City Council

>> Is get a a. >> To the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting your elected officials are Rick kriseman district one Robert black men. District 2 Brandi Gabbert district 3 and Council chair, and mountain areas. Council vice chair Gina Driscoll a district 7 Lisa Wheeler Bowman. And district date in Foster. >> So meeting for Aug., the 12th 2021, let's begin with the roll call please Foster. On to marry here. Rice. Sanders year, this school year will Bowman. >> Will as we always do with the invocation joining us today from grace, Lutheran church's pastor, Kevin Lofton. Followed by the pledge of allegiance will everyone please stand. And good afternoon, everybody greetings from grace, Lutheran, let's pray. Our father in heaven we thank you for the blessing of this day. Lord we know that how we live at a time when there's concern and in some cases fear over things that are happening around us things that seem to be out of our control. And yet we're a great. Thank you for the Doctors nurses medical professionals who. Labor tirelessly to oversee the House of the people in our city labored so hard to provide solutions to problems. That it's at us. Lord we pray that you would be with each and every one here that you would watch over our we pray your spirit of peace and unity upon the people who are gathered here as they make decisions for our city for our community for the people. They govern and serve. Lord bless us this day and always with health and with them in the name of your son Jesus. Amen. Thank you pastor, let law front for the invocation it's great great to see you. Council members we have an agenda before us we've got the changes we're going to lead item. I too. Which is that was the public hearing on the Dalai referendum. We're going to add items f 2. A new business item 3 another new business item with those changes I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda move through that we have a motion second on the floor. But the clerk please open machine for voting. Council members please cast your votes. Single present council members voted with the clerk please telling announced bill. >> The motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously with council members. We're going to foster being absent. Thank you. MISTER Clerk, we haven't consent agenda before us, I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. Second we have a motion in second on the floor to approve the consent agenda do we have any cards are people in zoom to speak on the Senate and I have any card Sir, okay, and no MISTER Chair I thank you for the court please open the shape of voting. Council members please cast your votes. They all present council members voted with the clerk please telling announce the vote. MISTER Chair, the motion to approve the consent agenda passes unanimously the cast members Foster and one of only being absent. Thank you. MISTER Clerk. Go to open next will the clerk please read the rules for open for. If you wish to address City Council and subjects other than public hearing was I did issue items listed on the agenda. Police end up with the clerk. Only to individuals wishing to speak it signed the open sheet. Only city residents who is a property business owners in the city or their employees MAY speak. All issues discussed under open form. Let's be limited to issues related to this it to the city of St. Petersburg government. If you're speaking to an item on the agenda you MAY only speak once to the open form when the eye comes up on the agenda in order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address Council. Each individual be given 3 minutes to speak and after which the microphone will be muted. If you wish to address City Council through the zoom meeting, you must use the raise hand feature button and the zoom app or interest or 9 on your phone at the time the agenda item is addressed. When it is your turn to speak you will be a new didn't asked to state your name and address at the conclusion of your comments are when you have reached a 3 minute time limit. You will be muted. All raised hands will be lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method of participation used normal rules apply, including the 3 minute time limit on comments. The requirement that any presentation materials. Let's be submitted in advance of the meeting and the rules of decorum it's like public comments is disrupted by violation. The rules of decorum the chair is authorized to accept public comments on I alternate means including by email only. >> We have any speakers are open for him sure we have one speaker Matt Weiner please state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address City Council. They please counsel MISTER Chair, a vice chair members of Council met Weiner, 12 or one even all. We thank all you for your service and we'll talk about historic preservation again hope that we can do it in an environment here we can take a deep breath, there's not a gender item we can think about it. A big if you please engage in a comprehensive review of the historic preservation process at its whole. How an application starts August the cpc see how it goes through the drc in all of those implications. You need to do so city understand the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of impact that these fights caused the city. In the individual projects, the 10's of millions of dollars worth of ad valorem taxes that we're not getting because projects didn't go forward as we're watching these heated debates that the current council members are asking questions feel like to get feel like you're getting put into quarters that you don't need to be getting put into in a lot of that a deal like has to do with the process that's wrong. There's one example the use that have been covered very recently that serves to illustrate this. This is the Union Bank building we all know where does central 9th right. Decades this thing set their vacant because we wanted to preserve it after decades of it sitting a blighted this was the compromise this one structure that was left this one little corner right everybody goods yet to be a win for historic preservation right. Why is it structure still vacant now all these years later, here's the bombshell. I find out just recently that the reason why it's vacant is because the estimates that some of the most sophisticated contractors in the state have received our 8 to $10 million 8 to million to make this preserved structure functional ada building service all these other requirements. The point is this that property sector vacant for decades where we fought over historic preservation and at the end of the day we've got something it's practically functionally unusable. If we knew that at the beginning 2 decades ago we would have to project out of the ground with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of concrete and rebar in jobs in this community in 10's of millions of dollars with the ad valorem we collected over the years right. That's just one example, there's one right after the other there's ones that are currently in the hopper this is the Burnside also run 5th Avenue current kind of fight a historic structure, a developer wants to come out of ground with something. But now they're dealing with at the back in the kind of fights that they have to go through that you folks don't even hear about this is what really concerns me is the last minute reading in