Police

The Tampa Police Department (TPD) is responsible for ensuring the protection, safety and welfare of City residents and visitors; protection of property; prevention of crime, with emphasis on Community Oriented Policing (COP); maintenance of community order and respect for the law. The Department is responsible for enforcement of the Laws of the State of Florida and the ordinances of the City of Tampa.

In FY98 the department will add two School Resource Officers for two new schools, one Accountant I, two part time Service Attendants, one Community Service Officer and two Latent Fingerprint Specialists. The additional positions bring the total number of full-time equivalent Police positions to 1,239(930 sworn and 309 civilian). This will give Tampa a ratio of 3.21 authorized sworn officers to one thousand residents.

Police Move

Currently the Tampa Police Department is centralized in one Headquarters close to downtown Tampa. This year the Police Department will decentralize to three locations. District Three and the administrative personnel will be downtown by City Hall in a 10 story Headquarters building purchased from Sun Bank. District One will move to a location by Tampa International Airport where a substation will be built on land leased from the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority. The District Two substation will be constructed on land donated by Anheuser-Busch Companies and Busch Entertainment Corporation located near Busch Gardens. The communications building will be located near Hillsborough County's Emergency Operations Center.

The bids for the two substations and the communications building will be let in late summer with anticipated completion dates of April, 1998 for the two substations and June, 1998 for the communication building. The Headquarters building is currently being refurbished, using bond refinancing funds, and should be ready for occupancy by October, 1997.

Community Oriented Policing

The Tampa Police Department is committed to Community Oriented Policing(COP). It is a fundamental principle for all police operations. In 1994the Supplemental Hiring grant (30 Officers) was implemented in three targeted areas in Tampa. The second of these hiring grants, the Universal Hiring Grant (51 Officers), was implemented in 1996 and these officers are assigned to the 20 Fire Stations throughout the City. Having the same officers working in the same area of town lets them get to know the people who live and work in the area. The officers make every effort to meet the citizens and gain their trust. The residents in these targeted areas are working with the Police to reduce crime in their neighborhoods. This cooperation has had dramatic results in reducing crime and improving the quality of life.

Community relations and public awareness generated by this program have provided an insight into the future of policing in Tampa. The success of these programs is not related to the number of total officers, but in the way the officers are deployed. Officers know the people and their desire to revitalize their community and improve their quality of life. With the help of the residents, the police have the eyes of the community to help them fight crime.

Decentralization of the Police Department from one location to three locations will further implementation of the COP program. The new headquarters and two new substations will be in use by the summer of 1998. This new deployment will help reduce response time and continue the benefits of the COP philosophy.

Police Vehicle Take Home Program

In 1996 the citizens of Hillsborough County approved a one-half cent increase in the sales tax rate for various projects. The City of Tampa share of this new tax, called the Community Investment Tax, allowed the Police Department to purchase 56 marked vehicles, in addition to the 50 replacement vehicles budgeted for this year. This purchase enabled the Police Department to expand the assigned vehicle or "take home" vehicle plan. This program allows qualified officers the opportunity to be assigned a personal take home vehicle. The objectives of the program are as follows: 1) to increase the visibility of marked police vehicles to provide crime deterrence and a reduction of traffic accidents; 2) to provide more rapid mobilization of off-duty personnel during emergency or disaster situations; 3) to improve response times to crimes in progress or on-site situations; 4) to decrease average vehicle costs through increased vehicle life and decreased maintenance and repair costs; and 5) to provide enhanced police service to citizens. The Community Investment Tax plan for FY98 includes 50 more cars for this program.

Gas Credit Card Program

The City has entered into a credit card agreement with Shell Oil Company to allow the Police Department marked units to get gas at any of the twenty-nine Shell stations in the City. Previously, the Fleet Maintenance Department purchased the gasoline and police officers were required to go to the fleet location to fill their tanks. The Shell program allows the officer to remain in his or her assigned area during the entire shift, thus saving time and gas.

A test of 115 cars using the Shell credit cards has met with approval by the officers involved. The rest of the Department will be on the program by early FY98.

Public Safety Grants

Local Law Enforcement Block Grants

The $2.2 million Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) received duringFY97 will be spent for computer technology improvements for the Police Department. Also, upon recommendation of the Grant Advisory Committee, a contribution of $71,500 of grant funds was given to the 13th Judicial Circuit Court-Drug Court.

The Police Department has applied for a $2.3 million grant for FY98. Of these funds, $100,000 will be donated to the Drug Court, $20,000 donated to the State Attorney's Office for drug enforcement, and approximately $2.2million will be spent for further technology improvements.

Supplemental Hiring Grant

This U.S. Department of Justice three-year grant for 30 officers will end in FY98. However, the Department plans to continue the community oriented policing programs that were started during this grant.

Universal Hiring Grant

This is the second year of a Department of Justice grant for 51 officers. Two officers have been assigned to every firehouse to introduce community oriented policing principles to neighborhoods throughout the City.

State Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Grant

This is the third year the State of Florida Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Grant has been awarded to the Tampa Police Department. The Grant proceeds of $94,000 provide a Police Officer and a detective to work exclusively on auto theft prevention.

State Home Monitoring Detention Program (Prompt)

The State of Florida is in the third year of the Police Re-enforcement of Monitoring Prior to Trial (PROMPT) Grant ($131,051). Certain youth are allowed to remain at home prior to trial and they are monitored randomly 24 hours, seven days a week.

U.S. Department of the Treasury ATF Project Track down Violent Crime Task Force Grant

This is the second year that Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) will provide a $32,000 grant to investigate the sources of firearms recovered from youth. ATF will furnish one special agent and the Tampa Police Department will furnish one detective to work full time on Project Track down.

U.S. Department of Justice Weed and Seed Grant

The third year of the Weed and Seed Grant for $750,000 continues to help communities to empower themselves with education and job placement. First, the Police Department 'Weeds' out the undesirable elements from the community. Then, the residents and community oriented police can form a partnership to continue to fight crime and to provide 'Seed' programs for economic development.

State Department of Juvenile Justice Aftercare Program

This grant of $394,200 replaces the Police Athletic League (PAL) Bootcamp Aftercare Grant. The State is now contracting with the City directly to provide youth counseling services for delinquent juveniles who have completed boot camp programs.

Fire

The Tampa Fire Department's goal is to save lives and protect the property of the citizens of Tampa. The authorized strength will remain at 574 forFY98. The reduction in overtime, begun with the addition of 21 firefighters in FY96, continued into FY97.

The Fire Department will be able to replace some older equipment with money raised by the Community Investment Tax. The department purchased one aerial truck,
five pumpers, three pickup trucks, and one sedan during FY97. Various improvements to fire stations and facilities have also been completed. A new gas burn pit for training was authorized this year and the required training on the new aircraft rescue fire fighting truck was completed.

In FY98 the Fire Department will purchase one aerial truck and two sedans from the Community Investment Tax funds. Also, three pumpers and three rescue vehicles will be purchased from bond refinancing funds. These additions will improve dependability and will reduce maintenance costs for the Fire Department's fleet.

Management Information Systems

In FY98 the Management Information Systems (MIS) Department will put major emphasis on the Year 2000 problem. Each network and system must be analyzed to determine what problems the Year 2000 might cause. MIS plans to have all host based applications Year 2000 compliant by the end of 1998. Several applications, such as the financial system, are already being updated. Police system requirements will be determined in the Replacement Information Plan due in October, 1997. Various replacement applications, contractual services, and software tools will be required to meet the target date. Following are estimated tasks and costs associated with making all systems compliant:

Fire Information Systems ($75,000)

The Fire Department is supported by a variety of systems. The first Year2000 compliant software is the rescue reporting system scheduled for installation by the end of FY97. The AS/400 computer aided dispatch (CAD) software will require a major version upgrade to meet Year 2000 requirements. The records management software also needs to be replaced.

Fleet Maintenance ($80,000)

The Fleet Maintenance system, is a large AS/400 application that includes1,000 programs and 375,000 lines of code. The current system will be reviewed to determine whether it should be revised or replaced.

Applicant Tracking ($20,000)

The City's Personnel Department manages the hiring process via a number of personal computer based applications that are not Year 2000 compliant. The existing system will be replaced with an integrated network based system.

Refuse-to-Energy (Scalehouse) ($10,000)

The Refuse-to-Energy application is supported by both AS/400 and mainframe computer systems. Another AS/400 will be required to replace the existing hardware due to the current system's limited storage capacity.

Claims Management ($25,000)

The City's Risk Management Division utilizes a network- based application to manage all City claims. The current system will be upgraded or replaced. Additionally, an electronic interface to the City's new financial system is intended to eliminate much of the duplicate data entry currently required.

Records Management ($20,000)

The City's record retention program currently uses an internally developed application that is not Year 2000 compliant. It will be replaced with a commercially available software package that will solve the problem.

MIS/OL Software Replacement ($25,000)

MIS has used MIS/OL software for on-line application development for many years. This software must be replaced to make the on-line programs developed by the City Year 2000 compliant.

Change Management Software ($50,000)

Change management software will be required to help manage the large number of programs that will be in various stages of modification for an extended period of time.

