City Council

>> One. >> Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and your elected officials our mayor Ken well. District one hopefully Curtis. District 2 Wendy gabbard district 3 Mike Harding district 4. A council chair Lisette can away. District 5 ever think Sanders. And Gina Driscoll. Were you given studen year and and Council vice chair reaching Floyd. >> 6 City Council meeting where could I have a ball please go to us. Here and with us here Gobert here earning. Sanders in school here given this year Lloyd. >> The day we're gonna have our invocation given by Rabbi Philip Klein, prob of congregation, real. And please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance if you can. Members of the council. I guess and neighbors. Thank you for the privilege of opening the meeting. I come to you in the season of the Jewish high holidays. We just celebrated Russia's tonight, the new year and this weekend. Thank you for the day the tournament. A season that is built around showing up about saying here I am Heaney. Those words are used by Abraham the prophet when he was called words that I use today when I welcomed a little boy and the covenant at 8 days. The covenant of Abraham Isaac and Jacob that's the word that our tradition uses whenever someone is asked to show up not as a bystander but as a participant ready to be counted upon. And I asked my community this week how do we say he nanny how do we say here I am not only to our own faith community but to all people to our neighbors, our city. Even when it's hard because right now. It is heart my community has been in the city of Saint Pete for a 103 years. Across the country Jewish congregations have faced violent threats with visibly Jewish people attacked on the street and from their homes and as of our shop and that hatred stems from a single in sunlight that whatever anyone's problem is blame the Jews. Anti-semitism is rising in ways that many of us did not see or expect in our lifetime. But we know that hatred against Jews does not end there. It multiplies and leads Tate ran against so many others. So none of us is asked to call to fix that alone. But everyone is asked to notice. Everyone is asked to speak up and stand aside any person being singled out because their safety and dignity is bound up in our own. I truly believe that we will find a way to honor the dignity of every human being in this room. To find true peace in the South. And our City Council as an example of that. So before you begin your work today MAY we be a community that's as he nanny that says I show up but I stand up for one another. You are Christian Muslim or Hindu Buddhist or seek believer seeker every color every race every creed MAY we have the courage to stand up for our neighbor when their diminished and humanity and humility to be set up for when we are needed. Made the decisions made in this room today, the guided by Justice tempered by compassion. Andrew did and the recognition that we share one city. When future and the gift of knowing one another. But all of us taking a knee. Here we are together I mean. And this is all and justice for all. Thank you rabbi one property. Council members we have an agenda for. We will I think emotion room and the motion second clerk if you can open the machine for voting. Council members please enter your votes. >> Voted clerk please tally announce the vote. MADAM Chair motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously. We have before us the approval of the consent agenda with the addition of cb 23 be 21 cb 22 and cb 23 which are the union agreements approved. And motion second councilmember Driscoll thank you I just wanted to quickly point out item for regarding the social services allocations. As a follow-up to our conversation about this a few weeks ago and our city staff from them neighborhood services as well as our Police Department have been working and. With the folks at Saint Vincent de Paul. Along with the 2 neighborhoods that are adjacent to the facility to create a real action plan. They really got them on the path to being a better neighbor. I'm just really please to share with you that there has been a remarkable improvement in the appearance their behavior and the relationship. And there is actually you'll see in the backup material. There's a new exhibit exhibit e e which details any issues what the plan is and who the contact is and all of the details said that this type of work can continue along with the funding and those are going to go hand in hand. So I wanted to to thank city staff and our Police Department for all you've done too really improve the situation and I thank the folks at Saint Vincent de Paul for showing that we can be compassionate and be a good neighbor at the same time. Step center here I didn't know if you had something to say about this or if you're just on him for questions if I stand in the area now I just I just wanted to thank you. I would say councilmember that the is also going into any of the public service agreements with in housing to that would include emergency solutions Grant cdbg excellent all right. Thank you, thank you, MADAM Chair, thank you vice-chair Thank you since it's come up, I also wanted to uplift. That I've had. You know volunteers from Saint Vincent de Paul reach out to me and feel that some of the police presence there's been heavy handed. I understand we're trying to work our way through this but I was frustrated to hear that and a take this issue on with a compassionate ideal going forward, I'm sure that that is what you all would have intended. But I did need to say that on getting it from both sides in this conversation and so I'm glad to hear that things are getting better but I hope that we're not doing it at the expense you know people who are underprivileged. Thank you first that I've heard of it, but I will look into it, Thank you it's since it's been brought up by I think the social services allocations Committee for their work. On this it's it's GOD's work every year trying to allocate the money that we have 2 very needy agencies and Helen Rimes and your team and everyone thank you for everything you do. And we have no comment we have any cards I was going to us. Thank you for okay, we have a motion a second clerk if you punishing for boating council members please and your votes at all for the council members a vote a clerk please County announced the boom. Oh I'm sorry I tried I promise ok that center once again. Now that we have all the bullets entered clear you can also. MADAM Chair motion to approve the consent agenda passes unanimously. Thank you. >> Councilmember Curtis, thank you MADAM Obviously. We just approved the union agreements and I spoke with John bass was the PRESIDENT Of the Suncoast pba and he just wanted me to quickly convey a message that he he sorry that he could not be here he's doing his day job which is training the new k 9 officers and dogs this morning but on on behalf of the Suncoast pba John wanted to thank Council for making this contractor priority and for its favorable consideration. Our communications center personnel are in a central part of the Police Department of the city of St. Petersburg they're the voice on the other end of the radio and a critic critical link between our officers in the community we serve. So I also want to recognize. Sam Smith Communications center supervisor and pda representative for his work and commitment