Welcome to the City of St.

Petersburg City Council meeting.

Your elected officials are Mayor Ken Welch.

District 1, Hopley Girdis.

District 2, Brandy Gabbard.

District 3, Mike Harding.

District 4.

And Council Chair, Lissette Hanowitz.

District 5, Deborah Fig Sanders.

District 6, Gina Driscoll.

District 7, Corey Gibbons Jr.

And District 8 and Council Vice Chair, Richie Floyd.

Welcome everyone to the July 16th, 2026 City Council meeting.

Clerk, could I please have a roll call?

Givens?

Here.

Gerdis.

Here.

Here.

Harding.

Hannah Witz.

Here.

Driscoll.

Today we are going to have our invocation given by Council Member Copley Girdis.

If you can stand if you're able to, and then please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you so much.

Please bow your heads.

This is the day the Lord has made.

Rejoice and be glad.

We rejoice today for a lot of reasons, Lord.

We rejoice for our residents.

Not only the ones here, but the ones throughout our city, maybe even ones traveling.

We rejoice for their community that they give us on a daily basis in this great city.

We rejoice for our employees.

Those who go out every day and do the work of this city to provide for those very residents.

Those that go out and put their lives on the line to protect us on a daily basis.

Who lead those employees, those first responders, who try to lead from the front.

And we rejoice for this council.

I rejoice for this council.

For the daily work that they put in, for the love of this community, for the love of those residents, those employees, this administration, for the daily work of trying to make St.

Petersburg a city.

You are proud of.

We celebrate our residents.

We do the work for those residents.

And you have trusted us to do that work.

So we ask today that you continue to bless this city, this administration, this council, that we can continue to do that work today and every day going forward.

And we ask this in your name.

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.

You may be seated.

Thank you, Councilmember Gertes, for that beautiful invocation.

Thank you.

Okay, council members.

We have an agenda before us.

I'll entertain a motion for approval.

Second.

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 announce the vote.

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

Thank you.

We have a consent agenda before us.

Do we have any cards?

Cards, Madam Chair.

Okay, thank you.

And before we go to open forum, I just want to let everyone know Council Member.

I'm sorry?

Well on the consent agenda.

Oh, on the consent.

Yeah, sorry.

Uh and I just want to say before I forget, um, Councilmember Driscoll is out due to ongoing medical issues, and so I want to make sure everyone was aware.

Okay, with that being said, uh, Council Vice Chair Floyd.

Thank you.

I have a question about uh CA2.

Uh I don't know if there's anybody that can answer it.

Gotta pull up what CA2 is.

Yeah, quickly.

I'm sorry.

Surveillance cameras.

This is about the L LA force, yeah, PSA, L L C.

It's just mostly I want clarity that this is not PD.

It is for all of our camera networks citywide.

Okay.

Uh we're I've been getting a lot of questions about uh surveillance cameras lately, and so I wanted to make clear that this was not the same thing that people have been asking about.

No, and typically these are, you know, we don't have all the equipment that uh we don't own all the equipment, so we need basket trucks to go up and fix cameras and and and underground um the the conduit from from the center uh from the PD building, which is where our data center is to other areas throughout the city.

So it's a lot of different services for uh city facilities.

Correct.

Thank you.

That's all.

Thank you.

Okay.

No further questions, clerk.

If you can open the machine, we have a motion.

We don't have a motion.

Motion and 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 announce the vote.

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

Thank you.

Are there any speakers for open forum?

We do.

We do.

We have one speaker.

Yes, please.

If you ask your address, excuse me, 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 form sheet.

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

All issues discussed under open form 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 form when the item comes up on the agenda.

Applause is not permitted except in connection with awards and presentations.

In order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address council, each individual will be given three minutes to speak, and after which the microphone will be muted.

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

When it is your turn to speak, you have been 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 the three-minute time limit on comments, the requirement that any presentation of materials must be submitted in advance of the meeting, and the rules of decorum.

If live public comment is disrupted by violations of the rules of decorum, the chair is authorized to accept public comment by alternate means, including by email only.

Not on Zoom.

Peter Michler, please go to either podium, state your name, address, or cross street, and you have three minutes to address City Council.

Thank you.

Um and thank you, members of the council for serving and uh for everyone here today.

Uh my name is Pete Michler.

I live in St.

Petersburg at 4715 Bay Street Northeast.

Besides having been a longtime St.

Pete business owner, I currently serve in Pastoral Ministry and as an employee of a non-for-profit ministry on 22nd Street South.

I attended the June 11th meeting to celebrate the Faith and Family Month proclamation.

Those of us who came were not there to criticize anyone's lifestyle, anyone else's lifestyle, family structure, or special observance.

We simply came to recognize an institution that has been understood throughout history and by Christians from the opening pages of scripture as the foundation of every healthy society, the family, the family, founded on the lifelong covenant of a husband and wife devoted to raising children.

And we were taken by surprise.

Instead, the proclamation was renamed Inclusive Faith and Family Month, and language was inserted redefining the very institution it was intended to recognize.

It was intended.

I have I should say I have been informed that it was Mayor Welch's office that added that language, but I also know that that would have only been done done so at the urging of members of this council.

The addition of the word inclusive suggested that the original proclamation was somehow exclusionary.

It was not.

It wasn't exclusionary, it simply celebrated the family structure that has always been recognized as society's primary institution for nurturing children and building strong communities.

Every person possesses equal dignity and deserves equal respect.

But equal dignity does not mean every family structure produces equally good outcomes for children.

Those are two entirely different questions.

The evidence is overwhelming.

Children on average do best when raised by their married mother and father.

That does not diminish the indignity of single parents or other caregivers who make extraordinary sacrifices every day.

It simply acknowledges a reality that good public policy should encourage rather than diminish or obscure.

The Christian vision of marriage and family is not a message of exclusion.

It is an invitation to flourishing.

When troubled, what troubled many of us was not simply the added language, it was the apparent determination that a proclamation celebrating faith and family could not be permitted to stand on its own terms.

We do not ask that pride proclamations be rewritten to include our convictions.

We simply ask for the same respect in return.

Many of us will be paying closer attention to the actions of this council.

We expect our elected leaders to strengthen the institutions that have served our community so well, not redefine or diminish them because they have an ideological controversy.

Thank you, sir.

Next speaker.

No more speakers, madam.

Okay.

Any and none on on uh okay.

Thank you.

Okay, we close open forum, and now we go to oh council member given, sorry, I didn't say your name.

Just wanted to comment on a commentary that was being made while our constituent was here speaking.

I don't think it's appropriate for council to be making comments as we're getting public comments.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Okay.

Let's not make any commentary.

If we want to make commentary, I think we can press the button and make it in public.

So with that being said, um, I didn't hear anyone press their button.

And if there was anything that was heard on the, you know, that is caught in the microphone.

I think I guess you can hear it in the recording, but there was no button pressed, and maybe there was something that was caught on the mic, and if that said, then well, I guess that then we'll hear that.

Okay.

With that being said, um, we go down to awards and presentations, which is what I think the majority of you are here for.

