City Council

>> Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and your elected officials our mayor Ken well. District one hopefully Curtis. District 2 Brendan Gallagher. District 3 my party. District 4 and Council chair Lisette can away. District 5 ever think Sanders. Gina Driscoll. Were you given Stu year. And and Council vice chair reaching Floyd. >> Everyone welcome to the Oct. 15th, 2026 City Council meeting clerk can I please have a roll call gabbard Harding here Hannah what's here. Sanders. Today we're going to have our invocation given by district 7 councilmember Corey Givens junior, if you can stand and then please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. >> Let us bow our heads but lift our hearts o GOD, our creator are sustain our guy. We stand before you today at a critical crossroads in our history in the chambers of decision-making we thank you for the privilege of leadership, but we ask you today to give us wisdom to serve lastly Lord remind us as a council today that leadership. It's not about the privilege of the position but about the purpose of the people and help us remember that the true measure of our greatness is not found in the height of our skyscrapers now on the wealth of our downtowns but and those who treat others at the bottom as if they are they on teach us today, how to lead. Not by our wheel but by that I will we ask right now that you give right now power to the powerless voice to the voiceless but us guide right now those who need direction. Help us right now as we serve of touch, each council member and Mayor each staff member and each person who was gathered here today as we endeavor to do justice love mercifully and to walk humbly in Jesus name we pray, a man Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag. And to public which it stands. With liberty and justice for all. Thank you MAY be seated. Thank you councilmember given for the future. Patients. >> Here we have an agenda for us we have an edition of the one of the resolution the more a tribute to the lead words and the addition of h 2 h 3 and h 4 which are the Oct. 15th, 20 27st committee action items doesn't. Motion to approve as amended. Second clerk if you can open the machine for voting council members please enter your vote seen that all present council members have voted clerk please tally announce the vote. MADAM Chair, the motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously. >> Thank you we have a consent agenda. Do we any cards we do not MADAM Chair, okay Reuben second the motion second the only thing I want to know on the consent agenda was the sunken gardens forever Foundation that have a donation of $95,000 to sunken gardens which I think is fantastic is a 5, 1, 3, c that was founded back in 36. And it's dedicated to supporting and enhancing something gardens so what they do is. We don't have to pay for it if then through donations so it's always a wonderful thing so. So we have a motion a second clerk if you can open the machine for voting council members please enter your votes seeing that are present council members have voted clerk please telling announce the vote. MADAM Chair, the motion to approve the consent agenda passes unanimously. Thank you. Next up we have open forum. We have speakers and if so can you please read the rules. We do have some speakers, MADAM Chair. If you wish to address City Council and subjects other than public hearing a quasi-judicial items listed on the agenda. He signed up with the clerk. Only the individual wishing to speak by Simon open farm ship in a city residents. Owners of property, the business owners in the city or their employees MAY speak. All issues discussed and are open for must be limited issues related to this city of St. Petersburg government. If you're speaking to an item on the agenda you MAY only speak once during the open forum. When the item comes up on the agenda. Applause is not permitted except in connection with a with presentations in order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to drink to address Council each individual would be given 3 minutes to speak and after which the microphone will be needed. If you wish to address City Council through the zoom meeting. You must use the hand raise feature bad app entrust our 9 on your phone. At the time the agenda item is addressed. What is your turn to speak he will be a new did and asked to state your name and address at the conclusion of your comments when you have reached a 3 minute time limit. You would be needed are raise hands will be lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method of participation use 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 that's why public comments is disrupted my violation. The rules of decorum the chairs authorized to accept public comments. My alternate means including by email to MADAM Chair, we do have some speakers. Thank you. Political 2 speakers at a time. Please go to an open road and state your name address across Street for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. First 2 speakers arlinda Stoller and Roger covid. >> Good morning. I'm Linda Stoller my address is 7 oh one mayor Lake drive. St. Petersburg I'm reading a proclamation to end all cooperation of local law enforcement with ice 8 the age. The Pinellas coalition fee human rights and to end 2.87 g in solidarity with the talk to the sheriff initiative. It's a local accountability campaign focused on ending law enforcement cooperation with ice and death is not the time. If you all can sit down please. We try to keep everyone seated during the meeting. Thank you those are part of the rules. Go ahead. In cooperation with ice and protecting the rights and safety of our communities. We represent a growing nationwide base of activists committed to engaging sheriffs and local law enforcement directly building local pressure and advancing policies that protect constitutional rights and immigration immigrant communities, we're a prosperous Pinellas County is one with every resident immigrant and us but one alike feel safe. Valued and able to participate in County life. All local public resources should be used to keep our community safe. Not just not to erode public trust and take away our loving neighbors from the people that depend on them. Pinellas coalition includes the Unitarian Universalist of Clearwater unity Church of Clearwater. The Florida immigrant coalition, the workers circle and a visit both of Pinellas and Tampa Bay immigrants solidarity network. We are committed to the following one and profiling and the practice of stopping questioning. What detaining people based on their race at its system be or what the language they speak. Number 2 follow due process required due process and judicial oversight of Lawrence and detain is issued by ice prior to any enforcement actions. Number 3 treat with dignity. Require that lawful deportation first include safe and dignified return to the individual's family, whether the in the United States or outside the United States. Number 4 protect children. Require that children born in the United States be the place with us citizen families or friends known to them and their parents when the parents are detained. Well these Hayne members of the same family should stay together. And number 5 allow inspection. We're quiet that each detention center be open to inspection by elected officials be subject to independent public inspection