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Record of Proceedings

Tampa Bay Water Budget Workshop and Regular Board Meeting - April 29, 2026

Hillsborough County Archive View Page — Wednesday, April 29, 2026
BodyHillsborough County, Florida
SessionHillsborough County Archive View Page
DateWednesday, April 29, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:55:10

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:15

Good morning, everyone.

0:16

Welcome to the budget workshop and regular board meeting of the Tampa Bay Water April 20th, 2026.

0:24

Um, can I let's see, this meeting was noticed in the Florida Administrative Register and on the Tampa Bay Water website.

0:32

The meeting is available for viewing through live streaming and a recording of the meeting will be posted on the agency's website.

0:38

And now our vice chair Waiteman will lead in the pledge.

0:52

One nation under Gone Indivisible Liberty and Justice.

0:58

Thank you.

0:58

You may be seated.

1:05

Yes.

1:06

Chair Hanowitz.

1:07

Here.

1:09

Present.

1:11

Here.

1:12

Commissioner Rakers?

1:13

Here.

1:14

Councilman Miranda.

1:15

Yeah.

1:15

Commissioner Oakley.

1:17

Here.

1:18

Here.

1:19

Commissioner Pete.

1:20

Here.

1:21

So we were originally going to start with a workshop, but we're going to accommodate.

1:25

We have some special guests here.

1:27

And so we're going to move items B2 Water Conservation Month Proclamation and B3, the community waterwise award, to the front.

1:37

So we have Amelia Brown, a demand management program manager here.

1:44

Good morning.

1:45

Good morning to you, Madam Chair and members of the board.

1:49

This item is an action item to declare April as Water Conservation Month.

1:56

So for the past 28 years, April has been recognized as Water Conservation Month throughout Florida.

2:03

This effort is coordinated by the Florida section of the American Waterworks Association, Florida's water management districts, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

2:13

And this recognition comes at a critical time as we're navigating a severe drought.

2:18

April is typically the driest month of the year, the temperatures are increasing, and water demands increase, which is largely driven by outdoor watering.

2:28

This year's theme of Water Conservation Month is related to rain shutoff devices, with our which are both required legally and also an essential tool for conserving water outdoors.

2:41

Water Conservation Month highlights how simple everyday actions like ensuring your rain sensor is working can make a meaningful difference in saving water.

2:51

And we've seen the impact that the Tampa Bay Water Community has had in conserving water before.

2:56

A couple years ago during the drought, the residents stepped up and saved water by adhering to watering restrictions and taking other simple actions.

3:06

Tampa Bay Water has proudly adopted this proclamation many times in the past alongside our member governments, and we continue to support efforts that encourage responsible water use across our region.

3:20

Therefore, staff recommends the adoption of the proclamation that April is water conservation month.

3:29

Move approval.

3:31

We have a motion and a second.

3:57

Passes unanimously.

3:59

Thank you.

4:01

Thank you.

4:01

Thank you.

4:02

May continue.

4:04

Thank you.

4:05

Um our next item is about recognizing the 2025 regional winner of the Community Waterwise Award Program.

4:15

And at the end, the board will be invited to take a photo with the winners who are in attendance today.

4:23

The Community Waterwise Award is a regional program that recognizes homeowners and businesses for their landscapes that save water while remaining attractive and functional.

4:34

This program has existed for decades and is coordinated by Tampa Bay Water and is done in partnership with the UF IFIS Florida Friendly Landscaping Programs in Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsboro, as well as staff from the member governments.

4:48

And this program recognizes excellence across these categories, retaining existing trees and vegetation, landscape design and plant selection, stormwater runoff prevention, efficient irrigation, of course, and aesthetic appeal.

5:04

Some of you may have seen the presentation of this award in recent months.

5:10

And the award is a handmade mosaic stone, which is made by a local artist, Heather Richardson, who is in attendance today from Safety Harbor.

5:20

Every year there are one or more winners per county and city.

5:24

And last year we introduced two additional types of awards for this program.

5:29

We launched the Conservation Commendation, which recognizes landscapes that excel in at least one of the categories listed in bullets, and then the best of the region award, which recognizes the best landscape among all the award winners throughout the three counties.

5:47

So these awards recognize members of our community who are making a difference, which is more important than ever during drought situations like now.

