Welcome to a meeting of your Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

Representing District One, Harry Cohen.

Representing District Two, Ken Hagen.

Representing District Three, Gwen Myers.

Representing District Four, Christine Miller.

Representing District Five, Donna Cameron Cepeda.

Representing District Six, Chris Bowles.

Representing District 7, Joshua Wolstall.

The County Administrator is Bonnie Wise.

The County Attorney is Julia Mandel.

Time is set aside at the beginning of each meeting for citizens to speak on any issue.

So we have time for everyone.

Speakers are asked to limit their comments to three minutes.

Today's meeting is brought to you with closed captioning by Hillsborough Television.

Oh, Gracious Heavenly Father, I come to thank you for allowing us to see a new day and a new month.

Bless all of our first responders, all of our staff, bless this administration.

We know here, Lloyd, we're going through trying times right now.

And I ask that you would also be with this board.

Lead us and guide us in the decisions that we make that will be pleasing in your sight.

As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, I know and we all know that you have risen.

Bless this meeting in your holy name I pray.

Amen.

This need to conserve is of the utmost importance every year, but more so this year, considering we are facing a stage three, extreme regional supply shortage, as declared by Tampa Bay Water, on whose board Commissioner Wastel and I sit.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District in Hillsboro County have an amazing partnership, and they have done an incredible job in providing water, conserving it, and producing reclaimed water for distribution to residents and businesses, which helps protect the environment as our community grows.

It is my pleasure to present this proclamation to Ms.

Smith, recognizing Water Conservation Month and Florida Water Reuse Week.

Thank you for taking that.

And I'm gonna just briefly read read the uh the commendation.

Whereas water is a basic and essential need of every living creature, and fresh water is the most precious natural resource, and whereas since 1999, Hillsbrook County has joined the state of Florida, including the Southwest Florida Management District, in designating April as water conservation month to teach residents ways they can help save Florida's water resources.

And whereas water reuse conserves Florida's limited water resources, and Hillsborough County is a national leader in recycling and reusing water.

And whereas Water Reuse Florida has designated May 17 through May 23rd as Florida Water Reuse Week.

And whereas, in addition to encouraging Florida friendly landscaping and its beneficial uses, Hillsboro County and the Southwest Florida Management District promote water conservation through a wide variety of educational efforts, community outreach, water use restrictions, agency partnerships, and funding and construction of reclaimed water systems.

And where such conservation efforts have resulted in an overall decrease in the average daily water use per person in Hillsburg County.

And where a small steps can make a huge difference, and water conservation is as easy as installing simple water saving devices in the home and using Florida friendly landscaping techniques.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Board of County Commissioners of Hillsborough County, Florida, does hereby declare April 2026 as Water Conservation Month, and May 17th through May 23rd as Florida Water Reuse Week in Hillsborough County and calls upon all residents to promote water saving measures and take appropriate steps to convert conserve and protect this vital resource executed this first day of April 2026.

And before I turn it over to Ms.

Smith for a few comments, I want to say this.

Irrigation makes up 50% of our potable water use.

When we go from two-day-a-week watering to one day-a-week watering, we have seen an up to 30% reduction in the amount of water that is consumed.

And this is very, very significant when we are trying to conserve water in this type of an environment.

We have devices that are available in our offices that we're we give out for free.

We're happy to pass them out to people that can help you time your own shower.

That now you need to ask for a glass of water at a restaurant rather than being served it uh being served it automatically.

And you know, I've heard people make jokes about that.

But why should we serve water to people that that don't want it and aren't going to drink it when we're trying to conserve it?

So I want to personally make the appeal to people to pay attention to this.

It's important, and it's something that we can actually make a difference in our daily lives in the way that we conduct ourselves.

The last time that we had a water emergency, the people followed the rules, and we were able to get through it without any kind of major mishap.

And we can do the same thing now if we all work together and we all recognize that it's for the common goods.

And one last thing, homeowners associations are not allowed to find people and sanction them because they are following our rules.

And we are happy to hear from you if you are undergoing uh that type of of behavior where you live, because it's very, very important that everybody be on the same page with this.

So, Ms.

Smith, I will turn it over to you.

Well, thanks.

I want to thank the commissioner for highlighting this every year, the commission as well as the county administrator.

The commission as well as the county administrator.

My name is Amber Smith.

I work in government affairs for at the Southwest Florida Water Management District, also known as Swift MUD.

Um, as the Commissioner highlighted, we are currently in a phase three water shortage order according to the water management district.

And as he also stated, it does make a difference your efforts.

Um over the past year we're about 14 inches in a rainfall deficit.

However, uh the aquifer, we put out the numbers every week.

Uh you can find that in our newsroom on the website.

And with your conservation efforts of going to one day week watering and really adhering to that, plus some of the light rains we have.

We have seen um the aquifer rise even in recent weeks as dry as it has been.

So your efforts do make a difference.

There's so many, uh, as the commissioner stated, there's so many uh technologies out there available that are uh implemented for you at a discount now.

And so you can find that we help to fund the Tampa Bay Water Waterwise program, and so that's something that you can uh partake in and also benefit from uh, of course, conserving our water resources as well as your water bill.

So if you have any other questions, I'll be available after.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I think we're gonna take a picture of the board.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Commissioner Cohen.

Bonnie, you want to review uh change the agenda?

Yes, good morning, commissioners.

Um, we have one item for board consideration pursuant to rule 13 of the rules of order by Commissioner Myers, item F6.

This is to request the county attorney's office to review the CIT renewal ballot language and underlying process of approval and provide guidance on whether there is any prohibition on the use of CIT funds for the funding of a new sports facility to be owned by the county.

We have one off the agenda item by Commissioner Miller, item F7, which was received by our office in time.

Our apologies.

Request board approval of the ELAPS subcommittee selection for the 2026 Theodora Roosevelt, Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award.

The subcommittee also requests that the presentation of this award take place at the April 15th, 2026 BOCC meeting and schedule for 9 a.m.

time certain.

We have one item that has been deferred, which is item G3.

This is to receive a staff report regarding workload impacts of countywide growth.

This has been deferred to a date to be determined.

We have one correction to the agenda, item A48.

It should read approve the memorandum of agreement with the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantage for the period of July 1, 2026 to June 30th, and it should be 2031.

We have two items that have been removed from consent for discussion by Commissioner Westel.

The first one is item A6.

This is to approve and execute the contract for the Southways South Coast Greenway Trail Project, Public Art Project, and the amount of 125,000 dollars, which is adjacent to the South South Coast Greenway Trail Easement and the South Shore campus of Hillsborough Community College.

The other item is A30 to approve a CDBG DR Action Plan Amendment that will provide program design flexibility to maximize the community benefits of the CDBG DR single family, multifamily, and special population housing programs.

We have a few items for time certain.

The first one is item F1 at 10 o'clock by Commissioner Cohen.

This is to receive a special appearance by Michael Stevens, Chief Executive Officer, Tampa International Airport, to provide an update on the TIA master plan and air side D.

And then item G2 at 1015 is to receive a report regarding 3428 Earlick Road.

1145 is a recess for lunch.

Those are the changes to the agenda.

Second motion, Commissioner Myers and Commissioner Wolstool, please record your vote on changes the agenda.

Commissioner Miller.

Motion carries six to zero.

Okay, we'll go into public comment.

Uh the board welcomes comments from the citizens about any issue or concern.

Your opinions are valued in terms of providing valuable into input for board members, however, at the same time is request and we address the board that comments are not directed uh personally at staff or the board members, but rather the issue.

We set aside 45 minutes for public comment this morning.

When your name is called, please come forward, uh state your name and speak clearly into the microphone.

Uh each person will be given three minutes.

The first three speakers are Mark Proctor, followed by Amy Lee and then Linda Dennison.

Good morning.

We own and operate the historic Mosley Homestead at 1820 West Brandon Boulevard in Brandon.

Thank you, Commissioners.

I want to uh tell you how grateful we are for you, your support and your staff support of our continued commitment partnership and substantial time and effort that has gone into advancing preservation and planning for the Mosley Homestead.

The Timberley Trust is not undertaking this alone.

We have built the strong board and continue to expand our board, having recently updated our bylaws to seek additional dedicated members to complement our professional advisors and further develop partnerships to lower long-term operating costs and impacts.

An example of our expansion is our next door neighbors at Portellos Restaurant.

They've committed to helping support our vision by providing off-site parking, restroom access, VIP meeting space, and the Portell's Pathway to the Past, which is a trail entrance to the property.

This partnership has significantly reduced our need for expensive expensive on-site infrastructure while improving public access and visitation.

We've also created uh docent-led uh tour opportunities, expanded public outreach, supported film location activity, and held successful fundraisers like our annual Brandon Legacy Labor Day picnic, which helps support our operating needs.

We are leveraging county dollars into private and public matching support, including support from the state of Florida, businesses, and community partners.

When the cash flow need arose for our preservation projects, four of our uh directors personally guaranteed a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollar line of credit.

This LOC is a temporary reimbursement bridge that allows the trust to manage cash flow while awaiting payment of reimbursable grant funds.

While the trust may not present the kind of cash flow expected from a commercial enterprise, it does, however, show no debt on the property, strong public support while with community fundraising and leveraged grant opportunities and partnerships that make this vision achievable.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you, Mr.

Proctor.

Amy Lee.

Is Amy here?

Followed by Linda Dennison and then Kay Sullivan.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm Amy Carey Lee.

I'm the treasurer of the Timberley Trust, and I'm also a native of Brandon.

I'd like to express our sincere gratitude for the county's continued support of the Moseley Homestead and for the time, commitment, and thoughtful effort that county leadership and staff have invested in advancing this important project.

I want to begin by clarifying an important point.

The plan submitted by the Timberley Trust, which is on the agenda for staff presentation later today, is not a new funding concept created outside the county process.

As you will recall, we were asked last December to provide a conceptual plan showing how the remaining CIP funds already already designated for the Mosley Homestead would be used.

So this is not an additional ask layered on top of prior support.

It is our response to a county requested planning exercise for funds already associated with this property.

And importantly, we have already reduced that vision.

The original CIP designation for the Moseley Homestead had approximately 1.1 million remaining.

As you will see, our conceptual plan request is for $700,000.

This represents a substantial narrowing of a larger designated funding framework.

We also believe this plan remains fully in keeping with the original spirit of the community center idea and with the intent of the BP oil spill funding that was secured and designated for preservation and development at this property.

What we are proposing is a heritage-based, low impact, publicly beneficial plan that supports education, access, stewardship, and responsible visitation.

This is a phase in thoughtful use of funds already contemplated for this site.

It builds from the preservation work now underway and ensures that the county's investment does not stop at stabilization alone, but continues towards the broader public purpose that was always envisioned for the Mosley Homestead.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Ms.

Lee.

Linda Dennison.

Followed by Kay Sullivan and then Lori Collins.

Good morning.

Good morning, Commissioners.

My name is Dr.

Linda Dennison, and I live at 3701 Brentwood Court.

I'm a native of Tampa, spent 25 years in the Hillsborough School system and retired as principal from Orange Grove Middle School.

My husband David is also a Tampa native, retired from TICO as a fellow electrical engineer after 40 years.

After living in the net in Brentwood for 51 years, I'm here today to represent our Brentwood neighborhood and our concerns regarding the activities on a property in and adjacent to Brentwood community.

Our homes are the largest financial assets most of us will ever own, and right now those assets and the quality of life we have are being impacted and devalued.

Our quiet neighborhood is over 50 years old.

It has a history of safety, little violence, and a well kept properties.

The property with issues is located west of 3428 Earlick Road and extends west from Earlick to an area adjacent to the Brentwood property lines.

The portion of property on Earlick has the primary development.

The owner of this property acquired 20, a 20-acre parcel of the canal bordering the Brentwood neighborhood directly west of the subject property through a court process called Lisp Pendons and $10.

This canal land acquisition provides sole egress to the parcel under development.

After acquiring this egress parcel along the canal, safety concerns, noise, and traffic increased as construction of sheds, bathrooms, electrical lines, plumbing, and even a septic tank commenced.

County code enforcement has stated that this cut construction violates multiple county codes.

There are five sheds and two freestanding bathrooms.

After meeting with the Hillsburg County Code Enforcement Director, we were made aware that the county regulations do not allow multiple inhabited dwellings on residential land being developed, and five sheds are smaller than the minimum square footage for an inhabited dwelling as well.

Beyond the safety risks, as the construction has progressed, we are seeing a direct impact on our local neighborhood infrastructure and environment.

There is an increase in traffic and noise along the canal.

Should multiple structures continue to be erected with no off-street parking, more vehicles will be parked along the main road by the canal in our neighborhood.

Please view the location of the drainage canal in question, located a quarter of a mile from the single entrance into Brentwood.

The only access to the land parcel and structures is along the area of the canal from Brentwood Drive to the landlocked parcel.

We take pride in our community, but we cannot protect our property values or our children's safety alone.

We need the commission to move beyond simple warnings and are asking for immediate code enforcement.

Thank you, Ms.

Dennison.

Appreciate your comments.

We're going to be addressing this item at 1015.

Perfect.

Good morning.

Good morning, Commissioners.

My name is Kay Sullivan.

I'm a director on the Timberley Trust Board of Directors, the stewards of the Mosley Homestead, and co-founder of Winthrop in Riverview.

I'm speaking today in support of item G4, the Mosley Homestead Conceptual Plan.

I would like to focus my remarks on financial stewardship because the Timberley Trust has demonstrated that it can manage public investment responsibly and effectively.

But first, a brief context.

During her lifetime, Julia Mosley turned down millions of dollars from developers for this 15-acre property.

