City of St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – December 5, 2024
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City of St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – December 5, 2024
The St. Petersburg City Council met on December 5, 2024, starting at approximately 1:30 p.m. and adjourning after 4:20 p.m. The meeting included a controversial vote to authorize bonds for the Tampa Bay Rays stadium and related development, as well as updates on resilience planning, affordable housing programs, and routine approvals. The agenda was amended to add items F6 (stadium bonds) and CRA4, prompting objections from some council members and members of the public due to short notice. The meeting was marked by passionate public testimony and council debate.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda approved 4-3 after adding items F6 and CRA4.
- Consent agenda (routine approvals) approved unanimously.
- Legal item I1: Settlement of lawsuit Lisa Fountain vs. City for $145,000 approved unanimously.
- Ordinance E1: Five-year capital improvement element update approved unanimously.
- Ordinance E2: Dali Museum lease amendment for expansion approved unanimously.
- Report F1: Updates to code compliance assistance program for hurricane-affected properties (increase AMI to 120%, funding to $10,000, remove active violation requirement) approved unanimously.
- Report F2: Changes to affordable lot disposition program (new RFQ process, developer qualifications) approved unanimously.
- CRA2: Citrus Grove apartments ownership transfer approved unanimously.
- CRA3: Rapid roof replacement program amendment to include hurricane damage approved unanimously.
- Items F4 and F5 (related to CRA programs) approved unanimously.
- CRA4: Resolution for CRA bond repayment plan approved 4-3.
Public Comments & Testimony
Open forum included 11 speakers on various topics, with the majority addressing the stadium bond issue:
- Peter Kent (opposed bonds): argued the deal is dead per Rays' letter, insufficient public notice, and urged focus on infrastructure.
- Mark Ferguson (supported bonds): cited economic benefits and job creation.
- Paul Cardner (supported bonds): urged support for bonding to move project forward.
- Chimaringa Waller (opposed bonds): called for reparations for the historic Gas Plant district and opposed stadium spending.
- Ash Alonzo (opposed bonds): used relationship analogy, criticized city prioritizing stadium over hurricane recovery.
- Andrew Hernandez (opposed bonds): stated city should not commit until Rays commit.
- Chris Steinacher (Chamber of Commerce, supported bonds): acknowledged missing pieces but urged council to lead.
- Natalie Stockard (opposed bonds): argued developer should pay, reminded council of community wishes for walkable neighborhood.
- Mike Swayze (EDC, supported bonds): cited job creation and investment.
- Walt Griggers (Airport Advisory Committee): discussed airport hangar damage from hurricanes, not related to stadium.
- John Sinobaldi (opposed bonds): criticized lack of notice, insurance decisions, and urged focus on infrastructure. During the stadium item, four additional public speakers (two in support, two opposed) provided testimony.
Discussion Items
Resilient St. Pete Plan Update (Report F3) Councilmember Gabbard introduced a recap of resilience planning post-Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Public Works Administrator Claude Tankersley presented on:
- Seawall vulnerability study: city owns 14 of ~100 miles; conditions assessed; final plan due 2026.
- Resilient St. Pete plan: multi-phase vulnerability assessment and action plan; pilot neighborhood engagement with Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
- Water reclamation facility upgrades: $70 million project at Northeast plant to raise electrical equipment to 11 feet (base flood +2); completion expected 2026.
- SPAR (St. Pete Agile Resilience): parallel program to accelerate critical projects.
- New director of sustainability and resilience, Maven Rogers, introduced.
- Funding: $116 million budgeted for resilience in FY25; $633 million planned over five years. Council discussed funding gaps, utility fees vs. general fund, and potential for impact fees. No vote was taken.
