what happened.

Okay, thanks.

Uh, Commissioner Wilson.

Um thank you, Mr.

Chair, and and thank you to Mr.

Bilotti's office.

I had brought up a question before, which was are they looking from an engineering standpoint downstream that would benefit low to moderate income upstream, and that's exactly what one of these items are today.

And I just can't stress enough.

I know that people are um desperate to get help, but this was almost the single largest rain event in the history of the county, and in some areas it was.

Um, my own aid had to be um water rescued by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, maybe Bowles was on the boat then.

Um but it was just the this and and in totality there were a couple of deaths, but none of them had to do with issues of the county and their response to it, and it's just extremely incredible.

Um, and I I I'm gonna keep reinforcing that to the public.

And um, I want to thank staff.

Um, I I didn't understand that these these diesel hydraulic um pumps that um are more sustainable than a regular generator, so that was very helpful to me that they they won't become as potentially compromised in a water event and and to Mr.

to Commissioner Cohen's point, it's just such a large amount of assets.

Again, we are geographically bigger than seven states as a local government, and that's a big perspective for people to understand.

Um so I'm happy to support this motion.

Thank you.

Okay, we got a motion by Commissioner Cohen, second Commissioner Wolstall.

Uh please record your vote.

Seven zero.

Next item.

Thank you.

The next item is item B4.

This is also related to CDBGR, but this is related to the single-family housing repair and replacement program, and this is for the construction manager at risk.

And Scott Stromer will take us through this procurement.

Good morning, Scott Strong Procurement Services.

Item B4 is asking the board to select and authorized negotiations with one or more of the firms deemed by the evaluation committee is to serve as construction managers at risk for the county's federally funded CDBG DR single family housing repair and replacement program.

The evaluation committee carefully reviewed the three acceptable proposals that reviewed each firm scored each on based on the criteria of the solicitation.

In order to Ducky Recovery LLC top rank firm with 89 points.

Number two, Lemoyne disaster recovery, LLC is number uh with 87 points.

And number three, dynamic group LLC is number three with 85 points.

Agreements with the selected firms will be presented to the board for final approval and execution and effect future meeting.

The solicitation specified a six-year initial term, which aligns with the anticipated term of the county's overall program.

It is currently anticipated that approximately 150 million will be allocated for construction under this program.

Which would likely be divided equally among the selected firms.

With that procurement services does recommend approval and selection of one, two or all three of the firms in ranked order.

My thanks, Scott.

Going to board discussion.

Commissioner Wilson.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

First, I would like to think this was my item, and I'd really like to thank my colleagues for supporting it.

The impetus of this item, just to refresh everybody and the public, was that the construction side of it did not need to be tied into the administration side of it, which would not be performing this work.

And in the situations that they have been separated, oftentimes you'll see about an 8% savings of overhead because the construction managers are doing the construction work.

Second, I would like to thank all of the applicants, even those that didn't prevail into the top three.

This was an arduous process, and I know that was a big lift for all of you, and we do want to partner with everybody that wants to work with our residents.

Finally, I'd like to thank Rob and his team.

And the very long scoring interview on YouTube.

And you probably, Bonnie deserves to give you a raise at this point because that was painful.

That was painful to get through.

But I I'd never watched a procurement video before.

I I didn't, I was actually severely surprised because I didn't know that the way that a lot of these scorings are done is based off of kind of personal opinion of the scoring.

I I didn't know that that's how it was done.

Um and I I felt like you guys did a really good job for your first time ever doing this, and we've highlighted over and over that this is going to be all of our first time, and unfortunately, our first time has to do with allocating $709 million, no small fee.

In that column, actually got marked as one of the lowest, which was very confusing to me.

Even in staff's own comments on page seven of twelve hundred and twenty-one, just for the general public to understand.

Um, they specifically um noted that this one applicant had strengths, including the largest line of credit and bonding capacity among the potential CMARs.

However, that applicant was marked as one of the lowest for CMAR firm's resources and ability to meet the schedule.

And I found that strange.

Um, and I think that that happened because of the nuanced of one of the the one of the comments that I heard was well, I'm scoring this applicant this low because I don't know their whole team, which I also found confusing because that applicant had said and introduced their team that had already moved here and the other ones that would be moving here.

They also noted that that applicant had some of the greatest depth, as I mentioned before, of general contracting in the state of Florida.

Um that being said, no process is perfect, and all three of the applicants scored extremely close to one another.

Um I would like to turn, if you want to follow along, it's to page 77 of 1221 of the backup.

Um question number two to the applicants was the county will adopt a performance-based rational assignment model that begins with an evenly distributed number of projects.

Ongoing work, rotation will ensure that awarded CMAR firms receive work based on perfor previous work performance.

That's an acknowledgement that staff seem to always predict that there might be one of these that gets um picked, and it would be measured-based outcomes that will result in their destiny of how much work they will get in the single-family um housing component that we're separating today.

One thing that stuck out to me about one of the applicants was that they they noted in their application that they were doing work in a Florida county, and our department highlighted how important that might be.

Now we have three that are before us today.

