City Council

>> Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and your elected officials our mayor Ken well. District one Council chair. Hopefully Curtis. District 2 Brendan Barber. District 3 Mike Harding district 4 Council vice chair, Liz said Hannah with district 5 never take Sanders. District 6 Gina Driscoll in districts, 7 warri Givens junior. And district day Richie Floyd. >> Call to order the 4/17/2025 City Council meeting if we could do roll call please Hannah what's here. Sanders Driscoll here Givens here Ward Curtis here gathered here party there. Thank you. Okay today, we will have our indication given by reverend canon Mike Alford from Cathedral of St. Petersburg then please remain standing for moment of silence in the pledge of allegiance. Almighty GOD. We have come before you this afternoon seeking your blessing upon this gathering of our servant leaders and the citizens and community that they serve MAY we approach this work collectively before us with wisdom. Integrity and a shared sense of purpose MAY our discussions be guided by respect our decisions be grounded in fairness and our actions reflect a commitment to the greater good of all who call the city of St. Petersburg home. Our elected leaders remember those that they serve every voice every neighborhood every need and strive always to build a city and community that is just inclusive and thriving with humility and hope made this meeting be filled with the spirit of collaboration in service acknowledging your blessings and mercy which are ever present in our lives now and always Amen and then. Some of you MAY know there's an active shooter situation on the campus of Florida State University. If you please join me in a moment of silence for all those involved. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Reverend thank you so much for joining us this afternoon. Thank you for the beautiful invocation. Council members we have an agenda in front of us and we're deleting the correspondence The number one correspondents entertain a motion for approval. Before Pearl. Second. We have a motion and second scene is no other council members wishing to speak clerk could you please open the machine for voting. Council members please enter your votes seeing is all present council members have voted clerk could you please tell you announce the vote. MR. CHAIRMAN motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously with counsel. Council members we have a consent and Jenna agenda in front of us honor tenemos for approval approval back in. We have a motion a second scene is no other council members wishing to speak clerk could you please open the machine for voting. Council members please enter your votes. Seeing is all present council members have voted clerk please telling announce the vote. MR. CHAIRMAN motion to approve the consent agenda passes unanimously okay, thank you all right we're going to move into open forum clerk would you please read the rules. If you wish to address City Council and subjects of the public hearing. Rick was I did to shul items listed on the agenda please sign up with the clerk. Only the individuals wishing to speak please Sun. Open form sheet only city residents owners of property business owners in the city or their employees MAY speak all issues discussed under open form must be limited to issues related to the sick 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 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 through the zoom meeting us using raised-hand feature button in the zoom app or interest are 9 on the phone when the time the agenda item is addressed when it is your turn to speak you'll be a new did and asked to state your name and address at the conclusion of your comments when you have reached the 3 minute time limit you will be muted. All raised hands will be lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method of participation used normal rules apply, including the 3 minute time limit and comments the requirement that any presentation materials must be submitted in advance of the meeting and the rules of decorum is live public comments is disrupted by the violations of the rules of decorum the chair is authorized to accept public comments by alternate means including by email Lee and MISTER Chair we do have a few speakers okay if we can please call 2 at a time clerk, thank you. The 2 speakers is DR. Washington and Gina foti please go to the podium state your name and address for the record you'll have 3 minutes to address Council. >> Hi everyone, I'm Tina Marie foti from 2, 3, 3, 8, Emerson Avenue South I have to his warehouse as my business in the warehouse arts district. I want to thank all of you for your. Complete support. Throughout all of the years and especially our recent zoning initiative. I come to you with a really serious concern that is not my own. It is from the small businesses in the warehouse arts district and and we also have a concern for the safety of 5th Avenue South. A floor four-block radius which unaware of which is in the master plan and has it where it's a street dieting Nick out sculptures some parking we've had 2 recent women die on that Street as well as a 9 year-old critically injured. We have a near misses all the time. So we're really concerned about that Street however we were excited when we heard that was funding for the plan. We were put into a I forgot was says voices of the juices and the warehouse are so strict was not represented. A lot of people are doing and understand the boundaries of the warehouse arts district to be honest. No one none of the businesses were notified as well as the juices live had mentioned that a lot of business owners were not notified. The business owners and stakeholders that are directly impacted for the businesses need to be included. We have a couple of issues that are coming up and we've been unable to communicate with the city. It's a massive massive problem. We have very dedicated businesses we want to do this. But we've had 2 blocks blocked off of parking right next to the studios. We don't know why we can't reaching one about it. We've had entrance is blocked. But we can't seem to have any of the master plan implemented in the meeting that they had for this do says corridor our section which is the warehouse arts district. Do you even have people in our area of voting. We did a two-year plan. We want towards for public outreach for co hurt police Lee working together. And in 2 months. They spearheaded a plan that was very very specific to what they wanted. I didn't represent the owners. We have a lot to offer. We want to take advantage of the Sony. We need your help. We don't want to let you all down you did a lot for us so please help us have a voice for the small businesses there. Thank you. Thank you. We've. DR. Washington. I please please give us your name and your address. >> I refused to give my address but this is my phone. The cause proud boys. You know going to be advertising this around the world with the intersection then MR. MR. Ruddock skews me DR. Washington. >> Central and 47. Yes in St. Petersburg. >> My home. Not the bike. The follow rules. The modify mosses says no one. It did at the pump a friend at the podium. Why they stand. Telling you to your face. I'm here because want to you who's to both the mi mind represented want to be. Because if the city. Saint Pete It's a deadly. I'm telling you. Came to talk to me I've been here I will. Was elected body. But you don't know lie. You thank Brian. A lot to do. When you came to that right and love. They give you a chance. No you all qualify. With reference to me white mane I can say he's gone a defeat in himself in this property and its people. You all correct. What a black mane say it's the exact same thing. Put him in jail. This. Place the packed is only here because you know complained about them. They had known you no one knew right then Ray. I will go up. Thank u next 2 speakers please. >> MR. We don't have any more speakers okay all right, we will close open farm and going words and presentations we're gonna start wordy one are Arbor day proclamation given by councilmember gabbard. >> Thank you chair and you get afternoon everyone. All right well today we I have the honor of presenting on behalf of the mayor to very important proclamations that I really feel-like go hand in hand I've added Council what I would like to do chair with your permission is I would like to ask anyone who is here for either Earth Day or Arbor day to please stand at your seats so that you can see the showing of support for these 2 proclamations today. All right so we're talking about her today we're talking about Arbor day 6 months ago or so Mother Nature really gave us a wallop didn't shape. But what she did was she also gave us a wake-up call that is more important than ever to protect her and to make sure that we continue to be environmental stewards and this group right here that I am so honored to stand in front of are doing just that but they don't do that just for Earth Day or just for Arbor day they do that every single day throughout the year. So I personally want to take a moment to thank all of them before I read these proclamations because the work that they do will continue to ensure that we are resilient and sustainable city long into the future. So thank you all for what you do and with that I am going to start with the Arbor day proclamation I'm going to give this to my Jeffries our community enrichment administrator on behalf of the Parks Department because you know what they say it starts in parks. I tried to get it and for ya alright, so the proclamation reads whereas trees enhance the quality of life by cleansing air and water providing critical shade and serving as natural and vital habitat for a variety of birds, birds and foraging Fonda and whereas trees help moderate temperatures by creating a cooling effect which can counteract the heating effect of pavement and buildings in an urban environment, and whereas trees promote social economic and environmental health by capturing and slowing stormwater runoff filtering air pollution reducing nutrient loading in water systems and flooding of neighborhoods and contributing to the character anesthetic beauty of our neighborhoods and business districts and whereas the city of St. Petersburg wishes to create awareness and appreciation for trees among all the residents of this community and whereas Arbor day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees and Nebraska and whereas the city of St. Petersburg supports the concept of Arbor day and wishes to enhance its tree resources their commemorative plantings on an annual basis and whereas the city of St. Petersburg supports being designated a green city through programming to conserve water. Planting trees, preserving estuaries and sensitive lands providing Earth friendly recycling programs and the city's initiative to reduce its carbon footprint now therefore I councilmember Brandon gabbard on behalf of Kenneth t Welsh the mayor of the city of St. Petersburg Florida. Do hereby recognize the observance of Arbor day through our annual green thumb festival held on the 4th weekend of APRIL and encourage all residents to join us in this observance. >> And Barb starboard assistant director for parks and Recreation Department and I just have to say I'm honored to be in this place, I'm honored to serve the city of St. Petersburg and all of you in everything trees, everything environment this this is our happy day right this is our happy place. This is a place where we all come together and agree that without trees without nature. There's no us there is no cp as we know it and the beauty of the city. So many people compliment our parks. They it truly increases their quality of life and that helps me feel smiles every day just knowing that we're a part of that and and it's so important and I commend each and every one of you who are so supportive of of your environment and of trees in the city it makes a huge difference for all of us so thank you very much. Look forward to seeing a green thumb we have over a 120 vendors that will be out there this year and I really want to recognize Lane Gordon do to have spent a lot of time perfecting this event. They've spent tireless hours on I'd like to thank them. And I see it. Before I turn it over to our office of sustainability for a few words. I think most of you know that we had our accreditation visitors here this week. And we had lots of opportunity to talk about our elected officials to talk about our mayor to talk about our administration and they were absolutely. Blown away at the city the way the city looks the way the city looks at all of the districts and that it's consistent throughout and that we're equitable in the way that we apply our trees and our playgrounds and our facilities and one of the things that they really connect to the dots last night we had several of you attend last night one of the things that they were able to connect the dots on they said the reason Saint Pete is successful the way that it is and has been for generations. He's clearly because of the relationship with administration and the elected officials and I I told them all I said I I can't think of one elected official doesn't support parks that doesn't support trees. I said you know what happens is we start to have issues that come in on on trees damaged by storms or whatever the case MAY be and I get calls from a council members wanting to solve that problem for so we have to kind of we kind of have to shuffle who's going to champion which each of you is so sincere about the environment about making Saint Pete the best it can be and as part said the quality of life is really key when it comes to trees and the environmental aspect. So I'm gonna turn it over to our office of sustainability. >> Good afternoon Council made the Rogers director of office of sustainability resilience. I am a pretty new director to the city I started in OCTOBER and as the new director, sometimes you just don't know what you're walking into and and especially with sustainability resilience work it can go either way so I was I am very excited that the City Council the community and the administration is so supportive of sustainability resilience work so we've really hit the ground running. And and since in the in the breath of Arbor day I must kind of plug in our event that's happening this Sat.. We will be giving away 500 trees, we locations on the Eastside and Westside these are 500 native shade trees we will have died from 9 to 13 at Walter Fuller and the other at Frank Pierce so we're very excited for that. So altogether just in this month alone will be giving away 500 shade trees and 400 fruit trees. We are working with parks. Yes. >> Yes, councilmember down we're going to we're