City Council

>> Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and your elected officials our mayor Ken well. District one Council vice chair, hopefully Curtis. District 2 Brendan Barber. District 3 and not marry. District 4 with that Ana winds. And Council chair Deborah take Sanders. District 6 Gina Driscoll district 7 John Muhammad. And district day Richey Floyd. >> Good afternoon everyone and we will call to order the 9/5/2024 City Council meeting beginning with the roll call the various here as we get ever air on scenario here and what's here it's standard here. This school year. >> Thank you we will have our invocation given today by minister leeanne tatoos. From new Jerusalem missionary Baptist Church in after the invocation. We're going to ask for a moment of silence for 2 of our fallen officers and then followed by that will be the federal agents would you please join me in standing. >> Figs Sanders teach few council members and to the citizens. We bow with me. You got the pause in humble submission in your presence, 2 you will into your way. Thanking you for all the things that you've done for us and thanking you for the opportunity of assembly to confirm discuss for finding in our communities and in our city. We pray now for covering for shelter for safety for peace and perpetual prosperity in our conversation and work even in these unprecedented storms in the attempt of elevation between citizens Council purpose at persons and constituents. We pray for the exchange of somewhat maybe argumentation for argument, Haitian lastly in all things MAY we find common ground together in unity. As we embrace diversity. Equity and inclusion for all persons despite race age gender ethnicity and accenture and this place we all call home. The great tenacious and soaring city of St. Petersburg GOD we ask that you cover a song. A man. >> The storm in a moment of silence for constable Edward a George. In Sept. 16th 19 oh 8. Officer Charles Lee instead is Sept. 24th, 1967. And United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation. Isil with liberty and justice for all. Thank you so much. >> Thank Institute's I am so honored to have been able to watch 2 grown and I am so proud of who you become, and I'm just looking so forward to what you have yet still to show the world. Thank you so much for the invocation thank you so much. Council members we have an agenda before us with items, differing f one in cr 2 to our Sept. 12 Council agenda with adding f 6 a time change resolution for Sept. 12 Council meeting as well as adding f 7 in cd, 25, which was pulled to reports are entertain a motion for approval to act. Now that we have a motion to approve or can you please open the machine for voting. Council members fees cast your votes. Now that are present council members have voted can you please tell me and announce the MADAM Chair, the motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously with councilmember mom being absent. Thank you. Council members, we have a consent agenda before us can you please do we have any public comment for the consent agenda. >> We have no cars. You can attain a motion for the approval for the consent agenda. From record. Now that we have a proper motion a second can you please open the machine for voting. Members please cast your votes. Now that are present council members have voted can you please tell me in and out of Chair of the motion to approve the consent agenda passes unanimously with councilmember Muhammad being absent. Thank you at this time around with the storm's in everything that our city is his experience we're going to add a storm update and I'm going to open the floor to administrative great is for the and we're also joined by our mayor, your can of tea Welsh welcome. >> Good afternoon. MADAM Chair members of Council Ares greats ap team and all members of the public. Reverend thank you for being mentioned but don't and I think you put into them before been good to see you as well. As you all know we had a significant rainfall event over the last couple of days that led to heavy flooding across various parts of our city including part of a suit don't normally have to deal with flood waters. I want to thank our team that's been working throughout the night and today. MADAM Chair we thank you for giving us the opportunity to give you all the situation report to Council and to the public and including what we expect to see more rain as has been forecast. So on and off now to our emergency management manager amber bold. Ever. >> Good afternoon Council. I'm going to give a brief overview of you know what we've seen with her forecast sudden kind of what we're planning for tonight with this protective actions. And then I'm going to hand it off to Claude who've be able to give you more comprehensive report about the flooding events that we've seen. So just to give you a quick summary, you know usually on up here for named storms and things in the end this isn't one of those so it's a a sobering reminder that we are very vulnerable to many types of weather. It's not just those named storms so we get the habit of the it's just a tropical storm or whatever just a rainstorm many days in a row can really impact our city so that's what we're seeing. I'm not going to going in to 2 specific numbers cause I know club will do that but speaking from a widespread standpoint in the last 14 days about 13 and a half inches of rainfall in Saint Pete. Again that's widespread there's more locally heavy amounts. 4 and a half inches of that is just in the last few days. I did receive an email from the National Weather Service. They said we do have a few supplemental an unofficial reports in areas of St. Petersburg that reported 7 to 9 inches of rainfall and the over the past 2 days. And so what we're hearing tonight is the risk could be similar. So we've seen that pattern of those afternoon storms that have moved from the East into the West so 2 days really that last. Our highest risk with that weather pattern and it's starting to shift and we'll start seeing those storms move more to our East in those inland counties. So tonight we are watching there is still a high probability of of heavy rains but hopefully and the risk and what we've seen in the last few days will start decreasing. After today. Quick recap on response and very preliminary numbers, police and fire were very busy. Over the past week, but especially last night responding to several calls for service, 45 specific water rescue calls for fire that includes vehicles in flood water water. Other types of water rescues in sinking vehicles. Police responded to 73 community hazard calls flooded intersections and start out vehicles that doesn't include the additional vehicles and incidents that they ruled upon as the responding to other events as well. For today, we've planned a little bit more just in case we see that weather pattern again and we start to experience flooding again in the city fire has added additional personnel at stations 89 to handle this flood related calls. We have high water 7 vehicle that will be stated at station 7 but it will be fully staffed tonight and then we've also have 2 additional high water vehicles from water resources that fire is pulled in overtime staff to fully staffed those vehicles as well as well so that will be a total of 6 additional staff to handle this evening from 12 noon until midnight