She chose something different.

She chose to preserve a place that it could enrich future generations, especially children, so they could understand what life was like in Florida in the late 1800s.

On her deathbed in 2020, community leader Mark Profter, who you've heard from today promised to carry out her vision.

That vision is what we are carrying forward today.

We have been strong stewards of both the property and the funding entrusted to us of the remaining 1.1 million in BP funding allocated to this vision.

Of the remaining 1.1 million in BP funding allocated to this vision, we are requesting 700,000 and have adjusted the scope accordingly.

We have also multiplied public investment through grants and private donations, extending the impact of every dollar.

Importantly, we carry no debt.

We operate with discipline and accountability, and we have not wasted resources.

With the funding received to date, we have upgraded and installed electrical service to the property, repaired the roof of the main structure, added security fencing to protect the sited contents, developed a website and virtual tour, conducted inventory and cataloging of artifacts, documenting documented the property's historical and archaeological resources.

These are significant milestones, and they were achieved responsibly with your support.

Now we are ready for the next phase, bringing the public onto the site in meaningful educational ways, connecting children, families, and the broader community to Florida's past.

I would also emphasize that the asset that we are collectively protecting is worth millions of dollars.

But more importantly, it's irreplaceable.

If lost to development, it could never be recovered.

This is a unique property ensure that a historic landscape remains intact and accessible for generations.

I respectfully ask for your support of item G4 as proposed by the Timberley Trust and for continued alignment of funding with this vision.

Because once places like this are gone, they are gone.

Thank you, Ms.

Sullivan.

And this place matters.

Thank you.

Lori Collins, followed by Karen McGuinness, which is virtual, and then Laura Lawson.

Morning.

Good morning, Commissioners.

My name is Dr.

Lori Collins.

I'm a professional archaeologist and heritage preservation specialist, and I also am in a volunteer and advisor for the Timberley Trust.

Thank you, Commissioners, and to the county staff for continued support of the Mosley Homestead and for very thoughtful consideration.

I want to emphasize why the Mosley Homestead merits this continued phased investment.

This is not simply a landmark, although it certainly is that.

The Mosley Homestead is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning it is inscribed on the official list of the nation's historic properties that are worthy of preservation.

That recognition reflects significance beyond the immediate community and places this property within the broader framework of places that matter to our shared national heritage.

In addition, the Mosley Homestead was designated as an 11 to save site by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, reflecting its importance to Florida communities and its value as a place deserving focused preservation attention.

That recognition further confirms that this site matters not just locally but regionally, statewide, and nationally.

This place matters.

It matters to Brandon, it matters to Hillsborough County, it matters to Florida, and it matters as part of the nation's recognized historic heritage.

The county has already helped secure the future of this remarkable site through preservation support.

What is now needed is the ability to translate that preservation into meaningful public benefit through interpretation, accessibility, and carefully managed educational engagement.

That is exactly what this modest phased request is intended to accomplish.

We were asked to put together this conceptual plan, and we ask for approval of the full Mosley conceptual plan as proposed, that 700,000 of the previously allocated 1.1 million in CIP funding from the BP oil spill remain with the Mosley Homestead, and that the opportunity to continue working with county staff to refine phasing and implementation in a fiscally responsible way continue.

We have focused on the most essential public-facing components in our conceptual plan.

It is non-recurring.

It is paired with a clear path for long-term self-sufficiency, resiliency, and sustainability through programming partnerships and ongoing revenue strategies.

Four members as our of our board, as you have heard, have personally guaranteed a line of credit.

This would give capacity and increased our and for this increased need, ensuring responsible management of phased implementation and reimbursement timelines.

We are committed to doing this carefully and responsibly.

We are not asking you to fund an overextended vision.

With the this preservation as the first half of the mission that we've already been accomplishing, this conceptual proposal shows the path for interpretation accessibility and public engagement as the second half.

We are asking for your continued support in completing this most essential public-facing component of the project whose preservation value has already been recognized.

With the remaining portion of this funding scaled thoughtfully for your consideration.

Thank you, Ms.

Collins.

I appreciate the comments.

Karen McGuinness is virtual, followed by Laura Lawson and then Denise Herndon.

Is Ms.

McGuinness on the line.

Hi, Commissioner.

She is not called in.

Okay, thank you.

Laura Lawson, followed by Denise Herndon and then Charles Brazil.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm Lara Lawson.

I'm an attorney.

I'm a 28-year resident of Hillsborough County.

And I was Commissioner Pat Kemp's policy aide for eight years.

So I worked on eight county budgets.

I also read a lot on my own time about local sports deals.

I have been long very concerned about the financial upper about the financial implications and the opportunity cost of taking on yet a third professional sports team.

Now I'm even more concerned that the college campus of Hillsborough College has gotten involved in the middle of this.

Avoid a public vote, rush the process of proving of approving the financial deal, provide rosy projections for economic development, and make it a quest to get a team rather than a robust debate about what's best for the community.

I am putting some of okay, help me.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um so here's a good example of some of the research that I found.

This is a study from 2022.

It looked at 130 studies published since 2000.

And the findings are that local government economic activity is largely unaffected by sports stadiums, and the level of venue subsidies typically provided far exceeds any observed economic benefit.

Sports venues are not an appropriate channel for local government development policy.

Now let's contrast that with the owners.

You can see the value of these teams, which is held by the owners, not the local government, has been increasing over the years, including due to these investments by local government in these stadiums.

We look at these deals.

And most recently, right here, 1.5 million for Mr.

Steve Sternberg when he sold to Zelepsky, who's the governor's well-known friend.

He gave 250,000 to his political action committee.

So for local governments, these are a liability.

They're not an asset.

And in this in the owners, keep in mind this is who we're negotiating with.

They stand to profit.

We do not stand to get a return on investment.

St.

Pete is still paying for that stadium, and they've been abandoned.

So now let's talk briefly.

College camp community colleges receive more, about six, a 17.9% rate of return.

We're talking about 25,000 students going to that campus.

Thank you, Ms.

Lawson.

Thank you.

Appreciate your comments.

Denise Herndon, followed by Charles Brazil, and then Betty Joe Tompkins.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm Denise Herndon.

Um concerning economic crimes.

This is a crime right here.

Sharon Kinney does not own this utility easement.

And I found out about this when I had the swell removed from what used to be a utility easement, is now a right of way.

Sharon, I printed this yesterday.

Why isn't this coming up?

Okay.

Sharon Kenny Trust.

Anybody, I told Shirley Hammond about trusts.

Sharon Kenny sold this property before 2014.

The last time it was sold was 2014.

And it still has the date, the address of Sharon Kinney's previous address, and I printed this yesterday at the library.

This is a false, and what's going on, possibly at Brentwood, Shirley Hammond.

And the problem with this land trust is you will never find out who the beneficiary is.

You will only, even in a court of law, and I was the one who told Shirley Hammond about this.

These are crimes that are going on.

And this is just a small portion.

I know Shirley Hammond.

The only two people alive is my next door neighbor, Jean Monger, and his daughter Kim Monger, who signed supposedly this stuff in 79 with Ed Drury, who used to supposedly own this.

This is the problem with doing everything by computers because the hackers can come in here and wipe everything away.

That includes, I've noticed that there's now on your list of when you first go into the property appraisers list, you see whether or not there's been permits.

These are the crimes.

It's just not people killing and stuff.

It's people going in, hacking medical records that I know was done to me, having doctors falsify medical records.

When I worked at Brandon Hospital as a respiratory therapist, I saw this.

Oh, that's just a glitch.

This is what's going on.

Thank you, Ms.

Herndon.

Charles Brazil.

This needs to be watched.

Followed by Betty Joe Tompkins and then Dr.

Jim Davidson.

No Charles Brazil.

Next up to speak is Betty Joe Tompkins.

Good morning, commissioners.

A quiet hush fell over the crowd.

Then suddenly, with lightning speed, the gavel fell.

A voice cried out, sold, and the hopes, dreams, goals, and aspirations of another rural American family were gone in an instant.

The scenario I just mentioned to you is one that's repeated itself over and over and over as we progress from a quote unquote more rural society to a progressive society.

But the truth of the matter is, this very well could have happened to the Mosley homestead, were it not for one tenacious lady, Julia Mosley.

She was born on the property, lived a hundred and one years there, and then passed away just a few years ago.

I knew Miss Mosley during the latter part of her life, and what amazed me was her total commitment, total commitment to the preservation of that property, not for personal gain, but for the gain of the citizens at large.

She was offered 10 million dollars for that property on more than one occasion.

She turned it down, not because she wanted more money, but because she knew it was priceless.

Priceless then, priceless now, and priceless in the future.

Because for us to move forward, we have to get public access.

And to make that public access successful, we need appropriate signage, paths, etc.

It is a beautiful site built in 1886.

Now I know some of you might say, oh, well, we've got cracker country over at the state fair.

And that's true, and I love Cracker Country and I'm involved with that.

But everything there was moved there.

That which exists on the Mosley property is exactly where it was built.

Remember when the Mosley family first came here from Elgin, Illinois, a 1,200 mile trip down dirt pass in a covered wagon, and yet it is as it is today, thanks to the generosity of Julia Mosley.

And yet it is as it is today, thanks to the generosity of Julia Mosley.

In closing, I would like to say it reminded me a little bit of a song that came out by Joni Mitchell in the 1970s.

And that song was they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

And isn't that a little bit about what we're doing?

We can't afford to pave the state your name slice of paradise.

Thank you.

And we state your name for the record.

And you state your name.

I apologize.

Hi, I'm Betty Joe Tompkins.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Charles Brazil, is he not here?

Okay.

Um Dr.

Jim Davison.

And then Carmen Edmonds.

Morning.

Good morning, board Jim Davison, uh, New Tampa.

Um, you're gonna take up whether the prohibition to use CIT tax for the stadium today.

And you know, you it's wrong to do that.

And there's multiple reasons.

Some of them are morally.

You promised the people that you wouldn't use the CIT tax, you took it out of the referendum because you didn't think it was going to pass.

You took hundreds of millions of hundreds of millions of dollars out of the referendum for the schools.

And now you're gonna give a billionaire hundreds of millions of dollars.

That's not morally correct.

The infrastructure.

There's no such thing as unexpected revenues.

If the CIT tax grows at six percent, it will not meet the infrastructure needs.

That means somebody in South County and East County is not going to get their fire station, their roads fixed, their intersections fixed, their parks, their trails, and every sidewalks and everything else.

People are gonna get hurt.

Strike one.

It fails the best budgeting practices.

Unexpected revenues by the government finance officers association is categorized as one-time revenues.

You want to use one-time revenues for reoccurring debt.

That is actually against board policy.

It's against your own policies to do that.

Strike two.

Three.

There's gonna be a lawsuit over this.

I have a little experience with this, I guarantee it.

You don't have the right to do this to people.

This is a this isn't a curveball or a slider or a fastball.

This is a spitball.

Spitballs are illegal if you don't know that.

Any way you look at this, whether you look at it from the referendum point of view, a moral point of view, uh uh an accounting point of view, this is a bad idea.

But you're looking at this money, and as this young lady just said, it's a spitball.

The pitch was a spitball.

It's not real.

I urge you to be adults to do the right thing, to do the moral thing, to do the legal thing, and not pass this.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Dr.

Davidson.

Carmen Edmonds, followed by Sharon Calvert, who's virtual, and then Tom Cobert.

Good morning.

Hi, good morning, commissioners.

My name's Carmen Edmonds.

Normally I'm here speaking as a private citizen, but today I'm here speaking as the chair of the Hillsborough County Republican Party, and I'm here to defend Republican values.

As Republicans, we do not like tax hikes.

That's just kind of in our party platform.

We like low taxes, we like small government, and we like government to stay out of our wallets and our business.

So I'm here in concern the CIT tax.

Um, I have 161 members that would probably back me on this, is that that CIT money, as promised in the referendum when we voted on it in 24, was only to be used for infrastructure fire station and existing stadiums.

There was specific language put in that referendum by Josh Wastel and Commissioner Mike Owen at the time to not allow that money to be used for new stadiums.

I've spoken to um Commissioner to uh Representative Alvarez, Representative Owen, and up and coming, hopefully um State House representative Ryan Gill about this.

They are all opposed to this because their side of the county is directly affected by this.

They are 34, I believe, fire stations short of what they need.

Public safety is at risk.

We do not need this money going towards stadiums.

It does nothing to do to help the citizens of East County with fire and safety and rescue with roads.

Uh Lithia Pinecrest needs attention.

All of our roads around the county need attention.

So I've also spoken with Yvette Lewis of the NAACP.

They are against this as well.

It dips into tax dollars that they need for their communities as well.

They are against this.

They feel like they're not being heard.

And they're also worried about gentrification of that area as well.

I was at the Cafe Contampa on Friday.

They had many members from the Seminole Heights community and the black community there, and they're worried of the impact that the stadium will have on their communities.

So if you want a way to bring Democrats and Republicans together, mess with our money, mess with the taxes of the way they're supposed to be used, and we're going to fight this every step of the way together.

So please vote no on this issue.

That money belongs where it belongs and not towards the stadium.

If billionaires want to fund it themselves and they think it's such a good investment, they should invest in it themselves.

Any business owner knows when you decide to open a business and go into business, you don't walk around your neighborhood asking people to fund your business.

You take that risk on your own.

They need to take that risk on their own if they think this is such a great return on investment.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Ms.

Edmonds.

Sharon Calvert is virtual, followed by Tom Cobert and then Thomas Maloof.

It's Ms.

Calvert on the line.

Morning.

I'm Sharon Calvert and President of Fix Our Roads First.