going to make sure everyone has are pre trees. And we do have an Arbor day plant and that will be inviting the community to as well where will add 8 additional shade trees, one of our parks. So we're very excited to work is getting done and I really appreciate Council support and the community support on making sure that we are shaving Saint Pete thank you. >> And no shade trees can also bear fruit is a beautiful things so very excited. Thank you so much for that MAY even all right and now I'm gonna move on to the Earth Day proclamation I would like to ask her la Bristol from the cpu farm and Terrell hovered from take mine to come in join me let them say a few words at the end, but I have one for each of you as you know both of these organizations the Saint Pete youth farm just being you know our baby right here at home. Both have very exciting events coming up that they will tell you about for Earth Day and so we wanted to bring both of them today to celebrate except the proclamation. So I'll go ahead and read it and I'll turn it over to them for some remarks so we will start with whereas the Tampa Bay region is an environmentally rich and ecologically diverse community with an estuary that is a valuable and productive regional resource and whereas Earth Day was originally observed on 4/22/1970 by more than 20 million Americans leading to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the federal clean air and clean Water Act and whereas the Tampa Bay region faces challenge is to protect our vinyl manner environmental resources and quality of life, including the basic needs of clean air pure water and natural habitats for future generations and whereas the Tampa Bay area's environmental resources have greatly benefited from the legislative and public awareness generated by the observance of Earth Day and whereas Apr. 22th, 2025 is Earth day to be celebrated throughout the month of APRIL and in many communities in the Tampa Bay region. And now therefore I councilmember brain to gathered on behalf of Kenneth t Welsh mayor of the city of St. Petersburg Florida. Do hereby proclaim 4/25/2025 as Earth Day in St. Petersburg and encourage all citizens to commemorate Earth Day by attending community events and by acting both individually and collaboratively to promote a more sustainable and resilient future for the city of St. Petersburg. I MAY use foreign investor at the farm. And I'm here to talk to you today about how excited I am to be here actually one of my first ever meetings and my first time ever being like a big Mike room. But. What I'm here to talk about is these 5 in the cp I stay that we have coming up so with the day what we plan to do with that is we have a whole bunch of see things that we have planted and from that we like all of us teens put together put the deer in. We've got to get it for you guys to take Marina pepper and oh and I think getting p but. For us we want to do first day is give those to you guys to take home and have that and grow those plants at home and have all this week in vegetables with our aspect of like what we want to use the community is good. And that's our big thing is giving. So with us they want to give as many planes as we can and having many volunteers as we can to yes come enjoy and have You know you did great. >> You guys always hear me say that when it says youth fund I'm extremely youthful. But the youth and youth fund I in fact our young people on jj loves walking distance from the farm sounds excited to hear she got her on her own I didn't need to pick up or bring it here so you did an amazing job, thank you for that. Thank you guys for the continued support. I I do want to thank all of you for the continued support. >> We are. This summer will be 6 years that we've since we started the initiative back in 2019 to address nutrition is security in South St. Petersburg and we have come a long way baby so I do invite you all to come out to the farm, not just because we're having an event but just because thank you so much. Thank you. >> And though Tara Hubbard I'm with take Maher Marr stands for more action for generations so forth generation, Saint Pete native. This is quite a new organization we just started about 2 and a half years ago. So I do want to echo other sentiments in gratitude because we could not be where we are today if it wasn't for the receptivity and support of the city to be honest. It has been very surprising very very refreshing and very exciting. So unfortunately we don't have as noble of an Earth Day event as you guys every year we're just going to pardon so. >> So yes we are inviting everyone to party with a celebrate we are going to be hosting at the foodie labs which is right on the Pinellas trail. We do love planting trees and we do love the Pinellas trail. So this is kind of a fusion of 2 of our initiatives. So Tue. Apr. 22th. 05:30pm come hang out drink. Party listen if a news that and celebrate Earth. Thank you. >> Well all the organizations that are here both for Arbor day and for Earth Day just thank you so much for all the work that you're doing our team. You got our team just continues to impress me on a day-to-day basis, their passion for what they do here in the city and then our community partners. All of them, but specifically Carla Tara just thank you so much for the work that you're doing it's been and absolute pleasure to work with both of you I'm not sure I would have imagined 4 years ago and standing at the patio of Lake Vista on election day that this is where we be I'm glad it is but. Just an amazing friendship now with you Karl and terra thank you for all the work that you're doing councilmember gabbard thank you for making sure I know what take Marr isn't doesn't continues to do and thank you for all the work that you've done on this I know this has been a torch you have carried since day one so thank you for all the work that you continue to do and and all of our partners councilmember fix centers. This to stand here and I did not speak to first of all congratulations everybody for the proclamations and thank you councilmember gabbard for that way you farm you all know that you have that special special special plays in my heart from the day and evening Davison are going through candidates who would be the best fit in of course unanimously it was Carla Bristow and you have not disappointed you have now you've done things with it. Ali. >> And things with our youth in for the air. Educational benefit inmates urine match rule in growing because I remember being in that position as executive director of the town's Park wind children not knowing what to make those come from if you have taken the level of could cope agricultural into Lake to a whole different level and for that Carla and for you you did a great job. Well for that I have to say to you farm is one of the greatest programs I think the city has done in regards for our youth in bringing them together and working with them and I don't see in any of our young men you today, but you have those 2 and I'm so I'm so so proud Carla that we put all of our chips on you and we have received that bank info thank you so much, thank you current. Thank you. >> Next up we have the 3 small Business Week proclamation and this is going to be presented by our chair Curtis. Thank you vice chair. Colleagues I am joined by DR. Greene Larkin economic development coordinator from the greenhouse, Brian capers here with team members and we've got a whole bunch of organization we've got Sat. Shop's Pinellas County urban League service Corps of retired executives office of supplier diversity, small business development center yesterday list keeps going amplify women's business center office of equity and certainly last but not least the Chamber of Commerce to celebrate small Business Week. I think most of you know I have been a small business owner now for almost 15 years. Other than being a dad. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. But it's also other than being a dad and a husband The the thing that has given me the most in life. >> But I would not have been able to do it without a lot of people around me my mother my father. The people that first believed in me that became my first clients and I tell I tell the the group behind me all the time. I wish I had of I had known about all the things 15 years ago of all the support. I would have gotten bigger faster. With all the people behind me and so I'm just so thankful for everything that you do on a daily basis a minute by minute basis, let's get real because that's what a small business does. They're operating minute by minute second by second. They worried about Thu.. They're worried about 2 oh 01:00pm because it's 2 o'clock right and so I totally can understand that and I'm just so thankful for all the support. i said it last night that the support that we give our community is what makes it the community at what it's what makes Saint Pete special when you walk around downtown you don't see the big. The big box stores. You see the mom and pop shops you see the little small business you see the homegrown business and that's what makes Saint Pete special and the people behind me continue to do that and that's why we will continue to be special. It is my pleasure to bring this proclamation forward on behalf of the mayor. Whereas the PRESIDENT The United States has proclaimed national small Business Week every year since 1963 to highlight the programs and services available to entrepreneurs through the us small Business Administration. And other government agencies and whereas America's progress has been driven by pioneers who think big take risks and work hard and whereas from the storefront shops that anchor our business districts to the high-tech startups that keep Saint Pete on the cutting edge, small businesses are the fabric of our economy and the cornerstones of our city's promise. Whereas the city of St. Petersburg is proud to recognize small businesses and are valued collaborative partners who contribute to their development and growth by providing support and services and whereas when we support small businesses jobs are created and local communities preserve their unique culture. Now they're now therefore I cope league earnest share of the City Council and a half of Kenneth t Welsh the mayor of the city of St. Petersburg Florida. Do hereby proclaim MAY 5th to 5/9/2025 as national small Business Week in the city of St. Petersburg Florida and urge all citizens to observe this week and honor the strength of small businesses local state and nationwide. Thank you. I'm going to invite. Rene Edwards from Sat. Shops and Chris Stein darker, the PRESIDENT Ceo of the chamber at St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce to say we're few words met MADAM Vice chair. >> I want to say good afternoon everybody, I'm Renee Edwards with the Sat. Shops and I want to say thank you for not forgetting the ones who make their money out of a tent and a food trend. The once it started with me at the church and we are now at the trop we just celebrated our 4th annual anniversary at the same thing so that. We also exceeded my expectations and we did 273 $1000 in economic impact from 11 to 8. I also want to express to say a special thanks to you MISS Deborah feyerick stands for always be in our corner from the first day I invited you out you've been there with me the whole time. You are originally gave me 2 months. And you still been with me for years later so. Thank you guys so much. I got after no Council. And on a guess on behalf of the greenhouse and Tracy Coleman issue of the greenhouse was in some regards. Thank you for this meaningful proclamation recognizing national small Business Week. We not only celebrate our business owners but also our dedicated network of service providers who stand beside them and they also behind me. I want to also recognize our incredible business navigators Kris Griffin Brittany tables behind me as well. And a few others. And our entire wdtn department hit. Thank you. These are individuals who go above and beyond staying after hours and to ensure it entrepreneurs have access to expert live business education. It actively brain vital resources directly to the doorsteps of business businesses across your districts. I do want to give out a special thank you to our internal and external partners. Officers supplier diversity office of equity our marketing team who get all of our information out there. I think the chamber score sbdc cbi see Pinellas County urban League and the Sat. Shot. Thank you. Together we work to ensure that entrepreneurs have access to resources and support they need to start grow and thrive in Saint Pete. This year's celebration. Activities we have a lunch and learn MAY 5th that we hope you can join us for Saint Pete pitch tonight MAY 6. We will be going out for a business want recognizing the 100 businesses throughout your districts on MAY 8. And then we are ending the week with the annual food truck Fri., we're bringing that back to MAY 9th. So we hope you can join us in Williams Park. Jennifer joint yeah. >> Thank you so much and we appreciate all that you do. Good afternoon. Everybody I'm Kristen under PRESIDENT And ceo of St. Petersburg area Chamber of Commerce. Thank you for allowing us to be great partners in the greenhouse wasn't lost on anyone else, but it wasn't lost on me. We just celebrated trees. Entries are awesome. But you know what we're going to give out 500 seedlings Sat. I think that's awesome but we're not giving out 50 foot oak trees, not giving up 40 foot trees, we're going to see lungs. That's what we do every day. Take care of those seedlings every day. Some of our ceilings got over water in the fall. But the care that our teams provide the small business is only fueled by the passion we see from those I've done over now at this as a chamber over 1000 ribbon cuttings 90% of them are a family of people that just want to do something good for our community. They are starting with an idea they are just that ceiling that says maybe I can bear fruit. But what happens if you if you see, and then you put water and you feed them with the right kind of resources. They become big trees you have one in your City Council right now a small business that now has become a big shade tree that provides fruit of the gods but fruit. And what they do. So why we have always said let's be the best place on earth for the entrepreneur is because it's for real the entrepreneur enhances all of our lives because they spend money and crazy things likes floors and paint and walls and equipment and everybody who they buy that from or whoever comes to do that they get paychecks and they take their paychecks home and they maybe go to Sat. Market and buy some great food on Sat. To take that and those people the Sat. Market go