City Council

>> Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and your elected officials our mayor Ken Welch district one hopefully burdis. District 2 Council chair Randy Gabbert district 3 and not marry. Was picked for Lisette kind of way. 5 and Council vice chair Debra big spenders. Gina Driscoll. John Muhammad. And district day Richie Floyd. >> Good afternoon everyone. We will call to order the Oct. 1220 23 City Council meeting beginning with the roll call place gabbard here on to marry your and what's your big Sanders here this poll It Floyd there here. We will begin our meeting today with an invocation today's invocation will be given by MS. Of the bar high faith St. Petersburg center and then after that we will do the pledge of allegiance please stand. >> Dow forgiving GOD. The servants are turning to the kingdom. I'm seeking die carissa and bounty. Oh GOD meek their hearts, good and pure in order that they MAY become worried the all of that I love purefoy excuse me and sanctify to spirits that the light off the son of reality. The shine upon them. Purified and sanctify the eyes that they need perceived I light. Purified and sanctify the ears in order that the me here. The call of taking down. The really vr Beach. But Dow it. The really the are poor. But Dow are the rich. We are to seekers and Dow are to one site. Oh Lord have compassion upon on us and forgive us. This to upon on such capacity and the city of Nis that he MAY be worried the of those feeders. And become attracted to thy kingdom. Deputy in a dream deep off the water of life. Maybe in Keene told by the fire of thy laws. And b visa city did to the Brits of the Holy spirit. Vs reading certain century. Oh GOD my GOD. Cast upon this gathering the collapse has left a loving kindness keep safe each and all in die custody and under the eye protection. Send down upon the souls. Di hitting the blessings. Emer stand in the ocean of thy mercy. I'm quick end in to the Brits off the Holy spirit. To die gracious aid. I'm confirmation. Upon this just the government. This country like it be neat. The sheltering shadow of a protection. And this people is indice service. Lord confer upon them. I have in the bounty. A new vendor, the outpourings of bakeries and fever coop use an abundant. Suffered this esteemed nation to be held in honor and enable it to be at needed into the I team down. Dow are too powerful. The omnipotent the merciful I'm dowe are too generous didn't if you sent the Lord of Curry's abounding. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag. Erica. One nation under GOD, and it is able to liberty and justice. >> Thank you so much MISS Eskenazi for your beautiful invocation we appreciate you as always. All right Johnson members we have an agenda before us today, we have one request to add an item item f 4 so with that change alert a motion for approval approval second. You have a motion a second sing no requests to speak clerk Lisa punishing for voting. Council members and your votes and present Council members a vote a clerk placed I announce the vote. MADAM Chair, the motion to approve the agenda passes unanimously with council member Ahmed being absent. All right we're going to get right into our awards and presentations which I believe most of you are here before we get started I do just want to send the regrets of our mayor Ken he was unable to be here today due to another engagement. But he want to make sure that you all know how much we appreciate you and all of your respective roles and thank you for being here with us today to celebrate our great cities. So thank you all so much. I'm gonna go ahead and turn it over now to councilmember at Mount Mary for our pie fire prevention week proclamation. Thank you thank you, madam chair. Joined by our fire marshal. You know warm air Cap'n Garth's window. Lieutenant Terry Barber community risk. A resolution coordinator stuff Nick. And community rest risk specialists to Alexis Lawrence and we have chief large here in the chief acid you're also in some other members of the Saint Pete fire rescue. The resolution reads. The city of St. Petersburg is committed to ensure and ensuring safety and security of all those living living and visiting and whereas fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally and homes are the locations of people we are at the greatest risk from fire and whereas cooking is the leading cause of fire home fire. If I'm home fires United States and 2 of every 5 home fire started in the kitchen with 31% of those fires resulting in unintended and attended cooking and whereas half of it. Half of the reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to light to fight the fire themselves and whereas children under 5 face a higher risk and on fire Burns associated with cooking. Then being burned in a home cooking fire and whereas residents should turn pot handles towards the back of the stove always keeping a lid nearby when cooking and keep it a 3 foot kid free zone around the stove of and other things that could get hot. Watch what the heat and set a timer to remind them what they're cooking and whereas residents who have planned and practiced a home fire escape. Plan are more prepared and will therefore be more likely to survive a fire. And whereas Petersburg fire rescue is dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire injuries through the prevention and education and whereas the 2023 fire percent prevention week theme, cooking safety starts with you pay attention to fire prevention. Effectively serves to remind us to stay alert and to use caution when cooking to reduce the risk of kitchen, fires. Therefore I and mountain area on behalf of Mayor Kenneth t Welsh mayor of the city of St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim Oct. 8th through the 14th 2023 as fire prevention week. And throughout the city are urged residents to check their their kitchens for fire high hazards, you safe cooking packed practices and support the many safety activities and efforts of Saint Pete fire rescue. Thank you. We want to talk a little bit about fire prevention week. Thank you. Councilmember Mount airy thank you very much for the proclamation. A chair Council thanks for having us today to recognize this important event. Fire prevention week is the longest-running public health and safety holiday in the country. Established in 1925 with a singular mission of decreasing casualties caused by fires, so it's nice to have one focus. We celebrate in OCTOBER I have to mention this in honor chief the money of the great Chicago fire. 250 people were killed in that fire more than a 100,000 people left homeless and more than 17,000 structures were destroyed. Seems like a long time ago but certainly in recent news with the higher the fortune of those events can still happen today so fire safety is important now as it was when so Ernest a holiday was established in 1925. The theme this year is mentioning the proclamation is cooking safety, cooking safety starts with you pay attention to fire prevention and just to reiterate. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fire fatalities. So it's something everybody does every single day so literally everybody in this room and everybody in the community is at risk for cooking fire. So we encourage you to seek out visit our website fired a Saint Pete dot org fire safety tips will see videos on cooking safety. Having an escape plan in your house to keep you safe. We also asked to follow us on facebook and instagram where you can continually find constant message on fire safety and other safety programs. We we celebrate fire prevention. Month in OCTOBER but we're committed to prevention here around I just want to share some of those efforts with you. A specific to fire prevention and that for 23. We perform 209 public education programs install more than 250 smoke alarms and residences across the city that's in partnership with the American red cost of supplies those devices to us and then our fire service personnel go out and do home inspections as part of a home safe inspection. A program and then install those devices in homes where people don't have them smoke detectors absolutely save lives. I want to mention the rest of the the engine that drives fire prevention, the community public education is a big piece that's why we're here today. I like to recognize our fire service inspectors that go around to make sure buildings that are operating in the public space. Stay safe and their suppression systems detection system stay operable we have fire plans examiners that review every permit that was issued in the city for life safety and fire code enforcement and then we also fire investigators that unfortunately work to determine the cause of fires when they occur so that we can prevent them in the future. We kicked off or activities for this month last Sat. With our open We appreciate those of you that are able to join us with more than 300 people visit our fire stations to do the trucks and see kind of behind the scenes of how the Fire Department operates. It's a great public eye education opportunity for us as well little side note that's our first one since 2019. So covid killed the open House and then unfortunately my namesake hurricane Ian killed the subsequent open House after that. So we're we're happy to get back to regular business this year. I want to conclude with the advertising are Super Bowl event for this year. That's our 32th annual fire prevention block party. It's this Sat. At Lake Vista Park from 10:00am to 02:00pm and it is for all ages so young and old and everywhere in between come out here show case of apparatus and it's not just a simple fire truck we represent every type of apparatus that we have you might be shocked to see some of the equipment that the Fire Department has for all manner of rescue. Water under structures we even have some drones as well. We also will do a live living room burn demonstration and that burn demonstrations meant to demonstrate. How effective and important fire safety from fire sprinklers are. Well the k 9 demonstration from pd will have a helicopter landing from lifeline bike safety radio bounce houses face painting. You name it you cannot have a good time if you come and all while with free food and drinks so please join us just repeat it one more time Oct. 14th. Like this to from 10:00am to 02:00pm. Thank you for having us today >> Don't go away chief. Council member Garrett us thank you MADAM Chair. Mack chief the rest of. Fire rescue that are here. Thank you. Not only for what you do every day but certainly for what you do to prevent fires and and really making that awareness. Highlighting that awareness this week. I wasn't able to go to the open House this weekend but. Coincidentally enough we were in Chicago this past weekend we visited the foot though standing firehouse that made it through that fire and and then also after he was at my kids school this week, so it was a lot fire prevention and the girders household. So thank you for highlighting the 3 foot rule in the kitchen, I know my wife appreciates that because 2 little ones running around this crazy all the time, but I just I just wanted to communicate my just big thanks for everything you do keeping our city safe. Keeping our families and our residents safe and and highlighting that this week I can't wait to everything on Sat. Because I know you guys put on a show for sure so thank you. Thank you, MADAM Chair. Thank you. Thank you chief Womack. >> All right next we will move on to item d 2 which is our divest domestic violence awareness month proclamation and this will be given by vice-chair fig Sanders. >> Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. First a clear national domestic violence awareness month in 1989. Since then OCTOBER has been a time to acknowledge domestic violence. Survivors and be a voice for his victims. Domestic violence. Impacts every community and affects all people regardless of age socioeconomic status, orientation. Jen Dir race religion or nationality. The statistics and long lasting impacts are standing. So I stand here and honor to present this proclamation and I ask. These champions of domestic violence awareness. Ceo MISS Mariana foresight. If she is here. MISS Sherry cluster process e o. Ceo senator Nick diciglie from the whole village of America. And Melissa Perry also the coo from hope of villages of America. And the proclamation Whereas violence and abuse against women and children continues to be a permanent social problem. And whereas domestic violence violates an individual's privacy. Dignity security and humanity due to the systematic use of physical emotional second And economic control and or abuse and whereas the impact of domestic violence is wide ranging directly affecting women. Children men and the society as a whole and whereas many societies, many survivors of domestic violence suffer in silence due to the stigma and the shame associated with domestic violence. Whereas once free from their abusers survivors face the challenge of navigating the criminal justice system medical services forensic exams, housing assistance crisis counseling and child services and where ends. The city of St. Petersburg supports organizations that provide resources safely in advocacy to domestic violence survivors and their children. Now therefore on the have of Mayor Ken of 2 Welch I vice chair Deborah feyerick Sanders on behalf of our mayor of the city of St. Petersburg Florida. Do hereby proclaim OCTOBER. 2023. As domestic violence awareness month. The Senate you know my ladies go first It's Lori Anne thank you so much. >> Thank you very much vice chair chair council members my name is ariana Forsyth and the ceo this is Sherry cluster c o o Casa operates one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the state of Florida you might be surprised to learn that last year we served. Folks with 23,044 bed nights. All right. The staggering number, but even more staggering than that is 70% of Casa services are actually provided outside of our shelter. Many of you have toured and I appreciate all of your support last year's we opened Florida's only family Justice Center. I can tell you since the opening on Oct. 19th of last year we have more than doubled the amount of people that we have been able to serve through that center. The numbers are staggering so far over 2500 people have been served to the family Justice Center says. So thank you for all of that support. Casas also and you MAY not know this one of the largest housing providers in the county. This year this coming year will provide million of housing relief for survivors of domestic violence. You MAY not know that domestic violence is the number one cause of homelessness for women and children so this is incredibly important in our community. So thank you for the proclamation. Thank you for all that you do to support costs and our work for survivors here in St. Petersburg and throughout Pinellas County. Thank you. >> MADAM Chair We really have a whole villages of America. You know to allow us to present this proclamation because you know the domestic violence is important issue in our in our County and our state and our country. Whole villages American since 1967 has been providing this incredibly important a service for for women and children. We also you know have thousands of nights that we provide a safe shelter for these women and children. So whether it's cars whether it's hope village of America. The important thing to know here is that we have great organizations that they're doing great work on behalf of the members our community. I want to introduce our coo Melinda Perry has been a just an incredible. You know asset an ally for these women children for for many many years so thank you so much for having us today. Thank you. >> Council member Mary thank thank you and I know senator deciglie has to has to go to another event, but I I did want first of Thank everybody for being here to talk about to domestic were nurse and bring that message to to our community. I worked with senator diciglie on a different to a light the sunshine Skyway bridge to show our support for the state of Israel and since you're here in our City Council meeting I just wanted to publicly acknowledge and thank you for your work on that. >> Thank you MADAM Chair, thank you councilmember thank you senator for being here and thank you also Lori Anne and everyone from Casa and hope villages the work that you do and our community is so critically important and so many women and children would be without if it were not for you standing up for them and being their advocates so thank you all for what you do every day. >> Next we're going to go to item d 3 which are breast cancer awareness month proclamation and this will be given by councilmember couple Curtis. >> Thank you MADAM Chair I'd ask representatives from the Pinellas County Health Department. He said feel old. Sharon Hagans Mariah Garrett Valerie Lee and Jennifer great to please join me and I have my wife's s leader to us Carly Lewis here as well. A couple of months ago I was before you proclamation for my dad and at the beginning of that I told you my mom is the hero of my one of my mom's still sees me my mom is the hero of my dad's story. My wife is the hero of mine. 3 years ago on Oct. 8th, just a couple of days ago. Our life changed drastically with one phone call. Unfortunately it's it's. The most likely phone call you can get with a diagnosis like this. And I have but with Cecil Ian Carly too. With careers who continue to fight against a disease. I wish we could rid the world of and with the Florida. They're skews me Pinellas County Health Department there are they are doing that work every day and so I'm very thankful for them and everything you do. Just want express my appreciation to both Carly and Cecil e for their determination their love and their willingness to stand up and be a part this awareness and Carly thank you so much and Cecil e I love you very much. The proclamation reads whereas one in 8 women in America and one in 833 American men will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives or one person every 2 minutes. And whereas considerable progress has been made in the fight against breast cancer, yet it remains the most frequently diagnosed type of non skin cancer. And the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women. And whereas thanks to earlier detection and better treatments, mortality rates for breast cancer have decreased in the last decade. Having affordable access to screenings and early detection for all women is an essential component in the fight against breast cancer. And whereas the breast and cervical cancer program provides uninsured low-income women ages 50 to 64 with access to lifesaving cancer screenings such MR. Graffiti and cervical cancer screenings and whereas the Florida Department of Health and Pinellas counties be ccp completed 982 lifesaving screenings in 2022. And was recognized as one of the state's top programs. And whereas during breast cancer awareness month in OCTOBER. We stand with our mothers. Our daughters. Our grandmothers and friends and supporting their struggles after a breast cancer diagnosis. As well as recognizing the doctors nurses and other Healthcare professionals whose care and hard work gives hope to those living with breast cancer. And whereas the theme of this year's national breast cancer awareness awareness month is no one should face breast cancer alone. Now therefore i councilmember Copa Lee Curtis on behalf of Kenneth Welsh the mayor of city of St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim Oct. 20 23 as breast cancer awareness month. Throughout this city and I urge all residents to educate themselves on prevention and treatment options for this devastating disease. >> Good afternoon. Thank you COUNCILMAN In specially as thank you to the city of Saint Pete and this great Council. The staff you know works very hard and I just want to and not as dam on all of the hard work that they do but I also play to the community for early detection is the key if there's any woman who's 50 to 64 who are uninsured and is need of a screening please do not hesitate to give the Pinellas County Health Department breast and cervical cancer program a call. We'll be more than happy to serve them as are the detention is the key. We cannot do this alone we need you all thank you so much. >> I'm chair I'm going by Carly Lewis up to say a few words, yes please. I just want to say thank you all for for having us today please use my voice is actually a side effect of the radiation. So please apologize for that I just really want to thank you all for your time attention on this. Breast cancer fix people. The very wide It was in unexpected situation for me, but it's an unexpected situation for a lot of people and so the availability of of resources is key and attention to the cause in situations like this is is vital so I just want to say thank you for having us today. Thank you thank you for that. Council vice chair fix Sanders. >> Thank you so much and thank Council member Garrett is for being nice to champion on this in in in providing that proclamation in because this it's something that impacts so many of us. A year ago. This month our family was also impacted. My breast cancer and it was early awareness that I still have my mom. Still I say MISS Virginia Lee. I don't know she left already but when I called her a couple of weeks ago, and I said hey I mean information so that I could start distributing this information about the importance of breast cancer and we went out to the Sat. Shops and we're just passing on information talking about free mammograms and how important it is for breast and cervical cancer that we pay attention to our bodies because we have a whole lot of men and women that we love and we want to keep around for a very long time and if all it takes is education in early detection. Then there's do it. So thank you so much for this proclamation and to your wife, a beautiful surviving is Carly another beautiful survivor, the guise of how horse your voice is now we're just so glad to hear it will take it does is it is so thank you so much for the plaque nation. Thank you chair. >> Thank yo I you you know I am going to say real quick. You