Commissioner Murman mentioned and quoted in this Tampa Tribune article on lobbying ordinance:

EDITORIALS

Editorial: Bringing the lobbyists out of the shadows in Hillsborough County

Published: January 27, 2016

The Hillsborough County Commission has taken the right course by passing an ordinance aimed at ending the lax oversight of the contact they have with lobbyists trying to influence their decisions.

In a unanimous vote, the commission added some teeth to its lobbying rules by imposing stronger penalties for failing to sign in before meeting with commissioners. Lobbyists will be required to list the topic they intend to discuss, the industry or interests they represent, and the commissioners they plan to meet with. Electronic communications are also addressed in the new rules, and an online registry will make the information public and readily available. The Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office will monitor compliance and investigate reported violations.

That may sound like common sense, but not all governments are willing to impose the rules on themselves. Led by Commissioner Sandy Murman, the commission now has a structure in place that brings more transparency to county government and that carries consequences for those who fail to comply. “It tightens the rules,” she says.

It’s been an open secret for years that the few rules governing contact by lobbyists were pretty much ignored at the County Center in downtown Tampa where the commissioners have their offices. Nobody was checking to make sure the lobbyists were recording their visits on a sign-in sheet. And there was no policing of electronic correspondence.

Then the controversy last year over the awarding of a Go Hillsborough contract raised questions about the county’s lobbying rules. Results of an investigation into the Go Hillsborough contract are expected to be released soon.

In the meantime, the county will move forward with its new lobbying registry, which might be up and running in a few months.

Under the new rules, lobbyists will be required to pay a $50 annual registration fee. Before visiting, they will provide information about the commissioners being visited and the topic being discussed.

The new rules also bring clarity to whether someone is acting as a lobbyist. It defines a lobbyist as someone being paid by an outside interest to discuss an issue with a commissioner or staff member. Lastly, the measure addresses electronic communication, making it clear that texts and emails represent official contact.

A first violation will result in a warning. A second violation will bring a $250 fine, and a third violation will bring a $500 fine and 90-day suspension of lobbying privileges. A fourth will result in a $500 fine and a year’s suspension.

The lobbyist meeting logs are primarily for meetings at the County Center, and that could leave registered lobbyists free to meet with commissioners for lunch or for other activities outside the office without recording that meeting. Murman says she’s aware that could be a problem and intends to address it moving forward.

Commissioners face decisions every week that can affect our quality of life for generations to come. Whether housing developments and retail centers are approved, or a transit referendum will appear on the ballot, are of intense interest to private entities that can profit from the decision.

The public has a right to know who is trying to influence our commissioners, and these new rules mark a welcome step toward bringing the shadowy world of lobbying out into the sunshine.

Commissioner Murman’s letter to the editor in today’s Tampa Bay Times:

Tuesday’s letters: Working to get children health care

Monday, January 25, 2016 4:56pm

Health insurance

Working to get children covered

The Legislature is in session and it’s Children’s Week, a time to renew our promise to continue improving the children’s health system until all young people can get the care they need. More than 377,000 children lack health insurance in Florida. Until this number is zero, there are children and families who need our help.

As a former state legislator and now Hillsborough County commissioner, I have made it my mission to protect the health and well­being of Florida’s children. In our county, we’ve recently made great strides with nutrition education campaigns. Because of the dedication of organizations like Florida Healthy Kids — which provides affordable health insurance options for children through the Florida KidCare program — the tide is beginning to turn toward a healthy future.

Hillsborough County accounts for 22,677 of the uninsured children in the state. While this number seems daunting, I am confident we can change it. Florida Healthy Kids’ mission is to decrease the number of children who lack health insurance by providing affordable options to families at all income levels.

We can’t be complacent. Locally, I encourage county and city leaders to spread the word about this important issue and the options available. Statewide, let’s ask our Florida legislators to renew their support for the programs that bring affordable access to health care for our children. Now is the time for our leaders to act on behalf of our most vulnerable population and give them the best chance for a healthy future.