tonight. Police crews will continue to monitor those problematic areas and will respond as needed and the city has done that additional messaging 2 spread that flood safety message for the residents what to expect. Clouds going to talk more about you know the historic rainfall that we've seen and what that can cause and you know we're getting flooding in those areas that are typical, you know coastal flooded areas where we see storm surge and it just shows the difference between coastal flooding storm surge flooding that fresh water flooding with heavy rainfall. I do. So with that I will turn it over to clot. Thank you. >> Thank you amber Council chair Council thank you for this opportunity plug Tankersley public works administrator. It's going to be just a real quick recap of the last 10 days or so art AUGUST of 20 AUGUST, 21st 2024. Yesterday. So I'll just remind you during this period we did have hurricane Debby occur and I showed you the last time some of the rainfall days that we had for hurricane Debby hurricane Debby dumps it somewhere between 7 to 12 inches of rain over a 24 to 30 hour period. Very significant and and what you're going to see in a few minutes is that as a member mentioned we've had those same rainfalls over the last couple of days. Even though it's not been named storm. So for the entire month of AUGUST. If you look at the entire month of AUGUST the average rainfall that we have for AUGUST is usually around 8.8 inches. As you can see from these numbers I have up here from different rain gauges throughout the city Weise significantly exceeded that in some cases almost 3 times 8.8 inches that we would normally see during the month of AUGUST. The significance of that is this. When rain water comes down it has 2 ways to go basically. One way is to percolate into the ground to percolate to the saloons and the other way is to run off on this on the top of the soils normally we have enough dry soils in our system that whenever we get a rainfall you'll see some of that rainfall percolate down so if we get 3 inches of rain in the end it. One hour period. Not all 3 inches is going to run off. Some of it is going to seeped into the ground and go into the ground water and then leaving the remaining 2, 2 and a half inches as runoff. With this much rain during the month of AUGUST our soil columns throughout the city are completely saturated. There's very little capacity in our soil to absorb any more water. You can think of it like a sponge you know a dry sponge you can absorb a lot of water and it's great. Once that sponge gets wet matter what you do you can't pick up any more water with that sponge so the significance of all this rain is that our groundwater is saturated our soils are saturated. And so if we were to receive a 3 inch rain during the month of APRIL and our soils a very dry a lot of that gets absorbed. You see it after a month like AUGUST, none of it is being absorbed it's all going to run off which is why it feels different why it feels different to be having these storms the last few days that it MAY have a couple months ago because now all of it is going to run off. Yesterday we had a very intense rainstorm. You can see from this slide. One of the highest rain gauges in the city was 4.9 4 inches. In one hour. The reason I point out the one-hour is that that's a lot of rain to come down in a very very short time. And so when you have a situation like that. Then all that water comes down it once and then our storm water system is trying to handle all that where that came at once if you recall we go back if you recall. During hurricane Debby we would have 10 7.12 inches of rain over a 30 hour period. Yesterday we had 5 inches of rain over one out that makes a huge difference in the capacity of our system to be able to handle and move and remove that storm water. So to give you some more numbers here again I mentioned the AUGUST monthly averages 8.8 inches. The average across Saint Pete based off of those those rain gauges I showed you was 20.1 5 inches. We often talk about a 100 year storm a one-hour 100 year storm for Saint Pete would be expected to dump 3.8 inches in one hour. Yesterday we had some areas 4 to 5 inches in one hour. And the average across the city and that one hour was about 3 inches and so. It's very close to the equivalent of a 100 year one hour storm now know that we get tired of hearing of 100 year storm 50 year storm 10 year storm. These numbers are established off a historical records. And we recognize that over the last few years last 5 to 10 years our rain storm. Patterns have changed. And so these numbers are going to be updated. Some point they no longer hold value. Finally we receive during this period 362 see click fix. Requests to come out and examined. Inspect and possibly clean any of the stormwater conveyance systems of those 362 we've inspected a 172 of them, the orange dots the blue dots are the remaining ones to be inspected about a 190 remain to be inspected. Every day that goes by we have one of these storms we get more requests to have these inspections done. And this what I want to show you now is if you look at the the map showing where the see click fix requests came in. First is the map on the right the map on the right is what we call our 10 year flood paying that floodplain map. The areas that are highlighted in the pink are areas that we would expect that we predict. With the 10 year 24 hour storm which is approximately 7 and a half inches in a 24 hour period. And if you notice where the dots are from the see click fix request versus that map where we would expect the flooding to occur you can see that where we would expect it to occur. It was happening. Unfortunately it was happening. So that's the data for the storms that's an explanation of why the storms feel different because they are different and that's the end of the presentation for this data. But this point MADAM Chair, I'd like to take any questions the council MAY I think councilmember Floyd thank you. >> Thank you for the update. I appreciate it. The actually put myself on here just to say I don't know if you have because you send us the slides. So we can share and explain to our constituents. Other than to say it was literally a scary time My neighborhood is never experienced flooding before and that I'm aware of and water came into my garage and a lot of homes went out this morning and check it out it's there was a lot going on and a lot of people impacted so I think you know we have fortunately some experience with it because unfortunately because other parts of the city have expected it but just a encourage everybody to be patient with people right now who have never experienced this before and are really worried. But I'll leave it there, thank you for the update. Chair fine if I could councilmember Floyd talked about a lot of people being impacted and that's true. Administrator Foster was out with her team today she'd like to talk a little bit about what you saw on the field with 13. >> Good afternoon Council. Normally we are deployed to areas that are more familiar with this type of event. So this was a little bit different to be in the center of our city where folks are a little less familiar. >> With this happening. We do have residents that received significant water into their homes. And we will be doing the kinds of things you see us do for sure acres in Revere Bay for those impacted. And the areas that seem to be the worst are right around. And 5th 45th 345th, second Burlington Avenue and 57th and 58th those are kind of the intersections. She also a large apartment complex right there the entire first floor of that complex was also flooded. Folks are home. They're cleaning up. We have people going door to door talking to them finding out what their needs are. And and you know will continue to provide outreach in the next day or so as well. Thank you council member Jessica. Thank you. Person found former so I want to thank Clyde you and your team for your tireless work on this Farrar Police Department and fire and rescue. It was really amazing that to get it the messages last night from pd from others saying we've got this what we're going and the start and it started before things got really bad. So it was just incredible to see everyone be able to respond and get into place really quickly too to help out. I know a lot of people and I couldn't believe how many photos I saw on social media have. Flooded streets and then in flooded cars, you know. It's really good to hear that we're being proactive and again and making sure that we get out there says we are expecting more of these heavy rainfalls. It's funny as someone was just asking me in an interview about it. You know our flooding during during normal rains. And I know that they meant non names still hundreds. But to me and I said I guess this is the new normal and. You know and especially at this time of the year it really is and you know I have a lot of confidence in in our staff in in the work that's been done on the stormwater master plan to work in the future. So we've got our short-term are short-term response and what we can do right now. But then we also have that long-range plan to make sure that our city is keeping up with this changing the changing weather weather patterns so just wanted to thank all of you for everything you're doing. Today and for tomorrow. A lot of folks who are seeing that water intrusion for the first time we've got you know some people who unfortunately are seasoned veterans of water intrusion. But many people are now experiencing that for the first time. So they MAY not know you know where to go so I'm very happy to to and grateful for administrator Foster and her team for what they're doing. I wonder if staff if if marketing can help get information out through the neighborhood associations Kona they I. Business like I call the neighborhood business associations. That. Could help to get the information out to folks who normally MAY not know where to go and just to help with that because we want to think of every channel we can. Absolutely so councilmember Driscoll marketing has announced the messaging for today that is the messaging citywide for targeted neighborhoods, we are providing messaging targeted to that neighborhood based on what we're seeing. So you know for example, normally we pick up debris whenever were reimbursed by fema, this would not be one of those situations. So we're targeting or messages around debris pickup to the areas that we know were impacted and need that debris pickup because we do not have the workforce to do that citywide so we we're making sure that messaging that needs to go to specific neighborhoods based on what we're seeing with the street teams in on the ground is going to where it needs to go. Through the neighborhood Association news letters and other communication tools. That's great. Thank you and along with hope that there is some messaging going out regarding how to spot a scam. Because this type of season brings out some of the worst actors. Especially because rent we have folks to dealing with this for the first time. It wouldn't hurt to have a little bit of messaging around that just to help protect help people learn how to protect themselves. We'll definitely make a note of that I know last week the county had a disaster housing. Workshop that I was out and they had some. You know leave behind cards, I'll call it that how you can check if a contractor is registered in license to do work. And some other things that help people spot scams and so will connect and make sure we get those in the hands of people to that's a great idea. >> That's terrific. Thank you. Con thanks for going to news sites. I can't wait to get a copy of that so that I can share it and you know respond with facts to some of the misguided information that's out there right now. Thank you MADAM Chair. >> The presentation and the up the everyone was anxiously wanting to hear about what happened yesterday I know that we all have heard from residents. I had the unfortunate task of I dropped off my daughter for dance yesterday. At 4 o'clock and then when I looked out my window as he storm happened there's a river going down my Street and I had to get on the road because they tell you don't get on the road but I think my daughters I have to go towards. >> Gandy and when I was wondering is and I knew there was going to be flooding in a way. We have tried to use ways to figure out where to go. I know that we get the updates on specific streets but is there a way to get something where you know specifically areas on a map that you can see a visual person and if I'm gonna get on the road and there's a storm is their way to do that and I don't know if there just throwing it out because there are people that we're having to leave work and that was just to tell people to leave their house, but it's between 05:06pm, councilmember hand with I think this is a really great safety point for us to talk about. Pt does a great job in the middle of a rainstorm they always update their social media right away with what streets they're saying because they're in the field and seeing those and then it gets shared through other platforms and and so I would encourage everybody to check that I don't know about the map component will have some further conversations but one thing that I want to mention based on what I saw on the field today. If it's flooded turnaround, we saw so many cars in canals where and in videos that I've seen from last night where people thought they were driving on the road and we I could have lost lives from people just. It often to the canal my point i agree with that it would be helpful again, here's a map like do not go into this area because sometimes people find out a little too late and and you know sometimes people just don't make great decisions at that point when the stress are stressed out. Given the situation. I didn't go into one of those areas thankfully, but I'm just saying it would be helpful at some point to have some sort of map somehow. You know besides that in terms of the historical records cloud that we've been facing this information on I feel like we were at a meeting before we're historical records for mentioned and they were were those numbers are not measuring to what we're seeing lately as you mentioned now. How are we using the updated information on these storms that are happening and you're in 10 cities as opposed to just I know we have to go by historical records. But if we seeing a pattern in the last 5 years, let's say how it's being used. So what we did for our stormwater master plan we looked at what we believe the future rainfall events will be like as well as what the future sea level rise will be and the sea level rise is important because all water on Saint Pete eventually