City Council

>> Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and your elected officials our mayor can well. District one hopefully Curtis. District 2 Council vice chair Randy Gabbert district 3 and not marry. District 4 with that kind of way. Every big Sanders. And Council chair Gina Driscoll district 7 Lisa Wheeler Bowman. And district day Richie Floyd. >> Eleven's 2022 meeting of the Petersburg City Council we start with a roll call please Lord. Here there it is here Gabbert here on to marry your and with us your pics Anders year Driscoll here for a moment. Thank you. Our invocation council member and never fix seniors will be providing the invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance will everyone please join me in standing. Thank you chair. >> As we come together here today. Collectively seeking guidance and direction. We thank you that even though we have our own idea of how our life communities our city should look often setting out according to our plans that your ultimate purpose will always prevail. We ask that you prompt us when we set out to make plans that we make them according to your will and that our own. We ask that you remind us to come alongside you as we surrender every detail to fulfill your greater purpose. Please align our hearts with yours our ideas with yours in our will with your hands for your ways are higher than ours in your plans are greater than arms and nothing is impossible with you. Lead us every step of the way. We thank you for giving us what we need the most often we think we need knowledge wealth or happiness. When what we really need most is wisdom. Thank you for loving us so much that you've given wisdom generously and without finding fault. Thank you for all the son of the simple tier. As we pray that your heart that you hear huge heart protect our thoughts and fulfill our needs as we ponder our own situations, the dust please let us remember in pray for those who situations we MAY not understand. We take this moment. To pray for the teams who lost their lives. This past weekend. And we say their names. So Ryan Brown and Bryce Lewis. We honor lives lost the families and the friends who mourn them. In all who serve in call this city home. It is not the titles we wear. But the lives we touch. Let us continue to be our brothers and sisters keeper. Thank you for your mercy. Abundant blessings and grace Amen. >> Thank you council member fig Sanders for that beautiful and touching indication. Sometimes the right words come to us it exactly the perfect moment. Council members we have an agenda before us for today's meeting I'll entertain a motion for approval to move approval, second. We have a motion in a second to approve today's agenda MISTER Cain did you get that. You could Commission for voting. I don't have. Here it is haha I left and I know seeing that all council members have voted with the clerk please telling announced the votes and sure that the motion to approve the agenda fest. We have no consent agenda for today so we're going to open for him. If you wish to address. City COUNCILMAN Subject turned to the public cause I this items listed on the agenda. Please sign up with the clerk. Only the individual wishing to speak MAY signed the open foreign sheet. Only city residents owners of property business owners in the city or their employees me speak all issues discussed in open form 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 once during the open form when the item comes up on the agenda in order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address Council. Each individual will be given 3 minutes to speak after which the microphone will be muted. If you wish to address City Council to the zoom meeting, you must use the raise hand feature button app we're interest are 9 on your phone at the time, the agenda item is addressed. What is your turn to speak, you will be an muted and next a state your name and address at the conclusion of your comments are when you reach the 3 minute time limit. You will be muted o Reis hands would be lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method of participation used normal rules apply, including the 3 minute time limit on comments the requirement that any presentation materials must be submitted in advance of the meeting and the rules of decorum if live public comment is disrupted by violations of rules of decorum the chairs authorized public comment Barton it means including by email. MADAM Chair. We do have a number of speakers. >> And before you call the first 2 speakers all just One of the items that the clerk mentioned which is that if you are speaking on item that is on our agenda today. You MAY speak either during an open form or when the item is being taken up. It is up to you to decide when when you want to speak, but please keep that in mind that you MAY choose to speak during the discussion of the item that we're taking up today and with that. Could be please call our first 2 speakers, 10 speakers are called to a time. When you reach the podium if you give us your name and address. Thank you. Jeanne Roni and been Atherton. i'm Jeanne rolling. I vote. >> I fully understand the housing crisis the city of St. Petersburg is going through and I appreciate the city's concern. As a property owner, a long-term landlord fill the city has been reactive to a problem and not proactive to a problem. It appears that the city is not taking into consideration. What we as property owners are truly dealing with why we have in need to increase our way it's lines. You guys increased our water bill. In 2020. DECEMBER in DECEMBER of 2021. And now 10 months later we're going to do it again in OCTOBER. Our taxes go up 10% every year because when I hosted it. Inflation has gone crazy. I read this morning in an article where Tampa Bay is at 11 and a half left in 0.2% the rest of the country as of 8 and half. Paint alone has gone up 25% and less than a year. I've noticed that the city. He wants to put caps and with on what we're doing and the income that we're getting. But I don't see any intention that the city has with capping anything else. No other businesses and I can understand why why are we not putting a cap on other businesses were going put a cap on it on property owners. On the alert on our income. The problem that the city is facing it's not that the landlords agree the problem that the city is facing a supply and demand. I was here a couple of months ago. Because the city made an error and took away one of my units. All of my units for workforce, housing. All of my tenants hey below market were below workforce housing. The city has decided it. It would be better to remove one of the units and Haney to convert it into a 2 bedroom. Rather than to have 2 separate units at the city's cost because it was a city air. That doesn't make any sense to me. There are hundreds of illegal airbnb is in the city any one of you want to pull up your phone right now and put an airbnb in Saint Pete will cease hundreds of them. The city is doing nothing to go after these owners. Of long-term rentals that are short term air b and b's. A lack of hotels. We have plenty of places for them. Thank you. Good afternoon, excuse me my name is Ben reverend an afternoon sea men. I live at 3680 42th way South department 58 l and also the minister of the Unitarian Universalist church a block away on. Mary Lake and first I want to thank the City Council for your