>> a rule.
>> Welcome to the city of St.
Petersburg City Council meeting
and your elected officials our
mayor Ken Welch district one
hopefully Curtis. District 2
Wendy gabbard district 3 Mike
Harding district 4
and Council chair Lisette can
away. District 5. Deborah big
Sanders. Gina Driscoll.
Were you given Stu year.
And and Council vice chair
reaching Floyd.
>> City Council meeting clerk
if we can have a roll call
please Lloyd for this year
gabbard air partying here and
what's your fix and this school
year a given year.
>> Our invocation given by 7
days and Ari of the high.
Faith St. Petersburg center if
you can stand and then please
remain standing for the pledge
of allegiance good afternoon.
>> Dow kind Lord. These are
guys servants who have
gathered in this meeting have
turned on to thy Kingdom and
are in need of Davis still will
on blessing.
Dow gone manifest
and make evident this signs of
day one MS. Beach have been
deposited in all the realities
of life.
Reveal a non for hold the
virtues of each town has made
late and I'm concealed indy's
human realities.
The are as plants and I
I bow and he is as the rain.
Reef ration on cars these
plants to grow 3 still.
We are the ice or Vince free
ice from the fitters of
material existence.
The are ignorant make us twice.
We are did make has a long
life. We are in material and
Dow lost its spirit.
We are
deprived MAY cause the in 2
minutes of fame histories.
We are in needy in the rich and
bless us from die boundless
Treasury.
Resuscitate on us
give us site
give us hearing. Family your
eyes on us with the mysteries
of life. So that the secrets of
taking down MAY become reveal
to oss in this world of
existence. And confess
thy oneness
everybody's still in an eights
from the every benediction is
dying. Dow It.
Now are powerful. Now are the
giver and out or to ever bounty
the United States on the air.
It hits them. One nation.
I.
>> Indivisible with liberty and
justice for all.
And they'll be seeded thank you
so much for that view full
implications.
Council members we have and the
agenda before us with the
addition of I want to continue
discussion of ballot order for
municipal referendum. And with
that additional and the emotion
for them approval.
Second have a motion a second
clerk if you can open the
machine for voting council
members please enter your
votes.
In present council members,
including Clark please tell
announce the vote.
MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve the agenda passes
unanimously.
Thank you we have a consent
agenda before us, but we have
any cards we do not matter.
Ok and council member driskell.
>> Thank you I didn't want to
pull this I just wanted to make
a
a couple of comments on.
Items cb 7, 8, Both of these
items are regarding ad
accession of 2 pieces of
artwork from the cities, public
art collection. And.
It was interesting to to read
through this. And to get a
refresher on on the cities.
Procedure regarding the
accession of of art.
But I don't have any objections
to what we're doing with these
but if you look at
what if you look
at the process. And you know it
starts with the public arts
Commission or staff and
you know just discussing in
public arts Commission meeting
the potential to start that
process for Dick session which
includes and evaluation of
course
and in looking at the criteria
for de accession evaluation.
Some of the items include the
condition or security of the
artwork. It cannot be
reasonably guarantee the
artwork has been damaged or has
deteriorated and
repair is impractical or
infeasible the artwork has made
a difference and designer
workmanship and he's outside
the warranty period. Endangers
public safety. The list goes on
and I can't help you
I couldn't help but think about
and Janet at Bowman's bending
arc sculpture and the
challenges that we have with
coming to a solution with the
various parties too. You know
move forward with the repair
and reinstallation of that
sculpture.
I certainly hope
the things don't
go down Hill to the point where
something like the accession
has to be considered for that
project and I want to encourage
all of the the parties involved
to work harder
towards a solution sooner.
The last update
I got was not a great
situation. And and I know that
this is something the jinan
Ackerman was proud of
I noticed something that the
city was proud of I know that
many residents want to see you
back in place and I hope that
and there will be some
inspiration to guide those
conversations forward in a
positive way. Thank you MADAM
Chair.
Thank you.
And before we go into the
consent agenda. Councilmembers
right I'm cb 16 there's a
scrivener's error one of the
commissioners names and will
be corrected by legal
corresponding resolution so
they want to make sure that you
all were where that's where
there's air before the motion.
And the motion a second on the
consent agenda clerk of the
open meeting
for boating council members
please enter your votes.
I mean that all present council
members
appealed a court please tell me
>> MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve the consent
agenda passes unanimously.
Thank you. Next up the move to
open forum for there any
speakers form the movie the
form it get your speakers can
you
read the rules, thank you.
If you wish to address City
Council and subjects other than
public hearing because I did
issue items listen the agenda
please sign up with the clerk.
Only the individual wishing to
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to issues related to
the city as the peace River
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to an item on the
agenda you MAY only speak once
during the open form when the
item
comes up on the agenda.
Applause is not permitted
except in connection
with awards and presentations
in order to provide an
opportunity for all citizens to
address Council each individual
be given 3 minutes to speak and
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would be needed. If you wish to
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You MISS You see raise hand
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time the agenda item is
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when you have reached a 3
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the rules of decorum that
shares authorized to accept
public comments. I'll turn it
loose a clean by email only and
MADAM Chair we do have some
speakers and the teaching and
speaker.
>> When I call your name please
go to an open podium state your
name across Street for the
record you'll have
3 minutes to address City
Council. Goliath Davis and
Deborah deacon and Carl gone.
>> Why Davis
1800 63th terrace South.
I come today. 2 requests
recognition for one Henry l
ashwood on JUNE 29th 2
2026. The city
held a piney a ceremony for
this like firefight
is integrated St. Petersburg
Fire Department. They were
recruited by this ash wood and
they have been the the legacy 6
families occupy a
special place in St. Petersburg
history. The city is to be
commended for this special
recognition. I have a history
and the store is not complete.
It is recommended that a photo
missing him to help and cash
would be displayed in proximity
to the commemorative plate
honing in on a Lego the 6 a
pioneers MISTER Ashwood
served as a firefight in the
United States Air Force retired
as a sergeant. He joined the
city of Saint Pete
is as a person in a corn ada
and he led the drive to
integrate the Fire Department
he recruited mentor and fought
the forces that tried to
separate the 5 recruits
unemployment.
He was this support system and
integral part of the movement
to transform Saint Pete fire
and rescue Photo and his.
A brief description of his
contribution is requested to be
home in proximity to theirs.
This request was originally
submitted on JULY 12. Mares up
office responded indicating
that the chief.
For I would reply. And on JULY
17. The request was denied by
chief Watts I got no
a response from Council, even
though it was submitted to the
mayor Council and the fire
chief. I stand today to
requests and ask you to support
this recognition. We're not
asking for a handout,
especially consideration.
Rather we asked that the story
be completed
by hanging. The photo and by
the story up on this issue it
only would he deserves
recognition for integrating the
Saint Pete fire rescue. And we
ask that his photo be hung in
proximity to the recruits that
he brought in to do that.
Thank you in advance for your
consideration. And
I come along because we want
this
to be a requests not have a
stereo and I think it's a
homeless requests and we expect
that at some point you guys
will grant that request.
As any questions if you have
any is this is public comment.
My name is Carl gun.
This is Debbie shrewdly
deacon.
And I'll be speaking on.
The flock cameras. And de Pere
is going to speak for me
because I have a why disability
and that area.
>> 4561 cobia drive Southeast.
Saint Pete,
the 3 through 75 and minds the
same.
Liberty freedom and justice are
not just
words written in our
Constitution. They are
principles that define what it
means to live in a free
country.
We want our communities to be
safe. And we want law
enforcement to have the tools
necessary to protect us.
The question is how much of our
freedom are we willing to give
up
for safety. That question
becomes especially important
with the growing
use of flock cameras in St.
Petersburg these cameras have
sparked growing concerns about
privacy
and government surveillance.
The 4th Amendment protects
Americans from
unreasonable search and
seizure. One officer seeing
your car driving down a public
Street is very different
from a system that can record
millions of vehicle, us that
and have them stored. The
government cannot necessarily
avoid the 4th Amendment because
information is collected by a
3rd party. The court
has emphasized that detailed
long-term records of a person's
movements can
reveal the private sees of life
as was recognized by the
Supreme Court in
Carpenter versus United States.
The 5th Amendment also
represents an important
principle. Yet it's me the
government cannot deprive a
person of life. Liberty or
property
without due process of law.
The use of flock cameras raise
an important question about do
process and accountability who
can access this information
why are they searching it and
how long can it be kept.
We were told that they were
going to be deleted. After 30
days. Now the ceo of flock
safety has changed it to 7
days. However just a leading
these records will not
permanently remove them.
They have
to be incinerated justice
requires us to recognize both
sites. Campers.
Cameras can help solve crimes,
however, the Constitution was
not written to protect us.
Only when the government has
good intentions. It was written
to protect us from excessive
government power.
So this isn't necessarily a
question of pro police.
>> Next 2 speakers or Philip
Hoffman DR. Perry, g Washington
please go to an open state your
name address or cross Street
for the record you'll have
3 minutes to address City
Council. After that.
My name is Phil Hoffman my
cross streets are past due to
Avenue and First Avenue North.
Look I'm a former attorney I
work for the da's office in a
different just district.
The jurisdiction and I still
maintain my attorney standing.
I just want to read from chart
reverses United States.
It's pretty clear. It was law
enforcement conducts a 4th
Amendment search when it uses
front warrant to obtain
detailed cell phone location
history from third-party
Tech company here Google
location history. Individuals
this is actually the opinion of
the judge individuals have a
reasonable expectation of
privacy in touch records.
Even if the data covers only a
limited time period
and is held by a private
company. The court emphasized
that people have a
constitutionally protected
privacy interest in records of
their movements generated
everyday cell phone use now.
This is not directly on point
with flawed because this is not
cell phone use.
But certainly it will be
applied by the Supreme Court
when the case does reach the
Supreme Court and it will
inevitably in the next year or
2.
And you can check with your
city attorney. I believe that
when this does get found to be
a violation of the 4th.
All the evidence gathered by
this to use for prosecutions
well most likely be thrown out.
So every case to prosecute
utilizing. This technology.
That part of the evidence that
was utilized proven by the good
defense attorney will
most likely be able to mitigate
all of those prosecutions so
I do believe this violate.
It's pretty clear in the
court's latest ruling.
And I do state a little bit
about how this was done.
This was done back in 2022.
By I guess a very simple vote.
From you guys a camper, the
name of the vote. But
it was no discussion, no public
input it was most likely I
don't have the data and video
most like to presented by the
sheriff. This is a good idea
for the safety of our
residents. You guys just passed
the
$730,000 budget to utilize
these after that I guess flock
of your free trial for 25 the
new increase to 50 passed it on
to very simple vote. And I
think that.
The improper way to have done
that kind of budget for my
$11,000 in property tax.
But I pay every year. You know
I think I have a vested
interest in where that money
goes the should have been some
kind of public ability to
comment before this was put in
place. I do believe these
should be removed. And I think
there's a lot of legal
implications that you guys are
going to face if they're not.
You fix it you want The next
person and unit. Commendation
we do. The next person. Yeah
and then.
Well that comes in is Mary that
in. The state Union address
last month.
We for the record the joy of 3
minutes.
Good afternoon. My name is Mary
Pittston I live on mayor Lake
drive. In Saint Pete. I wanted
to
speak about the flock cameras.
I feel this is an enormous
violation of privacy.
I don't believe that America is
a place
for this kind of surveillance
and I think the amount of money
being spent on this is
horrendous. I'm
I believe we could hire more
police officers and that would
be a much better use of these
funds.
That's really all I have to say
appreciate your
listening thank you.
We believe we're ready for the
if you're ready.
>> My name down to Prairie g
wants you to. I'm working right
now want to defend.
St. Petersburg.
Thank you today.
To dedicate this award.
We outdid building.
I don't know why.
>> I bid you know my And
because you would not. 4
election. I don't mean you
safe.
You gotta go.
You've got to go.
Jag as
last year.
When they arrested me and now.
I'm doing a heavy is.
I bet you look at me not.
And we told you he was an
instant and Jean.
I'm not ready. You got.
I'm not guy you got to go out.
Thank you. DR. Washington
you've got it all. You have got
really out.
I said right.
Taking the negative.
>> Next speakers, Amy Pearson.
>> And your name and address
please.
Yes, my name is Amy Parsons
I've been a resident
of the city for 36 years.
i appreciate you
having this conversation today,
especially one 66 21th Avenue
Southeast St. Petersburg
Florida.
Thank you I'm sorry I didn't I
MISS The
intro.
>> And if I could have a
little.
A bit of extra time, I'm a bit
nervous. After the last
presentation.
As we can come back to you.
You want us to do that instead
and go to the next speaker and
then we can come back yeah.
Thank you.
There's one zip Laker will take
a zoom speaker. Thank you.
>> Hey Jason s I'm going to
bring you into the meeting
space. Please
state your name and address for
the record please unmute
yourself also when you'll have
3 minutes to address City
Council.
Jason can you hear us.
Can hear you. Good afternoon
Jason Scott, 4636 redfish Lane.
I just want to thank Council.
Today for all your diligent
work in having
important conversations on the
issues. I wanted to highlight
something that's going on at
the Public Service Commission
on the state level. Right now
you can and she is pushing a
petition on large load.
Customers which is the
dissenters which would not
protect. Residents and
customers from paying too
build the infrastructure for
those data centers.
Also want to mention.
From the
other speakers talking about
flock. I do find it concerning
that we are paying.
What was it $700,000. For these
flock cameras.
Meanwhile we had a lot of
pushback over
the study for the feasibility
so at the feasibility study for
600 and $30,000. So I'd advise
you. 2.
But Cameron agreement.
>> Meet Parsons. Please go
through an open putting up
state your name address across
Street you'll have 3 minutes to
address City Council.
>> Thank you my name is Amy
Parsons I love that one 66 21th
Avenue Southeast in St.
Petersburg here great state of
Florida.
I'd like to address the flock
cameras and I appreciate that
court ever brought that up
thank you. Allowed us to speak
about today and went to that to
the.
Engage with the other At the
library
I and and all that so what I'd
like to remind everyone you
probably already know but it's
a good reminder that all these
things are connected. The flock
cameras.
For me.
Erin here if you can turn off
your phones please and put it
on silent.
The flock cameras are you know
data and data centers love that
that that flock camera Dan a.
It can be used for so much
information and and Stuart
forever, you know, I mean let's
be real this information isn't
going to be debated ever.
The once they get it they love
it and
you know big money buys it so.
Things changed things have a
way of changing later on so
we're not voting for what's on
the necessarily on the table
right now we're voting for what
we have to the understand is
our future of privacy and
there's plenty of cameras all
over the city, you know private
and commercial cameras are all
over. We don't necessarily need
more.
You know I I recently
had my health insurance changed
and I asked my health insurance
company could they delete all
my data because I I
really don't think it needs to
be with the old Goethe new
company and I just like to
delete it all. They what
that doesn't work that way
ma'am it doesn't work that way
you know o well so
I said I want to talk to
somebody else and you know I to
I talked to somebody else in
and they just said we can't do
that so. That's interesting
that when you try to actually
literally delete the
information it just doesn't
happen.
I'm not for funding a data
center within the city or the
county. So really the bigger
picture. It are these data
centers that are going to eat
up a ton of energy. So you know
the waters another question but
the energy itself is
fascinating. And if you look at
there's
plenty of information online to
see data centers that are so
annoying within any area I mean
small or large.
They're very loud they're like
mom, you know who wants that in
their
neighborhood all the time I
mean give me a break.
Who wants the the the
disruption from the building of
it you know it disrupts the
water. We're already have
plenty of issues that we need
to address if the structure and
I very much appreciate that the
amount of time and effort that
the city is putting into our
our water because it's
something that you don't
necessarily see take for
granted. And I very much
appreciate the job in doing
Thank you MS.
>> It no more speakers we close
up and form and we go to the
next item on our agenda is I
won. MADAM Chair, if you could
take a report and come back to
I one.
I chair members of Council.
I am here to resume our
discussion of the ballot design
for the 2026.
Municipal general election.
On Tue. Afternoon I had a
conversation with the
supervisor of election and
supervisors general counsel and
has discussed in the memo that
I provided yesterday the
majority of the ballot design
is set the city's 5 referendum
questions will be at the
conclusion of the ballot
following the candidate races
and the 3 state constitutional
amendments. As I understand it.
The first city question will be
the last question on the first
card and the remaining 4
questions will be on the front
of the second card.
Additionally the supervisor and
for me that because the
division has not yet issued an
opinion to
resolve the difference of
interpretation between the
supervisor in the city as to
the ballot order for the
municipal questions. The
supervisor is open to
using the city's original
order. The copy of the e-mail
from the general counsel was
attached to your packet with
that in mind I prepared a
resolution that would revert
back to the original order
adopted by City Council on JULY
23th, if you would like to take
that action you can adopt a new
resolution or if you'd like to
stick with the alternate order
adopted on Aug. 6 no action is
needed with that I'm happy to
answer any questions.
Thank you so your update
basically is we have them back
to the default we wanted in the
first place.
At the supervisor has agreed
that in the absence of a
opinion from the
division she is willing to use
that water.
Councilmember guard us thank
you MADAM Chair. Brett thank
you for the update and that
being said we had a discussion
about this and I think so he is
willing to go with the original
proposal that certainly the one
I'd rather see I'd rather see
the go bond up there at the
beginning so I I all move
approval on the proposed
resolution presented 7.
The motion a second.
That's the other any other
requests to speak, we're
keeping an open meeting
for boating council members
please enter your votes.
In that out for the council
members
voted Cook these telling us the
vote.
MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve
agenda item I passes
unanimously.
Thank you thank you. Brooke.
Thank you Brett for your work
and for local here on vacation,
we don't see here on vacation,
welcome. Thank
you for coming and for that.
Next up we have f 3 it's a
report I pulled this real quick
for a good news. We've had a
couple of residents that have
issues getting tax blocks
and I the reason I wanted to
just pull it real quickly is
because it affects certain
residents and I want to make
sure we did put it out there as
to
what we're doing for the hacks
blocks.
So Marshall Hamptons from our
payment traffic operations
director. So we are putting in
an order for 5,000 square feet
or 5,005 square feet of hex
bar hexagon block favors.
Comes a little bit over $18,000
and for us
to sell back to people who need
it. It's not really only have a
few 100 and stock right now
which is the original ones,
we're buying different pavers
and having people pay for that
with a mark of a 25%
which is kind of administrative
costs for us to handle it
bringing in costs for paver bp
between
5 to $10. And that's really
because it we will count as
when they come in we expect a
little bit of a loss because we
have some brutal come in we
expect some loss but per the
bloc's we
get in the divided up by the
money to put into.
