At 7:30 p.m. on April 28, Mayor Nate Kilton called the proceedings to order for the Regular Meeting of the City Commission.
Reverend Margaret Rountree, Lead Pastor of First United Methodist Church gave the invocation. The full house followed by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Mayor Kilton read three proclamations. The first recognized May 1, 2025 as the National Day of Prayer in Plant City. The second honored Annistyn Griffin for her work in promoting safety during Brain Injury Awareness Month. Her Happy Heads campaign obtained 150 bike helmets to give to the Hillsborough Sheriff‘s Department during the March Brain Injury Awareness Month. Griffin’s initiative enabled deputies to begin immediate distribution of helmets to local children and students, making a tangible impact on the wellbeing of kids. The third proclamation recognized the winners of the Miss Southwest Central Florida Competition.
The consent agenda items are considered routine and were adopted in one vote. Bill McDaniel, the city manager, brought these items before the City Commissioners.
25-191 – A presentation by the Utilities Department concerning the “Murf Art Project.” Many cute kids drew rendering of the famous Murf.
25-071 – A resolution approving an agreement with Hazen and Sawyer Inc., to prepare and submit the city’s water reclamation facility operating permit renewal. The cost is a not-to-exceed-fee of $162,500.
25-116 – A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a software license agreement with Kaizen Laboratories, Inc. for Parks and Recreation. The company will be paid seven percent of net fee billing.
25-154 – A resolution approving an agreement with Witt Fence Company for city-wide fence projects at a cost of $467,000.
25-167 – A resolution accepting the bid and award of a contract with GFLSW Southeast LLC for roll-off container services, at a cost of $2,324,000 per year, for two years.
25-168 – A resolution authorizing the purchase of one 16” GA valve from CS3 Waterworks, at a cost of $54,000. The valve being replaced is 36 years old.
25-172 – A resolution authorizing CivilSurv Design Group, Inc., to perform engineering design of the CDBG sidewalk project at S. Woodrow Wilson St., at a cost of $98,000.
25-173 – A resolution authorizing an engineering work order with Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP for traffic signal improvements along S. Collins St. at W. Grant St. and W. Prosser Dr./E. Roseland Ave., at a cost of $277,000.
25-171 – A resolution authorizing geotechnical services by Tierra, Inc. for the initial design phase of the Potable Reuse Project, at a cost of $80,000.
25-182 – A resolution authorizing CivilSurv Design Group, Inc. to conduct survey and mapping services for the initial design phase of the Potable Reuse Project, at a cost of $166,000.
The agenda then moved to matters related to legislative public hearings:
25-175 – A legislative public hearing on an ordinance vacating a portion of right of way located between South Jackson St. and Maguire St., south of Douglas St. (PB-2025-06).
25-179 – A legislative public hearing for map amendment PC/CPA 22-10 located at the northwest corner of Charlie Taylor Rd. and Swindell Rd.
25-178 – A quasi-judicial public hearing on an ordinance to rezone 147 acres to the Charlie Taylor Road Planned Development District, with specific approval requests, located at the northwest corner of Charlie Taylor Road and Swindell Road (PB-2022-36). The applicant proposed changing the land zoning from Hillsborough County Agriculture Single Family-1 to the Charlie Taylor Road Planned Development District. The change would allow 1,850,000 square feet of industrial (M-1) uses, excluding auto body repair and recycling operations. Combined with 25-179, these agenda items were the reason the room was packed. Several residents stood and spoke in opposition to rezoning the acreage to allow for the business park. One of the main contentions were arguments that adding so many square feet of concrete lowers the expanse of soil available to absorb heavy rain, and that the nearby properties will be left more vulnerable to flooding. Another stated concern was that the large trucks that go along with industrial traffic will make the area less safe. One resident of Farm at Varrea made the case that residents bought homes in that development, in part, because the surrounding area was zoned residential, and that the proposed development will be an eyesore and will lower the value of homes. After each person made an appeal not to rezone, some in the audience applauded. The City Commissioners listened to presentations, resident concerns, and discussed the project pros and cons, and mitigating factors for over 90 minutes. After the hearing, 40 people exited the room.
25-176 – A quasi-judicial public hearing on an ordinance to modify the Parkside Planned Development District located on the south side of West Grant St and South Tyler St (PB-2025-04).
25-163 – A resolution setting a legislative public hearing on an ordinance to annex two parcels totaling 14.6± acres – ANX-2024-08.
25-180 – A resolution setting a quasi-judicial public hearing on an ordinance to rezone 410 acres located north of Knights Griffin Rd, west of Bailey Rd. and east of Paul Buchman Highway to the Stalwart Planned Development District, with specific approval requests (PB-2023-43).
25-181 – A resolution setting a legislative public hearing for map amendment PC/CPA 23-05 located North of Knights Griffin Rd., West of Bailey Rd. and East of Paul Buchman Highway.
All of the agenda items passed with 5-0 votes. The meeting adjourned at 11:05 p.m.