St. Petersburg City Council Meeting: October 4, 2024 - Hurricane Helene Response, Budget Adoption, and Foot Locker Incentive

On October 4, 2024, the St. Petersburg City Council convened to address Hurricane Helene recovery, adopt the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, approve economic incentives for Foot Locker, and handle other business. The meeting included an invocation, a moment of silence for fallen first responders and those impacted by Hurricane Helene, and roll call. Council members present: Sanders, Floyd, Curtis, Gabbard, Hanowitz, Driscoll, Muhammad, and Montanari (Floyd absent initially but later present; Driscoll absent for some votes).

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (with Floyd and Driscoll absent) after no public comment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Robert Vincent (2631 37th St S) expressed that his neighborhood received nearly five feet of water for the first time, criticized the Clam Bayou revitalization project for exacerbating flooding, and reported inadequate police coverage and looting.
• Matthew Widener (250 Mirror Lake) criticized historic preservation regulations, arguing they delay housing projects and increase costs, and urged an audit of the process.
• Joe Farrell (4590 Ormelton Almerton Rd) attempted to speak but was ruled out of order for not providing a St. Pete address.
• Jeremy Tolberg (417 Leo Way) condemned the council's vote on the stadium deal, stating the city should instead use funds for disaster relief and housing.
• William Kilgore (St. Pete Tenants Union) spoke against the Foot Locker incentive package, calling it corporate welfare.
• Multiple speakers during the budget hearing (Nathan Tupasat, Lama Allah Hassan, Bo Macy, Yordana Smola) supported the "Fund Our Futures" and "Save Our Streets" proposals to fund youth programs in Child's Park.

Hurricane Helene After-Action Report

• Presented by Emergency Manager Amber Bolin and Mayor Ken Welch.
• Storm surge: 7.1 feet NAVD (6.31 feet MHHW), surpassing the 1985 record of 3.97 feet (Hurricane Elena).
• Damage assessment: 10,854 homes assessed; 146 destroyed, 5,190 major (>18 inches water), 3,725 minor (up to 18 inches), 1,793 affected.
• Infrastructure damage: Initial estimate $17 million (fluid).
• Northeast Water Reclamation Facility: De-energized preemptively to avoid extensive damage; resumed service within 17 hours. A $70 million resiliency project is underway but incomplete.
• Debris removal: Planned start October 7; FEMA regulations require sorting; trucks began in hardest-hit areas October 4.
• Recovery operations: Comfort stations, mobile restrooms/laundry, food trucks, hotel placements for displaced residents (over 30 people in hotels).
• Housing crisis: 160+ city employees also affected; temporary housing is a critical need.
• Duke Energy update (Melissa Seixas): 400 customers still without power as of morning; 9 outages remaining; plan to proactively replace up to 500 pad-mounted transformers due to corrosion.
• Emergency expenditures (Tom Green): Mayor authorized up to $400,000 for cleanup at Mahaffey Theater and Outland Stadium, and amendments to debris removal contracts.

Discussion Items

• USF St. Petersburg Update (Chancellor Christian Hardigree): 85% of campus flooded; three buildings with severe damage; enrollment up 12%; 1100 veteran/military-connected students; plans for a presence in the Historic Gas Plant district; center of excellence for oceanographic sciences still in planning.
• Sun Nick Cole Boat Ramp Discharge (Marshall Hampton): City stormwater crews accidentally discharged 6,300 gallons of stormwater (not sewage) into Riviera Bay while inspecting pipes; self-reported to DEP; testing showed good beach quality at high tide but not at low tide; protocols changed to prevent recurrence.
• Foot Locker Economic Incentive Package (Brian Caper): Resolutions for $475,000 incentive (base plus hiring) and ad valorem tax exemption (up to $100,000/year for 10 years) to relocate global headquarters to St. Pete, creating 150 jobs averaging $120,000/year within 10 years, with hiring preference for South St. Pete CRA residents. Approved 6-2.
• South St. Pete CRA FY2025 Budget (George Smith): $17.8 million from tax increment revenue allocated to housing ($10.6M), business development ($4.8M), workforce development ($1.1M), and personnel ($1.2M). Eviction diversion funding moved to general fund; probate assistance to continue with CRA funds. Approved unanimously.
• FY2025 Budget Adoption (Elizabeth Meschke): Millage rate set at 6.4525 (6.13% increase over rollback rate). Final budget appropriations and five-year CIP adopted unanimously.
• Amendments: Motion to reduce Pier 5th anniversary celebration funding from $425,000 to $100,000 failed 3-5. Motion to appropriate $300,000 from equipment replacement fund for high water rescue vehicles (initiated by Councilmember Hanowitz) passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Hurricane Helene after-action report: Received; further discussion scheduled for October 10.
• Emergency expenditures: Reported as required by code.
• Foot Locker incentives (F4A & F4B): Approved 6-2 (Councilmembers Floyd and Mohammed voting no).
• South St. Pete CRA FY2025 budget (CRA2): Approved unanimously.
• FY2025 millage rate (E5A): Approved 6-2 (Floyd and Mohammed voting no).
• FY2025 budget ordinance (E5B): Approved unanimously.
• FY2025-2029 CIP (E5C): Approved unanimously.
• High water rescue vehicle funding (E5D): Approved unanimously.
• Pier anniversary reduction motion: Failed 3-5.
• Referrals to Youth and Family Services Committee: "Fund Our Future" and "Save Our Streets" proposals referred for presentations (H1, H2): Approved unanimously.
• Zoning and right-of-way items (E1-E4, G1-G4): Approved unanimously or with absences noted.
• Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM.