[0:13] >> a rule.
[0:14] >> Welcome to the city of St.
[0:16] Petersburg City Council meeting
[0:19] and your elected officials our
[0:22] mayor Ken Welch district one
[0:25] hopefully Curtis. District 2
[0:29] Wendy gabbard district 3 Mike
[0:30] Harding district 4
[0:33] and Council chair Lisette can
[0:36] away. District 5. Deborah big
[0:40] Sanders. Gina Driscoll.
[0:45] Were you given Stu year.
[0:48] And and Council vice chair
[0:51] reaching Floyd.
[0:58] >> City Council meeting clerk
[1:01] if we can have a roll call
[1:02] please Lloyd for this year
[1:04] gabbard air partying here and
[1:08] what's your fix and this school
[1:11] year a given year.
[1:16] >> Our invocation given by 7
[1:16] days and Ari of the high.
[1:17] Faith St. Petersburg center if
[1:18] you can stand and then please
[1:21] remain standing for the pledge
[1:24] of allegiance good afternoon.
[1:30] >> Dow kind Lord. These are
[1:34] guys servants who have
[1:34] gathered in this meeting have
[1:35] turned on to thy Kingdom and
[1:37] are in need of Davis still will
[1:41] on blessing.
[1:44] Dow gone manifest
[1:45] and make evident this signs of
[1:46] day one MS. Beach have been
[1:49] deposited in all the realities
[1:52] of life.
[1:54] Reveal a non for hold the
[1:55] virtues of each town has made
[1:59] late and I'm concealed indy's
[2:02] human realities.
[2:07] The are as plants and I
[2:08] I bow and he is as the rain.
[2:11] Reef ration on cars these
[2:13] plants to grow 3 still.
[2:14] We are the ice or Vince free
[2:18] ice from the fitters of
[2:21] material existence.
[2:25] The are ignorant make us twice.
[2:27] We are did make has a long
[2:30] life. We are in material and
[2:33] Dow lost its spirit.
[2:36] We are
[2:36] deprived MAY cause the in 2
[2:38] minutes of fame histories.
[2:39] We are in needy in the rich and
[2:42] bless us from die boundless
[2:45] Treasury.
[2:48] Resuscitate on us
[2:49] give us site
[2:52] give us hearing. Family your
[2:54] eyes on us with the mysteries
[2:56] of life. So that the secrets of
[2:58] taking down MAY become reveal
[3:02] to oss in this world of
[3:05] existence. And confess
[3:05] thy oneness
[3:08] everybody's still in an eights
[3:11] from the every benediction is
[3:15] dying. Dow It.
[3:15] Now are powerful. Now are the
[3:21] giver and out or to ever bounty
[3:34] the United States on the air.
[3:37] It hits them. One nation.
[3:43] I.
[3:44] >> Indivisible with liberty and
[3:44] justice for all.
[3:45] And they'll be seeded thank you
[3:47] so much for that view full
[3:48] implications.
[3:49] Council members we have and the
[3:50] agenda before us with the
[3:52] addition of I want to continue
[3:54] discussion of ballot order for
[3:54] municipal referendum. And with
[3:57] that additional and the emotion
[3:59] for them approval.
[3:59] Second have a motion a second
[4:00] clerk if you can open the
[4:00] machine for voting council
[4:03] members please enter your
[4:06] votes.
[4:10] In present council members,
[4:12] including Clark please tell
[4:12] announce the vote.
[4:13] MADAM Chair, the motion to
[4:13] approve the agenda passes
[4:14] unanimously.
[4:14] Thank you we have a consent
[4:16] agenda before us, but we have
[4:19] any cards we do not matter.
[4:22] Ok and council member driskell.
[4:23] >> Thank you I didn't want to
[4:26] pull this I just wanted to make
[4:29] a
[4:31] a couple of comments on.
[4:32] Items cb 7, 8, Both of these
[4:33] items are regarding ad
[4:34] accession of 2 pieces of
[4:37] artwork from the cities, public
[4:41] art collection. And.
[4:46] It was interesting to to read
[4:49] through this. And to get a
[4:52] refresher on on the cities.
[4:56] Procedure regarding the
[4:59] accession of of art.
[5:06] But I don't have any objections
[5:10] to what we're doing with these
[5:13] but if you look at
[5:15] what if you look
[5:16] at the process. And you know it
[5:19] starts with the public arts
[5:22] Commission or staff and
[5:22] you know just discussing in
[5:25] public arts Commission meeting
[5:27] the potential to start that
[5:29] process for Dick session which
[5:32] includes and evaluation of
[5:33] course
[5:36] and in looking at the criteria
[5:39] for de accession evaluation.
[5:41] Some of the items include the
[5:44] condition or security of the
[5:45] artwork. It cannot be
[5:47] reasonably guarantee the
[5:51] artwork has been damaged or has
[5:52] deteriorated and
[5:53] repair is impractical or
[5:55] infeasible the artwork has made
[5:56] a difference and designer
[5:57] workmanship and he's outside
[6:00] the warranty period. Endangers
[6:03] public safety. The list goes on
[6:05] and I can't help you
[6:08] I couldn't help but think about
[6:11] and Janet at Bowman's bending
[6:13] arc sculpture and the
[6:15] challenges that we have with
[6:18] coming to a solution with the
[6:19] various parties too. You know
[6:20] move forward with the repair
[6:23] and reinstallation of that
[6:26] sculpture.
[6:29] I certainly hope
[6:31] the things don't
[6:33] go down Hill to the point where
[6:36] something like the accession
[6:37] has to be considered for that
[6:39] project and I want to encourage
[6:43] all of the the parties involved
[6:45] to work harder
[6:48] towards a solution sooner.
[6:49] The last update
[6:49] I got was not a great
[6:52] situation. And and I know that
[6:55] this is something the jinan
[6:56] Ackerman was proud of
[6:57] I noticed something that the
[6:58] city was proud of I know that
[6:59] many residents want to see you
[7:03] back in place and I hope that
[7:05] and there will be some
[7:06] inspiration to guide those
[7:06] conversations forward in a
[7:09] positive way. Thank you MADAM
[7:11] Chair.
[7:13] Thank you.
[7:14] And before we go into the
[7:14] consent agenda. Councilmembers
[7:17] right I'm cb 16 there's a
[7:20] scrivener's error one of the
[7:21] commissioners names and will
[7:22] be corrected by legal
[7:23] corresponding resolution so
[7:24] they want to make sure that you
[7:24] all were where that's where
[7:27] there's air before the motion.
[7:32] And the motion a second on the
[7:35] consent agenda clerk of the
[7:36] open meeting
[7:37] for boating council members
[7:37] please enter your votes.
[7:40] I mean that all present council
[7:41] members
[7:41] appealed a court please tell me
[7:44] >> MADAM Chair, the motion to
[7:47] approve the consent
[7:50] agenda passes unanimously.
[7:51] Thank you. Next up the move to
[7:51] open forum for there any
[7:52] speakers form the movie the
[7:54] form it get your speakers can
[7:54] you
[7:55] read the rules, thank you.
[7:56] If you wish to address City
[7:58] Council and subjects other than
[8:01] public hearing because I did
[8:01] issue items listen the agenda
[8:03] please sign up with the clerk.
[8:04] Only the individual wishing to
[8:07] speak. We signed the open sheet
[8:09] only city residents, owners of
[8:12] property business owners in the
[8:15] city or their employees MAY
[8:16] speak. All issues discussed
[8:19] under open form must be limited
[8:19] to issues related to
[8:20] the city as the peace River
[8:23] government. If you're speaking
[8:24] to an item on the
[8:24] agenda you MAY only speak once
[8:27] during the open form when the
[8:28] item
[8:29] comes up on the agenda.
[8:32] Applause is not permitted
[8:33] except in connection
[8:34] with awards and presentations
[8:36] in order to provide an
[8:37] opportunity for all citizens to
[8:39] address Council each individual
[8:41] be given 3 minutes to speak and
[8:42] after which the microphone
[8:43] would be needed. If you wish to
[8:46] address City Council through
[8:47] the zoom meeting.
[8:50] You MISS You see raise hand
[8:53] feature button app interest are
[8:54] 9 on your phone at the
[8:55] time the agenda item is
[8:58] addressed. When it is your turn
[8:58] to speak you will
[8:59] be unmuted and asked to state
[9:00] your name and address at the
[9:01] conclusion of your comments
[9:04] when you have reached a 3
[9:07] minute time limit you will be
[9:07] needed. Andres hands will
[9:10] be lowered after each agenda
[9:11] item regardless of the method
[9:14] participation use normal rules
[9:15] apply, including the 3 minute
[9:16] time limit on comments. The
[9:19] requirement that any
[9:20] presentation materials
[9:21] must be submitted in advance at
[9:24] the meeting in the rules of
[9:25] decorum to fly public comment
[9:26] is disrupted. My violation of
[9:28] the rules of decorum that
[9:30] shares authorized to accept
[9:32] public comments. I'll turn it
[9:33] loose a clean by email only and
[9:34] MADAM Chair we do have some
[9:37] speakers and the teaching and
[9:40] speaker.
[9:48] >> When I call your name please
[9:50] go to an open podium state your
[9:53] name across Street for the
[9:55] record you'll have
[9:55] 3 minutes to address City
[9:58] Council. Goliath Davis and
[10:02] Deborah deacon and Carl gone.
[10:10] >> Why Davis
[10:11] 1800 63th terrace South.
[10:13] I come today. 2 requests
[10:16] recognition for one Henry l
[10:19] ashwood on JUNE 29th 2
[10:22] 2026. The city
[10:25] held a piney a ceremony for
[10:26] this like firefight
[10:27] is integrated St. Petersburg
[10:28] Fire Department. They were
[10:31] recruited by this ash wood and
[10:35] they have been the the legacy 6
[10:36] families occupy a
[10:37] special place in St. Petersburg
[10:38] history. The city is to be
[10:41] commended for this special
[10:43] recognition. I have a history
[10:47] and the store is not complete.
[10:47] It is recommended that a photo
[10:50] missing him to help and cash
[10:52] would be displayed in proximity
[10:55] to the commemorative plate
[10:58] honing in on a Lego the 6 a
[10:59] pioneers MISTER Ashwood
[11:02] served as a firefight in the
[11:02] United States Air Force retired
[11:06] as a sergeant. He joined the
[11:09] city of Saint Pete
[11:09] is as a person in a corn ada
[11:11] and he led the drive to
[11:13] integrate the Fire Department
[11:13] he recruited mentor and fought
[11:15] the forces that tried to
[11:18] separate the 5 recruits
[11:19] unemployment.
[11:21] He was this support system and
[11:22] integral part of the movement
[11:25] to transform Saint Pete fire
[11:27] and rescue Photo and his.
[11:28] A brief description of his
[11:31] contribution is requested to be
[11:34] home in proximity to theirs.
[11:35] This request was originally
[11:36] submitted on JULY 12. Mares up
[11:39] office responded indicating
[11:42] that the chief.
[11:44] For I would reply. And on JULY
[11:47] 17. The request was denied by
[11:50] chief Watts I got no
[11:53] a response from Council, even
[11:54] though it was submitted to the
[11:55] mayor Council and the fire
[11:57] chief. I stand today to
[12:00] requests and ask you to support
[12:04] this recognition. We're not
[12:05] asking for a handout,
[12:06] especially consideration.
[12:09] Rather we asked that the story
[12:11] be completed
[12:14] by hanging. The photo and by
[12:16] the story up on this issue it
[12:17] only would he deserves
[12:20] recognition for integrating the
[12:22] Saint Pete fire rescue. And we
[12:23] ask that his photo be hung in
[12:26] proximity to the recruits that
[12:27] he brought in to do that.
[12:30] Thank you in advance for your
[12:31] consideration. And
[12:34] I come along because we want
[12:35] this
[12:38] to be a requests not have a
[12:40] stereo and I think it's a
[12:41] homeless requests and we expect
[12:45] that at some point you guys
[12:45] will grant that request.
[12:46] As any questions if you have
[12:49] any is this is public comment.
[12:56] My name is Carl gun.
[12:59] This is Debbie shrewdly
[13:01] deacon.
[13:02] And I'll be speaking on.
[13:03] The flock cameras. And de Pere
[13:05] is going to speak for me
[13:08] because I have a why disability
[13:11] and that area.
[13:18] >> 4561 cobia drive Southeast.
[13:19] Saint Pete,
[13:22] the 3 through 75 and minds the
[13:25] same.
[13:29] Liberty freedom and justice are
[13:30] not just
[13:31] words written in our
[13:31] Constitution. They are
[13:33] principles that define what it
[13:36] means to live in a free
[13:37] country.
[13:38] We want our communities to be
[13:40] safe. And we want law
[13:43] enforcement to have the tools
[13:44] necessary to protect us.
[13:45] The question is how much of our
[13:48] freedom are we willing to give
[13:50] up
[13:51] for safety. That question
[13:53] becomes especially important
[13:54] with the growing
[13:57] use of flock cameras in St.
[13:58] Petersburg these cameras have
[14:01] sparked growing concerns about
[14:01] privacy
[14:02] and government surveillance.
[14:05] The 4th Amendment protects
[14:07] Americans from
[14:07] unreasonable search and
[14:08] seizure. One officer seeing
[14:12] your car driving down a public
[14:13] Street is very different
[14:17] from a system that can record
[14:20] millions of vehicle, us that
[14:23] and have them stored. The
[14:24] government cannot necessarily
[14:25] avoid the 4th Amendment because
[14:28] information is collected by a
[14:31] 3rd party. The court
[14:33] has emphasized that detailed
[14:36] long-term records of a person's
[14:37] movements can
[14:40] reveal the private sees of life
[14:43] as was recognized by the
[14:43] Supreme Court in
[14:46] Carpenter versus United States.
[14:46] The 5th Amendment also
[14:49] represents an important
[14:50] principle. Yet it's me the
[14:53] government cannot deprive a
[14:56] person of life. Liberty or
[14:57] property
[15:00] without due process of law.
[15:00] The use of flock cameras raise
[15:02] an important question about do
[15:05] process and accountability who
[15:07] can access this information
[15:10] why are they searching it and
[15:11] how long can it be kept.
[15:14] We were told that they were
[15:17] going to be deleted. After 30
[15:20] days. Now the ceo of flock
[15:23] safety has changed it to 7
[15:25] days. However just a leading
[15:26] these records will not
[15:28] permanently remove them.
[15:30] They have
[15:30] to be incinerated justice
[15:34] requires us to recognize both
[15:37] sites. Campers.
[15:40] Cameras can help solve crimes,
[15:42] however, the Constitution was
[15:44] not written to protect us.
[15:46] Only when the government has
[15:47] good intentions. It was written
[15:51] to protect us from excessive
[15:52] government power.
[15:55] So this isn't necessarily a
[15:59] question of pro police.
[16:05] >> Next 2 speakers or Philip
[16:06] Hoffman DR. Perry, g Washington
[16:06] please go to an open state your
[16:10] name address or cross Street
[16:13] for the record you'll have
[16:15] 3 minutes to address City
[16:16] Council. After that.
[16:17] My name is Phil Hoffman my
[16:17] cross streets are past due to
[16:20] Avenue and First Avenue North.
[16:24] Look I'm a former attorney I
[16:26] work for the da's office in a
[16:29] different just district.
[16:31] The jurisdiction and I still
[16:33] maintain my attorney standing.
[16:36] I just want to read from chart
[16:38] reverses United States.
[16:38] It's pretty clear. It was law
[16:41] enforcement conducts a 4th
[16:42] Amendment search when it uses
[16:43] front warrant to obtain
[16:47] detailed cell phone location
[16:47] history from third-party
[16:48] Tech company here Google
[16:49] location history. Individuals
[16:50] this is actually the opinion of
[16:52] the judge individuals have a
[16:53] reasonable expectation of
[16:55] privacy in touch records.
[16:58] Even if the data covers only a
[16:59] limited time period
[16:59] and is held by a private
[17:02] company. The court emphasized
[17:02] that people have a
[17:03] constitutionally protected
[17:06] privacy interest in records of
[17:09] their movements generated
[17:10] everyday cell phone use now.
[17:11] This is not directly on point
[17:14] with flawed because this is not
[17:16] cell phone use.
[17:16] But certainly it will be
[17:19] applied by the Supreme Court
[17:20] when the case does reach the
[17:20] Supreme Court and it will
[17:23] inevitably in the next year or
[17:24] 2.
[17:28] And you can check with your
[17:30] city attorney. I believe that
[17:34] when this does get found to be
[17:37] a violation of the 4th.
[17:39] All the evidence gathered by
[17:39] this to use for prosecutions
[17:42] well most likely be thrown out.
[17:45] So every case to prosecute
[17:46] utilizing. This technology.
[17:49] That part of the evidence that
[17:53] was utilized proven by the good
[17:54] defense attorney will
[17:57] most likely be able to mitigate
[17:58] all of those prosecutions so
[17:59] I do believe this violate.
[18:03] It's pretty clear in the
[18:05] court's latest ruling.
[18:06] And I do state a little bit
[18:09] about how this was done.
[18:11] This was done back in 2022.
[18:15] By I guess a very simple vote.
[18:18] From you guys a camper, the
[18:20] name of the vote. But
[18:21] it was no discussion, no public
[18:25] input it was most likely I
[18:27] don't have the data and video
[18:28] most like to presented by the
[18:29] sheriff. This is a good idea
[18:31] for the safety of our
[18:34] residents. You guys just passed
[18:37] the
[18:38] $730,000 budget to utilize
[18:39] these after that I guess flock
[18:41] of your free trial for 25 the
[18:43] new increase to 50 passed it on
[18:47] to very simple vote. And I
[18:49] think that.
[18:51] The improper way to have done
[18:54] that kind of budget for my
[18:54] $11,000 in property tax.
[18:57] But I pay every year. You know
[18:57] I think I have a vested
[18:59] interest in where that money
[19:00] goes the should have been some
[19:03] kind of public ability to
[19:06] comment before this was put in
[19:07] place. I do believe these
[19:08] should be removed. And I think
[19:08] there's a lot of legal
[19:11] implications that you guys are
[19:14] going to face if they're not.
[20:22] You fix it you want The next
[20:25] person and unit. Commendation
[20:28] we do. The next person. Yeah
[20:33] and then.
[20:35] Well that comes in is Mary that
[20:39] in. The state Union address
[20:41] last month.
[20:42] We for the record the joy of 3
[20:43] minutes.
[20:43] Good afternoon. My name is Mary
[20:45] Pittston I live on mayor Lake
[20:48] drive. In Saint Pete. I wanted
[20:48] to
[20:51] speak about the flock cameras.
[20:55] I feel this is an enormous
[20:55] violation of privacy.
[20:59] I don't believe that America is
[20:59] a place
[21:00] for this kind of surveillance
[21:01] and I think the amount of money
[21:04] being spent on this is
[21:06] horrendous. I'm
[21:07] I believe we could hire more
[21:09] police officers and that would
[21:12] be a much better use of these
[21:13] funds.
[21:16] That's really all I have to say
[21:19] appreciate your
[21:50] listening thank you.
[21:53] We believe we're ready for the
[21:53] if you're ready.
[21:56] >> My name down to Prairie g
[22:00] wants you to. I'm working right
[22:03] now want to defend.
[22:06] St. Petersburg.
[22:12] Thank you today.
[22:19] To dedicate this award.
[22:31] We outdid building.
[22:35] I don't know why.
[22:44] >> I bid you know my And
[22:45] because you would not. 4
[22:49] election. I don't mean you
[22:52] safe.
[22:58] You gotta go.
[23:01] You've got to go.
[23:07] Jag as
[23:08] last year.
[23:12] When they arrested me and now.
[23:36] I'm doing a heavy is.
[23:58] I bet you look at me not.
[24:22] And we told you he was an
[24:25] instant and Jean.
[24:50] I'm not ready. You got.
[24:54] I'm not guy you got to go out.
[24:57] Thank you. DR. Washington
[25:00] you've got it all. You have got
[25:03] really out.
[25:06] I said right.
[25:27] Taking the negative.
[25:36] >> Next speakers, Amy Pearson.
[25:39] >> And your name and address
[25:40] please.
[25:42] Yes, my name is Amy Parsons
[25:43] I've been a resident
[25:46] of the city for 36 years.
[25:47] i appreciate you
[25:49] having this conversation today,
[25:49] especially one 66 21th Avenue
[25:52] Southeast St. Petersburg
[25:55] Florida.
[25:58] Thank you I'm sorry I didn't I
[26:01] MISS The
[26:02] intro.
[26:03] >> And if I could have a
[26:03] little.
[26:04] A bit of extra time, I'm a bit
[26:07] nervous. After the last
[26:10] presentation.
[26:11] As we can come back to you.
[26:12] You want us to do that instead
[26:13] and go to the next speaker and
[26:16] then we can come back yeah.
[26:17] Thank you.
[26:20] There's one zip Laker will take
[26:24] a zoom speaker. Thank you.
[26:26] >> Hey Jason s I'm going to
[26:29] bring you into the meeting
[26:31] space. Please
[26:32] state your name and address for
[26:32] the record please unmute
[26:33] yourself also when you'll have
[26:37] 3 minutes to address City
[26:40] Council.
[26:41] Jason can you hear us.
[26:42] Can hear you. Good afternoon
[26:46] Jason Scott, 4636 redfish Lane.
[26:47] I just want to thank Council.
[26:51] Today for all your diligent
[26:51] work in having
[26:52] important conversations on the
[26:53] issues. I wanted to highlight
[26:56] something that's going on at
[26:59] the Public Service Commission
[27:02] on the state level. Right now
[27:03] you can and she is pushing a
[27:04] petition on large load.
[27:06] Customers which is the
[27:07] dissenters which would not
[27:10] protect. Residents and
[27:12] customers from paying too
[27:15] build the infrastructure for
[27:19] those data centers.
[27:22] Also want to mention.
[27:23] From the
[27:24] other speakers talking about
[27:27] flock. I do find it concerning
[27:29] that we are paying.
[27:32] What was it $700,000. For these
[27:33] flock cameras.
[27:36] Meanwhile we had a lot of
[27:39] pushback over
[27:41] the study for the feasibility
[27:44] so at the feasibility study for
[27:47] 600 and $30,000. So I'd advise
[27:50] you. 2.
[27:54] But Cameron agreement.
[28:05] >> Meet Parsons. Please go
[28:06] through an open putting up
[28:07] state your name address across
[28:09] Street you'll have 3 minutes to
[28:12] address City Council.
[28:14] >> Thank you my name is Amy
[28:14] Parsons I love that one 66 21th
[28:16] Avenue Southeast in St.
[28:19] Petersburg here great state of
[28:21] Florida.
[28:25] I'd like to address the flock
[28:26] cameras and I appreciate that
[28:28] court ever brought that up
[28:29] thank you. Allowed us to speak
[28:33] about today and went to that to
[28:36] the.
[28:41] Engage with the other At the
[28:42] library
[28:45] I and and all that so what I'd
[28:45] like to remind everyone you
[28:46] probably already know but it's
[28:47] a good reminder that all these
[28:50] things are connected. The flock
[28:53] cameras.
[28:56] For me.
[28:56] Erin here if you can turn off
[28:57] your phones please and put it
[28:57] on silent.
[29:00] The flock cameras are you know
[29:03] data and data centers love that
[29:08] that that flock camera Dan a.
[29:09] It can be used for so much
[29:09] information and and Stuart
[29:10] forever, you know, I mean let's
[29:13] be real this information isn't
[29:14] going to be debated ever.
[29:17] The once they get it they love
[29:19] it and
[29:19] you know big money buys it so.
[29:21] Things changed things have a
[29:22] way of changing later on so
[29:26] we're not voting for what's on
[29:26] the necessarily on the table
[29:27] right now we're voting for what
[29:30] we have to the understand is
[29:31] our future of privacy and
[29:33] there's plenty of cameras all
[29:36] over the city, you know private
[29:37] and commercial cameras are all
[29:40] over. We don't necessarily need
[29:43] more.
[29:45] You know I I recently
[29:48] had my health insurance changed
[29:49] and I asked my health insurance
[29:52] company could they delete all
[29:53] my data because I I
[29:56] really don't think it needs to
[29:56] be with the old Goethe new
[29:59] company and I just like to
[30:00] delete it all. They what
[30:03] that doesn't work that way
[30:06] ma'am it doesn't work that way
[30:07] you know o well so
[30:08] I said I want to talk to
[30:08] somebody else and you know I to
[30:11] I talked to somebody else in
[30:13] and they just said we can't do
[30:16] that so. That's interesting
[30:17] that when you try to actually
[30:17] literally delete the
[30:20] information it just doesn't
[30:23] happen.
[30:29] I'm not for funding a data
[30:31] center within the city or the
[30:32] county. So really the bigger
[30:33] picture. It are these data
[30:36] centers that are going to eat
[30:37] up a ton of energy. So you know
[30:40] the waters another question but
[30:41] the energy itself is
[30:44] fascinating. And if you look at
[30:45] there's
[30:48] plenty of information online to
[30:51] see data centers that are so
[30:51] annoying within any area I mean
[30:52] small or large.
[30:53] They're very loud they're like
[30:56] mom, you know who wants that in
[30:57] their
[30:58] neighborhood all the time I
[30:59] mean give me a break.
[30:59] Who wants the the the
[31:00] disruption from the building of
[31:03] it you know it disrupts the
[31:05] water. We're already have
[31:08] plenty of issues that we need
[31:09] to address if the structure and
[31:10] I very much appreciate that the
[31:12] amount of time and effort that
[31:12] the city is putting into our
[31:15] our water because it's
[31:16] something that you don't
[31:16] necessarily see take for
[31:17] granted. And I very much
[31:19] appreciate the job in doing
[31:22] Thank you MS.
[31:30] >> It no more speakers we close
[31:33] up and form and we go to the
[31:34] next item on our agenda is I
[31:34] won. MADAM Chair, if you could
[31:37] take a report and come back to
[31:40] I one.
[31:50] I chair members of Council.
[31:52] I am here to resume our
[31:55] discussion of the ballot design
[31:56] for the 2026.
[31:58] Municipal general election.
[32:01] On Tue. Afternoon I had a
[32:04] conversation with the
[32:05] supervisor of election and
[32:07] supervisors general counsel and
[32:08] has discussed in the memo that
[32:10] I provided yesterday the
[32:11] majority of the ballot design
[32:13] is set the city's 5 referendum
[32:15] questions will be at the
[32:15] conclusion of the ballot
[32:18] following the candidate races
[32:19] and the 3 state constitutional
[32:20] amendments. As I understand it.
[32:23] The first city question will be
[32:24] the last question on the first
[32:27] card and the remaining 4
[32:28] questions will be on the front
[32:29] of the second card.
[32:30] Additionally the supervisor and
[32:31] for me that because the
[32:34] division has not yet issued an
[32:35] opinion to
[32:37] resolve the difference of
[32:38] interpretation between the
[32:40] supervisor in the city as to
[32:41] the ballot order for the
[32:44] municipal questions. The
[32:44] supervisor is open to
[32:45] using the city's original
[32:48] order. The copy of the e-mail
[32:49] from the general counsel was
[32:50] attached to your packet with
[32:51] that in mind I prepared a
[32:52] resolution that would revert
[32:54] back to the original order
[32:55] adopted by City Council on JULY
[32:57] 23th, if you would like to take
[32:59] that action you can adopt a new
[33:00] resolution or if you'd like to
[33:01] stick with the alternate order
[33:05] adopted on Aug. 6 no action is
[33:10] needed with that I'm happy to
[33:11] answer any questions.
[33:12] Thank you so your update
[33:12] basically is we have them back
[33:13] to the default we wanted in the
[33:13] first place.
[33:14] At the supervisor has agreed
[33:16] that in the absence of a
[33:19] opinion from the
[33:23] division she is willing to use
[33:24] that water.
[33:24] Councilmember guard us thank
[33:25] you MADAM Chair. Brett thank
[33:26] you for the update and that
[33:27] being said we had a discussion
[33:27] about this and I think so he is
[33:28] willing to go with the original
[33:30] proposal that certainly the one
[33:31] I'd rather see I'd rather see
[33:32] the go bond up there at the
[33:34] beginning so I I all move
[33:37] approval on the proposed
[33:39] resolution presented 7.
[33:40] The motion a second.
[33:40] That's the other any other
[33:43] requests to speak, we're
[33:44] keeping an open meeting
[33:44] for boating council members
[33:45] please enter your votes.
[33:48] In that out for the council
[33:50] members
[33:51] voted Cook these telling us the
[33:51] vote.
[33:53] MADAM Chair, the motion to
[33:55] approve
[33:55] agenda item I passes
[33:56] unanimously.
[33:56] Thank you thank you. Brooke.
[33:57] Thank you Brett for your work
[33:58] and for local here on vacation,
[34:00] we don't see here on vacation,
[34:03] welcome. Thank
[34:07] you for coming and for that.
[34:08] Next up we have f 3 it's a
[34:09] report I pulled this real quick
[34:10] for a good news. We've had a
[34:14] couple of residents that have
[34:15] issues getting tax blocks
[34:16] and I the reason I wanted to
[34:18] just pull it real quickly is
[34:18] because it affects certain
[34:19] residents and I want to make
[34:22] sure we did put it out there as
[34:25] to
[34:27] what we're doing for the hacks
[34:27] blocks.
[34:28] So Marshall Hamptons from our
[34:29] payment traffic operations
[34:29] director. So we are putting in
[34:33] an order for 5,000 square feet
[34:34] or 5,005 square feet of hex
[34:35] bar hexagon block favors.
[34:38] Comes a little bit over $18,000
[34:39] and for us
[34:41] to sell back to people who need
[34:44] it. It's not really only have a
[34:44] few 100 and stock right now
[34:46] which is the original ones,
[34:47] we're buying different pavers
[34:50] and having people pay for that
[34:51] with a mark of a 25%
[34:52] which is kind of administrative
[34:53] costs for us to handle it
[34:55] bringing in costs for paver bp
[34:57] between
[34:58] 5 to $10. And that's really
[35:00] because it we will count as
[35:00] when they come in we expect a
[35:03] little bit of a loss because we
[35:04] have some brutal come in we
[35:07] expect some loss but per the
[35:08] bloc's we
[35:09] get in the divided up by the
[35:10] money to put into.
[35:10] Appreciate the work that you
[35:11] all have done on this because I
[35:12] know it's very difficult for
[35:13] people to get their papers on
[35:14] their own searches. You know a
[35:18] small amount and this will take
[35:18] care of that issue. For
[35:21] Councilmember Curtis, thank you
[35:22] MADAM Chair, marshal. Thanks
[35:24] for the quick presentation
[35:27] chair thanks for pulling this.
[35:29] I do think you know,
[35:30] listen it's one of these things
[35:30] we talked about this in a
[35:31] committee or committee of the
[35:32] whole I think and you know is a
[35:35] pretty robust discussion and so
[35:37] you know appreciate the
[35:38] quick move to try to help
[35:39] residents. I will just repeat
[35:40] what I said in that committee
[35:43] meeting that I that I hope we
[35:43] get to a place
[35:44] where we're transitioning away
[35:45] from these and not to them I
[35:48] want to I want to make sure
[35:50] that the residents
[35:50] that have it it's it's there
[35:52] and it's safe. Just but just
[35:53] from a 88 perspective, I mean
[35:55] we've had this conversation I
[35:56] just wanted to say it out loud
[35:57] but I really think we should be
[35:57] moving.
[35:59] From the us, but I think this
[36:00] is a fix and I
[36:01] appreciate you go in and do it
[36:02] quickly and and I know the team
[36:03] was ready to do it this morning
[36:06] when I saw him so very
[36:08] appreciative move approval.
[36:08] Second.
[36:09] Motion second clerk and you can
[36:12] open the machine for voting
[36:12] council members
[36:15] please enter your votes being
[36:19] present council members
[36:20] voted clerk please telling us
[36:20] vote.
[36:21] MADAM Chair, the motion to
[36:22] approve agenda item f 3 passes
[36:23] unanimously with councilmember
[36:24] Floyd being absent thank u next
[36:25] up we have f one this is a St.
[36:26] Petersburg Police Department
[36:27] quarterly report and we have
[36:28] chief Holloway.
[36:31] We're here good afternoon
[36:32] chief.
[36:35] Good afternoon chair council
[36:38] members.
[36:43] >> And representing the second
[36:46] quarterly report for the year
[36:46] of it. Both going to cover
[36:49] the month of APRIL MAY and JUNE
[36:50] overall crime in his city is
[36:53] down by 3%. The five-year trend
[36:57] crime is down by 15%.
[36:58] Side and a pickup
[36:59] also always say one is too
[37:03] many. But like to make sure to
[37:03] Council everybody out there
[37:05] is where of the past 3 years.
