City Council

>> Welcome to the city of St. Petersburg City Council meeting and your elected officials our mayor Ken Welch. >> District one Council vice chair, hopefully Curtis. District 2 Randy Gabbert district 3 and Mary. District 4 with that can a win. And Council chair Deborah take Sanders. District 6 Gina Driscoll district 7 John Muhammad. And district day Richie Floyd. >> City Council meeting can we begin with the road. >> Do this. Haha so nice we can we begin with the row please gabbard their mountain area. And what's your. Sanders here Driscoll meant your Lloyd there Curtis here thank you. Afternoon we will have our indication given today by the reverend Don Ward and the senior pastor from Christ United Methodist Church following their we we have our pledge of allegiance will you please join me in standing. >> Mothers and sisters, so we pray together. Allow us to put our own needs and desires aside to hear each other and love his brothers and sisters of our city and to respond to the needs of many. With a heart full of love for all. We thank you for your presence and we ask for many holy moments to bless the space and in this meeting for all to be as one. And your name we pray, Amen. >> Thank you written warning for that beautiful invocation council members we have an agenda before us that entertain motion for approval real second. Now that we've been property motion in second and 3rd can you please open machine for voting. Council members would you please cast your vote. Thing that are present council members are voting can you please talent announce the vote. MADAM Chair motion to approve the agenda passed unanimously. >> So next we'll have open form can you please read the rules. If you wish to address City Council and subjects evident public hearing. Requests I do dish null items listed on the agenda please sign up with the clerk. Only the individuals wishing to speak I send it open for in sheet. Only city residents owns the property business owners in the city for their employees MAY speak. All issues discussed under open form must be limited to issues related to the city of Saint Peter's Rick government. If you are speaking to an item on the agenda. You MAY only speak once during the open form when the item comes up on the agenda. In order to provide an opportunity for all citizens to address Council each individual be given 3 minutes to speak and after which the microphone will be muted. If you wish to address City Council through zoom meeting you MISS You the raise hand feature button and the zoom app inter star 9 on your phone at the time the agenda item is addressed. When it is your turn to speak you will be muted and asked to state your name and address. At the conclusion of your comments when you have reached a 3 minute time limit. You will be muted. All raised hands would 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 and the meeting and the rules of decorum it's life public comments is disrupted by violations of the rules of decorum the chair is authorized to accept public comments by alternate means including by email only and MADAM Chair we do have a few speakers. Thank you to invade you please go to either might. Ron diner. And Ben wonder please step up to either podium state your name and address for the record you'll have 3 minutes to address Council. >> Good afternoon, I'm run diner. I'm sorry. Normally I'd be a little better dressed and I was even get a haircut for my daughter. Got a dog and she decided I was going to be the center would you please state your I'm sorry. I live on snow in St. Petersburg anyway I was a babysitting for the dog and a training, it's so that's why was unable to what I wanted to do. I've met with I've been here I think this is the 3rd time and I've met with many of you about the high res Heinz deal and the reason I've done that is I think two-fold one is I've got a lot of experience analyzing deals. Thousands of them running Raymond James affordable housing. And as a resident I want to do what's best for all of us and for future generations. I have no axe to grind. I have no other interest but that. Obviously me along with others don't think the current deal is fair to St. Petersburg why we like baseball city is our priority. And there's no question this property will be successful with or without baseball. Our analysis has been in the Tampa Bay times and is available at no homerun dot com and I've sent it to you, I've also sent you what I believe is a fair deal. And how we think if you're a deal would provide one billion and resources to meet the city's needs that would be lost in the current deal. Just like I had to evaluate every deal that we did Raymond James to make sure that I was satisfied, it was in the best interests of my investors and then present my conclusions to them. You have the same fiduciary obligations to your investors, the citizens and the taxpayers. Every deal I did every deal I did require me my investment committee to be presented with all the facts and that we evaluated them. With the help of often with 3rd parties we did not do deals based only on the data presented to us by people who wanted us to invest. I know you will be having some committees the hole but that can't be enough collectively you need your own independent due. Diligence you cannot rely on what in this case kinds are the Nor even what the city says you are there as a check and balance. What kind of deal due diligence to need to do. I will not have time to discuss them so I will send them to you there's no way for you to do this in the next few weeks. You need to table approval. You have to have all the information that presented and discussed it with your investors in your case the city and thus the citizens and the taxpayers of Saint Pete. So you can be sure you're doing what they want just like I had to do many times with my investors. I also have sent some additional thoughts on your rights to hire third-party people to to help you do your evaluation. You need to do your thorough due diligence due diligence and discuss the results with the citizens in and next speaker. Well, I'm been wind or 7.65 85th Avenue North and I'm also the pastor of First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg in 1900 Gandy Boulevard. I'm here today because I have the privilege to serve as the pastor of First Baptist and we are part of faith in action for strength together which many of you are familiar with an organization here in Pinellas County working on matters of justice. And in our recent conversations with our members and folks across the community. We have heard as you have heard over and again a concern about affordable housing in our community and in our research we've learned that the the biggest need is among those earning the least which is why we've called on mayor to work to create 5,000 units of affordable housing, particularly for households, making 80% of the area median income or less by the end of his first term and we hope that that will be able to happen. But today in particular I'm here because our largest fast gathering of the year is Nehemiah action and that will be taking place at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg on Tue. Apr. 30th 07:00pm in the evening. I'm here to request that you along with mayor Welch attended that gathering. Especially since we're able to hold this gathering in St. Petersburg this year, I'm hopeful you'll each be able to attend as I know