St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – November 30, 2023

The St. Petersburg City Council met on Thursday, November 30, 2023, beginning with an invocation by Imam Abdul Ali of the Tampa Bay Muslim Association and the Pledge of Allegiance. The council considered consent items, public hearings on affordable housing and zoning, legal retainers, a PSTA update, two affordable housing resolutions, a city-owned land policy, and multiple committee referrals. The council also convened as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for two development approvals. Most votes were unanimous, with Councilmember Mohammed absent; notable split votes occurred on legal retainers and the domestic equipment parking ordinance.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• William Herman, a resident of the Historic Kenwood area, stated he initially doubted claims of systemic bias but after reviewing the water/wastewater rate structure concluded that the poorest residents are subsidizing the wealthiest. He urged the council to pass a resolution requesting the city's chief equity officer to investigate the utility rates for systemic bias.
• Carrie Mueller, a resident, expressed concern about the Rays/Hines financing deal. She detailed what she characterized as a net land subsidy and large public costs, including city and county bonds and foregone property tax revenue, and asked for clarification meetings with council.
• Ann Pollock, a commercial real estate attorney, expressed strong support for the Rays/Hines project, describing it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to raise St. Petersburg's national profile and attract business investment.
• Jeremy Tolberg, a resident, opposed the stadium deal, citing an academic study of Atlanta's Truist Park. He argued that stadium deals generally produce lower property values and fiscal shortfalls, and called the proposal a cash transfer from residents to wealthy team owners.
• Nick Bell, president of the Old Northeast Neighborhood Association, spoke in support of the proposed domestic/commercial equipment parking ordinance, saying van-lifers have been using city streets and public rights-of-way as permanent campsites, and urging the council to adopt the ordinance.
• During the city-owned land policy discussion, Joe Farrell of the Pinellas Realtor Organization and Jason Mathis of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership both expressed support for the policy, with Mathis noting that developer feedback led to technical improvements.