have done this proclamation now every year that you've been on Council and every year. You get even better at it and you get less tiers so I don't know how you make it through because I know what your family has been through and it is remarkable and while she is the hero of your story, I'm sure you are the hero of hers as well. So I think it's important that we recognize the people in our lives to help us get through things has been spouses mates those are the people that we lean on in those times so thank you for bringing the proclamation forward as you always do and for your strength. >> At this time I'm going to turn the meeting over to vice-chair fix and are so I can come down and present another proclamation. So I have the honor today of presenting clergy appreciation month, and I think that it is so fitting in a world of so much turmoil and a time when there's so much hurting in this world that we stand here today with members of our faith community of all denominations all beliefs and all cultures to recognize the importance of face in the world that we live in. So I'm joined today by reverend j c Pritchett from the inner denominational minister alliance, the I m a and because I don't want to forget anyone else if all members of clergy could please come and then I will turn it over to jc after the proclamation and he can introduce everyone. We've tried to have enough copies for everyone but if we don't we can get more so do not worry about that I'm going to go ahead and give these to you Sir. And at this read the proclamation and it states whereas the city of St. Petersburg includes a thriving community of faith leaders whose contributions and sacrifices have help ensure a better life for future generations and whereas once faith as a guiding light in times of uncertainty grief development celebration. Praise and worship. And whereas our clergy teach guide minister and help us to grow and compassionate caring communities that we might all respect and love another despite our differences and beliefs and whereas our clergy dedicate their lives studying and preparing for services and sacrifice time with their families to help ensure that their congregations can lead to peace filled lives and are comforted in times of pain sickness and grief and whereas the month of OCTOBER has been recognized worldwide as clergy appreciation month. And our city is proud to celebrate our diverse faith community and those leaders who are important in our lives and our communities across the city. Now therefore I Council chair bring the gabbard on behalf of Kenneth t Welsh the mayor of the city of St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim Oct. 23th 20 Oct. 20 23 as clergy appreciation month in St. Petersburg and urge all citizens to observe this month with appropriate activities. Celebrations and acknowledgements that honor the compassion dedication and energy of the faith leaders of our city. >> Thank you chair and City It strange that we are at this moment where our country in the world is being challenged to recognize clergy. In Seoul. In a city like St. Petersburg our clergy is diverse they are inclusive they work together they were together doing mass shootings doing a global pandemics Hurricanes, not only just funerals and weddings and other ceremonies but there are many occasions where the clergy of the community are working together. There are a few of them here today. A rabbi feel want Trump from the day Israel pastor Bobby from eczema Presbyterian Church pastor John Evans a friendship missionary Baptist Church Amman is skill Muhammad Quill passed a motion Jordan. Pastor candies from city of the heel. City on a hill pass to Kenny Irby from Bethel am e church and Brooke I don't know the other thing. So it is our for the men and women from this. A community of faith leaders to serve his community and we want to reassure whatever the challenges we face that their clergy men and women who are ready to serve this community, thank you again. Thank you. >> Anyone else would like to say anything you're more than welcome. >> You give me a microphone to get its eye as always I'm very happy to be in the city of St. Petersburg and I'm grateful to work with some wonderful men and women here. And not to advance anything else on the agenda. But I'm I'm grateful for all the work that you do to support all the men and women have the city of St. Petersburg and around the world. So thank you very much. Thank you. >> doctor Buss up Jordan junior pasta found of hope a lot of outreach and I want to just congratulate this AUGUST body City Council of what you're doing it today. Just sitting here today and listening to the various organizations that have been represented lets me know not only that you all are concerned about what's happening in the community. But it out communities also but the leaders are concerned about the community. Thank you so much for your support. >> 92 and I council members that want to speak surf is there anybody else other than me. >> I'm going to let you go councilmember Curtis, thank you I share I just I just want to quickly say thank you I a not not a lot of people know that I bring it up every once a while but I was a religion major in college and was about 30 seconds away from going to seminary and and felt GOD was calling me a different half. But I just want to thank each of you for your commitment and service to our broad community and I know each of you cares deeply about not only are congregations but the community as a whole. I'm just so thankful for that that that you represent St. Petersburg and your congregations that way is. I understand some what of the sacrifice of giving that you know when you when you become an elected official you give up some of everything else are able to do in the name of trying to serve in our case the city of St. Petersburg but but for you it's both the city of St. Petersburg and a congregation, so I'm just very thankful, and just know that every day I think about each of you and thank you for all of the service both your congregation into the city. Thank you for sure. >> I stare fix. Sanders. Thank you so much I can have. So she did it he's standing in front of me without acknowledging the fact of the impact that you made. I have to echo councilmember barriers. So many times I hear pastors say you felt the calling you fought the calling because you knew it came along with that. But yet and still you knew what guided in store for you and you knew what your purpose was but I have to thank you because you're right. You have to deal with everybody else's issues everyone else is concerns you have to be in place when you don't feel like it. >> You have to serve and you've chosen yet to do that in many of you have done this for years you've been around through so many different situations do so many of so many downs and yet still you still stand tall. And I do appreciate everything that you all of that I was at your teachers past and is in you showed out of the day so I you know I I appreciate how you can still stand before those souls that needs healing even when yours MAY be hurting. How you can continue to come together to heal some pain even though you MAY be standing there, suffering yourself use to do it. And I just have to thank you for the dignity, I'm going to give you your flowers y you can see and smell him hold him and we have with me, but you feel where I'm coming from. I appreciate you. The men in the clergy