Tampa City Council cancels meetings for 30 days

TAMPA — Tampa City Council meetings will not be held for the next 30 days in response to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a memo sent to all council members Monday, Council Chairman Luis Viera wrote that the decision was made after consultations between Mayor Jane Castor and attorneys for the city and the City Council.

The decision followed a similar move that Hillsborough County officials took last week, canceling all all government events for 30 days.

Viera wrote that, under the law, the Council is unable to have meetings via telephone only. Having live meetings with the public, he said, will only jeopardize public health. The council’s next public meeting is scheduled for April 16.