I am requesting that you vote no on agenda item F6, requesting the county attorney to review if the county can use the IT funds for a new race stadium.

Such action, whether not in the ballot language.

Voters were told these funds would be used for much needed infrastructure, including for roads of the county have been neglecting property funding since the last EIT tax was bonded out right before the 2008 recession, and the bondholders had to be paid first.

Considering such action is unethical and morally wrong, it is a slippery slope.

This commission should not be placing on taxpayers.

St.

Louis Fed analyzed publicly funded sports stating.

None of them brought the so-called economic benefits that was promised, especially because the opportunity costs are never considered.

What are the opportunity costs of using the CIT fund on a race gating?

Do you know?

So-called economic development counted by the race is nowhere in CIT ballot language.

Enabling billionaire sports team owners to land grab 110 acres for 25-acre skating in appalling and extorts the taxpayers.

Remember, the county attorney was wrong about the offer transportation illegal tax and it cost taxpayer yearly.

Trying to use the CIT revenue for a raise stadium with a flippery flip with another potential lawsuit that will waste even more taxpayer dollars.

Please vote no on F6.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Calvert.

Tom Cobert, followed by Thomas Malouf.

And then Daniel Zemiello.

Good morning, sir.

Mr.

Chairman, Commissioners, staff, and deputies.

Good morning.

My name's Tom Cobert.

I was a charter member of the juvenile justice council.

That's where I met Commissioner Phyllis Pazanski, who became a mentor and a friend, as did Julie Holt, public defender, and Elvin Martinez, the Florida Dean of the House.

I was around when Phyllis Jansky spearheaded the indigent health care program, which this commission profiled not too long ago.

The prudent management of that program has accumulated over half a billion dollars, which this commission is considering using for other purposes.

And that would literally be a fatal mistake.

We have someone that was confirmed to the health and human services at the federal level that is a vaccine skeptic.

His own family considers him a danger.

It's RFK Jr., a member of the Kennedy family.

He's a vaccine skeptic.

An incident in Samoa where we used other vaccine skeptics as a front that ended up killing 80 islanders, the majority of them children, because they refused to get the measles vaccination.

He uh right now, there was a 750 million dollar program given to Moderna to develop a bird flu vaccine.

The first thing he did was in that program.

He's a danger, and this county does not need to take that surplus and spin it in other things.

It needs to be kept on hand because we're gonna face some dangers in the very near future.

And people are gonna get sick and die around the nation.

And we have the money to put in reserve and be ready for that.

And it would be foolish to do otherwise.

We're also facing a threat from ICE in our elections.

The far right uh of the Republican Party, led by Steve Bannon, are crowing about how ICE is going to polling places.

Now, the Constitution forbids federal troops to do that, but there's no law against any other federal agency.

And their entire purpose is intimidation.

Now we need to resist that at the county level.

You know, we can't do anything nationally, but we can around here.

I learned that at the Six Mile Creeker.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Mr.

Cobert.

Thomas Malouf.

Followed by Daniel Zamiello.

And then Elliot Patterson.

Morning, sir.

Good morning.

My name is Thomas Malou.

Uh thank you for your time.

I have a great concern about the property taxes.

And I like to ask you a couple of questions so you can help me out, whoever.

Uh I believe that was a millage increase about six or seven years ago.

Is that correct?

Not from this board.

I'm sorry.

Not from this board.

Who does the millage rate?

This board.

It could have been another entity.

Oh, the other board.

But do you know how many years ago it was?

Five, six.

It would not have been from the board of county commissioners.

It could have been from another board that has taxing authority, but not the board BOCC.

Do you have taxing authorities?

Yes, sir.

So my concern is the fact that we all know the property values have gone up, but the military hasn't gone down.

And I think it's going to be creating a hell of a problem on the citizens.

Okay.

So you don't have the so you haven't considered reducing the miller's rate?

I think we've done that 20 over 20 years, sir.

What have you done in the last two years?

Yes, well, we can happy to provide you that that information.

Okay.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Can you tell us where the water management funds are going?

Sir, this please state your your your comments or concerns.

It's not a question and answer period here.

I'm I can look this way.

Can someone please tell me where the water management is?

So you if you give your comments afterward, our staff will help you to decide here.

Oh, okay.

I just want to complain.

Okay.

Let me ask you to ask a question about properties.

Can you park a food truck on a property?

This is not a question and answer dialogue, sir.

Just please state your comments or concerns, and we're happy to have staff get with you on the side and answer your question.

Thank you very much.

One last thing.

If you give the house away with the stadium, be sure to put a close in there, we get half the profit when they sell it.

Okay.

Thank you, sir.

Bonnie.

Mr.

Maloof, if you come over here, someone will address your concerns.

Thank you.

Daniel Zamiello, followed by Elliot Patterson.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning, Commissioners.

My name is Daniel J.

Zamiello.

I stand before you as a living legacy of my mother, Shirley Joe St.

Pierre, who was murdered on April 2nd, 2025.

In our family, we live by a simple truth.

No one walks alone and always have a heart of service.

My mother built her entire life on strength and faith, believing that every act should be done heartedly as onto the Lord.

She was the person when everyone else left, would always stay behind to make sure everyone had a smile.

But on the darkest night of my life, the 11th largest sheriff's organization in the nation decided that my mother and I were not worth the walk.

The 10 days of silence.

HCO serves over 1.4 million people.

Yet they only have two victim specialists on staff.

That's a ratio of one per 750,000 residents.

Even those attorneys in the room wouldn't want that as a caseload.

Because of this, at 337 a.m., a detective sergeant handed me the keys to my mother's blood-stained home and said, Good luck.

I'm sorry about your loss, but we don't clean up.

I was never even given a pamphlet which would have given me resources to go about the biohazard remedy.

And it was my constitutional right.

Instead, I was forced alone without a victim advocate present or contacted to face the daunting task of the biohazard cleanup of my mother, Shirley Joe Saint Pierre.

For the next 10 days, I lived in the physical reality of my mother's death alone with biohazard remains still fresh.

I didn't just lose her, I was forced to breathe in the tragedy.

While the agency meant to protect me, exercise discretion to ignore me.

To HCO, I was a case number.

To my mother, everyone was a soul.

To contrast, this contrast is a stain on our community.

No victim shall have to watch men in white biohazard suits clean up the remains of their mother while on the phone with the ME's office identifying her remains without a victim advocate.

Lastly, while preparing for my mother's memorial and eulogy, I was forced to have a conversation with the ADA regarding the death penalty prosecution of my very own brother.

The discretion and betrayal and liability.

When I demanded answers, I was advised by an HCO detective sergeant in writing via email that under Sheriff Trad Cronester's current guidelines that victim advocacy is discretionary.

They have the discretion to call or not haul a victim to a crime scene.

A victim advocate to a crime scene.

They even did not admit to not wearing the body camera when they released my mother's house to me because they chose to be in the dark so they wouldn't have to see my pain and anguish.

Commissioners, I'm asking for the immediate release of monies from the uh county general fund to immediately employ specialists.

Thank you.

Appreciate your comments.

Bonnie referred this over to you to please look at uh Elliot Patterson.

Morning, sir.

Good morning.

I'm Elliot Patterson, safety education liaison with the Sunshine 811.

Florida's nonprofit uh organization that the state law requires that you contact before beginning any digging project.

Chair, members of the commission, thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

April is National Safe Digging Month, an important time for the excavation industry, our partners in local government, and for communities across Florida.

Safe digging is not always top of mind, but it's never been more important.

Florida is one of the most active leaders in construction activity, and as digging increases, so do the risk of utility damages, service outages, accidents, and injuries.

And that's where Sunshine 811 comes in.

When excavators plan a project, they contact us.

We notify member utilities so they can go out and locate and mark their utility, their underground utility lines.

This is all done through our toll-free system.

You can call our 1-800 number or 24-7 online.

Last year alone, we handled more than 2.2 million tickets.

One of the highest volumes in the country.

Across our state, there are nearly a million miles of underground utilities, and those lines are struck about 87 times every day.

These are our lifelines that power our homes, deliver water, fuel our communities, and keep us connected.

Protecting them is critical, especially here in Hillsborough County, which currently ranks among the top areas for underground utility damage.

When a locate ticket isn't requested, underground lines aren't marked before excavation begins.

And this is the leading violation of the safe digging law and a citable offense.

But education alone isn't enough to reduce the risk.

Enforcement of the safe digging law is also key, and that's where local partnerships matter.

Stronger enforcement improves public safety, holds violators accountable, and helps prevent accidents before they happen.

We would welcome the opportunity to work more closely with your code and law enforcement teams to support these efforts.

During safe digging month, we're increasing outreach to contractors, homeowners, utilities, and communities across the state.

We'd also appreciate your help spreading one simple message.

Before you dig, contact 811.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, sir, for bringing this to our attention.

And I'll refer this over to staff to take a look at as well.

Okay, that the closed public comment.

Uh, coming up a motion to approve consent.

So moved.

Motion, Commissioner Wilson, second commissioner Myers, please record your vote.

Commissioner Wolstall.

Motion carries six to zero.

Okay, Bonnie, introduce first item.

Yes.

Um, our first item is at 10 o'clock time certain.

If you could waive your rules to hear that amendment early.

So moved motion away the rules, Commissioner Wolstool.

Second Commissioner Cohen, please record your vote.

Motion carries six to zero.

Okay.

Thank you.

This is a presentation by Michael Stevens and uh Commissioner Cohen, I believe you requested the uh uh good morning, uh board members.

Uh I am your representative on the Hillsburg County Aviation Authority.

It is my great pleasure this morning to welcome Michael Stevens to talk to us about all of the really exciting things that are happening at Tampa International Airport, especially the construction of Air Side D.

So uh Mr.

Stevens, I believe we're close to your one year anniversary of stepping in as the fourth head of our beloved airport, and uh we look forward to hearing from you this morning.

Thank you, uh Commissioner Colin for that warm introduction.

Mr.

Chairman, commissioners to our county administrator, and all those in attendance.

Good morning.

I'm Michael Stevens, I'm the uh chief executive officer of Tampa International Airport, and thank you for making some time for us this morning to give you an update and a presentation on some of the things that are exciting and happening at your airport.

As uh my dear board member and Commissioner Cohen pointed out, there is a lot happening, as many of you know right now.

We are in our busiest season at the airport in spring break that started at the beginning of March and goes roughly through the middle of this month.

And in addition to that, uh we have been experiencing uh some of the impacts of the government uh shutdown.

But I'm here to assure you and to also thank you and the members of this uh public who have been so generous with their um and just letting our TSA officers know how much appreciated they are.

Those things go a long way.

Uh at Tampa International Airport, our wait times, uh, unlike a lot of places that have been six hours and even more, on average have been 20 minutes at their peak.

And this is our most busy time of the year, and that is not by accident, that is because all of the support that we get from this community, all of the efforts that uh happen with our team back at TPA and the commitment of about 10,000 folks that work there on the airport to make things happen each and every day.

So I just want to thank you all for the many calls and the outreach that you have asking how you can support those officers to make sure that things are happening.

But today I also want to talk to you about something that is super exciting.

I want to give you an update on one of our most fundamental projects that we have, which is a cornerstone of our growth and our future growth.

We are about to hit about 55 years of service to this community uh this month, and to meet the growth and the needs and the challenges of the future.

We have already started with our newest air side, which is Air Side D, and I want to update you all about uh what's going on with that program.

Airside D, as many of you know, is going to be our first new air side in over 20 years.

It is going to be an international air side with approximately 16 brand new gates, a new customs facility, state-of-the-art technology to make sure that our community and our region is able to process through quickly.

Uh, it's going to have uh two brand new lounges, one being the Delta Lounge and another one being a common use lounge that we're incredibly excited about.

And that's gonna help us serve the tremendous growth that we're seeing in this region.

We are anticipating uh almost another 10 million passengers in the next 10 years or so, which will take us to about 35 million to 36 million passengers by 20 uh 37.

So we're trying to get out in front of this growth with Airside D.

To give you an order of magnitude of scale.

Many of you have flown out of Airside C, which is primarily the Southwest uh uh terminal.

This is gonna be twice that size, and Airside C is our biggest terminal.

Today, I'm excited to show you officially uh as I reach my my first year officially in the uh role of CEO.

Uh Airside D in the video.

Now, many of you, a few of you may have seen it already, but this is the first time officially we get to demonstrate it to the public and to this body as a whole.

So by way of orientation, you will see the vantage point.

It is showing off our beautiful region first, and then I'll kind of narrate some of the highlights and the aspects of it.

So if I may, I'm gonna go ahead and see if we can get the video started.

Thank you.

So this is coming over the beautiful Bay of Vantage Point.

Looking at all the tremendous natural beauty that we have to offer.

We created this air side, we created it with these things in mind.

What are the natural environments?

What are the new uh retail opportunities, the new growth opportunities in this region?

That's what we wanted folks to see and feel and experience this.

So right now we're on the face where we're kind of uh starting some structure that we see super strong at the summer.

So that's a very exciting transition.

Bottom up the book is trying to emotional.

But also lobby, and now you're going out to your side.

So some of the most traveling.

And then make your way right to uh the baggage claim and then up the escalator and out to the uh trains to take you back to the main terminal.

This is gonna be a state-of-the-art uh experience, building in all kinds of biometric uh uh technology to ease the uh whole transition for folks to be able to clear if you're U.S.

citizens digitally using your biometrics, so it is really gonna transform the travel experience, and we couldn't be more proud of what we're gonna deliver to this community.

So, the other thing that I wanted to share uh with you all is that also we are going to completely redevelop our entire concessions program, all of our food and beverage and restaurants in the airport, both giving us national brands as well as local brands, so folks have a sense of place in the community.