Software Tools and Testing Software ($100,000)

These software products facilitate the de-bugging of both on-line and batch programs and will allow MIS to introduce the upgraded product without disrupting current production. The total Year 2000 project cost of $500,000 includes contingency funding of $95,000.

Computer Network Project

The Personnel and Employee Relations Divisions of the Administration Department and the Tampa Convention Center are the primary test groups for a network of semi-smart personal computers, called "net PC's", using a mainframe network. The independent memory of each net PC is limited since all major programs and memory reside on the mainframe. The cost of this network is much less than a network of stand-alone personal computers.

When the City upgrades its computers in the future, this network would only require a mainframe change or upgrade which would modify the entire system. It would not require the purchase or upgrade of each personal computer, as is currently required. With the Windows 95 and future operating system upgrades, the older computers have to be replaced or upgraded periodically. This test case will determine the feasibility of using the net PCs City-wide, which would result in large cost savings for the City.

Web Pages

The Internet helps Tampa connect to its citizens and the world. Through a public/private partnership with InfoHaus, a local Web site developer, the City of Tampa has created a presence on the Internet. The City's website was created to facilitate communication links between City government and its residents and businesses.

The City of Tampa's "Home Page" on the Internet features a variety of information useful to community residents, businesses and tourists. It is accessible around the clock and around the world. The use of the WorldWide Web allows the City to distribute information and data such as:

· area demographics,
· tourist information,
· City permitting requirements,
· public service announcements,
· how to access City services,
· information about local schools,
· local economic development,
· the business climate,
· public safety and
· parks and recreation information.

The City's Web site is updated weekly with both the City Council's draftand action agendas. Users of the City's web site can send e-mail to City departments. The City's web pages are also linked to other web sites such as the Hillsborough County School Board, Hillsborough County and Florida State Internet sites. You can find the City of Tampa web site at: http://www.ci.tampa.fl.u.s.

The creation of an Intranet is also planned for FY98. The Intranet will facilitate cross-department communication and information dissemination within City government.

Business and Community Services

Business and Community Services continues to improve relations with the development community by building on successes over the past three years. Revising land development codes and improving operations at the Construction Service Center (CSC) have helped the department keep pace with new construction projects and assisted staff efforts to achieve the Mayor's goal of promoting in-fill development within the City. Organizational changes planned forFY98 include consolidating Community Redevelopment Agency and Economic Resource Center staff into the German-American Club building.

During FY97, the Development Review Committee (DRC) completed major revisions to the building, code enforcement, subdivision, and zoning codes. Other work has been completed on the Stormwater Technical manual and a new section on the Tree Trust Fund. In revising the Tree and Landscape codes, several meetings and workshops were held to solicit ideas and suggestions from neighborhood and environmental groups, industry representatives, and City staff. The final document incorporated much of their input and was adopted by City Council. Pending projects for the Committee include updating and consolidating the sign codes and reviewing all City fees and service charges. Overall, code revisions plus new ways of doing business at the CSC, described below, have resulted in residential permitting reduced to two days; commercial permitting to five days; and express permitting to approximately thirteen minutes.

To accelerate the permit process, the Construction Service Center has developed and implemented several measures over the last four years to improve efficiency. These measures include reorganizing staff into separate commercial and residential sections; cross-training inspections staff; utilizing an IVS (Inspection Voice System) to automate inspections scheduling; express permitting for projects not requiring plans or that have had plans pre-approved; and accepting credit cards payments for permits.

Earlier this year, the CSC began assigning staff to act as a liaisons for major commercial and residential projects. The project liaison is responsible for arranging and conducting pre-construction conferences with City staff, contractors and subcontractors. At these meetings, information packets containing names, phone numbers, pager numbers, inspection request codes, and instructions on calling in inspections are distributed. Also distributed, are new Inspection Service Division public handouts. These handouts contain residential and commercial inspection requirements, frequently asked questions, common code violations, who to call, and final inspections requirements. The development community has responded so favorably to this service that the Division has expanded it to also include pre-final conferences prior to project completion.

City-Wide Development

Construction projects are on the rise in the City. Commercial plan activity is up 15% from last year with over 35 large projects under construction or in the planning stages in the Downtown, New Tampa, and Ybor City areas. Major developments are described below:

Downtown

Two Harbor Place; Located on Harbour Island, the new headquarters for the Beneficial Corporation will be seven stories high and occupy 210,000 square feet. Construction is currently underway and is scheduled for completion in May, 1998. Total project costs are approximately $38 million and will add 825 new jobs downtown with an estimated annual payroll of $21 million.

Bayshore Towers ; Across the Hillsborough River from downtown Tampa, this twenty story building will be approximately 333,000 square feet and house 250 luxury apartments. Construction, valued at $23 million, started in the spring of 1997 and is anticipated to be completed in early 1998.

Ybor City

Centro Espanol Plaza; Utilizing the Ybor History Museum in the Centro Espanol building as an anchor, this $35 million retail complex covering217,000 square feet over 3.5 acres will include restaurants, entertainment areas, various retail shops, an 18 screen cinema, and an IMAX theatre. The Plaza is currently in the planning stage with initial groundbreaking scheduled for early 1998. Construction will take approximately 12 months to complete.

Hilton Garden Inn; Filling a need for hotel accommodations in Ybor City, a development group has put forth a proposal to construct a $6 million dollar, 90 room hotel on City-owned property located on 9th Avenue between17th and 18th Streets. Closing on the property is anticipated in the fall of 1997 and construction to begin soon thereafter. The hotel will cater mostly to business travelers during the week and tourists on weekends.

New Tampa

New Tampa Center; In January 1997, work was completed on another neighborhood shopping plaza. The 79,510 square foot center cost approximately $9.2 million to build and hosts a major super market chain as well as a variety of restaurants, specialty shops and small professional office space.

Carrington Park; Located in Tampa Palms, this development was completed in April, 1997. The development offers 248 residential units/apartments over an eleven acre site.

German-American Club

Anticipated for the fall of 1997, several agencies currently leasing space in Ybor City and several City operations located in the Tampa Municipal Office Building will be relocated to the German-American Club building. Advantages of this move are: consolidating Community Redevelopment Agency(CRA) and Economic Development Resource Center (EDRC) staff from different offices into one building; providing easier access and parking for citizens paying utility bills; and restoring a historic Tampa landmark. As a side benefit, this move would also allow the Mayor's Office to relocate to the ground floor of the Tampa Municipal Office Building, thus making his office more accessible to the public. It will also provide more space for staff meetings, conferences and press announcements.

This project is made possible through a favorable financial arrangement with TEDCO (Tampa Economic Development Corporation). The City will deed the property to TEDCO; then TEDCO will arrange for loans (approximately$1.2 million dollars) to renovate the property and lease it back to the City. After twenty years, ownership of the land and building will revert back to the City. Lease payments will come mostly from anticipated rent savings achieved from canceling current CRA and EDRC office leases.

Enterprise Community Enterprise Zone (EC/EZ)

In FY96, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided funding for Tampa's Enterprise Community and the Florida Department of Commerce funded Tampa's Enterprise Zone. These programs have a ten year designation and two year pay out period. Beginning in early FY96, $2.95 million was made available for EC and $500,000 for EZ. The EC/EZ provides benefits to eligible area residents through job creation and improvement of community conditions. Policy for the EC/EZ is established by the Tampa Enterprise Community-based Partnership. The goal of the Partnership is to improve employment and economic conditions so residents in the targeted neighborhoods can live and work in a safe environment and achieve a better future. The Partnership has focused its programs on the revitalization of the following seven neighborhoods: Sulphur Springs, Belmont Heights, Jackson Heights, Ybor City, Palmetto Beach, Tampa Heights, and West Tampa.

One of the first accomplishments of the Partnership was the initiation of the Good Faith Micro-Loan Program. In FY96, this program created ten new businesses. These ten businesses hired 30 new employees in the Enterprise Community area. These business owners are required to complete 15 hours of business management sessions and attend monthly borrower's group meetings. In FY97, the micro-loan program produced four additional new businesses, resulting in eight new employment opportunities.

The Partnership is working to encourage economic development in the area by creating jobs and empowering the community to identify and implement needed community programs. So far 524 jobs have been created or retained in the EC/EZ through new business activity.

Some other accomplishments occurring in the EC/EZ area have been or are soon to occur:

Community Outreach Program - 635 people have received assistance through this program; 52 completed employability skills classes, 508 received job referrals, and 75 received job placements.

Harmon's "Half-Way" Home; will implement the Van Pool Employee Transportation Service Program Corporation. This program will provide vans to transport low income residents to places of employment throughout the City. The EC/EZ residents will also receive discounted fares.

Youth Empowerment Program; Tampa United Methodists Centers is creating a program to train inner city youths in business management and operations. The students will learn how to start, own and operate a small business. They will also learn about computers and ways to manufacture and market a product; and will visit the work sites of major corporations.

Various projects in the EC/EZ area receiving EC/EZ funds have assisted 4,390families and individuals. An additional 1,897 families and individuals will receive service in the next year. The projects include dental, medical, education, counseling, self-improvement and family development services. Many of the Tampa EC/EZ projects have incorporated job training into their program model and address the problems of adult and family literacy, basic education skills, and parental involvement in their children's education. These programs have served 102 students and will serve an additional 28next year.