So uh D1 is the ADA day proclamation.

It's council member Gertis who's gonna present this award.

Thank you very much, madam chair, and uh, I'd invite Megan Young, our uh ADA coordinator, and I think we have some other city staff too, and Cappy members, and you know what the heck?

Why didn't everybody come on up?

Let's come on, come join me.

Oh my goodness.

Yes, yay.

Got Matt Walker from Empowered Abilities Foundation and a bunch, as you can see, a bunch of other guests, council members, uh very excited to be joined uh by a lot of my friends.

Yay.

So it's been my honor on council uh I think the last four years to present this proclamation uh to you, and uh there is no different honor today.

Uh it's been a blessing of mine to be the appointee to the Cappy Committee.

Um little glimpse into the future, that name might change.

We're looking at it.

Um, but uh just the blessings that it has bestowed on me from a perspective of just a loving group of people that care deeply about our city, to trying to make our city more accessible to investing in our city and its in accessibility, and frankly, from an understanding and knowledge standpoint, I have learned far more than I'm sure they have learned from me, Chair.

And so um it's just been a blessing to know all of you.

Uh, I want to thank Megan for taking over the reins for Lendell, she's done an amazing job.

I want to thank all of my other Cappy members, all of the organizations that are here today, know that this council stands with you and continues to fight to make sure that you uh continue to have a beautiful place to call your home.

So it's my pleasure to present this proclamation.

Whereas July 26, 2026 marks the 36th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and whereas the ADA has improved access to government services, programs, transportation, public places, communication, and information technology.

And whereas the city established the committee to advocate for persons with impairments or CAPI in 1972, 18 years before ADA, with the purpose to serve as an advisory group who would advocate, advise and formulate positions on issues facing persons with impairments and provide advice and guidance relative to affairs, concerns, rights, and special needs of persons with impairments to ensure their full participation in the city's facilities, programs, and services.

And whereas CAPI has advocated and funded many services, including closed cap closed captioning of all city council meetings, handicapped accessible aluminum docks for the St.

Petersburg Sailing Center, closed captioning related to disasters and emergencies, beach wheelchairs, and ADA training for city staff.

And whereas the City of St.

Petersburg has a long-standing commitment to the Americans with Disabilities Act and continues to strive to provide programs and services to all segments of the community.

Now, therefore, I, Councilmember Copley Gurtis, on behalf of Kenneth T.

Welch, mayor of the City of St.

Petersburg, do hereby declare Sunday, July 26, 2026, as Americans with Disabilities Act Day in St.

Petersburg and call upon all residents to recognize that understanding and compliance with the ADA is the surest means to guarantee equal opportunities for all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, members of council.

For those of you I have not yet met, my name is Megan Young, and I'm honored to be serving as your new ADA coordinator.

I am, however, not new to the city, as my previous administrator, Mike Jeffries likes to say.

It starts in parks.

I'd like to thank the mayor and city council for recognizing the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and for your continued commitment to ensuring accessibility for all of the city's residents, visitors, and employees.

I'd like to specifically thank Councilmember Gertis for his leadership with our Cappy Committee, as well as Councilmember Fig Sanders for her dedicated work on the Pinellas County Council for Persons with Disabilities.

I'd also like to recognize our wonderful Cappy members, our local disability organization partners, and our city teams and liaisons who work every day to remove barriers and ensure equal access for all.

Making an entire city accessible is a massive undertaking, and it takes a dedicated team to do it.

Disability is a unique demographic.

It is one that any of us can become a part of any day.

Here in St.

Pete, approximately 12% of our residents, more than 33,000 people live with a disability.

For them, accessibility isn't just a policy on a piece of paper.

It's how they navigate daily life, get to work, and enjoy our beautiful city.

We carry the same dedication to the millions of visitors with accessibility needs who travel here for our world-class events and spaces.

This commitment also begins from within.

Statistically, one in five of our own city members navigate a disability daily.

Ensuring they have the adaptive tools and accessible workplaces they need is vital.

Looking ahead, the ADA landscape is changing fast.

We must keep accessibility at the forefront of our decisions.

While we continuously improve our physical infrastructure programs and services, our ADA lens is also expanding to our digital footprint.

We have built an incredible foundation here, supported by a passionate committee of advocates and community members.

Thank you.

We have a couple more.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you, Matt.

Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, members of council.

My name is Shelley Graham, and I'm an administrative assistant for the budget and management team and the Office of the City Auditor.

I'm here today to put a face with what we call Americans with disabilities.

This isn't just an act we celebrate on a specific day.

As Megan said, it's everyday life.

Sorry, I'm gonna try to get through this.

It's everyday life for people that live with disabilities visual and not visual.

My story is that I became disabled a few years ago unexpectedly as an amputee.

I really was gonna get through this, I promise.

Um it's really something that can happen to anyone.

I don't share this as a scare, but awareness, living with a permanent disability can look different day to day and even year to year.

Accessibility and accommodation are oftentimes seen as luxuries or extras.

They are not a luxury or an extra.

They are the basics to a person's well-being.

Personally, as a city employee, I'm proud to work for an organization that genuinely supports its staff and the departments that are committed to helping individuals with special needs.

I will take this opportunity every single time to say how grateful I am for the departments and the directors for their ongoing support.

I also want to take a moment to recognize Megan Young for her dedication.

She consistently ensures that the things that might seem small to others that are not so small continue to get the education and the care they deserve.

Thank you for your commitment on this council to creating a city where we live, work, play, and include accessibility and meaningful accommodations as a part of everyday life.

Happy ADA Day.

Yep.

And the one and the only Matt Walker.

Run me over, man.

You good.

Well, well, well, good afternoon, Council.

How is it?

How is everyone?

How is everyone this afternoon?

Great.

Um, my name is my name is Matt Walker, and I am representing a a I'm I'm representing local um local local advocates that aren't here with us.

Um I'm also representing PARC as one of their as one of their ambassadors.

Um, I'm also representing um my own foundation, the Empowered Abilities Foundation as the founding director.

Um and the and the incredible work and the incredible dedication of our city staff has not gone has not gone unnoticed.

I'll I'll give you a little bit of background on me.

First, 13 seasons of Tampa Bay Ray's communications experience.

Secondly, five years of nonprofit experience before having to relocate to Burbard County due to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

Now, just because I was relocated, don't think I was not I wasn't I was not advocating because I was um and um and I was honestly blessed to find the capability to be able to come back, restart, and rebuild so I so I want you all to understand that sometimes it takes phase by phase to rebuild, just like it takes a program phase by face to rebuild.

We want inclusion to stay at the forefront of everybody's focus.

That is that is what myself and Megan Young and Sean Druin and Lisa Emory and everybody from Project Free are here to state to you that inclusion is 100% the goal, and not only that, inclusion is and will be the main mission of what we do for all of our citizens all over all over Penalth County, not just here in not just here in our beautiful Sunshine City.

Thank you guys.

Thank you.

Councilmember Fig Sanders.

Well, thank you so much.

And I am so glad to see you all today.

You all made such a wonderful appearance last year, and I I have to Megan.

