City Council

>> Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and your elected officials our mayor Ken Welch district one hopefully burdis. District 2 Council vice chair Randy gabbard district 3 and not marry. He's picked for lysek hand away. Deborah big Sanders. And Council chair Gina Driscoll. John Muhammad. And district day Richie Floyd. >> Or to 1520 22 meeting of the St. Petersburg City Council. We have a roll call please it's big Sanders, your school year. And there boy there Curtis. >> For indication today we're joined by the very reverend Stephen Morris. Dean of the cathedral Church of Saint Peter. Indication will be followed by the pledge of allegiance please join me in. >> Let us pray. There was a loving GOD. Thank you on behalf of all who are gathered here today. Thank you for your many of an abundant blessings. Thank you for life itself. For the measure of health we need to fulfill our colleagues for sustenance and for friendship. Thank you for the ability to be involved in useful work and for the honor of bearing appropriate responsibilities. Thank you as well for the freedom to embrace you. Thank you for loving us from your boundless and gracious nature. And holy Scripture you have said that citizens ought to obey the governing authorities since you have established those very authorities to promote peace and order and justice. Therefore I pray for our mayor. For the various levels of city officials and in particular for this assembled Council. I'm asking that you would graciously grant them wisdom to govern. Amid the conflicting interest in issues of our times. A sense of the welfare and true needs of our people. A keen thirst for justice and rightness. Confidence in what is good and fitting. The ability to work together in harmony even when there's honest disagreement. Personal peace in their lives enjoying their task. I pray for the agenda set before them today. Please give us some assurance. What would please you and what will benefit those who live and work in and around a beloved city of St. Petersburg and your most blessed name we pray. And then Well United States of America to public for which it stands one nation In the hull with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you Sir for your beautiful invocation. Council members we have gender before us for today's meeting there is one change and it has been requested that we defer item e one which is our report from the Chamber of Commerce to be moved to the 1/19/2023 meeting and with that change all entertain a motion for approval move approval of changes. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Seeing that there's no request for discussion will the clerk please open the machine for voting. Council members please enter your votes. Saying present council members have voted by the clerk please telling announced the votes. >> And sure the motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously council members. And what's in gap and various going absent. All right. Thank you. Council members, we have a consent agenda before us today, I'll entertain a motion for approval. And for approval. The kit. We have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. Saying that In Derby have any requests to speak on content. Thank you saying that there's no request for discussion with the clerk please open the machine for voting. Council members please enter your votes. Saying that a PRESIDENT Council members have voted with the clerk please telling announced the votes. >> And sure the motion to approve the consent agenda passes unanimously with councilmembers curious and what's being absent. Thank you. Next we have open forum with the current fees read the rules. If you wish to address City Council on subjects other than public cause I do additional items listed on the agenda. Please sign up with the clerk. Only the individual wishing to speak MAY sign the open for you only city residents owners of property business owners in the city or their employees MAY speak. Issues discussed in an open for must be limited to issues related to the city of St. Petersburg government. If you're speaking to an item on the agenda you MAY speak only once MAY only speak wants during the open former 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 to the zoom meeting you must use the raise hand feature. But in map or and or star 9 on your phone at the time the agenda items that rest. What is your turn to speak you'll be unneeded and asked state your name and address. At the conclusion of your comments are when you reach the 3 minute time limit you will be needed. Raised hands will be lowered after you touch an item regardless of the method of participation used normals applying including a 3 minute time limit on comments the requirement that any presentation materials must be submitted in advance of the meeting and the rules of the corner. If life public comment is disrupted by violations of the rules of decorum the chairs are authorized to accept public comment by alternate means including by email on leave. And we do have a number of speakers. Going to call 2 speakers at a time please go to an open podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minister addressed Council. A doctor Lynn Senate in APRIL kail guardsman. >> Good afternoon City Council and Senate one oh 7 fair in place North Saint Pete. I'd like to congratulate the 3 City Council members that came out to our learn and play pickleball event on Sat. Richie is rife and John had fun and Coakley and his 2 kids and I played with Cade he's 3 and a half years old and he's going to be a fantastic athlete. So I'd like to talk to you pickleball aerobics healthy Saint Pete's biggest and healthiest outreach can be pickleball. There are now multiple University studies on the health advantages to pickleball that measure body chemistry blood heart rate and more. Although I teach yoga twice a week at the why I was not a real quickly conditioned until I began pickleball regularly 3 years ago, I've experienced a big improvement and but conditions and as well as I mentioned last time my bone density increased 12%. And as we learned earlier doctor Barbe Stein and 2 of her female friends have also increased bone density doctor Ed's experienced yesterday he ran 2 miles around Walter Fuller Park on the grass. He had not run for 3 years, he's a robot condition was excellent running nonstop and not winded. However, although runnings important to a lot of people it can be boring. Pickleball is more fun. Jungle terrace is a silver member of healthy Saint Pete and has opened play in less than 3 days a week as a portion of their endeavors. Our Saint Pete pickleball Association that we formed leaders contacts now over 35 100 we know that pickleball is increasing very fast for the health and well-being and joy and fun of the citizens. Please collaborate with the St. Petersburg pickleball Association to rapidly and intelligently expand pickleball facilities in Saint Pete and so they are expanding we thank these est East after that we'd like them to work with the St. Petersburg pickleball Association to do this in the most effective manner. Thank you. >> APRIL kail Guzman 45 o one first Avenue North Saint Pete 3, 7, oh one tree. So I'm here just to speak to you from the heart I don't have anything memorized. But I want you to know that sometimes when somebody is live 7 decades. We have don't have an opportunity to get a robot very