St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – August 1, 2024

The St. Petersburg City Council met on August 1, 2024, at 2:00 PM UTC. The meeting included approvals of consent items, reports on public safety grants, resilience planning, street safety studies, lobbying services, utility rate adjustments, and several new business referrals. Key speakers included Assistant Police Chief David Geraldo, Administrator Clyde Tankersley, Transportation Director Evan Morey, Government Affairs Director David Thompson, and Controller David Gadu. Public comments focused on arts funding and airport scholarships. The meeting lasted approximately 3 hours.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda, which included routine approvals, passed unanimously with Councilmember Gurtis absent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Arts Funding (Open Forum, first session): Multiple speakers, including Terry Marks (CEO, St. Petersburg Arts Alliance), Suzanne Pomerantzeff (Academy of Ballet Arts), Jeff Serena, Victoria Lang, Marcus Gotschlich (Warehouse Arts District Association), Barkley Harless, Mark Ayling, Warren Bouchholz, Jason Mathis (Downtown Partnership), John Gaddis, and Paul Carter, urged the Council to dedicate 1% of the city’s annual budget to support arts nonprofits. They cited the state’s veto of arts grants and emphasized the arts sector’s economic impact ($132 million annually, 2,021 jobs) and the need for sustainable, predictable funding. Several speakers noted that St. Petersburg’s brand as a “City of the Arts” requires local investment.
• Airport Scholarships (Open Forum, second session): Walt Driggers, representing Friends of Albert Whitted Airport, reported that the scholarship program has awarded 49 scholarships totaling $241,000 since 2023, with eight recipients earning pilot licenses. He requested $16,000 in city funding for next year’s scholarships, emphasizing workforce development and diversity in aviation.
• 49th Street Safety Study: Aaron Kennedy and Nancy Dunn (Fusion 49th District) expressed support for the proposed lane-repurposing plan, citing community engagement and safety needs.