Sandy Murman, Hillsborough County commissioner, Tampa

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Tribune article on lobbyist ordinance:

POLITICS

Hillsborough commissioners OK measure to require lobbyists’ fees

By Mike Salinero | Tribune Staff

Published: January 21, 2016

Updated: January 21, 2016 at 11:32 AM

Lobbyists who try to influence Hillsborough County Commissioners must now reveal what they want to talk to commissioners about or face stiff penalties.

On a 7-0 vote, commissioners today passed an ordinance that requires lobbyists to register and pay a $50 yearly fee. Under the new law, everyone who comes to meet with commissioners must fill out a form saying who they represent, what they want to discuss and which commissioners they are visiting.

Spurred by criticism from citizen activists, the board members also increased penalties for non-compliance that were in a draft ordinance. For a first violation, the lobbyist is given a warning, followed by a $250 fine for a second violation.

But the sponsor of the amendment, Sandy Murman, made a motion to increase punishment for a third violation from a 30-day suspension to three months.

“Thirty days is way too short,” Murman said. “You can blink your eyes and 30 days will be gone.”

Commissioner Ken Hagan followed suit by moving that a 90-day suspension for a fourth violation of the ordinance be increased to a full year.

Hagan’s motion mirrored a suggestion from Charlotte Greenberg, a Lutz resident who spoke during the public hearing. Greenberg said a three-month suspension for a fourth violation was too lenient.

“The penalties are so lobbyist friendly … Three strikes and a fine and you’re out for a year,” Greenberg said.

The board also accepted an amendment by Commissioner Kevin Beckner that would require the lobbyist to bring the form he fills out to the commissioner’s office. If the listed subject of discussion changes, it’s up to the commissioner to describe the new discussion items on the form and turn it into the County Attorney’s Office.

“We would make sure the record of the meeting is complete,” Beckner said.

The amended ordinance also modifies the definition of lobbying to include communicating indirectly, such as through e-mails or text messages. The county will offer training for lobbyists in the new ethics rules in August.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Tribune article on Port Redwing:

Port Redwing plans for steel manufacturing hub dealt setback

By Yvette C. Hammett | Tribune Staff

Published: January 20, 2016

Updated: January 20, 2016 at 08:29 PM

TAMPA — When Port Tampa Bay announced plans in 2014 to create a cluster of steel manufacturers at Port Redwing, Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman envisioned good-paying jobs flowing to her fast-growing South Shore district.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may have dealt the port and the county a setback to those plans by declining to sign off on funding for a $50- to $60-million dredging project to deepen a channel allowing larger ships to access the port. The larger ships are needed to haul freight such as scrap metal, salt, sulfur, coal or cement.

Before approving the project for funding, the Corps wants a study to prove it’s a cost effective strategy.

Port officials say they had hoped to get the funding in the Corps’ 2015 budget. Still, they said, they can continue to expand Port Redwing without the dredging project and have already allocated millions in improvements to draw more companies. But they concede there are a lot of companies they can’t attract in the future without deepening Big Bend Channel.

Murman, a commissioner on the Tampa Port Authority Board, says time is of the essence and the port needs to move forward now to get the funding.

“I’m very concerned that this project for South County — a huge economic development initiative — won’t move forward fast enough to keep up with the growth in South Shore,” she said.

“Given that the Corps wants another study, it behooves us to have another conversation at the next board meeting to move that process forward and get it done.”

Murman and other board members learned Tuesday that the Corps never committed to the funding. Ram Kancharla, the port’s vice president of planning and development, told the board the Corps gave no explanation.

But Corps Project Manager Milan Mora said through his public information officer Wednesday that is not the case. He said the Corps told the port it needed to conduct another cost-benefit study to prove the project worthy.

The Corps looked at the project in 2014 and determined “the cost to benefit ratio did not materialize (in big part due to a reduction in phosphate and coal being shipped),” Corps spokeswoman Susan Jackson said in an email to the Tribune. “We recommended a new study based on potential new benefits.”

John Thorington, the port’s vice president of government affairs, said Port Tampa Bay plans to meet again shortly with the Corps to discuss the project, but no decision has been made on another study.