men and women of the clergy. You hold a special place in so many of our hearts because of what you have to do see public officials will be over the money right we term which you all carry that. For years and so many of the osce do continue to do it and I just want to thank you I had to take this moment to thank you so much and thank you ever brought the proclamation because it was so appropriate. Thank you everyone. Thank you. Thank you for being here with us today. >> Okay at this time we are going to go ahead and go to our open forum. So clerk can you please read the rules for open forum. >> If you wish to address City Council and subjects of in the public hearing. Rick was I did issue items listed on the agenda. Please sign up with the clerk. Only the individuals wishing to speak please send the open form she. Well, the city residents owners, the property business owners of the city other employees MAY speak. All issues discussed under open form must be limited to issues related to the city of St. Petersburg government. If you're speaking to an item on the agenda you MAY only speak once during the open form when the time comes up on the agenda. In order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address Council. Each individual be given 3 minutes to speak and after which the microphone will be muted. If you wish to address City Council to the zoom meeting you must use the raise hand feature button in the zoom app we're interest are 9 on your phone at the time the agenda items addressed. When it's your turn to speak. You will be a new day and asked to state your name and address. At the conclusion of your comments when you have reached the 3 minute time limit. You will be needed. Andres hands will be lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method participation used normal rules apply including the 3 minute time limit on comments. The requirement that any presentation materials must be submitted in advance. At the root and the media and the rules of decorum if my public comment is disrupted by violation of the rules of decorum the cheers authorized to accept public comments by alternate means including by email only and MADAM Chair we do have some came to have anyone in Sam. We do not. We'll call the speaker's 2 at a time when the clerk culture name go to either podium please go ahead and start Eric Liu done and Craig share. He said to the podium state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address Council. You pour know either one. >> My name is Craig CHAIRMAN Of backstreets capital retired chief executive CHAIRMAN Of the assembler company. First off want to thank each and every one of you for your service to our city. I've appeared here know dozens of time feels like hundreds of times over the last 40 years to advance the cause of the a building is only a nonprofit civic. Event this one is different. This is an intensely personal. Here as a representative of my family of the Jewish community of the citizens of the St. Petersburg area citizen the state of Florida citizen of United States and really a citizen of the world. We appreciate your efforts to support the state of Israel. He's been intensely difficult week. You know some 70 years ago we win this to execution of 6 million Jews and the during the Holocaust and we all said this should never happen again. We work every day to try to prevent that from happening. And it appears at least in some small degree it's happening again. Very difficult time. You know, I'm here to say is thank you very much for whatever effort you can do to pass the resolution what to do whatever to support the state is real. The citizens of Israel and Jews around the world, thank you very much. Thank you. >> So before we go to the next speaker, unfortunately we don't allow applause in the chamber, so I would just ask that you hold place, sorry we'll take it personally I know I always feel so bad. I apologize. Like to introduce myself those of you who I've not yet My name is Eric Liu do, I'm an attorney here in St. Petersburg and my wife. Judy is right there sitting next to her sister Debbie Sokolov Judy's a retired as an executive at menorah junior, a Jewish senior living facility here and St. Petersburg and Judy and I've been in where we live in Jena is district and we've been both working here in St. Petersburg for over 40 years. Judy's parents were Holocaust survivors from Austria and they also lived here and both of my children graduated from St. Petersburg high school and went on to study at the University of Florida. During college my older son Josh, spend a summer on a kibbutz in southern Israel not far from the key both seem that were. Attack by Hamas terrorists. It was a derica but soon he he was assigned as a city boy he was assigned to care for the goats on the kibbutz and he learned about the manufacture distribution and sale of dairy products and today he and his wife live in St. Petersburg and they have a Web site development and e-commerce business. And my younger son Jake volunteered one summer in college for the Israel emergency services where he was assigned. To work alongside paramedics in Tel Aviv. He came home he attended the University of Florida medical school. He's an anesthesiologist and intending soon to return to Saint Pete to make its home. And the reason I'm telling you about my family is that I want you to know that is real. Has special meaning to us. It's and a lot of people in this room have the same feeling about Israel that we do it's almost a second home. And what I look at the images I've seen on television and social media about what happened in Israel. I imagine my children who MAY have attended that music Festival. We're so many young people were murdered and rate and kidnapped. And the level of brutality is haunting. The images. Have kept me up at night and our hearts are broken. And this resolution that's coming before you this afternoon. You can imagine the comfort that it provides to us who are suffering so much right now. It's wonderful to know that our our home our beloved city of St. Petersburg understands the difficult times that we're going through and has our back and thank you. Ed Martin narey thank you for your efforts to get the Skyway bridge lit in blue and white. Thank you Sir and thank you for this resolution all of you. And sure the next to speaker says Dan Harvey and Karen Lieberman. Go to other programs state your name address for the record you'll have 3 minutes to address Council. Good afternoon Council chair city Dan Harvey I live at an average in your liver, 1425 central. This is quite act to follow all these great things that or just introduced here. It's crazy times. I'm here to speak. Behalf of the historic gas plant, the rays deal and the Heinz deal. It was never appropriate to talk about. Like a relocation or something like that during the playoffs. Another playoffs are over. We did a great getting The rays are a phenomenal organization. A terrific team, they mean so much to our city. We should do whatever it takes to keep them and it's up to Council who has the city purse strings to determine that the deal that was cut makes financial sense for us. It's it the Heinz group is a fantastic partner that was chosen. Go back a little bit and to get us to. This point where we didn't approve the prior the master developer without having him connected with the rays that was a good move and the time is now to do all that so it's up to council