St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – February 1, 2024
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St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – February 1, 2024
The St. Petersburg City Council meeting on February 1, 2024, began with an invocation, a moment of silence for fallen officer David S. Crawford, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting proceeded with agenda adjustments, consent agenda, a public hearing, open forum, new ordinances, committee reports, and new business items. Council Members Driscoll, Gabbert, and Mohammed were absent.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda Approval: Motion to approve the agenda passed unanimously after Councilmember Floyd withdrew item H3 (a community feedback item) to allow for further community conversations.
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously. A speaker, David Socle, acknowledged the city’s co-sponsorship of a Juneteenth event at Al Winned Park, praising the diverse board involvement.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Open Forum (30 minutes total, then resumed after a flag-raising recess): Nine speakers addressed the council on various topics:
- Lynn Wilkinson (534 22nd Ave SE) spoke against the proposed gas plant redevelopment deal, arguing the city sidestepped a public referendum by using a CRA designation, depriving citizens of a vote. She criticized the deal for giving the Rays control over 64 acres with no stadium revenue or tax revenue, and said the city is paying off debt from Tropicana Field while neglecting infrastructure and affordable housing.
- Rosie Meyer (1301 45th Ave N) expressed support for the Rays/Heinz development, citing St. Petersburg’s baseball history, economic benefits, and her own family’s experience (restaurant business near the Trop). She noted that Northeast Little League registration is up, showing a built-in fan base, and referenced her work on SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as an example of community-conscious development.
- Paul Carter (341 5th St S) supported the Rays/Heinz proposal, calling it the most significant economic development opportunity for the city, with over $6 billion invested, 1 million square feet of office space, and 37,000 projected jobs. His speech was cut short due to the 10:30 a.m. flag-raising recess.
- Don LeGrone (2620 13th St N) opposed the current plan, recalling broken promises from the 1978 CRA displacement. He urged the city to obtain a new land appraisal (estimating current value at $700–$900 million, not $105 million), develop the land at market rates, and use proceeds for infrastructure, affordable housing, and climate resilience.
- Matthew Widener (250 Mirror Lake) expressed frustration over the city staff’s unilateral historic designation of Mirror Lake, which he said was done without council knowledge, over the holidays, and could harm property values. He criticized the city’s ballot-altering ordinance on historic designations and called for a review of the process.
- Peter Kent (Aid Academy Way) proposed a six-step alternative to the Rays/Heinz deal: offer the Rays a five-acre parcel for $25 million or a one-year lease; develop Booker Creek into a linear park; set aside land for the African American Museum and cemetery; obtain a new land appraisal; sell parcels at market rates; and establish a $50 million community benefit trust plus a $250 million affordable housing trust from land sale profits.
- Ashley Ruttenbeck (601 55th St N) spoke in support of agenda item G3 (land use change for affordable housing), citing her background as a public policy major and nonprofit work for homeless veterans. She highlighted the St. Petersburg Housing Authority’s role in providing housing for 4,000 low-income families, seniors, and veterans, and noted the city’s 0.82% annual population growth.
- Additional speakers (Jason Spears, and others) were called but did not speak due to non-residency or the removal of item H3.
Discussion Items
- E1 – Amendment to FY2019-2020 Annual Action Plan: Public hearing; approved unanimously.
- G1 – Ordinance amending travel expense authorization: First reading; approved unanimously.
- G2A & B – Land use and zoning change for 7045 Burlington Ave N: From Institutional to Residential Medium and NT-2 to NSM-1; approved unanimously.
- G3A & B – Land use and zoning change for 1.35-acre parcel at 32nd Ave N & Hartford St N: From Residential Medium to Planned Redevelopment Mixed Use and from NSM-1 to CCS-1; approved unanimously after public hearing.
- G4 – Historic landmark designation for Will Cressy and Blanche Dane Cressy House (625 20th Ave NE): Approved unanimously.
- I1A – Resolution authorizing agreement with Matrix Consulting for management evaluation of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Department: Approved unanimously.