Section 108

The City is actively working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to utilize Federal Section 108 loan guarantee funds as incentives for economic development within distressed areas. The repayment of the Section108 loans will be guaranteed with the City's CDBG entitlement allocation. To date, the City has three active Section 108 projects in various stages of development:

The Floridan Hotel/Parking Garage

The existing 20 story, 169,898 square foot Floridan Hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located at 905 N. Florida Avenue in downtown Tampa. Capital LLC, a private investment group from California and Florida, recently acquired the Floridan. Current plans are to rehabilitate the structure and operate a high quality, historically significant hotel. Rehabilitation will require conversion of the current316 hotel rooms into 225 spacious suites. The ground floor will consist of an upscale restaurant and a coffee shop. The main lobby and adjoining grand ballrooms will be restored to the lavish style of the 1920's.

The City has received HUD's approval for $9.9 million Section 108 funds for this project; $6.5 million toward restoration of the Floridan Hotel and $3.4 million to fund acquisition of a vacant, adjacent lot and the construction of a six level, 300 space parking garage. The new owners are reviewing previous financing plans and may enter into negotiations to utilize Section 108 loan guarantee funding.

Kash n' Karry Supermarket

The 47,891 square foot supermarket features a deli, bakery, pharmacy, floral, seafood, meat departments and a liquor store. Located at Nebraska Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, in a minority and low-income neighborhood, the new store provides convenient accessibility for those residents who lack mobility and transportation. The new supermarket, opened June 30, 1997, employs 151 people including 50 full time positions.

The $3.6 million acquisition and development financing for the supermarket includes a $612 thousand land acquisition equity contribution by the developer, a $1.5 million conventional first mortgage, and a $1.5 million Section 108 second mortgage provided by the City. The Section 108 funds will be a financial obligation of the Kash n' Karry supermarket operation and will be paid back to the City. The City has received approval for the use of $1.5 million Section 108 funds for this project.

The Kress Block Retail/Commercial/Office Center

The proposed development plan for the historic Kress Block, located in downtown Tampa, calls for a mixed-use 147,900 square foot commercial office/retail project. This project will consist of street level restaurants, retail-marketplace shops with upper floors housing, health club facilities and quality professional office space. The 44,500 square foot Kress Block is located in the north end of the downtown central business district and occupied by three vacant buildings.

The proposed acquisition and development financing for the $7.5 million Kress Block includes conventional first mortgages on the three Kress Block buildings and a $4.5 million Section 108 mortgage provided by the City. The City has an application pending for the use of $4.5 million in Section108 funds for this project.

Economic Development Grant

In FY97, The City of Tampa was awarded a $750 thousand U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant. This grant, matched with $1 million City funded capital improvement projects, will be for the Ybor City business district. The $1.75 million will help create over 850new jobs. This is the first major grant that Ybor City has received since, the revitalization program began in 1989. The grant will help implement a variety of projects, including one that has been identified as a major infrastructure need for the past decade, the 7th Avenue Street scape project.

Other projects include:

Constructing a gateway at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Nick Nuccio Parkway;
Installing destination signs;
Additional historic street lighting;
Traffic safety enhancements;
Improving City-owned parking lots and common areas;
Expanding and upgrading water service lines for fire protection; and
Improving the sanitary sewer system.

This grant will enhance an already successful revitalization program for Ybor City.

Operation Clean Sweep

"Operation Clean-Sweep", initiated by the Mayor in October of1996, was the first phase of the City's Neighborhood Improvement Program to clean up the City by rehabilitation or demolition of condemned homes, apartment houses and other abandoned buildings that attract vagrants, vandals and drug addicts.

The program uses the resources of the many City departments in order to carry out this program. The Department of Business and Community Services, Division of Neighborhood Improvement, identifies buildings condemned through the Code Enforcement process. The Department's Community Redevelopment Agency provides rehabilitation loans through non-profit agencies to owners of homesteaded properties. Affordable housing will be built on the cleared lots through the Mayor's Challenge Fund Loan Program. The Parks Department administers the NEAT (Neighborhood Environmental Action Team) program; crews of employees and inner-city youth - to clean rights-of-way and vacant overgrown lots. The Solid Waste Department coordinates regular neighborhood clean-ups with civic groups and volunteers to remove accumulations, haul large items not normally accepted on weekly pickups and clean the areas on a lot by lot basis.

During FY97, the City allocated more than $500 thousand in City and federal Community Development Block Grant funds to cover the cost of demolishing93 condemned structures. Another 38 structures were demolished for the City by the State Department of Corrections. Other condemned homes have been rehabilitated by owners with the aid of City operated loan programs.

For FY98, the City is allocating $400 thousand in Community Development
Block Grant funds and $261 thousand in City funds for a total of $661 thousand to fund Phase II of the program with a goal of demolishing over 250 structures.

Neighborhood Environmental Action Team (NEAT)

In FY97, the Mayor and the Parks Department created a new Parks division to clean up the City. The NEAT program is a cooperative effort of neighborhood associations, City departments (Business and Community Services, Solid Waste, Stormwater, Community Affairs, Publications, Police, Mayor's Office), and the judicial system.

Among the duties of this division are such activities as mowing and trash removal in thoroughfares, rights-of-way, and alleys. Other tasks are removal of graffiti City-wide, removal of weeds, spraying of herbicides in concrete medians, removal of illegal right-of-way signs, maintenance of non-compliance vacant lots and mowing of medians.

This project includes salaries for the 45 full-time equivalent approved positions and purchase of minor equipment, supplies, and tools. Every attempt was made to maximize production. This NEAT division works in different areas of the City in conjunction with Neighborhood clean-ups already established by the Solid Waste Department.

NEAT crews work seven days a week. Crews working Friday through Monday cleanup neighborhoods, working with THAN (Tampa Homeowners Association of Neighborhood), Mayor's Beautification Program, Neighborhood Associations and/or Homeowner's Associations, VISTA, Americorps, Neighborhood Crime Watch, Peer to Peer, and the individual neighborhood volunteers. These crews also maintain, on a regular basis, the City's inventoried thoroughfares. Crews working Monday through Thursday have the responsibility of
continuing and finishing the volunteer clean up from the previous weekend.

To maximize flexibility of the program's work area, the City is divided into four quadrants. The crews work in one quadrant at a time. Crews work four-day weeks, ten-hour days, Monday through Thursday or Friday though Monday. Heavy equipment and mowers are scheduled according to work schedules and utilized by all crews. A total of 37 full-time and 16 part-time at-risk youth are employed. Also, the City works closely with the Salvation Army in coordinating the Community Services workers who are used extensively throughout the program. NEAT also works with Bay Area Youth Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Family and Juvenile Court Program of the 13th Judicial Circuit to employ at-risk youth.

From January 1997 to July 1997, NEAT completed 22 of the 41 cleanups scheduled for 1997. Listed below are a few statistics which show the results of their work:

Total Tons of Litter/Debris Removed - 2,410
Illegal Signs Removed from Right-of-Way - 1,992
Linear Feet Right-of-Way Cleaned - 1,081,727
Number of Volunteers - 271

By maximizing the City work forces effectively and utilizing associations and volunteers with specialized weekend clean-up projects, the Mayor's new Parks NEAT division is projected to meet its stated goal of making the City of Tampa look clean again.

Mayor's Challenge Fund For Small Business Development

In FY96 the City's Challenge Fund for Small Business Development was amended to include job credit payments to the State of Florida Qualified Target Industries (QTI) Tax
Refund Program. This new program was included to enhance the encouragement of further business development, investment and job creation throughout the City of Tampa. QTI is available to all areas of the City. Private businesses which create new job opportunities and serve to relieve regional negative economic impacts will be given top priority.

Applications for QTI can be approved at the state level for refunds up to$5,000 per qualified new job created. The refunds are earned over a four year period with the state program requiring the local government to provide20% of the total tax refunds and the state paying the other 80%.

Previous commitments for the Small Business Development remain in effect. This will be the fourth year of the five year program. Eight local banks, the Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO) and Tampa Downtown Partnership are promoting the program to existing or new businesses in need of capital for fixtures and equipment, real estate acquisition or leasehold improvements. Loans feature lower than market rates with a maximum of $100,000.The City's commitment is in the form of limited loan guarantees which decrease the exposure of the lenders. TEDCO, a not-for-profit development company administered by the City, markets and processes the loans.

Job Training Programs

The mission of the Division of Urban Development and Job Training is to provide a qualified workforce for employers, career employment and training opportunities for individuals in need, and to assist in the economic development of Tampa. The focus of the partnership between City government, business leaders and local community organizations is to prepare individuals for career opportunities in high demand occupations.

The Jobs and Education Partnership, a unit of Enterprise Florida, has been designated to manage workforce development programs throughout the state. The Hillsborough Regional Workforce Development Board implements this statewide strategy and oversees all local workforce development initiatives county-wide. The transition of separate City and County programs into a consolidated service delivery area was begun during the 1996 Program Year. The City of Tampa operated job training programs through an interlocal agreement with Hillsborough County. Total consolidation will occur in Program Year 1997and Hillsborough County will assume all service delivery. The consolidation has produced significant cost savings, administrative streamlining, and better integration of services to the public.