Now, when we first met, I told you you had some really big shoes to fill.

I must admit, you're wearing them well, girlfriend.

You're doing a phenomenal job, Mason.

So you know, when you made your presentation at Pinellas County with persons with disabilities, you did a phenomenal job.

Councilmember Gertis, thank you for staying on top of being such a strong advocate.

Because a lot of times people think that all disabilities are seen, and they are not.

They're not seen.

Those that get the help and those that need it, they are not seen.

And so for you to continue to want to advocate for our residents and our citizens that need their special love, that unique kind of love because you are just that special and unique.

So I want to thank you all for being here, and again, what a wonderful proclamation and a wonderful reason to celebrate today.

Thanks for coming.

What I want to echo what Councilmember Fig Sandre said, you know, Councilmember Gertis, you do a great job with Cappy and advocating for the ADA.

Um, and everyone here in our city.

Uh Megan, welcome aboard.

We're very happy to have you, and of course, all everyone in Cappy and for the work that you do.

Um, I've said this before, and Shelly mentioned it again today.

You know, they're you know, we go through life a lot of times taking for granted the things that we have, and we never know what the future holds before us.

And you know, when you're young, you know, it's you don't think about what can happen later on, right?

And I will tell you, you know, Mike, my mom, you know, she had Parkinson's and rheumatoid arthritis, and she needed a lot of assistance throughout her life.

When she was like, she got rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson's, I think in the late 50s, she was like in her 50s, and so she was still young.

I'm saying that because I'm I'm I'm there, but he was still relatively young, and you know, and more and more she needed assistant life, and so my point in bringing that is that it is true that a lot of people do not appreciate all the work that you all are doing in the foundation that you're laying down to make our city and our country really more accessible to everyone.

Okay, it shouldn't be more difficult for you, and it shouldn't be easier for us or anyone else.

It should be as easily accessible to everyone, no matter where they are in life, and so I just want to say that out there that I am so appreciative of the work that you do, and it takes a lot of work, and you have to know that you have the support of all of City Council here, and we're always hearing you on, and we love seeing you here in City Hall.

So I hope to see you next year.

Okay, okay, thank you.

Okay.

Well, with that said, we're gonna move on to the next item.

So I think you all may remember I said we once we're done with the item, you're welcome to go.

You're welcome to stay, but you can also go back and do other things.

So it's up to you all.

Um, but we're gonna move on to the next item once we allow everyone the opportunity to step out.

Bye.

Hi.

I love it.

I did forget to mention by Chair Floyd that the gentleman with the hat lives in your district and wanted to meet you.

He's on Cappy.

Oh so you may have to get with Cappy to follow up with them.

I think is it Gary?

Yes, he wanted to meet his council member.

So thought I'd say that out loud.

Okay.

We're gonna start up with D2.

It's the get ready for back to school month proclamation, and I believe we have Dr.

Sharon Brown here.

Hello, good afternoon.

Hi, everyone.

Hello, good afternoon.

Let me get settled with my happy time of the year for parents in the schools.

It is, and it is a busy time of the year for sure.

I have it.

I said parents, I didn't say not so bad.

Teachers are excited.

What are you talking about?

Well, well, well, good afternoon, Council Chair and members of City Council.

It is another beautiful day in the city of St.

Petersburg.

As you have shared, my name is Dr.

Sharon Brown, and I serve in the role of Director of Education and Youth Opportunities.

On behalf of Mayor Welsh, I'm pleased to celebrate and recognize a small sample of community organizations and nonprofits who work all year long, including fundraising to prepare our students to return to school, prepared with school supplies and critical services.

As I call your organization's name, please feel free to stand where you are or join me here at the podium.

Represented here today are Saturday Shops.

Also Evera Health, Night Riders, and our own community impact.

All right.

Okay, I have my posse, I'm ready.

And the proclamation reads, whereas physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of children is crucial for school success.

And whereas literacy, health, and nutrition are all critical components of school success, ensuring children are prepared for achievements in school and in life.

And whereas various local nonprofits and community organizations host annual free community events to provide K-12 students with a plethora of resources, including free school physicals, medical screenings, dental and vision exams, backpacks with school age specific supplies, age-appropriate books, school uniforms, and healthy snacks, all in support of school success.

And whereas the city of St.

Petersburg appreciates the collective support of area volunteer groups and not profit not for profit organization whose work to support thousands of students and their families who have for tens of years helped local children receive a plethora of resources and services so they can be successful in the classroom.

Now, therefore, I, Dr.

Sharon Brown, on behalf of Kenneth T.

Welsh, Mayor of the City of St.

Petersburg, Florida.

Do here let me get that right.

Do here by proclaim July 2026 as Get Ready for Back to School Month in the city of St.

Petersburg and encourage all residents to join us in this observance by spreading awareness to local families of the support available to them.

It's an exciting time.

So we'll now have a few words from our organizations represented here, so you all know who's going to speak.

Michael First.

Good evening, Council.

Good evening.

Thank you all for allowing me to be here today.

My name is Donnie Williams.

I'm the president of Drag Riders Van Club.

Organization been in existence for 42 years.

Over 35 of those years.

We have put on this backpack giveaway for the kids of St.

Petersburg.

And thank the city of St.

Petersburg for their support and recognition through those years.

And the reason we do it on Sundays is because we will miss the kids that will be either in sports, uh whatever on Saturday.

So like little league football, cheerlead.

We'll miss those kids if we have it on Saturday.

So we do it on Sunday afternoon, as well as we incorporate a picnic.

We bring the families in and we cook, we have a nice meal and everything.

So again, thanks for this opportunity to be here and thanks for the recognition.

All right.

Good afternoon.

My name's Bob Coker, and I'm a volunteer and uh support iCare.

But I want to recognize really the efforts of both Kamali and Jose who lead the eye care effort.

I've seen the reason we decided to volunteer and support them was we've seen their passion for this community and truly trying to make a difference.

So they requested that I read this statement, and I'm honored to do so.

Um just got to find where it starts.

Good afternoon, Mayor Welch, City Council members, and the honored guest.

On behalf of iCare St.

Pete, thank you for this incredible uh recognition.

We're truly honored to receive this proclamation.

This recognition belongs to our amazing volunteers, health care providers, partners, churches, and supporters who generously give their time and talents to serve our community.

Our mission is simple to make health care accessible and bring hope to those who need it most.

Together, we believe that everyone deserves compassionate care, regardless of their circumstances.

Thank you again.

I think that's all the speakers we have.

Councilmember Fig Sanders.

Thank you.

I guess I got a lot to say today.

So, first of all, I I ran um a back to school event with the Child's Park Awai and end up doing it twice a year from 2010 to 2017.

And I want to tell you that the fact that you all are doing it and have been doing it, as you say, Mr.

Williams, for 40 years, it's a lot of work.

But on behalf of a pay as a parent and grandparent and a lot of the families that came to the back to school events, you are so needed, you are so appreciated.

You can't people keep saying, Well, we have so many, you can't have enough.

Because I had teachers that used to tell me when I would, you know, talk about the back to school events, they would always say, you know, they do back to school events in August and expect for supplies to last all year long.