So you have one entity perhaps making 165 million dollars when we can share.

I talked with uh Rob late yesterday on this because it was a question that I didn't have, I that I didn't ask in the briefing.

Well, what would be the total amount of money that would be split uh if we did, and and I thank you, Rob, for researching that late yesterday from me.

I think is enough where we can share the wealth with all three as we've done with the CDBGR proposal.

Keep in mind the architects, it was four that was presented all four, we see work uh on behalf of the county.

Um now we have these three, and I'd like to um make a substitute motion that we look at these three and split amongst uh because all of them we see the BMI category uh area with this, that we look at all three.

Second.

Yes.

Can we have a substitute motion uh by Commissioner Myers for all three of the of the companies second by Commissioner Cohen?

Commissioner Cohen.

I I just want to say I I agree with what Commissioner Myers is saying.

I I in my briefing with the staff, uh, what I got out of it um was that they didn't really have a strong recommendation about whether to go with one or to go with multiple.

There were arguments on both sides that made it there were some compelling arguments about just going with one.

There were also some compelling arguments about splitting it up.

What concerns me about cherry picking number one and number three is that they're all clustered together very closely, and I just think as a i if we're gonna do it that way, I can I can support going in that direction.

I just think that it's cleaner to follow our our the the protocol as Commissioner Myers said that we have before, which would be to split it among the three of them.

Uh Commissioner Wolstool.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I I won't be supporting the substitute motion.

I had considered that, but me actually splitting it between this two was actually me, accepting that I don't get to um have my cake and eat it too, because in my opinion, after watching them, the lowest scored one likely should have been the highest scored one for the CMAR since it was consistently said they had the greatest depth of construction management.

So this is me um trying to give a little to get a little, hopefully.

So thank you very much for the comments.

Commissioner Miller.

Um I just wanted to support uh Commissioner Wussel's point.

Um I also went down sort of the rabbit hole of the one who listed them as their work experience but didn't list it as um a reference.

That was very troubling to me.

Um and so while I would you know you talk about splitting the work amongst them.

I don't want to split the work against somebody who's currently working in a county that won't recommend them.

So um that's why I was supportive of them being removed from there.

Thank you.

Commissioner Bowles.

Yeah, um this kind of interesting that uh Commissioner Wistel was able to bring that up that information or find out that information, and we weren't our our committee was a privilege to have that as well.

I find that a little odd, but um I don't know if uh given that that I can support splitting it amongst all three at this point.

Thank you.

Okay, Commissioner Myers.

Yes, well, all three uh BDO has worked with all three of these companies, so they're not like started new, they were with them in the past.

Thank you.

Okay, so we have a motion, substitute motion on the floor by Commissioner uh Meyer Signed Commissioner Cohen for to procure all three of the firms.

Uh please record your vote on the substitute motion.

The motion failed, one of five.

I my screen is not working.

I was attempting to vote yes with okay, but motion failed.

Two to four.

Two to five.

Two to five.

Commissioners bowles, Miller, Cameron Capeta, Hagen, and we'll also vote in no.

Okay.

Uh, before we vote on this on the motion on the floor, Julia, did you want to make a comment?

Uh yes, if you don't mind.

Um, just for the purposes of the record, you certainly it's within your authority to get to go ahead and re-rank.

And I would say that those that re-ranking is based upon the um review by Commissioner Wastel, which he articulated on the record and other comments that were made relating to review of the evaluation committee and making that decision based upon that.

So I just wanted to make that statement.

Thank you.

Commissioner Cohen.

Yeah, I I yeah, we're having some some technological issues here.

Um before you I just want to say um I do I give Commissioner Wills a lot of credit for I guess patience and vigilance for watching all that stuff and reading all that stuff.

Uh I've never watched a procurement meeting, uh I'll tell you that.

But I will say uh irrespective of the of the department, I've always held the belief that the ranking, and this is to not to the detriment of of staff, but I've always believed that the rankings are somewhat subjective for whatever reason.

It's not intentional.

I just think it's not clear-cut.

And the case was clearly made of that here, and again, to Commissioner Wilson's credit, I've been on boards, not really this board, but other boards where attempts have been made to bump up a firm that was way buried down.

Like that's just that's not appropriate, but they were so close on the rankings, and the case was made, so that's why I'm I'm I'm supporting this.

Um, we have a motion, Commissioner Wolstels and Commissioner Miller.

Uh, please record your vote.

Motion carries 70.

Okay.

Next item.

Thank you.

The next item is item B five.

This is to approve the fourth modification of the Progressive Design Build Agreement for the One Water Project.

Lisa, back to you.

Morning again.

Thank you, Commissioners.

Lisa Ray, Director of Water Resources, and I'm here to ask for your approval on agenda item B five, which is the fourth modification to the Progressive Design Build Agreement with Garney Company for the One Water South Wastewater Conveyance and Treatment Project in the amount of 138 million five hundred and seventy-five thousand five hundred and sixty-two and forty-four cents.

In addition to this, there's a budget amendment resolution to realign funds within our existing CIP to help cover this project.

