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 district 7 warri Givens junior. And district day Richie Floyd. >> Good morning we will call to order the MAY first 2025 City Council meeting. We could do roll call please. Here this school year event here or there Curtis here. Okay this morning we will have an indication given by deacon John Curtis from the Saint Jude cathedral, followed by a moment of silence for fallen first responders. And then please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Thank you and good morning. We asked that we just silence ourselves and recognize that right now and always we are in GOD's presence. And appreciate the piece and safety that that that that he provides and maybe just feel that as we pray today. In the name of the father and the son and the Holy spirit Amen GOD our father, your glory lumens our city with the light that is your son in our Lord Jesus. Your blessings upon our city and love for our citizens are self evident. Please send the Holy spirit upon all of us and in a special way upon our elected representatives and city staff. That they MAY receive wisdom understanding Council fortitude knowledge piety and all of the Lord in rendering decisions in a just merciful and loving way MAY their discussions and decisions always begin with your inspiration. Continue with your help. And reach perfection under your guidance. Father we ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ lives and reigns with you. The unity of the Holy spirit. The man in the name of the father, another son and of the Holy spirit Amen Saint Peter pray for us. >> Please join me in a moment of silence for detective Very end of watch MAY 23th in 1929. Officer Frank, a Pike MAY 19th 1933 end of watch. Firefighter Robert f Parker. Last alarm MAY 10. 1969. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag. The United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under GOD indivisible liberty and justice for all. Thank you please be seated. Well if you haven't figured it out. Yes we have another guard, us in the room this morning. And so that's my uncle John who became a deacon last year at the cathedral Saint Jude's uncle John and Rob's older brother. And so on the John thank you so much for being here and blessing us with that and location. Okay council members we have an agenda in front of us want to take a motion for approval. We have a motion a second season other council members wishing to speak clerk could you please open the machine for voting. Council members please enter your votes. It seems all present council members have voted. Clerk please telling announce the vote sure motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously, okay, we have a consent agenda do we have any cards on the consent agenda. Council members we have a consent agenda with approval. Fecund we have a motion a second scene is no other council members wishing to speak clerk could you please enter them she for voting. Council members please enter your votes seeing is all present council members have voted clerk please stallion announce the vote to chair motion to pass the consent agenda passes unanimously okay lets move in open form clerk could you please read the rules which are just City Council on subjects other than public hearing a quasi-judicial items listed on the agenda. Please sign up with the clerk. On the individual wishes to a sign the open forum. She. We want to city residents on his property business owners in the city or their employees MAY speak all issues discussed on the open for must be limited to issues related to the city of St. Petersburg government. If you're speaking to an item on the agenda you MAY only speak wants during the open form or 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 market phone will be muted. If you MR. Driscoll City Council to the zoom meeting you must use the raise hand feature button on the zoom app in his own app we're interest are not on your phone that time. The agenda item is address. When it's your turn to speak you will be unmuted Texas state your name and address. At the conclusion of your comments are when you reach the 3 minute time limit you will be needed. We all raise hands of the Lord after each agenda item regardless of the method of participation use normal rules apply. Including 3 minute time limit on comments requirement that any presentation materials must be submitted in advance the meeting and the rules of the court. If live public comic is disrupted by violations of the rule of the core matures offer eyes to accept public comment by alternate means including by email only we do have some speakers, MISTER Chair. Ok let's go to the time please. First 2 speakers while triggers an amber Woods please go to I the podium state your name and address for the record and you have 2 minutes to address to the council. Well good morning vote won't Driggers one Beach drive, Southeast St. Petersburg Florida, 3, 3, 7, 1, I'm here this morning to representing friends Albert whitted Airport in first would like to encourage you to support the execution of the agreement to a date the electrical vault and then would like to thank you for the proclamation for the Friends of Albert whitted scholarship day on MAY 5th that was very moving experience for me, and also wanted for those of you couldn't make it I wanted it for those who did make it want to thank you so much for your help on scholarship day. And those who didn't because of prior commitments. Sir study in fermentation and Napa Valley they didn't get the whole thing want to make sure that you know what happened there so here's what happened. We had a good way 29 scholarships from 16 to 24 year-olds of St. Petersburg worth a 100 and $84,000 bringing our total since Apr. 20 23 to $425,000. Here's what that he's achieved. We've got an 11 private pilots weve the generated 5 instrument ratings for commercial ratings, 3 cfi ratings one cfi I which is a commercial instrument rating and one multi engine rating and we have 4 more of checked ride schedule right now. It's working. Finally I'd also like to tell you about last Sat. We did a But we called aerospace day out there we had 32 students, 12 to 16 years old they came some came from Academy prep to the South and others from Dunedin high school to the north and everywhere in between and during that time this started at 3 o'clock in the afternoon went to about 9 o'clock at night. It started with the Coast Guard coming with their helicopter and doing a demonstration where they drop down drop throughout their dummy then flew away came back with an I put a guy down brought the basket down picked up the guy in the dummy and went away. The kids love that the parents love that from there they did do we had a mechanic could talk to about mechanics of that they learned how to preflight and they're playing but their selves doing hands-on stuff. They did rocket making rocket launching with compressed gas. We had the Coast Guard there with their. They are drones off that they use on their ships in a dented with Helen to vohra who is a past nasa scientist who also now works at the Miami science Center. We got her 10 gallons of liquid nitrogen and she did a lot of experiments with the kids making Ping Pong bounced off the ceiling is an excellent video you want to see some time with that said her teaching experiences, involve the kids and we believe that