City Council

>> Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and your elected officials our mayor Ken Welch. >> District one Council vice chair, hopefully Curtis. District 2 Randy Gabbert district 3 and Mary. District 4 with that can a win. And Council chair Deborah take Sanders. District 6, jihad District 7 John Muhammad. And district day Richie Floyd. >> To live in this wonderful community known as St. Petersburg Lord to bless us with a beautiful weather. You blessed us with a great number of a diverse people from a variety of backgrounds. A variety of beliefs. Variety of practices and you need us together as one. Lord today as we have important business to discuss I pray that you would be with everyone you would give them the opportunity to peaceably speak their mind to carefully make the points that they have to make that you would fill our Council with your spirit that as they deliberate and decide there would be forward moving direction for our fair city. Less also those who serve to protect us our firefighters our emts are police. Lord we pray for all of these things in the name of your son Jesus and. United States of America and to the Republic, which it stands one nation. >> Thank you River lock run for that we're we really appreciate your words thank you. Council members we have an agenda before us today, no changes in a motion for approval of approval, second. We have a motion is to properly second can you please open machine for voting. Council members please be patient. Now that a PRESIDENT Council members have voted can you please tell me an announcer votes and chair, the motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously. >> Thank you council members, we have a consent agenda before us today with the addition of cv 6. Do we have any public comment on consent. Move approval. Now that we have a motion has been properly second it can you please open the machine for voting. Council members please place your votes. Seeing present council members have voted can you please tell in and out the votes. I'm sure the motion to approve the consent agenda passes unanimously. Thank you so now we move to open Foreman stickler can you please read the rules. If you wish to address City Council on subjects other than public quasi judicial items listed on the agenda. Please sign up with the clerk on the individual wishing to a sign the open form she the only city residents owners of property business owners in the city or their employees MAY speak all issues discussed on the open for must be limited to issues related to the city of St. Petersburg government. You're speaking to item on the agenda you MAY only speak once during the open form when the item comes up on the agenda 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 to zoom meeting you must use the raise hand feature been have rendered star 9 on your phone at the time the agenda items addressed when it is your turn to speak, you make you will be on needed and asked to state your name and address at the conclusion of your comments are when you reach the 3 minute time limit. You will be muted. All raised hands will lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method of participation used 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 I public comment and is is disrupted by violations of the rules of decorum but shares authorized to accept public comment by alternate means including by email. We do have a number of speakers. We have as well. We have known as a red nose and okay. Thank you can please call the first fight okay, I'm gonna call 2 speakers ahead of please what I call your name please go to an up and open podium. State your name and address for the record and you have 3 minutes to address City Council. Peter Katz and Robin Davidoff. >> The return of professional engineering commissioner of public works living it is a catch he weighs in. The gentleman was a If the Res resolution passed today, a plan to write a book exposing the terrible deal. This is for all your constituents. The book's cover will show Pinellas County being suffocated by a giant, the empire squid wearing a raise baseball cap. This deal tricked Petersburg shouldering most of the costs and liabilities of the historic gas plant development. Well handing all the profits to raise who are risking very little. This squid will be draining $1.6 billion from the city. And another is $600 million from Pinellas passing it on to the rays go years in a river socialist deal. This billion represents 26% of those cities. Property taxes over this 30 years. I believe this deal MAY become be a case study illustrating one of the most egregious public private partnership ever created. But your the power to change that narrative today but voting no on this package of resolutions you can help the city retake control from the squid here's how one reacher 40 Sherry duty by obtaining a new land reappraisal indicating the land is likely worth over $14 million in nature today, too. So 65 belittle 65 buildable acres to builders bringing in million 9 times the next $105 million from the proposed deal. 3 the city not raise will have the review control over the builders proposals for commercial and housing density life affordable housing requirements, exterior appearance energy efficiency etc. If the rays choose to build elsewhere there 17 acre site could generate million more in property taxes over the next 30 years. 5 reallocate these funds for community needs. The city will have stood 26% more to spend on essential city services such as one. Helping 10 times as many families achieve affordable housing. To expand the city's water and sewer system to accommodate these new residents 3 improve stormwater flooding in flood-prone areas. Provide property tax relief to the needy fly create job producing technical and trade courses at local colleges. City Council. Please consider your legacy. You want to leave to our city. Vote no on this package resolutions then choose or revise that the truly benefit Saint Pete. And its residents. Thank you. >> And in mourning. My name is Robyn David of as for joins South in St. Petersburg I'm here today to represent the 400 members of the League of Women voters of the St. Petersburg area. I distributed to your Tue. Are a position paper but I'm going to just make a brief comment today. My message today is simple everyday hard-working Petersburg residents go to work difficult jobs. Some sugar, one or 2 jobs to pay the mortgage and rent fixed income seniors worry about their savings and all of them send some of their valuable treasure to you. They are the taxpayers. We had the lead encourage tax payers to also be voters because by voting they will make sure that their City Council members will protect their treasure and vote to use it wisely to improve their lives. Taxpayers and voters expect you to listen to them and also to experts. The Florida taxwatch as an independent expert, their report is stunningly clear and I read to you from page 12, new ball parks impact on attendance revenue and on-field success is an certain public benefits MAY not justify large subsidies. And specifically this deal should include taxpayer protections, including clawback provisions and revenue sharing. Florida taxwatch warns us a public cosmic see the projected fiscal revenues and this last must be offset either by raising local taxes are reducing public services. Your city's public works director public works director told a community group but the city has only $17 million for storm sewer, the budget and a billion-dollar need where will the money come from. We found the answer on the city's Web site quote we will all have to chip in that is a euphemism for paying more in taxes. The Tampa Bay times consulting found that the most reliable poll of voters is a Mason Dixon poll and here is the result. According Florida news poll. Quote think Pete voters flipped on gas plant deal when they get the numbers. 83% of voters said the re should share their revenues. Streams with the Senate to offset the subsidies provided by Saint Pete taxpayers. The taxpayers and voters are speaking to you we're asking you to vote no and send this back to the administration because that is what the people who trust you with their treasure. We are asking you to do. Thank you. >> Next 2 speakers or ash and Mary Kay talk please go to an open podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> Ashland's or is that a 2434 10th Avenue North and I've lived in Tampa Bay for a quarter of a century. Parts of Saint Pete I've never seen flood before our and drivable now when it rains. The Supreme Court just made it illegal to be homeless. So it's really disgusting that we're sitting here talking about giving $417 million of taxpayer money to to private companies for context, $417 million could provide free lunch for every public school student in Pinellas County for 1588 years. Kids who grew up here are leaving because they can't afford it, that's how you destroy communities and increase crime. If regional growth is displacing long-term families and small businesses. We are not being developed. We are being exploited. I am the former marketing coordinator for the Museum of Fine Arts Saint Pete, my salary was only 45 k and the people working the front desk only make $15 an hour or so can we stop pretending like having luxury businesses popping up at Tampa Bay over the past 5 years has made it easier for people to afford housing. Let's stop pretending like having michelin-star restaurants here is somehow going to lead to food security for the working class. When the reality is that the wealth gap and exploitation in Saint Pete is directly proportional to how many yachts are docked in the Bay. I've never been appointed to any fancy political committees. My parents are immigrants from a rural town in the Philippines who didn't even used to vote. Saint Pete used to be a place were any hardworking American could build a life for themselves and their family. I am proof of that families like mine, our tax dollars got the city to this point and now people like me don't deserve to live here anymore because City Council and the mayor are failing to do their job and ensure that our city is developing an equitable and sustainable way. Elections are coming up. It's very simple. Do your jobs or we will be placed you with people who will. Thank you. >> Good morning, Mary Kay talking to the 9.10 by a grand Boulevard. I'm here as minister of the Church of the creator. Thank you for having me. It's all about walking the higher road because that is where you find truth and it is sad truth will set you free. And when we walk in truth we his will be done not ours in your with me now. Our father you are in heaven only use your name. Your kingdom is come and your will is being done on this earth as it is in your heaven in the process of moving towards your decisions how many times have you asked GOD. What are your thoughts your will on these matters. What is your heart telling you. You have the legal expertise free legal expertise as a matter of fact amongst you through COUNCILWOMAN, Lisette analysts know that he's stated legal observations on these agreements for those of you will have had some understanding of legal ease and for those who have understanding of the elements of real estate contracts will recognize her observations to be truthful in Valley. There have been ups of patients also need of the expense to the cities of the city. Expense in the financial sense as well as the expense of the legal rights remedies and protections that the citizens of the city are having to give up. I keep saying citizens instead the city because I was told to be reminded of the old to have taken to protect and serve the citizens at large. Through the Constitution of the state and its statute you all are being charged with the following elements of law to protect those who serve in statute 1, 1, 2.3 1, 1, sub paragraph one. It is essential to the proper conduct an operation of government that officials public officials are impartial and that the office is not to be used for gain of per or for private gain a personal interest and that the public interest requires that the look protect them against any conflict of interest in that same statutes of paragraph 6 it is declared to be the policy of the state that the public officers and employees of the p r agents of the people and hold their positions for the benefit of the public. They are bound to uphold the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Florida to perform efficiently and faithfully their duties and they are bound to observe in their official acts the highest standards of ethics consistent with this code and of the advisory opinions that are ended with the respect here to read card list, a personal considerations recognizing that promoting the public interest in maintaining the respect of the people in the government must be for most of their concern. I acknowledge each of your passions in this deal and their importance however let's go to the mountain top please, let's go to GOD and allow his will to be done in GOD, we trust trust him and he's not just for he will lead you to what you do desire. But let's do it in his way. Thank you. Speaker Israelis. Next 2 speakers are Bradley mccoy David Harbour beichner please go to an open podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> Good morning council members my name is Brad mccoy, area way South. I'm a concerned resident of District 5 I stand before you today to address the matter of great importance regarding the integrity and effectiveness of our Council's leadership. Integrity is defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. We expect integrity to remain one of the highest priorities for elected officials unfortunately recent actions and inactions by the current Council chair Deborah fix, Sanders indicate a clear lack of integrity and commitment to the people of District 5 in the city as a whole over the past year that the residents of District 5 have repeatedly been ignored by the council chair. My early Communications requesting a meeting to discuss by issues went unanswered for months, forcing me to chase a response. Recently of a scheduled meeting with 10 just the tenant for district residents was was canceled and requests to rescheduled were ignored. Despite a meeting on the same topic with the residents from a different different district just 24 hours prior to the canceled meeting analyzing the hours reported in her irregular newsletters it is clear that the council chaired fix Sanders spends and inefficient amount of time meeting with with constituents. JULY and Aug. 20 23 combined 3 hours less than one percent of the total working hours Dec. 20 30 hours 4.2% of the total