St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – May 15, 2025

The St. Petersburg City Council met on May 15, 2025, at 6:30 PM to address a wide range of items including the Sunshine City Mosaic extension, the sale of Portland Apartments, a micromobility feasibility study, and several development consistency findings. All votes were unanimous with Councilmember Gabbard absent. The meeting included a recess to convene as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), then reconvened.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the agenda and consent agenda unanimously.
• Approved resolutions authorizing utility refunding revenue bonds (Series 2025A and 2025B) – H1.
• Approved removal of items from committee referral lists: PSI committee items and Housing/Land Use/Transportation committee item – H2 and H3.
• Approved three-year scooter share agreements (with two one-year renewal options) with Neutron Holdings, Lyft, and other operators – H4.
• Approved preliminary assessments (J1, J2, J3) unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No speakers for open forum (first and second sessions).
• No public comment for the CRA items beyond the applicant representatives.

Discussion Items

F1 – Sunshine City Mosaic Reinstatement and Second Amendment

• Celeste Davis (Director of Arts, Culture, and Tourism) presented a timeline of multiple extensions for the 172-foot, 800 sq ft mosaic at Al Lorenzo Park. The artists (Laura Spencer, Alex Kaufman, George Retkesh) explained delays due to limited access to a water jet, hurricane impacts, and the need for on-site final adjustments. They requested a deferral to amend the contract to reflect a May 31 fabrication deadline and July 31 installation completion.
• Councilmembers expressed frustration over last-minute requests and multiple extensions but praised the project. Vice Chair Hanowitz noted that approving the current agreement would put the artists in default because installation should have begun May 15. Legal clarified that performance continues under the expired agreement.
• The item was deferred to the June 5, 2025 meeting to allow administration to revise the language and set a final completion date. Motion passed unanimously.

F2 – Portland Apartments Sale (Resolution for Consent and Approval)

• Mark Van Lu (Housing and Community Development) presented the $8 million sale of the 68-unit affordable housing property to Sunrise Affordable Housing Group in partnership with Pinellas County Housing Authority. The buyer plans to hold the property, pursue tax credit resyndication, and extend affordability through a 99-year ground lease.
• Councilmember Hanowitz raised concerns about subordinating the workforce housing density bonus agreement to a first mortgage. The city attorney (Isabella Sobel) and buyer’s attorney (Haley Sawyer) discussed the need for lender security while preserving affordability restrictions. The item was tabled to allow legal staff to redraft language.
• After a recess, the council approved the revised version, which limited the subordination to allow property transfer in foreclosure only, leaving affordability covenants intact. Motion passed unanimously.

F3 – Micromobility Expansion Feasibility Study

• Cheryl Stacks (Transportation and Parking Management) presented a planning study funded by Forward Pinellas ($120,000) with $30,000 city match. The study will assess expanding scooter and bike share beyond downtown, including infrastructure, market considerations, and ordinance updates (bike ordinance from 2009). Consultant Benesh was selected. The resolution was approved unanimously.

CRA2 – 300 Central Avenue (16-Story Mixed-Use Building)

• Corey Melishka presented a consistency finding for a 16-story, 74-room hotel with 4,000 sq ft commercial space, replacing a storm-damaged building. No on-site parking; 23 off-site spaces will be leased. Discussion included parking concerns and the timing of demolition. Councilmember Driscoll urged a timely demo and interim site beautification. The finding was approved unanimously.

CRA3 – 800 2nd Avenue South (Two 31-Story Buildings)

• Presentation for two 31-story towers with 824 dwelling units, 35,800 sq ft commercial, and 1,550 parking spaces. Councilmember Floyd noted the scale but acknowledged compliance. Approved unanimously.

G1 – Referral for Basin C Project Presentation

• Councilmember Driscoll requested a committee presentation on the Basin C resilience project. Approved unanimously.

G2 – Analysis of 2024 Storm Season

• Councilmember Harding requested a report on lessons learned, response assessment, and proposed disaster plan amendments. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• F1 Deferred: Sunshine City Mosaic extension to June 5, 2025.
• F2 Approved: Portland Apartments sale with revised subordination language preserving affordability restrictions.
• F3 Approved: Micromobility feasibility study grant and contract.
• CRA2 and CRA3 Approved: Consistency findings for 300 Central Ave and 800 2nd Ave South.
• All other items (agenda, consent, H-items, G-items, J-items) Approved unanimously.
• Council will receive a complete storm season analysis by July 2025.