Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting - March 4, 2026

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners held its regularly scheduled meeting on March 4, 2026, at 9:00 AM in the County Center, 2nd Floor. The meeting commenced with an invocation, pledge of allegiance, commendations, and proclamations, followed by public comments, consent agenda approval, and several discussion items and public hearings. Key actions included approval of a stormwater/floodplain improvement agreement in Progress Village, adoption of amendments to HUD action plans, an ordinance on water/wastewater impact fees, a new solicitation and distribution ordinance, a $24 million partnership with USF for infrastructure and public safety improvements, and multiple items related to the CDBG-DR disaster recovery program.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the entire consent agenda (Items A-1 through A-53) with a 7-0 vote. Notable consent items included: grants from the National Council on Aging for senior programs; change orders for road resurfacing; conservation easements; appointment of Dr. Carla Fry as Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County administrator; film incentive agreement; numerous procurement contracts for sand/rock delivery, library services, IT systems, temporary staffing, and roadway resurfacing; and a $60,000 film incentive for "Biohazard."

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mark Lander (Deputy Secretary, Florida Department of Health) and Dr. Carla Fry introduced Dr. Fry as the new health officer for Hillsborough County, highlighting her 38 years of nursing, military service, and public health experience.
• Marlise Tolbert Jones (Vice President, Progress Village City Council) expressed excitement for the MMI development but raised concerns about storm drainage, flooding, and safety, urging the county to ensure improvements are effective.
• Chwanda Bradley (President, Progress Village) reiterated support for MMI development but emphasized the need for flood mitigation, road repairs, and safety measures for the community.
• Denise Herndon spoke multiple times, criticizing the county for waiving impact fees, opposing affordable housing definitions, and urging the board to prioritize residents over developers. She also supported the new solicitation ordinance.
• Tom Cobert raised concerns about government censorship and potential mail tampering.
• Dr. Charlie Sand commended Plant City Fire Rescue for their medical response preparations at the Strawberry Festival, noting 650,000 attendees, 473 patient contacts, and only 30 hospital transports.
• George Neiman argued that the county's zoning approval process unfairly favors applicants, citing county records showing the county wins 79% of disputed land-use cases.
• Yvette Neiman opposed the Energy Industrial Park development in Dover, citing contamination risks from a former phosphate mine, especially regarding daycare centers.
• Thomas Fernandez (candidate for governor) introduced his campaign and asked for support.
• Deborah Holliday (virtual) raised safety concerns about the Dover development, including testing transparency and traffic congestion.
• Shagret Doss alleged improper property seizure without due process and asked if a county employee still works there.