[37:08] Our Police Department has
[37:09] closed not every homicide case
[37:09] with the arrests are an
[37:11] exception. I can put it up
[37:13] against any city in the nation
[37:14] to see that we every homicide
[37:15] we have brought closure to a
[37:17] family. So I just want to say
[37:20] that mess do too the leadership
[37:21] of chief of also and is
[37:22] detective Annette Bureau.
[37:23] So during this period, we have
[37:26] 5 homicide little as 5
[37:27] homicide.
[37:28] One was a domestic to argue it
[37:31] was a robbery was a robbery and
[37:35] drug-related.
[37:36] Our homicides for this
[37:37] quarter is equal to last year.
[37:41] But again we are down 5 year
[37:44] trend were down by 36%.
[37:47] Thanks to our alcohol
[37:50] tobacco far we have that Nabil
[37:50] wishing that we talked about.
[37:53] Do you see that number 88 does
[37:54] mean we hit 80 shootings in
[37:57] our city that means we were
[37:58] able to connect showcasing to
[37:58] other crime to come in 2 or 3
[37:59] years ago, but thanks to having
[38:03] his machine in our city now
[38:03] we're not waiting 3 or
[38:04] 4 months down the road we're
[38:05] getting within sometime within
[38:06] a week sometimes in 2 were able
[38:09] to say this gun was used at
[38:12] this shooting or
[38:12] the showcase the really to this
[38:15] shooting so being able to link
[38:18] these case together but with
[38:18] quicker
[38:19] then in the past and we could
[38:20] see a trend that's out there.
[38:20] So again without our
[38:21] partnership with atf, we would
[38:24] not be able to add this
[38:27] information. This quickly.
[38:27] As COUNCILMAN Governor would
[38:30] make sure we keep track that is
[38:32] we're doing better.
[38:35] This quarter were down of 35
[38:38] does from vehicle, but it's
[38:39] still too many.
[38:41] We want to remind everybody to
[38:44] please be responsible gun
[38:44] owners take your guns out of
[38:45] your car or not so you can have
[38:46] a weapon but take it out of
[38:48] your car please you see is
[38:50] still through city lot.
[38:51] Office which you're going to
[38:54] see for this quarter you're
[38:55] going to see a
[38:56] slightly uptick in some
[38:57] categories but we normally see
[38:59] that trend this time of year
[39:02] kids are out of school. So we
[39:04] have to deal with that. So you
[39:07] sit up tick there. But now over
[39:10] our trends.
[39:10] So for robberies. Last court
[39:13] last 4 reported was up by 18%.
[39:17] Now it's down to 7%. Our 5 year
[39:20] trend. Robberies are down by
[39:21] 12%. Burgers
[39:24] were equal to last quarter.
[39:25] In a 5 year
[39:26] trend down by 24%. Don't the
[39:28] continued to a great job of
[39:29] people are locking their cars
[39:32] and taking the key fobs out of
[39:34] car down by 7% 5 year
[39:38] trend down by 41%. Now with
[39:41] that uptick in
[39:41] kron you're
[39:42] also going to see an uptick in
[39:43] arrests because the men and
[39:44] women are out there making
[39:45] arrests of these cases due to
[39:48] the technology that we have and
[39:52] people working with us.
[39:57] Traffic stops you see equal to
[39:57] last quarter just about we're
[39:58] accounts be made aware of it we
[40:00] started this quarter would be
[40:03] back inforcement we're doing
[40:03] education and we're also doing
[40:05] enforcement throughout the city
[40:06] we're letting people be made
[40:08] aware of about you, but we've
[40:09] gone to school we want to
[40:10] different places throughout the
[40:11] city just to educate people let
[40:15] them know these bikes are very
[40:16] dangerous.
[40:19] Our home team as you can see is
[40:23] a trend with down discourse
[40:24] we're very happy about that
[40:24] that means or kids are coming
[40:27] off of the program. Our Patty
[40:28] continue to do a great
[40:30] job vacancies are still making
[40:30] contact with several of our
[40:32] unhoused individuals in our
[40:34] city in giving them the
[40:37] assistance that they need.
[40:37] And again.
[40:38] It has moved want to show.
[40:40] We're always contact the being
[40:41] taken place and as you can see
[40:43] they're taking place throughout
[40:46] the city not just in downtown.
[40:47] But
[40:48] these a path to mow says will
[40:49] go out and make contact we're
[40:49] the unhoused individual are and
[40:52] try to get them the help that
[40:56] they need. Park walk
[40:57] and talk the streaming up with
[40:58] which we like to see also years
[41:00] for people out of work that
[41:01] means is when our weak we
[41:03] expect also to got a card and
[41:04] meet the people in the
[41:06] community not looking for an
[41:06] arrest. But you do some soul to
[41:09] the community so they know they
[41:11] also that are patrolling their
[41:14] neighborhoods. Our legal our
[41:15] program it went up by
[41:15] 14 per soon doesn't get a lot
[41:16] of people that were You have a
[41:18] ring cameras or any type of
[41:19] cameras at their homes or
[41:22] businesses. So if something
[41:24] happens in that area, we know
[41:25] we get a starting point we'll
[41:27] knock on that door say can we
[41:28] look at that video. The video
[41:29] at your home or your business
[41:29] captured the incident before it
[41:32] happened in doing Amen to that.
[41:36] Use of force as you can
[41:38] see what slightly up this
[41:42] quarter, but again also related
[41:42] to arrests. I like to
[41:44] think of councilmember the fix
[41:46] we talk show and people were
[41:49] amazed that we report this to
[41:50] City Council about our use of
[41:51] force as it every quarter City
[41:52] Council made aware of it they
[41:53] can ask questions about the use
[41:56] of force that we used
[41:58] throughout the city are
[42:00] complaints. None of them are
[42:01] related to use of force.
[42:01] The one you see from the
[42:04] citizen a contact with an
[42:07] officer that professional
[42:07] so we looked into that we did
[42:10] have one use of force this
[42:11] quarter.
[42:14] But that was the do a sergeant
[42:15] here, he
[42:16] looked at the video he saw we
[42:18] thought they also used too much
[42:19] force I went through the
[42:20] command staff we had a command
[42:22] staff hearing yesterday it was
[42:24] unfounded we also do use the
[42:25] right amount of force. But it
[42:27] just shows you the check and
[42:28] balances to get sort of looked
[42:30] at it and went to chain of
[42:31] command. They went to also
[42:31] professional standards for
[42:32] myself and the 3 assistant
[42:33] chief to look at to make sure
[42:36] that we're in compliance with
[42:37] the use of force.
[42:40] Our call program is still I
[42:43] will suit best in the world.
[42:44] We do
[42:44] have a season are called us and
[42:47] asked us about this. During
[42:47] this period of
[42:48] time again over a 1000 contact
[42:50] while to bring attention to in
[42:54] one of the long for contact us,
[42:54] 96% of these calls are without
[42:57] law enforcement. The tree
[42:58] audits done by the 911 operator
[42:58] want to give him credit for
[43:00] that look at it to figure out
[43:01] we don't need to send also
[43:04] uniform that we need to so one
[43:07] of our liaison there they go
[43:07] there in the assist these
[43:08] people are going through a
[43:09] mental crisis and that last
[43:09] line of the most important line
[43:13] again want to thank the City
[43:15] Council 0 incidents,
[43:18] 0 our liaison are making right
[43:19] contacting
[43:20] in these people right to make
[43:20] sure that they need. For
[43:23] together is probably what got
[43:24] us started on the mayor was
[43:27] voted on by the community and
[43:28] we're still moving forward this
[43:28] or first with the Suncoast
[43:29] those are the kids that are in
[43:31] foster care with kind of forget
[43:31] about those kids we still give
[43:34] those kids a connection that
[43:36] they need is working well.
[43:37] Gulf Coast, Jewish family
[43:38] services. This is a program
[43:41] again that we took it to the
[43:43] next level when a kid Kim
[43:45] is a non violent felony.
[43:47] He or she didn't get a coach
[43:50] they call it. Coach will walk
[43:53] them through it. If you look at
[43:53] that number 60 almost 64% of
[43:56] the kids to go through this
[43:56] program are not re offending
[43:58] that's what we want. We want to
[43:58] get these kids to draw so this
[44:01] program is working is helping.
[44:07] Are cooler for you.
[44:08] Some of the cooler for you
[44:10] still do see of why is a great
[44:11] program and what it is a lot of
[44:14] peers Keita for things that are
[44:15] out there
[44:15] so what's the of why does you
[44:19] need helmets, big helmets for
[44:19] the kids, whatever
[44:20] equipment they need to give it
[44:20] to him and then the next
[44:24] program, not every kid was to
[44:24] be an athlete so we have
[44:25] the arts program. So we cover
[44:28] that too. So this program
[44:28] really covers
[44:29] anything and everything that
[44:32] the kids out there he also
[44:32] thank the Council for voting
[44:34] on what this Police Department
[44:35] get this money. And the last
[44:36] thing Paoli gust of you know we
[44:39] see police out the Lenox we
[44:39] kind of
[44:40] like change that now is please
[44:41] academic because we do a lot
[44:44] there we want these kids to
[44:47] want a lot.
[44:48] And the last thing that would
[44:51] be very proud of before me
[44:52] before I came back in 1985.
[44:54] St. Petersburg Police
[44:57] Department started the National
[44:58] accreditation. We are the
[45:01] credit municipal agency in the
[45:02] world. We have
[45:06] so that means every cycle we go
[45:06] through and
[45:07] people coming from the outside
[45:09] to make sure we fall we fall
[45:11] the policy and procedures that
[45:12] are set for we also dual
[45:15] certify what that means is
[45:16] we're not only national
[45:16] certified were also state
[45:20] certified. And that says a lot
[45:20] about our men and women at
[45:21] work force and it says a lot
[45:24] about what we do. With that
[45:25] open it for any questions.
[45:26] Thank you too.
[45:28] Councilmember Gavin, thank you
[45:28] MADAM Chair and thank you chief
[45:31] for a while for such as thank
[45:32] you
[45:33] period.
[45:36] And that's really most of my
[45:37] comments today so I first of
[45:38] all want to thank you chief
[45:41] kubasik I don't know if he's
[45:42] here I can't see over
[45:46] on that side areas for the
[45:49] swift action last Fri. With
[45:50] the threat at Northeast high.
[45:51] And as council member
[45:54] representing residents who send
[45:55] their kids there, but also as a
[45:58] parent to see the swift action
[46:00] to see the follow-up other
[46:01] responsiveness very very
[46:02] grateful. And so I just wanted
[46:05] to say that publicly on behalf
[46:05] of parents
[46:07] from Northeast high. Very
[46:08] important to know that our kids
[46:12] are safe and how seriously you
[46:12] took
[46:13] that threat so thank you for
[46:15] that. Also want to thank you
[46:18] for the e-bike safety campaign
[46:21] so can you talk just a
[46:22] little bit more about like.
[46:23] Will we continue to do I know
[46:26] that there was inforcement
[46:27] again
[46:27] Northeast high. I saw you all
[46:30] out there will you continue to
[46:32] do these enforcement around
[46:33] the schools because I think
[46:36] what we see a lot his kids
[46:36] using their bikes
[46:39] to get to school but with so
[46:40] much congestion around the
[46:40] schools and their you know
[46:41] zipping in and out and things
[46:42] like that it is very dangerous
[46:46] so can you talk a little bit
[46:48] about what
[46:48] that you bike safety campaign
[46:49] look like going forward.
[46:50] So thanks to our traffic team
[46:50] they are going to do that work
[46:53] and what s Rosen will be
[46:54] picking a school pie once a
[46:56] month and going to a good just
[46:58] educating kids and let them
[46:58] know and let the parents know
[46:59] one love thanks us that she
[47:00] told her son not to take the
[47:04] bike to school and Utica school
[47:05] in.
[47:06] And yes. So we're going
[47:07] continue to do that but not
[47:07] only just schools but
[47:09] throughout the communities
[47:10] because we want to continue to
[47:13] educate our prayers and our
[47:15] kids that
[47:16] this is not a toy.
[47:17] Well I can tell you is the mom
[47:18] of a teenager, the word is on
[47:19] street that you are out there
[47:22] and we all know it so I
[47:23] appreciate that
[47:25] so thank you and then the last
[47:29] thing just a shout out to major
[47:29] Patterson
[47:32] I called on a Sat. Night past
[47:33] you
[47:34] know needing some resources for
[47:37] someone and jumped right on it
[47:37] it was late at night on a Sat.
[47:40] and I just cannot say enough
[47:41] about the responsiveness of
[47:43] your team. The way that you all
[47:44] handle things the
[47:45] way that you work together.
[47:48] To make sure that we are
[47:49] delivering services to our
[47:50] residents wherever they MAY
[47:50] need them.
[47:52] And to keep our community safe.
[47:53] I just really appreciate you so
[47:54] thank you and thank you to the
[47:55] entire team. Thank you ma'am,
[47:58] thank you, MADAM Chair, thank
[48:01] you
[48:03] council member driskell.
[48:04] Thank you and thank you chief
[48:04] or the report is always great
[48:05] to see. And the progress that
[48:06] you're making in some areas and
[48:07] they continued excellence and
[48:11] others and you really do make
[48:13] us proud.
[48:16] They come in regarding and I
[48:19] was wondering if you've
[48:20] noticed any differences or
[48:21] if the police officers had
[48:24] noticed any differences over at
[48:27] Saint Vincent de Paul and in
[48:29] the last few weeks
[48:32] Spoke very clearly and
[48:33] passionately about the need
[48:35] for some changes over there.
[48:36] You are maybe chief divisive
[48:38] wants to talk about it if
[48:40] there's been a difference in
[48:44] the cooperation with it
[48:46] conditions in
[48:47] surrounding the facility.
[48:48] The conditions are getting
[48:50] better. MS. Foster team have
[48:53] done a great job of cleaning up
[48:54] the area we have a does
[48:55] some operations and their foot
[48:56] what people can been complain
[48:56] about you're going to continue
[48:57] so you can continue to see our
[49:00] downtown people patrol that
[49:01] area and he also that night.
[49:05] We don't see as many people on
[49:05] the sidewalks anymore so
[49:06] we are making that connection.
[49:07] But I just going to be a
[49:09] day-to-day thing that each day
[49:10] we're going to get better at it
[49:13] when we see some issues that
[49:13] will be able to work with other
[49:14] divisions of departments as you
[49:15] know we can continue to make
[49:18] that area much better what it
[49:21] is.
[49:24] >> And I know that
[49:24] administrator Foster and her
[49:27] team have been talking with the
[49:28] folks
[49:30] and there you are in leadership
[49:31] there. And I was I was
[49:31] wondering if pd has been
[49:34] talking to them as well because
[49:40] then and there are some issues
[49:43] clear communication.
[49:43] Major Bush is in charge of the
[49:44] team she is in communication
[49:44] with them. This artist
[49:45] uncharted path team there's
[49:46] always ongoing communication
[49:49] they stop by their new. We want
[49:52] to make sure we
[49:55] work together we are working
[49:56] together.
[49:56] And that's good and speaking of
[49:57] major base. I can't say enough
[49:58] about her leadership. She takes
[49:59] on a lot as a major for
[50:02] downtown for past and for so
[50:03] much more and she's
[50:06] just an incredible asset to our
[50:07] city and so I'm I'm grateful
[50:08] for her and grateful to you for
[50:11] putting her in that leadership
[50:14] position. Thank you ma'am
[50:15] all right, thank you, thank
[50:16] you, thank you, MADAM Chair.
[50:17] Thank you councilmember Kevin's
[50:17] thank you very much, MADAM
[50:18] Chair, thank you so much chief
[50:19] for being here today I don't
[50:22] think you all get enough credit
[50:23] for the hard work that you put
[50:25] in so on behalf of district 7 i
[50:28] just want to say thank you to
[50:31] all of our men and women in
[50:32] uniform, we we see what
[50:33] you do and your labors not in
[50:34] vain. We appreciate it want to
[50:37] add on to what COUNCILMAN Ever
[50:38] said I want to thank you for
[50:39] your quick response a good
[50:40] time. Last week we know there
[50:43] was a situation that occurred
[50:44] over there so
[50:45] likewise cp police responded
[50:48] quickly. The swiftly and safely
[50:49] so thank you so much for
[50:50] keeping our kids safe and
[50:52] speaking of kids safety.
[50:53] I saw the social media campaign
[50:55] with the bike safety. I love
[50:57] it. You all are listening and I
[50:59] appreciate that thank you so
[51:01] much can you talk a little bit
[51:04] chief about e-bike enforcement
[51:05] specifically
[51:07] along the Pinellas County
[51:08] trail. I don't know if your
[51:09] traffic officers are out there
[51:12] enforcing that right now if so
[51:12] what does that look like how
[51:15] has the response look.
[51:17] And are
[51:17] we educating those bikers out
[51:18] there.
[51:19] I can see you have the traffic
[51:20] enforcement in the community
[51:21] service officers, they're doing
[51:22] the same thing they're going to
[51:23] the spots that they're hearing
[51:26] about that are going out there
[51:27] doing education first and then
[51:29] we fall would inforcement so
[51:30] whether it's on a troll is
[51:31] throughout the city is where
[51:33] these problems are and what are
[51:34] we what resources do we need to
[51:35] bring toward that so I would
[51:38] tell you they are out there on
[51:39] the trail if you need
[51:39] some numbers icann finals
[51:42] numbers for you but I know
[51:43] they've had a plan in place
[51:46] we're going like that we we've
[51:47] done the
[51:48] school that's what our kids we
[51:49] want to take our as council
[51:50] members always to take our baby
[51:53] so we would go out to them for
[51:54] student Worthen go throughout
[51:57] the city and continue to
[51:58] address the educate these kids
[51:58] and apparently they're not
[52:00] aware of how fast a motorbike
[52:03] or side hustle can go. I agree.
[52:07] Their problem scenes.
[52:10] You see them there causing real
[52:10] crashes real injuries and real
[52:11] lives are being lost so I'm
[52:14] happy to hear that we are being
[52:15] proactive there so I would love
[52:16] to see those numbers
[52:18] specifically asking because I
[52:20] don't know there could
[52:20] be correct me if I'm wrong but
[52:21] I don't believe there is is
[52:24] there signage along the trail
[52:26] enforcing speed
[52:27] limits for things like the
[52:27] bikes.
[52:28] I don't know that social media
[52:31] check would do this. Yes, those
[52:32] are new service
[52:33] also are trafficked people now
[52:34] get an answer before the end of
[52:34] the week, thank you I
[52:35] appreciate that the models talk
[52:37] teaching protect this the best
[52:40] way to
[52:43] do this appreciate you all.
[52:45] We
[52:46] Safety and the creative
[52:47] solutions that Police
[52:49] Department has implemented over
[52:50] the years to respond to some of
[52:50] the changing needs of our
[52:53] community everything from call
[52:56] to path. We brought up
[52:58] in the 4 in the past.
[52:59] How we can respond to
[53:02] specifically the dream
[53:02] defenders
[53:03] request for those community
[53:04] navigators and I brought this
[53:07] up you before chief finding out
[53:11] how we can
[53:12] sort of tap into.
[53:12] >> The.
[53:13] The young adult population,
[53:13] specifically and utilize them
[53:16] when it comes to addressing to
[53:18] these nonviolent crimes that
[53:20] are occurring using them to
[53:21] target specific demographics
[53:24] specifically their peers have
[53:25] we had any
[53:25] further conversation about
[53:27] restructuring the department to
[53:31] include more community
[53:32] Navigator specifically.
[53:33] Our young people.
[53:35] And again I think the contract
[53:36] recall is coming up where you
[53:37] already voted on it so it
[53:38] doesn't a conversation we would
[53:39] have to have with that group we
[53:42] want to make sure we bring on
[53:44] people that
[53:47] no what they're doing because
[53:48] that's what you about police
[53:49] also we do a lot of those were
[53:50] things that kellock outside our
[53:51] scope so we brought in experts
[53:53] to handle that. So we'll
[53:53] continue to have that
[53:54] conversation to see how we can
[53:56] bring in more navigated that
[53:57] they can train that they can
[54:00] talk to you. So it continues to
[54:03] young adults up
[54:04] how do we continue to make them
[54:04] better.
[54:05] Well that is encouraging and
[54:05] I'm hopeful that we can
[54:07] continue this dialogue. Thank
[54:10] you so much, thank you chair.
[54:12] Thank you as a member fixing.
[54:13] Thank you.
[54:16] Well chief you Rhonda but I
[54:17] want to again
[54:17] thank you for the report.
[54:20] But more importantly I want to
[54:23] thank you for
[54:24] always being accessible between
[54:27] you and assistant chief of ice
[54:27] Ivins.
[54:30] I mean you have always been
[54:31] there to answer the calls to
[54:34] follow up into the tank, so I
[54:37] concur with my colleagues in
[54:38] complementing in commending
[54:41] you I so that my colleagues.
[54:43] No way I'm going we had a
[54:43] conversation called the police
[54:46] and the people and I picked up
[54:47] the phone and I contacted chief
[54:48] Holloway can you be there.
[54:51] And when I tell you that was
[54:53] one of the most fulfilling
[54:54] community conversations that
[54:57] we've participated for very
[54:58] long time.
[54:59] But what I walked away with
[55:01] from that conversation is that
[55:04] the city of St. Petersburg has
[55:05] been a game changer. Long
[55:06] before we knew we were a game
[55:07] changer. I mean the
[55:10] opportunities that we provide
[55:11] the programs
[55:13] that we have the services from
[55:14] Cole. They talked about
[55:17] civilian police review board
[55:21] we've been doing that for 20
[55:21] 30 use. They talked about
[55:24] getting a monies from some of
[55:25] the the drug bust in but we've
[55:28] been given for for 2 grants
[55:28] putting money back in the
[55:32] community for how many years.
[55:33] So
[55:35] that that conversation alone
[55:36] was to Testament has to have
[55:40] the city of St. Petersburg
[55:43] takes its public safety.
[55:43] Commitment
[55:46] very highly in so again, thank
[55:49] you for being there was myself
[55:51] the interim police
[55:52] chief Owens from Tampa I
[55:53] believe end of an attorney and
[55:56] a couple other organizations
[55:59] that would there
[56:00] but if nothing else that
[56:02] conversation showcased what we
[56:04] have here in the city of St.
[56:04] Petersburg so I thank you for
[56:08] that I thank you again for your
[56:11] leadership and your officers
[56:14] who I always on call I mean if
[56:15] if if they allow me to can
[56:17] only and is you know one of the
[56:18] 7 other. Council doing when
[56:21] they pick up those calls.
[56:22] But I just want to publicly
[56:24] thank you for that and also
[56:25] your offer to continue those
[56:28] conversations too. Our other
[56:29] districts here in the city
[56:30] of Saint Petersburg's that we
[56:33] can have that conversation
[56:33] moving beyond conversation to
[56:34] commitment to getting things
[56:37] done so again thank you chief,
[56:39] I appreciate you so much
[56:40] for offering that and also
[56:40] being available and to all the
[56:41] officers that are listening
[56:43] thank you so much for your
[56:47] service.
[56:49] Thank you chair.
[56:49] You councilmember Curtis, thank
[56:50] you very much, MADAM Chair.
[56:51] Councilor fix centers, you're
[56:51] the only one that bugs
[56:53] leadership of the labor unrest,
[56:57] the rest of us are perfect to
[57:00] Chief thank you so much for.
[57:00] Always coming in and sharing
[57:02] the day with us. I don't really
[57:03] have anything other than to
[57:06] say. I was glad you brought up
[57:09] the e-bike.
[57:12] >> Social media campaign that.
[57:16] Your apartment has been doing.
[57:18] >> I just wanted to offer.
[57:18] A suggestion I guess Johns
[57:19] Hopkins all children's has been
[57:23] doing their own e-bike campaign
[57:26] and it would be interesting if
[57:27] there was
[57:28] some crossover with both both
[57:31] on the education from a here's
[57:33] what you should do before
[57:34] getting hurt and if you do get
[57:36] hurt. You know helmets and
[57:37] things like
[57:38] that their yard has done some
[57:39] really good. Social media
[57:42] campaigns about the type of
[57:42] helmet you
[57:43] should be wearing things like
[57:45] that and so I just thought it
[57:47] could be good crossover because
[57:48] you're both attacking it
[57:49] frankly right And so I just
[57:50] thought I'd bring it up but
[57:53] otherwise thank you so much for
[57:54] the update. Thank you. Thank
[57:55] you to the team and everybody
[57:58] back of the department just
[58:01] very thankful for all of you.
[58:01] Thanks MADAM Chair.
[58:02] And so I can tell you this
[58:03] Fernandez in the audience
[58:03] behind me and we are working
[58:04] with them we're trying to
[58:06] figure out like say show the
[58:06] kids what happens.
[58:10] It is serious when they get
[58:12] that thank you
[58:13] thank you councilmember
[58:13] capping.
[58:15] Well that actually just brought
[58:18] up something I meant to ask
[58:20] earlier and forgot so
[58:20] the helmets, I mean none of
[58:22] these kids wear helmets.
[58:23] I think like in our area, you
[58:23] know north-northeast there's
[58:26] really one kid out of all of
[58:27] these kids wearing helmets,
[58:30] it's a cultural thing right
[58:30] like the
[58:32] kids are too little too cool to
[58:33] wear helmets. Is it an actual
[58:36] so like if you get them for
[58:36] speeding is there another
[58:39] infraction for not wearing a
[58:40] helmet or like is that just
[58:43] a safety issue that you know we
[58:46] can't
[58:46] really police our way out of.
[58:47] i think he's probably going to
[58:48] be the Legislature. We have is
[58:51] yeah is it was raided it I
[58:53] think its 25th can remember.
[58:54] There is a motorcycle didn't
[58:54] work. Then you know you have to
[58:55] try to figure it out but right
[58:59] now there's no requirement for
[59:02] I have a helmet on okay so
[59:02] all right that's something.
[59:04] To kind of think about that you
[59:05] know as as lair we start to
[59:06] talk about you know priorities
[59:09] and working with our
[59:09] legislature on you know
[59:12] potentially putting bills
[59:13] forward. Maybe
[59:14] there's something that can be
[59:15] done there because I mean it is
[59:18] you know that's one of the
[59:20] things like I publicly say
[59:21] I won't buy my teenager and
[59:21] e-bike.
[59:22] Because I know even if I bought
[59:24] him one and a helmet as soon as
[59:26] he takes
[59:27] office and put the helmet on
[59:27] right. That's just unfortunate.
[59:28] But if there was a way that
[59:30] there was some sort of
[59:32] enforcement around it.
[59:33] >> Easier because regardless of
[59:37] what speed they're going they
[59:39] should be wearing one so
[59:39] okay all right, thank you.
[59:40] And thank you and believe there
[59:41] was a bill that would be told
[59:43] well you keep any vice of
[59:46] course
[59:48] this session. Councilmember
[59:49] Curtis, it's funny men to Saint
[59:52] Anthony's I think you could
[59:53] probably
[59:54] add the dentists on that list
[59:56] of people that pi think people
[59:56] should
[59:58] be protecting that the 3 had
[59:58] their faith 15 Min everything
[1:00:01] because everybody I've talked
[1:00:02] to
[1:00:03] the injuries are severe like
[1:00:06] when when they fall off whether
[1:00:06] it's
[1:00:07] the bikes or scooters or
[1:00:10] whatever it's really severe so
[1:00:10] to all the council member
[1:00:13] comments on the campaign for
[1:00:15] e-bike on e-bikes
[1:00:16] great work. I was just at a
[1:00:16] neighborhood meeting and the
[1:00:17] community service officer was
[1:00:20] there with other officers that
[1:00:21] were talking about the
[1:00:22] campaign provided to
[1:00:22] literature.
[1:00:24] And going out there is a really
[1:00:27] pervasive problem you seek you
[1:00:30] just see the more and more
[1:00:32] everywhere.
[1:00:32] And I think a lot of people
[1:00:35] think it is convenient for a
[1:00:36] lot of people to get their
[1:00:37] kid maybe to school on any
[1:00:39] fight except that it is
[1:00:40] extremely dangerous and I think
[1:00:41] the danger is that the e-bikes
[1:00:41] I think need to be covered more
[1:00:44] broadly.
[1:00:47] This meant that
[1:00:48] so thank you very much and
[1:00:49] I seen other requests to speak.
[1:00:52] We will move on to the next
[1:00:55] item. Thank you chief.
[1:01:07] >> Is that John are quad is
[1:01:09] coming to present this item.
[1:01:10] Yes, thank you, I'm gonna ask
[1:01:10] atomic you to join me. Yet none
[1:01:13] of my side over there with them
[1:01:17] even not to run from Claude.
[1:01:19] So.
[1:01:20] So John normally would be here
[1:01:21] unfortunately he and his
[1:01:21] mother-in-law passed away
[1:01:24] suddenly home Arco so you know
[1:01:25] keep him
[1:01:27] this family in your prayers, so
[1:01:28] I don't know as much about this
[1:01:32] as John did or as much as Tom
[1:01:33] does times really the one
[1:01:34] who is really put this program
[1:01:34] together.
[1:01:35] So he has the information that
[1:01:37] he'll share with you we believe
[1:01:40] this is a good news item.
[1:01:41] Which is why
[1:01:43] you know we like it on report.
[1:01:45] And we believe this checks the
[1:01:45] box and a lot of year is in
[1:01:48] terms of security of our
[1:01:49] utilities resilience of our
[1:01:51] utilities. This is definitely a
[1:01:52] spa related islet live Tom
[1:01:55] explain what we're doing.
[1:01:57] Thank you Tom
[1:01:58] ft com.
[1:02:01] Yeah, thank top my name's Tom
[1:02:02] make him a senior manager
[1:02:04] with water resources department
[1:02:05] and one of the divisions within
[1:02:08] that department is your skate a
[1:02:09] department which
[1:02:11] kind of I'm I'm I manage myself
[1:02:13] I'm here to kind of give you
[1:02:14] the background it for this
[1:02:17] report agenda were seeking
[1:02:17] approval to enter a 20 year
[1:02:18] lease agreement between the
[1:02:22] city of St. Petersburg and
[1:02:25] unity fiber incorporated.
[1:02:28] >> Shortly after approval is
[1:02:28] this agreement the city will
[1:02:31] have fixed in an exclusive on
[1:02:32] managed access to a fiber optic
[1:02:34] communication loop. That
[1:02:37] connects 9 critical water
[1:02:39] resources facilities. I'll
[1:02:42] explain to you here what having
[1:02:45] exclusive unmanaged access.
[1:02:46] Contains right so the purpose
[1:02:50] of this fiber loop is so that
[1:02:50] we can run on
[1:02:54] skate and network on these
[1:02:54] fibers.
[1:02:56] I'm not sure if some of the of
[1:02:57] not heard about skated before
[1:03:00] it stands for supervisory
[1:03:01] control and
[1:03:02] data acquisition which is the
[1:03:05] system that our department uses
[1:03:07] to monitor control automate
[1:03:07] water wastewater and pumping
[1:03:10] operations throughout the
[1:03:13] entire city.
[1:03:14] In practice Kate is a
[1:03:15] technology lets the operator
[1:03:16] see what's happening at Lis
[1:03:18] station Street between plants
[1:03:21] pump stations and other remote
[1:03:25] facilities in real time.
[1:03:28] And take action if needed.
[1:03:29] This is especially
[1:03:32] important for our sparge
[1:03:35] actives because as as
[1:03:36] part of our spar objectives.
[1:03:37] There's a plan in place to run
[1:03:40] our treatment plants as long as
[1:03:42] possible during storm a bench.
[1:03:45] And to accomplish this we MAY
[1:03:46] need to evacuate these plants
[1:03:49] were all all our personnel
[1:03:51] would have to leave the site
[1:03:55] and we have the ability to
[1:03:55] operate these
[1:03:56] plants until the storm surges
[1:03:57] reach a certain level where we
[1:03:59] MAY have to have the decision
[1:04:03] to.
[1:04:04] Cut the
[1:04:06] electricity to the plans to say
[1:04:09] from sable quitman for o storm
[1:04:13] operations.
[1:04:13] So we. We built in
[1:04:15] the ability in this new system
[1:04:18] to shut down these electricity
[1:04:22] said and also monitor
[1:04:23] these plant
[1:04:26] operations through cctv
[1:04:28] coverage and we have moisture
[1:04:28] sensors intellectual buildings
[1:04:29] in place that all of the
[1:04:32] signals get transmitted to this
[1:04:35] do to skate in that work to
[1:04:38] him. 2 are building it water
[1:04:41] water resources.
[1:04:42] This further
[1:04:44] further benefit Reich is long
[1:04:45] gone. This lease agreement to
[1:04:48] provide long-term network
[1:04:51] reliability and stability.
