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, Lissette Hanowitz.

District 5, Deborah Fake Sanders.

District 6, Gita Driscoll.

District 7, Corey Givens Jr.

And District 8, Richie Floyd.

Welcome everyone to the September 11th, 2025, St.

Petersburg City Council meeting.

Clerk, can I please have a roll call?

Curtis.

Gabbard.

Here.

Harding.

Eric Hanowitz.

Eric.

Sanders.

Driscoll.

Here.

Gibbons?

Here.

Here.

Today we will have our invocation given by Reverend Frank Peterman, pastor from Rock of Jesus Baptist Church, followed by a moment of silence in remembrance of those lost on September 11th, 2001.

And then you will please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

If y'all could please stand.

As I often say, I remember being here many years ago in the seats that you're in.

And it's just wonderful to see the leadership is still going.

So I'm I'm thankful to be here with you and wish you well.

And uh to you and the mayor and the rest of the staff.

God bless.

Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you now, praising your name and giving you glory for being God and God alone.

Thank you for being Elohim.

Uh the one and only God, the great God.

We thank you for blessing this wonderful city and all of its inhabitants.

Thank you for all the children and the teenagers and the adults and the seniors in this city.

Bless us all the same.

We thank you, Lord, now that this council will rule and govern with great accuracy, compassion, and love, and with strength and bravery.

Bless them all, bless the mayor, bless the staff of this great city, the city of St.

Petersburg.

And we give you glory for it all, God.

We thank you now.

Now speak through them now and through us all.

Lord, we ask and ask this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Amen.

Please join us from a moment of silence in remembrance of those lost on September 11th, 2001.

Thank you.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Madam Chair, could I just one other thing?

Just want to say I'm very proud of this young man, Corey.

Thank you.

Yeah, yeah.

Thank you, Reverend Peterman, for the lovely invocation.

Y'all may be seated.

Council members, we have an agenda before us.

I'll entertain a motion for approval.

Move for approval.

Second.

We have a motion, a second.

Clerk, you please open the machine for voting.

Council members, please enter your votes.

Seeing that all present council members have voted.

Clerk, please tally announce the vote.

Madam Chair, motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously with councilmember Gurtis being absent.

Next on the agenda, we have the approval of a consent agenda.

Clerk, are there any public comments?

Move approval.

We have a motion and a second.

Clerk, you please open the machine for voting.

Council members, please enter your votes.

Seeing that all present council members have voted.

Clerk, you please tally and announce the vote.

Madam Chair, motion to approve the consent agenda passes unanimously with Councilmember Gurtis being absent.

Next item on the agenda is open forum.

Clerk, can you please read the rules?

If you wish to address city council on subjects other than public hearing or quasi judicial items listed on the agenda, please sign up with the clerk.

Only the individual wishing to speak may sign the open forum sheet.

All only city residents, owners of property, business owners in the city, or their employees may speak.

All issues discussed under open forum must be limited to issues related to the city of St.

Petersburg government.

If you are speaking to an item on the agenda, you may only speak once during the open forum or when the item comes up on the agenda.

In order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address counsel.

Each individual will be given three minutes to speak, and after which the microphone will be muted.

If you wish to address to the council through the Zoom meeting, you must use a raise hand feature button in the Zoom app or enter star nine on your phone at the time at the time the agenda item is addressed.

When is your turn to speak?

You'll be unmuted and asked to state your name and address at the conclusion of your comments, or when you reach the three-minute time limit, you will be muted.

All raised hands will be lowered after each agenda item, regardless of the method of participation used.

Normal rules apply, including three the three-minute time limit on comments, the requirement that any presentation materials must be submitted in advance of the meeting and the rules of the quorum.

If live public comment is disrupted by the violations of the rules of the decorum.

The chair is authorized to accept public comment by alternate means, including by email only, and we do not have any speakers.

Okay, we have no speakers.

Now we move on to awards and presentations.

The first one we have is the one, and it's the Northwest Tenue Freedom Softball Team.

And this item is going to be presented by Councilmember Gavard on behalf of Chair Gertis, who's not here with us today.

Okay.

Just watch out for the dogs that are.

I know.

I know.

Well, I don't know which one I'm more excited about.

Dogs or the Northwest tenu freedom softball team.

All right.

Well, good afternoon, everyone.

Such a beautiful day in the city of St.

Petersburg, celebrating so many amazing accomplishments, but I think it's fitting that we start out with an honor that I have been asked to provide by Councilmember Gertis.

He is very sorry that he was not able to be here with you all today.

Um, but he sends his love.

And on his behalf, and as a baseball mom, I have to say, I was a little jealous he was gonna get to do this anyway.

So I will gladly carry the torch today.

Um so I would like to go ahead and ask the coaches and the young ladies from the Northwest Tenue Freedom Softball team to join me up here at the podium, if you will.

Yes.

All right, well, this talented group, I cannot say enough about these young ladies.

Um, they have recently captured the Babe Ruth World Series Championship.

They had an impressive eight to one victory over Puerto Rico with a competitive 10-day tournament held in Florence, Alabama.

Not only are they this year's state runner-up, but they also made history as the first team from St.

Petersburg to win a World Series title.

Over the course of this season, the Freedom have played an astonishing 68 games, and their bats were on fire.

They scored 275 runs and only allowing 65 to score on them.

It's a testament to their outstanding defense and their stellar pitching.

Their success can also be contributed to a fall to following some important superstitions, um, which such as pulling out their back pocket for good luck, jumping over the foul line, and other things that all good baseball people know you have to do in order to be successful.

They're really their foundation is teamwork, friendship, sportsmanship.

These are all their core values.

And these young women have demonstrated wisdom well beyond their years.

When you go to the website dedicated to them, what you're gonna see is you're gonna see some amazing young women and what they love, what their thoughts and dreams for the future are, and some of the best advice that they offer to each other.

So I'll give you a couple of quotes.

Be the version of you that you want people to remember.

Another one is if someone makes you feel small, it's probably because they feel small too.

So don't shrink yourself to fit their hurt, just be kind and keep going.

Ladies, those are words that a lot of adults could leave learn from as well.

So thank you for being so insightful and for sharing your love with the world.

Beyond their impressive softball skills, these girls also have a few aspirations and some talents.

We have a future rocket scientist on our hands in the crowd.

And I don't want to call her out publicly, but rumor has it that one of these players has a hidden talent of being able to squirt water from under her tongue while she brushes her teeth.

So as you can see, they're very well rounded as well.

They're all Swifties.

So they have already earned their ring, so now they're on their own tour.

They call it the Era of Northwest Freedom Softball.

So they've recently been recognized by both the Clearwater Thrushers and the Tampa Bay Rays.

They've been featured in the St.

Pete Catalyst.

They've appeared on Fox 13 Good Day News segment.

And today I'm excited to tell you that these ladies and their very dedicated coaches are being honored by City Council Chair Copley Gurtis as distinguished citizens of St.

Petersburg.

Coach Zimmer.

So we have awards for all of the ladies, but we'll go ahead and start with Coach Zimmer, and we'd like him to say a few words.

Played with Copley 30 years ago at Northwest.

So we're kind of bringing it full circle right now.

Long journey.

Twenty-two and two with these girls.

13 girls.

Can't be any more proud.

This is uh one of our last stops on our victory tour.

It's been a long one.

Um I've been honored to throw out the first pitch at opening ceremonies in a couple weeks, taking uh Coach Mayor, uh excuse me, Mayor, um Lynch's um spot usually he usually does that for us.

Um yeah, we we had a really great season, had a great time up in Alabama, had a great time in Lake City, Florida.

Uh three great pitchers in Cali, Riley, and Harper.

Harper wasn't able to be here today, but she was our MVP of the whole tournament.

Um she's got volleyball practice right now.

Uh but yeah, it's it's it's gonna be amazing to see where these kids go.

Um, all of them have great futures, and I'm just happy I was able to be part of it.

Thank you.

So, because I am a baseball mom, I know the dedication that it takes from the parents, the grandparents, the caregivers.

If you are associated with any of these players, please stand up and be recognized.

Long nights, early mornings.

Sometimes it feels thankless.

You're sitting on ball fields way earlier than you feel like you need to be as a parent.

This right here is why they do it.

So thank you all for your commitment and your dedication to these girls, and thank you, ladies, for being such a shining example of St.

Petersburg.

We are so very, very proud of you.

So we have all of your certificates downstairs when you leave today.

But Madam Chair, would it be okay if we let everyone come in front and we did a group picture with City Council?

I think that would be fantastic.

Okay, perfect.

Thank you.

You'll just follow the card.

Go ahead and line up in front, and then we'll all be not willing.

Congratulations.

Go and go back.

She's gonna let you know how you need to move this way, guys.

A little bit more this way.

Are we centered?

We can see over them.

Oh Lord, I know, right?

The giggles.

I love it.

All right, everyone, ready?

Actually, I'm gonna have you guys take a nice big step.

Everybody's gonna do that.

Great.

All right, everyone.

One, two, and three.

All right.

Hi, ladies.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Oh, please, yes.

Uh, Chair, uh, Coach Zimmer would like to say just one more thing if that's okay.

Uh just one last thing.

Um, just wanted to uh personally thank Blair Gill for everything she's done at Northwest.

Our president over there, and she has worked tirelessly to get the baseball and softball program really rolling.

Um in recent time, we we've had uh lights put on field five and six, which she's had a big hand in doing that over the last two or three years with a lot of help from the city.

So we really appreciate that.

It's gonna give us the opportunity to start practicing in some of these uh times when it starts getting darker out.

Um gives us more opportunity to get more kids on the field and whatnot.

Um and Blair had a lot to do with that, and she's always been um you know giving us the opportunity to go different places, go to go to the state tournament, go to the world series.

The answer is always yes when it comes to um giving the kids an opportunity to play ball.

So thank you, Blair Gill.

Thank you, and congratulations to the team.

So our next proclamation will be the Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation presented by Vice Chair Hanowitz.

Well, thank you, Councilmember Fig Sanders, for the introduction, and thank you everyone for being here.

We have a lot of people here that are here for Hispanic Heritage Month.

So if you can please stand up and be acknowledged.

And some of you may want to may want to say something, so if you want to come here behind me, you're more than welcome to.

So first of all, I'm Councilmember Hanowitz, and I am the first Hispanic ever on City Council in St.

Petersburg.

And I will tell you it's my absolute honor.

My mom passed in September, and every time we get to this time of the year, it reminds me of her.

And everything I am is because of my heritage, my family, my mama, my abuela, and everything that they sacrificed for me to be here.

And it's always my honor to represent our city and everyone in the city.

Um, we are living in some difficult times, and my mom had a favorite poem that I want to read, and it's been on my mind.

And it's a poem by Jose Martí, he's a Cuban poet who helped ignite the Cuban War of Independence.

And I believe the theme of this poem is important right now because it's about cultivating kindness, even in the face of cruelty, and that is as important today as it was back when it was written.

And I'm gonna read it first in English and then in Spanish.

I cultivate a white rose, I cultivate a white rose in July as in January for the sincere friend who gives me his hand frankly, and for the cruel person who tears out the heart with which I live.

I cultivate neither fizzle nor nettle, I cultivate a white rose, cultivo una rosa blanca, cultivo una rosa blanca in julio como en enero, para el amigo sin cero, que me da su mano franca, y para el cruel que me arranca el corazón con que vivo, cargo ni ortiga cultivo, cultivo la rosa blanca.

So it is my honor today to read the proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month, and like I just did, you're gonna have to bear with me because I'm gonna re read it in English and in Spanish.

Whereas Hispanic Heritage Month, known as Mes de la Herencia Hispana, is celebrated from September 15th to October 15th and recognizes the significant contributions and influence of Hispanics on our nation's history, culture, and achievements.

And whereas September 15th is Independence Day for the Central American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, on September 16th and September 18th, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence day respectively.

And whereas Hispanic residents in the city of St.

Petersburg amount to an estimated 9% of our population, they play a vital role in our economy and workforce, and whereas the city of St.

Petersburg recognizes a significant contribution of Hispanics, including many city employees in our community.

Their support and community involvement make our city more culturally diverse and welcoming for everyone.

And we're as a city of St.

Petersburg is proud to celebrate and recognize Hispanic culture and heritage as an important part of our inclusive city.

Hispanics are part of the we and we are St.

Pete.

Now therefore I, by sharing Handowitz, on behalf of Kenneth T.

Welch, mayor of the city of St.

Petersburg to hereby declare September 15th through October 15th, 2025 as Hispanic Heritage Month, and urge all citizens to join me in recognizing the significance of this occasion in the city of St.

Petersburg.

Is there any community members would like to say something?

Yes, folks.

Okay.

Buenas tardes.

You say I am good.

Yo soy Jessica Esteves, I am Jessica Esteves, and I'm the executive director of MiGente Mi Pueblo.

And we have been growing specifically through the love and the Somos San Pete belief that you know if we let fear or chaos dictate our steps, we go nowhere.

If we allow the things that you know try to bring us down to impede progress, we can go a ningon lugar.

That's why my gente mi pueblo believes in being on the move y in la lucha.

The city of St.

Petersburg has always been a huge partner to that.

So we're so thankful.

We started this and the city said yes five years ago.

And the minute they realized what we don't have a proclamation, we had such a warm and immediate approval to like let's make this happen.

So today we are wanting to lift up as Mi Gente Mi Pueblo an invitation to continue to lift up healing, collective healing, to continue to celebrate who we are as a community, our culture, our language, our heritage.

Those things are important.

And if we allow that fear to stall us, let's make sure that our collective thriving pushes us forward.

That's why you're here today.

And I want to invite everybody, todos, todos, everyone is welcome.

Um, we are going to be celebrating that, lifting up our collective humanity at our event called Movida, which literally means to move together.

And we're trying to reclaim what community looks like together, and how do we lift that um with one another?

That's gonna be on September 20th during this um heritage um event.

It is a free event.

You're gonna have a demonstration of tamales, gonna learn about how to make this wonderful art that we know.

How many people feel food is healing?

Yes, because food is healing, right?

Um, we want to make invite you to come and participate in that.

We'll have healing conversations on how do we invite the community to participate because healers are among us.

A hug heals, a smile heals, and just a positive attitude helps us move forward.

So September 20th, 12th to 5, we're going to be at Creative Paneles, and we invite and welcome everybody to join us and be renewed through the power of the arts.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you.

Hello, everyone.

Hello, Council members.

My name is Blanca Catalina Garcia.

Thank you for having me.

Um, our community is made stronger, healthier, and more resilient by the rich and diverse experiences, contributions, and heritage and culture that are of its members.

We know that feeling included, valued, and welcomed in our communities is vital to our health.

So it's my pleasure to be here on behalf of the Foundation for a Healthy St.

Petersburg.

As we mark the celebration today of the Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate throughout the whole year the rich cultural heritage that uplifts our community.

But it's important to mark these days, these celebrations, because when we do it with intentionality, we help to highlight that we want to continue to build this incredibly rich and welcoming culture that makes us St.

Petersburg, and we recognize that our well-being starts with our community.

So thank you.

Thank you, everyone, for joining us.

Thank you.

And the next proclamation will be Literacly Month proclamation by Councilmember Gibbons.

Thank you.

Before Councilmember Givens goes, there's this one more announcement for an event that's coming up for regarding Hispanic Heritage Month that was asked to.

Good afternoon, Council.

Uh Lynn Gordon, Parks and Recreation Manager.

Um, I'm here with the artist Peters.

He's our supervisor one over at our Tasco Team Programs, uh, a very popular division of the Parks Recreation Department.

And we just wanted to announce that we are having our annual Hispanic Heritage celebration on September 27th at Gladden Park from 11 a.m.

to 3 p.m.

Uh, we were asked to share this with you all and with members of the public to please come join us.

Uh, this will be our ninth year, I believe, our ninth year.

We started at uh Fossil Park and we have moved over to Gladden Park.

Um, and so over the years we've expanded um our offerings, and uh we will feature free food, um inflatables for the children, uh live DJ, um, a variety of vendors offering valuable resources to the community, and we even have a partnership we're excited this year with one of our local Girl Scout troops who will be providing arts and crafts for our kids.

So please come join us for this celebration on September 27th at Gladden Park Recreation Center from 11 uh a.m.

to 3 p.m.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Lynn.

Now we have uh literacy month proclamation presented by council member givens.

Thank you very much, Vice Chair.

If I can have the friends of the James Weldon Johnson branch library, please join me at the lecture.

As I prepare my remarks, I just very briefly want to recognize the memory of uh board member of the Friends of the James Weldon Johnson branch library, uh Mr.

Kevin Johnson.

He lost his mom at 101 years old this past week.

And uh she was a supporter of the James Weldon Johnson branch library, and um although he will be funeralizing her next month.

We solicit contributions in her honor.

Um and I want you to know, Mr.

Johnson, I will be making a donation in your mom's honor.

So I want you to know her life won't be in vain.

Other children will be able to read because she was a supporter of the James Weldon Johnson branch library.

She didn't actually live here, but she wanted to be a librarian.

And because of come forward, come forward.

It's kind of hard for because of the situation in Cincinnati at that time.

I don't want to make anybody mad.

She said there were no openings in the colored libraries, and she couldn't ever.

She never got a chance to do it.

And so, and she couldn't go to the next day, the University of Kentucky because in 1940s, black folks didn't go there.

So she wanted me to be a librarian, that's why she sent me to Florida and now I decided I want more than health, but that's another story.

But my brother said, uh Kevin.

She saw that library, she was very proud of me because I was as the hardest kid she had.

She was very proud of me because I was as the hardest kid she had.

Hard-headed.

But she said, she said, Kev, do you think the people in St.

Petersburg will mind if I keep on writing an article in the Cincinnati Herald and asking everybody if you want to donate a donation to mom?

Send it to your friends, Johnson Ranch Library.

And me and my brother ain't that close, but it touched my heart.