Murman says the study needs to get underway if that is the fast track to funding.

“Seventy-five percent of new growth is this county is expected to be between the Alafia River (in Riverview) and the Little Manatee River (in Ruskin),” she said. “We can’t afford to lay back.”

If the port is able to move forward with completing its steel manufacturing hub at Port Redwing, that will lead to spin-off businesses in the greater south county area, which means even more good-paying jobs, Murman said.

“When you have a hub like that, it will inspire spin-offs in the larger area, which could lead to job training opportunities. We’ve got the education centers already in place to do that. It’s the perfect storm.”

Kancharla told the board Tuesday that the staff fully expected to get the funding from the Corps, especially since it had signed up Tampa Electric Co., Mosaic Fertilizer and the state of Florida as partners for the plans. Both TECO and Mosaic use the Big Bend Channel now.

At this point, Thorington said, the port staff is considering its options. “But already, we are beginning to grow and see a lot more potential” for even more growth in that Port Redwing vicinity, he said.

Tampa Tank and Florida Structural Steel, along with Gulf Coast Bulk Equipment, have already established manufacturing facilities at Port Redwing and the port is in discussions with several other companies that might want to locate there.

The port already has construction underway on $30 million in improvements at Port Redwing: the addition of a 3-mile long rail spur with a double track running from the existing CSX line to Port Redwing; construction of a security complex, a new 1,000-foot dock; an access road to U.S. 41 and utility and site improvements.

The Big Bend Channel can currently accommodate ships of 15,000- to 30,000 dead weight tons, Kancharla said. By deepening the channel from 34 feet to 43 feet and widening it from 200 feet to 250 feet, it could accommodate vessels of 50,000- to 60,000 dead weight tons. “To maximize use of the land we would hope to go to a deeper draft to bring in larger ships,” he said.

“We never say die,” Port President and CEO Paul Anderson told the board Tuesday. “We will come back with another proposal.”

In his State of the Port address to the business community on Wednesday, Anderson talked about the port’s future and the need to accommodate larger ships.

He said the port is expanding through diversity, optimizing its real estate, investing in infrastructure to accommodate larger container ships and preparing a more efficient supply chain to hook up with the growing number of distribution centers popping up along the Interstate 4 corridor.

Commissioner Murman mentioned in this Observer article on Gardenville Schoolhouse

Unique partnership fuels new uses of 1920s Gardenville Schoolhouse

By PENNY FLETCHER

An exact date for the original construction of the Gardenville Schoolhouse has never been found, but a photograph from 1926 shows it had to have been some time before that.

The recent renovation has brought it into the 21st Century, and the complete restoration project attempted to retain and duplicate what was believed to be the original style of the historic structure as much as was possible with modernization.

“When we took down the aluminum soffit, we saw a bright yellow color that had been the original color used in areas on the outside of the building,” said Dan Myers, project manager. Myers, who is employed by Hillsborough County’s Real Estate and Facility Department, confirmed that the two-and-a-half-year renovation of the old schoolhouse at 6215 Symmes Road in Gibsonton cost $830,000 and was funded by a U.S. Department of Housing Community Block Grant. Hillsborough County’s Affordable Housing Services Department administered the project.

“That was huge,” Myers said. The architects and interior designers were Elements Architects, based in Tampa, and Krueger Construction of Safety Harbor was the contractor.

A new partnership between the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department and the county’s Department of Aging Services is now in place serving both the schoolhouse and the adjoining recreation center.

Parks and Rec at the Schoolhouse is led by long-time Recreation Supervisor Dave Ramirez, and Nellie Garay is the Aging Services Senior Center Coordinator.

“This way, the buildings are in use both day and in the evening,” Ramirez said.

With no down time and a sharing of budgets, the “time-sharing” really keeps things moving. Parks and Recreation owns the building, but programming is coordinated so the two don’t get in each other’s way, and, in fact, work in tandem.

The newly renovated building recently opened with Aging Services has many uses including providing a gathering place, offering meal services to eligible seniors, and holding health and wellness activities.

