City Council

>> Dawn >> welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting your elected officials are mayor Rick district one Robert black money. District 2 Brandi Gabbert district 3 and Council chair, Edmonton Mary district 4 garden right. District 5 Deborah big Sanders. District 6. And Council vice chair Gina Driscoll district 7 Lisa Wheeler Bowman. And district 8 Foster. >> Well good afternoon and welcome to the St. Petersburg City Council meeting for Nov., the 9th 20 21. We will begin our meeting invocation followed by the pledge of Lee legions leading us in the indication is council member. Perfect Sanders he's missed MISTER Chair, we'll call these aren't sorry, let's begin with the recall. Clinton area here. Rice. Sanders here Driscoll here we were Bowman. Foster care Blackman air gathered. Clerk and now we will go to the invocation and pledge of allegiance will everyone please stand. Thank you chair. >> Or whomever you find your refuge. Your direction. Your safety, your calm your peas we ask that you join us forward prayer. As we venture into another day that we have yet to seeing another day that we are grateful for me value hands. They have any father we come with their heads bowed and our hearts humbled we come to you asking for a spirit of unity. The spirit of truth. A spirit of transparency. We come here not knowing. For what you are blessed and still have to be bestowed upon us. What was so grateful and so thankful for all that you've done up until this point we come to you knowing that there's nothing that could have happened with that you're in 19 in your blessing. We come to you knowing that we I'm here to serve a purpose. We're here to get a job to we're here to be mined from the heart and that spirit in mind that causes the confusion. A device that can use because together we're wrong we're strong and we're one become thanking, you, im praying that we together make a major move to forward progression of this great city that we call home with all of the blessings that we have we asked today as we depart from this place that we get there safely in everything that we left at home intact. In an bother. And we continue to ask in your mighty matches name. In all who served for the goodness that hand in for this great fullness of heart. We thank you for this day we thank you for this gathering we thank you for this purpose in this mission. And it all in the room be grateful. Saying. With the stands. >> Thank you councilmember a fix Sanders for that moving invocation council members we agenda before us. We have 2 additions we're going to add to f 9 resolution acknowledging the general election results and. I'm fate and then f the legislative affairs and inner resolution with those changes I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda. Move approval with changes. Can we have a motion second on the floor with the clerk please open machine for voting. Council members please cast your votes. Seeing all present council members voted for the clerk please tallying announce the vote. MISTER Chair, the motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously with council members. Rice and one of them have sent. >> We have a consent agenda before us all entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. We have a motion in the second to approve the consent agenda do we have any cards we do not want to and there's no hands MISTER Chair when the clerk please open machine for voting. Council members please cast your votes. Present council members voted where the clerk please telling an obstacle. >> MISTER Chair, the motion to approve the consent agenda passes unanimously with councilmembers rice and Lebron being absent. Thank you. MISTER Clerk will go to open forum will the clerk please read the rules for open form. If you wish to address address City Council and subjects other than public hearing because i digitial items listed on the agenda please sign up with the clerk. Only individuals wishing to speak please sign the open sheet only city residents owns the property business owners in the city whether employees MAY speak all issues discussed and are 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 only speak once during the open form when the item comes up on the agenda in order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address Council. Each individual 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 e raise hand feature button in the zoom app we're interest are 9 on your phone at the time the agenda item is addressed. When it is your turn to speak you'll be a new didn't ask to state your name and address. At the conclusion of your comments or we 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 and comments every requirements that any presentation materials must be submitted in advance of the meeting and the rules of decorum if my public comment is disrupted by violation of rules of decorum that shares authorized to accept public comments by alternate means including by the male only. >> MISTER Chair, we have one speaker in the chamber David perhaps please state your name. Your address for the record you have 3 minutes to a City Council. >> Thank you my name is David happy. Thank you for I'm hearing me today. We just started a small business here in St. Petersburg called tidings it's a community website. Love your invocation I do believe that you all are here for such a time as this. You should know there's a group here in Pinellas County of 350 people that are committed to praying for you by the name of prey for Pinellas. I believe you're here for such a time as this I believe you can also be here to care for the least of these. And I'm here I came over from tarpon Springs, even or small businesses here came over from tarpon because I wanted to call your attention to an article that just came out yesterday. From us News and World Report on dealing with nursing homes. Specifically nursing homes in Saint Pete we have so many awesome nursing homes and care facilities here and a lot of them are doing a terrific job. But if your duty here on the City Council of Saint Pete part of your duty is to care for the least of these. You should really take a look at the article that came out from us News and World Report yesterday on nursing homes. There are some issues here in Saint Pete that could be addressed or at least brought to the attention of the Saint Pete City Council. There are several nursing homes here in Saint Pete proper. That scored a one out of 5 in their ratings on these are ratings that they do across the country. So they're not biased or or favorable to any particular nursing home that using the grading scale. On the performance of nursing homes, these nursing homes are rated on care rate of complaints and all kinds of criteria you can see the criteria. There's a little cheat sheet if you want to take a look at if you want to cut to the chase you can go to tidings dot media which is my company. You can take a look at we put kind of a summary of Petersburg nursing homes on there again. The vast majority of our nursing homes and care facilities are doing an awesome job here in town. But there are several. The great co center scores a one out of 5 over on 62th Street Eastlake nursing and rehab us News and World Report scores a one out of 5. In terms of their care of the people that they're looking after Alpine health on 21th Avenue scores, a one out of 5 on their