St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - December 7, 2023

The St. Petersburg City Council met on December 7, 2023, at 20:00:00+00:00. The meeting included a settlement approval, ordinances modifying procurement thresholds and small business enterprise programs, a contract for consulting services related to the Gas Plant redevelopment, and appointments to the Community Benefits Advisory Council (CBAC). All eight council members were present.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda and consent agenda were approved unanimously.
• Legal Item I1: Approved a $150,000 settlement for an auto accident lawsuit (Rhonda Gary Jackson case) where a city vehicle ran a stop sign. The plaintiff incurred over $400,000 in medical bills. The settlement is within the sovereign immunity cap and was recommended by the assistant city attorney. Unanimous approval.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item H1 (CBAC Appointments): Three speakers addressed the council in support of Karen Mueller's appointment:
  • Wendy Snyder (6407 Sandpiper Way South) spoke in favor of both recommended appointees, particularly Karen Mueller, citing her lack of vested interest and focus on the city's best interest.
  • Karen Mueller (12th and James, Campbell Park) described her community outreach efforts in Campbell Park, including housing resource promotion, equity initiatives, and neighborhood awards. She expressed enthusiasm for continuing to serve.
  • Robin Davida (4830 Osprey Drive South) praised Mueller's volunteer leadership, listening skills, and ability to navigate complex housing systems, urging her appointment.

Discussion Items

• New Ordinances E1A and E1B:
  • E1A (Ordinance 568-H): Amends the procurement code to raise the threshold requiring council approval from $75,000 to $100,000. Procurement Director Stephanie Swinson and Assistant City Administrator Tom Green presented, citing workload and alignment with other agencies. Councilmember Driscoll opposed, stating her reasons for preferring $75,000 had not changed. Councilmember Montaneri supported due to changed circumstances and inflation. Vote: 7-1 (Driscoll no).
  • E1B (Ordinance 569-H): Modifies the Small Business Enterprise Assistance Program, raising thresholds from $50,000 to $100,000 for bid discounts, sheltered market, and participation percentages. A public hearing is set for January 4, 2024. Vote: 7-1 (Montaneri no).
• Agreement with Inner Circle Sports LLC: Assistant City Administrator Tom Green presented the contract to fund consulting services for the Gas Plant redevelopment, using $274,000 from the general fund contingency. Councilmembers met with David Abrams, principal of Inner Circle Sports, to address concerns about a related entity (Stadco LLC). Councilmember Floyd noted potential liability shielding but understood the business rationale; he remained opposed. Councilmember Hanowitz and Montaneri expressed support after the meetings. Vote: 7-1 (Floyd no).
• CBAC Appointments (Item H1): The council considered appointing two ad hoc members (Karen Mueller and Councilmember Fig Sanders) to the Community Benefits Advisory Council. Councilmember Mohammed raised process concerns about requiring a simple majority vote in committee before advancing nominees. The council agreed to discuss appointment procedures in a future joint meeting. Administration explained that Gypsy Gillardo, a standing CBAC member, resigned to avoid a potential conflict of interest related to a Sankofa business incubator; Esther Matthews was appointed to complete her term. The appointments passed unanimously.
• Land Use and Zoning Changes (Items J1A and J1B): Proposed future land use map amendment to Plan Redevelopment Mixed Use (PR-MU) and zoning change to Corridor Residential Traditional (CRT-1) for a 0.41-acre parcel at 266th Street North. The change would allow up to 10 townhomes instead of the current 6. Staff recommended approval, citing consistency with the comprehensive plan and the Sunrunner Development Study. Two public comments opposed the increase in density. Councilmember Gurtis opposed, noting the area is mostly single-family homes and the density increase from 6 to 10 was an overreach. Vote: 7-1 (Gurtis no).

Key Outcomes

• Votes and Decisions:
  • Legal settlement approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance E1A (procurement threshold increase) passed 7-1.
  • Ordinance E1B (SBE program changes) passed 7-1.
  • Agreement with Inner Circle Sports passed 7-1.
  • CBAC ad hoc appointments approved unanimously.
  • Land use and zoning changes (J1A and J1B) passed 7-1.
• Next Steps: A public hearing for E1B is scheduled for January 4, 2024. The council will discuss appointment procedures for future committees. The CBAC ad hoc members will participate in an orientation on sunshine law and conflicts of interest before the committee's first meeting on December 13, 2023.
• Announcements: Councilmember Gurtis recognized birthdays of staff members. Councilmember Montaneri noted Hanukkah and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. The city received awards for water resources management.