OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - September 28, 2023

City Council — Thursday, September 28, 2023
BodySt Petersburg, Florida
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, September 28, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

Welcome to the City of St.

0:09

Petersburg City Council meeting.

0:11

Your elected officials are Mayor Ken Welch.

0:16

District 1, Copley Girdis.

0:19

District 2, and Council Chair, Brandy Gabbard.

0:24

District 3, Edmonton Erie.

0:27

District 4, Leseth Hanowitz.

0:30

District 5.

0:32

And Council Vice Chair, Deborah Fig Sanders.

0:36

District 6, Gina Driscoll.

0:39

District 7, John Mohammed.

0:42

And District 8, Richie Floyd.

0:49

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:51

We will call to order the September 28th, 2023 City Council meeting, beginning with a roll call, please.

0:56

Curtis.

0:56

Here, here.

0:58

Hadowitz.

0:59

Here.

0:59

Sanders.

1:00

Risco.

1:00

Here.

1:01

Mohammed here.

1:02

Floyd.

1:02

Here.

1:03

All right.

1:03

We will begin our meeting this afternoon with an invocation that is going to be given by Councilmember Copley Gurtis.

1:08

And following that, we will do the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:11

Please all rise.

1:14

If you'd join me in bowing your head.

1:18

Blessed is the man that does not walk with the wicked, whose delight is in the law of the Lord.

1:24

He is like the tree planted by water.

1:27

Lord, I ask your blessing today.

1:29

As fall begins, we ask you to continue to nurture and protect us.

1:34

Please bless our city employees and first responders.

1:37

They are the lifeblood of our city that enables us all to serve all those that need it.

1:43

Bless our mayor and administration.

1:45

Continue to lead them with your bright light.

1:48

Bless this council and all who join us today.

1:51

Guide our decisions through your eyes, not ours.

1:55

Lord, please continue to bless this great city from our businesses to our neighbors and from our most fortunate to our most needy.

2:02

Please lighten the loads of our residents that most need it.

2:06

We especially lift up our neighborhoods and residents affected by Hurricane Idalia.

2:11

Bring them peace and sustain them through this difficult time.

2:16

Please keep our police and firefighters safe in your care, as they are on the front lines of protecting us every day.

2:23

We are a city that that is diverse and beautiful.

2:26

Continue to let our light shine everywhere and lead us to protect that light for all of our citizens.

2:33

It is my prayer today that this body continues to put people over politics that we do not do not forget the past, but also we do not move too quickly through the present and do not overlook our abundant future.

2:47

Let us be that tree that is planted by water, strong and healthy, able to serve and provide shade.

2:55

This is the day the Lord has made.

2:57

Let us rejoice and be glad.

2:59

Amen.

3:00

Amen.

3:02

I pledge allegiance.

3:07

And to the Republic for which it stands.

3:10

One nation, under God, individual with liberty and justice for all.

3:15

You may be seated.

3:17

Thank you, Councilmember Gertis.

3:18

It was a beautiful invocation.

3:20

All right, Council members.

3:22

We have an agenda before us today.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Affordable Housing████████████████16%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████13%
Public Transportation███████7%
Community Redevelopment Area██████6%
Animal Welfare██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Legal Matters█████5%
Aviation Infrastructure████4%
Summary of Proceedings

St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - September 28, 2023

The St. Petersburg City Council held its regular meeting on September 28, 2023, addressing a range of items including approval of a $300,000 legal services program for eviction prevention and probate in the South St. Pete CRA, a license agreement for the Cross Bay Ferry, a ban on retail sale of rabbits, and adoption of the fiscal year 2024 budget with a millage rate of 6.4675 mills.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda approved unanimously after moving items CB1 and CB14 to reports and adding CRA item 3.
  • Consent agenda approved unanimously, including appointment of Sarah Lucker as assistant city attorney.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Open forum: Mark Frey opposed privatization of city projects and urged no taxpayer money for a sports venue. Bruce Nissan and Warren Willingham expressed strong support for providing legal counsel to tenants facing eviction in the South St. Pete CRA.
  • Public hearing on budget: Multiple speakers urged more funding for affordable housing, youth programs, and social services; criticized the proposed police budget increase and potential stadium subsidies; and called for greater transparency. Speakers included representatives from Faith in Florida, Florida Rising, Party for Socialism and Liberation, St. Pete Tenants Union, PCTA, and community advocates.

