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Council Members Take Road Trip

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By KATHY STEELE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 12, 2008

EAST TAMPA - The city's redevelopment board went on the road this week and heard from residents about what they want to improve neighborhoods.

It was the first time the city council, sitting as the community redevelopment agency, ventured from city hall to hold a meeting in the neighborhood. The East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership hosted the event Tuesday night during its monthly meeting at Young Middle School.

"We need to learn what your concerns are directly," said Councilman John Dingfelder, who pushed for the local meetings to happen.

Council members Gwen Miller, Mary Mulhern and Tom Scott, who is chairman of the redevelopment agency, also attended, along with more than 70 residents. Similar meetings in other community redevelopment areas, including Drew Park and Ybor City, are expected.

The East Tampa district is bordered by Hillsborough Avenue, interstates 275 and 4, and the city limits. A portion of property taxes collected in the district must be reinvested in community projects.

Residents' improvement list includes more sidewalks at schools, repairing potholes, installing speed bumps, removing trash and a faster pace in ending blight in East Tampa.

Walter Jackson generally praised the city's solid waste crews for cleaning up streets "but we've still got some people dropping off trash."

On one corner recently, he said, there were 16 tires, three couches and two doors.

Sidewalks are needed at Potter Elementary, James Elementary and Williams Middle School, Al Davis said.

"Students who are walking do not have adequate paths," Davis said. "I know because I've walked the paths."
East Tampa redevelopment manager Ed Johnson said there are 16 schools within the redevelopment area, and they have priority in a sidewalk plan under review.

"They are being looked at as fundable projects," he said.

Marvin Knight and Mike Farmer raised concerns about the slow pace of redevelopment. Both wanted to know why a limited number of blocks were repaved along East Lake Avenue, with Farmer calling such projects "patchwork."

"It's still looking blighted," Farmer said of East Tampa's corridors. "There are a lot of things that need to be done."

Johnson later noted that the East Lake project cost nearly $4 million and said there isn't enough money to do everything at once.

Knight wants to see more local businesses getting contracts on redevelopment projects.

Dingfelder said the city bids out projects and cannot mandate that contractors come from a certain area. But in some instances, local contractors can qualify for special consideration.

"They can still be the successful bidder," he said.

In response to a question about a mailing of more than 14,000 brochures highlighting redevelopment projects, Johnson said the printing was done by a local business, Sol Davis Printing.

Scott said he has asked the city to review how much money is spent by the Women Minority Business Enterprise Program within redevelopment areas.

"This is another tool that will help with business in East Tampa," Scott said.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 835-2103 or ksteele@tampatrib.com.

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