So then we started doing one in January to help those families that were still struggling three and four months later.

So for the service that you are providing, I've done it.

It's a lot of work, it's hard work, but it's meaningful work for all the families that you benefit.

Trust me, I've seen it firsthand.

So I just want to thank you for all that you do.

Thank you, Dr.

Brown, for bringing it.

Um, and again, I applaud you.

And the eye care piece is phenomenal.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Councilmember Givens.

Thank you so much, Chair.

And I just wanted to give a huge hurrah to each of you and just say thank you.

We've got Saturday Shops, Miss Renee, iCare, Kamali and Jose, the Junior League, honored to be on your CAC board, and so many of you, Mr.

Donnie.

I was a benefactor of those back to school giveaways 25, 30 years ago.

So thank you all so much for doing what should be done, reducing the out-of-pocket costs for families who many of whom are low income.

And I was one of I was one of them.

And so I'm grateful to know that we had organizations like yours in place to help alleviate that financial strain, which in result provided better student success.

You know, when a student doesn't have to worry about where he's gonna find notebook, paper, folders, pens, or pencils, that helps he or she become more successful in the classroom.

And as a former educator, that helps make our jobs easier too.

So I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, Dr.

Brown, your entire team, and to each of you, our community partners, because we, as city government in the school system, we can't do it alone.

So thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

And I just want to echo my colleagues' comments.

I have to say, I, you know, I was working in the community, we were supporting Woodlawn Elementary, and as it's been said, the needs aren't just back to school.

When you start at back to school, it's throughout the year, and we get the call from the principal, you know.

You know, you need underwear for children, right?

At the school.

I mean, things that you just don't think about that they need for families and for children, just so they can be in a place and learn and not have to worry about anything else but learning and to have the tools necessary.

So I say that because we are so grateful for the work that you do for our city and our community.

We cannot be the city that we are without having a community that cares about our future, our children, and trust me when I tell you, we all know what you do.

Please continue doing it and paying it forward.

I know that we try to do it ourselves, and we just are very thankful for everything that you do.

And if you ever need anything, let us know.

Thank you.

Okay.

And this next item is gonna be a distinguished citizen award that is gonna be presented by our council member Fig Sanders.

Hello, Councilmember Fake Sanders.

Hey, how's everybody doing?

It's a different view on this side.

So, first of all, um, today is an awesome day, and and it has always been a goal of mine to recognize those that contribute to our city, those that are not invited into certain rooms, those that are not sought out when it comes time to celebrate what you bring to our city.

I have been a small business advocate for years, and I'm going to continue to use my platform.

I'm gonna continue to use my voice to thank and recognize those that contribute to this great city.

So I have three for some reason if it says Saturday shop, you're not getting an award.

This is not for Renee Edwards, this is not about Renee Edwards.

This is about three vendors who I've watched who under I can't say her leadership, but her guidance and resources and access have flourished and have made major contributions to not only the city of St.

Petersburg, but everywhere they touch.

I'm talking to y'all.

That's why I'm not in the microphone because this is about you today.

So the first business that I would love to recognize.

Oh, there's our mayor.

Mayor I want you to come up with me on this one.

No, you're not in trouble.

And the reason why I want to have you up here for these proclamations because the city of St.

Petersburg has done an awesome, awesome job with recognizing small businesses, providing the resources.

And so our first vendor that we in small business owner that we would like to recognize is Brandon Gauman.

Come on up, Brandon.

Brandon is a devoted husband, proud father of four U.S.

military veteran, entrepreneur, and community advocate with a passion for building brands that build people together.

As the co-owner of Life's Beach Lemonade, and if you didn't get one, you missed out.

Lemonade, Brandon has combined his dedication to service with his entrepreneurship spirit to create a premium handcrafted lemonade company centered around quality, hospitality, and unforgettable customer services.

Through Lysa Beach Lemonade, Brandon had helped establish a brand known for its fresh ingredients, tropical flavors, and welcoming atmosphere at festivals, markets, and community events throughout Florida.

His vision extends beyond serving Great Lemonade.

He strives to create moments where every customer feels like they've escaped to paradise.

Ooh, really?

Okay.

Even if only for a few minutes.

Outside of business, Brandon is passionate about mentoring others, supporting veteran-owned businesses, and continually developing new creative projects and business ventures.

Whether he's growing his company, developing new products, or collaborating with local organizations, Brandon is driven by a commitment to excellence, integrity, and making a positive impact in the communities he serves.

Above all, he is committed to leading it by example and building a legacy that inspires his family and positively impacts those around him.

You got a lone bio.

I ain't reading all of it.

But with that being said, you see, Brandon has really put in a whole lot of work.

But it's not just about saying I own a business.

It's about paying attention to those things that matter.

Family, integrity, commitment.

And he looks sharp today.

Yes, he does.

So with that, and he was also one of our vendors at our America 250.

He was one of the vendors that were here.

So with that being said, Brendan, I don't want to put you on the spot.

I don't know if you want to say anything, but I want to congratulate you so we can get a picture with Miss Maria.

So we can get a picture.

And we want to thank you.

Did you want to say anything?

Okay.

So can we get a picture?

But thank y'all, let's congratulate Mr.

Brand.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

So our next vendor.

Okay, so this young man has been everywhere and doing some great things.

And his bio not so long, so I'm gonna read all yours.

So raised in the great state of Texas, Naja Campbell honed his craft of Texas barbecue growing up in the brisket state.

After a short time in the military, he moved to Tallahassee, Florida to be closer to family, where he has met his wife of 18 years at FSU.

I ain't gonna hold that against you.

I ain't gonna hold that against you.

Okay, I ain't gonna hold that against you.

From there, he developed lifelong friendships, which brought him to the Tampa Bay area to start a gastro pub.

After nine years of being a chef slash owner, he branched out and started son of a brisket food track.

If you all had a son of a risk, okay.

After meeting Renee Edwards with Saturday Shops, he began to make a name for himself in the barbecue world from traveling to Greece and Germany, and we're coming to do Texas style barbecue.

He always finds a way to support Saturday shops and gives back to the community.

You can find him located at Tampa in Tampa Bay areas any given weekend by looking him up on Street Food Finder or their socials.

Congratulations, Sonny Rebus.

Him say he wanna talk.

Okay.

Thank y'all very much for this amazing award.

I really appreciate it.

Um I'm not uh St.

Pete resident, but y'all just adopted another St.

Pete.

So thank y'all very much.

Okay.

So the last one is super duper super special to me, and and truly a product of the city of St.

Petersburg and all the programs and opportunities that we provide for small business.

To my colleagues, you don't know how important we have small business owners sitting right up on the dais.

You know how important it is to be able to have those opportunities.

Now, this last entrepreneur is truly an entrepreneur that I've watched grow.

Jakar Fitzpatrick, come on up, ma'am.

I met Jakara, who started her own business at the age of 19.

First class eventures.

I got it right this time.

So she actually did field trips providing children's transportation at 19.

And I met her in one of our catch light programs that I facilitated as a program manager.