and free of nutritional health and safety violations given to the gross if violations of floor and common decency committed by ice, we call on all our enforcement agencies in Pinellas County to end the 2. Every day. We MAY think you ma'am. >> I'm here to speak to the proclamation in the 2.87. The agreement. There is a legitimate role for for you. Address across the record please share. Roger Kobe 4, 9, 7, 4, Oxford Avenue. There is a legitimate role for federal immigration enforcement. But there is also a legitimate question for this Council. Should the St. Petersburg Police Department be part of it. The 2.87 g agreement was entered without a proceeding vote that this Council and without public discussion. I'm asking you to have that discussion now and then vote. The 2.87 g agreement blurs the line between the badge of the Petersburg Police Department officer and the badge of an ice agent. When that happens trust in the police is lost and worse. People fear the police. This is not speculation on my part you might remember the reverend Andy. Oliver spoke here in fit FEBRUARY about undocumented women and even some green cold green card holders who were sexually. Abused abused and were afraid to report those crimes. More recently the University of South Florida. Researchers interviewed. Immigrants lawful permanent residents people with temporary legal protections and us citizens. They found a declining trust in law enforcement. Some participants reported avoiding even reported avoiding. Police even during emergencies because they feared exposure. 2 immigration authorities. Residents of St. Petersburg should not live in fear. The victim of a assault in St. Petersburg should not hesitate to report the crime. A 5th grader in St. Petersburg should worry about long division problems not to cut the conversation their father head with the school resource officer that morning that drop off. The high school sophomore in St. Petersburg should not be worried about racial profiling and being hauled off to jail. A churchgoer and St. Petersburg we should be able to do just that go to church without fear. I'm not asking. This Council to decide federal immigration policy I'm asking you to decide Petersburg policing policy. But the 2.87 g agreement on the agenda. Hear publicly from chief Holloway immigration attorneys victims advocates clergy. And residents. Debate its costs and benefits and then vote. This agreement began without a public vote. It should not continue without one. >> Next 2 speakers are Zoe Tweedy and won't triggers. Please go to an open podium state your name address across Street for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. Hello my name is Zoe Tweety I in 4th Street North. Good afternoon. I work full-time for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and I'm the Tampa Bay field organizer for for the organization I also hope all City Council members can make sure they're paying and giving diligent attention to the speakers that are going up today about this issue. The aclu is a non-partisan organization whose mission is to defend strengthen and protect constitutional rights and liberties of all people in Florida. The Saint Pete Police Department charter is to protect the public. But the record continues to show that voluntary 2.87 g agreements do not promote public safety. Instead they harm families encourage racial profiling destroy the community's trust and unnecessarily diver local resources. Notably Vol voluntary 2.87 g agreements deputize local law enforcement to make immigration arrests. Importantly though it also mandates jail sharing and information sharing between local Police Department and homeland security. While we are glad to hear that the Saint Pete Police Department has not engaged in the designation it is designated immigration officer training where the Deo program. This is not an excuse to remain in the 2.87 g agreement by complying with voluntary 2.87 g agreements, the Saint Pete Police Department is still sharing information with ice and he's referring are asked to homeland security through the county jail. Rather we see this as an opportunity for Saint Pete to actually be a leader in Pinellas County a county which has spent in this is a correct number 909 995 million 704,000 $146 on mass deportation, according to the economic Policy Institute for reference that's the equivalent to an rolling. 71,000 Saint Pete residents and Medicaid. Florida law does not require local police departments to enter into voluntary 2.87 g agreement with ice lawyers for the governor and the ag have admitted this in court. In fact the Florida Legislature legislature has considered and rejected a proposed mandate for cities multiple times. The meat this means that see the city of Saint Pete can choose to end its voluntary 2.87 g agreement at any time because no law requires it to have one. It's as easy as terminating any other contract. The city has signed. And despite his throughout the governor does not have the constitutional authority to remove municipal officials who have not been indicted for a crime. We are proud to stand with the people Saint Pete today and calling for the end to the city's 2.87 g agreement as soon as possible. Let us and the chaos caused by these agreements approved prop improve public safety restore trust in the local Police Department and give the people of Saint Pete relief from this unnecessary attack on their civil liberties lets see Pete be a model of Democratic just leadership Pinellas County and beyond thank you. >> One Beach drive Southeast St. Petersburg Florida, 3, 3, 7, o. One. I have 3 points to share with you today one is I want to thank you so much for your support again this year for the scholarship program. We have $16,500 we're only going to invoice for 16,000 because we've got the mechanics component to it we haven't been able to find a successful partnership for that element. But thank you so much for working with supporting these young people in moving them forward in their aviation career. The second point is it's been 2 years this month since we've lost 32 hangers 8 airplanes and 2 helicopters. We don't understand why it's taken 2 years to replace the demolished 10 hangers with the hurricane resistant resilient pre stress concrete hurricane resistant hangars at no cost no tax dollars to the city and you wouldn't have to borrow any money. The group is doing that is hoping to finalize this agreement soon. We're down to where they are down to only one point it would like to get that result, so we can move forward. The last point I'd like to share with you. Those I've had the great ability to work with another part of the city we're working with the marketing and events department they have been doing and totally awesome job on an upcoming historic event that's going to happen at Albert whitted Airport on Oct. 30th. So if you ever see when you see Kerry. O'brien and Tony Leno please that knowledge their professionalism it's been great to work with those people for this event. Thank you so much. Thank you. Next to speakers. Next 2 speakers are Robin Davidoff and Michael Caine through please go to an open podium state your name address across Street for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> Thank you councilmember Robin David of 4, Osprey drive so. And I'm here on behalf of the League of Women, voters and are 500 members. We we take the job of educating voters very