Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Neighborhood Report

Mayor finds the crowd in her corner at meeting

While praise dominated the gathering, complaints about stormwater drainage were also aired as were concerns about traffic and prostitution.

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published September 15, 2006

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio doubled over with laughter.

"I can't believe this," she said to the audience at her final town hall meeting of the year. "I'm getting a question on a proclamation I made. Things must be very good."

Asked by a resident to expound upon a recent proclamation she made on the importance of life insurance wasn't exactly the toughest question Iorio faced Tuesday night. But the light moment underscored the mood in the media center of Hillsborough High School.

Anyone dissatisfied with the mayor's performance didn't bother to show up at the public forum. She and many of the city government department heads seated next to the mayor received numerous compliments and rounds of applause from residents during the two-hour meeting.

Still, many of those who took turns at the microphone aired grievances as well as praise. Many of the complaints concerned stormwater drainage. Iorio pre-empted the issue at the beginning of the meeting by saying that Tampa only recently instituted a five-year plan for addressing its stormwater problems, whereas many municipalities have had five-year plans for decades.

Iorio also said the city's recent stormwater impact fee increase will only cover a third of the projects needed to solve Tampa's flooding problems. Nonetheless, residents brought up flooding problems in East Ybor, Terrace Park and Old Seminole Heights.

Stormwater department director Charles Walter indicated that flood relief projects for Ybor City and the Duck Pond area near Busch Gardens are pending. Iorio added that the Florida Department of Transportation is heading up recent resurfacing projects along Florida and Nebraska avenues through Old Seminole Heights. Dealing with the agency is sometimes difficult, she said.

Other concerns raised included traffic calming in Bon Air, a resurgence of prostitution in Old Seminole Heights, and needed improvements in tree trimming and communication between city departments.

Attendees received a copy of the city's proposed budget for fiscal year 2007, plus literature on code enforcement performance measures and the mayor's youth and arts education initiatives.

The evening's most potentially prickly moment was diffused by the prevailing mood of good will. When a resident asked Iorio if the city could afford the mayor's recent $15,000 salary increase, a voice in the crowd said, "Yes." A smattering of applause broke out, and another voice said, "Double it."

[Last modified September 14, 2006, 10:34:16]