Descriptions of Departments

Art Programs

The mission of the Art Programs Department is to develop and facilitate free access to artistic excellence. The department works with artists to bring visual art that is representative of the character and identity of Tampa to major public-use projects. This heightens Tampa's reputation and visibility both regionally and nationally as a city that is culturally aware and supportive of the arts. This is achieved by following best national practices in the fields of Art Administration and Programming. Programs under this Department include: The Public Art Program, The Photographer Laureate, Lights On Tampa, Public Art in Private Development, and other public/private partnerships.

Budget

The Budget Division of the Revenue and Finance Department prepares revenue and expenditures projections, budget instructions and target budgets. The division controls expenditures within approved appropriations, prepares budget resolutions, adjustments, budget-related briefings and summaries, and administers the Community Development Block Grant program.

Business Tax

TheBusiness Tax Division is part of the City of Tampa's Department of Code Enforcement and Business Tax, and is responsible for the issuance and collection for all Business Tax Receipts under the authority of Chapter 24 of the City of Tampa Code.

Cable Communication

The role of the Office of Cable Communication is twofold. The first mission is to assure that the residents of Tampa are provided reliable cable television service that meets industry technical standards. The second mission is to provide cable viewers quality programming covering a broad range of government information at minimal cost, while maintaining programming with a high level of integrity through neutrality.

The department's responsibilities include:

• Enforcing applicable federal, state, and local regulations and ordinances.
• Enforcing provisions of the cable franchise agreements.
• Monitoring cable construction and certifying acceptable performance levels.
• Investigating citizen complaints.
• Insuring the integrity of the activated cable system.
• Expediting City departments' telecommunication requirements via the cable communication system.
• Monitoring the development of public and educational access programming to the community.
• Directing the development of government access programming (CTTV) to the residents of Tampa.
• Developing and implementing the institutional network to support interactive data transmission by City departments and other local governmental agencies over the cable communication system.

Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff is responsible for coordinating and integrating the efforts of all departments and agencies to implement the programs directed by the mayor and the policies developed by the City Council. He also has direct supervisory responsibility for the Convention Center & Tourism, Human Resources, Parks & Recreation, Purchasing, and Technology & Innovation Departments, as well as the Art Programs, Intergovernmental Relations and Minority Business Development Divisions and coordination of major events.

City Attorney

The City Attorney is responsible for the legal activities of the City. The duties and responsibilities of the City Attorney are enumerated in the Revised Charter of the City of Tampa.

The City Attorney's Office provides legal advice and assistance to the Mayor, City Council and committees, department heads, officers and boards of the City. The following are examples of matters handled by the Legal Department: real property, federal and state grants and programs, unemployment compensation, authorities, and revenue and finance. Bonds, deeded obligations, contracts, leases, covenants, agreements and other legal documents which may be required by ordinance or by order of the Mayor or City Council are drafted by the Legal Department. The Legal Department defends the City's interest before courts and boards.

City Clerk

The proceedings of every City Council meeting are recorded by the Documentation of City Records Division of the City Clerk's Office. This Division is also responsible for preparing City Council agendas; indexing local laws, ordinances, resolutions, agreements, and deeds; updating and distributing supplements to the City Code; and maintaining current appointments to City boards and committees, City and State financial disclosure statements and executive orders. The publication of legal notices, recording of official documents with appropriate agencies, and indexing of City cemetery burials is also the responsibility of this division.

The Support Services to the Boards Division provides support to the Community Redevelopment Agency, and the following boards: the Civil Service Board and the Public Nuisance Abatement Board.

The Code Enforcement Board (CEB) Division is the administrative staff for the board and records all CEB board meetings: keeps official files; distributes legal notices of code violations; prepares and files liens for non-compliance, and keeps the board and departments informed of board actions.

The Archives and Records Service Division has responsibility for the management of the public records of the City of Tampa in accordance with State statutes and local ordinances. It manages the program to inventory and schedule, microfilm, store, and finally dispose of or archive City records in all formats.

City Council

City Council is the legislative branch of City government and operates in accordance with the provisions of the 1974 Revised Charter of the City of Tampa. It is responsible for enacting ordinances and resolutions that the Mayor of Tampa administers as chief executive officer.