Discussion Items

• D1 – Police Volunteer Road Patrol Recognition: Councilmember Girdis introduced Lyndell Bright, CAPPY staff liaison, who presented certificates of appreciation to Road Patrol volunteers. The council also recognized Officer Wolfson for his 32 years with the St. Petersburg Police Department, including 12 years as Road Patrol Coordinator, and presented him the Sunshine Ambassador Award. Council members thanked the volunteers and Officer Wolfson for their service.
• E1A/E1B – Affordable Housing Amendments (Senate Bill 102): Housing Administrator Amy Foster presented amendments implementing Senate Bill 102, which requires administrative approval of multifamily rental developments that include at least 40% affordable units at or below 120% of area median income (AMI), subject to local compatibility review. The ordinance also changes the city's 30% affordable process: it eliminates the five-acre minimum for industrial projects, reduces the 60-unit minimum to 10 units, and replaces the public hearing with a 30-day notice and comment period. Both ordinances passed unanimously, with Councilmember Mohammed absent.
• E2 – Land Development Regulations for Civic Uses and Sports Stadiums: Planning Director Elizabeth Abernathy presented amendments adding sports stadiums, convention centers, performing arts venues, and microbreweries to zoning and parking matrices. The proposal sets tiered parking requirements: one space per 20 seats in downtown, one per 10 in traditional districts, and one per 5 in suburban districts, with bicycle parking and off-site parking allowances. It also exempts large civic buildings from downtown floor-plate limits and adjusts CRA submittal rules for large multiphase projects. Councilmembers questioned whether the downtown parking ratio was adequate for large events, but the ordinance passed unanimously.
• J1/J2 – Legal Retainers for Stadium Project: Assistant City Attorney McCall Dyer requested approval to increase the Faegre Drinker outside counsel retainer from $250,000 to $550,000 for drafting stadium and gas plant project agreements. Councilmember Hanowitz questioned the magnitude and timing of the increase. The motion passed 5–2, with Councilmembers Floyd and Hanowitz voting no. The council also approved confirming Bryant Miller Olive as special legal counsel for finance-related matters (not to exceed $100,000) and increasing the bond counsel fee cap from $125,000 to $250,000 for publicly issued stadium debt. That motion passed 6–1, with Councilmember Hanowitz voting no. Councilmember Mohammed was absent.
• F4 – Inner Circle Sports Agreement: Assistant City Administrator Tom Green presented a $1.248 million consulting agreement with Inner Circle Sports for the Rays/Hines stadium and gas plant negotiation. Compensation includes $700,000 contingent on bond issuance, $274,000 from the FY24 contingency, and $274,000 from Pinellas County under an interlocal agreement. Green also provided a summary of $756,725 in prior professional-services expenses. Councilmembers raised concerns about the scope, the future Stadco entity, and requested financial information, including net present value and revenue streams. Following debate, the council voted to defer action to the December 7, 2023 meeting.
• F1 – PSTA Update: PSTA CEO Brad Miller reported on the agency's national APTA award, Sunrunner ridership (over 1 million in its first year), unchanged traffic speeds and reduced crashes on the corridor, a planned First Street station, fare capping at $5 per day, subsidized passes for low-income St. Petersburg residents, free rides for veterans, and zero-emission bus progress. He also detailed a local bill passed 6–3 by the Pinellas legislative delegation that would reduce the PSTA board from 15 to 12 members, cut St. Petersburg's representation from three seats to one, and shift citizen appointments to state legislative leaders. Councilmember Driscoll moved to refer a discussion on a resolution supporting PSTA and opposing the bill to the Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee; the motion passed unanimously.
• F2 – Bayou Court Apartments: Housing Program Specialist Mark Van Lew presented a new 60-unit, 100% affordable and workforce housing project near Lake Maggiore. The unit mix includes 12 units at 50% AMI or below, 9 at 80%, 15 at 100%, and 24 at 120% AMI. Total cost per unit is $287,717, and the city's per-unit subsidy is $45,667. Developer Tyler Herbert of Gravel Road Partners spoke in support, noting the project is shovel-ready, includes on-site bus access, and prioritizes municipal and school employees. Council approved resolutions F2A and F2B unanimously, with Councilmember Mohammed absent.
• F3 – Repetitive Loss Area Analysis: Floodplain Manager Hannah Rebhholz presented the 2023 annual repetitive loss report. There are 969 repetitive loss structures in four sub-areas, with the highest concentration in Shoreacres. The city is implementing drainage, backflow prevention, and living shoreline projects. Councilmembers learned that the stormwater master plan totals roughly $760 million and would take about 76 years at current funding levels. A deeper discussion was scheduled for March. No vote was required.
• G1 – Capital Improvements Element: The council approved the capital improvements element amendment updating the five-year capital improvement schedule and adopting FDOT's work program. The motion passed unanimously, with Councilmembers Montanari and Mohammed absent.
• G2 – Parking Enforcement for Domestic and Commercial Equipment: The council heard a first reading of an ordinance updating definitions of "domestic equipment" and "passenger motor vehicle" to restrict live-in vehicles parked in residential areas. Nick Bell spoke in support on behalf of the Old Northeast Neighborhood Association. Councilmembers discussed enforcement discretion and potential unintended effects on people living in vehicles. The ordinance passed 5–2, with Councilmembers Floyd and Gabbard voting no. A second public hearing is scheduled for January 18, 2024.
• CRA2 – Old Police Station Mixed-Use Project: Reconvening as the CRA, staff presented a revised $120 million site plan for the old police station property at 1300 First Avenue North. The project includes a 12-story office building with 154,000 square feet of office space, a 7-story building with 42 workforce housing units, a 168-room hotel, a 1-story commercial building, a 629-space parking garage, and a public plaza. The CRA approved the project unanimously, with Councilmember Mohammed absent.
• CRA3 – 18th Street North Apartments: The CRA approved a $72.9 million project at the northeast corner of 18th Street North and 2nd Avenue North: an 18-story, 279-unit multifamily building with a 383-space parking garage. Existing tenants remain in place until construction. Councilmember Driscoll raised concerns about the proposed dog run location adjacent to neighboring properties; the applicant said they would explore design improvements. The vote was unanimous, with Councilmember Mohammed absent.
• New Business H1–H4 – Committee Referrals: Council approved four referrals: H1 (public art code changes) to the Budget, Finance, and Taxation Committee; H2 (affordable housing lot disposition program) to the Housing, Land Use, and Transportation Committee; H3 (2018 Penny for Pinellas affordable housing guidelines resolution) to HLUT; and H4 (2022 census data and child poverty) to the Youth and Family Services Committee. All referrals passed unanimously.
• I1 – 2024 Federal Legislative Agenda: Councilmember Hanowitz moved to approve a resolution confirming the 2024 federal legislative agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
• I2 – City-Owned Land Policy: Council approved a resolution supporting the city-owned land disposition policy after public comment and discussion. Staff noted the policy clarifies the city's RFP process and housing goals and incorporates feedback from developers. The motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• The agenda and consent calendar were approved unanimously.
• E1A, E1B, E2, F1, F2A, F2B, G1, H1–H4, I1, and I2 passed unanimously; Councilmember Mohammed was absent for most of these votes, and Councilmember Montanari was also absent for G1.
• J1 (Faegre Drinker retainer increase) passed 5–2, with Councilmembers Floyd and Hanowitz voting no.
• J2 (Bryant Miller Olive finance counsel and bond fee cap) passed 6–1, with Councilmember Hanowitz voting no.
• G2 (domestic/commercial equipment parking) passed 5–2, with Councilmembers Floyd and Gabbard voting no.
• F4 (Inner Circle Sports) was deferred to the December 7, 2023 council meeting.
• CRA2 and CRA3 were approved unanimously.

Note: The clerk announced the initial agenda vote as passing unanimously with both Councilmembers Mohammed and Driscoll absent, though Driscoll had responded to roll call and later participated in voting; subsequent vote announcements listed only Mohammed absent. This appears to be a transcript discrepancy.