exciting stem training can spark interest in kids and let them know they have choices and how to find them and thank you for helping us. It proved that upper limit is a better place or St. Petersburg is a better place because everybody there but thank you. Good morning. My name is amber Woods. I live at 10 24 in joining Park Street South. i'm here today too. Discuss the incident that happened about a month ago in a MARCH we had about 5 shootouts that happened over the course of one week in. And right now has his eye over the Wildwood Heights neighborhood Association. So I called him, a safety meeting was supposed to have a meeting to pick our board. But instead we change it to safety meeting. I have I our community service officer. I invited the safety Housing Authority the community service officer did not show did not answer did not give a response at all on the safety housing Authority show to the meeting. The residents. While residents in Jordan Perez is a very disappointed. We were basically told that we need to be better parents. We need to get control of our children and that there was no money in the budget to do anything further about the safety in our area. Representative of the city. Give us our where they would be there in the game and didn't show up all at the same time. So in 3 different areas. We we seem to be it seems to be a disconnect. As a letter to the Saint Pete Police Department to the mayor's office. I think maybe to other for get. I was deeply affected by that last shootout loss property have property damage. My daughter was caught in the middle of it. Her and my sister were effectively used shiels from the other side and it was just very scary. And so my emotions were definitely in that letter. We were basically told to go put it on the next agenda. Item in we haven't heard any follow-up says. There was a safety meeting as ap housing authority on the b residents were not invited. We still have not heard any. Well action that has been you know what's going to happen, you know, he did let my voice heard I know that is going to be meeting with community leaders MAY 28th, to Gun violence in the cra and I came here to speak because I don't want my voice drowned out in the sea of community leaders that are going to be there. I do want you to have her for me personally that it is a problem, I'm a mother. I'm a resident I've been told that cyst presiding over while Heights neighborhood Association because I live in the projects. My voice is not going to be heard. I don't pay taxes. It's all about he cares so I want to make sure that you all know that I don't believe that. And I'm here in good faith believing that you don't believe it either thank you. Thank you. Next to speakers please just it's Chris steinaker and MR. Matthews please go to I the podium state your name and address for the record and you have 2 minutes to address City Council. >> Good morning, I'm Kristen occur. PRESIDENT Ceo the St. Petersburg area Chamber of Commerce 102nd Avenue North. i'm here just to say thank you. You just the consent agenda. Our contract. We're 7 months into it but we've done a pretty good job. I do want to explain a little bit of what what we're doing and announce something we're going to be doing. But because of this partnership that we have we have been able to do a lot in fact this year the Buccaneers know to start a partnership with you all and while we were while the city was given out $250,000 to our businesses. The Bucs matched a $100,000 of that we were able to do that as well through this process, but over the last 3 months alone we've navigated over a 100 different businesses rta classes just finished up we're going to have graduation in 2 weeks. We graduated 22 new businesses, 12 of them being veterans and that's one of our targets that we have allowed him to get scholarships and they were the ones that got them this year. We created something new for not-for-profit connector right now we've trained 17 small not-for-profits and what's called the seed program and how to create the case in use to be able to raise the money you're looking. They're looking for so we're helping small not for profit businesses. Last week alone in a chair duties was part of it. We convened the first ever Tech founders of St. Petersburg through the green house where we had over 30 Tech leaders in our room helping us understand really what the next steps as Mike sweasy who's in the room at the dcs he lands new businesses here. How do we make them St. Petersburg we make sure they invest in us and how to make sure we care about us. You all helped us do that and then finally on Tue. We will be awarding $10,000 that's increased by twice the amount from previous years and that's based on our partnership with you all and in our ability great sponsorships against it to give to have 5 different businesses be able to pitch their businesses to all of you all and everybody else. We anticipate a good crowd for that and an exciting announcement for us is we had to change locations very quickly as a matter of protocol for some issues. But we also heard of some other efforts going on in our community. So I invite you to clear your calendar for Tue. Night. To come here pitch night because we're also going to be a black leaf, tobacco cigar bar. It's a great event venue it's going to serve our purposes quite well I but I really want to fill the room with folks that want to hear these pitches but also want to support black leaf, another great chamber members small business. We are working hard as a city and a chamber I appreciate our partnership with Tracy the greenhouse manager and Brian who helps and the entire team I do believe this is what makes us different and I want to say thank you very much. >> Good morning chair system chair and city councilmembers esta Matthews I stand today as the PRESIDENT Of the St. Petersburg naacp increased law that's a great segue to the reason that I am here right. I want to talk about businesses that are not being celebrated in businesses that are being pushed out in particular I want to start with black leave as Chris mentioned this is the the new black owned business. However, they're being targeted there being pressure they are being intentionally pushed out of doing business. I want to start as always with facts red Mesa cantina built a firewall for their expansion. That fire wall was compromised at time of build or shortly thereafter. Black light black leave went into a lease with the property manager with clear. Understanding of what their business operations we're going to be you because of the compromise firewall the aroma of cigars is waif thing through the fire wall. Rant Mesa is intentionally not taking responsibility for the compromise firewall and the property manager and owners are trying to force black leave to fix a pre existing defect. So today, I'm calling on COUNCILWOMAN Trust school to not only reach out to this business but to stand with them as we have seen you stand with so many white owned establishments in downtown Saint Pete. It's important that we do not remain silent. While larger businesses leverage influence to quietly push out smaller businesses black owned establishments are not jest here to generate dollars we are here to generate economic development. I think it's of the trail of what equitable representation is when we don't stand for all businesses secondly I want to talk about the catalyst. It was brought to my attention that the Collis is being singled out for issues that other businesses along Central Avenue are also experiencing Central Avenue has fights in front of businesses as a matter of fact Central Avenue has more fights in front of businesses Central Avenue has women who have complained of being attacked, intimately and sexually. If you go to Janice landing at any given time you're going to get a buzz because they always in the smoke and we but I haven't seen any of those businesses being targeted. I want to make sure that when we address issues when we say that businesses are quote unquote being a nuisance that we put a blanket across Saint Pete and ensure that all businesses are captured in that Ned and not Jess black owned businesses. Well, y'all lucky because I was getting ready to go. >> Please go to the podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. Morning chairperson Curtis and members of the council. Mike Swayze to 38rd Avenue North in St. Petersburg I am also the PRESIDENT And ceo of Saint Pete economic Development corporation. And I'm here today to thank you for your continued support our consent agenda item of a three-year extension or agreement much appreciated additionally I like to thank the council the city and the Chamber of Commerce for stab wishing the edc on the corporation 8 years ago so we're we're in year 9. Just a quick couple quick items. Our mission is to help out of market companies discover explore into Saint Peter's a location to do business raising the awareness. St. Petersburg as a business destination, not just a leisure and retirement destination, which is all good as well. And so we are working hard to to increase the awareness as I mentioned identify companies that are in the in the active search or will be soon searching for potential new locations. So we have launched a new website. We have a new brand identity as Chris Stein doctor mentioned when we get companies here we want them to become Saint Pete. That is our tagline become Saint Pete and we're becomes tp dot com. So work companies that really fit. 5th Saint Pete and will will come to Saint Pete become Saint Pete and not change it and so that's what we're all about. So we're also doing additional marketing campaigns, directly to site selection consultants we reach out by monthly with the few highlights of what's happening in our in our great city. We're on social media very active on social media and with our new Web site we build in search engine optimization which we are now getting higher scores on on Google searches and things like that and then lastly. Say for the first time ever we are engaging a pr firm to do Nash to to get national placements for St. Petersburg is a place to do business so thank you for your support, the economic development team at the city is We just love working and your supports greatly appreciated. Thank you. Thank you. You are speakers were speaking. Newsom. Ok we're going close open forum and move into awards and presentations and if you couldn't figure out what we're celebrating today, we're paying attention. We're going to celebrate law enforcement appreciation month and we're joined by Mayor Kathy Welch. Probably got to him fast. >> I. >> And MR. CHAIRMAN cities members of City Council are saying the team. All members of our community who are watching us today. As each of you know our police Department says the standard for professionalism accountability community engagement and innovation in law enforcement. I call it having that dna of service. We are honored to have the leadership of chief Holloway and his command staff for setting that standard. Fort Lee Police Department and today, I'm honored to be joined by chief following up and join us. Assistant chief vast of Gilliam and Gerardo and many members of the Saint Pete Police Department pba PRESIDENT John Betts was for this proclamation. And all the members of Saint Pete Police Department thank you for the work you all do every day we appreciate you. Chief you have a proclamation. Okay it's on its way. Proclamation reads where as the safety and security of our community are Paramount. And whereas law enforcement officers dedicate themselves to protecting and serving our citizens with courage, integrity and professionalism and whereas these brave men and women risk their lives daily to uphold the laws and safeguard our neighborhoods, businesses and families. And whereas law enforcement appreciation month provides an opportunity for us to express. Gratitude and admiration for their unwavering commitment. It's a public and community safety. And whereas their dedication often goes unrecognized and undervalued yet their contributions are invaluable to the fabric of our society and the safety of our city. And whereas their sacrifices and selfless service deserve our utmost respect and support. And whereas we honor their bravery sacrifice and unwavering dedication to community safety. And progress in our community. Now therefore I to mayor of the city of St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim MAY 2025 as law enforcement appreciation month. In the city of St. Petersburg and I call upon all citizens to join me in recognizing the invaluable contributions of our law enforcement officers in expressing our deepest appreciation for their service. Thank you all. I'm just go for the record I sent read it to talk to the Wildwood Heights neighborhood Association PRESIDENT So that's what the proclamation is latest muffle it. Never late serves a great honor. So on mayor City Council members. Many were behind it we just want to say thank you so much because we know each and every day we know that the mayor's office we notice Council that you support of what we do every day and it shows also to the community to the community is out there because when he's also getting contact mlc thank you for your service, what can you do. So again on behalf of the men and women to St. Petersburg Police Department I just want to say thank you for your support making it easy for us to come to work, it MAY cause want to come to work for the city so thank you very much. Thank you. >> Council chair of council members thank you pretty much echo everything chief just said thank you for supporting us thank you for recognizing us for the men and women who do the tough job to keep the community safe. We truly depend on you guys to make sure that we're taking care of in the city as well so we appreciate you thank you. >> Thank you chair and good morning, everyone I said when I walked and I think we are the safest place in the city of St. Petersburg today. So thank you all for being here and just thank you for what you do every single day proclamation words of you know support are not enough for us to really show you what you mean to us and what you mean to our city you keep us safe. You keep us feeling a sense of pride in the work that all of you do we have the best Police Department in the entire country and I know that with out a doubt and chief that is because of your leadership and the leadership that you have shown mayor in leading this organization. We are so incredibly proud of all of us thank you for what you do for us. Thank you chair. Thank you. Councilmember Harvey. For me some some latitude here. I think that that everyone as. Their own personal heroes summer political. Some are historic. Some are