St. Petersburg City Council Meeting: May 21, 2026 – Awards, Reports, and Resolutions
St. Petersburg City Council Meeting: May 21, 2026 – Awards, Proclamations, Police Report, and Employee Recognition
The St. Petersburg City Council met on May 21, 2026, beginning at approximately 3:15 PM EDT. The lengthy meeting featured numerous awards and proclamations, a quarterly report from the Police Department, an update on employee recognition programs, and unanimous approval of several consent items. The meeting opened with a report on an emergency procurement for the South Branch Library fire remediation (estimated $169,000) and closed with council announcements. Key statistics included a 7% overall crime reduction in Q1 2026, over 55,000 EMS responses in 2025, and 76 employees recognized for 20+ years of service.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the agenda with the addition of F3 (resolution to change the start time of the May 28, 2026 council meeting) – passed unanimously.
- F3: Resolution changing the start time of the May 28 council meeting – passed unanimously.
- H1: Resolution amending the city’s investment policy to allow more flexibility in overnight investments – passed unanimously.
- H2: Request to move forward with comprehensive plan changes regarding speed management strategies – passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jason Scott (4636 Redfish Lane SE) criticized Duke Energy for overcharging residents by $90 million in storm recovery costs and expressed strong support for the city’s feasibility study to explore alternatives to Duke Energy. He noted that Duke Energy knew about the overcollection since November 2025 but only acted in 2026, advertising the correction as a reduction.
- A second speaker (5034 30th Ave N) thanked the council for the feasibility study and voiced concern about misleading AI-generated advertisements (from fake news sites like Tampa Business Daily) that appear designed to oppose the study, questioning if Duke Energy funded them.
Proclamations and Awards
- Distinguished Citizen Award – Gillian Freers: Councilmember Driscoll presented the award to the proprietress of The Chattaway restaurant (operating for 75 years) for her community contributions. Councilmembers Harding and Gibbons also spoke.
- Distinguished Citizen Award – Alex Kaufman, George Retkees, Laura Spencer: Councilmember Gurtis presented the award for creating the Sunshine City Mosaic at Sunset Park, a 175-foot-long mosaic with 15,000 tiles.
- Older Americans Month & Senior Hall of Fame: Mayor Welch read a proclamation for May 2026, and 11 seniors were inducted into the Senior Hall of Fame, including Lizzie Latimer (age 90) who still volunteers. The inductees collectively contributed over 900 years of volunteer service.
- National Public Works Week (May 17–23): Mayor Welch recognized public works employees, highlighting a video from Sylvia Rosario (first Hispanic female chief plant operator) and honoring seven women in public works, including Jennifer Anderson, Maureen Wingfield, and Michaela Klem.
- Law Enforcement Appreciation Month (May): Mayor Welch and Chief Holloway accepted the proclamation. Councilmembers praised the department’s responsiveness.
- EMS Week (May 17–23): Councilmember Fake Sanders read the proclamation. Fire Chief Keith Watts reported over 55,000 EMS responses and 63,000 total apparatus responses in 2025. The department has 375 sworn members.
- Water Safety Month (May): Councilmember Gurtis read the proclamation, noting that in 2025 Pinellas County had 27 drowning fatalities (25 children). Parks and Rec reported that a joint car wash raised $1,800 for free swim lessons.
- Nick Grasso Day (May 21): Councilmember Gurtis proclaimed the day in honor of former athletic director and principal Nick Grasso. He was inducted into the FHSAA Hall of Fame. A former student, Esther, credited him with her success.
- Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May): Aliza Punzelin Randall read the proclamation, recognizing community members and the sister city relationship with Takamatsu, Japan. A festival was announced for the weekend.
- Memorial Tribute for Robin Reed: The council honored the late preservation advocate with a resolution and multiple speakers, including her husband Joe, historians Gary Mormino and Ray Arsenal, planning director Derek Kilborn, and Preserve the Burg director Manny Leto. Councilmembers shared personal stories. Councilmember Driscoll announced plans to plant a tree in her honor at Williams Park.
