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Record of Proceedings

Hart Board Regular Meeting - November 4, 2026

Hillsborough County Archive View Page — Wednesday, November 4, 2026
BodyHillsborough County, Florida
SessionHillsborough County Archive View Page
DateWednesday, November 4, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:47

Good morning.

Unassigned speaker

0:48

I'm

Speaker 1

0:49

Council Member Gil Schusser, Hart Board Chair.

0:51

Please silence all electronic devices for the duration of this meeting.

0:55

Welcome to the November 2nd, 2026 Board of Directors regular meeting, which is now called to order.

Unassigned speaker

1:01

The

Speaker 1

1:02

meeting format is hybrid with board members physically present at the Hart Administrative Offices, 1201 East 7th Avenue, Florida Conference Room, and others participating via communication media technology.

1:13

Please look at your screens and joy and surprise if you can join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:34

Thank you.

1:36

Uh

Unassigned speaker

1:37

Ms.

Speaker 1

1:37

Danielle, could you take attendance, please?

Speaker 2

1:40

Yes, sir.

1:43

Director Cameron Cepeda.

1:49

Director Hobbes.

Speaker 3

1:54

Present.

Speaker 2

1:55

Director Knight.

1:57

Director Lockett.

Speaker 4

1:58

Here.

Speaker 3

2:00

Here.

Speaker 2

2:01

Director Miller.

2:02

Here.

2:03

Director Myers.

2:04

Here.

2:04

Director Nieberg.

Speaker 3

2:06

Here.

Speaker 2

2:07

Chair Schussler.

Speaker 3

2:08

Here.

Speaker 2

2:10

Director Smith.

2:14

Director Vieira.

2:17

Director Williams.

2:18

Here.

2:19

Director Wolstool?

2:20

Here.

2:21

Can you do have a quorum, sir?

Speaker 1

2:23

Thank you very much.

2:24

I'm sure some the individuals are still making their way in, so it uh we'll we'll move forward.

2:33

Who's ever who's ever talking?

2:35

Please mute your mute your side, please.

2:38

Hello.

2:42

Okay.

2:43

All right.

2:43

Uh next is public.

2:44

Next we'll move to public comment.

2:46

We'll start with a statement for board counselor, Mr.

2:48

Jeff Gibson.

Speaker 5

2:49

Thank you, um, Chair.

2:50

Uh, members of the public have a right to speak on any relevant issue during the public comment process.

2:56

However, certain items may be rooted in contract pending legal recourse or prohibited by this board's policy, which prohibits involvement by this board in the normal employer-employee relationship between the CEO and any other employee or employee union of heart.

3:11

While the public could address those matters, board members are advised not to discuss them during this meeting.

Speaker 1

3:18

Okay, thank you.

3:19

Um thank you, Mr.

3:20

Gibson.

3:20

The heart board of directors welcomes comments from citizens about any issue or concern.

3:24

Your opinions are valued in terms of providing input to the board members when addressing the board comments should

Unassigned speaker

3:30

be

Speaker 1

3:30

not shall not be directed personally against the board or staff member, but rather directed at the issues.

3:36

This provides a mutual respect between the board members staff and the public.

4:07

Um Mr.

4:08

David Elpers.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Transportation████████████████████████████████32%
Procurement Process████████████████████████24%
Budget Equity Analysis██████████████14%
Transportation Planning█████████9%
Public Comment███████7%
Personnel Matters███████7%
Procedural█████5%
Public Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Hillsborough County Hart Board of Directors Regular Meeting - November 4, 2026

The Hart Board of Directors convened on November 4, 2026, at the Hart Administrative Offices. The meeting included public comment, recognition of outgoing and new board members, approval of consent agenda items, and discussion of two major action items: a CNG/RNG contract award and an increase to the paratransit customer choice contract. Key outcomes included approval of the contract with Kinder Morgan for RFP 55218 and approval of the first option year for West Coast Transportation.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • David Elpers (representing UF Energy) asked the board to defer action on Resolution R 2026-11-42 (RFP 55218), citing a $6.5 million difference between UF Energy's net cost estimate ($2.3 million over five years) and Hart's analysis of Kinder Morgan's proposal ($4.2 million revenue). He requested the matter be sent back for further review rather than awarding the contract. He stated that if the board authorized the award without review, UF Energy would preserve its rights under protest procedures.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of the September 8, 2026 regular meeting and September 21, 2026 public hearing on FY2027 millage rate and budget.
  • Approved consent agenda items 6A and 6B as recommended by the Joint Finance, Audit, and Operations and Safety Committee. Item 6C was removed for separate discussion.

