Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Good morning and welcome to the October 7, 2026, regularly scheduled board member meeting of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. Everyone please rise for the pledge and invocation. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for Heavenly, gracious Father, thank you for this beautiful day and for all the blessings you've bestowed upon us. Please guide and direct this board today so we may make the best decisions for the residents of Hillsborough County. We ask these blessings and all other in your heavenly name, amen. Okay, this morning w

Good morning, thank you, Mr. Chair. It's my honor and pleasure for our Hillsborough County youth for their shining examples of how young people can lead the charge in addressing and eliminating bullying in our community. I would like to invite Ms. Rhonda Flowers, the co-chair of Anti-Bullying Advisory Committee to join me at the podium and tell us more about the Anti-Bullying Recognition Awards.

Awesome, awesome. Thank you so much, Ms. Flowers. And this year, we are recognizing a high school senior and a fourth grader as our 2026 Anti-Bullying Award winners. The Anti-Bullying Recognition Award goes to a young person or a group of young people up to the age of 19 to highlight their amazing efforts to eliminate bullying. This year's Individual Anti-Bullying Recognition Award winner is Madden Moore. Madden was nominated by her English teacher, Ms. Natasha Walker. Would Madden and her parents please join us at the podium? Good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning. Good mornin

One more. Awesome. So that's absolutely awesome. Beautiful, beautiful words. Thank you so much. Absolutely amazing. Absolutely amazing. Now we're going to recognize this year's Anti-Bullying Emerging Leader Award winner, Naraya Rivera. Would Naraya and her guests please join us at the podium?

Good morning. Nariah Rivera is 10 years old and a fourth grader at Lamona Elementary School in Brandon. She was nominated by her Boys and Girls Club director, Ms. Natasha McKellar, and she has truly become an anti-bullying supergirl. Her journey is inspiring. Naraya began attending the Carey Family Boys and Girls Club as a very quiet child, but she has grown into a courageous young leader who uses her voice to stand up for others. She consistently speaks out when she sees bullying or unfair treatment, and she reminds her peers of the importance of treating one another with fairness and respect

Thank you, and everyone, please remain here. Now I would like to welcome Elia Ewing from Windward Wealth Management, sponsor of the annual Anti-Bullying Award, who has special gifts to present. Mr. Ewing?

Thank you, Mr. Ewing. And we're going to present these awards here. And this one is for Ms. Madden Moore.

And then we have Thank you. Then we have Ms. Nariah Rivera.

And then we also have here, this is in appreciation to Eliah Ewing, Wealth Management.

Now, Commissioner Bowles will present our next proclamation.

Good morning, everyone. How are you all today? Wet day today. One of the things that is a little different that we don't normally do is provide something to our staff, but this is the only appropriate person to provide this to and department. So can I have Chief Daugherty and any of your staff that you want to come up here with you to accept this? I'll give you just a moment. Don't be shy. We all love you. Come on.

Thank you all so much. You know, for many of you, you do know, but for those that don't, I've spent most of my working career in the fire service. And I know some of the most important work that is done happens before the call ever comes into the dispatch center. Fire prevention is about education. It's about awareness and helping people recognize risks before they become emergencies. This year, the focus for Fire Prevention Week on a national level is on the growing risk of lithium ion battery fires. It's an issue we've also been working to address here in Hillsborough County through our fire

Thank you, Commissioner Bowles. All right, Bonnie, you want to review the changes to the agenda?

I have a motion to approve the changes. Move approval. Motion by Commissioner Welsall, approve the change of the agenda. Second, Commissioner Miller, please record your vote. And I want to say that Commissioner Myers is participating virtually this morning.

All right, thank you. Okay, we'll go into the public comment portion of the agenda. The board welcomes comments from citizens on any issue or concern, or your input is valued in terms of providing valuable input to board members. However, it is requested at the same time, you do not direct comments directly at staff or the board, but rather the issues. We've set aside 45 minutes for public comment. The chair will call on speakers in the order in which you signed up to speak. Please state your name and speak clearly into the microphone. First three speakers this morning are Jessica Scott, follo

Can I T-check to see if Jessica's online, please? Jessica did not check in today. Thank you very much. We'll move on to Lorraine Goellner in person.

Thank you for your comments. Next up, we have Lorene Goliner.

Thank you, ma'am. I am going to refer this over to the administration if they can pass this to the proper department. But if you could please state your name for the record. All right, thank you. Appreciate your comments. Layla Lilliquist, followed by Chris Hansen, who's virtual, and then Tony Rivera. Good morning.

Okay. Tony Rivera. Tony here. Please come forward and followed by Tom Cobert and then Karen McGinnis Vaughn. Morning, sir.

