St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – April 9, 2026

The St. Petersburg City Council convened on April 9, 2026, for a regular meeting that included multiple proclamations, presentations from community organizations, public comments, and the unanimous approval of three new business referrals. Highlights included the recognition of National Barbershop Harmony Day, Earth Day, National Small Business Week, Black Maternal Health Week, and a special day honoring local racing phenom Nikita Johnson. The council also heard updates from St. Petersburg Aquatics and the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Bill Hillman (2901 Central Ave and two other properties on Central) expressed concerns about the upcoming transit-oriented development overlay vote. He stated he only learned about the vote two weeks ago in a casual conversation with a real estate broker, despite being a long-time property owner since 2003. He noted the city notifies neighbors for fence or storefront changes but not for this major overlay. He visited the zoning department and was referred to Adriana Puentes but did not receive information. Councilmember Gertis directed staff to contact him directly after the meeting.
• Dr. Perry D. Washington (self-identified human rights and civil rights activist) spoke during the second open forum. He demanded accommodation, was disruptive, and criticized council members, stating "You haven't done nothing significant for my people" and that he plans to run for mayor. His time was consumed by a dispute over providing cross streets; he eventually gave an address of 5th Street North and 2nd Avenue.

Proclamations & Presentations

• National Barbershop Harmony Day (April 11, 2026) – Presented by Councilmember Gertis. The Sunshine City Chorus (St. Petersburg chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, chartered in 1946 and rechartered in April 2023) won the state championship in their first year as the newest and smallest group. Director Lance Lubin was recognized for 25 years as president of the Eagle Crest neighborhood. The proclamation encourages celebrating the musical tradition.
• Earth Day (April 22, 2026) – Presented by Councilmember Gabbard. Joined by Maven Rogers (Sustainability and Resilience Director) with her team and representatives from the Sierra Club. Rogers introduced her staff: Casey Evans (resilience coordinator), Nicole Shannabille (sustainability and resilience supervisor), and Bruna Martino Piziachi (energy management specialist). The proclamation encourages individual and collaborative action for a sustainable and resilient future.
• National Small Business Week (May 3–9, 2026) – Presented by Councilmember Harding. Tracy Smith (Greenhouse manager and small business liaison) detailed a week of events, including a citywide business walk on Tuesday, May 5th (Cinco de Mayo), workshops, and a Greenhouse Open House with Food Truck Friday on May 8th. Councilmember Harding noted that small businesses employ over half of all workers and that downtown St. Petersburg has only 2 chain restaurants out of 46.
• Black Maternal Health Week (April 11–17, 2026) – Presented by Councilmember Fig Sanders. Joined by Kaisha Robinson (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority social action chair) and Dr. Mashar Frost (Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative program manager). The proclamation cited statistics: in 2024 in Florida, Black mothers were 2 times more likely to experience a severe obstetric event, 3.2 times more likely to experience maternal death, and nearly 2.6 times more likely to have an infant die before their first birthday. Nearly 70% of these deaths were considered preventable. A panel discussion is scheduled for May 2nd at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Nikita Andreas Johnson Day (April 9, 2026) – Presented by Mayor Welch. Nikita Johnson, 18, is a racing phenom who won the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (42 laps) and holds records for youngest winner in multiple USF Pro Championship categories. He leads the Indy NXT by Firestone championship standings. Mayor Welch noted Johnson lives in Gulfport but races in St. Petersburg. The proclamation recognizes his achievements and role as a representative of the city.
• St. Petersburg Aquatics Presentation – Paul Kurtz, board member, provided an overview of the nonprofit swim club established in 1980. Highlights: 400 year-round swimmers across three sites (North Shore, Walter Fuller, and McLinn), expanding to about 650 in summer; 50,000+ youth served since 1980; coach Fred Lewis has missed only two practices in 38 years; the club is volunteer-powered and offers affordability (coaching fee unchanged since 1988) and scholarships. The club is purchasing a new scoreboard for North Shore Pool (approximately $120,000–$130,000) to be donated to the city. St. Petersburg Aquatics is ranked #21 out of 3,000 swim clubs nationally by USA Swimming. Their alumni include 4 Olympians/Paralympians with a combined 16 medals (13 gold, 3 silver). Councilmember Gertis, a former collegiate swimmer with the club, shared personal appreciation.
• St. Petersburg Arts Alliance Update – Helen French, executive director since August 2025, reported on the organization's role as "connective tissue" for the arts. National context: arts and culture represent a $1.2 trillion industry (larger share of GDP than transportation, agriculture, or utilities). Locally, arts attendees spend an average of $48 per person beyond ticket price; 30% of arts attendees come from outside the county, and 70% of those come specifically for the arts event. The Alliance generates $10 for every $1 invested by the city through sponsorships and grants. Key programs: Second Saturday Art Walk (51 participating galleries), Free Museum Day (10,000 attendees), Performing Arts Month (45+ events), grants program (over $126,000 invested since inception, $50,000 in 2025 supporting 12 artists), and Shine Mural Festival (estimated 12,000 attendees, 19 new murals by local artists in 2025). French announced a performing arts festival planned for 2027 and a new arts cultural tourism grant program launched on April 7, 2026, with Pinellas County. She also highlighted the ACE (Arts for Complete Education) program impacting 93,000 Pinellas County students annually and the Funding Futures scholarship program for young creatives.

Discussion Items

• G1 – Referral to Youth and Family Services Committee (Councilmember Gertis): Requested an update on ARPA-funded programs, including youth opportunity grant programs. The item was submitted as a staff request to inform city council.
• G2 – Referral to PSI Committee (Chair Hanowitz): Requested an update on the progressive design-build process for the redevelopment of the municipal marina, including project timeline and phasing. Moved to accommodate scheduling constraints after conversations with Councilmember Gertis.
• G3 – Referral to BFNT Committee (Chair Hanowitz): Requested a discussion of the general obligation bond, including potential projects and referendum language. This referral was intended to alleviate scheduling conflicts between the PSI and BFNT committees, allowing the marina and airport topics to be handled separately from the GO bond discussion.

Key Outcomes

• All three new business items (G1, G2, G3) passed unanimously (8-0).
• The proclamations and presentations were received without formal vote but were approved by consensus.
• Staff committed to contacting Bill Hillman regarding his concerns about the transit overlay.
• Councilmember Gabbard was recognized for her birthday (April 22), and the council noted the pet photo contest deadline of April 10th (Hug Your Pet Day).