our athletes summer actors. If you are mine and want to tell you why. 4 years ago. My daughter called me at 11 11:30am in the morning. She was that she's having lunch cpi. My my business is about a mile and half away. And and she called me to tell me that there was a school shooting in the cafeteria, what. Shared the gunshots and Skip ahead, it was a prank and some kids had some fireworks if I fire crackers at that point so she called me Jews in the process of running should know exactly what to do. Ordinarily they would their children place in the classroom, she was in the classroom. She should know what to do and I told her think about where she unsafe classrooms where yet get there in the meantime I was headed out of my office and to my car I was going there to do what I have no idea but that's that's what you do. And I said I need to make phone call call you back so I called a buddy of mine who is a cp police officer that's about what's going on and. He said Mike then we got this it wasn't going to get things headed to my cart and I'm starting to think rationally about and I have no business in the same Novak on this and I needed and as I'm walking out I hear sirens coming from everywhere. And the other which people. We're on the way to save my daughter. Everything is in place this has been practiced that matters is that there are people coming from literally all over the place that we're willing to give their lives to save my daughter to. Vice chair Harrell it's. Have fun following that. Thanks. >> I can't exactly what you talk about because when I I was a prosecutor had to work. And see the cases that they had to deal with on a daily basis. I was lucky that I I just saw it in the court room. I have to be on scene. I didn't have to view the child. I didn't have to view that that bodies. I saw pictures. That's what they do and every time that we're out there. And you see law enforcement officer stopping somebody industry, okay, you know they were speeding and that's what you see. But you don't see all the horrible stuff that's out there they're dealing with on a daily basis. We have the privilege of living not knowing what they see and I remember when I was in line for saying my husband and family that would have dinner with me and we all know that hits like maybe we should not be talking about Qatar in getting there because you get to the point that that's your life and you actually believe that it's it's just all around you so I what you're saying is what they live the day out and I appreciate you for that I want the public to know what we see sometimes is only a sliver a sliver of what they're doing out there every day. And if you actually knew everything that was going out there it would shock you and we are very lucky that they do what they do because that way we live in thus the the environment and the city that we live in and yes, there's crime of course this crime every where this crime but trust me when I tell you that the way that this city is run in terms of our law enforcement and what they do to keep our city safe. Unbelievable and the best. So thank you for your service. Councilmember fix Sanders. Well I want to different know First of all on. I was excited. I was like the first one here for the meet and greet you and I really was and it is because you know you have everybody's experiences and I am. So incredibly grateful for everything that you all do the relationships that I have established the conversations we have the assistance that you have provided. Are pops program they don't know about the awesome things that you do you work in gosar preschools and I was there for the bicycle giveaway it was so funny there's one a little boy the one we were talking about police officers that he let me say I want to be a fireman dazzling known. They're giving you free bicycles that's not what we say, but is it was. It was it was the innocence of a four-year-old right is but I say all that to say yes you do deal with some really really serious and heart wrenching. >> Incidents of life. And you do it with grace you do with gratitude you do it knowing that morning what it is that you're supposed to do. But there are those awesome things that our community don't know that you provide you know for working with children from being establishing them into ship that you provide I don't want us to forget that. So for chief Holloway you know we all speed that I really do appreciate you for that the mayor for how you have continue to support and I tell people all the time regardless when it comes down to officers, I'm 10 toes down. I'm going to always support everything that you do I appreciate you and appreciate the support that not only are you giving us but what you've given me and so you're going to continue to see that you know y'all gotta another 4 years ago women in so I'm always going to play offices because you all and good in that balloon. And I really do respect what you all do thank you so much. >> Thank you so much and I want to do Holloway thank you to our system cheese lieutenants sergeants majors all of the above officers. Those of you who patrol and protect our communities and you keep them safe. You know I acknowledge, yes, crime exists. I'm is everywhere. But what we don't have everywhere is good offices like you. We are among Saint Pete's pints and I thank you for the service that you give the sacrifices that you make. There's a song that we sang in church. How can I say thank you for all the things that you have done. Things that go unnoticed and things that go unnoticed we say thank you. We say thank you to your families because they have made a sacrifice as well. I come from a law enforcement families, I know the saccharomyces I've seen them firsthand and I thank you for putting your life on the line to protect our lives. Your work is not in vain. GOD bless you and thank you. >> Mayor thank you for giving us the opportunity to share this proclamation with you and with the department chief thank you for your incredible leadership. You truly are the best of the best. And it's reflected in the team that you have and continue to recruit. It's 7 and have talked about the big things. But there's also those little things that you do every day. Your they're not just when someone's in trouble or when someone's having a bad day. I love how our Police Department is out there to bring smiles to the un. Just a couple of evenings ago I did. A neighborhood Park walk and talk in during one of the evening's and we had. Members from the neighborhood Association teamed up with cs owes. The Police Department had made up door hangers reminding people that how to keep their cars and their house is safe and ways you can call if you see something you can say something and here's how and knocking on doors together and saying hello people were thrilled. They did not care that their City Council member was standing there. They cared the police officer was there and with the eye friendly smile. And an offer to be there for them any time they need something. It was amazing to see up close face-to-face these residents responding so positively and almost every single one of them said, thank you to the officer. You know it's when something has gone terribly wrong. You can always count on getting the communication that I need. Thanks to chief divisive things too. Major Miller as for me I I cover to differ dis police districts, one 