Now, why am I sharing all this?

Not only are we excited about what's going on, but this means opportunities for our small business community here.

We have hundreds and hundreds of people represented on those job sites.

Uh, our food and beverage opportunities are gonna mean hundreds of thousands of opportunities from employee standpoint and from small business providers to participate in this program.

And I wanted to share with you all as well as folks in the audience that on Thursday, April 9th, we're gonna have a concessions redevelopment uh information session for our community so they can understand what the opportunities are uh for this program.

So again, I cannot be more excited and honored to lead this organization to stand before you uh in my role after one year and to continue to lead America's favorite airport and the best team in the business.

So with that, uh I will take any questions that you all may have, Mr.

Chairman.

Mr.

Stevens, thank you uh for the presentation.

Um thank you for your leadership, uh it's an awesome video.

I can tell you, having been on the aviation authority years ago, uh you guys are always thinking 10, 20, 50 years out with the growth that's gonna occur and the and the traffic that's gonna take place there.

So in this uh video is a reflection of that.

So uh keep up the great work.

I know we got a couple commissions want to comment, and I just want to say one other thing.

I'm intentionally not on social media, but whoever your social media person is is a rock star because everywhere I go, people are talking about the stuff that you guys put out, and I don't know if it who it is if it's a team of people, but give this person an at a boy or at a girl because they're doing a remarkable job.

So I will absolutely do that.

Everywhere I go, and I don't see it, but they're like you can't believe what they put out today, and so it's good stuff.

But with that, uh, Commissioner Wolstall.

Thank you.

And I do hope your social media team keeps dunking on Orlando.

It's quite humorous.

You brought up the uh you can't you brought up the TSA comments, and my mom recently um flew in and then back out now to visit her new granddaughter that that arrived on St.

Patrick's Day, and I'll I'll read you a text because I I told her I don't know if if you're gonna get trapped at TSA, so we'll get you there early.

She said um smoothest check-in and security ever.

Laugh face.

I told them my son was Joshua Wolstall, and they said, Oh, shoot, come on through, ma'am.

Just kidding about the second part.

Love you, mom.

So I guess the point is is that you know everybody should continue to feel safe and comfortable to fly to Tampa International because they'll get you out of there quickly despite the federal government's failure.

So good job.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

I appreciate that.

Commissioner Cohn.

Uh thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Michael, for that great presentation.

And I I just want to say um a few uh additional kudos to the to the airport.

First of all, through this these last two crises that uh have involved the pay of the TSA agents.

The airport has worked in so many different ways to try to be supportive of these individuals and to help them through this difficult time.

And the the one of the things that that they have done that has been so helpful to the public is that on the website there is real-time information that tells you exactly how long the wait period is for both pre-check and non-pre-check passengers.

So you can actually check in real time when when you're on the way to the airport.

Um, the second thing is that both the board and the staff were very involved in making sure that when Air Side D was built, it was done in an economical way.

And we went through multiple iterations of the uh of the plan, and we were very concerned about its cost and its size, and uh worked really hard to make sure that it came in at a cost that we could afford and um was paid for appropriately.

So it's a it's not paid for by the way at all with anyone's property taxes.

It's paid for by the airlines, by the passengers, and by rental car fees.

And that's a very important point because um the airport service is first rate, and we really appreciate it.

So, Michael, again, congratulations on the first year, and thank you for the report.

Um last speaker, Commissioner Myers.

Uh thank you, Commissioner Cohen, for inviting uh Michael to come and give us an excellent presentation uh outside the Michael.

Every time I travel and go into another state and have to go to an airport, I just think of Tampa.

It is just you know, it's just so refreshing to be home and travel, and you go to another state and you walk in, and I'm like, can you have other other apples around the country?

Make it so much easier for us.

If so, please do so.

We we we try our best uh and thank you for those those kinds of we appreciate your leadership.

Thank you.

Thanks again.

And Chairman, if I if I just may um thank you all for all those kind words.

It is a team that goes into making this happen.

And uh just real quick, since social was raised.

I if I could, I gotta give a shout out to uh one of my leaders that manages and leads our social media team.

She's in the audience.

That's Veronica Centron.

Uh so she is the head of marketing and communications to make sure all those things are getting out.

And if you uh want to wear pajamas and crocs in there and you feel some sort of way, blame her and our team because that's that's who's doing that.

So but again, thank you all this morning for your time and attention, and we really appreciate the support.

Thank you, Chairman.

Thank you, sir.

Appreciate it.

Okay, Bonnie, next item.

Yes, um, we have a few minutes before the 1015, so we can do item B1.

This is going to be uh approving a resolution for Tampa General Hospital Hospital for Employer-based workforce housing.

And Kevin Brickie will present this item.

Good morning, morning, commissioners.

Kevin Bricky management budget.

Item B1 seeks approval of a funding agreement for with Florida Science Health Sciences Center, otherwise known as Tampa General Hospital.

A related uh resolution granting the funding and a related FY26 budget amendment.

The resolution and funding agreement provides TGH with up to about 1.94 million dollars over a three-year uh period as a capital funding contribution towards the construction of TGH's employer-based workforce housing development in Brandon.

This is a first of its kind project in the county, aiming to attract and retain health care workers for TGH and USF Health with 171 to three bedroom rental units, a child care center and shuttle services.

The board approved this community project during the FY25 budget process for a total funding of $2 million over four years at $500,000 each for FY25, 6, 7, and 8.

In April of 2025, the board approved a funding agreement with TGH for that first 500,000.

One pay request was done for about $60,000, leaving a remaining balance of about 440,000 from that first 500.

In FY26, we place this project in the capital improvement program.

And so this is a continuation of that four-year effort.

And the budget amendment uh takes that remaining 440, places it into the uh capital improvement program along with the 500,000 already in there for FY 26.

The funding agreement anticipates the 500 in FY27 and 28, as it is subject to board of uh approval.

Uh we have uh representatives uh from TGH here, including Steve Harris, executive vice president, and we also have representatives from our affordable housing services, who I want to thank for uh the uh uh good work in helping to get us to this agreement.

Thank you, Kevin.

Uh Commissioner Myers.

Uh thank you, uh Mr.

Chair.

I'd just like to um thank staff and TGH for having a vision uh for the employees of workforce housing.

We've been talking about this for years and now it's a reality, and I'm going to move to approve this item.

Okay, we got a motion to approve Commissioner Myers, second Commissioner Cohen.

Don't see anyone else in the queue, so please record your vote.

Motion carries six to zero.

Thanks, Kevin.

Thank you.

Do you want to do the 1015 or you can do B2?

Uh yes, we'll do B2.

Um because this is Kevin as well.

This is um to approve additional CDB GDR projects.

And before I'm going to take some of Kevin Stunder so he won't have to really go through it, but I wanted to thank you all, thank the board publicly because this is a major milestone.

You have previously approved um a 79 million dollars of projects.

Um today you have the on the agenda for additional projects to improve flood mitigation infrastructure and growing the resilience in our community.

And then at the next meeting, you're gonna have 95 million dollars of additional projects for stormwater drainage and water wastewater infrastructure.

So I really just wanted to take the time to thank you all and to thank staff for all you're doing to help making this community safer and more resilient.

Great, thank you, Bonnie.

And so, Commissioners, uh item B2 is a resolution to amend the capital improvement program, uh, adding two projects to CDBG C D B G DR projects, uh, ditch and side drain restoration and lift station resiliency, and the related budget amendment appropriating 70 million dollars of DR funds to the 11 phase two projects that you approved.

They're grouped in uh uh five CIP projects and to realign a couple of phase one projects to uh uh uh tighten that up uh as far as budgeting is concerned.

All right, thank you for your brevity.

Uh move approval seconds.

Second motion approved, Commissioner Wolstru.

Second, Commissioner Myers.

Uh, please accord your vote.

Motion carry six to zero.

Thanks, Kevin.

Bonnie.

Thank you.

We can now go to item G2, which is our 1015's time certain commissioner Hagen.

This is a report you asked for regarding 3428 Earlier Road.

Yeah, board members.

I brought this item forward because the Brentwood community is under attack regarding a canal in their neighborhood uh that was acquired through adverse possession.

Uh you heard concerns this morning uh during public comment.

Uh, and I want to I want to first of all want to thank the residents uh from the Brentwork community for coming forward, staying engaged and for being a vigilant in this fight.

Um you've seen the backup information that's provided, and it does make clear that while certain structures may be permitted, there are there are specific standards and limitations that must be followed.

Uh code enforcement to their credit uh has been monitoring and investigating uh when complaints come in, but uh they are somewhat limited uh in their authority.

Um talk about structures or essentially to what looks like because I've driven by the area dozens of times.

It looks like little sheds that you could purchase at a home depot or a lows, very, very small structures.

I think the concern is that these are constructed or being placed there for places for places for folks to live and to stay.

Nevertheless, according to Julia, uh this case is wrought with legal problems beyond just the normal code enforcement action that can take place.

So the next step is to ensure that any and all potential violations of county ordinances and applicable state laws are fully reviewed and addressed to the proper legal channel channels.

Board members, not only is this community in my district, but uh I live on the same street on our lake, right down the road.

This is in my walking used to be jog, now it's walking uh track.

And so I I literally pass it either on foot or by car uh several times a day.

Um and I want the to assure the community that we're on top of this issue uh and will take all appropriate actions moving forward to protect the neighborhood.

So um with that, I'm gonna pass the gavel and then I'll ask if Adam wants to make any comments, but I'm gonna pass the gavel to the vice chair and make a motion to direct the county attorney's office to take any and all appropriate legal action regarding any potential violations of Hillsborough County ordinances and applicable state law at 3428 Earlick Road as outlined in the staff report.

Second thank you.

We have a motion on G2 by Commissioner Hagan, a second by Commissioner Wussel.

Uh Commissioner Wussel, you're recognized.

Yeah, I um I mean, Commissioner Hagan, you already knew I was gonna help you on this.

Um, and for the community that stayed behind, I was talking to County Attorney Mandell.

Fortunately, the state house um rejected the Senate, but SB 48 almost passed into state law, which was an extremely heavy-handed forcing of local governments to accept all of these accessory dwelling units.

And I've been I've been challenged with these far before this law even um came to light.

I believe I saw our director of code enforcement in here, and it's it's not just your community.

West Tampa is plagued, town and country is plagued.

It's it's a huge issue, but there is an enforcement challenge that goes on into people's backyards with these things.

And um when they start getting forced into pre-planned communities that were um engineered for impacts of residential four, and then all of a sudden you've got single family homes split up into four different families living inside these different bedrooms.

You have you have realtors advertising them as accessory dwelling units and having multiple families in in these homes.

It's it's extremely challenging.

I don't know what more.

Um I'll go um I see the sergeants in the audience, I'll go with her to um breach people's doors, whatever we need to do, but it's a it's a it's a real issue.

We have um bags of gravel being thrown into neighbor's swimming pools to destroy their equipment.

One one person had their house attempted to be set on fire by somebody living in accessory dwelling unit that was mad that they started making complaints to us.

It's a real issue, and um I'll do I'll change whatever we need to change in our codes to um create enforceability um on getting getting a handle on these accessory dwelling units, and and I and I hope that you're able to accomplish it on this one.

So thank you.

Thank you for comments.

I don't see anyone else in the queue.

Mr.

Wormley, did you have anything to add?

Commissioner, I think that uh Adam Gormley, uh Hillsburg County Development Services I think it's been well said.

Uh we're very um grateful for the motion and will continue to support code enforcement county attorney's office in uh all enforcement actions to make sure that this property stays within the the correct bounds.

Yes, thank you for all you do.

We appreciate it.

Um we have a motion by Commissioner Hagen, um, a second by Commissioner Worstall, and please record your vote on G2.

Motion carries six to zero.

Thank you, board members.

Thank you.

The shortest staff report ever.

There we go.

Um, Commissioner Hagan, uh, the next item is yours.

Item F two regarding the Ellsworth G.

Simmons good government award.

I if we can just get a motion to approve putting this on our agenda to uh award uh Sheriff Cronester, the good government award.

We get so we got a motion, uh Commissioner Myers, second commissioner uh Miller, please record your vote.

Motion carries six to zero.

Next item.

Thank you.

Uh, the next two items are Commissioner Westel's item.

The first one is item F three regarding beginning negotiations with Sue Tampa.

Thank you very much, Administrator Wise and Mr.

Chair.

Um we've been hearing for several years now since I believe the end of 2022, possibly the beginning of 23, the announcement of Zoo Tampa's efforts to create an expansion and extension down to the Hillsborough River.

I know that they've been working diligently with the city of Tampa on their contribution to this project, including contributing adjacent property that would give them this access, the ability to expand.

I, for one, am an advocate for the zoo, particularly on the grounds that they are one of the foremost um conservators of endangered species and insecure species.

I'll I'll name a few critically endangered African penguins, Asian hornbills, American red wolves, North American songbirds, Borninian, um orangutans, eastern indigo snakes, giraffes, radiated tortoises, chronos, stingrays.

Um they actually even um help and conserve our critically endangered Florida Panthers at the county ourselves um expends a lot of ELAP money on conserving the wildlife corridor to make sure that um these Florida Panthers do not continue to try and and have the need to access roads where we've seen some unfortunate situations, including Florida Manatees.

The list could go on.

They have a full list on their website.

Um in the 2020 for CIT renewal, we specifically created line items for public amenities.

I have conferred with um county staff.

They they do agree that um this ask could be applied to that or um to tourist development um taxes, which I'm also an advocate for these to be used for, which is expect exactly why if um any of you um read read the background, the ask is for up to to engage with the zoo tampa for up to 75 million dollars.