drains towards the Bay or the gulf. The higher the bay and the gulf is then the slower that rain water travels and so we need to be able to do our analysis and come up with our plans based off of what we believe we're going to be seeing in the future not what we saw in the past. Well thank you so much for the update. Thank you chair, thank you vice-chair Darrius thank you MADAM Chair. I just cause I know lots of thank yous. Thank you for all the work you and your team the responsiveness Amy same with judge on the job on the phone with Joe multiple times today Marshall. Just everybody pd fire. It's pretty incredible and I know you're dealing with 8 of us and probably a few firms from that side of the building to and so just very very appreciative I did have one question Claude. I know pre names storms we will lower. In anticipation. Is that a possibility did we did we do any of that to be think about doing any of that that's really the one thing that caught me. Was you know, certainly this year I mean we all experience that lakes were at a significantly lower level. >> And and then we've had this rainfall and there. Back to normal slash even probably higher than some of them will be off. I'll speak specifically for the West Side higher than they they are normally I'm just wondering if that's part of the process is that something we should be looking at when we have this saturation like we have in AUGUST and then we see that we might have a week like we just had is that something we might be able to do was that a conversation. So what we do right now is we have 3 lakes that we have the facility set up. To that end in order to be able to keep them pump down during a storm. 2 of them learned Riviera Bay and those lakes were specifically designed for that purpose and they have dedicated permanent pump stations there. The other is Lake mcgorry which serves pretty much all of South Saint Pete and every summer will will put a pump there that comes around the we're around the gate to make sure the lake mcgorry is pump down so we can absorb as much water is coming in as possible. The challenge with doing that with with the other lakes is that oftentimes many of our interior lakes if we drain that Lake and we pump it out through our storm water system that is going to go to another leak further downstream. And so you're basically just compounding the problem further and further downstream. The reason why it works in Riviera Bay and Lake mcgorry is because like mcgorry we can pump into salt Creek which goes out, you know the baber Bay and then then with with Rivera Bay it goes right out into Tampa Bay. So will can certainly look at it. I'm not confident are optimistic that that will have a lot of opportunities to really do something with it. Okay I. >> Really try not to do this especially when we're talking about something citywide but. Some of the lakes on the West Side of St. Petersburg that floated jungle Creek, we're Jones Creek or even. Walter Fuller but that flow straight to the intercoastal might be an opportunity to help especially when you look at that flood map and and that pink that that big pink ball on the on the West Side and so I'd be interested in it but I but I totally appreciate that you don't want to push the problem down the system and I certainly don't want to do that. But those coastal ones that are a little closer to areas where we can I think it's at least something. This couple last couple weeks as maybe think about, but otherwise just I'm just thankful for everything everybody's done man that's that's the point of this whole thing. Thank you. Thank you and seeing no further requests to speak, thank you for the update and thank you all for all you've done. And we're gonna hold today was a little bit better than yesterday, you know you're going home. Thank you so much. Now we're going to go ahead and move on to open form. It's a color can you please read too am if us wish to address to the Council on subjects other than public hearing require that additional items listed on the agenda please sign up. Only the individual wishing to speak a sign the open form she only see the residence owners of property, business owners. In the city or their employees MAY speak all issues discussed and 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 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 to the council to the zoom meeting you must use the raise hand feature button. In the zoom app or inter star 9 on your phone at the time the agenda items address when it's your turn to speak you will be unmuted next a state your name and address at the conclusion of your comments for when you're East 3 minute, I'm em and you will be muted. Always hands will be lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method of participation, new normal rules apply, including the 3 minute time limit on comments. The requirement that any presentation materials must be submitted in advance of the meeting and the rules of decorum it's like public comment is disrupted by violations of the rule of the Quorum the chair is authorized to accept public comment about alternate means including by mail only chair we do have some speakers and the public to it. The first 2 speakers, madam chair, Brad mccoy and Trevor paid for please go to the podium state your name and address for the record and you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> I'm a name is Brad mccoy, 1856 ameri way South. Council members discuss emerging concerns that demand immediate action from you our elected representatives findings from a 2 month analysis of the city's transparency process show the city is currently non compliant with Florida statute, 1, 1, 9, regarding public disclosure and transparency American Welton Council chair Deborah fix Sanders have repeatedly failed to provide public records in a timely manner and often withholding requested information as of Aug. 30th twenty-twenty for mayor Walt has 14 overdoing unanswered public records request. Council members here fix Sanders has 3 overdoing unanswered request and there are 5 request overdue related to the bonuses. The city's records databases and consistently managed with missing clarifications inconsistent status field updates and incomplete responses of particular concern is the refusal to provide non-exempt cell phone records and the potential mishandling of public records on personal devices moving on to address conflicts. The greatest family presents a serious conflict of interest Robert Curtis negotiated the gas plant deal his nephew cope pfleger this approved it and his brother. Charles Curtis for representative party receiving 10 million from the steel. These 3 people are father son and uncle this is a clear conflict that demands investigation an immediate corrective action regarding the recent illegal bonuses, the mayor and others involved in awarding illegal bonuses have diverted funds from an already indicted water resources fund. Some employees appeared to have received both overtime and bonuses with potential race is still unclear too to do to unfulfilled record requests alongside the potential for double and triple dipping in the cookie jar these finding suggest protect possible finding MS. Financial mismanagement and misuse of public funds. Most unsettling is the fact that the city attorneys did not write a check to return the funds until after they were caught. I'm calling for