Appreciate the work that you
all have done on this because I
know it's very difficult for
people to get their papers on
their own searches. You know a
small amount and this will take
care of that issue. For
Councilmember Curtis, thank you
MADAM Chair, marshal. Thanks
for the quick presentation
chair thanks for pulling this.
I do think you know,
listen it's one of these things
we talked about this in a
committee or committee of the
whole I think and you know is a
pretty robust discussion and so
you know appreciate the
quick move to try to help
residents. I will just repeat
what I said in that committee
meeting that I that I hope we
get to a place
where we're transitioning away
from these and not to them I
want to I want to make sure
that the residents
that have it it's it's there
and it's safe. Just but just
from a 88 perspective, I mean
we've had this conversation I
just wanted to say it out loud
but I really think we should be
moving.
From the us, but I think this
is a fix and I
appreciate you go in and do it
quickly and and I know the team
was ready to do it this morning
when I saw him so very
appreciative move approval.
Second.
Motion second clerk and you can
open the machine for voting
council members
please enter your votes being
present council members
voted clerk please telling us
vote.
MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve agenda item f 3 passes
unanimously with councilmember
Floyd being absent thank u next
up we have f one this is a St.
Petersburg Police Department
quarterly report and we have
chief Holloway.
We're here good afternoon
chief.
Good afternoon chair council
members.
>> And representing the second
quarterly report for the year
of it. Both going to cover
the month of APRIL MAY and JUNE
overall crime in his city is
down by 3%. The five-year trend
crime is down by 15%.
Side and a pickup
also always say one is too
many. But like to make sure to
Council everybody out there
is where of the past 3 years.
Our Police Department has
closed not every homicide case
with the arrests are an
exception. I can put it up
against any city in the nation
to see that we every homicide
we have brought closure to a
family. So I just want to say
that mess do too the leadership
of chief of also and is
detective Annette Bureau.
So during this period, we have
5 homicide little as 5
homicide.
One was a domestic to argue it
was a robbery was a robbery and
drug-related.
Our homicides for this
quarter is equal to last year.
But again we are down 5 year
trend were down by 36%.
Thanks to our alcohol
tobacco far we have that Nabil
wishing that we talked about.
Do you see that number 88 does
mean we hit 80 shootings in
our city that means we were
able to connect showcasing to
other crime to come in 2 or 3
years ago, but thanks to having
his machine in our city now
we're not waiting 3 or
4 months down the road we're
getting within sometime within
a week sometimes in 2 were able
to say this gun was used at
this shooting or
the showcase the really to this
shooting so being able to link
these case together but with
quicker
then in the past and we could
see a trend that's out there.
So again without our
partnership with atf, we would
not be able to add this
information. This quickly.
As COUNCILMAN Governor would
make sure we keep track that is
we're doing better.
This quarter were down of 35
does from vehicle, but it's
still too many.
We want to remind everybody to
please be responsible gun
owners take your guns out of
your car or not so you can have
a weapon but take it out of
your car please you see is
still through city lot.
Office which you're going to
see for this quarter you're
going to see a
slightly uptick in some
categories but we normally see
that trend this time of year
kids are out of school. So we
have to deal with that. So you
sit up tick there. But now over
our trends.
So for robberies. Last court
last 4 reported was up by 18%.
Now it's down to 7%. Our 5 year
trend. Robberies are down by
12%. Burgers
were equal to last quarter.
In a 5 year
trend down by 24%. Don't the
continued to a great job of
people are locking their cars
and taking the key fobs out of
car down by 7% 5 year
trend down by 41%. Now with
that uptick in
kron you're
also going to see an uptick in
arrests because the men and
women are out there making
arrests of these cases due to
the technology that we have and
people working with us.
Traffic stops you see equal to
last quarter just about we're
accounts be made aware of it we
started this quarter would be
back inforcement we're doing
education and we're also doing
enforcement throughout the city
we're letting people be made
aware of about you, but we've
gone to school we want to
different places throughout the
city just to educate people let
them know these bikes are very
dangerous.
Our home team as you can see is
a trend with down discourse
we're very happy about that
that means or kids are coming
off of the program. Our Patty
continue to do a great
job vacancies are still making
contact with several of our
unhoused individuals in our
city in giving them the
assistance that they need.
And again.
It has moved want to show.
We're always contact the being
taken place and as you can see
they're taking place throughout
the city not just in downtown.
But
these a path to mow says will
go out and make contact we're
the unhoused individual are and
try to get them the help that
they need. Park walk
and talk the streaming up with
which we like to see also years
for people out of work that
means is when our weak we
expect also to got a card and
meet the people in the
community not looking for an
arrest. But you do some soul to
the community so they know they
also that are patrolling their
neighborhoods. Our legal our
program it went up by
14 per soon doesn't get a lot
of people that were You have a
ring cameras or any type of
cameras at their homes or
businesses. So if something
happens in that area, we know
we get a starting point we'll
knock on that door say can we
look at that video. The video
at your home or your business
captured the incident before it
happened in doing Amen to that.
Use of force as you can
see what slightly up this
quarter, but again also related
to arrests. I like to
think of councilmember the fix
we talk show and people were
amazed that we report this to
City Council about our use of
force as it every quarter City
Council made aware of it they
can ask questions about the use
of force that we used
throughout the city are
complaints. None of them are
related to use of force.
The one you see from the
citizen a contact with an
officer that professional
so we looked into that we did
have one use of force this
quarter.
But that was the do a sergeant
here, he
looked at the video he saw we
thought they also used too much
force I went through the
command staff we had a command
staff hearing yesterday it was
unfounded we also do use the
right amount of force. But it
just shows you the check and
balances to get sort of looked
at it and went to chain of
command. They went to also
professional standards for
myself and the 3 assistant
chief to look at to make sure
that we're in compliance with
the use of force.
Our call program is still I
will suit best in the world.
We do
have a season are called us and
asked us about this. During
this period of
time again over a 1000 contact
while to bring attention to in
one of the long for contact us,
96% of these calls are without
law enforcement. The tree
audits done by the 911 operator
want to give him credit for
that look at it to figure out
we don't need to send also
uniform that we need to so one
of our liaison there they go
there in the assist these
people are going through a
mental crisis and that last
line of the most important line
again want to thank the City
Council 0 incidents,
0 our liaison are making right
contacting
in these people right to make
sure that they need. For
together is probably what got
us started on the mayor was
voted on by the community and
we're still moving forward this
or first with the Suncoast
those are the kids that are in
foster care with kind of forget
about those kids we still give
those kids a connection that
they need is working well.
Gulf Coast, Jewish family
services. This is a program
again that we took it to the
next level when a kid Kim
is a non violent felony.
He or she didn't get a coach
they call it. Coach will walk
them through it. If you look at
that number 60 almost 64% of
the kids to go through this
program are not re offending
that's what we want. We want to
get these kids to draw so this
program is working is helping.
Are cooler for you.
Some of the cooler for you
still do see of why is a great
program and what it is a lot of
peers Keita for things that are
out there
so what's the of why does you
need helmets, big helmets for
the kids, whatever
equipment they need to give it
to him and then the next
program, not every kid was to
be an athlete so we have
the arts program. So we cover
that too. So this program
really covers
anything and everything that
the kids out there he also
thank the Council for voting
on what this Police Department
get this money. And the last
thing Paoli gust of you know we
see police out the Lenox we
kind of
like change that now is please
academic because we do a lot
there we want these kids to
want a lot.
And the last thing that would
be very proud of before me
before I came back in 1985.
St. Petersburg Police
Department started the National
accreditation. We are the
credit municipal agency in the
world. We have
so that means every cycle we go
through and
people coming from the outside
to make sure we fall we fall
the policy and procedures that
are set for we also dual
certify what that means is
we're not only national
certified were also state
certified. And that says a lot
about our men and women at
work force and it says a lot
about what we do. With that
open it for any questions.
Thank you too.
Councilmember Gavin, thank you
MADAM Chair and thank you chief
for a while for such as thank
you
period.
And that's really most of my
comments today so I first of
all want to thank you chief
kubasik I don't know if he's
here I can't see over
on that side areas for the
swift action last Fri. With
the threat at Northeast high.
And as council member
representing residents who send
their kids there, but also as a
parent to see the swift action
to see the follow-up other
responsiveness very very
grateful. And so I just wanted
to say that publicly on behalf
of parents
from Northeast high. Very
important to know that our kids
are safe and how seriously you
took
that threat so thank you for
that. Also want to thank you
for the e-bike safety campaign
so can you talk just a
little bit more about like.
Will we continue to do I know
that there was inforcement
again
Northeast high. I saw you all
out there will you continue to
do these enforcement around
the schools because I think
what we see a lot his kids
using their bikes
to get to school but with so
much congestion around the
schools and their you know
zipping in and out and things
like that it is very dangerous
so can you talk a little bit
about what
that you bike safety campaign
look like going forward.
So thanks to our traffic team
they are going to do that work
and what s Rosen will be
picking a school pie once a
month and going to a good just
educating kids and let them
know and let the parents know
one love thanks us that she
told her son not to take the
bike to school and Utica school
in.
And yes. So we're going
continue to do that but not
only just schools but
throughout the communities
because we want to continue to
educate our prayers and our
kids that
this is not a toy.
Well I can tell you is the mom
of a teenager, the word is on
street that you are out there
and we all know it so I
appreciate that
so thank you and then the last
thing just a shout out to major
Patterson
I called on a Sat. Night past
you
know needing some resources for
someone and jumped right on it
it was late at night on a Sat.
and I just cannot say enough
about the responsiveness of
your team. The way that you all
handle things the
way that you work together.
To make sure that we are
delivering services to our
residents wherever they MAY
need them.
And to keep our community safe.
I just really appreciate you so
thank you and thank you to the
entire team. Thank you ma'am,
thank you, MADAM Chair, thank
you
council member driskell.
Thank you and thank you chief
or the report is always great
to see. And the progress that
you're making in some areas and
they continued excellence and
others and you really do make
us proud.
They come in regarding and I
was wondering if you've
noticed any differences or
if the police officers had
noticed any differences over at
Saint Vincent de Paul and in
the last few weeks
Spoke very clearly and
passionately about the need
for some changes over there.
You are maybe chief divisive
wants to talk about it if
there's been a difference in
the cooperation with it
conditions in
surrounding the facility.
The conditions are getting
better. MS. Foster team have
done a great job of cleaning up
the area we have a does
some operations and their foot
what people can been complain
about you're going to continue
so you can continue to see our
downtown people patrol that
area and he also that night.
We don't see as many people on
the sidewalks anymore so
we are making that connection.
But I just going to be a
day-to-day thing that each day
we're going to get better at it
when we see some issues that
will be able to work with other
divisions of departments as you
know we can continue to make
that area much better what it
is.
>> And I know that
administrator Foster and her
team have been talking with the
folks
and there you are in leadership
there. And I was I was
wondering if pd has been
talking to them as well because
then and there are some issues
clear communication.
Major Bush is in charge of the
team she is in communication
with them. This artist
uncharted path team there's
always ongoing communication
they stop by their new. We want
to make sure we
work together we are working
together.
And that's good and speaking of
major base. I can't say enough
about her leadership. She takes
on a lot as a major for
downtown for past and for so
much more and she's
just an incredible asset to our
city and so I'm I'm grateful
for her and grateful to you for
putting her in that leadership
position. Thank you ma'am
all right, thank you, thank
you, thank you, MADAM Chair.
Thank you councilmember Kevin's
thank you very much, MADAM
Chair, thank you so much chief
for being here today I don't
think you all get enough credit
for the hard work that you put
in so on behalf of district 7 i
just want to say thank you to
all of our men and women in
uniform, we we see what
you do and your labors not in
vain. We appreciate it want to
add on to what COUNCILMAN Ever
said I want to thank you for
your quick response a good
time. Last week we know there
was a situation that occurred
over there so
likewise cp police responded
quickly. The swiftly and safely
so thank you so much for
keeping our kids safe and
speaking of kids safety.
I saw the social media campaign
with the bike safety. I love
it. You all are listening and I
appreciate that thank you so
much can you talk a little bit
chief about e-bike enforcement
specifically
along the Pinellas County
trail. I don't know if your
traffic officers are out there
enforcing that right now if so
what does that look like how
has the response look.
And are
we educating those bikers out
there.
I can see you have the traffic
enforcement in the community
service officers, they're doing
the same thing they're going to
the spots that they're hearing
about that are going out there
doing education first and then
we fall would inforcement so
whether it's on a troll is
throughout the city is where
these problems are and what are
we what resources do we need to
bring toward that so I would
tell you they are out there on
the trail if you need
some numbers icann finals
numbers for you but I know
they've had a plan in place
we're going like that we we've
done the
school that's what our kids we
want to take our as council
members always to take our baby
so we would go out to them for
student Worthen go throughout
the city and continue to
address the educate these kids
and apparently they're not
aware of how fast a motorbike
or side hustle can go. I agree.
Their problem scenes.
You see them there causing real
crashes real injuries and real
lives are being lost so I'm
happy to hear that we are being
proactive there so I would love
to see those numbers
specifically asking because I
don't know there could
be correct me if I'm wrong but
I don't believe there is is
there signage along the trail
enforcing speed
limits for things like the
bikes.
I don't know that social media
check would do this. Yes, those
are new service
also are trafficked people now
get an answer before the end of
the week, thank you I
appreciate that the models talk
teaching protect this the best
way to
do this appreciate you all.
We
Safety and the creative
solutions that Police
Department has implemented over
the years to respond to some of
the changing needs of our
community everything from call
to path. We brought up
in the 4 in the past.
How we can respond to
specifically the dream
defenders
request for those community
navigators and I brought this
up you before chief finding out
how we can
sort of tap into.
>> The.
The young adult population,
specifically and utilize them
when it comes to addressing to
these nonviolent crimes that
are occurring using them to
target specific demographics
specifically their peers have
we had any
further conversation about
restructuring the department to
include more community
Navigator specifically.
Our young people.
And again I think the contract
recall is coming up where you
already voted on it so it
doesn't a conversation we would
have to have with that group we
want to make sure we bring on
people that
no what they're doing because
that's what you about police
also we do a lot of those were
things that kellock outside our
scope so we brought in experts
to handle that. So we'll
continue to have that
conversation to see how we can
bring in more navigated that
they can train that they can
talk to you. So it continues to
young adults up
how do we continue to make them
better.
Well that is encouraging and
I'm hopeful that we can
continue this dialogue. Thank
you so much, thank you chair.
Thank you as a member fixing.
Thank you.
Well chief you Rhonda but I
want to again
thank you for the report.
But more importantly I want to
thank you for
always being accessible between
you and assistant chief of ice
Ivins.
I mean you have always been
there to answer the calls to
follow up into the tank, so I
concur with my colleagues in
complementing in commending
you I so that my colleagues.
No way I'm going we had a
conversation called the police
and the people and I picked up
the phone and I contacted chief
Holloway can you be there.
And when I tell you that was
one of the most fulfilling
community conversations that
we've participated for very
long time.
But what I walked away with
from that conversation is that
the city of St. Petersburg has
been a game changer. Long
before we knew we were a game
changer. I mean the
opportunities that we provide
the programs
that we have the services from
Cole. They talked about
civilian police review board
we've been doing that for 20
30 use. They talked about
getting a monies from some of
the the drug bust in but we've
been given for for 2 grants
putting money back in the
community for how many years.
So
that that conversation alone
was to Testament has to have
the city of St. Petersburg
takes its public safety.
Commitment
very highly in so again, thank
you for being there was myself
the interim police
chief Owens from Tampa I
believe end of an attorney and
a couple other organizations
that would there
but if nothing else that
conversation showcased what we
have here in the city of St.
Petersburg so I thank you for
that I thank you again for your
leadership and your officers
who I always on call I mean if
if if they allow me to can
only and is you know one of the
7 other. Council doing when
they pick up those calls.
But I just want to publicly
thank you for that and also
your offer to continue those
conversations too. Our other
districts here in the city
of Saint Petersburg's that we
can have that conversation
moving beyond conversation to
commitment to getting things
done so again thank you chief,
I appreciate you so much
for offering that and also
being available and to all the
officers that are listening
thank you so much for your
service.
Thank you chair.
You councilmember Curtis, thank
you very much, MADAM Chair.
Councilor fix centers, you're
the only one that bugs
leadership of the labor unrest,
the rest of us are perfect to
Chief thank you so much for.
Always coming in and sharing
the day with us. I don't really
have anything other than to
say. I was glad you brought up
the e-bike.
>> Social media campaign that.
Your apartment has been doing.
>> I just wanted to offer.
A suggestion I guess Johns
Hopkins all children's has been
doing their own e-bike campaign
and it would be interesting if
there was
some crossover with both both
on the education from a here's
what you should do before
getting hurt and if you do get
hurt. You know helmets and
things like
that their yard has done some
really good. Social media
campaigns about the type of
helmet you
should be wearing things like
that and so I just thought it
could be good crossover because
you're both attacking it
frankly right And so I just
thought I'd bring it up but
otherwise thank you so much for
the update. Thank you. Thank
you to the team and everybody
back of the department just
very thankful for all of you.
Thanks MADAM Chair.
And so I can tell you this
Fernandez in the audience
behind me and we are working
with them we're trying to
figure out like say show the
kids what happens.
It is serious when they get
that thank you
thank you councilmember
capping.
Well that actually just brought
up something I meant to ask
earlier and forgot so
the helmets, I mean none of
these kids wear helmets.
I think like in our area, you
know north-northeast there's
really one kid out of all of
these kids wearing helmets,
it's a cultural thing right
like the
kids are too little too cool to
wear helmets. Is it an actual
so like if you get them for
speeding is there another
infraction for not wearing a
helmet or like is that just
a safety issue that you know we
can't
really police our way out of.
i think he's probably going to
be the Legislature. We have is
yeah is it was raided it I
think its 25th can remember.
There is a motorcycle didn't
work. Then you know you have to
try to figure it out but right
now there's no requirement for
I have a helmet on okay so
all right that's something.
To kind of think about that you
know as as lair we start to
talk about you know priorities
and working with our
legislature on you know
potentially putting bills
forward. Maybe
there's something that can be
done there because I mean it is
you know that's one of the
things like I publicly say
I won't buy my teenager and
e-bike.
Because I know even if I bought
him one and a helmet as soon as
he takes
office and put the helmet on
right. That's just unfortunate.
But if there was a way that
there was some sort of
enforcement around it.
>> Easier because regardless of
what speed they're going they
should be wearing one so
okay all right, thank you.
