City Council

City Council — April 18, 2024

>> Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and if you're elected officials our mayor Ken Welch. District one Council vice chair, hopefully Curtis. District 2 Randy Gabbert district 3 and Mount Mary. District 4 with that and when. And Council chair Deborah take Sanders. Gina Driscoll district 7 John Muhammad. And district day Richie Floyd. >> When we're called to order the APRIL 20,024. So I I missed it. 2024 City Council meeting beginning with com. Sanders year this school year Mohamed Noor Lord here good this year. Gabbard your mountain areas. Thank you we we indication given today by Rabbi Philip want Rob. From the congregation benign Israel Petersburg and this will be followed by a moment of silence to honor former governor Bob Graham who served as the 38th governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and was a us senator from 1987 to 2005. He passed at the age of 87 following that remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Well everyone please join me in standing. The steam council members. The spring time is a time of hope of opportunity of consideration. Western Christians recently celebrated their Easter Muslims recently concluded Ramadan Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter in the coming weeks Sikhs had by sky and Hindus celebrate holi so whatever our faith we see the seasons change and the flowers bloom, and the possibility of cooperation collaboration, a new life. GOD willing we can see the holiness of each other's traditions, regardless of another faith in the Jewish tradition, Mon. Night begins Pesach Passover we remember from the Book of exodus the journey from slavery to freedom. And we see today the violence of oppression and a reminder. The words repeated so many times to the Hebrew scriptures and the Christian Bible to love our neighbors as ourselves to remember that we were strangers and to care for the stranger among us. Mon. And Tue. Nights, Jewish communities will gather for festive meals opening with the words let all who are hungry come and eat. Well think of those in our city who go to bed hungry and work towards a future where everyone has enough to eat. Well speak of the journey from slavery to freedom. Well thinking of our brothers and sisters who were kidnapped a 194 days ago and remain captive by the Hamas terrorists in Gaza. One of the most challenging lines of the state are is that in every generation there, but those who rose up to destroy the Jewish people and the Holy one blessed be GOD rescues us from the Hance until Oct. 7th my rose colored glasses denied that the PRESIDENT Included such threats. And after those threats against Jewish lives on college campuses and around the world at sadly taken off those glass s but I'm grateful to live in a city that recognizes the dignity of all peoples the humanity of all peoples and the possibility of hope for all people. So I pray today for the well-being of all I pray for the end of violence I pray for peace and for hope and for love and cooperation and collaboration. I pray that as we enter this Passover we'll see freedom for all freedom for all who are oppressed. Freedom of religion and freedom from religion. Freedom of gender and sexuality. I pray that the Jewish people and all peoples will be able to celebrate the holidays without the threat of violence wherever in the world they live. I pray that anti-semitism and all hatreds can be sent to the dustbin of history and that any type of hatred will be really replaced with love and peace and then. >> Please join me in a moment of silence as we honor former governor Bob Graham. >> Thank you rabbi one job for you moving in vacation. Council members we have an agenda before a sign that a motion for agenda for approval. Now that we have a motion and properly second pro can you please open the machine for voting. >> council member they voted no that all right. Thank you County and supposed to pre sheet that I'm sorry MADAM Chair approval agenda passes unanimously. Thank forget Mike Mike he and naturalists and you're going to go in. Thank you. We have the consent agenda before this comes from his own entertain a motion for approval little cruel. We have a motion in second for can you please open the scene and voting we do If you have a card we do have a card okay. Davis soco please step up to the podium state your name and address for the record. We'll have 3 minister addressed Council. Good evening afternoon of my name is David Stockman as you MAY recall I was several months ago, and I kind of spoke on behalf of frescoes when the city issued its rfp I'm asking who ever been on the marina to include frescoes and that kind of express my disappointment at that point that not being given an opportunity to to kind of site find some way to keep the restaurant going after for your restaurant PRESIDENT And owning the restaurant for 20 years. I've met with both of the companies that will put in bids for the rfp for the marina. And both companies agreed that if they were selected they would let frescoes bd proprietor of the restaurant and work with me in terms of the design. I spent $20,000 with the architectural firm. They did the entrance to the period also designed back forge so that I could come up with a design that I felt would at least be in conformity with the entrance to the pier. Unfortunately the city did Safe harbor. They made a bunch of changes to what they selected and I understand that the one thing I want to talk to you about is in the proposal that they submitted. They said that between themselves and myself. That we would pay the approximately $4 million to rebuild a new restaurant. In the same area as frescoes. The goal with them was that it would be built next to frescoes such it would be operational before we closed the old frescoes demolished it. Is so that my 100 employees many of whom have worked for long under than 10 years would have continuity of employment