grading scale. There's one called they point nursing Pavilion and the comment on Bay point nursing Pavilion which is located at 43 31th Street South in Saint Pete. Their score of one out of 5 they're the only one in the reporting Petersburg where there's a footnote that says this home has a history of low quality care and is being closely monitored by Medicare Doc gov. So within the authority that you have within the City Council. Number one I'm thankful that you're here I do believe you're here for such a time as this. But ask you to look at that report. Thank you I thank you Nic speaker please more speakers MISTER Chair, okay located in close open forum and go towards and presentation. And the first to one is d one of the key to the city from to a doctor will Michaels. Good afternoon mayor kriseman MISTER Chair. Give me one moment I know to my office okay. >> Well good afternoon, MISTER Chair members of City Council and afternoon first thank you for indulging this year. As I have had the pleasure and honor of honoring some outstanding individuals in our city with the highest honor that I can bestow which is a key to the city of St. Petersburg so today we are honoring 2 people who have made a positive impact on our city and the people of this community. Doctor will Michaels. And with will it's kind of hard to know where to start. For starters, I think it's safe to say that we wouldn't have a first airline monument to the Saint Pete pier without the work of will. It was a personal honor of mine to be a part in to help on that project and we're certainly grateful. For his work and bring it to life because it really is a proper tribute and tells the story of our city's role in aviation history. In commercial flight. And it's a beautiful piece of art. Will is also a veteran and on this veterans day week. We want to thank him for his service to our country. We also thank him for his service to our community. Will Michaels was the director of the St. Petersburg Museum of history. He has been a neighborhood PRESIDENT. PRESIDENT Of Kona an active member of civic organizations like the Rotary Club and the downtown waterfront parks Foundation. A member of Saint Matthews and is a longstanding commissioner on our community planning and preservation Commission. And this is really all just the tip of the iceberg. Will Michaels cares deeply about St. Petersburg and he is not just a historian. He is also someone who has helped to make history. In my first 100 days as mayor will arranged for Julia Ruth Stevens. The daughter of the day. To visit us here in St. Petersburg and to meet with me. It was one of those truly great St. Petersburg days. Where's he's also made history by sinking multiple holes in one at twin Brooks golf course. About 6 years ago the Northeast journal where so many of wills Mazin words can be read had this to say about him, quote so speaks will Michaels. One of the Giants sparkles in the city of many sparkles who knows how to hold up a mirror or perhaps more accurately a magnifying glass to our past and relate a fascinating tablo about what makes this such a great place for good people. Good places and good things to happen. Definitely a Ray of sunshine in our sunshine city. We thank you for giving 5 decades of your life to the city. We thank you for your work to protect and lift up the least among us for caring about the stories of our past and for helping us to build an even brighter future for St. Petersburg it is my honor to present you with the key to the city. >> Indeed and my family, my wife is here Kathy. And I want to acknowledge she gets half that amount come haha. He gets half the key >> is that she has the person who encourage me supported me and above all had a tremendous patients the various engagements I been involved in over the course of the several decades here in St. Petersburg the mayor Julia Ruth Babe daughter who was here in 34. I had the privilege escorting her around the city, she was our guest of honor for the centennial of the major league baseball spring training which began here in St. Petersburg back in 1914. That was actually the last in Keating. Presentation of the key that I've seen I've seen them on zoom cents but that was in the flesh and America freshman was there to make a presentation was actually a outlying field where her. Father hit the longest home run off a major league baseball back in the 19 what was that 34 I think it was. And I the making the comment The event gave him goosebumps it it did it was a truly a amazing a day an event there. Julia Ruth Stevens was a 97 at that time and she had since 34 we had the celebration. She had not been in Petersburg since 1941. That was a year before I was born. So took her around to all of Babe Ruth's Hans well most of them anyway. Crescent The jungle hotel which is now admiral Farragut. Al Lang Stadium all Children's Hospital Babe Ruth was very much involved in the predecessor all Children's Hospital. What was referred to as a crippled Children's Hospital and that was a time there and of course major league baseball spring training. To St. Petersburg was a stroke of brilliance. And gets a lot credit for that, but it was more than a one person show for sure. It the city coming together. To make that happen. We brought the Louis Browns here as the first team. Branch Richie was manager of the Browns at that time you MAY recall that later on he was with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Brought with Jackie Robinson, the integration of the major league baseball at that time so it's interesting that we have that Association there. But a lot of people made baseball happened then. We had a stadium up by coffee pot by you. The land there was donated by to buy see Perry Snell the city and our trolley franchise actually extended the trolley from downtown to a puppy but to get people up there. A great example of kind of a public private partnership and the same thing with the world's first here in St. Petersburg and mayor kriseman was intimately involved in that that was the day before your inauguration, your starters. Mayor here in St. Petersburg you are at our centennial celebration in the rain. At at the pier that was also a great day and that's also a great story. Of our city coming together to embrace a new technology at the time. We had Percy fansler that came up with the idea of airplanes which are kind of poison. 