Seven Council members are elected by the voters of Tampa to serve for a term of four years. Council members for Districts #1, #2, and #3 are elected at-large and those from Districts #4 through #7 are elected in individual districts. The term of office for the current Council members will expire on March 31, 2007.

Meetings are held in the Council Chamber on the third floor of City Hall on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. to enact legislation pertaining to general City business. On the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., the City Council holds public hearings on land rezoning. Alcoholic beverage zonings are held the third Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m. Other special meetings are scheduled from time to time as the need arises.

Council members also serve individually as members of various boards, such as the Public Transportation Commission, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Tampa Sports Authority, the Hillsborough River Technical Advisory Council to the Interlocal Planning Board, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, Hillsborough County Youth Council, Hillsborough Constituency for Children, Council of Governments, Public Art Committee, and the Florida Aquarium.

City of Tampa Utilities

Utility billing for the City of Tampa is the responsibility of the Water Department's Distribution and Consumer Services Division. Most of the City's utility customers receive a consolidated monthly bill for three utility services: Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste. The Division reads over 140,000 water meters in a 211 square mile service area, and prepares and mails bills monthly.

Clean City

The Clean City  team's mission is to provide a comprehensive, landscape and maintenance system to the interstate, gateways and medians in an effort to reduce litter, graffiti and illegal dumping through education and enforcement, thus create a city environment that is aesthetically pleasing.

Code Enforcement and Business Tax

The Code Enforcement and Business Tax team is the City of Tampa entity responsible for enforcing Chapters 19 and 27 of the City of Tampa Code.  Infractions include, but are not limited to: zoning violations, overgrown lots or yards, inoperative vehicles, maintenance of structures, noise control, illegal signs, public nuisances, and anything else that may affect the quality of life within the boundaries of the city.  Additionally, Code Enforcement is responsible for enforcing Articles II and IV of Chapter 14 and relevant sections in Chapter 3 dealing with noise and security provision in Ybor City, Channelside, and the Central Business District.

Code Enforcement responds to complaints from citizens, peer to peer groups, and other agencies.  Systematic inspections are also performed throughout the city in an effort to keep developing situations from becoming worse.  

Code Enforcement also regulates rental properties throughout the city by certifying that landlords comply with the Florida State Minimum Housing Standards.  If they do meet these criteria, they are issued a Rental Certificate (Business License) that must be renewed annually.  Inspections performed by this division verify that rental properties do meet the state criteria before the Rental Certificate is issued.

The Business Tax Division is responsible for the administration, issuance and enforcement of business tax receipts. Additionally, its personnel inspect wreckers, survey establishments selling alcoholic beverages, and maintain the City's rental certificate files.

Community Affairs

Contract Administration

The Contract Administration Department manages the preparation of City contract documents for professional and construction services and provides architectural design, civil drafting and construction inspection services for capital improvement projects. The Building Maintenance Section performs routine maintenance for more than 500 City facilities. This includes painting, roof repair and replacement, interior repairs, HVAC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work.

Convention Center and Tourism

The major activity of the Convention Center and Tourism Department is to stimulate the local economy by providing a venue for national, regional and international conventions, trade shows and conferences that will bring the maximum number of out-of-town visitors to the area. Convention delegates, exhibitors and show managers spend money throughout the Tampa/Hillsborough County area, creating a positive economic impact.

The Convention Facilities Department is responsible for the City's operation and maintenance of the Tampa Convention Center. The 600,000 square foot Tampa Convention Center consists of a 200,000 square foot main exhibit hall, a 36,000 square foot ballroom, a 90,000 square foot lobby and 36 meeting rooms.

The Department is organized into five divisions consisting of the following: Administrative and Fiscal, Sales and Marketing, Engineering Operational Maintenance, and Convention Services. Convention staff concentrates on the marketing, promotion and administration of the Convention Center while services provided to show promoters are handled primarily through contractual arrangements.

In addition, the Convention Facilities Department administers the International Trade Fair program, which promotes the Tampa Bay region as a site for international trade fairs, conferences and symposiums.

