St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - August 14, 2025
St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - August 14, 2025
The St. Petersburg City Council met on August 14, 2025, for a regular meeting. Key actions included approval of the agenda (with deletion of item J1), first reading of utility rate ordinances for FY26, and referrals to committees on arts funding and the FDOT memorandum on pavement art. The meeting featured extensive public comment on the proposed removal of street murals, followed by a unanimous vote to refer the matter to committee.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Street Murals (Rainbow Crosswalk, Black Lives Matter, Black History Matters): Numerous speakers, including artists, business owners, and community leaders, expressed strong opposition to the removal of pavement art. Speakers argued that the murals promote safety, inclusion, and economic vitality, and that the FDOT memo is politically motivated. Several urged the council to resist, join lawsuits, and not capitulate to state pressure. Speakers included John Gascott (artist), Andy Oliver (pastor, Allendale United Methodist Church), Noah Yoski (youth painter), Terry Scott (Woods African American Museum), Rob Hall (Winter Pride), and others.
- Homelessness: Rev. Andy Oliver cited over 500 arrests since 2024 for sleeping, and over 100 jaywalking citations, urging the council to repeal the local ordinance.
- Duke Energy: Christy Ibrahimovich detailed safety failures after Hurricane Ian, including delayed response, exposed wires, and a denied claim, calling on the council not to renew Duke’s contract.
- Gaza Genocide: Alexander Vasalik urged the council to renounce its previous support for the war in Gaza, citing high civilian casualties and destruction.
- Other: Speakers also addressed the 90th anniversary of Social Security and Black Business Month.
Awards & Presentations
- D1 – Gulf Resilience Community of Practice Award: Presented to the City of St. Petersburg (floodplain and emergency management teams) for leadership in community resilience. Councilmember Gabbard and staff (Hannah Rebholtz, Amber Bolding, Chris Simonello) accepted.
- D2 – Proclamation for Black Business Month: Mayor Welch presented the proclamation, recognizing contributions of Black-owned businesses. Mariel Summers (Pinellas County Urban League) and business owners attended.
- D3 – Proclamation for 90th Anniversary of Social Security: Mayor Welch presented the proclamation with representatives from AARP, highlighting the program’s importance to St. Petersburg seniors.
Discussion Items
- FY26 Utility Rates (E1A, E1B, E1C): First reading of ordinances to adjust sanitation, stormwater, water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and other utility charges. Public hearing set for September 4, 2025. The stormwater rate increase of 17.5% sparked debate. Councilmember Gabbard proposed an additional $1.16/month (from scenario B of the rate study) to expedite stormwater projects, but did not gain majority support. Councilmembers discussed affordability, competing costs, and the need for a future referendum.
- E1A (Sanitation) – Passed unanimously.
- E1B (Stormwater) – Passed 4-2 (Councilmembers Driscoll, Givens, Hanowitz, Harding voting yes; Floyd and Gabbard voting no).
- E1C (Other utility rates) – Passed unanimously.
- G1 – Referral to COW on Arts Funding: Councilmember Driscoll moved to refer to the Committee of the Whole for a comprehensive report on arts funding, grants, and programs. Passed unanimously.
- G2 – Referral to HLUT on FDOT Memorandum: Councilmember Gabbard moved to refer to the Housing, Land Use, and Transportation Committee for discussion on the FDOT June 30, 2025 memo prohibiting pavement art, including options for alternative placemaking. The motion passed unanimously after public comment. City Attorney clarified that the memo allows for good-cause exceptions and that the city is not immediately removing any murals. Legal analysis of potential funding impacts is ongoing.
Key Outcomes
- Agenda approved with deletion of item J1 (appeal withdrawn) – unanimous.
- Utility rate ordinances advanced to public hearing on September 4, 2025, with the stormwater rate increase of 17.5% approved (4-2).
- Two referrals made: arts funding report to COW, and FDOT pavement art discussion to HLUT (both unanimous).
- Proclamations issued for Black Business Month and Social Security 90th anniversary.
- Award presented to the floodplain and emergency management teams.
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 Gabber. District 3, Mike Harding. District 4, and Council Vice Chair, Leseth Hanowitz. District 5, Deborah Fig Sanders. District 6, Gina Driscoll. District 7, Corey Givens Jr. And District 8, Richie Floyd. Welcome everyone to the August 14th, 2025, St. Petersburg City Council meeting. Clerk, can we please have a roll call? Lloyd. Here. Curtis. Gabbard. Here. Harding. Hanowitz. Here. Six Anders. Driscoll. Here. Givens. Here. Well, we will have our invocation given today by Pastor Chris Futch from our Savior Luther Lutheran Church. Then please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor. Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, as we gather here this afternoon, we give thanks for your presence. We give thanks for your goodness. We give thanks for your forgiveness and mercy and grace that is freely given to us through faith in Jesus Christ. Lord, a few thousand years ago, you raised up leaders in Moses and Aaron and Miriam to lead your people through some challenging times. And in the times when things were not going well, the Israelites were quick to blame their leaders for the situations that they were in. But at the same time when things were going well, the Israelites were slow to recognize and encourage their leaders for their tireless work and dedication to the community. Lord, the same holds true today. Oftentimes our leaders are quick to receive blame, and yet very rarely are they encouraged for the difficult work that they do. And so my prayer for us this afternoon is that we as residents of this incredible city will both encourage and build up our leaders on this council. May we consider the burdens that they carry, and may we also take the time to thank them for the many ways that they are working to lead us through these challenging times. Bless their families and their friends and their neighbors and all of the people who love them and encourage them as they continue to serve on this council. Bless our president and our Congress, bless our governor and our state representatives, bless our mayor and the city employees, bless our men and women who protect us from harm and danger every single day. We also ask that you would bless our families, our workers, our seniors, our veterans, our widows, our homeless, and all who call this city that you have established as their home. Lord, may each of us continue to help make St. Petersburg a community of progress for all residents, each and every day. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, the one who created us, the one who redeemed us, and the one who promises to be with us to the very end of the age. Amen. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
openpublica.com