1914 as a business and organizing into an airline a transportation organization and you know he went to some other city first which said the idea was ridiculous. I will mention who and then many came across the bay met with What was the Board of Trade at that time the Chamber of Commerce in Whitney the secretary of the Board of Trade was so impressed with the idea that he put down $30,000 of his own money to get Airline started the community is just rallied and came together there were half the city turned out for that flight on a New Year's Day back in 1914. The city stepped up and provided the site for the launch in the hanger of the airline actually a paid for and built the hangar. For the airline so a great example the again the embracing new ideas. A new technology and everyone coming together as was echoed in our invocation at the beginning here today. So I accept this he on behalf all the people that I've worked with us including our flying City Council chair, here who has been centrally involved monument to the first airline down on the pier that so much appreciated. So what is the key to the city. The key to the city, you know this is a symbol, but the key to the city is people a coming together working together to find common ground to accomplish big things whether that be in the baseball The aviation arena or the other challenges that we've all got today, so again thank you. MISTER Mayor, thank you City Council appreciate all that you do. For our city and thank you Kathy and we will. This will have a place of honor. >> Well >> what can I say you've been a friend and a mentor. >> For. So many going back to when i first started getting involved in in public service. And it's you you have had an amazing journey and you've made such an amazing difference Our city and in many ways that the mayor could have gone on for another half an hour when it comes to different things that you've been involved with and I thin. I've been honored to be able to work with you on on so many things one of the things the mayor did not mention but I I wanted to mention you you as a committee chair on the pier task and put in. That was a year and a half study 63 meetings you were instrumental in helping get are are are you. Pier built. And then your your involvement with the Carter g Woodson also I know you've been in your involved with that. The thing that I really I'm going to remember about you is all the the way that you bring history alive. And you tell a story about our city and the way you you're just of a man of action that it went when I was in the military that we used to have a saying for people that we're energetic that the grass doesn't grow underneath their feet. In the grass doesn't grow underneath your feet because you're on the go all the time you've made her a us our city a better place. So congratulations. I also wanted to thank Kathy for. 4 sharing will with us. He's a he's everywhere. And we're so grateful for for a will Michaels here in our city. So thank you. We'll go next device church or school. >> Thank you and congratulations this is such a well-deserved honor. Not just for what you've done back for what you continue to do for our city. You found so many different ways to serve and I quite frankly I don't know what would you do without you. Your name comes up a lot you know whether we're talking about historic preservation or protecting our parks are building a new pier. If we're talking about major league baseball or making sure that we maintain our neighborhood are talking about zoning changes in land development regulations. At some point someone always. What does will Michaels think and you let us know and I appreciate the haha haha. Not not at all. It's funny I come to expect in a letter from you on certain items and I actually appreciate that because your insight and your guidance are. Are significant. In our decision-making process. So thank you for that. You always. You're such a big part of what makes Petersburg special your mind us of all of the things around us that sometimes we could take for granted. They also remind us what a great responsibility is to protect that and to make sure the St. Petersburg continues to be that wonderful special place that we love to call home. So thank you for. Making your Mark here in this city and reminding us how what a wonderful places for us and thank you. Congratulations again. Good move to d 2 and it's a key to the city presentation that doctor Lars happened. Mayor kriseman thank you MISTER Chair members of Council. So doctor Lars haftar like doctor haftar is a graduate of the Boca ciega high school. Unlike me he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. He is one of my oldest friends and not just because he is older than me. Lars is partly responsible for me standing here today as he gave me the opportunity to manage his campaign for the Florida House about 30 years ago and in 1999. Asked me to consider running for City Council against the incumbent, and no offense Lars that was the only campaign ever lost. So yes, awarding the key is personal to me, but it is also well deserved. The proper a proper recognition of doctor Haffner service is long overdue it was an effective legislator for us in Tallahassee leading the effort to secure significant funds for Saint Pete for museums for nonprofits for our government. He led the effort to develop and build the joint Marine science building between usf and the Department of Environmental Protection for the us f Saint Pete campus. Any negotiated the money to usf Saint Pete's campus library. Served as the provost for Saint Pete College of St. Petersburg Gibbs campus and in 1998 doctor after was named vice PRESIDENT For education and student services that spc where he conceived designed and promoted the university partnership Center at St. Petersburg college. He also helped to establish the downtown campus of spc and he helped spc take over the play to keep it as a performing arts Ben venue he worked with city administration and with me when I was there council member for district one on a partnership between sbc in the city to build the West St. Petersburg community library. And he helped establish one of the top charter high schools in Florida, the Saint Pete collegiate high school. Doctor Haffner went on to become PRESIDENT Of Saint Pete College of. I'm sorry PRESIDENT Of state College of Florida. Manatee Sarasota campus. He has served on the boards of Suncoast community mental health bayfront health hospitals Foundation healthy start and usf public health advisory board. He is giving back to the community through countless volunteer hours for meals on wheels. Habitat for humanity and farm share in 2021. He was the chair of Saint Petersburg's once per decade charter review Commission. Through his steady leadership at the commission's stay the course and sparked important dialogue in our community. So our special care. On behalf of the citizens of St. Petersburg I want to thank you for your service to Florida to our region to this great city and for your friendship. Right. >> I would first like to thank the mayor, this is a distinct honor and I'm just overwhelmed by what it means to this about being given the key to the city that I so love we'll talk about that here in a moment, but I first want to not only thank the mayor. But my family who's here Tara, la la. Mia John Edward. My 92 year-old mother that's here who Rick will remember very well holding signs out on the street corners for him and things my sister, the reverend doctor Laurie Hafner her husband Rick Walters. I see Sam is one of the other kids of the family he came and made it and then we also friends that are really like family that are here today. Ron Morgan up from Coral Gables Hayes on Allen Crabbe Lane. Lake who is family and then court in APRIL James, I'm so thankful for all you being here today. I'd like to say it was quite a journey and as mayor kriseman said there's a lot of things that happened in the 30 or so years here in St. Petersburg that even though maybe not be out front and be the voice of those things a lot of things had to take place in the background as you well know too make deals happen and make things move and now progressive way that creates the city that we are today. So I like to say in 3 particular areas that i hope that my involvement made a difference. That would be policy through politics. We're up in Tallahassee led the charge on many city initiatives, even back with the Police Department the police chief outlawing some some ammunition was a necessity to have happen. 