throughout the process and John just sends us thank you for the support of this item thank you very much, MADAM Chair. Thank you, we're sorry that. It's not gonna make it that completely understand why. Next up we have open him before I go to the clerk I just want make sure today we have a budget hearing at 06:00pm. So is there any public comments for the budget hearing that's at 06:00pm. Because it's a public hearings has to be during the public hearing and that it open so I verify that would leave and I just want to make sure anyone who's here for the budget it's at 06:00pm with that being said clerk are there any speakers for open form is MADAM Chair. If you wish or just to the Council on subjects other than public hearing a quasi-judicial items listed on the agenda. Please sign up with the clerk. Only the individual wishing to speak makes on the open sheet only city residents on the property business owners in the city or the employees MAY speak all issues discussed and are open for must be limited to issues related to city of St. Petersburg government. If you're speaking to an item on the agenda you MAY only speak once during the open form when the item on the agenda. Applause is not permitted except in connection with wars and presentation in order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address Council. Each individual be given 3 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 we're into star 9 on your phone at the time the agenda item is address when it's your turn to speak you'll be a new to annex the state your name and address at the conclusion of your comments for when you reach the 3 minute time you'll be muted. All reasons will be lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method of participation news, normal rules apply, including the 3 minute time limit on comments the requirement that any presentation 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 chairs authorized to accept public comment by alternate means including my email only and now we come to speak at a time as chair. Susan Fowler in Carl finds that please go to I the podium state your name address or Wall Street you have to be minister addressed City Council. Good afternoon council members. >> I know one of you maybe 2 of you, I'm not sure. I'm Susan Fowler and I live at 7 3076 Avenue, north of Petersburg the fossil Park neighborhood. And I'm here excuse me like the rabbi said to advocate for my neighbors and basically children. Our neighborhood is changing. Previously older people more mature people were getting younger families and a lot of children so I'm here to advocate for the kids of my Street. Cody Nora Lucas Darby Annie in k live and one on the way for next week. But in. Last week in SEPTEMBER she told me anyway, and the pedestrians it's a very a vital pedestrian neighborhood were next to the gateway Plaza which old say target and formerly a bill's home goods. Miller's ale House huge Publix and also a post office so we have a lot of walkers and pedestrians and we have no sidewalks and no speed limit posted. So I'm interested in sidewalks stop signs. Speed limit signs and just say for high quality of. Health for our neighborhood just quality overall and a like I said this morning as I walked in run my jog, Jack Russell and jog. There were 13 pedestrians at 00:30am in the morning just headed to the target Plaza. Also we have a lot of tractor trailers coming down or Street to I don't know if they're coming from the plants or Walgreens at the end of the street. This morning there was a red bull tractor trailer. And also a gator aid tractor trailer between 8, 8.30 and that's when the kids are just leaving for school and reach routinely have a coca-cola box truck and a Budweiser tractor trailer in a jury do struck to come down. Twice a week. Donors Street this is residential. No sidewalks. And we do have at the intersection of 7th Street North and 76th Avenue. We do have with a rised raised intersection it's 20 plus years old. The heat and the traffic is kiahnna you know diminished its incline so it's kind of just a nice roll over where you don't have to kind of stop because it's gonna hurt my car. You really kind of just roll over and rolled through the staff. So that's a big big concern to me like I say it was built apparently according to the Saint Pete news letter that I received. 20 oh 2 something to sunlight, but it's well over 20 years old so it's diminished in its incline and its purpose at courting So I've are your 3 minutes It goes by quickly, but you have a lot of issues that I think I'm in a straighter Curtis, if you could pay hearing the can get your information that I think the Transportation Department to help with that was a quick 3 minutes to a new product because by the us. Thank you thank you for your time. Council people. My name is Carl funds to and Susan as has been the number of mention how many and a return attorney from upstate New York one living in St. Petersburg for number of years and my because the person is sitting right next to your left to Mike Harding we've met with make a number of times and a. >> Issue 3 mind. I'm sorry if you can just for the record to give us the address please. I'm sorry that's what 7. 3 o 76 Damian North. But is it a code 3, 3, 7, to get your game. The reason we're here is because of the. Problems I think intersection and we live crociere section of 7th Street North in 76 to the north. The traffic is horrendous. The pedestrian traffic is also the expert henschel relation to vehicle traffic cars do not stop at the four-way stop sign. The slowdown MAY be and there is which used to be. I raise intersection I have documented photographs of what it looks like what it feels like it is to roll over. There's no stopping at all. Many people do not stop the driver did not stop at the intersection to slow down sometimes right to And it's one of the I think most unique and intersections Petersburg because of his low Cal 76th Avenue and 7th Street is to cut what Cook true Street. From okay and for Street North. It took us 2 feet from the trailer park with passions know trailer park, it 72th Avenue streets that 73th 74 75th. Go from this intersection all the way to the Plaza. It's an extraordinary number of additions I've. I first of all I apologize to. In a letter to you said riches a former mayor and vice mayor Vice mayor of this The CHAIRMAN Of this committee and I apologize for misspoken MISTER It and I hand delivered the to you as well as a mic and some others in the mayor. Stack of literature and information regarding a request for speed humps. There's one neighbor that lives right in the intersection has been there for 40 years of his wife and a and he has told us that. He's worried the children will be killed. Because cars do not stop. This low do maybe it's just really it's just a cut to street from mlk. To force readers you people know and I could go on and on and if you give me another minute agreed to something you. I actually Sir you just remind times expired and I hope I haven't expired either so you can always send it so you can send the material to City Council and then I know that administration is definitely in the follow-up on the issue. MR. 5 Thank you agent. I think you Sir. >> Next to speak enter raf elbow and Liam Oliver please go to I the podium state your name and address for cross Street you have 2 minutes to address City Council. All right Brent falbo Mary