Discussion Items

  • Removal of Item 6C from Consent Agenda: Director Nieberg requested removal of Resolution R 2026-11-42 from the consent agenda to allow discussion of concerns raised in public comment. Director Williams opposed, stating that UF Energy had an opportunity to protest earlier but did not. After discussion and legal guidance, the board voted to remove the item and consider it under the regular agenda.
  • Resolution R 2026-11-42 – CNG/RNG Contract Award: Procurement Director Marty provided an overview of the RFP process, noting that nine respondents were evaluated and Kinder Morgan scored highest, including the best net revenue to Hart. Marty explained that UF Energy's proposal would have resulted in a net cost to Hart of approximately $2.3 million over five years, while Kinder Morgan's would generate about $4.2 million in revenue, creating a $6.5 million swing. Director Nieberg sought clarification on the pricing and revenue structure. Commissioner Wassel requested safeguards and noted that Hart can terminate for convenience but the contract lacks a minimum annual guarantee. Director Hobbes confirmed that the protest window had expired with no protests. The board subsequently approved the resolution.
  • Resolution R 2026-11-43 – West Coast Transportation (Yellow Cab) Contract Option Year: Sean McCarthy presented a request to increase the contract not-to-exceed amount by $1,955,149 to $11,663,785 for the first option year of the customer choice paratransit service. He reviewed utilization growth, cost per trip comparisons (customer choice: ~$24; Hart Plus: ~$66), and service hour changes made in 2025 to control costs. The program is partially funded by a Section 5310 grant (anticipated $3.5 million) and Hart's FY27 operating budget. Board members discussed efficiency concerns and the need to evaluate program sustainability. The item was approved with the condition that staff return to the January 2027 committee meeting with options for program changes (fare increases, trip limits, etc.).

Key Outcomes

  • Approved the removal of Item 6C from the consent agenda (vote).
  • Approved Resolution R 2026-11-42, authorizing the contract award to Kinder Morgan for RFP 55218 (vote).
  • Approved Resolution R 2026-11-43, authorizing the CEO to execute the first option year with West Coast Transportation and increase the contract ceiling (vote).
  • Established a CEO performance evaluation ad hoc committee composed of Directors Nieberg, Smith, Hobbes, Myers, and Williams to review evaluations and recommend a merit increase by January 2027.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. I'm Council Member Gil Schusser, Hart Board Chair. Please silence all electronic devices for the duration of this meeting. Welcome to the November 2nd, 2026 Board of Directors regular meeting, which is now called to order. The meeting format is hybrid with board members physically present at the Hart Administrative Offices, 1201 East 7th Avenue, Florida Conference Room, and others participating via communication media technology. Please look at your screens and joy and surprise if you can join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Uh Ms. Danielle, could you take attendance, please? Yes, sir. Director Cameron Cepeda. Director Hobbes. Present. Director Knight. Director Lockett. Here. Here. Director Miller. Here. Director Myers. Here. Director Nieberg. Here. Chair Schussler. Here. Director Smith. Director Vieira. Director Williams. Here. Director Wolstool? Here. Can you do have a quorum, sir? Thank you very much. I'm sure some the individuals are still making their way in, so it uh we'll we'll move forward. Who's ever who's ever talking? Please mute your mute your side, please. Hello. Okay. All right. Uh next is public. Next we'll move to public comment. We'll start with a statement for board counselor, Mr. Jeff Gibson. Thank you, um, Chair. Uh, members of the public have a right to speak on any relevant issue during the public comment process. However, certain items may be rooted in contract pending legal recourse or prohibited by this board's policy, which prohibits involvement by this board in the normal employer-employee relationship between the CEO and any other employee or employee union of heart. While the public could address those matters, board members are advised not to discuss them during this meeting.

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