City Council

>> welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting your elected officials are mayor Rick kriseman me. District one Council chair, Charlie hurt us this trip too. Randy Gabbert district 3 Council vice chair Ed might marry. The core now. All this just 7 Lisa Wheeler Bowman. And a pastor. >> The afternoon. Look all good afternoon. We'll call the March, Meeting of the St. Petersburg City Council to order. Not in court to have a roll call please when Bowman. Here there is here the air. It's very rare. We're privileged to have with us today, one of our cities faith leaders. Somebody that I'm humbled to come off friend and I always enjoy seeing him in especially hearing. His thoughtful prayer. The pastor Bobby in the saying well from maximo Presbyterian Church is going to lead us an indication. After the indication will say the pledge of allegiance if you please rise. Thank you good to see you. >> fall creation. On this Thu. Afternoon. In the middle of the month of much. We have gathered here today to work and serve your people. We've all can call upon your name. We call upon the unnamed to come and bless these my sisters and brothers who are members of the City Council of said St. Petersburg. Thank you Lord for giving us the freedom to assemble to pause and reflect. And what called on the business of serving the very best interests of the people of St. Petersburg. As a City Council leaders gathered together to considering putting measures so far people. We pray Agron them wisdom. This sentiment and the courage to focus on making life better for all. It is not an easy to school known. Fill them with the love for your people during their deliberations. Give them the courage to craft careful and thoughtful policies which will distribute a city's resources for Lee and it particularly and the spawn of the dignity and humanity of all your people. From the spirit of humility and service of them seek. And relentlessly pursue justice. Love kindness and walk humbly with you every step of the way. Made then look out for the least of these in the city and beyond justice roll down like mighty waters in St. Petersburg Florida in the United States and throughout the whole world. In your holy name. A man. Reached colleagues we have an agenda in front of I m f a a report on Ajax paving has been deferred until Apr. 4th that's the only change that I know about I would entertain any discussion or motion main agenda. Mister Cook we have a motion in a second to approve the agenda with the illegal. Prepare the machine for bowling please. House members to be done to your votes. Mr. Clarke saying that all council members have voted if you'd please town announce the vote. The motion to approve the engine that passes unanimously. >> We haven't cards on the consent agenda. I I the motion to approve the consent agenda. This court we have a motion a second to approve the consent agenda. We are able if you open the machine for voting colleagues if you clean out your votes. On the consent agenda. Mister Clerk seeing that all council members have voted on the consent agenda which pleading no notes the vote. That motion to approve the consent agenda passes. Thank you very much. How many cars we have proven for Mister Clerk. Madam Clerk if you would share the rules of will conform with the the people in chambers today please. If you if you wish to address city Council in subjects other than public hearing a close eye judicial items listed on the agenda. He signed up with the clerk prior to the meeting only individual wishing to speak May say that for the open foods sheet. Least city residents are is a property business schools in the city for the employees we speak. Issues discussed and open for him this be limited 2 issues related to the city is that the Israeli government. If you're speaking to an item on the agenda. You May least the ones doing the open form when the fighting comes up on the agenda in order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address Council. Each individual be getting the minutes to speak and after which the microphone will be muted. >> Share quickly with you my rules. Not rules or Those of you that are going to speak. They have practiced you May have written something down you May have something on your phone. I'm going to urge you the point that you really want to make a lot of people wait till the very last and they think they just end there talk with the point that and the microphone goes off. And I'm going to urge you the point that you really want us to hear the point that you really want to make. Please put it at the beginning or the middle because I don't want you to look at me frustratingly after the microphone goes off because the you've been deemed are Dong or whatever it is. Because we do want to hear you and it's important that we hear what you think is important. With that moms. Madam Clerk, if you would please introduce the first 2 speakers. It is playing inducted and constant. Thank you for being here good afternoon. Oh it's my pleasure and thank you counsel the opportunity to be in front of you. First time I've done this all probably going to be a little bit nervous welcome. Thank you so much, okay, if the health of the citizens. St. Petersburg is not a priority. What it is bring that up because I'm my name is Denis when I resigned 400 Beach And there's a cigar us. Store that's going and directly beneath me that will negatively affect my quality of life and health. They will be allowed to smoke both inside the store and outside which means that secondhand smoke will be filtered up and to my unit from the store and those smoking outside will cost secondhand smoke to drift directly to my balcony and inside. I don't know this. According to the American Society of heating were rich refrigeration and air-conditioning engineers. Secondhand smoke can not the controlled by ventilation air cleaning or separation of smoke from non-smokers smoke-free policies are the only complete solution. Unfortunately this is not happening throughout Florida. I fully understand the preemption clause that restricts you and other municipalities from enacting smoke-free policies. But there are other actions that can be taken for example. There should be a health assessment completed prior to giving out a business license to determine if the fields from a hair salon or nail salon would endanger the health and safety of clients and other citizens. This is based on actual complaints. If the proposed business would expose people like me. 2 deadly secondhand smoke. 