2 are within district 6. So I've got a lot of people to remember so I'm missing a major Bush is awesome. We have I have these great daily almost daily interactions with those who are really on the ground in my district and that means so much to me. And whether it's with something that has gone wrong in level of communication that I get about it or those everyday concerns that people have read the resident calls me instead of the non-emergency number and I have to figure out how can we how can we solve this. So it's those those little things that and maybe you didn't realize you had signed up for along with everything else but those things really add up. And adding proves the quality of life for our residents. There are many many more of those little things, thanks to and you know just having a wonderful department but those things do matter and I just wanted to bring that up and thank you thank you for being there when. When the someone's having a really bad day. And thanks for being there to make someone's day. I see I hope that you can see that you have our support very firmly and the only thing I want to know is what can we do for you. And I will always ask that and I always want to act on the answer. So we're here for you thank you. Thank you councilmember Floyd. I'll be brief. I just want to say thank you to the Police Department for being innovative particularly for this is maybe a little comical knowing when you're not needed. Specifically like the call program ideas Are what sets our city apart are what makes us forward thinking and it was because the departments in the union supported it, but it happened and so I'm really grateful for a forward-looking nature of the department and of the union thanks. Thank you. I told you downstairs, I thought you'd see it. And I think it's very clear that. This Council is completely and utterly support of of our law enforcement and so chief I know I say it all the time and chances are at least your comments will be shorter now because I think everybody got the appreciation out of the way on your presentation here in a couple of minutes, but. I think i've said it before it starts from the top down. And so it starts with you your command staff all the way down. All the way to our volunteers. And so when I think about the complete mess and the wholeness of the department. What you're doing every single day. 31. I could not be more thankful for each of you and the job you do. And how you do it. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you for celebrating with us. And like you've heard now for 8 times you have our support and you're going to continue to have our support and let us know how we can do that on a daily basis with you and for you. So thank you for being here and let's celebrate you one more time. >> We're going to move right into it and we're going to invite chief all the way up for our quarterly report. Thank you chair council members because I can see you have any questions. Before a good start I just want to thank again Council for all those comments you made for the Police Department and tell me about my leadership would you know behind every great leader you have to have great support and my executive team. They're the greatest there is. So the reason why I'm so good because I have 3 great assistant chief. A great person and legal Advisors so we are where we are because of that tight team that i have so I want to thank you for that. So lets get into the me to so to speak of this report so for this quarter which is a JANUARY FEBRUARY Mar. 1st quarters. All of those are down by 19%. Burgers are down by 17% property crimes are down by 17%. Bali crimes are down by 36% overall crime is down by 21% in the city. >> a homicide as of this quarter, we have 5 compared to 5 last year we have one open case but we have a great lead to that case. So hopefully we'll get bring closure to that family soon of those 5 homicide, one was by hand. One was by handgun to abide knives, one was by vehicle. Our great team again those that's a team go out we spawn to where there's shot far and I can tell you about versus book does more like the mayor says someone misread it was outside talking to Iran. Chief William cause we want to figure out what happened. But no major Miller is sergeant Matthews do go to those being so we want to make sure if there was a miscommunication at the next meeting that were there we talked to her personal because everyone's safety in the city matters to us. Argan report. I think every quarter keeps it is getting better and better so I know we're never going to be 0. But I'll take what we've got also I want to report that we continue to see is people returning their guns for this quarter. We hit 65 does Richard does for safekeeping and we covered 24, so that was 98 does taken off the streets toward this quarter. As a reporter earlier you can see from the number of crimes is trending down in the city for this quarter so we're very happy for that. The arrest report goes too is trading down also you're going to see the rest trending do. Council has just the last time so we did do a breakout. Our our concern is still 65% of the rest for motor vehicles are juveniles. 47% of the vehicle burglaries are juveniles burglaries or 13%, the robberies or 24%. So we're still having an issue with our juveniles walking around trying cars that are on lock and we'll talk more about that how we handle that again we're never going to be perfect but we are focusing on how we can prevent are juveniles from committing crimes in our city. Traffic enforcement is still going well in our city and we go to meetings and we told people you you call we come we right so this could remember that if you don't report traffic incident. We will come up there and we will take care of that problem. Our juvenile second chance program is still going well the one that we had given all the show up for the program. Our whole program again which is a statewide County wide program as you can see our into this revision is down which is great and intense supervision. His words juvenile here she's as make a big to 5 more felonies that means we are starting to reach out to the right children with that program. Our as you can see they're still out there making lots of contact and the last time there was a question about the numbers. Summer break that down for you there is 500 to 751 contact one of those that have broken how many people refer. Sent to those different organization. So that number MAY be high. But some people MAY have refused some services. So again they're out there making contact they're asking a person every day what can we do to help what can we do to get you out of this situation. We also still partner with Saint Anthony's hospital where we have a nurse practitioner, right with those once a week so we can also handle medical issues they're out there on the street. Park walk and talk the was getting better so we're getting out there we're trying to because attack with the people that don't call us for a system that we can ask them what can we do and how can we make it better. Eli program. I have a goal the war was going to get 10% of the people that live in the city to sign up for this week reached by 14%. The reason we get about 20,000 people are see to sign up for the eagle lot of program promote that here for like 2 seconds what that is for people or listen is all we want you