St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - December 4, 2025

The City of St. Petersburg Council convened on December 4, 2025, with all elected officials present to address public safety, community development, and housing issues. The meeting featured a public report on homelessness in Pinellas County highlighting a record low count but significant funding threats from federal policy changes, alongside unanimous approvals for legal settlements, capital improvements, and historic designations. Council members expressed strong support for city employees' health services and called for future reviews on large-scale special events in parks.

Consent Calendar

• The Council unanimously approved the Consent Agenda, which included routine administrative items and resolutions with no member objections.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Phil Graham (Founder, Waterfront Parks Foundation): Expressed strong concern regarding the negative impact of large-scale special events on downtown parks. He requested a formal review of current regulations to better balance event economics with park preservation, citing issues with noise, extensive setup times, and physical damage. He proposed the formation of a committee including citizens, vendors, and staff to review standards.

Discussion Items

• Point-in-Time Count (F1): Sherry Holzbacher (Homeless Leadership Alliance) and Kathleen Beckham (Pinellas County Continuum of Care) presented the 2025 count data. They reported that while the total count of 1,863 (1,325 sheltered, 538 unsheltered) was the lowest on record, with a 12% overall decrease, there are rising concerns for specific demographics. Specifically, there was a 23% increase in unsheltered individuals aged 65+, and a 10% increase in unsheltered veterans. They highlighted a critical 70% reduction in federal non-competitive funding (from 90% to 30%), creating a high risk of increased homelessness if replacement funds are not secured.
• Wellness Center (F4): The Council received testimony from the OHI West team. Councilmember Driscoll shared a personal position of deep gratitude and support, stating that the provider "saved my life" by rapidly diagnosing and treating a rare, aggressive cancer she contracted. Councilmember Floyd and Councilmember Harding expressed full support for the Wellness Center, praising its accessibility, speed of care, and hospitality as a vital benefit comparable to the National Health Service.
• Tropicana Field Updates (F2): Beth Herrendine provided a status update, noting progress on Hurricane Milton repairs and the receipt of additional insurance payments totaling $10.287 million. She expressed confidence in the substantial completion timeline for stadium repairs.
• San Martin Bridge Utility Relocation (F5): City Staff explained the necessity of proactively relocating utilities underwater via horizontal directional drilling to prevent delays during the county's future bridge replacement scheduled for early 2027.
• Waterfront Parks Sod Replacement (F6): Barbara Stalbridge confirmed that FEMA-funded sod replacement is underway in four parks impacted by Hurricane Idalia, with the project near completion.
• Special Events Referral (G1): Vice Chair Hanowitz moved to refer co-sponsorship agreements for special events to the Committee of the Whole. She argued that large events causing park closures for up to nine days and subsequent damage require a comprehensive review of standards, fees, and mitigation strategies.
• Main Street District Funding (G2): Councilmember Givens moved to refer funding for Main Street districts to the Economic and Workforce Development Committee. He emphasized the need to secure increased annual funding to address rising costs of living, with a commitment from the sponsor to work alongside administration to identify specific funding sources.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimously Approved: Proposed settlement in Anthony Sang v. City of St. Petersburg for $60,000 to resolve a police vehicle accident lawsuit.
• Unanimously Approved: Designation of the Abbey Ubham House as a local historic landmark.
• Unanimously Approved: Annual update to the Capital Improvements Element (CIP) for fiscal years 2026–2030, confirming all facilities remain within level-of-service standards.
• Unanimously Approved: Extension of the five-year agreement with OHI West to operate the city Wellness Center.
• Unanimously Approved: Disposition of the Science Center property and authorization for its sale/revitalization.
• Unanimously Approved: Utility relocation project for the San Martin Bridge (Items F5A and F5B).
• Unanimously Approved: Ordinances regarding municipal elections, police/firefighter retirement systems, and municipal channel operation.
• Unanimously Approved: Vacation of a specific 25-by-60 foot dead-end right-of-way.
• Referenced: Request to convene a discussion on special event regulations and Main Street district funding.
• Action Required: The item regarding the Science Center easement (F6) was tabled to correct a mathematical discrepancy in the resolution's financial figures, to be revisited during public hearings.