the following one of 4 view of the city's transparency in public records processes to ensure compliance with state law and consistent use of all down to fields within the database to the immediate release of all overdue public record request, especially those related to the bonuses. Additionally an analysis of record requests completion timing. For 2024 split out by the party providing records 3 an investigation into conflicts of interest involving Council chair fix Sanders and covid are at us for the creation of an ethics commission that does not have loyalty to any one person and can take immediate action for ethics and transparency complaints in your e-mails you'll find a summary of my findings and awful up later today with my my requested actions to the people listening today are watching from home if you're coming forward as a whistleblower have concerns about ethics and transparency with this administration please contact me there's a large number of of anger, taxpayers collaborating to fight this corruption and negligence. We have made great strides in recent weeks and we will continue to put pressure on this in this administration to do better. In conclusion select individuals of this administration have marked the death of the democratic process for the city of St. Petersburg I hope every member of this administration will take time to reflect on your actions and the actions of people around you and make changes we desperately need. Thank you. >> Trevor pet afford 30 40th Avenue North MADAM Chair, and this AUGUST Council I wanted to come before you as a grateful citizen. The decision to run for public office is a difficult one I know because my mother in for public office and served in Dayton, Ohio. There's possibly no person more vetted question ridiculed second guessed and targeted for my verbal attacks than a politician. Well maybe a journalist, but I digress I've had the honor and privilege of watching and covering you as a veteran journalist of 38 years. I want to thank you for your willingness for us. To sit in the sit on this diet and not in the seats. I want to thank you for making the tough decisions. Making that message is realizing that they're not always perfect decisions. They're just tough decisions. I want to thank you for following your conscience more than your constituency when you must decide what's best. So instead of what's popular or what's easy. A wise man once said you complete you can't please everyone but you can please yourself by staying true to who you are don't waste your energy trying to win over people who will never truly appreciate you facing public criticism scrutiny in the stop is part of it I know because I've stirred nice you. But for anyone to make ups and obsession of constantly speaking in publishing this rule bank to venomous words of criticism, our challenge them to publish 2 more most important words then that anyone could ever print for the public view put your first and last name on the ballot. Then you'll know what it's like to be in the hot seat, and so the cheap seats. Thank you. Speakers please. >> You name it really was pre be an Paul Carter please go to the podium state your name and address for the record and you have 3 minutes to address City Council. >> My name is janay pre be I look at 4047 24th Avenue North in St. Petersburg and the director of the shine St. Petersburg mural festival for the St. Petersburg arts alliance. I am here today to say thank you to all of you and City Council I'm here to say thank you to Mayor Walsh is less less Davis Tracy canard and especially to council member driskell for being at the forefront of advocating for the Arts in Saint Pete, your support sends an important message to the arts to the artists and arts organizations that worked tirelessly to make Petersburg not just a city that's functional but a city that's thriving and lovable not just livable I'm especially grateful. To hear that the city is including shine in the efforts to restore the funds cut by the state. We also any 5,000 in Grant funding from the state this year and this is China's 10th anniversary coming up in OCTOBER. And I want to take a moment just to share what what I've experienced through shine because of the city support. We talk a lot about the economic impact of the arts we know from a previous study that when people come out to see a shine mural on average they're spending $67 a day and all the businesses that surround the murals the restaurants, the bars and cafes the galleries those are the places that are benefiting from the are in addition to the artist being paid when you support shine you're supporting a dynamic ecosystem of businesses and individuals with every dollar beyond the economic value. I can tell you from years of being out in the street during this event these murals have been woven into the lives of our residents. I can't tell you how many people have told me I moved here because of the murals this is my favorite part of Saint Pete. This is why I'm here. This is what I love this is my favorite time of the year. My kids got people have told me they've gotten engaged in further murals they did their wedding photos in front of the murals they change their route to work so that they can see the murals on their way every time this happens people are forming an emotional connection with our city and people that are more connected to their city are more likely to vote more likely to volunteer more likely to give of their time and the resources and their talents. These are the kind of residents I think we all would like to have. >> Lastly the as part of the city sponsorship of shine you are entitled 4 a private real to her. During shine we have offered is every year in the city doesn't ever take us up on it we really would love for you to come on a tour. We can take your own and show you. What your money and your support is really doing thank you. Thank you. Next speaker please. Good afternoon. My name is Paula kerger live at 3 46th Street South in Saint Pete. And I would just encourage you all to take jannay up on her offer. The mayor says waterfall and the tour is great. I've been before you on many occasions asking for something and today, I'm not doing that I'm here to say thank you to council to the mayor the administration and particularly a council member driskell for the incremental arts funding the that you've approved. You know we talk about this is the city of the arts and often it's just kind of throwaway line but I think you've made it really tangible by your action in terms of supporting the arts financially. So one big thank you much appreciated, and we hope that we can make this permanent ongoing basis. Thank you all. Thank you in a current. We have one speak speaker MADAM Chair. Hard to feel any better classes which are to enter into the meeting space. These into your state your name and address for the record you have 2 minutes to address City Council. But they are to feel that with a 1017. I have a nice out I'm going to respect that we disagree with that prior speaker's position that the majority of this Council is displaying any ethics. Like the previous speakers, us cent I spent last night helping my friend clean out of business as it flooded. Uncontrollably I'm sure there's hundreds of others just like her today we're dealing with sudden flooding. That was ruining our homes, our cars and our businesses with all the other