to do is tell us if you have a ring camera at your home after home. So we can rush or was something does happen we can come and knock on your door asking permission to look Patrick and we don't want to feed to look at your cameras every day we don't want that that was something happens in your community would like to be able to cope go to your home or your business and look at the camera to see if we can make a case closed. Or use of force policy begins day and for the quarter. We had 3 citizen complaint of those 3 citizen complaint that nothing to do with the use of force. We get to a program we talked about our call program. It's still going great. And I think she's still here Megan least that she's both of our programs and as you see we first started everybody thought this would work 97% of the call the offices of not responding to and just like councilmember floors that we do need to go all these calls were happy to give this to specialist so are the navigators are doing what they're doing to the last bullet point I want to bring up to like talk to the police chief and share 0 incidents, 0 because the people calling to they need help they don't need a badge and a gun, they need someone to help them through the crisis that they're dealing with. Again as you can see the is to counter about the library. Soon as that happened we sent the call team there to talk to the city employees to make sure we could help them out. Cole is now going out also to the Sat. Program to make contact with people on Apr. 10th we had called there for a candlelight vigil. There's a problem on its been a little bit of time talking to the mayor starters program, the citizen, the community voting on and Council approved this is with billion dollars that was given to the Police Department to get how can we continue to work with the community to help our juvenile that we talked about so to get up I want to think big in big issues here today with us she's a really a person that works on this all the time. So Minnesota Gulf Coast. So what we did was a Gulf Coast as part of called program. But we said okay, how can we help the kids and the kids did not like having someone call a Navigator or Council coming to the home. So we said ok when we asked the kids was the best thing. I want to coach. So now that person it comes to the home. Their coach and their coaching them through their crisis. The biggest number I want you to see is 73% of these kids and these are kids that are committing felony 73 these kids haven't 73% of his have not re offend it. So that means we're doing what we need to do on the front it. We talk about all the time we can't arrest our way out is we've got to come with solutions so we can work our way out of this. The other part is the pal program, the pal program is as you know there's a lot sports ago inner city and a lot of parents they can afford through the pal program. Any child that needs funding to help funding we will help them get to that we will help them get the equipment to the league so that really does help us all with that and again I just want to enter it it to the mayor's staff to get the mayor's office to give this money because without this it wouldn't be possible. That was a billion dollars million dollars that was given toward are you. I second part of it is a cfa sergeant Don, how palace very interesting with that Powell is allowing the kids to come to a place after school. But what we do that again we get making credit for that is now we hire kids from us of the plan on being teachers so they can come in the afternoon and work with the kids to do the reading and math. So now the kids are getting additional help getting through a program acf water want to jump to hit. Those are the ones that are paying for helping kids with anything they need and they came here last City Council meeting where you saw were giving out scholarships, we're working with the school and as you can see as we keep looking at programs we keep talking to the mayor's office mayor c. What else can we do because we're trying to figure all how we're going to help the youth and how we're going to help the family. So we want to deal with them on our it guy likes it because we're not going to arrest our way out of this. We're going to work out whether this problem so that all of that. Okay councilmember governor. Thank you chair and thank you for that the presentation this morning chief always good to see you for our quarterly reports on just a couple of questions. So you know glad to see that the guns stolen in district 2 is down to one icon so I think the message is getting out. But certainly always more that we can do around that and when you shared the statistics around juvenile car burglaries and things like that. We know that as the summer months com, less. Activities for our youth, especially you know during the day. Crime kind of tends to ramp up a little bit idle hands so what are we doing to be kind of proactive as we walk into those summer months and what can we do as council members to help spread the word about these programs and all of these innovative things that we're doing. For someone to say something that I regret seen here, but it all started parks and recs. And Mike Jeffries is team. They do a of a job because they open up thing day we worked that partnership to say ok. What can we open up talking and helping happen and then a good through his innovative equity program. We're able to help out with that so that child if he or she needs funding for something that monies available for so again. Go back see thanks to City Council because you approved it so is funding is available is the parents got to want to do that with the job and get the child involved in it. So all of our job to get people to be aware of it to work with we are ready for summer months. Chief goes always got his team in place. We use our school resource officers because they know the we tried it get that blend together the collaborative effort. Yes. So some of your innovative equity program updates one of the things that I've heard a lot. From community groups advocates looking for more resources for our youth is that it's not just about the programming. It's also sometimes about barriers and transportation. So have we had conversations about what it might look like for the city to assist in some way with. Transport for our youth to be able to get to these programs. >> Yes, we are looking at that we already talked to psta we looked at certain thing, but the liability comes in time now of but I want to thank Jack and her team does every time we're trying to come up with an idea they go well what we're working through it so again that solution to it so we are trying to figure it out. You know. That sort of thing because the spares a working behind to get the child from Point a to Point b. Right I mean then then that is probably overwhelmingly the the one gap that I hear most often so as a council member you know I would be very interested in having a conversation with you one-on-one about maybe some creative solutions. What the city can do would like to understand from legal what the parameters are because if we can create all the programs in the world. But if we cannot get our youth to those programs, its all for not. So I just want to make sure that we're looking at all of those gaps and and how we felt them. And I I again would jacket or We are trying to