members to look at the who have the purse strings to determine. They were getting the right amount for our for keeping the team here it's impossible to to say how much the team is worth the community outreach is unreal being able to have that throughout the summer. But we have to just determine you know they got that half the development rights when only put that deal together with the prior administration. And those development rights are really key now that Heinz is the elephant in the room to to develop that property you could get a better team. It's just going to have to come down to is it you know when we we're starting off with half and now. They got it all. For a 103 million that could be a fair price but someone's got to scrutinize this. This deal whether MAY I appraiser finance or someone in our. A 3rd person maybe to look at that that's enough money. I mean they could get we could get some more money it could be peppered throughout the black community where we could do some some good things. The razor and the Heinz group are doing quite a bit by taking care of affordable and workforce housing. And they're also doing other things with minorities. That adds up to a lot of money so when you take a look at that and what they're paying for the 100 million is it worth. Who's an 86 acres for a 100 million that's that's the question that the City Council will be voting on and I don't know if people realize that but good luck with everything. Thank you. >> Hello Council, thank you for considering this resolution. My name is Karen we're him and I live on sunlit Cove drive in Saint Pete. A facebook friend recently posted the following. Israel has no right to exist was created in the back room deal to end World War 2 stolen land. Sound familiar, happy indigenous peoples day exclamation point. I waited 12 hours before I replied. And I said quote World War 2 ended in 1945. The state of Israel was established in 1948, previously Palestine with the British mandate. Previous to that Palestine was ruled by the Ottoman Turks since the 1500's. During World War one the British government had issued the Balfour declaration favoring the establishment of a national homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine the close of the continual pogroms massacres against Jews throughout Europe, Russia and beyond and because it is the original homeland of the Jewish people. The British captured Palestine from the Ottomans shortly after World War one. The League of nations gave Britain mandatory power over Palestine in 1922. There was no backroom deal to end World War 2. This statement is a disservice to the men and women who fought that war. If they were any backroom deals to be had read up on the Evian conference of 1938 end quote, and just for your information. The Evian conference I referenced occurred in JULY 19 38 delegates from 32 countries, including the u s met in Evian France to discuss the Jewish refugee crisis. It was much hand wringing for the Jews trying to flee the Nazis. Most countries refused to admit more juice. The us have been closed to Jews since 1924. Kristallnacht occurred 3 months later on Nov. 9th 109th the s s and the paramilitary as well as German civilians, Hitler used rampaged against Jews. Massacre Jews throughout your money burning down synagogues homes, hospitals, schools, businesses and murdering anyone in their way. Hitler made his vision clear a union free world free of Jews. Now to the present day. The Hamas charter currently states Palestine is a land that was seized by a racist anti human and colonial sinus project that was founded on a false promise. It blames Jews for both world wars as well as the front rim French and Russian revolutions it claims Jews control the the global media and explicitly demands their debts. Also from the charter quote, resisting the occupation with all means and message is a legitimate. And sorry your time I didn't hear okay, thank you. Last speaker is Michael eagle please state your name it and your name and address for the record you'll have 3 minutes to address Council. Michael eagle court a little over Northeast in Saint Pete. I frankly emotionally and physically really really tired. But I'm not remotely at a fuel and judging by the crowd here. Neither are and many of my fellow cp residents and members of the Jewish community. And as you know on the board chair of the Florida Holocaust Museum. And I was up here a few weeks ago. Thank you again talking to you in support of the resolution adopting the international Holocaust remembrance alliance definition of anti-semitism. Technically and unanimously approved. I never thought I would be up here a few weeks later talking to you about needing to use it. And use 2 or 3 of the specific items listed in that definition. That's why adopted in the first place and now you you know you're here to use it and I thank you for that. As you know my grandparents are Holocaust survivors, I have family in Israel public a lot of people here as well my family's in Israel because of the Holocaust because my great aunt. But her 2 children, 9, 7, on the train. And said to the older one don't let go of your sister's hand. And they were on what's called a kinder transport and they were and ended up going through Tehran and into what is now Israel. That's why I have family there so imagine how it feels to see and experience the largest mass script you since the Holocaust and thankfully my family's ok. And for now. The Holocaust gave us a blueprint for what happens when the world is silent. But most importantly give us a blueprint for what happens when the world isn't silent. And when people stand up for what's right. No matter who they are. This is not a Jewish issue. This is an issue of morality. It's not a political issue. This is an issue of humanity. There's no debate over the barbarity as to what happened reader human beings that we're not. And this is that in for you can see the emotion. All the people in this room this hits home. There are many residents in Saint Peter's been deeply impacted and continue to be deeply impacted were very worried. These are things that people like me and many of us grew up hearing the stories of the floors. The genocide. No one would believe that we be seeing these kinds of things actually happened in our lifetime. So on behalf of the victims and the survivors of the Holocaust and the Jewish people. The residents of Saint Pete. And really all of civilized society. They're due to unanimously sends a message. We talked about up standards last time this is time for everyone to ask themselves who am I and what do I stand for that's the question everybody needs to be asking themselves today. And then the debate there is no debate. The answer is very very simple. Thank you very much. >> Final speaker speaker okay, we will close open farm and before I go on to our report I did see that we're joined today by former Mayor Rick kriseman so thank you for being here with us today just wanted to take a moment to recognize and thank you. 2 weeks in a row, I think you've been with You MISS Tested now. Haha. All right we will move on now to our report items and take up item f 2 which is our youth baseball all-stars. And we are joined by event recruitment and management coordinator, Shawn drone and. Councilmember Curtis to do was so go ahead and start on this item. I'm sure thank you chair. >> a few months ago. We had a couple of stellar youth be able to go to Seattle. For