Tampa City Council approved extending a $10 million state flood relief grant for one year while rejecting dock repairs at Julian B. Lane Park and honoring retiring City Attorney Andrea Zelman and pioneering firefighter Betty Coleman.

Key People

Lynn Hurtak (Council Chair Pro Tem) — Tampa City Council
- Presided over meeting in place of Chair Clendenin who participated virtually due to illness
Alan Clendenin (Council Chair) — Tampa City Council
- Participated virtually due to illness, provided key vote on flood relief grant
Officer Caitlin Parrish (Police Officer of the Month) — Tampa Police Department
- Honored for leadership of Police Explorer program that has doubled in size
Betty Coleman (Retired Fire Inspector/Supervisor) — Tampa Fire Rescue (retired)
- Honored as first African American female hired by Tampa Fire Rescue in 1981, served over 30 years
Andrea Zelman (City Attorney (retiring)) — City of Tampa Legal Department
- Honored for service as City Attorney since 2022, retiring after decades with city
Barbara Tripp (Fire Chief) — Tampa Fire Rescue
- Praised Betty Coleman as trailblazer who paved the way for women in fire service
Dennis Rogero (Chief Financial Officer) — City of Tampa
- Presented preliminary year-end budget report showing $10.7 million variance
Brandon Campbell (Mobility Director) — City of Tampa
- Defended South Howard flood relief project and grant extension
Bill Carlson (Council Member) — Tampa City Council
- Strongly opposed flood relief grant, raised concerns about project design and costs
Guido Maniscalco (Council Member) — Tampa City Council
- Expressed concerns about project costs and stormwater fee increases

Public Comments

Tina Adams — supportive but frustrated

Directed at: South Howard businesses opposing the project Topic: South Howard Flood Project support

Resident whose Parkland Estates home flooded supports the flood relief project, criticizes businesses for not supporting neighbors who have supported them for years

“My family and I have supported the businesses on Howard for many years. Now is their turn to support the families and neighborhoods that have supported them” “What will be your legacy? Will it be standing up for families and homes? Doing the right things by neighborhoods? Improving infrastructure? Or will it be letting over $10 million go away in grant funding”

Greg Campbell — supportive

Directed at: City Council Topic: South Howard Flood Project support

Parkland Estates resident and board member explains neighborhood’s unanimous support for project after route was changed from residential streets to Swann Avenue

“Those of us who were elected to the board of the Parkland Estates Civic Club in opposition to the South Howard project putting box culverts through neighborhood streets, the very same people are now unanimously in favor of the South Howard flood relief project”

Daryl Hych — angry and accusatory

Directed at: City administration and staff Topic: City contracting and minority business certification

Criticized city for lying to Black and minority business leaders about MBE/WMBE certification process and lack of outreach to minority restaurants for catering list

“This week, on two occasions, the city stood before Black and minority leaders and business owners and lied to them” “The website said we can no longer do this based upon the executive order given back in January. And then she tried to explain her case by sounding for the most part like Charlie Brown. Mwah, mwah, mwah”

David DeLOACH — concerned and technical

Directed at: City Council and project Topic: South Howard Flood Project technical concerns

Professional engineer representing South Howard businesses identified technical deficiencies in grant requirements including alternatives analysis and sea level rise impacts

“The grant doesn’t simply provide funding, it requires the city to demonstrate technical sufficiency”

Edward De La Parte — concerned and legal

Directed at: City Council Topic: South Howard Flood Project legal concerns

Attorney representing South Howard businesses argued the grant amendment contains inaccurate information and creates obligations city cannot meet

“This is a complete rewrite of the grant that was signed by the city in 2024” “How do you reconcile those two statements? This grant agreement says this project is intended to deal with the hundred-year floodplain, but on your website for frequently asked questions, it says, no, that’s not the case”