2 other local projects Mayor kriseman said including the science Center back when it was in its heyday before you're able to help bring it back. And then so policy and politics, the Nets is really education and collaboration. Where the mayor mentioned that there was a lot that was done out of St. Petersburg College and we had a visionary and doctor Carl Cutler who led the But we had a team of people who did the things that were right for the city of St. Petersburg as the mayor said starting the joint use library out on the West campus. Around the gives campus St. Petersburg college was very special to really help transition the downtown campus. If you all remember we had the Florida Institute of the Florida International Museum there. And St. Petersburg college actually kept that going in a smaller venue for many years to help the economic development of the city before the campus became a whole. And then also course midtown and the palladium and it was my honor as provost for the Saint Pete gives campus to lead all those entities at one time. So education and collaboration with the people of this city and then of course the last is community service. The mayor list that some of areas that I was involved with. There are many many more that's actually how I first met penny ca was through the bayfront health Foundation and health board and other people like people who have left us now like sister Margaret at free well clinic, a very important in my life. Jane Walker who still at we has done fabulous work for the city for 3040 years, very special person. But is that what it says it takes a village to create a city to create momentum and to create progress and I've been fortunate to have a good friend and the mayor who for 8 years has led to serve a city with great esteem. Great progress and put us here where we are today. So back in the day I used to say and it's true or ensure every day is that St. Petersburg is a great city to be raised. And to retire and each and every day it gets better and better thanks to the mayor's leadership and each and every one of yours leadership. Thank you for this wonderful honor. Congratulations doctor Haffner I. I've been impressed with you as somebody that has followed. Arce people that are involved in our city for I I followed everything that you did when you were in the Legislature. And then you always step up and want to serve to make our city better. In every way that you get involved things come out in a better position and they started. It takes a special person to do that sort of sort of thing. I saw a un action recently on the charter review Commission and some of that. In pushing that happens in in public meetings and you just handled it with the great. Skill in grace and open mind mind in the deal with some very complex issues that are cities facing you are and an amazing example of somebody that cares about our city. Stu has stepped into the arena. And you haven't been a shy about doing that. And you've made our city a better Thank you for your decades of service and congratulations on the this this honor today. It's very well deserved. Councilmember Blackmon thank you Going to be Congratulations and thank you to the mayor the mayor has been a coming out a lot of good. Good picks recently, you know it is is somebody of it, certain age. You know I started reading a newspaper when I was in 4th grade a very familiar with your works for so many years and you know something you said they're just kind of really resonate with me about how Saint Pete's a great place to be But a lot of that is because of the work of you know you these are going to list for the National Museum. As pc, you know the joy library, the palladium in the science Center. You know you just summed up my entire childhood. I utilize all of those in without your leadership. None of that would have been there. And you know it did so many different people been put on pathways to success based on projects you've had a hand in you know, I'm on the City Council now based on these programs that were available to me that otherwise would have been. So just want to sincerely and honestly thank you you've done in partnership with with the mayor as The mayor, you know. You know I don't think is going keep the city of amarah you've done a lot of good work and I think that needs to be congratulated as well because you've had you know decades of of I'm great leadership of our city but you guys partnering together to really make Saint Pete a great place I just want to thank you thank you for your kind words appreciate it, thank you, thank you. Good to see your family here also I'm glad you all could could be here to share and this this occasion. D 3 a transgender day of remembrance. Thank you MISTER Chair members of Council. I think. I know Joe Mixon is here with us our lgbtq liaison is Lucas also here. Okay. So today I am before MISTER Chair members of Council to present a proclamation recognizing transgender day of remembrance. Now this is one of those quite honestly I wish I did not have to present not because I have an issue with presenting it or rather because I wish we were not having to acknowledge the discrimination hate and violence that the transgender community particularly women of color continue to experience. So with this proclamation, it's my hope that we do all that was in that is within each of us to create a community that is welcoming that is compassionate loving to all of our residents and visitors, but especially for a transgender community members. Whereas a transgender day of remembrance will be observed on 11/20/2021. To honor the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. An annual event which began in 1998 with a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester a transgender woman who was killed and which now honors all transgender people lost to violence. And whereas a form a vigil honoring those who were lost and the loved ones they left behind will be hosted by the tea door vigil Committee on Nov. 20th from 07:00pm to 08:00pm at St. Petersburg City Hall steps and whereas our entire community is diminished when we lose the talents and contributions of any member of our community prematurely whether due to direct anti-transgender violence or due to suicide or other health effects resulting from trauma or discrimination. And whereas Petersburg honors, the bravery and resilience of the thousands of transgender individuals who live work or play in our city and they're authentic gender. And although we are proud of the existing protections we have in place for transgender individuals to pursue their lives in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. We reaffirmed the commitment to ongoing efforts to promote full inclusion of transgender individuals in the city. Now therefore I Rick Reisman mayor of the city of St. Petersburg Florida do hereby proclaim Nov. 20th of 2021. As transgender day of remembrance in St. Petersburg and I encourage all citizens to treat each other with dignity and respect without exception. Thank a husband, it's good to see you. Thank you chair and COUNCILMAN. This is a a difficult one to talk for myself, I'm a little bit more recently than than in the past. I want to first as a resident of the city of St. Petersburg I previously worked at