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Congratulations to Ocea Wynn, City of Tampa Administrator of Neighborhood and Community Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer, on winning the 2024 Josephine Howard Stafford Memorial Award at the 27th Annual Women’s History Month Celebration.
Congratulations to Ocea Wynn, City of Tampa Administrator of Neighborhood and Community Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer, on winning the 2024 Josephine Howard Stafford Memorial Award at the 27th Annual Women’s History Month Celebration. This year's award theme was "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion" and she has embodied this theme throughout her career. We look forward to seeing the innovative ways she continues to embody and amplify this message in the years to come. (Pictured: Administrator of Neighborhood & Community Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer Ocea Wynn, Mayor Jane Castor, Tampa City Councilwoman Gwen Henderson)
GET INVOLVED
Community Input Meeting on Accessory Dwelling Units

On March 12 at 6 pm, join the City of Tampa Planning Department at the City Center at Hanna Avenue (2555 E. Hanna Ave) to discuss the future of Accessory Dwelling Units (also known as granny flats, in-law units, backyard cottages, secondary units, etc.) in our city. Participants will learn more about existing policies, followed by an open discussion.

River O’Green & Rough Riders St. Patrick's Day Parade

River O’ Green (https://www.tampasdowntown.com/outside-is-in/river-ogreen/) will return to Tampa’s Downtown on March 16 from 11 am – 6 pm. This annual, free event kicks off the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, as the Hillsborough River is transformed into a bright shade of green. This day of festive fun at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park will feature live music, kids activities, food trucks, and of course, beer. The Rough Rider’s St. Patricks’ Day Parade (https://www.tamparoughriders.org/event-5178014) will also be held in Downtown Tampa this year on March 16 at 5 pm, along E Madison St & N. Ashley Dr.

Note: There will be heavy traffic (https://mailchi.mp/f0a51dee9e13/downtown-tampa-st-patricks-day-traffic-advisory-navigating-the-shamrock-shuffle?e=9d00a04676) in Downtown Tampa this weekend (March 15 – March 17) due to the St. Patrick's Day Parade, spring break, FL State Thespians at the Tampa Convention Center, and a number of other events. Visitors are encouraged to plan to arrive early for their event and consider using alternative means of transportation, such as parking in Ybor City and taking the free TECO Streetcar (http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/howtoride.html) , using the DASH service (https://www.tampasdowntown.com/getting-around/dash/) (operated by the Tampa Downtown Partnership) or any of the available eBike/eScooter rental services.

eBike Voucher Program

The eBike Voucher Program (https://www.tampa.gov/ebike) is now accepting applications! The initiative provides Tampa residents with an opportunity to receive between $1,000 - $3,000 in a purchase discount toward purchasing a new eBike. Join the City of Tampa and participating local bike shops for an opportunity to test an eBike. Helmets and waivers to ride the bicycles will be available on-site:

- March 13 from 5 pm – 7 pm: Copeland Park (11001 N. 15th St.)
- March 14 from 5 pm – 7 pm: Ballast Point Park (5300 Interbay Blvd.)

Tampa’s Downtown Neighborhood Programming

The Tampa’s Downtown Partnership has launched a series of Neighborhood Programming (https://www.tampasdowntown.com/events/) events throughout Downtown’s seven neighborhoods. The public is invited to enjoy events featuring a backyard market, dueling pianos, food truck rallies, coffee breaks, and more.

Job of the Week

The Development & Growth Management team is hiring an Urban Planner II (https://www.jobapscloud.com/Tampa/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1=240202&R2=000612&R3=001) to perform a variety of professional program/project planning activities that impact municipal development and resource allocation processes. Tasks are of more than average difficulty and include analyzing data and formulating and recommending plans and programs relevant to municipal conditions and needs.
LAST WEEK'S HEADLINES
Tampa's River O' Green Happening Saturday, March 16 (https://www.abcactionnews.com/morning-blend/tampas-river-o-green-happening-saturday-march-16)
ABC Action News
It's March, so of course, we need to talk about St. Patrick's Day and Tampa's tradition -- River O' Green!

City of Tampa relaunches eBike voucher program for 2024 (https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/city-of-tampa-relaunches-ebike-voucher-program)
ABC Action News
The City of Tampa is relaunching a popular program that will help make eBikes more affordable for its residents.