working hours. JANUARY and Feb. 20 24 combined 5.2 5 hours 3.1 per cent of total working hours. JUNE 2024 11.7 5 hours 7% of the total working hours. Council chair fix Sanders has accepted campaign donations and subsequently voted in favor of those donors without filing conflicts of interest are recusing herself appropriately in the past 4 years only one conflict of interest has been filed which is in quote inadequate given the circumstances disturbingly counts Council chair fix Sanders has admitted that her constituents are not her primary concern instead prioritizing a museum. Her grandchildren and the current mayor, this in ministry this admission violates her duty to the people she was elected to serve furthermore there have been instances where public record requests have not been fully honored undermining the public's trust inner councils transparency. She is she encourages text messages over email to see seemingly skirt the database backup of correspondents. Council chair Deborah fix, Sanders took an oath to serve her constituents with integrity honor and dedication. Her actions demonstrate a betrayal of of the South and the principles of our democratic process. We need a leader who prioritizes their constituents and upholds the values of integrity honesty, transparency and dedication. We're experiencing taxation without representation in district 5 in summary delinquencies have been noted for the following integrity Communications in meetings ethical governance representation, and transparency for the good of our district and the integrity of this Council item and her immediate resignation. I urge the other council members to support this motion and hold our elected officials accountable to the residents of Saint Pete please join me in standing up for what is right and ensuring our representatives uphold their responsibilities. Thank you. You next in speakers please. More go ahead. Thank you good morning. My name is David Whitener 2 to 5 9th Avenue North St. Petersburg Florida, I'm speaking on behalf of this year club today and apologize making the comments in open form, but I don't know when this exact topic will be going on today, I'm not sure I can be here so I'm making the public comment in support of communication sent regarding the series of agreements related to the any start but gas plant redevelopment yesterday's committee of the whole meeting we're pleased to see the sustainability and resiliency elements of these agreements be an active part of the discussion. However, we're disappointed that there were no specific actions requested to at any of these documents to reflect verbalize plans of the development team in these areas. We do believe that there at least one small but meaningful and it can and should be made prior to any motion to approve the agreements in the historic gas plant redevelopment agreement we're requesting that 2 actions be taken. Article 6 section one subsection 6 could be strengthened by inserting and implement so the new wording would be design and implement market appropriate sustainability continued additionally article 6 section one subsection 6 be could be some only strengthen as such design and implement to market appropriate sustainability. The addition of these 2 words into these 2 places in the hit historic gas plant redevelopment agreement while line it with a stronger language present in the article 7 section 3 related to sustainability resiliency in the stadium funding and development agreement at the same time it's simply documents the verbal commitments made by Res Hines at the committee of the whole meeting on JULY 6, 2, Thank you for ensuring the final agreements reflect expressed desires of Council and the professed commitments of the rays Hines development team for more sustainable development. Thank you. >> Thank u speakers please. Thanks to speakers are Tom to you know Chris steinaker please go to an open podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> Councilmembers and Tom Tito 6.22 12th Avenue South. Thank you for the opportunity to speak here. But ask you to vote no which I sent you e-mail with a lot of good reasons in there. I don't know if you've had time to read it. You get too much information coming too fast. And it's hard for you to to deliberate. But there are many reasons for voting. Yes I could think of for and if they were true, I would be comfortable with the yes vote. Point made that the rays are paying for most the stadium. And that that continues the Times had a full front page story. Sun. Talking about how great it was this is not unprecedented. Time team is paying the most we're not counting. $900 million Peter can talk about in in value from selling that land. You're not counting. The utilities are not going to build a stadium without running water or road accidents. So $140 million includes a lot of money going directly to the stadium building itself so it's just not true now you could say it's worth it for the city to pay most of the cost of the stadium. But please be honest. Another main theme of this is that the city honors the pass residents of gas plant. And one way to honor them would be to preserve their grave site make that open space that could an amenity it could be a memorial garden. The other way to honor them is to help them where they live the people have moved to neighborhoods like child's Park. But Lee Park in Lakewood some of these neighborhoods have some problems freighted schools. Affordable housing. 3rd reason to vote. Yes would be the benefits and as you've heard from some of the other speakers the benefits are not clearly required in the contract. Some of the benefits MAY actually not be so good the the idea to convert market rate housing to affordable housing does not solve the housing shortage. I think that that deeds more thought. There's a crisis in housing, even middle income people are finding hard having a hard time finding available units. The food desert has been in the South side for decades. The city built this week Bay. Before that they built a winn-dixie they subsidize a winn-dixie on 3rd Avenue and mlk that closed when sweet they opened remove the food desert and sweet Bay was not sustainable. I'm telling folks to wait 20 years. For supermarket grocery store is. It's just horrible. People are walking. Taking a bus to get the groceries. >> Good morning. I'm Kristen occur, PRESIDENT And ceo the St. Petersburg area Chamber of Commerce. Thank you for allowing me to speak MADAM Chair City Council members and county and city administrator gurneys I do ask for your affirmative vote on on the address Chris of 7, 1, 102nd Avenue North. I do ask for an affirmative we appreciate the support that we have had from you all throughout these conversations. We believe the documents indicative of the opportunity we all see I hear a lot of folks concerned about the opportunities ahead. As our chamber has looked at this and had the discussions. We don't know any other way to solve the issues that I hear in the room today without some type of economic development opportunity like this one. This is something that allows us to generate the kind of momentum that allows people to go back to work at higher wages that allowed them to get the kind of value and services that they want in our community and the kind of homes they want you you you do that by building an economy and and you do that you can't do that as a City Council on your own. You don't have enough of our tax money, you need good partners to do that. I do believe found the right partners. Yesterday we had a little meeting with all those who support this deal and I hope you saw a little bit of that. But what you MAY not have seen us who was in the room that wasn't on the podium who was in that what I believe we have in this community right as a team of a community that will support everything we're trying to get done. You have the right people in place to ensure that everything you are saying and what we're saying and what everyone out here saying is we all love Saint Pete and we're not going to abandon it. I don't believe those owners and Hines will abandon that we heard that again yesterday we are believing in that we do have faith in that and we do see this as that opportunity for us. Finally I do want to city administrator gurneys. For your leadership for mayor Ken Welch is leadership. I don't believe there's any other time I've come to City Council probably an 22 other dates and 22 other occasions about this Heinz deal in the last 14 years or this whole race deal and I believe this is that moment there was no other time we thought we were going to the neighborhood. There's no other Sir time we thought we're going to have housing there's no other time we thought we were going to build a museum there was no other time or thought we're going to redevelop our community we always had ideas about project of a stadium of a piece of it of the parking lot. But today we bring for a community. Build rebuild a beautiful neighborhood we rebuild our economy. We become the place in Florida where people come for their jobs, we've come a place where people come for their homes and come for those opportunities today is a good day. I thank you for your support and we look forward to being part of the team because we're all in and we're here to stay thank you. Next 2 speakers are Paul Carter and Cox. Please go to an open podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> Good morning. My name is Paul Carter the 3.41 5th Street South in Saint Pete. You MAY recall I have appeared before you several times and support of the rays Hines proposal. I still unabashedly support that proposal and in fact I've actually even read the documents just of all right. I don't know about anybody else. But I waited through them all. But today I want to take a somewhat different tack. I want to compliment and say thanks to the council to Mayor Welch in the city administration and the rays and the Heinz folks. Thanks for the hard work, everyone has put in to reach where we are today. But perhaps even more importantly I want to recognize the process. I've sat through all the committees of the hole listen to the council members make thoughtful and useful suggestions. I listen to the mayor and his staff and the rays and Hines folks respond not defensively but in a co-operative constructive and respectful manner. The final documents before you are I believe much better for that process. So I want to thank you all for your civility. Your commitment to the future of Saint Pete. And perhaps in a small way we've seen that politics does not have to be brutal. Can be civil. When people work together with a common goal. Thank you for that. Thank you. >> Good morning, I'm sure any e-comments currently serving as a second vice PRESIDENT Of the St. Petersburg National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and also a long-term resident of Lakewood estates of 28 years. I come to you to ask you to give careful consideration to your vote today. I know this is should be regular activity of us do so much but I think it's important to understand 3 things. One this is a time to exercise moral compass a promise was made in the 80's under urban renewal under progress saying that this black community a 500 residents and businesses in churches. We'll enjoy greater economic prosperity. There's a great wealth divide in this city. Now that moral compass time to deliver on that promise and this is the time in which you can do that because if you look at the complexity in the School of what the Heinz ways we development project moved to it will provide the opportunity for that promise to be delivered and I think it's time that that occurs. We're about diversity equity and inclusion yes, we are equitable economic opportunity is what we're seeking here. You're ula's Asian studies looking at this parity less than one percent. If you look at was the median income we're talking about almost 50% if you look at poverty rates. 20% versus 11.9%. If you look at homelessness 65% of them a black folks with the point in time study there's a great divide in this city, it's great but it's not great for all. And this project provides that opportunity. It provides the catalysts the stimulus for that to occur. When you can create the Velo expand and be demanded by contract to obligation to used by businesses that's how you grow wealth. It's time out for just the program. It doesn't provide the tipping point for the kind of change that we need to see thirdly this proposal say yes because offers a beacon of hope for those that are still struggling that want to enjoy what happens on central please provide them with that opportunity with this stimulus package I don't know of any other that will do it. Thank you so much for your time. >> Final 2 speakers, MADAM Chair are reached the pope and Esther Matthews please go to an open podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> Good morning council members and those who are present I am worried the pope the economic development chair St. Petersburg rant. Naacp long term long-term lifetime resident, Lake Maggiore shores proud to be here you've heard me many times, I'm here on principle on one very important matter that is the concern of all of us. The economic impact of this city. How we moved progressively forward in. Destination that people enjoy bring wealth bring opportunity develop neighborhoods the program, the policy the enactment of the members of your staff. I know most of you I've worked with most of you, I'm here to say in the best reasonable measure. This is the one opportunity. Absent anything else that in 40 years we did not address the issue under a different administration and and a different owners when there was a. That was not solve and can now be solved different owners different team, different measures. I say to you today in the aspect of what is achievable and economic development. If it doesn't make money it doesn't make sense. You have an asphalt of 50 acres that is non taxable non usable to now people rode past it drove past it didn't have an issue didn't do anything and over 40 years. >> To the court does of your urban core, 16 Street South. A 10th Avenue South. Industrial district 22th, the dew says I'm here representing all of those constituencies all of those components and saying this is the time there's no greater time. We corporately responsible partner he's given over $11 million in grants. They have a foundation. They have have also $2 million in scholarships. I know the math I know the reason I know the purpose, I know you let's be responsible and to my brothers and sisters in the Sierra Club I'm with you I believe in you I believe in climate and resiliency sustainability and you have no better team then the populous