Metro inclusive health as trance services division manager and had that privilege of working with and seeing America has been several times in the past 5 or 6 years working with the and always showing up in support are specifically are the Trans community here and personally when I moved to St. Petersburg in I can say that as a trans person myself I have never lived anywhere. I wear felt safer and more welcome so and thank you for making the city, a safe space for all of us. Thank you for acknowledging this day this day is a difficult day for all of us, it is a day of mourning is not a day of celebration and is a day where we come together to the more allies and remember all those we lost this This year has been as every year is the deadliest so far we have over 40 people that we know of so far that we have lost. Most all of those people that are documented or that are reported I really are people who were taken from de tu and to this discrimination and violence. But we also do lose a very large amount of community members every year to suicide as well as make I mentioned so thank you all so much now is in this day and really appreciate it. >> And Mayor kriseman will go to the 4 s anthonys. Hospital 90th anniversary. And I don't know Mary McNulty doctor John haftar Lori to shampoo from sorry if I pronounced that wrong. Christian Smith, Kimberly most or Sherry Robinson if any of you all are here, wonderful. So Petersburg we we talk a lot about being a healthy community. Whether it's through our healthy Saint Pete initiative or health in all policies. The health and well-being of our community and all who reside here is of the utmost importance and it is for that reason that I am proud to present a proclamation today recognizing Saint Anthony's Hospital and it's 90 years of service to our community, providing outstanding quality of health care. The hospital also a personal note as a little a special place for me and my wife is my wife's grandmother was a nurse for many years, Saint Anthony's and it is where both my wife and my daughter were born. And so it is my honor to read this proclamation. Whereas the city of St. Petersburg recognizes that it is vitally important for all of its citizens to have access to first-rate health care. And whereas the Franciscan sisters of Allegheny in New York purchased faith Hospital in 1931. And renamed it Saint Anthony's hospital after one of their patron saints for his selfless dedication to GOD. And whereas for 90 years, Saint Anthony's hospital has been committed to improving the health of our community while operating as one of the area's leading not for profit hospitals. And whereas Saint Anthony's hospital has many firsts in health care which include the first stroke Center in Florida. First mri center on Florida's West Coast. First coronary care unit in Pinellas County and first organized cardiac catheterization lab in Pinellas County. Just to name a few. And whereas the city of St. Petersburg recognizes hospital employees and physicians who through their unselfish dedication pride in efforts have made Saint Anthony's hospital a community asset. Now therefore I Rick Reisman mayor the city of St. Petersburg Florida do hereby recognize Nov. 1st 2021 as Saint Anthony's hospital 90th anniversary day in St. Petersburg. Most come comes First of all I wanted to congratulate to Saint Anthony's you all are such a community asset. Good to see a sister Mary. Thank you very much. Scott Smith for Something came up today and you couldn't be here but you know how close you are to his heart as well as ours. It was in 1931. When a small hospital faith hospital was going close. And the people in the area felt they really needed a hospital. It was the PRESIDENT They front which was Mount Park at that time. 1931 during the Depression. Ours which is coming into being. You had appendicitis or something and you can just walk or by and several miles down the road. We appreciated having the hospital. So our sisters who had been actually at Saint Paul's just a mile down the road. We had already had a hospital in Miami Beach thing Francis hospital so they knew we were involved in. So the people in the area and the Bishop asked us if we would come down and take a look. And we saw that was in need. We responded to that need. We've been responding to it for 90 years with all of the people all of the positions, the team members nurses, everyone because we all share the same mission. The sacred healing mission. For us the time. And each one carries a now. 90 years later. We experience covid but we never anticipated. But our team members. For 2 years almost 2 years now. We have been committed. We have been dedicated. For any person who comes to us. Years later almost 2 years later, we still have covid patients in our hospital that's why we're wearing a mask is very real. Yes. But we also appreciate the council specially mayor iseman and all of your we work together we support each other because we all care about this community. And especially the health care needs. So we thank you and we ask you to continue to to bless us and support us as we care for the people of this community not only in the hospital. But in the community itself we do so many things because it's basically just responding to the needs of the people which is what you do. So thank you very much. Thank you. Before before you all sit down and I we're going to take a picture. And I had just a couple comments if you all can just stay there at the podium. >> Saint Anthony's is near and dear to my In more ways than one. A few years I wasn't feeling very good on a Sat. Afternoon and. Went to Saint Anthony's and while I was there had a heart attack. And you all saved my life. And I'm extremely grateful. The people and Saint Anthony's or just wonderful you've got to a hospital full of wonderful wonderful caring. People that do a wonderful job. I look at to Saint Anthony's and I think about quality. Quality exist throughout your organization you're part of the Bay front a debate system in the Bay care system. Every year. The Times looks at them. The best places to work. And Bay care is always at the top of the list. I'm just so thankful that we have a hospital like same Saint Anthony's here in St. Petersburg that's full of good people that are extremely competent and no. Healthcare inside and out. And congratulations on 90 years of service to the city of St. Petersburg deeply value. Thank you. Prop Mayor is crash. Crash responders safety week. Thank you MISTER Chair members of and hoping that the list that was given is complete is too well as here in the room but. I know I see chief Holloway chief you can see chief divisive. Lana Alexis Lawrence chief Watts chief the Monte chief asset. Captain crass and lieutenant swindle I hope I didn't MISS It. I in and my guess is you agree with me on this one that we have the best police Department fire rescue department not only in the state of Florida but in the entire country. And each day that these men and women put on their uniform, they do so knowing the potential dangers, they face and simply doing their jobs. As members of this community it is incumbent on each and every one of us to ensure that we don't take any actions or engage in any behaviors that make their jobs more difficult or dangerous. And that's really what this proclamation is all about it's about raising awareness of our surroundings and the things that each one of us can do to ensure that these brave men and women. Our safe while performing their duties and so I'm going to go ahead read this proclamation. Whereas emergency responders including firefighters law enforcement officers public service utility workers ems personnel. Roadside Rangers and tour operators provide critical and often lifesaving roadside operations every minute of every day, including dangerous roadside environments in adverse weather conditions. And whereas the traveling public is a vital partner in the effort to keep emergency responders safe by properly passing emergency scenes and giving roadway responders room to work and whereas every day across America distracted drivers pose a major threat to the safety and well-being of emergency responders who are assisting those involved in traffic incidents. And whereas across the country. 