the middle of a negotiation in the drc see in the dnc or tbc process. The fights that the developers are going through that little deal was cut because that's a smart way to do things but you're shooting off 10 20,000 square feet GOD knows how many millions of dollars that you folks don't even find out about the process of collecting a list all these other examples ensure draft with you I would urge the council to asked staff to work in creating that same list to understand the cost of these things over an extended period of time and what it means to taxpayers. Thank you. Thank you. MISTER Minor next speaker please no more speakers, MISTER Chair. And thank you will close open for men and will go to the 3. The sunshine ambassador award councilmember for big centers. >> Good afternoon everyone afternoon. Today is a day that I was always grateful to see because it is one that I've not yet seen before. And this is one of the honors I have as a council member and I said this before as long as I'm in this position. I would always love to bring good news. Say thank you. Congratulations and a word. Those things that are good at the same p. You know so many times we see African American men. News media is. But it's not always in a good light. And those that accomplish such wonderful things and the guy said this young man that I'm about to introduce. He has accomplished wonderful things in such a short period of time. Ladies and gentlemen to introduce to you. MISTER Devine Miller. He is only the phone. He has written 5 books. His first 14 and that in itself because I'm not a reader but you are a reader and a writer. A published author. And he you donate to John Hopkins because he wasn't as La suffering of interview i have ever suffered with asthma new thing where these a mask or difficult. But he's over com being an asthma sufferer to use proceeds from his books to donate and benefit Asma support it that John Hopkins all children's. And 2020. He also wants. Yeah madgen twenty-twenty children's stories where he wanted to support black office and raise money where he donated the proceeds to other organizations as well as the book's purchase with those proceeds. 2 preschools and other after-school programs. A deputy mayor was a guest reader on some in to help with that program because I'm so I'm encouraged with the weight divine and other young men are doing and so that was a result of the black lives matter movement. And he now also currently hosts a radio segment. And joy on paper. So he's a student at Saint Pete college. He couldn't the mom. That next year. And I appreciate that but again one of the things that I'm always going to use my voice for us to say thank you. To congratulate the parents and know that he wanted to be here and he's a city employee mind you all and they told me had to work. So we we know that he wanted to be here and he's here with you in spirit, but you know you biggest fan. So I'm going to ask MISTER Devine Miller and mom Sandra to please come and then also MISTER William less so the court native community engagement for the Tampa Bay rays I introduce MISTER Devine and they go that we embrace his book series and the reading with the rays and they have supported this young man is I hope we continue to do for years to come congratulations. The van. I would like to say. Thank you GOD for this blessing. Thank you so much to Mom and Dad for supporting me on this journey. Councilmember mystic Sanders, thank you for presenting me with such a huge honor. Thank you so much City Council members for me to be here today. So that individuals have been a part of my journey that all the children families and schools. Thank you for a lot of myself. MISTER Tiffany talk love to be involved in your time of reading and to better impact the community. Thank you. >> I was remiss I introduce everybody. This is MISTER Taking it off the bases of his 5 books and the children that we've actually hosted reading events from actually let MISTER Taking top and I am going to market for him he has to get caught talk. Teachers overall is So whatever support we are just so proud of you in a different set your MAY be in the making you want to say >> that. I'm here and I congratulate the excellence in your especially you mom as well for being there for me to divine continue to do great man thank you thank you. Ken. I think if you all can just stand stand there for just a We've some members that want to comment will go first to deputy mayor Tom. Thank you chair just want to say it's good to see you again the van and congratulations for this well-deserved honor. If you're a wonderful illustration of excellence and the fact that you're never too young in Petersburg to make a difference. And example of the things that are right with our city so thanks for helping the sunshine here. It was one of the great honors of my position to read with you and your program and I encourage you to continue your good work. Thank you for all that you do. And when we take a 3 minute recess. >> thank >> just It >> if you trust >> thank But I also wanted to say thank you for for leading. We need leaders. Not just here in St. Petersburg but in the state and in our country and at a very young age are showing some remarkable leadership. I I pulled up your bio I I know besides everything else you're doing you also volunteer at the north at the South branch library and Ronald McDonald House that's very impressive also you must be a a busy young man with doing doing everything you're doing. And I just wanted to say thank you, thank you for setting an example for others to follow. >> Next we'll go f one that police quarterly update. Good afternoon chief all the way. But I think you're too members. >> a covid according to reports can be for the month of APRIL MAY JUNE. But also want to be where we're also willing to cover some of the fat for 2021. First of all I can tell you that for the overall fact crime is still down of by 9%. A 5 year average is down by 28%. I was also up by 4% and a 5 year trend about 18%. As we talked about last time. No one is too many homicide, but this quarter we 8 homicides of those 8. Only one is open. Outstanding police work and community support our closure rate is 95%. We've had 24 homicide. The big time of those 2423 are close with an arrest and one man slaughter also close for us. Well crime is up by 2.4. And the 5 your current crop of all incomes up by 2.9. Well the crime that we track in our city. All of that is up by 15% for this quarter. But overall a 5 year trend is down by 15%. The Bush I think people are finally paying attention to it. They're down by 17%. And the 5 year average in this and it is 5 year average down by 43%. Barbers are down by 16%. And the 5 year by 45%. No Council Council Gobert asked for the stats as you can see from JANUARY to now we had over a 150 guys that are stolen know that 111 were taken out of vehicles up I want to say the least 90% of those vehicles are probably a lot we've only recovered 2026% of those guns off the street. A vigil crime unit as you know, that's what throughout the county still have that in place and is doing a great job of monitoring our youth. Our second chance program is still going strong. We had 2 children that were rolled this and order and 9 completed successfully. Think to our parks and rec department also. Our path unit is still there each and every day to call him. Also want to thank Saint Anthony's hospital because there for