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City bans moonlighting in realty

Tampa leaders decide all employees of the city's real estate division cannot work as agents anywhere in the county. Six of the division's 17 workers have licenses.

By JANET ZINK
Published October 22, 2005

TAMPA - City officials on Friday drafted a new policy that bars all employees of the city's real estate division from moonlighting as real estate agents anywhere in Hillsborough County.

"There's too much potential for a conflict in acting as an active Realtor and working in our real estate department," said Mayor Pam Iorio.

The move comes a week after division manager Jack Rodriguez resigned when city officials determined he had violated a legal agreement that prohibited him from brokering deals within city limits.

City officials began scrutinizing Rodriguez last week after documents obtained by the St. Petersburg Times showed he had brokered several Tampa real estate transactions.

Further investigation by Cyndy Miller, director of the city's Department of Housing and Business Development that includes the real estate division, revealed that six of the division's 17 employees had active real estate licenses and were affiliated with agencies.

One employee, supervisor John Archer, told Miller he brokered a couple of transactions a year in unincorporated parts of the county.

He will no longer be able to do that, Miller said.

A city attorney told Rodriguez in 1995 that he couldn't sell properties inside city boundaries because of potential conflicts.

Tampa real estate agents often end up contacting the city real estate department to discuss zoning issues, building and permitting requirements, and inspections.

The new policy extends throughout the county.

That's because real estate transactions typically involve multiple parties and the creation of professional relationships that could interfere with carrying out work for the city, said city attorney David Smith.

"You have a risk of problems occurring just by virtue of having people involved in the real estate brokerage business inside or outside the city," Smith said. "They may have to deal with brokers who are doing work inside the city."

Exceptions, such as if an employee wants to help a family member sell a house, may be granted at the discretion of the department head, Smith said.

[Last modified October 22, 2005, 01:13:18]