Economic Opportunity

The Economic Opportunity Administrator reports directly to the Mayor and is responsible for the oversight of Community Redevelopment Areas.

The mission of the Economic and Urban Development is to maximize the quality, pace and beneficial economic impact of Tampa's key strategic community revitalization initiatives. The department oversees 7 City of Tampa Community Redevelopment Areas.  The department will plan and execute strategic public investments, regulatory actions and incentive programs that create widespread sustained private investment in the redevelopment areas thereby improving quality of life, community aesthetics and environmental health.

Emergency Management

Emergency Management has taken a practical, no-nonsense approach to all-hazards emergency planning, which includes threats from hurricanes and other weather related emergencies, as well as man-made or technological events such as utility disruptions, hazardous materials spills and terrorism.

Employment Services

Employment Services, a division of Human Resources, performs the personnel hiring and testing function and maintains the City's comprehensive classification plan covering approximately 600 classes of work. This division also monitors the performance evaluation process, coordinates the administration of valid medical standards, and conducts job analysis research for developing valid selection procedures.

Fire and Police Pension

The Fire and Police Pension Fund is administered by a nine (9) member Board of Trustees who have appointed a full time Plan Administrator and administrative staff to conduct the daily operations for the effective and efficient administration of the pension plan. The Board of Trustees is responsible for the proper operation of the pension system in compliance with state and federal laws, the Internal Revenue Code, and making the provisions of the pension contract/act effective. Services provided by the Fire and Police Pension staff include processing approximately $5.5 million in monthly pension benefits to 1900+ retired firefighters, police officers, surviving spouses, minor children and DROP participants, including longevity, disability and death pension benefits; administering the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP); maintaining all active and retired firefighter and police officer confidential pension and medical files; processing line of duty and non-line of duty disability applications; coordinating health and life insurance enrollment and changes for retirees and beneficiaries; and responding to requests for service and information from the public and approximately 1300 active and 1900 retired firefighters and police officers or beneficiaries.

Fire Rescue

The Fire Rescue Department provides essential service in the areas of fire prevention, fire protection, and emergency medical care. The department is comprised of the Operations, Rescue, Communications, Prevention, and Administrative Divisions.

Firefighters in the Operations division are assigned to twenty-one fire stations throughout the City. They are primarily responsible for first response to all emergency scenes and fire suppression. They are responsible for advanced life support services at emergencies, and fire prevention and safety activities.  Rescue transport personnel are assigned to eleven (11) rescue vehicles based at fire stations throughout the City. They provide basic life support and advanced life support medical care and transportation of the seriously ill and injured.  They also provide fire suppression support for the Operations division.

The Communications section receives calls for service, using the Police/Fire 911 system and dispatches the appropriate personnel and equipment. Fire prevention personnel conduct inspections, fire safety and loss management programs. The functions of personnel, supply, quality management, public education, and training are performed by Administrative division.

General Employee Retirement Fund

The Pension division provides oversight and administration of the General Employees (GE) Retirement Fund (employees other than uniformed fire and police). It also assists constituents with their annual healthcare, social security, tax, and annual enrollment processes.

Geographic Information Systems

The GIS Team is responsible for developing citywide GIS solutions and standards and provides strategic direction, leadership and management for implementing GIS solutions.

Green Tampa

City of Tampa employees are dedicated to a sustainable energy efficient future and improving the lives of our residents and making Tampa one of the best cities for people to visit. We are committed to investing in real tangible solutions to protect our natural environment for future generations.

Human Resources

The Director of Human Resources is responsible for the divisions of Employee Relations, Employment Services, and Risk Management and Central Services. Duties of those divisions are as follows:

Employee Relations negotiates and administers collective bargaining agreements; administers disciplinary actions and labor grievance procedures. The division is responsible for salary and benefits processing, affirmative action, unemployment compensation, Equal Employment Opportunity and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, employee training and tuition reimbursement. The Central Records Processing section is responsible for all employee data transactions on the Human Resource Management System including pay increases, benefit enrollment and changes, and other data; life insurance claims, new employee orientation, pre-employment medical exams, City-wide personnel file maintenance and other related functions.

