City Council

relate >> Council members and your votes seeing no present council members voted clerk police telling announce the vote. Motion to approve agenda item e one passes unanimously with council member and what's absentee all right very good and MISTER Johnson, the next item is yours as well item he too is. >> This item more on that the administration brings you to approve a substantial amendment to the fy 2021 22 annual action plan to add a new community development block grant to our project for phase one. We have designed in pre planning services to determine and you are the actual cost. For the replacement of the heating ventilation and air-conditioning system in Jordan Park school and to transfer 140,700 all those in undesignated therefore 2122. Cdbg balance to Jordan school. We will we were made aware of this after the city completed rehabilitation assistance to the facility in JANUARY we spent about one little over a million dollars. Replacing marginal classroom and rehabbing The one story classmen classroom to the site. We we've been advised by Lutheran services that the hvac systems on the Basically It's a system that was put in place in 2008. So the useful life is probably you know returns peak. And you have over 200 children to survive Scylla t and a head start capacity that could be you know in peril of having to sweat out. Long goal you know for the rest of the ration. So we met with engineering engineering determine the cause to have the study done will be a $140,700 and as soon as it's completed we will then meet with the economic development Department and housing unit development will put budgets together for whatever the cost to put in place the hvac system in this not a ringing the system. 2 so the building can be put camping would use and ride services too. Their children you know in need move approval. Thank you. And we have a motion seconded to have any cards on this item we did. And seeing their requests to speak clerk please open the machine for vetting. Council members your votes. We're seeing a present council members voted clerk please telling announce the vote. Motion to approve agenda item e 2 passes unanimously with council member and what's absent very good and thank you so much MISTER Johnson good to see you today. All right we're going to move on now to item e 3 which is an and clerk can you please read the title place. Proposed ordinance 5.47 dash h 2 an ordinance amending the St. Petersburg city code to remove chapter, 28 vehicles for hire in its entirety creating a new article. Said most vehicles in chapter 26 amending chapter 12 related to fees charged for public vehicles. Providing for severability and providing an effective date. And we have no speakers and we're joined today by assistant city attorney Heather judge and they believe chief vasek is around to answer questions if needed so Heather. >> I can go a brief overview of the program and what this does again if the council would like and know that Evan is not here with us today, but Keith Glasgow weekend of approve it we knew that it was all right sounds like we're get on the presentation motion and a second any Kurtz on this item. No MADAM Chair, a Herds and no requests to speak. Park police have been searching for vetting. Council members in air boats saying a present council members a vote a clerk please telling announce the vote motion to approve the agenda item. The 3 passes unanimously with council member and what apps. Okay very good. Thank you thank you all. >> Item e for just another ordinance clerk please read the title. Present ordinance number 5.48 dash h an ordinance of the city of St. Petersburg Florida, removing chapter 20 article vi the St. Petersburg city code known as a tenants Bill of Rights in its entirety repealing all ordinances which current codified the tenant Bill of rights to comply with state law making findings and providing an effective date and we do have some speakers. We're joined by assistant city attorney Brad tenant let MISTER Tenet. Good morning City Council. I'm happy to answer questions that appreciate 42 repealing the existing tenant Bill of Rights based on new legislation that was passed by the state and I'm here to answer any questions. Thank you we'll go ahead and go to public comment. >> First 2 speakers are William Kilgore and Dylan dames please go to an open podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. The money. I everybody, thanks William with the Saint Pete Hanna cnn reside in Ponce de Leon neighborhood. Yeah, I'm just here speak on this item way you know I was here 2 weeks Talk about happy to see that some of those issues that we had brought are are moving forward just said you know reiterate, you know what we're asking for obviously this is you know tied up with these other things that are preempted, but just to remind you that there's a couple things in here. That are preempted that pertain to fair housing and under a source of income discrimination specifically, you know so what the Tenet team what we want to see you know is these things the new ordinance you know and and done as quickly as possible. You know to get that back on the books and have you know fair housing source of protections, you know because those are really important probably the most putin aspect of this tenant Bill of Rights Yeah, I mean the noticing requirements a very important Hill you know that we have merits it's sad to see those go, but you know really the source of You know as as you folks know I mean we came here we had filed complaints with codes. I mean it was actually something that is is happening, you know we demonstrate we brought people in to speak about their experiences and you know we've seen it just looking at that rental listing said that that the fact that we still have that the possibility to you know to protect these folks. You know, so we want to see you know as its ignore did there is all this stuff with loopholes and things like that that were written and we kind of got those helped get those tweaks you know we want to see this we don't want to see something come back in a different form it's you know kind of water down our milk toast or you know weaker than what whatever we have now in the wording we have now for protections for source of income so you know that is really important that that we see that you know I I councilmember Floyd thanks it councilmember flood to for taking action to to get that rolling. You know, but as he pointed out last time you know it's there's you know things like the apartment Association. You know these groups these business groups special interests, 5 oh one c 6 groups. You coming in and are meddling with our you know protections for you know workers tenants and then they go up to the state level and get these things preempted. You know it's that I think the city really should not take into consideration, anything at the apartment Association reaches out and the But you know whatever you know about this and getting a fair housing. The pass so you know your time thank you all so much have a great day. >> During games on a one to 0, 0 one doctor Manrique and you should know is I'm afraid in Florida. Urged the council to remain creative. And about how we can hold on to whatever we can hold onto from that end of the votes I stand with all the organizations. The tenants out for the past few years and I understand that this is more of a I was going to be