often I tried the y and walking on the treadmill. I don't do boring things. So what happens. I become unhealthy and that's what was happening to me until luckily one day somebody taught me this crazy spore called pickleball anybody can play. Anybody can play on any level. Probably that's why it is so popular in the u s we are a city that doesn't have enough pickleball courts. There are people standing in line it is hard for me to stay a robotic and lose weight or be healthy if I have to stand in line to wait. It happens time after time again. I really try to play 4 days a week I do play 3 days a week. I am always with unless I get out there at 00:07am in the morning which is early for most. I have to stand in line and wait to play pickleball and yet I see all of these tennis courts and I love tennis players. I used to play a long time ago but I can't do that anymore. I see all these tennis courts. They're just sitting there people are on them and I know the numbers have probably been submitted to you there've been many more pickleball players here before me, I'm just hoping. That we can convince you to help us just awesome lines and those of the court because to get the new court and I hear it coming. It's going to take a year. >> Next to speakers. Doctor at Carlson and Mike Anderson please go to an open podium, you know 3 minister addressed City Council please state your name and address for the record. >> Doctor Greg Carlson, 7691, 30th Avenue North. Pickleball ambassador this is data driven reality for the city of St. Petersburg specifically 10 times more pickleball use then tennis shoes of courts. 37 times more players. 1334 compared to 40. Tennis players. We had 73 hours that we specifically observed the courts. 4 or 5 different locations. 6 individual serving the courts available. The courts in use and the number of players and 15 hours of dual core use. Our summer survey was 17 times as many pickleball players, so it's doubled since then Saint Pete lost the economic revenue of amateur and professional tournaments by scattering courts around the city one here to there for their 6 here 6 over there we don't have enough continuous courts to have tournaments a pickleball master plan is a central moving forward for the city of St. Petersburg leisure services and parks, a stubborn resistant gaslighting in creating stories. They're not consulting the pickleball community. The players are Saint Pete pickleball Association. We need safe courts. The mayor's pickleball master plan will provide the guidance. Us tennis Association has a pilot program of dual use pickleball lines on existing tennis courts. It has the backing of the us pickleball Association, global tennis network plus a 107 public tennis courts in Saint Pete, plus lots of schools and private clubs and facilities plus Gulfport a treasure Island Seminole can a city and find out what's Park. We have a plus or a of tennis courts. Every quarter parks and Recreation has multiple pickleball leagues and 0 tennis leagues. All presentations to City Council well down to simply. Formally requesting 2 things. One action steps to deal with the crowd in crisis. The pilot program of dual use lines, 3 places, Crescent Lake. Cocaine okay Walter Fuller Park, 2 tennis courts at each place as a pilot program. We would like proposal and funding by City Council. Take action. Well so far they have 5 tennis courts and 2 pickleball courts. We need to convert 3 of the tennis courts, the pickleball and keep up 2 tennis courts active. Again proposal and funding by the council pickleball masterplan seconds pickleball master plan developed by the mayor in conjunction with the s p and the City Council proposal by counsel to the pickleball master plan to the mayor please. The ball leaders rate Saint Pete as a 2 of 10 on valuing pickleball we need to raise that dramatically. We ask you to take action for the good of our city. I'm Mike Anderson. >> 1, 80101st Avenue North number 19 oh 5 3, 3, 7, 0, 1, I live downtown Saint Pete. I love pickleball but I'm here to talk about a bell, a very annoying bill in downtown Saint Pete at the ovation condominium. 1, 7, 8 Beach drive is the ovation condominium on the backside of the building. There's an ancient school tight Bell that goes off every time a car comes and goes from their garage. It's the most annoying Bell and I'm I'm here to request your help more than anything. Actually I'm here to beg for your help. 2 issue a cease and desist or something to stop. This annoying Bell. We've had our board PRESIDENT Try to work with. Manager try to work with that building we've had residents try to work with that building and they just won't do anything about it. I don't know if you've heard this boat, but it's very loud. It's literally like an old school Bell. So if there's anything that the council can do with the city can do. All right they have it would greatly be appreciated thank you for your time. >> Next to speakers are Fred Sherman and Heidi Sherman please go to an open Got through minister addressed City Council please state your name and address for the record. >> I'm my name is Fred Sherman 101st Avenue North unit. You 3, 1, oh 5. I live in downtown at the one building since it was opened in MARCH of 2019 Eurovision condo buildings 2 blocks away from my condo I'm on the 31th floor. I can hear this school exit Bell right up in my unit. Most importantly city code for noise was recently revised and updated in 2019. Unfortunately we cannot determine which agency has decided that the ovation exit school Bell isn't in compliance with noise coach I'd like to make the City Council aware of some of the highlights for the code noise disturbance, according to Sydney. Ordinance means any sound that puts one in danger or injures the welfare safety or health of humans, a noise that disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities there are many other specific ordinances that the school Bell violates. But I do not have the time to list the ovation building when asked why they would not mind nights their school Bell. The answered some big MISS About emergency Bell. But Bell that rings hundreds of times a day 24 hours a day. Even when there's no one on the sidewalks can that possibly be an emergency signal and especially when the city own sundial garage has 3 exits the ovation as one directly across the street goes exactly on the same street with no visual or audio noise. How can there be an emergency on one side of the street and not on the other. I can recite and codes what the definition of an emergency is and the ovation school Bell clearly does not been to those guidelines. All garage exit should have a safety device that alert in my opinion but not required on the any city codes or ordinances to warn pedestrians bicycles etcetera us to a car exiting, but more than 50% of the buildings in downtown St. Petersburg have none I've done a survey and the balance of the buildings either have a small buzzer or just a visual stroke type like the Chamber of Commerce for cars for many years asked the ovation to modernize their bill the Saint Pete our alliance who subsequently moved out of the chambers building due to the health safety reasons because of the school Bell ringing all day long. The Tampa Bay times that a front page article on this issue and the next day the editorial board publicly admonished the it the the ovation building but not solving what a 10 year quote what a 10 year-old to do on the schoolyard and of quote I have personally offered to pay for a new system similar to that what we have or any other modern building has in downtown in addition, I offered to donate $5,000 to any local charity to show what a good neighbor should be this school ball compared all over downtown and exit warning systems should one people directly 50 feet in front of their garage, not all over the city. All I ask today's that City Council ask appropriate agencies personnel to investigate if the ovation school built digs exit system complies with local Saint Pete noise ordinances. Please let me know if you have any questions thank you for your time. >> I'm Heidi Sherman I live at 100 for 70 North and that St. Petersburg I do play pickleball and I'll tell you one of the hardest things to learn about pickleball is where to get courts. That's the big secret had to get a court not had a drink. I'm here to make my point about the bell. For It's the foot its the warning system to exit the ovation building in downtown St. Petersburg. I'm resident that lives about a block away. I have sat as a craft Cafe which is 2 and a half blocks away. I can hear the garage exit system from the ovation. It's unnecessarily loud. The warning system employed in place is everybody says is commonly referred to as the school Bell because that was the right intention of the bill. Okay it is an endlessly unusually loud. It is unusually jarring and it could be heard unusually far away 30 some odd floors up 4 blocks away. The question is to the City Council is that people have brought this to you before is our understanding in the past and people were told it's an emergency system therefore is not within sound ordinance and every other thing. I requested the City Council today is can you please review how the city of St. Petersburg determined that leaving a residential garage is an emergency situation and if it is please would you put in hundreds of school bells all over town. GOD forbid we should have not be able to thwart an emergency. But number one if that bill if leaving that garage is not an emergency number 2 can you determine if that school Bell at basically 100 decibels anybody for everybody's got the bell on there phones right now, somebody feel free Frank. He stood up about we'll break. It's shocking if anybody's been downtown and you think about it once you hear it you'll never run here. But number 2 if that Bell is not within noise ordinances. My next request is number 3 City Council would you please take the necessary steps to have the ovation change their system so they are within the sound ordinances rules. The city of St. Petersburg. >> Next to speakers are Nancy winnings and Philip mcdonough please go to an open podium, you have to administer tests City Council please state your name and address for the record. >> Hello my name is Nancy whiting's I love that 100 first Avenue North in the one building unit 17 oh 5. I came here. The ovation bill 9 day like the the other people in the room who are here. I can hear it at 2. 3 04:00am. It goes off because workers that Park in the building killer, not residents. That work at the local restaurants that have parking situation innovation. So it's not just the residents there coming and going its contractors. Restaurant workers. There. They're they're they're leaving work at 4 o'clock in the morning. So I hope that we'll listen to us understand that this is a every day. All day. Us that I have grandchildren the coming to my unit with the doors closed. And they say what's that sound. It is after a while it's it's in your head. It's like that. It's just a constant. The problem for everybody who lives in the building and I'm on the 17th floor. And I don't think it's necessary to have a buzzer go off and more me 2 blocks away that someone is entering or exiting, this parking garage. Thank you. >> Afternoon a filmic Donna at 101st Avenue North unit 23 oh 23th floor. We also every day. I think my favorite story about the Bell is my came to visit last year loves to do a yoga and meditation he loves going out and about going and he's got his bows noise cancellation headphones on so he's out there, I'm inside he comes back and he goes well that was fun that's what will happen. He meditating and I'm hearing this Bella gloves we've got these cancellation and it didn't matter. He heard it. And loud it not only thing. One thing we need to point out it doesn't go off just want to goes up twice and goes office the cars coming out on the sidewalk. And when it's on the sidewalk. It goes off again. So it's obviously superfluous wiser going off twice won. You've already heard to begin So I again like everybody else is going to tell you just love the City Council to just talk to these people Fred made a very generous offer to fix this problem for everybody in the neighborhood and they just said no. I just don't understand that from a neighbor perspective. And so that's it also pickleball player to as my wife is everyday loves itself. And my support to them as well. >> Next to speakers are Betty Stein Miller and Chris Stein ocher please go to an open podium, you know 3 minister addressing the council please state your name and address for the record. >> my name is Betty steinmeier I live it 1, 1, 9, oh one 4th Street North apartment 11 o one. I represent the of for a double Saint Pete coalition. Which is a newly formed coalition fighting for housing justice. In this city endorsed by a coalition of unions and local organizations. It turns out that the number of renting households in Saint Pete is 41,773. 2,242 face eviction just in the past year. That's one eviction for every 50 households. According to most recent census. Excuse me estimates and that seems crazy. But it's not. Right for to Council would likely have stopped 950 of these. 53% of black households in Saint Pete, where renters in 2020. The same is true for only 33% of white households, failing to protect tenants will produce racially disparate outcomes. This is not what Saint Pete wants. On a personal note. I live. On the same fixed income I received when I retired 18 years ago. When my Spanish speaking has been dyed my children urge me to return to the us from Mexico where we lived for many years. And since 2 of them were Florida based ok I did my research Saint Pete would be the best city in Florida and live in that's place. I'm about to turn 81, I've moved 3 times since 2019. The landlord in my previous place tried to boot me out, but I found an affordable apartment. At the most North Eastern point and 4th Street in sound pit in Saint Pete with a one-year lease. Well my lease was up Sept. 31th. I didn't hear word. Paid my rent paid my rent. OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER. I'm scared I'm not going to go call the property manager and ask him. What's going on because I just have to assume a month month to month. Given the soaring rates some are even doubling apartments about halfway through the year I mentioned those worried about being evicted to my property manager his response. Get a roommate. Been there done that. I feel that at this point my life. I I deserve to have my apartment and have my privacy. In order to prevent the illegal. Wrongful evictions I think Saint Pete must level the playing field between low income people of color and fixed income tenants thank you. Thank you while you're delaying so long. It wasn't and it was presented