5:55

They've made a choice to positively impact the community and the environment, saving water every day.

6:03

Today we are pleased to present the 2025 Best of the Region Award to Michelle Burt and David Culp for their residential landscape here in Pinellas County.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████████████████████████████52%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████10%
Procedural███████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████7%
Public Health███4%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Public Engagement███3%
Environmental Protection███3%
Fiscal Sustainability██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Tampa Bay Water Budget Workshop and Regular Board Meeting - April 29, 2026

The Tampa Bay Water Board held a budget workshop and regular meeting on April 29, 2026, to discuss the proposed FY2027 operating budget, capital improvement program, ongoing drought conditions, and several action items including water treatment projects and contracts. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was approved unanimously with no items pulled.

Proclamations & Awards

  • The board unanimously declared April as Water Conservation Month, citing the severe drought and the importance of rain shutoff devices.
  • Presented the 2025 Best of the Region Community Waterwise Award to Michelle Burt and David Culp for their drought-tolerant, 77-variety landscape in Pinellas County. A photo was taken with the winners.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • David Ballard Geddis Jr. (Palm Harbor) criticized water management, alleging deliberate mismanagement, and opposed plans to inject reclaimed water into the aquifer and use reclaimed water as potable supply. He questioned the role of Walt Disney and government motives.
  • Mark Cloufo (Largo) called the water conservation awards a "joke," criticized the lack of pollinator-friendly plants in the awarded landscape, highlighted a record drought and climate change, and pointed to energy waste from the building's lights and vehicles.

Budget Workshop – Proposed FY2027 Operating & Capital Budget

  • CFO Christina Sacket presented the proposed budget, highlighting a uniform water rate of $2.66 per thousand gallons (up ~$0.02 from FY2026), a variable rate of $0.62 per thousand gallons, and projected demand of 212.84 million gallons per day (MGD). Total costs are $223.8 million, with $4 million drawn from rate stabilization funds to offset rate increases. Net revenue required from water sales is $206.6 million.
  • Key cost drivers: Variable costs (+$1.4M), personnel (+$1.1M) including four new positions (IT network engineer, one mechanical technician, two trainees), professional services (+$3.1M) largely due to demand management rebate funding ($1.64M), and debt service (41% of total costs). Three recent bond refundings saved $2.4M annually.
  • 10-year Capital Improvement Program: 91 projects totaling $1.697 billion. Future debt issuances expected $292M in 2026 and $301M in 2028, largely for the South Hillsborough Well Field and PFAS/TOC treatment projects.
  • Board Questions: Commissioner Rakers asked about performance-based merit (averaging ~2%), the technician trainee program (discussions with AMSkills ongoing), and bond interest rates (forecast ~5%). Commissioner Wastel requested a detailed breakdown of professional services and noted concerns about rising PFAS costs, but praised the lean staffing.

General Manager’s Report

  • Drought Update (Warren Hogg): The region remains in extreme drought under modified Phase 3 restrictions. March water deliveries were 15 MGD below forecast due to conservation. The consolidated well fields exceeded their 90 MGD permit limit (92.49 MGD in March); the 12-month average may approach 100 MGD. The reservoir is one-third full (~5.2 billion gallons) and managed to last until early July. A recent rain event harvested 300 million gallons from the Alafia River.
  • Legislative/Federal: SCADA improvement project ($1M) in House budget; surface water treatment plant expansion ($2M) in Senate proposal. No action on federal funding.
  • Other: Performance management audit recommendations to be presented in May. A board item in May for completing the remaining two desalination RO trains. Tampa Bay Water named a 2026 Top Workplace by Tampa Bay Times. Extensive media outreach on conservation. Board attended Earth Day with Girl Scouts.
  • Key Takeaways: Keep reservoir above 1.5 billion gallons by July; balance getting under 90 MGD permit limit by October with refilling reservoir. El Niño pattern expected, which may bring cooler, wetter winter.