The reason I'm using the words engage on the negotiations is because I want staff to be able to look at it and look through the different um various funding mechanisms that they deem are most appropriate for this ask um and partnership.

And that's also why in the in the motion I included in there a um public-private part to strive for a public-private partnership up to a um dollar for dollar match.

These are um these are not very different from past asks that we've had come before the board or past partnerships that we've come um had become before the before the board.

I'm happy to um before I make my motion, if I don't see anybody in the queue, so I can just um jump right to the motion if everybody's um comfortable with that.

I I like to give opportunity for dialogue.

I am giving a couple comments, but you're free to still make the motion.

Okay.

Um then I will motion to direct county staff to begin negotiations with Zoo Tampa on a public-private partnership of their expansion announced in 2022 and identify appropriate funding sources, such as the already approved line item, community facilities, other public amino amenities slash attractions of the 2024 CI2 renewal CIT renewal.

Um I encourage the county staff to include examining available tourist development taxes and other funding mechanisms that they deem appropriate to accomplish this partnership.

The recommended partnership should strive to achieve a dollar-for-dollar match.

That is the motion.

Second.

Okay, we got a motion by Commissioner Wilson, second Commissioner uh Miller.

Uh I just want to make a couple comments.

First of all, I completely support the motion.

Um, I I think I just kind of want to set some expectations, if you will.

And first of all, this board has a long-standing history of partnering with the zoo.

Uh I personally championed uh a couple of requests years ago.

One of them uh it was for the Savari Lodge, if you're familiar with that, and I should have looked it up.

I can't recall what the other project was, but there's at least two, maybe three projects that I personally championed um many, many years ago.

So and we have a long, like I said, a long-standing um partnership with with the zoo.

Um prior to the CIT when it was being put together, I'm the one at the zoo's request that met with our staff to ensure that there was a the term now is community facilities of that that it would that the zoo would qualify, would be eligible for CIT funding.

So I wanted to ensure that that was the case.

And but we we have to we can't ignore the other institutions such as the Stras or Tampa Theater or the History Museum, other ones, uh the aquarium because the reality is there are probably many of them, if not all of them, are gonna have similar requests, and the amount of money that we set aside in the CIT, I want to say was was fifty million.

Now I know Commissioner Russell said using other sources too, and that's good.

But at one point I've had several meetings over the past year, year and a half with with the zoo folks, and one of the meetings, it was said to me that there was an understanding that it would be five million dollars a year.

And I said, Well, I don't know whoever said that, because I certainly didn't, because that would more than eat up the entire amount that we put in there.

So fully support it.

I look forward to coming to an agreement on what's practical, but um we have to be cognizant of the other facilities and the other asks and how much money that we identified, at least on the front end.

That's all that I want to say and make sure that's on the record because it's my understanding, and I've asked Bonnie this.

Um a discussion on a dollar amount.

It was yes, we want to support you, we're gonna make sure it's eligible, but there was no wink nod or handshake on an amount because that you can't ignore the other other groups of that are inevitably going to come forward.

Um in fact, I discussed with Bonnie at one point.

Perhaps we should have the a collective discussion with all of the folks, because this is gonna start a chain of other ones asking.

I I would imagine.

Not that that's a bad thing.

I just don't want to ignore the the big picture.

Uh Commissioner Bowles.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, one question I have for you, uh, Commissioner Whistle was uh with the dollar for dollar match.

Are we is that from all sources like City of Tampa, private donors?

I mean private.

Private.

So not thinking about what city of Tampa may be able to provide as well.

I mean, that's probably an option we can explore as well.

I I think that this is one of those items that you know it is a Florida destination.

I think it's been proven to be so.

Uh probably one of the top destinations, weirdly enough, to come in Florida, and uh that we should be looking at these type of projects to expand that.

I mean, I think this would actually double the from what I read about double the size of the footprint there, and I think it's a great opportunity to uh kind of highlight what Tampa has to offer.

So, but thank you.

It but I do agree that looking forward um finding useful ways in creative ways to make something happen, should be uh certainly in staff's hands.

Thank you.

And I know I should have said it earlier, many years in the past they've been awarded the number one children's zoo in in the country.

So they're well respected and regarded uh nationwide.

Commissioner Myers.

I agree with both um the commissioners' comments.

I'll just like to add if we can look at maybe three million dollars um so that we can take care of all of the other organizations that's gonna come before us.

And by now, maybe we need to go ahead and contact them, not wait for them to come to us so that when we look in that one, we can be consistent in supporting all.

Okay.

Commissioner Wilson.

Thank you.

And respectfully, the motion is five million a year, not three.

So what I what I would say is um I I understand the concerns um from Commissioner Hagen, but I would I do have to point out that only a couple of meetings ago, um, without any notice, and we all supported it.

Staff was able to find 24 million dollars of CIT that I myself didn't even know could be freed up for a CIT project to USF that we all jumped on board for and supported moving forward.

Um my arguments for the zoo are that they're one of the most financially accessible destinations in Hillsborough County.

On top of that, they offer extreme um environmental and educational benefits to our community.

Um I I appreciate many of the other organizations that were mentioned.

For instance, when it comes to the aquarium, they have the benefit of CRA dollars that the zoo does not have any support from.

Um, I believe that um this is gonna be an award and uh an award-winning um benefit and expansion to our community that will just um be seen as a as a destination attraction um, not just in Hillsborough County, but in the surrounding area.

So I appreciate your support.

I look forward to working with the zoo and the administration on a diet on identifying those um funding mechanisms and bringing this back to a vote um at um a later date.

Bonnie, do you need a deadline or just however the conversations go?

Yeah, I think we need need a little bit of time, and I think I heard you initially say up to five million a year.

So I wanted to get some clarification on that, please.

I will just restate the motion.

I have a motion to direct county staff to begin negotiations with Zoo Tampa on a public-private partnership of their expansion announced in 2022 and identify appropriate funding sources such as the already approved line item community facilities slash attractions of the 2024 CIT renewal.

I encourage county staff to um explore other funding mechanisms such as the tourist development taxes and any other mechanism that they named appropriate.

The recommended partnership subscribe to achieve a dollar for dollar match from private funding, right?

That's that's fine.

That was pointed out.

And then I pointed out in the backup that, and I'll just click it so I'm not um misquoting here because my sharpness is a little declined due to sleep deprivation from the baby.

The requested CIT funding is $75 million over 15 years or to quit to a five million dollar per year benefit.

There we go.

That's the restating of the motion.

Okay, we got a motion and a second.

And I'll just say I agree with Commissioner Woolstool, and I guess I should have asked for more money for USF is only comment I mean.

Um, please record your vote.

Question carried six to zero.

Okay, Bonnie, next item.

The next item is also Commissioner Wetzel's item, item F4 regarding the release of draft documents and personal notes regarding the Tampa Ray deal.

Commissioner Woolstool.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I guess on this one, guys, I'm just like, what are we doing at this point?

What what what is happening?

Um get the administrator to clear up a couple of things.

We we approved, and I I supported and I've taken every single meeting at nauseum with the race and anybody else that wanted to talk about it, um, working towards finding a way for them to get here.

In fact, if we even get to that point, which it doesn't even sound like we might, I have a motion that might make some people uncomfortable to free up even more tourist development dollars that I believe legally we could do to try and make this deal happen, a significant more amount more of tourist development taxes that would not impact the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

So I just want to be very clear about that and preface this conversation.

But I turned my phone off for the first five days that I was elected three and a half years ago to public records requests that the chair of Tampa City Council is leaking documents via signal or WhatsApp to other people, and I'm just like, why are we doing this?

It doesn't need to be this way.

Um releasing the drafts of the financial structure, Bonnie does not release proprietary or trade secret information of the rays, does it?

And we already know we already know where the location is going to be.

We were all at the press conference when the governor talked exhaustively about how much he likes baseball, right?

There's nothing in a financial structure that that it foreshadows their private trade secrets or proprietary information, correct?

It's just our funding mechanisms.

Not sure if that's more of a legal portion than it is an administrative question.

Um I have not received any.

I just want to make this very clear.

The county has not received any draft documents.

There is a mechanism in the Florida public record law if they wanted to submit documents as I mean the raise to actually go under the auspices of a trade secret exemption within the Florida Public Records Law.

That has not occurred as of today, and that's really for them to tell us, not for us to tell them under the way the public records law is been stated.

I have also heard about leaked documents.

I don't know if that's true or not.

I can just say, as I sit here, I don't have any draft documents.

Nobody in the administration has any draft documents.

And at this point, all of the discussions have been either in person or via teams, but have not been a trading off of documents to this point.

So, Bonnie, you're telling me that your staff hasn't begun financial risk analysis and allotments from different funding mechanisms to structure how we can fund this deal.

Of course, we have looked at the CIT dollars, we have looked at tourist tax sellers.

That's and there's nothing since they haven't filed any trade secrets, and our own staff has worked on the financial modeling, performing risk analysis of exposure.

Is there any legal reason why we can't at this point?

Because I'm told they're gonna but we want to force to a vote on the 15th.

And to be clear, I was promised by the Rays at their own fruition, not mine, on the Saturday before last, that we would both jointly call the administrator and have her release these documents.

Radio silence, nothing, nothing.

And then I receive another phone call on Sunday that they do agree and that I would receive these documents before today's board meeting so that I would not be required to make this uncomfortable vote.

And here we are again, nothing.

One side is pointing fingers at the other side.

At this point, something doesn't smell right.

I want to understand.

That's what we gave them authority to negotiate in Commissioner Hagen's item.

Are we still only negotiating of the alleged excess of the CIT, or are they now negotiating of existing CIT dollars that were approved?

I I don't know if we want to get into a discussion about the things that we have talked about publicly at this time.

I know in Commissioner Hagen's memo, he identified five, six various funding sources, and we are still looking at all those funding sources that were identified in his memo.

We authorized them to negotiate the excess excess on that memo.

That's what the memo stated.

We did not authorize them to negotiate the CIT.

They've all said that they would negotiate the alleged excess.

If we are no longer negotiating in the parameters that this board approved, I need to understand why we can't release county attorney Mandel, almost called you Julia, sorry.

Why we can't release anything when we just said that they haven't filed any trade secret information protection.

There's no trade secrets about our own financial funding mechanisms, and we're the ones that authorized the negotiations.

That's that is something that we don't have.

We have not received a draft.

I have not received a draft, Bonnie has not received a draft, we don't have that draft document.

If what you're seeking is documents that may have been produced internally, I don't know that those documents exist either.

That but I don't understand that to be the question.

Whether or not they want to submit a document to us and call it a trade secret and ask for that exemption, we'd have to analyze if that request was made and whether or not it falls within that exemption.

That request has never been made of me.

So that's that's where I understand we are.

As it relates to the previous motion that was made, I can't even remember when.

Oh, it was directly said, and and the motion that I have here is for personal notes, which has nothing to do with the raise.

That's working drafts that staff is working on the city.

They are not public records under the public records law.

Every one of us that it looks that works within the confines of a governmental entity, whether you're sitting on the dais, whether I'm sitting on the dais, whether Bonnie is sitting on the dais, or we're in meetings, personal notes are very explicitly not deemed to be public records, therefore would not be subject to the public records law or production.

I'm not asking for a public records request.

I'm asking for it to be released to the board.

And you're telling me you're telling me that all of staff's financial deep financial risk analysis of and modeling was all done in their head.

I can't answer that question.

I can tell you that if you're asking for personal notes, those are not public records.

Bonnie, can you answer that question?

I mean, I know Kevin's smart, but that's that's pretty big.

It's your quote your agenda item asks for personal notes.

That's what your agenda item says.

Yeah.

And our attorney is telling you that personal notes are not public record.

Okay, so working on a draft analysis and risk analysis wouldn't be a personal note, that'd be a draft document, correct?

Which is also in my motion.

Let me let me answer that because that is actually a legal question on the bounds of the public records law.

A document does not become a public record unless it is shared with others, meaning personal notes are not shared with others.

So if I write down a list of notes for myself or my whatever it is I'm drafting in my own mind or in my own document that I'm leaving for myself, that is a personal note.

If I share that with anyone, then it becomes a public record.

And that is where the distinction lies.

And that lies very clearly within the four corners of the public records law.

So you're telling me that if somebody creates an Excel spreadsheet and starts doing a financial analysis about a motion that we made, that's considered a personal note.

If they don't share it with anybody, it is not a public record.

That is a personal document.

Done on county staff time.

I just the public is gonna fall out of their chair when they watch this.

Well that that if a county employee that performs a financial risk analysis over their own taxes on county time on county computer, that they are ineligible to share that because it's an alleged personal note.

I am telling you what the public records law says, and everybody everybody in this world that is here that works for the government has personal documents that they work on that do not go to anybody else, whether it's on a computer or whether or not it's handwritten that is deemed a personal note.

That personal note under the public records law is not considered a public record under the definition of the public records provisions in 119.

That that does not have to be part uh made public as part of a public records request.

The second that document, whether or not it's something I'm drafting, or it's something that that is handwritten, is shared with another person at that point in time, it falls within the definition of a public records.

Well, I want that's the distinction under the public records law.

I want I want transparency, and I'm not making a public records request.

I'm gonna bring a motion for this board right now for the public to have transparency and at least have some minuscule of understanding of what's going on behind the scenes on a deal that seems to have moved way beyond the scope that we originally approved.

And if this board doesn't want to allow the public to see how we're attempting to spend their money, then shame on us.