service, it's my second time in one of your meetings I was here last week when we honored the Coast Guard and so much else is happening. I appreciate your service to the community. Like the previous speaker, I am also a landlord my wife and are renting our house in Massachusetts to tenants while we in turn rent an apartment here in St. Petersburg so if rent control was passed there it MAY be more difficult for Lucinda and me to pay our bills. But I'm here too. Let you know, that's all right with us were among the many landlords who support rent control Lucent and I both have full time jobs and although we do struggle with several health concerns. It's nothing like the struggles faced by so many in this room and by so many outside so many who are unhoused so many his rents have gone up so drastically in such a short time. So many who live in their vehicles that I'm at both last night. And last week when folks are staying overnight. And some who don't even have a vehicle to live in. My church and my domination I believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all beings and we believe that we're all interconnected the some here not out of charity. But out of solidarity and I have a sense of connection. I am connected to everyone in this room. Including those run House. And I'm connected to the people who sleep on mirror Lake that I see every day outside my church. And so are you. My Church in mind to nomination believe also in there right in the democratic process so I urge you to declare what is so obvious to me so many others in this room that the housing situation in Petersburg is indeed a state of emergency. Please do the right thing and let us vote on it please allow rent-controlled be placed on the ballot. Even though my hurt me as a landlord I'll still vote for him control because the right thing to do. Thank you. Thank you. Next to speak is becoming out of zoom in here. Eileen Kerry. Ali what you come to the meeting space please state your name and address for the record. I know you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> Afternoon my name is Eileen carry a 5, 3, 2, 0, 10 Street North. I am in front of you today asking you to put to rent control on the ballot here in Saint Pete. You all know what is right. And I'm asking you to do what's right. I understand. And there are some of you that are concerned about the uncertain future ahead, if you choose to pass this. But that's okay chief to not be sure of what's coming next. That's how all of us who are renters in Saint Pete feel we're unsure about the day that our landlord is going to call and tell us that our rent has been raised. Hundreds if not a $1000. Like all of our friends happen. It's terrifying to live in that uncertainty and so we're asking you for a term of one year. To give some relief to renters here in Saint Pete. It's not a forever fix it's a short-term solution. It's not going to hurt. The corporations more than not doing this is going to hurt the people of Saint Pete. Please make the right choice. We is it. Here the folks who are in front of you today. And get a one-year respite allow for the democratic process to happen. And for us to be able to make the decision. Thank you. >> Next speaker, MADAM Chair is Shelby Smith Shelby was she in turn to the meeting space. Please unmute yourself state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. Please unmute yourself. Want to go to the next zoom speaker, MADAM Chair and then we'll go back to them. To me. But Billy Brown to police what you're into the meeting space please state your name and address for the record. You have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> I lived through this weekend please state your name and address for the record. Also on the front that has been suspended but that that evidence out that this only to and to go into effect council members are in control, but that's about it that I got this issue that's question to it and that the community that the PRESIDENT Is someone to supplement to that has the highest rate of evictions a month and comes in our city has been part of that's that pets are also that's the question a little but the black latinx indigenous another aspect to its people. A community is going to spend it they sort of I think it's repeated failure to protect. And there's more of the population to land with a patients that I have a thing for us. The city Council members are back at the entrance of this is not only insulting time community that doesn't want to an article on the issue of cartoon that they're not supposed to be afforded all part of it or it's either I think that today just what's happening with the nation and the interest of Iran. And special financial interests. This is a representative concerning are expected to represent us. The people. Again we have come to the past year higher solves again it comes to mind you have the spirit of democracy of which are positions found that when it comes to say to make the base. Both recently in over the past months. I've heard you and your fishing things and with a lot of people are questioning right thing for Really that what is the I think rain to the ideologies are relevant. I believe it was by hand. We saw the people call the courage to do what was hired to do that appears to us and that's or were asked if they've ever and financial interests. All we're asking for today is the right to vote. The measure that affects us. I feel so really almost insane to say this out loud roar. I asked them for the opportunity to engage in democracy and our own city. Yes, but or if it's right to vote. If they attend. But he's a little guy. >> Next to speakers in the chamber is Risser Ray and Tesco Tesco Cole. I received cards for each one of you and you sign the sheet. If you want to speak now in open form. So yeah, they are t a r o okay. >> State your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to rest. Okay, thank you. Hi my name is Risser a manager says 2834 11th Avenue North. I kind of just went in for some point out that any an address to even testify here about a housing issue. Unhoused people cans apparently say The other thing I would like to say is I'm a lifelong So we're both my parents. See my father's downtown guy to match your favorite business listed. You MAY have been around for his parents. Similar publications. My mother MAY have helped your loved one die in hospice. You MAY have come to one of my yoga classes. Some of you you MAY remember me from talking to we'd see Pete supports arts. Before you were elected. Last year about a guaranteed income program for artists but I'm going to speak from a personal place here today because I can't afford to live in the city anymore. My wife and I we just kicked out of our apartment and haven't been able to find a place to live. We're seeing between my mother and my grandmother's house in the time being while we search I am in favor of rent control I would love to be able to vote on it on the NOVEMBER ballot. I'm also in favor of social social housing solution like they have in Vienna 60% of the housing there is owned by the city and provided a sliding And it's been around for 3 recessions and depressions and world wars, it's successful. There is no alternative to the increasingly unaffordable market solutions I also see this as the comparison between levels of harm. Ok so some people want their Residents keep providing incoming increasing income and then others are