find a solution to that because we know that's a big barrier just trying to figure out how we can do it. And tested in my last thing and this is not really for today. It's a more of a request for your next update. So City Council if you haven't seen our wake zone legislation passed this week both chambers of the Senate and the House, it was part of a larger transportation package that was passed first in the Senate and then came over and was adopted by the House and so we're very excited for that to be implemented the governor should sign that into law hopefully soon and I believe JULY 1st is when that goes into effect so we are going to have a job around communication enforcement, what that is going to look like it's going to go into law right before our busiest part of hurricane season. And for those who MAY be listening who don't know what this is this is a bill that was sponsored by representative Lindsay cross and senator Nick diciglie it was actually written and collaborated on by since distant city attorney Michael d Ma. Chief Holloway's sheriff Gualtieri amber bolding and emergency management. It was really a Saint Pete born team effort and so that has been passed that is now in state law and going forward the law enforcement will be able to enforce slower speeds when roads are inundated with flooding. And so that was a situation that we had where they were really tied if somebody was going the speed limit. There was nothing that law enforcement could do to keep the weight that they were pushing from going up into homes. Now we can start to enforce that. But now it's going to be about how we enforce that. So on your next report if we could have a conversation about that versus bringing you back are bringing you to a committee or something like that. I think if we could just incorporated into your next quarterly report for how we're going to communicate it and how we're going to him. We'll be done. Thank you all right, thank you thank you chair, thank you council member driskell. Thank you thank you chief for the report. First about the report overall and it really shows some improvements in pretty much every area and just wanted to commend you for that. I notice that it. The. What you talked about at the very beginning and we didn't have a slide about it but the reduction in. You know there's more significant crimes the violent crimes or. You know the bigger stuff. >> How do you also measure. This Moller said like they. Non-emergency calls. Or. Do you only focus on. I'm I'm just wondering as we always hear about the big stuff. Where this is coming from. Is actually this morning. I was listening to it a piece about. New York Police Department has earlier this month. They launched a quality of life policing program. You might want to look at it it was it's pretty interesting and I I'll be following up with you on it later. But its really focused on more of those non emergency calls. They said that although there in New York City their violent crimes have gone down. But they it's aller infractions those non-emergency calls have actually gone up. So that and that's about it can be about noise that can be about panhandling it can be. You know those everyday life kind of things that you run into as you're walking around. So it got me thinking. We haven't really examine not so much so I know we're doing are you know. I'm great job in reducing crime overall and reducing those bigger crimes and how are we doing on the smaller stuff because that adds up. I think it's a good way to put it. It really does impact someone's quality of life. Walk We just don't talk about very icy New York is following that we have stat for stat if you are all those stats number that we can tell you. How many panhandling you name it. We track it. But again I don't the if the. A council wants all those number I can give all those that do a lot of numbers yeah call program we track those are we increasing decreasing widows so I'll be happy to talk to you one-on-one, you want all those numbers I look at them every month that I can give them to you. Yeah, and you know maybe not broken down by exact category. But it you know maybe as part of the next quarterly report to even you can start including that what the number of non emergency calls is. I mean we have to give that some thought like if you do want to narrow it down somewhat. Very interested in this part because most of what I hear from residents. Those everyday things and not so much the major crimes. But the the everyday stuff that that they see especially downtown where you have a lot of people walking around a lot of people gathering and I. Displaying all kinds of behavior. So maybe it be cool to take a deeper dive into that just to make sure we're really on top of the small stuff just as much as the big stuff. When you were talking about \r\q\r\r\q\r\r\r >> This week of course and just tied up. You take it with weight, 2 or 3 months. Now we're talking with his 7 days that that were hailing Michelle the same thing with the to move forward together is that within 48 to 72 hours. Some one of our someone Gulf Coast is now talking to the child in talking to the parents and see how can you address that problem all this to a consequence of that child who has the answer to what he or she has done. But along the way we're working with them so when they get into court we can say we've done this this this and MS. And I was to make the show better. Hopefully that child is not commit another crime before. Right so. >> Right so that they don't come in at so with that. What does completed successfully mean. That means that they've shown up to the corps They have moved on they've done or 8 hours. There's no arrest record. So they've shown up for that Sat. Class. They've done or 8 hours of community service. In we're moving off from there because we're getting them the help that they need. And are you keeping track of them down the road 6 months later a year later to see if there's any recidivism I can tell you on that number 68% of the kids that have gone through this program and not refunded. >> Regarding it was brought up about. The transportation access for for use for some of the programs psta has. Student bus pass. It's as part of an agreement with Pinellas County schools. So they are able to take any bus anytime for free. Is that not enough is that what I'm hearing. Well again we have to go talk to the kids that want it we're talking to the kids are saying about it away from us, I'm not going to ride on a bus use want to cut can kind of funny chief hawking a pick up a girl and ask about the big ones that were picked up on the bus. So we need to make buses cooler. I guess so so how do we go about. Getting that Trent in our transportation how do you make it more convenient like you see you know do I wait an hour for a bus that we 20 minutes for a bus. So I know we're working on it, but I do want to council members on the Transportation Committee is. But how do you make it where I want to ride the bus yeah. All right well I think councilmember figs Sanders as the chair of psg's board and I as a member of the board sounds like we have. Project ahead. Are some some thinking to do on that to see if psta can. Come up with some with something I mean they have a fantastic marketing team saying ever now. >> I think that's the biggest thing make the kids want to ride the bus yeah. Okay give me something