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County approves up to $250,000 to upgrade fire sprinklers at Cuban Civic Club
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners approved a funding agreement to provide up to $250,000 for fire-safety upgrades and related repairs at the Cuban Civic Club; the board waived standard reimbursement policy and authorized a staged payment approach with contractor-proof-of-payment requirements. Vote: 7–0.
Hillsborough County commissioners on April 2 approved a funding agreement to provide up to $250,000 to the Cuban Civic Club to bring its indoor facilities into fire-safety compliance and allow the venue to expand event capacity from 300 to as many as 1,000.
John Mueller, director of Facilities Management and Real Estate Services, said the club — located in the Town and Country/Timberlane area on Memorial Drive — has been at the property since the early 1970s and needs a primary upgrade to the fire sprinkler system and other repairs. Mueller said the improvements will allow the club to expand programming, create jobs, and increase rental revenue through larger events.
Because the club did not have funds up front to complete the work and seek reimbursement, staff recommended a substitution in the form of payment. Under the approved arrangement, the Cuban Civic Club will complete work in up to four stages, submit invoices for each stage, and the county will verify work on site and pay the contractor. The club must provide proof that contractors were paid within seven days of the county payment. The club provided an IRS Form 990 for the financial review in lieu of an audit.
Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda moved approval and Commissioner Harry Cohen seconded; the board voted 7–0 to carry the motion. During discussion, commissioners praised the club’s long-standing community role; staff said the waiver of the standard reimbursement policy was an extraordinary step taken after financial review and to avoid delaying life-safety upgrades.
The county will have its capital improvements team inspect the work before any payment is released. County staff also will require documentation that contractors were paid. The $250,000 award was presented as an outside-agency funding request under board policy.