group and we hold every and any one to the fire we all the naacp when we fight we win, let's ignore the nonsense and those who are not credible in terms of making accusations do not COUNCILMAN Outlets. Thank you. Not much. Thank you know with speakers. Thank you so much. So now we will close open form and we will move to our report items but before we get our first item. I just wanted to remind council members of our rules regarding time limits as described in our Council policies and procedures and the rules state that each council member MAY speak up to 3 times with respect to any matter brought before City Council and a lot of time shall not include the time spent by staff or public providing insisted councilmember questions. The first time a council member speaks of the matter he or she shall speak for no more than 3 minutes. The second councilmember speaks of the matter he or she shall speak for no more than 3 minutes. The 3rd time, a council member speaks to the matter he or she MAY speak for no more than one month before summation purposes we will strictly be a hearing to our procedure rules during this meeting. Now onto our report items beginning with item f one and joining us today is our budget director Russ Liz take off. >> Good morning chair members of City Council. And today we take the first official step in the process to adopt the fy 25 budget for the city of St. Petersburg after this brief presentation Council will be asked to take action on 2 resolutions. The first will set a proposed millage rate and the second will set the dates and times of the 2 public hearings. The first of which is scheduled on Sept. 12th and the second on Sept. 26 at 06:00pm for Florida statutes 200 that 0, 6, 5, The city during dates cannot conflict with the school board or Bart Board of County commissioner hearing dates the school board is scheduled for Sept. 10th and Pinellas County on Sept. 5th and 19th. >> So by Tue. JULY 30th the city's required to provide that rim information to the county's property appraiser's office. And this provides them with the time needed to mail the trim notices on Aug. 19th the proposed millage rate is the rate that will appear on the trend notices. If the millage rate increases between today and our first public hearing the city is required to notify each property owner of the change at the city's cost. And we can reduce the millage rate but cannot increase it without incurring these additional costs. The proposed millage rate for fy 25 is 6.4 5, 2, 5, Mills, which is a reduction of 0, 1, 5, 0 Mills from last year's millage rate the rate will bring in too. 218.4 million. And ad valorem revenue which is an increase of about 10.4 3% or 20.6 3 3 million over the adopted fy 24 budget. And the general fund operating budget increased by 28.8 million or 7.9 2%. This slide shows the proposed millage rate calculation property values received from the property appraiser's office as of JULY first 2024. Our 35.2 6 2 billion. We use 96 percent of the total property values which equals 33.8 5 1 billion takeout for an collectibles and discounts and he's also per city fiscal policies. We then look at the fy 25 general fund operating budget requirements and the total recommended general fund requirement for fy 25 is 393.3 3 8 million. When we subtract out of the revenues besides ad valorem taxes which total a 174.9 million. We get the total amount of ad valorem taxes needed to fund fy 25 which is 218.4 to 4 million. And when divide that ad valorem need the 218.4 to 4 million which is be on the side above by the 96% of gross taxable value which is 33.8 5 1 billion or the slide. We get the total Levy of 6.4 5, 2, 5, Mills. This slide contains a chart with the history of the operating millage rate for the city during the last 12 years the millage rate peaked at 6.7 7, 0, 0 Mills in fy 14 to 16 and the proposed rate for fy 25 is again 6.4 5, 2, 5, Mills and is a decrease of 0.1 5 Mills from fy 24. The trim or treat the millage legislation requires the calculation announcement of rollback rates at public hearings and in newspaper publications. The rollback rate is the millage rate that would bring in the same tax dollars as the prior year with an allowance for new taxable value added to the city's tax base. The fy 25 rollback rate is calculated as 6.0 8 0 1 million. We are sorry Mills and we can generate 205.8 to 5 million dollars. And this is 12.6 million below that currently budgeted in the fy 25 recommended budget. The proposed millage rate of 6.4 5, 2, 5, result, an increase of 6.1 3% over the rollback rate. Property values overall increased 10.7 8% in fy 25 and included in this increase are the to fund and the fy 25 contribution to our 3 tif districts is estimated to increase by 4.3 9 3 million over the fy 24 adopted budget. Statues were amended in to provide for a maximum millage rate that MAY be adopted by simple majority. The majority vote maximum rate for fy 25 is 8.8 9, 3, males and 9.7 7, 8, 2, Mills is the maximum millage rate and would need two-thirds votes to pass. The mayor's fy 25 recommended budget is located on the city's website. And this concludes the presentation. Thank you. Do we have any comments on this. Councilmember hand sink you cheer and I pressed my in before the presentation because I want to address the comments in terms. Of the time limits and no rules. I understand those are the time limits. But I would ask Council to think about what we're voting here today which is the largest in the city's history. The total time limit that we have on an item is 7 minutes. We can waive those rules and allow council members. 2. Like it was said in the Prairie. Peace Luke peacefully speak our mines on this deal that we've worked on. I don't plan to speak more than 10 minutes. Frankly. I think it's fair for us to be able to see all our thoughts at one point without having to worry about weight. Breaking every 3 minutes. I think that we give each of us an opportunity to speak their mind represent our constituents and say what's on their mind that say I don't think our council members here we're going to take much longer. The necessary to do that we've had many meetings on that but this gives us an opportunity 2 actually say what we need to say. Councilmember Floyd. Thank I do want to talk about the mileage stuff Although I will mention something about 10 seconds. You know based on state law we only have a few ways to lower the cost of living. In broad strokes across the city. And that lowering the millage rate is one of those ways but it is not the only way is what I want to say I think you've heard this from me before. >> Lowering the military while reason utility rates. Disproportionately puts the impact of funding city services on our residents and working people. And I'll give you an example. This millage rate too deduction for a typical single-family home valued at $350,000 is going to give back $5 a year. Too. Home owner of that owns a $350,000 home. But you know I just looked up to recently finished apartment The evo on by Miami developer it's going to give them an $1100 a year tax break. So it's regressive this is regressive and. I. I recognize I'm not opposed to cutting the millage rate in all circumstances but when we have utility rates escalating the way they are paid for by residents. I would prefer to see us provide utility rate relief. And once we get that under control