in APRIL. Thank you. Good afternoon, I'm Kristen occur. PRESIDENT And ceo the St. Petersburg area Chamber of Commerce at 102nd Avenue North. Thank you for the deferral MADAM Chair. I apologize for the time that way put on the agenda. We had approached you all to present our affordable housing recommendations of area, previous comments. We all know we need to do things about affordable housing. We have them approved we just didn't get into our board in time or agendas what filled up so we're coming back in your Jan. 19th to present to those to you as well as our greenhouse final contract. Last time I was here we talked about trying to get that done by the end of the year we were not able to get that done by the year. But we just reviewed from a legal today, the final draft and will bring that to you all as well. The final piece will bring to you as our greenhouse network conversation. Our grow House grow smarter grow smarter network conversation and I think it's very appropriate because I heard conversations recently from you all about a committee for economic development and workforce and I think it was COUNCILMAN Floyd I was like wait, we don't have one of those first like I was a surprise but not because I know how things work in so I always think obviously a chamber guys going to say economic development and workforce development really help with a lot of the issues you here and even open for about creating resources to do the things we need to do and so creating a job solves a lot of those issues. Our community and our Foundation for the Saint Pete and our chamber are investing back into the grow smarter network which will bring our economic development community professionals from all parts of our community back to the table to ensure the resources you all as a city are are aligned with us as well as with the private sector does so that we can get back on the same page moving forward about creating those jobs that we love to be at the ribbon cuttings for but all the work ahead of time is is what we've got to focus on and so we're going to bring back that proposal too so when I hear you all talk about an economic development workforce committee I would say that would tax I believe would help us expedite conversations that need to occur. I do not want to cause any tension. We're back up in psni because we want to continue moving all the momentum that Saint Pete has the opportunity for if we can solve this why continue and adding conversations that is what our community needs the more we can talk together about the next steps for that next job for that next is is where we all need to be the CHAIRMAN Wants to be a partner in that I appreciate that happy holidays will see Jan. 19th thank you very much. Thank you. Next to speakers, Leslie Bowman and Paul Murray. He's got an open podium state your name and address for the record, you know 3 minister addressed City Council. >> I'm Leslie Baumann I love it 2920 Burlington Avenue North. Niamh with the Saint Pete Coalition and also the Saint Pete Quaker meeting social peace and social comes concerns committee. I've talked when I was here last week about some of the social impact issues I I hope that you would have given some thought to Saint Pete Saint Pete would be the first city in Florida to it right to enact right to in the city to take leadership in enforcing fairness in preventing displacement during housing affordability crisis this mess, something that Betty wasn't unable to to tell you about. This The council chair recognized the urgency of moving forward on another issue on a health issue and I was I was so impressed and please to to hear that recognition. And we know that the the right to counsel issue has been before us And there's also great urgency in that issue and I urge you to take take your leadership move ahead, and make this happen. Thank you. >> Good afternoon. My name is Paul Murray a little bit 101st Avenue unit 10 oh 5 the one building here talk about the ovation delegate. Relatively modern building impact related to a proof. Hurricane Windows I can hear with the windows closed. I live directly over one of the entrances to Warren. I don't hear ours even though it's directly below me. But I hear there's 2 blocks away. I had 3 relatives asked my wife's and her brother and her daughter when they visited Thanksgiving all separately what's that sound so it's it's not like it grew people in media early it's jarring. It's not safety related you can say that but no for starters, so when we mention across the street more cars. They don't have it. Safety bill does nothing for the death. It does nothing for some whose too slow to get out of the way does nothing for someone who's mentally challenged doesn't understand the bill doesn't help your dog whose 10 feet ahead of you on the Leech what what helps is the stop sign there you have to stop and they have a stop sign. It was referred to mediation. They don't they're not negotiating in good faith they don't give a good reason. It's been offered to pay for it with a donation. I mean how could you not accept that so. There's no getting run over inside my 10th floor condominium. It's it's absolutely ridiculous. Just my side of the condominium million worth of real estate paying and a half dollars a year in real estate taxes for your constituents. I I humbly ask in force. State ordinances and everything's. Sure a little bit gray area, stick up for common sense. And asked whichever department it is that within for something like that to step forward and do it because we were not asking anything unreasonable. That's my request and hopefully you can help us out with this. Thank you. You. Next to speakers are James Kidder and Frank for please go to an open podium yup the minister addressed City Council please state your name and address for the record. >> I'm Jamey killer escaping out of the 4, 5 one to 7th Avenue North. I'm also here on behalf of the affordable Saint Pete Coalition. And I'm here today to ask that when tenant right to counsel comes up again that youth and family services. It got moved to the full Council without any further delays. It was introduced in APRIL and since then there have been hundreds of households that have faced eviction without any representation. So far in 2022. One in every 20 renters has faced eviction. I can see why you have a problem with that all right that's. So one in every 20 renters have faced eviction and that's just formal eviction that doesn't count people whose rent doubled, and they just have to go. And I don't think it's controversial to say that in Florida the law's very lopsided in favor of the landlords over the tenants even despite that though there are many evictions taking place and that violate even are one-sided lopsided laws tenants right to counsel isn't some crazy new idea it's been done across the country. For example Cleveland and acted at about 5 years ago and a recent report indicated that 93% of tenants that used it for able to come up with a plan to keep their housing. I'm not sure how much of that is preventing illegal eviction or how much of that is coming to an agreement with their landlord but we can all agree that that's a good thing. The same study also found that after accounting for social costs stemming from evictions things like emergency room visits, foster care shelters and other costs generally associated with higher homelessness the city pretty much broke even. They