TAMPA — The City Council directed the administration to hold a special budget workshop focused on stormwater operations, maintenance and capital needs after residents raised concerns about flooding, unmet maintenance and the pace of repairs.

Council members and residents described recurring flooding and long maintenance backlogs in some neighborhoods. Interim Mobility Director Bridal Campbell told council the department’s June call volume was “70% high or 74% higher call volume, compared to, the same time frame of 2024,” and outlined routine work in ditches, pond fences and inlet repairs.

Council action: Councilwoman Hertek moved to remove an item from today’s agenda and to add a special call meeting (budget workshop) on Aug. 11 at 5:01 p.m. focused on stormwater operations and capital — motion seconded and approved by the council. Members asked staff to bring a full financial and operational accounting that shows maintenance history, expenditures and the proposed use of the city’s stormwater funds.

Why it matters: Residents said they remain fearful that their homes could flood again; council members urged clearer timelines, a public work‑order map and transparent reporting. Staff said crews regraded ditches, repaired inlets and replaced fences, but that larger projects and pond restorations will require capital funding and longer project timelines.

Details and next steps: Mobility staff said they will publish a work‑order map and return to the Aug. 11 workshop with financial breakdowns, a timeline for capital projects and an itemization of how stormwater assessments and this year’s allocations will be spent. Council also asked for quarterly reporting and suggested the possibility of more formal code or ordinance changes to govern stormwater-funded uses.

A closing note: Council members emphasized the need to remove politics from operational work and to provide clear, localized maintenance schedules and public guidance on expected timelines for dredging, ditch grading and larger capital repairs.