facing homelessness so that the level of is it said level of magnitude a difference of difference. The housing crisis is usually followed by a homelessness crisis. He's usually followed by a policing crisis I know this city loves visitors. But I would love for this city to remain a nice place to live so that we can continue to welcome visitors and on a piece of plants in poverty. I guess it's like to see social housing in my control please. >> And it is that terror cool a bit 2640 54th Avenue I slept out in the rain last night and there would have stayed all night if the police and ask us to leave and threaten us with the rest into a religious leader with the It's pretty deplorable and well, we know that the mayor and that they were they were doing was That's not quite what I want to talk about I actually want to comment make my comment addressed a branding word Brandi I went to pride and I have the time of my life. But I saw you there and I ask are you a member of our community are you in a lie because I want to see all of you there I want to know that you guys are on our side. But supporting the community is so much more than marching in the parade and throwing beads and taking part in our joy. It's supporting us through the worst of what this country does to us which it forces us into houselessness it forces us into poverty, it forces us into dangerous situations. This housing crisis affects everybody and whether you know it's affecting your pockets or whether it's affecting us. You know, I'm not going homeless. It affects us all and I ask that you don't wait until it affects your brother or your sister or your children or your grandchild or your Grandma. Well, your sibling or your friends or your family or your mailman write any of the people in the community I ask you not to wait until it gets personal because if you're if you're not a lie and if you truly represent the interests of the people that that you serve in that you that you are elected to represent then you need to be proactive someone said this is a reaction to a crisis I disagree. I think that Randy you have the chance show some integrity if you want to MARCH in a parade you need to you need to MARCH behind us when we ask you desperately what we need which is a safe a roof over our heads the people that are the most disproportionately affected by the housing crisis are people of color. Even worse than not people of color who are also trans especially those who are coming here, the black trans women in America, including Petersburg Florida are at the most risk and we have several of them. 2, 3, 7, 1, 2 is my zip code I live in that My neighbors are but families black elders there a couple people that look like me, but for the most part, I'm surrounded by but people that don't that don't look like me the people of color and there's a lot of people in my neighborhood as well and we need you so if you don't. But yes I ask that you have seen and if you don't vote. Yes or obscene I ask that you do not come back to pride because you're not on our side and we don't want you there I yelled. >> MISTER Clerk to have more speakers on zoom. They tried Yeah right next to speakers Kristi Hickman, Christie West to enter into the meeting space. Please unmute yourself state your name and address for the record and you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> Yes hi good afternoon. My name is Christine Eckman my address is 27 oh 7 fishermans bend driveway. First I thank you for the opportunity to address the City Council. I've been a property management for 22 years all of that has been in this region. I'm currently overseeing 2 apartment communities. One of which is in Saint Pete. I have my family here including 2 young ladies that are now renters this is my home my community just like everyone else is here. This meetings to talk about rent control. A good part of the reason we're having this discussion is because last year the cost of housing. All housing, not just apartments went way up. I think all of us in the housing industry were really surprised by that. It seems to me and a lot of people are still thinking the rental market today is the same as it was last year and that's not the case I've been watching our rental rates very closely and because a large demand already offers a 16% less than last year. My company has 12 apartment communities throughout this region and all of them are seeing the same similar crimes. Also Kate really close tabs on our competitors. What I'm saying what I'm seeing now is 3 out of 5 major competitors to my property in Saint Pete are now offering concessions 2 of them are offering free rent and was offering reduced moving fees. These kinds of concessions were unheard of last year. They're also a clear sign that the market is changing and it's changing in the favor renters this change in the market is not because of some government mandate is because that's how the market works. There are ups and downs based on supply and demand. Government price controls will distort the market. Riot control as a bad idea, no matter when you try to implement that really makes no sense for the market is already coin. In fact we have seen how right control in other parts of the country cut off housing supply. But there's less a client will market that's already cooling. Guess what the market will not be cooling anymore. Rent control is a for Saint Pete, and it certainly hurts renters my daughter should have more rental housing options in the city but with rent control they will have fewer. Please do not pass it. Thank you for your time. >> We have anyone else on zoom. Next speaker Melissa Holmes Melissa once you enter into the meeting space please state your name, we'll address for the record and you have 3 minutes to address the council. >> Hi there my name is Melissa Holmes, I live at 3 oh 6, 2, Beach Boulevard South. I am a property manager I have for the past 10 years. I have lived in Portland Maine, where they have been implemented rent control. So I experienced over the last 3 years and I can tell you that it is not the answer. Unfortunately, what ends up happening is property owners are forced to sell their Landlords House needs for cap ex renovations. A lot of landlords actually purchase buildings that are somewhat a lap or 2 did and have commitments to the bank to have a certain debt service income ratio so what ended up happening in scenario as we put in money into increasing, you know that the community increasing. To sort of dilapidated housing and what what happens as were unable to recoup these costs so then we become and the fault of our loans forced to sell these properties for less than what they're actually works. So it it also simultaneously drives down the value. Of the market in general. So when we saw these buildings, new owners cared less about the tenants and legally were able to vet all of them. Kick them out for a 5% increase to 2 run. So it's a negative. Impact for not only landlords but tenants as well. It also is going to lead to increased rent. No matter what no longer will a landmark go several years without increasing rent, they're going to apply the law to be several single year. And it's time to reduce the discount that they receive rel relative to the market levels. They're stuck at a low level simply for being decent landlords so to long-term tenants and we see this happen every single month. It also is going to lead to less investments and