saved a bunch of federal funding for other projects as well. Our city is facing a lot of displacement despite an overall growth in population are working class minority population has shrunk. They're the ones who benefit the most from right to counsel and when you net out it doesn't cost anything. This isn't even really about leveling the playing field even with a lawyer kind of still face an uphill battle, this just means that one side doesn't lose automatically every single time. Thank you. Thank you. My name is Frank poor, I reside at the 1, 1, 101st Avenue on the 33th floor. I can here with my doors closed on 330 feet off the ground. The intent of this bill is to warn people that are in the very close proximity 30 to 50 feet that there's an oncoming car so that they can be safe. If you take the high pop news which we re probably about 600 feet to the building and then 330 feet up new quick math that's about 45500 feet away that I can here with my storm doors closed in my bedroom in my living room. It definitely impacts the quality of my life my wife's life and certainly the people here were not all not. It sounds let me play it for you because I think it's something you already did. No I didn't actually I I I. >> I have 3 minutes. >> That's the door going up to allow a car to go through. The cars now on the sidewalk. >> That's the door closed. That happens hundreds of times that happens at 3 in the morning when bars let out of happens that 5 in the morning. It happens at 11 o'clock at night. My nephew is but visiting this weekend. He said how do you stand that belt and I said I don't it drives think not okay and basically it's not black and white I mean it's not great here, it's black and white. There are clear ordinances that the city has put in place. Any noise which unreasonably disturbs injures or endangers the comfort. It's not black and white black and white it's not great. Additionally, there's a law you there's a rookie section 58 for 51 c. In the case of a multifamily dwelling unit, it shall be unlawful to create or to permit or create any noise. That exceeds 55 decibels during the hours of 07:00am and 11:00pm or 40 decibels during the hours of 11:00pm and 07:00am measured from the neighbors. Well. It's 97 decibels on the street and it's probably over 55 on my own. I don't have a decibel meter that Iran there. There there is there waivers and one of the waivers this for an emergency. This is not in the definition of the emergency under the city rules, it's just not and in order to get an emergency Bell and to be able to make these extraordinary noises you need to get a waiver from the city. So my first question is has this building obtained a waiver from the city because we've been told by the city that are by a building that this is an emergency belt. I don't want to call the school Bell because it's not a school Bell. This is a fire Bell. That's what it sounds like it's an emergency bill. And I'd like to use my last 15 seconds. Just a play that Bell one more time because we do it. >> Thank you we've reached the end of our time for open for him for the first our first open forum for today. Anyone who is so requesting to speak is welcome speak during our second open from later in the meeting at this time we'll move on to our legal item taking up item h one and for that we welcome Joe Patten are from the City Attorney's Office. Good afternoon, Sir MADAM Chair, I guess just use MADAM Chair for the last time. This year at least welcome of course graduations the new incoming chair and vice chair icc the next to you. To seek settlement and David blight first the city of St. Petersburg this is an incident that occurred MARCH 13,021 when a motorcycle struck a pothole on first Avenue North and 32th Street. The individual was the injured to GOD. The surgeries medical bills explodes $200,000 lost wages. The Queen that amount. Under the somewhat unique circumstances of this particular case. I recommend settlement the amount $245,000 be happy to answer any questions if anybody has any otherwise I'd be looking for a motion of approval. On that can we have a motion in a second to approve item h one. Saying that there's no request for discussion of the clerk please open the machine for voting. Members please entry votes. Saying PRESIDENT Council members have voted with the clerk please telling announced the votes. I'm sure the motion to approve agenda item h one b student passes unanimously with council members. Goodness in hand, what's being absence. All right, thank you thank you very much felt like. >> Next we'll have our reports. Starting with item e this is our annual report from bayfront health Saint a St. Petersburg and for that report. We welcome PRESIDENT Of the front health John Moore good afternoon Sir. Thank you MADAM Chair and Council we appreciate the opportunity to be here again this year that's been an excellent year for pay for health St. Petersburg and like to talk more about that with you today and share some. Thank you. Share a few slides with you as well. So for any of you who have visited the area around bayfront health St. Petersburg in a while this is the the main campus hospital looks today. The leadership team depicted here we've I think it's been a good testament to the organization that we've been able to hold this team together for a little over 2 years now. In the addition of Sarah Gilbert is a chief operating officer. Approximately a year ago. Very proud of this team we have some of them in attendance today. So this is to depict Orlando footprint if you will across Florida as it sits today with a The new additions that we have announced particularly in Lakeland area and then in the wiregrass ranch, Wesley Chapel area speak about the moment. And I should have most recent acquisition in Puerto Rico of the new hospital there and a pending. Work join with 4 other hospitals there as well. Lynn health divides itself into regions so the West region for Orlando health includes everything you see in orange says Hernando through down through manatee and the flagship facility is bayfront health St. Petersburg the only trauma Center in Pinellas County. We also be for help baby place where we are responsible for delivering. Approximately 4500 babies a year. To the community. We have our bayfront health medical group which now numbers over 100 positions. The we have the Abe for help emergency room in Pinellas Park and the new facility in crossroads in West Saint Pete that will open in spring of 23. And then we have some Institute swabs that I'll discuss in a moment and that's been our over the past year. And then the hospital that I in wiregrass ranch. So they for health as I've spoken to you before one of our primary focus is coming into the organization was. Quality of care reducing open positions that we have we found ourselves in the position of in OCTOBER of 2020 when we arrived. So we've seen a significant improvement in leapfrog safety outcome measures and one of those being. Reduce hospital associate infections which since Oct. 28 been reduced by greater than 50%. The challenge for us at the moment is that the data that used to grade hospital facilities. Bibo cms and organizations like leapfrog a 2 and a half to 3 years old so that's the data they used to give you the current grade a lot of reasons for that we're excited that in 2023. The new data will start to infiltrate and we've had a great success, so we know that show great