[1:04:54] By looping this network if any
[1:04:55] stretch of the network actually
[1:04:56] gets breached because this
[1:04:58] system is looped Communications
[1:04:59] can reversed direction and we
[1:05:02] can still communicate with a
[1:05:05] lot of our facilities.
[1:05:07] This is an improve cyber
[1:05:10] security benefit in which is a
[1:05:13] that which is
[1:05:14] a hot topic today we've
[1:05:15] just received reports that
[1:05:18] there are bad actors that are
[1:05:19] actually trying to target these
[1:05:20] industrial networks and I
[1:05:23] having our own managed.
[1:05:26] Network.
[1:05:27] It's almost
[1:05:28] it's very difficult to tap into
[1:05:31] this these fiber optic show I
[1:05:34] mean it's kind of.
[1:05:38] It's much beneficial to to
[1:05:40] actually have control over on
[1:05:43] our.
[1:05:46] We had access to high bandwidth
[1:05:48] least this lease agreement.
[1:05:51] We'll give us interference free
[1:05:55] communication.
[1:05:56] And then I
[1:05:59] think a touch base on that as
[1:06:03] well as what we say one thing
[1:06:04] by
[1:06:07] having control of our own
[1:06:08] network. We can control the
[1:06:08] speed of communications that
[1:06:12] then we can transmit through
[1:06:14] there and that limitation is.
[1:06:16] Just in the equipment, you know
[1:06:19] that we have but in the future
[1:06:22] these Whitman technology will
[1:06:23] just get better and we'll have
[1:06:24] the ability to do accommodate
[1:06:26] any additional bandwidth
[1:06:28] requirements.
[1:06:30] But the most important one I
[1:06:31] think one of the most important
[1:06:32] things is is this lease will
[1:06:34] lock us into a 20 year
[1:06:34] agreement with the rate that
[1:06:38] stay stable for the end tire 20
[1:06:41] year term.
[1:06:46] This we also have provisions in
[1:06:47] the contract that if we make
[1:06:48] this decision and after a few
[1:06:50] years we want to go with a
[1:06:53] different technology or as some
[1:06:55] sort we will be able to to come
[1:06:56] terminate this agreement with
[1:06:56] unity under certain with with
[1:06:59] certain provisions that are in.
[1:07:05] Other than that
[1:07:10] I Well 1 one more item the you
[1:07:13] know the maintenance
[1:07:14] responsibilities would be
[1:07:15] clearly on the community fiber
[1:07:17] and they I and then if we
[1:07:18] actually lose his
[1:07:18] communications still be out
[1:07:22] there repairing the son of an
[1:07:22] assortment of time so.
[1:07:25] Thank you for your
[1:07:28] consideration and with the
[1:07:30] information that
[1:07:31] I just presented here. I feel
[1:07:33] that entering this long-term
[1:07:34] agreement is in the best
[1:07:34] interest for the city will
[1:07:35] thank you Sir have
[1:07:38] councilmember Curtis. Thank you
[1:07:41] MADAM Chair. So.
[1:07:42] >> I know just enough about
[1:07:44] this to probably make me a
[1:07:44] little bit dangerous but not
[1:07:47] that much so don't get too
[1:07:48] word.
[1:07:50] So there are essentially
[1:07:53] building the backbone between
[1:07:55] the sites and we're leasing the
[1:07:57] backbone back from them.
[1:07:58] So we have the loop system.
[1:08:02] Throughout the sites and his
[1:08:04] career
[1:08:08] our servers on premise.
[1:08:08] We have servers on on on our
[1:08:09] yeah.
[1:08:11] And then we have ridden that we
[1:08:13] have redundancy off permits.
[1:08:13] >> I'm not.
[1:08:16] Gather with their questions so
[1:08:17] of like power goes down
[1:08:17] to where our server is we have
[1:08:20] redundancy to add to a separate
[1:08:23] server that's off premise.
[1:08:25] Well if we have power there
[1:08:25] than our network switches will
[1:08:26] go down and we wouldn't be able
[1:08:29] to get checked out
[1:08:31] aforementioned, okay,
[1:08:31] do have backup.
[1:08:32] We have we have redundant
[1:08:33] backup power at all of our at
[1:08:36] all sites. Ok alright that was
[1:08:38] my next question okay and so
[1:08:39] got it and so what at the end
[1:08:42] of the 20 year lease do we have
[1:08:45] the option to buy the backbone.
[1:08:49] >> That has not been ok I am I
[1:08:51] we have unity here
[1:08:53] >> my guess is they don't want
[1:08:53] to us, but it's not in the
[1:08:56] agreement as I got it written
[1:08:59] right now, yes, Sir.
[1:09:05] I love that
[1:09:08] it's a loop system and.
[1:09:08] There's a lot of really good
[1:09:09] things about this I'll just
[1:09:10] leave it there before getting I
[1:09:11] don't want people think I'm a
[1:09:14] nerd. Move approval.
[1:09:14] Coming in.
[1:09:15] We have a motion a second see
[1:09:18] no other request. The clerk if
[1:09:19] you can open making
[1:09:19] for boating council members
[1:09:22] please enter your votes.
[1:09:23] And in for the
[1:09:23] council members of footage
[1:09:24] Berkeley's telling us about
[1:09:25] chair the motion to approve
[1:09:28] agenda item passes unanimously.
[1:09:31] Thank you and thank you Sir.
[1:09:34] We move
[1:09:36] on to new business or not is
[1:09:37] one and that is by surfline.
[1:09:37] Thank respectfully requesting a
[1:09:40] referral to the public services
[1:09:41] and infrastructure
[1:09:42] Committee or other relevant
[1:09:43] Committee for discussion on the
[1:09:46] city's contract with flock
[1:09:47] safety
[1:09:48] in the use of flock cameras in
[1:09:48] the city. You know we haven't
[1:09:49] had a discussion about it in
[1:09:50] the past I think it's a good
[1:09:52] thing for us to do in
[1:09:54] committee.
[1:09:57] That's the basis of this all
[1:10:00] move approval,
[1:10:03] second.
[1:10:03] We have a motion in the 2nd
[1:10:04] quarter you can open the
[1:10:06] machine for voting. Members
[1:10:10] please. Ended up raising
[1:10:11] council members voted clerk
[1:10:11] please tell announce the vote.
[1:10:14] MADAM Chair, the motion to
[1:10:16] approve
[1:10:17] agenda item g one passes
[1:10:17] unanimously.
[1:10:18] Next up we have to be to
[1:10:18] referral to a kill ut
[1:10:19] councilmember Givens thank you
[1:10:20] chair respectfully requesting
[1:10:20] referral to the housing land
[1:10:21] use and Transportation
[1:10:21] Committee or other relevant
[1:10:24] Committee for discussion on
[1:10:24] regulating autonomous vehicle
[1:10:25] standards and safety oversight.
[1:10:28] >> This discussion should focus
[1:10:29] on comprehensive review and
[1:10:30] discussion regarding regulatory
[1:10:31] frameworks road compatibility
[1:10:34] and safety standards for
[1:10:35] automated driving systems.
[1:10:36] The discussion should also
[1:10:38] include measures law
[1:10:39] enforcement can implement to
[1:10:40] address specific concerns about
[1:10:43] autonomous vehicles with that I
[1:10:46] move approval,
[1:10:48] second.
[1:10:49] And motion a second clerk and
[1:10:50] you can open the machine for
[1:10:50] voting council members please
[1:10:52] enter your votes. And it
[1:10:55] appears and council
[1:10:57] members voted quickly telling
[1:10:57] us about.
[1:11:00] MADAM Chair, the motion to
[1:11:00] approve the agenda item g 2
[1:11:01] passes unanimously.
[1:11:01] Thank u next up is the 3 that's
[1:11:02] my respectfully requests are
[1:11:03] for all to budget finance and
[1:11:04] taxation Committee for an
[1:11:04] update on federal emergency.
[1:11:05] The agency reimbursements
[1:11:08] insurance proceeds grants in
[1:11:11] all
[1:11:13] of the revenues receiving
[1:11:13] connection.
[1:11:14] With insurance with hurricane
[1:11:14] related expenses move approval
[1:11:15] back in in the motion a second
[1:11:18] clerk if you can open the
[1:11:21] machine for voting.
[1:11:23] All Councilmember Curtis.
[1:11:26] I just quickly with SEPTEMBER's
[1:11:28] be fnt open is do you think
[1:11:29] administration could come is
[1:11:29] that I'm not funny.
[1:11:30] That's actually was mentioned
[1:11:31] when we were talking about at
[1:11:31] the committee of the whole so
[1:11:35] they MAY be able to do it on
[1:11:38] SEPTEMBER if
[1:11:42] it's off it's fine with you.
[1:11:43] Hopefully we're probably
[1:11:44] fine with whatever I didn't
[1:11:44] want to I didn't want to
[1:11:45] surprise.
[1:11:45] Anybody know I appreciate I we
[1:11:46] have the information I think we
[1:11:47] can you ok so we'll go ahead
[1:11:48] and add that the next month bf
[1:11:51] and teacher okay sounds good.
[1:11:53] >> We have a motion second
[1:11:53] clerk to begin over the machine
[1:11:54] for voting council members
[1:11:56] please enter your votes present
[1:11:59] council members to quickly
[1:11:59] selling out the vote.
[1:12:00] MADAM Chair, the motion to
[1:12:02] approve agenda item g 3 passes
[1:12:03] unanimously
[1:12:07] next step we have h one.
[1:12:10] That's by hear Floyd
[1:12:14] it's tell you t action item.
[1:12:15] Requests fully respect we do
[1:12:15] this.
[1:12:16] Is it for you to say I all the
[1:12:19] time like I go home and I say I
[1:12:20] again
[1:12:21] said request fully respect the
[1:12:24] Respectfully requesting City
[1:12:26] Council approval of
[1:12:26] the motion to move the referral
[1:12:29] item regarding potential
[1:12:30] changes to the city
[1:12:31] code related historic
[1:12:32] preservation and designation
[1:12:33] from the housing land use and
[1:12:35] transportation are many refer a
[1:12:35] list of the committee of the
[1:12:36] whole referral us to move
[1:12:37] approval second election second
[1:12:39] clerk if you can open admission
[1:12:45] for boating council members
[1:12:47] present.
[1:12:47] Being that all present
[1:12:48] councilmembers a good clerk
[1:12:48] please telling us that.
[1:12:51] MADAM CHAIRMAN to approve
[1:12:51] tonight a page passes
[1:12:52] unanimously.
[1:12:52] Thank u next up we have a
[1:12:53] public hearing item k one that
[1:12:55] can be heard actually before 5
[1:12:58] o one, correct. It's great
[1:13:01] that's correct.
[1:13:02] Okay.
[1:13:02] This isn't an ordinance
[1:13:05] amending an ally vacation
[1:13:07] ordinace
[1:13:11] located at 18 34st Avenue South
[1:13:14] in 1850 Central Avenue
[1:13:16] to replace condition number 5
[1:13:16] work.
[1:13:17] The pows or Dec. 11 79 dash v
[1:13:20] in Ford's amending ordinance
[1:13:22] 1172 dash v which approved the
[1:13:25] vacation of the Western 120
[1:13:28] feet of the 20 foot alley
[1:13:30] abutting lots 5 through 8.
[1:13:33] In blocked 16 Fuller
[1:13:35] subdivision located in 18 34st
[1:13:38] Avenue South in 1850 Central
[1:13:38] Avenue.
[1:13:40] We place in condition number 5.
[1:13:41] In section 3 in providing for
[1:13:44] an effective date. We do not
[1:13:47] have any cards.
[1:13:48] >> Is anybody think the public
[1:13:48] approval seconded the motion a
[1:13:51] second clerk if you can open
[1:13:55] the machine for voting.
[1:14:00] Council members pleaded to a
[1:14:03] vote in that office and
[1:14:08] council members to quickly
[1:14:09] selling out to vote.
[1:14:09] MADAM Chair, the motion to
[1:14:10] approve agenda item j one
[1:14:10] passes unanimously.
[1:14:11] Well we have gotten to the part
[1:14:13] of our agenda out where the
[1:14:15] remaining
[1:14:16] items have to be at 5 oh one.
[1:14:19] Before we adjourn I just want
[1:14:19] to let everyone know that
[1:14:20] councilmember greatness and
[1:14:23] notify me and MR. Bill Edwards
[1:14:26] has passed away.
[1:14:29] For those
[1:14:33] who know MR. Edwards on.
[1:14:34] It's a huge loss for city.
[1:14:34] Councilmember driskell thank
[1:14:37] you if we I was actually going
[1:14:38] to talk about it at the
[1:14:39] end of our meeting tonight that
[1:14:41] if we can and if any I'm going
[1:14:42] to say a few words at the end
[1:14:43] of the meeting and perhaps we
[1:14:43] could have a moment of silence
[1:14:46] at that time as well. Thank
[1:14:49] you.
[1:19:18] >> Being said we're in right.
[1:26:19] >> In
[1:42:40] >> a
[1:50:17] >> It. It.
[2:11:03] >> One.
[2:18:07] >> In
[2:34:28] >> a
[2:34:40] Food.
[3:09:55] >> In
[3:26:30] >> Food.
[3:31:42] >> Evening
[3:31:42] >> everyone we're back in
[3:31:43] session.
[3:31:43] We are starting the public
[3:31:44] hearing and was a good issue of
[3:31:47] proceedings. And the first item
[3:31:48] ha 2 this is the f why 2027
[3:31:48] utility rates and charges.
[3:31:52] Clerk if you can go ahead and
[3:31:54] read the
[3:31:55] ordinances.
[3:31:56] Proposed ordinance number 6.44
[3:31:59] dash age in orange relating to
[3:32:01] sanitation rates and charges
[3:32:04] the main chapter 27 section 27
[3:32:05] dashed 5 57 of the St.
[3:32:08] Petersburg city code. The many
[3:32:08] rates and charges for
[3:32:11] sanitation services, providing
[3:32:11] for
[3:32:14] severability provisions
[3:32:15] providing an explanation in
[3:32:15] words struck through and
[3:32:18] underlined establishing a day
[3:32:19] to begin calculating you rates
[3:32:22] for the purposes and provided
[3:32:25] for an effective date.
[3:32:32] Which is not we're public
[3:32:32] comment. We're reading are all
[3:32:33] the ordinances. The next pope
[3:32:34] where does this proposed
[3:32:37] ordinance number 6.46 dash ph
[3:32:38] an orange relating to utility
[3:32:41] rates. Any section 27 dash 4,
[3:32:44] 0, 5, subsections
[3:32:47] b one and b 2. This up the
[3:32:49] brick city code amending the
[3:32:51] stormwater utility fee amending
[3:32:51] the 2 rate structure fees for
[3:32:54] single-family residential
[3:32:55] parcels providing for
[3:32:58] severability provisions
[3:32:59] providing an explanation in
[3:33:00] words struck through and
[3:33:00] underlined establishing a date
[3:33:02] to begin calculating you reach
[3:33:02] for billing purposes and
[3:33:05] providing for an effective
[3:33:07] date.
[3:33:09] The next one is the proposed
[3:33:12] ordinance number 6.45 dash ph
[3:33:16] and orange really.
[3:33:19] And charges men chapter
[3:33:22] 27 section 27 dash 4 27 dash
[3:33:26] one o 9 b 27 dash one o 9 d
[3:33:29] 27 dash one 13 b
[3:33:32] 27 dash one 41 a 27 dash one 41
[3:33:35] be 27 dash one
[3:33:38] 27 dash one 43,
[3:33:41] 27 dash one 44 27 dash one 46
[3:33:44] be 27 dash one 46 d
[3:33:47] 27 dash one 77 a
[3:33:50] 27 dash one 77 d
[3:33:52] 27 dash
[3:33:56] 2 5827 des to 83 a 27 dash
[3:33:57] 2.84, a
[3:34:01] 27 dash 2.84 d 27 dash 3.35 g
[3:34:04] and 27 dash 3.37.
[3:34:07] Petersburg city code
[3:34:08] any liability for charges and
[3:34:11] many charges for potable water
[3:34:12] connection and many water
[3:34:14] relocation charge them any
[3:34:14] charges commending meter
[3:34:17] relocation charges many meteor
[3:34:20] part.
[3:34:20] Relocation charge any
[3:34:23] charges for possible meters
[3:34:24] amending based
[3:34:25] in volume charges for water
[3:34:26] service and many various
[3:34:27] service charges and many
[3:34:30] coastal water service charges
[3:34:33] for the city of Qom port
[3:34:37] removing references to common
[3:34:37] combination.
[3:34:38] Fire service and many fire
[3:34:41] service charges. Any rates and
[3:34:43] charges for irrigation only any
[3:34:44] recent charge for commercial
[3:34:46] water only accounts in recent
[3:34:49] charges for reclaim water
[3:34:52] service. Any circuit past the
[3:34:53] fee. And many retail and
[3:34:56] wholesale wastewater service
[3:34:58] charges removing grease
[3:34:59] discharge permit fee. Any
[3:35:01] increased management program
[3:35:04] fees, providing for
[3:35:05] severability provisions
[3:35:05] providing an explanation of
[3:35:06] what struck through an
[3:35:07] underlying establishing a day
[3:35:08] to be in calculating new
[3:35:09] charges for billing purposes in
[3:35:10] providing for an effective date
[3:35:13] and we do have speakers and
[3:35:17] chair okay, thank you.
[3:35:25] Thank the speaker.
[3:35:26] I'm gonna call 2 at a time when
[3:35:26] I call your name please go to
[3:35:27] an open podium. State your name
[3:35:28] address or cross Street for the
[3:35:31] record you have 3 minutes to
[3:35:32] address City Council, the first
[3:35:36] 2 speakers are and the unknown
[3:35:39] and Jim Johnson.
[3:35:46] >> My name is Linda. Anello I
[3:35:49] live in Harbour Isle what to
[3:35:50] know one
[3:35:50] 74 circle Northeast St.
[3:35:53] Petersburg Florida. And I'm
[3:35:54] here today to ask you as
[3:35:55] my representative and a
[3:35:57] representative government to
[3:36:01] please vote no on the proposed
[3:36:01] increase,
[3:36:03] I'd like to also ask you what
[3:36:06] steps has the city taken to
[3:36:07] reduce expenses before asking
[3:36:10] residents to pay higher utility
[3:36:13] rates. We're a lot of us here
[3:36:15] look like we're on a fixed
[3:36:16] income and these rates are
[3:36:19] hurting us and I know you don't
[3:36:20] represent
[3:36:22] to hurt people. I also would
[3:36:22] like to ask why are the
[3:36:25] residents being asked to absorb
[3:36:29] increases in several different
[3:36:33] utilities at the same time.
[3:36:34] What is the projected total
[3:36:37] increase to the average
[3:36:39] homeowner's bill over the next
[3:36:42] 5 years. I know this increase
[3:36:42] doesn't sound like much.
[3:36:46] But over a five-year period.
[3:36:47] Well with
[3:36:47] that increase be for your
[3:36:49] constituents and also are there
[3:36:51] any expenses and the utility
[3:36:53] budgets that could be postponed
[3:36:56] or eliminated to reduce the
[3:37:00] increase and how
[3:37:00] as I said will these
[3:37:02] increases affect seniors and
[3:37:03] residents on a fixed income and
[3:37:07] I thank you for hearing and
[3:37:10] listening. Thank you.
[3:37:13] >> Good afternoon Jim Johnson,
[3:37:17] one oh 2, 1, 92, 39th Street
[3:37:20] North. 2, 3, 7, 1, 3,
[3:37:23] is that all you need.
[3:37:24] This it could. Good afternoon
[3:37:24] and.
[3:37:26] I know I'm a little late to
[3:37:27] have an impact on these
[3:37:30] proposed increases in water and
[3:37:30] sewer rates
[3:37:31] into decisions must be made
[3:37:33] today. But I will provide a
[3:37:35] short
[3:37:36] history of the past increases
[3:37:37] will be addressing the bond
[3:37:40] request on the NOVEMBER ballot
[3:37:40] because
[3:37:43] they are intertwined for this
[3:37:44] conversation. First item being
[3:37:46] utility rates second item being
[3:37:49] references on the NOVEMBER
[3:37:50] ballot. Utility rates of water
[3:37:53] and sewer. Our services provide
[3:37:57] every household the city.
[3:37:57] The information I would provide
[3:38:00] Ng is a quick summary. But
[3:38:01] there is also a great deal more
[3:38:01] information else trey ships
[3:38:05] about the history on today's
[3:38:07] agenda.
[3:38:10] The evaluation period for 6
[3:38:11] years and
[3:38:15] 2021 to 2026. Announces from
[3:38:18] JANUARY or Feb. 20 21. The
[3:38:21] water rate back in 2021 usage
[3:38:24] was to 28 per 1000 gallons.
[3:38:27] The t b w was to 48 for
[3:38:28] 2010 thousand gallons one
[3:38:31] touchdown. Skews me for a total
[3:38:33] of $4.76 per 1000 down.
[3:38:36] The sewage rate was $8 per 1000
[3:38:39] pounds.
[3:38:45] FEBRUARY of 2026. The water
[3:38:48] usage rate is 4.19. The tv w's
[3:38:52] to 64. 4 total of 6.83.
[3:38:54] Sewage rates $11.
[3:38:57] This illustrates a 43% increase
[3:38:59] and water sewage.
[3:39:02] Those trading an average annual
[3:39:06] increase of 8.6%.
[3:39:08] And a 38% increase and you are
[3:39:11] should an average increase of
[3:39:14] 7.4%. This is in just 6 years.
[3:39:16] Now for the year 27. There will
[3:39:19] be an increased an average of
[3:39:22] 7% to add to these rates.
[3:39:25] They will continue to be rate
[3:39:26] increases each year.
[3:39:28] And possibly more than one in a
[3:39:29] year. This cannot continue to
[3:39:32] rate increases are far beyond
[3:39:35] inflationary adjustments.
[3:39:38] The annual budgets for these
[3:39:39] services include money for
[3:39:41] capital improvement improvement
[3:39:42] projects. This will be relevant
[3:39:44] to much discussion on the bond
[3:39:45] issue. I have a trouble except
[3:39:48] in the cost of these services
[3:39:51] have increased at this rate
[3:39:54] over a short period of time.
[3:39:55] They are excessive and
[3:39:56] illustrate a failure of
[3:39:58] controlling cost containment
[3:39:58] for wages insurance
[3:40:01] maintenance. Etc these issues
[3:40:02] should be addressed within the
[3:40:04] respective departments, current
[3:40:05] utility rates are out of
[3:40:08] control and cannot be continued
[3:40:11] at this pace.
[3:40:15] General referendum.
[3:40:17] >> Thank you Sir, sorry, most
[3:40:18] by quickly.
[3:40:21] Next 2 speakers are Matthew
[3:40:21] Freeman and
[3:40:22] Holly no please go to an open
[3:40:23] podium. State your name address
[3:40:23] or cross Street for the record
[3:40:26] you have 3 minutes to address
[3:40:29] the City Council.
[3:40:36] >> My name is Matt frame and I
[3:40:36] live at 1650 Robinson drive
[3:40:37] North. Thank you City Council
[3:40:38] members for this opportunity to
[3:40:41] speak on the propose utility
[3:40:43] rates and
[3:40:43] agenda item j to see. I
[3:40:47] recognize additional revenue is
[3:40:47] needed to update and
[3:40:49] modernize infrastructure.
[3:40:52] I would discourage increasing
[3:40:53] the potable water and water
[3:40:54] wastewater base rates for
[3:40:56] residents. It's a constantly
[3:41:00] references affordable housing.
[3:41:01] But there's more to that than
[3:41:02] just rent or mortgage,
[3:41:03] increasing base rates adds to
[3:41:06] the monthly costs are
[3:41:09] unavoidable by residents.
[3:41:11] High fixed charge hits a low
[3:41:13] use and the low income
[3:41:15] customers regardless of how
[3:41:19] carefully they can serve.
[3:41:20] Speaking from my monthly bill
[3:41:21] I pay over a $100 a month with
[3:41:24] 0 water usage which is over
[3:41:26] $1200 a year.
[3:41:28] The say is already considering
[3:41:31] a proposed 7 and a half percent
[3:41:32] increase to
[3:41:35] the variable water block great.
[3:41:36] And propose 6 and a half
[3:41:36] percent increase at the
[3:41:38] wastewater variable rate so I
[3:41:39] would recommend shifting the
[3:41:42] proposed increase the base rate
[3:41:43] to that.
[3:41:44] I would further suggests that
[3:41:47] the proposed increase to the
[3:41:48] variable water block great be
[3:41:51] reconsidered so the difference
[3:41:53] is not 7 a half percent
[3:41:54] across each of the 4 blocks
[3:41:55] then increasing or progressive
[3:41:59] percentage for each block of
[3:41:59] water usage.
[3:42:01] This is the mayor redesigning
[3:42:04] held the seat proposes to
[3:42:07] collect the additional revenue
[3:42:09] in doing so the city will
[3:42:11] collect revenue where the costs
[3:42:15] primarily curse from water
[3:42:16] consumption. Not
[3:42:19] merely from having a water
[3:42:20] connection. And further if it
[3:42:22] encourages water conservation
[3:42:23] that will only serve to extend
[3:42:26] the lifespan of infrastructure
[3:42:29] that the city is looking
[3:42:30] to update our ice to summarize
[3:42:31] I would ask that the sea
[3:42:32] consider and alternative rate
[3:42:34] schedule than the one currently
[3:42:35] proposed for water and
[3:42:38] wastewater. Thank you thank
[3:42:41] you. Go ahead.
[3:42:45] >> My name is
[3:42:45] Holly Noah 8, 1, one Placido a
[3:42:48] Northeast I'm here to urge you
[3:42:49] to vote no on the
[3:42:50] proposed utility rate increases
[3:42:54] in fiscal year 2025 Saint Pete
[3:42:55] earned million from
[3:42:57] water resources, 41 million
[3:43:01] from storm water and 65 million
[3:43:01] from sanitation. $324 million
[3:43:04] in revenue total. And that was
[3:43:06] before rates went up
[3:43:08] for the 5th year in a row after
[3:43:09] expenses, including
[3:43:10] depreciation those 3 utility
[3:43:14] still generated more than $72
[3:43:14] million in operating income.
[3:43:18] So why pray tell does the city
[3:43:19] need
[3:43:22] to raise rates again. The Aug.
[3:43:23] 13th budget and finance packet
[3:43:27] cites rising costs for labor
[3:43:27] material infrastructure,
[3:43:29] regulatory compliance. But the
[3:43:31] city doesn't show us how those
[3:43:34] increased costs justified.
[3:43:35] The increased rates. In fact
[3:43:37] the same packet shows proposed
[3:43:39] operating expenses, declining
[3:43:42] 0.4 in water resources and
[3:43:45] nearly 2% in storm water.
[3:43:46] So why does the city need to
[3:43:49] raise rates again. My utility
[3:43:52] bill has increased nearly 24%
[3:43:54] since 2022. And that includes
[3:43:57] a 35% increase in reclaimed,
[3:43:58] and nearly 60% increase in
[3:44:00] storm water. The city's
[3:44:03] projections call for increases
[3:44:05] every year through 2031.
[3:44:07] 7% water resources, 8 and a
[3:44:10] half percent stormwater 6%
[3:44:11] sanitation
[3:44:14] and nearly 10%. In reclaimed
[3:44:18] and that does not include the
[3:44:21] 10% city imposed tax
[3:44:23] on water and reclaimed water.
[3:44:25] By 2031 my utility bill we'll
[3:44:28] increase another 45% to nearly
[3:44:31] $250 a month
[3:44:33] nearly $3,000 a year, 900 of
[3:44:35] which 4 reclaimed water.
[3:44:36] Importantly the city doesn't
[3:44:37] publish reclaimed water
[3:44:38] financials I asked my
[3:44:39] councilmember for them his
[3:44:41] office had to request them from
[3:44:42] staff and I still don't have
[3:44:43] them. Yet the city says
[3:44:46] reclaimed rates cover only 80%
[3:44:48] of cost and proposes nearly 10%
[3:44:51] annual increases for 5 years to
[3:44:53] maintain that level really
[3:44:54] I'm sorry prove it. The city
[3:44:56] has benefited from significant
[3:44:56] increases in property tax
[3:44:59] revenues and utility rate hikes
[3:45:01] yet according to
[3:45:02] fiscal 25 financials more
[3:45:05] than $26 million was
[3:45:06] transferred out of water storm
[3:45:08] water and sanitation to the
[3:45:09] general fund through payment in
[3:45:12] lieu of taxes. And now the city
[3:45:12] comes back to residents with
[3:45:14] an open hand asking for more.
[3:45:14] You need more money from the
[3:45:17] people the people who cannot
[3:45:17] live without water prove it
[3:45:18] prove that what you're already
[3:45:19] collecting is not enough and if
[3:45:23] if and until you can prove it.
[3:45:26] You must vote no.
[3:45:33] >> Thank u next 2 speakers.
[3:45:33] >> Next 2 speakers rfe alter
[3:45:34] arrow in Patty's adults.
[3:45:35] Please go to an open podium
[3:45:35] state your name address or
[3:45:36] cross Street for the record
[3:45:39] you'll have 3 minutes to
[3:45:42] address City Council.
[3:45:48] >> Good evening my name
[3:45:52] is Raphael Guerreiro I live at
[3:45:53] 6210. Second Avenue North
[3:45:57] Petersburg 3, 3, 7, 1, 0, My
[3:45:59] phone number is 7 a 6,
[3:46:00] 3, 7, 4, 6, 9, to 4. My email
[3:46:03] is art rare 41. You know just
[3:46:07] in case. 41.
[3:46:08] And yeah that come.
[3:46:09] I say in a name and email this
[3:46:12] morning to all of you I don't
[3:46:14] know if any of you read that
[3:46:17] and I see some heads nodding
[3:46:19] which is good.
[3:46:21] I do I've been utility business
[3:46:25] for 55 years. I have never
[3:46:27] seen. It continues rate.
[3:46:31] Increase like this one here.
[3:46:32] I move here.
[3:46:33] I said retired guy and I can I
[3:46:35] see how people who survived
[3:46:38] this increase. Now you're
[3:46:41] proposing is crazy. What you
[3:46:45] have to do what MISTER Given
[3:46:47] was saying is 2 to 3%
[3:46:49] go back to the consultant Rome,
[3:46:52] the numbers again it will take
[3:46:53] 20 minutes to run it.
[3:46:55] No more than that again with
[3:46:57] your staff and said you have to
[3:46:57] cut these projects and get the
[3:47:00] discount and that's the way you
[3:47:03] do. Rate cases you just don't
[3:47:06] goal. And I don't know what
[3:47:09] your numbers came from is not
[3:47:12] really
[3:47:13] clear where that came from if
[3:47:15] you give the consultant and
[3:47:17] number he's going to come up
[3:47:19] with a rate. So go back to your
[3:47:22] staff tell him to look at the
[3:47:23] projects
[3:47:24] really look at the project what
[3:47:27] ifs in that wish list and what
[3:47:30] do you really need. And go from
[3:47:31] there.
[3:47:32] Thank you have a nice evening.
[3:47:33] And if you have any question
[3:47:36] you got my phone and my email.
[3:47:42] Everybody else has to.
[3:47:44] >> Hi there my name is
[3:47:48] Patty so dot and I am saying
[3:47:48] que resident living at
[3:47:49] 1619 Pennsylvania Avenue
[3:47:52] Northeast, e p and cross wrote
[3:47:54] is I guess 62th Avenue.
[3:47:56] Good okay. Resident Saint Pete
[3:47:59] and I thought my home in 36
[3:48:00] since that time my water bill
[3:48:04] has increased. 180% over the
[3:48:07] past 20 years from 20
[3:48:08] from
[3:48:09] 2006 to 2026. We have all so we
[3:48:12] all need water and we can't
[3:48:13] live without it,
[3:48:16] that's why we need to be good
[3:48:16] stewards of this
[3:48:19] essential resource and service.
[3:48:20] The reason I'm here is
[3:48:22] to ask for transparency.
[3:48:23] How safe housing Pete is
[3:48:27] calculating the water resource
[3:48:28] rate increase in 20. 27,
[3:48:30] there are 2 por important
[3:48:32] questions what is planned for
[3:48:34] 2027 the city's recent annual
[3:48:35] utility rate. Financial study
[3:48:38] projected to 7% increase in the
[3:48:41] retail water rate
[3:48:43] for 2027. That same study
[3:48:44] projects of course we all know
[3:48:48] the water increasing 7% waste
[3:48:50] water to 7%.
[3:48:53] Plus reclaim water plus 9.7 5.
