St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - April 16, 2026

The St. Petersburg City Council met on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 6:30 PM to address a wide range of business including consent agenda items, public comments, proclamations, several ordinance readings and resolutions, and a lengthy public hearing on the Sunrunner BRT Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) overlay. Key decisions included passing a Fair Housing Month proclamation, approving the 13th Street Heights neighborhood plan, amending the TOD overlay to eliminate parking minimums near Sunrunner stations, and advancing a water main replacement project on Beach Drive and North Shore Drive.

Consent Calendar

• Fire Training Complex Project (Item CB5): Councilmember Driscoll highlighted this item as a significant step forward for the long-sought project. The consent agenda was approved unanimously (Councilmember Floyd absent).
• Water Main Replacement on Beach Drive and North Shore Drive (Item F4): Engineering Director Brajesh Premium presented details of a major project to replace approximately 14,000 linear feet of aging water main (installed 1950s/1960s) along a heavily trafficked corridor. The project, affecting the Old Northeast neighborhood, will feature daytime work (7 AM – 5 PM), lane closures, and seven-day advance notices to residents. No service interruptions are anticipated. The item was approved unanimously.
• Shoreacres Pump Station Long-Lead Items (Item F5): Brajesh Premium also presented an update on the Shoreacres pump station project, authorizing early purchase of long-lead items (generators, pumps, etc.) to expedite the grant-funded project. The council approved the item unanimously. Councilmember Harding noted the project would eliminate daytime flooding for a third or more of Shoreacres and improve access for the LCC Day School.
• Consent Agenda Items (including CB5): A motion was made to approve the consent agenda. Councilmember Driscoll specifically called attention to item CB5 regarding the fire training complex project. The motion passed unanimously (Councilmember Floyd absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Open Forum – Housing Issues:
  • Trevor McMallory (4501 6th Street South) spoke in favor of Fair Housing Month, emphasizing that housing is a fundamental pillar of democracy and that fair housing policies are essential for inclusive neighborhoods and generational wealth.
  • Keandra Darling (873 Newton Avenue South), a fourth-generation resident, called for urgent action and accountability on fair housing. She cited a 20-to-1 disparity in mortgage originations for Black residents (only 4% of new originations) and urged the council to conduct formal lending audits.
  • Manny Williams (300 Eighth Street North, Apt 1202) described severe habitability issues at the Portland apartment building, including mold, pests, and uncertainty about his living situation. Administration staff offered to follow up.
  • Greg Wasmand (300 Eighth Street North, Apt 1202) echoed concerns about the Portland building, citing a failed key fob security system and numerous un-repaired violations. He requested a full inspection of the building.
• Public Hearing – Sunrunner BRT TOD Overlay (Item J3): Multiple speakers voiced support for eliminating parking minimums within the overlay and near stations.
  • Kristen Ehrlich (Connect Pinellas) supported removing parking minimums, noting they increase development costs and reduce housing options.
  • John Tyler (3701 13th Avenue North) supported the overlay, arguing that parking mandates favor corporate chains over local businesses and that removing them would revitalize the west side of 34th Street.
  • Gillian Bandies (828 28th Avenue North) supported the overlay and urged the council to be bold in removing parking mandates to support transit, biking, and walkability.
  • Justin Cornway (1026 9th Avenue South), representing Campbell Park Neighborhood Association and Activate St. Pete, supported removal of parking mandates within a quarter-mile of Sunrunner stations, noting that mandating parking adds 17% to rent costs.
  • Max McCann (2648 Third Avenue South), a PSTA board member, supported removing parking mandates citywide, arguing they force property owners to build parking regardless of demand. He cited a personal example where a contractor required three parking spaces for an ADU, which would have killed the project.
  • Neil Camardella (24th Street and 2nd Avenue South) urged removal of all parking minimums, citing over 100 U.S. cities that have abolished them. He argued that parking mandates increase rents by $200 per month and force housing affordability to suffer.
  • Nicholas Ignary (Historic Kenwood Neighborhood Association) expressed concern that reduced or eliminated parking would shift overflow parking into the Kenwood neighborhood, and requested a study on impacts and mitigation strategies such as residential parking permits.
  • Manny Leto (Preserve the Burg) supported the overlay but urged protections for historic structures along Central Avenue, noting that older buildings house most local businesses and have a strong economic impact.
  • Tara Hubbard (47th Street and 6th Avenue South) supported the overlay without parking requirements, and also suggested tree preservation incentives (FAR bonuses or setback variances) to protect old-growth canopy trees.
  • Margaret Kinsey Rushing (827th Avenue South) supported the overlay, citing her granddaughter's difficulty parking downtown and the burden of parking mandates on young workers and affordable housing.