buildings deterioration of property versus the status quo. Both for apartment buildings and neighboring 6 single-family homes and if poorly implemented cessation of new apartment construction further reducing the supply is wrestling mats are converted to condominiums we've seen this time and time again. It is not good for the renters I really I ask you to please study alternatives to help tenants without implementing rules that distort incentives to to the point of Petersburg housing problems continue for years to come. There's a lack of affordable housing market which is market failure. Governments are essential to solving such problems higher property taxes to fund new construction will be less disruptive than rent control government-sponsored construction. You know, providing incentives to landlords to come in or or developers to come in and provide new opportunities for housing. Those are some of the answers but rent control is not. I urge you guys to study into this further and really see how it's affected other parts of the country. Thank you. >> It will in law school and Lex Marcin e. Good afternoon City Council members of our members of City Council and people of Saint Pete. My name is Evelyn long I live it 3, 4, 5 5th avenue North at terrier properties unit, I'm 21 years old and I'm a bartender living here in St. Petersburg I was recently hit by a car downtown and I now struggle from debilitating chronic pain, but I still work 40 hours a week on my feet and an additional 20 freelance writing I spent 10 hours a week feeding the homeless residents of Saint Pete and I also attend school at usf I work and I work and I still trust struggle to make rent. I still fear I will be priced out of my own home. What's wrong with this picture. Why are working people forced to sleep in from City Hall to be noticed only to slug off to work and help their cries for help were not ignored. I want to urge you today to vote in favor of putting the matter of my control on the ballot. The tenants of St. Petersburg the workers of St. Petersburg the lifeblood of Petersburg are in a serious crisis as you can see. Despite a young age and college education, I'm faced with the possibility of eviction homelessness or displacement due to the exorbitant rent these increases that have taken place over the past few months and years. Please please listen to the people. We will not stop demanding our right to safe and affordable housing. This is democracy we demand our right to democracy. We deserve the right to vote. I don't care if you don't agree with this your job is just to enable people to vote for themselves to allow democracy to take place. But the people vote on rent control if you have any respect for the duty you have promised to fulfill and to all the landlords in his room i find it despicable that you would look in the face of people that are suffering. People that are terrified and mobilize against them. But the people United is when thank you. >> Well minutes lax Nancy I live one eleven's 6 Avenue North. I think it is clear. You've seen that people are struggling greatly. And you've heard many stories both this week and last week. One of those stories being my own. I'm a Saint Pete local born and raised. I am a usf Saint Pete alumni and the working class member of society. You've heard my story. You've heard how I'm being forced out of the only community I've ever known. A similar story to those of my peers and fellow citizens. I think the fact that this is a housing emergency goes without saying. I have a hard time understanding why as a Democratic society, the fact that rent control needs to be on the ballot is even up for debate at this point. Your role as a council member is to represent the people of your city we elected you to do so. If we say let us vote on this issue. It is your responsibility to lead us. We are asking you to make a decision on whether or not there should be rent control in the city. It is not your decision to make individually. It is all of ours together. The whole point of the United States is democracy. No matter if we agree or not on this issue. We can agree that this country is based on democracy and having a choice having the right to vote. If we don't have that then what do we have please please put rent control the ballot and defend our right to democracy. Thank you. >> We have 2 more zoom Chair you want. >> I think we just have a few more right for open form. Next to those speakers Jessica Allison Jessica once you enter into the meeting space. Please unmute yourself safe in a minute address for the record and you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> I there I am a new to you know I can you hear me. All right, thank you very much. I am Saint Pete resident, I've lived here for the past 3 years I and fortune that I have a very good job, I work for the then Tech industry I moved here from the city of San Francisco where there is actual complete and total housing crisis. My experience in San Francisco was that my peers people between the ages of 30 and state 50. Many of us would have to live to get other with roommates there would be like 4 to 5 roommates and a House of our age group because housing prices were so expensive that that is what we had to do and we're talking people who make over a $100,000 a year were forced to live in these conditions. Now since the pandemic the tech population has been pushing to other areas like Texas, which is also now facing a housing crisis and a property increased interest issue now that has been forced on it because of its lack of right control. Now this is a people's property values go up of course and property owners can ask for more money but is that right that they should be able to do that as I said I've been here for 3 years and in those short 3 years, the amount of money that I pay for the rental that I have has gone up about 30%. And that is a huge jump from one year to 3 years later. Now if we end up. If we make a living on the housing. We're not going to stop building we're not going to stop people moving to St. Petersburg their pets. There MAY be plenty of spaces but really how much are those places costing are we talking about the places that are available to one percent maybe the 10% because when I look around my community. I can see that the homes that are available to people who don't make as much as say I do. They in fact are having a very hard time finding a place to live. Mitchell is a place that they can live on their own without roommates and we really can't have that for people who are less fortunate and people who have let's say mental disabilities. That might be. Billy challenge. We really to give people the respect of and the support of their entire community to be able to live in the way that is respectful. And that's what I have to say. Thank you. >> The next speaker in zoom in the other speakers well have to speak at the second portion of open for him. Shelley Smith once you enter into the MAY meeting space. Please please unmute yourself state your name and address for the record. And you have 2 minutes to address City Council. >> At least 8 United and for the record. >> I was just 8 years for. 4542 days at you. Here I know it's all we ask temperature 52, so I think I would just offer a different perspective and I work out 4 level. A darker side of the head. Prices. What I want to explain that. Street for the report we're here for a your rate goes up to $100. My