Discussion Items
- St. Petersburg Police Department Quarterly Report (Q1 2026) – Chief Holloway presented: Overall crime down 8% compared to Q4 2025; homicides 3 (all cleared); 89 guns recovered; drone program now has 36 pilots and 11 drones, with a new hive system that responds within 5 minutes; the Eagle Eye camera program is transitioning to an Axon system, but will run concurrently after councilmember concerns; path unit made 980 contacts, 57% accepted services. Councilmembers asked about e-bike enforcement, privacy safeguards for drones, and the timeline for the Axon transition. The department will provide a tour of the real-time intelligence center for council.
- Employee Recognition Committee Update – Ms. Jordan presented: The committee recognized 76 employees with 20+ years of service at the May ceremony. They unveiled a new rebranding with award badges incorporating the city seal and hex tiles. The Servant Leadership Award was renamed the Gary Cornwell Award. Marketing materials are available for council newsletters. Year-to-date, 495 kudos nominations are on track.
Key Outcomes
- All consent items (F3, H1, H2) and the agenda were approved unanimously.
- Council received the police quarterly report and employee recognition update without formal votes.
- Councilmember Driscoll raised concerns about receiving no response to public records requests regarding the mayor’s office’s tables at the Equality Florida gala and the status of the Eckelman sculpture. She stated that a memo on the sculpture is expected by the end of the week.
- Councilmember Gabbard announced two workshops for the Grow St. Pete Together urban agriculture initiative on May 26 and June 11.
- Councilmember Givens announced Memorial Day flag placement at Lincoln Cemetery on May 23 at 8 a.m.
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:15 PM EDT.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the City of St. Petersburg City Council meeting. Your elected officials are Mayor Ken Welch. District 1, Popley Gurdis, District 2, Brandy Gabbard, District 3, Mike Harding, District 4, and Council Chair, Lizette Panowitz, District 5, Deborah Fake Sanders. District 6, Gina Driscoll. District 7, Corey Gibbons Jr. And District 8 and Council Vice Chair, Richie Floyd. Okay, welcome everyone to the May 21st, 2026, City Council Meeting Clerk. We will please have a roll call. Here. If you can please stand for our invocation, and then please remain standing for our pledge of allegiance. Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon, sir. Let us pray. Let us pray. Please turn your phones off. Almighty God, source of every good gift and the author of all just governance. We pause at the opening of this assembly to seek your blessing upon the work of this council and the people it serves. We thank you for the city of St. Petersburg. For the beauty of its waterfront, the vitality of its neighborhood, and the extraordinary diversity of its people. Grant that gratitude for what we have received, may sharpen our resolve to care for what has been given to us. We pray for the members of this council. Give them wisdom to discern, courage to act, and humility to listen. Where the path forward is clear, grant them resolve. Where it is uncertain, grant them patience. And where they disagree, grant them the grace to differ without contempt. Remembering always that they serve not their own interests but the common good. Today this body will honor citizens that have given themselves for the sake of their neighbors. We thank you for their lives of quiet faithfulness for those who build community not for recognition, but because they believe the city is worth the effort, may their exam example kindle the same spirit in all of us. Bless the men and women of the city, police department, its emergency medical services, and its public works. Those who protect, heal, and sustain the daily life of this community. May we never take their service for granted. No God in a world too often fractured by suspicion and self-interest. Make this council a sign of what is possible when people of good will gather to seek the flourishing of their neighbors. May the work done here today bear fruit in justice and safety in the common life of this beloved city. In your holy name we pray. Amen. Amen. 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. Thank you. If you may all be seated, thank you, Reverend, for that wonderful invitation. Council members, we have an agenda before us with an addition of F3, a resolution changing the start time of the May 28th, 2026 council meeting. I'll entertain the motion for approval. We have a motion, a second. Clerk, if you can 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 vote.
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