84.2% of Floridians do not smoke. This is not a small majority, a large one. The safety and health is being held hostage. There's no constitutional right. State or federal law. That gives anyone the right to smoke. That there was no right to inflict health destructive secondhand smoke. Upon other persons. In other words. Accusing in the words of the core. There is no more fundamental right. To smoke cigarettes. Then there is to shoot up. Or smoke heroin or cocaine or run a red light. Appreciate it thank you for being here. >> Citizens want their representatives to have a vote. A doctor at Carlson President General tear civic Association and West neighborhood United. John the terrace members and board our unanimously in favor of City Council having a vote and unanimously opposed to lay loss. Mon. Night at his la home owner's Association they're 100% in favor of Council having a voice and against lay loss. 10 pounds Rapp and a 5 pound bag. Carter I said ridiculous unhinged responsible. There's an argument against the person resident against the substance of their advocacy. You see up there at the beginning is in favor of Council having a voice we're in favor of bicycle and pedestrian safety in favor of by pass along the right away and bike lanes where there's no Lane elimination we're against 50 miles of Lane loss in our city. Paul did not create the outrage that's going on we're steering it into positive resolution. Because many neighborhood leaders and neighbors, business owners. Lawyers military veterans University professors, teachers Realtors corporate executives, id experts lawn services, bicyclists pedestrians. >> And on and on and on. Each of this it is a beach of the citizens intensely cares about our city and they interact routinely with hundreds of individuals you won you over the last 15 year people asked for call Flyers. All these good citizens were insulted and the court of public opinion. But that's a credibility. Our last. I invested 45 years as a positive advocate in our city. The notation to each city Councilman Become the Jacques Chirac's 97th birthday party at the historic Flamingo bar on mlk and May go with the people that live work and play on mlk and here's the reality of the her to their business and the negative impact on their quality of life. You considered are reserved table. It begins at 7 o'clock this Sat., golf 52 and ok. Give yourselves a vote. Give the citizens a voice, some brt a complete streets back to the drawing board for citizen approved plan. We can all do this right. Car next to. >> Judy Alice, and Bernie target. Good afternoon. My name is Judy Ellis Island in 1874 4 as way South. I'm here to give a personal view personal view of what happens when trash to changes are made to our roadways. Without full consideration of the consequences. I have 2 brothers, one of whom lives outside of dc and the other lives in Berkeley. They can both never get over how well traffic flows and the city left-hand turn lanes and are synchronized lights and our white roadways. Were shining example of how traffic can be managed even undergrowth circumstances but we're starting to look a lot like Tampa. My husband and I are frequent travelers on that section of mlk this affected here when we have a morning doctors appointment we see with our own eyes. The artificially created congestion the backup a 22nd Avenue, the cars, lined up along 9th Avenue North trying to get from mlk to 4 straight. This is always a bad spot in the morning. But now it's a nightmare. We've never ever seen a car or other a bike in the bike, he never. So what's been accomplished here. It's an open secret that the real the reason for this is to slow down traffic and that's an admirable goal. I'm sure the people who live in this area are very pleased to have steps taken to slow down their speeders but in most cities. This is done by writing traffic tickets. We don't have any traffic enforcement in the city we have a police chief who has openly said he does not believe in writing tickets because the people who get them can afford to pay them. This is an extraordinary statement from someone whose job is law enforcement. The result is we've got reckless drivers who know that the odds of they're getting a ticket are astronomical. And it's why we have the 6th highest car insurance rates in the country. Our daily crash right is appalling. So let's not lower the river. Let's raise the bridge. Let's open up our roadways, let's get traffic enforcement details out on a regular daily basis. And let's stop addressing a minor problem by turning it into a major problem. The City Council needs to take control of these harebrained schemes listen to the public and impose some logic on the situation room. Thank you. I'm Bonney harder at 1140 Monterey Boulevard Northeast in Saint Pete. And also the President Of snow, a property owners Association. We want a voice. you to have a vote which means we get to speak to you about our opinions. Several months ago Mike Frederick came to a board meeting of the snow a property owners Association she along with 2 young staff members. But which we thought it would be a benign presentation about bike lanes they unveiled for detailed Street plans that would dramatically impacts now Boulevard removing parking redirecting traffic and taking what is a fairly low residential Street slathering pay and barriers all over needless to say none of us were in support and many were outraged. Perry Snell are 1920's developer would roll in his grave if he knew this. They just walked in with an air of pre-emption and said here's what's going to happen to your neighborhood. Fortunately we weren't the only ones caught by surprise. We were alerted to this by Councilman Mountain eyrie we got an e-mail from staff announcing these plans with no input or advance notice to counsel. He then had the foresight to bring them before arsenal outboard so they could hear our thoughts. Upon seeing these dramatic and frankly over the top designs, hate speed box barriers more pay flashing signs. One member asked Fredericks where did this plan come from who asked for this. It was pushing this what citizen too. He started people in the cycling community to which the board replied we know that none of the large packs of cyclors made any of these complaints, they're the biggest abusers to traffic loss. It's clear the proposal presented was part of a larger effort to push a plan not out in the sunshine without regard to what citizens think and not because there is a constituency locally demanding these changes. There's federal dollars and requirements at play. But there are more thoughtful ways to respond to these issues rather than just dumping these changes on neighborhoods with no consultation. We mostly all favor more pedestrian-friendly Street we do have real pedestrian car conflicts in the city and we expect to evolve why change our beautiful historic neighborhood with unfriendly barriers ugly signs, flashing lights that dramatically and unnecessarily change our beautiful neighborhood with no real benefit. Let the sun shine in on the whole concept of getting the community and neighborhood involved in the process at the front end and not let government decide what's best for us. We want you to have a vote that means we can talk to you and give you our opinions thank you. Next the speakers please. >> That year Lynn said not in but riser. Good afternoon council members got to know him, I'm doctor Len Senate one oh 7 fair in place North. A member of the downtown neighborhood Association and proud supporter of call. The city transportation Department says that quote things are settling down. And businesses are happy on mlk call is determining if this is reality. We just signed a short this Nus survey. 