St. Petersburg City Council Meeting - October 15, 2026

The St. Petersburg City Council met on October 15, 2026, at 6:30 PM. The meeting covered litigation settlements, a memorial resolution for Bill Edwards, an annual report for Great Explorations, the adoption of the Port Master Plan, and the establishment of oversight committees for the General Obligation Bond and resilience planning. Several public hearings addressed land use changes, with the council closely debating a re-zoning for affordable housing and denying an appeal for a self-storage development.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda and consent agenda were approved unanimously. Councilmember Hanowitz highlighted a $95,000 donation to Sunken Gardens from the Sunken Gardens Forever Foundation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• 287G Agreement (Immigration Enforcement): Several speakers (Linda Stoller, Roger Covey, Zoe Tweedy of the ACLU, Mary Russell, Patricia Petagon, Courtney Prokopis) urged the council to end the city's voluntary 287G agreement with ICE. Speakers argued that the agreement erodes trust in local law enforcement, encourages racial profiling, and is not required by Florida law.
• GO Bond & Oversight Committees: Multiple speakers (Robin Davidoff for the League of Women Voters, Michael Kingsford for the Sierra Club, Sarah Hipps of Show Up Relief Alliance, Franklin Alves of the Council of Neighborhood Associations, Kathy Harrelson, James Scott) expressed support for the GO Bond and the newly proposed citizen oversight committees for accountability and transparency.
• Albert Whitted Airport: Walt Driggers urged the council to resolve a long-standing agreement to replace hangars destroyed two years prior and praised the city's marketing department for an upcoming historic event.
• Environmental Concerns: Speakers like Kathy Harrelson and Michael Kingsford advocated for green and nature-based infrastructure solutions in resilience planning, emphasizing the value of the urban tree canopy.

Reports and Presentations

• Awards & Presentations:
  • Resolution of Memorial Tribute – Bill Edwards: Mayor Welch and Councilmembers celebrated the life of the late Bill Edwards, a prominent businessman and philanthropist, for his immense contributions to the city's arts, sports, and community.
  • Great Explorations Update: CEO Angeline Howell reported the museum provided over $176,000 in in-kind services, 37 free field trips, and 57 scholarships in the past year. The organization is exploring a new Discovery Center with Pinellas County Schools.
  • Home ARP Capacity Building Grant: April Lott, CEO of Directions for Living, reported on the success of a $151,832 grant. Achievements included same-day access to mental health care, serving 1,828 new St. Pete individuals in six months, and reducing clinical documentation time from 15 days to 45 seconds.
  • FY 2027 Arts Grants: The council unanimously approved $557,000 in grants to 42 arts organizations. The city's non-profit arts sector was reported to generate $132.5 million in economic impact.

Discussion Items

• Port of St. Petersburg Master Plan: David presented the updated Port Master Plan, focusing on a Marine Maintenance and Repair (MRO) area, an Innovation Hub 2 (presented by CEO Alison Barlow), and expansion of the small cruise terminal. Estimated costs range from $93 million to $163 million. The plan was adopted unanimously.
• Councilmember Givens' Referral (City Vehicle Usage): A referral was approved (7-1) for a Public Services & Infrastructure Committee discussion on city vehicle usage policies and technology. Councilmember Harding voted no, arguing it was an HR issue.
• HERS Committee Action Items: The council unanimously approved three resolutions: the creation of a Resilience Advisory Committee, a General Obligation (GO) Bond Advisory Committee, and the Resilient by Nature Program.
• Ordinances: Various routine ordinances and first readings were approved, including a vessel exclusion zone at Cocina Key Park.
• Quasi-Judicial Rezoning (J9 A/B - St. Vincent DePaul): The council considered a rezoning to allow for affordable housing development. Neighbors opposed the increase in density and commercial encroachment. The motion to approve the rezoning failed in a 4-4 tie vote, with Councilmembers Driscoll, Floyd, Gabbard, and Gurtis opposed.
• Quasi-Judicial Appeal (J10 - Self-Storage on MLK/Booker Creek): The council heard an appeal of a CPPC decision to deny a zoning change for a self-storage facility. Staff and numerous neighborhood groups opposed the change, citing spot zoning, environmental impacts on Booker Creek, and inconsistency with the Comp Plan. The council voted unanimously to deny the appeal, upholding the CPPC's decision.

Key Outcomes

• Settlements Approved: $100,000 settlement for a civil rights lawsuit and $60,000 for an employment lawsuit.
• Master Plan Adopted: The Port of St. Petersburg Master Plan was adopted.
• Oversight Committees Created: The council voted to establish a Resilience Advisory Committee and a GO Bond Advisory Committee.
• Failed Rezoning: The St. Vincent DePaul rezoning request for affordable housing failed on a 4-4 tie vote.
• Upheld Denial: The appeal for the self-storage project near Booker Creek was denied unanimously.
• Next Meeting: The next city council meeting is scheduled for November 5, 2026.