St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - June 13, 2024

The St. Petersburg City Council met on June 13, 2024, at 9:00 AM. The meeting included invocation, pledges, roll call, approval of the agenda and consent calendar, followed by public comments and several agenda items related to the Rays/Heinz Tropicana Field redevelopment, including a TIFF extension, outside counsel funding, and first readings of a development agreement and rezoning. The council voted on multiple items with a 5-3 split on key measures.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimous approval of the meeting agenda and consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Chris Steinbacher (Chamber of Commerce) expressed gratitude and urged the council to move forward, stating the deal is a business retention project and the largest economic development project in the Southeast. He warned against delays.
• Bob Warcola (Chamber board, EDC) supported the deal, saying it will fulfill promises to the gas plant district and that rejecting it would push redevelopment out 40-50 years.
• Jeff Danner spoke against the 2019 sign ordinance, asking council to decide whether to remove noncompliant neighborhood signs or fix the ordinance.
• Pastor Andy Oliver opposed the deal, citing federal and state law violations, calling it a land heist and continuation of exploitation.
• Dan Rodriguez (resident) urged the council to get a better deal, not a zero-sum game.
• Carla Correa (Tenants Union) opposed the deal, citing a letter from Faith in Florida and SPLC about civil rights violations, and called it a waste of public money.
• Pat Fling (FAST, Sierra Club) asked for delay, environmental standards, and affordable housing for those at 80% AMI or less.
• Peter Kent (retired commissioner) spoke against the TIFF extension, calling it taxation without representation.
• Ron Diner urged the council to vote no on July 11th deadline, citing lack of time, outside experts, and a recent poll showing opposition.
• Patrick Cosby (Chamber board) supported the deal, comparing it to the Battery in Atlanta, citing tax revenue benefits.
• Dylan Dames (Faith in Florida) urged council to consider obligations, not just promises, and to get the deal right.
• Aretha Pope Jr. (NAACP) supported the deal, emphasizing economic impact and sustainable housing.
• William Kilgore (Tenants Union) opposed the TIFF extension, calling it class segregation.
• Mary Katock opposed the stadium funding and TIFF extension, citing other community needs.
• Jabbar Edmonds opposed the TIFF, saying it traps tax dollars that should go to other neighborhoods.
• Jay James opposed the CRA/TIFF, calling it misuse of funds.
• Peter Kent (again) urged council to vote against ordinance 585H, saying it allows taxation without representation.
• Carrie Mueller (Campbell Park) opposed the TIFF extension, noting property tax increases and need for stormwater funding.
• Chase Harrell opposed the deal, saying public funds should go to housing for workers.
• Additional speakers on J1 and J2 (vesting DA and rezoning) expressed concerns about rushing, lack of final documents, affordable housing, and land value.

Discussion Items

• I1 - Legal Settlement: Assistant City Attorney Joseph Kelly presented a settlement for a police vehicle accident case. The council approved $70,000 settlement unanimously.
• F1 - Outside Counsel Increase: Economic Development Director Brian Caper and Assistant City Administrator Tom Green requested an additional $550,000 for Fager Drinker Biddle & Reath, total $1.5 million, for legal work on the historic gas plant project. Councilmember Hanowitz expressed concerns about rushing and costs. Approved 5-3 (Floyd, Hanowitz, Mohammed no).
• E1 - Ordinance 585-H (TIFF Extension): First reading of ordinance to amend the In-Town Redevelopment Plan, extending TIFF to 2042 (city only), adding stadium and infrastructure projects, and allowing flexibility to increase TIFF contribution to up to 60%. Public comment opposed. Councilmember Hanowitz noted the TIFF would capture $239.5 million over 2033-2042. Councilmember Floyd expressed frustration about extending TIFF instead of ending it. Approved 5-3 with correction to footnote 3 (Floyd, Hanowitz, Mohammed no).
• J3 - Emergency Ordinance on Election Dates: Cleanup item to confirm election dates. Approved unanimously.
• J1 - Vesting Development Agreement: First reading of ordinance for a development agreement for the 82-acre historic gas plant district. Staff presented. Public comment largely opposed, citing lack of final documents, affordable housing, and rushing. The council debated whether to set July 11th as final hearing. The administration noted a backup date of July 18th if documents not ready. Approved 5-3 (Floyd, Hanowitz, Mohammed no).
• J2 - Rezoning (DC-2 to DC-1): First reading of ordinance to rezone parcels around Tropicana Field from Downtown Center 2 to Downtown Center 1. Staff explained it aligns with the development agreement and emphasizes mixed-use. Public comment by Jay James opposed, suggesting the area should be housing. Legal clarified that contract zoning is not an issue due to the development agreement. Approved 5-3.

Key Outcomes

• I1: Settlement approved unanimously.
• F1: Outside counsel fee increase approved 5-3.
• E1: First reading of TIFF extension ordinance approved 5-3, with correction to footnote. Second reading and public hearing set for July 11, 2024.
• J3: Emergency ordinance on election dates approved unanimously.
• J1: First reading of vesting development agreement approved 5-3. Second reading set for July 11, 2024, with backup July 18 if documents not ready.
• J2: First reading of rezoning ordinance approved 5-3. Second reading set for July 11, 2024.

Note: The council will take a break from June 14 to July 7, 2024, and will return for the July 11th meeting.