a baseball inspired stem program and Sean was there with. Cameron in Diego and so I just wanted Sean to share their story and we get to meet Cameron Diego as well they're here in chambers. And I just want to celebrate 2 amazing. >> As my cousin Vinny use. Yeah, I showed my age there again. And yeah so I just want to celebrate that and thank you Sean for sharing their story and one of them was able to bring home the championship to solid Sean take it from here but thank you MADAM Chair. Absolutely thank you and thank you for being here with a Sean is a camera up a go there we need them to come on up so we can make sure that. As Council vice chair fix and or does it say they get their flowers, they won't know what that means, but we do. Get their baseball cells that actually MADAM Chair and Council thanks for having us today I hope will bring a little sunshine to our day today. Yes, thank you that quicker if we could drop the lights clerk yeah. Back in JULY was fortunate enough to be attending the mlb mlb all-star weekend in Seattle and a good friend of mine Logan peel was there Diego as a chaperone to be talking about this program called learn fresh show it's a stem basically baseball board game that they brought to our city Saint Pete rec centers. So they got to compete locally and then there's an opportunity. They could submit an application in the video and potentially go to Seattle in compete nationwide in this program at mlb all-star weekend. So these 2 gentlemen got selected from Saint Pete. And then so this is kind of part of their journey we'll tell you through some pictures. We've got to go to the places called the players how so they had former players, current players come in and it was this exclusive. It was like a warehouse they turned into this really cool venue that a dj all the food, the kids could be again John Smoltz was walking around all these Hall of Famers and just kind of hanging out with the guys so this was kind of right when they got there, they're all kind of a little nervous again, none of them knew each other even our 2 guys from Saint Pete hadn't really met each other. And so you've got to see Diego that's Diego practice in the game over the airport. A man is focused on the On the prize. Obviously he's got his rays had on. We've got my man camera right here always smile and but he's in the zone to again you can see him kind of competing. So they competed over 2 days. They got to have some really cool special guest mlbpa PRESIDENT Toni Clarke was there that and asked nasa astronaut come in and speak. Again there's another Hall of Famer Dave Winfield came in and talked all the youth. So just a really awesome opportunity was really based on mathematics and statistics. So clearly they would have done much better than I would and our champion demand camera Richardson right there was Seattle Saint Pete, so they got paired up randomly they had no idea who they're teaming up with and so they need their team Seattle Saint Pete. And they get the draft all the players. It's like a fantasy draft pick at the draft for the players and the cards again have different values Irene understand explaining it let alone playing it. They win dominated in represented for cp so Cameron got some really cool swag got a bat and some autographs toughen cards and part of it you've got to go on the field for the home run Derby. So that's he Julio Rodriguez which was the star of Seattle. His photo bombed by MISTER Met over there. Obviously raman is better we all know that. Diego got to hang with some stars to obviously we've got cc over there Nolan arenado you're on our as you got to meet his favorite rays players. So that was an experience. They got to explore Seattle. I see MISTER So a man in the back over there so obviously he's representing raise even in front of the Ken Griffey junior statue. He's rocking his raise gear. So if you need a couple guys threw out a first pitch sometime stars right here. My man. So I'm playing for you guys got haha. So again it was just an incredible experience in in right here, same p these guys when represented in took it home. So again we want to thank our friends over at learn fresh. Denzel Smith, players trust the mlb players, stem League and again learn fresh, so does it with our youth are doing you know they grew up here and they do amazing things so often we don't hear about the incredible things that they're doing. A game went across the globe represents ap and then came home with a championship. So just want to take a moment to show you some amazing use in tell you their story too. And now we will. Well thank you so much on for bring these wonderful gentleman in to meet us today so very very proud of you on the baseball mom so bike, my heart just beans to see what you've accomplished an. It's just it's it's huge and we're very very proud of use thank you for coming and spend some time with us and let us say thank you. Councilmember going to want to say anything else please if you don't mind you're not at all. I just I just want to say congratulations again guys Sean thank you so much for being amazing steward of our city as always. But I just want to tell you I would give my left arm I want to get my right one because I throw it down. But I would get my left arm to meet some of those guys so I'm so glad you guys got to have that experience. Both of you congratulations. I just it blows me away what you guys accomplishing were able to do and a key keep shining because you are you are making Saint Pete very very very very proud. All right guys. Thank you, MADAM Chair. Council vice chair fix Sanders. Thank you I just want to House that he knitting get that haha o congratulations and the you represented Saint Pete, you ought to be proud because we are proud of you congratulations Jen. >> All right, thank you so we will now move on to item f 3 which also councilmember does. This is Saint Pete matters the National swimming championships so Saint Pete Masters master sorry. I can't I've got bad Isaac, thank you MADAM Chair. Yeah, I feel like I'm at my workout for the day so I apologize you are 05:00am but I wanted to take the opportunity to invite Saint Pete Masters, we've Doctor Peter bets are. Gary bass tea and Bob each I think are each going to say a few words we've got some we've got some pictures of the team but really it's a celebration of so amazing accomplishments in 2023 from our master swim team. Let them tell you kind of the story of of Masters and where it comes from but first at real quick before we before we do that I'm going Bob each up who is a world record-holder in master swimming. Okay, and I just I just has a couple words before we jump in and under and Gary comes up the master coach. Thank you very much today, a very representative in City Council. A real pleasure they here. Masters running started 1971 with a 114 swimmers nationally. For the purpose of getting in shape through sweating shows competition was a care. We started with a 100 and fortune swimmers we now have probably 70,000 swimmers in United States Nestor swanning we have a world need every 2 years where anywhere from 15 to 20,000 swimmers show up all over 2521. We are short of purse when they started 1971 also with our team our team consisted of one person that was nay haha that team that shoe in Asia and growing ever sent. It's the longest serving us when they in Nash, they're swimming in the world. You know we get people from all over the world