Water management leaders extend water-use restrictions through July 1 (https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pinellas/water-management-leaders-extend-water-use-restrictions-through-july-1)
ABC Action News
Every single Tampa Bay County has extended its irrigation rules.

Public-private partnership addresses affordable housing crisis in Tampa
Public-private partnership addresses affordable housing crisis in Tampa (https://www.businessobserverfl.com/news/2024/mar/06/public-private-partnership-housing-crisis-tampa/)
Business Observer FL
The city of Tampa provided a developer with $12 million to build a 354-apartment community and ensured it remains available to low-income residents for the next 99 years.

Violent crime in Tampa went down in 2023, according to new report
Violent crime in Tampa went down in 2023 (https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/crime/tampa-violent-crime-down-2023-report/67-70ac206c-38a9-4b7b-aa93-0e6f0ab8f8e8)
10 Tampa Bay
Report shows rates for gun crimes and violent crime went down, while de-escalation rates went up.

Black cemetery in Belmont Heights becomes Tampa's newest historic landmark
Black cemetery in Belmont Heights becomes Tampa's newest historic landmark (https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/black-cemetery-in-belmont-heights-becomes-tampas-newest-historic-landmark)
ABC Action News
The 20-acre cemetery opened in 1919 and is the burial site for many black veterans.

City Of Tampa Celebrates Women’s History Month; Honors First Chief Diversity Officer (https://flsentinel.com/?p=132793)
Florida Sentinel
Ms. Wynn has served the City of Tampa for nearly 20 years.

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Meet Michael Gerdjikian, a Water Plant Operations Specialist with the Water Department. He has worked for the City of Tampa for over 10 years and he enjoys that every day is different, from completing regulatory reports in the office to training new operators out in the field.

What is your favorite place in Tampa? One of my favorite places in Tampa is the Florida Aquarium. I went to college expecting to become a structural engineer until a friend got me into the fish hobby. After setting up planted freshwater tanks and saltwater reef tanks, I took an interest in designing/building my own water treatment systems for those tanks. It was a very rewarding feeling to be able to learn the concepts of physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes and then be able to apply those concepts to produce a safe environment for other living creatures to thrive in. Before I knew it, I changed my major to Environmental Engineering and I’ve been working in the water treatment industry ever since.

What is your favorite meal to cook? My favorite meal to cook is pizza, assuming tossing a frozen pizza in the oven counts as cooking. Fortunately for me, my wife is very versatile in the kitchen and can cook authentic Vietnamese pho one day and then baked ziti the next.

What is your dream vacation? Anytime I’m able to spend enjoying life with my wife is a worthwhile vacation for me, whether we’re on a tropical getaway to Hawaii or Costa Rica, on a month-long backpacking trip in Vietnam, or simply working together on a home-improvements project.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen on the job? One day I was collecting sludge samples throughout the water facility. This involves slowly dropping a long clear tube to the bottom of the 20’ deep basin to pull up a core of the sludge blanket at the bottom. When I reached the final conventional coagulation basin, I unknowingly dropped my sampler on top of an alligator’s head triggering him to lunge at me before swimming away. Luckily, it was just a baby gator and we both escaped unscathed. I guess it’s just one of the hazards of working so close to the river.
SPECIAL FEATURE
A big facility with a BIGGER impact! Did you know that the Tampa Convention Center hosted 12 events last month, generating an estimated economic impact of $17,328,771. This includes the World Oddities Expo, a first-time event in Tampa, as well as many returning events.
COMING UP THIS WEEK

Monday, March 11 at 10 a.m.
Ribbon Cutting - THE SKILLS CENTER

Monday, March 11 at 1 p.m.
Boat Tour - 2024 IMPOSSIBLE DREAM & TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL’S DISABILITY AWARENESS BOAT PROGRAM

Tuesday, March 12
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES CONGRESSIONAL CITY CONFERENCE – WASHINGTON, DC

Thursday, March 14 at 12:30 p.m.
FEMALE VETERANS APPRECIATION LUNCH

Friday, March 15 at 8 a.m.
Press Conference – TAMPAWELL BAYSHORE FITNESS RIBBON CUTTING

Saturday, March 16 at 10:30 a.m.
TAMPA RIVER O'GREEN FEST

Saturday, March 16 at 4:30 p.m.
TAMPA ROUGH RIDERS 2024 ST. PATRICK'S PARADE
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