to think about thank you. Thanks for being at the Eagle eye thing wanted to throw out there that one waited to boost participation could be to have friendly competition in my neighborhood associations. So you MAY want to consider talking to see a hawk and her team to see if maybe this we could make it fun. And you know between Kona and then the individual neighborhood associations. The are great communicators threw out there neighborhood and they're always looking for ways to increase public safety of course that though is top of mind for And you know creating a friendly competition. But in her to try it and see if that boost the numbers. But I love how you have a great ambition to really increase that participation, you know it's something I'm passionate about. And a couple of years why it's been a few years and ago we did. Some of those group are clocking time evening additions together with door hangers specifically with eagle eye information that was created by the Police Department. So if that if that is still not enough files saved in someone's computer set up here you can bring it up and print some more of those and I think that could be something that could be a great tool for neighborhoods too help us get the word out. We put those up if the us also needs and could have a pretty shot so we can take care of that yeah, yeah, they looked really nice I like using those so that could be a good news and then finally I it it went in to just give a shout out to chief Gilliam I didn't see him here earlier when you were doing the proclamation. >> That hello good morning and. >> Thank you for all that you do. Another rock star on your team, I didn't know what I'd do So thank you go. Thank you chief and chair. Thank you. Vice chair Harris. Thank you thank you chief for the update. It's good to see you again I want to first start with the thank You's. In terms of coming to the neighborhood Association when someone asks you to show up at Crescent Heights and you went there to talk about the call program they were interested in find that all the details and everyone was extremely happy to see you there so appreciated that and also chief Gilliam was also at a leadership meeting somewhere and he was asked by someone just randomly can you show up to our meeting that a couple of days. And he he did the same and they were extremely happy it was all positive that I heard from the neighborhood Association. So I think it's wonderful and it's a great place for neighbors to get all the updates obviously has to crimes that and what's happening in the neighborhood to they're always very happy to hear from you all in terms of Eagle I I have to see. I think it's fantastic for those that are scared about eagle eye and say you know being part of the program. It's more scary having the police just know that they can go in contact you to look at surveillance after the fact. >> Not so much and that's what it is when they're investigating crimes, you go out there and you have to see the camera cat somebody stealing the packages off the porch of the neighbors House or the bicycle in the garage and that's pretty much what they do to build a case to make sure they can apprehend the individual which prevents other crimes if they're doing that type of. I'm so it's very helpful I will definitely make sure I think the community service officers are ready. Right telling neighborhood associations when they go about the eagle eye programs. I think that's make sure that I do that also young la thing I want to touch on is the I'm happy about hearing the innovative equity project updates that you provided. I'm excited about the work with the same p pull police athletic league that in my district that's in Woodland Park in its great and what I want to find out is is is that program at capacity year are they taking as many kids as they can or you know. They're taking as many kids as a as a kid in. I don't think they're trying to turn any kids away if they take that way they're doing it that. Did I just want to make sure that they have the tools that they need to to serve the community and obviously with this program. If there are any issues that that can address the issues in terms of any capacity issues. Thank you okay great. Thank you chief. Thank you and just quickly before we go to councilmember Givens I don't think they're at capacity historically. I think during their summer months they've probably had capacity for 50 or so kids more. But are totally willing to step up and make sure that every kid has an opportunity to be there to do. They've they've got a they've got a good bench of teens as part of their camp staff that are absolutely willing to do more right. Thank you thank you for the question councilmember Givens. So much appreciate that thank you chief, I appreciate you appreciate all of our law enforcement officers and all the work you do happy to hear that are violent crime is decreasing. Point brought up earlier by another colleague I am concerned about the number of calls that are increasing for shots on that have been reported so your office provide you with the report that stated that in the year 2024. In district 7. There were 420 gunshots that report alone in Jordan Park that was in 2024. And then there were from Dec. First to Mar. 1st of 2025 100 plus shops that reported in Jordan Park. >> My question is is this an issue and it is. What are we doing to correct that problem because you and I we we know we talked about in private so bring the conversation in public. The residents are hungry for a substation in that neighborhood. We have one tangerine Plaza I get that but that's a long walk for senior citizen at the legacy. Well as a complaint or for a mom who has 3 kids in the vehicle. If there was a janitor shed their studio let me use that word apartment that the Saint Pete housing Authority wanted to open its doors to the police at no costs. What would prevent us from being able to utilize that that service so that residents feel safer. What they don't want is intimidation, they feel intimidated when they see a tank parked in front of their house that says we're watching you. But what they feel is trust when they see officers parking and walking throughout their neighborhood. So if we can't utilize that facility what can we do to create more of a presence with our officers. There's so let me make sure I can wrap all that for you guys are so the thing you say 400 versus 100. What that probably means to me to get out to really do a deep dive, it could mean that more people calling in it could be one shot. Cole. One person one shot fired that night. But maybe 7 people call in so now that being shot call is 7 shot call. So you have to really do a deep dive, if one person called in. That's one if 10 people call in on that. One shooting to call 20 people call in his 20 call so again you have to do a deep dive to look at that when you see a shots fired call because they get to be everybody calling in in regard to sub stations. When I came here, I look this substation everybody I can guarantee every city COUNCILMAN Would love a substation in their district. But here's the problem with that we put all says in a substation know we're not out patrolling the streets. You are also sitting in the station and you are also we just talked about certain walk walking around I want that also walk in a row. I want him or her patrol, the street, I want th