And thank you and believe there
was a bill that would be told
well you keep any vice of
course
this session. Councilmember
Curtis, it's funny men to Saint
Anthony's I think you could
probably
add the dentists on that list
of people that pi think people
should
be protecting that the 3 had
their faith 15 Min everything
because everybody I've talked
to
the injuries are severe like
when when they fall off whether
it's
the bikes or scooters or
whatever it's really severe so
to all the council member
comments on the campaign for
e-bike on e-bikes
great work. I was just at a
neighborhood meeting and the
community service officer was
there with other officers that
were talking about the
campaign provided to
literature.
And going out there is a really
pervasive problem you seek you
just see the more and more
everywhere.
And I think a lot of people
think it is convenient for a
lot of people to get their
kid maybe to school on any
fight except that it is
extremely dangerous and I think
the danger is that the e-bikes
I think need to be covered more
broadly.
This meant that
so thank you very much and
I seen other requests to speak.
We will move on to the next
item. Thank you chief.
>> Is that John are quad is
coming to present this item.
Yes, thank you, I'm gonna ask
atomic you to join me. Yet none
of my side over there with them
even not to run from Claude.
So.
So John normally would be here
unfortunately he and his
mother-in-law passed away
suddenly home Arco so you know
keep him
this family in your prayers, so
I don't know as much about this
as John did or as much as Tom
does times really the one
who is really put this program
together.
So he has the information that
he'll share with you we believe
this is a good news item.
Which is why
you know we like it on report.
And we believe this checks the
box and a lot of year is in
terms of security of our
utilities resilience of our
utilities. This is definitely a
spa related islet live Tom
explain what we're doing.
Thank you Tom
ft com.
Yeah, thank top my name's Tom
make him a senior manager
with water resources department
and one of the divisions within
that department is your skate a
department which
kind of I'm I'm I manage myself
I'm here to kind of give you
the background it for this
report agenda were seeking
approval to enter a 20 year
lease agreement between the
city of St. Petersburg and
unity fiber incorporated.
>> Shortly after approval is
this agreement the city will
have fixed in an exclusive on
managed access to a fiber optic
communication loop. That
connects 9 critical water
resources facilities. I'll
explain to you here what having
exclusive unmanaged access.
Contains right so the purpose
of this fiber loop is so that
we can run on
skate and network on these
fibers.
I'm not sure if some of the of
not heard about skated before
it stands for supervisory
control and
data acquisition which is the
system that our department uses
to monitor control automate
water wastewater and pumping
operations throughout the
entire city.
In practice Kate is a
technology lets the operator
see what's happening at Lis
station Street between plants
pump stations and other remote
facilities in real time.
And take action if needed.
This is especially
important for our sparge
actives because as as
part of our spar objectives.
There's a plan in place to run
our treatment plants as long as
possible during storm a bench.
And to accomplish this we MAY
need to evacuate these plants
were all all our personnel
would have to leave the site
and we have the ability to
operate these
plants until the storm surges
reach a certain level where we
MAY have to have the decision
to.
Cut the
electricity to the plans to say
from sable quitman for o storm
operations.
So we. We built in
the ability in this new system
to shut down these electricity
said and also monitor
these plant
operations through cctv
coverage and we have moisture
sensors intellectual buildings
in place that all of the
signals get transmitted to this
do to skate in that work to
him. 2 are building it water
water resources.
This further
further benefit Reich is long
gone. This lease agreement to
provide long-term network
reliability and stability.
By looping this network if any
stretch of the network actually
gets breached because this
system is looped Communications
can reversed direction and we
can still communicate with a
lot of our facilities.
This is an improve cyber
security benefit in which is a
that which is
a hot topic today we've
just received reports that
there are bad actors that are
actually trying to target these
industrial networks and I
having our own managed.
Network.
It's almost
it's very difficult to tap into
this these fiber optic show I
mean it's kind of.
It's much beneficial to to
actually have control over on
our.
We had access to high bandwidth
least this lease agreement.
We'll give us interference free
communication.
And then I
think a touch base on that as
well as what we say one thing
by
having control of our own
network. We can control the
speed of communications that
then we can transmit through
there and that limitation is.
Just in the equipment, you know
that we have but in the future
these Whitman technology will
just get better and we'll have
the ability to do accommodate
any additional bandwidth
requirements.
But the most important one I
think one of the most important
things is is this lease will
lock us into a 20 year
agreement with the rate that
stay stable for the end tire 20
year term.
This we also have provisions in
the contract that if we make
this decision and after a few
years we want to go with a
different technology or as some
sort we will be able to to come
terminate this agreement with
unity under certain with with
certain provisions that are in.
Other than that
I Well 1 one more item the you
know the maintenance
responsibilities would be
clearly on the community fiber
and they I and then if we
actually lose his
communications still be out
there repairing the son of an
assortment of time so.
Thank you for your
consideration and with the
information that
I just presented here. I feel
that entering this long-term
agreement is in the best
interest for the city will
thank you Sir have
councilmember Curtis. Thank you
MADAM Chair. So.
>> I know just enough about
this to probably make me a
little bit dangerous but not
that much so don't get too
word.
So there are essentially
building the backbone between
the sites and we're leasing the
backbone back from them.
So we have the loop system.
Throughout the sites and his
career
our servers on premise.
We have servers on on on our
yeah.
And then we have ridden that we
have redundancy off permits.
>> I'm not.
Gather with their questions so
of like power goes down
to where our server is we have
redundancy to add to a separate
server that's off premise.
Well if we have power there
than our network switches will
go down and we wouldn't be able
to get checked out
aforementioned, okay,
do have backup.
We have we have redundant
backup power at all of our at
all sites. Ok alright that was
my next question okay and so
got it and so what at the end
of the 20 year lease do we have
the option to buy the backbone.
>> That has not been ok I am I
we have unity here
>> my guess is they don't want
to us, but it's not in the
agreement as I got it written
right now, yes, Sir.
I love that
it's a loop system and.
There's a lot of really good
things about this I'll just
leave it there before getting I
don't want people think I'm a
nerd. Move approval.
Coming in.
We have a motion a second see
no other request. The clerk if
you can open making
for boating council members
please enter your votes.
And in for the
council members of footage
Berkeley's telling us about
chair the motion to approve
agenda item passes unanimously.
Thank you and thank you Sir.
We move
on to new business or not is
one and that is by surfline.
Thank respectfully requesting a
referral to the public services
and infrastructure
Committee or other relevant
Committee for discussion on the
city's contract with flock
safety
in the use of flock cameras in
the city. You know we haven't
had a discussion about it in
the past I think it's a good
thing for us to do in
committee.
That's the basis of this all
move approval,
second.
We have a motion in the 2nd
quarter you can open the
machine for voting. Members
please. Ended up raising
council members voted clerk
please tell announce the vote.
MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve
agenda item g one passes
unanimously.
Next up we have to be to
referral to a kill ut
councilmember Givens thank you
chair respectfully requesting
referral to the housing land
use and Transportation
Committee or other relevant
Committee for discussion on
regulating autonomous vehicle
standards and safety oversight.
>> This discussion should focus
on comprehensive review and
discussion regarding regulatory
frameworks road compatibility
and safety standards for
automated driving systems.
The discussion should also
include measures law
enforcement can implement to
address specific concerns about
autonomous vehicles with that I
move approval,
second.
And motion a second clerk and
you can open the machine for
voting council members please
enter your votes. And it
appears and council
members voted quickly telling
us about.
MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve the agenda item g 2
passes unanimously.
Thank u next up is the 3 that's
my respectfully requests are
for all to budget finance and
taxation Committee for an
update on federal emergency.
The agency reimbursements
insurance proceeds grants in
all
of the revenues receiving
connection.
With insurance with hurricane
related expenses move approval
back in in the motion a second
clerk if you can open the
machine for voting.
All Councilmember Curtis.
I just quickly with SEPTEMBER's
be fnt open is do you think
administration could come is
that I'm not funny.
That's actually was mentioned
when we were talking about at
the committee of the whole so
they MAY be able to do it on
SEPTEMBER if
it's off it's fine with you.
Hopefully we're probably
fine with whatever I didn't
want to I didn't want to
surprise.
Anybody know I appreciate I we
have the information I think we
can you ok so we'll go ahead
and add that the next month bf
and teacher okay sounds good.
>> We have a motion second
clerk to begin over the machine
for voting council members
please enter your votes present
council members to quickly
selling out the vote.
MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve agenda item g 3 passes
unanimously
next step we have h one.
That's by hear Floyd
it's tell you t action item.
Requests fully respect we do
this.
Is it for you to say I all the
time like I go home and I say I
again
said request fully respect the
Respectfully requesting City
Council approval of
the motion to move the referral
item regarding potential
changes to the city
code related historic
preservation and designation
from the housing land use and
transportation are many refer a
list of the committee of the
whole referral us to move
approval second election second
clerk if you can open admission
for boating council members
present.
Being that all present
councilmembers a good clerk
please telling us that.
MADAM CHAIRMAN to approve
tonight a page passes
unanimously.
Thank u next up we have a
public hearing item k one that
can be heard actually before 5
o one, correct. It's great
that's correct.
Okay.
This isn't an ordinance
amending an ally vacation
ordinace
located at 18 34st Avenue South
in 1850 Central Avenue
to replace condition number 5
work.
The pows or Dec. 11 79 dash v
in Ford's amending ordinance
1172 dash v which approved the
vacation of the Western 120
feet of the 20 foot alley
abutting lots 5 through 8.
In blocked 16 Fuller
subdivision located in 18 34st
Avenue South in 1850 Central
Avenue.
We place in condition number 5.
In section 3 in providing for
an effective date. We do not
have any cards.
>> Is anybody think the public
approval seconded the motion a
second clerk if you can open
the machine for voting.
Council members pleaded to a
vote in that office and
council members to quickly
selling out to vote.
MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve agenda item j one
passes unanimously.
Well we have gotten to the part
of our agenda out where the
remaining
items have to be at 5 oh one.
Before we adjourn I just want
to let everyone know that
councilmember greatness and
notify me and MR. Bill Edwards
has passed away.
For those
who know MR. Edwards on.
It's a huge loss for city.
Councilmember driskell thank
you if we I was actually going
to talk about it at the
end of our meeting tonight that
if we can and if any I'm going
to say a few words at the end
of the meeting and perhaps we
could have a moment of silence
at that time as well. Thank
you.
>> Being said we're in right.
>> In
>> a
>> It. It.
>> One.
>> In
>> a
Food.
>> In
>> Food.
>> Evening
>> everyone we're back in
session.
We are starting the public
hearing and was a good issue of
proceedings. And the first item
ha 2 this is the f why 2027
utility rates and charges.
Clerk if you can go ahead and
read the
ordinances.
Proposed ordinance number 6.44
dash age in orange relating to
sanitation rates and charges
the main chapter 27 section 27
dashed 5 57 of the St.
Petersburg city code. The many
rates and charges for
sanitation services, providing
for
severability provisions
providing an explanation in
words struck through and
underlined establishing a day
to begin calculating you rates
for the purposes and provided
for an effective date.
Which is not we're public
comment. We're reading are all
the ordinances. The next pope
where does this proposed
ordinance number 6.46 dash ph
an orange relating to utility
rates. Any section 27 dash 4,
0, 5, subsections
b one and b 2. This up the
brick city code amending the
stormwater utility fee amending
the 2 rate structure fees for
single-family residential
parcels providing for
severability provisions
providing an explanation in
words struck through and
underlined establishing a date
to begin calculating you reach
for billing purposes and
providing for an effective
date.
The next one is the proposed
ordinance number 6.45 dash ph
and orange really.
And charges men chapter
27 section 27 dash 4 27 dash
one o 9 b 27 dash one o 9 d
27 dash one 13 b
27 dash one 41 a 27 dash one 41
be 27 dash one
27 dash one 43,
27 dash one 44 27 dash one 46
be 27 dash one 46 d
27 dash one 77 a
27 dash one 77 d
27 dash
2 5827 des to 83 a 27 dash
2.84, a
27 dash 2.84 d 27 dash 3.35 g
and 27 dash 3.37.
Petersburg city code
any liability for charges and
many charges for potable water
connection and many water
relocation charge them any
charges commending meter
relocation charges many meteor
part.
Relocation charge any
charges for possible meters
amending based
in volume charges for water
service and many various
service charges and many
coastal water service charges
for the city of Qom port
removing references to common
combination.
Fire service and many fire
service charges. Any rates and
charges for irrigation only any
recent charge for commercial
water only accounts in recent
charges for reclaim water
service. Any circuit past the
fee. And many retail and
wholesale wastewater service
charges removing grease
discharge permit fee. Any
increased management program
fees, providing for
severability provisions
providing an explanation of
what struck through an
underlying establishing a day
to be in calculating new
charges for billing purposes in
providing for an effective date
and we do have speakers and
chair okay, thank you.
Thank the speaker.
I'm gonna call 2 at a time when
I call your name please go to
an open podium. State your name
address or cross Street for the
record you have 3 minutes to
address City Council, the first
2 speakers are and the unknown
and Jim Johnson.
>> My name is Linda. Anello I
live in Harbour Isle what to
know one
74 circle Northeast St.
Petersburg Florida. And I'm
here today to ask you as
my representative and a
representative government to
please vote no on the proposed
increase,
I'd like to also ask you what
steps has the city taken to
reduce expenses before asking
residents to pay higher utility
rates. We're a lot of us here
look like we're on a fixed
income and these rates are
hurting us and I know you don't
represent
to hurt people. I also would
like to ask why are the
residents being asked to absorb
increases in several different
utilities at the same time.
What is the projected total
increase to the average
homeowner's bill over the next
5 years. I know this increase
doesn't sound like much.
But over a five-year period.
Well with
that increase be for your
constituents and also are there
any expenses and the utility
budgets that could be postponed
or eliminated to reduce the
increase and how
as I said will these
increases affect seniors and
residents on a fixed income and
I thank you for hearing and
listening. Thank you.
>> Good afternoon Jim Johnson,
one oh 2, 1, 92, 39th Street
North. 2, 3, 7, 1, 3,
is that all you need.
This it could. Good afternoon
and.
I know I'm a little late to
have an impact on these
proposed increases in water and
sewer rates
into decisions must be made
today. But I will provide a
short
history of the past increases
will be addressing the bond
request on the NOVEMBER ballot
because
they are intertwined for this
conversation. First item being
utility rates second item being
references on the NOVEMBER
ballot. Utility rates of water
and sewer. Our services provide
every household the city.
The information I would provide
Ng is a quick summary. But
there is also a great deal more
information else trey ships
about the history on today's
agenda.
The evaluation period for 6
years and
2021 to 2026. Announces from
JANUARY or Feb. 20 21. The
water rate back in 2021 usage
was to 28 per 1000 gallons.
The t b w was to 48 for
2010 thousand gallons one
touchdown. Skews me for a total
of $4.76 per 1000 down.
The sewage rate was $8 per 1000
pounds.
FEBRUARY of 2026. The water
usage rate is 4.19. The tv w's
to 64. 4 total of 6.83.
Sewage rates $11.
This illustrates a 43% increase
and water sewage.
Those trading an average annual
increase of 8.6%.
And a 38% increase and you are
should an average increase of
7.4%. This is in just 6 years.
Now for the year 27. There will
be an increased an average of
7% to add to these rates.
They will continue to be rate
increases each year.
And possibly more than one in a
year. This cannot continue to
rate increases are far beyond
inflationary adjustments.
The annual budgets for these
services include money for
capital improvement improvement
projects. This will be relevant
to much discussion on the bond
issue. I have a trouble except
in the cost of these services
have increased at this rate
over a short period of time.
They are excessive and
illustrate a failure of
controlling cost containment
for wages insurance
maintenance. Etc these issues
should be addressed within the
respective departments, current
utility rates are out of
control and cannot be continued
at this pace.
General referendum.
>> Thank you Sir, sorry, most
by quickly.
Next 2 speakers are Matthew
Freeman and
Holly no please go to an open
podium. State your name address
or cross Street for the record
you have 3 minutes to address
the City Council.
>> My name is Matt frame and I
live at 1650 Robinson drive
North. Thank you City Council
members for this opportunity to
speak on the propose utility
rates and
agenda item j to see. I
recognize additional revenue is
needed to update and
modernize infrastructure.
I would discourage increasing
the potable water and water
wastewater base rates for
residents. It's a constantly
references affordable housing.
But there's more to that than
just rent or mortgage,
increasing base rates adds to
the monthly costs are
unavoidable by residents.
High fixed charge hits a low
use and the low income
customers regardless of how
carefully they can serve.
Speaking from my monthly bill
I pay over a $100 a month with
0 water usage which is over
$1200 a year.
The say is already considering
a proposed 7 and a half percent
increase to
the variable water block great.
And propose 6 and a half
percent increase at the
wastewater variable rate so I
would recommend shifting the
proposed increase the base rate
to that.
I would further suggests that
the proposed increase to the
variable water block great be
reconsidered so the difference
is not 7 a half percent
across each of the 4 blocks
then increasing or progressive
percentage for each block of
water usage.
This is the mayor redesigning
held the seat proposes to
collect the additional revenue
in doing so the city will
collect revenue where the costs
primarily curse from water
consumption. Not
merely from having a water
connection. And further if it
encourages water conservation
that will only serve to extend
the lifespan of infrastructure
that the city is looking
to update our ice to summarize
I would ask that the sea
consider and alternative rate
schedule than the one currently
proposed for water and
wastewater. Thank you thank
you. Go ahead.
>> My name is
Holly Noah 8, 1, one Placido a
Northeast I'm here to urge you
to vote no on the
proposed utility rate increases
in fiscal year 2025 Saint Pete
earned million from
water resources, 41 million
from storm water and 65 million
from sanitation. $324 million
in revenue total. And that was
before rates went up
for the 5th year in a row after
expenses, including
depreciation those 3 utility
still generated more than $72
million in operating income.
So why pray tell does the city
need
to raise rates again. The Aug.
13th budget and finance packet
cites rising costs for labor
material infrastructure,
regulatory compliance. But the
city doesn't show us how those
increased costs justified.
The increased rates. In fact
the same packet shows proposed
operating expenses, declining
0.4 in water resources and
nearly 2% in storm water.
So why does the city need to
raise rates again. My utility
bill has increased nearly 24%
since 2022. And that includes
a 35% increase in reclaimed,
and nearly 60% increase in
storm water. The city's
projections call for increases
every year through 2031.
7% water resources, 8 and a
half percent stormwater 6%
sanitation
and nearly 10%. In reclaimed
and that does not include the
10% city imposed tax
on water and reclaimed water.
By 2031 my utility bill we'll
increase another 45% to nearly
$250 a month
nearly $3,000 a year, 900 of
which 4 reclaimed water.