Because see, people don't know why I fight so hard for libraries.

My mom fought to get me out of those classes.

I wasn't gonna go to college.

And Miss Rose Callaway, I was going to quarter technical high school.

I was gonna go on grass.

She told me you're going to college.

I said, Oh, you telling me why I'm going.

So then I went to the University of Cincinnati and Upward Bound.

And they were talking about HBCU.

What is the HBCU?

And so all the, if you know anything about how Ruver Force and Social State were there.

I found out I had a cousin that lived in Florida.

And my eighth grade teacher actually wanted me to go to Tennessee State, but that's another story.

And uh so I came down here, I went and I went to that alumni meeting.

These people fed, and I came here.

So I don't want to get too long-winded, but I want to thank y'all because it's been a very hard, hard time for me.

Also, my wife has just got out of rehab too.

She hurt herself.

So y'all pray for me.

And I want to honor the parents too.

All parents come up here too because come on, because education is a family affair.

Education begins in the home.

You know, I read some studies from the American Library Association said kids are exposed to books and reading an early age, do better in school and standardized tests and everything.

And it takes parents, because parents put a lot of work in this too.

So like I said, I don't want to get too long-winded, but uh I just want to thank uh Councilman Givens just for being here and just doing this, because I don't really ask for much.

I don't really come down here to raise saying, if you see me here for a reading, I don't because y'all y'all time is valuable, but uh uh just be with me in the timely and be with the parents.

I'm gonna be quiet.

Thank you, Mr.

Johnson.

Come up here with me.

Again, I appreciate you and my condolences to you.

I want to read this proclamation.

As we present this proclamation, I want us to recognize and to honor um our libraries, our city libraries, all of them.

Our library director is not here with us today, but we certainly appreciate her and all our all of her hard work to make sure that young children have access to books.

Whereas literacy is a foundational skill that empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and is end is essential for the personal economic and social development of all people.

And whereas the ability to read and write proficiently opens the door to lifelong learning, critical thinking, employment opportunities, civic engagement, and whereas the city of St.

Petersburg recognizes the importance of fostering a culture of literacy and learning from early childhood education through adulthood.

And whereas local schools, libraries, nonprofits, and community organizations work tirelessly to promote reading, improve literacy rates, and provide access to educational opportunities, resources for residents of all ages and backgrounds, and whereas September is designated as National Literacy Month, a time to raise awareness of literacy challenges, celebrate literacy champions, and encourage every resident to read, volunteer, and support literacy efforts throughout the community, and whereas the city of St.

Petersburg is committed to ensuring that every resident can achieve full literacy and reach their potential as lifelong learners.

Now, therefore, I, Councilmember Corey Givens, on behalf of Mayor Kenneth T.

Welch of the City of St.

Petersburg, do hereby declare September 2025 as National Literacy Month in the city of St.

Petersburg, and encourage all residents and citizens to engage and recognize the importance of literacy, support programs and initiatives that promote reading and learning and work together to create a more literate literate and empowered community.

I am witness thereof hereon to set my hand and cause the official seal of the city of St.

Petersburg, County of Pinellas in the state of Florida to be affixed on this 11th day of September 2025.

Mayor Kenneth T.

Welch.

And just lastly, Mr.

Johnson, I just want to say there's a quote by George Martin that says that a man who reads lives a thousand lives, but a man who never reads only lives once.

And so your mom, I believe, will continue to live, and so will her legacy, as well as the legacy of James Weldon Johnson.

So thank you so much, friends of the James Weldon Johnson Branch Library, and your spelling be champions.

If I can recognize them, counsel, each one of these students participated in the James Weldon Johnson Branch celebration.

I was fortunate enough, come on up, to serve as a judge, and I want to give them an opportunity to say a few words if they would like.

You all don't have to speak, but if you want to speak, you're welcome to say something if you want to.

Thank you, Councilmember Givens.

Welcome.

Next up, we have the Four National Service Dog Month Proclamation, which is going to be which is going to be read by Councilmember Gabbard.

All right.

So I'm joined by lots of people and furry friends.

So I'm going to go ahead and start by asking everybody to come up and join me.

Um, so first of all, District 2 resident uh Diana Zelt and um the entire team from all of the service dogs with canine companions, if you would all come up.

We're also joined by a couple more special guests for National Service Dog Month.

So our very own former First Lady Carrie Chrysman and Betty.

Betty is the Chrysman family's 16th service dog in trainings.

And a local therapy dog rock star, Snowbird has made an appearance here today.

I actually have a baseball card of Snowbird in my office, so I was very excited when he showed up today from the University of St.

Pete or USF St.

Pete and his handler, University Police Department, Officer Lichtenfeldt.

So thank you all for being with us today.

K9 Companions is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization celebrating an incredible 50 years of providing service dogs.

Their mission is to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities by providing expertly task-trained service dogs to adults, children, and veterans.

Additionally, they supply facility facilities dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice, and educational settings.

One of the most remarkable aspects of K9 Companions is that both the dogs and all follow-up services are provided at no cost to their clients.

Currently, K9 Companions serves individuals with over 65 different types of disabilities, demonstrating the wide-reaching impact of their work.

With more than 2,800 active teams across the country and over 8,200 teams placed since their founding, their dedication and success are truly commendable.

So I want to thank K9 Companions for bringing this forward.

Diane, where are you?

Come, please come up with me.

Thank you so much for the invaluable work that you do for our community and for our residents who need these services.

Very, very important.

And so we're very proud to have you here today to present to you the National Service Dog Month Proclamation.

I'm going to go ahead and give you the proclamation, and then I will read it on behalf of Mayor Welch.

Whereas National Service Dog Month, observed every September, is a time to recognize and honor the dedication, training, and invaluable contributions of service dogs and the organizations and trainers who prepare them.

And whereas service dogs are specifically trained to assist individuals with disabilities, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, and other mental disabilities, helping them lead more independent and fulfilling lives.

And whereas service dogs not only provide physical assistance, but they also offer emotional support, companionship, and a sense of security to their handlers, greatly enhancing quality of life.

And whereas in the United States, over 70 million adults have a disability, and only 16,000 service dogs are from accredited training programs and exist nationwide.

So you can see that this is a growing need.

And whereas Canine Companions, a national nonprofit organization celebrating its 50th year of operation, has been a trailblazer in enhancing the lives of people with disabilities by providing expertly trained service dogs at no cost to recipients, setting a gold standard in service dog training, partnership, and lifelong support.

And whereas the City of St.

Petersburg commends the tireless work of nonprofit organizations, trainers, and volunteers, and is committed to being an inclusive, welcoming community where individuals of all abilities and the service dogs who assist them are embraced, respected, and supported.

Now, therefore, I, Councilmember Brandy Gabbard, on behalf of Kenneth T.

Welch, mayor of the City of St.

Petersburg, to hereby declare September 2025 as National Service Dog Month in St.

Petersburg and encourage all citizens to celebrate service dogs and be respectful of the rights to safe access in our community afforded to the adults, children, and veterans who lead more independent lives because of their assistance.

At this time, I'd like to ask Diane if she would like to say a few words.

On behalf of Canine's companions, they want to thank uh the City of Saints Petersburg uh for acknowledging service dog uh uh month and acknowledging the dogs.

Um dogs work just like we do.

Uh they're up at three o'clock in the morning and they don't go to bed until we go to bed.

If we work a 10 hour day, they work a 10 hour day.

Um, they are there to help people out in court cases where they're scared, they give people voice.

Um, they're there with people with wheelchairs to be able to pick up things and help them, hearing impaired, to be able to not let us miss anything, uh, to be able to get uh veterans uh to be able to have their voice and be able to be safe.

Um service dogs do so much.

Uh anytime you see a service dog, it would be great to be able to thank them.

Uh, because they are you see us, they take our disabilities away from us.

Uh, they make us better people and they make us be able to go into the community and be able to be self-ficient.

And we are so thankful for the service dogs we get, especially from canine's companions.

Um, that's a service uh that I work with.

Um, I pay nothing in anything that I need, they make sure that I get it.

Uh, I'm in the hospital, my service dog comes with me.

Um, I he goes everywhere, and I'm so thankful to honor him because I would not be the person I am today without him.

So thank you very much for this honor.

Thank you, Diane.

And we're so proud of you as a district two resident.

Thank you for what you do for others.

And so at this time, I would like to invite Carrie Chrysman to say a few words.

Thank you all, and thank you, Councilmember Gabbard, for the invitation to be here.

Um this is uh this is a passion of ours, and I don't know if I can say anything better than what you just said about um, even though we're from different organizations, um, the mission is similar, and it it having a service dog, raising a puppy in training changes lives because it gives people the independence they need and that they deserve.

And so it's it's been the honor of a lifetime for our family without trying to sound too um extreme here, but we've been doing it for 16 years, and there's a reason why we keep coming back to the mission and like canine companions for independence, dogs inc gives their dogs free of charge to people who need them.

Um, and I emphasize people who need them, people whose lives will be changed.

Um, you know, and I as a puppy raiser, I'm gonna answer a question y'all might have.

Um, and the one we get quite asked the most is how do you give them back?

Well, we give them back, first of all, we know they're not our dogs, but we give them back because even though we love them, someone needs them more than we do.

So thank you.

Um, you know, to uh brand Councilmember Gabbard, sorry, for having um having me here and congratulations to all of you as well on your 50th anniversary.

I do also want to mention Mr.

Lindell Bright has decided to uh grace us again, even though he's been trying to retire.

He cannot get away from us.

So Lyndell, please.

I'm here on behalf, not only as ADA corner, but it's also for Cappy to let you know one of the projects that we started at Cappy is to promote awareness of service dogs, therapy dogs, anything to be helpful for the community, and crossing all the racial lines, you know, people of color, what have you, to encourage people to understand what is the actual push for service animals.

Okay, and making sure that they know the distinction between service animals and emotional support animals.

All right.

So, but I want to commend your guess for even bringing this up because recognizing, because I get calls all the time about what can I do if a service dog come in a business or anything else, but just the fact the city's wonderful animals just making sure that people understand that everybody's all about inclusion.

All right.

And we may have to have a service animal one day or what have you to make sure direct us to the path that we need to do.

So Cappy is committed to promoting this in the preceding year and stuff.

So I'm still be working with them off at that retire to help that out too.

Yeah.

And then we have one more, Mr.

J.

Burke.

Thank you.

Thank you, everyone.

I just wanted to take a quick second to not only thank you for recognizing Service Dog Month as somebody that is a service dog handler, but I also, as a disability advocate in the region, I wanted to personally thank the council and the mayor for the efforts that you all make to make St.

Pete not just disability accessible, but awareness and the awareness that you all do is above and beyond anything else that's in this region.

I've personally worked with Lindell for probably the last two years with your Cappy training.

And it's amazing to see the effort that you all put into making sure that the residents and the employees in the city know about all types of disabilities.

We see it as people with disabilities, and we tell others about that as well.

So it's commendable for the effort that you all have done that goes above and beyond, and we really truly do thank you for that.

Thank you to everyone for coming out today.

Thank you, Diane again for bringing this proclamation forward, and thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Thank you all for everything you do for the community.

Yes, ma'am.

And next up, we have D5, which is Senior Center month proclamation.

And this proclamation is going to be presented by Councilmember Floyd.

They change every year.

They do whatever they want to do.

I cannot today.

So good.

So good.

Oh my God as well.

I'll ask any staff or senior center participants, I guess, users who want to come up to join me.

And I'll just say one thing briefly.

We have a wonderful senior center in St.

Pete that could use some TLC or a whole new reimagining.

I'd be supportive of either one.

So there, administration's heard, and I know that my other council members have as well.

So I'll go ahead and read the proclamation.

Whereas senior centers are considered an integral place, uh, an integral piece of the aging network, and in 1972, the older Americans Act was amended to support senior centers.

And whereas September is National Senior Center Month in the U.S., every year since 1979, the National Council on Aging has celebrated Senior Center Week.

In 1985, President Ronald Reagan signed the first Senior Center Week Presidential Proclamation.

And in 2007, the week-long celebration was extended to the full month of September to put focus on how senior centers help improve the lives and well-being of older Americans in the United States.

And whereas older Americans are significant members of society, investing their wisdom and experience to help enrich and better the lives of younger generations.

And whereas the St.

Petersburg, Florida Sunshine Senior Center, the first nationally accredited senior center in the state of Florida, has acted as a catalyst for mobilizing the creativity, energy, vitality, and commitment of the seniors.

And whereas through the wide array of services, programs, and activities, senior centers empower the seniors of St.

Petersburg to contribute to their own health, well-being, and the health and well-being of their fellow citizens of all ages.

And whereas the Sunshine Senior Center in the city of St.

Petersburg affirms the dignity, self-worth, and independence of older seniors by facilitating their decisions and actions, tapping their experiences, skills, and knowledge, and enabling their continued contributions to the community.

Now, therefore, I, Councilmember Richie Floyd, on behalf of Kenneth T.

Welch, mayor of the City of St.

Petersburg, do hereby proclaim September 25th or September 2005 as Senior Center Month and call upon all citizens to recognize the contributions of the Sunshine Senior Center and the efforts of the staff, participants, and volunteers who daily enhance the well-being of older seniors of our community.

So lovely to be here with you once again.

We're proud to present the proclamation in a 2025 theme from the National Institute of Senior Centers.

Powering possibilities as we flip the script.

The theme challenges aging stereotypes and celebrate senior centers as locations for health, purpose, and connection.

Our recent senior month events display this spirit.

Participants showcase their abilities at Chicken Salad and Talent.

Got their boots on the ground at Boots Buckle and Bling.

Showed off their swimming and social side at the tropical pool party.

Discovered more about programming at Mix and Mingle.

And challenge themselves while playing games and exercising at Seniors Field Day and Barbecue.

Our participants prove that Agent is a celebration in motion.

Joining me today are Marcy Neal, Supervisor Two, and Kara Ware, the Supervisor One at the Sunshine Senior Center.

The Sunshine Senior Center and our facilities, other senior facilities, offer dynamic programs and falter fosters relationships, wellness, and engagement.

It's been said, growing old is inedible, inevitable.

But staying young at heart is a choice.

Let's continue to ensure all older adults, me, me, have the support they need to age successfully.

As I often say, the value of one of us is the value of all of us.

Amen.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

You all have been so supportive to the Sunshine Senior Center.

And I just don't know how to thank you enough.

I really don't.

We welcome you, though, to come over, visit with us on Friday, the heaven and open house.

Come see what they do over at the Sunshine Senior Center.

Don't be scared.

Because one day you will be senior.

Thank you so much for what you've done.

And we want to honor the two participants that have been with the Sunshine Center for a number of years, sharing their experience and their knowledge, and doing what the Sunshine Center does best at their facility.

So thank you today for this contribution to the Sunshine Senior Center in the Parks and Rights Department.

We surely appreciate it.

Thank you so much.

Councilmember Gabbard.

Thank you, Chair, and don't go away yet.

You know, I couldn't let this one go by without at least saying a couple of words.

So I I wrote down the theme, powering possibilities.

I'm gonna hold that one, but it's not gonna replace the original theme you taught me, which is you don't retire, you refire.

And that I think is always the theme for the senior center.

The work that you all do, and quite frankly, what you do with so little.

I mean, we've all seen it, we know Councilmember Floyd said it.

That is something that this city, we have got to get behind a new reimagined, redeveloped senior center.

Our population is aging even more so.

Hopefully, we're all gonna be lucky enough to live long enough to get there, and it is a gift to age, and I believe that a new reimagined senior center would be a gift to all of you.

So we're gonna keep fighting for that.

We're gonna keep looking for it.

Um, this council is behind you with that need.

Um, and I just wanted to thank uh I mean, I you're both Hall of Fame, right?

Um here you are.

You are out here and you are representing today, and there's nothing better than being with our seniors learning from you.

Um, you continue to inspire us every single day.

So thank you for everything you do, and thank you to your entire team.

Uh, we appreciate you, we love you, and we're here for everything that you need.

So thank you.

Thank you all.

Okay, the next item up we have is D6.

It's Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month proclamation, and it's going to be presented by Council Member Driscolls.

Thank you, Chair.

And for this proclamation, I would like to invite back to the podium Carrie Chrysman, this time in her role as advocate leader with the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.

And I'd also like to welcome Selma Mastery from the Mastery Ovarian Cancer Foundation.

Hi.

Um before I get into the proclamation, I I do want to give a special thanks to Carrie.

Um this particular topic is of great importance to me because I um found myself in a with a similar challenge earlier this year.

And um Carrie was there for me.

And I don't know if you'll ever know how much that meant to me.

Um being available just to answer my questions and help me make sense of what was happening and what happens next.

From the first time we talked, I felt stronger, and I'm so grateful that she has taken so much of her own time and energy to help others, and I am standing here telling you that it works, it matters, it really means something.

And so between Carrie and Selma, I'm so glad that they are spreading the word about this, acting as a resource, and most importantly, helping helping women to understand as I learned that you have to listen to your body and don't ignore it if something doesn't feel right, it saved my life.

And so, as we recognize ovarian cancer awareness month, I'm very proud to share with you this proclamation.

Whereas ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths of women in the United States and causes more deaths than any other gynecologic cancer, and whereas the American Cancer Society estimates 20,890 cases of ovarian cancer will be newly diagnosed in 2025, and 12,730 individuals will die from the disease nationwide, including 1,820 new cases and 1,050 deaths in Florida.

And whereas, while the mammogram can detect breast cancer and the PAP smear can detect cervical cancer, there is no reliable early detection test for ovarian cancer, and whereas too many people remain unaware that the symptoms of ovarian cancer often include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, urinary symptoms, and several other vague symptoms that are often easily confused with other diseases.

And whereas black women with ovarian cancer are more likely to have late-stage diagnoses, receive lower quality clinical services, and have lower five-year survival rates than non-black women.