Meanwhile Parks and Rec has several things in the works, including arts and cultural programs for children, adults and seniors to be held later in the day, possibly in both the afternoon and evening, Ramirez said.

“One big key to success is intergenerational activities,” said Ramirez. “Like for Christmas, Mr. and Mrs. Claus came from the Seniors’ program and visited with the kids from the rec center. In the future, we plan to do a lot more things together because it serves all the populations in the community.”

Myers said a lot of credit for the community-centered outcome goes to County Commissioer Sandra Murman, a long-time supporter of the Gibsonton area.

“She has really had a hand in this,” he said.

The building’s red-brick exterior now sports a new green tile roof and bright yellow trim. The original plaques listing the County Commissioners responsible for its construction in the 1920s have been restored and outlined in yellow to match the outside trim. One has already been placed by the main door, and another is still in the restoration process.

Inside everything is new and bright as well.

On a quiet Tuesday afternoon, Helen Herron, Bill and Jan Powell, and Carolyn Svenddal were found playing table games in one of the recreation rooms and talking with Garay.

Garay was in the process of planning the February and March calendars of senior events, asking for opinions of those who will participate.

And so the building originally built to teach reading, writing and arithmetic to youngsters — now an historic part of South County’s past — will serve a whole new population of residents of every age for years to come.

Commissioner Murman mentioned in this WMNF article on St. Pete/Tampa ferry:

Hillsborough on board for Tampa-St. Pete ferry

Posted January 6, 2016 by Sean Kinane

Hillsborough County is on board with a pilot program to link the downtowns of St. Petersburg and Tampa with a high-speed ferry service. Hillsborough will spend $350,000 for the six-month test-run that will begin in the middle of this October as long as each of the other three partner governments chip in the same amount. The City of St. Petersburg – and its Mayor Rick Kriseman – are leading the charge and still has to convince Pinellas County and the City of Tampa.

Commissioner Sandra Murman told Kriseman it was great to finally move forward with a water connection between the two counties.

St. Petersburg Mayor Kriseman told the Hillsborough County Commission Wednesday that the six-month pilot program would involve one vessel run by HMS Ferries that would make three or four round trips every weekday except Monday and four round trips on weekends and holidays. Kriseman plans to seek an additional $900,000 from the state for a second vessel.

Hillsborough Commissioners supported the plan by a vote of 5-1. Stacy White voted against the ferry saying that rural county residents wouldn’t use it as much so they shouldn’t have to pay the same as the Cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg. Commissioner Al Higginbotham was not at the meeting.

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Bay Business Journal article on St. Pete/Tampa ferry:

Hillsborough county commissioners vote on funding for ferry service to St. Pete

Jan 6, 2016, 11:50am EST Updated: Jan 6, 2016, 1:42pm EST

In a 5 to 1 vote, the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners threw their support behind a pilot program for a ferry service linking the downtowns of St. Petersburg and Tampa.

The vote came after St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman outlined the plan that called for at least one vessel to begin operating in October, Tuesdays through Sunday, for a total cost of more than $1.3 million. Under the proposal, the counties of Hillsborough and Pinellas and the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg would have to kick in $350,000 each to cover the costs.

“For this to be effective, each of the partner governments” would have to share in the startup costs, Kriseman told the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners Wednesday morning.

“St. Petersburg would be the lead government entity in negotiating with HMS Ferries,” the company that is seeking to run the service, Kriseman said. He noted that his city and Tampa may have to put in more money to cover infrastructure for the docking of the ferry.

The St. Petersburg mayor said he needed four items from Hillsborough which included a resolution earmarking the $350,000 in funds; assistance lobbying regional and state governments for additional funding for a second vessel; assistance in soliciting sponsorships; and assistance in marketing the ferry service.

Kriseman will meet with commissioners for Pinellas County soon. The day before this vote, he huddled with Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn who announced his support for the ferry service.

With one ferry, there would be three to four roundtrips Tuesday through Friday and four on Saturdays and Sundays. With a second vessel that would cost approximately $898,000, there could be six to eight roundtrips weekdays and eight on weekends, Kriseman said.