Employment Services performs the personnel hiring and testing function and maintains the City's comprehensive classification plan covering approximately 600 classes of work. This division also monitors the performance evaluation process, coordinates the administration of valid medical standards, and conducts job analysis research for developing valid selection procedures.

Risk Management and Central Services includes several sections.   The Publications section is responsible for graphic design and mail services as well as coordination of contractual copying, printing and forms inventory services for the City. This section is also responsible for the coordination of the convenience copier program. Self Insurance is comprised of Risk and Insurance Administration, Claims and Safety.  The Risk and Insurance Administration section directs the Claims and Safety sections and manages both contractual and self-funded insurance programs. Responsibilities include the administration of workers' compensation, benefit and claims programs, general liability, property damage, health coverage and long term disability insurance; life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance programs. The Claims section investigates and adjusts all general liability and property damage claims filed against the City, as well as property damage losses to the City.  Following state and federal guidelines, the Safety section provides technical assistance in the area of loss prevention to all City departments. This is accomplished through training activities, facility inspections, accident investigations, health screenings and other efforts to identify and control hazards.

Intergovernmental Relations

Intergovernmental Relations presents the City's position with respect to regulations and legislation, and promotes its interests with the state and federal government and their agencies.

Internal Audit

The Internal Audit Department provides management with an independent appraisal of major areas of City activities in order to reduce potential risk and loss to the City. The Department reviews entities and functions for adequacy of controls, legal and contractual compliance and good business practice. The Department is responsible for performing audits as outlined in its agenda. Emphasis is on recurring audits of high risk and high dollar areas, and special requests from the Mayor and City departments.

Mayor's Office

The Mayor's Office provides services required of the executive branch of City government including administrative functions and public relations. The department is responsible for providing direction to department heads, administering ordinances and resolutions of City Council, meeting the public and providing information on matters of community concern.  The Mayor, as Chief Executive Officer, provides guidance and executive approval of the annual budget and long range planning for the City.

Mayor's Youth Corp

The Mayor's Youth Corps provides young people with a voice, helps them be more involved in decisions that affect their lives, and strives to advance their participation in society and civic life. The Mayor's Youth Corps takes a service-oriented grassroots approach, with teens participating in community service projects, leadership development activities, and the production of the award-winning, monthly television show, From the Corps.

Minority Business Development

The Minority Business Development program facilitates contract opportunities in construction, professional services and goods, and non-professional services for women and minority business firms that are certified to do business with the City of Tampa.

Neighborhood and Community Relations

The Neighborhood and Community Relations Office, part of the Neighborhood Services Department, serves as the link between the city of Tampa and the people by serving as the official community outreach office for the entire city. The office strives to provide outstanding customer service both internally and externally to anyone who contacts the office with questions, concerns or suggestions. Assisting the community is accomplished through direct personal contact, community meetings, and special events.

The office works very closely helping the officially recognized neighborhood associations who serve as the eyes, ears and voice for their neighborhood. Another key focus area is sharing helpful information to keep Tampa informed on important projects, special events and emergency preparedness. As the liaison between all the city departments and the people, the Neighborhood & Community Relations Office provides a point of contact to all citizens, with a special emphasis on Tampa's neighborhood & civic associations and the Mayor's African American Advisory Council (MAAAC).

Neighborhood Empowerment

The Department of Neighborhood Services serves as a convenient single point of contact for citizens to access services from Code Enforcement, Clean City, Neighborhood and Community Relations, Community Affairs, & Business Tax.  The department focuses  on strengthening neighborhoods by actively engaging citizens; consequently, empowering them in civic participation to make positive contributions to their communities.

Parking

A division of Public Works, Parking is responsible for the operation of all City of Tampa public parking including parking garages, City-owned lots, and on-street parking, which includes 11,372 off-street spaces and 2,097 on-street spaces.

Parks and Recreation

The Tampa Parks and Recreation Department manages, maintains and operates all the park and recreational facilities of the city, and develops and implements programs for cultural and recreational activities.  Tampa's parks system consists of 165 parks covering of 2,286 acres, 79 playgrounds, 194 racquet and multi-purpose courts, 107 ball fields, 19 community centers, 14 pools, five art studios, four cemeteries, two marinas, and 60 miles of multi-purpose trails.   