[3:48:54] The storm water, 15%.
[3:48:57] These increases are scheduled
[3:48:59] to take
[3:49:00] place obviously in Oct. 1st.
[3:49:02] Why is the city increasing the
[3:49:03] rates the rates get the
[3:49:04] increase aren't simply because
[3:49:07] the city expects to use more
[3:49:08] water.
[3:49:11] Utility system needs additional
[3:49:15] revenue to cover
[3:49:16] aging water and wastewater
[3:49:19] infrastructure. Capital
[3:49:21] improvement projects debt
[3:49:24] service, operating costs such
[3:49:25] as the labor service services
[3:49:28] and materials maintenance
[3:49:31] adequate. Just months
[3:49:33] reserves.
[3:49:33] >> My.
[3:49:35] Distinct question then is why
[3:49:37] can't the city in new Marie
[3:49:40] rising costs for 2027 water
[3:49:41] rate
[3:49:43] increased by providing a clean
[3:49:46] line by line accounting of what
[3:49:47] is driving the increase.
[3:49:50] The Saint Pete water reserves,
[3:49:54] operating fund experience a
[3:49:56] projected or projected to go
[3:49:58] down is projected to
[3:50:01] go down 4%. So why are we going
[3:50:03] up why are rates increasing.
[3:50:06] The city needs to go back to
[3:50:07] the finance department.
[3:50:10] And asked them to show you how
[3:50:13] to explain to its residents
[3:50:16] line by line. The map
[3:50:17] on why the city is
[3:50:18] proposing an increase in the
[3:50:21] water rates I vote of course no
[3:50:25] for an increase in the rate.
[3:50:28] >> Next 2 speakers
[3:50:29] are Bruce Nevins and Carla camp
[3:50:30] please go to an open podium
[3:50:31] state your name address or
[3:50:31] cross Street for the record
[3:50:34] you'll have 3 minutes to
[3:50:37] address City Council.
[3:50:48] You can go ahead Sir.
[3:50:51] Hello my name is Bruce Nevins I
[3:50:52] never 5136 28th Avenue North.
[3:50:56] The cross Street is York.
[3:50:59] And I'm here as a.
[3:51:02] Family home.
[3:51:02] Renter
[3:51:05] my rent is going up every year
[3:51:06] for the last 6 years that I've
[3:51:09] been renting before that on the
[3:51:10] House and got covid states for
[3:51:13] 20 years. And of course costs
[3:51:15] were going up quite crazy over
[3:51:17] there. But I'm not quite sure
[3:51:20] why every year we continue to
[3:51:22] have utility rate increases
[3:51:23] when I don't see any different
[3:51:26] service or better service is it
[3:51:28] just a labor costs
[3:51:29] is it. As has been mentioned
[3:51:32] infrastructure replacement.
[3:51:34] Again, everybody's saying be
[3:51:35] clear about this and be
[3:51:36] transparent about it. None of
[3:51:39] that seemed to happen. You have
[3:51:42] a you haven't way of doing this
[3:51:45] where you have a
[3:51:46] reading of the ordinance
[3:51:47] supposedly and then you have a
[3:51:50] public hearing and then
[3:51:50] immediately after we talked to
[3:51:52] you you're going to vote on
[3:51:55] this that doesn't make any
[3:51:56] sense how can you understand
[3:51:57] what we should ask you about
[3:52:00] how can you do anything about
[3:52:03] what we've asked you about why
[3:52:04] can't you be. At least
[3:52:04] respectful of the citizens in
[3:52:05] dealing with them in a very
[3:52:08] transparent manner. Thank you.
[3:52:11] Thank you.
[3:52:18] My name is Carla count.
[3:52:19] My address is 1419 42nd Avenue
[3:52:20] North St. Petersburg Florida,
[3:52:21] 3, 3, 7, 1, 4, Sadly I am a
[3:52:21] block and a half outside the
[3:52:24] city limits so everything that
[3:52:24] you're talking about you
[3:52:25] can add an extra 25% to me.
[3:52:28] The chief Lloyd would be my guy
[3:52:29] I do have seen Pete water.
[3:52:32] So I am here to talk about
[3:52:33] that. I'm also a candidate
[3:52:34] for Senate here. What I'm
[3:52:37] hearing is people coming to you
[3:52:38] with numbers which I'm very
[3:52:38] impressed with that they've
[3:52:40] done the research and I'm
[3:52:41] wondering why that hasn't been
[3:52:43] done internally what I would
[3:52:44] like to say as someone who had
[3:52:46] their entire road. Throughout
[3:52:49] the city ripped up in the city
[3:52:52] County event together where
[3:52:53] they replace the water
[3:52:54] twice. Ever since we've had
[3:52:57] problems with water meters
[3:52:58] there are thousands of
[3:53:00] complaints about the water
[3:53:01] meters not being right about
[3:53:02] people getting charged
[3:53:03] thousands of dollars for water
[3:53:06] they've never consumed and
[3:53:07] houses that are empty.
[3:53:08] There are just as many
[3:53:10] complaints and save the mayor's
[3:53:11] office has been talked to
[3:53:12] repeatedly you guys haven't
[3:53:15] talked repeatedly, and no one
[3:53:19] isn't anything. My next door
[3:53:19] neighbor said to me. 2 months
[3:53:20] ago hated your water bill the
[3:53:21] weird. There is out of the blue
[3:53:23] with 0 leaks they did have it
[3:53:25] professionally tact was over
[3:53:28] $200. That's outrageous.
[3:53:29] I had this multiple times this
[3:53:31] year alone. This is the second
[3:53:32] time I've come here this year
[3:53:35] alone with the same issues and
[3:53:37] never gotten help.
[3:53:40] I for one would appreciate you
[3:53:41] guys not making this go up
[3:53:44] until we have it under control.
[3:53:45] We need to figure out if this
[3:53:48] is a software issue. If people
[3:53:48] have bad meters
[3:53:49] whether its new leaders that
[3:53:52] are bad. I don't know these
[3:53:52] other facilities, but the
[3:53:53] person who was at my house
[3:53:56] today flat out told me I have
[3:53:56] an old meter despite the fact
[3:53:59] that they replaced it twice
[3:54:00] just 2 years ago. So someone's
[3:54:01] not doing records, right,
[3:54:02] someone doesn't know to
[3:54:04] calculate things right
[3:54:07] something to some effect.
[3:54:08] Highly inaccurate.
[3:54:08] So I don't understand why you
[3:54:12] guys where you're getting the
[3:54:12] basis for to even raise the
[3:54:15] funding when you don't know
[3:54:16] what's really
[3:54:17] happening with their water
[3:54:18] system here. These guys had
[3:54:19] very impressive numbers clearly
[3:54:22] there's a discrepancy United
[3:54:23] study accounting slim Italia
[3:54:25] that's a huge discrepancy I
[3:54:27] have to take that forward with
[3:54:29] me but I would like I would
[3:54:31] encourage you to dig in further
[3:54:33] and get some actual numbers and
[3:54:34] have people actually figure out
[3:54:36] what's going on in their water
[3:54:38] system. Before you start
[3:54:39] charging people more money.
[3:54:41] When it's already to point that
[3:54:43] people can't afford to live.
[3:54:44] That is most certainly as
[3:54:45] someone else said and
[3:54:48] affordability issue. Thank you.
[3:54:53] Thank you.
[3:54:54] Final 2 speakers are ging
[3:54:55] coffin and Nathan Yang please
[3:54:56] go to an open podium state your
[3:54:56] name address across Street for
[3:54:57] the record you'll have 3
[3:55:00] minutes to address City
[3:55:03] Council.
[3:55:06] >> Hi my name is Jamie kah fun.
[3:55:09] My dad, 28 24th Avenue
[3:55:13] North St. Petersburg Florida.
[3:55:16] I didn't even know about this
[3:55:17] because I've been living in
[3:55:18] citrus County because in citrus
[3:55:22] County I have spring well water
[3:55:24] and so I do not have a water
[3:55:26] bill. But by has been has a
[3:55:29] small business owner here so he
[3:55:30] still lives in our house.
[3:55:31] So it's just him I come home on
[3:55:32] the weekends are unless I have
[3:55:35] a doctor's appointment because
[3:55:38] I am in. Have some
[3:55:41] critical health problems.
[3:55:42] But I am we got
[3:55:45] our water bill 3 months ago and
[3:55:49] it was
[3:55:51] $2,352.91 and that's just him
[3:55:54] and maybe me 3 times a month.
[3:55:54] And so I said
[3:55:55] well that's a mistake all just
[3:55:56] go down there. You know that
[3:55:59] there should be no problem he
[3:56:02] was like oh.
[3:56:03] I went down there and
[3:56:04] I couldn't even talk to anybody
[3:56:07] and they told me you have to
[3:56:09] have you have to hire a company
[3:56:11] to make sure you're not a leak
[3:56:14] has this large amount it's
[3:56:17] something major going on.
[3:56:17] So I hired a company and they
[3:56:18] came out and they did a leak.
[3:56:21] Thank and they said there's no
[3:56:24] leak here. So my son. He is
[3:56:27] very on.
[3:56:29] Handyman type and so he took
[3:56:31] videos of with the time and the
[3:56:34] date of a video with the meter
[3:56:40] and it wasn't it wasn't running
[3:56:42] so. Anyway, I
[3:56:43] took all this stuff back.
[3:56:44] And they said oh well we'll
[3:56:46] give it to the Super.
[3:56:49] Supervisor will.
[3:56:50] Re correct it so today
[3:56:51] I went down there because it
[3:56:54] came back that I still owe this
[3:56:58] money. And so she wouldn't let
[3:57:01] me talk to a supervisor
[3:57:02] and I am
[3:57:03] was kinda you know, oh wow
[3:57:04] that's how it is I said well
[3:57:07] you tell me I to do this and I
[3:57:09] did that. Oh wow
[3:57:12] so she says if you want you can
[3:57:14] write out something and they
[3:57:16] will see. Take it back to the
[3:57:17] supervisors so I wrote that but
[3:57:19] I noticed that the address that
[3:57:20] that was going to be sent to
[3:57:23] was here and I had no idea this
[3:57:26] was City Hall.
[3:57:27] So I've Google had to get to
[3:57:28] this place and it happened to
[3:57:31] be you all were in the meeting
[3:57:33] this morning down there and I
[3:57:34] said oh GOD is putting me here
[3:57:38] for a reason and I am in the
[3:57:39] middle of having it.
[3:57:43] And attack and so I really
[3:57:44] should even be here. But I felt
[3:57:47] that I need to comments and say
[3:57:50] that this is not right
[3:57:54] and the budgets, I'm noticing I
[3:57:56] was a single mom and I own my
[3:57:57] own small business and I had to
[3:57:58] budget everything and I feel
[3:57:59] like maybe the budgeting is it
[3:58:02] right here because of the hike.
[3:58:04] Hi
[3:58:05] price that you want to add and
[3:58:06] I think that the computer
[3:58:09] system is wrong. I mean some
[3:58:12] thank you.
[3:58:17] >> Someone MISTER Schulte
[3:58:18] talking about your it's you.
[3:58:19] >> my name's Nathan Yang I love
[3:58:22] it to answer 9 been you know a
[3:58:25] self it states.
[3:58:28] So I called a couple things I
[3:58:31] think are hopeful of that
[3:58:34] situation, I've also been a.
[3:58:35] Water here later something like
[3:58:38] $100 bill and I'm like oh my
[3:58:40] gosh
[3:58:42] it's from and paid the price
[3:58:45] but I did see a recent Nielsen
[3:58:46] says Analytics to do
[3:58:46] automated metering of show you
[3:58:47] which it brings a lot of hope
[3:58:48] to the situation in terms of
[3:58:52] visibility and usage and future
[3:58:55] I've read studies that have
[3:58:58] been suggested. Also notice
[3:58:59] there is like a $40 million a
[3:59:00] contract with nasa management
[3:59:01] company which should bring a
[3:59:01] lot of visibility into the
[3:59:04] capital budget Capex
[3:59:05] expenditures.
[3:59:08] Coming up, especially when used
[3:59:09] and that is used just for its I
[3:59:10] think there's some good things
[3:59:13] come in that have been moved
[3:59:16] on. And I'd also like to.
[3:59:19] You know given all the input
[3:59:21] today advise maybe contacting
[3:59:24] the Florida, rural water
[3:59:26] Association.
[3:59:26] St. Petersburg not necessarily
[3:59:27] a rural community. They do have
[3:59:28] asked management team that this
[3:59:30] fiscal sustainability studies.
[3:59:33] The requirements of.
[3:59:37] Meaning the state revolving
[3:59:40] fund choir months.
[3:59:43] Adopted
[3:59:44] by councils like yourself
[3:59:46] across the state. Support in
[3:59:48] the requests from the community
[3:59:51] so its free resource on folks
[3:59:53] are great.
[3:59:57] I think it would bring some
[3:59:58] additional support in addition
[3:59:58] to the consultants forgetting a
[3:59:59] third-party of has years of
[4:00:02] experience in Italy. Doing that
[4:00:05] and in helping the situation.
[4:00:08] Thank you. Thank you. Sir.
[4:00:11] More speakers years a case.
[4:00:13] >> I could have to get good
[4:00:14] evening. Lance. Well good
[4:00:15] evening Council CHAIRMAN Of
[4:00:17] education. I do have a
[4:00:20] presentation m okay.
[4:00:24] Good evening Council chair
[4:00:27] members of Council when
[4:00:29] Stanford
[4:00:30] public works services manager,
[4:00:30] I'd like to thank you for the
[4:00:31] opportunity to bring for the fy
[4:00:33] 27 utility rates study program.
[4:00:37] Throughout the program. The
[4:00:40] mayor's vision and the
[4:00:40] principles for
[4:00:41] accountable and responsible
[4:00:44] government where our guiding
[4:00:47] principles throughout
[4:00:49] this whole process. The rate
[4:00:49] study program and objectives
[4:00:53] throughout this process we want
[4:00:54] to look at bouncing
[4:00:54] affordability with long-term
[4:00:57] sustainability ensuring revenue
[4:00:58] sufficiency and financial
[4:00:59] stability while funding the
[4:01:02] infrastructure replacement and
[4:01:02] resiliency improvements
[4:01:05] systemwide maintaining strong
[4:01:06] pay as you go funding strategy
[4:01:08] and evaluate programs and
[4:01:09] consider proportional
[4:01:12] inequitable cost recovery.
[4:01:15] You'll see in our rate studies
[4:01:16] schedule. We started back in
[4:01:20] JANUARY with a City Council one
[4:01:21] on ones went through rate
[4:01:23] study workshops Council budget
[4:01:24] workshops and you're meeting
[4:01:27] the the onus the culmination of
[4:01:28] the rate study program that the
[4:01:30] public hearings throughout that
[4:01:31] process we've worked with
[4:01:34] marketing and administration
[4:01:35] has worked on the
[4:01:38] communications campaign to
[4:01:39] include bill billing
[4:01:41] inserts social media posts
[4:01:44] website updates advertisements
[4:01:45] for the first
[4:01:45] reading and public hearing
[4:01:48] throughout the process to try
[4:01:49] to help pass for the win.
[4:01:51] They hold great study program
[4:01:54] and the reasons behind the rate
[4:01:57] study increases.
[4:01:59] Various rate studying various
[4:02:02] various different utility rates
[4:02:04] would like to highlight
[4:02:04] some program I tell any
[4:02:08] highlights this here we'd like
[4:02:08] to for the sanitation
[4:02:09] utility program highlight.
[4:02:16] The the continued investment in
[4:02:17] the truck, the fleet for you
[4:02:20] the sanitation still utility
[4:02:21] program. And also highlight
[4:02:24] a ever-increasing expense which
[4:02:26] is the 8% annual rate increase
[4:02:27] for the county tipping costs
[4:02:31] which significantly impact the
[4:02:34] sanitation utility budget.
[4:02:36] The stormwater utility program
[4:02:37] highlights, operationally
[4:02:38] they've increased the number of
[4:02:42] miles of stormwater pipes
[4:02:43] culverts inspected
[4:02:44] and maintain at to the fdp
[4:02:46] reporting cycle to the ability
[4:02:49] to hire more people and procure
[4:02:50] more equipment since OCTOBER of
[4:02:51] 2025, we've replaced hundreds
[4:02:54] of feet of stormwater pipes at
[4:02:55] the end of
[4:02:58] their life service life with
[4:02:59] longer lasting material types
[4:03:01] and the capital program would
[4:03:02] like to highlight and
[4:03:04] stormwater backflow prevention
[4:03:04] program. The Bartlett Lake
[4:03:07] restoration project. The
[4:03:08] citywide stormwater can Vance
[4:03:09] restoration program and major
[4:03:12] storm water pump station
[4:03:15] initiatives. And the
[4:03:16] water resources utility would
[4:03:19] like to highlight. The
[4:03:19] Northwest water reclamation
[4:03:20] improvements project which
[4:03:22] included included new of
[4:03:23] influence pump station and
[4:03:26] reclaim storage tanks. The
[4:03:27] flood protection projects that
[4:03:29] lift station 85, Northeast
[4:03:30] water reclamation facility
[4:03:33] Southwest, raw water
[4:03:34] reclamation
[4:03:35] facility, another lift
[4:03:36] stations. We broke down we
[4:03:37] broke ground on the new
[4:03:38] category 5 hurricane resistant
[4:03:41] operations and maintenance
[4:03:42] building at the Southwest
[4:03:44] reclamation facility. And
[4:03:45] providing much-needed repairs
[4:03:48] at Cannes the cost of MAY.
[4:03:52] Watery treatment plant.
[4:03:54] Next few slides
[4:03:57] here highlight some of the
[4:03:59] proposed fy 27 utility rate
[4:04:00] adjustments and potential
[4:04:03] impacts on typical usage and
[4:04:06] lower usage and high usage
[4:04:07] builds on this slide here
[4:04:07] you'll see that the proposed
[4:04:10] utility rate adjustments for
[4:04:14] potable water the 7.5%.
[4:04:16] Wastewater 6.5%
[4:04:19] stormwater 8.5% and sanitation
[4:04:22] with recycling at 6.0%
[4:04:26] with reclaim water at 9.7 5%.
[4:04:29] The typical you know look low
[4:04:31] usage monthly utility bill
[4:04:31] with a tier one stormwater
[4:04:34] charge. We'll see approximately
[4:04:37] 6.7 4% increase.
[4:04:38] Without reclaimed water and
[4:04:41] about a 7.5% increase with
[4:04:44] reclaimed water.
[4:04:48] The next typical usage
[4:04:48] example here we
[4:04:49] have was a tier 2 stormwater
[4:04:52] charge where the typical bill
[4:04:53] would see a
[4:04:56] 6.8 8% increase. Without
[4:04:58] reclaimed water or a 7.4 8%
[4:05:01] increase with reclaimed water.
[4:05:03] This year's rates you'll see
[4:05:06] are slightly lower than the
[4:05:09] last year's projections of the
[4:05:10] storm water and
[4:05:11] water resources and sanitation
[4:05:12] rates where last year the total
[4:05:15] bill excluding the Klan water
[4:05:15] was about 8.1 5%.
[4:05:17] And the total including
[4:05:20] reclaimed water was about 8.4
[4:05:23] 8%.
[4:05:24] On the high usage monthly bill
[4:05:25] with a tier 3 stormwater charge
[4:05:29] the typical bill will see a 7%
[4:05:31] increase for fiscal year 27
[4:05:32] without reclaimed water and
[4:05:35] with reclaimed water, the
[4:05:37] typical below sea, a 7.4 7%
[4:05:38] increase as compared to the
[4:05:39] rate study last year where the
[4:05:42] typical bill would have seen an
[4:05:44] 8.4 2% increase
[4:05:45] without reclaimed water and
[4:05:48] then 8.6 5% increase with
[4:05:52] reclaimed water.
[4:05:53] Finally the higher usage
[4:05:54] bill and it here for stormwater
[4:05:55] charge, the typical bill
[4:05:59] excluding reclaimed water will
[4:06:00] see a
[4:06:03] 7.1 0% increase and with
[4:06:04] reclaimed water a
[4:06:06] 7.4 8% increase as compared to
[4:06:09] the prior year's projection at
[4:06:12] 8.7 2% increase and an
[4:06:15] 8.8 7% increase. With that I'd
[4:06:16] like to hand it off to
[4:06:17] Andy Burnham partner with
[4:06:17] stantec consulting to dive a
[4:06:21] little bit more into the
[4:06:24] details for you.
[4:06:27] Thank you. Evening and thank
[4:06:28] you it's good evening, MADAM
[4:06:28] Chair members of Council.
[4:06:30] Happy to fill in some of the
[4:06:30] details that I think might be
[4:06:33] again refresher for many of you
[4:06:34] that have that participated in
[4:06:35] the process that leads to
[4:06:35] scribe throughout but needed
[4:06:36] beneficial for the public to
[4:06:37] help understand some of the
[4:06:40] context of why we're looking at
[4:06:43] utility rate adjustments for
[4:06:44] the various systems. So for
[4:06:44] starting with the sanitation
[4:06:45] system. The city's annual
[4:06:46] practices to look at their
[4:06:47] financial futures part of the
[4:06:50] budget process for these
[4:06:50] utilities to measure the
[4:06:51] adequacy of revenues to meet
[4:06:54] expenses as part of that we're
[4:06:54] able to reconcile
[4:06:55] what's changed from one year to
[4:06:57] the next these processes that
[4:06:58] allow us to not only evaluate
[4:07:00] the rates for the current year,
[4:07:01] but about forecast for future
[4:07:02] years and so I'll touch on some
[4:07:03] of the variances in relation to
[4:07:05] last year's forecast of
[4:07:07] expenses that we're seeing in
[4:07:09] this current year and in this
[4:07:10] raid evaluation. Overall for
[4:07:12] sanitation operational spending
[4:07:13] we're seeing some of the
[4:07:15] benefits and the investment of
[4:07:16] the new facility that we
[4:07:17] recently financed with that we
[4:07:18] actually have some savings on
[4:07:20] our operating expenses relative
[4:07:21] to demolition of structures
[4:07:24] engineering and facility
[4:07:25] repairs and
[4:07:26] renovations we're seeing a
[4:07:27] return on that investment.
[4:07:28] However us Lance mentioned with
[4:07:30] sanitation we do have to take
[4:07:33] our solid waste to the county
[4:07:33] landfill for disposal for
[4:07:35] proper disposal. That's not
[4:07:36] something that we have control
[4:07:39] over in terms of the costs that
[4:07:40] we're charge from Pinellas
[4:07:40] County for that disposal rate.
[4:07:42] They have approved increases of
[4:07:43] 8% per year for the next couple
[4:07:45] of years in of giving guidance
[4:07:48] to expect similar levels of
[4:07:49] increases going forward for
[4:07:50] disposal costs. This is a
[4:07:51] pretty significant part of our
[4:07:54] expenses for these disposal
[4:07:55] costs for these tipping fees
[4:07:57] that's really not within our
[4:07:57] control. The other major cost
[4:07:58] consideration that we have for
[4:08:00] sanitation is relative to
[4:08:02] capital expenses and for
[4:08:05] sanitation that really means
[4:08:06] replacement of containers for
[4:08:06] residents is in for businesses
[4:08:09] the dumpsters. But then also
[4:08:10] vehicle replacements that's the
[4:08:12] fleet that goes out and collect
[4:08:13] all of the the garbage and
[4:08:14] recycling within the community.
[4:08:15] Those expenses are comparable
[4:08:18] to what we're looking at last
[4:08:19] year on an annualized basis in
[4:08:20] total. But they're still a very
[4:08:22] significant component of what
[4:08:25] we have to plan for for the
[4:08:25] utility going forward. And
[4:08:28] specifically on the fleet.
[4:08:29] It's probably one of the most
[4:08:29] important assumptions and
[4:08:30] replacement considerations that
[4:08:33] we have to make for sanitation
[4:08:36] is to make sure we have
[4:08:37] adequate funding to replace our
[4:08:39] extensive fleet of vehicles, a
[4:08:41] 123 trucks. Each of which has
[4:08:42] different useful lives based
[4:08:43] upon their purpose and there's
[4:08:46] good industry guidance about
[4:08:46] when those types of
[4:08:48] infrastructures can and should
[4:08:49] be replaced. However that has
[4:08:49] to be customized to reflect our
[4:08:52] environment and kudos to the
[4:08:54] sanitation team for really
[4:08:54] adapting a proactive approach
[4:08:57] to try to stay on life cycles
[4:08:57] for this equipment in an urban
[4:09:01] environment for these vehicles
[4:09:01] take on a lot more wear and
[4:09:02] tear particularly the front and
[4:09:05] side load or so we have a more
[4:09:05] frequent replacement scheduled
[4:09:06] and you MAY see across the
[4:09:07] national average. But we are in
[4:09:09] an urban environment and that's
[4:09:11] to be expected. But us about
[4:09:14] million of investment in our
[4:09:15] fleet that we need to do
[4:09:15] to make sure that we can
[4:09:16] collect the garbage and
[4:09:17] recycling within the community
[4:09:20] for residents and businesses
[4:09:22] alike. So the
[4:09:22] financial plan that we look at
[4:09:23] as I mentioned prior year study
[4:09:27] last year the forecast was 7% a
[4:09:29] year for 3 years followed by
[4:09:31] 4.7 5% per year. However with
[4:09:32] some of our recent positive
[4:09:33] performance, it creates an
[4:09:34] opportunity to smooth those
[4:09:37] increases of that level lies
[4:09:38] the rate plan to 6% per year.
[4:09:39] I think this is part of the
[4:09:42] conversation in context that's
[4:09:42] beneficial for all to
[4:09:43] appreciate is that the city has
[4:09:46] long taken an approach of
[4:09:46] trying to do
[4:09:47] smaller more frequent rate
[4:09:48] adjustments as opposed to going
[4:09:50] multiple years without rate
[4:09:53] increases and then doing very
[4:09:53] large adjustments. That's been
[4:09:56] a recent practice that's tried
[4:09:57] to follow that principle of us
[4:09:59] you know smaller and slow and
[4:09:59] steady wins the race to be
[4:10:00] consistent with our planning
[4:10:03] process process for investments
[4:10:04] in our infrastructure. So
[4:10:05] the plan now is a little bit
[4:10:06] more modest than what it was
[4:10:08] looking at last year for this
[4:10:08] year as well as for the next
[4:10:11] couple of years as things are
[4:10:12] tracking pretty well we're
[4:10:13] seeing slightly better
[4:10:13] performance. What this means on
[4:10:16] a typical bill for the garbage
[4:10:18] component is about $2 a little
[4:10:18] less than that and for the
[4:10:21] recycling components built
[4:10:22] about $0.25 a typical
[4:10:23] residential bill. However the
[4:10:24] practice that I mentioned has
[4:10:25] not always been in place for
[4:10:26] the sanitation system. So if
[4:10:29] you look back through history
[4:10:30] and there's been some history
[4:10:31] referenced here today. There
[4:10:33] are extended periods of times
[4:10:36] from 1988 to 2005 where there
[4:10:37] are no adjustments and rates
[4:10:38] actually there was a small
[4:10:40] decrease and then again from 30
[4:10:41] to 38 where there are no
[4:10:44] adjustments and sanitation If
[4:10:46] you look at this
[4:10:46] approximately 36 year history,
[4:10:47] a 30 year history for 27 years
[4:10:50] for sanitation rates want to
[4:10:51] just and so keeping that in
[4:10:52] mind. You know we're trying to
[4:10:53] follow approach consistent with
[4:10:56] the recent years where we stay
[4:10:57] on top of our expenses cover
[4:11:00] inflation which has hit the
[4:11:00] vehicle, stay current with
[4:11:01] tipping 3 increases that are
[4:11:02] coming from the county we're
[4:11:02] really trying to make sure that
[4:11:03] we're having revenues match
[4:11:07] expenses each year for the
[4:11:09] system no more no less.
[4:11:10] Relative to the stormwater
[4:11:11] program. Some of the changes in
[4:11:13] key drivers that we're seeing
[4:11:14] this year operations and
[4:11:16] maintenance spending is is very
[4:11:17] much in line
[4:11:18] with past projections in fact,
[4:11:20] just on a $100,000 larger than
[4:11:21] last year so it's well within
[4:11:22] projections. But the capital
[4:11:25] program continues to be the
[4:11:27] topic of conversation for storm
[4:11:28] water so this fund historically
[4:11:30] only funded about a million to
[4:11:32] million a year of capital and
[4:11:33] with the recent master plan
[4:11:34] that was completed. It
[4:11:34] indicated, we should be
[4:11:37] spending more along the lines
[4:11:40] of about million a year on
[4:11:41] capital so we're on track to
[4:11:42] hit that goal by 2031 presently
[4:11:44] we're in that approximately
[4:11:45] million range of spending so
[4:11:47] we've made good progress.
[4:11:48] But this is part of the reason
[4:11:49] why we're talking about a
[4:11:51] program of continued
[4:11:52] adjustments for storm waters to
[4:11:52] really address proper
[4:11:56] investment needs for the
[4:11:56] infrastructure
[4:11:57] that we have for the stormwater
[4:12:01] system. So as we take a look at
[4:12:01] the forecast this
[4:12:02] is where with those needs in
[4:12:03] mind considerations were given
[4:12:06] to how we finance those
[4:12:07] projects and how we fund them
[4:12:08] and so considering that the
[4:12:10] prior rate study the forecast
[4:12:13] was a 15% followed by 4%
[4:12:14] increases. This
[4:12:15] year given affordability
[4:12:16] considerations and alternative
[4:12:16] approach to funding
[4:12:19] infrastructure was looked at
[4:12:20] for a period of time or we
[4:12:21] would fund more with debt.
[4:12:22] That means we will pay more
[4:12:24] interest in the long run about
[4:12:26] million more of interest as the
[4:12:27] approximation of that based on
[4:12:28] the current capital plan but
[4:12:32] funding more with that now
[4:12:32] allows us to have a more stable
[4:12:33] and smooth that rate plan than
[4:12:36] it otherwise would if we didn't
[4:12:37] we would have to have the
[4:12:40] higher rate shown previously
[4:12:41] with a 15%
[4:12:42] increase as shown for 27, so
[4:12:43] this is an approach that was a
[4:12:44] value added and recommended and
[4:12:47] considered really how do we pay
[4:12:49] for infrastructure. They're
[4:12:52] contemplating recognize that
[4:12:52] some of the even extend beyond
[4:12:55] the term of what we can finance
[4:12:56] it so taking on a little bit
[4:12:57] more debt for storm water feels
[4:12:58] a little bit more comfortable
[4:13:01] with knowing that in mind that
[4:13:02] we're not outpacing our assets
[4:13:04] with debt financing and it's a
[4:13:05] way to also address
[4:13:06] affordability and to moderate
[4:13:06] the rate increases to an extent
[4:13:07] without compromising the needed
[4:13:10] investment in the system that
[4:13:11] we have to have.
[4:13:15] The storm water history has a
[4:13:15] bit of a checkered past
[4:13:16] to similar to sanitation to a
[4:13:19] degree. I think when he was
[4:13:21] first adopted and circa 1990.
[4:13:22] It was an adjusted for the
[4:13:24] first 10 or 11 years. And then
[4:13:27] there was also a period from 30
[4:13:28] to 36 which it was also again
[4:13:30] not adjusted. However with the
[4:13:31] storms and things that
[4:13:32] happened in the 37 time period.
[4:13:33] It's been on a plan of trying
[4:13:34] to address that capital needs
[4:13:37] and really move it from funding
[4:13:38] again a very nominal amount of
[4:13:40] capital to more along the lines
[4:13:43] of what's the needed
[4:13:43] reinvestment rates for them to
[4:13:44] to to storm water
[4:13:45] infrastructure that we have and
[4:13:46] so we're making good progress
[4:13:47] on that journey but there's
[4:13:48] still more steps to be done.
[4:13:49] It hasn't been done all at once
[4:13:50] it's been trying to be phased
[4:13:51] in over a reasonable manner
[4:13:54] balancing affordability
[4:13:56] considerations.
[4:13:59] And lastly relative to water
[4:14:01] resources. This particular fund
[4:14:03] that the key drivers. We did
[4:14:04] see increases and personnel
[4:14:06] services costs and salaries and
[4:14:07] wages, but they're within
[4:14:08] expectations from last year.