buy some food at another place, maybe they even go to a 3 daughters and buy a beer as well. So if we don't celebrate the entrepreneur and we don't celebrate the small business we're not going to celebrate anything in our community that's good that feels good to us. These are real people they are sealing ys but they're going to grow in the mighty oaks and they need our help Council agrees I thank you for bringing this forward you have been a champion for our small businesses I see our small business a greenhouse team in front of us to thank you for allowing us to be great partners in this I encourage you to come out to our activities in the first week of MAY we're going to have a lot of fun come out to pitch night Andrew Dunn folks who give out real resources. But between the city giving out 200,000 the chamber through the Bucs get about a $100,000 in grants to these businesses. They're not done yet they need your help so please come on out and continue to support all these great businesses, thank you very much. Councilmember gabbard. Thank you MADAM Vice chair and thank you to the mayor and chaired earnest for presenting this proclamation today, you know Chris. I know you were going to go last asked I would have gone for nobody ever wants to follow Chris Stein hocker. Right like you you said it so well I love the analogy with the trees and the seedlings like. You hit it right on the head. What you all do in our community. The way that you give such care not only for your own businesses but for others is so beautiful. I've owned to small businesses in my life and I know that grit and that persistence and that. >> You got to get up every day and put yours boot straps on and go get it and hustle for every single thing that you have and that alone brings so much talent to our city. And we just appreciate you so much, I'm glad that you recognize our colleague here because the work that he has done in the small business community is one to be emulated and so just very proud of you as well and you know I don't want to forget I want to give a shout out to our home base businesses I think everybody's tired of hearing me talk about them, but I always want to make sure we don't leave them behind because all of those entrepreneurs sitting at home making something happen every single day are just as worthy of our gratitude they are critical part of our community as well so I shout out to them and just really want to thank our city team. I want to thank the Urban League for what you do to support small business as well and really you know the chamber. I can't say enough about the chamber because thank you so much Chris, your continued commitment your passion, your energy, the greenhouse everything you all do every single day. We owe a debt of gratitude to you we could not be Saint Pete without give so thank you so much. >> Councilmember fix Sanders. Thank you COUNCILMAN Together said it all really should be. >> is and you did a great job but I will say this in in those that know me know me well, small businesses always been my thing is not new to me true to it. We are also a small business because y'all don't like to be hot. Thank you. And so I understand what it takes but I am looking at first of all Renee. They know you now nay you now because you've actually win and you've proven the fate this small business works. But nobody gives you anything you worked for it and I am so. 4 years later, but actually. >> 1015 years later. Yeah me Renee do have first public speaking guy he did a great job so yeah he's been out there for a very long time. But I see Nikki Gaston k fight who I am going to acknowledge as being someone who has been strong in our community on all fronts. I don't know why you didn't speak as you have a lot to say small businesses. But I'm not going to have the executive director of Pinellas County urban League who has done so much not be recognized for the work that you've done and you know you've been consistent. Every time I see you you've always been consistent you've always been giving a lot of our small businesses know who you are and everybody when it comes down to resources what do they say or even the in the the urban me and that's that that says volumes for way you've contributed to the community so for all of the small businesses that are here that are represented that are not here. We truly make our city function. We truly make our world here go around and so when it comes to small business go always be one of your led us advocates in Big East champions. Because I'm so proud of get up every day I'll see my husband at the time. But but you know, I'm proud of what he does for everyone in who he helps and who he's market is but again thank you for bringing us, thank you Kris of course you always get to them I can show out but thank you so much. I love the seedling analogy because you're right a lot of these businesses, especially Sat. Shop there was some the night of the terms of their cards. And she has now a store in Brandon mall across from the Apple Go every day job. So so we're growing and we're doing things in this because of people like you Kristen in people like you Nicky that really do it not robbery to help our small business and to get it done so I just want to congratulate all of you, thank you chair. Councilmember Harding. >> It is a it is a very unique American thing is what makes America different the concept of of entrepreneurship. But it is also scary wickedly scary. And in the end I admire the people eventually dive into the deep end of the pool and and they generally have a or they will have a core competency. They're great at making something the great it had dogs they're great selling pain, they're great at something they're gonna go after this idea, but along the way they also need to very quickly develop skills in procurement and logistics and marketing and advertising and accounting in and I can keep gun right in hr and and that's where that's where it that's where scary gets even more scary. The fact that that you're willing to put your heart and soul into a hot dog cart but you know you didn't know anything about work comp and that is why I admire and my my previous life I I my job to be all the way down to Key West and we belong to a different chambers and I can tell you that without a doubt our our chamber is hands down it's not even in the same league. You can't say they're better than everyone else it's just completely different that the the way that the city recognizes and supports entrepreneurship and and the greenhouse itself which which I was talking to Sean earlier Sean. Thank you for your time and I'm not as familiar as I would like to be and I said what. And what did help with and she just kept going. It with a lit at just about anything that you could need and it is involved in how we support entrepreneurs so so I I near my colleagues. Thank you very much. Congratulations. This is not enough a recognition for the for that behind the scenes service, the provider entrepreneurs and it's it's greatly appreciated to thank you. >> Thank you chair Gert is for bringing this proclamation, it's very clear that it not only takes a village to raise a child it takes a village to raise our small businesses and we have a fantastic bill it thank you. >> And now we go. Onto the 4 which is distinguished citizen award and this is going to be presented by our council member driskell to Christine page. She