and go from one place to another. I just urge you to look that's still being a possibility what I meant was safe harbor week or 2 ago. They said they're still willing to go forward and include frescoes in that. I'm looking if we're paying it forward and he's going to be there and it's going to keep a 100 city residents employed and not put all these families out of work. For a 40 year resident and a 20 year person is the oldest restaurant on Beach drive. And so I understand why the city wants to to rebuild. But I really think that effort should be made to try to find some continuity of ownership so that the same people that work there continue. To work cost us, you know right next to it. I thank you. You know cause autism new at the time. Since we've had a motion is were properly second ago can you please open the machine for voting. Council members can you please cast your votes. In that are present council members have voted can you please talent announce the vote. MADAM Chair motion to approve the consent agenda passes unanimously. Thank you. Now we move to open clear can you please read the rules. If you wish to address City Council and subjects other than public hearing. Work was it a digital items listed on the agenda please send up with the clerk. Only the individuals wishing to speak base and open form she. Only city residents. Owners of property business owners in the city for their employees MAY speak. All issues discussed under open form must be limited limited to issues related to the city of Saint Peter. Petersburg government. If you if you're speaking to an item on the agenda and you MAY lose speak once during the open form when the item comes up on the agenda in order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address Council. Each individual be given 3 minutes to speak and after which the microphone will be muted. If you wish to address City Council through the zoom meeting you MISS Using hand raise feature but in the zoom app we're interest are 9 on your phone at the time the agenda item is addressed when it is your turn to speak you will be a new did 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 muted. All raised hands will be lowered after each agenda item regardless of the method of participation used the normal rules apply, including the 3 minute time limit on comments the requirement that any presentation materials must be submitted in advance at the meeting and the rules of decorum is live public comments is disrupted by violations of the rules of decorum that shares authorized to public comments by alternative means including by email only and MADAM Chair we do have some speakers. Thank you. We have a and speakers. Thank you friend. The first speaker is Ron diner. And Karen you learn please step up to either podium state your name address for the record. We'll have 3 minutes to address Council. Thank you, I'm Ron diner, a live on snow while here in Saint Pete. I'm here to discuss the rays Hines proposed deal and asked the City Council to prevent a monumental one billion rip off of city an $800 million of County resources that we need for what matters a gift to billionaires with no return. Our city needs to focus on the facts of what matters wean the need for funding storm water and sewer repairs and improvements. In the last few days city administrators presented to City Council the discussion of known capital improvement needs 30 year forecast. It shows that there are over billion needed improvements and repairs to the city's water sewer and stormwater systems. 6 times larger than the city's total current operating and capital improvement budget 6 times greater and only 2 thirds of that 5 billion will be addressed in the next 20 years. And even so the plan calls for tremendously increasing utility bills for city residents. What about the other one-third one billion of repairs coincidentally the amount the city proposes to give away to raise Hines how and when will Levis funded what if your house needed a new roof and you only have the money to pay for two-thirds of the car roof. Not only were residents of visitors face increasing flooding issues. But the funding burden alone they push the cost of living in St. Petersburg to the point where for many people remaining residents impossible moving here is out of the question. What else matters. Affordable and workforce housing that the current proposal allows race Hines the deal you default on ver very small penalty. With billion we can underwrite so many housing opportunities. What about intentional equity. The rays Hines calls for 50,000,001.6 billion is 32 $50 million. What about underwriting daycare costs even today in the Tampa Bay times Pinellas County schools is going to provide day care for their staff because of the cost of living with one billion. The city could help underwrite the cost for others allowing single mothers or dance to go to school and get good paying jobs. What about ensuring environmental issues are addressed a concern to the Sierra Club. If the city took were can ensure that environmental conditions were enforced. Thank you. >> Hi my name is Kerry Mueller and I live in Campbell Park the 12th in jeans and I wanted to follow on run diners remarks. We love baseball here in Tampa Bay and we want to keep it in St. Petersburg but if the rays want to stay in the gas plant we need a fair deal fair rate to reimburse last real estate taxes and if they're split on revenue as we're paying for half of the stadium. And a fair price for the 64 acres, leaving us with a one billion that we need baseball is not the economic engine. Nor do we needed to activate the gas plant property or be the anchor. The property is so attractive because it adds to the live work play. Everyone loves here. It is ready in the city can make it happen with or without the rays or Hines the property will be developed either way and the city will see those taxes either way developers would be standing in line to help what