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.
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.