Council sit this week for a regular meeting with a 62 item agenda; 50 requiring a vote. 51 if you count item 58, the discussion about budget surplus from Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. Council will make their recommendations to the mayor on how to re-appropriate the funds that weren’t expended the previous year. This year that number is around $5 million-less than 1% of the general fund. The significance is this gives council an opportunity to work with the mayor to fund some smaller projects or non-profits that weren’t included in the FY26 budget. It also gives council an opportunity to think about the broader budget process and to start to consider their priorities for FY27.

To that end Council member Hurtak proposed and council approved at their January 22nd meeting setting a first of its kind special call workshop for March 3rd. A 3 hour workshop for council, with their budget analyst and the public, to discussion priorities and their processes to achieve their goals. The mayor has stated she’s setting up “project launch pads” for the next administration; council should be focused on the same—regardless of any individual ambitions among its members. That’s not to say everyone’s priorities will align. The mayor proposes a budget and needs 4 votes. Council can override any proposal with 5.

Looking at the items council will be voting on this week:

• Items 3-8 are the mayor’s nominations for the Natural Resources Advisory Committee. This appears to be another one of the boards/committees that fell through the cracks during the pandemic and is being reconstituted to advise on the Urban Forestry Master Plan.
• Item 13 is $500,000 for Axon drones that were approved in the FY25 budget but not purchased. Accounting requirements for the technology require a new appropriation for this fiscal year. Per staff ““This financial resolution does not affect the unassigned fund balance that the Chief Finance Officer previously briefed Council during the January 8, 2026, Council meeting.” Meaning the $5 million in funds from FY25 council will be discussing later in the agenda are not effected. We covered the purchase of the drones in September.
• Item 27 is approving $1.492 million for Gandy and Palonis Parks. If you didn’t hear the news, the fishing pier at Picnic Island collapsed this weekend. The RFQ for the Gandy & Palonis Park included “Comprehensive Specialty Design Services for a Multi-Use Dock/Pier System to provide passive recreational, fishing, and daily boaters including small craft launching (kayak and canoe).” The contract notes “Floating Dock Kayak Launch are not included. Kayak & Canoe Storage Racks are not included. Docks and Fishing Piers are not included.” What council is approving is a new parking lot, some drainage and water lines, a couple of sidewalks and prefab picnic shelters. Doesn’t even cover fixing up the existing bathroom, just a new modular bathroom. Clarity on the long term plans for this park and what the cost to realize the original plan presented is needed.
• Item 37 is a $1.6 million contract to purchase backup generators and automatic transfer switches for stormwater pumps. These have been planned after temporarily using rental generators last hurricane season.
• Item 51 is a lease agreement with the county for The Free Library in Tampa Heights. When it initially appeared on the agenda in December the request was for 3 years. The contract has been modified to 2 years and either party can terminate the lease with 270 day notice.Tampa Heights Civic Association asked for only a 1 year extension and for the city to return the building back to public use.
• Item 52 is approving a Design-Build services agreement with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $3.5 million for Rey Park in West Tampa. This project has origins in 2022, was originally approved in 2023, amended in 2025 and now back for another approval.