seriously and we've worked very hard the last couple months in educating voters about the Geo bond. We did sponsor and a form with MR. Tankersley and we have posted a lot of social media. Information as well as posting our conversation with MR. Tankersley on our website and the more people that we talked to as we educate voters in Saint Pete. The question we get a lot is about accountability and public participation. This is the one thing that seems to concern a lot of voters so to that and we're here to support the hers committee proposal to create these committees and have citizen involvement and transparency we think go a long way to answer voters concerns about this important legislation. We have voted to support the job and we're very proud to do that and work with you. Thank Thank you. Michael kingsford 1, 2, 3, one Monticello Boulevard and Saint Pete. >> First I'd like to apologize to my parents when I got notice of this meeting I was in my garden, so you guys get the view of me that my plants get. I'm also here with regard to the general obligation bond or go bond I'm representing the Sierra Club we are in support of the bond and we hope it gets past. Beyond that we really hope that the management of the bond includes. Ponder Inc of green solutions. More than half a century ago. I was a kid growing up on a farm in New Jersey. My father worked in New York. Periodically I would have the privilege of of accompanying him on the train. And before we got to New York City. We would go through an area called the Meadowlands. Well you look out and you would just see grasses who is a big Marsh and my father would always comment to me that that land would never be developed because that was what absorbs storm waters and without that New York City would flood. I think you might remember pictures of Sandy with cars floating up out of a basement garage is in New York and flooded subways after the Meadowlands was developed. Green solutions are not only cheaper and supportive of our environment. They don't need to be renovated you know some that will always need to be redone mangroves don't they get stronger over time. So I'm or a gym you too. From concept on focus on green solutions when it comes to this kind of resiliency thank you very much for your time. Thank you. Speakers. Thanks to speakers are. >> Worst Russell and Patricia Pena John please go to an open podium state your name address across Street for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> My name is Mary Russell I live at 15 32th Street apartment a one in St. Petersburg I wanted to address the 2.87 g agreement. I believe that the Department of homeland security and ice have shown us all that's the true intent is to terrorize and to brutalize our immigrant communities. In the past year. We have seen this cruelty from the Johnny actions in the street. The inhumane conditions in the detention centers. And the deportation, too dangerous, communities and countries. Even with all that public exposure. Dhs has stated very boldly that they will continue and evil even double down. The same process a process that that they have been showing us for the last year too. They have no intention of changing. In view of that our Petersburg police cooperating with ice is really where the road in the trust of the immigrant community. And this is a a trust that takes a long time to build up, but can be destroyed very easily. My concern is is that what is the line that has to be crossed before the City Council says enough. I hope that the public outcry that is going to grow. We'll encourage our city leadership to find the support and the will to end this agreement and the citizens of St. Petersburg will applaud you and we'll support you in this effort, thank you. Thank you. >> Patricia Patty Jones, 1612 Street North St. Petersburg. I am a Florida native, I'm a resident and homeowner, I'm here to talk about 2.87 g and the opportunity that is presented you with to do the right thing for the right reason by signing the agreement you did the wrong thing for the wrong reasons in the wrong reasons for fear and intimidation. We know that one Key West didn't sign. The state attorney threatened to remove elected officials from their office and very quickly Key West Side. But South Miami which is my hometown. And said no and they sued. They went to court and immediately the state of Florida seated. That in fact they are not required to sign the agreement if you're a city. Now they tried to slip in that if you're a city with jail you might be quite too. But that is not in the law and there is no legal requirement for the city of St. Petersburg to sign that agreement. So it's time to do the right thing for the right reason and I understand how difficult that is becoming the last year in 10 months, we know, but it's just something that has to be done it can be to so. Good luck. I hope you do stand up. I'm sure that once you do you will not be thrown from office. Thanks. >> We have one speaker I'm going to call. Sarah hips Amanda and she went to the meeting space. Please unmute yourself state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> I can hear me, yes we can hear you go ahead please. Also I'm Sarah hips. I am the PRESIDENT Show up relief alliance, a nonprofit for disaster preparedness and relief. I live at first ave North and 23th Street. I just want to take a moment to speak in favor of the Geo bond and the committees. The. Accountability that needs to be taking in account here is that we have an entire Peninsula, but inter city that is very much needing to move forward quickly to protect itself. We have a ball town unpredictable hurricane climate we've seen it this year. And we will continue to see it moving forward a lot of people forget that just because we have it experience something this season does not mean that we are on a downscale we are proven weather wise that we're on the upscale and what that takes from us is absolute preparedness and a lot of times people only look at the area's deeply impacted me write those off because they consider the fact that they are storm surge and those are things that we can't adequately protects from, but we are for getting people like Janine that my nonprofit was able to help where she lived across 4th Street and she was in an area that has never flooded before. But because we were not properly properly prepared to be able to take care of our storm water that came for Helene she flooded and while she only received 5 inches of water. She did have to lose 4 feet of drywall and this is a woman who's a senior citizen is only help was another senior citizen who is also handicapped if it wasn't for nonprofits like mine. I cannot tell you how long she would have sat there. The reality is is that we have so many people who do not have a trust in our government and so when they hear that their taxes are going to increase that what they are going to be responsible for will increase, but they don't know if the city will be held accountable to show up properly for them. What we are given is an amazing opportunity to actually show up for everybody here in Saint Pete, especially those who have been underrepresented and who have been low communicated and shown up for I believe that while this MAY initially feel like a pinch for some people it MAY sound like we're asking too much. In reality we have to absolutely move faster to protect. This amazing city that we live in