going to do. But like I said earlier. I wouldn't see was that people are making the final decisions so I urge you to the main creative and crafty about how we can. Well Don the tenant protections in Saint Pete. Thank you. Any other MADAM Chair, we do have a someone that wants speak through zoom, but this is a public hearing the case and they cannot they cannot. Councilmember Curtis thank you MADAM Chair. I just wanted to publicly thank council member Floyd for leading on this item with the discussion about for housing discrimination. I appreciate the leadership on that I move approval. >> We they can't the motion a second. Councilmember flood. Thank you thank you councilmember us, it's very nice of I just wanted to set that said everything I needed to say last time we talked about this. I just want to repeat. I'm not happy about it. I don't think many people up here happy about it I think the Senate's Bill of Rights is one of the few things that cities across the state able to accomplish to help tenants and it's very frustrating that we're in the situation but I believe says the City Council will continue to try to do everything we can for affordable housing and tenants rights in the city, so that's all thank you. We thank you. Seeing no further requests to speak we have a motion second clerk please open the machine for voting. Council members and your votes saying a present council members voted clerk please tying announce the vote. Motion to approve agenda item e 4 passes unanimously councilmember Hannah what's absent. Okay we will close our public hearings and go to a report items go back to reports and take up item f one citywide pilot rebates for residential rehabilitation program. I just get us started chair. You know you have already approved this program go citywide we are aligning it with the same. Process as the cra's so as not to confuse residents. So the changes that are before you really do that. But we're here to answer any questions. Move approval. Thank you and we have a motion a second council member Jessica. Thank I understand aligning it, I'm just wondering if this is enough. If we're making this even with what we do for Siri this is a a program that's. You know strongly supported it's you know, I'm I'm excited about the expansion of it. But it and. You say is this enough deeming the funding right and we were out of on the second day of advertisement So you know we will bring back a future request to additional conversation about that in the meantime we also heard your discussion and feedback when you approved this for the cra and so we're taking a look at what changes MAY we bring back for next fiscal year that speak to some of the things you asked for so are we able to lower the am I to a 100% and not break the program are we able to provide instead of it being first come first serve. Some incentives for people who are preserving their hou housing and staying in their home. You know putting them higher up in the priority list then an investor creating a new unit. So those are discussions we're having will bring to you at nhl, ut whenever staff have some recommendations but we're hopeful to bring those changes back quickly to okay. Thank you I just want to make sure we're where we find something that's working. That we have. Come you know that we support it financially so that it can be as effective as possible. I look forward to hearing more and finding out what enough looks like. I think we're there yet but it's exciting that we're moving in the right direction. Thank you. I just want to take a second to thank mayor Welch Foster everyone that's worked on being able to expand this Something I went back to all of my budget request since the beginning of being here on Council. This was an item that I have been waiting for for a very long time. And so I'm just very happy that we found a creative way to begin funding it this year. I agree we have a lot more work to do to make the program as robust and impactful as it needs to be to address the need. It's one more tool in the tool box and I mean preserving housing is just as important as creating housing, so I completely support whatever you know we end up moving forward to look at maybe a matrix that would give preference to people trying to preserve their housing. I know there's a lot of residents in my district who need help and they don't know where to go for that help so I really want to thank you for your creativity and for making this a priority this year and I'm very excited to support the item today. So thank you. All right, we have a motion a second do we have any cards on the side of we do not okay clerk Lisa punishing preventing. Council members in your votes saying a present council members voted quickly stallion announce the vote. Motion to approve agenda item f one passes unanimously with council member Hannah what's absent. Hey thank you very much MISS Foster stir Johnson appreciate your work. Okay we're going to move now to item f 3 and we are joined by city development administrator James Corbett morning morning. Want to share members of City I'm here to present to presentation regarding 3rd amendment to a development agreement of city-owned land located at 1301st Avenue. The North also known as orange station. So first to provide a summary of the original development plan that was approved in AUGUST of 2020. The main elements of the original the original plan was to develop a 100,000 square feet of Class a office space 56 market rate condominium units. 22,000 square feet of retail space and 30 workforce department unions. There were 600 parking spaces in the parking garage of which 400 of those spaces re too to be purchased by the city to be used as probably parking additional terms in the original agreement it was the developer was to provide up to a $100,000 for courageous 12 public art and that the 400 parking spaces that were to repurchase were was at a cost of $8 million or $20 million per space. Additionally the city will provide a million mortgage at one percent interest. Table has an interest only loan during the 20 year affordability period. So moving on to the amendments, the First Amendment happened in APRIL of 2021. And this simply was an amendment to extend the due diligence period to me of 2021. In JUNE of 2021 Council approved a second Amendment which time the number of workforce units required to that total square footage of office space essentially in this amendment as the square footage of office space the crease the minimum required number of workforce unit increase. Additionally there was a credit that was provided to the work force units so that the combination of the actual cost of demolition, and the credit for the work force units would not exceed $1 million. So for for now I want to go into detail on the 3rd in from my perspective, the last amendment to this lease and least developed an agreement as we discuss the terms of the amendment with the developer wanted to make sure that we didn't lose ground on any of the elements of this development which were prior priority for the administration. In those key elements that we had enough I was new Class a office space public parking and workforce housing. And it's my position in his 3rd amendment that all of those items where either the same or more favorable for the city. The office space in his 30 minute has been increased to a minimum 115,000 square feet compared to a range of as low as 