way South. And here I councilmember supposed representative is on your cell phone. So nice. I came here for open forum today which is supposed to be corbyn quote open for him but I'm finding out that there's rules to that it's not open its actually restricted for him only able to talk about the budget items at 06:00pm that's ridiculous honestly it needs to be changed. It's open for him it should be open to all and every topic. Whether in here 03:00pm weather here at 06:00pm people have jobs people have lives like this is just crazy. So I'll stand up here today on talk about the lawsuit you guys have a few guys of lawsuits for transparency. A judge ruled for the case that I took you guys to court for that you are not in compliance with the law to provide public records with in a timely manner. There was a meeting held in JANUARY. There was the process was being looked at I haven't seen any follow-up on that haven't heard anything from that. But of course my councilmember cancels meetings with rep or canceled meetings with the public and doesn't show up she spent 3 hours in their last meeting. Last e-mail she noted that she spent 3 hours last month meeting with her constituents. Its it's pitiful truly pitiful I love how you're shaking head and I think it's it's really disrespectful so I will yield the rest of my a minute and 30 so 30 or so seconds to anybody up here who wants to address transparency and talk about what's being done to fix it in the city. Into in terms of open form is for the public to speak, I mean I understand, but there's there's I'm I'm able to be and I want to use my time and give somebody an opportunity to talk because I don't I don't hear anything from the city and you guys are restricted from interacting with the public has seen it happen before. So if anybody would like to talk about what's going on with transparency what's being done to fix it I would appreciate that. MR. Southall you have the time for you to speak if you want to set up a happy all how I know yes now. I'm giving everybody else that it isn't just targeted you it's everybody up here because everybody is accountable. So that's why a minute give anybody a chance to talk about it. Well britney governor hope you'll make some facebook comments about it, but I know both of you and brandy or on facebook all the time during the work day so maybe guys can give us some information there. Give you a public records request on facebook when you're talking about budget item so you can respond to that when you get a chance. Deborah. Any response at all. >> Good afternoon members of city Council meetings Liam Oliver my address, 1, 3, 6, 3, 42nd Avenue North. I'm a senior at St. Petersburg High School on the founder and PRESIDENT Of my schools, civic engagement club. And so our goal is to attend. City Council meeting public open for homes to attend public forums and basically to make our students voices heard on. You're currently with 3 other speakers record Jackson and Ali as well as others who chose to attend. And the reason I made this cloud is because I want to lower the barrier for entry for students to be civically involved. I've noticed or go gap in that in our school like a lot of people don't even. It took a lot of work just to get this many people to come out to a city Council meeting a lot and didn't know where it would be stuff like that is a lot of things that you know I want to promote having the youth more involved and know what's going on these lot of impacts about us every day. We can't vote there's nothing else we can do so we have to make our voices heard we'll talk about something as one of the most commonly recognized issues. When I've asked the student body. What do we care about what's wrong with Saint Pete and that is definitely homelessness so right now what's going on I mean I'm sure you all know affordability is a massive problem within housing but also our state laws and our local Police Department makes it extremely hard for people to sleep and you can't live without sleep. You need to be able to sleep. Sleeping publicly has become extremely criminalized and yet the school were definitely really concerned about the human right implications, and the cruelty of arresting people for sleeping publicly. We ask that you continue expanding affordable housing rental assistance in supportive housing. But most importantly actually listen to a homeless people in the community are saying what they're asking for what they say is wrong with current shelter programs and things like that. They're human they are represent you represent them they're part of our community and we ask that you take what they say into account. Well making sure the city's response to homelessness connects people with housing rather than just simply moving them from one place to another and just you know continuing ongoing cycle that's going on. If St. Petersburg wants to be a city where everyone can build a future. That future has to have a place to live. And right now that's not what we're living in so I thank you and good luck tonight, fellow civic engagement members who will be presenting their issues that come from our student body. We want to be sure tension, thank you so much. Thank you. Next. >> Jason is what she into means please unmute yourself state your name and address, you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> The council this is Jason Scott at 4636 redfish Lane. I wanted to provide some insight and the recent so-called study that Duke energy released via concentric. >> Which is a longtime consultant, an ally of Duke energy and other use. In this study they made ridiculous claims stability high end estimate of 2 2 $4 billion. To break down the major falls in the study which any independent engineering firm what easily point out is claiming we would need to build double the amount of substations that we have now build over a 150 additional miles appliance separate from neighboring unincorporated areas within Saint Pete. All of which would be against us. Florida State statues of on economic duplication of assets. This study does not follow any serious engineering or financial considerations. But this was the only way for them to create such outrageous claims even more so then what assumptions they meet in Clearwater which they suggested it would cost over $1 billion. But as we all know in Clearwater we saw that the certified appraisal that could be taken to the state were used in court was only a small fraction of that cost. I don't think this is a sign of a good partner the the city. If they plan on spending residents resources on misleading us and undermining the city's efforts to explore its options. I wanted to mention that at the end of this month. Duke energy is raising our rates again. But don't worry they think they can save customers temporarily. A whole $0.71 next year. Very exciting. At the same time there's fighting on the state level to negate Senate bill 4, 8, 4, Push more costs to residential customers to pay for data centers. That's all the updates I want to share with you. Thank you Council. Thank you. Next to speakers, MADAM Chair. I believe is really being coats in Jackson. So it's going to I the podium state your name. Address 4 cross Street you have 2 minutes to address it accounts. The other speaker to go to the other podium while he's speaking. Absent. Good afternoon members of City Council my name is Riley coats and I'm a sophomore at Saint the high school here representing our civic engagement club. As young people looking for is looking at the future safety. We believe that the city cannot be truly successful if its people. It's progress is built and deep geographic inequality simply being born 10 steps of South Central Avenue reduces a person's statistical life except expectancy by an average of 5 years. If you look at extremes it gets worse. The life expectancy is 82 years and snow while but drops to a 66 years and Campbell Park does a 16 year got it would just 15 minutes away from each other. And we know this cat didn't happen by accident. 