3 teams are walking the beat on mlk giving out the surveys to business owners as an employee's a full report is coming to you later. Ladies and gentleman. I'm not an activist. I did protest the Vietnam War back in the day. I do vote in every election. I took my courage in my hands and actually went into business is on mlk talk to people and gave out the survey. Everyone was happy to see me and very welcoming in several businesses I was hailed as a hero. 37 patrons of the historic Flamingo bar signed the back of our call flyer. Preliminary businesses report. Business has declined 1015 20% one is going out of business. The first 2 questions of the survey concern City Council question one is being voiceless and vote was fair to say Pete citizens, yes, or no question 2 City Council should have a vote. On Lane Austin parking last projects, yes, or no. 100% agree that the council should have a vote. Even from the one small business that is okay with mlk so give yourselves a vote and give citizens a vote. So thank you for your service to our community and everybody is invited to the Jack Kerouac birthday celebration Sat. Night at the Flamingo bar 07:00pm see you there. >> Good to see you Sir term Gators good to see you good to see all of the members of Council him pleased to be here for something for a change instead of against. I've seen a lot of change that was 70 years in the city. I can remember when they extended 22th Avenue be on 34th Street we could go to the beach 15 minutes, quicker. And I remember when we built the Interstate through our city I was actually buying houses out of the right away and moving them. We've got these wonderful downtown connector is that we now take advantage of. Her current a city is welcoming a building boom. This creates a remarkable paradox on the one. We're inviting thousands of new residents into the downtown. And on the other hand we're tricking or streets. I have to be a bicyclist and I do support better bicycle trails and pedestrian safety. But the devil always is in the details. I spoke to us summer about my concerns on my property on 9th Street. My tenants experience to 15 or 20% loss of business. He's been trying to sell his business ever since unsuccessfully. I think you're going to find those troops every single business on Main Street because the city didn't listen to our concerns. We now have backups on 22nd Avenue and 9th Avenue. I come home on 22th, a missing lights for the first time ever. And I'm missing lights on for Street for the first time ever. Your concern somebody who had the same concerns I did last summer. Now I can prove to you that your concerns were justified. Knight Street is a mistake. And that's before we look forward 50 years to how many people are going to live in this town and how we're going to get around that should be our focus. How are all these new residents over the coming decades, going to survive and get around our town. You have the opportunity to have a proper role in policy by giving yourself the right to vote and in doing that you give the rest of us a chance to have a voice in this affair, thank you. >> In the air or e rigs are. >> Good afternoon. I'm. Thank you so much as you can guess I'm from keep sane people kalinda I want to speak in support of the concert. The store front. Conservation corridor plan. Little early on this but I got to run, but I just want to say that I think all the city staff and the mayor and everybody with this because this is a wonderful first step I think for protecting the businesses in the city that give the city its unique character. I just want to say just to don't delay this because we've got businesses were really in desperate need of this up or people who as you've seen in the headlines are being forced to move as we speak in these businesses have really given back to our city Pell put us on the map and I think we can do a little bit to help them. In their time of need. And I just kind of want discuss this later on I just want you to know that a lot of the business community has already compromised don't know you know the mayor and everybody wanted something a lot stronger than what this is. We wanted a formula business regulation like that in places like San Francisco. And we think it's doable but we understand that you know politics is give and take and we're giving where were you know compromising here and we were like doing something that people seem more comfortable with so that we can get this done and really kind of make everybody happy. I'm in the mayor's been wonderful job this has been in the works for if that I think at this point my door year. And he's been taking input from hundreds of people hundreds and thousands of people so I would just say to please don't let people come in and say oh we have to delay this thing because we were given him put the mayor to has done a fantastic job and his staff of getting input from lots of different people. To try to to try to make everybody happy. I just want to bring this back and just say that this is about protecting the businesses that have given our city its unique character that have put the city on the map that have been drawing more visitors, more investment and really really helped us and I think by you know doing a little bit to help them. It's going help the city in the long run. And I just you not going to be here but I want to thank you for your consideration think the City think the staff. >> My name is Emanuel match gone. I live at 6 to 2 37th Avenue South. I also run Daddy cool records and downtown St. Petersburg I am here in support of this store front initiative. If you'd asked me what I really in support really in support of rent control it things that are really much stricter but that's not what we're here for and we're here for the store fronts initiative and I want to know that I am in support of it I think that what we what the city has is proposing is a very fair compromise development and people who like myself who run small businesses, the small business initiative basically takes the blueprint of what we have now and is asking it to us to go continuing forward. There's x number of businesses that have a 20 foot swear front and then even smaller number of businesses that are larger than that and that's what we're asking you to consider to keep today. Nobody is saying that the developers can come in and charge $50 a square foot. What we're asking is that the character of St. Petersburg within with the number of small store fronts stays the same nobody saying that that's top small store front. Can't be a Starbucks. That's not what we're here for that small store front can be a coffee shop or at national chain that's not what this initiative is about this initiative is about keeping the foot of it similar and I hope that everybody here appreciate that why we like this city. It's one of those reasons and dot their is no reason to change that. You know just for men observational standpoint today. Close to us we have a a brand new building that has for store fronts and almost a whole city block. You know and that's not right that you who lead this culture Museum. A a nail salon and a restaurant that's it, Fort and so I hope that we all understand that this isn't about telling. The people that own the property. What they can charge or who they can put into it if that's not the case but what it is is hot can we keep the character the same and your purview is already in my opinion that precedent already been sent cent because when you build a new building you already have retail on the bottom and that's one thing that the city has put forth so we are ready telling people what they can do. So there's no reason why we cannot allow to continue on that path. All righty thank you very much and thank you for your consideration, best of luck on your new location. I plan to be there. They were speaking to them, click filming. Mister Mayor depth in their time and thank you for having me here. But in his neck with Feldman equities were one of the affected property owners from the store