50,002 up 200,000 square feet in the second Amendment. The workforce, housing units have been increased to a minimum of 42 compared to a minimum 30 in the original agreement and the workforce housing unit most be affordable to households who earn a 120% area median income or less and approximately 20% of the units have to be available to households earn. 80% of area median income or less and I have some information like a located here. I got a question about it often we talk about area median income in the question is what does that really mean so 420% area median income for example for a household of 2. That would mean that the let's assume it would be 2 working adults. That they can make no more than $83,520 or for 2 adults for example that would be an average of $41,760. At 80% that would be a household of 2. No more than $55,600. So in that instance, it would be an average of 27,800 per per adult. If you look at a household of 4. So let's say 2 adults 2 children. At a 120% am I that households are no more 204. To what 104,200 which would be about 52,000 per do if there were 2 adults in the household and for 80% am I that we eat way too. 69,500 or approximately 34,750. For if there were 2 working adults in the household just to give an idea of what the actual income restrictions will be on those units. The public parking spaces will remain the same that was still be the 400 a public parking spaces and the contribution from the city would remain the same as well. At $20,000 per space or a total of million for those 400 spaces. The developer has agreed to increase their contribution for the courageous will public art from a $100,250 thousand. And it sees contribution remains the same. Additionally the city would increase the mortgage for the workforce housing from million to $4 million. The terms will remain the same it would be a one percent interest rate interest only payable at the end of the affordability period which would be 20 years. And lastly and probably the most significant part the change in this development is that the 56 marker condos have been removed from the development. The timelines and a 30 minute have been adjusted as follows. The developer will have until Oct. 30th of this year to submit site plan and building elevation for administrative approval. As well as written verification over from funding for all related to construction. A comprehensive revised building permit package must be submitted no later than APRIL of 2024. And I'm just for councils knowledge, the parking garage in the workforce housing, the design the plans. Those don't need to change so that they actually can commence construction on those elements of the development immediately. The changes required as it relates to the office building due to the elimination of the. The Barker 8 condos and the last thing I want to point out which I think is probably most important to ensure that this project is completed in a timely manner in order for the developer to exercise the a purchase option. 25% of the project must be complete by DECEMBER of 2024. So we've defined 25% completion to income include the entire parking garage to be complete certified by a certificate of occupancy and that actually has to be done by OCTOBER of 2024. Additionally all the structural components for the workforce housing, mostly certified by the architect or engineer of record. And that must be done. By DECEMBER of 2024. And just to give you an idea of what that means by structural components that would mean the foundation exterior walls support columns and move we'll all have to be complete. Prior to DECEMBER of 2024 to meet the definition of 25% complete. And finally the office building most be prepared for immediate pouring the foundation footers in pilings. So just to kind of give you a summary of of what did the deal is again that the purchase price is not changed. Its million. There is a creative a million dollars that will be split between 323 $1670 towards the actual cost of demolition. There's another 676,000 that will be credited toward the workforce housing, which works out to be about $16,000 per unit. And then the city will hold and a mortgage for a period of 20 years that will be payable was interest only low do within the 20 year affordability period for $4 million. So closing the developer with pay the $1.4 million with the balance due at no later than a 20 year for bility period. So with that I'm I'm happy to answer any questions we also have the developer here to answer any questions that Council mayhem. Thank you MISTER Corbett. >> We have cards on this item. The men all right, we'll go ahead and go to public comment then. When I call your name please go to an open podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council Jae Miller and will conduct. >> Gentlemen to both a lot of card. Both then MISTER Connor if you want to go to the other podium. Good morning City Council members I want to thank James Corbett and city staff for the collaborative support and a great presentation with your approval today when we will be under high. And your address please. Happy for I live at 7.23 17th Avenue Northeast in Saint Pete my office is also in Saint Pete to 48 near Lake drive North. All right. Good morning again. And again I want to thank James for a great set presentation and the collaborative support of city staff with your approval today will be under construction 2023 which is exciting news. I'm joined today by all of my partners in this project will going on to lunch on showing of dda development in our new partners from arrested development. Corporations salmon Casey Ellis and Jordan star. We're excited to have them join our team. Or in stations become a labor of love for local team during the past 2 years. Since we last presented to Council we've completed demolition of the old police station building at our crossed as promised, and we prepared a complete set of construction documents and the teen permit approval last spring. The process took quite a long time because when station is a complicated project with 4 separate buildings, which don't include the hotel. During his planning and permitting process the financing market change dramatically thus the need to modify or use mix and financing structure. As I said with your approval, we'll start construction in the 4th quarter of this year led by the public parking garage and the workforce housing components which already have building permit approval. I want to briefly mention. Various public benefits of our project and remind you of the projects origin. The city selected one station is most responsive to affirm the rfp process issued by the last administration. The rfu is not an offer to sell to the highest bidder. It required that the project include a minimum of 300 public parking spaces and our project will include 400. It required a minimum of 50,000 square feet of office space and with these changes will now have a 115,000 feet and incorporation of an outdoor civic space for the edge district and they expressed a preference for mixed use development with retail office, mixed income housing and possibly a hotel. If not most of these uses to require some public financial support for viability. One station in its final form today includes the following benefits that specifically address goals outlined in that rfp it is a mixed use project which includes retail and office space affordable and workforce housing