Importantly the city doesn't
publish reclaimed water
financials I asked my
councilmember for them his
office had to request them from
staff and I still don't have
them. Yet the city says
reclaimed rates cover only 80%
of cost and proposes nearly 10%
annual increases for 5 years to
maintain that level really
I'm sorry prove it. The city
has benefited from significant
increases in property tax
revenues and utility rate hikes
yet according to
fiscal 25 financials more
than $26 million was
transferred out of water storm
water and sanitation to the
general fund through payment in
lieu of taxes. And now the city
comes back to residents with
an open hand asking for more.
You need more money from the
people the people who cannot
live without water prove it
prove that what you're already
collecting is not enough and if
if and until you can prove it.
You must vote no.
>> Thank u next 2 speakers.
>> Next 2 speakers rfe alter
arrow in Patty's adults.
Please go to an open podium
state your name address or
cross Street for the record
you'll have 3 minutes to
address City Council.
>> Good evening my name
is Raphael Guerreiro I live at
6210. Second Avenue North
Petersburg 3, 3, 7, 1, 0, My
phone number is 7 a 6,
3, 7, 4, 6, 9, to 4. My email
is art rare 41. You know just
in case. 41.
And yeah that come.
I say in a name and email this
morning to all of you I don't
know if any of you read that
and I see some heads nodding
which is good.
I do I've been utility business
for 55 years. I have never
seen. It continues rate.
Increase like this one here.
I move here.
I said retired guy and I can I
see how people who survived
this increase. Now you're
proposing is crazy. What you
have to do what MISTER Given
was saying is 2 to 3%
go back to the consultant Rome,
the numbers again it will take
20 minutes to run it.
No more than that again with
your staff and said you have to
cut these projects and get the
discount and that's the way you
do. Rate cases you just don't
goal. And I don't know what
your numbers came from is not
really
clear where that came from if
you give the consultant and
number he's going to come up
with a rate. So go back to your
staff tell him to look at the
projects
really look at the project what
ifs in that wish list and what
do you really need. And go from
there.
Thank you have a nice evening.
And if you have any question
you got my phone and my email.
Everybody else has to.
>> Hi there my name is
Patty so dot and I am saying
que resident living at
1619 Pennsylvania Avenue
Northeast, e p and cross wrote
is I guess 62th Avenue.
Good okay. Resident Saint Pete
and I thought my home in 36
since that time my water bill
has increased. 180% over the
past 20 years from 20
from
2006 to 2026. We have all so we
all need water and we can't
live without it,
that's why we need to be good
stewards of this
essential resource and service.
The reason I'm here is
to ask for transparency.
How safe housing Pete is
calculating the water resource
rate increase in 20. 27,
there are 2 por important
questions what is planned for
2027 the city's recent annual
utility rate. Financial study
projected to 7% increase in the
retail water rate
for 2027. That same study
projects of course we all know
the water increasing 7% waste
water to 7%.
Plus reclaim water plus 9.7 5.
The storm water, 15%.
These increases are scheduled
to take
place obviously in Oct. 1st.
Why is the city increasing the
rates the rates get the
increase aren't simply because
the city expects to use more
water.
Utility system needs additional
revenue to cover
aging water and wastewater
infrastructure. Capital
improvement projects debt
service, operating costs such
as the labor service services
and materials maintenance
adequate. Just months
reserves.
>> My.
Distinct question then is why
can't the city in new Marie
rising costs for 2027 water
rate
increased by providing a clean
line by line accounting of what
is driving the increase.
The Saint Pete water reserves,
operating fund experience a
projected or projected to go
down is projected to
go down 4%. So why are we going
up why are rates increasing.
The city needs to go back to
the finance department.
And asked them to show you how
to explain to its residents
line by line. The map
on why the city is
proposing an increase in the
water rates I vote of course no
for an increase in the rate.
>> Next 2 speakers
are Bruce Nevins and Carla camp
please go to an open podium
state your name address or
cross Street for the record
you'll have 3 minutes to
address City Council.
You can go ahead Sir.
Hello my name is Bruce Nevins I
never 5136 28th Avenue North.
The cross Street is York.
And I'm here as a.
Family home.
Renter
my rent is going up every year
for the last 6 years that I've
been renting before that on the
House and got covid states for
20 years. And of course costs
were going up quite crazy over
there. But I'm not quite sure
why every year we continue to
have utility rate increases
when I don't see any different
service or better service is it
just a labor costs
is it. As has been mentioned
infrastructure replacement.
Again, everybody's saying be
clear about this and be
transparent about it. None of
that seemed to happen. You have
a you haven't way of doing this
where you have a
reading of the ordinance
supposedly and then you have a
public hearing and then
immediately after we talked to
you you're going to vote on
this that doesn't make any
sense how can you understand
what we should ask you about
how can you do anything about
what we've asked you about why
can't you be. At least
respectful of the citizens in
dealing with them in a very
transparent manner. Thank you.
Thank you.
My name is Carla count.
My address is 1419 42nd Avenue
North St. Petersburg Florida,
3, 3, 7, 1, 4, Sadly I am a
block and a half outside the
city limits so everything that
you're talking about you
can add an extra 25% to me.
The chief Lloyd would be my guy
I do have seen Pete water.
So I am here to talk about
that. I'm also a candidate
for Senate here. What I'm
hearing is people coming to you
with numbers which I'm very
impressed with that they've
done the research and I'm
wondering why that hasn't been
done internally what I would
like to say as someone who had
their entire road. Throughout
the city ripped up in the city
County event together where
they replace the water
twice. Ever since we've had
problems with water meters
there are thousands of
complaints about the water
meters not being right about
people getting charged
thousands of dollars for water
they've never consumed and
houses that are empty.
There are just as many
complaints and save the mayor's
office has been talked to
repeatedly you guys haven't
talked repeatedly, and no one
isn't anything. My next door
neighbor said to me. 2 months
ago hated your water bill the
weird. There is out of the blue
with 0 leaks they did have it
professionally tact was over
$200. That's outrageous.
I had this multiple times this
year alone. This is the second
time I've come here this year
alone with the same issues and
never gotten help.
I for one would appreciate you
guys not making this go up
until we have it under control.
We need to figure out if this
is a software issue. If people
have bad meters
whether its new leaders that
are bad. I don't know these
other facilities, but the
person who was at my house
today flat out told me I have
an old meter despite the fact
that they replaced it twice
just 2 years ago. So someone's
not doing records, right,
someone doesn't know to
calculate things right
something to some effect.
Highly inaccurate.
So I don't understand why you
guys where you're getting the
basis for to even raise the
funding when you don't know
what's really
happening with their water
system here. These guys had
very impressive numbers clearly
there's a discrepancy United
study accounting slim Italia
that's a huge discrepancy I
have to take that forward with
me but I would like I would
encourage you to dig in further
and get some actual numbers and
have people actually figure out
what's going on in their water
system. Before you start
charging people more money.
When it's already to point that
people can't afford to live.
That is most certainly as
someone else said and
affordability issue. Thank you.
Thank you.
Final 2 speakers are ging
coffin and Nathan Yang please
go to an open podium state your
name address across Street for
the record you'll have 3
minutes to address City
Council.
>> Hi my name is Jamie kah fun.
My dad, 28 24th Avenue
North St. Petersburg Florida.
I didn't even know about this
because I've been living in
citrus County because in citrus
County I have spring well water
and so I do not have a water
bill. But by has been has a
small business owner here so he
still lives in our house.
So it's just him I come home on
the weekends are unless I have
a doctor's appointment because
I am in. Have some
critical health problems.
But I am we got
our water bill 3 months ago and
it was
$2,352.91 and that's just him
and maybe me 3 times a month.
And so I said
well that's a mistake all just
go down there. You know that
there should be no problem he
was like oh.
I went down there and
I couldn't even talk to anybody
and they told me you have to
have you have to hire a company
to make sure you're not a leak
has this large amount it's
something major going on.
So I hired a company and they
came out and they did a leak.
Thank and they said there's no
leak here. So my son. He is
very on.
Handyman type and so he took
videos of with the time and the
date of a video with the meter
and it wasn't it wasn't running
so. Anyway, I
took all this stuff back.
And they said oh well we'll
give it to the Super.
Supervisor will.
Re correct it so today
I went down there because it
came back that I still owe this
money. And so she wouldn't let
me talk to a supervisor
and I am
was kinda you know, oh wow
that's how it is I said well
you tell me I to do this and I
did that. Oh wow
so she says if you want you can
write out something and they
will see. Take it back to the
supervisors so I wrote that but
I noticed that the address that
that was going to be sent to
was here and I had no idea this
was City Hall.
So I've Google had to get to
this place and it happened to
be you all were in the meeting
this morning down there and I
said oh GOD is putting me here
for a reason and I am in the
middle of having it.
And attack and so I really
should even be here. But I felt
that I need to comments and say
that this is not right
and the budgets, I'm noticing I
was a single mom and I own my
own small business and I had to
budget everything and I feel
like maybe the budgeting is it
right here because of the hike.
Hi
price that you want to add and
I think that the computer
system is wrong. I mean some
thank you.
>> Someone MISTER Schulte
talking about your it's you.
>> my name's Nathan Yang I love
it to answer 9 been you know a
self it states.
So I called a couple things I
think are hopeful of that
situation, I've also been a.
Water here later something like
$100 bill and I'm like oh my
gosh
it's from and paid the price
but I did see a recent Nielsen
says Analytics to do
automated metering of show you
which it brings a lot of hope
to the situation in terms of
visibility and usage and future
I've read studies that have
been suggested. Also notice
there is like a $40 million a
contract with nasa management
company which should bring a
lot of visibility into the
capital budget Capex
expenditures.
Coming up, especially when used
and that is used just for its I
think there's some good things
come in that have been moved
on. And I'd also like to.
You know given all the input
today advise maybe contacting
the Florida, rural water
Association.
St. Petersburg not necessarily
a rural community. They do have
asked management team that this
fiscal sustainability studies.
The requirements of.
Meaning the state revolving
fund choir months.
Adopted
by councils like yourself
across the state. Support in
the requests from the community
so its free resource on folks
are great.
I think it would bring some
additional support in addition
to the consultants forgetting a
third-party of has years of
experience in Italy. Doing that
and in helping the situation.
Thank you. Thank you. Sir.
More speakers years a case.
>> I could have to get good
evening. Lance. Well good
evening Council CHAIRMAN Of
education. I do have a
presentation m okay.
Good evening Council chair
members of Council when
Stanford
public works services manager,
I'd like to thank you for the
opportunity to bring for the fy
27 utility rates study program.
Throughout the program. The
mayor's vision and the
principles for
accountable and responsible
government where our guiding
principles throughout
this whole process. The rate
study program and objectives
throughout this process we want
to look at bouncing
affordability with long-term
sustainability ensuring revenue
sufficiency and financial
stability while funding the
infrastructure replacement and
resiliency improvements
systemwide maintaining strong
pay as you go funding strategy
and evaluate programs and
consider proportional
inequitable cost recovery.
You'll see in our rate studies
schedule. We started back in
JANUARY with a City Council one
on ones went through rate
study workshops Council budget
workshops and you're meeting
the the onus the culmination of
the rate study program that the
public hearings throughout that
process we've worked with
marketing and administration
has worked on the
communications campaign to
include bill billing
inserts social media posts
website updates advertisements
for the first
reading and public hearing
throughout the process to try
to help pass for the win.
They hold great study program
and the reasons behind the rate
study increases.
Various rate studying various
various different utility rates
would like to highlight
some program I tell any
highlights this here we'd like
to for the sanitation
utility program highlight.
The the continued investment in
the truck, the fleet for you
the sanitation still utility
program. And also highlight
a ever-increasing expense which
is the 8% annual rate increase
for the county tipping costs
which significantly impact the
sanitation utility budget.
The stormwater utility program
highlights, operationally
they've increased the number of
miles of stormwater pipes
culverts inspected
and maintain at to the fdp
reporting cycle to the ability
to hire more people and procure
more equipment since OCTOBER of
2025, we've replaced hundreds
of feet of stormwater pipes at
the end of
their life service life with
longer lasting material types
and the capital program would
like to highlight and
stormwater backflow prevention
program. The Bartlett Lake
restoration project. The
citywide stormwater can Vance
restoration program and major
storm water pump station
initiatives. And the
water resources utility would
like to highlight. The
Northwest water reclamation
improvements project which
included included new of
influence pump station and
reclaim storage tanks. The
flood protection projects that
lift station 85, Northeast
water reclamation facility
Southwest, raw water
reclamation
facility, another lift
stations. We broke down we
broke ground on the new
category 5 hurricane resistant
operations and maintenance
building at the Southwest
reclamation facility. And
providing much-needed repairs
at Cannes the cost of MAY.
Watery treatment plant.
Next few slides
here highlight some of the
proposed fy 27 utility rate
adjustments and potential
impacts on typical usage and
lower usage and high usage
builds on this slide here
you'll see that the proposed
utility rate adjustments for
potable water the 7.5%.
Wastewater 6.5%
stormwater 8.5% and sanitation
with recycling at 6.0%
with reclaim water at 9.7 5%.
The typical you know look low
usage monthly utility bill
with a tier one stormwater
charge. We'll see approximately
6.7 4% increase.
Without reclaimed water and
about a 7.5% increase with
reclaimed water.
The next typical usage
example here we
have was a tier 2 stormwater
charge where the typical bill
would see a
6.8 8% increase. Without
reclaimed water or a 7.4 8%
increase with reclaimed water.
This year's rates you'll see
are slightly lower than the
last year's projections of the
storm water and
water resources and sanitation
rates where last year the total
bill excluding the Klan water
was about 8.1 5%.
And the total including
reclaimed water was about 8.4
8%.
On the high usage monthly bill
with a tier 3 stormwater charge
the typical bill will see a 7%
increase for fiscal year 27
without reclaimed water and
with reclaimed water, the
typical below sea, a 7.4 7%
increase as compared to the
rate study last year where the
typical bill would have seen an
8.4 2% increase
without reclaimed water and
then 8.6 5% increase with
reclaimed water.
Finally the higher usage
bill and it here for stormwater
charge, the typical bill
excluding reclaimed water will
see a
7.1 0% increase and with
reclaimed water a
7.4 8% increase as compared to
the prior year's projection at
8.7 2% increase and an
8.8 7% increase. With that I'd
like to hand it off to
Andy Burnham partner with
stantec consulting to dive a
little bit more into the
details for you.
Thank you. Evening and thank
you it's good evening, MADAM
Chair members of Council.
Happy to fill in some of the
details that I think might be
again refresher for many of you
that have that participated in
the process that leads to
scribe throughout but needed
beneficial for the public to
help understand some of the
context of why we're looking at
utility rate adjustments for
the various systems. So for
starting with the sanitation
system. The city's annual
practices to look at their
financial futures part of the
budget process for these
utilities to measure the
adequacy of revenues to meet
expenses as part of that we're
able to reconcile
what's changed from one year to
the next these processes that
allow us to not only evaluate
the rates for the current year,
but about forecast for future
years and so I'll touch on some
of the variances in relation to
last year's forecast of
expenses that we're seeing in
this current year and in this
raid evaluation. Overall for
sanitation operational spending
we're seeing some of the
benefits and the investment of
the new facility that we
recently financed with that we
actually have some savings on
our operating expenses relative
to demolition of structures
engineering and facility
repairs and
renovations we're seeing a
return on that investment.
However us Lance mentioned with
sanitation we do have to take
our solid waste to the county
landfill for disposal for
proper disposal. That's not
something that we have control
over in terms of the costs that
we're charge from Pinellas
County for that disposal rate.
They have approved increases of
8% per year for the next couple
of years in of giving guidance
to expect similar levels of
increases going forward for
disposal costs. This is a
pretty significant part of our
expenses for these disposal
costs for these tipping fees
that's really not within our
control. The other major cost
consideration that we have for
sanitation is relative to
capital expenses and for
sanitation that really means
replacement of containers for
residents is in for businesses
the dumpsters. But then also
vehicle replacements that's the
fleet that goes out and collect
all of the the garbage and
recycling within the community.
Those expenses are comparable
to what we're looking at last
year on an annualized basis in
total. But they're still a very
significant component of what
we have to plan for for the
utility going forward. And
specifically on the fleet.
It's probably one of the most
important assumptions and
replacement considerations that
we have to make for sanitation
is to make sure we have
adequate funding to replace our
extensive fleet of vehicles, a
123 trucks. Each of which has
different useful lives based
upon their purpose and there's
good industry guidance about
when those types of
infrastructures can and should
be replaced. However that has
to be customized to reflect our
environment and kudos to the
sanitation team for really
adapting a proactive approach
to try to stay on life cycles
for this equipment in an urban
environment for these vehicles
take on a lot more wear and
tear particularly the front and
side load or so we have a more
frequent replacement scheduled
and you MAY see across the
national average. But we are in
an urban environment and that's
to be expected. But us about
million of investment in our
fleet that we need to do
to make sure that we can
collect the garbage and
recycling within the community
for residents and businesses
alike. So the
financial plan that we look at
as I mentioned prior year study
last year the forecast was 7% a
year for 3 years followed by
4.7 5% per year. However with
some of our recent positive
performance, it creates an
opportunity to smooth those
increases of that level lies
the rate plan to 6% per year.
I think this is part of the
conversation in context that's
beneficial for all to
appreciate is that the city has
long taken an approach of
trying to do
smaller more frequent rate
adjustments as opposed to going
multiple years without rate
increases and then doing very
large adjustments. That's been
a recent practice that's tried
to follow that principle of us
you know smaller and slow and
steady wins the race to be
consistent with our planning
process process for investments
in our infrastructure. So
the plan now is a little bit
more modest than what it was
looking at last year for this
year as well as for the next
couple of years as things are
tracking pretty well we're
seeing slightly better
performance. What this means on
a typical bill for the garbage
component is about $2 a little
less than that and for the
recycling components built
about $0.25 a typical
residential bill. However the
practice that I mentioned has
not always been in place for
the sanitation system. So if
you look back through history
and there's been some history
referenced here today. There
are extended periods of times
from 1988 to 2005 where there
are no adjustments and rates
actually there was a small
decrease and then again from 30
to 38 where there are no
adjustments and sanitation If
you look at this
approximately 36 year history,
a 30 year history for 27 years
for sanitation rates want to
just and so keeping that in
mind. You know we're trying to
follow approach consistent with
the recent years where we stay
on top of our expenses cover
inflation which has hit the
vehicle, stay current with
tipping 3 increases that are
coming from the county we're
really trying to make sure that
we're having revenues match
expenses each year for the
system no more no less.
Relative to the stormwater
program. Some of the changes in
key drivers that we're seeing
this year operations and
maintenance spending is is very
much in line
with past projections in fact,
just on a $100,000 larger than
last year so it's well within
projections. But the capital
program continues to be the
topic of conversation for storm
water so this fund historically
only funded about a million to
million a year of capital and
with the recent master plan
that was completed. It
indicated, we should be
spending more along the lines
of about million a year on
capital so we're on track to
hit that goal by 2031 presently
we're in that approximately
million range of spending so
we've made good progress.
