St. Petersburg City Council Meeting – August 27, 2026

The St. Petersburg City Council met on August 27, 2026, beginning at 1:30 p.m. and continuing into the evening. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including utility rate increases, police department performance, arts funding, and several land use items. Key decisions included approval of FY2027 utility rate adjustments (with dissenting votes), a new arts funding development bonus, and a fiber optic lease for water resources.

Consent Calendar

• CB 7 & 8 – Artwork Deaccession: Councilmember Driscoll commented on the deaccession process for two pieces of public art, expressing hope that the Janet Echelman sculpture repair issue would not lead to deaccession. The items were approved unanimously.
• CB 16 – Scrivener’s Error: A scrivener's error in a commissioner's name was noted and will be corrected. The consent agenda was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Recognition of Henry L. Ashwood: Goliath Davis requested that a photo of Henry L. Ashwood, who recruited the first Black firefighters to the St. Petersburg Fire Department, be displayed near the Legacy Six plaque. The mayor's office had denied the request. Council took no action.
• Flock Cameras – Privacy Concerns: Multiple speakers (Carl Gunn, Deborah Deacon, Philip Hoffman, Mary Petson, Amy Parsons, Jason Scott) opposed the city's use of Flock automatic license plate readers, citing Fourth and Fifth Amendment violations, privacy concerns, and the $730,000 cost. Some argued the data could be used for surveillance and is not truly deleted. Philip Hoffman, a former attorney, warned that evidence from Flock cameras could be challenged in court. Jason Scott also raised concerns about Duke Energy pushing costs for data centers onto residents.
• Utility Rate Increases: Several residents (Linda Anello, Jim Johnson, Matthew Freeman, Holly Noah, Rafael Terrero, Patty Sidotti, Bruce Nivens, Carla Kemp, Janie Coffin) spoke against the proposed utility rate increases, citing affordability, lack of transparency, meter inaccuracies, and the cumulative burden of multiple rate hikes. They urged the council to vote no or to shift increases to variable rates rather than base rates.

Discussion Items

• Police Quarterly Report (F1): Chief Holloway presented the second quarter report (April–June 2026). Overall crime was down 3% from the previous year, and down 15% over five years. Five homicides occurred, all cleared. Homicides are down 36% over five years. The department's NIBIN machine linked 88 shell casings to other crimes. Auto thefts down 7% (five-year trend down 41%). The PATH team made over 1,000 contacts with unhoused individuals, 96% without law enforcement. The CARES program had zero incidents. Councilmembers praised the e-bike safety campaign and the department's responsiveness.
• Fiber Optic Lease for Water Resources (F2): Tom Manke presented a 20-year lease with Unity Fiber for a fiber optic loop connecting nine critical water facilities, enhancing SCADA system reliability, cybersecurity, and storm resilience. The lease locks in stable rates for 20 years. Approved unanimously.
• FY2027 Utility Rate Adjustments (J2): Staff presented proposed increases: potable water 7.5%, wastewater 6.5%, stormwater 8.5%, sanitation 6.0%, reclaimed water 9.75%. A typical household bill would increase about 6.7–7.5%. The increases were driven by capital needs (stormwater master plan requires $50M/year, currently at $37M; water infrastructure needs $150M/year), regulatory compliance, and county tipping fee hikes (8% annually). Councilmembers debated affordability, with some advocating for a more equitable rate structure, lower base rates, and increased impact fees on developers. The chair noted that federal grants have declined sharply. Three separate ordinances were voted on:
  • J2A (Sanitation rates): Passed 6-2 (Driscoll, Givens opposed).
  • J2B (Stormwater rates): Passed 6-2 (same).
  • J2C (Water/Wastewater rates): Passed 5-3 (Driscoll, Floyd, Givens opposed).
• Arts Funding Development Bonus (J3): Derek introduced an amendment to the land development code to create an arts funding development bonus, allowing developers to contribute to an arts fund in exchange for height/density bonuses. The DRC had recommended approval. The ordinance applies to Downtown Center, Employment Center 2, Carillon Town Center, Sunrunner BRT overlay, and 22nd Street Target Employment Center overlay. The next step is to establish the grant program. Approved unanimously.
• Comprehensive Plan Amendment – Marina Restrictions (J4): An ordinance to remove marina development restrictions in the North Yacht Basin. Councilmember Givens offered an amendment to clarify the introductory sentence. Approved as amended unanimously.
• Quasi-Judicial Rezoning – 3010 58th Ave S (J5): Two ordinances to change the land use from Residential Urban to Residential Medium and zoning from NS-1 to NSM-1 for a 20-unit apartment complex, bringing it into conformance. A restrictive covenant limits density to 7.5 units per acre (existing). No public testimony. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Consent agenda, I1 (ballot order), F3 (hex block pavers), F2 (fiber lease), G1, G2 (autonomous vehicle study referral), G3 (FEMA reimbursement update request), H1 (historic preservation referral shift), J1 (alley vacation), J2A, J2B, J2C (utility rates with noted dissents), J3 (arts density bonus), J4 (marina restrictions amendment), J5A and J5B (rezoning).
• Votes: Utility rate ordinances passed with 6-2 (J2A, J2B) and 5-3 (J2C) margins. All other items were unanimous.
• Referrals: G2 to HLUT committee; G3 to BFNT committee (scheduled for September).
• Next Steps: The arts grant program will be developed with input from the arts community. The city will continue to pursue grants and impact fees to offset future rate increases. The ballot order for the November 2026 municipal election will use the original order as approved.