and the hotel. It includes a 400 car public parking garage and further with the elimination of the condos will construct another 75 spaces that will be available for public parking will not use. >> MISTER Conrad I just like to emphasize what I'm has said we've well I'm sorry it will come our way one 58 Ramona way My office is at 02:48am early trapped. Just like again reemphasize the our thanks for all of your Some of your predecessor support. We will be under way with your approval today in the 3rd quarter and the 4th quarter of 2023. With residents moving into the workforce apartment building in early 2025. This we believe this is a good job not only construction which happens on every day but permanent jobs with the hotel be more than a 100 full-time permanent jobs, an equal or greater number of part-time jobs. The as we all know is also a generator and a job creator and sorely needed for the city. We are also to be a part of bringing the courageous 12 public art to life in the city. Residents of the city we live here we shop here, we coach baseball here to honor. Illustrious history and that way it's something that's very meaningful for us, I'd like to again thank the administration team James MISS Foster, Brad and all the others that that helped us get to this point that we are available to answer any questions. Thank you. Thank you. Next speakers. Roger Kurland and Jason Mathis. >> Please go to an open podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. Roger Kurland 45 41th Avenue North. I'm the executive director of the edge business district Association. And I'm here to give the support from the edge business district Association for this project we are extremely excited about it and I'm an echo a few things that that Jay said and there's really 4 keys. It's the value tradition of inventory of parking for our district and to have that flex additional parking is going to be great on the nights and weekends we really need it in the district. The second key is that workforce housing. The you know the the growth of those units is so important because I've seen the the change of one apartment for one person and what it can make for them to have affordability and so that's really important to have that in the heart of a growing district. The 3rd key is the addition of a quality. Office space so Saint Pete is very unusual in that we have a very low vacancy rate compared to a lot of the rest of the country and this is a huge economic driver for our local community to have that office spaces is super critical on right side to have it in the edge district. And last but not least the addition of hotel space. It is an amazing driver of our local economy for our small businesses. So when we have our restaurants, our retail, our bars are services they immediately see an influx of revenue and involvement when we have some of those great hotels coming into our district. Again thank you so much Council for all the work you've done for multiple years to help bring this project forward thank you to Jane your team because I've seen the care that you have given to this project and the edge district supports it. Thank you. Thank you. This map this morning. My name is Jason methods and I am the ceo the St. Petersburg downtown partnership. I live in beautiful Bahama sures one 15 62th Avenue North in councilmember fix enters district. I am here today to speak in support of this project when you think about cities and urban centers, they really are systems and every city needs certain things to be successful. This project hits for very specific goals that Petersburg needs to be successful. The first is the creation of office space as I think many of you know we have not had new office space built an urban Center in decades. It's very challenging to build office space especially spec office space. This could be a game-changer for our economy and for St. Petersburg the second is workforce housing we are very aware of the crisis of housing that we have I'm really grateful that James was able to talk about what a 120% of am I mean sometimes people here $104,000 and think that that's one person making a six-figure salary, but most families have 2 people making that so those are people making $50,000 a year. In that 120%. Am I that's very important as as Roger mentioned really really important for this district really important to have that proximity to the urban center. The 3rd thing I'm really is honoring the history. I'm so that this project will help to support the the memory of the courageous It's a really important point of pride that everybody in our city should have 4 for the heroism of those of those officers and knowing that they will be memorialized in an appropriate way I think is is important and and finally the parking anyone who's tried to park in the edge district on a Fri. Or Sat. Night knows it's very challenging so having 400 spaces is going to be a game-changer again to help benefit vitality of the restaurants, the shopping retail. And you can you make the edge district really one of the points of pride for all of St. Petersburg so those 4 things are very important part of this project and we urge your support thanks very much. Thank u next speaker, our final speaker is Chris steinaker. Please go to an open podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> Good morning, I'm Kristen Walker PRESIDENT And ceo the St. Petersburg area Chamber of Commerce because unlike neighborhood 18th Avenue North. I work at 102nd Avenue north of the chamber building. I first I just want to say thank you to everybody. This morning has been beautiful a community effort allowed ourselves to a line under love each other for what we're doing and today again we see some alignment and some appreciation for understanding the City Council has advanced itself to really understand that these projects are difficult and complex but somehow our city a team led by James was able to get everything we are actually wanting out of this project and more so I want to say thank you to our city staff are working that and I want to thank our development team for taking critical land and making sure that we had what we needed you heard all my partners at the edge district of downtown partnership identify what what we needed and they're coming through with that so thank you all for that. Let me let me remind you what 94.7% occupancy rate. That's about 5% that we have available that means we don't have anything available. We have about 40 open projects as an executive member and founding ceo of our edc we have about 40 active projects probably more all looking for space right now. Pause for second allow the room to go quiet. You can hear. We're creating 60 jobs a day. 60 jobs. They just in Pinellas County. If you had Hillsborough County where overall 140 jobs. A day people are looking every day walking our streets trying to find that space you're doing that for us and that affordability of those units. I don't see a long line of people asking for more. Luxury condos here this morning fighting for that today, everybody's funny fighting for the same thing we're fighting for the people are going to work those jobs. We know that ix Kodak's Hadi blue innovation group Foster Aleutians well bill reilich those are just 8 businesses that have recently relocated here founders founding industries that are going continue to grow here if we send a message that we're willing to continue to