skyrocketing costs of daily life your constituents are dealing with constant devastating losses from a failing under funded infrastructure. It's really like what I want to take the chance to get to congratulate everyone on the council who supported that brand new stadium deal. You really should all these unfortunate citizens who are drying out their homes and businesses the date of their well-being doesn't matter just handing over almost $2 billion to build a baseball stadium for a billionaire as an added bonus now every week brings a new disgraceful wrinkle to the public theft that everyone just supported COUNCILMAN Curtis special kudos to you for your race to go she Asian skills. Apparently you extract and what about to a pinky promise from the developers to build that promise black history museum. So of course now they're refusing to fully fund their share a great job on that count of the new America just desecrated the legacy of the gas plant community for a second time congratulations. And while we're at a COUNCILMAN And to pose a mayoral hopeful Driscoll who just mentioned quote how to spot a scam. In light of the museum funding news, I'm sure you can totally reassure the rest of us that the team will absolutely definitely follow through on those demands you MAY to build the daycare and a grocery store. Maybe you need to take your own advice on falling for scams recognizing them. And finally it was really amazing past week to hear the lone gop councilmember Ed Mary go all top gun maverick with indignation over the story on those thousand bonuses paid to city employees. Ed, you just voted to hand over 6,000 times that much to a multibillionaire without a single e legally binding demands profit sharing or relocation restrictions. It would be nice if you would just stop play acting like you're some fiscally conservative budget hawk. There's hundreds of families driving through flooded streets every time we get a storm. You just showing that you're totally unfit to represent them. I'd like to finally think councilmembers Hannah what's boy did Bob. I want to thank you all 3 of you for showing what true of ticks and integrity looks like on this vote. The sense of Saint Peter's but really needed him and were qualified honest officials like you represent us, thank you. >> Next a speaker's station straighter and as the current please go to I the podium state your name and address for the record you have 2 minutes to address City Council. >> Hello COUNCILWOMAN, big Sanders. And Council I'm here to actually thank you and get your name and address yeah, some sarin station straighter and live at 6.92 10th Avenue South in merger Park. I am the current chair of the city's public arts Commission. I am a founding and board members committee member for shine mural festival. I'm also a board member for the Florida craft art on Central Avenue and for my profession, I'm a vice PRESIDENT Of our local community bank pay first. I'm here to thank you for the economic driver of the Arts in Saint Pete, cultural tourism is 3 times I believe above just did Beach tourist that will come to our town so we have built see Pete on the arts and when I think of sustainability I think of sustaining our economy with the arts when the state pulled back. I went to my own corporation said we need more funding. I hold the companies that I work for cannibal to give money locally we've been able to come up with more money. My civic responsibility if I've got extra money in my checking account to spend it locally. I just choose it to arts and I want to thank you for digging deeper the find funding to keep our economy moving and our city as special as it is it will continue to drive people moving here and give you money to within the tax coffers to help solve them are bigger problems. So thank you. >> Good afternoon, I'm less like her and the 1, 2, 3, 4, doctor Martin Luther King junior Street North. Thank you for the opportunity to speak this afternoon. The speakers before me, of course alluded to a lot of what I wanted to talk about want to thank you for the proposed one percent allocation which really is modest compared to the on those benefits that was reported in the American for the Arts to done. Thank you to council member driskell for really spearheading for everybody else to realize the importance of like what station was just talking about the the tourists and the cultural turn some they're really the city is is in the in the mid step. It's important to recognize that the arts and compass both nonprofit and for profit sectors. Well nonprofits often rely on government funding for-profit our businesses contribute equally to our vibrant arts scene and received no such support we look to the city to create a conducive safe environment for all our related enterprises. An increase in yards budget could enhance our city's ability to market itself more effectively. Saint Pete has laid a solid foundation for a thriving arts community. But we need that elevate them take it up a notch for all kinds of arts visual performance musical, having buyers is the crucial. Crucial link whether you know we have affordable housing and studio space for artists. That's important. But without a market for their works or buyers. You know those resources really fall short. I think we need a strategic marketing plan to attract national an international buyers collaborating with a visit Saint Pete Clearwater on a major ad campaign could be a great step. Well we're be chirs are the major draw. We also pride ourselves as being the city of the arts, Princeton setting up a booth at art Basel I think we discussed this front how many years, a simple task that could help us connect our patrons and collectors. But also integrate some of the artists that come in for that event to this area. The arts community consistently supports each other and those in need. And now it's time for the city to support its artists and arts businesses, whether it's for profit were non profit. If we don't we risk losing our claim as the city of the arts. So thank you for the proposed one percent and hopefully that will continue to grow and we can really bring in the market that so many of the artists need to get the buyers that are so important to their livelihood thank you. Thank u next to this plays out of the fight to speak as MADAM Chair Sandra Anthony and Matt Weiner please go to I the podium state your name and address for the record and you have 3 minutes to address City Council. Good afternoon. My first time of year. I hope my last I'd rather be a three-game today. And I wouldn't have been here today had I not call the office is just a story Sander Anthony 5, 0 one 35th Avenue Northeast. I wouldn't be here today had I not called the office to express my concern about what was happening in my neighborhood and I just thought maybe with my boys and I don't have prepared statement so I'm just speaking extemporaneous Lee. The only time I've ever put any tickets in the click it app was for mosquitoes. But recently about 2 months ago. I put in because the storm drain right outside on my Street was flooding and not raining. I put in the first ticket gave it a couple weeks nothing happened I put in a second ticket. Give it a couple weeks nothing happened. And so I called at that time in AUGUST mid AUGUST and I was told that. You know it was acknowledged, but it was still pending so I appreciated today's presentation