Environmental Protection Commission Meeting - August 27, 2026
Environmental Protection Commission Meeting - August 27, 2026
The Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) meeting was called to order at 2:30 PM. The invocation and Pledge of Allegiance were led by Commissioner Cameron Campeda. Roll call confirmed the absence of Commissioner Christine Miller. The agenda was approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda approved with a motion by Commissioner Corn, second by Commissioner Watson, carried 5-0.
Discussion Items
- Green Star Certification (Item 9A): Ken Sierra presented the Green Star Initiative, a certification program recognizing auto repair facilities that exceed environmental compliance. Twenty new facilities were certified, including Southeastern Freight Lines, Brandon Auto Mall (Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Cadillac), Courtesy Toyota, Morgan Import Motor Cars (seven dealerships and a training shop), Manheim Auctions, Jerry Ohm Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Florida Detroit Diesel Allison, Honuswan Auto Care, and all five Hillsborough County Fleet Management facilities. Certificates were presented to representatives; Commissioner Bowles commended the county's own fleet participation.
- Particulate Matter and Air Quality (Item 9B): Christian Rodriguez presented on PM10 and PM2.5, describing local sources (traffic, industry, port, construction, fires), health effects (respiratory and cardiovascular harm), and the county’s monitoring network of five sites. He noted the EPA lowered the annual PM2.5 standard from 12 to 9 µg/m³ in 2024, and the 2023-2025 design value for Hillsborough County was 7.5 µg/m³, below the standard. The role of Saharan dust and wildfires was discussed. Commissioners received the report with no questions.
- Water Quality in Tampa Bay (Item 9C): Sam Alrabi presented the history of the EPC’s water monitoring program, including 261 stations, 2500 annual samples, 40,000 lab analyses, and $9.5 million in pollution recovery funds spent. He reported that water quality scores improved from the 40s in the 1970s to the 90s today. Current health concerns (dengue fever, vibrio vulnificus) were outlined. Commissioners expressed appreciation. Commissioner Bowles asked about inter-county coordination; Sam confirmed collaboration with the Agency on Bay Management and Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Commissioner Watson reiterated a call to allocate tourism development funds for seagrass restoration. Commissioner Coyne praised progress and advocated for opening the Courtney Campbell Causeway to improve circulation in Old Tampa Bay. Commissioner Wolfsburg reported a successful resolution of a camera issue mentioned at a previous town hall.
- Executive Director Report: Janet reported staff participation in Juneteenth events, town hall meetings, an appreciation luncheon hosted by Commissioner Myers, conferences, a Port Tampa Bay harbor tour, and the start of annual seagrass and benthic monitoring. She noted the passing of Rick Kirby, a former EPC employee, and welcomed prayers for him and for Lorna Horton's brother. The next meeting is scheduled for October 22, 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Agenda approved 5-0.
- No formal votes or decisions were taken on the informational presentations; the meeting consisted of reports and discussion only.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning and welcome to the Environmental Protection Commission meeting. We will have the invocation, the pledge and the invocation given by Commissioner Cameron Campeda. Can we please stand? Of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation on the God with liberty and justice for all. Heavenly Father, Lord, we come before you this morning with grateful hearts and thanksgiving. We are so thankful for who you are. You are great and mighty and worthy to be praised. And this morning, mighty God, we lift up before you the EPC and all the employees. Lord, we thank you. What a great team that we have working here in our county. We are so blessed to have them. And as our employees, our team working together, and Lord, we just pray a special blessing over each and every one of them right now. We pray for all of the employees of Hillsborough County, a special blessing on their lives as well. And Heavenly Father, Lord, we also have a special prayer, Lord, this morning for Mr. Rick Kirby, Lord, and also he's an employee of the EPC and Heavenly Father. We just, Lord, you know everything he needs, Lord, and we just pray right now special blessing and favor on his life, Lord, above and beyond what he could even think or ask, Lord. We just ask you to send that answer to prayers, Lord, right now. We speak a blessing over his life. And Heavenly Father, we also pray this morning for Miss Lorna Horton's brother, Heavenly Father, Lord, we pray a special prayer request for his healing in his body right now. We ask you to send your healing virtue through his body from the top of his head to the soles of his feet right now, even right now. We thank you for it in advance for the answers, Lord, to our prayers this morning. And we pray for a special blessing over each and every county commissioner in uh Hillsborough County, Lord, and every employee. We thank you for it right now, and we ask you to bless this meeting in your holy name in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Thank you, uh, Commissioner Cameron Zapeta. Want to read into the records from Commissioner Christine Miller. Please be advised that I will not be able to attend the upcoming scheduled EPC meeting on August 27, 2026. Okay. So now we'll have roll call, please. Commissioner, there are no changes to the agenda. Okay. Have any public comments? Anyone wish to speak? Okay. Moving right along. We now have that second. We have a motion by Commissioner Corn, second by Commissioner Watson to please record your phone. Motion carries five to zero. Thank you. Okay, we have none um public hearing. So we move right into the agenda. Good morning, Janet. Good morning. Happy Thursday, Commissioner. There's a lot of people. With that, we're gonna move into our regular agenda. We're gonna go to 9A, which is Green Star certification.
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