grow that space we're going to send a message that we're willing to grow those jobs when we grow those jobs, we grow our economy and affordability becomes an issue that we don't necessarily have to deal with we have to deal with prosperity. We're going to get out of this affordability mindset and get into a prosperity mindset. It starts today. Thank you for approving this thank you that the final speaker, yes. Okay, Council vice chair fix Sanders. >> Thank you and good again good morning, everyone. First I want to thank MISTER Corbyn for the the extensive one-on-one on this because when I so I was like ok here we go again another amendment to this project. But it I'm glad of the changes and the things that actually came out in negotiations, everything. You know I was happy with emanating the market rate housing and thank you for providing because I always we ask when we say affordable or workforce to me or not the same thing. And then when we hear workforce, what does that mean and even with 2 of those working in household they still have to make more than 50,000 a piece and how many of our house keeping in the hotel are going to be able to or for to live the us and then I started thinking about that here process of bad as far as how applications are taking and how are we really be impactful in providing the housing. For that so that was my first question so actually thank you for providing those numbers. This second I and urging us to be mindful is that we have one member remaining of the courageous 12. And we have been prolonging this project for the longest. MISS Jackson bless his heart I want him to have as many years as guys has to sign for him, but I want him to see this. It's one thing to talk about it. But it's another thing to have the one remaining member of the courageous 12 to be a part of this and I don't want us to weigh into this done. So you have truly entertain my request and I want to make it probably that I'm asking that we do something to ensure he sees as as the city as a collaboration to make such a grand juror of what they've that's why they recall the courageous 12. Because they were truly operating during the time when it took more than courage. It to bravery to commitment. It took them to band together to do what was right for. Our city at that time so I'm asking hopefully we can do read the news, Mike up for for MISTER Jackson to participate in the news. And again for the the Office space itself. I still want to know I know we need office space in in a mall for the office space and I'm still trying to get to an understanding of how that is going to roll out and what that looks like. But I'm so good in so thankful and thankful. I'm glad to have you for my district MISTER That this week district 5 products. But I wanted to make sure we follow through and thank you for your time and I missed the core of it. Thank you for your time line and I'm going to say it again thank you for your time line because this has been going on way too long. But I really do appreciate the elimination and in the nation of the market rate housing, the increase of the housing and really wants to pay attention to and the developers in your additional donation for the art piece. But can we please get that that can we please do something while MISTER Jackson is still here. Thank you for that chair. Councilmember Flynn, thank you. >> I just want to start getting some clarification that So this is an amendment to an existing agreement so as it is right now the previous agreement is in place. Yeah, really we're just voting on whether or not we want to change the agreement that we already have into this a new one. So that means that like when I'm voting on this I'm going to be considering only the changes. Which I think are more office space I. I think everyone agrees, yeah, no one's like we need more market rate condos. That's a very good point so to get more office space which I think people do say we need I think everybody agrees we need is that's really the biggest selling point for me on this. But I do want to make a that I think needs to be set out loud about just the contours of the entire deal in general. We're going to get 42 It's of workforce housing with you said 20% at 8080% of am I watching these from 20% to 19 point but I'm rounding to 20 per units. It is yeah what we're looking at another the rest of them at one 20, I mean 2 bedroom one 20 us $2300 a month that's significantly more than my mortgage for a 3 bedroom House. So it's just a difficult situation to be put in. But I just want to say overall I I'll say this I like the amendment but I do have a problem with the initial deal but I know I'm not voting on that today, but I think it needs to be said that between the land value of the new estimate that we got back at 28.4 million. When you sold for highest and best use. The subsidy being provided on the mortgage which you know, let's say we could get 4% per year on that money instead of the one percent we're looking at over 20 over $3 million there. Push in $22 million in subsidy for For this development that is immense like with that 25th $25 million not to mention the actual cost of the land. That they're getting it for we can build. Hundreds of 80% my unit, so I want people to have that in their head when they go to vote on this now again we're voting on the amendment it's already going to happen so I'm gonna vote. Yes on the amendment because I think the amendment is better. But it. I hope that going forward when we're doing deals for city land were considering some of this stuff because of I was here for the first a vote on You know, I guess. No land values gone up recently. I'm just here to express my frustration as I do agree that the amendment is I just you know wants to be cognizant of how much of a subsidy were giving out for these kind of projects only that their banks. Council member Jessica. And thank you actually have questions for MISTER Miller. MISTER Connor a few having is that man MISTER Miller and I know you reached your your maximum time. As you were speaking to sue. I wanted to give you an opportunity to. You complete your I wish you would actually been part of the presentation. So that we could hear a little bit more. But it. I was here for the for the vote on the initial agreement and we did go back and forth alive. It If mixed use projects can create zs it debate over what that makes needs to look like. But I had faith in you and what your group was doing and I was supportive and I remain supportive since then. This 3rd amendment and is actually an improvement over the the second one and I do understand you know over time with financing things like that. And our needs that things can change. The office spaces of what I saw start a little higher then go lower and now it's back up there. And that has become. A big topic with us recently as we we all understand that not only do we need. Housing that we need to be working on. Job creation at the same time. We need to make sure that our economy is strong. So that the housing concur with that and. I just appreciate that over all this time you've been so communicative u ml of kept me posted to all of the ups and downs and that means a lot to me. But it has been a long time. Haha. We get excited about about these new projects and then we wait and wait and wait, although I understand because of arc because of our conversations I I want to make sure everyone understands