improvement to the public. You see the National certifications and accreditations that we're to achieved. With the American College of Cardiology American College of radiology the American Heart Association. We also were certificate certification for hip and knee replacement over the past year. We've had a tremendous improvement in our patient experience where the patients rate us. And we've been able to hire almost 600 new nurses since OCTOBER of 20 resulting in significant reduction in overall open positions and clearly a reduction in open are in positions. If you look at the the middle Photo you see bayfront health St. Petersburg so inside what's going on right now as far Renovations we are renovating 2 entire floors right now and we're taking out all of the semi private rooms and replacing them with private room so all of that renovations going on currently and then we are adding a larger ambulance Bay which will help our our friends at sense are as they come in and bring patients to where you are. Down in the lower left you see that the Pinellas Park er fairly new facility that really nothing needs to be done to that facility. Currently you see the crossroads facility with a knee on the first floor and to force a medical office and then the latest announcements that we've made here recently partnering with women's care the largest obgyn provider in the state. And we're partnering with him on the bayfront health St. Petersburg women's Institute. Brand new facility and it will bring all of their the various components that they have as far as physicians into one location with us adding additional women services as well. And bayfront health St. Petersburg Institute square. This is a it's 2 squares a city block that we now I have control over and this will be the first building that will house or cancer center. That is in partnership with Florida cancer specialist, the largest cancer provider in the state of Florida. We're partnering with them I'll share with you a few physicians that we're adding. We are responsible for the radiation oncology and surgical specialties and they will provide the medical oncology in addition in this building another partnership with all Florida orthopedics in Florida orthopedic Institute to create a orthopedic Institute of excellence to be located in that same building. So the institute's that we we have either added to or develop new. Services for the community and we lost and bariatric surgery Institute we were fortunate to be able to recruit doctor Ramirez who renowned in minimally invasive bariatric procedures. His first case was in JUNE and that patient. Was home in one day and return to work in 11 days in the bariatric surgery world that is a pretty phenomenal so he he teaches throughout the country and throughout the world and and we're really pleased to have him on board. The cancer That I spoke of we have been working to recruit a surgical subspecialties in that area. So doctor Jay Ryan Williams who has been in the already we're able to recruit him to join us. In the area of colorectal surgery and they were to Ryan is in the upper left and then doctor Jennifer ask will be the chief of colorectal surgery for the Western region. And she and her family just relocated here in NOVEMBER. She is coming to us Georgetown University Hospital where she was the chief of colorectal surgery. Doctor the pop already in the community but again recruited him to come join us plastic surgeon who handles all the melanoma and contain these cancers. And then doctor treating us Panola to spin and community for many years and her partner doctor she's in the lower left her partner Julie a. In the upper right. Handle our head and neck cancers. And we are currently developing a thyroid impair thyroid center with them. And then the women's care partnership that spoke of earlier also in the cancer Institute who known physicians in the community who will be joining us in our new facility. A doctor our and doctor canard I have been here for quite some time in fact we just support. Celebrated doctor in hours. 2,503 bucks surgery. Another Institute heart and vascular so building on the base that you see depicted at the bottom there. Those positions have been here in market and in the community for quite some time cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery. We've had a doctor Lindsay Gates and she started in AUGUST and but that's color surgeon, and then doctor Curtis Bryant who came back to the community adventhealth in Winter Park and joined Again in AUGUST. Many people I know doctor Brian for his previous work in St. Petersburg. Neuroscience owner science Institute again we recruit recruited to physicians doctor covered in duct Christine and then we partnered with central and are creating in their science Institute around that a group of physicians. And the last one is actually a physician and he's been here in a program has been in existence for a while. I call it the hidden JUNE the bayfront. It's a level 4 epilepsy center. The highest level that you can serve and it's very few in the state. We see patients from all the eastern United States come and seek out doctor. The sorrow. For their policy issues. But I just want to call him out because he has an excellent program and it's hidden gym. And then nt allergy head neck surgery again that's after Pfaff and doctor Espanola doctor Pfaff has been very successful of late in the inspire program which is an implantable device to help sleep apnea instead of the typical ask that you have to wear. She's well over a implants it at this point and they've been very successful. Every year present what the charity care was 4. The previous year, so this is unaudited at this point but 21.5 million again this is our costs not are charges. And it for comparison last year 19 million. And then as we've spoken about earlier, we have been laser-focused on making sure connected with community and in many many ways with our physicians and team members. Everything from the heart walk into lower picture too Packing with the rays for students too teaching people throughout the community, various techniques to. Be able to survive certain injuries. Some of the partners that we continue to work with are depicted here in the written form. And then here and in the graphical forms MAY notice some of them by their logos. And that's really all ahead for you Certainly entertain any But loving again continue to enjoy living and working in Petersburg in pre she ate the support of the City Council. Throughout so thank you very much. Thank you. Councilmember months Mary, thank you MADAM Chair, present more so it's great to see you. Just to brutally Back when the we had the previous owner of bayfront to be for us I used to dread these updates because. You were just kind of waiting for the next shoe to drop. And but what a transformation you and your your team is have done for for bayfront to health. And I'm a big believer in a rising tide lifts all boats and. You all are are setting the bar the bar very high here in our community when it comes to mental medical care. And you're investing in St. Petersburg which. Is what we're all about. And I couldn't be happier with Just all the different things that that you covered. It's just it's just amazing. I like just a couple of things that jumped out at me the the 21% improvement in patient experience. I think I've said it before. But I'll say it again medical care is