we can talk about the military and so I just wanted to throw that out there again. There are 2 main ways that people pay for city services, their property taxes and their utility rates and we're raising one that's paid for by residents by individuals by renters and we're lowering the other one that's paid for by property owners who don't necessarily live here. And so I will recognize this is very small not super impactful but I don't support regressive fee and tax policy and so I'm not gonna support this and I thank you. You councilmember my hearing for calm and thank you MADAM Chair, thank you for that. The presentation, Liz let me start with legal can we take both these resolutions up at once yeah, well okay thank thank you. >> I will talk about the millage rate. >> Issue first and then I want to get to councilmember Hanna which remarks. Every year I I propose a millage rate reduction might myself and the millage rate reduction usually the millage rate reduction that I move forward is always a lot larger than the ones that we adopt and I go through I'm kind of my own analysis of our of our budget and I calculate how much it's going to impact. Our our budget when I when I move it forward. I strongly believe that we always need to be trying to work our millage rate down every year, especially as we continue to grow as a city. Liz in your presentation you talked about the increase in. The military from the rollback rate of 6.1 3%. So 2 to your point councilmember Floyd nobody is really getting a tax decrease for decreasing the mullet millage rate but the people's taxes or. Actually going to go up this is just a away too. Help lessen the burn the tax burden on people the night and I agree with Besides the millage rate reduction we. The other the area that we we control is the utility rates and I think we need to work on on both of those the cost of here in the city of St. Petersburg continues to go up. But I think as as a goal we we always need to be trying to work our way. To lower the millage rate and make sure if we need to increase to to our utility rates we try to keep those increases to to a minimum. So I'm fully supportive of of of what the administration. The administration is a proposing here. I do have another another question. We do have a a. Low income senior it exemption. It's something that I want to revisit if we take the action today on the millage rate I know we have a committee the whole meeting to talk about the budget can we still talk about the low income senior exemption at the committee the whole meeting and take action on it. And I don't know if that's a legal question or administration question. >> Yeah, I think you've already adopted the one that you're talking about so there wouldn't be any additional action we can take on it. Well I I I. I like to increase exemption. That's what I'm talking about. I think for the maximum that where we could do by stay states that today I believe it be a state change that would have to be done for me. Or that particular one. >> What I because that. I I've been talking to are a property appraiser about this issue and he gave me some information that might conflict with what you just told me so when one of my schedule one-on-one meeting and talking about them. I'll go ahead and Approval of one a and the second. Thank you. >> I do we we have a motion let's go ahead and vote for us and then you can make it go. I don't know if to going to talk about the other issue, but okay, I'll come back together to the other issue since his motions on the floor, thank you thank you councilmember Muhammad. Thank you MADAM Chair. >> And I'm talking about the millage and just quickly. I was hopeful that we would prioritize a balanced approach that supports our financial stability ensures adequate funding of our essential services while also avoiding placing unnecessary burdens on our residents and the manner that was highlighted by councilmember floor and so I do think that our focus on sustainable revenue practice issue to ensure that we have the continued delivery of quality services for everyone and also considering the impact of the rate increases in that context and I do think that is contradictory and sends a mixed message. For us to continue to do it the way that we have been. And so I'm was hopeful that after our last conversation last year about this as a strategy that we will see that and the more material and substantively other then you know we saw it, we looked at it and this is what we're doing which basically is no action at all and so I won't be supporting this as well thank you. Thank you. Vice chair girders thank you MADAM Chair. I just wanted. I don't disagree. >> Certainly when you focus on the utility I think the conversation of coming in via computer second. Bfmtv about utility rate structure. I think as a as a portion of that. I think if we really want to. Conversation about the utility that then I think we should do that and do it and be fnt and I'm I'm happy to have that conversation. I I would say that I kind of what council member Mary said is that it's it's both and and so I just wanted to publicly say I'm I'm happy to happy and open for that conversation, but I don't I don't think one negates the other and I you brought it up and so I just want to comment so thank you matter. >> Councilmember Florida sits on the know that I'll save my comments for me council member driskell. >> Thank you and glad that we're in a position that we're able to reduce the millage rate again. And just 2 clarify. Hopefully that okay councilmember mountain areas that earlier. It's not that the taxes are going out to Texas actually going down. Still goes up because property values have increased. So I just want to make that clear that this is actually reduction and those Ray its a reduction in. Tax rate if you will. But in the end when it adds up to is an increase just because the property values are going up. That's actually the sign of a healthy city. We in turn use that to increase services and. Increase our quality of life here in our city. So that part I'm totally in favor of. There's a good point to be made about the utility rates. We do need to continue to. Be strong with those because we have a lot of work to do. We can now. We have to make sure that that type of infrastructure. It's solid and continues to improve where I see an opportunity is for us to take a look at the utility assistance programs that are currently in existence and how can we expand that for those who are most impacted are more in need of assistance. We have some good things in place right now, but there are many ideas that we haven't even explored yet. So I would be I'm very supportive of having a discussion utility assistance programs in general. So that we can. Address address that challenge with those who needing it the most. Thank you. Thank you. Seeing no further. Requests to speak we have a motion and the second on f one a and b can you please open to receiving a voting. Councilmembers peas now your votes. Now that are present Council members are voting can you please tally and announce the votes. >> MADAM Chair, the motion to approve agenda items f one a and b pasta councilmembers Floyd and Muhammad voting no customers Driscoll Sanders Gabbert Veritas and what's mountainair voting. Yes. Thank you, I'm going >> I'm going is this f one in a and b that you all the speaking