weather wise. We will be paying exponentially more end individual homeowners renters and landlords will be paying exponentially war to be able to live here and continue to grow cp as it is I have a number of stories like Janine people that you don't think of it consider that didn't live in barrier islands and we don't usually think of but I'm going to leave it with her and and 2. Okay speakers. The next 2 speakers are. Kathy haralson in Franklin. All this please go to an open podium if your name address across Street for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> I counsel my name is frankly now is live at 10 35th Avenue South I'm here representing the council neighborhood associations today. And I remembered Evers I wanted to first off I thinking the minister even all of them for taking the time this year meeting with us very regularly taking your feedback from a resiliency committee. All of our questions and really falling up with really intentional and thoughtful things. The item today for the go bond accountability committee. We're an absolute support of that that was one of the top things that came out from our meetings with. Claude and it especially having representation from all of our different districts. This impacts what we're asking for is the whole city to pay for these types of projects infrastructure and that having a committee that represents all of cp is an important part of that and some you're just and in speaking in favor of that. And that it moves forward and that we can see that that is it an enormous part of what people asked when we talk to them. You know how do we hold our government accountable. This is specifically that mechanism to do that so very excited to see them forward today with all support to thank you. Thank you. Next speaker. >> Good afternoon. My name is Kathy haralson limit 32th ave North 26 Street. In Saint Pete Heights, I've lived in I think 5 different districts in Saint Pete including 30 years in shore acres. So I've had also lived experience with resilience or lack, thereof I want to thank the city is sustainability specialist engineers, hers committee and City Council for your work on the resilience advisory committee and the go bond committee and to the many community organizations bringing attention to these key issues which go hand in hand. I appreciate your willingness to allow for more whole city community involvement in the important work of these committees per what Franklin just stated. And of your converging viewpoints that living nature based infrastructure is a valuable adjunct to the drains pipes and pumps. We all know we need to have to live here successfully. Transparency is not just reports but must include education involvement and commitment to live in bility throughout the community. I was heartened this morning to hear additional items such as he rainfall and drought added to our many resilience and liveability issues reducing heat super tax an increase in our tree canopy and green space is critical to liveability and perhaps to return us to a normal rainfall cycle. Which not surprisingly brings me to the number one topic it's always about. Senator says the trees in Yeah. The scope of work and where the money will come from for the resiliency resiliency project is exactly why I continue to stress. They need to stop the chop keeping in protecting the tree canopy we have left is a critical first step. This is an asset we can't afford to lose and to do that just to build big box houses and neighborhoods after clear cutting the property is not only devastating to her resilience but also to our bottom line. Ups urban tree canopy is functions a powerful form of green infrastructure, so at the end that yields measurable financial returns measuring these as it should be step one in our scope of work. It's also the cheapest first step unlike traditional muni has since like roads and bridges that depreciate and require costly maintenance overtime trees and the only urban asset that appreciate in value as immature multiplying their community dividends exponentially finally ongoing tree-planting is vital of 5 city epa study found that municipalities receive a $1.50 to $3. Indirect benefits for every one dollar invested in planting and maintenance. So again. Thanks to one and all and let the resilience began. Thank you. Next becomes. Next 2 speakers are Courtney pro Corpus and Mary gerken please go to an open podium state your name address or cross Street for the record you'll have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> Hello my name is Courtney prokop us, I'm with the in the immigration justice chairperson of the League of Women, voters, the St. Petersburg area looking at 38th in Haines road. I recently learned that the St. Petersburg Police Department officers regularly participate in the Florida Holocaust museums, law enforcement and society lessons of the Holocaust or l a s training. How fortunate are we to live in a city with world class institutions like that. We're literally right next door to that Museum. Which offers this kind of training. It's a gift too. I'm curious was this Council where about training have you been briefed. What the Police Department training. Im not teacher money. Police were steadily turned away from community policing and steered towards becoming force multipliers for an increasingly authoritarian state. How do you square this history with the present situation. Police officers are being used as force multipliers for immigration enforcement that deadly eroding public trust while also draining our local resources. Zoe Tweedy of so you so clearly articulated. When we're in it it's hard to see it. That's how the saying goes. It's difficult to see the forest for the trees. But we have the gift of the training from the Holocaust Museum. You all have at least 18 months of irrefutable input on the public record against 2.87 g agreements. What are you waiting for. At the beginning of open forum will MISS A stroller was speaking. Several individuals stood silently in solidarity council member. You stopped misses Stoller time and directed us to sit down. When else in history has standing in solidarity been weaponized the irony is not lost on me. And 2.87 g. Now. >> Good afternoon mayor eager can 1345 15th Street North. I'm an active member of Suncoast Sierra Club when I moved to Florida 45 years ago I live in Tampa. But it didn't take me long to realize that Saint Pete's vibe and resources. What is what my by this and where that it's deep in my heart, I've never regretted it. But it always and was in the back of my mind not only is Florida peninsula. But St. Petersburg is on the Peninsula completely surrounded by water. Of course it brings the natural beauty. But it makes us responsible to maintain that. That's not just to keep our trees for wildlife in shade clean shoreline some parks to walk to restore during this time of electronic overload. But we also must plan for the future. When looking for my home must have was high ground. But of course in Saint Pete that's not all really that high. But I took my responsibility personally and seriously. I have solar panels and electric car which I'm luckily charging across the street which is fantastic. I ride my bike whenever possible and I'm building my neighborhood network we help each other. Either through just physical help or resources. We ask each other for help. I'm not asking. For you to do anything