St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - August 8, 2024
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St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - August 8, 2024
The St. Petersburg City Council met on August 8, 2024, to discuss a range of items including a post-Hurricane Debbie report, proclamations, public comments on arts funding, new business referrals, and several quasi-judicial land use hearings. The meeting lasted several hours and included multiple votes.
Consent Calendar
- The council unanimously approved the agenda (with Councilmember Mohammed absent).
- New business items G1 (referral to discuss electric fleet vehicles) and G2 (referral to discuss Salt Creek property) were approved unanimously.
- Ordinance J1 (amending WikiWachi funds investment rules) was approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Open Forum (Arts Funding): Multiple speakers, including Charlene Harrison (St. Petersburg Arts Alliance), Alvinette McCleve (Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association), Ricky Singh, Theresa Sullivan, Ryan Griffin (St. Pete Arts Alliance), Pamela Joy Trow, Susan Betzer, Roger Curlin (Edge Business District Association), Cheyenne DeBarros (American Stage), Polita Glenn, Hanny Beckier, and Ignacio Barrón (Florida Orchestra) urged the council to allocate 1% of the city budget to support arts organizations. They cited economic impact, quality of life, and the need to offset state funding losses.
- Public Hearing J3 (Pasadena Church Rezoning): Dozens of residents and stakeholders spoke for and against the proposed rezoning of 5.09 acres near Pasadena Community Church. Opponents (including Shannon Barnes, Holly Edwards, Howard Knapp, Janet Knapp, and others) argued the development would alter neighborhood character, increase traffic, and harm historic integrity. Supporters (including church members and developers) emphasized the need for housing, the site's proximity to transit and commercial corridors, and the church's financial needs.
Discussion Items
- Hurricane Debbie After-Action Report: Amber Bowling (Emergency Management) and Claude Tankersley (Public Works) presented a detailed report. Key statistics: over 10 inches of rain in 30 hours, 3.5 feet of storm surge, 125 trees down, 31,000 sandbags distributed, 429,000 gallons of untreated sewage overflow from manholes due to record rainfall exceeding the system's 7-inch level of service. The city's $400 million wastewater upgrades prevented an estimated 8.4 million gallons of additional spills. Council members thanked staff and discussed private lateral pilot programs and enforcement of no-wake zones.
- Sister City Student Ambassadors Presentation: Three students (Ava Carvalis, Leland Coborn, Madison Schmitz) shared their experiences from the exchange program in Takamatsu, Japan. Mayor Welch presented them with challenge coins.
- Words for Good Award: The CAPI (Committee to Advocate for Persons with Impairments) received the Merle Regal Words for Good Award from Voices of Hope for Aphasia.
- Black Business Month Proclamation: Mayor Welch proclaimed August 2024 as Black Business Month, highlighting the Office of Supplier Diversity's events.
- Distinguished Citizen Award: Councilmember Driscoll presented the award to Melena Mallory, a student athlete who won gold medals in shot put at the AAU Junior Olympics.
- CDBG 50th Anniversary Proclamation: The council recognized the 50th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant program, noting $104.7 million in funds received over 25 years.
Key Outcomes
- J2A and J2B (920 20th Ave S rezoning): Approved unanimously (with Councilmember Gabbard recused). The future land use change from PR-R to PRMU and zoning change to CRT-1 will allow multifamily townhomes.
- J3A and J3B (Pasadena Church rezoning): Approved 5-2 (Councilmembers Gurtis and Hannahs voted no). The appeal of the CPPC's 7-0 denial was granted, changing the future land use from Institutional to Residential Medium and zoning from NT-3 to NSM-1, allowing up to 152 units (with density bonuses). The supermajority needed five votes.
- J4 (Tropicana Field area rezoning): Approved 5-2 (Councilmembers Floyd and Hannahs voted no). The rezoning of seven parcels from DC-2 to DC-1 was continued from the previous meeting; staff provided additional public engagement details.
- New Business Referrals: G1 (electric fleet vehicles) and G2 (Salt Creek property) were referred to committee for further discussion.
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, Copley Gurdis. District 2, Brandy Gabbard, District 3, Edmonton Ari, District 4, Leset Hanowitz, District 5, and Council Chair, Deborah Fake Sanders. District 6, Gina Driscoll, District 7, John Mohammed, and District 8, Richie Floyd. Good afternoon, everyone. We call today's August August 8th. I'm trying to remember is it August 1st, August 8th. It is August 8th, everybody. We want to welcome you to the council meeting today, and we're going to go ahead and get started by with the corole call. Floyd. Here. Curtis. Here. Gabbard. Here. Montanery. Hannawitz. Yeah. Alex Sanders. Here. Driscoll. Here. Mohammed. Thank you. So today we have with us the pastor Clarence Williams from Greater Mount Zion AME that's going to bring the invocation. And following the invocation, I'm going to ask that you also join us for the Pledge of Allegiance. So can you please join me in standing? Madam Chair, members of council and our citizens, let us look to God. Father, we're thankful and grateful for this wonderful privilege you've given us for living in the greatest country on the earth. We're thankful for the diverse and wonderful population in which you've given us. We give you praise to the members of this council for the families from which they come, the people that you put in their lives to make it sweet. Thank you now for the deliberation of this chamber today, the chamber members and those that are here, whether they be citizens, members of our economic community, or our vendors, whoever they may be who are bringing service to our citizens, we pray that the deliberation today will be meaningful and progressive and beneficial to all those that come. And finally, we say lift up our nation, our country, so that by that powerful hand, your justice shall rule among nations and among men. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you, Pastor Williams, for that. You are always appreciated, and you know you're one of my faves. Council members, we have an agenda before us today with the additions of item F1 and D5. I'll entertain a motion for approval. Move approval. Second. Second. Now that we have a motion and a second for approval, can you please open the champ for vote? Oh, I'm so sorry. Now that our present uh council members have voted, can you please tell and announce the vote? Madam Chair, motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously with Councilmember Mohammed being absent. Thank you.
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