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Council members press administration to revisit South Howard flood design after residents propose alternatives
Summary
Councilors urged the mayor’s office and stormwater staff to reopen feasibility study of alternate routes for the South Howard flood-control project and consider an addendum to the Kimmins contract that would study a less disruptive alignment.
Several Tampa City Council members on March 27 asked the administration to reopen study of alternatives for the South Howard flood-control project and to consult the contract engineering firm Kimmins about exploring a different alignment.
Council member (first name not recorded) told the council she had met with residents of Parkland Estates and a local business group that proposed an alternate route that would use an existing city-owned drainage ditch paralleling the Crosstown. She urged the mayor and staff to consider an addendum to the Kimmins contract to evaluate that option, saying: “I would really appreciate it if maybe you would speak with the mayor and talk about reopening or asking for an addendum to this contract to at least explore that.”
Chief of Staff John Bennett replied that the mayor had already hosted the group and staff were looking at alternatives internally. He said the next step would be to consult Kimmins on feasibility if internal evaluations showed a credible alternative. “They’re looking at this as an alternative, but in-house,” Bennett said. “But the next level was to talk to Kimmins about the feasibility.”
Council members expressed frustration with the project’s earlier public process. Council member Eden (last name not stated) called the project’s rollout “one of the worst political process I've ever seen,” saying the approach “pitted neighbor against neighbor.” Another council member said tensions and confusion in the community made it worthwhile to revisit the planning and outreach.
Chief Bennett and other staff told council they did not yet have a formal update but indicated the administration was willing to re-open discussions. Council member Clinton recommended that staff continue conversations with the mayor’s office and report back; multiple members asked staff to continue exploring the alternate route and to return to council with feasibility information.
No formal motion to amend the Kimmins contract appears on the March 27 agenda; council members asked staff and the mayor's office to revisit the matter and report back. The council did not take a formal vote on project selection during the meeting.