But this is part of the reason
why we're talking about a
program of continued
adjustments for storm waters to
really address proper
investment needs for the
infrastructure
that we have for the stormwater
system. So as we take a look at
the forecast this
is where with those needs in
mind considerations were given
to how we finance those
projects and how we fund them
and so considering that the
prior rate study the forecast
was a 15% followed by 4%
increases. This
year given affordability
considerations and alternative
approach to funding
infrastructure was looked at
for a period of time or we
would fund more with debt.
That means we will pay more
interest in the long run about
million more of interest as the
approximation of that based on
the current capital plan but
funding more with that now
allows us to have a more stable
and smooth that rate plan than
it otherwise would if we didn't
we would have to have the
higher rate shown previously
with a 15%
increase as shown for 27, so
this is an approach that was a
value added and recommended and
considered really how do we pay
for infrastructure. They're
contemplating recognize that
some of the even extend beyond
the term of what we can finance
it so taking on a little bit
more debt for storm water feels
a little bit more comfortable
with knowing that in mind that
we're not outpacing our assets
with debt financing and it's a
way to also address
affordability and to moderate
the rate increases to an extent
without compromising the needed
investment in the system that
we have to have.
The storm water history has a
bit of a checkered past
to similar to sanitation to a
degree. I think when he was
first adopted and circa 1990.
It was an adjusted for the
first 10 or 11 years. And then
there was also a period from 30
to 36 which it was also again
not adjusted. However with the
storms and things that
happened in the 37 time period.
It's been on a plan of trying
to address that capital needs
and really move it from funding
again a very nominal amount of
capital to more along the lines
of what's the needed
reinvestment rates for them to
to to storm water
infrastructure that we have and
so we're making good progress
on that journey but there's
still more steps to be done.
It hasn't been done all at once
it's been trying to be phased
in over a reasonable manner
balancing affordability
considerations.
And lastly relative to water
resources. This particular fund
that the key drivers. We did
see increases and personnel
services costs and salaries and
wages, but they're within
expectations from last year.
We did see flat operations and
maintenance expenses which is
actually very helpful in this
context. Similarly the capital
spending water
and sewer systems by nature
credibly infrastructure,
intensive said the 5 year
capital plan for this fund is
on the order of magnitude of on
the $700 million so we're at 66
last year now
it's 6.96. It's very
comparable. We are seeing a
little bit of a dip in rate
revenues compared to last
year's forecast that will be
something to look into this
next year to make sure that we
have a lot of the issues that
you might be hearing about now
fully addressed and that we
have good billing procedures in
place. And capture that and
future forecasts.
But within the water financial
plan there were a number of
things that were looked at and
I think that speaks to some of
the questions too about what
did you look at as part of the
process that you can do to
try to optimize the system so
one of the things that staff
was famously successful for was
securing a state revolving fund
loan program that included a
50% principal forgiveness.
So that means it's basically a
grant for half of that $40.7
million. And the remaining 50%.
We received the
financing of 0% interest rate.
So it's basically
one of the most advantageous
programs you could possibly
find and we secure that for $40
million of infrastructure which
is fantastic. We haven't
factored into any of these
financial plans. Any of the
Saint Pete at our resilience
program costs that's a decision
that's you know to be made at
the ballots coming here in
NOVEMBER. But we did look at
other various programs as part
of this to try to find
ways to make the system more
efficient such as with fat oils
and grease programs to look at
how we could deploy or
inspectors to actually enhance
service to customers as opposed
to having procedures that were
challenging and and trying to
chase down fees that were hard
to collect and allowing the
program to actually spread to a
wider benefit for the benefit
of all customers. We also
looked at things like dedicated
fire service lines for
properties that have dedicated
sprinkler systems to make sure
that those standby rates were
set fairly for that additional
capacity that some businesses
and multi-family structures
require. We also looked at
updating. The wastewater
capacity fee this is the fee
that's applied to new
development to make sure that
it was fully reflecting the
unit cost of capacity to serve
new development. So that
doesn't affect all customers,
this is for when we have growth
the redevelopment that requires
additional demands. They pay a
higher fee because that
capacity has a cost and so
they're contributing their fair
share through this type of a
process. So we looked at a
number of mechanisms included
the continued use of penny for
Pinellas funding for part of
the infrastructure. This is all
part of a multifaceted approach
and financial plan that's
trying to really make sure we
from the infrastructure needs
that have been defined for the
system but do so in the fairest
way possible and leverages all
possible funding sources that
we can we know we have them.
So as we look at the water
system financial plan this is
very comparable to the prior
year forecast from last year in
terms of the overall increase.
Each year as we go through the
process it's in that to make
sure that we fairly apportion
the increase for water
resources between water sewer
and reclaimed, so while this
year
the distribution of increases
reflects the different increase
for reclaimed a 9.7 5%
future years these assumptions
are applied across the board to
all 3 services
for water sewer and reclaimed.
But again you can see that the
general impact on the utility
bill here and Lance Winthrop
more specifically with some
different usage types and Bill
examples so try to
I try to make it evaluated from
a lot in the pocket perspective
in terms of what is
this dollar impact really on a
monthly basis. Just want to
touch on to these points a
little bit further with the
waste water capacity fee.
Just as a reminder. This is a
fee that's applied to new
development and redevelopment
only not existing customers.
And this had a history of being
looked at in 24 for
the first time in a number of
years and it had a phase in
plan was developed and that's
been revisited to kind of
accelerate the implementation
of this feat a full cost
recovery and consistent with
conversations last year we
re-evaluated that this year to
make sure it's reflecting our
current cost of capital which
continues to rise. And so the
recommendation this year is to
move the feet from the $1000 to
the 1700 to be based on the
current cost of capacity is
that we've calculated that this
year.
And the other one I touched on
earlier was the fire service
protection charges. These are
again fees that are to about
1200 different commercial
multifamily customers that have
these onsite fire suppression
systems and have these
dedicated lines that provide
water when it's needed for
those systems. And so we've
updated the fee schedule to be
consistent with others in terms
of how it's generally applied
usually you'll see these fees
for 4 inch lines and smaller 6
inch lines and smaller and then
scale up from there. So you
updated the unit cost and
recommended that modification
to the approach to these
monthly charges just included
some comparison information so
you can see the updated charges
are very comparable to what
other local agencies have for
the same service.
The other item that we've we've
touched on and the analysis and
some of the comments
address it is relative to
affordability we had an
extensive conversation on this
through the budget finance and
taxation committee meeting
process that was highlighted
earlier by Lance. We've looked
at a number of measures whether
they come from regulatory
agencies for compliance
considerations with regulatory
standards whether they come
from academia and ways to try
to look at the measure
household affordability through
different means such as hours
of minimum wage work required
to pay a bill. We also looked
at from the regulatory
exceeding the rating agency
lenses how they evaluate
affordability is part of
evaluating overall financial
health and credit worthiness of
communities that issue debt.
And many of the indicators were
in the medium burden or low
burden ranging of kind of put
up your descriptions of how the
Environmental Protection Agency
defines medium and low burden.
And some of our low Vernon
indicators are low, but they're
getting close to medium burden.
So I think that medium burden
description is pretty true and
I
think you're hearing today.
There are concerns about
affordability throughout the
service area. We do have
infrastructure intensive
systems that we have to
maintaining replace in an
inflationary environment with
increasing regulatory
requirements meaning we MAY not
see some of these differences
that are homes to maintain the
systems because costs are
rising or because our
regulations are changing.
But regulations that we're
changing but the state federal
agencies are imposing on us in
terms of how we provide clean
drinking water safe, drinking
water and and obviously
properly dispose of the waste
water, so you know all this is
to say that this is an
important part of the process
and there's a lot of analysis
that goes into affordability
to try to consider it and to
try to understand it as part of
this process he 2 years so I
know all of you are familiar
with that but I also just want
to make sure for those that are
here and those that are
watching it's it's a very front
and center consideration as we
go through the rate setting
process with you each year.
And it's very much considered
when recommendations are being
developed so
but there are opportunities in
the future as well that we can
maybe mitigate some of these
future increases and so I want
to turn it over to Lansing just
talk about additional measures
staff is taking to try to
contain the cost and find ways
to pay for some of these
things.
>> Thank you Andy appreciate
taken a little bit of a deeper
dive into the
methodology and the metrics
behind what's driving the fy 27
rate study program as Andy said
there are
opportunities in which
administration with close
collaboration with on Council
are looking at to help mitigate
the risks are the mitigate the
impact of the rate payers
throughout this process.
Currently we can point to the
state revolving fund loans
that we were able to secure and
we're currently working with
the state at going going
through the application process
for these for these programs.
We have been we have been
awarded and going through the
preliminary process for the
hazard mitigation grant program
for Debby Helene and Milton
and we're looking at potential
hearing back from the state and
the
federal government and the in
the fall for the for the
programs and the projects in
which we applied for under the
age of gp program. Also
we have community and the
community development block
grant disaster recovery.
And the 25 million that was
awarded to the stormwater
utility program. That is also
going to be utilized to help
mitigate the impact of the rate
payers. Looking
forward for some other
potential revenues that the
utilities could take advantage
of and the future there's the
resilient Florida program this
is a competitive grant program
administered by the fda p
and the city is diligently
looking at the opportunities
throw for the funding through
resilient, Florida for various
different projects. And the
water resources department
future congressional community
project funding opportunities.
State appropriations requests
and the brick opportunities as
well which
is I was just ran by the
federal government and that
close collaboration czar close
alignment with like the gp
program but the the bric
program is kind of pre-disaster
friction versus agent up which
is post disaster. And with that
it would bring the end of the
presentation
and I'm we'd like to thank you
for your time your
consideration and look forward
to that the following
discussion. Thank you.
I the maybe that's that I want
to kind of cover a little bit
because I know their concerns
that this decision. The
decision
on rates for just made in this
meeting if we can cover number
one the process because its
genesis ends it starts again
every year with budget every
year with everything we do it
literally never ends right in
terms of a process
of examining where costs are.
Yeah, it's very much a
continuous as we conclude this
process we started finding
where the initiatives that we
want to look at next calendar
year. So we start identifying
programs such as MAY be
updating certain fees are
looking at evaluating the rate
structure we tee up with those
initiatives are to develop
ultimately in frame the
conversations that then start
in JANUARY where we started
then also solicit input from
each of you a relative to key
issues considerations reminders
of where we left off last year
talking about the things that
we're looking to endeavor upon
this year in terms of new
initiatives and then from that
process we then fall in line
with your processees relative
to you establishing and setting
operating budgets and capital
budgets. And so those
become input into the process
so that we can make sure that
as you're making decisions
relative to operations and
capital were pulling those into
the raid evaluation process and
then measure the adequacy of
your rates and revenues to meet
those budgetary requirements
and that's where we get into
scenario analysis during
the summer months where we look
at options consider about
alternatives to paying for the
infrastructure different rate
scenarios work through that
over the summer months that
ultimately culminate in a final
recommendation for utility
rates that are appropriate to
meet the needs of the system
that reflect all the different
considerations going into it
not just the immediate term but
future considerations we don't
set ourselves up for future
rate spikes near-term
affordability concerns based
upon those we MAY exercise
different scenarios such as
this year we exercise different
approaches relative to how we
pay for capital to try to
mitigate some of the impacts
but that's kind of how the
process ultimately unfolds
and then we get to this point
have these conversations and
then it again we'll carry
forward
in terms of when.
These studies happen if you
look at other municipalities
and what they're looking at
what your needs are I know they
are a lot of times people are
comparing with this is
happening here and this is what
degree is in this County are in
this city or wherever they're
looking at if you can
talk a little bit about what
happens in terms of race in
different areas based on what
plans are where they are in the
process so on and so
forth and how much they're
investing in the system.
Yeah, I think every every
utility system is that a little
bit different status relative
to where they are in their
capital
planning and investment
strategies. But generally each
year utilities in communities
have to have the same
conversations so we have the
opportunity to work with over a
100 communities in Florida.
Having these conversations and
a few 100 across North America
and so if you think locally
what we're seeing is a lot of
challenging conversations about
how we pay for infrastructure
for water resources and for
storm water and then on the
sanitation side. Everyone in
Pinellas County all the
municipalities are struggling
with the same challenge on the
disposal Gulf ports looking at
an 8% increase next year.
Clearwater is looking Think
about a 4 and a half percent
increase. If you look at storm
water systems that we're seeing
a lot of great pressure right
now don't even looking at a
19% increase in storm water
rates next year. And on top of
that a 15% increase in water
and sewer rates clear waters
looking percent increases on
water and sewer and stormwater
for the next couple of years, I
mean it's just we're seeing a
lot of similar challenges
going through a process that's
similar maybe not exactly the
same as what we do here but a
similar process of evaluating
or utility rates to fund our
needs do we have enough in the
needs were seeing similar
common drivers of regulatory
requirements, increases in
capital cost and inflation.
That's driving a lot of similar
levels of increases in areas
and communities here in the
area and generally will vary
throughout different parts of
the country.
We're looking at the systems we
talk about storm water. We talk
about our potable water and use
different systems. We do a
study and we do planning
documents not just for 5 years.
I mean we do long-term studies
and I'm just I
just want to get a little bit
of a pine. What we're looking
at in terms of looking at the
systems and the needs of the
systems and how back kind of
changes be sometime in
the age of a system.
Yeah, it's a good point so for
each of the different utility
systems, there's capital plans
and programs that go out.
You know 10 to 20 years and so
we're including
that in the financial
forecasting model and with that
information in mind it does
influence current decisions if
we know for instance with storm
water that we need to ramp up
our capital spending from
30 million to 50 million a
year. You know we want to start
considering that now and
figuring out how can we do that
in a way that's reasonable and
doesn't necessarily require
significant rate increases
overnight to do that so that
future planning for
infrastructure is layered into
this process. So that we can
not only just focus on what's
in front of us for next year
for fiscal 27. A little bit of
advance planning for what's
coming in the future
years based upon those
infrastructure plans.
So you look at the studies
whether it's storm water
portable
water figuring out to reits you
what you come up with ease a
great
study feasibility Henry study
report right and part of that
report covers operational costs
in the system with the cost is
and the other part of that is
based on the capital system
right what you need. Capital
improvement which is based on
these plans so there's flooding
in whatever neighborhood people
there's flooding here you need
to fix it. That goes into that
plan the engineers and everyone
does it write their analysis
and they come up with a plan in
terms of addressing all these
different issues that our storm
water related throughout the
city that leads to flooding in
different areas, whatever
neighboring Iran.
I think conceptually that's a
fair description obviously I
know that there's a lot of
folks has been a lot of there's
a lot more that
goes into that this is very
rough.
Yes, actually yes that that's
how you build your project list
is based upon some of that
input
data observations about system
failures and where you have to
continue to occur, there's a
lot
of input into that process.
So that's that's the storm
water system and then when it
comes to the potable water
system if you look at our
system the water doesn't come
from below the ground comes all
the way from up north and then
you have all the pipes in our
system right and then that
gets inputted into our capital
improvements and we figure out
which are the pipes that mean
you know x amount of pipes in
downtown, I'll tell your over
7700 years are going to be
replacement by next year.
You know some of them are 52
whatever years and we know that
they're in critical condition
and they have to be replaced
and then you figure out what
those costs are and then you
try to come
up with a system to pay for
this.
You try, but then it's
challenging because there's
only so many things that
we can really tackle at once
when you consider some of the
limiting conditions like
affordability so for instance,
the water distribution system
is one that because of the
storms the consent orders we
focused a lot right on
wastewater in
storm water we need to shift
our focus to the water system
to
really get that underground
infrastructure. Back on a good
replacement schedule and cycle.
So that's kind of ramping up
over our cip while
other components or maybe held
flat now so there's there's
some things that have to shift
from a prioritization
standpoint because we just it's
I think
it's a new challenge to do it
all at once and for all.
Part of the process is to weigh
those competing priorities.
You mention consent orders.
Could you explain to the public
because that's not something
you normally hear what happened
here in the city back
then what have what we have to
you.
Well, generally speaking you
have a consent order situation
when you've had a an event that
your wastewater plants
for instance, where you've had
to discharge partially or even
not fully
treated wastewater and so we
have that circumstance occur if
it occurs frequent enough or
too significant
degree the Environmental
Protection Agency and state
agencies will become involved
and say okay we need you to
become in compliance because we
have standards that really
guard against doing that unless
it's extreme situations and
even then there still MAY be
limitations. So then once the
epa and state leaders have
gotten work with you to say
years all the things that you
are
not in compliance with. Let's
develop a schedule of all the
things you need to do to become
in compliance and you have to
fund those things and you have
to do it by a certain time
otherwise there's going to be
penalties involved so
that's a process that all
utilities face in terms of
having to comply with
regulations and that compliance
really means we have to
maintain our systems and to get
us in a good state of repair in
working condition. That
requires the 2 things you
mention, good operations and
maintenance for repairs and
then good capital replacement
cycles so
that the infrastructure is less
likely to fail.
If you don't invest and just to
be
clear the money that comes
right back.
In terms of the system itself
right it's an enterprise system
it's a utility system might you
have only so many sources you
get money from all right so its
from the utility fees.
Some of that comes from penny
funds. And then we have some
that come from
I missing anything.
Those are the primary sources.
We have miscellaneous fees that
we try to maximize like the
wastewater capacity fee and
other various fees and charges
so we try to optimize fees for
specific services where we can
to offset how much has to come
from rates.
So when we use.
Grant monies, another, you
know, but the state monies that
are available or let's say
federal monies that are
available and sometimes
depending on the environment
you have less federal and state
monies available but on
average.
What are we looking in terms of
how that impacts a system or
how much does that contribute
for says that say you're
your utility fees.
Well how give stormwater as an
example for this once that's
probably the the easiest if
your father is a a a couple
years ago we were looking at
about a 15% increase in storm
water. We've has received a
major
Grant were able to lower that
to you now person. In the
forecast for now for storm
water we only have about one to
million a year grants built
into it because of the
conditions you mentioned like
these things fluctuate their
competitive in some instances
and slants pointed out what we
do is as soon as we get those
they become factored into the
process and once we know
they've been awarded we then
factor them in so we've been
intentionally conservative.
Right now Serena. There's not
reliance grants built into
these forecast. But there's
every intent in effort being
made to secure as many grants
as we possibly can so that they
can come in as a funding source
like it did a couple years
ago to lower rate increases.
They try to go for the maximum
obviously Grant opportunities
are available. But there's
never reset
out that you're going to
collect it could be 4% it could
be 15% whatever it is based on
what's available. That's right
and
that's going to affect what we
have.