what's different now what what's going to. Make the difference this time and really show some progress. >> I think that what's different now is first of all we've made quite a bit of progress by completing the plans. For the original. For the original package of uses and we're in the position to move forward with the garage in the workforce housing we are changing. What was originally a mixed use building, including condominiums and converting that building to 100% office. What's going to enable us to move forward is that we have a new partner. Our new partners Ellis in development company. They have a long track record here in the Tampa Bay area. They own. A construction company which is a tremendous asset for the project and they have the financial resources to enable us to start construction immediately without alone if necessary. On on the the portions of the project are permitted. So that's the significant change. We were obligated to seek a new investor partner in the financial markets such a change and traditional commercial mortgage lender started requiring substantially more equity in order to provide any financing deal. So we're very excited to have Allison joining us. They bring a tremendous wealth of experience. To our team. They also are the are the developer of the Marriott autograph hotel which is going to be part of the project is in which is how we started our collaboration together. So that's the primary difference which is going to enable us to get going now. Excellent and looking at the timeline here, I mean things really do start these deadlines are coming up rather quickly. In a starting You know the funding has to be shown in the city by the end of OCTOBER. You know we're a year later the garage has to be complete. DECEMBER of next year. The entire project s p 25% complete. Are you and your. The new partner are you comfortable with this because it gets it gets harder all the time to accept delays. We are comfortable with and I can assure you we're not going to start construction on the parking garage and the workforce housing, less for a 100% sure that we can meet those deadlines. Okay, And you know the deadline some great, but I want to make sure we're. That you're going to be able to check those boxes. Yeah, I mean we're not going make a major investment and start something and take a risk that we can complete it right that doesn't serve anybody including this. Okay, thank you is there anything else you'd like to to add share with us that maybe didn't get an opportunity to say earlier I think most of the other speakers pretty much completed my presentation. >> I do think and I want to reemphasize that. The jobs that will be created by this project. Over 600 jobs, a combination of full-time and part-time jobs at different income levels are really. And a very important. A part of the the benefit of the project for the city. Those new jobs are going help support other businesses downtown. And when we compare this mix of uses in this project with the type of project that's justified by this most recent appraisal which is a 100% market rate apartments. Those are the projects that are paying these high land values that type of project generates virtually no jobs. And I think that's a really important distinction. Ri right eye. I as we move forward with some of more of these decisions. We do have to. Everyone could stand to learn more about what an appraisal looks like versus. What you can really get up and you know, especially with them that projects like this one and what you would what you would expect to be built. Yeah for it for that amount so it's just a few some other time, yeah exactly exactly i hope that there's more conversation out there about that. And I just appreciate that you've spent a lot of time also working with the edge business district. When when Roger when the district Association stand so strongly behind you. From day one and sends a you know. The shows up here to support this change. We don't always get that we don't know see that community support and it's because you've been so engaged with them and and have made them part of the process too and listen to what they what they wanted say this is a project that will truly be celebrated and beneficial to everyone in that district. So thank you thank you for recognizing the value of that. >> The success of the district is is going to be 6, 6 s of our project and that's why we feel it's really important to be engaged. And also like to address. Councilmember fix and comments and frustrations about the courageous 12 artwork. I appreciate your words, we'd like to help Celebrate this art during the lifetime of MISTER Jackson and we're happy to work with you and in city staff to find an appropriate way to do that whether it's at a groundbreaking for the project or in some other venue and we'd be happy to talk about that. The other questions thank you thank you for taking the time to to answer and respond, thank you chair. Councilmember Mount airy. Thank thank you, MADAM Chair and I do have some more questions for you Jen. And counsel I just remind you that MISTER Miller's 3 minutes and so please comments going forward that our questions are going to be allowed. So thank you. O that's good good to see Thank you for being here. Well it's good to good to see you all so I want to thank all the. The speakers. This is one of exciting projects that we need here in the city of St. Petersburg I'm supportive of this project but I do have some questions I'd like to start with the hotel can you tell us a little bit more about the because it's not in the backup material. This project started 3 years ago, I'm sure we have new residents and in our city that have never heard or don't know that much about about this so can you talk about the the hotel, how many rooms it's going to be given some back yeah and I'm also happy to invite our partners listen to answer detailed questions if I can't. The hotel will be a 160 room boutique or lifestyle hotel. It will include a lot of really exciting features. Such as a full health club which will also be available to other community members in the office users in the project will have a complete food and beverage presentation, including sit-down restaurant. Meeting space. Their study going on of including a a theater space on the second level. And there will be a rooftop deck also available 2, 4 meetings and in another uses I know the Ellison team is is really excited about the synergies between the office space and the hotel and thinks that they synergistically support each other. >> Good good. Then that's the level of detail but I need I don't need to do anything more than that. I did want to James about the mortgage. In the backup material talks about increasing Citi mortgage from 2 million to 4 million. Can can you. Give us a little more detail about that are so essentially it would be no be a note against the property. It's not a mortgage and since that we're not writing them a check for $4 million it was originally a $2 million mortgage that will be a note against the property taken out that we payable in 20 years in this instance, we're increasing that amount but it does is it decreases the amount that they have to pay us a close. It's not it's not an actual or not loaning them. $4 million is essentially reducing the amount that they have to pay as at the close when they purchased the property. All right. Thank thank you. We