16 year divide is a direct generational consequence, a historic redlining just commit or discriminatory zoning and lending maps explicitly cutting black residents and so sick of South safety from her home ownership investment and wealth creation today, the maps MAY have changed but the legacy of redlining is still prevalent in our city. It has created modern day food deserts, a lack of medical networks and complete economic isolation from neighborhoods like Campbell Park right now the city is moving forward with the multi-billion dollar historic gas plant. District redevelopment you are deciding exactly how public land use policies and municipal dollars will be allocated. We cannot allow this Council to approve shiny new office spaces and luxury apartments while the community next door is dying 16 years younger. As concerns students to safety in high school we asked that user mitt municipal authority to expand local food access. We know say the city cannot force a massive corporate grocery store chain to open a store but the city does control municipal funds. Those control municipal land dress. We asked the council to vote to use cities the city's economic development funds to help subsidize community lead initiatives like the ongoing one community grocery co-op. Hughes municipal property speed up zoning variances and that's funding to get the community owned food market open. And the Southside food as it. We asked you to stop treating these disparities like an an fixable tragedy. You have the historical data and you had the municipal tools. And you have the budget vote to use the city's actual power power to heal Petersburg in close a 16 year gap for good. Thank you. >> Hello I am. Jackson suggs I'm a sophomore at St. Petersburg high school with the civic engagement club limit 3, 3, 2 one Jackson Street North. One of the main things that comes up on students why they want what they wanted to fix in the city was infrastructure as students who live in drive in the city every day. We're tired of watching road construction projects drag on for months and years and no end in sight. You cannot go anywhere in Saint Pete without seeing the roadwork ahead signs and blocked off Lane say grades locks are traffic hurts local businesses and it feels like there is no urgency to finish the job. We understand the project needed that projects are needed to improve the city. But for the students who are representing the infrastructure problem also has something to do with our safety. We went through massive storms and hurricanes Helene and Milton and we saw how our streets flooded and how long it takes to recover. Our biggest fear right now is that we're going to get hit by another major storm and I roads were washed away all over again because they weren't built right the first time. Our asked today is simple stop reading road construction gone definitely and make sure that roads are built strong and can withstand any future accidents. Thank Thank you. Speakers, MADAM Chair, I believe is write a letter from Anne Marie and Kathy Herald sun please go to the podium state your name address were cross Street you have 3 minutes to address to the council. Good afternoon members of Council. My name is Riker and I'm also with the city engagement club cpi. As students going up in Saint Pete. We care deeply for the local policy because the decisions you guys make today are the ones that we in here tomorrow. And that's why I'm here with our club to talk about a local a policy on flock cameras. The poll conducted conducted by our club among students who knew what flock safety was 97% had a negative opinion will only 3 had a positive opinion. We understand that the council has voted to send the flight program. Its ongoing $700,000 contract to the public services and infrastructure Committee for an emergency reevaluation. As young people who care for the civil civil liberties we believe this is a critical moment for St. Petersburg. First concern is privacy and the potential for police abuse. Roughly one-third of the cp Police Department already has direct access to the flock database. We only have to look across Florida to Haines City where an officer use the system to stock his ex-wife tracking. Her movement 717 times when stronger safeguards to ensure that abuse cannot happen in Saint Pete. Flock is a private 3rd party corporation. And St. Petersburg I'm sorry. Flock is a private 3rd party, a corporation and when the Police Department uploads information about our family's daily movements to the cloud network. The city gives significant control of that data and how would distort or accessed. We are concerned about mistakes in ai tracking. St. Petersburg scammers use ai tracking to identify date details such as bumper stickers roof racks and vehicle damage. In Volusia County a woman was wrongfully arrested after flood camera misidentified her vehicle. Innocent cp residents should not face that same risk. Finally there are concerns about disproportionate surveillance national data has found that flock cameras are heavily concentrated in black and brown communities with surveillance occurring at nearly 4 times the rate image a nearly 4 times right of majority white neighborhoods in a city already working to address inequality we should carefully consider whether this technology could deepen those divides winterson this issue is currently within a subcommittee where does this isn't like this. A significant should not be buried. We hope it reaches a full vote. If it does or civic engagement club su to vote to exit the flock contra completely. Even if it cost the city money. No amount of budget savings is worth sacrificing the privacy of safety residents. These represent the people you serve protect our civil liberties and help get rid of flock. Thank you. Thank you if he can. >> Good afternoon. I'm Cathy haralson I live. 26 true than 32nd ad North Saint Pete in cp tights regarding this morning. This morning's hers committee item to establish a citizen advisory Committee for designing implementing and overseeing green infrastructure. I hardly support the initial efforts of the os our office and we expect expressed desires of hers committee members to strengthen and consolidate that effort. In fact I'd like to get a copy of maven Rogers. Presentation if I could that said I want to continue to stress that the number one item needed in the city ended any and all efforts toward the use of living infrastructure is that of protecting arsene tree. I've been calling it stop the chop but if you think that's cute are not serious enough to be considered all see this. The most important most cost effective. Absolutely first thing we can and must do is prioritize and protect our existing shade tree canopy all the other items tree plantings room gardenside are planners