City of St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - April 17, 2025

The St. Petersburg City Council met on April 17, 2025, at 6:30 PM. The meeting included an invocation by Reverend Canon Mike Alford, a moment of silence for the active shooter situation at Florida State University, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilmember Richie Floyd was absent for portions of the meeting. All votes were unanimous among those present unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the agenda unanimously (Councilmember Floyd absent).
• Approved the consent agenda unanimously (Councilmember Floyd absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gina Fodi (resident and business owner in Warehouse Arts District) expressed serious concerns about safety on 5th Avenue South, citing two recent pedestrian fatalities and a critically injured nine-year-old. She stated that the Ware-house Arts District was not represented in the Deuces Corridor master planning process ("Deuces Voices of the Deuces") and that small businesses were not notified. She requested help ensuring small businesses have a voice in future planning.
• Dr. Washington (resident, 1st Avenue Central and Fort Avenue) criticized council members for not engaging with him, stating they were elected but do not know him. He accused council of hypocrisy and failing to represent black residents. He also referenced property rights and self-defense.

Awards & Presentations

• Arbor Day Proclamation – Presented by Councilmember Gabbard. Recognized the importance of trees and announced the Green Thumb Festival (fourth weekend of April) and a tree giveaway of 500 native shade trees on Saturday, April 19. City staff noted community support for parks and trees.
• Earth Day Proclamation – Presented by Councilmember Gabbard. Proclaimed April 25, 2025 as Earth Day in St. Petersburg. Representatives from St. Pete Youth Farm (Jade Kelmick and Carla Bristol) and Take Mar (Tara Hubbard) spoke about their events: Youth Farm giving away seedlings; Take Mar hosting a celebration at Foodie Labs on April 22.
• Small Business Week Proclamation (May 5-9, 2025) – Presented by Council Chair Gurtis. Recognized small businesses and partners including Saturday Shops, Pinellas County Urban League, SCORE, SBDC, Women's Business Center, and the Chamber of Commerce. Speakers highlighted the importance of small businesses and upcoming activities: lunch and learn (May 5), pitch night (May 6), business walk (May 8), Food Truck Friday (May 9). Councilmember Gabbard emphasized support for home-based businesses.
• Distinguished Citizen Award – Christine Page – Presented by Councilmember Driscoll. Honored Christine Page, retiring executive director of the St. Petersburg Shuffle Board Club, for over 20 years of service. Under her leadership, membership grew from 35 to 2,600, staff grew from zero to nine, and the club became a vibrant cultural venue. Councilmembers praised her contributions.

Ordinances

• E1 – Airport Grant – Unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing acceptance of a $134,800 FDOT grant for rehab of the Albert Wood Airport airfield vault. (Councilmember Floyd absent.)
• E2 – Affordable Housing Site Plan Approval – Text Amendment – Unanimously approved amending Chapter 17.5 to clarify applicability and conforming uses. Councilmember Fig Sanders asked for clarification on the definition of "grocery store" to ensure it includes neighborhood mom-and-pop stores in food deserts; staff agreed to provide an answer at the next meeting.
• E3 – Alley Vacation (1833 1st Ave S and 1850 Central Ave) – Unanimously approved setting a public hearing for May 1, 2025.

Discussion Items

• F1 – Resolution: Skytown Project Partnership with AC Skytown (Altus Cardinal) – Staff (Mark Van Lu) presented the first phase of the 34.3-acre mixed-use development at the former Ceridian site. Phase one includes 401 apartments (121 affordable/workforce at 80% and 120% AMI, 280 market-rate), plus a Sprouts grocery store (opening October 2025) and 12,000 sq ft of retail. The city would provide a $4.5 million forgivable loan; the county has already approved $5.5 million. The total subsidy equates to $37,190 per affordable/workforce unit, considered low. Staff noted the agreement includes provisions allowing future refinancing or sale without additional council approval, aligning with county documents. Councilmembers discussed:
  • Councilmember Floyd expressed concern that 120% AMI rents are essentially at market rate, reducing the benefit. He argued the majority of savings come from 80% AMI units and requested future phases focus on 80% AMI. Staff responded that the 30-year lock-in provides long-term affordability and the per-unit subsidy remains low.
  • Councilmember Givens raised concerns about loss of council control over future refinancing and the lack of three-bedroom units (only one at each income level). Staff clarified that all deed restrictions transfer to successors and that annual monitoring continues. The developer (Frank Guerra) assured that future phases would involve similar affordability discussions and that the market-rate units help subsidize affordable units.
  • Councilmember Fig Sanders asked whether affordable housing would be included in all phases; staff responded they are working with the developer on future phases and expect similar workforce housing.
  • Councilmember Hanowitz emphasized the certainty offered by locking in affordable rents for 30 years and the favorable return on investment (estimated $18 million in reduced rents over 30 years from a $4.5 million investment).
  • Chair Gurtis noted that mixed-income public-private partnerships are a cutting-edge approach to housing.
  • The motion to approve passed unanimously (all present councilmembers voting in favor).
• F2 – Resolution: Acquisition of 780 58th Ave N for Purrier Park Expansion – Unanimously approved. Councilmember Harding praised the park expansion.
• F3 – Resolution: USDA Grant for Food Waste Composting at USF St. Pete – Unanimously approved. The city will pass through $358,735 from the USDA to USF St. Pete for a composting initiative. The program aims to compost 2,100–2,700 pounds of food waste per week and create a student-run business selling compost. Councilmembers Gabbard, Harding, and Givens expressed support, noting potential connections to the St. Pete Youth Farm and other community partners.

New Business / Referrals

• A staff-requested referral (no specifics in transcript) was approved unanimously.

Quasi-Judicial Item (J1)

• Variance Request – 826 32nd Ave N (Three-Lot Preliminary Plat) – Applicant sought variances for lot width (44 ft vs. 50 ft required for two lots) and depth (72 ft vs. 75 ft required for one lot). Staff recommended approval, noting that 52% of lots in the area are substandard and similar variances were granted to an adjacent property in 2016. Public testimony: none. Councilmember Gabbard requested DRC minutes be included in future backup. The motion to approve passed unanimously (Councilmembers Driscoll and Fig Sanders absent).

Council Announcements

• Councilmember Givens wished everyone a happy Easter.
• Councilmember Harding announced varsity flag football district finals: Northeast High vs. St. Petersburg High.
• The council sang happy birthday to Loretta Taylor and Councilmember Gabbard.

Key Outcomes

• All resolutions and ordinances passed unanimously among voting members.
• The Skytown project (F1) represents a new public-private partnership model for affordable housing, with the city investing $4.5 million for 121 income-restricted units.
• The USDA composting grant (F3) will fund a student-led business composting campus food waste.
• The Purrier Park expansion (F2) adds parkland in Councilmember Harding's district.
• The alley vacation (E3) will proceed to a public hearing on May 1, 2025.
• The definition of "grocery store" (E2) will be clarified for the next council meeting.
• The council directed staff to include DRC minutes in future quasi-judicial backup materials.