Mr. Rivera, you're saying so many nice things. I hate to cut you off, but I'm going to cut you off. Thank you for coming down. Gloria, my office, I know you speak with frequently. We'll be in touch with you. If you have anything you want to give to the clerk, you can give it to her and we'll get it. But thank you for coming down. No, no. You said all the right things, and I want to let you go, but we've got a long agenda.

Thank you, sir. Tom Cobert. And then last speaker is Karen McGinnis Vaughan.

Thank you, Mr. Covert. Last speaker, Karen McGinnis Vaughn. Ms. Vaughn here. All right, if not, that closes. Oh, you're virtual. I'm sorry. Please go ahead.

I very much appreciate your comments. I'm not sure what role the board has, but I will refer it over to the administration. All right, that closes public comment. Can we have a motion to approve consent? So moved. Motion, Commissioner Wohlstuhl. Second, Commissioner Cohen. Please record your vote on the consent agenda.

Bonnie, will you introduce the first item?

All right, thank you, John. Board discussion or motion?

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, colleagues, for your past support. Thank you, Mr. Moeller, for all of your work on this. I know some of it was a slog and a lot of back and forth, but this document is materially similar to the previous one, subject to the other changes, and I will move forward for approval. Thank you. Second.

We have a motion by Commissioner Wilson, second by Commissioner Bowles, and I'm just going to essentially repeat what I did our last meeting. I fully support Zoo Tampa. However, in good conscience, I cannot approve 75 million when we only designated 50 million out of the CIT for all of our cultural institutions. I think we should be prudent and provide a much more modest amount to Zoo Tampa, which will allow us to partner with other cultural institutions, many of which have already requested capital funding. So with that, we got a motion and a second. Don't see anyone else in the queue. Please

Thank you. Thanks, John. All right, Bonnie, next item.

All right, thanks, Kevin. Commissioner Miller.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to note that this is an important investment in the infrastructure in South County, and I just wanted to thank staff for this very important step.

I've got a motion, Commissioner Miller. Second. Second, Commissioner Wohlstal. Please record your vote on B4.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This was an item brought forward by former Commissioner, now State Rep, Mike Owen, and I'm happy to finally have this finalized, and I move for approval.

Second. Motion, Commissioner Miller. Second, Commissioner Wohlstel. Please record your vote on B-5.

Thank you. First, I want to say, at least I'm not sure if our Public speaker is still here, but sometimes what we put in writing doesn't always come across what the intent per se is. That happens a lot with texts. In this society that we live in, you can start mean tweeting everybody. But I wanna be clear about what this item does. I'm speaking directly to my colleagues here at the dais. This proposal does not designate Lithia for additional growth. This proposal does not change zoning, land use, density, or the urban service area. Does not approve a development project or create a new mobilit

I'll leave it at that. All right, Commissioner Wohlstuhl. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a 74-page resolution I'd like to read in the record. I'm kidding, but I did want your reaction. I'm just gonna read you, I'm gonna read you a little snippet from it though, Commissioner Bowles. First, just ignore the main tweets. I'll be joining the chair and removing all social media on November the 4th myself. So in 2012, there was a DRI, Resolution R12-007. The public, preserve rural Lithia, can go look this document up themselves on the hillsclerk.com public record search of the BOCC records. They can go

say one thing, because unfortunately I lived through those days, and I recall, I haven't lost all my memory, but I do recall quite vividly, and it really, it's how you define community, because it wasn't the entire community, but it was select groups that clearly were anti-growth, and for whatever reason, you know, did not want that road widened. I sat on the MPO back then when it was called the MPO and I think that's why I ended up getting off it because they lobbied the board and we took it off of our future funding list as a result of the lobbying efforts of these select groups. And so ever

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Absolutely, Commissioner Whistell. And it's many of the same people on that group. So I second your comments there. Chris, this is a very thoughtful item. I do have one question. I'm not sure if you can answer it, if staff can answer it. And it's related to how this will coordinate with the Libya community plan, if someone can address that. That was one of the comments that came to my office, is how they would work together to make sure that they have input as well.

to the best of this structure fits within our current policy and standards. This would basically group things together and prioritize funding that would be collected in those zones and maybe create a. a Chinese menu list if you want to of embosses that could come in that area as well. So if it's not directly related to a development right in front, maybe you move an intersection down a quarter mile or a half mile away. Traffic, transportation influences from these neighborhoods and these areas are all affecting this currently today. So as we know, a development, whether it's commercial or resi

Thank you. Did you have anything to add, sir?