So I motion to compel county staff, the county attorney's office, Tampa Sports Authority, and their attorney, whom I've been led to believe does have a draft document to release draft documents created by staff during regular normal race business hours on county laptops or electronic devices concerning the Tampa Bay raised deal by the end of this week, close of business Friday.

This is to ensure at least a minuscule amount of public transparency and what could be the single largest taxpayer burden item in the history of Hillsborough County.

That is my motion with a second for discussion.

Okay, before I call on Commissioner Cohen, uh Julia, would you comment on on the motion?

I know you've said there are no documents.

I know you've said whatever notes have been taken aren't subject to public records law.

I think that's quite clear to everyone sitting in this room.

How is that different?

Or what is your understanding of the motion and how that conflicts with what you've already stated?

What I understand the motion to include is all personal notes, which are defined in Florida statute, which is I did not use the word personal notes.

I apologize, then let me let me restate that with the understanding of what I what I heard said.

Well then I I I was under the understanding that he was also requesting as part of his motion personal notes.

It's uh uh what I hear Commissioner Wassel saying is that he has now, I guess, revised what he's asking for to not include quote personal notes, but uh but to include financial analysis that has been done.

And please, Commissioner, if I'm not understanding this, please let me know that would include any financial documents that have been created within the the staff level of Hillsborough County and the TSA, which of course is a separate agency, um, and uh of any other drafts or other documents in that regard.

That's what I'm hearing you ask for.

So personal notes are not included.

That is what I'm hearing is that personal notes under the public records law would not be included, but any financial information which is not in the category of a personal note would be.

Is that a am I correctly stating that?

That I'm I understand I'm correctly stating that.

To the best of your knowledge, are there any documents that exist to that?

I am uh as of this moment, I am not aware that those documents exist that are outside any com uh or within the bounds of Commissioner Rostel's motion.

Okay, uh Bonnie, what's are there any documents that fall under what comes in?

There may be some documents that we have created that did analyze various revenue sources that nothing has been agreed to necessarily discussed with um the raise.

This is very awkward to be negotiating a deal of this magnitude in the public, but um we're not gonna do that.

Yeah.

Okay.

Uh Commissioner Cohen.

Thank you.

Um let me begin by reminding everyone that at least to my recollection, what we all unanimously voted on was to allow our staff to negotiate something that we could consider.

And when you're in the process of trying to put together something like this, I would assume that a lot of different ideas get bannered about.

And people have to feel free to be creative and to express ideas that might ultimately get discarded, but need to be fleshed out as part of the whole creative process that one goes through when they're in this type of negotiation.

I think it would be very irresponsible of us to break open this information before they have come to a conclusion of the negotiations.

Now I recognize, I think we all recognize there's huge public interest in this matter.

People want to know what we're considering.

And because of this constant speculation in the press, which is being fed by people on all sides of this equation, constantly speculating about when we're going to vote on this, there's but an impression put out there that somehow something's gonna get released in the dead of night, and we're gonna rush it to a vote here before anyone's had a chance to understand it or ask any questions about it.

So my view is that what we ought to do is give the public some assurance of the process that we are going to go through once there is something to actually talk about.

It's my view, and I would I would even go so far as to make a substitute motion to this effect, that as soon as there is actually some formulation of agreement on how to move forward, we schedule a workshop, not a vote, a workshop where everything can be laid out in front of the public, it can be broadcast on television and simulcast on the web.

And all seven of us would have the opportunity to ask questions about it in public, to ask questions to validate the underlying reasoning for the different assumptions that are put out there, and then as a board, the seven of us could decide how we want to move forward.

I would suggest that the way that we handled the CDBG discussion is a good is a good indication of the proper way to move forward.

We had community meetings in each county commission district, we had ample opportunities for people to comment here and give us their views, and each of us had the time to ask questions, develop arguments, and determine whether or not we wanted to see things done differently than the way that they were being proposed.

If the public knew that we were going to do that and they had our assurance that we were gonna follow a transparent process, there's absolutely no reason to interrupt what our staff is doing before it's done.

So my motion is that within a short period of time of some agreement being reached with the rays, we schedule a workshop.

We could schedule it concurrent to one of our regular meetings.

Today's the first of the month, we're gonna be meeting almost continuously over the next three weeks.

We could have a full presentation, ask questions about it, and then decide how to move forward uh in terms of public engagement and what would be an appropriate timeline for coming to a decision.

So that's my motion.

Second.

Got a substitute motion by Commissioner Cohen, second by Commissioner Myers.

I just want to point out one thing.

Um I'll likely support the substitute motion, and that may require setting a special workshop, so we have to work around calendars because it's my understanding that there's a sensitivity issue on time.

We may not have the luxury of you know dragging it out months and months and months, but workshop totally fine with that.

Uh Commissioner Bowles.

I appreciate what your substitute motion does, Harry, and I agree, much like I've agreed for open and transparency on removing the ordinance, the hope ordinance, for example, talking about indigent health care tax, these things, being able to talk about that in the open is certainly uh what we need to do and uh when it's appropriate to do so.

Having worked for the county for many years, having again I've heard a lot about fire stations, and there's there's more to it than just building fire stations.

We can build lots of fire stations, but we can't operate them because there's no people to put in them.

CIT does not put people in fire stations.

You gotta have operational cost of support that, and that comes from economic booms, uh whether it's through Advilum or uh other methods.

Um but beyond that, having worked for the county for 29 years and having been a part of a labor union that was heavily involved in negotiations with the county for many of those years from 1998 up until 2024, there was always something that was referred to as executive work product, and that when we were in negotiations with uh the county, the I say when we when I was a firefighter back then, there was something that we could never get hold of, and that was a work product.

So does personal notes aside, is some of the things that we're asking for covered under work product, and if that is the case, and if we are not in a traditional negotiation with the rays because this kind of working in this gray realm we're in right now, does that fall within that?

Because as my fellow colleagues here sitting at the day, it's none of us have gotten anything.

We're being pushed up against this deadline that's not our deadline, it's somebody else's deadline.

And the fact that you know we're trying to not lose the raise, it's not Tampa's or Hillsburg counties to lose, it's St.

Pete's to keep.

That's obviously not gonna happen.

But that being this case, where does that place us if we're releasing executive work product that may, and I'm calling it that because that's what I've heard it referred to in the past in my uh experience.

Does that place us at a disadvantage?

I'm gonna take that in a couple little pieces.

One, it's my understanding and recollection that there is provisions in both Central and Public Records Law that relate to um uh union negotiations that's separate and apart from other provisions of the public records law.

In terms of work product, uh I have to separate that out from uh an attorney work product, which is a different animal under Florida Bar rules than executive work product.

And and and again, if it's a personal note, there is that provision in the Florida Public Records Law.

If it becomes something that you're trading back and forth, even if it's deemed invecutive work product, does make it challenging that that would not be as part of the public records law disclosable.

All of these pieces and what Bonnie's saying, this is an incredibly complicated negotiation and deal.

It's it's probably one of the most complicated ones that we're gonna ever see in this in this realm.

Um there may be others, but this is this is among the more complicated, and we are are in essence doing it in in the best way we can in order to preserve our opportunity to negotiate for the best.

And and obviously, transparency is incredibly important to all of you all.

It's important to all of us because this is part of our our our our community as well, but we have to operate in line with what the what these laws say, and in a way that we can also be be forthright in our negotiations.

So it is we're in a challenging situation, it is something that we're we're navigating in the best of our ability, but uh not in a way that we're trying in any way, shape, or form to to not be as transparent as we possibly can be.

So just hearing that, so we can provide that document.

If if let's just use Kevin, we were picking on Kevin, and we love Kevin by the way.

Uh, that if Kevin has been working on spreadsheets and he happened to talk to his boss, Tom, about it, that wouldn't necessarily invoke the ability for it to be released because it's a work product, but he hasn't shared it with Tom, he just talked about it with Tom.

But if Tom was able to walk by and he looked at it and was, hey, that looks like a good number, now that activates the release.

Under the Florida Public Records Law, the definition of public record is a document that has been shared.

So we have to rely on everybody's word that nothing absolutely has been shared by any realm of means.

I can only tell you what the fellow Florida Public Records Law says.

I'm not gonna get into a discussion point as to whether or not that that's fully fully complied with or not.

Now, I well, let me say it another way because that sounded as if I know I know I I have advised everybody what the Florida public records law says, and they're aware of it.

Yeah, no, I understand that.

I'm not trying to say that you're saying anything nefarious or anything, but just sounds a little pokey to me.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

All right, Commissioner What?

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Oh, goodness.

Um, especially in a project of this magnitude.

I think that's been said multiple times in the last um few minutes.

But at the same time, there's a necessary balance between transparency and the county's ability to be able to negotiate responsibly and effectively on behalf of the taxpayers.

So I think where I'm concerned, and I feel like we've gotten a little bit into the weeds on what can be released and what can't be released, and sort of need to just pick our heads up and talk about what we actually voted on, and that was to allow our county administrator and her very competent team.

I think it was Gwen that had quite a long comment on how competent you were and how much we trusted you to negotiate on our behalf.

I don't know about the rest of you all, but I have a pretty full calendar and can't spend the amount of hours, countless hours that they have spent with the Rays negotiating this.

We had to transfer that trust to the team.

I, yes, like all of you have been reached out by the press, by members of my community, have been beat up for a decision.

Decisions are easy when we have all the information.

We do not have all of the information yet because there is no final work product to be handed over to us, which was the directive to Bonnie.

So I guess that's where I'm sort of confused that we're getting into the weeds and all of these things.

I do not think anything should be released.

I actually have entered into negotiations many times for businesses over the years, and I promise you that people do not want to show their hand.

We have to let the process play out so that they can each come to their terms.

I it's my understanding that those negotiations were being worked on as early as yesterday.

And as far as a timeline, Commissioner Bowles, I haven't been given any timeline.

I've made it crystal clear.

If I don't have enough time to review the information and to be sure that the public can actually accurately review that information as well.

That's why I'll be supporting uh Commissioner Cohen's secondary motion, is because we do want to be transparent, but I will not be backed against a timeline either.

So if you've been given a timeline, I'd like to know what that is because I have not been to this point.

Um so those are my comments for now.

I'll probably come back, but I just feel like we're getting in the weeds on what should be released when I don't think anything should be released.

The motion that we made back in whatever the date was was to let Bonnie negotiate on our behalf.

All right, Commissioner Wolstool and Commissioner Myers, and I'm gonna comment, then we need to keep moving.

Thank you.

I'm I'm glad that the previous motion continued to be brought up, so I will bring some clarity.

Specifically, Bonnie, this board authorized you to 3B future revenue from CIT that exceeds the initial estimated rate, reallocated sports facility dollars or unallocated dollars.

Are we still negotiating off of this future revenue from CIT, or are we now negotiating off of the base CIT models below the future CIT amount?

That their their allegations and and and just for the media and everybody else, the records in question are there, they have been shared, they should be made available to the public immediately, and I will testify under oath that they are have been shared among county staff.

Um I'm reading from the agenda item.

The foregoing summary of a ballpark financing framework is not intended to be comprehensive or final.

However, this conceptual framework could form a basis for possible future negotiations for a term sheet.

So I take that as good.

This is um any and all, and this of course has to come back to the board for further consideration, approval, and analysis.

So then you're confirming that you are no longer negotiating off of the future revenue from CIT that this board has been led to believe was the only amount of CIT that was being negotiated.

We are considering any and all creative revenue sources.

The document should be released immediately.

They're there.

Commissioner Cohen, what I would say, um, while I appreciate it, you should make it a public hearing, not a workshop, because workshops are what got us into this conundrum um dealing with this referendum right now from in 2024, anyways, because the county attorney's office took some of our advice, which was our intentional remover of the community stadium, but didn't add in some of the other stuff and it created delays.

It should be a public hearing at least one time the public should be able to voice their concerns, and we do not take public comment, nor do we make votes at workshops, and that's why I think it should be a public hearing and not a workshop.

All right, Commissioner Myers, and I'm gonna make some comments quickly.

Um I want to have a workshop first where we can ask questions and do the analysis.

I absolutely expect that that will lead us to set public hearings.

I am not in any way saying that we shouldn't take public comment on this.

But the whole point of a workshop is not only do we not take comment, but we don't vote.

So the only purpose would be to put the information out there and forge a path.

That's it.

But you heard him there's a forced timeline, and that timeline is the 15th.

I'm not I'm not on any timeline, Commissioner Myers.

Other than my key moving here.

Commissioner Myers.

Uh Commissioner Miller, I echo all your comments.

I'm gonna call for the vote, Mr.

Chair.

Okay.

I got a lot of things I want to say, but I guess I can't say them.

So we got a motion on the substitute motion by uh Commissioner Cohen on a workshop second by um Commissioner Myers.

Uh please record your vote.

Substitute motion schedule workshop motion carries two to four.

Commissioners bulls and we'll still voted no.

Okay.

To be can continued.

Next item.

The next item, and Commissioner Russell, your item, item F5 regarding the Mirror Bay community.

Commissioner Woolston.

Um colleagues.

I'm not sure whom of you have um heard about this issue.

I've actually delved way into the weeds on this.

The board has a policy that's more of a courtesy when we start or believe are going to use an exhaustive amount of county's resources, and staff has been, and I try to adhere to that, and staff has been great.

Um, but honestly, after tons months of back and forth reading documents back to 1961, Mr.

Cornley was able to pull up some um archives basically and blow off the dust.

Even I'm left with serious questions about some of the vacations and road access.

It's a really old planned CDD.

Um, it had an adjacent golf course that went bankrupt, and it the ownerships has exchanged.

Now part of the CDD is going to have their pre-planned and still platted and approved gated community.