And whereas ongoing investments in ovarian cancer research and education and awareness efforts are critical to closing these gaps and improving survivorship for women with ovarian cancer.

And whereas each year during the month of September, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and community partner organizations hold several events to increase public awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms.

Now, therefore, I, Gina Driscoll, on behalf of Kenneth T.

Welch, Mayor of St.

Petersburg, Florida, to hereby proclaim September 2025 as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and urge every resident to take time to learn more about this crippling disease.

Thank you.

I have a copy of the proclamation for each of our special guests here today.

And at this time, I would like to invite them to say a few words.

Yes, okay.

Thank you once again for um this proclamation and making everyone aware of ovarian cancer.

And yes, you know, the numbers haven't changed.

It is the fifth leading cause of death in and cancer of cancer deaths in women in the United States.

Florida has the highest rate.

And I don't know if it's because people move here to retire, and then it used to be called the older women's uh cancer, and um not anymore.

There are more cases of young people younger people as Carrie Um herself was in her 50s.

My mother was in her 70s.

Um it's just um we thank you for all your support.

Our big walk run is this weekend, Saturday, in Albert Withered Park, and we um appreciate the city for backing us on that and supporting us.

And we have a gala, we're gonna do a gala this year, and it's Gilligan's Island return to Gilligan's Island, a fun one.

So we're for um fundraising and showing awareness to the city and the community.

And um my brother who's an OBGYN has uh we partner with him over in Australia, and they have a um uh quite a uh uh yeah um clinic over there doing all kinds of um experiments and they're gonna have us a uh uh a pre um uh test real soon.

And um, I just have faith in them.

They're doing a great job.

And we just thank St.

Petersburg for all their support.

We give money to women in the Bay Area.

We try to stick to the Bay Area because Mother wanted it to be local, so she supported many groups here in St.

Pete, as you all know.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Driscoll and the rest of the council for um recognizing September and Mayor Welch as ovarian cancer awareness month.

They say that ovarian cancer whispers, um, and I say it whispers until it screams so loud you can't ignore it.

And that's because the symptoms are so subtle, they're often mistaken for something else.

And I know that was mentioned in the proclamation language, but I can't reiterate it enough.

So I am grateful that it screamed at me and gave me a stage two diagnosis when it could have given me something much worse.

And that's why I um volunteer with ovarian cancer research alliance on a national level and then partner with Salma Mastery and the Ovarian Cancer or Salma Mastery Umarian Cancer Foundation at this time of the year for increased awareness and um with ovarian cancer research alliance, we lobby elected officials in Congress and the Senate to increase funding and awareness and um and maintain that funding too, and and reach rural communities and so you know so much of it so that people don't hopefully have to die, and God forbid they are diagnosed that it is at an early stage that increases their chances of survival.

So I also speak um as well as with others, survivors teaching students, presenters to medical students, nursing students, pharmacy students, and um Betty's had enough.

So, but anyway, um just to share our stories, it's our hope that you know, in hearing our personal cancer journey of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, that something will stay in these future health providers' heads that someday when they have a patient sitting in front of them, telling them something that they have no answer to that that might prompt them to say, not immediately you have cancer, but you might need to go get a test, go get an ultrasound.

But the bottom line is listen to your body.

And thank you all again for your time and attention and your commitment to helping us create awareness with this proclamation.

Thank you.

Thank you all so much for your advocacy and leadership on on this very important issue.

And I'm just gonna take one of these council member Driscoll, thank you for sharing your personal story.

And Councilmember Driscoll, thank you for sharing your personal story.

Next up, we have D7, which is Suicide Prevention Month proclamation, which will be presented by Mayor Welch.

Good afternoon, Mayor.

Good afternoon, Madam Vice Chair and Council, members of our St.

Pete team.

What a wonderful day of celebration in our community and a day of recognizing organizations and individuals who help our family, friends, and neighbors through the most difficult of circumstances.

This next proclamation is in support of Suicide Prevention Month.

This annual observance highlights the importance of increasing awareness, communicating strategies, promoting hope, and eliminating the stigma of the suicide prevention conversation.

And a well-known community advocate, Julie Rocco.

Where is she behind me?

Who I didn't know this.

Come on up, y'all.

Julie has a podcast named What Would I Have Missed?

And thank you all for joining us today.

And the proclamation reads as follows.

Whereas September 7th through September 13th, 2025 is National Suicide Prevention Week.

And September 2025 is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time during which individuals, organizations, and communities join their voices to amplify the message of suicide prevention.

And whereas these observances are united in raising awareness that prevention is possible.

Treatment is effective and people do recover.

And whereas the zero suicide framework emphasizes that even one life lost to suicide is too many.

And whereas it is essential that we educate and encourage relatives, friends, coworkers, and providers about the signs of suicidal ideation, and that it affects all demographics in our community.

And whereas we believe it takes all of us doing what we can to create a community without suicide.

And whereas community resources and organizations such as 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, NAMI Pinellus, Zero Suicide Partners of Pinellas, led by Suncoast Center.

Unite community members and organizations with a common mission to end suicide in St.

Petersburg and Pinells County.

Now, therefore, I, Kenneth T.

Welch, Mayor of the City of St.

Petersburg, do hereby declare September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Month, and urge all citizens to join me in doing what they can by being kind, curious, and connected to end suicide in our community.

Thank you all for joining us.

Would you like to share a few comments?

Sure.

All right.

Good afternoon, Mayor Welch, Council members, and the members of our community.

My name is Julie Rocco, and I'm really humbled to be here.

For me, this is not only a proclamation.

It's my story and that of so many others.

I stand before you as a suicide loss survivor.

And I'm also a suicide ideation and a suicide attempt survivor.

There are moments when I did not believe I would be here to speak these words.

And yet, here I am.

That is the very heart of an initiative I started called What I Would Have Missed.

The initiative began with a personal reflection in the quiet stillness of awe when I was experiencing a moment of joy and a knowingness.

Those reflections compounded as each moment of gratitude became an acknowledgement of a moment I would have missed had I died by suicide.

Meeting my granddaughter, Dahlia.

Watching the daylight fade over lasting park.

Final road trip with my pop and holding his hand when he took his final breath.

In the moment of exhale after a tough day.

And this, this.

It's a moment to express my gratitude for the amplification of the voices like mine on a path of finding hope, healing, and happiness.

These are the moments, big and small, often ordinary yet so extraordinary that I could not imagine, but I now hold as sacred.

In St.

Pete, my hometown, I've committed myself to helping others.

See, they too have something waiting for them on the other side of their despair.

I work alongside neighbors and community partners to create space where people can speak their truth and be met with compassion, not judgment.

To break the silence so often that keeps us apart.

And beyond this city, what I would have missed is carrying these stories outward through social media, a podcast, as the mayor mentioned, through community conversations and through the creation of various artistic mediums that provide a conduit for authentic, real, raw storytelling.

Voices from around the country, even the world are rising to say, I survived.

I stay.

And here is what I would have missed.

Every story told becomes a flicker of hope in the darkness, a ripple of light that travels farther than we can imagine.

It might reach a young person quietly doubting how they can make it through another day.

It might reach someone in this very room.

Mental health issues are often invisible.

They are our silent battles we carry.

So we truly do not know when our story, our courage, our compassion is touching a life.

And perhaps saving it.

That is the power of story, and that is the work of what I would have missed.

It's not only about the important work of halting a tragic moment of despair, it's about creating a culture of connection, camaraderie, and community, where people know they are seen, heard, and valued exactly as they are.

I'm deeply grateful to Mayor Welch and to the council for honoring Suicide Prevention Month.

By naming it, by recognizing it, you're telling our community we see you, we stand with you, and your life matters.

My hope, my prayer is that we all carry this forward.

That each of us becomes a keeper of light for ourselves and others.

We are, after all, the sunshine city.

Let that sunshine radiate from within and outward to our neighbors is together.

We help each other stay to discover all the moments we don't want to miss.

You can find more information on what I would have missed.com about my efforts, and I'm grateful to be here with Zero Suicide and Suncoast.

Thank you so much.

Beautiful.

Thank you so much.

Okay, well, good afternoon, and thank you, Mayor Welch and the Council.

On behalf of myself and the Suncoast Center, uh, I want to thank you for recognizing Suicide Prevention Awareness Month as we both agree suicide awareness is an important matter in our community.

The Pinellas County deaths by suicide rate is higher than the Florida State average by approximately 33%.

33%, with the rates being higher for youth between the ages of five, fifteen and nineteen, adults between the ages of 35 to 54, and adults older than 75.

One of the risk factors that place a person at risk for death by suicide is isolation, especially social isolation.

We at Sunco Center, coupled with the Zero Suicide Prevention of Pinellas Outreach teamwork.

We work with community partners such as JWB, Nammy, Elios, Impath, the VA, Pinellas Parks and Recreation, and Pinellas Library to offer events to decrease social isolation throughout our community.

Our Zero Suicide Partners of Punellas Outreach Teams offers events such as Veterans Coffee Socials, social emotional learning story time for ages four to eight, teen activities with the aim for young people to have a judgment free space to talk about issues that concern them and free suicide prevention awareness and safety planning trainings throughout the community.

Again, thank you for this proclamation, and we look forward to collaborating with your offers to help decrease the deaths by suicide in Purnois County.

Thank you once again.

If you could stay there a minute, because we have a council member who wants to speak.

Council Member Givens.

Thank you very much, Chair.

I just want to thank you all so much.

I didn't realize that today would be a waterworks fest.

So I think all of us are up here holding back tears, but I spoke to Julie downstairs and I shared with her a story that I don't share with a lot of people, but uh when I was in high school, one of my dear friends, Tony committed suicide.

And uh Tony uh battled judgment, uh, the judgment of being homosexual.

And I felt his judgment.

I felt his pain and I felt compassion for him.

Um the summer of his junior year, his mom walked outside one morning and found him hanging from a tree.

And ever since then, I made it my mission to fight to make sure that Tony's life wasn't in vain.

Uh became president of the Gay Straight Alliance, and I made sure that I would make sure other young people uh felt comfortable in living their truth.

And so I just want to thank you all for what you do.

Um from the bottom of my heart, thank you for making sure that Tony's legacy doesn't die and other people's legacy lives on, who have lost loved ones and friends to suicide.

I think about my little cousin Keyshawn Fuller, uh, who lost his life to suicide just a couple of years ago, a basketball player with so much life ahead of him, but life taken too soon.

Um, and so because of them, I'm going to be participating in your postcard campaign, Julie.

Um moments you would have missed.

They would have missed me being here today.

Um they would have missed seeing me get elected to the city council, but I I will make sure that as long as I'm in a space like this to truly impact change, I will make sure that their legacy lives on.

So thank you for what you do.

God bless you.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Well, thank you all so much for your advocacy and bringing light to this very important issue.

And Julie, honestly, thank you for being you seriously and sharing that really impactful story.

And I think it's something that with your program and what you do, that's your that's a purpose.

That is a huge purpose and a huge impact in many lives, and we're so thankful that you're here.

Thank you.

And next up is the A 911 Day of Remembrance proclamation.

Mayor Welch.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Uh this is uh the final proclamation for today.

Today is September 11th, and in recognition of 9-11 Day of Remembrance, I'm pleased to be here today to reflect on the bravery and courage shown that faithful day.

And I'll ask uh Chief Holloway from St.

Pete Police Department, Chief Watts from St.

Pete Fire Rescue and their teams uh to join me at the podium as we remember and honor those who act without hesitation, our first responders.

The proclamation reads as follows.

Whereas this year marks the 24th year, we remember and honor those who have been touched by the tragedies of 91.

And whereas Patriot Day and National Day of Remembrance recognize our first responders, emergency workers, service members, law enforcement officers, and firefighters who answered the call to action with bravery and courage.

And whereas Congress has designated September eleventh as Patriot Day and National Day of Remembrance in honor of the innocent victims who lost their lives on September eleventh, 2001.

And whereas bravery and courage shown that fateful day inspires us to care for our first responders, remember the patriotism shown by our service members and celebrate our collective strength.

Now, therefore, I, Kenneth T.

Welch, mayor of the city of St.

Petersburg, do hereby declare the 11th day of September 2025 as Patriot Day and Day of Remembrance in St.

Petersburg and urge all citizens to join me in recognizing the significance of this occasion in the city of St.

Petersburg and beyond and to thank our first responders for the job they do every day keeping us safe.

So thank y'all.

Madam Chair, in in their way of uh silent service, neither want to speak today.

So of course.

Thank y'all.

Thank you.

Thank you for everything you do today.

Um we I went to station four uh for the moment of silence, and we I was there with the firefighters, and I know that there were other council members may have gone to other fire stations and um being out there um with our firefighters and rescue personnel and everyone who serves our city day in and day out, and then seeing the community waving at us and and honking horns and knowing what we are observing today and the loss of lives that happened in 9-11, and something that by the way that all of us who watched it on TV that will never ever leave our brains.

I still remember it.

We were just discussing it today.

I cannot believe it's been 24 years.

And it seemed like a crazy world then, and it still feels like it's a crazy world now.

But thank you all for everything you do from the bottom of our hearts.

You know, you have an administration and a counsel who's extremely supportive of everything you do.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Next up we have a legal item.

I won.

We have a resolution approving the settlement of a lawsuit.

Yes.

Thank you.

Well, hi there.

How are you doing?

Good.

I'll go.

Thank you to the mayor for everybody for the 9-11 remembrance.

It uh can't believe it's been 24 years.

Kind of hits me pretty hard.

I went to law school in Massachusetts.

I had a couple of classmates who worked in the towers and through fate and happenstance didn't make it in that day.

And I had another friend who was on one of the planes from Boston to LA that never made it.

So I hadn't really thought about it this year, but hearing all that, it's kind of come back to me in a big wave.

So just wanted to mention that.

I appreciate that being remembered.

Um I'm here today on a settlement of Matthew Davis.

This is a workers' compensation washout settlement.

Um Mr.

Davis is a 40-year-old firefighter.

Uh used to work for the city.

He almost two years ago came down with a pulmonary lung issue and was hospitalized and things didn't go well.

He ended up with a number of cardiac issues in the course of his treatment.

A number of things were eliminated, but he ended up with severe heart issues, and he now needs what appears to be a heart transplant.

Uh this was a contested issue because it did not appear to be a workers' compensation matter until within the last few months.

Uh additional independent doctors who reviewed the case can't rule out that it was work related and due to the comp rules.

Uh if we get this in front of a hearing in front of a judge, the outcome could quite possibly not be well.

The settlement in this case is for 175,000.

Uh Mr.

Davis is on full disability.

The full value of this claim going forward uh is over 2.4 million dollars, and that does not include the cost of the heart transplant or attorneys fees.

And we were able to negotiate a settlement for 175,000, all fees included.

And we're seeking the council's approval on that.

Move approval.

Seeing that there's a motion and a second, clerk, you please open the machine for voting.

Council members, please enter your votes.

Seeing that all present council members have voted, clerk, you please tally and announce a vote.

Madam Chair, motion to approve a gin item I one passes unanimously with council member Gurges being absent.

Thank you, Mr.

McCollum.

Okay, thank you, everybody.

Appreciate it.

Next up, we have a council committee report, H1, September 4th, 2025, layer action item.

Councilmember Gabbard.

Thank you, madam chair, and uh respectfully request city council approval of a resolution supporting the flood insurance relief act.

Uh, before you have the resolution, which was passed by committee as well as the flood uh copy of the flood insurance relief act, and so I move.

Second, we have a motion, second was council member Fake Sanders.

Clerk, you open the machine for voting.

Council members, please enter your votes.

Seeing that all present council members have voted.

Clerk, you please tally and announce the vote.

Thank you.

Next item we have is a report item.

It's F1, a resolution approving amendments to the city's fiscal policies.

Um I see Tom Green.

So Tom Green, your name wasn't here, but it seems like you're the person that's going to be presenting this.

Madam Chair, uh, I'm I'm equally a surprise.

I keep waiting any second, Erica and Liz and Ann are gonna come dashing through the door.

Um, but uh in their stead, I will uh try to pitch in.

Um at the August 14th meeting of the BF and T committee, we did discuss several changes to the fiscal policy.

Um there were some that were I would categorize as housekeeping.

Um there is one I would point out um, you know, after the storms of last year, there was a request from uh council member or vice chair Hanowitz to organize or to address how are we going to respond to uh financially respond to disaster.

So what we did is we realized that throughout our fiscal policy we had various items in different different areas of the policy.

So what we did was coordinate that into one new section, and I would characterize that as the biggest change that we made to the policies this year.

So um we recommend that uh council approve these uh changes to our fiscal policies, and um and I now now know the team is here.

So if if they if you have any questions, they are gonna respond to it.

Uh but we are very happy to report that we have uh presented that here today for your approval.

Tom, even with the surprise, you did such a good job.

Move approval.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

Council members.

A clerk, you open the machine for voting.

Council members, please enter your votes.

Seeing that all present council members have voted.

Clerk, you please tally announce the votes.

Madam Chair, motion to approve it.

Passes unanimously to council member Curtis being absent.

Thank you, and thank you all for doing such a great work with the policies and cleaning that up and making it clear.

It's gonna be helpful for next time around.

Thank you.

So at this point in time, the next thing we have is our first reading and first public hearing, which is at 6 p.m.

So council will be in recess until 6 p.m.

I've been trying to breathe on the water.

Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to the first reading of first public hearing of the fiscal year twenty twenty-six most rate and budget for the city of St.

Petersburg.

So for those who haven't gone through this process before, it's a pretty straightforward process.

This is governed by statute.

So what you're gonna see me doing is reading from a script.

It's in the in our agenda.

It's attachment A.

So if anyone's interested, they could follow that script.

And for council members or new council members, you could see their the script tells you exactly when the motions happen and public comment and all that.

So it'll be very clear which texts are coming uh based on what I'm indicating from the script.

So at this point, I will start uh we'll start the hearing.

This is the start of the first public hearing on the fiscal year twenty twenty-six military and budget.

