I did previews for the June 6th and June 20th meetings but no recaps. Instead one big end of the month wrap up.

As next week is a workshop which most items have been requested to be continued, some until next year and then Council goes on break until July 18th, I’m going to try and highlight a few items and follow suit. Before I do, a reminder that workshops are the only opportunity for the public to speak on each agenda item. With one item being a Capitol Improvement Projects update, including a pitch for the West River Project, it’s a fairly broad subject you can have 3 minutes to address Council on. Also on the agenda is another discussion about Council salary. I’ve been clear for over a year this subject has been discussed I agree with a lot of my neighbors our Council members should be paid more. This city budget and development pace demands full time attention from our Council, especially when there’s only 7 of them.

Catching Up

In case you missed it, a new state law, Florida House Bill 601, usurps local control and prevents the city from continuing with the Citizen Review Board.

Another item you might have missed is the decision to go back to year round watering restriction of one day a week. We were under a regional restriction that was about to expire. Based on the data available and looking at the reduction in usage during the temporary restriction, the city saw nearly a 10% reduction in usage. Based on demand, going back to 2 days a week watering would result in the City having to purchase water to meet demand. New landscaping, drip irrigation systems or reclaimed water not subject to the restriction.

Solid Waste rate increase was approved. Over the next 5 years, our garbage bills will increase 40% in order to to keep pace with costs as well as to pay for improvements to the facilities. Rates will start increasing this October a few dollars a month and then annually increase a couple of dollars more a month.

ShotSpotter, a controversial “tool” used by police departments detect gun shots, was up for contract renewal on June 6th. It was pulled from the consent agenda and after a brief discussion a motion was made to deny the resolution extending the contract. It passed 4-3 with Clendenin, Viera, and Miranda voting no. On June 20th, the next regular Council meeting, Council member Henderson motioned to reconsider that vote. It just so happens half a dozen folks from the public showed up for public comment and spoke to the need to keep ShotSpotter. Mind you no one spoke in favor of it on June 6th, but they knew to show up on the 20th to speak. None of the folks that have spoken against it over the years were afforded that same respect. Ultimately Henderson flip her vote and the contract was approved 4-3. Here’s a gift link to the New York Times story that came out on Thursday about the NYPD ShotSpotter audit—“Gunshot Detection System Wastes N.Y.P.D. Officers’ Time, Audit Finds”

What started as a workshop item that was focused on limiting the scope of the Charter requirement for residency for department heads instead turned into a motion to ask the City Attorney to return with language to place a Charter amendment on this year’s ballot removing all residency requirements for staff of any level. The last charter amendment added the opportunity to have 3 waivers. After 3 years, you were either in or you were out. Residency requirements remain for elected officials. The argument is that we aren’t attracting the best and brightest. Attracting the best and brightest isn’t our problem, retaining them has been.

Henderson’s exit is the latest in a slew of departures **that have hollowed** out senior leadership in areas of Castor’s administration where the city faces some of its most pressing concerns.

TB Times

Finally the Mobility Department budget has been front and center before Council all month. Unspent contracts for paving from 2022, requests for renewal of other paving contracts and then the presentation of the West River Project this past week. What was originally a $24 million project that was to be funded primarily by a $20 million federal grant. What was presented Thursday is a $57 million project with the same $20 million from USDOT, but now with $26 million in bonding and $10 million out-of-pocket. The Director of Mobility emphasized how transformational they think this project will be for West Tampa and interconnectivity. When asked if the project could be pared back instead of borrowing $26 million, the Director made clear that’s already happened. Any renderings you see for the project should be viewed with a grain of salt. Council will be voting on this contract as well as at least one $8 million dollar general paving contract at their first meeting back on July 18th.

UPDATE

To close out June, Council had a workshop and land use hearing on Thursday June 28. For the workshop, the Admin presented an abbreviated update on Capitol Improvement Projects (CIP). These are projects that have been previously approved but in some cases like West Riverwalk and the TPD forensics lab/evidence storage facility they have drastically changed. West Riverwalk has more than doubled and the TPD facility has gone from $10 million to $40 million. Those both will require future Council approval. In the past, these cherry picked projects are high profile or “legacy” (pet) projects. Council has worn thin on this approach and asked for future updates to be more comprehensive to the entirety of CIPs. That may require a new motion to supersede the existing one.

The other big discussion taken up by Council was that of their salary. It’s an ongoing debate going back to fall of 2022 and the FY23 budget. Council member Henderson has continued pushing the subject and again this year the Mayor will be proposing a similar salary adjustment for Council. A straw poll vote by Council agreed to keeping it in the budget. This was not a binding vote that increased their salary. Approving the budget doesn’t increase their salary. That was done in FY23. It requires a separate Resolution to be approved by Council and signed by the Mayor. The vote was 4-3, however Carlson voted no because he believes it should be more and based on a more objective rate than the method the Chief of Staff used 2 years ago.

This isn’t about paying this Council more, though I think we should all want them to be able to focus on the job and not be worried about day to expenses. $55,000 to $75,000 isn’t going to lead to a lavish lifestyle for anyone. Those that are more financially well off or those that are like the majority of their constituents. And that’s the real goal. For the position to pay enough for someone who lives in the city of Tampa to afford to run. Commit four years of service and not need to be rich in order to do so. That’s a deeper conversation about how we create hurdles to who makes the laws. State of Florida Representatives are paid $30,000 plus they get expenses for a small office and maybe an aid or two. Which might have been fine when I was kid, but that means most people running for state office are the well off or well connected.

I have been admittedly focused on budget issues the last 6 months after the debacle last year’s budget process was. So I haven’t been paying as close attention to the land use side of the equation. Thursday evening’s land use hearing was brief, with the primary discussion being around the current round of “Publicly Initiated Text Amendments”. Changes to the code. Generally speaking, they go through a long process of public outreach, presentations to Council and review. Which is good, except that sometimes between one presentation and the first reading, language can be tweaked and frankly Council members don’t remember the last presentation. Such was the case Thursday when the issue of parking lots in Ybor came up. To be clear, parking lots where they are zoned as parking as primary use. Which in the land use world, is completely different than ancillary parking for a business. Those lots are by code only to be used during business hours. A paid parking lot is different. That is what these changes were meant to help reign in. Neighbors rightfully are still concerned and came to ask questions. But when Council members are incapable of grasping the basics, it becomes difficult to move forward. Regardless, they were approved on first reading and who knows what July 18th holds.

Councils returns on July 18th to a budget presentation and some serious votes on contracts with Mobility. Unrelated to the budget presentation. It should be interesting.