City of St. Petersburg City Council Special Meeting - March 13, 2025

This special meeting of the St. Petersburg City Council was called on short notice to address the imminent expiration of the scooter share agreement with VO Ride. Council also heard public comments on water billing issues and a new ICE policy, approved the agenda, and made announcements about upcoming events.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda Approval: The council unanimously approved the agenda as presented with additions and deletions. (Motion by Councilmember Harding, second by Councilmember Gabbard; vote 7-0, with Councilmember Hanowitz absent.)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Matt Widener (1201 Eden Isle Drive) spoke about ongoing water billing problems, citing 6,000 accounts being adjusted and over 4,000 overreads in November. He questioned the lack of explanation for large bills sent to residents, including a case where a relative's water was shut off without a leak. He urged the council to hire their own legal counsel under the city charter.
• Andy Oliver (Pastor at Allen Dale) criticized the new St. Petersburg Police Department ICE policy, calling it unconstitutional and asserting that administrative warrants do not provide probable cause. He stated that the policy “bends the knee to white supremacy and fascism” and warned that anyone unlawfully detained under this policy would have legal recourse. He urged the council to uphold the law.

Discussion Items

• Scooter Share Extension (Agenda Item C-1): Evan Morey, representing the administration, requested a 90-day extension of the existing scooter share agreement with VO Ride to allow completion of a competitive RFP process. He noted that the current agreement expires March 14, 2025, and an administrative extension was not deemed appropriate due to the unique nature of the services and prior council approvals. Since the program launched in late 2020, over 1.2 million trips have been taken, with a single-day high of 3,800 trips. Councilmember Driscoll expressed support but emphasized the need for better communication and a more collaborative process. Councilmember Gabbard announced she will present a referral to the Housing, Outreach, and Urban Transportation (HOUT) committee to ensure the RFP results are reviewed at committee level before coming to council. The extension was approved unanimously (7-0, Hanowitz absent).

Key Outcomes

• Scooter Extension Approved: The council unanimously approved the 90-day extension of the scooter share agreement with VO Ride, allowing scooters to remain on the streets while the RFP process is finalized. The administration will return with a recommendation for a long-term operator.
• Future Process: Councilmember Gabbard will introduce a referral at the March 28 meeting to bring the RFP results and operator selection to the HOUT committee before full council consideration.
• Public Comments: The council heard concerns about water billing and the ICE policy, but no formal action was taken on these issues during the meeting.

Announcements

• Councilmember (unidentified) noted the St. Patty's Fest celebration in Williams Park this weekend and a related street closure on Monday.

The meeting adjourned shortly after the announcements.