Discussion Items

• Parent Pro Tech Awareness Campaign (Item F3): Councilmember Gabbard introduced an awareness campaign from the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) aimed at keeping children safe online, especially during summer months. The resource is free to all Pinellas County households. As of the meeting, 900 subscribers had signed up since December 2025. Chief Holloway noted that St. Petersburg police average 9-10 hits per week from online child predators and that the program's success depends on parent involvement. The council discussed distributing materials through rec centers, newsletters, and community events.
• 13th Street Heights Neighborhood Plan (Item F1): Kaylee from the city's Neighborhood Relations department presented the finalized plan for the 13th Street Heights neighborhood within the South St. Pete CRA. Key recommendations include improved tree coverage, enhanced neighborhood signage, Silver Lake Park improvements (trash cans with lids, gazebo/fountain repairs, additional seating/shade), pothole repairs, paved alleys, PSTA partnership for bus stop improvements, grants for local business facades, and increased use of the Eagle Eye safety program. The plan was approved unanimously.
• House Bill 1217 (Net Zero Bill) Referral (Item G1): Councilmember Gabbard requested a referral to the Health, Energy, Resilience, and Sustainability (HERS) committee to discuss the impact of House Bill 1217 on the city's Integrated Sustainability Action Plan (ISAP). The item was approved unanimously.
• WRDA Resolution for Canal Dredging (Item G2): Councilmember Gabbard presented a resolution supporting the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and urging Congress to include dredging of St. Petersburg canals for flood mitigation. The resolution was approved unanimously.
• HLUT Action Item – Gas Plant Site ULI Study (Item H1A): Councilmember Harding presented a request from the HLUT committee to move forward with Phase 2 of the ULI Tampa Bay study of the historic gas plant site. After clarification from Councilmember Gabbard that Phase 1 (information gathering) and Phase 2 (community interviews) can proceed in parallel, the item was approved 6-1 (Councilmember Sanders voting no; Councilmember Floyd absent).
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Update (Item F2): Staff reported that a notice inviting competing proposals for the AMI system was posted the day before the meeting, triggering a 30-day public response period. This followed the receipt of an unsolicited proposal. The update was received without questions.

Key Outcomes

• Fair Housing Month and Arbor Day Proclamations: Proclamations for Fair Housing Month (April 2026) and Arbor Day (via the Green Thumb Festival, April 25-26, 2026) were presented and accepted.
• Ordinances Setting Public Hearings: Two ordinances (E1 – aviation code amendments; E2 – taxiway A rehabilitation grant acceptance) were approved on first reading, with public hearings set for May 14, 2026.
• Settlement Approval (I1): The council approved a $125,000 settlement in the case of Charlotte Heff v. City of St. Petersburg, arising from a garbage truck accident that caused a fracture. The vote was unanimous (Councilmember Floyd absent).
• 13th Street Heights Neighborhood Plan (F1): Approved unanimously. Implementation may use CRA funding pending future approval by the CAC (which lacked a quorum on April 7).
• Parent Pro Tech (F3): No formal vote required; the presentation was informational and directed at spreading awareness.
• House Bill 1217 Referral (G1): Approved unanimously, sending the item to the HERS committee.
• WRDA Resolution (G2): Approved unanimously.
• HLUT Action Item (H1A): Approved 6-1 (Councilmember Sanders opposed; Councilmember Floyd absent).
• Sunrunner BRT TOD Overlay (J3) – Amended: The council passed two amendments: (1) establishing zero minimum parking required within the overlay and within a quarter-mile of Sunrunner stations (unanimous, with Councilmember Harding recusing), and (2) exempting floor area for any building 50 years of age or older that is retained and restored (unanimous, with Councilmember Harding recusing). The amended ordinance was then approved as amended unanimously (Councilmember Floyd absent; Councilmember Harding recused). The second reading and public hearing is set for May 14, 2026.