St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - July 20, 2023

The St. Petersburg City Council met on July 20, 2023, at 6:30 PM to discuss a wide range of items including legal settlements, public art, FDOT projects, the repeal of the Tenant Bill of Rights, the FY24 budget, utility rates, and a major affordable housing development on the former Raytheon property. The meeting included public comment on several items and culminated in the approval of the Raytheon site plan with special environmental conditions.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda Approval: Motion to approve the agenda passed unanimously with Councilmember Hanowitz absent.
• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Legal Settlements (Items I1, I2, I3):
  • Deborah Thompson settlement: $162,500 for a woman injured by a city truck at a COVID testing site. Liability was determined by a jury. Approved unanimously.
  • Zuher Abdallah settlement: $75,000 for a rear-end collision involving a fire department vehicle. Approved unanimously.
  • Enrique Chippolo workers' compensation settlement: $50,000 total for a former fire captain with cardiac issues, removing him from the city's workers' compensation system. Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item E1 (Repeal of Tenant Bill of Rights): William Q. Kilgore (St. Pete Tenants Union) requested referral to the HLUT committee for further discussion on retaining source of income protections, arguing that some provisions may not be preempted by state law. He noted that other municipalities had not yet removed their tenant bills of rights. Councilmember Floyd expressed frustration with the state preemption and the influence of the apartment association.
• Item J1 (Raytheon Affordable Housing): Over 60 residents spoke in opposition and 13 in support. Opponents cited concerns about environmental contamination (trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride), traffic impacts, insufficient parking, safety near Azalea Elementary, and the adequacy of the remediation plan. Supporters emphasized the urgent need for affordable housing, the project's location near transit and parks, and the developer's commitment to including 159 units at 80% AMI.

Discussion Items

• Item F4 - Public Art for Sanitation Headquarters: The Public Arts Commission recommended "Oneness," a 21-foot-tall stainless steel sculpture by Donald G. Lonellus (a St. Pete artist). Councilmember Montanari expressed a preference for a more literal representation of sanitation leaders Joe Savage and Ben Shirley. Councilmember Driscoll supported the symbolic piece. The sculpture will include a plaque explaining its history. Approved unanimously.
• Item F2 - FDOT Major Projects Update: Richard Moss (FDOT District 7) presented updates on the Howard Franklin Bridge ($170M, completion late 2025), Gateway Expressway ($600M, near completion), West Shore Interchange (construction start fall 2024), and I-275 capacity improvements (not currently funded). Councilmembers praised the partnership and noted the importance of bicycle/pedestrian connections.
• Item E1 - Ordinance Repealing Tenant Bill of Rights: Assistant City Attorney Brad Tenant explained that HB 1417 (2023) preempts local regulation of residential tenancies, requiring repeal of the city's Tenant Bill of Rights. Council discussed the possibility of preserving source of income protections under a different chapter (Chapter 760). Councilmember Floyd and Mohammed expressed concern over the loss of local protections. Legal advised that the repeal must proceed, but a new business item could be introduced to address discrimination separately. The ordinance was approved unanimously.
• Item F1 - FY24 Budget Millage Rate: Budget Manager Jen Chisholm presented the proposed millage rate of 6.4675 mills (a reduction of 0.0575 mills from FY23), generating $197.791 million in ad valorem revenue (11.2% increase). The rollback rate is 5.9152 mills. Two resolutions were approved unanimously: F1A setting the proposed millage rate, and F1B setting public hearing dates for September 14 and 28, 2023.
• Item F3 - FY24 Utility Rate Update: Senior Public Works Manager Angela Miller presented a proposed average 5.6% increase for basic utilities (water, sewer, stormwater, sanitation) and 6.2% for reclaimed water. A water closet fee (impact fee) is proposed to increase from $350 to $393.75 (phased over 4 years). The presentation also announced $20.5 million in new grant funding for stormwater and wastewater projects, which will help lower future rate increases. No vote was taken; first reading is scheduled for August.
• Items F5 & F6 - Cohort of Champions Contracts: Procurement Director Stephanie Swinson presented two contracts for the youth program: a transportation contract (lower bid from PERC - Pinellas Ex-Offender Re-entry Coalition) and a career readiness RFP (awarded to PERC and Speakeasy Media). The contracts were re-solicited after previous cancellations due to scope changes and communication violations. The transportation contract includes Level 2 background checks and vehicle inspections. Councilmember Driscoll questioned the process but was assured that violators did not receive awards. Both items were approved unanimously.
• CRA Item 2 - Consistency Finding for Mixed-Use Development: The CRA board approved a resolution finding that a proposed 21-story, 310-unit mixed-use building at 1st Ave N and 11th St N is consistent with the In-Town West Redevelopment Plan. The project includes 360 parking spaces and 6,766 sq ft of commercial space. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Item J1 - Raytheon Affordable Housing Site Plan: Approved unanimously with special environmental conditions. The project will include 1,058 units (159 at 80% AMI or below, 159 at 120% AMI or below), a 30-year affordability covenant, and a restrictive covenant for Phase 3 (no ground-floor residential). The council added five conditions of approval: (1) compliance with FDEP requirements, (2) a soil management plan, (3) a dewatering plan without discharge to city stormwater systems, (4) prompt reporting of any non-compliance, and (5) transport of contaminated soil in sealed containers or as approved by FDEP. The vote was 8-0.
• Item E1 - Repeal of Tenant Bill of Rights: Approved unanimously (8-0). Councilmember Floyd and Hanowitz absent. The city will proceed with the repeal but may introduce a future item to address source of income discrimination.
• Item F1A & F1B - FY24 Budget and Hearings: Both resolutions approved unanimously (Councilmembers Floyd and Hanowitz absent). The proposed millage rate is 6.4675 mills; public hearings set for September 14 and 28, 2023.
• New Business Items G1 & G2: Referred to committees: G1 (update on Integrated Water Resources Master Plan) and G2 (discussion of a residential parking permit program outside downtown). Both approved unanimously.
• Legal Settlements: All three settlements approved unanimously.
• Public Art Sculpture: Approved unanimously.
• Cohort of Champions Contracts: Approved unanimously.