St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - May 8, 2025
St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - May 8, 2025
The St. Petersburg City Council convened on May 8, 2025, for a meeting focused on recognizing outstanding contributions through several proclamations and awards, approving routine items, and receiving an annual update on employee recognition. No public comment was made.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously with Councilmember Givens absent.
Proclamations and Awards
- Senior Hall of Fame Inductees (D1): Presented by Mayor Ken Welch and Lucinda, the ceremony honored 10 inductees with over 900 years of collective volunteer service. Keys to the city were given earlier in the day.
- Emergency Medical Services Week (D2): Councilmember Deborah Fig Sanders presented the proclamation recognizing May 18–24, 2025. Rescue Chief Lindsay Judah reported that in 2024, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue had over 78,000 apparatus responses to EMS incidents and employs 370 sworn personnel serving as paramedics and EMTs.
- Drowning Awareness Month (D3): Council Chair Copley Gertis presented the proclamation for May 2025, sharing a personal story about water safety. In Pinellas County 2024, there were 31 non-fatal submersions and 1 death. The city’s water safety event distributed 312 life jackets, 179 free swim lesson vouchers, 120 free CPR certification vouchers, and 105 door alarms. Swim lessons are available from age six months.
- National Public Works Week (D4): Councilmember Mike Harding presented the proclamation for May 18–24. Public Works Director Claude noted the department has nearly 1,000 employees. Multiple council members thanked the team for hurricane response.
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (D5): Mayor Ken Welch proclaimed May 2025 and announced the inaugural HAPI Festival on May 31 at Albert Woodett Park. Community committee members spoke about the event.
Employee Recognition Committee Update
- HR’s Chris Goella and ERC Chair Jennifer Jorn reported that in 2024, 330 employees were recognized (94% of the 350 goal), up from 163 in 2023 and 62 in 2022. As of May 2025, 62 new nominations were under review, bringing the year-to-date total to approximately 121. The committee also revamped awards with new designs and local vendors, and introduced a new Workplace Culture Team (GROW WITH US) focusing on appreciation, resiliency, training, and inclusivity.
Key Outcomes
- The council unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda. All proclamations and awards were presented and accepted. No other votes were taken.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the City of St. Petersburg City Council meeting. Your elected officials are Mayor Ken Welch. District 1 and Council Chair Copley Gurtis. District 2, Brandy Gabbert. District 3, Mike Harding. District 4. And Council Vice Chair, Leseth Hanowitz. District 5, Deborah Fake Sanders. District 6, Gina Driscoll. District 7, Corey Givens Jr. And District 8, Richie Floyd. Good afternoon. We're going to call to order the May 8th, 2025 City Council meeting. If we can please do a roll call, Clerk. Driscoll? Here. Givens. Floyd? Here. Gabbert. Here. Harding. Here. Andowitz. Here. Okay, we will today have our invocation given by Bishop Manuel Sykes from Bethel Community Baptist Church. Then please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. If everybody would please stand. Good afternoon, everyone. Let us pray. We are thankful to be here once again that you've allowed us to see another beautiful day in this city. We're thankful, Lord God, for the opportunity to gather together to listen, to give opinions, to give thought to all the things pertaining to all of the people of this city. We ask now that you'll bless each and every elected official to have a mind of service to listen to the voices of their constituency. That together they will knit together a fabric that will make this community one, and that every person, big, small, wealthy, and poor, will come together knowing that their voices are heard, their hearts are being felt. We pray that you'll bring the resources together that will allow us and that will allow our elected officials to capture and to cast a vision that will be one that will make everybody feel the side the shine of the sun. Bless us now as we come together. Let our deliberations be thoughtful, be just caring and compassionate. And where we need answers, we pray that your divine wisdom will provide us with the right answers at the right time. That when this session is dismissed, everyone present will know that your hand has been upon it. This is our prayer in Jesus' name. Amen. It's in the Republic, which it stands. One nation, under God, individual, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Please be seated. Bishop Sykes, thank you so much for the invocation and uh thank you so much for everything you do in our community. It's greatly appreciated. Okay, council members. We have an agenda in front of us.
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