Hillsborough County BOCC Regular Meeting - June 3, 2026

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners held its regular meeting on June 3, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The meeting included the presentation of the Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award, public comments, approval of a consent agenda, multiple public hearings, and discussions on emergency lodging partnerships, storm recovery construction contracts, debris management services, solid waste rates, fence regulations, agricultural enclaves, and a dirt road paving program.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda (7-0), which included numerous routine approvals: contract modifications, grant agreements, budget amendments, procurement awards, board appointments to various boards, and receipt of reports. Notable items included the approval of CDBG funding agreements for group homes, foster residential group home improvements, and affordable housing projects; change orders for court building renovations and road resurfacing; acceptance of donation of land for Lake Dan Preserve; approval of multifamily housing revenue bonds for several apartment complexes (Fountainview, Grande Oaks, Park Terrace, Spanish Trace, Oaks at Riverview, Robles Park); a film incentive agreement for "Cut Your Teeth" ($100,000); USF Small Business Development Center subagreement; various procurement contracts (fencing, scoreboards, sand for sandbags, culvert renewal, pickup trucks, sole source contracts); and interlocal agreements for fiber network and EMS grant allocation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tom Cobert spoke on agenda item F2, urging the board to work with other counties to oppose the state's property tax reforms, warning that cuts would decimate public services.
• Denise Herndon spoke on agenda item A20, alleging Commissioner Myers’ town hall was a political event and questioning the benefit of a land transfer near Progress Village for flood control. She also spoke at the D1 public hearing on senior solid waste discounts, asking about occupancy requirements and noting that some split properties may not be paying assessments.
• Serge Doss raised concerns about veterans' services, including a fee waiver application process that improperly considers compensation as income, and alleged insurance practices harming veterans.
• Nadia Ascar and Sarah Grossman (virtual) both urged removal of county funding for the Florida-Israeli Business Accelerator (FIBA), arguing those funds should be redirected to local social programs, affordable housing, and infrastructure rather than supporting companies linked to conflict in Gaza.
• Paula May (virtual) at the D2 solid waste rate hearing questioned why rates never decrease when costs drop, and suggested reducing pickup from twice to once weekly to save money.

Discussion Items

• B1 - Emergency Lodging Public-Private Partnership: John Mueller presented an unsolicited P3 proposal from Mainsail Lodging & Development to make the county the fee-simple owner of the ground under a 102-room hotel 0.9 miles from the Public Safety Operations Complex. The county would invest $7.5 million (for ground ownership, hardening, and a priority use agreement) recouped over 30 years via ground lease payments, 1,000 room nights/year at half cost for Sportsplex events, and free use during declared emergencies. Sheriff's Chief Doherty supported it as a long-needed solution for personnel lodging during storms. Commissioners discussed liability (handled by tenant), property tax abatement (PILOT agreement), and risks. Motion to determine it a qualifying project and authorize negotiations passed 7-0.
• B2 - CDBG-DR Single-Family Housing Program: Rob Hendrickson presented award of contracts to Ducky Recovery, LLC and Dynamic Group, LLC (each up to $90 million, total $180 million) to repair/rebuild storm-damaged homes. Nearly 1,000 applications received. Delegation of change order approval to County Administrator was requested. Commissioner Wostal praised quick timeline. Motion passed 7-0.
• B3 - Emergency Debris Management Services: Scott Stromer recommended three firms (Phillips Environmental, Ceres Environmental, Crowder-Gulf Joint Venture) for three zones, total estimated $125.9 million over five years. Commissioner Boles moved to instead maintain the previous four-zone model, arguing it proved effective during Hurricane Milton, and directed staff to evaluate extending existing contracts and rebidding for four zones. County Attorney noted rebidding would be needed. Motion passed 6-1 (Myers dissenting). Commissioners noted potential service gap if not in place for hurricane season.
• D1 - Senior Solid Waste Discount Ordinance: Public hearing on draft ordinance clarifying that approved seniors need not reapply for discount as long as conditions remain, and terminating discount when property sells. Commissioner Boles noted enhanced coordination with Clerk’s office will recover lost revenue (about $650,000). Motion adopted 7-0.
• D2 - Solid Waste Rate Resolution: Damian Trammell and George Cassidy presented FY27 rate increase of 4.3% ($22/year per household, $12.09 for collection, $9.91 for disposal) to cover CPI-indexed contract costs and system maintenance. They noted cost-saving initiatives (RNG plant, new recycling facility, roll-cart internalization) will mitigate future increases. Public comment from Paula May asked about rate reductions. Commissioners Cohen and Hagan supported, citing past service disruptions and need to pay workers. Motion passed 4-3 (Miller, Cameron Cepeda, Wostal voting no).
• F3 - HCSO Fence Regulations Presentation: Master Deputy Eric Johnson and Deputy Brad Jones presented challenges with current 1949 state fence law (3 strands, 3 feet high), which is inadequate to contain livestock. They showed photos of insufficient fences and data on 1,165 loose livestock calls in 2024, with hotspot maps. Proposed ordinance focused on containment (not fence definition), with escalating fines (warning, $100, $200, $300) and documented warnings to support criminal charges. Commissioner Miller moved to accept report and direct staff to work with HCSO on ordinance amendments. Commissioner Wostal requested coordination with Agricultural Economic Development Council and consideration of storm-related exceptions. Motion passed 7-0.
• F2 - Property Tax Special Session: Commissioner Boles requested a report and presentation at June 17 meeting on impacts of recently passed state property tax reforms. Motion passed 6-0 (one absent).
• G1 - Agricultural Enclaves Report (SB 686): Adam Gormley explained the new law (effective July 1, 2026, sunset January 1, 2028) that preempts county zoning for agricultural enclaves meeting criteria (greenbelt, size, adjacency to development). Process requires county certification within 90 days, with deemed approval if not acted on. Commissioners expressed concern over loss of local control and potential for inappropriate development. Motion to receive report and add monthly updates to land-use agenda passed 7-0.
• G2 - Dirt Road Paving Program: Josh Bilotti reported on 27 county-maintained dirt roads (7.5 miles) and cost considerations. Commissioner Cameron Cepeda requested staff return within 90 days with a pilot project using alternative permeable treatments and community input. Motion passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 7-0.
• B1: P3 emergency lodging proposal deemed qualifying; staff authorized to negotiate and return with public interest determination (7-0).
• B2: Storm-damage repair contracts awarded to Ducky Recovery and Dynamic Group (7-0).
• B3: Motion passed 6-1 directing staff to evaluate returning to a four-zone debris management model and potentially rebid; existing three-zone contracts not awarded (will reconsider).
• D1: Senior solid waste discount ordinance adopted (7-0).
• D2: Solid waste rate resolution adopted (4-3); annual increase of $22 for single-family customers.
• F3: Accepted HCSO report; staff to work with Sheriff’s Office on fence regulation ordinance amendments (7-0).
• F2: County staff to present on property tax reform impacts at June 17 meeting (6-0).
• G1: Received agricultural enclave report; monthly updates to be added to land-use agenda (7-0).
• G2: Dirt road pilot project to be developed within 90 days (7-0).
• Future discussion items: Commissioner Myers requested review of code assignment policy for procurements; Commissioner Miller requested legal review of ability to remove a Tampa Sports Authority board member midterm.