Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Meeting: August 5, 2026

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners held its regularly scheduled meeting on August 5, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding just before noon. The board addressed a range of topics, including public comments on data centers and short-term rentals, a public-private partnership for emergency lodging, a report on fire rescue dedicated funding options, approval of HUD housing plans and street lighting assessments, and several commissioner-initiated items. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included routine approvals and administrative items. Motion carried 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Deborah Holiday expressed opposition to large-scale data centers, citing noise, vibration, water use, and environmental damage. She urged the board to use its authority under SB 484 to block projects not aligned with community standards and requested a temporary administrative pause.
• Isabella Moller (Food & Water Watch) spoke against data centers, noting that by 2028 AI data centers in the U.S. could use as much water as 18.5 million households and as much energy as 100,000 homes. She urged a moratorium, citing actions by Pasco, Hernando, Lake, and Nassau counties.
• Susan Crochunas requested a moratorium on a potential AI center at SR 60 and Dover Road, emphasizing agricultural impacts (strawberry industry yields over $1 billion annually) and water concerns from well users. She cited the 2010 freeze that dried 750 wells and formed sinkholes.
• Denise Herndon criticized fear-mongering around data centers and fire rescue funding, questioning the need for a special assessment and County spending on a hotel for emergency workers.
• Ashley Herman called for a ban on large-scale data centers, citing climate emergency, high utility rates, and pollution.
• Kimmy Mellon Jones spoke against the University Energy Park (a data center proposal), highlighting water usage and AI’s invasive presence.
• Ben Braver sarcastically criticized commissioners for prioritizing corporate interests over voters, urging a ban on AI data centers.
• Mark Kiddo requested a stronger short-term rental registration ordinance, citing enforcement failures in Bay Crest. He called for a dedicated hotline, complaint portal, daily fines, and life-safety inspections before certification.
• Daniel Zidek urged the board to vote no on any FY2027 budget that includes funding for the Florida Israel Business Accelerator, citing objections to the state’s actions.
• Thomas Cobert warned against state-level property tax proposals that would cut local funding for public safety, schools, parks, and infrastructure, calling the plan “evil.”
• Daniel Kimbrell (Plant City) showed a sign from a Hillsborough County Community Campus study showing the site is a headwater to Tampa Bay; he expressed concerns that data center development could impact downstream water bodies and floodplains, exacerbated by Hurricane Milton.
• Penny Martin (virtual) called for an immediate moratorium on hyperscale data centers, citing a national pattern of backdoor deals, resource exploitation, and the danger of building near the Sydney Dover superfund site. She noted that a single hyperscale data center uses up to 5 million gallons of water per day.
• Todd Randolph (virtual) rejected data centers in Hillsborough County, citing pollution, energy affordability, and the risk of stranded utility costs if the AI bubble bursts.

Discussion Items

• B1 – Mainsail Lodging Public-Private Partnership: Staff presented an unsolicited proposal to develop a 102-room hardened hotel on County land near PSOC, to be used for emergency worker lodging during declared emergencies. The County would own the land, receive lease payments, and gain 1,000 reduced-rate room nights for the tournament sportsplex. The board unanimously approved the second notice public meeting and related documents. Motion carried 7-0.
• G1 – Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Dedicated Funding Options (moved up from 10:15 a.m.): Christopher Rowe (Bryant Miller Olive) presented on special assessments and MSTUs. He explained that fire assessments can fund fire protection but not advanced EMS, and must convey a special benefit to property. Two main apportionment methods were discussed: demand-based (calls for service) and availability/readiness-to-serve. He noted that a hybrid of assessment and property tax is common. Commissioner Wolstall suggested exploring the emergency services surtax (212.055(8)), noting its unique availability to Hillsborough County. The board voted to receive the report. Motion carried 7-0.
• D1 – HUD Five-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan: Public hearing to accept comments on housing programs for FY2026-2030. One speaker, Thomas Cobert, expressed support but warned of federal corruption. The board approved the plan and related documents. Motion carried 7-0.
• D2 – HART Capital Improvement Program: Public hearing to approve FY2026-2030 list of projects funded by transportation impact fees. Denise Herndon commented on transit challenges. The board approved. Motion carried 7-0.
• D3 – Street Lighting District Rates: Public hearing to adopt non-ad valorem assessments for 797 districts. Denise Herndon questioned costs and vacant land fees. The board approved; no rate increases overall, with adjustments to four districts. Motion carried 7-0.
• F1 – Commissioner Bowles: Governing Water Demand Usage: Directed staff to review current policies, legal authority under SB 180 and SB 484, and identify conservation and capacity management tools, including during droughts. The motion also incorporated friendly amendments from Commissioners Wolstall (building permit restrictions during drought) and Cohen (evaluating Swift MUD’s Water Star program). Motion carried 7-0.
• F2 – Commissioner Cameron Cepeda: Data Center Regulations: Two motions: (1) Direct staff to evaluate a framework for land use regulations on future data centers, including limits on potable water use for cooling, and (2) request the County Attorney to draft a moratorium ordinance on AI data centers effective after October 1, 2027 (when SB 180 expires). Both motions carried 7-0.
• F3 – Commissioner Cohen: Short-Term Vacation Rentals: Approved a draft ordinance requiring registration, designation of a local responsible party available within one hour, and compliance with noise and other rules. The ordinance was set for a public hearing on September 2, 2026, at 10 a.m., with an effective date of January 1, 2027. Motion carried 7-0.
• F4 – Commissioner Miller: Reallocation of Flag Funding: Moved $10,000 from Cant Dorothy Thomas to Plant City Chamber of Commerce. Motion carried 7-0.
• F5 – Commissioner Myers: Pilot Program for Affordable Housing on Commercial/Industrial Zones or Religious Institution Properties: Approved a one-year pilot program under Florida Statute 125.01055(6), allowing affordable housing projects on such properties with at least 10% affordable units up to 120% AMI, with a report back in one year. Motion carried 5-2 (Commissioners Miller and Wolstall dissented).
• F6 – Commissioner Wolstall: Historic Preservation Challenge Grant: Moved to extend the application deadline for the current funding cycle by 30 days to allow more applicants to use remaining $196,000. Motion carried 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda, B1, D1, D2, D3, F1, F2 (both motions), F3, F4, and F6 all approved 7-0.
• Item G1 (fire rescue funding report) received by the board with no further action.
• Item F5 approved 5-2, with a one-year pilot program and staff report due back in one year.
• The board directed staff to return with draft ordinances for data center moratorium (after SB 180 expires) and for short-term rental registration (public hearing September 2, 2026).
• Commissioner Myers requested a future discussion on using CDBG-DR funds for workforce housing on school district property, with a staff report at the December 16, 2026 meeting.