that I haven't done. I had to do the resort. Research. I had to make wise decisions and spent spend some money. But I also knew that one Helene and Milton approached. I had done my part. I was prepared this I could be. And luckily my neighborhood was not affected that much we were on high ground we did have trees come down. But I am part of the city and I feel a responsibility for the whole entire city. So yes, I voted, yes on go bond I I believe that we need to back the resources that we need to make us more sustainable and resilient. I attended the first meeting today and I was very encouraged by the 2 committees that they proposed and also the policy that they they put forward and so I hope that that will pass. Thank you very much. Our final speaker is James Scott. Please go to an open podium state your name address across Street for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. The low James Scott here for 49th Street North. So this go bond issue has been this should be a no-brainer if this is on the ballot 2 years ago it probably would be an easy thing to pass right. But there's a there's an art to resilient cities. There's a public engagement and planning process than you adjust the policies and the zoning and land use that what you're building in the right places. The new bill the financing plan and then you asked the public to finance it and at that point the public's behind it because they get it they trust that you know the plan. It says their plan. Well we never did that and and so we had to react in 2024. And I want to commend the administration and Council for putting the gold on the ballot. Because it needs to be done. And that was a courageous thing to do otherwise you'll gonna keep having to hike or utility bills that's the alternative. But we still need to get this right and so you all especially Claude Tankersley and MAY even with opposites in building resiliency. I have heard that loud and clear earlier this year and the items you have today Tucker 8 an advisory board for resiliency to create an oversight board as well for the go bonds that should have come earlier. But here we are and the fact that you all are doing this today. I think is a clear signal to the citizens that you take this seriously. We don't have to rehash how we got here but getting it right today is is really important. So I urge you all to to vote yes on your resolutions today. Especially the resilience plan that's what ties all this together we have dozens of plans. We can't just focus on our infrastructure that like our streets that are pipes. We've got to focus our neighborhoods in our communities. That's what the resilience plan kind of folds together. But we have to put we have a gap we are very vulnerable. Just in 2024. I think it was over almost $250 million and recovery costs for the city, a 102 13 of which was it was permanent damage to our facilities and infrastructure. These aren't abstract costs and so I think it's a shame that a lot of voters are unaware of this issue don't feel ownership of this issue. This is a moment to change that you all today are taking that seriously we as a city need to. So. This is dragged on. The fact that this go bond might fail. It really speaks to the fact that the citizens of Saint Pete. I don't understand this issue and that the city hasn't shown. What the plan is and why it makes sense and how utility bills are the alternative. So I appreciate you all very much I know this has been kind of a sprint this year. Let's shift from being a city that reacts to flooding in disasters to a city that's very proactive and makes his part of our youth those part of our economy part of who we are because that's who we are and we can do better. Thank you for your time. It was a much bigger. Thank you I just want to remind everyone. The fire code prohibits anyone from standing in the aisles or in the back of the room so when it was said that you couldn't stand it's because of fire code prohibits and we do it in every meeting. Thank you. Hoping is closed. Next up we have awards and council members just a little housekeeping before after pic of my daughter at 5 o'clock. So at some pending how long this park takes and 5 o'clock public hearings I have to just go and I'll be back for the rest says he'll be back for it. Most of the 5 additional back. Next up is the one and our mayor is going to present a resolution a memorial tribute to the family and friends. Bill Edwards. Thank you. Good morning, second MADAM Chair. >> Thank you, MADAM Chair members of City Council or city team and members of the public for being with us today, I'm honored to join you to celebrate honor recognize, and most importantly. Remember someone who has been such a part of the growth of the city of St. Petersburg both in the arts and in our community and that's in our friend William bill Edwards. He was a friend to our city and businessman with a passion for the Arts community education youth in all things Saint Pete. We recognize that while we mourn the loss of a remarkable citizen and community leaders. We also celebrate a life that made a lasting impact and the legacy that will continue to shape. The cultural fabric economic vitality and character of our city for generations to come. We honor his life with the joint resolution, a memorial tribute. And at this time I'd like to invite his family his wife joy and children kt and value joining isil well as any friends and family would like to join me for the reading of this resolution. And it reads whereas we are profoundly grieved by the passing of a friend. And the last to the city of William bill Edwards, a visionary businessman philanthropist community leader and devoted champion of the arts. And whereas he understood that cultural institutions, professional sports. Businesses restaurants and community celebrations all contribute to the vitality of the city as investments in the Mahaffey theater. Lane stadium. The rowdies sunda and charitable programs reflected his belief that these places and experiences could bring people together and make St. Petersburg a stronger community and whereas bill Edwards commitment to this community to extended far beyond business sports and the arts. Through the Edwards family Foundation's annual Christmas celebration bill and his family. I mean the holidays, brighter for hundreds of local families and providing meals gifts. Toys and a joyful celebration filled with the spirit of the season. Whereas bill Edwards was equally passionate about the power of the arts to bring people together to educate and inspire our young people to strengthen neighborhoods and create a sense of belonging this commitment to the arts was not simply a financial investment. It was an investment in the identity and future of our city. And whereas St. Petersburg is a better and more vibrant city because he chose to make this community his home to believe in our potential and to invest his time resources and heart in our future. And whereas William bill Edwards has been call from a season of service on Aug. 27th to an internal reward of wrist. Now therefore be it resolved by Mayor candidate he Welch Council chair listen Hannah Woods and the members of City Council of the city of St. Petersburg Florida. That we for ourselves and for the citizens we served. And he served so well. In publicly acknowledged the debt of gratitude. This city owes to William bill Edwards. For his entire ring and steadfast