bias whales living shorelines and mangrove first are critical. But nothing gives us the best and most sweeping return on the investment of all residents and protecting our canopy that brings me to my second item please understand I do think sidewalks are important before say this. But why and how can we complete our sidewalk master plan until and unless we implement my indicated step one of the half. Trees have to be given priority sidewalks can last go around trees where we obviously want sidewalks but without the shade of big trees. You won't be able to use that half of the year. So you really shooting ourselves in the foot. I did attend the city side will resume Colin Tue. And was disappointed that reason are considered. But not prioritize. And without this they say without the shade of the big trees. What's the point. One other item please recommit to the important tree inventory of the urban forestry committee. We're engaged in that actively before the committee was disbanded a year ago that process enables us to measure the data and asset value of every tree map and engage the community while doing so. So thank you very much tonight. I just didn't want to say one thing I was told to be taken seriously. I needed to dress up so I want you to know I put on shoes for this meeting. Thank you. It's more speakers. >> I want to tell the civic engagement public first off thank you for being here you know that you're welcome to prod reach out to me or probably any city Council mayor and I speak for the everyone but you're always welcome to reach out and have a meeting and talk about these issues and f and I think that MAY be something that your group can do so I just wanted to put that out there for you all. Before I go in I have a feeling that council members me want to say something about that councilmember Harvey. Thank you chair. Yes I am. Overly impressed with you all I not only that the that the engagement of the club. But you obviously prepared for today you are our well-spoken your well presented. And it is please don't stop this. You got to see today that that Susan and Karl have shown up to advocate for their their neighbors on their Street they're concerned with the speed you got to see Kathy show up and an advocate for trees in our city. You got to see Brad falbo show up and in and who's the s the clia advocate for transparency in the city. This is this is the engagement that matters this is this is how city government local government really gets manatee that it is by that the individuals and the and the civic organizations in the neighborhood organizations and it all and it all starts with if you got to come in the back where we all hang out one of the things that you hear us talk about as we really wish that there are more people that advocated for we would love to have more feedback for for how we we do the city's business up here and that that was absolutely fantastic. Probably one of the best acts. Yeah and one of the best presentations we've seen a pair. Make sure that you seniors keep the sophomores engage sophomores make sure that you find freshman to come along with you make sure that this group continues and what the chair said you'll find you'll find plenty of support from your city would love to come out. Individually and and talk to your classes, you're welcome to come back and administration. If you want to talk to the mayor who want to talk to the guy who really runs the city sitting down there. Many of us just do it I have to do is reach out. Thank you very much Sir. Thank you. Thank you for mentioning sunshine law because we can't meet together outside of this meeting so we have to do this separately if you want to meet with us councilmember fix handers. And though and thank you so much I wanted to go. Some of what councilmember Hardin said the young man that actually spoke about the homeless sons. I wanted to reach out to you this year we councilmember Harding I actually chair our continuum of care that pay specific attention to our homes. And we meet via zoom and you are more than welcome to join us on that zoom call if you leave your information. So that you can address your same concerns with the agencies that handle. Homelessness so again as it was said before we are always available in always willing to me regardless of what you hear. We are we are available to meet. And so I am so impressed. I love young people I just said this the other day we need to encourage our young people because we're not going to be here forever not to mention we are term limited so we need a new good we need new energy we need new for of voices and I am so glad that you all here today and thank you so much and I love how you ought to cut one particular cause because this is a big city. We have a whole lot that's going on. So how do I appreciate that and thank you for your involvement and I do appreciate the fake that you're here and we did hear your voices, thank you so much, thank you to councilmember Givens. Thank you chair of and I just echo what my colleagues ascent you all you showed up. And I just want to say I'm so proud of each of you. It was like a walk down memory lane for me cause, I'm looking at Jackie and Gina both of them have been around long enough to remember when I was probably about your age and I started showing up here speaking up and here I am now. So just know you MAY make mistakes. You. A fumble the ball a couple times but just like any good football player you recover and you keep on going. >> And so this is just the beginning. I took a picture of you and I sent it to MISS Lebo because principal as my Spanish teacher when I was in high school. So she should be proud of you all on because you have the rays you really do you have that charisma that is needed to be in the seat, so I feel like we should just give our seats up to you all because you really are not just the leaders of tomorrow with the leaders of today. So keep up the good work. Thank you chair. Thank you. So now, you know we're going to be expecting some e-mails to set up some meetings me brought up a lot of. Subjects that are that we can all go pretty much pretty and that fine and I think that's going to be really good for the club. So thank you. No more speakers right. Okay, open for mosquitoes we go to new ordinace is the one. This is to set the Oct. First 2026 day as a public hearing date for an ordinance as a Canadian Mikey House located at one 47 Wildwood Lane Southeast as a local historic landmark and having the property to the Saint Peter for register of Historic Places pursuant to city code. Clerk. >> Yes, you read about read it. Propose ordinance number one 43 h l in order to the city of St. Petersburg Florida designating the mic in house located at one 47 Wildwood Lane South. He says a local historic landmark and adding the property to the St. Petersburg register of Historic Places pursuant to section 16.3 0, 7, 0, city code and providing an effective date and the public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1st one 26. We do not have any cards a cute. I think the motion of approval. >> Okay motion a second clerk and you can open the machine from voting. Council members please and your votes in that all present council members voted clerk please Kelly announce the vote. Chair motion to approve agenda when passes unanimously the customer gabby camps, thank u next one clerk eat too. >> Post ordinance number 7, 6, 6, dash