seen as a nurse one day a week so we can and answer Hills issues said of tying up the emergency room with issue that could be handled on the street. Our unit we had one more component to them now now they also look at runaway children because we figured it might be our biggest. One thing that we're missing so after 30 days. The Heat unit will investigate all run we cases. Our news that a big hit the boards are still working on those. Since we only have one this quarter. Use of force known are reminding Kelso that the government has changed the way we document or use of force is no longer per incident is per use. So again if it also his Taser and they needed to take down a student being one use of force that is not considered to use of force. A complaint from this quarter 2 they're not use of force complaint there to discourage this is complaint one was found it and one was unfolding. As you can see was still receiving a lot of took from the community says very hopeful that continue to shield those Mark welcome to the program we started up due to covid were probably got to readjust on that but we're still going to try to get out walking continue to learn our community. As you can councilmember rights want to keep track of the officers are still responding to the call a timely manner still making sure that we're in circles profit. Traffic stop you can see those increase in 20 21 but the increase is because we had an operation during this quarter. We went throughout the city to make sure we can tell people slow down and we wrote quite a few tickets on. This quarter as you can see. Are you still continue to go strong we just heart 14 additional officers. Also just to let you know we have a 100 and thanks again to our training apartment. We have a 130 people on our waiting list to try to come on to our department. So that says a lot for between 30 to 40% of those or from outside the state. And we have 19 officers right now on the field training program and hopefully they'll be able to be on the road by November. Off-duty program is still going well, but come OCTOBER one we're going to have to raise the rate by $5 to make sure that the city does not have to pay for that call so what that means OCTOBER one. We also rate will go from 50 to $55 to sergeant from 55 to 60. In the current rate from 60 to 65. The vehicle rate will still say the same the $0.50 an hour. Over time it can see we're operating read a little bit in the overtime, but basically what that is again it's due to covid that's where the also that were signed to the vaccination center and also to the testing site hopefully will be reimbursed reimbursed by the government. Really the program is going quite well. And this is just for the stats for this month that I know you'll be getting updated more next week. But during the month of APRIL through JUNE they handle 792 live calls. I mean they were dispatched to those calls. And is the most important thing where we see what the officers. They did 1869 follow-ups that mean they went back out and make contact with those individuals. They had only 8% of these calls are independent that means and also is not going to respond to those calls with them with no injuries. Again, I know they're going to come next week and many more. I just want to highlight one thing that happened this week to really show to save your manpower. We had an issue we're inclined to go to the hospital there was no bed space. And thanks to call they were able to stay with that person for 9 hours. If not we would have to put also out of service for 9 hours. So that's what we're benefiting from call right now. We also had a very well compliment from this community are people calling and saying thank you for call. We have some people are calling also don't city police officer, we'll wait for a call to respond that program is working quite well. Our commitment program for up and running a sort of waiting list just trying to get everybody through the background portion that's going to be the hardest part is we do go through The crew background we look at his or her eye cases in they also have to take polygraph and things like that. Hopefully we'll be able to get started here in FEBRUARY and with that I want to ask. Clerk to play our recruiting video. And hopefully we'll get you to sign up. >> We certainly are really 300,000 people. We are diverse Police Department what you have building that is a spectacular light. And and technology. >> a lot of training and I was shooting range. >> And seeing that all of our great and our skills. So we can make a positive. The key part And build better relationships with the community. We probably serve with loyalty integrity n. >> Thank you very much elected special things to a lot of Fernandez engine docking for creating that video we've been told by several agencies large agency at all that you folks develop that so they didn't make it up with that with Next like you. Due to our resources and also a covid we have no new projects planned for this next quarter we just want to make sure that we can handle the call that have that we have right now and also make sure we deliver to correct services to the products that we have going so with that opening for any questions. >> Thank chief we go first to a vice chair Driscoll thank you and thank you for the report chief. In on the page that has the update on the call program. It reads that the program is available and 08:00am to 12:00am 7 days a week. Are you doing any kind of tracking of calls that come in between 12:00am and 08:00am. To gauge whether or not in the future we MAY want to expand so this will be calls where if there was a call. Working at that time with that call have gun. I'm using our call a lot but you know what I mean they so to see like if we did have call call team on hand from 12:00pm to 08:00am how many. Those cases would with those folks go out to respond to. So that way later down the road. You can justify extending it to 24 hours for instance. Yeah I can tell you the citizenship billion making mcgee they're in charge of this project and they're doing an excellent job on tracking this that's when our busy times little time. So we can continue form the partnership with our with our navigators so within the next year we should have all the information ready for you. By JANUARY one of 2022. Okay, great yeah, I'd be interested to see what what. How many of these types of calls that come in. After midnight. You know that's going on. There can be some activity during that time that's troubling and I'm wondering how many of those could be handled by a call team member. If we had them working during that time. Is a great program and I know giving a talk to you more about it. We want to make sure we don't lose our navigators because a lot of agencies are seen how these programs going so we want to make sure you don't draft from us and then we lose the navigators we have right now. Right right. Okay that I have thank you thanks to you and everyone with your department for everything you do for us day in and day out. Thank you. >> Councilmember fix centers. And thank you chair and thank Chief following I want to take this moment to again acknowledge one for a job that that I think you doing and to also publicly thank you again for this assistance that you provided myself in in Wheeler Bowman and other community advocates in our mission against gun violence in South Saint Pete and I also want thank you that your