Discussion Items

• F4 – Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant: Assistant Chief David Geraldo and Meggan McGee presented a $73,468 grant from FDLE for gun-violence reduction. Since September 2023, operations funded by the grant have led to 51 arrests, four firearms seized, and seven vehicles recovered. The grant was part of a third consecutive year of funding, exceeding the original ask by $20,000. Councilmember Brandi Gabbard praised the grant for supporting the Gun Response Investigation Team and property crimes unit. The item passed unanimously.
• F3 & F7 – Comprehensive Vulnerability Study and Resilient St. Pete Plan: Administrator Clyde Tankersley presented two interdependent items: a $279,500 grant from Resilient Florida for a comprehensive vulnerability study of critical assets (transportation, infrastructure, community facilities, and cultural resources) and an agreement with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) to develop the Resilient St. Pete Action Plan. Councilmembers discussed how these plans intersect with other existing projects (Stormwater Master Plan, St. Pete Water Plan) and acknowledged funding challenges. Councilmember Gabbard noted that the action plan will help prioritize capital improvement projects and make the city more competitive for grants. The items passed unanimously.
• F1 – 49th Street Safe Streets Study: Transportation Director Evan Morey presented a study for 49th Street from 1st Avenue North to 25th Avenue South, a corridor identified as part of Pinellas County’s High Injury Network (3% of road segments account for 40% of serious/fatal crashes). The study recommended Alternative 1: repurposing four lanes to three lanes (one each direction plus center turn lane) with a wide sidewalk/trail, plus short-term measures (leading pedestrian intervals, LED lighting, raised medians). Community engagement included 643 survey responses and 46 attendees at a workshop. Councilmember Ed Montanari asked about future development impacts; Morey noted minimal large-scale projects in the area. The resolution supporting the draft plan passed unanimously.
• F2 – Election Services Agreement: City Clerk Chance Renavassa presented a $35,753.10 agreement with the Supervisor of Elections for general election support, including advertising and translation. Passed unanimously.
• F5 – Federal Lobbying Renewal: Government Affairs Director David Thompson recommended a one-year extension of the contract with Capitol Council LLC, a federal lobbying firm. Councilmember Richie Floyd opposed the renewal, criticizing the firm’s other clients (weapons manufacturers, oil and gas, tobacco, private prisons) and arguing that the city has not yet secured promised infrastructure grant money. Councilmember Gina Driscoll supported the extension but called for an RFP after the election to explore other options. The item passed 5-2 (Floyd and Mohammed voting no).
• F6 – FY2025 Utility Rate Update: Administrator Tankersley presented proposed rate adjustments and a retail rate structure change for water/sewer. The combined general and structural adjustments will result in a 6.14% increase for 88% of customers (vs. 8.29% without structural change). New retail tiers will better reflect usage patterns: 59% of single-family customers in Tier 1, 32% in Tier 2, 6% in Tier 3, 3% in Tier 4 (eliminating Tier 5). The sewer capacity fee (formerly “water closet fee”) will be accelerated to reach $1,000 per connection by FY2027, with a recalculation before 2026. Councilmember Floyd praised the changes for equity and conservation; Councilmember Montanari asked about reclaimed water and stormwater revenue. The item was informational; no vote required.
• G1 – Wiki Watching Investment Fund: Controller Gadu presented an ordinance amendment to protect excess wiki watching funds from market-value losses by allowing placement in money market funds or CDs. Passed unanimously.
• G2A & G2B – Zoning and Land Use Changes: Two ordinances to change future land use and zoning for a parcel in Pasadena on the Gulf (from Institutional to Residential Medium, and from NT-3 to NSM-1) were introduced. The Council set the public hearing for August 8, 2024. Passed unanimously.
• J1 – Health Facility Authority Bonds: Assistant City Attorney McCall Dyer presented a resolution approving revenue bonds for healthcare facilities. Passed unanimously.
• H1 – Short-Term Rental Enforcement Referral: Councilmember Floyd requested a referral to the Public Services & Infrastructure Committee to explore proactive enforcement of the short-term rental ordinance. During discussion, Administrator Tom Green noted that the city had already repurposed two vacant code enforcement positions to create a Housing Justice Office that will handle short-term rental compliance and interior inspections. The referral passed unanimously.
• H2 – Bowley Summer Youth Program Update: Councilmember Deborah Fig-Sanders requested a referral to the Youth & Family Services Committee for an update on the Bowley summer youth program. Passed unanimously.
• H3 – Community Support Hubs Update: Staff requested a referral for an update on the Community Support Hubs program. Passed unanimously.
• H4 – PSTA Citizen Representative Selection: A referral to the Committee of the Whole for selecting a PSTA citizen-at-large representative. Passed unanimously.
• I2 – Salt Creek Property Project Addition: Councilmember Montanari presented the Budget, Finance & Taxation Committee’s recommendation to add the Salt Creek property project to the wiki watching project list. Passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimously Approved: Consent agenda; F4 (Safe Neighborhoods Grant); F3 & F7 (Vulnerability Study and Resilient St. Pete Plan); F1 (49th Street Safety Study Resolution); F2 (Election Services); G1 (Wiki Watching Ordinance); G2A & G2B (Zoning changes – first reading); J1 (Health Facility Authority Bonds); H1 (Short-Term Rental Enforcement Referral); H2 (Bowley Program Update); H3 (Community Support Hubs Update); H4 (PSTA Representative Selection); I2 (Salt Creek Project Addition).
• Approved 5-2: F5 (Federal Lobbying Renewal) – Councilmembers Floyd and Mohammed voted no.
• Continued to August 8, 2024: E2 (Rezoning for Historic Gas Plant District) – Councilmember Driscoll requested a continuance to obtain more information about resident concerns regarding parking garage placement and traffic impacts. The continuance passed unanimously.
• Utility Rate Update: Informational; the Council will consider the rate ordinances at a future meeting.
• Arts Funding: No formal action taken; public comments will be considered during budget deliberations.
• Transparency Request: Councilmember Hanowitz asked the administration to verify with the Tampa Bay Rays whether reports of a potential sale are accurate. The Mayor’s office stated they have no reason to believe the team is for sale and agreed to follow up.