drives our economic engine is tourism beaches Museum. The piers and the restaurants Pinellas County's on studies show that this is why 40% of the people who come here visit and only 3% come for sporting events. What also drives or engine is talent based businesses financial services Tech health care in our universities and of course retirees, especially affluent ones we need to focus our resources on what drives our engine. If we really think that we have the money to do it all and funds left over then any extras should go to reducing taxes. We need to focus on what has meet Petersburg a great place to live and what we need to sustain that a place that everyone can afford and enjoy and have opportunities to succeed. City Council we need you to prevent a rip off a profound mistake that the city will face for decades that we will all remember for decades. And if you vote, yes that you'll be remembered for for decades, the rays are not leaving Tampa Bay where will they go. They will go right back to the negotiating table. The the council person that voted that voters will say took a billionaire's hand out of our pockets and gave us a fair The city and voters will say thank you. Thank you. >> MADAM Chair, the next 2 speakers is Kathy Harrelson and Patty bitterly. The state your name address for the record you have 3 minutes to address Council. >> This is a good idea to send the middle. I'm Katherine Harris and I live in Saint Pete Heights. And I was very impressed by the previous 2 speakers made their comments. Seemed to really hit on some of the issues I just want to mention that as you can see I am a rays fan. And I love baseball and I do think sports along with the arts and education and nature really add to total livable vibrant community. But I would like to say that some of the That I think should be happening is that the the housing. A teen ability needs to be a guarantee in this project. I don't I think it needs to be on site necessarily in fact that MAY not even be a great idea, piling everybody into a he right. Hi and part of St. Petersburg where you can find her, you know reasonable current events might not be the best plan but so I would say then that could be done on a citywide basis, but it needs to be guaranteed and needs to be 80% of am I not whatever affordable might currently mean and then and the city language. I care about that about Booker Creek I think that would make a nice pilot project for a blue project for the whole city in Hoke County actually but help us alleviate some of the storm water issues and also provide education a recreational space for kayaking my big problem is the underlying discount of the land that is egregious. It's hundreds of millions of dollars. We won't get that back that needs to be addressed that should not happen we need to get fair value for that land and be able to take care of some of these projects that we're talking about I will be happy to say goodbye to the flat surface parking. I think the reason done a good job greening the site I want that to continue. But when they have empty seats empty sections of seats fill those seats they want to be good community partners to fill those seats with classrooms to kens and their parents spending money on dippin dots or whatever the point is you build a community of lifetime, baseball fans and that's what the race should be doing and we need to take another look at this deal. Thank you. >> My name is Patty bitterly and I was born in St. Petersburg Florida. I'm a lifelong resident of Florida and live in the greater Woodlawn neighborhood now I'm a a very concerned about how the taxpayers money is being spent and I we've noted very obviously that there's a lot of new development in Saint Pete, and that brings in more tax dollars and I believe the city of Saint Pete needs to be responsible with those tax dollars. Certainly we can put more toward affordable housing. It's a really big concern that is housing that is affordable 2 residents making 80% am I or less to meaningfully address our city's housing crisis. The raise Hines development must provide more then. 1000 affordable units on site. Thank you. >> In this 2 speakers is right a little bird and Tara Hubbard. You have 3 minutes to address counsel please state your name and address. >> Assuming I'm good to Good evening members of City Council my name is Ryan at a bird. I'm a proud resident of St. Petersburg just a short 3 minutes from here. I'm a Tampa Bay rays fan. I'm a collector of baseball team. Sox although you can't see the ones, I'm wearing now. And I'm here representing myself today, but I would like to note that my involvement in commute my vote in the currently the vice chair of Saint, Peter professionals. And also a member of the cip Chamber of Commerce. I mean the move to Saint Pete 6 years ago I remember sitting down to dinner table with my dad, he said, while you're going to see Pete. I looked at him the only thing I said was well they've got the rays in Saint Pete Wyatt. Which is why I'm here today. I want to express my support for the Tampa Bay rays proposed stadium. And the clock or Asian with Heinz to revitalize historic asked point to church. This project is not just about creating a modern sports facility. It's about uniting unparalleled economic growth that will benefit our entire community for generations to come. One of the most compelling aspects of this redevelopment is its potential to attract a new wave of talent and businesses to our city. And a vibrant urban district will serve as magnets for skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and innovative companies looking to establish or expand their presence in Saint Pete. Race Hines redevelopment project isn't just about building infrastructure. It's about laying the foundation for a vibrant resilient economy that benefits residents businesses and the entire region. And opportunity propel Saint Pete into a new era of economic growth job opportunities and prosperity. If you dream is not approved the city will wind up with an empty obsolete stadium. But no mlb team. Andy 6 acres that will generate dollars in property taxes. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to the city. >> Hello my name is Tara Hubbard I live in child's Park. I'm 47 and successive. So for clarification I contacted legal we need complete addresses please name and address. Thank you. Please don't isn't even my address is 4, 7, 5, on 6th Avenue South in child's Park. My name is Tara Hubbard I am a 4th generation, Saint Pete native, very proud to be living here. I will say I am happy that. This is my first time in City Council haha and if the rays Heinz deal that anything it got its citizens talking and sharing what's important to them. Yes, I'm here to share my support for the steal. I feel very thrilled with the opportunity that this type of project is on the horizon here. I know it's been a lot of work and negotiations I know there are still a lot of work to be done. So of course we have our miesha details of what we want to see and what we love and I can share my agenda year of I love nature, I love nature connectivity I love the Pinellas trail. The just the parking on in this deal on the trail is so exciting to see that there could be a park and ride for the Pinellas trail. So I can go on and well what I see when I envision for this project it makes me excited. But in the reality is the prosperity for the city seeing a deal of this magnitude feels very exciting. My grandmother on my my mother side she passed away a couple years ago that she would always share any time we drove down town together looking at the race stadium. She would always sure these anecdotes of how the rays put Saint Pete on the map and it just feels very like a historical not. I'm also very impressed with the steals a historical not to the gas plant district. I actually started following this project when I was somehow came across a piece of paper titled where have all the main goats gone. And if you haven't read it yet very very eye-opening and I feel so thrilled that this deal and that the administration currently is is has a nod to the historic relevance of the site and I feel very very thrilled that that will be leading us into the future of the city. So thank you for hearing my talk today and hope to see this happen. Thank you. The next to speak because she learned nicer. And Phyllis young please state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address. >> Good afternoon. I'm Sheila Hooper nice lure I work at 4 42nd Avenue North. It's the greenhouse 3, 3, 7, 1, Good afternoon members of Council and professionals that sent city of St. Petersburg let's change the subject of that. I'm Sheila nicer PRESIDENT Of catalyst Tampa Bay. For the past 7 years. I've had the privilege of helping entrepreneurs and small business owners thrive few marketing workshops and a signature series called the goal achievement program at the greenhouse. These workshops were developed through my 2 decade career in the Carolinas. I now have the honor of putting my ideas where my mouth this seriously I'm expanding my business back to my own hometown. My entire family was born it now Park hospital. I doubt my dad built the original Northshore pool. And decades later Pinellas schools. My dad's company actually refinished the pool for the senior games with my late brother overseeing the construction. My mom with this telephone operator where frontier has its operations and my dad, second company had boats fishing the waters of coffee pot by you. In conjunction with national small Business Week. I would like to invite you to join me and other small business owners and my company's ribbon cutting and celebration. I believe you all have the most part. Your commitment to an investment in small business is impressive. And it's for good reason. We make up 99% of all businesses in the us economy. We employ 46% of the workforce. We create two-thirds of all the jobs and we keep our money here. 60% of every dollar stays in Saint Pete, verses $0.43 with big business. Proportionately we donate more to local charities and most of all we bring the personality of Saint Pete to life with our unique goods and services. Please join me Fri. MAY 3rd at the edge district Webb city seller and meet some truly remarkable people who are the backbone of our city's economy. Additionally in honor of my late father and mother my company will be be providing for partial scholarships for women and minorities at this fall's entrepreneurial Academy. They worked hard and live the small business stream in Saint Pete. And it's appropriate that I pay it forward. St. Petersburg Florida. It really feels good to be home. Thank you. >> My name is bill us young. I am a native of St. Petersburg I am a member of Bethel community I'm sorry. My address is 2446 Len Lake circle South apartment b. St. Petersburg Florida. My congregation is a member of fast. A group of 50 plus congregations across Pinellas County working to solve community problems. In St. Petersburg we have an affordable housing crisis for families making less than 80%. Am I families who make less than $65,000 a year. Can not afford to live in this city anymore. And personally. I moved last summer from a place where I had lived for 6 years. Because my rent increased $300 within a two-year period. Unaffordable for me to continue living there. Mayor Welch current affordable housing plan is insufficient. The hot working people. A vast city need more. And there is more that the city can be doing. People who are essential workers in this city childcare workers. Nurses aides hotel and hospitality workers. I'm being pushed out of their neighborhoods because they cannot a Fort to live here anymore. Affordable housing isn't just benefitting the people benefiting the people who are struggling. It benefits all of us. This city will run better. When people can live here. And feel secure. Time for our city. Peop