Tampa City Council on the morning agenda approved a set of financial and procedural items, including a $10 million reallocation in the Solid Waste budget to repair a damaged generator and a $5.8 million contract for refractory work at the city's waste processing facility.

In separate votes, the council also received and filed a summary report from a racial-reconciliation committee facilitator, scheduled an evening commendation for the committee, added a closed-session item to discuss settlement negotiations in Hopps v. City of Tampa and approved several administrative scheduling items.

Votes and key details

- Reallocation of $10,000,000 within the Solid Waste budget (Item 23): Motion to reallocate funds to address generator damage and ensure continuity of trash processing. Mover: Councilman Escott; second: Councilwoman Hertek. Outcome: approved (recorded as “ayes have it”). Larry Washington, director of Solid Waste, told the council the plant can “still process waste” but “we cannot generate energy right now,” and estimated repairs would take roughly five months.

- Bid award for refractory work to Zampel (Item 62): Three-year contract for $5,800,000. Motion to approve by Councilman Maniscalco; second by Councilman Miranda. Outcome: approved unanimously.

- Receive and file: Summary report from the Racial Reconciliation Committee facilitator. Motion to file by Councilman Viera; second by Councilman Maniscalco. Outcome: approved. City attorney and clerk staff clarified the filing does not constitute council endorsement or adoption of the report’s recommendations.

- Scheduling/commendations tied to the Racial Reconciliation Committee: Councilman Viera moved (seconded by Councilman Escott) to schedule an evening presentation and commendations on Oct. 16 at 5 p.m.; motion approved.

- Closed session added for Oct. 23: Motion to add a closed session at 11 a.m. to discuss settlement negotiations in Hopps v. City of Tampa. Mover: Councilman Escott; second: Councilman Maniscalco. Outcome: approved.

- Discontinue bimonthly staff reports on electronic-parking-lot (e-bar) compliance: Motion by Councilwoman Hertek; second by Councilman Maniscalco. Council noted state law (Senate Bill 180) rendered the local ordinance provision inapplicable; motion approved.

- Staff report scheduled on 2025 Summer Youth Program: Councilwoman Hertek moved staff present an in-person report on Jan. 8, 2026 covering successes, shortcomings, and plans for 2026; motion approved.

Context and immediate impacts

City staff said the generator damage at the Solid Waste facility happened while starting the unit on Sept. 19. Washington told council the plant can still burn roughly 85% of the city’s trash weekly (about 6,000–7,000 tons) but cannot generate electricity until repairs are complete. He said existing budget balances will cover the reallocation; he estimated repair work would take about five months because of material lead times (notably copper).

Council members asked whether insurance or warranties would cover costs; Washington said none are currently expected and staff will pursue internal expense reductions and future revenue and ordinance actions to offset costs.

Provenance (selected evidence from the meeting transcript)

- Item 23 (topicintro): transcript block starting at 1001.155 — evidence excerpt: "Alright. So item 23 is the reallocation of funds, dollars 10,000,000 in the solid waste budget itself to ensure that we can make some changes or some updates with our generator since there was, an issue previously..."

- Item 23 (topicfinish): transcript block starting at 1212.24 — evidence excerpt: "Ayes have it. Thank you. And now we'll go to 62."

- Item 62 (topicintro): transcript block starting at 1214.72 — evidence excerpt: "Alright. So item 62 is a bid approving the Zampel refractories work that's gonna be done in the span of 3 years. It's for $5,800,000..."

- Item 62 (topicfinish): transcript block starting at 1238.52 — evidence excerpt: "All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Eyes have unanimously."

- Racial Reconciliation summary (topicintro): transcript block starting at 4916.39 — evidence excerpt: "I move to make a motion to file the summary report that we received, earlier today by email." (motion text)

- Racial Reconciliation scheduling/commendations (topicfinish): transcript block starting at 4939.21 — evidence excerpt: "I hereby motion to have an October 16 at 5PM the members of the Racial Reconciliation Committee to come for a... presentation with commendations to be given at 5PM."

Speakers (selected)

- Larry Washington — Director, Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management Department (government)
- Councilman Viera — Council member (government)
- Councilman Escott — Council member (government)
- Councilwoman Hertek/Hertzak — Council member (government) [spelling as appears in transcript]
- Councilman Maniscalco — Council member (government)
- Councilman Miranda — Council member (government)
- Martin Shelby — City Council Attorney (government)

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