Job training initiatives are funded through the federal Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and City General Revenue funds. JTPA funds are used to pay for training costs (tuition, books, supplies, etc.) and supports services (transportation, childcare etc.) and are targeted to four major program areas:

Title II serves economically disadvantaged adults with one or more significant barriers to employment.

Title IIB funds the Summer Youth Program for economically disadvantaged youth ages 14 - 21.

Title IIC is the year round youth program aimed at economically disadvantaged youth 16 - 21 year olds.

Title III assists adults who are dislocated workers due to layoff or long term unemployment.

The Division of Urban Development and Job Training administers JTPA programs and provides intake, eligibility determination, career planning, case management and counseling, and job placement assistance to JTPA program participants.

Training is provided primarily through the Hillsborough County School System Vocational Technical Centers, Hillsborough Community College, and a number of private schools.

Summer Jobs Campaign

The Summer Jobs Campaign provides summer employment activities for area youth between the ages of 14 and 21. The Division operates the JTPA Summer Youth Employment and Training Program (SYETP) which provides job training, academic enrichment, and employment at City departments, public school sites and non-profit agencies for over 600 economically disadvantaged City youth during the Summer of 1997. Transportation assistance is provided through HARTline bus passes.

In addition to the federally funded program, the City and County, along with caring individuals and businesses provided funding to the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay, Inc. to administer these private sector programs which served over 700 youth:

Pledge-A-Job enlists businesses and organizations to provide summer jobs and matches high school and college age youth to appropriate opportunities.
The Job Smart program instructs youth on career goal setting, job applications, interviewing, and employable skills.

Career Experience is a mentoring program that allows participants to explore career interest and obtain job readiness skills.

Keep it Clean Kids (KICK) provides youth to assist with neighborhood beautification projects.

Youth Volunteer Corps provides youth with valuable volunteer experience at various non-profit agencies.

Humanitarian Programs focus on intergenerational volunteer service at nursing homes, retirement centers and other sites.

Leisure Services

Utility Tax funding for Leisure Services will amount to over $2.8 million. In addition, Federal funds for Urban Development Action Grant and Community Development Block Grant projects will provide $1.0 million in FY98. Projects are scheduled to maintain facilities at standardized levels.

By leveraging funds with community associations, State and Federal grants and businesses, the City is able to expand the scope of the program and undertake additional projects for which funding would not have been available in the past. Matching funds in FY98 are projected to be $135,000. Examples of leveraged projects include Landscaping Improvements, Major Thorough-fares Beautification, Highway Beautification and Beautification with Clubs/Associations and Developers.

The FY98 Leisure Services construction program utilizes $2.8 million in funding from Utility Taxes for the following leisure projects:

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Leisure Projects

In FY98, Tampa will receive CDBG funds from the Federal Government for various activities, including capital projects. CDBG expenditures are subject to federal guidelines and generally are applicable to specific neighborhoods occupied by citizens of low and moderate income.

The FY98 funds will be used for:

Tampa Convention Center

Business has been brisk at the Tampa Convention Center (TCC). Revenues from facility rents and profits centers have increased 20% from last year. Two new services have helped boost the Center's revenues. In August, 1996, TCC took electrical services in-house, increasing profits from this service.

An additional new source of revenue is CVB Network (Convention & Visitor Broadcast Network). CVB Network is the first digital television network designed exclusively for the convention industry. The Tampa Convention Center is the first convention center in the country to offer this service. Up to the minute event schedules are displayed as full motion video advertisements and video billboard broadcast simultaneously throughout the Center. Convention delegates will be able to view the Convention Center's channel in their hotel rooms by spring 1998.

As always, the Tampa Convention Center is hosting some exciting events. In 1997, the City will again welcome the National Tour Association (NTA).This is an exciting opportunity to promote the Tampa Bay area to over 3,000delegates from the top group travel companies in North America. Besides providing immediate economic impact to Tampa, this show provides many future tourism opportunities beyond the immediate economic impact.

Tampa is a sports town and the Tampa Convention Center will be host to the National Hockey League All Star FAN-tasy Fest in 1999. TCC will also host the 1999 NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Basketball Coaches Conference along with "Hoop City" the NCAA's fan event. The Tampa Convention Center was also selected as a co-host when the National Football League Super Bowl returns to Tampa in 2001.

Tampa Museum Of Art

The Tampa Museum of Art (TMA) is the City's premier showcase for the collection and exhibition of visual arts. With special exhibitions rotating every eight weeks, the Museum offers residents and visitors to the region opportunities to see some of the best in locally and nationally produced exhibitions.

In FY98, planned special exhibitions include:

The White House Collection of American Craft
James McNeill Whistler Works
Masterworks of Italian Design: 1960-1994
Ansel Adams' Photographs
An exhibition of Contemporary Cuban Art

Education is a major component of Museum activity. School programs serve approximately 20,000 students in Hillsborough County through tours and outreach materials. Lectures, gallery talks, noontime lectures, visiting artists, family activities and classes provide life-long learning opportunities for people of all ages.

During FY97, completion of Phase I grading of the Courtyard, combined with the move of the TMA pylons (now adorned with colorful banners) to the front of the Museum on Ashley Street, enhanced the Museum's street side presence. Efforts will continue to expand the Museum's role as a downtown attraction and visitor destination through exhibitions, programs and services, promotional efforts, and physical improvements.

One Percent For The Arts

The City of Tampa Art in Public Places program seeks to visually enhance and enrich the community by making art accessible to the public. The public art program is funded by one percent of municipal construction costs and augmented by private contributions and grants. Since the program's inception twelve years ago, the City has acquired and maintained 80 works of art valued at more than $1.5 million.

Acquisitions:

The City of Tampa's Art in Public Places program, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning, commissioned internationally renowned artist, Jonathan Borofsky, to do a major outdoor public art project for the Ice Palace Plaza. The 75 foot high "Lightning" is the tallest sculpture in the State of Florida.

An untitled sculpture by artist Doris Leeper, has been donated to the City by Park Tower Ltd. The sculpture, formerly located at the corner of Madison and Tampa Street, is currently undergoing restoration. When completed, this metal and fiberglass abstract sculpture will be permanently installed in a prominent location near downtown Tampa.

Restorations included the 13 foot steel sculpture, "Family of Man", donated to the City in 1993, and installed on the median of Bayshore Boulevard at the Gandy Boulevard entrance. This sculpture now successfully functions as a gateway to this historic route through South Tampa.

Community Public Art Projects consisted of the City assisting HARTline in commissioning a public artwork for HARTline's downtown commuter center. The neon mural, "Interchange" by Tampa artist, Richard Santiago, was installed in late 1996. The Mayor of Tampa hosts an annual breakfast to honor and present awards to those who have made a significant contribution to visually enhancing the community through public art. This year, the Art in Public Places award was given to HARTline for the "Interchange" neon mural.

Tampa's public art program is the lead organization for the national public awareness campaign, Save Outdoor Sculpture!, (SOS!) through the National Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian and the National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property.

This year, the City assisted the Henry B. Plant Museum in applying for an SOS! Goal 2000 Achievement Grant for the conservation and restoration of the "Transportation" sculpture fountain, the oldest major sculpture in the City's collection.

Recreation Programs

The Recreation Department conducts approximately 15 special events throughout the year, serving over 120,000 people. Events such as the International Festival, Taste of Tampa, Tampa Bay Senior Games, Halloween Fest, Gasparilla Distance Classic and Children's Parade, and Hoop-It-Up provide leisure entertainment for residents and a community focus for the neighborhoods.

Parks Reorganization

The Parks' Department FY97 re-organizational goal is to insure accountability and to prepare a management structure to assure future efficiency and effectiveness. Phase I of the reorganization became effective in mid- fiscal year, while Phase II will be implemented in the latter part of FY97.

The reorganization consisted of dividing the City into two geographic areas each composed of four districts. A Maintenance Manager heads each area with a superintendent assigned to each district. The superintendents are responsible for all aspects of work in their area including; security, forestry operations; facility maintenance; restroom cleaning; park and playground maintenance; athletic fields; custodial care of recreational centers; maintenance of rights-of-way; cemeteries, marinas; and monitoring of contract/leases.

Other changes were made in the Administration, Planning and MIS Divisions including the creation of an accounting division within Administration.

Ragan Park Center

The Ragan Park Center was destroyed by fire in April 1997. Funds to rebuild this structure have been provided in FY98 from HUD's Community Development Block Grant. This center was used as a rental building for various social events. Hillsborough County used the center for a food program and provided hot meals and a place to meet for neighborhood senior citizens. City Staff also used this center as a meeting location and for holiday parties.

Future plans are to rebuild at the current site, which will provide the citizens of Tampa with an updated facility to better meet their needs.

Cancer Survivors Memorial

The City of Tampa dedicated two acres in the southwest corner of Al Lopez Park as the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivor Plaza. The R. A. Bloch Foundation will donate $1 million to build and maintain the memorial. The plaza is to include a computer display of cancer survivors' stories, a "Positive Mental Attitude" walkway with 14 message plaques, seven bronze statues, and a "Cancer there's hope" sculpture, depicting stages of survivorship, from detection to a cure. Another aspect is the plaza facility design competition to incorporate these art works to fit with the local history and environment. The park's purpose is to remind people that there is a possibility of surviving cancer and to encouragethem to fight rather than give up.

