St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - September 12, 2024

The St. Petersburg City Council met on September 12, 2024, to consider a full agenda including proclamations, ordinance repeal, fiscal policy changes, arts funding, a CRA property disposition, a budget public hearing, and zoning overlay amendments. The meeting began with roll call (Councilmember Hanowitz absent), an invocation, and approval of the agenda. Public comment addressed historic preservation, opposition to a CRA property sale, and budget priorities.

Proclamations

• Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (presented by Vice Chair Gerdis): Recognized September 2024 and highlighted that 9,910 U.S. children under 14 are newly diagnosed each year, with one in five losing their battle. Partners: Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital and Moffitt Cancer Center.
• Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (presented by Vice Chair Gerdis): Recognized September 2024; noted an estimated 19,680 new cases in 2024 and 12,740 deaths nationwide, with no early detection test. Advocated by Salma Mashry Ovarian Cancer Foundation.
• Hunger Action Month (presented by Councilmember Driscoll): Recognized September 2024; cited 11% food insecurity in Pinellas County (nearly 140,000 individuals) and Hope Villages distributing 6 million pounds of food annually. Multiple partner organizations noted a 50% increase in St. Petersburg residents seeking food.
• Suicide Prevention Week/Month (presented by Councilmember Floyd): Recognized September 8-14, 2024, and September 2024, emphasizing zero suicide framework. Zero Suicide Partners of Pinellas, led by Suncoast Center, highlighted outreach.
• Senior Center Month (presented by Chair Fix Sanders): Recognized September 2024; noted the Sunshine Senior Center is the first nationally accredited senior center in Florida, serving older adults.
• Fall Prevention Awareness Week (presented by Councilmember Montanari): Recognized September 23-27, 2024; stated one in four adults 65+ fall each year, and 4,607 fall incidents occurred in St. Petersburg since January 1, 2024. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and community partners conduct prevention efforts.
• Hispanic Heritage Month (presented by Councilmember Hanowitz): Recognized September 15 – October 15, 2024; noted 8.4% of St. Petersburg’s population is Hispanic. Proclamation read in Spanish and English. Hispanic Outreach Center, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Hispanic Leadership Council participated.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda Approval: Unanimous (Councilmember Hanowitz absent).
• E1 – Ordinance Repealing Responsible Wage Provisions: Approved unanimously (Councilmembers Fix Sanders and Hanowitz absent). Public hearing set for October 3, 2024.
• J1 & J2 (public hearings): Approved unanimously as a block.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Open Forum:
  • Matt Wagner (4546 5th Ave N): Alleged that city staff changed ballots in a historic preservation case (citing City of St. Petersburg v. Dan Shu) and criticized subsequent ordinance changes that allow staff to contact signers. Requested revocation of the ordinance.
  • Peter Kent (8 Academy Way, via Zoom): Opposed Resolution CRA2, arguing the sale of property at 298 Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd S for $10 million is fiscally irresponsible because: two appraisals are over a year old and do not reflect recent rezoning; the city is selling a street that requires formal abandonment; the city undervalues the property and enriches a Delaware financial advisor; and the city should first renegotiate the parking lease (paying $21,000/yr vs. $58,000 in property taxes). Stated the city could achieve a higher sale price if the lease issue were resolved.
• Budget Public Hearing:
  • Nathan Zupuska (500 2nd St S): Thanked council for youth investments, urged continued youth programming.
  • Lama Al Hassan (5011 Starfish Dr): Criticized budget increases for police while youth programs remain underfunded; advocated for Save Our Streets and Fund Our Futures campaigns.
  • Jerry Funt (2920 11th St N): Representing Bay Area Dream Defenders, urged funding for community-based gun violence prevention (e.g., outreach before harm occurs) rather than solely enforcement.
  • Yardanis Mola (2000 Gandy Blvd N): reported community surveys in Child’s Park identified youth program access and transportation as top needs.
  • Keisha King (Child’s Park resident): Called for more funding at Child’s Park Rec Center and support for Save Our Streets, Fund Our Futures, and other youth initiatives.
  • C. Era Clark (4544 22nd Ave S): Emphasized that budget decisions affect household safety and community well-being; urged supporting programs like Five Keys to End Gun Violence.
• Final Open Forum:
  • Dave Bushman (429 88th Ave N): property owner complained about flooding in apartments after a stormwater system overwhelmed; questioned the $41 million stormwater budget.
  • Gail Cohen (250 58th St N, via Zoom): Reported catastrophic wastewater flooding on 58th Street; urged the city to seek federal funds (e.g., Army Corps of Engineers) for drainage and sewer improvements.

Discussion Items

• F1 – Fiscal Policy Changes: Proposed six changes to FY25 fiscal policies, including target fund balance revisions and outdated language updates. Councilmember Montanari moved to amend to cap Economic Stability Fund loans at $5 million. After debate (Councilmembers Gabbard and Gerdis opposed, citing flexibility), the amendment failed (2-5-1, with Floyd absent; Fix Sanders and Hanowitz absent but had voted earlier? Actually present council voted: Driscoll and Montanari yes, Fix Sanders? The transcript says Fix Sanders absent, but later votes show she was present? Check: At start, Fix Sanders is present (she is chair). Later she is absent for E1? Possibly she stepped out. The amendment vote: