City Council

>> Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and your elected officials our mayor Ken Welch district one Council chair. Hopefully Curtis. District 2 Brendan Barber. Is to 3 Mike Harding district 4 Council vice chair, Liz said Hannah with district 5 Deborah take Sanders. District 6 Gina Driscoll. Warri Givens junior and district day Richie Floyd. >> JULY 17th 2025 City Council meeting if we could do a roll call please give in here Your kids and er's year, just cool. Okay, this afternoon we will have our invocation given by reverend Leon Tay toques from new Jerusalem missionary Baptist Church and then please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Ever thank you MR. CHAIRMAN into each of you City Council and the residents of St. Petersburg we bow with me. Our father our GOD. Our creator are ruler and our helper. We gather here today yet for another opportunity to celebrate organizations for their silver work. But also to discuss matters of importance as we improve maintain sustain and cure rate this place we call home and the land which you've given us Dominion over help those who speak and those who decide to be open-minded to be true to be honest and clear ruling it. But above all consider it over more than just budget. But in building a community that is safe to live to love to work and to play and made the truce and continue to shine in our city, the great city of St. Petersburg and your great name we still this prayer, a man. It's of America. A republic which it stands one nation under GOD indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you please be seated reverent thank you for that beautiful invocation thank you for joining us here this afternoon. Okay council members we have an agenda in front of us entertain a motion for approval of approval that can have a motion a second on the agenda seeing is no other council members wishing to speak clerk could you please open machine for voting. Council members please send your votes seems all present council members have voted clerk please telling announce the vote MR. CHAIRMAN to approve the agenda passes unanimously with council member driskell being absent ok thank you council members, we have a consent agenda in front of us we have any cards on the consent agenda. MR. Clarke. Carson here, okay, we have a consent and Jenner front of us council members, I'll entertain a motion motion for approval. And a couple seconds we have a motion a second on consent agenda, sings and other council members wishing to speak clerk could you please open a machine for voting. Council members present your votes seems all council members a vote a clerk police telling announce the vote Jim was to approve the consent agenda passes unanimously the council Richards school being absent ok, thank you we're going to move into open for MISTER Clerk please read the rules wish to address City Council on subjects other than public. He requires an additional items that's on the agenda please sign up with the clerk. Only the individual wishing to a sign the open form see only city residents owns the property business owners in the city. Or the employees MAY speak all issues discussed in open form must be limited to issues related to the sea city of St. Petersburg government. If you're speaking to an item on the agenda you MAY only speak wants during the open for one item comes up on the engine in order for not in order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address Council each individual be given 3 minutes to speak and after which the microphone will be muted. If you wish to address to the council to the zoom meeting you must use the raise hand feature been in the zoom app or interest are 9 on your phone at the time the agenda item is addressed when it's your turn to speak up and needed an exit state your name and address at the conclusion of your comments or when you reach the 3 minute time limit you will be muted. Always hands will be lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method participation use normal rules apply including 3 minute time limit on comments the in a presentation materials must be submitted in advance of the meeting and the rules of the core if my public comment is disrupted by violations of the rules of decorum shares authorized to accept public comment by alternate means including it MAY only we do have speakers chair. It comes to a time. Stephen Barr feel and Molly price preserve what I the podium state your name and address for the record and you will have to be minister addressing the council. My name is Stephen bear field. >> And at 5 oh 3, 6, Casella way South in the Lakewood estates neighborhood in St. Petersburg I'm here is the PRESIDENT Of steps the St. Petersburg international folk fair society. There have been some recent changes to the cultural arts application process that excludes spinoffs from being able to apply through the standard procedure for cultural arts Grant this year. That amount has been increased to $20,000 and had been part of our planning. We have traditionally received the grant requests that we have filed with the city of St. Petersburg and about 3 months we will be celebrating 50 years of existence as the international folk fair society and next MARCH will be held at holding our 50th annual international fair. We are thrilled to be the longest running continually present event in the city of St. Petersburg and we are appealing to City Council as well as to the mayor's office for special consideration funding for the coming year. We've you have received an e-mail when the last 24 hours you MAY not have caught up with it yet know what were you with reading that he hoped to you but the details of what we're asking for and what we would like to do with that money and how we think it will benefit the city are all there. So I just wanted to bring that to your attention and we look forward to interchange and exchange and figuring out how we can best move forward, thanks very much for your time. >> Hello I'm marlie price by 5034 32th ave North usually I like to be pretty short and to the point but I'm going to read my folks I want to get this right. So I was happy to be able to attend the hearse committee meeting this morning and while most of it was pretty high level. I was kind of surprised at the lack of hard numbers in the presentation. And I'm sure you're all aware that a few months ago the county voted to withdraw from Duke's clean energy connection program as they weren't seeing the appropriate return on investments and I was surprised this wasn't even actually mentioned outside of councilmember Floyd's comments near the end. And it sounds like it's kind of another way for the city to hand over a giant bag of cash to Duke with no substantial check ins or real accountability and the Republicans on the Clearwater City Council and the county Commission have kind of been running laps around our City Council because right now people in your districts can afford their electric bills and if they do fall short, they're hit with massive reconnection fees afterwards, and as residents, you know we don't have a choice in our electric provider, but you're aware that the one moment in time when we have any leverage with Duke is coming up next summer. And our when our current agreement is finally up and our last agreement was signed in 1996 with Florida power corporation which was later acquired by progress energy and eventually merge with what is now Duke energy and that elaborate history underscores the importance of accountability and an industry that has seen rapid corporate consolidation, especially with companies that benefit from a state sanction monopoly. And so this cop crossroads offers a perfect option for you all, and I'm asking that you and the clean energy connection program and allocate those funds to a feasibility study for public power as we go into negotiations next year prepared for are prepared for negotiations and with our constituents in mind first. >> Thank u next to speakers. We would assume MR. Next McCann what you enter to the meetings placed the state your name and address, you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> I thank you Max, we can to 6 or a 3rd Avenue south of Savannah comment on the proposed budget is this the appropriate time for it. You can't Max you can you can use this time or you can do it at the item. Okay I'm going to do it now thank you very much. >> Here to ask Council to increase funding for complete streams that make it safe to walk and bike and take transit in our beautiful city. I wanted to point out. The. I was looking at the high injury crash network. The other day because that's the kind of thing I do and I noticed that the only section of the mlk that's not on that high injury network is the section that has bike lanes on mlk more that tells me please safe streets work. Now our budget reflects our priorities as a community and if I'm reading the budget the proposed budget right, we have more money for downtown parking then we have for complete streets that tells me that we're prioritizing driver convenience over reducing crashes and saving lives. I think that's a mistake. I'd like to make it safe. For example for kids to bike to school. I think that's a better use of but being here and remember we can't count on state and federal funding. These kind of projects that please increase that budget item. Thank you very much everybody for all you do. >> Justin c once you get into the meeting space please state your name and address, you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> Thank you so much my name's Justin Conway I reside at 10 35th Avenue South in Campbell Park neighborhood. We're excited. We just learned that we're getting a crosswalk funded at 7th Avenue South and mlk which is a part of the complete streets network. It will be the first complete streets project funded in the South When I was doing my research in the past 10 years of the program. I'm here today to ask for the South cra tifft dollars to fund capital improvements to fund complete streets implementation including neighborhood greenways we know that complete streets and things like neighborhood greenways improve the quality of life and safety for everyone, especially in the South side where a quarter residents don't own a car. Thank you so much for your time and have a good day. >> speaker Garrett Marple once you get to the meetings place please unmute your still state your name and address. You have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> On her body care of our poll 4021 38th Avenue North. And I just wanted to call in today. Advocate for the complete streets. Funding by the city to be you know potentially increased to maybe double what it is now I think $200,000 nowhere near what we need right now what we need is a safe. City for everyone to get around with this. You know biking or walking. It can't just be about cars and we're never going to get there we're all going to be dead. If we continue to find it at this rating. I mean that in terms of old age are all like by the time this all gets implemented. Well all the old or by the time it out so I just really wanted to advocate for an increase we have an opportunity here with the budget coming up, you know to get some more money push towards making streets safer for everybody and that helps the economy help people's health. You know it helps a million different things to have that and Saint Pete's already got a good start with some of the bike lanes we have and some of the crosswalk but we have so much more to go and we desperately desperately need more funding and as someone said earlier. We don't we can't count it from the state we can count on it from fat so we have to count on from you guys to please please find complete streets, I'd like to see a million towards complete streets. But you know 1.2 would be great to doubling what we have to thank you very much. >> Elizabeth winter and Alec Schechter please go to the podium state your name and address for the record you have 2 minutes to address City Council. My name is Elizabeth winter. If you want the there's a little button on the side down kind of near hit area. My name is Elizabeth went to my address is 8, 2, 6, 0, 28th Avenue North. And I'm here to ask you to support the feasibility study for public energy, thank you. Thank you. >> Hello my name is Alex Schachter I live at the 5034 32th ave North and I'm also here to advocate for support of a feasibility study, especially with tomorrow JULY 18th being the first anniversary of the mayor's coveted Duke energy day. I think it is a great opportunity for the state to take a step in the right direction to look at our other options with a feasibility study I work in it consulting and generally at the end of contracts. You look at your options you look and see if you should stay with your partner if you should continue outsourcing if you should in source I think that would be a great thing for the city to look into especially with the anniversary tomorrow. Thank you. If I speak MISTER Chair William Ballard please go to a podium state your name and address for the record you have to MISS Of the City Council. >> CHAIRMAN Gurneys members of Council. My name is William Ballard what MR. Ballot would you mind now raising that back up a little bit short. Are cited 5, 5, 6, obama shores drive. Here in St. Petersburg I commend the city for having included in the 26 budget. The accelerated upgrade to the sewer and stormwater systems. Regret that the fiscal year 26 fund summaries for the South Saint Pete and downtown Saint Pete districts show that there is a lack of understanding about who pays for tax increment finance projects. These summaries for the 2 districts contain a sentence that says essentially that property taxes generated by any value over the base year go into these funds that's faults the statement first appeared in the summer of 33. When the city was working on it so fy 14 budget and that same summer a certain group here in Petersburg had organized the referendum. 2 because the termination of a pier project. The proponents of the pier project which of course included the city. Was stating that only the property owners in the district to which the improvement will go. We'll pay for a project. Truth is a tax increment money for these districts presently, and for the last years as far back as you want to go has come from annual contributions from the general fund and if they come from the general fund, everybody pays pro rata. For the services and the taxes and the difference is when you have a campaign. If council members and citizens don't understand who's paying. You can get some awful bad results expect to deliver to each of you. This coming week. A very short memo. And it just takes 4 or 5 public record documents to prove that what I have just told you here today. I appreciate your attention and up hope that ultimately you will. Have an Adu on the agenda. The removal of this misleading so much from those summaries thank you. >> Okay we will close open form and go into awards and presentations and we're going to start with d one are get ready for back to school month proclamation given by our own doctor. Sharon Brown. >> Well good afternoon Council chair and members City Council it is another great day in the city of St. Petersburg my name is DR. Sharon Brown I I am your director of education and youth opportunities on behalf of Mayor Welch I'm pleased to celebrate and recognize a small sample of community organizations and nonprofits who work. >> All year long. Including fundraising to prepare our students to return to school prepared with school supplies in critical services. As I call your organization's name please feel free to stand where you are or join me at the podium. Represented today are Jennifer Jacobs with close to kits. Jennifer we are okay. Emily strider of junior league Saint Pete. Donny Williams of Knight riders Van club. Renee Edwards of Sat. Shops. Aires of Euclid Saint Paul neighborhood Association. Debbie Sloan of our savior Lutheran Church. If you go and city employees Kris Lampley and the Cole Holcomb. And the proclamation reads whereas physical cognitive social and emotional development of children are crucial for school success and whereas literacy health and nutrition are all critical components of school success ensuring children are prepared for achievements in school and in life and whereas various local nonprofits and community organizations host annual free community events to provide k 12 students with a plus the role of resources, including free school physicals medical screenings dental and vision exams backpacks and school age specific supplies. Age appropriate books, school uniforms and healthy snacks all in support of school success and whereas the city of St. Petersburg appreciates the collective support of area volunteer groups and not-for-profit organizations who work to support thousands of students and their families. We have for 10's of years help local children receive a plethora of resources and services so they can be successful in the classroom. Now therefore I DR. Strong Brown on behalf of Kenneth t Welch mayor of the city of St. Petersburg Florida. Do hereby proclaim JULY 20 25 as get ready for back to school month in the city of St. Petersburg and encourage all residents to join us in this observance by spreading awareness 2 local families of the support available to them. And now if any of our representatives are like to say a few words you know you have 60 seconds to do so. >> Thank you guys for the proclamation, I'm Renee with Sat. Shop's all of my partners are sitting in the front row. Saint Pete Rotary donates 1000 backpacks live love Saint Pete donates 1000 backpacks and one-thousand uniforms and MR. City of Derby Lane was a huge financial contribution. So I want to say thank you to you guys and we are all gust, second. Tropicana lot one from 4 to 8. No registration is required to show up into this can get the items, thank you. >> My name is Don Williams PRESIDENT And there has been a clue. Newsnation been together for 41 years. And we have been given backpacks for kids for at least 35 of those years. And it's an opportunity for us to go back to the community as well as understanding the importance of education and with backpack giveaway we include the parent and we have a from field day with food and backpacks and we want to continue to do it. But we truly think the seated. It well they do intend to recognizing this. >> a little on the call will come on the supervisory at Davis the recreation center and we are headed a backpack giveaway on Aug. Second it's well but we're doing Ayers from 10:00pm to 02:00pm and our donations in stuff have come from the community at Davis the recreation center. So join us registration is required. But we're asking all that can will to join us on Aug. Second at Davis the recreation Center for our that that could win. >> I'm Britt Johnson from the junior League of St. Petersburg thank you for including us in the proclamation we are honored to be recognized for a back-to-school efforts. Alongside so many other great organizations here in Saint Pete we're hosting our 29th annual back-to-school care fair next Sat. JULY 26 from 08:00am to noon at the Johnnie Reuben Clark Center in partnership in co-hosted with our friends ever health you are here in the back as well. Since 1997 when we first started we've given out over 33,000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies. 8,000 medical and dental exams. Thousands of age appropriate school age books for school age children and snack packs healthy nutritious snacks we offer a community resource Center for parents who are attending with their front with their families and then we also have a really fun Street fair that's the kids can see fire trucks e the little raise mascot. All the really fun things so we're so excited again we are hosting this next Sat. JULY 26 from 08:00am to noon at the John Hughes court senator thank you. >> Chris Lea plea supervisor to Davis center. Take a little different twist I'm not ready to win back thank you we as a nation working with the teachers. The teachers within our community need those different classroom supplies because the teachers have to pay for was packed with supplies. So I took the opportunity once I got employed. You know they've cinema 25th year with the city so what I would not give us idea was to get away from the backpack drive we just do it. But actually focus more on the teachers go to teachers have spend their own money to actually get those defined as any for schools that we get different items that I think that all teachers in need and then to get a chance to actually putin their request and we personal a question we have a daughter Brown as far as filling those requests and also other different community. Groups within the within the city different in that organization everything else that helps that was well with that is our customers to the scene and that is on JULY 31th this year. >> Everyone I'm Alexa Ramirez secretary for the Euclid Saint Paul neighborhood Association I'm very impressed to be standing up here with these guys we host we're on our 4th year for annual back to school bash neighborhood block party, which is partially funded this year by the city of Saint Pete through many grants and the youth engagement grants. And we as a neighborhood because of lottery system in Saint Pete, the kids don't necessarily all go to the same schools of this is an effort for kids to get to know their neighbors. And also give back to our neighborhood school which is Woodlawn right across the street from us. So we do collect. School supplies and children's clothing and stuff like that to donate to the school at the event and then take it over to with on the following week. So also trying to support the teachers with those the school bus. Thanks everyone. Jennifer Jacobs executive director of clothes to kids we also don't do back packs but we do a complete week's worth of school clays 2 children in our community all free of charge, so they get to shop for a pair of she's 5 new pairs of socks. >> 5 new pairs of underwear, 4 bottoms, 5 tops address, a jacket and the fun word that everybody doesn't expect for me to say at this meeting 5 pairs of underwear on you. Pairs of socks and fun, excess or ease as we have those available. So this year we are anticipating serving more than 7800 children for back to school. So thank you for this proclamation we appreciate it because it is definitely back to school at close to kids. I am joined today by one of our board members and Debbie very base as well as my development manager Sarah shine and we are just thrilled to pieces that you have highlighted the great work and what a privilege to stand along with these other nonprofits also helping the children in our community because they are feature thank you. >> ok it's time to get ready to go back to school. Thank you, yeah, councilmember Hannah what's my share hey let's take you chair well thank you mayor for the proclamation doctor Sarah Brown for everything you do. For our community in terms of education and for all the organizations that are here present. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You know in our community I some of their doors and poppers y'all are the doers you know and that's important. You know because a lot of people caught but it takes work to do and by that we all have busy lives. We all have something that you know we have to do every day and work in all this and what you're doing you're doing because of the love for your community and your community so appreciates that so I just want to tell you how much I appreciate you all for actually doing that because believe it or not you are small part of the community that does that right because the doors are are not the 50% or not the 60% are much smaller part of the community but their impact. >> Is just huge. So I want to start out by thanking you all. Collectively I want to give a shout out to a couple of groups and my community you could say pause because I've watched you grow I've watched all the initiatives that you all do to engage or community. I love the back to school. Bash that you all do to find a way to give back to the neighborhood school which is Woodlawn elementary which needs the support just like all our neighborhood schools. And that is just shows that's an example of how neighborhoods can go out and engage our schools right now we're under attack in many ways and they have less and less funding and it takes a village it truly does to support the schools and the best villages to villages that surround those schools and those are the best voices that can actually amplify what our children need so thank you all for amplifying that and making sure that you're giving back to your neighborhood school. I also want to give a shout only proud I know when a Edwards you mention, live love Saint Pete. But I remember melody when you started your organization with the same goal and he reached out to me about forming a nonprofit and just that he's another example of somebody who sees a need she wide to serve. >> Underserved children that needed supplies for school and he made that her goal and she reached out and figure it out and figured out a way to kind of brand merchandise so she can sell 100% of the proceeds. Help hark the community that is most needed so thank The for having that vision and actually following through you've been doing this for a few years and it's growing and it's good to see you in festivals in different organization is trying to do that and a 100% 100% of the proceeds go to the our schools, so just a shot out everyone. Thank you getting Gage and these are good organizations for those of you that are not engage with these organizations here they are and reach out to them, thank you so much, thank you. Councilmember Givens thank you so much chair and thank you to our community partners of all the work that you do COUNCILMAN Hand which he said it best it takes a village to really does take a village to raise a child and I thank you all for being a part of my village. I'm looking at the Williams brothers with the Knight riders vancleave and I can remember my mom bringing me to your back-to-school giveaways and many years you all supply us with the necessities and the tools that we needed to be successful my siblings and I and I say thank you for that, I'm looking at the junior it's an honor to serve on your citizens advisory committee to be a part of the planning of care they're in here. We are now I'm this is my 5th year that I've been on the board and I'm so happy to see the physical that you guys are providing for these students the book the backpacks all the school supplies. School supplies are essential. COUNCILMAN Florida. Now we've both been educators and we both know that students need the supplies to succeed, and brother Lampley we know that it's lasting teachers a lot of times we go into our own pockets to supply these resources that our students are needing so thank you so much for thinking about our classroom teachers. I think that's important as well and again I just want to make sure that we notify residents that we put our residents on notice of these back-to-school giveaways one of the things that frustrates me so much as you all host, these events you're giving out free resources free school supplies free haircuts, and people don't take advantage of it. And so I just want to make sure that we do all we can to do our due diligence to make sure that we push this out there so that our residents are taking advantage of this and there's no supplies left over. So thank you so much. Thank you chair, thank you councilmember fix. Sanders. >> Thank you and thank you. It's been said that school supplies are essentially Novak in 38 when I started my first back to school event and I'm here just to say thank you because I know what it takes to pull host these things and put them together it is not an easy initiative to do so and I really want to thank Chris. When we in 2013 we were calling teachers saying you know asking for donations for supplies. And one teacher laughed and you might hurt my food, she lived right in my face and say it. Donations we need donations and I was like you know what we never thought about that we do school supplies in AUGUST and we think those schools a place opposed to last all year long. And we missed that mark so to hear that our teachers our focus now and we actually start to hosting a back-to-school event in JANUARY. So we AUGUST and we would do JANUARY because we really did and those of us that have small this school supplies don't last all year round. So that each of you that have your needs you know you give uniforms that's the costs you give it vancleave yeah go to Vancouver back-to-school giveaway they Fiji well. They feed you very very well and it's all such a very welcoming experience. So as a parent, sometimes it can be humbling to go and say you need help to provide school supplies for your children. But I am familiar with the majority of the back-to-school events that are represented here today. Go and not feel any of the way then grateful, improve is to be able to receive those services. So thank you for your donations. Thank you for being gracious in your delivery, not making parents feel any kind of way about having to come in get free supplies, free uniforms, free underwear and socks, whatever that looks like. Thank you and continue to do that. Again and for our teachers. It was that was an eye-opening moment for me when we realized that he just been so much of their own money for school supplies for these children and so whatever we can continue to do to do that. I applaud you own. I thank you on behalf of a parent and we have of someone and hosted a back-to-school event for. 7 to 7, 8 years twice a year. It's a lot of work. So thank you for all that you put into this is greatly appreciated and thank you for that announcement of the back-to-school events. I think when talking about. >> Coming back to school my bring jumps in 2 different ways. One. I can't believe we're talking about are already going back to school. And then my parent brain goes, yes, please get them back to school. >> Just I'm just so I know I said it earlier when we were downstairs, I'm just so thankful for the work that. >> I mean vice chair Hannah what's touched on it. It's just amazing to see multiple organizations come together and Rowan the right role in the right and the same direction. It's just amazing to see that and again I just I think I'm going to be using this word, this phrase a lot, but it just makes my heart happy it makes my heart it makes my heart full to see that and so please know that all of those organizations our doors open we want to continue to support you in whatever way we can and please don't hesitate to come knock on our door so we can do that so thank you and keep doing it and I can't believe we're already going back to school but here we go. Thank you so much everybody okay we're going to move into d 2 where we have our Phi beta Sigma fraternity international conclave week proclamation. Given to us by councilmember Givens. >> Thank you so much chair and talking to my brother Sean the pleas of the dice. Thank you so much. Appreciate you so much chair didn't just moments. 111 years ago. Our attorney was found on the campus of Howard University by 3 black collegiate aged men born just one generation removed from slavery. >> They had a vision. A 111 years later the cause endures and the dream lives on as we MARCH on exemplified the high ideals of brotherhood scholarship and service today over 200,000 members strong and 15 countries on 4 continents we celebrate the enduring legacy. Phi beta Sigma fraternity incorporated our work has a ripple effect that spans throughout the community and across the globe impacting lives wherever we go while promoting the high ideals of leadership and academic excellence as we strive to make the world a better place. The proclamation. Whereas Phi beta Sigma fraternity incorporated founded in 19 14 at Howard University has for more than 111 years uplift the communities worldwide through its steadfast commitment to the principles of brotherhood scholarship and service whereas inspired by the motto culture for service and service for humanity. The fraternity has made significant contributions in the areas of education business social action and civic engagement. Positively impacting countless individuals and families and whereas Phi beta Sigma fraternity incorporated will convene its international conclave for Mon. JULY 14th through Sun. JULY 20th 20 25 in the city of Tampa bringing together visionary leaders and dedicated members from diverse backgrounds and professions to advance the fraternities mission of lasting civic impact and whereas the theme of the 2025 conclave dream big act bold and believe is a powerful call to action that honors the fraternities Ridge legacy while inspiring bold and innovative solutions to today's most pressing social challenges and whereas the members of Phi beta Sigma fraternity have dedicated leadership in addressing social injustices, promoting educational equity supporting economic advancement and building strong community partnerships across the globe and whereas the city of St. Petersburg is proud to welcome distinguish organizations to our region and to celebrate more than a century of meaningful and transformative change. Now therefore I Corey Givens on behalf of Mayor Kenneth t Welch of the city of St. Petersburg do hereby declare Mon. JULY 14th through Sun., 7/20/2025 as Phi beta Sigma fraternity international conclave week in St. Petersburg we encourage all residents to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Phi beta Sigma fraternity incorporated to our city state nation in the world. In witness, whereof I have here on to set my hand and cause the official seal of the city of St. Petersburg Pinellas County in the state of Florida tba fix the 17th day of JULY 20 25 mayor Kenneth t Welch thank you. >> Councilmember given any of your fraternity brothers like to make any comments. >> Okay yeah. Inglis councilmembers I my name is Patrick at the Jax and I'm the vice PRESIDENT Of the that the omicron Sigma chapter of Phi beta Sigma fraternity bring you greetings on behalf of our PRESIDENT Joe Cedric who is across the way at sessions and I as well as our honorable international PRESIDENT Christopher Wray and this for the next few days. Thank you so much it is it is a wonderful thing to be acknowledged for the work that we do a month either divine 9 peers in this great city of St. Petersburg we will continue to uphold our values and thank you so much. >> It sure don't want to take everybody's opportunity away now all right councilmember fix Sanders. Thank you thank you and congratulations on your conclave thank you for being a distinguished member of the divine 9. And you look so nice and that blue and white I did not realize some of you were sigma's I didn't know Cruz was missing was so I am just so honored to know then you've taken your service to a completely different level of pasta educational. A round of doing for the community and that you are PRESIDENT. So again councilmember given us thank you for the acknowledgement bubble importantly gentleman, thank you for all that you do read them is a completely different world for those that are not a part of it, but the number one driver is service. And so for that I thank you so much. Thank you chair. Thank you. >> I would be remiss to say that our clerk is also a member of the fraternity. So we want to congratulate MISTER Clerk as well and so, listen councilmember Givens having met some of your your brothers and shared some shoe dialogue and and here in some of their stories that you picked well and so. I'm not sure about picking you. >> just what a wonderful organization that and what a wonderful thing to be a part of I know I made a joke earlier downstairs, but you know my dad was in a fraternity and to this day. He spends a weekend the year with that with his brothers. And it's something that has MAY to fundamental image in my head when it comes to friends and brother and and the time spent together and to do that than with a service component just brings it into a different universe and so I'm just very thankful for not only your brotherhood because I think that's just as important as anything else. But the service that you bring with it our community feels that we see it and thank you so much. Thank you thank you councilmember Givens. >> ok now we're going to go on to d 3, 7, 2, 7, day. And this is brought to us by this ice last I good afternoon. They're going to some members of City Council Celeste Davis director of arts culture and tourism. As a native of St. Petersburg and an enthusiast of our city as a top tier tourist destination. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to welcome residents and visitors to the month-long 5th anniversary celebration of the Saint Pete pier. We've had special events at the pier that will continue all month long. During this month of JULY. We have the unique opportunity to recognize 7 to 7 as a shout out to our distinctive area code. The celebrations begin at. Guess what. 7 to 7. I am on JULY 27. With free events and giveaways all day and not to be missed is the epic drone show where residents and visitors can experience over 1000 drones including pyro drowns which I heard our super special. Visit Saint Pete Clearwater has been a valuable partner in supporting the pier celebration. And I ask Kylie Diaz. Vice PRESIDENT Of community engagement for visit Saint Pete Clearwater to join me at the podium for the reading of the proclamation. And the proclamation reads whereas residents are the heart of the city of St. Petersburg making significant contributions and creating a unique and welcoming destination for visitors from around the world and whereas this special collaboration between visit Saint Pete Clearwater and the local hospitality and tourism industry serves to thank residents for the warm hospitality. They share with visitors year-round and whereas visit Saint Pete Clearwater, generates opportunities to educate residents about the value of tourism and the central role. The tourism plays and fueling our economy while highlighting the incredible impact that comes from the visitors with love and whereas JULY 27th, shall serve as 7, 2, 7, day. And an opportunity to celebrate our incredible destination. Home of the best area code of them all 7 to 7. Showing appreciation to residents for their positive impact, a local tourism through local. Locals only specials and celebrations in the city of St. Petersburg and around Pinellas County. And now therefore eyes Celeste Davis on behalf of Kenneth t Welch mayor of the city of St. Petersburg do hereby declare. Sun. JULY 27th, 2025 and 7, 2, 7, day. In St. Petersburg and encourage all residents to recognize the invaluable contributions of our residents and encourage everyone to take this day to acknowledge and appreciate the essential role. They play in making the city of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, a premiere. Tourism destination. >> Thank you so much the last and I thank you to Mayor Ken Welch and St. Petersburg City Council for recognizing this proclamation and 7, 2, 7, day. >> We are incredibly grateful to the entire community of St. Petersburg for welcoming our visitors and playing host who are over 15 million visitors per year. Through the bed tax dollars generated by our visitors 9 95.5 million last year. We are able to reinvest a portion of those dollars back into our communities and St. Petersburg alone. We have been able to fund capital projects like the Dali Museum. The palladium and the Marine Arts Center. We are also able to support world-class events like the Saint Pete Grand Prix 7, 2, 7 day is our way of saying thank you to the community with hundreds of deals for residents. And edition. As Les mention please join us on 7 to 7 day JULY 27th as we begin our celebrations in Clearwater. And I wanted to mention that we actually have a St. Petersburg native Chad Mize whose name is synonymous with our destination and artwork. He has designed these 7, 2, 7, day t-shirts. And so we have brought those 77 days t-shirts for the entire Council. And you can see Rita to to get your own church. You need different sizes just let me know and but were super excited. Thank you again and we will as less mentioned we'll finish off the day here at the Saint Pete pier and that show that drone show happens at 9 o'clock but we will be on the pier from 50 o'clock so please join us thank you so much. >> Thank you and thank you for the mayor for the proclamation Celeste for delivering it. And to everyone who's been involved in putting 7, 2, 7, day together. Tony thank you you are just ahead. An enthusiast for all things event related. And it's if your associated with something like this it's going on I know it's going to be good. So. Thanks for all that you do Solis thank you for helping to elevate this says at that point an opportunity for us to really share something that every single one of us has in common and that's pride for where we live. It's also read. I great celebration this month of the 50 anniversary of the pier. Other 77 is our favorite number right now I've got the number 5 that I want to share with you and that is recognition of 5 people who served our city through the construction to design and the construction of the pier. I mean have there are many people involved but any time you look back at who was really taking the lead in creating this pair this period has won awards that it, locals enjoy as much as the tour is I mean it's just incredible. And the 5 people that I want to recognize and think for making it happen are. For mayor Rick kriseman from a deputy mayor can you cut Tomlin. Broken time. British prime Min and Krista lastra. It doesn't get any better than that really this that this Fab 5 that made it happen. And councilmember Gobert and I served on City Council of the time we have to take a lot of votes and had to have a lot of discussion and a little bit of frustration but we got through it and we ended up with something that we could all be proud of and so on this 5th anniversary month of of the pier. I just wanted to recognize the folks who are in played such a key roles in making it happen. And just invite everyone to take a look at all of the different events because it's not just one party. It is a month-long calendar of celebrations for our peer and for our city. Thank you. Thank you. Vice chair hand once. Thank you and council member driskell said it all I mean this is a fantastic celebration and when I saw. >> The list of everything that's happening. I know the work that goes behind it so thank you all for putting such effort to celebrate our city in such a fabulous way and I'm sure that a lot of animals who do not like fireworks for like grounds. And even though they MAY not know it's happening. I'll show I'll give you a shout out from them. But besides that I also wanted everything else was said, but I just also wanted to acknowledge our own share who serves on the tourist development Council for his work on the tourist development Council. So thank you all. Thank you vice-chair very much. Certainly like I mentioned earlier committee very humbled to to serve on the tdc and speaking of the tdc I just want to talk about them and Kylie all the work that you do and if you think about the scope of work. That visit Saint Pete Clearwater does. And I could I'll name you a few you know bring movie think movie production here meeting production sports teams and tournaments. And then by the way market the destination which has I don't know thousands of opportunities to celebrate eat. >> 2 are art. The whole 9 yards and this team. A relatively small team does that and I think they do it spectacularly and Kylie thank you for being here and representing that team. But to to watch not only that team but then the stakeholders come across on on the tdc and invest that time and there their knowledge and their expertise and their understanding of the communities that they come from because it's not just municipalities as part of its its stakeholders it's it's really incredible work and I'm I'm very humbled to be a part of it and the work that visit Saint Pete Clearwater does is absolutely awesome and it's really cool to be a part of. Quickly to the city. Tony. They do not get on the park every time a month. So thank you Todd the whole team, Sean and then Sir last as you continue, you know to help grow this culture here in St. Petersburg I think you know that we all want to see Saint Pete shine as bright as it can and so you have our support and thanks for all the work that you're doing on a daily basis to support teams like Tony's. And and that certainly goes for administration too. So. A very this is one of those times where I'm very happy where no longer 8, 1, 3, we are our own 7 to 7 so very happy to celebrate that so for those of you who remember those days on the Rotary phone at 8, 1, 3, So but thank you so much incorrect congratulations can't wait to celebrate. Thank you everybody. >> Okay next item on the agenda. We have the 4 presented by our chair Curtis and Americans with Disabilities Act. The proclamation and. Thank you vice chair colleagues. I'd like to invite Well if they'd like to stand sit, whatever they like to do it's up to them I want I want forced on him, but. We've got are a lot of our cap you committee here led by our very own Lindell bright who all talk about in a minute. And then we've got members from Zell year recreation we've got some Westside help this afternoon and are representing rtr program over Visalia and then we have members not only here at the city but members of our community who are a part of our disabled community. Throughout the city and so I you have heard this from me before it's no surprise the work that the cap the committee does on behalf of our disabled community here in St. Petersburg is nothing short of miraculous. Trying not to go too far down the rabbit hole because it's already been an emotional month. Every time I sit around that table and hear the stories and the history and the knowledge and their willingness to share that knowledge history and expertise to make our city just a little bit better because that's what I think they try to do on a monthly basis is all they try to do is just moved the needle one percent maybe 0.1%. But they're moving the needle. I get to watch. Miracles happened in front of me. And it's really incredible the dedication that everybody standing behind me. I frankly I'm not worthy enough for their work to be standing in front of them should be the other way around. And so it's an absolute pleasure and it's a. I don't have words for to be honest with you it's it's amazing to watch what they do on behalf of our community. That brings me to MR. Bright. Later today, MR. Bright and I'm sure I'll talk about it later to MR. Bright will give his final. Annual update for ada for the city of St. Petersburg because he is retiring after Tech 10 years of ada coordinator and 17 years of service to this city. And that deserves a round of applause. Wendell and his team have given selflessly to this community and if you ask I hope mr. Humburg comes up and talks about it because we would not be leading the country and I don't say that as a piece of you know, just let's throw it out there I mean because leaders from across the country call lendl's office and ask him what we're doing in St. Petersburg when it comes to ada and compliance. I hear about it every month trust me. And so what he has done for our city is nothing short of transformative. And so Lendl I don't get to say it from up here but I get to say from down here. Thank you. >> So council members I will be quiet and I will read this prop proclamation for Americans with Disabilities Act day. Whereas JULY 26, 2025. Marks the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and whereas the ada has improved access to government services programs transportation, public places communication and information technology. And whereas the city established the community to advocate for persons with impairments and Cathy in 1972. And if you've done some quick math we did it before American disabilities Act was signed with the purpose to serve as an advisory group who would advocate advise and formulate positions on issues facing persons with impairments and provide advice and guidance relative to affairs concerns rights and special needs of persons with impairments to ensure their full participation and the city's facilities programs and services and whereas Cappy has advocated and funded many services, including closed captioning of all city meetings. He kneecap accessible aluminum docks for the St. Petersburg sailing center closed captioning related to does disasters and emergency Beach wheelchairs and 88 training for city staff and whereas the city of St. Petersburg has a longstanding commitment to the Americans with Disabilities Act. And continues to strive to provide programs and services to all segments of the community. Now they're I-four Gehrke hopefully eagerness of the City Council on behalf of Kenneth t Welsh the mayor of the city of St. Petersburg do hereby declare Sat. 7/26/2025, as American disability Americans with Disabilities Act day in St. Petersburg and called upon all residents to recognize that understanding and compliance with the ada is the surest means to guarantee equal opportunities for all thank you. First I want to thank girl. Like this too but. Having him on the captain for the last couple years, he's been a blessing. But I just want to you hear later from the from what I do they take place report. But one thing you know. She's been doing for 10 years. And we have the cap. And the point that we made is that we're just a liaison for can't be but the real work goes, but the capping members in a minute but Ross of us led by tier. Thank you very much. >> I thank you so much Lindell and City Council members and chair tourism has just been so committed to to the group into citizens with disabilities. I think just you know it's a tremendous time too to celebrate the accomplishments that we have thanks to hardworking folks like lakes and down the need to move who work so hard and are getting ready to move on to other fun adventures in their life. >> But also to remember that in the in our community and in our neighborhoods. We have folks who get out every day to live work and play and sometimes do it in different ways to their disability. We also have folks who really are struggling to make that journey so reach out to some on and let them know that resources like happier out there to help them and that's the best way for you to help us celebrate. The ada thank you all. >> Well, thank you all for everything you do. First we'll go to councilmember Givens thank you so much. Vice chair and I want to thank you for all the work that you've done chaired artisan Kathy, thank you for your representation of representing the city so well and to each of you and your rightful places I appreciate all the work that you have done to advocate advocate excuse me for people with disabilities. This work is not in vain. The work that you have done does not go unnoticed I can think about when my first meetings when I got elected to City Council it was with you MISTER Bright and you know we got a long history and we've always talked about how we can work together to make St. Petersburg a better place. And I remember throwing out ideas and Utah were already doing that are doing this are doing that and so that shows me that St. Petersburg is leading the way. So 35 years after the ada disabilities Act was passed. We know that human rights are under attack. And that includes those with disabilities. So I thank you so much for always advocating for those who hire disabled so many people in my family have compliment the city for their works in leading the way so I thank you so much for always leading the charge and as you prepare to enjoy this next chapter in your life MISTER Bright. I just want to thank you so much for dedicated service to this city unwavering servicing in your leadership. It just means so much to me you have always been an inspiration you've always made an impact on my life. So I certainly hope you're missing that will enjoy this next chapter in all have a lot of nice cruises and trips and and thank you again so much in all the work that you do for Kathy grateful to each of you so thank you so much pressure. Councilmember fix Sanders. Thank you thank you first of all then they have right. Every time you come before as you know, I'm going to have to compliment you on what you do so so chilly in the one thing I like about it is that you don't buy too Tim. And when we are representing a community that need that strong advocacy they found that in you. You know I can call and I can ask a question and I can make a statement and I could see you at a presentation. And you say what you're going to say and I appreciate that because you know we when we look at it. You persons with disabilities could you not still sit on Pinellas County persons with disabilities Council, I still I'm still there. They need so much of our voices until it is insane how silent. A community wouldn't make this community if there were not people like you. If do not people like sugar to see if they're not people great people that you have standing behind you that you build a very strong Foundation in order to advocate for those and they make their lives look easy. Some of the things that we take for granted. We couldn't live an hour. In your life doing the things that they need to do just to make it happen. And so I don't take that for granted. I don't take the use of my arms and my legs and my middle. I don't take those things for granted and that's why it is so important in very imperative that we continue to have that strong advocacy you retiring I know you are doing a cruise isn't the whole 9 yards. But do not forget. That those voices that have always ring so madly when never be silenced. You know we're not going to let you go anywhere we're going to we're going to support us dry and much as we can because we need that for that community so those type of things I'm really passionate about those voices that I think don't get heard. As loudly as they should be and you made sure when you came to visit with this with the county you made sure that we have new information that we need even un answered every question and we as and so for that I thank you. Thank you rabbi, thank you so much to everybody thank you so much for being here in we're not going to let it go. The importance of where we are and where we stand as a city for 88. Compliance in regards to our very very very loved residents. Thank you so much and happy retirement lead them. >> Keep in mind that you know without this the grace of GOD. We actually got and directing is direct my path and make sure that had do the right thing. The commitment that I do on that and sometimes traveling as you know. I don't hesitate my words that. But has said in a way that he's dead help everybody. And they knew him or when I do my plans for a cause as soon as you think they want to discuss and bring us going to be happening soon and that by the way I'm not going nowhere. But I was to be active. I've communities all right and that took. One thing that I want showbiz cheat to get you know. >> I'm just I'm just going to I just want to say first with someone else gonna speak. I wanted to say that Linda and I are both going not where the tire met with the best hr team we have Chris Kristen Charles we're very blessed to go out with the team that support of. I started with the city 25 years ago but I've worked with Lindell 10 years and I will tell you that the ada program was just something we had to do Intel and Dell took it over and you became powerful. He it meant something to him. The committee means something to him and the committee's everything to us councilmember Curtis is so respected within the committee and really listens to everybody and always has something positive to give back. So we are very blessed to have ada coordinator. Our Cathy committee. I think we like the number 5th accessible city in the United States. Kcp so we just aren't just very very fortunate. So I want to thank you all for every opportunity you've ever given to listen to us as we present all this information get it all together for you every year. Thank you. Councilmember fix Sanders. Thank you I am so sorry I didn't know that he was retiring with you so head if you retire, and ios. >> Because we celebrated that a couple of months ago at Cappy and it was my understanding Mistry or had already retired so of eyes. Bang that up that's on me what we love a needed just as much. All right and so I don't want her to think that she's been forgotten, but so I will wear that one. But I'm glad you're celebrating thank you so much well I thank you all for such amazing work. Congratulations on retirement and changing the landscape of our city and I will tell you that a lot of people don't understand the impacts of having a disability until sometimes they face one and so my husband just broke his foot and I will tell you. I was very thankful for those that bought for all the accommodations that are available because you don't realize it until you have to deal with it and we had to deal with it and a national Park. >> There's not it's very hard to find the. Things that you need and we were doing it traveling and we have to go through airport without having any experience of how to navigate that and we had people like you all that are part of the system the ada world that kind of guided us through it and no words and say how much I'm thankful for that. And look none of us know where we're going to be in the future in our old age so this work affects everyone. So thank you all. Okay well, the next item. Of is asked why and we have our mayor in the House. And he's going to the presentation for the fy 26 recommended budget. We give a minute MR. CHAIRMAN. >> Good afternoon MR. Chair City Council members of our city team in the same be community. It is a wonderful day of celebrating the great things in our community and our proposed budget is a celebration as well if you think about our opportunity and ability to allocate more than a billion dollars of resources to impactful projects and programs in our community to move our city forward that's the opportunity that we have to do it. So along with our budget team, I'm honored to join you to present this recommended budget for fiscal year 2026. And as in previous years, I'd like to highlight some of the elected priorities funded in this recommended budget and take the opportunity to thank our administrators our budget team of city departments City Council and the public for your collaboration in the development of this recommended budget. The annual budget process is an opportunity for our city to fund our priorities to innovate and respond to new challenges while meeting the critical service delivery responsibilities of city government. City Council knows our budget process begins early in the year with an important conversation about Council and community priorities. Budget workshops with City Council in the budget open house with the community. Those meetings are opportun