46 emergency responders who are working at the roadway were struck and killed in 2020, including 21 tow truck operators, 17 law enforcement officers for fire and ems personnel. 3 Department of Transportation personnel and one mobile mechanic. And whereas St. Petersburg emergency responders urge all road users to do their part to keep all emergency responders who risked their lives responding to incidents on our roads and highways safe. And whereas drivers should slow down and move over when approaching emergency response vehicles and personnel on the roads and highways avoid distracted driving. An exercise caution when passing emergency scenes and whereas motorists involved in a crash should move their vehicles out of the roadway if their vehicles are drivable there are no injuries and it can be done safely. And whereas St. Petersburg emergency responders encourage community partners to share our crash responder safety week messages to help the public understand their legal and moral responsibility to keep emergency responders safe. Now therefore I Rick Reisman mayor the city of St. Petersburg do hereby recognize that week of Nov. 8th through the 14th of 2021. As crash responder safety week here in Petersburg and I urge all citizens please. Let's keep our folks safe. Thank you. >> Thank you arwa man. Deputy mayor and council members. Chief can see in the Chief the chief training for safety fire rescue know. We're thankful for the relationship with Saint Pete pd with police chief Holloway's chief boss of for joining us in this. A mission to keep our personnel safe. It's a collaboration, not only locally state federal agencies the dot. The highway Patrol running signs up on all the roadways to our community and around the state. The mayor spoke about the 46 members we did have local people here killed we had 2 officers killed one Hillsborough one in Pinellas and lieutenant Ashley white who was killed by a drunk driver or excuse me injured by a drunk driver hit over a 100 miles an hour excuse me Palm Harbor. Our education plan will reach internal and external stakeholders through roadway signs campaign. Through the National operations center of excellence the dot and the Florida Highway Patrol. Our main goal is the efforts to protect the safety lies in ruins your spotters while utilizing a video of area. Skews me media outlets educations and roadway signage to protect our personnel and I I'm really honored to sit in front of you with everybody here that you supporting us because just this morning on exit 25 we've had a roughly 20 personnel between the 2 agencies up on the roadway with all 6 packed so thank you very much. Thank thank you. Mayor. >> Go to reports next and take up the f one this Saint Pete Police Department quarterly report. Good afternoon she following. Good afternoon chair. Councilmember thank you for allowing me to be morning. Or this afternoon. So this quarter report going to cover the month of JULY AUGUST and SEPTEMBER. As you see in the paper here a lot of people talking about the homicide that we have in our city. I just remind everyone that our city is safe. 4 this quarter's part time right now overall crime is down by 7%. And our 5 year average crime is down by 28%. We're 3 months here we had 7 homicides and as you can see all those 7 homicides they all close with an arrest. And a good with that 29 homicides as of today of those 29 homicide 28 have been close with the rest to do too. Great police work and our citizens work with us to help us close these cases. Other crimes throughout the city as you can see they're just one report robberies for this period time for for for that period of time is down by 17%. A 5 year average is down by 41%. Burglaries are down by 7% for this quarter 5 year average is down by 39%. Auto theft is up by 4% this quarter. But overall for 5 years down by 16%. So again is excellent work by the police also the community work with us continue to drive these numbers down. Good counsel want to see the report we're still trying to make sure we educate our community for his corridor we that a gun stolen 53 of them out of vehicles. I would say about 90% of them are still a lot of vehicles. Program is still working quite well all the officers are still monitoring. Those kids that are out there they've committed serious crimes. A second chance program is still going quite will work with parks and recs we had 9 doors, quarter and 7 completed. Our pattern continues to make contact with our homeless. We now have a program just on are seen Anthony is now saying Anthony in Bay front now have a nurse riding with our path unit. So we can address issues and are students that have any the Kleins had to go to the hospital. Our heat team continues to work on human exploitation throughout our city. This is a basement. Our attorneys are doing an excellent job following up on those. Police pursuits for this quarter we have 0. Use of force as you see there looks like some of the numbers have double and just remind Council. Where reporting was per incident now as per use. So if 2 officers were do use use of force. It is counted twice. Last year because it has one. Accommodations are still continue to trend upward and as you can see we had no citizen complaint doing this period of time, but we did 3 compartment plane. People still continues those information which we appreciate the help us continue to reduce the fear of crime in our city. Park walk and talk the starting up, you know we have to stop that due to covid but the chief says talking to is also so they're out there now and we're going to see more the mother is talking to people and getting information like we used to and just get in our community again. I respond times continue to trend all only time we had an issue within a month of SEPTEMBER we're going to monitor that was built to respond by 7 minutes and month of SEPTEMBER. We're responding 7.5 minutes. So it could be the travel time or could have been just short of patrol but we're monitoring it to see that number continues to go up. Traffic stats are going up we're doing more traffic enforcement. As you can see we continue to meet our goals and objectives to make sure that we are department is very diverse. Off duty we're we're continue to operate in the black and as of OCTOBER one we had to raise the rate to make sure we continue to operating in the Over time due to covid and due to those officers out sick. We had the eu summit over time but at the end of the budget we did. We did not over ix we did not over. Over exceed our budget. Our community liaison program is still working well we're still getting a lot of of people calling in we get a lot of feedback from that now some people are even call it is this it is saying the Senate also route they say will wait for our liaison or wait for someone from the call team to respond to that home. There's just more feedback from the citizens. Our Cup Grant program were working well on that we're in the process trying hard 25 also so we can move forward our program again, those 25 also be move to more toward community policing so we can put officers on the street working with the community. And with that open up for the question is. So on OCTOBER the 30th. There was a incident to. St. Petersburg where there is a boxing ring. That Sat. Night's in. There's a shooting during this boxing match. 