The Office of Special Events was established as a division of the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department to assist event organizers with the planning and coordinating events that occur on public property.

Another division of the department is the Mayor's Youth Corp. The Mayor's Youth Corp provides young people with a voice, helps them be more involved in decisions that affect their lives, and strives to advance their participation in society and civic life.   

Planning and Development

The City of Tampa Planning and Development Department's overall function is to ensure safe and affordable housing and commercial structures that are compatible and compliant with the applicable codes and ordinances. The Department is comprised of the Historic Preservation and Urban Design, Construction Services, Housing and Community Development, Land Development Coordination, Real Estate and the Planning Division. The Department is also home to the City's Green Officer, who guides the City in programs and services as we work toward becoming a more sustainable community.

Architectural Review and Historic Preservation

Architectural Review and Historic Preservation is a division of the Planning and Development Department. The Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Division identifies, preserves and promotes historically significant buildings, sites, objects and districts for the educational, cultural and economic benefit of the community, in addition to ensuring responsible new development throughout the city.

Construction Services

Construction Services, a division of the Planning and Development Department, is a one-stop shop for all construction permit and inspection needs. The division reviews construction plans, issues permits, and performs inspections to ensure building projects are built safely and in compliance with state and local codes and regulations helping to create a vibrant, livable, and safe-built community. Whether you are remodeling a home, building your dream house, or constructing a high-rise building, we look forward to serving you.

Housing and Community Development

Housing and Community Development is a division of the Planning and Development Department, which administers a variety of housing programs that assist eligible low and moderate-income residents purchase, rent or rehabilitate existing housing units located within the City of Tampa limits.

Land Development Coordination

Land Development Coordination (LDC) is a division of the Planning and Development Department. LDC houses the Zoning Section, Subdivision/DRI Section and Right-of-Way Mapping Section. Our mission is to efficiently and fairly administer City Codes and policies related to land development. Our goal is to be responsive to the public's need for accurate information related to the development of property.

Real Estate

Real Estate is a division of the Planning and Development Department. The Real Estate Division acts as a central service organization, providing the purchase, sale, leasing and property management services of real estate for other City departments.

Planning Division

The Planning Division is comprised of multiple disciplines that are directly related to current and long-range planning and development projects throughout the City of Tampa. The Division serves as the lead for six primary focus areas, which include Development Code Writing, Community Planning & Form Based Codes, Long Range & Strategic Planning, Transportation Planning, Natural Resources, and GIS.
 

Police

The Tampa Police Department works to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life through a cooperative partnership with all citizens. This proactive approach to Community-Oriented Policing coupled with the department's "Focus on Four" philosophy has achieved steady reductions in crime each year since 2002.

The Focus on Four Plan is comprised of four guiding components that target four high volume pattern crimes: Burglary, Robbery, Auto Burglary and Auto Theft. The plan evolves monthly, weekly and sometimes daily to stay ahead of crime trends in our city and to constantly grow our partnerships with our citizens.

TPD is comprised of three uniform patrol districts located throughout the city along with a downtown headquarters which houses the department's investigations and support divisions. Together they serve over 344,000 residents who call Tampa their home.

Public Affairs

The Public Affairs Division works behind the scenes to develop City messaging and programs that effectively communicate the City's goals, accomplishments, and projects with a unique emphasis on the City's six strategic focus areas. The division has extensive government experience and works to bring fresh ideas and new perspectives to City initiatives and programs while providing public relations support to all City departments. Additionally, the Public Affairs Division includes Design & Publications, the city's in-house graphics team, and the Office of Cable Communication.

Public Works

Purchasing

The Purchasing Department, as provided for in the City Charter, is responsible for all aspects of the City's centralized procurement process. Its objective is to acquire needed goods and services as efficiently and as inexpensively as possible, while assuring fair and equal opportunity to all qualified vendors. The Purchasing Department's primary function is to assist other City Departments in their procurement efforts, securing materials and services which meet necessary standards. Concurrently, the Purchasing Department monitors all procurement to ascertain compliance with applicable laws.

