Tampa DOGE
Meeting #2643 high confidence

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Official Agenda

Tampa City Council continues tree trust fund reimbursement item to December amid heated debate over fund usage and tree type priorities, while approving new code enforcement magistrate ordinance on first reading.

Key People

  • Naya Young (City Council Member) — Tampa City Council
    • Newest council member being welcomed, replaced Gwen Henderson
  • Alan Clendenin (City Council Chair) — Tampa City Council
    • Presiding over meeting, making key procedural decisions
  • Lynn Hurtak (City Council Member) — Tampa City Council
    • Led opposition to tree trust fund reimbursement, demanded workshop
  • Andrea Zelman (City Attorney) — City of Tampa
    • Defended hiring outside counsel for code enforcement magistrates
  • Camaria Pettis-Mackle (Attorney) — Legal Department
    • Presented code enforcement ordinance changes
  • Eric Kaiser (Special Needs Intern) — City of Tampa
    • Presented Blue Peace program for autism awareness during traffic stops
  • Richard Revis (Former Code Enforcement Magistrate) — Volunteer
    • Opposed new attorney-based magistrate system, advocated for volunteers

Public Comments

Alison Date (Tampa Tree Advocacy Group) — Opposition/demanding

Directed at: City Council Topic: Tree Trust Fund

Opposed tree trust fund transfer, demanded accountability and Type 1 native tree priority

“Please do not allow the new trust fund to be changed or have money disbursed until all the information for the city’s report is provided”

Richard Revis (Former Code Enforcement Magistrate) — Strong opposition

Directed at: City Council Topic: Code Enforcement Changes

Opposed replacing volunteer magistrates with paid attorneys, argued it discriminates against low-income residents

“This has become a one-sided judge, jury and executioner” “This is predominantly going to affect low-income citizens of the city of Tampa”

Steve Michelini (Property representative) — Critical/opposing

Directed at: City Council Topic: Code Enforcement and Tree Fund

Criticized code enforcement fine structure and tree fund usage, advocated for stopping fines during permitting process

“Don’t rob the trust fund. Leave it alone” “You shouldn’t be taking money from a tree trust fund that was designed for homeowners”

Diana Coss and Ismael Coss (Grieving parents) — Grief/demanding justice

Directed at: Police Department and City Topic: Police Investigation

Demanded reopening of fatal dump truck accident case involving their 20-year-old son, criticized inadequate police investigation

“My son’s death cannot be dismissed as a simple mistake” “We want answers. We’re not going to go away”

Mentesnot (Community activist) — Angry/accusatory

Directed at: City Council Topic: District 5 representation and racial issues

Made inflammatory accusations about gerrymandering and vote rigging in District 5, criticized lack of discussion on reparations and social issues

“This city council are bullies” “Nobody in District Five has ever heard of Naya Young” “They don’t talk about reparations. They don’t talk about police violence”

Pastor Frank Williams (Community member) — Educational/frustrated

Directed at: City Council and Water Department Topic: Slavery history and water services

Brought slave shackle to educate council about ancestors’ history, complained about year-long water service issue

“Our ancestors were slaves when they brought them to America” “I’ve been without water for a whole year”

Projects & Initiatives

Blue Peace Program

Blue envelope program for drivers with autism and disabilities to present to law enforcement during traffic stops

  • Owner: Eric Kaiser with ADA Coordinator support
  • Status: Development phase, awaiting regional coordination
  • Timeline: Report back April 2, 2026
  • Budget: Not specified
  • Funding Justification: Safety and communication improvement for disabled drivers
  • Related Projects: TPD Special Needs Registry
  • Concerns: Need regional coordination with Public Safety Coordinating Council
  • Inspired by Eric Kaiser’s personal experience, supported by all council members

PIPES Project Tree Planting

Water department planted 237 trees in Virginia Park and MacFarlane Park as part of infrastructure project