medications. >> 200 bucks to watch they were asked. But she has to choose between food medication. So we get to it's creepy. We should share your art and diabetic us justice. We're going to work until you're because the rationing their insulin because they can a key factor for it. It's really upsetting to see that every shift and on top that condition is. It's just not to you know, it's truly dark but I work really closely with our were strongest areas and we have a lot of attempted suicides due to at their housing situation being the breaking point and their issues and actions people over the edge and extremely heartbreaking. I see this every shift in our yard and people's chief complaint saying that if they can they feel that there's nothing left to live for if the don't have that House and they're they're afraid to go into shelters or free delivery extremes. I mean of anyone would be this is we're exposing people to new levels of poverty and scarcity and vulnerability and its friendly truck traumatic and it is a housing crisis. And that's why we need to declare housing emergency. Thank you that's all I have to >> If there's speakers on zoom who want to speak on the item. I don't know if you have a way to. Communicate with them and let them know. The guy who needs to wait until closing up and form and then who can speak on that item. Meanwhile comey are we going back to our person great. You ready for that yet. >> Share e-mail now in Jordan >> Hello my name is Shirley Maldonado I live at 4830 to a 10th Avenue North. I never talked to some of this before. I've been a resident Pinellas County for over 20 years. I lived in Saint Pete for 7 years and 5 years ago my husband and I were lucky enough to purchase a home here. I don't pay rent. I don't have to worry about a landlord raising my rent. But this is a dire situation that affects everybody it's affecting my friends. My family. Zillow and investors have come in they have but in resold our homes to the point that families like mine who could have purchased a home can no longer afford to purchase one. We have people flooding in from California and other states where here is cheaper and they work from home. But and they can afford the prices but what about the people who live here at the people who serve your dinner at the next Asian fusion you know restaurant downtown or they deliver your mail they collect your trash to a teacher children where that would they be living where are they living and where would I live if I was in their situation. I did a search for a place that could. How's my family and the cheapest one would be over 40% of my family's net income and that was the cheapest one. Most of them were 50 or 60% of what my husband and I take home. That's little insanity. Landlords are raising prices not because they have to it's because they know they can there's nothing stopping them. My mother's landlord MISTER And $200 less last year. And there is at 200 again this year adding to a 30% increase in her right in the last 2 years. My husband and I we own a mixed martial arts Academy here in Saint Pete, one of our students lives with his brother. And another roommate in a one-bedroom apartment 3 grown men share a one-bedroom apartment. One of our assistant coaches has a wife 3 kids where he lives his a c breaks regularly there's other repairs that need to be done to the House but he stopped asking his landlord to fix these things because the last 2 times he talked to him, he said he basically threatened that he was going to sell the place and he refuses to sign a year lease or anything longer. So they're on month to month waiting till they get the phone call that hey you got to get out you and you're you're still 3 children, your family. I have another friend who after moving from couch to couch looking for another place to live. Now is renting airbnb is in the area that are running specials because it's the only way you can have a place. That's not a friend's couch. And these are just a few people that I know this really is a crisis and you know the one zoom lady said that we should be doing other things it's an issue but the city that you guys haven't done much to give us other options for affordable housing something has to be done. And I just ask that you let us vote and let us let the people decide what needs to happen right now to deal with the situation until other things can be done. Thank you. >> Hi, I'm sorry excuse me my name is Jordan I live on 2640 54th Avenue South. I live in Tampa Bay area my whole life. I see the changes I grew up and I've seen the toll it's taking on locals in new residents, alike I want to begin by saying that I don't think the real estate industry's inherently evil. I have friends and family who are in real estate and are real estate agents that genuinely care for the community and the people in it and some are here because they believe that that care should be affordable. I do however think that the ability for of real estate investors to monopolize and profit off those who cannot afford to buy a home is actually evil. My mother passed away 8 weeks ago today. After a long battle with lung cancer. And I still get calls and texts every other day from real estate companies investors looking to rent out or by her home. Despite being asked to take be taken off those call us and those Texas. I'm still Mourning her loss fielding these calls and texts that's the to use her death as monetary gain. I was tired when I slept at City Hall steps last night and last week and I was tired when I left this morning and saw another call from a real estate investor at 06:30am as we were pulling out because we were told that there MAY be arrest issued if we were not gone by 06:00am. I'm tired of people who have never lived in appreciate this community community evicting in raising rents for no other reason than greed. People are dying and having to relocate to somewhere that has never been their home because their home is no longer affordable and doesn't care if they can survive here or not. This is a community and if you care to salvage any of the damage that has been done to the people who have been here for years. Control should be on the ballot. Thank you. Next to speakers, Leo. Amy Ruben can't make out the second portion of that last name. Ok and that bird. >> I'm Leah I mean remember I lived at 1560 central new unit MS. Driscoll is very familiar with me some of you MAY not be I'm here to speak today. 2 make sure my voice is loud and heard because it's been silenced over and over again. I was a student, I'm still on temporary leave as the sea when housing advocacy award from the college I'm 4 point now I am fighting to Kappa and I was forced to drop out of school. While working to get my doctorate to help humanity because of City Council's decisions because of there aiding and abetting in Tia bank and fusion 15 60 in the corporate landlords here and what they have done. And I'm telling you I am live in not only on my part but I'm part of every other marginalized person in here. I am a survivor of domestic violence. And you turned a blind eye on me. And I'm letting you know that indication well it was very sweet and sentimental you should walk the walk and actions speak louder than words it is insulting to hear something like that when there are teenagers like we talk about that are dying because they don't have housing and they're marginalized. I don't know at what point we're going to back to democracy instead of fascism and instead of a futile system because it is time. This city was built on the back of artists and students and mom and pop businesses and they are be pocketed on and they're being commodified like they are fodder and it is a shame it is pathetic and let me tell you I'm in an appeals process and I will take this to the Supreme Court you all need to be aware of that. So I think maybe we should have a face-to-face conversation. I wrote a letter I got an a plus and in my professor's class to help right the city charter. 