and I'm hoping that today, I'm still on that pending list because nothing has happened in fact sometimes that water sits for about 2 weeks and doesn't dry out. I've been here since 2018 something's wrong. It has never been like this we've been through all the Hurricanes all the storms and even in my first of all I was waiting in my first submission I said even with a little bit of rain something is happening here. A couple weeks ago, there was a crew that was there I thought they were here from the town to fix what I thought was the drain, but they were there to fix a sewer pipe. I ran over and I thank them for coming and I just show them and he says no no we're not here for that we're here for the sewer. That storm any goes that's normal that's from full full moon. I said no no no it's never been like this. Our neighbors have been putting in as well to the app my fear is that something is wrong and someone thinks that it's normal and so I guess I wanted to come today just to share my concerned first maybe just to take the opportunity thank you. We love being here, we love Saint Pete. And I and I thank you for your service for everything that you're doing. I think I just wanted to have you humbly hear my voice that something's wrong in my neighborhood. I was told I was district for today. I was transferred to a voicemail. I didn't leave a voicemail but sitting here I even district 3. I don't even know. Well, you know is I have a lot of mosquitoes. And that I don't like my water bill I really like my taxes actually and and I appreciate the work but something's wrong. I'm going to continue to follow up to see if something does fix you know if somebody comes and I'm hoping a month still that list. But if someone doesn't come to fix that storm drain. I think I'm gonna come back because something's really wrong. I just think it. Thank you we got you, thank you. Thank you for everything, thank you so much. Yes, Sir. Ma'am thank you so much for coming out to the office to follow up with you directly. Yeah, so in a minute just chair, thank you so much my name is Matthew wide your own property just across the lake there to 50 near Lake. I want to come before you talk about 2 cases Circuit court an appellate court case they're gonna have a dramatic impact on how y'all practice for the rest your careers. Just a couple weeks ago I watched when staff explain to you about the Florida Gulf Coast case that's right here in front of us and it was compelled to come before you cause I heard lots of questions that you folks were asking in the best answer to the questions is and what I'm going to get to the clerk and I urge you to read the cases read what the appellate court said when it bumped it back down here. These are 3 learned judges who heard everything and I think you folks really should pay attention to the case. Read it carefully. But when Circuit court in the appellate court judges start telling us that what we're doing is unconstitutional. That's a big warning for us that we should all be pain real careful attention to that's the first case the most important part about doing the most important question that wasn't asked us wait for somebody to ask it was what's the impact and that's this order right here out of this case. This is the order granting attorneys fees so the question at a council in all these cases has to be hey what's this going to cost us in the answer to the question is I don't know 500,250 thousand five that despite an expert in the 5 years with the litigation going back and forth. We're all going to write a check for that come before you to ask as legislators to pay attention to this stuff early on and pay attention to this case because there's a lesson there when the judges are saying unconstitutional that means something. The second case is even more fascinating in really interesting Liberty hospitality versus city of Tampa. This case is a mind blowing really interesting case. What it says essentially is that the legislative branch cannot sit in a quasi-judicial capacity and I want all you want to think about your careers and what you think about when someone might come up to you along the way and said I want to talk to you about something and you said can't talk to you I've been told this is quasi judicial and so no matter what it is I'm not talking to you. What the judge over Hillsborough County says is legislative judicial executive branch. There's no such thing as quasi-judicial for elected officials I've been talking to some of the brightest people we all know we all know they're the smartest ones that has sat in those very seat and they say you know what that very concept to something that I struggled with in fact, one said that is the concept I struggle with most how can they be an elected official that is not permitted to talk to the people that i represent about a certain subject because someone's told me it's quasi-judicial what Liberty says is your legislators, you're boost important job is to listen to the people that you represent it's gonna be heard in that courthouse right across the street because it's been appealed. But I want you to think about that going forward and what you think about the concept that was a judicial in your most important job to always be listing to the people that represent thank. Most because no one speaks. What after since we have no speakers and or requests to speak, I wanted to allow from a legal perspective and I want to ask our sister city attorney Jeanine Williams as well as our. The city clerk chance in a to speak on behalf of public records request. So I don't know who's going to go first but I think we need to kind of the verify some things in regards to public records request. Based on open comment it well general what how does that how does the process actually work. >> That's a mouthful but in general for public records requests that are received by the city of St. Petersburg their coordinated through the clerk's office unless they're sent to an individual department who has all of the records that are. Requested in that public records requests. So it's all are within a department that department mayor respond on its own. However, if the records come from several departments than the city clerk is going to coordinate the response. If. >> The. Records requests is less than 30 minutes of time to respond to then that record requests will be put together responded to a city clerk's office if it's more than 30 minutes, according to policy. >> Then the public record. Request to receive a cost estimate and that cost estimate must be paid before records are provided. If the records are if the cost estimate is paid for than the records are produced and that production doesn't begin until the process of us are paid. If the cost estimates are not paid then eventually the public records request is closed out. After some time without payment. >> Thank you did you want to add anything to that. She pretty much covered everything there's multiple methods that we can records not just necessarily if you are going to a system that can be done to email credence to phone call can be done to walking can be done anonymously. So there's multiple factors, how public records can be received and we do it here to force the statue will 19 as well as our administrative policy as it relates to not only providing public records request. But the production represents attorney Williams indicated, if