all about quality and in patient experiences. His body. I I think when I when I'm thinking Mayo medical care or my family's medical care Audi's like the number one thing that I that I look for. The last time your before us we talked a little bit about nurses and it looks like you you all are on track for like hiring about 300 a year. How how's that going. It's going very well if you remember back in 2020 we were really in in and some of my my colleagues are had the same situation that it was a tough. Tough time to try to Nurses but you know it's it's just a lot of methods a lot of work with our education partners to try to grow you know when working with us ethanol children's to grow are in program that resides it. Usf Saint Pete and we've been successful in that in you getting together the puzzle of all children's providing training labs and we provide support and nurses to educate and sfa green to grow the number of slots so it's just that kind of work that we're trying to do. >> Appreciate that update later later in our meeting we're going to have a little conversation about forming a new City Council Committee on our economy work workforce development in this. The issue is right right up there at the time one of the top You know, we have the workforce to sustain the economy that we have here and we would like to support that I did see that and maybe Saint Pete catalyst or something that was mentioned, definitely like to support that Mike thank you. I also wanted just to double click on the on the charity care. And that's that's very important to our community also so thank you for thank you for coming in thank you for the update and thank you for bring your team and hello hello everybody thank you for believing in Petersburg and making our city better. Thank you. Thank you, MADAM Chair. COUNCILMAN I think Sanders. Thank you MADAM Tier and hello everybody from a friend how are you. It's a shame that I have to concur with council member mine eerie at one point there were it was a no-brainer we want to go you have an emergency Saint Anthony's I mean they front wasn't a part of the conversation. I hate to be really honest as we say and I am so amazed and impressed in the turnaround that you've had in the intentional inclusion that you bring so I want to thank you for that. I appreciate that so now you're you're giving us another location to consider and I can see bayfront be want to the leading hospitals again because we really did lose that in the community we really didn't so I'm just so honored. I'm grateful to be there. Then I also want to ask a couple of things I would love to know who wouldn't how I can get in contact with the person in regards to community engagement because this meme is we've community engagement. I would love to know that. And the patient experience that speaks for itself. The increase in that in you noticing in and sharing that with us I appreciate that because our patients our constituents. So they went in the same for us since I appreciate that as well and then I'm also one of the ones who lived experiences and this matters to me but diversity matters to me. And I would love that when you include in your next presentation that we get that break down of upper level management and with that diversity makeup looks like through the bayfront staff so we can see that we are truly fostering we're gunna stations that near the community they could then we are as a city would be happy to do you think you so much so for that and again I am just so honored that you came and I'm glad that you came to give us his update in I'm so pleased that you have actually come into our community and give us something to look forward to. Well it's a good court government relations will connect you with Barry Becker to hear that name. She is our community relations person who will. Thank you so much. >> All Thank you so much for that the presentation are giving him providing us for that update you've had. Lots of really big announcements lately and that just continues the wonderful trajectory. That bayfront design thanks to you. It's just a little over 2 years now I think since assumed responsibility for be front and thinking then to now the transformation has been nothing short of miraculous. And that is because you did what you said you're going to do. And you brought in the team to make sure it got done. It is such a pleasure to work with Cortez very you all of the team that I've had the pleasure of. Working within and speaking with in these last couple of years. And it's just what a breath of fresh air. I am so excited about the. The women's Institute. That's coming just this morning. We had a really good conversation. In a committee that included they need to really elevate the need for comprehensive women's health care. In our city and we are going to make that a priority and I know that we can kind of need to be a strong partner in that. And teaming up with Florida cancer specialists for for that Institute I think is going to be. Something is not only much needed in our city. But I think it's going to take. Health care nurse in St. Petersburg to the next level, I'm really looking forward to I'm seeing how that goes. But you know the the. The biggest sine and and the most important thing to me that really says so much about the impact you've had is the feedback that I've gotten from the health care professionals, that work at bayfront you are who have been there for quite a while and were there for the before in for the then and the now. It's so positive. The comments that I that I hear and it's open and honest they don't need to put any spin on anything. I can tell that they're happy here because they have the resources that they need and they're being treated like the truth here is that they are. So that's that that really says it all to me and I'm just want to thank you for that. Thank you appreciate again the support of the council and the city happy holidays to everyone. All right any new announcements that you'd like to give us is not yet. But yeah, I mean every time we turn around there's something amazing being out so thank All right, thank you all so much. All right, ladies and gentlemen will move on to our next item which is easy too. The task order for the agreement with stantec consulting services. Do we have MISTER Prime in here for that. >> trying to track down Angela and Claude. I would say okay, I know we've we have some storm related situations that everyone dealing with right now if you'd like I can come back to that later. Terrific. But will do then is go to item e 3 which is our resolution acknowledging the results of the Nov. 8th 2022 special municipal election. Move approval. >> We have a motion and second to approve item e 3. Seeing that there's no requests for discussion with the open machine for voting. Council members please enter your votes saying present council members have voted with the clerk please telling announced the votes. And sure the motion to approve or deny the 3 passes unanimously with councilmember hand was being asked. >> All right, thank you and it looks like we're in clear to go back to item e 2 at this time. And you don't look like bridge a sprain in bed. We're very happy to see your good afternoon. Ladies I was here I want to grab something and it was like it was a happens every like always right, yeah, it never fails. Angela Miller, public works >> So the utility rates city we do this annually