I've been doing this small business entrepreneurship thing for a long time.

The catch program started in 2016, and we started the Catch Light program.

What is it?

Coachable, action-oriented, timely, collaborations, and help.

Y'all, but have met her mom in Cat's Light and made Renee do her first public.

So I'm I'm, you know, we're we're growing.

But Jakara, let me just read this little quick bio.

Well, I've already said all that.

Jakara not only has first class adventure, 18-wheel of truck driver, Car Barbie.

She's celebrated her fifth anniversary with a shout out from who Cardi B.

Had over $30,000 day in sales.

Her stores on 49th Street, and of course, this is Renee's daughter.

So she has that entrepreneurship blood in her.

So I wanted to recognize how and show the examples of when we pour into our entrepreneurs, how they can impact our city.

You want to say some car?

I know you know.

I know you know, but again, this is Mr.

Kara Fitzpatrick, and we want to congratulate her because I mean she is balling.

And when I grow up, I want to be just like Jacar.

So this next surprise presentation, I'm gonna bring up Renee Edwards.

Um, because a lot of our vendors, again, is our resources, opening doors, collaboration, supporting.

And we couldn't do it.

Like I said, I thank the mayor at our e-commerce um 10-week class that was started last week.

Those that continue to help our small businesses grow is invaluable.

You can't put a price tag to it.

So, with that being said, Saturday shops, vendors, y'all might need to come on back up here because we want to thank a very special person for doors and windows that were open.

Mr.

Tony Leno.

No.

So, guys, today we want to honor Tony Leno.

Um, he's the backbone for Saturday shops, Saturday morning market, and all of our vendors that he goes the extra mile for.

So, son of a brisket wouldn't have been in Grand Prix without him.

Soul Fest wouldn't happen without him.

So, all of the stuff that us event organizers do to stay city compliant and to do all the things.

It's mentored through this guy.

When I met him a couple years ago, he told me one line.

I'll help you with anything, kid.

Just don't lie.

And guess what?

Five years later, I'm not lying.

Hey, Tony, I did this late.

I need you, you know, whatever it is, he's always there for us.

So all of my vendors who have gone through the large events through him, like son of a brisket just got nailed 4th of July at the pier, right?

Those things would not happen if he doesn't make sure that we're included.

Saturday shops, Saturday morning market, he brings us together.

Lacey and I, we're friends.

There's no separation with him, none of that.

Everybody's in one bucket.

So today's for you, young man.

I got you a gift, but you can't open it in.

And also, guys, you the way you guys do y'all's anniversary parties, his is gonna be late, but he did 40 years as of May 12th.

Yay!

I know everything so bad.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Go ahead, Tony.

Do your speed.

Good afternoon, Council Chair, Council.

Um, just thank you for allowing me to do what I do.

Uh this is what I do.

It's uh uh I help folks, you all give me the opportunity to do that.

Uh, and then uh we get to have a little fun along the way.

So uh hopefully I bring great things to the city.

I hope I bring things that uh uh the community appreciates.

Uh obviously I know that the small businesses do, and uh and they're they're dear and and uh friends, uh so like to call them friends, and uh and keep bringing them more, and and we try to bring those small businesses into the big events that we do.

Uh sometimes it's hard, uh sometimes they don't know that they're here.

So I think that's kind of what we Renee and I have figured out.

They just didn't know they were here, so we just had to make the introductions and start bringing them uh forward and getting them in into the events.

So uh I'd also like to thank my wife sitting in the background there.

She's she allows me to do a lot of this.

Uh uh as we all know, events are nights and weekends, so uh uh we're not together a lot, but uh we make up for that in other times, and then uh of course Lacey's hiding back there with Saturday morning market, uh another institution here in the city, but uh I just want to thank everybody, call you all my friends, and uh thanks for this uh enormous surprise, Miss Renee.

She never lets me down in that regard.

So uh you all know that uh uh I don't look for the recognition.

It's uh it's for all the folks that we work with.

And and just a little tie-in, you know, being here 40 years.

Uh I was here in the 90s for ADA.

So uh in my time in engineering, I built thousands and thousands of ramps and sidewalks and trails and and things for that part of the community.

Um, so you get to see a lot in 40 years, but uh it's always exciting, it's always new, and I look forward to every day.

So thank you all.

Okay, um, Councilmember Givens.

Don't go away so fast, Tony.

I know this was a surprise for you, but uh I do want to start off by prefacing my comments by thanking you, Miss Renee.

You know how I feel about you.

I love you and all that you do for our community.

Uh you are really what makes St.

Pete special.

Um, and you have really revived our community, and you sparked this fire that I hope will remain lit for decades to come.

And so thank you for passing the torch to your daughter.

Uh Jakara has done great things.

I I've seen her prosper.

Najee, congratulations to you, Brandon.

Congratulations to you.

You all as vendors, you really offer St.

Pete something that we don't see on the regular.

And I thank you so much for that.

And lastly, Tony, you are Mr.

Make It Happen.

You are the one who opens doors that sometimes get slammed in our face, but you make sure they get reopened.

And I thank you so much for making a way out of no way.

You are really the the backbone behind the scenes.

You and Sean do so much to bring so many special events to this community, and a lot of the grunt work, the behind the scenes work that many of us don't get to see, you all see it, and you all still make these events happen.

And I'm so grateful for you and your years of knowledge that you have brought to the city, Tony, and I wish you nothing but the best, and we're so grateful to have you.

So thank you for your leadership.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Councilmember Gertis.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Uh Renee, thank you uh for celebrating one of our best.

Uh to the vendors, just it's incredible uh to see the continued growth, the continued investment, the reinvestment from you into the next generation.

Um, this is the first, this is the first time in 15 years I have I sold my small business in late 2025.

And so it feels good when you get to that point.

So I hope eventually, by the way, this is some damn good lemonade.

Um I'm sorry, I can't eat barbecue.

Um, but uh councilmember Gabbard's over here squawking about it, so I know it's pretty good.

Um so but just thank you for everything you continue to do, and like I said, reinvest.

Tony, um by the way, Tony says, you know, he doesn't get to see his wife.

Uh I A, I don't know how he sees anybody.

Uh but then the small secret to Tony and his wife is when they're not at a St.

Pete event, they're still at St.

Pete Fields watching granddaughter play softball.

And I that's I see Tony there, the second most other than all of our events.

And so uh he I I don't know how where you sleep.

You sleep at Northwest right before the game, Tony.

And so I mean, I'm just so thankful for you, man.

And and I say this a lot about uh our leaders is that if I knew nothing else, I know the people that work for you and Sean and Andy, and that's all I would need to know about you because they care just as deeply as you do.

You have shown them the way.

I've gotten close to Sean over the last 10 years before even being on City Council.

I'd consider him a very close friend now.

Andy is a great human being, and I don't think there's any coincidence that they are be that they are that way because of you.

Yeah, and so uh the your work speaks for itself, but if no if nobody knew anything else about you and they met Sean and Andy, they'd know everything they need to know.

And so thank you for the work that you continue to do, and thank you for the work that and the love you continue to put into them.