The purpose of this public hearing is to discuss the mayor's recommended budget, approve a proposed military, and approve the recommended budget slash appropriations ordinance for fiscal year twenty twenty-six as a tentative budget for fiscal year twenty twenty-six.

Prior to the public comment, the first substantive issue discussed shall be the percentage increase in military over the rollback rate necessary to fund the budget, if any, and the specific purpose for which advalorum tax revenues are being increased.

Making appropriations for the payment of the operating expenses of the city of St.

Petersburg, Florida, including his utilities and for the payment of principle and interest of revenue bonds and other obligations of the city of St.

Petersburg, Florida.

Making appropriations for the capital improvement program of the city of St.

Petersburg, Florida, making appropriations for the independent special districts of the City of St.

Petersburg, Florida, adopting this appropriations ordinance as the budget for the City of St.

Petersburg, Florida for the fiscal year ending September thirtieth, twenty twenty-six, providing for related matters and providing an effective date.

So next up we have the budget director, Liz McCalsey, who's gonna do a presentation.

All right, good evening, Chair and members of City Council.

Um, before we begin uh the presentation, if anyone has specific questions or concerns regarding the assessed value of their property questions or classification related to your property or information on the trim notices tonight, we have here with us Kevin McKeon, the deputy of assessment administration and Jeffrey Haynes, the director of residential appraisal from the Pinellas County Property Appraisers Office with us today.

Um, and um, if anyone's on any questions, you can follow them downstairs to the community resources room and they can answer any questions you may have.

Um, for those attending virtually, please contact the Pinellas County Property Appraisers Office at 727-464-3207 or email Mike at PCPAO.org.

So this evening is the first of two public hearings on the fiscal year 2026 budget for the City of St.

Petersburg.

Florida statutes 200.065 or the Truth and Millage Act, also referred to as the TRIM Act, requires a specific process for a discussion tonight.

The order of the process is laid out in attachment A of the backup materials.

The city clerk has provided the first reading of the FY26 tentative budget ordinance, and in just a moment, I will review with council and the public the tentative FY26 budget and highlight some of the changes since the mayor's recommended budget.

We will then hear from public and upon conclude upon conclusion of this presentation.

After the public comment period and additional discussion and deliberation by city council, council will be asked to take action on three items, and each of these actions will need to be done as a standalone motion.

The first action is the adoption of the proposed millage rate for FY26.

The next is the adoption of the FY26 tentative budget ordinance, and then the adoption of the FY26 budget resolution as the tentative budget for the city of St.

Petersburg.

So under the trim uh the trim statutes or trim process, the first item of substance to be discussed is the percent increase, if any, in millage over the rolled back rate.

For the purposes of the FY26 budget, the rolled back rate is 6.2083 mills, and is the millage rate that would generate roughly the same amount of ad valorem revenues in FY26 as the city received in FY25.

Under the TRIM statutes, we're allowed to recognize ad valorem revenue associated with new taxable value added to the tax base.

So the rollback rate generates slightly higher revenue in 26 than the city the city is scheduled to receive in 25.

The proposed FY26 millage rate is 6.4525 and represents a 3.93% increase over the rolled back rate.

The year-over-year increase in ad valorum revenue from FY25 to FY26 is 10.452 million.

The second step in the state retried required trim process is to discuss the reasons advalorum tax revenues are being increased.

A major reason for the increase in advalorum revenue is to provide the resources needed for wage increases for all city employees, including police and fire rescue.

The key areas of investment plan for the FY26 budget are aligned with the mayor's five pillars for progress.

Under the education and youth opportunities pillar, there is funding to continue programs such as the mayor's future readiness academy, the year-round youth employment program, youth development grants, and literacy and steam programs such as Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation and the USF Marine Science Center at Clan Bayou.

Under the Equitable Development Arts and Business Opportunities Pillar, we look to fund the continuation of many of our economic and workforce development and arts programs while adding funding for new programming, including individual artist grants and poetry festival.

Under the neighborhood health and safety pillar, we're continuing to fund neighborhood and public safety programs like the CAL program, community impact grants and programs, the Safe Summer Program, the Healthy Neighborhood Store Program, and the Healthy Food Action Program.

For the housing opportunities for all pillar, there will be funds funding to continue our progress on the 10-year housing opportunities for all agenda and provide resources for various social service programs.

And in the environmental infrastructure and resilience pillar, the preliminary tentative budget will have funding for projects that protect our environment, increase our resilience, and improve our city's infrastructure, including the St.

Pete Agile Resistance or SPAR program.

The increase in advalorum is based on a 4.93% increase in 2025 property values over FY24.

This chart shows the 10-year history of property tax revenues in relation to public safety cost.

You can see that in FY26, the advalorm revenues recover all public safety costs for the city.

This slide illustrates the calculation of the millage rate for FY26.

The first step in the calculation is to determine the value of 1 mil.

To do this, we take the gross property value and then multiply it by 96%, which results in $35.471 billion in value for budgeting purposes.

We then divide this 96% of gross taxable value amount by 1,000, and that gives us the value of 1 mil as $35.471 million.

The second step is to look at our general fund requirements, which total $411.763 million, and net out the other sources of revenue other than advalorum taxes, which totals $182.9 million to arrive at the amount of required advalorum taxes or $228.875 million.

The third and final step is to divide the required advalorum taxes, which is B on this slide by the value of $1 mil, which is shown as A on the slide, to get to the $6.4525 mils required.

This slide illustrates a typical tax bill for a resident for the city of St.

Petersburg.

The City of St.

Petersburg makes up 30% of this homeowner's tax bill, andor about 30 cents of every advalorum tax dollar paid by property owners.

The school system with its two components of the tax bill make up 36%, and Pinellas County makes up 22% of the total taxes.

The balance of 12% is made up of other various taxing authorities.

All of the information is included in more detail in attachment B recap of changes.

We do have changes in requirement or expenditures in the general fund, and they can be found on page one of attachment B of the backup.

All of the other department changes listed on the slide are due to position changes in FY25 since the recommended budget.

The change in the contingency amount is the net change amount needed to balance the general fund.

Information on revenue changes in other city funds can be found on page two of attachment B.

The change in the local housing assistance fund is to account for a decrease in expected ship grant revenue for FY26.

And all of the other revenue changes listed are needed to match the proposed utility rates and transfers in the FY26 rate study.

Requirements or expense changes for other city funds are broken down on page two of the recap of changes.

The change in again in the local housing assistance fund is to account for the decrease in expected ship grant revenue for FY26.

The items for the water resources operating, water resources debt, stormwater utility, stormwater debt service, sanitation operating and sanitation equipment replacement fund changes are to update budget amounts to correspond to the FY26 rate study.

And the change in the billing collections fund is related to FY25 position transaction changes since the recommended budget.

But we do have one change on the requirement side, and the details are on page three.

These tables are included in the FY26 budget and brief, which has been posted on the city's website, and we also have a copies available tonight.

The total operating revenue budget for the FY26 is 974.3 million.

Charges for services make up the largest category at 422.2 million or about 43.3%, followed by taxes at 302 million or 31%.

The FY26 operating budget is 976.071 million and is about 7.6 higher than the FY25 operating budget.

The water resources operating fund increased by 12.3% year over year from FY25.

The general fund and reserves budget increased by 4.5% from 394.489 million to 412.285 million.

And the general fund revenue comes from various sources as illustrated in this chart.048 million or 73.35% of the total revenue budget.

Intergovernmental revenues, um which include the hell the half cent sales tax and state shared revenue is the second largest source for the general fund at 43 million or 10.45%.

And the city's general fund is categorized into our six city administrations.

The single largest general fund investment made by the cities in the public safety administration, which is 53.1% of the budget, and includes our police and fire departments.

Looking at the general fund budget broken out by expenditure type, the single largest expenditure category in the general fund is wages and benefits at 278.5 million or 67.7 percent of the total, and services and commodities make up the second largest at 19.9% or 81.7 million.

The FY26 CIP budget includes a total of 202.022 million in capital projects.

The water resources capital project fund accounts for the largest piece of this budget at 126.12 million or 62.4 percent, followed by our penny for Pinellas projects, which account for 18.5 percent or 37.3 million.

The total for our five-year CIP CIP plan is 1.049 billion.

And then on this slide, we show the fund balance commitment categories that council will need to reaffirm these or other categories when the budget is adopted.

We do not need to set aside amounts for each category as this will be determined after the FY25 fiscal year is closed, and we have our year-end actual results.

And at that time, we'll have a better idea of how much fund balance is available to allocate to each category, and the commitment categories can then be funded as part of the year and cleanup in November.

And in closing, the second and final budget public hearing will be held at City Hall in Council Chamber on September 25th at 6 p.m.

And information on the city's budget is available on the city's website.

Thank you.

Thank you, Liz.

This is the beginning of the public comment portion of the hearing.

The general public shall be allowed to speak and ask questions prior to the adoption of the proposed millage rate and tentative budget by city council.

We have any cars.

We do have cars.

Six.

Number six.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, you're good.

I thought it was fine.

You're you're good.

We'll call speakers two at a time, manager.

Yes.

And for those who are speaking, three-minute um time limit applies, and you announce your name and address before speaking.

First two speakers, Madam Chair, Stephen Sherwood and your Donis Mola.

Please go to the podium, state your name and address for the record.

And you have three minutes to address city council.

Good evening, council.

Hope those are doing well on 9-11.

Um three minutes isn't gonna do it for me, and I just wanted to plead to you guys at this point.

Your name and address for I'm sorry.

That's all right.

Yeah, this is my second time, you know, visiting you guys.

Uh Stephen Sherwood 155 Alameda Way Northeast.

Uh last time I was here, I was uh referencing the airport, and uh that was the first and last time I've seen you guys.

But the um I I don't know, budgets to me.

When I do my budget, I started zero.

And what what I'm seeing here is a uh, and correct me if I'm wrong on this, but 202 million dollars for project funding.

Um you know, we're looking the numbers I came up with in a brief period of time just weren't making sense to me at all.

Uh you know, over a seven percent increase over what we spent last year.

Um I've never seen the roads so bad in this town since I've been here.

I've been here well, I came here prior to 75, but I've been living here since 2005.

And I've never seen the roads in worse condition.

Uh my car I had I get aligned uh probably every eight months.

Uh and these are supposed to be major roads, these aren't back roads, and I just don't know what's going on.

Uh the I noticed that the lights are all have been out for two weeks along the uh the water frontier between Snow Isle Bridge and Coffee Pot.

Um looks like two of the poles across the bridge have been sitting there.

Nothing.

Um the sewer system, you know.

My neighbor got flooded.

He told me there's only a pipe for the sewer system for the flood water that we had during the storms was only 13 inches.

Last uh rain we had, I don't know what two weeks ago or whatever.

Uh that came up over by curve.

I couldn't even see where the water was supposed to be going down.

And that wasn't even a major rain.

Um, I like to know what what happened since last year.

I mean, you got it, you had another increase uh with the utilities, and I thought that was supposed to pay for some of this uh stuff that the the impact fees of these buildings have been building downtown should be they weren't addressed at the time.

I know that's history, but something's got to be resolved.

So I I I would like to have um a request for an extension of this uh to be able to come up and discuss it with somebody uh after my accountant looks at these numbers because I don't believe what I saw, and I'm not an accountant, but I want to have this done at my expense to see you know see what else we can do.

Also, there was a seven-page letter that was delivered to you uh the city, uh the Doge of Florida or whatever that was.

Crickets, what's that all about?

What did that letter say?

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Hi, my name is your Donos Mola.

I'm a resident of 2000 Gandhi Boulevard North, St.

Petersburg, Florida, 33702.

Um, and I am here again to support the demands of the Saver Streets campaign with Dream Defenders for more funding for youth programming and for more outreach.

We want to stop violence in our communities, and our budget should reflect that across the country and here in St.

Pete.

One of the best indicators of where we see more violence is where there is a lack of investment in a local community.

The city budget should be a people's budget, and we should reflect what the community actually wants, which based on our outreach is more accessible youth programming and more knowledge about them.

While we know that organizations and both the city are hosting youth programs, many people in the neighborhood still don't know about them.

We need to fund more and thorough active outreach to the community to make sure they can take advantage of these programs.

The city needs to invest in paid more positions to expand its current engagement and outreach to the community in order to boost awareness and use the programs available to them.

Uh, like I mentioned at one of the last city council meetings back in July, uh, we've met with both city council and the mayor, and some of the things that came out of those meetings was an idea to hire youth as part of this initiative to help conduct the outreach to both reach young audiences and also give the youth an opportunity to gain better leadership skills that they can utilize later in life.

And we want this idea to become a reality in the city drafted budget under education and youth opportunities and the safe summer program.

There's roughly about two million dollars of grants for organizations to host the youth program.

And out of the 967 million dollar budget, that is about 0.20.02% of the overall budget.

Just for like visual purposes, we also like created uh a mini graph to show how that reflects.

And in this sheet are 100 squares, each square representing 1% of the $967 million budget.

And this top square with a thin line of blue is showing how 0.02% represents for grants for youth programming.

And meanwhile, the budget proposes another increase for 10 additional million dollars for police, which is about 17% over the overall budget, which you can see here represented in the 17 green squares in the overall budget diagram.

There needs to be more investment in youth programming and investment and more comprehensive outreach to advertise and engage the community.

This is what the community is asking for, and as city public officials, you should be prioritizing the needs of the community and championing for this investment.

Thank you.

Next two speakers.

And you have three minutes to address city council.

Hello.

My name is Jay James.

My pronouns are Day DeMendez and 2042 27th Street South, lifelong resident of this here city, third generation native.

My people have to be here for over 100 years.

And I say that all to say that I've been coming here for a long time.

And for a lot of this time, we've been communicating with our neighbors and all, and they've been telling us the same things over and over, and we've been having communic conversations with y'all for a while.

And not much seems to have changed.

So I have a visual.

These are split peas.

For some reason, I have bags and bags of split peas in my house.

So I decided to use them.

These are a bag of split peas that represent the total budget of the city of about 1 billion dollars, I think.

That's right.

A lot of money.

And as I say, every time I'm coming here, show me your budget and I'll show you your values.

So this really your values.

Give me pennants, pin pennies to our children.

Is this really your values?

You know, it is getting really disheartening in some ways.

You know, have the same conversations with y'all with the mayor, with the mayor's office.

You know, we get told, oh, we came too late.

Okay, we come early.

Oh, you still came too late because we decided to like it's like y'all get we're getting the runabout on how you all want things done.

And you know, we've been polite.

We're dream defenders.

If you know anything about us, so you know we are a um revolutionary organization that does direct action, and we've been nice.

We've been going the way that you all say we should go within the proper channels, and yet we still get the run around.

My community is like suffering.

Like for real.

The job market is going to to total crap.

You know, everything is going up, the rents going up.

My rent went up what another what 15-20% this year.

Duke has raised this rates a lot.

You know, y'all are raising the utility rates a lot.

Everything is going up, but and that's just the finances.

What are y'all doing for our kids?

We also care about gun violence.

The number one um uh issue that people said would help reduce gun violence is having um before and after school programs for teenagers and other youth and even young adults.

But that is not reflected in the budget.

This come on now.

Hi everybody, uh Franklin 1026, 9th Avenue South.

Uh, I'm here today because I, of course, care about the investment that the city is making in its people, and I think the number one investment that we have to be revisiting is our investment in youth.

Um, it's not a problem, it's not a problematic concern, it's just it's a full-on public safety.

As someone who sits for the membership chair of Kona, I attend probably as my partner says a little bit of too many neighborhood meetings, but I get to see the the breadth of what's happening in all these different neighborhoods.

Some CSOs will talk about hey, these are how many cars were stolen in your neighborhood, and another one at a different neighborhood will talk about hey, these are how many found stolen cars that we have in your neighborhood.

In my own experience in Campbell Park, uh over the last, I guess we'll go over kind of the last six months.

We've had two hijacked cars, one that crashed into a house, and another one that crashed and killed someone, uh senior in our community, an elder.

All of both of those were within the span of four months.

We've had even just uh a couple weeks ago, a bunch of teenagers murder a man in his 40s just in the street.

Uh trying to find resources to bring them back to your communities is practically impossible.

I hear words that hey, you know, people will come out.

I actually just texted the residents who those that that man was murdered in front of their house.

They have a young child.

No one has come to talk to them to make sure that they're okay to check on their mental health.

Um it's sad.

And so these things are preventable.

These are all of these situations are teenagers, your children that are getting involved in these things.

I've had neighbors, their kids knocking on my door, just bored out of their mind.

They cannot get into programs, they don't know how to find them.

It's it's too hard.

And as the neighborhoods start shifting, right?

We have a lot of investors within these communities.

As you start to flip the houses, those realtors come in and you know, see quick fix and try to clean up the blocks.

The sense of what these communities mean start to change, right?

New residents move in, those neighborhood associations might spring up, and a lot of those things that come first are policing, right?

See, click fixing, and it's not necessarily reflective of what the community needs or what it's looking for.

And policing is just not a long-term solution for for what's happening here.

We need meaningful investment in youth.

We need real connections that will come out to communities to help people connect them to resources.

This isn't like reinventing the wheel or asking something new.

I mean, there's many times that many of you heard me talk about I'm just calling offices for rehab assistance for just general purposes to try to bring those uh resources to neighborhoods.

There's not even flyers for people who don't have access to the internet that have low internet literacy.

And these are just easy things that we can do, but we really need to just review what we're investing in, look at the kids, think of our future because we need to keep communities together and investing in those youths and keeping that going is an enormous part of that.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Next to speakers.

I believe that's the last name.

Please go to eye the podium, state your name and address for the record.

You have three minutes to address city council.

My name is Stephen Bearfield.

I reside at 5036 Casillaway South in St.

Pete.

Uh been in St.

Pete for the second stint uh since 1992.