as you guys already. Went through the process a bit but we used to have this odd hours to report and so since we no longer do that. To the public works. He peace. We went ahead put the Senate report just a could be consistent with the process but moving forward are happy to move this over to consent that's the will of the group. There was just one thing that I wanted to discussed today was. A rate study it's very consistent every year dear Evan Hughes for us and Alice us we go through to a great program. We do the French forecasting. But for this year we have added in an analysis of our current water and wastewater rate structure tears. This is not something we've done historically. We are aware of Andy Burnham and his many many years of history of doing this can remember a time that we've actually analyzed the way the water and wastewater tear structure. So we're adding that in this year I just want to make you guys that's a new component move approval. We thank you we have a motion and second to approve item e 2. Any comments saying that there's no requests for discussion with the clerk please open machine for voting. And some members plays into votes. Seeing no present council members have voted for other parties telling announced the votes. I'm sure the motion to approve has unanimously with cancer and was being at. Thank you and for the city What would be the process for has to take up a vote on. I'm sending this to consent in the future. So 2 ways if you want to live with the motion you could alternatively you can just give some informal direction. The staff. Consent agenda that can always be the starting point. So you don't need a motion for that you're free to make. Chair we're happy to place on the consent agenda in the future. >> All right I don't see and I'm not hearing any objections to that so let that be heard throughout the land Thank you we'll be seeing you all soon because we started to restructure again in Jan. 7 or 8 discussions, so we'll be meeting with all of you around the corner. They can't wait Thank you. All right, we will not recess as City Council in communities, the cra to take up item cra too. And for that welcome the 7 ft good afternoon lead 7 at the director of planning and development services. We do have an item were you to eat. And hopefully we've got our presentation ready and unfortunately adrianna point to Shaw was not feeling well today, so I'm here. So the project before you today is located at the southwest corner of First Avenue North and doctor Martin Luther King junior Street North red district. You are reviewing today for consistency with the in town West redevelopment plan. The property is currently developed with multiple commercial buildings and surface parking lots. The applicant has applied for a modification to a previous least reviewed approved site plan originally reviewed and approved by the development review Commission on Apr. First and 2021. And by the cra on MAY 6 of 2021. Since its approval approval, the applicant made changes that require a new review from the cra and the applicant is requesting to increase the number of residential units from 254 to 269 with no changes to the faa are in order to modify the unit next. The proposed building will consist of 2 towers sitting on top of a 4 story base. The existing one story building that's on the corner of mlk and First Avenue North will remain that's engine number 9 in blue goose are currently operating. Vehicular ingress and egress for the garage will be from first Avenue North pedestrian access from the lobbies will also be from first Avenue North. The commercial space will be from first Avenue North bomb and doctor mlk the applicant is proposing a pedestrian arcade that will pass through the center of the building connecting the public sidewalk along first Avenue north to the public sidewalk on palm Avenue North. At the southeast corner of the subject property there will be large open space where the applicant has proposed proposing to provide hearts, Cape and landscaping in seating areas. The applicant will also construct a new structure that will be designed to closely match the structural form and original materials of the former surely at motel hotel. This is a view from the first Avenue north of one of the 2 towers. The first floor of the building will include commercial space residential lobbies of leasing office back across the silla teas and parking the commercial space and leasing office will have a 2 for height, second through 4th floors are perking 50 through 15th are the residential units and the 15th floor will incorporate rooftop amenities. The proposed architectural style of the project is modern with the ground floor of the building to find with 2 Storey glass storefront system in projecting awnings the parking garage will include a mixture of landscaping architectural screening to help mitigate appearance of the garage on the streetscape Southwest Southeast corners of level 3, 4 are proposed with translucent screening. The tower is defined with vertical and horizontal and elements and this is the view from the second tower. Also from first Avenue North. And this is the view from bomb of the first tower. And our view from bama the second tower. The subject property is located within rdc one zoning district, mixed use developments with the floor error area ratio of up to 7 are allowed and the development as proposed an are 5 point out bonus approval of an are greater than 3 can be reviewed by staff with public notice for compliance and the has noted the original site plan approved by drc in 2021 the applicant's request for the modification is being reviewed in accordance with the changes to that we to the cra a prop process adopted by Council in DECEMBER of 2021. Where now the cra comes before the review by staff and the drc so that's why we're here today. This is the view from mlk and the proposed will continue the redevelopment of our downtown is described in our comp plan. The building is urban scale pedestrian or and its street level features and provision of the store front windows with urban Planters. Provide consistency with our I r p our existing downtown development pattern contains a variety of building type styles and masses. The narrative provided by the applicant that's in your packet. A further elaborates on the consistency with our I w r p in town West plan. This is the view from the west of the second tower. And they the applicant did with our edge district representatives, they are in support of the modification. There is a letter to endure a packet provides that feedback. And we are met recommending approval. For construction of the 2.15 Storey buildings. 269 dwelling units, 27,028 square feet of commercial space and a 355 space parking garage. Again at the southwest corner of First Avenue North and doctor Martin Luther King junior Street art for consistency with the in town West redevelopment plan that concludes my presentation I know our applicant is here as well to help with any questions you MAY have thank you. >> Public comment on this item and there's one MADAM Chair. Katie Cole. Please state your name and address for the record, yes, Sir, MISTER Dress Council. >> Thank you MADAM Council members Katie Cole representing the applicant actually is posted public that MISS Abernathy went through each of the changes. Also joined with Eric bandwidth Bell point who is the developer owner already of this project