St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - January 18, 2024

The St. Petersburg City Council met on January 18, 2024, to discuss and vote on multiple items, including the Deuces Rising affordable townhome development, legal settlements, a parking ordinance amendment, and other administrative matters. Public comment was dominated by opposition to the proposed Rays/Hines stadium deal and calls for increased affordable housing. Several votes were taken, with the most contentious being the approval of the townhome project, which passed 5-2.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved unanimously (with Councilmember Gabbard absent) after adding CB14 and CB15 (resolution confirming council appointments).
• The consent agenda was approved unanimously. Councilmember Montanari noted that CB2 is part of the tree planting program and expressed support.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Don LeGrone (2620 13th St N) opposed the Rays/Hines deal, arguing it fails to provide homeownership opportunities or below-market rate housing for lower-income residents. He stated that less than 50% of units are for those below 100% AMI, none are for purchase, and the developer can opt out with a $25,000 per unit penalty, which he said should be the actual construction cost. He called for renegotiation.
• Ron Dinner (Brightwaters Blvd) claimed the deal costs St. Petersburg taxpayers $1.6 billion, not $300 million, due to borrowing, tax exemptions, and land sale. He said the public does not want the deal and urged renegotiation.
• Robin Davidov (League of Women Voters) expressed deep concern about diverting public dollars, stating that TIF and bed taxes create fiscal holes that may lead to higher taxes or reduced services. She urged careful examination of the deal.
• Peter Kent (Eckerd College faculty) reported that 92% of his colleagues voted to reject the deal. He cited corporate welfare, a need for new land appraisal (expecting $600 million to $1 billion), the Rays' low net stadium investment ($100 million after naming rights), lack of economic impact, and legal issues with extending the CRA for a non-blighted downtown.
• Pat Fling (FAST) and Catherine Filippelli described the affordable housing crisis and asked Councilmember Gurtis to help secure a meeting with Mayor Welch, who they said has not responded to requests for meetings on affordable housing commitments.
• Dylan Dames (Faith in Florida) urged the council to consider community input on the gas plant redevelopment and allow the Community Benefits Advisory Council to communicate with residents.
• Jeremy Tolberg argued the stadium deal is unfair to taxpayers and that a stadium does not justify billions in public investment.
• Bishop Manuel Sykes (Bethlehem Community Baptist Church) criticized the city for providing hundreds of millions for billionaires while neglecting affordable housing for the poor. He noted a glut of luxury apartments and 16,000 on the housing waitlist.

Discussion Items

• Legal Settlements (I1, I2, I3): Approved unanimously.
  • I1: $75,000 settlement for a former police officer's workers' compensation claim (injury in 2021), avoiding future exposure of over $1 million.
  • I2: $125,000 settlement (sovereign immunity cap) for a pedestrian struck by a police car in 2020, causing significant injuries.
  • I3: $59,500 settlement for a pedestrian struck by a police car in February 2020.
• Deuces Rising Townhomes (F1A, F1B, F2):
  • Presentation by Raoul Quintana (City Architect Manager) detailed 24 affordable workforce townhomes on 2.7 acres at 22nd Street South. The project includes fee-simple homeownership, 50% of units at 80% AMI and 50% at 120% AMI, with resale restrictions for long-term affordability. Total project cost is $19.1 million, including a $5.98 million interfund loan from the Economic Stability Fund, $6.5 million in ARPA funds, and other sources. The construction GMP is $13,126,098. Council debated the high subsidy (over $500,000 per unit). Administration argued the project is a catalyst for the historic Deuces corridor and includes infrastructure benefiting future commercial development.
  • Councilmember Floyd expressed concern about the cost effectiveness, suggesting the subsidy could fund more units elsewhere. Councilmember Hanowitz noted the total subsidy per unit is even higher when including the land cost, and said this is not a replicable model. Councilmember Montanari questioned the interfund loan cap and fairness of subsidy. Councilmember Gurtis emphasized the homeownership aspect and generational wealth building. Councilmember Mohammed appreciated the community-driven process but noted lessons learned. Mayor's administration explained that alternative plans would delay the project 3-5 years.
  • F1A (resolution for interfund loan and supplemental appropriation) passed 5-2 (Driscoll, Fig Sanders, Gurtis, Hanowitz, Mohammed yes; Floyd and Montanari no).
  • F1B (acceptance of GMP and third amendment to contract) passed 5-2 (same split).
  • F2 (amendment to Stantec agreement for soil remediation monitoring, $80,590) passed unanimously.
• Sunken Gardens Animal Care Center (F3, F4):
  • Presentation by Beth Herrendine (Special Projects Manager) on a new animal care center funded by the city. The Sunken Gardens Forever Foundation donated $83,500 for custom bird enclosures (F3). A supplemental appropriation of $69,500 from fund balance covered security and furnishings (F4). Both passed unanimously.
• Shore Acres Water Main Replacement (F5): Presentation by Engineering Director Bajesh Freeman on designing replacement of aging water mains. A reclaim water line break during a recent storm was noted as unrelated. Passed unanimously.
• Parking Enforcement for Domestic and Commercial Equipment (J4): Director Evan Morrey presented an ordinance amending the definition of domestic equipment to include modified vans/RVs (e.g., raised roofs, exterior AC units) subject to 4-hour parking limits adjacent to residential uses. The change addresses long-term parking of live-in vehicles on streets like North Shore Drive. Councilmember Floyd voted no, expressing concern about property rights for homeowners without alley access. Passed 6-1.
• WWE Royal Rumble Clean Zone (J5): Designated a clean zone in downtown for the event; approved unanimously (J5A ordinance, J5B resolution).
• Right-of-Way Vacations (J6, J7): Approved unanimously.
• Public Hearings (J1-J3): Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• F1A (Deuces Rising townhomes funding) passed 5-2.
• F1B (GMP acceptance) passed 5-2.
• F2 (Stantec amendment) passed unanimously.
• J4 (parking ordinance) passed 6-1.
• All other items passed unanimously (Councilmember Gabbard absent for all votes).
• Councilmember Gurtis announced the St. Petersburg Boat Show and birthdays for Councilmember Hanowitz and legislative aide Brian Cassanis.