l in ordinance amending the future land use map of the comprehensive plan for the city of St. Petersburg Florida, changing the future land use map designation for a 0.4 3 acre him help him help arsenal, general generally located at the southeast corner of Second Avenue North and 35th Street north from residential medium are him to planned development mixed. Use pr dash him you providing for repeal of conflicting ordinances and provisions thereof and providing an effective date and the public hearing is scheduled for 10/15/2026. This is for the 2 a. We doing second. We're you can do them together. Together and improve ul of items eta Andy to be I mean we need to be here and be okay proposed ordinance number 8, 0, 1, z in it an ordinance amending the official zoning map of the city of St. Petersburg Florida by changing zoning for a 0.4 3 acre mll parcel generally located at the southeast corner of Second Avenue North and 34 Street north from neighborhood suburban multi-family dash one. Yes and that's one to commercial service suburban dash one tcs that's one providing for repeal of conflicting ordinances and provisions thereof and providing an effective date and the public can for this item is also on 10/15/2026. You have a motion for 8 and b he too is there a second. You are you can open mission for boating council members please enter your votes. In a prison council members voted clerk please telling us about. Chair motion to approve the 2 passes unanimously. Next up we've got a new business guy one this is councilmember fix. Anderson is here item Anne thank you so much here. Just to preface where the request is coming from. And you know then on the strong advocate for small businesses and in some travels eyes saw a unique method of supporting small restaurants and in a conversation and if it really going to be guys to some of the parking issues that we have downtowns and we're out of the areas of the city. And let me also state we're preempted from pre preventing this from happening. But what this would do is help support some of our smaller restaurants in regards to food delivery. And I respectfully request to to public services and infrastructure Committee or other relevant Committee for a discussion on autonomous who delivery services in areas with the strong concentration of restaurants in cafes. In addition to areas with limited and restricted parking. The discussion should include what actions. The city MAY take to encourage the operation of a Thomas food delivery services in such areas and the scope of the city's ability to regulate such services. So the conversation and I had was although we did actually have a company approached the city. 2 years ago to do this they completed all the document is proof of insurance. It was supposed to start and for some reason did not I don't know what happened with that. Just wanted to make sure my colleagues have been because at the end of the day we're going to be responsible for some of the actions, the pros and cons of it and so I wanted us to be able to have that conversation in the sunshine as to our feedback on that and so with that I move approval. Second. And so the motion a second I just want to double double check on this its ps I know this is what it says would be something that Evan with handling transportation, yes. So I think MR. Murray definitely be involved MR. Corbyn's been involved in and I think attorney Ben James has been involved in reviewing that so the team is looking at these things and we'll get the team together to provide a report found is good. Ok so we have a motion and the second work if you can open a machine for boating council members please enter your votes. In the Depression council members a vote a clerk please telling us about. MADAM Chair most to prove that you g one passed unanimously. Thank u next up we have Council committee reports h one fy care Floyd thank you. I'm respect respectfully requesting City Council approval to remove the following items from housing land use and Transportation Committee referral list. First the connecting South St. Petersburg cre mobility study and second a discussion on neighborhood traffic calming these items both were a tourist in committee and remained on the. Remained on the referral listen our moving them. So moved In a motion a second clerk and you can open the machine for boating council members please enter your votes in the Depression council members a vote a clerk police telling us vote. Chair was to approve the John h one passes unanimously. Next up we have h 2 and it's like you're fully yet. This is a resolution reappoint. I believe commissioner Seymour Hsu the a c p housing Authority. You know move approval, second. >> And look at second clerk and you can open the machine for voting. In that office and council members voted clerk please calling out the vote. Too much to prove a gym. H 2 passes unanimously. Thank you. We respect that City Council now we can being as the Siri Siri to we have Beth here, hey bath. And chair, vice chair members of City Council about here Indian city development managing director happy to be with you this afternoon. I am requesting approval of our fy 27 spending plan for tax increment revenues for the in town redevelopment area just as a quick refresher the in redevelopment area was created in the early 1980's, 1981 82 and includes a large portion of downtown from the Perth most of annoyed Park down past the Dolly and from the waterfront to Tropicana field. So right now for fy 27, the current current spending plan includes 2 items. The debt service payments for the pier and peer approach projects in the amount of a little over $5.7 million. This item has been in the in town redevelopment budget since 2016. And the initial draw was approximately 56.2 million in the balance after this payment will be just over 26 million and then the second item in the current spending plan is $200,000 for capital improvements for our Lang and we are obligated to pay that in our agreement with the Tampa Bay. Rowdies both of these items are consistent with the in town redevelopment plan as improvements to both the pier district and the Center for the Arts are specifically named in the plan and additionally the downtown waterfront masterplan speaks to enhancements at both the pier and Al Lang as additional cip projects are developed and I know we've talked about some of those for the pier that would you see are a cra funds in town budget amendments will come before the cra and City Council for approval and we anticipate doing that in the near future. We will prove. And motion a second administration when are we getting the serie for the sunset sending q which is something that has been pending for a boom. Well I I know as far as the amended table 2 and the changes that are being made. Yes those changes have been discussed with the county and that we anticipate those coming before you and the county through that process and just in the coming months like next few weeks months. I know we've been the thing is we've been hearing this for it that the county I thought the county conversations for died just yes. >> Was so so just to be clear on that we be started out with conversations with the county commissioners. Those have been done we're now engaged in conversations with the staff on the process of moving through there. Their process for the county Commission and we are working on material to bring up the City Council okay. >> We have a motion a second clerk if you punishing for boating council members please a new us in that upper the council members voted clerk please telling out to vote. MADAM CHAIRMAN to approve a general cre to passage. Next up we have cre 3. And this is George of the item high George. The other half Asian for us. I do. Good afternoon. MADAM Chair spiced year council members, I'm George Smith. Chief impact officer with the Office of community impact. I'm here today to present the fy 2027 budget recommendation for the South St. Petersburg cre. The administration is requesting that the community Redevelopment agency recommend and City Council approved the fy 2027 budget plan and allocate an estimated 22 million 914,000. $117 in fy 2027, tif revenue across 4 budget categories. Housing and neighborhood revitalization. 