5 people were were shot and 1 one person was was killed. And I understand that there's been arrest made. I'd like to know a little bit more about the shooting. I understand they were 2 people that discharge firearms that at this event is is that correct. Just our news of ongoing What I can tell you is one subject was arrested this week for the killing of a gentleman that was at the event and there there's possibly another person that we're looking for we're going we're still talking to witnesses and we're still going to some camera footage of the event. How rounds were fired at this event. Again serve as an ongoing investigation, I continue or several rounds fired at the event there was rose at the actual boxing event and there was rounds fart in front the store where people were part. And were there any other in injuries. But that happened that weren't firearm related. Those are the only injuries that were porto's with those 5 people that were involved were on the boxing ring. Intelligence pickup that. This event was going on before it happened. No Sir did you like to give you a timeline of what I can give you go from there. So on Oct. 30th, we received a phone call around 4 o'clock a lot of noise complaint and also arrived at the scene when officers got there to the scene. He saw the ring is also real people there. He spoke to a security guard. He said the event would be over with by 9 o'clock of they didn't preceded the sponsored event then proceeded to turn the music down or the pa system down and we didn't receive via the complaints that around 6.34 we see than other noise complaint, the same also responded to the scene. It is spoke to again. The security person and I believe someone is said they were part of the promotion. At that time he said it will be a wet night o'clock or within the next 45 minutes. He also went to the complainant who called in a noise complaint, advised and what was going on the complaint said that they will not want to follow any charges filed the complaint long is going to be over with at 9 o'clock then around 7.25 we've got another noise complaint from a different subset different person. He also went there and that time we get a security guard said that they would be turning off the music. He also made contact with the complaint again and and different complaining. She said a long as I'm going to go with 9 o'clock she did not want to follow a complaint. So around 8 to 10 the sergeant said just a year-a just in case you go to the complaint so we can be right there. There are around 8.20. Dust we've got 1820, we've got to call the shots far the also arrived on the scene and that's we start investigation of the homicide. Since that incident. We have sent nooses letters to the owner of the business. The leasing agency in the business owner of the property advise him about this is being a nuisance so that's being taken care of we have contacted code enforcement the summit is our code issues. And that's where we are today, Sir ok well thank you, thank you for that background information because I haven't I I received some information we had somebody arrested but then that person. Was was out on bail and then was re re arrested. But I hadn't heard anything else about to in any of the actions of other actions that that word taken so I appreciate you. Giving us some background information on >> Have we had any other. Times when. We've had it's similar in incident like this. No Sir not says I've been in the past 7 years we've never had anything like this. There was not a permit being pulled we also again things are legal department and other investigator they looked into this. The group that had the fighting event. They have received a state. Order to cease and desist as boxing they were doing it over in Tampa. So if the company would have gone off and on through the permitting procedure, someone would have picked up on news that they had a order already issued to them by the State Department seeing cease and desist. >> I read in the paper that there might have been some gambling going on also. We did not look into that again our objectives here with a look into the shooting. And we did find a suspected that kill someone as the investigation continued was ongoing investigation. So whenever they turn up that's what we'll look at Sir. When when do you think the investigation is going to be completed. Well now go before the state Attorney's office and it will go through the process of following charges if any other thing they can look at if you're talking about game We will be charging you for game because of that come in. But so will again we're just mainly focused on. The homicide it happened and the for the people that were shot. >> I went on and just googled this neighborhood boxing League and. I understand they had their own security there. They did they have their own security team there they had the parking lot blocked off a certain direction. So people could not come in one way that go around the other way in go through security. They used the wall the back of his Plaza as of areas where people cannot look over is see what was going on in the boxing ring. >> Well the just the fact that somebody directed a boxing ring. So tickets. There might have been gambling going on. We end up with 5 people shot one person killed. This is just not acceptable in the city of St. Petersburg. I do agree to that Sir and So the also soon so it would have gone to the permitting process it probably would have been known that his group had a season to says or in that box he should not have taken place in our city and I can tell you as of today it would not take Speaking to Kota speaking to my officers >> well don't don't take my questions the wrong way I just want to get to the bottom of this and and figure out what what went wrong here and this is just not acceptable in any way shape or form and in our in our city. So thank thank you chief. >> Can you remind me the number of the total number of homicides that we've had in the city this year. We've that 29 homicide and one manslaughter but remember of 28 of those homicides have been solved within arrests. Okay. >> The track that traffic enforcement those numbers are up why. Is it covid related or why why are we are just enforcing the traffic. >> Well we look at all the action to have another major intersection we want to make sure chief of Austin his team started doing traffic enforcement. Once a month we're since a sting operation where is doing traffic enforcement major intersection where we notice. High area of either accidents or people reporting speeders in their community. Okay all