2 MISTER Mayor kriseman and mistress skull and a bunch of other City Council members and you know what it got turned on a blind eye cited 3 major markets in the United States that was research of very feasible housing solutions and you took a blind eye which lets me know you don't care. You do not care. I do not want to hear in vocations and software it anymore I want to see actions for the people of St. Petersburg and I will not stop until it's not that's all I have to say. >> Good afternoon Council. Want to say thank you to all the young voices for lifting his great issue. In a time democracy is under attack. In our in our country. Particularly in our state. In a time of crisis we definitely have obvious problem when you have school children that are sleeping in Hotels. In a time of crisis our young people stepped up. And and the presented a solution. We asked them vo we asked them to take part in the process and if things are not going away. We asked them to peacefully protest. And they've done all of that. I know this is a very very complicated issue. But if we don't hear them now. We can't keep asking them to vote in trust the process. It's complicated as it is we definitely have a crisis. I just want to encourage each of you to listen to these young people this is our future this is why we signed up for this. So if they're stepping up once again in this beautiful city if we can do with any Wells we should be able to do it in St. Petersburg so I just want to encourage you all to listen to these young people do not let these young people walk away without a solution. Whatever the solution MAY be please don't let these young people continue to step up and get turned away empty handed in a time when democracy is falling apart all around us. This is what democracy looks like please have a voice and thank you. Number 1521. When you present them so thankfully. >> And chair final speaker for the open portion the first portion is Nick Carey. >> I'm not actually going to talk about rent control right this second, but I'm going to talk to some about something that's very closely related. Because I feel the need to respond to what we're hearing from a lot of the landlords here. We need to send a clear message. I don't I don't interrupt in the middle but we need to Yeah Nick Carey 5320 10th Street North. We need to send a clear message that Saint Pete is not for sale. We have 86 acres. Of Tropicana field available. And I know an rfp process has gone out there and I would just urge all of you to not make that available for sale overwhelmingly you heard from people that they want to public ownership. They wanted city ownership of this land and this is so tied to the issue that we're talking about now because it's treating housing is a commodity just selling away the land and like giving away Democratic control of what we can do and this is a real long-term solution Tropicana Field in other city-owned properties across. The city. Our how we can actually build social housing makes income for people to live and not be held hostage by corporations and private landlords in this process. So thank you. >> So that will first open for today, if you are here to speak on the item that we're taking up you'll have an opportunity to do that during public comment. If you have other city business that you would like to speak on today, we will have another open form at the end of today's meeting. Our next item on the agenda today. We reports item f one is our resolution and. Begin that discussion I would like to ask council member think Sanders, if you'd like to speak as she is the council member who brought forward the item. Thank you to hear. >> First of all I just want to thank all of you. I want to sheer my appreciation. 4 us having the courage. Having the passion to address something that we know is very very real. I don't like the term rent control, I've stated that over and over again. I prefer rent stabilization because those of us that are here need to remain here. We welcome want to come but not at the expense of those that have helped build the city. So when I met with the St. Petersburg tenants union. JULY 19th we had a conversation in regards to the state of emergency. And after that meeting. I don't care what you say about career. But it brings me through. And I'm not going to stop. So from my own personal prayer. I put this before Council. One teen to green a resolution to allow people. Their voices to be heard. Landlords can vote too. So it's not just certain people at the ballot. So I brought the resolution forward with full intent. Because it allowed us to put a lot of faces to allow the Missouri. That's living in our streets. But did it also allowed us to see just how important and just how valuable. This news. I want to thank by Beth Foster who is the senior staff attorney for community justice project I don't know if she's with us today. I want to thank all the career and the Saint Peter's first tenants Union for bringing this in for your advocacy because you are our future. You one day. And we want to make sure we have good people running things and you're going to be property in order. I want to thank my colleagues for taking the time to wanting to be informed. For having their own opinion that's why there's 8 of us. If only one of us can get something done what type of sea with that be. But I also want to think those of you. I have them, I know them I have friends that our landlords who find it not robbery, thank you so much past to provide affordable housing. Because we're not just looking at an issue of housing is bigger than that. We're talking ethics. If you don't have to raise it we're talking education. I babysat that know they want to get out of school and the stress of other mental health because she will not be able to provide a safe roof. Our feet. I provide clothing for her children, we're talking employment. It's not just housing if you have a job you don't really matter does it. So I brought that resolution willful intent to get in on the ballot in NOVEMBER. After meeting have to get my kudos to the legal department I have to give Mike who knows. After meeting with MS. Foster in this covid era in others in from Orlando to Tampa Pinellas County Commission. We're going to remove the request for the resolution. Because we're not going to make the ballot. There's nothing we can do. In NOVEMBER. We're not going to make the ballot. It's a given. We're not going to make it. What we're choosing to do. At the approval of our chair. We're going to remove the resolution to get on this ballot. I want to give the mayor the opportunity I want to give the other great 7 says were considered of the great 8 and with the approval of MISS Foster and we're coming with this resolution that resolution, I'm sorry an a motion. To yes. We for it to wife as and in jacket the hopefully I'm doing this correctly. A