15 million. 143,000 $839 or 66 0.1% of the total. Business and commercial development, 5 million $108,000 or 22.3% of the total workforce development and education. 1 million $58,471 or 4.6% of the total and cre operations and personnel. 1603 thousand $807 or 7% of the total. We're also asking that the agency to adopt ordinance 6.47 dash h which formally appropriates that funding for fy 2027. The estimated fy 2027 to revenue of $22.9 million comes from 3 sources projected city tif revenue is 13 million 425 1425 thousand. The projected Pinellas County tif revenue is just under million or 8,484 thousand $346 in addition just over million is anticipated interest. 1 million 400. For what $1869 and the total comes to 22 million 914,000 $117. Really tell us the real story of the cra's growth and fy 36 district generated 468,000. $162 in combined city in County jail for Avenue. Combine tif revenue surpassed $20 million and in fy 2027, we're projecting nearly $22 million in combined city. And county tif revenue plus interests. That growth reflects the compounding effect redevelopment activity in the district. And it's only while the cra today. You can find a meaningful larger and more diverse net programs that he could in early years. So a lot of us to significantly place more emphasis on affordable housing development and retention as well as infrastructure investments like safe streets in transportation projects. Housing and neighborhood revitalization. This is the largest category in the budget it $15,143,839 was 66.1% the total funding. And it covers several distinct programs. Affordable housing redevelopment a loan program and 11,613 thousand. Finding that we utilize for multifamily affordable housing development. There are currently more than $35 million and pending requests and review. Representing 398 affordable units. And we expect more applications this coming fiscal year. The affordable family, single family residential housing programs, 2 million 745,900 dolls of that amount we're recommending roughly 2 point. Yes again $2.7 million and saying a family programs and included in that amount is House and we have assistance which is our app program at a 180,000 new funding which offers up to $60,000 and we have loans on $16,000 for Barry free mitigation. Down payment assistance program, it's $2.4 million in new funding. And average Grant amount of $55,700. This supports about 43 households with down payment and closing cost assistance. Our residential facade improvement Grant $75,000. Wolf and 5 new applications. And I'll paint your heart out it $90,900 in new funding. Neighborhood teen. Operation lives is the Pate your heart out program which provides home repair and maintenance support to low-income elderly or disabled homeowners. Restoring both code compliance and a sense of pride of home ownership. This funding covers materials for up to a 150 projects. The neighborhood planning program of $784,500 in new funding. It 3 neighborhoods currently are eligible. With a doctor plans him apart. At a park and 13th Street Heights. Yet 2 more neighborhoods, Melrose mercy. And while the case have plans and progress. Business and commercial development. A commercial site improvement grant program requesting an additional million dollars in new funding. We will bring to you a program amendment and a couple of months with relaunch anticipated in early 2027. Economic development incentive program requesting $183,000 in new funding. This program provides get financing for private sector projects that increase quality and pro employment opportunities. The next launch next round will be launched in q one next year. 817,000 uncommitted roll over funding. We will have total available funding of $1 million for fy 2027. Lcra Grant match program. $650,000. This funds for will France for improved Pinellas trail connections from the child's Park in Palmetto Park neighborhoods. Matching one million fdot construction. Grant. It covers for citywide connections. 2 of which fall within the cra the commercial Court of planning program. If 3,275 thousand. This covers. DR. Martin Luther King junior Street South, 27 Street South. 49th Street 18th Avenue and 5th Avenue. Florida details we'll follow. 18th Avenue South $275,000 for cross walks at 21th in 19 Street. Plus supplemental planning and design 5th Avenue South. $200,000 folklore and study between 31th Street and 20th Street. 49th Street South. A $100,000 a modular answer Grant match. This is additional funding on top of a total cra commitment $850,000 with a total project investment of 2.5 million. This funding supports the communities preferred alternative under the safe streets for all plan. For the quarter. Earlier this year, $750,000 and cra funding was approved for phase one along with $500,000 from the city of Gulfport covering intersection improvements enhanced sidewalks crosswalks accessibility ramps. This new $100,000 matches and $800,000 federal grant alongside got porch on a $100,000 match to install my Jean infrastructure between first Avenue South and 22th Avenue South. Seoul investment across the cra. And federal grant is 2.2 $5 million. 27 Street South. One point 1.4 $175,000. Well a pedestrian and bicycle safety and safety improvements as a grant match. This is an additional funding for told of total cra commitment of $3,211 thousand. $1736 thousand is already committed to this grant match with some of that already spent on right away serving parcel title searches and general project feasibility study and DR. Martin Luther King junior Street South. 1 million $50,000. Cross walks in the 9th Avenue. Janet. And 14th Avenue. $750,000 in fy 2026 funds is also committed for this project bringing the total see our investment. One million. In additional $175,000 for court a study between 9th and 18th Avenue South. Workforce development and education. 1 million 58,004 $71. This category funds to programs one for you. And one for adults. Youth work readiness and entrepreneurship program you for these funds $588,045 we'll pay full fat you from staff participants stipends and operations workforce readiness and development program for adults we are requesting 400 $70,426 was Saint Pete works h program. This is a million annual partnership with Saint Pete college which we have sufficient rollover from the prior year to cover the cost of operations. Together these programs build a pipeline of work readiness partnership skills for South St. Petersburg residents from youth engagement through adult services. Cre operations and personnel. 