discussed that the parking and the the parking issues that we have in our city and. >> I'm glad that there's a substantial parking. Opponent in this project that just that's just so much needed in this. Area of our city. The office space is something want just talk about so there's a little bit of a just a difference between the numbers in that point presentation and the backup material. The powerpoint presentation has a 100 in. I'm sorry 100,000 square feet 215. In the report. It's a has. 1725 students 10,000 square foot difference which which is the right number. So I I the reason why I didn't cover the hotel for example is I want to talk to Council about what's required what are the expectations. One of the things that the developer has to do to be in compliance with the development agreement in the hotel does not required we are requiring a minimum of a 115,000 square feet of office space. It is the developers intent. They've told us their intent is to actually construct a 125 but because the plan is still has to be made and revised we wanted to be sure that we included the amount that we would require so Jay air will can speak to more about. What what they actually will leave will be on site. But there has to be a minimum of a 115. It could be a very likely will be more than a 115,000 square feet. >> The answer your question and yet it does can you talk a little bit about Class a office space because I've spoken with some business leaders here in the city of St. Petersburg that are in what's a defined his Class a office space and they they share with me that if you go to large cities like New York that a lot of what we call Class a office space here in St. Petersburg there's much much nicer so can you talk a little bit about the the office space component. >> The nature of office space changes over time and the Vols pretty much like any other use like residential you know what what standard in the In in the residents Brandi could talk to about this. It's a lot different than it was 30 years ago, so you know we haven't had a new office building constructed here in St. Petersburg since the 1990's. So what's define describe what was crossing the 1990's is no longer Class a and the differences maybe ceiling Heights. Maybe amenities such as coming meeting space or or health clubs. Maybe the types Air conditioning systems whether the buildings green, you know has green design features or not. The u door Heights, you know these are all things that evolve over time and so when people say that we no longer really have any Class a office space because the last building was constructed in 19 to 1990's and even if the common areas are upgraded to take it to current standards if the doors are 7 feet in the current standard is 8 feet. It's no longer really Class a okay. Well good that pump Ridge's provides a level of detail that I wanted to hear in and that the public wants to hear when it when it comes to this and plan say that Class a office space especially in downtown St. Petersburg is a big problem for us and we've had multiple. Meetings on trying to fill this need for for Class a office space. Let me just close with I refer vision 2050 plan which is a plan that looks to the future and where we think the city of St. Petersburg going going to be in the year 2050. We're right now experiencing a how the highest growth scenario that we we had and when it comes to 4 different components how much office space we need on a yearly basis, residential retail and hotel. That's in this plan. This development hits a lot of those criteria. And that's exactly what we need in our our city is we need that office space we need to retail we need to the residential and hotel space and this hits all marks that we we put into this vision 2050 plan so I'm very supportive Thank you Jay thank you will. Thank Chris for being here and everybody And James and and everybody else here for the city. Thank you MADAM Chair councilmember Floyd. Thank you I did want to ask you a Quickly you mentioned for councilmember Driscoll's comments not you MAY not need a loan. What was what was that about by bringing on a new finance partner. The terms of commercial or did you see stays are are very difficult and not very attractive and we're evaluating whether MAY make more sense to finance part of the project just with all equity. I I think it's unlikely that it is a very big project so we're going to need a loan at some point. But it's very possible that will proceed initially with the garage in the workforce components without you learn in place and that were later we move forward with the office and hotel structure, overall financing for the project. Okay. >> if you could just speak to a little bit. Just you know talk about the broad deal last time but I want to talk more specifically about the it seems to me like you know some of the most substantial things in the amendment of the most substantial thing from my perspective when it comes the city subsidy is the increasing of the which looks like You know to you all we're doing one percent I mean I don't know what your rates are like that I know they're not one And I'm guessing they're not even like 4, 5, alike. You could we could go out and find on certain things so. Increase in subsidy over in order to basically what it looks like is it eliminates the condos for more and to accommodate for. Some of the changes and costs and whatnot which I agree getting higher. But you know we like I mentioned the appraisal foreign. No we necessarily can get everything for that occasionally but I was very conservative in my estimates if I said everything would be more like over 300 units of affordable housing. So I just want you to speak to that a little bit because to me it appears that you're getting a larger subsidy you're going to own this property. That's got to be part of your calculus in the and you can sell it for a significant significant sum. And getting decrease land over the years I just hope you can speak to that a little bit to try to assuage some of my concerns in. >> So the nexus of the additional $2 million has to do with increases in construction costs since we started working on the project and specifically for the public a laments. So the parking garage. Will be owned by the city. In the city's contributing $20,000 per space which would have built the garage when we started the project 3 years ago. Now the cross the building parking spaces or it will be over $30,000 per space. So the Delta. For the parking garage alone. I believe is what it's about $6 million. So we started a discussion with James and his team, several months ago about that masks are there additional tax dollars that can get us back to where we started on the parking garage, there weren't any. And so this was a way of helping us from that gap we're going to pay for the difference. So that's on the parking Russia, same is true for the workforce housing. The you know the construction costs have gone through the roof over the last 3 years they're probably a 50 to 60% relative to where they were a pre covid the supply chain issues that that the economy has struggled with so the same is true. For the housing. A market rate apartment today that the ones that are being built all over downtown. A 2 bedroom apartment today market rate is is is being rented for 3 3500 to $4,000 a month. So the $2300 that you mention is a 40% discount the costs are the same. And you know and