Yeah we have a very minimal
assumption just for kind of
their bones grants that we feel
comfortable with.
In terms of storm water and
because it says since it was
mentioned here. What we spend
on the stormwater system and
what we need and I don't think
it's been covered in this
meeting but we've covered in
other
meetings or stormwater master
plan.
And I don't know if you're in
the top of our stormwater
master plan or someone else is
going to happen. The stormwater
master plan when we talk about
the needs of million a year on
average I think work
that number is coming from our
storm water master plan.
It is not be happy to invite
MR. Tankersley to tell every
life figure in the capital plan
so okay so
Clyde.
Why don't we talk a little bit
because that has seen a huge
increase in terms of the rates.
It was a long time that
there was no investment in
storm water. We know for a fact
that with hurricanes with
different rain event that we've
had in the city in the last 5
years that we all can remember
in terms of flooding in
different neighborhoods.
Places you name it can you put
the pieces together of a where
are we in terms of foot funding
the stormwater projects.
You know. I think it
was 39 or 2020, versus now what
is needed through
the plan work what are these
plans covering and cuts to put
a little bit of context of why
some of these increases
have happened in terms of storm
water.
So 10 years ago in 36 our
capital improvement for for
storm water was roughly one and
a half million for the whole
city
for the whole city.
So one and a half million
dollars for the whole city and
what is stormwater.
For the average person out
there who doesn't know what its
water system in storm water
when it when it rains and and
some of the waters of Jordan to
the ground great. Any war
that's not absorbed into the
ground
goes into becomes what we call
runoff that's what we call
storm water and then that's
usually
directed through our roads and
streets into a collection
system that will eventually
take it out to water bodies
like canals and bays okay
we invested a million dollars
a year in 20 with
36, yes 10 What has our
stormwater master plan show
that we need to invest in the
system in terms of projects for
the needs of our city
it's over a billion dollars and
over a billion over a billion
dollars from the stormwater
master plan in addition the
stormwater master plan we've
done some separate studies like
the Basin see study we've
talked a lot about that we're
doing some
projects on right now.
And so we're talking so you
know at least a billion if not
closer to $2 billion over the
next 25 years that we need to
do.
Our storm water system.
And what are we currently
investing close to about 30
million.
We're now up to 37 million with
what we're proposing for fiscal
year 27 to 37 million.
Which is not where we need to
be we need to be at roughly 50
million a year, but it is a
significant increase in the
last 10 years and nobody thing
that you're going crease that
immediately but right it's to
just give context to what.
Is being paid for and what the
reality of the needs of the
system is because
it's not clear sometimes and
I've had a large learning curve
for some of this in terms of
figuring out
what the needs are for the
city. What were actually paying
and what's not getting done and
so that gives a little context
we're paying for how about half
of what is really necessary for
storm water system based on the
rate right now correct
okay in terms of our portable
water which is the water that
we drink.
Right we just we talked about
the the city the
city's water plan and all that
what are our needs for our
water system that means you
know, I'm thinking pipes
obviously and all that that you
need to make
sure that people have safe
drinking water.
So we have approximately 1500
miles of of pipes underground
for a water system our drinking
water system. A lot of these
pipes were put in. Decades ago
some
of them 7500 years ago. And
many
of them of reached the end of
their useful life. And so over
time we need to go ahead and
try to find a way to replace
them. The challenge
with drinking water versus
wastewater or stormwater is
that with both wastewater and
stormwater pipes tend to be
bigger that can be much larger
in diameter and which allows us
the opportunity to do
what we call lining the pipe
surrounding him dig it up and
replace the entire pipe we can
put a new liner in the pipe and
it gives us more life into that
pipe. The drinking water pipes
are pressurized and so
therefore they're smaller and
your 6, 8, inches in diameter
and their pressurized and so we
don't really have a good
opportunity to do a lot of
aligning for those smaller
diameter pipes because then you
start losing a lot of the
internal
area and so for those pipes
usually we end up having to
actually putin new pipes to
replace the old ones and with
1500 miles of pipes that need
to be replaced. Many of them
much older than me. They they
are at their into their useful
life.
>> So we just had a meeting was
maybe the whole not that long
ago map of the
city and you saw all the
yellow. He sought green yellow
and red throughout the city of
a pipe system you can even see
the city you see the colors
could there that many pipes in
the city. Right yes, you had to
go and you had read right
talk a little bit about
condition in pipes in terms of
when you
see that and wrist.
And so we we had a consultant
come in and do it condition
analysis of all of our pipes
that basically to give all the
pipes a score. So that we can
know which pipes are more
critical or at risk than
others. And that's how we came
up with that map you saw there
are pipes that were shown in
red with the most critical
we're going to be putting our
efforts and you know in the
beginning the pipes that are
yellow can maybe last a little
longer
pipes or green or are ok for
now. And what we did
in then do is prioritize that
the replacement those pipes,
there's several things that
would make a pipe necessary for
priority for replacement one
would be the age obviously
one would be the material is
made out of lot of the older
pipes were made out of what we
call cast iron. Cast
iron is is very brittle.
It gets old quickly it's it's
very corrosive both on the
inside and the outside. Also
where the pipe is located if a
pipe is located in an area
where it's constantly
underground water, particularly
if it's constantly under salty
groundwater like it is along
our coastal communities like
Riviera Bay, shore
acres cookie mckee those pipes
actually don't last as long as
the pipes that are in the
interior part of the city
because they're constantly
exposed to this corrosive salt
water environment and so by
having the consultants to do
this
analysis for us and give us a a
score for our pipes allows us
to know where to prioritize
them.
>> Thank you for that and I
asked a lot of questions but is
a lot of information every time
we're going through this I
think it is important
because I'm always learning
about our system and our storm
water and everything and giving
it contacts is important to be
from these conversations
because it is critical
for a city for everyone to
understand what we're investing
in why we're investing and what
you're paying for and so this
is part of the conversation
we're having because there are
lots of good questions or ask
your today by residents and so
I think that gives at least a
little bit more context and now
it's members want to speak
after I've spoken. So with that
I'll pass it over council
member driskell is not here
right now so I'll pass it over
to vice chair Floyd.
I don't know what and people
started moving around and I can
go right now.
>> Thank you for all of that
information.
>> Really just put myself on
here to say a couple of things
first. As has been demonstrated
by sure Hannah what's that
there's a lot
of investment needed in the
system.
That's And on for a while and
also want to.
Point out that used to be I
believe I don't know 4050 years
ago, there was a lot more
investment in the system from
other sources like federal
government and whatnot I
think it's swat from something
like. After the Clean Water Act
passed 90% of investment from
the feds and now it's swaps to
only 10% investment so that's
frustrating that we get put in
that position. So I definitely
see the need for us to invest.
But my point is that I'd
made specifically around our
water system have been about
how we do that investment and
how it eases the burden.
So today really just wanted to
say like that I look forward to
over the next year having
discussions about the kind of
things that I think a couple of
speakers touched on so the base
rates are treated lower in the
past and I was very grateful
for but I you know I want
to have further discussions
about you know seeing if we put
them at the right level or we
can lower the more and then the
potential of transferring the
payment in lieu of taxes and
the payment of fees back into
the fund I recognize that has a
impact on the city's budget.
So maybe it's something that we
face in over years, but those
are the things that I am going
to continue to advocate for
ands
I think you know got bumped up
on the list so I didn't have
the rest of my thoughts
gathered quite yet, but that's
all I wanted to indicate an
and so that I think that we can
do a better job of stuff, how
we pay
for these things in the future
because I think that there are
ways to lessen the impact
and that's what I'll continue
to push for.
But a record for me if I
thought I could add a comment
to that Sir thank you vice
chair. Thank you for for
bringing up the federal grants.
When I started my career back
in the 1980's, it was still
relatively soon after the Clean
water acts
came out the 1970's and the
federal government was pouring
billions of dollars into into
infrastructure water, drinking
water and sewer infrastructure.
Remember in the beginning of my
career I worked with
communities that we're getting
5061 community 90%.
90% of their infrastructure
work was being funded through
federal grants because of the
clean and drinking
water acts back in the 1980's
70's. That is not the case
anymore as you said that is not
the case anymore now we're
really lucky, we're really
grateful if we get anywhere
from 5 to 10% in one year or
between
one 5% over a 10 year period.
So its really flipped the
script us flips significantly
and that's another one of the
reasons why we're seeing these
these costs now.
I appreciate that yeah and I I
brought that up because I don't
want to discredit like the pain
that people feel like I feel it
as well when I have to for my
household. But you know we
acknowledge why things like
this go on but I definitely
still like think that we can
come together over the next few
years and figure out a more
equitable way to do this.
But I when I
do that advocacy I want also
make clear that I understand
the need for the investment and
that's why I brought the 2
together at the same time.
>> I keep moving around on the
board sound I got all of you,
but you are you yeah, I know I
did. Yeah I'm very sorry about
>> Thank you and thank you for
the presentations and and for
all the work he did starting a
year ago to get us to the point
a lot has changed.
Over the last year.
And I'm not in the
same place where I was a year
ago with our utility rates.
Vice chair Floyd I really
appreciate the advocacy and the
points that have been brought
up about making changes and
working together to make this
more equitable make things more
affordable.
Put the money in its proper
place.
You can only say let's start
next year. So many times.
We know how much people are
being squeezed.
The this city
is having to tighten its belt.
Unfortunately a lot of our
residents to see where that's
happening. And so you see a
higher bill.
Aaron the see no potential for
the rates to increase and
and they don't see any sign
that the administration is
trying to cut expenses were
scaled back on what can be
scaled back on before
increasing rates, it's just
going straight to the increase.
And I think people are tired of
it. I think that's what we're
hearing. Right now.
You know our costs go up.
Everyone understands that but
the costs are going up for
residents to and I think
they're at a breaking point
now.
Another thing I'm thinking
about is. That we're working on
hitting residents from 3 sides.
So we've got utility rates.
No reduction of the millage
rate.
Which means everyone's going to
be paying all that and more
on their taxes. And then in
NOVEMBER. We're going to ask
them for permission to borrow
hundreds of millions of
dollars. 4.
Improvements such as the ones
that are. In the presentation.
I'm not saying that these
things aren't needed. It's just
that.
When you're getting
charge more you're having too
right a bigger check
to the local government.
Potentially in 3 different
ways.
Its it's no surprise.
And there is some opposition to
that.
And if we had a more modest
increase this year just
to give people a little bit of
a break. If we were reducing
the millage rate just a little
bit to give people a little bit
of a break. I would feel much
better about this.
But as it stands right now.
I think it looks too much like
we're asking for more.
That we're not showing. The
extent to which we can be more
responsible with money that we
do receive.
From our residents. And you
guys refer to them or us rate
pairs, but these are people and
I want to make sure that we
remember that and their people
who and could
be on a fixed income. You just
welcomed a new baby into the
House trying to figure that out
kids going to college.
These regular people problems
are everybody's problems.
And there's not enough money to
go around.
I think it would be.
Tough for us. But fair and
helpful if we could just skip
one year.
We've also Kite amendment 3 on
the ballot. We don't know what
that's going to look like we
don't know if these rates are
going to look like next year
because of that. But gosh we
got to give people a break
somewhere.
I'm the timing is just terrible
right now with these all of
these different elements
happening at once. So.
So today, I'm going to I'm
going to vote no on this.
And I might be the only one.
But I want to make sure that
people know that they've been
heard that I hear them and that
I really I understand as a
resident myself how difficult
this is when you're looking at
bigger bills coming from the
government and not a whole lot
to show for it. So that's where
I stand on this. Thank you
MADAM Chair. Thank you
councilmember Curtis picture.
Thank you for the presentation
and thanks for everybody coming
out this evening. So I want
to piggyback a little bit on.
Chair's comments and so.
And this might be for Claude or
it I
think anybody could probably
answer this question is that a
is that a fair statement that
operationally and the
operations budget over the last
we'll just use the last 3
because it's the quickest ones
I could look up the operation
budget has stayed relatively
flat inside of water resources
and storm water over the last 3
years and maybe even decreased
a little bit I think in store.
>> I think it's generally true
without having the numbers we
got to be council member but
I think it's a fair statement
so.
I only have the numbers in
front of me from the last year
and this year, but also from
the presentation that we had we
did show that
for for the labor, a portion of
the budgets we went I think for
water resources for them
from 47 million to just around
49 million right to relatively
flat. It is a 6% increase, but
it's a relatively flat
overall operation we all
operate like a 3%.
Yeah and we were not adding
staff and this this is just the
cost of of doing the
business with the staff we have
okay.
And so it again fair to say
that the increases that were
absorbing in the ute in the
proposed utility rate is
because of investments in
capital expenditures and not
operation is the heavy portion
of it.
For water resources and storm
water they're very largely
capital driven. The only caveat
with sanitation is the tipping
fee increased threat. Yeah.
Yeah.
>> 2027, we're proposing a $111
million in capital expenditure.
Inside of water resources
and $44 million inside of.
Storm water correct.
And so based on the plan that
we were just talking about
during chair's comments a few
water plan how much
should we be spending to keep
our level of service
essentially the same on annual
basis for water resources and
storm water.
>> Well based on what I've got
in front of him and say it's
about around numbers, a 150
million a year for water
resources and about 15 million
year for storm.
So we're 5th Mott what's caught
40 to 45% underneath the water
resources number and
approximately.
11% short on the storm water.
Just call it 10.
Well I think that's fair from
the target from the target.
And so you know, listen.
I said this earlier today.
Nobody wants to raise rates.
I don't want to do it I don't
want to do it to people I
selfishly I don't want to do it
to me. It's not fun. This is
not a fun thing. But when you
see stats of 27 years of no
increases 18 years of no
increases unfortunately, we're
the ones that signed up to make
the hard decisions of what you
do do you let the system
continue to get worse or you
try to move the needle to try
to make it better.
>> And that and I don't I don't
like upsetting people that I
don't go home happy about this.
But I think at the end of the
day. What I'm not going to be
happy about is if we continue
to drag because what I don't
want to happen is 2016 again
what I don't want to happen.
Is our water system fails
that that's the worst case
scenario that I'm just not
willing by sure Floyd
I'm looking forward to having
those conversations to try to
figure that out and and I think
your comments were right on but
at the same time you see the
need
right and so that's where on at
this point and and you know.
I also just.
The only thing that we haven't
really talked about at this
point is.
I think all of us appreciate
everybody that shows up in the
e-mails we get yes if you
still here we have your e-mail
your phone number we have we
got all about today. And so.
You know.
But at the end of the day.
We have to make sure
that it continues to work and
if we continue to underfunded
it there will be a point where
it will stop working. And that
is the worst case scenario and
so you know again. I.
I'll say it's not it's
not fun. But at the end of the
day
we have had. How many committee
of the whole how many different
he's 3.
And 2 committee as the holes.
So 3, 3 committee meetings
inside a budget finance and
taxation to committee of the
holes and now and I think we
got an Council and a first
reading and now a second
reading.
To chairs point
this is a conversation we're
having
pretty much at all times.
It's it standing takes up 3
months and be a fun t
out of the 12 months and so
it's not a conversation that
just appears either and I and I
say that and committees are
tough because there is no
public input other than emails
or phone calls or neighborhood
meetings that we're at so I
understand that part
but I also just wanted to be
said that. We are continuously
talking about and it takes a
year for us to get here and
frankly it takes more than that
because we're looking at up.
But this year we looked at a
five-year range of of what the
future rates are right to work.
We're already looking at 31.
Right now it's not like we're
just looking at 2728. So
anyway. It's not fun, but
if if we don't do it it's not
going to get done and then we
put it at risk of failing.
Thank you chair. Thank you
councilmember Hardin thank you
Sir.
>> I greatly appreciate the
of my colleagues. I will echo
after him trying to build on.
The echo before what what
councilmember Curtis said I
have no interest in raising
rates. And that starts of the
conversation that had this
morning with my wife over
coffee about what we're talking
about today.
In addition to them, the folks
that we hear from the community
and and my daughter who is now
school
teacher can afford average
trees I I my point is I I echo
what everyone appears that had
no interest in raising rates.
But this is in pain of the
financial picture and and I
would like to give it
three-dimensional texture.
From what I understand
that the very direct questions
that councilmember Greece asked
most answered himself. That
the the money that
we collect because the 2
different because because the 2
different buckets, one is
operations and one is cip when
is it is we have to rebuild the
system.
1, 1, What is my rent and one
is the fact that I stopped to
pick my
house and and fix it and put
any refund and from what I
understand cip air operations
part we how we help cost pretty
flat.
But it's the cip part which is
which unfortunately comes from
several of areas, one is we
didn't fund it properly over
the past 20 years, one is that
the increased cost of
and there's one other than us
thinking of recall on talking
and and so my my point is
this and everything that that
that you all talked about that
the
the trekkers strikers is the
lowest neighborhood in in Saint
Pete. Immediately very very Bay
unlike other them in the same
issues rear of a when we talk
about your regionals of and
solar. As we were putting pump
stations of a
>> so we're so so we're
building the first major pump
station in shore acres and if I
remember a cloud. The total
cost
that projects about $33
million.
And essentially what it does is
it gets rid of this this this
way that Mother
Nature has change which she
wants to do and we now have
this this issue that we're for
Tue. Time flooding in to ensure
acres and so and so we put
people at risk we have
water in the roads in the
middle of the day.
That we we the greater own our
own infrastructure we
deplete that the real shelf
life of the roadways.
And nothing is good about it
and we hear about it all the
time and put real context to
that I was on the text chain
for my kids elementary school
because they change their hours
of operation of the school
based on the tides. And a King
tide escorted 3 but when
contenders there we we picked
up our kids at
1230 because you wouldn't get
impeded.
So my point is this.
We addressed that $33 million.
>> And that's in addition to
fixing the system this is
additional to it in talking
with the with with Clyde from
what I understand you would
like to see possibly more
pump stations throughout the
city to alleviate the rest of
the state time flooding.
Yes to more a kers which I
assume come second and 3rd, but
2 is that correct.
Yes Sir, the so Kate
now now we're at a quarter of a
billion dollars in just pump
stations that that is that is
additional to the system
that that those are projects
that alleviate that alleviate
real problems that happened
today when it didn't rain
and so back to the
point that the council member
guard us made
very succinctly about the money
part of this. The money part of
this comes to the quality of
life of the people. Because I
can't live in a flooded
neighborhood. All the time and
no interest in raising rates,
none 0.
I would venture to say that I
am I am maybe a little bit
further than council members.
Back to the point of of have
this there are things that are
just.
2 critical not to address.
I intend to to to vote for this
it's not where I want to do.
But I think it's
what the city needs to do.
And I appreciate the fact that
the 3 of you with a huge team
behind you we're able to
Create this this picture.