you request it sees more than 30 minutes. We provide cost estimates those requestors often time to go unpaid. If those cost estimates are not paid we don't release those records were half-staff again the production of those records because the production is not us doesn't begin until those fees have been paid. I have to and to witness or something else that you want us to address. No I was just interested in making sure that the. Deciduous that are listening understand that you just don't request a public record requests and don't pay it if is over 30 minutes and that without receiving their public records request is negligent on the city you have to pay for the public request with 30 minutes. I'm not free and I was interested when I saw that as a city government we received 25 of 35,000 public requests annually so there's a reason for us having to estimate in and guarantee payment of time. So thank you I just wanted to clarify that and so now we're going to go ahead and close open for and moved to our new ordinances beginning with item e one and e 2 can they be presented in. We just do e one first clear can you please read that item for you one individually individually. You can think that your proposed ordinance 5.97 h an ordinance repealing division 8 of article 5 section 2 dash 2, 6, 8, through 2 dash 2, 7, 0, of the city code relating to major construction. Project requirements for employing disappointing workers and providing an effective date a public hearing for this particular ordinance is on 10/3/2024. Move approval. I can ok now there's been pushed. Now that this has been properly motion and seconded I was seeing no further requests to speak and play can you please open the machine for voting. Council members please cast your votes seeing that are present council members have voted can you please tell ya announced the votes. MADAM Chair, the motion to approve agenda item e one passes unanimously with council member Mohammed being absent. Think you can you please read the title for the 2 please. I'm sure proposed points. Number 5.98 h an ordinance repealing division 7 article 5 section 2 dash 2, 6, 1, through 2 dash 2, 6, 4, of the city code relating to major construction project requirements for employing apprentices and providing an affected date the public and for this or does. He's also 10/3/2024 and we do have one card MADAM Chair. Thank you. James Johnson please go to I the podium state your name and address for the record and you have 2 minutes to address City Council. Good afternoon. Members. My name is James Johnson with the 2, 3, 9, 0, 4 2000 the Southwest in largo Florida. >> Thank you attorney Jeanine Williams forcing me to the having skilled construction workers to fill the needs of our ever growing state is coming under attack by the number of skilled, labor is retiring, they're retiring. In far greater numbers, then those applying so there's a shortage and will be an even greater shortage in the coming years. They're killing of this ordinance is unfortunate what I'm told that it's preempted by the state that's politics. The city MAY no longer dictate who contract who contractors hire where they hire them from more how much they pay them. But the verbiage and Florida statute 255-0992 regarding prohibited governmental actions, pertaining to public works projects does not necessarily necessarily prohibit the city from having a preference of having apprentices and employed by contractors and the request for proposals. This was still provoke promote the use of apprentices in public works projects would give the contractors. More say in how the work is completed. Because I must say I'm having requirements of the current ordinance in the bigs all sting and unfair for contractors. Well training apprentices of the very important task telling a person having was from their business confining. I will say the city is doing a fantastic job in employing apprentices purchase a participating in apprenticeship programs and even providing apprenticeship opportunities for the youth old. Thank you guys for keep up the good work and again thank you for visiting with Santa. Thank you so much. Move approval. Approved need a second I can thank you. Now that I have no further questions speaking has been properly motion in second and can you please open the machine for voting for you to please. Some members cast your votes seeing that are present council members to can you please tell ya announced the votes. MADAM Chair, the motion to approve agenda 2 passes unanimously. Thank you so much so now we're going to move on to our legal item and joining us is assistant city attorney MISTER Brit grit Pettigrew in regards to potential charter amendments concerning the City Council and mayor of agencies and update a request for referral to a committee of the whole. How are you turning. Doing well thank you chair. Vice chair members of Council excuse me while I erase this up a bit. It didn't say would be fast if ever. >> Thank you very much so this item started as a new business item in OCTOBER of 2022. To discuss potential changes to charter provisions governing vacancies on City Council including elimination of the appointment process to have all City Council vacancies filled through a special election. What followed was 3 meetings of public services and infrastructure Committee in JULY of 23 NOVEMBER of 23 in MARCH of 24. Those 3 meetings culminated in an action item recommending that Council referred to a cow. 2 amendments related to the appointment process for Council vacancies one related to the voting threshold and the other related to not making an appointment during the regular election cycle for the vacant position. Before Council of folk it voted on that psni action item the City Attorney's Office identified an issue related to the mayoral vacancy process which had not been part of the discussion up until that point related to the timeline that was inconsistent with what the supervisor of elections indicated that they would accommodate. So this is the City Attorney's Office recommended that issued the rep added to the referral all 3 items were referred to a cow that met on Apr. 18th 2024 to discuss those 2 amendments from ps and I am the one recommended by our office at the conclusion of that discussion of the cow. The a certain city attorneys office was requested to draft a referendum ordinance addressing the 3 amendments referred to the cow. And another amendment that would add a special election process for Council vacancies that were not filled through an appointment during the 45 day window. So putting all that together the ordinance that was requested the charter amendment that was requested would have simplified the mayoral vacancy filling process by eliminating a special election component and filling the mayoral vacancy through the next regular municipal election cycle depending on the timing of that vacancy and whether a runoff was required the city administrator would serve in a capacity that acting mayor 4th month period of 3 to 29 months. For council members. They can see filling process for would be modified as follows to avoid making an appointment during the active the most active period of the regulation election cycle for the vacant position appointments would be prohibited during that period. And the position would be left open until the winner of the election cycle was appointed to fill the vacancy th