I just want to restate for the community and those that are listening, this item is not about saying yes to more development. It's about addressing the growth. The majority of the community is saying, let's plan for growth. Let's plan for our roads. We have to, this is exactly what you all have been asking us to do, is to think forward, and that's what I believe this item does. I'm happy to support it today. Thank you for bringing it forward, Commissioner Bowles. Yes, ma'am.

I don't want to beat a dead horse, but you're all absolutely right. And I just want to say, Commissioner Wustall, I was on the MPO in 2012 as a member of the Tampa City Council. I remember this discussion very, very well as though it was yesterday and everything that you said is correct about what unfolded and led to it being removed from the list. And again, to just reiterate what Commissioner Miller just said, this is about planning. This is about making thoughtful decisions now as opposed to playing catch up in the future. So I'll be happy to support your item.

Commissioner Bolts. And just to close on this item so we can get on to our time. Certains this again is not a. battering ram to put development in there. This is one to try to plan for. The other thing is I see this being used in a very limited capacity from the perspective that could it be used in Van Dyke? Sure. But we've had so much happening in South County and we have had so much happening with that particular area that I think it's probably not a bad idea to look at it from that perspective. And again, if it's designated, and I didn't know that Mr. Gormley was lurking in the audience, an

All right, so we get a motion by Commissioner Bowles. Second, Commissioner Miller. Please record your vote on F1.

Thanks, Commissioner Bowles. Okay, Bonnie, you had a first time certain?

Thank you very much for that coordinated and very informative presentation. We'll go into board discussion. Commissioner Whistell, you're recognized.

Thank you. I think she meant robust presentation, but I appreciate the thoroughness. And when my wife is disgusted that I call a mosquito bite a blood mill, I'm going to be blaming you there, Doc, for giving me that. But I do want to make sure that the public doesn't feel like a sense of panic. 224 people is one 10,000th percentage of the population of Hillsborough County. It's a very small number. I do appreciate that it's better for you to get on top of it before it becomes a problem. Josh brought up something that I was gonna bring up. This is being paid for by the emergency disaster and re

Commissioner Cameron-Cepeda, do you recognize?

Yes, thank you. So my concern also is with overspring, you know, that would affect humans, you know, in a negative way. That's really concerning to me. And also I know that this can kill bees, which is very important to our agricultural industry. So that's very, very important that we, you know, keep a watch on that. And those are things that are really concerning me. for the health issues for the humans, also bees, which affect our agriculture industry. So I really would like to address that. Thank you.

So are they keeping on schedule, a pretty regular schedule? I mean, because the beekeepers, they do have to cover the bees, so that's very important. If they missed it, you know what I mean, that would not be good.

First of all, thank you very much for a very thorough report. And I know we all appreciate all of the work that everyone is doing. A couple of questions. First of all, if you are a person who just saw this report on television and you want to check around your own house and do basically an inspection, what exactly should you be looking for in your yard?

Is it enough just to dump the water out?

Second question. Should people be applying more insect repellent? And should children be wearing insect repellent?

So we really ought to be treating insect repellent the way that we treat sunscreen.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Excellent.

Thank you. I don't see anyone else. Do we have a motion to receive the report? We have a motion by Commissioner Cohen and second by Commissioner Wistel. Please record your vote.

We have a motion by Commissioner Cohen, second by Commissioner Wistel on item B1. Please record your vote.

Move B2. Second. We have a motion and a second on B2. Please record your vote.

Excellent job, and I love how excited you are to talk about your job. It's a very great update. I don't see anyone in the queue. Move to receive the report. Second. Thank you. We have a first and a second on E1. Please record your vote.

Thank you. Great job. Thank you. Next item, please.

Thank you. We're going to receive a report right now. on this item for the Juvenile Justice Detention Center? Thank you, John.

Okay, thank you. So it was already in the backup plan. I'm sure everybody's already read this information. So my motion would be to authorize staff to conduct the necessary community engagement meeting, identify the rezoning requirements, and clarify the proposed terms of an interlocal agreement and or lease to support the Department of Juvenile Justice requests for the potential use of the 40-acre county-owned Stark Road property previously leased to the DJJ from 1975 to 2004 for a detention facility and returned to the BOCC with a report including next steps, cost, and responsibilities.

I'm sorry, what'd you say? I said I'll second it.

Okay, we have a motion and a second on F2. Commissioner Wilson, you're recognized.

Is this something that, like, did the DJJ ask for this site, or what's...

I've read all the back and forth, the email that they're being booted for the Ray Stadium unexpectedly. So yeah, whatever we can do to land them, I'm good with.

I see no one else in the queue. We have a Motion by Commissioner Cepeda, second by Commissioner Wistel. Please record your vote on F2.