And give us a chance to
visualize what it is because
this decision socks. But
but with without without the
the without that without the
way that you are able to
present to us. What a good now
I want to do this. But when
you're able to
contextualize it this way my
point is thank you very much
for giving me at least the
opportunity and that to see
this problem for exactly
what it is in pedestrian terms.
I am sorry for the way that of
that I am that this is going to
go for me.
But I appreciate the effort
that you all put into thank you
very much Sir. The eu I hear
from thanks I just have one
thing I did
mentioned before.
>> Just want to say thank you
to staff
and everyone all my colleagues
for.
Just getting too full cost
recovery of the stormwater
capacity fee. You know
residents are.
How have a 7% increase put
forward, but developers
connecting to the Senate system
have a 70% increase being put
forward and I think that's much
more equitable and I we have to
acknowledge that some grateful
and I just want to say thank
you. You
councilmember Givens.
Thank you chair, thanks to each
of you for all your hard work
as chairs mentioned this isn't
just something we do today
didn't happen overnights not
microwave politics. This is an
ongoing
conversation. That takes months
of effort and I really
appreciate
you all on this is a delicate
matter. It's a delicate matter
in a delicate
balance balance because you
have to consider the financial
strain that
has been imposed on residents.
Primarily due to things beyond
their control. 2 Hurricanes if
not 4.
The rising costs of inflation.
And various other factors
beyond their control. So with
all that we have to consider.
I think the primary thing on
the table today which is
affordability and I think we
all struggle with
affordability. It's a
struggle on the city's part
trying to find a comfortable
number that would not impose
too much burden on the rate
payers as you put it over our
residents.
But it's also tough because we
have been kicking the can down
the road for so long we're
talking almost 30 years here.
An I don't think it's fair.
We impose such a burden
on just one generation. This is
something that I think we
should
look at spreading the costs
over time. I certainly think
it's fair to have conversations
about a minimal increase.
However, 67% doesn't seem like
we're being good
financial stewards of taxpayer
funds. I understand that they
are needs I get that those
needs don't change over time,
however
our need to do. Just because
the city has the fix its
crumbling infrastructure
doesn't mean that my family
stops eating.
Doesn't mean that the lights
stay on we still have to find
ways like you said to comply
regulations, but we also got to
find ways to stay alive.
You can only squeeze so
much to side of the same.
And I I really think we have
squeeze this lemon one too many
times. And I get it it's we're
playing catch up, but we have
to be able to explain where
this increase is going in.
No following one person but I
don't think we've done a
justified.
We've provided any justify
decisions on this we haven't
been able to clearly explain
why we've come to this number
and and I get it there are
needs operational expenses have
increased however I have to
wonder you know. I get an 8%
tipping fee increase we cannot
control but is it necessary for
us to purchase a
123 trucks right now. You know
I just I just have to wonder in
and then also have to look at.
We're taxing our ratepayers you
know is it fair to make them
bear so much of a
burden when developers can be
doing more. I want to ask this
question
because I brought it up last
year.
It's alright there's no
clapping. In the meeting its
its part it's fine at some of
you weren't here in the
original part of the meeting so
I understand people feel
passionate about it, but we
just keep the corpsman
the meeting so I appreciate
that thank you thank you chair.
Broad at last year I think it
was mentioned by you and the
optimizing some of
these miscellaneous I mentioned
that illegal brought it up to
administration the conversation
about imposing some additional
impact fees. We mentioned what
other municipalities are doing
well the municipalities of
dealing with the same issues we
are as a coastal community,
however they have found other
solutions beyond just raising
rates
on consumers. And so what I
want to know is legally what
options has administration
explored when it comes to
alternative impact fees whether
the sewer sanitation
transportation.
It I don't know who who would
answer this question. But I
certainly want to know where we
stand with. Impact these I'm
I'm I'm happy that we have
impact excuse me increase this
water capacity fifa by $700 but
that's not enough.
>> My to get get the
conversation started a bit and
others will probably want to
chime in, but you know to the
extent that you know you can
just a fee that's in place
today that's you know kind of
what's in front of us today.
But I think there MAY be some
potential things to work
through relative the
implementation of new fees
around some existing state
legislation that you know MAY
provide challenges and doing
that until sometime next year.
So I think you know the team
stands ready to evaluate
those fees and in America
accumulations but I think
there's some timing
considerations from a legal
perspective that we're going to
have to reflect on
because of the state bills that
have passed.
I appreciate I understand big
brother hinders little little
brother lot. But this is
something that I think is just
too important and I really
would like to look at legally
what are what is permissible.
What can we explore imposing at
this point I know we have to
justify through study what is
that
next a look like how do we get
to that study. I don't want to
just again keep delaying
delaying delaying and then we
hope that we can pass that
burden down
2 are. Residents it's again
just me I think it's
it's backwards map and the math
doesn't map up to me. I want to
talk for a moment about this to
stand Tech for a moment about
just some some lack of
transparency here I want some
clarity on
these erratically inflated
bills have we resolve that
problem because as we heard
today, there's still some
people were still having issues
I have we where we stand with
swapping out these old meters
and replacing them. You know if
Tyler still malfunctioning
again maybe this isn't the
right
time for us to be having this
conversation.
Well expect councilmember I
think that's probably a staff
questions too. Sure thank you.
Good evening Council, Tom green
and councilmember forgive me,
but you had a lot of questions
in there so maybe I'll start
with and kind of chip all a
chip away at some of those.
So absolutely we we have
normalized
over time. The
number of bills they come.
The we're hearing about that
have been inflated.
You might recall that or I
should say on a monthly basis.
We have bills that are 2 times
maybe even 4 times.
The previous 3 months average
that happens every day we work
through those with
customers on a daily basis.
But we are not seeing the same
level of like right after the
storms we had a big Spike it
has normalized over time.
Or are we going to and then yes
about Tyler we're still in the
process of implementing that
software we anticipate or early
2027 for it to go live.
>> So you're saying these these
peak bills have
normalized it sounds again like
they're they're made still be
some folks who are kind of
stuck in and this revolving
door in and I'm just wondering
again.
You know is this a situation
that we really have address
these over bills seem to still
be a kind we're talking 2 years
post storm.
>> So it is it is challenging
to answer that question
directly because there's so
many different variables with
each individual customer's
bill. You know there could be a
leak there could be a leak on
the on the private property
side there could be a leak on
the city side. So they each of
them have to be treated
individually and addressed
individually it's hard
to make a blanket statement
about.
Any specific bill or nothing
and I get it it's an individual
triage matter and it's just I
don't think it's fair to keep
using the
excuse that it's a leak you
know, I'm not saying it's a
city but whoever is is saying
that is the
issue it's not always the fact
so I just again I want to make
sure that we're exerting our
efforts on trying
to come to a solution on to the
problem and I just don't
believe right now raising rates
is that solution. There are
some bigger issues we've got
bigger fish to fry and I really
feel like we've got
to get down to the bottom of it
can we talk a little bit the
utility rate increase versus
the Geo bond.
Amendment to the deal bond
initiative that is on the
ballot as well as the amendment
those are like 3 different
issues, but they all impact
each other can we hit on that
briefly.
Absolute difference between the
2 I think is
important it's important to
mimic to mention that.
And just today are in Iran are
intertwined but 3 separate
issues. You know the the
rates were discussing this
evening are for kind of ongoing
operating of the utilities and
to support our ongoing capital
needs. So that's kind of the
discussion this evening.
What we're asking the voters to
address in NOVEMBER would be do
we want to.
Accelerate some of those water
and storm water improvements
that we know we need to do from
their master planning. Do we
want to accelerate those
through a different revenue
source. In the form of an ad
valorem tax. So there
are those who are kind of
separate and then are in a car
connected but separate
discussions and separate
decisions that voters will make
one decision and Council
make the decision on on the
rates and then the 3rd part was
what the homestead exemption
discussion and decision you
know that is clearly going to
be up to the voters in Florida
weather
are not that passes. But that
really doesn't impact the
discussion today with respect
to the utility and the Giovanni
appreciate that clarity thank
you Tom.
And then my last point here
again I I really feel like what
we should be doing is
redesigning how we collect
revenue for for these bills I
think right now it doesn't
really encourage conservation
and I think that's what we
should be doing educating.
Folks and motivating them
to conserve their water and
lets incentivize it for those
who do by lowering their rates
and those who wastewater raise
their rates. It's possible it's
called penalty rates and I
definitely think that that is
something that we should
explore
also think we should consider
lifeline rates for those
residents who are
income-qualified there
is opportunities for them to
have Sir.
I again I just think again this
conversation today about a 67%
increase. It's just not the
right time when struck when
folks are already struggling
and hurting. Thank you chair.
Thank you.
So personally I think everyone
that's here it's almost 7
o'clock at night so obviously
you here because you care about
your city you care about what
you're paying your racing care
enough to actually show up so
that doesn't go unnoticed and
it's important.
Also want to thank everyone
here that you see in the
room that has talked about
this. When we're in other is an
expert in their field and
so they do spend a lot of time
going through doing the work
trying
to give us the information and
so we can make decisions based
on the information that they
provide us whether it's the
engineers that are working and
a different storm water
projects or portable water
projects or whatever other
projects throughout the city
that residents.
Because they do. Versus you
know all the other needs that
we have in this city so I just
want to make sure that I thank
you all because I know that it
is tough work.
And frankly, it's it's
sometimes the work that you do
get think for because it is
you know when people have
flooding in their neighborhood
guess what they're never happy
and your screening.
But these folks here whether
it's the flooding in the
neighborhood whether it's the
storm water drain that's clog
whether it's the pothole
weather whatever it is. The one
expectation is
you just have to get it fixed.
And I will tell you I
constantly and I'm not the only
City Council person that's
getting
requests from citizens are for
residents. But I am constantly
getting emails about issues in
the neighborhood that people
expect us to fix. Period.
The problem is it costs
money. And sometimes those 2
things just don't match up.
I mean that's the reality we
have for all I mean whether
it's you're planning your son
your your home budget
or any other budget.
The realities even the city as
much as you see the big budget
guess what the needs in our
city are much bigger.
Then our budget allows and so
that is a challenge that we
have to deal with all the time
and yes you'll hear about
government waste and all the
things and finding people can
disagree on what is necessary
versus what is
not necessary that's all fair
game. But when we're talking
about a utility system which is
what our water system
is a storm water and all that
that's very different the money
in those systems go towards
those systems.
Your water rates go to take
care that your storm water
rates go to take care that your
sewage rates go to take care of
that
it it cost to operate the
system what's the cost of that
their capital improvement needs
water cost of that and then you
determine how you pay for it.
That's pretty much
in in the simplest way of
putting it. You MAY find some
money from federal grants
somewhere here there but the
reality is the majority
of the money is coming you know
from who not just from you from
all of us from everybody that
lives in the city because we
all pay theme rates. So this
challenge we have every year.
The lack of investment and
the system. Frankly we are
absorbing some of it, but it
won't just be us.
It's people 5 years from now
it's people 10 years from now
1520 2530 because these plans
are not five-year plans, you're
not one your plans. You're not
absorbing the whole cost you're
not.
It will be impossible. It's a
30 year plan and we're not
investing in the 30 year plan
enough which means everybody in
that system.
When I'm long gone, we're still
paying for it and guess what
we're probably not going to be
investing enough in it,
that's just the reality.
And that's what we have to deal
with so it is
nothing like some other council
members have expressed.
I don't like it. I don't like
any of this I wish I could tell
people I'm giving you my back
here is your refund check.
It be great.
I I it would be a deal world
were we wouldn't have to pay
any taxes and we get all the
services for free. Once this
whatever happens on the ballot
box at the state of Florida and
people get rid of property
taxes, how we'll see how that
turns out and then we'll figure
out ok do you get services do
not get services how it turns
out and we'll deal with it
because that it will
be a reality. But as we look at
a budget and we look at how we
use our real estate property
taxes, the majority of that
money goes to public service to
talk to our to our police and
fire.
That's the reality
of what we're looking at and so
if people expect those services
and you're cutting money from
going into that that we have to
take from somewhere else.
And that is always the
challenge where the money's
coming from for those services.
Service like utilities and all
that
you have that money and maybe.
>> We can find another way of
taking out moneys of not to get
moneys and then they don't go
into
general fund and we'll have
that conversation but that will
affect something else if you
don't have the payment in lieu.
Pat says.
It will affect some hail, which
means money will go for
something else and we'll have
that conversation. But it's not
like the money sitting there to
pay for everything and there's
always a given Kate that we're
dealing with.
You don't raise rates guess
what happens deferred
maintenance.
It's paid for it MAY not
be with dollars. But it MAY be
with deferred maintenance in a
bean. More flooding in an area
in MAY being other things that
are getting done. And so those
are the tough decisions that we
deal with. I don't live in
shore acres that from my
district. Neither is Riviera
Bay. But I understand they have
flooding there, but guess what
I have flooding in my district.
Higher ground.
Why from rainfall in different
areas and so their
projects in the storm water
plan that actually go to areas
in the city that are not shore
acres that are not Riviera Bay
because I know you sometimes we
hear that we think will assist
in the area.
That flooding and they bought
in that area and why should we
be paying for that I hear that
from people in my district.
And the reality is when
you look at our storm water
master plan. There's areas that
flood throughout the city that
we're trying to address its not
one neighborhood here.
The downtown water main we did
a study of our Don count pipes
that I reviewed.
And you can all look up you can
absolutely look up
the plan for the downtown water
mains and Clyde because
I don't know the numbers off
the top of my head. But from
what I recall been downtown
that this this serves
hospitals. It serves some of
our most critical facilities
and you can find it and report
if any of you would want to
reach out to be all be happy to
send you the report and
this is just one part of our
city. How in that plan that we
have we put x amount of money
into capital improvements and
from what I recall were
only covering about 20.
Something and the actual need
of the water. Pipes in downtown
is that correct that's correct.
Okay and so
when you look at that map.
Found to be critical.
Not in the yellow
in the red.
And that is the reality
that we have to deal with.
And that is one part. And those
are critical facilities that
are served and we're not even
Abel to pay all the cost of
that.
>> It would be great if I had
an answer for
everyone in terms of how we pay
for this and if someone has a
solution but at the end of the
day. It's going to cost money
one way or the other or things
don't get done and then we're
Blaine forcing which bill are
worth waiting for the pipes or
you not getting water that's
safe. And that's the challenge
that I have I wish I could say.
We try to balance the needs and
try to look at the rates and
raise them enough to where we
can get some of these projects
done but not to the point where
it's too much and that's what
we're trying to do here if it's
8% were not
we're always looking at how can
we do it so you can get these
projects helping you save money
on these projects helping you
make these projects more cost
effective
if you're digging a hole here
and you have to fix this can be
fixed for 3 things at the same
time so that capital
improvement project doesn't
cost us more. That's what
the engineers are doing
constantly because we
understand the challenge we
feel it we hear it from you all
we feel it ourselves
and it's because everyone here
that's sitting here cares about
our city. We wouldn't be here
if we didn't care about our
city. We do not take money from
people that we don't need to
fix projects that we don't need
that would be.
But the challenge I have and I
have these tough conversations
that neighborhood associations.
You want these
projects that and how do we pay
for them and how do we how do
we do it responsibly as
as boards and not why the
people about the actual needs
because we actually have actual
needs. And
I can pretend they don't exist.
And it does scare me when I
look at a report and I see so
many pipes that are in critical
need that are fixed that does
scare me. It really does.
I have to vote for some of
these and I know it doesn't
cover everything and I'm always
happy to have a conversation
with anyone of our
infrastructure needs
and what we're doing all we can
it's very easy sometimes to say
you know what we're going to
get rid of x y and z and and
people what people don't know
is what the actual costs isn't
it's not a dollars and cents a
lot of times
it's the for maintenance.
It's not really knowing what
the true cost is we don't even
have a plan for seawalls yet
and what that cost is going to
be that's going to be in the
building.
That's not factored into to
what we can pay. Those are our
sea walls. A separate
discussion
about see what I can tell you
if I would go through all the
different things that we need
in the city it would blow your
mind. So are we doing
everything, no we're not.
But we're trying our
best with what we can and
trying to maintain rates to a
point where we can do some of
these projects, especially
after the Hurricanes,
especially after all the issues
that happened after the storms
we had pipe breaks throughout
the city. After the storm.
People without water.
That's what you're talking
about and if administration or
someone else that's an expert
if I've said anything that's
incorrect please correct me
please.
I want to make sure what I am
telling the public. It's true I
would take offense to it, but I
want to make sure I'm being
accurate. What I'm saying.
>> The biggest challenge we
have is the age of our system.
That is the biggest challenge
we have right.
We I feel that we've done a
good job of getting as much
life out of our system as we
can we're talking about pipes
that are a
100 years old 75 years old.
I'm 61 years old and I'm
feeling my age talking a magic
want to 75 year-old pipe that's
been buried underground in
corrosive conditions might feel
like. And so we have to really
get to the point where we are
replacing these are going to
see a lot more failures more
often moving into the future.
>> That's this worthwhile.
And I love the fact
that everyone
right now wants to look in our
utility and figure it out.
I think that's great
because I think the more people
know the poor the more people
understand the needs of our
system and what we're paying
for and what we can and we
can't do I think it's
absolutely better.
I love the conversations
of having. Ok how do we do this
how do we fix this what do you
what do you expect in service
when it's a level of service
you expect.
And what are the needs in our
city.
And those are great
conversations and citizens
should be engaged. Citizens
should be engaged if they bring
out if we get rid
of the property taxes what's
going to happen. I think that's
great don't keep what don't
take my word for it don't take
other politicians word for it
do the research do the research
and figure it out because I do
think it's important and these
are absolutely critical issues.
But with that being said
I just don't find based on the
information I
have that we can right now cut
rates the rate we've tried to
work as much as we can we've
increased the water fee.
Any new development in terms of
what the impact is in their
system we do what we legally
can because they are legal
restrictions into how much we
can charge for you
for new additions into a system
and we try to do that and we're
trying to find ways to minimize
the cost. And so if anyone here
in this room, I don't care if
you're my district or not wants
to have those conversations.
Called my my legislative aide
and we can sit down and we can
talk about all the things I
welcome you to.
And I will make sure that
anyone that we have we have
someone from our water
Department or someone to be
there to
answer anything to make sure
that you get the information
that you need and if there are
questions that you have asked
here today that are not
answered. We can have those
conversations and I'll be happy
to do that.
So with that being said
approval j to l a. We have a
motion and the second clerk if
you can open the machine for
voting. Council members please
enter your votes.
You got j to a.
>> MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve agenda item j to a
passes 62 with councilmembers
fix. Sanders Floyd
gabbard Curtis Hanna which at
Harding voting. Yes.
Council members to school in
Givens voting no.
Okay move approval j to be.