front conservation plan. We on the b b into the building. Right across from the city municipal building. I just want to say first of all that I agree with just about everything that past 2 speakers just said in principle. We're all in favor of keeping the cool factor in downtown Saint Pete particularly long central out the straight. What's happening the edge further out in Grand Central. These are transformative things for the city that have really brought people like me people from all over the country flocking to the city. I support that. My concern right now is the unintended consequences of this proposal. Things like the assumption that rents will go down when we implement this I don't know that that's true forcing landlords take a 40 square foot box split it into 2 restaurant boxes doubles in many cases, his construction costs you have to get 2 sets of kitchens. No doubt more demise calls more plumbing. More access corridors things like that effective result is that the construction costs on a per square foot basis for that space goes up the only way the landlord to recoup that cost is too high rent prices. Ironically, this proposal in that one scenario would actually increase average rents along the target corridors also want to cut process point. We have a proposal here which will in most vast majority of cases only affect grandfathered properties, lot of properties that this is talk about it in the grandfather. The fact even if we had put this in place 6 months ago really would be minimal it's the sort of Paul's it's going to take effect over 1020 years. Slowly as new development in new buildings come in. The reason I make that point is to say that there's no rush we're going through and analyzing this policy. The development impact fee that was recently proposed for affordable housing that it is specific for doing a specific 3rd party study to evaluate what exactly what happened to development in that proposal. No such studies been done for this and asking City Council to consider slowing down. Taking a look at this and working with the owners to find out what will happen if this policy it's implemented. Thank you. >> And I just I just want to make it clear for accuracy purposes enough and I May be splitting hairs so to the extent I am I apologize. So you know there's no been there's not been an impact the proposed a leakage fee has been discussed and is being discussed as a one of many remedies to our affordable housing thing. To the extent that people think proposed means it's moving forward on a singular track it's not I just want to kill for accuracy purposes that's all. It's true that it's being discussed. Over a period of time. I got your point thank you. Thank you. And thank you for being here and for believing in the city. Thank you. Most of them were speaker ok. i thank you very much all of you that have spoken to all of you took the time to share your thoughts with us very important. Thank you. We move on to awards and proclamations and the The first proclamation is special Olympics week. I'm telling you if you if you're finding it difficult to smile and experience joy and laughter you should go to the special Olympics. Because you will not be able to keep from experiencing joy laughter and happiness. So mayor. Thank you. Mister Chairman Council and actually earlier this morning. At a Fir Park. I had the honor of presenting it developmental disability awareness month proclamation wonderful as so it's fitting that I'm presenting. This special Olympics week proclamation and I could agree with you more Mister Chair you want to see inspired athletes who are passionate about what they're doing. And given every ounce of effort that they have within their souls. Go to watch a special Olympics. And you will be uplifted and away you probably never thought you could be. Whereas special Olympics is an international physical fitness sports training and athletic competition for intellectually disabled children and adults and whereas. Special Olympics contributes to the physical social and psychological development of all who participate. And whereas special Olympics provides intellectually disabled individuals with the opportunity to improve their physical condition to enter into school and community sports programs to make new friends and to share their gifts and skills with their families. And whereas special Olympics Pinellas County and the city of St. Petersburg recreation department are sponsoring the special Olympics area 6 Summer games at Lakewood High School on Mar. 30th of this year 2019. And whereas this year's event is expected to attract more than 450 athletes, 300 volunteers and countless numbers of coaches family members and spectators. Now therefore I Rick Reisman mayor the city of St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim Mar. 23th through Mar. 30th of 2019 as special Olympics week in St. Petersburg and I urge all residents to join with me and providing this valued organizations support for all of its efforts on behalf of intellectually disabled individuals. Thank you Mr. >> Thank you very much and Council persons I appreciate your time today Barbie Van Kampen on behalf of the parks and Recreation Department and therapeutic recreation I want to thank you for the continued support. Many years this is actually my 25th year. >> The relationship with malice County schools and. Special Olympics Pinellas predates me by probably another 15 years or more. And the continued support of being able to partner with this organization to provide this event is completely appreciate its and its pen long and enduring and we certainly appreciate the continued support. I also had like to introduce a couple of gas and Sydney Weiner is new coordinator for special Olympics Pinellas so to would like to take just a couple minutes, absolutely hello and she brought along one of our athlete leaders Jakes air and he would like an opportunity awesome. Very much in City Council. Thank you for allowing us to be here and thank you so much for your continued support of our special Olympics programs in Pinellas County. This is actually my first year doing the area games it's been such a pleasure to partner with tpd parks and rec they've been absolutely amazing. So huge thanks to them as well therapeutic recreation. Right now Pinellas County we have really grown over the last year which is amazing we have over 1700 athletes participating in 15 different sports, we've added a couple new ones this year as well we're very excited about. And upcoming area games were actually at 500 athletes right now I checked before I came so that's amazing which is just a testament to the growth that we large part, thanks to support from people like you guys. So our area games is about 500 athletes in 6 different sporting events. At Lakewood high school and we're just so excited and I'm very excited because again it's my first one. But I think that the best person to talk about special Olympics is definitely Jake, he is one of our amazing athlete leaders and he can tell you a little bit more about his experience with special Olympics and how it's impacted him. Thank you. Welcome Jake. >> And thank you. >> They've been John Mann there thank you again for all he has to do for the community. Or special on this as well. Just want to thank you on behalf of that fleet volunteers and For all you guys do every year you guys though John will you know and help us to that gone. And we're year