to participate in an army. Saying that it's been very important to all of us in Grow is the participation of the North Shore pool staff they've been terrific for us Chan. They take care of us to look after us Jen they're good friends of ours and that also goes for the recreation department. This program has been extremely lives and we really appreciate so an appreciation of the state of the City Council inviting us. But have the words are ladies, it's got the medals, they got a medal for each of you he has already handed them now or write not I promise you she would oh yeah, ok well. Thank you very much for your service inviting us and we really appreciate you better great program. We invite you down to the pool, especially when the sun comes up you will not see it for your sunrise in a pretty year pool and we that thank you very >> All code. >> And 2 years ago. It was great fun, things. Yeah. Bob obviously is incredible because the us will record son at the Pan Am games in 38. He didn't just set a world record he smashed by several minutes for the 16 1500 meter freestyles is awesome performance indeed that record probably won't be broken for decades. Gary bass d who was are wonderful coach who spent 5. Simulating days in Sarasota at 90 degree temperatures with their team, the nationals. I actually met him in 1975. In Fort Lauderdale International for the championship. He was a member of a relay team that set a national record, but unfortunately, a team from New York got their couple hundreds of a second. Earlier so he got second place even though they had a new national record. About the the media Sarasota we had a first ever. We've had national but we've never been in a national championship where our swimmers got first and second just everybody in the country. And one of the people who did that Sarah swac this here. 20200 meter backstroke absolutely incredible was a great thrill >> to finish up I'd like to say I think that there is a master swimmer from St. Petersburg who has done something that's never happened here before. I don't know how many of you scenes of Sports Illustrated. But there's a thing called faces in the crowd. Raymond James ada Sports Illustrated. In for a national media needed 6 wins. And every one of them was a world record. 5000 and 200 backstroke in the 150200 butterfly I don't think anybody's ever done that in the history of the Masters swimming, he's a St. Petersburg percent which is really great. So here's are wonderful coach Thanks Peter. And thanks judge Judge Beach interesting Found a wall about 30 years ago and picked it up and I brought it over to North Shore pool that was the closest facility. The man came out it was judged bt. Thank you for the Walt we've been friends ever But I want to thank the people in this room you keep us a first class city. And what I see is we have people coming in from all over the country and they've heard of our facility to come in to train with us we have excellent begins. We we've had the National board of the Masters, the international swimming it organization come over to train with us and we have people that move here just because of the facility and then really enjoy what we have here. I had the first opportunity to swim here and 1975 and I knew that someday I'd move here and there are many people that are the same. We host national swim meets here for the international swimming coaches Association that's twice a year. We for example we've had you know ymca nationals here, boys and girls clubs nationals. We're really the ambassadors in one sense in the swimming part. Everybody here is who makes it go and make that happen so really want to thank everybody for the opportunity we've had to train the facility and 4. The wonderful staff that helps us so much. And Fred Lewis, the head coach. He's coaching right now that's right got to go On the run afternoon practice so thanks again appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you all for being here today actually no I'm sorry turn the lights back up. I think we're good on the power point so wanted to death. Yes and the powerpoint back. So council members I don't know if anybody else has push their button doesn't look like it. >> Bomb I just want to say thank you for my medal because I'm not a great swimmer admittedly not one of my strong point so I probably would never have gotten one otherwise so thank you for bringing those for us today and we'll make sure that the mayor gets has as well but I thank you all for being here and thank you councilmember guards for bringing this forward a very a wonderful thing to celebrate great things people are doing in our community so thank you all for being here today. >> All We now will go to item f one which is the state of the Tampa Bay water in the agency's long-term water plan and I would like to turn over to councilmember hand once thank you chair. We're going to be switching gears a little bit here now talking about water. So let everyone. Yes lock out. Yeah. It just a second with a presentation for this one yes. We'll go ahead and turn that up. >> So thank your when Tampa Bay water general manager shuck harden is here to provide us with an update on that state of Tampa Bay water and the agency's long term master plan he's a veteran with the agency MISTER Cardin previously served as the chief operating officer before the board selected him as the agency's general manager in 21. Following a nationwide search and they give to some quick brief Tampa Bay water is the sole and exclusive drinking water provider for the counties of Hillsborough Pasco and Pinellas and the cities of St. Petersburg new port Richey in Tampa. There's an inter local agreement Nick overs, Tampa Bay water and elected representatives from 6 member governments comprise reported that the director's I'm one of those. Well each board member represents the rest active city or County. The board's policy decisions and directives ensure that the whole region has reliable and sustainable drinking water. It has a diversified water supply system consisted of treated groundwater surface water and sea water and allow the environment to recover from the damage that groundwater over pumping cause the region before Tampa Bay waters creation this year marks 25 years since Tampa Bay waters inception and it remains a model for regional cooperation and continues to benefit our region's residents environment and economy. As MISTER Cardin is going to share now the agency is preparing to present the board with a 2020 free long-term master water plan. This is updated every 5 years and it's required by the inter local agreement the plan prepare the agency to provide adequate drinking water. Supplies over a 20 year planning horizon by identifying studying and recommending water supply projects and with that I turn it over to MISTER Cardin thank you very much a good afternoon. And I want to thank you for inviting me to give you a brief update you did such a wonderful job I'm not sure I need to say much more so I'll do my best to as you said I'm the general manager of Tampa Bay water which is your regional water supply wholesaler before I get wanted to recognize council member Hannah what's she sits on our board The great city of St. Petersburg and she does a great job. Again we were created 25 years your city and 5 other members to build innovative alternative water supply sources to meet this growing regions needs one of the key factors in putting together