The gate is just not there, and they don't know why they bought all their homes with the promise of this gate, and now there's going to be an entire nother community behind them that is going to have a gate, but that's not part of the CDD, but their CDD bonding is what was paid evidently um used to pay for their road.

It's very confusing.

And I believe that at this point I just need the experts to communicate directly to the community and say, hey, we did find some errors or some question marks, or no, this is what happened and what happened was legal, and then that both parties um can be satisfied at this point because it is extensive.

Um so let me just um find where I'm at and I will make my motion.

I motion to direct the county staff and the county attorney's office to work with the Mirror Bay Community CDD on determining lingering issues concerning the history of plating and the vacation of property revolving around the Signet Drive in Marisol Point.

After the research is concluded, please provide any alternative remediations to ensuring continuity of Marisol Point within the approved CDD Mira Bay community.

There's extensive history and documents provided for commissioners that would like to read up on the confusion that has transpired.

That is my motion.

Second.

Got a motion, Commissioner Wolstels and Commissioner Miller.

Don't see anyone in the queue.

Please record your vote.

F five.

Motion carries six to zero.

Next item.

Thank you.

Uh the next item is Commissioner Myers item F six regarding the CIT renewal ballot language.

Commissioner Myers.

Thank you.

Um April 2024, two years ago, we discussed and voted to renew the community investment tax known as a CIT for a ballot referendum in November 2024.

And I want to read the ballot language.

Uh, this is directly from my supervisor of election office, and the ballot language reads Shia Hillsburg County renewed the existing local government infrastructure surtext, known locally as the community investment half cent sales tax commencing December 1, 2026 through December 31st, 2041, to be shared with the municipalities and the school board to fund infrastructure for transportation and public works, public safety, public facilities, public utilities, and public schools.

That is the ballot language.

We all know we have received, I want to say, quote jokingly, millions of emails here lately, just too many emails where some of our constituents are confused of what the ballot language says.

And we all know it passed in 2024.

And so my um my motion is to ask the county attorney's office to provide a legal comments on the actual motion that was approved by the voters.

So this is not to ask for an appeal, all of this other stuff we have been hearing.

It is not that.

So that's that's that's my motion.

Okay, we've got a motion by Commissioner Myers, seconded by Commissioner Cohen.

Uh Commissioner, do you have anything else?

I'd just like to hear from um county attorney Julia.

I'm sorry, Julia, Ms.

Mandale.

Thank you.

That's I'm Julia.

It's fine.

I that's my name.

Um I I understand your motion.

Um I I want to just reiterate, I of course was not the county attorney at the time, nor was I even at the county attorney's office at the time.

I will work to to get an opinion, but I I want to just note for the record, I'm inclined to get an outside legal opinion given all of the issues that have come up.

And since I was not here, um, and I I I think getting some some um outside uh opinion on this may be valuable.

So that would be my intent in response to this motion.

I want to make that clear for the record.

Mr.

Yep.

Can we have that?

You think we can get that back uh within two weeks for our next meeting?

I don't think that's gonna be any.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Willstrom.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I was fully prepared to engage in debate today, including pulling every historical case in Florida law where they have upheld the very clear state law of what is considered voter intent.

Are you aware of what voter intent is, Ms.

Mandel?

In the legal context that you're describing, I would need to look at the documents that you that you've pulled and would be happy to review those.

Okay.

Um voter intent, colleagues, is when the courts take into consideration and have held repeatedly that the interpretation of voter-approved measures, including referendums and taxes, must focus on the plain language of the ballot and the intent communicated to the voters at the time of the vote.

This prevents government from stretching approval beyond what was fairly represented.

That's the Florida Supreme Court's examinations.

There's many of these, askew versus Firestone, Evans versus Firestone, advisory opinions of the attorney general, re-save our Everglades, fine versus Firestone, Wadham's versus the Board of County Commissioners of Sarasota County.

This is a very important one in 1990, where the courts held that the voters shall not be misled and must have an opportunity to know the proposition on which he or she is voting.

This case is often cited for the principle that ballot language must be fair and not deceptive.

Um, since we're not going into debate today, Ms.

Mandel, I had a video that I stayed up late compiling that was prepared to be played by HTV, but rather I will forward it to your office so that they can get fully up to speed on the numerous times that we clearly communicated that we intentionally removed the word community stadium so we would specifically not use the CIT for new professional sports teams.

Specifically, I am not going to argue that a professional sports team is eligible under the word community stadium under Florida State's law for CIT funding.

What I will be arguing extensively is that there are only four Florida State statutes that define legally the word public facility.

None of these court rulings in case law specifically create a general definition of the word public facility.

They simply said that since there was a public purpose and that it was in a special taxing district, that it was eligible for the CIT bonding.

So I know that there's going to be points of disagreement on that, but I want to be clear, it's not if we're going to be sued on this, it's when we get sued on this if we use CIT for a new professional sports stadium.

It's not if we're going to be sued on this, it's when we get sued on this if we use CIT for a new professional sports stadium.

So I will get you that copy of that video that I made up, and I appreciate and I look forward to hearing that independent evaluation.

Okay.

Um a second.

Only really comment I want to make, and I don't I actually agree with Commissioner Willston will absolutely be legally challenged.

Um I've learned in my time here that the opposition will stop at nothing to prevent uh certain issues.

So I I expect that.

I'd just like to point out one thing again from experience.

The app because it's talking about voter intent.

The average person, not gonna say every single person, but the average person who opposes this issue, primarily do so because they philosophically believe that taxpayers should not subsidize billionaire sports owners.

I mean, Commissioner Willstill has said that or something to that effect millions of times.

And that's an honest and you know, can't argue with that.

They do not distinguish between hundreds of millions of dollars for billionaire owners for renovations and hundreds of millionaire dollars for new construction, even when contractually obligated.

And why I say that is from experience.

When we had the last Raymond James renovation agreement, we were contractually obligated to do so.

And you know what?

The opponents would stop at nothing to prevent that.

Emails, personal threats.

You will get primaried, you'll be taken out next election.

If that hasn't started now, it will start and it will intensify and it'll get worse.

We even got direct mail sent to us.

Direct mail, haven't seen that one yet.

We were contractually obligated.

So I'm just pointing out there is intent, not going to disagree with that.

The average person, they disagree with using taxpayer dollars for stadium construction for billionaire owners.

And Commissioner Wallstall stated again similar comments.

So that's just the way they believe.

So just wanted to say there's a I believe there's a difference.

Not every person that voted, but the average person, they just oppose that philosophically.

That's a core belief of theirs.

Okay.

We got a motion and a second.

Uh, please record your vote.

Motion carries five to one.

Commissioner Wolstall voted no.

Okay.

Thanks, Dodd.

The next item is item F7.

Commissioner Miller, this is your item regarding the 2026 Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award.

Commissioner Miller.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I'm honored to continue uh the tradition of the Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award started by the former Commissioner of District 4, uh Stacy White.

This award honors an individual or a group who exemplifies dedication to preserving the county's natural resources.

Um my formal motion is to request the board's approval of the ELAP subcommittee selection for the 2026 Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award.

The subcommittee also requests that the presentation of this award take place at the April 15th, 2026 BOCC meeting scheduled for 9 a.m.

Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Willstall, please accord your vote.

Motion carries six to zero.

Bonnie, next question.

Thank you.

The next item is a staff report.

This is item G1.

This is to receive a report regarding options for implementation of Senate Bill 1730, which is yes in God's backyard.

Adam Gormley will present this item.

Morning, Adam.

Morning, Mr.

Chair, good morning, Commissioners Adam Gormley, Hillsburg County Development Services.

Uh yes, this report is uh one that was requested by uh Commissioner Bowles at the February 4th, 2026 meeting, uh regular BOCC meeting, and this is options on how to implement uh yes in God's backyard, which I'll refer to as Yigby.

Uh Yigby is a portion of the Live Local Act uh that's codified in section 1250 point um sorry point zero one zero five five Florida statutes.

Uh there are two main subsections that I'll talk about today.

Um is the subsection six.

Uh this differs from the live local projects and live local provision that the board has seen, and we provide monthly reports on.

Uh that what will refer to that as the preemptive Live Local Act.

Uh that is a uh that statute allows uh pro developers, sorry, property owners to um develop multifamily affordable housing on property zoned for um multi uh commercial, industrial, or mixed use development uh without any role by the Board of County Commissioners or any approval by the Board of County Commissioners, and the development parameters are set forth in the statute.

Yigby, in contrast, is something that's enabled by the Live Local Act, and this is subsection six of the staff statute I referenced.

This allows the board to approve projects that are providing at least 10% affordable housing at 120% AMI on properties owned by religious institutions with a public house of worship or a contiguous parcel to a religious institution owned property with a house of worship.

I'll briefly go over the preemptive Live Local Act, just a little refresher for the board.

This is one that is required to be administratively approved at the staff level.

It applies to multifamily units.

That does deal with religious institutions.

This is distinct from Yig B.

This is under the preemptive portion.

This would allow the preemptive Live Local Act to be used for property owned by a religious institution if that property is greater than three acres in size and have a contained public house house of public worship for at least 10 years.

The preemptive live local prescribes that density would be the highest allowed in unincorporated county, provides for height to be what's permitted within a mile generally within a mile of the subject site or three stories.

There are some distinguishing elements if it's surrounded by single family development.

And the development standards would defer to the multifamily development standards in the local, in this case, land development code.

Again, the YIGB in contrast is a project that is a something that the board would approve.

There are some minimum standards prescribed by state law, and the board does have discretion to fill in those elements that are not covered by state law, and I'll go over that in this presentation.

To be the Yigby statute, in addition to property owned by religious institutions, does apply to property zoned for commercial or industrial use.

For this presentation, I'm focusing on the on the Yigby portion of that, which I failed to mention was added in 2025.

It was an add on to the permissive statute.

Needs to be property that's owned by a religious institution, contains a house of public worship, and at least 10% of the units be affordable to households below 120% of the area median income.

So it does leave some questions or or some options for the board if so desired to implement on how the Yig B process would work.

The first is how the approval process would work.

So the preemptive Live Local Act is simply an administrative boxes are checked, it goes straight to permitting, and it's an administrative review.

There's some options here for how the board could structure that program if so desired.

One of which would be to mirror the current zoning process.

That would be a public hearing in front of the zoning hearing master, providing uh staff comments, staff input, staff reports from development services and reviewing agencies.

Zoning hearing master would hold the public hearing, make a recommendation to the board.

Board could consider that at the uh at a publicly public meeting, such as land use meeting.

Another option would be uh one that does not include the zoning hearing master.

This would make the process a little bit shorter, but it would remove that uh independent zoning hearing master recommendation, and that would be a public hearing directly before the board.

Um the last option I I included this because technically the statute would allow it would be to have them come directly to the board for approval without uh public input or public hearing.

Um including that as a technical option is not something I would recommend or advocate for generally the public process, public input is important to these uh decision making processes.

I'll run through, Mr.

Chair, if it's okay.

These these slides, it's a little bit of information to unpack, but um I'll try to move through them quickly and then be available for questions if that's acceptable.

Um the the other element that is not covered is what development standards would apply, what density, what height, what setbacks, the design of the project.

Uh one option for the board to consider is to mirror the the planned development zoning process that we have today, and that allows flexibility in the design, um uh the the unit types, whether it's single family townhomes, triplex quads, um, multifamily apartments, uh, and that's something that could be evaluated uh in the context of the surrounding area.

We might have one housing type or density that's appropriate in one area and not in the other.

So uh that would I offer first and foremost that is a a way to provide the most flexibility, but also have input and an analysis of that proposal um relative to the area where it's proposed.

Uh other options would be to pre-establish some limits on density or housing type uh types, similar to what the preemptive live local act does.

Um that is a um might one size in that approach you might have a one-size fits all, but um might run into some areas where um you know it might take a little more analysis.

Uh and lastly, in terms of development standards, um, if uh the board desires to have some set development standards rather than a flexible option, um adherence to land development code development standards that would apply to similar development of a similar intensity could be something to be considered.

Uh the um next element I'll deal with is the affordability aspects.

Uh and just uh the slide is just giving some context of something that the county has already adopted, and that's an affordable housing density bonus.

This is something in the comprehensive plan that allows projects to achieve a higher density than their future land use category uh would allow.

If they're providing 20% of the units to be affordable for 30 years, that affordability level is that half the units have to be affordable at 60 percent of the uh area MI, and the other remaining units would be affordable at 100%.

So that's just context of what county does currently have.

Um, in terms of the affordability percentage, the minimum required by state law is 10%.

Uh anything below that wouldn't wouldn't qualify under the Yigby statute.

Um, some some other options to consider in terms of the percentage.

Again, we have the 20% for the affordable housing density bonus, which is a lower number than the preemptive uh live local act, which is uh which is 40 percent of the units.

However, the affordability level under the county's bonus is is lower at that 60 and 100 percent AMI than the 120 percent under the preemptive live local act.

Um the uh affordability levels, just touching on um the the maximum that it can go under to be compliant with the statute is uh up to but not equal to 120 percent of the area median income.

Um, and the board has the discretion to set that different uh at a different level or different levels if there was going to be a tiered uh system.

Um last uh item I'll mention is the affordability duration.

The statute does not prescribe any level of time, any time period which within which the units need to be affordable.

Um that could be read as for the life of the development.

However, we do have a couple examples, both the county's affordable housing density bonus and the live local preemptive act require affordability for 30 years, which is a generally reasonable life's lifespan for uh for a project.

Um with that I will end the presentation, be available for any questions.

I know there's a lot of information to to unpack here.

Um so available to assist.

Thank you for your presentation.

We appreciate it very much.

Uh Commissioner Walls.

Thank you.