Steps Toward Environmental Partnership

The Parks Department continues to work with the Mayor's Beautification Program developing programs training youngsters in landscape maintenance. This program is entitled Steps Toward Environmental Partnership (STEP). The program's slogan is: "Give the child a dream, then give them the skills to make that dream come true."

STEPS is comprised of Environmental Services Program, a summer program where the Jobs and Education Partnership Regional Workforce Development Board select youth to work and train in the Parks Department. These workers are then eligible to apply to a year-round weekend work effort through Youth Environment Partnership (YEP) or Neighborhood Environmental Action Team(NEAT) which keeps workers challenged on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. NEAT provides entrepreneurial opportunities and much needed support in the Enterprise Community/Enterprise Zone Neighborhoods.

Nationally recognized STEPS is a one-of-a-kind on-the-job training program. Several program graduate employees of the Parks Department are enrolled in the Hillsborough Community College Horticulture Program. The STEP's Advisory Council of the Mayor's Beautification Program is building networks to provide scholarships, job opportunities and access to other important community resources.

Downtown Riverwalk

The City of Tampa completed the first segment of the Downtown Riverwalk as part of the Curtis Hixon Park project. Additionally, the Federal Highway Administration has identified funds for:

Design, engineering and permitting ($500 thousand) of the Riverwalk from Curtis Hixon Park to Tampa's Convention Center.

Construction funds ($1.53 million) to complete the next phase of the Riverwalk.

When completed the Riverwalk will extend from Curtis Hixon Park to Beneficial Drive.

The work, administered by the Florida Department of Transportation, is planned as follows:

Completion of the design, engineering and permitting phase will occur in the Fall of 1997.

Completion of the construction of the next phase of the Riverwalk is scheduled for late 1998 or early 1999.

Mayor's Beautification Program

The Mayor's Beautification Program Committee, comprised of approximately50 members of the community, was established in February 1989. This non-profit public/private partnership's objective, in conjunction with the City of Tampa Parks department, is to landscape public property. This program utilizes the STEPS Toward Environmental Partnership, an at-risk youth on-the-job training program.

Projects for FY98 include landscaping for the Tampa Bay Community Stadium, Hillsborough River clean-up and participating in the weekly City NEAT program.

Other beautification programs supported by the Committee include the Trees for
Tampa; an opportunity for citizens to buy trees for friends and families; Tampa Downtown Rotary Tree Pruning Program and highway beautification.

Grants received in FY97 include:

A Highway Beautification Grant from Florida Department of Transportation for landscaping the slopes of the Westshore and I-275 Interchange.

Approval for the purchase of parcels in Tampa Palms, Port Tampa and Hillsborough River project sites from the County Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program.

Department of Environmental Protection's National Recreational Trails Program grant approval for trail construction at McKay Bay.

State Department of Environmental Protection Greenways and Trails grant to purchase two parcels of land at McKay Bay.

Hillsborough County Beautification Grant for landscaping on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

An Urban and Community Forestry Grants Program from Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for Epps Park.

The City will be applying for the following grants for FY98:

A State Park Florida Recreation and Development Assistance Program grant for picnic shelters, walkways, playground equipment and site work for Sulphur Springs Pool.

A Preservation 2000 (Florida Communities Trust) grant to purchase land at Tampa Palms, Hillsborough River and Cypress Street sites.

A U.S. Forestry Service grant via the State Department Division of UrbanForestry for planting additional trees around McKay Bay.

A Department of Environmental Protection National Recreation and Trails Program grant for trail construction along the Hillsborough River.

Transportation

In FY98, $5.5 million for transportation improvement projects are funded from Local Option Gas Taxes.
Projects funded in the FY98 program are:

Transportation Impact Fee

Ordinance No. 9362A, passed in 1986, imposes an impact fee on land development in the City. Revenues generated are used to provide for roads and related facilities necessitated by new development.

Projects funded in FY98 are:

Stormwater

Stormwater management continues to be a high priority service. A Stormwater capital improvement program of $3.9 million is planned for FY98.

The priorities for stormwater projects are to alleviate the flooding of:

structures,
land and private property,
streets and rights-of-way.

Utility Tax Fund projects included in the FY98 budget are:

Streetsweepers

Over the past three years, the Stormwater Division has replaced all six of its streetsweepers. The City is now meeting or exceeding its goal of sweeping all the curbed streets in the City at least once every 40 days. High profile areas such as Ybor City, Downtown and Bayshore are being swept more frequently.

Community Investment Tax Fund

The Community Investment Tax, approved by the voters on September 3, 1996,provides for a one half cent increase to the Sales Tax. In FY98, revenues from the tax are projected to be $9.2 million of which $6.2 million will be allocated to Capital Improvement projects. The remaining $3.0 million will go toward the purchase of vehicles and equipment.

The Capital Improvement project funds will be used for:

Utility Tax Construction Bond

In FY96, the City realized $23.6 million from refinancing Utility Tax Convention Center Bonds. The proceeds included almost $16 million for public safety capital improvement projects. Bond expenditures planned for FY98 include:

Parking

In FY98, the Parking Department will continue to operate and maintain facilities in the Central Business District and outlying areas. Listed below are projects that were completed in FY97 and projects that will take place in FY98:

Development of the Jackson Street Parking Lot is under way. The lot, located at the corner of Jackson Street and Florida Avenue, will have approximately 120 spaces and will open in FY98.

An employee-training program to educate cashiers and guards to improve customer service will continue during FY98.

A Capital Maintenance Plan for parking garages will be prepared in FY98.A consultant will inspect the garages, conduct tests, and prepare a 5-yearplan for the capital maintenance of all City garages.

The hiring of three Parking Enforcement Rangers is planned for FY98. The Rangers will have full arrest and police powers and will work in high-risk areas or danger zones where full police powers may be needed.

The South Regional Parking Garage located next to the Ice Palace opened in FY97 with 1,500 parking spaces.

In Ybor City, additional secured, lighted parking will be provided in all ten lots as well as the lot located at the Sheriff's Complex which opened in FY97.

Sheriff's Department personnel use the lot during the day and visitors use it during the
evenings and weekends.

An expansion program will be developed in late FY97 to address the growing demand on parking.

Improvement projects are funded in FY98 for the following locations:

Average Monthly Residential Utility Bill

The current monthly bill for an average home user is $ 54.80. With a proposed Solid Waste adjustment of $1.00 per month and a proposed Water adjustment of 14 cents per unit ($1.40 per month), this will increase to an average of $57.20 per month. This is an increase of 4.4%, which continues to be lower than many local jurisdictions.

Average User

The Solid Waste rate increase of $1.00 per month for residential customers, and a corresponding increase for commercial accounts, is necessary to prepare for the required improvements to the McKay Bay Refuse-to-Energy facility. This results from new emission standards and limitations imposed by Federal and State governments.

The Water rate increase of 14 cents per unit is necessary due to increasing personnel, operating and capital costs, as well as for additional expenses associated with the re-engineering at both Water Treatment Plants and the Water Quality 2000 plan.

Small User Charges

The effect of the proposed 14 cents per unit increase in the Water rate has a lesser effect on a single user household than the average household increase. The average household increase is based on a usage level of ten units per month while a single user household averages three units. This would make the effect of the increase to a single user household 42 cents per month.

Utility Accounting

In FY97, the Utility Accounting Division purchased new hand-held meter reading units to upgrade the outdated models used previously. The new units enable more data to be reported and transmittal of information to the billing data base is now done ten times faster, taking only two to three minutes daily. The transition to the new units was seamless with no complaints noted by customers. The agreement for the units also lowered maintenance costs and provides a year of free maintenance.

Sanitary Sewer

The Sewer Department's goal is to provide complete and cost effective service and to respond in a timely manner to expanding service requirements. Department personnel collect, treat and dispose of more than 59 million gallons per day (MGD) of raw sewage from over 98,000 customers in Tampa and its immediatesuburbs. Sanitary treatment of wastewater 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.

Plant Expansion

Expansion of the Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (AWTP) from a daily effluent processing capacity of 60 million gallons to 96 million gallons per day continues. This expansion is nearing completion, with startup of the expanded facilities scheduled for the first quarter of FY98.

Water Resource Recovery Project

This project would provide treated effluent to be pumped into the Tampa By-Pass Canal to supplement water sources for the growing needs of the region while providing a net environmental benefit. In 1993, the City of Tampa completed a pilot study that investigated the economic and technical feasibility of providing supplemental treatment of effluent from the Howard F. Curren AWTP to produce a water at least as good as the City of Tampa's current Hillsborough River raw water source. The study determined the treatment to be technically feasible.

An implementation study, funded in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the West Coast Regional Water Supply Authority, began in FY96 and will be completed approximately mid-FY98. Based on the results of the study, a decision will be made as to whether or not the project will be implemented or another alternative water source being explored in the region will be developed. If this project is chosen, construction would begin in FY01.

Staffing Study

A consultant study is currently underway to examine staffing levels and increase efficiency in the Sanitary Sewer Department. Results should be available in the second quarter of FY98, with a plan of action to be developed at that time.