Been involved with our sister cities programs for many, many years and with SPIFs more recently.

I am concerned that we that SPIFs as an organization, because we have two relationships with the city, one as an arts grant recipient and one as a contractor to operate sister cities.

Because of a new rule and the arts grant program, we were not allowed to apply for an arts grant this year.

I brought that to council and mayor's attention, I guess, a couple of months ago at a council meeting.

And in looking at the budget, I see the $40,000 amount that is set for sister cities, but I don't see anything set aside for SPIFs.

Perhaps it's tucked in another category.

I'm I'm not sure about that, but that's my concern is that that not be forgotten.

We are looking at our 50th year having provided services to this community.

We are thrilled that we are seeing about 3,000 students on a Thursday and about 3,000 students on a Friday, exposing them to literally dozens of cultures, uh, practices, sounds, smells, uh looks, and so forth.

And really want to continue to do that and especially to celebrate the 50th year of accomplishing that this coming spring.

And it'll be very difficult to do that without some grant support from the city.

So I'd leave that with leave you with that thought.

Thank you.

Your support shows the city's commitment to small business corridors and cultural preservation.

While we are grateful for that support, the reality is the 55K must stretch not only across my salary as the executive director, but also our community programming.

This is not sustainable.

It does leave us without the ability to fully invest in the staff and resources needed to manage the corridor, to market our businesses, to provide meaningfully support to the entrepreneurs who are the backbone to the deuces.

That's why tonight I'm respectfully requesting an additional 45k of that budget for the deuces live.

This increase will allow us to adjust the executive director's salary so it is aligned with the main street other programs, have a part-time assistant to kind of help with the marketing with the events and administrative support and establish a small business fund on the corridor.

That way we can offer microgrants, we can do emergency loans, even help with paying essential bills like lights and water just so they can keep their doors open.

And importantly, it will ensure the deuces live can maintain our accreditation status with the Florida and National Main Street.

Accreditation does require attending quarterly trainings across Florida, participating in the national conferences, often out of state, and paying annual membership fees.

These are essential.

And without additional support, we do risk falling behind.

With this additional investment, the city wouldn't just be funding operations.

You'd be directly funding the businesses, events, and people who keep the deuces alive while ensuring we remain in good standing as a nationally recognized main street program.

Every dollar you provide is multiplied through grants, sponsorships, and private partnerships.

So with the additional, we can substa our leadership, strengthen our programming, and keep the small businesses on the court or thriving one and one at a time.

The city's most historic corridor ever.

So thank you for your leadership and for considering the request.

There's two speakers, Alan I think it's Isidro and Rena Lester, please go to either podium, state your name and address for the record, and you have three minutes to address city council.

Hi everyone, my name is Alan, and my residency is until 617th Avenue in Largo.

I am a student at the St.

Petersburg College program.

It's more specifically the public administration program.

I am my last year.

Would you just give us your last name for the Crome?

Yes.

Thank you.

Um I am my last year, and for my policy leadership class, we had an assignment to meet with an expert and create a case study project regarding a city council meeting.

I was interested in attending St.

Petersburg City Council meeting today and hearing about budget proposal.

I reached out to the city clerk for some guidance to finding an expert that I can talk to about the budget proposal.

I had the opportunity to talk with the budget director, Elizabeth, yesterday.

She's great, she's amazing, and I appreciate her, appreciate her taking the time to discuss the city proposed budget.

She's very kind and knowledgeable.

We discussed the details and procedures of how the city proposed budget gets put together.

I'm here to say that I support the recommended budget proposal.

I did my research and spoke with the budget director, Elizabeth, funding things like education, youth opportunities, neighborhood safety, and along with other services are crucial for a city to run successfully.

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

My name is Rena Lester.

Um, I'm a new homeowner.

Um, my mother is here with me.

She's 72 years old.

What's your address, ma'am?

Our address is 2142 Oakley Avenue South.

That's in Midtown.

Um, the things that I would like to address with you is affordable housing.

It's wonderful to have a home when it took a lifetime to receive it.

But also at the same time, we have now been stricken with the property tax, which I never thought would be that strenuous on anyone.

So I'm asking each and every one of you to think about if you have a mother like I do.

If you went without for many things, many years, and that you had to start all over without a job during the pandemic, and when you had to use all your resources to find a affordable housing.

And what I mean by that, that my mother stayed in a place for 24 years where the rent keep kept increasing year by year.

And as her daughter, I said there's a way out.

We've got to find it.

So I took my resources to carry my mother through and step out on faith to go through the programs that you offer for affordable housing.

Now the issue is property tax.

How is it fair that for someone who has limited income to have a huge property in tax?

Just because someone sold their house for 400,000, doesn't mean that I can afford the tax bill for that person.

I think that you guys need to take a long look, do a strenuous, a strenuous audit about property tax and value.

Because it's unfair that we have to endure that.

I don't have it easy, but the where I stay and where my mother lives in midtown.

I see poverty day by day.

I see people that are homeless day by day.

I had to put things in place to stop people from taking water that wanted to survive, or to use electric because they didn't have it.

I'm not ashamed, but I ask you to take a long look and think about the oddity of the electricity and the suffering of our people.

Our children do not have enough because if they don't have enough, they come and steal, they'll kill, they'll sell drugs, and they'll continue.

If we do not look back for them, it starts with us as an adult.

My mother is 72 years old.

It took a long time for me to understand what it is to work, to earn, and to give.

But I'm asking you, look at the bigger picture here and think about our children for our future and our adults and our senior citizens.

Thank you.

Thank you.

No more speakers, madam.

No more speakers.

We have one person in Zoom, but since this is a public hearing, there are no there's no Zoom.

Okay.

The public comment portion of the hearing.

Sure, I think there might be.

Oh, somebody just came in.

Somebody just came in.

Okay, hold on.

Kathleen Span and Go ahead, ma'am.

Max McCanthy, you can see.

Hi there.

I'm Kathleen Spann.

I live at 3800 29th Ave North.

I've lived there since 1996 by myself.

I'm here to talk about the water rates going up.

Like I said, I've lived there 96 by myself.

I don't use any more water now than I did then.

And my water bill is higher than my electric bill.

And that's unheard of.

So I was, I heard her saying about the her mother and stuff like that, affordability and stuff.

Is there any way to grandfather people in that have lived here 25 years in their homes and nothing's changed to keep those rates down some for them?

So they don't have to each year come up with more money to pay these bills, pay the rent, pay the electric and all that stuff.

You know, we've paid our due.

We've I've like I said, I've been there almost 35, 40 years.

Nothing's changed.

And I know you say it's for progress and stuff like that, but the all the development that you're having downtown, put it in those impact fees for these people.

And their condos have water included.

And you know they're using tons of water, so make their higher bills higher.

They want to live downtown in luxury buildings and stuff like that.

Have that happened.

You know, um, as far as uh maintenance, I've lived in that same house.

I have never seen anybody come out to try to fix the drainage in my neighborhood, either the gutters or anything like that.

And I live in one of the highest parts.

And last year when the hurricanes came in, the whole neighborhood got flooded.

And of course, I said stuff didn't get open and drainage and this and that.

Always something happens.

But if you're gonna charge for that, at least come and do maintenance in the neighborhoods, as they said, fix the roads, fix the stuff that needs to be done.

So that's all I'm trying to say is help the people that have been here forever keep the cost down so they'll stay here forever and not have to go to affordable housing and not have to do that.

That's it.

Thank you.

Hi, good evening, everybody.

Max McCann and Sloan McCann, 2648 3rd Avenue South.

Just want to quickly ask council and the administration to increase funding for safe streets projects.

After my family and I moved here, our the cost of our auto insurance doubled overnight, and I soon found out why when a Jeep ran a red light and crashed into our little Prius and totaled it out with Sloan in the car too.

Um my wife hurt her back, I hurt my back.

Luckily, Sloan is made of rubber and was okay.

Is that true?

Yeah.

But she talked about it for weeks.

It was still traumatizing for her, even though she wasn't physically injured.

So we've got a problem.

We've got a real problem.

We've got a crisis hiding in plain sight here.

We've got um a similar similar population to Arlington, Virginia, but we have five times the number of fatalities.

I never use the word accident because these are not accidents, they're policy failures.

We have the power to make our streets safer.

Past administrations have chosen not to.

We've chosen to prioritize speed over safety, and it's time we turn that around.

I think there's a lot of benefit to funding our own projects instead of relying on state funding, because that has some drawbacks that we've seen lately.

So let's do this with our own money.

We don't have to wait on projects like 28th Street recently, a couple months ago, a cyclist was hit by a driver on 28th Street.

We've been planning a complete streets project there for five years.

If we had moved faster, we could have prevented that.

I believe.

So we do some good stuff though.

We do a uh bike to school event for Sloan School.

Councilmember Floyd and Councilmember Givens have joined us on that.

Do you want to invite anybody?

Uh if you go to uh Perkins or Sanderland.

It's uh uh it starts at Bandit.

Bandit Coffee.

That's right.

You're all welcome to join us, whether you have kids there or not, 840.

It starts at 840.

All right.

Great.

Thank you all.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

More speakers.

No more speakers.

Raise it up.

Okay.

So at this point, the public comment portion of the hearing is now closed.

And now we enter council comments, discussion, and consideration of any amendments.

Councilmember Driscoll.

Thank you.

And thanks to all who took the time to come out tonight to speak and to remind us of what our job is.

It can be it can be really difficult because even though we have a um a strong budget, it's impossible to fund everything that everybody wants.

This year in particular, we've had to make some tough decisions.

A couple of things that I heard tonight.

I would like to have consideration made.

Um, and this is something that um perhaps we can look at when we get into the budget cleanup process.

Um start with the last thing first.

I agree that we need to put as much as possible into making our streets safer for everyone.

And in the um citywide infrastructure capital improvement fund, we do have some funding here for um complete streets, sidewalk improvements.

Um there could be some money that we can find tonight to put into that.

Um I know complete streets is actually in two different funds, but that is uh something that I would like for us to consider.

I'm looking forward to hearing from my colleagues on all of these things.

Um the main streets program is something that's very important to me.

Um a robust um small business infrastructure throughout these main through these main street programs is um it's not just good for business, but it's one of those things that really highlights the unique aspects of different neighborhoods in our city.

In past years I've asked for increased funding for the main streets programs.

Um I think it's been a while since we've increased the funding for those.

And it's getting harder and harder for um the folks who run our main streets programs in our city to really make ends meet and and move the ball forward for the sake of the businesses that rely on them.

So um when we get to cleanup, I would like some consideration for um an increase for all of those main streets programs.

There is um I I had asked the administration, they provided a list of all of the different ways that we fund um youth programs, and um while I believe we can be we can be proud of the amount of funding that we have.

I think the real challenge, I think what we need to take a closer look at is how is that money being spent?

Is it working?

What are the outcomes?

And should we invite um our residents who have been speaking on this for so long, pleading with us to help our youth, and ask them to help us with solutions because for all of what we're spending on youth programming right now, it sounds like we could do a heck of a lot better than we are.

And the people who are bringing their voices to city council time after time deserve to be heard, deserve to be at the table, and deserve to be part of the solutions.

So while I'm not going to ask for a change to the funding on that, I would like to put that under a magnifying glass and really look at how we might be able to reimagine our youth programs so that it meets the needs of today.

The one big thing that I am still having an issue with, um, and I got a few, but I gotta I I gotta pick something here, and um I am still having a really hard time with the um the way that we have reduced funding for different aspects of the fire department today.

On that day, 343 firefighters lost their lives running towards danger to help others get out.

So put that into perspective, as of today, St.

Petersburg Fire Rescue's sworn strength number is 355.

Imagine losing every single firefighter in our city in one day.

Imagine our firefighting, our fire department being completely wiped out in one day.

That's how many were lost that day.

One of the firehouses, Engine Company 54 Ladder 4 Battalion 9 in Midtown suffered the greatest loss of all.

Dozens more have died since 9-11.

Dozens of firefighters have died from illnesses due to the toxic environment that they endured while they were conducting their rescue efforts.

Many others did survive, but their lives were changed in ways that we can't even imagine.

One of those firefighters, his name was Chief Peter Gancy.

He was the highest ranking uniform firefighter for the fire department of New York on that day.

He was scheduled for jury duty.

Someone was giving him a ride, one of the other firefighters was giving him a ride to jury duty, and they heard what happened, and they shot down to the site, and he set up command and started ordering people and you know getting things going.

He and others um were crushed when the South Tower collapsed, and they dug themselves out and immediately went to the North Tower where he set up another spot.

And he it was he who told Mayor Giuliani to get out.

He died when the North Tower collapsed.

So we have our own Chief Gancy here, and when I read stories about 9-11 and about the firefighters, and especially Chief Peter Gancy, it makes me think of Rich and all of the other firefighters who serve us.

Many of the firefighters died that day because they had bad equipment.

They had a faulty communication system, and the radios that they used weren't sufficient enough for many of them to hear the evacuation order.

They didn't know.

Many of them didn't even know that the other tower had been hit.

As I've read about this, there are some who say that the reason that they had that bad equipment was because the powers that be decided to put off getting the most updated equipment to them.

There's no telling how many lives would have been saved if they had had the right equipment to get the message to turn around and get out.

So I think about that.

And I look at what we have before us today, this proposed budget.

And when I see that we've had in our fire department, we've had positions that have been cut.

When I see that the funding for the firefighters protective bunker gear has been cut, that doesn't sit well with me.

It shouldn't sit well with anyone.

But I have had conversations with the people who are actually living this work.

And I can tell you that they have told me some of the statements in that letter are simply not true.

Even worse, some of them saw that letter as a complete betrayal.

So I look at what we have.

Defunding that bunker gear is a risk because the chief needs to give each firefighter two sets of gear so that they always have a clean set.

It protects them from cancer and other illnesses.

That equipment gets expensive more and more all the time, and especially as new technology emerges to keep them even safer.

The contribution to this fund that we make every single year is a commitment that we've made.

As far as the positions that were cut, our fire chief, he didn't ask for a trade-off.

He asked, he wanted more staffing.

Not the trade-off, but he was forced to make a choice if he wanted to create a couple of new positions.

But the bottom line is that the only acceptable math when it comes to the fire department is addition for these reasons for the remembrance of those in New York and here in St.

Petersburg over the years who have lost their lives in the line of duty, who had their last alarm.

And to make that contribution to the bunker gear and keep our commitment.

Today I'm asking, are we going to stand with those who want to shortchange the fire department, or do we want to stand with the men and women who put their lives on the line for us every single day?

And with that, I am going to make a motion to amend the budget to include the funding for the annual contribution to the bunker gear to restore the five cadet positions that were cut during this fiscal year, and to restore the public information officer position that was also cut during this fiscal year.

Thank you, Madam Vice Chair.

Um again, I just want to thank the staff and administration so much for all your hard work that goes into this budget process.

Um this isn't my first rodeo, but definitely my first time on this side of the desk.

Um, for 10 years, I've been showing up to these chambers advocating for our community, uh speaking up for our youth and our low-income residents.

But there were a couple of things that I just want to bring to administration's attention, ask a couple of questions about where we stand.

The first is the city's main street business corridors.

I understand we're in a tough budget year.

You know, there's cuts left and right, but you know, we always are told we can't find the money for this, we can't find the money for that, but some kind of way we find the money to pay for what we want.

Um I want to support our needs.

Um and the last thing that I want to do is see valuable institutional knowledge like what Ms.

Bowles brings and other people bring to the table from the Edge District to Grand Central.

We have so much out there.

Um, and I just don't want to lose it simply because we couldn't afford to keep them.

Um so I just want to make sure we're cognizant of that fact.

Don't want to fall behind investing in our businesses either.

Um also funds for child care.

So that was one of the requests that I made.

Um, workforce training programs for preschool um in resident-led home daycares.

We know that the federal government has made significant cuts to early learning coalition.

Um, so I would like to step in and help wherever we can there.

Um we recognize earlier today um literacy, and I think our youth, when we talk about investing in them, we have to invest in their education.

Um so on that note, in addition to child care funds, um, excuse me, funds for child care provider training, also want us to invest in our after school tutorial program.

Uh the Sanderland Center has requested funds.

Um, that request has fallen on deaf ears.

Um they also operate a food pantry there as well.

Um, as we talk about food insecurity, I I was looking at the budget.

You know, when we we have almost a 968 million dollar budget, uh, but less than 1.2 million dollars is allocated towards combating food insecurity.

That's a drop in the budget bucket.

So I just again want to make sure that we are prioritizing um those hardest hit areas, those food deserts, which a majority of them are within district six and seven.

Um, and and I'm thinking about uh the St.

Pete Housing Authority.

The American Red Cross has a program that they've offered uh to help with uh combating food insecurity, starting a fresh food pantry to give access to those residents, um, healthy and nutritious food.

Uh just again want to make sure that we our budget is reflective of our values.

As we talk about um issues and problems that continue to fester, um we have some solutions, some low-hanging fruit, and I certainly think that's one that's worth investing in.

Um also um speaking of education and youth opportunities, story 727.

That is an organization that trains at-risk youth, uh, specifically workforce development.

Uh, I certainly think if there is room in the budget for additional grants for youth development.

I understand we have our Clan Bayou program, we have the Bullseye Youth USF Bullseye program, uh, but there's so many more opportunities for us to step in and to help aid our community partners who are focused on giving our kids something productive to do.

Uh I know idle hands are the devil's playground.

Um, and and the city can't be in the business of providing programming and facilitating that programming, but we can certainly fund those organizations that do.

Um, I see a couple of them here today.

Um, and I and I certainly want to support those efforts if we can.

Um, and then also along the lines of education.

Um, I know that there was a pause, and I'm gonna pause for a minute to give administration opportunity to respond to this one on uh funds from the previous administration.

I think there was about eight million dollars in funds for digital equity.

Um, and I know DEI is under attack, um, but I just wanted to know where we stood with those funds.

Um, do we anticipate receiving them?

