Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Private Partnership topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County to invest $7.5 million to secure nearby hotel for emergency lodging under P3 plan
Summary
Hillsborough County staff proposed buying the land under a nearby hotel and paying $2.5 million to harden rooms so emergency personnel have proximate lodging during declared disasters; the board authorized staff to pursue a public‑interest determination and bring back a negotiated agreement.
John Ulammer, the county’s director of facilities and real estate services, told the Board of County Commissioners the county is considering a public‑private partnership to secure lodging near the Public Safety Operations Complex (PSOC) for staff during declared emergencies. “It’s an investment by us of $7.5 million to become the landowner, harden the hotel with $2.5 million of that money, receive lease payments, receive free use of all rooms during declared events and storms, and receive a thousand nights a year at half cost,” Ulammer said.
Ulammer said the proposal would use $4 million from the ongoing PSOC renovation and request $3.5 million from construction reserves. He framed the purchase as both an operational necessity and a long‑term investment: the county would own the ground, require protections to recoup unused investment dollars, and expect an independent review to assess payback assumptions. “We believe the independent review should show our investment back somewhere around the 21‑year range plus or minus,” he said.
Assistant County Attorney Jared Delfino explained the liability structure under the draft ground‑lease approach, saying the hotel operator as tenant would be responsible for operational liabilities while the county retains sovereign‑immunity protections for limited exposure.
Sheriff’s Office leadership and other officials stressed the operational consequences of lacking proximate hardened lodging for crews who must remain available during multi‑storm events. Chief Dougherty described prior multi‑storm responses that left staff sleeping in offices and argued for dedicated, hardened rooms close to PSOC.
Commissioner Gwen Myers moved to approve the item as presented; Commissioner Christine Miller seconded. The board voted unanimously to authorize staff to return with a public‑interest determination statement, public comments received at the next meeting, and a proposed final agreement for the P3 structure.
What happens next: staff will commission the independent public‑interest review referenced in the presentation, finalize the public‑interest determination required by statute, and bring back a negotiated agreement and any supporting documents for board consideration. The board’s vote authorized the county to proceed to that next step; it did not execute the purchase or the ground lease today.