Mentesnot — angry and confrontational

Directed at: City Council and police Topic: Police violence and reparations

Made inflammatory statements about police killing African Americans and criticized moment of silence for white woman while ignoring Palestinian deaths

“The police murder 100 Africans per day, every day. That is just North America” “This dumb, ignorant city council never talk about anything important to African people. We’re 26% of the population. We want to talk about reparations”

Connie Burton — frustrated and demanding

Directed at: City administration Topic: Summer youth program and East Tampa representation

Criticized city for taking summer youth program citywide, reducing East Tampa participation from many to only seven children

“What did the city do? They snatched the program, made it citywide and only seven children from East Tampa last year had an opportunity to participate. Seven”

Ashley Morrow — constructive but concerned

Directed at: City leadership and community organizations Topic: East Tampa community issues

Called for better communication, stronger alignment between CAC and CRA, transparency in resource distribution, and addressing misinformation in the community

“Misinformation is spreading like wildfire through my community. It’s creating unnecessary division”

Projects & Initiatives

South Howard Flood Relief Project

Major stormwater infrastructure project to install box culverts from Swann Avenue to Howard Avenue to address flooding in Parkland Estates and surrounding areas

Owner: City of Tampa Mobility Department
Status: Grant extension approved, GMP vote expected August/September 2026
Timeline: Construction to begin late 2026, completion by 2029-2030
Budget: Estimated $100+ million total, $54 million city match required
Funding Justification: Address chronic flooding from storms, protect homes and lives
Related Projects: Palma Ceia Pines flooding project needed as Phase 2
Concerns: Technical deficiencies in grant application, inaccurate information, impact on South Howard businesses, Palma Ceia Pines not included in Phase 1

Gadsden Park Improvements

Installation of ADA-accessible prefab bathroom above floodplain, sidewalks, and drainage improvements at entrance and around little league field

Owner: Parks and Recreation Department
Status: Approved for funding, revised resolution coming January 22
Budget: $600,000 from Small Neighborhood Parks fund
Related Projects: Julian B. Lane dock repair removed from funding request
Concerns: None raised

Julian B. Lane Attenuator Dock Repair

Repair of damaged boat dock at Julian B. Lane Park

Owner: Parks and Recreation Department
Status: Removed from funding request, may be addressed separately
Budget: $280,000 originally requested
Related Projects: Separated from Gadsden Park improvements
Concerns: Council objected to using Small Neighborhood Parks funds for major park, safety liability issues, need to relocate dock to prevent future damage

Summer Youth Internship Program

Employment program for young people aged 14-20 in city departments

Owner: Workforce Partnerships Department
Status: Currently accepting applications for 2026, expansion being considered
Timeline: Applications open now, program runs summer 2026
Budget: Current capacity 48 students, exploring expansion to 70
Related Projects: Mike Phillips All Abilities Internship Program for disabled youth
Concerns: Limited slots, communication improvements needed

Mike Phillips All Abilities Internship Program

Internship program specifically for people with disabilities, proposed 3.5 years ago but not yet operational

Owner: City administration (unclear which department)
Status: Framework developed but no dedicated funding source
Budget: $100,000 annually budgeted but no current funding source
Related Projects: Regular summer youth internship program
Concerns: Three and a half years since approval with minimal progress, lack of dedicated funding