[4:14:08] We did see flat operations and
[4:14:11] maintenance expenses which is
[4:14:12] actually very helpful in this
[4:14:16] context. Similarly the capital
[4:14:17] spending water
[4:14:18] and sewer systems by nature
[4:14:20] credibly infrastructure,
[4:14:21] intensive said the 5 year
[4:14:24] capital plan for this fund is
[4:14:25] on the order of magnitude of on
[4:14:28] the $700 million so we're at 66
[4:14:28] last year now
[4:14:29] it's 6.96. It's very
[4:14:31] comparable. We are seeing a
[4:14:32] little bit of a dip in rate
[4:14:34] revenues compared to last
[4:14:34] year's forecast that will be
[4:14:36] something to look into this
[4:14:37] next year to make sure that we
[4:14:38] have a lot of the issues that
[4:14:40] you might be hearing about now
[4:14:41] fully addressed and that we
[4:14:42] have good billing procedures in
[4:14:45] place. And capture that and
[4:14:47] future forecasts.
[4:14:47] But within the water financial
[4:14:48] plan there were a number of
[4:14:50] things that were looked at and
[4:14:51] I think that speaks to some of
[4:14:52] the questions too about what
[4:14:54] did you look at as part of the
[4:14:56] process that you can do to
[4:14:57] try to optimize the system so
[4:14:58] one of the things that staff
[4:15:01] was famously successful for was
[4:15:04] securing a state revolving fund
[4:15:07] loan program that included a
[4:15:07] 50% principal forgiveness.
[4:15:08] So that means it's basically a
[4:15:09] grant for half of that $40.7
[4:15:13] million. And the remaining 50%.
[4:15:13] We received the
[4:15:16] financing of 0% interest rate.
[4:15:18] So it's basically
[4:15:19] one of the most advantageous
[4:15:21] programs you could possibly
[4:15:23] find and we secure that for $40
[4:15:26] million of infrastructure which
[4:15:27] is fantastic. We haven't
[4:15:28] factored into any of these
[4:15:30] financial plans. Any of the
[4:15:31] Saint Pete at our resilience
[4:15:32] program costs that's a decision
[4:15:33] that's you know to be made at
[4:15:34] the ballots coming here in
[4:15:35] NOVEMBER. But we did look at
[4:15:38] other various programs as part
[4:15:38] of this to try to find
[4:15:40] ways to make the system more
[4:15:41] efficient such as with fat oils
[4:15:42] and grease programs to look at
[4:15:45] how we could deploy or
[4:15:45] inspectors to actually enhance
[4:15:47] service to customers as opposed
[4:15:48] to having procedures that were
[4:15:50] challenging and and trying to
[4:15:51] chase down fees that were hard
[4:15:53] to collect and allowing the
[4:15:56] program to actually spread to a
[4:15:57] wider benefit for the benefit
[4:15:58] of all customers. We also
[4:16:00] looked at things like dedicated
[4:16:01] fire service lines for
[4:16:01] properties that have dedicated
[4:16:04] sprinkler systems to make sure
[4:16:05] that those standby rates were
[4:16:07] set fairly for that additional
[4:16:08] capacity that some businesses
[4:16:10] and multi-family structures
[4:16:11] require. We also looked at
[4:16:13] updating. The wastewater
[4:16:14] capacity fee this is the fee
[4:16:15] that's applied to new
[4:16:16] development to make sure that
[4:16:19] it was fully reflecting the
[4:16:20] unit cost of capacity to serve
[4:16:21] new development. So that
[4:16:22] doesn't affect all customers,
[4:16:25] this is for when we have growth
[4:16:26] the redevelopment that requires
[4:16:28] additional demands. They pay a
[4:16:30] higher fee because that
[4:16:30] capacity has a cost and so
[4:16:32] they're contributing their fair
[4:16:34] share through this type of a
[4:16:35] process. So we looked at a
[4:16:36] number of mechanisms included
[4:16:39] the continued use of penny for
[4:16:40] Pinellas funding for part of
[4:16:42] the infrastructure. This is all
[4:16:43] part of a multifaceted approach
[4:16:44] and financial plan that's
[4:16:45] trying to really make sure we
[4:16:47] from the infrastructure needs
[4:16:48] that have been defined for the
[4:16:49] system but do so in the fairest
[4:16:50] way possible and leverages all
[4:16:53] possible funding sources that
[4:16:55] we can we know we have them.
[4:16:56] So as we look at the water
[4:16:58] system financial plan this is
[4:17:01] very comparable to the prior
[4:17:01] year forecast from last year in
[4:17:03] terms of the overall increase.
[4:17:04] Each year as we go through the
[4:17:05] process it's in that to make
[4:17:06] sure that we fairly apportion
[4:17:08] the increase for water
[4:17:08] resources between water sewer
[4:17:12] and reclaimed, so while this
[4:17:12] year
[4:17:13] the distribution of increases
[4:17:16] reflects the different increase
[4:17:18] for reclaimed a 9.7 5%
[4:17:18] future years these assumptions
[4:17:22] are applied across the board to
[4:17:22] all 3 services
[4:17:23] for water sewer and reclaimed.
[4:17:27] But again you can see that the
[4:17:27] general impact on the utility
[4:17:28] bill here and Lance Winthrop
[4:17:29] more specifically with some
[4:17:33] different usage types and Bill
[4:17:34] examples so try to
[4:17:35] I try to make it evaluated from
[4:17:39] a lot in the pocket perspective
[4:17:39] in terms of what is
[4:17:40] this dollar impact really on a
[4:17:41] monthly basis. Just want to
[4:17:43] touch on to these points a
[4:17:44] little bit further with the
[4:17:46] waste water capacity fee.
[4:17:47] Just as a reminder. This is a
[4:17:48] fee that's applied to new
[4:17:50] development and redevelopment
[4:17:51] only not existing customers.
[4:17:54] And this had a history of being
[4:17:55] looked at in 24 for
[4:17:56] the first time in a number of
[4:17:58] years and it had a phase in
[4:17:59] plan was developed and that's
[4:17:59] been revisited to kind of
[4:18:01] accelerate the implementation
[4:18:04] of this feat a full cost
[4:18:06] recovery and consistent with
[4:18:07] conversations last year we
[4:18:07] re-evaluated that this year to
[4:18:10] make sure it's reflecting our
[4:18:11] current cost of capital which
[4:18:12] continues to rise. And so the
[4:18:13] recommendation this year is to
[4:18:16] move the feet from the $1000 to
[4:18:17] the 1700 to be based on the
[4:18:17] current cost of capacity is
[4:18:20] that we've calculated that this
[4:18:20] year.
[4:18:24] And the other one I touched on
[4:18:25] earlier was the fire service
[4:18:28] protection charges. These are
[4:18:29] again fees that are to about
[4:18:29] 1200 different commercial
[4:18:32] multifamily customers that have
[4:18:33] these onsite fire suppression
[4:18:36] systems and have these
[4:18:36] dedicated lines that provide
[4:18:37] water when it's needed for
[4:18:39] those systems. And so we've
[4:18:40] updated the fee schedule to be
[4:18:43] consistent with others in terms
[4:18:43] of how it's generally applied
[4:18:44] usually you'll see these fees
[4:18:47] for 4 inch lines and smaller 6
[4:18:48] inch lines and smaller and then
[4:18:49] scale up from there. So you
[4:18:51] updated the unit cost and
[4:18:52] recommended that modification
[4:18:55] to the approach to these
[4:18:55] monthly charges just included
[4:18:57] some comparison information so
[4:18:57] you can see the updated charges
[4:18:58] are very comparable to what
[4:19:01] other local agencies have for
[4:19:04] the same service.
[4:19:04] The other item that we've we've
[4:19:07] touched on and the analysis and
[4:19:08] some of the comments
[4:19:09] address it is relative to
[4:19:10] affordability we had an
[4:19:12] extensive conversation on this
[4:19:13] through the budget finance and
[4:19:15] taxation committee meeting
[4:19:16] process that was highlighted
[4:19:17] earlier by Lance. We've looked
[4:19:20] at a number of measures whether
[4:19:23] they come from regulatory
[4:19:24] agencies for compliance
[4:19:24] considerations with regulatory
[4:19:26] standards whether they come
[4:19:27] from academia and ways to try
[4:19:30] to look at the measure
[4:19:32] household affordability through
[4:19:32] different means such as hours
[4:19:34] of minimum wage work required
[4:19:36] to pay a bill. We also looked
[4:19:37] at from the regulatory
[4:19:40] exceeding the rating agency
[4:19:41] lenses how they evaluate
[4:19:41] affordability is part of
[4:19:43] evaluating overall financial
[4:19:46] health and credit worthiness of
[4:19:47] communities that issue debt.
[4:19:48] And many of the indicators were
[4:19:50] in the medium burden or low
[4:19:51] burden ranging of kind of put
[4:19:54] up your descriptions of how the
[4:19:55] Environmental Protection Agency
[4:19:57] defines medium and low burden.
[4:19:58] And some of our low Vernon
[4:19:59] indicators are low, but they're
[4:19:59] getting close to medium burden.
[4:20:00] So I think that medium burden
[4:20:03] description is pretty true and
[4:20:03] I
[4:20:06] think you're hearing today.
[4:20:07] There are concerns about
[4:20:10] affordability throughout the
[4:20:12] service area. We do have
[4:20:13] infrastructure intensive
[4:20:13] systems that we have to
[4:20:15] maintaining replace in an
[4:20:16] inflationary environment with
[4:20:17] increasing regulatory
[4:20:19] requirements meaning we MAY not
[4:20:20] see some of these differences
[4:20:20] that are homes to maintain the
[4:20:23] systems because costs are
[4:20:24] rising or because our
[4:20:25] regulations are changing.
[4:20:26] But regulations that we're
[4:20:28] changing but the state federal
[4:20:31] agencies are imposing on us in
[4:20:32] terms of how we provide clean
[4:20:32] drinking water safe, drinking
[4:20:35] water and and obviously
[4:20:36] properly dispose of the waste
[4:20:37] water, so you know all this is
[4:20:38] to say that this is an
[4:20:38] important part of the process
[4:20:41] and there's a lot of analysis
[4:20:43] that goes into affordability
[4:20:44] to try to consider it and to
[4:20:47] try to understand it as part of
[4:20:48] this process he 2 years so I
[4:20:48] know all of you are familiar
[4:20:49] with that but I also just want
[4:20:50] to make sure for those that are
[4:20:51] here and those that are
[4:20:53] watching it's it's a very front
[4:20:55] and center consideration as we
[4:20:55] go through the rate setting
[4:20:56] process with you each year.
[4:20:57] And it's very much considered
[4:21:00] when recommendations are being
[4:21:01] developed so
[4:21:03] but there are opportunities in
[4:21:03] the future as well that we can
[4:21:04] maybe mitigate some of these
[4:21:06] future increases and so I want
[4:21:08] to turn it over to Lansing just
[4:21:08] talk about additional measures
[4:21:09] staff is taking to try to
[4:21:10] contain the cost and find ways
[4:21:12] to pay for some of these
[4:21:15] things.
[4:21:19] >> Thank you Andy appreciate
[4:21:22] taken a little bit of a deeper
[4:21:23] dive into the
[4:21:26] methodology and the metrics
[4:21:27] behind what's driving the fy 27
[4:21:29] rate study program as Andy said
[4:21:30] there are
[4:21:31] opportunities in which
[4:21:32] administration with close
[4:21:33] collaboration with on Council
[4:21:35] are looking at to help mitigate
[4:21:36] the risks are the mitigate the
[4:21:39] impact of the rate payers
[4:21:40] throughout this process.
[4:21:43] Currently we can point to the
[4:21:44] state revolving fund loans
[4:21:46] that we were able to secure and
[4:21:48] we're currently working with
[4:21:48] the state at going going
[4:21:51] through the application process
[4:21:54] for these for these programs.
[4:21:56] We have been we have been
[4:21:57] awarded and going through the
[4:21:57] preliminary process for the
[4:22:00] hazard mitigation grant program
[4:22:04] for Debby Helene and Milton
[4:22:05] and we're looking at potential
[4:22:08] hearing back from the state and
[4:22:09] the
[4:22:10] federal government and the in
[4:22:11] the fall for the for the
[4:22:14] programs and the projects in
[4:22:17] which we applied for under the
[4:22:18] age of gp program. Also
[4:22:20] we have community and the
[4:22:21] community development block
[4:22:21] grant disaster recovery.
[4:22:24] And the 25 million that was
[4:22:25] awarded to the stormwater
[4:22:26] utility program. That is also
[4:22:29] going to be utilized to help
[4:22:32] mitigate the impact of the rate
[4:22:33] payers. Looking
[4:22:34] forward for some other
[4:22:36] potential revenues that the
[4:22:38] utilities could take advantage
[4:22:40] of and the future there's the
[4:22:40] resilient Florida program this
[4:22:44] is a competitive grant program
[4:22:46] administered by the fda p
[4:22:48] and the city is diligently
[4:22:49] looking at the opportunities
[4:22:52] throw for the funding through
[4:22:54] resilient, Florida for various
[4:22:55] different projects. And the
[4:22:58] water resources department
[4:22:59] future congressional community
[4:23:01] project funding opportunities.
[4:23:03] State appropriations requests
[4:23:06] and the brick opportunities as
[4:23:07] well which
[4:23:07] is I was just ran by the
[4:23:08] federal government and that
[4:23:11] close collaboration czar close
[4:23:13] alignment with like the gp
[4:23:14] program but the the bric
[4:23:17] program is kind of pre-disaster
[4:23:18] friction versus agent up which
[4:23:19] is post disaster. And with that
[4:23:23] it would bring the end of the
[4:23:24] presentation
[4:23:26] and I'm we'd like to thank you
[4:23:26] for your time your
[4:23:27] consideration and look forward
[4:23:30] to that the following
[4:23:33] discussion. Thank you.
[4:23:35] I the maybe that's that I want
[4:23:38] to kind of cover a little bit
[4:23:39] because I know their concerns
[4:23:42] that this decision. The
[4:23:43] decision
[4:23:44] on rates for just made in this
[4:23:46] meeting if we can cover number
[4:23:47] one the process because its
[4:23:49] genesis ends it starts again
[4:23:50] every year with budget every
[4:23:51] year with everything we do it
[4:23:54] literally never ends right in
[4:23:57] terms of a process
[4:23:58] of examining where costs are.
[4:23:59] Yeah, it's very much a
[4:24:00] continuous as we conclude this
[4:24:03] process we started finding
[4:24:04] where the initiatives that we
[4:24:05] want to look at next calendar
[4:24:08] year. So we start identifying
[4:24:09] programs such as MAY be
[4:24:09] updating certain fees are
[4:24:12] looking at evaluating the rate
[4:24:13] structure we tee up with those
[4:24:15] initiatives are to develop
[4:24:16] ultimately in frame the
[4:24:16] conversations that then start
[4:24:19] in JANUARY where we started
[4:24:20] then also solicit input from
[4:24:23] each of you a relative to key
[4:24:24] issues considerations reminders
[4:24:25] of where we left off last year
[4:24:26] talking about the things that
[4:24:28] we're looking to endeavor upon
[4:24:28] this year in terms of new
[4:24:29] initiatives and then from that
[4:24:32] process we then fall in line
[4:24:33] with your processees relative
[4:24:36] to you establishing and setting
[4:24:39] operating budgets and capital
[4:24:40] budgets. And so those
[4:24:41] become input into the process
[4:24:42] so that we can make sure that
[4:24:43] as you're making decisions
[4:24:44] relative to operations and
[4:24:47] capital were pulling those into
[4:24:49] the raid evaluation process and
[4:24:50] then measure the adequacy of
[4:24:52] your rates and revenues to meet
[4:24:53] those budgetary requirements
[4:24:56] and that's where we get into
[4:24:57] scenario analysis during
[4:24:58] the summer months where we look
[4:24:59] at options consider about
[4:25:00] alternatives to paying for the
[4:25:01] infrastructure different rate
[4:25:04] scenarios work through that
[4:25:05] over the summer months that
[4:25:07] ultimately culminate in a final
[4:25:10] recommendation for utility
[4:25:11] rates that are appropriate to
[4:25:12] meet the needs of the system
[4:25:14] that reflect all the different
[4:25:15] considerations going into it
[4:25:16] not just the immediate term but
[4:25:18] future considerations we don't
[4:25:20] set ourselves up for future
[4:25:21] rate spikes near-term
[4:25:23] affordability concerns based
[4:25:24] upon those we MAY exercise
[4:25:26] different scenarios such as
[4:25:27] this year we exercise different
[4:25:29] approaches relative to how we
[4:25:29] pay for capital to try to
[4:25:30] mitigate some of the impacts
[4:25:34] but that's kind of how the
[4:25:36] process ultimately unfolds
[4:25:36] and then we get to this point
[4:25:37] have these conversations and
[4:25:40] then it again we'll carry
[4:25:43] forward
[4:25:46] in terms of when.
[4:25:46] These studies happen if you
[4:25:47] look at other municipalities
[4:25:48] and what they're looking at
[4:25:49] what your needs are I know they
[4:25:50] are a lot of times people are
[4:25:50] comparing with this is
[4:25:51] happening here and this is what
[4:25:53] degree is in this County are in
[4:25:57] this city or wherever they're
[4:25:58] looking at if you can
[4:26:00] talk a little bit about what
[4:26:01] happens in terms of race in
[4:26:02] different areas based on what
[4:26:05] plans are where they are in the
[4:26:07] process so on and so
[4:26:08] forth and how much they're
[4:26:08] investing in the system.
[4:26:09] Yeah, I think every every
[4:26:09] utility system is that a little
[4:26:10] bit different status relative
[4:26:13] to where they are in their
[4:26:13] capital
[4:26:14] planning and investment
[4:26:15] strategies. But generally each
[4:26:18] year utilities in communities
[4:26:18] have to have the same
[4:26:19] conversations so we have the
[4:26:21] opportunity to work with over a
[4:26:24] 100 communities in Florida.
[4:26:25] Having these conversations and
[4:26:26] a few 100 across North America
[4:26:28] and so if you think locally
[4:26:28] what we're seeing is a lot of
[4:26:31] challenging conversations about
[4:26:32] how we pay for infrastructure
[4:26:34] for water resources and for
[4:26:36] storm water and then on the
[4:26:38] sanitation side. Everyone in
[4:26:38] Pinellas County all the
[4:26:39] municipalities are struggling
[4:26:41] with the same challenge on the
[4:26:43] disposal Gulf ports looking at
[4:26:43] an 8% increase next year.
[4:26:46] Clearwater is looking Think
[4:26:48] about a 4 and a half percent
[4:26:49] increase. If you look at storm
[4:26:50] water systems that we're seeing
[4:26:53] a lot of great pressure right
[4:26:53] now don't even looking at a
[4:26:54] 19% increase in storm water
[4:26:57] rates next year. And on top of
[4:26:59] that a 15% increase in water
[4:27:00] and sewer rates clear waters
[4:27:01] looking percent increases on
[4:27:02] water and sewer and stormwater
[4:27:03] for the next couple of years, I
[4:27:05] mean it's just we're seeing a
[4:27:06] lot of similar challenges
[4:27:09] going through a process that's
[4:27:10] similar maybe not exactly the
[4:27:13] same as what we do here but a
[4:27:14] similar process of evaluating
[4:27:17] or utility rates to fund our
[4:27:18] needs do we have enough in the
[4:27:21] needs were seeing similar
[4:27:21] common drivers of regulatory
[4:27:22] requirements, increases in
[4:27:23] capital cost and inflation.
[4:27:26] That's driving a lot of similar
[4:27:27] levels of increases in areas
[4:27:30] and communities here in the
[4:27:33] area and generally will vary
[4:27:35] throughout different parts of
[4:27:35] the country.
[4:27:36] We're looking at the systems we
[4:27:38] talk about storm water. We talk
[4:27:39] about our potable water and use
[4:27:40] different systems. We do a
[4:27:43] study and we do planning
[4:27:44] documents not just for 5 years.
[4:27:47] I mean we do long-term studies
[4:27:47] and I'm just I
[4:27:48] just want to get a little bit
[4:27:49] of a pine. What we're looking
[4:27:50] at in terms of looking at the
[4:27:51] systems and the needs of the
[4:27:54] systems and how back kind of
[4:27:56] changes be sometime in
[4:27:56] the age of a system.
[4:27:57] Yeah, it's a good point so for
[4:28:00] each of the different utility
[4:28:01] systems, there's capital plans
[4:28:02] and programs that go out.
[4:28:05] You know 10 to 20 years and so
[4:28:06] we're including
[4:28:06] that in the financial
[4:28:08] forecasting model and with that
[4:28:09] information in mind it does
[4:28:10] influence current decisions if
[4:28:12] we know for instance with storm
[4:28:15] water that we need to ramp up
[4:28:16] our capital spending from
[4:28:17] 30 million to 50 million a
[4:28:17] year. You know we want to start
[4:28:19] considering that now and
[4:28:21] figuring out how can we do that
[4:28:24] in a way that's reasonable and
[4:28:25] doesn't necessarily require
[4:28:26] significant rate increases
[4:28:29] overnight to do that so that
[4:28:29] future planning for
[4:28:30] infrastructure is layered into
[4:28:31] this process. So that we can
[4:28:33] not only just focus on what's
[4:28:34] in front of us for next year
[4:28:35] for fiscal 27. A little bit of
[4:28:39] advance planning for what's
[4:28:40] coming in the future
[4:28:40] years based upon those
[4:28:41] infrastructure plans.
[4:28:42] So you look at the studies
[4:28:44] whether it's storm water
[4:28:45] portable
[4:28:46] water figuring out to reits you
[4:28:49] what you come up with ease a
[4:28:50] great
[4:28:50] study feasibility Henry study
[4:28:51] report right and part of that
[4:28:52] report covers operational costs
[4:28:55] in the system with the cost is
[4:28:58] and the other part of that is
[4:28:59] based on the capital system
[4:29:01] right what you need. Capital
[4:29:02] improvement which is based on
[4:29:04] these plans so there's flooding
[4:29:06] in whatever neighborhood people
[4:29:07] there's flooding here you need
[4:29:09] to fix it. That goes into that
[4:29:13] plan the engineers and everyone
[4:29:13] does it write their analysis
[4:29:15] and they come up with a plan in
[4:29:17] terms of addressing all these
[4:29:18] different issues that our storm
[4:29:19] water related throughout the
[4:29:22] city that leads to flooding in
[4:29:24] different areas, whatever
[4:29:24] neighboring Iran.
[4:29:25] I think conceptually that's a
[4:29:26] fair description obviously I
[4:29:26] know that there's a lot of
[4:29:28] folks has been a lot of there's
[4:29:30] a lot more that
[4:29:30] goes into that this is very
[4:29:31] rough.
[4:29:31] Yes, actually yes that that's
[4:29:32] how you build your project list
[4:29:34] is based upon some of that
[4:29:34] input
[4:29:36] data observations about system
[4:29:36] failures and where you have to
[4:29:39] continue to occur, there's a
[4:29:40] lot
[4:29:41] of input into that process.
[4:29:42] So that's that's the storm
[4:29:43] water system and then when it
[4:29:44] comes to the potable water
[4:29:45] system if you look at our
[4:29:46] system the water doesn't come
[4:29:47] from below the ground comes all
[4:29:48] the way from up north and then
[4:29:52] you have all the pipes in our
[4:29:53] system right and then that
[4:29:54] gets inputted into our capital
[4:29:57] improvements and we figure out
[4:29:58] which are the pipes that mean
[4:29:59] you know x amount of pipes in
[4:30:02] downtown, I'll tell your over
[4:30:02] 7700 years are going to be
[4:30:05] replacement by next year.
[4:30:07] You know some of them are 52
[4:30:08] whatever years and we know that
[4:30:08] they're in critical condition
[4:30:09] and they have to be replaced
[4:30:10] and then you figure out what
[4:30:12] those costs are and then you
[4:30:13] try to come
[4:30:14] up with a system to pay for
[4:30:14] this.
[4:30:15] You try, but then it's
[4:30:18] challenging because there's
[4:30:18] only so many things that
[4:30:19] we can really tackle at once
[4:30:20] when you consider some of the
[4:30:21] limiting conditions like
[4:30:24] affordability so for instance,
[4:30:25] the water distribution system
[4:30:25] is one that because of the
[4:30:26] storms the consent orders we
[4:30:28] focused a lot right on
[4:30:29] wastewater in
[4:30:30] storm water we need to shift
[4:30:33] our focus to the water system
[4:30:33] to
[4:30:34] really get that underground
[4:30:35] infrastructure. Back on a good
[4:30:37] replacement schedule and cycle.
[4:30:40] So that's kind of ramping up
[4:30:41] over our cip while
[4:30:41] other components or maybe held
[4:30:42] flat now so there's there's
[4:30:44] some things that have to shift
[4:30:45] from a prioritization
[4:30:48] standpoint because we just it's
[4:30:51] I think
[4:30:53] it's a new challenge to do it
[4:30:53] all at once and for all.
[4:30:54] Part of the process is to weigh
[4:30:55] those competing priorities.
[4:30:55] You mention consent orders.
[4:30:56] Could you explain to the public
[4:30:57] because that's not something
[4:30:59] you normally hear what happened
[4:31:01] here in the city back
[4:31:02] then what have what we have to
[4:31:02] you.
[4:31:04] Well, generally speaking you
[4:31:05] have a consent order situation
[4:31:08] when you've had a an event that
[4:31:09] your wastewater plants
[4:31:10] for instance, where you've had
[4:31:12] to discharge partially or even
[4:31:14] not fully
[4:31:15] treated wastewater and so we
[4:31:15] have that circumstance occur if
[4:31:18] it occurs frequent enough or
[4:31:19] too significant
[4:31:20] degree the Environmental
[4:31:20] Protection Agency and state
[4:31:22] agencies will become involved
[4:31:22] and say okay we need you to
[4:31:24] become in compliance because we
[4:31:26] have standards that really
[4:31:27] guard against doing that unless
[4:31:29] it's extreme situations and
[4:31:32] even then there still MAY be
[4:31:32] limitations. So then once the
[4:31:33] epa and state leaders have
[4:31:34] gotten work with you to say
[4:31:37] years all the things that you
[4:31:37] are
[4:31:38] not in compliance with. Let's
[4:31:40] develop a schedule of all the
[4:31:41] things you need to do to become
[4:31:42] in compliance and you have to
[4:31:44] fund those things and you have
[4:31:44] to do it by a certain time
[4:31:47] otherwise there's going to be
[4:31:48] penalties involved so
[4:31:52] that's a process that all
[4:31:52] utilities face in terms of
[4:31:53] having to comply with
[4:31:54] regulations and that compliance
[4:31:55] really means we have to
[4:31:56] maintain our systems and to get
[4:31:57] us in a good state of repair in
[4:32:00] working condition. That
[4:32:02] requires the 2 things you
[4:32:03] mention, good operations and
[4:32:04] maintenance for repairs and
[4:32:07] then good capital replacement
[4:32:08] cycles so
[4:32:09] that the infrastructure is less
[4:32:10] likely to fail.
[4:32:13] If you don't invest and just to
[4:32:14] be
[4:32:15] clear the money that comes
[4:32:15] right back.
[4:32:17] In terms of the system itself
[4:32:18] right it's an enterprise system
[4:32:18] it's a utility system might you
[4:32:21] have only so many sources you
[4:32:24] get money from all right so its
[4:32:27] from the utility fees.
[4:32:27] Some of that comes from penny
[4:32:31] funds. And then we have some
[4:32:33] that come from
[4:32:34] I missing anything.
[4:32:35] Those are the primary sources.
[4:32:38] We have miscellaneous fees that
[4:32:38] we try to maximize like the
[4:32:39] wastewater capacity fee and
[4:32:41] other various fees and charges
[4:32:42] so we try to optimize fees for
[4:32:43] specific services where we can
[4:32:46] to offset how much has to come
[4:32:49] from rates.
[4:32:52] So when we use.
[4:32:53] Grant monies, another, you
[4:32:54] know, but the state monies that
[4:32:54] are available or let's say
[4:32:55] federal monies that are
[4:32:56] available and sometimes
[4:32:56] depending on the environment
[4:32:58] you have less federal and state
[4:33:01] monies available but on
[4:33:02] average.
[4:33:03] What are we looking in terms of
[4:33:04] how that impacts a system or
[4:33:06] how much does that contribute
[4:33:10] for says that say you're
[4:33:13] your utility fees.
[4:33:13] Well how give stormwater as an
[4:33:16] example for this once that's
[4:33:16] probably the the easiest if
[4:33:19] your father is a a a couple
[4:33:19] years ago we were looking at
[4:33:20] about a 15% increase in storm
[4:33:23] water. We've has received a
[4:33:23] major
[4:33:24] Grant were able to lower that
[4:33:25] to you now person. In the
[4:33:26] forecast for now for storm
[4:33:29] water we only have about one to
[4:33:30] million a year grants built
[4:33:31] into it because of the
[4:33:32] conditions you mentioned like
[4:33:34] these things fluctuate their
[4:33:35] competitive in some instances
[4:33:37] and slants pointed out what we
[4:33:37] do is as soon as we get those
[4:33:39] they become factored into the
[4:33:40] process and once we know
[4:33:43] they've been awarded we then
[4:33:44] factor them in so we've been
[4:33:47] intentionally conservative.
[4:33:47] Right now Serena. There's not
[4:33:48] reliance grants built into
[4:33:49] these forecast. But there's
[4:33:52] every intent in effort being
[4:33:52] made to secure as many grants
[4:33:54] as we possibly can so that they
[4:33:57] can come in as a funding source
[4:33:58] like it did a couple years
[4:33:59] ago to lower rate increases.
[4:34:01] They try to go for the maximum
[4:34:01] obviously Grant opportunities
[4:34:04] are available. But there's
[4:34:05] never reset
[4:34:06] out that you're going to
[4:34:08] collect it could be 4% it could
[4:34:09] be 15% whatever it is based on
[4:34:12] what's available. That's right
[4:34:15] and
[4:34:18] that's going to affect what we
[4:34:18] have.
[4:34:21] Yeah we have a very minimal
[4:34:22] assumption just for kind of
[4:34:22] their bones grants that we feel
[4:34:23] comfortable with.
[4:34:24] In terms of storm water and
[4:34:24] because it says since it was
[4:34:25] mentioned here. What we spend
[4:34:26] on the stormwater system and
[4:34:26] what we need and I don't think
[4:34:27] it's been covered in this
[4:34:30] meeting but we've covered in
[4:34:33] other
[4:34:38] meetings or stormwater master
[4:34:38] plan.
[4:34:39] And I don't know if you're in
[4:34:39] the top of our stormwater
[4:34:40] master plan or someone else is
[4:34:41] going to happen. The stormwater
[4:34:41] master plan when we talk about
[4:34:44] the needs of million a year on
[4:34:45] average I think work
[4:34:46] that number is coming from our
[4:34:47] storm water master plan.
[4:34:47] It is not be happy to invite
[4:34:48] MR. Tankersley to tell every
[4:34:51] life figure in the capital plan
[4:34:52] so okay so
[4:34:53] Clyde.
[4:34:55] Why don't we talk a little bit
[4:34:55] because that has seen a huge
[4:34:58] increase in terms of the rates.
[4:35:01] It was a long time that
[4:35:02] there was no investment in
[4:35:04] storm water. We know for a fact
[4:35:04] that with hurricanes with
[4:35:05] different rain event that we've
[4:35:06] had in the city in the last 5
[4:35:07] years that we all can remember
[4:35:08] in terms of flooding in
[4:35:11] different neighborhoods.
[4:35:14] Places you name it can you put
[4:35:16] the pieces together of a where
[4:35:18] are we in terms of foot funding
[4:35:22] the stormwater projects.
[4:35:23] You know. I think it
[4:35:26] was 39 or 2020, versus now what
[4:35:27] is needed through
[4:35:28] the plan work what are these
[4:35:30] plans covering and cuts to put
[4:35:34] a little bit of context of why
[4:35:37] some of these increases
[4:35:39] have happened in terms of storm
[4:35:40] water.
[4:35:40] So 10 years ago in 36 our
[4:35:41] capital improvement for for
[4:35:42] storm water was roughly one and
[4:35:43] a half million for the whole
[4:35:46] city
[4:35:51] for the whole city.
[4:35:51] So one and a half million
[4:35:52] dollars for the whole city and
[4:35:53] what is stormwater.
[4:35:53] For the average person out
[4:35:55] there who doesn't know what its
[4:35:55] water system in storm water
[4:35:58] when it when it rains and and
[4:35:58] some of the waters of Jordan to
[4:35:59] the ground great. Any war
[4:36:02] that's not absorbed into the
[4:36:02] ground
[4:36:03] goes into becomes what we call
[4:36:04] runoff that's what we call
[4:36:07] storm water and then that's
[4:36:08] usually
[4:36:08] directed through our roads and
[4:36:09] streets into a collection
[4:36:10] system that will eventually
[4:36:12] take it out to water bodies
[4:36:16] like canals and bays okay
[4:36:19] we invested a million dollars
[4:36:21] a year in 20 with
[4:36:22] 36, yes 10 What has our
[4:36:22] stormwater master plan show
[4:36:25] that we need to invest in the
[4:36:28] system in terms of projects for
[4:36:30] the needs of our city
[4:36:30] it's over a billion dollars and
[4:36:31] over a billion over a billion
[4:36:33] dollars from the stormwater
[4:36:34] master plan in addition the
[4:36:35] stormwater master plan we've
[4:36:35] done some separate studies like
[4:36:36] the Basin see study we've
[4:36:40] talked a lot about that we're
[4:36:41] doing some
[4:36:42] projects on right now.