Yes, thank you. I would like to make a motion to approve the FY27 budget amendment resolution to realign $100,000 of funding in CIP project C7795-1000, Highland Pines Outreach Center capital contribution to CIP project C77926000, Cuban Civic Club capital contribution. The Highland Pines Outreach Center contribution was an FY26 flag item for $100,000 and the funding remained unexpended and the funding agreement has not been successfully negotiated.

We have a motion and a second. A motion by Commissioner Cepeda, second by Commissioner Bowles. On item F3, please record your vote.

Thank you very much, and I'll be brief. Many of you are aware that there are growing safety concerns related to the operation of micro mobility devices, which really encompass e-bikes and other type of vehicles. other type of modes of transportation, I should say. You may know that Orange County recently adopted an ordinance to bring some structure to the use of these types of devices. And I've been working with the sheriff and the county attorney's office on an ordinance to do that here in Hillsborough County. And as usual with these ordinances, we're going to write it in such a way that the

Thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Cohen, a second by Commissioner Wustl on item F4. Seeing no one in the queue, please record your vote.

Thank you very much. I'm very proud to bring forward this honorary roadway designation, recognizing bill Nora and the Nora family, It's an incredible legacy in the Brandon community. For 70 years, this family has served Brandon and their story really reflects what community care is all about. Bill built this practice in a very difficult time when prescriptions might be paid for with chickens, eggs, and even bushels of peppers. It speaks to the relationships he built and the philosophy of simply taking care of your neighbors. The legacy didn't end with Bill. John, Mary, and now Basil have conti

We have a motion by Commissioner Cohen. Thank you. And a second by Commissioner Wissel on item F5. Please record your vote.

Thank you, and I'm obviously not gonna have discussion on all of them, but these are all live local projects of which zero have been approved in the unincorporated Hillsborough County, especially since we unanimously filed a lawsuit because we disagree and we believe that this law is unconstitutional. I have no idea why we are proceeding forward in any mechanism to move Live Local Project forward, whether if it's to do with the rezoning or not. But I will point out on the next item, although I'm only gonna really comment on one of them, I'll comment on the next one briefly, that Commissioner C

We have a motion and a second. Commissioner Cohen, you recognize?

Yeah, I'd like to offer a substitute motion to defer this. It came up very recently. I wanna have a chance to digest the arguments you've made and that's what I'd like to make a substitution.

I will rescind my motion and accept that as the motion and I will second it.

Thank you. Excellent. Okay, so we have a motion by Commissioner Cohen, a second by Commissioner Wustl to rescind A10. Commissioner Bolger recognized. No, defer it. I'm sorry, defer it. To defer it. My apologies. To defer it. Commissioner Bolger recognized.

My question is for the county attorney. Would this change our, or the other attorney, any one of the attorneys in the room, as far as it wouldn't affect our standing with either the current lawsuit or... to the degree that you're able to say.

So if we could postulate that we may vote not to support that, in that scenario, would that change?

Just one comment. I want clarity on the county attorney's office helped development services create language that's currently advertised to the public that if they choose to proceed forward with a live local project and we prevail in our lawsuit, we're gonna go tear down their building.

And these projects, the Hillsborough Financing Authority, yes, it's a state facility, but Hillsborough County government many moons ago delegated our power to them. We delegated our own, they're essentially an extension of us in this world. They're going to use a government bonding funding mechanism to fund these projects, correct? While we are also simultaneously promising that if you proceed forward, we're going to bulldoze it. I just, I don't know even how we got to this point, but I'll leave it there. I got some smiles at least out of today, thank you.

We have a motion to defer A10 by Commissioner Cohen, a second by Commissioner Wesley. It's actually A10, 11, and 12. A10, 11, and 12. Thank you for making that easy. Please record your vote.

Thanks, I mean, we all know what the public hearing is, but there is many, many historical precedents that have been set throughout the history of Hillsborough County that when we have highly provocative or of high public interest items, that we have held public hearings in a site more conducive for the public outside of County Center and after 6 p.m. The first thing I wanna ask is that just as a favor from the board's parliamentarian, Rick, There's some confusion. I'm not gonna call you a nerd, I'm a nerd, but I think that we might be the only two possible nerds that have read all of the Robe

We have a motion and a second on the floor.

Commissioner Cohen. So, What you're saying is that you want to change it from in the morning to at night as well. And unfortunately, I just checked my calendar. I already have a conflict that night. I don't know about everybody else, but I just... I'm a little bit, I would like to try to accommodate what you're asking for, but the problem is, is that scheduling the proper date and time for it may be difficult. So that's my difficulty with supporting that part of your motion. On the issue of splitting the question, I'm in support of that. If you would like to do that, I think that's fair.