Thanks, Madam Chair.

First, I want to thank Councilmember Fig Sanders for acknowledging uh the your work uh and bringing this forward.

Uh it's hard to follow Councilmember Fig Sanders and all the nice things she said, and then Councilmember Givens and Councilmember Gertis.

But I one thing, 40 years, you didn't you start when you were 10?

Well, you know, it shows that obviously you're doing the right thing to keep busy.

Um, and with all the work that you do and staying young, um, it's really appreciated because I don't know how with all the stuff that you do, how you find the time, I can barely find the time in my life to do all these things.

I can barely find the time in my life to do all these things.

And the fact that you're involved with all these large events, you know, and still have the time, you know, to go to your granddaughters, you know, uh, you know, uh the uh team plays and all that.

Yes, I mean, it is unbelievable.

And I will tell to you the entrepreneurs here.

You're your blood, sweat, and tears clearly has been seen by the city because if it wasn't for the work that you're doing that you're putting in every day, and the value and Renee, what you have done to make sure that that's noticed, they wouldn't have noticed it.

You know, so clearly you've built developed a good relationship, not just with Tony, but with the city and have proven yourself.

And so I'm very happy for that.

And I think I said it last time.

I don't know, I haven't had any of the brisket here at City Hall for one of the events.

Maybe we need some uh maybe we need that a little bit of that son of the brisket at that meet and greet with some Yeah, that's exactly right.

Careers on it.

Sorita, keep that in mind.

Okay, well, that's all the way out.

Well, thank you very much for everything you do.

And Tony, we'll be uh uh we'll be celebrating you at the awards.

Yes, I know it'll be later.

Okay.

Well, thank you.

Just for council member Gertis, we do have six grandchildren, so there's a few more to keep.

Oh my goodness.

I know there were multiple, and I only see one, and I'm impressed.

And I didn't fail to acknowledge uh Sean and Andy.

It's just there's so many employees that I work with that it's impossible to thank them all.

But uh yes, highly appreciate them, and thank you for those comments.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

Okay, we'll give everyone a moment, and the next item that we are gonna have coming up is gonna be the FY27 mayor's recommended budget presentation.

Uh and we'll start that after when once everybody's ready.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

You ready, madam chair?

I'm ready.

You know, I I thought everybody was here for the budget.

But I guess not.

It it's an honor to be here with you, madam chairs, uh, members of council, members of the public, and of course, our St.

Pete City team are here today.

I'm honored to join you to present my recommended budget for fiscal year 2027.

The annual budget process is an opportunity for our city to fund our priorities to innovate and respond to new challenges, while also meeting the day-to-day service delivery responsibilities of city government.

As City Council well knows, our budget process each year is detailed and intentional, and this year was no different.

To develop the budget, we hold discussions with council about community priorities, hold budget workshops with council, and host a budget open house with the community.

This process allows us to hear directly from city council and residents on what the most important funding priorities are.

As a result of this process, the budget you have before you today strives to balance community impacts, sustainability, and equitable investments in our city.

As in previous years, the budget process is centered around ensuring resources are deployed within our pillars for progress, education and youth opportunities, equitable development and business opportunities, housing opportunities for all, healthy and safe neighborhoods, and environment infrastructure and resilience.

These pillars are guided by our six principles for accountable and responsive government, in-touch leadership, inclusive governance, innovation, informed decision making, impactful investments in services, and intentional equity.

These principles guide how we govern.

Now, last year's budget process emphasized resilience, and for the FY27 budget, we are building on that foundation and strengthening that focus by advancing economic and community resilience.

To meet that goal, we prioritize initiatives that invest in long-term resilience for our city and strengthen our capacity to deliver critical city services in an era of environmental challenges.

This year, to support that effort, working with council, we are planning to ask voters to approve a general obligation or GO bond to fund approximately 600 million in sewer system upgrades, flooding solutions, and neighborhood resiliency projects.

Under our St.

Pete Agile Resilience Plan or SPAR, we fast track the completion of several infrastructure projects.

But the resources needed to make a more substantial impact and to meet more of the objectives of the Stormwater Master Plan require a higher level of funding.

And we need that funding now in the near term.

The proposed bond funding will allow us to move forward more rapidly on the infrastructure improvements that we need to handle the impacts of sea level rise, extreme weather, and flooding without relying exclusively on water and sewer rate increases to fund those projects.

While we continue our long-term recovery from the 2024 storms, we are also addressing an ever broadening scope of community requests from the arts to housing, homeless and mental health services, transportation and neighborhood health and safety.

There are, as we've said before, unlimited needs and limited resources.

Therefore, our decision making will be strategic strategic but often difficult.

Despite those challenges, we believe this proposed budget continues to support initiatives that strengthen our resiliency, foster innovation, and create opportunity for all who call our city home.

The personnel programs, services, and infrastructure funded in this proposed budget reflect our continued commitment to building a diverse, resilient, and vibrant St.

Petersburg.

In a few minutes, you will hear from Budget Director Liz McCowski, who will provide more detailed information on the proposed FY27 budget and the programs it funds.

But before Liz begins her presentation, I want to take a moment to recognize Tom, Liz, and the entire budget team.

Thank you for your team's work during this year's budget process, all those LIRs.

We know it's been a difficult one.

Madam Chair and Council, our team is the best of the best.

Throughout the budget development process, their skill, commitment, and focus results in a proposed budget that we can all be proud of, reflects our shared priorities and adheres to the highest professional standards.

Whether it's affordable housing investments, youth and education programs, or infrastructure improvements, we can be assured that the city's budget team has thoughtfully and carefully incorporated all of our shared priorities in this proposed budget.

The budget is now in city council's hands, and I look forward to your review.

I want to thank City Council for your collective partnership in empowering our St.

Pete team to set the standard for public service and deliver services to our community.

As always, we are St.

Pete.

And now I'll turn it over to our Queen of Quantification, Liz McCoskey.

All right.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Liz.

Good afternoon.

You can't say so.

Good afternoon, Chair and members of City Council.

Um, you just heard some comments from Mayor Welch on the FY27 recommended budget.

And in the next few slides, I'll go over in more detail, including some of the major changes since the preliminary budget was presented this past spring.

The mayor's recommended budget contains the proposed millage rate for FY27 of 6.4525 MILS.

And this is the same millage rate as the prior year, FY26.

This rate will bring in 243.7 million in advalorm revenue, which is an increase of 6.47%, or about 14.8 million over the FY26 adopted budget.

The recommended general fund operating budget overall increase by 25.4 million, or about 6.17% over last year.

As Mayor spoke earlier, last year's budget process emphasized resilience, and for the FY27 budget, we're building on that foundation and strengthening that focus by advancing economic and community resilience as the city continues to recover from this 2024 storms and prepares for current and future pressures on our long-term stability.

And as we discussed during earlier budget committees of the whole and the open house, the key areas of investment plan for the FY27 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, our year-round youth employment programs, our youth development grants, the genius lab, boys and girls club, prosperity pathway, and various literacy and steam programs.