Operating revenue projects funded in FY98 are:

Water Department

Tampa continues to be a leader in water treatment and water conservation techniques both locally and nationally. The department serves approximately440,000 people through over 121,500 meters. Twenty-two percent of the customers are located in unincorporated Hillsborough County. Two water treatment plants, Hillsborough River (HRWTP) and Morris Bridge (MBWTP) produce water that consistently exceeds current Federal water quality requirements. Non-revenue producing, or "lost" water is at 7%, considered outstanding for a system of Tampa's size and age.

Water Production

"Water Quality 2000" , started in FY96, is a guideline for improvements in the production division to ensure that water quality continues to exceed all current and anticipated regulations. The first phase is a Water Quality Master Plan, which has reviewed water quality conditions, existing process optimization, current and anticipated water quality regulations, new treatment alternatives and treatment capacity requirements. Various water treatment options for organic compound removal, corrosion control and microbial inactivation are being evaluated at the new pilot water treatment plant constructed at HRWTP.

Tampa has joined the Partnership for Safe Water, a voluntary program involving over 300 water utilities nationwide, to proactively optimize water treatment processes to provide increased protection against microbial contamination in the public drinking water supply. In May, 1997, Tampa was one of three cities to receive the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Director's Certificate of Recognition for successfully completing the first three phases of this innovative water quality improvement program.

Part of this re-engineering was a competitive assessment, performed in FY96by a panel of experts familiar with public and private sector operation and maintenance of water production facilities. The panel recommended significant investments in upgrades of plant automation and replacement of maintenance-intensive equipment. Other recommendations were to re-engineer the Division by cross training staff to be capable of performing both maintenance and operation duties. The City would experience significant chemical feed efficiencies and a 27% reduction in production staff. The design phase of the improvements is underway, with a projected completion date of FY99.

Water Distribution

This division maintains over 2,100 miles of water mains (ranging from 2"to 54" in diameter) and over 10,000 fire hydrants. In FY98 new transmission mains are planned for the Northeast portion of the service area on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to serve new development. Completion of the 30th St. Transmission Main near the University of South Florida and its medical facilities will also provide better pressure in the area.

Consumer Affairs Program

The division has created a series of informational pamphlets to better inform the public regarding services the Department offers. In association with the Distribution and Engineering Divisions, an improved public notification and communication procedure concerning upcoming capital improvement projects has been implemented.

The Conservation Section has continued its award winning programs. This year the Lowry Park Zoo Retrofit and Conservation Signage Project, the Water Wonders Program and the Conservation Theatrical Performance won statewide awards for water conservation education from the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association.

The Toilet Rebate Program is continuing and will focus on lower income residents as well as commercial applications. In FY98, approximately 5,000 residential and 2,000 commercial rebates will be offered.

Water Resources

Cycle testing was completed in FY97 for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR).The preliminary results are favorable and indicate that further development of an ASR system in the area is promising. ASR is a demand management technique to store treated water underground during the rainy season for use in the dry season when reservoir water is limited.

Also planned in FY98 is phase one of an implementation plan for reclaimed water reuse by South Tampa customers. The South Tampa Area Reuse Project(STAR) pipes a small portion of highly treated wastewater from the Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant for irrigation use in areas that have high irrigation demand. Plans include a customer survey, financial analysis, detailed design of the project and making a recommendation based on the results. If this phase is successful, the detailed design will beginning FY98.

North Boulevard Interconnect with WCRWSA

In FY96, an agreement was reached with the West Coast Regional Water Supply Authority (WCRWSA) to construct a connecting pipe from the City's water system into the water system of Hillsborough County. This is used to provide extra water during the rainy season to help replenish ground water supplies. The construction costs ($1.4 million) were fully reimbursed by WCRWSA and Hillsborough County. We have an agreement to sell excess water to WCRWSA and are projecting sales of $250,000 in FY98.

Morris Bridge Sales

In FY97, an agreement was reached with WCRWSA to pump water treated with chlorine from the Morris Bridge Wellfield into the WCRWSA loop system. Sales for FY98 are projected at $400,000.

Morris Bridge Engineering

A project to modernize the Morris Bridge Water Treatment Plant was begun in FY96. This project improves our secondary water treatment facility by upgrading the treatment process, engineering and automation at the plant. The planned re-engineering of the Hillsborough River Plant will also further automate processes thereby allowing remote control of the plant's operations from the Hillsborough River Plant.

The Water Department's FY98 Capital Improvement Program equals $6.6 million. These funds have been identified for:

Solid Waste

The Solid Waste Department operates an integrated solid waste management system (waste reduction, recycling, waste-to-energy, landfill) to provide efficient and environmentally safe collection and disposal service. Solid Waste personnel continue to concentrate on environmentally critical programs such as illegal dumping, recycling and the retrofit of the McKay Bay Refuse-to-Energy Plant.

Illegal Dumping

Although the number of illegal dumpsites monitored increased from 160 to205 during FY97, the frequency of the dumping continues to decrease. Of these sites, 72 continue to be used for illegal disposal. There are 26 sites being monitored for increased illegal usage. Ninety-four sites have experienced no illegal dumping in a number of months, and 13 sites are now inaccessible due to fencing, barricading or new construction.

During FY97, the Environmental Crimes Investigation Unit performed on-site nspections of approximately 100 medical clinics, doctor's offices and veterinarians offices to determine if they were properly disposing of bio-medical waste. All offices were in full compliance with the bio-medical waste laws. The unit continues to be active on the Federal Task Force and is also active on the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Task Force.

Recycling

Residents in the City of Tampa continue to recycle at a high rate. In FY97, additional focus was placed on encouraging more businesses to recycle, and the department began collecting glass, office paper and cardboard on a small scale from businesses at no charge. This has been very well received.

Hillsborough County, which includes the City of Tampa, has a State mandated County-wide recycling goal of 30%. This was met and exceeded several years ago. The current recycling rate is 36%.

Recycling Programs

Drop Off Recycling Program &shyp; The City has 24 sites where residents may drop recyclables. This is one of the highest volume drop-off programs in Florida. Over 300 tons of glass, aluminum, milk cartons, newspapers, drink boxes and cardboard are collected each month. Drop-off sites are located at City parks, supermarkets, churches, fire stations and area businesses.

Curbside Recycling; This includes both yard waste collection and blue box collection of glass, aluminum and newspaper. Both services are provided in various neighborhoods throughout the City and have excellent participation. Yardwaste collection is provided by City crews and processed by a contractor.

The Art of Recycling Contest; This was the fifth year of the art contest for high school and college students. More than 150 entries were received. The art is displayed for six weeks at the Tampa Museum of Art in April and May.

Christmas Tree Recycling; Sites were again available throughout the County, with four sites in the City to collect discarded Christmas trees. The Parks Department uses the mulch for landscaping. FY98 will be the ninth year of the program. County-wide, over 70,000 trees were collected in FY97.

The City, in conjunction with Hillsborough, Pinellas and Sarasota counties, is focusing an educational campaign on waste reduction, home composting and buying recycling products. The City held two home composting workshops at the Port Tampa Recreation Center in February and June.

The Recycling Division, in conjunction with the Mayor's Beautification Program, has two Americorps Volunteers in Service to America members working for one-year commitments. Their focus is to educate and involve low-income residents in recycling and composting programs. They recruit local youth to join the Neighborhood Environmental Action Team training and involve them in the process to ensure program sustainability.

Commercial Compactor and Roll-off Service

The Solid Waste Department started commercial compactor and roll-off service in FY97. Commercial compactors are a very efficient and effective means for collecting large quantities of commercial refuse. Estimated revenue of $2.5 million is expected over the next five years.

Vehicle Replacement

The Solid Waste Department replaced 48 of its 83 collection vehicles within the past three years. In FY98, ten additional vehicles will be replaced. The purchase of the vehicles will enable the Solid Waste Department to maintain its high standard in the collection and disposal of solid waste.

McKay Bay Refuse-to-Energy

The McKay Bay Refuse-to-Energy (RTE) Complex consists of a scalehouse, transfer station and RTE facility. The scalehouse weighs all incoming and outgoing waste. The transfer station is used to sort waste into various categories for further processing. About 88% of the incoming waste goes directly to the RTE facility, 3% to landfill and 9% is recycled.

In 1989, the Federal Government passed major revisions to the Clean Air Act. In 1995, the Environmental Protection Agency released the new emissions standards with a five-year compliance deadline. The new standards require state of the art combustion control in the furnace and air pollution control equipment in the back half of the facility. This requires a reconstruction of the current facility in order to meet the new standards and ensure tha the facility will function effectively for 20 years after the retrofit. The capital cost, expected to exceed $80 million, will be financed by new revenue bonds. The construction should begin in 1999 and be completed in2000.

To help in meeting the new standards there will be a residential rate increase of $1.00 per month, for the third year in a row. The FY98 monthly residential charge will go from $18.00 to $19.00 with a corresponding increase for commercial accounts.

Two Capital Improvement projects are scheduled for FY98:

Fleet Maintenance

In FY97, Fleet consolidated operations to its central maintenance facility and closed four satellite operations. As a result of this consolidation, Fleet reduced personnel by 14 positions since FY96. To provide a quicker turn around on repairs, Fleet also expanded their hours to include a 2ndshift that starts at 3P.M.