asking the question. Okay, so right now it's showing that we're speaking on f one a and b were actually speaking on councilmember Hannah what's. Request so I don't know if we don't want to confuse anyone and before called Council might near I just want to give a background as to what this conversation is about we actually had a committee of the whole meeting on Tue.. Specifically to speak about the gas plant and 2 good unresolved questions and serve and council members were given unlimited time to do so. It were requested, it's a number of times to do so when we had the full team. In regards to have these conversations and to be able to ask these questions because we knew today was going to be a full day, although the difference between a committee of the whole in Council meetings are there less cameras and a committee of the home. In our constituents can't speak. So the the the offer was made for unlimited time. And it was also suggested and said during that Tue. Committee of the whole that everyone not having any additional questions would be ok with time limits. On Thu.. At that time there were no objections. Now if this is the will of dividing to go without the time limit I'm definitely going to ask for that to be a voted item. But now I just wanted to provide a background as to where this came from because we were slide it to have unlimited conversation on Tue. And it was chosen not to do so at that time in in in Let us not. The conversations that we're having in the sunshine because those conversations will also being had in the sunshine and let's not discount. The time limits as saying that is less important that the more you speak about it the more you being heard that is not the purpose of time with them and and I'm sure that previous Council chairs I can understand why can't lie time limits. Our have been in place in certain I've just been on certain items but I am looking forward to hearing the feedback. Other will of the Biden other council members so thank you councilmember mountaineering. Thank you, thank you, MADAM Chair and thank you for walking us through that. >> I agree with the council member Hannah what's this is a. This is a historic day for for our city a very big issue. I am not planning on More than 10 minutes. My myself, but. Just because of the nature the this race Heinz deal in in all that's gone on in that leading up to this. I I don't have. I agree with counsel council member Hannah what's I think that time limit on this subject should be should be dropped. Okay. Thank you councilmember Floyd thank Yes, since we've done on this discussion I figured out of my comments as well. The only thing that I was going to say is that my comments are short, but the 3 minutes than 3 minutes and one minute is the tricky part so likes yeah if they were combined that would be good I wasn't sure that that was clear from the way you describe it. But the combination would be plenty But at the same time also honor recognize like you're the chair, I totally respect your ability to run the meeting as you see fit. I just thought I'd say like if you combine it would make life a little easier. Thank you. And I can entertain and council member just go. >> Thank you I I agree with and with the others that this this particular they has some important things to say the least. I don't think it's a day for us to say the least. I think that we need to be given ample time you do not we do not know what is going to come up that MAY cause the need for further discussion and I don't want the rules to get money because of that we do have a lot of public comment. I'm sure that we'll be hearing today and this is to continue listening as we all have been throughout the process. But I I I'm very concerned about limiting our ability to speak as we do represent the people and we MAY have. I need to make a response when it's time to do that or be able to present. That suggestion for change, I mean there are a number of things that could happen. We want to get this right and I I don't I think you're right we should not discount of time spent speaking in the sunshine because this is our opportunity to. You really get it all out there before we go to vote today. So I would I would appreciate I'm having that flexibility. Thank you >> thank you MADAM Chair I would also having the flexibility with the time. And the Council of the floors point about the 3 because I was thinking dude like okay. 3 minutes and then stop like a lot of times we just want to know what and saying that the only person who had a question call because I abuse the time so I'm definitely mindful of that I think that if yesterday is any indication of how we're considering the time I think I think we'll be ok with without someone hears thank thank you councilmember gather. >> Thank you chair. So. You know kind of leading up and working into today and being prepared for today I really came here today. More to listen. 2. Our voters to the people who elected us to sit here because we've spoken a lot. I mean. You've all been listening to us for months and months and months be it in a cow. Ba and press be it in our own personal communications with residents in meetings. You've been listening to us right. It's our time to listen to the public. And I do respect my colleagues and their ability to debate ask additional questions that maybe have come up last minute. Things like that, I was quite surprised on Thurs or Tue.. I'm sorry when the cow ended fairly abruptly because we all just decided we were done. Asking our questions and I just don't want there to be today an opportunity for us to throw all of our rules out the door and go on to an unlimited, you know diet Rob that MAY or MAY not actually result in any sort of positive movement forward so I would like to just kind of maybe offer a solution. I'm hearing 10 minutes 10 minutes 10 minutes. I think I've heard that 3 times. With 7 minutes currently because it is total. What if we added an additional 3 minutes. And you know 3 minutes 3 minutes 3 minutes one. That gives 10 minutes. I think that's what I was hearing the body wanting. And so MADAM Chair, I respect your ability to lead this Council I would have never voted for you for chair had I not believe the knot being a immediate past chair, I know how difficult your job is today, I'm very respectful and considerate of that and so I would offer that up for a friendly solution to our issue. But what I don't want us to see is an unlimited, you know continuance of conversation back and back and forth that is not at the end of the day possibly going to be fruitful. I want to hear from residents. Well coming up with something that makes sense. i have a question for legal, so I'm hearing the 10 minute time I've heard in one everyone say 10 minutes so we have come into concurrence with that and I definitely understand the break and the questions in this regards. So if we implemented there 10 minutes for councilmember how do we move forward with that because I will entertain essence that has been the consensus of everyone because I don't want to just throw. Re was at an indoor cause. We can we can so I would like to we explore that. 10 minute that we've heard from everyone so 2 options, MADAM Chair, you can grant that you have the prerogative to grant that flexibility that specifically provided in the manual alternatively it could be done by a motion of City Council