- H1 – Councilmember Motineering’s referral to the Budget, Finance & Taxation Committee on revision to fiscal policies for interfund loans (up to $5 million from Economic Stability Fund): Approved unanimously. Council Vice Chair Gurtis voiced support for the flexibility.
- H2 – Councilmember Motineering’s item deferred due to insufficient votes (needed 6 for referral to Committee of the Whole).
- H4 – Vice Chair Gurtis’s referral to BFT committee on issuing a one-year note for utility FY24 CIP: Approved unanimously.
- H5 – Councilmember Floyd’s referral to Housing, Land Use & Transportation Committee on tenant protections for city-owned and city-subsidized housing: Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Votes: All voting items passed unanimously among present council members. No votes on H3 (withdrawn) or H2 (deferred).
- Referrals: Items H1, H4, and H5 were referred to respective committees for further discussion.
- Public Hearing: E1 (amendment to annual action plan) passed after open forum.
- Next Steps: Item H3 to be brought back after more community conversations; items H1, H4, H5 to be discussed in committee meetings. The council also noted the Black History Month flag raising that occurred at 10:00 a.m., with the meeting briefly recessed for that event.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the City of St. Petersburg City Council meeting. Your elected officials are Mayor Ken Welch, District One, and Council Vice Chair, Hopley Gurtis. District 2, Brandy Gabber, District 3, Edmonton Erie, District 4, Leseth Hanowitz, District 5, and Council Chair, Deborah Fake Sanders. District 6, Gina Driscoll, District 7, John Mohammed, and District 8, Richie Floyd. Good morning, everyone. We will now call to order on February 1st, 2024, City Council meeting, beginning with a roll call. My apology. Hannah Witz. Here. Curtis. Here. Thank you. Joining us this morning, we will have our invocation given by the Reverend Dr. Wayne G. Thompson, the pastor of First Baptist Institutional Church, my church since I was eight years old. And followed by a moment of silence to honor Officer David S. Crawford. End of watch, February 21st, 2011, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join me in standing. Let us pray. Oh God, our Creator Eternal. We are grateful for this day which thou has sent to us. We can gather to attend to the affairs of our city and to ask you for the continuance of your care upon all of our lives. We ask today, your blessings upon our city of many cultures, upon our council, which manages the affairs and lives of all those cultures and our mayor who presides over all of these affairs. We are humbled today because we are here to remember those who have preceded us on this journey to make us realize that your hand of mercy has been grateful and gracious unto us for a long time. The contributions of its ancestors and the continued presence of its descendants, that we are part of the fabric of your creation. And we celebrate this city of diversity, which makes us a greater place in numbers and presence. But also we celebrate our diversity, which makes us stronger in our collaborations. Thank you, oh God, for the opportunities that you lay before us. Opportunities to recognize our differences and reach out across lands and hands, making us realize that we are better together. Opportunities that will let us know that there's much work yet still to be done, and there are lives who need to be helped, miles to be fed, bodies to be clothed, and to make homes for all who are in need. Oh God, prepare us for the obstacles that are sure to show themselves to us. But don't let these obstacles divide us. Help us to embrace them, that we might erase them, that we might know, God, that your hand is guiding us into a better place, and then improve our outlook upon which you have provided us in this city. This city has grown so much since I was a little boy, seen so many changes and seen so many challenges, and yet you've proven to be good to all of us. Because we are a reflection of your goodness. Reflection of your change and reflection of our challenges where we meet. Now, God, allow us to lift up our heads and join hands together as we recognize your power, your grace, and your mercy. And even help us to be as children who sing the song that you love us all, red and yellow, black and white. We are all your creation. We ask you to do all these things as you bless all of the celebrations this month and this year, in whose name you may pray, and in whose name I pray, Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Thank you so much for that, Pastor Thompson. Please join me now in a moment of silence as we honor fallen police officer David S. Crawford. End of watch, February 21st, 2011. Thank you now for the pleasure of allegiance. We pledge the allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
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