motion to refer this to wife continued discussion requesting legal to draft a housing state of emergency ordinance and requesting a report from the clerk's office to include that ordinance in a 2023 special a primary election. Therefore we're going to hear the voices of everyone we're going to still fight that fight to get in on the ballot we're going to remove the opportunity for anything that we set forth to struck down in any court. But if we say we're about to mock or c. If we are truly about the people of which truly about hearing those that are suffering. We're going to give an opportunity to succeed something that we can sustain and with that a move that motion. We haven't motion a second will go to council member he knew it. I was not here last week. >> And I watched the Aug. 4th 2022 City Council discussion. On the matter before we have us today, including everyone's public comment. The issue is not something that was a regular bought up. On the 8/4/2022 agenda. But brought up during the meeting by council member think Sanders where she motion for the preparation of resolution meeting the requirements of section 1, 6, 6, point oh for 3. And one to one 0.1 6 one can be held no later than 8/11/2022. It does fashion with had as to whether City Council could legally place rent control on the ballot through resolution. Whether the passing of an ordinance was required. Our city attorney's advice was requested by City Council based on her expertise as the government attorney and after a plain reading of the applicable statute, our city attorney stated that in her legal opinion City Council could not use the resolution as a vehicle to places issue on the ballot. In our city attorney's opinion, Florida statutes section 1, 6, 6, point oh for 3 quite the passing of an ordinance not withstanding that legal advice. I City Attorney's Office was directed to draft a resolution pursuant to council member fix Sanders motion which is passed by 4, 3, vote of this Council. This action appeared in part to be in place by legal advice from the attorney for Beth Foster from community justice project in Miami who was not present. But his decision that City Council could legally go forward was relayed by various audience members and these audience members said they confirm this fact with community justice project. I'm an attorney for Beth Foster yesterday and she confirmed she does represent the tenants union on this issue moreover he has provided City Council with a memorandum that includes some legal analysis and data in faith and separately a draft resolution. The threshold issue was a legal issue. And now we have another motion changing our procedures. Seriously shocked when you have an attorney. For our city tell us that we can do something. Why not we can have this hearing. We can right now why change it now we can have this discussion. They have spent how many days. Discussing this issue. We can have it all out right now I have no problem we have for Beth Foster right here we can have all the attorneys hash it out. Some people realize that our city attorney was actually right. I want to say a couple things to the attorneys here and I know we don't sit up here and roads. >> We're not in a courtroom. But I want to remind people here that when they go before us and they make statements and they provide memorandum of law. 3rd an ethical duties that they have to abide by every attorney. Florida bar will 4 dash 3.9 advocate not to do to Kate of proceeding fake that this decision making body which is us like a court should be able to rely on the integrity of the submissions made to it basically that we have the right to expect lawyers to deal with us as they deal with courts. That also state that will forecast 3.3 candor towards the tribunal and for that 3.4 fairness opposing party in Council is up like a bull. And just like attorneys. We as City Council members have ethical obligations. We took an oath of office and I quote that'll oath of office say that an officer the city of St. Petersburg and a recipient of public funds. We will support protect and defend the Constitution and government of the United States. And the state of Florida and also that we will faithfully perform the duties of the Office of City Council. Through the power by the Florida Constitution. So what this tells me and this last-minute change is that our attorneys were right from the get-go. And we have spent all this time. And very kind on an issue which by the way there is Florida Supreme Court precedent on. On the exact issue of whether or not you can go on a resolution. And I want to make that clear and sometimes we get advice from. People that say well we can you can do this. But when you actually have people who probably this who actually have read the opinions and no for a fact what the lions and what you can do. And you don't follow that. You have a problem. And this is not about whether or not you believe in rent control. This has nothing to do week. I heard a lot of people speak about democracy. Part of being a democracy. It's honestly understanding the loss and the fact that the Florida Constitution and the United States Constitution applies to us in the Florida Supreme Court's interpretation of those laws does apply to us does matter and we can to say you know what it doesn't matter. We're still bound to follow the law. So I know things have changed and I know it's been dropped but I want to make it clear a lot of a lot of people attacked. Our City Council members because they have been advised about certain requirements. And about half are turning its. When you're trying to do their job. It could be rented to be could be any issue that we could be talking about here today. And I'll tell you Ruth Bader Ginsburg has that you can you can disagree, you don't have to be disagreeable and we're not always been agree on things. But people are trying to do their job honestly. And I understand there's a motion at this point I'm not willing right now to do anything on this issue and every time. There is this comes up last minute we're changing things were not following procedure, frankly. The committee that it's going to is not a housing committee. I don't understand that I can't I don't honestly understand how we have gotten here today. I don't. And I understand the housing issue I understand what's going on what I MISS Speaking about is a procedural issue of how we are here right now and all these people are here on an issue that they thought that they were going to hear about it all said in effect, you know what that's all right we're not going to do this. I don't get it so that's all I have to say thank you so much. Vice chair gathered. Thank you So my comment will be brief. It is simply a procedural issue and I wanted to see f of fig Sanders, if you could please explain to me your rationale for why you want to send this to you at family services and not either too. The housing land use and Transportation Committee where it rightfully belongs or to a committee of the whole if that is I mean you feel like this is a conversation that needs to be elevated through our process is elevating it to a committee of the whole where all 8 council members have an opportunity to discuss and have a vote would be more appropriate so what is your rush now and thank you for that question in that was going to be my second recommendation pearly go. In answering that question in again I am and I don't know Jack you want