St. Petersburg City Council Meeting Summary – July 17, 2025
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St. Petersburg City Council Meeting Summary – July 17, 2025
The St. Petersburg City Council met on July 17, 2025, at 6:30 PM. The meeting included proclamations recognizing community organizations, a presentation of the Mayor's recommended FY2026 budget, setting of the tentative millage rate and public hearing dates, an update from Pinellas Hope, the 2024 ADA annual compliance report, and committee referrals. All votes were unanimous unless noted.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the agenda and consent agenda unanimously (Councilmember Driscoll absent).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Stephen Barfield (President, SPIFS) appealed for special consideration funding, stating that recent changes to the cultural arts grant process excluded SPIFS from applying for up to $20,000. He noted SPIFS is celebrating 50 years and requested support.
- Marley Price advocated ending the Duke Energy Clean Energy Connection program and allocating funds for a feasibility study for public power, citing leverage at contract renewal in 2026.
- Max McCann urged increased funding for Complete Streets, noting that the only section of MLK not on the high injury crash network has bike lanes, and that the budget allocates more to downtown parking than to Complete Streets.
- Justin Cornway requested South CRA TIF dollars fund Complete Streets, including neighborhood greenways, to improve safety for the 25% of South Side residents without a car.
- Garrett Marple called for doubling Complete Streets funding to $1.2 million, emphasizing safety, health, and economic benefits.
- Elizabeth Winter and Alec Schechter supported a feasibility study for public energy, with Schechter noting the anniversary of Duke Energy Day.
- William Ballard challenged the statement in TIF district summaries that property taxes from value over base year fund the districts, asserting that funds come from general fund contributions.
Awards and Presentations
- Get Ready for Back to School Month Proclamation (D1): Dr. Sharon Brown recognized multiple organizations providing backpacks, school supplies, uniforms, and medical exams. Councilmembers thanked participants.
- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity International Conclave Week Proclamation (D2): Councilmember Givens recognized the fraternity's 111 years of service. Members spoke of ongoing community work.
- 727 Day Proclamation (D3): Celeste Davis and Kylie Diaz announced the fifth anniversary of the St. Pete Pier, with a drone show over 1,000 drones on July 27. Councilmember Driscoll recognized five key contributors to the pier's creation.
- Americans with Disabilities Act Day Proclamation (D4): Chair Gertis honored the CAPI committee and retiring ADA Coordinator Lendell Bright. Bright and Anita Dreyer were recognized for 10 and 25 years of service respectively.
Discussion Items
- FY2026 Mayor's Recommended Budget (F1): Mayor Welch presented a $1.1 billion budget with a flat millage rate of 6.4525 mills. Property values increased 4.93%. Key investments: housing (2,617 rental units completed/in pipeline), infrastructure (SPAR program for storm resilience, $202M CIP), arts (new funding for SPIFS at $40,000, but clarified as sister cities, not cultural arts), education (Future Ready Academy, youth programs), and public safety (CALL program, body cameras, fire cadet program). Budget Director Liz Mikovski detailed revenue sources (43% charges for services, 31% taxes) and general fund expenditures (53% public safety). The first public hearing is September 11, 2025.
- Tentative Millage Rate (F2A): Council unanimously approved a resolution setting the proposed millage rate at 6.4525 mills, generating $228.9M in ad valorem revenue, a 4.8% increase over FY2025. The rollback rate is 6.2083 mills.
- Public Hearing Dates (F2B): Council unanimously approved September 11 and September 25, 2025, for the two budget public hearings.
- Pinellas Hope Update (F3): Director Joe Pondolfino reported on the shelter's temporary housing, with 255 capacity (96 cottages, 159 tents). Average length of stay 117 days; 45% of discharges move to permanent housing (above national average of 25%). Budget $3.1M, with Pinellas County and City of St. Petersburg as top funders. Medical respite program serves 10 people with serious illnesses. Partnerships with Boley, Volunteers of America, and others. Councilmembers discussed hurricane recovery, waitlists, and the need for shade structures.
- 2024 ADA Annual Compliance Report (F4): Lendell Bright presented the report, highlighting the city's self-evaluation, transition plan, and training. He emphasized the need for Title I (employment) accommodations for city employees and outreach to communities of color. The report was approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous votes on: agenda, consent agenda, tentative millage rate (F2A), public hearing dates (F2B), ADA compliance report (F4), and referral of general obligation bond discussion to PSNI committee (H1).
- Referral: Council approved a motion to refer the GO bond discussion to the Public Services and Infrastructure (PSNI) committee for further review, including analysis of potential state property tax changes.
- Next Steps: Budget committee of the whole July 31, 2025; first budget hearing September 11, 2025; second hearing September 25, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the City of St. Petersburg City Council meeting. Your elected officials are Mayor Ken Welch. District 1 and Council Chair Hope Lee 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. Welcome to our July 17th, 2025 City Council meeting. If we could do a roll call, please. Here. Here. Harding. Six Sanders. Here. And Driscoll. Okay. This afternoon we will have our invocation given by Reverend Leonte Tooks from New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church. And then please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Reverend. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and to each of you, City Council and the residents of St. Petersburg. Will you bow with me? Our Father, our God, our Creator, our ruler, and our helper. We gather here today yet for another opportunity to celebrate organizations for their civil work, but also to discuss matters of importance as we improve, maintain, sustain, and curate this place we call home and the land in which you've given us dominion over. Help those who speak and those who decide to be open-minded, to be true, to be honest and clairvoyant, but above all considerate over more than just budget, but in building a community that is safe to live, to love, to work and to play. And may the true sun continue to shine on our city, the great city of St. Petersburg. In your great name we seal this prayer. Amen. I point allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Please be seated. Reverend, thank you for that beautiful invocation, and thank you for joining us here this afternoon. Okay, Council members, we have an agenda in front of us. I'll entertain a motion for approval. Move approval. Second. We have a motion and a second on the agenda. Seeing as no other council members wishing to speak. Clerk, could you please open the machine for voting? Council members, please enter your votes. Seeing as all present council members have voted. Clerk, please tally and announce the vote.
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