that members of my congregation and others in our city are eager to hear your response to our request of setting a goal for 5,000 new affordable housing units for House for households, making 80% of the area median income or less by the end of MAY or Welch's first term so again, I mean my action is Tue. Apr. 30th 07:00pm at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg 1900 Andy Boulevard North here in Saint Pete and I hope you make plans to attend. Thank you. Thank you. MISTER Speaker. The next person is Jessica I Sherman. Please state your name and address for the record you have 3 minutes to address Council. >> Good afternoon Jessica Heisman 9, 4, 7 one Treasury Northeast St. Petersburg I am a board member with the Saint Pete also chair of the housing land use and development subcommittee for the Saint Pete chamber. And I'm also a land use attorney. I am here to speak in support of the rays Hines proposal. Unfortunately, although I'm an attorney I'm not their attorney so I just want to make that clear. I would love to be their attorney but I am not but I am a resident of cpi was born in Saint Pete I'm raising my children in Saint Pete, and I wanted to. Express my support as both a chip board member of the Senate the chamber in as a resident of Saint Pete of this proposal. I recently published through the Saint Pete chamber blog I published a as to why mixed use development was so important for this proposal and for our community. I'm not in favor of in planning principles do not provide support for having a lot of housing in one area without mixed uses, especially housing. That's Targeted towards a specific segment of the population. It is better to have mixed income housing and mixed uses that provides an enormous amount of benefits from societal economic health benefits except are across the board. So I just wanted to express my support today for the race when sports. Thank you. Thank you. That in turn are more speakers, I don't care who wins and. So we will now close open form will move into our was in presentations and we'll begin with the one. They're pretty recreation month proclamation board by our own near will not. >> Here the way everyone is looking at me, I'm assuming you call me haha haha. I know there's a slight delay on the video so I I apologize, MADAM Chair, yes chair fix Sanders to City Council members of the public are here and are great Saint Pete city team, it's great to be back with you. Spent the first part of the week. In Chile Tallahassee speaking with our legislators and state departments. Council member Hannah wits was not enough to also be part of that effort and thank you for your hard work and it's good to be black back in sunny St. Petersburg this morning. We have a few proclamations in on the first one I'm grateful. To present our recognition of therapeutic recreation month. Which is fitting as we all know, and they put this in there Mike that it starts in parks. As I read the proclamation I invite our team members from parks and rec to join me at the podium. Let's send a grant re craft. Elizabeth Cobby and Alicia Nelson. But in put your names to that coming up join us please. And the proclamation reads whereas therapeutic recreation is observed nationally in the month of FEBRUARY and serves as an integral part of communities throughout this country, including the city of St. Petersburg and whereas individuals with disabilities practice, the right to live independently. Enjoy activities contribute to their communities and experience full social cultural and educational lives. And whereas the city of St. Petersburg parks and Recreation Department's therapeutic recreation division as proven vital to the well-being of individuals with disabilities in St. Petersburg and beyond by providing information and access to more than 70 inclusive community resources that provide recreational therapy based programming to enhance social skills, physical activity. Leisure and recreation opportunities, community integration life skills and emotional intelligence. And whereas through the intergenerational inclusive services programs and activities, participants are empowered to contribute to their own health and well-being and whereas the parks and Recreation Department's therapeutic recreation division. Firms and dignity self-worth and independents of individuals with disabilities by facilitating their decisions and actions, tapping their experiences skills and knowledge and enabling their continued personal growth and success. Now therefore I Kenneth t well as mayor of the city of St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim the month of Feb. 20 24. And is there a few to recreation month. And call upon all citizens to recognize the contributions the parks and Recreation Department azalea recreation center therapeutic recreation division. And the continued efforts of staff participants and volunteers daily enhance the well-being of individuals with disabilities. The mayor was really good thing more I can read. >> Thank you so Good afternoon. On a balmy air last year Bush. MADAM Chair and City Council that are within my Fords thank you thank you, thank you, thank you for the support of parks and Recreation. And those that participate in our programs that there appear to correct creation deficient started in 1970 as special populations the beach. We are one of the few when this pallet. He's offering programs and activities focused on individuals with intellectual physical and developmental disability. This proclamation comes to recognize therapists and raised awareness of the importance of therapeutic recreation programs for individuals with disabilities. And today. I'm pleased to have 2 of. I don't care at this here with me. And this big kb who recreation supervisor too. And. And this year. Also there. Who recreation supervisor, one and a salient. We are so grateful that you all give us the opportunity and the children and the parents that are involved in our programs and the opportunity to be seen and also her. We're located as the mayor has said the slu recreation center. And it our division. Host 100 participants. And even more during camp Raber doing a summer in order to honor their up you to recreation month. The team hosted over 25 individuals at a gathering just to celebrate therapeutic month. All participants range in age from 5 to 72 years of age in view. Various programs and I to vickie's they can be enhanced through their social skills physical fitness, creative abilities, their leisure education community integration encana too caught in that too. Auctions the skills and abilities speaks to Matt Welch principal son Inc of in city and community impact. We welcome this opportunity and I'm grateful to be here with you all today. The level of recognition. The allegations and gives value to the work that we do here with the city of St. Petersburg and we thank you. >> Councilmember greatest. Thank you MADAM Chair. >> Mayor thank you for bringing this forward. I'm sorry we had to start the day with a proclamation from the West Side. But it was it was a go that's right and so I firmly believe that it's not just because it's on the West Side, you guys are doing some of the best work in the city. To to be out there during car washes karaoke 5 k's. Tours at City Hall. It is absolutely breathtaking to see what is happening and that rec center to get to be there opening day of summer camp to see a portable to see that rec center packed. And still have a waiting list both makes me incredibly happy and sad at the same time he's got to figure out a way to not have a waiting list. I am hugging all of you right now. I am just incredibly proud. Of the work that you all are doing Alyssa Elizabeth I know I have seen. The lift you guys are doing on a daily basis over there. I'm just I'm just so proud of the work and I know all 8 of us. Have have it in our hearts and support but you what you need something you call because it's and it's amazing amazing work what you're doing occur, not only not only is William but across the city kudos to all of rtr campers and participants and I know when I see them they know that they're part of this they're part of the city they're part of this community. And that's that's the biggest part of it. So thank you so much for everything you're doing all across. Thank you so much. Thank you MADAM Chair. >> Our next proclamation will be the low cut opiod a proclamation also presented by mere Welch. Thank you MADAM Chair. We're excited to have an opportunity to celebrate a day that gives our local small women and minority owned businesses an opportunity to expand their market reach network. With other vendors. And we have some is something here and share their goods and services with our community tourists and visitors alike as I read the proclamation I want to introduce a superstar. Both. To join me at the podium. Welcome to the site. And the proclamation reads where's our city's locally owned independent businesses are integral to the unique flavor of St. Petersburg and make it a place we want to live work and play and whereas the health of Saint Petersburg's economy depends and are supported businesses owned by our families friends and neighbors. And whereas the individual decisions every community member makes today affects the future of St. Petersburg and whereas our Saint Pete groom businesses need our support right now. More than ever to grow. And whereas the independent business alliance keep St. Petersburg local is working to build a thriving local economy and a unique community and were asked to keep Saint Pete. St. Petersburg local will commemorate its 12 year anniversary by presenting the 11th annual local topia at Williams part does it feel like that long. >> Sometimes yes haha. Our city's first Park purposely selected by the Lions as the venue for the festival and whereas local Toby is to be held from 10:00am to 05:00pm on Sat., Feb. 24th and Williams Park and is our city's favorite community celebration of all things local and whereas local topia's help change our community's mind said about Williams Park has become the biggest event to be held in the park in recent times. He's been an agent for changes to the park and has inspired others to hold events in the park. Now therefore I can into Welsh near the city of St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim Sat. Feb. 24th 2024 as local topia day in St. Petersburg and encourage all of our residents to attend the celebration. Save our local flavor support the participants and continue to support all of our locally owned independent businesses year round. >> Thank you everyone, I I didn't prepare any any words, but I I simply have to say. Thank you to the city to all of you for the support of the festival all these years as parks and rec was here they still view. We engage with so many at the city for local topia and we have done now for nearly 12 years in celebrating our 11th annual but I really really want to shout out, especially the parks and rec department because they are true superstars they're unsung heroes of our city and they actually have helped make little Tokyo. What it is today. So I want to thank the city and I want to say it actually like especially think parks and rec department. Thank you so much I really hope that you all will come to 2424. If you're into morality that's the choice state and we put it on a t-shirt so please it in the sunshine city pay for sun on to 2423. Thank you. >> Thank you and thank you mayor for the proclamation Michael Tempe is something that so many in our city and beyond look forward to every single year this year is no different. But it's more important than ever for us to look at events like this. And example of why we need to support our local business owners. If you look around this room here. There are people who have their own business right here in Petersburg. Count on your patronage to pay the bills. If you look around this room, you have. Fellow parents whose children go to school with the children of local business owners. Who want the best for them just like you do. Local topia is one of those things where everybody's got to get a game plan together before that on how they're going to get there where they're going to target they're going to keep the sun runner and what they're going to get weather there because it's grown so big. You know it's like. It's like Disney World, you know like you just you know it's like crazy to figure out how to do it all in one day. And I'm so proud to know you all guy and I'm so grateful for everything that you do to keep our local business owners front in center in people's minds because when we know that when we have people who are moving here people who are visiting here businesses that are moving here. One of the biggest factors that they will tell you in their decision is that we are full of not not chains and I know we we have we have those too and and we we need those 2 for some things but that we have so many really cool locally owned shots restaurant services bars, you name it. And your advocacy and your support of those businesses is just immeasurable so thank you. Now one more thing local topia is not it's free for everyone to attend, but it's not free go to put this on the local topia. The organization works very hard to keep the costs low for the vendors so that there'd their money is spent growing their business and not paying for vendor space at this event. And you know the cost of everything just keeps going up and that includes putting on events like this. And so I'm just going to a shameless plug on AUGUST behalf design issues too humble to do herself and I ask everyone to consider supporting this event. Through a sponsorship for a donation. By one of the t-shirt who's talking Medicaid, see them. You know do everyone can do a little something to help all of these businesses and and going in and and spending your money with them is excellent but also supporting this event will ensure that it will keep coming back for years and years to come. I'm sure of it if you go to the local keep Petersburg local website you'll find a sponsorship information maybe I'll get tell everyone with that site is I just invite everyone to look for ways that you can support the businesses and support people like Olga who are trying to make this happen. Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much. I actually have really good news that I just got went West. I was walking in for the earlier one. Sun runner, which you is actually going to be fare free that day so yes, we just got that Newsom will be putting that out there so we want everyone to come as car free as possible. Any old a downtown Saint Pete is now challenging on the parking friend so as car free as possible on local covid a thank you. >> Thank you so much next we will have the St. Petersburg science festival proclamation by Mayor Welch. Thank you MADAM Chair and just on local topia I had the first time experience my life to play guitar with an all-girls ban last year than that. So looking forward to doing that again this year. As you said our next proclamation is a recognition of St. Petersburg science festival days held annually in conjunction with Marine Quist as I read the proclamation of like to invite Howard Rutherford and other representatives of the St. Petersburg science Festival to join me at the podium. And the proclamation reads whereas the St. Petersburg science festival, he's a leader. And the nationwide movement to increase public engagement with science technology engineering art and math or steam. And whereas the St. Petersburg science festival encourages one-on-one conversation with Sciences allowing young people to explore diverse team careers at research research organizations that contribute to our community and regional economies. And whereas our community recognizes that science and technology health power our world protect us from natural disasters. We'll save highways and bridges improves our health and entertains us. Science inspires the creative arts and humanities and whereas our citizens will gain an understanding of science that will help us address our greatest challenges and contribute to our understanding of the natural landscape across our city County. The Tampa Bay region and the state of Florida. And whereas the annual Petersburg science festival will be held at the University of South Florida Petersburg and point Park along with baber waterfront on Fri. Feb. 9th and Sat.. 2/10/2024. In conjunction with Marine ques the annual open House of the Florida Fish and Wildlife. Conservation commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. And whereas our community will celebrate science. Much like we celebrate sports food and the arts integrated into our culture as a community tradition. Now therefore I can t Welch MAY have the city of St. Petersburg do hereby proclaim Feb. 9th and 10th 2024. Petersburg science festival days in St. Petersburg and I invite all citizens to join us in celebrating science and participating in this year's fest. Thank you all for your great work. >> Thank you mayor Walsh go science. So I'd like to again thank the city of St. Petersburg for supporting us since 2011, especially Tony Leno MISTER Telling me no and his team MISTER Does Burns and his team we couldn't do this without your help. And we couldn't do this without volunteers, we have over 250 volunteers to support the sneak peak day on Fri.. We have over 1100 4th and 5th graders joining us mostly from title one schools to get a snippet of what the festival will be on Sat. And then 15,000 people come out on Sat. For the festival. So with me today are a couple of volunteers, we have Natalia Lopez Pickett euro who has a phd student in the College of marine science. We have doctor man who can excuse me and Natalie nathalia ice least a supervisor junior scientists and we have grown that program for and their 10th year now 55 young middle school and high school students come and work alongside or science professionals. These are our future scientists and our future. The idea makers of the of of the of the next talk about who can be also is one of our exhibitors longtime observers from us of Sarasota to sing usf St. Petersburg one usf one jersey one team. And James mckenna is our program chair, which is a huge task we have over 70 70 organizations with multiple exhibits that are exhibiting both on Fri. And Sat.. So thank you thank you, thank you I I would be remiss if I didn't mention Allison Barlow my co-chair for this event for tissue can be here today. Sheet against thanks everyone here for years continued support. The council member to school we're excited for you again to join us for a vip event we promised not to splash chemicals on you this Yahoo we're going to do funky 49 which he is a science rapper or so you're going to have to stepping up a little bit with your rap thing. And our new events this year so this year we had a wonderful donor stepped up in this is this along the lines of this stable city. They see us rise to nonprofit here in the city is interested and other festivals I'm sure it's unsustainable t-shirts all a t-shirt you see here today, 250 for volunteers, 1100 for our students for joining us tomorrow are always made of recycled material and they come with a tag that promotes sustainable t-shirts and close so that's exciting. We'll have a mobile aquarium will touch Trump, touch, touch trucks, including an airplane. Saildrone have you all to children over the hub. They're going to come out for this and we're also going to have a maze which people can go through and build their own food Web so that's going to exciting this year. So again thank you, thank you, thank you for your continued support and if I could admit into exhibit awaits a Fresh off the press. We have our programs here so if I can pass it on. So you can come prepared on Fri. And Sat.. So thank you again mayor Welch thank you Council and thank you. >> Thank you council member Jessica. Thank again thank you mayor for this proclamation to recognize the science Festival. This is something I look forward to every year. And I'm grateful usf and fwc for working together to do this along with the maritime in defense technology hub. And others who participate it's great to have 70 exhibitors I think that's just for the science the side of it too. And it's all connected see can flow straight from the science fest 2 Marine quest. It can really it can easily be an all-day adventure for for families when a good thing to tell you for the junior scientists work that you do that is and incredible way to help with our preparing our workforce for tomorrow in science and helping them explore all of the different ways that they can an incredible career through thing these things that fascinate them. So thank you for that I look forward to the program. >> I will tell you all that last year the my fellow. Guest scientists tonight were offered ponchos prior to and we're like. We don't need them. Haha next thing you know things are flying everywhere things blew up and we were all covered in this died foam Secrest me and yet I still went over to marine quest instituted everything even the spots all over me, but it was. A blast at no pun intended. I'm looking forward to this year. But I'm on tear trickery you said you said that there would be like this science dj and you make it sound just so innocent, but I did talk with Allison Barlow last night and she said that there is also slime involved. So. That lab coats this year and I will be saying yes, thank you very much, I'll take one haha but honestly as long as I it's the dj doing the dancing and not me I think we're all going to be just fine. Thank you. >> Our next frontal nation will be in honor of Black History Month near Wells. Thank you MADAM Chair, I just want to. The state for the record up I thought I heard. Wrap 49 featuring council member driskell so when you're at. We're going to move on to last my last proclamation and then council member panel which will handle last one. Just last week in celebration of Black History Month. We had the honor of raising the flag of the woods, a museum of Florida over City Hall. As you all know there have been many conversations about whether that will be our last flag raising. I expect that we will continue