Temple Terrace Council adopts resurfacing contract, emergency sanitation truck purchase and two ordinances; appoints planning commissioner and advisory member

Temple Terrace City Council met Feb. 4 and approved multiple actions covering public works projects, staffing, code changes and a request to pursue state funding for storm‑response equipment.

Votes at a glance - Appointed Evangeline Linkus to the Hillsborough County/City‑County Planning Commission (term 02/04/2025–02/04/2029). Motion approved by council. - Appointed Eric Sievers to the Temple Terrace Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (alternate member). Motion approved by council. - Adopted Resolution awarding Ferncliff Avenue and Bellevue Avenue resurfacing work to Asphalt Paving Systems, award amount $714,875.70; council agreed to postpone issuing the purchase order until a three‑party joint agreement with FDOT and Hillsborough County is in place to secure surtax reimbursement. - Approved emergency payment to Tampa Crane and Body for the immediate purchase of a commercial sanitation (roll‑off) truck to restore commercial sanitation service capacity; motion passed. - Adopted Ordinance 15‑79 (second reading), creating Article 5 (Trespass on public property) under Chapter 16 of the City Code, including a one‑year trespass warning and an appeal to the city manager or designee. - Adopted Ordinance 15‑78 (second reading), amending the land development code (sections 12‑40, 12‑861 and 12‑128) regulating fences, walls and related definitions on residential properties. - Directed Councilmember Eric Kravitz to work with the public on developing a City of Temple Terrace flag design and return several design options to council for consideration. - Authorized the mayor and city manager to submit a local funding initiative request to the state legislature for storm readiness equipment (sandbag machine, fuel trailers, a rubber‑tire loader, mobile generators, radios and deployable communications units); motion approved.

Key details and staff remarks Ferncliff and Bellevue resurfacing City Engineer Brian McCarthy told council the project received four bids that ranged roughly from $715,000 to $950,000 and recommended awarding the contract to Asphalt Paving Systems. McCarthy explained the city learned at a Feb. 4 meeting with FDOT that Ferncliff and Bellevue are on the FDOT surtax project list and the city could be reimbursed for the work if a three‑party joint agreement among FDOT, Hillsborough County and the City is in place before the city issues a financial guarantee to the contractor. McCarthy said staff recommends approving the resolution tonight and delaying the city’s purchase order until the joint agreement is executed.

Emergency sanitation truck purchase Public Works Director Jason Warren Phelps described the procurement as an emergency acquisition needed because of significant downtime in an aging fleet and rapid growth of commercial accounts (staff said the sanitation division added more than 40 commercial accounts, including an Amazon account). Phelps said identifying a truck available to the city now would avoid prolonged service interruptions; staff estimated the vehicle could be on the street in about 60 days. Finance staff explained the acquisition will come from the enterprise fund reserves and that projected new revenue this fiscal year should offset the draw on reserves. Council approved the emergency payment to Tampa Crane and Body.

Ordinances adopted Deputy City Attorney Ernie Mueller summarized the trespass ordinance, saying it creates a one‑year trespass warning for city or public property and an appeal process to the city manager or designee; he told council the appeal procedure and written notice will be provided to any person who receives a trespass warning. The ordinance passed on second reading.

Community development director Greg Pauley summarized the land development code amendment addressing fences, walls and hedges. Changes adopted included removing hedges from the scope of the fence regulations, clarifying yard definitions, consolidating administrative approvals for fence materials and removing an obsolete prohibition on “steel beams” while adding “metal” as an approved material for institutional columns. Council adopted the ordinance on second reading.

Appointments, consent and other business The council confirmed two volunteer appointments (Evangeline Linkus to the Hillsborough County/City‑County Planning Commission and Eric Sievers as an alternate on the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee) and approved the consent agenda and minutes.

Flag process and murals Council directed Councilmember Eric Kravitz to coordinate public design input on a city flag and return a set of design options to council. Staff presented proposed Centennial murals for several city locations; council approved the designs for the Family Recreation Center, a north‑side City Hall wall and other locations, but asked staff to hold final action on a proposed fire station mural pending additional internal review.

State funding request for storm readiness City Manager presented a proposed local funding initiative to request state appropriations for storm readiness equipment, including a sandbag machine, two fuel trailers, a rubber‑tire loader, trailer‑mounted generators, a stationary well generator, deployable communications hubs and 20 radios. Council authorized the mayor and city manager to submit the request to the legislature.

Ending: Council members said staff will provide follow‑up details on project schedules and neighborhood notification for upcoming street work and on timing for the sanitation truck deployment; staff also will coordinate the consultant’s follow‑up presentation on Riverside Park and publish opportunities for public comment.