service. Be it further resolved that we expressed to the family of William bill Edwards, our heartfelt condolences with the hope that you will take some measure of consolation in the knowledge that he gave himself wholeheartedly to the service of the city. Biggest question. Thank you so much to give the man is. Councilmember Harvey thank you chair. Mayor thank you for. Thanks to a point in in recognizing. MR. Edwards ladies. Thank you for being here today. When when you look back at at names that are that are on buildings and that you hear and that you're not sure about snow in snow while roads are in roads or Park. Those are the folks throughout our history that that that shaped and made this community and what it is and Bill is one of those people and I still find it interesting that it was scary to be in front of him. >> But on the back end of that now. Against it after a while, but on the back end of that he was going to do good things with that with whatever you brought to him he's going to maybe take a kind of flesh first which have had happened. But what he did for this community is it is measurable. The the the fact that that he had resources available. The any is willing to to use them and commit the family to to help in the city and the citizens of Saint Pete that's awesome. That's incredible. We also did have this time and that is that that is the bigger part of this is that that that throughout all of this and building his career. He amassed inability. And you'll be you'll find as these things go forward you get to you get to hear from other folks that that that we're going to bill was was the part that was more valuable was his counsel. The the advice that he can offer you on how is it that you take this to the next level. What do you look for the resources to build this ad you just you can sit and listen to him forever which is possible because he talked. I think he has a familiar with that as well but this one is this is a name that will be remembered for for will be on us and we'll be on this Council. The bill made an effect on this community that the last and stay here for a very very long time. I am profoundly sorry for your loss but I am I'm privileged to to have known bill and to receive the so this kind words so thank you for being here Mayor thank you for making this happen. Thank you chair. Thank you. I will have to say that. Arie councilmember here has probably a one point or the other and the mayor. And lots of people probably in this room and staff have had conversations with Bill Edwards. There is never question first of all he's a force. An absolute force. He was passionate councilmember Hardin said you know he had advice. Sometimes it's just an opinion and he made sure that you want that you followed it. And that you knew what his opinion was and and you always what I appreciated about that the lead words as you always knew where he stood. There was never a question about how he felt about something you were never taken by surprise. It is what you see is what you get. But you know what with even with that he still would listen to you and you could change his mind on things believe it or not as scary as he could be sometimes as councilmember Harvey pointed out, you could have those conversations and I appreciated that so much about him councilmember Harding putting basically bill Edwards is synonymous with St. Petersburg and he has been a force for this community that just goes it's going to go beyond our lives. The the impact that he has made so I want to thank you for being there and supporting him. Throughout all be endeavors and for giving back to this community. We're very thankful and we are honored that he was part of St. Petersburg so our condolences to you and your family, thank you. Thank you mayor for the beautiful resolution. And thank you for everyone that's here and his family besides his family that's here for Bill Edwards. >> Next up we have legal items to address the first one is I won and can the call near here for that. Good afternoon Council, thank you come home from the City Attorney's Office. Your today on a settlement of the matter this was land revisit a vs. Initially filed against 4 different officers with Police Department, here's Lynn and Mark know it will take a. Ortega was dismissed from this case we reached a resolution last month with plaintiffs counsel this was a section 1983 civil rights action in federal court. The total sum of the settlement is $100,000 this is inclusive of attorneys fees which can be part of this type of seeking approval for anybody has any questions you think you have a motion a second clerk if you can open in JUNE for voting. Council members please enter your votes. In present council members voted clerk please tell you now spoke. MADAM Chair, the motion to approve agenda item I one passes unanimously. Thank you, thank you, everybody. Is there a looker is handling that. >> Good afternoon Sarah Walker with the City Attorney's Office also this is an employment law case that or outside counsel handled a negotiated a settlement. It's the matter of free to ask some versus the city of St. Petersburg us District Court case. Number 8.26 cb 0, 0, 4, 3, 8, It's a settlement in the amount of $60,000 that's inclusive of attorneys fees lost wages and claims for emotional distress. The rule that you have a motion second clerk if you can open machine for voting council members please enter your votes. Being that all present council members voted quick police telling us about. MADAM Chair, the motion to approve agenda item I 2 passes unanimously. Thank you thank you. We move on to reports first item we have is great explorations 2025 26 update. And Julian how the seal is here who's going to cry. The presentation. I am clean. Well thank you for taking the time to listen to our report. This afternoon I appreciate being able to I stand before you. Great explorations has been serving our community for 39 years. Our mission is to stimulate learning through creativity play-in exploration. We are honored to be part of our St. Petersburg community and we value our partnership with the city. Okay over the past year I am proud of the hard work and dedication of all the employees of great explorations. And throughout this report you will see the successes in all the different. Overall we delivered a $176,905 worth of in kind services to the citizens of St. Petersburg. Are busy field trips a season typically is in spring and summer and as you can see during last fiscal year we hosted 37 free field trips to schools such as. Campbell Park Clinton elementary Jamerson Lakeview maximo and that's just to name a few. A couple years we have invested in hiring an evaluator who spends the time to immerse yourself in programs and exhibits and really see are we meeting the needs to communi are we doing our job we making an impact and as you can see 9200% field trips have said they've enjoyed their experience and their educational programs. We received numerous requests and needs for scholarships and we are very pleased to be able to offer 57 scholarships to children living in St. Petersburg. As you MAY be aware we along with many other cultural institutions have lost funding at the federal level state level and local level a lot of these grants have covered our outreach programs that have gone into neighborhoods and schools and broken down transportation barriers for every child to learn through