Council clears Rays stadium money, 4-3
Plus once-a-week watering, street-level heat maps and Chromeo downtown.
A narrow stadium vote sets up more public decisions, while holiday collection, watering limits and a free music festival shape the weeks ahead.
Tampa City Council voted 4-3 for a funding and development deal with the Rays. The proposed stadium would rise at Hillsborough College's Dale Mabry campus. Tampa would pay $80 million in four $20 million installments. Bill Carlson, Luis Viera, Naya Young and Alan Clendenin voted yes. Charlie Miranda, Guido Maniscalco and Lynn Hurtak voted no.
Finance chief Dennis Rogero said Tampa plans to borrow at least the first $20 million. Later payments start October 1, 2027. The next mayor and council can decide whether to make them. The Rays must show completed work on basic site infrastructure before the city pays.
The vote did not lock in terms for the Community Redevelopment Agency. Future votes include a deal with Hillsborough County and a change to the county's Community Investment Tax project list.
Once-a-week watering is still the rule
Tampa remains under Modified Phase III water-shortage rules. Lawns and landscaping inside city limits may be watered once per week.
The last address digit sets the day. It is Monday for 0 or 1, Tuesday for 2 or 3, Wednesday for 4 or 5, and Thursday for 6 or 7. Addresses ending in 8 or 9 use Friday. Mixed-address sites and common areas also use Friday. Watering is allowed only from midnight to 4 a.m. or from 8 to 11:59 p.m.
Hand watering and low-volume systems for plants other than turf may run any day, but not from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Home car washing is limited to the assigned day and requires a shutoff nozzle. Fertilizer with nitrogen or phosphorus is barred through September 30.
State pulls the permits for Tampa's plate readers
The Florida Department of Transportation has revoked the general-use permits for Tampa's automated license-plate readers. Acting Police Chief Brett Owen said the department will fully comply.
The 17 readers sit in rights of way along roads in the State Highway System. They must be removed within the 30-day deadline in the state memo. Tampa Police says access to its remaining plate-reader system is limited to investigators with a valid law-enforcement need. Owen said the cameras have helped solve homicide and robbery cases and locate missing people.
No Monday trash pickup for Labor Day
City of Tampa offices will be closed Monday, September 7, for Labor Day. Residential customers who normally receive Monday service will not get garbage, recycling or yard-waste pickup that day. There is no makeup day; those homes must wait for their next scheduled collection.
Commercial-cart customers with Monday service move to Tuesday, September 8. Other commercial customers may see delays through Saturday, September 12. The McKay Bay Transfer Station and Scale House at 114 S. 34th Street also closes Monday and reopens Tuesday. Questions go to 813-274-8811.
Tampa starts mapping heat block by block
Tampa has joined Heat Watch, a national project that maps urban heat islands. Verizon gave in-kind support. Cars carried CAPA Strategies sensors that sent local temperature and humidity readings in real time.
Thirteen teams of city staff and Green Team members covered assigned routes. They took readings in the morning, afternoon and evening. The city says street-level data can show more detail than satellites or standard weather stations.
The map will guide work on shade, trees, water stations and cooling routes. Tampa recorded 100 degrees and a heat index of 119 degrees in 2025.
Chromeo gets a Tampa rain check
- When
- Saturday, September 26 · 3:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Where
- Water Street Tampa
- Address
- Water Street, Tampa
- Price
- Free
Chromeo will headline the fourth annual Beats on the Street festival on Saturday, September 26. The duo returns to Tampa after rain canceled its Gasparilla Music Festival appearance in 2023.
More than two dozen local artists will perform across seven stages in the Water Street neighborhood. The lineup includes Prizilla, Kristopher James, Ari Chi and Javier Solaris, and La Lucha with guests. Music runs from 3 to 9 p.m. Admission is free, and the event is open to all ages.