rounds. >> People like you guys we wouldn't be able to do what we do. Absolute leader globemaster and then the gone being one of the first hope messenger's around. >> very blessed to be in special Olympics. It wasn't for special on base. I wouldn't be as high as functioning m that I am now. >> I'm not the only one that. >> Is having great progress in my life. There's many other athletes, worldwide. But because of people like you guys we're having that right yes. >> Council member Wheeler Bowman, you know what I think that the bottom of all that. The e. You start bringing that word in these chambers more and more. >> Thank you so much Jake thank you very much Harvey for everything you do. Appreciate it. And I know council member Cornell wouldn't want to leave this particular subject without getting enough, thank Lakewood high School. For her hosting. And Pinellas County school system from being a long time. Coe partner with the city of Petersburg Harvey thank you so much have been several times and I mean I'm just smile and inside thinking about right now so it's it's a wonderful wonderful thing if you've never been you should go. Thank you very much. The next item we have is a Red Cross recognition for the home fire campaign the words. She power India, good to see a you got your Sun. Best on. Thank you for having me here today. Number the council there's less room to the mayor, thank you so much for your time, it's always a pleasure and an honor to come before you in. As some more good news to share with you today brought some gentleman from the American Red Cross that are standing behind me and I'd like to share some of the things that we're doing together with you and present them with an award if I would. So thank you once again for for having me here. We are here to recognize our relationship between Tempe fire rescue of the American Red Cross. It's our local chapter here for the Red Cross is known throughout the country and you see it on tv all the time of the major disaster commercials and they have the big stuff, the head of the small stuff too. And I just thought that I would which share some of their efforts with you so you have a sense of of who they are what they're doing for us here locally in our community. Back in Red Cross response over 62,000 disasters every year. And 90% of those responses are to provide assistance following home fires us 90% of what they do you know you see the big commercial on the Hurricanes and tornadoes and flooding. But day in day out there they're helping us and there's a week that goes by some of his job almost 30 years where we don't call the Red Cross in middle of night to come out and they assist homeowners that are put out by fire smoke damage and their in their homes and while that happens in the middle of night nobody ever hears about it, but they're there and we thank them for that 95% of the workers in their forces are volunteers in the community for people like us that want to engage that want to be involved and take care of their neighbors and friends. So that's the type of people are helping. And what organization 91% of all the donations that they take in to put back into community programs and services and those of us that work with a organization know that 9% administrative fee a very low. So this this is a great organization, a good time. Red Cross started a home fire campaign. 2014. And basically it's volunteer for dispense working alongside local fire departments and other groups canvassing at risk neighborhoods installing free smoke alarms replacing batteries and existing alarms, educating families about fire prevention and safety and fund raising to help sponsor those missions. Falls right in our wheelhouse of set the fire risk in particular fire prevention division, so it was a natural thing for us to partner up with with Red Cross when it took that on going into separate for fire risk is home safe program just a quick reminder you've heard me talk about before. Our smoke alarm installation programs over 30 years old and we're glad to have the Red Cross joining us with that effort now and just since 2014. In St. Petersburg we've installed 1659 smoke alarms in our city a single family home so the work continues and others there's more to do out there. Red Cross only joined us 2 years ago literally March of 2017. We made great progress the partnership form. Since then explodes with over 900 of the 10 year lithium battery smoke alarms at no cost to the city or the residents that are receiving these alarms their homes. The value that donations approximately $40,000 and then that is a heck of a donation on their part and it's a testament to the type of work to do not only just here but throughout the country. Many is larger installed 5 very large scale campus projects that we put together throughout the city. We targeted had special interest to us because we believe there might be some underserved folks there. The midtown neighborhoods, Charles Park neighborhood several mobile home parks throughout the city. We just dug in for the day and and cameras that echoes areas and have done a lot of good work. We do have some some upcoming campuses we'll tell you about my here in a moment, but before we get to the like to provide some recognition. So far rescue like to recognize 2 members of the American Red Cross for their commitment to reducing needless tragedies caused by residential fires. I have here with me Jose went out the result, a pair of his manager an actual David the disaster surges after program specialist. I want to thank them for the work that they've done parting with sent his work for rescue to keep our citizens safe world President. For step down when she's huge actually Adams she's part of our public education k she joined us last year she works with the great lot of that everybody knows is good to have her on board she's doing great things for us. Commercial and I'm out of here. Don't You recently change your clocks so please change your batteries and saw the signs read if you have small cars a better exchange shows is going to better is we camping a smoke alarm campus projects eagles us mobile home park is coming up on the 29th of March will be there the 30th of April be at the gateway mobile home park in the Pinewood mobile home park. Literally 5 600 yes, we plan on knocking on doors to make sure that they're safe so we're out there working in the Red Cross is helping. Thank you chief kick it out yes Sir thank you so much. >> I'd like to have them recognize a Jose an axel and congratulate them on receive your award in recognition. I also wanted in think at chief to mount a. I saw chief Bassett in here thank you for taking the time. Too recognize the American Red Cross right here in Petersburg for everything you do to keep our citizens safe. And I always want to take an opportunity to thank all the members of Saint Pete fire rescue you all do a good job make us proud every day thank you for what you do. Chief what thinking in sea. We're here as Okay good. Thank you great job. Thank you very much. >> I was waiting to hear about Ms. O'leary's cow k never mind. >> I do want to recognize I see another our cities faith leaders here I want to recognize the river in Katy churchwell these in chambers today, it's good to see you reverend always good to see you. You lift me up thank you. All right next item. We have first reading Mister Clarke of a new for public utilities, minute Booker Creek. He won