Um the GMP number three is actually for the construction of the Balm Super Lift Station, which is a critical component to the overall project to transfer wastewater up to the new wastewater treatment plant, and for construction of line segment C.

The pipeline, which it spans two pipelines that span 10 miles, um has been broken up into five segments.

You've already approved segments A and segments B.

This is segment C.

And we're also asking to be able to purchase some long lead time items, electrical gear and such can take up to 18 months to two years to arrive.

So we need to get those items purchased for the plant.

We're anticipating around 800 million at that time.

With this, I am asking for your approval.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Wolstall.

Mr.

Chair, I just wanted to say this this morning.

I don't know if it went to all of the offices, but um we actually were invited to the one water groundbreaking on April the 24th at 10 a.m.

And all of the board members deserve to be there, even though you know Commissioner Cohen and I are leading the charge over at Tampa Bay Water.

It's it's all of our yeoman's work to get this done, and I will move for approval.

Second.

Saying Commissioner Cohen.

Uh please record your vote on B five.

Motion carried seven zero.

Bye.

Thank you.

The next item is item F1.

Do you have three board appointments?

And Glenda will take you through these appointments.

Good morning, Commissioners.

The first board is Health Council of West Central Florida.

One term has expired, and the term is for two years.

Um choose one, Commissioner Hagan.

Can you come back to me on this one?

Yes.

Um Commissioner Miller.

One.

Commissioner Myers, two.

Commissioner Cohen.

Two.

Commissioner Cameron Cepeda.

Two.

Commissioner Bowles.

One.

Commissioner Woolstall.

One.

Commissioner Hagen.

Should have gone first.

Um the board has selected Brittany Peters.

The next one is Human Relation Board.

Um, two positions have expired.

The terms are for three years.

Commissioners are to choose two.

Commissioner Hagen.

Three and five.

Commissioner Miller.

Ummissioner Myers.

Four, five.

Commissioner Cohen.

Four and five.

Commissioner Cameron Cepeda.

Three and four.

Commissioner Bowles.

Three five.

Commissioner Wolstall.

Four and five.

Okay.

The board has selected Octavia.

Umrigan and Richard Hector.

Last board is the tourist development council.

Three positions will expire.

The terms are for four years.

The board is to consider the number of terms an applicant have served on that board or console.

It may give preference to those applicants that have not served on that board or cancel.

Um we will be choosing three.

Commissioner Hagan.

Six seven eight.

Commissioner Miller, six seven, eight.

Commissioner Myers.

Six seven eight.

Commissioner Cohen.

Six seven eight.

Commissioner Cameron Cepeda.

Six seven eight.

Commissioner Bowles.

Six seven eight.

Commissioner Wolstall.

I want to give nine one just to six seven eight, though.

Antonasio, Robert Morrison, and Joe Collier.

Okay.

Um Commissioner Wolf, do you want to make a comment?

Move to approve.

I hit my thing.

Yeah.

Motion to um accept.

Motion commissioner.

Second.

Um Miller said, Commissioner Wolstall, please call your vote.

Mine's almost up.

I gave it to the motion carried seven and zero.

Thank you.

The final item or future discussion items.

I have one.

Okay.

Uh Commissioner Miller.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, given the continuing growth in uh Hillsborough County, there's likely to be a long-term need for additional courthouse space in East County.

Um, the courts have already have a president and plant city, and I would like staff to um identify property near the existing courthouse in East County that would be useful to have for parking or any other court-related use when the need to expand arises.

Um, I'd like this initiative to be included in this year's federal grants program list to ensure that we don't miss an opportunity for federal grant funds uh for 27.

Thank you very much.

Commissioner Wolstu.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

This is a very basic one.

I would request that staff bring my office an aging report of payments that have either been withheld or delayed from contractors that are performing basic road maintenance widening sidewalk repair and culvert repair at an age post 90 days.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, that staff consider using CDBG DR funds for an overhead of progestion walk in Progress Village to come back with that.

See if we can use CWG DR funds for that.

Thank you.

Commissioner Bowles.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, I have two items.

Um, one I would like to request that we place an item on our April 1st agenda to amend our federal legislative priorities to include two additional projects that I believe are critical to our environmental stewardship and medical innovation.

One of those is for the Wolf Branch Creek and Bullfrog Creek Preserve areas there, and that is to um essentially to see if we can establish a trust to help with the increased development pressures down there to help with the watershed restoration and establish funding through that through a federal source.

The second is that I would like to also propose adding federal funding support for the expansion of digital pathology at Moffat Cancer Center.

And I will have more on that as we uh get into the April.

Thank you.

And I've got one body similar to that.

If you can bring back August or April 1st, adding to our, I guess, federal agenda to adding Baker's request for 2.4 million in federal funds to support the Proton Therapy Center at St.

Joseph's.

I guess the reason for this is the federal appropriations process was recently changed and it's it's um not requiring us, but um if we want to be supportive and avoid them coming to us for the funding, um I think it's in our best interest that we put it on our list.

So please add that and bring it back on April 1st.

Um with that, I'm seeing any other comments, so we're adjourned.