right. Well, thank you thank you for the report and chief. We'll go next to councilmember Blackmon. Thank you And first of all she could to And you Sir thank you for all you and all of our officers do. The community. Just a couple questions and you answered a lot of what I had. Because CHAIRMAN Areas very thorough. But first of all do you know how the any of the other 4. People were shot at that event are doing. I I believe 2 were non-life-threatening in the other gentleman still critical. Case one person still critical. Yes, Sir, >> If there's no permits and we assume there's probably no insurance and stuff like that as well. That brings me to one other question I had about the we've got a lot of feedback and I 40 that the most and all Council earlier. But somebody reached out to me and brought to my attention that in the state of Florida. It is a felony to hold promote or sponsor. A boxing match. That's not licensed. And we looked into bringing any charges about to the people who are holding promoting and sponsoring it. This year we are enough to to work with the state on that and I believe is a misdemeanor not a felony. In the best number told you earlier this group is already been issued a cease and assist so we will be sunny. More information to the State Department and we start to the statement. The State Department. The state investigator. Okay. i will e-mail you when I'm looking It says anybody participating in the match. It's a misdemeanor any person holding promoter sponsor match prohibited a new section commits a felony of the 3rd degree. But also that over to you know, but you can elect will forwarded to the state and see if they want to follow the charges. Also thank you. >> Thank you and thank you for the quarterly report and for the update on that incident. I wanted to. Thank you and she set for being so responsive to me as I've fielded calls and emails with many concerned residents. Worked hard to make their neighborhoods grade in and felt like there was violence that was brought in from the outside. On that particular day. You I'm not just been fantastic about providing information as you can share it and I appreciate that so so that I can. Help too. Ease the concerns of our residents. But higher even beyond that as I talk to them. They always seem to mention there. There cso. Or at sergeant that they talked to on a regular basis. So. You know I know this is a very difficult thing to deal with, but I want you to know that it's it's not what I'm hearing is not anything negative about our Police Department. It is all positive and that that always comes up it's just a consistent message that we get and I want to make sure you and your entire team knows that as well. It does make a difference even during things like this. Thank you mayor appreciate that very much. I have a question the letter the letter that we received from the greater Pinellas point. Neighborhood Association had mentioned that they. Some residents had and concerns about other events that they were taking place that we're causing a lot of noise and things like that I didn't know if that had been addressed or if you looked at any other kinds of complaints they been Meade on other nights. Yes, ma'am so I checked with the patrol division and what is the one issue we're talking about is I believe that the Plaza have was call a bike night. There's nothing against the law to come here to eat him as motorcycles leave there the motorcycle noises. Just motorcycle leaving there's nights just from that it's not from something else. Yes, ma'am okay. Back to the report I was looking at the response times and you had you're going to continue to monitor the priority. One calls. Number which has has gone up. From AUGUST to SEPTEMBER and is now. Not meeting the 7 minute goal. >> Have you gotten any feedback as to why it might be taking. That extra time is there. Is it a staffing issue is it. Our call volume issue. It could just be an anomaly and next month it will be back under 7. We've had that was before he got back under 7 so we're looking at it could be the volume of call it could be. Manpower issue it could be traffic issue could be a lot of things so that's what we look at it we keep going over that number then we will address that but as you see it only happened that one that one month. So we'll watch that. Yeah it just went up quite I know every minute counts so. Just to know if you if you you guys that I identified like a specific cause for that. Happy to see Park walk-in talk coming back up, I know. Residents really like that again it just goes back to those those positive relationships. The cs as and other members of the Police Department are forming out in the community. I makes a difference in seeing pvt is going up is I'm going to just helped strengthen that further so thank you for that welcome all right so I have to. Thank you vice chair Kris go well thank you again she for the for the report and the. The detail on on this incident that that happened back on Oct. The 30th. Yeah, I'd like to maybe speak with you or cheika Bostic offline a little bit more about it so. I'm a follow-up. Yes Sir I thank you chief. >> We go next to For the University of South Florida. And we're honored to have the interim PRESIDENT Usf re along here. When when the mayor giving the key to the Out today, host thinking of of you because I've got your. Your background here before me and wow you have quite a commitment to the local regional and state level and we're so honored it to have you here and I know you brought to some other members of with usc doctor Tadlock the original chancellor of us have seen Petersburg and Lord learns here and if you can introduce everybody else that be Now give it I let you take it take it from here. The other person that you're with us today is Andrea Ellis, she is the a c e fellow that following me for this year so okay Andrea I welcome well thank you so much for your kind offer to come visit with you MISTER CHAIRMAN members of the City It is my pleasure to be here in St. Petersburg I was telling the mayor a few moments ago that I was having a little deja vu is that walked into this facility because I've been here is a land use attorney in my last career so I'm back. With a little different focus of the University of South Florida. I'm proud to say has been making tremendous advancements and a lot of those are due to the consolidation that occurred. Over a year ago. I know there's a lot of questions about consolidation would this be good or would this not be good, but I can tell you that that consolidation and what we now call one us app has made a tremendous difference. It means more programs, it means students excess it means better students. It means more support for the community and the kind of research that solves the problems that our community our state and in fact our world in fact. So there's lots of reasons to be very excited about what's going on and I'll go through some of those but I want to talk first about the largest thing that's happening. And that is some advancements in the Oceanographic Sciences. We are proposing a new center that will make national and international waves. The official name is the usf interdisciplinary Center for excellence in environmental an Oceanographic Sciences, we'll call it ceo at us. And what this center is it is impact. And our explain to you some of the things that will be doing. First of all the io