[4:36:45] And so we're talking so you
[4:36:46] know at least a billion if not
[4:36:47] closer to $2 billion over the
[4:36:50] next 25 years that we need to
[4:36:53] do.
[4:36:57] Our storm water system.
[4:36:57] And what are we currently
[4:36:58] investing close to about 30
[4:36:58] million.
[4:36:59] We're now up to 37 million with
[4:37:03] what we're proposing for fiscal
[4:37:04] year 27 to 37 million.
[4:37:06] Which is not where we need to
[4:37:07] be we need to be at roughly 50
[4:37:08] million a year, but it is a
[4:37:10] significant increase in the
[4:37:13] last 10 years and nobody thing
[4:37:14] that you're going crease that
[4:37:16] immediately but right it's to
[4:37:16] just give context to what.
[4:37:18] Is being paid for and what the
[4:37:21] reality of the needs of the
[4:37:22] system is because
[4:37:23] it's not clear sometimes and
[4:37:24] I've had a large learning curve
[4:37:27] for some of this in terms of
[4:37:28] figuring out
[4:37:29] what the needs are for the
[4:37:30] city. What were actually paying
[4:37:31] and what's not getting done and
[4:37:33] so that gives a little context
[4:37:35] we're paying for how about half
[4:37:36] of what is really necessary for
[4:37:39] storm water system based on the
[4:37:40] rate right now correct
[4:37:41] okay in terms of our portable
[4:37:45] water which is the water that
[4:37:47] we drink.
[4:37:51] Right we just we talked about
[4:37:52] the the city the
[4:37:53] city's water plan and all that
[4:37:55] what are our needs for our
[4:37:56] water system that means you
[4:37:56] know, I'm thinking pipes
[4:37:59] obviously and all that that you
[4:38:02] need to make
[4:38:03] sure that people have safe
[4:38:04] drinking water.
[4:38:05] So we have approximately 1500
[4:38:05] miles of of pipes underground
[4:38:08] for a water system our drinking
[4:38:09] water system. A lot of these
[4:38:12] pipes were put in. Decades ago
[4:38:13] some
[4:38:16] of them 7500 years ago. And
[4:38:17] many
[4:38:18] of them of reached the end of
[4:38:19] their useful life. And so over
[4:38:20] time we need to go ahead and
[4:38:24] try to find a way to replace
[4:38:26] them. The challenge
[4:38:27] with drinking water versus
[4:38:28] wastewater or stormwater is
[4:38:30] that with both wastewater and
[4:38:31] stormwater pipes tend to be
[4:38:32] bigger that can be much larger
[4:38:35] in diameter and which allows us
[4:38:36] the opportunity to do
[4:38:37] what we call lining the pipe
[4:38:39] surrounding him dig it up and
[4:38:40] replace the entire pipe we can
[4:38:42] put a new liner in the pipe and
[4:38:44] it gives us more life into that
[4:38:45] pipe. The drinking water pipes
[4:38:48] are pressurized and so
[4:38:49] therefore they're smaller and
[4:38:50] your 6, 8, inches in diameter
[4:38:52] and their pressurized and so we
[4:38:53] don't really have a good
[4:38:55] opportunity to do a lot of
[4:38:55] aligning for those smaller
[4:38:56] diameter pipes because then you
[4:38:59] start losing a lot of the
[4:39:02] internal
[4:39:03] area and so for those pipes
[4:39:04] usually we end up having to
[4:39:07] actually putin new pipes to
[4:39:08] replace the old ones and with
[4:39:10] 1500 miles of pipes that need
[4:39:11] to be replaced. Many of them
[4:39:12] much older than me. They they
[4:39:15] are at their into their useful
[4:39:18] life.
[4:39:20] >> So we just had a meeting was
[4:39:23] maybe the whole not that long
[4:39:23] ago map of the
[4:39:24] city and you saw all the
[4:39:26] yellow. He sought green yellow
[4:39:27] and red throughout the city of
[4:39:28] a pipe system you can even see
[4:39:29] the city you see the colors
[4:39:30] could there that many pipes in
[4:39:34] the city. Right yes, you had to
[4:39:35] go and you had read right
[4:39:36] talk a little bit about
[4:39:39] condition in pipes in terms of
[4:39:40] when you
[4:39:41] see that and wrist.
[4:39:44] And so we we had a consultant
[4:39:44] come in and do it condition
[4:39:46] analysis of all of our pipes
[4:39:47] that basically to give all the
[4:39:51] pipes a score. So that we can
[4:39:51] know which pipes are more
[4:39:52] critical or at risk than
[4:39:53] others. And that's how we came
[4:39:56] up with that map you saw there
[4:39:57] are pipes that were shown in
[4:39:58] red with the most critical
[4:40:00] we're going to be putting our
[4:40:02] efforts and you know in the
[4:40:02] beginning the pipes that are
[4:40:05] yellow can maybe last a little
[4:40:06] longer
[4:40:10] pipes or green or are ok for
[4:40:10] now. And what we did
[4:40:11] in then do is prioritize that
[4:40:12] the replacement those pipes,
[4:40:14] there's several things that
[4:40:14] would make a pipe necessary for
[4:40:18] priority for replacement one
[4:40:19] would be the age obviously
[4:40:20] one would be the material is
[4:40:22] made out of lot of the older
[4:40:26] pipes were made out of what we
[4:40:26] call cast iron. Cast
[4:40:27] iron is is very brittle.
[4:40:30] It gets old quickly it's it's
[4:40:33] very corrosive both on the
[4:40:34] inside and the outside. Also
[4:40:36] where the pipe is located if a
[4:40:37] pipe is located in an area
[4:40:38] where it's constantly
[4:40:40] underground water, particularly
[4:40:41] if it's constantly under salty
[4:40:41] groundwater like it is along
[4:40:44] our coastal communities like
[4:40:46] Riviera Bay, shore
[4:40:47] acres cookie mckee those pipes
[4:40:49] actually don't last as long as
[4:40:51] the pipes that are in the
[4:40:51] interior part of the city
[4:40:54] because they're constantly
[4:40:54] exposed to this corrosive salt
[4:40:55] water environment and so by
[4:40:58] having the consultants to do
[4:40:58] this
[4:40:59] analysis for us and give us a a
[4:41:00] score for our pipes allows us
[4:41:03] to know where to prioritize
[4:41:05] them.
[4:41:05] >> Thank you for that and I
[4:41:07] asked a lot of questions but is
[4:41:08] a lot of information every time
[4:41:11] we're going through this I
[4:41:12] think it is important
[4:41:13] because I'm always learning
[4:41:14] about our system and our storm
[4:41:14] water and everything and giving
[4:41:17] it contacts is important to be
[4:41:20] from these conversations
[4:41:21] because it is critical
[4:41:21] for a city for everyone to
[4:41:24] understand what we're investing
[4:41:25] in why we're investing and what
[4:41:25] you're paying for and so this
[4:41:26] is part of the conversation
[4:41:29] we're having because there are
[4:41:29] lots of good questions or ask
[4:41:30] your today by residents and so
[4:41:33] I think that gives at least a
[4:41:34] little bit more context and now
[4:41:36] it's members want to speak
[4:41:39] after I've spoken. So with that
[4:41:40] I'll pass it over council
[4:41:41] member driskell is not here
[4:41:44] right now so I'll pass it over
[4:41:48] to vice chair Floyd.
[4:41:48] I don't know what and people
[4:41:52] started moving around and I can
[4:41:55] go right now.
[4:41:59] >> Thank you for all of that
[4:42:02] information.
[4:42:07] >> Really just put myself on
[4:42:07] here to say a couple of things
[4:42:08] first. As has been demonstrated
[4:42:10] by sure Hannah what's that
[4:42:14] there's a lot
[4:42:14] of investment needed in the
[4:42:17] system.
[4:42:18] That's And on for a while and
[4:42:18] also want to.
[4:42:19] Point out that used to be I
[4:42:22] believe I don't know 4050 years
[4:42:22] ago, there was a lot more
[4:42:23] investment in the system from
[4:42:27] other sources like federal
[4:42:30] government and whatnot I
[4:42:32] think it's swat from something
[4:42:34] like. After the Clean Water Act
[4:42:35] passed 90% of investment from
[4:42:37] the feds and now it's swaps to
[4:42:40] only 10% investment so that's
[4:42:41] frustrating that we get put in
[4:42:41] that position. So I definitely
[4:42:44] see the need for us to invest.
[4:42:49] But my point is that I'd
[4:42:50] made specifically around our
[4:42:51] water system have been about
[4:42:54] how we do that investment and
[4:42:56] how it eases the burden.
[4:42:58] So today really just wanted to
[4:43:01] say like that I look forward to
[4:43:02] over the next year having
[4:43:05] discussions about the kind of
[4:43:05] things that I think a couple of
[4:43:07] speakers touched on so the base
[4:43:09] rates are treated lower in the
[4:43:13] past and I was very grateful
[4:43:13] for but I you know I want
[4:43:14] to have further discussions
[4:43:16] about you know seeing if we put
[4:43:17] them at the right level or we
[4:43:20] can lower the more and then the
[4:43:21] potential of transferring the
[4:43:23] payment in lieu of taxes and
[4:43:27] the payment of fees back into
[4:43:30] the fund I recognize that has a
[4:43:33] impact on the city's budget.
[4:43:34] So maybe it's something that we
[4:43:36] face in over years, but those
[4:43:37] are the things that I am going
[4:43:41] to continue to advocate for
[4:43:42] ands
[4:43:43] I think you know got bumped up
[4:43:45] on the list so I didn't have
[4:43:46] the rest of my thoughts
[4:43:49] gathered quite yet, but that's
[4:43:50] all I wanted to indicate an
[4:43:51] and so that I think that we can
[4:43:54] do a better job of stuff, how
[4:43:54] we pay
[4:43:55] for these things in the future
[4:43:58] because I think that there are
[4:44:02] ways to lessen the impact
[4:44:03] and that's what I'll continue
[4:44:04] to push for.
[4:44:04] But a record for me if I
[4:44:06] thought I could add a comment
[4:44:07] to that Sir thank you vice
[4:44:07] chair. Thank you for for
[4:44:10] bringing up the federal grants.
[4:44:14] When I started my career back
[4:44:14] in the 1980's, it was still
[4:44:17] relatively soon after the Clean
[4:44:18] water acts
[4:44:19] came out the 1970's and the
[4:44:20] federal government was pouring
[4:44:23] billions of dollars into into
[4:44:24] infrastructure water, drinking
[4:44:25] water and sewer infrastructure.
[4:44:27] Remember in the beginning of my
[4:44:27] career I worked with
[4:44:30] communities that we're getting
[4:44:33] 5061 community 90%.
[4:44:35] 90% of their infrastructure
[4:44:36] work was being funded through
[4:44:39] federal grants because of the
[4:44:40] clean and drinking
[4:44:42] water acts back in the 1980's
[4:44:42] 70's. That is not the case
[4:44:44] anymore as you said that is not
[4:44:46] the case anymore now we're
[4:44:47] really lucky, we're really
[4:44:49] grateful if we get anywhere
[4:44:52] from 5 to 10% in one year or
[4:44:53] between
[4:44:54] one 5% over a 10 year period.
[4:44:55] So its really flipped the
[4:44:56] script us flips significantly
[4:44:57] and that's another one of the
[4:45:00] reasons why we're seeing these
[4:45:05] these costs now.
[4:45:06] I appreciate that yeah and I I
[4:45:07] brought that up because I don't
[4:45:08] want to discredit like the pain
[4:45:10] that people feel like I feel it
[4:45:12] as well when I have to for my
[4:45:15] household. But you know we
[4:45:18] acknowledge why things like
[4:45:20] this go on but I definitely
[4:45:21] still like think that we can
[4:45:21] come together over the next few
[4:45:22] years and figure out a more
[4:45:26] equitable way to do this.
[4:45:27] But I when I
[4:45:28] do that advocacy I want also
[4:45:29] make clear that I understand
[4:45:30] the need for the investment and
[4:45:33] that's why I brought the 2
[4:45:37] together at the same time.
[4:45:42] >> I keep moving around on the
[4:45:43] board sound I got all of you,
[4:45:44] but you are you yeah, I know I
[4:45:51] did. Yeah I'm very sorry about
[4:45:54] >> Thank you and thank you for
[4:45:56] the presentations and and for
[4:45:58] all the work he did starting a
[4:46:01] year ago to get us to the point
[4:46:04] a lot has changed.
[4:46:07] Over the last year.
[4:46:09] And I'm not in the
[4:46:12] same place where I was a year
[4:46:16] ago with our utility rates.
[4:46:16] Vice chair Floyd I really
[4:46:18] appreciate the advocacy and the
[4:46:21] points that have been brought
[4:46:22] up about making changes and
[4:46:23] working together to make this
[4:46:26] more equitable make things more
[4:46:26] affordable.
[4:46:30] Put the money in its proper
[4:46:32] place.
[4:46:35] You can only say let's start
[4:46:39] next year. So many times.
[4:46:42] We know how much people are
[4:46:45] being squeezed.
[4:46:46] The this city
[4:46:49] is having to tighten its belt.
[4:46:54] Unfortunately a lot of our
[4:46:54] residents to see where that's
[4:46:58] happening. And so you see a
[4:47:00] higher bill.
[4:47:03] Aaron the see no potential for
[4:47:06] the rates to increase and
[4:47:09] and they don't see any sign
[4:47:10] that the administration is
[4:47:12] trying to cut expenses were
[4:47:14] scaled back on what can be
[4:47:14] scaled back on before
[4:47:15] increasing rates, it's just
[4:47:17] going straight to the increase.
[4:47:18] And I think people are tired of
[4:47:21] it. I think that's what we're
[4:47:24] hearing. Right now.
[4:47:28] You know our costs go up.
[4:47:29] Everyone understands that but
[4:47:31] the costs are going up for
[4:47:32] residents to and I think
[4:47:35] they're at a breaking point
[4:47:36] now.
[4:47:39] Another thing I'm thinking
[4:47:40] about is. That we're working on
[4:47:43] hitting residents from 3 sides.
[4:47:50] So we've got utility rates.
[4:47:54] No reduction of the millage
[4:47:55] rate.
[4:47:59] Which means everyone's going to
[4:48:00] be paying all that and more
[4:48:01] on their taxes. And then in
[4:48:04] NOVEMBER. We're going to ask
[4:48:05] them for permission to borrow
[4:48:08] hundreds of millions of
[4:48:10] dollars. 4.
[4:48:13] Improvements such as the ones
[4:48:16] that are. In the presentation.
[4:48:19] I'm not saying that these
[4:48:23] things aren't needed. It's just
[4:48:26] that.
[4:48:29] When you're getting
[4:48:32] charge more you're having too
[4:48:36] right a bigger check
[4:48:37] to the local government.
[4:48:40] Potentially in 3 different
[4:48:43] ways.
[4:48:49] Its it's no surprise.
[4:48:49] And there is some opposition to
[4:48:50] that.
[4:48:53] And if we had a more modest
[4:48:54] increase this year just
[4:48:56] to give people a little bit of
[4:48:56] a break. If we were reducing
[4:48:57] the millage rate just a little
[4:49:00] bit to give people a little bit
[4:49:03] of a break. I would feel much
[4:49:06] better about this.
[4:49:08] But as it stands right now.
[4:49:11] I think it looks too much like
[4:49:13] we're asking for more.
[4:49:14] That we're not showing. The
[4:49:17] extent to which we can be more
[4:49:20] responsible with money that we
[4:49:21] do receive.
[4:49:22] From our residents. And you
[4:49:24] guys refer to them or us rate
[4:49:26] pairs, but these are people and
[4:49:27] I want to make sure that we
[4:49:30] remember that and their people
[4:49:33] who and could
[4:49:36] be on a fixed income. You just
[4:49:37] welcomed a new baby into the
[4:49:40] House trying to figure that out
[4:49:42] kids going to college.
[4:49:45] These regular people problems
[4:49:46] are everybody's problems.
[4:49:50] And there's not enough money to
[4:49:53] go around.
[4:49:56] I think it would be.
[4:50:00] Tough for us. But fair and
[4:50:03] helpful if we could just skip
[4:50:06] one year.
[4:50:09] We've also Kite amendment 3 on
[4:50:10] the ballot. We don't know what
[4:50:10] that's going to look like we
[4:50:11] don't know if these rates are
[4:50:14] going to look like next year
[4:50:14] because of that. But gosh we
[4:50:17] got to give people a break
[4:50:20] somewhere.
[4:50:23] I'm the timing is just terrible
[4:50:25] right now with these all of
[4:50:29] these different elements
[4:50:30] happening at once. So.
[4:50:34] So today, I'm going to I'm
[4:50:37] going to vote no on this.
[4:50:39] And I might be the only one.
[4:50:41] But I want to make sure that
[4:50:44] people know that they've been
[4:50:45] heard that I hear them and that
[4:50:47] I really I understand as a
[4:50:50] resident myself how difficult
[4:50:51] this is when you're looking at
[4:50:54] bigger bills coming from the
[4:50:55] government and not a whole lot
[4:50:57] to show for it. So that's where
[4:50:58] I stand on this. Thank you
[4:51:02] MADAM Chair. Thank you
[4:51:03] councilmember Curtis picture.
[4:51:05] Thank you for the presentation
[4:51:09] and thanks for everybody coming
[4:51:12] out this evening. So I want
[4:51:20] to piggyback a little bit on.
[4:51:20] Chair's comments and so.
[4:51:23] And this might be for Claude or
[4:51:24] it I
[4:51:25] think anybody could probably
[4:51:28] answer this question is that a
[4:51:29] is that a fair statement that
[4:51:29] operationally and the
[4:51:31] operations budget over the last
[4:51:32] we'll just use the last 3
[4:51:34] because it's the quickest ones
[4:51:36] I could look up the operation
[4:51:37] budget has stayed relatively
[4:51:39] flat inside of water resources
[4:51:41] and storm water over the last 3
[4:51:42] years and maybe even decreased
[4:51:45] a little bit I think in store.
[4:51:51] >> I think it's generally true
[4:51:54] without having the numbers we
[4:51:55] got to be council member but
[4:51:56] I think it's a fair statement
[4:51:56] so.
[4:51:57] I only have the numbers in
[4:51:58] front of me from the last year
[4:52:01] and this year, but also from
[4:52:04] the presentation that we had we
[4:52:06] did show that
[4:52:08] for for the labor, a portion of
[4:52:11] the budgets we went I think for
[4:52:12] water resources for them
[4:52:15] from 47 million to just around
[4:52:16] 49 million right to relatively
[4:52:19] flat. It is a 6% increase, but
[4:52:22] it's a relatively flat
[4:52:25] overall operation we all
[4:52:26] operate like a 3%.
[4:52:26] Yeah and we were not adding
[4:52:28] staff and this this is just the
[4:52:32] cost of of doing the
[4:52:34] business with the staff we have
[4:52:34] okay.
[4:52:35] And so it again fair to say
[4:52:36] that the increases that were
[4:52:39] absorbing in the ute in the
[4:52:41] proposed utility rate is
[4:52:42] because of investments in
[4:52:43] capital expenditures and not
[4:52:45] operation is the heavy portion
[4:52:48] of it.
[4:52:50] For water resources and storm
[4:52:50] water they're very largely
[4:52:51] capital driven. The only caveat
[4:52:52] with sanitation is the tipping
[4:52:55] fee increased threat. Yeah.
[4:52:58] Yeah.
[4:53:04] >> 2027, we're proposing a $111
[4:53:07] million in capital expenditure.
[4:53:08] Inside of water resources
[4:53:12] and $44 million inside of.
[4:53:13] Storm water correct.
[4:53:16] And so based on the plan that
[4:53:17] we were just talking about
[4:53:20] during chair's comments a few
[4:53:21] water plan how much
[4:53:23] should we be spending to keep
[4:53:23] our level of service
[4:53:24] essentially the same on annual
[4:53:28] basis for water resources and
[4:53:29] storm water.
[4:53:30] >> Well based on what I've got
[4:53:32] in front of him and say it's
[4:53:35] about around numbers, a 150
[4:53:38] million a year for water
[4:53:39] resources and about 15 million
[4:53:39] year for storm.
[4:53:41] So we're 5th Mott what's caught
[4:53:42] 40 to 45% underneath the water
[4:53:45] resources number and
[4:53:48] approximately.
[4:53:51] 11% short on the storm water.
[4:53:52] Just call it 10.
[4:53:53] Well I think that's fair from
[4:53:57] the target from the target.
[4:54:00] And so you know, listen.
[4:54:01] I said this earlier today.
[4:54:02] Nobody wants to raise rates.
[4:54:05] I don't want to do it I don't
[4:54:05] want to do it to people I
[4:54:08] selfishly I don't want to do it
[4:54:11] to me. It's not fun. This is
[4:54:13] not a fun thing. But when you
[4:54:16] see stats of 27 years of no
[4:54:16] increases 18 years of no
[4:54:17] increases unfortunately, we're
[4:54:19] the ones that signed up to make
[4:54:21] the hard decisions of what you
[4:54:21] do do you let the system
[4:54:23] continue to get worse or you
[4:54:26] try to move the needle to try
[4:54:27] to make it better.
[4:54:29] >> And that and I don't I don't
[4:54:30] like upsetting people that I
[4:54:32] don't go home happy about this.
[4:54:33] But I think at the end of the
[4:54:36] day. What I'm not going to be
[4:54:37] happy about is if we continue
[4:54:39] to drag because what I don't
[4:54:42] want to happen is 2016 again
[4:54:45] what I don't want to happen.
[4:54:47] Is our water system fails
[4:54:48] that that's the worst case
[4:54:51] scenario that I'm just not
[4:54:52] willing by sure Floyd
[4:54:55] I'm looking forward to having
[4:54:55] those conversations to try to
[4:54:56] figure that out and and I think
[4:54:57] your comments were right on but
[4:55:00] at the same time you see the
[4:55:02] need
[4:55:05] right and so that's where on at
[4:55:08] this point and and you know.
[4:55:14] I also just.
[4:55:14] The only thing that we haven't
[4:55:15] really talked about at this
[4:55:15] point is.
[4:55:16] I think all of us appreciate
[4:55:18] everybody that shows up in the
[4:55:19] e-mails we get yes if you
[4:55:21] still here we have your e-mail
[4:55:24] your phone number we have we
[4:55:27] got all about today. And so.
[4:55:30] You know.
[4:55:33] But at the end of the day.
[4:55:33] We have to make sure
[4:55:35] that it continues to work and
[4:55:38] if we continue to underfunded
[4:55:39] it there will be a point where
[4:55:40] it will stop working. And that
[4:55:43] is the worst case scenario and
[4:55:46] so you know again. I.
[4:55:47] I'll say it's not it's
[4:55:50] not fun. But at the end of the
[4:55:51] day
[4:55:53] we have had. How many committee
[4:55:57] of the whole how many different
[4:55:57] he's 3.
[4:55:58] And 2 committee as the holes.
[4:55:59] So 3, 3 committee meetings
[4:56:02] inside a budget finance and
[4:56:05] taxation to committee of the
[4:56:06] holes and now and I think we
[4:56:06] got an Council and a first
[4:56:09] reading and now a second
[4:56:12] reading.
[4:56:13] To chairs point
[4:56:16] this is a conversation we're
[4:56:19] having
[4:56:20] pretty much at all times.
[4:56:23] It's it standing takes up 3
[4:56:24] months and be a fun t
[4:56:27] out of the 12 months and so
[4:56:28] it's not a conversation that
[4:56:29] just appears either and I and I
[4:56:30] say that and committees are
[4:56:31] tough because there is no
[4:56:32] public input other than emails
[4:56:35] or phone calls or neighborhood
[4:56:38] meetings that we're at so I
[4:56:39] understand that part
[4:56:40] but I also just wanted to be
[4:56:43] said that. We are continuously
[4:56:46] talking about and it takes a
[4:56:47] year for us to get here and
[4:56:47] frankly it takes more than that
[4:56:48] because we're looking at up.
[4:56:50] But this year we looked at a
[4:56:51] five-year range of of what the
[4:56:54] future rates are right to work.
[4:56:56] We're already looking at 31.
[4:56:56] Right now it's not like we're
[4:57:00] just looking at 2728. So
[4:57:03] anyway. It's not fun, but
[4:57:05] if if we don't do it it's not
[4:57:06] going to get done and then we
[4:57:08] put it at risk of failing.
[4:57:09] Thank you chair. Thank you
[4:57:12] councilmember Hardin thank you
[4:57:15] Sir.
[4:57:17] >> I greatly appreciate the
[4:57:20] of my colleagues. I will echo
[4:57:23] after him trying to build on.
[4:57:26] The echo before what what
[4:57:28] councilmember Curtis said I
[4:57:30] have no interest in raising
[4:57:32] rates. And that starts of the
[4:57:32] conversation that had this
[4:57:35] morning with my wife over
[4:57:38] coffee about what we're talking
[4:57:38] about today.
[4:57:41] In addition to them, the folks
[4:57:43] that we hear from the community
[4:57:46] and and my daughter who is now
[4:57:47] school
[4:57:48] teacher can afford average
[4:57:50] trees I I my point is I I echo
[4:57:53] what everyone appears that had
[4:57:57] no interest in raising rates.
[4:58:00] But this is in pain of the
[4:58:00] financial picture and and I
[4:58:03] would like to give it
[4:58:07] three-dimensional texture.
[4:58:09] From what I understand
[4:58:10] that the very direct questions
[4:58:14] that councilmember Greece asked
[4:58:17] most answered himself. That
[4:58:17] the the money that
[4:58:20] we collect because the 2
[4:58:21] different because because the 2
[4:58:21] different buckets, one is
[4:58:23] operations and one is cip when
[4:58:26] is it is we have to rebuild the
[4:58:27] system.
[4:58:28] 1, 1, What is my rent and one
[4:58:32] is the fact that I stopped to
[4:58:32] pick my
[4:58:34] house and and fix it and put
[4:58:36] any refund and from what I
[4:58:36] understand cip air operations
[4:58:39] part we how we help cost pretty
[4:58:40] flat.
[4:58:41] But it's the cip part which is
[4:58:44] which unfortunately comes from
[4:58:46] several of areas, one is we
[4:58:47] didn't fund it properly over
[4:58:51] the past 20 years, one is that
[4:58:51] the increased cost of
[4:58:55] and there's one other than us
[4:58:58] thinking of recall on talking
[4:58:59] and and so my my point is
[4:59:00] this and everything that that
[4:59:03] that you all talked about that
[4:59:06] the
[4:59:06] the trekkers strikers is the
[4:59:07] lowest neighborhood in in Saint
[4:59:10] Pete. Immediately very very Bay
[4:59:13] unlike other them in the same
[4:59:14] issues rear of a when we talk
[4:59:14] about your regionals of and
[4:59:17] solar. As we were putting pump
[4:59:20] stations of a
[4:59:21] >> so we're so so we're
[4:59:24] building the first major pump
[4:59:24] station in shore acres and if I
[4:59:27] remember a cloud. The total
[4:59:29] cost
[4:59:29] that projects about $33
[4:59:30] million.
[4:59:30] And essentially what it does is
[4:59:33] it gets rid of this this this
[4:59:34] way that Mother
[4:59:35] Nature has change which she
[4:59:35] wants to do and we now have
[4:59:38] this this issue that we're for
[4:59:41] Tue. Time flooding in to ensure
[4:59:44] acres and so and so we put
[4:59:45] people at risk we have
[4:59:46] water in the roads in the
[4:59:48] middle of the day.
[4:59:51] That we we the greater own our
[4:59:52] own infrastructure we
[4:59:53] deplete that the real shelf
[4:59:53] life of the roadways.
[4:59:55] And nothing is good about it
[4:59:56] and we hear about it all the
[4:59:59] time and put real context to
[5:00:00] that I was on the text chain
[5:00:00] for my kids elementary school
[5:00:01] because they change their hours
[5:00:04] of operation of the school
[5:00:06] based on the tides. And a King
[5:00:07] tide escorted 3 but when
[5:00:10] contenders there we we picked
[5:00:12] up our kids at
[5:00:13] 1230 because you wouldn't get
[5:00:16] impeded.
[5:00:16] So my point is this.
[5:00:20] We addressed that $33 million.
[5:00:21] >> And that's in addition to
[5:00:22] fixing the system this is
[5:00:23] additional to it in talking
[5:00:25] with the with with Clyde from
[5:00:28] what I understand you would
[5:00:30] like to see possibly more
[5:00:31] pump stations throughout the
[5:00:32] city to alleviate the rest of
[5:00:33] the state time flooding.
[5:00:35] Yes to more a kers which I
[5:00:38] assume come second and 3rd, but
[5:00:41] 2 is that correct.
[5:00:42] Yes Sir, the so Kate
[5:00:43] now now we're at a quarter of a
[5:00:44] billion dollars in just pump
[5:00:47] stations that that is that is
[5:00:50] additional to the system
[5:00:50] that that those are projects
[5:00:51] that alleviate that alleviate
[5:00:54] real problems that happened
[5:00:57] today when it didn't rain
[5:00:58] and so back to the
[5:01:01] point that the council member
[5:01:01] guard us made
[5:01:02] very succinctly about the money
[5:01:03] part of this. The money part of
[5:01:06] this comes to the quality of
[5:01:08] life of the people. Because I
[5:01:10] can't live in a flooded
[5:01:11] neighborhood. All the time and
[5:01:14] no interest in raising rates,
[5:01:17] none 0.
[5:01:17] I would venture to say that I
[5:01:21] am I am maybe a little bit
[5:01:24] further than council members.
[5:01:26] Back to the point of of have
[5:01:30] this there are things that are
[5:01:32] just.
[5:01:35] 2 critical not to address.
[5:01:35] I intend to to to vote for this
[5:01:38] it's not where I want to do.
[5:01:39] But I think it's
[5:01:40] what the city needs to do.
[5:01:41] And I appreciate the fact that
[5:01:44] the 3 of you with a huge team
[5:01:51] behind you we're able to
[5:01:53] Create this this picture.
[5:01:53] And give us a chance to
[5:01:57] visualize what it is because
[5:02:00] this decision socks. But
[5:02:02] but with without without the
[5:02:03] the without that without the
[5:02:05] way that you are able to
[5:02:06] present to us. What a good now
[5:02:09] I want to do this. But when
[5:02:09] you're able to
[5:02:12] contextualize it this way my
[5:02:12] point is thank you very much
[5:02:13] for giving me at least the
[5:02:16] opportunity and that to see
[5:02:17] this problem for exactly
[5:02:18] what it is in pedestrian terms.
[5:02:19] I am sorry for the way that of
[5:02:22] that I am that this is going to
[5:02:24] go for me.
[5:02:24] But I appreciate the effort
[5:02:27] that you all put into thank you
[5:02:28] very much Sir. The eu I hear
[5:02:31] from thanks I just have one
[5:02:34] thing I did
[5:02:35] mentioned before.
[5:02:38] >> Just want to say thank you
[5:02:40] to staff
[5:02:42] and everyone all my colleagues
[5:02:42] for.
[5:02:43] Just getting too full cost
[5:02:44] recovery of the stormwater
[5:02:46] capacity fee. You know
[5:02:49] residents are.
[5:02:52] How have a 7% increase put
[5:02:54] forward, but developers
[5:02:55] connecting to the Senate system
[5:02:57] have a 70% increase being put
[5:03:00] forward and I think that's much
[5:03:01] more equitable and I we have to
[5:03:02] acknowledge that some grateful
[5:03:05] and I just want to say thank
[5:03:08] you. You
[5:03:11] councilmember Givens.
[5:03:12] Thank you chair, thanks to each
[5:03:13] of you for all your hard work
[5:03:14] as chairs mentioned this isn't
[5:03:14] just something we do today
[5:03:16] didn't happen overnights not
[5:03:19] microwave politics. This is an
[5:03:20] ongoing
[5:03:21] conversation. That takes months
[5:03:24] of effort and I really
[5:03:25] appreciate
[5:03:26] you all on this is a delicate
[5:03:29] matter. It's a delicate matter
[5:03:30] in a delicate
[5:03:31] balance balance because you
[5:03:34] have to consider the financial
[5:03:35] strain that
[5:03:37] has been imposed on residents.