I'll call that when we get to the public hearing. I would say they did have other nights available that they would open up to the board to accommodate us for such an important item. So if it doesn't need to be on October the 21st, I would accept that as a friendly amendment to direct the county administrator to work out the best date that works for all of us and then work with this location to identify their availability at that time and date. Does that work? Okay.

Can we separate the two now so that one can move forward? So say we could move forward with the zoo if that is not what your issue is, or you're saying both of them need to be open? I'm not quite understanding what your end goal is here, sir.

Oh, it's just to schedule the public hearing to be in the evening at a remote location. For both items. Well, that, yeah, I mean, just what's advertised, but that is kind of a misnomer, I guess. Thank you.

I have one question. Could we set that within a parameter? So like that feels very indefinite to me and I'd like to have an end. In other words, this item shouldn't be held up, right? And if we all like getting our calendars is tough. I agree, I definitely think it needs to happen, but I'm a little concerned that we may push out too far, and it's clearly on our agenda for a reason today.

I mean, we have six of us here right now.

I just think that it may be a very general motion that allows you to just work through this with them and figure out when it's gonna be. That to me seems like the best.

That works for me. I'll accept that. I do agree with the Vice Chair, though, that it's kind of open-ended. None of us want it to be drawn on. This is not a strategy move. This is simply a promoting public transparency move. And I know that they had the 22nd available to them, and I think they said something like the 28th. And they host a variety of events there with technology solutions available. But that's fine, I'll accept that as a friendly amendment to leave it to just direct you guys to find a suitable location outside of County Center at 6.30 p.m., centrally located as possible in the E

Commissioner Bowles. Quickly, just for clarification, Commissioner Wistel, are we talking about both issues or can we bifurcate those today?

I mean, I'm fine with the zoo, I think is a net less contentious item. If that remains, if you wanna do this for the raise, I'm fine with that. I just... They happened to be, they were scheduled together by staff. So if you guys would like to split the zoo to proceed on the 21st at 10 a.m., then that's fine with me, and then schedule an alternative public hearing for the Tampa Bay raise item and centrally located in the East Hillsborough area, that's fine with me as well.

I'd like to actually bifurcate them, so.

Okay, then I will move to schedule a public hearing, an alternate public hearing for the Tampa Bay Rays item amendment to the CIT project list at 6.30 p.m. at an alternate location located in the East Hillsboro area. district centrally located and direct the county administrator to work with the Board of County Commissioners on a suitable date. Second.

We have a motion by Commissioner Russell, second by Commissioner Bowles. Please record your vote.

I will move for approval of scheduling the original CIT public hearing on October the 21st at 10 a.m. Second. And now, Rick, you don't need to give the explanation of a motion to divide the question. All right.

We have a motion by Commissioner Whistle, a second by Commissioner Bowles. Please record your vote.

Commissioner Cohen, you're recognized. Thank you. I have two. The first is I attended a town hall meeting recently with Councilman Vieira at Tampa City Hall discussing an epidemic of drowning among children with autism. And I wanted to bring it back here to ask the county administrator and our staff to look into things that we can do to educate the public about this problem. Specifically, I was told that the Department of Health has pool alarms that are available at no cost. These are alarms that tell people when something falls into the water. And I thought that it might be possible for us to

Thank you, Commissioner Whistle. Thank you, mine is more of just a moment of personal privilege to remind the community that today is the third anniversary of the attack of Hamas on Israel, and that many of our own community members were personally affected by that, and remind them that three years ago, two years ago now as it was, this board proudly stood with them on that attack, and I hope that they can do the same today, three years later, thank you.

Thank you. Commissioner Bolz, you recognize?

Thank you, Commissioner Bolz, for saying that. It's come to my attention that our, I don't know, call it sister county, but one of our local counties, within the last few years, was able to identify over $300 million, and I was able to verify this, $300 million in outstanding liens put forth by code enforcement in that county, and they were able to collect a percentage of that. But that just goes to kind of highlight how maybe some dollars are available. I'd like to ask that the county administrator, and I know that we maintain and collect code enforcement liens, but I have not been personally

Yes. Good. All right, thank you. I have one item myself. This one's coming forward. I'm sure some of you have received the many emails related to constituents having issues around agritourism and ways that we can address it. We had a very productive community meeting recently And this request is following that meeting with our citizens and other members of our leadership. The request is for the county attorney's office to work with county administration to review the Agritourism Florida Statute Section 570.85 and other legal authority and provide a report regarding potential revisions to the H