This week Tampa City Council sit as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board Thursday morning with a 13 item agenda and sit Thursday evening for a 9 item agenda—7 land use change applications. Additionally they will be presenting Commendations to the medal winners for the 2025-2026 USS Tampa Post #5 American Legion Oratorical Contest. In past commendations for these winners, one of the students gives their speech to council. It’s always lessons we can all stand to be reminded of.

There’s also a tentative vote to approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Tampa and Tampa Firefighters Local Union No. 754 through September 28, 2028. Tentative as the members were still actively voting at the time of the request but for logistics reasons the placeholder was requested. Staff indicated at the time of request everyone was optimistic it would pass. Council agreed to the placeholder and to allow supporting documents including the agreement to be added to Onbase during the week.

CRA

If you are looking for me to explain why there are final funding agreements for millions of dollars on the CRA agenda without the dollar amounts clearly identified in the description, I unfortunately don’t have an answer. I’ve asked before and not gotten an explanation. There is an initial vote on the these projects where the funding amount is identified in the initial request. These funding agreements are treated almost as if they are a done deal and it’s a formality. But section three of the resolutions is pretty clear, “The CRA hereby approves and confirms the transfer of…” detailing the exact amount approved for the current fiscal year and if anything is appropriated out in future fiscal years. “Bites at the apple” analogy is used a lot, a funding agreement is is the last bite.

The CRA Board will be taking 3 last bites.

• $15 million for the Florida Aquarium from the Channelside district budget ($5 million in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), $5 million each in FY 27 and 28).
• $4 million from the Downtown district for 22 “workforce” housing units. (12 @ 80% AMI, 5 @ 120% AMI, 5 @ 140% AMI)
• $1.75 million in East Tampa district for 12 100% affordable (80% AMI) housing units

[Area Median Income (AMI) varies by household size. The most recent numbers Tampa Monitor have seen used.]

Finally, Tampa Arts Alliance are requesting $1 million for a Downtown Arts Center. Staff and the Downtown Citizen’s Advisory Committee have recommended $700,000, which is 50% of the total project cost. The CRA Board awarding the full request over staff and CAC recommendations is common. Recent examples include overriding the East Tampa CAC recommendation for a small housing development in Historic Ybor as well as the $5 million funding for the J.C. Newman Sanchez Y Haya hotel/bar, also in Historic Ybor and the East Tampa CRA district.

Evening Land Use

Of the 7 land use items 3 items were found inconsistent by staff with item 9 leading the pack. The original Planned Development (PD) approved in 2022 had 6 waivers. The proposed change to the PD adds 7 more. The parcel at 110 South Boulevard has a future land use designation of RMU100 so there are no questions about density or intensity. But 13 waivers are a lot and regardless of where you stand on parking, a 90% reduction in parking is a tough sell. The proximity to University of Tampa and the downtown core are valid arguments and if it passes bodes well for other projects to bring density without wasting space on cars.