The Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog

Friends of the River has just learned that it will be necessary to postpone the scheduled installation of shoreline plants at Sulphur Springs run adjacent to the City Parks Department pool. Saturday’s planned planting at Sulphur Springs pool has been delayed to allow time to assess the impact of emergency drought-related use of the Springs’ water, as well as City construction plans at the Springs’ weir. When this planting event is rescheduled later this Spring, Friends of the River will send out further information.

From Channel 10 News:

Tampa, Florida - The Hillsborough River is looking a lot cleaner.

The Mayor’s Beautification Program in Tampa, along with 1,200 volunteers, got to work Saturday morning to clean up the river and the shore line.

It was all part of the 21^st Annual Mayor’s Hillsborough River and Waterways clean-up.

Volunteers were thrilled with the progress they made.

“Actually I think all of us agree that this year it seems a little bit cleaner. We’re not sure if that’s because of the economy maybe people don’t have as much trash to throw away anymore, we’re not sure but we’re definitely a little bit cleaner than it was the last couple of years,” volunteer Courtney Eaton said.

Eaton is a third year volunteer on the project.

People who worked on the clean up say they found odd items in the river like tires and even a shopping cart.

Those working on the event were treated to breakfast, t-shirts and supplies and were welcomed by Mayor Pam Iorio. After the project, a celebratory lunch and concert took place at Lowry Park.

The Hillsborough River is Tampa’s main source of drinking water.

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=94636&catid=8

TAMPA - As others head to their offices, Cliff Conatser works outside, painting and refurbishing his boat. He sees business potential on the Hillsborough River. In December, he hopes to tap into the market by starting Tampa River Taxi and already has asked the city’s parks and recreation department for approval to use available docks. His vision is to run his 49-passenger boat, called the Fun Boat, from Tampa Heights, downtown, the Channel District, Harbour Island, Davis Islands and the Tampa Convention Center. The taxi service will cost about $5 round trip. Conatser, a licensed captain with more than 30 years in the boating business, plans to offer monthly boarding passes and eventually operate two boats.
He’s familiar with the water taxi business. He was a captain for Tampa Town Ferry, which provided a taxi service on the river in the 1990s.
 

At a workshop today, the Tampa City Council discussed expanding setbacks for homeowners who live along the edge of the Hillsborough River.

Currently, setbacks for waterfront lots range from 5 to 20 feet, but city officials are proposing a 30-foot waterfront setback for residential development.

City Councilman Joseph Catano questioned the need for the change.

City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena is leading the charge for the changes. She said that the Hillsborough River Board and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, which she both serves on, are concerned.

Several residents had comments about the proposal, and about even getting sufficient notice about the proposal.

Gary Ellsworth is with the South Seminole Heights Civic Association, one neighborhood group that is part of the 900 or so homes affected by the proposal.

Like many of those who spoke, he said he wasn’t certain that most of the those homeowners were aware of the plan. And he questioned why only the proposal would affect only those who live north of Columbis Drive.

Susan Long said she personally presented fliers to waterfront residents in Old Seminole Heights. She said there was a difference of opinion among those she surveyed, depending on the depth of their lots. Long also read aloud a few emails from those who live near the river.

Rich Brown said that in discussions with his neighbors alongside the river, the sentiment is positive regarding extending setbacks.

There was to be no vote taken as the Council was simply holding a workshop, with the setback proposal just one of several different amendments set to be considered officially next by the council.

As such, City Attorney Julia Cole said the city was not legally mandated to contact all homeowners who would be affected. And she said, her department didn’t have the money to spend on such notices.

City Councilman John Dingfelder said he wanted to see if staff could be flexible with the proposal, and create different lot types.

Council members were running out of time after discussing the issue, so they said they will set aside time on Oct. 16 to discuss sending out a mailer to residents who live near the river and would be affected. They also will discuss at that time if they want to hold a public workshop, and if so, where.

One of the most beautiful and precious resources in our neighborhood
is the Hillsborough River . Now you can canoe down the river for FREE!
You can actually enjoy a leisurely ride, while making a difference in our
neighborhood and the environment…Read on! (Trust me, we have
done this recently and you can fill a bag within 100 yards!)

The last direct hit from a hurricane for Tampa was 1921. Back then, the
damage was estimated at $10million (Today’s value would be
$120million). At that time much of our neighborhood did not exist.
As a historic neighborhood, we must now ask ourselves, If Tampa
were to take a direct hit, would our city and our neighborhood be
prepared. For a long time, Tampa has been predicted to take a major,
direct hit. Analyst have long said that Tampa will be the next New
Orleans . Considering that Tampa has almost twice the population,
is much more wealthier - therefore higher property casualty
losses, this could be devastating.

Hurricane experts suggest that if Tampa were to take a direct hit
from the south, as they are possibly predicting, then entire Port
Tampa, downtown, Channelside would be under water. If a
category 3 were to hit, water could be so high that it could flood
the first two floors of Tampa General Hospital . As a category 4,
we would be facing up to 23 foot storm surge.

While I think the science of predicting the storms path and intensity
is far from perfect, it is something that should weigh in the back of all
our minds. I think we have been very fortunate to dodge most storms.
Our biggest concern will typically be that of wind damage and flying
debris. Who knows, one day we may see the Hillsborough River rise to
new heights. Seminole Heights that is…let’s hope we are all aware
and prepared.