to comment, but it's. It's amazing that some of the things that we find to be angry about. It was true that it MAY have been a procedural issue of trying to get it on the ballot. And it came to the realization even with the advice against. From legal that it wouldn't be able to happen. It wasn't. A jab at prices are procedure. As far as hbo ut is it gone through that coming in already gone through that committee. But at this in my opinion is Lou bigger than just housing and having somewhere to lay your head this is about our children. This is about our families this is about how we provide employment this is bigger than just sleeping. If it was just about sleeping. What you laid your head. I don't think we would be here today. It with this is going to do is give us the opportunity to get more feedback from more people. Give us more fiba in input from we're going to work with other municipalities to see how we can collectively and it's not just dragging us why really don't like that term rent control because for those sitting out in the audience. You might have the money to to pay or in which you don't have a home or and the home and no job or no food are you know your children and I mean is this is something that's a holistic approach and I heard them saying that we need a there's no more arpa dollars. And so I'm looking at this holistically I'm looking at how we can work with other. This appellate ease and other social services agencies to provide everything that these families need not just we we can come up with housing solutions but is that going to address everything that they need. I think not so that was my rationale for to go to my fans because it would legal more time to work with other mines and other things that we MAY not have looked bad to have that conversation and if wife has was that question. Then yes, I was going to ask for it to go. >> Are you willing to amend your motion at this because I want to see a good time. I want to see us serve those that have come to us and asked us to represent them. I want to in down to think about it. Council member and it was just says she's not going do anything with it and so you don't go into a cow. You've got their Super Bowl. So what are we telling the people that are here today. All right so. Face your governor you have the floor. Hold my comments for now. Thank you council member Wheeler Bowman, thank you MADAM Chair. First I want to thank everybody for for coming out as And I want to say that our attorneys Howley how they qualified very I take nothing from that. I don't care how many statutes a quote it. I don't care how much you want to play politics. So and I have stated before I'm down with that. I'm down with it, I'm looking at. Residents in the face. And we have done Saint Pete discounts or to Council for a council member of the new Council and the council members have come on here. We have lived in done things. Bigger than this. And no we will not agree on everything in council member 5th Sounders I think you're right by it going to use services because you know what's going to happen. If we send it to a cow. You already know I'm just telling it like it is because I'm tired of it. You know what's going to happen. We sit around. I like this stuff don't go on and it does. And I'm just tired of it. Thank you councilmember mountain areas. Have a question for later tonight. >> So from a procedural point of view we usually. Have staff discuss the issue that's before us. Now we've been thrown a a curve ball. We have another motion on the floor that's been second in it had its received a second. And we have the public. Here that might want to discuss this. My preference would be to simply have a motion and second on the floor that we hear from the public next in then I'll have some after that I just wanted to weigh in and legal opinion on them. >> That's certainly the chairs >> I was actually just going to ask next if council member Hanan what's we do need to get to public comment and I just I had the same actually question right up would you mind wading the same thing. Yes will be. And yeah the next yeah. Let's go to public comment. >> First 2 speakers been Beth Foster in Valerie Brandon. You give us your name and address please. Good afternoon Council. I am bieber Beth Foster haha from community justice project that has spoken up earlier we're located at 3,000 Biscayne Boulevard Miami Florida suite one oh 6. So yes. The resolution process is not the best process we have never represented that we understood that the city Attorney's Office much like every City Attorney's Office. Their job is to be risk-averse their job is to travel the path of least resistance when it comes to litigation. My job as a movement lawyer representing people fighting for social racial and economic justice is not to talk about what the law can't do. It is to talk about what the law can get and so when looking at a 1978 Supreme Court decision that is absolutely PRESIDENT. We understand that the 3 were the 3 sentences or 4 sentences in that. Case are extremely damaging to passing this is a resolution process. But we were tasked and asked by tenant organizers. What is the way the only way for any way to possibly get this on the NOVEMBER ballot and ordinance wasn't going to it wasn't you didn't have the time. So St. Petersburg was in a very different procedural position from Orange County from Tampa. In we all can admit that there was no time to pass an ordinance so we looked at a litany of cases that have come up under a different statute since the passing of Frankel and look at whether courts have granted injunctions. On referendum items and many times the courts have said they will err on the side of sending it to the voters. So our position was if the city was willing to be bold and take a chance and listen to the voices of their constituents that this was a possible way forward, but in no means the best way. In Seoul. I would just leave you with oftentimes the right choice is not the easy choice. And we decided not to let perfection be the enemy of good. And so that is how we are here today, speaking for the people in saying vo on declaring a housing state of emergency. Move forward the motion that council member fig Sanders, so graciously and so boldly has put forward and have this conversation on rent stabilization continue. A temporary rent stabilization measure in St. Petersburg is not the same as permanent rent control in Minneapolis and we should really stop making those comparisons because they're disingenuous and their inapplicable so we would just say declare the housing state of emergency. Thank you. My name is Valerie Brandon. And as the 50th Avenue North. I'm currently then this place out of my home. I moved to Saint Pete in 2005. From largo after the death of my husband. I am legally blind. I have 2 children that is also legally blind. I am currently think you have 3 grandchildren. A 9 year-old a 6 year-old and a 2 month low. We live in our house for 3 years. Pay my bills took him or rent. Milan on the side of that at the end of mine leith which I fulfilled. They wanted to go up from 1700 to 2400. That's a big bite. The economy does not support that. My grandson who is 6 years old. I'm having problems with him. Jumped on me the way he did that tonight. I have bruises. He's running away from school. He wants to go home. We don't have a home. I just posted a disability. I hear on these landlords and talking abo