makes her way of Christine and others that are here if you want to going join. Her there. Thank you MADAM Vice chair and. Them. And that you do it is an and an incredible honor today too I stand before you as a present. The distinguished citizen award to MS. Christine page, the executive director. St. Petersburg shuffleboard club. It's not always easy to say goodbye to someone who's given so much to a place and to your community into a tradition. And today we're going to celebrate Christine page in the incredible marked that she has left on the shuffleboard Club in on St. Petersburg as she prepares to move on in her wonderful journey of life. Christine has been part of the shuffleboard club for more than 20 years. She started as a volunteer and then served on the board of governors and then for the past 10 years, she's led the club has its executive director. In every single wrong every step of the way. Christine has given her full heart and energy. She didn't just keep things running. She brought vision care and creativity to a club they had remained largely unchanged since its founding way back in 1924. When the club was at risk of fading away. Kristine led the way in steering it into something stronger than anyone could have imagined. She helped turn it into what it is now a lively welcoming and deeply rooted part of our city's cultural landscape. It's a place where people gather play connect. And return week after week. Christine has honored the club's history while finding new ways to keep it relevant Kristine built partnerships support of the volunteers, many of which are standing here with us today and open the doors to a broader community. She made shuffleboard fun and meaningful again for for everything from social events to international competitions many of us have personal memories tied to the club that wouldn't exist without her. I personally met Christine while, but fries on City Council. Serving on the downtown neighborhood associations Borden wanted to start doing cleanups around near Lake which led to a big project to replace and restore the shuffle board benches and it just went on and on from there and she hasn't been just a great partner, but she's become a wonderful friend. So whether it was Fri. Night shuffle or leaguer tournament or just time spent at the club with friends christine's work has helped to make those moments possible. Christine I want to thank you for your leadership for your patients, your sense of humor. And your study believe in the St. Petersburg shuffleboard club and in our city. You've helped to create something that will last and will always be uniquely Saint Pete. So while we're sad to see you go we're proud that we're going to be able to carry forward all that you have helped to create. The official length of a regulation shuffleboard court is 52 feet. But the gratitude that we have for you is endless. It is a great honor to present you with the City Council distinguished citizen award for your incredible contributions to our city's culture you'll always have a place here and will always welcome you home, whenever you visit, and of course we're going to keep Saint Pete chef Lynn yet. Next I want to invite our community enrichment administrator Mike Jeffries to say a few words about Christine. >> Try to keep it together as we do this so. Sometimes we have people that come in your lives and and you MISS Him when they leave, you MAY not be too sad when they when you see the tail lights. I can tell you that. >> Only gonna recover what I'm going to say about Christine is the sea is unlike that scenario that I just I thought she was doing bunny ears which I would have totally anticipated are doing. Christine and I have been working together for longer than I can ever remember. I travel all throughout the country and present to other parks and rec departments in other cities and I talk about partnerships and I always use the partnership that we have with the shelter were club and I was around when the Civil War club became city asset and I remember when the club was had very few members and I remember talking to Christine about her dream in about wanting to get it's as big as it was back in its heyday and all of the activities that she had planned and I remember the difference scenarios we had set up as to how the club was operated in and again I will tell you from a fiscal from the city's perspective. Christine and some were club have been the most fabulous partners we've ever had. We have a city facility that we have out near Lake that is run by an amazing organization. That is bringing in revenue is sustainable is helping us with capital improvements. It's a pleasure for us to go before the mayor to go before Robin Council and to ask for improvements which we've done. So many times throughout the years. I still remember sitting in the cell without the air conditioning and remember Israel that was so it was a fantastic a cip project to get that moving forward, but we absolutely wish Christine nothing but the best we know that her new endeavors rescuing Barnes which will be very exciting and right up her alley. But we know that she is going to bring that fire and that energy wherever she lands we're hoping this is temporary. At our last coffee we discussed some different options so we're excited about the future for Christine and we absolutely wish her nothing but the best and just want for her to know that it's been a pleasure to work with her and that she's been the absolute best partner we've ever had and I will MISS Our coffees in our tease together so. First of all I want to thank my definition to the Driscoll. >> I don't think I've ever said this word, but I think of you as mentors. Even though you're younger than me which is really annoying. >> Just seen a your your love and enthusiasm of this for the city is just infectious it's you can't you can't come away. From a conversation with you without loving the city more. You know I've I've learned from you how to build a nurse relationships and how you how you do that is so respectful and. Just taking that with me wherever I go so thank you. So I would like to thank the city. I like to thank elected officials past and present city staff past and present. You all have worked so well with us and you even proved the club like air conditioning. >> Air-conditioning. In 39 we finally got it and and I. I always felt like the city wants us to succeed just as much as the shuffle forward once the club wants to seize us like thank you very much for everything you've done over the years. So the clubs come a long way in 20 years. From 35 members to 2600 members from 0 staff people to 9 staff people. And it was would not have happened without the people behind me and so many others. It just literally hundreds of volunteers and staff members and Ford board members who have the same love for the club that I do and they're so committed to keeping it. Just a gem, I mean what it what a special thing to have the same organization that founded a 100 years ago still using it in the same way and that's why I always try to tell people when I do my history talks is likely we're using in the same way we always have and I think that's really really special and and they work so mix of the people behind me, you know the 8 they do the volunteer management they do the hot and sweaty maintenance work even in the summer. They you know Brooke weddings they run members events