After a critical City Council vote on Thursday, Tampa will move forward with its South Howard Avenue flood relief project.<\/p>\n
Intended to alleviate persistent flooding in low-lying parts of South Tampa, the projecthas quietly ballooned from $65 million to nearly $100 million and divided neighbors, business owners and city leaders.<\/p>\n
Ahead of Thursday\u2019s vote, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor had drawn a line. Had it failed, the city\u2019s chief financial officer said that morning, the project may have been cancelled altogether.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been a great deal of energy and resources put toward this project,\u201d said Dennis Rogero, the financial officer. \u201cAt some point, I think the decision needs to be made to either proceed with this $98 million project, or not proceed. That point has come tonight, per the mayor.\u201d<\/p>\n
After hours of debate and public comment, the Council voted to transfer more than $21 million to the project from another fund, with council members Bill Carlson, Guido Maniscalco and Naya Young voting no.<\/p>\n
The vote concerned only a slice of the total funding, but it carried extra weight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is our lives you hold in our hands,\u201d said Parkland Estates resident Steve Gerrish, who wore a shirt that read, \u201cStop flooding in Parkland Estates and Palma Ceia Pines.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this project gets stopped, there is no project waiting in the wings,\u201d he said. \u201cWe cannot physically, mentally, emotionally withstand more flooding.\u201d<\/p>\n
The plan involves adding a large box culvertand pipes along stretches of West Swann and South Howard avenues to address frequent flooding in Parkland Estates, Palma Ceia Pines and surrounding neighborhoods. The Council approved an initial contract<\/a> with Kimmins Contracting Corp. in a 5-2 vote in 2024.<\/p>\n Proponents say that even short summer storms turn their streets into rivers, flooding their homes and businesses. But a group of business owners on South Howard have fought the project for months, as it will require periodically closing sections of the busy, two-lane street to traffic. Other detractors fear the cost and worry it will drain the city\u2019s stormwater budget.<\/p>\n Questions about funding have swirled around the project for months as the scale and scope have changed. Some council members say they have heard inconsistent information about the cost and funding plan.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery briefing and council meeting, I have received different answers,\u201d said council member Naya Young. \u201cWe all understand that something has to be done, but as a contributing member of this council, I would appreciate more transparency and consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n On Thursday, Rogero explained the city\u2019s plan to pay for the massive flood relief project.<\/p>\n The City Council has already approved more than $28 million, including $8.4 million from a stormwater fee assessed on taxpayers, a $10 million Florida Department of Environmental Protection grant, $10 million in bonds and the $21 million approved on Thursday.<\/p>\n That leaves a $50 million gap.<\/p>\n