to be intentional about celebrating our diversity and our community including all of our citizens history and cultures in our city of Saint Pete. As I read the proclamation on by the leadership team volunteers from the woods Museum of Florida live by missus terribly see Scott to join me. If you all would. Welcome everybody. And the proclamation reads whereas FEBRUARY's annual to observe is Black History Month and has been designated to identify the historical contributions of African American citizens. And whereas african-americans have made countless contributions to the city of St. Petersburg Ellis County, the state of Florida. And the United States of America and the world. And whereas the city of St. Petersburg has a robust center of cultural organizations such as the woods and Museum of Florida. Yes, a la h African American heritage Association, and community oral historians who continue to work to support the intellectual development of our community to collect and preserve black stories sponsor black history and literature events and whereas the late John Lewis his words quote do not get lost in a sea of despair. The hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day a week a month or year. It is the struggle of a lifetime. Never ever be afraid to make some noise to get in good trouble. Necessary trouble. End quote. Those words continue to ring true even in 2024. And whereas the city of St. Petersburg takes pride and celebrating Black History Month in recognizing the contributions of notable African Americans. Now therefore I can that he will smear the city of St. Petersburg Florida. Do hereby proclaim Feb. 2024 as Black History Month in St. Petersburg and I urge residents to join with me in celebrating African American history. Legacy and our profound contributions to society. For one thing. >> To vice chair members of City Council I stand today with members of our board Kimberly Brown Williams or chair for ship Bradley Chiquita Clark. You want to have fun and doctor re arsenal who in fact is the author of the recently released John. Obama is a lie, biography. So with the please give this the Lakers. >> We are consistently humbled and grateful for the opportunity to do the work. That we do to preserve present interprets celebrate and educate others around African American history. The significance it represents then. >> And now. We are grateful. For the opportunity to have been. In this space now since 2006. We're at a 20 year mark. And we're looking for 2 with the future holes. But the with student and for the city of St. Petersburg the intention to equity that was built. In your desire misdemeanor. To ensure that we might stake a claim in a community where African American history. Originally existed and being a part of the proposal of the redevelopment of the Tropicana field area is more than we could have ever hoped for or imagined that this history is not lost. And it will be forever preserved and we look forward to that opportunity becoming a reality here in our city. I have listened to those who come before us it I would be remiss if I did not announce collard green festival next week. Here in the city of St. Petersburg the collard green festival has grown in leaps and bounds and we can't be prouder of the opportunity to be a co-sponsor of this extraordinary event. We do my any shameless plugs any of you might decide to take advantage of today in order to for the pushed this particular extraordinary thin as well to think that we've got something this weekend. And next weekend and the weekend to follow here in our great city, truly such as how inclusive we really are the city. So with that where humble. We're grateful. We're thankful for your support and look for it to what the future holds and in Hitting my phone and I know you're thinking I'm losing my mind but blowing up sending me this article the governor has really think shun the not flying the flags over government entities and it matters not because still we rise and where Saint Pete. So thank you. >> missed lives. He's gotten in all of the members of the woods in board I just want to take the opportunity to say maybe the Denver fix and is in need to do a proclamation in MARCH. Do a proclamation in a broom. The proclamation in MAY do it in JUNE because we truly know the richness of african-american history is 365 days. A year 12 months long and thank you for that information about the flag reason because no matter where we're going to still find a way to honor our african-american history Museum in which I have been. >> Again and I just want to thank you for continuing to remind us in educating others of the importance of black history african-american history, whenever you determine use, we still rich, we're still valued, we're still extremely relevant. And I do appreciate the fact that we MAY are bringing this proclamation for so thank you Terry and group thank you and the team. >> Now our last proclamation will be from councilmember handle it. It is dating violence awareness and Prevention month proclamation. >> City Council here on the subject that we all wish did not exist. So it's not the same celebration that we've been hearing. But it's a subject of abuse. And abuse can happen to any person. I was a former prosecutor I will tell you that you can not imagine the people that come into the courtroom that have been abused, you would think would not be someone that can be abused, but they are. And you can't identify an abuser either because there amongst us and I think it's also very important. But what's also month us. Are people that stand up there's that counselor asked that one question that breaks open the case and it happened in in one of my cases in with a counselor who asked the child the right question. That led to Lea abuse. Case that put someone in prison for the rest of their life. Okay and so it takes that one person MAY notice the signs of trafficking out there that could stop a predator from abusing victims, not just that victim. But other victims of domestic violence or human trafficking or anything else so I invite you to make sure you do get it involved increase awareness. We have hope villages of America here with us in. But you come. John line he's a vice PRESIDENT Of abuse hope villages. And he after I read the proclamation can share with you how you can help but one of the things you can do is invite hope villages abuse service experts out to train your employees and the signs of domestic violence and human trafficking understanding what to look for what to do to save someone's life. You can post a flyer in the bathroom of your business. Place of business. 