they maintain the courts and keep the disks going you know to think we have the grind the dissent between league seasons they run the leagues, they run boot camps where they teach people how to play. They run out out outreach boost, you know local Tokyo collard green festival and pride. They run the leagues and tournaments they volunteer in Fri. Nights they welcome all of Petersburg to the club they're welcoming face when you walk in and a nice one thank you all. So. Strategic planning and we came up with our pillars and that's what I try to think of everything with the club we do you know what we're really proud of is competition, even if you're just playing for fun. All the way up to the best players in the world come to play and our facility and it's known throughout the world as the birthplace of shop aboard. And then we have you know our community it's we talk a lot at the club about the concept of the 3rd place where you can you know if you've heard of that if you. Human should have 3 places they should have there home place the mission of the workplace. That's a really really be part of the community they need a 3rd place and that's where you can just come and be it's a part of the community and that's we we want all St. Petersburg to know that we can be a 3rd place for them. And then celebrating the history in the preservation of the facility itself because it is such a gem. I just want to it. So thank you all and leave you with an invite. 20 years ago a group of people like preservationists and artists approached Mary Eldridge that then PRESIDENT And said, listen we love this facility. Why why do we open it up to the community on a Fri. Night and that's that's how the Fri. Night shuffle started 20 years ago and we are celebrating its 20th anniversary next Fri. From 7 to 10 we're going to have music at food, the food trucks, a cake everything it's going to be like this just a celebration of all things shuffleboard so even though I'm leaving I'm really sad. I'm leaving Saint Pete I can't think about it for too long or all-star crying. I really I'm leaving it in good hands. So so thank you all. Thank you chair, first of all thank you all for putting your heart and soul into shuffleboard because that is one of the things that makes for city special and I remember I first moved here in 2006 it was had just started the Fri. Night event and they cite growing and growing and growing. And every time I would bring family members or people come visit new path by 6 oh my GOD look how cool this is you don't see this anywhere. And that is special you grew that and I we had events there. We had neighborhood events there we had competitions between neighborhood associations with Colin, a and it was fantastic being in the police that with the epitome I think of what our city is about that's how I feel about shuffleboard and then bring neighborhoods together they are people from different parts by the way I found out after the fact or some really good shuffleboard players in my neighborhood that could have been part of the team. If you find out so much about people in places like the shuffle board courts and and we had neighborhood awards there. The city presented neighborhood awards there. And I got through so many events there. You're out there. It's a Fri. Or Sat. Or Sun. Night it's a beautiful sky, the lights are out people are having a good time. And I think oh my GOD only in St. Petersburg you have a place like this so Christine, thank you for making that happened you have left a mark on our city and thank you all for being part of that history. Thank you. Council member Jessica, thank you so much for. Bringing this forward and celebrating Christine. Christine I I spent some time yesterday with some of your team members and some of your board members and. The first thing we talked about leaving and the sadness of that fact it's not set in stone yet. But there is a nice present for you currently in the 2026 cip budget. I'm so that's it that's a good that's a nice for well I think I won't put it put too much pressure on administration there. But just thank you so much for everything you do my parents play on Wed. Night. It's they love it. They enjoy it so much they get to spend time with their friends who frankly in the past they've never had a place to do that like and be active in. Be out and about and that's become their 3rd place. And so I'm just I'm so appreciative of everything you've done and I I totally agree with you leave it in good hands, but we're very very sad to see you go can't wait to get back in once again council member Jessica, thank you so much for bringing this forward so we can celebrate Christine congratulations. Christine. >> Okay we are going to move into new ordinances and we're going to move and he won an ordinance authorizing the public transportation Grant agreement and insurance is to be executed by the city. This is the airport project and we average Lesniak I think joining us 3, 1, Would you let me read the or you can thank you ordinance number 6 oh 9 dash h in orange in accordance. With section one 0, 2, c 5 b St. Petersburg city charter authorizing the execution of of the public transportation Grant agreement pt Ga. For their insurance says rent insurance says which are attached to the pt Ga to be executed by the city. In a week in any requirement requirement for for receipt. The Florida Department of Transportation fdot grant. For the Albert whitted Airport in in an amount not to exceed $134,800 for the construction phase of the we had air your full vault fy 23 project 1, 9, 2, 3, 5, authorizing such encumbrances restrictions not to exceed 20 years for the effective date of the pt Ga authorizing the mayor or his designee to execute on top of documents necessary to effectuate this ordinance providing for an effective date and provide different expiration MR. Cherry we do not have any cards on this okay, thank you. I move approval on that. We have a motion is other council members wishing to speak. Clerk could you please open machine for voting. Council members present your votes. Seeing is all present council members have voted clerk could you please tell you announce the vote. MR. Chaired the motion to approve agenda item e one passes unanimously with councilmember Floyd being absent. Thank you. Okay we'll move in to eat too. Clerk could you please read the ordinance. When Dec. 6 oh 8 dash Beach. In Lawrence of the city of St. Petersburg Florida amending chapter what 17.5 article 6 of the city code related to affordable housing site plan approval, amending section 17.5 dashwood 11 related to apply can Billy criteria, creating a new section 17.5. That's one 24 related to conforming Isis is providing for severability and providing for an effective date. The public hearing for this item is scheduled for MAY the first and we do not have any speakers. Council Murphy centers. Thank you. Can someone s into the question in regards to the definition of a grocery store does that includes our neighborhood mom and pop stores because many of our communities are food as it is and we don't have main grocery stores in walkable distance is on Page one of 3. The resolution. Page 41 of our packet council members is it is section 17.5 vanished one 11. >> Yet this is existing terminology. This is not part of the proposed text amendment at this time. I know I just want to know what the clarification of that list to see if that was something we need to consider. >> We do not have that term just to find. In our definitions. 