and a majority vote that's not necessary if you choose to do it yourself. I think all of council members for million the 3 minute 3 minute one minute you normally hear the beat but but don't need to specifically stop each time and say you're rolling your time, so it's it's up to you if you just want to have the clerk set the clock for 10 minutes. And you'll hear the stops along the way that's all that would need to happen. I think I'm going to do that because my intent was to hear the public. To hear comments and so I didn't want. 2 Russian that because as council member Garrett said we have the opportunity to speak and ask those questions and I would love for us to to hear the comments from for that. So that's where I'm going to go councilmember it's low think you chair and I just want to say thank you for a listening to my concerns and other council members in in their thoughts on this. My intent wasn't to go into Lee questioning. Today because that was what the count was 4. My point was if you want to make calm and carry on it that you don't have to worry about how much time you're taking just make the commentary, therefore different items here that deal with the rays frankly with your much more than 10 minutes involved in all those items if you add up all the time together and if I'm going to talk on one for 10 minutes chances are I will talk on the other ones. So we're actually saving time. >> So I just I just think it makes it much easier. And I'm just happy everybody like. Kind of is on the same page so thank you very much. Thank you so that's what we'll I will definitely acquiesce that that request and we are still going to allow. Our constituents more time to speak in for us to listen. Coming to the Arizona. Thank you there's no vote Go ahead and grant that. Now we're going to move on to item f 2. And we are going to have our city development administrator MISTER James Corbett and there's no public comment on this so. The chair we we at the pleasure the chair, we would respectfully request that the administration allow be allowed to do this report after the break. He wanted leaders into our other items and so I think it would make sense to just do it after the break if the chair would approve that is so this is on the agenda that you all approved so I just found that yes I understand okay all right. So what we could Chair. You know I I understand exactly what he's saying. So what we could do we can go ahead and break for this now want to go into 30 minutes is that enough time this man will be ready k. So again for the record you agree to this fortune during this time alright. So we'll go ahead and will recess for 30 minutes. >> And we'll see everyone back and 1240 chair, welcome. >> Let and To you and. 2. >> world. >> I didn't get what I want to. >> JULY 18th council member council meeting back to order. And we are now want to move on to item f to the overview of the story gas main redevelopment stadium project and joining us is our city development administration MISTER James Corbett. Welcome MISTER Morgan thank you good afternoon. MADAM Chair, vice chair members of City Council. I'm James corden city development administrator for the city of St. Petersburg. Today is the culmination of years of work by elected officials city staff County staff community members in the Tampa Bay rays. It is my privilege to bring to you a package of the agreements necessary to move forward the pivot pivotal redevelopment of the store, a gas plant. District. So before review the process I like to invite a few key individuals to the podium to make opening remarks. We will begin with our mayor Ken it he wrote followed by Stu Sternberg the owner of the Tampa Bay rays and is going to Henry spreads of the African American heritage Association. >> Thank you MISTER Corbett and good afternoon. MADAM Chair members of City Council MADAM Chair, thank you for your leadership through this process. Thank you to our Saint Pete team are high waste partners. The descendants of this store gas plant who are with us and all the members of the public. We're here in person or watching virtually. This is a day that has been more than 40 years. In the making. We've talked often Lilly and as you all know I want to history bit lately because history matters and before these 86 acres were dubbed Tropicana field. It was a community and that community had a name. Many or newer to the community and some who are longtime residents were not aware of that history of this community. So as you know upon issuing a new rp after my election in 2021 and taking office in 2022. Change the name of this initiative to reflect the history of the historic gas plant community. Promises matter as well. And so we have focus intentionally on the promises made to the gas plant community. The promises of economic opportunity inclusion and jobs. Like historian Gwyn Rees who's with us today and many of this story gas plant descendants who are here today in support of this proposal. We have live that history. We walked the streets we work and worship in the gas plant community. And out of respect for that history and legacy our team and our partners have been focused on keeping those promises at the forefront of these negotiations. We believe that the legacy of this story guess plans should be honored and preserved by those with a genuine connection to its history. And a demonstrated commitment to those promises and our future. Partnership matters. The proposals before you today would not be possible. Without the partnership of Pinellas County. The Heinz Tampa Bay rays group. Our city team and our City Council. This Council your due diligence and vision has been invaluable I actually enjoy those meetings. The give and take. Focus on our shared progress is very important. And I'm proud of the agreements that you have helped to shape. Agreements that will be transformative and transform these vacant but sacred acres into productive land. That will once again produce jobs and green space. Housing for residents of all income levels and secure the economic engine of major league baseball. In our city. For decades to come. Want to thank you for your partnership. Leadership matters as well. When I ran for mayor of promise to focus on the facts to listen to all voices, including those with whom I disagree and to work for inclusive progress and community impact. But at the end of the day there can only be one plan submitted to you for your approval. And I have high confidence in the plan before you today. In terms of community support list of supporters for this proposal is broad. Thank you all received the latest update on that. From the Petersburg naacp to usf Tampa and usf Saint Pete Orlando health in Saint Anthony's baycare the edge business district Association and Saint Pete pride to the Petersburg chamber, the Saint pdc the Tampa Bay partnership. And many local businesses community and faith-based organizations and individuals. The list of supporters looks like Saint Pete. Its extensive and diverse and include elected representatives including congresswoman Kathy castor and state senator Dole resigned. And notably many who have lived in the historic gas plant some who are here today. Stand in support of this partnership. And finally facts matter. The agreements before you will bring great economic impact to our city in a responsible and equitable way. By consensus as