I can have a motion a second a
j to be clerk if you can open
the machine for voting.
Council members please enter
your votes. Seeing present
council members a vote a
clerk please tally announce the
vote.
MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve agenda item j to be
passes 62 with councilmembers
fix. Sanders Floyd
gabbard Curtis Hannah what's
and hearty voting, yes, and
council members just school in
Givens voting no.
>> Move approval j to see.
We have a motion a second on g
to seek work if you can open
machine for voting.
Council members please and your
votes seeing present
council members voted clerk
please Kelly announce the vote.
MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve agenda item
j to see passes 5 to 3 with
councilmembers fix Sanders
gabbard Curtis Hannah with some
Harding voting. Yes and
councilmembers Driscoll Floyd
in Givens voting no.
>> ok thank you thank you
everyone for being here on this
item we actually have got into
7 o'clock. We'll gonna have to
take a 10 minute recess.
But I really appreciate
everyone that's here today and
for now at this point we'll
take a recess. Thank you.
>> Staff.
It.
>> One.
>> And
back in session. We're going to
take up day 3 which has to do
with the
arts funding development bonus.
Council member driskell this
was your item originally
so if you want to start us off
on it.
Thank you. And thanks to
everyone who from city staff
worked on it from dairy to you.
Heather judge to Swiss Davis
everyone who has been involved
with making this happen is you
just greatly appreciated,
this is something that
you know was brought to me
originally as it has an idea
for the
warehouse arts district folks,
n they have an idea to create
this fund and then
some folks from the arts
alliance came forward in
presented me with an option for
funding mechanism. N we started
putting everything together and
now here we are today. So there
were a lot of people involved
in this.
I do hope that today is
not the end but just simply the
first big step towards
creating a new opportunity for
local artists. After today if
this should pass today. Then
the next step would be to have
that actual grant program
established and start getting
the money out to the artists as
it comes in so.
I just really appreciate all of
the attention that has been
given to this and I'm looking
forward to seeing where we go
from here with that.
Derek I left free to introduce
them MADAM Chair. He has read
the title yet. Thank you, I'm
sorry.
Pause or DECEMBER 6.43 dash
age.
And on some ending the St.
Petersburg city code section,
20016.1 to 6.2
20016.1 3 0.5
0.2 and
20016.1 5 5.2 regulating
Fort bliss is by
replacing the far Bo this
table. It thereby adding in
arts
funding development bonus and
in the Senate
heading for each exist existing
bonus and we are organizing the
table in alphabetical order
amending section 16.30 0, 6 3.1
point
deep 0.1 and 30016.0 5 5.1
regulating for bonuses. I and
ii and arts funding development
bonus, providing for
severability in Peru.
>> Paul Carter please go to
either podium and open podium
state your name address across
Street for the record you
have 3 minutes to address City
Council.
Thank you Paula Carter live it
3, 4,
one 5th Street South in
downtown Saint Pete.
And I guess I'm the public
I'm here to support
the arts density bonus
proposal.
Probably not a surprise too.
Many of you. You know the Holy
Grail for
the Arts community in Saint
Pete has been to find a
sustainable funding source to
support the arts. And I think
with this initiative we're
taking in
I hope you take a giant step
forward towards accomplishing
that 2 other
quick Number one I hope that as
the implementation plans
develop that the arts advisory
committee and the Saint Pete
arts alliance. Our active and
substantial member years
of whatever group
is a determined to administer.
What I hope the
substantial grants over the
years and then the 3rd point.
This is I've been involved with
this for
pretty close to the beginning
and as council member driskell
said there's been a ton of
folks here but I want to
particularly point to the
council and the staff and Derek
and his group. This was not an
easy thing to figure out
and the persistence
and the I guess I'm
sure late hours going into
this.
The final result, and this
conclusion. As a resident and
as a taxpayer. I really do
appreciate the work that you
guys and the staff did on this.
It will ultimately be of great
benefit to the tenor community
certainly to the arts
community.
And I hope I don't have to urge
you to vote, yes, I hope that
happens. But I will urge you in
any of that too vote yes on
this. Thank you. Thank you.
Good evening. Thank you.
I heard in the introduction in
reference to the arts alliance
and know that they had a
representative here earlier.
That I don't see in the room
now what I do want to do is
just maybe walk through quickly
instead of getting the full
presentation just highlight
some of the things that have
changed in response to what
we heard before. So just going
back on the calendar you can
see here these were the earlier
meetings where we walk through
some of the different
issues related to this
proposal. Specifically these
were the areas that we needed
to work through with
the council and the committee.
One of the things that we spent
a lot of time on with the help
of the City Attorney's Office
identifying and Nexis to the
land development impact that
was a critical
threshold for us to get
through. And then us working
specifically from our position
on any proposed land
development regulations which
is the bonus itself.
In a this
particular official process.
The one thing that happens with
every text amendment is it goes
to the city's development
review Commission. They have to
make a finding of consistency
with the city's comprehensive
plan and then recommend to the
City Council which with which
they did.
In JULY with a
unanimous 7, 0, vote. Now the
last time that we presented
this in committee. One of the
things that came
up was a request for us to
consider. Other areas not
downtown center. So when we
prepared the application to
bring to the development review
Commission. We added in in
addition to the downtown
center. The employment center
to category which is one of
the categories where we have a
bonus system. This is
essentially the hospital
college campus south of
downtown. Also rc 3
which is carillon town center.
There is a bonus system there
and adding the arts funding
bonus also worked in that
table. And
then in addition to these 2.
What's not included in the
presentation but is included in
the ordinance itself is adding
the same bonus to the
sunrun or
brt overlay which recently
adopted and also the 22th
Street target employment center
local overlay which is very
obviously arts oriented
along with employment and
industrial. So we can pull the
slide back up if you need to
see the language. But otherwise
staff of course is recommending
approval of this proposed text
amendment along with the drc
finding of consistency with the
comp plan make you feel like I
can we have a motion a
second council member driskell.
>> Thanks just before we vote.
I was one of maybe robbed this
is. I would be more for you and
the ticket and up update for us
on the actual grant program I
know that.
You know Celeste office that's
like in
their hands. So I was when and
where we're at with that.
It's less is here to see she is
hi sorry can see over there.
The plan is to reach
out and to meet with. Those in
the arts community that were
impacted by the nexus to figure
out what would be the best
outcome should Council approve.
So it is it does have to have
that connection
and I wanted to reach out to
Saint Pete arts alliance, which
I've done already Leslie
current who was very impactful
on the history and research
and the art advisory committee.
Excellent thank you.
And hopefully you can provide
an update.
Down the road just a
little bit as you're putting
this together in the economic
and workforce development
committee.
>> And you know, I'm eating so
I'll be in touch to see when
you think that might be a good
idea to put that on the agenda.
>> We'll do I just wanted to
get the impact from our
information from those entities
that are
really directly impact to yes
all right, thank you so much
all right, thank you
chair, thank you councilmember
Givens.
Thank you very much I
appreciate you COUNCILMAN
Driscoll for bringing this
forward I really think this
kind of lays the groundwork for
future bonuses that could come
whether it be
for educators first responders
you name it health care
workers. So thank you for that
and just since one sunshine
want to let you and other
council members know this is
such a timely come percent
conversation how apropos
because next week on Sept.
Second I'll be having a
conversation with some
of the artists and gallery
owners and studios specifically
around this topic so I'm so
happy to see this come forward
and I'm sure hope it passes
because I think it's a timely
matter in a timely conversation
so thank you so
much, thank you, thank you
chair.
Thank you. Thank you
councilmember dressel great job
on I will say I'm part of
the arts advisory committee
right now I know that that
committee is interested to
learn more
about this and Paul sirs with
me site hope that at some point
maybe Derek you
can come to the committee and
kind of share this and then I
know so lets will keep us
updated on and see how
kind of you develop the fund
and all that because I think
you're part of that is still
haven't been figured out and
how that's going to be
administered.
We have a motion a second clerk
if you can
open the machine for voting
council members please enter
your votes seeing that a prison
council members
voted clerk please Tele
announce the vote.
And chair of the motion to
approve agenda item j 3 passes
unanimously. Okay great.
Thank you.
>> Next up we have Jay for.
He could quickly can read the
ordinance proposed or is number
6.36 dash h
once of the city of St.
Petersburg Florida and many of
its comprehensive plan. In
chapter 3 future
future land use element issue
nach natural
resources and objective.
All you 6 and policy value, 6.1
to remove Marina development
restrictions in the North the
North yacht
Basin providing for
severability and providing for
an effective date and we do not
have any cards and the frugal
back in the motion a second her
mother Heather, I believe you
actually want to say something
first yes just for clarity sake
if we could end section one
the injury introductory.
>> Sanctions to read chapter 3
future land use element of the
comprehensive plan is hereby
amended to remove the following
issues objectives and policies.
I would appreciate it. We have
an amended motion.
And the second as amended.
For
clerk, if you can open the
machine for voting.
Council members please enter
your votes seeing that all
present
council members to click police
telling enough to vote.
MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve agenda item j 4 as
amended passes unanimously.
Thank you.
>> We have j 5 this is
quasi-judicial so
I am going to be reading from a
script. Ok so let me do my my
talking points as I'm supposed
to so I don't get in trouble
will now move on to item j 5
which contains 2 ordinances
amending the
zoning and future land use map
for 3.8 9 acre parcel located
at 40 50th Avenue South this
item is quasi-judicial anyone
wishing to speak on this item
must fill out a yellow card and
provided to the city clerk.
And all speakers must be sworn
in before presenting testimony.
The procedure trick was a
judicial proceedings can be
found on the yellow sheet
attached to the printed agendas
or if you Inc digital leap
ages, 13 14 of the council
agenda.
Clerk please swear in all
parties and speakers, including
city staff.
Work if you can read the
ordinance titles both of them
please.
It's in.
The proposed ordinance number
7.65 dash pow
an ordinance amending the
future land use map. The
comprehensive plan for the city
of St. Petersburg Florida by
changing the future land use
that designation free
3.8.
Acre parcel located at 3, 0, 1,
0, 58th Avenue South
from residential urban. Are
you to residential medium r m
providing for repeal of
conflicting ordinances and
provisions thereof and
providing for an effective
date.
The post or Dec.
800 dash zz and orange amending
the official zoning map of the
city of St. Petersburg Florida.
I change in the zoning of a 3.8
9 acre parcel located at 3, 0,
1, 0, 58th Avenue South
neighborhood suburban
dash one in is dash one.
2 neighborhood super suburban
multifamily dash one n s and s
one providing for repeal of
conflicting ordinances
provisions thereof and
providing for an effective date
we did not have any cards.
Thank you we'll now move on to
presentations each party will
have 10 minutes for their
presentation and we will begin
with the city staff's
presentation.
Good evening, MADAM Chair
fellow councilmembers Britain
Wilson city planner presenting
an amendment to the future land
use map with a concurrent
rezoning initiated by the
property owners of maximum
apartments, which sits on a
3.8 9 acre site and the purpose
of the proposed amendments is
to bring the existing
development into conformance
with the assigned land use and
zoning designations as they're
currently nonconforming.
Maximum apartments is a 20 unit
single Storey development built
out at 5 units per acre
that was constructed in 1985
and sits on the southeast
corner of
58th Avenue South and 31th
Street South. And the
surrounding uses and starting
at the top right is the Arbor
Grove condos which is built out
at about 9.8 units per acre.
There is a carve out on the
north side of maxim apartments
which sits a single-family
home. Directly South and east
or single-family homes and to
the West across from 34th
Street South this church
property and then more
apartments followed by a
medical facility.
This is a future land use map
showing the subject site is
designated
residential urban or are you
where residential medium or is
being proposed to be consistent
with the property to the north
and Northwest.
This is the land use map again
but with the
coastal high hazard area.
Rca jj boundary. Shannon Hatch
that is completely covering the
subject site.
This is a zoning map showing
the subject site is designated
neighborhoods suburban one ns
one.
Which is a single-family
district where the proposed
change is to neighborhood
suburban multifamily or someone
so as to be in conformance with
the existing apartments and
with the zoning. Also Matt and
be consistent with the property
to the north and Northwest.
This slide addresses the change
and development potential that
would result from the map
amendments and the Associated
restrictive covenant that has
been proffered due to the
site's location and the c a t
j.
The existing density under the
ru land use
is 7 and a half drawing units
per acre. The propose are in
land use would allow for 15
dwelling units per acre.
But the restrictive covenant
will lock in the existing
density of 7 and a half to all
units per acre.
So the permitted use unit
density does not change find
allowed building form of the
units changes from
single-family to multi-family.
And this
slide demonstrates that
currently has built the site
has 20 existing
units an additional 9 units
could be constructed for a
total of 29, throwing units on
site.
As noted in the staff report
the proposed amendments are
consistent with many
policies of a comprehensive
plan and to highlight these
few. The proposal furthers
these policies as it meets ach
tha requirements of not
increasing density or intensity
through the restrictive
covenant and the proposed
amendments are consistent with
the existing site development
and the surrounding area that
has multifamily to the north
and is located on a major
roadway.
And with that staff recommends
a finding of consistency with
the comprehensive plan and
approval of the proposed land
use amendment rezoning with
restrictive covenant as it
meets the sea a jj
policies and is consistent with
the surrounding neighborhood.
That concludes my presentation
an applicant has representation
as well.
Thank you. After that you have
your presentation. Good evening
good evening.
But rescue.
3.60 Central Avenue s p 500
have been sworn for the
applicant. Make it real quick.
Did a great job and stuff
reports I think we already have
enough in the record to
support. Approval.
But just to tell kind of the a
little bit more detail. The
story. They came to me
because they every time they go
to reinvest this property to to
get some financing. The
nonconforming use flags it gets
flagged so when it's going
through underwriting it affects
its core. So we're actually
here in
in DECEMBER.
Last year to vacate that little
vestige of a right away so that
was kind of the first step in
all this and this is the
rezoning following it that's
that little vested right where
that we. The kid Dec., 20, 25.
This is a survey of the
property shown the 20 units.
This is the 95 plat the condo
place you can see the East side
of the property. They never
finished it. There were 7 units
that were in the condo
declaration presumably site
plan and just never
constructed.
This exist this rezoning to
open up the allowable use will
allow them
to add 9 units to this property
either they could build out the
way it was they could redevelop
it. But the wind. The main
thing here was just to clean up
the nonconforming use and we
are
because it's in the c a t j we
are including a development
agreement with the restriction
on density intensity so that
doesn't change. And you've
already seen these maps.
And the traffic consideration
from the the
staff report showing that
minimal additional trips for
those 9 additional dwelling
units so
it's a thanks. Thank you.
Is there registered opponent.
I don't see any. That
registered opponent okay.
Is there any public comment.
No public comes you have no
public comment.
This concludes our public
comment section of the evening
on this item.
Now we'll move on to
cross-examination each party
will have 5 minutes for cross
examination staff would you
like to cross examine. Athletes
think you.
Now we move on to closing
arguments or rebuttal. You have
each 5 minutes to provide a
closing argument, a rebuttal.
Staff. Stephens, it lives,
okay. Well thank you very much
this quasi judicial proceeding
is now closed and we will move
on into executive session to
approve a 5 to have a motion
and the second clerk if you
can open the machine for
voting.
For day and beer just yet for
I'm sorry day 5 a and b doing
together. Yes, we can. For j 5
and the second.
In that upper think members a
vote a clerk
please know we announce the
vote.
MADAM Chair, the motion to
approve agenda items j 5 a and
j 5 be passes unanimously.
>> Thank you for waiting so
>> Next up we have open
clerk do we have any speakers
for open forum and share with
you now. And we
then we close open forum we go
to announcements and now it's
months council member driskell
thank you.
As you had shared with everyone
earlier MADAM Chair. We
unfortunately learned of the
passing a bill that of Edwards.
Earlier today and
I known bill for a long time I
was I was heartbroken by this
news. Over the years I.
Watch an id and mired a great
businessman and a great lover
of our city has he
did everything from
pay a beautiful markers up to
welcome
people to St. Petersburg to
buying the rowdies and I'll
never forget these are the
first time ever saw
soccer game was when he owned
the team. That's the kind of
person he was he remade sundial
and and really helped us
help the city.
2 I raise the
standards at the Mahaffey at a
time when it really needed it.
I certainly didn't agree with
Bill on everything and we did
you have occasion to lock
horns. But I always respected
him and my prayers today are
with his family and his loved
ones and as they
mourn and you know reflect
and I hope we all do. Some
reflection on someone who was
passionate passionate about St.
Petersburg.
And.
I would love for us to just
have a moment of silence to
remember him.
That's member Curtis.
Thank you MADAM Chair
councilmember driskell thank
you for your very nice words.
I was certainly saddened to
hear of the loss of bills so.
>> Just quickly I want to just
publicly thank I got to spend a
little bit of time early this
morning as they were mustering
the storm water. Pavement
knocks crew. That just go out
on a daily basis and just
bus their chops and specially
you know days of a 109 he and
then 4 hours late later, it's 4
inches of rain and so and I you
know I was in this room and
you know it's probably a 100
people or so and you know
they're all
wearing their bright green You
know protective gear, but also
that's kind of the colors and
you realize that they are
probably some of the most seen
people across the city because
frankly they're
just bright and that they're
hard to MISS And so I just the
work that they do I'm just so
thankful and I just wanted to
say out loud one more time just
thankful for all that we're all
of our employees but
I got to spend a little bit of
time with them and it was very
nice and very appreciative for
everything they do on a daily
basis.
Last a lot last but not least
we have a couple of birthdays
it was the mayor's birthday
last week. It was read his
birthday last week I
believe and that's Rob's
birthday next week. So you
don't get out of it Rob and so
will sing happy birthday to the
mayor Rita and Rob.
Have you heard.
To you have you heard to you.
Birthday mayor Reed arraf I
heard Kate to thank you very
much,
MADAM Chair, thank you.
And thank you for letting us
know about Bill Edwards earlier
as council member driskell
mention.
First of all bill was bigger
than life and be we all dealt
with Bill
one way or the other whether we
like it or not.
And locking horns is probably
putting it mildly sometimes.
But he was
a sponsor Porter of the city.
And of the arson of our
community and he gave
everything he had.
>> For the love of the city if
he couldn't. I think no matter.
Whether we agreed or disagreed
I don't think anyone here
question how much he loved this
city.
>> And he would make some of
the you know some of the
decisions in and negotiations
difficult for whoever was in
the room,
And I'm sure and I'm I'm sure
the attorneys can
appreciate that but.
But you know that was how bill
was and he you know he fought
tooth and nail for
what he believed then and that
was does his personality so he
will be greatly missed and our
condolences go to his family in
France.
So thank you all for the good
work today, it's been a very
long day there's very tired
faces in this room, so I am