“We do need to make better use of our waterways,” said Commissioner Sandra Murman, who made the motion to earmark the funding for the ferry service pilot program. She called the project a first step in creating a regional transportation network and cautioned her colleagues not to expect a return on their investment in the first couple of years.

In urging that the county earmark funding, Murman noted this was the lowest cost option for a ferry service ever presented to the board. “We cannot wait,” she said. “There is no time for studies. … We all need to sharpen our pencils and get moving on it.”

Commissioner Stacy White stated he was voting against it because he believes the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg should be responsible for a greater portion of the ferry service. In addition, White wanted to see more vetting of the proposal.

Despite his “concerns” about how his constituents and those further north would spend $350,000 for the downtown ferry, Commission Chair Lesley “Les” Miller Jr. said, “I’m going to support it today.”

Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Tribune article on St. Pete/Tampa ferry:

TRANSPORTATION

Hillsborough commission backs Tampa-St. Pete ferry

By Mike Salinero | Tribune Staff

Published: January 6, 2016

Updated: January 6, 2016 at 03:13 PM

TAMPA — Hillsborough County today became the second local government to embrace a high speed ferry service between downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg.

County commissioners voted 5-1 to earmark $350,000 toward a six-day-a-week ferry between the Vinoy Basin in St. Petersburg and the Channel District in Tampa. St. Petersburg’s City Council has already approved spending $350,000 for the project. The money will come out of its settlement in the BP oil spill.

Commissioner Stacy White voted against the measure, saying Tampa and St. Petersburg should put in more money than Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. White said he’d have a hard time justifying the county’s expenditure to residents in far-eastern county areas such as Fort Lonesome.

Commissioners took the plunge after hearing a talk from St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman who is driving the ferry proposal. Kriseman said the ferry service, which will start as a six month pilot project, would accomplish a long talked-about goal of uniting the Tampa Bay area counties as one region.

“I’m here today to present an opportunity that I think will continue the trend we’re on right now, a positive one … a focus on being a regional community,” Kriseman said.

The measure still requires financial commitments from Tampa and Pinellas County. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said Tuesday, after meeting privately with Kriseman, that he likes what he’s heard so far about the ferry but wants to see more detail about revenues. The Pinellas County Commission has yet to discuss the project.

Commissioner Sandy Murman made the motion to approve the project. She extolled the plan as a low-cost transportation alternative that would boost the county’s profile across the country.

“This is an investment,” Murman said. “This creates another notch for Visit Tampa Bay to market this area.”

Commissioner Murman quoted in this FOX13 report on St. Pete/Tampa ferry:

Talks of Tampa to St. Pete ferry move forward

By: Steve Nichols, FOX 13 News

POSTED:JAN 05 2016 08:10PM EST

UPDATED:JAN 05 2016 08:10PM EST

TAMPA (FOX 13) – Interest in the idea of a high-speed ferry from St. Petersburg to Tampa is picking up political momentum.

Tampa’s Mayor, Bob Buckhorn told reporters Wednesday, he was willing to entertain the idea after a preliminary discussion with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman on the topic.

Buckhorn said he will take “a couple of weeks” to talk to community leaders and study the numberof Tampa to St. Pete ferry move forward

Wednesday, Kriseman will address Hillsborough County commission, where one of them told FOX 13 News she would make a motion to support the proposal. 

“I’m totally anxious to get this thing moving and get something on the water,” commissioner Sandra Murman said, agreeing the two counties and two cities need to be involved. “I think it’s very important that we all share equally because we will all benefit equally from this.”

St. Petersburg’s city council earmarked $350,000 toward the proposed $1.4 million pilot project. The money would pay for one 98-foot, 150-passenger catamaran ferry that would run between the two downtowns – from October, 2016 through next March.

The only operator who responded to St. Petersburg’s request for qualifications proposed four round-trips per day, Fridays through Sundays with excursions and special event service Tuesdays through Thursdays.

The ferry would dock next to Tampa’s convention center and in St. Petersburg’s Vinoy basin.

The fares have not been determined. Kriseman said once all four governments agree to participate, he will direct his staff to finalize the pertinent numbers.