20 people are physically abused by their intimate partner every minute that's 1200 people every hour. And here we are for teen dating violence awareness and Prevention month. It doesn't start as adults. Sometimes it starts when they're teenagers. So I read where as teen dating violence includes physical psychological or abuse harassment or stalking of any person ages 12 to 18 in the context of the past are present romantic consensual relationship and were as one in 3. Dallas and girls in is a victim of physical emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner and were as high school students who experience physical violence in a dating relationship are more likely to use drugs and alcohol. All right a greater risk of suicide and are much more likely to carry patterns of abuse into future relationships and whereas only 33% of teens morning abusive relationship ever tell anyone about the abuse and 81% of parents surveyed either believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they do not know if it is one and whereas hope villages of America provides young people with education about healthy relationships and changes attitudes that support violence. Dating violence and whereas the establishment of teen dating violence awareness and Prevention month will benefit young people their families schools and communities regardless of socioeconomic status, gender orientation or ethnicity. Everyone has a right to a safe and healthy relationship and to be free from abuse. Now therefore I councilmember looks at hand what's on behalf of Mayor Kenneth you watch the here by proclaim Feb. 20 24th teen dating violence, awareness and Prevention month in St. Petersburg and urged residents to increase their awareness and participate in activities that work towards ending dating violence. And here is John lawn, vp of abuse. >> Thank you I appreciate the city of Saint Pete recognizing this month as td and a dating violence awareness at hope villages we operate a shelter that's dedicated to women who are victims of domestic violence. We take mom and her children and for the majority of our operation it's always full. There's never never do that. And we look at our sense is half of our senses is under the age of 18. So we have kids that are witnessing domestic violence. So how do we stop that. We've got to start of the young age. We have a program that goes in the kindergartners and the pk classes to teach these kids what a healthy relationship looks like. One time they were doing a presentation one of the 5 year-old boys said wait, wait, wait, I can't do that when my parents are fighting, I have to break it up. As a 5 year-old kid that thinks it's his job to be the mediator to be the one who stops the violence. So we've got to start at a young age and we've got to keep going into the middle school and high school age to educate our kids on what a healthy relationship looks like we can't allow tiktok in the Internet to teach our kids but our parents and our businesses our churches in our schools have to be the one that demonstrates what a healthy relationship looks like. Half of the kids that experience teen dating violence attempt to commit suicide. 43% of incidents that of teen violence happened on school property. So we have to raise the awareness within our community. We have to make these conversations normal to talk to our children 12 grandchildren to our neighbors to make these conversations normal I talked to my 68 I'm sure in this but I talk to my 16 year-old boy all the time and I ask him what difficult questions because I want him to know that if something ever happened to him, it's okay to come talk about it. And so we have to normalize that and raise awareness I appreciate the city of Saint Pete and helping us raise awareness that whole villages and which challenge anyone to 2. Contact us. We have trainings in all areas where we can help businesses churches schools, raise awareness and then what to do if you think somebody is a victim. So appreciate it and thank you. >> We will now go into our reports with item f one tree inventory in tree planting programs and joining us will be the sustainability and resilience director Allison me how much is COUNCILMAN Lot married this year item so would you like to introduce and I thank you. MADAM Chair and. >> We as a city have been talking about the r tree canopy for for quite a while I want to just to get an update of where we are and what we're doing to plant more trees in our cities so. i like to hand it over to Dallas and then that you give us our presentation. Thank you. Thank you councilmember mountain are and thank you chair, thank you Council for the opportunity to report to you today on our numerous tree efforts underway. Citywide before I begin I want to extend deep appreciation to Council. 2 administration to Mayor for their continued support for increasing our tree canopy it is not lost on our office. Important your time is we've had numerous council members out to tree planting event. Thank you for your present thank you for your leadership. Much of this work wouldn't be possible without that leadership and without the hard work and dedication of our The leadership of Susie, a hawk. Her community service representatives and neighborhood Their team. With Dean hey my senior urban Forester and our student intern Casey Evans, the urban forestry committee which meets and very much you know looking for every opportunity to advance our tree-planting efforts. Them any citizen foresters that do this because they care about trees their residents that decided to do training and learn how they can nerd out about trees in their free time as well as our neighborhood Association leadership have brought voices together to submit applications for our tree many grant program. Do I have a clicker to you perfect awesome. So I'm going to split this presentation up it's going to be at a high level for sell cover funding overview where our funding currently is and then I'll give a high-level overview of our existing programs and progress a progress update. I do want to first note before I dive into the slide. The city has resources supporting tree canopy effort entry plan team as well as tree analysis across departments across administration, so I did my best here to Roll it bite I look forward to the opportunity continue to provide report out on a much more granular level here so. The first item that we have appropriated we have 2 different rounds of tree many Grant appropriations at a 100,000 each. We also a Florida Forest Service grant that we won for 350 native trees to be planted in child's Park that grant was $49,000 and how to $49,000 match. We have just for for for that neighbor tree many grants and the Florida Forest Service. Child's Park Grant. We have just started spending so provide an update more in just a moment in a few slides. But in addition to that we were very Given the $300,000 in supplemental appropriations for urban tree. Plantings and programs. We anticipate a $100,000 of that being awarded to parks for their needs. And the going to public works administration as well as neighborhood relations. We have not yet. Finalize what our plan is for that $300,000 we have evaluated a few options. One of the things we have learned sustainability and resilience has learned in our tree plant team and planning efforts is that some of needs of our colleagues across departments is with that establishment. Period you can plant a million trees but how do you make sure that a million trees thrive and provide and much for to that point where they're providing the shade and many ecological and health benefits that we know trees provide. And to answer that kind of pain point we identified potentially a watering truck or trailer might help us with that establishment period to help accelerate that the watering just making the tree happy for that first year of the tree's life to get it nice and rooted good to go. So we would be bringing back I believe as an action we would be bringing back what we intend to appropriate those funds for thank you Clyde. So I'd mention the child's Park Grant their remaining funding that we have that coast to support tree related initiatives is our bp settlement fund so I my team had