The Community Investment Tax monies have accelerated the replacement of vehicles that were uneconomical to repair. The Community Investment Tax also provided funds for additional police vehicles for the "take home" program.

Housing Programs and Rehabilitation

The City's housing programs in FY98 will build on past successes toward the goal of decent and affordable housing for all citizens. The Mayor's Challenge Fund Partnership is the driving force behind Tampa's record level production of affordable housing units. The partnership is made up of banks, credit unions, businesses, non-profit agencies and the City. Its strengthl ies in the synergy derived from the lending capacity of the banks and credit unions, the dedication of the non-
profits and the leveraging capability of the public sector.

The Community Redevelopment Agency is responsible for the City's affordable housing program. These programs are designed to assist residents in emergency situations, to preserve the City's housing stock and to provide first-time home ownership opportunities. The programs combine various financing tools from Federal and State housing agencies along with commercial bank loans from the Mayor's Challenge Fund Partnership.

Tampa's affordable housing programs have received several national and regional recognitions. Worth noting are:

The Award of Merit presented by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials;

The Award of Excellence given by the Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies;

PTI Technology Achievement Award in the category of Community and Economic Development for housing initiatives; and

The Future of the Region Award of Excellence received from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

In July, 1996, Tampa's program was among eight selected by the U.S. Conference of Mayors as the best in the nation, and in FY97 HUD informed us that Tampa was selected as having a "Best Practice" in decent and affordable housing.

Housing and redevelopment activities in FY98 will concentrate on construction of three new affordable housing subdivisions; City-wide rehabilitation and infill construction, and further business development in the designated Federal Enterprise Community and State Enterprise Zone. The latter is promoted by the efforts of the Tampa Enterprise Community-based Partnership and the City's Community Redevelopment Agency.

Funding from Federal and State housing programs in FY98 is $9.8 million. In addition to Federal HOME dollars, the City allocates a substantial portion of its Community Development Block Grant funds for housing services. The State Housing Initiatives Partnership grant, now in its sixth year will provide more than $1.7 million dollars. The reach and impact of these housing programs are substantially expanded by the leveraging of Federal and State resources with local sources, utilizing Challenge Fund and other private financing.

In conjunction with City assistance and the Tampa Housing Authority, various approaches to providing affordable housing will allow the City to produce about 2,250 units of newly constructed, rehabilitated or first-time homeownership units in FY97. Since the inception of the Challenge Fund in mid-1987the City will have assisted in the construction or rehabilitation of nearly11,250 housing units.

"Best Practice" Designation

The City of Tampa recently was selected by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as having a "Best Practice" in the area of decent and affordable housing. This designation was given following a comprehensive analysis of communities and organizations that received HUD community development assistance. The analysis took into consideration several categories including provision of care for the homeless, economic opportunity, decent and affordable housing, consolidated planning, and overall performance. The Department especially noted the City's achievements in the establishment and impact of the Mayor's Challenge Fund which has dramatically increased the affordable housing stock in the City of Tampa.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

In order to develop the Community Development Block Grant program, the City provides to residents, public agencies, and all other interested parties full public access to program information through media announcements, advertisements, citizen advisory committee meetings, public hearings and through the City's community services outreach staff.

Public hearings and notices are provided to obtain citizen views and to respond to proposals and questions at all stages of the program, including the identification of housing and community development needs, review of proposed activities, and review of program performance.

In FY98, the City will receive $5 million in CDBG entitlement funds. Additional program income of $581 thousand and reprogrammed prior year funds of $679thousand brings the total FY98 program to $6.3 million.

The Community Development housing allocation in FY98 continues the City's commitment to housing rehabilitation activities. A portion of the housing program ($400 thousand) is committed to the demolition of over 250 structures which are either structurally unsound or a public nuisance and a threat to the public safety. Funding for all CDBG housing programs in FY98 is $4.1million, representing 65% of the total CDBG program. These Federal funds provided to the City will be utilized to conduct a number of housing rehabilitation activities, programs for public agency residents and program delivery services. Through these programs, the City provides low cost housing repair financing to homeowners who earn below 80% of the area median income, adjusted for family size. The assistance is provided through a combination of deferred payment loans and low-interest Challenge Fund leveraged loans.

Other CDBG funded programs include $750,000 for public service agencies;$799,000 for general grants administration activities; and $844,000 for capital improvement projects. This combination of programs is designed top romote substantial long-term community improvements.

The City of Tampa's uses of CDBG funds are shifting more towards economic development. The City will be using CDBG funding as leverage for Section108 loan guarantee funds to combat severe economic distress, get stalled community projects restarted, revitalize decaying areas, promote economic development and eliminate slum and blight. Section 108 provides communities with a funding source for long-term, large scale, front-end financed economic development, housing, commercial rehabilitation, public facilities and large-scale physical development projects.

Tampa Housing Authority (THA)

In FY98, the City will allocate $532,000 in CDBG capital improvement funds for the repair/renovation of structural defects at J.L. Young Garden Apartments. The City continues to work with the Authority to reduce the number of substandard housing units and reduce the average length of residency. The City is also
working with the Housing Authority in obtaining grant funding approval for a Revitalization of Severely Distressed Public Housing Grant (HOPE VI).

Mayor's Challenge Fund Partnership

This partnership is a cooperative effort among the City, lending institutions and non-profits organizations to increase the quality and amount of affordable housing in Tampa. The purpose of this program is to encourage homeowners to repair their existing homes, to encourage homebuyers to buy within the City limits of Tampa and to encourage the rehabilitation of multifamily housing. The City coordinates the program, provides loan guarantees and inspects construction progress. The lenders provide liberalized underwriting conditions and below market interest rates. The non-profits provide a bridge to Tampa's local communities, to those who might not otherwise take advantage of homeownership, through housing counseling, loan packaging, construction and marketing.

Non-profits partners servicing the Mayor's Challenge Fund are:

Coach Foundation - assists first-time home buyers in locating affordable housing.

Tampa-Hillsborough Action Plan, Inc. - provides a wide range of affordable housing, construction and marketing.

Tampa United Methodist Centers, Inc. - develops and markets rehabilitated and newly constructed homes. Counsels first- time home buyers.

Tampa Preservation, Inc. - renovates older homes and builds historically compatible new homes in the Tampa Heights area.

OASIS - assists elderly residents in resolving housing-related problems.

The Mayor's Challenge Fund and the Tampa Housing Partnership have provided a solid foundation for increasing the opportunities to the citizens of Tampa for affordable and decent housing.

The affordable housing goals of the City and the Tampa Housing Partnership for FY98 are as follows:

To increase the opportunities for citizens to purchase or rent affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary housing by encouraging the rehabilitation, revitalization and redevelopment of the City's existing housing stock.

To encourage the planned development of new residential areas that will provide the appropriate number of single and multi-family housing units to meet the needs of existing housing- deficient populations and anticipated future residents.

To provide a beneficial economic impact to the community through activities such as new construction, rehabilitation and community redevelopment.

To rehabilitate existing housing, reversing the past rate of decline and extending its economic life, while providing a source of decent and affordable housing to build upon the positive aspects of existing neighborhoods.

Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan

The City of Tampa receives Federal funds that are expended for housing rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements, park and recreational facilities, public services throughout the City, and other activities considered essential to the comprehensive revitalization of neighborhoods. These limited resources have been directed toward the provision of services which benefit low and moderate income residents, reduction of slum and blight and as a match for other grant programs.

For FY95, the City of Tampa took advantage of an opportunity offered by Housing and Urban Development(HUD) to consolidate Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership Program, Emergency Shelter Grant Program, and Housing Opportunities for Person with AIDS under a single plan. Tampa thus became one of five cities nation-wide, and one of two in Florida, to have a consolidated plan approved by HUD. The advantage of this approach is that all of the housing and community development needs are reviewed together. Then, the various grant programs are tailored to meet this array of needs.

In FY97, the City submitted its second Consolidated Plan (1998-2002) and One Year Action Plan of resources to be expended to address priority needs and specific objectives identified in the Consolidated Plan. This submission of the Plan fully utilized the newly revised software package (CPS) provided by HUD. This method of reporting was implemented to allow federal report transmission via computer disks as well as a means of providing easier access to the public.

For FY98, HUD is incorporating upgraded technology accessible to the City by means of the Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) Set Up, Reporting and Distribution modules. This permits the City to have direct access to HUD headquarters' mainframe for immediate updating of grant information. IDIS is intended to simplify the grants management process for entitlement grant programs, in addition to reducing the amount of time required in producing reports. It also provides a method for comparing effectiveness of the programs as well as reducing the number of documents generated to satisfy performance reporting requirements for HUD.

The first of the bi-annual workshops of the Florida IDIS Users' Group was held in June, 1997 to share problems, solutions, experiences, and ideas among IDIS users. These workshops will continue in an effort by HUD and reporting grantees to improve efficiency in the grant application and review process.

In FY97, HUD will release a new generation of community planning software called CPS+. This new software will enable local and state governments, as well as their citizens, to quickly see and understand information about their communities, and to plan HUD projects. This newly revised software will be utilized by the City in combining the five-year Consolidated Plan submitted to HUD. Thus, HUD consolidated reporting will become completely electronic.