  • Owner: Water Department
  • Status: Complete, seeking reimbursement
  • Timeline: Completed July 2024 - May 2025
  • Budget: $334,748.48 reimbursement requested
  • Funding Justification: Enhanced tree canopy during infrastructure work
  • Related Projects: Tree Trust Fund
  • Concerns: 87% were Type 3 trees instead of preferred Type 1 native trees, cost per tree $1,267
  • Above and beyond pipes project requirements, controversy over tree types

Code Enforcement Magistrate Changes

Replace volunteer magistrates with paid attorney magistrates for code enforcement hearings

  • Owner: Legal Department
  • Status: First reading approved with modifications
  • Timeline: Second reading December 4, 2025
  • Budget: $225 per hour for attorney magistrates
  • Funding Justification: Address 18-month backlog, improve legal compliance, eliminate deficient orders
  • Related Projects: None specified
  • Concerns: Loss of community connection, intimidation factor, cost increase, impact on low-income residents
  • Prioritize volunteer magistrates with paid attorneys as backup per council direction

Money & Spending

  • $334,748.48 — Reimburse Water Department for tree planting in PIPES project
    • Project: PIPES Project Tree Planting
    • Type: Reimbursement
    • Payer: Tree Trust Fund (proposed)
    • Recipient: Water Department
    • Debate: Major controversy over using tree trust fund for Type 3 trees instead of Type 1 natives
    • Continued to December 18 to explore alternative funding sources
  • $31 million — Financial resolution covering personnel adjustments, ARPA closeout, FEMA reimbursements, golf course operations, streetcar operations
    • Project: Various city operations
    • Type: Budget adjustment
    • Payer: Various city funds
    • Recipient: Various city departments
    • Debate: Questions about transparency and personnel cost increases
    • Approved after detailed explanation of components
  • $30.6 million — SBITA accounting adjustment for software contracts (primarily $28.9M Axon contract)
    • Project: Technology contracts
    • Type: Accounting adjustment
    • Payer: Various city funds
    • Recipient: Technology vendors
    • Debate: Concerns about combining large and small items in single resolution
    • Non-cash accounting transaction to comply with GAAP
  • $232,000 — RE-LEAF Tampa tree planting plans development
    • Project: RE-LEAF Tampa
    • Type: Contract payments
    • Payer: Tree Trust Fund
    • Recipient: Planning contractors
    • Debate: Concern that this spending wasn’t brought before council despite total amount
    • Split among 5 contractors to avoid individual contract thresholds

Decisions

  • Approved first reading of code enforcement magistrate ordinance with modifications to prioritize volunteer magistrates
  • Continued tree trust fund reimbursement item to December 18 to explore alternative funding sources
  • Approved motion for Blue Peace program development and regional coordination
  • Approved financial resolution for $31 million in various budget adjustments
  • Approved SBITA accounting resolution for $30.6 million
  • Approved historic tax exemption for Ybor City property restoration
  • Approved vacation of Dryad Street right-of-way on first reading (4-3 vote)
  • Scheduled tree workshop for April 23, 2026

Action Items

  • ADA Coordinator and TPD: Coordinate with regional partners on Blue Peace program implementation (due: April 2, 2026)
  • Legal Department: Research options to abate fines while property owners pursue compliance (due: December 4, 2025)
  • CFO and Chief of Staff: Propose process for inter-department agreements and alternative funding for water department reimbursement (due: December 18, 2025)
  • Parks and Recreation: Schedule tree town hall meeting (due: January 18, 2026 (approximately))
  • Staff: Report on policy to waive public records fees for council members (due: January 22, 2026)
  • Finance Department: Summarize costs for various city events including staff time tracking (due: TBD)

Risks & Open Questions

  • Tree trust fund may be depleted faster than expected with $1,400 per tree costs and limited future revenue due to hurricane tree losses
  • Setting precedent for using tree trust fund for non-Type 1 trees contrary to community expectations and code intent
  • Code enforcement changes may disproportionately impact low-income residents with higher fines and less empathetic process
  • Lack of clear inter-department agreement protocols could lead to future budget confusion and policy conflicts
  • Public trust issues around transparency of fund transfers and spending decisions
  • Potential legal challenges to code enforcement process changes
  • Regional coordination delays could impact Blue Peace program effectiveness
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