1690 so what I can do is be prepared to answer that question. For you. By the next meeting thank you because I just want to know how this going to last for the benefit, some of the other communities without and you go see stores within. Distance ok, thank you, thank you chair. Thank you. >> ok if there's no deal approval. Here we have a motion a second scene is no other council members wishing to speak clerk could you please open the machine for voting. Council members present your votes. It seems all present council members a vote a clerk could you please tell you announce the vote. MR. CHAIRMAN the motion to approve agenda 2 passes unanimously. We're going to move on to the 3. Clerk please read the ordinance. Witness number 1172 dash v in orange approving the vacation. The 120 feet of the 20 foot alley buddy, lots 5 through 8 in lot and block 16 a fuller subdivision located at 18 34st Avenue South in 1850 Central Avenue, setting forth conditions for the vacation to become effective in providing for an effective date the public hearing for this item is scheduled for MAY the first and we do not have any cards councilmember. >> The me too it not to listen to what I would've gone. We have a motion a second scene is no other council members wishing to speak clerk could you please open machine for voting. Seems all present council members a vote a clerk could you please tell you announce the vote. MR. Chaired the motion to approve agenda item e 3 passes unanimously. Ok thank you. All right we're going to move into reports now we've got a presentation for f one a resolution approving an agreement between the city and ac sky town. We've got Mark vanlue joining us. Good afternoon Mark. Good afternoon Council chair council members. Before you today is the sky town project and a request for funding support of that project and proposed partnership between Altus Cardinal the developer and the city of St. Petersburg. That's even the find. So here you can see before and after pictures you're you're probably all familiar with this the site being the former Syrian site on the left is what was there and on the right is what will be there once this project comes the full fruition. Altogether so 34.3 acre site it should have over 2000 apartments. Once all phases are completed. 69,000 square feet of neighborhood retail and grocer and a 120,000 square feet of self storage. It's a phased development today we're talking about phase, one. And future phases will likely come back before Council for support as well. And the first phase is anchored the entire project is anchored by the sprouts grocery store which you see in the center of the new development there and that is under construction and expected open for business in OCTOBER of this year. And sightsee which is the mixed use building. On the one in the after picture on the front right corner there that that kind of double Square building with the courtyard in the center will contain 401 apartments of which a 121 units will be affordable and workforce housing and about almost 12,000 square feet of retail and that will begin construction this spring. It's a very shovel ready project. And moving on this is the site for the overall project so in the center to the lower part there. The Red Square that's the sprouts store that's under construction. To the right of that is phase one in that double Square building with the pool in the center in the courtyard. That is the a phase that we're talking about today. This is again the overall rendering of the site from from the air. And these are some ground level renderings of what this will look like so all of the phases will have ground level retail with his living residences above with the sprouts there in the lower right corner. So phase. One also referred to as site c contains as I said 401 units of which a 121. We'll be affordable workforce. Housing. You can see the at the bottom of the bars, there are the dissipated timelines so the top bar is the sprouts store which is under construction and will open in the fall. The site see residential and commercial the bottom line which is shovel ready and after a financial closing in the next couple of months will begin construction, this probably early summer at this point. The chart in the upper right corner there is interesting I want to point out a couple things there so. This is the total count of units and then it breaks it down in those bottom 3 sections in the market rate category the 120% in my category and the 80% in my category. And what's interesting to me if you look at the next to the last column of average rents you can see that if you compare the market rents at the top there with the 120% and my rants the rents are the same pretty much market 220% for the smaller units for the studio and one bedroom units. But the 2, 3, bedroom units you do start to see some pretty significant monthly rent savings. And if you compare the market rate to the 80% I units below you can see that all size units represent a pretty significant. Some reduction in rents. I'll get out it's a little bit more about the rents and what that means to the city in just a few minutes. But first I want to talk about the sources and uses for this project. It's a little bit small but on the left side there the sources the developers bringing the land in the land value to the deal along with the common equity of almost $31 million for total equity of 45 million. The county is already approved a $5.5 million forgivable loan. The city is considering today at 4.5 million. Forgivable loan and then they'll have a construction loan of about 68 million to fully fund the project the county and city funds together represents. I believe it was about 9% of the total. The project cost which is sort of lower number than we typically see for the subsidy levels in terms of the percentage of total project cost. The the investment of 4.5 million from the city when broken down per unit only by the affordable and workforce units represents a per unit subsidy of about $37,190 which is lower than the pre unit subsidy we've been seeing on some of the recent projects that were perhaps more deeply affordable and using other funding sources. So this just partnership this project would be a little bit unique for us, it's really one of the first true public private partnerships that we're bringing before you partnering with a for-profit mixed income developer. This is important because as we all know the amount of state and federal housing dollars are limited in have been getting even more limited in recent years. And so in order to stretch the city housing dollars and to leverage. Those dollars to get more affordable and workforce housing build. This is an important type of partnership that we can explore allowing that market rate units to help subsidize the affordable and workforce units and that's exactly why the per unit subsidy for this project is is at the lower end of what we've been seeing because of those market rate units helping to cover that. This one is that when you do deals like this it's a bit unique in that lenders investors and developer of these types of projects typically have financial strategy and an exit plan from the beginning and they must have certainty in order to invest. So what that means is that we had to make a couple of minor changes