With increased Internet system usage within the business community and thepublic at large, the City is fully utilizing the Internet access to support and enhance research and information capabilities. HUD recently converted some mail transmittal to the Internet. Now, HUD transmits information such as bulletins, statute updates, Notification of Funding Applications and IDIS information via Internet faster, more economically and to more people.

Home and Hope3 Federal Housing Programs

In 1990, the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act reauthorized the Community Development Block Grant program and created the HOME Investment Partnership and Housing for People Everywhere (HOPE) programs. These programs emphasize the development of public/private partnerships in the housing delivery system and commitment of local resources to secure and supplement grant funds.

The HOME program is a grant entitlement housing program designed as a partnership among Federal, State and local governments, and those in the for-profit and non-profit sectors who build, own, manage, finance and support low-income and affordable housing initiatives. Funds under the HOME program may be used for acquisition, construction, reconstruction, moderate to substantial rehabilitation of affordable rental and ownership housing; and for tenant-based rental assistance.

Since 1992, the City has received $11 million in HOME dollars. The HOME program emphasizes affordable home ownership and neighborhood revitalization in low-income housing areas.

The implementation of the Cranston-Gonzalez Act also incorporated the HOPE programs. The City of Tampa, in conjunction with Tampa United Methodist Centers (TUMC), Inc. was awarded the three largest competitive HOPE3 grants in the United States, totaling $8 million. The HOPE3 program is designed to create home ownership opportunities for low and moderate income families utilizing the inventory of government-owned properties, such as those of the Federal Home Administration and Veterans Administration. These properties are acquired by TUMC, rehabilitated and marketed to first-time home buyers. Tampa's efforts in obtaining these competitive grant funds will allow the City to remain one of the nation's affordable housing leaders.

State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program

The William E. Sadowski Affordable Housing Bill of 1992 includes the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program. The SHIP program provides flexibility for local governments to determine which housing initiatives would best serve their own communities and designs a program to meet those needs. The funding comes from a documentary stamp tax of 10 cents for every $100 in property value. This revenue represents the first source of funds within the State specifically dedicated for housing services at the local level. In FY95 the Florida Legislature voted to match the 1992 stamp tax increase with an equivalent value of general revenue from existing documentary stamp taxes.

With the Federal programs emphasizing the development of local partnerships and matching commitments, the annual allocation of documentary stamp dollars allow the City maximum leverage of those Federal funds, providing greater flexibility in the housing program delivery. Some of the activities to be provided include: down payment assistance; guaranteed mortgage loan; incentives to developers to build low income multi-family housing; and assistance for existing homeowner rehabilitation loan programs.

Since 1992, the City has received $4.6 million in SHIP dollars. With the addition of the new State general revenue match in FY95, allocations for future years are expected to be approximately $1.7 million.

Housing Initiatives

The City has implemented several Federal and State programs that have allowed considerable expansion of our housing programs. These programs include infill and subdivision development, thus creating affordable homes for first-time home buyers. Subdivisions currently under construction for a total of 84 units include:

Martin Luther King Village located at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and 26th Street, a 27 home subdivision;

Manhattan Manor, a 33 home subdivision located at South Manhattan Avenue near Interbay;

Willow Pines, a 24 home subdivision located south of Sligh Avenue near the Lowry Park Zoo.

Emergency Shelter Grant

The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act makes federal funds available to assist communities in coping with the needs of the homeless population. Once again, the Emergency Shelter Grant program will award the City its twelfth grant for FY98 totaling $131,000. The grant will be used, in conjunction with Hillsborough County's program and other local funds, to assist six homeless assistance providers. They are:

Agency for Community Treatment Services, Inc.

Alpha-A-Beginning of Tampa, Inc.

Metropolitan Ministries, Inc.

Project Return, Inc.

The Spring, Inc.

Salvation Army

The funding allocations were recommended by the Hillsborough County Homeless Coalition.

Housing Opportunities For Persons With AIDS (HOPWA)

The HOPWA program is a specialized federal grant used to provide affordable housing for low income persons who have acquired AIDS or related diseases. HOPWA funds are being distributed among Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Hernando Counties with the City of Tampa as grant administrator. FY98 program funds in the amount of $1.3 million will be used to acquire, expand and support approximately 100 housing units and provide housing information, rental assistance and other supportive services to more than 2,300 people.
Service providers including Tampa AIDS Network, Francis House, Family EnrichmentCenters, Catholic Charities, and The Harbor Behavioral Institute are sharingthe FY98 grant to provide housing and rental assistance and services toAIDS/HIV patients and their families.

Self-Insurance

Although employee insurance for health, workers' compensation, and generalliability continues to be costly, efforts to control costs are slowing theescalation. The City's estimated cost for these insurance programs is $26.4million in FY98.

Health Insurance

Health costs have risen at a dramatic rate over the past several years. The City's efforts to provide employees with comprehensive coverage at an affordable rate has thus become increasingly difficult. The City's Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) provides a full range of medical services at a reasonable cost. As a managed-care program, the HMO offers an alternative to traditional fee-for-service health care.

Over the past four years, participation in the HMO has steadily increased. Presently, 94% of all City employees are enrolled in the HMO. The other health coverage alternative is the Point of Service Plan. This option offers the advantage of an HMO and the choice of utilizing out-of-network providers.

The City continues to evaluate medical services and insurance plans. This ensures employees and retirees receive reliable medical care at an affordable cost. To maintain market competitiveness of the City's medical provider, the City added a second health provider in 1995, thus increasing the options for employees and retirees. The City is currently in negotiations for anew Health Insurance contract.

Workers' Compensation

Workers' Compensation costs have been a substantial part of the City's insurance expense and efforts are underway to control these costs. The City is currently developing a managed care solution to the Workers' Compensation problem. The managed care approach integrates services including a medical provider network that offers a quality assurance program and cost containment features such as utilization review, case management and an employee tracking system designed to reduce lost time. Results from our loss reduction program have been impressive. In a period in which most insurance costs are rising, Workers' Compensation costs have been held below the FY91 level for the past six years.

Long-Term Disability

The City of Tampa contracted to provide long-term disability insurance for eligible City employees. This plan covers long-term illness and injury, enhancing the overall employee health benefits program.

Administrative Service, Publications and Supply

In FY97, one of the City's on-going cost saving efforts resulted in reorganization of the Administration Service, Publications and Supply Division. This reorganization consisted of contracting out the City's duplication services as well as printing and binding.

Pay and Labor Agreements

The proposed budget includes sufficient funds for estimated employee step increases, as well as funds for labor agreements. The City is currently negotiating a renewal contract with the Police Benevolent Association.

Growth Management and Sustainable Communities

The Tampa Comprehensive Plan, mandated in the Florida Growth Management Act, is intended to guide and control future growth and development. The Plan includes levels of service and plans for construction of infrastructure needed to accommodate development.

The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County have formed a partnership to participate in the Florida Sustainable Communities project.

The Sustainable Communities concept arose from the recommendations of the Governor's Commission for a Sustainable South Florida. That Commission established a strong partnership between state and local agencies and resulted in several positive recommendations to improve the quality of life in South Florida.

Based on this successful model, the Florida Legislature established a five-year demonstration project to explore new approaches to community planning. The Sustainable Communities demonstration project will further six broad principles of sustainability: restoring key ecosystems; achieving a more clean, healthy environment; limiting urban sprawl; protecting wildlife and natural areas; advancing the efficient use of land and creating quality communities and jobs. During the next five years, the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County will focus on implementing a variety of initiatives designed to achieve these six broad principles.

Tax Increment Financing

In FY98, the City will continue to make deposits from property tax receipts into the Community Redevelopment Agency Trust Fund.

This deposit of $1.6 million, along with additional deposits from Hillsborough County; the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority; the Tampa Port Authority; and the Children's Board, will bring the FY98 Downtown Non-Core district deposit to $3.7 million. FY98 funds for the Non-Core will be applied exclusively toward retirement of the Convention Center's bond debt.

The City, County and Port Authority will also contribute $266,816 to the Ybor City District. These funds will be used for Ybor City redevelopment programs.

Tax Funds Debt Service

PERFORMING ARTS GUARANTEED ENTITLEMENT BONDS -
$4.8 million from Guaranteed Entitlement funds.

CONVENTION CENTER -
$13.7 million: $10.0 million from Utility Tax funds, and $3.7 million fromFY98 Tax Increment
Financing District funds.

GENERAL UTILITY TAX BONDS -
$3.5 million from Utility Tax funds and sinking fund earnings.

FLORIDA AQUARIUM OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX BONDS -
$5.8 million from Occupational License Tax fees.

Contingency

Amounts budgeted in the contingency reserve for unanticipated expenses and for such emergencies as floods or hurricanes during FY98 include:

Due to continued concern regarding under collection of State and local revenues, a $1.7 million revenue reserve is also budgeted for potential revenue shortfalls.

Fund Balance

This budget includes transfers of $1 million to the Fund Balance accounts of the General Fund and Utility Tax Fund, in accordance with the external auditor's recommendation that the City maintain the current level of Fund Balance in the Tax Operating Funds.