I believe it is Mister Clerk. He would read the title. >> It was in accordance with section 1.0 2 c e St. Petersburg city charter authorizing the grant any public utility easement 2 Duke energy Florida ache. A Florida corporation dba Duke energy within Booker Creek Park located at 2, 3, 0, 0, 13th Avenue North St. Petersburg authorizing the Mir or his designee to execute all documents necessary to it. It's that you ate the ordinance in providing effective date. The public hearing scheduled for that Apr. The 4th. Thank you Madam Clerk. My colleagues want to presentation or I would entertain a motion. >> We have a motion in a second to approve the merger. An ordinance in accordance with section one to see 3 of the Petersburg city charter. Do Mister Clerk of you please open the machine for voting on first reading. Council members of the police Mr. Clarke saying that all council members have voted if you please tell and announce the vote. Sure the motion to approve it is in the heart of the one passes unions. Thank you. >> I'm going to move up h one is a b f report for the property insurance. Renewal resolution that was presented to be up until this morning and because there's an Apr. First renewal deadline. The committee approved the recommendation of staff and so staff is here to get full Council's approval, Mr. Whelan thank you for being here. Thank you for right ahead. Of Mister Martin or do you want to say anything about it first now of deferred to ok well thank you, I'm sorry. Like to go ahead with the presentation of it just it just a quick update for that maybe the City Council members that at the meeting this morning. The current Insurance will expire. Archer the ones who are here for an April one renewal. This year we did have it and increase about 6%. $581,000 primarily due to. Some new construction. Increase values in the new construction would be the police station. Coming online later. So we were able to put the police station in our highly protected risk group which gives us more insurance for a less money so it was a good move to a to get that in there and we were also able to secure the water resources program for our water facilities and then the general property program too. In the coverage does include terrorism coverage and the city's again participating. She's being at the bottom level. As an insurer to save on premiums. With that we for approval. Oprah prove. The questions that's interesting I think you think of a deal with that I know it's a good package. I I believe strongly and I'm glad there's no question that's a good thing. Mister Cardwell motion a second to approve the late 19 property insurance program for the city of St. Petersburg. Mister Curfew no pollution for voting in council members looking cast your votes please. Mister Clerk single council members have voted if you'd please tell announce the vote. >> Sure the motion to prove agenda item h Thank you very much, thank you for all your work appreciate it. >> Alright next. We're going to go f 7 which is bayfront health update. We from folks here. Hello, how are you. Thank you for being here. >> Thank you City Council for having me here today a mere sight here some of the best wishes and the premier. Thank you for having just let me live up to a 1, 4, Street South here in St. Petersburg I'm the cio bayfront health which is 7 hospital system going as far north the 7 rivers as far south as a Port Charlotte. Our most important asset though, however is our Petersburg for so that was just a front a piece I'm here hopefully to address any like make some general and I know there were some questions overthrown in the park to be speaking a well-dressed those in the complex might I think bayfront say p really reflects very much with the city is going through. We're in heavy investment, heavy growth but a lot of challenges so it is a wonderful time to be. The ceo of the parent company that runs a wonderful facility like St. Petersburg and all of what we have going on as you know right now to share some of our successes recently just opened up a portion of her brand-new 30 million emergency. Room renovations $30 million expansion. The new part is opened up we're no going back will be retrofitting the existing emergency room. Ultimately we will end up with 43 private rules it will be a wonderful facility if you haven't seen it is actually a spectacular. We just also invested 10 million and a freestanding emergency room to cover Pinellas Park so that places actually exceeded our projections what we projected by the end of the year in the first 2 months we've already exceeded those we see about 50 patients a day. Under different providing a service there that is as you May have been previously reported we did finish our again about a million renovation to our new neural Sciences center and 2 or 3 d a all making them a private room so really the facility getting heavy investment we believe in so that we believe in what we're doing here in Saint Pete, other awards have been pretty spectacular we have grown tremendously year over year. We have 13 new positions last year, the majority of which live in the city of St. Petersburg tools in new recruits, new residents for the city. We've added 5 already this year. In We hope you've seen because we've spent a lot of money on advertising we've made a major play in cardiology. We're why arrived in the style we had basically no cardiologist we're now up to 7. So that is a wonderful thing there are long-term St. Petersburg residents who have come over to us because they believe in what we're trying to do. So it is all very positive. Just a structure vacation where the only store certified center here in St. Petersburg and we also were nominated is a are awarded top 10 rehab facilities with the beautiful rehab unit we expanded the best from 20 to 40 last year we for quality and the rehab Association top 10. Of the year. So all very positive from a you know if I had to give you summary a it's a it's a positive roadside physicians. But we do have a lot of challenges to do And right now we're capacity. We are not serving the community we have been on diversion. Multiple times this month. We're just very are going through put I think the new emergency room will help that we're trying to increase our access points. We're trying to make sure our residency program. Serves the residents here we have a residency program in both family practice and it will be due a and a very qualified they're in a very old building. So we've got to work on that so I think like the city we're investing. We believe in it we're seeing the results of that growth but we do have challenges, you know costly health care so it is a tough thing. What's a little bit about jobs which I think is really where we are so last year we were able to add 430 employees torture to our workforce last year so we are growing entity we think we're on the largest employers in the city of St. Petersburg close to 4,000 employees. A full time we're able to add 430 new positions last year. We currently have 167 open positions which are trying to fill. Now there was questions about what we know about any reductions in health care and I think in any industry you do look for efficiencies where you can and has industry changes. So should we change. Example would be now physicians can dictate using dragon technology, so they speak they give the the process of the orders of of the discharge plan of any type of thing that now