Department personnel prepare the City's procurement program; establish standards for quality assurance; purchase products and services; and administer contracts. Staff prepare specifications and schedule purchases; develop advantageous contractual terms; solicit and evaluate bids; award and administer contracts; place legal advertisements; prepare contract documents; maintain procurement records for all City departments; and formulate policy for the disposition of excess and/or obsolete material. Additionally, the department performs specialized specification writing functions for acquisition of all automotive vehicles, heavy equipment and related service contracts.

The Inventory and Stores Division manages Tampa's Perpetual Inventory System by establishing economic order quantities and uniform inventory procedures. The major function of this division is inventory storage and control of supply operations at 12 locations.  Personnel from Fire (2), Parks (1), Public Works (4), Sewer (4), Water (8), Solid Waste (1), and Fleet Maintenance (10), departments are assigned to Purchasing for the inventory function.

Functioning as a major business office of the City with the vendor community, the Purchasing Department strives to promote goodwill through sound business practices and efficient operations while providing the greatest value for the tax dollar.

Revenue and Finance

The Department of Revenue and Finance is responsible for managing the City's financial matters. Primary functions include: administration, budgeting, planning, accounting, investment, licensing, utility accounting, pension, and grant administration.

These functions are divided among the following divisions:

Accounting Division

Administers the general ledger; processes payroll records; maintains accounts receivable and payable; controls reimbursements and interdepartmental billings; and is responsible for investing City funds as well as negotiating bond issues. Additionally its personnel are responsible for balancing utility accounts; providing property control and central cashiering services; producing financial reports: and administering the City's pension fund.

Administration Division

The Director coordinates and directs all functions of the Department.

Budget Division

Prepares revenue and expenditures projections, budget instructions and target budgets. The division controls expenditures within approved appropriations, prepares budget resolutions, adjustments, budget-related briefings and summaries, and administers the Community Development Block Grant program.

Riverwalk

The City of Tampa has the opportunity to reshape the waterfront for everyone to have access to and enjoy by developing a Master Plan for the Tampa Riverwalk, a continuous pedestrian walkway extending from the Channelside area to Tampa Heights along the east side of the Hillsborough River. It will incorporate pedestrian amenities, art and interpretive elements, retail and restaurant uses, parks and open space, and other urban amenities.

Special Events

The Office of Special Events is a division of the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department and the regulatory authority of permitting outdoor special events on public property within the City of Tampa. All reservations for special events, such as festivals, runs / walks, parades, block parties and citywide holiday celebrations that take place on public property are initiated with our office.

Solid Waste

The Solid Waste Department is responsible for refuse collection and disposal for over 80,000 residential and commercial City customers. Its goal is to provide efficient and environmentally safe solid waste collection and disposal.

More than 360,000 tons of solid waste is processed annually. Eighty-eight percent is received at the McKay Bay Refuse to Energy Facility (RTE) where process able waste is separated and then burned to produce electricity. Nine percent of the current waste stream is recycled either through City of Tampa Recycling Programs or private ventures. The remaining three percent is sent to the County landfill.

The Solid Waste Department is composed of four divisions and has been assigned a staff of 176. These divisions include:

Collection - Provides residential and commercial collection services, and collection services in support of special events and community clean-ups.

Disposal - Operates two free brush sites, the Manhattan Brush Site and McKay Bay RTE Transfer Station. This office is responsible for addressing environmental concerns from the public and City departments, monitoring the McKay Bay RTE complex, and planning for long term solid waste disposal.

Recycling - This unit is responsible for implementing the City's Comprehensive Recycling Program, which includes curbside and multi-family recycling, buy-back centers, drop-off sites, yard waste, office paper and commercial recycling programs.

Administration - Provides financial, personnel, public service, code enforcement, and management support to the entire department.

Technology and Innovation

The Department Technology and Innovation (T&I) is the City of Tampa's central technology provider in areas of applications development and support, technology infrastructure and integration, IT security, geographical information systems, computer/telecommunications and radio support. Technology & Innovation ensures City of Tampa residents and city department's easy access to a wide range of services needed in daily activities.