Under the equitable development, arts and business opportunities pillar, we look to fund the continuation of our many economic and workforce development and our art programs.

Included in this is the city's arts grant program, our individual artist grants, arts microgrants, small business grants and programs, the target industry economic and workforce development incentives program.

Under our neighborhood health and safety for all pillar, we're continuing to fund neighborhood and public safety programs like the CAL program, our community impact grants, neighborhood partnership grants, and the healthy neighborhood store program.

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

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

Pete Agile Resilience or SPAR program.

Some key investments on the capital improvement budget side are under water and stormwater infrastructure, again, including planning for the St.

Pete Agile Resilience SPAR program, funding for affordable housing land acquisitions, funding for complete streets, which was increased by 400,000 in FY27 over FY26, our street and road improvements project, which was also increased by 1.55 million, police canine compound and fire training facility assignments, multimodal transportation and bike and pedestrian safety improvement projects, bridges, seawalls, sidewalks, funding for our rec centers, parks, library, and library improvements, funding for city facility renovations and improvements, and funding for neighborship partnership grants and enhancements.

Some major changes in the FY27 general fund budget since the preliminary budget include an increase in the grants and aid amount in the city development administration department by 62,000, and this is to restore the funding for arts and arts and events programming to the FY26 funding levels.

There's also an increase in the transfer of the general capital improvement fund by 3.28 million to accelerate the funding timeline for the K9 and fire training facility projects.

There's a reduction in revenues in the parks and recreation department due to the removal of the proposed child care fee increase that was included in the preliminary budget.

There's also an increase in contingency of 186,000.

And then we also add an additional 452,000 in contingency contingency to hold funding for projected fuel increases for our general fund departments.

And there's also a trip of the salary and benefits budget in the housing and community development department by 254,000 due to revised estimates between the general fund and our various grant funds.

In this next section, I'll give a quick overview using tables and charts and graphs to illustrate this city's FY27 recommended budget.

These tables are also included in the FY27 recommended budget book in the executive summary, which has been posted on the city's website.

The total FY27 recommended operating budget revenue for the city is 1.05 billion.

Charges for services make up the largest revenue revenue category at 452.8 million or 43.1%, followed by taxes at 322.9 million or 30.8%.

On the expenditure side, the FY27 recommended operating budget is 1.023 billion and is about 4.8% higher than the FY26 adopted budget.

The public works administration includes which includes the Enterprise Funds of Water Resources and Stormwater, is about 32% of the total operating budget at $327.7 million.

Next is the public safety administration, which includes police and fire rescue departments, and that accounts for about 26.2% of our total operating budget or 268.4 million.

This next slide shows the total general fund revenue budget for FY27.

A total is 437.325 million.

And general fund revenue comes from various sources as illustrated on this chart.

The largest single source of revenue are taxes, which include the ADVLORM taxes, and is at 73.8% or 322.9 million.

The next category is pilot and GA at 9.7% or 42.461 million, followed by intergovernmental revenue at 9.49% or 41.5 million.

Looking at the total general fund expenditure budget, it is also 437.325 million.

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

The single largest general fund investment made by the cities in public safety, which is about 55% of the general fund budget, and includes our police and fire rescue departments.

The general government administration makes up the next largest category at 18.99% and includes departments such as budget finance, legal, and human resources.

And the third largest general fund investment is in community enrichment administration at 16.3% and includes our parks and recreation department and the libraries.

This shows the general fund budget by expenditure type.

And the single largest expenditure category in the general fund is salaries and wages at 202.7 million or about 46.3% of the total general fund budget.

The second biggest category is benefits, which is 96.9 million or 22.1%.

And if you combine salaries and benefits together, it makes up 68.5% of the total general fund budget.

The FY27 capital improvement program budget includes 196.061 million in projects.

Water resources projects account for 57.1% of the CIP program, followed by stormwater at 19% and penny funded projects at 17.4%.

This is the CIP program plan for over five years, which is about 1.181 billion.

And then we'll include in closing.

Our first public budget hearing will be held on September 3rd at 6 p.m.

And our final public budget hearing will be on September 17th, also at 6 p.m.

And they'll be held here at City Hall and Council Chambers.

Information on the mayor's recommended budget is available on the city's website.

And we also will have a commit uh sorry, committee of the whole in two weeks on the recommended budget with city council.

And I also would like to thank my budget team and all the city employees who help uh work on the budget year-round and uh make the budget what it is today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um or Liz, if you can just tell us just because we're having conversations on real estate property taxes, um, when we covered taxes, there's a 322 million dollar amount, but the property taxes are is a portion of that.

Could you just give that for the record to be clear?

Because I I know some I know people are attuned to this right now, and I just want to make sure that we kind of touch upon that.

So for FY27, the advalorm revenue is 243.7 million.

Which is advalorum is the real estate property taxes for the lay person out there.

Okay, and then in terms of when we're talking about a operating budget of 1.05 billion, all that is not general fund money, it's just in the simplest of terms.

If somebody's watching this, if you can explain just those separate buckets of where those revenues, you know, how it works.

Okay, so that's our entire city budget.

So it includes it's gonna include our enterprise funds, such as water resources, stormwater, sanitation, um, it also includes our internal service funds like our fleet department and our department of technology services, which charges our departments for use of uh vehicles or technology, um, and there's also some special revenue funds in there as well.

Um, so there's a bunch of different buckets, but that's every fund in the city's budget is combined.

The general fund is a portion of that.

Right.

And the reason I want to point that out, I just want to also make sure because I've had this um question asked in uh neighborhood meetings is well, it's a one billion dollar budget, but those are not monies that you can just use for anything.

Correct.

A lot of them are charges for services, so it's a fee that's covering that specific service or utility funding.

Your water bill can only be used for water type expenditures, it can't be used on police or fire.

Right.

So there is a difference between a portion of money that is in that budget that cannot be used for general purposes, and there's monies that are in there that have to be used for certain things, and you can't you cannot move those around.

That's correct.

Okay.

Um, and then when you talk about our operating budget in terms of the general fund, what are we looking at when you're looking at that portion alone so revenues?

Of that 1.05 billion, the revenue is 437.325 million.

Right.

So of that advalorm revenue, our fiscal policies only allow us to spend it on police or public safety.

Right.

That's exactly why I wanted you to kind of just cover it again.

I know you covered it, but you know, it's a lot of numbers on the screen, and I just wanted to make sure that we explained it because it could be complicated.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Well, um, I don't see any other comments.

I know that this is going to go before a committee of the whole council before I get to council member givens.

There's going to be a committee of the whole on July 30th at 9 a.m.

on this FY 2027 recommended budget where we're gonna have an opportunity to discuss the budget with administration.

I also would uh note for council members who may have questions specific questions they want um administration to respond to at that meeting.

You may want to have those meetings beforehand as opposed to just bringing them up at the meeting, so the appropriate parties could be there with the information so uh they could be answered, and that usually tends to be more fruitful.

With that being said, council member givens.

Thank you very much, Chair.

Um, and thank you so much to the administration, especially you, Tom, and you, Queen Liz, uh, for all of your hard work.