Discussion Items

• B-1: Progress Village Stormwater/Floodplain Improvements Agreement (MMI) – Approved 7-0. The county conveyed temporary and permanent easements to MMI in exchange for $3 million in community improvements (signage, boardwalks, landscaping, stormwater ponds) and maintenance responsibilities. The agreement requires MMI to go through standard zoning/permitting, with 40% of units (252) affordable at 120% AMI. Commissioner Wolstall introduced a subsequent motion, approved 7-0, to direct staff to use mobility fees from the development for transportation enhancements within Progress Village.
• D-1: Substantial Amendments to PY 18-PY 23 Annual Action Plans (HUD) – Public hearing held; one speaker (Denise Herndon). Approved 7-0 to adopt the amendments and close the public comment period.
• D-2: Water and Wastewater Impact Fee Ordinance Amendment – Public hearing held; one speaker (Denise Herndon). Approved 7-0 to allow qualifying developments in the approval process to pay 2025 rates instead of new higher rates effective March 23, 2026. The ordinance grandfathers about 17,000 ERCs with a requirement to obtain a utility service request number by March 22, 2026, and pay one-sixth of the guaranteed revenue fee by fiscal year end.
• D-3: Solicitation and Distribution in Public Roads Ordinance – Public hearing held; one speaker (Denise Herndon). Approved 7-0 to repeal and replace the 1991 ordinance with a content-neutral version, enforceable as a misdemeanor (up to $500 fine and 60 days in jail). Supported by Tampa Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, citing pedestrian safety concerns.
• F-2: USF Fletcher District Infrastructure Partnership – Approved 7-0. The board authorized $24 million from existing CIT funds (not bonded, spread over 3-4 years) for infrastructure and public safety improvements (turn lanes, traffic signals, pedestrian bridge, new roads) to support the USF Fletcher District development, a 111-acre mixed-use project. The funding will be included in the FY 27 budget, and the county will develop an interlocal agreement with USF.
• B-2: CDBG-DR Capital Improvement Program Amendment – Approved 5-0 (vote corrected from 6-0). The board approved a resolution to add three new CIP projects (Drainage Improvements, Stormwater Pump Stations, Culvert Replacements) and appropriated $29,548,898 in CDBG-DR funds, including $9,072,000 for the projects and $20,476,898 for grant administration and implementation consultants (Ernst & Young and BDO, $9 million each).
• B-3: Approval of 11 CDBG-DR Infrastructure Projects – Approved 7-0. The board approved $70 million in projects for flood mitigation and resilience: 4 neighborhood drainage improvements, 5 ditch restorations, 1 culvert replacement (5 locations), and 1 lift station resilience project (assessment of 171 lift stations). Projects are geographically dispersed and meet HUD national objectives.
• B-4: Selection of Construction Manager at-Risk for CDBG-DR Single Family Housing Repair/Replacement Program – After a substitute motion to select all three top-ranked firms failed 2-5, the board approved 7-0 to select and negotiate with the top two ranked firms: Ducky Recovery LLC (89 points) and Lemoine Disaster Recovery, L.L.C. (87 points). The program is expected to allocate approximately $150 million for construction.
• B-5: Fourth Modification to One Water Project Design-Build Agreement – Approved 7-0. The board approved a $138,575,562.44 increase (to $491,537,397.44) for Garney Companies, Inc. for GMP-03, covering construction of the Balm Road Super Lift Station, long-lead materials, and Segment C pipeline. A budget amendment realigned $12,002,160 within the Water Resources CIP.
• F-1: Board Appointments – Approved 7-0. Appointments made to the Health Council of West Central Florida (Brittany Peters), Human Relations Board (Octavia Urmigan and Richard Hector), and Tourist Development Council (Antonio Anasio, Robert Morrison, and Joe Collier).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved 7-0.
• B-1 (Progress Village/MMI): Approved 7-0; subsequent motion to direct mobility fees to Progress Village transportation enhancements approved 7-0.
• D-1 (HUD Action Plans): Approved 7-0.
• D-2 (Water/Wastewater Impact Fees): Approved 7-0.
• D-3 (Solicitation Ordinance): Approved 7-0.
• F-2 (USF Partnership): Approved 7-0.
• B-2 (CDBG-DR CIP): Approved 5-0 (vote corrected from 6-0).
• B-3 (CDBG-DR 11 Projects): Approved 7-0.
• B-4 (CDBG-DR CMAR Selection): Substitute motion to select all three firms failed 2-5; original motion to select top two firms approved 7-0.
• B-5 (One Water Modification): Approved 7-0.
• F-1 (Appointments): Approved 7-0.
• Future Discussion Items: Commissioner Miller requested staff to identify property near the East County courthouse for potential expansion and include in federal grants list. Commissioner Wolstall requested an aging report of payments delayed over 90 days to contractors. Commissioner Myers asked staff to explore using CDBG-DR funds for a pedestrian overpass in Progress Village. Commissioner Boles requested an April 1 agenda item to amend federal legislative priorities to include Wolf Branch Creek/Bullfrog Creek watershed restoration trust and digital pathology expansion at Moffitt Cancer Center. Chair Hagan requested adding St. Joseph's Proton Therapy Center support to the federal agenda.