Um, and if so, um, how can we invest in those community partners that are actually out there uh trying to close that digital equity gap?

I'm thinking about code box, right?

They're providing training, uh, workforce training, uh actually helping to reach those goals and take us to that next level for economic development.

I'm thinking about the community tech house.

Um, this is a mid-town centered community tech organization that's providing training uh and technology literacy uh for the community.

So I just want to know um if if we aren't counting on those federal dollars, um will there be CDBG dollars to address this issue?

Can we count on the park and rec' budget?

Uh I know there's a TASCO team program, but I believe that's specifically for teens.

So I'm talking about digital digital equity and inclusion.

Uh thank you, Councilmember.

And uh good evening, Council Tom Green, Assistant City Administrator.

Um and there's a lot to unpack there, but let me try to answer the question about the digital inclusion grant.

I'm confirming I'm fairly certain we are not receiving that grant, which is gonna make it challenging to continue that eight million dollar investment when we're not going to be getting that grant.

Um but I do want to point out a couple of other things while um that that you have raised, you know.

So there are additional resources that could be coming in that Sunrise St.

Pete programming to address some of those issues.

But I just I I while I'm standing here, I do want to remind council, you know, when we started this process, we knew this year was going to be particularly challenging.

Um so we really wanted to focus on maintaining the level of investments that we're doing currently.

So there's not a whole lot of new things that we were able to do because of the revenue kind of constraints that we are under.

Um so I just wanted to kind of share that.

And our our our goal was to look for expense reductions where it would have the least amount of impact to operations of our organization.

And I think we've accomplished that.

Um unfortunately, there are some expense reductions that um that we had to make.

I mean, quite candidly, we just had to make and and it did limit our ability to increase investments in places where we would like to make them.

Thank you for that explanation, Tom.

I appreciate it.

And again, I I understand sometimes we have our hands tied.

Um I do want to talk for a moment um about youth.

Um we talked about outreach and engagement of our youth.

Um, I would love to see that investment.

Um, not sure if we can comment more on youth opportunities.

Um, I did bring up tutorial programs, I brought up grants for possibly employment for these youth.

Um, is that something that we can anticipate?

So good evening, City Council.

Uh, first of all, I just want to thank all the council members for the past eight months of work that we've done together on the budget and appreciate all the work that we've done so far.

And council member, as you know, we recently had uh Brown come and give a presentation on some of the youth programs that she's doing.

You're aware of the uh innovative program that we have in the police department uh for youth programs and then just significant number of programs in the recreation department.

So, you know, we're happy to uh come to a committee if you want to do an overview of all the youth programs you know that we didn't hear from Dr.

Brown on, we could do that, we could brief you one on one, but there's just a plethora of of youth programs that we have in the city, and and we're happy to review that with you.

I appreciate that.

Yeah, and again, no not discrediting Dr.

Brown and her hard work.

I appreciate it.

I just see so many community partners who are doing so much on their own that if we as local government can step in and pick up some of the slack, you know, and fill in the gaps where the state and federal government are not.

Um I certainly think there's opportunities for us to do that, and I see we're doing that right now with addressing our unhoused problem.

Um I I saw the Dream Defenders here.

Um we are we've already allocated those RFP funds for social action dollars uh to combat that issue.

Um there are funds that the county has that can actually help with social action outreach.

So when we talk about community navigators, I will commend the administration on doing their part there to make sure we have boots on the ground, so thank you.

Uh also two thumbs up on the fluoride for families.

That was something that I was asking for.

I know Everett Health was asking for that as well.

Um so I'm happy to see that we have money for that in the budget.

Um I I do have a question about utility bill assistance.

Um it was my understanding that there wasn't any money initially allocated in the uh general fund to help in fiscal year 26.

So have we allocated any money for that?

So utility assistance again, it's a very difficult topic.

Um, you know, you know, there's been federal dollars that have come down over the last five or six years that uh have helped significantly, whether it was ERA or CARE or some YE program.

This is one area as you referenced before where you know the withdrawal of some of these federal or state level programs is very difficult.

We are looking at some potentials related to maybe moving some uh state housing uh partnership money around with some CRA, South St.

Petersburg CRA money.

We're looking at some opportunities.

Uh we don't have that proposal in in front of you today, but it's very it frankly it's difficult to find funding uh for utility assistance right now.

Uh this is one area where maybe we can uh talk in layer uh about you know our legislative agenda because this this utility assistance is important uh and we'll continue to keep working on it.

I appreciate it.

Yeah, very important.

And I'm glad you mentioned that this is one of the things I've been saying about Duke Energy, right?

As we have these negotiation conversations and we talk about that MOU, what additional dollars can they offer to help, you know, subsidize some of the costs for our customers?

Um obviously we don't have the funds in our budget, um, and so if we can look for other revenue streams to get those dollars, I certainly think that Duke Energy has those funds to help.

Um spiffs in acts.

So I know that there were new rules that barred them from being able to apply uh for cultural arts grants.

Um I certainly think it's it's worth us having conversations with their leadership.

Uh I'm thinking about spiffs right now, they're in Pinellas Park.

How can we get them back to St.

Pete?

They are the St.

Pete, you know, uh international folk fair folk fair festival.

So if we can get them back to St.

Petersburg, if it only takes another 10 or 15,000, whatever that is, I certainly think it's worth it, especially for the 50th anniversary.

Uh and then I'm thinking about Act.

Um, they are uh an arts conservatory group that is focused on exposing our inner city youth to performing arts.

Uh their leader, Dr.

Alex Harris, a product of this community.

Uh he's an African American man who is doing a lot of great things, and I don't see anyone else who looks like him doing what he's doing in this community.

Um and I certainly think he's worthy of more than $50,000.

Um, when you think about the the students that he's reached and the success record that he's had, um, I I really would like us to reconsider uh funding them with additional uh resources.

Uh and then lastly, I I just want to say, you know, um we really have to get creative with that CRA.

Um, from the South St.

Petersburg CRA to the in town CRA where we don't have funds.

I certainly hope that can supplement.

I I hope it could supplement some of the costs for some of these other things that we say we don't have funds for.

So with that, Madam Vice Chair, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Councilmember Floyd.

Thank you.

Uh pull up my notes.

Um, thank you to everybody who came out today.

Uh I heard very little that I disagreed with from the crowd.

And uh just so you all know, like, you know, we put in our budget requests, and they don't all get met every year.

Um, and a lot of what we discussed, a lot of what the public discussed today was in my budget requests.

I'll start by talking about youth uh programming.

I I think uh that you know we we do have a lot of youth programming, um, and we could always do better.

I I think though that one thing uh that's I don't know, gone unaddressed in the conversation, or maybe not gone unaddressed, but not clearly been articulated in my opinion, is uh just exactly what the ask is been from the community members that have come here to talk.

Uh I think that you know, today there was a little disagreement, but in general, they've been supportive of what we've done on youth programming.

They just want to see a more like direct to people connection to the programming, and they literally mean like have people go out door to door in neighborhoods.

I honestly I think right now, I don't think we actually need to put much more money in the budget to do something like that.

Like we could just get people to do it that are employed and actually already do outreach.

So I I don't feel that that's a hindrance to this budget or anything.

I think that's something we can just continue to work on together.

Uh it's been tricky because it was a conversation led by a previous council member uh and then uh held in uh a department in which the leader, or I guess an office in which the leader left.

And so it just has not been able to gain traction for a number of reasons.

Glad to hear other people uh say that they want to work on it.

I'm gonna continue to look into it as well.

Uh, but I don't think that there's any reason we can't uh bring our our what we have at the city a little bit closer to what people are asking for.

Um same vein, safe streets programs, complete streets.

We all know the pressures that we're under.

I appreciate hearing from community advocates about it.

Very much supportive of that.

Uh I think that actually what needs to happen is we probably need to get together as a city, look at where funding's coming, where the funding uh how do I look at this?

What the future of funding is for it from the state and federal level, and then make a decision about how we want to change how we fund things here.

Uh it's probably a pretty big conversation right now.

And so uh I I'd love to continue.

I I can say now I'll uh start pushing for a conversation like that, but I think there's uh a lot of factors for us to consider.

But I do have some ideas and I look forward to that conversation.

Um to comment on council member Driscoll's comments on the fire department.

I actually have some questions that I think administration could probably answer pretty quickly.

Uh so my understanding is that the bunker gear we have for uh all the employees, but we were gonna buy them all new gear, and we did not yet it's not in this budget, but that's because we felt that we are just deferring it for a year and we could do it in in the future.

What so that that transfers to like an equipment replacement fund to replace bunker gear and uh the self-contained breathing apparatus, and the bunker year is about every three to five years that we replace, and the self-breathing apparatus is about 10 years.

Right now we have enough to replace the bunker gears right now whenever they need to.

It's the amount where we you know we keep are getting towards the self-breathing, the SCPA gear, and we have another five to six years where we would need to replace that.

So by escaping this year, we thought it was a unique way to not affect the actual operations of the department, and then we have five to six years to make that amount up, and hopefully we may be able to make it up in the next year or two.

And just to be to be clear, we're we're not deferring buying the equipment.

The equipment's not due to be bought this year.

Yeah, yeah.

We're deferring making the contribution to the fund.

Okay, sorry.

Well, and that is how I understood it, but uh yeah, my language did not uh match that because from what I understand the safety year is something that expires and has to be bought at some point.

So there's even if we don't make a contribution to the fund, we have to do this at some point.

And uh okay, all right.

I I'm not gonna continue on that line right there.

Um, and then you know uh there was also something about the cadet program brought up, and it uh it's been my understanding that you know we like the cadet program, it's very good, but it takes a long time to get cadets up to speed.

So I was under the impression that we were focusing on hiring in experienced people.

Uh is that accurate or hello, city council.

Um, so yes, that is accurate.

So the you introduce yourself for for those that are here that may not know who you are.

That's all right.

Heath Watts Fire Rescue Chief.

St.

Petersburg Fire Rescue.

So, yes, uh to answer your question, the focus right now is on hiring uh experienced firefighter and firefighter firefighter EMTs and firefighter paramedics.

Okay.

The cadet program is a uh is a program where we hire people basically with no experience, and we provide the uh uh we provide the funding for them to go get certified.

Okay, thank you for that.

Just well, since you're up here, how long does it take from like hiring a cadet to them being like good to go?

I don't know what term analogy to use, but uh just with the so it just depends.

If uh someone comes to us, the cadet program is basically for people without any certifications, or they can have one or the other to be a firefighter in St.

Petersburg, it takes uh you have to be at least an EMT or a uh have a firefighter certificate.

If someone comes to us with one of those certificates, that means we don't have to pay for the other.

So um usually it takes about eight months for both, and then we put them through a 12-week orientation class where we teach them basically to St.

Petersburg fire rescue way, and then after that, then they uh start service to the to the community.

Okay, thank you for that information.

So, you know, with those two pieces of information.

Uh I believe that the fire department still has what it needs to move forward, and I think that they were probably collaborative in the process of choosing uh how the funding would get done this year.

Uh I understand where you're coming from, Councilmember Driscoll.

Um but you know, I think there was some mischaracterization there.

Uh you mentioned letter from a union leader.

No, that's a representative of the employees, uh, a group of people who are 99% uh dues paying members to the union.

That's their elected representative telling us what uh the membership wants, and you're always able to find dissident voices within a union.

Uh and it's you're with well within your right to disagree as well, but you know, when I have their elected representative telling me one thing, like that holds a lot of weight for me.

And so um, yeah, that's where I'm at on that issue.

So I'll I'll leave that there.

And then I have two more things real quick.

One is about unions as well.

I see FPSU members in the house.

Uh I I look to see, I don't I see that you're in attendance.

Uh I looked to see if I had an email from you.

Forgive me if I missed or anything.

Love to see y'all love to hear from you.

Let me know what you need.

Uh and then the last thing though is I just want to say to administration, it looks like we had uh we we had a uh a budget year.

I don't want to say it was difficult because our ad valorum share increased and a decent amount, uh, but not as much as we were used to over the last few years.

And uh we had to make decisions differently than we did in the past.

Uh I am grateful for the work to uh not have to cut services, uh employees, all of those things.

I'm grateful for that work, and I just want to particularly point out I'm very grateful for being able to continue to fund uh the tenant assistance in the codes department and in our legal aid for tenants, and I think those things are incredibly important as the state makes it more difficult for us to work on tenant issues through preemption.

Uh and I think we have to continue to do those things.

I think those things save us money in the long run.

So I just want to thank you again for that, which is something I did during the workshop as well.

Uh and say that uh and I'll end on saying that I know that we'll you know, we don't know what the future holds, property markets not great uh right this second um and doesn't project great.

Uh but I look forward to you know working together really well next year is what I'll say in what actually I might actually call a difficult year.

So we'll see.

Um, but I think you know, having said all that, a lot of the things that I think community members are here for and that I'm interested in as well, uh, can get done uh with existing funds, and so that's how I'll work to uh move forward.

So but thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Gavard.

Thank you, Chair, and uh thank you first to everyone who came out this evening.

Um the Dream Defenders left us, uh, but I just wanted to actually start there, so I hope they are still listening.

Um so you know, the they discussed, we've told them about the process.

We've told them to come earlier.

Well, well, they did it.

They um I know at least for myself and I feel like from our conversation on the dais that many of my colleagues have met with them.

And um I think that a lot of the uh programming that they have proposed is very worthwhile.

We should be having more conversations about that.

I did include a lot of their proposal in my budget requests.

Um that was an item that did not have uh funding, even though I know there is other funding for youth programs, so I would love for us to come to uh a council committee meeting at some point and have that conversation.

Um because the thing that's difficult sometimes is that buckets aren't absolute, and things will live in various places throughout the budget, and even as somebody who's been doing this now for eight years, it's sometimes hard to track.

Youth programming is one of those, complete streets is one of those.

They live in a lot of different places.

And arts funding, that's another one.

Um, so I would love for administration to come and have a robust conversation about that.

The one thing that I am positive, though, that does not live within the budget is the specific request about hiring youth to do outreach.

We have a program in the CRA now at the St.

Pete Youth Farm that our youth ambassadors that get stipends to be at the youth farm to work on our food and security issues.

That could potentially be a program, a stipend program that maybe we could look at to replicate for community outreach.

So I'm asking administration, and I was trying to pull it up here in the budget, but once again, things get kind of bucketed.

Um you know off the top of your head, probably don't.

I don't know if Mike is here.

Um, but what that amount is that we budget specifically for youth stipend at the St.

Pete Youth Farm.

I know that's a very minute detail that's probably difficult to find.

I know we budget annually about 538,000 for that.

For the entire program, yes, absolutely.

But I don't know exactly what that amount would be.

And I I mean, understanding, you know, that's it's a part-time.

I I think it's probably pretty similar in the way that it's lined up.

I just don't know what that amount is.

Um, you know, and and it's been to everyone's point, a challenging uh budget year.

We started the year with, you know, I think it was eight million dollars under where we thought we were going to end up, and we've obviously had a lot of additional expenses from the storms, we had issues with pensions.

I mean, we went through a very successful um bargaining with both our police and our fire.

So I understand how we got here and how limited the resources are.

Um it's kind of like trying to look for money, like in the couch cushions almost, um, to see how we can try to find additional dollars.

One of the things that I had asked for, and I actually um received thank you, Tom, on Tuesday, is okay, so it's a tough budget year.

Where do we find a little bit of extra money?

One of the things I wanted to look at is what the increases is actually going to be in salary for city council and the mayor.

Because if it's a tough year, why are we taking increases in our salary?

So I looked at it, and Tom provided it, and it's about $20,000 total.

So it's not a ton of money.

But is the ambassador program and the stipends a ton of money?

I don't believe they really are.

And so that's just one idea.

I would be more than willing to forego my minimal increase in my salary in order to help fund additional programming for youth.

So throwing that out there, I'm not going to make a motion about it.

I don't know how my colleagues feel about it, but I'm willing to forego mine this year if it does anything to help pad the budget in any way, shape, or form.

But it would need to be something very specific and something that would specifically involve our youth.

So I wanted to bring that up.

Second thing, food insecurity.

So councilmember givens, thank you for starting with it.

Thank you for bringing it up.

It was the top thing on my list.

As soon as I came in, I saw the American Heart Association sitting here.

I assumed you are here to talk about the proposal that you brought forward in your partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay for Jordan Park and the Sunshine Center.

So I would like to know from administration.

I know we had conversations through, I think it was the last Cal that we had about kind of conversations that administration maybe has had with them, where we landed with that.

I understand there's going to be dollars through CDBGDR, but that's going to be a competitive process.

Can we talk a little bit about kind of where things landed?

Thank you, Councilmember.

My recollection is that we had some significant discussions with them through community enrichment.

But based on the current budget situation and the tightness of it, that we felt that uh having them pursue some of our grant opportunities that are already in place and already funded in the budget might be the better route.

That was my recollection, Mike.

Is that still the yes?

That's um that's exactly where we landed.

Uh we chatted with administration.

This is a whole whole nother.

Sorry.

Um we chatted with administration and came up with some different strategies, and uh Rob is exactly right.

Um I know Kim gathered some information on the program, and we thought that it would be a program that could potentially apply for some of the grant funding that Kim has available through Healthy St.

Pete.

Okay.

Um I believe it was 127,000.

Um it changed a bit.

Um again, we got more information.

There was some, um, if my recollection is is right, I don't have my file right in front of me.

Um, but uh there were some of the programmatic elements that were outside of St.

Petersburg City limits.

Yes.

And so there was um a delta there in some of the some of the funding, some of the budget.

Okay, so um through those grants that is specific to CDBGDR.

Is that the bucket of money, or is that grants that exist within the budget today?

So social service grants potentially.

So the grants that are through the social services department by resolution can only be spent on homelessness.

True, right?

So the social action funding would not be an appropriate funding source for that.

Um, as uh Mr.