[5:03:40] Primarily due to things beyond
[5:03:43] their control. 2 Hurricanes if
[5:03:44] not 4.
[5:03:47] The rising costs of inflation.
[5:03:48] And various other factors
[5:03:50] beyond their control. So with
[5:03:51] all that we have to consider.
[5:03:53] I think the primary thing on
[5:03:54] the table today which is
[5:03:55] affordability and I think we
[5:03:59] all struggle with
[5:04:01] affordability. It's a
[5:04:03] struggle on the city's part
[5:04:06] trying to find a comfortable
[5:04:07] number that would not impose
[5:04:09] too much burden on the rate
[5:04:12] payers as you put it over our
[5:04:15] residents.
[5:04:16] But it's also tough because we
[5:04:17] have been kicking the can down
[5:04:19] the road for so long we're
[5:04:22] talking almost 30 years here.
[5:04:26] An I don't think it's fair.
[5:04:29] We impose such a burden
[5:04:30] on just one generation. This is
[5:04:34] something that I think we
[5:04:34] should
[5:04:36] look at spreading the costs
[5:04:37] over time. I certainly think
[5:04:40] it's fair to have conversations
[5:04:43] about a minimal increase.
[5:04:47] However, 67% doesn't seem like
[5:04:48] we're being good
[5:04:51] financial stewards of taxpayer
[5:04:53] funds. I understand that they
[5:04:53] are needs I get that those
[5:04:56] needs don't change over time,
[5:04:57] however
[5:04:59] our need to do. Just because
[5:05:00] the city has the fix its
[5:05:01] crumbling infrastructure
[5:05:04] doesn't mean that my family
[5:05:06] stops eating.
[5:05:07] Doesn't mean that the lights
[5:05:08] stay on we still have to find
[5:05:12] ways like you said to comply
[5:05:13] regulations, but we also got to
[5:05:16] find ways to stay alive.
[5:05:17] You can only squeeze so
[5:05:21] much to side of the same.
[5:05:22] And I I really think we have
[5:05:23] squeeze this lemon one too many
[5:05:25] times. And I get it it's we're
[5:05:28] playing catch up, but we have
[5:05:29] to be able to explain where
[5:05:30] this increase is going in.
[5:05:31] No following one person but I
[5:05:34] don't think we've done a
[5:05:36] justified.
[5:05:38] We've provided any justify
[5:05:40] decisions on this we haven't
[5:05:43] been able to clearly explain
[5:05:46] why we've come to this number
[5:05:46] and and I get it there are
[5:05:50] needs operational expenses have
[5:05:51] increased however I have to
[5:05:53] wonder you know. I get an 8%
[5:05:54] tipping fee increase we cannot
[5:05:57] control but is it necessary for
[5:05:59] us to purchase a
[5:06:01] 123 trucks right now. You know
[5:06:01] I just I just have to wonder in
[5:06:04] and then also have to look at.
[5:06:11] We're taxing our ratepayers you
[5:06:14] know is it fair to make them
[5:06:15] bear so much of a
[5:06:16] burden when developers can be
[5:06:19] doing more. I want to ask this
[5:06:22] question
[5:06:24] because I brought it up last
[5:06:25] year.
[5:06:25] It's alright there's no
[5:06:26] clapping. In the meeting its
[5:06:28] its part it's fine at some of
[5:06:29] you weren't here in the
[5:06:29] original part of the meeting so
[5:06:30] I understand people feel
[5:06:33] passionate about it, but we
[5:06:35] just keep the corpsman
[5:06:36] the meeting so I appreciate
[5:06:36] that thank you thank you chair.
[5:06:37] Broad at last year I think it
[5:06:41] was mentioned by you and the
[5:06:41] optimizing some of
[5:06:43] these miscellaneous I mentioned
[5:06:44] that illegal brought it up to
[5:06:46] administration the conversation
[5:06:48] about imposing some additional
[5:06:50] impact fees. We mentioned what
[5:06:50] other municipalities are doing
[5:06:51] well the municipalities of
[5:06:53] dealing with the same issues we
[5:06:55] are as a coastal community,
[5:06:55] however they have found other
[5:06:58] solutions beyond just raising
[5:07:00] rates
[5:07:02] on consumers. And so what I
[5:07:03] want to know is legally what
[5:07:05] options has administration
[5:07:06] explored when it comes to
[5:07:07] alternative impact fees whether
[5:07:10] the sewer sanitation
[5:07:12] transportation.
[5:07:15] It I don't know who who would
[5:07:16] answer this question. But I
[5:07:16] certainly want to know where we
[5:07:18] stand with. Impact these I'm
[5:07:19] I'm I'm happy that we have
[5:07:21] impact excuse me increase this
[5:07:25] water capacity fifa by $700 but
[5:07:28] that's not enough.
[5:07:31] >> My to get get the
[5:07:32] conversation started a bit and
[5:07:32] others will probably want to
[5:07:33] chime in, but you know to the
[5:07:34] extent that you know you can
[5:07:35] just a fee that's in place
[5:07:37] today that's you know kind of
[5:07:38] what's in front of us today.
[5:07:39] But I think there MAY be some
[5:07:40] potential things to work
[5:07:41] through relative the
[5:07:43] implementation of new fees
[5:07:45] around some existing state
[5:07:46] legislation that you know MAY
[5:07:46] provide challenges and doing
[5:07:49] that until sometime next year.
[5:07:53] So I think you know the team
[5:07:54] stands ready to evaluate
[5:07:55] those fees and in America
[5:07:57] accumulations but I think
[5:07:58] there's some timing
[5:07:59] considerations from a legal
[5:08:02] perspective that we're going to
[5:08:05] have to reflect on
[5:08:07] because of the state bills that
[5:08:08] have passed.
[5:08:08] I appreciate I understand big
[5:08:09] brother hinders little little
[5:08:10] brother lot. But this is
[5:08:11] something that I think is just
[5:08:14] too important and I really
[5:08:15] would like to look at legally
[5:08:18] what are what is permissible.
[5:08:20] What can we explore imposing at
[5:08:21] this point I know we have to
[5:08:24] justify through study what is
[5:08:24] that
[5:08:25] next a look like how do we get
[5:08:26] to that study. I don't want to
[5:08:26] just again keep delaying
[5:08:27] delaying delaying and then we
[5:08:30] hope that we can pass that
[5:08:31] burden down
[5:08:34] 2 are. Residents it's again
[5:08:35] just me I think it's
[5:08:36] it's backwards map and the math
[5:08:38] doesn't map up to me. I want to
[5:08:41] talk for a moment about this to
[5:08:43] stand Tech for a moment about
[5:08:45] just some some lack of
[5:08:49] transparency here I want some
[5:08:50] clarity on
[5:08:51] these erratically inflated
[5:08:53] bills have we resolve that
[5:08:54] problem because as we heard
[5:08:55] today, there's still some
[5:08:56] people were still having issues
[5:08:59] I have we where we stand with
[5:09:01] swapping out these old meters
[5:09:02] and replacing them. You know if
[5:09:03] Tyler still malfunctioning
[5:09:06] again maybe this isn't the
[5:09:09] right
[5:09:11] time for us to be having this
[5:09:12] conversation.
[5:09:12] Well expect councilmember I
[5:09:13] think that's probably a staff
[5:09:15] questions too. Sure thank you.
[5:09:18] Good evening Council, Tom green
[5:09:21] and councilmember forgive me,
[5:09:21] but you had a lot of questions
[5:09:22] in there so maybe I'll start
[5:09:25] with and kind of chip all a
[5:09:28] chip away at some of those.
[5:09:32] So absolutely we we have
[5:09:35] normalized
[5:09:37] over time. The
[5:09:37] number of bills they come.
[5:09:40] The we're hearing about that
[5:09:43] have been inflated.
[5:09:46] You might recall that or I
[5:09:47] should say on a monthly basis.
[5:09:51] We have bills that are 2 times
[5:09:53] maybe even 4 times.
[5:09:55] The previous 3 months average
[5:09:59] that happens every day we work
[5:10:00] through those with
[5:10:01] customers on a daily basis.
[5:10:03] But we are not seeing the same
[5:10:04] level of like right after the
[5:10:07] storms we had a big Spike it
[5:10:10] has normalized over time.
[5:10:13] Or are we going to and then yes
[5:10:16] about Tyler we're still in the
[5:10:18] process of implementing that
[5:10:21] software we anticipate or early
[5:10:23] 2027 for it to go live.
[5:10:26] >> So you're saying these these
[5:10:27] peak bills have
[5:10:30] normalized it sounds again like
[5:10:31] they're they're made still be
[5:10:31] some folks who are kind of
[5:10:32] stuck in and this revolving
[5:10:35] door in and I'm just wondering
[5:10:37] again.
[5:10:39] You know is this a situation
[5:10:40] that we really have address
[5:10:41] these over bills seem to still
[5:10:44] be a kind we're talking 2 years
[5:10:46] post storm.
[5:10:47] >> So it is it is challenging
[5:10:47] to answer that question
[5:10:49] directly because there's so
[5:10:50] many different variables with
[5:10:52] each individual customer's
[5:10:53] bill. You know there could be a
[5:10:57] leak there could be a leak on
[5:10:57] the on the private property
[5:10:58] side there could be a leak on
[5:11:00] the city side. So they each of
[5:11:00] them have to be treated
[5:11:03] individually and addressed
[5:11:04] individually it's hard
[5:11:05] to make a blanket statement
[5:11:05] about.
[5:11:09] Any specific bill or nothing
[5:11:09] and I get it it's an individual
[5:11:10] triage matter and it's just I
[5:11:13] don't think it's fair to keep
[5:11:14] using the
[5:11:15] excuse that it's a leak you
[5:11:15] know, I'm not saying it's a
[5:11:18] city but whoever is is saying
[5:11:19] that is the
[5:11:20] issue it's not always the fact
[5:11:21] so I just again I want to make
[5:11:24] sure that we're exerting our
[5:11:24] efforts on trying
[5:11:25] to come to a solution on to the
[5:11:28] problem and I just don't
[5:11:31] believe right now raising rates
[5:11:32] is that solution. There are
[5:11:33] some bigger issues we've got
[5:11:36] bigger fish to fry and I really
[5:11:36] feel like we've got
[5:11:39] to get down to the bottom of it
[5:11:40] can we talk a little bit the
[5:11:44] utility rate increase versus
[5:11:45] the Geo bond.
[5:11:46] Amendment to the deal bond
[5:11:47] initiative that is on the
[5:11:49] ballot as well as the amendment
[5:11:50] those are like 3 different
[5:11:50] issues, but they all impact
[5:11:53] each other can we hit on that
[5:11:55] briefly.
[5:11:58] Absolute difference between the
[5:12:01] 2 I think is
[5:12:02] important it's important to
[5:12:03] mimic to mention that.
[5:12:03] And just today are in Iran are
[5:12:06] intertwined but 3 separate
[5:12:07] issues. You know the the
[5:12:08] rates were discussing this
[5:12:11] evening are for kind of ongoing
[5:12:14] operating of the utilities and
[5:12:17] to support our ongoing capital
[5:12:17] needs. So that's kind of the
[5:12:19] discussion this evening.
[5:12:20] What we're asking the voters to
[5:12:23] address in NOVEMBER would be do
[5:12:25] we want to.
[5:12:26] Accelerate some of those water
[5:12:29] and storm water improvements
[5:12:29] that we know we need to do from
[5:12:30] their master planning. Do we
[5:12:32] want to accelerate those
[5:12:35] through a different revenue
[5:12:38] source. In the form of an ad
[5:12:40] valorem tax. So there
[5:12:40] are those who are kind of
[5:12:43] separate and then are in a car
[5:12:44] connected but separate
[5:12:45] discussions and separate
[5:12:48] decisions that voters will make
[5:12:49] one decision and Council
[5:12:52] make the decision on on the
[5:12:55] rates and then the 3rd part was
[5:12:56] what the homestead exemption
[5:12:57] discussion and decision you
[5:12:58] know that is clearly going to
[5:13:01] be up to the voters in Florida
[5:13:02] weather
[5:13:03] are not that passes. But that
[5:13:04] really doesn't impact the
[5:13:06] discussion today with respect
[5:13:10] to the utility and the Giovanni
[5:13:11] appreciate that clarity thank
[5:13:12] you Tom.
[5:13:13] And then my last point here
[5:13:17] again I I really feel like what
[5:13:17] we should be doing is
[5:13:19] redesigning how we collect
[5:13:21] revenue for for these bills I
[5:13:24] think right now it doesn't
[5:13:27] really encourage conservation
[5:13:29] and I think that's what we
[5:13:32] should be doing educating.
[5:13:33] Folks and motivating them
[5:13:35] to conserve their water and
[5:13:36] lets incentivize it for those
[5:13:39] who do by lowering their rates
[5:13:42] and those who wastewater raise
[5:13:43] their rates. It's possible it's
[5:13:43] called penalty rates and I
[5:13:44] definitely think that that is
[5:13:47] something that we should
[5:13:48] explore
[5:13:48] also think we should consider
[5:13:50] lifeline rates for those
[5:13:53] residents who are
[5:13:55] income-qualified there
[5:13:56] is opportunities for them to
[5:13:57] have Sir.
[5:13:59] I again I just think again this
[5:14:02] conversation today about a 67%
[5:14:03] increase. It's just not the
[5:14:04] right time when struck when
[5:14:06] folks are already struggling
[5:14:10] and hurting. Thank you chair.
[5:14:11] Thank you.
[5:14:11] So personally I think everyone
[5:14:12] that's here it's almost 7
[5:14:13] o'clock at night so obviously
[5:14:15] you here because you care about
[5:14:16] your city you care about what
[5:14:17] you're paying your racing care
[5:14:18] enough to actually show up so
[5:14:22] that doesn't go unnoticed and
[5:14:23] it's important.
[5:14:26] Also want to thank everyone
[5:14:27] here that you see in the
[5:14:28] room that has talked about
[5:14:31] this. When we're in other is an
[5:14:32] expert in their field and
[5:14:33] so they do spend a lot of time
[5:14:36] going through doing the work
[5:14:36] trying
[5:14:37] to give us the information and
[5:14:39] so we can make decisions based
[5:14:40] on the information that they
[5:14:43] provide us whether it's the
[5:14:43] engineers that are working and
[5:14:44] a different storm water
[5:14:45] projects or portable water
[5:14:46] projects or whatever other
[5:14:49] projects throughout the city
[5:14:52] that residents.
[5:14:55] Because they do. Versus you
[5:14:56] know all the other needs that
[5:14:57] we have in this city so I just
[5:14:58] want to make sure that I thank
[5:15:01] you all because I know that it
[5:15:03] is tough work.
[5:15:03] And frankly, it's it's
[5:15:06] sometimes the work that you do
[5:15:08] get think for because it is
[5:15:09] you know when people have
[5:15:10] flooding in their neighborhood
[5:15:13] guess what they're never happy
[5:15:14] and your screening.
[5:15:16] But these folks here whether
[5:15:17] it's the flooding in the
[5:15:18] neighborhood whether it's the
[5:15:21] storm water drain that's clog
[5:15:23] whether it's the pothole
[5:15:26] weather whatever it is. The one
[5:15:27] expectation is
[5:15:29] you just have to get it fixed.
[5:15:30] And I will tell you I
[5:15:32] constantly and I'm not the only
[5:15:35] City Council person that's
[5:15:36] getting
[5:15:36] requests from citizens are for
[5:15:37] residents. But I am constantly
[5:15:38] getting emails about issues in
[5:15:42] the neighborhood that people
[5:15:45] expect us to fix. Period.
[5:15:47] The problem is it costs
[5:15:51] money. And sometimes those 2
[5:15:53] things just don't match up.
[5:15:55] I mean that's the reality we
[5:15:56] have for all I mean whether
[5:15:59] it's you're planning your son
[5:16:00] your your home budget
[5:16:01] or any other budget.
[5:16:02] The realities even the city as
[5:16:04] much as you see the big budget
[5:16:08] guess what the needs in our
[5:16:09] city are much bigger.
[5:16:12] Then our budget allows and so
[5:16:12] that is a challenge that we
[5:16:13] have to deal with all the time
[5:16:14] and yes you'll hear about
[5:16:16] government waste and all the
[5:16:19] things and finding people can
[5:16:22] disagree on what is necessary
[5:16:22] versus what is
[5:16:23] not necessary that's all fair
[5:16:24] game. But when we're talking
[5:16:27] about a utility system which is
[5:16:28] what our water system
[5:16:30] is a storm water and all that
[5:16:31] that's very different the money
[5:16:34] in those systems go towards
[5:16:37] those systems.
[5:16:38] Your water rates go to take
[5:16:38] care that your storm water
[5:16:39] rates go to take care that your
[5:16:42] sewage rates go to take care of
[5:16:43] that
[5:16:45] it it cost to operate the
[5:16:46] system what's the cost of that
[5:16:47] their capital improvement needs
[5:16:49] water cost of that and then you
[5:16:53] determine how you pay for it.
[5:16:54] That's pretty much
[5:16:55] in in the simplest way of
[5:16:55] putting it. You MAY find some
[5:16:57] money from federal grants
[5:17:00] somewhere here there but the
[5:17:01] reality is the majority
[5:17:02] of the money is coming you know
[5:17:03] from who not just from you from
[5:17:03] all of us from everybody that
[5:17:07] lives in the city because we
[5:17:09] all pay theme rates. So this
[5:17:12] challenge we have every year.
[5:17:15] The lack of investment and
[5:17:16] the system. Frankly we are
[5:17:19] absorbing some of it, but it
[5:17:22] won't just be us.
[5:17:26] It's people 5 years from now
[5:17:27] it's people 10 years from now
[5:17:29] 1520 2530 because these plans
[5:17:30] are not five-year plans, you're
[5:17:31] not one your plans. You're not
[5:17:34] absorbing the whole cost you're
[5:17:35] not.
[5:17:36] It will be impossible. It's a
[5:17:38] 30 year plan and we're not
[5:17:39] investing in the 30 year plan
[5:17:43] enough which means everybody in
[5:17:43] that system.
[5:17:44] When I'm long gone, we're still
[5:17:45] paying for it and guess what
[5:17:49] we're probably not going to be
[5:17:49] investing enough in it,
[5:17:50] that's just the reality.
[5:17:53] And that's what we have to deal
[5:17:54] with so it is
[5:17:58] nothing like some other council
[5:17:58] members have expressed.
[5:17:59] I don't like it. I don't like
[5:18:00] any of this I wish I could tell
[5:18:01] people I'm giving you my back
[5:18:04] here is your refund check.
[5:18:07] It be great.
[5:18:10] I I it would be a deal world
[5:18:11] were we wouldn't have to pay
[5:18:12] any taxes and we get all the
[5:18:12] services for free. Once this
[5:18:14] whatever happens on the ballot
[5:18:15] box at the state of Florida and
[5:18:17] people get rid of property
[5:18:18] taxes, how we'll see how that
[5:18:19] turns out and then we'll figure
[5:18:20] out ok do you get services do
[5:18:22] not get services how it turns
[5:18:26] out and we'll deal with it
[5:18:27] because that it will
[5:18:29] be a reality. But as we look at
[5:18:29] a budget and we look at how we
[5:18:31] use our real estate property
[5:18:32] taxes, the majority of that
[5:18:32] money goes to public service to
[5:18:36] talk to our to our police and
[5:18:39] fire.
[5:18:40] That's the reality
[5:18:42] of what we're looking at and so
[5:18:43] if people expect those services
[5:18:45] and you're cutting money from
[5:18:48] going into that that we have to
[5:18:49] take from somewhere else.
[5:18:49] And that is always the
[5:18:50] challenge where the money's
[5:18:53] coming from for those services.
[5:18:59] Service like utilities and all
[5:19:00] that
[5:19:01] you have that money and maybe.
[5:19:02] >> We can find another way of
[5:19:03] taking out moneys of not to get
[5:19:06] moneys and then they don't go
[5:19:06] into
[5:19:07] general fund and we'll have
[5:19:08] that conversation but that will
[5:19:08] affect something else if you
[5:19:11] don't have the payment in lieu.
[5:19:13] Pat says.
[5:19:14] It will affect some hail, which
[5:19:16] means money will go for
[5:19:18] something else and we'll have
[5:19:20] that conversation. But it's not
[5:19:21] like the money sitting there to
[5:19:22] pay for everything and there's
[5:19:26] always a given Kate that we're
[5:19:28] dealing with.
[5:19:29] You don't raise rates guess
[5:19:32] what happens deferred
[5:19:35] maintenance.
[5:19:35] It's paid for it MAY not
[5:19:39] be with dollars. But it MAY be
[5:19:43] with deferred maintenance in a
[5:19:44] bean. More flooding in an area
[5:19:44] in MAY being other things that
[5:19:46] are getting done. And so those
[5:19:48] are the tough decisions that we
[5:19:49] deal with. I don't live in
[5:19:51] shore acres that from my
[5:19:52] district. Neither is Riviera
[5:19:53] Bay. But I understand they have
[5:19:54] flooding there, but guess what
[5:19:56] I have flooding in my district.
[5:20:00] Higher ground.
[5:20:05] Why from rainfall in different
[5:20:05] areas and so their
[5:20:06] projects in the storm water
[5:20:08] plan that actually go to areas
[5:20:09] in the city that are not shore
[5:20:10] acres that are not Riviera Bay
[5:20:12] because I know you sometimes we
[5:20:15] hear that we think will assist
[5:20:16] in the area.
[5:20:16] That flooding and they bought
[5:20:17] in that area and why should we
[5:20:20] be paying for that I hear that
[5:20:24] from people in my district.
[5:20:24] And the reality is when
[5:20:25] you look at our storm water
[5:20:26] master plan. There's areas that
[5:20:27] flood throughout the city that
[5:20:30] we're trying to address its not
[5:20:34] one neighborhood here.
[5:20:34] The downtown water main we did
[5:20:38] a study of our Don count pipes
[5:20:38] that I reviewed.
[5:20:42] And you can all look up you can
[5:20:43] absolutely look up
[5:20:46] the plan for the downtown water
[5:20:47] mains and Clyde because
[5:20:48] I don't know the numbers off
[5:20:50] the top of my head. But from
[5:20:51] what I recall been downtown
[5:20:53] that this this serves
[5:20:54] hospitals. It serves some of
[5:20:56] our most critical facilities
[5:20:56] and you can find it and report
[5:20:59] if any of you would want to
[5:21:02] reach out to be all be happy to
[5:21:03] send you the report and
[5:21:04] this is just one part of our
[5:21:06] city. How in that plan that we
[5:21:07] have we put x amount of money
[5:21:11] into capital improvements and
[5:21:13] from what I recall were
[5:21:14] only covering about 20.
[5:21:15] Something and the actual need
[5:21:16] of the water. Pipes in downtown
[5:21:19] is that correct that's correct.
[5:21:22] Okay and so
[5:21:26] when you look at that map.
[5:21:29] Found to be critical.
[5:21:32] Not in the yellow
[5:21:35] in the red.
[5:21:39] And that is the reality
[5:21:41] that we have to deal with.
[5:21:42] And that is one part. And those
[5:21:44] are critical facilities that
[5:21:46] are served and we're not even
[5:21:50] Abel to pay all the cost of
[5:21:53] that.
[5:21:56] >> It would be great if I had
[5:21:57] an answer for
[5:22:00] everyone in terms of how we pay
[5:22:01] for this and if someone has a
[5:22:02] solution but at the end of the
[5:22:03] day. It's going to cost money
[5:22:06] one way or the other or things
[5:22:09] don't get done and then we're
[5:22:09] Blaine forcing which bill are
[5:22:12] worth waiting for the pipes or
[5:22:14] you not getting water that's
[5:22:15] safe. And that's the challenge
[5:22:18] that I have I wish I could say.
[5:22:27] We try to balance the needs and
[5:22:27] try to look at the rates and
[5:22:29] raise them enough to where we
[5:22:32] can get some of these projects
[5:22:34] done but not to the point where
[5:22:35] it's too much and that's what
[5:22:38] we're trying to do here if it's
[5:22:40] 8% were not
[5:22:41] we're always looking at how can
[5:22:42] we do it so you can get these
[5:22:43] projects helping you save money
[5:22:44] on these projects helping you
[5:22:47] make these projects more cost
[5:22:48] effective
[5:22:49] if you're digging a hole here
[5:22:50] and you have to fix this can be
[5:22:53] fixed for 3 things at the same
[5:22:54] time so that capital
[5:22:57] improvement project doesn't
[5:22:58] cost us more. That's what
[5:22:59] the engineers are doing
[5:23:00] constantly because we
[5:23:01] understand the challenge we
[5:23:04] feel it we hear it from you all
[5:23:05] we feel it ourselves
[5:23:08] and it's because everyone here
[5:23:11] that's sitting here cares about
[5:23:11] our city. We wouldn't be here
[5:23:12] if we didn't care about our
[5:23:13] city. We do not take money from
[5:23:13] people that we don't need to
[5:23:16] fix projects that we don't need
[5:23:19] that would be.
[5:23:19] But the challenge I have and I
[5:23:20] have these tough conversations
[5:23:23] that neighborhood associations.
[5:23:27] You want these
[5:23:28] projects that and how do we pay
[5:23:31] for them and how do we how do
[5:23:34] we do it responsibly as
[5:23:37] as boards and not why the
[5:23:38] people about the actual needs
[5:23:40] because we actually have actual
[5:23:41] needs. And
[5:23:42] I can pretend they don't exist.
[5:23:45] And it does scare me when I
[5:23:46] look at a report and I see so
[5:23:47] many pipes that are in critical
[5:23:50] need that are fixed that does
[5:23:53] scare me. It really does.
[5:23:56] I have to vote for some of
[5:23:57] these and I know it doesn't
[5:23:59] cover everything and I'm always
[5:24:00] happy to have a conversation
[5:24:03] with anyone of our
[5:24:04] infrastructure needs
[5:24:05] and what we're doing all we can
[5:24:06] it's very easy sometimes to say
[5:24:08] you know what we're going to
[5:24:09] get rid of x y and z and and
[5:24:11] people what people don't know
[5:24:12] is what the actual costs isn't
[5:24:16] it's not a dollars and cents a
[5:24:16] lot of times
[5:24:18] it's the for maintenance.
[5:24:19] It's not really knowing what
[5:24:22] the true cost is we don't even
[5:24:23] have a plan for seawalls yet
[5:24:24] and what that cost is going to
[5:24:26] be that's going to be in the
[5:24:29] building.
[5:24:30] That's not factored into to
[5:24:33] what we can pay. Those are our
[5:24:36] sea walls. A separate
[5:24:37] discussion
[5:24:38] about see what I can tell you
[5:24:39] if I would go through all the
[5:24:40] different things that we need
[5:24:41] in the city it would blow your
[5:24:44] mind. So are we doing
[5:24:48] everything, no we're not.
[5:24:49] But we're trying our
[5:24:50] best with what we can and
[5:24:51] trying to maintain rates to a
[5:24:53] point where we can do some of
[5:24:54] these projects, especially
[5:24:56] after the Hurricanes,
[5:24:56] especially after all the issues
[5:24:58] that happened after the storms
[5:25:02] we had pipe breaks throughout
[5:25:05] the city. After the storm.
[5:25:11] People without water.
[5:25:15] That's what you're talking
[5:25:16] about and if administration or
[5:25:17] someone else that's an expert
[5:25:19] if I've said anything that's
[5:25:22] incorrect please correct me
[5:25:26] please.
[5:25:27] I want to make sure what I am
[5:25:30] telling the public. It's true I
[5:25:30] would take offense to it, but I
[5:25:33] want to make sure I'm being
[5:25:37] accurate. What I'm saying.
[5:25:39] >> The biggest challenge we
[5:25:40] have is the age of our system.
[5:25:43] That is the biggest challenge
[5:25:45] we have right.
[5:25:48] We I feel that we've done a
[5:25:49] good job of getting as much
[5:25:49] life out of our system as we
[5:25:52] can we're talking about pipes
[5:25:54] that are a
[5:25:55] 100 years old 75 years old.
[5:25:56] I'm 61 years old and I'm
[5:25:59] feeling my age talking a magic
[5:26:02] want to 75 year-old pipe that's
[5:26:03] been buried underground in
[5:26:05] corrosive conditions might feel
[5:26:06] like. And so we have to really
[5:26:09] get to the point where we are
[5:26:09] replacing these are going to
[5:26:13] see a lot more failures more
[5:26:15] often moving into the future.
[5:26:18] >> That's this worthwhile.
[5:26:21] And I love the fact
[5:26:22] that everyone
[5:26:22] right now wants to look in our
[5:26:25] utility and figure it out.
[5:26:26] I think that's great
[5:26:29] because I think the more people
[5:26:29] know the poor the more people
[5:26:30] understand the needs of our
[5:26:31] system and what we're paying
[5:26:31] for and what we can and we
[5:26:34] can't do I think it's
[5:26:37] absolutely better.
[5:26:40] I love the conversations
[5:26:42] of having. Ok how do we do this
[5:26:44] how do we fix this what do you
[5:26:45] what do you expect in service
[5:26:48] when it's a level of service
[5:26:49] you expect.
[5:26:50] And what are the needs in our
[5:26:50] city.
[5:26:51] And those are great
[5:26:53] conversations and citizens
[5:26:53] should be engaged. Citizens
[5:26:56] should be engaged if they bring
[5:26:57] out if we get rid
[5:26:58] of the property taxes what's
[5:26:59] going to happen. I think that's
[5:26:59] great don't keep what don't
[5:27:03] take my word for it don't take
[5:27:03] other politicians word for it
[5:27:04] do the research do the research
[5:27:05] and figure it out because I do
[5:27:07] think it's important and these
[5:27:10] are absolutely critical issues.
[5:27:10] But with that being said
[5:27:14] I just don't find based on the
[5:27:15] information I
[5:27:16] have that we can right now cut
[5:27:18] rates the rate we've tried to
[5:27:21] work as much as we can we've
[5:27:22] increased the water fee.
[5:27:23] Any new development in terms of
[5:27:24] what the impact is in their
[5:27:25] system we do what we legally
[5:27:26] can because they are legal
[5:27:29] restrictions into how much we
[5:27:29] can charge for you
[5:27:32] for new additions into a system
[5:27:35] and we try to do that and we're
[5:27:37] trying to find ways to minimize
[5:27:38] the cost. And so if anyone here
[5:27:39] in this room, I don't care if
[5:27:42] you're my district or not wants
[5:27:44] to have those conversations.
[5:27:45] Called my my legislative aide
[5:27:46] and we can sit down and we can
[5:27:49] talk about all the things I
[5:27:52] welcome you to.
[5:27:53] And I will make sure that
[5:27:55] anyone that we have we have
[5:27:55] someone from our water
[5:27:58] Department or someone to be
[5:27:59] there to
[5:28:00] answer anything to make sure
[5:28:01] that you get the information
[5:28:03] that you need and if there are
[5:28:04] questions that you have asked
[5:28:05] here today that are not
[5:28:06] answered. We can have those
[5:28:09] conversations and I'll be happy
[5:28:12] to do that.
[5:28:14] So with that being said
[5:28:16] approval j to l a. We have a
[5:28:17] motion and the second clerk if
[5:28:18] you can open the machine for
[5:28:20] voting. Council members please
[5:28:23] enter your votes.
[5:28:27] You got j to a.
[5:28:39] >> MADAM Chair, the motion to
[5:28:40] approve agenda item j to a
[5:28:43] passes 62 with councilmembers
[5:28:44] fix. Sanders Floyd
[5:28:47] gabbard Curtis Hanna which at
[5:28:50] Harding voting. Yes.
[5:28:51] Council members to school in
[5:28:52] Givens voting no.
[5:28:53] Okay move approval j to be.
[5:28:53] I can have a motion a second a
[5:28:56] j to be clerk if you can open
[5:28:57] the machine for voting.
[5:28:58] Council members please enter
[5:29:01] your votes. Seeing present
[5:29:04] council members a vote a
[5:29:07] clerk please tally announce the
[5:29:07] vote.
[5:29:08] MADAM Chair, the motion to
[5:29:09] approve agenda item j to be
[5:29:11] passes 62 with councilmembers
[5:29:11] fix. Sanders Floyd
[5:29:12] gabbard Curtis Hannah what's
[5:29:12] and hearty voting, yes, and
[5:29:15] council members just school in
[5:29:18] Givens voting no.
[5:29:20] >> Move approval j to see.
[5:29:21] We have a motion a second on g
[5:29:24] to seek work if you can open
[5:29:25] machine for voting.
[5:29:28] Council members please and your
[5:29:29] votes seeing present
[5:29:30] council members voted clerk
[5:29:31] please Kelly announce the vote.