Um, can you speak a little bit, Tom or Liz to this budget gap that we had?

Have we closed that gap now?

Yes.

Um, so right now, if you look at the if you look at the slides, there's uh revenue of 437 million and expenditures of forty four hundred thirty-seven million.

So by the time we put the recommended budget out, we have to have a balanced budget.

Awesome.

And then my last question is regarding revenues.

So we had talked about increases on rent at the Jamestown apartments.

Did we come to a final decision on that, or is that something that the administration is still discussing?

I think I think Mr.

Corbett and his team are still working through those.

Um, but we can certainly have that answer at the July 30th Cal, Councilmember.

I appreciate that.

And then my last question is salary and benefits.

We talked about that accounting for the largest portion of our expenditures.

Are we still having those conversations about which positions we may want to consolidate, what roles may be up for early retirement?

I'm guessing those conversations are still being had.

Is that correct?

Well, positions are always under consideration uh throughout the year, but what the budget you have before you, we have resolved and reconciled all the positions that we're recommending for FY27.

Um so but but as the future holds, you know, um if there are changes in the advalorm, certainly we would have to reevaluate staffing levels at some point.

And I believe I had heard there was a hiring freeze.

Is that freeze still in place or have we lived at that?

We have we are evaluating every open position on an ongoing basis.

There is not a freeze, but we are taking a look at each position as they become open to see if it is something we want to continue to fund, and we are and and uh most of the positions are continuing, yes.

I appreciate that, Tom.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Um, and for those they're watching, Councilmember Gribbons brought up the fact that sometimes you do start and normally we do start with a budget gap, and that back budget gap, they work on closing that budget gap, the team uh Liz and Tom and and their team, and then they have to end up with a balanced budget, which is what we have now before us.

And there will be a continued discussion for those that are interested in the budget and what's happening again on July 30th, it'll be a committee of the whole.

It won't be here in chambers, it will be downstairs in room 100 at 9 a.m.

Okay.

Councilmember Gabbard.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Just something that you mentioned.

Um, and I wanted to ask administration.

Um, you know, it is always good, I think sometimes for us to have conversations ahead of our committee of the whole.

And um, I was just curious if uh administration is entertaining those meetings with city council.

So I know that typically we have um scheduled meetings in August to review any last uh um last items with council members and to review kind of what you said in January and what we've been able to address in the uh context of the uh of the uh proposed budget.

Now I know the timing is different, right?

With this coming up soon, we can certainly have you know conversations uh to the extent that uh your calendar permits and our calendars permit um prior to the July 30th meeting.

Thank you.

I will take you up on that.

So you'll look to uh get a request for my office.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Yeah, I mean, given the fact that we have a committee of the whole, and I assume at that meeting there will be questions about different budget items.

If there are any questions, it you know, whether there is the the answer, someone who wants to hear it, doesn't want to hear, it's okay for people to have those conversations.

And that it'll probably provide for a more efficient meeting.

Okay.

Um I think that brings us to the end of our report.

Thank you, Mayor.

And quite well.

Absolutely, and thank you, Tom, and thank you, Liz, for your presentation, and we will continue the conversation at the committee of the whole.

Um, and then we have lots of time to review the big book, the budget book.

So next up, we have G1 referral to H L U T, and it's Councilmember Gurtis' item.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Respectfully requesting a referral to the housing, land use and transportation committee for a discussion on the creation of a trail oriented development overlay.

And just uh more specifically, this is very specific to the portion of the trail uh in between 23rd Street and 34th Street.

Um, and just looking at opportunities, uh, this might be able to create.

And I would move approval.

Second.

Okay, we have a motion and a second.

Councilmember Gabbard.

I just very quickly want to say thank you, Councilmember Gertes, for putting this forward.

Um, and the timing of doing so is perfect because as many times when we live in the sunshine, we never know what somebody else is interested in having a conversation on.

And uh I had had some stakeholder meetings and was potentially looking at putting something forward, right?

But then again, with only having five months left on city council, I'm kind of at that place where I'm like, well, anything that I put forward may potentially get you know inherited by a council member next year.

So I was kind of waiting.

So when I saw you put this on ads and deletes last week, I was really happy.

So thank you for doing that.

And uh, if the conversation is able to happen soon, I look forward to it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Bicep Floyd.

Uh ditto everything, Councilmember Gabber just said, uh, was talking to stakeholders, was interested in coming up with something, uh, didto everything except I'm gonna be here for more years bothering y'all.

Um so I'd I I'm looking forward to the conversation, so thank you for putting in the new business item.

Thank you, Councilmember Gurtes.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Uh, and thank you to you both uh for the comments.

Happy to do it.

Um I know I had a previous item about the trail, uh, and I wanted to be very specific uh with this one, and so um this that that had a lot of I think general conversations about the trail, including ownership of different portions of it, and so uh for expediency.

I wanted to be very specific of having two routes because I didn't want that one to get caught up in all of the other stuff I think we're gonna talk about.

This one is very specific to a very specific portion of the trail that I hope we can move uh relatively quickly.

So I appreciate that.

Thank you, madam chair.

Thank you.

We have a motion and 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 tell the announce to vote.

Madam Chair, motion to approve a gene item G1 passes unanimously with Council Member Driscoll being absent.

Thank you.

Now we move on to open forum.

Any speakers?

No mail, none of soon.

Non-Zoom either.

Okay, great.

We close open forum and we move to announcements.

Any announcements?

Councilmember Gertis, and then Councilmember Fake Sanders.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Uh, I just wanted uh to be said out loud, and and I'm I if I had to guess, she's watching that uh councilmember Driscoll is in the Gertes' prayer.

So thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Councilmember Fake Sanders.

Thank you.

I just kind of wanted to um acknowledge the fact that I don't know if you all know uh Dilquonda Turner.

Um, but she and myself have started a social services wrap around services collaborative.

We did it many, many years ago, and we've restarted it.

Um, and our next meeting is gonna be on August 12.

So please look for the information.

And I think I probably need to have it noticed because we really want to have um council member Gertis come and speak, but we're gonna have to the subject of it is how the legislation is going to impact you.

And since this it's so um impactful for our social services agencies, is gonna be August 12th at the presidential um Barack Obama Library from 11 to 1.

So I'll make sure we get the flyer out, and then another point of good news.

As you all know, I was the interim of continuum of care.

I was voted as the chair on Friday of Continuum of Care.

Yay.

So I just wanted to put that out there, but thank you to you.

Thank you, and congratulations.

Thank you, ma'am.

Uh um, Councilmember Gertis, thank you for mentioning Councilmember Driscoll and that she's in your prayers.

I just I mentioned it briefly at the beginning of the meeting, but I just want council, yeah.

Thank you.

Well, and I want everyone here to know I didn't say it earlier, but there is a a good likelihood that she probably won't be here next week.

Um, and so it's it's an ongoing medical issue.

So I just wanted uh to say that to you all um as for you all to be aware of that.

Okay, with that being said, I really appreciate everyone's work today.

Thank you so much.

Meeting adjourned.

Thank you.

Thank you.