automatically gets transcribed on to the medical record so therefore are transcription department the decree so we did eliminate 19 positions due to efficiency but I will tell you we added 430 so we believe our workforce is growing. We're proud to be who we are in the city of St. Petersburg and we will looking for ways to be more efficient, but also looking for ways to grow as we do. There were some questions about a relationship with the University of South Florida. Okay, so that relationship I think is very interesting what you know the total parameters of it. It is 2 separate agreements, one is what they call psa professional services agreement that is for the services of 5 physicians who have a front for the past 5 years. I believe those 5 positions 3 were cardiologist colorectal surgeon and a general surgeon. Those contracts expire Mar. 31th. We did not renew those contracts. It was not a favorable arrangement for bayfront it was over usf so you May have we broke up the affiliation. We chose not to renew that particular 5 services agreement to the cardiologist we ended up employing and the 2 surgeons ended up will remain on campus in private practice fully with us up so in totality the article believe there's a big issue of usf is really 5 positions, 4 of whom will remain with the hospital. Our overall affiliation agreement does not expire until July, so that includes marketing branding education we can we would hope and our desire is to continue that affiliation agreement any agreement requires 2 parties to agree to it so it is the Bay front. Prerogative that we continue discussions with us f with the dean with the President To continue that relationship which has been beneficial for the hospital we will keep you posted. Deputy Americans those conversations continue on. Recently we had a change in leadership. Now it is a human resource issue so I you know be respectful of that issue but like any business or any sports team. Sometimes a leader does not fit what the requirements are for that institution going forward, so we made a decision too in a different direction from our leadership which is the ceo and cfo the wonderful thing about Saint Peter, the great job you have done with the city. His seat talented applicants with that we get here is phenomenal. We have been able to hire some wonderful people new director of marketing. A new director of the o r we've got cfo who was had run 9 hospitals In the eastern part of Florida. I'm very confident. We will have a very qualified c o. In the very near future we have 7 applicants currently we are allowing the board in the medical staff to participate in that interview process to hire the right person. But in the interim while I have 6 other hostels are responsible for I do want this Council to know how important I take this hospital to the point where because my own health, the male judgment decided I would be the interim cio so I'm currently serving as the cio bayfront Saint Pete in addition to my regional role. And I'm enjoying it and I live here so I think it only made sense that we're making good progress and you know we do try to communicate. Least my part my position I wasn't here for some of the changes like usf when they became public, but we are making the cio changes. I did communicate to the mayor and the air I did not communicate to the City Council so I will work on the best way to communicate with you what I think things will get public I would I would prefer you hear about them before you read about them so that will be my challenge to figure out what are issues I think will get public and how to best communicate so work with you May be in for something out so thank you for your time and attention I appreciate the opportunity. You bring up the pressure is working to the city. Thank you. Thank you. Mister Chair. Mister A. >> Lanny thank you for thank you for coming in and with us. I'm glad you address the communication issue because I did not light reading about the condition and what happened at the Bay front and in the newspaper. Can you talk a little bit about the hospital's finances some time somewhat concerned about the layoffs. The sudden departure this this in the cfo how is the hospital doing financially. >> You know maybe it was unclear, we have hired 430 people this year we reengineered 19 positions out of the organization I don't know if I would I I do not like the characterisation layoffs. I think as a senior leader if you are not looking to be more efficient, then you're failing the community and the business you serve, and that goes for the Police Department Fire Department anyone who's here if we can figure out a better way to do it so there have been no layoffs there have been 19 positions in the realm of health care things do change right things change. But we again have added 430 position so I think the City Council should be saying I'm glad to partner with the organization that is growing and trying to. You know hr issues, a very tough to talk about publicly and when you make a change with the be the. You know coach of the route race gets fire to the football coach You know Buccaneers got fired. Those are things that you know, so I want to make public. You know on the front and but you need to make changes in order to move the organization forward and with full support of the board. The force for the medical staff we made the changes necessary to keep this possible moving forward, and that's our goal. Okay. So just so I understand the 430 employees that's a net gain of employees and other spending yes. That was and 20. Let that was last year that is until October. Thank you and. So all all I'm referring to when it came comes to the layoffs is what I read about it in the newspaper about 19 people. Being being let go. You talk a little bit more about the agreement with the u s f where where do you see that agreement going. >> Different to what I said before don't know what else I can add to that. Sir specific question is the key is league agreement. Between usf and a front. Terminated the minister know no hope to resurrect that agreement with us am ok I will repeat what I said previously which is that. Professional services agreement we did not expire because those physicians became our employees. So that's fine. There is an overall affiliation agreement which allows for branding other things which actually were never fully implemented. That agreement is still in place and it is the Bay front intent to continue that agreement. >> All I have for now thank you again for coming in giving us a an update. And I take it you're going to be back here in June for your. Yearly update. I would love to I did not know that, but I would love to be back here and it's the few cities. Still the landlord our landlord and there is a requirement. >> For the old. Yes, the give us an update a 180 days after the fiscal year, wonderful and all right, thank you thank you. Thank you for being here much appreciated. Can you just clarify. The 5 physicians than our for you. Yeah previously they work for us now. He let me I mean. >> So I will 101st of all we have close close to a 1000 physicians. So when you're talking about 5, I don't get as concerned as maybe the newspaper led other people to be concerned for talking 5 physicians who were employed by the University of South Florida. That were we contractually paid the University of South Florida for their services in a very legal and compliant manner so they were able to serve the hospital over the past few years while there are usf employees. 