Jeffries already discussed, there are the funding through the Healthy Food Action Plan and some of the things in his administration.

Just a reminder, you uh set aside five million dollars in public services through CDBGDR.

Right now, the thought is that two and a half million of that will go to the two largest um things that the community told us were the most important to them.

So there will be a competitive process at 1.25 million um for mental health and 1.25 million for food insecurity.

The other um there will be about a one and a half million dollars that will go towards housing opportunities for all competitive processes.

Right now we're thinking large grants and small grants, so that there would be a bucket that would be for small grassroots organizations as well as those more seasoned organizations that have you know done large-scale projects before, and then the final million dollars would be set aside for resiliency and helping nonprofits build their capacity to respond in future disasters.

Okay, thank you for that.

Thank you for the reminder.

We get these different, we got our budget, but then we have all this money, so it gets a little bit confusing.

And if it's confusing for us, I can only imagine what it is for the community.

So I'd like to continue working with you, um, seeing how we can really bridge that divide.

Our seniors, we had senior month earlier today that we celebrated.

So, you know, really making sure that we are touching on that and working with you on a very worthwhile program.

So thank you for being here tonight in advocating.

Speaking of our seniors, I'm just gonna elevate it again.

We said it earlier, I'm gonna say it again.

It was on my budget requests, it did not get funded.

Um, the Sunshine Center redevelopment.

Uh, we have got to make this a priority for our seniors.

Um, God willing, we all get there someday.

And this city uh deserves a world class senior center, a reimagined senior center.

I see a senior center that also maybe has housing associated with it.

I think there's a real opportunity to be able to have a shining jewel in our city for our senior community.

And so I'm just gonna elevate that again.

I know that's not going to happen in this year's budget, but I would like us to start having serious conversations about that into next year's budget.

Safe streets, I'll mention it again.

Um, and Councilmember Floyd actually hit it right on the head.

We had a forward panellist meeting yesterday.

Four of us sit on forward panellists, conversations about the changes at the federal level.

Um, I think that is going to be very, very important for us.

Uh, back in 2018, I went through the Complete Streets program through Smart Growth America, very excited that I can still call myself a complete streets champion, and I will always advocate, Max, for that funding.

Um, but we're gonna have to be really strategic about the way that we do that because that is changing rapidly at the state and the national level, and that is going to put an even greater burden on that resource for us.

So I'll commit to you that we'll continue to work on that.

Um, I know that's something that's of a passion to all of us.

And spiffs, thank you for being here.

So I just had a conversation earlier today with someone from the community who said to me, why can't we have a unity day?

Why can't we have a citywide unity day at the pier at the Vanoy, where we bring all of these cultures together and we can really celebrate.

And I said, you mean spiffs?

You mean the folk fair?

That's what we used to do, right?

But now you've moved to Pinellas Park.

And you have our name, St.

Pete.

So I would like to also join Councilmember Givens in saying that, you know, we asked for clarification on that grant.

Why, you know, why did this happen?

Was this an unintended consequence?

Um, I don't know that we've really had an answer to that yet.

So I would like to understand that because we need to get you back in St.

Pete and we need to unify you with the community that is crying for us to do more to recognize all of our community members.

And I think that you're a great catalyst to do that.

So we definitely need to get back there.

Stormwater CIP as part of the bigger plan.

I'm not gonna harp on it again because I know everybody's here tired of hearing me talk about it.

But if we don't do more about our stormwater, our system, the containment of stormwater, how stormwater flows through our city.

I think that unfortunately we're gonna be in a very different place in a few years as a viable productive place where people want to live if their houses are flooding every single time it rains.

And so I'm gonna leave that there because everybody's heard me talk about this, but I think that this is one of our big biggest budget priorities because this goes right back to the people and protecting life and property and the investments that people have made in our city.

The last thing I'm gonna say is about the fire department.

So I just want to remind everybody.

This is not the fire department of before.

We have a chief who desperately cares about the men and women who work on the front lines every single day.

If this were three years ago and we were talking about this, I'd be right on board.

But today, I trust that this chief and the union, and thank you for pointing out that it's not one person, it is the representative of the union that they are working exceptionally well together.

At a rate we've never seen before.

They were always at odds.

And now this chief and this union are working cohesively together.

They were very, very happy with the collective bargaining process this year.

That budget came through.

We were all very proud of that.

We all voted unanimously unanimously for that.

And I am going to trust that the leadership of our fire department knows what our fire department needs, and that they are going to make sure that we budget appropriately and that we staff appropriately.

The PIO position, I want to be clear about that too.

When the chief says that we need someone in emergency management, I think our lived experience at the end of 2024 tells us that our emergency management team needs more support.

They cannot do it all by themselves.

There's what three of them, I think.

Two?

Okay, there's two.

Hopefully there'll be three.

We have got to get them staffed up.

We have got to help them, and that is what our chief tells us this position needs to be allocated for.

So I am going to trust that.

Councilmember Floyd and I know all too well the trouble you get in when you start talking about staffing, and you start talking about decisions that leadership makes.

So I am going to trust our chief.

I am going to trust trust the union representative that they know what is best.

And I want every resident of the city of St.

Petersburg to know our fire department has the equipment that they need to keep them safe and to keep us safe.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Councilmember Fig Sanders.

Thank you.

And good evening, everyone.

Mine are going to be brief because you know we've had these budgeting conversations for a while.

And there are some things that yes, we would love to see.

Again, is the main street programs because we look so much to our communities and to our neighborhoods to keep us informed as to what we need.

And for those that are in those positions, trying to work with our city council members representing them, we want to make sure that they have everything that they need.

No matter how we try to guard our children from some of those things that we know would be detrimental, we need to have the opportunities and resources.

Now, as a city, I think we're doing a phenomenal job with our youth programming, but there are some things that I would love for us to also consider.

I I still am looking for at you know, meaning being in the band for many, many, many, many years.

Um, showing that artistic side of our children and what they've provided, and they've been around for a while.

I think $50,000 is a really a low value placed on what they bring to the city of St.

Petersburg.

Um, as far as the youth outreach that everyone is concerned about, um, as you all know, we do have a summer youth interim program that is year-round.

Um, and my request for that 400,000 is for it to be reimagined for that RFP to take into consideration some of the things that we're asking for.

That could be some of those youth outreach um initiatives and positions that we're talking about.

That can be some of those additional um youth programming needs that we're looking for.

We're gonna have to be creative.

We have to be creative with that program during COVID, and I think this gives us an opportunity to recreate that $400,000 that we've already had allocated to that program.

When it comes down to, I also sit on the homeless leadership alliance, and although I am confident with some of the money that the CDBGDR funds are going to actually fund sitting in sitting in our board meetings and listening to the federal changes of some of these funding opportunities that is going to be for our unhouse is sad, disappointing, and I don't know where we're gonna be in regards to we're talking next year.

I'm talking the year after that, where we're gonna be for our unhoused.

So while we're looking at ways to clean streets of from our unhoused, I want us to look at ways to house our unhoused.

So we did not increase any funds in our social action funding, which I really wanted.

Um, but I definitely don't want that that dollar amount to remain stagnant because we have to pay attention to our understanding utility rates and everything are increasing because we want to make sure that we address our stormwater issues, and then let us not forget we had three hurricanes last year.

So there was a whole lot that our budget had to suffer through in preparation for this year.

But I I do want to ensure that you know our our unhoused, our homeless, those needs are being met so that they are not considered trouble for our community, but that they are a part of our community.

I also asked for small businesses.

Um we know that in order for our community to be successful, everyone must thrive.

And everyone cannot work for other people.

Whatever that infringement is, whatever that blemish on their record is, whatever that shortcoming may look like, our entrepreneurship efforts I think need to be increased.

I think we need to spend additional dollars for that.

And as you all know, I've talked a whole lot about our food truck vendors.

I'm asking, begging, and I'm I'm very, very um confident um that hopefully we'll be able to help our small food trick food truck vendors and some of our other entrepreneurs that are not looking for brick and mortar locations.

Because a lot of times in order to do well, you have to go to where your clients and your customers are.

So I want us to actually look into some of that.

Um but again, those are some of the things that I wanted to voice out loud, um, on top of some of the other requests that I asked for.

But again, I'm going to, you know, thank the mayor's office for an administration for trying to meet a lot of our needs.

Um, you know, because again, just like it's hard for us to hear no, it's also hard for you to try to get to a yes.

And a lot of us are gonna keep asking over and over and over again um until we kind of get to uh a headway for that.

But again, those are my request, and hopefully, you know, if we don't get it through this initial process that during that budget cleanup, that a lot of our needs are addressed.

And with that, thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Councilmember Harding.

Thank you, Chair.

First, I'd like to thank uh everyone who came in tonight.

Um this is the the part that matters.

This is the the level of government where you actually get to talk to the decision makers, and it's not an easy thing to do.

I wish we had more, but I appreciate the uh everyone who showed up and and shared their thoughts and made their voice heard.

Um, sir, in the blue hat, uh I apologize I didn't get your name when you when you uh got up to speak.

Thank you for your thoughts.

If you happen to be around when we end the meeting, I have something for you.

Um and I would like to thank uh administration Liz especially.

Liz, um, this is my first budget process.

This is a uh a rather uh massive project with a billion dollar budget and uh and several different silos.

I think you you have performed admirably um dragging administrator green along the way.

And uh and I look forward to to finishing this process.

I want to I want to thank um administrator Gerdis and uh and all the all the uh the the department heads that that work with it with him um balancing the the uh the asks and the needs and the wants of the eight electeds um that are reflecting the the needs and wants of the 330,000 of us who live in the city is not an easy thing.

Um from District Three, thank you very much.

The the biggest thing that that uh the biggest topic that was talked about in District Three Um this year, obviously was uh was stormwater.

And um and this year it took a it it I don't think that that this was true in years past.

I am sure that uh that this is very unique that we talked about stormwater.

Um Brajesh uh Pram and Um and Claude Tankersley uh came up with uh and supported um three different projects that'll be funded and start this year that will uh quite literally uh change the lives of thousands of people in district three when we get those projects done, those were my big budget priorities.

All three of them were met.

I greatly appreciate um the the attention to uh to stormwater and um and I'm happy with the process.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Councilmember Driscoll.

Oh, no, I'm sorry.

Okay, I'll wait.

Okay.

Um, so first of all, thank you everyone for being here.

As you can see, this is uh a very difficult and long process.

It's not a fun process.

And I will tell you that as you have seen here and heard everyone speak, not everyone's getting everything they want, either council members or the public or anyone.

And I will tell you that this year more than any of the other years I've served on city council, I've gotten more emails from residents because they're feeling budget pressure and real, real inflationary budget pressure.

And I know that I'm not the only one.

Because all this stuff, you know who pays for it, and I say it all the time, we all do, period.

And if we talk about affordable housing and and finding affordable housing, well, if you're it's if it's making it more difficult for people to live here and your taxes go up and your utility rates go up and they have to leave, that's a problem too.

Because all it is is you're moving money around.

That's all it is, and so it's hard.

You go to the grocery store, it's more expensive.

Whatever you do, it's shocking.

And so one of the things that I want to kind of have administration, and I asked Claude to talk a little bit about because we had a conversation about utility bills and the increases in utility bills, and what you all are feeling in terms of every time you see something, it's more expensive.

We're not immune to it at all.

Whether it's salaries, whether it's negotiations and contracts, whether it's you have to replace equipment, whether it's whatever stormwater project or whatever it is, the number does not stay the same.

It goes up incrementally, and then we all have to pay for it.

So there was a uh a question regarding the money that we're putting into capital improvement projects and what we're seeing.

And this is by the way, that is a very normal question that we get from all residents.

Where does the money go?

Why is there flooding?

What is going on?

What are y'all doing with the money?

It is a question we get.

And so I want to just touch a little bit about what we're doing, how much we're investing.

And I'll tell you this.

There are limits to how much we can invest, because you know who has to pay for it?

Everyone.

To get us out of some of those stormwater projects that we need to do and all these other things, it costs money.

And who and the people who pay for it are the utility rate payers.

And we do get grants, we try to get federal grant money, we try to do everything we can where we can, and by the way, that's still our money, but we try to get money from everywhere else to grind the supplement.

And those pots, by the way, are getting smaller and smaller and smaller.

And we're all seeing it.

So I just want to touch a little pit up because we talked about utility rates.

I've been getting so many emails about this issue.

And Claude, if you can talk a little bit about our investments, the capital projects, by the way, the monies for those projects where they come from, they're not general funds.

There is a difference between general fund monies and real estate taxes.

That's separate, and then you have utility rates and what you pay, and that goes into our system.

And by the way, we borrow money, there is bond covenants, there's all these things where that money has to go into these systems.

You don't move them around everywhere.

There's certain things that pay for certain things.

That's why when you heard somebody talk about buckets and all that, when you talk about our utility rates, and if we take out bond money, that money has to go into certain systems.

Just Claude, if you can as you know, as simply as possible, try to explain some of what I've tried to touch upon.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Claude Tankersley, Public Works Administrator.

So this year in fiscal year 26, I believe we have approximately 32 million dollars in CIP money for stormwater and another 120 million roughly for water resources.

So about 150 million dollars for construction um projects uh in this fiscal year.

We have an equal amount, uh if not slightly more for the maintenance, the the daily operation and maintenance of those facilities and of those systems.

The systems are huge, they were built over many decades.

Um, and it it it takes a long time to get these projects done.

Uh one you know, one of the things we talked about was a typical stormwater project.

So we have a we have a stormwater master plan, roughly a billion dollars in it, roughly 70 some projects in it, and the average cost of one of those projects is roughly 20 million dollars just for one project.

And that's and and that one project is is not gonna, you know, help the entire city.

We've got an entire city we've got to work on, and so it it's a big lift that's ahead of us.

We have a plan to get there.

Um, we've been working on that plan since 2016.

Uh, there's a slide that I shared with you guys that you know in 2015 our stormwater CIP was 1.7 million for the entire year.

Uh council has done an and an administration has done a great job of bringing it up to 32 million for this year, but that's a huge increase.

But we you know it's it's we still got to get more to go.

So when you say we have more to go, we have a stormwater master plan, which is a billion dollars.

If you spend 30 million dollars a year, it would take probably double the amount of time to what is it 50-something years, 60 years to get there.

By the way, by the time you're in the process, you have to do another plan because you haven't done everything you've needed to.

Right, correct.

Right.

And and our plan is to get up to that 50 million dollar year spending um through both the uh the spar program, but even after the spar program to be at that level going forward.

Okay.

So I just want to hope I hope that some of you, and if you do have questions about this more, I'm happy like if you reach out and and and our public works administrator talk a little about these issues because I do see the public convoluting some of these issues together in terms of what we're paying for utility rates, what that pays for, the real estate taxes, what that pays for, where does that money go?

And it is frustrating because it is very complex.

And I'll tell you, city council members, we sit here and we go through this budget, it takes years to figure this out.

It's a very it's not easy, it's a lot of money, and there's a lot of legal requirements with a lot of the money.

We talked a little bit about impact fees, and we covered this the other day in a meeting, but I want to touch upon impact fees just quickly because my under we are trying to do the impact fees that we can do.

Correct, yes.

And we currently do have an impact fee for our wastewater system.

We call it the water closet fee, but it it it it it provides money from the development process to help pay for the system, and so uh with council's approval recently, it's now gonna be a thousand dollars per restroom added to the system.

So that means for new construction, correct.

So for new construction, it costs for every new bathroom in a house, that's a thousand dollars, and that pays for the cost of what it that the system to provide the services for this new construction.

That's the impact fee, that's the sort that's that fee.

But when it comes to other fees, there are of limitations.

Yes, there are limitations.

Um, one of the limitations for all impact fees actually is that you have to spend that impact fee on expanding the system to accommodate the the growth.

Um, and so some right now, uh a lot of the projects we have are to in improve the um or or to enhance the the system that's gotten old.

So we have maintenance, we have operational costs, replacement costs.

When you have impact fees, there are legal requirements.

There has to be a nexus between the fee and whoever you're charging it to.

So if you're saying, well, your development is causing an impact, there has to be an actual impact because of that.

You can't just say, Well, you just moved into the city, so you know what we haven't done anything for a hundred years or whatever.

The name, I'm just making this up.

We have done things, but I'm just saying we haven't done things, so therefore you should pay for it.

And we do get a lot of that, don't we?

Yes, we do.

And so legally, there are limitations, you just can't do that.

And so that's some of the challenges that we also face because some of the thoughts of the things that you can do, you really can't legally do.

So I just wanted to touch a little bit about that.

Thank you, Claude, for for bringing up um this clarifying some of that.

The other thing, Tom, uh, if if you can come up real quick, because you know, when we're talking about budget, you know, you do see we're keeping the millage rate the same, but property values go up, so there is a that growth in what was generated in real estate taxes, which is about 10 million this year, correct?

Even though we're keeping the millage rate uh the same.

But the problem, and just if you can clarify, are why is there a gap?

And and just explain a little bit because we also have things that are costing more within the city.

Correct.

So um as I don't remember which council member mentioned it earlier, but where we really saw increase in expenses this year was with respect to pension, and you might recall that there were you know $12 million increase year over year for just one of our pension plans, of which we have three.

So I think in the aggregate it was a little bit higher than that $12 million.

So that was a big expense in one fiscal year to try to manage.

Couple that with the unsure uh the reduction in the property values from the storm and so forth that that so we had increases on the expense side while we were experiencing reduction in revenue forecasts.

So that was kind of the the dual forces for us to balance our budget.

And and as you referenced earlier, you know, we're not immune from inflationary costs of uh help providing health insurance for our employees, uh the the wages and salaries of our employees, all those are going up uh every year.

Um so that those are those are the kind of the twin push and pull what that we're experiencing.

I I hope that answers.

Yeah, no, that's very helpful.

And and so when we're talking about pensions, so and just another point of clarification.

