OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Commission on Human Trafficking Board Meeting - July 23, 2026

Hillsborough County Archive View Page — Thursday, July 23, 2026
BodyHillsborough County, Florida
SessionHillsborough County Archive View Page
DateThursday, July 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:33:25

Transcript — Verbatim
3:57

Hi, welcome to the Commission on Human Trafficking.

4:00

Um board meeting today is um Thursday, July the twenty.

4:06

I don't even know what today's date is.

4:07

That's terrible.

4:08

Thank you.

4:08

July twenty third.

4:10

I'm sorry, I just walked out of a heavy meeting.

4:12

Um, July twenty third, so welcome to the commission on human trafficking.

4:19

And at this time I would like to call the meeting to order.

4:26

So Lisa, we have a determination of quorum.

4:30

And then I'll read my own comment.

4:32

Perfect.

4:33

Thank you.

4:34

Chair Rose.

4:35

Yes, ma'am.

4:38

Judge Costello or Judge Ward Commissioner Sopeda.

4:47

Member Gonzalez.

4:56

Member Aguilar.

5:01

Detective Scherer.

5:06

The Honorable Lisa McLean.

5:09

Here.

5:10

Thank you.

5:12

Member Klug.

5:17

Member Petrellac.

5:22

State Attorney's Office.

5:24

Ms.

5:25

Simon.

5:26

Here.

5:27

Thank you.

5:29

Member Halsey.

5:31

Here.

5:33

Detective Wood.

5:35

Here.

5:36

Thank you.

5:38

Detective Aguar.

5:41

Present.

5:43

Detective Kelly.

5:48

And our new member, Victim Services Representative, redefining refuge CEO, Natasha Nascimento.

5:56

Thank you.

5:58

Madam Chair, you have a quorum.

6:00

Thank you.

6:00

Thank you.

6:01

And welcome, Natasha.

6:02

Welcome.

6:03

Yes.

6:03

We're excited.

6:04

Thank you so much.

6:05

So now that we have our quorum, we are opening up to public comment, but please let me read this for a moment.

6:11

The Commission on Human Trafficking has established a period at each of its regular meetings to allow citizens to speak.

6:17

Anyone who wishes to speak virtually or in person during the meeting may do so by contacting the commission's administrator, whose contact information is on the commission's webpage on the county's website.

6:30

Hillsborough County.org.

6:32

The deadline for speakers to sign in is 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting.

6:36

All speakers who wish to speak are required to provide their name, email address, and telephone number.

6:42

This information is being requested to facilitate the public comment process.

6:47

The chair will call in speakers by name and the order in which their requests to speak have been received.

6:52

Priorization on the first come first served basis, and all virtual speakers will be muted upon joining the meeting and will be unmuted after being recognized by the chair by name.

7:03

The commission respects the rights of citizens to express their options and concerns.

7:07

However, the commission requests that citizens present their concerns in a respectful manner to maintain a polite atmosphere where all individuals are respected.

7:16

You have up to three minutes are allowed for each speaker.

7:20

Comments should be directed to the whole commission and not individual members.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Human Trafficking Awareness████████████████████████████28%
Human Trafficking█████████████████████21%
Community Engagement███████████████15%
Technology and Innovation█████████9%
Procedural████████8%
Public Engagement█████5%
Substance Abuse Recovery████4%
Budget Equity Analysis████4%
Youth Programs████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Commission on Human Trafficking Board Meeting - July 23, 2026

The Commission on Human Trafficking held a regular board meeting on July 23, 2026, in Hillsborough County, Florida. The meeting included public comments, committee reports, budget approvals, and updates on anti-trafficking initiatives.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of minutes from the May meeting (approved unanimously).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jaselyn Vasquez (One More Child) requested partnership with the Commission for the 2027 Red Sand event, noting the 2026 event was the first in Hillsborough County and a success.
  • Bishop Tony Samuels and Pastor Jeanette Samuels (Lighthouse Freedom Center) presented their faith-based recovery program, linking addiction to trafficking. Survivor Gadriana shared her testimony of overcoming exploitation through the program.

Discussion Items

  • Steering Committee Report (Rob): Reviewed Survivor Ventures (80% employment retention, 92% housing stability), the Dandelion Project, and budget. Approved $5,000 for project management software and $2,000 for emergency phones. Discussed strategic plan edits and a community awareness event.
  • Marketing Subcommittee Report (Alex): Highlighted challenges with Meta disabling comments on paid ads. The subcommittee recommended proceeding with ads using risk mitigation. After discussion, the full Commission voted to approve $20,492.17 for paid social media ads.
  • Strategic Plan Update (Chair Rose): The strategic plan (to 2030) is under review; additional meetings scheduled for August and September.
  • Staff Report (Lisa): Announced a combined community event/town hall (Sept. 16 or 17, venue donated). County employee training in procurement. Approved funding for Seminole Heights Community Clinic (under $10,000) and a law enforcement initiative (up to $5,000). Updates on Children's Network contract and Hotel/Motel outreach (SOAP project).
  • Port Tampa Bay representative noted appointment to federal advisory committee on human trafficking.
  • Discussion of the Chance program (vetoed by governor) and the distinction between dependent and community children.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved.
  • Paid social media ads approved ($20,492.17).
  • Seminole Heights Community Clinic funding approved (under $10,000).
  • Law enforcement initiative funding approved (up to $5,000).
  • Strategic plan revisions to continue.
  • September community event/town hall and county employee training in progress.
  • Hotel/Motel outreach scheduled; volunteers recruited.

Meeting Transcript

Hi, welcome to the Commission on Human Trafficking. Um board meeting today is um Thursday, July the twenty. I don't even know what today's date is. That's terrible. Thank you. July twenty third. I'm sorry, I just walked out of a heavy meeting. Um, July twenty third, so welcome to the commission on human trafficking. And at this time I would like to call the meeting to order. So Lisa, we have a determination of quorum. And then I'll read my own comment. Perfect. Thank you. Chair Rose. Yes, ma'am. Judge Costello or Judge Ward Commissioner Sopeda. Member Gonzalez. Member Aguilar. Detective Scherer. The Honorable Lisa McLean. Here. Thank you. Member Klug. Member Petrellac. State Attorney's Office. Ms. Simon. Here. Thank you. Member Halsey. Here. Detective Wood. Here. Thank you. Detective Aguar. Present. Detective Kelly. And our new member, Victim Services Representative, redefining refuge CEO, Natasha Nascimento. Thank you. Madam Chair, you have a quorum. Thank you. Thank you. And welcome, Natasha. Welcome. Yes. We're excited. Thank you so much. So now that we have our quorum, we are opening up to public comment, but please let me read this for a moment. The Commission on Human Trafficking has established a period at each of its regular meetings to allow citizens to speak. Anyone who wishes to speak virtually or in person during the meeting may do so by contacting the commission's administrator, whose contact information is on the commission's webpage on the county's website.

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