2 of the 5 will remain usf employees. And practice at the facility. That's a colorectal surgeon and a general surgeon, we just will not have a contractual relationship with us to sort through the remaining issues of faculty to the cardiologist or flipping from usf employment to bayfront employment because we're such a growth in cardiology, they're going to be part of our large group which will now be up to up to 7 so those 2 and individuals will be on campus just employed by us. So if you woke up. This happens effective April one on Mar. 31th, you would see 5 doctors walking around. On Apr. First you'll see for the 5 walking around and you would not know any difference except there w 2 this coming from a different provider. But we were very positive and usf we you know I will keep you posted on all of your been the paper but we would love to see that relationship. Not only continue but actually expand. Thank you. They will come to that and again well welcome. I know you've lived here for a while thank you for coming to good for Thank you for we had quite the discussion when you are in. He answered me for questions. Just wanted to double click on the 430 hires in a six-man think that's pretty substantial an overall workforce of about 4,000. And I'm assuming volume is driving the 2 issues volume and increasing access center. So when we created the new freestanding emergency rule that required a whole new workforce. Our census is 12% higher than it was last we've added new services we're bringing things in-house that we May have from a contract basis and they're just holes that we had in the organization that needed to be filled. So we're taking care of that. >> So they're a full-time long-term employees. Of the 430 those are full-time equivalent, yes, okay. We have a 109 which is our open positions that is a combination which I don't have the breakdown of full-time part-time we've under 9 still open. A bit of good for us. >> a wonderful Oats. >> On the security guard. 2 nurses doctors too. Everyone, one of them. The blaze. How how is the relationship between April and also. >> It is a we continue to believe in each other they have We have had some change of leadership they have had that change in leadership multiplied by 3 I think we're in a pause right now where we the trauma services for them. We deliver the babies they provide the neonatal services as maybe there are I think that whole innovation district is a wonderful thing. And you know it's it's lovely have a children's Hospital of their stature on our campus and providing the care that we do. >> That you need to fill your jobs. You know it's a great question and I wouldn't say it's the city because you are an attractive city but the the the workflow the tip of a partnership which actually has a workforce development components, Pacific to health care Arnie's a very distinct, you know. For bottom us a pharmacy Tech. Frankly never says our challenge here like other of worked in Detroit of work in Boston, which are fairly steady state for the 12 months as you can imagine the House was a cover the West coast of Florida particular like a Venice even more so than here have really spikes in the volume so what about St. Petersburg it but it's not a seasonal in St. Petersburg as the rest of Florida. We have a pretty stable base. >> I would say there is work and I don't have an answer that needs to be done with our pipeline of employees. We don't have we don't have a great job creation for health care in this city convert other cities of similar you might delegate or lean on. >> The weekend. >> And we can look at the patient district kind of planning. To make sure that you and all the other wonderful employers in St. Petersburg talent pools name your excellence like it. Or does that does that for you communicate with us. The deputy mayor whoever, didn't like it. They see and you like to be. The 2 a full tummy Ninja. >> That afternoon council members. Deputy mayor, thanks for having me. Rebel Johnston on the year Lee director for the city. I'm happy to be here in front of you today to an item we're looking to. Purchase 17. A hybrid vehicles for the city. For a flight 15. And we're proud to bring that forward as part of our green fleet initiative also the administrator for. We've discussed citizens and several of But for those that are not familiar with that we're. Ocean in the second is they May have questions. I think was terminated and officer with the bomb of. And if you prove Day mission. But we did want to talk a bit. >> About green fleet leave planned that for a long time isn't organization leave find these at your place and a half already that are doing it you want to I mean that that was the reason I pulled it and the reason was. And the reason was because as an organization we're going have this aspiration and weeks we kind of wrestled about how we could glide path this and the day is here and we wanted to think not Cohen noted that this commitment is one into which were breathing life and it's happening. There's not much more to say beyond that, but we do have a process by which the entirety of the fleet will be filtered as able inappropriate. This will be our course. Council member writes I didn't mean to think you are no secrets. Deputy mayor thank you will be a pleasure to vote for this have been many times in the past where. There have been few purchases on the consent order and we have asked him past council members of past about trying to make more. Choices for efficiency and the arm the hybrids get a lot more fuel economy because they're able to recapture. Energy that's lost to the breaking process that recaptured energy Finch recharges the battery so in different driving conditions. We can rely on the battery instead of burning top fossil fuels and because of that there's other associated savings you don't have to As many oil changes in the brakes last longer. So it's it's a great opportunity to look for where these vehicles make sense in their fleet to 2 at them and over the years the costs of these hydrates have come down. The ability to recycle these batteries have increased and also it's not just Toyota and Honda, but now we're seeing that there's a greater range of choices and more types the metals like suvs and also cars that are manufactured by the typically American. Manufactures so thank I believe that we're going to see a Increase and technique. Years technology in this realm and quite quickly trying to harness that's be done and move on those were makes the best sense for our community. >> Yeah, I apologize, you know we had an odd the and there you go ahead. This since we couldn't we're going to have a little discussion of it and we talked about this a little bit at the agenda review. I I had a few questions for you. But I just have just 2 more with this purchase. You have an idea of the our fleet mix is going to be when it comes to. Hybrid versus conventional vehicles. I know we've got our sanitation pleaded is up with them. In another department, but. You have an idea where where we would be with the purchase of these vehicles. >> Are you alluding to the maintenance. No no just a just a general. Just a general question of. What is the permit percentage of Perth, a hybrid vehicles versus conventional. >> Our our hybrid vehicles as will be the Well the should say the first we've had one in our fleet and t