We have pension plans that have been in place for a very long time, and we have actuaries that figure out how much these plans are funded, and if there is a big gap, let's say the market doesn't do well or whatever it the case may be.

Sometimes it's funded really well, sometimes you have a large gap.

We have to fill that gap.

So there was a gap, and we had to fill the gap because you have to have certain criteria that's met.

Is that correct?

Correct.

We the actuaries generate what we call the annual required contribution.

Um, and that's what we fund on an annual basis to ensure that we will have the sufficient resources through the balance of the life of the program to fund all the uh pension payments to retirees.

Okay, thank you.

So, you know, I like other council members, I have my priorities, and just like a lot of things have been brought up here, whether it's complete streets and other programs in the city that I want to see funded just like other council members, but then you get the budget and you see all the pressures that every department is facing, and you know that there's gonna be things that are gonna give, and that's where we are with some of these programs.

We I would hope they find money for the things that we all want, but I'm I I put it to you this way.

I'm I'm concerned about next year because I will tell you this, and the problem is once you fund a program, guess what happens next year?

They're gonna want the money again, and then what happens the year after that?

So when you make a decision in terms of funding programs, it's also one of the things of are you going to be able to fund it next year?

Because that's not fair either.

And these are really tough decisions that that administration and council is making.

So I just I hope that's kind of helpful in terms of putting context into this.

I know it's extremely frustrating, and I feel the frustration that I'm getting from residents.

Unfortunately, we have a duty to make sure that we provide a level of service and service and services.

Period.

There are things that we just have to do, and we have to fund.

So it's been challenging, and I feel everyone's frustration.

I I get frustrated myself.

I saw my tax bill, it wasn't a pretty site either.

And it's not, by the way, it's it's the city of St.

Petersburg on the tax bill, it's the county on the tax bill, it's the school board on the tax bill, JW.

I mean, you go on and on, but it is a hard hit.

And so I just want people to understand that that is also top of mind for us too, understanding that because that puts pressure on everyone in the city, especially people that are on fixed income.

Because it's that is tough.

And the idea that, well, you know, make us pay less or or have someone pay more in terms of whatever the rates are, and legal can correct me if I'm wrong.

The rates have to be set, they're set by Florida statute, and they have to be set in that manner.

You can't change from that.

So it's not like we can say, well, all of a sudden, well, you're on fixed income, so therefore you pay less.

It's one rate.

So that's that unless the state of Florida changes the system, and who knows what can happen to this year.

For all you know, we're we're not gonna have real estate taxes, and and we'll have a completely different system.

And the idea that you get real uh get rid of real estate taxes and the issues solved it's not because you know what?

These are services that people expect to have, period.

People expect to have services in the city, they expect to have police and fire and roads and all these things.

So I don't know what the state of Florida is going to do with their system and how things are gonna get paid, but um under the system that we have now, we're trying our best to meet the challenges just like everyone.

So I want to thank administration for the work that they've been doing this year, understanding the pressures we're in and trying to balance all the needs of the city.

Councilmember Driscoll.

Thank you.

And thank you for that input and for taking the time for that explanation for everyone because it is it is quite complicated.

Um you have a uh you and Claude make a great team explaining it in ways that just about anyone could understand.

I want to go back to um the request for um uh complete streets or safer streets for um bicyclists and pedestrians and um I know I'm just trying to see where we might be able to put some um some more money into into that fund.

It seems like every time every time we turn around, we're uh we're taking Evan Morey's money and putting it somewhere else.

So I wonder if maybe there is an opportunity to look at something here.

I did want to point out that um from last year's budget, we did increase complete streets by 250,000.

And we also increased um one of the sidewalk programs by 650,000.

So we are trying to incrementally increase those programs every year as we can.

Yes, thank you.

And I I appreciate that.

Um, I know that we also in the past um there's there have been lots of opportunities to get money grant money through USDOT.

Um things are changing, and so I'm kind of looking at that too.

What jumped out at me was um under the city facilities capital improvement fund, there is um a line in here for infrastructure TBD, and it's 150,000.

This is money that's set aside that doesn't have a project attached to it.

It's um for unforeseen city facility capital improvement infrastructure project.

So it's that just in case money now.

We all know that um, and as we've talked about with some other items earlier, if we really need the money to fund something that's important, there is a way that we will work it out.

So I'm not sure why this is here, and I'm wondering if we can shift that over to the citywide infrastructure capital improvement fundestrian facilities, which um, although yes, uh complete streets, which is a separate item, um has some increased funding.

The bicycle and pedestrian facilities is currently budgeted at 100,000.

Adding 150,000 to that could really move the needle with creating a safer area for our bicyclists and pedestrians.

We see that more and more people want to be able to um walk to things, bike to things.

Um it's wonderful.

We want to promote that and we want to make sure it's as safe as possible.

So why wouldn't we when we've got 150,000 sitting there without a home?

Why wouldn't we put that into this?

We heard from the people.

So the 150,000 for the infrastructure be determined.

Um, we use that when we have projects that are budgeted already, but when we go to bid maybe more than what we had budgeted, yeah.

So that way we can keep that project going and not have to wait while we find alternative funding.

So it usually goes to like four or five projects during the year to keep them going so we don't have to wait until we have till the next disclare of additional funding.

That being said, you know, if city council wants to move that to another project, that's that your that's your prerogative.

I think that would be a great way to make that commitment to our residents and um you know, four or five projects.

It sounds like you're not talking about big sums of money, um, even if it was for just one, it's not a lot, but it sure would go a long way with bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements, and I am absolutely confident that if we have a project that's short a little bit, you're gonna be able to find the money somewhere else to shift into it.

So I will make a motion to amend hold on the second.

Oh, you're amending, sorry, because there was a motion on the floor.

There was no second.

There wasn't a second.

I understand.

I just want to make sure um I'm pretty sure if someone was gonna second, they would have seconded it by now.

Well, I just want to make sure.

Um so I'm going to make a motion to amend the the budget and move the 150,000 dollars from infrastructure TBD out of um it's account 3031 cap City Facilities Capital Improvement Fund and move it to the citywide infrastructure capital improvement fund 3027 for bicycle pedestrian facilities.

Technically, we'd need to keep it in the same fund, but you can appropriate it to a different project in that fund.

Does my amendment make that impossible for them to do?

Liz, are you needing?

I mean, I'm just look based on I'm just looking at the ordinance in terms of the changes she's making to the ordinance.

Yeah, so it's so that's move moving the penny the fund between the different funds.

We usually would just keep it in that same fund, but just move it to that project.

Okay.

Is that something you can do on the back end, or is it something that I need to um for the motion would just be to move it from one project to the other project instead of moving it between the two funds?

So Liz, just so I'm clear, you're gonna change the name of the infrastructure TBD under the city uh facilities capital improvement to the bicycle pedestrian facilities, and you're gonna make a comment the same way you did that says also where we have them in two different funds, like also in the Modi Model Impact, we would make that same comment.

Okay, okay.

All right.

So do I need to change my motion?

I would say I'd like to.

Sure.

You can you can clarify your motion.

And basically, so just renaming that would do the trick.

Right.

I think essentially replacing the infrastructure TVD with bicycle pedestrian facilities.

All right.

So um I will make a motion to um for the amendment to rename the infrastructure TBD um line in the budget to um instead be named bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the amount of 150,000.

Second.

Are you done?

You have anything else to say?

No, I there's a motion and second, but there's still people that want to have a discussion on it.

So thank you, Chair.

Okay.

Councilmember Gabbard.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, Liz, so I want to just be crystal clear.

District three just talked about uh council member Harding having infrastructure projects.

Can you explain again very clearly?

150,000.

If those projects were to go over, this would be the bucket of money that we would potentially take from.

Can you just because infrastructure, right?

Like this is what residents hear.

So I just want to be crystal clear what you mean when you say if infrastructure projects run over.

It'd be the non-utility, it'd be the penny funded projects.

Penny funded project.

These are the four penny funds.

So if one of uh if there's a project sample fire station two, oh that great example didn't have enough funding, we could go to that 150,000.

Like if we were 20,000 short, we could move it from there to complete the project.

Um, but it wouldn't be used.

Um you could, but most likely we wouldn't use it for the utilities projects because they have their own funding source, but it would be anything in those four penny funds.

Great.

Fire station two, great example.

Can you give me one more example?

Um, street and road improvements, um, bridges, those types of projects.

Understood.

Thank you.

Councilmember Floyd.

Thank you.

I'm digesting it right now a little bit.

Um let me make sure I understand.

So you're saying, say if we were to do this, then we go over on projects as is typical, is what I was hearing from you.

Um that then the projects could slow down because we have to identify another funding source, and we have to probably then you have to bring it to city council, and that's probably a scheduling thing as well.

We would bring it to council either way because we would want you guys to approve the moving it from one project to another.

Okay, okay.

So uh, but you know, there would be time spent uh figuring out where it's going to come from.

Um I mean I I don't know what is that process look like.

Um it just you know it's different every time you get the request.

Um, you know, a a couple years ago is a lot easier because you know, penny revenues were coming in higher than budgeted.

That's not happening now.

Um, you know, there's project closeouts.

If there's funding left over, then it drops the fund ballast that may be available.

But you know, it's just depending on that time and when you get that request.

So it could be really easy.

Oh, we've got it, we can do it, or it could be you know something where we have to work through, maybe look at other projects that are you know, maybe not going forward right away that we may take money from to cover to move this one forward.

So it just really depends on that specific request when you get it.

Okay, thank you.

I'll just say like this amendment.

I again I understand where it's coming from, I respect it, but my stomach churns at like being uh proposed a dichotomy that is like two of my top priorities uh pushed against each other that also interrelate, it sounds like you said street and road projects could be funded by this.

Which, you know, I mean we might we we literally have had complete streets projects that have gone over budget that we then had to go find the funding for, and we would look in a place like this.

So I I struggle with this because I think there are places where we can increase funding for complete streets.

I I know one thing we did this year was uh increase parking fees, and I was very supportive of that.

And I think there's a lot of space to continue to do something like that, and I think that makes a lot of logical sense to find money for safe streets projects with uh with that kind of thing.

Now I don't I think there's a lot of discussion to go around with something like that, but there are examples of places that make sense, and so yeah, struggle with this because now we're putting things interrelated that in opposition to each other.

Uh I just yeah, it's uh I I understand where you're coming from, but I uh yeah, I'm having a hard time with it is where I'll leave that.

Yeah, thank you.

Um I know I saw a couple of people.

Oh, council member Oh, sorry.

Were you you were no longer member Floyd?

Okay.

Thank you.

Um I know I saw a couple people come in.

Um, Evan and Praj.

I don't know if you wanted to add anything in terms of the projects or anything or anything else from administration based on what's been said.

I I think Liz covered it.

Okay.

Um, so I will I will say in terms look, I think the intent is absolutely good in terms of complete streets, and I think it's a it's an important issue for all of us.

But I have the same concerns that council member Floyd mentioned, and when Liz mentioned the fact, because I know they have to move money around when these projects come over the over budget, and it sounds like it sounds like you may solve a problem and then you may cause three other problems on projects that can't move, and I just that they've spent so much time on this budget on figuring out some of the infrastructure things that I am I do get concerned about taking money from a fund that may make sure that a pop project is done if it comes over budget, and it could fall within the same bucket of the things that we care about.

So with that being said, we have a motion and a second on I guess we say J1 amendment.

Okay, clerk, you please open the machine for voting.

Council members, please enter your votes.

Seeing that all present council members voted, clerk please tally and now it's to vote.

Madam Chair, motion to amend agenda item J1 fails two to five with council members Driscoll and Givens voting yes, council members fix Sanders, Floyd, Gabbard, Hannah Witch and Harding voting no, and Councilmember Gurdish being absent.

Thank you.

So at this point, we're supposed to compute the proposed millage rate.

You don't need to we don't need to do anything.

Um since there weren't any amendments that would necessitate.

I just don't want to, I just don't want to skip anything.

Absolutely.

You're allowed to get the IR of legal number nine now.

Not right on track.

Okay.

The proposed millage rate for the city of St.

Petersburg is six six point four five two five mils, which is a 3.93 increase over the rolled back rate of 6.2083 mils.

At this point, we are supposed to consider approving the millage resolution, which is attachment C.

This must be done before adopting the tentative budget and must have a separate vote.

Move approval.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

Clerk, please open the machine for voting.

Council members, please enter your votes.

Seeing that all council members present council members have voted, clerk, please tally anyone else to vote.

Madam Chair, motion to approve a gender item J1A passes unanimously with council member Gurdis being absent.

Okay, at this point, we are gonna move to adopting the mayor's recommended budget.

And there are two steps to this.

The first is a motion to pass the recommended budget slash appropriations ordinance for the city of St.

Petersburg fiscal year ending September 30th, 2026 on first reading.

Councilmember Driscoll.

Thank you.

And um thanks to everyone for the really thoughtful discussion that we've had tonight.

Um in terms of the bike and pedestrian safety, I think we know this is a priority.

We have a real problem with pedestrian injuries and fatalities.

Same thing with bicycles, it has to be addressed.

And so, although that motion failed, I do hope that you heard the people as I did, and we'll look for opportunities to increase funding for this important projects.

Um my colleagues regarding my concerns about the funding for the fire department at the end of the day.

Um there is nothing more important for a municipality than funding public safety.

And at this time, I know I took a lot of time to explain why I think this is important, but at this time I don't feel comfortable with the level of funding and the um the uh budget that we have um in front of us recommended for the fire department that is so important to me that I will not be able to support um this budget as it moves forward.

So when I vote no on something, I want to make sure I explain why.

Um I respect everyone's opinions on this, and I hope you'll respect mine, and I look forward to continuing our discussions as we move forward with whatever budget we end up with.

Thank you, Councilmember Givetz.

Thank you very much, Vice Chair.

Uh, and likewise, you know, I have some serious reservations specifically regarding utility bill assistance, um, and also uh SFIFs as well as act, and I'll expand that by saying I have reservations when it comes to our youth opportunities.

I know we have funded programs, I know we are operating programs, but not enough.

Um, when I look at what's happening in our community, uh specifically regarding gun violence, you know, 20 some year old shot in the streets last week.

Um still on the loose.

Um, there are opportunities for us to reach these kids before they get caught up into the system.

And I don't think that the programs that we're operating right now is gonna cut it.

Um, I also don't think that we are doing all that we can do when it comes to combating food insecurity, and this has been a passion of mine long before I got elected, and so I'll continue to use this platform that I've been elected to occupy uh to use my voice to advocate for those who can't be here to advocate for themselves.

We need to do more in that area.

Uh, when I look at our budget, it's quite robust.

Um, but yet there are some areas that we're still lacking in, and I think that is one.

Uh so I would hope that you know the revised budget that comes to us includes those items that I've raised concerns about.

Uh, and with that, I am done.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

Thank you.

Okay, we have J1B.

I'll entertain a motion.

Move approval.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

Clerk, please open the machine for voting.

Council members, please enter your votes.

Seeing that all present council members have voted, clerk please tally and announce the votes.

Madam Chair, motion to approve agenda item J1B passes five to two with council members fix Sanders, Floyd, Gabbard, Henowitz, and Harding voting yes, council members Driscoll and Givens voting no, and council member Gerdis being absent.

Thank you.

Next, we have a motion to approve resolution adopting the recommended budget/slash appropriations ordinance as passed on first reading as the tentative budget for the city of St.

Petersburg fiscal year ending September 30th, 2026 for consideration, and I'll entertain a motion for approval.

Move approval.

We have a motion and a second clerk.

Please open machine for voting.

Council members, please enter your votes.

Being that all present council members have voted, clerk please tally and announce the votes.

Madam Chair, motion to approve a gender item J1C passes five to two with council members fix Sanders, Floyd, Gabbard, Hanowitz, and Harding voting yes.

Council members Driscoll and Gibbons voting no, and council member Gertis being absent.

Thank you.

The final public hearing on the fiscal year 2026 millage rate and budget shall be on September 25, 2025 at 6 p.m.

in the city council chambers of city hall.

The first public hearing on the fiscal year 2026 millage rate and budget is not closed.

Thank you, everyone, for attending.

Huh?

Oh, sorry, you know what?

Open forum.

Yeah, not so much.

Not so much.

I was looking at my career, honey.

Sorry.

I was looking at my script.

Wait a minute, Screw.

Are we ready to go home too now?

I know.

Sorry.

It's my first time doing this, and I completely forgot that we have something afterwards.

No, you're good.

No, you can't.

That's all right.

Okay.

What'd you say?

You were just joking.

All right.

Yeah.

And saved us.

Okay.

So open forum.

We have no speakers.

Clerk.

Okay, so that we close open forum and now we go to announcements.

Councilmember Givens.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

Again, great job, everybody.

I know this was a tedious task today.

Most of us have been here all day.

Um, but very productive to say the least.

So I just want to commend everybody for their labors.

Um, I thank Councilmember uh Driscoll for bringing forward the proclamation today recognizing ovarian cancer.

Um, because this weekend at the Child's Part Recreation Center, we will be hosting uh free cancer screens um with the Child's Park Neighborhood Association.

So we invite everyone to come out from 9 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

Um if you know anyone who may not have access to health insurance, this is a great opportunity to tell them we have screenings.

There'll be five different types of screenings um for five different types of cancers.

So again, let's do all our all our work to do all we can to put our boots on the ground and stomp out cancer.

So thank you so much, Vice Chair.

Thank you.

Um Councilmember Driscoll.

Thank you.

I just wanted to um extend uh uh a big virtual hug um to our chair Copley Gertis, um, his wife and and family um as they are um managing their way through a difficult time right now.

So my my prayers are with um and um I can't wait to do a real hug.

So that's all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, and yes, we missed um our chair Gertis, he's obviously they have had a loss in the family, and we grieve with them, and um we look forward to seeing him back in chambers.

Thank you, everyone.

Have a nice night.

Good work, everybody for real.

Yes, for real.