previously presented at the hers We have just over just a little bit a few dollars over a million dollars. For us to consider variety of things that we're evaluating. We we'll be bringing a supplemental appropriation for a $100,000 towards food for us. The lion share of that dollar amount will be for for getting trees. Shape shade fruiting trees I should say. And when we presented to her as we anticipate splitting that $100,000 up in 2 ways so one is to pilot 2 new food for us concepts working with local community organizations churches and higher Ed institutions in the city and then the remainder would be to model any Grant approach similar what the tree many Grant has time in our neighborhoods or the neighborhood partnership Grant. But targeting community gardens that are already established but don't r I don't have shade trees in the community garden. So it bc creating something new but then also bolstering an existing community gardens that we have in the city. So that's a small portion of that bp We have you know almost $900,000 beyond that. Up for consideration. >> All move on now. To some of our programs and a progress update and I have props so please indulge me cause. >> Haha. We're going to we're going to hopefully make it fun. So our tree inventory efforts support measuring our progress towards the the tree canopy goal we have is a city which is a 30% tree canopy goal. >> We have a variety of ways that we support that tree canopy goal, but it's important that we measure where a tree canopies at so we know where we need to accelerate additional plan teens. We have done some desk analysis believe we are at that 30% goal. But this is preliminary analysis that his desk based research. I'm using image interpretation it is not out in the field, it's not validated so I do look forward to the opportunity to join Council again when we can wave the banner when we know for certain that we have met that goal that we believe were right there. So in 20 23 in calendar year 2023 team hay with the support of our neighborhood associations. Have physically mapped more than 4500 trees. This required the volunteer support from citizen foresters as well as neighborhood associations and and police to report that Crescent Heights was the I think the largest. They they inventory the largest amount of trees. I'm representing about 38% of those 4500 trees. And then we had over a 175 Saint Pete residents that came out and helped us conduct inventories which is really phenomenal and one of the things I'm really proud about as a as someone who has a librarian and their family. I'm getting the tree inventory kits at our local libraries for folks to check out. It's a really cool easy exercise for elementary middle school students to get out there and learn about why trees are important. Also help their government inventory, their tree canopy which is pretty cool to see it be a part of the change. So I'm going to move on to tree plantings cause. I think that's where we want to spend the majority of our time here this afternoon are tree-planting programs include Parton partnering with community organizations like take more action for generation are. It supported by this those citizen foresters volunteers and other community-based organizations in 2023, we planted over 250 trails mostly along the Pinellas trail. Thank you to councilmember to school for coming out on your weekend to support those events. We also kicked off our community can it be tree-planting project so those 350 trees that are going to go in and child's Park council member Mohammed mayor thank you for joining us public works administrator Claude Tankersley thank you for coming out of your weekend and helping us get that tree in the ground. So we have 349 more to go in child's Park and we are are ramping up this calendar year we anticipate to get those trees in the ground we are. It's in our climate now is that planting season. We have the rainy season in the summer but to really get those trees and Tech thrive in the establishment period. It's important that we start planting now and so our weekends are booked, we have lots of tree plantings out in the community coming up. And the first round of the tree plant teen mini grants, the neighborhood tree many Grant was awarded so round one that first $100,000 we had 23 applications come in from neighborhood associations 8 neighborhood associations were awarded. Grants through the neighborhood tree many grant program. We've completed our first replant teen. We anticipate planting over a 135 trees through that first round and we're continuing to understand and evaluate the criteria we use and that neighborhood associations have to use to submit their applications so round to the application period just completed end of JANUARY. So we are planting trees while we're evaluating applications to plant more trees. We got 7 applications in that round 2. In our community service. It is our csr that work for suze a hawk and I residents on the community have just done an absolutely incredible job. To help neighbors associations walk through the criteria that we use for selecting award recipients. I will say also for that first round 23 applicants and only 8 awards. I want to acknowledge many of those were asking for different things that message weren't necessarily just trees or they want a neighborhood Association and Dean hay on my team has met with every single one of those neighborhood associations to guide them so that they can go back and revise their application. So that we can hopefully award them. Grants going forward. So I talked a little bit about the Saint Pete citizen Forester They've contributed and awful lot of volunteer hours to get these trees in the ground it can't just be I Dean hay and Casey Evans of 19 getting trees planted. With the help from our colleagues in as pto helping us water, those trees. So the citizen foresters of Combined gave over 650 hours to get those trees in the in the ground in 2023. We anticipate that the much much higher this calendar year. And then I would be remiss if I didn't highlight opportunity for expanding our tree ceiling giveaways at trunk or treat we call it Trump her tree but a trunk or treat. We gave out 306 followed cyprus's I thought about bringing those today but because they are deciduous. There are sometimes leaves leaves in FEBRUARY and because we have just a few of those I think we have about we'd ordered 3.15 we gave out 3 oh 6 oh we have a a couple dozen left over from trunk or treat that we're cultivating for spring plant teen. So now I'm going to transition to. Tree city usa was which is a new program that new to office of sustainability resilience. It's not new to the city. So tree city usa Saint Pete was originally awarded the tree city usa certification back in 1986. I'm not going to date myself but that was a while ago and we have gotten that certification every year since then so shortly after our report today we're going to update the signage outside of City Hall. I I was going to team hey bring our flag but we also have a lovely flags and maybe. I don't know Earth weaker Arbor day will bring that and fly that flag. So we were recently awarded our 38th annual certification we also received the tree city growth the word and this designation is reserved for municipalities that improve their annual tree, planting and maintenance programs. They do this work why we get this award by hiring additional personnel were