hands-on education. However this past year we did, but we did provide 50 community outreach is here in St. Petersburg as we believe there should be no beer barrier to hands-on learning. And our surveys show that many of our activities were fun and educational. During this past fiscal year we provided 2062 free admissions and memberships. We are honored to continue to be a resource to our community as we continue to rebuild after 2 major destructive Hurricanes. One of our favorite things to do as an organization is to partner with other nonprofits and service organizations. We know that together we can make a bigger impact here in our community. This past year we held 63 free Museum rentals to area nonprofits and this next slide. We'll time. I behind they're here. These just name a few of the many nonprofits that we partner and provide free space to on a regular basis. As mentioned earlier we believe in no barriers for children to learn through hands-on education. We have many programs on site at the museum as well as in our community and this just list a few. That you MAY have heard of through social media and out in our community. This past year we installed many new exhibits and experimentation Zahn this list, a couple of them. For our members and our guests and our future leaders. Great explorations holds many accreditations we belong to some of the top associations in the museum industry and we have received countless awards. Great exploration continues to represent the city of St. Petersburg locally throughout the state and across the nation. So what's next for great explorations. We are growing as mentioned in last year's report our vision is to open a discovery center. The discovery center is where you take your hands on science experimentation you merge it with the hands on learning of an early childhood center that is the discovery center and great exploration wants to take it one step further to tie it to careers and get our use the excited for what they want to be when they grow up. We are working very closely with Pinellas County schools to find a location that fits the needs of our community. We're very excited for what the future could hold for our community and for great explorations. Thank you for your time this afternoon I appreciate being able to report this to you. Thank you Andy, you have any board members here with you I do thank you for asking more members that they're here for another item. Several my board members have joined me as well as our leadership team. Great so can raise your hands. >> All you got a great turnout and really not everybody gets as many board members at an event. >> In job councilmember given thank you very much chair and thank you so much and sling for being here. I am a product of the St. Petersburg science Center. One of my fondest childhood memories growing up in Pinellas County schools is attending field trips annually to the science Center. There's something about children's museums and institutions of learning they give you this cultural experience that really helps to broaden your horizons that holistic experience I think really helps the whole child week getting a well-rounded perspective of careers, right the possibilities beyond just the world that you see every day wherever you come from can you talk a little bit about the interactive hands-on learning experiences that great expirations provides for the children who are able to attend. Right now we specialize in early childhood, hands-on learning so our our demographic to 0 to 10 and what we're learning as want to age out of great explorations there really isn't anywhere to go. Here in Pinellas County. So that's the gap we want to fill and in the past 5 years we have partnered with Pinellas County schools and we've brought the hands-on learning to middle schools. We have been in every single Pinellas County middle school serving 8 grade with our traveling planetarium program. 6 grade with interactive steam crates and 7th grade has really benefited from both of those programs combined. That is great information, I'm looking at well traders because he knows he and I have had multiple conversations with Barrington Irving about some aviation components that we can try to bring here to St. Petersburg specifically with simulators and that sort of thing so we will definitely be following up in conversation with you connect these the Friends of Albert whitted airport. But I'm excited about the growth can you speak a little bit about your conversations if you are able to that you've been having with the school district. It's my understanding there MAY be some closures and consolidations that could be possibly benefit you all as you look to expand. Right now we are considering Bay point elementary the current site which is an incredible area to be end because those are steam focus schools. >> We are exploring other options as more schools continue to close but we're really excited about being anywhere in Pinellas County and offering hands-on education to everybody. It is amazing and exciting looking at here Hannah what's in some of your board members because a few of us were together last night with Shirley Proctor pull a foundation. And I'm wondering are you all working with them at all can you speak a little bow, look like your partnerships I'm thinking about like even the gathering of women in there sunflowers organization story 7 to 7 partnerships that can help expand your footprint. As mentioned in my report, we love partnership, so yes, all of our area nonprofits were speaking to a lot of them because again we know together we can make a bigger impact we don't have any solid partners right now we just want to make sure we continue to design something that is meaningful to the community of where we will be serving. Well as we unfortunately have to brace for funding cuts wherever they MAY be if it happens. I certainly think there are possibilities when it comes to bridging that gap so no children left behind and I really appreciate what great expirations doing as we talk about bridging that gap on the opportunity gap which you all are doing you're working with those high poverty income areas, you're working with those areas that have a lot of them really you know we're talking about social economic challenges and what you're doing is you're exposing them to worlds beyond what they see every day and I'm so grateful for what you all do so thank you all so much into you and your board keep up the great work. Thank you thank you chair. Thank you councilmember councilmember fix Sanders. Thank you thank you for the presentation in my words they're going to be very short but I want to fly in my head you employee of the Mount Daniel Sanders, thank you so much and again thank you for what you do for the city safe use for. Thank you chair, thank you. Angeline always great work from you and your team. You have a fantastic for councilmember Givens mentioned we were yesterday, it's really part of color Foundation event and obviously Donald Cochran who sits on your board sits on our board so lots of opportunities there to collaborate to collaborate all ways and this is to me when you think about great acts. This is our cities. Children's Museum. I mean this is our city children's Museum period. And when I travel different places and my daughter was young you always found the children's Museum to take your child to it's not only serving our community locally with