Discussion Items

  • CRA2 – Community Law Program: Administration requested $300,000 (via TIF) for pro bono eviction and probate services to South St. Pete CRA residents. Debate covered constitutional concerns (14th Amendment), Attorney General opinion 2010-40, income restrictions, and impact on landlords. Councilmembers Montanero and Driscoll expressed concerns; chair noted the CRA’s median income (~$31,000) and high poverty rates as inherent means testing. Motion carried 6-2 (Driscoll and Montanero voting no).
  • CRA3 – Interlocal Agreement: Accounting/financial reporting agreement between city and CRA; passed unanimously.
  • F1 and F3: Items pulled from consent; F1 approved 6-2 (same dissenting members), F3 (interlocal) passed unanimously.
  • F2 – HMS Ferries License Agreement: Director Evan Morey presented license for Cross Bay Ferry to use Port or North Yacht Basin for two seasons (9-month season starting Oct 2023). New permit needed from Army Corps; permanent dock design funded ($250,000 in budget), construction estimated 2–3 years. Approved unanimously.
  • J4 – Rabbit Retail Sale Ban: Ordinance adding rabbits to existing ban on retail sale of dogs and cats. Public testimony highlighted rescue overpopulation, impulse buys, and comparisons to other jurisdictions. Passed unanimously.
  • J5 – Alcohol in Seminole Park: One-time permit for event on Oct 14, 2023; passed unanimously.
  • J6 – Comprehensive Plan Amendment: Updated elements for affordable housing projects and Albert Whitted Airport maps; passed unanimously.
  • New Business – Grocery Store Referral: Councilmember Girdis referred discussion on municipally owned grocery stores in food deserts to Health, Energy, Resilience and Sustainability Committee; approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Final Millage Rate: Set at 6.4675 mills, a 9.34% increase over the rollback rate of 5.9152 mills. Approved 7-1 (Floyd voting no).
  • FY2024 Budget Appropriation: $823.104 million operating budget adopted 7-1 (Floyd voting no).
  • Five-Year CIP (FY24-28): $901.201 million capital improvement program approved unanimously.
  • Community Law Program: $300,000 CRA agreement approved 6-2.
  • Cross Bay Ferry: License agreement approved unanimously for two seasons.
  • Rabbit Ban: Amended city code to ban retail rabbit sales, effective Jan 1, 2024; passed unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the City of St. Petersburg City Council meeting. Your elected officials are Mayor Ken Welch. District 1, Copley Girdis. District 2, and Council Chair, Brandy Gabbard. District 3, Edmonton Erie. District 4, Leseth Hanowitz. District 5. And Council Vice Chair, Deborah Fig Sanders. District 6, Gina Driscoll. District 7, John Mohammed. And District 8, Richie Floyd. Good afternoon, everyone. We will call to order the September 28th, 2023 City Council meeting, beginning with a roll call, please. Curtis. Here, here. Hadowitz. Here. Sanders. Risco. Here. Mohammed here. Floyd. Here. All right. We will begin our meeting this afternoon with an invocation that is going to be given by Councilmember Copley Gurtis. And following that, we will do the Pledge of Allegiance. Please all rise. If you'd join me in bowing your head. Blessed is the man that does not walk with the wicked, whose delight is in the law of the Lord. He is like the tree planted by water. Lord, I ask your blessing today. As fall begins, we ask you to continue to nurture and protect us. Please bless our city employees and first responders. They are the lifeblood of our city that enables us all to serve all those that need it. Bless our mayor and administration. Continue to lead them with your bright light. Bless this council and all who join us today. Guide our decisions through your eyes, not ours. Lord, please continue to bless this great city from our businesses to our neighbors and from our most fortunate to our most needy. Please lighten the loads of our residents that most need it. We especially lift up our neighborhoods and residents affected by Hurricane Idalia. Bring them peace and sustain them through this difficult time. Please keep our police and firefighters safe in your care, as they are on the front lines of protecting us every day. We are a city that that is diverse and beautiful. Continue to let our light shine everywhere and lead us to protect that light for all of our citizens. It is my prayer today that this body continues to put people over politics that we do not do not forget the past, but also we do not move too quickly through the present and do not overlook our abundant future. Let us be that tree that is planted by water, strong and healthy, able to serve and provide shade. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad.

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