Stadium Bond Series (Item F6) Council considered two resolutions authorizing bonds for the city's portion of the Rays/Hines development. Mayor Welch stated negotiations continue but agreements remain valid. Public testimony included emotional pleas from a fired Rays concessions employee (support) and several opponents citing lack of Rays commitment and infrastructure needs. Council debate:
- Supporters (Driscoll, Gabbard, Fix Sanders, Gurtis): argued honoring commitments, calling Rays’ bluff, preserving jobs, and the broader development benefits.
- Opponents (Hanowitz, Muhammad, Floyd): cited Rays’ letters indicating deal dead, lack of financial transparency, need for leverage, and preference for infrastructure spending. Vote was 4-3 to approve.
Key Outcomes
- Stadium Bonds (F6A/B): Approved 4-3 (Driscoll, Fix Sanders, Gabbard, Gurtis yes; Floyd, Hanowitz, Muhammad no).
- CRA Bond Repayment (CRA4): Approved 4-3 (same split).
- All consent items and ordinances passed unanimously.
- Council scheduled a follow-up Committee of the Whole on Resilient St. Pete for January 23, 2025.
- Administration to bring back ideas for alternative infrastructure funding sources in Q1 2025.
- Councilmember Gabbard will file a new business item to revisit the Coastal High Hazard Area ordinance.
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 Hopley Gurtis. District 2, Brandy Gabbard. District 4, Lissette 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'll now call the order our December 5th, 2024 City Council meeting, beginning with the roll call, please. Hannawitz, here. Six Anders. Driscoll? Here. Mohammed. Here. Lloyd. Curtis. Gabbard. Here. Thank you. We will have our invocation given today by Imam Askiah Muhammad Akiel. And we will also be followed with a moment of silence to honor our fallen first responders. And please remain standing when we were followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Will everyone please join me in standing. Good morning. With the name of the gracious, the compassionate, the merciful benefactor, merciful redeemer, to the honorable chair, other officers, and members of our city council, to our honorable mayor, his team members, and all city employees, and to everyone under the sound of my voice. Shalom Alekham, Pax Vobiscum, Namaste, Asalam Alaikum. Now, please unite your hearts with mine, attune your ear to my voice, and receive the intent of my words as I invoke the presence of God, our creator on this occasion, without offending anyone's sensitivities or beliefs. O creator of all and everything, called upon by many names and worshipped in many ways, you who endowed us all with certain inalienable rights. We call on you now to send down your divine presence to watch over the deliberations of this august body as they sober-mindedly address the issues that confront them. Give them, O Lord, the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job, and the compassion of Christ Jesus. We believe in you, rely and depend upon you, trust and have faith in you, you who created the sun that warms us all, the air that surrounds and sustains us all, the water that refreshes and purifies us all, the food that nourishes us all. For all this and more, we are eternally grateful and can never give you enough thanks. We ask this morning that you will give the members of this governing body individually and collectively the strength to always recognize your presence amongst them and your ever flowing graces into their lives. Give them the strength to acknowledge truth wherever it is manifested before them. Give them the strength to pursue truth, liberty, justice, equity, fairness, and common good, always respecting the rights and dignity of others. Our Lord, help them to lower the wing of humility, to not be seduced by power, nor corrupted by greed, nor puffed up with pride and arrogance. Help them to be better listeners than talkers, to argue in the best and most respectful manner. Our Lord help them and us to restrain anger and to be quick to forgive. Help us to be excellent human beings and even better citizens, residents, and neighbors. Help each and every one of us to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith wherewith we are called with all lowliness, lowliness, and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, and endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, especially when we disagree. Our Lord help us to remember that our journey, our constant challenge, is to be and become one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Remind us, O creator of us all, of our shared responsibility within these borders to always strive toward forming a more perfect union, toward establishing justice and promoting the general welfare and securing the blessings of liberty, not just for ourselves, but for our posterity for our future generations. And now, during these times of challenges brought on by tragic deaths, unforected destruction, suffering, economic and social disruption, and hyperpartisan rivalry. Show us the path forward to the brighter days of hope ahead. Our Lord, we ask. Make St.
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