OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – March 21, 2024: Awards, Stadium Debate, Public Art & Floodplain Amendments

City Council — Thursday, March 21, 2024
BodySt Petersburg, Florida
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, March 21, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Welcome to the City of St.

0:05

Petersburg City Council meeting.

0:08

Your elected officials are Mayor Ken Welch.

0:12

District 1 and Council Vice Chair, Copley Gurtis.

0:17

District 2, Brandy Gabber.

0:21

District 3, Edmontonary.

0:24

District 4, Lesek Hanowitz.

0:27

District 5.

0:29

And Council Chair, Deborah Fake Sanders.

0:32

District 6, Gina Driscoll.

0:36

District 7, John Muhammad.

0:39

And District 8, Richie Floyd.

0:46

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:47

I've already hit the gavel, so we've officially begun.

0:50

We're going to officially call this meeting to order.

0:54

I'm going to ask our Pastor Chris Fauch.

0:58

Oh, okay, that's I forgot roll call.

1:00

I'm so excited, y'all.

1:02

I'm just excited.

1:03

I'm trying to hurry up and get to the announcement.

1:05

Roll call, please.

1:06

Here.

1:08

Sanders.

1:08

Here.

1:09

Here.

1:10

Here.

1:10

Lloyd.

1:11

Here.

1:12

Here.

1:13

Here.

1:14

Now we are officially going to ask Pastor Chris Folch from our Saver Lutheran to provide the invocation.

1:21

And following that, we're going to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:25

Will you please join me in standing?

1:32

Thank you, Madam Chair.

1:33

Let us pray.

1:35

Heavenly Father, as we gather here today, we give thanks for your presence.

1:39

We give thanks for your goodness.

1:41

We give thanks for your forgiveness and mercy and grace that is really given to us through faith in Jesus Christ.

1:47

Lord, back when you created the heavens and the earth, you tasked the very first humans with being good stewards of your creation.

1:54

And today that stewardship continues with all of the residents of our city, but particularly these men and women who stand before us, whom you have called to help lead this sunshine city in the sunshine state.

2:05

Lord, we know that serving as a leader can oftentimes be an isolating and thankless vocation.

2:10

As a leader, you're expected to have all the answers and solve all the problems, oftentimes with very little encouragement and support.

2:18

And so this afternoon, I ask that you would strengthen and encourage the members of this council, give them peace and rest, bless their families and their friends and their neighbors, the people who love them and encourage them as they continue to serve on this council.

2:33

Bless those who will be recognized today for their service to the city.

2:37

Bless our president and our Congress, bless our governor and our state representatives, bless our mayor and the city employees, bless our men and women who protect us from harm and danger every single day.

2:48

We also ask that you would bless our families, our workers, our seniors, our veterans, our widows, our homeless, and all who call this city that you have established as their home.

2:59

Lord, may we all continue to help make St.

3:01

Petersburg a community of progress for all residents each and every day.

3:06

We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, the one who created us, the one who redeemed us, and the one who promises to be with us both now and forever.

3:14

Amen.

3:15

Amen.

3:18

I plead allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

3:26

One nation under God in divisible with liberty and justice for all the thank you, Pastor Folch, for that.

3:43

We really do appreciate the prayers.

3:46

Um, Council members, we have an agenda before us, but first we have adding item D8, the Sunshine Ambassador Award, but we are also deferring D1 to a future date.

3:57

I entertain a motion for approval.

3:59

Move approval.

4:00

Second.

4:01

Now that we have a motion and approval, Clerk, can you please open the machine for voting?

4:08

Seeing that all council members have voted, can you please tell and announce the votes?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Youth Programs███████████11%
Affordable Housing████████8%
Community Engagement██████6%
Women's History█████5%
Legal Matters█████5%
Healthcare████4%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Hispanic Heritage███3%
Summary of Proceedings

St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – March 21, 2024

This meeting began with numerous proclamations and awards, followed by extended public comments on the proposed Rays/Heinz stadium and Gas Plant District redevelopment. Council also debated outside legal fees, a public art ordinance change, and approved several infrastructure grants and floodplain amendments.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the agenda and consent agenda unanimously.
  • Items I1 & I2: Settlements for police cruiser and sanitation truck accident claims ($36,000 and $60,000) approved unanimously.
  • Item H1: Property insurance renewal (Brown & Brown) approved unanimously.
  • Items F2–F5: Four infrastructure grants (Southwest O&M buildings, Shore Acres resiliency, Salt Creek conveyance and pump station) totaling approximately $28 million in savings, approved unanimously.
  • Item F6 (approved after reconvening from CRA): Unanimous vote.
  • Item CRA2: Amendment to affordable single-family homeownership program – increased down payment/closing cost assistance from $60,000 to $75,000 – approved unanimously.
  • Items J2A & J2B: Floodplain management ordinance amendments – approved unanimously.
  • Item J3: Housing code definition updates – approved unanimously (first reading).
  • Item J1: Street corner easement vacation – approved unanimously.
  • Items G1–G6: New business referrals (Lincoln/Greenwood Cemeteries, condo hotel code, development regulation update, milestone inspections, 49th Street safety study, resiliency COW) – all approved unanimously (G1 unanimous; G2 with Gerdes absent; G3 with Gerdes absent; G4 with Gerdes absent; G5 unanimous; G6 with Floyd absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Against Rays/Heinz stadium deal: Multiple speakers criticized the proposal as a corporate giveaway, citing discounted land, insufficient affordable housing (only 600 on-site units at high end of affordability), lack of contract details, and poor return on investment. A League of Women Voters survey showed overwhelming opposition.
  • In favor of Rays/Heinz stadium deal: Speakers cited economic growth, job creation, community cohesion, and potential for a high-tech stadium and mixed-use development.
  • Other public comments: A speaker requested appointment as proprietary liaison; a pastor spoke about homelessness and urged investment in outreach; FAST-affiliated speakers called for more affordable housing targeting families below 80% AMI.

Discussion Items

  • F7 – Legal fees for Gas Plant District: Council debated a $400,000 increase (from $550,000 to $950,000) for outside counsel (Faegre Drinker). Supporters argued it provided necessary expertise and workload relief; opponents said it was driven by an artificial rush and expressed confidence in in-house staff. Vote passed 6–2 (Floyd and Hanewicz voting no).
  • E1 – Public Art Ordinance Amendment: Proposed change to allow city-funded public art on non-city-owned property and to allow divestiture of city ownership. Administration said the change was needed to place art on county-owned land at a future stadium. Councilmembers raised concerns about transparency, private property implications, and the connection to stadium negotiations. First reading passed 7–1 (Hanewicz voting no); second public hearing set for April 4.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved $400,000 in additional outside legal fees for Gas Plant District redevelopment (6–2).
  • Advanced public art code amendment (7–1 on first reading).
  • Referred Lincoln and Greenwood Cemeteries historic recognition to HLUT committee (unanimous).
  • Approved $28 million in state/federal grants for resilience and flood control projects.
  • Increased down payment assistance cap to $75,000 for first-time homebuyers (CRA unanimous).
  • All other consent and new business items passed unanimously or with limited absences.

Awards & Proclamations

  • Government Finance Professionals Week (March 18–22, 2024)
  • Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31, 2024)
  • Irish American Heritage Month (March 2024)
  • Sunshine Ambassador Award to Johanna Dennis (age 10, for book drive)
  • Women’s History Month (March 2024)
  • Gibbs High School Boys Basketball State Champions
  • Super Bowl Champion Marquez Valdez-Scantling

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to the City of St. Petersburg City Council meeting. Your elected officials are Mayor Ken Welch. District 1 and Council Vice Chair, Copley Gurtis. District 2, Brandy Gabber. District 3, Edmontonary. District 4, Lesek Hanowitz. District 5. And Council Chair, Deborah Fake Sanders. District 6, Gina Driscoll. District 7, John Muhammad. And District 8, Richie Floyd. Good afternoon, everyone. I've already hit the gavel, so we've officially begun. We're going to officially call this meeting to order. I'm going to ask our Pastor Chris Fauch. Oh, okay, that's I forgot roll call. I'm so excited, y'all. I'm just excited. I'm trying to hurry up and get to the announcement. Roll call, please. Here. Sanders. Here. Here. Here. Lloyd. Here. Here. Here. Now we are officially going to ask Pastor Chris Folch from our Saver Lutheran to provide the invocation. And following that, we're going to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Will you please join me in standing? Thank you, Madam Chair. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, as we gather here today, we give thanks for your presence. We give thanks for your goodness. We give thanks for your forgiveness and mercy and grace that is really given to us through faith in Jesus Christ. Lord, back when you created the heavens and the earth, you tasked the very first humans with being good stewards of your creation. And today that stewardship continues with all of the residents of our city, but particularly these men and women who stand before us, whom you have called to help lead this sunshine city in the sunshine state. Lord, we know that serving as a leader can oftentimes be an isolating and thankless vocation. As a leader, you're expected to have all the answers and solve all the problems, oftentimes with very little encouragement and support. And so this afternoon, I ask that you would strengthen and encourage the members of this council, give them peace and rest, bless their families and their friends and their neighbors, the people who love them and encourage them as they continue to serve on this council. Bless those who will be recognized today for their service to the city. Bless our president and our Congress, bless our governor and our state representatives, bless our mayor and the city employees, bless our men and women who protect us from harm and danger every single day. We also ask that you would bless our families, our workers, our seniors, our veterans, our widows, our homeless, and all who call this city that you have established as their home. Lord, may we all continue to help make St. Petersburg a community of progress for all residents each and every day. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, the one who created us, the one who redeemed us, and the one who promises to be with us both now and forever. Amen.

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