significantly increasing our annual tree budget so many thanks to City Council as well as the of our team. We wouldn't have gotten an award with those that support. We also recently applied for right around the holidays and we're awarded tree cities of the world. And so what that is is a probe an international program to the top tier, cities and towns that are committed to ensuring urban forests and trees are properly maintained as sustainably managed and duly celebrated and so we do have some some new programs that were taking on this is we're now leading the tree city usa efforts this previously was I believe under the Parks Department and we're among one of 170 cities globally that got that though tree cities of the world award only 8 of those 170 cities are in Florida. So. I want to highlight that program because it does provide us additional resources and expertise to tap into as we accelerate them out of trees weakened the ground we've done a lot of planning work to get the program established. And now we're at the point that we're ready to get trees. Play tennis fast as we can. And I believe that's all I have a pause now for any q and a. >> Thank you councilmember minute hearing. Thank you MADAM Chair and thank you Allison for the for the update. And thank you for the information that you e-mailed me on on the amount funding that we have available I'm kind of a couple questions and And let me just kind of start so. In your presentation you you talked about. Planning a 135 trees. $400,000. >> That is that we we hope that that's how many were planting with the first when we do not believe it's going to cost a $100,000. In total for those so we would have funds left over that could roll into the second round of the grant. Hopefully that answers your question. How much does it. How much does it cost. It depends on the tree that selected by the neighborhood I wish I had a concrete answer but the shade trees are between one $400, I'm a pop and that does not include things like mulch soil the delivery the and other tree care that's required for the establishment period that we can calculate bring back to you we don't have a an example of that yet. Okay. I would like to know that that absolutely I'd be happy to provide that and follow up to all Council with that estimate because those are more indirect cost that depend on the tree the site. A number of variables okay. And can talk about our urban forest team for Street master plan. What's what's the status of of that. So I know that Dean has been on on that I am presenting at hers next week actually because we do hope to do. Integrate urban forestry into our ice at document, currently it's not reflected as a goal. We can provide an update on that urban forestry masterplan I do believe that there are brainstorming in strategic planning sessions. Scheduled with the urban forestry committee to get citizen stakeholder engagement and input. So I I don't have a date when it will be completed, but I know that there is work underway on those initiatives. Okay. >> And then you mentioned the current status of our our tree canopy in 2022. I believe it was 27% that's correct and the goal is 30%. Can you give us an idea of what what that means like. How many trees are we short oh gosh I would love to bring i wish I I wish I had maps with me today. I'm so in 2022, we estimated our tree canopy was at around 27. And some change percent. In 2023. Those preliminary analysis. We ran a couple different ways Dean Cain r student intern. Use map imagery interpretation and believe we were just over 30% like 30.2 30.6 kind of like right at that goal. >> If there's not a clear answer unfortunately because shade trees have different diameters from image interpretation. What an average circumference would be is your question councilmember Monterey around like per tree what the percent would be let me just going to tell so just to set the record straight. I I ask every year. >> For funding to plant a 1000 trees, yeah it in our city. And I keep asking for the funding. It never gets done. We're running out of patience and waiting. For for this. And we've done a lot of tree analysis. We do a lot of studying. But I want to get trees in the ground. And that's why I ask questions of like. How much it cost to plan a tree and what we need to to get to our goals so and APRIL of 2022, we did a tree canopy analysis is correct that the talks in detail, I mean it's a I got it right here to make a 50 page report. And it talks our tree canopy talks about the shortage of the goal within each it breaks down by City Council I just want to be bold and get get this job done he the money that $300,000 that we provided I kind of wanted to get an update of of that. I'm I'm getting ready to put in a request to go to the bp funds. Yes not just not just bp funds but also Weeki Wachee funds okay to get to where we need to be. In this tree canopy analysis. It talks about how we have been averaging around 13 1400 tree removal from its year. In our city. So when I set that goal. Of a 1000 trees a year. That's not enough. We need to get beyond a 1000 trees a year. And I I want to challenge both. The city. The private sector and community groups to put trees in the ground and let's get up to that 30% goal and try to get beyond thank you so that's that's where I'm I'm going with with all this and. I I I like to think of myself as a patient person. But I've been asking a long time and it just hasn't been understood so I'm I'm ready for action now yes, and I'm kind of tired of doing a bunch of studies and things not getting done it's time to get these trees in the ground so thank you appreciate you coming in giving us an update. And I'm going to do the action on my part thank you to make this happen. Thank you so much I appreciate it. Thank you, thank you, MADAM Chair. Thank you councilmember gather. >> Thank you MADAM Chair and thank you Allison for the also want to thank d a. Larry pay for all of your I so enjoy working with you you're such an asset to the city when it comes to not only our tree canopy work. But also our urban agriculture work so thank You can also shared with my office the Saint Pete citizen Forester annual report and the community tree inventory report. Those reports are fascinating information, thank you so I agree with councilmember mountain area mean it was in my budget request as I want us to plant more trees. But certainly the vulnerability of new trees and making sure that those trees are successful. And actually you know it's kind of shocking whenever you see trees that we have planted even 5, 6, years ago and how vulnerable really they still are as juvenile trees. So to that point I wanted to a specific question from my district so along 83th Avenue in Clive maybe you might no what I'm getting ready to get into a little bit. >> Along 83th back in 3839 I we planted corridor plantings along that road. We took care of them for I think the first 3 years and then they became you know part of the properties that they were. Along and now all of those trees have been damaged by the flooding that occurred in Revere Bay over the last couple of storms. So I was In situations like that what is the plan moving forward for reevaluating whenever those sort of things happen because that was one of my budget request was that we would specifically allocate money for trees in damaged areas. So can we talk a little bit about what that looks like what we've a