Tampa Council schedules briefings and staff reports on mobility, parks, police substation and other items

City Council approved a series of procedural motions directing staff reports and scheduling outside presentations and briefings during the meeting's new‑business portion.

Councilman Carlson moved and Councilman Maniscalco seconded a request that Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority President and CEO Greg Slater give a 10‑minute presentation on the South Selmon capacity project at the Dec. 18 council meeting; the motion passed. Council members also scheduled a presentation from Tampa Bay Water leadership for Dec. 18 and asked parks staff to appear Nov. 6 to report on a facility update discussed during the meeting.

Councilman Viera requested and obtained motions directing Mobility staff to report back in writing by Nov. 6 on traffic and safety improvements at Commerce Park Boulevard near Liberty Middle School and the New Tampa Recreation Center. Viera also moved for an annual update on the disability internship program to take place during the council's first regular session in April (World Autism Awareness Month); that motion passed.

The council asked Parks and Recreation to provide an in‑person rollout plan on Nov. 20 for inclusive playground equipment outside the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), covering both South and North Tampa; the motion noted funding constraints outside CRA boundaries and said staff should clarify whether inclusive equipment is now standard for major park improvements.

Councilman Viera moved for a staff report exploring the possibility of establishing a smaller Tampa Police Department substation in existing New Tampa commercial space; the motion, which sought an in‑person report on Nov. 6, passed. Council members also set a November briefing (written) on parade barricade plans and whether stormwater staff would be used for barricading, and asked Parks leadership to coordinate a report on park improvements for Henry Park with a date of Nov. 6.

Other scheduling votes included confirming dates for briefings on charter review commission materials and directing staff to arrange brief presentations as council calendars allow. These procedural motions were approved by voice or roll call during the meeting; none represented binding appropriations or ordinance changes.