and the fact that these particular units are being constructed downtown where we have to build structure parking. You know makes it that much more expensive to build housing. We could argue whether or not this is the right location. You know to build affordable workforce housing given the fact that we have to do structure parking downtown but I do believe that it's important that there be opportunities for our downtown work forest to live and work downtown because those folks might be able to to actually live downtown and not the car. >> Yeah I I do and I do agree with everything you said, I mean I do need to point out that you all agreed to this deal previously the fact that things changes. How it So and I want to also put on the record for Some my last Have invested significantly in our transit right around this area. The fact that we're feeling the need to put a ton of parking there is going to actually decrease the amount of transit usage. I use the bus to get to this part of almost exclusively now and there's a parking spot. Am I not in the future. I'm I'm not super sold on all of I think it might have been made sense before there was a son runner, but it's more complicated now. I appreciate you answer the questions I want to point out this Mike. The concern is not about you all in your deal, but it's about just the way that we've been doing things in the city for a while and I want to make everyone aware that like the level of subsidies that we're providing for a lot of these deals don't lineup too. One to one so like the values that we purport and so I get frustrated, but again this is about the amendment I think the amendment is good. And so I'm looking forward to what gets creative in the future but I hope you don't come back asking for another amendment that's all I can say shift that. >> All right a lot of what I would have asked questions on has already been addressed by my colleagues so I'm just going to keep it pretty general and my You know, it's been a long journey. Tried to go back and find the original rfp key for this been so long I couldn't find it is that the archived away but. This project and your proposal from day one was the one I was most excited about. And I still remain excited about and hope fall that we finally get to where we need to be. I've been critical along the way because that first rfp have a lot more workforce housing in it than where we ended up with our original agreement with you and then as we move forward. >> And I was very critical and those moments because I wanted that workforce housing. Now because I couldn't find the original one I'm not quite sure where those numbers would line up today, but I am very happy that this amendment increases those units because that was the goal from day one was that those units would exist on that site regardless of anything else I have a deep desire and I've been very vocal about and have passed a new business item to discuss how we leverage. Our city owned land for an increase in our affordable and workforce housing stock because for me that is the basis of of kind of where we start with meeting the need and so i'm having more units on there. Definitely gives me a lot of relief. Because had that not been part of it. The guy might have been a different place today. The parking. I think you know it is a double edged sword like you talk about brt it's my hopes that the additional parking will complement and not take away from will give people other options MAY be as a starting point for being able to get on the brt to go to other places. And I listen, I'm listening to the edge district when they say this is what we need. They have been continuously supportive of this project, the fact that they that you're here today. And the fact that we have a letter from u speaks volumes to me and I want to support a project that the community that surrounds it supports that really helped to ease my concerns over any parking conflicting transportation issues. I just want to I guess thank you for sticking through it because I know it's been tough I mean since the days of 39 I think was the original proposal 3839. We've had covid we've had construction the financing issues which you mention you continue to hang in there because you believe in the project and I do appreciate that. I know sometimes I probably been a little bit of a thorn in your side asked you know probably a a lot of questions or kind of you know we've had some great conversation that you know, maybe you've left there kind of fit wondering if I was supportive or not I just really admire that you stuck in there that you continue to try to bring something forward that's a project that makes sense. For this particular area. I also want to thank MISTER Corbett because you inherited this project and I feel like with this You have tried to put the metrics and the accountability measures in place that will get us to a great the outcome. So I want to thank you for that work because I know that hasn't been easy either. Especially when we take on a project or something that you know had a lot of history behind it so thank you for that as far as the last comment councilmember Floyd made about another amendment I do just want to say. And on the record. I will not be voting. Yes for another amendment. I am voting yes today. And I'm going to say my prayers at night that I attend ribbon cuttings and that I do not sit here again having to look at another amendment. Councilmember I'm going to happen, I'm getting too old to come back for another amendment all gotten old while this project has been going on so. I mean yesterday. I'm going to hope pray and plan for future ribbon cuttings and the future for this very important project thank you. All right. We have a motion a second it. Saying no I'm so sorry haha or Floyd and I understand if I'm out of time or no you're fine go ahead and you did a great job summing up at the end too so I feel bad for that reason I I feel like a I gloss over one thing in my last questions. You know we are increasing or subsidy. We talked about this and why and what not but we didn't talk about and I asked, but it didn't get clarified how you all feel about the fact that the value of the property has increased since you started this and you haven't purchased the property yet so this isn't in that's an increased year subsidy as well so I was just. Like to hear what you have to say about that because I think that's going to I want to support this, but I think that's important for me to hear before I can totally be feel confident. So the increased value of the land doesn't affect the economics of what we're develop, I mean you're going to us you can sell the property later on you can sell it. You can we don't know the way that the agreement is structured we can even buy it and until we've completed the parking garage where we topped off the workforce, housing and we started the foundations for the office building. You know we are committed to building this project with these economics with it. Administration has been very skillful and making sure that we cannot sell the property to someone who would go build a market rate apartment complex yeah and when I was a kid so I mean like after the project is developed yes, yeah again the economics of our mix of uses will will determine the ultimate value of of to project when it's completed ok, ok and you feel that whether or not you can complete the project. It does