1603 thousand $807. This is the funding that keeps the cra running they today the cover salary and benefits for cra personnel. Staff training, general operations and cra program communications and outreach. It's 7% of the total budget. This is the smallest of the 4 categories. But it's what allows every program that I've just described to actually be administered. Monitor it and communicated to the community. The administration is requesting. He had the cra community Redevelopment agency recommend and that City Council approves the fy 2027 cra budget plan. Now okay to an estimated 22 million $914,117. In fy 2027, tif revenue across the 4 categories and we've just walk through today. Housing and neighborhood revitalization. 15,000,001 5139. Business and commercial development, $5,108 thousand. Workforce development and education. 1 million 58,004 $71 and cra operations and personnel. 1603 thousand $807. And that the agency adopt the ordinance 7047 dash h appropriating this funding. Well f y 27. I'm happy to answer any questions at this time. Joining me today our economic and workforce development vast but Haitian and housing and community development while collaborative partners who support and help implement these programs. Thank you. Thank you. Brother John Muhammad. Was she in to the meetings please unmute yourself state your name and address. You have 3 minutes to address the council. John you there. >> It wouldn't be as a leading it. I didn't get done you want to. Can you hear me. Yes it can. Thank you. Good evening, MADAM Chair members of City Council by the John a legacy resident of South Saint Pete 46 Street 15th Avenue South. i think there's broad agreement on the intent and purpose of what we're trying to accomplish with the South saying pcr e we want people to stay in their homes become homeowners are earned more group businesses. Bill welcome benefit from the investment is happening in our community. So these aren't new priorities. I think the budget reflects that and after you know there are multiple community presentations more than 300 surveys and getting respondents to show up for e community convening on Sept. 2nd with over a 130 people PRESIDENT. We're hearing a lot of the same. It's from residents. So tonight, Mike. Talk is really not about changing the direction, but it's an opportunity I think to better adjust. Some of the dollars to reflect the priorities that we share I did send in some Council specific recommendations so I won't bore you with the full details of those but just a couple of examples of what we have about 11.6 million propose for multifamily development developer incentives compared with about 346,000 combined for housing rehab paint your heart out and the single family facade improvements. I think we can continue to invest heavily in affordable housing while putting more resources directly into helping existing homeowners repair and keep the homes that they already have the workforce development and education represents a 4.6% of the budget. I think we can move MAY should move MAY be closer to about 8%. And again invest more directly in the job skills and credentials and people earning power because that was something that we also heard and then of course of the more than 5 million for the business and commercial development. 3.2 7, 5, is for commercial corridor planning. I believe we can make some more meaningful investments and resources that directly reach businesses and the entrepreneurs in the cre. We can put some real resources behind the housing stability in anti displacement as well because those came up as a strategies and opportunities for investment South. Again these are not a new direction. And they don't require a larger budget and so. I promise to those who attended that meeting that I would speak tonight and hopefully. We can identify if there's agreement on the substance of the recommendations maybe getting some clarity from the city attorney on the appropriate ways to act on them before the budget is finally adopted because a lot of times it feels like you know where the 2 late in the game more. It'll just be a rubber stamp and so can you just must be made through amendments should Council requests to budget neutral alternatives from the mayor and administration is there another appropriate mechanism of the questions that I'm coming from the community. And then whatever the you are your time without it. That the last speaker speakers. Okay. And then before we go to councilmember comments. I don't think it was in the presentation, but this went before the city advisory. This to the citizen sorry the citizen Advisory Committee on Sept. First 2026. Okay councilmember gabbard. Thank you MADAM Chair and thank you George for the presentation. So I wanted to first of all I will first say my thanks for not only the youth from funding again. Have been happy to advocate an uplift that over pretty much every year that I've been here on City Council now. So thank you so much for your continued commitment and investment in that program and thank you for the commercial corridor planning program I do agree with the brother John Muhammad that we want to see more. But this is certainly better than where we have been in the past and so just continue to uplift wanting to have more investments in pedestrian bicycle safety. And just making sure that people can get around and have a greater chance of returning home at the end of the day. But I want to kind of hone in a little bit on a couple of specific questions. I think first I'll start with one of the lower hanging fruit which is the the personnel and operations. Can you tell me off the top of your head hopefully how much of that budget I know that you said it's about 7% total of the entire budget. But how much of that 7% is actually towards community outreach because what we hear so many times is that the programs exist, but people don't know that the program's success. So can you speak a little bit about the specific outreach and are we increasing funding for that is most of the increase going towards staff what does that look like. I do not have the percentage breakdown of staff and operations and marketing that can tell you that was very very closely with our marketing department and notifying the community. The outset of any new programs that we kick off and it's a constant using all the mediums that they have available to them to notify the community about various programs. The meetings that we had we had 10 neighborhood Association meetings and business Association meetings but I can get you a number yeah miracle to get back to you to let you know what that amount is okay that's fair. Thank You had to do that just. >> Because I think it's important to understand you know where those barriers are for people applying for funding and how people can get their hands on these dollars and just kind of where that disconnect is cause we continue to hear it. So just be interested in more information on that so the rest of my questions are going to be very specific to the housing and neighborhood revitalization slide. That talks about the breakdown of the $15 million. And again you know John Muhammad said it best I think you know just really this. The split between these dollars specifically around the fact that there's such a large portion of it that is for new development and there is a much smaller portion of it that is for rehab and keeping people and place and that is such an incredibly important