the preschool and everything else that it does. But it also is opportunity obviously for others to come and visit to bring their children to enjoy our city. Not just the beaches, but the children's Museum in other museums and so you know it gives so much to the community. Not just here for those that visit so I thank you for all your efforts, I'm also on the Tampa Bay water board. Another great partner of yours and it's always wonderful to see how much you put online new exhibits. Last time you were talking about the wonders of wetlands exhibit that with that and the water board collaboration and now you have new exhibit so you're always growing and changing and engaging with children and it's wonderful. So on a little bit about the preschool, how many children are you serving roughly at the preschool right now, and growth in all that all that where do you see the priest one. We have a 110 children currently in our preschool and we've open to new classrooms that we are currently enrolling I believe we've offered 21 spotlight could be off on that number. But we knew we needed to expand last year reported we had over 300 kids on the waitlists we have contacted all those families and we've gotten our wait list down to about a 100 kids, 300 kids on the waitlist out. That's fantastic. So you're growing obviously the preschool and your services, yes that's great and I know you worked fantastically with sunken gardens. Yes, another wonderful partner those Sarah made here today. But he's always talk about how wonderful this work with great acts so anything that we can do for you we're here for you you're my district, I'm always available. But I want to just make sure that you know we appreciate the work that you do I always look forward to this report that you provide to us so thank you for that and thank you for the board members who took the time out of your jobs to come over here not just like support the organization all the time because we know you do this voluntarily it's not for the big paycheck. It's because you care about great acts. But then you came in you sat here a City Council meeting to support Angeline so thank you didn't go unnoticed. Thank you very much. Thank you thank you for your time. Next up we have to which is the home American rescue plan. Capacity-building Grant update and 8. >> It reads like or director housing and community development. We are here this afternoon to bring you a report on our nonprofit capacity building home Arp said contract with directions for living the home our program was a part of the American rescue act of 2021. This was awarded as the home American rescue plan program to provide housing services and shelters to individuals experiencing homelessness or other vulnerable populations. There was an assessment need done in 20 to 2. And one of the top 3 needs identified through that assessment was capacity building for nonprofits therefore the city carved out $832 for nonprofit capacity building on 12/12/2020 4 this Council awarded that 2 directions for living for an organizational readiness assessment with the state certification for the certified community behavioral health clinic and so we are here today to be here with APRIL lot who is PRESIDENT And ceo of directions for living to tell us about the success and the future of this wonderful opportunity in Cuba. >> Good afternoon lot. Hi thank you for having me here today, it's a pleasure. It's always good to bring good news and to say thank you for your support I have to say that the city of Saint Pete I brag on you often why don't come before you often I hope your ears burn, sometimes I say probably too many times a week that you are the best funding partner for community nonprofits we are direction is for as you know home bases in Clearwater, but we serve all of Pinellas County and when this opportunity came forward, I have to say many of our funding partners are not forward thinking like the city of St. Petersburg in particular and who are investing in capacity. Lets see lets get this. So right now. We haven't really talked in this city Council meeting today about mental health care, but often you you hear about it it comes up. Often in our community and right now as you probably know our crisis response system is very fragmented it's expensive depending on where you live and which law enforcement agency is going to respond to you responds differently in terms of how that mental health crisis is going to be handle but what I will tell you is usually when a mental health crisis happens. It usually after midnight it usually in the middle of the night and they often end up in the emergency room in jail and other very high-cost doors that they're going through and in often for no particular gain I have to say some summer Baker acted they go into the hospital. We stabilize them and then they come out and they're really not much better off than when they went in. So what what the federal government in and locally across the country. I have really been working on for the last many many years which some of you MAY have heard about or have it is developing a certified community behavioral Health Center which is often referred to as acc bhc so if you're familiar with fq agencies are federally qualified health centers and many of you probably are familiar with him health is a partner I believe of of the city of Saint Pete in any case acc bhc is comparable to an f uh see only it is to meet the emergency and or ongoing mental health needs of our community. So cbs she really is intended to be a one-stop or an urgent care clinic for mental health addiction. Services oftentimes looking at kind of social determinants of health which include housing and emotional support and financial assistance and all the things that our vulnerable our most vulnerable in our community need. So we used this capacity building a $151,000 to really start looking at the essential functions of Assisi bhc the state of Florida has not yet adopted cc bhc certification. We are probably a year or 2 away from that. But we'd are actions for living as a community mental Health Center want to be ready to apply for that certification in order to be ready. The capacity-building funds became particularly important. So right now. We are working to address same day access which I think is what was most needed at the time access to care we want people to be able to walk in and get mental health services, the same day. You might have heard over the years of your service that people are often put out at 2 to DECEMBER. If you call right now to get a mental health appointment or meeting with a psychiatrist or to get meds that somebody would say to you right that that that appointment is scheduled about 2 DECEMBER. Right now if you walk into directions for living any one of our clinics you will get a same day appointment we will see you the same day and you will walk out with having your needs met. These are the advantages of implementing acc bhc access to care the cost of care and then of course the long-term financial sustainability which is I think what most of us are worried about certainly in this current environment. What pps stands for is the prospective payment system. I'm not going to go into that, but ultimately we are we are working to achieve that status. Ultimately acc bhc really is trying to get the right people to the right care at the right time by the right provider it kind of thing and so that th