officers that participated in pots you have one that's about to needed to 38 imagination station they have been a hit of the 3 schools and I have you to thank for acknowledging and accepting that responsibility too work in building those relationships in changing the present perceptions of a young scholars with the men and women in law enforcement and I appreciate that. And as recently as yesterday I participated in a call of black elected school are joining together to. Also collaborate on an issue in regards to balance in our communities. And one of the optics one of the documents that after a bad it was you're 12 pillars of societal change that you your press conference and I need to let you know I'm going to to Saint Pete Horne when it comes to addressing those issues. We number one Tampa. We set and I explained to them what we've been doing with our police departments assistance and it was phenomenal. So actually invited me back for another meeting to talk about he can force us to talk about not my talk about enough is enough. So that they can see how they could implement some of those things open Hillsborough County. Congratulate you took you all my victory let with to be so thank you for your partnership in appreciate all and what the officers do thank you so much. Thank you for that, but also to give thanks citizenship of also here in the community service also involved in a pop program. They're making sure that the officers are signs that they're making sure that we are building that relationship. So thank you get it or thing for you to bring it to our attention and give thanks for this that for finding the resources so we can make sure that happens thank you so much and I forget chief k I had to apologize can get thank you so much Steve Kay and chief I can leave them out. >> So but thank you to all of the officers and I really appreciate everything that you all do fly young people thank you. Thank you. Jeanne. Next year, I'm sorry. Thank you councilmember Blackmon. Thank you chair and thank you chief has a good presentation is always a pleasure to and I agree completely I love that video. We need to try to recruit the best and the brightest. Moving forward to protect our people. Just a couple quick questions. You know, everyone's been talking again about the homicide doing. What do you do you or do we attribute you know the rise in homicides too. And how many were there last year total. So far a call after this time we had about 15 and as earlier now up to 24. This is in chief his team are looking to do a breakdown I could give you a breakdown. That is mostly related to either domestics I mean domestic and the family but not so also the family really did. And also just were 2 people or other see you and I is that of us discussing you know walking ways people is pulling pulling guns shoot. Eachother so that's what we can related to a Kings is referred to drug violence or anything like that it just when we look at it I can show you says fight argument fight argument argument. Families of so we need to find a way to help this community. Be able to there's more conflict resolution because that's what we're seeing in the unit. I thought you're going to say that that was going to play into my next question which is. And are there any efforts are outreach to try to partner with conflict resolution classes are outreach or awareness education even a psa. We have Her buddy credit parks and rec does a great job with the kids. But then how do you talk to the 23 year-old and 24 and the right, you know it MAY be something we look at that there's another group is out there because these young men and it is how do we discuss it. What about using a gun. And that's what we're see. I agree completely I just don't have an answer so I know greater minds than mine, maybe on this Council can think of something. Had another question about the numbers. We said I think 24 homicides so far this year. The last time you came in reporting. I thought we were about that yet. I know I get the media there's been more. Do we sometimes read categorize them. Shootings are as something else other than a murder or homicide. When the numbers come out and what is scored. You see uniform crime reporting. We put it out that makes it so we don't change the numbers. After that if it is a homicide as a homicide. It MAY go from new homicide or manslaughter, but that was due in the 1st quarter ok but all in those 8 that you saw that they're all homicides. >> Got you I was just thinking like you know if there's a shooting and then later turns out it was justified self-defense that doesn't change that for the year or does that then get amended. But we wouldn't put the number up until that went to the court. So those numbers are seen are the numbers excellent excellent. Very good one last question I we just kind of back to you know the media reports and I don't know about you know other council members but my phone was going crazy this weekend. But people asking about an incident in downtown. Reports out what meets the threshold of that and in do we have any information on that were you saying information goes Not for me like a press release because there was a shooting on Central Avenue. So they're shooting or who they're shooting throughout the city, we don't put a lot all the time. The shooter talking about this weekend was a gentleman that pull out a weapon. We're not sure it was accidental what. But a young lady was shot. He also did make an arrest on that. What also were investigating that they know is a subject across the street naked ceo, a weapon or something they make contact with that person in the arrest of the person also. That happened throughout the city it could be any district. We don't put it out every day that we arrested someone with a gun or someone was shot. The main of stuff that we put out is up the homicide. Excellent well. Thank you for the thorough answers, thank you for. All that you thank you for your leadership and thank you our very appreciative thank you Sir. High chief. My my first question is about the statistics on the firearms being stolen from vehicles. Of the 150 stolen firearms a 111 were taken from vehicles. Do we know a 111 how many were unlocked cars. i can probably see 90% but a lot of people are going to feel like my car. No I can give you one from last night someone left her car running with a gun in the car also stolen car and the good. So I would venture to say about 90% of the guns that are be taking it out of vehicles or the vehicles were unlocked. >> We I guess we just we just have to do so much better a public service announcement some people locking their cars and being responsible fire arm owners. You know when this couldn't get on the street that's that's not a that's not a good thing. >> And I can say this Council the media ulcers have done a great job of telling people this people are still not going to do it. I don't know why but they're not going to do it. >> My second question is about the second chance program. And you know when we started this it was almost 5 years ago. We started this to some great acclaim that we didn't think marijuana we didn't think possession of a small amount of marijuana should affect the trajectory of the rest of someone's life. Yet this program still requires people to go through community service counseling drug treatment. And in those last 5 years we've seen. Medical marijuana. Store fronts proliferate I mean you can you can practically in St. Petersburg swing a step can you're going to hit a medical marijuana store front. And I'm just wondering if at some point it doesn't bring us to question again that was criminalizing. Possession of marijuana just because I just see that there's already so much access to medical marijuana people who are able to pay to get a card to Cohen and by legally. Even with the second chance program it just seems like. We're still being punitive over something that's becoming more and more accepted. And I can get to the number that right off and I can t probably begin. See 90% of kids that are got the second chances, not drug-related okay to be related to either. Fi or stop lifting. Some other misdemeanor crime. It's very where we are as a child or adult just for possession of marijuana law is usually. Burglary possession of marijuana stolen car marijuana is very rare that an officer will it happens and I think it goes on, but it's very rare you're going to see just some wonder if just for possession of marijuana. So the second chance program again it works well because we partner with parks and rec and we're holding him somewhere between 85 to 90% of those kids are not re offend. >> Well I'm glad to hear the recidivism rate is locals that was the whole 0.2. Leslie and this might be something good for a future presentation. Chief us wonder if you talk to us a little bit about this report that came out recently I know that you played a leadership role in it I an updated report that came from the Florida police chiefs Association. It was a subcommittee on accountability and societal changes about 30 pages I can't I look through it. The really good staff and there's quite. A long list of recommendations of things to work on for building trust in. Better accountability better training policy and oversight. >> So I was I just want to hear you kind of comment on this impressionistic Lee and also maybe give us an idea of what the plan is to implement these recommendations. And thank you for that so. The point that you see those 6 pillars came but came out and 20 15 under of obama's administration. If convicted and it came through the it already lead on the 6 pillars but we looked at this committee were the Logan police chief 11 community leader through all the state of Florida saying these are great killers. Let's get some recommendation behind it let's put something we're not only police but the community can work together. Saint Pete all the news in all 6 pillars but now it is recommendation go back to my staff and I give it to him the other day we're going go back and say ok. Let's break down each and every one is recommendations and if we're going to about a document that we're going to take one by one. That we one of those pillars that we've already put in place is you're talking about earlier about recruitment we already have someone from our community. This is on our bore as we're talking to people that work read to our community. But there are a lot of good things in there and in doing so we want to be just one voice theirs. He would only police say she learned the state of Florida, but it should be if you're looking at Saint Pete Tampa golf or we should all be falling on the same sheet of music. >> Well thank you for that and I'd be interested in hearing more about the process of how we implement the recommendations that always worry when there's like a really long laundry list that's provided, sometimes it's tempting to. It's easy to get overwhelmed. And you just kind of take the easiest ones first and without a plan we don't have the energy or 42 to tackle the bigger problems and I just want. I want you to know as it was a council member I totally want to be able to support you. Being able to make these changes and to have the resources that you need to follow through what's in this document because this document seems they are really good product of important meetings tonight. I you know I just don't see it. Get lost on the shelf. And I council member but maybe in a chair, and all those meetings. My my planners say our plan is to go one by one each one. Some little things were already doing little thing we can do better but we're going to hopefully within the next 2 to 3 years. We should be able to check off everything on that list and if not then why are we not doing those things. >> Well once again, thank you for for. The update. The the open homicide case have how long has that been open. >> That was been open serves sense. That's the one that happened on 16th Street. >> So speaking of 16th Street other still MARCH gatherings of people. Late at night. Gathering on 16th Street in. >> This are so there's still a crowd of don't far as a Sat. Night so we do have officers that are monitoring that, but again. Resources we have to cover the whole city we're looking at alternatives. We can assign a sergeant 6 of the people there. So we'll be looking at that we discussed it with the Mir there might be some opportunity that we can put officers there to monitor that on the weekends. Okay all right, thank you for that. >> So with the with the a lot of that. Shootings that we've had in in the city. It seems to be increasing. I know a few years Former council member Karl nurse brought up an idea purchase a system called shot spotter that would help identify where gunshots originated from have if your department gone back in we thought some of these technologies that might be out there to try. Address some of these issues that we're dealing with. Oh sure so you could put shot spotter but just to put it up just been put in one area throughout the city so it tells you that extra work orders would happen. Then by the time most of the ride that people could be gone so and as I said earlier if you're going to put up shot spotter than make thing to do. It's put cameras in those areas. So you can capture what happened. So you can see who are the people that were doing the shooting. Coffee capturing the tag numbers and then along that another have the resources to have those also respond to those calls. So I still track that I still read that nie does here's some agency saying the same thing is nice. I know that someone shot at a and b Street. But when I get there the person is gone. There's no witnesses. What we do have things to all tobacco farm we have a trade we have a tracing mechanism now so to speak so when we recovered the shells from those scenes. We can link them in 2 other scenes. So when we do make an arrest we can say that gun was used it this far to shooting the shooting that shooting so and we have a that unit is working on that we do do all that racing. Both for that. Be open to any sort of ideas have you know how we can get our I know, I know we're working on some of these issues on multiple levels but. And I want to make sure we're taking a comprehensive approach that to solve some of these issues that we're dealing in our city. When your slide on the cops Grant. It mentioned that there's a requirement to hire at least one veteran out of 25. Can you can you tell me and and and I know that's a federal requirement but out of 25 officers, how many generally would would be that veterans in a group that large. >> Others use last group we just are so out of that 14 want to say for our veterans. We do look at that great see one. But I'll take him in all of this coming from the And harm or he won't come with that previous experience. Do we do we have. Which sort of what sort of preference do we do we give veterans when it comes positions within the Police Department. At the double check. I'm not sure their title to veterans preference point they would have to be an a for this for a promotion Throughout for like, but commit you're Also to a detective. But no I'm I'm talking about just the hiring process. I mean do we there is a preference points there, okay. All right, thank you. So let me just finish finish up by. What my saying the video that you showed. Demonstrated visually the quality that is throughout the Organization of the St. Petersburg Police Department. When it comes The person now the resources. The the equipment. And I'm I'm glad that we have made. Our our Police Department. The pride of not just the city of Saint throughout the country and it starts at the top and I I wanted to this is the first time that you've been before us. Since you Ordered the chief executive of the year. And I wanted to congratulate in person for for that and thank you for leading our department in some settings such a good example. If it shows. Thank you and we really appreciate it. So thank you for being here chief and thank you for answering our questions today. Thank you Sir, thank you Council. >> Next a for a resolution. Approving a in a local agreement with the. Pinellas and inner circle sports Josie only is here and I want to welcome the county administrator Barry Burton. Welcome The City Hall. MISTER Burton and we'll start off with a presentation from MISTER Scioli and MISTER Byrd maybe maybe we can have a. A little update from the county's perspective also. Thank you. MISTER Chair good afternoon City Council chose the only city development administration. We're here today to seek approval of an inner local agreement between the city and Pinellas County. Back in Feb. 2021 the city issued a request for proposal for a firm to assist in the ongoing negotiations with the Tampa Bay rays. Inner circle sports was selected as the preferred a proposal and a professional services agreement was entered into between the city and inner circle in JUNE 21th. The Pinellas County desires to participate in the process with the city and inner circle and also to provide funding to share in the costs of the professional services agreement. To that end an inner local agreement has been created to enable these actions. In consideration of the benefits to be received by the county. From the inner circle services, the county would pay the city not to exceed amount of $32,250 which is one half of the compensation payable to inner circle under the professional services agreement in return the city will cooperate and coordinate with the county and provide the county opportunities to participate in discussions with inner circle sports. So the administration is recommending approval of the inner local agreement between the city and the county and chair as you mentioned. So the county administrator Barry Burton is here as well. Goodwin thank you, thank you, Joe. >> But it's great great great to have you here and that. Can you give just the overview of your your perspective of where we are in. >> I absolutely first a congratulations to Kim You know that's of very happy to you know see you transition to the next phase of of life, but I didn't have an option to say that to now created thanks. We're very happy to partner with the city to really look at the financial aspects of what it would take to have major league baseball stay on this this discussion I know predates me but in many years and and you've been at this a long time. But we're very happy to partner with them air to come together and do a joint review of firms that really have expertise and doing that type of analysis. We we jointly a look at a number of firms and and unanimously selected. Inner circle and they have the experience to look. It was amazing in the first, you know the first discussion with them where you're talking about not only come during the finance a short aspects of looking at a baseball stadium complex. But when you have a split season, something that's never been done before it makes it all the more complex and it's really it's really rewarding to have to meet with the consultant says ok you've got to do the capitalization you've got to do the maintenance and follow the law and has that off the top of the head wife because he's time like 50 of these you know, and he's got that experience he has Contacts and working relationships with major league baseball Major League Soccer. And so many other there in this field. So it was really good to hear a different aspects to this process, we're very comfortable with the firm. They've been meeting with the team. And they're working jointly to do that type of review so very pleased to have them on and be part of the process and I look forward to for us coming back jointly and presenting ideas and thoughts that which which will come and will be a lot more very detailed discussions and I think one of the things he said early on this just at the end of the day it's still going to be painful. The question is this, you know what does it take to make a deal happen. And I think that he has expertise to help us with that you won't hear me do this very often but we're here to offer money. What in the cost because you've already got the contract. And so we're happy to partner with the city on this. >> Welcome back any all asked for haha well thank Thank you for your So I don't know a month and a half ago we had Soon meeting with with you and the mayor County Commission chair Dave eggers and myself in. To representatives from inner circle sports and I was extremely impressed. Their their background their demeanor their knowledge. And there kind of take take charge type approach to solving a very complex issue any any stadium deal is a big deal. But as as referenced when you when you attack on us the split season. Concept you think Other complicating factors that kind of are involved with that including. Things going on like the questions about the Montreal be deal dealing with the split season, not just domestically here in the United States but you know in a foreign country. And then you have a players unions you've got major league baseball and their approval. It's this is a very complex deal and I was very very pleased to. Read about the inner circle sports and then have have that meeting to kind of learned learn more about them. The price seems to be a little low just because it's so complicated. Give me your perspective of like what does. $80,000 get us when it comes to. Time in this just the complexity of the issue and how how would this be extended. I think you thought that for chair. 3 phases the work under the inner circle sports agreement and really it's designed to going to get us to the point that we understand the business. Strategies if you will that are involved. We understand kind of some historical perspective of how other stadiums have been created and built and financed as well as than putting together a term sheet that we would then use kind of is the document to the framework to kind of move things forward so beyond that there's there's additional work that would happen after all those things are put in place. This gets us to that point we actually have a viable term sheet that we would then be able to use to create something more formal. So you there is no cost involved but that will be later if we get to those points in the in the discussions, okay. And have negotiations started. So there has been discussions with inner circle sports related to setting the framework if you will. So those are under way they started back to late JULY, so they're kind of still doing come to that background investigation if you will so that's where we are today. Go next to council member s. >> Thank you MISTER Burton I I just want to say also thank you CHAIRMAN To marry a josi only. This is absolutely the right thing to do I've been supportive of us signing on a stadium consultant from the get go some happy to vote for this today. I yeah I had similar question that it almost seems like the the the envoy seemed a little less than considering the many things that we would want this group to do. I'm curious. It does say that one of the things that the consultant would provide would be information about the financial structure of the end mlb franchise so I would imagine that in part is also to help us get a better handle on. The rays financial situation where you know the cost that they have to incur but also you know pretty consider considerable. Profits as well. Correct so just as the city has restrictions and opportunities how to fund things and they'll be has similar type of things that are in front of them. So understanding kind of how their organization collectively is is kind of created from a financial perspective with a lot is going to allow us to really sit down and negotiate better. So that we understand their side of the equation and you know those understand ours that will help us kind of make sure we're we're viable alternatives in from. >> Thank you very much appreciate it. Thank you MISTER Britton. >> entertain a motion on the resolution that's before us if approval, second. We have a motion a second on the floor, we have any cards on this item we do not okay, you All right very good. The clerk please open the machine for voting. Members please cast your votes. They are present council members voted for the clerk please tally announce the vote. MISTER Chair motion to approve or deny the 4 passes unanimous to the council members. Foster Wheeler booming be absent. Thank you. MISTER Clerk. Thank you again, MISTER Burden for being here. >> Come come come back soon with your checkbook is there. Asked MISTER Burton to stay for the covid 19 update. Sure Burton MISTER Burton. Is there any way that you could stay for the covid 19 update. Yeah I did have a few dozen of County related questions to fix up her very good idea to think that you think you for your flexibility, sorry, thank you. Ago we'll go to that item And that's item. F to the covid 19 update and we're building is here amber you have the floor. Good afternoon. >> So pressure to be here unfortunately we're seeing the same trends this week as we presented on last week which is an increase in cases increasing hospitalizations and we're still seeing those record numbers. I'm really each with this new case loads. And so dated pulled in this report. Includes the weekly Department of Health report that comes out on Fri., so we'll get a new one tomorrow. Information from the cdc, quick dashboard and then also some information that was shared the county Commission meeting this week. So this is a screenshot from the weekly deal weight report word just over 2.7 million total cases. I'm here in the state of Florida you can see just last week it was over a 134,000 cases reported so each week where setting. You know that record bar higher in and higher. Deaths 39,695 that's an increase of a 175. Over the last week. Our Pinellas County they to 94,815 total cases. Our increase this week was 5,125 new cases reported. Most prevalent cases right now are in 20 to 39 year olds and there's been 40 deaths reported in the last 2 weeks. So let me this would appear to be a decrease in the mortality rate, but this is a lagging factor that we've discussed previously so it's really hard to pinpoint. That exactly. Weekly percent positivity also continues to climb at the weekly d o h update, we're at 18% which is the highest that we've seen yet. Hospital capacity. So last week there's a lot of discussion about hospital capacity and this wasn't a tough one too. Really now just because there's not the daily reporting that we used to have. So we can see a county snapshot we see a state snapshot so go over. Some of those things. A couple notes the hospital working group has been stood up with do age they've met several times over the last few weeks but the quick spike in cases that we've seen over the last. You know 2 weeks 3 weeks has really caused a strain on the hospital an ems system. So as a system of these 3 grafs there's been an additional 772 hospital admissions with the covid diagnosis. About the icu beds in the county nearly 31%. Our covid patients. And about a hospital beds and the county 18% our covid patients. And just a quick note, there's a lot of discussion last pediatric hospitals and with the rise in pediatric cases what are we seeing and our Children's Hospital. So even though we don't have that data I'm available to us on the dashboard I did talk to our partners over there and got a couple facts from them. So currently there's 15 covid patients overall Childrens and when patients that is under investigation. They have not kept their capacity yet over there. They're utilizing 3 different units and any time a covid patients admitted to the facility. They adjust the air flow to the room that would have a covid positive patient and they are seeing an increased number of patients come into the emergency department. If they don't. Once they're tested if they don't require hospitalization they're given instructions for care and sent home to quarantine for perspective. This was on the county Commission a meeting earlier this week. And doctor Cho mention that in JUNE at all children's they diagnose 12 pediatric cases JULY saw 181. Positive cases in AUGUST so far is at 90. So it just shows that quick rapid increase that we started seeing those pediatrics. Some positive news is vaccine. Rates are increasing. I'm ce According to doctor in mid JULY. They we're averaging about 4600 vaccines a week and the last 2 weeks we've seen well over 10,000 each week. So that compliance rate is going up. And these are current numbers as of. That's the Aug. 11th at 06:00am so we have 59 just over 59% of our total residents have received at least one shot. 65.9% of 12 and over have received at least one shot. 67.8 of our 18 plus residents have the first shot and 86.2% of the 65 and up residence and across the board this is about a one to 2% increase just over last week. So we are seeing those numbers go up. So we hope to see this trend continue and even increase. A few notes on vaccines. There are questions last week about options for vaccines, especially for with back to school for the kids and what was going on to make sure that children 12 and over could get vaccinated so there are several options out there. A good place to go is still the website for their covid 19 that has a link for vaccine information has a list of all the pharmacies but in addition in addition, they want to let you know about outreach opportunities that the Department of Health comes up with each week so I copy and paste here for you the Heat. The opportunities that they publish for this week. So on their Web site in their newsroom. Which there's a link there you can go for each week it will show what they have going on so these are some of the events for this week and they are giving away a $20 food, vouchers and thank you for anyone who gets vaccinated so you'll see coming up on Fri. And Sat. Are 2 events here in Saint Pete. And that will be open and then in addition kenley told just actually sent around a staff wide e-mail I'm announcing a good vaccine opportunity and it's sponsored by a local pediatric office that will be held at the Sat. Morning market on Aug. 21th from 9 to 1230. So it's just an example of there's lots of outreach opportunities out there are different community partners and agencies are sharing this on social media word of mouth flyer, so we'll continue to help amplify that message as we see them that just know there's lots of of you know vaccine availability out there and if you don't have a pop-up site to go to 12 and up can go to any pharmacy grocery store and they can make an appointment at any Health Department in the county and get those vaccines as well. In the sea will the sponsoring a vaccine site here at City Hall on Sun. Aug. 22th from 10 to 3. So no appointment will be needed. The Department of Health will be coming to partner with us to offer vaccines for the community they will get it, anyone who gets a vaccine will receive an incentive in the form of a one-month parking pass to any downtown city garage. From my understanding the way that the work is each person who receives and Senate will have a year to activate that parking pass and can choose the month of their choice to park in any of the downtown garages. We're still working on the marketing surrounding that and that the public announcements. Good news for testing. There is a new site at the Center for Health equity that opened on Mon.. And this Department of Health County partnership. That's opened. 09:00am to 05:00pm no appointments needed pcr or the rapid tests this is a great resource for the community of the definitely definitely been think folks show up they're averaging about 6 to 700 tests down there a day I think yesterday they did over 700. So it it. It's a great resource, it's easy an easy out. We're not seeing the type of lines that Tampa was seeing when they open up their site. But the turnovers really fast they're able to get those those folks through and just a reminder there are other ways to get tested the pharmacies are still offering those rapid tests Walgreens. Cbs the pcr and rapid and so you can go in the county site to get that information. That's mainly what I have for my update I had a couple quick notes of things that were asked for last week that I don't have that information on and it's primarily just because the information isn't publish to us right One of those markers is you know of the new cases that we're seeing how many are vaccinated we just don't have that data available to us to get that that statistic and we still don't have hospital capacity. By the hospital how many available beds there are. And just another note. We're also hearing a possible fda approval for Pfizer coming up here soon in SEPTEMBER so hopefully that will help boost. Vaccine can plant a little more. >> All right. Thank thank chair and I have a update on the administrative. Questions and author asked last week. In addition to ambers general covid update those things that we've been considering as it relates to the organizational management of the city. Some of this will be familiar review all of that in keeping with the goal think comprehensive. As you can as you know we have a mask mandate for all city employees inside all city facilities with strong encouragement for those who share this space to do the same. We've been reviewing social distancing guidelines and deciding on a case by case basis based on the use of the space what's most appropriate given. The time frame which we find ourselves and we'd like to discuss Council chambers with you at the end of this report. And last week it was asked whether there is a requirement or thought at this time to reinstate a state of emergency as it relates to funding or any other authority. Communications that might be needed we've closely evaluated that decided that not at this time. There really is no to revisit that. There are no restrictions or resources nor authority that a state of emergency would change right now critically important funding that's covid relating is funding pretty freely from other levels of government without regard to state of emergency and that ranges from the American rescue plan. 2 rental and utility assistance and so we move forward in that way. Our internal push for vaccinations will ramp up. In keeping with amber's description earlier we are also launching an internal communications effort. That's designed to have as many employees as are willing to one be vaccinated into to report it. So that we are making decisions. As informed as possible as we continue to determine what's actually going to be required to keep our population safe. We're increasing education and awareness hosting lunch and learns a town hall. I'm making the vaccination available within city departments working very closely leadership directly with their teens to Max out the numbers of voluntary inclusion in vaccination as a solution. We'll evaluate our progress and determine real time where their divisional tactics are needed with the goal being providing for the safety of our community. Those we serve and each other as much as possible. We've decided to push back the city's into covid based telecommuting to Sept. 20th and this time it aligns with that intentional intentional push and communication. Around vaccination hoping to get as many team members vaccinated as possible by that time frame. City services will continue as they do currently with no expected changes. Safety protocols and practices will be maintained as they are currently. City hosted events will be reviewed on a case by case basis with a team of city leaders to determine appropriateness for holding them given the conditions at that time this will be done on a rolling basis at the last point of determination before the decision has to be made about whether to hold the event or to cancel it. Co sponsored events will not carry a city directive. But we will make ourselves available to consult with and support the decisions of the event planners doing all we can to guide them toward a safe event. And there is no change or plan for change right now or intact. 2 private large scale events that happened within the city. Amber describe our vaccination incentive which counselor Blackmon it asked about last week and we're doing that for the first 500 who attend and if we have a huge response them look at trying to do. So again. And as you all know this is are. Crisis that unfolds real time and so everything that I'm sharing is as it relates to the conditions we see today but we look at it daily and modified accordingly and we get significant we'll be sure to share those with Council as we move forward. >> Thank you must go first and Thank you chair thank you amber and that the mayor for the You actually answered a few of my questions him or just want to understand you know always before we were able look at demographic information for positivity cases. I don't see that anymore is that not being reported any longer on the dashboard a county level. So the state level. They do reports and demographic information so if you're statewide I can pull that and we can put together some graphics ok