Take Action

Four things you can do before Thursday

1. Speak at the July 16 Council meeting

Bodies in the room matter more than anything. The vote is Thursday, July 16 at 9:00 AM, Old City Hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd. Register to speak at least 24 hours in advance (instructions at tampa.gov/agendas). You get up to 3 minutes. Don’t want to speak? You can sign your time over to a neighbor spokesperson, or submit a written comment. The ask is simple: defer the contract until the City produces a stormwater review, a wildlife survey, and a real site-and-cost comparison.

2. Email the City Council now

Contact all seven members — and lean on the two most likely to listen:

• Bill Carlson (District 4) — requested the 2026 canopy study and has been vocal on tree loss and flooding failures.
• Luis Viera (District 7) — your district’s councilman: luis.viera@tampagov.net, (813) 274-7073.
• Full Council: Alan Clendenin (Chair), Guido Maniscalco, Lynn Hurtak, Bill Carlson, Naya Young, Charlie Miranda, Luis Viera. Council line: (813) 274-8131.

Keep it short and factual: 97% tree clearance during a documented canopy emergency; catastrophic 2024 flooding in this exact area; and the City’s own replanting programs running in the opposite direction. Ask them to defer and study the alternative site.

3. Demand the records

Ask the City in writing (via cityoftampa.govqa.us) for the documents that should exist before any tree falls:

• the tree survey / arborist report and VRB-26-45 staff report and site plan;
• the wildlife survey (bat maternity season runs April 16–August 14);
• the stormwater / drainage design for the 3-acre site;
• the Fire Rescue GIS siting study and current response-time data for the area;
• the site-alternatives analysis and cost comparison for the parcel roughly 0.8 miles away.

If those documents exist, they should be public before the vote. If they don’t, that is the story.

4. Spread the word & find allies

Share noto24.org with every neighbor. Print the flyer and knock on the doors nearest the lot. Connect with the Tampa Tree Advocacy Group and the Terrace Park Civic Association — you don’t have to fight this alone.