[5:29:33] MADAM Chair, the motion to
[5:29:34] approve agenda item
[5:29:38] j to see passes 5 to 3 with
[5:29:39] councilmembers fix Sanders
[5:29:40] gabbard Curtis Hannah with some
[5:29:40] Harding voting. Yes and
[5:29:43] councilmembers Driscoll Floyd
[5:29:46] in Givens voting no.
[5:29:51] >> ok thank you thank you
[5:29:53] everyone for being here on this
[5:29:53] item we actually have got into
[5:29:56] 7 o'clock. We'll gonna have to
[5:29:57] take a 10 minute recess.
[5:29:58] But I really appreciate
[5:29:59] everyone that's here today and
[5:30:02] for now at this point we'll
[5:30:05] take a recess. Thank you.
[5:31:18] >> Staff.
[5:31:21] It.
[5:38:16] >> One.
[5:41:52] >> And
[5:41:53] back in session. We're going to
[5:41:56] take up day 3 which has to do
[5:41:57] with the
[5:41:58] arts funding development bonus.
[5:42:00] Council member driskell this
[5:42:04] was your item originally
[5:42:05] so if you want to start us off
[5:42:05] on it.
[5:42:06] Thank you. And thanks to
[5:42:08] everyone who from city staff
[5:42:11] worked on it from dairy to you.
[5:42:12] Heather judge to Swiss Davis
[5:42:13] everyone who has been involved
[5:42:16] with making this happen is you
[5:42:20] just greatly appreciated,
[5:42:22] this is something that
[5:42:22] you know was brought to me
[5:42:25] originally as it has an idea
[5:42:26] for the
[5:42:26] warehouse arts district folks,
[5:42:30] n they have an idea to create
[5:42:32] this fund and then
[5:42:33] some folks from the arts
[5:42:34] alliance came forward in
[5:42:37] presented me with an option for
[5:42:40] funding mechanism. N we started
[5:42:41] putting everything together and
[5:42:42] now here we are today. So there
[5:42:45] were a lot of people involved
[5:42:48] in this.
[5:42:50] I do hope that today is
[5:42:53] not the end but just simply the
[5:42:57] first big step towards
[5:42:59] creating a new opportunity for
[5:42:59] local artists. After today if
[5:43:02] this should pass today. Then
[5:43:05] the next step would be to have
[5:43:06] that actual grant program
[5:43:07] established and start getting
[5:43:11] the money out to the artists as
[5:43:12] it comes in so.
[5:43:15] I just really appreciate all of
[5:43:16] the attention that has been
[5:43:19] given to this and I'm looking
[5:43:22] forward to seeing where we go
[5:43:24] from here with that.
[5:43:26] Derek I left free to introduce
[5:43:26] them MADAM Chair. He has read
[5:43:29] the title yet. Thank you, I'm
[5:43:32] sorry.
[5:43:37] Pause or DECEMBER 6.43 dash
[5:43:37] age.
[5:43:38] And on some ending the St.
[5:43:41] Petersburg city code section,
[5:43:45] 20016.1 to 6.2
[5:43:48] 20016.1 3 0.5
[5:43:51] 0.2 and
[5:43:54] 20016.1 5 5.2 regulating
[5:43:55] Fort bliss is by
[5:43:56] replacing the far Bo this
[5:43:59] table. It thereby adding in
[5:43:59] arts
[5:44:03] funding development bonus and
[5:44:03] in the Senate
[5:44:05] heading for each exist existing
[5:44:09] bonus and we are organizing the
[5:44:11] table in alphabetical order
[5:44:14] amending section 16.30 0, 6 3.1
[5:44:17] point
[5:44:20] deep 0.1 and 30016.0 5 5.1
[5:44:22] regulating for bonuses. I and
[5:44:23] ii and arts funding development
[5:44:26] bonus, providing for
[5:44:29] severability in Peru.
[5:44:39] >> Paul Carter please go to
[5:44:40] either podium and open podium
[5:44:42] state your name address across
[5:44:43] Street for the record you
[5:44:44] have 3 minutes to address City
[5:44:44] Council.
[5:44:47] Thank you Paula Carter live it
[5:44:49] 3, 4,
[5:44:49] one 5th Street South in
[5:44:52] downtown Saint Pete.
[5:44:56] And I guess I'm the public
[5:44:56] I'm here to support
[5:44:57] the arts density bonus
[5:45:00] proposal.
[5:45:03] Probably not a surprise too.
[5:45:06] Many of you. You know the Holy
[5:45:06] Grail for
[5:45:08] the Arts community in Saint
[5:45:10] Pete has been to find a
[5:45:12] sustainable funding source to
[5:45:14] support the arts. And I think
[5:45:17] with this initiative we're
[5:45:21] taking in
[5:45:21] I hope you take a giant step
[5:45:25] forward towards accomplishing
[5:45:26] that 2 other
[5:45:29] quick Number one I hope that as
[5:45:32] the implementation plans
[5:45:34] develop that the arts advisory
[5:45:35] committee and the Saint Pete
[5:45:38] arts alliance. Our active and
[5:45:42] substantial member years
[5:45:42] of whatever group
[5:45:45] is a determined to administer.
[5:45:47] What I hope the
[5:45:50] substantial grants over the
[5:45:52] years and then the 3rd point.
[5:45:55] This is I've been involved with
[5:45:59] this for
[5:45:59] pretty close to the beginning
[5:46:00] and as council member driskell
[5:46:02] said there's been a ton of
[5:46:04] folks here but I want to
[5:46:05] particularly point to the
[5:46:08] council and the staff and Derek
[5:46:12] and his group. This was not an
[5:46:15] easy thing to figure out
[5:46:18] and the persistence
[5:46:19] and the I guess I'm
[5:46:23] sure late hours going into
[5:46:23] this.
[5:46:26] The final result, and this
[5:46:28] conclusion. As a resident and
[5:46:32] as a taxpayer. I really do
[5:46:33] appreciate the work that you
[5:46:34] guys and the staff did on this.
[5:46:36] It will ultimately be of great
[5:46:37] benefit to the tenor community
[5:46:40] certainly to the arts
[5:46:41] community.
[5:46:44] And I hope I don't have to urge
[5:46:46] you to vote, yes, I hope that
[5:46:47] happens. But I will urge you in
[5:46:50] any of that too vote yes on
[5:46:53] this. Thank you. Thank you.
[5:47:00] Good evening. Thank you.
[5:47:01] I heard in the introduction in
[5:47:02] reference to the arts alliance
[5:47:05] and know that they had a
[5:47:09] representative here earlier.
[5:47:10] That I don't see in the room
[5:47:11] now what I do want to do is
[5:47:13] just maybe walk through quickly
[5:47:13] instead of getting the full
[5:47:15] presentation just highlight
[5:47:19] some of the things that have
[5:47:20] changed in response to what
[5:47:21] we heard before. So just going
[5:47:22] back on the calendar you can
[5:47:23] see here these were the earlier
[5:47:26] meetings where we walk through
[5:47:27] some of the different
[5:47:29] issues related to this
[5:47:32] proposal. Specifically these
[5:47:36] were the areas that we needed
[5:47:36] to work through with
[5:47:37] the council and the committee.
[5:47:39] One of the things that we spent
[5:47:41] a lot of time on with the help
[5:47:44] of the City Attorney's Office
[5:47:45] identifying and Nexis to the
[5:47:48] land development impact that
[5:47:48] was a critical
[5:47:51] threshold for us to get
[5:47:52] through. And then us working
[5:47:54] specifically from our position
[5:47:55] on any proposed land
[5:47:58] development regulations which
[5:48:01] is the bonus itself.
[5:48:03] In a this
[5:48:03] particular official process.
[5:48:04] The one thing that happens with
[5:48:07] every text amendment is it goes
[5:48:08] to the city's development
[5:48:09] review Commission. They have to
[5:48:12] make a finding of consistency
[5:48:13] with the city's comprehensive
[5:48:15] plan and then recommend to the
[5:48:18] City Council which with which
[5:48:21] they did.
[5:48:22] In JULY with a
[5:48:25] unanimous 7, 0, vote. Now the
[5:48:26] last time that we presented
[5:48:29] this in committee. One of the
[5:48:30] things that came
[5:48:33] up was a request for us to
[5:48:34] consider. Other areas not
[5:48:36] downtown center. So when we
[5:48:38] prepared the application to
[5:48:40] bring to the development review
[5:48:43] Commission. We added in in
[5:48:45] addition to the downtown
[5:48:48] center. The employment center
[5:48:49] to category which is one of
[5:48:50] the categories where we have a
[5:48:53] bonus system. This is
[5:48:54] essentially the hospital
[5:48:57] college campus south of
[5:48:59] downtown. Also rc 3
[5:49:01] which is carillon town center.
[5:49:03] There is a bonus system there
[5:49:04] and adding the arts funding
[5:49:07] bonus also worked in that
[5:49:10] table. And
[5:49:11] then in addition to these 2.
[5:49:12] What's not included in the
[5:49:14] presentation but is included in
[5:49:18] the ordinance itself is adding
[5:49:21] the same bonus to the
[5:49:21] sunrun or
[5:49:23] brt overlay which recently
[5:49:26] adopted and also the 22th
[5:49:28] Street target employment center
[5:49:31] local overlay which is very
[5:49:32] obviously arts oriented
[5:49:33] along with employment and
[5:49:36] industrial. So we can pull the
[5:49:39] slide back up if you need to
[5:49:40] see the language. But otherwise
[5:49:41] staff of course is recommending
[5:49:44] approval of this proposed text
[5:49:45] amendment along with the drc
[5:49:46] finding of consistency with the
[5:49:49] comp plan make you feel like I
[5:49:51] can we have a motion a
[5:49:52] second council member driskell.
[5:49:55] >> Thanks just before we vote.
[5:49:58] I was one of maybe robbed this
[5:49:59] is. I would be more for you and
[5:49:59] the ticket and up update for us
[5:50:02] on the actual grant program I
[5:50:05] know that.
[5:50:08] You know Celeste office that's
[5:50:11] like in
[5:50:15] their hands. So I was when and
[5:50:16] where we're at with that.
[5:50:16] It's less is here to see she is
[5:50:19] hi sorry can see over there.
[5:50:19] The plan is to reach
[5:50:22] out and to meet with. Those in
[5:50:23] the arts community that were
[5:50:24] impacted by the nexus to figure
[5:50:26] out what would be the best
[5:50:29] outcome should Council approve.
[5:50:33] So it is it does have to have
[5:50:34] that connection
[5:50:35] and I wanted to reach out to
[5:50:37] Saint Pete arts alliance, which
[5:50:38] I've done already Leslie
[5:50:42] current who was very impactful
[5:50:43] on the history and research
[5:50:46] and the art advisory committee.
[5:50:47] Excellent thank you.
[5:50:51] And hopefully you can provide
[5:50:54] an update.
[5:50:54] Down the road just a
[5:50:55] little bit as you're putting
[5:50:56] this together in the economic
[5:50:59] and workforce development
[5:51:00] committee.
[5:51:01] >> And you know, I'm eating so
[5:51:02] I'll be in touch to see when
[5:51:05] you think that might be a good
[5:51:08] idea to put that on the agenda.
[5:51:09] >> We'll do I just wanted to
[5:51:10] get the impact from our
[5:51:12] information from those entities
[5:51:13] that are
[5:51:14] really directly impact to yes
[5:51:16] all right, thank you so much
[5:51:19] all right, thank you
[5:51:20] chair, thank you councilmember
[5:51:20] Givens.
[5:51:21] Thank you very much I
[5:51:21] appreciate you COUNCILMAN
[5:51:22] Driscoll for bringing this
[5:51:23] forward I really think this
[5:51:26] kind of lays the groundwork for
[5:51:29] future bonuses that could come
[5:51:32] whether it be
[5:51:32] for educators first responders
[5:51:33] you name it health care
[5:51:34] workers. So thank you for that
[5:51:34] and just since one sunshine
[5:51:36] want to let you and other
[5:51:37] council members know this is
[5:51:40] such a timely come percent
[5:51:41] conversation how apropos
[5:51:42] because next week on Sept.
[5:51:45] Second I'll be having a
[5:51:46] conversation with some
[5:51:47] of the artists and gallery
[5:51:50] owners and studios specifically
[5:51:51] around this topic so I'm so
[5:51:54] happy to see this come forward
[5:51:55] and I'm sure hope it passes
[5:51:56] because I think it's a timely
[5:51:58] matter in a timely conversation
[5:52:01] so thank you so
[5:52:01] much, thank you, thank you
[5:52:02] chair.
[5:52:02] Thank you. Thank you
[5:52:05] councilmember dressel great job
[5:52:07] on I will say I'm part of
[5:52:08] the arts advisory committee
[5:52:09] right now I know that that
[5:52:12] committee is interested to
[5:52:13] learn more
[5:52:14] about this and Paul sirs with
[5:52:17] me site hope that at some point
[5:52:19] maybe Derek you
[5:52:19] can come to the committee and
[5:52:20] kind of share this and then I
[5:52:23] know so lets will keep us
[5:52:24] updated on and see how
[5:52:25] kind of you develop the fund
[5:52:25] and all that because I think
[5:52:26] you're part of that is still
[5:52:27] haven't been figured out and
[5:52:28] how that's going to be
[5:52:31] administered.
[5:52:34] We have a motion a second clerk
[5:52:35] if you can
[5:52:36] open the machine for voting
[5:52:37] council members please enter
[5:52:39] your votes seeing that a prison
[5:52:41] council members
[5:52:42] voted clerk please Tele
[5:52:42] announce the vote.
[5:52:43] And chair of the motion to
[5:52:45] approve agenda item j 3 passes
[5:52:49] unanimously. Okay great.
[5:52:49] Thank you.
[5:52:50] >> Next up we have Jay for.
[5:52:50] He could quickly can read the
[5:52:53] ordinance proposed or is number
[5:52:55] 6.36 dash h
[5:52:57] once of the city of St.
[5:52:58] Petersburg Florida and many of
[5:53:01] its comprehensive plan. In
[5:53:03] chapter 3 future
[5:53:06] future land use element issue
[5:53:07] nach natural
[5:53:09] resources and objective.
[5:53:10] All you 6 and policy value, 6.1
[5:53:13] to remove Marina development
[5:53:16] restrictions in the North the
[5:53:17] North yacht
[5:53:18] Basin providing for
[5:53:19] severability and providing for
[5:53:21] an effective date and we do not
[5:53:22] have any cards and the frugal
[5:53:24] back in the motion a second her
[5:53:25] mother Heather, I believe you
[5:53:27] actually want to say something
[5:53:30] first yes just for clarity sake
[5:53:34] if we could end section one
[5:53:37] the injury introductory.
[5:53:38] >> Sanctions to read chapter 3
[5:53:42] future land use element of the
[5:53:42] comprehensive plan is hereby
[5:53:44] amended to remove the following
[5:53:47] issues objectives and policies.
[5:53:50] I would appreciate it. We have
[5:53:53] an amended motion.
[5:54:00] And the second as amended.
[5:54:00] For
[5:54:03] clerk, if you can open the
[5:54:04] machine for voting.
[5:54:05] Council members please enter
[5:54:07] your votes seeing that all
[5:54:09] present
[5:54:10] council members to click police
[5:54:10] telling enough to vote.
[5:54:11] MADAM Chair, the motion to
[5:54:12] approve agenda item j 4 as
[5:54:13] amended passes unanimously.
[5:54:17] Thank you.
[5:54:22] >> We have j 5 this is
[5:54:24] quasi-judicial so
[5:54:26] I am going to be reading from a
[5:54:27] script. Ok so let me do my my
[5:54:28] talking points as I'm supposed
[5:54:30] to so I don't get in trouble
[5:54:31] will now move on to item j 5
[5:54:34] which contains 2 ordinances
[5:54:35] amending the
[5:54:37] zoning and future land use map
[5:54:41] for 3.8 9 acre parcel located
[5:54:41] at 40 50th Avenue South this
[5:54:43] item is quasi-judicial anyone
[5:54:45] wishing to speak on this item
[5:54:46] must fill out a yellow card and
[5:54:49] provided to the city clerk.
[5:54:49] And all speakers must be sworn
[5:54:51] in before presenting testimony.
[5:54:52] The procedure trick was a
[5:54:54] judicial proceedings can be
[5:54:55] found on the yellow sheet
[5:54:56] attached to the printed agendas
[5:54:57] or if you Inc digital leap
[5:55:00] ages, 13 14 of the council
[5:55:01] agenda.
[5:55:02] Clerk please swear in all
[5:55:05] parties and speakers, including
[5:55:08] city staff.
[5:55:16] Work if you can read the
[5:55:19] ordinance titles both of them
[5:55:22] please.
[5:55:22] It's in.
[5:55:26] The proposed ordinance number
[5:55:26] 7.65 dash pow
[5:55:27] an ordinance amending the
[5:55:29] future land use map. The
[5:55:30] comprehensive plan for the city
[5:55:31] of St. Petersburg Florida by
[5:55:33] changing the future land use
[5:55:36] that designation free
[5:55:37] 3.8.
[5:55:41] Acre parcel located at 3, 0, 1,
[5:55:44] 0, 58th Avenue South
[5:55:46] from residential urban. Are
[5:55:48] you to residential medium r m
[5:55:49] providing for repeal of
[5:55:49] conflicting ordinances and
[5:55:50] provisions thereof and
[5:55:52] providing for an effective
[5:55:55] date.
[5:55:57] The post or Dec.
[5:55:59] 800 dash zz and orange amending
[5:56:00] the official zoning map of the
[5:56:03] city of St. Petersburg Florida.
[5:56:06] I change in the zoning of a 3.8
[5:56:09] 9 acre parcel located at 3, 0,
[5:56:13] 1, 0, 58th Avenue South
[5:56:14] neighborhood suburban
[5:56:16] dash one in is dash one.
[5:56:19] 2 neighborhood super suburban
[5:56:21] multifamily dash one n s and s
[5:56:23] one providing for repeal of
[5:56:23] conflicting ordinances
[5:56:24] provisions thereof and
[5:56:27] providing for an effective date
[5:56:28] we did not have any cards.
[5:56:29] Thank you we'll now move on to
[5:56:30] presentations each party will
[5:56:30] have 10 minutes for their
[5:56:33] presentation and we will begin
[5:56:36] with the city staff's
[5:56:36] presentation.
[5:56:37] Good evening, MADAM Chair
[5:56:38] fellow councilmembers Britain
[5:56:39] Wilson city planner presenting
[5:56:41] an amendment to the future land
[5:56:44] use map with a concurrent
[5:56:45] rezoning initiated by the
[5:56:48] property owners of maximum
[5:56:49] apartments, which sits on a
[5:56:51] 3.8 9 acre site and the purpose
[5:56:53] of the proposed amendments is
[5:56:54] to bring the existing
[5:56:55] development into conformance
[5:56:56] with the assigned land use and
[5:56:59] zoning designations as they're
[5:57:02] currently nonconforming.
[5:57:03] Maximum apartments is a 20 unit
[5:57:06] single Storey development built
[5:57:09] out at 5 units per acre
[5:57:11] that was constructed in 1985
[5:57:14] and sits on the southeast
[5:57:15] corner of
[5:57:16] 58th Avenue South and 31th
[5:57:17] Street South. And the
[5:57:20] surrounding uses and starting
[5:57:21] at the top right is the Arbor
[5:57:24] Grove condos which is built out
[5:57:25] at about 9.8 units per acre.
[5:57:26] There is a carve out on the
[5:57:29] north side of maxim apartments
[5:57:32] which sits a single-family
[5:57:33] home. Directly South and east
[5:57:34] or single-family homes and to
[5:57:35] the West across from 34th
[5:57:38] Street South this church
[5:57:38] property and then more
[5:57:42] apartments followed by a
[5:57:45] medical facility.
[5:57:46] This is a future land use map
[5:57:49] showing the subject site is
[5:57:50] designated
[5:57:52] residential urban or are you
[5:57:53] where residential medium or is
[5:57:54] being proposed to be consistent
[5:57:57] with the property to the north
[5:57:59] and Northwest.
[5:58:02] This is the land use map again
[5:58:03] but with the
[5:58:04] coastal high hazard area.
[5:58:05] Rca jj boundary. Shannon Hatch
[5:58:08] that is completely covering the
[5:58:11] subject site.
[5:58:12] This is a zoning map showing
[5:58:14] the subject site is designated
[5:58:17] neighborhoods suburban one ns
[5:58:18] one.
[5:58:19] Which is a single-family
[5:58:21] district where the proposed
[5:58:22] change is to neighborhood
[5:58:24] suburban multifamily or someone
[5:58:27] so as to be in conformance with
[5:58:28] the existing apartments and
[5:58:29] with the zoning. Also Matt and
[5:58:33] be consistent with the property
[5:58:35] to the north and Northwest.
[5:58:37] This slide addresses the change
[5:58:38] and development potential that
[5:58:40] would result from the map
[5:58:41] amendments and the Associated
[5:58:42] restrictive covenant that has
[5:58:43] been proffered due to the
[5:58:45] site's location and the c a t
[5:58:48] j.
[5:58:51] The existing density under the
[5:58:51] ru land use
[5:58:53] is 7 and a half drawing units
[5:58:56] per acre. The propose are in
[5:58:57] land use would allow for 15
[5:58:58] dwelling units per acre.
[5:58:59] But the restrictive covenant
[5:59:00] will lock in the existing
[5:59:03] density of 7 and a half to all
[5:59:06] units per acre.
[5:59:08] So the permitted use unit
[5:59:08] density does not change find
[5:59:09] allowed building form of the
[5:59:10] units changes from
[5:59:13] single-family to multi-family.
[5:59:15] And this
[5:59:16] slide demonstrates that
[5:59:20] currently has built the site
[5:59:20] has 20 existing
[5:59:22] units an additional 9 units
[5:59:23] could be constructed for a
[5:59:26] total of 29, throwing units on
[5:59:28] site.
[5:59:29] As noted in the staff report
[5:59:33] the proposed amendments are
[5:59:33] consistent with many
[5:59:34] policies of a comprehensive
[5:59:35] plan and to highlight these
[5:59:37] few. The proposal furthers
[5:59:39] these policies as it meets ach
[5:59:39] tha requirements of not
[5:59:41] increasing density or intensity
[5:59:42] through the restrictive
[5:59:45] covenant and the proposed
[5:59:46] amendments are consistent with
[5:59:48] the existing site development
[5:59:49] and the surrounding area that
[5:59:49] has multifamily to the north
[5:59:52] and is located on a major
[5:59:54] roadway.
[5:59:56] And with that staff recommends
[5:59:57] a finding of consistency with
[5:59:58] the comprehensive plan and
[6:00:00] approval of the proposed land
[6:00:01] use amendment rezoning with
[6:00:04] restrictive covenant as it
[6:00:05] meets the sea a jj
[6:00:06] policies and is consistent with
[6:00:07] the surrounding neighborhood.
[6:00:07] That concludes my presentation
[6:00:10] an applicant has representation
[6:00:12] as well.
[6:00:13] Thank you. After that you have
[6:00:17] your presentation. Good evening
[6:00:20] good evening.
[6:00:20] But rescue.
[6:00:21] 3.60 Central Avenue s p 500
[6:00:22] have been sworn for the
[6:00:24] applicant. Make it real quick.
[6:00:27] Did a great job and stuff
[6:00:28] reports I think we already have
[6:00:31] enough in the record to
[6:00:33] support. Approval.
[6:00:34] But just to tell kind of the a
[6:00:37] little bit more detail. The
[6:00:38] story. They came to me
[6:00:41] because they every time they go
[6:00:42] to reinvest this property to to
[6:00:43] get some financing. The
[6:00:44] nonconforming use flags it gets
[6:00:47] flagged so when it's going
[6:00:49] through underwriting it affects
[6:00:52] its core. So we're actually
[6:00:54] here in
[6:00:54] in DECEMBER.
[6:00:55] Last year to vacate that little
[6:00:57] vestige of a right away so that
[6:00:59] was kind of the first step in
[6:01:01] all this and this is the
[6:01:02] rezoning following it that's
[6:01:03] that little vested right where
[6:01:06] that we. The kid Dec., 20, 25.
[6:01:10] This is a survey of the
[6:01:13] property shown the 20 units.
[6:01:15] This is the 95 plat the condo
[6:01:17] place you can see the East side
[6:01:20] of the property. They never
[6:01:21] finished it. There were 7 units
[6:01:22] that were in the condo
[6:01:23] declaration presumably site
[6:01:26] plan and just never
[6:01:27] constructed.
[6:01:28] This exist this rezoning to
[6:01:32] open up the allowable use will
[6:01:33] allow them
[6:01:33] to add 9 units to this property
[6:01:35] either they could build out the
[6:01:38] way it was they could redevelop
[6:01:39] it. But the wind. The main
[6:01:41] thing here was just to clean up
[6:01:44] the nonconforming use and we
[6:01:45] are
[6:01:46] because it's in the c a t j we
[6:01:47] are including a development
[6:01:48] agreement with the restriction
[6:01:51] on density intensity so that
[6:01:54] doesn't change. And you've
[6:01:55] already seen these maps.
[6:01:59] And the traffic consideration
[6:02:00] from the the
[6:02:01] staff report showing that
[6:02:03] minimal additional trips for
[6:02:06] those 9 additional dwelling
[6:02:09] units so
[6:02:12] it's a thanks. Thank you.
[6:02:13] Is there registered opponent.
[6:02:15] I don't see any. That
[6:02:16] registered opponent okay.
[6:02:17] Is there any public comment.
[6:02:20] No public comes you have no
[6:02:22] public comment.
[6:02:22] This concludes our public
[6:02:25] comment section of the evening
[6:02:28] on this item.
[6:02:28] Now we'll move on to
[6:02:30] cross-examination each party
[6:02:31] will have 5 minutes for cross
[6:02:32] examination staff would you
[6:02:34] like to cross examine. Athletes
[6:02:38] think you.
[6:02:41] Now we move on to closing
[6:02:42] arguments or rebuttal. You have
[6:02:43] each 5 minutes to provide a
[6:02:47] closing argument, a rebuttal.
[6:02:50] Staff. Stephens, it lives,
[6:02:52] okay. Well thank you very much
[6:02:54] this quasi judicial proceeding
[6:02:57] is now closed and we will move
[6:02:58] on into executive session to
[6:03:01] approve a 5 to have a motion
[6:03:03] and the second clerk if you
[6:03:03] can open the machine for
[6:03:03] voting.
[6:03:04] For day and beer just yet for
[6:03:06] I'm sorry day 5 a and b doing
[6:03:10] together. Yes, we can. For j 5
[6:03:13] and the second.
[6:03:25] In that upper think members a
[6:03:27] vote a clerk
[6:03:28] please know we announce the
[6:03:28] vote.
[6:03:29] MADAM Chair, the motion to
[6:03:31] approve agenda items j 5 a and
[6:03:34] j 5 be passes unanimously.
[6:03:42] >> Thank you for waiting so
[6:03:46] >> Next up we have open
[6:03:47] clerk do we have any speakers
[6:03:50] for open forum and share with
[6:03:51] you now. And we
[6:03:53] then we close open forum we go
[6:03:53] to announcements and now it's
[6:03:57] months council member driskell
[6:04:02] thank you.
[6:04:03] As you had shared with everyone
[6:04:03] earlier MADAM Chair. We
[6:04:04] unfortunately learned of the
[6:04:07] passing a bill that of Edwards.
[6:04:09] Earlier today and
[6:04:11] I known bill for a long time I
[6:04:14] was I was heartbroken by this
[6:04:17] news. Over the years I.
[6:04:18] Watch an id and mired a great
[6:04:22] businessman and a great lover
[6:04:25] of our city has he
[6:04:27] did everything from
[6:04:30] pay a beautiful markers up to
[6:04:31] welcome
[6:04:32] people to St. Petersburg to
[6:04:32] buying the rowdies and I'll
[6:04:35] never forget these are the
[6:04:36] first time ever saw
[6:04:37] soccer game was when he owned
[6:04:38] the team. That's the kind of
[6:04:42] person he was he remade sundial
[6:04:45] and and really helped us
[6:04:48] help the city.
[6:04:50] 2 I raise the
[6:04:51] standards at the Mahaffey at a
[6:04:53] time when it really needed it.
[6:04:55] I certainly didn't agree with
[6:04:56] Bill on everything and we did
[6:04:58] you have occasion to lock
[6:05:00] horns. But I always respected
[6:05:02] him and my prayers today are
[6:05:05] with his family and his loved
[6:05:08] ones and as they
[6:05:11] mourn and you know reflect
[6:05:14] and I hope we all do. Some
[6:05:15] reflection on someone who was
[6:05:18] passionate passionate about St.
[6:05:21] Petersburg.
[6:05:24] And.
[6:05:25] I would love for us to just
[6:05:28] have a moment of silence to
[6:05:31] remember him.
[6:05:44] That's member Curtis.
[6:05:44] Thank you MADAM Chair
[6:05:45] councilmember driskell thank
[6:05:47] you for your very nice words.
[6:05:50] I was certainly saddened to
[6:05:53] hear of the loss of bills so.
[6:05:53] >> Just quickly I want to just
[6:05:54] publicly thank I got to spend a
[6:05:56] little bit of time early this
[6:05:59] morning as they were mustering
[6:06:01] the storm water. Pavement
[6:06:05] knocks crew. That just go out
[6:06:05] on a daily basis and just
[6:06:07] bus their chops and specially
[6:06:09] you know days of a 109 he and
[6:06:11] then 4 hours late later, it's 4
[6:06:14] inches of rain and so and I you
[6:06:17] know I was in this room and
[6:06:18] you know it's probably a 100
[6:06:21] people or so and you know
[6:06:23] they're all
[6:06:23] wearing their bright green You
[6:06:26] know protective gear, but also
[6:06:29] that's kind of the colors and
[6:06:30] you realize that they are
[6:06:32] probably some of the most seen
[6:06:36] people across the city because
[6:06:36] frankly they're
[6:06:37] just bright and that they're
[6:06:40] hard to MISS And so I just the
[6:06:41] work that they do I'm just so
[6:06:41] thankful and I just wanted to
[6:06:42] say out loud one more time just
[6:06:45] thankful for all that we're all
[6:06:46] of our employees but
[6:06:47] I got to spend a little bit of
[6:06:47] time with them and it was very
[6:06:48] nice and very appreciative for
[6:06:51] everything they do on a daily
[6:06:52] basis.
[6:06:53] Last a lot last but not least
[6:06:56] we have a couple of birthdays
[6:06:57] it was the mayor's birthday
[6:07:00] last week. It was read his
[6:07:03] birthday last week I
[6:07:03] believe and that's Rob's
[6:07:04] birthday next week. So you
[6:07:06] don't get out of it Rob and so
[6:07:09] will sing happy birthday to the
[6:07:12] mayor Rita and Rob.
[6:07:14] Have you heard.
[6:07:19] To you have you heard to you.
[6:07:20] Birthday mayor Reed arraf I
[6:07:23] heard Kate to thank you very
[6:07:24] much,
[6:07:25] MADAM Chair, thank you.
[6:07:27] And thank you for letting us
[6:07:30] know about Bill Edwards earlier
[6:07:32] as council member driskell
[6:07:32] mention.
[6:07:33] First of all bill was bigger
[6:07:37] than life and be we all dealt
[6:07:40] with Bill
[6:07:42] one way or the other whether we
[6:07:42] like it or not.
[6:07:43] And locking horns is probably
[6:07:45] putting it mildly sometimes.
[6:07:46] But he was
[6:07:47] a sponsor Porter of the city.
[6:07:49] And of the arson of our
[6:07:52] community and he gave
[6:07:55] everything he had.
[6:07:57] >> For the love of the city if
[6:07:57] he couldn't. I think no matter.
[6:07:58] Whether we agreed or disagreed
[6:07:59] I don't think anyone here
[6:08:01] question how much he loved this
[6:08:02] city.
[6:08:05] >> And he would make some of
[6:08:05] the you know some of the
[6:08:06] decisions in and negotiations
[6:08:09] difficult for whoever was in
[6:08:12] the room,
[6:08:15] And I'm sure and I'm I'm sure
[6:08:17] the attorneys can
[6:08:17] appreciate that but.
[6:08:18] But you know that was how bill
[6:08:21] was and he you know he fought
[6:08:23] tooth and nail for
[6:08:24] what he believed then and that
[6:08:25] was does his personality so he
[6:08:25] will be greatly missed and our
[6:08:28] condolences go to his family in
[6:08:30] France.
[6:08:31] So thank you all for the good
[6:08:33] work today, it's been a very
[6:08:34] long day there's very tired
[6:08:35] faces in this room, so I am