Action Items (Unanimously Approved)

  1. Tampa Bay Waterwise Program – Cooperative Funding Agreement: Approved (motion/second) agreement with Southwest Florida Water Management District for up to $528,000 in reimbursement for program costs. The program aims to save 3.8 MGD by 2030; cumulative savings to date are 1.1 MGD.
  2. Water Quality Treatment Recommendations (PFAS and TOC): Approved the approach to design PFAS reduction treatment at three locations (surface water treatment plant, Brandon Urban Dispersed Wells sites 5 & 7) and TOC reduction at two well fields (Eldridge Wild, South Pasco), with estimated capital costs of $240M. Design will proceed with board contract approval at later stages. EPA compliance deadline is April 2029 but subject to litigation; construction will wait for regulatory certainty.
  3. Veolia Contract Amendment – Pilot Facility Design: Approved $1.83 million for design of interim and permanent pilot facilities for PFAS and TOC treatment at the surface water treatment plant, funded from PFAS litigation settlement funds.
  4. Morris Bridge Well Field Improvements – Construction Contract: Awarded contract to Southeast Drilling Services for $16.3 million (including allowance) to retire five wells, replace pumps/motors, and donate three well houses to Flatwoods Park. Savings achieved via value engineering and $1M EPA grant.
  5. Crossbar Ranch Well Field Transmission Main – Utility Conflict Resolution: Awarded contract to JDS Pipe Incorporated for $6.2 million to relocate a 60-inch main due to FDOT road widening. FDOT will reimburse ~$4 million.

Presentation – City of St. Petersburg Water Resources

  • John Palanjar (retiring March 2027) delivered a creative, people-focused presentation highlighting the individuals behind St. Pete’s water system: treatment, distribution, compliance, wastewater, and reclaimed water teams. Featured staff videos on boil water preparedness, laboratory testing, and a female chief plant operator. The presentation emphasized collaboration and regional partnership. Board members thanked him for his service.

Receive and File

  • Items were received and filed by unanimous vote.

Attorney Client Session and Settlement Approval

  • The board entered a private attorney client session (60 minutes) under Florida Statute 286.011(8) to discuss the case Polk Regional Water Cooperative vs. Southwest Florida Water Management District and Tampa Bay Water. After the session, the board voted unanimously to approve the settlement.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the budget workshop and regular board meeting of the Tampa Bay Water April 20th, 2026. Um, can I let's see, this meeting was noticed in the Florida Administrative Register and on the Tampa Bay Water website. The meeting is available for viewing through live streaming and a recording of the meeting will be posted on the agency's website. And now our vice chair Waiteman will lead in the pledge. One nation under Gone Indivisible Liberty and Justice. Thank you. You may be seated. Yes. Chair Hanowitz. Here. Present. Here. Commissioner Rakers? Here. Councilman Miranda. Yeah. Commissioner Oakley. Here. Here. Commissioner Pete. Here. So we were originally going to start with a workshop, but we're going to accommodate. We have some special guests here. And so we're going to move items B2 Water Conservation Month Proclamation and B3, the community waterwise award, to the front. So we have Amelia Brown, a demand management program manager here. Good morning. Good morning to you, Madam Chair and members of the board. This item is an action item to declare April as Water Conservation Month. So for the past 28 years, April has been recognized as Water Conservation Month throughout Florida. This effort is coordinated by the Florida section of the American Waterworks Association, Florida's water management districts, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. And this recognition comes at a critical time as we're navigating a severe drought. April is typically the driest month of the year, the temperatures are increasing, and water demands increase, which is largely driven by outdoor watering. This year's theme of Water Conservation Month is related to rain shutoff devices, with our which are both required legally and also an essential tool for conserving water outdoors. Water Conservation Month highlights how simple everyday actions like ensuring your rain sensor is working can make a meaningful difference in saving water. And we've seen the impact that the Tampa Bay Water Community has had in conserving water before. A couple years ago during the drought, the residents stepped up and saved water by adhering to watering restrictions and taking other simple actions. Tampa Bay Water has proudly adopted this proclamation many times in the past alongside our member governments, and we continue to support efforts that encourage responsible water use across our region. Therefore, staff recommends the adoption of the proclamation that April is water conservation month. Move approval. We have a motion and a second. Passes unanimously. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. May continue. Thank you. Um our next item is about recognizing the 2025 regional winner of the Community Waterwise Award Program. And at the end, the board will be invited to take a photo with the winners who are in attendance today. The Community Waterwise Award is a regional program that recognizes homeowners and businesses for their landscapes that save water while remaining attractive and functional.

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