Transportation

The Transportation Division focuses on transportation planning, project development and management, traffic engineering, right of way permitting, and mass transit initiatives, as well as the City's overall mobility needs. The Transportation Division reports directly to the Administrator of Public Works and Utilities Services.

The Transportation Division has two main sections, the Traffic Engineering Section and the Planning and Project Management Section.

The Traffic Engineering Section is responsible for investigating and evaluating traffic operation issues, including, but not limited to, speed studies, cut thru traffic, and school safety, traffic signal and stop sign requests, driveway requests through right-of-way permitting, and 5-minute parking sign information.

The Planning and Project Management Section is responsible for projects, such as the 40th Street Project, the Truck Route Study, Cross Creek Widening, and the Bayshore Blvd. Enhancement Project, as well as surveying support for City projects. Other responsibilities include development review of proposed rezoning projects and new construction, updating traffic counts, calculating Transportation impact fees and refunds, and driveway variances and waivers.

Wastewater

The Wastewater Department's goal is to provide outstanding Wastewater services to our customers while protecting public health and the environment.

Department personnel collect, treat, and dispose of more than 50 million gallons of wastewater per day from over 98,000 customers in Tampa and its immediate suburbs. Sanitary treatment requires the careful removal of pollutants and pathogens from wastewater in a manner consistent with Federal, state, and local regulations so that the end product can be returned to the environment for natural recycling.

The Wastewater Department consists of the following divisions:

Administration and Engineering - Provides financial, design engineering, information systems, contract monitoring, planning, customer service, and management support to the department.

Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant - Operates and maintains the City's 98 million gallon advanced wastewater treatment plant and 225 pumping stations.

Wastewater Collection - Charged with the construction, maintenance, repair, and replacement of wastewater pipelines.

Water

The Tampa Water Department delivers potable and reclaimed water services to more than 124,000 service locations.

Raw water is obtained from the Hillsborough River Reservoir. During periods when Hillsborough River flows are relatively low, the reservoir may be augmented with water pumped from the Tampa Bypass Canal or Sulphur Springs. All surface water is treated at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility. Its treatment capacity, ranging between 60 and 102 million gallons per day (mgd), depends on the quality of the raw water. The Morris Bridge Water Treatment Plant was completed in 1979 to provide additional pumping capacity during the seasonal dry periods and is now used as a re-pump station to meet daily peak demands when needed.

The City of Tampa purchases water from Tampa Bay Water, a regional water utility that sells water to local water providers, during times when demand is high and our own resources can no longer meet this demand. Water purchased from Tampa Bay Water is pumped from the Morris Bridge pumping station, which serves the northern section of the Tampa Water Department's distribution area.

Reclaimed water is produced at the City of Tampa's Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. The reclaimed water system distributes approximately 3 mgd of highly treated wastewater to residents and businesses in parts of South and West Tampa where it can be used for irrigation and other non-potable uses.
Treated water is pumped through a transmission and distribution system consisting of over 2,230 miles of pipe ranging in size from 2-inch to 54-inch diameter. Two re-pump stations, ground storage tanks and two elevated storage tanks are located in the distribution system. The Water Department currently serves a population of approximately 588,000.

The Department is operated and maintained by a staff of approximately 300 employees assigned to three divisions:

Production - Operates and maintains the treatment plant, reservoir, wellfield, repumping stations, and the ground and elevated storage tanks. Additionally, the division includes a state-certified laboratory and is responsible for water quality assurance.

Engineering - Provides design and water supply planning support to the Department and undertakes special studies. Additionally, personnel monitor the performance of contract engineers and water main installation contractors.

Distribution and Consumer Services- Maintains the flow system which includes all water mains, valves, fire hydrants, and meters. Insures backflow prevention. Provides utility billing services for the City's three utility services--Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste. The division is responsible for reading over 135,000 water meters in a 211 square mile service area, and preparing and mailing bills monthly. Focuses on all aspects of customer service, water conservation and efficiency, consumer awareness and customer education.
 

Ybor City Development Corp