Uh my goal in bringing this forward was that we're looking for uh options that we can kind of direct and that also work in conjunction with our developers out there rather than them using a trapdoor of the Live Local Act and coming in and kind of forcing things and forcing our hands, which is why we have now filed suit against the state for that.

It's finding ways that we could work collaboratively with developers and find opportunities out there.

They gave us this.

Um, there's also another section um uh discretionary affordable housing uh under that same statute.

Uh somewhere buried in there as well.

Um, it's not necessarily just about uh the yigby component, but it has that same commercial industrial element that we can do.

Uh and again, I wanted to um kind of bring this forward to work with our partners out there.

We've heard for years in uh here in the last couple years where we've had religious institutions and houses of worship coming here asking for our support in so getting our homeless and our uh housing disadvantaged out there a way to get a home.

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

It provides almost all the uh the policy if it's three acres or under um the ability to to do what we could do.

Uh we have control of that.

Uh it provides uh I think a way of doing that.

My office has worked with uh the Florida Housing Coalition and GIS on creating a map.

There's hundreds, I think of near over a thousand acres of available land here in Hillsborough County alone that this may qualify for that.

Um, and ultimately, you know, the idea is that can we bring something for can we consider it?

Is there a way maybe uh I'm happy to bring forward now that you guys have seen everything uh that has come forward that bringing an option to the board that would be palatable for us to consider at a future date with the policy, and I don't know if it's even a way to do a pilot project of sorts or something to that effect where we see how it works, if we like it, we can extend it, um, but not that we're uh our feet are held to the fire on this if it doesn't make sense.

So um I do appreciate it, uh Mr.

Gormley, and uh thank you for the time and effort.

And um at some point in the future, I'd like to kind of fold in that discretionary fold of the housing component as well, so that it's not just the yigby is important for me, but also if we have that other option that makes sense that again doesn't preempt us that we we consider that as well.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Uh Commissioner Wolstell.

It'll be real brief.

Um I would just as you're going through this, Commissioner Bowles.

You know, the the affordable housing activists like to reference this thing called the Schinberg report, but if you review that, it actually shows that Hillsborough County demonstrates a pretty large surplus of like a hundred percent AMI and above.

And so I I don't want to continue to incentivize something that we already have an enormous surplus of.

So whenever you guys get down into those read weeds, just take them to consideration.

And again, this is just gonna open up more of a Pandora's box to introduce more unplanned for impacts in the communities.

Um, and I just I don't see how it's it's even manageable at this point, but I look forward to seeing the suggestions.

Commissioner Myers.

Thank you, Adam, for working on this.

Um, and I'm gonna move to uh recede the report.

My commissioner Myers and Commissioner Wolstall, please record your vote on G1 Commissioner Wolstall.

Motion carries six to zero.

Thank you.

Next item thank you.

The next item is item G4.

This is another staff report.

This is to receive a report on the historic mostly homestead renovation preservation project.

And John Muller is here to present this item.

Good morning, Chair, good morning, commissioners.

Uh go ahead, HTV, please put the uh slide up.

Uh for the record, John Mueller, director of facilities management and real estate services.

Today's staff report is the analysis of the proposal that the nonprofit Timberly Trust submitted for the use of the remaining CIP funds as directed by the BOCC at the December 17th meeting.

Specifically, they were to provide a proposal on capital renovations and improvements with a focus on supporting public visitation alignment with the restrictive covenants and financial planning for any improvement and ongoing costs.

In addition, and as required with any capital funding proposal for nonprofits, we conducted a financial review of their ability to meet ongoing cost commitments uh and those that would be created.

So there's a lot on these slides, and I'm not going to cover it in detail as much of it as a recap, and this is literally the third presentation in about three and a half months.

But I did want to put the information in there as context to the plan and financial review memo, which were included in the backup.

So the bottom line consideration, and I will repeat this at again at the end, is that based on our analysis, we are not suggesting any financial action today, or that additional funds remaining in the CA CIP put in any agreement today.

So the trust was apportioned a large CIP, uh, as we know, over 1.6 million.

The funds are conditional, meaning they're in the CIP, but only until the BOCC approves a separate funding agreement which addresses the scope and the use.

So Timberly Trust had been funded approximately 525 K from the County over eight years since that CIP was created.

A large chunk remains because it was set aside for a community center, which all parties agree is infeasible.

So included today, the trust has also has agreements.

I'll mention that we just approved in February to spend 524 K of funding, state and county.

We approved our matching share to that.

And they have to complete that in the next two years, February of 28.

So I'm going to say again, right now, they have over a half a million dollars authorized work to begin and complete.

So just right here, the trust and their proposal submitted a request for an additional 700K of funding.

About 250K of that, we determined it was really preservation work to restore the site, improve the visitor experience.

And then there was another 400 to 500K or so for an interpretive center and archive.

Their repo proposal would require them, their words, their plan to spend 1.2 million dollars in a four-year period.

So we conducted our financial review, and I'll point out that the key finding here is in the sixth bullet.

The plan was considered aggressive, considering that they have 524K of public funding yet to complete.

They put personal commitments, and they really did make a good faith effort, but at this point supporting details, we're all not there.

It is correct.

They have no long-term debt, and they did secure that 125K line of credit, and that's great.

But they really they have minimal cash flow at present at present.

And the proposal includes a five-fold increase in revenues that really needed more basis for us to determine.

So as I indicated at the beginning, based on our analysis, we are not suggesting any financial action today or that any of the current funds within the CIP be released to the trust today.

We're simply noting that of the 700K additional spending proposed by the trust, there is some future merit that we see in about 250,000 of that, because that would really complete preservation work and improve the visitor experience.

However, it's it has been a long time, eight years, and the trust needs to show progress in operational financial stability and on time completion of the funds they have today.

It's not the first time they've heard this.

I've had a lot of meetings with them with Mark.

Um and they realize that.

I'll note also that the CIP funding is not the only source for Timberloo Trust to complete some of the items on here if they wanted to.

I'll use the words get a head start on it.

The trust is still a very eligible site for other grant programs from the state and even the county's own historical challenge grant program.

But those are competitive based and they require matching funds.

So they do have other methods should they want to.

But again, what we're stating here again is we're not asking you to take an action today.

We're sure we simply want to let you know we looked at their proposal, good faith effort, analyzed it, aggressive at this point.

We would recommend that anything in the future that come back only come back after they have completed what they have in their hands today in the agreed upon two-year period, and that they match what they stated in their plan and show positive demonstrate positive growth in revenue, income, and attendance growth.

Thank you.

Thanks, John.

Appreciate the presentation.

Commissioner Myers.

Thank you.

First, I have two motions.

The first one is to recede the report, and thank you, John, for disinformation.

Second.

Motion by Commissioner Myers and Commissioner Wilson to uh receive the report.

Please record your vote.

Motion carries six to zero.

Commissioner Myers.

And my second motion is to make sure that the deliverables are met about a 20 by February uh 18, 2028, because I would like to see that um Timberly Trust receive additional dollars, but they have to meet their deliverables at that time.

You know, okay.

So I don't want to put in a dollar amount, but I would say have them to come back after they met their deliverables in 2028.

Uh correct, Commissioner.

And if I may, we we will be, of course, monitoring that through the reimbursement process of their current agreement.

Okay, didn't I won't make it a motion then?

So no motion dated.

No, no motion.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Thank you all.

Bonnie, next item.

Thank you.

Um we have two items that were pulled from consent for discussion or questions, but by Commissioner Wastel.

The first one is item A6, and Jim Hudak is here if there are questions.

If there are questions, this is regarding the Suncoast Greenway Trail Public Art Project and the amount of 125,000.

Commissioner Woolstrom.

Thanks.

This should be real easy, Commissioners.

I if you have your agendas in front of you and you can glance three items below A6 at A9.

We're about to pay 125,000 of property taxes to somebody that wrecked on their scooter on one of our sidewalks.

And I've made these complaints at nauseum, but it's the point that I believe that we've we've missed the plot.

Um I understand even Commissioner Cohen has convinced me that maybe some more investments into preserving the cultural things like the arts is probably needed, even though I've never looked at a piece of art in my life and said, wow, that's incredible.

But we're spending 125,000 of proper of a 15-foot fiberglass statue on a trail.

And instead of repairing and shifting, if we needed to shift these from countywide to unincorporated even more than we've been doing to further catch up the massive backlog.

We're we're chasing our tells here, and I don't believe that we're prioritizing our funds in an appropriate manner.

It's I'm sure the artist is great, he's Turkish and Greek.

I looked him up, but it's just that we have citizens getting severely injured first, which we could have avoided if we were not spending property taxes on things like this, and we were spending it on catching up the backlog.

So I don't know if is this part of the Stacy White roundabout program or no.

Which I had to apologize to someone.

I had said repeatedly that was must have been a Commissioner Cohen item, and then I found out it was um Commissioner White, and then people said they didn't believe me.

So uh good morning, Commissioners.

Jim Hudot, Capital Programs Department.

Uh Commissioner, this is not part of the roundabout.

This this particular piece of art is not going in a roundabout, it's going adjacent to a trail.

So technically, my understanding is it wouldn't fall within the policy round about art.

I don't mean to laugh, but this is property taxes, right?

That we're using to spend on this.

I'm I'm not gonna support it, and I I think Commissioner Bulls and maybe even Miller before either of you got here.

We tried to um reload at these and see if if if we should continue to spend this money on these ways, and I think that we should have another conversation because uh for me this is a lack of priority.

So I'll be voting no.

Thank you.

All right, what's the pleasure of the board?

Move to approve.

Motion Commissioner uh Myers, do you have a second?

I'll second it.

Thank Commissioner Miller.

Please record your vote.

Motion carries five to one.

Commissioner Wolstall voted no.

Next item.

And the next item is item A30, also pulled by Commissioner Wussel regarding the CDBGDR action plan.

Commissioner Woolstall.

Thank you.

I just caught it too late, or so I just couldn't have a basic conversation with you.

But there was some pretty gray language in there, Rob, that I wanted to just clarify for me.

Um, what it means for program design flexibility.

What do you mean by that?

I just when we get into the weeds of allowing more gray language, I want to understand it.

Certainly, Commissioner Robert Hendrickson Management Budget and CDB GR program lead.

Um just to recap on the 18th of February, we brought for you a single-family housing program and a bundled set of action plan amendments that at that time we also shared uh related to what you're referring to, Commissioner, around program flexibility to go back a little bit to set some context.

When we did our action plan, we were far from the experts were soon becoming around the needs to serve our community.

Um when uh BDO government services joined our team, um, they helped us reinterpret the contents in our action plan.

And uh collaboratively, what we decided was there were certain provisions we would like to be able to pursue.

Uh probably the most uh important one, Commissioner and board is the addition of what is it, a reimbursement program for homeowners.

A year and a half has transpired since the storms, our action plan was too restrictive prior to these amendments being proposed and eventually approved by HUD.

So that was one piece of design flexibility.

Another was to allow for expanding income eligibility if demand for our 80 percent AMI population uh was met or started to dwindle over time, we could help more people in the community by virtue of that change.

And there were a range of other um paragraphs and language to really strengthen strengthen our um our program parameters and how we want to go forward, like uh language around Florida building code adherence.

I do have BDO here who can speak far more uh about this than I can, but those are some examples.

I'll tell you my concerns.

Um not to pull out bad baggage, but unfortun unfortunately, when we were originally doing this, there was a pretty significant oversight of what the line item approvals were for funding in relation to multifamily and single family.

I was told repeatedly something wasn't in there when in fact it it was in in the language that was put forward.

And so I what I want to make sure is that this isn't indiscriminately giving staff the ability to start shifting those big pots of money around without BOCC approval, right?

That's not what the flexibility means.

100% not that.

Okay.

But absolutely not.

It allows us within those amounts to have flexibility to design the program, distribute funds the appropriate way.

Cool.

I will move for approval.

Okay, a motion approve.

Commissioner Walsh will sign Commissioner Cohen.

Please record your vote.

8 30.

Thank you.

Motion carries six to zero.

Okay, Bonnie.

Thank you.

And now we just have future discussion items.

I have one.

Commissioner Miller.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, we continue to hear um consistent concerns from residents in east and south county regarding yard waste collection delays and reliability.

Um this has become predictable, recurring service gap, particularly during peak vegetation months.

Delays are leaving the residents with piles of yard debris for extended periods, um, impacting neighborhood appearance and quality of life.

For many of the residents, especially our seniors, they don't have equipment for self-hauling.

Um, so that's not a realistic oper uh option for them.

Residents are paying for a service and expect consistent reliable service year-round, not just during low volume periods.

Um, we understand that department and the contractor are working to catch up and have brought additional resources when necessary.

However, the current approach appears to be reactive rather than proactive, um, particularly during um high volume months.

Um if full solutions require time, and we should at a minimum have defined interim um steps before the next peak season.

This is about ensuring equitable reliable service delivery across the county.

Um we owe this to the residents both in transparency and a path forward, not just explanations of the problem, um, especially when we are considering and often raising the solid waste assessment cost.

Um my motion um is to direct staff to explore my item is to sorry, my item is to direct staff to explore and bring back options to improve yard waste collection reliability and to expand um disposal access to east and south county with a focus on both immediate and long-term solutions.

Okay, and I've also got one.

Um we we've received concerns from uh many residents of Sunset Manor and Lutz regarding significant infrastructure cost uh within their privately managed uh water system, and I'm requesting that water resources uh provide a full review at the May 6 BOCC meeting regarding uh fiscal impact, any uh potential grant or financing options and outline any potential next steps for board consideration.

Get that by I don't see anyone else, so we're adjourned.