Money & Spending

$10 million — South Howard Flood Relief Project - state grant extension
- Project: South Howard Flood Relief Project
- Type: Grant extension (no new spending)
- Payer: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Recipient: City of Tampa
- Debate: Significant opposition from businesses and some council members over project design and costs
$54 million — South Howard Flood Relief Project - city match requirement
- Project: South Howard Flood Relief Project
- Type: Previously committed match funding
- Payer: City of Tampa
- Recipient: Project contractors
- Debate: Questions about where funding will come from, potential tax increases
$600,000 — Gadsden Park improvements including ADA bathroom and drainage
- Project: Gadsden Park Improvements
- Type: New spending from existing fund
- Payer: City of Tampa Small Neighborhood Parks fund
- Recipient: Parks and Recreation Department
$210,000 — Tree plantings by Water Department - reimbursement from Tree Trust Fund
- Project: Comprehensive Infrastructure for Tampa’s Neighborhoods
- Type: Reimbursement for Type 1 and Type 2 trees only
- Payer: Tree Trust Fund
- Recipient: Water Department
- Debate: Public concern about using tree fund for non-shade trees
$125,000 — Tree plantings by Water Department - remaining reimbursement from surplus
- Project: Comprehensive Infrastructure for Tampa’s Neighborhoods
- Type: New spending from surplus funds
- Payer: FY 2025 budget surplus
- Recipient: Water Department
$320,000 — Lowry Park boat ramp boardwalk restoration
- Project: Shoreline improvement project
- Type: New spending
- Payer: City maintenance and repair funds
- Recipient: Parks and Recreation Department
$6.5 million — Forever chemicals settlement payment to city
- Type: Settlement revenue
- Payer: Chemical companies (settlement)
- Recipient: City of Tampa General Fund
- Part of multi-year settlement, more payments expected through 2033
$100,000 — Mike Phillips All Abilities Internship Program
- Project: Mike Phillips All Abilities Internship Program
- Type: Annual program funding needed
- Payer: City of Tampa (funding source to be determined)
- Recipient: Workforce/disability services
- Debate: Program approved 3.5 years ago but still lacks dedicated funding source

Decisions

Approved one-year extension of $10 million state flood relief grant for South Howard project by 4-3 vote
Removed Julian B. Lane dock repair from Small Neighborhood Parks funding request
Approved Gadsden Park improvements funding of $600,000 (revised resolution to come January 22)
Approved reimbursing Water Department $210,000 from Tree Trust Fund for Type 1 and Type 2 trees only
Approved reimbursing Water Department additional $125,000 from FY 2025 surplus funds
Approved $320,000 for Lowry Park boardwalk restoration
Directed staff to amend code so Tree Trust Fund only pays for Type 1 and Type 2 tree plantings
Approved bimonthly reports on disability internship program starting February 5
Approved renaming disability program to ‘Mike Phillips All Abilities Internship Program’
Approved adding disability internship program to city website
Approved exploring expansion of summer youth program from 48 to 70 participants

Action Items

Parks and Recreation Department: Bring back revised resolution for Gadsden Park improvements only (removing dock repair) (due: January 22, 2026)
Finance Department: Provide budget amendment resolution for Tree Trust Fund reimbursement ($210,000) (due: January 22, 2026 consent agenda)
Finance Department: Provide budget amendment resolution for surplus fund reimbursement ($125,000) (due: January 22, 2026 consent agenda)
Legal Department: Draft ordinance to limit Tree Trust Fund to Type 1 and Type 2 trees only (due: February 19, 2026)
Administration: Provide in-person report on disability internship program status and funding (due: February 5, 2026)
Parks and Recreation Department: Provide list of caterers who have participated since April 2025 (due: Within two weeks (by January 22))
Parks and Recreation Department: Provide written report on caterer program statistics (due: April 2, 2026)
Workforce Partnerships Department: Report on summer youth program expansion to 70 participants and costs (due: February 19, 2026)
Finance Department: Investigate pension check payment delays (due: Follow-up memo to Council)

Risks & Open Questions

South Howard flood project costs could escalate significantly beyond current $100+ million estimate
City lacks identified funding source for $54 million match requirement for flood project
Potential tax or stormwater fee increases may be needed to fund flood project
Palma Ceia Pines flooding issues not addressed until Phase 2, residents will continue flooding for years
South Howard businesses face potential $35 million in damages during 3-4 year construction period
Disability internship program still lacks dedicated funding after 3.5 years since approval
Julian B. Lane dock remains safety hazard and liability risk without repair funding
Limited summer youth program slots (48) insufficient for community demand